New Delhi: Former ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar, who was terminated with retrospective effect Wednesday, may have to return over Rs 9 crore performance bonus received as the bank's executive head since 2009, sources said. Besides, she will also have to forgo her unexercised stocks options, they said. Kochhar became the CEO and managing director of the country's leading private sector lender in May 2009 and left the bank in October 2018. Sources divulge Thursday that performance bonus for the last two financial years has not been approved by the RBI, therefore that amount is not taken into account in Kochhar's total bonus payout. They also said that bonuses of Axis Bank and Yes Bank chief executives and executive directors have not been approved by the central bank for the last two fiscals. As per the various annual reports of the bank, Kochhar was granted 94 lakh shares but it could not be verified that how much stock options she had exercised. If Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) granted to Kochhar is taken into account, the total amount comes to about Rs 340 crore at the present market value. However, the amount would be much less than ESOPs granted because she might have sold some shares in the last 9 years. Following an independent enquiry panel led by Justice (Retd) B N Srikrishna, the board of the ICICI Bank Wednesday decided to treat "the separation of Kochhar from the bank as a 'Termination for Cause' under the bank's internal policies, schemes and the Code of Conduct, with all attendant consequences". These, the statement said, include revocation of all her existing and future entitlements such as any unpaid amounts, unpaid bonuses or increments, unvested and vested and unexercised stock options, and medical benefits. The board has also asked the bank to take steps for "clawback of all bonuses paid from April 2009 until March 2018, and to take such further actions as may be warranted in the matter". For the 9-year period, shareholders approved Rs 9.82 crore bonus payout to Kochhar. However, considering that the last two performance bonuses are yet to get regulatory approval from the RBI, the recovery amount would be less than what has been approved by the shareholders' Annual General Meeting. Besides, experts also feel that there may be legal tangle involved in the revoking of the ESOPs and refund of the performance bonus. The Srikrishna committee report concluded that there was lack of diligence with respect to annual disclosures as required by the bank in terms of its internal policies and violation of Code of Conduct and applicable Indian laws. On the development, Kochhar said she was "disappointed, hurt and shocked" by the bank's decision to treat her resignation as a "termination for cause" after an independent probe indicted her for violating regulations. There were allegations of involvement of Kochhar and her family members in a loan provided to Videocon group on a quid pro quo basis. It was alleged that Videocon Group pumped money into NuPower Renewables, a firm owned by Deepak Kochhar, husband of Chanda Kochhar. The allegation of conflict of interest was levelled by whistle blower Arvind Gupta. Later, in March, another unnamed whistle-blower complained against the bank and its top management, including Kochhar, alleging a deliberate delay in recognising impairment in 31 loan accounts between 2008 and 2016 to save on provisioning costs. NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: India`s revised e-commerce rules caused widespread disruption on Amazon`s India website when they kicked in on Friday, forcing the company to take down its key grocery service and remove a wide range of products such as sunglasses and floor cleaners. The products began to disappear from Amazon India late on Thursday as it began complying with the regulations before a midnight deadline, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. In December, India modified foreign direct investment rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector, which has drawn major bets from not only Amazon.com but also the likes of Walmart Inc, which last year bought a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce player Flipkart. India`s new e-commerce investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest, and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. Numerous items sold by Amazon vendors such as Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds an indirect equity stake, were no longer available on its India site. Amazon Pantry, a grocery service primarily managed by company affiliates, was also discontinued, though grocery products could be purchased individually. "Pantry is completely empty, how I am suppose to grocery shop," Twitter user Pamela wrote on the social network. "Whatever government rules are, (I) don`t care, you guys fix it, I need to shop." Amazon, which saw record sales and profit during the holiday season, has forecast first-quarter sales below Wall Street estimates due to the uncertainty in India - one of its key growth markets. The situation in India is "a bit fluid right now," but the country remains a good long-term opportunity, Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said. The company`s main goal was to minimize the impact of the new rules on customers and sellers, he added. Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy warned last month that it faced "significant customer disruption" if the new rules were implemented from Feb. 1. On Friday, the company said it was disappointed the government acted in "haste", but assured compliance. "We are committed to doing everything we can to be compliant with the new rules," Flipkart India executive Rajneesh Kumar said in a statement, without explaining how the website was impacted. POLITICS, INVESTOR SETBACK The new policy was announced after complaints from small Indian traders who said the e-commerce giants used their control over inventory from affiliated vendors to create an unfair marketplace where they could offer discounts. Such arrangements will now be barred. Both Amazon and Walmart unsuccessfully lobbied against the latest rules and pushed for a delay in their implementation. The U.S. government too urged India to protect the investments of the two retailers, Reuters reported last week. But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s administration stood firm as the move was widely seen as one to appease small traders in the run-up to a general election due by May. Industry sources have said the new rules will dent foreign investor sentiment and force the big online retailers to change their business structures, raising compliance costs. "The company has no choice as they are fulfilling a compliance requirement, the customers will suffer," said one of the sources. "It is very upsetting for foreign investors." Both companies have bet heavily on India being a big growth driver: Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. Amazon`s own range of Presto-branded home cleaning goods and other Amazon Basics products such as chargers and batteries vanished from its website late on Thursday. Clothing from Indian department store chain Shopper`s Stop was also no longer available, as Amazon owns 5 percent of the company. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which supported tougher scrutiny of large e-commerce players, said the removal of products by Amazon was a step in the "right direction". Exclusive deals with sellers, in compliance with the revised rules, will also be discontinued on Amazon India, the two sources said. It was unclear how long the disruption will last. On Friday, Amazon`s own range of Echo smart speakers, which were earlier removed as they were sold by a company affiliate, returned for sale via other sellers on the platform. However, buyers would now need to wait for up to 36 days to get some of the speakers delivered even under Amazon`s fast-delivery Prime service, which often delivers goods in a day or two. New Delhi: Moroccan beauty Nora Fatehi, who shot to fame with her killer dance moves in song 'Dilbar' has three big films in her kitty. Nora will be seen in Salman Khan's 'Bharat', John Abraham's 'Batla House' and Varun Dhawan's 'ABCD 3'. The actress took to Instagram recently and shared a pic with 'ABCD 3' squad. Check it out here: 'ABCD 3' is being helmed by Remo D' Souza and a major portion of the film will be shot in the UK. The film completed its first schedule in Punjab recently. Actress Shraddha Kapoor plays the other female lead in the film. The movie is scheduled to hit the screens on November 8, 2019, and is produced by Bhushan Kumar. Talking about her role in the film, Nora had earlier told DNA, "I'm very excited to be a part of this project. Remo sir is extremely talented and I look forward to learning a lot from him. Im equally thrilled to work with Varun and Shraddha, the trio has done an amazing job in their last venture (ABCD 2) and I cant wait to join the squad. This is going to be an epic experience." Are you as excited about the film as we are? Washington: A day after advising his top spymasters to go back to school after they differed with him on global threat assessment, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he and the leadership of country's intelligence community are "on the same page." After meeting with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other top security officials, Trump said they told him their testimony at the Senate hearing had been "mischaracterized" by the news media. "Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterised by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc," Trump said in a tweet. He followed, "Their testimony was distorted press... I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page!" "They (intelligence community leaders) said that they were totally misquoted and they were totally -- it was taken out of context. So what I'd do is I'd suggest that you call them. They said it was fake news, so -- which, frankly, didn't surprise me," he told reporters later Thursday in the Oval Office. Earlier, on Wednesday, the president had called US intelligence chiefs "extremely passive and naive" and advised them to go back to school after they contradicted him on threats posed by Iran, North Korea and ISIS during congressional testimony. The top security officials told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the nuclear threat from North Korea persists and that Iran is not taking steps towards making a nuclear bomb, conclusions that contrasted starkly with Trump's assessments of those countries. Asserting that Iran's nuclear programme remains dangerous, Trump tweeted, "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!" "When I became President, Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but a source of potential danger and conflict," Trump said in a series of foreign policy tweets. "They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" he said in his harshest criticism of the powerful intelligence community of the country. - Yahuza is a 45-year-old migrant from Niger, who does not believe in beggeing money from people to feed - He sell washing powder in traffic to earn his keep and also to cater for his familyof seven - What Yahuza desires most here in Ghana is to acquire for himself a permanent National Identification Card 45-year-old Yahuza Muhammadu is a man who has defied the odds that physically challenged 'foreigners' only survived by begging others for money to survive. He is a man who lost both his of legs at the age of three, shortly after an ailment his mother wrongly diagnosed as malaria for a week. He is a migrant from Niger, who chose to migrate from his home nation to find means to fend for himself because he couldnt fit in to work as a farmer, as that was the predominant occupation there. Yahuza Muhammadu Source: Citinewsroom.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: New crop of actors use black magic to stay relevant in the industry - Fred Amugi Yahuzu disclosed that he currently lived at Madina alongside people with disabilities just like him, who begged daily for money to feed themselves. He added that he never begged anyone to feed because he doesnt think his disability reduces him to a beggar, adding that he is no different from anyone else working hard to make a decent living. He believes that everything is about a positive mindset, a will, drive and that with Allah anything and everything is possible. Yahuza Muhammadu Source: Citinewsroom.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Teachers without licenses cannot teach in private and public schools - NTC According to Yahuza he opted to sell washing powder because it was not a perishable product I decided to sell OMO because of its nonperishable nature and the fact that it is easier to store, he said. He mostly moves about selling when cars are in traffic waiting on the traffic lights to move. Yahuza said some of the people who buy his washing powder are not people who really need it; most of them buy it to appreciate how hard he is pushing through his adversity to earn a living. Yahuzu revealed that aside from the money he makes from what he sells, he always gets extra from people who tip him out of sheer admiration and pity. Yahuza Muhammadu Source: Citinewsroom.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Meghan Markle speaks to Ghanaian university student over Skype He sends money home to his family every two to three months, during Ramadan, Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr. The oldest of his children, Yusif is in a higher institution in Niger, with the others in English and Arabic institutions. He sends money back home to support their education. What Yahuza desires most here in Ghana is to acquire for himself a permanent National Identification Card. Yahuzu is very respected and admired for his will to look past his disability and make a decent living for himself and his family. Yenkasa: What do you think about amorous pre-wedding photo shoots? | #Yencomgh Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place. Source: Yen Newspaper Wife of British royal Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, has delighted a student in Ghana after making a Skype call with the student, reports YEN.com.gh has gathered from British media indicate. According to the reports, the Duchess of Sussex spoke with one Hilary Harawo, a student in Ghana, while attending a meeting with scholars from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The Standard.co.uk reported that the pregnant Markle was attending the ACU meeting for the first time since becoming the institution's patron. Meghan Markle speaking over Skype with Ghanaian student Hilary Harawo Photo source: Telegraph.co.uk Source: UGC READ ALSO: Mahama shares sad photos after visiting victims of the Ayawaso West election violence The meeting which was held the City, University of London - one of the ACU's 500 university members - was to enable her chat with students from the Commonwealth now studying in the UK. As part of the engagement which Telegraph.co.uk reported to be about an hour long, Markle was to interact over Skype in a live discussion with ACU students from other parts of the world. It was during this interaction that the Duchess of Sussex was seen waving at students in Ghana and went ahead to speak with Harawo. The Duchess of Sussex, who was on her second royal engagement in two days, is reported to have received a rock star welcome with well-wishers cheering and waving union flags as she arrived for the event. READ ALSO: Anas finally meets police over investigations into Ahmed Suales death Established in 1913, the ACU is one of the world's oldest international university networks, with more than 500 member institutions in over 50 countries By bringing universities, academics and students together from around the world, the ACU aims to advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds and improve lives. Dr Joanna Newman, chief executive and secretary general of the ACU, said earlier this month, when Kensington Palace announced Meghan was succeeding the Queen as the ACU's patron: "The Duchess shares our passion for the transformational power of higher education, and Her Royal Highness's support will help champion higher education as a force for good in the Commonwealth and beyond." READ ALSO: Man left heartbroken after catching his wife cheating on him in their bathroom (screenshot) Ghana News Today: EOCO secures order to freeze assets of Menzgold and related companies| #Yencomgh: Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook/Instagram page and we could feature your story. Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place Source: Yen 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. Venice, FL (34285) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Everyone seems to be in agreement on what type of game Super Bowl 53 will be: It will be close, and there should be lots of scoring. Receive emails for Trending news. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The video game Madden 19 did its simulation, and had the Los Angeles Rams beating the New England Patriots, 30-27. CBS analyst Tony Romo, who anticipates more correct play calls on his broadcast than anyone else in the business, said the final score will be 28-24, but didn't pick a winner. He predicted that the team that loses will have the ball last. The type of game is easy to predict. Picking the winner isn't. On paper, the Rams have more talent. In reality, the Patriots have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The Patriots' dynasty that includes nine Super Bowl appearances over 18 years is remarkable. But it also must be noted that their five Super Bowl wins have all been close games: margins of six points, four points and three points (three times). In what figures to be another very close matchup of two great teams, what will be the deciding factors? Here are the six keys that should determine who wins: Tran said she and her family have received death threats through telephone messages, email and social media, leading to extra police protection for her at the state Capitol in Richmond, and for her family in West Springfield. She declined to discuss specific details about the threats, but she said "some of them were credible," prompting "an extra set of eyes" from police. She said she has tried to explain the situation over the past two days to her three older children, who are in elementary school. "It's a very tough conversation to have with your little ones about how they need to be safe and watch out for themselves, and that it's OK to ask for help," Tran said. "I love my kids dearly. They are my world, and their safety is my No. 1 priority." Receive emails for Trending news. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The intensity of the backlash moved one of the bill's 22 Democratic co-sponsors to back away from the legislation, even though it had already been tabled in committee on Monday, and was identical to bills that had been proposed in the General Assembly and failed in past years. "I vaguely remember signing on to this, and I did this in solidarity with my colleague and as a symbolic gesture for a woman's right to choose," Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, wrote in a letter to constituents. "I am sorry that I did not exercise due diligence before this explosion of attention." Receive emails for Trending news. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A third child, 11, was found unharmed at the house and taken into custody. On Monday, all the suspects were served with felony murder warrants, WSAV reported. As the investigation continues, neighbors are struggling with guilt, wondering why they did not channel their suspicions and bad feelings about the family into actual complaints to authorities. More alarming, however, are the red flags possibly missed by Georgia's child service agency. "The biggest question some of us are asking is, how did the little boy go missing for two years and nobody identified that?" Effingham Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Gena Sullivan told the Journal-Constitution in December. Crocker and his first wife had JR and Mary while living in South Carolina. After they split, Crocker had a third child with another woman, a boy with cerebral palsy, the Journal-Constitution reported. By 2010, he had relocated with all three children and his new wife, Candice, to Rincon, Georgia. There, neighbors and friends noticed strange things about the family. Daniella Gills, 14, was friends with Mary at the time. The Journal-Constitution reported Dec. 26 that Daniella said her friend never seemed at ease at home. Ive never thought of myself as a teacher; that title is reserved for people with patience, wisdom and passion. (Among other things.) I can get pretty short on patience, but didnt really need any today when our new intern, Whitney, and I collaborated on her first York News Times story. We had a blast well, I did anyway. I loved telling her about bridging between quotations, and the difference between Dr. Smolacek said and said Dr. Smolacek. We talked about the subtleties among synonyms. And wait for it -- she even appeared to be interested! What? Yes, if you read the front page today which you should youll see our dual effort. I dont know who was more excited about Whitney getting her first YNT byline her or me. A strong earthquake jolted southern Mexico on Friday, rattling nerves and swaying tall buildings hundreds of miles away in the capital, but there were no reports of serious damage, injuries or deaths. The US Geological Survey reported that the quake had a magnitude of 6.6. It was centered about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the city of Tapachula in Chiapas state and struck at a depth of 40 miles (68 kilometers). Chiapas civil defense official Arturo Barrientos told The Associated Press that there were no reports of serious damage and authorities were monitoring the situation. Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops skirmished Friday as hundreds demonstrated against violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank and thousands more against a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Ashraf al-Kidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said 32 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire at several sections along the Gaza border fence. Earlier on Friday, mediators from Egypt and the United Nations, worried that the border violence could evolve into an all-out conflict between Hamas and Israel, met with the terror group's leaders. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh described the meeting as "unprecedented" but did not elaborate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday slammed Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit on his Facebook page, accusing him of surrendering to pressure from the Left and the media. "The left wing and the media are pressuring the attorney general to file an indictment against me at any cost. This is one of the most crucial decisions in Israel's history that might bring the Left to power, and it is being made hastily," Netanyahu wrote on the social network. Earlier, Mandelblit announced that there is no legal reason to prevent him from indicting Netanyahu on corruption charges before the elections, and that suspending the legal process would "violate the principle of equality before the law" and interfere with "the public's right to know." Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit said on Friday there was no legal reason to prevent him from indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges before the April 9 elections should he decide such a move was warranted. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The prime minister, who is accused of corruption in three separate investigations, maintains that holding a hearing before the elections would have a detrimental impact on his electoral prospects. He denies any wrongdoing and has called the cases a witch-hunt. PM Netanyahu and Attorney General Avidhai Mandelblit (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Mandelblit said that suspending the legal process would "violate the principle of equality before the law" and interfere with "the public's right to know," adding that his team is still examining the case materials and intends to make a decision as soon as possible. The attorney general said he had informed Netanyahu's lawyers "there is no impediment to making and publishing a decision, if there is any, to consider filing an indictment in the cases relating to the prime minister, or part of them, pending a hearing, even before the election date." Netanyahu has said he would not bow out of the race if Mandelbit announces his intention to accept police recommendations to indict him. In January, Netanyahu's lawyers met with Mandelblit in Jerusalem, in an effort to persuade him not to announce a hearing for the prime minister before elections. According to the prime minister's legal team, this interim decision would influence the results of the elections, as Netanyahu would not have the chance to respond and present his own position concerning the evidence collected by the prosecution. This, they say, could mislead the voter, who will only hear one side of the argument. In addition, Netanyahu harshly criticized Mandelblit over an interview the attorney general gave Channel 12 over a week ago, in which he commented on the investigations against the prime minister. Attorney General Avidhai Mandelblit (Photo: Elad Gershgoren) "The choice to cooperate with such a program, at such timing, is unprecedented in the history of Israeli justice and raises serious questions," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu also posted a video to social media, accusing the left wing of pressuring the attorney general to file an indictment against him. The video makes the accusation that "For three years now, the left and the media are persecuting the attorney general to force him to file an indictment at any cost." It shows protesters outside Mandelblit's home and outside the synagogue he prays in. The video concludes with the question: "Will they succeed?" Netanyahu is suspected of wrongdoing in three separate cases: Case 1000 concerns allegations that the prime minister and his family received illicit gifts from wealthy donors, most notably billionaire film producer Arnon Milchan. Case 2000 concerns allegations that Netanyahu held talks with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher and owner Arnon Mozes about favorable coverage in return for legislation that would weaken Yedioth's rival, free daily Israel Hayom. Case 4000 concerns an alleged quid pro quo relationship between Netanyahu and investor Shaul Elovitch, who was the majority shareholder of Bezeq telecommunications and owner of the Walla! News site; Elovitch allegedly ensured Netanyahu and his family received favorable coverage on Walla! News in return for regulatory benefits for Bezeq, which sought to merge with satellite company Yes. UN envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov on Friday arrived in the Gaza Strip following the arrival of a delegation of senior Egyptian officials who had entered the enclave on Thursday to discuss ways to implement the understandings reached between Israel and Hamas as well as to ensure this weekend's "March of Return" protests are restrained. Pop star Netta Barzilai, winner of the 2018 Eurovision song contest, released a new single Friday which she says reflects the highs and lows in the year since her shock victory shook up her life. Barzilai, 26, spoke to The Associated Press ahead of the release of her new song "Bassa Sababa." She says the song, Hebrew/Arabic slang for "Bummer, that's cool," speaks to the thrills and challenges of her past year. A senior US official has warned Lebanon's Hezbollah against exploiting the position of the Health Ministry to funnel funds to institutions affiliated with the Shiite terror group. The remarks by Marshall Billingslea, the US Treasury's assistant secretary on terror financing, came as Lebanese political factions agreed on Thursday to form a new government. The development broke a nine-month deadlock that deepened Lebanon's economic woes. Facebook announced Thursday that it has ended a new massive manipulation campaign, orchestrated by Iran and directed against many countries, including Israel, the second in a few months. The social network said it had removed 783 pages, groups and accounts that promoted Iran 's interests on sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria and Yemen by creating fake Facebook identities. Among the examples of deleted messages provided by Facebook , a drawing with the comment: "Al Quods (Arabic name of Jerusalem) is the eternal capital of Palestine." Israel already has high automobile and fuel taxes and they are expected to further increase. Benzene tax will soon be at 67%. If the lives of Israeli drivers are not difficult enough, let alone public transportation passengers, along comes the trend of blocking the roads during protests and causing gridlock across the country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter We, the ones behind the wheel, are now the primary target of public protests. Whether the disabled or the Haredim, and now the Ethiopians. Megaphones and placards in Rabin Square are no longer enough. Ethiopians protest blocking Ayalon Road (Photo: Reuters) So I am turning to the protesters: Something is bothering you? Stop taking it out on innocent hostages. Go and vent your rage at the government or the police or whoever it is that you have complaints towards. But leave us alone, especially when we are in the race against time, sitting in traffic on the way home to our children. Blocking the road harms, first and foremost, those in whose name the protest is being conducted. Trapping tens of thousands of Israelis on congested roads and embittering their lives for many hours is not an act of protest, it is pure hooliganism. Instead of enlisting support, you accomplish the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. It is as if you drew a weapon and fired at us, the public. If we, drivers and passengers, can hardly look out for ourselves vis-a-vis the state, how are we supposed to be able to satisfy your grievances? Every year, we give the state more than NIS 40 billion in taxes, so it has what it needs to distribute to you what you deserve as well as educate the police that a youth with a knife can be stopped without resorting to shooting him. The public has already paid the price. It is time that those who disrupt the lives of so many people pay a price, instead of being awarded with sympathy and understanding. Britain's ultra-Orthodox teachers and parents warn of taking Haredi education underground or even leaving the country if new legislation that obligates instructing teens about the LGBT community is enforced, reported The Guardian. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Under Britain's 2010 Equality Act, independent secondary schools will be obliged to teach about gender reassignment and sexual orientation. In primary schools, children should be aware of the ways in which people can be different and be respectful of those differences. Schools that refrain from implementing this new policy received a shut-down warning from Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, and Haredi politicos are working hard to annul the edict, while considering alternate options like home schooling, underground Haredi schools and even leaving the UK. Celebrating Purim in a London Haredi community (Photo: Getty Images) Many members of the community would choose to leave the United Kingdom for a more hospitable jurisdiction rather than comply with such an obligation to mention homosexuality or gender reassignment in a positive context at school, said a letter recently sent by Shraga Stern, a Haredi parent of seven. We teach our children, at home and in school, to respect every person, but we will not teach them about LGBT issues, he told the UK's Observer newspaper. According to Stren, his children's schools might choose to deny the new guidelines as a badge of honor. When Stern was asked what he and his family would do if the new curriculum is enforced, he said leaving the country was an option, either to New York, where the yeshivas are free to teach without supervision, or to Israel "depending on whether the Haredim make it into Netanyahus next coalition government," assuming he wins the April 9th elections The Guardian quoted the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), that estimated that some 2000 children study in the UK's Haredi school system, both state funded and independent institutions included, as well as large number of Haredi boys who study in unregistered yeshivas. All keep traditional religious values and don't expose their students to any kind of content regarding same-sex couples, gender reassignment and the LGBT community. Rabbi Avrohom Pinter, headmaster of Yesodey Hatorah, a state-funded girls secondary school in London's Stamford Hill that was classed as inadequate by Ofsted inspectors in June 2018, said the school is "totally opposed to homophobia. The issue for us is maintaining the innocence of our children. We feel society is sexualizing children at an early age and we dont want to do that. The school was deemed inadequate after Ofsted found their books to be heavily censored, having deleted references or images that the school considered inappropriate like references to human or animal reproduction, and images showing bare ankles and wrists as well as passages from Sherlock Holmes, the famous British detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Guardian cited Pinter, who said many parents are concerned about children going to libraries. We need to provide a safe space. The headmaster added that sometimes we might have gone a bit overboard in our redactions to gain the confidence of the parents. Were reviewing it all now. Uban Garbarchik, a Stamford Hill resident and a journalist, told Ynet that the British education system "is trying to coerce them to get a western education," and added that it's not only about the LGBT community issue "they also firmly demand that yeshiva students learn a core curriculum." Garbarchik said this is not only a Haredi problem, and that Christian and Muslim schools "also suffer from supervisors who demand them to teach subjects they object." Most faith schools state and independent see no contradiction between teaching the tenets of their faith and the legal requirement to promote British values, including respect for democracy and the rule of law or to encourage respect for people with different characteristics such as those of a different faith, sexual orientation or race," said Ofsted spokesperson. However, for the small minority who will not comply with the law, it is Ofsteds duty to report those failings so that action can be taken to improve or close these schools. A giant power plant with billowing smoke may not look like the most natural habitat for sea life. But the hot water gushing from an industrial plant in Israel's northern city of Hadera has drawn schools of sharks that are increasingly endangered by overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Now the hotspot is also drawing tourists. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Sandbar and dusky sharks have been sighted around the power plant for decades, but scientists only started collecting data two years ago. Although they are still trying to count the smatterings of sharks nearby, researcher Aviad Scheinin said the hundreds flocking exclusively to the Hadera power plant every winter qualifies as "a legitimate and rare phenomenon." Sharks near Israel's northern city of Hadera The shifting climate of the Mediterranean Sea has been creating a bizarre boon for sharks, which thrive in and chase warm water. Expert say the warm water stimulates shark metabolisms, improves their breathing cycles and facilitates their pregnancies. "The spectacle is logical, but still very mysterious," said Alen Soldo, co-president of the Shark Specialist Group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature based in Switzerland. Aviad Scheinin and his team conduct research in shark-infested waters of Hadera He said the power plant's water temperature10 degrees warmer than the rest of the seais what likely attracts the sharks to Hadera from deeper, colder waters during the winter season. Beyond this, though, a great deal remains unknown. "We know sharks love this water, and we can hypothesize, but we can't say with certainty exactly why," he said. Soldo added that although he hadn't heard of sharks congregating at power plants outside Israel, he could name a few other Mediterranean hotspots, such as coral reefs near Beirut, where sharks swarm in a similarly random way, perhaps driven by salinity and temperature levels. Scientists say the Mediterranean Sea has never been warmer, both because of climate change and the recent expansion of the Suez Canal, which opened the floodgates to Red Sea waters, among the warmest in the world. A recent study, published last fall in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that climate change is steadily heating the Mediterranean Sea by 0.4 degrees every decade, making the region among the hardest hit in the world. Researchers from the predator project at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station established by the University of Haifa look for sharks off the coast of the northern city of Hadera "The winters are not as cold as they used to be here, and they are no longer a limiting factor for sharks," Scheinin said. "Many new shark species are coming to the eastern Mediterranean from colder areas and establishing populations." On a recent trip, Scheinin steered his small boat of researchers along the coast and cut the motor. The team bobbed in the currents of the power plant discharge, straining to spot slender shadows whipping by in the turquoise water. A sudden churning in the water jolted the crew to action. A five-foot-long (1.5 meter-long) sandbar shark, ensnared by ropes, popped up at the boat's ledge. The researchers leaned over and wrangled with it, planting a high-tech tag on its dorsal fin to track its movements before setting it free. "It's ironic that all of our knowledge of sharks currently comes from the very fisheries that are threatening them," said Eyal Bigal, the lab manager of the project. The Morris Kahn Station's top predator team is working to change this, pulling together the first comprehensive body of data about the understudied and endangered Mediterranean shark species. Overfishing, spurred by demand along with lax fishing laws in neighboring countries like Lebanon and Syria, has depleted the Mediterranean shark population by over 90 percent since the 1950s, researchers say. Sharks off the coast of Hadera An absence of top predators imperils the balance of the entire marine ecosystem. "If you erase the ones at the top, the food chain will collapse," Soldo said. "New species may emerge and start preying on populations crucial to human food security. Whole life forms may go extinct." Hadera's hotspot for sharks is now attracting visitors curious about the creatures and the threats they face. The municipality and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, among other groups, are partnering to build an observation center. Last month, they launched a lecture series to educate tourists about shark behavior and protection. Scheinin said studying the sharks in Hadera could be a harbinger that "helps us assess what will happen to different species when waters elsewhere reach the temperatures we have here now." In November 2020, six astronauts from around the world will travel to a remote town in the Israeli desert. There, they will spend three weeks in a unqiue environment, recreating life on Mars as it would be for humans, in a three-week global space project. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The group, which will include one Israeli, will live in an specially designed solar-powered geodesic dome, which will simulate the kind of dwellings astronauts on mission in Mars will live in, in the not-so far future. The facility will have all life supporting technology that astronauts would need on the distant planet, and communication equipment for their contact with Earth. D-Mars, the 2018 Mars simulation project in Israel's Negev Desert (Photo: Shimon Bokshtein) Participants will wear spacesuits and conduct research near the dome, driving in rover vehicles designed for future Mars missions. The announcement of Israels participation in the Austrian-led global space research project took place during the Israel Space Week, which comes to an end this Thursday. The Ramon Crater, Israel's very own Planet Mars (Photo: Keren Yeriel ) The 2020 simulation will be the projects 13th year. Last year it took place in Oman in the Arabian Peninsula, and before that in Utah, in the United States, where Roy Naor, an Israeli astronaut also participated in the simulation. Alon Tenzer and Liad Yosef are the two Israelis to partake in the project one as an active participant, and the other as a back-up, should one be required. Tenzer has a masters degree in neurobiology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot and conducts artificial intelligence research in Singapore, while Yosef, a former IDF officer, is a graduate of the International Space University in France with degrees in Math and Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, respectively. Roy Naor, the former Israeli "ramonaut" during the 2018 four day Mars simulation in Mitzpe Ramon (Photo: Yoav Ari Dudkevitch) Science Minister Ofir Akunis welcomed the decision to hold the project in Israel, in the beautiful and unique area of Mitzpe Ramon. He said the experiment will have both scientific and promotional value for Israel. This is the second Mars simulation to be hosted by the small desert town, known in Israel for its art vibe and star-gazing scene. Two years ago, a simulation called D-Mars took place in the area, operated by Weizmann Institute's Davidson Institute of Science Education. Six Israeli Ramonauts named after the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who died in the 2003 Columbia space shuttle disaster lived and conducted research in Mars-like conditions. 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. CHICAGO In Illinois, temperatures could rise by 80 degrees within days. In Michigan, melting snow and rain and a 17-mile ice jam could lead to flooding. Across the Midwest, the sudden warmth was sure to bring more broken roads and busted water mains. The polar vortex that brought many cities to a standstill was expected to end with a rapid thaw that experts say could be unprecedented. But the sudden swing from long johns to light jackets and short sleeves could create problems of its own. I dont think theres ever been a case where weve seen (such a big) shift in temperatures in the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. ... Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures. On Thursday, the system marched east, spreading arctic conditions over an area from Buffalo to Brooklyn. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow gave way to subzero temperatures and face-stinging wind chills. In New York City, about 200 firefighters battling a blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses. The number of deaths that could be blamed on the cold climbed to at least 15. Three deaths in western New York were blamed on the weather, including two men who died clearing snow and one man whose vehicle hit a snowdrift and crashed. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office says its investigating the death of a woman found frozen in her unheated apartment. The medical examiner says the 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Authorities say an investigation revealed the thermostat in her apartment had malfunctioned. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday. For the nations midsection, relief was as close as the weekend. Rockford, Ill., was at a record-breaking minus 31 on Thursday morning but should be around 50 on Monday. Other previously frozen areas could see temperatures of 55 or higher. The dramatic warm-up will offer a respite from the bone-chilling cold that canceled schools, closed businesses and halted trains. But potholes will appear on roads and bridges weakened by the freeze-thaw cycle. The same cycle can crack water mains and homeowners pipes. Scores of vehicles will be left with flat tires and bent rims. Joe Buck, who manages Schmit Towing in Minneapolis and spent about 20 hours a day outdoors this week responding to stranded vehicle calls, said hes already taking calls for Monday to deal with a backlog of hundreds of stalled vehicles. Sunday is going to be 39 degrees ABOVE zero, said Buck, who has had 18 trucks running around the clock in wind chills that dropped to minus 50. In Detroit, where some water mains are almost 150 years old, city workers were dealing with more than 40 breaks, said Palencia Mobley, deputy director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Well have all hands on deck. Hopefully, well be able to address as many of the issues as possible over the next week, Mobley said. The thawing of pipes can sometimes inflict greater damage than the initial freeze. Bursts can occur when ice inside starts to melt and water rushes through the pipe, or when water in the pipe is pushed to a closed faucet by expanding ice. Officials say a suburban Detroit fundraiser in which people were to sleep outdoors to raise awareness about homelessness has been replaced with a drive to get people indoors during the extreme cold. The Detroit News reports Roseville police on Thursday canceled the Sleep Out for the Homeless event scheduled for Friday night. The group organizing it, Macomb Feeding The Need, instead will open a temporary shelter. A good Samaritan offered to pay for hotel rooms for 70 homeless people in Chicago who were camped out in tents amid the bitter cold that blanketed Chicago. The offer came after the Chicago Fire Department on Wednesday confiscated nearly 100 propane tanks given the group to keep them warm as temperatures sank to negative 22. The department acted after one of the donated tanks exploded. Salvation Army spokeswoman Jacqueline Rachev said city officials told the organization about their actions at the camp. The Salvation Army was about to move the people to a warming center when the city called again and informed them of the gesture. Elsewhere, a bridge in the western Michigan community of Newaygo, 40 miles north of Grand Rapids, was closed as the ice-jammed Muskegon River rose above flood stage. Officials in Buffalo, N.Y., watched for flooding on the Upper Niagara River because of ice. In other signs that the worst of the deep freeze was over, Xcel Energy on Thursday lifted a request to its Minnesota natural gas customers to temporarily lower their thermostats to ease concerns about the fuel supply. The company was working to restore gas service by the end of Thursday to 150 customers in Princeton, Minn., who lost heat as temperatures dipped to around negative 20 on Tuesday night. Earlier in the day, several cities set new record lows. Rockford saw a record low temperature of minus 31 on Thursday. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, set a daily record low of minus 30 degrees. Chicagos temperature dropped to a low of around minus 21 degrees on Thursday, slightly above the citys lowest-ever reading of minus 27 degrees in January 1985. Milwaukees low was minus 25 degrees, and Minneapolis recorded minus 24 degrees. Wind chills were lower still. In Michigan, efforts to conserve heat during the extreme cold reduced usage by 10 percent following a fire at a major natural gas facility, officials said. Consumers Energy, the states largest supplier of natural gas, asked its 1.7 million customers and others to set their thermostats at 65 degrees or lower until late Thursday. Masters, from Weather Underground, said the polar vortex was rotating up into Canada and not expected to return in the next couple of weeks. If it does return in late February, it wont be as intense. Still, memories of the dangerous cold were bound to linger. In Illinois, at least 144 people visited hospital emergency rooms for cold-related injuries over two days. Most of the injuries were hypothermia or frostbite, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health. The effect on the overall economy was not expected to be that great. It only shows up marginally in the economic data, said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics, said one reason the severe cold weather will have less impact is that, unlike a hurricane, people did not lose electric power. People may be in their homes, but they can do things such as online shopping, Zandi said. Life goes on. It is a disruption to daily life, but it is not a big hit to the economy. Please disable your ad blocker, and refresh the page to view this content. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Christianity is virtually outlawed in North Korea, where dictator Kim Jong Un is the subject of a personality cult that treats him like a god. The possession of Bibles, open religious services and any attempt to build underground church networks could mean torture, lengthy prison terms or execution. The following is what North Korean defectors, a Christian activist and a South Korean Catholic bishop with previous links to the North told The Associated Press about the ways North Koreans maintain their beliefs: ___ LEE HANBYEOL Lee, 35, is a North Korean refugee in Seoul whose Christian father prayed whenever his wife slipped into China to borrow money from relatives in the mid-1990s. "I saw him praying many times. ... My mom risked her life to go to China illegally to feed our family. So when my mom left, he kept praying, sitting cross-legged and trembling in the corner of our room," Lee said. Lee said she didn't know about Christianity at the time. Her father kept his faith to himself until his death in 1997 in an apparent effort to protect his family. Lee believes her father was part of a Christian population that flourished in North Korea before the 1950-53 Korean War. "I often think about how great it would have been if my father and I could have prayed together while holding each other's hands," said Lee, now a devout Christian. ___ J.M. A former resident of North Korea's North Hamgyong province, J.M. encountered Christianity after he fled to China in 1998. He was arrested by Chinese police and sent back home in 2001. After serving several months in prison, he said he tried to spread his faith to his parents. "My father found it difficult to embrace (Christianity) but my mother quickly accepted it," said J.M. Although he agreed to speak with the AP to highlight the plight of Christians in North Korea, he asked to be identified only by his initials because of worries about the safety of his relatives in the North. "My mother told me she would pray for me." Story continues In 2002, J.M. escaped to South Korea so he could worship freely. He later found that both his parents had died. Now a Seoul-based pastor, J.M. is trying to promote Christianity in North Korea. He has visited China and baptized about six North Koreans who made temporary visits to Chinese border towns. ___ PETER JUNG Jung is Lee's South Korean husband and a pastor who specializes in spreading Christianity in North Korea. He said his group provides shelters, food and money to North Koreans visiting Chinese border towns before teaching them Christianity. When they return home, Jung said his group asks some of the reliable North Korean visitors to memorize Bible verses or carry Bibles with them. Some regularly come back and receive fresh financial support and Christian learning. Their mission in North Korea includes creating a "religious atmosphere" by getting people there to exchange text messages containing Christian-themed words like "peace," Jung said. ___ JOHN CHANG Chang is a Roman Catholic bishop who visited North Korea in 1987 and met five North Koreans introduced to him by the government as Catholics. After talking with the North Koreans, all of whom had baptized Catholic names, Chang said he was convinced they were genuine Catholics. "I asked them where they were baptized and by whom. They were all familiar with Catholic terms that they couldn't have used all of sudden just by quickly learning them," he said. "Their stories weren't cooked up." The next year, two North Korean Catholics went to Vatican City and met then Pope John Paul II. Conservative Christian activists in Seoul said those North Koreans were likely fake believers or those who renounced their faith a long time ago to survive harsh religious crackdowns. In the late 1980s, North Korea was seeking to improve ties with the Vatican as a way to ease its international isolation, experts say. ___ Follow Hyung-jin Kim at www.twitter.com/hyungjin1972 Wisconsin residents made the most of sub-zero temperatures on Wednesday, January 30, testing the climate by shooting hot water from water guns. In this footage, taken in Oak Creek, Sarah Alvarado demonstrates how hot water turns instantly to ice when exposed to the air. On Thursday, temperatures were forecast to drop to -45 degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: Sophie Alvarado via Storyful Istanbul (AFP) - The United States is "disappointed" with Turkey's support of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a senior US official said Thursday, after Washington backed a bid by the South American's country's opposition to remove the leader from office. Washington and a dozen Latin American nations quickly recognised Venezuela's National Assembly leader Juan Guaido after he declared himself acting president on January 23. The opposition contents the legitimacy of the election Maduro won in May, which is also not recognised by the US, the European Union and a large part of the international community. Guaido is moving to marshal international support to form a transitional government to hold new presidential elections, with a new vote supported by the Washington, Europe and much of Latin America. But Maduro has rejected this, insisting his term ends in 2025. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his support to Maduro over the telephone last week, urging him to "keep his head up". The senior American official, who requested anonymity, told journalists that "we believe strongly that the last remaining legitimate democratic institution is Guaido, who we've recognised as interim president." "But that is not the view of the Turkish government and we are disappointed by that," the official said. "We have talked to the Turks like we've talked to an awful lot of governments in the world, sharing our perspective and asking them to join us in acknowledging the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime. "They have not responded positively to that conversation thus far," the official added. The official also warned that Washington is looking at trade between Ankara and Caracas, especially gold exports to Turkey, to see if any American sanctions on Venezuela have been violated. "We are looking at the nature of Turkish-Venezuelan commercial activity and if we assess a violation of our sanctions, we will obviously take action." Venezuela exported nearly 900 million euros ($1,000) worth of gold to Turkey last year, according to reports. In mid-January, the two countries agreed to increase such exports under an agreement to refine Venezuelan gold at a plant in the city of Corum, near Ankara. (Reuters) - U.S. refiner Citgo, owned by Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA, denied a report on Thursday that it was considering filing for bankruptcy in the United States amid a row between the Trump administration and Venezuela's leftist government. The Wall Street Journal had reported that Citgo was considering various options including a bankruptcy to protect its operations as it deals with a looming governance crisis and competing creditor claims on its assets. "Citgo has no intention of entering into bankruptcy proceedings," a spokesman for the company told Reuters via email. "We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet, flat debt levels and liquidity of more than $1 billion into the new year," he added. A U.S. decision to impose sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry this week has caused both sides to engage in aggressive moves to control Citgo, which has roots in the United States dating back 100 years, but has been owned by PDVSA for three decades. (Reporting by Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar) Washington (AFP) - When Juan Guaido declared himself to be Venezuela's acting president, governments around the Americas were ready. Within minutes, US President Donald Trump recognized him as did the leaders of Canada and major Latin American powers. The dramatic turn against Nicolas Maduro's leftist regime culminated quickly, but it came after weeks of behind-the-scenes diplomacy including a hushed meeting in Washington with Guaido amid growing alarm as Venezuelans fled their crumbling economy in droves. The emerging coalition has presented a rare opportunity for Trump -- strong international support behind the goal, if not always the rhetoric, of the "America First" president always willing to go it alone. "It's allowed for the space that we are now in -- a positive, multilateral environment where it's not Maduro against Trump, or Venezuela against the United States; it's the world against a dictator," said Fernando Cutz, a former top White House aide on Latin America under both Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama. Cutz, now a senior associate at business advisory firm The Cohen Group, said a crucial factor was the emergence of Guaido, a 35-year-old engineer untainted by the long-running battles within Venezuela's opposition who was elected head of the National Assembly. "I've been working with the opposition for many years. I have never seen them as united as they are now," he said. "Part of this is that they realize that this is a very important, do-or-die movement, and that if you don't defeat Maduro now, chances are he'll be very ingrained and we'll have another Cuba on our hands for the coming years or decades," he said. Cutz said that foreign powers worked closely with opposition figures who can travel freely but also kept contacts within the country, using encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal or, for added security when homes are bugged, turning to personal intermediaries. Story continues Guaido also paid a discreet visit to the US capital in December to meet key players, likely including national security adviser John Bolton and Senator Marco Rubio, said Geoff Ramsey, assistant director for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America, which promotes human rights. "What's happening now has been an effort of much diplomacy, in which sometimes the best thing has been not to tell what was going on," an opposition figure said on condition of anonymity. - Americas band together - International efforts gathered steam in 2017 with the formation in the Peruvian capital of the Lima Group, comprising Canada and Latin American states other than Venezuela's leftist allies, and tasked with finding a way out of the Venezuelan crisis. A Canadian official said that the Lima Group stepped up coordination after Colombia and Peru heard "noises" that Guaido would declare himself president and as Maduro went ahead with his January 10 inauguration for a second term after widely criticized elections. The Lima Group met in Peru on January 4, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joining by videoconference, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke by telephone with Guaido several days afterward. "There were all these sign-posts that pointed to a tipping point that previously wasn't there. And we give a lot of credit to the opposition for coming together in the way that they did," the Canadian official said on condition of anonymity. He rejected suggestions that the Trump administration masterminded a coalition, saying that Lima Group countries aligned with one another and informed the United States and the European Union of their intentions. "We see it very much as a Latin American-led initiative to push this at the fore. It just so happens that we are pretty well in concert with what the US believes," he said. "We certainly don't take instructions from them; we do have conversations with them." - US interest spikes - In the United States, much of the policy on Venezuela was spearheaded by Rubio, the Florida Republican and sworn foe of Cuba's ruling Communists. Four minutes before Trump recognized Maduro on January 23, Rubio was already on Twitter teasing "important news" momentarily. "Senator Rubio has had a very firm position, very clear, with respect to Venezuela. For several years he has had a very precise snapshot of what was happening in Venezuela," said opposition activist David Smolansky, a former mayor who heads a technical group in the Organization of American States on the crisis. Cutz, the former White House aide, said that Trump took a stronger interest in Venezuela than Obama, even if on paper their policies of targeted sanctions were similar. "Obviously, when the president personally cares about the topic, that immediately shoots it up to the priority list and you're able to cut through a lot of the bureaucracy," he said. The United States has turned its attention to countries that still back Maduro -- notably Russia and China. It has also urged European powers to move ahead with plans to recognize Guaido. Mexico, which has offered to mediate in Venezuela, has also declined to recognize Guaido. But Trump's repeated warnings that "all options are on the table" has threatened to fray alliances, with the Lima Group saying Tuesday it did not support a military intervention. Washington (AFP) - A US court has found the Syrian government culpable in the 2012 death of journalist Marie Colvin, ordering a $302.5 million judgment for what it called an "unconscionable" attack that targeted journalists. Colvin -- a renowned war correspondent whose harrowing career was celebrated in the recent Golden Globe-nominated film "A Private War" -- was killed in the Syrian army's deliberate shelling of the Baba Amr Media Center in Homs on February 22, 2012. According to the judgment delivered late Wednesday, Syrian military and intelligence tracked the broadcasts of Colvin and other journalists covering the siege of Homs to the media center. Video: A Look at Marie Colvin and 'A Private War' This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. They then targeted it in an artillery barrage that killed Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik. The federal court in the US capital cited the testimony of a former Syrian intelligence officer who was given the name "Ulysses," who said that after the attack, Syrian officers celebrated the news that Colvin had been killed. Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled in favor of the complaint by members of Colvin's family that her death was an extrajudicial killing in violation of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. "Marie Colvin was a journalist who was killed by the Syrian government while reporting on the atrocities occurring during civil war," Jackson wrote. "She was specifically targeted because of her profession, for the purpose of silencing those reporting on the growing opposition movement in the country." Cathleen Colvin, who brought the lawsuit with her three children, said: "It's been almost seven years since my sister was killed by the Assad Regime, and not a day goes by when I don't think of her." "Marie dedicated her life to fighting for justice on behalf of the victims of war and ensuring that their stories were heard," she added. Colvin, who was 56 and working for the Sunday Times when she died, was known for her fearless reporting and signature black eye patch -- the consequence of losing sight in one eye in an explosion during Sri Lanka's civil war. Actress Rosamund Pike played her in Matthew Heineman's feature film "A Private War," which was released in November to critical acclaim. Kabul (AFP) - US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the "Islamic system" comprising "all Afghans" that the group says it hopes to establish under any peace deal. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day after the US said talks with the militants are "on the right path", fuelling speculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict. The US president's apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on the negotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatar last week. "An agreement was reached on a principle framework... which, if implemented, and if the Americans take honest steps and stick to it truthfully, then God willing we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation of Afghanistan," Mujahid said. "It appears that Trump is serious," the Taliban spokesman continued. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also spoke this week of a "draft framework" for a deal, though he warned that major hurdles -- including any US withdrawal -- remain. Experts have hailed the development as a milestone in the conflict. But it has prompted concerns from Afghans and observers who feared foreign troops could withdraw before a lasting peace is reached between the insurgents and the government in Kabul. The Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, imposing their brutal interpretation of Shariah law on the country until they were toppled in the US invasion of 2001. They have since fought an insurgency demanding foreign troops leave and an Islamic state be re-established. Mujahid said a foreign withdrawal was the first goal. "Secondly, we want the establishment of an Islamic system," he continued, dampening tentative hopes among Afghans that the insurgents would agree to participate in the existing democratic system built since 2001. He said they would establish such a system through "negotiations with different political sides, even if they have so far been under the umbrella of the invaders". Story continues If the government in Kabul will not stand in the way, he added, "then of course there will be no need for war". Mujahid said the insurgents are not seeking to monopolise power. "Inshallah (God willing) all Afghans, including different political sides" can take part, he told AFP. Such a system would be based on the principle of shura, or council, with Islamic experts making decisions and "representatives of people and scholars" contributing. Mujahid said the group was "100 percent hopeful" of establishing such a system. - Talks ongoing - He admitted that the Taliban regime of the 1990s experienced "a lot of economic, social and security problems" -- a key one being how to separate men from women. Under the Taliban women were largely confined to their homes, venturing outside only with a male escort and hidden beneath a burqa. Girls education was banned and women were prohibited from the workplace save in some few areas such as medicine. Now, the militants "don't oppose the education of women", Mujahid said. "We will try to provide a safe environment for the education and work of women," he told AFP, adding "whatever is permissible for women in Islamic Sharia will be allowed". Many women have spoken to AFP of their fears that a peace deal could come at the cost of the few, hard-won rights they have managed to establish in the deeply patriarchal, conservative country since 2001. Mujahid said the next round of talks with the US will again take place in Doha starting February 25. The US has said talks will continue, but not confirmed any date. Khalilzad tweeted late Thursday that both sides had made "significant progress on two vital issues: counter terrorism and troop withdrawal". But that "doesn't mean we're done", he continued, adding work continues on both issues as well as a ceasefire and convincing the Taliban to speak to the Afghan government -- all issues on which attempts at peace negotiations have foundered in the past. By David Brunnstrom and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy for North Korea laid out an extensive list of demands for North Korean denuclearization on Thursday that is likely to anger Pyongyang, even as President Donald Trump said the date and place for a second summit was set and hailed "tremendous progress" in his dealings with the country. In a speech at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, envoy Stephen Biegun said North Korea would need to declare all its nuclear and missile programs and warned that Washington had "contingencies" if the diplomatic process failed. Biegun, in his most detailed public remarks on his approach to North Korea after five months in his role, said Washington would have to have expert access and monitoring mechanisms of nuclear and missile sites and "ultimately ensure removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction." Pyongyang has rejected declaring its weapons programs for decades. Biegun also said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed during an October visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the dismantlement and destruction of plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities. The information from Biegun goes much further than Pompeo himself did after his trip and further than any public statement by Pyongyang. While Biegun conceded there was "more work ahead of us than behind us," Trump appeared upbeat about the prospects for a second summit with Kim, telling reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that a time and place had been agreed upon and would be announced next week. He said he was making "tremendous progress" with North Korea. "They very much want the meeting. And I think they really want to do something, and we'll see." Pompeo said on Wednesday that North Korea had agreed that the summit would be held at the end of February and that it would be "some place in Asia." Trump and Kim met in Singapore last June in the first summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, an event that produced a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, where U.S. troops have been stationed in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. Pyongyang has yet to take concrete steps in that direction, in Washington's view, and the director of U.S. national intelligence, Dan Coats, told Congress on Tuesday that it was unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and has continued activity inconsistent with pledges to denuclearize. The State Department said Biegun will travel to South Korea on Feb. 3 for talks with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol "to discuss next steps to advance our objective of the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea and steps to make further progress on all the commitments the two leaders made in Singapore." North Korea has complained that the United States has done little to reciprocate for the actions it has taken so far to dismantle some weapons facilities. It has repeatedly demanded a lifting of punishing U.S.-led sanctions and has also sought a formal end to the war, as well as security guarantees. In his speech, Biegun said the United States had told North Korea it was prepared to pursue commitments made in Singapore "simultaneously and in parallel" and had already eased rules on delivery of humanitarian aid to North Korea. He said he planned to discuss "corresponding measures" Washington was willing to take in return for the dismantlement of North Korea's enrichment capabilities when he holds talks with his counterpart next week. Responding to questions after his speech, Biegun said it was correct that the United States would not lift sanctions until North Korean denuclearization was complete, but added: "We did not say we will not do anything until you do everything." Biegun said both he and Trump were convinced it was time to move past 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean Peninsula, but stopped short of suggesting that an end-of-war declaration North Korea has been seeking could be a summit outcome. However, he added: "If we are doing the right thing on nuclear weapons, it makes it a lot more conceivable that there would be a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula." Biegun said that while he sometimes imagined a "perfect outcome moment, where the last nuclear weapons leave North Korea, the sanctions are lifted, the flag goes up at the embassy, and the treaty is signed at the same hour," he realized that was an ideal and added: "These things are going to move haltingly along different courses." Biegun admitted that the United States and North Korea did not have an agreed definition of denuclearization, but was blunt about U.S. expectations and said Trump had made clear he expected "significant and verifiable progress on denuclearization" to emerge from the next summit. "Before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean WMD and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration," Biegun said in his speech. Biegun said all these details would have to be addressed in working-level negotiations if the conditions were to be put in place "to fundamentally transform the U.S.-North Korean relations and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula." He pledged that once North Korea was denuclearized the United States was prepared to explore with North Korea and other countries the best way to mobilize investment in the country. Biegun said the past 25 years of talks had shown that the possibility of failure was great, and stressed: "We need to have contingencies if the diplomatic process fails - which we do." (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; writing by David Brunnstrom and Makini Brice; editing by Sonya Hepinstall, James Dalgleish and Grant McCool) Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said talks with lawmakers on building his proposed Mexico border wall are pointless and suggested he will declare a national emergency to get it done. "I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what she's doing and, ultimately, I think Ive set the table very nicely," Trump said Thursday in a wide ranging interview with The New York Times, referring to the speaker of the House of Representatives. The talks are to conclude in two weeks and Trump has previously warned that if they do not end with money to build a wall on the border with Mexico he will allow another government shutdown. An earlier 35-day shutdown just ended after a showdown with Democrats led by Pelosi. In the New York Times interview, Trump made no mention of another closure, however, and suggested he will declare a national emergency on the border as a way to use military funds to erect such a barrier, a key campaign pledge that plays to his conversvative nationalist base. "I've actually always gotten along with her, but now I dont think I will anymore," Trump said of Pelosi. "I think shes doing a tremendous disservice to the country. If she doesn't approve a wall, the rest of it's just a waste of money and time and energy because its desperately needed." Elsewhere in the interview, Trump dismissed the various investigations being waged against him including the one on Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians. He said his lawyers have been reassured by the departing deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein that Trump is himself was not a target. "He told the attorneys that Im not a subject, Im not a target," Trump told the Times. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump reversed course Thursday, claiming he and the American intelligence community are "in agreement" after branding them "naive" and in need of schooling the day before. He now alleges testimony by the country's top spies had been "distorted" by journalists -- one of his favorite targets. "Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc.," Trump tweeted. "I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday," he added. On that day, before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the nation's top intelligence chiefs contradicted some of Trump's most fundamental foreign policy claims. In the hearing about global threats, the country's senior spies took issue with Trump's assertion that the Islamic State jihadist group has been defeated, and that North Korea can be convinced to forego its nuclear weapons. They also challenged Trump's claim that Tehran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, the justification the president gave for withdrawing last year from a multilateral treaty on Iran. And they underscored again that Russia meddled deeply on Trump's behalf in the 2016 presidential election -- which he has repeatedly denied -- and can be expected to do the same in 2020. Trump lashed out at the intelligence services in an unusually public row the day after the testimony, tweeting: "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!" "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump also touted what he said were his successes in Syria, where he has alarmed allies by abruptly announcing a withdrawal of US troops assisting local forces against the Islamic State group, and in North Korea. It was not the first time Trump has publicly doubted his national security experts. But the vehemence of his response showed the depth of that split. BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A Syrian migrant convicted of illegal entry has failed in a bid to sue the Hungarian cabinet office for defamation when it used his case in a public questionnaire. Ahmed Hamed was among a group of migrants who, at the height of Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, pelted police with rocks at the border with Serbia before forcing their way into Hungary. Hamed was sentenced to five years in prison. In 2017, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet office sent a migration questionnaire to households in which Hamed's case was mentioned and he was described as a convict. Hamed argued that this was defamatory since his conviction had not become final until 2018. Budapest judge Lajos Bene said the case was "unfounded", not least because Hamed's case had received wide publicity at the time. Hamed was released from prison last month and is in custody awaiting deportation to a third country. He has resident status in Cyprus. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Rabat (AFP) - A Spanish-Swiss man suspected of having ties to those accused of murdering two Scandinavian women hiking in Morocco will appear in court on Monday, his lawyer has told AFP. "After the preliminary hearing, there will be a more detailed hearing, which will be longer, with more detailed questions, the suspect's lawyer Saad Sahli said Friday. Other suspects will also be present at the court house in Sale, near the Moroccan capital Rabat, said Sahli who represents the other defendants too. Moroccan authorities have charged more than 20 people over their alleged involvement in the killing of the two hikers whose bodies were found on December 17. Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead south of Marrakesh in a trekking area popular with foreign tourists. The two women were beheaded in what authorities say was a "terrorist" act. A video showing the killing of one of the hikers was circulated online and sparked outrage in Morocco. The Spanish-Swiss suspect, who was arrested in Marrakesh, subscribed to "extremist ideology", the authorities allege. He is accused of having "taught certain people arrested in this affair the communication tools of new technologies and of having trained them to shoot," according to the anti-terror unit of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ). Investigators say the Spanish-Swiss suspect was involved in "recruitment operations and the indoctrination of Moroccan citizens and sub-Saharan Africans to execute terrorist plans in Morocco." Moroccan media have said a Swiss-British man has also been arrested as part of the probe, although the BCIJ has not confirmed the reports. The authorities allege that the four main suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group, but say they were not in direct contact with IS members in Iraq or Syria. Morocco, which relies heavily on tourism income, suffered a jihadist attack in 2011, when a bomb blast at a cafe in Marrakesh's famed Jamaa El Fna Square killed 17 people, mostly European tourists. An attack in the North African state's financial capital Casablanca killed 33 people in 2003. Madrid (AFP) - Spain, France and Germany on Saturday gave embattled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro an ultimatum, saying they would recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as president unless he calls elections within eight days. The ultimatum comes as international pressure mounts on the Maduro regime to agree a new vote, with the United States, Canada and major South American players already recognising Guaido, who proclaimed himself acting president of Venezuela during massive street rallies this week. After four years of economic pain that has left Venezuelans short of food and medicine and driven more than two million to flee, Guaido is trying to oust Maduro following controversial elections that saw the socialist leader sworn in for a second term. "If within eight days there are no fair, free and transparent elections called in Venezuela, Spain will recognise Juan Guaido as Venezuelan president" so that he himself can call such polls, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised announcement. French President Emmanuel Macron followed suit in a tweet, saying "the Venezuelan people must be able to freely decide on their future," as did German government spokeswoman Martina Fietz. The coordinated announcements are the most explicit yet from EU countries as the 28-member bloc struggles to draft a joint statement with regards to its position on the crisis in Venezuela. - 'Not looking to impose' - Spain had wanted the EU to take a tough line on Maduro by calling for immediate elections, failing which the bloc as a whole would recognise Guaido, the 35-year-old head of Venezuela's National Assembly. But countries like Austria, Greece and Portugal are much more reluctant. In fact Greece's ruling party Syriza has publicly backed Maduro, with party secretary Panos Skourletis voicing "full support and solidarity" to what to he called "the legal president." President Donald Trump's administration has spearheaded the international pressure on Maduro, who accuses Washington of being behind an attempted "coup," by declaring his regime "illegitimate." Story continues On Saturday at a UN Security Council meeting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will urge members to recognise Guaido as interim president, the State Department said. Washington's support for Guaido led Maduro to close the US embassy and consulates and break diplomatic ties. US diplomats in Venezuela have until Saturday to leave the country, but Washington has refused to fully comply fully with the exit order. Guaido is instead urging the US diplomats to stay and keep the embassy's doors open. Maduro's reelection last year was contested by the opposition and criticised internationally -- but he has until now retained the loyalty of the powerful military. Spain is closely linked to Venezuela, a former colony, as some 200,000 of its nationals live there. Sanchez insisted Saturday that Spain is "not looking to impose or remove governments in Venezuela, we want democracy and free elections in Venezuela." (This Jan. 29 story corrects paragraph 7 to show Coats' testimony was on Tuesday, not on Monday) By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican leader of the U.S. Senate offered legislation on Tuesday urging the United States to keep troops in Syria and Afghanistan, as President Donald Trump's administration moves toward withdrawals of American forces after years overseas. Saying that Islamic militant groups in the two countries continue to pose a "serious threat" to the United States, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he had introduced an amendment to a broader Middle East security bill urging a "continued commitment" until al Qaeda, Islamic State and other groups are defeated. "We're not the world's policemen, but we are the leader of the free world, and it's incumbent upon the United States to lead, to maintain a global coalition against terror and to stand with our partners," McConnell said in a speech in the Senate. The measure would be an amendment to a broader Middle East security bill being debated in the Senate. That bill, which includes fresh sanctions on Syria and a measure combating the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, advanced in a procedural vote on Monday. There was no immediate word on when the Senate might vote on whether to pass the bill, including the amendment. To become law, it would also have to pass the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and be signed by Trump, or overcome a Trump veto if he will not sign. Trump's administration has announced plans to bring all U.S. forces home from Syria, saying that the Islamic State militant group had been defeated. Separately on Tuesday, Trump's director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, told a Senate hearing on worldwide risks that Islamic State remains a threat. On Monday, a U.S. special envoy said the United States and the Taliban have sketched the outlines for an eventual peace accord to end 17 years of war in Afghanistan. However, there was no sign the group had accepted key U.S. demands such as committing to a ceasefire before a withdrawal of U.S. troops. Nor did the special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, agree in talks with insurgent negotiators last week in Doha to a withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 18 months, as Taliban officials claimed, said a State Department spokesperson. We have not agreed to any specific timeline for a possible drawdown of troops, the spokesperson wrote in an email. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by James Dalgleish) KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese security forces clashed with protesters in three cities on Sunday as demonstrations against Omar al-Bashir's rule continued for a fourth week, witnesses said. In Khartoum North, across the Blue Nile from the center of the capital, security forces chased groups of protesters down side streets and fired tear gas to disperse demonstrations in several areas, a Reuters witness said. They also confronted protesters with tear gas in Wad Medani, the capital of Gezira state, southeast of the capital, and for the first time in Nyala, the main city in South Darfur, witnesses said. Protests triggered by an economic crisis have rippled across Sudan since Dec. 19 in the most sustained challenge yet to Bashir's close to 30-year rule. Security forces have used live ammunition and tear gas to break up demonstrations, as well as arresting protesters and opposition figures. A government fact-finding committee has recorded 24 deaths and Amnesty International has said that at least 40 have died. Officials have blamed the protests on "infiltrators" and said they are working to address economic problems. In Khartoum North on Sunday hundreds of people braved a heavy security presence to protest despite police and other security personnel trying to clear the area ahead of the rally. Some carried national flags and were chanting "freedom, freedom" and "with our soul, with our blood, we sacrifice ourselves for you Sudan". "We will continue to demonstrate until Bashir falls ... the country needs change," one 36-year-old protester told Reuters. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by David Goodman) Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer released an open letter to top U.S. intelligence officials on Wednesday evening urging them to hold an intervention for President Trump amid a growing fight between the White House and the Intelligence community over the latters assessment of foreign threats. I believe it is incumbent on you, [FBI] Director [Christopher] Wray and [CIA] Director [Gina] Haspel to insist on an immediate meeting with the President to educate him about the facts and raw intelligence underlying the Intelligence Community assessments, the New York Democrat wrote in his letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Coats testified Tuesday along with Wray and Haspel, contradicting the presidents assessment of the threats posed by Iran, ISIS, and North Korea. Among other points of contention, the intelligence chiefs said in their testimony accompanying the intelligence communitys Worldwide Threat Assessment that North Korea is not on the path to relinquishing its nuclear weapons and that ISIS will likely continue to pursue external attacks from Iraq and Syria against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States. Trump shot back on Twitter, calling his intelligence directors extremely passive and naive for downplaying the threat posed by Iran, claiming that the relationship between North Korea and the U.S. is the best it has ever been, and promising that ISIS will soon be destroyed. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school! he wrote. Schumer said in his letter to the intelligence chiefs that the presidents criticism is putting you and your colleagues in an untenable position and hurting the national interest in the process. I applaud you and your colleagues in the Intelligence Community for being clear-eyed about the threats we face, he added, but you cannot allow the Presidents ill-advised and unwarranted comments today to stand. More from National Review David Axe Security, Having struggled for decades to keep fewer than 20 Tu-160s in the air, Russia could struggle to more than double the bomber force. The Tu-160M is impressive, but it might never enter service in large numbers. Russia Wants 50 New Tu-160M Supersonic Bombers (But There's A Problem) The Russian air force could receive the first of up to 50 new Tu-160M long-range bombers as early as 2021, defense minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Jan. 30, 2019. The air force wants 50 of the swing-wing bombers. But that goal could prove unrealistic for the cash-strapped Kremlin. The Tu-160 is not a new aircraft. The 177-feet-long, four-engine Tu-160 first flew in 1981. Tupolev built for the Soviet air force 36 of the huge bombers including nine prototypes. For two decades the Tu-160 was the USSR's, and later Russia's, only supersonic, nuclear-armed strategic bomber. The Tu-95 strategic bomber is subsonic. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, newly-independent Ukraine inherited 19 Tu-160s. Kiev ultimately returned to Russia eight of the bombers and scrapped the other 11. By the turn of the millennium, just a handful of Russia's Tu-160s were airworthy. One of the bombers crashed in 2003. In the early 2000s, Moscow paid Kazan, a subsidiary of Tupolev, to finish assembly of two incomplete Tu-160 airframes. As of early 2019, the Russian air force possessed 16 Tu-160s and at least 11 apparently were airworthy. To put that number in context, the U.S. Air Force possesses more B-2 stealth bombers -- 20 -- than the Russian air force possesses non-stealthy Tu-160s. In the 2000s, the Russian air force modified the Tu-160 to carry non-nuclear weapons. The type first saw combat in 2015 over Syria. Tu-160s reportedly can fly as far as 7,700 miles while carrying missiles and without refueling in mid-air. Tu-160s frequently probe the air space of the United States and its allies and even periodically deploy to Venezuela. The Tu-160 is a high-profile aircraft. Its deployments are as much statements of national purpose as they are practical preparations for war. In 2005 Russian president Vladimir Putin posed for photos in the cockpit of a Tu-160. Story continues It's no wonder, then, that the Kremlin wants to sustain and even expand the Tu-160 fleet. In 2015 the Russian defense ministry announced it would restart Tu-160 production at Kazan and also modernize existing bombers for a future fleet of 50 Tu-160Ms. The M-model Tu-160 features new engines and avionics and a metallic canopy treatment that reduces the type's radar-reflectivity. But the Tu-160 isn't stealthy, even in its modernized form. The American B-1 bomber, while smaller than a Tu-160 is, is similar in shape and reportedly has a radar cross-section of around 10 square meters. A B-2 reportedly has a radar cross-section that's smaller than one square meter. The U.S. and Chinese air forces are developing new heavy bombers. Both countries have opted for flying-wing designs similar to the B-2, owing to the radar-evading potential of that planform. The Kremlin has tinkered with its own stealth-bomber concept but apparently has made no progress actually building such a plane. Hence its strong interest in acquiring fresh Tu-160s, instead. In stark contrast to the U.S. and Chinese air arms with their expanding acquisition of radar-evading planes, the Russian air force is unlikely to operate meaningful numbers of stealth aircraft for the foreseeable future. In late 2018 Moscow suspended production of the Su-57 stealth fighter after ordering just 22 copies including prototypes. Russia spends just $70 billion annually on its armed forces, a tenth of what the United States spends. Even buying 50 new Tu-160s could prove too expensive. Maxim Starchak from the Washington, D.C.-based Jamestown Foundation noted that, owing to the long gap between batches of Tu-160s, "much of the work on the modernized Tu-160M2 will have to be recreated independently from scratch, which requires extra time and money." Cost aside, it's not clear that Kazan can produce new bombers on schedule. The Kremlin launched the Tu-160M program before Kazan could finish modernizing its bomber factory, Starchak noted. Having struggled for decades to keep fewer than 20 Tu-160s in the air, Russia could struggle to more than double the bomber force. The Tu-160M is impressive, but it might never enter service in large numbers. Image: Creative Commons. Read full article WASHINGTON (AP) A day after he lashed out at U.S. intelligence agency chiefs over their assessments of global threats, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course Thursday and said that he and the intelligence community "are all on the same page." Trump met with his director of national intelligence and other top security officials in the Oval Office and said afterward that they told him their testimony at a Senate hearing had been "mischaracterized" by the news media. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats had slammed the president for his comments disparaging Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other top security officials. The officials told Congress on Tuesday that North Korea is unlikely to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and that the Iran nuclear deal is working, contrary to what Trump has claimed. The intelligence agency chiefs "said that they were totally misquoted and ... it was taken out of context," Trump told reporters at the White House. "They said it was fake news." Coats and other officials presented an update to the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday on their annual assessment of global threats. In a public report and testimony broadcast on C-SPAN, they warned of an increasingly diverse range of security dangers around the globe, from North Korean nuclear weapons to Chinese cyberespionage to Russian campaigns to undermine Western democracies. Trump tweeted Thursday that he and the intelligence leaders "are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc." and that he values their service. "Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page!" he wrote. Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters that the intelligence officials were "courageous" in speaking "truth to power" by publicly contradicting Trump. "One dismaying factor of it all is that the president just doesn't seem to have the attention span or the desire to hear what the intelligence community has been telling him," Pelosi said Thursday, calling Trump's comments attacking the intelligence leaders "cause for concern." Story continues Trump said earlier that intelligence officials were wrong about North Korea, Iran and the Islamic State, which they said remains a terrorist and insurgent threat. "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump tweeted Wednesday. Pelosi said Trump's comments were "stunning." "It's important for the Republicans in Congress to recognize they have to weigh in with the president to say, 'You can't act without knowledge,'" Pelosi said. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said it was "past time" for U.S. intelligence officials to stage an intervention with Trump. In a letter to Coats, Schumer called Trump's criticism of intelligence agencies "extraordinarily inappropriate" and said it could undermine public confidence in the government's ability to protect Americans. Schumer urged Coats and other officials to "educate" Trump about the facts and raw intelligence underlying threat assessments so the administration can speak "with a unified and accurate voice about national security threats." Asked about his tweets earlier Thursday, Trump did not back away from questioning the assessment by Coats and Haspel. "I disagree with certain things that they said. I think I'm right, but time will prove that, time will prove me right probably," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think Iran is a threat. I think I did a great thing when I terminated the ridiculous Iran nuclear deal. It was a horrible one-sided deal." Speaking about intelligence agencies generally, Trump added: "I have great respect for a lot people but I don't always agree with everybody." At a hearing Tuesday, Coats said intelligence information does not support the idea that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will eliminate his nuclear weapons. Trump later insisted on Twitter that the U.S. relationship with North Korea "is the best it has ever been." He pointed to the North's halt in nuclear and missile tests, the return of some U.S. service members' remains and the release of detained Americans as signs of progress. U.S. intelligence agencies also said Iran continues to work with other parties to the nuclear deal it reached with the U.S. and other world powers. In doing so, they said, Iran has at least temporarily lessened the nuclear threat. In May 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from that accord, which he said would not deter Iran. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran," Trump tweeted. "They are wrong!" ___ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Jill Colvin contributed to this story. Fish industry leaders have warned over a no-deal Brexit (PA) Britains fishing industry could be destroyed by a no-deal Brexit, a leading figure has warned. The UK fishing industry has long been one of the biggest backers for Britain to leave Brussels but Graeme Sutherland, the director of Whitelink Seafoods, said fishing would not survive if Britain crashes out of the European Union. As a company, we export into Europe at a rate of 85-90% of what we produce here, he told LBC. We are working on a next-day delivery into France for distribution into Europe. So if we are delayed in any way in clearing customs, in effect, we are going to lose 24 hours on delivery. We need frictionless borders. It has to be that for our industry to survive. Britains fishing industry has long backed the decision to leave the EU, due to widespread opposition to Brussels Common Fisheries Policy which they blame for decimating the industry and communities in the UK. Our aim is to leave the EU and get out of the Common Fisheries Policy, boat skipper Peter Bruce told LBC. This aim comes from 30 years of being ruled by the Common Fisheries Policy which has massive effects on our coastal communities all around Britain. Fishermen protesting to leave the EU in Gateshead last year (PA) We see great opportunities for the fishing industry. 55% of the fish taken from round the UK in our waters is taken by non-UK boats boats from France, boats from Spain. Earlier this month, the UK fishing industry was told to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Britain is due to leave the UK on March 29 but how still remains uncertain. Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Britains exit could be delayed if a deal is reached. The fishing industry has long backed Britain leaving the EU (PA) I think it is true that if we ended up approving a deal in the days before 29th March then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation, but if we are able to make progress sooner then that might not be necessary, he told BBC radio. We cant know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen. Earlier this week, MPs voted down an amendment that would delay Britains exit from the EU, despite Theresa May still trying to find a deal to get widespread support. OSLO (Reuters) - NATO has no intention of moving new land-based nuclear missiles to Europe, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters on Friday, after the United States said it would suspend compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia. "NATO does not have any intention to deploy new land-based nuclear weapons to Europe," Stoltenberg said in an interview in the Norwegian capital. "We don't have to mirror what Russia does. But at the same time we have to make sure that we maintain credible and effective deterrence," he said, without giving specifics on what the different military options NATO is looking at could entail. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Mexico City (AFP) - The leaders of Mexico and Spain called Wednesday for talks to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, but gaps were visible between them on what exactly that would look like. Visiting Mexico City, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for talks between Venezuela's rival leaders -- President Nicolas Maduro and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido -- that would lead to elections. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador meanwhile reiterated his appeal for dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition, but insisted there could be no preconditions. Mexico and Spain, both key players in Latin America, have taken markedly different approaches to the Venezuelan crisis. Sanchez said Saturday his government would join the United States and other countries in recognizing Guaido if elections were not called within eight days. Lopez Obrador for his part has pointedly distanced Mexico from other Latin American powers that have recognized Guaido, saying his foreign policy is one of "non-intervention." "We are in favor of dialogue, for reaching an agreement without the use of force. I think on that point (Mexico and Spain) agree," Lopez Obrador told a joint news conference. However, he added, that dialogue must be "without conditions." "We can't impose things. First the two sides have to sit down and talk. Instead of making recommendations, the best thing we can do is facilitate a dialogue... not withdraw recognition of one government or recognize another when that's not our role." Sanchez said Spain, which is working to establish a "contact group" of countries to mediate the crisis, does not want to "impose or remove governments." But he insisted that free, fair and transparent elections be a precondition for any talks. Lopez Obrador did not directly answer a question on whether Mexico was willing to be part of the contact group Spain and several other European countries are proposing. Story continues As the pair spoke, Uruguay -- whose stance on the crisis is similar to Mexico's -- announced that the two countries would convene an international conference of those with a "neutral stance" on Venezuela in Montevideo on February 7. They did not say which countries would take part. Lopez Obrador and Sanchez, both left-wing leaders, downplayed any tensions over Venezuela, but acknowledged the gap between them on how to respond to the crisis. "The relationship between our two countries goes far beyond any crisis," Sanchez said, a statement echoed by Lopez Obrador. Senator Kamala Harris committed a most unusual gaffe at her CNN town hall the other night not by misspeaking about one of her central policy proposals, but by describing it accurately. Asked on Monday night if the Medicare-for-all plan that shes co-sponsoring with Senator Bernie Sanders eliminates private health insurance, she said that it most certainly does. Citing insurance company paperwork and delays, she waved her hand: Lets eliminate all of that. Lets move on. She met with approbation from the friendly audience in Des Moines, Iowa, but the reaction elsewhere was swift and negative. As the furor grew, CNN reported the next day, a Harris adviser on Tuesday signaled that the candidate would also be open to the more moderate health reform plans, which would preserve the industry, being floated by other congressional Democrats. This was a leading Democrat wobbling on one of her top priorities 48 hours after the kickoff of her presidential campaign, which has been praised for its early acumen. It is sure to be the first of many unpleasant encounters between the new Democratic agenda and political reality. Democrats are now moving from the hothouse phase of jockeying for the nomination, when all they had to do was get on board the partys orthodoxy as defined by Bernie Sanders, to defending these ideas in the context of possibly signing them into law as president of the United States. The Harris flap shows that insufficient thought has been given to how these proposals will strike people not already favorably disposed to the new socialism. Its one thing for Sanders to favor eliminating private health insurance; no one has ever believed that he is likely to become president. Its another for Harris, deemed a possible front-runner, to say it. Her position is jaw-droppingly radical. It flips the script of the (dishonest) Barack Obama pledge so essential to passing Obamacare: If you like your health-care plan, youll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what. Story continues That was a very 2009 sentiment. Ten years later, Harris indeed wants to take away your health plan, not in a stealthy operation, not as an unfortunate byproduct of the rest of her plan, but as a defining plank of her agenda. This is a far more disruptive idea than Senator Elizabeth Warrens wealth tax. The affected population isnt a limited group of highly affluent people. It is half the population, roughly 180 million people who arent eager for the government to swoop in and nullify their current health-care arrangements. They may not like the current system, but they like their own health care about three-quarters tell Gallup that their own health care is excellent or good. This is why the relatively minor interruption of private plans as part of the rollout of Obamacare was so radioactive. How is a President Harris going to overcome this kind of resistance absent Depression-era Democratic supermajorities in Congress? Not to mention pay for a program that might well cost $30 trillion over 10 years and beat back fierce opposition from key players in the health-care industry? She obviously wont. Medicare-for-all is a wish and a talking point rather than a realistic policy. When her aides say she is willing to accept another path to Medicare-for-all, what they mean is that Harris is willing to accept something short of true Medicare-for-all. There is always something to be said for shifting the Overton window on policy. But its better if that is done by think tanks and gadflies rather than plausible presidential candidates who arent even trying to hold down the left flank of the party. If its uncomfortable for Kamala Harris to defend eliminating private health insurance now, imagine what it will be like when the entire apparatus of the Republican Party including the presidents Twitter feed is aimed at her in a general election. 2019 by King Features Syndicate More from National Review Photo credit: Getty Images From Car and Driver UPDATE 4/3/19: For the fourth time since last November, former Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested in Japan. Automotive News reported that authorities raided Ghosn's Tokyo residence over claims of improper payments of some $35 million to a business associate in Oman who was a Nissan distributor. This is only one of several financial-impropriety charges. Ghosn had been out of jail for just about one month. He posted on Twitter earlier in the day, in English and Japanese, the statement that he would tell his side of the story on Thursday, April 11. It's unclear whether he will have that opportunity now in view of the rearrest. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. UPDATE 3/4/19: After nearly four months in jail on financial-misconduct charges related to his years as chairman of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn was granted bail by a Tokyo court, the BBC is reporting. Bail has been set at nearly $9 million. The former head of Renault and Nissan could be out on Tuesday, March 4, the report said. UPDATE 1/31/19: Carlos Ghosn, in an interview from a Japanese jail, gave an exclusive interview to the French newspaper Les Echos on Thursday in which he claimed that he has "an army" against him that includes "several hundred people at Nissan" dedicated to his prosecution. The former chief executive said he intends to fight to restore his reputation "and defend myself against false accusations," insisting that the treatment he is facing "would not happen in any other democracy in the world." The accusations against him from Nissan, he said, are "a distortion of reality meant to destroy my reputation." Ghosn, who has been held for 70 days, told the pair of reporters that he has "no idea of time," is only allowed outdoors for 30 minutes a day, and has no access to a phone, a computer, or "even a watch." UPDATE 1/28/19: Nissan is now under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the alleged financial misdeeds of the automaker's ousted chairman, Carlos Ghosn, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Nissan said it will cooperate with the SEC without giving details. Ghosn has maintained his innocence related to charges that include underreporting his compensation on Nissan financial reports. Story continues UPDATE 1/9/19: Ghosn has lost an appeal to be released from jail while awaiting a future trial on financial-misconduct charges. The Tokyo District Court rejected the former Nissan chairman's petition. This means he could remain in jail as long as six months before a trial takes place, Bloomberg News reported, citing Ghosn's own lead attorney. The news service noted that his current imprisonment is set to end on January 11, but he is expected to face new or renewed charges then that will keep him in jail while prosecutors prepare for a future trial. Ghosn plans to appeal today's decision. After seven weeks and counting, Carlos Ghosn, former Nissan chairman and current chairman and CEO of Renault, was finally able to defend himself in court against the Japanese prosecutors and Nissan directors whose allegations of financial crimes have kept him in jail for seven weeks and counting. I have been wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated allegations, Ghosn said, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. His lawyer, former prosecutor Motonari Otsuru, said on Tuesday that "There is no evidence of a crime." Ghosn, who has been jailed since November 19, told the court on Monday that he has done nothing illegal. Japanese law essentially allows prosecutors to detain suspects as long as they wish until that suspect confesses or until a trial is called. Ghosn, who was deemed by the court to be a flight risk and denied bail, may stay in jail for months more until his trial. Ghosn has been charged only with making false disclosures about his income on Nissan's corporate financial statements. Responding to that accusation, Ghosn said Nissan never finalized his contract and that the unreported money was for future payments Nissan would not pay him until his retirement. Nissan has alleged that Ghosn used company assets for personal gain, including purchasing luxury apartments in Brazil and Lebanon and funneling money to a Saudi businessman to take care of a personal debt. His lawyer said that the businessman, Khaled Al Juffali, was a legitimate business partner who helped Nissan fix a dispute with a distributor in the region and that Ghosn used Al Juffali for a contract to convert his Nissan salary from yen to U.S. dollars and thus avoid currency swings. Ghosn maintains his innocence on all the allegations. Since the initial arrest, Ghosn was removed from the chairmanship of both Nissan and Mitsubishi. He remains chairman and CEO at Renault and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. ('You Might Also Like',) As a caffeine magnate, Howard Schultz, the billionaire former CEO of Starbucks, spent decades causing Americans to lose sleep. In the few days since he indicated a strong desire to run for President, Schultz has contributed to an extra dose of insomnia to the many Democrats who dread a second term for President Donald Trump. Seeing as Schultz is a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat, the reflective forecast from the sidelines has largely been that a well-funded Schultz candidacy would poach enough votes from whoever winds up as the actual Democratic candidate that Trump would waltz to victory. This seems like a reasonable conclusion, but it ignores a much safer one: There is no accounting for the tangled and largely unreadable psychology of the American voter, particularly when it comes to third-party candidates. What we do know is that, putting aside the sui generis case of the 2000 presidential election, it is uncommon for a third-party candidate of any persuasion to spoil even a very close election unless you make some absurd assumptions. Most recently, there was some speculation as to whether Green Party candidate Jill Stein tipped the scales to Trump by siphoning off just enough votes from Hillary Clinton to hand Trump narrow victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. We can game this out pretty easily by making two estimates: What percentage of Steins supporters would have otherwise have voted for Trump or Clinton? How would those voters have split between Trump and Clinton? Rather than invent figures for those two variables, for which exit polling is absolutely useless, I calculated every possible combination of values in 5-point intervals from 0 to 100. The following grid shows the percentage of Stein supporters who would otherwise have voted for Clinton or Trump on the horizontal axis, and how those voters would have split between Clinton and Trump on the vertical axis, from 0 (universal support for Trump) to 100 (every vote going to Clinton.) You can tap or click individual squares to see the electoral college outcome for each pair of values. Story continues [Stein placeholder] These calculations apply the turnout and party-preference figures for each square to every state individually, adding varying portions of Steins votes to both Clinton and Trump and recomputing the electoral college vote whenever a state flips. As you can see, Green Party voters could have turned over the election to Clinton only in the unlikely event that virtually all of them showed up on Election Day and voted Democratic instead. Only Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were close enough to flip if Clinton could have absorbed almost all of Steins voters, who totaled 1,457,218 nationwide. The 1992 election is more interesting because Ross Perot, who like Schultz was an extremely wealthy businessman with no political bone fides, won 19% of the popular vote a tremendous windfall for a modern third-party candidate. But even Perots 19.7 million voters are very unlikely to have handed a reelection to President George H.W. Bush, a fellow Texan, unless they showed up in large numbers and contributed very little to Clintons state totals. Heres the same chart from 1992: [Perot placeholder] As a thought experiment, what if someone like Schultz had run in 2016? Heres where things get interesting. With two businessman and political neophytes in the race, one of whom (Trump) was the Republican nominee and the other running as an independent, its impossible to predict how voters would have reacted. Instead of imagining how an existing candidates voters would have split between Clinton and Trump, we can reverse the scale and estimate how many votes this hypothetical Independent would have drawn away from the major tickets. Heres a scenario that estimates the third-party candidates share of the popular vote from 0 to 25 percent (horizontal axis) and how many votes he or she would have drawn from Trump versus Clinton, with 0 being all from Clinton and 100 being all from Trump (vertical axis). Since this scale is measuring votes subtracted instead of votes added, as in the two charts above, it measures Trumps losses instead of Clintons gains to be visually consistent. [Wildcard placeholder] Here we see a much more volatile scenario. Even if this ur-Schultz candidate drew 5 percent of the popular vote from Clinton and Trump, with just a 60-40 split in Clintons favor, the election would have flipped. These calculations assume that the hypothetical third-party candidates votes are all drawn from the existing national total in 2016, and accounts for the fact that about 6 percent of his or her voters would be drawn from other third-party candidates. Any new supporters who otherwise wouldnt have voted would not change the outcome. The Schultz Question, then, becomes a lot hazier and far less of a mortal prophecy for Democrats. Should the former CEO run but never catch on, his vote total will be insufficient to make any difference. Should he perform in the ballpark of Ross Perot in 1992, he could absolutely play a spoiler role we just have no idea as to the identity of the spoilee. It is perfectly plausible that a sizable number of Trumps supporters in 2016, while averse to voting for the Democratic nominee, now find Trump sufficiently distasteful to vote for a different businessman even if he is a lifelong Democrat, so long as it doesnt say so on the ballot. Some voters are hyper-educated on the candidates, some are faithfully devoted to a party, some check in around Nov. 1, and a few vote for Jesus as a write-in. Those who didnt vote for the Republican or Democratic candidate likely did so for a reason, and a fair portion were probably aware that their candidate of choice would not win. Thats a lot of probablies and as many synonyms as I could locate. Enough that, seeing as Schultz is perfectly entitled to run if he wants, given that he was born in the United States and over the age of 35, those whod prefer Trump to be a one-term president might be advised to take a breath and see his possible candidacy as an opportunity. Maputo (AFP) - British mining group Gemfields said Tuesday it would pay 5.8 million pounds in compensation to nearly 300 artisanal miners over accusations of abuse around a ruby mine in Mozambique, but denied liability. In a class action suit, Gemfields was accused of hiring police and private security officials who were involved in the alleged torture and death of some residents in the company's concession area, as well as destroying their property, to force them to leave. The London-based Leigh Day firm said the suit brought by 273 miners is to be settled with the payout, worth 6.7 million euros ($7.6 million) including the claimants' legal expenses. "Gemfields... has agreed, on a no-admission-of-liability basis, the settlement of all claims brought by English law firm Leigh Day on behalf of individuals living in the vicinity of Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada's (MRM) mining concession in northern Mozambique," the mining company said in a statement sent to AFP. Gemfields denied any wrongdoing but said it "recognised that, in the past, instances of violence have occurred on and around the MRM licence area, both before and after Gemfields' arrival in Montepuez." Gemfields is a majority shareholder of MRM, which won the mining rights to 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) of ruby-rich land in Mozambique in 2011. The agreement also provides for an agricultural development and training project, as well as a mechanism for resolving conflicts between MRM and local residents. The plaintiffs' law firm, which prides itself on waging "David and Goliath" legal battles pitting individuals against corporations and governments, hailed the settlement, saying it would "provide significant redress to our clients". "These incidents should never have happened. However, we commend Gemfields for engaging constructively to resolve this case promptly and for putting in place an independent grievance mechanism," Leigh Day partner Daniel Leader said. Mozambique, whose economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid, now accounts for 80 percent of global ruby production. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Facebook Inc has removed hundreds of Indonesian accounts, pages and groups from its social network after discovering they were linked to an online group accused of spreading hate speech and fake news. Indonesian police uncovered the existence of the group, called Saracen, in 2016 and arrested three of its members on suspicion of being part of a syndicate being paid to spread incendiary material online through social media. "These accounts and pages were actively working to conceal what they were doing and were linked to the Saracen Group, an online syndicate in Indonesia," Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of Cybersecurity Policy, said on Friday. "They have using deceptive messaging and... networks of concealed pages and accounts to drive often divisive narratives over key issues of public debates in Indonesia," Gleicher told Reuters in an interview. The world's largest social network has been under pressure from regulators around the globe to fight spread of misinformation on its platform. In January, it announced two new regional operations centers focused on monitoring election-related content in its Dublin and Singapore offices. Indonesia is currently in the run-up to a presidential election set to take place in April, with internet watchdogs flagging the impact of fake news as a concern. Indonesia is estimated to be Facebook's third largest markets, with over a 100 million users. Indonesia's police cyber crime unit has previously told Reuters that Saracen was posting material involving religious and ethnic issues, as well as fake news and posts that defamed government officials. The country has an ethnically diverse population of 260 million people, with a big majority of Muslims but with significant religious minorities, and ensuring unity across the archipelago has been a priority of governments. Gleicher said Facebook's investigation found Saracen agents would target and compromise accounts, but stressed the removal of the accounts was due to "coordinated deceptive behavior (by Saracen)... not due to the content they had shared". The pages and accounts deleted had 170,000 followers on Facebook and more than 65,000 on Instagram, but the reach of the people exposed to the content is believed to be higher. Police alleged there were financial links between Saracen and a handful of organizers of 2016 protests against the former governor of Jakarta, who was condemned for blasphemy after a doctored video of supposed anti-Islam comments went viral. However, the Indonesian supreme court ruled in April 2018 that Saracen had not been guilty of spreading hate speech and that the police's case could not be proven. A national police spokesman said they were continuing to monitor Saracen's social media activity and would ask Facebook for the data from their investigation. A lawyer for Jasriadi, whom prosecutors allege was one of the masterminds of the Indonesian syndicate, said "that based on the facts of the case and our hearing, there remains no evidence that Saracen exists". (Reporting by Fanny Potkin; additional reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Ed Davies, Himani Sarkar and Michael Perry) Facebook has removed nearly 800 accounts stemming from Iran for coordinated inauthentic behavior, the company said in a blog post on Thursday, as part of its continued push to remove misinformation from its platform. Many of the purged accounts shared anti-Semitic cartoons and memes critical of Israel, according to examples shared by Facebook. Altogether, 783 pages, accounts and groups were removed from Facebook and Instagram. The accounts were taken down not for the content they posted, but for using fake accounts and misrepresenting themselves, Facebook said. These accounts often repurposed Iranian state media and shared it across several different countries, although its primary focus was on the Middle East and South Asia. The Page administrators and account owners typically represented themselves as locals, often using fake accounts, and posted news stories on current events, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of cybersecurity policy, wrote. This included commentary that repurposed Iranian state medias reporting on topics like Israel-Palestine relations and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, including the role of the US, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Also Read: Facebook's Stock Surges 7 Percent on Huge Q4 Sales, Massive User Growth At least one of the Facebook pages had 2 million followers. Some of the accounts had been running misinformation campaigns since at least 2010, the company said. Facebook shared several examples of the content from the fake pages. One post, translated from French, was a post that said: I do not recognize Israel at all. Another Instagram post included a blatantly anti-Semitic character: An Instagram post from one of the 783 accounts removed by Facebook Also Read: Facebook Drops App That Paid Teens $20 for Full Access to Their Phones Facebook has removed thousands of accounts in the last year for inauthentic behavior and spreading misinformation. Many of the removed accounts have also shown close ties to Iran. The company removed hundreds of accounts in August, linked to Iran and Russia, for running a misinformation campaign, including sharing Iranian state media. Another 82 Iranian-tied accounts were booted in October for sharing fake news. Read original story Facebook Removes 783 Iranian Accounts for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior At TheWrap By Jess Macy Yu and Karl Plume (Reuters) - Foxconn Technology Group is reconsidering plans to make advanced liquid crystal display panels at a $10 billion Wisconsin campus, and said it intends to hire mostly engineers and researchers rather than the manufacturing workforce the project originally promised. Announced at a White House ceremony in 2017, the 20-million square foot campus marked the largest greenfield investment by a foreign-based company in U.S. history and was praised by President Donald Trump as proof of his ability to revive American manufacturing. Foxconn, which received controversial state and local incentives for the project, initially planned to manufacture advanced large screen displays for TVs and other consumer and professional products at the facility, which is under construction. It later said it would build smaller LCD screens instead. Now, those plans may be scaled back or even shelved, Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn Chief Executive Terry Gou, told Reuters. He said the company was still evaluating options for Wisconsin, but cited the steep cost of making advanced TV screens in the United States, where labour expenses are comparatively high. "In terms of TV, we have no place in the U.S.," he said in an interview. "We can't compete." When it comes to manufacturing advanced screens for TVs, he added: If a certain size of display has more supply, whether from China or Japan or Taiwan, we have to change, too. Rather than a focus on LCD manufacturing, Foxconn wants to create a "technology hub" in Wisconsin that would largely consist of research facilities along with packaging and assembly operations, Woo said. It would also produce specialized tech products for industrial, healthcare, and professional applications, he added. In Wisconsin were not building a factory. You cant use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment, Woo said. Earlier this month, Foxconn, a major supplier to Apple Inc., reiterated its intention to create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, but said it had slowed its pace of hiring. The company initially said it expected to employ about 5,200 people by the end of 2020; a company source said that figure now looks likely to be closer to 1,000 workers. Story continues It is unclear when the full 13,000 workers will be hired. But Woo, in the interview, said about three-quarters of Foxconn's eventual jobs will be in R&D and design - what he described as "knowledge" positions - rather than blue-collar manufacturing jobs. Foxconn is formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.\ Rather than manufacturing LCD panels in the United States, Woo said it would be more profitable to make them in greater China and Japan, ship them to Mexico for final assembly, and import the finished product to the United States. He said that would represent a supply chain that fits with Foxconn's current "fluid, good business model." Heavily criticized in some quarters, the Foxconn project was championed by former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a Republican who helped secure around $4 billion in tax breaks and other incentives before leaving office. Critics of the deal, including a number of Democrats, called it a corporate giveaway that would never result in the promised manufacturing jobs and posed serious environmental risks. "Every step of the way Foxconn has overpromised and under-delivered," Democrat Gordon Hintz, the minority party leader in the state assembly, said in a Wednesday statement. "This news is devastating for the taxpayers of Wisconsin." The companys own growth projections and employment goals suggest the taxpayer investment would take at least 25 years to recoup, according to budget think tank the Wisconsin Budget Project. Foxconn CEO Gou plans to meet with Wisconsin's new Democratic governor, Tony Evers, a past critic of the deal, later this year to discuss modifications of the agreement, according to the source familiar with the company's thinking. The Office of the Governor said in a Wednesday statement it has been in contact with senior leadership at Foxconn since the Reuters story was published. Evers' aide Joel Brennan said the team was "surprised" by the development. Some "details about the continuing evolution of this project will require further review and evaluation," Brennan said in the statement. Currently, to qualify for the tax credits Foxconn must meet certain hiring and capital investment goals. It fell short of the employment goal in 2018 - hiring 178 full-time jobs rather than the 260 targeted - failing to earn a tax credit of up to $9.5 million. The company may be prepared to walk away from future incentives if it is unable to meet Wisconsin's job creation and capital investment requirements, according to the source familiar with the matter. (Reporting by Jess Macy Yu in Taipei and Karl Plume in Wisconsin; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Paul Thomasch) Reuters Robert Merry Politics, America American politics is a parade of surprises, including developments that seem inconceivable before they happen but afterward take on a coloration of being commonplace. Does Howard Schultz Have a Real Shot at Defeating Trump? Ask yourself a question: Going back four years ago today, as the 2016 presidential campaign was just beginning to heat up amid hints that Donald Trump might run, did you think he had any chance in the world to win the GOP nomination, let alone the presidency? Thought so. What this tells you is that American politics is a parade of surprises, including developments that seem inconceivable before they happen but afterward take on a coloration of being commonplace. The Trump election is a vivid example. Now we have hints from former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz that he may run for president next year as an independent candidatefunded in large part, presumably, by his own fortune born of his business brilliance. Howls went up immediately that he would be a spoiler in the race, split the anti-Trump vote, and almost single-handedly award Trump with a reelection victory. Besides, it was emphasized, he cant win. Probably he cant. But maybe he can. We just dont know, rather like we couldnt know four years ago that Trump actually could become president. As Schultz makes up his mind on whether to runand whether he can withstand the opprobrium of Democrats who are shrieking like teenagers at a horror movie, as the Wall Street Journal puts itsome observations may be in order. First, if ever there were a time in American politics when there could be a prospect for an independent victory, this may be it. The countrys political situation is intrinsically unstable. Trump has captured the reins of the Republican Party, but many Republicans recoil at the idea of having him as their partys leader. And Trumps public opinion approval numbers since his election, between around 39 percent. Story continues If Trump looks like a loser as the campaign year unfolds, then his base support could erode significantly. That could destabilize the countrys political situation further. Then there is the Democratic Party, lurching to the Left at the behest of such figures as senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, not to mention the new crop of outspoken leftists and socialists who emerged in last years congressional elections. They have brought to the fore within the party such policy prescriptions as Medicare for All, a 70 percent top individual tax rate, and a truly confiscatory wealth tax on billionaires. Many Democrats will embrace these ideas, but others wont. And the emergence of a new party establishment of the Left, which seems to be in the works, will leave many Democrats uncomfortable, if not downright angry. That will destabilize the situation even further. Independent presidential candidates gain sway in turbulent campaign years, which 2020 figures to be. Thus, while theres no reason at this point to predict a consequential Schultz surge in the general election, it shouldnt be discounted, either. Voters are going to be angry, frustrated, fearful, and wracked with concerns about the state and direction of their country. Thats a recipe for voters casting a serious look at fresh electoral options. Second, lets explore the idea that Schultz would split the anti-Trump vote and hence deliver a reelection victory to the president. Its possible, but history suggests alternative candidates, if they reach a level of magnitude, often harm the incumbent more than the challenger. Thats because the incumbent (or incumbent party) generally gets the blame for what ails the polity, and alternative candidates serve to emphasize these ills to the electorate. Thus, Theodore Roosevelts 1912 independent bid destroyed the Taft incumbency; George Wallaces 1968 candidacy (which garnered nearly 14 percent of the popular vote) upended the Democrats hold on the White House; John Andersons 1980 insurgency (6.6 percent) helped defeat Jimmy Carter; and Ross Perots 1992 entry (19 percent) contributed to George H. W. Bushs downfall. Its rather pat to suggest definitively that a Schultz candidacy will give Donald Trump his only serious chance to get reelected, as William A. Galston put it in a Wall Street Journal open letter. The campaign year dynamics have yet to play out, and they could prove to be far different from what they appear to be today. Finally, independent presidential bids, even in failure, sometimes can help the country sort out the political complexities of the day. Consider the lingering significance of Ross Perots 19 percent of the electorate in 1992. It represented a protest movement spawned primarily by political anxiety over what was considered fiscal recklessness at the federal level. Then, two years later, it coalesced in the midterm elections to deliver a stern rebuke to President Bill Clinton and award full congressional control to the Republican Party for the first time in four decades. Then, just two years after that, it turned around the helped elect Clinton to a second term. Election Day exit polls told the story. In Tennessee in 1994, the Perot vote from two years earlier broke for the two Republican Senate candidates by a margin of about 75 percent to 20 percent. In Pennsylvanias Senate race, it was 59 percent to 33 percent. In Californias Senate contest, it was 60 percent to 27 percent. In New Yorks gubernatorial race, it was 70 percent to 16 percent. But then exit polls two years later revealed that the Perot vote declined precipitously among independents, Democrats, liberals, and moderates. Meanwhile, Clintons vote increased markedly among all those groups, suggesting he had finally captured a goodly share of the Perot vote. He captured it by crafting a center-left brand of politics that resonated with multiple segments of the electorate, including the previous Perot voters. Without those voters, it isnt likely Clinton could have pulled together his winning coalition. Something similar happened following the 1968 independent candidacy of Alabamas George Wallace, who captured nearly 14 percent of the popular balloting and landed electoral vote pluralities in five southern states. Richard Nixon won that year, but the Wallace candidacy rendered him a minority president, with just 43 percent of the vote (the same percentage Clinton received in 1992). But Nixon wooed the angry Wallace constituency through his first term, and by 1972 he had incorporated it into his coalition. He captured those five southern states and also siphoned off a large proportion of the angry white ethnic voters in Americas big cities of the Northeast and Midwest. Ronald Reagan built on that strategy in fashioning his more powerful coalition and transforming the political balance of power in the 1980s. Thus do we see that independent presidential candidacies can pull together knots of voters that can be incorporated into subsequent political coalitions, including coalitions of significant political clout. Without making any predictions about Howard Schultzs ability to do this, or anything else of political significance, in 2020, it does seem axiomatic that the emotions and volatile nature of American politics these days could pose an uncommon political opportunity to a credible independent candidacy. Of course, that opportunity can be exploited only if the independent candidate can craft a collection of policy prescriptions that can galvanize a new and powerful electoral coalition. Robert W. Merry, longtime Washington journalist and publishing executive, is the former editor of The American Conservative and the National Interest . He is the author most recently of President McKinley: Architect of the American Century. Image: Reuters Read full article By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said on Friday she is considering imposing a gag order on President Donald Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone, who since being charged a week ago has repeatedly criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the ongoing Russia probe. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said during a hearing in Washington she is considering a gag order for both Stone and the prosecution, citing a number of "extrajudicial statements by the defendant" and noting that "this is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign." Stone was charged with making false statements to Congress, obstruction of an official proceeding and witness tampering in an indictment secured by Mueller, who is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election and whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow. Jackson said if she does impose a gag order, Stone would still be free to talk to the media about issues unrelated to the case. The judge asked both sides to file briefs by Feb. 8 on the possible gag order. Stone can "discuss foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady as much as he wants to," Jackson said, referring to the star New England Patriots quarterback who will be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Arrested in Florida on Jan. 25, Stone pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Washington. Jackson previously imposed a similar gag order on Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted by a Virginia jury last year on financial wrongdoing charges brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty to separate charges in Washington. Criminal defendants typically shun the media spotlight. But Stone, a 66-year-old self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" and Republican political operative since the days of the Watergate scandal that forced his former boss President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974, has embraced it. Among other things, Stone has told reporters that FBI agents stormed his house at Mueller's behest "to terrorize my wife and my dogs" using more force than U.S. troops used to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and accused the special counsel of running a politically motivated "two-year inquisition." Stone gave a news conference on Thursday hosted by Infowars, the website of U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. In a Reuters interview, Stone dismissed the charges as "process crimes" with no intentional lies. "Perjury requires both intent and materiality," Stone said, calling any failure to disclose emails or text messages an "honest mistake." Jackson told Stone his prior comments could come back to bite him, saying Mueller's office "will be free to introduce any of it as evidence." Prosecutor Michael Marando said he may propose an October trial date. Jackson said she hopes the trial can begin in the summer. The next hearing is set for March 14. The indictment accused Stone of telling unidentified members of Trump's 2016 campaign team he had advance knowledge of plans by the WikiLeaks website to release damaging emails - stolen by Russia, according to prosecutors - about Trump's Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump denies collusion with Russia. Russia denies election meddling. Stone's indictment refers to two people with whom he is accused of communicating in an effort to get more information about Wikileaks' plans for releases of stolen Democratic emails. Jerome Corsi, a right-wing political commentator and conspiracy theorist, previously confirmed to Reuters he is "Person 1" mentioned in the indictment. "I'm sorry Roger has been talking like he has been. I don't have anything against Roger. He'd be well advised to be more careful," Corsi told Reuters. "... I wish Roger would just say less." (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Aye Min Thant, Nathan Layne and David Alexander; Editing by Will Dunham) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Trade tensions with the United States and a slowing economy are keeping Chinese tourists to budget-friendly destinations closer to home for the Lunar New Year holiday, with more likely opting for Bangkok than Sydney or San Francisco. The week-long holiday, which takes place this year in the first week of February, is one of China's longest breaks and over 400 million people are expected to travel across the country for family reunions, according to Chinese travel agency Ctrip. It estimates 7 million will go abroad. Hotels and travel agencies in Asian countries from Thailand to Japan anticipate higher numbers than a year ago of Chinese tourists, who have become a powerful spending force with the ability to make, or break, the fortunes of retailers and tourism brands. But recently, the numbers going to the United States, Australia and New Zealand have fallen or only show small increases. "We see the growth start to slow a little bit and per pax spending, especially on shopping, declining," said Hunter Williams, a U.S.-based partner at management consultant firm Oliver Wyman. The consultancy says that average spending on overseas shopping a year ago was 5,800 yuan ($855), compared with 8,000 yuan around Lunar New Year in 2016. In 2018, the Chinese economy grew at its slowest rate in nearly three decades, and economists expect a further decline this year, in part because of weakening consumer spending. He Yanping, 26, who works in advertising in Beijing, was among those not venturing too far overseas for Lunar New Year, with an 11-day Malaysia holiday she estimates will cost between 8,000 to 10,000 yuan. "I actually wanted to go to Australia but the problem is that it's too far, and the hotels and visa are expensive," she said. FULL BALI FLIGHTS Ctrip said bookings indicated the four most popular destinations are Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore, all within in seven-hours flying time from Beijing or Shanghai. Incoming flights are full, said Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, which represents the industry on the popular Indonesian holiday. "We are optimistic that bookings will be at least the same (as 2018)." The Thai Hotels Association said bookings from China, which tumbled after 47 Chinese tourists died when a boat sank near Phuket in July, were back to normal levels. Chinese outbound travel to the United States has seen a significant slowing since trade frictions between Beijing and Washington began escalating. In July-September, such arrivals fell 20 percent from a year earlier, according to the private China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, which analyses Chinese travel data. "For every citizen, it became clear that it is not politically correct at this moment in time to travel to the USA, especially for leisure," an institute spokesman said. The outlook for Australia and New Zealand, in previous years popular during their summers, is also less rosy. In November, Chinese arrivals in New Zealand were 4.4 percent below a year earlier, and in Australia they just 1.6 percent higher. Air New Zealand on Wednesday lowered its profit outlook and forecast revenue growth would ease due to weaker tourism. Du Ge, a sales director at Beijing Xinjie International Travel Service which organizes tours to New Zealand and Australia, said bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday have been weak, which he attributed to the economic climate. "Three or four years ago, we could have more than 3,000 bookings. Now, maybe 1,000," he said. "Tourism is considered a luxury, something to have after your stomach is full. But as people's disposable incomes fall, tourism will be impacted." (Reporting by Orathai Sriring in Bangkok, Tabita Diela in Jakarta, Cynthia Kim in Seoul, Stanley White in Tokyo, Aradhana Aravindan and Jamie Freed in Singapore, Mai Nguyen in Hanoi, Marius Zaharia in Hong Kong, Josh Horwitz and the Shanghai Newsroom; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Richard Borsuk) Curt Mills Domestic Politics, United States McConnell's amendment rebuking Trump is approved by the Senate. The Congressional Assault On Trumps War Powers Trump will be remembered for overseeing a dramatic weakening of the presidencyitll be back to Andrew Johnson days, a prominent conservative close to the White House says. Such is the sentiment among many of the presidents allies who back his proposed withdrawal in Syria and pullback in Afghanistan. The president, albeit inconsistently, has his priorities. But he is routinely stymied by his own knife-fighting subordinates and fellow partisans in Congress. With the announcement by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week that he will offer up an amendment to a Middle East policy bill, the senior senator from Kentucky has set the stage for an informal rebuke of the commander-in-chief. The text of McConnells amendment is neoconservative, writes John M. Donnelly in Roll Call. McConnell is arguing that America cannot take its foot off the gas and must sustain the strategies that are clearly working. Another administration ally and veteran Republican activist characterized the attempt as the most forceful break by McConnell with Trump since hes become president. And it has the making of the widest riff between McConnell and administration-friendly populists since McConnells war on former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon in 2017. It is likely that McConnell, not National Security Advisor John Bolton, is the most ardent opponent of Trumps new strategy yet. And this unwelcome development for the White House comes just as the president was served a stinging political defeat by the head of Congress other branch, Nancy Pelosi. A parallel development: the McConnell row again has forced Trump into the corner of Kentuckys junior senator Rand Paul. Senator Paul has a political understanding with McConnellthe majority leader endorsed Paul for president in the early days of the 2016 campaignbut they part company on foreign policy. Story continues A core issue for many is McConnells use of the word precipitous to characterize American withdrawal from the regionlaughable for critics of the war who note Afghanistan is now Americas longest war. It is ludicrous to call withdrawal after 17 years precipitous, Paul said Thursday, appearing on Fox News to rally the base to the presidents defense. Critics of McConnell further note that this is the first time the majority leader has seemingly shown interest in restraining President Trumps war powerswhen he disagreed with him. McConnell steadfastly backed Trumps right to strike at Bashar Assad in Syria in 2017 and 2018, sans congressional support. For aspiring reformers of the way the United States conducts itself overseas, its rather inconsistent of McConnell to invoke a need for congressional oversight, when there has been no greater handmaiden of status-quo approaches elsewhere. Most notably, he was the Hills executioner earlier in the administration of an updated Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). But McConnells gambit is audacious because he is breaking with the president he has worked so effectively to reshape Americas judiciary and reform its tax systemcareer-long goals for the majority leader. On this measure, McConnell is acting out of a seeming, genuine conviction to keep the United States in Syria and Afghanistan. A source familiar with the senators thinking indicates that Sen. Jim Risch, the new Senate Foreign Relations chair, is skittish on the maneuver, wary of insulting the president at the very least. Nevertheless, on Thursday afternoon, the Senate approved McConnell's amendment rebuking Trump. With the fresh McConnell drama, Trumps foreign policy is under strain on the Hill from both hawkish and realist right. Elsewhere, opponents of U.S. sponsorship of the war in Yemen are plotting their killing stroke. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee and Chris Murphy, along with Reps. Ro Khanna and Mark Pocan, re-introduced legislation to force a vote on ending U.S. support of the Saudi-led coalition this week. Perseverance is a key ingredient to changing U.S. foreign policy, Paul Kawika Martin, senior director of Peace Action, said Wednesday. Curt Mills is the foreign-affairs reporter at the National Interest, where he covers the State Department, National Security Council and the Trump Presidency. Image: Reuters. Read full article On Sunday January 27th, Chicago police officers from the 20th District helped a man to safety after he attempted to save his dog from a frozen Lake Michigan. Below is a letter from the man who wishes to remains anonymous: I first want to extend my gratitude the Chicago Police officers and first responders who came to my aid. They absolutely saved my life and I will be forever grateful to them. I took my recently adopted dog, Pika, to Lincoln Park by Foster beach Saturday afternoon. Ive been visiting that beach and park in all weathers for years with my recently deceased dog, Bowser. This was Pikas first visit to the park, he is a 9 month old American Eskimo mix. He was very excited and got away from me, ran down to the beach, and then to the edge of the large ice ridges that form during cold winters. I saw him disappear over the ridge. I ran up and looked down six feet to see him paddling in freezing cold water. He is a 19 pound dog and I knew that he would soon die from cold or drowning. I jumped in after him. The water was only to my waist and I lifted him onto my shoulder. Ice walls that rose two feet above my head stretched across the entire shore, trapping us in the water. I looked for a possible exit but could not find one. I trudged through the icy water for maybe 20 feet and came upon a portion of the ice wall that was lower. From where I stood in the water it was the height of my head. I placed Pika above me on the ice and tried to climb out. The ice walls were bulbous and smooth with no ridge I could place a foot on. I realized I would not be able to get myself out. My hands were numb and flipper-like at this point. It took me about 20 tries to get my phone out of my pocket. Thankfully, it was water resistant and I was able to call 911. Unbeknownst to me, a passerby had seen me jump in and alerted nearby police officers who heroically pulled me out with the passerby's dog leash. I have no doubt that I would have died without help, I am forever grateful to them. The first responders treated me and my dog in the ambulance and the emergency room. They allowed Pika to stay with me under the warming blanket in the ER. My core body temperature had dropped to 93 degrees. Pika and I are both fully recovered and in debt to our gracious and heroic first responders. This incident happened at Foster beach, but Im sure the conditions at nearby Montrose dog beach are the same and I would caution all dog owners to keep their dogs away from the lake in these conditions. Ive seen many ice formations in my nearly 7 years of visiting these beaches in the winter, but these ice walls are the tallest and most shear Ive ever seen. There is a terrible danger of a dog falling behind these ice walls. Please stay away until they have melted. Credit: Chicago Police Madrid (AFP) - The trial of 12 Catalan separatist leaders involved in a bid to secede from Spain will start on February 12 in Madrid, a source at the Supreme Court said Friday. Nine of the accused are charged with rebellion for their role in the dramatic attempt to break from Spain in October 2017. They face up to 25 years in jail. The source, who asked not to be named, confirmed the date of the trial but gave no further details. In pre-trial detention for months, the nine were being transferred from the northeastern region of Catalonia to prisons near Madrid on Friday. Supporters in Barcelona cheered them as they were taken away, waving the region's red, yellow and blue separatist flag. Three others will also stand trial, accused of disobedience and misuse of public funds. Supporters of independence for Catalonia call the trial a "farce". But many Spaniards support it, having looked on in disbelief as the rich region's then executive tried to secede. Catalonia's president at the time of the secession bid, Carles Puigdemont, is also accused of rebellion. He fled Spain after the region's majority-separatist parliament made a short-lived declaration of independence on October 27, 2017. He is not among the 12 on trial in Spain, which does not try suspects in absentia. The trial's main protagonist is former regional vice president Oriol Junqueras, who opted to remain in Spain. He faces up to 25 years in jail on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds. By Joan Faus BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Jailed Catalan politician Raul Romeva hopes the upcoming trial of separatist leaders at the Supreme Court in Madrid will refocus attention on the region's push for independence from Spain. The trial of Romeva and 11 others -- described by Supreme Court president Carlos Lesmes as the most important in Spain since democracy was restored after the death of Francisco Franco in 1975 -- will begin on Feb. 12, the court said on Friday. Spain's public prosecutor is seeking prison terms of up to 25 years on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds for their role in Catalonia's failed 2017 break away from Spain. "We've sought to be heard for a long while, but they silenced our voices and image with jail," Romeva told Reuters. The 47-year-old was one of nine secessionists jailed without bail in late 2017 and early 2018 who were transferred on Friday from prisons outside Barcelona to facilities near Madrid. "We see the trial as an opportunity to address public opinion and society in Catalonia, Spain and obviously at an international level," Romeva said in an interview conducted in a written question and answer format just before the transfer. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who needs the support of Catalan nationalists to pass laws, favors dialogue to give Catalonia more autonomy but has ruled out any moves toward independence. Romeva said he and his co-defendants are accused of "crimes that European courts deny and that we have not committed". "That is why the only possible sentence is acquittal. A (conviction) sentence will always weigh on history and on Spain's future," he wrote. Lesmes pledged the trial would be fair. "We bring out the truth from the facts and not from opinions," he told reporters in Madrid. Romeva, a veteran of the separatist movement, was in charge of foreign relations in the Catalan government led by Carles Puigdemont that unilaterally proclaimed independence in 2017 after a referendum deemed unconstitutional by Madrid. He has also been a member of the European Parliament. URGES SANCHEZ TO BE BRAVE A group of protesters waving the Catalan flag gathered outside Lledoners prison near Barcelona before dawn on Friday. Some tried to jump in front of the vehicles carrying their movement's leaders. The independence bid brought Spain to one of its worst political crises since the end of Franco's dictatorship. The central government briefly took direct control of the region and rounded up prominent separatist leaders. Romeva said he respected the decision by colleagues including Puigdemont -- now living in self-imposed exile in Belgium -- to flee Spain to avoid arrest. The trial should conclude in April or early May, Lesmes said, with a verdict not likely to come before late June. The defendants have asked to testify in the Catalan language, Lesmes added, although the investigation phase has been carried out in Spanish. Romeva urged Sanchez to be brave and make a viable offer to the Catalan parties if he wants their support for his budget proposal in a first vote next month. He does not regret the Catalan government's actions and said Spain would eventually have to accept reality. "Holding a referendum is not a crime ... Denying reality will never fix anything," Romeva wrote. "We've always sought and offered dialogue, and the answer has always been denial and repression." (Additional reporting by Jose Elias Rodriguez in Madrid; Editing by Isla Binnie and Catherine Evans) EDITOR'S NOTE: On Feb. 1, 1979, Iran's exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini descended from a chartered Air France Boeing 747 to return to Tehran, a moment that changed the country's history for decades to come. Confrontations between security forces and demonstrators raged on even after Khomeini's arrival, which followed the departure of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The U.S.-allied shah, fatally stricken with cancer, would never return and the caretaker government he left behind would soon fall to Khomeini's Islamic Revolution. That revolution would spark the U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis, stoking the animosity that exists between Tehran and Washington to this day. Now, 40 years later, The Associated Press is making its story and historic photographs of Khomeini's arrival to Iran available. The story has been edited for typographical errors, but maintains the AP style of the day, such as using "Moslem" as opposed to Muslim. ___ By OTTO C. DOELLING Associated Press Writer TEHRAN, Iran Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned home Thursday after more than 4 years of exile to pursue his dream of replacing Iran's 2,500-year-old monarchy with an Islamic republic. As the chartered Air France jetliner landed with the bearded, 78-year-old religious leader of the revolution against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a million excited followers lined the 1 mile route he was to take from the airport to Tehran's largest cemetery where he was to speak. Six tanks guarded the entrance to the airport, and the crowd made no attempt to get on to the field. But the army was keeping a low profile, leaving the policing of the airport to the normal security force there, while 50,000 "Islamic police" designated by the welcoming committee maintained order along the route to the cemetery. Khomeini's Boeing jumbo jet landed on schedule at 9 a.m. (12:30 a.m. EST) but 40 minutes passed before the Shiite Moslem patriarch made his appearance at the door of the plane. Story continues When he did, white capped military policemen rushed forward and shoed back photographers and a small group of well-wishers waiting at the bottom of the steps. The white bearded old man descended the ramp slowly, assisted by an aide and an Air France steward. He was escorted to a waiting Mercedes limousine which took him to the newly refurnished terminal building where a selected group of . faithful followers waited. The scene at the terminal was chaotic. Khomeini was held up for a time by a crush of 300 mullahs Moslem priests, reporters and others who blocked the entrance, shoving and pushing. One mullah tried to climb over the backs of reporters to see the ayatollah. Other mullahs appealed for calm over the terminal's loudspeakers, ordered the crowd to sit down and started chanting from the Koran, the Moslem holy book, to try to quiet the crowd. When Khomeini finally was able to enter the reception area, it echoed with cries of "Allah is Great" and "Khomeini is our imam," a Moslem title meaning "divinely inspired leader." Speaking in a loud, firm voice, the Ayatollah told his supporters: "We are succeeding, but this is only the first stage." "Our culture has been despotism and colonialism," he declared, attacking the shah's regime. "Everything we had has been thrown to the wind. . He the shah, has made the army follow the orders of another country," an apparent reference to the United States. Khomeini said the movement he inspired will be successful only "when the roots of colonialism are pulled out." He accused forces he did not identify of trying to restore the shah to absolute power but asserted: "The imperialist shah regime is all in the past and cannot be brought back again." "Our success," he said, "is the result of the unity of all the people in this country. They all follow one word Islam and even the religious minorities are united with Islam." Among those in the reception hall were representatives of the Armenian and Assyrian Christian churches as well as Karim Sanjaby, the leader of the political opposition to the shah, the National Front. Shouts of "Allah Akhbar" God Is Great rang out as the ayatollah finished his statement. The crowd (surged) forward, and aides shielded Khomeini, who was backed up against a stair railing until Moslem marshals shoed the crowd back. At a news conference during the flight from Paris, aides of Khomeini said he probably would announce his own provisional government for Iran in the next few days. They said the nationwide strikes called by the ayatollah would be terminated after Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar and his government agreed to resign and make way for an Islamic republic. In advance of Khomeini's arrival, leaders of the armed forces paraded tanks and troops through Tehran Wednesday to show that the decision to allow him to return did not signal surrender by the Bakhtiar government. Bakhtiar in a radio-television broadcast Wednesday night declared: "The government will not permit the reins of the country to be held by anyone except the central government." He said Iran was in a "very critical and dangerous period" and the government would "resist chaos and doubtful elements." Khomeini issued a brief statement before leaving Paris, thanking the French government and saying, "I leave your country to go and serve my country." A spokesman for Khomeini conceded that, after reports reached Paris of troops taking up new positions near Tehran's Mehrabad airport, some followers urged him to postpone his return. "But the ayatollah has made his decision and that is it," spokesman, Sadegh Ghotbzadeh, told reporters in Paris. Photo credit: Land Rover From Car and Driver UPDATE 1/29/19: The Range Rover SV coupe is DOA, as Land Rover says that it will not reach production. The company had planned to build 999 of these exclusive models globally but has cancelled all existing orders; according to Auto Express, some customers had already configured their vehicles. The Range Rover has come a long way since it launched in 1970 as a two-door utility vehicle. Thanks to a confluence of events about a decade later-namely, that the Range Rover gained a second set of doors just as aspirational types were coming to the conclusion that projecting the persona of landed gentry on a perpetual pheasant hunt was a worthy endeavor-the brands fortunes grew enough to justify cranking up the levels of opulence and performance, an approach that continues to this day. The 2019 Range Rover SV coupe unveiled at the 2018 Geneva auto show represents the new pinnacle of the brand. The Biggest Prize in Sport Limited to a production run of just 999 examples worldwide, the SV coupe will be hand assembled at the SVO Technical Centre in Warwickshire, England. While the two-door format harks back to the original, Range Rover also made sure to extract plenty of output from the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8-the SV coupes engine produces the same 557 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque as the recently uprated SVAutobiography Dynamic four-door. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters sends torque to a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case and a locking rear differential. A claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 165 mph make this the fastest full-size Range Rover ever, according to its maker. Photo credit: NEWSPRESS, THE MANUFACTURER Land Rovers Terrain Response 2 technology allows drivers to select from Dynamic, Eco, Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl driving modes as desired. The SV coupe sits slightly lower than the standard Range Rover, and the air-spring suspension automatically lowers the vehicle by another 0.6 inch at speeds of 65 mph or above. Additionally, the suspension can raise the vehicle by 1.6 inches above normal for off-road driving below 50 mph; a maximum of 3.0 inches above the standard ride height is available at speeds up to 31 mph. Story continues Two-Door Exclusives The aluminum-bodied exterior is largely specific to the coupe, with the hood and the lower tailgate being the only body panels carried over from the standard four-door Range Rover. The doors have frameless glass and a power-close feature. The exclusive two-part grille and new side vents are composed of a special mesh and feature a satin-silver metal surround; the Range Rover script on the hood and the tailgate is handcrafted in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter in the United Kingdom. Rolling stock includes 21-, 22-, and 23-inch wheels, the last being the largest ever offered on a Range Rover. Photo credit: NEWSPRESS, THE MANUFACTURER Eight standard exterior colors are available, in either a traditional gloss or a satin finish. Buyers also can choose from 16 additional hues from the SV Premium Palette. A so-called Contour Graphic, which extends from the front fender vents down the body sides and onto the tailgate, will be offered in four shades. Warm Embrace The interior of the Range Rover SV coupe coddles passengers in the warm embrace of materials and colors generally associated with private social clubs that have strict dress codes. Front passengers get heated and cooled 20-way power-adjustable chairs, while the folks in back make do with merely 10-way power seats. The semi-aniline leather features a gradated diamond-quilt design. A selection of four two-tone interiors, with the front seats and back seats in different colors, are available, along with four single-tone interior treatments. Photo credit: NEWSPRESS, THE MANUFACTURER Wood trim elements on the steering-wheel rim, door panels, center console, instrument panel, and load floor can be rendered in Natural Black Ash or Santos Palisander veneers as well as Nautica, which is the product of a new-toRange Rover process that fuses together walnut and sycamore woods. Land Rovers InControl Touch Pro Duo setup handles the infotainment duties utilizing a 10.0-inch display, a 10.0-inch control panel, a 12.0-inch Interactive Driver Display, and a full-color head-up display. The 1700-watt, 23-speaker Meridian 3D Signature sound system offers more jam-kicking capability than SV coupe owners are likely to need. Should you find yourself requiring a ludicrously quick, leather-lined, two-door gentlemans express with off-road chops to spare, youll need to stop by your financial institution and pick up a minimum of $295,995, the SV coupes base price. And dont delay-remember, Range Rover is making only 999 of them. Photo credit: NEWSPRESS, THE MANUFACTURER ('You Might Also Like',) I may write about beauty for a living, but I'm in no way someone who enjoys spending a ton of time on her own look. That's especially true when it comes to hair (which is why I decided to cut a whole lot of mine off about three years ago, and I've been living my best lob life ever since). My hair mood is sort of this balance between looking put-together enough that no one can tell I only wash this mop about twice a week but also effortless and relaxed. Think French-girl-meets-California-girl vibes (at least that's what I'm going for). I'm also deeply impatient and only have so many hair skills in my toolbox, so ultimately, when it comes to my everyday hairstyles, I consistently rely on about seven looks, which I switch up depending on the amount of time on my hands and the level of grease I'm working with. Regardless, each of the following hairstyles (which would also work on long hair!), takes no longer than 10 minutes to execute on my straight, fine hair. Keep scrolling to see a lazy beauty editor's seven favorite everyday hairstyles. When my hair is on the cleaner(ish) end, this style is a signature move. I create these little waves with a flat iron by taking one-inch-thick sections of hair, and about half-way down the shaft, bending the iron in, then out, and then back in again at the ends. Add a little hair accessory or two to one side, and within five to seven minutes, you have a surprisingly legit hairstyle. Don't let this image fool youI'm generally terrible at braids. This is straight-up the *only* one I can do. This is a Dutch braid, which is like an inside-out French braid (here's a really great easy tutorial to follow), which I create on both sides of my head until I get lazy and then switch to a regular braid until I reach the back of my head. Then I either pin down the ends or secure them into little pigtails or a low pony. Then I yank on the loops of the braid to make them nice and fat, and pull out a few face-framing tendrils in front. This hairstyle works great to hide dirty hair, but you could also totally wear it to a formal event, especially if you dress it up with some flowers or a hair accessory in back. If I'm feeling fancy, I like to stick an embellished hair pin in back. US withdrawing from Cold War nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, citing Russian violations originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The U.S. is withdrawing from a historic Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty because of ongoing violations, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, Treaty has been central to limiting the kinds of nuclear weapons both countries can deploy, and without it, experts fear there will be a new nuclear arms race. "When an agreement is so brazenly disregarded, and our security so openly threatened, we must respond," Pompeo said at the State Department. (MORE: Trump says he's terminating a major nuclear treaty with Russia. Here's what you need to know.) Pompeo first announced the U.S. intention to withdraw in December, giving Russia a 60-day window to come back into compliance, and that window runs out on Saturday. Withdrawal now requires an additional six-month window, according to the treaty's terms. The agreement, signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, banned ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,100 miles. (MORE: Pompeo says US suspending landmark nuclear deal because of Russian violations) While Pompeo spoke only of Russia, U.S. officials have been concerned about China's growing military prowess as China is not a party to the Cold War pact. Officials worry that puts the U.S. at a military disadvantage, although a senior administration official denied Friday that the decision was made because of the actions of any other country besides Russia. PHOTO: Journalists and military attaches attend a news briefing on cruise missile systems including SSC-8/9M729 model, at Patriot Expocentre near Moscow, Jan. 23, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters, FILE) President Donald Trump issued a statement saying Russia had violated the INF Treaty with "impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad." The U.S. first accused Russia of violating the pact in 2014, but Russia first denied it possessed the weapon in violation and then later said that weapon didn't violate the treaty's terms. Story continues (MORE: Kremlin denies arms race after Putin's claims about new nuclear weapons) Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday Russia regrets the U.S. decision and accused the U.S. of being "unwilling to hold any substantial talks." But the top U.S. diplomat for arms control had met with Russia repeatedly in the last two months, saying after each meeting that Russia continued to deny its deployment and the U.S. had no other choice. (MORE: US shrugs at Vladimir Putin's boast of nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range) With the six-month wind-down period beginning Saturday, Russia could still return to compliance and save the treaty: "This is their final chance," a senior administration official said. PHOTO: President Donald Trump, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shake hands at the beginning of a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland in this July 16, 2018 file photo. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP, FILE) While critics have expressed alarm about a new arms race, Pompeo argued that that arms race is already underway because of Russian proliferation. Instead of being constrained by a treaty that didn't have both parties abiding by it, Pompeo said, the U.S. had no choice but to end it. "It does no good to sign an agreement if the parties aren't going to comply with it. The piece of paper, if it's not being complied with, doesn't reduce the risk. It doesn't take down that threat to the people around the world," he told reporters. A senior administration official later told reporters that any talk of a new arms race was "Russian propaganda" and that the U.S. was only looking at expanding its "conventional [weapons] options at this point." Pompeo and Trump also said that U.S. allies in Europe were with them, with Trump's statement saying, "Our NATO Allies fully support us, because they understand the threat posed by Russia's violation and the risks to arms control posed by ignoring treaty violations." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance "fully supports the U.S. suspension & notification of withdrawal from the Treaty." PHOTO: Russian Defence Ministry officials show off the new Russia's 9M729 missile at the military Patriot park outside Moscow, Jan. 23, 2019. (AFP/Getty Images) But there are concerns about what comes next. Stoltenberg urged Russia to "use next 6 months to return to full & verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise," but that is not likely. Without the INF Treaty, the question becomes how will the U.S. contain Russia's missile proliferation. Critics like Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, say the Trump administration "lacks a coherent strategy to address the threat new Russian cruise missiles pose to the interests of the United States and those of our allies." "The administration has advanced no plan to make Europe safer now, no strategy to address the fielded missile, and no agenda for mitigating a new costly arms competition with Russia," said Pranay Vaddi, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Even after contracting a life-altering syndrome from a feral cat she befriended on vacation, Gemma Birch still considers herself an animal lover. The 25-year-old from Southport, England, was spending a week in Albufeira, Portugal, in June 2015 when she took in a gorgeous stray cat who would lounge on the patio of the rental apartment, Birch recalls to PEOPLE. Immediately smitten, Birch began giving the animal milk from a bowl and letting her inside. RELATED: This 72-Year-Old CrossFit Athlete Is Fitspo for People Around the World, Including Trevor Noah She obviously loved me, and shed follow me everywhere, says Birch, who runs a lifestyle blog and works in a gym. I was fine all week. I was so sad to leave her. But on the last night, she started vomiting severely and suffering from diarrhea. On the plane ride home, on top of her existing symptoms, Birch started to feel faint. By the time she landed, her stomach was so swollen she looked nine months pregnant, she says. Like I was about to burst. She made it home, where her father immediately told her she needed to go to the hospital because she was so weak and pale, Birch recalls. After spending a week in the ICU and undergoing many tests, doctors discovered Birch had been infected with campylobacter, a common cause of food poisoning. Gemma Birch RELATED: How Does the 2018-2019 Flu Season Compare to Last Years Deadly Season? Doctors asked if shed eaten any uncooked poultry. A staunch vegetarian, Birch said no. Then they asked if she had come into contact with any animals recently, and she remembered her feline friend. Next came more tests, which helped the medical team discover that she had contracted the infection from a living animal. Once they found out, they werent worried. They said Id get better at home with bedrest, Birch recalls. But I got worse. I couldnt walk. I kept falling and losing my balance. Her symptoms, inconsistent food poisoning, led Birch to make repeated appointments with her general practitioner, who kept telling her to just get more rest. Story continues Eventually I stopped going because I felt like I was bugging them, Birch says. But you just know when its something else. Then, two weeks after leaving the hospital three weeks after returning from Portugal Birch woke up around 3 a.m. because shed fallen out of bed. I couldnt feel my legs on the sheets or my feet on the carpet, she explains. I started scratching my legs so hard that they bled, but I still couldnt feel it. I screamed for my dad, and he took me to the hospital. In the emergency room, Birch says she googled her symptoms and the campylobacter bacteria, which turned up three words: Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is a neurological disorder in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks its nervous system, according to the NIH. RELATED: Disney World Restaurant Worker Tests Positive for Hepatitis A, No Others Infected When she showed her research to the doctor, he told her GBS was rare, Birch says, but agreed to run tests. When she woke the next morning, her symptoms were considerably worse. The night before, I could still move my legs a little bit, but the next morning, I couldnt move them at all. My arms were really weak and I needed help breathing, Birch says. She was temporarily paralyzed, a common symptom of GBS. That day she received her official diagnosis, and for the next month she stayed in the hospital receiving immunoglobulin treatments, which added antibodies to her system. Then she was transferred to a hospital with neurology experts in Liverpool, where she stayed for another month before she moved to a rehab center. For four months, she tried to combat her paralysis from the neck down. I didnt want to go [to the rehab center] because it was far from home, but it was the best decision I couldve made, Birch recalls. I remember a nurse asked me what my goal was, and I told her it was to dance at New Years Eve on my own. At the time, the summer was coming to a close, so the nurse asked her to pick a more realistic goal. But, Birch says, I did it. I danced at New Years Eve [2016] with crutches. It took her a year to learn how to do basic physical tasks again, like walking, writing and picking up a mug. And all the while, she was taking university classes because she wanted to graduate on time alongside her twin sister. I just thought, GBS has taken everything from me, but its not going to take away my degree, she says. RELATED: Woman Left Paralyzed after Falling Off Balcony During Mexico Vacation: Im Happier Than Ive Ever Been These days Birch is able to work, drive and maintain her lifestyle blog, Sorsasta. But GBS symptoms often pop up, for example after exercising too much. She starts to get tremors so severe shes been unable to drive herself home from the gym. And since GBS affects the immune system, she gets sick more easily than before. There have been four times since she left rehab that a cold has landed her in crutches. Looking back, Birch recalls one of the scariest things about her experience was learning the name of the condition. The word syndrome was overwhelming because, to me, it means for life, she says, adding that its incredibly rare to contract GBS from touching a live animal. Uncooked poultry is a more common source. According to WebMD, GBS is most common in people older than 50 Birch recalls meeting two older women suffering from it in the rehab center but it can strike at any time. Its also unclear exactly how the disease progresses. Some cases have originated from Zika virus while others start from germs, like Birchs. DUBAI (Reuters) - Souvenir shops in the United Arab Emirates are stocking up with Christian memorabilia to mark the visit of Pope Francis, who begins the first ever papal tour of the Arabian Peninsula on Sunday. "I would like to keep some memory of some important events," said UAE resident Sabu Thomas outside one store in Abu Dhabi. "When I saw the mug definitely I wanted to (buy) it." The main theme of the visit is inter-religious peace. The freedom to practice Christianity is not always a given in the Gulf and varies from country to country. In the UAE and Kuwait, Christians may worship in churches and other places with special licenses. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, bans the practice of other religions. (reporting by Tarek Fahmy; writing by John Stonestreet; editing by Robin Pomeroy) History includes a wide variety of serial killers, with creepy cases and gruesome details that often turn the stomachs of even the biggest true-crime aficionados. That's definitely true with the case of Ted Bundy, the notorious serial killer who terrorized the country for several years during the 1970s. Unlike some criminals, Bundy openly confessed to many of his crimes - but most experts believe his real list of victims is much longer than we'll ever know for sure. Ultimately, Bundy confessed to a total of 30 murders, spread out across seven states and over approximately five years (between 1974 and 1978). On the night before his execution, he reviewed his admitted crimes with FBI Special Agent William Hagmaier, who had been interviewing him frequently during his time in prison. Out of those victims, though, there were only 20 who were identified; there were 10 victims who Bundy either refused to identify or couldn't identify because he never knew who they were. Five victims who survived were also identified. Among the murders that Bundy actually confessed to and that were confirmed by police, the first identified victim was Lynda Ann Healy, a Washington woman who was bludgeoned, abducted, and murdered. Healy was not Bundy's first identified victim of any crime, though: Karen Sparks was similarly bludgeoned and assaulted while she slept, but survived his attack, albeit with significant and permanent injuries. Bundy's victims were mostly teenage girls and young women in their 20s, although some were even younger. The last murder he admitted to, that of Kimberley Diane Leach, was one of those exceptionally horrific murders, due to the victim's age. Twelve-year-old Leach was abducted from her Florida junior high school in 1978, and remains were later found and confirmed to be hers. Related: Best True Crime Documentaries on Netflix 2019 26 True Crime Documentaries on Netflix That Will Actually Give You Nightmares Apart from Bundy's confessed crimes, he was suspected of being the culprit in several other cases, but the evidence was never enough to reliably link him to them and he did not confess - in fact, in some cases, he specifically denied involvement. The disappearances of at least 15 other women were linked to Bundy, mostly during the same time frame as his confirmed murder spree but also a handful that occurred before then. Among these unconfirmed but suspected cases is the case that many suspect to be Bundy's first victim: Ann Marie Burr, who vanished at the age of 8 in 1961, when Bundy was 14, and whose disappearance involved circumstantial evidence that implicated Bundy but was not enough to legally pursue him for the case. Bundy's confessions totaled 30 victims, but most experts believe he committed many, many more. Bundy himself frequently implied in interviews that he had victims who no one knew about, encouraged public speculation, and even gave different tallies to different people he spoke with. Popular, informed guesses have placed the estimated death count as high as 100. At this point, it's pretty unlikely that we'll ever have an absolute tally of Bundy's victims, but he will always remain one of America's most infamous serial killers for the pure cruelty of his crimes. IndieWireFallTV So much for Black Panther running away with the VFX Oscar. Despite its impressive Wakanda enhancement, those CG rhinos werent judged as up to snuff. It failed to snag a nomination in favor of the upstart Christopher Robin, with its impressive animation of Pooh and his pals and live-action integration. As a result, the VFX Oscar race pivots back to a battle between Marvels Avengers: Infinity War and Damien Chazelles First Man. The remaining two nominees, Steven Spielbergs Ready Player One and Ron Howards Solo: A Star Wars Story delivered enough of that CG wow factor to also make the cut. Related stories Alfonso Cuaron Tells Cinematographer Ed Lachman How He Shot 'Roma' How Caleb Deschanel Became the Surprise Oscar Nominee for 'Never Look Away' How 'Black Panther' and 'First Man' Changed the Game in the Oscar Craft Races Read More:Oscars 2019: Best Visual Effects Predictions Although the smart bet would be on the NASA adventure First Man, which ingeniously redefined in-camera VFX, dont underestimate the power of Infinity War, with its game-changing animation of Thanos (performance captured by Josh Brolin). Although its considered the underdog, since no superhero movie has captured the VFX Oscar since Spider-Man 2 in 2004, the MCU has its best chance of winning an Oscar with its penultimate Infinity War saga. Heres a breakdown of the nominees: First Man The biggest challenge for VFX supervisor Paul Lambert and DNEG was how to shoot space and in-flight elements for the pivotal X-15, Gemini 8, and Apollo 11 sequences. They did so with their CG content and within the boundaries of different formats (Kodak 16mm, 35mm, and IMAX for the lunar sequence). The effects had to be subtle and seamlessly integrated into the 60s documentary vibe. Even reflections in the astronauts visors and actors eyes were done in-camera. Story continues Instead of using blue or green screens, they achieved greater believability and efficiency by shooting spacecrafts against a 60-foot, spherical LED screen using full-scale practical, miniatures or the full CG versions. And by using 90 minutes of content from DNEG, they created the impression of a full three-dimensional world in-camera, with a playback system allowing interactive rotation and color grading as they filmed. Even so, without CG eye candy this is considered invisible VFX, which is why it was entered in the supporting category for the prestigious VES Awards (February 5 at the Beverly Hilton). Theres also the overall chilly response to Chazelles take on the Neil Armstrong biopic to consider. Then again, last years winner, Blade Runner 2049, withstood similar complaints about being too cold. Avengers: Infinity War The challenge for Digital Domain and Weta Digital (under the overall supervision of Dan DeLeeuw) was for Thanos to be completely human and relatable as a CG humanoid to carry the movie with an hour of screen time, and performing alongside the real actors. Digital Domain created Thanos using a new high-res facial capture system, Masquerade, based on machine learning through computer algorithms. It handled everything except for the third-act Titan sequence, which was done in parallel by Weta. The success of both Thanos characters was a direct result of conveying every nuance of Brolins onset performance at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta. The first challenge, though, was conveying an unprecedented level of brutality for Marvel during the opening fight between Thanos and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Many VFX Oscars have been won as a result of such thrilling and empathetic CG characters, and an MCU Oscar win would certainly reward its phenomenal success. Ready Player One The challenge for VFX supervisor Roger Guyett and Industrial Light & Magic was to combine the futuristic 2045 world of Ohio with the immersive VR world of the Oasis game, while conveying an engaging sense of nostalgia for the 80s. Oasis, in particular, was an animation headache, having to model and render thousands of characters (from the Iron Giant to the Back to the Future DeLorean to the Akira cycle). Overall, ILM designed and built 63 environments constructed from mocap data and keyframe animation, necessitating ILM to improve its facial capture system for increased fidelity. But the crowning achievement was the recreation of the Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubricks The Shining, which was Spielbergs idea. Instead of using the actual footage for the creepy bathroom encounter, they digitally reframed and recreated everything, save for the woman in the bathtub, which utilized original footage for the pullback of the shower curtain and the CG zombie reveal. Solo: A Star Wars Story The Kessel Run action sequence was the VFX highlight of Solo. The infamous record-setting mission made legends of Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon as he expertly piloted through the hazardous hyperspace smuggling route in less than 12 parsecs. For director Howard (who took over for Phil Lord and Chris Miller), it was an opportunity to partner with ILM (led by VFX supervisor and ILM head Rob Bredow) to dramatize the thrilling moment. The big challenge was the gravity well and storm, but Howard upped the ante by requesting a CG creature, too. They came up with the Space-o-pus, boasting 50 tentacles, which chases the Falcon when awakened from its slumber, until it gets sucked into the gravity well. Christopher Robin The challenge for VFX supervisor Christopher Lawrence and Framestore was making Pooh and his pals seem like real walking and talking stuffed animals while also seamlessly fitting into the live-action world of Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor). This was made difficult because of the use of handheld cameras and shooting on location in natural sunlight. The animation, particularly for Pooh, was untraditional. The articulation had to reflect how a real stuffed toy could move, so they relied on a subtle, nuanced approach. The trick was to embrace the constraints, coming up with a range of motion that could be animated with enough contrast to create an appealing, believable performance. The first take was puppeteered, providing great reference for blocking and matching to the lighting of cinematographer Matthias Koenigswieser. Mayor of Picturesque Italian Village Will Pay You $10,000 to Move There But There's a Catch Giovanni Bruno Mattiet has a hard-to-beat offer for families hoping to find an affordable place to live. The mayor of the picturesque rural Alpine village of Locana, Italy located in Piedmont, the mountainous northwestern region that borders Switzerland and France will give interested families willing to relocate there a sum of cash as a thank you, CNN Travel reported. Specifically, $10,300 (or 9,000) over the course of three years. Why so generous? Its Mattiets attempt to help revive Locana, which like many other small towns in the region, has been experiencing dwindling and aging populations. According to CNN Travel, one in four communities have become ghost towns over the last 30 years with 139 villages now having less than 150 residents. There are stipulations, of course. For one, Mattiet is looking for families, specifically, with at least one child. Hes also looking for potential residents that have a minimum annual salary of $7,992 a year (or 6,000). RELATED: Viva LItalia! Stars Cant Stay Away from Italy: Heres Exactly Where They Go Locana, Italy RELATED: You Can Buy a House for $1 in this Picturesque Italian Village with One Catch In Locana, our population has shrunk from 7,000 residents in the early 1900s to barely 1,500 as people left looking for a job at Turins big factories, Mattiet told the outlet, adding that there are 40 deaths per year there, versus just 10 births. Our school each year faces the risk of shutting down due to few pupils. I cant allow this to happen. Were looking to draw mostly young people and professionals who work remotely or are willing to start an activity here, he continued. There are dozens of closed shops, bars, restaurants and boutiques just waiting for new people to run them. Locana, Italy Originally Mattiet was just extending his financial offer to Italians or foreigners already living in Italy, CNN Travel reported. But now, hes opened it up to all outsiders. The area isnt just beautiful, with its flower fields, chestnut forests, and snowy peaked mountains (not to mention the slew of outdoor activities like swimming, rock climbing, ice-skating, and fishing, offered across its Gran Paradiso mountain reserve). Its also wealthy too, CNN Travel reports due to clean hydroelectric energy it hawks to Italys state. Story continues Locana offers a healthy lifestyle, great food and folklore fairs all-year round, Mattiet said. WATCH THIS: 77-Year-Old Utah Mom Fulfills Dream of Riding Venetian Gondola Again a Year After Losing Her Husband Mattiets financial offer to get a fresh generation of residents into Italy comes after Giuseppe Cacioppo, the deputy mayor and tourist councilor of the town of Sambuca, Italy located on the southern island of Sicily announced they would be selling homes for just 1, which is about $1.14. Like Locana, Sambuca has seen a dip in population as more people move to urban centers. So Cacioppo had ensured anyone who wants to purchase a home wont have to jump through hoops to do so. The hilltop town, which offers postcard-worthy views of the Mediterranean, currently has dozens of homes on the market for less than the price of a pack of gum. As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all 1 houses on sale, Cacioppo said. Were not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, youll get it no time. Sambuca, Italy RELATED: Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Take a Romantic Drive Through the Italian Countryside Available homes there span anywhere from 40 square meters (430 square feet) to 150 square meters (1,614 square feet), and are built in stone or red brick. However, there is also a catch here: Many of the homes are currently in decrepit condition, and owners must promise to renovate the property within three years for at least $17,100 (or 15,000). In order to buy the home, owners will also have to put down a$5,700 (or 5,000) security deposit that will be refunded once the home makeover is finished. All will be worth it, in Cacioppos eyes. Its silent and peaceful, an idyllic retreat for a detox stay, he told CNN. A Georgia man and woman face murder charges in the death of their 1-year-old son, who allegedly was beaten to death by his father while his mother chose not to intervene. The father, Akym Henderson, 21, was arrested Friday after his unresponsive son was brought to the hospital earlier that morning and pronounced dead, a Bibb County Sheriff Offices news release states. It was later learned he had suffered severe head injuries. The childs mother, Jaimie Howard, 20, allegedly was present during the beating but did not seek medical attention for the boy until after he fell unconscious. She chose to look away, an arrest warrant obtained by The Telegraph of Macon alleges. According to the warrant, Howard said Henderson punched the boy in the head multiple times. The punches resulted in multiple skull fractures, a swollen brain and scalp hemorrhages, the warrant states. Howard initially attempted to cover up this incident by initially stating she was only woken up by the victim struggling to breathe, the warrant alleges. 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. Friends of the couple told the paper they appeared to be devoted to raising their son, King. Friend Aaron Beaver told the paper the couple put that baby on a pedestal and that they stopped going out at night when the boy was born. Both Henderson and Howard remain behind bars in Bibb County. It was not immediately clear if either have retained attorneys or entered pleas. Anyone with information pertaining to the case is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriffs Office at 478-751-7500, or call Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, actress and activist Ellen Page took aim at Vice President Mike Pence. The former governor of Indiana has historically fought against the legalization of same-sex marriage and has been accused of advocating for gay conversion therapy. Because of this, Page made an impassioned plea for change. The vice president of America wishes I didnt have the love with my wife, Page said in front of the live studio audience, which booed in support of Page. He wanted to ban that in Indiana. He believes in conversion therapy. Page then went on to place blame on Pence for the reported attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett, who said he was assaulted early Tuesday morning in Chicago by two white men who battered him, put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him believed to be bleach. The police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana, Page said, and I think the thing we need to know, and I hope my show Gaycation did this in terms of connecting the dots, in terms of what happened the other day to Jussie I dont know him personally, I send all of my love connect the dots. Page has sparred with politicians in the past over their anti-LGBTQ policies, even confronting then-presidential candidate Ted Cruz in 2015 at the Iowa State Fair. When discussing the attacks and abuse the LGBTQ community has endured, she put the onus on all politicians with such policies. If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering, what do you think is gonna happen? Page asked. Kids are gonna be abused and theyre gonna kill themselves. And people are gonna be beaten on the street. And finally, Page didnt mince words when she called for an end to anti-LGBTQ sentiment in government. I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet, Page stated. I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to f***ing stop. Story continues The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS. Check out the reaction to Mike Pence swearing in the first openly bisexual senator, Kyrsten Sinema: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Photo credit: DOMINICK REUTER - Getty Images From Esquire (Permanent Musical Accompaniment To The Last Post Of The Week From The Blog's Favourite Living Canadian) On Friday, Senator Cory Booker made it official. He's running for president, which, to be honest, he's been doing in one way or another since I first heard his name. He's trying to define the race in gospelish terms-talking about journeys and tapping into the Obama This Is Bigger Than One Man's Campaign dynamic. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame. It is not a matter of can we, its a matter of do we have the collective will, the American will? I believe we do. Together, we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose. That's from his announcement video, and that is the kind of thing Booker has been most effective in employing on the stump. I watched him campaign for Doug Jones in Alabama and Booker was at his most magnetic when he talked in this vernacular to people primed and ready to hear it. But what hamstrings his campaign a bit at the outset is not God, but Mammon. Photo credit: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez - Getty Images Given the nature of the Democratic primary field, Booker can't help but be the candidate of the establishment, as defined by the Clinton and Obama administration. More than a few people remember him chiding the 2012 Obama campaign for being too hard on the private equity industry. He has been a bridge between the Democratic Party and Wall Street-as a senator from New Jersey, he has hundreds of little masters of the universe as his constituents, who flee across the bridge and through the tunnel every night-but it is entirely possible that the Democratic primary electorate doesn't want a bridge to Wall Street any more. Story continues That's his tightrope to walk, just as Kamala Harris's record as a prosecutor is hers. But he also is a charismatic presence in the field, and an undeniable source of energy. It's a better field with him in it. Let's see him go through the wringer. And if his presence keeps Joe Biden on the sidelines, that's all the better. Photo credit: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez - Getty Images WWOZ PIck To Click: "Put Out The Light" (James Booker): Yeah, I pretty much still love New Orleans. Weekly Visit To The Pathe Archive: A hundred years ago this week, 47,000 workers in Glasgow went on strike. At issue was their anger at a 47-hour work-week. What ensued has come down as the Battle of George Square. Ultimately, the British army was called in and showed up with tanks and machine gun nests. Somehow, there were no fatalities. History is so cool. Look, My Favorite Machine even does great things by accident. From Forbes: So it should come as no surprise that, now and again, Hubble finds something lurking behind something else. That's exactly what has just happened, with the space telescope 'accidentally' finding an ancient galaxy, nicknamed Bedin 1, in our cosmic neighborhood while looking at something else entirely... Bedin 1 is a 13 billion-year-old dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which is defined as a galaxy with a maximum of several billion stars. It measures only around 3,000 light-years at its greatest extent (almost 1/30th the diameter of the Milky Way), and it is roughly a thousand times dimmer than our Milky Way. There are 36 dwarf spheroidal galaxies in our 'Local Group' of galaxies, 22 of which are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The Local Group is a collection of 54 galaxies, one of which is the Milky Way. New neighbors! Somebody bring over a sponge cake and some Romulan ale. Photo credit: NASA - Getty Images OK, this is something I am not buying. In fact, I am not buying a syllable of it. From The Scotsman: Ross relayed the statement during a speech to the Commons and leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom. He said: "Last week, as many of us celebrated Rabbie Burns, Sheila Gray, of Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour in Moray, in her own nod to the Bard, was creating a new variety of ice cream which blended whisky, tattie scones and haggis. "So will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Sheila for this latest imaginative variety, particularly since loyal customer 84-year-old Charlie Armour - after trying the ice cream - described it as 'better than sex'." Mrs Leadsom joked in reply: "Well, with 84 years of experience I'm sure Charlie would know. "I'm not sure it'd be my first choice of flavour, but I guess it would have to be tasted to be believed. First of all, even whisky is not enough to make me eat haggis ice cream. Second, there isn't enough whisky in the world to make me believe haggis ice cream is better than sex. I don't think it sounds like it's better than Valvoline. What came in the mail: one of the first things that convinced me that there could be superb journalism done on the Intertoobz was Dave Cullen's masterful work in Salon on the Columbine massacre. By carefully piecing together information overlooked by the rest of the media, Cullen upended the prevailing narrative and, when he finally put together a book on that awful day, our perception of it was completely changed. Now Cullen has a new book, this one about the survivors of the Parkland massacre in Florida and how they turned their horror into political activism. I can't wait to get into this one. Speaking of books, Roger Daltrey's memoir, Thanks A Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite, is worth a read, even if you are not a Who fan of five decades standing like, well, me. The most interesting passages are Daltrey's account of growing up in a battered and bombed-out Great Britain after World War II. It's not as deep and ponderous as Pete Townshend's memoir, which is fitting. Rog always has been a bloke, first. He tells his story like a bloke, and god bless him for it. Is it a good week for dinosaur news, CBC? It's always a good day for dinosaur news! It's not the Antarctica we know today, but the one that existed 250 million years ago. Now, researchers have discovered an iguana-sized dinosaur cousin that once roamed the lush forested area. Meet Antarctanax shackletoni, an archosaur, an early relative of dinosaurs and crocodiles. Based on their fossil findings, researchers believe Antarctanax was a lizard-sized carnivore that ate bugs, early mammals and amphibians. This new discovery - as well as some earlier fossils found - is teaching paleontologists that Antarctica was home to some very unique life. Roughly 300 million years ago, there was just one supercontinent on Earth, called Pangea. About 200 million years ago, it began to break apart. Scientists had once thought that because life evolved and thrived on this supercontinent that the fossil records would show the same animals right around the globe. But that's not quite the case. "The prevailing thought in the literature was what you found in Antarctica is a subset of what you'd find elsewhere because everything was connected," said Peecook. "But the more work we've done there's a lot of very unique life forms in Antarctica." Since we're losing Antarctica in huge chunks anyway, thanks to those crafty Chinese climate hoaxsters, who knows what we may find there before the planet boils away into steam. But, for a while, we will still have dinosaurs that lived then to make us happy now. I'll be back on Monday to begin what could be quite the week in Washington. Be well and play nice, ya bastids. Stay above the snake-line, and, for god's sake, just drink the whisky and leave the haggis in the sheep where it belongs. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. ('You Might Also Like',) New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is joining the 2020 Democratic presidential contest, announcing his campaign on Friday with a tweet and an emailed video to supporters. "We are better when we help each other," he said. "I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame." Booker is the second African American candidate to join the fray, following California Sen. Kamala Harris' entry last week, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Booker's announcement also carries symbolism, coming on the first day of Black History Month. Booker, who speaks fluent Spanish, plans to call into radio stations with black and Latino audiences Friday morning to discuss his campaign. "The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it," Booker said in the video Friday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The New Jersey senator plans to visit Iowa the weekend of February 8th and will then campaign in South Carolina, a key primary state where African American voters will play a significant role in shaping the course of the primary. This will be Booker's second trip to the state this month, following a speech in Columbia on MLK Day. He also plans to head to New Hampshire on President's Day weekend. By the time of his announcement, Booker had already spent time during the 2018 midterm election campaigning for congressional candidates and testing the waters for a presidential bid in the early states. Through those campaign stops, Booker aimed to carve out a niche for himself in the 2020 field as a voice of compassion. In Iowa, for example, he told reporters that he wants to "be a voice in this country for love." Story continues And during a trip to New Hampshire in December, he told an audience of activists and party officials that "What we need now is courageous actors who call to the conscience of our country a higher moral imagination, who call for a revival of civic grace." In a Democratic primary that figures to be, at least in part, an audition to take on Donald Trump in 2020, party voters will decide whether Booker's strategy will win out over others who approach the incumbent president with harsher rhetoric. But so far, activists in early states say Booker's work ethic during the 2018 midterms was notable. "He went from being a person about folks knew nothing about to having a great impression," one veteran Iowa operative told CBS. Booker, a graduate of Stanford and a Rhodes Scholar, made a name for himself on the national stage as the social media-savvy mayor of Newark. He won a special election to the U.S. Senate in 2013, and was re-elected to a full term in 2014. In the Senate, Booker has garnered national attention for his appearances as a member of the Judiciary Committee. In 2017, he became the first sitting senator to testify against a colleague in a confirmation hearing when he urged the committee to vote against Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. "The arc of the universe does not just naturally curve toward justice we must bend it," he said in opposing Sessions. The statement, which could be seen as the theme for his stump speech, revisits a 19th century quote famously uttered a hundred years later by Martin Luther King Jr., that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Booker made headlines again in 2018 for his other precedent breaking "I am Spartacus" moment, in the hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. But he hasn't been entirely opposed to the Trump administration. In December, he supported a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that was signed by the president. "This bill is a step forward for our criminal justice system. By no means can it be the only step it must be the beginning of a long effort to restore justice to our justice system," Booker said of the legislation, previewing what may be among the many issues surrounding the 2020 contest. This story was originally published by CBS News on Feb.1 at 7:28 a.m. ET. RELATED CONTENT: Cardi B Is Ready to Deliver Rebuttal to President Donald Trump's State of the Union Khloe Kardashian Steps Out Wearing a Kanye For President Hat Lady Gaga Slams Vice President Mike Pence Mid-Concert in Passionate Rant Related Articles: A left-wing analyst finds it absurd to imagine that Hungary is considering leaving NATO, but accuses the government of intending to ally itself with Russia and China. Atlatszo, a liberal watchdog website and the Wall Street Journal published an article by Anita Komuves (and Drin Hinshaw for the American version) quoting unnamed US diplomats who alleged that PM Orban told the US Ambassador to Budapest that he wants Hungary to be neutral, like Austria. They also quote aides to the PM who said Hungary wants to remain a NATO member. Behind the controversy, they suggest, lies Hungarys decision to defer its signature of the new bilateral US-Hungarian Defence Cooperation Agreement. The Hungarian press reports that the parliamentary majority objected to the clause in the draft that would put US servicemen who commit crimes in Hungary under American, rather than Hungarian jurisdiction. The Prime Minister told the official news agency MTI that Hungary continues to be and will remain an ally of the United States and a NATO member country. In that spirit, Mr Orban said, it is preparing to receive US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Budapest. The Secretary is expected to arrive in Budapest in mid-February. In Nepszava, Gabor Horvath writes that not a single word should be wasted on a discussion about formal neutrality, for the probability of Hungary withdrawing from NATO is zero. Nevertheless, he believes that the Prime Minister did talk about neutrality with the American ambassador and thinks that the kind of neutrality the Prime Minister has in mind is alliance with Russia and China. He finds the governments reticence to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement strange, since the Pentagon has played a mitigating role in Washington over criticism of Budapest, arguing that Hungary is a staunch ally. In another remark, Horvath suggests that the State Department will become more openly critical of the Hungarian government after the forthcoming departure of Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia Wes Mitchell who has advocated a friendly attitude towards Hungary. Horvath thinks Mitchells recipe hasnt worked and predicts a hardening attitude on the part of the State Department. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story MTI Photo: Koszticsak Szilard The Norwegian oil expert Hans Peter Christopher has urged the government of Uganda to utilise oil and gas resources in the same way his country does to benefit masses. Mr. Christopher was on Friday speaking during the workshop for Members of Parliament on the developments of oil and gas organised by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) at Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa-Kigo. The two-day workshop was organised to update the MPs on the development in the oil and gas sector. He said Norway has 10 oil commandments that Uganda can consider for the proper management of oil resources. Stories Continues after ad Addressing members the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Robert Kasande said the reason of the workshop was to share information, feedback and solicit for support in the journey for first oil expected around 2022. Kasande gave an overview on the Oil and Gas sector focusing on the present and forward. He said the constitution of Uganda vets ownership of Oil and Gas resources in the government on behalf of the Republic of Uganda. He said the role of Parliament is critical in ensuring the right legislation is in place to develop the oil and gas sector. He said his ministry was learning from other African oil producers to avoid mistakes that could derail the sector especially as regards to oil revenue. The MPs questioned energy officials on security, land issues, crude oil so far extracted for testing, the oil curse, among other concerns. In mid-December 2018, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija and the Norwegian Ambassador to Uganda, Susan Eckey, signed the Oil for Development Programme Agreement, with the ambition of further strengthening the management of the oil and gas sector in Uganda. The Oil for Development Programme is designed to assist developing countries to manage their petroleum resources in a sustainable manner and to target poverty reduction through managing petroleum responsibly, both economically, environmentally, and socially. Norway and Uganda have been committed to this programme since 2009. This signing marks the programmes third phase, running from 2018 to 2022, but Norway has assisted Uganda in developing its petroleum sector since the 1980s. The Oil for Development Programme remains a key priority of Norways engagement with Uganda, as part of our strategic goals of promoting sustainable management of natural resources and good governance. Norway cooperates with several other countries in an Oil for Development programme, such as Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Kenya. 60,000 barrels of Oil per-day refinery is to be developed and the project includes 213 kilometres pipeline from the refinery site to a terminal in Kampala. Uganda has about 6.5 billion barrels of oil with about 2.2 barrels recoverable. Clarksburg, WV (26301) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Charleston, WV (25311) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Rain will be heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. Oakland, MD (21550) Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 56F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Thousands of Iranians have gathered at the tomb of Ayatollah Khomenei in order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. However, The Times of Israel reports, the throngs are also there to threaten the Jewish state and the freedom of the West: Iran on Friday started celebrating the 40th anniversary of the countrys 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed shah, overturned 2,500 years of monarchical rule and brought hard-line Shiite clerics to power. The climactic events that year in Iran where footage of revolutionaries in the streets gave way to black-and-white images of blindfolded American hostages in the US Embassy hostage crisis months later not only changed Irans history but also helped shape todays Middle East Across Iran, sirens rang out from trains and boats and church bells chimed at 9:33 a.m. Friday the exact time Khomeinis chartered Air France Boeing 747 touched down 40 years ago at Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport As an army band played revolutionary anthems, the huge hall of the mausoleum was filled with people from all walks of life, amid schoolchildren dressed in the red, white and green of the Iranian flag. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the influential experts assembly which appoints the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, delivered a keynote speech rebuking factions seeking better ties with Washington. Curses on the wrong school of thought that thinks we cant run the country unless America helps us, he said, shaking a raised left hand. Americas power is on the decline, we should not be afraid of America, Jannati said as the crowd shouted slogans such as Death to America and Death to Israel Charleston, WV (25301) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. The Holy Land is never short of wonders to awe and inspire both its residents or the millions of tourists who visit each year. Many of these sights can be found at Israels many national parks. Writing at Arutz Sheva, the Israel Nature and Heritage Foundations Rivka Orzech tells us some of the stories behind these spectacular sites: Touring Israel is not just an exercise in leg stretching but also in finding gems along the way; specifically, the historical and natural conservation sites that make one wonder: who picnicked under that tree? Who sheltered in that cave? Astonishingly, this tiny country boasts 400 nature reserves and protects 2,500 plant species indigenous to the region. For the people who safeguard these treasures, every contour and microclimate are catalysts for the stories behind our most famous National Parks. Masada is the stuff of legends. The dramatic epic that Masada is most famous for is when Jewish zealots fled the Romans for its high hill. When you see the Roman attack ramp, the most well-preserved in the world, imagine what it was like looking down at the eight Roman encampments building it, knowing that your end was near. While we dont know for certain what happened in the end, as we cannot match Josephuss account with archaeological evidence, there has been an intriguing discovery of eleven pottery shards, each inscribed with a name. Its believed this is how the fighters picked out who would kill whom, and then the last one killed themselves in a final stand of obstinacy. Though the story of Masada holds a tragic end, the preserved ritual baths, water cisterns, synagogues and storehouses bear evidence of its residents silent stories. Just a 20-minute drive from unforgettable Masada is the natural oasis, Ein Gedi, the first Judean settlement was during the Iron Age and much later, the town was a source of balsam, an important building material for the Greco-Roman world. A synagogue mosaic cautions the towns citizens against revealing their secret. We speculate they meant the extraction and preparation of the balsam resin; unfortunately, that warning didnt help when the Byzantine emperor Justinian destroyed the town. The Ein Gedi nature reserve covers 3,500 acres of unspoiled country. Nahal David and Nahal Arugot are the two spring-fed streams and the Shulamit and Ein Gedi springs flow elsewhere into the reserve. Specific conditions make it the perfect sanctuary for diverse plants and animalsthe Nubian ibex and the shy rock hyrax among them while the magnificent bird population is boosted by over 200 species during the migration periods OKOLONA, Miss. (WTVA) - The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down a ruling over a special election for Okolona town marshal. However, what comes next is the question. The town marshal position is equivalent to a police chief. The state's highest court said a special tribunal was correct to order a special election after some votes were determined to have been illegally cast. The order prevented William Randle, Jr. from running in the special election. He won the Democratic primary originally in the race. Tommie Ivy, Sr. was declared the winner of the special election and Randle filed suit. Justices said the tribunal was incorrect not to allow Randle to run and sent that part of the election decision back to the tribunal for further consideration. City Attorney Gene Barton said he will talk with the board of aldermen before issuing a statement about the matter. The next board of aldermen meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12. CORINTH, Miss. (WTVA) - Police have charged a Corinth man in connection with a recent shooting. Detective Dell Green said the shooting happened the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 30, in the 1600 block of East 6th Street. One man was wounded and remains in serious condition at a local hospital. Police identified the victim as Corey McGaha, 41. Police arrested and charged Jason Marshaun Miller, 31, with the following: - Aggravated assault - Felon in possession of a firearm - Possession of a stolen firearm His bond was set at 30,000 dollars. Green said the firearm charges stem from a search of Miller's residence on Jan. 31. Officers recovered a handgun. The gun was reported stolen in McNairy County, Tennessee, which is north of Corinth. Miller was convicted in Louisiana on drug charges, said Green. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Mississippi legislators are making their opening bids on an increase in teacher pay, although there may be sweeter offers to come. The House Education Committee on Thursday passed House Bill 1349 , which proposes $500 increases in teacher salaries for each of the next two years, for a total of $1,000. That would boost the starting pay for a teacher with a bachelor's degree from $34,390 now to $35,390 beginning July 1, 2020. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Charles Busby of Pascagoula. It would also boost the long-frozen salaries of assistant teachers from $12,500 to $13,500 over the same two-year period. The National Education Association, a teachers union, said Mississippi had the lowest average salary among the states at $42,925 in the 2016-2017 school year. The state Department of Education says the average teacher salary was a little higher, almost $45,000 in 2017-2018. Teachers in states including Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Oklahoma and West Virginia have gone on strike during the past year to demand higher pay. Educators in Mississippi have shown no sign that they plan on doing the same. Senate Bill 2770 proposes the same increases for teachers and assistants, but despite the apparent initial agreement between the chambers, it's unclear if that would be the last word on pay raises. House Education Committee Chairman Richard Bennett, a Long Beach Republican, said discussion over the amount of the pay raise was likely to continue throughout the session. "I'm hopeful that number is going to go up," Busby said, although he said he hadn't discussed the subject with House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Clinton Republican. Kelly Riley, who is the executive director of Mississippi Professional Educators, said $500 a year breaks down to only $41.66 a month before taxes. "This minimalistic salary increase is a slap in the face to Mississippi's teachers who have the future of our state in their classrooms each day," Riley wrote in an email. "While we appreciate the legislature's consideration of a pay raise, any such raise must be significant and must place Mississippi in a competitive position for qualified teachers." Not even all lawmakers were impressed with the amount. "That is kind of embarrassing," said state Rep. Becky Currie, a Brookhaven Republican, during the committee meeting. The House bill also includes proposals intended to alleviate a shortage of Mississippi teachers. One part of the plan would allow retired teachers to return to work at a somewhat lower salary while still drawing state pensions, which supporters said they hoped would help school districts fill more than 1,000 vacancies statewide. "I think a lot of teachers want to come back and teach, but they want to collect their retirement," Bennett said. "I think this is good way to get them back in a school." The current plan calls for school districts and returning retirees to pay into the Public Employees Retirement System. But returning teachers wouldn't get additional retirement credits, meaning they would be getting nothing for their contributions. Busby said he was likely to amend the bill to allow returning retirees to be hired as contractors, instead. Israel Tal Lived: September 13, 1924 September 8, 2010 Why you should know him: Also known as Talik or Mr. Armor, General Tal served Israels military from her War of Independence until he retired at age 65, gaining renown as a hero of the Six-Day War and an expert in tank warfare. Born to Zionist Jewish parents in what was then British-mandate Palestine, Israel Tal began his military career at the age of 17, serving in the Jewish Brigade during World War II. Stationed in Italy, he became known as an expert machine-gunner. His military service would continue back home in the Holy Land, as he served during Israels War of Independence in 1948. He would go on to see action in most of the Jewish states wars, including as a brigade commander during the Sinai War of 1956, an armored-division commander in the Sinai during 1967s Six-Day War, and commanding the southern front of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. General Tal earned his nickname Mr. Armor because of his successes with the IDFs armored division. In 1964, he took over the IDF Armored Corps and revolutionized its doctrine, one of highly mobile vehicles that were relentless in their assaults and were trained to hit targets nearly a mile away. This training would prove priceless during the Six-Day War three years later, as Israels armored forces could hit their enemies at much farther distances than before (Egypt and Syria fired their Soviet tanks from only 200-500 meters away). General Tals efforts not only carried Israel to victory, but have influenced armored practices in militaries around the world ever since. Tal also led a team that, in 1970, developed Israels Merkava tank. This was needed due to Israels desire for independent tank-building of its own, and took into consideration lessons learned from the generals vast experience on the battlefield. General Tal, who passed away in 2010, was decorated with many awards during his lifetime, including twice winning the Eliyahu Golomb Israel Security Award (in 1961 and 1973), the Israel Prize in 1997, and inclusion on the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armors Wall of Greatest Armor Commanders. WASHINGTON, Ind. (WTHI) - A Washington, Indiana man is in the Daviess County Jail. Chad Harrington faces charges of aggravated battery and involuntary manslaughter. The Washington Police Department arrested Harrington on Thursday. It comes after an investigation into the death of Washington, Indiana woman. Police say on January 11th emergency crews responded to a home in Washington. That's where they found 30-year-old Bambi Cannon unconscious. Emergency crews took her to a hospital where she later passed away. News 10 is still working to find out Cannon's exact cause of death. Amid a bipartisan escalation of US pressure on China, the US intelligence community published Tuesday its annual Worldwide Threat Assessment, ahead of testimony by US intelligence officials before the Senate Intelligence Committee that day. While the media have largely focused on differences between the assessment provided in the document and the statements of the White House, in reality the threat assessment reflects a bipartisan escalation of US efforts to block the economic, military and technological development of Russia and China, with particular emphasis on China. The publication of the document came just one day after the US Justice Department announced a series of trumped-up charges against the Chinese technology company Huawei, alleging that it conspired to evade US sanctions against Iran and stole technology from the US carrier T-Mobile. Both the publication of the Worldwide Threat Assessment and the charges against Huawei set the tone for the White Houses trade negotiations with China, which reached an inconclusive outcome on Thursday. In a development over last years document, this years threat assessment begins by warning of a growing alignment between Russia and China, declaring that the two countries are more aligned than at any point since the mid-1950s, and the relationship is likely to strengthen in the coming year as some of their interests and threat perceptions converge, particularly regarding perceived US unilateralism and interventionism. The report adds, At the same time, some US allies and partners are seeking greater independence from Washington in response to their perceptions of changing US policies on security and trade and are becoming more open to new bilateral and multilateral partnerships. The assessment declares, For 2019 and beyond, the innovations that drive military and economic competitiveness will increasingly originate outside the United States, as the overall US lead in science and technology (S&T) shrinks; the capability gap between commercial and military technologies evaporates; and foreign actors increase their efforts to acquire top talent, companies, data, and intellectual property via licit and illicit means. Many foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, view strong indigenous science and technology capabilities as key to their countrys sovereignty, economic outlook, and national power. The report points to the critical role of artificial intelligence technology in this strategic competition, declaring, The global race to develop artificial intelligence (AI)systems that imitate aspects of human cognition is likely to accelerate the development of highly capable, application-specific AI systems with national security implications. It goes on to state that Foreign production and adoption of advanced communication technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, most likely will challenge US competitiveness and data security, while advances in quantum computing foreshadow challenges to current methods of protecting data and transactions. US data will increasingly flow across foreign-produced equipment and foreign-controlled networks, raising the risk of foreign access and denial of service. The report alleges that China and Russia are expanding cooperation with each other and through international bodies to shape global rules and standards to their benefit and present a counterweight to the United States and other Western countries. The two countries will present a wide variety of economic, political, counterintelligence, military, and diplomatic challenges to the United States and its allies. We anticipate that they will collaborate to counter US objectives. It warns, We assess that Chinas leaders will try to extend the countrys global economic, political, and military reach while using Chinas military capabilities and overseas infrastructure and energy investments under the Belt and Road Initiative to diminish US influence. It further warns that Successful implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative could facilitate PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] access to dozens of additional ports and airports and significantly expand Chinas penetration of the economies and political systems of participating countries. Commenting on the document, the New York Times points to its correspondence with Trumps focus on China. The report also makes a reasoned assessment of some of the issues that Mr. Trump has focused on in his public statements China is stealing trade secrets, spying and expanding its military and economic reach. From building islands in the South China Sea to working more closely with Russia than at any time since the mid-1950s, China has a long-term strategy to achieve global superiority. In response to this weeks developments, the primary concern of the Washington Post was to praise Trumps belligerent stance toward China, while seeking to make sure he does not back down from his conflict with it in exchange for tactical trade concessions by Beijing. Mr. Trump is on much sounder footing in calling for a structural overhaul of Chinas unfair system, the Post writes. Whats more, he deserves credit to the extent that his hardball tactics have forced China at least to discuss such issues. But it concludes, now that a crisis has arrived, it shouldnt be squandered. Mr. Trump and his negotiators must not settle for less than at least a start on bona fide structural change in China. The report, and the response to it, make clear that the US ruling elite is intent on responding to the decline of its global military and economic hegemony by escalating its economic, geopolitical, and military conflict with Russia and China by all means at its disposal. In an ominous warning, the US and Russia announced the failure of talks to prevent the United States withdrawal from the INF treaty, setting the stage for a new global nuclear arms race. On Monday, January 28, Marites Fortaliza, a housekeeper was rescued from a broken elevator in a townhouse on Manhattans exclusive Upper East Side. She had been trapped for at least 60 hours in the New York residence of the family of Warren Stephens, a billionaire hedge-fund manager based in Arkansas. A resident of Queens, Fortaliza had been cleaning the townhouse on the previous Friday, when the elevator became stuck between the second and third floors. Fortaliza was the only person in the building and remained trapped throughout the weekend without food or water in what was essentially a three-foot-by-four-foot metal box. When a courier attempted to deliver a package on the following Monday and received no response, he called the buildings owners, who had been away for the weekend. The Stephenses dispatched a family member to the house, who called 911 when she realized that Fortaliza was trapped inside the elevator. Firefighters arrived at about 10 a.m. and forced open the elevator doors. When she was carried on a stretcher from the building, Fortaliza appeared calm, according to bystanders. Although her condition seemed good, she was taken to the hospital, where she stayed to get a good rest, according to her husband. Fortalizas hospital stay was necessary because, even after a relatively short period of solitary confinement such as she endured, a persons physical health begins to deteriorate. Symptoms like those of hypertension, such as chronic headaches, trembling, and heart palpitations, can develop, along with oversensitivity to normal stimuli. Mental health declines, as well. A person can lose the ability to think clearly or concentrate and may suffer hallucinations. Other potential negative psychological effects include panic, rage, anxiety, and thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Warren and Harriet Stephens purchased the townhouse in 1999 for what would now be a cheap $8 million. In a statement reminiscent of a corporate memo, the family said, The employee involved has been a valued member of the Stephens extended family for 18 years. In a self-congratulatory tribute, the statement added: A Stephens family member accompanied her to the hospital this morning and remains at her side. Warren Stephens is from a social stratum whose privileges are light-years away from those of Fortaliza and her family and neighbors in Queens. He is president, chair, and CEO of the Stephens Inc. investment bank that his father and uncle founded in 1933. During his career at the bank, Stephens has aided various major companies that are as remorseless as they are profit-hungry. Notable examples include his facilitation of the initial public offering of Wal-Mart and his advising of Tyson Foods in its battle to acquire Holly Farms. Stephens obtained all the outstanding shares in the family business from his other relatives in 2006, and Forbes magazine now estimates his net worth at $2.6 billion. Over the years, Stephens has supported the political campaigns of reactionaries such as Bob Dole, Steve Forbes, and Mitt Romney: all staunch defenders of corporate bandits and financial parasites. In 2016, he belonged to the anti-Trump faction of the Republican party. In typical corporate language, the Stephens family claimed in their statement on Fortalizas harrowing three days that The cause of this unfortunate incident is being investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that something like this never happens again, But this turned out to be one of the lies that this layer of the richest Americans spouts out in great quantities every day, as subsequent events showed when, later that Monday, Devon Simmons, a Department of Buildings inspector for New York City, arrived at the Stephens townhouse to conduct tests on the elevator to identify the cause of the elevators breakdown. He knocked on the front door but was not admitted into the building. If a building is not monitored continuously, its elevators are required to have buttons or phones that can call for emergency assistance. Simmons did not know whether the elevator in the townhouse was equipped with these features or if they were in working order. It seems unlikely, since Fortaliza would have used them to summon help. Because Simmons was not admitted inside, the Department of Buildings issued a violation later that day. Notably it was not the first; the building was the subject of a previous violation under Stephenss ownership in 2008. This incident perfectly encapsulates the relationship between the thin layer of the super-rich, many of whom have second, third, and fourth homes in Manhattan and elsewhere around the country and the world, and the working class. While the financiers and corporate bosses relax on weekend getaways, their employees toil unseen and unconsidered. Proper workplace maintenance and safety precautions are neglected or eliminated when they do not concern the personal safety of the owners. Civil fines are ignored or brushed aside, and inspectors are turned away. Instead of enjoying the standard of living, cultural opportunities, social lives, and medical care that the ruling class enjoys, the workers who create all of the wealth in society suffer accidents made possible by their bosses neglect. These accidents unfailingly prompt stern vows to investigate and prevent future horrors, only to recur at regular intervals. Unlike thousands of other workers who die on the job every year in the United States, Fortaliza is lucky that the accident she suffered was not fatal. The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) abruptly axed indefinite strike action by tens of thousands of its members on Wednesday. Having done everything to isolate the strike, which it called on January 22, the JACTTO-GEO cynically claimed that its shutdown of all industrial action across the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is only temporary. None of the strikers nine demandswhich have been outstanding since 2016have been met. They include abolition of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and re-establishment of the previous government-funded pension system, higher pay and no outsourcing of government services. The union alliance called no meetings of workers to endorse the shutdown. Nor did it provide any details about the fate of hundreds of victimised or suspended teachers and state government workers. The JACTTO-GEO was compelled to call the strike under pressure from its members over the regressive CPS system and other attacks on their wages and working conditions by successive governments at both central and state levels. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led state government rejected outright the workers demands and initiated harsh measures to break the strike. This included mass arrests of strikers and protesters, the suspension and dismissal of hundreds of teachers and government employees, and the recruitment of temporary teachers as strike-breakers. The JACTTO-GEO responded with desperate appeals to the state government, declaring it would immediately end all industrial action if the government would begin talks. Faced with the JACTTO-GEOs opposition to any expansion of the walkout and hostile to the union alliances increasingly slavish assurances to the state government, a majority of teachers in Chennai, the state capital, returned to work on Tuesday. Teachers and government employees in other parts of the state, however, remained on strike in defiance of the government crackdown and sacking threats. On the same day that the JACTTO-GEO ordered its members to return to work, tens of thousands of strikers were involved in protests and road blockades in several districts. Parents and students also held demonstrations in support of teachers, demonstrating the possibility of mobilising thousands of other workers and oppressed layers throughout the country. Other sections of workers, including central government employees and state electricity board workers, expressed their solidarity with the strikers. The Tamil Nadu government claimed it could not afford the teachers demands. The pro-AIADMK government media and other right-wing elements attempted to pit oppressed layers against strikers by claiming that teachers and government employees are privileged, well paid and enjoy various benefits. Tamil Nadu teachers, in fact, face disastrous conditions. At the end of last year, the state government announced the closure of more than 3,000 schools and around 8,000 school midday meal centres. According to prominent educationist Prince Gajendra Babu, government schools in Tamil Nadu are understaffed and seriously under-funded. No sanitary employee, watchmen or physical education teacher has been appointed at primary schools, Babu commented in an article last year. As well as maintaining office records and cleaning the schools, teachers were responsible for teaching five subjects. How do you expect a parent to allow his/her child to join such a school? he asked. Indias Stalinist parties played a criminal role in the axing of the strike and the betrayal of workers demands. A treacherous joint appeal was issued on Wednesday by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and their partnersthe Maoist Communist Party of India-Liberation and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist). The statement called on the JACTTO-GEO to consider the expectations and well-being of the students and the parents and end all industrial action. These Stalinist parties and their respective union organisations then called off a token one-day strike planned for Thursday. The striking teachers and state government workers were not alone in calling for abolition of CPS and opposing the outsourcing of government services. Millions of Indian workers confront similar attacks, carried out by the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP)-led central government and various state governments. A few weeks ago, up to 180 million workers joined a two-day general strikeon January 8 and 9to fight the pro-big business policies of the BJP government. The JACTTO-GEO, however, refused to call on its members to join the national walkout. As this weeks betrayal and that of the recent national general strike demonstrate, the Stalinist organisations have no fundamental differences with the Hindu-communalist BJP and the AIADMK. Their aim is to replace these parties with alternative capitalist governments, led by the Congress Party or alliances of various right-wing regional parties, to make India attractive for big business by deepening the social attacks on the working class. The betrayal of the Tamil Nadu strike again poses the necessity for a break from the unions and development of independent forms of working class organisation. In order to secure the reinstatement of all suspended and victimised workers and advance the fight for decent government-funded pensions and other basic rights, Tamil Nadu teachers and government workers should follow the example set by Mexican auto workers and Sri Lankan plantation workers and form their own action committees. These democratically-controlled organisations must reach out to teachers and government workers throughout India and internationally to begin preparing the sort of industrial action and political demands required to defend their jobs, living standards and basic rights. Central to this struggle is the rejection of the nationalist political agenda of the CPM and CPI and their political allies, and a turn to building a new socialist leadership in the working class across Asia and internationally. On February 9, the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter and the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Rank-and-File Committees are holding a demonstration outside General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The demonstration is the first organized expression of rank-and-file opposition to GMs plans to close five plants in the US and Canada, which will have devastating consequences for thousands of workers, their families and the communities in which the plants are located, including Hamtramck, Michigan; Lordstown, Ohio; and Oshawa, Ontario. The demonstration is based on a clear program and strategy. It is not an appeal to GM and its corporate executives, but a call for workers to express their strength and their determination to fight through the formation of rank-and-file committees, independent of the corporate-controlled unions, run by thoroughly corrupt and privileged executives. It will demand an immediate halt to all plant closures, the abolition of the two-tier wage and benefit system, the transformation of all temporary workers into full-timers, and the rehiring of all laid-off and victimized workers. In opposition to the shop floor dictatorship of corporate management, it will fight for industrial democracy, workers control of production and the transformation of the giant auto companies into public utilities, run on the basis of social need, not private profit. The demonstration is being held under conditions of growing class struggle in the United States and around the world. The capitalist elites, torn by internal factional and geopolitical conflicts, are united in their offensive against the working class, through whose exploitation they have amassed unprecedented fortunes. All over the world, the capitalists are engaged in a global restructuring of the auto industry as the spearhead of a further redistribution of wealth from the working class to the rich. The social counterrevolution of the ruling class is encountering growing resistance. In the days following the initial announcement of the demonstration, tens of thousands of workers in Matamoros, Mexico, on the US-Mexico border, launched a wildcat strike. Workers formed independent organizations and marched under the banner, The union and the company kill the working class. The strike, which threatens to shut down production in the North American auto industry, has demonstrated the common class interests of workers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Terrified of the prospect of a united struggle of workers across the US-Mexico border, the corporate media and trade unions completely blacked out reporting on the strike in Matamoros. US auto workers, informed of the struggle through the World Socialist Web Site, responded with strong support for a joint offensive against the auto companies. We are being called to action by our brothers and sisters around the world to join this fight, a worker at the Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant wrote in to the WSWS. The first month of 2019 has seen a series of major class struggles in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, including a strike by 13,000 autoworkers in Hungary, hundreds of thousands of teachers and other government workers in Tamil Nadu, India, and mass protests of workers in Sudan and Zimbabwe. In France, the yellow vest demonstrators have been joined by red pen protests of teachers against the deplorable state of public education. In the United States, a strike by 33,000 teachers in Los Angeles is being followed by a new wave of teacher unrest. A strike authorization vote will be completed today in Oakland, California, where teachers have engaged in a series of wildcat sickouts against plans to close a third of the citys public schools. Teachers in Denver, Colorado have approved strike action for the first time in a quarter of a century, while teachers in Virginia staged a mass demonstration at the state capital on Monday. The February 9 demonstration is based on the understanding that there can be no defense of jobs except through the independent organization of the working class. As the Steering Committee statement calling for the demonstration declares, the United Auto Workers in the US and Unifor in Canada are businessescheap-labor contractors and an industrial police force, controlled by executives that are in the top 3 percent of income earners. The UAW and Unifor, which have collaborated with the auto companies for decades in destroying jobs and attacking the wages and conditions of workers, are doing nothing to stop the plant closures. In the face of the global auto jobs massacre, the unions are not organizing a single demonstration, let alone a strike. The UAW this week released a pathetic video highlighting the concessions the union rammed through in 2009 as part of the Obama administrations restructuring of the auto industrythe halving of wages for new-hires, an end to income security for laid-off workers and the elimination of dental and vision coverage for retirees. We invested in you, the UAW implores GM, now it is your turn to invest in us. A string of appeals from UAW officials for GM to invest in us are intended to serve no other purpose than to spread demoralization. In fact, the UAW invested in GM by becoming a major stockholder in the company, with a vested interest in increasing the exploitation of autoworkers, which they have done in a series of concessions contracts pushed through over mass opposition at GM and the other auto companies. The corruption scandal that erupted last year exposed the fact that corporate executives invested in the UAW through direct payouts in exchange for the UAW performing its assigned role. In the Los Angeles teachers strike, the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and its parent organizations, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, last month pushed through a rotten agreement to shut down the struggle in the most blatantly undemocratic manner possible. After six days on the picket lines, the UTLA gave teachers only a few hours to review the sellout deal it reached behind closed doors with the school board and Democratic politicians before voting on the agreement. In both the yellow vest protests in France and the strikes in Mexico, the endurance of the struggle has come from the fact that workers organized independently of the trade unions. The objective impulse of the struggles of workers in the United States and around the world is toward a political general strike, drawing together all sections of the working class in a fight for power and against the capitalist system. It is bringing workers into conflict with the nationalist and pro-corporate trade unions, controlled by privileged executives whose interests are directly opposed to those of the workers they claim to represent. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality party will do everything in our power to promote and assist in the development and unification of the struggles of workers in the United States and all over the world, connecting the growth of the class struggle to a revolutionary socialist political perspective and program. We call on all workers and young people to attend the February 9 demonstration and send in your messages of support. The largest strike in two decades in North America continues among tens of thousands of maquiladora workers in Matamoros, Mexico. Workers bravely rebelled two weeks ago against the pro-capitalist and nationalist trade unions to carry out wildcat strikes for decent salaries, unpaid benefits and an end to the sweatshop standards at their plants. Luis Daniel Prieto, a young worker from the city of Lagos de Moreno, in the central Mexican state of Jalisco, learned of the rebellion in Matamoros through the WSWS Twitter page. He was inspired by the courageous and independent stand taken by Matamoros workers and wanted to share his story. After several low-wage jobs, including working at a Burger King, Luis Daniel, 34, worked for one year as a toll-booth collector. One afternoon, he learned from a radio commercial and from researching online that ICA, the company administrating the highway, was stealing thousands of pesos in owed benefits from each worker. Once his paycheck arrived with 200 pesos ($US10) for yearly benefits, he refused to sign the consent form and sought to convince other workers to protest. After a week of these efforts, he was summarily fired. The anger after years of being exploited by corporations, that is when I vomited out all the labor hangover from my whole life, he recounts. Luis Daniel decided to sue ICA at the local Conciliation and Arbitration Board in Leon, Guanajuato, to expose their financial records for my fellow workers to realize what was happening. After eight months of fighting for his case and running out of money, he accepted a settlement of 23,000 pesos ($US1,200) offered by the company. It was a defeat that would open a door to see other things, he says. He used the money to buy equipment for a mobile churro stand which he now works at with a friend. But that is when I thought, how many more people are in the same position when I demanded my benefits from ICA, feeling sad and alone like I did? Thats not right. He decided in September 2016 to open a Facebook page called La pocilga laboral de Lagos de Moreno (Labor Pigpen of Lagos de Moreno) offering to accompany workers fighting against abuses by employers. On the one hand, we carried out demonstrations. On the other hand, there were legal complaints, Luis Daniel explains. During this period, one major industrial park was inaugurated in Lagos de Moreno, with thousands of workers being employed by auto-parts companies owned by German and Japanese capital. This development has turned the small city into an increasingly important nodule in the North American auto industry, according to El Economista, particularly because of its proximity to the states of Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi and Queretaro, where Honda, Nissan, Mazda, General Motors, Toyota, BMW and Mercedes Benz all have assembly plants. Luis Daniel was contacted by workers from very diverse sectorsfrom agricultural fields, warehouses and housemaids to those at the newer manufacturing plantsall facing similar contract violations and other abuses by employers. He would encourage workers to denounce and publicize their complaints through the Facebook page, while they pursued lawsuits. This came increasingly at odds with the companies and their established institutions. In the first place, he notes, I met union leaders and officials, but no one wanted to support this to make a movement, which is what I wanted. This led him to begin denouncing the trade-union bureaucracy in his page, stating the company and the union are the divine instruments of the employers. Then, Luis Daniel began making public protests against the local subhead of the Labor Secretariat, Lilia Vianey Luna Lopez, who was refusing to grant legal counsel and threatening workers. One afternoon, he says, Lilia Vianey sent municipal police to arrest me at the Conciliation and Arbitration building. They pointed machine guns at me and dragged me out of my chair. He said the president of the board intervened and prevented the arrest telling the police that they were not allowed in the building with weapons. Be careful with this person, Lilia Vianey Luna Lopez, he said the local official then told him, Business interests here are protecting her. They werent here to arrest you for what you are doing. That paper they showed me said that you tried to rape her. Luis Daniel said he waited until the police left and then went to denounce the allegations, which he said are false, at the office of the local human rights ombudsman, Jose Mavio Ramirez Trejo, who simply dismissed his complaint. When WSWS reporters told Luis Daniel about the ongoing #MeToo campaign, he compared his situation to that of WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, who was also subjected to false rape allegations. Just as easily as it was the Ecuadorian Embassy for Julian and the president of the board for me that day, it couldve been death or a disappearance. That is what one is exposed to in these systems of impunity in which one gets charged with rape to facilitate hunting you. At the same time, he says he faced online censorship, noting that in late 2017, I had another Facebook page of La pocilga laboral and Facebook shut it down. We had about 5,000 followers and the new one has less than 300 and has had a lesser impact This is something really rough that the powers that be apply. On January 31, 2018, he protested outside of the factories of Nestle and Draxlmaiera Germany-based auto-parts supplier against the non-payment of wages for a security employee sub-contracted by the company Sevige. That evening, he said, two thugs went to his home to beat him with a metal pipe. His attackers only fled when a neighbor came out to his aid. He filed a report at the local prosecutors office which he says was later dismissed again by the human rights ombudsman Ramirez Trejo, who claimed his office couldnt file a report unless he had spent several days hospitalized. I kept accompanying the worker to his protests until, towards the end of May, I came out of my house and my car was on fire. I dont know who did it, but for me those responsible are still Nestle, Sevige and Draxlmaier because they began acting belligerently toward me when we would go and protest at their plants, Luis Daniel added. He said that to his surprise, when he went back to the prosecutors office there was no record of the previous attack and officials decided not to investigate his case. Then the same thing happened with human rights, Luis Daniel describes, This Mavio Ramirez Trejo laughs at me and says, What did you expect? Because of the deadly threats and the enormous out-of-pocket expenses to deal with his injuries and his car, he decided to end his activities with the Pocilga. My experience is proof that workers rights here are violated by companies, corrupt governments, corrupt human rights and corrupt conciliation and arbitration boards. They even refuse to comply with the corrupt contracts and deals they themselves imposed, he remarked. He then appealed to workers in Matamoros, I saw this video by the lawyer Susana Prieto, who backs Morena. We know that all of these parties, whether its Morena [Movement for National Regeneration] or PRI, get money from businesses and criminal organizations. The Matamoros movement needs to watch out. Morena is in power now and one cant believe what [president] Andres Manuel [Lopez Obrador] says about respecting workers rights and much less the dignity of workers. As simple as the imposition by the president of a Nestle factory in Veracruz. Her [the lawyers] like-me rhetoric has always been used by politicians to dupe people You can see in the video when this Mario says he is a capitalist and she nods. How are you going to fight for rights that contravene capitalism with representatives or faces of a movement that identify as capitalists? He finally pointed to the decision of the Lopez Obrador administration to form a new National Guard of up to 150,000 soldiers, warning that it will be aimed at repressing workers struggles. What happens if a massacre is unleashed? Luis Daniel concluded: What is the purpose of waiting for change from such a president, a union leader or Susana Prieto? This weeks parliamentary battles over Brexit overshadowed a report by the Centre for Cities think tank that a decade of Conservative cuts means local councils have lost 60 pence in every pound of funding they previously got from central government. The worst hit towns and cities are in the north of England. The top 10 cities facing the worst cuts are Barnsley (40 percent), Liverpool (32 percent), Doncaster (31 percent), Wakefield (30 percent), Blackburn (27 percent), Newcastle (26.6 percent), Gloucester (23.4 percent), Glasgow (23.3 percent), Hull/Slough (23.1 percent) and Huddersfield (23 percent). Barnsley has suffered the greatest percentage cut in spending on services, while Liverpool has the deepest cuts per head, at 816. Every possible spin has been placed on these figures, with commentators seizing on aspects of the reports findings for their own political ends. The worst-hit areas are mainly, but not exclusively, areas that voted for Brexita fact highlighted by both sides of the raging conflict between the Remain and Leave factions of the ruling classusually framed in the reactionary terms of a need for stiffer immigration controls. They are also overwhelmingly Labour Party-controlled authorities, with Labour councils seeing an average fall of 28 percent, compared to 19 percent for Tory authoritiesan average decrease of 115 per household in Tory areas and more than 500 in Labour councils. A new funding formula will direct yet more funding to the Tory shires. What is being deliberately concealed is that this is all part of a war against the entire working class. The cuts have fallen on workers regardless of whether they voted to leave or remain in the European Union (EU), above all in the most deprived areas that have traditionally voted Labour. Nine of the 10 most deprived UK councils have suffered cuts of almost three times the national average. The national average council spending cut is 14.3 percent, but cities that are home to 55 percent of the population account for 74 percent of this total386 per head, compared to a national average cut of 172. London has suffered the biggest absolute cut30 percent of all local government spending, despite having just 16 percent of the population. In every working-class neighbourhood, peoples lives are being torn apart. Local authority spending has fallen by half nationally since 2010, contributing to more than 1 million public sector job losses; the privatisation and gutting of social care; tragic evidence of homelessness and drug addiction on every major street; the closure of libraries, parks, swimming pools and youth clubs; public transport gutted and fares hiked to unaffordable levels; crumbling roads and infrastructure; and overflowing household bins. With rising poverty and an aging population, nearly half of Britains cities now spend more than half of their budget on social care. Barnsley spends 62 percent on looking after its vulnerable adults and children. The Labourites now making anti-Tory noises are all guilty of imposing these cuts, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, instructing councils to continue enforcing legal budgets. The trade unions have not defended a single job or service. Labour has given the Tories a blank cheque to build on the massive transfer of wealth from the working class to the super-rich that began under Margaret Thatcher and continued under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The government is now planning further cuts to corporation taxfrom its extraordinarily low rate of 19 percent, to just 17 percent. It stood at 28 percent in 2010. Those companies deigning to pay their taxesAmazons UK tax bill fell to just 4.6 million last year on a turnover of 2 billionwill hand over 12 billion less by 2022. This comes on top of the 16.5 billion a year they have already saved since 2010 as a result of corporate tax cuts. The annual shortfall in the National Health Service budget is 20 billion. To this must be added an estimated 1.7 billion annually in company tax avoidance. Fully 25 percent of FTSE 100 companies avoided taxation by locating subsidiaries to tax havens recognised by the UKincreasing to 98 percent of such companies if a stricter US definition is applied. In 2016, four of the top 10 FTSE companies paid no corporation tax at all. The result is that United Nations special rapporteur Professor Philip Alston issued a report last November stating that austerity policies have left 14 million people in poverty, including 4.5 million childrenwith this situation not just a disgrace, but a social calamity and an economic disaster. Yet when Parliament debated his report January 9, just 14 MPs turned upone for every million poorand the debate was over in a half hour. The contrast between this and the house packed with baying and jeering MPs during the interminable Brexit debates could not have been more grotesque. Two things are clear: Neither the Brexiteers nor the Remainers have any interest in or concern for the working class. Their fight is over how best British capitalism can pursue a trade war for control of global markets and investment. And whether Britain leaves the EU or stays, class war austerity will continue and deepen in the name of making Britain globally competitive. A Labour government led by Corbyn would do nothing substantial to end the suffering inflicted on millions of working people, especially the most vulnerable. That would require a frontal political assault on the major banks and corporations, a struggle that is anathema to Corbyn and McDonnell, busy wooing the City of London and pledging to uphold the national interest. Workers and young people must trust in themselves and adopt the methods of class struggle against the ruling elite and all its parties. The task is not to rebuild national unity across the Brexit divide under Labour, but the unification of the working class in Britain and across Europe against the capitalist class. Workers must form their own organisations of struggle, independent from the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, to bring down the Tories and form a workers government pledged to socialist policies to meet public need, not private profit. The allies the British working class needs for its own victory are already coming into struggle in a European and international movement against austerity and social inequalityof which the yellow vest protests in France, the strike wave in Portugal, strikes and protests by Hungarian and Mexican autoworkers, by millions of Indian workers and by US teachers are only the initial expression. The Socialist Equality Party and our sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals European sections, the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) in France and the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP) in Germany, call for a unified struggle against the EU and its constituent governments for the United Socialist States of Europe. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is force-feeding immigrants held in a detention center in Texas, using brutal torture against at least ten men engaged in a hunger strike against their prolonged confinement and mistreatment. The men, mainly Sikhs from the Punjab region of India, are being force-fed either through plastic nasal tubes or intravenous lines, inserted several times a day. At least 30 men are participating in the hunger strike, include some from Cuba as well as the majority from India. Force-feeding through nasal tubes is a method of torture, used at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and other CIA-run secret prisons overseas, which has been condemned by international human rights groups. The American Medical Association bars its members from participating in such mistreatment. So long as the hunger striker is making a conscious and reasoned decision to refuse food, the AMA guidelines say, a medical doctor should respect their right to do so. Democratic Party politicians who are making a show of opposition to Trumps demands for a wall on the US-Mexico border have nothing to say about the brutal treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers in ICE detention centers that has provoked the hunger strikes and other protests. On the contrary: the legislation now being discussed in a House-Senate conference committee would provide billions more for ICE to expand the American gulag. The detainees, held at the ICE El Paso Service Processing Center in the west Texas city, have asked immigration advocates visiting them in detention to make their struggle known to the public. The hunger strike was first reported Thursday morning by the Associated Press. A lawyer for one of the detainees and a volunteer immigration advocate both spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the conditions the men face. Ruby Kaur is a Michigan-based immigration attorney who speaks Punjabi, the first language of many of the prisoners, who are Sikhs from the north Indian state of Punjab. She represents one of the hunger strikers and said her client had been put on an IV and then force-fed after more than three weeks without eating or drinking water. Theyve been held for at least six months, she said. They are distinguishing them for treatment primarily on the basis of race. Kaur said that her client and the other strikers were protesting mistreatment and physical abuse in detention, and the response of ICE to the hunger strike was even greater mistreatment. Physical abuse to me is when theyre being force fed, she said. She said that the lawyers for the hunger strikers were still gathering information about the physical condition of their clients. We are not sure about that yet, because we are still in the process of meeting individuals, she explained. Im very passionate about immigrants rights, Kaur said, adding that some of the hunger strikers had been placed in solitary confinement, which is also classified as a form of torture by international human rights groups. She told the Associated Press, They go on hunger strike, and they are put into solitary confinement and then the ICE officers kind of psychologically torture them, telling the asylum seekers they will send them back to Punjab. Margaret Brown Vega from Advocate Visitors with Immigrants in Detention, an immigrant support group based in New Mexico, gave additional details about the conditions at the El Paso ICE facility. She is a volunteer for a group that organizes visits to people in detention, to try to minimize their isolation and despair. We became aware of the hunger strike, she told the WSWS. Three of us volunteers went and visited with four of the men to talk to them about their situation. El Paso Service Processing Center, the ICE facility, its a prison. If you look at the standards they operate under, and how they refer to the detainees, it is a prison. They are very much treated like prisoners. Its very hard to get information about them. I spoke to one individual. Another volunteer spoke to two individuals. A third volunteer spoke to the fourth individual. Force-feeding is very troubling. Theyre very weak. They walk very slowly, shuffling their feet. Their eyes are very tired looking. The man I saw showed me his arms. Hes been getting three or four IVs a day and he said he thought he would be put on a feeding tube through the side of the nose. I believe this is on an ICE protocol. The detainees are required to present themselves for their own torture, she explained: Theyve complained about having to walk to the medical area instead of being brought in a wheelchair. Vega added, Whats difficult for people to understand is that the conditions in immigration facilities are such they bring people to this point. Its psychologically very challenging. Sometimes its physically challenging. I think people underestimate how bad it is to be held indefinitely in a place where you dont get enough food, where youre constantly berated, where people place obstacles in your way and play games with you. And the worst thing is never knowing when its going to end. Its pretty bad, when its day in and day out. Vega said that there had not really been much of a change from the Obama administration to the Trump administration, in terms of conditions inside the detention facilities. I would say that many people feel this is not new, she continued. In these facilities, going back ten years, people have noticed these conditions. Even though there are supposedly standards that guide how these places are run. I have encountered people in detention who went to a port of entry and applied for asylum. I met one individual who was detained and never given parole. In the El Paso area were seeing 100 percent denial rates on parole. We encounter asylum seekers who are not a flight risk, who are not a threat to the community, but theyre not released. Both Ruby Kaur and Margaret Brown Vega made it clear that the prisoners had taken the initiative in seeking to have their hunger strike become public, known to a far wider audience than the ICE agents who run the El Paso center. Our first priority was to make this situation known, Vega said. Its a matter of First Amendment rights. We feel like its our responsibility to help them amplify their voices. Its very difficult to go even a couple of days without eating. Theyre putting their bodies at risk. A federal judge has authorized the force-feeding, according to a spokeswoman for ICE, who did not address the charges of physical and psychological abuse by ICE agents. The El Paso facility is directly operated by ICE, not through a subcontractor as at many other detention centers. When a hunger strike passes the one-month mark, as is the case with the immigrant detainees, there is mounting danger of irreversible physiological damage. The Associated Press report quoted Amrit Singh, the uncle of two men participating in the hunger strike. They are not well. Their bodies are really weak, they cant talk and they have been hospitalized, back and forth, Singh told AP. They want to know why they are still in the jail and want to get their rights and wake up the government immigration system. There have been repeated hunger strikes by immigration detainees over the last several years, but in most cases the strikers agreed to take food and water under threat of court-ordered force-feeding. It is the continued worsening of conditions, as well as the prospect of indefinite confinement, that has driven some prisoners to take this latest desperate step and defy the threat of torture. The Freedom for Immigrants organization, the umbrella group to which AVID is affiliated, has documented nearly 1,400 people on hunger strike at 18 detention facilities since May 2015. The author also recommends: Thousands seeking asylum in US to be pushed back into Mexico [26 January 2018] The death of Felipe Alonzo-Gomez: A crime of US imperialism [27 December 2018] On December 31, 2018, Halil Celik, founder and leader of the group Sosyalist Esitlik, died of cancer in Istanbul at the age of 57. He had dedicated over 40 years of his life to the struggle for socialism, the last quarter of that period to building a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in Turkey. Halil came to Trotskyism and the ICFI after critically examining numerous political tendencies and clarifying fundamental political issues. This required political steadfastness, personal courage and inexhaustible energyqualities he possessed in abundance. Based on long, bitter experience with the unprincipled, nationalist and opportunist policies of pseudo-left organisations, Halil understood that the development of the Trotskyist movement in Turkey can take place only on the basis of revolutionary internationalism and requires a thorough understanding of the strategic experiences of the international working class in the course of the 20th century. He found both in the documents and the history of ICFI. Early political experiences Halil Celik was born on November 23, 1961, in Istanbul. His father was a sailor, his mother a housewife. At the age of 16, as a pupil, he joined the youth organisation of a pro-Albanian Stalinist party. One year later, in 1978, at the partys request, he left his school and his family to work as a full-time organiser and propagandist in various factories and working class residential areas. It was a period when many Turkish youth were radicalised. As in other countries, the years 1968 to 1971 had been marked by a militant wave of class struggles in Turkey. There had been numerous strikes, factory occupations, student protests, land occupations by poor peasants and fierce protests against the US. In March 1971, in coordination with Washington, the Turkish military intervened. It forced the civilian government of Suleyman Demirel to resign and seized power itself, holding it for two years. The coup was followed by a wave of bloody repression, bans on political parties, arrests and executions. But the military was unable to control the situation. The 1970s were marked by fierce class struggles, unstable governments and ever-new waves of repression, until finally, in September 1980, the military again organised a putsch and established a brutal dictatorship under General Evren. During this period, left-wing radical organisations were thriving. The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), founded in 1967 as a left-wing alternative to the pro-government Turk-Is trade union federation, grew to 300,000 members and was ruthlessly persecuted by the state and the fascist right. According to one source, in 1978 some 1 million workers and students belonged to mass organisations under the control of various groups, parties and currents that called themselves socialist. Most of these organisations were characterised by nationalist and Stalinist conceptions. Some were guided by the teachings of Mao Zedong or Che Guevara, some advocated armed struggle. However, the revolutionary Marxism defended by Leon Trotsky and the Fourth International against Stalinism was hardly known in Turkey. This was due not only to the lack of Turkish translations of Trotskys writings, but also to the policies of Ernest Mandels Pabloite United Secretariat, then the best known Trotskyist tendency internationally, which also glorified Mao Zedong and Che Guevara. The growing repression and the military coup exposed the bankruptcy of a policy that relied on nationalism and militant actions by small groups rather than the systematic mobilisation of the working class on the basis of an internationalist socialist programme. The state intensified repression and smashed many leftist organisations. Halil himself was arrested in September 1978 for his political activities and spent a year and a half in a military prison, where he was maltreated. In prison, he began to distance himself from Stalinist politics, but did not want to openly break with his organisation, as he felt this would be treason under conditions of repression. After the military coup in September 1980, he worked in an illegal Stalinist print shop. Soon he was caught distributing leaflets against the military regime, and after some four months he was arrested again. Since he did not reveal anything, he was released in the summer of 1981. When he learned through a lawyer that most of the Stalinist leaders had betrayed others in prison, he finally broke with Stalinism. I decided to walk alone, he wrote three decades later about this stage of his political life. In the following years, Halil completed his vocational training. Repeatedly interrupted by arrests, he succeeded in passing the university entrance examination and began studying sociology at Istanbul University, graduating in 1985. Due to a professional ban on communist activists, however, he was unable to work as a teacher and continued his studies, securing a masters degree in 1987. He earned his living as a painter, porter, proofreader and journalist. At about the same time that he turned away from Stalinism, that is, at the age of 20, Halil first came upon Trotskys writings. In a political curriculum vitae that he wrote for the International Committee in 2013, he stated: It was in this period that I found the book of Leon Trotsky on German fascism, The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany, which had been translated and published in the late 1970s. It was the first book by Trotsky I had ever seen and read. The book was a strong blow against all my prejudices about Trotsky and Trotskyism. I started to re-read Marx, Engels and Lenin, and recognised that Stalin was the enemy of Marxism. The protracted road to Trotskyism The road to Trotskyism proved to be long and difficult. Halil and the circle of comrades with whom he worked closely throughout this period became acquainted with almost all the political tendencies in Turkey and internationally that had broken with the programmatic principles of the Fourth International in the period after the Second World War and sought to falsify them in the sense of an adaptation to Stalinism, social democracy, the trade union bureaucracy and national movements--the Pabloites, Lambertists, Morenoites, etc. He collaborated with them in various journalistic and political projects, all of which led nowhere. While in the 1980s, and especially after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, this milieu moved continuously to the right and finally fully integrated itself into the structures of bourgeois rule, Halil and his closest comrades moved in the opposite direction. They were looking for an orientation to the working class and a truly international, socialist perspective. This eventually led them to the International Committee of the Fourth International. When Halil, after a thorough study of the perspectives and history of the ICFI, was convinced that it alone embodied the continuity of the Fourth International, he devoted all the energy of his last years to the building of a section of the International Committee in Turkey. After his break with Stalinism, Halil tried to come to terms with his past experiences and establish new contacts with workers and young people. He organised educational circles for young workers and carried out propaganda activities at universities. He tried several times to establish publications and form organisations in cooperation with tendencies that referred to themselves as Trotskyist. But these initiatives all ended in a dead end. At times he worked in trade unions. In 1983, he was active in the independent trade union Otomobil-Is, which had been banned by the military dictatorship and re-organised by members of DISK. In 1992, he served as head of the training and press department of DISK, which had resumed its work after the ban. However, because of the articles and leaflets and the Platform of the Left Opposition written by him, he was soon dismissed and sued by a specially authorised prosecutor. In 1987, Halils group took part in a joint election campaign for independent socialist candidates. In 1988, it participated in the publications Isci Sozu (Workers Word) and Sosyalism (by the PGBSSocialism without bosses, generals and bureaucrats), of which Halil was the official editor. In retrospect, he wrote: The founding of the PGBS was actually the result of an unprincipled unification, of which we were not aware due to our theoretical backwardness, political naivety and blind confidence in our old Trotskyist comrades. Due to political differences over Stalinism and the PGBSs adaptation to right-wing trade union bureaucrats, Halils group left the organisation in early 1991. Later, it collaborated with a Morenoite group with which it issued the joint monthly publication Enternasyonal Bulten (International Bulletin). In 1996, Halils group for a short time joined the ODP (Party of Freedom and Solidarity), which was formed through the merger of several Stalinist and left-wing petty-bourgeois groups and attracted many workers and militant youth. Halils group joined the ODP with the aim of winning the best elements from it, not turning it into a socialist party, which Halils group considered impossible. Within this framework, the PGBS was reorganised, but soon broke apart again. Halils group now put out a monthly publication called Socialism Without Borders, Classes and Exploitation (sss-S) and a Left Opposition Bulletin in the trade unions. When the civil war with the Kurdish PKK reached its climax, political repression increased and Halil was threatened with a decades-long prison sentence. His group decided at the end of 1994 to send him abroad. The day after he left the country, his home was invaded by anti-terror special forces. Outside of Turkey, Halil was to make contact with international Trotskyist tendencies. He lived for several years in Bremen in northern Germany, where he earned his living as a social worker. On an international level, Halil now went through the same experiences as in Turkey. He contacted Pabloite and Morenoite tendencies and got to know several of their leaders, but it proved impossible to find a principled basis for cooperation. Later, Halil often spoke with horror about his experiences at international gatherings where alliances were forged without political agreement and where the participants included not only hardened Stalinists but also open right-wingers. His most intensive contacts were with the Coordinating Committee for the Refoundation of the Fourth International (CRFI), which is dominated by the Argentinian Partido Obrero (PO) of Jorge Altamira. In 1999, Halil was invited as an observer to a conference of that tendency in Athens, and in 2000 in Buenos Aires. However, the organisers were not interested in clarifying political issues, but only in making their group appear as large as possible. The CRFI was founded on the principle that there was to be no discussion of past differences or the historical development of the various tendencies that adhered to it, as the World Socialist Web Site later commented. The Fourth International was to be refounded on the basis that each adherent of the CRFI would remain free to pursue its own national opportunist politics without criticism or interference. In Greece, Halil worked for a time with Savas Michael-Matsass Workers Revolutionary Party (EEK), which had broken with the ICFI in 1985 and now supported the CRFI, as part of the Christian Rakovsky Balkan Socialist Centre. The Balkan Socialist Centre pretended to oppose imperialist interventions in the Balkans and to promote a Socialist Balkan Federation. In fact, it was an unprincipled amalgam of tendencies that were neither socialist nor Trotskyist. It consisted mainly of friends of Michael-Matsas from the Stalinist and nationalist milieus. The whole enterprise turned out to be political fraud. Building the Turkish section of the ICFI Halil later wrote about the lessons he learned from this period of his life: After these experiences, I reached the conclusion that all these unprincipled splits cannot be explained by referring to the corrupted individuals or groups, and there must be historical and universal material factors behind them. Thus we decided to study the history and experience of the Fourth International, as well as capitalist economy. This work took almost five years. Already after he had gone abroad, Halil, according to his own account, had begun to translate almost everything I could find about the Fourth Internationaldocuments of the International Left Opposition, founding documents of the Fourth International and much more. In 1999, he first came across the World Socialist Web Site and began translating articles from it. In 2003, Halil attended a National Committee meeting of the EEK in Athens. There he confronted Savas Michael-Matsas with the documents of the International Committee concerning his behaviour in 1985, when Michael-Matsas was secretary of the ICs Greek section. When a crisis broke out in the British Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP), he refused to attend international leadership meetings discussing the opportunist degeneration of the WRP and broke with the International Committee. He concealed from the membership of his organisation all information about the international discussion. Michael-Matsas speculated at the time that, freed from the constraints of the International Committee, he could pursue an uninhibited nationalist and opportunist course in Greece. Even before the split with the ICFI, he had travelled behind its back to Iran, where he supported the Khomeini regime. After the split, he developed alliances within Greece with the bourgeois Pasok party, the Stalinist Communist Party and the trade union bureaucracy. At the international level, he supported Mikhail Gorbachev, who initiated capitalist restoration in the Soviet Union. Halil later told this writer, with a mixture of ridicule and contempt, what happened when he confronted Michael-Matsas with the documents of the International Committee. The latter reacted with a hysterical outburst of rage, yelling at the leading members of his own party and insulting them in obscene terms. Halil concluded that Michael-Matsas was a charlatan and that the EEK was a cult. This experience encouraged him to study the documents of the International Committee more thoroughly. From this study he concluded that everything we had learned from our Pabloite leaders about the history of the Fourth International was wrong and that the founding principles of the Fourth International found their expression in the documents of the ICFI. He now began to follow the WSWS more closely and to conduct internal education on important ICFI documents. Among others, he translated nine lectures given by leading representatives of the International Committee on the theme Marxism and the Fundamental Problems of the Twentieth Century at an international summer school held in January 1998 in Sydney, Australia, as well as Globalisation and the International Working Class, a polemic against the Spartacist tendency. The study of these documents enabled Halil and his comrades to clarify important questions of political orientation. They changed their attitude to the unions after discussing the lecture Why are Trade Unions Hostile to Socialism? by David North, the national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party in the US and chairman of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS. North opposes the widespread view that socialists must acknowledge the trade unions as the workers organisation par excellence, the form most representative of the social interests of the working class. Based on a careful historical and social analysis, he proves that standing on the basis of capitalist production relations, the trade unions are, by their very nature, compelled to adopt a hostile attitude toward the class struggle. He concludes, The organic development of trade unionism proceeds, not in the direction of socialism, but in opposition to it. In November 2007, the editorial staff of Socialism wrote to the ICFI concerning the discussions at that time: You are aware of the fact that we have been following the ICFI closely for the last two years through the WSWS and discussing some of its documents internally by translating them into Turkish. Through the meetings and discussions we held, we managed to find answers to many of the questions we had in our minds. In a nutshell, the discussions we have conducted in Istanbul have accelerated the process of understanding the basic positions of the ICFI by our comrades and sympathisers. In 2008, Halil and his comrades established a publishing house named Prinkipo Yayincilik (a reference to the island off of Istanbul to which Leon Trotsky was exiled) and published three books: On Historical Materialism by Franz Mehring, The Red BookOn the Moscow Trials by Leon Sedov, and a book by Halil titled The First International. In June 2007, Halil met for the first time personally with leading members of the International Committee in Berlin. I remember this encounter very well. Not only did Halil speak English and German very well, he also spoke the same political language as we did. He knew the history and political positions of the International Committee and was interested in deepening his understanding in the discussion. In contrast to many other international contacts I got to know in the course of time, he was not concerned with making use of the authority of the ICFI for his national work in Turkey, but with clarifying fundamental questions of political orientation and perspective. He was also personally free of the vanity and arrogance that one usually finds in abundance among the leaders of pseudo-left organisations. He was a highly political person, but always interested in questions of culture and other topics. Already at this meeting it became clear how complex and demanding is the construction of a section of the ICFI in Turkey. In a country where Stalinist and nationalist currents had dominated the workers movement for decades, a variety of political issues had to be addressed, clarified and developed: the character of the bourgeoisie in a country with a delayed capitalist development, the national question in Turkey and throughout the Middle East, the relationship between the working class and the peasantry, etc. After the meeting, Halil conducted a series of seminars in Turkey on the history of the Fourth International, globalisation, the national question, the trade unions, Stalinism and other issues. After another meeting in Istanbul, the editors of Socialism decided to work closely with the International Committee. During the meeting in Istanbul there was a long discussion about the Kurdish question, which was an important mechanism for subordinating the entire left to a bourgeois programme. In the Turkish left, the attitude prevailed that the discrimination against the Kurds by the Turkish state obliged them to unconditionally defend the Kurdish right to self-determination. They translated this into complete subordination to Kurdish nationalism. Left groups campaigned for the pro-Kurdish present-day HDP (the party changed its name and composition several times due to repeated prohibitions), although the party advocates a purely bourgeois programme. Halil and his comrades, based on the documents of the first congresses of the Communist International, had also advocated the Kurds right to self-determination, but had not so uncritically adapted to the HDP and its predecessors. After a thorough discussion lasting about one year, they changed their position in 2007. The International Committee had thoroughly reviewed its position on the right of nations to self-determination after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Nationalist, ethnic and religious tensions were deliberately stirred up during this period by the imperialist powers in order to assert their own interests. The national movements in Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East did not seek to unite different peoples in a common struggle against imperialism, as had been the case with the national movements in India and China, but to split existing states in the interests of the imperialist powers and local exploiters. The International Committee took a critical and hostile stance toward such separatist movements and counterposed to them the international unity of the working class. In the Middle East, this meant that the democratic rights of national, ethnic and religious minorities could be secured only within the framework of the United Socialist States of the Middle East and not by drawing new borders. In the ensuing years, the cooperation between the International Committee and Halils group became increasingly close. In the summer of 2014, Halil participated in a plenum of the International Committee. He gave a detailed report on the economic and political situation in Turkey, which he analysed in the context of the global crisis of capitalism. He addressed the massive increase in social inequality, the growth of the Turkish working class, Erdogans domestic and foreign policies, and the role of the various petty-bourgeois left parties. The plenum unanimously passed a resolution that read: The plenum of the International Committee of the Fourth International formally accepts the application of Comrade H on behalf of the organisation Toplumsal Esitlik (Social Equality Group) to open discussions with the aim of establishing a section of the International Committee in Turkey. The IC will work closely with the Turkish comrades to assist them in the political and theoretical preparation of a Founding Conference. In the discussion, David North emphasised: It is now a major challenge that must be taken up by the IC to develop a section in Turkey. The decisive question is not the number of comrades involved. The most important issue is the degree of political clarification and understanding of the history of the Trotskyist movement and the strategic experiences through which the working class has passed. Only on that international foundation is it possible to respond to the political challenges in any country. Halil then deepened his cooperation with the International Committee. The Turkish editorial board was gradually integrated into the World Socialist Web Site. Translations and articles in Turkish appeared almost daily on the WSWS, and from the spring of 2014 the English-language site regularly published articles under Halils byline. He wrote mainly on the political and social developments in Turkey and the wars in the Middle East. On April 5, 2017, the WSWS published a comprehensive statement of the group Toplumsal Esitlik, which called for the rejection of Erdogans constitutional referendum and for the United Socialist States of Europe and the Middle East. The statement examines in detail the threat of war in the Middle East, the crisis of the nation-state system, Kurdish nationalism and the petty-bourgeois defenders of imperialism. It advocates an independent policy for the working class and calls for the construction of sections of ICFI in Turkey and the entire Middle East. In the summer of 2018, Toplumsal Esitlik changed its name to Sosyalist Esitlik (Socialist Equality Group) for two reasons, as it stated: (1) The SE is assuming a name in line with that of all the official sections of the ICFI (Socialist Equality Party, Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Parti de legalite socialiste) and thereby stressing its determination to become the Turkish section of the Fourth International; (2) By adopting the word socialist in the groups name, the SE underscores its basic goal: uniting the Middle Eastern workers and youth across all national, ethnic, religious and sectarian lines with their class brothers and sisters internationally to overthrow capitalism and build a socialist society. One of the most important tasks Halil undertook was the translation and publication of the International Committees booksa major undertaking, which, in addition to a considerable amount of work, represented an organisational and financial challenge. Halil translated The Heritage We Defend, a contribution of several hundred pages to the history of the Fourth International by David North. The Turkish edition appeared in January 2018 with a new foreword by David North, requested by Halil, published by Mehring Yaynclk, which had been founded the year before. Halil wrote for the WSWS about the importance of its publication: In a country where the working class and socialist movement in general have been dominated by Stalinism, Maoism and petty-bourgeois nationalist tendencies for decades, these books are of prime importance in developing socialist consciousness among workers and youth. Publications of the contemporary Marxist literature produced by the world Trotskyist movement in Turkish, we believe, will contribute to laying the theoretical and political foundation for the building of the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). David North explained in the foreword to the Turkish edition the importance for the Fourth International of building a Turkish section: It is not only the relationship between Trotskys Turkish exile and the history of the Fourth International that imparts special significance to the publication of this new translation of The Heritage We Defend. The critical position occupied by Turkey in the geopolitics of the world imperialist system guarantees that the class struggle in this country will assume gigantic dimensions. The building of the Trotskyist movement in Turkey is, therefore, an essential strategic task of the Fourth International. This requires the education of the advanced sections of the Turkish working class and youth in the history of the long struggle waged by orthodox Trotskyists against the different forms of anti-Marxist revisionismespecially that associated with the liquidationist conceptions of Michel Pablo (1911-1996) and Ernest Mandel (1923-1995). Together with The Heritage We Defend, four other books were published: Castroism and the Politics of Petty-Bourgeois Nationalism, 2017 International May Day Online Rally, The Historical and International Foundations of the Socialist Equality Party (US), and Socialism and the Fight Against War. In the last months of his life, Halil completed the translation of another book by David North, The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century, which summarises important political and strategic lessons from the last century. Shortly afterwards, in September, his fatal illness was diagnosed. Parallel to his work for the publishing house and the WSWS, Halil conducted intensive political and educational work and familiarised young workers with the historical and political foundations of the ICFI. His early death at the age of 57 is a severe blow to the International Committee and his comrades in Turkey. But Halil has laid a firm foundation for the establishment of a Turkish section of the International Committee. His lifes work will continue. The greatest tribute to Comrade Halil is to realise his goal of establishing Sosyalist Esitlik as the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. In a statement, the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) - the youth wing of the KKE - expresses its full solidarity with the people and youth of Venezuela , condemns the imperialist interference in the country and calls for protests on Tuesday 5 February in Athens and Thessaloniki. Under the slogan "Solidarity with the people of Venezuela! No submission to imperialism, the people are the only superpower", KNE calls young men and women to condemn the blatant intervention of the USA, the EU and their allied governments in Venezuela. The Communist Youth also denounces the hypocritical stance of the SYRIZA government which "does not say a word thus acquiting the intervention of the imperialists in Venezuela's internal affairs". At the same time- KNE points out- the government of SYRIZA has been the best standard-bearer of the US policy in the region by promoting their plans and opening new NATO military bases. KNE highlights also the hypocrisy of the bourgeois political parties in Greece (such as New Demoracy) which, under the mantle of "philanthropy", support the imperialist intervention in Venezuela. The Communist Youth of Greece says: "The imperialists who have slaughtered so many people in all over the world have no right to lecture about "democracy" and "human rights". The only responsible to determine the developments in Venezuela are the country's people who can impose their rights through their struggle!". KNE expresses its solidarity with the Communist Youth of Venezuela and the Communist Party (PCV) which are at the forefront of the struggle for the rights of the youth and the working class. On Wednesday, January 30, Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, confirmed in an interview with Reuters that the giant Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer is drastically scaling back its previously announced $10 billion investment in economically depressed southeastern Wisconsin. This is the second time the Foxconn investment, ballyhooed by then Governor Scott Walker and President Trump as proof that their right-wing policies of tax-cutting and deregulation of business were working, has been significantly reduced. What was initially advertised as a Generation 10.5 state of the art factory, promising 13,000 jobs, of which 7075 percent would be blue collar workers, was then revised downward to a smaller Generation 6 facility with more engineers, scientists and automation, as it specialized in smaller screens. Now even those proposals are being shelved, and instead of an LCD TV factory, Foxconn plans to construct a technology hub, with packaging and assembly operations. In the interview Woo admitted that no TVs would be built in Wisconsin, in complete contradiction to what was announced two years ago. In terms of TV, we have no place in the US, he said, adding, In Wisconsin were not building a factory. You cant use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment. Woo cited prohibitively high labor costs as the main reason why no factory would be built. This is a barefaced liethe labor cost difference between 2017 and 2019, as any factory worker can tell you by their paycheck, has not significantly increased. The building of the massive factory in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, was announced with pomp and circumstance at a White House ceremony in July 2017. The incentive package used to lure the largest electronics manufacturer on the planet, at times employing over 1 million workers, included over $3 billion in tax credits and a plethora of environmental and tax waivers, including a sales tax waiver on construction materials and potentially illegal subversion of the Great Lakes Water Compact. Within six months it was clear the $3 billion dollar corporate handout was inaccurate and a revised figure of $4.1 billion dollars would be disbursed to the company which manufactures the Apple iPhone, Nintendo 3Ds, Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation. Further revised estimates now have the working class of Wisconsin paying up to $4.5 billion dollars in incentives. While some of these incentives are tied to job creation, approximately $1.6 billion is not contingent on jobs created according to an analysis completed by the Wisconsin Budget Project. The $4.5 billion in credits will take the form of checks, cut to the company by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), which was established during former Governor Walkers tenure. Following the election of Democrat Tony Evers this past November, the Republican-dominated legislature passed a series of lame duck laws, which were signed by Walker, that cemented WEDC oversight of the Foxconn project for an additional nine months into Evers first year. Despite this undemocratic power grab, Evers has pledged to compromise and seek common ground with both the legislature and the infamous corporation, imploring Foxconn to be good corporate citizens. The continued theft of social wealth created by the working class would continue unabated under an Evers administration, despite his campaign proclamations. Following the Reuters interview, the Nikkei Asian Review reported on Thursday, January 31, based on internal documents it obtained, that Foxconn was not only scaling back operations in Wisconsin, but also putting on hold a $9 billion display panel project in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou for at least six months. The Guangzhou factory was slated to be a Gen 10.5 facility similar to the one originally promised to be built in Wisconsin. Declining profits in the last quarter of 2018, including an 8 percent drop in iPhone sales, prompted Foxconn to lay off 100,000 contract workers in China before the end of the year. Other workers reported being offered extended unpaid vacations that could last until March 31, 2019. In the Nikkei report an anonymous source confirmed the company is delaying its plans due to weakening macroeconomic conditions and the uncertainties brought by the trade war. The source further stated, If Foxconn expands as planned regardless of rapidly changing market dynamics, it could eventually hurt the companys business. Its much safer to wait and carefully reconsider the next step. The Nikkei report also stated that three separate sources confirmed that the Evers administration had approached Foxconn to renegotiate some of the side deals his predecessor, Walker, had made with the company. A Foxconn document obtained by Nikkei purports to show that the scaling back of operations is also due in part to these failed negotiations with the Evers administration in regards to renegotiating side deals. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald used the opportunity to blame Tony Evers and his anti-jobs agenda for Foxconns vacillation. The company, the Republican politicians claimed, is simply reacting to the wave of economic uncertainty that the new governor has brought with his administration. Foxconn and Mark Hogan, CEO of WEDC, have disputed this report. In a statement released Thursday, Hogan asserts, I have been involved with the Foxconn project from day one and there never have been any side deals and the contract stands on its own, in addition there have been no attempts by either the company or the Evers or Walker administrations to renegotiate WEDCs contract. Foxconn issued its own statement disputing the report, All interactions to date with Governor Evers and his team have been constructive and we look forward to further discussions. As Foxconn continues to hide its intentions, the village of Mount Pleasant continues to clear room for a factory that might never materialize. Some 2,200 acres of land have been made available for the company. An entire subdivision of homes is in the process of being demolished as families and local businesses are forced to uproot and relocate against their will. The fabled 13,000 jobs promised by politicians and corporate executives is also looking more precarious by the day. While Foxconn has maintained that the 13,000 jobs will be forthcoming, it has revised its hiring milestones. In 2018 Foxconn fell short of the hiring requirements outlined in the deal, failing to hire 260 employees by the end of year. The company will miss out on $9.5 million in tax credits, having only hired 178 employees. The company had initially stated that it expected to employ 5,200 people by the end of 2020; according to a company source that number has been revised to approximately 1,000 workers. Despite the lack of jobs forthcoming Foxconn can still retain many of the tax credits that are tied to hiring as long as it meets certain payroll checkpoints. By hiring fewer knowledge workers who will start at a higher salary than the proposed $53,900, Foxconn would still qualify for credits, essentially offsetting the cost of payroll at the expense of the working class. Europe Kosovo public sector workers strike On Monday, municipal workers in Kosovos capital Pristina, along with public television journalists, went on strike. They have joined thousands of teachers striking for a 30 percent pay rise. The following day, around 20,000 local and central government staff were to strike. They are demanding substantial pay rises. The government had offered teachers a 10 percent increase after what it called a serious review of the budget. A draft law on salaries was scheduled for debate January 31 by the Kosovo Assembly. UK: Arriva North rail workers to begin new round of strikes Rail guards working for Arriva North in northern England are to strike on Saturday as part of a series of three 24-hour strikes in their long-standing dispute. The strike will be the 47th day of strike action. Additional strikes are planned for February 9 and 16. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members are opposing the introduction of driver only operated (DOO) trains. DOO threatens passenger safety and 6,000 guards jobs. The RMT has limited action against the private rail franchises to regional, short-term strikes, isolating and dissipating struggles. It has already sealed DOO deals with rail franchises at ScotRail and Greater Anglia. ScotRail managers vote for action against staff shortages in Scotland Team managers working for the Scottish rail company ScotRail have voted to withdraw their names from an overnight roster. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association members are protesting staff shortages. The roster is used to provide back-up and emergency services at stations for the companys sites across Scotland. Bus drivers at First Bus in Yorkshire, England to ballot for strike Around 3,500 bus drivers employed by First Bus in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire are to be balloted for industrial action. The company is accused of creating a bullying culture which led to the dismissal of two senior Unite trade union reps, one in West Yorkshire and one in North Yorkshire. Workers in South Yorkshire say they have been subjected to a harsh disciplinary regime and that long-standing agreements have been undermined. In a separate dispute, 650 drivers employed by Arriva Durham voted to accept a new pay offer. A planned 10-day strike to begin Sunday was called off. The drivers were demanding parity with drivers at other Arriva bus companies. Under the new two-year agreement, it will take drivers three rather than five years to achieve a new top pay rate of 10.60 an hour. UK Historic Palace staff plan further strikes Around 120 staff employed to provide security and other services at six historic royal palaces have planned three strikes. The sites affected include Hampton Court and the Yeomen guards at the Tower of London. The workers are opposing plans by their employer, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) to scrap its defined benefits pension scheme and replace it with an inferior defined contribution scheme. The four-hour strikes will take place on February 6, 16 and 21. Following a strike on December 21, two planned three-hour strikes in January were called off after HRP and the Public and Commercial Services union held talks. However, workers rejected a revised offer. UK: Care workers dispute continues at Birmingham City Council Care workers at Birmingham City Council have been in dispute for a year, and to date have carried out 50 days of strikes. The 200 Unison union members are opposing plans by the council to cut their hours and pay. They could see their pay reduced by around 4,000 a year under the proposals. The workers held a rally on Tuesday addressed by Unison general secretary Dave Prentis. Irish nurses hold 24-hour strike Around 35,000 Irish nurses struck for 24 hours on Wednesday. They are demanding a 12 percent across-the-board pay rise to address poor recruitment figures. It was the first national strike of Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) for 20 years. Exploratory talks involving the Labour Court, which began Monday, were abandoned Tuesday with the court deciding not to intervene. Five 24-hour strikes are planned over the next two weeks. The one-day strike led to the cancellation of around 13,000 outpatient appointments and 2,000 planned procedures. Six thousand Psychiatric Nurses Association members were to begin an overtime ban on Thursday, with a planned three full days of strikes February 12 to 14. These will coincide with a planned stoppage by the INMO. Irish ambulance workers plan further strikes Around 500 Irish ambulance workers plan two further strikes. The strikes will take place on consecutive days, to be announced. The National Ambulance Service Representative Association members held a 10-hour strike on January 22 for union recognition. Currently, the Health Service Executive only recognises the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union, which represents the majority of the 1,800 Irish ambulance staff. Swedish dockers announce further strikes Swedish dockers are planning strikes at the ports of Halmstad and Monsteras, beginning February 6. A series of 25 intermittent strikes affecting 15 ports took place last week. Around 1,000 dockers walked out in a series of several hour stoppages. In some cases, employers imposed a lockout. The Swedish Harbour Workers Union members are calling for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) specifically relating to dockers issues. Dockers in the Swedish Transport Workers Union are covered by a more generic CBA. Middle East Strike call by Israeli telecom staff Workers at Bezeq Israel Telecom are set to strike on February 5. This is in response to plans by Bezeqs majority stake holder, Internet Gold, to sell its stake in the company. Workers oppose the firms use of contract staff to carry out roles performed by permanent staff. Africa South African Sibanye gold mine strikers joined by platinum miners Miners from South Africas Sibanye Stillwaters platinum mines have joined Sibanye gold miners ongoing strike action. Fifteen thousand Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union members have been out since November 22 over a wage claim. They are demanding a pay rise of R1000 a year over the next three years. The gold and platinum miners marched on the Mineral Council of South Africa and Sibanye headquarters on January 22, giving the company 48 hours to settle or the strike would continue. Sibanye is in a takeover bid for Lonmin Platinum, which would make Sibanye Platinum one of the worlds largest producers of the mineral, with operations in Zimbabwe and North America. It is reported that the merger would involve 13,334 job cuts. Sibanye claim that 885 redundancies would be related to the takeover. South African strikers demonstrate against police brutality Workers demonstrated in Cape Town, South Africa on January 23 protesting police brutality against strikers. Around 150 workers demonstrated in front of Cape Town Central Police Station over the violent treatment of strikers at Dish-Chem pharmaceuticals and the Blue Ribbon bakery. The demonstration was organised by the South African Federation of Trade Unions and the two unions involved in the strikesthe National Union of Public Services and Allied Workers Union and the Food and Allied Workers Union. The 2,000 pharmaceutical workers have been out since mid-November, and have a court ruling barring them from picketing and protesting until the end of February. Around 600 bakery workers have been on strike since the end of November. Both strikes are over wages, allowances and bonuses. A union spokesman said demonstrations would continue every month until there is an investigation. South African Metro bus drivers strike Workers employed at South Africas Johannesburg Metrobus went on strike Monday. The workers are demanding a pay rise and pay parity and have over 40 other grievances. Only a minority of drivers are members of the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa, but other workers walked off the job too and brought the Metrobus to a halt. South African workers on cheap labour scheme protest unpaid wages Workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Scheme in Port Elizabeth, South Africa protested last week. They have not been paid for three months. The 100 workers set up roadblocks with burning tyres and rocks and locked up their workplace to bar entry. A worker from Motherwell township, employed on the scheme cleaning the beaches, says she receives just R100 a day working without any protective clothing. She has been forced into debt, which incurs interest. Striking public employees carried out a similar protest, dumping rocks on the main streets of Mthala, in the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality. The South African Municipal Workers Union condemned a breakaway faction of the union for the wrongdoing. Workers protest reduction of Nigerias minimum wage Workers booed and shouted down Nigerias Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, as he proposed a two-tier minimum wage level in parliament. The government is proposing N27,000 in 36 states, and N30,000 for federal employees. Last November, the government and National Labour Congress agreed a figure of N30,000 to head off a threatened general strike. Workers had wanted a monthly minimum wage of N56,000 to N65,000. Many of the 36 state governors are saying they cannot afford to pay N27,000. The minimum wage bill is expected to be approved by the Senate and return to President Muhammadu Buhari for final action. Nigerian resident doctors strike over staff shortages Resident (trainee) doctors at Lagos State University Hospital, Nigeria, embarked on a three-day warning strike on Tuesday. The Association of Resident Doctors are protesting conditions in the hospital. Staff shortages and a refusal to fill vacant posts put doctors and house officers under severe stress, causing health problems. The strike was reported 100 percent solid among doctors, but consultants continue to work, though they sympathise with their colleagues. Angolan rail workers strike for pay increase Angolan railway workers at the Luanda Railway Company struck on January 21 in pursuit of a pay increase. They want an 80 percent rise and an increase in food, travel and other subsidies. All freight trains from Luanda were brought to a standstill. Workers are frustrated that management claims to have no money and has not offered a pay increase that can be agreed by the March deadline. Ugandan university employees strike over pay and victimisation Workers at Ugandas oldest university remain out on strike to demand the reinstatement of their union representatives, who were sacked for striking. Employees at Makerere University voted to strike mid-January over non-payment of salary enhancements and managements refusal to put a new salary structure into place. Workers rejected an appeal by President Yoweri Museveni and his wife to return to work, on a promise to backdate enhancement pay, but without agreeing a salary structure. A National Union of Education Institutions spokesperson said the strike will continue. The three suspended officials are the general secretary, a representative of the administrative staff and a representative of the academic staff, referred to by the Vice Chancellor as troublemakers. The university has established a committee to investigate the suspensions that is presided over by the same manager who imposed the suspensions. The unions say they will not recognise the committee until the manager is removed. Last month, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) released previously suppressed CCTV footage documenting the aggressive response of guards and police officers to a disturbance at the Northern Territorys Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre last November. The video shows Territory Response Group (TRG) police, dressed in military fatigues, aiming assault rifles at unarmed youth detainees as they surrendered. The disturbance, labelled a riot by the media and government authorities, began when two youth snatched a key from a prison guard and unlocked the cells of other inmates. Some detainees climbed onto building rooftops, while others attempted to escape the facility. The Territory (NT) Labor government immediately blamed the detainees for the resulting police violence. Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison declared: What we saw happen last night at Don Dale was unacceptable. There is absolutely no excuse for attacking a worker within the centre to get keys and then to go out and participate in the sort of acts that we saw. At the time, media outlets referred to the TRGs arrival during the incident. The extent of its involvement, however, was unclear. The footage showed TRG officers storming the prison with a military-grade armoured vehicle and pointing assault rifles at detainees who had their arms raised above their head. The footage provoked widespread shock. The scene resembled an aggressive military operation. The TRG officers were virtually indistinguishable from special forces soldiers engaged in the neo-colonial occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Labors NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner backed the TRG, telling the ABC, they regularly respond to situations across the Northern Territory, they know what theyre doing and I have confidence in NT Police. The TRG is the NT Police Tactical Group, which was created as part of a broader development of para-military police units nationally under the banner of the war on terror. Each year, the TRG trains with the Australian military. It receives military-style weapons, including the Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle used at Don Dale. The BearCat is capable of shooting tear gas into crowds and comes with a turret to which machine guns can be attached. The aggressive intervention of the TRG is only the latest in a series of abuses meted out to Don Dale detainees. In August 2014, tear gas was used during a disturbance at the facility. The authorities claimed it was necessary because detainees had escaped their cells and were staging a riot. A 2016 ABC Four Corners episode published CCTV footage that exposed the official story as a lie. It showed one detainee, Jake Roper, getting out of his cell after a guard failed to lock it. The six youth most heavily hit with the tear gas were in their cells. Some were quietly playing cards. This program revealed the routine brutalisation of the children detained at Don Dale. One inmate, Dylan Voller, was shown being attacked by multiple guards on more than one occasion. Voller also was placed in a hooded restraint chair, similar to devices used in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Like todays Labor government, the then Country Liberal NT government defended the violence. To head off a public outcry, it then joined the federal Liberal-National government in calling a royal commission. Testimony subsequently revealed abuses at the facility dating back to at least 2010. The inquiry, however, was always intended to be a whitewash, aimed at covering-up the responsibility of successive Labor and Country Liberal Party governments and diverting the outrage behind promises of prison reform. The reality is that Labors NT government, which has been in office since August 2016, has failed to shut Don Dale, despite numerous promises. A decommissioned adult prison, lacking basic amenities, the facility has been deemed unfit for human habitation by United Nations bodies and other rights organisations. The overwhelming majority of the youth held in the centre have not been convicted of serious crimes. Most are on remand. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that in 2016 and 2017, 77 percent of all NT youth detainees, who are aged between 10 and 17, were waiting for their trial or for sentencing. Figures from the NTs Department of the Attorney General and Justice revealed that in 2015 and 2016, 29 percent of incarcerated youth who had been convicted of a crime had been found guilty of unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter. These are crimes of poverty and oppression, stemming from the social conditions inflicted upon an entire generation of young people. At least 94 percent of all youth detained in the NT are Aboriginal. The indigenous population is the most oppressed section of the working class, suffering astronomical levels of unemployment and poverty, but the issue is a wider one. The social crisis facing all workers and young people is intensifying, as a result of government cuts to essential services and the gutting of jobs, wages and conditions by successive governments, assisted by the trade unions. The Australian Council of Social Services has documented a sharp rise in rates of child poverty across the country. In 2012, 575,000 minors were living below the poverty line. In 2018, the figure was 739,000. Official figures indicated that 12 percent of 1524 year-olds nationwide were unemployed in 2018, while 18 percent of youth aged 1519 were jobless. In some working-class areas, real rates of youth unemployment are over 40 percent, while many young workers receive poverty-line wages in precarious, casual labour. The political establishment has responded to the social crisis by turning to repression and by building up the state apparatus. Youth detention rates are rising across the country. In the NT, the average number of youth incarcerated rose from 18 per day in 200506 to 48 in 201516. Numerous cases of abuse have been documented. In 2016, the Victorian state Labor government of Premier Daniel Andrews responded to clashes between youth and officers at a detention facility by transferring 40 teenagers to a maximum-security adult prison. A court later deemed the move unlawful. The brutal attacks on juvenile prisoners are part of a build-up of police and military forces aimed at preparing for mass repression against the emerging social and political struggles of workers and young people amid ever-widening social inequality, austerity, authoritarianism and war. The author also recommends: New evidence of mistreatment in Western Australian juvenile prison [27 January 2018] Systemic abuses in Australias juvenile prisons: The class issues [4 August 2016] As the Liberal-National Coalition government, currently headed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, is torn apart by factional warfare, Australias primary financial newspaper has again hailed the Labor Partys shadow treasurer Chris Bowen. How Chris Bowen plans to emulate hero Keating as a reformist treasurer, was the headline on an Australian Financial Review background piece last weekend, in which Bowen restated his determination to match former Labor Treasurer and Prime Minister Paul Keatings record from 1983 to 1996 by further restructuring the economy in the interests of big business. The promotion of Bowen as a potential new Keating is another warning of Labors preparations to return to office as a totally committed pro-business government, while posturing as a champion of a fair go for workers in order to head off explosive social discontent. Both the Australian Financial Review and the Australian, the other main print media mouthpiece of the capitalist class, ran new Keating promotions of Bowen last February, as the Coalition government, then headed by Malcolm Turnbull, began to implode. At that time, the WSWS warned: The Labor Party is being groomed, and grooming itself, to again impose on the working class an all-out assault on jobs, working conditions and basic rights, in the name of economic reform, as it did in close partnership with the trade unions under Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Treasurer (later Prime Minister) Keating. Twelve months on, and nearly six months since the Liberal Partys most right-wing elements ousted Turnbull and installed Morrison, the tensions engulfing the Coalition and the parliamentary system are even greater. The Coalition, one of the two main big business parties, is being aggressively shifted toward the far-right in an attempt to divert the intensifying economic and political disaffection in jingoistic, anti-immigrant and militarist directions. After three short-lived prime ministersMorrison, Turnbull and Tony Abbottsince 2013, the financial elite also is fed up with the Coalition governments failure to enforce its agenda of sweeping cuts to company tax and social spending. These frustrations have intensified amid worsening signs of Australian capitalisms vulnerability to the US-China conflict, trade wars, the bursting of a seven-year property bubble and soaring household debt levels. Once again, key elements in ruling circles are looking to Labor and the unions to try to stamp out working class unrest and impose the austerity requirements of the corporate elite, as they have done in every economic and political crisis, including two world wars, the 1930s Great Depression and the 2008 global financial breakdown. Bowen boasted to the Australian Financial Reviews John Kehoe about his close connection to Keating. We talk most days. Certainly several times a week, he said. Kehoe wrote approvingly: Bowen is positioning to be the Keating of the modern Labor Party. Labors treasury spokesman insisted that the Hawke-Keating governments economic reforms helped pave the way for 27 years of economic growth, while also investing in the social wage, such as the introduction of compulsory superannuation. Were doing something very similarrefreshed, updated, renewed, he declared. Bowen disagreed that the era of reform was dead. Instead, the problem has been a lack of political courage to get a mandate. Thus, Bowen denounced the Coalition from the right, accusing it of lacking the courage to push through unpopular measures. Hawke, Keating and their partners in the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) were ruthless in crushing working class resistance to their reforms. Together they slashed corporate and high income tax rates, deregulated the economy to the benefit of the financial elite, privatised major government enterprises, such as the Commonwealth Bank, eliminated thousands of industrial jobs and overturned hard-won working conditions. The Labor-ACTU political courage included outlawing the Builders Labourers Federationthe main union covering militant construction workersmobilising the military to break an airline pilots strike, imposing a series of wage-cutting Prices and Incomes accords, shutting down workplace shop committees and blacklisting workers who opposed the pro-business agenda. Kehoe observed that Bowen and Labor leader Bill Shorten, an ex-union bureaucrat, had agreed to a division of labour. Shorten adopts a populist posture of criticising aspects of corporate behaviour and feigning concern for those left behind by the increasing accumulation of wealth in the hands of the super-rich, while Bowen reassures corporate leaders that Labor will serve their interests better than the Coalition. Bowen told Kehoe he had contact details for most of the countrys top 50 CEOs in his mobile phone and is a regular caller and texter to captains of industry. Bowen is the mastermind of Labors economic policies and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has given him wide latitude to develop the partys platform, Kehoe noted, adding corporate leaders consistently speak highly of Bowen and his open door policy. Graeme Samuel, a former government competition regulator, Macquarie investment banker and one-time treasurer of the Liberal Partys Victorian state branch, agreed. He said that his ongoing dealings with the would-be treasurer, Bowen had always demonstrated economic common sense. Bowen denied that Labor was anti-business, pointing out that it opposed the Coalition governments legislation to force energy companies to divest assets if they charged too much for electricity and had a more rational climate change policy. At the same time, Bowen revealed Labors nervousness about the popular discontent and explained the need for Labor to put on a political show. He told Kehoe that Labors fairer distribution of taxes would help to stem the rising tide of global populism. Kehoe said Bowen was aware many people in the suburbs and the regions feel the spoils from Australias 27 years of unbroken economic growth have not been shared around equally. In reality, while Labor has promised to curtail, in a limited way, some tax handouts to wealthy investors, such as negative gearing subsidies for landlords, it is offering large corporations lower taxes than the Coalition. Under Labors Australian Investment Guarantee, unveiled last March, companies can immediately enjoy tax deductions of 20 percent of investment in eligible depreciable assets over $20,000. While Kehoe lauded Bowen, he warned Labor not to deviate from its commitment to the financial markets to cut government spending in order to also generate bigger budget surpluses than the Coalition. Kehoe noted that Bowen had pledged to improve the budget bottom line to build a fiscal buffer defence in case of a future economic downturn. In other words, the ruling class is reinforcing its message that Labor must prove that it can inflict on the working class the further cuts to living and working conditions that will be unleashed as global capitalism lurches toward another crash, as well as intensifying economic and military conflicts between the US and its rivals. Kehoe said Bowen had already earned his spurs under the Rudd and Gillard governments of 2007 to 2013, which propped up the banks and financial markets after the 2008 global breakdown and enforced the sacrifices demanded from working class households. Bowen spent six years in the Rudd and Gillard ministries, including various responsibilities as assistant treasurer, minister for financial services, superannuation, competition and consumer affairs, and trying to stop the boats as immigration minister. In mid-2013 Bowen was installed as treasurer after Rudd ousted Gillard to retake the prime ministership, just three months before Labor suffered a landslide election defeat because of its anti-working class record. SVHC Names New Director of Volunteer Services BENNINGTON, Vt. The Southwestern Vermont Health Care Corporate Development Department has welcomed Jennifer Civello as director of volunteer services and community engagement. This position will allow for the expansion of volunteer programs at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and the health systems several campuses. "We are delighted that Jennifer, with her excellent mix of skills and experience, has decided to join our team," said Leslie Keefe, vice president for Corporate Development at SVHC. "We look forward to engaging further with members of our community to fulfill our mission of exceptional care and comfort for the people we serve." For the past four years, Civello has served as the director of marketing for the Berkshire Family and Individual Resources in North Adams, Mass. As executive director of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce from 2012-15, she managed a large membership and organized events. In addition, Civello has worked in several nonprofit roles, including as a tobacco treatment program coordinator, as a caseworker for a childrens services organization, and as a community support coordinator for a nonprofit serving adults with disabilities. Civello serves as the clerk for board of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition; is a board member of Willinet, Williamstowns public access television station; and is on the steering committee for the Berkshire Leadership Program, a program of 1Berkshire. "This is an exciting opportunity for me," Civello said. "I am eager to enable greater involvement among our community members and to make a positive impact for patients." The Cumberland River Hospital announced it was closing effective noon Friday because of "unprecedented circumstances of unexpected non-reimbursements for provided services" and severe staffing shortages, according to a letter sent by the hospital to the Tennessee Department of Health. The City Council will be asked next week to declare the Mohawk Theater unnecessary municipal property so the requests for proposals can be sought. Bernard Will Seek Proposals for Historic Mohawk Theater NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Mohawk Theater's marquee has been a beacon of hope, an assurance that eventually its siren call of neon will once more draw crowds to the downtown. But the hard facts are that the theater's been closed for more than a third of its 81-year lifespan. It's a landmark that's bedeviled three administrations and outlived several organizations hoping to revive it. It's been a constant in every mayoral election and a question for every council candidate. During that time, the amount of money required to restore the theater has only grown. Mayor Thomas Bernard, the third mayor to deal with the city-owned property, has decided the public sector has taken it as far as it can go: Next week he'll ask the City Council to declare the theater as excess municipal property and put out a request for proposals. Bernard said on Wednesday he'd been impressed by the initiative taken by a local grassroots group to brainstorm ideas for the structure last year. "It doesn't necessarily have to be the government and if there's a private sector idea, whether it's anything that came out of those conversations, I'm not looking to advantage any particular project," he said. "I want to change the conversation. ... "Even if the result is not viable at least we can't say then that nobody has done anything." For too long the conversation has been every couple of years, people ask, "what do we do with the Mohawk?" It's a question that's been difficult to answer. The E.M. Loew moviehouse opened in 1938, during Hollywood's golden age, but competition from cineplexes and the changing way movies are distributed contributed to its closing in 1986. A short-lived effort to bring movies and performances there ended in 1991 and the city purchased it two years later and put on a new roof to ensure its stability. The 1,250 seats were ripped out, the stylish art deco hunting scenes taken down, the concession stand removed and the balcony blocked off in preparation of a restoration effort that fell apart before it even began. Some work has been done over the years to stabilize the lobby, repair the marquee, and add on an adjacent space and do facade work. But the question of what to do with the shell has been limited by the lack of dressing rooms, storage and stage to use it as a performance space , the funding to make anything happen and an entity to take charge. And while there might be a deep sentimental attachment to the Mohawk in some areas, it's not true for a generation that has no memories of the Mohawk or for the newcomers to the city. The Mohawk has, in a sense, become the mythological unicorn a legend no one has quite figured out how to capture. Still, says Bernard, beyond the emotional link, "there's the durable idea that your performance venue, your cultural space should be on Main Street. ... "I do agree it's too good a space to be vacant and it's too good a potential anchor for Main Street to be vacant." City Council President Keith Bona, a Main Street merchant familiar with the ups and downs of the Mohawk, said on Thursday after the mayor's address that his take was that the city would be looking for new ideas that could be sustainable. "Where we've got to be careful ... is we don't want it to be a parking garage," he said. "This may have more conditions than most things I can remember the city putting up for an RFP. ... I would still like it to be a theater in some form but that might not be its future." Mayor Thomas Bernard gives his second state of the city address in council chambers on Thursday. PreviousNext Bernard Touts North Adams' Strength, 'Competitive Edge' The address was attended by past and future councilors and other officials or their representatives. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. One year into his first term, Mayor Thomas Bernard is positing North Adams as a small city that can do big things. "Let's make being the smallest what we all know it is: A competitive advantage," he told viewers on Thursday night in his second state of the city address. A year ago, Bernard laid out some goals he hoped to address in his first year. Now halfway through his term, the mayor is building on themes of investment and leveraging partnerships and regional initiatives to move the state's smallest city forward. The mayor said he's told the story of the state's smallest city from high school groups to statewide conferences. "My central message to these groups, and to you tonight, is consistent and clear: people are investing in North Adams. It is a place where they see potential and where they want to do business." North Adams, he said, "is strong and getting stronger" in part thanks to a "culture of development flourishing" within its borders. "We know that change can create excitement or discomfort but that it's rarely easy," Bernard said. "It takes time and patience and plenty of communication to get it right. When it's done with purpose and focus it can be powerful. However it happens, it's a process that comes with deep and necessary learning." One of those exciting and uncomfortable decisions will be about the Mohawk Theater. The right fit for the historic but vacant theater has been almost impossible for the municipality to pin down despite attempts over the past two decades. Bernard's proposing to let the private sector or nonprofit organization try its hand by issuing a request for proposal for the theater. He'd planned on holding a community conversation on the structure last year but noted that a grassroots group took the initiative and wants to tap into that energy. "Government can help support development efforts," he said. "[But] we also have the opportunity to explore how the private sector might write the next chapter for the Mohawk." He's hoping that the flourishing culture of development that has surfaced in the redevelopment of an old motor lodge into the trendy Tourists hotel and the plans for residential units at the refurbished mill that's now Greylock Works will resurrect the downtown theater in some form. The mayor also pointed the "entrepreneurial incubator" at the thriving Norad Mill and manufacturing growth at Crane Stationery, Deerfield Machine, B&B Micromanufacturing and Tog Machining. "One thing that hasn't changed -- and this is something I talk about every chance I get -- is the fact that manufacturing is alive and well in North Adams and in Berkshire County," he said, pointing to the $2.75 million investment and 28 jobs slated for Tog under new owner Stanley Black & Decker and the Mohawk Paper's purchase and retaining of Crane. He championed a tax incentive financing agreement to allow Tog to transition its investment over five years. There's also the reconfigured Airport Commission and its just moved terminal and work moving ahead by Cumberland Farms on Ashland Street and the boutique hotel in the Porter Block on Eagle Street. He touted the coming openings of new stores on Main Street and the restaurants like the Trail House on Route 2. "However, as we have seen, not every project will succeed and not every promising idea will pay off," he said. "That can be disappointing, but the fact that North Adams is seen as a place to imagine possibilities, invest in ambitious dreams, and take risks is a positive sign of progress for our city." The mayor is hoping the federal and state designation of two Qualified Opportunity Zones will aid in development in the downtown and along the Route 8 corridor. The zones were one of the goals set out in his first address. "This promising new program provides tax incentives to investors who direct capital gains into funds designed to support job creation and development projects like the Extreme Model Railroad Museum and the Hoosic River Revival," he said. Also the last year has seen $15,000 in grant funding for technical assistance to existing local businesses on Eagle Street, plans to update the city's 60-year-old zoning and use maps and a $50,000 technical grant toward updating zoning ordinances to better reflect current usages. The airport's received a $90,000 federal grant toward a master plan. Bernard also wants the city to be able to benefit from the under-construction Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield and that city's location for a call center for Wayfair expected to bring in 300 jobs. And the ability of Lever to be a business incubator and a connection to regional industries as well as provide internships to help develop needed skills. "The challenge lies in ensuring residents have the skills and access to the training opportunities they need to compete for jobs throughout the county," Bernard said. "We're fortunate to have a phenomenal workforce agency, MassHire Berkshire, as a resource and partner for job seekers and businesses." Both McCann Technical School and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts have proven their abilities in creating "a pipeline from classroom to career," he said. MCLA, with its $15 million economic impact, and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, with a regional economic impact of $51 million, are attracting people to North Adams to visit and stay, he said. The mayor also pointed to the branding of Eagle Street and the continued development of the municipal parks through grant funding. Bernard was able to obtain a $30,000 state grant to study climate-related hazards and to use as a basis for applying for further Climate Vulnerability Preparedness Program. Mayor Bernard speaks with state Sen. Adam Hinds and Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer after his speech. The city also added its first hybrid car and will see 800 trees planted as part of a federal grant through the Franklin Land Trust. "The cost of investing in clean and renewable energy systems can be prohibitive for many businesses, nonprofit and multi-unit residential property owners, " he said. "That's why I worked with MassDevelopment and the City Council to enact property-assessed clean energy -- or PACE -- resolution. PACE will enable property owners to fund energy-efficiency projects by tying loans to a betterment assessment on their tax bills." There are still challenges ahead: the city will work with new District Attorney Andrea Harrington and state police assigned to her office to address the opioid crisis and domestic abuse, along with partnering with local human service organizations. "In many cases, it is a disease with clear and identifiable vectors: deceptive marketing by pharmaceutical companies leading to overprescription of legal opioids by physicians that too often create a cycle of dependency that ends up in the misuse of illegal narcotics," he said. "That's why I joined over 100 cities and towns in Massachusetts by signing on to the class action lawsuit that aims to hold the drug manufacturers responsible for their role in this epidemic." A major factor in the city's battle against crime will be the appointment of a new police chief, expected to occur in the coming weeks, as well as the construction of new public safety facility suitable for the city's first responders. North Adams is in line for $1.1 million for engineering and design from the state that is not yet available. The mayor said it's time to move ahead and determine where the facility should be located. He's also calling for the massive Vision 2030 plan to be reviewed to close out completed priorities and see where the plan is still viable. And the new year will also see more changes with the relocation of the School Department's Central Office and appointments of a new library director and information systems assistant director, along with the new police chief and recently appointed city clerk. Bernard said he's going to institute a series of public conversations each month to fulfill his goals to better hear what the community has to say. "These conversations are open to the public. There is no set agenda, just a chance for informal conversation. I invite you all to join me to share your hopes and concerns," he said, stating the first will occur on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Empire Cafe. "Here's to knowing that our best days are ahead of us. And to recommitting ourselves to a shared purpose: to sticking to it, to sticking together, and to making that possibility a reality for our beloved City of North Adams, and all its residents and visitors." Bernard joked with the audience as he waited to go live and his speech drew some chuckles and applause, with a standing ovation at its conclusion. The address, made in City Council Chambers and aired live by Northern Berkshire Community Television and on the mayor's Facebook page, was attended by a host of officials including current and former city councilors, members of boards and commissions, state Rep. John Barrett III, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, District Attorney Andrea Harrington, MCLA President Jamie Birge, state Sen. Adam Hinds, and representatives state and federal officials and city department heads. Below are mayor's remarks: North Adams State of the Ci... by on Scribd Superior Court Briefs: Jan. 25 - Jan. 31 Cases heard on Thursday, Jan. 25. Marcel Teixeira-Ingram Jr., 23, of Pittsfield was arraigned on two counts of armed assault with attempt to murder. He was ordered to be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. Teixeira-Ingram was arrested in Pittsfield during the execution of a search warrant on his home for narcotics on October. 12, 2018. When police entered the home, the defendant allegedly brandished a gun at pointed it at the officers in a threatening manner. Tanner Murray, 21, of Pittsfield was indicted on charges of trafficking in fentanyl. He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. Murray was arrested on Dec. 15, 2018, during the execution of a search warrant. Police allegedly seized 530 bags of fentanyl from a car Murray was driving. Cases heard on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Keri Lynn McIntosh, 25, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Judge John Agostini sentenced McIntosh to 2 1/2 years in prison, with one year suspended under the conditions of a two-year probation and that she attend substance abuse treatment. Cases heard on Friday, Jan. 31. Jacob Hebert, 23, of Pittsfield and John Jones, 23, of Lanesborough were found guilty of two counts of aggravated rape. They were both ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending sentencing on Feb. 7. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on Jan. 10, 2017. The Bale Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Ethiopia. Located in the country's Oromia Region, the Bale Mountains form part of the Ethiopian Highlands. The Bale Mountains include Mount Batu and Tullu Dimtu, which is the second highest peak in Ethiopia. Bale Mountains National Park, which is situated about 93 miles east of Shashamene and 248 miles from Addis Ababa, and occupies an area of about 860 square miles, is also located within the Bale Mountains. Geology of the Bale Mountains The Bale Mountains were created before the formation of the Great Rift Valley, from outpourings of lava that covered all underlying rock formations. More specifically, estimates suggest that the mountains were created between thirty-eight and seven million years ago. Some of the rocks from the volcanic outpours include basalts, tuffs, trachytes, and rhyolite. The central part of the highland has six volcanic cones that have an elevation of at least 13,780 ft. The striations on the shallow mountainside on Sanetti Plateau are a unique geological feature of the Bale Mountains that has puzzled geologists for years. Glaciations The Bale Mountains have experienced two glacial periods, the most recent of which occurred approximately 2,000 years ago. The range was the most glaciated area in the region during the last ice age, with ice that occupied an area of approximately 69 square miles. Tullu Dimtu, one of the highest peaks in the range, has an ice cap about 12 square miles in area. The current terrain is the outcome of lava outpourings, which have been modified by nearly 20 million years of erosion by ice, wind, and water. Before the beginning of deglaciation, which occurred about 14,000 years ago, the snowline on the mountains was at a height of 12,139 ft, and the upper tree-limit was below 9,843 ft. The change in climate over the last few centuries has impacted the biodiversity and vegetation in the highland. Tallest Peaks in the Bale Mountains Tullu Dimtu With an elevation of 4,377 m, Tullu Dimtu is the fourth highest peak in Ethiopia, after Kidus Yared, Ancua, and Ras Sashen. Tullu Dimtus topographical prominence is relatively low since it is situated in the Sanetti Plateau. However, Tullu Dimtu is one of the tallest mountains in the Bale mountain range, and there is a long gravel road leading to the peak. Mount Batu Mount Batu is the highest mountain in the Oromia Region, reaching an elevation of about 4,307 m. Mount Batu has two peaks: Big Batu (Tilliq Batu) and Little Batu (Tinnish Batu). Despite the names, Tinnish Batu is actually higher than Tilliq Batu. Finnish professor Helmer Smeds was the first European to climb mount Batu in 1958. Hydrology The Bale Mountains have an important function in controlling the climate of the area by attracting a considerable amount of orographic precipitation. Areas of lower altitude receive between 23.6 inches and 39.4 inches of rainfall annually, while areas of higher altitude receive about 55 inches of rain. Nearly 12 million people from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya benefit from the water that comes from Bale massif. More than 40 rivers rise from the Bale Mountains National Park, and these rivers contribute to five main rivers: the Ganale, Dumal, Welmel, Wabe Shebele, and Web. Bale massif is also the source of various lowland springs that are important to the local area since they are the only year-round source of water. Two of the main rivers originating from the Bale Mountains, the Yadot and Wabe Shebele, generate hydroelectric power. The Great Lakes Megalopolis is a number of North Americas metropolitan areas along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes Region. The metropolitan area extends from the Midwest into Upstate New York and western Pennsylvania in the United States to southern parts of Quebec and north to southern Ontario in Canada. The Canadian part of the megalopolis is referred to as Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. The Great Lakes Megalopolis is North Americas largest and most populated metropolitan area. It has a population of approximately 59.1 million, which is estimated to reach over 60 million by 2025. The megalopolis overlaps with the Rust Belt, a once-highly industrialized area. History of the Megalopolis The region that is now considered the Great Lakes Megalopolis was partly outlined by French Geographer Jean Gottman as an emerging megalopolis in 1961 in his book Megalopolis; The Urbanized Northeastern Seaboard of the US. The geographer had envisaged the coming up of several megalopolises in the US including from Chicago to Pittsburg (Chipitts), Boston to Washington DC (BosWash), and from San Diego to San Francisco (SanSan). Four years later, Herman Kahn, a futurist of the 20th century, spoke on the possible existence of three megalopolises by 2000 without giving reference to Gottman. In the 1960 and 1970s, Constantinos Doxiadis published books and reports on a possible growth of the Great Lakes Megalopolis. He considered Detroit as the megalopolis main urban center. In 2005, Beyond Megalopolis, a Virginia Tech Metropolitan Institute highlighted a similar megapolitan area in the Midwest megapolitan as among the 10 megalopolises in the US. Economy of the Megalopolis If the Great Lakes Megalopolis is considered as a single entity, then it is one of the largest economic units in the world. The region boasts of a gross regional product of over US$ 4.5 trillion. Its economy is almost equal to that of Japan. The region consists of five Great Lakes which are considered the largest lakes in the US. These lakes account for 20% of the worlds freshwater surface and collectively have a shoreline measuring 10,210 miles. Cargos of up to 200 million tons are shipped through the Great Lakes every year. Tourism is one of the major economic activities in the region. Ship Cruise on the lakes is supported by the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition which is a joint venture between Canada and the US. The Great Lakes Megalopolis has some of the largest and economically diverse metropolitan areas including Chicago metropolitan areas (worlds 4th largest). The Chicago metro area is set to become the first megacity in the region and the third in the US. Administration in the Region The Great Lakes Megalopolis does not have a single administrative unit but rather different government jurisdiction. The different US states and Candian provinces that form part of the megalopolis have their respective governments. However, the coordination of economic and environmental strategies in the region is done jointly by the US states and Canadian provinces through the Conference of Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Governors and Premiers. Before its collapse in 1991 resulting in the creation of 15 independent states, the Soviet Union was the largest country in the world. Romania was never part of the USSR. However, a part of Romania known as Bessarabia on the eastern side was not only invaded but also occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and also from 1945 to 1989. The region was annexed to another autonomous region from Ukraine to form a country known as Moldova. The leader of Romania named Nicolae Ceausescu was always careful not to align the country with the Soviet Union. He ensured his country retained excentric economic and political independence. Effects of the Second World War on Romania During the World War II, Romania positioned itself with Nazi Germany when the war on the Eastern Front began. The Romanian soldiers fought together with the Germans in an attempt to oust the Red Army but their effort never succeeded. The outcome of the war was a severe loss for Romania which greatly paralyzed the nation. Upon the end of the war, Romania had no choice but to accept a compelled armistice understanding that took place at the time of Yalta Conference. The understanding bestowed the Red Army uncontrolled occupation and military presence in Romania signifying that the Soviet sphere had taken over. The Soviet forces continued to increase and their dominance created a path for pro-soviet members into the Romanian government offices and parties. The availability of ready support thus allowed the USSR to create a government of the pro-soviet origin. However, the Soviets forces later moved out allowing Romania to back away from their influence thus establishing their own form of governance. Restructuring of the Romanian Army The brief Soviet possession of Romania triggered a total restructure of the Romanian army. The reorganization constituted adoption of Soviet military and political doctrines. The number of Romanian Army increased significantly beyond the Paris peace agreement which had reduced it to a total of 138,000 soldiers. In 1953, the ordinary army forces had increased to an estimate of 300,000 soldiers while interior forces were approximated to rise beyond 325,000 officers. At the beginning of the restructuring process, all Pro-German soldiers were expelled from the forces. In the year between 1944 and 1945, two divisions were formed comprising of Romanian volunteers and the communist activists. The two divisions were expected to form the core of the established Romanian army led by the Soviet. Later the communist party exercised its sovereign power by expelling an estimate of 30% of military officers believed to be potentially capable of being against the Soviet. However, Romanian army got under full control of the Soviet upon establishment of Emil Bodnaras as the defense minister. Soviet officers were chosen to watch over the total reorganization but still held positions as leaders and observers in prime state institutions. In the years between 1949 and 1952, reorganization of the army was completed and only a few officers and military trainees went to the Soviet Union to complete training. The SovRoms The SovRoms was a joint partnership between the Soviet Union and Romania aimed at establishing economic enterprises. The partnership was established in Romania at the end of World War II, lasting from 1954 to 1956. The aim of the venture was to supply resources to the Soviet. However, the Soviet also contributed towards the partnership through resale of German equipment to Romania but at overvalued cost. SovRoms venture did not last long since it was designed to drain resources from Romania in favor of the Soviet side. The United Nations is the largest intergovernmental organization in the world with 193 members. It was founded on October 4, 1945, by fifty-one members. Fifty of the members signed the United Nations Charter on June 26, 1945, during the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, US. Poland ratified the charter on 15 October 1945. Forty-nine of the original states are still members; the Russian Federation took over the membership of the Soviet Union after dissolution while Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia were dissolved. The Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations that also includes the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. The primary responsibility of the Security Council is to maintain international peace by fostering relations among nations. Members of the UN are required to accept and enforce the decisions of the council. The Security Council consists of fifteen members: five permanent and ten non-permanent. Organization of the Security Council Each member is entitled to a single vote, but the United Nations Charter require all member states to comply with the decisions made by the council. Permanent members of the UN are the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. Non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly to serve a two-year term. About sixty member states have never been members of the Security Council. Non-members may participate in the discussions of the council if they are affected by the outcome but cannot cast a vote. The Presidency of the Security Council rotates among the permanent and non-permanent members based on the alphabetical order in English. Each state elects a permanent representative who acts as the president when it is the country's turn. If a higher authority from the state such as the foreign minister, prime minister or president is present in the council, then he assumes the presidency. Permanent Members of the Security Council The permanent members (P5) of the Security Council are the five countries granted permanent membership by the UN Charter of 1945. They are China, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. These countries were allies during the Second World War and are nuclear capable. Any of the five permanent members can veto a resolution to prevent its adoption by the council regardless of the level of support. Proposals to increase the members of the council by admitting Japan, India, Germany, and Brazil have been opposed by regional powers including India, Argentina, South Korea, Mexico, and Colombia. 5. United States The United States emerged as a superpower after the Second World War. It was the first nation to develop the atomic bomb, its military might was unchallenged, and its economy was much better than the rest of the world. The state advocated for the formation of the United Nations after the collapse of the League of Nations. It hosts the United Nations Headquarters, the General Assembly, and the Security Council. 4. United Kingdom The United Kingdom is also Charter members of UN. It was a vital member of the Allied Forces during the Second World War and a powerful European state. It is the closest ally of the United States and the fifth largest contributor to the UN budget. It is also a nuclear-capable country and the fifth largest economy in the world. The United Kingdom barely flexes its veto power; the last resolution vetted by the state was the US invasion of Panama on December 23, 1989. 3. Russia Russia is a charter member of the UN and a superpower. It was a member of the Allied Forces during the Second World War. It is a nuclear-capable state that is politically and economically stable. Russia is the largest country in the world with a territory extending across Europe and Asia. After WWII, the United States and Russia engaged in cold and proxy wars that strained the relations between the two countries. Today, Russia exercises veto privileges rights against American proposals than any other state. 2. France France is a charter member of the United Nations and a close ally of the United States and the United Kingdom. It was a member of the Allied Forces during the signing of the chatter and remains a vital member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. France, just like the United Kingdom and China, does not flex its veto power frequently unlike the United States and Russia. The last resolution vetoed by France was on December 23, 1989. 1. China China is a charter member of the United Nations. The Republic of China initially held the seat, but the nationalist government was overthrown by the Communist Party and forced to the island of Taiwan. In 1971, the General Assembly recognized the communist government as the sole representative of China and expelled the Republic of China altogether. China played a crucial role during the Second World War defeat of Japan, and the United States sought to foster relations by advocating for the inclusion of the state as a permanent member. The Canadian province of Manitoba is one of the country's three prairie provinces, along with Saskatchewan and Alberta. With a population of approximately 1.3 million, Manitoba's is the countrys 5th most populous province. Additionally, Manitoba has an area of roughly 649,950 square km, which ranks 8th in Canada. In order to be designated as a city in Manitoba, an urban municipality must have a population of at least 7,500. On the basis of this requirement, the province contains 10 cities, the largest of which is Winnipeg, the provincial capital. The Five Most Populated Cities in Manitoba 1. Winnipeg With a population of 705,244 in 2016, Winnipeg is the most populated city in Manitoba and ranks as the seventh biggest in Canada. Located at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, about 110 km north of the international border between Canada and the United States, Winnipeg also serves as Manitoba's provincial capital. The city derives its name from nearby Lake Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a hub of transportation and has a diversified economy, especially in trade, health care, and manufacturing. The city also hosts numerous cultural festivals, such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Folklorama, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, and Festival du Voyageur. 2. Brandon Brandon is the second most populous city in Manitoba, with a population of 48,859 in 2016. The city is located on the banks of the Assiniboine River, approximately 214 km west of Winnipeg. Brandon serves as a regional hub of trade and commerce, and its economy relies heavily on agriculture, education, food processing, health care, and transportation. 3. Steinbach With a population of 5,829 in 2016, Steinbach is Manitobas third largest city. The city is located 58 km southeast of Winnipeg. Steinbach was first settled by Mennonites from Russia in 1874 and continues to have a significant Mennonite population. Given its location near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, the city's economy has developed around agriculture, although several commercial and service businesses also exist. In recent years, Steinbach has received a large number of immigrants who have contributed to its population growth. 4. Thompson The city of Thompson is located along the Burntwood River, in the Northern Region of Manitoba. With a population of 13,678, it is the provinces fourth largest city. Thompson was founded as a mining town in 1956 but is currently a hub of distribution for goods and services to the surrounding communities. Since Thompson is located in the boreal forest region of Manitoba, it offers numerous outdoor activities to nature enthusiasts. Additionally, given its northern location, the Northern Lights can sometimes be seen from within the city. 5. Portage la Prairie With a population of 13,304, Portage la Prairie is the fifth largest city in Manitoba. It is located along the Assiniboine River, in the provinces Central Plains Region, and is approximately 75 km west of Winnipeg. Environment Canada claims that the city experiences a higher number of sunny days during the warm months than anywhere else in the country. The Smallest City in Manitoba Flin Flon is the smallest city in Manitoba. The city's location is unique, as it straddles the provincial border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. According to the 2016 Census, Flin Flon had a population of 5,185 individuals. Of this total, 4,982 lived in Manitoba's portion of the city, while only 203 resided in the Saskatchewan portion. WNRI radio morning hosts Roger Bouchard, left, and Dave Dean, right, broadcast Thursday during Deans next-to-last day on the airwaves. The longtime duo is known for entertaining listeners of Daybreak Southern New England by targeting each other with jokes and sharp-witted barbs, in between segments of straight-faced news and talk. Kim Divan, 66 years old, of Woodward, OK passed away at his home on Saturday, June 12. He was born in Nebraska but spent his childhood and most of his adult life in Palmdale, CA until moving to Oklahoma in 2005. Kim liked to have a good time and enjoyed his motorcycles and fishing. He will b The State of Michigan will re-open to full capacity on June 22 as more than 9 million vaccines have been administered, and COVID-19 cases fall to a one-year low. El IIHS (Instituto de Seguros para la Seguridad en las Carreteras) otorgo los honores Top Safety Pick y Top Safety Pick + a los automoviles mas seguros del 2020. If you havent yet been out shopping for BBQs, ties and cigars, youd better hop to it! Fathers Day is on Sunday. If youre among the lucky ones who have a wonderful father still alive and kicking, spend some time listening to his stories and being together because time flies. INDIANAPOLIS Ind. (WLFI) Lawmakers are one step closer to cracking down on synthetic drug dealers in Indiana. State Representative Sharon Negele says synthetic drugs like spice and bath salts have the same effect as drugs like cocaine. However, synthetic dealers are sentenced as though these are the lowest-level drugs out there. She wants tougher penalties for synthetic drug dealers and the majority of those in the House of Representatives agreed with her. Negeles legislation would also give prosecutors criteria to consider when determining whether a substance is mimicking a controlled substance. According to her press release, Negele said this would grant more flexibility to convict dealers and manufacturers who design the substances to look and act like other known illegal drugs. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- Police have identified the woman found dead following a fire in New Hartford. Ann Dunham, 72, was found in the front of the home on Arbor Drive. She lived there with her brother, who returned home to find it on fire. New Hartfords fire chief says firefighters crawled through the home as flames rolled over their heads trying to rescue her. A dog also died in the fire. A New Hartford firefighter was taken to the hospital for a minor injury, and released Wednesday night. There is no word yet on a cause, but the chief says it appears accidental in nature. UTICA, N.Y. - The bad weather is having an impact on the nation's blood supply. The American Red - Mohawk Valley chapter is urging you to find the time to donate. Only a handful of people were at the blood donation center in New Hartford Thursday afternoon, which is a huge problem according Linda Belton of the American Red Cross. "We have cancer patients receiving chemo therapy," Linda Belton said. "We have accident victims who may lose large quantities of blood. People having a heart transplant, or heart attack victims that may need blood." Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three day supply of blood in local hospitals. They strive for a five day supply. They are calling this shortage an 'emergency need for blood.' Belton blames the weather. She said many of their regular donors dont want to drive in bad weather conditions. "We also had to cancel many drives, she said. Schools are canceled so many of our blood drives are canceled." Last year, the Red Cross collected about 5,000 units of blood in Oneida County alone. They said they are way behind where they should be for the end of January. But with weather forecasted to improve, they are hopeful more people will find the time to give the gift of life. All blood types are needed. There are number of mobile donation sites set up for the coming days, plus the donation center on Commercial Drive is always open. Its best to schedule an appointment. You can call 1 800-Red-Cross or visit their website. The bitter cold in Chicago has kept hospitals busy, with doctors at one facility during the brunt of an Arctic freeze treating 50 frostbite victims, including some people who may lose an arm or a leg. "It's a horrific situation," says Dr. Stathis Poulakidas, the head of burn and wound care services at Cook County Health. Poulakidas works at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, a level 1 trauma center, that in a really bad year will see 150 cases of frostbite for the season. He said based on what he has seen thus far, this could be one of those years. Half of the patients that came in over the past few days are homeless, while others had jobs that kept them out. Poulakidas said they've seen "horrific injuries to feet and hands," some so severe that some victims may lose limbs. Frostbite in these extreme conditions can set in as quickly as three to 10 minutes, depending on age or exposure or other factors, such as wet gloves and socks, or even alcohol consumption, he said. Colder than Alaska in some states The brutally cold weather that's held millions in its frozen grip for days was so intense Thursday morning that 11 states in the continental United States hit a temperature lower than the one recorded in Alaska's northernmost city. The Dakotas, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania all saw temperatures fall below -14 degrees, according to CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward. That was the temperature in Utqiagvik (also known as Barrow) a town of about 4,400 that sits north of the Arctic Circle. But the end is in sight. The historic deep freeze that's killed 16 people will let up by the end of the week, according to CNN meteorologists. At the cold's peak Thursday morning, about 7 a.m. ET, more than 216 million people saw temperatures below freezing, including 84 million who dealt with subzero temperatures, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. By the afternoon, about 30 million people were still under wind chill warnings and advisories -- down from a peak of 140 million in the morning. But the misery will slowly melt away Friday, with a warming trend that could give many Americans thermal whiplash. "Today is the last of the extreme cold air," Hennen said Thursday. "Temperatures will rebound quickly over much of the area that saw the extreme cold, creating a yo-yo effect of extreme temperature difference." Chicago, for example, will see a temperature rise of almost 75 degrees -- from extreme cold of 20-25 below zero to temps in the low 50s on Monday. And Atlanta, which has shivered in the 20s this week, will enjoy temperatures in the 60s when it hosts the Super Bowl on Sunday. Chicago may have been hit with 'frost quakes' Across the country, the bone-chilling weather has shattered dozens of records. Chicago came close to breaking its record of 27 below zero when temperatures plunged to 21 below, Hennen said. But for a while, the Windy City had something other than a negative-41 wind chill to worry about: frost quakes. Some Chicagoans were startled awake Wednesday by a series of large booms, CNN affiliate WGN reported. "I thought I was crazy! I was up all night because I kept hearing it," Chastity Clark Baker said on Facebook, according to WGN. "I was scared and thought it was the furnace. I kept walking through the house. I had everyone's jackets on the table in case we had to run out of here." That boom was probably a weather phenomenon known as cryoseism -- and dubbed a "frost quake." It happens when water underground freezes and expands, causing soil and rock to crack. Some deaths were in weather-related accidents At least 16 deaths have been linked to this week's extreme weather. Eight of those deaths have been in Iowa; four occurred Thursday in traffic accidents during snowy conditions. Three people died on US 59 in Crawford County when a car crossed into the other lane and hit another vehicle at about 5 a.m., Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said. A person in Johnson County died in a single-car accident on Thursday afternoon, he added. Storm-related deaths were also reported in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana and Wisconsin, authorities said. The cold weather killed a zebra on a private farm near Delphi, Indiana, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. The zebra had gotten stuck in a metal fence, Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said. Officials consulted a veterinarian, who said the air likely crystallized in the zebra's lungs, killing the animal. Mail service is still suspended The massive cold snap has also frozen some mail and blood donation services. The US Postal Service said due to arctic temperatures, Thursday deliveries are suspended in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The American Red Cross said 370 blood drives across the country were canceled as temperatures dropped. "The Red Cross currently has an emergency need for blood and platelet donors of all types to help ensure lifesaving medical treatments and emergency care are not delayed or canceled this winter," spokeswoman Stephanie Rendon said in an email. State government offices in Michigan were closed for a second day on Thursday due to "emergency weather conditions." The weather also caused headaches for travelers. More than 2,300 flights involving US airports were canceled on Thursday, the majority of which were due to fly out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway, according to FlightAware. More than 3,600 flights from or to US facilities were delayed. CACI International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information solutions and services in North America and internationally. The company offers business systems solutions for financial, human capital, asset and materials, and administrative management; develops, integrates, and operates command and control solutions; and develops and integrates solutions that deliver multi-level unified communications from the enterprise directly to and from the tactical edge. It also provides cyber security solutions and supports cyber support to federal customers and the intelligence community (IC), as well as support to the IC and the department of defense. In addition, the company offers enterprise-wide information solutions and services to design, develop, integrate, deploy, operate and manage, sustain, and security of its customers' IT solutions; and supports federal civilian and military health missions that improve healthcare delivery systems, integrates electronic health records, and enhances the speed and efficiency of emergency responsiveness. Further, it provides intelligence services, such as intelligence analysis, operations and planning, policy, doctrine, and security support, as well as ground truth and intelligence gathering services; and designs, develops, integrates, deploys, and prototypes hardware-and software-enabled tools and applications, as well as provides signals intelligence and radio systems. Additionally, the company offers investigation and litigation support services; logistics and material readiness solutions, and professional services; space operations and resiliency support; and data and software products, as well as develops and integrates surveillance and reconnaissance technologies into platforms. It primarily serves the U.S. government, state and local governments, commercial enterprises, and foreign government agencies. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Waste Management: 635952 Ontario Inc., 8242348 Canada Inc., Acaverde S.A. de C.V., Access Computer Products, Advanced Environmental Technical Services L.L.C., Akron Regional Landfill Inc., Alliance Sanitary Landfill Inc., Alpharetta Transfer Station LLC, American Landfill Inc., American Oil Recovery LLC, Ameriwaste LLC, Anderson Landfill Inc., Anderson Rubbish Disposal, Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Arden Landfill Inc., Atlantic Waste Disposal Inc., Automated Salvage Transport Co. L.L.C., Avalon South LLC, Azusa Land Reclamation Inc., B&B Landfill Inc., Big Dipper Enterprises Inc., Bluegrass Containment L.L.C., Burnsville Sanitary Landfill Inc., CA Newco L.L.C., CR Group LLC, CWM Chemical Services L.L.C., Cal Sierra Disposal, California Asbestos Monofill Inc., Canadian Waste Services Holdings Inc., Capels Landfill LLC, Capital Sanitation Company, Capitol Disposal Inc., Carolina Grading Inc., Cedar Ridge Landfill Inc., Central Disposal Systems Inc., Chadwick Road Landfill Inc., Chambers Clearview Environmental Landfill Inc., Chambers Development Company Inc., Chambers Development of Ohio Inc., Chambers of Georgia Inc., Chambers of Mississippi Inc., Chemical Waste Management Inc., Chemical Waste Management of Indiana L.L.C., Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest Inc., Chesser Island Road Landfill Inc., City Environmental Services Inc. of Waters, Cleburne Landfill Company Corp., Coast Waste Management Inc., Coastal Recyclers Landfill LLC, Connecticut Valley Sanitary Waste Disposal Inc., Conservation Services Inc., Coshocton Landfill Inc., Cougar Landfill Inc., Countryside Landfill Inc., Curtis Creek Recovery Systems Inc., Cuyahoga Landfill Inc., DHC Land LLC, Dafter Sanitary Landfill Inc., Dauphin Meadows Inc., Deep Valley Landfill Inc., Deer Track Park Landfill Inc., Deffenbaugh Disposal Inc., Deffenbaugh Group Holdings Inc., Deffenbaugh Industries Inc., Deffenbaugh Recycling Company L.L.C., Deffenbaugh of Arkansas LLC, Del Almo Landfill L.L.C., Delaware Recyclable Products Inc., Dickinson Landfill Inc., Disposal Service Incorporated, Dolphin Services & Chemicals LLC, Dolphin-One LLC, ELDA Landfill Inc., Earthmovers Landfill L.L.C., East Liverpool Landfill Inc., Eastern One Land Corporation, Eco-Vista LLC, Elk River Landfill Inc., Energy Injection Services of Mississippi LLC, EnviroSolutions Dulles LLC, EnviroSolutions Holdings Inc., EnviroSolutions Real Property Holdings Inc., Envirofil of Illinois Inc., Evergreen Landfill Inc., Evergreen Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Finch Waste Co LLC, Firetower Landfill LLC, Fred J. Eckert Sanitary Service Inc., Furnace Associates Inc., G.I. Industries, GA Landfills Inc., Gallia Landfill Inc., Garnet of Maryland Inc., Gateway Transfer Station LLC, Georgia Waste Systems Inc., Giordano Recycling L.L.C., Glades Landfill LLC, Glen's Sanitary Landfill Inc., Grand Central Sanitary Landfill Inc., Greenbow LLC, Greenleaf Compaction Inc., Greenstar Allentown LLC, Greenstar Georgia LLC, Greenstar LLC, Greenstar Managed Services - Connecticut LLC, Greenstar Managed Services - RLWM LLC, Greenstar Mid-America LLC, Greenstar New Jersey LLC, Greenstar Ohio LLC, Greenstar Paterson LLC, Greenstar Pittsburgh LLC, Greenstar Recycled Holdings LLC, Greenstar Recycling LLC, Guadalupe Mines Mutual Water Company, Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Co. Inc., Ham Lake Haulers Inc., Harris Sanitation Inc., Harwood Landfill Inc., Hedco Landfill Limited, High Mountain Fuels LLC, Hillsboro Landfill Inc., Holyoke Sanitary Landfill Inc., IN Landfills L.L.C., Illini Disposal, International Environmental Management Inc., Jahner Sanitation Inc., Jay County Landfill L.L.C., K and W Landfill Inc., Keene Road Landfill Inc., Kelly Run Sanitation Inc., King George Landfill Inc., King George Landfill Properties LLC, Kirby Canyon Holdings LLC, L&K Group Holdings LLC, LCS Services Inc., Lakeville Recycling L.P., Land South Holdings LLC, Landfill Services of Charleston Inc., Laurel Highlands Landfill Inc., Liberty Landfill L.L.C., Liquid Logistics, Liquid Waste Management Inc., Longleaf C&D Disposal Facility Inc., Looney Bins Inc., Mac Land Disposal Inc. II, Mahoning Landfill Inc., Mass Gravel Inc., Mc Ginnes Industrial Maintenance Corporation, McDaniel Landfill Inc., McGill Landfill Inc., Meadowfill Landfill Inc., Michigan Environs Inc., Midwest One Land Corporation, Modesto Garbage Co. Inc., Moor Refuse Inc., Mordell, Mountain Indemnity Insurance Company, Mountainview Landfill Inc., Nassau Landfill L.L.C., National Guaranty Insurance Company of Vermont, New England CR L.L.C., New Milford Landfill L.L.C., New Orleans Landfill L.L.C., North Manatee Recycling and Disposal Facility L.L.C., Northwestern Landfill Inc., Nu-Way Live Oak Reclamation Inc., OAKLEAF Waste Management LLC, OGH Acquisition Corporation, Oak Grove Disposal Co. Inc., Oakleaf Global Holdings Inc., Oakleaf Waste Management Inc., Oakridge Landfill Inc., Oakwood Landfill Inc., Okeechobee Landfill Inc., Ozark Ridge Landfill Inc., P & R Environmental Industries L.L.C., Pacific Waste Management L.L.C., Pappy Inc., Peltz H.C. LLC, Pen-Rob Inc., People's Landfill Inc., Peterson Demolition Inc., Phoenix Resources Inc., Pine Grove Landfill Inc., Pine Tree Acres Inc., Prime Westport LLC, Quail Hollow Landfill Inc., Questquill Limited, R & B Landfill Inc., RAA Colorado L.L.C., RAA Trucking LLC, RCI Hudson Inc., RTS Landfill Inc., Recycle America Co. L.L.C., Recycle America Holdings Inc., Redwood Landfill Inc., Refuse Inc., Refuse Services Inc., Reliable Environmental Transport, Reliable Landfill L.L.C., Remote Landfill Services Inc., Reno Disposal Co., Resco Holdings L.L.C., Resource Control Composting Inc., Resource Control Inc., Richland County Landfill Inc., Riverbend Landfill Co., Rust Engineering & Construction Inc., Rust International Inc., S & J Landfill Limited Partnership, S & S Grading Inc., S&T Materials LLC, SC Holdings Inc., SF Land Acquisition LLC, Sanifill de Mexico (US) Inc., Sanifill de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Shade Landfill Inc., Shawnee Rock Company, Sierra Estrella Landfill Inc., Southern Alleghenies Landfill Inc., Southern One Land Corporation, Southern Waste Services L.L.C., Spruce Ridge Inc., Stony Hollow Landfill Inc., Suburban Landfill Inc., Summit Energy Services Inc, Swire Waste Management Limited, TN'T Sands Inc., TX Newco L.L.C., Texarkana Landfill L.L.C., Texas Pack Rat - Austin #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Dallas #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #2 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #3 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - San Antonio #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat Service Company LLC, The Peltz Group LLC, The Waste Management Charitable Foundation, The Woodlands of Van Buren Inc., Thermal Remediation Solutions L.L.C., Trail Ridge Landfill Inc., TransAmerican Waste Industries, Transamerican Waste Central Landfill Inc., Trash Hunters Inc., Twin Bridges Golf Club L.P., USA South Hills Landfill Inc., USA Valley Facility Inc., USA Waste Geneva Landfill Inc., USA Waste Landfill Operations and Transfer Inc., USA Waste Services of NYC Inc., USA Waste of California Inc., USA Waste of Texas Landfills Inc., USA Waste of Virginia Landfills Inc., USA Waste-Management Resources LLC, USA-Crinc L.L.C., USB LIHTC Fund 2010-1 LLC, UWS Barre Inc., United Waste Systems Leasing Inc., Valley Garbage and Rubbish Company Inc., Vern's Refuse Service Inc., Vickery Environmental Inc., Vista Landfill LLC, Voyageur Disposal Processing Inc., WM Avon Inc., WM Bagco LLC, WM Billerica Inc., WM Biloxi Hauling LLC, WM Biloxi Transfer Station LLC, WM Boston CORE Inc., WM CCP Solutions LLC, WM Conversion Fund LLC, WM Corporate Services Inc., WM Curbside LLC, WM DC 1 LLC, WM Emergency Employee Support Fund Inc., WM Energy Resources Inc., WM Energy Services Holdings LLC, WM Energy Services of Ohio LLC, WM Energy Solutions Inc., WM GTL Inc., WM GTL JV Holdings LLC, WM GTL LLC, WM Green Squad LLC, WM GreenOps LLC, WM Healthcare Solutions Inc., WM Illinois Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM Intellectual Property Holdings L.L.C., WM International Holdings Inc., WM KS Energy Resources LLC, WM LNG Inc., WM LampTracker Inc., WM Landfills of Ohio Inc., WM Landfills of Tennessee Inc., WM Leasing Services of Texas LLC, WM Leasing of Arizona L.L.C., WM Leasing of Texas L.P., WM Logistics India Private Limited, WM Logistics LLC, WM Mercury Waste Inc., WM Middle Tennessee Environmental Center L.L.C., WM Mobile Bay Environmental Center Inc., WM ND Energy Resources II LLC, WM ND Energy Resources LLC, WM Nevada Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM North Broward Inc., WM Organic Growth Inc., WM PA Holdings LLC, WM PRG L.L.C., WM Pack-Rat LLC, WM Pack-Rat of California LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Illinois LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Kentucky LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Maryland LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Massachusetts LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Michigan LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Nevada LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Ohio LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Rhode Island LLC, WM Partnership Holdings Inc., WM Phoenix Energy Resources LLC, WM Propane LLC, WM Quebec Inc., WM RA Canada Inc., WM Recycle America L.L.C., WM Recycle Europe L.L.C., WM Recycling Latin America LLC, WM Refined Coal LLC, WM Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM Resource Recovery & Recycling Center Inc., WM Resources Inc., WM Safety Services L.L.C., WM Security Services Inc., WM Storage II Inc., WM Storage Inc., WM TX Energy Resources II LLC, WM TX Energy Resources LLC, WM Texas Pack Rat LLC, WM Trash Monitor Plus L.L.C., WM WY Energy Resources II LLC, WM WY Energy Resources III LLC, WM WY Energy Resources LLC, WM of North Dakota Energy Disposal Solutions LLC, WMI Mexico Holdings Inc., WMNA Container Recycling L.L.C., WMRE of Kentucky LLC, WMRE of Michigan LLC, WMRE of Ohio LLC, WMRE of Ohio-American LLC, WMSALSA Inc., WTI Air Pollution Control Inc., WTI Rust Holdings Inc., Warner Company, Waste Away Group Inc., Waste Management Arizona Landfills Inc., Waste Management Buckeye L.L.C., Waste Management China Holdings Limited, Waste Management Collection and Recycling Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Colorado Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Maine Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Maryland Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Massachusetts Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Oregon Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Pennsylvania Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Virginia Inc., Waste Management Energy Services of Texas LLC, Waste Management Holdings Inc., Waste Management Inc. of Florida, Waste Management Inc. of Tennessee, Waste Management Indycoke L.L.C., Waste Management International Inc., Waste Management National Services Inc., Waste Management National Transportation Services Inc., Waste Management Partners Inc., Waste Management Recycling and Disposal Services of California Inc., Waste Management Recycling of New Jersey L.L.C., Waste Management Service Center Inc., Waste Management of Alameda County Inc., Waste Management of Alaska Inc., Waste Management of Arizona Inc., Waste Management of Arkansas Inc., Waste Management of California Inc., Waste Management of Canada Corporation, Waste Management of Carolinas Inc., Waste Management of Colorado Inc., Waste Management of Connecticut Inc., Waste Management of Delaware Inc., Waste Management of Fairless L.L.C., Waste Management of Five Oaks Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Waste Management of Georgia Inc., Waste Management of Hawaii Inc., Waste Management of Idaho Inc., Waste Management of Illinois Inc., Waste Management of Indiana Holdings One Inc., Waste Management of Indiana Holdings Two Inc., Waste Management of Indiana L.L.C., Waste Management of Iowa Inc., Waste Management of Kansas Inc., Waste Management of Kentucky Holdings Inc., Waste Management of Kentucky L.L.C., Waste Management of Leon County Inc., Waste Management of Londonderry Inc., Waste Management of Louisiana Holdings One Inc., Waste Management of Louisiana L.L.C., Waste Management of Maine Inc., Waste Management of Maryland Inc., Waste Management of Massachusetts Inc., Waste Management of Metro Atlanta Inc., Waste Management of Michigan Inc., Waste Management of Minnesota Inc., Waste Management of Mississippi Inc., Waste Management of Missouri Inc., Waste Management of Montana Inc., Waste Management of Nebraska Inc., Waste Management of Nevada Inc., Waste Management of New Hampshire Inc., Waste Management of New Jersey Inc., Waste Management of New Mexico Inc., Waste Management of New York L.L.C., Waste Management of North Dakota Inc., Waste Management of Ohio Inc., Waste Management of Oklahoma Inc., Waste Management of Oregon Inc., Waste Management of Pennsylvania Gas Recovery L.L.C., Waste Management of Pennsylvania Inc., Waste Management of Rhode Island Inc., Waste Management of South Carolina Inc., Waste Management of South Dakota Inc., Waste Management of Texas Holdings Inc., Waste Management of Texas Inc., Waste Management of Tunica Landfill Inc., Waste Management of Utah Inc., Waste Management of Virginia Inc., Waste Management of Washington, Waste Management of West Virginia Inc., Waste Management of Wisconsin Inc., Waste Management of Wyoming Inc., Western One Land Corporation, Western Waste Industries, Western Waste of Texas L.L.C., Westminster Land Acquisition LLC, Wheelabrator Technologies, Wheelabrator Technologies International Inc., White Lake Landfill Inc., Willow Oak Landfill LLC, and eCycling Services L.L.C.. Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories. It operates in Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments. The company offers hybrid cars under the Prius, Prius PHV, C-HR, LC HV, LS HV, Camry, JPN TAXI, Avalon, Crown, Century HV, UX HV, Corolla SD, Corolla Sport, and WG HV names; fuel cell vehicles under the MIRAI and SORA names; and conventional engine vehicles, including subcompact and compact cars under the Yaris, Aqua, Passo, Roomy, Tank, Etios, Vios, AGYA, Rush, GLANZA, and Raize names. It also provides mini-vehicles, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and auto parts under the Toyota name; mid-size cars under the Camry and REIZ names; luxury cars under the Lexus, Avalon, and Crown names; Century limousines; sports cars under the LC and Supra names; and recreational and sport-utility vehicles under the Sequoia, 4Runner, RAV4, Highlander, and Land Cruiser names. In addition, the company offers pickup trucks under the Tacoma and Tundra names; Minivans, Cabwagons, and Semi-Bonnet Wagon under the Alphard, Vellfire, Noah/Voxy, Esquire, Calya, Estima, Sienta, and Sienna names; and trucks and buses. Further, it provides financial services, such as retail financing and leasing, wholesale financing, insurance, and credit cards; and designs, manufactures, and sells prefabricated housing. Additionally, the company operates GAZOO.com, a web portal for automobile information. It operates in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Toyota, Japan. Read More Ad All Marijuana Stocks New this week - 287 interested Fed Decriminalization of Cannabis Could Spark New Pot Stock Boom With Democrats now controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch, cannabis decriminalization on the federal level could be months away. This could result in established Washington State weed companies being able to market across state lines -- setting off a bidding war for quality stocks at reasonable prices. 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 The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business. Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. It manages separate client-focused equity and fixed income portfolios. The firm also launches equity, fixed income, commodity, multi-asset, and balanced mutual funds for its clients. It launches equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and balanced exchange-traded funds. The firm also launches and manages private funds. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. The firm also invests in alternative markets, such as commodities and currencies. For the equity portion of its portfolio, it invests in growth and value stocks of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. For the fixed income portion of its portfolio, the firm invests in convertibles, government bonds, municipal bonds, treasury securities, and cash. It also invests in short term and intermediate term bonds, investment grade and high yield bonds, taxable and tax-free bonds, senior secured loans, and structured securities such as asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. The firm employs absolute return, global macro, and long/short strategies. It employs quantitative analysis to make its investments. The firm was formerly known as Invesco Plc, AMVESCAP plc, Amvesco plc, Invesco PLC, Invesco MIM, and H. Lotery & Co. Ltd. Invesco Ltd. was founded in December 1935 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia with an additional office in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More Sign up today! Get our newsletters delivered right to your inbox. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Wall Street analysts have given iShares Morningstar Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Morningstar Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. 31 minutes ago | June 21st | 2021 8:00 AM Why You Might Have to Retire Later Due to COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic in general increased retirement uncertainty. In fact, Lincoln Financial Group reported three different sentiments regarding the pandemic and specific age groups: Pre-retirees: The age group from 55 to 64 saw the biggest drop of retirement-ready confidence. Mid-career: Individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 saw a 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 After the 3 instrumental album series of "Days of 90", Istanbul/Turkey based Hip-Hop producer Farazi releases his next instrumental project entitled "RUSTIQUE". This new EP of 5 tracks is a follow up to the "CRAFT" EP that was released in the summer of 2018. "RUSTIQUE's" sound include classic and chill Hip-Hop rhythms with simple but impressive melodies. New Instrumental EP Farazi - RUSTIQUE Farazi on Social Media Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through Propulsion; Parts & Accessories; and Boat segments. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses. This segment offers its products under the Mercury Marine, Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, and Mercury Diesel brands. The Parts & Accessories segment provides engine parts and consumables, electrical products, boat parts and systems, engine oils and lubricants, marine electronics and control systems, instruments, trolling motors, fuel systems, and electrical systems, as well as specialty vehicle, mobile, and transportation aftermarket products for aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses, as well for as for the original equipment manufacturers in marine and non-marine markets; and supplies parts and accessories through the distribution business. This segment offers its products under the under the Mercury, Mercury Precision Parts, Quicksilver, and Seachoice brands. The Boat segment provides Sea Ray sport boats and cruisers; Bayliner sport cruisers and runabouts; Boston Whaler fiberglass offshore boats; Lund fiberglass fishing boats; Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, and Princecraft aluminum fishing, utility, pontoon, and deck boats; Heyday tow/wake boats; and Thunder Jet heavy-gauge aluminum boats, as well as shared access boat club and dealer services to the marine industry through dealers and distributors. Brunswick Corporation was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in Mettawa, Illinois. Read More Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers traditional banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts, home and education loans, credit cards, business loans, mortgage and home equity lending, and unsecured product finance and personal loans, as well as wealth management and investment services to retail customers and small businesses. This segment also provides indirect auto finance for new and used vehicles through auto dealerships. The Commercial Banking segment offers various financial products and solutions, such as loans and leasing, trade finance, deposit and treasury management, cash management, and foreign exchange and interest rate risk management solutions; and loan syndications, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. It serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates approximately 2,700 ATMs and 1,000 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions, as well as through online, telephone, and mobile banking services; and maintains approximately 130 retail and commercial non-branch offices. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Read More 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 30 minutes ago | June 21st | 2021 8:00 AM Why You Might Have to Retire Later Due to COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic in general increased retirement uncertainty. In fact, Lincoln Financial Group reported three different sentiments regarding the pandemic and specific age groups: Pre-retirees: The age group from 55 to 64 saw the biggest drop of retirement-ready confidence. Mid-career: Individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 saw a Only 14.4 per cent of the 1,500 people surveyed earlier this month said they would vote for the party if the parliamentary elections were held today, signalling a drop of 1.1 percentage points from the previous poll. THE CENTRE PARTY has seen its popularity drop below the 15 per cent-mark for the first time in a couple of months, indicates a poll commissioned by Alma Media. The Centre has therefore seen its popularity plummet by over 6.5 percentage points after winning 21.1 per cent of votes in the parliamentary elections held in April 2015. The Social Democratic Party, meanwhile, remains the most well supported political party in Finland, according to Alma Media. Popular support for the largest opposition party crept up by 0.3 percentage points to 21.0 per cent, representing the first gains made by the party since September 2018. The National Coalition trails the Social Democrats by 1.3 percentage points, after recording an up-tick of 0.1 percentage points in support to 19.7 per cent. Support for the Green League hovered around the 13 per cent-mark for already the fourth consecutive month, indicating that the opposition party may have used up the injection of energy provided by its caretaker chairperson, Pekka Haavisto. The race for the position of the fifth largest party in the country has turned on its head since September. The Finns Party has been on an upward trajectory and saw its popularity creep up by 0.2 percentage points to 9.9 per cent between December and January. The Left Alliance, in contrast, saw its popularity dwindle by 0.2 percentage points for the fourth consecutive month, to 8.9 per cent. In September, the Left Alliance was projected to win 9.5 per cent and the Finns Party 7.7 per cent of votes in the parliamentary elections. The Christian Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party are both polling in the low-to-mid 4s, after the former witnessed a jump of 0.4 percentage points to 4.3 per cent and the latter one of 0.1 percentage points to 4.2 per cent. The Blue Reform has similarly made gains in early 2019, rising from 1.8 to 2.1 per cent. The poll was conducted between 14 and 28 January by Tietoykkonen. Over three-quarters (76.3%) of the respondents were able and willing to disclose which party would receive their vote. The next parliamentary elections will be held on Sunday, 14 April. Aleksi Teivainen HT Source: Uusi Suomi "I don't think there's ever been a case where we've seen such a big shift in temperatures," said Jeff Masters, meteorology director at Weather Underground, in an interview with the Associated Press. Before the big swing comes, people in southern Wisconsin still have to deal with very cold weather on Friday. Most school districts have reopened after being closed since Monday, but the Monona Grove district wasn't able to reopen Friday, because the school bus company serving the district wasn't able to provide buses. Nelson's Bus Service uses buses that run on diesel fuel, and most of the fleet is stored outside, so the extreme cold caused the diesel fuel to gel, not allowing the buses to operate properly. "We cannot risk having students either waiting for buses that may never show up, or having students on buses that may become stranded without heat, in sub-zero or single digit temperatures," said Superintendent Dan Olson in a message to district families. The only other schools affected by the cold on Friday morning were in the Montello district, with schools opening at 10 a.m.; the Monticello district, with schools opening at 9:45 a.m.; and the MATC Fort Atkinson campus, which is not holding classes on Friday. A New Auburn man faces drug charges after police say he was found in possession of methamphetamine. Edward Beckman, 53, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He faces up to three years six months imprisonment for the first charge. According to the criminal complaint: A Wisconsin State Trooper working near mile marker 72 on I-90/94 Jan. 9 observed 2004 Jeep traveling visibly in excess of the posted 70 mph speed limit. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver at the drivers side window of the Jeep. The driver, identified as Beckman, was extremely nervous and sweating. When asked where he was headed, Beckman took a few seconds to reply and stated my brothers house. While the trooper was typing a warning for speeding a K9 unit arrived on scene. The K9 indicated the presence of narcotics in Beckmans vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded a small black wallet with a gem pack in the pocket with about of an inch of a salt type crystalline substance in the bottom. A digital scale and plastic straw were also located. A very rare piece of Columbus history has found its way home. The last known car in existence built by the Badger Motor Car Company in Columbus was delivered to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum on a very cold day in Hartford, Jan. 29. The car, a 1910 Touring model, will be displayed in the museum less than 45 minutes from Columbus. From 1909-1911, the Badger Motor Car Company, located on Baden Street, produced 237 cars. Founder E.W. Arbogast, from Watertown, was an ambitious designer and, similar to many other businessmen in the early 1900s, was swept away in the automobile production craze. According to Columbus Historic Landmarks and Preservation Commission member Janice Ulrich, local residents invested $100,000 to incorporate the company. Unfortunately for Arbogast and his investors, Badger Motor Car Company ceased operations after just three years. Since each Badger was hand-crafted, the invention of Henry Fords assembly line put many car manufacturing start-ups out of business. Ford could produce more vehicles, better equipped and more reliable, at a faster pace. JUNEAU A 33-year-old Milwaukee man will serve the next three years in prison after being found guilty of causing a rollover crash that injured his two children. Tory J. Agnew was found guilty in December of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing injury with a minor in the car. Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger sentenced Agnew Thursday to the 36 months in prison and a 12-month extended sentence. In addition, Agnew must pay $22,764 in restitution. His drivers license will be revoked for 24 months and he must undergo an alcohol and drug abuse assessment. According to the criminal complaint, the Dodge County Sheriffs Office responded to a rollover crash on Interstate 41, about a mile north of Highway 28, on Sept. 27, 2017. Two small children were ejected from the vehicle. A doctor was on scene and noted a 3-year-old child had a head injury. The doctor was told that Flight for Life was called to the scene, and he asked for a second helicopter for a 6-month-old child. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The children were flown to American Family Childrens Hospital in Madison. A third child, a 1-year-old girl, was not ejected during the crash and was not injured. JUNEAU The Dodge County Sheriffs Office is searching for a woman who failed to return to jail Wednesday after going to an appointment in Juneau that day. Connie L. Smiley, 36, now has an active arrest warrant through Dodge County after not returning to Dodge County Jail as required after a pre-approved appointment in Juneau Wednesday. Smiley has an active arrest warrant through Dodge County. Her last known address is on Maple Ridge Road, Oconomowoc. She was last seen on Wednesday at a duplex on North Fairfield Avenue in Juneau and may be in the presence of an individual with a black lifted truck. Smiley was serving a 160-day Huber sentence at the Dodge County Jail for contempt of court. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The sheriffs office asks anyone with information on Smileys whereabouts to contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Office at (920) 386-3726 or contact a local law enforcement agency. Under Wisconsin Statute, some inmates are granted work release or Huber privilege by the courts and the sheriff must authorize inmates to leave for work, medical appointments, community service, educational opportunities, and other provisions as set by law, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a press release. Edward Richard Bergman, 77, of Stevens Point, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. He was born March 8, 1941, in Reedsburg to Edward and Elsbeth Bergman. Ed was one of five children and told great stories of his days growing up on the family farm in Loganville as the baby of the family. He returned to Loganville often to deer hunt with his sons and brother, Evan. After graduating from Webb High School in Reedsburg in 1959, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his country from January 1960 until November 1962, spending much of that time in France before being honorably discharged. He was looking forward to an upcoming Honor Flight in May of this year. Ed married Carolyn Steinke on Sept. 26, 1964. Ed worked as a carpenter and credit manager until the mid 1970s when he started his own business as a home builder. He was well known for building quality homes. Ed was committed to local home building as a charter member of the Golden Sands Home Builders Association, serving as its president in 1993-94. He received the GSHBA Builder of the Year award in 1994. Ed also held a real estate brokers license. After building hundreds of homes in the Stevens Point area, Ed retired in 2005 but continued to work part time designing homes for his son Kurt. With six weather-related cancellations already this year, Baraboo school officials are waiting to hear from the state before trying to make up for lost classroom time. Classes throughout the Midwest were called off this week due to extreme temperatures. On Thursday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz granted a waiver ensuring schools there wont be penalized if they fail to meet state-mandated instructional time by the end of the year. Baraboo District Administrator Lori Mueller said she would support something similar in Wisconsin, at least for the last four cancellations that occurred statewide due to extreme cold. I would be an advocate for the state considering a waiver of those days, Mueller said. This is kind of unique. A Wisconsin state law previously required districts that didnt meet the required number of classroom days to extend their calendar years. The law was changed in 2013 to eliminate the 180-day requirement. It now mandates a certain number of instructional hours for each grade level. That gives districts the flexibility to add minutes or hours to school days to make up for cancellations, rather than extending the calendar year. Communities matter. We value and cherish the beauty of this area and the people with whom we are connected. That is why so many of us call Winona our home. We are not the first to enjoy the beauty and benefit from the natural resources of this valley and the Big Muddy River. The Dakota, Annishinabe and Ho-Chunk nations all called this river valley home in the centuries before European colonization. Those communities still exist in exile, and we are committed to remaining connected to them and building a future together. As the new President of the Winona Dakota Unity Alliance (WDUA), I invite all the residents of Winona to connect with our shared past and build a future that includes all our relations. Since 2004, the WDUA has organized and hosted the Dakota Gathering and Wacipi, which invites our Dakota relatives and the residents of Winona to come together and share culture, food, dance and conversation. We have also hosted an annual education day for area students, so that the knowledge and traditions of the Dakota can be shared. In winter, we take gifts to be distributed to elders at the Lower Sioux Reservation. These are direct descendants of the community of Wapashas Prairie that thrived here before European colonization. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is pulling the plug on a decades-old nuclear arms treaty with Russia, lifting what it sees as unreasonable constraints on competing with a resurgent Russia and a more assertive China. The move announced Friday sets the stage for delicate talks with U.S. allies over potential new American missile deployments. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Jan. 30, 2019, photo, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at the State Department in Washington. The Trump administration is expected to announce as soon as Friday that it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centerpiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War and whose demise some analysts worry could fuel a new arms race. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is pulling the plug on a decades-old nuclear arms treaty with Russia, lifting what it sees as unreasonable constraints on competing with a resurgent Russia and a more assertive China. The move announced Friday sets the stage for delicate talks with U.S. allies over potential new American missile deployments. In explaining his decision, which he had foreshadowed months ago, President Donald Trump accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with "impunity" by deploying banned missiles. Moscow denies it is in violation and has accused Washington of resisting its efforts to resolve the dispute. Democrats in Congress and some arms control advocates criticized Trump's decision as opening the door to an arms race. "The U.S. threat to terminate the treaty will not bring Russia back into compliance and could unleash a dangerous and costly new missile competition between the United States and Russia in Europe and beyond," the private Arms Control Association said. It argued that Washington had not exhausted options for drawing Russia back into compliance. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives for a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the U.S. is pulling out of a treaty with Russia that's been a centerpiece of arms control since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Trump said in a statement that the U.S. will "move forward" with developing its own military response options to Russia's banned deployment of cruise missiles that could target western Europe. "We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other," Trump said. Other officials said the treaty could still be saved if Russia reverses course and returns to compliance, but that window of opportunity will close in six months when the American withdrawal is due to take effect. The Trump decision reflects his administration's view that the arms treaty was an unacceptable obstacle to more forcefully confronting not only Russia but also China. China's military has grown mightily since the treaty was signed, and the pact has prevented the U.S. from deploying weapons to counter some of those being developed in Beijing. Leaving the INF pact, however, risks aggravating relations with European allies, who share the administration's view that Russia is violating the treaty but who have not endorsed a U.S. withdrawal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking to reporters after Trump's statement, said Russia will be formally notified on Saturday that the U.S. is withdrawing from the treaty, effective in six months. In the meantime, starting Saturday, the U.S. will suspend its obligations under the treaty. State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino, left, calls on a reporter as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, holds a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the U.S. is pulling out of a treaty with Russia that's been a centerpiece of arms control since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Pompeo said that if, in the coming six months, Russia accepts U.S. demands that it verifiably destroy the cruise missiles that Washington claims are a violation, then the treaty can be saved. If it does not, "the treaty terminates," he said. Administration officials have dismissed concerns that the treaty's demise could trigger a race to develop and deploy more intermediate-range missiles. U.S. officials have emphasized their fear that China, which is not party to the treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Whether the U.S. will now respond by deploying INF noncompliant missiles in Asia is unclear. In any case, it seems unlikely Beijing would agree to any negotiated limits on its weaponry. Russia accused the U.S. of unilaterally seeking to neuter the treaty. "I 'congratulate' the whole world; the United States has taken another step toward its destruction today," said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's upper house of parliament. INF was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometres (310 miles) and 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles). At the time, in the late stages of the Cold War, the U.S. and its allies were mainly concerned by the perceived threat of Russian medium-range nuclear missiles that were targeted at Europe. The U.S. deployed similar missiles in response, in the 1980s, leading to negotiations that produced the INF treaty. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, accompanied by State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino, center, speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the U.S. is pulling out of a treaty with Russia that's been a centerpiece of arms control since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington state Democrat and new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, blasted Trump for raising the risk of nuclear war. "The administration's ideological aversion to arms control as a tool for advancing national security is endangering our safety, as well as that of our allies and partners," Smith said. "The risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding is already higher than at any point since the end of the Cold War, and this decision only makes it worse." U.S. officials say they have little reason to think Moscow will change its stance in the next six months. "We have raised Russia's noncompliance with Russian officials including at the highest levels of government more than 30 times," Pompeo said. "We have provided Russia an ample window of time to mend its way. Tomorrow that time runs out." Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary-general, said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press that Russia can still save the treaty by returning to compliance before the U.S. withdrawal takes effect. "But at the same time, we have started to assess the consequences, look into options," Stoltenberg said. "We need to make sure that we respond as an alliance, all 29 allies, because all allies are involved and all allies are affected." Trump said his administration will move forward with developing military response options. But senior Trump administration officials said they don't expect any immediate testing or deployment of weapons that are banned under the treaty. The current Pentagon budget includes $48 million for research on potential military responses to the alleged Russian violations, but U.S. officials said the options do not include a nuclear missile. The officials, speaking after Trump's announcement, said the U.S. is not in position to flight test, let alone deploy, INF noncompliant missiles as a counter to Russia any time soon. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. One official said allies will be consulted before any decisions are made on responding to any Russian missiles. Leaving the treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it's unclear how it would do that. U.S. security concerns are complicated by what U.S. intelligence officials earlier this week called efforts by China and Russia to expand their global influence, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. "China and Russia are more aligned than at any point since the mid-1950s, and the relationship is likely to strengthen in the coming years as some of their interests and threat perceptions converge," Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in testimony Tuesday to Congress. Associated Press writer Lynn Berry contributed to this report. A Winnipegger whose charity uses music to help some of the planet's poorest and most persecuted people was in a strange place last week surrounded by the world's wealthiest and most powerful. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipegger whose charity uses music to help some of the planet's poorest and most persecuted people was in a strange place last week surrounded by the world's wealthiest and most powerful. Make Music Matter founder Darcy Ataman attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The annual gathering "engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas," with the belief organizations "are accountable to all parts of society." Prince William, Bill Gates and 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg of Sweden were among this year's attendees. Ataman was there, too, with Nobel laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege. The gynecological surgeon runs a hospital in Congo for women who've been sexually brutalized by war, using Ataman's music therapy in its after-care program the subject of a film screened in Davos. "We had a debut screening for the documentary called My Body is Not a Weapon," said Ataman, who's worked with the film's creator, renowned British photographer Platon, who sits on the board of the World Economic Forum. The documentary is named after one of the songs created by patients at Mukwege's Panzi Hospital and recorded by Make Music Matter, Ataman said after his return to Winnipeg. In 2014, Ataman invited Mukwege to the Manitoba capital and organized a fundraising concert for the hospital, with appearances by former UN commander in Rwanda, Sen. Romeo Dallaire, and War Child North America founder Dr. Samantha Nutt. Exposure at last week's World Economic Forum helps raise the profile of and support for the music therapy charity that goes into conflict zones and helps the vulnerable make and record their songs, Ataman said. "We're at a tipping point," said the Winnipeg music producer whose program started nearly a decade ago, helping youth in Rwanda find their voice and sing their songs. Since then, Make Music Matter has grown louder and bigger. The program is now in four locations: three in Congo, including one run by World Vision, and one in Rwanda. "We have three new sites opening in the coming months in Uganda, Guinea, and South Africa," said Ataman. Another is in the planning stages in Turkey, near the Syrian border. Make Music Matter has become an established "social franchise," with a solid, codified program and a strict vetting process, said Ataman, who was invited to speak present at the "sustainable impact hub" in Davos just outside the security zone. He made a presentation on the "healing and harmony" music therapy program. Academic research done on the outcomes for Make Music Matter participants over the last two years is going to be published in medical journals later this year, said Ataman. The findings show there are proven physical and mental health benefits, he said. And there are financial rewards for participants because Make Music Matter has its own record label allied with Warner Brothers. "Artists get their royalties," he said. "We're treating them as true artists, the same as anybody else." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca After deliberating for about two hours, a jury found 24-year-old Brian Kyle Thomas guilty Thursday of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of a Winnipeg Transit driver who had kicked him off the bus at its final stop. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. After deliberating for about two hours, a jury found 24-year-old Brian Kyle Thomas guilty Thursday of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of a Winnipeg Transit driver who had kicked him off the bus at its final stop. Thomas admitted, through his defence lawyers, he stabbed Irvine Jubal Fraser, 58, six times around 2 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2017, but he pleaded not guilty and argued he was defending himself from the driver's aggression. The 12-member jury returned with a verdict just before 5 p.m., roughly 2 1/2 hours after Chief Justice Glenn Joyal finished giving them legal instructions. FACEBOOK Irvine Jubal Fraser Thomas's defence lawyer, Evan Roitenberg, had argued his client shouldn't be found guilty of murder because he was either defending himself during a fight with Fraser or he was provoked and caught up in the heat of the moment or too intoxicated during the stabbing to intend to murder. The jury was told to consider the arguments of self-defence, provocation and intoxication. If they believed Thomas was reasonably defending himself when he stabbed Fraser, jurors were instructed to acquit him. They were also given the option to find him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which doesn't carry the automatic life sentence a murder charge does. Crown prosecutors argued Thomas wanted revenge on the bus driver for forcing him out of the vehicle at its last stop on the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus. Thomas blinked, but did not react with visible emotion when the verdict was delivered in court Thursday. COURT PHOTO In his loader, a University of Manitoba employee followed Brian Thomas down Dafoe Road, up Alumni Lane, across Freedman Crescent to the river bank where he showed the police canine unit where to go. None of the jurors offered any recommendation for how long he should be held in custody before he's allowed to apply for parole. A sentencing date has not been set. Fraser's family and friends attended court throughout the nearly two-week trial and declined to speak to reporters Thursday. The case drew widespread public attention, prompted memorials and highlighted concerns about Transit drivers' safety. Electronic messages in Fraser's memory were displayed on Winnipeg Transit buses across the city following the 2017 slaying. In a statement issued minutes after the jury's verdict, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 president Aleem Chaudhary emphasized workers' safety. "Our thoughts are first with the members of Irvine Jubal Fraser's family. They have gone through so much in the past few years, and we know how difficult this trial has been for them, and we hope that this brings closure to them. Certainly, we know how difficult these two years have been for the entire Transit family," the statement reads. A knife was found across the river from where Fraser was fatally stabbed. "Every worker has a right to safe and respectful workplace. No one deserves to be assaulted or killed on the job... We will continue to push for a workplace where our operators and passengers feel safe." Thomas stabbed Fraser during a struggle outside the parked Transit vehicle, near the bus loop on the U of M campus. Thomas, who was drunk, had been sleeping in the back of the otherwise empty bus and refused to leave when Fraser asked him repeatedly to do so. Transit camera video footage leading up to the fatal stabbing, as well as testimony from four civilian witnesses, were some of the key evidence jurors had to consider. In one of the videos, Thomas appeared confused and told the driver he didn't know where he was. He asked to use the phone, said people were following him, and asked to be dropped off at the Victoria General Hospital. Fraser told him he didn't care. He asked Thomas to get off the bus about 25 times, eventually getting angry, grabbing the smaller, younger man and pushing him out the front doors. Thomas then taunted him to come outside and fight, and spit in the driver's face. Fraser exited the bus and a physical struggle began, with witnesses reporting seeing the smaller man striking the driver. A second Transit bus driver intervened, just as the final stab wounds were being inflicted. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay OTTAWA The Pallister government still hasn't signed Ottawa's health-funding agreement, more than a year after ending a long standoff with the federal Liberals over the deal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The Pallister government still hasn't signed Ottawa's health-funding agreement, more than a year after ending a long standoff with the federal Liberals over the deal. The first round of funding has flowed to Manitoba, and Health Canada believes all three outstanding provinces will sign on by the end of the March. However, the bulk of federal funds earmarked for both mental health and home care require provinces to sign a bilateral agreement, which also holds provinces to reporting how they use the cash. That has provincial NDP Leader Wab Kinew worried about why Premier Brian Pallister's government hasn't yet signed on. "The accountability is not there," Kinew told the Free Press on Friday morning. "Without the reporting requirements, who's to say Pallister's not just going to take the mental health money and, instead of using it to fight addictions, just use it to cover up for funding cuts that he's making in other areas of the health-care system?" The party used a freedom-of-information request to obtain a section of the August 2018 binder bureaucrats prepared for Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen when he took on the post that month. The document shows the accord hadn't been signed, and Friesen's office confirmed Friday the talks are ongoing. The Liberals put up the mental health and home care cash to sweeten the deal for provinces, after curtailing billions in the health-care transfers used to pay for doctors and procedures. Friesen's briefing binder shows Manitoba's share amounts to $410.5 million over 11 years, with just over half weighted to home care. A bill in Parliament pushed through part of that cash to provinces for the 2017-18 year. The rest of the funding is outlined in two bilateral agreements which run until March 2022 and then 2027. Those contracts require provinces to report how they use the cash, which Kinew said is crucial. "If (the Tories) announce they're spending some money, we won't know if that was over-and-above what was already there, or are they just announcing money that they've pulled from another program somewhere else." Friesen did not address Kinew's concerns about how money is allocated, nor why the deal remains unsigned. Instead, he listed existing mental health commitments, like downtown meth treatment beds and tenders posted for rehab centres. "We will have more to say when these negotiations conclude," Friesen wrote. Health Canada said it's confident Manitoba, Alberta and Nunavut will all sign their health accords by the end of this fiscal year. "Bilateral agreements with the remaining jurisdictions that have not yet been signed and announced are progressing well, and are expected to be concluded by March 31, 2019," wrote spokesman Eric Morrissette. Still, Kinew doesn't understand why Pallister hasn't yet inked the deal: "If health care was a top priority for him, as it is for the average Manitoba family, there'd be a signature on this deal." Kinew had a similar concern about the $4.2 million the PCs agreed to match last December through a federal fund meant to treat Manitobans who have used meth and opioids. He said he'll be eyeing next month's budget to see how that cash is accounted for, and that isn't "backfilling the cuts" elsewhere. Health care is almost always the largest expenditure for each of the provinces, whom successive federal governments have tried prodding into finding ways of cutting costs. In Manitoba, health spending ate up 39 per cent of the last budget. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is about to embark on a national search for a new president and chief executive officer. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is about to embark on a national search for a new president and chief executive officer. The Crown corporation announced Thursday that Peter Hak will retire at the end of June. He has been with the company for 35 years, the past two in the top job. Hak, a chartered professional accountant, was named acting president and CEO when MLL parted ways with John Stinson in October 2016. The role was made permanent several months later. MLL board chair Polly Craik said in a news release announcing Hak's retirement that the corporation had achieved significant growth during his tenure. In its last fiscal year, the corporation made a profit of $610 million, an increase of $24 million over the previous year. The corporation's profits support Manitoba government programs. Hak held a number of senior roles with Liquor & Lotteries, including chief corporate services officer. He served as Manitoba Lotteries' chief operating officer and director of finance before the merger of the provincial liquor and lotteries Crown corporations in 2014. Rural Manitoba families struggling to access support services in their communities are being turned away from a Winnipeg-based mental health treatment facility. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Rural Manitoba families struggling to access support services in their communities are being turned away from a Winnipeg-based mental health treatment facility. Angela Taylor, who founded the non-profit Inspire Community Outreach about five-and-a-half years ago, helps families who have children with complex needs. She said that in the past six months, the demand for her services has skyrocketed. Within three days in January, Taylor said she heard from 21 families who were told by the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre (MATC) in Winnipeg they were ineligible for services because they lived outside city limits. Many of them lived within 30 to 40 minutes of the perimeter, in communities like Oakbank, Dugald and Niverville. "Most of the families that were supporting live just a few moments outside of the city and they are told not in writing but over the phone and by voicemail that they are not eligible for services at MATC, which is an excellent, excellent organization with lots of great supports," Taylor said. "The only reason they give is, You live outside the city limits and therefore youre not eligible. And yet they are provincially mandated and funded. So who then is supporting (families)?" she said. "Its adding another barrier for families to have to advocate and hunt down service and be turned away repeatedly, which only escalates the stress and puts children more at risk." Marg Synyshyn, chief executive officer of MATC and director of child and adolescent mental health for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, said that some, but not all, of their services in Winnipeg are available to all Manitobans. TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Angela Taylor, founder of the non-profit Inspire Community Outreach. The MATC's attention deficit disorder clinic and some of its neurodevelopmental programs arent available to non-Winnipeggers, though MATC will try to consult with service providers in other regions to help families as much as they can. Intensive programs, like the MATC hospital on Tecumseh Street, accommodate anyone who needs help and more than 60 per cent of patients are from outside Winnipeg right now, Synyshyn said. But for specialty programs, in-take officers usually try to redirect rural families to services closer to their homes, which may be affiliated with school divisions or other regional health authorities. "Its not unusual for us to sort of ask people to go back to their area, their region to sort of exhaust the resources within their region to begin with. And again, it depends what the service requirement is," Synyshyn said in an interview. 'Most of the families that were supporting live just a few moments outside of the city and they are told not in writing but over the phone and by voicemail that they are not eligible for services at MATC' Angela Taylor Not every Manitoba region has the same baseline services, she noted, which is a problem the province is working to fix as it adopts recommendations from last year Virgos report on mental health and addictions. A mother from the RM of Ritchot who spoke under condition of anonymity, citing privacy concerns told the Free Press about her struggle navigating the health-care system with her son, which included getting turned down by MATC. When he was diagnosed with autism at age four, she called MATC looking for help, since the waitlist at St. Amant Centre was one year long. He wouldnt be eligible for service by the time he turned five years old. "He was self-harming. Hed bang his head on the ground. Every time I tried to transition him from one thing even being in the house to being in the car it was a major meltdown," she explained. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre in Winnipeg. Inspire Community Outreach has heard from at least 21 families that their kids were turned away from accessing mental health services at the centre because they lived outside the perimeter. MATC redirected her to call Childrens Disability Services in her region, which could only provide autism support for children under age five, she said. Once her son aged out, they would be scouring for help again. "I was devastated. I was ready to pack up and move to the city," the mom said. She wound up enrolling her son in a private school where staff are extra attentive. Hes in kindergarten now and doing "okay" despite having trouble focusing, she said. Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said "it's incredible" Manitoban families are being turned away from a Manitoba facility. "Its absolutely unbelievable to me. The M (in MATC) is for Manitoba, right? They have an obligation as part of their mandate to treat people from all over," he said. "And there is nothing else for a lot of people. Sometimes theres (services) in schools, but basically the farther away from Winnipeg, the worse it gets." The Free Press asked Health Minister Cameron Friesen to weigh in. He was in Toronto on Thursday, touring the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and sent a statement by email. "While there are a number of mental health services available for Manitobans living outside of Winnipeg, the Virgo report acknowledges there are built-in inequities in the mental health system relating to access based on where you live. It is unacceptable," Friesen said. "We are working to address this long-standing problem through improved clinical planning and as part of our response to Dr. Rushs recommendations on how to improve mental health and addictions services, programs and treatment for Manitobans. In the meantime, my office will also review this issue with relevant officials." jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu TORONTO - When Rana Sarkar was appointed consul general of Canada in San Francisco in 2017, he was entering the job with years of experience at KPMG Canada, the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Canada-India Business Council. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - When Rana Sarkar was appointed consul general of Canada in San Francisco in 2017, he was entering the job with years of experience at KPMG Canada, the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Canada-India Business Council. But most of the challenges facing the industry he was about to delve into have seldom been encountered before struggles around digital rights, a backlash against technology, questions about the social responsibilities of innovation businesses and growing worries about the role of smart cities. When Rana Sarkar, shown in a handout photo, was appointed consul general of Canada in San Francisco in 2017, he was entering the job with years of experience at KPMG Canada, the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Canada-India Business Council. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO Sarkar sat down with The Canadian Press to discuss some of these issues. You've been in this role for roughly a year and a half. What has your focus been on? I think the issues we have been dealing with are investment traction, working with our Canadian ecosystem to ensure they are better connected and improving the rate and velocity of connectivity between Canadian companies and companies more locally. Part of what we are trying to do is increase flow and that is not just companies looking to raise money or sell or any of that. Those are part of it, but it is also exposing them to things that are going on and other ecosystems. There are a lot of Canadians in Silicon Valley and it's an ideal time for them to be looking back at Canada and helping refresh their lens in terms of what is taking place in Canada. Most of them have family and professional contacts out here, but they are just starting to explore re-entry or are looking at opportunities in Canada. We are obviously encouraging that because of the dynamism of opportunities back here. So it's not just our imagination that the U.S. tech scene has started to care more about Canada? No, especially because of the challenges of the Bay area. They are hitting a point where cost is an issue. We have staff travelling in great distances, two hours one way. The cost of living in the area and the cost of owning the average house in the Bay area is now $940,000 or 4.5 times the average in the U.S. Getting your kids to school is tough. It's a challenge for a lot of people if you haven't won the super lottery. 'Techodus' is very hot in the Bay area right now and Austin, Denver and Seattle are often seen as secondary locations, but Canada is seeing a lot of attention as well. I have a couple of people on our school run that basically commute to Vancouver every week, which is an interesting phenomenon. Are the people coming here just heading for typical tech hubs Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal? They are also looking at Alberta. I think Calgary and Edmonton are doing a good job at attracting people back to their ecosystems, but that is just anecdotal at this stage. I think there are real opportunities for the revitalized Winnipeg. I think Halifax is finding a real boom. I was just there recently and Halifax is probably booming more than in the post-war period. The Valley and tech is going to spread out. What you are going to start seeing is thinner firms that are more geographically spread out and are more purposeful and their growth is attentive growth. People are going to be able to work remotely and from a variety of places. That would mean the revitalization of a whole bunch of different communities. Does that mean you think the arrival ofUber, Amazon and Microsoft are good for Canada's innovation economy? I think you can hold two ideas at the same time. I think you can say if we have smart growth of the ecosystem and people building jobs and opportunities, it's a good thing. I think we do need to pay more attention to intellectual property. We need to pay more attention to types of businesses we are building and how we are supporting them. The things we are doing in terms of investing in the ecosystem and the incentive programming is actually important work and has been successful. Not everything is going to be successful. Not everything is going to be a home run, but we need to be making this push urgently. In your job you must feel like you have to strike a balance between attracting the big companies to Canada and making them care about the country, but also encouraging entrepreneurs here to feel like they can grow and build a hit business here without leaving. Absolutely. My job is not to be down there to be luring big tech companies. My job is to be having conversations with tech companies. We are having tough conversations with them as we should and as we need to. I think this next couple of years all of us are going to be engaged in much tougher conversations on this issue. I don't think we should look to the Valley like it's the nineties and the only way we can grow is if we raise a round (of funding) in the U.S. I think you go down to find partners and inspiration and a sense of what is happening in the global marketplace. Speaking of issues, so many of the conversations in Canadian tech lately have been around Sidewalk Labs and the smart city it is hoping to build with Waterfront Toronto. How do you feel about the project? I think what's in the best interest of cities should always be paramount. Tech is additive, but I also think there's a danger in 'techlash' itself, where we could overcorrect and become closed off to the opportunities in technology, which are also significant. Are we striking a good balance right now? This is going to be a contested conversation. It is going to be forward and back. It is going to be messy. There are no straight lines here, but I think where the conversation gets enriched is when people have higher degrees of literacy and are more fluent on the issues, so it is not one or two spokespeople from polarized sides, but everyone contributing with an informed view. Aside from data, at every tech talk, there seems to be a persistent question: How do you build the next Shopify? Is that something we should be focused on? I think we do need anchor tenants. We need companies of scale that have global ambitions and unique intellectual property. So then what are your priorities for 2019? I think part of it is building capacity internally within our organization so we are better embedded. I think I am focused on being a part of critical conversations and making sure Canada's voice is at those tables. These are not easy conversations. The days of tech utopianism are over, but I am still a tech optimist, but I think we need to do a lot of work around it. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. DETROIT - Auto plants and other big energy users throughout Southeast Michigan had to shut down or limit operations Thursday due to a natural gas shortage caused by a fire and frigid weather. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. DETROIT - Auto plants and other big energy users throughout Southeast Michigan had to shut down or limit operations Thursday due to a natural gas shortage caused by a fire and frigid weather. At least 18 factories and other facilities run by General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler were affected, although some were starting to resume limited work by the afternoon as the situation improved. The fire hit a Consumers Energy natural gas compressor station north of Detroit on Wednesday as record-cold temperatures swept over the region. The state's largest natural gas provider said gas flow from the station was shut off, putting Michigan residents at risk of brief service interruptions in subzero temperatures. Fiat Chrysler closed its truck assembly plants in Warren and Sterling Heights, Michigan, while Ford reduced operations at two transmission factories and a plant that stamps parts for the hot-selling Ford Ranger small pickup near Detroit. Ranger production was unaffected. General Motors was hit much harder, suspending operations at factories in Flint, Lansing, Saginaw, Pontiac, Orion Township and Bay City, Michigan. A Flint plant is gearing up for the launch of new heavy-duty pickup trucks. Even General Motors' sprawling technical centre in Warren, Michigan, north of Detroit, was closed and its roughly 20,000 employees were told to stay home. About 30,000 employees were affected at GM alone. Only factories served by Jackson, Michigan-based Consumers Energy were affected. Plants powered by the region's other utility, DTE Energy, had no disruptions. Automakers were hoping that the plants can fully return to normal operations, but they weren't sure when that will happen. By Thursday afternoon, the situation appeared to be easing as Consumers Energy said conservation efforts had reduced gas usage by 10 per cent, stabilizing its ability to supply houses and other buildings. GM reported "limited operations" had resumed at some component plants with parts of the factories open or a limited number of machines working. But the utility still asked its 1.7 million customers and others to continue to set their thermostats at 65 degrees (18 degrees Celsius) or lower until 10 a.m. Friday 62 degrees if they are away from home for more than five hours. "In our 130 years, we've never experienced this kind of demand or these kinds of temperatures," said CEO Patti Poppe. She said the utility had been prepared to supply more natural gas due to the frigid weather until Wednesday's fire at its largest storage and distribution facility in suburban Detroit. The economic impact of the shutdowns is likely to be small. Automakers usually can make up for a few lost production days by increasing assembly line speeds. Workers will get paid even though their buildings are closed. "We are assessing the impact on our operations, but we expect the impact will be minimal," GM spokeswoman Kimberly Carpenter said in a statement. Other businesses also have been affected. Spartan Motors, which makes emergency and other large vehicles, suspended manufacturing in Charlotte, Michigan, near Lansing, idling about 800 workers. It plans to resume work on Sunday evening. Dart Container Corp., switched natural gas boilers to oil and curtailed some operations near Lansing that use natural gas. Hemlock Semiconductor, with operations in the Saginaw area about 110 miles (177 kilometres) north of Detroit, cut production to help Consumers Energy. Hemlock is a large electricity user. Poppe appealed Wednesday night for customers to reduce their natural gas usage. Temperatures in the state early Thursday fell to their lowest levels of the week, with readings around negative 12 degrees (negative 24 degrees Celsius) in the Detroit area and at bitterly cold levels statewide. No one was injured in the fire Wednesday at Consumers Energy's Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station in Macomb County. The cause of the fire was under investigation. The company said all gas flow from the station was shut off, and that it activated natural gas peaking storage fields to help meet demand. 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. Romney, WV (26757) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 89F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely later at night. Low 61F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Williamson, WV (25661) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. UNPLANNED: THE TRUE STORY OF ABBY JOHNSON - in theaters nationwide March 29, 2019 - is the dramatic account of a former Planned Parenthood superstar. Johnson was one of their greatest allies as the youngest director of a clinic in the nation, until she walked out after assisting in an abortion of a 13-week-old fetus. Abby worked for the abortion industry for eight years and was awarded the 2008 Employee of the Year at Planned Parenthood. She became a national headline when she walked out and even though Planned Parenthood tried to silence her, no court found their arguments credible. "I thought I was helping women," said Abby Johnson, founder and director of And Then There Were None, the only group in the country that helps abortion workers exit the industry and find them new jobs. "But I was doing more harm than good. It wasn't until I saw a child fight for its life that my world came crashing down and I understood the enormity of my actions. I had to leave. No one will be able to walk away after seeing this movie and say 'I didn't know.'" During her time as director of Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas, Abby facilitated over 22,000 abortions. Since leaving, she has helped nearly 500 former abortion workers, including seven doctors, leave their jobs and find fulfilling careers outside of the abortion industry. Bringing to life this powerful real-life story of redemption and love, UNPLANNED stars Ashley Bratcher (War Room, 90 Minutes In Heaven) as Johnson; Brooks Ryan as her husband, Doug; Robia Scott (CSI, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) as Abby's superior at Planned Parenthood; Emma Elle Roberts (Hunger Games:Mocking Jay, I Am Not Ashamed) as Marilisa Carney, Kaiser Johnson (Little Boy, Vampire Diaries, Sleepy Hollow); and Jared Lotz (Of Little Convenience, Thanksgiving) as Shawn Carney. Actress Ashley Bratcher was nearly aborted by her own mother, which she didn't find out until filming began. "I was born for this role," said Bratcher. Written, produced and directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, (God's Not Dead, God's Not Dead 2, Do You Believe) and produced by Daryl Lefever (I Can Only Imagine), UNPLANNED puts the story of Abby Johnson, the most prominent defector from the abortion industry, on the big screen at a time when the life issue is hanging in the balance amidst a divided political landscape. "This is the most important movie anyone will ever see on the most controversial issue of our time," said Solomon and Konzelman. "When UNPLANNED comes to theaters, this movie will make abortion unpopular." With nearly one million abortions that take place each year in the United States, and public opinion evenly split on the topic, UNPLANNED shows what life is like on both sides of the fence. For more information on UNPLANNED, visit www.unplanned.com. About Premier Productions: Pollstar Magazine ranks Premier Productions as the largest producer of live Christian events both nationally and internationally. Over 18 million people have attended a Premier event in over 4,000 concerts worldwide. Premier promotes tours for Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Young & Free, Kari Jobe, Jesus Culture, Lauren Daigle, Gaither Homecoming, Sadie Robertson, The Newsboys, comedian John Crist, Rend Collective, as well as their annual Winter Jam Tour Spectacular and OUTCRY Tours. Premier Festivals promotes 10 of the largest Christian Festivals in the U.S., and over 80,000 Passengers have sailed with them through their Cruise Company. Get Connected With Premier Productions: https://www.premierproductions.com https://twitter.com/premproductions https://www.instagram.com/premierproductions/ Tags : UNPLANNED: THE TRUE STORY OF ABBY JOHNSON unplanned movie A man has been arrested after an alleged sexual assault at an Atlanta nightclub was streamed on Facebook Live, according to police. If you havent seen M. Night Shyamalans two previous films Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2017) you may be a little lost because this conclusion to his trilogy brings together the main characters from both films. Ultra-strong David Dunn (Bruce Willis) believes hes a superhero, utilizing his remarkable abilities as a crime-fighting vigilante, assisted by his loyal son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) with whom he runs a security company. His arch-nemesis is brittle-boned Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), who calls himself Mr. Glass and uses his maniacally sinister intuition to manipulate the people around him. Prices current victim is troubled Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, meaning he has at least two dozen different personalities. The one who intrigues Price is The Beast, a serial killer. When theyre caught by the police, theyre all confined in a Philadelphia psychiatric hospital, where Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) has developed a way to deprive these so-called delusional prisoners of their alleged superpowers. Or has she? As someone observes, That sounds like the bad guys are teaming up. Writer/director Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs) is smitten with infusing sci-fi thrillers with pop psychology. Sometimes it works, other times it doesnt. Although the actors do the best they can, Shyamalans strident, humorless, idiosyncratic script is filled with exposition and far too complicated, and Mike Gioulakis cinematography is often more distracting than intriguing. Plus, theres a troubling development with Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), the sole survivor of The Beasts attack in Split, before they all meet their ultimate fates. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, Glass is a contrived, absurdly fragmented 4, emerging as far too ambiguous to be satisfying. Gov. Ned Lamont, long dissatisfied with the way the state conducts economic development, will give details of a plan Friday in which three extremely high-profile executives will form a public-private triumvirate in the hope of bringing more jobs to Connecticut. The three are Indra Nooyi, an old friend of Lamonts from Yale School of Management and Greenwich, who recently retired as chairwoman and CEO of PepsiCo; James Smith, the retired CEO of the parent of Webster Bank who co-chaired a commission last year aimed at righting the state; and David Lehman, the young, fast-rising head of global real estate finance at Goldman Sachs investment bank, who approached the state to offer his services. Lehman, 41, of Greenwich, will be named commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development and will also be my senior economic adviser, Lamont said in an interview Thursday. Lehman, who also leads the public sector and infrastucture group at Goldman, has been something of a wunderkind on Wall Street. By age 29, he was a managing director, jointly heading structured trading desk which brought us the credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations made infamous in the mortgage finance collapse of 2007-08. Lehman defended Goldmans actions in a 2010 hearing before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. He came to us and said, I believe in this state and I think I can make a really big difference, said Lamont, who did not previously know Lehman despite living in the same town. From there, the picture changes from what weve seen for decades, with a new uber-entity called the Partnership to Advance the Connecticut of Tomorrow, or PACT. And the goal is a more targeted effort to bring in companies that fit with the states industries, Lamont said. Were moving away from the old model of Hey, somebody knocked on our door, Lamont said. We want to find companies who are a natural fit here in Connecticut, where we have the wind at our backs. He named defense suppliers, life science and health care, digital media and financial technology and insurance. Theyre all natural ecosystems where ... I think we can do a better job of attracting them, Lamont said. Nooyi and Smith will co-chair the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, a public-private partnership created years ago by the state and about a dozen companies, mostly utilities, to help towns and companies. CERC and DECD will join forces through a formal agreement, creating PACT, the partnership. How exactly Smith, Nooyi and Lehman interact, and who controls what, and how a fully public agency will fit into a public-private entity is all still unfolding. But its less important than the roles the three will play. Lamont envisions the two retired executives reaching out to attract companies, and Lehman heading a DECD that directs workforce training issues, brownfield remediation, assistance to smaller companies and other traditional tasks. CERC is the hunter, DECD is the gatherer, Lamont said. We are jump-starting the way we retain and recruit companies and grow the economy. The spark is personality driven. If youre a company looking at Connecticut, Lamont said, Were going to make sure that you have a peer from the corporate community. Nooyi, 63, is the global superstar among the three. She moved to the United States from India to attend Yale, graduated and rose in the ranks of PepsiCo, based just over the state line in Purchase, N.Y. The soft drink and food company grew from $35 billion to $63 billion in her dozen years as CEO with total market returns of 162 percent , CNBC reported, as Nooyi dramatically boosted its international reach. She was the linchpin connecting Lamont, and the state, to Infosys, the India-based IT company thats rebuilding its image by hiring thousands of employees in U.S. cities, including Hartford. Smith briefly explored a run for governor last April, as a Republican, after the Commission on Fiscal Sustainability and Economic Growth finished its work. More recently, he teamed up with co-chairman Robert Patricelli to revive and amend some of the panels recommendations which fall on all points of the spectrum,, from a $15 minimum wage to tax cuts for the rich and a 2 percent sales tax on groceries. Lamont had talked previously, in a December interview, of a secretary of commerce position for the state, with a broader economic and recruitment mandate, heading a turnkey rapid response team. Its unclear whether Lehman will adopt that role and title, or whether its melded into the portfolios of all three executives. Lamont inherits a state economy thats beaten down worse than its performance should warrant, at least lately. Overall growth lagged badly, but 2018 showed signs of life, with two quarters of gains reported. Job growth under former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was spotty. But the state economy added 104,000 private sector jobs on his eight-year watch, better than any recent governors numbers with 23,500 of those added jobs coming in 2018. Thats the best year since the 90s, if the data holds up in the March revisions. I do take some hope that theres some positive momentum going into 2019, but when it comes to recruiting businesses, Lamont said, Weve got some work to do. The state did seek out large employers under Malloy under former Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith, whose last day was last Friday. The high-profile program was called First Five, then Next Five, which inked deals for 20 companies in all. Its viewed as a success in some ways, with deals for ESPN, NBC Sports, Sikorsky, United Technologies, Bridgewater Associates and others. But it was based on large incentives of grants, loans and tax breaks, some for companies that critics said would have stayed or moved here anyway. And the state offered packages to companies under two other programs, with totals in the range of about $180 million a year. Asked whether hell continue with the large incentives, Lamont didnt have a ready answer yes or no, but he said, As a priority, were not leading with incentives, were leading with the reason you want to be in Connecticut. After a lengthy round of will-they/wont-they invite President Donald Trump to read his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress next week, it turns out they will. And per tradition, Connecticuts congressional delegation is sending a message with their invited guests. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has invited Regina Moller, the executive director of Noank Community Support Services. Unsure about the connection? NCSS is a Groton nonprofit social services agency that offers shelter to unaccompanied minors who have been separated from their families while crossing into the United States. The organization is partially funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program that was suspended under the recent government shutdown. Thats a two-for-one jab at the president. Regina and her team at Noank Community Support Services are heroes, Murphy said in a statement. Im so glad she is joining me at the State of the Union to shed light on how President Trumps border policies are traumatizing a generation of children and how the recent government shutdown affected Connecticut. Reginas organization takes care of child refugees, kids who are feeling the violence and trauma of places like Ecuador and Guatemala and see the United States as a country that can save their lives. These kids arent threats to our security, they are our future leaders. Border talk Moller said the trickle-down effect of the shutdown put the homeless shelter for young adults at risk of closing. The young men and women have experienced much trauma already in their lives, and depend on the stable provision of services, she said. Changes to rules in the Department of Homeland Security have led to fewer sponsors willing to step forward out of fear. Theres no doubt the president will talk about border security in his address, which comes on the heels of a 35-day government shutdown that revolved entirely around Trumps insistence on funding for a border wall. The presidents address begins at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday and is expected to last about one hour. The Democratic Response will be given by Stacey Abrams, who ran a contentious race to be governor of Georgia last year. Sen. Richard Blumenthal invited Gerry Wright, an advocate for Vietnam veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals. Wright, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, was exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange leaving him with permanent medical conditions. He has been a key advocate for the Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act, a bill introduced by Blumenthal in the Senate and Rep. Joe Courtney, also of Connecticut, in the House to remove barriers for veterans seeking disability compensation for Agent Orange exposure. Special invitations A spokesman for Courtney did not return a request for comment on Courtneys guest for the State of the Union. Last year, Courtney brought Navy officer, Evan Karlick, who was assigned to Courtneys office as a Navy fellow for 2018, to assist with the congressmans duties on the Armed Services panel. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes has invited Lane Murdock, the junior at Ridgefield High School who organized the National School Walkout last year after the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting left 17 dead. Himes, who has invited gun-safety advocates in the past and has slammed Congress for inaction on gun legislation, said he chose to bring Murdock, as the Democratic-led House of Representatives is putting forth legislation to curb gun deaths. In an unusual move, Rep. John Larson gave his ticket away to a Republican Congressman who asked for it. Larsons spokesman did not say who asked for the ticket or who the Republicans guest would be. Rep. Rosa DeLauro did not return a request for comment on her invitee for the 2019 address, but in 2018 she invited Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, CEO of the Fair Haven Community Health Care, to highlight the appropriations battles in Congress over community health care funding. Jahana Hayes, the newly elected 5th District representative did not return a request for comment on who her first invited guest to the State of the Union would be. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt BRIDGEPORT A frozen body found floating in an opening in the ice-choked waters of Bunnells Pond at Beardsley Park Thursday morning has left police with questions as they worked to piece together what happened. Were waiting for the medical examiner to determine the cause of death, Police Chief Armando Perez said Thursday afternoon. There was a little blood on the clothes and a little blood near the shore where he was found, but there was no puncture wound. He said though there were no immediate signs of foul play, police are not ruling out any cause of death. Perez said that an autopsy might take some time because of the state of the body when it was pulled from the water. The chief said the victim, who was found unclothed in the pond, was a heavy-set African-American man who appears to be middle-age(d). Thursday, Bridgeport police, fire and emergency medical service personnel responded to Beardsley Park for a report of a person in the water just after 11 a.m. The emergency was called in by a passerby. The first fire unit on scene found an unresponsive person in the water, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Rolfe. He said firefighters, wearing ice rescue suits, were able to get the victim out of the water within minutes of their arrival. The body was pulled from Bunnells Pond about 11:20 a.m. Police said the man was dead when recovered from the water. And though temperatures hit single digits Wednesday night with strong winds, making temperatures feel below zero, it was unclear Thursday if the mans death was weather-related. We want to make sure we dont miss anything, Perez said. We want to make sure we preserve all the evidence. Bunnells Pond, which feeds into the Pequonnock River, has been the site of several dozen deaths over the years though most happen during summer heat waves when victims are pulled in by strong undertows. The death toll per decade on the pond was in the double digits between 1930 and 1980, according to a study of Beardsley Park fatalities compiled by amateur historian Daniel Hearn of Monroe. The pond spans 33.4 acres in Beardsley Park, next to the Beardsley Zoo. Route 8 borders the lake on the north side. There is a dam at the southwest corner. No boats are allowed on the lake, but fishing is permitted. There are no swimming signs posted all around the area. On July 4, 2007, a woman attending a family picnic in Beardsley Park died with her son and another small child when their van rolled down the hill into the pond. In 1925, the body of Oscar Palmquist, who had been missing for nearly a month and survived the sinking of the Titanic 13 years earlier, was pulled from the waters. In 2013, Palmquists nephew claimed, though there was never an official investigation, his uncle was murdered. AGAWAM, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Middle school students in Agawam were allowed to celebrate their last day of school with ice cream after all. The annual tradition was called into question Wednesday when an email to parents from school administrators said Friendlys would not be able to serve stude The French economist's timeless principles on social harmony and government rigidity. by Gary M. Galles This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article. Amid the hyperbole devoted to the partial government shutdown, Americans have heard the soap opera details of behind-the-scenes jockeying and Twitter smack-downs while being told how dire things are as a result. In fact, with all the blaming of opponents for extremism and unprincipled intransigence in preventing a resolution, you might think that the government status quo they are trying to get back to is the means to national harmony. That would be seriously mistaken. The government we suffer from is the primary cause of our disharmony, which is why liberty requires a partial government shutdown. Continually leveraging government power into ever-more areas where peoples views dramatically differ expands how frequently some peoples preferences are forced on others. That guarantees acrimony, not harmony. And our public servants in Washington could use some wisdom on that score. For that, they could turn to one of the most insightful observers of governments influence on social comityFrederic Bastiat, among historys ablest defenders of freedom, in his Economic Harmonies. "All mens impulses, when motivated by legitimate self-interest, fall into a harmonious social patternthe practical solutionis simply not to thwart those interests or to try to redirect them." "Coercion[has] never yet done anythingexcept to eliminate liberty." "Where do youestablish the acting principle of coercion?...if you entrust men with arbitrary power, you must first prove thattheir minds will be exempt from error, their hands from greed, and their hearts from covetousness." "But it is not necessary to force into harmony things that are inherently harmonious." "Let men labor, exchange, learn, band together, act, and react upon one anotherthere can result from their free and intelligent activity only order, harmony and progress." "The question is whether or not we have liberty...not profoundly disrupted by the contrary act of institutions of human origin." "Social order, freed from its abuses and the obstacles that have been put in its way[is] the most admirable, the most complete, the most lasting, the most universal, and the most equitable of all associations." "The laws of Providence are harmoniousonly when they operate under conditions of freedomTherefore when we perceive something inharmonious in the world, it cannot fail to correspond to some lack of freedom or justice." "The state always acts through the instrumentality of forceWhat are the things that men have the right to impose on one another by force?...I have no right to force anyone to be religious, charitable, well educated, or industrious; but I have the right to force him to be just: this is a case of legitimate self-defense." "If, therefore, the use of force by the individual is justified solely on grounds of legitimate self-defense, we need only recognize that government action always takes the form of force to conclude that by its very nature it can be exerted solely for the maintenance of order, security, and justice. All government action beyond this limit is an encroachment upon the individuals conscience, intelligence, and industryin a word, upon human liberty." "Accordingly, we must [turn]to the task of freeing the whole domain of private activity from the encroachments of government." "Restrict the public police force to its one and only rightful functionfrom what source could come all our present illswhich teach the people to look to the government for everythingto the ever increasing and unnatural meddling of politics into all things." "[Many] causes of disturbances, friction, disaffection, envy, and disorder would no longer existit reduces evil to the smaller and smaller area left open to it by the ignorance and perversity of our human frailty, which it is the function of harmony to prevent or chastise." Economic Harmonies identified the principled defense of individual rights and freedom as central to social harmony and progress. But such freedom required government exerted solely for the maintenance of order, security, and justice. Every expansion beyond that narrow bound expands disharmony. Politicians promise harmony and blame opponents for destroying it. But government acting as the ubiquitous dispenser of goodies and garnishments destroys harmony. So the fight in Washington is not the cause of division, and no temporary DC detente can eliminate it. The core fight is over how invasive, and thus how destructive of harmony, government will be. WSU Historical Society Lecture Series Discusses Muslims in Russia February 1, 2019 OGDEN, Utah The Weber Historical Society Lecture Series will take a close look at Russian policy toward minority groups since the fall of the Soviet Union Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in Weber State Universitys Hurst Center Dumke Legacy Hall. While on a research project in Russia, I observed the different ways minority groups discussed their own histories and their relationship with the Russian government, said WSU assistant history professor Matthew Romaniello. Most people in the U.S. don't think about the tremendously diverse populations living inside Russia. Muslims are one of the most important groups, particularly because Islam is the largest religion in Russia after Orthodoxy. Romanillo specializes in Russian studies and has written several books, including The Elusive Empire: Kazan and the Creation of Russia, 1552-1671. Romaniellos lecture will examine three case studies the Tatars, Chuvashes and Chechens to discuss the ways Muslims have navigated the Russian government under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin. The presentation is sponsored by the WSU Alumni Association, the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the Department of History, Stewart Library and the Weber Historical Society. Visit weber.edu/history/historicalsociety for more information on the Weber Historical Society Spring Lecture Series. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. While deal count has risen across all stages of funding, the increase in total investment was mostly driven by larger cheque sizes in expansion and later-stage deals, said Michael Dingle, National Technology Sector Leader for PwC Canada. Notable is the 26% increase in average deal size of expansion-stage deals year over year, which is an indicator of scale in the sector. Teasing the data apart by sector, record funding highs were observed in artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital health, noted CB Insights co-founder and CEO Anand Sanwal. Investment and deals also increasingly flowed to top markets -- Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, and Calgary. Toronto and Vancouver were 2018s leading markets in deal activity, snagging a total of 160 and 101 deals, respectively. They also saw 47% and 14% year-on-year increases in funding, with Toronto raking in US$1.3 billion in 2018 the fifth consecutive year of funding growth and Vancouver attracting US$388 million. VC funding and deals to Montreal also rose for the third consecutive year, with companies raising US$861 million compared to US$669 million in 2017. Quebec City saw a jump in funding and deals with US$427 million across 30 deals, in contrast to US$184 million across 11 transactions in 2017. Last year also marked a six-year annual high for Calgary, where investors funneled in US$126 million over 20 deals. Corporate investors will likely participate in more deals this coming year as investors recognize the growing market opportunity within Canada, Sanwal said. Walls throughout the Swaminarayan Temple on Bardstown Road in Louisville are still marred with hateful graffiti. (WDRB Photo) 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. Washington: The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned the United States about the risks of delivering humanitarian aid to Venezuela without the approval of security forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Fort Tiuna military base in Caracas. Credit:AP Opposition leader Juan Guaido has said he will defy Maduro's refusal to allow humanitarian aid by asking neighbouring nations to help send in large convoys of medicine and food. Guaido has declared himself interim president of the country. The Trump administration has announced it is ready to deliver aid to Venezuela whenever and however is decided by Guaido. Alexandra Boivin, ICRC delegation head for the United States and Canada, said on Friday that the ICRC had told US officials that whatever plans "they have to help the people of Venezuela, it has to be shielded from this political conversation." London: Australian diplomats have reportedly visited Julian Assange in Ecuadors embassy in London to hear firsthand about what his lawyer says is his deteriorating health. Greg Barns, an Australian lawyer and adviser to Assange and WikiLeaks, revealed the visit had taken place. He said he and his colleagues will now directly appeal to Foreign Minister Marise Payne to petition the UK government to let Assange leave the embassy for urgent medical care without being arrested. But for now the WikiLeaks co-founder and publisher will have to content himself with an offer of continued consular support, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age understand. There was a collective stretch of arms across the country on Tuesday morning. It was the stretch of millions of people, preparing to leave the summer holidays and head into work. Alarms went off, lunches were made and tap-on cards for public transport were found. The alarm for the political year also sounded with Scott Morrison and ministers in Queensland where the Prime Minister delivered a speech heavy on the economy while showering cash on some obviously deserving voters who just happen to find themselves living in key marginal seats. After a long, hot summer ... a long, over-heated election campaign. Credit:Ben Rushton Morrison was there after Bill Shorten's bus trip up the Queensland coast. He similarly found deserving voters in marginal electorates desperate for a bit of love, attention and taxpayer-funded largesse. It was an early warning to Queenslanders that it will be difficult to get out the door this year without running into a politician with a bag of cash and a sharp line of rhetoric. A mother who failed to seek medical assistance for her two-year-old son after her partner tortured the boy with a hot knife and caused second-degree burns has been spared a prison sentence. Shantell Rose Little, 26, was in a violent relationship with Christopher David Beattie, 21, in March when he physically abused her youngest son. Beattie heated the tip of a large kitchen knife with a lighter and pressed it against the boy, who screamed in pain, the West Australian District Court heard on Friday. He touched the boy with the hot knife on the face, chest, left arm and left leg. Little asked Beattie to stop and tried to take the child away from him, but was unsuccessful. A police interview with the young Perth father accused of killing his baby son was a "confusing mishmash", a judge found before the charge against the man was dropped. WA Supreme Court Justice Lindy Jenkins was highly critical of the second police interview of Dylan O'Meara, in which he was encouraged to discuss the death with an 'imaginary person' to find out what happened, before he walked free on Thursday. State prosecutors discontinued the manslaughter charge against Mr O'Meara, now 23, saying the state had no reasonable prospect of conviction. Dylan O'Meara leaves court on Thursday. On Friday WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the case of seven-month-old Shisui-Grady O'Meara should "disturb us all" and police would work with the Director of Public Prosecutions to see if they could bring justice for the baby boy despite the judge's findings this week. Katya Stooke started noticing abnormal behaviour in her son during kindergarten. It escalated in prep when he began behaving aggressively and would lash out and have tantrums when he was told "no". Those same social problems continued into grade two where he was disruptive in class, however he was academically strong. Victorian children with ADHD are being under-diagnosed and under-treated. Credit:Stock image Halfway through grade two, Ms Stooke and her husband took their son to a paediatrician after his teacher told them about some of his more extreme behaviour. In prep a school psychologist had said the boy may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but Ms Stooke wasn't sure about seeking an official diagnosis given his son was succeeding academically. Mining executives, unlike too many of our politicians, generally know a lot about Aboriginal peoples and their culture. And it can even be said that in some respects they think the same way both take a very long-term view. Miners have become big supporters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the past two decades largely because, as profit-maximising entities, its in their long-term interest to do so. About 60 per cent of the mining in Australia is located on or near land returned to Aboriginal communities, according to the Minerals Council, so this puts a premium on maintaining good relations with the true owners of the land. Noel Pearson signs the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Rio Tinto, which has been a trailblazer in employing Aboriginal workers and compensating communities, learnt the hard way about what happens when you dont do the right thing. The companys predecessor, CRA, lost the Bougainville mine in the late 1980s and sparked a civil war because it didnt properly compensate the affected community for the impact of the massive mine. The CRA mine was one of the worlds biggest deposits of copper and gold, so this became a very expensive lesson for the company and the industry as a whole. Some of the executives who worked at Bougainville returned to Australia and led the companys positive engagement with our Indigenous peoples. In contrast to Far North Queensland, where torrential rain has led to widespread flooding, with more than 400 millilitres falling in 24 hours, here in drought-stricken Tasmania the southern half of the island is, to put it bluntly, ablaze. The Gell River bushfire in Tasmania's south-west, which has burned through about 18,000 hectares. Credit:AAP Three out-of-control bushfires have consumed more than 100,000 hectares of wilderness. Natural Parks and precious World Heritage sites have been razed. Towns and hamlets are at risk of incineration. So far, only a handful of houses are confirmed lost, but this number is likely to rise sharply in coming days, with high temperatures and gusty winds forecast. There are dire predictions that the fires will worsen. The beleaguered 400 or so firefighters are exhausted, and authorities are considering calling in expert help from as far away as the United States and Europe. Smoke from the bushfires has already reached New Zealand 2000 kilometres away. The firefighters and the water-bombing aircraft, including a Boeing 747, can do little more than back-burn and put in fire breaks to defend rural towns and hamlets from the infernos. Poor visibility due to the heavy smoke has meant the aircraft are often unable to operate. A woman in a figure-hugging, fire-engine red dress, pursued by a hungry press pack, is heading to court. The four gripping episodes of the BBC-ABC thriller, The Cry, deal with why she's on trial and has become the target of a media frenzy. The drama spans two continents and several time periods, its narrative locking together like fragments of a jigsaw puzzle: information about characters and events is revealed gradually, some is strategically withheld. Asher Keddie in The Cry. Credit:Lachlan Moore Early on, Joanna (Jenna Coleman), the woman in red, offers a glimpse of what's swirling around in her head behind the impassive expression. To a therapist (Shauna Macdonald), she explains, "Of all of the things that could happen to a person, there's few things that could be worse . . . Everyone just wants to look at you, everyone wants to judge you, stare at you, look for clues, so maybe it won't happen to them. That's when this began: two faces, two Joannas." Skilfully adapted from Helen Fitzgerald's novel by Jacquelin Perske (Love My Way, Spirited), The Cry is described by producer Claire Mundell as "a psychological thriller", and it's a richly complex mix. About a couple coping with a new baby, a woman struggling with post-natal depression, a custody dispute, a relationship triangle and a missing child. Loading Darren Halpin, a Professor of Political Science at Australian National University, says there is a demand for people who can understand complicated information and analyse big data. "The world is getting more complex. Information overload is common in all spheres of economy and government, and so decision makers need people who can winnow this and provide clear recommendations for action, he says. Professor Halpin convenes the universitys Bachelor of Public Policy program, which is where some policy analysts cut their teeth. "You need excellent skills in dealing with ill-structured or defined problems, working out the scope, identifying what data is available and where to get it, and being able to synthesise this and communicate it to an audience quickly and clearly," Professor Halpin says. Out of about 400 different jobs, the one that is tipped to experience the most growth between now and 2023 is 'aged and disabled carer'. The Jobs Department expects this occupation's workforce to grow by almost 40 per cent over the coming years. Several other jobs tied to the country's ageing population and the National Disability Insurance Scheme are also expecting a boost in employment numbers, such as physiotherapists (25 per cent), health and welfare services managers (22 per cent), and nurses (18 per cent). But, on the flipside, the number of people employed as secretaries, engineering production workers (such as welders), switchboard operators, printers or vocational education teachers are projected to decrease significantly between now and 2023: It has been a particularly rough few years for secretaries on the employment front. Their numbers have plummeted 33 per cent over the past five years, with census data showing 21,023 fewer people employed as secretaries in 2016 than in 2011. In real terms, that's the biggest drop of any occupation. Chiara Silveri, a practice assistant at Allens law firm in Melbourne Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui But it doesn't necessarily mean secretarial skills are no longer required. Some secretaries are adapting to the changing work environment, and their roles are being redefined. Take Chiara Silveri. Law firm Allens changed the title of her role from 'secretary' to 'practice assistant' in 2018. On top of all the usual secretarial duties like answering phones, diary management, printing and filing, sending emails, doing document amendments and typing, Ms Silveri also helps to pitch for new clients, and makes billing arrangements for the firm's legal professionals. She said the new title more accurately reflects how much the role has evolved. "I am quite excited by how much more I get to do in the role," Ms Silveri says. "It is an integral role that helps everything run smoothly. We do a lot of the administrative tasks that are time-consuming, and take the lawyers away from things that are more what they should be focused on." Ms Silveris experience is not an isolated case. Research released last month by advisory firm AlphaBeta found the job of a secretary was among those that had changed the most in the past decade when it came to day-to-day tasks. Troubled swim school franchise Jump! is facing a court application to be wound up as franchisees continue to come forward complaining that they still do not have a franchise. Marketing and advertising agency P4 Group has brought an application to wind up Jump Swim Schools (Australia) on the basis of an unpaid debt of $37,680.50. The wind-up application will be heard by the Supreme Court on 11 February 2019. Ian Campbell is the founder of Jump! Swim Schools. If the application is successful P4 Group has asked for Domenic Calabretta of Mackay Goodwin to be appointed by the court to liquidate Jump! Fast-fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz wants to get a better sense of what makes its customers tick. To help it, the Swedish company just hired a man best known for revealing the data privacy scandal that rocked Facebook and raised serious questions around how some corners of technology are shaping human existence. At H&M, 29-year-old Christopher Wylie will help the company use big data and artificial intelligence to make sure it actually designs things shoppers want. Whistleblower Christopher Wylie who revealed last year that data firm Cambridge Analytica harvested personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. Credit:AP If successful, the Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower might be able to help fix some of H&M's most pressing issues, including getting its inventory under control and ultimately making the company more profitable. 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. Washington, IN (47501) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 77F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 53F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Culture Photographers invited to submit their work for 'Vantage Point Sharjah 9' Interested photographers can submit up to six digital photographs in 300 dpi resolution along with an application form that includes a short description of the work(s), the location where each photograph was taken and a brief biography. The withdrawal also signals the increasing peril treaties face in a Trump administration that emphasizes national sovereignty over international cooperation. In addition to withdrawing from the INF Treaty, Trump has also left the Iran nuclear deal and Paris climate accord and threatened to pull out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and World Trade Organization. His withdrawal from the INF Treaty has fueled concerns that he will decline to extend the main nuclear arms treaty with Russia and risk a return to the early days of the nuclear arms race. In its ruling, the Board for Correction of Naval Records said Galvin, 49, should be considered for a retroactive promotion. If granted, he would be entitled to hundreds of thousands of dollars in back salary and future government pension benefits, as he was forced to retire in 2014 after his superiors relied on inequitable and unjust performance appraisals, the report states, to prevent him from advancing in rank. Of the seven swept up in the case, Galvin is the only one to pursue such vindication. The media didnt make the President wake up on Wednesday and trash the intelligence community on Twitter, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the panels vice chairman, said in a statement. This is the same President who stood on stage in Helsinki and told the world he believed Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence leaders, Warner said, referring to a summit meeting last year between Trump and the Russian president. No tweet or Oval Office photo-op can undo two years of the Presidents total disrespect for the intelligence community. Upside Pizzas Falcowitz. Photo: Melissa Hom Every month in New York, there are a bewildering number of new dishes to eat, drinks to imbibe, and food-themed events to attend. Often, the hardest part is just figuring out whats really worth your limited time. So Grub kicks off each month with a curated selection of dishes, drinks, and events that should absolutely be on your agenda. Make your plans now. 1. Check out a new midtown pizzeria with a menu devised by Robertas original pizza chef. 2018 may have been the year of the slice, but some parts of the city have been pretty much untouched by this pizza revolution. Take the area around Times Square, where the only game in town is an outpost of Joes Pizza. Sometimes a pizza geek wants options, though. Enter Upside Pizza, which has opened just a block from the neon-lit chaos of Times Square. The owner of the retro-themed space brought on Anthony Falco, the former Robertas pizzaiolo turned pizza mercenary. As a consultant, hes created a menu of six slices ($3$5). Theres the L&Bstyle Upside Don, with sauce on top, and the Falcowitz with white wine-lemon-cream sauce, fresh mozzarella, and sauteed mushrooms. 2. Eat KFC no, not that KFC, were talking Kerala fried chicken at Bombay Bread Bar. You know Kentucky Fried Chicken, you love Korean fried chicken, but what about Kerala fried chicken? New York can always use another KFC. Floyd Cardoz will give New Yorkers one every Sunday and Monday starting February 3 at his Bombay Bread Bar, where hell have Kerala fried chicken nights. For $38, youll get a set meal for two. The chicken is marinated in coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic, and lime juice before being coated in rice flour and fried; its served with sides of Indian mac and cheese and Indian potato salad. You can pair that fried chicken, too, with a kulcha ($14) thought up by Daniel Boulud, the first guest chef to be a part of Cardozs kulcha club. Bouluds bread is stuffed with a Basquaise stew with ham, pickled jalapenos, Espelette, and cherry tomatoes. 3. Eat some very good Taiwanese beef noodle soup in a Queens supermarket. The buzziest restaurant on Queens Northern Boulevard is Yummy Tummy Asian Bistro, the Singaporean spot you may at this very moment be plotting a visit to. What if you knew there was great soup hiding right down the street? A few hundred feet away is New Age Market, a big and boxy if otherwise unremarkable looking supermarket. But inside, past the fishmongers eels and the aisles of durian and giant okra, is Nuro Noodles. Its practically shoved into the corner, a cubbyhole of a booth with a kitchen hidden behind it, and the menu is equally small. The latest (and pint-sized) contender in New Yorks escalating Taiwanese beef noodle soup battle, it serves just two dishes (both $11.95, or available to go for $8.50). Theres a traditional beef noodle soup thats rich and bursting at the seams with star anise, and another thats made with tomato (and less aggressively spiced) so it tastes a lot like Bolognese. Both come with bobbing beef shank, as well as ramekins of pickled mustard greens and chili sauce. 4. Drink Evil Twin beers, now that theyre finally brewed in Queens. Nearly three years after Evil Twin announced theyd open a permanent space in Queens, theyre brewing in Ridgewood. Before actually opening their bar to the public, though, theyre putting on training wheels and running a pop-up tavern at nearby Nowadays. Theyre serving eight different beers already, and this month theyll start serving limited-run beers every week. Go get yourself some suds. 5. Take Tuesday off and go to a Joe Beef lunch at Frenchette. Montreals most boisterous cooking duo, Frederic Morin and David McMillan of Joe Beef, are coming to town. First, on February 4, theyll drop by Books Are Magic (RSVP here) to talk with Bon Appetits Julia Kramer about their cookbook, Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse. Then, the next day, theyll drop by New Yorks buzziest restaurant of the moment, Frenchette, for a lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Theyll slice ham and serve recipes from their book, which will be available for signing. 6. Attend a dinner of recipes from the Good Fork chefs new Korean cookbook. Greenpoints Archestratus Books & Foods will host a dinner inspired by and in celebration of Brooklyn chef-restaurateur Sohui Kims Korean Home Cooking. The Good Fork and Insa chef will cook a family-style meal (tickets are $50) on February 7. On the menu? Recipes from the cookbook, including banchan-like spicy anchovy stir-fry and mung-bean pancakes; mains including japchae and bulgogi; and a dessert of a spiked sweet rice beverage. Bombay Bread Bars new Kerala fried chicken. Photo: Jean Schwarzwalder 7. Eat stewed pork leg at a Elmhursts new pork-only Thai restaurant. As Elmhursts Thai restaurant scene has expanded, some of its newer restaurants have narrowed their focus. Theres the rice-and-three spot Khao Khang, and now Moo Thai, which, like its nearby neighbor Eim Khao Mun Gai, is dedicated almost solely to a single dish. In this case, its khao moo deng, or roasted red pork and rice. There are three set meals ($8.99 to $10.49): one with just roast pork, another with roast pork and crispy pork belly, and a third with just crispy pork belly. The sauce is pungent and zippy, and the soup that comes with the meal is rounded and savory. But the best dish is not on the menu. Discreetly posted on the wall above the counter is a small flyer advertising the khao ka moo, pork leg braised until messy and tender in a stock with soy sauce, oyster sauce, palm sugar, and spices like star anise. The pork is rich and redolent with warm spices, its skin unresistingly soft. Use the meat to mop up the sauce, which soaks into the rice, and make sure to dip it into the chili-vinegar, which will your zap your tongue. 8. Go to a buzzy new Indian restaurants even newer brunch. Gramercys flashy Indian restaurant GupShup will get in on brunch. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., theyll serve a menu featuring dishes like a Parsi egg akuri ($14), a lamb chapli kabab burger ($18), and a Bombay grilled cheese ($12). Theres plenty to drink, too, including a Goan Sunrise ($12 or $45 for pitcher) with cucumber, mint, vodka, St.-Germain, and fresh lemon. 9. Eat Yuji Ramen noodles and a Meat Hook burger at Threes Brewing. Noodle nerds take note. On February 25, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Meat Hook (at Threes Brewing) will host the first of its Noodle Nights. Every Monday for five weeks, theyll bring in one of the citys finest purveyors of starch ribbons. Kicking things off is the mazemen ramen specialist Yuji Ramen, to be followed throughout March by Suzume, Win Son, Di An Di, and Hanoi Houses forthcoming spin-off Hanoi Soup Shop. Therell be two noodle dishes from Yuji, along with Meat Hook burgers to chase them down. 10. Have a soba-flour-crust pizza at downtown Japanese restaurant Sakagura. From February 5 through the end of March, the East Villages much-liked Sakagura will serve specials highlighting the cuisine of Nagano, Japan. Dishes include a Nihachi-soba mushroom pizza ($19), the crust made from soba flour and the tomato sauce spiked with miso, and a saba zanmai ($32) with mackerel thats cured, cooked in miso, and salt-cured. Keeping the theme, theyll serve three sakes from the region, as well. 11. Go for a different style of gourmet sausage for brunch. Tired of your usual sausage, egg, and cheese routine? Break out of it at the East Williamsburg restaurant Win Son, where theyre now serving xiang tsang or sweet Taiwanese sausage ($7) with Kaoliang wine, garlic, and basil. Theyre making the sausage together with the Meat Hook, and its a different but just as delicious sort of sausage than what youll usually find at fancy butchers. In Syria, the situation is more complicated: A portion of the territory is still at war, in the northeast, and the announcement of the American withdrawal may result in the dispersion of these terrorists, he said. We are therefore preparing for all eventualities in the northeast, including the possibility of an expulsion. The deal was first reported by the Reuters news agency, and the statement disappeared from the companys website soon after, although a cached copy can still be viewed. A spokesman for the company, Marc Cohen, said the statement was posted on the website by mistake, and he did not answer questions about what kind of training would be done at the center. Plagiarism can cause challenges in all sectors of society, including government organizations. To combat plagiarism in government documents such as grants, reports, reviews and legal documents, government organizations will find iThenticate to be an effective yet easy-to-use tool in their arsenal. But simplistic political mantras and sweeping generalizations complaining about excessive regulation, heard frequently these days, obscure reality and contribute little to useful discourse about regulatory reform. Although some regulations indeed go too far and are too restrictive, many others are essential and undeniably effective. Thus, the challenge for representative government, and for those who write regulations, is striking the right balance between too much, too little and just the right amount. 1 Matt Cardy/Getty Images Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year, because the date it is celebrated is determined by the phases of the moon. Technically, the holiday begins during the second new moon after the winter solstice. What is a new moon? We used to be a people who could look at the sky, point at the moon and change it from a dream to a destiny, Booker said. Theres no Democratic or Republican way to get there. You definitely dont get there by fighting each other, tearing each other down or dividing people against each other. The president also will discuss his national security and foreign policy initiatives, including his determination to bring an end to U.S. foreign wars, the official said. Trump has initiated a withdrawal of troops from Syria, though aides have emphasized that it will be done in a deliberate fashion as the United States continues to battle threats from the Islamic State. The president has suggested that the Islamic State has largely been defeated, but national security analysts say the group remains a potent threat in the region. There is legitimate concern among Democrats about policy and rhetoric that comes out of the very far left, said Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Yes, they hurt. It gives Republicans fodder to continue this train of thought that Democrats have become a socialist party. . . . They pounce on anything someone in our party says and make it seem like it represents the whole party. (TNS) Special counsel Robert Mueller told a federal judge that more than 1,000 confidential files compiled in his case against hackers supported by a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin had somehow found their way onto the internet, where the evidence was widely disseminated, in defiance of the judges order.The revelation came in a filing involving Concord Management and Consulting LLC, a firm controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who runs a large catering business and is known as Putins chef.Muellers team said non-sensitive evidence that had been shared exclusively with Concords U.S. law firm, Reed Smith LLP, ended up in an online file-sharing portal, apparently as a result of a hacking operation targeting the law firm.Weve got access to the Special Counsel Muellers probe database as we hacked Russian server with info from the Russian troll case Concord LLC v. Mueller, a posting from a newly created Twitter account named @HackingRedstone said on Oct. 22, 2018, according to Muellers filing. You can view all the files Mueller had about the IRA and Russian collusion. Enjoy the reading!Eric Dubelier, Concords lawyer, declined to comment on the filing.Mueller was responding to a motion from Concord accusing the special counsel of unfairly attempting to hide evidence of its alleged criminal behavior through a blanket protective order issued last year by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington.Muellers team pointed to the dissemination of its non-sensitive filings (which it did not blame on the law firm) as grounds for keeping sensitive evidence in the case under tight control. Concord has argued that its owner, Prigozhin, should be allowed to review evidence compiled against him and his company.The special counsels filing noted that neither Prigozhin nor other Russian nationals has come to the U.S. to face the charges against them. To the extent Concord faces challenges in mounting its defense, it is because Prigozhin refuses to come to the United States to review the sensitive discovery, prosecutors wrote. That is a problem of Concords own making.Prigozhin would face arrest if he chose to come to the U.S. Whether Mike runs or not, he really wants to advance the science of how you target voters, Kevin Sheekey, a longtime Bloomberg adviser, said in an interview. One of the countrys best technology entrepreneurs ever is going to make sure that whoever wins the Democratic nomination is going to all have the support theyll need to win a general election and beat Trump. President Trump has long denied that he knew about the Trump Tower gathering in 2016, which was attended by Trump Jr., his brother-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. At the meeting, Trump Jr. was expecting a Russian lawyer linked to the Kremlin to share dirt on Clinton, he later told Congress, but she instead pressed him on a U.S. law levying sanctions on Russia for human rights abuses. It was a very strange and pointless amendment. It said, in a not legally binding manner, that Parliament would back the Brexit deal if alternative arrangements were found for the backstop. What were these alternative arrangements? How do you promise to keep a border open while simultaneously not promising to keep a border open? Brady couldnt say. Neither could the prime minister or any other member of her government. They had no idea what they were doing. They just needed some words, any words, that could win majority support in the Commons. The fact that the specific words they chose made no sense was an advantage: If the amendment had made sense, someone would have taken offense at its implications. This is the logic of fairy tale politics. The most common idea among Brexiteers is that they will use high-tech solutions to remove the need for checks at the border. But the technology they are wishing for does not exist anywhere on Earth. It is science fiction. But there have been monumental improvements in access and opportunity for large segments of the population that were locked out and pushed down. In the United States, the gap between black and white high school completion has almost disappeared. The poverty gap between blacks and whites has shrunk (but remains distressingly large). Hispanic college enrollment has soared. The gender gap between wages for men and women has narrowed. The number of female chief executives at Fortune 500 companies has gone from one to 24 over the past 20 years. Female membership in national legislatures of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries has almost doubled in the same period. No countries allowed same-sex marriage two decades ago, but more than 20 countries do today. In all these areas, much remains to be done. But in each of them, there has been striking progress. Last Monday in Virginia, Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) testified on behalf of a bill that would have simplified the process for having a late-term abortion. Currently, Virginia law requires three doctors approval for such a procedure. The bill, which was subsequently tabled, would have required only one. This was hardly the stuff of infanticide, a word that began tumbling from the lips of certain critics, but Gov. Ralph Northam (D) wasnt helpful. Two days before his yearbook scandal broke, he spoke during a radio interview about making distressed newborns comfortable while the family decides whether to resuscitate. The Iowa caucuses will be held a year from now, on Feb. 3. Before then, a Trump primary challenger would need to secure ballot access and caucus nominators in every state (assuming that the GOP in Kansas, South Carolina and possibly other states, when presented with a primary challenger, are shamed into dropping cancellation plans and actually hold their contests). As with any primary candidacy, that would mean recruiting field teams across the country that can gather the required petition signatures to get on each states ballot. The requirements vary widely, anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 signatures in most states; in a handful of cases, a candidate need only pay a filing fee to get on the ballot. As I travel around the country speaking to groups of business executives about public opinion and U.S. politics, I often pose that question to the audience. People look around the room, nodding approvingly, feeling validated that their worldview is shared by so many of their peers. Then I deliver the bad news. They are very much alone. And the United States already got the most viable version of a third-party candidate: He just happened to run as a Republican. His name is Donald Trump. During his 1962 State of the Union address, President John F. Kennedy told his congressional audience, The Constitution makes us not rivals for power, but partners for progress. Such anesthetizing bromides serve the interests of presidents by diverting Congress from a truth expressed by the American Enterprise Institutes Jay Cost: Congress is not, as its members too often and too plaintively insist, a coequal branch. It is superior. It creates all executive-branch offices other than president and vice president, and all Article III courts other than the Supreme Court, and can deny appointments to the executive and judicial branches, whereas the other branches are largely incapable of interfering with Congress. The executive power enforces the law, the judicial power resolves controversies under the law. The legislative power makes the law: It comes first. (TNS) When Secret Service Agent Matthew Britsch began trawling for major counterfeiters in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web, he acted like any smart consumer on eBay he studied the reviews.Britsch knew he had struck gold when he found Billmaker, the online moniker of an anonymous counterfeiter who promised a high-quality $100 bill and a money-back guarantee. He even had a loyal fan base who praised his work and customer service with scores of positive reviews."Very good quality and got here quick, one gushed."All passed with no issue whatsoever, another wrote, approvingly. "FRESH CLEAN BILLS!" agreed a third.Billmaker was a five-star guy, said Britsch. He wanted those five-star reviews to help him sell more bills. That was clearly his goal.The agent clicked buy and in September 2017 purchased four fake $100 bills for $120 in bitcoin , the online cryptocurrency. The counterfeits arrived on time and were as good as promised.An analysis by Secret Service experts linked the fraudulent bills to thousands of others that had been passed with a total face value of $4.1 million. That made Billmaker the nations most prolific domestic counterfeiter.Britschs buy sparked a nine-month investigation into the murkiest corners of the dark web, where cyber-savvy criminals use online bazaars to anonymously buy and sell goods ranging from firearms and illegal drugs to fake identification and stolen cars.Its all there for sale, said Glen M. Kessler, the special agent in charge of the Secret Services five-agent Savannah office. Right in the open. But while it provides anonymity to criminals, it also provides anonymity to law enforcement. They cant tell who they are selling to. And so we went fishing.::The Secret Service, best known for protecting presidents, was formed in 1865 to fight an epidemic of counterfeiting that was strangling the U.S. economy.Today counterfeit U.S. bills are only a tiny fraction of currency in circulation. Even so, the Secret Service made more than 1,580 counterfeiting-related arrests last fiscal year, seizing $204 million in phony bills. Banks and retailers collected an additional $107 million.Once dominated by artisans who minted carefully forged greenbacks on large offset presses, domestic counterfeiters now typically rely on computers, scanners and laser printers. And some use the dark web to sell their high-quality fakes online.The dark webs backbone is a system called the Onion Router, known as Tor, a network of software and online connections that mask those who use it. Tor has attracted both criminal and legitimate users political dissidents overseas, for example seeking to avoid government surveillance.In 2017, Kessler turned an office supply room into a hub for dark web counterfeit investigations. He had two rules: Targets had to be real players Not your guy printing $2,000 off on an inkjet at home, Kessler said and live in the United States.We thought it would be too difficult to catch the ones operating in South America or overseas, he said.Agents used the customer reviews as a guide and quickly came across Billmaker. In addition to the bitcoin-backed guarantee, Billmaker offered free tracking of his packages through the U.S. mail.That was a mistake. Secret Service agents were able to track Billmakers shipment to Britsch from the Oklahoma City area, a crucial starting clue.They were impressed when the red-and-blue envelope arrived. The fakes reproductions of $100 bills phased out in 2013 in favor of a harder-to-fake currency had been printed on high-quality laser printers and specialty paper. The bogus Benjamins had a decent fake security strip. They even felt real.Within a month, thanks to analysis by Secret Service experts in Washington, the agents knew they were chasing Daniel Johnson, a notorious counterfeiter who had been printing and passing fake bills since at least 2015. His last known address was near Oklahoma City.Johnson, 34, was also considered dangerous. He was a firearms enthusiast and a member of the prepper movement, activists who stockpile food, ammunition and other supplies because they believe a nuclear war or other catastrophe is likely to occur.Johnson had served three years in federal prison for selling pirated copies of Microsoft Office. But he was arrested again in February 2016 on counterfeiting charges.Released on bond, he turned down a plea deal offer and vanished. In February 2017, a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of counterfeiting and growing marijuana.Johnson was so angry at the justice system that his lawyer, M. Michael Arnett, worried he might resort to violence if arrested. Arnett said he consulted legal ethics experts before he passed a warning to federal prosecutors.I was concerned he was not going to be taken alive if officers tried to arrest him, and that toll would be higher if they were not forewarned, Arnett said.With that danger in mind, agents in Savannah returned to the dark web in October 2017 to buy more counterfeit bills. But the marketplace had disappeared. Billmakers online trail went cold.::Marissa Elliott, a university student and bartender in Norman, Okla., met Johnson when he took a seat at her bar in June 2017 and she caught his big blue eyes lingering on her.Tall and muscular, he was also quiet and reserved. He didnt even offer his name. But the bartender checked his drivers license before serving him a beer and saw he was Ross Moore, 36, from Florida.It was the first of many lies.They soon started dating. They celebrated his fake birthday that July and moved in February 2018 into a converted shed in Noble, about 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. The tiny house was hidden in dense woods.A talented artist, Johnson rendered hand-drawn portraits of relatives and friends. He initially said he worked in information technology and had attended college, majoring in psychology. Elliott found a Harvard diploma and ID card in a drawer; she didnt know they were fakes.Johnson never used credit cards or wrote checks. He explained to Elliott that he relied on cash because he was an investor in a marijuana business that was prohibited from using banks.He told her he had been divorced, which was true, and that a screen-saver photo of a young girl on his computer was of his niece, which was false. It was his daughter.As the months passed, Johnson suffered frequent nightmares and spent time on strange conspiracy websites. Elliott believed his stress stemmed from secret work he claimed he had done for the government.He told me he had seen horrible things, she said.When they drove to a cabin where he was preparing for the demise of society, he insisted she put her cellphone in a Faraday bag, a shielded satchel that blocks electronic signals, so they couldnt be tracked.In the late spring of 2018, he bought tickets so Elliott and her mother could take a bucket-list vacation in Thailand. They spoke daily by phone. But one morning in May, he seemed distant and distracted.It was like he was in a rush to get some place, she said.::The Secret Service was closing in.After falling off the map, Billmaker suddenly had popped up on other dark web marketplaces. In January 2018, agents bought four fake $100 bills from him. They did it again in April.Working with agents in Oklahoma City, the Savannah squad narrowed their hunt to around Norman, about 20 miles away.U.S. postal inspectors studied Johnsons tracking numbers and examined dozens of bags of mail. They discovered he had mailed his packages from blue post boxes across the parking lot from the Norman Police Department.After several weeks of surveillance, federal agents determined Johnson was driving a black Ford F-250 pickup. It was registered to Ross Moore of Florida, a real person who had reported his identity had been stolen.Johnson had bought the truck for $58,000 in cash.Agents traced him to an apartment in Norman, where he probably collected mail and supplies; a house in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon, which was his main counterfeiting plant; and his secluded home in Noble.As he drove out his gravel driveway in Noble on May 17, 2018, a 10-car convoy of federal and local law enforcement officials led by the U.S. Marshals Service closed in, sirens blaring.Johnson swerved to the shoulder, hopped out and began firing an AR-15 rifle. A gun battle raged for nearly a minute before Johnson was killed. No agents were injured.Searching the house in Yukon, agents found about $300,000 in fake $100 bills, lined up and hanging to dry in neat rows.Agents also seized several computers protected by encryption that the Secret Service has not been able to crack.There are so many questions I would have liked to ask him, said Wesley Gillespie, a Secret Service agent who had chased Johnson for a year. How did he learn to make these so well? Who taught him? Where is the bitcoin?Investigators may have a clue. When they searched Johnsons body, they found a computer thumb drive jammed in an ankle holster. The device contained 50 screen grabs of text messages.Agents suspect it is a digital key to unlock a bitcoin or computer vault. Even so, they concede that they may never crack the counterfeiters dark web of secrets. The truth is, the vast majority of Republicans are ready to make this deal, and are ready to provide a route for the dreamers. But Democratic leaders are not ready to make this or any deal. Sure, the Democrats have voiced support and cast votes for border security in the form of physical barriers in the past, but they wont do so now because of their hatred of the president of the United States. Since leaving prison, I have looked for ways to serve the poor and to advocate on behalf of those I left behind. This week, I went to Washington to thank lawmakers for supporting prison reform and to ask that they consider more reforms that will recognize that people can change. In the year and a half that I was home, people saw that I was not the same person who was convicted of selling crack as a young man. There are many people still serving decades-long sentences who have rehabilitated themselves, like I did. Unfortunately, most Americans do not see or hear from them, and they are not given a real opportunity to demonstrate that they have changed. This is an issue that we both have endeavored to shine light on, in and out of office. One of us (Clinton) worked with President Barack Obama to draw attention to African elephant poaching in the 2000s when close to two-thirds of all remaining forest elephants were wiped out to meet the global demand for ivory and embraced a strategy in 2013 through the Clinton Global Initiative to stop the killing and trafficking of elephants. The other (Kasich) supported legislation as a nine-term member of Congress to address the crisis and engaged President George W. Bush on the potential for losing the worlds elephants entirely without an international ban on the importation of ivory. Raising the capital-gains rate might encourage rich people to delay sales of assets. But Congress could claw back these deferral benefits, through something called a retrospective wealth tax. Its a bit complicated, but its like charging interest for the years you held an asset before selling it (or dying). Nobel laureate William Vickrey proposed a version of this 80 years ago, and it has since been tweaked by Alan Auerbach and David Bradford. Despite the name, such a tax could still be administered through the income-tax system, reducing the risk of constitutional challenge. Cameroon opposition leader faces 8 charges: The lawyer for Cameroon's arrested main opposition leader says he now faces eight charges including sedition, insurrection, inciting violence and hostility against the fatherland. If Maurice Kamto is found guilty, he could face five years to life in prison. Kamto and members of his Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon party were arrested Monday in Douala. Over the weekend, the party had called for protests against what it called irregularities in the Oct. 7 election that saw President Paul Biya easily win a seventh term. Official results said Kamto finished a distant second. More than 100 protesters were arrested in various cities. (TNS) Most cellphone users in Napa County may be able to text 911 for help within a month or two.People should not think of the texting program as a replacement for a phone call, but it may help in situations where it is dangerous for someone to call, such as a domestic violence incident or home burglary, Gus Ulloth, head of the city of Napas 911 communications. Having a conversation with 911 dispatchers over text can be cumbersome, but it allows first responders to have a general idea of what theyre walking into.Proponents say texting 911 is a significant development for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability.The launch of 911 texting is expected to cover the county, except for St. Helena or Calistoga whose residents will not be able to use the service, Ulloth said.St. Helena City Manager Mark Prestwich said the city is not developing a 911 texting program. Calistoga officials did not return requests Tuesday seeking clarification on if or when residents would be able to text 911.More than 18,000 people in California texted 911 in 2017, according to a 2018 report from the state emergency services office. Thats a small fraction of the 28 million 911 calls made that year.Eighty percent of emergency calls came from a cellphone, 15 percent came from a landline, and a total of five percent came from various other technologies, according to the report.The local California Highway Patrol is one of about 180 law enforcement agencies in the state that already accept texts to 911. All CHP agencies in the Bay Area participate, Ulloth said, and texts can be directed to CHP dispatchers when a cellphone user is on a state road.As technology has evolved, so has the way that the public tries to contact emergency officials. Ulloth believes this service is one that the community needs.It costs $20,000 per year to pay for the technology and systems that keep the text to 911 program running, he said.The city is still working through kinks with the program, but it hopes to debut and test the service with an unofficial launch within a month. Dispatchers will be trained on the service, but anyone who happens to text 911 during that time will still receive service. The city will announce the program is up and running about a month after its unofficial launch.In the meantime, anyone who tries to text 911 in Napa County will receive an immediate reply directing the person to call 911 for assistance. But Hollander, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, noted in her opinion that the administration said just after the Texas ruling that it would continue to carry out the law while that case is appealed and that the administration did not mind if U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor kept the law intact while the case moves through higher courts. (TNS) As California prepared to launch its new Motor Voter program last year, top elections officials say they asked Secretary of State Alex Padilla to hold off on the roll-out.The plan called for the Department of Motor Vehicles to automatically register people who came into its offices, one of several efforts by Democrats controlling California politics to make it easier for more people to vote.With the June 2018 primary approaching, election officials said they warned that the department that manages car registration and boat licenses was not yet prepared to register voters.There wasnt the appropriate readiness to go forward in April, and that was brought to the Secretary of State, said Dean Logan, registrar for Los Angeles County, adding that he definitely expressed concern to the Secretary of States Office, as well as Padilla himself.The concern from registrars across the state, including myself, was not a resistance to moving forward. We supported the move to the New Motor Voter program in the long term. The concern was had there been adequate testing and development to be ready for the June election.California moved forward anyway.The DMV has since acknowledged making 105,000 registration errors since Motor Voter began on April 23, 2018. Some customers were registered with the wrong party. Others who wished to opt out of the program were nevertheless signed up. At least one non-citizen was added to the voter rolls, and the Secretary of States Office is continuing to investigate whether more non-citizens were included.Padilla declined to be interviewed after repeated requests from. Officials for the DMV and the California Department of Technology declined to comment.The decision to launch Motor Voter was jointly made by the Secretary of States office, DMV, CDT, and Governor [Jerry] Browns Administration, Padilla said in a statement issued by his office. This project took into consideration workload and logistics for all partners. While I have expressed frustration with some of the data transfer errors since the launch of Motor Voter, the program has been an overall success, adding over 800,000 new voters to the rolls. I look forward to working with Governor Newsom and his administration to continue improving voter registration at the DMV.A news conference to promote the kick-off was scheduled for April 16, 2018.But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, who worked closely with Padilla to pass the 2015 bill that would register Californians to vote at DMV offices unless they opted out, said the event was abruptly canceled. Gonzalez said the DMV notified Padilla and her office of technical issues with the program and postponed the launch by a week.In hindsight, I wish we could figure out the damn technology issues that we have in state government, Gonzalez said. We were scheduled to launch on Monday [April 16]. On Thursday [April 12], they called and said they werent ready.Joe Holland, president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, said he warned Padillas office against the April launch. Ultimately, he said, it was not his call to make.Our recommendation was not to deploy it that close to an election, he said. That was the opinion of most registrar of voters.The election was an important one, as Democrats nationally sought to position themselves to regain control of the House of Representatives. Republicans would later charge that Motor Voter contributed to a Democratic wave that saw them lose seven congressional seats in California.Like Padilla, Gonzalez said her motivation for launching Motor Voter was simply to encourage more people to vote.I, at my core belief, believe that the more people that engage and participate in elections, the better, Gonzalez said. The fact that it helps us politically is really secondary.Motor Voter registration data shows half of the 186,022 new voters registered without a party preference, while 35 percent were Democrats and 15 percent were Republicans. The unusual uptick in no party preference registrations has disproportionately hurt Republicans.Paul Mitchell, a political consultant and vice president of the bipartisan voter data firm Political Data, said the DMV registration may have affected just one district that flipped for Democrats. But in 2020, it could definitely have a huge impact on the candidates that get nominated in the primaries and in general election outcomes, he said.By October 2018, as a smaller number of errors surfaced at the DMV, Padilla said he was deeply frustrated with the mistakes and had grave concerns about the botched implementation.In an Oct. 8 conference call with election officials, Padilla blamed the DMV and the state Department of Technology for the errors, according to documents obtained through a Public Records Act request. Padillas office initially withheld most of the 577 pages it provided.received more information after filing a legal complaint , though 17 pages remain redacted because the office considers them to be investigative records.I am deeply frustrated and disappointed that the DMV and CDT have failed in their basic responsibility to collect and transmit accurate voter registration information to us and by extension to you, Padilla told county clerks, according to the documents. These errors are completely unacceptable.I dont have to tell you that these errors at DMV damage voter confidence, he added. This has been an extremely frustrating situation, and I recognize the burden it has been on all of you.In an internal Oct. 8 memo, Padilla questioned whether the DMVs former director, Jean Shiomoto, should resign.If the DMV and CDT do not seek an independent third party review of their practices and procedures for the New Motor Voter program, then leadership MUST change, he wrote.State Sen. John Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa, thinks the DMVs implementation was flawed, but said Padilla should have taken more personal responsibility.If you were warned by industry experts that youre going to have difficulties with the launch, he should have respected that, Moorlach said. Now that its sort of blown up, for him to say, Hey, it was the DMVs fault, I think its disingenuous. Its his fault. He should have respected the advice of the experts and implementers.Padilla considered a temporary halt to Motor Voter ahead of the November general election. He briefly asked the DMV and CDT to stop sending voter information to his office, prompting concerns from county clerks. They worried they would wind up with a large backlog of data right before the election.But Padilla ultimately decided to keep the program running with an added layer of review.He acknowledged in mid-October that a backlog may have an adverse effect at an already busy election time, but directed counties to process all valid registration records.We are less than two weeks before the close of the voter registration deadline, Padilla wrote in an Oct. 8 memo. During this time, tens of thousands of Californians will continue (to) register or update their voter registration information at the DMV people that want to participate in the upcoming midterm elections. I do not want to deny this opportunity to these Californians. On Thursday, Cox characterized Northams words as hard to believe. Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), the House majority leader, was more direct: Remember, he first said resuscitate the child if thats what the parents wanted. . . . The fact that any physician, any God-fearing human being would do anything other than try to breathe life into that child is abhorrent to many of us, and so I can think of no other option at that point other than to allow this living human being to live . . . and the governor meant something completely different than that. In court Thursday, Burth Lopez, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which represents several plaintiffs, argued that the decision to add the question was made not by Secretary Ross by himself, but by a group of decision-makers near the beginning or at the beginning of the Trump presidency and that it was moved forward over a year later by an announcement by Secretary Ross. Government records indicate that former White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon and former Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach consulted with Ross on the question. We are finding there are clients who, because of mental illnesses, refuse to come into the shelter, said Ina Gonzalez, the executive coordinator for the Arlington Street Peoples Assistance Network. But usually, people who are sick and aging can be persuaded to go to the facility to see a nurse or get their medical condition checked out, she said. (TNS) As electric scooters have swarmed throughout the Austin area , the University of Texas is among the local institutions grappling with how to handle the popularity and risks of the new technology.With its spring semester underway, UT has tightened its rules for student use of e-scooters on campus and is also looking to control faculty use of the vehicles.The university said it is examining whether to ban work-related use of e-scooters for UT employees, a possibility that has raised questions about employer rights in Texas and who should be liable for injuries sustained when riding an e-scooter."There's a misconception that these scooters are toys, but they are motorized vehicles," said Jack Zinda, founder of Austin-based personal injury law firm Zinda Law Group. "Part of the problem is the impression of these things, which is is they are easy to use. They are not."There are currently more than 13,000 e-scooters in use in Austin from six companies, according to city data. While e-scooters have become a popular mode of short-distance transportation, their use has also led to accidents . At top speeds of about 15 miles per hour, the e-scooters are deceptively fast. From June to November of last year, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to more than 180 calls regarding scooter-related accidents, public records show.At UT, students are only allowed to use e-scooters in bike lanes, are required to park them in designated areas or face a $150 fine and are only allowed to drive them up to 8 miles per hour, among other restrictions . Numerous universities throughout the country have implemented scooter-related policies, with most concentrating on traffic and parking-related issues. Some campuses, such as Arizona State University and Miami University, have banned e-scooters entirely.When it comes to UT employees, UT spokeswoman Olga Finneran said the university is examining whether to prohibit work-related trips on campus such as traveling from an office to a classroom because "they would be subject to workers compensation claims if the employee was injured."Finneran said UT has not determined if and when it might implement the policy, nor how long it would be in place.Texas is not highly regulated when it comes to labor laws, Zinda said. The state has what's known as "employment-at-will" measures, meaning both employers and employees can end their relationship without any reason or notice. Employers generally have wide discretion for which rules they can implement.Banning work-relates use of e-scooters, therefore, appears to be within UT's legal right, Zinda said. While UT wouldn't be able to force staff members to follow the rule, it could legally fire them if they were to violate it.The university might face legal trouble if it allowed only certain staff members to ride e-scooters, said local employment lawyer Colin Walsh."If (rules) are applied discriminatorily," Walsh said, "then it is different."E-scooters began to roll out across America early last year, causing both disruption for city leaders who were quickly forced to regulate the devices and leading to competition between established transportation companies like Uber and e-scooter startups such as Lime and Bird. Austin limits the amount of e-scooters each company can deploy locally and also has its own set of guidelines for riding e-scooters. Companies typically allow anyone to ride the vehicles, with their terms placing the liability on customers.Lime, one of the top e-scooter companies in Austin, said it has implemented several new safety measures, such as building e-scooters with upgraded wheels, better suspension, additional braking and improved balance, and that it invested more than $3 million in educating its customers on how to properly operate the devices."Safety of our riders and the community is our No. 1 priority," Lime spokeswoman Juliette Coulter said in an emailed response. "Every day we're innovating on technology, infrastructure and education to set the standard for micromobility safety."Regardless of any rules employers put in place, however, liability will continue to be a problem, Zinda said.UT's fines on companies that leave e-scooters improperly parked, for example, could eventually make their way down to students. But what if a company misidentifies the culprit?Those new situations are worrisome, said Zinda, who said he has received a number of calls from people injured after riding a scooter wondering where the blame should go."Unfortunately, we can't help people a lot of times," Zinda said, because of the terms of service consumers must agree to before riding the scooters."Companies are putting scooters on streets without taking on any of the risk," he said. "I think you might see more issues pop up as more people try to copy this model." 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 It was very, very, very difficult to get this bill passed, she said, noting that she began pushing to legalize medical marijuana when she first took office in 2007. Legislation was not passed until 2013, and the first dispensaries did not open until 2017. Jackson told Stone that prosecutors could use anything he said in public about his case against him, including by comparing his remarks to previous statements. She also said that if Stone continues to speak out on his case, journalists could reasonably feel obligated to repeat the charges and evidence against him. Eller said she reported that incident as she had many others but it, like most of those she called out, appeared to go nowhere. The student denied it, and Eller was told there was nothing the administration could do, according to the court filing. A few hours before my early-evening departure last Thursday, I checked all three apps. The times for Reagan National were less than 15 minutes (MyTSA), 30 mins (MiFlight) and 10 minutes (App in the Air). Unfortunately, I had to disqualify the last entry because 10 minutes was App in the Airs default mode. In an email, co-founder Nikita Kosholkin explained: The 10 min mark is set by default when we dont have enough data for the particular line. The data you see is currently an average for the airport (hence, there is no timestamp), but we do have plans to show wait times linked with your departure time in future updates. (I later noodled around with other airports and discovered some useful results, such as a 23-minute wait at Dulles International Airport and 19 minutes at New Yorks JFK.) (TNS) The old Joplin Public Library could soon have a new life.Officials with Missouri Southern State University and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will propose that the old library, 300 S. Main St., be used in the short term as working space for entrepreneurs, according to Brad Hodson, the university's executive vice president. The library is under ownership of the Missouri Southern Foundation for anticipated long-term use as a downtown campus, and a discussion of the project is on Thursday's agenda for the university's Board of Governors.Toby Teeter, the newly installed president of the Joplin chamber, said his goal is to work toward an approach of collaboration among the city's businesses and organizations with similar objectives, and the old library could provide the needed space to help achieve that."There is an opportunity there to provide small-business-development services from the downtown campus and provide a limited amount of shared space to the entrepreneur community, and we're in a position to administer that and cultivate that," Teeter said.Chamber staff already operates the nearby Joseph Newman Innovation Center, which offers support to entrepreneurs and small businesses, but it's full, Teeter said. He said the same staff members could oversee a third-party site such as the old library building."What that might look like is a little loose, but there are plenty of assets between (the chamber and Missouri Southern) where we can be efficient and create a community," he said.Hodson said the proposal makes sense as the university continues to mull what programs to put at the old library in the future."It's a great short-term use for the facility," he said. "It allows us to more fully maximize the facility in the short run."Possible usesWhile the chamber proposal aims to be a short-term solution for the old library, Missouri Southern officials are still wrestling with what to do with the building in the long term, Hodson said. A task force of MSSU faculty, staff, administrators and downtown representatives has suggested that the building be used for an academic program, a bookstore and a small-business-development center, and university officials are considering the recommendation as they make a final determination.Several ideas for the building have been suggested, according to administrators' emails the Globe obtained through a Sunshine Law request for which the university charged the paper $450.Mike Franks, a member of the universitys Board of Governors, recommended that the building be turned into an advanced computing center.In a Dec. 5 email to MSSU administrators, he cited information from the Missouri Department of Economic Development that shows careers in information technology are among those of greatest demand across the state. Employment in the field has increased approximately 3.7 percent per year from 2012 to 2017, and it represents 5.1 percent of all private sector employment, according to the state department.Franks, who also serves as CEO of the Neosho Area Business and Industrial Foundation Inc., said area employers are among those who seek to fill IT jobs.As we assess the present and future needs of this area, this category of skill sets are among our greatest labor force shortfalls, he wrote in his email. As with medical care, if we want a workforce that can provide IT skill sets, we must grow that workforce locally. I am definitely persuaded that MSSU must lead the development of this segment of our regional workforce.In a reply to his email, another member of the universitys governing board, Carlos Haley, agreed.I think a project of this magnitude would have a significant impact on this region and the university, he wrote.Another suggestion for the old library emerged last summer, when an instructor with Missouri Southerns law enforcement programs emailed administrators to ask whether the building could be used for training exercises for Peace Officer Standards and Training classes. In his June 27 email, the instructor noted that hed also been approached by Joplin Police Department K-9 teams about using the building for training.Paula Carson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, in a follow-up email called the request unusual, but she said it could fit with other Missouri Southern efforts to build unique programs. In particular, instructors in the criminal justice department want to enhance programs such as cadaver dog training and school protection officer training to attract out-of-state students, she said.While (the training) would likely be a one-time or infrequent request, I just returned from a meeting of several departments collaborating together on a unique program tentatively called a masters (degree) in justice studies, Carson wrote in her email. It may fit down there (in the old library) as a new option.Focusing on old libraryThe downtown campus project, when it was initially pitched to city leaders, was a "broad vision" that included the possibility of student housing, potentially in the Howsmon Building that is being restored at Fifth Street and Virginia Avenue, Hodson said. But the university isn't pursuing other downtown properties at this time.Administrators had been notified last fall about a new listing in the downtown area: the PLJBD Architects Inc. building at 303 S. Main St., directly across from the old library. A real estate agent emailed administrators on Oct. 23 to ask whether they had any interest in the building. Hodson responded that he didnt.Hodson told the Globe this week that the university's governing board has prioritized the development of the old library ahead of any other properties."I probably have toured three or four other properties downtown where the owners have said, 'This would make great student housing,' but the university board has been very clear that they want to see the academic program up and running first and make sure it's viable," he said.Once a decision is made about what will be based in the old library, the Missouri Southern Foundation will be responsible for the fundraising campaign for its renovation, Hodson said.The university has already retained the services of the Vecino Group, a Springfield-based developer that is heavily involved in the Block22 project in Pittsburg, Kansas. Block22 involved the conversion of several downtown Pittsburg buildings for use as university student housing and business development.The Vecino Group has toured the old library and provided a "complete review" of the property, outlining structural and mechanical issues that the university must address regardless of which programs are based there, Hodson said. The firm also has provided a cost estimate $6.5 million to $7 million that Missouri Southern could expect to pay for renovating the building into a generic academic-use building, according to a Nov. 27 email from the firm to Hodson.Hodson said fundraising for the renovation project won't get underway until Missouri Southern decides how to use the old library in the long term.Meeting detailsThe Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday in the boardroom of Billingsly Student Center. Brad Hodson, executive vice president, will discuss the downtown campus project, according to the agenda. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Nixon Hall will immediately follow the meeting at approximately 2:30 p.m.Before the meeting, the board's Academic Affairs Committee will meet in Room 343 of Billingsly Student Center, and the Budget/Audit Committee will meet in Room 356. Both sessions will begin at 11 a.m. All interpreters have similar missions: To bring dry or distant eras to crackling life. Most are history buffs or have degrees in museum education. And ideally, theyve immersed themselves so deeply in their time, person or site that coming upon one seems unscripted and downright transporting. Wiseman (who played Lady Washington at Colonial Williamsburg before Mount Vernon), has been getting in touch with her inner Martha for so long that she can riff on everything from plantation management to 18th-century fashion. You have to live the topic or person in your head, so when you talk about things, theres a ring of truth, she says. To get this knowledge, Wiseman reads biographies, parses George Washingtons diaries and studies paintings of Martha for inspiration. Rosa Parks rides a Montgomery, Alabama, bus after the city was forced to stop separating black and white riders. Parks helped make that change happen by refusing to give up her seat. She was born February 4, 1913. (Associated Press) This story was first published in 2013. African American History Month celebrates big moments: changing the Constitution to end slavery, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech and the election of the first black president. But Februarys celebration also marks small moments that led to big changes, such as a black womans refusal to give up her bus seat to a white person. That woman was Rosa Parks, who was born February 4, 1913. Her action in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, was intended to be a small protest. I had no idea that when I refused to give up my seat on that Montgomery bus that my small action would help put an end to segregation laws in the South, Parks wrote in her autobiography for kids, Rosa Parks: My Story. I only knew that I was tired of being pushed around. She was arrested and found guilty of violating segregation laws, rules that required black and white people to attend separate schools, drink from separate water fountains and sit in separate areas on buses. Lawyers filed a court case challenging the fairness of segregating buses. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that it was against the Constitution, and black people in Montgomery were allowed to sit in any bus seat. That victory led to many other challenges to segregation laws in the United States. The U.S. Postal Service created this stamp honoring Parks. (AP/U.S. Postal Service) Parks became a hero of those fighting for equality for blacks. She died in 2005, and three schools in the Washington area are named in her honor. Ransom Melettole, a sixth-grader at Hyattsvilles Rosa L. Parks Elementary, said he had heard the bus story several times but more recently began to understand the impact of Parks staying in her seat. I realized because she did that, it changed the way people thought about segregation, Ransom said. I think she was very courageous to do something like that. The school plans to broadcast some of Parkss words during todays morning announcements and to discuss her in classes. Sixth-grader Natalie Gil-Davis said Parkss story is an important lesson about equality. It doesnt matter what color you are; we are all the same, Natalie said. We should be treated the same. Read more: Celebrate African American History Month with these kids books What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? It may not be what you think. Kenny Washington paved the way for black players in pro football Chenin blanc may claim the Loire Valley as its spiritual homeland, but South Africa does it best (at least in its dry version). I recommended one of Ken Forresters other chenins a few months ago, and it was stellar. So is this more modest rendition (thus the name, Petit). I recently tasted the 2017 vintage, and it was exuberant and full-bodied. The 2018 right now is more lithe and gossamer, but it should continue to develop over the next several months. Heres a strategy: Buy a case, then drink one bottle a month and enjoy its evolution. By the time youre done, the 2019 vintage will be here. ABV: 13 percent. Critics groused about exhibits that focused on pop culture, including an early show on Elvis Presley and more recent ones on rock music and presidential dogs, rather than tackling such issues as the changing media and consumer habits. The advent of the Trump era created a minefield for an institution that increasingly seemed unsure of its footing. Instead of using its authority to push back on Trumps claims that journalists are the enemies of the people and that the media traffics in fake news, the Newseum shop sold red Make America Great Hats and fake news T-shirts. It pulled them last summer, after a firestorm of criticism. Leedhams pictures are as lush as his cohorts are stark. From India to China to Iceland, Leedham focuses most often on places of abundant green, in either sweeping horizontal or ascending verticals. The images are crisp but shot with long exposures that turn the action of clouds and waterfalls into cottony blurs. Both photographers place the viewer in the midst of grand natural vistas, but Sliters images appear incised in time and space, while Leedhams seem about to spring to life. (TNS) A person released from a Philadelphia Department of Prisons facility leaves with something basic but precious a piece of paper that includes his or her name, date of birth and photo.But chances are that same person might have trouble getting documents such as a birth certificate or copies of utility bills that typically are necessary for obtaining official government IDs. And he or she needs those credentials to open bank accounts, apply for jobs, find housing, get access to basic services and conduct the business of making a living.Philadelphia is working to address this long-standing problem that has confronted some vulnerable groups such as the formerly incarcerated, the homeless and undocumented immigrants by issuing municipal IDs, as some other cities have.City officials had hoped to start distributing municipal IDs this month. But hammering out the contract with the ID vendor, Chicago-based Omicron Technologies; fielding input from a community advisory group and agencies that work with target groups; securing agreements from institutions to accept the IDs, and finalizing the details of the program are taking longer than officials wanted. They now say the cards will be ready sometime in the spring, declining to be more specific about a date.I can tell you, yes, I was a little disappointed, said Joanna Otero-Cruz, the citys deputy managing director for community services, who is leading the program. But some things are out of your control.So the problems will persist for a while longer.When the citys prison system began releasing people with its basic paperwork a few years ago, officials hoped community agencies, and especially addiction and mental health treatment centers, would recognize the document as a temporary ID. Some agencies accept it. Some dont.Thats why Bruce Herdman, chief of medical operations for the Department of Prisons, said he is looking forward to the day the IDs are available. He knows the difficulties many people face when they try to reclaim their lives after release.If we can have them leave here with an ID, that will be one less barrier, Herdman said. The municipal ID is an opportunity to participate in getting the inmate-patient a more formal document that will be recognized.The city has hired staff, including a director, and ordered equipment. The city is figuring out how to replace the city employee ID with the municipal card. City staffers have been asking banks to accept the ID and arts and cultural institutions and businesses to add perks such as discounts to the cards.So it has that broad appeal, Otero-Cruz said, and removes the stigma of certain groups of people having a different ID card.The IDs have been controversial: Immigration advocates say worry about how cities will use the personal information; others say the cards give undocumented immigrants access to services to which they should not be entitled.Supporters say the cards would be particularly helpful for those who cannot get IDs from state or federal governments.The municipal cards also can be a step toward obtaining those state and federal IDs and licenses. Many of the people who have picked up nearly 15,000 community IDs in Mercer County since the program there began in 2009 use them to get their birth certificates, Social Security cards, and state IDs, as well as to enroll their children in school and open bank accounts, said Adriana Abizadeh, executive director of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund.People just really take for granted what it means to be able to identify yourself with a piece of plastic, she said. This is gonna be huge for Philly.One of the big questions the city needs to answer and a concern for groups that work with people who are dealing with homelessness, substance abuse and mental illness is what types of documents would be acceptable as proof of identity and residency for a municipal ID.Broad Street Ministry, which helps its homeless clients get state IDs, has asked the city to accept alternatives, such as photo IDs that shelters and social service agencies produce and the city has agreed.We see our role as trying to advise the city how these [IDs] would need to work, so they would be beneficial for the vulnerable populations we serve, said Sam Steffen, Broad Street Ministrys ID service coordinator.The city plans to distribute municipal IDs from mobile stations at Broad Street Ministry and the nonprofit Prevention Point Philadelphia , the citys only needle exchange.The Department of Prisons and city officials plan to start a municipal ID pilot program at Riverside Correctional Facility, which houses women. They are working out the details.The Free Library of Philadelphia is working with the city to print library card numbers on the municipal IDs, said Jennifer Maguire-Wright, chief of the librarys Materials Management Division.Herdman, in the prisons department, said municipal IDs can help connect his patients, a typically disconnected population, to the community.I would love to see everybody leaving with a municipal ID, he said. So Intels decision to restart a dormant project in 2017 resulted in a made-for-TV visit to the Oval Office. With cameras rolling and Trump at his desk, the head of the chipmaker announced that the firm was restarting construction of a $7 billion factory in Chandler, Ariz. The Intel executive held up one of the ultrathin silicon wafers his company makes. Trump was pleased. The states lawsuit against generic makers quotes from public shareholder filings by McKesson, Cardinal and AmerisourceBergen that show how the companies win greater profits when drug companies charge higher list prices. Their fees for distributing drugs are based on a percentage of their purchases from manufacturers. Investigators also cited a McKesson 2014 investor disclosure that shows another lucrative angle to their business: We benefit when the manufacturers increase their prices as we sell our existing inventory at the new higher prices, the company said. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Cloudy. Cooler. High 71F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. (TNS) More officers will walk Denvers Ballpark neighborhood and police will expand their gunshot-detection technology into downtown after the citys core saw an uptick in homicides and other crimes last year. Ten people were killed in the Central Business District and the Five Points neighborhood in 2018 nearly as many as the number of homicides in the two neighborhoods during the three previous years combined. Three of the killings last year happened in the Ballpark neighborhood around Coors Field.Denvers murder rate last year reached its highest level since 2005 and overall violent crime in the city also rose between 2017 and 2018, police have said To combat the violence and calm fear of crime in the area, Denver police announced Wednesday that they will expand the network of audio sensors that already monitor for gunshots in four of the citys neighborhoods into downtown.All of the new sensors will be activated over the next few months and will cover a broad swath of downtown, including the areas around Union Station, Civic Center Park and the Ballpark neighborhood, Denver police Chief Paul Pazen said. Once the sensors are in operation, about 12 percent of the entire city will be covered by the technology, he said.The technology pinpoints the exact location of a suspected gunshot within 5 meters and helps officers arrive at a scene quicker, help any injured people and gather evidence, Pazen said. The system has contributed to 134 arrests since the city started using it in 2015, the chief said.When a gunshot rings out, audio sensors mounted on buildings pick up the noise, analyze it and send a suspected location to an employee at ShotSpotter, the California company that runs the systems. The employee then confirms the shot and sends a location to patrol officers.Last year, five of the 10 people killed in Five Points and the Central Business District were shot to death . The others were either stabbed or beaten to death.Both the city and the Downtown Denver Partnership kicked in tens of thousands of dollars to expand the gunshot-detection system. The first sensors were placed in Denver in 2015 and the police department asked for half a million dollars later that year to expand the service in the city. Prior to the expansion announced Wednesday, the system served the Lowry, Montclair, East Colfax and South Park Hill neighborhoods The city and downtown business leaders need to address safety and perceptions of crime in the Ballpark neighborhood, said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership.All who work, live and visit downtown deserve a better environment in which to operate, she said.The police department also added three new foot patrol officers to the Ballpark neighborhood, Pazen said. The number of officers on the beat will be adjusted as needed and sometimes licensed mental health clinicians will accompany the officers to provide help, he said.A similar foot patrol program contributed to a 14-percent decline in crime on the 16th Street Mall in past two years, police Cmdr. Aaron Sanchez said.It just feels safer down here, he said.High-ranking police officials, including the chief, will continue to meet with Ballpark residents and business owners to discuss public safety needs.Downtown property managers will also re-evaluate lighting, signage and the security of alleyways and make changes that can promote safety, Door said. It takes the involvement of all parties to make progress, she said.Public-private relationships are what get things done, she said. The Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, Lincoln Police Department, and the University of Nebraska Police are participating in a seat belt enforcement project sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All three agencies are working together to implement a program designed to reduce unrestrained fatalities in the Lincoln and Lancaster County area. The national seat belt use rate is estimated to be 89.4%. In June 2018, observational surveys of seat belt use were conducted near crash hot spots in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, and the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus. Seat belt use in Nebraska was measured to be 85.5%. Seat belt use in Lincoln and Lancaster County was measured to be 88.7%. Deputies will be conducting extra enforcement throughout the county beginning Feb. 1 through Feb. 10, with specific emphasis on unrestrained drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is providing funding for this campaign. Wearing a seat belt is the single most effective thing you can do to save lives and reduce injuries on Lincoln and Lancaster County roadways. Also in Lincoln, explore the citys fascinating chocolate history with historian Ed Zimmer and longtime Russell Stover employee Margaret Lehl. The two share stories about the former Russell Stover factory in the Haymarket. At Christopher Elbow Chocolates in Kansas City, Mo., viewers can see hand-painted and airbrushed chocolates that often take days to make. Now a premiere chocolatier who creates bonbons and truffles, Christopher Elbow has a degree in restaurant and business management from UNL. During several short segments of the documentary, he discusses the ancient history of chocolate and shares the basics of growing, producing and storing it. Susie Robison of Tekamah started her love affair with chocolate as a single mother making and selling candles with her kids. Today, shes expanded her business to include a floral shop, boutique, restaurant, bakery and Serendipity Chocolates. Robison describes how she makes all of her chocolates with real cream, real butter and real love. Cup of Coa is a luxury hot chocolate, made with all natural ingredients. Its produced in Nebraska and hand-packed in Kearney at Baristas Daily Grind. Business owner Jasmin McGinnis explains that she keeps the recipe for the tasty hot chocolate mix under wraps, while her non-coffee drinking customers appreciate it being on the menu. Meanwhile, the president of the United States, after tweeting (and with some justification) about the national press rush to judgment about an all-boys Catholic school and a Native American activist clashing he proclaimed the boys symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be lost little time himself tweeting out this bit of evil on the Lords Sabbath: 58,000 non-citizens voted in Texas, with 95,000 non-citizens registered to vote. These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. All over the country, especially in California, voter fraud is rampant. Must be stopped. Strong voter ID! @foxandfriends. Even Whitley had advised caution in jumping to the very conclusion Trump leaped to. Its quite possible, for instance, a non-citizen got his or her drivers license from Texas DPS before becoming a citizen with voting rights. Which all conjures up the spectacle of the presidents voting integrity commission, which Trump set loose after making unsubstantiated claims that between 3 million and 5 million ballots were illegally cast in the 2016 presidential election. The commission disbanded after finding no proof of widespread voting fraud, the favorite bogeyman of the new Republicanism now rampant. By now even the blind can see a pattern, one that aligns with what beleaguered U.S. intelligence officials say is a goal of our Russian enemies: creating suspicion about the legitimacy of our elections and undermining democracy. And, no, we arent saying Whitley is a tool of the Russians, at least not wittingly so. However, his offices actions last Friday define the very word precipitous, further fueling conspiracy theories encouraged by our president. Lets hope Whitley spends the rest of his tenure encouraging hassle-free voting instead of bolstering talk-radio myths and social-media malevolence. Reyes served at four churches in Austin, one in Luling and at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco. The list released Thursday was compiled by outside professionals working with diocesan staff to review 70 years of church records, Vasquez, the diocese bishop, said in his statement. While a name on the list does not mean the allegations were proven by legal standards, there was reason to believe they were true after review of the reasonably available, relevant information, the diocese reported. The only diocese not to provide names Thursday, Fort Worth, did so more than a decade ago and then provided an updated accounting in October. There are only a handful of states where every diocese has released names, and most of them have only one or two Catholic districts. Arkansas, for instance, is covered by the Diocese of Little Rock, which in September provided a preliminary list of 12 former priests, deacons and others. Oklahoma has two districts. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is scheduled to publicly identify accused priests Feb. 28, and the Diocese of Tulsa previously named two former priests accused of predatory behavior. Kellis death was an unnecessary, tragic result of events that should have never happened. The jailers are listed in the lawsuit as Steven Russell Lovelady and Wesley Pelfrey. Coryell County Attorney Brandon Belt said the county has yet to be formally served with the lawsuit, but he said the Texas Rangers investigated Pages death and found no criminal wrongdoing. The Coryell County Sheriffs Office previously reported that jailers first tried to de-escalate a situation with Page verbally on Oct. 7, 2017, before using a chemical agent, which had no effect. Jailers then entered the cell to try to restrain Page, leading to an altercation with the inmate. Page was placed in handcuffs, but one jailer was injured, the sheriffs office told KXAN-TV. According to the lawsuit, Page, who was being held on charges of driving while intoxicated and driving with an invalid license in Llano County, was being extracted by jailers in an attempt to place her in a restraint chair. Video recordings did not indicate that Page was being aggressive or violent before jailers placed weight on her upper and lower body area, according to the lawsuit. That position and her underlying health conditions caused her death the following day, Malone said. Malone said he is seeking unspecified financial compensation, including funeral costs, past and future pain and suffering, for Pages family. 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. Midway Middle School has been designated as a Texas School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) as part of a national recognition program. Midway Middle joins approximately 30 other campuses across Texas with this distinction. The campus will be recognized in Austin at the Making Middle School Matter Symposium hosted by TASSP on March 3-5. It will be recognized nationally with other Schools to Watch from across the country in Washington, D.C., at the National Forums National Schools to Watch Conference, June 27-29. According to a news release, state leaders selected the school for its academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and organizational structure and processes. Billy Pringle, state director for Schools to Watch in Texas and TASSP associate executive director for Middle-Level Services, congratulated principal Dr. Herb Cox and his staff, students and parents for being a campus that does great things for all students. This school has demonstrated that a high-performing middle school is a place that focuses on academic growth and achievement, Pringle said. (TNS) Columbia Falls, Mont., residents had several ideas for how the city could spend some of its tax increment financing (TIF) monies, but the most common one didnt have anything to do with sidewalks or street lights or bike paths it was the Internet.Both Freedom Bank President Don Bennett and businessman Dave Petersen both suggested the city look at investing more into its Internet infrastructure most notably fiber optic lines that could bring super high speed Internet to the business district during a public hearing last week.Bennett said he recently had discussions with MontanaSky founder Fred Weber about the possibility of bringing fiber to the Nucleus District.MontanaSky has recently made agreements to have fiber optic service from Seattle to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Through an agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the optic service runs right past Columbia Falls, but it would take a point of presence facility somewhere near the railroad to bring it to the city.In a later interview, Weber said a POP, as its known, costs about $60,000. Running the cable would have additional costs. If the city was interested, he said MontanaSky could seek a low interest loan from the TIF.Columbia Falls already has Flathead Electric poles in downtown, so the lines wouldnt have to buried, Weber noted. Fiber optic brings much faster Internet than copper wire. A typical home has Internet download speeds of about 10 to 25 megabits per second. Fiber optic, by contrast, has download speeds of about 100 gigabits per second. One hundred gigabits per second, for comparison, is equal to 800,000 megabits per second.In other words, its fast very fast.The city has about $192,000 in its TIF account this fiscal year, city manager Susan Nicosia said.Council made no decision on the matter and Internet wasnt the only project people brought up. Bennett also urged council to save some the money for projects further down the road.Peterson also suggested the city look at lighting along the roof lines of Nucleus Avenue buildings and he also suggested the city do a new promotional video for its website, which is becoming dated. The Alabama Department of Corrections says Corey Davis used a contraband cell phone behind bars to establish a relationship with the woman he met up with after his escape from prison. Davis, convicted in Lauderdale County of human trafficking, escaped from the St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville on Jan. 23. Corrections officials say Davis escaped by hiding in a trailer used to transport furniture at the prison. He was recaptured on Jan. 26 in Kentucky. Corey Aris Davis, 30, was booked into the Warren County Jail early Saturday morning after he was found at a home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. At the time of Corey Aris Davis' arrest, Jessica Deneen Adams, 33, was also arrested and charged with First-Degree Wanton Endangerment and First-Degree Hindering Prosecution or Apprehension. At the time of Corey Aris Davis' arrest, Jessica Deneen Adams, 33, was also arrested and charged with First-Degree Wanton Endangerment and First-Degree Hindering Prosecution or Apprehension. Corey Aris Davis, 30, was booked into the Warren County Jail early Saturday morning after he was found at a home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Department of Corrections) can confirm that during his escape, Davis was with Jessica Deneen Adams, 33, at her residence in Bowling Green, KY, when he was recaptured by U.S. Marshals, said Bob Horton, department spokesman. Adams was also arrested and booked into the Warren County Jail. She was held on a $6,000 bond and charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension. Adams will remain in Kentucky. The endangerment charge is because police found Adams' 12-year-old son sleeping in a bed with guns next to him, officials said. Horton said Davis used a contraband cell phone to establish a relationship with Adams. He said the investigation continues. The investigation will determine the details of the method used by Davis to communicate with Adams before his escape and her involvement afterward, he said. There are possible charges Adams could face in Alabama for her role in the escape. The details of those charges are pending. At the residence, authorities recovered a stolen vehicle with an Alabama license that Davis used in his escape, Horton said. There are pending charges against three inmates who assisted Davis in his escape from the St. Clair Correctional Facility. Their names and further information about the escape has not been released due to an ongoing investigation. In 2016, Davis was indicted by a Lauderdale County Grand Jury on multiple charges of sexual torture, rape, sodomy, and human trafficking. Police tell us he had at least three victims in Lauderdale County. One of his victims was found tied up in the basement of an abandoned house. In 2017, Davis took a plea deal and plead guilty to human trafficking. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. Citing "conduct that violates civil rights," lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin say former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis should be held responsible for nearly $225,000 in legal fees and court costs incurred by couples who sued her in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses because of her religious opposition to same-sex marriage.Although Bevin, a Republican, publicly has praised Davis as "an inspiration ... to the children of America," his attorneys are taking a more critical tone in court briefs, blaming the ex-clerk for failing to do her job following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage.A three-judge panel will hear arguments about the case's expenses Thursday at the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. A district judge ruled in 2017 that the couples suing for marriage licenses clearly prevailed and that the state of Kentucky must pay their fees and costs.Bevin appealed that ruling, hoping to hand the bill instead to the Rowan County clerk's office. Davis acted alone, without any state support, the governor's lawyers told the 6th Circuit in briefs ahead of the oral arguments."Her local policy stood in direct conflict with her statutory obligation to issue marriage licenses to qualified Kentucky couples. The local policy also undermined the Commonwealth of Kentucky's interest in upholding the rule of law," Bevin attorney Palmer G. Vance II wrote in one brief."Davis had an independent and sworn duty to uphold the law as an elected county officer," Vance wrote. "If fees are awarded, they must be the responsibility of the Rowan County clerk's office, which should be deterred from engaging in conduct that violates civil rights _ and leads to costly litigation."At issue are the costs of litigation for eight people who sued Davis for refusing to grant them marriage licenses: April Miller, Karen Ann Roberts, Shantel Burke, Stephen Napier, Jody Fernandez, Kevin Holloway, L. Aaron Skaggs and Barry W. Spartman.After the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage decision, Davis announced that she held religious objections to gay marriage and no longer would grant marriage licenses to anyone in Rowan County. Her protest became international news, turning her into a symbol of conservative resistance, especially when U.S. District Judge David Bunning jailed her for several days for contempt of court.Ultimately, Davis worked out a compromise with Bunning, allowing one of her deputies who had no objections to issue a modified marriage license to anyone who wanted it. Later, the state legislature removed county clerks' names from Kentucky marriage licenses.Rowan County voters denied Davis a second term as county clerk last November.In 2017, Bunning ruled that the four couples clearly had prevailed in their litigation, and the state of Kentucky must reimburse them.Davis' statutory authority to issue Kentucky marriage licenses came from the state government, Bunning said. And had the state chosen to, he said, it could have pursued criminal penalties against Davis for official misconduct for refusing to do her duty, or the legislature could have impeached her and removed her from office.Instead, the state legislature "modified the marriage license form to appease Davis," he said. Bunning rejected holding Davis personally responsible for the money because the couples prevailed against her in her "official capacity" as a public official, not as an individual, he said."Davis represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky when she refused to issue marriage licenses to legally eligible couples. The buck stops there," Bunning wrote.In his appeal, Bevin's lawyers say Bunning erred, the couples did not prevail, and therefore they are not entitled to be reimbursed for the expense of their lawsuit. If the 6th Circuit finds that the couples did prevail, the governor's lawyers add, the cost should be borne by Rowan County's clerk, not the state."The Rowan County clerk's office, the entity actually enforcing Davis' policy, is properly liable for any award of fees," Vance wrote.As he campaigned for governor in 2015 and in the years since, Bevin has supported Davis' right to refuse service to couples at the courthouse because of her religious objections. In a video that Davis' supporters posted online last year, Bevin called the clerk, then seeking re-election, "an inspiration.""Amid all the vitriol, all the nastiness, she stood firm. I think it's beyond question that Kim Davis is an inspiration. Not only to leaders like myself, in the public arena and those outside the public arena, but to my children and to the children of America," Bevin said in the video.A spokesperson for Bevin did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.Attorneys for Rowan County and Davis have filed their own briefs arguing that neither the county nor the former clerk should be responsible for the couples' legal fees and court costs. Rowan County says it had no control over the policies of Davis, who was an independently elected official. Davis says her authority to issue marriage licenses came from the Commonwealth of Kentucky."To the extent any fee award stands, the liability of the commonwealth should be affirmed because Davis at all times pursued and upheld commonwealth policy," Davis attorney Roger K. Gannam wrote in one brief."Davis acted for the commonwealth in the issuance of marriage licenses," Gannam wrote. "Marriage licensing is a quintessentially and exclusively state-level function in Kentucky."The couples who sued Davis would like finally to have a resolution, said Ria Tabacco Mar, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which is handling the case for the plaintiffs.If the couples win again at the 6th Circuit, as they expect to, they will request additional legal fees and court costs on top of the nearly $225,000 already at stake, to reflect the lengthy court battle that has been necessary to collect, Mar said."The Supreme Court ruled in the matter of marriage equality in the summer of 2015," Mar said. "Unfortunately, there were a couple of people here and there who chose to resist that decision, including Kim Davis. And here we are still fighting three and a half years later." UPDATE: The top five candidates are Vernon Bice, Tina Hancock, G. Michael Manuel, Jeff Middleton and LaVerne Williams. The application period closed January 28 at 11:59 p.m. Huntsville City Schools Department of Human Resources screened all applicants, and board members and the superintendent, Christie Finley, ranked their top five picks. These were reviewed, and scores were tallied. On Thursday, the superintendent and board members also approved Robert Terry as the interim CFO. The district plans to select the new CFO on February 12. Below is the order the candidates ranked in: * Bice is a Senior Mortgage Banking Officer with New South Mortgage. According to his Linkedin account, he is a graduate of Auburn University and Louisiana State University. * Hancock is a Chief School Financial Officer with Hoover City Schools. * Manuel is a Chief School Financial Officer with Dothan City Schools. * Middleton is a Chief School Financial Officer with the Jackson County Board of Education. * Williams is a Chief School Financial Officer with the Chilton County Board of Education. --- On Thursday, the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education will be one step closer to making a decision on a new chief financial officer. The board will meet at 5:30 p.m. and announce the top five candidates for the position. At last check, a total of 21 people have applied, and a district official said 17 applicants met the minimum qualifications. This job search comes after the board accepted the resignation of the former chief school financial officer, Bob Hagood. As Hagood resigned, the district was still short $2 million of the state required one month fund. The board wants to have the CFO position filled by February 18. Huntsville City Schools spokesperson Keith Ward said they will have interviews with all five candidates on February 11 between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., assuming the sessions last 30 minutes each. UPDATE: According to the Lincoln County Sheriff, Adams was found safely in the woods of Elkton, Tennessee around 9:30 p.m. Friday. --- Authorities in Giles County and Lincoln County are currently searching for 15-year-old Michael Adams, who went missing early Friday morning. Adams is 501 tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is a type 1 diabetic with only a small amount of medication on his person, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. He was last seen at his grandmother's home on Pleasant Hill Road in Prospect, Tennessee at 5 a.m. Friday. Adams left on foot and was wearing a purple galaxy hoodie and carrying a gray backpack. According to the sheriff's office, Adams has the mentality of a 10-year-old. If anyone comes into contact with him, they are asked to check his medical welfare, detain him and contact the Giles County Sheriffs Department at 931-363-2460 or the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department at 931-433-9821. The search is a joint effort between both departments. School officials in Colbert County now know which student wrote a threat on a bathroom wall and have filed a report with the Colbert County Sheriff's Office. Because the student is a juvenile, they are not releasing his name. The school system gave us a picture of the threat that was written on the wall of the boys bathroom at Colbert Heights High School on Thursday. It says, in short, that the person was going to school shoot on Feb. 7, 2019. Friday, the school was still on a "heightened sense of awareness," which means they are limiting visitor access and students must have a staff member with them at all times. There were also extra school resource officers on campus. "I've seen more security, more law enforcement, more security in the hallway. We have to leave our bags in the hallways as an added precaution and everybody is just on a heightened sense of awareness," said Colbert Heights student Zach Brown. Colbert Heights High School Principal Katie Dalrymple told WAAY31 the threat was found around 10:30 Thursday morning but the school did not go on lockdown. "The school didn't go on lockdown yesterday as we investigated. We just went on heightened awareness," said Dalrymple. Dalrymple said they pulled security footage from the hallways to identify which students went in and out of the bathroom around the time the threat was written. "We keep pass logs where our teachers have every student who signs in and out of class. Those pass logs are essential to know who is in and out of classrooms. I could pinpoint the students who left the classroom at those points," said Dalrymple. The school believes it now has the student responsible for writing the threat. They cannot comment on what disciplinary action could be taken against the student, nor release his name because he is a juvenile. "We have filed a report with the Colbert County Sheriff's Office and we will take measures as far as that goes," said Dalrymple. Brown said even if the student wrote the threat to be a joke, it's not cool to joke about school shootings this day in time. "It's not cool at all to joke. You might have thought it was funny at the time but look at all the problems it's caused," said Brown. "It's caused more work for everyone here and it's turned into something really serious and it shouldn't have happened in the first place." It's unclear if the student in question will face criminal charges at this point, that will be up to the Colbert County District Attorney's Office. Read more here The town of Priceville could see some big development in the near future. According to officials, about 500 homes and some businesses are on the radar for a chunk of farmland that was recently rezoned. Developers are planning to build something much like the Village of Providence in Huntsville on the Priceville property. WAAY 31 spoke with folks who live next to the farmland and learned what they think about the possible development. I didnt want to live in a big town," Bly Panter said. "I wanted to be centrally located and have access to that, but I dont want to be in it. Panter told WAAY 31 he bought his home in Priceville because he liked the small-town feel. So, when he heard that the farmland behind his home will soon hold about 500 high-end apartments and townhouses, as well as retail and office space, he wasnt a big fan. Ive never understood why theres anything wrong with things kind of staying the same," he said. "I would like to see it stay just the way it is. The property values may go upthat doesnt interest me at all. I dont care. And hes not the only one who feels that way. To not have that laidback atmosphere anymore, and that invasion of privacy, its concerning for us," Jill Marchese said. "We wanted that peaceful setting for our boys. Marchese says the farmland behind her home was a big reason she and her family moved to Priceville, and shes a little worried about what new development could mean for her community. The traffic congestion and the possibility for more crime with all the new businesses and things, we might possibly consider moving," Marchese said. WAAY 31 talked with other neighbors who were in favor of the new development and they told us they like the idea of being able to do things at home instead of having to go out of town. Panter says, if the majority of people feel that way, hell make do with the new development. Ill get along with it," he said. "I may not like it, I may grumble about it sometimes, but Ill live with it. According to officials, groundbreaking for the new development is expected in four to six months. The mayor of Priceville told WAAY 31 the development should attract future employees of the Mazda-Toyota plant and will be good for nearby schools as well. WAAY 31 reached out to Morgan County Schools Superintendent Bill Hopkins and he told us that Priceville High School currently has room for about 150 more students. He also said that, if they needed some more room, they could easily add another wing to the building. However, when it comes to the nearby elementary and middle schools, he told us construction would definitely need to happen, and he says they're already looking at potential options. While most of us have run up our heating bills in this cold snap, Colbert County Schools are saving millions! The school system has recently had dozens of energy efficient upgrades after signing an $8 million contract with Schneider Electric. Colbert County School District's Chief Financial officer, James Brumley, said their contract with Schneider Electric will save them at least $12 million over 20 years. Each Colbert County classroom and hallway now has sensors in it, which turn the new LED lights on but after 20 minutes, they go off and this is just one improvement on how the school system is saving money. The company also brought in energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and upgrades to lessen each school's water consumption, saving the school system $500,000 in the first year. "There is no way we would have been able to financially afford to do the infrastructure that has taken place with our current budget, and with the guaranteed savings project, it guarantees us the savings every year," said Brumley. Katie Dalrymple has a fourth grade student in the Colbert County School System, and she says the savings from the project will only open more doors in the district for students. "I'm looking forward to what the savings will allow us to really push forward into more technology, more opportunities for our students," said Dalrymple. In the contract with Schneider Electric, gym lights at Colbert Heights High School were replaced with more energy efficient ones and they got a new roof. "It's made the gym brighter. It makes it feel more at home," said Colbert Heights Senior, Emma James. "It makes me excited for the generations coming up, because I want to be a teacher and knowing were saving all this money really excites me." Schneider Electric told WAAY 31 the environmental impact of the upgrades throughout the school district is equal to taking 5,000 cars off the road. Because the school system is making strides to be more energy efficient, the Tennessee Valley Authority recently awarded them around $60,000 for their efforts. Tekashi 6ix9ine. Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images Tekashi 6ix9ine pleaded guilty to nine federal counts in a proceeding last week following his arrest in November on a racketeering rap, and cut a deal to cooperate with the Feds in the hopes of landing a less severe sentence. Information from the proceeding wasnt posted publicly on the online case record until Friday morning, but a just-unsealed court transcript revealed additional information about how the rapper (whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez) is talking to prosecutors and might need witness protection in the future. The government has represented that Mr. Hernandez is cooperating against multiple violent people associated with the same criminal enterprise of which he admits, or will soon apparently admit, being a member, said Manhattan Federal Court Judge Paul Engelmayer during the proceeding. The government has represented that among the information on which the superseding indictment against those individuals would be based would be information provided by Mr. Hernandez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Longyear then explained the plea agreement: The defendants obligations under this agreement are as follows: That he shall truthfully and completely disclose all information of the activities of himself and others to the U.S. Attorneys Office and that he cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies. Hernandez who faces anywhere from 47 years to life in federal lockup also agreed to attend all meetings of the Manhattan U.S. Attorneys Office; that he shall provide to the office upon request of any document; that he shall truthfully testify before the grand jury or at any trial; that he shall bring to the offices attention all crimes which he has committed; and that he shall commit no further crimes, Longyear said. Longyear also revealed that Hernandez further provided information concerning additional crimes to the offices attention, crimes that the government cannot prosecute him federally but that the court can take into consideration as relevant conduct at sentencing. It is understood that the defendants cooperation is likely to reveal the activities of individuals and that witness protection may be required at a later date, Longyear said. If Hernandez does successfully cooperate, prosecutors will file paperwork moving for a sentence below any mandatory minimum. But if Hernandez doesnt play ball under the agreement, prosecutors wont file that paperwork, meaning they wont move for a lesser sentence. When it came time for Hernandez to explain why he was guilty, he admitted to joining the Nine Trey Bloods in fall 2017 and that as a member of Nine Trey, the enterprise engaged in such activities including shooting at people, robbing people, and at times drug trafficking. We operated in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. As members of Nine Trey, we had disputes with rivals of Nine Trey, including disputes with our own members who we deemed disloyal to our organization. We engaged in these various criminal acts to preserve and enhance the power of Nine Trey, Hernandez also said. Hernandez also appeared to admit to his role in the Chief Keef shooting last summer, which hed previously denied having any involvement with, now telling the judge: On or about June 2, 2018, in furtherance of Nine Trey, of the Nine Trey enterprise, I paid a person to shoot at a rival member of Nine Trey to scare him. The shooting took place in Manhattan. I did this to maintain or increase my own standing in Nine Trey. In furtherance of this shooting, I knew that a member of Nine Trey discharged a gun. All right. With respect to all nine counts, are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty? Engelmayer later said. Yes, your Honor, Hernandez replied. Are you pleading guilty voluntarily and of your own free will? the judge pressed. Yes, I am, Hernandez said. Reached by Vulture, Hernandezs lawyer, Dawn Florio, said, As in the beginning of this case when there were threats against his life, were doing everything in our power to make sure Daniel Hernandez is safe as well as his family. Hernandez had faced charges relating to his membership in the Bloods subset Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, which the Manhattan U.S. Attorneys Office said carried out multiple violent crimes as part of its gang activity. While Hernandez and five others were first busted on this racketeering rap, prosecutors announced on Thursday that three additional alleged Nine Trey members were indicted: Anthony Harv Ellison, Denard Drama Butler, and Kintea Kooda B McKenzie had been charged in this same case. Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in a series of violent disputes with rivals of Nine Trey, including those within Nine Trey who they deemed disloyal to the enterprise. During these disputes, members and associates of Nine Trey committed multiple shootings, robberies and assaults against their rivals and against fellow Nine Trey members, prosecutors said in court papers. Members and associates of Nine Trey sold heroin, fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, MDMA, dibutylone and marijuana in and around Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, New York. Hernandez may have to wait until January 2020 for his sentencing, though it could come earlier if others charged in the case also plead out. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Billboard When Ariana Grande released her latest single off her as-yet-unreleased new album, listeners began hearing echoes of other songs: Soulja Boys Pretty Boy Swag, and Princess Nokias Mine had similar beats and choruses. 2 Chainz maniacs (2Chainziacs?) pointed out that not only was the gee thanks, just bought it chorus of 7 Rings oddly similar to Chainzs Spend It, but that the setting of the video was suspiciously like his pink trap house. Only unlike the pink trap house, Grandes music video set didnt provide free HIV testing. Well it appears that any hard feelings between Grande and Chainz are gone, because she just tweeted out a collab. 2 Chainz appears on the remix to 7 Rings, quoting his chorus on Spend It. The single album cover? A pink trap house. Sometimes things just work out. Throbbing Gristle. Photo: Suzan Carson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Theres a long legacy of artists having bands. Mike Kelley, David Wojnarowicz, Yoko Ono, Richard Prince and Jean Michel Basquiat all had them. The artist Genesis P-Orridge started Throbbing Gristle because of what an old man at a pub told her. He was someone shed regularly chat with and hed been gassed at the Somme in World War One and he had about two teeth, she says. At the time, the Dada-influenced collective P-Orridge co-founded COUM Transmissions, which was getting a fair bit of press for their controversial performances, including live enemas and 10-inch nails. I understand why you are doing these strange things, Gen, but what about the other people in this pub, would they understand? the old man asked her. He suggested music as a way to reach a maximum amount of people with the same ideas, and this inspired P-Orridge to start her industrial band Throbbing Gristle in 1975. Artists start bands for lots of reasons. The creative impulse to make music often comes from the same place as what inspires artists to make the other art they make, whatever that might be, paintings, sculptures, video installations. But the context music exists in the clubs where its playedis far less pretentious, and more fun. Plus it gets artists out of the studio and up on stage. (And, as an aside perhaps, who gets laid more than musicians?) Starting a band was in another era a fuck you to the lofty art world. In ArtForum in 1983, Kim Gordon wrote about the art school kids who started No Wave bands in the late 70s, of which she continued the lineage with Sonic Youth. Their involvement in music, spurred on by the cynical, anarchistic aspects of punk rock, was an alternative to alignment with the art world. When P-Orridge looked to start making music, it was in part motivated by this feeling that the art world was getting too precious, too careerist, and somewhat sterile. While she felt that the art world favored being formulaic you had to repeat yourself over and over to succeed P-Orridge saw more potential to really challenge people to think about human behavior and our cultural programming through making music, precisely because she was untrained as a musician. One person wrote even an ape with severed arms could play the bass guitar better than Genesis and I thought brilliant, we are certainly breaking down the musical traditions. This idea of deconstructing whats been done in the past to make something new motivates artist-led music projects both then and now. With his band the Black Monks of Mississippi, sculptor and social practice artist Theaster Gates says hes kind of an interloper in the field of music trying to find what else is possible? But these projects no longer exist outside the art world the way they once did. Even though it was formed as an alternative to it, Gordon notes that ironically the art world embraced the No Wave movement. These days anti-diva Kembra Pfahler, who fronts the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, is a darling of museums and blue chip galleries with work like butt prints and reproductions of posters promoting her band the playing at CGBGs. Today we have a pretty expanded definition of art. If urban redevelopment or a mobile hair salon can be an art project then of course a band can be too, but also theres a utility to welcoming these energized performances into hallowed institutional art spaces. Art bands and multi-hyphenate artist-DJs are mainstays of museum galas and youth-oriented programming, gallery openings after parties, and luxury brand-sponsored art events. For instance, Gatess band played the Prada VIP club last month during Art Basel Miami Beach. Today Gen X artists like Wolfgang Tillmans and Kai Althoff also have their musical side projects while millennials like Juliana Huxtable and James Ferraro work in both music and visual art as well as poetry, itd be hard to say which one most prominently in our post-internet age, its maybe easier to work across multiple mediums as most content ends up distributed online in some capacity anyways. But still, many artist-led music projects seem to follow in the lineage of those from an earlier era, conceiving of their performances more visually than a typical rock band with think costumes, props, and video projections. Their approach can be more conceptual too, whether about meta-narrative or representation. And sometimes artists having a band can also be a fun collaborative project thats a foil to an isolating studio practice. I talked to members of six artist-led music projects including the band that P-Orridge currently fronts, Psychic TV about how they got started, how they navigate between art and music contexts, and their biggest influences. IUD Photo: Courtesy of I.U.D. IUDs roots go back to Lizzi Bougatsos and Sadie Laska meeting in art school when they were 18. After they graduated, they moved together to New York in 97, sharing an apartment. We were trying to be artists but we were poor and didnt have studios. A way to be creative was to make music with your friends, says Laska. They started the art rock band Actress with artist Amy Gartrell and painter-DJ Spencer Sweeney, whos today a sometimes member of IUD. Laska ended up moving to DC and Bougatsos got deeper into the music world, starting the world-music-infused electro pop band Gang Gang Dance in 2001. (In the early aughts, Bougatsos also had the metal band AngelBlood with artist Rita Ackermann.) When Bougatsos was touring in Japan with Gang Gang, she discovered this all-girl band with two drummers OOIOO, the side project of the Boredoms Yoshimi P-We. I was absolutely blown away by them, says Bougatsos, and it got her thinking who could I drum with? She heard Laska had been drumming in a band in DC and was moving back to New York. In 2004, they started IUD. When we started drumming together, Sadie and I had different styles but when we locked in that was key. Thered be these moments when we were totally synchronized and people were like you look like youre about to have sex, says Bougatsos. Those moments are pretty primal and organic and for me thats what drumming is all about. Bougatsos notes that some art bands are almost like puppet theater, but for her instrumentation and musicality take precedent. Still, with IUD, theres more room for getting weird than with some of her other projects. Gang Gang is very much traditionally a soundscape we are crafting sound almost like an orchestra and IUD is a soundscape too, a very loud soundscape, but also with IUD we never know where the performance could go, she says. One time in Zurich with IUD, I lost my voice and I put on this mask and just crawled around the space. Spencer Sweeney continued playing the drum kit and Sadie just followed me filming. Laska whos primarily a painter, appreciates that the band is a welcome escape from working alone in the studio. Ive always liked collaborating, and Lizzi and I are great collaborators, she says, It comes from when we were in art school and we did weird performance pieces together. Bougatsos adds, Were both capricorns. Were both the same age. We grew up together. We just get it. JD Samson Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images After studying experimental film at Sarah Lawrence, JD Samson first became the video projectionist for Le Tigre and then later joined the band led by riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna (and in which artist Sadie Benning also played for a stint). My input into that project was visual first. I actually never studied music, says Samson, who today teaches at NYU Tischs Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music. One of my classes is about where performance art and conceptual art meets music performance. Le Tigre, which Samson eventually joined as a proper band member, very much straddled the art and rock worlds. We incorporated performance art, costume, choreography, and video, and I guess you could say all of that was conceptual art including the project in and of itself, which was really focused on the visibility of our feminist activist selves. Being on stage was almost the art project, explains Samson adding, Our music was sample based. We werent necessarily trained musicians in the sense we werent even working in a specific key. After Le Tigre went on hiatus in 2005, Samson and Johanna Fateman formed the band MEN, continuing to mix feminist politics with dance music and performance art-y sets. Bougatsos remembers, JD would wear this TV box on top of her head. It reminded me of the Residents, that band with the eyeball heads. On their 2013 sophomore album Labor, MEN had a song expressing support for Pussy Riot. After MEN took a break, I had been performing as JD Samson but I felt like Id been relegated to the music world, says Samson adding, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable about that. At a visual art residency, she started experimenting with rock sculptures and then incorporating them into performances. Last year at the Lower East Girls Club, she collaborated with other artists, performing with a shirt made of strung-together rocks, and at Ballroom Marfa, drilling into rocks. I was using the drill and the rock as an instrument, explains Samson. These days, Samson also has the cheekily titled project New Band with No Name with musician Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen). They played at the Kitchen accompanying a Laura Parnes film commenting on the Trump era. Our song was called Pretty Shitty, talking about how were all feeling pretty shitty apathy in our community, says Samson. Shes hoping that the new band can incorporate some of her experiments with rocks as instruments in the future, too. Hairbone Photo: Tim Schutsky The origin story of Hairbone begins about a decade ago when their guitarist Nathan Whipple saw artist and frontman Raul de Nieves performing at a Chelsea art gallery, where he was part of a group show. Raul was just amazing, says Whipple, so he wrote him a letter suggesting that maybe they could collaborate. Together they started a band Try Cry Try and roped in their friend Jessie Stead to help out with video projections. Eventually the three of them became Hairbone formerly Haribo, named after the German gummy company. At first it wasnt as musical with songs and stuff. It was kind of more just like a freak out, type of thing, explains Stead. We started to write songs more and made a set list that the freak outs would weave in and out of. The three-pieces performances are full of wacky theatrics, wigs, and homemade props, like cardboard washing machines. The typical set up is Whipple on guitar, Stead on an electronic drum kit, and de Nieves on the mic foregrounding the performances with his hypnotic restless energy. In the past, theyve described their music as sexy clown, post butt-metal party anthems. We can play in a museum and the next time a bar or a basement, says Stead. Its such a DIY thing. Its been fascinating to have a museum present that. In a way, its sort of out of context in a museum but its also not. Theres a long history of art punk bands that we fall in line with. The band fits into the artists respective practices in different ways. de Nieves is interested in transformative experiences. This live act opens up so many portals in the brain. The band has provided a platform for all three of us to release a sense of energy and anxiety, he says adding that the energy of the audience is just as important as the music. Stead, in turn, explains that documenting the band is part of her video practice. I think about the band as a story. Its life its beginning, middle, and end to me, its like a decade-long movie. de Nieves is influenced by bands like Bikini Kill and Le Tigre as well as avant-garde musicians like Philip Glass and John Cage. Stead links what Hairbones doing to other art bands like Mike Kelleys Destroy All Monsters. And Whipple is inspired by the music that artist and friend Ryan Trecartin makes on FruityLoops for his absurd videos (in which the band members sometimes feature). See for yourself how these influences all come together in a raucous Hairbone performance when they play next Tuesday, February 5th at Trans Pecos in Brooklyn. Mhysa Photo: Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. Mhysa grew out of my studio work, says Philly-based multimedia artist E. Jane about their alter-ego persona and music project. Jane started making lip sync videos in grad school, including them in early iterations of their ongoing Lavendra installation, which explores the legacy of the black diva through sci-fi mythology. I love pop stars and singing these songs but I was doing it through this character because shes more femme than me and more performative than me, explains Jane, who uses the genderqueer pronoun they while their persona Mhysa uses she. A professor in grad school suggested that Jane take the lip-sync performances more seriously. I want sincerity from you, he urged. Jane thought, The realest thing would be if I were to make an album. They submitted an EP as a midterm in grad school and Mhysas first full length album fantasii came out in 2017. I do the graphic design, the production, sometimes the video editing, says Jane. I think a lot about it as total art or gesamtkunstwerk. Other influences include ORLANs body performance, Lynn Hershman Leesons fictional Roberta Breitmore character, and riot grrrl rap persona Mykki Blanco. Im really adamant about Mhysa not performing in a gallery because shes not that type of an art piece. It would be too self referential like the snake eating its own tale. She performs out in the world, says Jane, adding that club parties like GHE20G0TH1K are the ideal space. Performance ephemera can go in the gallery, performance documentation can go in the gallery, but the live performance, I want that to go on a stage. Mhysa has toured prolifically this year across Europe and North America. The live act features DJ support by Janes partner and collaborator who makes makes music as lawd knows and art under his given name chukwumaa. Together the two artists also have the experimental club music project SCRAAATCH. Thinking about working between different contexts in addition to nightclubs, SCRAAATCH has played PS1s Warm Up series, the Chelsea art-performance venue the Kitchen, and they have a monthly show on the online radio station NTS chukwumaa notes that in the music scene, theyre a part of theres a lot of interlopers who are art-oriented or literally have art degrees making music with functional club sounds but they have an entire artistic premise to it as a first thought, not as a second thought. He adds, the press releases might as well be artist statements. MSHR Photo: Walter Wlodarczyk Brenna Murphy and Birch Coopers project MSHR (pronounced mesher) grew out of the Oregon Painting Society, a five-person art collective formed in Portland in 2007 which defined both its method and goal as transcendent creative collaboration. Cooper says the collective wasnt medium specific but engaged in a wandering aesthetic approach. This kind of radical collaboration can take a lot of patience. It took us a long time before we got anything good, recalls Murphy. OPS eventually developed a practice of creating interactive audiovisual environments, which MSHR has continued to build on since 2011. Were an offshoot from the original, like a space pod from the main ship, says Murphy. MSHRs mad scientist performances feature trippy multi-sensory feedback loops made possible by light-activated synthesizers and sound-activated lights. Cooper says hes always been interested in the potential of collaboration as a way to achieve something you couldnt have thought of on your own he specifies that he values exploring both collaboration with other humans as well as collaboration with software. While MSHRs work often takes the shape of set at a music venue, albeit one with more strobing lights than your average noise musicians, they also design interactive sculptural installations like Sonic Arcade at the Museum of Art and Design in 2017, which featured a generative system integrating the sounds of museum-goers. Both Murphy and Cooper also have solo art practices. We operate in a lot of different contexts, says Cooper. Those contexts determine who we are in that moment. Murphy adds that with MSHR, they are conscious of how these different contexts influence audience expectations. Sometimes we are very aware that people are coming in more on the visual side or more on the sound side, she says. Cooper and Murphy are very influenced by other art collectives, including La Monte Young and the Theatre of Eternal Music, later known as the Dream Syndicate. They made these long-standing sound and sculpture installations, says Murphy. (You can visit of the Dream House, an immersive installation created in 1993 by Young and Marian Zazeela in Tribeca.) Psychic TV Photo: Drew Wiedemann A band doesnt just have to be four or five people on a stage doing the same tired rock n roll moves, says P-Orridge. My first band, Throbbing Gristle, we did things like one time we had mirrors all across the stage so the audience could only see themselves. Another time we played in a cube of scaffolding with TV cameras all inside, so you could watch us on TV monitors all around outside but if you wanted to hear us you had to go to the roof because the PA was pointing to the sky. You could only watch or listen, you couldnt do both at the same time. P-Orridge continues to bring this same spirit of innovation with the group Psychic TV, which she formed in 1981 with Alex Fergusson and another ex-Throbbing Gristle member Peter Christopherson. Over the years, Psychic TV experimented with industrial music, acid house, and psychedelic pop, and many different musicians, artists, and writers have been involved in the project including Fred Giannelli, Larry Thrasher, Derek Jarman, and LSD evangelist Timothy Leary. Psychic TV has always centered video. In 1982, they released the First Transmission in a series of four VHS tapes, which montaged together scenes of rituals, home drug videos, grotesque surgery and scarification, and archival footage of Jim Jones. Today their performances feature a psychedelic light show of video projections. Its a very spiritual experience, says P-Orridge. Over the years, throughout these musical experiments, P-Orridge says, I always carried on making art. Whatever the medium, P-Orridge approaches everything like a cut-up. I see the world that way, constant fragments of fascination swirling around me, she says. Everything is collaging for me. Its one of the only ways to guarantee new combinations. No sort of linear thought would give you that. Ive applied that idea to everything music, art, photography, my own body, and its always given me amazing results. This cut-up approach features in a Psychic TV remix for Trent Reznor that reworks the track with audio of howler monkeys waking up that an LA zoo, or P-Orridges sculptures that mash up shoes of her sex worker friends with animal horns and voodoo ritual items, which are on view right now at Marlborough Contemporary. But also in the Pandrogyne project, where P-Orridge and her late partner Lady Jayne underwent body modification to physically resemble one another and unite as one entity. A lot of LGBTQ people have heard about the Pandrogyne project and come out to see Psychic TV, says P-Orridge, whos 68 and currently battling leukemia. The reason why Im prepared to do the band even when Im sick is that were getting more and more people than weve ever had and they are getting younger and younger and more and more enthusiastic. Were getting a lot of people from the LGBTQ community and theres not been a lot of gay rock. Theyre coming to a completely new celebration of loud music and lights and videos. So many people say that its inspired them and I feel a real responsibility in that. Theres a sense of unity and deep trust that makes it so worthwhile. Show more Show less Across Europe, citizens are on their feet and on the internet in unprecedented grassroots uprisings to demand more government action in fighting climate change. This past week alone saw tens of thousands of Europeans joining protests in countries across the continent. That includes France, where many say President Emmanuel Macron is nowhere near realizing his crusade to "make the planet great again." Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on Thursday signed a law allowing residents to carry concealed handguns without a permit.Noem, who just entered office earlier this month, signed the bill repealing the permit requirement that was passed by the state legislature, The Argus Leader reported.She said she was proud that it was the first bill she signed as South Dakota governor.It's special for me to be signing a bill into law that protects our Second Amendment rights," Noem said.The law, referred to by its proponents as constitutional carry, gives South Dakotans to choose whether to obtain a concealed carry permit.It does not change the restrictions around who is allowed to carry a concealed weapon, which excludes those with convictions for a felony, weapons related misdemeanor or for controlled substances, the newspaper previously reported. Rami Qaddor, an orphanage houseparent in a refugee camp near the Syrian-Turkish border, recalls the day in 2018 when a weak and frightened young boy named Hoger was dropped at the orphanage. At first, Hoger, 10, did not speak to anyone and was trying to establish trust with those around him, Qaddor said. But later, things changed. "Every weekend when the other orphans' relatives came to visit the children, no one ever came for Hoger. So, I started taking him to my house so he could be with my wife and children," Qaddor told VOA. Their bond grew stronger. Qaddor cared for Hoger as if he were one of his own children, and Hoger considered himself part of the family. Hoger, a Yazidi boy taken by IS with his mother an Hoger, a Yazidi boy taken by IS with his mother and siblings from Sinjar in 2014, stands beside his orphanage housefather Rami Qaddor in Atmeh camp for refugees in northern Syria. Hoger, a Yazidi boy taken by IS with his mother and siblings from Sinjar in 2014, stands beside his orphanage housefather Rami Qaddor in Atmeh camp for refugees in northern Syria. Qaddor said no one knew anything about Hoger, until he finally decided to talk about his past. Yazidi boy Qaddor discovered that Hoger was a Yazidi from Iraq's Sinjar Mountain, home to many members of the Yazidi religious minority. Hoger, his mother and three siblings were abducted from Sinjar in 2014 when the Islamic State terror group attacked their village. Hoger does not recall his full name. He said his father was killed that day by IS militants. "Hoger came to us eight months ago in a difficult situation. He did not speak to anyone and kept to himself. Now, he is much better. He is playing with other kids, and he loves my wife so much that he calls her 'Mother,' " Qaddor said. "But he still regresses into a bad condition when he talks about what happened to him." Qaddor said he did not want to tell anyone what the boy had told him because he wanted to protect him. He now recognizes the need for Hoger to find his family. In August 2014, IS attacked the Yazidi-populated Sinjar Mountain, killing thousands of men and forcing thousands of women and girls into sex slavery. The United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 Yazidis out of 400,000 civilians in the area were killed or abducted during the attack. About 3,000 Yazidi women and children are still missing, while thousands are living under harsh conditions in refugee camps in Iraq, according to several Yazidi rights groups. Trip to Idlib Hoger, his mother and siblings were taken to Syria after his mother was sold as a sex slave. They lived in an IS-controlled camp in Al-Sukhnah town in central Syria. His older brother was taken to a training camp and later fought alongside IS. Hoger, in the green shirt, plays with other childr Hoger, in a green shirt, plays with other children in Atmeh refugee camp in northern Syria. Hoger was surrendered to an orphanage in Atmeh several months ago. Hoger, in a green shirt, plays with other children in Atmeh refugee camp in northern Syria. Hoger was surrendered to an orphanage in Atmeh several months ago. Hoger said they were living with an IS leader called Abu Abdullah Al Maghrabi. In 2016, the camp where Hoger and his mother were staying was hit by an airstrike, killing his mother and two younger siblings. Left alone, a woman took Hoger as one of her children and fled the IS-controlled Al-Sukhnah to northern Idlib. Hoger lived with the woman for several months before she dropped him off at the orphanage. Al-Sukhnah was a major IS stronghold before it was captured by the Russian-backed Syrian government army in August 2017. Harsh conditions Qaddor and his family understand the plight of refugees because they were displaced in 2013 from the northern Hama countryside, a province in central Syria. They landed in a refugee camp in Atmeh in northern Syria near the border with Turkey. Qaddor is unable to return home because the northern Hama countryside lies between rebel-held areas and the Syrian government territories, making it dangerous. Most of the people displaced from central Syria still live in Atmeh camp. This year, the camp was battered by winter storms and floods that killed and injured several people, mostly children. "Refugees here are already suffering from a dire situation in the camp with the absence of basic needs. And now, the rain, floods and snow added more suffering to their ordeal," Mohammed al-Abdullah, a Syrian journalist based in Atmeh, told VOA. Qaddor is barely making ends meet in the camp and is depending on aid from regional NGOs and international organizations. "I consider Hoger as one of my children," he said. "He is just an innocent child. He should have a better life." The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has ceased all assistance to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, a U.S. official said Friday. The decision was linked to a Jan. 31 deadline set by new U.S. legislation under which foreign aid recipients would be more exposed to anti-terrorism lawsuits. The deadline also sees the end of about $60 million in U.S. aid for the Palestinian security forces, whose cooperation with Israeli forces helps maintain relative quiet in the West Bank. Congress' Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA) empowers Americans to sue foreign aid recipients in U.S. courts over alleged complicity in "acts of war." The Palestinian Authority declined further U.S. funding over worries about its potential legal exposure, although it denies Israeli accusations that it encourages militant attacks. "At the request of the Palestinian Authority, we have wound down certain projects and programs funded with assistance under the authorities specified in ATCA in the West Bank and Gaza," a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday. "All USAID assistance in the West Bank and Gaza has ceased." Future of USAID unclear It was unclear how long the cessation would be in effect. The official said no steps were currently being taken to close the USAID mission in the Palestinian territories, and no decision had been made about future staffing at the USAID mission in the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. A sign of the U.S. Agency for International Develo A sign of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seen at a water desalination plant in the central Gaza Strip, Feb. 1, 2019. A sign of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seen at a water desalination plant in the central Gaza Strip, Feb. 1, 2019. USAID is the main agency administering U.S. foreign assistance in the Palestinian territories. According to its website, the agency spent $268 million on public projects in the West Bank and Gaza as well as Palestinian private sector debt repayment in 2017, but there were significant cuts to all new funding through the end of June 2018. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "The suspension of aid to our people, which included critical sectors such as health and education, will have a negative impact on all, create a negative atmosphere, and increase instability." The Palestinian Authority is an interim self-government body set up following the 1993 Oslo peace accords. The peace process, aimed at finding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has been stalled since 2014. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Ismail Rudwan condemned the stopping of aid, deploring what he called "politicized money." Humanitarian cuts The USAID announcement comes after humanitarian officials in the West Bank and Gaza said they were facing a general cutback in funding from donors worldwide. Last year Washington cut hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the Palestinians, which included funding to humanitarian groups supported by USAID. The U.S. cuts were widely seen as a means of pressuring the Palestinian leadership to resume the peace talks with Israel and to engage with the Trump administration ahead of its long-awaited Middle East peace plan. As a result, dozens of NGO employees have been laid off, health and unemployment programs have been shut down, and infrastructure projects halted. In August, Washington announced an end to all U.S. funding for the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees. The agency received $364 million from the United States in 2017. In January the World Food Program cut food aid to about 190,000 Palestinians due to a shortage of funds. Diplomatic sources said Palestinian, U.S. and Israeli officials were trying to find ways to keep the money flowing to Abbas' security forces. "We will find a solution to these things. I won't get into details," Israeli security cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio on Thursday. USAID will continue to implement conflict management and mitigation grants in Israel, with Jewish and Arab participants, the official said. The United States on Friday fired a diplomatic warning shot at Russia, making good on threats to begin its withdrawal from a key arms control agreement and thus taking the next step toward what some politicians and analysts see as a burgeoning arms race. In a statement, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was suspending its compliance with the decades-old Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, accusing the Kremlin of willfully breaking the deal. WATCH: US to Leave Treaty Signed by Reagan and Gorbachev "For far too long, Russia has violated the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad," Trump said. "We will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions," he added. But later Friday, speaking to reporters, Trump left open the possibility of a deal. "I hope that we are able to get everybody in a very big and beautiful room and do a new treaty that would be much better," he said. "Certainly, I would like to see that. But you have to have everybody adhere to it." The INF treaty, signed by the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1987, was the world's first arms control pact to prohibit an entire class of weapons, banning ballistic and ground-launched cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,420 miles). INF violations Yet the U.S. has been become increasingly vocal about what it says are blatant Russian violations. U.S. defense and intelligence officials charge those violations date to at least 2014, when Russia began deploying its 9M729 missile following years of tests designed to skirt the treaty's constraints. Now, officials say, Russia is fielding multiple military battalions that are equipped with the missile in question. WATCH: US Backs Away From Key Arms Treaty "We must respond," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Friday. "We can no longer be restricted by the treaty, while Russia shamelessly violates it. "We provided Russia an ample window of time to mend its ways and for Russia to honor its commitment. Tomorrow that time runs out," he said. Saturday, the U.S. will provide the Kremlin and other former Soviet states with formal notice of its intent to withdraw from the INF Treaty, triggering a six-month window. Officials say if Moscow refuses to verifiably destroy the missiles, as is expected, the treaty will terminate, and the U.S. will be free to pursue its own intermediate range, ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles. Russian denial Russian officials reacted quickly to the announcement, denying any treaty violations, while alleging it is Washington that wants to expand its missile arsenal. The U.S. withdrawal deals "a serious blow to the international arms control system and the system of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which exist for now," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters. FILE - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryab FILE - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov speaks at a conference on nonproliferation of nuclear weapons in Beijing, Jan. 30, 2019. FILE - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov speaks at a conference on nonproliferation of nuclear weapons in Beijing, Jan. 30, 2019. Ryabkov also suggested other arms control agreements, like the New START Treaty, which limits both countries to fewer than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads, could be in jeopardy. "What will come next is a huge question," the deputy foreign minister told Russian television. "I fear that the New START may share the fate of the INF Treaty. It may just expire on February 5, 2021, without an extension." New arms race? But U.S. officials held firm, insisting the onus is on the Kremlin to ease tensions. "Let's be clear: If there's an arms race, it is Russia that is starting it," a senior administration official said Friday. "We simply cannot tolerate this kind of abuse of arms control and expect for arms control to continue to be viable," the official said. "We cannot permit a scenario where we are unilaterally bound to a treaty, we are denied the ability to have a military capability to deter attacks." Concern, support for US action In a statement issued shortly after the U.S. announced its plans to withdraw from the INF Treaty, NATO said its members "fully support this action." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter: Russia is in material breach of the #INFTreaty & must use next 6 months to return to full & verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise. #NATO fully supports the US suspension & notification of withdrawal from the Treaty: https://t.co/VOhUB0HoAd pic.twitter.com/28Rwicqr8o Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 1, 2019 At the United Nations, officials expressed concern. "For the secretary-general, his hope [is] that the parties will use the next six months to resolve their differences through dialogue," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. "The INF is a very important part of the international arms control architecture." Trump's decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty also garnered a mixed response from U.S. lawmakers. "Russia's repeated violations over the years demonstrate that the INF is no longer in the best interest of the United States," Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporte FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. But the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, was wary. "The Trump administration is risking an arms race and undermining international security and stability," Pelosi said in a statement. "Russia's brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning," she said. "But discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks." Few good choices Still, some analysts caution that Russian President Vladimir Putin has given the U.S. and its European allies few good options. "Putin's decision to build weapons that violate this important arms control treaty is another of his attacks on the peace in Europe," according to Jorge Benitez, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a global affairs research group in Washington. "Russia is an aggressive military," he said. "Europe needs to strengthen deterrence to further dangerous behavior from Moscow." The U.S. has already started spending on such deterrence $48 million on research to develop its own intermediate-range, ground-launched missiles. And officials say there have already been some initial discussions with allies. "We are some time away from having a system that we would produce, that we would train soldiers or airmen or Marines to deploy," the senior administration official said, adding that for now, nuclear-armed missiles were not under consideration. "We are only looking at conventional options at this time," the official said. "Nothing the United States is currently looking at is nuclear in character." A U.S. Department of Defense exhibit shows a "Qiam FILE - A U.S. Department of Defense exhibit shows a Qiam short-range ballistic missile manufactured in Iran, at a military base in Washington, Nov. 29, 2018. FILE - A U.S. Department of Defense exhibit shows a Qiam short-range ballistic missile manufactured in Iran, at a military base in Washington, Nov. 29, 2018. The pursuit of the new missiles, though, could also give the U.S. additional options in countering growing threats from China and Iran. Neither Beijing nor Tehran was subject to the INF Treaty, and U.S. officials believe each country has more than 1,000 intermediate-range, ground-launched missiles in its arsenal. But some experts warn any increase in the number of such missiles, by the U.S. or Russia, will only escalate missile production and tensions in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and VOA's Wayne Lee contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - The United States imposed visa restrictions on Ghanaian nationals Thursday, making it more difficult for citizens of the West African country to visit the U.S. In levying the sanctions, the Trump administration accused Ghana of not repatriating nationals who had been deported. Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a press release. The United States periodically restricts visas when countries fail to allow its citizens, when removed from the U.S., to be repatriated. In July, the Department of Homeland Security imposed visa restrictions on Burma and Laos, after those countries failed to accept removed nationals. Those restrictions affected B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas, for visitors seeking to enter the United States as tourists or on business trips. The DHS did not specify what visa classes would be affected by the latest sanctions. Disproportionate deportations With fewer than 30 million people, Ghana doesnt crack the list of Africas 10 most-populous nations. But in both 2017 and 2018, it ranked behind only Nigeria in nationals removed from the United States, according to a report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2017, 305 Ghanians were removed; in 2018, the number dipped to 243. Nigeria, meanwhile, jumped from 312 removals in 2017 to 369 in 2018, despite having a population seven times larger than Ghanas. But both African nations fell far short of Mexico, which had 141,045 people removed in 2018, a 10 percent increase from the year before. Removals include people ordered to be deported after entering the United States and those denied entry at the border. U.S. first lady Melania Trump visits Cape Coast ca FILE - U.S. first lady Melania Trump visits Cape Coast Castle, Ghana, Oct. 3, 2018. FILE - U.S. first lady Melania Trump visits Cape Coast Castle, Ghana, Oct. 3, 2018. ?Others sanctioned Ghana isnt the first African nation to face visa restrictions. In August 2017, the United States placed visa restrictions on Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The U.S. typically imposes visa restrictions after other efforts to enforce compliance with deportations fail. We hope the Ghanaian government will work with us to reconcile these deficiencies quickly, Nielsen said. According to data compiled by the Pew Research Center in 2017, about 155,000 Ghanaian-born people live in the United States, making them the fourth-largest group of Africans in the country. Ghana was also the first stop on first lady Melania Trumps visit to Africa in October. She spent several days in the country and visited the Cape Coast Castle, a former slave-holding facility. China has given up its long-held resistance to the World Trade Organizations push for global standards for the $27 trillion e-commerce market. Some analysts say this is a direct result of the trade war with the United States, which is forcing China to seek wider cooperation with trading countries. In the largely unmanaged electronic commerce industry, or e-commerce, China has emerged as a major player accounting for one-fifth of the global market. Its lead company, Alibaba, trades in 200 different countries, playing a crucial role in Chinas export growth. E-commerce did not take off until after the WTO was created in 1995, and there is a big need for global standards. Joint statement Late last week China joined the United States and 75 other countries in signing a joint statement intended to jump-start negotiations for creating rules that would ensure transparency and reduce barriers in cross-border sales. The move is a sign that China has agreed to discuss the notion of rules for a rapidly emerging area of commerce, said Lauren A. Johnston, a senior research associate at Mercator Institute of China Studies in Berlin. Oliver Rui, CEIBS professor in Shanghai adds that it also dovetails with Chinas interests. China has the largest e-commerce industry in the world. Joining the WTO talks will benefit the countrys e-commerce industry. Globalization is Chinas national strategy, he said. Xiangchen Zhang, Chinese Ambassador to the World T Xiangchen Zhang, Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization attends an interview with Reuters in Geneva, Switzerland, March 22, 2018. Xiangchen Zhang, Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization attends an interview with Reuters in Geneva, Switzerland, March 22, 2018. ?New area of conflict Chinas shift in mood is believed to have been driven by trade frictions with the United States and growing resistance to Chinese trade practices in Europe. There are signs the Washington and Beijing may clash during negotiations at WTOs rule-making process, giving a new dimension to the trade war between the two countries. China is already giving signs that it would dispute parts of the present draft of rules on e-commerce. To be very frank, the current text of the joint statement before us, in our view, could have been better drafted if time allows, Chinese envoy Zhang Xiangchen to WTO said last week. I think the e-commerce initiative is promising, but we are a long way from being able to forecast what the results might be, said Nicholas R. Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The new WTO rules will also address the controversial issue of forced data localization. Foreign companies often complain that they are forced to store their data within Chinas geographical area, making it difficult to protect intellectual property rights. It (China) just as well could seek to slow down talks as much as promote liberalization, said Scott Kennedy, director of the CSIS Project on Chinese Business & Political Economy. E-commerce rules crucial Making rules for the uncontrolled e-commerce industry is crucial for the World Trade Organization, which is under U.S. pressure for not being able to rein in what it regards as Chinas unfair trade practices. Last year, President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw from the WTO if it does not shape-up. The WTO is not well-equipped to handle the fundamental challenge posed by China, which continues to embrace a state-led, mercantilist approach to the economy and trade, U.S. Trade Ambassador Dennis Shea said recently. Speaking at a WTO meeting last month, Chinas envoy Zhang said U.S. tariffs on Chinese products like steel and aluminum are a sign of protectionism under the guise of dubious national security concerns. He also claimed the United States has blocked the selection of judges, thus paralyzing the WTOs judicial system. FILE - Attendees pass by a Huawei booth during the FILE - Attendees pass by a Huawei booth during the 2019 CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 9, 2019. FILE - Attendees pass by a Huawei booth during the 2019 CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 9, 2019. ?Huawei battle Chinas willingness to work together with other countries and establish WTO rules is in sharp contrast, however, to its handling of the matter regarding tech giant Huawei. And while Beijings decision to join the WTO rule-making process has been widely welcomed, its flat rejection of U.S. Justice Department charges against Huawei has not. China has called the charges against Huawei and its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou a politically driven campaign to suppress Chinese companies. State media has often argued that the United States is trying to suppress Chinese growth because it has fallen behind in certain technologies and refuses to accept this reality. I think thats funny. By every measure, innovation in U.S. is in front of China, and this is not (about) the U.S. is worried that China is constantly on the rise or becoming more successful in innovation or certain markets, said Scott Kennedy of CSIS. This is about how China is pursuing its technology agenda, about stealing of technology, violation of intellectual property rights. Thats the concern, he said. In fact, the Chinese government and the state media are giving the impression that protecting Huawei is a national cause. Huawei and company president Ren Zhengfei, please dont give up. The Chinese people support you and so does the worlds silent majority, the Communist Party-backed Global Times said in an editorial. There is also concern that China might resort to a tit-for-tat policy by initiating investigations against American companies. Two Canadian nationals have detained allegedly for harming national security since Huaweis Meng was put under house arrest in Canada. China has also retried a Canadian citizen accused of drug smuggling and sentenced him to death. WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added eight members on Thursday to its scientific advisory board tasked with providing independent input for agency policy, a list that includes at least one vocal climate-change doubter. The EPA said John Christy, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Alabama, was among the new appointees to the advisory body, which now numbers 45 people and includes several appointees from past administrations. Christy has downplayed the threat of climate change in congressional hearings and media appearances, arguing that scientific models overestimate warming, and that major steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions are not warranted. Those views place him outside the mainstream scientific consensus, including from U.S. federal agencies, that global warming will have devastating consequences if not urgently addressed. But they dovetail with President Donald Trump's policy of rolling back Obama-era climate-change regulations to free up more drilling and mining. Christy did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Trump supporters hold a counter rally during "100 Trump supporters hold a counter rally during "100 Days of Failure" protest and march, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in New York. Thousands of people across the U.S. are marching on President Donald Trump's hundredth day in office to demand action on climate change. Trump supporters hold a counter rally during "100 Days of Failure" protest and march, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in New York. Thousands of people across the U.S. are marching on President Donald Trump's hundredth day in office to demand action on climate change. New appointees Other new appointees include Hugh Barton, a toxicology and risk assessment consultant who formerly worked for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc, and Richard Williams, an economics and benefit-cost analysis consultant who previously worked for the Food and Drug Administration. "In a fair, open, and transparent fashion, EPA reviewed hundreds of qualified applicants nominated for this committee," acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement. They "include experts from a wide variety of scientific disciplines who reflect the geographic diversity needed to represent all 10 EPA regions. Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, has said he believes climate change is occurring, but told senators at his confirmation hearing earlier this month that he did not see it as an urgent problem. Trump downplays climate change Trump has also repeatedly downplayed the threat of climate change, and announced his intention shortly after taking office in January 2017 to pull the United States from a global accord to fight it. The science advisory board was created by Congress to serve as a check on EPA policies and research. The EPA in 2017 barred scientists who have won agency-awarded grants from serving on the panel, a move the administration said was aimed at reducing conflicts of interest, but which environmental groups said would keep qualified scientists out of contention. Federal authorities revealed Thursday that they have charged 20 people with an illegal operation to bring pregnant Chinese women to the United States to give birth. A baby born on U.S. soil gets automatic citizenship. Three travel agents operating in Southern California were arrested Thursday, charged with conspiracy, visa fraud and money laundering. U.S. attorneys said they believe most of the other suspects have fled back to China. The operators of these birthing houses show contempt for the United States while they were luring clients with the power and prestige of U.S. citizenship for their children, U.S. attorney Nick Hanna said. FILE - This March 3, 2015, photo shows an upscale FILE - This March 3, 2015, photo shows an upscale apartment complex where authorities say a birth tourism business charged pregnant women for lodging, food and transportation, after it was raided in Irvine, Calif. On Jan. 31, 2019, authorities announced they have charged 20 people in an unprecedented crackdown on businesses that helped hundreds of Chinese women travel to the United States to give birth to American citizen children. FILE - This March 3, 2015, photo shows an upscale apartment complex where authorities say a birth tourism business charged pregnant women for lodging, food and transportation, after it was raided in Irvine, Calif. On Jan. 31, 2019, authorities announced they have charged 20 people in an unprecedented crackdown on businesses that helped hundreds of Chinese women travel to the United States to give birth to American citizen children. Those under arrest allegedly ran U.S. travel agencies with such names as You Win USA Vacation Services and USA Happy Baby. According to the indictment, upper middle-class and wealthy Chinese couples including Chinese government officials paid the agencies between $40,000 and $100,000 to arrange travel to the U.S. for their pregnant customers. The women allegedly lied about the purpose of their travel to the U.S. when securing visas. In some cases, they were advised to tell immigration officials that they were going to stay at the Trump International Hotel in Honolulu. The travel agents told the women to wear loose-fitting clothes to hide their pregnancies from border control officials who may be on the lookout for such schemes. After delivering their babies, some of the women claimed to be impoverished to avoid big medical bills, when, in fact, they had large U.S. bank accounts. The women allegedly stayed in the U.S. for as long as three months, living in apartments arranged by the travel bureaus, before returning home with their babies U.S. citizens who as adults can sponsor family members in the U.S. I see this as a grave national security concern and vulnerability, special agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mark Zito said. Are some of them doing it for security because the United States is more stable? Absolutely. But will those governments take advantage of this? Yes, they will. Federal authorities broke up the ring in 2015 after a series of raids on those apartments and other sites. They said it took this long to charge the suspects because of the huge number of records and evidence to comb through, much of it in Mandarin. Officials said several other countries, including South Korea, Turkey and Russia, have similar birthing operations. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he would consider declaration of a national emergency as the path forward to building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border because he didn't think lawmakers' negotiations would produce the necessary funds. "We will be looking at a national emergency because I don't think anything is going to happen. I think Democrats don't want border security. And when I hear them talking about the fact that walls are immoral, walls don't work they know they work," Trump said. On Thursday, the president called bipartisan congressional talks over border wall funding a "waste of time." 'I've set the table' In a White House interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Trump again hinted he might declare a national emergency in order to bypass Congress and build the wall without its approval. "I'll continue to build the wall and we'll get the wall finished. Now, whether or not I declare a national emergency, that you'll see ... I've set the table, I've set the stage for doing what I'm going to do." If within two weeks lawmakers can't reach a deal on border security that Trump would sign, there could be another government shutdown. If Trump does declare a national emergency, Democrats who don't want any money for a border wall will probably immediately challenge Trump in court. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks to reporters on Capitol Hill, Jan. 24, 2019. FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks to reporters on Capitol Hill, Jan. 24, 2019. The president had strong words for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has repeatedly said she will not agree to give Trump the $5.7 billion he wants for a wall. "I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what she's doing," Trump said, adding that while he has always gotten along with her, "I don't think I will anymore." Pelosi has said she is open to other kinds of barriers along the border, but Trump said alternatives were unacceptable. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it was sending an additional 3,500 troops to the U.S. southern border with Mexico to assist with security measures. Rep. Adam Smith, the Washington state Democrat who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released the latest troop numbers after slamming the Pentagon's lack of transparency in a letter to acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan. Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place Co FILE - Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place concertina wire around an encampment near the U.S.-Mexico international bridge, Nov. 4, 2018, in Donna, Texas. FILE - Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place concertina wire around an encampment near the U.S.-Mexico international bridge, Nov. 4, 2018, in Donna, Texas. A defense official confirmed that the Pentagon was sending 3,500 additional active-duty troops to the border, for a total of 5,800 active-duty troops and 2,300 National Guard troops supporting the Department of Homeland Security's request for additional border security. The official, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity, added that this "initial pop" in the number of troops would not be sustained through September. How they'll be used Some of these 3,500 will be replacing troops who will be leaving soon, while others are being assigned to the border for only 30 or 60 days in order to set up large coils of barbed wire in specific areas, according to the official. Without giving details, Trump tweeted Thursday: "More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large caravans, into our Country. We have stopped the previous Caravans, and we will stop these also. With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive." FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a tour FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a tour as he reviews border wall prototypes in San Diego, March 13, 2018. FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a tour as he reviews border wall prototypes in San Diego, March 13, 2018. Trump, as he often has, claimed erroneously that "Large sections of WALL have already been built with much more either under construction or ready to go." The U.S. has been repairing existing barriers, which Trump called "a very big part of the plan to finally, after many decades, properly Secure Our Border. The Wall is getting done one way or the other!" At various times, Trump has called the barriers at the border an impenetrable concrete wall, and other times "steel slats," or a see-through barrier. On Thursday, though, Trump said, "Let's just call them WALLS from now on and stop playing political games! A WALL is a WALL!" U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview Thursday that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had assured his lawyers that the president was not a target of Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe, the New York Times reported. Trump also said he had never spoken with his longtime political ally Roger Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen Democratic Party emails it made public during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, nor had he directed anyone to do so, the Times said. He told the attorneys that Im not a subject, Im not a target, Trump said of Rosensteins comment about the Mueller probe, according to the Times. Mueller is leading an investigation into what U.S. intelligence agencies have said was Russian interference in the 2016 election to help Trump win the presidency, and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Trump calls the investigation a witch hunt and denies any collusion with Russia, and Moscow denies meddling in the election. Stone pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he tried to obstruct a congressional investigation into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Charging documents after Stones arrest a week ago alleged a senior Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information WikiLeaks had about the campaign of Trumps Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. The Times said when Trump was asked whether he had spoken with Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen emails, he said, No, I didnt. I never did. Asked whether he had directed anyone to get in touch with Stone about WikiLeaks, Trump said, Never did, according to the Times. A groundbreaking San Francisco ordinance meant to curb soda consumption by slapping health warnings on sugary-beverage advertisements suffered a setback Thursday, as a federal appeals court ruled 11-0 to block the law from taking effect.Passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2015, the ordinance would require display ads for sugary beverages to devote 20 percent of their space to a label saying the drinks increase the risks for obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. The warning would have been attributed to the city, not the beverage company.But the American Beverage Association, the California Retailers Association and the California State Outdoor Advertising Association sued the city, claiming the warning violated their First Amendment free-speech rights. They also claimed the law unfairly singled out sugary beverages as unhealthy, compared to other high-calorie foods.The free-speech questions will now have to be hashed out by the district court. But in Thursday's ruling, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the city had not made an effective case that the 20 percent rule "when balanced against its likely burden on protected speech."The ordinance was supposed to take effect in 2016, but it's been on hold while the case works its way through the court system.A federal district judge denied the beverage industry's request for an injunction that would have blocked the law from taking effect in 2016, but he agreed to delay enforcement of his ruling while the beverage industry appealed.In 2017, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that injunction, but the court later agreed to hear the case again as a full 11-judge panel. The full panel came to the same conclusion."This decision is solely about the size of the warning label," said John Cote, a spokesman for the city attorney's office. "The court found that 20 percent is too large, but suggested 10 percent would be sufficient."The court did not say whether the 10 percent size was valid or invalid, but reiterated that the city had not justified the 20 percent requirement."We're evaluating our next steps in light of this decision. But make no mistake -- we're committed to protecting the health of San Francisco residents by allowing them to get factual information," Cote said.American Beverage Association spokesman William Dermody said, "We are pleased with this ruling, which affirms there are more appropriate ways to help people manage their overall sugar consumption than through mandatory and misleading messages." President Donald Trump is calling bipartisan congressional talks over border wall funding a waste of time. In a White House interview with The New York Times Thursday, Trump again hinted he may declare a national emergency in order to bypass Congress and build the wall without its approval. Ill continue to build the wall and well get the wall finished. Now whether or not I declare a national emergency, that youll see ... Ive set the table, Ive set the stage for doing what Im going to do. Shutdown? National emergency? If there is no deal on border security in less than three weeks that Trump would sign, there could be another government shutdown. If Trump does declare a national emergency, Democrats who dont want any money for a border wall will probably immediately challenge Trump in court. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporte Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. The president had strong words for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has said many times that she will not agree to give Trump the $5.7 billion he wants for a wall. I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what shes doing, Trump said, adding that while he has always gotten along with her, I dont think I will any more. Pelosi has said she was open to other kinds of barriers along the border, but Trump said that was unacceptable. Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place Co Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place Concertina wire around an encampment for troops, Department of Defense and U.S. Customs and Border Protection near the U.S.-Mexico International bridge, Nov. 4, 2018, in Donna, Texas. Members of a U.S Army engineering brigade place Concertina wire around an encampment for troops, Department of Defense and U.S. Customs and Border Protection near the U.S.-Mexico International bridge, Nov. 4, 2018, in Donna, Texas. ?More troops head to border Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it is sending 3,500 more troops to the U.S. southern border with Mexico to assist with border security measures. Democrat Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released the latest troop numbers after slamming the Pentagons lack of transparency in a letter to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan. A defense official confirmed that the Pentagon was sending 3,500 more active duty troops to the border, for a total of 5,800 active duty troops and 2,300 National Guard troops supporting the Department of Homeland Securitys request for additional border security. The official, who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity, added that this initial pop in the number of troops would not be sustained through September. Some of these 3,500 will be replacing troops who will be leaving soon, while others are only assigned to the border for 30 or 60 days in order to set up large coiled barbed wire in specific areas, according to the official. Less Is More? Trump Out of Sight as Border Talks Play Out No televised roundtables with Cabinet secretaries. No freewheeling speeches from the Oval Office. No shouted comments on his way to Marine One.Wheres the president? While the federal government is open once again, President Donald Trump has been largely behind closed doors tweeting often from the White House residence, but so far out of sight.Republicans and Democrats alike seem just fine with Trump hanging back as legislators try to work out a deal to keep the government open and resolve a No televised roundtables with Cabinet secretaries. No freewheeling speeches from the Oval Office. No shouted comments on his way to Marine One.Wheres the president? While the federal government is open once again, President Donald Trump has been largely behind closed doors tweeting often from the White House residence, but so far out of sight.Republicans and Democrats alike seem just fine with Trump hanging back as legislators try to work out a deal to keep the government open and resolve a ?Trump tweets Without giving any details, Trump tweeted Thursday More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large caravans, into our Country. We have stopped the previous Caravans, and we will stop these also. With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive. Trump, as he often has, claimed erroneously that Large sections of WALL have already been built with much more either under construction or ready to go. The U.S. has been repairing existing barriers, which Trump called a very big part of the plan to finally, after many decades, properly Secure Our Border. The Wall is getting done one way or the other! At various times, Trump has called the barriers at the border an impenetrable concrete wall, and other times steel slats, or a see-through barrier, even peaches, if people preferred. But on Thursday, Trump said, Lets just call them WALLS from now on and stop playing political games! A WALL is a WALL! He claimed that Mexicos soaring murder rate was reason enough to build the wall. Very sadly, Murder cases in Mexico in 2018 rose 33% from 2017, to 33,341. This is a big contributor to the Humanitarian Crises taking place on our Southern Border and then spreading throughout our Country. Worse even than Afghanistan. Much caused by DRUGS. He said that with the record Mexican murder rate, why wouldnt any sane person want to build a wall. Roman Catholic officials in the southcentral U.S. state of Texas released the names Thursday of nearly 300 priests and others accused of sexually abusing thousands of children. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Galveston-Houston diocese said the names were made public because it is right and just, and to offer healing and hope to those who have suffered. It is not immediately clear if any of the listed clergy will face charges in court. Some names on the list go as far back at the 1940s. Many of them are dead. The list is the latest revelation about predator priests, an international scandal that has rocked the Catholic church. In August, a grand jury in the eastern U.S. state of Pennsylvania released a report also detailing the abuse of thousands of children by more than 300 priests over seven decades. The Vatican is holding a summit this month, called by Pope Francis, to not only sensitize church leaders around the world to the pain of abuse victims, but also to teach clergy how to investigate cases and to establish protocols for church hierarchy to use. BLANTYRE, MALAWI - Political violence is on the rise in Malawi as the country prepares for May elections. The victims are mostly opposition party members beaten by suspected supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. However, DPP officials have denied being behind the attacks, blaming misguided youth who aim to tarnish the partys image. In response, Malawis electoral commission has threatened to disqualify any candidate using violence. Opposition member Henderson Waya being treated in Opposition member Henderson Waya being treated in a hospital after he was attacked by youths suspected of being associated with the Malawi ruling party. Opposition member Henderson Waya being treated in a hospital after he was attacked by youths suspected of being associated with the Malawi ruling party. Mob of youths attack One opposition party member, Henderson Waya, a member of the United Transformation Movement, was attacked by a group of youths two weeks ago when he and others were driving to a party rally. He says when they youths approached them, one threatened to burn their car and threw a glass bottle at them. The bottle missed him by a whisker but hit the drivers door. Waya was severely injured by the pieces of glass, which stuck in his face. Waya says the mob declared only the ruling Democratic Progressive Party could hold rallies ahead of the May elections. The attack came just days after suspected DPP youth beat UTM lawmaker Bon Kalindo. I have a broken nose, I had a clot in the head and this time, I am feeling some bodily pains, especially in the head because I was bleeding from nose and the mouth, he said. The ruling DPP denies they are behind the recent attacks, and President Peter Mutharika said political violence would not be tolerated. Spokesman Nicholas Dausi went further: He told VOA the violent mobs were posing as DPP supporters to smear the partys image. Lack of ideas But Malawi political analyst Sherrif Kaisi says violence is often the last resort for leaders who run out of ideas to win public support. If you run short of these [and] you dont have what you can give to the people; you dont have what you can explain to them about what you can do to be free from corruption. If you dont have strategies of eradicating corruption, then you result to violence, he said. The United Nations says if not addressed, Malawis rising political violence could discourage voting. Code of conduct Malawis electoral commission announced that all presidential candidates must sign a code of conduct during campaigns. Sangwani Mwafulirwa is the spokesperson for the electoral commission. It [code of conduct] focuses on campaign where people express ideas and not focusing on castigations or ferrying youths to stop other peoples rallies or any form of violence, he said. The commission says it will disqualify any candidate whose supporters use violence during Malawis official campaign period, expected to begin in March. Even if enforced, thats little comfort to opposition members like Waya. It also means that Malawi could see weeks of more political violence before candidates need to worry about consequences. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that the United States "calls on every nation to recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president and take the side of freedom." Pence said the United States stood with Venezuela amid a power struggle between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Guaido. He warned, "Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States." Pence was speaking at a meeting with Venezuelan exiles and community leaders in Miami, participating in a round-table discussion at a Spanish-speaking worship center. He said, "These leaders gathered here and this president in our administration are going to continue to stand with you until the suffering is over and freedom is restored." WATCH: Guaido on attempt to intimidate his family Guaido, president of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president last week after the assembly declared Maduro's re-election last May illegitimate, as most opposition candidates either boycotted the race or were barred from running. The United States has recognized Guaido as interim president. "Let me make it clear to leaders around the world ... there can be no bystanders in the struggle for Venezuela's freedom," the U.S. vice president said during a solidarity rally later in the day. White House national security adviser John Bolton said in a radio interview Friday that the U.S. goal in Venezuela was a peaceful transition of power, and he denied that a U.S. military intervention was imminent. And Guaido told an Argentine newspaper he also opposed outside military action in Venezuela. "Our democratic struggle and adherence to the Constitution is very difficult," he said, "but ... we want to avoid a violent outcome. I keep repeating our road map: end of usurpation, transitional government and free elections." Help turned down The Associated Press said Guaido had turned down offers of help from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with Maduro to step down, but that he had urged both countries to take his side in the struggle for control of the country. The opposition leader said remaining neutral would align them with Maduro. On Saturday, more anti-Maduro demonstrations are planned for the streets of Venezuela's cities. Maduro's administration is calling for his supporters to mount a counterdemonstration. Guaido said in a New York Times opinion piece earlier this week that more than 50 countries had either recognized him as interim president or recognized the National Assembly as the legitimate authority in Venezuela. He said he had begun appointing ambassadors and "locating and recovering national assets tied up abroad." Countries back Venezuelan presidential contenders Reuters news service quotes two EU diplomats as saying European Union governments have announced they will move to recognize Guaido next week as Venezuelas interim president. Pakistani police have fired tear gas and wielded batons to disperse a rally by Islamic radicals in the southern port city of Karachi against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. But despite the Karachi violence, nationwide rallies the extremists had called for on Friday against Aasia Bibi's freedom mostly fizzled. Bibi had spent eight years on death row on charges of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, which petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse its Oct. 31 acquittal of Bibi, had called for new rallies after the top court this week threw out its petition. It had also urged businesses and transport operators to strike but the call was ignored. There were scatterings of small rallies against Bibi in northwestern Pakistan and the capital, Islamabad. TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN - Based in Beijing, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) encompasses eight countries representing 3 billion people. That gives it heft but worries many in the West, who see an emerging bloc that will oppose Washington and its allies in Eurasia. The group's new secretary-general, former Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, says the SCO aims to be a connector, not a divider. "We are not an anti-Western bloc," said Norov, "or a military alliance as many Western experts claim." U.S. relations The organization holds regular political and economic summits, as well as large-scale security and counterterrorism drills. In a recent interview with VOA in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Norov said the group was broadening its focus but that that should not be seen as threatening. SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov and VOA journ SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov talks to VOA journalist Navbahor Imamova, Dec. 14, 2018, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov talks to VOA journalist Navbahor Imamova, Dec. 14, 2018, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan ?Founded in 1996 as the "Shanghai Five" by China and three Central Asian states and Russia, which shared borders with China, the group added Uzbekistan, renamed itself the SCO in 2001, and expanded to include India and Pakistan in 2018. Its power players are Russia and China, and the group has often been seen as a platform for their coordination, especially on security issues that needle Washington. In 2005, the group called for a timeline to end the coalition military presence in Afghanistan, a step that deeply troubled many in the George W. Bush administration. Many Western security analysts view the SCO as a strategic platform for China and Russia to showcase their individual and combined power and leadership, while smaller countries in Central Asia use it to amplify their voices and assert their positions on global issues. Others, however, view the group as too diverse to inculcate a shared vision. They dismiss its prospects, noting, for example, that India and Pakistan are members but at loggerheads on so many security issues that it is hard to imagine them coordinating within the group. The SCO suffers from a lack of funding, cohesion and mutual trust, these observers say. Norov argues otherwise. The group, he said, has played an important role in maintaining stability for instance, by enabling greater coordination among member states as they fight terrorism, narcotics trafficking and organized crime. The SCO has a regional anti-terror unit in Tashkent. And Norov said intelligence cooperation was a strength, even though many view that coordination as a means for those members with poor human rights records to share one another's repression and escape Western scrutiny. Boosting economic ties Yet even as he boosts the SCO, Norov agrees the group has not reached its potential, particularly as a platform for economic cooperation. "We are a multilateral organization but not so active economically," Norov said. "And that is why there will be focus on implementing projects to develop transportation-related communication systems." An attendee at a conference looks up near a portra FILE - An attendee at a conference looks up near a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Belt and Road forum in Beijing, April 28, 2017. FILE - An attendee at a conference looks up near a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Belt and Road forum in Beijing, April 28, 2017. Indeed, economic connectivity has become a major focus within the SCO. China promotes connectivity through its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. India, which opposes the Belt and Road, has its own efforts, aiming to link itself to Central Asia via Iran's Chabahar Port. Kazakhstan and others aim to reap the benefits of transit, sitting astride new transportation corridors. Energy cooperation, which calls for connectivity in the form of pipelines and connections among national power grids, has been growing, especially as Russia shows serious interest in pushing its hydrocarbons to the Chinese market. Norov, the first Uzbek to head the group, knows the West well and its apprehensions about the SCO from his time as foreign minister and as Uzbekistan's top diplomat at the European Union. As an Uzbek diplomat, Norov will likely reflect Tashkent's hope for "more harmony" in the group. But Uzbekistan, too, aims to latch onto the emerging connectivity effort: It wants a railroad to connect with China. And as one of the world's only double-landlocked countries, it is eager to gain access to seaports through SCO members China, India and Pakistan. Equipment and machines installed by Chinese excava FILE - Equipment and machines installed by Chinese excavators are seen near a copper mine in Mes Aynak, Logar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14, 2015. FILE - Equipment and machines installed by Chinese excavators are seen near a copper mine in Mes Aynak, Logar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14, 2015. ?Afghan stabilization Norov noted that the SCO does have a security agenda. But this, he argued, meshes with that of the West namely, to stabilize Afghanistan, which has observer status in the SCO. All members have committed to assist the war-torn country and support its peace effort through the SCO's Afghanistan Contact Group. Norov stressed the objective of helping with social and economic development while "promoting a political-diplomatic solution to the Afghan problem." China, the biggest SCO donor, has invested billions to develop natural resources in Afghanistan. Norov especially emphasized the "softer" side of the SCO's evolving agenda. He noted that the SCO hoped for new partnerships in tourism and education. His native Uzbekistan, for example, will house a Silk Road University, whose mission is to produce graduates skilled in business and tourism. Norov faces many challenges fostering organizational coherence, contributing on Afghanistan, broadening the SCO's reach into hard and soft connectivity. But another challenge will be to assuage the concerns of the group's many critics. LONDON - The Kremlin may have helped Venezuela's embattled socialist leader Nicolas Maduro swap gold for cash, transporting Venezuelan bullion deposited in Moscow to the United Arab Emirates and then flying U.S. currency into the Venezuelan capital, an investigative newspaper has claimed. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gives a press Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gives a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 25, 2019. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gives a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 25, 2019. The report in the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta is adding to the fears of pro-democracy activists in Venezuela that the Kremlin will try to make good on its pledge to stand by Maduro to help him survive a popular uprising against him. Russian officials have condemned U.S. sanctions imposed last month against Venezuela's vital oil sector, a move aimed at depriving Maduro of the funds he needs to pay his army, which has so far remained loyal to him. The Kremlin says the sanctions are illegal meddling in Venezuela's domestic affairs. And it rejects, too, the widespread Latin American and European endorsement of the popular protests against Maduro. Gold swapped for dollars? Citing unnamed sources in the United Arab Emirates, the newspaper alleged that on Jan. 29, a Russian-operated Boeing 757 cargo plane took Venezuelan gold stored in Russia's central bank to Dubai. The bullion was replaced with containers full of U.S. dollars and the aircraft, which is owned by the Russian company Yerofei, took off again and flew via Morocco to Venezuela, the paper said. A Boeing 777 from Russia's Nordwind Airlines remai A Boeing 777 from Russia's Nordwind Airlines remains parked on the runway at La Guaira airport, near Caracas on Jan. 30, 2019. A Boeing 777 from Russia's Nordwind Airlines remains parked on the runway at La Guaira airport, near Caracas on Jan. 30, 2019. The director of Russia's central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, denied the allegation, saying the bank was holding no Venezuelan bullion. On Friday, a senior Venezuelan official told the Reuters news agency that Caracas plans to sell 29 tons of gold to the UAE in return for euros and said the sale of the nation's gold began with a shipment of three tons on Jan. 26, following the export last year of $900 million in unrefined gold to Turkey. But the official said Moscow was not involved in the gold-for-cash operation. Social media theories Turkey has been refining and certifying Venezuelan gold since last year after Maduro switched operations from Switzerland, fearing Venezuelan bullion could end up being impounded. The Jan. 29 flight, though, is the second unexplained Russian plane to have landed in Caracas since the high-stakes standoff began between opposition leader Juan Guaido and Maduro. A Boeing 777 belonging to a Russian charter company called Nordwind flew from Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Monday to the Venezuelan capital, according to flight tracking data. Nordwind normally only flies Russian tourists to vacation destinations in the Mediterranean and southeast Asia. The arrival of the Nordwind jet in Caracas triggered an avalanche of social media theories about what it was doing in the Venezuelan capital. Some anti-Maduro lawmakers claimed that it brought Russian mercenaries to help guard the socialist leader. One theory that prompted jubilation among street protesters was that it was there to spirit Maduro into exile. The flight also prompted Venezuelan lawmaker Jose Guerra, who previously worked as an economist in Venezuela's central bank, to warn in a tweet: "We have received information from officials at the Central Bank of Venezuela: A plane arrived from Moscow, with the intention of taking away at least 20 tons of gold. We demand that the Central Bank of Venezuela provide details about what is happening." 'Fake news' Dmitry Peskov, press spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters midweek the reports about Venezuelan gold and the Kremlin were inaccurate and urged journalists to "deal carefully with fake news' of various kinds." He dismissed Guerra's claims, saying, according to TASS, "Russia is prepared to promote a settlement to the political situation in Venezuela without meddling in that country's internal affairs. Russia is categorically against any meddling by third countries in Venezuela's internal affairs." FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition leader and self- FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido arrives to attend a holy mass in Caracas, Jan. 27, 2019. FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido arrives to attend a holy mass in Caracas, Jan. 27, 2019. For Moscow and Beijing, the high-stakes standoff between Guaido, who declared himself interim president in late January, and Maduro represents a geopolitical headache. Both Russia and China have lent billions of dollars to Maduro. Russia's oil-giant Rosneft has stakes in five onshore oil projects, according to Bloomberg News, and has loaned the Maduro government more than $7 billion, which is meant to be repaid in oil deliveries. The Bank of England this week refused a Venezuelan request for the return of more than one billion dollars' worth of gold it has on deposit. The refusal came after the United States urged Western countries to block the Maduro government from accessing any assets outside Venezuela's borders. WASHINGTON - A day after he lashed out at U.S. intelligence agency chiefs over their assessments of global threats, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course Thursday and said that he and the intelligence community are all on the same page. Trump met with his director of national intelligence and other top security officials in the Oval Office and said afterward that they told him their testimony at a Senate hearing had been mischaracterized by the news media. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporte Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 31, 2019. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats had slammed the president for his comments disparaging Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other top security officials. The officials told Congress on Tuesday that North Korea is unlikely to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and that the Iran nuclear deal is working, contrary to what Trump has claimed. The intelligence agency chiefs said that they were totally misquoted and ... it was taken out of context, Trump told reporters at the White House. They said it was fake news. FILE - CIA Director Gina Haspel testifies before t FILE - CIA Director Gina Haspel testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019. FILE - CIA Director Gina Haspel testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019. Coats and other officials presented an update to the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday on their annual assessment of global threats. In a public report and testimony broadcast on C-SPAN, they warned of an increasingly diverse range of security dangers around the globe, from North Korean nuclear weapons to Chinese cyber espionage to Russian campaigns to undermine Western democracies. Trump tweeted Thursday that he and the intelligence leaders are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc. and that he values their service. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page! he wrote. Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters that the intelligence officials were courageous in speaking truth to power by publicly contradicting Trump. One dismaying factor of it all is that the president just doesn't seem to have the attention span or the desire to hear what the intelligence community has been telling him, Pelosi said Thursday, calling Trump's comments attacking the intelligence leaders cause for concern. Trump said earlier that intelligence officials were wrong about North Korea, Iran and the Islamic State, which they said remains a terrorist and insurgent threat. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school! Trump tweeted Wednesday. Pelosi said Trump's comments were stunning. It's important for the Republicans in Congress to recognize they have to weigh in with the president to say, You can't act without knowledge,Pelosi said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., spea Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said it was past time for U.S. intelligence officials to stage an intervention with Trump. In a letter to Coats, Schumer called Trump's criticism of intelligence agencies extraordinarily inappropriate and said it could undermine public confidence in the government's ability to protect Americans. Schumer urged Coats and other officials to educate'' Trump about the facts and raw intelligence underlying threat assessments so the administration can speak with a unified and accurate voice about national security threats. Asked about his tweets earlier Thursday, Trump did not back away from questioning the assessment by Coats and Haspel. I disagree with certain things that they said. I think I'm right, but time will prove that, time will prove me right probably, Trump told reporters at the White House. I think Iran is a threat. I think I did a great thing when I terminated the ridiculous Iran nuclear deal. It was a horrible one-sided deal. Speaking about intelligence agencies generally, Trump added: I have great respect for a lot people but I don't always agree with everybody. At a hearing Tuesday, Coats said intelligence information does not support the idea that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will eliminate his nuclear weapons. Trump later insisted on Twitter that the U.S. relationship with North Korea is the best it has ever been. He pointed to the North's halt in nuclear and missile tests, the return of some U.S. service members' remains and the release of detained Americans as signs of progress. U.S. intelligence agencies also said Iran continues to work with other parties to the nuclear deal it reached with the U.S. and other world powers. In doing so, they said, Iran has at least temporarily lessened the nuclear threat. In May 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from that accord, which he said would not deter Iran. The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran, Trump tweeted. They are wrong! Editor's note: We want you to know what's happening, 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. Funds for SIV program in doubt Thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government and U.S. military contractors are caught in the budgetary cross-hairs. Legislators are scrambling to fund Special Immigrant Visas, but the program's future is uncertain, leaving some people who have waited years for a visa unsure if they will ever be granted what the United States promised. The possibility that the U.S. will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan adds new urgency to the situation. Feds fake university, make real arrests U.S. federal agents created a completely made-up university that never held classes or even had any professors. Now they've arrested 130 foreign students on allegations of visa fraud, claiming the students knew the school was a scam, and only enrolled to obtain work authorizations. Mediterranean migrant deaths soar in 2018 In 2017, on routes from Libya to Europe, one person died for every 38 people who were traveling by sea, according to the United Nations. Last year that number rose to one death for every 14 who arrived in Europe. But despite years of facing the humanitarian crisis, European countries still waffle on how to handle rescued migrants. Living at church, hoping for sanctuary Rosa Gutierrez Lopez hopes that by living in a Maryland church, she will avoid deportation and possible separation from her family including a son with Down syndrome. "I believe her, and her children her American children would be in grave danger," said her lawyer. "A.) She's been here in the United States for so long; B.) she has American children; and C.) one of them is ill, making her an extra vulnerable target." U.S. axes visas to Ghanaians The U.S. government said this week it was restricting visas to Ghanaian citizens on the grounds that the country is not accepting its deported nationals from the United States. It's not the first time the U.S. has used this tactic. But will targeting the fourth-largest group of Africans in the United States prompt Ghana into compliance? The New York City Housing Authority's top boss will be replaced as part of a tentative HUD settlement, and a federal monitor will be installed to oversee the nation's largest public housing system, officials said Thursday.Top brass at NYCHA will be replaced as part of the deal, including NYCHA Chairman Stanley Brezenoff, who has been leading the city's public housing authority on an interim basis since the departure under fire of its last chair in the aftermath of a lead paint scandal.The new plan also calls for a powerful federal monitor, but stops short of receivership -- which would have amounted to a full federal takeover the system.The agreement -- which HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Mayor de Blasio signed at a table together at Manhattan's Federal Plaza -- establishes a federal monitor to be chosen by HUD and a Manhattan Federal judge with "input" from the city. The city will pay the cost of the monitor, who has not yet been named.The city will commit at least $2.2 billion in funding for NYCHA over the next 10 years."We were able to put aside any political differences, and think about what would provide the right environment for the people here," Carson said at a news conference. "I'm very excited about what we have agreed to here because I think it sets a great precedent for what can be done in other places around the country."Obviously we're going to have to get to the root causes of things and fix them. Having a safe and nurturing environment is key to human development. If we want our people to be developed appropriately we need to provide those basic resources to get them there."De Blasio said he and Carson found "common ground.""At the beginning of this process I'm sure that there are many who would have predicted that Secretary Carson and I would not have been able to work together well and communicate and find common ground," the mayor said. "Secretary Carson and I inherited a situation that was many decades in the making, and I wish we didn't. But we resolved from the beginning to do something different and to find a way to cooperate in the interest of the people. What we have done here today I think creates a strong path forward and a very tangible path forward."The agreement comes after months of negotiations between NYCHA, HUD and federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York who had brought forth a complaint alleging substandard living conditions due to mold, lead paint and other hazards.The city and HUD had previously reached a deal only for Judge William Pauley to strike it down last year, following outraged testimony from residents and advocates.Under the agreement, the monitor will submit quarterly reports to HUD and SDNY, which will be made publicly available. The city will pay the cost of the monitor in addition to its other financial commitments. The parties expect to announce the monitor in the near future.Longtime NYCHA critics were skeptical of the deal."These are real people in these houses," said city Councilman Jumaane Williams, a candidate for Public Advocate. "This is not a game to be tweeted out in a tease. These are real people. This is our city. Stop releasing plans for NYCHA residents that have no NYCHA resident input. We've gone from a city and state that has failed to a federal government that doesn't care." PARIS - After seven years detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo and ex-youth leader Charles Ble Goude are free men but there's a hitch. Presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji read out the unanimous verdict of the five-judge appeals panel. "The conditions set out in the written judgement are imposed to Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Ble Goude upon their release to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing and able to enforce the conditions." It's a small victory for ICC prosecutors, after the court's stunning acquittal of both Gbagbo and Ble Goude last month. Judges said the prosecution's case was "exceptionally weak" in trying to link the men to election-related violence in Ivory Coast in 2010 and 2011 that left roughly 3,000 people dead. Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo appear Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo appears before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 15, 2019. Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo appears before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 15, 2019. ?Both ICC prosecutors and the chief lawyer for the victims, Paolina Massidda, had argued for the two men's conditional release. Massidda warned they presented flight risks and said their unconditional release might impact victims' safety. "Victims remain very concerned about the possibility the commission of further crimes and attempts to compromise the integrity of the proceedings if the defendants are released without conditions," Massidda said. Gbagbo's lawyer Emmanuel Altit unsuccessfully argued that conditional release went against the very principle of his client's acquittal. He said liberty is an essential human right, and Gbagbo should be freed since he was acquitted. Last month's acquittal has intensified criticism of the ICC, which has convicted only four people in nearly 20 years of operation. One of them former Congolese vice-president Jean Pierre Bemba was later acquitted on appeals. Critics say the court is ineffective and overly focused on African cases. Supporters note the so-called "court of last resort" is probing other regions of the world and say the court has insufficient means to realize a daunting mandate. WASHINGTON - Starbucks Coffee magnate Howard Schultzs revelation this week that he is considering a run for the U.S. presidency as an independent candidate added an unexpected twist to the nascent 2020 campaign. A billionaire, with the ability and apparent willingness to self-finance a national campaign, Schultz could have a profound impact on the presidential contest, even if his actual chances of victory would likely be slim. Schultzs tentative entry into the race sparked a variety of reactions across the country. His announcement piqued the interest of those who long for an alternative to the two-party system. It also earned the immediate derision of many political veterans, who see him as a wealthy dilettante. Most notably, it provoked outright fear among many Democrats, who worry that his bid could siphon votes away from their partys eventual nominee, giving President Donald Trump a better shot at re-election, despite his sharp decline in the polls. People protest outside before former Starbucks CEO People protest outside before former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Jan. 31, 2019. People protest outside before former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Jan. 31, 2019. Originally from Brooklyn, Schultz, 65, made his billions on the West Coast, turning a small Seattle coffee company into a ubiquitous chain with more than 28,000 outlets worldwide. Along the way, he became a reliable donor to the Democratic Party, calling himself a lifelong Democrat. That, however, has changed. In a flurry of TV appearances over the past week, Schultz has explicitly broken with both major political parties, insisting that the majority of Americans are not being well-served by far-right Republicans and far-left Democrats. Staking out a middle ground While Schultz has not yet laid out detailed policy proposals, he appears to be staking out a middle-ground position, agreeing with Republicans on some economic and fiscal issues, but with Democrats on many social issues. He has angrily denounced proposals from high-profile Democrats to expand Medicare to cover all Americans, and to increase taxes on the wealthy by raising marginal rates on the highest earners, or taxing wealth in addition to income. In an appearance on CNN, he dismissed the Medicare idea as not American. In an interview with National Public Radio, he called Democratic tax plans ridiculous. On many of the issues that have fueled the countrys ongoing culture war, though, Schultz is firmly on the side of his former party. He remains in favor of abortion rights and gay marriage, and has spoken in support of tighter regulation of firearms. He also favors a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and aggressive action to counter climate change. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is interviewed Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is interviewed by FOX News Anchor Dana Perino for her "The Daily Briefing" program, in New York, Jan. 30, 2019. Schultz said he's flirting with an independent presidential campaign that would motivate voters turned off by partisan politics. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is interviewed by FOX News Anchor Dana Perino for her "The Daily Briefing" program, in New York, Jan. 30, 2019. Schultz said he's flirting with an independent presidential campaign that would motivate voters turned off by partisan politics. Schultzs pitch is that his mix of policy positions will appeal to what he has repeatedly referred to as a silent majority of independent voters who are dissatisfied with both major parties and want an independent candidate to support. But that assessment of the American electorate isnt shared by political scientists. While some 40 percent of voters do self-identify as independents, study after study has shown that the overwhelming majority of them actually have a strong preference for one party or the other. Schultz looms as a spoiler To think otherwise is just incredibly naive, said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, at the University of Virginias Center for Politics. It shows a very unsophisticated understanding of the American electorate. He added, There is a spoiler potential with someone like Schultz. But a path to victory? Its just difficult for me to imagine. Indeed, commentators and partisans on both sides have focused less on Schultz as a potential president and more as a disruptive force in what will almost certainly be a highly contentious election. His presence in the race adds a degree of uncertainty, said Seth Masket, director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. He stands very little chance of winning the 2020 election, but he stands a decent chance of affecting the outcome, Masket added. If its going to be a close re-election race, and I assume it is, his votes could be the difference between a Trump re-election and a defeat. For his part, Schultz said he has no intention of aiding the incumbent president. I would never put myself in the position of being the person to re-elect Donald Trump, Schultz told CNN Wednesday. Yet, he strongly signaled that if the Democrats turn toward a far-left candidate like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts or Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the temptation to launch an independent campaign would be irresistible. Four-term Alabama Gov. George Wallace in his offic FILE - Four-term Alabama Gov. George Wallace in his office at the Capitol in Montgomery, March 26, 1984. FILE - Four-term Alabama Gov. George Wallace in his office at the Capitol in Montgomery, March 26, 1984. ?Long list of failed political outsiders Should he make the decision to fully commit to a presidential run, Schultz would join a long list of outsiders who have sought to disrupt the two-party system that has dominated post-Civil War U.S. politics. Those candidates have come from across the political and social strata of the country, but in living memory, they have all had one thing in common: abject electoral failure. It has been more than 50 years since a candidate not representing one of the two major parties in the U.S. won even a single electoral vote in a presidential election. In 1968, George Wallace and the American Independent Party, running on a segregationist platform, managed to collect 46 of them. (The Libertarian Party candidate received one electoral vote in 1972, but he did not actually win it. It was awarded to him by a faithless elector, who was supposed to cast his vote for Republican candidate Richard Nixon.) The most successful independent candidate since Wallace was, like Schultz, another self-funded billionaire. Texas businessman H. Ross Perot earned about 19 percent of the popular vote in 1992, though again, that wasnt enough to earn him a single electoral vote. But it is important not to confuse a lack of electoral success with a lack of overall impact, and thats why Schultzs potential candidacy is making some people nervous. Libertarian Jeff Jared of Kirkland, Wash.,holds a Libertarian Jeff Jared of Kirkland, Wash.,holds a sign in support of third parties before former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Jan. 31, 2019. Libertarian Jeff Jared of Kirkland, Wash.,holds a sign in support of third parties before former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Jan. 31, 2019. ?The Perot effect Perots effect on the 1992 presidential race remains a source of controversy today. There is little doubt that his intense focus on the federal budget deficit forced his opponents, incumbent President George H.W. Bush and Democratic challenger Bill Clinton, to pay more attention to the issue than either would have liked. A larger question is whether Perot helped Clinton win the presidency by pulling votes away from Bush. Political scientists, by and large, believe Clinton would have won in a two-candidate contest. But there are members of the GOP who still blame Perot for making the elder Bush a single-term president. Better examples of third-party candidates as spoilers arose in both 2000 and 2016. The election of 2000 came down to the state of Florida, where Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore were within 0.01 percent of each other when the votes were counted. FILE - Former independent presidential candidate R FILE - Former independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader poses in Washington, Aug. 20, 2009. FILE - Former independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader poses in Washington, Aug. 20, 2009. In that race, charismatic consumer activist Ralph Nader ran as the candidate of the Green Party. He earned 2.74 percent of the vote nationwide, and crucially, 1.63 percent in Florida. In a different race, it would have been insignificant. But many believe that the Green Party drew its voters almost exclusively from the political left, with a fatal effect on Gores candidacy in the state. More recently, Green Party candidate Jill Stein in 2016 may have damaged the chances of Democrat Hillary Clinton in key races in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. In all three states, Clinton lost to Republican Trump by fewer votes than Stein received. While it is impossible to know how or even if all of Steins supporters would have voted if she hadnt been on the ballot, there is broad consensus that she hurt Clinton far more than Trump. FILE - Former mayor of New York City Michael Bloom FILE - Former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg speaks to the media in Jackson, Miss., Nov. 29, 2018. Bloombergs philanthropy has announced a $50 million donation to help fight the nations opioid epidemic. FILE - Former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg speaks to the media in Jackson, Miss., Nov. 29, 2018. Bloombergs philanthropy has announced a $50 million donation to help fight the nations opioid epidemic. ?Bloomberg wary Its the potential for a Schultz candidacy to serve as a spoiler that has Democrats, in particular, sweating over his announcement. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is considering a run for the Democratic nomination, said he had researched the possibility of an independent run and believes that it would only benefit Trump. In 2020, the great likelihood is that an independent would just split the anti-Trump vote and end up re-electing the president, he said in a statement. The data was very clear and consistent. Given the strong pull of partisanship and the realities of the Electoral College system, there is no way an independent can win. That is truer today than ever before. But not everyone is convinced that a Schultz candidacy would be uniquely damaging to a Democratic candidate. I think the most natural constituency for someone like Schultz would be affluent, white, college-educated voters in the suburbs, some of whom may be transitioning away from the Republican Party, Kondik said. Maybe they grudgingly voted for Clinton in 2016. Maybe they grudgingly voted for Trump. Maybe they voted for another third-party candidate, and maybe some of those voters would be open to voting for someone like Schultz. Schultz, he said, could actually damage Trump as much or more as he might a Democratic candidate. YEI, SOUTH SUDAN - South Sudan's government and a rebel group are blaming each other for the killing of five civilians Thursday on the outskirts of the town of Yei. Yei River state information minister Zachariah Duku Enoka accused the rebel National Salvation Front (NAS) forces of carrying out the attack. NAS leader General Thomas Cirilo refused to sign a September peace deal designed to end South Sudan's five-year civil war. NAS spokesman Samuel Suba Manase denied that any NAS forces killed civilians in the area and accused Yei River authorities of being behind the killings. "The government has moved deep into the villages in the sites of Morobo and Ombaci and was shooting civilians suspected of being supporters of NAS. We are not responsible for any killing," Manase told VOA's South Sudan in Focus. Attack happens near Yei Survivors of the attack said they were attacked while traveling on the Yei-Lasu road seven miles southwest of Yei town. "They directed us some few meters into the bush and hit me with a machete on the head and I fell down. They removed my clothes and one of my colleagues whom we came together with was cut on the head and died on the spot," said the survivor, who asked to be identified only as "Peter" for security reasons. He said the unidentified armed men tied down a young boy and said, "Let the boy die." Peter said he also saw five bodies lying on the ground in Rubeke. Survivor stable At Yei civil hospital, Dr. Rufas Bojo said Friday that Peter was listed in stable condition after undergoing an operation on his head. "He was cut in the skull about 15-20 cm long and several other injuries behind the neck. We are able to treat all the wounds," Bojo told VOA. Another survivor of the attack told VOA that fighting between government forces and NAS has raged for days in several villages of Yei River state's Otogo County. According to the Cessation of Hostilities agreement, all forces in South Sudan must protect civilians and allow the free movement of civilians. South Sudan's civil war erupted in December 2013. WASHINGTON - Amid the U.S. diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea, Washington and Seoul are negotiating a new deal on sharing the cost of maintaining U.S. forces in South Korea, because the last Special Measures Agreement (SMA) expired Dec. 31. Military experts told VOA they expect South Korea and the U.S. will remain firm allies despite the dispute that centers on a disagreement about how much the U.S. wants South Korea to pay as its share. Washington wants double the $850 million Seoul paid last year to cover the cost of stationing about the 28,500 American troops on more than 20 bases in South Korea. U.S. and South Korean soldiers salute during a cha FILE - U.S. and South Korean soldiers salute during a change of command and responsibility ceremony at Yongsan Garrison, a U.S. military base, in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 11, 2017. FILE - U.S. and South Korean soldiers salute during a change of command and responsibility ceremony at Yongsan Garrison, a U.S. military base, in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 11, 2017. Since March, Seoul and Washington have held 10 rounds of talks but remained deadlocked, raising fears that President Donald Trump might threaten to draw down forces as he prepares for a second summit with North Korea. Washington and Seoul need to reach an agreement for the new cost-sharing deal by mid-April. Otherwise, about 8,700 Koreans employed by the U.S. forces in South Korea may be put on leave. Seoul is covering those costs until the new agreement is reached as the provisions of the expired SMA stipulates. Room for compromise Bruce Bechtol, a retired Marine and former intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency who now studies North Koreas military at Angelo State University in Texas, believes theres a room for compromise on both sides. He said the disagreement over the cost happened every year theres been SMA talks in the past. He continued, In the end, we reached a deal that everyone could agree on. General John Tilelli, a retired four-star general who was commander of the U.S. and South Korean Combined Forces Command (CFC) from 1996 to 1999 said, The negotiations should be viewed with the focus of what it takes to deter North Korea and its large conventional forces and weapons of mass destruction and cause North Korea to denuclearize and become a country that believes in the right of its people to be free. A U.S. Army soldier stands guard in front of the P FILE - A U.S. Army soldier stands guard in front of the Peace House at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, April 18, 2018. FILE - A U.S. Army soldier stands guard in front of the Peace House at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, April 18, 2018. Tilelli continued There should be nothing that weakens the [South Korean] and U.S. alliance. David Maxwell, a former U.S. Special Forces colonel who served on the CFC and is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, believes a strong bond between Washington and South Korea can transcend the current friction. But he thinks, in the end, South Korea will have to increase funding to satisfy Trump. North Korean tanks roll past during a parade for t North Korean tanks roll past during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sept. 9, 2018. North Korean tanks roll past during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sept. 9, 2018. ?North Korea Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the Rand Corp. research center, however, expressed concern that North Korea will use the opportunity to drive a wedge between the two allies. North Koreas got to love whats going on, Bennett said. North Korea really would like to see the end of the U.S.-[South Korean] alliance. They want there to be much less rationale for the U.S. troops to be in South Korea. Washington initially asked Seoul to contribute $1.6 billion but later reduced the amount to $1.2 billion; Seoul rejected both. Washington slashed the amount again but suggested the deal be extended for only one year instead of the usual five. Seoul contends that it is not asking the U.S. to pay for the property use, and Washington argues that $850 million is a fraction of the total cost of about $2 billion. Trump has repeatedly expressed his disdain for alliances and threatened to pull out of NATO, Americas military alliance with Europe. At his first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, Trump canceled joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that he thought were too expensive. CAPITOL HILL - Americans faith in their government is near historic lows. Just before the beginning of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, only 18 percent of Americans said they trusted Washington lawmakers to do what is right just about always or most of the time, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Since then, public cynicism has grown even deeper, according to experts. The new Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is making a sweeping attempt to address those concerns, with H.R. 1 The Peoples Act, a bill designed to tackle what many see as lingering and corrosive problems in American democracy. From changing the way candidates fund their campaigns and addressing foreign election interference to automatically registering voters and reversing a U.S. Supreme Court decision on voter suppression, this ambitious legislation would significantly alter many areas of the democratic process. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on t FILE - Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, arrives for the testimony of Google CEO Sundar Pichai about the internet giant's privacy security and data collection, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11, 2018. FILE - Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, arrives for the testimony of Google CEO Sundar Pichai about the internet giant's privacy security and data collection, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11, 2018. The general arc of our nations politics over the last generation has made it easy to be cynical, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said Tuesday. Easy to say that America has, in that time, increasingly tended toward an oligarchy, in which more and more of the political power is concentrated in fewer and fewer wealthy and powerful hands. Glitches Mar Voting, Frustrate Voters in Georgia, Other States The 2018 U.S. midterm elections wound to a close Tuesday amid voter frustration in some parts of the country as worries about cyberattacks gave way to concerns about voting irregularities in a handful of states. From Florida to Georgia to Texas, election monitors reported a gamut of glitches, from broken voting machines and a shortage of paper ballots to unexpectedly shuttered polling stations and agonizingly long lines. Officials were quick to note, though, that problems were isolated and rapidly The 2018 U.S. midterm elections wound to a close Tuesday amid voter frustration in some parts of the country as worries about cyberattacks gave way to concerns about voting irregularities in a handful of states. From Florida to Georgia to Texas, election monitors reported a gamut of glitches, from broken voting machines and a shortage of paper ballots to unexpectedly shuttered polling stations and agonizingly long lines. Officials were quick to note, though, that problems were isolated and rapidly The 2018 midterm election campaign fueled distrust in the electoral process amid reports of voter suppression in Georgia, Florida and elsewhere, and irregularities in absentee balloting in North Carolina. McConnell sees power grab But congressional Republicans say these reforms are an attempt by Democrats to centralize elections under federal oversight and are better left to state and local voting officials. Theyre trying to clothe this power grab with cliches about restoring democracy and doing it For the People, but their proposal is simply a naked attempt to change the rules of American politics to benefit one party, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote in a Washington Post editorial published last week. It should be called the Democrat Politician Protection Act. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joi Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., speaks to reporters asking about the threat of another government shutdown following a strategy meeting in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., speaks to reporters asking about the threat of another government shutdown following a strategy meeting in Washington, Jan. 29, 2019 McConnells condemnation means the legislation has almost no chance of coming up for a vote in the U.S. Senate, which is firmly under the control of Republicans. The monthlong government shutdown delayed Democrats timeline for moving the bill through the House. Four weeks into the new 116th Congress, the House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing this week on some of the key issues in the bill. Voter registration Voters would be automatically registered to vote if the new bill is enacted. Currently, voter registration in the United States is voluntary. The bill would also make Election Day a federal holiday, helping free up some voters from work responsibilities so they can head to the polls. Critics of the provision say that would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. Vanita Gupta, incoming President and CEO Leadershi FILE - Vanita Gupta, incoming president and CEO of The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 2, 2017, before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on responses to the increase in religious hate crimes. FILE - Vanita Gupta, incoming president and CEO of The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 2, 2017, before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on responses to the increase in religious hate crimes. ?Voting rights The bill would institute a nationwide restoration of voting rights for an estimated 6.1 million people with felony convictions. The state of Florida recently restored those rights for 1.4 million of its residents. This bill would end the practice of that decision being made on varied criteria at the state level. These post-Civil War era practices have a significant racial impact, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, testified. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. Download File 360p | 10 MB 360p | 13 MB Original | 13 MB Copy Thumbnail Wed, 06/05/2019 - 18:42 Anonymous (no roles) (not verified) Media Duration 00:02:54 Millions of Ex-Convicts Struggle to Regain Their Right to Vote A life-changing mistake could have cost Dan Close his right to vote, but the state of Vermont said otherwise.Convicted 14 years ago on a felony charge of selling cocaine, Close was surprised to learn that he could still vote in state and national elections. That's because Vermont and nearby Maine are the only states in the nation that allow felons to retain their voting rights, even while they are incarcerated or completing their probation sentences.By contrast, 4.7 million convicted felons nationwide A life-changing mistake could have cost Dan Close his right to vote, but the state of Vermont said otherwise.Convicted 14 years ago on a felony charge of selling cocaine, Close was surprised to learn that he could still vote in state and national elections. That's because Vermont and nearby Maine are the only states in the nation that allow felons to retain their voting rights, even while they are incarcerated or completing their probation sentences.By contrast, 4.7 million convicted felons nationwide About one of every 13 African Americans in this country is denied the right to vote by these laws, a rate more than four times greater than all other Americans, she said. Voter suppression The bill would bolster congressional oversight of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Key provisions of this act were overturned in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision. That ruling ended federal oversight of voting practices in states and local districts with a history of racially motivated voter discrimination.Civil rights advocates say claims of voter fraud often falsely assert Latino and black voters are voting illegally and use identification requirements to prevent them from voting. Enhanced transparency The president, vice president and candidates for those positions would also legally be required to release 10 years worth of their tax returns. This debate has received renewed attention following U.S. President Donald Trumps refusal to release his tax returns, in contravention of custom of politicians running for higher office. The legislation also includes a renewed push for the Honest Ads Act, a bill created last year after social media heads testified on Capitol Hill about Russian interference on Facebook and Twitter during the 2016 election. The bill would require companies to reveal funding sources for political ads on their platforms. WATCH: Facebook, Twitter, Step Up Defenses Ahead of Midterm Election The bill would create a new Department of Justice office, and impose new civil penalties, to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), an existing law that requires people working in a political capacity to disclose financial ties to foreign governments. This law recently came into focus when former National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn was found to have violated it. Campaign finance Given concern about the role of big donors, a provision of HR 1 would institute public financing for campaigns while capping individual contributions at $200 apiece. The individuals contribution would then be matched by federal government funds at a rate of 6-1. Supporters say this type of system magnifies the impact of individual voters, while critics say it limits free speech rights to support political causes. Chances for passage While hopes for the bills passage through both chambers of Congress remain slim, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said this is an option that the House has given the Senate of the United States and the president of the United States to take action in support of the American people. The more likely outcome is that the bill will be broken up into separate pieces, allowing Republican lawmakers the opportunity to choose areas of compromise with Democrats. This is a losing issue for them, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, said of Republican opposition to the bill. People want a restoration of their faith in American politics. GENEVA - The U.N. refugee agency says thousands of civilians caught in fighting between Islamic State militants and U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Forces in northeastern Syria's Deir-el-Zour governorate are facing deplorable conditions. More than 23,000 people have fled to al-Hol camp since fighting escalated in early December, with more than 10,000 entering the camp just this week, the UNHCR reports. UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said people who survive the harrowing journey through harsh winter conditions are arriving at the camp with barely any belongings. They are cold and hungry, he added, and receive little or no aid along the way. Deir el-Zour The UNHCR has asked the SDF, who are in control of the area, to designate a transit site on the route to al-Hol, where people can receive life-saving assistance. Mahecic told VOA that the group has not responded to the request. "The humanitarian situation in this part of Syria is critical right now," he said. "That is why we are appealing for the safety of the civilians their ability to move out of the conflict zone, to be aided, and to be provided with basic shelter and life-saving assistance." Mahecic says people arriving at al-Hol, the vast majority of whom are women and children, are malnourished and suffering from hypothermia. Since early December, he says at least 29 young children and newborns have died while on their journey or shortly after their arrival. The UNHCR spokesman says his agency also is increasingly worried for the safety of civilians trapped in IS-held areas of Hajin enclave in Deir-el-Zour. He says people who have fled to the al-Hol camp say fighting in the governorate is fierce, with many civilian casualties. They say food and medicine is in short supply, and civilian infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Cameroon's arrested opposition leader Maurice Kamto and 29 of his imprisoned supporters started a hunger strike a day after being told they will face eight charges amounting to treason. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty. Christopher Ndong, secretary-general of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, said Friday that the strikers aim to show that President Paul Biya's re-election to a seventh term in October was a stolen victory. "Kamto wants that this government should give way because they are not legitimate after the 7th of October 2018 polls," Ndong said. "He won the election and he wants that they should honestly hand down power without shame, because he is saying if they think that what he declared as a winner is false, let us go back and do a recount." Cameroon's Incumbent President Paul Biya, of the C FILE - Cameroon's Incumbent President Paul Biya, of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement party, waits to cast his vote during the Presidential elections in Yaounde, Oct. 7, 2018. FILE - Cameroon's Incumbent President Paul Biya, of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement party, waits to cast his vote during the Presidential elections in Yaounde, Oct. 7, 2018. The opposition's calls for a recount of the October vote are likely to fall on deaf ears. Biya is Africa's second-longest ruling leader in power for 36 years and his government has shown little tolerance for opposition. Police arrested Kamto and nine party officials Monday after days of peaceful protest in Yaounde and three other cities ended in clashes. Government spokesman Rene Emmanuel Sadi said police shot and wounded seven protesters and arrested 117. Opposition supporters put the number of arrests at more than 200. Kamto and his colleagues are now facing eight charges, including treason, inciting violence, and disruption of public peace. Cameroon Bar Council lawyer Mujem Fombad says the men could be facing the death penalty. "Article 102 of the penal code sanctions hostility against the fatherland. Any citizen, any citizen taking part in hostility against the republic shall be guilty with treason and punished with death," Fombad said. Opposition supporters also stormed Cameroon's embassies in Paris and Berlin on Saturday. Minor damage and stolen documents were reported at the Paris embassy, which was temporarily closed. In Yaounde, authorities summoned the French ambassador to demand that protesters who stormed the embassy be extradited to face charges. Rights group Amnesty International has called on Cameroon to release all peaceful protesters, including Kamto. PHOENIX - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced Thursday their biggest fentanyl bust ever, saying they captured nearly 254 pounds (114 kilograms) of the synthetic drug that is helping fueling a national epidemic of fatal opioid overdoses from a secret compartment inside a load of Mexican produce heading into Arizona. The drug was found hidden Saturday morning in a compartment under the rear floor of a tractor-trailer after a scan during a secondary inspection indicated some anomalies in the load, and the agencys police dog team alerted officers to the presence of drugs, Nogales CBP Port Director Michael Humphries said. Packets of fentanyl mostly in powder form and meth Packets of fentanyl mostly in powder form and methamphetamine, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they seized from a truck crossing into Arizona from Mexico, is on display during a news conference at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, Jan. 31, 2019. Packets of fentanyl mostly in powder form and methamphetamine, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they seized from a truck crossing into Arizona from Mexico, is on display during a news conference at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, Jan. 31, 2019. Most of the seized fentanyl, with an overall street value of about $3.5 million, was in white powder form, but about 2 pounds of it (1 kilogram) was contained in pills. Agents also seized nearly 395 pounds (179 kilograms) of methamphetamine with a street value of $1.18 million, Humphries said. The size of a few grains of salt of fentanyl, which is a dangerous opioid, can kill a person very quickly, Humphries said. The seizure, he said, had prevented an immeasurable number of doses of the drug that could have harmed so many families. President Donald Trump praised the bust in a tweet Thursday: Our great U.S. Border Patrol Agents made the biggest Fentanyl bust in our Countrys history. Thanks, as always, for a job well done! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2019 ?Caught at port of entry The Drug Enforcement Administration said the previous largest U.S. seizure of fentanyl had been in August 2017 when it captured 145 pounds (66 kilograms) of the drug in a Queens, New York, apartment that was linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Before that, the largest recorded fentanyl seizure was 88 pounds (40 kilograms) nabbed from a pickup truck in Bartow County, Georgia. Mexican traffickers have been increasingly smuggling the drug into the United States, mostly hidden in passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers through ports of entry in the Nogales, Arizona, and San Diego areas. Doug Coleman, the DEAs special agent for the Phoenix division, expressed admiration for size of the recent bust, emphasizing that it was not the product of any intelligence from his agency but rather pure, old fashioned police work by the agent who pulled the truck over. It was totally a cold hit based on the agents hunch, Coleman said. A chemical specialist in a protective suit shows p A chemical specialist in a protective suit shows pills seized at a clandestine drug processing laboratory of fentanyl in Mexico City. Similar pills were seized at the U.S. border Thursday by border protection officers. A chemical specialist in a protective suit shows pills seized at a clandestine drug processing laboratory of fentanyl in Mexico City. Similar pills were seized at the U.S. border Thursday by border protection officers. ?Fentanyl behind surge of overdoses Fentanyl has caused a surge in fatal overdoses around the U.S., including the 2016 accidental death of pop music legend Prince, who consumed the opioid in counterfeit pills that looked like the narcotic analgesic Vicodin. U.S. law enforcement officials say the illicit version of the painkiller is now seen mostly as a white powder that can be mixed with heroin, as well as blue pills that are counterfeits of prescription drugs like oxycodone. The legal prescription form of the drug is used mostly to provide relief to cancer patients suffering unbearable pain at the end of their lives. DEA officials have said that while 85 percent of the illicit fentanyl entering the United States from Mexico is seized at San Diego-area border crossings, an increasing amount is being detected on the border with Arizona, a state where the Sinaloa cartel controls the drug trade and fatal fentanyl overdoses are rising. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in a recent report that fentanyl is now the drug most often involved in fatal overdoses across the country, accounting for more than 18,000, or almost 29 percent, of the 63,000 overdose fatalities in 2016. His image is on bank notes and in school textbooks in Iran, often as a black-and-white embodiment of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that swept aside the country's shah and forever changed the nation. But unlike other countries ruled by family dynasties, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's children and grandchildren have never fully entered politics. Part of the reason lies with Khomeini's own commandments after becoming Iran's first supreme leader. The rest likely comes from suspicion in the very system Khomeini set up, even though his name still carries weight today. "I wish I was living during the Khomeini era," said Mahboobeh Ramazani, 27, who recently visited the mosque attached to the ayatollah's residence, now a tourist attraction in northern Tehran. "He is still my favorite, since he never sought anything for himself and his family members." The memory of Khomeini, who died in 1989 at the age of 86, literally looms large over Tehran today. His golden-domed mausoleum in southern Tehran is one of the first things people see driving into the city from the airport named for him. The shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder Ayatoll The shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini is seen just outside of Tehran, Iran, Jan. 19, 2019. The shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini is seen just outside of Tehran, Iran, Jan. 19, 2019. Even the CIA, in a 1983 analysis on him, acknowledged that Iran's revolution could not have happened without him. His tape-recorded sermons circulated through the country in the days leading up to the shah's departure, his calls for supporting the poor striking a populist tone among Iran's struggling masses. His style also fit one of his mantras: "Islam is politics." "He uses repetition, rhythm, exaggerated images and cutting political jokes to drive his message home and alters his vocabulary but not his delivery to show increased emotion," the CIA wrote. "His monotone exerts a hypnotic effect that is heightened by supporters placed among the audience to lead chanted slogans." Family involvement discouraged But despite his political success, he insisted that his own family not get involved. Part of that stemmed from the allegations of corruption that surrounded the family of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, whose relatives enriched themselves through government contracts and the public purse. The shah's family and royal court became known among protesters and the opposition at the time as a "1,000-member" oligarchy, a reference to their widespread presence in government and the private sector. Khomeini's own mullah father had been killed only months after his birth over his activism targeting wealthy landowners. "I will that those who are related to me not enter political currents," Khomeini said in 1980 when one of his grandchildren backed Iran's then-embattled liberal President Abolhassan Banisadr. "I do order you based on Shariah not to enter political games." FILE - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, center, is gre FILE - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, center, is greeted by supporters in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 2, 1979. FILE - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, center, is greeted by supporters in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 2, 1979. Khomeini and his wife, Khadijeh Saghafi, had five children and 15 grandchildren. His daughter, Zahra Mostafavi, later became politically active, but said in 2006 that her father had told her and other family members: "Do not enter politics while I am alive." "After his death, we decided not to enter" politics, she said. However, she would later publicly write Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to protest the decision to ban influential President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from running in the 2013 election. Reformist political movement Khomeini's family did not stay out of politics for long, in part due to the changes within Iran. A growing youth population demanded jobs and had a different political perspective than their parents' generation. Those demands gave birth to Iran's reformist political movement, which seeks to change Iran's government from within and grant more political freedoms to its people. Granddaughter Zahra Eshraghi, whose husband, Mohammad Reza Khatami, was the brother of reformist President Mohammad Khatami and served as deputy speaker of parliament, sought to form her own women's group. Both she and her husband tried to run for parliament in 2004, but were blocked by the Guardian Council, a 12-member panel that vets candidates and routinely rejects those calling for dramatic reform. The council similarly blocked Ali Eshraghi, another Khomeini grandson, in 2008. FILE - Sitting under a picture of former Iranian P FILE - Sitting under a picture of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Zahra Eshraghi, granddaughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, looks on in the Youth office of the Coalition of Reformist Groups in Tehran, Iran, March 10, 2008. FILE - Sitting under a picture of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Zahra Eshraghi, granddaughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, looks on in the Youth office of the Coalition of Reformist Groups in Tehran, Iran, March 10, 2008. Meanwhile, one of Khomeini's great-grandchildren has grown increasingly prominent, in part due to his use of Instagram. Ahmad Khomeini, a 20-year-old Shi'ite cleric, posts images of himself in both Western attire and the black turban marking him as a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. He also freely posts images of Khatami, subject of a state-ordered media blackout in Iran, and reformist politician Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who remains under house arrest years after he led Iran's Green Movement following his disputed 2009 election loss to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His father, Hassan Khomeini, another of Khomeini's grandsons, was barred by authorities in 2016 from running for seats on Iran's Assembly of Experts, which can appoint or remove a supreme leader. But fears about political dynasties persist in Iran. Earlier this year, President Hassan Rouhani described the 1979 Islamic Revolution as being aimed at avoiding having a "son to take the throne after the death of father." Family members of current supreme leader Khamenei have taken a low-key approach to public life. Political analyst Amir Mohebian, who heads a conservative think tank in Tehran, believes both Khomeini's ban and the people's anti-monarchy sentiment thwarts the formation of any political dynasties. "The society is very sensitive toward any kind of dynasties' dominance," he said. Yet even today, Khomeini remains a powerful figure in the minds of many Iranians. "Khomeini was great. I joined his revolution despite having a good job, a good life, simply because he said Islam is in danger," said Iraj Khalilzadeh, an 81-year-old retired worker at a shoe factory, while recently visiting Khomeini's shrine. "I expect the current government to pay attention to poor people." In the spring of 2016, Reshad, a 32-year-old Afghan, came to feel his life was on the line for "working with infidels" in his job as a civil engineer contracted to the U.S. military. "In a matter of seconds, I found myself being targeted, with four armed masked men pointing their automatic guns toward me," he recounted, the consequence of working alongside the U.S. Army during a drawn-out war, now in its 18th year. Reshad asked only to be identified by his first name, worried that the Taliban could target his family still in Afghanistan. For him and thousands more, it was neither easy nor quick to escape, but at least there was a way. For the past decade, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) have been granted to Iraqi and Afghan interpreters and professionals working for the U.S. government who face credible threats because of their employment. But this week, the U.S. moved closer to a peace agreement with Taliban officials, raising the possibility of American troop withdrawals, and beyond that, the huge demand for SIVs by interpreters and others who work with the U.S. military and face great danger when the troops leave. "Negotiations are [sic] proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting," President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday. "Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war." In December, Trump ordered the withdrawal of 7,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, cutting the remaining presence in half a fraction of the 100,000 troops there in 2010. "If the U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, I'm 100 percent sure there won't be any peace in Afghanistan, and the first target will be all those interpreters," said Janis Shinwari, an Afghan SIV recipient and co-founder of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting Afghan and Iraqi nationals who served the U.S. government during wartime. Janis Shinwari (third from right), an Afghan speci Janis Shinwari (third from right), an Afghan special immigrant visa recipient and co-founder of No One Left Behind, served as a translator for the U.S. military. Janis Shinwari (third from right), an Afghan special immigrant visa recipient and co-founder of No One Left Behind, served as a translator for the U.S. military. Complicating matters is that no SIVs have been funded for 2019. The Trump administration requested an additional 4,000 Afghan SIVs be included in fiscal year 2019's National Defense Authorization Act, but that provision was ultimately omitted because of budgetary rules. Two senators have tried to attach funding for SIVs to the State Department budget. But State is one of the unfunded agencies caught in the recent government shutdown. Currently, 19,000 Afghans are in some stage of applying for SIVs, a Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs spokesperson told VOA. Shinwari says they are in danger. "There are a lot of people that lost their families, their siblings, in the U.S. airstrikes, and they can't come here (to the United States) to kill an American (in retaliation)," he said. "The easiest way they will kill somebody who supports the U.S. troops in Afghanistan (is through) interpreters and translators." Janis Shinwari, an Afghan special immigrant visa r Janis Shinwari, an Afghan special immigrant visa recipient and co-founder of No One Left Behind. (2006 photo) Janis Shinwari, an Afghan special immigrant visa recipient and co-founder of No One Left Behind. (2006 photo) 'Luckiest among thousands' Following his near-fatal encounter in Kabul, Reshad began the long application process for an SIV. He saw no other alternative to escape the Taliban. "They only think that these people are helping invaders, and they are invading our country, so they should be removed, they should be killed," he said. Since 2014, Congress has authorized 14,500 SIVs for Afghan principal applicants, including 3,500 in fiscal year 2018, according to the Department of State. While the SIV process took Reshad 18 months to complete, others have waited years. The long waiting times are the subject of a lawsuit. Iraqi and Afghan SIV applicants, who have been waiting as long as five years for a visa, claim the wait times are a violation of Congress' stated intent, which was that SIVs be granted within nine months of application. Wednesday, a federal court judge denied a U.S. government motion to dismiss the case and ruled it can go forward. The wait is one reason Reshad considers himself "the luckiest one among thousands." He is currently employed and in pursuit of a U.S. engineering license, and has helped fellow Afghan immigrants settle in the area where he and his family live. Many are less fortunate. Once relieved of duty, eligible SIV recipients who wait too long often incur psychological damage, if not death, according to Shinwari. Those from remote villages are more susceptible to threats from the Taliban and therefore go into hiding, he explained, to protect themselves and their families. "They don't have jobs, they don't have money. Most of them are doing labor jobs in Kabul City, and most of them turn to drugs because of the tension," he said. Former U.S. Army interpreter Qismat Amin, left, is Former U.S. Army interpreter Qismat Amin, left, is greeted by supporters after arriving from Afghanistan at San Francisco International Airport, Feb. 8, 2017, in San Francisco. Amin waited nearly four years for his special immigrant visa. Former U.S. Army interpreter Qismat Amin, left, is greeted by supporters after arriving from Afghanistan at San Francisco International Airport, Feb. 8, 2017, in San Francisco. Amin waited nearly four years for his special immigrant visa. Travel ban Other families, once approved and issued SIVs, have faced difficulties en route to the United States since the Trump administration has increased scrutiny of visa holders. Earlier this month, an Afghan translator for the U.S. military and his family were temporarily detained upon arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Houston Chronicle reported. Another interpreter was detained in 2017. "We're reinforcing for them that they are welcome here, that they have a lot of support. But hearing from the news that this kind of thing is going on that there are other people who are not allowed to travel who are still overseas definitely I think creates some confusion and worry," said Erin Sullivan, a community-based resettlement coordinator and Reshad's case manager at HIAS, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees Unless and until there is lasting peace vacant of threats, Reshad worries about his family and others in Kabul. "We pray (to) God every day when they go outside for their normal workday," he said. "Who knows who is coming back alive at the end of the day?" Since the U.S. Supreme Court became solidly conservative with the appointment last year of Brett Kavanaugh, states have responded in drastically different ways.While liberal lawmakers are protecting and expanding abortion rights, conservative legislators have been pushing increasingly restrictive abortion regulations that could wind up challenging Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion.Florida, Ohio and Tennessee legislatures are currently weighing heartbeat bills that would restrict access to an abortion after a heartbeat is detected -- often before a woman knows shes pregnant. The Republican governors of both Ohio and Tennessee have voiced support for them.Similar legislation in other states, however, has not held up in courts.Meanwhile, blue states are scrapping pre-1973 laws on their books that -- if Roe v. Wade were overturned -- would criminalize abortion in those places. In a more controversial move, a few of those states are also considering legislation that would allow women to get late-term abortions in cases where their health, or their babies' health, is at risk.The outdated laws being abolished are currently unenforceable, but abortion rights advocates say they're a necessary precaution in case the Supreme Court reverses or relaxes Roe v. Wade.Eliminating New York's pre-Roe law that criminalized abortion had long been a goal of Democrats in the state. Their newfound control of the state Senate made that goal a reality. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill last month.Now, there are just two blue states with these outdated, decades-old laws. They criminalize doctors for inducing miscarriages andnot notifying husbands beforehand, among other things. In both of those states, New Mexico and Rhode Island, lawmakers introduced bills last month to eliminate them.In New Mexico, the bill has passed out of committee, and Democratic state Rep. Joanne Ferrary, who co-sponsored it, is optimistic it will pass. In Rhode Island, the bill has more of an uphill climb because it also includes enforceable provisions to legalize late-term abortions under certain conditions.Rhode Islands bill drew a contentious crowd at a hearing last week, according to theand Democratic state Rep. Edith Ajello, who co-sponsored the bill, says she's gotten many phone calls from people concerned about headlines they have seen that say women could abort "until delivery.""Once I explain that it's just in the instances where it's to save the life of the mother, that it's an extreme situation to save a patient's life and gross oversimplification of what the bill says, people said they understood. Not everyone, but most people did," Ajello says.Her bill also enshrines the right to an abortion into the state constitution as well as removes a spousal notification law and a ban on "partial birth" abortions,which abortion rights advocates say is necessary to repeal to allow late-term abortions in cases with severe and life-threatening complications.The governors of both states -- both women and Democrats -- have said they would sign the bills -- into law."I believe that no one should get in the middle of a decision between a woman and her doctor and that no woman should have to choose between health care and making ends meet. #RHCA," Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo tweeted in support of Ajello's bill.But a competing, more modest bill is expected to get more traction in Rhode Island. It simply rolls back the pre-Roe law and enshrines the right to an abortion.In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill last month to remove the state's 24-week limit on abortions. Now, women in the state can get an abortion at any time during pregnancy if there's "absence of fetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient's life or health."In Virginia, a bill that would allow abortions in the third trimester under similar circumstances has stalled in committee.The late-term abortion bills are being used by Republicans to galvanize voters for the 2020 election."This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it's never been lifted up before," President Donald Trump said in an interview last week.Abortions after 20 weeks are rare -- around 1 percent , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors say that abortions in the third trimester are likely because something has gone wrong in the pregnancy.In the backdrop of this legislative action, the Trump administration is expected to announce any day now its final "domestic gag rule," which would restrict health-care providers in the historically bipartisan Title X program from referring or providing abortion services. It would be a win for anti-abortion advocates. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. NEW DELHI - With an eye on wooing voters ahead of what is expected to be a tough national election, India's Hindu nationalist government announced cash handouts of billions of dollars for poor farmers. In the annual budget presented in parliament Friday, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said 120 million farmers with less than two hectares of land would get an income of $85 a year. Goyal announced that the measure, which will cost about $10.5 billion, would be implemented with immediate effect. "This will pave the way for them to earn a respectable living," he said. "Such support will help them avoid indebtedness." Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, center, hol Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, center, holds a briefcase containing federal budget documents with Junior Finance ministers Shiv Pratap Shukla, center right, and Pon Radhakrishnan, left, upon their arrival at the parliament house in New Delhi, India, Feb. 1, 2019. Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, center, holds a briefcase containing federal budget documents with Junior Finance ministers Shiv Pratap Shukla, center right, and Pon Radhakrishnan, left, upon their arrival at the parliament house in New Delhi, India, Feb. 1, 2019. Farmers complain that a sharp decline in crop prices has hurt their incomes and driven millions into debt. Rural experts said they were not sure whether the measure will assuage disgruntled rural communities that have been demanding loan waivers and better prices for their produce. The government also announced a pension scheme of about $40 a month for nearly 100 million poor workers in the country's vast unorganized sector and tax breaks for the middle classes. The welfare measures come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party tries to address rising discontent in the country there is growing anger in rural areas over falling crop prices and widespread worries that his government has failed to create jobs to meet the needs of the country's huge young population. The Bharatiya Janata Party recently lost elections in three heartland states, raising concerns it could struggle to win a majority in the upcoming elections. Modi had sailed to power in 2014 on the promise of creating millions of jobs. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, is ga FILE - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, is garlanded by BJP leaders on the first day of the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party national convention in New Delhi, Jan. 11, 2019. FILE - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, is garlanded by BJP leaders on the first day of the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party national convention in New Delhi, Jan. 11, 2019. Although economic growth numbers have been good, lack of jobs has emerged as the biggest challenge for Modi. A report in the Business Standard newspaper says a government survey that has not been released pegs the unemployment rate at a 45-year high of 6.1 percent. Expressing optimism that "India is solidly back on track and marching towards growth and prosperity," Goyal said that infrastructure projects such as building roads in rural areas will boost employment. The opposition Congress Party slammed the income support of $85 a year announced for farmers as inadequate. Saying that it is not going to be transformational, senior party leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "?6000 [6,000 rupees, or $84] in income support for farmers boils down to ?500 [500 rupees, or $7] per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honor and dignity?" The Congress Party is also trying to woo voters with the promise of a minimum income for the poor if it wins the upcoming general election. The BJP has dismissed the pledge as unaffordable, while economists have expressed concern that the "competitive populism" by India's two main parties ahead of general elections could strain the country's finances. The government said the fiscal deficit this year will rise from 3.3 percent to 3.4 percent due to the outlay for the income scheme for farmers. The fallout from a fake university scheme in the U.S. grew Thursday, with a federal official confirming to VOA that police have arrested 138 foreign nationals across the country and more arrests may be coming. The scheme, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, lured willing students to a school they knew would never grant them a degree, but would allow them to work legally in the United States while technically being enrolled in higher education, potentially committing visa fraud. All but one of the 130 arrested "students" are Indian citizens. The remaining person detained in the "pay-to-stay" plot is Palestinian, according to a U.S. immigration official. Eight more people face criminal charges. U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents created the bogus University of Farmington, outside of Detroit, Michigan, in 2015. Since then, more than 600 foreign citizens enrolled in the school, the U.S. government alleges despite the fact that it had no faculty, no campus, and no hallmarks of any legitimate U.S. higher education institution. It is unrelated to the similar-sounding University of Maine - Farmington, a legitimate public university, in the state of Maine. The screenshot from the University of Farmington w This screenshot from the University of Farmington was taken from an archived page in 2016. This screenshot from the University of Farmington was taken from an archived page in 2016. According to federal charging documents made public this week, the students who applied for the school and paid tuition knew they would never have to enter a classroom or complete a homework assignment. Instead, according to an indictment, the "students" were seeking a special work authorization called Curricular Practical Training (CPT), available to some full-time foreign students who want to perform paid work in their field of study. They "knew that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits, or make academic progress toward an actual degree ... their intent was to fraudulently maintain their student visa status and to obtain work authorization under the CPT program," the indictment alleges. The Detroit Free Press first reported the case Wednesday, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the indictment of eight people accused of recruiting students to the fake university in exchange for financial bonuses. The 130 faux students detained face civil immigration charges and "will be placed in removal proceedings," according to ICE. The eight additional defendants face criminal charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbor aliens for profit, according to court documents, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. They collectively earned more than $250,000 through the recruiting scheme, according to the federal indictment. Those facing criminal charges are: * Barath Kakireddy, 29, of Lake Mary, FL; * Suresh Kandala, 31, of Culpeper, VA; * Phanideep Karnati, 35, of Louisville, KY; * Prem Rampeesa, 26, of Charlotte, NC; * Santosh Sama, 28, of Fremont, CA; * Avinash Thakkallapally, 28, of Harrisburg, PA; * Aswanth Nune, 26, of Atlanta, GA; * Naveen Prathipati, 26, of Dallas, TX. DHS conducted a similar fake university sting operation a few years ago, establishing the bogus University of Northern New Jersey. "These students were initially admitted into the United States to attend a (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) SEVP-certified school, but later transferred to the University of Farmington, which offered no academic or vocational programs of any kind," an ICE official said in an emailed statement. "Since the school did not offer courses or confer degrees, the enrollees were simply using the F-1 program as a pay-to-stay scheme." Looking at the University of Farmington's now-shuttered website, the gaps in information are easy to spot for anyone familiar with U.S. school websites. There is no list of faculty members, no images of the Michigan campus, and no way to contact the school other than a general email address. The first internet appearance of the university, according to an archival site, is in 2016. Since then, the fake school maintained a modest online presence that included a few brief discussions in online forums about schools that were good for obtaining CPT. It was also in the Yelp database, though no one had reviewed it. The address listed for the school in Farmington Hills, Michigan, routes users to a nondescript office park. The explanations about admissions and at least one of the fake school's programs seemed to be cribbed from actual universities' sites. The Farmington indictment says: "Each student knew that the University's program was not approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security, was illegal, and that discretion should be used when discussing the program with others." But the school is listed as SEVP-certified. The onus is on the students to comply with the education visa requirements, according to an immigration official and that includes doing due diligence on whether a school is operating properly conducting classes, employing legitimate faculty, and allowing students to make progress toward a degree. "Students need to do the research," the official said. The militant group Boko Haram killed at least 60 people when it renewed its attack on the northeast Nigerian town of Rann on Monday, Amnesty International said on Friday. The attack was one of the bloodiest in the group's decade-long insurgency. It came two weeks after Boko Haram had overrun the same town, driving out Nigerian soldiers and marking its re-emergence as a force capable of taking army bases. "This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crimes, and those responsible must be brought to justice," Osai Ojigho, the rights group's Nigeria director, said in Friday's statement. "Witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the authorities' utter failure to protect civilians," Ojigho said. A security source told Reuters Nigerian troops had returned to Rann, as well as Cameroonian troops from a Multi-National Joint Task Force, after the first attack, on Jan. 14. After the Cameroonians went back across the border, the Nigerian soldiers left, because they didn't have enough troops, weapons or equipment, the source said. The al-Shabab militant group has scaled up its attacks against pro-Islamic State fighters in the northeastern mountainous Somali region of Bari, experts say. Intelligence and security officials say al-Shabab has seized two locations from pro-IS militants this week. One area is called El-Miraale, a water point that has been the focal point of clashes. The second village seized by al-Shabab is called Shebaab, south of the town of Qandala, according to sources. Pro-IS militants have retreated farther into the highlands, but experts say the fighting is not over. Abdi Hassan Hussein, the former intelligence chief of Puntland, has been monitoring the two side's latest clashes. "They are fighting over the control of the mountains, which has been a base for Daesh," he said, using another term for Islamic State. Puntland, Somalia Puntland, Somalia. The region of Bari is the tip of Puntland. Puntland, Somalia. The region of Bari is the tip of Puntland. ?December al-Shabab attack Al-Shabab attacked IS in December after smuggling dozens of its militia members into the area, a move described as audacious attempt to reach IS hideouts. Hussein says al-Shabab lost the first round of the mid-December battle and lost men but regrouped and launched a second-round offensive earlier this week. He says the key El-Miraale water point is now under al-Shabab's control. Al-Shabab managed to take over the area, they also spread to Dhadaar village, he said. Both groups extorting locals The two groups have not only been fighting over control of territory but have also been competing in collecting extortion money from Somali businesses. Al-Shabab has been collecting systematic taxes and extortions from Somalia business, but IS started to emulate the tactic late last year. IS demanded payments from businesses in Puntland as well as in Mogadishu. When businesses resisted, IS began targeting businessmen, killing at least half a dozen people. Al-Shabab saw this as a direct challenge and vowed to destroy the IS group. Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamoud Dhere described IS as a disease and a cancer. In a December speech, he said al-Shabab fighters have orders to uproot IS militants in Somalia. Security threats Both groups endanger Somalia. Hussein Sheikh Ali, the former national security adviser to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, said the current situation indicates stalemate. Al-Shabab is more powerful, but IS also showed they are not a pushover. Indeed, it's IS that provoked al-Shabab and tried to conduct activities in the south, he said, referring to IS attempts to extort businesses in the south. Militarily, al-Shabab has severely purged the groups sympathizers and fans in the southern regions of Somalia. In January, al-Shabab executed three men, including two foreign jihadists who were accused of supporting IS. The men reportedly denied association with IS. The Somali national killed by al-Shabab, Yahye Haji File, also known as Abu Zakariye, was an official who fell out with al-Shabab over the killing of a pro-Islamic militant commander. He left al-Shabab after the killing of associate Sheikh Bashir Abu Numan, who was an al-Shabab commander-turned-IS assassinated by al-Shabab in 2015 just weeks after IS split from al-Shabab. Civilians pay highest price Ali says if al-Shabab defeats IS, it will be one less problem for Somalia. If al-Shabab wins, it will mean one less problem for the federal government and regions. But if Daesh continues to exist or strengthen, the problem will double in many fronts, he said. Hussein said the fighting could be prolonged in the highlands, specially if IS opts for a guerrilla war against al-Shabab. He added that civilians living in battle areas endure the most casualties. Recent days have brought reports of both sides attempting to compete for the locals' support. While IS encouraged the locals to be hostile to the new armed visitors, al-Shabab sought their cooperation to inform on IS whereabouts. But according to local reports, the public is apprehensive, especially as there are no visible signs to distinguish who is al-Shabab and who is IS, a tricky situation that endangers their safety. Hussein says the Somali government and Puntland regional administration have a responsibility to protect those civilians. There is a lot of fear facing the people living in these areas, he said. The arrival of al-Shabab is a new, additional threat to them. He said the villagers expect support from the federal government and Puntland. But it is unclear how they will get this support as the area sees increased tension. US airstrikes Meanwhile, the United States military reported carrying out its ninth strike against al-Shabab militants this year. The strike Wednesday in Shabeley village of Hiran region killed 24 al-Shabab fighters, according to Africa Command. The strikes included a Dec. 19 bombing of al-Shabab militia traveling on a large truck shortly after returning from attacking a Somali military base. Fifty-two militants were killed in the strike. Also, four of the strikes took place in three consecutive days between Jan. 6 and 8. Last year, Africa Command carried out 47 strikes, a record in Somalia. Click here to log in and see all of our other subscription options for the Mesabi Tribune, including online only & auto-renewal subscriptions. In the late evening of January 30, at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, president and CEO of Vietjet, headed a team to check the operation of Vietjets staff during the peak season of the Lunar New Year 2019 Previously, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam Dinh Viet Thang visited and extended his best wishes to Vietjet staff for Tet. In 2018, Vietjet handled 23.16 million passengers through 118,923 safe flights on 39 local and 66 international routes. Technical safety reached 99.64 per cent, which is the highest level in the Pan Pacific region, with the flight attendants and pilots having 2.82 years of experience on average. A Vietjet passenger receiving lucky money A family receiving their gifts from CEO Thao In order to meet the soaring demand of passengers on the occasions of the Lunar New Year and the 2019 festival season, Vietjet opened 2,500 new flights. According to the plan, from January 20 to February 19, 2019, Vietjet will implement a total of 12,500 flights, up 20 per cent on-year, 4,000 of which are along international routes. Due to the increasing travel demand of people on this occasion, president and CEO of Vietjet Thao asked the employees to work hard, ensure absolute security and safety, while simultaneously providing the best services on the flights. She also spent much time talking with passengers and listened to their comments about Vietjets services. She was pleased to hear that Tan Son Nhat airport was more civilised and orderly this year, in spite of the high increase in the number of visitors. Tran Trong Thuong (on the left), head representative of Vietjet in Tan Son Nhat, said that additional check-in and security areas were added to serve thousands of Vietjet flights during the Tet season. Check-in kiosks are available to reduce the overload at airport check-in counters To Viet Thang and Nguyen Duc Thinh, vice presidents of Vietjet, thanked the staff and asked them to co-operate with the airport personnel as well as Saigon Ground Services and Airports Corporation of Vietnam to bring passengers the best services and safe flights The security screening area is equipped with modern machinery in order to make security checks faster and more convenient. The Board of Directors also met and encouraged the flight team before departure. Everyone was happy to contribute to bringing safe flights for passengers In the apron area, the technical team said that the preparations for the Tet holiday season were completed. Engineers, machinists, and employees must work with full capacity to maintain the aircraft to ensure absolute safety On the same day, at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, leaders of the Ministry of Transport and the Standing Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee organised a meeting to urge workers to ensure safe traffic during the Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival of 2019. At the meeting, vice president of Vietjet To Viet Thang said that the company is concentrating resources and prioritising absolute safety for flights, focusing on service quality. The company also reminded pilots, flight attendants, and aircraft maintenance staff to strictly follow the regulations and flight protocol. Vice president To Viet Thang (right) receiving the report that all the preparations were completed Vietjet is a pioneering airline, applying modern technologies to automate processes and streamline operations while ensuring prompt, seamless flights and convenience for passengers. At the meeting, the Standing Committee of the National Traffic Safety Committee also praised the company, saying that over 50 per cent of Vietjet's passengers use kiosks and mobile channels to carry out procedures, reducing hassle at airports. In addition to concentrating resources and applying technology, Vietjet also prepared numerous solutions such as aircraft reserve and built flight schedules to ensure maximum exploitation for the Lunar New Year. Vietjet currently operates 70 aircrafts, which are arranged and rotated flexibly. Besides, there is a reserve ship, ensuring stable operations. In general, all are ready to provide the very best services to travellers during the Tet holiday and this year's festival. Vietnam recently announced new rules governing the management of medical devices. From January 1, 2019 all medical devices sold in Vietnam will require approval by local authorities. Previously, the assessment of the risks and classification of medical devices by international qualified bodies were recognized by the government of Vietnam. Government approved entities will also use the highest risk threshold when arriving at the final classification result irrespective of the uses of the medical device and how it may be used alongside other devices. Issued via Decree No.169/2018/ND-CP the new regulation will impact foreign manufacturers and suppliers of medical equipment. Decree 169 amends the existing regulation under Decree No.36/2016/ND-CP. Here we briefly highlight the changes brought by the new law affecting the classification and registration of medical devices. Separate local classification now mandatory Vietnams Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced that a separate local classification will now be mandatory for any firm supplying medical equipment in the country significantly raising compliance costs for the industry. If the device maker or supplies fails to achieve a positive result, the government will refuse to register the product. If there are inconsistencies in the classification result, authorities can revoke registration and recall products in circulation. Rules during the transition period for classification of medical devices To allow for a smooth transition, the Vietnamese government will allow foreign classification results that were submitted before December 31, 2018 to be used for securing a product registration number. Local classification results issued prior to December 31 will be posted on the MOH website by April 1, 2019. In case there are problems with the classification results due to the change in standards introduced by Decree 169 medical device importers and suppliers have time till June 30, 2019 to report the same to the MOH. Businesses are unsure how the government will implement the new regulation as local entities are known to be under-staffed and under-equipped to provide accurate and timely results. Changes in the registration of medical devices Decree 169 has tightened the regulatory process for the registration of medical devices. Class A medical devices Class A refers to medical devices classified as being the lowest risk. Under the new regulation, Class A devices will require a certificate of free sale (CFS). This will lengthen the procedural time and expenses for foreign manufacturers. A key concern is with respect to Vietnams standards when defining a Class A medical device which may not be considered as such in other countries. Flexible mechanism introduced Decree 169 establishes a flexible process by which amendments can be made to the registration of a Class A medical device, even if it is in circulation. The new law states that the following changes can be made: Address of product owner or license holder; Name of license holder; Name or address of product manufacturer; Product packaging for in vitro medical devices; Warranty information; and Labels and instructions for use. (Note: The indication of the product cannot be changed). Class B, C, and D medical devices From July 1, 2020, the registration application for Class B, C, and D medical devices must include the ASEAN Common Submission Dossier Template (CSDT). Further clarification on how CSDT will be implemented is awaited. Quick registration, simpler customs clearance Decree 169 introduces a new category of registration quick registration. This speeds up the statutory time to secure a registration number to 30 days from 60 days. However, it is applicable only to the following types of products: Product circulated in at least two of the following countries: Japan, Canada, Australia, United States, or an EU member country. Product circulated in Vietnam prior to December 31, 2018, satisfying the following conditions: (i) the product has been circulated for at least three years within the period of five years before the submission date, and (ii) there are no warnings about the quality or safety of the product. Additionally, a written confirmation from the Ministry of Health defining the imported product as a medical device will not be required when conducting customs clearance. Rules during the transition period for registration of medical devices During the transition period only registered Class A medical devices will be allowed to be imported. A marketing authorization (MA) license for Class B, C, and D medical devices will only be required from January 1, 2020, onwards. This remains unchanged from Decree 36. A valid import license is mandatory to import Class B, C, and D medical devices listed in Circular 30/2015/TT-BYT on Import of Medical Devices. Import licenses issued in 2018 (expired on December 31, 2018) or 2019 will be valid until December 31, 2019. Class B, C, and D medical devices not listed in Circular 30 will not require any import license. However, the certification indicating their classification results must be published on the MOH website. Decree 169 has framed specific rules for whether IVD biologicals such as microbiology reagents and histology reagents will continue to be treated as drugs under Vietnams Pharma Law. The MA licenses for chemicals, insecticides, and germicides for household and medical use if used for disinfecting medical devices will be valid until December 31, 2019 even if they expire between July 1, 2016 and January 1, 2019. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he is signing an executive order to eliminate the Florida State Standards, commonly known as Common Core, the controversial benchmarks by which learning is measured in Florida. He made the announcement Thursday with Florida Education Secretary Richard Corcoran by his side."I am going to instruct Commissioner Corcoran to get to work and come up with some standards for the state of Florida, which will include eliminating Common Core and the vestiges of Common Core," DeSantis told a crowd gathered at Ida S. Baker High School in Cape Coral. "I'm here to say when you complained about Common Core, I hear you. I told you that I'm going to do something about it and today we are acting to bring those promises into a reality."Educators in the room applauded, although DeSantis does not have a replacement plan, yet. He said he was sending Corcoran on a listening tour throughout the state to hear what teachers, parents, students and business owners have to say about how Florida should measure learning. They will write their proposal and send it to the 2020 Florida Legislature."We don't want to dilly dally, but, at the same time, we want to do it right," DeSantis said. "We could've dictated something on high, but I think it's definitely worth having Richard get into the communities, listen to people, so that we get something that a lot of people have confidence in."Corcoran, who advocates charter schools and public-funded scholarships to private schools, called DeSantis "the boldest, number one education governor" in the country."We've been stuck, as many of you know, a long time now with Common Core and then we rebrand it and we call it Florida State Standards -- it's all the same," Corcoran said Thursday. "It all needs to be looked at, it all needs to be scrutinized. How do we write the best, number one standards in the United States."Members of the Polk County School Board seemed cautiously optimistic about the move."I can tell you what this means politically -- this is the end of the Jeb Bush education era in Florida," said School Board member Billy Townsend. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush introduced his A+ Plan 20 years ago, tying student learning to teacher salaries, bonuses and school grades. It also created the charter school system, allowing students to attend schools that are privately built, but use public school money to pay for almost everything else.Townsend and others said their only misgiving is they don't know what will replace it. Other questions that remained unanswered by the governor's office Thursday evening was how this would affect graduation, if teachers could throw out their standards on Friday morning and teach what they see fit and if the Florida Standards Assessments tests would still be given beginning in the spring."On the surface, I would say it's great," said School Board member Sarah Fortney. "But if we peel back the layers, we might find that what gets replaced might be worse, especially if it's going to require some sort of money that apparently we don't have. We have geared everything in this county to what the state tells us to do and, once again, they're changing the playing rules. If history serves as any kind of reminder, it's usually our public schools that get punished."Both Fortney and School Board member Lisa Miller said they were heartened to hear that DeSantis is sending Corcoran out to speak to stakeholders."Good for him, working across the table -- we need more of that," Miller said. "He's doing stuff the public has asked him."Miller added that, even though DeSantis said this was not going to be a program dictated by the federal government, the state still must follow the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.School Board Chairman Lynn Wilson said he wanted to wait and see what this means -- and what will replace it."I have no idea what he's thinking," said Wilson, adding that Florida needs a two-tiered system for students -- one that sends them to college and another that trains them in a trade so when they graduate, they have a certificate to begin work right away.Through a spokesperson, Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd declined to comment. The other school board members did not return calls seeking comment.The president of the state's largest labor education association said he supported a look at education standards and testing."A deliberate look at what students must know is always appropriate, and it's very encouraging to hear that Gov. DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran plan to bring teachers and parents to the table as they go about reshaping Florida's standards," Fedrick Ingam said. "We're also pleased to hear that the administration will look at streamlining testing. Parents and our members cite time spent on testing -- as versus on genuine teaching and learning -- as one of their top concerns."If all stakeholders are heard, we have confidence that this effort can improve public education in Florida." 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. The Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates says the first Papal visit to the Arabian Gulf confirms UAEs longstanding record of acceptance, coexistence and inclusion. When his holiness Pope Francis arrives in Abu Dhabi next week, it will be the first ever Papal visit to the Arabian Gulf. While this represents a milestone event in its own right, it is also a powerful testament to the longstanding values of acceptance, coexistence, inclusivity, tolerance and humanity that are embedded in the very core of the United Arab Emirates. Since the UAEs foundation, the rights and liberties of all creeds, sects and beliefs have been safeguarded. Our constitution protects freedom of spiritual expression and explicitly prohibits any form of discrimination based on religion or race. Pope Francis will find a country where over one million Christians practice their religion without hindrance alongside a majority Muslim population. Throughout the UAE, over forty churches welcome believers for prayers next door to Mosques, as well as Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Temples. The UAEs acceptance of all religions is an expression of our leaderships commitment to an open society, one that welcomes people representing over 200 nationalities and ethnicities to work, live and thrive within our borders. This generous attitude toward others is a core tenet of our values, a key characteristic of our culture and a fundamental pillar of the vision of our founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan. He realized that both his country and the wider region would benefit by building bridges and making cultural connections with the international community. This philosophy underpinned a foreign policy that seeks to create partnerships promoting prosperity around the world, based on mutual respect. And it is mirrored by a domestic policy that treats differing cultures equally. In this spirit, when the remains of a seventh century Christian monastery were discovered on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1992, Sheikh Zayed insisted that it be preserved both as a relic of shared spiritual history and a present day, potent symbol of cross-cultural harmony. The UAE first established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 2007, and, since then, relations with the Catholic Church have only strengthened. A high level visit to the Vatican followed in 2016 by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Then, last year, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, hand delivered the invitation for Pope Francis to make his historic visit to the UAE. During his visit, which will include a public mass, the Pope will meet with Sheikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, and the chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders. Bringing together the spiritual leaders of the Sunni and Catholic faiths, this meeting will demonstrate a shared commitment to the principles of mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence. Coming in the year of tolerance, the Papal visit helps define what we mean by this term. The visit reinforces the UAEs ethos of active inclusiveness and reminds us that tolerance is not a passive state, but requires constant, consistent action. It is the same principle that drives our focus on a fairer society, where gender balance within our leading institutions is being realized by being prioritized. It is in this context that we should view next weeks landmark events. By hosting Pope Francis, we are sending a message to all those living among us, regardless of creed or culture, that they should not merely feel accepted, but are welcomed as active participants and celebrated for the positive contribution they make to the UAE. The UAE is made stronger by the diversity of the communities that have chosen to make our country their home. In embracing this diversity, the UAE will continue to prosper, extend a positive influence throughout the wider region and encourage peaceful coexistence globally. The Author is UAE Minister of State, H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber Leaders of Pakistans Christian community regard the definitive acquittal of Asia Bibi as a milestone in the history of Pakistan. By Robin Gomes Christians in Pakistan are all praise for the Supreme Courts decision and offered thanksgiving prayers for the definitive acquittal and freedom of Asia Bibi, the Catholic woman sentenced to death for blasphemy and acquitted by the Supreme Court on October 31. Pakistan's Supreme Court on January 29 upheld the acquittal of Bibi, rejecting a review petition filed by Islamists who have called for her execution. "Christian citizens, lovers of peace, thank God for the conclusion of this painful affair", Fr. Bonnie Mendes, senior priest and human rights expert in Pakistan told the Vaticans Fides news agency. Fr. Qaisar Feroz OFM Cap, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference (PCBC), also praised the courage of the Supreme court, the judge and lawyers. "The decision of the Supreme Court on Asia Bibis acquittal is a milestone in the history of Pakistan to eradicate religious fundamentalism, he told Fides. "Not only do we have to rejoice for the freedom of an innocent woman, but the efforts of the lawyers and the courage of the Supreme Court are to be appreciated, too". Sabir Michael, a Christian human rights activist, praised the sensible manner in which the judicial system handled the matter according to the rule of law". "This decision, he said, is a ray of hope for the minorities living in Pakistan, but there is still a lot of work to be done to promote and protect the rights of minorities". He expressed the Christian communitys hope it will be a precedent for other such pending cases. Joseph Francis, national director of the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLASS), which helps persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, told UCANEWS at a press briefing outside the court soon after the Jan. 29 verdict, "We hail the Supreme Court judges for being courageous in making such a historic judgment which will impact similar cases in days to come. Joining Francis at the press briefing was Bibis lawyer Saiful Malook who flew in from his asylum in the Netherlands for Tuesdays verdict. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed that after the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Asia Bibi is now a free citizen, can move and live a free life. However, Francis is concerned for Bibis safety. He pointed out that "firebrand clerics have called for her murder. She cannot live freely as other citizens, he said, adding minorities are encouraged by liberal Muslims like Malook who extended their support to victims of blasphemy. The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF), a Catholic NGO, applauded the Supreme Court verdict as "historic, fair and impartial decision". "Despite the landmark judgment in this case, CICF continues to demand of the authorities to revisit Pakistan's blasphemy laws and to take concrete measures to prevent their misuse, which is drastically affecting the lives of both Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis," the foundation said in a press statement. Samson Salamat, the Christian chairman of the interreligious Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for Tolerance), demanded a penalty against the cleric who falsely accused Bibi of blasphemy, saying he should be tried for lying, misguiding a court, imprisoning an innocent woman for nine years and endangering her life. Salamat also demanded that the apex court question the lower courts for denying justice to Bibi. He praised the Pakistani government for arresting extremists who were complicit in spreading anarchy in the country and holding the state hostage." (Source: Fides, UCANEWS) Children who are U.S. citizens and have parents at risk of being deported if their Temporary Protected Status is revoked in the next year as planned by the Trump administration. TPS provides legal protections for immigrants from countries and regions suffering from political violence or natural disaster. Officials have charged three Arkansas women each with one felony count of conspiracy to commit theft and one felony count of conspiracy to commit unauthorized use identity after an October 2018 incident at a local yoga studio. Officials say LaRhonda Martin, Dametria Johnson and Daekisha Johnson are the women responsible. Court documents say on Oct. 10, Fargo Police responded to Haute Yogis at 5257 27th St. S., after three people at the studio reported several of their belongings missing. Of the items missing there were iPhones, car keys, cash, a purse, and a walletTotaling over $2,600. Court documents say while the three victims were taking a yoga class, two females entered the yoga studio, while one female wandered around. The desk attendant says the lone female went into a second classroom that was not being used for class, but was used as a place for students of the yoga class to store their belongings in cubbies. The desk attendant told police that the female was making weird coughing noises and shortly after, the other two females left. Surveillance video shows that when those two women left, using the keys they had stolen, they entered into vehicles and stolen items from them. After the three suspects left Haute Yogis, fraudulent charges started adding up on the credit cards of two of the victims. Charges were made at WalMart, Target and WalgreensRacking up $7,940.51 in approved charges. That, combined with the amount of property missing, totaled out to be over $11,500 in fraudulent charges and stolen items. Court documents say Johnson, Martin and Johnson also did the same crimes in East Grand Forks, Minn., as well as in Grand Forks, N.D. Documents also say between the cities the suspects hit, they purchased over $8,000 of pre-paid Visa gift cards. Police arrested Dametria Johnson and LaRhonda Martin, and a warrant is out for Daekisha Johnson's arrest. (@rukhshanmir) International airport of Damascus has informed on safety of Syria's airspace and readiness to accept civil aircraft from other states, a source in the international airport of Beirut said Friday BEIRUT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st February, 2019) The international airport of Damascus has informed on safety of Syria's airspace and readiness to accept civil aircraft from other states, a source in the international airport of Beirut said Friday. "The Syrian side has sent a notification to all countries that wish to resume air services with Damascus, confirming safety of its airspace for civil aircraft. The main department of civil aviation announced its readiness to receive delegations to check the safety of Damascus international airport," the source said. (@FahadShabbir) The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday it wanted the OSCE media freedom watchdog to probe a three-month ban on the RTR Planeta channel in Latvia, which it said was a "gross violation." MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st February, 2019) The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday it wanted the OSCE media freedom watchdog to probe a three-month ban on the RTR Planeta channel in Latvia , which it said was a "gross violation." Latvia's Electronic Mass Media Council on Thursday suspended rebroadcasting of the cable and satellite channel's shows, claiming they stoked hatred against Ukrainians. "We expect that ... Latvia's repressive methods of pressuring media with the obvious aim to stop its nationals from accessing alternative news sources will not go unnoticed by specialist international organizations and particularly by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir," the ministry said in a statement. The channel was taken off the air several times since the war broke out in Ukraine in 2014. Latvia sided with Ukraine in blaming Russia for meddling in the conflict, a claim repeatedly denied by Moscow. Russian media have been frequently targeted in Latvia for being allegedly in breach of its broadcasting rules. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita are due to discuss issues of security and peace February 8 in Berlin, the German government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in an official briefing on Friday BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st February, 2019) German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita are due to discuss issues of security and peace February 8 in Berlin , the German government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in an official briefing on Friday. "The meeting will address issues of security and the peace process, as well as German presence in Mali within the context of UN MINUSMA and EC EUTM Mali missions, and the current political climate in the Sahel region," Seibert said. The meeting in Berlin is also set to address future reform in Mali, particularly creating a favorable investment climate and addressing migration problems, Seibert said. Mali has been gripped by civil war since 2012 when Malian soldiers staged a coup d'etat in protest of the government's handling of a Tuareg rebellion in the country's north. The crisis quickly escalated to an armed conflict when Islamists took control of the weakened territories in the North. In 2013, a French intervention secured fragile peace in the area. That same year, in an effort to provide stability in the region, the United Nations founded two missions, the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Mali. Since opening, 177 MINUSMA peacekeepers out of about 15,000 delegated to Mali have been killed, according to UN figures. On January 21, an attack was launched on the peacekeeping camp in Aguelhok, killing 10 and injuring 25. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks and claimed that they may constitute a war crime. 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 Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic we have maintained that Gov. Chris Sununu handled the emergency superbly. That is why New Hampshire weathered the crisis well relative to most other states. It is also why the voters overwhelmingly returned the young governor to office last November. IT GOT INTO the 90s back home the other day and friends complained to me over the phone though guiltily because they knew Id spent a day in the ER in New York which, honestly, had been a beautiful illuminatory experience and not miserable at all, but they felt sheepish about complaining of For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. The Ukrainian army regularly conducts drills to maintain combat readiness. Commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Serhiy Nayev has said the Ukrainian Armed Forces are fully capable of repelling the aggressor. Read alsoDonbas update: Ukraine reports one WIA in past day "Each unit of the Joint Forces is fully capable of repelling the aggressor and performing military operations," he said in an interview to the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrainy, according to the JFO's press center. According to Nayev, the army regularly conducts drills to maintain combat readiness. He said the number of exercises at various levels corresponded to the operational needs of the Joint Forces. "The enemy already knows that every attack does not remain unanswered by the Joint Forces," the commander added. One invader was killed in action and another two were injured, intelligence reports say. Russia's hybrid military forces in the past 24 hours mounted six attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA). Read alsoJournalists share pictures of Ukrainian military positions near Russian-occupied Donetsk (Photo) "One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, one invader was killed and another two were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update published on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 1, 2019. Russian occupation forces opened fire from weapons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms, attacking the defenders of the villages of Kriakivka, Krymske, Vilniy, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Pisky. "Since Friday midnight, Russian-led forces haven't attacked the Ukrainian positions yet," the report said. Organised by the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM), the event was the first workshop on whistleblower protection organised by the EUAM in Ukraine's regions. The current state of whistleblower protection in Ukraine, as well as the experience of Latvia and the Netherlands as potential models to support the development of a Ukrainian whistleblowing framework were discussed during a workshop in the Ukrainian city of Lviv on January 29. Read alsoEUAM opens Odesa regional presence After discussing the concept of whistleblowing and the current situation in Ukraine, the recently passed Latvian legislation on whistleblower protection was presented by Janis Veide, an expert from the Latvian Chapter of the Transparency International, EU Neighbours wrote. The following session was delivered by Piet de Gelder, Advisor on Internal Security and Integrity of the Dutch Police Force, and looked at the experience of the Netherlands as a country that has made substantial progress in the implementation of whistleblower protection. Organised by the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM), the event was the first workshop on whistleblower protection organised by the EUAM in Ukraine's regions. The EUAM already organised two conferences on whistleblower protection in the country's capital of Kyiv last year. Today, humanitarian actors launched the 2019 Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan requesting US$162 million to reach 3.5 million people in need. Almost five years of conflict has affected 5.2 million Ukrainians. Despite growing needs, the conflict in eastern Ukraine continues to be a forgotten crisis. Today, humanitarian actors launched the 2019 Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan requesting US$162 million to reach 3.5 million people in need. Read alsoRed Cross sends humanitarian aid to Donbas "The international community must wake up and see that despite diplomatic efforts and numerous ceasefire agreements, the conflict in eastern Ukraine is still very much ongoing. Without sufficient food and shelter from the harsh cold or access to essential services and livelihood opportunities, five million Ukrainians are now stretched to their limits," said Christopher Mehley, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Ukraine. Active armed conflict continues to claim lives with over 3,000 civilians killed and close to 9,000 injured since the start of the conflict in 2014. An estimated 0.8 million people have been displaced from their homes while over 800,000 people in eastern Ukraine are food insecure. Many also suffer from severe psychological trauma after five years of brutal conflict. Civilians residing on both sides of the 427-kilometre-long contact line that separates government-controlled areas and non-government-controlled areas are at most risk. Women, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable and prone to abuse and exploitation. "People living close to the contact line are in a desperate security situation and are daily exposed to shelling, violent clashes, landmines and unexploded remnants. In addition, armed clashes continue to damage important civilian infrastructure such as water and sanitation facilities adding more challenges to an already stretched population," Mehley said. Despite extensive efforts by the humanitarian community including its involvement in constructive dialogue with the national authorities in Ukraine, there is still no immediate end in sight. Last year's humanitarian response plan was funded by only 38 per cent. "We cannot continue to close our eyes and neglect the growing needs of millions of women, children, men and the elderly in Ukraine. The parties to the conflict must meet their obligations under international law to respect the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, irrespective of the prospects for conflict resolution or not," urged Mehley. UNIAN memo. The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. It works in crises in 31 countries. The training focused on supporting emergency health care specialists in trauma emergency care and lifesaving procedures. To improve the quality of health care services and reduce health risks for over 40 000 people in need in non-government controlled areas of Ukraine's Luhansk region, WHO trained over 30 health workers on January 23-25, 2019. The training focused on supporting emergency health care specialists in trauma emergency care and lifesaving procedures, WHO said. Read alsoUkraine joins WHO European Health Research Network After nearly five years of crisis in eastern Ukraine, millions of people on both sides of the contact line still need humanitarian assistance. A lack of trained health care workers and appropriate health care services can result in an increase in avoidable deaths, diseases and disabilities. "WHO has been providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of this crisis," said Dr. Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. "In a protracted emergency, it is crucial that we ensure that no one is left behind. The fundamental humanitarian principle of humanity together with impartiality, independence and neutrality is central to WHO's emergency work." "Prompt medical intervention after injury affects the patient's chances for survival and recovery. This is the principle adopted in the advanced trauma training," added Dr. Omar Saleh, a trauma care consultant for the WHO Emergency Programme in Ukraine. "We shared best practices and know-how from our international experience to anaesthesiologists, trauma care specialists and surgeons who are critical pillars in the survival chain. This is needed particularly in conflict-affected areas." The training was organized with the financial support of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Additionally, CERF funds enabled WHO to deliver medicines and medical supplies in eastern Ukraine's non-government controlled areas. All militant pseudo-formations should disappear, while the three components of the UN peacekeeping mission - military, policing, and civilian, should emerge. The Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons is considering a political and diplomatic reintegration of Donbas following the example of Croatia's Eastern Slavonia, according to Minister Vadym Chernysh. We see an exclusively political, diplomatic, and peaceful path," Chernysh told a press conference on Friday, according to an UNIAN correspondent. "But I emphasize, now there is a lot of speculation with the word 'peace'," said Chernysh. Political and diplomatic mechanisms should work, including through the mission format, under procedures to make sure that the process does not fail to return the territories under the control of the Ukrainian government, he added. Chernysh said that Ukraine proposed the introduction of the three components in the occupied Donbas civil, military and policing ones. But the sequence of actions or parallelism of some processes should follow the example, not as an exact copy though, of Eastern Slavonia [in the 1990s, the formation of Serbs was disbanded in the Croatian territory and a temporary UN administration was introduced]," the minister said. Read alsoSajdik's "Peace Plan" could legitimize DPR, LPR minister "That is, the first thing is civilian control is just as necessary as a military one. Therefore, as soon as security is ensured from the line of contact to the Ukrainian (state) border, as soon as the military component provides security, in parallel lines, the civilian component of the so-called peacekeeping mission to ensure peace usually is introduced, said Chernysh. And the third component, the policing one, must be introduced from the contact line to the border, he added. Chernysh stressed that the entire control of the occupied territory shall be transferred to the civilian component. There shall be no quasi bodies, surrogates, which were formed there in connection with illegal elections, in principle, as soon as there are managers there with a UN mandate, he said. The minister noted that the military and policing components must ensure control over the Ukrainian-Russian border. He also said that it is necessary to ensure security and control over the border so that there is no movement of weapons and militants on the part of the Russian Federation, to ensure equal opportunities for participation in the elections for IDPs and candidates. We proposed the components and mandate of the (peacekeeping) mission from the experience of Croatia. And there is again some manipulation. In Croatia, there are two experiences: the experience of the military operation and another experience of peaceful reintegration. We are now talking about peaceful reintegration on the principle of Eastern Slavonia, he said. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that the prosecutor's office is ready to take the case to court. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine has completed the pre-trial investigation of the Maidan deadly shootings of 2014 and is ready to take the case to court, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko says. "We completed a pre-trial investigation against those responsible for the executions at the Maidan," Lutsenko told Pryamyi TV channel. "We have all the evidence to take the case to court, including a scientific independent examination saying that the Yanukovych team, SBU head Yakymenko, Minister of Interior Zakharchenko, and their subordinates' actions led to the execution of civilians at the Maidan," said Lutsenko. Read alsoEmpire not to hand over its spies: Lutsenko estimates chances of Yanukovychs extradition from Russia The prosecutor general noted that the charges against former leaders of the state provide for life imprisonment. "In addition to the 150 law enforcers now tried for violence at the Maidan, another fifteen people will be tried in absentia those led by and including Yanukovych heads of security forces who are responsible for giving a criminal order," explained Lutsenko. As UNIAN reported, Lutsenko said that the investigation and independent experts see the connection between the actions of the runaway president Yanukovych, then Interior Minister Zakharchenko and a number of other law enforcement officials, but it is difficult to restore the full picture. However, the investigation gathered all the documents that will help announce suspicion notices to those involved in the executions of people at the Maidan in 2014. The prosecutor general stressed that on the first day after Yanukovichs escape, only UAH 120,000 remained in the state treasury. Russia never hands over its spies and agents of influence, so it is not worth expecting that they will return a fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych, says Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko. "Between normal neighbors, there is an extradition mechanism effective even during the pretrial investigation. But Russia has long refused to extradite anyone who serves their interests in Ukraine and then escapes to Russia. And after the first Revolution, dozens of figures from the Kuchma regime fled to Moscow and they were never handed over. I had met with the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and said to him: 'Look, I have a list of many people, so show us that we are normal neighbors. We have international agreements, you are obliged to extradite them.' He said: 'If we release at least one, no one in your countries will trust us.' This is a clear principle, the empire does not hand over its spies and agents of influencee, he told Pryamyi TV channel. Lutsenko stressed that on the first day after Yanukovichs escape, only UAH 120,000 remained in the state treasury. Read alsoYanukovych verdict: Case recap "Therefore, there was no hope that he would come back here. And when they put me in charge of the PGO, I set a condition to simultaneously adopt a law on sentencing suspects in absentia, on the possibility of sentencing people hiding from us in Russia or the occupied part of Ukraine. Such law was passed. And in accordance with this law, we began a pre-trial investigation in absentia, and then the case was forwarded to court," the prosecutor general said. Lutsenko noted that the sentence to Yanukovych is a sentence to all former, current, and future officials. "It means that no official in our country can be sure that their position and even their fleeing to Moscow will protect them. This is also a sentence to Putin, because Judge Devyatko explained Putins role in unleashing a war of aggression, having sentenced Yanukovych for his complicity in this war. And it will be very important for future international tribunals against the Kremlin chief who floods our land with blood," the prosecutor general said. Sajdiks proposals laid the foundation for recognizing militant formations as a negotiating side. The proposals recently voiced by Special Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Tripartite Contact Group, Martin Sajdik, provide for the legitimization and recognition of pseudo-formations of DPR and LPR, according to Vadym Chernysh, minister for temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons. The minister noted that there has been much discussion lately about the so-called Sajdik Plan, however it is not what it is, he said at a press conference, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Chernysh noted that the ministry had received a corresponding document, which in general has 19 pages. Read alsoVolker says U.S., EU sanctions against Russia possible if sailors not released The document is called Discussion Paper, that is, for discussion; as we said, this is an informal document neither of the OSCE nor of the United Nations, Chernysh said. He recalled that Sajdik, as OSCE Special Representative in the TCG, actually moderates discussions in the TCG and is also a developer of this discussion paper. He noted that drafting the document was Sajdik's personal initiative not related to his OSCE post. Chernysh also added that among developers of these discussion proposals there are also OSCE coordinators in TCG subgroups, namely Ertugrul Apakan and Pierre Morel. "That is, three people offered such a document. To whom? You know, to everyone, everyone," said Chernysh. The Minister also drew attention to various aspects of Sajdik's proposals, in particular, regarding elections. Read alsoEU steps up pressure on Russia over Ukraine media "Local elections should usually be held in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, OSCE standards, as spelled out in the Minsk agreements and the UN Security Council resolution. But what do see here? We see elections of local authorities. At the same time, in this regard, there are references that the transitional administration will work not only with the elected bodies of local government, but also with the administrative structures that are still operating," said Chernysh. This means that for the transitional period, there is an actual legitimization of entities that call themselves some kind of bodies within the occupied territories. The authors of this document just recently said that they do not recognize their legitimacy, Chernysh emphasized. "This is a very big threat here because, for example, in Transnistria, no one has recognized this entity, but in all documents both, the Russian Federation and the unrecognized authorities of the unrecognized Transnistria apply the semi-legitimized self-styled name of the negotiators. The same principle is laid down in this document," said Chernysh. "And if the plan is not fully implemented, the structures will remain in place," he said. Chernysh recalled that the Minsk negotiations and the Minsk agreements do not feature the concept of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR". "There is one abbreviation - certain areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. But this document mentions again a return to the so-called DPR and LPR," he said. As UNIAN reported, Kurt Volker, Special Representative of the U.S. State Department for Ukraine Negotiations, said that the representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office in the Tripartite Contact Group, Martin Sajdik, did not suggest abandoning the Minsk agreements, only expressing some ideas to find ways to implement them. The Ukrainian official says that political and economic sanctions against Russia must be toughened. Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons George Tuka says that Europe and the United States use only 5-10% of potential sanctions against Russia. "The reason is that the civilized world is not ready for full-fledged war with the Russian Federation. It is not ready mentally and morally. What is why our partners in every possible way try to avoid the development of events towards military escalation," he told Oboz TV. Read alsoUkraine's deputy minister for occupied areas comments on new Donbas settlement plan "Most of them are aware and realize which risks civilization is facing. And they don't want to bother that 'Russian bear' for every little thing," Tuka explained. Yet, he believes, political and economic sanctions against Russia must be tougher. In fact, the international community may exert greater leverage over the Russian economy that may turn to be very effective. "Now the United States has announced that another package of sanctions is in the pipeline, which will be the toughest one. Well, let's wait and see," he added. There is nothing more intimidating for order in the region than Kyiv losing its fight against Russia's imperial ambitions. Former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Kyiv on Tuesday that, if Russia wins the war in Donbas, there will be no Ukraine, but if Ukraine wins, peace will come. He is right apart from one thing: Russia's victory would change the political landscape not only in Ukraine but also in the whole Central Europe. It will also apply to Poland, Pawe Kowal, a historian and politician, wrote for Poland's Rzeczpospolita. "Putin's authority is weakening, but political determination of some European countries to defend the rules is weakening even faster," he wrote. The Kremlin is making another attempt to build the Russian Empire the Third Empire as evidenced by the approach to the Belarusian issue. The deteriorating moods in Russian society could only accelerate the launch of the process. It is a shame, Kowal notes, that some Polish politicians complain about a "stupid Union," while being unable to put together the picture of the ongoing processes and attempts to blow up the Union. Read alsoEurope needs Ukraine to win in geopolitical game Rzeczpospolita This year's double, presidential and parliamentary, elections in Ukraine are of great importance for the future of the Central European puzzle, the historian notes. "Suffice it to say that on the one hand, they are a festival of democracy, because nearly 40 candidates have already applied, including several experienced politicians. On the other hand, the outcome is uncertain from the point of view of Ukraine continuing its political course it has launched in recent years," the author suggests. If counter-revolution prevails in Ukraine, the Kremlin could impose on Ukraine the conditions of Kyiv's capitulation in Donbas. "The scenario for Poland may be fatal," Kowal writes. "Consent to Russia's imperial policy in Ukraine, more and more disturbing meanderings of Viktor Orban's policies, the UK withdrawal and murmurs of Germany's new eastern policy these are the greatest challenges for Poland in three decades. And there are many indications that today there is no chance for the same American support as there was in the 1990s," reads the article. Read alsoEU steps up pressure on Russia over Ukraine media Providence gave Poles three peaceful decades of "geopolitical greenhouse" for the "old wounds to heal". Now, Kowal says, Poland has to answer quickly whether the elite can afford to pursue their policies at a time when things have ceased to be simple. "It may turn out that soon there will be a chance to once more repeat the lesson from the end of the 19th century. But what will be the result this time?" the author asks. The number of plaintiffs in the case is 291 people now. Relatives of the victims of MH17, a Malaysian Boeing shot down by Russian-led forces in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, in summer 2014, have filed the largest class-action lawsuit against the Russian Federation and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Read alsoUkraine, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Malaysia agree to jointly finance MH17 prosecution "We started work with a small number of citizens of Malaysia and Australia who I had established contact with from the very beginning. Now a large number of relatives of the victims have joined us, and our lawsuit has become the largest one. As of today, it includes 291 people together with the relatives," U.S. aviation lawyer Jerry Skinner said in an interview to Russia's Echo of Moscow website. Skinner filed the lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian Federation and personally Putin, seeking $330 million on behalf of the relatives of those killed in the crash. UNIAN memo. Malaysia Airlines' MH17 Boeing 777 heading from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, over militant-occupied territory in Donetsk region. All 298 people on board who were citizens of 10 countries were killed in the crash. The majority of the victims, 196, were citizens of the Netherlands. The Dutch Safety Board October 13, 2015, issued a report on the causes of the accident. It was revealed that the plane had been shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft missile system. The Joint Investigation Team in its report published on September 28, 2016, confirmed that the plane had been downed by a Russian-made Buk brought to Ukraine from Russia. Dutch Chief Prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said his office had identified 100 "persons of interest" in the investigation, including those who organized the arrival of the rocket and oversaw its transportation from Russia to Ukraine and back. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Maysaa counts off the chores on her fingers: wake the children, change their diapers, bathe and feed them. Her tasks seem typical for a mother caring for her children in their toddler years, except that hers are 35 and 23. Wafika and Taha, two of Maysaas six children, were born with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects their sight, speech and hearing, as well as the movement in all of their limbs. When I get sick and I cant care for them, I feel very hopeless. I like to give them everything they need, Maysaa says. Originally from Damascus, Syria, Maysaa, husband Samir and their children led a simple life. Samir drove a truck at construction sites, which was enough to put a warm meal on the familys table and cover the costs of caring for their children. The family were also able to rely on practical support from family and friends. But after conflict erupted in 2011 and the situation in Syria grew more precarious, the family was forced to move repeatedly. After narrowly escaping shelling in 2013, the family sought refuge in Egypt, settling in the outskirts of Greater Cairo, where caring for Wafika and Taha has become more challenging. Refugees with disabilities can be among the most marginalized, and their vulnerability is often exacerbated by forced displacement. Isolation and perceptions that they are a burden can compromise their dignity, safety, security and access to services. Despite recent measures to increase accessibility for persons with disability, many buildings and streets in Egypt are still not equipped with basic features such as ramps and accessible entries, including the area where the family currently lives making life more difficult for Wafika and Taha. "Roads here are not equipped with support for wheelchair users" It is hard to move them in the wheelchair because the roads here are not equipped with support for wheelchair users, Maysaa explains. For Wafika and Taha, this has meant being confined to their modestly furnished apartment with little chance of enjoying simple things like soaking up the sunshine and feeling the breeze on their faces as they did back home. In Syria, we used to take them to the park or the beach every other week, Samir says. We would feel them getting better and they would laugh. Last year, my brother invited us to the beach and they were over the moon. It was the only such trip they have made in their six years in Egypt. Restricted mobility is just one of the challenges that the family experiences in caring for their children. Despite receiving monthly cash assistance from UNHCR, the family lives on US$376 a month and struggles to make ends meet. Egypt currently hosts more than 244,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers. More than half are from Syria, and most are considered very vulnerable. Nearly 85 per cent of households lack the basic resources to meet their daily needs and often resort to borrowing from neighbours and friends. Faced with multiple challenges, Maysaa pins her hopes for Wafika and Taha on resettlement to a third country where they can find the specialist care they require. "They need experienced caregivers" UNHCR has limited resources to provide specialized care for those with disabilities in Egypt, and many refugees therefore see resettlement as their only option. They need experienced caregivers and special community centers that can assist, she says, her anguish at not being able to meet their needs clearly visible. They are a piece of my soul. Id give [them] my eyes if I could. Increased resettlement places would not only provide life-saving protection and solutions for those being resettled, but also free up resources for UNHCR to do more for those remaining in countries of asylum around the world. In 2017, there were 19.9 million refugees of concern to UNHCR worldwide, of which 1.2 million were in need of resettlement. However, close to 75,200 resettlement places were made availablea 54 per cent drop compared to 2016 (163,200). The human waste treatment facility under construction at the refugee settlement near Kutupalong, Bangladesh. UNHCR/Firas Al-Khateeb UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Oxfam have together put into service this week in Coxs Bazar the biggest human waste treatment facility ever built in a refugee settlement. The facility, funded by UNHCR, can process the waste of 150,000 people 40 cubic meters a day. To put this in context, its roughly the equivalent of that needed for a population the size of Dijon in France, Savannah in the USA or, in Switzerland the City of Bern. Close to a million Rohingya refugees live in a complex of settlements in the Coxs Bazar area. Kutupalong, the largest refugee settlement in the world, is home to more than 630,000 refugees and managing the waste in this terrain requires innovative approaches. The speed and scope of the refugee crisis which began in August 2017 meant that most of refugee sites grew spontaneously, resulting in limited available land suitable for latrine pits and waste water treatment. The ability to treat large volumes of waste on site, rather than having to transport it elsewhere, is a critical step to safe and sustainable disposal of such waste in emergency situations. This will significantly reduce health risks for refugees and host communities and the likelihood of the outbreak of disease. For example, more than 200,000 cases of acute diarrhoea were reported in the Rohingya camps in 2018, as well as respiratory infections and skin diseases like scabies all common in settings where sanitation and hygiene are challenges. Bangladeshi authorities provided the site for the facility and the project was delivered in collaboration with the governments Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner's Office in Coxs Bazar. UNHCR and Oxfam engineers, with support from Rohingya refugees, built the new site in just over seven months. The sludge is transported by waste vehicles that empty out waste from multiple locations in the refugee sites into two massive, tightly covered lagoons where the processing begins. The facility maintains minimal operational and maintenance costs, with the initial investment of developing the site and installing the equipment falling just under $400,000. The system also benefits local Bangladeshi communities, who have been generously hosting and supporting refugees. This model will be rolled out across other sites in Coxs Bazar area in 2019 and UNHCR is considering replicating it in future refugee crises. UNHCR has also been working with partners on waste management in Rohingya refugee sites in over 275 small scale sludge treatment sites. More than a dozen different treatment technologies have been implemented, in different scales, combinations and configurations including lime treatment, biological treatment processes and biogas production which also supplies some refugees with gas for cooking. 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 increasingly worried for the safety of civilians trapped in ISIL-held areas of Hajin enclave in Deir ez-Zor governorate in northeast Syria. We are also concerned for the situation for civilians who have managed to escape the armed conflict. UNHCR and other humanitarian partners are racing to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable civilians who have arrived at the Al Hol camp in Hassakeh. We are supporting them with immediate shelter, and relief items. More than 10,000 people have fled from the conflict zone to Al Hol camp just in the past week. Since fighting escalated in Hajin in early December, more than 23,000 people have fled to Al Hol, effectively tripling its population. Many more are expected. Those fleeing speak of fierce fighting and a heavy toll on civilians with casualties widespread. Food and medical supplies are hard to come by. Civilian infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Families who managed to escape the fighting say that ISIL is preventing other civilians from leaving the area. UNHCR reiterates once again its call to all parties to the conflict, and those with influence over them, to take all possible action to ensure that civilians and infrastructure are protected in line with International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law. Safe passage for civilians is critically important and must be ensured. Families fleeing the Hajin enclave and surrounding areas have also told us of a harrowing journey to safety. They travel at night with barely any belongings, often having to wade through mine fields and open fighting. On reaching positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), they describe being herded into open trucks and having to endure another arduous journey in winter weather northwards to Al Hol camp. Little or no assistance is provided en route to the hungry and cold people, the vast majority of whom are women and children. Since early December at least 29 young children and new-borns died while on their journey or shortly after their arrival. Malnourishment and hypothermia have been the principal causes of death. Medical facilities in Hassakeh town, where the most critical cases are referred to from the camp, are overstretched caring for acutely malnourished children. Humanitarian actors have collectively requested forces in control of the area to designate a transit site en route for Al-Hol where life-saving assistance can be provided. This initiative remains unimplemented more than two weeks later. The vast majority of fleeing civilians are Syrians, residents of villages in south Deir-ez-Zor province, have been caught up in the fighting as ISIS retreated south. They are anxious about their confinement to Al-Hol camp and the confiscation of their documents. Most hope to be allowed to join their relatives and friends in Deir-ez-Zor province and return to their homes as soon as the fighting is over. UNHCR is concerned about the persistent practice of confiscation of identity documents and movement restrictions imposed on residents of internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugee camps in Hassakeh governorate. IDPs fleeing Hajin should be allowed to choose where they stay and should be allowed to return to their homes as soon as they deem it safe. With the surge in arrivals to Al Hol over the past weeks, reception areas are now overcrowded. UNHCR and partners have set up 24-hour response teams to receive the newly displaced people, quickly identify the most vulnerable cases and provide urgent assistance, especially to unaccompanied or separated children and those who require immediate medical assistance. A number of other emergency measures have been put in place in Al Hol, particularly in the reception and screening areas of the camp. Additional large tents were set up as immediate shelter for new arrivals. UNHCR, other UN agencies and humanitarian partners also opened child friendly spaces, schools and communal kitchens to temporarily shelter new arrivals. UNHCR with partners have set-up more than 4,500 tents, with 3,600 are ready to be installed. Our teams have assisted the more than 23,000 new arrivals with core relief items and winter assistance. We reiterate our calls for unhindered humanitarian access. It is vital that our teams are able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance, especially during this harsh winter period. For more information on this topic, please contact: Ukraine and Germany are launching a new project on creating joint research centers in Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers press service wrote on Facebook. "Ukraine and Germany are launching a new project on creating joint centers for advanced research in Ukraine! Ukrainians will work with leading German universities, research institutes and companies, reads the report. The project will be supported by Germanys Federal Ministry of Education and Research. From Ukraine, the Education and Science Ministry will be responsible for its implementation. In total, more than 180 Ukrainian-German research projects have been successfully implemented and co-funded over 25 years of scientific and technological cooperation between Ukraine and Germany. iy Gernot Pfandler, who previously headed the Austrian Embassy in Kosovo, was appointed Austria's new ambassador to Ukraine. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers Service of Austria, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. Gernot Pfandler is a foreign service officer who has been working in the Austrian Foreign Ministry since 2001, a well-known expert on the Western Balkans. The appointment of the new ambassador to Ukraine took place as part of a large-scale planned rotation of the Austrian ambassadors in nearly 20 countries. The former Austrian ambassador to Ukraine, Hermine Poppeller, was appointed the ambassador to Greece. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority has approved applications for low-cost airlines Wizz Air and Ryanair to perform flights to Ukraine, the website avianews.com has reported, with reference to Greek news portal metaforespress.gr. In particular, Wizz Air was permitted to start flights on Airbus A320 planes with a frequency of up to two times a week on the Athens-Kyiv and Thessaloniki-Kyiv routes from March 31, 2019. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority also agreed on Ryanair flights on the Athens-Kyiv route twice a week from April 2, 2019 on Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Greek airline Astra Airlines was allowed to conduct flights between Athens and Kyiv on BAe 146 aircraft twice a week from March 31, 2019. Only Ryanair has currently launched the sale of tickets for flights to Kyiv. The air carrier announced the opening of the Kyiv-Athens route in November 2018. Militants launched six attacks, using weapons banned under the Minsk agreements twice, on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine over the past day. In the zone of action of tactical force East, the enemy fired 82mm mortars, BMP-2, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk), the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports. In the zone of action of tactical force North, militants used 82mm mortars and grenade launchers to shell Ukrainian positions near Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk); automatic grenade launchers and heavy machine guns outside Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk); grenade launchers of different systems and small arms outside Vilne (70km south-west of Donetsk); heavy machine guns and small arms near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk). One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in enemy shelling over the past day. According to the intelligence, one militant was killed and two more were wounded on January 31. Today, the enemy has not opened fire yet. Russia has not refrained from its desire to carry out aggression and seize the territory of Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said. He said this at a meeting of the reform committee of the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent said. "The Russian Federation did not abandon its desire to carry out aggression and seize our territory. The year 2018 was the year when we watched and prepared. Russia created a grouping of troops that could start aggression against Ukraine. Russia has significantly raised the degree of aggressive policies in the Sea of Azov," Poltorak said. According to him, these factors contributed to the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, which helped significantly increase the level of readiness of the Ukrainian state to protect its territory. "We have deployed a grouping of troops and increased their number, especially in areas under threat. We have mobilized reserves and increased their number. We have taken certain measures to increase the capabilities of the Armed Forces and other defense forces. In addition, we have considerably increased the readiness of reservists ," Poltorak said. He noted that all this happened during the reform process in the Armed Forces, which will continue in 2019-2020. Father's Day was spent in under more quiet conditions than usual because of the extended curfew in effect. But the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation has taken the lockdown period to combat the spread of COVID-19 through a sanitisation programme. Here's Alicia Boucher with the details. The departments budget request includes an $18.4 million increase in personnel costs, enough to fund a $1-an-hour raise for 1,467 security officers, give a 5-percent raise for other staff and hire more people. In a strategic move to make that pay raise more politically possible, Allbaugh has dropped a proposed bond issue plan to increase the systems capacity. But he still needs beds, so hes turning to a hybrid financing system please dont call it a private prison around Allbaugh. Last week, the Corrections Department started talking to possible private partners who would underwrite, design and build a prison for Oklahoma in exchange for a long-term state contract to occupy it. The contractor would own the prison, but the state would staff and manage it. Its a financing system allowed by state law but that has never been used for prisons. There are some efficiencies that come with the arrangement. Allbaugh concedes the state doesnt have the people to design and build prisons but the private sector does. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform on Friday released a legislative agenda it said could reduce the states prison population by 5 percent during the next decade. This may be the year that reform really gets going at the state Capitol, said former House Speaker Kris Steele, chairman and executive director of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. The agenda includes making State Question 780 retroactive. The measure was approved by voters in November 2016. It downgraded several nonviolent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors and reduced the associated sentences. The new sentences only apply to those charged after July 1, 2017. Steele said some 1,100 people are still in prison for simple possession and could see immediate release if the measure were made retroactive. Another 1,400 have a simple possession charge with other charges. Those sentences would be reduced, but the offenders would not be released immediately, Steele said. The agenda includes legislation that would prevent a person convicted of failure to protect from child abuse from getting a longer sentence than the person who did the abuse, Steele said. Lake Frances, a once idyllic spot that deteriorated into a decades-long nightmare on the Illinois River, could return to glory as a top Oklahoma outdoor recreation destination. The Grand River Dam Authority, in a public-private partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, plans to develop Lake Frances Whitewater Park, a state-of-the-art water feature park off the Upper Illinois River. Construction cost is estimated at $15 million. The site is at the old lake spillway, about 1.5 miles north of Watts, off U.S. 59. It also happens to be about eight river miles downstream from a similar park on the river, operated by the city of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. That park served as inspiration for the planned facility, according to Ed Fite, GRDA vice president of scenic rivers and water quality. The new public park, to be operated under the GRDAs Scenic Rivers oversight, would cover roughly 25-30 acres, including parking, roads and landscaped paths, based on draft outlines compared to Google Earth. The main attraction would be a 1,000-foot long, 50-foot-wide side channel off the river with seven drop-features to provide wave action for kayakers, surfers and tubers. This is going to clean up what many folks have known as an eyesore and environmental issue, and if it comes off as we envision, it would not only correct the deficiencies but lend itself to adding to a robust economy in Adair and Delaware counties, Fite said. The Walton Family Foundation offered in a statement, A whitewater park would provide residents of northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas with a national-caliber quality of life amenity that also has the potential to attract visitors. Improving access to the rivers natural scenic beauty would also give the community a vested interest in water quality. A Clean Water Act permit required to begin the project is in the midst of a standard review process that could take months or more, as with any project, said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District spokesman Brannen Parrish. The permit was filed in July 2018 with public comment completed in August. When and if the permit is approved and construction begins, it could take two to three years to complete the project, depending largely on weather and water levels, Fite said. We are excited to partner with the Walton Family Foundation to make this project a reality, said Dan Sullivan, GRDA chief executive officer. This project encompasses two of GRDAs core commitments pursuing economic development opportunities and being good environmental stewards. Over the years, this new waterpark will attract thousands of visitors to Oklahoma and provide a significant positive economic impact to a rural region. The water park could draw 85,000 annual visitors each year with an estimated annual economic impact of approximately $900,000, according to GRDA. Tourism is a key industry and is vital to moving our state forward, said Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. Governor Stitt and I have a strong commitment to promoting and expanding all the great attractions provided by Oklahomas natural resources. We greatly appreciate the vision, support and investment by the Walton Family Foundation and look forward to working together during the construction and opening of the waterpark. The heyday for Lake Frances was many decades ago, according to Tulsa World archives. Tulsa industrialist James W. Sloan built an earthen dam across the river to widen an existing stretch to create the lake, named for his daughter, Frances. He added a power station at the dam and built a hotel and swank cabins and cottages. The lake was a weekend getaway for thousands from throughout the region until World War II, a dam collapse and before many more reservoirs were built across Oklahoma. The city of Siloam Springs built a levee and the lake was tapped as a water source for that city, as well as Watts and West Siloam Springs, in 1954. But the lake eventually silted in and the wide spot in the river became a collection point for pollutants, including heavy metals, a back-road dumping spot for trash and drug activity. An 8-foot section of the dam came off the top during a flood in May 1990, Fite said. Siloam Springs still pulls water from the river but it goes to an off-site storage facility, he said. There has been a lot of discussion about what to do with it since that time, Fite said. When the city of Siloam Springs began building its water park, Fite said he and then-city administrator David Cameron had pretty intense discussions about a similar possibility for Lake Frances. It started gathering speed at that point but, yes, this idea has been in the works for about eight or nine years, he said. It would be wonderful to see it move forward. The work in the park will by necessity include improvements around the existing dam and creation of a stair-step feature to both reinforce the existing structure and maintain the water supply for Siloam Springs but also to make the area around the dam safer by eliminating dangerous currents, he said. Creation of the water park also will, for the first time in decades, create a path for fish to move upstream. Its not designed as a fish ladder but would essentially work like one, he said. Since March 2018, GRDA has been working with initial funding from the foundation with engineering firm Merrick & Company/McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group to create to design and plan for the area. In October, GRDA selected Crossland Construction Co. as the eventual builder. Right now we are really doing our due diligence in the planning and permitting phase, Fite said. Weve got to wait until we get that permit, and then we will be ready to move ahead. Kelly Bostian 918-581-8357 kelly.bostian@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @KellyBostian Warrens broadly successful January comes after a bruising several weeks at the end of 2018, after she released the results of a DNA test confirming distant Native American heritage. A number of high-profile Native Americans, as well as representatives of major tribes, welcomed Warrens announcement, but others panned it. Most famously, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. issued a scathing rebuke. ... The senators move was also broadly condemned by a wide range of columnists including at The Intercept and she has been doing cleanup since. In December, she sought to right the perception that she was claiming some sort of marginalized status. Im not a person of color. And I havent lived your life or experienced anything like the subtle prejudice, or more overt harm, that you may have experienced just because of the color of your skin, she said at a commencement address at the historically black Morgan State University. On the campaign trail, she has noted repeatedly that she does not claim citizenship in any tribe nor was she trying to. Reportedly planning to make her presidential bid official this month, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has apologized to the Cherokee Nation for publicizing a DNA test that shows she has distant Native American ancestors, tribal officials confirmed to the Tulsa World. The Massachusetts Democrat, who was raised in Oklahoma, had a brief and private phone conversation Thursday with Principal Chief Bill John Baker, according to a spokeswoman for the tribe. We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws, not through DNA tests, said Julie Hubbard, the tribes executive director of communications. We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end. Critics have accused the Massachusetts Democrat, who was raised in Oklahoma, of advancing her career by claiming Cherokee heritage. And President Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked his potential 2020 challenger by calling her Pocahontas, going so far as to offer $1 million to a charity of her choice if she took a DNA test that proved her claim. Update (11 a.m. Friday): A state agency will investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding a gas rupture that affected service to residents in about a three-mile area. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will conduct an investigation into the Thursday evening rupture at 21st Street and Memorial Avenue. The rupture, described as a gas leak and explosion, occurred about 3 p.m. in the 2200 block of South Memorial Drive. An OCC spokesman declined to provide detailed information while the investigation remains ongoing. Fewer than 1,000 customers are without gas as of Friday afternoon, according to ONG. The cause of the rupture in a high-pressure gas line at the location remained unknown Friday morning. Rumors that a vehicle struck a gas line were unsubstantiated. Tulsa police said they did not locate any wrecked vehicles. An OCC spokesman said there was no information to support those rumors. City officials said Oklahoma Natural Gas had an ongoing project in the area but were unable to provide details about the project. ONG officials did not respond Friday morning to a request for comment. Officials did post a statement to the ONG website stating that crews "worked overnight and continue to work in the area of 21st and Memorial." Rogers County deputies confiscated 29 glass jars containing what they allege is THC oil, a concentrate made from marijuana, and arrested a California man on possession complaints. Deputies arrested Michael John Hutchison, 56, after a traffic stop late Wednesday on allegations that he possessed the product with the intent to distribute the THC oil, according to a probable cause affidavit. Deputies state in the affidavit that they saw a black GMC Yukon merge from the Will Rogers Turnpike to Interstate 44 in Rogers County. Hutchison, the alleged driver, made multiple lane changes and exited the interstate without the use of a turn signal. During the subsequent traffic stop, a K9 officer reportedly alerted to the odor of narcotics in Hutchisons vehicle. Deputies searched the vehicle and found two cardboard boxes containing 29 glass jars. The jars contained a thick brownish substance, that later field tested positive for THC, according to the affidavit. I have seen this on numerous occasions in the past, and recognize it to be a highly concentrated THC oil, or compound, that is very expensive and in great demand, the arresting deputy states in the affidavit. A 35-year-old former private school teacher pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Jerry Matthew Berry, 35, originally faced charges in Tulsa County of sexual abuse of a minor, distributing child pornography and aggravated possession of child pornography. According to a news release after his case was moved to federal court, Berry was a former private school teacher in Oklahoma City. At the federal hearing Friday, Berry admitted to producing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children and distributing child pornography in 2017 and 2018. He also admitted to downloading pictures of children from Facebook and digitally altering the photographs to depict himself sexually assaulting and physically harming the children. The massive truckload of industrial hemp or illegal marijuana seized by authorities in Pawhuska may make it to Colorado after all but not to its original destination with the purchasers. Defense Attorney Matt Lyons on Thursday said federal testing has been completed on 11 samples, with only two found to be marginally over the legal THC limit and outside of the tests margins of error. So the Osage County District Attorneys Office will send the truck to Colorado for THC testing of the entire 9 tons of cannabis in relation to hemps three-tenths of 1 percent legal limit, he said. The lowest level of THC in medicinal marijuana is 15 percent, Lyons said, which is nowhere near the one-half of 1 percent of THC found in the most potent test sample. Lyons said the shipment doesnt contain any black market marijuana, which he said is what prosecutors told him was their initial cause for concern. They are trying to call this marijuana, when its clear to the rest of the sane world that its not, he said. DeVon Douglass, the citys chief resilience officer, is leaving the Mayors Office to take a job in Houston. Douglass, 30, will serve as director of community outreach for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Her last day in the Mayors Office will be Feb. 28. I would say that I am a builder, and I really like to build things from the ground up, Douglass said. Thankfully, Mayor (G.T.) Bynum gave me the chance to build the Resilience Office from the ground up. Now that the office is up and running, and the Resilient Tulsa strategy is in place, Douglass focus has been on project management. Her new job, she said, is an opportunity to get back to doing what she loves most working directly with the public. The role that I am about to step into is really focused on the community-engagement piece and finding out what people in Harris County care about, and how we can translate that into policy in Judge Hidalgos office during her tenure, Douglass said. Police are searching for a man who robbed a midtown Tulsa drug store this week. Tulsa police on Thursday released video surveillance images of a man inside the CVS, 6342 E. Admiral Place, entering the store about 9 p.m. Tuesday and attempting to convince an employee to split the store money with him, according to a release. When the employee refused the offer, the man implied he had a gun and grabbed the cash drawer before leaving the store on foot, the release said. The robbery suspect is described as a white man about 40 to 50 years old with a tattoo on the left side of his neck, police said. He was last seen wearing a gray beanie and a Dallas Cowboys jacket with a gray hood. Anyone with information may contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 918-596-COPS (2677), online at p3tips.com/918 or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores. More than 75 measures dealing with criminal justice reform were prefiled, with sentencing a prominent feature. Advocates are adamant about reducing the sentences of people convicted before State Question 780 reduced the penalties for many nonviolent offenses. SQ 780, adopted by Oklahoma voters in November 2016 and effective July 1, 2017, reclassified many nonviolent crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. While the number of felony charges has declined since the law went into effect, reform advocates argue it should be made retroactive. The overall idea is to slow the growth of the states prison population and perhaps reduce it while investing the savings thus realized in treatment and training programs. Just as it would make no sense to treat a churchs free food pantry like a for-profit bakery, charitable bail funds are entirely different from the bail bond industry. You dont see for-profit bakeries trying to pass legislation to regulate free food pantries. But thats exactly what is happening here. The Bail Project is a national nonprofit organization that pays cash bail for people in a handful of cities across the U.S. The program uses a revolving fund to provide bail for people charged with low-level crimes. The bail is returned to the fund at the end of the persons case, allowing the funds to be recycled. The Bail Project has assisted 200 women with bail since the program was launched in January 2018, officials with the organization said. Rader said he posed the question to the Attorney Generals Office at the request of a constituent, whom he would identify only as someone working in the bail bond industry. It seemed like a reasonable request to make to the attorney general, Rader said. The bail bondsmen are regulated and have to jump through certain hoops in order to be able to operate and just wanted to make sure that what was going on outside of their purview is lawful. Continued the release: However, their work continues to address issues long overlooked by state leaders. Between 2008 and 2018, per-student funding had decreased nearly 30 percent. Teachers remain committed to making up that funding gap, maintaining the highest teaching standards and providing the best educational opportunities possible to the next generation of Oklahomans. Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, and John Waldron, a teacher who became a legislator representing District 77, were on hand for Fridays announcement. Ferguson-Palmer provided background on the walkout and said the outpouring of love and support from the citizens of Oklahoma during the walkout was unexpected and life-changing. This very emotional experience led teachers to run for office, work on campaigns, register voters and, most importantly, to feel pride again in being an educator, she said. Woody Guthrie said, Love is the only medicine I believe in. And the love the teachers feel for their students and receive from the community are the medicine that keeps them going. Thank you to the Woody Guthrie Center for this great honor and for their work in speaking truth to power. From a long list of sushi, nigiri and sashimi, we also shared a lobster roll ($14.95) before tackling our entrees. The roll had a generous 10 pieces filled with cream cheese, avocado and lobster, then topped with sweet eel sauce, spicy mayo and sesame seeds. The entree choices include teriyaki dishes, hibachi dishes, soba dishes and combinations. We chose a hibachi combo of steak and scallops ($12.25) and the soba Four Seasons ($17.99). These were a bit on the higher end, price-wise. More than 20 selections range from $4.25 to $9.25. The steak and scallops included plenty of beef chunks and probably four medium scallops that had been cut in half. Some pieces of beef were very tender, some a little chewy. The scallops were cooked through and had a nice flavor. The beef and scallops were cooked in a brown sauce with broccoli, mushrooms and zucchini and served with a side of sliced sweet carrots and brown rice dotted with carrots, corn and peas. The soba Four Seasons was one large platter filled with chicken, steak, medium shrimp and scallops cooked in a brown sauce with thick soba noodles, broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, carrots, zucchini and onions. It was a filling and flavorful dish. Two Sandites were among 3,000 students named to Wichita State Universitys deans honor roll for fall 2018. Megan McCuistion and Erin Washburn were named to Wichita State Universitys deans honor roll in Kansas. A student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be included on the deans honor roll. Police in Nairobi are detaining two people suspected to be terrorists after arresting them at luxurious Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi. The two, Abdilahi Ahmen Haji, 26, and 23-year-old Adbirahman Ahmed Abdullahi were arrested after the staff notice they were behaving in a suspicious manner. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Two die after drinking herbal medicine in Nairobi The two were arrested after waiters noticed one of them was recording videos of the hotel and suspiciously communicating to unknown people. Photo: Ole Sereni. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenyans express mixed reactions on role of mpango wa kando in a relationship A report by the police indicated the two were arrested on the night of Wednesday, January 30, after the hotel's manager reported the incident. "Security manager at Ole Sereni reported that two men of Somali origin entered the hotel on Wednesday at around 6pm. After ordering drinks, Haji began recording videos of the hotel and making calls to unknown people," the police report read. According to police, the waiters on noticing the suspicious behaviour reported the matter to the security manager. The two were interrogated by the security manager who later called police officers. The suspects' motor vehicle was detained at the hotel premises under police guard. Photo:UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: FIDA Kenya asks DPP to take actions against DK Kwenye Beat, Hope Kid for infecting woman with STD "Suspicious waiters reported matter to security manager who suspected they were terrorists. He escorted them into his office and called police," the report continued. Police officers arrived at the scene and apprehended the two for further investigations on why they were taking photos and videos of the facility. They established the two were residents of Garissa but had temporary residence in Eastleigh, Nairobi county. The suspects' vehicle, a Mitsubishi Outlander, was detained at the hotel premises under police guard. 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 What Kenyans Think About Sidechicks (Mpango wa Kando)| Tuko TV Source: Kenyan Breaking News - The operation targeted areas believed to be al-Shabaab hideouts - The US military confirmed no civilian was injured during the strike - The terror gang claimed responsibility for the Nairobi DusitD2 attack At least 24 al-Shabaab terrorists were left dead when the United States military carried a deadly airstrike in Shabeley, Hiran region of Somalia on Wednesday, January 30. In a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke, the US Africa Command Director Gregg Olson confirmed the development adding no civilian was killed during the attack. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: DusitD2 attack: Waiter working at 14 Riverside Drive narrates how he served attackers Civilians being rescued from DusitD2 complex. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the DusitD2 attack which left 21 people dead. Photo: Eddy Okinyo/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: DusitD2 attack: Motorists allowed to collect their cars at Dusit complex days after terror attack The major general also said the precision airstrike was part of larger effort to support Somali National Army as it continuously seeks to flush out the group. "Precision strikes are part of our strategy. Strikes continue to help our partners make progress in their fight against transnational terrorists who oppose peace in Somali and the region," said a statement from the US military. This comes barely two weeks after the group claimed responsibility for the Tuesday, January 15, terror attack at Dusit Hotel complex in 14 Riverside Drive, Nairobi. The group claimed they hit Nairobi again in retaliation to US President Donald Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem the capital city of Israel. "The Mujahideen carried out this operation, codenamed 'Jerusalem will never be Judaized', in accordance with the guidelines of Sheikh Ayman Adh-Dhawahiri in targeting western and Zionist interests worldwide and in support of our Muslim families in Palestine," the statement seen by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday read in part. 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. CBD Blast Leaves Two Injured - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko Kenya The Capitol Connection Blame or thank Trump for progressive legislation ON Sunday morning, just like Saturday morning, there was a lot of loud talking coming from the back of a mini- mart in Santa Cruz. A mini-bar that has no bar licence (because it is in the middle of a residential community) but is a liming spot that has some great ties that apparently keep their loose practices untouched. THE legislative road has been paved for the decriminalisation of pepper spray in Trinidad and Tobago. The Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2021 was passed yesterday in the House of Representatives with no objection. CONSPIRACY theorists with too much time on their hands were the ones who created an issue over the arrival of 80 vials of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine that came to the country last week for use by officials at the National Security Ministry. So said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday at the Covid-19 media conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns. THE Police Service Commission (PolSC) has the green light to proceed with a new shorter process to appoint a Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis made this clear yesterday in response to a story in the Sunday Express which stated that the legal notice giving effect to the process was to be debated in the Parliament today. Three Opposition MPs are calling on the Government and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to have a heart and stop disconnecting the water supply of errant customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein yesterday wrote to WASAs executive director Lennox Sealey urging him to suspend the drive and display humanity as people are suffering and strapped for cash in the pandemic given the lockdowns. 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. rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, February 1 US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a comprehensive trade deal between the worlds two largest economies as the two-day talks to resolve the conflict that has rattled the global economy ended without any agreement. The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on each others goods. Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods. The move prompted China to increase tariffs on USD 110 billion of US goods. Trump and Xi agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1. During the latest round of talks, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer led the US delegation while Vice Premier Liu He headed the Chinese side. The White House said in a statement that the two sides had made progress but that much work remains to be done. The administration said it would keep a hard deadline of March 2, at which point it would escalate import taxes on USD 200 billion in Chinese good if there was no deal. Trump, speaking at the White House on Thursday during a meeting with Liu, said he was optimistic the worlds two largest economies could reach the biggest deal ever made. Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries had made tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesnt mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling. Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agrees to reforms by the March 1 deadline. There are some points that we dont agree to yet, but I think we will agree. I think, when President Xi and I meet, every point will be agreed to, said Trump. Were going to have a great trade deal with China if it all works outits going to be great for both countries--not just us, not just them, he added. China too struck an upbeat tone on the outcome of the two-day talks, noting that negotiators had discussed a range of issues, but focused on the trade imbalance, intellectual property rights protection, and the implementation mechanism of any eventual deal reached. Both sides have also set out a timeline and roadmap for the next step of talks, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. China agreed to increase imports of US goods and boost cooperation on protecting intellectual property, it said. China is facing the daunting task of presenting a credible plan to meet Trumps demands to cut down the USD 375 billion trade deficit. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com Bucharest, January 31 Britain, France and Germany on Thursday launched a trade mechanism to bypass US sanctions on Iran, drawing praise from Tehran and a warning from Washington. Brussels hopes the long-awaited special payment system will help save the Iran nuclear deal by allowing Tehran to keep trading with EU companies despite Washington reimposing sanctions after Donald Trump abruptly quit the accord last year. The three countries the European signatories to the 2015 deal that curbed Tehrans nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief launched the device, which has been in preparation for months, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Bucharest. Iran cautiously welcomed the news as a first step but US officials dismissed the idea that the new entity would have any impact on efforts to exert economic pressure on Tehran, and fired a fresh warning at anyone thinking of trading with the Islamic republic. While the new institution, called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) is a project of the three governments, it will receive endorsement of all 28 EU members. The company was registered in Paris on Tuesday with an initial 3,000 euros in capital and a supervisory board with members from France and Germany, and chaired by a Briton. AFP Yet to be operational monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, February 1 A US lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to grant asylum to Pakistani woman Aasia Bibi, claiming she was "persecuted" in that country for being a Christian. Aasia Bibi has been persecuted, jailed and threatened for doing nothing more than being a Christian in Pakistan, Congressman Ken Calvert said. The recent decision by Pakistan's top court to overturn Bibi's death sentence and free her from jail is obviously welcome news, the lawmaker said. However, Asia continues to be in danger and is the subject of incendiary rhetoric by radical Islamist leaders. That's why it's essential for Congress and other defenders of religious freedom to stand up and protect her, Calvert said. Recognising the importance of granting asylum to those with legitimate claims of persecution for their religion, race, nationality, membership in a social group, or political belief; the resolution supports granting asylum in the United States to Aasia Bibi and her immediate family. Bibi, a mother of four, may leave Pakistan shortly as there are threats to her life. Her two daughter had already shifted to Canada. Pakistan said on Thursday that Bibi, who was recently acquitted by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case, was a free citizen and has the right to travel anywhere inside the country or abroad. A three-member Supreme Court bench on Tuesday threw out a petition seeking to review the apex court's decision to acquit 47-year-old Bibi. She was arrested in 2009 for allegedly using derogatory words during a quarrel with Muslim women while working on a farm in Nankana Sahib area of Punjab province. The case was filed by a local prayer leader on the complaint of the Muslim women. Bibi was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. The apex court overturned her conviction last year, sparking days of violent demonstrations led by hardline Islamist parties. Her case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws. Bibi's case gained prominence when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad. The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. PTI editorial@tribune.com Aradhika Sharma Dear Diary Didi, Hadd ho gayi hai. Can students not even pray without PILs being filed about it? Apparently, a lawyer in Jabalpur has raised a concern that the compulsory recitation of morning prayers in Sanskrit and Hindi by students of Kendriya Vidyalayas (irrespective of faith and belief) violates their fundamental right to religion. I didnt know language had a religion! He also says that singing prayers is an obstacle in developing the scientific temperament of students. If that were the case, many of my classmates wouldnt have become doctors, surgeons and scientists. For 10 years, Ive stood in the halls and grounds of various Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country, singing the elegant and simple verses of the morning prayer. Asatomasadgamaya (From ignorance, lead me to truth) Tamasomajyotirgamaya (From darkness, lead me to light) Mrityormaamritamgamaya (From death, lead me to immortality) Its true that, like every other student, I would wish we had a more rousing prayer. Sometimes Id try to liven things up by lustily and loudly singing the verses of the Vedic chant (which is the prelude to the longer secular prayer). But never did I or any of my fellow students think of challenging the sagacity or the democracy of it. Even then we knew that the hymn was a paean to the spirit of duty and love and we prayed for strength and knowledge. Diary didi, most of the KV kids were fauji bachchas moving from one place to another following their fathers. As soon as we reached a new city, our mothers would march us straight into a KV, admit us without fuss and wed soon find ourselves in the blue and white uniform, badges, belts and red ribbons neatly in place, standing in the school assembly. I travelled with my father from Tezpur (Assam) to Kolkata and Bangalore. On the very first day at each new school, as I sang the familiar prayer along with the other kids, I immediately felt the security of the familiar... I would go so far as to say that the KV prayer has been the sutradhar of secularism the musical devise that assured the KV bachchas of familiarity and acceptance. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The world is one family. The pure and melodious lines of the invocation have immense relevance for every student. The three little lines hold tremendous shakti and inspire and invoke the love for knowledge. After singing the verses, we had to speak out the national pledge: India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters Cant see how we could get more secular than that! One thing is for sure. This lawyer from Jabalpur has reiterated my love for my school(s) and got me thinking just how smart the KV systems are at integrating students and communities. Never have I appreciated my alma mater more than when I read about the petition. Last words? Asatomasadgamaya. From darkness, lead us to light. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti... amansharma@tribunemail.com Washington, January 30 In a first, scientists have created an artificial intelligence (AI) based system that directly translates thoughts into intelligible, recognisable speech, an advance that may help people who cannot speak regain their ability to communicate with the outside world. By monitoring someone's brain activity, the technology developed by researchers from Columbia University in the US can reconstruct the words a person hears with unprecedented clarity. The breakthrough, which harnesses the power of speech synthesisers and artificial intelligence, could lead to new ways for computers to communicate directly with the brain. It also lays the groundwork for helping people who cannot speak, such as those living with as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or recovering from stroke, regain their ability to communicate with the outside world, researchers said. "Our voices help connect us to our friends, family and the world around us, which is why losing the power of one's voice due to injury or disease is so devastating," said Nima Mesgarani, of Columbia University in the US. "With today's study, we have a potential way to restore that power. We've shown that, with the right technology, these people's thoughts could be decoded and understood by any listener," said Mesgarani, a principal investigator of the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Decades of research has shown that when people speak-or even imagine speaking-telltale patterns of activity appear in their brain. Distinct pattern of signals also emerge when we listen to someone speak, or imagine listening. Experts, trying to record and decode these patterns, see a future in which thoughts need not remain hidden inside the brain-but instead could be translated into verbal speech at will. However, accomplishing this feat has proven challenging. Early efforts to decode brain signals by researchers focused on simple computer models that analysed spectrograms, which are visual representations of sound frequencies. However, because this approach has failed to produce anything resembling intelligible speech, the team turned instead to a vocoder, a computer algorithm that can synthesise speech after being trained on recordings of people talking. "This is the same technology used by Amazon Echo and Apple Siri to give verbal responses to our questions," said Mesgarani. Researchers plan to test more complicated words and sentences next, and they want to run the same tests on brain signals emitted when a person speaks or imagines speaking. Ultimately, they hope their system could be part of an implant, similar to those worn by some epilepsy patients, that translates the wearer's thoughts directly into words. "In this scenario, if the wearer thinks 'I need a glass of water,' our system could take the brain signals generated by that thought, and turn them into synthesised, verbal speech," said Mesgarani. "This would be a game changer. It would give anyone who has lost their ability to speak, whether through injury or disease, the renewed chance to connect to the world around them," he said. - PTI editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 The rift between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)and its alliance partner BJP is out in the open, with the former today skipping a meeting of the NDA to finalise floor strategy for the Budget session. Accusing the BJP and its ideological wing, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of trying to meddle in Sikh religious affairs, the Akalis have taken a strong stand against the saffron party. The SAD has convened an urgent meeting of its core committee here on Sunday to discuss the issue of infringement on Sikh religious affairs by the BJP and RSS. Sources told The Tribune with the BJP unwilling to retract on the issue or call Akali leaders to sort it out, the two allies could even snap ties. Three recent incidents the amendment to Section 11 of the Takht Sri Hazur Abchal Nagar Sahib Board Nanded Act, 1956, by the BJP government in Maharashtra; conferring a Padma Bhushan to sulking Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa by the Centre, without taking the SAD into confidence; and the bid to force a Rashtriya Sikh Sangat nominee as president of Takht Patna Sahib have set the alarm bells ringing in the Akali Dal. The party leadership is livid at the BJP for trying to infringe on their (Akali Dal) territory. SAD senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema said the party was deeply concerned over the BJP trying to step on their toes. This could have devastating consequences as neither the Akali Dal nor the Sikhs would tolerate the bid by RSS (through Rashtriya Sikh Sangat) to take over religious institutions. The party decision to skip the NDA meeting and outburst by Manjinder Singh Sirsa on the issue yesterday, is a carefully thought out strategy by the party to show its annoyance ahead of the parliamentary elections. Party chief Sukhbir Badal and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur hosted a lunch in Delhi today, which was attended by almost all Union ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. But the guest of honour on the occasion was former Union Agriculture Minister and NCP president Sharad Pawar. Gujral slams BJP New Delhi: SAD leader Naresh Gujral on Thursday objected to direct interference by the Sangh in Sikh matters. He said: We have been telling them (the BJP) to keep away for issues related to Sikhs. Accusing BJP motor mouths of giving irresponsible statements and creating fear in the minds of minorities, Gujral said: Sikhs are feeling agitated over attempts by the BJP to try and interfere in religious affairs. This cannot be tolerated. Let the BJP be warned. Reacting to this, BJP leader RP Singh said: Wild accusations without evidence are bad for any relationship. And every Sikh is not an Akali. tns editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 The state government has decided to remove the upper annual limit of 3,000 units for electricity consumption by the SC, BC and BPL families, enabling all domestic users in these categories to avail 200 units per month free of cost. The decision would bring back into the scheme over 1.17 lakh domestic consumers (from SC/ BC and BPL category) who had been taken out of its ambit with the introduction of the upper limit. The move will put an additional burden of Rs 163 crores on the state exchequer. The decision to remove the cap, imposed by the Capt Amarinder Singh government upon assuming office in 2017 to cut undue subsidy, has been taken in a bid to woo the Dalit voters ahead of the elections. It was during meetings with the party MLAs earlier this month that the issue of Dalit voters being angry with the state government was raised. With this decision, all consumers in these categories will be required to pay only for units consumed over and above 200 units a month, with billing to be done on a bi-monthly basis, according to an official spokesperson. The move will benefit a total of over 17.76 lakh families comprising SC domestic, non-SC BPL domestic and BC domestic consumers with sanctioned load up to 1 KW. The subsidy would cost the state a total of Rs 1,253 crores per annum. The Cabinet has, however, decided to bar all income tax payees, from availing 200 units per month of free electricity facility under the scheme. editorial@tribune.com Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 31 As many as six persons, including a forest official, were injured when a leopard strayed into Lamma Pind of Jalandhar city on Thursday. The animal was first spotted at 11.30 am in the mustard fields. As the word spread, youths from the village and surrounding areas came out in large numbers and raised the alarm. This led to the big cat attacking many people as it went about finding a suitable place to hide. The villagers called up the police, who further informed forest officials in Phillaur. They managed to corner the leopard in a shed after using a tranquiliser gun twice to sedate it. A net was also thrown on the animal. But the animal jumped out, attacking villagers as it went about looking for a way out. Ramesh Kumar (32), alias Sodhi, in whose plot the leopard hid, bore the maximum brunt. As he stood up on a wall holding the mesh in which the big cat was to be trapped, it pounced on him while roaring loudly. However, the young man did not panic even as it bit him. Sodhi jumped off the wall within seconds at which the animal had to leave him. Forest officer Pardeep, villagers Ram Kumar, Jarnail Singh, Mohit and a migrant labourer were among others to be attacked. Meanwhile, more forest officials were called in from Dasuya and Chandigarh. A local physician, Dr Bharat Bhushan Badhan, said, I have provided first-aid to six persons of whom Sodhi and Jarnail had bruises that had to be sutured. Paramjit Kaur, a villager in whose house the leopard entered, says, God saved me today. I was washing utensils in the open verandah and had just gone out on the terrace of a nearby house to see the leopard minutes before it made way into my house. Every house kept its doors and windows shut. Kids too were confined inside. Finally, around 6 pm, the animal was cornered in an open washroom of a locked house. The cops used force to push the onlookers back to their houses. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kuldip Kumar said, The leopard has strayed here from the Shivaliks or from near rivers. Our staff has spotted pugmarks of the animal near the Beas too. We have tranquilised the animal and sent it to Chhatbir zoo. We will examine if he has any injuries and needs care. If required, we may keep him for a few days. There were 40-50 leopards in the Shivaliks and a few in the riverine area, he added. Taken to Chhatbir Late in the evening, a wildlife veterinary team from Chhatbir arrived at the village. More tranquiliser shots were administrated to the leopard and it was finally trapped and taken to the Chhatbir zoo. The operation lasted for more than nine hours. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 31 Haryana landlord Jaswinder Singh alias Sarpanch, owning 70 acres of land in Fatehabad, would travel in his luxury car to deliver drugs to his clients on their doorstep. A fan of Bollywood musician Bappi Lahiri, he sported flashy gold chains. Among his clients were big industrialists and senior officials. He was arrested with 3.4 kg of opium in his Pajero on Wednesday. To hoodwink the police, he would travel with paramour Amarjit Amro, booked in 20 NDPS cases, posing as a couple," said Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu. Jaswinder told the police he first got in touch with his clients in 2014 on social media sites. Soon their number swelled and he would travel to Sangrur, Nabha, Patiala, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Haryana districts to supply drugs. The police said his clients too would be questioned after his claims were verified. Sources said soon after his arrest, several well-connected persons" tried to approach the district police through various channels, requesting that he be sent to judicial remand without being questioned by the police. Some junior officials too tried to shield the drug dealer. Insiders claimed Jaswinder had been jailed for eight years after his arrest in Haryana in 2006 for smuggling poppy husk. In 2014, he jumped parole and began making money by supplying drugs in Punjab, they said. Acting on a tip-off on Jaswinder's modus uperandi, the police put Samana CIA staff in-charge Vijay Kumar on the job. On January 30, his team stopped a Pajero. The driver, who was wearing heavy gold chains and bracelets, introduced a woman accompanying him as his wife. A search of their vehicle yielded 3 kg of opium. Both were arrested," the SSP said. He said Jaswinder offered Rs 20 lakh to the police team for making a phone call. He was taken to a police station and booked under the NDPS Act. Amro, already facing 20 NDPS cases, told the police about an Audi car parked in Samana with 400 gm of opium in the bonnet. The Pajero and Audi both had fake registration numbers. "A report from transport officials is awaited, the police said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 Nearly a year after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the operation of an order setting aside the appointment of retired IAS officer Suresh Kumar as Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, a Division Bench today called for Chief Secretarys affidavit on powers exercised by him. The Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli fixed February 13 as the next date of hearing. The direction came after senior advocate Gurminder Singh argued Suresh Kumar was virtually exercising Chief Ministers power when he was out of station an assertion objected to by Advocate-General Atul Nanda. Appearing on behalf of the state, senior advocate and former finance minister P Chidambaram had justified his appointment by asserting it was in accordance with the norms. He had added that the CM was in need of able officers for formulating strategies and making plans to fulfil the promises made in the manifesto. He had also submitted that the Chief Minister was well within his rights to appoint officers of his choice. Besides, the post on which Suresh Kumar was appointed was non-cadre. He also argued that the petitioner before the Single Bench had no connection whatsoever with the post. He, under the circumstances, had no justification in filing the petition. editorial@tribune.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 Alleged fleecing of MBBS students by private medical colleges and universities may continue in the next session as well as the government is sitting on the draft of the Act aiming at regulating the exorbitant fee charged by the institutions. The budget session is to start from February 12 and the Cabinet has not even discussed the issue. As per the admission schedule, the notification for admission has to be issued in the first week of February. Around four months ago, the Department of Medical Education and Research had prepared a draft, which had sought an amendment to the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act, 2006. The new amendment had provisions to empower the state government to regulate the fee charged by the private medical universities. The amendment draft had been cleared by the Advocate General in September and the Additional Chief Secretary, Satish Chandra, had sent the draft to the government around three months ago. The state was aiming to table the amendment in the winter session. However, in the past three months, the government has neither placed it in any of the Cabinet meetings, the outcome of which was that the amendment could not be placed in the winter session. Significantly, the medical and dental education in the state is governed by the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act, 2006. But the Act mentions about regulating fee of only medical and dental institutes and is silent on the private medical universities, which mushroomed in the past decade. The universities are taking plea that their fee cannot be regulated as the Act does not have any such provision. With the new amendment, the government had sought to insert the word private medical universities so that the Act could be applicable to all private institutes, including the universities. With the amendment, the fee is likely to come down from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. In the session started last year (2018-19), Adesh Medical College, Bathinda; Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana; and Sri Guru Ram Das Medical College, Amritsar charged Rs 50-70 lakh fee for the five-year course. The amount (Rs 13.42 lakh) is hefty. Chandra said the matter was under deliberation with the Chief Minister. The controversy editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Patiala, January 31 A day after an illegal chemical and acid factory at Ghalauri Gate in Patiala was sealed in a joint operation under the Tandrust Punjab Mission by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Commissioner, Foods and Drugs Administration, Kahan Singh Pannu has shot off a letter to all drug controllers and zonal heads to check the sale and purchase of chemicals and acids. In the letter, the Commissioner has stated that the recent raid had highlighted that the firm was not maintaining the sales record or a stock register as per the Punjab Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2014. In addition, the copy of the record has to be sent to the area SDM on a quarterly basis. You are directed to inspect all such premises and firms under your jurisdiction to check if the licence holder is selling poison to any person personally known to him, read the directions. No minor should be sold such poison. All inspection reports are to be submitted to respective deputy commissioners and a report be sent to the head office as well, it states. On Wednesday, an illegal factory MR Chemicals Sales Corp running for the past 13 years was sealed. It was providing service to farmers by discharging acid into agricultural borewells to increase the water level, causing massive damage to the environment. According to officials, the factory had poured chemicals into 17,000 borewells during the past 13 years. The team confiscated huge quantities of acid from the factory. Farmers, who are already battling a steep fall in the ground water level, were paying the factory owner around Rs 10,000 for discharging 600 litres of chemical, which is a mixture of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. editorial@tribune.com Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 Intense lobbying has begun for the Congress ticket from Punjab in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Shifting into poll mode, general secretary incharge Punjab Affairs Asha Kumari and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Sunil Jakhar are meeting the area MLAs and partys district presidents to get their feedback on the potential candidates to be fielded from four parliamentary constituencies Anandpur Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Bathinda the seats Congress lost in the 2014 parliamentary elections. With the exception of the Patiala parliamentary seat from where Preneet Kaur, wife of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and a former Union Minister of State, is a frontrunner, the senior Congress leadership has already taken the feedback from the four other parliamentary seats, Khadoor Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot and Sangrur. In the remaining Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana parliamentary constituencies, the party has already sitting MPs. For the Hoshiarpur reserved seat, a former Union Minister of State and a former MP, Santosh Chowdhary, has staked claim for the seat. Hailing from a family of traditional Congress men, she is learnt to have pleaded her case before the party high command and the Punjab Chief Minister. Former MP Mohinder Kaypee, sitting MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Yamini Gomar, an AAP leader who joined the Congress in 2016, are among the contenders for the reserved seat. Sources in the party do not rule out the possibility of bringing back into the party fold former Banga MLA Tarlochan Sondh before fielding him from Hoshairpur. After being denied ticket in the 2017 Assembly elections, Sondh had left the party. It would be an interesting tussle for the Anandpur Sahib seat, as Anoop Soni, a son of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni, is believed to be a frontrunner for the constituency. Likely candidates editorial@tribune.com Washington, January 31 Several foreigners, including from India, face deportation from the US after authorities busted a pay to stay visa racket and arrested eight persons on charges of fraudulently facilitating at least 600 immigrants to illegally remain in the country. In late-night and pre-dawn raids, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested eight foreigners all of whom are either Indian nationals or US-Indian for aiding foreign nationals to remain in the US illegally by actively recruiting them to enrol into a fake university in Farmington Hills in Metro Detroit. Without the knowledge of the conspirators, the university was operated by special agents of the Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) as part of an undercover operation, from a small building in Detroit area. Information made available on the website of this university in particular those related to admissions leaves a lot of questions. Simultaneously, the ICE also has started detaining foreign students of this fake university and started the process of their deportation. Vast majority of those arrested and detained are Indian nationals, an ICE official said. Special agents from ICEs Homeland Security Investigations arrested eight on criminal charges, the official said. In their late 20s or early 30s, those arrested by the ICE include Barath Kakireddy, Suresh Kandala, Phanideep Karnati, Prem Rampeesa, Santosh Sama, Avinash Thakkallapally, Aswanth Nune, and Naveen Prathipati. Six of them were arrested in Detroit, the other two in Virginia and Florida. We are getting in touch with US authorities to extend consular assistance to those affected, MEAs Raveesh Kumar said in Delhi. PTI New H-1B rule out pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, February 1 Robert Vadra on Friday moved a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail in a money-laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A lawyer from the prosecution team confirmed that Vadra has sought anticipatory bail in the case in which his close aide Manoj Arora was granted interim protection from arrest till February 6 by the court. The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based propertylocated at 12, Bryanston Squareworth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Vadras anticipatory bail application is likely to be heard by the court on Saturday. On January 19, the ED had told the court that Arora was cooperating in the probe. Arora had earlier alleged before the court that the case was foisted on him by the NDA government out of political vendetta. However, the ED had refuted the allegations, asking that should no authority investigate any political bigwig because that will be called a political vendetta? The agency had told the court that it lodged the 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 had alleged that 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, the ED had told the court. Arora, an employee of Vadras Skylight Hospitality LLP, was a key person in the case and he was aware of the latters overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds, ED had alleged. PTI shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after a Mirage 2000 upgraded trainer version by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited crashed in Bengaluru on Friday morning. The plane was undergoing its acceptance trial by the IAF when both pilots ejected and one pilot crash landed in the burning wreckage. Sources have confirmed, the second pilot died in the operation theatre. IAF has not released the names of the pilots yet. editorial@tribune.com Washington, January 31 In a hate crime, a Hindu temple has been vandalised in the US state of Kentucky by miscreants who sprayed black paint on the deity and wrote repugnant messages on the walls. The incident happened between Sunday night and Tuesday morning at the Swaminarayan Temple in the Louisville city, authorities said. There are no suspects but an investigation is ongoing, police said. Temple officials said no video of the incident is available. According to local media reports, vandalism resulted in deity image sprayed with black paint, broken windows, walls spray-painted with inappropriate messages and graffiti. A knife was stabbed in the chair and cabinets were emptied. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian-American community in Louisville Kentucky. Authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime. Condemning the incident of vandalism, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer called upon the city residents to stand up against this hatred. Anytime we see hatred or bigotry, we will stand against it. The cowards who did this have only given our community more fuel and determination to embrace compassion and understanding each other, Fischer said as he visited the vandalised temple Wednesday. Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni, the first Indian-American elected to the Kentucky General Assembly, said the vandalism was an act of intimidation designed to weaken our faith and community. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, January 31 The National Security Council Secretariat, which advises the Prime Ministers Office on security and strategic issues, has asked Jammu and Kashmir to submit area-wise details of distress sale of immovable properties belonging to Kashmiri migrants forced to leave the Valley following the onset of militancy in the 1990s. In a communication to the Divisional Commissioners Office (Kashmir), the secretariat sought data about immovable properties left behind by lakhs of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim families, most of them living in camps in Jammu and other parts of the country as migrants. These include 3.5 lakh minority Kashmiri Pandits. The secretariat is preparing an assessment of migrants (Pandits, Sikhs and others) who were displaced due to militancy in J&K. Share area-wise details of distress sales and alienation of immovable properties of Kashmiri migrants in the Valley since the 1990s. Provide area-wise details of land holding and immovable property and property under the custody of the government, says the order. Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Baseer Khan said, We have passed directions to respective districts to furnish details. He, however, refused to share further information. The order assumes significance as after the exodus of 3.5 lakh Pandits, the state Assembly had passed the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, placing respective district administrations as custodians of the properties and religious structures left behind by the minorities. For any change or sale of property, a written consent of migrants was needed. But for years, representative organisations of the Pandits have alleged that land mafia, allegedly in connivance with corrupt revenue officials, has been encroaching upon their properties. gspannu7@gmail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, February 1 Gangster Ravi Pujari, who was known to call up Bollywood personalities and prominent builders in Mumbai in order to extort money from them, has been arrested in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, according to sources here. According to police sources here, Pujari was arrested on January 22 on the basis of information provided by the Indian Government and has been lodged at the Reubeus prison in Dakar. The Indian Government has begun the process to get Pujari extradited to India, according to officials here. A team from India is likely to visit Senegal in order to take custody of Pujari in about a fortnights time, state government officials here say. The Mumbai Police had stumbled on to Pujaris location after one of his henchmen, William Rodrigues, was arrested while trying to extort money from a Mumbai builder on the gangsters behalf. Rodrigues led the police to other associates of Pujari in Mangalore who in turn provided the police about the gangsters location. Pujari, a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, had broken away to form his own gang around 17 years ago. Shortly afterwards, Pujari hit the headlines after some members of his gang attempted to kill filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. After moving about in different parts of the world, Pujari moved to Senegal where he has been operating an Indian restaurant under the identity of Anthony Fernandes. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 31 Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, President Ram Nath Kovind today defended the BJP governments controversial decisions, from Rafale jet purchase and demonetisation to GST implementation, saying the government had commenced its journey towards building a New India. His hour-long Address to the joint sitting of Parliament marked the start of Budget Session with PM Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh, BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in attendance. Gandhi debuted in the front rows. The President used the occasion to hail demonetisation as a defining moment in the governments war on corruption and black money; term the GST a means to establish an honest system of trade; call surgical strikes Indias new policy and strategy; and laud Rafale jets as ultra-modern aircraft that will strengthen Indias strike capability. The speech also lavished praises on governments recent legislative moves, including the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill that the Opposition is questioning, Triple Talaq Bill, death penalty for aggravated child sexual assault and the new law on 10 per cent quota for General Category poor in education and public jobs. The Address drew thunderous applause from the ruling MPs when the President mentioned Rafale jet induction into the IAF and surgical strikes by the Army. On both occasions Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad sat unamused as the Congress continues to question the government over Rafale fighter jets deal, demonetisation and GST. The President said: The (demonetisation) decision struck at the very root of parallel economy thriving on black money and the money outside the formal system was brought within the ambit of nations economy and broke the back of the forces destabilising the country and the systems sustaining the flow of black money. Listing other achievements of the government, including women-centric schemes like Mudra loan, Swachh Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana besides Ayushman Bharat for cashless medical care, Kovind said the new India vowed by the BJP-led NDA government had no place for imperfect, corrupt and inertia-ridden systems. On Rafale fighter jets purchase, he said, My government believes that neglecting the countrys defence needs even for a moment is detrimental to the present and future of the country after a gap of many decades, the Indian Air Force is preparing to welcome, in the coming months, its new generation ultra-modern fighter aircraft Rafale and strengthen its strike capability. Hailing surgical strikes, the President said, Through the surgical strike on cross-border terror posts, India has shown its new policy and strategy. The President also listed the Central Governments flagship plans, including doubling farmers incomes and housing for all by 2022 as he wished the best to first time voters of the 2019 General Election before delineating contours of governments New India. The Budget Session will conclude on February 13. monicakchauhan@gmail.com New Delhi, February 1 Suspense over the next CBI chief continued on Friday as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed selection committee could not reach a decision during its second meeting here, officials said. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said it was averse to the arrangement of an interim CBI Director and the Centre should immediately appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. The post of CBI Director is sensitive and important, and it is not good to keep an interim director of the agency for longer period, the top court observed and sought to know as to why the government has not made the appointment yet. No decision could be taken during the meeting, a senior government official said, without citing further details on the selection committees meeting. The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges. Both Verma and Asthana had accused each other of corruption. M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief after Vermas ouster. Fridays meeting was held at the prime ministers residencethat lasted for over an hourand attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The panels January 24 meeting has also remained inconclusive. A list of eligible officers along with their dossiers was shared with the panel members in the last meeting. The government presented names of 70-80 officers. There was no mention of their career details including relevant experience. We (referring to CJI Gogoi) have asked them to provide all the necessary details. The next meeting will be convened may be by next week, Kharge had told reporters after the January 24 meeting. Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director by the PM-led panel, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guardsa less significant portfolio. Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he has completed 60 years age of superannuation on July 31, 2017. He had taken over as the CBI chief on February 1, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure that ended Thursday. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, February 1 Opposition parties met here and decided to approach the Election Commission on Monday for redressal of their concerns over the use of EVMs in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, addressing the media after the meeting on Friday, said the issue of EVMs was discussed at length by the opposition leaders. "We have had a good meeting. All parties have agreed to discuss in detail three issuestwo central and one structuraljobs, agriculture and attack on institutions. We are going to meet and find solutions to these problems," he said. "The election will be about jobs, agriculture, attack on institutions, and corruption by the prime minister in the Rafale deal," the Congress chief said. Asked about the budget being hailed as a "surgical strike", Gandhi said "surgical strike" will happen on the prime minister and his government on issues such as Rafale, jobs and demonetisation. He said opposition parties will meet election commission officials on Monday over concerns about EVM tampering. Apart from Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, Derek O'Brien of Trinamool Congress, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, Manoj Jha of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary among others, attended the meeting. Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and A K Antony, Danish Ali of JDS and Sharad Yadav were also present in the meeting. Several opposition parties have been claiming that only two-three countries are using EVMs and the rest have reverted to the ballot paper system following complaints of malfunctioning of these machines. The Congress, while supporting the demand, has maintained that since the Lok Sabha election is just around the corner, the EC should ensure counting of paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 Education was hardly a focus area in the Budget announced by Piyush Goyal on Friday as the Union Government allocated 93,848 crore to the education sector. The government's allocation to the Human Resource Development Ministry is only 3.3 per cent of the total Budget expenditure for 2019-2020. The current allocation (56,386.63 crore for school education and 37461.01 crore for higher education) is a 10,000 crore hike from the revised estimate of 83,626 crore for 2018-2019. However, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar claimed that the Budget allocation in this sector is phenomenal and the government is spending more in innovation, research and school education. For school education sector, there is no fund this time for Digital India e-learning, but the same for the higher education sector has been increased from Rs 511 crore to Rs 579 crore for 2019-2020. But Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for appointment of language teachers. There is an Rs 500 crore increase in support for midday meal schemes while the allocation for madrasas and minorities remains unchanged at 120 crores. The governments Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan aside, the budget for National Scheme for Incentive to Girl Child for Secondary Education has been slashed from 255 crore to 100 crore. While for the PM girls hostels scheme, the budget stands at Rs 13 crore against Rs 30 crore allocated in the previous fiscal. Funds for Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) have been reduced from Rs 2750 crore to Rs 2100 crore. A not-for profit organisation, it uses funds leveraged from markets to finance improvement in top Indian institutions. The actual spend last year by HEFA was only Rs 250 crore. Also there is no allocation for national initiative on inclusion of persons with disabilities in higher education compared to Rs 2 crore chalked out in 2018-2019. Of the Rs 35 crore chalked for M.Tech Programme Teaching Assistantship, nothing was spent and no fund has been allocated this year. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 31 Amid a controversy over resignation by two members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) and the employment figures based on NSSOs periodic labour force survey (PLFS) reported in a section of the media, the government today said the same is not finalised and is just a draft report. The Opposition Congress, however, mounted a scathing attack on the government declaring: NoMo jobs and Time for NoMo2Go. The BJP hit back, saying Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had inherited Italian dictatorMussolinis short-sightedness. The media report quoting the National Sample Survey Offices (NSSO) PLFS suggested that Indias unemployment rate hit a 45-year-high of 6.1 per cent in 2017, which Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, who had previously mounted a defence of lowering of UPA-era GDP growth rates, at a press conference here said what the media report cited is not finalised. It is a draft report. The reported NSSO data also compared the unemployment rate in the country, which had gone down to 2.2 per cent in 2011-12. But Kumar, while refusing to comment on the content of the media report, said the government would release the employment report by March after collating quarter-on-quarter data. Debunking claims of jobless growth, the Vice-Chairman said how a country could grow at an average of 7 per cent without employment. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who was also present at the conference, said India was creating adequate jobs for new entrants, but probably we are not creating high quality jobs. NoMo Jobs: Rahul NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job-creation report card reveals a national disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 crore youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2GO. Rahul Gandhi, Congress President monicakchauhan@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 Riled by chants of Modi...Modi...Modi by the Treasury MPs when interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday declared full tax rebate on individual annual incomes up to Rs 5 lakh, the opposition Congress denounced the interim Budget as an election manifesto of the government and a poll stunt. Former PM Manmohan Singh called it an election budget, ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the budget was an account or votes rather than a vote in account", and Congress Leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the FM read out an election manifesto with eyes on the votes. The Congress was especially critical of the much anticipated farmer related announcement by Goyal today. Under a new scheme, the government has said it will give small farmers Rs 6,000 directly every year. This comes to Rs 500 a month and the government has said it will pay Rs 2,000 installment soon. This amount to buying votes, Kharge said. In other announcements on pensions to 40 crore unorganised workers, the Congress asked who will fulfil these promises? Kharge said the government had made announcements well beyond its constitutionally mandated period of May 26 this year when it would senior office and a newly-elected government will be installed. Like the previous jumlas of the BJP this too is a jumla Budget, Kharge said criticising the BJP members for chanting PM Modis name at the declaration of tax rebates. What was that? Who does that in Parliament, he asked moments after Goyal halted his Budget speech briefly to let the ruling side MPs bask in the glory of the announcement by chanting PMs name. The Budget presentation was marked by sporadic thunderous applause for Goyal who started his speech by remembering the ailing FM Arun Jaitley and wishing him a speedy recovery. The BJP ministers hailed the interim Budget as historic with Textile Minister Smriti Irani saying its a Budget that promises high josh to farmers, poor, women and salaried classes. Speaking outside Parliament, she said countering accusations of presenting a full Budget, Irani said, Mr Chidambaram, UPA Finance Minister had once given rebates to corporates in his interim Budget. Whats the problem of the Congress if our FM has benefitted the poor? Why is Congress getting riled? rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, February 1 Terming the interim Budget historic, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said it is aimed at strengthening the economy and would benefit all sections of society. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha. He doled out tax sops to middle class, including doubling of income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, raising standard deduction to Rs 50,000, and provided concessions on interest income from bank deposits and rent. Our government wants the countrys economy to get stronger and that was the aim of the Budget. I would call it a historic Budget. It would benefit all sections of society, Singh told reporters outside Parliament. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and RK Singh dubbed the Budget a surgical strike on the Opposition. This is the second surgical strike. First surgical strike was when our soldiers fought with bullets at the border and it will be the ballot this year. The Budget will benefit farmers, Paswan said. Singh said the Opposition should welcome the Budget. I advise the Opposition to welcome the Budget and it felt like a surgical strike on the Opposition. It was shell-shocked. It should be happy because the people are happy, he said. Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said the Budget would benefit the common man and the service class. It benefits the poor population too. Such a Budget has been presented after many years and it would help in empowering people of this country, he said. From health to education to farmers welfare to gratuity, all areas have been covered and it would benefit the people, he added. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, There was a lot of fantasy language and castles being constructed in the air but very little actually happening in real terms. However, he praised the tax exemptions introduced for the middle-class. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 Prime Narendra Modis government in its last Budget on Friday has allocated Rs 1,03,927 crore for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)4.9 per cent more than the previous budget allocation. This is reportedly the first time that the MHA budgetary allocation has surpassed Rs. 1 lakh crore with a focus on modernisation of police reforms. The ministrys expenditure post the revised estimates for 2018-2019 stand at Rs 99,034 crore. Of the entire allocation for 2019-2010, Rs 3,378 crore has been earmarked towards modernisation of police forces, Rs 5,117 crore for police infrastructure, such as barracks and residential quarters, among other things, against the revised estimate of Rs 4,836 crore in 2018-2019. Amid tense relations with Pakistan and volatile ties with China, Rs 2,000 crore has been marked for border infrastructure and management, and allocation for border area development programme has been raised to Rs 825 crore from Rs 771 crore for the previous year. The Budget has also allocated Rs 809 crore has been allocated towards relief and rehabilitation for migrants and repatriates against the revised estimate for 2018-2019 at Rs 1,048 crore. While slight increase has been done for National Intelligence Grid (50.82 cr). Of the central forces, budget for the Sashastra Seema Bal saw nearly Rs 500 crore increase compared to budgetary allocation for 2018-2019, with Rs 5,817.21 crore earmarked for this year. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) engaged in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast and also deployed for internal security assignments, has been allocated Rs 23,742.04 crore for 2019-20, with 22,646.63 crore spent last year. As the country gears up for Lok Sabha polls, the Intelligence Bureau tasked with gathering internal intelligence, has been allocated Rs 2,198.35, nearly 10 per cent more than Rs 1876.44 crore in 2018-2019(RE 2056.05 cr). While the SPG (Special Protection Group) responsible for security of PM, former prime ministers and their close family members, has been allocated Rs 530.75 crore increased from 385 crore allocated in previous fiscal (Revised Estimate: Rs 411.68 crore) . On the one hand, this budget is focused on supporting social infrastructure of our country and on the other hand it pays great attention to strengthening the economic infrastructure. Sectors like defence, agriculture, industry, education and health have been given a big boost, tweeted Home Minister Rajnath Singh calling it a historic budget. The MHA budget also includes Rs 953 crore towards pension and other benefits for Freedom fighters. Interestingly, approximately 883.24 crore has been earmarked toward National Emergency Response System and Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children and Safe City Projects in 2018-2019up from Rs 872 crore that revised estimated show were spent this year. Among the Union Territories, Chandigarh has been allocated Rs 4,291.7 crore, including Rs 2431.8 crore towards establishment expenditure of the Centre. The highest UT allocation of Rs 4817.48 crore is to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Delhi has been allowed Rs 1,112 crore for 2019-2020 while Puducherry get Rs 1,545.00 crore. The Budget has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore for the National Disaster Response Force, and Rs 10, 344 crore for the State Disaster Response Force. Gettysburg, PA (17325) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 92F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. gspannu7@gmail.com Allahabad, February 1 A congregation called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday adopted a resolution saying the Hindus will not rest and also not leave others in peace until a grand temple is built at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The participants at the VHPs dharm sansad, or the religious council held at the Kumbh Mela venue here, criticised the delay in the Supreme Court in deciding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. Some speakers also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. But the resolution adopted at the end of the two-day event praised the Centre for filing a petition seeking the courts permission to return the surplus land adjacent to the disputed site. It said the seers had expectations from the Centre on the Ram temple issue and by filing the petition it had made clear its commitment. There certainly has been a delay in the construction of the Ram temple, but we are sure that it will take meaningful steps in resolving the Ram temple and other issues related to Hindu pride, the resolution said in Hindi. Addressing the meeting earlier, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said the temple issue is now at a decisive stage. The Ram temple is on the verge of being built. So we must tread cautiously, he said. He said those campaigning for the temple must not get diverted from their goal. People should be made aware of the issue and, if needed, there should be an expression of anger, the RSS head said. He suggested it may be alright to watch developments for up to about six months, but after that we all should ensure that the construction begins. Bhagwat praised the BJP-led government for bringing a Bill in Parliament to help non-Muslim minorities from neighbouring countries seek Indian citizenship. Former Union Minister Swami Chinmayanand criticised the Supreme Court for showing haste while deciding on the Sabarimala matter but saying that the Ayodhya issue was not a priority. Mahant Ramji Das said this has shaken the Hindu communitys belief in the apex court. Shyam Devacharya Maharaj warned the Narendra Modi government that it would not be possible for it to return to power in the name of development. When Ram devotees can sacrifice their lives, cant those in power sacrifice their chair? he said. An earlier meeting at the Kumbh Mela, by another set of seers, had taken a tougher stand on the construction of the temple. In that gathering on Wednesday, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati had called for a ceremony at the disputed site on February 21 to mark the beginning of its construction. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 31 The BJP-led NDA government is expected to announce some major populist measures in its sixth and last Budget tomorrow ahead of General Election. Close on the heels of BJPs losses in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the Budget presentation offers the last opportunity to PM Narendra Modi to woo voters, especially farmers, youth, small traders and salaried class. Among the anticipated measures, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal may announce tomorrow in the Lok Sabha are tax sops, including potential raise in the income tax exemption ceiling. The raise is being anticipated ever since the government piloted and Parliament passed the law reserving 10 per cent quota for General Category poor in jobs and education. The law prescribes annual income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh for the beneficiary family. Expectations of a hike in I-T exemption ceiling have been raised after the passage of the quota law with people asking how can taxpayers be treated as poor? A meaty new largesse for the distressed farming sector may also be announced with the BJP government feeling the pinch of serial debt waivers by Congress governments across various states. BJP insiders say the government is also under pressure to counter Congress president Rahul Gandhis latest poll slogan of minimum guaranteed income for the poor, something the Congress announced to pre-empt any major election announcement in the Budget tomorrow. A direct cash transfer into farmers' accounts has been among the speculated Budget sops with PM Modi today assuring the Opposition that the government would present an Interim Budget. The PM told us today that the government will present an Interim Budget tomorrow. He said reports on the presentation of a full Budget were wrong, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said after the all-party meeting the government convened to discuss Budget Session agenda. After PMs assurance, Congress leaders argued that the government would not have much elbow room for poll-related announcements though it could still play around with indirect taxes. Earlier in the day, PM Modi urged the Opposition to cooperate in the running of Parliament and in helping pass governments pro-people agenda. We all saw what happened in the last session. People these days are conscious. They are watching us in Parliament. And they feel aghast at disruptions and at those who disrupt. Its a good occasion for us to engage constructively in debates. That way we will be in a better position to face the electorate, PM Modi said at the start of the Budget Session. Opposition parties, meanwhile, warned the government against bringing any contentious Bills, especially the Citizenship Amendment Bill. We have told the government not to bring any contentious Bill. The Citizenship Amendment Bill is a dangerous Bill. If contentious Bills are brought, the government would have to take the responsibility for what happens, TMCs Derek O Brien said. The Congress and TMC are opposed to the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Opposition meeting on EVMs today rchopra@tribunemail.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 Farmers groups have slammed the Modi governments bonanza of Rs 6,000 per annum for small and marginal farmers. They say it is not enough to pay even for a cup of tea for one person in a family of five and that farmers will now reply by way of votes. Yogendra Yadav of the Swaraj Abhiyan said the money was not enough even to pay for tea. It meant Rs 3.33 per person for a family of five, he said, adding that the government should have given money for at least one cup of tea. Budget 2019 has rubbed salt into the wounds of farmers. The historic 6,000 rupees a year for a family of five translates to Rs 3.33 a day. This is even lower than MNREGA or old-age pension, Yadav said. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait also termed the incentives in the Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as far too little far too late. Tikait said the farmers had hoped that the government would announce support price as per the Swaminathan Committee report and also a loan waiver to ensure that the farmer suicides could be stopped. Kisan Samman Yojana is just a way to garner votes. If the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) had to be given it should have been on the lines of the Telangana government, which gives Rs 4,000 per acre for irrigated and Rs 8000 per acre for unirrigated land, he said, adding that farmers would now reply by way of votes. Meanwhile, according to agriculture expert Sudhir Panwar, it was an acceptance of grave economic distress among farmers. After all, the Modi government accepted the grave economic distress of farmers and promised Rs 500 per month as Central government help. The symbolic gesture is acceptance by the government that all agriculture-related policies/measures, like PMBFY, per drop more crop, remunerative MSP declared in the last budget and PM-AASHA had failed to address the farmers woes. It will hardly create any impact on farmers. rchopra@tribunemail.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 India, in an attempt to match its growing military profile, allocated Rs 3,18,931 crore ($44.74 billion) to the Ministry of Defence even as salaries and establishment expenses and pensions continue to add a burden on the resources. The allocation will include Rs 1,08,248 crore as capital expenses meant for new equipment, weapons, aircraft, naval warships, Army vehicles. The MoD will spend around 32 per cent of the total Central Government capital expenditure. The spending is way behind China, which spends $224 billion annually, as per estimates by US think-tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSlS). Beijing finalises its budget in March every year. Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal gave 6.87 per cent hike or Rs 23,420 crore over the military spending of Rs 2,95,511 crore allocated for the ongoing fiscal. Separately, a sum of Rs 1,12,080 crore has been allocated for defence pensions. The combined budget for operations, salaries, pensions and capital stands at Rs 4,31,011 crore, which constitutes 15.5 per cent of the governments spending. The services are literally weighed down by bulging establishment costs euphuism for salaries and pensions. The salaries of the three services and the civilians work out to be Rs 1,19,559 crore and now form 37 per cent of the Budget. In other words, salaries and pensions take up more money than what is allocated for modernisation. The MoD is looking at right-sizing the forces and also look at cutting costs from within. The Army has started its restructuring process. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Prayagraj, January 31 Endorsing two resolutions passed at the Vishwa Hindu Parishads Dharam Sansad, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday charged some political parties of a planned conspiracy of playing with the sentiments of crores of Hindus and dividing them for their political gain. On the opening day of the 2-day Dharam Sansad, while the first resolution was passed to launch an Ayodhya-like struggle to save the tradition and belief in Sabarimala, the other was to expose the conspiracy to disintegrate the Hindu society. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said: Sabrimala is an open attack on the right of the Hindu community to uphold their unique religious traditions, which has been ensured in the Constitution. He said the hastily brought out Supreme Court judgment wrongly notes that God is not a legal entity and the temple is a public place where laws can be implemented. Expressing his anguish at such ignorance, he said the Hindu society in Kerala is agitated and now it was time to raise awareness about this injustice for which a jagran would be held between February 1 and 15 across the country. The resolution said: the judiciary and government should keep distance from the traditions and beliefs of Hindus. Severely criticising the communist state government of Kerala the resolution called upon the Hindus to launch an agitation so that this can transform into a national movement. The second resolution passed was to expose the conspiracy to disintegrate Hindu society. If in Bhima Koregaon they are trying to divide the Marathas and Dalits, in Pathalgadi in Jharkhand the church and Maoists are attempting to divide the tribals, and in Sahranpur, they are drawing a wedge between the upper caste and Dalits, pointed out the resolution. Dharma Sansad calls upon all to reject pseudo secularism, castesim, regionalism, linguistic chauvinism, and defeat the political parties that promote such anti-national and anti-Hindu feelings, said the resolution. The Dharam Sansad has decided to deliberate on Friday on the future strategy for building the Ram Mandir. Dharam Sansad calls for Ayodhya-like struggle for Sabarimala uttara@tribuneindia.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, February 1 Life was thrown out of gear across Andhra Pradesh as a near total state sponsored shutdown was observed to protest against Central governments injustice to the state. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu himself wore a black shirt to mark the protest the call for given by the Special Status Sadhna Samithi (SSSS) and supported by all the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), main opposition YSR Congress, Congress and the left parties. Across Andhra Pradesh the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses stayed off roads, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded. Chambers of Commerce also supported the call, and shops and business establishments remained closed for the day. Employees Unions also supported the buses affecting the attendance in the government offices. Schools and colleges were also closed. Political parties held sit in protests and demonstrations in Vijaywada, Visakhapatnam and several other cities of Andhra. In Andhra legislative assembly, the anger against the Centre was palpable, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu dressing in black to mark his protestthe first time in his over four decade political career that he was dressed in a colour other than his customary light yellow cotton shirt. Do you want to eliminate Andhra Pradesh from the map of India? Are you planning to wipe out anybody who speaks against you? an angry Naidu asked while addressing the state assembly session. Lashing out at the BJP government at the centre, Naidu wanted to know what exactly the Modi government had done for the state in his term. Do you think the Telugu people dont have self respect and honour? he asked the Centre. Are we not paying taxes to the Centre? He said compared to Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh was not given any assistance by the Centre, and pointed out that massive funds were given to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities. In an unprecedented outburst Naidu also asked the BJPs floor leader in the state assembly, Vishnukumar Raju to shut up when he claimed that Centre had given more than promised to Andhra Pradesh. Charging the BJP with doing grave injustice and discrimination against the southern states Naidu recalled that during the Congress rule if the prime minister was from North India, President would be from the south. Defending his decision to go with Congress, Naidu said that he would join hands with anybody who supports the cause of the state. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 31 In two separate proceedings in special courts at Patiala House here, the Enforcement Directorate today got the custody of Dubai-based businessman Rajeev Saxena, who was wanted in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper scam, for four days and in case of lobbyist Deepak Talwar for seven days for custodial interrogation. The ED probe has widened as it is now looking into at least a dozen of Swiss bank accounts allegedly linked to Saxena and suspected kick backs paid in deals linked to national carrier Air India where Talwar is a suspect, official sources said. The two deported accused, when landed here early morning from Dubai, were arrested by the ED. Saxenas lawyer claimed that his client was suffering from cancer, which the agency claimed needed to be verified. Corporate aviation lobbyist Talwar is wanted by the ED and the CBI in a case of misusing over Rs90 crore taken through the foreign funding route as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). He has been charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery and under various other sections of the FCRA for allegedly diverting Rs90.72 crore worth of foreign funds meant for ambulances and other articles received by his NGO from Europes leading missile manufacturing company. His role in some aviation deals during the previous Congress-led UPA government is also under scanner. ED officials said Saxena and Talwar were brought in a special plane from Dubai to Delhi around 1:30 am and were picked by Dubai authorities on Wednesday in assistance to a request made by Indian agencies. Saxena is a co-accused with the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, British national Christian James Michel who was also recently extradited from Dubai to India. Michel is currently in judicial custody. Saxenas lawyers, however, alleged that no extradition proceedings were started against him in the UAE and he was not allowed access to his family or lawyers while being sent to India. The ED had summoned Saxena, a resident of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, multiple times in the case but he never appeared. The agency has charged him with being in collusion with Gautam Khaitan, another accused in the AgustaWestland choppers purchase, for routing the purported kickbacks of the deal and it is understood that Michel had links with him. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Manpriya Singh How one chooses to have a family is as personal a decision as choice of having a family itself; unless, of course, law steps in. For the protection of traditional concept of family, prevention of commercialisation of child-bearing, and protection of emotional experience that involves both parent and child. With TV czarina Ekta Kapoor being the latest B-town citizen to have opted for parenthood via surrogacy, all the social issues to do with the unconventional (or shall we say modern) method of raising a family, stick their heads right out. Whichever direction the debate steers, congratulations to the new mommy of a baby boy are in order! New-age trend Everyone has the right to become a parent and how you become one is a personal choice. Adoption is a completely different entity. A lot of times parents want to ensure that their genes are retained. If we go by the science of how a child is born than once the zygote is formed, the basic structure and the chromosomes are the same. A lot of times youngsters want to have a child, but at the same time dont want the liabilities of a marriage or several such reasons. Although not very popular as of now, in times to come this method of becoming a parent will gain ground. Dr Param Preet Ghuman, former SMO, Kharar Wrong precedent Surrogacy is fine as long as it involves inability to have children due to some medical issues. However, the trend of celebrities going for it underlines such a sacred and emotional process being in danger of commercialisation. Secondly, surrogacy would require emotional costs that have to be borne by the mother as well as by the child born out of it. Lastly, it would spell a death knell for the traditional concept of family the image of which has always remained with us. Emotionally, surrogacy may be satisfying, but adoption is one way in which we can better help abandoned and orphaned children by giving them a home. Professor Kumool Abbi, chairperson, Department of Sociology, PU In the surrogacy lane How much does Bollywood love formulas; so much so that anything tried and tested will be retried, even if thats a blueprint for choice of parenthood! Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao The first ones to have popularly jumped the bandwagon were Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, who after a long wait and a miscarriage, decided to opt for IVF and had their son Azad through surrogacy. Back in 2011, the couple was open about their choice of child-birth, which was rare at the time. Shah Rukh & Gauri Khan In 2013, Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan became proud parents to a baby boy, Abram, who was born through surrogacy. Abram reportedly spent first seven weeks in the hospital after being born prematurely at 34 weeks and 1.5 kilos. At the time, the matter, which Shah Rukh Khan said, too private and confidential, became a victim of public attention with reports of the star having done a test determination case appearing every other day. Recent club Till the proposed law, that will literally bar all unmarried couples and single parents from opting for surrogacy, is in place, the ones to have recently become a parent through this method are: Tusshar Kapoor In 2016, actor Tusshar Kapoor surprised everyone with the news of his becoming a father to baby boy, Lakshya Kapoor, through surrogacy. At the time, grandparents Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor, supported their son with his decision by saying, they couldnt be more excited by the news and how they totally supported his son. It was not just his parents, but even social media that out-and-out supported the actor. Even though Tusshar once admitted in an interview as to how his parents were initially, a little apprehensive of his decision. Karan Johar Unless somebody is living under a rock, otherwise Yash and Roohi Johar are a household name and so is the fact that Bollywoods darling Karan Johars twins were born via surrogacy in 2017. Karan Johars by now famous open letter to both his kids, which also thanks the marvels of science and medicine, is a testimony to the fact that how the Bollywood big shot was ready for parenthood. As per the registration of birth, he was listed as the father while there has been absolutely no mention of the mother! Sunny Leone & Daniel Weber One doesnt really expect traditional choices from Sunny Leone and husband Daniel Weber. The B-town actor, after first adopting a baby girl Nisha Kaur Weber, decided to once again become a mother with husband Daniel Weber via surrogacy. The actress was shooting for a web series when she received the news of her twins being born. shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, February 1 After a grand wedding reception in Mumbai, newlyweds, Kapil Sharma and Ginni Chatrath are all set to host their third wedding reception in New Delhi on February 2. The comedian-actor and his wife are hosting the reception for politicians and bureaucrat acquaintances in the Capital. The wedding invitation for the reception has made its way to social media. The invite says the function will begin at 8 pm but the venue of has not been disclosed. Kapil and his long-time girlfriend got hitched on December 12 in Jalandhar. After their big fat Punjabi wedding, they hosted a grand wedding reception in Amritsar on December 14 for their family and closest friends. In Mumbai, they held their second wedding reception for B-town celebs. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 31 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state vice-president Sofi Yousuf on Thursday said Pakistan had no right to tell India to hold talks as the neighbouring country did not respond positively to Prime Minister Narendra Modis offer of friendship. The Prime Minister went to Lahore without protocol (in December 2015) just to give a message that we want to do friendship...but their (Pakistans) reply was Pathankot terror attack (in January 2016). Now, Pakistan does not have any right to tell us to talk. Our talks will happen with our youth and stakeholders, Yousuf, who is also an MLC, said while addressing a press conference here. When asked that the Centre had not taken firm steps to initiate talks with the Hurriyat, the BJP leader said: Home Minister Rajnath Singh had made an attempt but the Hurriyat did not respond. They (Hurriyat) should come forward and tell people what they want to do. On Modis upcoming visit to the state, Yousuf said besides inaugurating developmental projects, the PM would also meet sarpanches, corporators and local BJP workers. He said the BJP had pulled out of the coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the Central funds were not being utilised properly. Money wasnt being utilised and that is why we pulled out of the coalition with the PDP, he said. The Prime Minister went to Lahore without protocol (in December 2015) just to give a message that we want to do friendship...but their (Pakistans) reply was Pathankot terror attack (in January 2016). Now, Pakistan does not have any right to tell us to talk. Our talks will happen with our youth and stakeholders. Sofi Yousuf, BJP State Vice-President editorial@tribune.com Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Jammu, January 31 Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshis phone call to Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday touched off a fresh exchange of salvos between India and Pakistan and dirtied the already dirty narrative on Kashmir that may hit hard all the possibilities of the India-Pakistan dialogue and also that of the Delhi-Srinagar axis. The call was made on a purpose to stoke further anti-India flames in Kashmir to disrupt the peace restoration efforts and to meddle in the forthcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir by using its proxies to intensify their moves against Delhi. Where was the need to make a phone call to Mirwaiz when Pakistan has already been leading an anti-India campaign on the issue of the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, after it had sponsored and then advertised a one-sided UNHCR report on human rights conditions in the Valley? The only answer to that is that Pakistan wants to stoke fresh violence in Kashmir and derail the whole electoral process in Kashmir. India reacted on the expected lines rejected Pakistans locus standi on Kashmir, summoned its High Commissioner to India last night, only to find that Pakistan was already prepared with its wider plot on the issue, reiterating its stand against the occupation forces in the Indian occupied Kashmir and responded with the summoning of the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan. Things will deteriorate further as the new and hostile acts between Delhi and Islamabad threaten to unfold in the coming days ahead of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The Tuesday call was no ordinary call, it had the entire anti-India ring. All the doubts get cleared from the opening sentences of the Pakistan Foreign Offices statement on the phone call. It read The Foreign Minister briefed him (Mirwaiz) on the efforts of the government of Pakistan to highlight the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And it concluded: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq greatly appreciated the efforts of the government of Pakistan and emphasised that the Indian atrocities shall never be able to suppress the will of the people of the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who will continue to raise their voice against severe Indian repression. The call for shutdown by the Joint Resistance Leadership on Sunday against Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit, though a traditional way of separatists to show their presence, is having a definite reference to the phone call and what happened in its aftermath. Pakistan and some Kashmiri leaders are in the habit of seeing everything through the prism of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the country, but forget that the kind of language and the dirty ambitions that Pakistan is pursuing would be beyond the area of tolerance by any dispensation in Delhi NDA or UPA. India has the right to assert its sovereignty and caution mischievous elements like Qureshi and the military-backed establishment that he represents in Pakistan of the implications of the kind of the twisted narrative on Jammu and Kashmir. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, January 31 Hitting out at the mainstream political class in Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday said the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party did not want peace in the state as they were more interested in their own empowerment. The Governor, who was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a kisan mela organised in the border area of Jourian in Jammu district, said he requested both former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooha Mufti to participate in panchayat elections as it would benefit and empower the people of the state. But they decided to boycott the elections because they did not want empowerment of the people. They wanted their own empowerment. They were afraid of the panchayat elections and that is why they decided to boycott the polls. But we decided to hold the elections for the betterment of people, Malik said while recalling that he broke the protocol and visited both leaders. Asserting that corruption was the biggest challenge in J&K, Malik said he cancelled two major deals involving several crores of rupees after he took over as the Governor of the state and vowed that nobody would be allowed to loot the exchequer. He again urged the gun-wielding youth of Kashmir to shun the path of violence, saying it was no solution to any problem. Some people have presumed that nothing can happen without the gun. Hurriyat leaders and mainstream parties (referring to NC and PDP) should know that violence wont change anything. Some politicians in Kashmir want that youngsters should die so that they can blackmail New Delhi, Malik said. The kisan mela was organised to commemorate the sacrifices of those farmers who laid down their lives during the 1953 Praja Parishad movement. The NC and PDP decided to boycott the panchayat elections because they did not want empowerment of people. They only wanted their own empowerment. They were afraid of contesting the elections and that is why they decided to boycott them. Satya Pal Malik, Governor editorial@tribune.com Srinagar, January 31 The J&K Police arrested two drug peddlers in Kupwara district and recovered 19 kg of brown sugar from their possession. The police said the drugs valuing over Rs 70 crore in the international market were being smuggled from Pakistan. The two peddlers were arrested by the Kupwara police after a specific input. We intercepted a Tata Sumo and recovered 19 kg of narcotics substance from the possession of the two occupants of the vehicle, Zameer Ahmad Raina and Riyaz Ahmad Badan of Amrohi, Karnah. The worth of the recovered consignment is estimated to be around Rs 70-80 crore in the international market, said Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, Kupwara SSP. He said a preliminary investigation had revealed that the narcotics substance was smuggled from across the Line of Control through a narco-smuggling network in the district. The catch will be helpful in protecting the gullible youth from Pakistan-based designs, which lure them into drug smuggling and its consumption, the SSP added. A police spokesman said a case had been registered under the relevant sections of law at the Kralpora police station and further investigation had been set into motion. The investigation will further help in unearthing the nexus of Pakistan-based drug smugglers in Kupwara district, he added. TNS Smuggled from Pak The police said the drugs valuing over Rs 70 crore in the international market were being smuggled from Pakistan through a narco-smuggling network in Kupwara district. editorial@tribune.com ibune News Service Shimla, January 31 A day after the Roadshow-Business to Government at Bengaluru, the government today organised a roadshow in Hyderabad in association with the Confederation of Indian Industries to attract entrepreneurs. Addressing investors, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the state had an investor-friendly industrial policy providing concessions and incentives to entrepreneurs. He assured the investors to provide land parcel with good connectivity and supporting infrastructure. He said the government would reach out to investors and persuade them to invest. The law and order was excellent and the administration was responsible, making the state a favourite place for investment. Thakur said the pollution-free environment made it a major centre for information technology and biotechnology firms. He said the pharma sector could be an ideal destination for drug firms. Moreover, being a major producer of fruits like apple, plums, apricots, kiwis, walnuts and pears, the state offered abundant opportunity for food processing and allied industries. Apart from addressing representatives from over 150 companies, the Chief Minister also had meetings with CEOs and leaders of leading companies, including Apollo Hospitals, Dr Reddys Lab, Ramky Enviro Engineers, ITC, DP Chocolates, KSK Energy, Micromax, MNR Group, 2E Knowledge Ventures, Nepro Plus, Dodla Dairy and discussed plans, a release said. Managing director, Nagarjuna Construction Company, NR Alluri, showed interest in projects related to resorts, hotels, roads, tunnels and bridges. CMD, Greenko Company, Anil Chalmashetty showed interest in setting up integrated renewable energy storage projects. Joint managing director Ramky Enviro Engineers Masood Malik pitched to set up waste management and bio-medical waste management plants while director, Puzzolona Machinery Fabricators, Prakash Pai was inclined towards investing in food processing and real estate. Managing director and co-chairman, Dr Reddys Lab, GV Prasad envisaged interest in expansion of their unit at Baddi. CEO 2E Knowledge Vebtures expressed willingness to invest in training centres for skill development. Industry Minister Bikram Singh said the state had responsive and transparent administration which ensured hassle-free clearances to entrepreneurs. Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Manoj Kumar said Himachal Pradesh had over 1,600 acres of land bank for industries. The state was coming up with industrial parks like bulk drug pharma park and biotechnology park in Solan, integrated industrial townships in Una and Kangra and textile park in Una. editorial@tribune.com Shimla, January 31 The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will launch a statewide Yuva Matdaan Jagran Abhiyan from February 10 to 25 to make the youth aware of their voting rights in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Under the campaign, seminars, lecturers and interactions will be organised on Ubharta Bharat, Nayi Aashiyan in educational institutions and the youth will be encouraged to participate in the elections through street shows. The decision was taken at the three-day meeting of the state executive committee of the ABVP held in Una from January 26. The committee also chalked out a strategy for statewide agitations in support of their demands, including laying of foundation stone of the Central University at the earliest, providing basic facilities at the temporary campus, to put an end to commercialisation of education in private universities and reducing fees at Nauni and Palampur agriculture universities. The committee also demanded a probe into scholarship scam, revival of student elections, scholarship to research scholars and re-evaluation facility under choice-based credit system. TNS editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Krishan Middhas victory in Jind has come as a big boost to the ruling party in Haryana ahead of the parliamentary elections, as the bypoll was being touted as a referendum on the Manohar Lal Khattar government in the state. Middha defeated Jannayak Janta Party-supported candidate Digvijay Chautala by a margin of 12,935 votes. But the defeat notwithstanding, the result can be seen as a huge morale booster for the less-than-two-month-old JJP, launched by Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala on December 9. The result has also come as a dampener for the Congress and the INLD. The Congress high-profile candidate Randeep Surjewala barely managed to save his security deposit while INLD candidate Umed Redhu had to be content with only 3,454 votes and finished a poor fifth after MP Raj Kumar Sainis candidate Vinod Ashri. The victory in Jind has come close on the heels of BJPs triumphs in five municipal corporations Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak and Hisar where the ruling partys mayoral candidates defeated those backed by the Congress and the INLD-BSP combine by handsome margins. The win is important because Haryana will have parliamentary as well as Assembly elections this year and the Jind success will rejuvenate the ruling partys workers for the bigger battles ahead. If the bypoll was really a referendum on the BJP government in the state, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar can justifiably claim that people of Haryana have reposed faith in his performance. Middhas victory is a clear signal that the people of Haryana have rejected the politics of nepotism, regionalism and politics of a few families, said Captain Abhimanyu, who is minister in-charge for Jind district in the government. The bypoll witnessed a family feud in the Chautala clan that touched a new low. Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala termed his grandsons Dushyant and Digvijay as traitors and accused them of getting his furlough from Tihar Jail cancelled in connivance with Delhis AAP government to stop him from campaigning in favour of the INLD candidate. The bypoll also witnessed Chautalas wife Sneh Lata crying on a hospital bed and telling their grandsons not to touch her body after her death and Digvijays mother breaking down during the campaigning over Chautalas and Sneh Latas outbursts. However, despite his defeat, Digvijay has emerged a victor to the extent that he and his brother Dushyant can claim to be real successors of the legacy of their great grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal, despite the rebuff by the jailed INLD patriarch. Dushyant and Digvijay were able to strike a chord with young voters, particularly Jats, in rural areas, and they can pose a challenge in future not only to the INLD, but also to Jat leaders in the Congress. The fact that Surjewala could get only less than half the votes polled by Middha despite the campaigning by Congress stalwarts like former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state party president Ashok Tanwar, Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja and CLP Leader Kiran Choudhry is being seen as a bad sign for a party hoping for a comeback in the Assembly poll. Jind result victory of graft-free governance: CM Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the comprehensive victory of the BJP in the byelection to the Jind Assembly constituency was indicative of the increasing faith of people in the state governments transparent and graft-free governance and uniform development policy. Jind has taken forward the trend started by the massive victory of the BJP in the elections to five municipal corporations held recently. The party will win all 10 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state, Khattar said in Chandigarh on Thursday. TNS editorial@tribune.com iti Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 31 The Congress was stunned by the loss of its star candidate and AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in Jind today with the party commencing discussions on ways to revive its fortunes ahead of a looming General Election. There was silence in the Congress camp after Surjewalas no-show in the Jind byelection. When Surjewala was selected for Jind despite being sitting Kaithal MLA, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had thought the Congress would put its best foot forward ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The logic was plain. The Congress needed a breather after the BJPs sweep in the MC elections. The party could not afford another loss in Jind and needed to play on the front foot which was why Surjewala was chosen. The gamble did not pay, an AICC functionary said even as intra-Congress rivalries in Haryana began to play out after the news of Surjewalas loss spread. Social media posts were circulated within Congress circles blaming tall Haryana Congress leaders, including the Hoodas, for not doing enough. Some leaders attributed Surjewalas loss to internal sabotage. But to the Congress central leadership, the principal message of Jind result was not lost. These results show the BJP has succeeded in polarising Jats and non-Jats in Jind. The trend may repeat itself in other parts of Haryana in the future, a Congress leader said recalling the ramifications of the infamous Jat agitation in Haryana. With non-Jats forming a chunk (78 per cent) of Haryanas voters and Jats being 22 per cent, Congress insiders say the party will have to rework its state strategy to appeal to the larger electoral base. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 1 The Indian government and its embassy in Washington is closely monitoring the situation arising out of detention and possible deportation of 100s of Indian students in the United States. The Indian mission and its consulates are in contact with concerned US authorities and according highest priority to the matter, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. The matter relates to a fake University of Farmington in Detroit suburb in south east Michigan in US reportedly setup by the Department of Homeland Security to identify and bait students overstaying their stay visas illegally through a sting operation. Local media reports suggest arrest and indictment of eight student recruiters by federal agents on counts of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and to harbour aliens (non-US citizens) for profit. Federal agents says tens of scores of students, majority of them reportedly Indians or of Indian origin, enrolled for the university for classes, which did not exist allegedly under the pay to stay scheme. According to the facebook post of the American Telugu Association earlier, 100 Indian students were detained after raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and warrants are pending for around 600 more. While the numbers remain unspecified and not confirmed officially, India has sought for a distinction to be made between students who may have been duped in the process and were not overstaying illegally intentionally. An undercover operation to identify recruiters and entities engaged in immigration fraud. We have highlighted that a distinction should be made between those involved in recruiting or enrolling students and students who have been duped or defrauded in the process, said MEA spokespeson Raveesh Kumar, adding, Our mission and posts are ready to render all assistance to Indian students in the US to deal with the emerging situation. We have also involved Indian community organisations in reaching out to the students. After receiving information of detention of the Indian students, the mission has contacted the State Department and Department of Homeland Security requesting for a list of the detained students along with relevant identity details, place of their detention, and other information. We have placed a formal request for consular access, emphasising that the request may be taken as very high priority, said Raveesh Kumar asking the US government to address the situation at the earliest. Rajeev Dhavan Rajeev Dhavan Senior advocate, Supreme Court Ayodhyas Ram temple was the mascot of the BJPs electoral politics from the time of the rath yatras of the eighties. A White Paper on the wanton Talibanesque destruction of the Babri Masjid (1992) was presented in 1993. There has been a continuous barrage of support for the temple at all costs. The partys latest application in the Babri case to release the appurtenant land to the Hindu owners is to appease the Sangha Parivar to encircle the disputed site. It is acting as the benamidar of the Hindus with malice aforethought. In the 1994 Faruqui verdict, the Supreme Court gave an interpretation to the 1993 Ayodhya Act, converting an acquisition statute into a standstill statute and making the Union Government a statutory receiver, subject to a clear decision on the title by the courts. By definition, the Union was a neutral party with no ill will or favour towards any party, apart from its constitutional obligation not to discriminate on the grounds of religion. The properties in question under this statutory receivership were the disputed site of 0.313 acre and 67.703 acres of appurtenant land, which the Union in its application mischievously calls surplus land. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the reason for this extra acquisition was to create suitable adjacent land for setting up a complex land which could be developed in a planned manner, wherein a Ram temple, a mosque, amenities to pilgrims, a library, museum and other facilities could be set up. That moment has still not come. The Faruqui judgment thought that the appurtenant land would not be rendered meaningless if the Muslims are found entitled to the disputed area and that the Manas Bhavan and Sita Ki Rasoi being strategic in location were in a unique class to justify acquisition. It added that if this land was not needed, it could go back to its Hindu owners. That moment, too, has not yet come. On March 17, 2002, in the Mohd Aslam case, a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court ordered that this land would not be handed over to the Hindus and remain neutral without puja and shilanyas. Interestingly in 2003, Attorney General Soli Sorabjee appeared for handing over this land to the Hindus, even though he appeared for the Muslims in the Faruqui case a complete flip-flop. On March 31, 2003, a five-judge Constitution Bench rejected the Unions argument (this time not led by Sorabjee) that the Faruqui judgment had overreached itself and ordered status quo till the Allahabad judgment, not only to maintain communal harmony, but also fulfil the objectives of the Act. The 2010 Allahabad judgment is in first appeal before the Supreme Court, which is a continuation of the High Court case whose decision was too fractured to yield a satisfactory result. A first appeal is a rehearing on all points raised. All the main parties (Muslim and Hindu) are in appeal. On May 9, 2011, the Supreme Court, in the Mohd Siddiq case, again examined the issue and ordered status quo of the site and adjacent land. To namdar and kamdar, we must now add benamidar. In the present application, the Union is actually siding with, and openly acting benami for the Hindu owners. When the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas asked the Union for this land on June 6, 1996, the then government declined the request on August 14, 1996 a view approved by the Supreme Court. Today, in this application, the Union claims a duty to restore the land. Actually, its duty is to remain neutral. It goes further to say that which part should be released in the domain of policy beyond judicial scrutiny and beyond the Act of 1993. Hence, judicial hands off. By saying this, the Union is challenging a judgment accepted since 1994. When the Nyas had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking directions, the court had on July 21, 1997, praised the Central Government for its correct stance in refusing the Nyas request. This position was reiterated by the court in 2002, 2003 and 2011. Today, the Centre has no objection, in principle, to restoring the land as a matter of duty to the Hindus after 25 years, even though legal proceedings continue. The Union thinks it is in the larger interest of justice because the Nyas approached the Union Government, which is obviously approaching the court on the Nyas behalf. The Union is not party to the case. Now, it is a shadow benami party. The land is needed because no one liked the 2:1 Allahabad decision: one-third each went to the Nirmohi Akhara, the Deity and the Muslims with the Muslim claim to be adjusted elsewhere, if necessary. Where is this elsewhere? But the Hindu parties are fighting with each other. The Nirmohis say the Deitys claim is corrupted, and want all of it. The Deity wants all of it. The Sunni Waqf Board wants all of it. But the appurtenant land was kept in status quo, so that access would be available to the winners. But so far, there are three winners and three losers all need access to the site. The nation needs harmony. The Unions application is in the campaign mode, devoid of moral or legal justification. The Hindu sants now want to lay the foundation stone on February 21. Where? On the site? This duplicity adds threat to outrage and is contempt of court. There is still a solution: Give the site (0.333 acre) to the Muslims to rebuild their masjid. Take your 67.703 acres, leaving a generous access to the Muslims, and build the Ram temple. This intimidation began in 1857. In July 1992, Muslims destroyed a Ramjanmasthan temple, 45 metres north of the masjid. Statesmanship, not intimidation, is the answer. There is a solution. Mark Buchfuhrer finally got his wish when his daughter decided to go to medical school and become a doctor, but that wasnt the end of the story. editorial@tribune.com Chandigarh, January 31 Almost a year and a half after a Navy man was arrested for raping a woman on the pretext of marriage, who later gave birth to a baby boy, the local court sentenced the 25-year-old accused to 10-year imprisonment. A fine of Rs 3.10 lakh has also been imposed on the Navy man gets 10-yr jail for rape convict, Vijender Singh, of which Rs 3 lakh will go to the victim. Her child is now ten months old. The victim had got pregnant after which she had asked the convict, a native of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, to marry her. The accused had refused to tie the knot and asked the victim to abort the foetus. The victim, who was two-and-a-half-month pregnant, approached the UT police. In her complaint, she stated that the accused raped her at a hotel in Sector 45 on the pretext of marriage. A case of rape and cheating was then registered against Vijender Singh at the Sector 34 police station. He was arrested in September 2017. The victim, also a native of Himachal Pradesh, was abandoned by her parents after she had got pregnant. She also lost her job. Initially, she stayed at Nari Niketan but later shifted to a shelter home in Sector 43. tns editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 A Joint Working Group (JWG) of Sustainable Urban Development, 2019, from France led by Olivier Robinet, Deputy Director of the International Division at MEST-MTCRLA, met UT Adviser Manoj Kumar Parida and a team of officers of Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) at the UT Secretariat here today. The discussion took place about the conservation of heritage projects being undertaken in the city and how the city is taking leaps towards use of renewable energy. The Adviser told the delegation to work on projects like use of electrical fleet of buses for mass transportation in the city. The meeting of the delegation with the UT Adviser paved the way for the funding of 24x7 water supply project for the city by a French agency, AFD. Earlier, CEO CSCL KK Yadav gave a detailed presentation on Smart City projects to the delegation at the Smart City office. The presentation highlighted the need for 24x7 water supply distribution in the city, which will not only discourage storage of water but also the problem of low water pressure and contamination will also be eliminated. The delegation asked officers of the Smart City to visit France for training and capacity building in the field of water supply, sanitation and transportation. Officers present during the meeting were Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, UT; Dr Saurabh Mishra, Additional CEO, CSCL-cum-Additional Commissioner; Mukesh Anand, Chief Engineer; NP Sharma, General Manager, CSCL; and other senior officers of the UT Administration. Dominique Campana, Director of International Affairs ADEME (French Environment & Energy Management Agency), Aurelie Bernard, project manager, ADEME, Brahmanand Mohanty, project manager, Clemence Vidal de La Blache, Deputy Regional Director for India & Bangladesh, AFD, Aakriti Arora, deputy head for sustainable development and transport from regional economic department, Embassy of France, and Aurelien Sostaponti, Head of Industries and Cleantech at Business France India, were part of the French delegation. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi/Mumbai, February 1 Indias revised e-commerce rules caused widespread disruption on Amazons India website when they kicked in on Friday, forcing the company to take down its key grocery service and remove a wide range of products such as sunglasses and floor cleaners. The products began to disappear from Amazon India late on Thursday as it began complying with the regulations before a midnight deadline, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. In December, the government modified foreign direct investment rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector, which has drawn major bets from not only Amazon.com but also the likes of Walmart Inc , which last year bought a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce player Flipkart. Governments new e-commerce investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest, and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. Numerous items sold by Amazon vendors such as Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds an indirect equity stake, were no longer available on its India site. Amazon Pantry, a grocery service primarily managed by company affiliates, was also discontinued, though grocery products could be purchased individually. Pantry is completely empty, how I am suppose to grocery shop, Twitter user Pamela wrote on the social network. Whatever government rules are, (I) dont care, you guys fix it, I need to shop. Amazon, which saw record sales and profit during the holiday season, has forecast first-quarter sales below Wall Street estimates due to the uncertainty in India - one of its key growth markets. The situation in India is a bit fluid right now, but the country remains a good long-term opportunity, Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said. The companys main goal was to minimize the impact of the new rules on customers and sellers, he added. Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy warned last month that it faced significant customer disruption if the new rules were implemented from February 1. On Friday, the company said it was disappointed the government acted in haste, but assured compliance. We are committed to doing everything we can to be compliant with the new rules, Flipkart India executive Rajneesh Kumar said in a statement, without explaining how the website was impacted. Politics, investor setback The new policy was announced after complaints from small traders who said the e-commerce giants used their control over inventory from affiliated vendors to create an unfair marketplace where they could offer discounts. Such arrangements will now be barred. Both Amazon and Walmart unsuccessfully lobbied against the latest rules and pushed for a delay in their implementation. The US government too urged India to protect the investments of the two retailers, Reuters reported last week. Industry sources have said the new rules will dent foreign investor sentiment and force the big online retailers to change their business structures, raising compliance costs. The company has no choice as they are fulfilling a compliance requirement, the customers will suffer, said one of the sources. It is very upsetting for foreign investors. Both companies have bet heavily on India being a big growth driver: Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. Amazons own range of Presto-branded home cleaning goods and other Amazon Basics products such as chargers and batteries vanished from its website late on Thursday. Clothing from Indian department store chain Shoppers Stop was also no longer available, as Amazon owns 5 per cent of the company. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which supported tougher scrutiny of large e-commerce players, said the removal of products by Amazon was a step in the right direction. Exclusive deals with sellers, in compliance with the revised rules, will also be discontinued on Amazon India, the two sources said. It was unclear how long the disruption will last. On Friday, Amazons own range of Echo smart speakers, which were earlier removed as they were sold by a company affiliate, returned for sale via other sellers on the platform. However, buyers would now need to wait for up to 36 days to get some of the speakers delivered even under Amazons fast-delivery Prime service, which often delivers goods in a day or two. Reuters editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M. Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 31 Punjabs maiden participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos is likely to attract investment proposals from some multinational companies such as Naspers, Proctor & Gamble and home grown major like Wipro. Nestle, which already has a unit in Punjab, has also put the state in its future investment programme after a meeting with the Punjab government delegation at Davos. Officers from the Industries Department and Bureau of Investment, Punjab, led by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who were in Davos to hard sell Punjab as an investment destination, said the state got a positive response from the doyens of industry. The World Economic Forum has also offered to carry out a pilot project on road safety here, and has put Punjab on its first priority consideration list. We were invited to participate in the Davos meet, and we wanted to explore how we can leverage Davos to get international investors interest in the state, said Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary, Industry, Punjab. She said the participants in the summit were enthused by Punjabs bid to sell itself as a perfect destination for investing in India, on account of skilled labour availability, infrastructure, cheap and effective power supply and excellent labour and industry relations. Punjab made a strong presence at the summit, with the state getting to hard sell itself at the main centre of the summit Congress Centre. The state also made its case as a world-class investment destination by participating in sessions on food security and mobility, which witnessed a formidable presence in the Country Strategy Dialogue (for India), said Rajat Aggarwal, CEO, Bureau of Investment Promotion, Punjab. Other than Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana government, too, had participated in the WEF. The success at Davos comes close on the heels of the new industrial policy of the state, brought in by the Capt Amarinder Singh government. In the past two years, the state had received investment proposals worth Rs 35,260 crore, with an average investment of Rs 1,640 crore every month, said Aggarwal. The largest investment in the state since April 2017 (Rs 21,991 crore) has been committed by HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited at Bathinda, followed by Varun Beverages (PepsiCo) of Rs 800 crore at Pathankot, Betelgeuse Infra Private Limited of Rs 642 crore at Ludhiana, Verka (Rs 327 crore) at Fatehgarh Sahib and Sportking (Rs 250 crore) at Bathinda. editorial@tribune.com Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 31 Nand Kishore Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, and Manpreet Singh Badal, Minister of Finance and Planning, Punjab, visited the Partition Museum at Town Hall and the Golden Temple here on Thursday. They were accompanied by other members of the Finance Commission. NK Singh also met representatives of trade and industrial bodies in the city as a part of its three day visit to the state. The commission held a detailed discussion with representatives of traders, industrialists and government officials. Traders informed Singh that the state had a huge disadvantage as its capital Chandigarh was a Union Territory . Other states derive benefits from their capitals owing to a large consumption that draws a huge revenue generation for them, they said. They also stated that Punjab had border hostile Pakistan due to which investors were always sceptical. They stated that special industrial incentives to neighbouring states JK and Himachal Pradesh had also gone against the interests of Punjab. The traders also listed the problems being faced by them since the GST introduction. The Finance Commissioner chairman encouraged the traders and industrialists to talk freely. He took keen interest in the suggestions given by them, reported a senior government official. At the Partition Museum, they spent about an hour. The chairman left a note for the Tree of Hope which read, When will humans realise that happiness lies in forgiveness, compassion and mutual respect? I have a hope from both India and Pakistan vying for this elusive goal. He also visited the latest exhibition Punjab Under Siege: Commemorative Exhibition on the Jallianwala Bagh Centenary (1919 - 2019). This exhibition focuses on the history of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and showcases the Partition Museums research that has uncovered a number of original material in the form of newspapers, reports and photographs of that time. The Partition Museum is the worlds first one dedicated to the Partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947. It is a museum that is dedicated to narrating the stories of the millions impacted by the largest migration in the human history. It uses oral histories, personal artefacts, letters, photographs, newspapers and archival footage and documents to tell the history of the Partition. The Museum opened with a curtain raiser exhibition in October 2016 and opened all its galleries to the public on August 17, 2017. 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 Hiroki Totoki, current CFO of Sony, says cloud gaming could pose a threat to traditional physical consoles like the PlayStation down the line, but he doesnt believe itll do so in the near future. Thats according to comments from Sonys latest quarterly conference call translated by Twinfinite in which Totoki addresses the risks and opportunities facing PlayStation in the next five years. According to those translations, cloud gaming rendering physical consoles obsolete is an extreme example of a potential threat, but Totoki says itll be much longer than five years before that is the case. As for risks in the more immediate future, Totoki says that the rise of cross-platform free-to-play games could be considered a possible threat, though he notes that relationships with third-party partners will help Sony mitigate any negative effects from either risk factor. His comments come just as the PlayStation 4 surpasses 91.6 million sold, a milestone hit around 5 years into the PlayStation 4s lifetime. However momentum for the current generation of consoles is slowing down, as noted in Sonys latest financial reports, and the company is hoping that network service and add-on content sales will help mitigate that potential volatility in its hardware business going forward. Gerald Kirkham, 88, of Terre Haute, passed away Friday, June 18, 2021 in Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Gerald was born in New Goshen on June 9, 1933 to Cecil Kirkham and Fay Lake Kirkham. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and member of the American Legion in Sellersburg, IN. He was an ALTOONA Hour after hour, on a blustery cold winter day, a procession of Roman Catholic pilgrims entered the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to spend their own personal time experiencing what Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Bishop Mark Bartchak called a heart-to-heart connection to St. John Vianney. They knelt and prayed before the saints incorrupt heart, a first-class relic, contained in a reliquary. Patricia Gildea, of Hollidaysburg, described the gathering as a marvelous way for us to pray for more vocations, since Vianney is the patron saint of priests. Fathers offered the Sacrament of Penance, in the spirit of Vianney, who often heard confessions for more than 2 hours a day. Prayers were given for loved ones, the Catholic Church and the faithful throughout the world. Janet Harshberger, a Portage resident, likely summed up the feelings of many participants when she called the experience simply humbling. 'Heart-to-heart experience': Vianney relic draws Catholics to Altoona cathedral The incorrupt heart of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of priests, is presented for veneration at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in A The days events included a noon Mass celebrated by Bartchak. Im not yet old enough to think about what are people going to remember about me after Im gone from this Earth, the bishop said during his homily. But can you imagine the impact that John Vianney has had on our church, in our world, that he is so specially remembered, even on an occasion like this? Why else would you be drawn to come here today, as pilgrims who came here for that closeness, that heart-to-heart experience that God invites us all to share in? Worshipers from across the diocese and as far away as at least the Pittsburgh area attended. I think its great because its bringing all of us together from different parishes, said Jessica Wertz, a Penn State Altoona student. St. Jean, whose Anglicized name is St. John, was born in 1786 and grew up during the French Revolution when Catholics were terrorized in his native land. He came to respect the priests, who secretly shepherded the faithful, under fear of reprisal. Vianney eventually entered the seminary, where he struggled academically, before being assigned to the small farming community of Ars, France. Its really a special day because people understand how significant the story, the life of St. John Vianney is in our everyday lives, said Tony DeGol, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstowns secretary for communications. St. John Vianney was someone who faced many struggles, but he was so devout in his faith. He overcame many challenges. And just like we face so many challenges in our lives, so did he. But he overcame them through his faith, through his prayer life. And thats really an example to us. So it means the world to have this relic here, to have people from all over our diocese here today. Ars was a town where faith was lacking, following the anti-Catholic upheaval of the French Revolution. But, through prayer and penance, Vianney reestablished the churchs importance in the community. Vianney, who died on Aug. 4, 1859, was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 31, 1925, and named the patron saint of parish priests in 1929. His heart is usually kept in a shrine in Ars. But, from November through June, the relic will be touring the United States, under the sponsorship of the Knights of Columbus, with stops at some of the nations most well-known houses of worship, including St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., and Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Peter Sonski, education outreach and visitors service manager for the Knights of Columbus Museum, said venerating the relic seems to leave the faithful feeling edified and grateful. St. John Vianney is a well-known saint in the history of the church, Sonski said. This makes the opportunity very personal for each of them to come and pray in his presence. Its like an opportunity to meet him face to face. Johnstown, PA (15901) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com. @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. Our houses have become lifeboats. In Kansas City, Missouri, this kid built a tent over the hot air vent to keep warm. He knows more about building science than a lot of engineers; as Robert Bean has taught us, comfort is not just a matter of temperature but also clothing (and most heat loss is through the head so hats make sense); personal feelings (reading a good book helps a lot there); and Mean Radiant Temperature that tent wall is a lot warmer than the room wall, not to mention that it's easier to heat smaller spaces than big. Most of our houses are not designed for this, so kids have to take matters into their own hands. Even newer houses built to code may have condensation, drafts and cold spots because of poor build quality, or they are built to code standards designed around "degree days" and average temperatures when we now live in a world of extremes, not averages. I am wearing thermal underwear as I write this, because whoever sized my fancy boiler didn't take this weather into account and I can't get the house above 60F. Lots of homeowners are having trouble coping; in Vox, Umair Irgan notes that "the severe chill this week has revealed that many buildings arent that good at keeping the cold air, and even the ice, out." In Michigan, the Governor is telling people to turn down their thermostats because there isn't enough gas. Andrew Michler But some people aren't suffering at all, people like Andrew Michler in Colorado, who designed his house to the Passivhaus standard. There is nothing fancy or high tech, just a bunch of insulation and careful design. It's why the word "passive" does make some sense in Passive House; good windows and insulation just sit there passively and do their job forever. I am finally beginning to like the name. Baukraft Engineered Homes Take the people living in this Passivhaus renovation by Baukraft in Brooklyn that this graph is from, who laughed at the vortex four years ago, not even turning on the heat until they were well into it. We are living in a time when the engineers can't keep up with the changes that are happening around us. While we freeze in much North America, people are cooking in crazy-hot temperatures, which we might all be feeling in six months. Meanwhile, power and gas supply grids are becoming unreliable under the pressure of these changes. A few years ago, Alex Wilson made the case for resilient design: It turns out that many of the strategies needed to achieve resilience such as really well-insulated homes that will keep their occupants safe if the power goes out or interruptions in heating fuel occur are exactly the same strategies we have been promoting for years in the green building movement. The solutions are largely the same, but the motivation is one of life-safety, rather than simply doing the right thing. We need to practice green building, because it will keep us safe a powerful motivation and this may be the way to finally achieve widespread adoption of such measures. That was 2011, and it doesn't seem that we have really learned any lessons since then, even though in the last seven years we have lived through a litany of forest fires, hurricanes, flooding, heat waves, polar vortices, ice storms and more than we can ever remember happening. If any words were prescient, these were. It is likely that all the climate standards we are using now to determine the amount of insulation needed are probably irrelevant in the face of ever more violently changing conditions. In fact, I am not sure that there is any standard that can cope with what is going on. Certainly, every building should be designed with enough insulation to handle the coldest winters and hottest summers (insulation keeps heat out as well as in). In Australia, even Passivhaus designers now are installing air conditioning. But perhaps we need an even tougher Resilient House standard that is made of mould and water resistant materials, fire resistant cladding, solar power and battery storage. We have to adapt and refine our standards, and our buildings, to changing conditions. Charlie Wardell of The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) described how builders have to go beyond just insulation: In areas subject to severe storms, such as on the Atlantic coast, resilience also includes a near-obsessive level of waterproofinga wet and moldy house isn't one people will want to stay in. One builder who understands this is Jim Schneider, who builds in Virginia Beach where horizontal, wind-driven rain is common. "The envelope absolutely has to be tight," he says. That means staying current with the latest flashing details, which he says manufacturers and building scientists are constantly refining. "Building science has evolved quite a bit in recent years so you really need to make a commitment to keeping up with it." It is hard to know where it ends. But I do know where it should start: with Passivhaus. Every building should have a proven level of insulation, air tightness, and window quality so that people are comfortable in all kinds of weather, even when the power goes out. This is because our houses have become lifeboats, and leaks may well be fatal. They're still usable, even if they're pale shadows of the flavor bombs they used to be. There's a good chance you've got spices and herbs in your pantry that you can't even remember buying. I know I do. The allspice has been kicking around since I had little babies and the cream of tartar moved into the house with us a half-decade ago. Don't even ask me about the dry mustard, the caraway seeds, and the multiple containers of asafoetida that bizarrely proliferated. Spices beyond their expiration dates aren't going to make you sick or contaminate your food in any way, but they're not nearly as potent as they used to be. The recommended shelf life for pre-ground spices is 12 months, whereas whole spices can last 2-3 years. Your nose can perform the test; if a particular spice doesn't give off a strong aroma when you open it, it's probably past its prime. In order to use up old spices, make a point of using larger amounts in recipes when they're called for. In fact, I typically add larger quantities of spices than what recipes call for; I find that North American cookbooks tend to be conservative with flavor. As chef Stevie Parle said, "Dont be shy, just chuck them in you cant go too far wrong and usually itll go very right." A teaspoon of dried oregano can easily be bumped up to a tablespoon if it's stale. Increase the amount of cumin and coriander in a curry, or chili powder in burrito filling to add extra heat. If you have small amounts of spices, make spice blends, like za'atar, curry powder, grill mixes, herbes de Provence, taco seasoning mix, Italian seasoning, Cajun or jerk seasonings, or seasoned salt. You can also make spice pastes and freeze in an ice cube tray, or blend into compound butters. For the ones that are really far-gone, consider using in non-edible ways. If you make your own soap or candles, add cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Make aromatic sachets with old herbs for the bath or a facial steam, or use them in your dresser drawer to add a pleasant scent. You can even make spice-based paints for kids to play with; mix nutmeg, paprika, cinnamon and turmeric with water for a colorful pigment. To avoid getting yourself into this situation again, approach spice-buying differently. Buy smaller quantities by taking your own containers to a bulk or health food store and filling them there. Opt for whole spices whenever possible and grind them yourself as needed. (You can get a specially-designated coffee grinder for this or use a mortar and pestle.) 20th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community: Joint Communique Highlights: The Summit received a progress report on the Review of the East African Development Bank (EADB) Charter to streamline it into the EAC mainstream. The Summit directed the Council of Ministers to expedite the process The Summit received a progress report from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, on the EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and decided that the EAC engages the EU on the matter in the next four months to get more clarification on the pertinent issues of concern. Thereafter, Partner States who wish to, may or may not sign the EPA. The Summit directed the Council within three months to review the relevant policies and harmonise the Framework for Importation of Goods into the EAC with a view to supporting the growth of local industries. [ Speech by Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko WDR 2020: Sneak preview (World Bank Blog) The next World Development Report, Global value chains: trading for development, is well under way. Check out our website for a sneak preview. Since the Banks last report more than 30 years ago on Industrialization and Foreign Trade, the world has been transformed, mostly in positive terms from a development perspective. Several low and middle income countries can now participate globally thanks to global value chains. The WDR will seek to answer three big questions: [Blog author: Pinelopi Goldberg] Hippolyte Fofack: Overcoming the colonial development model of resource extraction for sustainable development in Africa (Brookings) Although the Africa Cocoa Initiative has received little publicity, its impact has been significant in Cote dIvoire - the worlds leading producer of cocoa beans that, over the years, has captured less than 10% of the global cocoa value chain that generates more than $120bn annually. The support provided by the Bank has enabled Cote dIvoire to increase its processing capacity to become a leader in the global cocoa processing space and to overtake the Netherlands as the worlds largest processor of cocoa during the 2014-15 season. The AFRICOIN model could be replicated with a wide range of other soft commodities to extract more value and lift more people out of the vicious cycle of poverty and intergenerational dependency. The process of value addition along African commodities is likely to be enhanced under the AfCFTA, which offers tremendous opportunities for economies of scale and regional value chains to smooth the transition towards more competitive global value chains. At the same time, the success of a few natural resource-rich nations in value addition and export diversification will serve as a catalyst for economic transformation, further accelerating the development of regional value chains for commodity-based industrialization and beyond. [Ghana now processing 34% of its cocoa] The African continental free trade area: an integration trilemma (ERF Policy Portal) Plans to establish an African continental free trade area are hampered by three incompatible objectives: solidarity across the continents diverse countries; large membership to break the curse of small markets; and deep integration to reap all the benefits of close economic cooperation. This column explains Africas integration trilemma and suggests that it may in part explain why no North African country has as yet ratified the AfcFTA Treaty. [The author: Jaime de Melo] East Africa, India and Europe: norms to enhance Indian ocean commerce (EU India Think Tanks Initiative) The paper seeks to identify key trade linkages in Indian Ocean littoral states in East Africa along with Indian Ocean island states as a means of understanding the scope for India and the European Union to cooperate in establishing transparent rules-based norms for supply chains in the region. Both India and the European Union are key trading partners for the African nations analysed in this paper, and as the region develops economically, the trade regime in the Indian Ocean will witness substantial changes. The paper sources data on the trade in commodities between India and the European Union with eight African nations in the Indian Ocean, and analyses the data to reveal key commodities traded between them. The paper identifies vital trends in the trade while noting the lack of commonalities. The recommendations in the end are suggested accordingly. Extract (pdf): As seen in Figure 1.1, Indias exports to the IOA-8 is mostly concentrated around Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya, all countries with close political ties to India. These countries are also moderately sized and have a larger GDP (nominal) compared to the other nations. Kenya and Tanzania both figure in the top 10 African economies by GDP and have comparatively better trade infrastructure. However, given the fact that East Africa is the fastest growing economic region in the African continent, it is surprising to see that exports from India to the IOA-8 have reduced by gross value over the course of the three years. Across the three-year period recorded within this dataset, there are instances of Indias trade activities with certain East African nations fluctuating drastically. Notably, between 2016 and 2017, Indias combined imports and exports to Kenya decreased by nearly 50%, while similarly, in Somalia, between 2016 and 2017, substantial decreases in exports were noted. Tanzania is another country where exports decreased drastically between 2016 and 2017. Indias exports to Tanzania dropped from $ 1,766,864,783 to $ 1,006,031,268,a 43% drop. [The authors: Mihir Sharma, Tuneer Mukherjee, Gareth Price, John-Joseph Wilkins] UK signs Eastern and Southern Africa trade continuity agreement (UK Gov) Trade Minister George Hollingbery signed the UK-Eastern and Southern Africa agreement in London on Thursday, 31 January 2019 with a number of representative governments. The new UK-ESA agreement replicates the effects of existing trading arrangements as far as possible. It will come into effect as soon as the implementation period ends in January 2021, or on 29 March 2019 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Magufuli seeks the right balance for Tanzanias mining fiscal regime (NRGI) Last week, President John Magufuli highlighted the difficulties in getting this balance right. At a multi-stakeholder meeting concerning the mining sector, he stated his governments intention to review the 2017 fiscal regime given his concern that the recent increase in taxes is hindering rather than helping efforts to collect more revenue from the sector. While the media focused on his comments on artisanal and small-scale mining and tax evasion, the president also spoke about the impact of the new regime on large-scale investment. NRGIs preliminary analysis of the current fiscal regime for Tanzanias mining sector suggests that the president is right to be concerned. Using an Excel-based economic model that we developed specifically for this analysis (similar to other models we have recently published), we evaluated the impact of the regime on a number of hypothetical large-scale gold projects (ranging from mines as large as Acacias North Mara mine to small ones like Shanta Golds New Luika mine). We focused on the implications for new projects; since contracts for existing projects are not in the public domain, it is difficult to assess the impact of renegotiating them. [The authors: Thomas Scurfield, Silas Olang] Illicit financial flows: conceptual and practical issues (South Centre) In this brief (pdf) we share our understanding of the unjust system that drains billions of dollars out of the continent annually, and make recommendations and a case for bringing citizens back into the political economy discourse; and to reshape the rigged rules and systems into an effective framework for stemming them huge illicit financial flows from Africa to other regions. Confronting tobacco illicit trade: a global review of country experiences (World Bank Blog) A new report, Confronting Tobacco Illicit Trade: a global review of country experiences, prepared in collaboration with a multisectoral team across different institutions shows that reducing illicit trade in tobacco products is critical from the perspective of public health, public finance, governance, or equity. This publication presents country and regional case studies, covering over 30 countries across the income and development spectrum, detailing their illicit tobacco trade context, legal and policy frameworks, enforcement strategies, progress achieved, lessons learned, and recommendations regarding further strengthening illicit trade control. In response to demand from government officials and other partners, this report provides practical input and guidance on how to address illicit tobacco trade based on diverse country experiences. Sub-Saharan chapters: Southern African Customs Union (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Eswatini) and Zambia: Addressing the illicit flow of tobacco products (pdf); Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa: An analysis of alcohol and cigarette prices in Maseru, Gaborone, and neighboring South African towns; Kenya: Controlling illicit cigarette trade (pdf); Senegal: Addressing illicit tobacco trade (pdf) Reform clouds darken the future of the UN Development Programme (PassBlue) As the first effects of Secretary-General Antonio Guterress ambitious organizational reform plans become apparent, former and current officials of the UNDP see the future of the internationally influential agency as uncertain if not in peril. Fears center on aspects of the reform plan for development that would allow more political interference by host governments in the work of the UNDP, as its called. The plan could also deter the agency from factoring in human-rights issues in country programs, after rights were stripped earlier from the Sustainable Development Goals. The reform agenda was formally approved by the General Assembly in May 2018. Its most radical departure is the separation of the development programs resident representative in a given country from a resident coordinator overseeing the UNs work more broadly in the country, in close cooperation with the national government. Until now, the two functions were often combined in one person, with the development programs representative the res-rep serving like a UN ambassador. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, a former Nigerian cabinet minister, has been a driving force behind changes in how UNDP functions. She is now in charge of the UNs development work, whose main job is to eradicate poverty. The resident coordinators will report to her and not, as in the past, to the UNDP administrator, the top official of the development agency, Achim Steiner. India: Top advisory body on foreign trade to discuss policy for goods, services (Devdiscourse) The Board of Trade will seek views of stakeholders including various government departments, exporters and industry members on 15 February to frame a new foreign trade policy and boost shipments of goods and services, an official said. The 70-member board, a top advisory body on external trade, is chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu. Views would be taken on the new foreign trade policy, which is scheduled to be released later this year, the official said. The objective of BoT is to have continuous discussion and consultation with trade and industry. It advises the government on policy measures related to the foreign trade policy in order to boost the countrys trade. The Boards last meeting was held in June 2017. India must join WTO members in e-commerce talks (editorial comment, Hindustan Times) In opposing discussions on e-commerce rules at the WTO, India continues a quixotic trade policy that further marginalises it in the international political economy. New Delhis opposition has accomplished little. As many as 76 WTO members have decided to separately begin a process that will frame rules governing cross-border e-commerce. Since this group includes the four largest trading nations the US, China, EU, Japan as well as nearly half the WTOs membership, the breakaway faction is well on its way to becoming the mainstream. India wants a 1998 agenda to be the basis of any conversation about e-commerce. The agenda is from an age when the name Amazon was still associated with a South American river. New Delhis stance is no surprise. It continues to have relatively restrictive policies on foreign multi-brand retail. It has now added a convoluted and protectionist rulebook for its domestic e-commerce market. It would be par for the course for India to try and obstruct any attempted moves towards an international free market for e-commerce. Indias posture will, in time, prove to be the worst of both worlds. India will not be able to stop the main trading nations from moving forward with an e-commerce agenda at the WTO. Even if one supported New Delhis position, it would be better placed to obstruct if it was sitting at the table rather than sulking on the pavement. Once the other countries set the agenda, India would find itself in the onerous position of having to decide on a set of parameters that it will have no means to modify or dilute. [E-comm talks: India must stand firm. Note: The statement on e-commerce, signed by 76 WTO members, can be accessed here] Trade Policy Minister George Hollingbery signed the trade continuity agreement in London with a number of representative governments. A continuity agreement will see British businesses and consumers benefitting from continued trade with Eastern and Southern Africa after we leave the European Union. Trade Minister George Hollingbery signed the UK-Eastern and Southern Africa agreement in London on Thursday, 31 January 2019 with a number of representative governments. The news has been welcomed by businesses including Princes Tuna, who say it will help to support over 4000 jobs and ensure they can keep trading without disruption. This continuity agreement has been agreed as we prepare to leave the EU on 29 March. It replicates the effects of the existing pdf EU Economic Partnership Agreement with Eastern and Southern Africa (8.59 MB) . It will allow continued tariff-free imports from Eastern and Southern Africa, and removes the majority of tariffs on British exports to these countries over the coming years. The agreement ensures that there will be no disruption to our trading relationship with Eastern and Southern Africa as we leave the leave the EU. Trading on these preferential terms rather than on World Trade Organization terms will deliver significant savings and help to support British jobs. This will help to further strengthen the trading relationship between the UK and these countries, which was worth 1.5 billion in 2017. Based on current trade flows, meat and fish exporters in Eastern and Southern Africa could save 30 million a year in tariff charges that could apply if the agreement wasnt in place, while clothing exporters could save more than 10m and sugar exporters could save around 8m. Consumers in the UK will continue to benefit from more choice and lower prices for products as clothes and tuna from Mauritius. These agreements are part of the UK governments commitment to supporting developing countries to reduce poverty through trade. It will help to them to grow their economies, create jobs, increase incomes and reduce reliance on overseas aid in the long-term. Trade Minister George Hollingbery said: The continuity agreement, signed today, marks our commitment to help developing countries increase trade and boost economies both across Africa and the UK. The agreement will allow businesses in Eastern and Southern Africa to continue trading with the UK without any tariffs and lays the foundations for our ambitious trade for development agenda. Africas long-term success matters to the UK which is why we are investing in, and partnering with African nations for our mutual benefit. Abdulla Elahee Doomun, Managing Director, Princes Tuna (Mauritius) Limited said: Princes Tuna Mauritius warmly welcomes this agreement as the UK is the largest market for the tuna products that we manufacture. Ensuring there is frictionless trade is critical to our long-term business success and to supporting over 4,000 direct jobs in our two factories as well as many other Mauritian businesses that provide us with goods and services. HM Trade Commissioner for Africa, Emma Wade-Smith said: Todays agreement will help to keep trade between the UK and nations in Eastern and Southern Africa well on track, providing continuity for businesses, consumers and exporters as the UK prepares to leave the EU. This deal forms part of the UK governments wider commitment to supporting developing nations and emerging economies worldwide and across Africa. Providing continuity of the trading arrangements with our trading partners will help sustain jobs and further strengthen trade and investment ties between the UK and nations of Eastern and Southern Africa. The new UK-ESA agreement replicates the effects of existing trading arrangements as far as possible. It will come into effect as soon as the implementation period ends in January 2021, or on 29 March 2019 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Recent rumors suggested that Toyota and Subaru were going to pull the plug on the GT86/ BRZ models as early as next year, but according to new information, that may not be the case. It was believed that the sporty coupe was no longer relevant given that the base version of the new Supra makes around as much horsepower and its about the same size too. This contradicts a previous report that it was being axed along with the Toyota GT86 LISTEN 02:29 Will the Subaru and Toyota Continue to Produce the BRZ and 86? Carscoops reached out to Subaru and Toyota for confirmation of this rumor and it was, in fact, denied as definitely untrue. It contradicts what was said in the article from an upcoming issue of Japans Best Car magazine. The source quotes Ron Kinno, a Subaru USA spokesman, as stating that We do not endorse this report coming from Japans Best Car. We are moving ahead with a next-generation Subaru BRZ, but have no further details at this time. Now that this is out of the way, questions still remain regarding Subaru and Toyotas continued collaboration for the co-development of the next model. Kinno is deliberately vague, neither confirming nor denying anything other than the fact that the vehicle is indeed coming. Both the BRZ and GT86 are currently manufactured by Subaru and have been in production since late 2012 at the Gunma plant in Ota, Japan. The two models are nearly identical - the most significant differences are the design of the front bumper, the badges, and the wheels. They have the same (Subaru,) four-cylinder boxer engine, the same power output, and the exact same performance numbers. Any of them would, therefore, make any enthusiast happy with their blend of low weight, low center of gravity, and not all that much grip to play with. The car is not especially fast in a straight line, but take it on any kind of curvier road outside of town, and it will come into its own. The replacement for the current model would have to address the main grip everybody has had with it from day one - the lack of grunt, especially lower down in the rev range where the engine that currently powers the duo really doesnt pull. Maybe a deal could be struck to use the inline-four turbo from BMW that now powers the base Toyota Supra - it makes just under 200 horsepower but considerably more torque. No time frame for when the next-gen BRZ/GT86 could debut was mentioned. Further Reading Read our full, driven review of the 2017 Toyota 86. Read our full, driven review of the 2017 Subaru BRZ. Source: Carscoops The U.S. sedan market was brutal in 2018 for a lot of automakers. But dont tell that to Porsche; the German automaker is buckling all trends after posting its seventh straight year of record-breaking sales in North America. You would think that the Porsche Cayenne SUV and the Porsche Macan crossover would be spearheading that record growth, but thats not the case. No, no, no. Of all models, its the Porsche Panamera sedan thats pulling Porsches sales sleigh. The four-door saloon not only escaped 2018 with a downturn in sales; it completely went the other way with a 19.5-percent sales growth compared to its sales volume in 2017. While it still looks like the sedan market in the U.S. is steadily losing steam, Porsche remains immune to the trend. Dont expect it to lose steam, either, now that the Taycan sedan is arriving this year. You can always count on the German automaker to thrive in the middle of a downturn Did you see this coming? There might be some of you that probably did, but for the most part, it is surprising to hear that Porsche is succeeding in a market that has suddenly gotten cold on sedans in recent years. Think about it a little deeper, though, and you might realize that this news isnt that surprising at all, largely because Porsches market is different from that of an average sedan customer, or what was once a sedan customer. First, lets look at the numbers. In 2018, Porsche sold 8,042 units of the Panamera in the U.S. Not only is it a healthy sales number, its a record-breaking sales haul for the sedan, beating out the previous record that was set in 2012 when Porsche sold 7,614 units of the Panamera in the U.S. More importantly, last years sales haul represent a stunning 19.5-percent increase from its year on year sales number. Porsche sold 6,731 models in the U.S. in 2017. To give this story an even stranger twist, the Porsche Cayenne SUV, the model thats supposed to be thriving in this SUV-driven market, experienced a drop in sales in 2018 with only 10,733 models as opposed to 13,203 units in 2017. Thats an 18.7 percent year-on-year sales decline. Widen that picture and youll realize that sales of the Cayenne in the U.S. market have been dropping steadily since 2013s record haul of 18,507 units. On the surface, it appears that Porsche is living in a bizarro world where sedans remain kings over their SUV counterparts. But, really, this isnt so much about Porsche living in an alternate universe as it is an evolving identity that places a premium on its luxury sedans. A big part of that is the market Porsche belongs in. Once upon a time, the German automaker was regarded as a performance brand that dabbled on SUVs every once in a while. But the Panameras arrival in 2009, and subsequent popularity flipped that narrative. Suddenly, Porsche wasnt just a performance brand; it was a well-rounded automaker that produced high-quality vehicles across multiple segments. Affluent customers who typically went to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar to satisfy their luxury saloon needs suddenly had the Panamera staring at them in the face. It certainly helped that the Panamera arrived as an all-world model that checked off all the requirements these customers wanted out of a premium four-door sedan. To its credit, Porsche has maintained that identity throughout this decade. Its still capable of producing some of the most desirable performance machines in the world the 911 remains an icon through and through but its become more than that now. The Panamera is the poster boy of Porsches evolution, which is why demand for the luxury saloon remains high in its segment, even if the entire sedan world is buckling under the pressure of the SUV onslaught. Consider this: the BMW 7 Series, one of the Panameras chief rivals, routinely outsells its Porsche counterpart in the U.S. Those races havent even been close. The 7 Series is just more popular, in part because its one of BMWs marquee models and it has a longer history and pedigree than the Panamera. But all that changed in 2018 when BMW only sold 8,271 units of the 7 Series in the U.S. market, a 12-percent drop from its sales figure in 2017. Do the math and the 7 Series outsold the Panamera by a mere 229 units. Granted, there are mitigating circumstances behind this. Perhaps BMW customers started hesitating on buying the 7 Series when Bimmer announced the arrival of the 8 Series back in July 2018 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Sales data can back that up, too, as sales of the 7er in the U.S. were actually trending up until September 2018 when sales started plummeting. You also cant discount the arrival of the second-generation Panamera in 2017 as a catalyst for the models record-breaking sales. The all-new model packed every new technology Porsche had at the time, helping turn the second-generation Panamera into a technical masterpiece. You cant deny that a car as good as the Panamera wont attract customers in the U.S., specifically those who can afford it. You also cant deny that Porsches current approach of building around sedans isnt working. The Panamera is leading the charge today, but before long, the all-electric Taycan will take that mantle and run away with it, albeit quietly. Its not an accident that when Porsche was building its all-electric vehicle strategy, it went with a four-door performance sedan as its carrier model, not an SUV or a light truck. Its a bold strategy Mercedes is doing the opposite with its EQ electric-brand as the EQC crossover arrives first in the market but its not a strategy that was born from happy thoughts and good vibes. Porsche knows that even if crossovers and SUVs have dominated the auto sales scene in recent years, Porsches key market isnt as dependent on SUVs as the average American buyer is. Thats the luxury literally and figuratively that Porsche has that mainstream companies like Toyota, Ford, and General Motors dont have. You can say the same thing for Mercedes, BMW, and Audi, even if they belong in the same level as Porsche. Theyre mainstream. Porsche isnt. They need SUVs to balance out their sedans. Porsche doesnt. As it is, many expect the Porsche Taycan to blow up the all-electric sedan scene. Its that good of a car, at least based on initial reviews about it. The hype is real, too, as is the demand. Porsche has even said it wants to double its planned Taycan production to 40,000 units per year, more than all North American sales of its SUV models combined. And thats considering that the Taycans starting price sits at around $90,000, a little higher than the $85,000 base price of the current Panamera. So, is it really surprising that Porsches performance in the North American market is sitting on the broad shoulders of the Porsche Panamera? It might seem that way on the surface, but if you really think it through, Porsches performance in the North American market isnt so much about the Panamera itself as it is in the prestige and demand that comes with owning a Porsche model. Electric or not, Porsche builds machines for drivers and enthusiasts, and it builds these machines about as well as any automaker in the business today. Is it still a performance brand? Sure, but its become more than that, too. Porsche has become a go-to brand for all of our luxury and performance car needs, whether its a coupe, an SUV, or in this case, a sedan like the Panamera and, soon enough, the Taycan. 2019 Porsche Panamera Drivetrain Specifications Panamera 4S Panamera Turbo Engine 2.9-litre V6 4.0-litre biturbo V8 Output 440 HP @ 5,650 RPM 550 hp @ 5,750 RPM Torque 405 LB-FT 567 LB-FT @ 1,960 - 4,500 RPM 0 to 100 km/h 4.4 seconds (4.2 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package) 3.8 seconds (3.6 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package) Top Speed 289 KM/H (180 mph) 306 km/h (190 mph) Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche Panamera. Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Porsche Taycan. Source: Financial Post To stop fearing Muslims, first meet a few: 2-1-19 One day last week a dozen or more of us gathered in a courtroom to be supportive of a mutual Muslim friend who had run into some legal trouble. Most of us were there for several hours until the matter... TKC likes you. Thinks you're a great pal, colleague, chum or fellow denizen . . . But friends is a concept that usually ends with middle-class 30-something women fighting in a parking lot because they're both dating the same Chiefs player. Which isn't to say that we don't believe in "friends" but above all else . . . Our blog community remains skeptical.Anyhoo, here's the pitch that might inspire us to be nicer to strangers . . . Again, a risky proposition that most people advise against. Teen stabbed in Overland Park KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 16-year-old boy was stabbed while taking out the trash Friday morning at an Overland Park apartment complex, police said. Officers were called out just after 9:30 a.m. to the 7800 block of Grant Lane in the Village View Apartments on a reported stabbing. More violence in JoCo on Friday that impacts the NEXTGEN. Luckily, the victim is expected to survive. Take a look: KCPD police chief talks about city's homicide rate, challenges for department KMBC's Kris Ketz talked exclusively with Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith about the city's homicide rate and challenges for the department. Really important conversation and some EXCELLENT questions from a veteran newsman. This one is worth a look for the overnight and might possibly revisit for the morning if any of our blog community has something interesting to share . . . For now, check the conversation: Airlines close to signing deal for new KCI Airport, KC aviation director says Kansas City's aviation director said the major airlines at Kansas City International Airport are close to signing off on a deal to build a new single-terminal airport. It means that construction can start once the airlines sign onto the development deal and the City Council approves it. We've got plenty more to talk about on this sordid topic but for now here's a weak excuse from a project that continues to loot taxpayer funds despite promises that it wouldn't cost KCMO a dime. Read more: Bill in Mo. legislature would end safety inspections for non-commerical vehicles It's been tried before only to fail. But there's another effort in the Missouri legislature to eliminate the car inspections required to renew your license plate tags. Right now inspections are required every other year for vehicles that are at least five years-old. Actually, this one is kind of bittersweet . . . There's nothing more satisfying than taking ato a chop shop and getting a pass for an extra 20 bucks -- The poor man's only opportunity to the rampant corruption that rules the State.Here's an end to the fun and full employment for sketchy mechanics: (Image credit: photobyphm/Shutterstock) Apple and Qualcomm have been duking it out in courtrooms around the world. The most recent punch landed this week in a German court, where a judge threw out four of Qualcomms eight search-related patent lawsuits against Apple. The fate of the remaining four lawsuits has yet to be decided. Both companies have been accusing each other of wrongdoing in pretty much every major country where they both operate. The back-and-forth started in early 2017 after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Qualcomm of establishing a monopoly over smartphones. The battle hasnt slowed down since then. Apple sued Qualcomm for $1/0.77 billion in San Diego, California in the U.S. and Beijing, China, Qualcomm sought injunctions against particular iPhone models in various countries and accusations about the other companies wrongdoings flew faster than Mike Tysons fists. And the accusations dont just involve hardware. The Wall Street Journal reported that this particular case that the German court threw out revolved around Qualcomms claims that Apple had infringed on its patents related to some search capabilities on the iPhone. Meanwhile, closing arguments in the FTCs case against Qualcomm wrapped up this week, so the company is awaiting Judge Lucy Kohs decision in that case as well. The FTC seemed confident that Koh would side with it. The evidence is overwhelming that Qualcomm engaged in exclusionary conduct. The effects of Qualcomms conduct, when considered together, are anticompetitive, FTC lawyer Jennifer Milici said in her argument. But even these cases dont signal an end in sight for Qualcomm. Companies like Intel are continuing to accuse it of anticompetitive business practices (ironic as that might be), and that doesnt show sign of stopping any time soon. This isn't a short bout; its a war of attrition. And, to be clear, Qualcomm has scored a few victories of its own. China banned the sale of some older iPhone models in December 2018, and Germany did the same. (Image credit: Ink Drop/Shutterstock) The worries about potential Chinese backdoors into 5G networking equipment have spread to the European Union (EU), as officials have started considering new laws that would require businesses involved in building critical infrastructure to guarantee stricter security. Some EU officials and member states are also considering de facto bans of technology from Huawei and other Chinese companies. According to Reuters, four "senior" EU officials are looking at proposals that would prevent Huawei tech from being used in next-generation mobile networks. EU nations worry that the Chinese government could require Huawei or other Chinese companies to build backdoors into core communications technologies, such as its 5G networking equipment. This worry has been exacerbated by China passing laws that allows its authorities to mandate backdoors in products developed in China and the recent accusations from the U.S. government that China is using Huaweis products for industrial espionage. The German government is supposedly considering whether or not to ban Huawei and other Chinese companies from the development of telecom equipment within the country. The Czech Republic's government recently banned Huawei from a bid to build a national online system for filing tax returns. Currently, members of the European Commission and other EU officials are considering several different proposals, ranging from an amendment to the 2016 cybersecurity legislation that would require more stringent security guarantees from companies developing critical infrastructure technology to a de facto ban within the EU. Don't Count Huawei Out Yet As Huawei has been challenging competitors by offering cheaper products, more countries have become reliant on Huaweis technology. This is also why some EU wireless carriers are reluctant to give up on Huaweis equipment, especially as theyre preparing their 5G network rollout. Vodafone said that although it will replace Huawei from its core infrastructure, it will not replace the companys technology in radio access networks. Deutsche Telekom, Europes biggest telecommunications company, said that if Huawei is banned in Europe, it would delay its deployment of 5G networks by up to two years. Of course, EU officials will have to take into account the welfare of the whole EU population and the risk potential backdoors could pose to EUs critical communications infrastructure, not just the profit and cost arguments of certain companies. Someone at Samsung has spilled the beans, releasing Galaxy S10 and S10+ press images 20 days ahead of the companys official presentation. Now we know exactly how it looks and have information on all the specs. At this point Samsung should just cancel its Unpacked event and just post a pre-order page on Twitter. The only thing left to unveil is the new foldable phone, really. Although we probably already got a good glimpse of that in this video. (Image credit: Winfuture.de) We previously saw unofficial photos obtained by German blog All About Samsung, but these are allegedly the official beauty shots straight from the Korean company. MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors: Release Date, Price and Specs The photos published by WinFuture.de also show three of the S10s colors: black, green, and prism white, the latter of which looks like a rainbow marshmallow. (Image credit: Winfuture.de) The Samsung Galaxy S10 will start at $1,000 for the 6.1-inch version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and will cost $1,300 for the 8GB/512GB version. Both variations will pack 3,300 mAh batteries. The Samsung Galaxy S10+ will allegedly start at $1,175 for the 6GB/128GB and go up to a whooping $1,830 for a special 12GB edition with 1 terabyte of storage. Both phones will have a headphone jack. [February 01, 2019] Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation Announces Taxable Composition of 2018 Dividends Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (the "Company" or "CHMI")(NYSE:CHMI), today announced the estimated Federal income tax treatment of the Company's 2018 distributions on its common and preferred stock, as described below. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of the Company's distributions. Common Stock Total Total Capital Unrecaptured Record Payable Distributions Total Ordinary Qualified Gain Section 1250 Nondividend Date Date Per Share Dividends Dividends Distributions Gain Distributions 3/29/2018 4/24/2018 $0.49 $0.49 $0 $0 $0 $0 6/29/2018 7/31/2018 $0.49 $0.49 $0 $0 $0 $0 9/28/2018 10/15/2018 $0.49 $0.49 $0 $0 $0 $0 12/31/2018 1/29/2019 $0.64 $0.64 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total $2.11 $2.11 $0 $0 $0 $0 Preferred Stock Total Total Capital Unrecaptured Record Payable Distributions Total Ordinary Qualified Gain Section 1250 Nondividend Date Date Per Share Dividends Dividends Distributions Gain Distributions 3/29/2018 4/16/2018 $0.5125 $0.5125 $0 $0 $0 $0 6/29/2018 7/16/2018 $0.5125 $0.5125 $0 $0 $0 $0 9/28/2018 10/15/2018 $0.5125 $0.5125 $0 $0 $0 $0 12/31/2018 1/15/2019 $0.5125 $0.5125 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total $2.0500 $2.0500 $0 $0 $0 $0 About Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation is a real estate finance company that acquires, invests in and manages residential mortgage assets in the United States. For additional information, visit www.chmireit.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, including, among others, statements relating to the Company's long-term growth opportunities and strategies, expand its market opportunities and create its own Excess MSRs and its ability to generate sustainable and attractive risk-adjusted returns for stockholders. These forward looking statements are based upon the Company's present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. For a description of factors that may cause the Company's actual results or performance to differ from its forward-looking statements, please review the information under the heading "Risk Factors" included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005452/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Cyber Florida Publishes Free Cybersecurity Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber Florida is pleased to announce the launch of Cyber Defense for SMBs, a free resource for small and medium-sized businesses. This beginner's guide introduces readers to the fundamentals of cybersecurity for business to help SMBs be better prepared to respond to, and recover from, cyberattacks. Cyber Defense for SMBs is available as a free digital download at https://www.cyberflorida.org/SMB. "Small businesses are targeted by cybercriminals precisely because they are small," remarked Cyber Florida Director Sri Sridharan. "Criminals know these businesses likely lack the financial resources necessary to employ state-of-the-art cyber defenses. Our goals with this guide are to help Florida's small businesses avoid becoming victims of this troubling trend and if they are targeted, to help them be better prepared to recover and respond appropriately," he said. The 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report stated that 58% of data breach victims in 2017 were categorized as smallbusinesses. With input from experts in academia, private industry, government, and the military, this guide offers guidance to help SMBs identify the most cost-effective cybersecurity best practices for their business. Detailing some of the most important and urgent factors affecting cybersecurity, Cyber Defense for SMBs reviews the common threats SMBs are likely to encounter and industry-standard best practices for cyberattack prevention and mitigation, crisis management, and post-incident response. In support of this effort, Cyber Florida has teamed up with the National Cyber Security Alliance to offer free workshops throughout the state of Florida that will provide SMB leaders with hands-on guidance. Workshops are planned for Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee during the first quarter of 2019. For more details and to register for a workshop, please visit https://www.cyberflorida.org/SMB. Accompanying this initiative is a resource-rich webpage, www.cyberflorida.org/SMB, that offers planning and assessment worksheets and links to other helpful organizations and resources. The webpage will be updated often with tips and articles to help SMB leaders stay abreast of best practices, as cybersecurity is a rapidly changing field. Disclaimer: Cyber Defense for SMBs is made available by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity for general educational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of obtaining competent legal advice from a licensed attorney and/or cybersecurity professional with the sufficient expertise necessary to address your organization's specific needs. Use of this guide does not create any special or fiduciary relationship between you and the Florida Center for Cybersecurity or the University of South Florida. About Cyber Florida: The Florida Center for Cybersecurity The Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida) is a state-funded organization dedicated to positioning Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education and workforce development; innovative, interdisciplinary research; and community outreach. Hosted at the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida works with all 12 State University System of Florida (SUS) institutions as well as industry, government and defense to build partnerships and develop programs that grow and strengthen Florida's cybersecurity industry. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyber-florida-publishes-free-cybersecurity-guide-for-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-smbs-300788367.html SOURCE Florida Center for Cybersecurity [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Government of Canada invests in technology for cleaner air Innovative solution from Imtex Membranes will deliver energy and emissions reductions MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadian companies in all sectors are coming up with solutions to address the world's environmental challenges while at the same time creating good jobs and driving economic growth. By supporting companies, entrepreneurs and researchers, the Government is ensuring that Canada remains at the forefront of this enormous global opportunity. Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced an investment of more than $6 million in Imtex Membranes. The funding is being provided by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), which works with Canadian companies to bring clean technologies to market. Imtex Membranes is an innovative Mississauga-based clean tech company whose made-in-Ontario technology is set to deliver significant energy and emissions reductions in petrochemical operations, notably vehicle tire production. The company's environmentally friendly and cost-effective technology requires less energy and produces less waste than traditional methods used by petrochemical producers and oil refiners. Imtex's products could lower the operating costs of its customers by up to 50 percent. Quotes "Canada has the opportunity to be a true global leader in clean technology, creating good middle-class jobs for Canadians while tackling climate change. Imtex's unique membrane technology uses less energy and creates less waste, resulting in cleaner air for Canadians and lower operating costs for companies. Today's investment will help unlock the economic potential of clean tech in the Mississauga region and in Southern Ontario." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development "Clean technologyis an economic engine for Canada. This industry provides good well-paying jobs to more than 180,000 Canadians while also helping meet our climate change goals. I am delighted that Imtex, a company right here in Mississauga, will develop a new clean technology that will make a positive difference for all Canadians thanks to this investment in Southwestern Ontario." Iqra Khalid , Member of Parliament for MississaugaErin Mills "SDTC supports Canadian companies who, like Imtex, have the potential to become world leaders in developing new environmental technologies. Widespread industry adoption of this innovation would lead to emissions savings equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road!!" Leah Lawrence, President and CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada "The SDTC funding enables Imtex to demonstrate and showcase the PermyleneTM membrane technology at the scale expected by the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. Building our company in Ontario increases the Canadian petrochemical industry's cost competitiveness by improving energy efficiency, increasing product value and lowering greenhouse gas emissions." Karlis Vasarais, President, Imtex Membranes Quick facts Sustainable Development Technology Canada helps Canadian entrepreneurs develop and demonstrate new environmental technologies that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil challenges. Just this week, twelve Canadian clean tech companies were recognized on the Global Cleantech 100 list; nine of these were supported by SDTC. Through Budget 2017, the Government provided over $2.3 billion to help clean technology firms grow and expandthe largest public investment ever committed to this field in Canada . to help clean technology firms grow and expandthe largest public investment ever committed to this field in . This includes $400 million to recapitalize Sustainable Development Technology Canada's SD Tech Fund, which supports the development and demonstration of early-stage clean technology projects, and nearly $1.4 billion in new financing through the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada. to recapitalize Sustainable Development Technology Canada's SD Tech Fund, which supports the development and demonstration of early-stage clean technology projects, and nearly in new financing through the Business Development Bank of and Export Development Canada. Experts expect the global clean technology market to grow to $2.5 trillion by 2022. by 2022. Imtex Membranes is one of hundreds of companies the Clean Growth Hub has worked with to advance clean technology projects in Canada . The Hub's team of experts from across government helps companies and researchers pursuing clean technology projects identify the federal programs and supports most relevant to their needs. Associated links Report from Canada's Economic Strategy Tables: The Innovation and Competitiveness Imperative Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA Follow Sustainable Development Technology Canada on Twitter: @SDTC_TDDC SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Who says everyone's moving out of Connecticut? HPFY is not! BROOKFIELD, Conn., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For good reason there's a lot of talk about companies moving out of Connecticut. The Nutmeg State recently said goodbye to General Electric and is due to say goodbye to Diageo's North American headquarters this year. Let's take a moment to note some growth and movement within the state. Health Products For You (HPFY) is a home grown company that made Inc 5000 's list of fastest growing companies last year. HPFY recently grew out of their small (2,500 square foot) office space in Danbury CT and moved right into a much larger space (nearly 13,000 square feet) in Brookfield, CT. HPFY was started where all the best companies are - in a basement! The power couple that started HPFY had just the right mix of nowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to start and grow this successful company. Naheed and Masarrat Quaisar, with backgrounds in the health industry, marketing and computer science, have quietly worked away building their business for the last 16 years. They continue their pioneering attitude with their latest move; they have purchased a building that they can grow into, but in the meantime their plan is to rent some of the space through LiquidSpace. LiquidSpace is a rentable flexible working space, the airbnb of office spaces. HPFY is an ecommerce retailer for healthcare and healthy living. Their mission is to make a healthy lifestyle affordable to all. HPFY has a total of eleven websites. Their flagship website Health Products For You offers products in 50 different product categories. The other 10 websites are boutique sites that cater to niche needs like women's health and wellness. The other websites' focuses include incontinence, ostomy, rehab, mobility, respiratory, wound care and more. As they grow HPFY has made the news with how seriously they take their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). HPFY will celebrate two years of a monthly Giving Day started by CEO Naheed Quaisar. Through their Giving Day initiative HPFY had donated almost $50k by the end of 2018. Starting 2019 off with a bang they donated over $5k to Challenge Aspen, in January. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/who-says-everyones-moving-out-of-connecticut-hpfy-is-not-300788329.html SOURCE Health Products For You [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] BlackRock Real Assets sells operating portfolio of Canadian solar plants to Ullico Inc. BlackRock Real Assets ("BlackRock") has reached an agreement with Ullico Inc. ("Ullico") on the sale of a portfolio of four operating solar projects (the "Portfolio") in Ontario, Canada. This marks the third successful realization for BlackRock's Renewable Power platform and offers Ullico an attractive, long-term contracted solar portfolio in the Canadian renewable power market. BlackRock acquired, financed and oversaw construction of the Portfolio over an 18 month period. The solar farms provide attractive, long-term stable cash flows and high cash yields through standardized fixed Feed-in-Tariff offtake contracts with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator. The de-risked Portfolio delivers significant efficiencies in operation due to the homogenous nature of the design and equipment selection, and has a demonstrated track record of operating performance. "This transaction with Ullico is a testament to the strength of BlackRock's renewable power platform and our commitment to providing value to our clients," said David Giordano, Global Head of Renewable Power at BlackRock. "Our latest successful exit demonstrates our ability to create outcome-oriented solutions and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our clients." "The transaction with BlackRock contributes high-quality assets to our portfolio and provides predictable cash yield underpinned by strong off-take contracts," said Rohit Syal, head of acquisitions for Ullico's infrastructure business. The transaction with BlackRock marks Ullico's sixth investment in the renewable energy sector. "Through this investment, Ullico demonstrates its continued commitment to projects providing clean, sustainable energy across North America," said Edward M. Smith, President and CEO of Ullico Inc. Norton Rose Fulbright acted as legal advisors and Black & Veatch (News - Alert) acted as technical advisor to Ullico for this transaction. Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Osler are the financial and legal advisors on this transaction for lackRock. About BlackRock BlackRock helps investors build better financial futures. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of December 31, 2018, the firm managed approximately $5.98 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com | Twitter (News - Alert) : @blackrock | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn (News - Alert) : www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock. About BlackRock Real Assets In today's dynamic and complex global investing market, we help our clients access real assets that could help meet their investment goals by providing a distinct range of well defined, outcome orientated strategies, along the investment risk - return spectrum. Our dedicated teams of industry and sector specialists deliver global reach, with deep local expertise. They have decades of relevant experience, are deeply embedded in their operating industries by sector and geography, and have developed strong partnership networks over time. BlackRock's culture of risk management, knowledge sharing and investment discipline sets us apart and underpins all that we do. With over 380+ professionals in 27 offices managing over US$47bn in client commitments as of 30 September 2018, BlackRock Real Assets partners with clients to provide solutions tailored to individual portfolio needs such as income, growth, liquid or balanced real assets outcomes. About Ullico Inc. For more than 90 years, Ullico has been a proud member of the labor movement, keeping union families safe and secure. From insurance products that protect union members, leaders and employers, to investments in building and infrastructure projects that have created thousands of union jobs, our customers continue to trust us with protecting their families, employees and investments. The Ullico Inc. Family of Companies includes: The Union Labor Life Insurance Company; Ullico Casualty Group, LLC; Ullico Investment Company, LLC; and Ullico Investment Advisors, Inc. For additional information, visit www.ullico.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005430/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Hope Well and Payfare Provide Update on Qualifying Transaction TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Hope Well Capital Corp. ("Hope Well") (TSX VENTURE: HOPE.P), a capital pool company, provides an update on the proposed qualifying transaction by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Transaction") with Payfare Inc. ("Payfare" or the "Company") further to Hope Well's press releases of August 2, 2018 and November 21, 2018. Submission to the TSXV Hope Well and Payfare made a full initial submission on January 21, 2019 to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") including a draft filing statement. The draft filing statement and related materials are being reviewed by the TSXV and the Transaction is subject to the TSXV's approval. There is no assurance such approval will be granted. Further Extension of Escrow Release Deadline The deadline for satisfying the escrow release conditions to the release of the proceeds of the subscription receipt financing which closed on July 27, 2018 (the "Escrow Release Deadline") was extended on November 21, 2018 to December 31, 2018, and was further extended to January 31, 2019. As the TSXV will need sufficient time for review, the Transaction would not be completed, and the escrow release conditions would not be satisfied, by the current Escrow Release Deadline. Pursuant to the terms of the subscription receipt agreement dated July 27, 2018 among Payfare, Mackie Research Capital Corporation ("Mackie") and TSX Trust Company, Payfare and Mackie have agreed to further extend the Escrow Release Deadline to March 31, 2019. In addition, the amended and restated amalgamation agreement dated September 27, 2018 among Hope Well, Payfare and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hope Well, as amended (the "Amalgamation Agreement"), was further amended on January 31, 2019 to extend the date on which the conditions to the Amalgamation Agreement must be fulfilled to March 31, 2019, and the consolidation ratio for Hope Well shares will be reduced from 1.43646643 to 1.398330151 so that Hope Well will have 5,524,446 (instead of 5,377,779) post-consolidation shares outstanding on closing. ABOUT PAYFARE From tech entrepreneurs to senior management at Fortune 500 companies and major financial institutions, the Payfare team has unparalleled experience in the mobile, payments, lending, and information technology sectors. Payfare is backed by major investment firms and financial institutions around the world. The Company was founded in 2014 and has offices globally. ABOUT HOPE WELL Hope Well is a capital pool company (CPC) formed under the TSXV's CPC program. Hope Well's common shares will remain halted until Hope Well satisfies the requirements of the TSXV for resuming the trading of the Hope Well shares or until completion of the Transaction. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, due diligence, TSXV acceptance and if required by TSXV policies, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. All information in this press release concerning Payfare has been provided for inclusion herein by Payfare. Although Hope Well has no knowledge that would indicate that any information contained herein concerning Payfare is untrue or incomplete, Hope Well assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any such information. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS IN NO WAY PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. 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. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction and associated transactions. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Transaction and associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Transaction and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated, that the escrow release conditions will not be fulfilled by the Escrow Release Deadline or at all, and that the Transaction and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Hope Well undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Hope Well undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Hope Well and Payfare, or their respective financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities. SOURCE Hope Well Capital Corp. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Sage Announces Sage Summits in San Diego and Atlanta ATLANTA, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sage , the global leader in cloud business management solutions, today announced its 2019 lineup of conferences, featuring four events across the United States. This year, Sage is debuting a mix of Sage Summit events, as well as a Sage Session for Construction and Real Estate, and Sage Intacct Advantage planned for October. The 2019 events include: Sage Summit San Diego at The Sheraton Hotel & Marina, February 13-15, 2019. at The Sheraton Hotel & Marina, February 13-15, 2019. Sage Sessions: Sage Construction and Real Estate at The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland, Oregon, April 24-26, 2019. at The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland, Oregon, April 24-26, 2019. Sage Summit Atlanta at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, May 13-15, 2019. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, May 13-15, 2019. Sage Intacct Advantage on October 21-25, 2019. Our event strategy this year underscores our emphasis on going to market focused on vertical markets to support our customers and partners specific business needs. I am thrilled to welcome customers and partners across the U.S. and look forward to exploring how Sage can empower businesses to stay one step ahead in a digital world, said Nancy Harris, EVP and Managing Director, Sage North America. Sage Summits are designed to empower Sage customers and patners, specifically in the small to medium-sized business and accounting communities, with intelligent solutions to help them manage complex workflows, including accounting, payroll, payments and people/HCM. Each Sage Summit will begin with a Partner Day, where Sages expansive network of top ISVs will hear from Harris on market trends, as well as future product upgrades and integration capabilities within Sage Business Cloud. Throughout the Summits, attendees will have the opportunity to make impactful business connections, hear best practices from other Sage customers, tune in to Q&As and panels with Sage leadership, and walk away with actionable ways to leverage Sage Business Cloud to keep ahead of change. Sage Summits will tap industry experts to share insights and learnings to encourage business growth. Additional information on keynote presentations is forthcoming. Sage Sessions will offer Sage customers and partners opportunities to participate in market-centric events, including Construction and Real Estate, through dynamic breakout sessions that cover personalized digital workflows, learning about the latest cloud-connected investments for Construction and hearing best practices from Sage customers. A Sage Session for Enterprise U.S. customers will be announced later in the year. Finally, the annual Sage Intacct Advantage conference will take place October 21-25, 2019 for both customers and partners. The location and agenda will be announced later this year at https://www.sageintacct.com/advantage To find out more about 2019 Sage Sessions and keep up with programming announcements, please visit: https://www.sage.com/company/events/sage-sessions To stay up to date on Sage Summit announcements and to register, please visit: https://www.sage.com/company/events/sage-summit About Sage Sage (FTSE: SGE) is the global market leader for technology that helps businesses of all sizes manage everything from money to people whether theyre a start-up, scale-up or enterprise. We do this through Sage Business Cloud - the one and only business management solution that customers will ever need, comprising Accounting, Financials, Enterprise Management, People & Payroll and Payments & Banking. Our mission is to free business builders from the burden of admin, so they can spend more time doing what they love and we do that every day for three million customers across 23 countries, through our 13000 colleagues and a network of accountants and partners. We are committed to doing business the right way, and giving back to our communities through Sage Foundation. Find out more at www.sage.com/en-us . Press contact: Victoria Borges 470-447-4086 Victoria.borges@Sage.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Banking Trojan Attacks Dominated 10+ Billion Cybersecurity Threats in 2018 Gulf Breeze, Florida, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2018, AppRiver was able to protect its customers from more than 10 billion global email-based attacks proving that cyberthreats continued to flourish in 2018. In its annual Global Security Report, the channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services says its Email Security and Web Protection filters quarantined more than 10 billion global threats including: 8.3 billion messages containing URL-based malware, phishing attacks and text-based attacks. 300 million emails that included malware in a message attachment. A majority of malicious attachments with Word files with embedded macros. A surprisingly 4.5 billion quarantined messages that originated in the United States . The Global Security Report provides a detailed examination of 2018 cybersecurity trends in email, web-based spam and malware attacks, and offers predictions regarding the 2019 cybersecurity landscape. BREACHES Large corporations continued to fall victim to data breaches in 2018, including the Facebook attack, where hackers made off with data of nearly 29 million users. Of those, 14 million records included details such as birthdates, employer information, device data, religious preferences and some location data. Quora also experienced a large-scale attack, with 100 million user records breached, including names, email addresses and passwords. Marriott/Starwood suffered one of the biggest corporate attacks in 2018, when attackers stole nearly 500 customer records containing names, phone numbers, passport numbers and credit card information. The Global Security Report also provides insight into how stolen data is exploited by attackers, including personalized attacks, which gained popularity in late 2018. This blackmail email tactic threatens to send embarrassing photos to a targets contacts unless the ransom is paid. Armed with data from large breaches, cybercriminals further personalized attacks with actual passwords the target has used. METHODS OF ATTACK The cybersecurity arena experienced a renaissance of banking Trojans in 2018, distributed at a volume that exceeded ransomware. The most prolific banking malware was dispersed more than 20 million times. Of the banking Trojans, Emotet, which functions as a downloader of other banking Trojans, was the most prolific piece of malware AppRivers Email Security filters caught in 2018. According to US-Cert, Emotet is among the most costly and destructive malware affecting state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) governments, as well as the private and public sectors. Emotets aggressive spreading and persistence abilities make it extremely difficult to remove, and poses a significant challenge to SLTT governments into 2019. In addition to the rise in banking Trojans, 2018 also brought increases in other attack vectors the Distributed Spam Distraction (DSD) and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks. DSDs utilizethe email bomb strategy, which is readily available as a service on the Dark Web. DSD attacks in 2018 signed up users for mass amounts of newsletters and free memberships. The users, flooded with welcome emails, were often too overwhelmed by junk mail to notice the fraudulent purchase transaction emails. New BEC tactics in 2018 included attackers posing as a high-level corporate executives instructing employees to purchase and expense gift cards. The victims were then directed to send images of the gift cards and their exposed pins. A similar attack involved cybercriminals instructing employees to send wire transfers. These were some of the most damaging, costing businesses an average $130,000 per incident. Social media sites such as LinkedIn helped fuel BEC attacks by providing a never-ending list of names and job titles. In nearly every investigation conducted by AppRiver, the message recipient was active on LinkedIn. AppRiver also discovered new BEC variants in 2018, such as instances where the attacker sent a vague email to the target with the request to text me back at a provided phone number. By switching to SMS, reliable email security tools were taken out of the equation, and the targets become more vulnerable. Expect to see more of these attacks in 2019. DELIVERY METHODS In 2018, the method for delivering new infections changed from attachments to banking stealers, cryptominers and remote access Trojans (RATs). Necurs Botnet sent the highest volume of ransomware seen by AppRivers filters, and the Globelmposter ransomware campaign alone caused 56.7 million messages to be filtered in just one month. Last year also brought an increase in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)-based ransomware attacks. With this attack, cybercriminals scanned for open RDP machines and outdated RDP versions, or they simply brute-forced into systems by exploiting weak or commonly used passwords. Looking Ahead: 2019 Predictions1. Living off the land. Internal ecosystem attacks will increase. For example, malicious actors will send MS phishing emails from MS servers (typically compromised accounts) and use MS Azure storage/custom DNS to host the phishing site. This uses built-in functionality to further falsely establish credibility and appearance, making it challenging to detect. 2. More bleeding-edge attack methods will reach mainstream malware distributors. With the success that malware authors/distributors had leveraging the Eternal Blue exploit to spread malware across an organization via worm capabilities, we fully expect to see the more advanced attack techniques trickle down from the nation-state level attacks to threaten more for-profit attacks against the public. 3. More shock and awe. Attackers will become more emboldened to use scare tactics to extort victims. This years sextortion, multiple bomb hoax campaigns and acid attack threats were examples of an increasing intent to scare victims into hurriedly paying a ransom. 4. IoT devices will rapidly grow through the foreseeable future. Its scary to think how many of these devices already are in use while market penetration has yet to peak. Couple that with very little security features being built into many of these devices and the door for attacks is wide open. Exploits, malware and associated botnets will ride the IoT wave into the future. 5. Nation state actors will continue to decreasingly honor cyber rules of engagement. Indictments and accusations levied at China by the U.S. and UK in late 2018 underscore the scope of activity. Things may get worse before they get better, with political policies and trade agreements potentially escalating cyberwarfare. False-flag operations will increase, and attribution will become more difficult. Expect to see more disruptive cyberattack events committed by nation states that masquerade as financially motivated attacks. The lines between hacking, cybercrime, and cyberwarfare are increasingly blurred now, said Troy Gill, AppRiver senior cybersecurity analyst. As a result, protecting small- and mid-sized businesses must be considered an integral part of our larger national cybersecurity posture. To be most effective, our strategy must be comprehensive, addressing vulnerabilities at all levels. To learn more, download the full, complimentary 2018 Global Security Report here. AppRiver, the leading channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services, offers a wide array of cloud-based security solutions. For more information, visit www.appriver.com. About AppRiver AppRiver is a channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services, with a 4,500-strong reseller community that protects 60,000 companies worldwide against a growing list of dangerous online threats. Among the worlds top Office 365 and Secure Hosted Exchange providers, the companys brand is built on highly effective security services backed by 24/7 white-glove Phenomenal Care customer service. AppRiver is headquartered in Gulf Breeze, Florida and maintains offices in Georgia, Texas, New York, Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Spain. For more information, please visit www.appriver.com. Jim McClellan AppRiver 850-932-5338 jmcclellan@appriver.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Utah Virtual Academy Now Enrolling for the 2019-2020 School Year Utah Virtual Academy (UTVA), an accredited online public charter school, is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2019-2020 school year. UTVA offers families across the state a tuition-free alternative to brick-and-mortar school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. UTVA combines online instruction, rigorous curriculum and the support of state-certified teachers to provide a personalized learning experience for each student. Students take courses in the core subjects of English language arts, math, science, history, art and music. World languages, a large selection of career and technology electives, and honors and Advanced Placement courses are available to high school students. UTVA also offers concurrent enrollment courses in which a student can earn high school and college credit from a choice of three possible Utah colleges. In addition to the core courses, UTVA also offers the Destinations Career Program, which prepares full-time high school students for college and careers in in-demand fields of Information Technology and Health Sciences. Students are introduced to specialty trade skills in online courses, and can choose to go on to take exams for industry-recognized credentials. According to a 2017 survey by K12 Inc. and Edge Research, three out of four parents say middle and high school is the best time for students to start exploring career paths, and nine out of ten adults surveyed agree that the U.S. needs more career technical education to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. "At UTVA, we are committed to giving our students and families what they need to achieve their unique goals, in a learning environment that meets their needs," said Head of School Meghan Merideth. "By delivering a quality education with our online platform, coupled with a strategic focus on college and career readiness, our students gain a competitive edge on their future." Students choose online school for a variety of reasons, including advanced learning, the safety of a bullying-free environment and a schedule that supports academics while balancing extracurricular pursuits or medical needs. Outside of class, UTVA fosters a sense of community through in-person events, field trips, social outings and service learning opportunities. The school celebrates traditional milestones with an in-person high school prom and graduation ceremony, and students participate in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout the year, growing leadership skills and forming friendships. UTVA is currently accepting enrollments for the fall of 2019. Interested families are encouraged to attend online and in-person information sessions hosted by the school. To learn more, visit utva.k12.com or download the K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices. About Utah Virtual Academy Utah Virtual Academy (UTVA) is an accredited online public charter school that serves Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade. As part of the Utah public school system, UTVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. UTVA also offers individual course options for high school students enrolled in their resident district program, an approved charter school, private school or home school as part of the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP). For more information about UTVA, please visit utva.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005053/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Destinations Career Academy of Colorado Opens Enrollments for the 2019-2020 School Year Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (CODCA), an accredited, full-time online public school program, is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2019-2020 school year. CODCA is the state's first full-time, online career readiness program approved by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). CODCA offers families statewide a tuition-free alternative to brick-and-mortar school, with a goal of preparing students in grades 9 through 12 for careers and college. "At CODCA, we are committed to setting our students up for success, beginning with a learning environment that meets their needs," said Head of School Teri Cady. "With our online learning platform and dedicated staff, we can give our students the space to explore future career options, and give them a competitive edge on their futures." CODCA combines online instruction, rigorous curriculum and the support of state-certified teachers to provide a personalized learning experience for each student. Through CODCA's career readiness curriculum, students can discover future career options in six fields: agriculture, business and marketing, education and teacher training, health care, information technology, and STEM. CODCA is the first onlne school in the state to receive the top level of approval from the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education for its business, marketing, health science, STEM and computer programming pathways. According to a 2017 survey by K12 Inc. and Edge Research, three out of four parents say middle and high school is the best time for students to start exploring career paths, and nine out of ten adults surveyed agree that the U.S. needs more career technical education to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. In addition to their career readiness courses, students take a full course load in the core subjects of English language arts, math, science, history and world languages; Advanced Placement courses are also available. Outside of class, CODCA fosters a sense of community through in-person gatherings, field trips and service learning opportunities. Graduating seniors are celebrated at an annual in-person commencement ceremony, and students participate in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout the year. Through participation in groups such as SkillsUSA, a national career and technical student organization, students have many opportunities to grow leadership skills and form friendships. CODCA is now accepting enrollments for the 2019-2020 school year. Families are encouraged to attend online and in-person information sessions hosted by the school. To learn more, visit codca.k12.com or download the K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices. About Destinations Career Academy of Colorado Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (CODCA) is an accredited, full-time online public school program of the Julesburg School District that serves Colorado students in grades 9-12. As part of the Colorado public school system, CODCA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about CODCA, visit codca.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005062/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] OpenSDS Welcomes Its Newest Members With Bali Release Supporting Multi-Cloud Storage SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation, the non-profit advancing professional open source management for mass collaboration, today announced that Click2Cloud, GMO Pepabo, Intel, Internet Initiative Japan and KPN have joined the OpenSDS Project. Today, the OpenSDS community also announced the release of Bali, the 2nd version of its open source software for software-defined storage control. Bali features support for multi-cloud data control with a single S3 object REST API across multiple clouds, allowing end users to combine object storage services from AWS, Azure, and Huawei into a single solution. On-premise Ceph S3 object is in development and will be available as an update to the Bali release. Bali also supports manual data migration from on-premise storage to cloud storage. Policy-based multi-cloud data control and support for Google, IBM, and other cloud service providers are planned for 2019. The OpenSDS community worked closely with the Container Storage Interface (CSI) community to define the latest CSI v1.0 Specification which added support for advanced data services snapshot creation and volume creation from snapshot. The Kubernetes CSI v1.0 plug-in is available in the Bali release. This release also added support for multi-OpenStack deployment using the OpenSDS storage controller to provision block storage for multiple clusters of OpenStack, bringing the benefits of storage consolidation to end users. "We are excited to welcome so many leading global organizations into the OpenSDS project to help deliver on our vision of a vendor neutral intelligent data storage management framework for the cloud era." said Steven Tan, OpenSDS TSC Chairman, and Vice President and CTO of Cloud Storage Solution at Huawei. "Bali multi-cloud is another step in our path to offer end users the freedom to choose services that best suits the needs of end users." "OpenSDS Bali release brings hybrid features to customers' private clouds and traditional data centers. Given that some workloads work best on premise and some in different public clouds, the latest features of federated orchestration across multiple clouds in OpenSDS Bali release is one of the most interesting features in any product today", said Rakesh Jain, OpenSDS TSC vice-chair and Senior Researcher & Architect at IBM. "Our objective in the next releases is to further place OpenSDS in the modern storage hierarchy, in particular with NVMEoF". The new contributors to the OpenSDS project will help accelerate the project's evolution, including development of flash management, and the adoption of NVMe and NVMe over Fabric in cloud native environments. The addition of these industry leaders is a testimony to the value the project brings to open source data storage management. OpenSDS new members: Click2Cloud Click2Cloud, a cloud migration technology company with having expertise in cloud comparison, CMP, infrastructure automation and cloud migration, is a Multinational Corporation incorporated in the State of Washington. "Click2Cloud Inc., a Cloud Migration Technology Company, is committed in extending the OpenSDS capabilities for Data Storage and Migration fo a Multi-Cloud Design and Multi-Cloud Providers." Prashant Mishra | CEO, Click2Cloud Inc GMO Pepabo GMO Pepabo, Inc. is a Tokyo and Fukuoka-based technology company. Since its foundation the company has focused on consumer-targeted Internet services, and today it comprises four business segments: Hosting which operates consumer domain registration and web hosting services, Ecommerce Support which provides ecommerce platform solutions, Customer to customer (C2C) marketplace for handmade products, and Community that facilitates communication among Internet users through blogging. "Our IT infrastructure consists our own private cloud and on-premise storage. We hope to leverage technologies from OpenSDS to improve the efficiency of our storage management", Shinya Tsunematsu, CTL of GMO Pepabo, Inc. Intel "Software-defined storage is a cornerstone of the modern data center because it helps organizations better manage the growing data being generated by connected devices and services. OpenSDS fills a key need in the storage ecosystem by enabling multi-cloud support and enhanced back-end control. Intel looks forward to working with the OpenSDS community to drive the project's evolution and adoption," Mark Skarpness, Vice president, Intel Architecture Graphics and Software, and director of Systems Engineering, System Software Products Internet Initiative Japan IIJ (Internet Initiative Japan) is Japan's first ISP. Since the creation of the company, it has expanded its business portfolio as a total solutions provider, now offering high performance network services, value-added outsourcing services, cloud services, WAN services and systems integration services. "Software-defined storage will be essential part of the operation of large-scale data centers in the future. OpenSDS is aiming to provide practical and innovative solution for modern storage management. The collaboration with OpenSDS will help to accelerate the modernization of our data center." Michitaka Terada, Manager, Distributed System Engineering Section, CSD2, CD, IIJ KPN "KPN is the leading supplier of telecom and IT services in The Netherlands. The KPN marketing vision to position a Managed Hybrid Cloud portfolio based on on-Premise, Private Cloud and Public Cloud Solutions, requires a uniform storage interface from the application layer to the actual storage Infrastructure, completely decoupled on each layer and based on SNIA Swordfish standards. Adopting Open SDS will combine the ability to join SNIA standards and add own logics at the same time to act as One-Platform", Niels Hoffmann, Director Technology Roadmaps, KPN About the OpenSDS Community OpenSDS is the world's first open-source community focused on software-defined storage. It is dedicated to providing unified SDS controller framework and APIs for cross-cloud workloads. OpenSDS is supported by a number of leading storage vendors and carriers including Click2Cloud, CyberAgent, Dell-EMC, Fujitsu, GMO Pepabo, Hitachi, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Internet Initiative Japan, KPN, Linbit, NTT Communications, Toyota ITC, Vodafone, Western Digital, Yahoo! Japan. The OpenSDS community welcomes anyone who is interested in helping to build the open standard for software-defined storage. It embraces suggestions and proposals from members and developers, who are helping to build comprehensive SDS solutions and API standards. For more information, visit https://www.opensds.io/ and https://github.com/opensds/ . About The Linux Foundation The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Sarah Conway The Linux Foundation sconway@linuxfoundation.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opensds-welcomes-its-newest-members-with-bali-release-supporting-multi-cloud-storage-300788039.html SOURCE The Linux Foundation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Coalfire Announces "CoalCast Podcast" on First Anniversary of Research and Development Team WESTMINSTER, Colo., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Coalfire, a provider of cybersecurity advisory and assessment services, today announced the launch of its new podcast, CoalCast. The monthly podcast will discuss general cybersecurity topics and current events targeted toward the InfoSec audience. It will also discuss security and penetration testing tradecraft, including in-depth discussions of tools, methodologies, attack strategies, tips and tricks, pitfalls and developments, as well as the adventures of experienced information security professionals. The podcast is hosted by Coalfire's Security Consultant Logan Evans (@Sweetrollbandit) and Associate Nate Curry (@Clutchisback1). The first episode of the podcast explores the topic of phishing and is available now on the following platforms: iTunes Google Play Stitcher SoundCloud Future topics in the podcast series will include: Internal Network Testing FedRAMP Mobile Apps Certifications Other InfoSec Topics, to be announced This podcast was launched in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of the announcement of the Coalfire Labs R&D team, a group designed to advance the state of the cybersecurity industry through the development of tools, techniques and practices. Since formed, the Coalfire Labs R&D team has released five open source tools, two in-depth research reports, and 22 technical blogs, many of which have received broad attention in the media and technical communities. This podcast will add to the R&D team's charter of sharing technical information by providing insights in a very informal format. About Coalfire Coalfire is the trusted cybersecurity advisor that helps private and public-sector organizations avert threats, close gaps and effectively manage risk. By providing independent and tailored advice, assessments, technical testing and cyber engineering services, we help clients develop scalable programs that improve their security posture, achieve their business objectives and fuel their continued success. Coalfire has been a cybersecurity thought leader for more than 17 years and has offices throughout the United States and Europe. For more information, visit Coalfire.com. Press Contact: Mike Gallo For Coalfire 212-239-8594 Luminacoalfire@luminapr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalfire-announces-coalcast-podcast-on-first-anniversary-of-research-and-development-team-300787003.html SOURCE Coalfire [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Independent Panel Issues Report on Findings and Recommendations on the New York City Police Department's Disciplinary System An independent panel of law enforcement experts appointed by Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill of the New York City Police Department released its report today, setting forth its findings, observations, and recommendations on the NYPD's internal disciplinary system. The Panel, which includes panel chair Mary Jo White, former Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Robert L. Capers, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Barbara S. Jones, a former federal judge in the Southern District of New York and former Chief Assistant District Attorney for New York County, spent seven months examining the NYPD's policies and procedures for investigating and disciplining officers who violate Department rules. The work was performed pro bono and independently of the NYPD. The Panel's 57-page report recommends reforms in four key focus areas: transparency, accountability, the appearance of favoritism and inconsistent outcomes, and unnecessary delay. Transparency: The Panel noted that Civil Rights Law 50-a, which prevents release of virtually any information on specific disciplinary cases, is a serious obstacle to transparency and accountability to the public. The Panel called on the Department to support initiatives before the Legislature to amend the law and offered suggestions about how to change it. In addition, the Panel recommended that the Department enhance the avenues for transparency permitted under current law by, for example, releasing annually comprehensive Department-wide statistics on the disciplinary system and appointing a citizens' liaison to ensure that those harmed by police misconduct have an accessible and respectful channel to obtain disciplinary case information. Accountability: The Panel observed that city law gives the Commissioner unlimited discretion over disciplinary cases, which carries with it a heightened responsibility for the Commissioner to be as transparent and accountable as possible. Although the Panel did not find any evidence that the Commissioner, who takes his disciplinary role very seriously, has abused his discretion, it recommended that he begin providing detailed explanations for modifying a settlement or a NYPD trial judge's disciplinary decision. When the Commissioner makes such modifications, he is substituting his judgment for an outcome negotiated by the parties or found by the trial judge. The parties and others involved in the disciplinary process should receive meaningful explanations for the change. Favoritism and inconsistent outcomes: The Panel found that the disciplinary process generally produced fair results. The Panel examined whether-but found no basis to conclude that-higher-ranking officers consistently received better treatment under the disciplinary system than lower-ranking officers. But the Panel did find that decision makers within the disciplinary system are potentially susceptible to external pressure and inappropriate influences, and, accordingly recommended that the Department improve its procedures for safeguarding the integrity of the process. In light of the Commissioner's plenary authority over discipline, the Panel also recommended that the Department engage external experts to periodically audit the disciplinary system for signs of favoritism, bias, or unexplained inconsistencies in outcomes and that it consider adopting a disciplinary penalty matrix setting forth the expected penalty ranges for each type of offense. Delay: The Panel found that while improvements have been made in recent years, disciplinary cases still take too long to process. The Panel recommended additional hiring for the Department Advocate's Office, as well as streamlined procedures for fast-tracking less complex cases. The report was commissioned by Commissioner O'Neill on June 21, 2018. It was provided to the Commissioner on Friday, January 25, 2019, and the Department was afforded one week to review it. The Department was not given the opportunity to provide edits or suggest changes to the report. The Panel commends the Commissioner for opening up the Department's disciplinary system to outside scrutiny and was honored to have been asked to provide an independent perspective on how to improve it. The Panel also expresses its gratitude to the many people and organizations, including victims of police misconduct and their families, who took the time to meet with the Panel over the past seven months and who provided invaluable information and insights. The Panel members also want to thank the many lawyers and staff from their firms who worked tirelessly in support of the Panel's work. The report is available for public review at IndependentPanelReportNYPD.net Mary Jo White is the Senior Chair of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; she formerly served as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission and as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Robert L. Capers is co-leader of Arent Fox (News - Alert) LLP's Government Enforcement and White Collar practice; he is the former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Barbara S. Jones is a partner at Bracewell LLP; she served as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for 16 years and before that as Chief Assistant to the District Attorney of New York County. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005331/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Compusearch Software Systems Unveils "Unison" as New Brand Identity DULLES, Va., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Compusearch Software Systems, the leading provider of software and insight to government agencies, program offices, and contractors, today announced its rebranding and name change to Unison. The Unison brand encompasses all the brands formerly under Compusearch Software Systems, Inc., including Compusearch, PRISM, FedBid, TopVue, FedConnect, and Virtual Acquisition Office (VAO). "We power the business of government by providing software, data, and insights that align program offices, the acquisition community, grant makers, and contractors to best achieve their missions," said Reid Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Unison. "The new name embodies the strong and valuable alignment we help our customers achieve through ou software suites and unifying Insight Platform." Unison envisions a government that always makes astute, effective decisions, from the line-level to the C-level, across federal agencies and their contractor partners. Its software suites support the four types of professionals vital to the success of government missions program managers, the acquisition workforce, financial assistance professionals, and government contractors. By fully supporting each type of professional, Unison deeply understands and is uniquely able to address their individual and collective challenges. Unison's software suites are powered by its Insight Platform, which brings advanced, unrivaled intelligence, collaboration, and data integrity. About Unison Unison's secure cloud and on-premise software, marketplace, and information services support more than 200,000 users in all federal agencies, dozens of major DoD programs, and leading prime contractors. All software development and support are done within the USA. For over 30 years, Unison has continually advanced its thinking and software to help federal programs better pursue their missions. Unison is headquartered in Dulles, VA, with offices in Tysons Corner, VA, Clearfield, UT, San Diego, CA, and Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit www.UnisonGlobal.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/compusearch-software-systems-unveils-unison-as-new-brand-identity-300788168.html SOURCE Unison [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Safety Technology Holdings Acquires OpTek Systems Safety Technology Holdings (STH) is pleased to announce the acquisition of OpTek Systems, a leading manufacturer of laser processing equipment and provider of micro-machining and optical fiber processing services. STH is a portfolio company of UK-based private equity firm Bridgepoint and is a holding company with well-known niche test and measurement sector companies including: vehicle safety company, Humanetics Innovative Solutions; specialty optical fiber manufacturer, Fibercore; and sensor manufacturer, HITEC Sensor Developments. Founded in 2000, OpTek has built a reputation as one of the most highly respected providers of laser processing solutions, combining its core expertise in lasers, optics and laser materials interactions with a high-degree of automation. OpTek is headquartered in Oxford, UK and also operates a state-of-the-art processing ITAR compliant facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The company's products include laser optical fiber processing and micro-machining equipment used in various mission-critical applications for which precision is crucial. OpTek is also a leading contract supplier of complex optical fiber assemblies and laser processing services including micro-machining and optical fiber stripping, lensing, fusing and cleaving. Christopher J. O'Connor, President and CEO of Safety Technology Holdings commented, "We are very excited to welcome OpTek into our family of companies. OpTek's innovative solutions and market leadership position complements our corporate portfolio ell. By adding them to the STH family, we are able to enhance further our position in optical fiber solutions, giving us a deeper presence in this rapidly expanding market." "We have worked closely with the OpTek team for many years on a number of development projects and are excited for them to join us in the STH family. They have been an important partner for us and are highly respected for providing high-quality, innovative solutions at a competitive price point." said Chris Emslie, CEO of Fibercore. "Whether for datacom connections, fiber sensors, medical filters or other highly technical systems, it is well known in the industry that OpTek is able to do things that are unmatched by even the biggest competitors." OpTek's founder and CEO, Mike Osborne, will continue in his current role post-closing. Dr. Osborne commented, "STH is a first-class, highly technical and innovative organization with a long history of investing in niche market leaders. They have the size and technical capabilities to build on our past success and to help to accelerate our growth plans. Their portfolio companies offer complementary services to our own and we are excited about the many projects we will be able to pursue together. They are the perfect partner for us." Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. About Safety Technology Holdings Inc. Safety Technology Holdings Inc. is a leading provider of precision test systems and sensor solutions through its subsidiaries Humanetics Innovative Solutions, HITEC Sensor Developments and Fibercore. For over 65 years, Humanetics has been the leading global designer, manufacturer and supplier of crash test dummies and calibration equipment, crash sensors and instrumentation and crash simulation software models. Humanetics also offers a growing portfolio of active safety testing products for ADAS and autonomous vehicles, including over-runnable test platforms and driving robots. Subsidiary HITEC Sensor Developments designs and manufactures custom force, load, torque and pressure electrical strain gage and fiber optic sensor solutions and provide advanced strain gage application services. Fibercore manufactures the most comprehensive suite of specialty optical fibers used in a broad and growing range of applications including fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs), fiber optic hydrophones, fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and embedded sensors. Safety Technology Holdings has over 800 employees across 21 facilities strategically located around the world with the global corporate headquarters situated in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005295/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Homeownership in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland, to Get $7.1 Million Boost Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks America, MANNA, Inc. and Community Housing Partners today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT program will launch for Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland, with a $7.1 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost local homeownership. The 2019 NeighborhoodLIFT program follows the 2012 CityLIFT program that created 350 homeowners in the area. Wells Fargo has conducted 67 LIFT program events in the U.S. since 2012, creating nearly 20,000 homeowners. Registration opens Feb. 4 for free event in Washington Feb. 22-23 Interested homebuyers may register beginning Feb. 4 at www.wellsfargo.com/lift to attend the free event on Friday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009). Walk-ins also are welcome while grants are available for reservation. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, visit www.wellsfargo.com/lift or call 866-858-2151. Participating homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any participating lender. MANNA, Inc. and Community Housing Partners will administer the grants, determine eligibility and provide homebuyer and financial education. Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home in Washington, D.C., or Prince George's County. "NeighborhoodLIFT is part of Wells Fargo's Where We Live program - a new, five-year, $1.6 billion commitment to lending and philanthropy in Washington, D.C.," said John Allen, Wells Fargo's region president in Washington. "The program will help hardworking families and individuals get on the path to achieve successful and sustainable homeownership. It's one more way Wells Fargo is improving lives and strengthening communities." To be eligible for $20,000 down payment assistance grants, homebuyers must not exceed 100 percent of the local area median income, which is about $17,200 up to a family of four in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County. In addition, special parameters exist for military service members, veterans, teachers, law enforcement officials, firefighters and emergency medical technicians including down payment assistance grants of $22,500 for those earning up to 100 percent of the area median income. In addition, Wells Fargo has committed $325,000 for up to 650 consumers to receive complimentary face-to-face homeownership counseling. Interested homebuyers can receive a voucher at the NeighborhoodLIFT launch event that will provide in-person homeownership counseling at no charge with a participating HUD-approved housing counselor in the area. The complimentary Home Ownership Counseling grant program is an additional resource to the homebuyer education required for a NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance grant. "This innovative public-private collaboration will create about 270 more homeowners in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County," said Donald Phoenix, regional vice president, Southern region, NeighborWorks America. "The required homebuyer education classes provided by certified professionals better prepare NeighborhoodLIFT homebuyers to achieve their goal of sustainable homeownership." Approved homebuyers must be approved for home financing with an eligible lender and be in contract to purchase a home in Washington, D.C., or Prince George's County. To reserve the full grant amount, participants buying a primary residence with the NeighborhoodLIFT program must commit to live in the home for five years. "The NeighborhoodLIFT program will provide homebuyer education and down payment assistance to help families become homeowners," said the Rev. Jim Dickerson, founder and chief executive officer of MANNA, Inc. "We are excited to team up with Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America and Community Housing Partners to make this opportunity available for so many deserving families." The NeighborhoodLIFT program is Wells Fargo's single largest corporate philanthropic effort of its kind in the company's history and is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Since 2012, Wells Fargo has committed more than $433 million of down payment assistance, housing counseling, homebuyer support and education in 67 communities across the U.S. through LIFT programs. A video about the NeighborhoodLIFT program is posted on Wells Fargo Stories. About MANNA, Inc., Community Housing Partners and NeighborWorks America MANNA, Inc. and Community Housing Partners are chartered members of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 245 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.mannadc.org, www.communityhousingpartners.org and www.neighborworks.org to learn more. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,950 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 37 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 262,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005054/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] ON2IT Appoints Ron Myers as Chief Revenue Officer PLANO, Texas and WAARDENBURG, Netherlands, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ON2IT, a global pure-play cybersecurity service provider, today announces that Ron Myers has been appointed as Chief Revenue Officer. This announcement follows the recent opening of ON2IT's first US office last October. Myers will take up his new position on 1 February 2019. Prior to his role at ON2IT Myers held the position of Senior Vice President Global Channels at Palo Alto Networks. He has also occupied a number of senior executive roles at companies such as Polycom, Service Source and Tandberg. Marcel van Eemeren, Global CEO at ON2IT Group, expressed he is delighted to welcome Myers to the team. "Ron brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our board, and his in-depth knowledge of both the security market and thechannel partner landscape are invaluable assets. The market opportunity for ON2IT in the US is massive, and Ron will help us strengthen our partnerships with corporate clients, partners and resellers." "I am extremely honored to join ON2IT's international expansion. During my tenure at Palo Alto Networks I observed first hand ON2IT's foundational approach to building a security framework and cloud platform for all enterprises," said Ron Myers. "Our goal to leverage channel partners in the Americas will augment the integration we have completed with Palo Alto Networks and other vendors to provide the highest level of security in the market." About ON2IT ON2IT is a global pure-play cybersecurity service provider. ON2IT combines its innovative Zero Trust Security Automation & Orchestration Platform with a team of security analysts who can respond in real time to disrupting security events. The ON2IT Zero Trust SOC analysts hunt for, investigate and respond to known and unknown threats and effectively become an extension of your in-house team. ON2IT has more than a decade of experience in helping its worldwide customers comply with growing regulatory requirements, such as Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and can offer maximum assurance that client's businesses are not compromised. Clients have immediate access to ON2IT experts without the challenge of hiring and retaining skilled forensic professionals. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on2it-appoints-ron-myers-as-chief-revenue-officer-300787753.html SOURCE ON2IT Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Body and Mind Inc. Announces Retail Acquisition in Ohio, Financing, and Update VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM, US OTC PINK: BMMJ) (the Company or BaM) a multi-state operator, is pleased to announce Nevada Medical Group LLC (NMG Nevada), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement) whereby NMG Nevada will acquire 100% ownership of NMG Ohio LLC (NMG Ohio). NMG Nevada, which previously held a 30% interest in NMG Ohio, will purchase the remaining 70% interest (the Transaction) for fair value consideration of USD $3,150,000 (the Consideration). NMG Ohio owns a dispensary in Loraine County, Elyria and a production license. The Transaction The Consideration will be settled equally in cash and in common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) on the following basis: CASH PAYMENTS USD $1,181,250 to be paid on execution of the Definitive Agreement (Effective Date); and USD $393,750 to be paid within 10 days of closing the Transaction, to be determined pending regulatory approval. COMMON SHARE ISSUANCES 2,380,398 Common Shares to be issued on the Effective Date; and 793,466 Common Shares to be issued within 10 days of closing the Transaction, to be determined pending regulatory approval. The Common Shares were valued using a Bank of Canadas January 29, 2019 USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.33 and a price of CAD $0.66 per Common Share. Two of the Companys directors have a financial interest in NMG Ohio. The two applicable directors will receive aggregate net proceeds of USD $461,251 and 929,488 Common Shares, 75% of which to be paid and issued on the Effective Date and 25% within 10 days of closing the Transaction to be determined pending regulatory approval. Both directors abstained from discussions and voting in respect of the Transaction. Australis Investment Concurrent with the Transaction, Australis Capital Inc. (Australis) (CSE:AUSA) and the Company have entered into an investment agreement pursuant to which Australis purchased 1,768,545 Common Shares. Pursuant to a prior investment agreement between Australis and the Company, the Company granted Australis anti-dilution participation rights which included discount rates as permitted by the Canadian Securities Exchange. Australis purchased the 1,768,545 Common Shares at a price of CAD $0.585 per Common Share for an aggregate purchase price of USD $777,894. The USD $777,894 investment by Australis will be used by BaM for the purchase of the 70% ownership interest of NMG Ohio and will allow Australis to maintain its 35.783% ownership interest in the Company. The financing remains subject to the approval of regulators. Robert Hasman, director of the Company commented, Revenue consolidation of our Ohio platform is critical to BaMs growth and we are delighted to have executed upon this accretive transaction. We are now positioned to evaluate tie-on acquisitions in Ohio and across our multi-state footprint. We would like to thank Australis for their continued support, both financially and as advisors to the Company. Ohio Update NMG Ohio has completed construction of its dispensary, the Clubhouse, in Elyria, Ohio and is awaiting final inspections whic are scheduled to occur on or around February 12, 2019. Our team in Ohio brings years of dispensary experience and is eager to educate medical patients in the emerging Ohio medical cannabis market, stated Robert Hasman, director the Company. We are extremely pleased with the design and build out of the Clubhouse dispensary and look forward to serving our patrons upon receiving final approval. Images of the dispensary, media links and related information are available on the BaM website. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Michael Mills 778-389-0007 mmills@bamcannabis.com About Body and Mind BaM is a publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licences and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, topicals, extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM marijuana strains have won numerous awards including the Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, Ohio and its investment in California and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions. Please visit www.bamcannabis.com and www.clubhousedispensary.com for more information. About Australis Capital Australis Capital identifies and invests in the cannabis industry predominantly in the United States, a highly-regulated, fragmented, rapidly-expanding and evolving industry. Investments may include and are not limited to equity, debt or other securities of both public and private companies, financings in exchange for royalties or other distribution streams, and control stake acquisitions. Australis Capital adheres to stringent investment criteria and will focus on significant near and mid-term high-quality opportunities with strong return potentials while maintaining a steadfast commitment to governance and community. Australis Capitals Board and management team have material experience with, and knowledge of, the cannabis space in the U.S., extensive backgrounds in highly-regulated industries, adherence to stringent regulatory compliance, public company, and operational expertise. In addition to the Companys expertise and strong execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes Rthm Technologies Inc., Body and Mind Inc., Quality Green Inc., and Folium Biosciences Inc., Australis has developed strategic partnerships with companies such as Wagner Dimas. Australis Common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol AUSA. For further information about Australis, please visit the website at ausacap.com or contact the Company by e-mail at ir@ausacap.com. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as expects or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, estimates or intends, or stating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Former CTO, Reliance Industries Limited, Kumar Kushal joins Belfrics Group as Chief Technology Officer Kushal was also the Founder and CEO of Kanhatech Solutions Limited for five years, a subsidiary of Reliance Jio responsible for digital payments & commerce for customers, telecom agents and retail merchants To drive the blockchain - based enterprise business solutions in banking & financial services, mobile governance and enable blockchain start-ups in India . Belfrics Group has a current market valuation of over 400 million USD now and targets revenue growth of 10X in the next two years. MUMBAI, India, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Belfrics, a Malaysia-based global blockchain infrastructure & technology solution provider and a crypto asset exchange appoints Kumar Kushal as the Chief Technology Officer at the company. Mr. Kushal presently is also the Global CTO for Tiller Capital, a New York-based multibillion-dollar investment house with a diversified portfolio in technology, financial services, telecommunications and infrastructure. His role at Tiller Capital the last two years is that of a digital transformation business architect focused on delivering trusted computing technology, blockchain enabled financial services, e-retail, e-travel, e-commerce, supply chain management, logistics and supply chain financing. Kushal is an expert in building focused, result oriented technology teams and business development teams for global businesses by attracting and incentivizing the best global talent; driving business outcomes and revenue realizations through innovative technology solutions with differentiated product and service portfolios. With hisin-depth knowledge of technology, expertise in implementing digital transformation and global network and more than 15 years of experience in the banking and financial services domain, Kushal mission is to grow Belfrics into a global market leader in blockchain technology driven business solutions. Mr. Kushal plans to hire hundreds hands on Java resources in Bangalore to deliver the current business pipeline Belfrics have from USA, Africa and Middle East. He is focused on creating next generation blockchain enabled digital FinTech revolution. Belfrics is offering their BelriumTM branded social media KYC and identity driven enterprise public blockchain infrastructure for systems integrators and the developer community globally. Making the announcement, Mr. Praveen Kumar, CEO, Belfrics said, "We are delighted to have Mr. Kushal as the CTO at Belfrics. A skilled and reputed leader with extensive experience in successfully leading and managing multiple programs and large teams simultaneously, Mr. Kushal brings with him a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge and global experience, which will help strengthen Belfrics' presence in the market as the leading player of Blockchain solution provider. His vast global experience spanning close to two decades will help take Belfrics to new heights by adding deeper research, latest technology and knowledge and newer business ideas. We at Belfrics are confident that Mr. Kushal will have great success in driving our technology vision forward." Expressing thoughts on joining Belfrics, Mr. Kumar C. Kushal said, "I am extremely excited to be a key stakeholder in such a dynamic company and scalable disruptive technology and hope to build great synergies together. Belfrics is known for its innovations in the sector and I wish to continue that distinction while scaling up the business. Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all and I am enthused to lead Belfrics' technology vertical to mark the company as the undisputed leader in the blockchain segment in the near future. I am thrilled with the immense possibilities and look forward to drive business values and deepen our relationships with the customers." Kumar Kushal has MS in Robotics from West Virginia University, USA and has done his B Tech in Engineering from IIT, Madras. About Belfrics: Belfrics Group is one of the leading blockchain technology firms and cryptocurrency exchanges with close of the world. Established in 2014, Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all. Headed by Founder & CEO Praveen Kumar and his team have envisioned the opportunities and benefits of cryptocurrencies as the future of the digital currency market. Globally headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Belfrics Group has already expanded its operations across countries like Singapore, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Tanzania and Bahrain. Belfrics has already structured a team of skilled trading industry professionals who aim at maximizing the benefits of an individual investor through the company's reliable, simplified and secured trading platform. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-cto-reliance-industries-limited-kumar-kushal-joins-belfrics-group-as-chief-technology-officer-300788112.html SOURCE Belfrics Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] Invaluable and Mearto Form Partnership to Offer Online Appraisals Invaluable, the world's leading online marketplace for fine art, antiques, and collectibles, today announced a partnership with Mearto, an online appraisal service, to help private sellers understand the true value of their objects and bring them to auction. Invaluable EVP for Partnerships and Emerging Markets Scott Miles said the partnership will provide a convenient, sought-after service for Invaluable customers who are increasingly interested in both buying and selling their artworks and other treasures online. It will also help auction house partners connect with new potential customers and win consignments, Miles added. Last year, Invaluable received more than 15,000 requests for appraisals from private sellers and that number continues to grow, said Miles. "Mearto connects private sellers with professional auction specialists online, providing appraisals within 24 to 48 hours and an opportunity to talk with an expert and ask follow-up questions. It's easy and will give people seeking appraisals great confidence in the process," said Miles. "On the flip side, it will help auction houses connect with potential new clients and win consignments. We look at it as a win for everyone." Mads Hallas Bjerg, co-founder of Mearto.com, said, "A new generation of auction sellers wants a faster online approach to art appraisals as well as technology o help them connect and consign with the right auction house." Under the partnership agreement, which launches March 1, Invaluable will offer customers access to online art appraisal services powered by Denmark-based Mearto for a modest fee. As of Jan. 1, Mearto had appraised more than 35,000 items, helping set the value for items including fine art, jewelry, antique furniture, design and silver objects from major artists including Francis Bacon, Jean Michel Basquiat, Henri Matisse, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Marcel Breuer, George Nakashima, Roy Lichtenstein, Egill Jacobsen, and Andy Warhol. For more information on Invaluable, please visit www.Invaluable.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @InvaluableLive. About Invaluable Invaluable is the world's leading online marketplace for buying fine art, antiques and collectibles. Working with more than 5,000 of the world's premier auction houses, dealers and galleries, Invaluable helps buyers from nearly 200 countries connect with the things they love. With best-in-class online bidding technology, along with a fixed-price retail platform, Invaluable provides sellers with e-commerce and marketing solutions, as well as auction management software. Recently called "one of the fastest growing e-commerce sites in the art world" by Blouin ArtInfo, Invaluable has also been recognized by Deloitte's (News - Alert) Technology Fast 500 and the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program in both 2015 and 2016. Headquartered in Boston, Invaluable also has offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium and Australia. For more information, visit www.invaluable.com or follow us on Twitter at @InvaluableLive. About Mearto Mearto is a leading online appraisal service and a first-mover in consignment technology. With a background in digital media and data science, Johan Laidlaw and Mads Hallas Bjerg co-founded Mearto.com in Copenhagen, 2015, to bring transparency to the online art market - helping sellers with online appraisals of art and antiques and connect them to auction houses. For more information visit https://mearto.com/ Mearto has received investment from Bumble Ventures, Preseed, the Danish innovation fund, and the businessman and art collector Lars Seier Christensen. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005024/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] HPC-AI Advisory Council Announces Recruitment for the 2nd APAC HPC-AI Competition BEIJING, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The HPC-AI Advisory Council, a leading organization dedicated to high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) research, education and outreach, and the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore announced the official recruitment for the second APAC HPC-AI Competition that will start on March 12, 2019 and continue through until August 2019. The competition, open to all universities and technical institutions / teams in the APAC region, will address challenges around AI development and testing, as well as high-performance computing workloads. The winning team will be invited to Germany to participate the ISC 2020 Student Cluster Competition. Organizers of the competition encourage teams from the APAC region to come up with innovative solutions to solve the challenges in HPC and AI area, as well to explore new tasks that foster international exchange in both areas. To take home top honors, the teams must showcase systems of their own design, adhering to strict competition rules with the aim of achieving the highest level of performance across a series of standard HPC and AI benchmarks testing and applications. In the first APAC HPC-AI Competition held in 2018, eighteen teams from eight countries including China, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Thailand outperformed regarding both technical prowess and team spirit. Among them, the team from China Tsinghua University won the first prize with unanimous recognition of tech pros from all over the world. As a result, most members from the team were preemptively recruited by well-known Internet companies. This year, in addition to technical experts from the HPC-AI Advisory Council, some leading authorities from internationally renowned universities, like Ohio State University and the University of Massachusetts Boston, National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) in Singapore and Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in Australia, have been invited to join the judging committee. Industrial experts from companies such as NVIDIA and Mellanox will join as well. Moreover, the competition is supported by the world's leading technology companies including SenseTime, Mellanox, Excelero, WekaIO and E8 who will jointly face the new challenges in HPC and AI area. The Chair of HPC-AI Advisory Council Asia, Qingchun Song said, "The HPC-AI Advisory Council is an international organization with over 400 members, our mission is to provide a common platform for more users through technological innovation. With similar technologies and infrastructure, HPC and AI can help universities, research laboratories and businesses develop products and services that can significantly improve people's life and living environment in future. In the era of computing driven by data, we encourage more and more universities and institutions to join us by going deep with HPC and AI technology development and practice. It's also a good opportunity to accumulate your industry and training experience to pave the way for your future career. "We look forward to generating more innovative ideas through the competition, which can help to improve AI computing performance as well as to enhance the development of AI technology based on HPC platform. By providing a petascale HPC platform for this competition, NSCC can help to bring people with different skillsets and expertise together to solve problems on scale computing." Said Professor Tan Tin Wee, Chief Executive, National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore. Visit the 2019 APAC HPC-AI Competition's site for more detailed information and registration. Supporting Resources: Learn more about the APAC HPC-AI Competition Become a HPC-AI Advisory Council member For more information, sponsorship and general questions please email info@hpcadvisorycouncil.com About HPC-AI Advisory Council: The HPC-AI Advisory Council is a large eco-system organizations which focuses on bridging the gap between high-performance computing use and its potential, bringing the beneficial capabilities of HPC to new users for better research, education, innovation and product manufacturing, and brings users the expertise needed to operate HPC systems, provide application designers with the tools needed to enable parallel computing, and to strengthen the qualification and integration of HPC system products. For more information, please visit: http://www.hpcadvisorycouncil.com About National Supercomputing Centre Singapore: The National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore was established in 2015 and manages Singapore's first national petascale facility with available high performance computing (HPC) resources to support science and engineering computing needs for academic, research and industry communities. Funded by its stakeholders, including Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), with substantial funding from Ministry of Trade and Industry, NSCC is catalytic in supporting national research and development initiatives, attracting industrial research collaborations and enhancing Singapore's research capabilities. For more information, please visit https://nscc.sg. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190129/2359503-1 SOURCE HPC-AI Advisory Council [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 01, 2019] With $6 Million Startup Fund, Nexford University Launches Globally Affordable Degrees WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Startups launch every day. A rarer find is a team of technology, business and academic experts building a university from scratch. Nexford University, a one-year-old startup, is gearing up for its Series A funding to launch globally affordable degree programs. Students in the US can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) for $120 per month. Nexford, based in Washington DC, is an accredited university with a startup mentality now in the process of raising money to enhance the learner experience, benefitting students across the globe. The American university's CEO, Fadl Al Tarzi, has built a distinguished team including machine learning engineers and full-time faculty with terminal degrees. He said: "We're building a next-generation university. It offers world-class competency-based education powered by the latest AI technology. This requires significant investment to reach global scale." New funds will bolster he next-generation university's marketing, course production, and technology development. On February 1, 2019, the online university opened its virtual doors to its first cohort of BBA and MBA learners. MBA student Damilare Ogunmola said: "Nexford's online content is a major advantage it means I don't have to move abroad to get a great American education." Another milestone came in January 2019 when former Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, became a member of Nexford's Advisory Board and announced a scholarship program for Nigerian women studying on the university's BBA program. The university also launched a scholarship program with Dangote Cement, the largest cement producer in West Africa. Dr Sonal Minocha, Chief Partnership Officer at Nexford, commented: "We're building our collaborative capital by partnering with like-minded influencers and organizations to co-create a new kind of university. Our inaugural scholarships and partnerships have set a strong foundation toward delivering education with impact." Nexford is licensed by the Higher Education Licensure Commission in Washington DC and accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities. It has designed a curriculum based on learner and employer needs with an online competency-based education model. So far, the university has solicited funds from investors including family offices as well as angel investors in New York, Dubai, Cairo, Geneva and London. "We're talking to organizations worldwide to partner with us in bringing high-quality education to their communities and employees, at a truly affordable price. No other university offers degrees of comparable quality at our price point," Al Tarzi ended. Contact: Anna Johnston, ajohnston@nexford.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-6-million-startup-fund-nexford-university-launches-globally-affordable-degrees-300787756.html SOURCE Nexford University [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] CIGNEX Datamatics Partners With Automation Anywhere to Strengthen Their Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Capabilities AHMEDABAD, India, February 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNEX Datamatics and Automation Anywhere enter into a partnership to strengthen their industry-based consulting capabilities for flexible and scalable delivery of automation solutions CIGNEX Datamatics, leading provider of open source, cloud and automation technology solutions and services announced today that it has partnered with Automation Anywhere, the global leader in Cognitive Robotic Process Automation and Digital Workforce Platform. The partnership will focus on delivering automation consulting and implementation services across North America and South East Asia. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/682196/CIGNEX_Datamatics_Logo.jpg ) Organizations today are looking to implement smarter processes across multiple business units to increase collaboration and productivity. By partnering with Automation Anywhere, CIGNEX Datamatics aims to further strengthen their track record of successful delivery by automating front and back offices tasks or processes, thus enabling organizations to save time and cost. Harish Ramachandran, CEO, CIGNEX Datamatics, said, "We have worked across industries helping our customers achieve digital transformation through diverse business applications. Automating these applications through cutting-edge platforms like Automation Anywhere i the logical next course for us. We look forward to working with Automation Anywhere to deliver superior customer experience & operational efficiency to our customers." CIGNEX Datamatics had invested in Robotic Process Automation since 2016 and built a Center of Excellence (CoE) of over 30 RPA professionals to solve customer challenges from process identification, architecture design to workflow orchestrations. "Enterprise adoption of automation is growing at a rapid pace. With the addition of CIGNEX Datamatics to our ecosystem, our aim is to leverage their expertise to help more customers automate business processes and enable human workers to focus on activities that truly require human ingenuity," said Anubhav Saxena, Executive Vice President, Partnerships, Strategy and Operations, Automation Anywhere. For more information on CIGNEX Datamatics, please visit CIGNEX Website. More information on Automation Anywhere can be found here. About CIGNEX Datamatics CIGNEX Datamatics, a subsidiary of Datamatics Global Services Ltd is a Michigan-based global consulting company offering solutions, services and platforms in Open Source, Cloud and Automation. Since 2000, CIGNEX Datamatics has been delivering enterprise class solutions using leading platforms and tools that integrate with existing systems to achieve unparalleled results. Find out more at http://www.cignex.com. About Automation Anywhere Automation Anywhere is the leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), the platform on which more organizations build world-class Intelligent Digital Workforces. Automation Anywhere's enterprise-grade platform uses software bots that work side by side with people to do much of the repetitive work in many industries. It combines sophisticated RPA, AI and embedded analytic technologies. Over 1,400 organizations use this AI-enabled solution to manage and scale business processes faster, with near-zero error rates, while dramatically reducing operational costs. Automation Anywhere provides automation technology to leading financial services, insurance, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, telecom and logistics companies globally. For additional information, visit http://www.automationanywhere.com. Media contact: Priyanka Sharma priyankap.sharma@cignex.com +91-79-6701-0345 Marketing Manager CIGNEX Datamatics Inc. Media Contact: Dayna Fried dayna.fried@automationanywhere.com +91-9254939020 Automation Anywhere [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] FreakOut Enables Brand Advertisers To Tap Into One Of The Largest Female Consumer Platforms Through Acquisition Of Spice Lab BANGKOK, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FreakOut, the global marketing technology company, part of FreakOut Holdings [TSE:6094], has announced its acquisition of Spice Lab Pte. Ltd., one of the largest female-focused media companies specializing in consumer marketing for the cosmetics and fashion industries in Southeast Asia. Spice Lab's online magazine 'Spice' targets female readers in Thailand and Vietnam. Brand advertisers now have access to FreakOut's mobile-first publishing platform that hosts 87% of Next Gen women readers. With 20 million page views per month and over 2.5 million social media followers, the platform works with over 200 brands and agencies. Through this acquisition, FreakOut will expand its proprietary media solutions and strengthen its consumer marketing offering. FreakOut and Spice Lab will gain a competitive advantage by jointly harnessing subject matter expertise, resources and technology. Narayan Murthy Ivaturi, COO & Board Director, FreakOut AdTech Business commented: "We started this journey a few years ago when we first invested in Spice Lab an started supporting them with monetization opportunities. This acquisition takes that effort to the next level. We are very excited to have Spice join us and look forward to collectively solving the content challenges that our clients face in these markets." This acquisition is scheduled to complete by Thursday, February 28, 2019. About FreakOut FreakOut is a global marketing technology company and the first mobile marketing platform with in-feed native ads and video products in Asia Pacific. Globally headquartered in Singapore, FreakOut has over 3000 premium publishing partners in Asia, and over 600 employees in 18 offices across 16 countries. Visit us at http://foutap.com/ and follow us on https://www.facebook.com/FreakOutGlobal/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/FreakOutglobal/ and https://twitter.com/FreakOutGlobal. About Spice Lab Pte. Ltd Spice Lab is one of the largest female-focused online media companies in Southeast Asia and the owner of 'Spice' and 'Pepper' online magazines that predominantly focus on and serve female and male millennial generation audiences with the latest news on fashion and cosmetics trends. Spice Lab was established in July 2017 with its global headquarters in Singapore and as a subsidiary of Drecom Co., Ltd. It engages in media and online marketing business operating in Thailand and Vietnam. Visit us at https://spiceee.net/th/, https://spiceee.net/vn and https://pepperrr.net/th/. SOURCE FreakOut [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] U.S. Companies are Unprepared for a Rapidly Changing Regulatory Environment In 2018, at least 35 states considered a total of more than 265 bills and resolutions relating to cybersecurity. 50 of these efforts became law and many companies are unprepared for this rapidly changing regulatory environment, according to a new report-The 2019 Compliance Landscape Report-from Edgile, the leading cyber risk and regulatory compliance partner to the Fortune 500. "I've tracked the compliance landscape for the last 20 years and the velocity of compliance changes impacting U.S. companies has never been greater," said David Deckter, Edgile Partner. "Many U.S. businesses will be unable to keep up and that is going to translate into costly compliance violations, many of which will come as a complete surprise for executives who haven't tracked these changes closely." A big reason for the flood of changes is that state legislatures are quickly coming to terms with the security and privacy risks faced by their constituents, as well as new global rules-such as the European Union's GDPR privacy rules-impacting U.S. businesses. Here are four significant but little-noticed changes that took effect in 2018: California passed an "Internet of Things" (IoT) law, the first of its kind in the nation. The law requires a manufacturer of a "connected device" to "equip the device with a reasonable security feature or features designed to protect the device and any information contained therein from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or diclosure." Vermont became the first state to enact a data broker law. Businesses falling within the definition of "data broker," i.e. a business, or unit or units of a business, separately or together, that knowingly collects and sells or licenses to third parties the brokered personal information of a consumer with whom the business does not have a direct relationship, are required to register annually with the Secretary of State, incorporate standard security measures in handling personally identifiable information, and notify authorities of security breaches. Ohio enacted Senate Bill 220. The purpose of the law is to provide businesses with a legal incentive to adopt and maintain written cybersecurity programs and is the first such state law of its kind. South Carolina became the first state to pass an insurance cybersecurity law based on the NAIC Insurance Data Security Model Law. The South Carolina Department of Insurance Data Security Act was enacted in May. Among the requirements for South Carolina licensees, defined as insurers, agents and other licensed entities, are maintenance of "an information security program based on ongoing risk assessment," as well as the obligation to oversee third-party service providers, investigate data breaches and notify regulators of a cybersecurity event. News - Alert) , SOX, NIST, NYDFS, FFIEC and HIPAA. The iGRC "risk register" reduces the regulatory burdens on businesses by automatically identifying and updating all applicable legal, statutory and regulatory requirements every quarter. Edgile's professional services coupled with our risk methodology and risk assessment accelerators help clients successfully address these recurring regulatory hurdles. Supporting Resources: For more on advancing your GRC program through harmonized regulations, download the iGRC Content Service PDF. Contact Edgile to speak with our regulatory and compliance experts. About Edgile: We Secure the Modern EnterpriseSM Edgile is the trusted cyber risk and regulatory compliance partner to the world's leading organizations, providing consulting, managed services, and harmonized regulatory content. We secure the modern enterprise by developing on-premises and cloud programs that increase business agility and create a competitive advantage for our clients. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190131006004/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] OneSpin Notches Up Formal Verification with Connectivity XL MUNICH, Germany and SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneSpin Solutions , provider of innovative formal verification solutions for highly reliable, digital integrated circuits (ICs), today unveiled the latest entry in its app library the Connectivity XL App extending the benefits of formal connectivity checking to 7nm, multi-billion gate system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The Connectivity XL App has orders of magnitude higher capacity and faster runtime compared to traditional formal connectivity checking, verifying chips with more than one-million connections, 60-million module instances and 30,000 modules. Connectivity XL automatically generates detailed connectivity specification tables from abstract connectivity specs through a dedicated checking engine that integrates structural and formal analysis to perform on-the-fly, automated abstractions. This reduces the time and effort to specify intended connectivity for large designs. Connectivity checking is a well-known and appreciated formal app, says Dr. Raik Brinkmann, OneSpin Solutions president and chief executive officer (CEO). However, the existing paradigm doesnt scale with the increase in gate count and complexity of heterogeneous architectures supporting artificial intelligence, machine learning and 5G applications. Connectivity XL offers a unique, innovative approach that further automates formal connectivity checking while scaling to the largest, modern SoCs. Connectivity Checking and Connectivity XL Specifying and verifying a modern SoCs connections under all possible configurations is daunting because it contains complex subsystems built with hundreds of thousands of instances of highly configurable modules and IP blocks. Heterogeneous hardware platforms add another dimension with more flexibility and adaptability. Simulation verification is incomplete and less efficient than formal verification even in less complex scenarios. Traditional formal connectivity checking solutions do not scale to these problems either. Slow formal proofs often return inconclusive results requiring extra engineering effort. Creating connectivity specification tables for more than one-million connections is tedious, time consuming and error prone. The Connectivity XL App eliminates these problems. It enables top-level formal connectivity verification for multi-billion gate SoCs, automates the tedious, time-consuming and error-prone process of creating connectivity specification tables and reduces table maintenance and reuse effort. The Connectivity XL App supports verification of direct, delayed, conditional and other conection types and enables verification of routing of global signals such as clock, reset and scan enable, I/O pads multiplexing and IP integration. Its focused structural debug information points to the portion of the connection path causing failure, crucial to debugging connectivity checks with thousands of signals. Abstract connectivity specifications are supported, as is leveraging IP integration rules, naming conventions and multiple module instantiations. Connectivity XL performs checks on abstract specifications to report inconsistencies. It generates detailed, traditional connectivity specification tables by automatically detecting multiplexing conditions, delays and inversion of polarity, and offers localized structural debug information for failing connectivity checks. OneSpin will demonstrate Connectivity XL in booth #301 during DVCon U.S. Monday, February 25, through Wednesday, February 27, at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, Calif. Representatives from one large semiconductor company will be available in OneSpins booth Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. to describe how they deployed Connectivity XL once their formal tool encountered capacity issues on a 7nm SoC design. With Connectivity XL, they reached conclusive proofs for more than one-million deep connections, while also reducing the effort to create and update specification tables. Representatives from OneSpin will be available during DVCon China s poster session to discuss a Connectivity XL implementation, Scaling Formal Connectivity Checking to Multi-billion Gate SoCs with Specification Automation . DVCon China will be held Wednesday, April 17, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Century Park in Shanghai, China. The poster session will be held from 10:45 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. Availability and Pricing The OneSpin Connectivity XL App is shipping now. Pricing is available upon request. To learn more about Connectivity XL, visit https://bit.ly/2Gcs9Cz OneSpin has direct sales channels in the United States, Europe and throughout Asia, backed by a variety of customer service and support options including on-site training, hotline support and consulting services. About OneSpin Solutions OneSpin Solutions has emerged as a leader in formal verification through a range of advanced electronic design automation (EDA) solutions for digital integrated circuits. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, OneSpin enables users to address design challenges in areas where reliability really counts: safety-critical verification, SystemC/C++ high-level synthesis (HLS) code analysis and FPGA equivalence checking. OneSpins advanced formal verification platform and dedication to getting it right the first time have fueled dramatic growth over the past five years as the company forges partnerships with leading electronics suppliers to pursue design perfection. OneSpin: Making Electronics Reliable. Engage with OneSpin at: Website: www.OneSpin.com Twitter: @OneSpinSolution LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onespin-solutions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneSpinSolutions OneSpin, OneSpin Solutions and the OneSpin logo are trademarks of OneSpin Solutions GmbH. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information, contact: Nanette Collins Public Relations for OneSpin (617) 437-1822 nanette@nvc.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] Intermap Technologies Reports Preliminary 2018 Financial Results, Announces Review of Strategic Alternatives DENVER, Jan. 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Intermap Technologies today announced preliminary unaudited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018. In addition, as described further below, the Company announced a process to evaluate its strategic alternatives. Preliminary Unaudited 2018 Financial Results For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported revenue of $15.8 million, compared with $19.3 million and $7.0 million for 2017 and 2016, respectively. While revenue from software and data solutions products increased significantly in 2018, the increases were not enough to offset the impact of a delay caused by an election at a single foreign government customer, impacting our acquisition services revenue. As a result, the Company completed no foreign government data acquisition in 2018. 2018 revenues reflect a favorable shift in business mix towards shorter sales cycle, and higher-margin, software and data solutions sales, which grew 61% to $7.1 million. Excluding corporate costs, these business segments generated operating income of 58% and 61% of sales, respectively, during 2018. Although the Company's data acquisition pipeline grew significantly in 2018, from a base of nil, this pipeline has historically required at least 30 months before converting to revenue. Improving the diversity of government revenue sources, including upgrading our processing engine to ingest multi-source data, and mitigating the impact of any future project delays, has been a key focus of recent management restructuring, R&D and sales force investment. Preliminary results from these efforts, which have already contributed positively to our sales pipeline, include the Company's recent selection by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA, the world's largest geospatial customer), as a member of the CACI International Inc. team (Team CACI), to participate in NGA's Janus Geography contract, as previously reported on July 12, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 was $3.0 million, compared with $3.5 million and negative $7.2 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 was related to carrying costs associated with the foreign government data acquisition customer, offset by improving operating leverage and a favorable shift in revenue mix, as described above. Excluding non-operating corporate costs, each of the Company's three business segments earned positive Adjusted EBITDA in 2018. Software and data solutions contributed more than half of the Company's Adjusted EBITDA for the first time in its history. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized performance measure under IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The term EBITDA consists of net income (loss) and excludes interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is included as a supplemental disclosure because management believes that such measurement provides a better assessment of the Company's operations on a continuing basis by eliminating certain non-cash charges and charges that are nonrecurring. The most directly comparable measure to adjusted EBITDA calculated in accordance with IFRS is net loss. A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is provided in the table below. The Company continues to absorb high corporate level costs relative to its small size. These costs are related to its current capital structure, legal, accounting, public company compliance, tax, consulting, and corporate facilities. Reflecting this scalability, corporate costs have been reduced by more than 60% as a percentage of revenue since 2016, and further reducing corporate costs in conjunction with revenue and pipeline, without harming business opportunities, continues to be an important operating focus. Working capital improved to $1.5 million in 2018, compared with $0.3 million in 2017, and negative $3.8 million in 2016. The Company's significant improvement in working capital was offset by a decline in general purpose liquidity. As of December 31, 2018, cash totaled $1.3 million. During 2018, the Company invested $1.2 million to upgrade its asset base, including obtaining three patents, building its NEXTMap One global terrain model, developing its IRIS data enrichment process, re-constituting its Federal Services Department of Defense business, authoring over 94 terabytes of data to its new cloud architecture, and upgrading InsitePro software. In addition, the Company is in the process of adding 1.6 petabytes of 1-meter posted digital surface and terrain models to its cloud architecture, which will be completed over the next few months. Commercial products drawing on these technologies and intellectual property service the insurance, aviation, telecommunications, government, and defense industries. During the year, the Company added over 17.8 million square kilometers of high-resolution terrain models to its proprietary NEXTMap data archive. It announced a new certified data product in partnership with Lufthansa Systems that will dramatically improve commercial and government aviation safety and efficiency. The Company also added to its sales efforts targeting admitted insurance carriers and flood insurance providers, and now counts several dozen large global insurance companies and their affiliates among its InsitePro (US) and Aquarius (Europe) customer base. Strategic Alternatives Review Process Intermap Technologies has announced a process to explore strategic alternatives. Such strategic alternatives could include, among other options, a sale of the Company, a business combination, or continuing as a standalone entity. The Company has retained Teneo Capital as their financial advisor and Quilty Analytics as a strategic consultant to assist the Company in evaluating its alternatives and prudently determining the optimal course of action for the Company. The Board of Directors has been informed by Vertex One Asset Management ("Vertex"), the Company's only first lien secured creditor and its largest shareholder, of its general preference for liquidity at this time. Vertex has provided financial support to Intermap for the past six years. The Company derives most of its revenues from government contracting, characterized by long sales cycles, changing political priorities, evolving government requirements, large well-funded competitors, and uncertain pursuit costs. To qualify for projects, it is critical that the Company is adequately capitalized, or is supported by a committed and well-capitalized investor. There can be no assurance that the consideration of strategic alternatives will result in the completion of any transaction or any other alternative to replace the financial support provided by Vertex. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of the review process, and it does not intend to comment further unless a specific transaction or alternative is approved by the Board of Directors, the review process is concluded, or it is otherwise determined that other disclosure is appropriate. Trading Update The Company's common shares have traded below the minimum levels required to maintain a market capitalization and public float of $3 million and $2 million, respectively over the past 29 consecutive days. As a result, it is possible that the Company may become subject to remedial listing review by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). If the Company becomes subject to a remedial listing review, it will have an opportunity to resolve the deficiencies that led to such review. Selected Annual Information Unaudited U.S. $ millions, except per share data 2018 2017 2016 Revenue: Acquisition services $ 8.7 $ 14.9 $ 3.5 Value-added data 4.7 2.8 2.2 Software and solutions 2.4 1.6 1.3 Total revenue $ 15.8 $ 19.3 $ 7.0 Operating income (loss) $ 0.8 $ 1.3 $ (9.5) Change in fair value of derivative instruments $ - $ 0.1 $ 1.9 Financing costs $ (2.7) $ (2.5) $ (10.1) Net loss $ (1.9) $ (1.2) $ (15.3) Adjusted EBITDA $ 3.0 $ 3.5 $ (7.2) Assets: Cash $ 1.3 $ 6.4 $ 6.5 Total assets $ 9.8 $ 11.8 $ 9.0 Liabilities: Long-term liabilities (including finance lease obligations) $ 29.3 $ 26.8 $ 22.2 Total liabilities $ 33.3 $ 33.8 $ 33.6 Working Capital $ 1.5 $ 0.3 $ (3.8) Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA Unaudited U.S. $ millions 2018 2017 2016 Net Loss $ (1.9) $ (1.2) $ (15.3) Financing costs 2.7 2.5 10.1 Income tax recovery - (0.1) (2.4) Depreciation of property and equipment 1.3 0.9 0.8 EBITDA $ 2.1 $ 2.1 $ (6.8) Non-recurring payments - 0.8 0.2 Change in value of derivative instruments - (0.1) (1.9) Restructuring costs 0.5 0.2 0.9 Share-based compensation 0.4 0.3 0.3 Loss on foreign currency translation - 0.2 0.1 Adjusted EBITDA $ 3.0 $ 3.5 $ (7.2) About Intermap Technologies Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP) (ITMSF: BB) is an industry leader in geospatial intelligence solutions. These geospatial solutions can be used in a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, location-based information, risk assessment, geographic information systems, engineering, utilities, global positioning systems maps, oil and gas, renewable energy, hydrology, environmental planning, land management, wireless communications, transportation, advertising, and 3D visualization. Intermap has three core sources of revenue: multi-sensor data acquisition and collection, enriched data products, and commercial applications, software and solutions. The Company is a world leader in data fusion, analytics, and orthorectification, and has decades of experience aggregating, enriching, and managing 3-D data derived from a number of different sensor technologies and data sources. For more information please visit www.intermap.com. Intermap Reader Advisory Certain information provided in this news release, including statements in relation to the Company's review of strategic alternatives, future business plans, product development and revenue-generating activities, and possible remedial listing review by the TSX constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. 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 obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intermap-technologies-reports-preliminary-2018-financial-results-announces-review-of-strategic-alternatives-300787937.html SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] NASA Research Could Reshape Understanding of Moon Formation HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- New NASA research combining experimental studies with analyses of samples collected nearly 50 years ago during Apollo provides compelling evidence that the Moon formed from the same materials as Earth in the aftermath of a giant impact between the young Earth and a Mars-sized impactor. In the generally accepted model for the formation of the Moon, the proto-Earth is hit by a Mars-sized impacting body. In the aftermath of the impact, material from the impacting body ejected into a disk in Earth orbit and is thought to have formed the Moon. Writing in the journal Science Advances, planetary scientist Kevin Righter of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (ARES) at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, challenges the idea that the Moon formed from the material of the impacting body, or asserting that the Moon formed from the Earth. Righter modelled the composition of the Moon considering several controlling factors: its bulk composition, post-impact disk processes, and the formation of the Moon's small metallic core. Using a model Moon composition similar to that of the Earth, he compared the concentrations of 14 volatile siderophile (metal-loving) elements found in Moon samples with his calculated values and found a strong correlation with most (nine of the 14). Using a bulk Moon made of Mars-sized impactor compositions did not correlate well with his calculated values, suggesting that the Moon is not made of material from the Mars-sized impacting body. "Researchers have analyzed small subsets of these elements in the past, but this is the first time that all 14 elements were modeled together to analyze the Earth-Moon system," Righter said. "By simulating the main processes contributing to the Moon's formation and early differentiation, we were able to predict the level of each element that should be present in the Moon's mantle." The predictions then were compared to estimates based on analyses of samples collectedon Apollo missions. Righter hoped that looking at this large group of elements would lead to identification of general trends with implications for the Moon's formation history. Righter's results show that the other five elements - the most volatile of the 14 zinc, tin, cadmium, indium, and thulium have systematically and significantly lower concentrations than the model predictions. Righter proposes that these five elements may be in such low concentrations in the lunar mantle because they never re-condensed after the giant impact. He suggests that they stayed in a gas phase that was subsequently separated from the material that ultimately formed the Moon. Righter says that this idea helps to explain why a large group of elements are less prevalent in the Moon than in the mantle of Earth a longstanding conundrum. "The possibility that most of these highly volatile elements stayed in the gas phase and did not condense into the Moon provides a plausible explanation for this difference between the Earth and Moon." Although there are several possible gas-melt separation mechanisms that would be required in such a model, Righter cautions that more research is required to better understand the dynamic environment of the post-impact disk, and hopes that his work spurs new research. Experimental studies also showed that five of these elements arsenic, silver, antimony, germanium and bismuth have lower concentrations in the Moon's mantle because they have been segregated into the core. This distinct core signature has produced much lower concentrations of these elements than expected from volatility alone, and shows that core segregation must be considered in such elemental modelling. "Scientists in the 1970s recognized the very low levels of some of these volatile elements in lunar samples," Righter said. "Much lower than concentrations in the Earth. But lack of experimental data in the 1970s hindered scientists from a complete understanding of these low lunar concentrations." The research paper, titled "Volatile Element Depletion of the Moon the Roles of Precursors, Post-Impact Disk Dynamics, and Core Formation," was published Jan. 23. Righter completed the research using the experimental petrology lab at Johnson, where the high temperature and pressure conditions within planetary bodies, like the Earth and Moon, can be simulated. The lab is managed by ARES, which is responsible for curation and scientific research coordination for all NASA extraterrestrial samples. Righter holds a bachelor's in geology from Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges in Pennsylvania, a master's in geological sciences from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a doctorate in geological sciences from the University of California Berkeley, and has worked at Johnson since 2002. For more information on how NASA studies the Moon, visit: https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ NASA Johnson Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes). This will add the email address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-research-could-reshape-understanding-of-moon-formation-300787936.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 31, 2019] Lupus Foundation of America Reinvents its Online Home WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of people living with lupus cope with one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable autoimmune diseases. The Lupus Foundation of America wants to ease people's journey when they go online to find information about lupus. Now, with its redesigned website, www.lupus.org, members of the lupus community including those affected by lupus and their families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, lupus researchers and policymakers can find more of what they need and want faster, all from one site. After visiting the site, people will not only be more informed but also feel empowered and inspired by its engaging storytelling approach that brings the organization's mission to life. "Reading stories about people like me living their best lives with lupus gives me hope for myself and my future," said 25-year-old Elizabeth Paige Yuen, who was diagnosed with lupus at age nine. "This website is the place I go to find lupus resources, learn about the latest research and get involved in the fight against this horrible disease. It's become my online community it makes me feel less alone." The Lupus Foundation of America, with its comprehensive initiatives in research, education and advocacy, is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus. Its website brings together the latest findings on lupus research, resources and programs from health experts, ways to take action to support the cause and personal stories from people living with lupus. Lupus.org is the single most-visited website for people at all phases of their lupus journey in search of medically sound content. Key enhancements to the site include responsive visual design and enhanced navigation to better connect visitors to online resources. The site is optimized for search, mobile device viewing and social media sharing. It allows easy navigation to local resources and to the National Resource Center on Lupus (Resource Center). The Resource Center brings together the latest resources, programs and services on all things lupus. "Millions of people count on our website each year for answers, support and hope," said Stevan W. Gibson, Lupus Foundation of America president and CEO. "Our updates and enhancements will ensure that it continues to be the most current and authoritative source of lupus information, breaking research news, support and advocacy." Gibson added that the redesigned website better showcases the Foundation's leadership in lupus research a more than 40-year legacy of accelerating scientific breakthroughs by funding groundbreaking research and supporting pivotal clinical trials. Research studies and disease facts may strike some people as abstract and impersonal. So the new site features vibrant images and translates complex statistics into meaningful graphics. The site was designed by Interactive Strategies, a full-service website design and development firm. People affected by lupus can also share their stories of hope and struggle through the site's new Voices of Lupus platform featuring a living collection of personal stories that help to put a human face on the impact of the disease. Through this newly launched website, millions in the lupus community will share a common experience. Whether they are participating in a Walk to End Lupus Now event, looking for local support, need assistance finding a clinical trial or need information to support legislative funding, all will find more of what they need including community, inspiration and encouragement on the pages of www.lupus.org. About the Lupus Foundation of America The Lupus Foundation of America is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. Contact: Mike Donnelly Veronica Hunt Lupus Foundation of America Padilla (202) 349-1162 (213) 929-2689 Donnelly@lupus.org Veronica.Hunt@PadillaCo.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lupus-foundation-of-america-reinvents-its-online-home-300787611.html SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Following the success of the new VMI production facility in Lezsno, Poland, which opened in 2017, the company has made plans to add two more manufacturing halls at the site. In order to facilitate continuing growth and deliver the service that the modern tire industry demands, plans for the second phase, which will double the size of the plant, have been brought forward. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Magda Sadowska has been appointed the new general manager of the facility. Sadowska, who is an expert in lean manufacturing and quality systems, spearheaded the design and development of the plant jointly with former GM Jos van Oosterbosch. She is responsible for a work force of over 150, and will be implementing an ambitious recruitment and training program. Harm Voortman, CEO of the VMI Group, commented, VMI would like to thank Jos van Oosterbosch for building a world class facility and a successful startup in Leszno. With the appointment of Magda Sadowska as general manager of VMI Poland, we are convinced that the strategic role of the country will contribute to the continued growth of VMI. Visit VMI Group at Tire Technology Expo 2019, stand 8054, March 5-7. Farmington, WV (26555) Today Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Washington The Senate, in a bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump's foreign policy, voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation drafted by the Senate majority leader to express strong opposition to the president's withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Syria and Afghanistan. The 68-23 vote to cut off debate ensures that the amendment, written by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and backed by virtually every Senate Republican, will be added to a broader bipartisan Middle East policy bill expected to easily pass the Senate next week. The vote was the second time in two months that a Republican-led Senate had rebuked Trump on foreign policy. In December, 56 senators voted to end U.S. military assistance for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen in what was the strongest show of bipartisan defiance against Trump's defense of the kingdom over the killing of a dissident journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. This time, the vote was even more lopsided. Trump's declaration of victory over the Islamic State provoked a swift backlash on Capitol Hill in December when he ordered that the United States pull 2,000 troops from Syria and 7,000 from Afghanistan. McConnell, usually a reliable ally of the president's, drafted an amendment warning that "the precipitous withdrawal of United States forces from either country could put at risk hard-won gains and United States national security." Without directly invoking the president's name, McConnell countered Trump's isolationist policies, arguing that "it is incumbent upon the United States to lead, to continue to maintain a global coalition against terror and to stand by our local partners." "I believe the threats remain," he said in a speech Thursday. "ISIS and al-Qaida have yet to be defeated, and American national security interests require continued commitment to our mission there," using an alternative name for the Islamic State. Ilham Ahmed, who represents the political arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which has been fighting the Islamic State with U.S. military support, said in an interview that Islamic State militants were not yet defeated and that sleeper cells still lurked in northeastern Syria. "An American withdrawal would definitely affect the war," she said during a visit to Washington to meet with lawmakers and administration officials to urge the United States to reverse or at least delay the pullout. Ahmed was not scheduled to meet with Trump, but had an impromptu exchange with him Monday night while she was dining separately at Trump's hotel in Washington. Introduced to her, the president shook her hand and said, "I love the Kurds," said an adviser to Ahmed, confirming an account reported by The Washington Post. Trump, who was attending a fundraiser at the hotel, sought to ease her fears, assuring her that the Kurds were "not going to be killed." The president Thursday found some solace in an odd place, the Democratic Party. Senate liberals, many of them exploring presidential runs in 2020, voted against the measure, signaling a growing willingness in the party to question long-running conflicts. Several prospective candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, had endorsed Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan. "We've been in Afghanistan for a longer period than any war in American history; Syria, we've been there for too long and we've got to get out," Sanders told reporters Thursday. "What McConnell is saying is, 'Let's maintain the status quo.' " And virtually every senator considering a White House run voted against the McConnell resolution, including Sanders, Warren, Gillibrand, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Of the group, only Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado voted yes. In the House, Reps. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., and Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., unveiled two bills Wednesday that seek to bar the Trump administration from abruptly withdrawing troops from Syria and South Korea. HALFMOON A medical marijuana dispensary is opening in Halfmoon on Friday, and it's already seen a steady drumbeat of patients. Fiorello Pharmaceuticals held a soft opening for the retail dispensary last week, and will hold a grand opening Friday. Located just off the Northway in the town's Watkins Plaza, the store is the Capital Region's third medical marijuana dispensary to open since the state legalized its use in 2014, and the only dispensary to open outside Albany County. "Even before we opened, we had knocks on the door from patients and practitioners," said Eric Sirota, co-CEO at Fiorello. "So we've already had really, really good patient flow, even with just a soft opening. Now that we're launching for real and getting the word out, we expect to be very busy." Fiorello formed in 2014, and its founders hoped to enter the New York market right away. That didn't happen, as it placed seventh out of 43 applicants vying for just five licenses. Instead, it waited, and when the state Department of Health announced in 2016 it would issue an additional five licenses, it applied again and was approved. The license enables Fiorello to operate one production facility and four retail dispensaries. It opened the production facility in Glenville last year, and is in the process of opening dispensaries in Halfmoon, Rochester, Manhattan and Nassau. Halfmoon was the first to open, followed by Rochester on Monday. The other two will open later this month. "After four years, we are finally seeing the culmination of all our work," said Sirota, who said he expects the Halfmoon location will draw customers down from the North Country as well as the Capital Region. It appears the other new license-holders are operating on similar timelines, as a number of new dispensaries have begun opening around the state this month in areas such as Rockland and Oneida counties, Brooklyn and Long Island. Sirota runs Fiorello along with his co-CEO Susan Yoss. They arrived to the still-new medical cannabis market by different routes. Sirota, a pharmacist by training, held several senior leadership positions with Pfizer, where he worked for more than two decades. His most recent position was with Optimer Pharmaceuticals, which sold to Cubist Pharmaceuticals in 2013 and then to Merck in 2014. Yoss has a background in finance, and worked as a chief financial officer in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, she said. She became interested in medical marijuana after her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A visit to a Colorado dispensary and lots of research afterward helped convince her medical marijuana was an industry that could do a lot of good, she said. "Seeing it in operation in another state, I thought, 'Oh my god, this can really make a difference,'" she said. "It opened my eyes to something different." The pair said their aim is to make Fiorello a respected name in the industry, known for quality of product and superior patient service. They also hope to do a lot of education with health practitioners, as stigma in the field hinders many doctors from recommending patients to the program. The likely legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana in the state is something they're following closely, they said, though they declined to say whether they would be interested in offering a recreational product line. "It's early for us," Sirota said. "We just opened two stores and our focus is really getting the other two up and running. I think once things become clearer in Albany we'll have a better sense for what the opportunities might be for us." Fiorello's dispensary offers a variety of products, including capsules, oral sprays, powders, tablets, tinctures and vape cartridges. Patients may qualify for medical marijuana if they have any of 13 conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, post traumatic stress disorder, or any condition for which an opioid could be prescribed. The state added this last qualification in 2018, in an effort to curb the ongoing opioid epidemic. "It's exhausting as a retail pharmacist dealing with the epidemic, it really is," said Katie Ogden, who was hired away from CVS Pharmacy to run the Halfmoon store. "So to find an alternative therapy to replace opioids that's major. That's a game changer for a pharmacist." Cost also remains a big concern in the medical marijuana field, as most insurance companies refuse to cover the drug. Fiorello will offer discounts to veterans, senior citizens and low-income individuals. The Halfmoon dispensary will be open every day except Sundays and Thursdays. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The region's other dispensaries are in Albany and Guilderland. ALBANY - Delayed action by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo may have prevented thousands of New York families affected by the federal government shutdown from getting extra time to pay their local tax bill, according to Sen. Jim Skoufis. The Hudson Valley Democrat is faulting the governor for not acting before Friday on legislation that would let municipalities accept late property tax payments from households with a federal worker who was furloughed. It would also apply to those who went unpaid during the 35-day shutdown and missed up to two paychecks. The bill was delivered to Cuomo on Jan. 25, about a week before most local tax bills were due. Additional legislation, passed at the request of the governor to address technical concerns about the first measure, reached his desk on Tuesday. Because the legislation wasn't signed until Friday, Skoufis estimated the vast majority of the approximately 16,000 affected families already submitted payment for their tax bill at the expense of other household costs. He acknowledged that the legislation could still aid qualifying New Yorkers who were late in paying their bill or if their tax bill isn't due yet. "The underlying bill should have been signed weeks ago," Skoufis said. Late on Friday afternoon, Cuomo announced he was directing the state Department of Taxation and Finance to waive late-payment penalties and hold off on collection activities for 90 days after the income tax filing deadline for affected federal workers. "Many New Yorkers have state and local tax bills or installment payments due in the first few months of the year, and the actions we are taking today will provide badly needed relief for federal employees who were forced to miss paychecks because of the federal shutdown," the governor said in a statement. With earlier action on the legislation, Skoufis said they could have alerted municipalities and taxpayers about the option, which also applies to taxes and fees collected by special districts. His office identified at least four towns, a village and one county government that were interested in the legislation. The legislation is supported by the New York State Association of Counties. The governor previously directed the state Department of Labor to speed up assistance for workers seeking unemployment insurance benefits. He also had the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance make public assistance benefits. David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 ALBANY When Lisa Pepper-Ngoran didnt hear from her husband that fateful Wednesday, she knew something wasnt right. For years, Capital City Rescue Mission chef Kinimo Ngoran has reported to federal immigration agents without an issue, but on Jan. 23 he went to check in and didnt come home. We said goodbye in the morning Wednesday, went our separate ways as expected, and Im still waiting to say goodnight, Pepper-Ngoran said through tears, later describing the moment she learned her husband had been detained. The worst that weve been waiting to happen. You hold your breath and youre like, did it really happen? It did, it really happened. A nugget of hope was delivered shortly after Pepper-Ngoran and her husbands supporters spoke to reporters at the rescue mission Friday morning emphasizing the need to bring Ngoran home a judge in Rochester had issued a restraining order temporarily blocking any effort to deport Ngoran. It means that I can see him this weekend. Hell still be in the United States this weekend, she said surrounded by attorneys who had just received notice of the decision. Its very good news. The judge's decision ensures that Ngoran will remain in the U.S. at least until a hearing is held on Monday. This comes a day after the couples petition for a marriage visa was approved after Pepper-Ngoran met with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Colonie. Several attorneys from New York City to Rochester are working on Ngorans case, and Albany Law School professor Sarah Rogerson said there are many more steps to climb and little information can be provided because it could jeopardize the Ivory Coast natives case. ICE should know that Kinimo is well-represented, and we will fight every day all day for his release, Rogerson said. Ngoran entered the country illegally more than a decade ago, saying he was fleeing violence and religious persecution in the Ivory Coast. Since then, he's been trying to get legal status. ICE spokesman Khalid Walls said Ngoran was ordered removed from the U.S. by a federal immigration judge in 2004. Courts denied his subsequent appeals. While Ngoran's attorney at the time worked on his appeal, the Department of Homeland Security issued him a temporary stay of deportation, forbidding his immediate removal. Ngoran had been regularly reporting to ICE under an order of supervision issued in 2012 because the agency was previously unable to obtain a travel document from his home country, Walls said. City Mission Executive Director Perry Jones said Ngoran came to the mission in 2011 homeless and seeking shelter, but the beloved chef quickly earned his keep first volunteering in the kitchen and then becoming a mainstay employee. Jones mentored and accompanied Ngoran to his regular ICE visits, but on Jan. 23 Jones returned to the mission without Ngoran. The Ivory Coast native had been arrested and detained overnight in the Albany County jail before being sent to the Batavia Federal Detention Center near Buffalo. The case received widespread attention after Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, whose jail houses detained migrants, decried the decision by ICE to detain Ngoran after years of allowing him to be free. State, federal and local representatives gathered in force Friday to show support for Ngoran's release, and to remind others that this a local example of a trend happening across the country. "Kinimo, just like many others throughout our county, throughout our state, throughout our country, are having their dreams of becoming citizens in this great country stripped away by the very people who took an oath to our constitution to protect and serve, but unfortunately, what's actually occurring is they're tearing apart the fabric of our community thread by thread," Apple said. "It's not right. It's immoral, it's unjust, it's un-American." State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy said there's been a 44 percent increase in ICE arrests of people without criminal records in the last few years. It stokes fear in immigrants whether documented or undocumented who came to the U.S. to pursue the American Dream, escape persecution or their worn-torn countries, and contribute to a nation they expect to be welcoming, officials said. "People who are doing the right things in a broken system that is not their fault," said Mayor Kathy Sheehan, emphasizing this case is why Albany is sanctuary city. "They need to be treated with dignity. They need to be treated like the human beings that they are. They need to be treated like the taxpayers that they are, like the neighbors that they are." Immigration is enforced arbitrarily, often veiled in vagueness and discretion, with the federal government serving as a major roadblock to acquiring basic information for attorneys representing those facing deportation, officials at Friday's news conference stressed. "Honestly, if the department wanted today they could release him," Rogerson said. "There's no legal requirement for them to detain him. He's not a flight risk, he has deep ties to the community. There are lots of eyeballs on this case. There is no reason for him to be held whatsoever as he pursues lawful status." Gregory Copeland, an attorney on Ngoran's case, said the judge's decision to grant a "temporary stay" prevents what was a very legitimate possibility that Ngoran could be deported over the weekend. If Ngoran was deported it's virtually impossible to argue the case, he said. "We want this to be looked at as thoroughly as possible," Copeland said. Ngoran's story emphasizes the desperate need for immigration reform in the United States, said U.S. Rep Paul Tonko, who volunteers at the rescue mission and has worked beside Ngoran in the mission's kitchen. "The focus should be on addressing criminals and terrorists with this approach on immigration, not individuals who are contributing to the community, who are looking to tether an American dream, who are looking to grow a family and be there as part of the fabric of the community," Tonko said. "The aggressiveness has pulled us away from our American values and all for which we stand." TROY - At his sentencing Friday, a Hoosick Falls sex offender was accused of betraying the trust of a child. Christopher Downey, 32, already had 10 years cut off a potential prison sentence in a plea bargain prosecutors hastily cut after an investigator in the case admitted he had lied under oath. Downey "did a really good job in hiding who he was," the 6-year-old victim's mother said in a statement read by Assistant District Attorney Cheryl McDermott. "I looked at him as a protector, not an abuser." Rensselaer County Judge Debra Young sentenced Downey to 15 years in prison. It was the punishment prosecutors agreed to earlier this month after Downey's lawyer, Joseph Ahearn, got a State Police investigator to admit on the witness stand that he'd lied when asked in earlier trial testimony about whether he was untruthful when he interrogated Downey last year. Downey pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual course of action with a child that took place between July 2017 and May 2018. He could have faced 25 years in prison if a jury convicted him after a trial. He was charged with 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 called the case heartbreaking. "The only thing you did right was take a plea so the little girl didn't have to come into court and testify against you," the judge said. "I want to say I'm sorry for all I did," Downey told the court. "I will do all I can to repent for my actions." The trial abruptly ended Jan. 9 when Ahearn cross-examined Investigator Thomas Judge about Judge's testimony. The investigator initially said he did not try to deceive Downey when he questioned him in May. But Ahearn asked Judge if he ever promised Downey he could leave after answering questions. "That was implying to him that he could go home, right?" Ahearn asked. "Yes," Judge answered. "And that was a lie, of course, correct?" Ahearned said. "That one was, yes, correct," Judge said. Prosecutors said Judge simply misspoke during his earlier testimony but Ahearn demanded that District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly conduct a grand jury investigation about Judge's testimony. Ahearn renewed his request after Friday's sentencing. Ahearn's exchange with Judge did not come up at the sentencing. Albany It was a military homecoming multiplied by two. Jessica and Erica Gonzalez, two mothers who are also sisters, joined together Friday to surprise their junior high school student children upon their return from 11-month deployments in Kuwait with the same Army National Guard unit. The sisters reunited with their sixth-graders, Breannie Jackson and Christopher Sang, at Hackett Middle School in early afternoon. It was their first stop after flying home from Fort Hood, Texas and they surprised the youngsters who were released from class to greet their parents. The two were supposed to come home a day apart, but they rearranged their flights in order to come back together. Im overwhelmed with a lot of joy, Erica said upon seeing her son Christopher. When I left he was not this big. I cant believe I came home to such a big kid, she said after the youngsters emerged from their classrooms to see their moms. Hes all I got. Hes my everyday motivation. I missed her graduation last year. This is my second tour so Brees been through this twice already, added Jessica Gonzalez. Hopefully its my last, she said, explaining that shell now be stationed at Watervliet Arsenal where she works in logistics. Jessica, a staff sergeant, is re-enlisting while Erica, a specialist, who is finishing her six-year commitment, is planning to attend nursing school, possibly in Florida. While deployed together, they didnt necessarily spend all their time with each other in Kuwait. And because her sister was a staff sergeant, Erica had to stand at parade rest when talking to her in an official capacity. She shrugged it off, saying thats the way the military functions. Jessica worked in logistics while Erica worked on cables used in communications in Kuwait. "I just want to go home, get out of this uniform, let my hair down, take off my boots and enjoy the indoor plumbing," she said. The kids were fairly subdued if clearly surprised. "I'm feeling happy that my mom's back," Christopher said, wiping a tear from his eye, as his classmates peered, smiling, through the open classroom doors as the moms and their kids met with members of the media. When asked about what she was most excited about, Breeanie said "to be with her," referring to her mom. Both moms kept in touch with their kids through digital tools like Facetime, even though sometimes the kids would call at 4 a.m. Kuwait time. Both sisters described being in Kuwait as a learning experience, in which they had to adjust to temperatures that can hit 120 degrees. While the desert areas are what Erica described as "rocks and sand, rocks and sand," Kuwait City is modern metropolis on a bay with all the 21st century conveniences. That's in contrast to Afghanistan, where Jessica was stationed on a previous deployment. There, she explained, they have barren deserts, but bone-chilling cold in winter and no modern metropolitan areas. For now, the reunited extended familys biggest tactical decision centered on what to do this weekend with their kids. Among the possibilities: a trip to Dave & Busters, the Texas Roadhouse restaurant or some home cooking with relatives in Schenectady. No one but the kids would be pulling rank though. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Three people died and 10 others were wounded in hunting-related shootings in New York this past year, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said Thursday. Five more people were injured falling from tree stands. Two of the 13 shootings, and one of the tree stand incidents, happened in the Capital Region. Elsewhere in the state, a teenager was killed and another injured. Despite that toll, the state said 2018 was New York's safest hunting season on record tying with 2016 for the lowest number of shootings since 1949. Rules for hunter safety Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Control the muzzle, keep it pointed in a safe direction. Identify your target and what lies beyond. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire. Wear hunter orange. Always remove and inspect your tree stand before use. Buckle on your full body harness securely every time you use a tree stand. Connect to the tree before climbing into a tree stand. Source: State Department of Environmental Conservation See More Collapse "Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented if the people involved had followed the primary rules of hunter safety," the DEC said in a statement. Two of the three fatal shootings were self-inflicted and "caused by unsafe handling of firearms," the agency said. The third fatal shooting, in which one hunter shot and killed another, was "caused by a failure to positively identify the target," the state agency said in a report on the shootings. More than 500,000 people hunted in New York this past year, the state said. "For every incident listed, there are thousands of other hunting stories of people who safely and responsibly took game. Just as important, even more passed up shots for the sake of safety, conservation, and respect for wildlife," the report said. Roughly 2,600 DEC staff members and volunteers teach hunting safety to 50,000 people each year. The DEC credits that program with successfully lowering the number of hunting incidents in the state over time. While the number of hunters has declined 20 percent since the 1960s, the hunting incident rate has gone down by nearly 80 percent, the state said. The current five-year average is 3.1 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 incidents per 100,000 hunters in the 1960s. The report gave brief explanations of each 2018 shooting, most of which remain under investigation. Fatal shootings: A 16-year-old was on top of a hay wagon on Aug. 31 in Otsego County when his rifle fell between the cracks in the floor and fired. He was struck in the head and killed. A 75-year-old big game hunter shot himself once in the chest with his own rifle as he used the gun to help himself stand up on Oct. 30 in Essex County. A hunter was sitting in a chair hunting on Dec. 9 in Tioga County when he was shot in the back from 79 feet away. The victim had an orange hat with him but police don't know if he was wearing it. The 54-year-old shooter has been charged. Shootings that resulted in injuries: A 14-year-old was carrying a gun with the safety on but with his finger in the trigger guard on March 23 in Cortland County when he slipped on ice. The teen's hand slipped forward, disengaging the safety and pulling the trigger. The bullet hit his foot, injuring his toes. A 57-year-old man took aim at a turkey on May 4 in Schuyler County but instead shot and injured his niece. Seven pellets hit her elbow, back, scalp and buttocks. The man has been charged. A 24-year-old and 37-year-old were hunting for waterfowl on Oct. 21 in Oneida County when two pellets struck a third person in the neck and knee. Police could not determine which shooter was responsible and both have been charged. A 38-year-old with an Air Strike Hazard Permit was hunting Oct. 21 on airport grounds in Suffolk County and fired at a deer. The bullet passed through the animal, hit a passing car window and struck a passenger in the face. The hunter has been charged. A 50-year-old hunter shot at a deer that ran between him and a female hunting partner, who was not wearing hunter orange, on Oct. 28 in Oneida County. She was hit in the left buttocks by the bullet and the shooter was charged. A 38-year-old shot his cousin in the leg as they tracked an injured deer on Nov. 20 in Greene County. The victim was not wearing hunter orange and the shooter has been charged. A 52-year-old was trying to kill an injured deer with a pistol on Nov. 23 in Otsego County when he shot his right index finger. A 54-year-old hunter fired one round at a person he mistook for a deer, hitting the victim in both legs from about 40 yards away, on Nov. 24 in Sullivan County. The victim was not wearing hunter orange and the shooter has been charged. A 26-year-old was getting out of his car on Dec. 8 in Schoharie County when he fired one round and struck his right foot. The man has been charged. A 72-year-old man was waterfowl hunting on Dec. 23 in Otsego County when he rested the muzzle of his shotgun on his boot and accidentally fired the gun. Tree stand injuries: A 68-year-old man was not wearing a harness when he fell while climbing onto a homemade tree stand on Oct. 25 in Chemung County. He broke several bones and suffered internal injuries to his liver and kidneys. A 66-year-old man was not wearing a harness and fell out of a homemade tree stand after a two-by-four broke on Nov. 17 in Greene County. The man suffered a compression fracture to his spine. A 53-year-old man was not wearing a harness and slipped off a tree stand when his food got stuck in the ladder on Nov. 18 in Cortland County. He was knocked unconscious and was trapped by his boot at the stand's base. Someone found him there hours later. The man suffered a concussion and frostbite to his right toe. A 64-year-old man was not wearing a harness on a tree stand Nov. 29 in Monroe County when he let out cable to lower his seat but did it too quickly. He fell but his feet were still strapped to the base and he hung for 40 minutes until help arrived. The man suffered a severe left ankle break and a sprained right ankle. A 78-year-old man was not wearing a harness in a homemade tree stand and slipped while trying to get down. He fell 11 feet and suffered spinal injuries. A bill reintroduced in the state Assembly would lower the blood-alcohol level for a charge of driving while intoxicated from .08 percent to .05 percent. The threshold for for the more serious charge of aggravated DWI would drop from 0.18 percent to 0.12 percent. (Though still a misdemeanor, aggravated DWI is a more serious offense with stiffer penalties and less leeway for prosecutors to offer a plea bargain for a lesser charge like DWAI.) Proponents, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, argue that lowering the levels would save lives. The NHTSA website includes this: "When Belgium lowered its limit to .05 in 1994, they reported a 14 percent reduction in fatalities the following year. In 1995, France lowered its legal limit to .05 and fatal crashes were reduced by 4 percent in 1996." Malta GlobalFoundries is selling one of its Singapore fabs that makes lower-end types of chip technology known as MEMS to Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. of Taiwan. The $236 million deal includes all of GlobalFoundries' MEMS business in addition to what's known as Fab 3E in Tampines, Singapore. It's not expected to have any impact on GlobalFoundries' Fab 8 in Malta, which makes high-end processing chips and employs roughly 3,000 people. MEMS is short for microelectronic mechanical systems, any type of miniature component used in an electronic device. Examples would be micro pressure or magnetic sensors, accelerometers or optical switches. Fab 3E produces chips on 8-inch, or 200 millimeter wafers, and produces about 35,000 wafers each month that contain the individual MEMS chips that are later cut from the wafer and then packaged for customers to fit into electronic devices. GlobalFoundries has been reshaping itself to be more narrow in focus after Thomas Caulfield, the former general manager of Fab 8, was named CEO last year. Caulfield also decided to stop Fab 8's development of next-generation 7 nanometer chips at Fab 8 and focus on 14 nanometer chips, a bold break with the industry. "This transaction is part of our strategy to streamline our global manufacturing footprint and increase our focus in Singapore on technologies where we have clear differentiation such as RF (radio frequency), embedded memory and advanced analog features," Caulfield said in a statement.. GlobalFoundries has several fabs in Singapore, but most of them are in an industrial park known as Woodlands. "Consolidating our 200mm operations in Singapore into one campus will also help reduce our operating costs by leveraging the scale of our gigafab facility in Woodlands," Caulfield said. "VIS is the right partner to leverage the Fab 3E asset going forward." WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgados staffers say they are worried that constituent-service case files did not make the transition from Republican Rep. John Fasos district offices to the new ones opened by Delgado after his swearing-in last month. Delgado plans to issue an alert Friday, in the form of a press release, advising constituents that any problems they had registered at Fasos office may have to be renewed now that Delgado is representing the district, which stretches from the Capital Region into the Hudson Valley and west. My number-one priority is working on behalf of the people of the 19th Congressional District, so if there are folks out there that need assistance with matters previously handled by Rep. Fasos office, please know that we are here to help you, Delgado says in the release. Faso, now back home in Kinderhook, said that as far as he knew, all pending case files had been transferred to Delgado. There were about 12 such cases, he said. We had continual contact with his office during transition and turned over open cases we had where constituents so authorized, Faso said in an e-mail. Our staff was able to close all but a few open matters prior to the end of my term. Delgado staffers, who asked not to be identified, said they had only received six unresolved cases from Faso. Constituent-service cases involve a myriad of problems for which local residents need assistance. The most common are veterans benefits, Social Security or immigration matters, particularly immigrants here in the U.S. trying to get visas for relatives overseas. Delgado has opened new offices in Delhi and Kingston, and next week will open a third in Oneonta. Faso, whom Delgado defeated in a bitterly fought contest last November, had offices in Delhi, Kinderhook and Kingston. During transitions, constituents who have open cases customarily are given the choice of having them forwarded to U.S. Senate offices, transferred to the new House member, or returned. A senior Delgado staffer met with a former Faso staffer met on Thursday, Faso said. "We will continue to provide help if we can, Faso said. Delgado staffers began to wonder about whether they had received all the open cases from Faso after fielding phone calls, website queries and office visits from individuals saying they had not had their issues resolved by Faso staffers. A Delgado spokesman could not say how many such instances had occurred, but they were more than the half-dozen cases already received from Fasos office. In addition, Delgados offices have opened 50 cases since the 41-year-old Rhinebeck resident took the oath of office. Faso said in an interview that he had heard no complaints. Its news to me, he said. Webster Groves, MO (63119) Today Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. Cooler. High 73F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. 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 . 21 153. . , , , , , . ... 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. Cresaptown, MD (21502) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 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. 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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. 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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. 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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. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sinnerschrader, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. 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. The Partech Africa Fund, the Africa-focused fund of global investment firm Partech, closed, at 125M. Backed by more than 40 different investors including financial institutions, major corporate partners and entrepreneurs, from all over the globe, Partech Africa is now the largest VC fund dedicated to technology startups in Africa. Among others, investors include: the European Investment Bank (EIB), IFC, member of the World Bank Group, Averroes Finance III (fund of funds managed by Bpifrance and co-sponsored with Proparco), KfW, the German Development Bank (on behalf of BMZ, the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development), FMO, the Dutch Development Bank and the African Development Bank Group. Orange, Edenred, JCDecaux Holding, Bertelsmann, LOreal, Axian Group, and TEXAF. Led by General Partners Cyril Collon and Tidjane Deme, based in Dakar, Senegal, The Partech Africa Fund makes investments in series A and B financing rounds in startups which are changing the way technology is used in education, mobility, finance, delivery, energy, etc. It has already made two investments in 2018: TradeDepot in Nigeria, and Yoco, in South Africa. It is expected to close even more deals in 2019. In addition to the fund closing, Ceasar Nyagah joined the team as Investment Officer based in Nairobi, Kenya. Matthieu Marchand, previously working for the Partech Growth Fund, had joined the African team as Investment Officer in 2018. The team will also be reinforced by a business development officer, to boost the exposition of African startups to European and US markets and enable commercial contracts and long-term strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Partech, Nyagah spent five years as an Investment Manager in Fanisi Capital, an East Africa focused Private Equity Fund. Prior to that he worked as a Business Analyst at Seven Seas Technologies Group and a sell side M&A consultant at Nautilus Capital. He is a chartered accountant and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA. He holds a Bsc. in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University. He is also a Global Shaper, the youngest community of the World Economic Forum, based in the Nairobi Hub. FinSMEs 01/02/2019 The number of young adults owning a home has plummeted by a third in a decade, official figures reveal today. Only 38 per cent of 25-to 34-year-olds have stepped on the property ladder now, down from around 55 per cent ten years ago. The proportion who are private renters has surged from 28 per cent to 44 per cent. Critics say the collapse in home ownership shows a whole generation of millennials could be giving up on the dream of having a place of their own. Only 38 per cent of UK 25-to-34-year-olds can afford to buy a home, figures reveal, down from 55 per cent 10 years ago (file picture) The chart from the English Housing Survey shows how households with 25 to 34-year-olds as the main resident that own their home have declined dramatically over the past decade, left, whereas there has been an uptick among the next generation up, right. They fear the statistics, revealed in a survey by the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, mark the end of the property-owning democracy championed by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Robert Colvile, of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: Our failure to build enough houses which stretches back decades means that house prices have grown and grown. 'In the process, home ownership has become an increasingly distant prospect for an entire generation. People want, need and deserve homes of their own. The Government needs to strain every sinew to fix the housing market and revive home ownership. The decline in home ownership among the young has been largely blamed on high house prices making it hard to raise a deposit and borrow enough to buy, because low mortgage rates mean that owner occupiers pay less as a percentage of their income than renters The English Housing Survey also reveals that the average first-time buyer was 33 in 2017-18, up from 31 ten years earlier, and 64 per cent of the population now own a home, compared with 71 per cent in 2003. Young families stuck in rental accommodation typically pay much more in rent than a mortgage for the same home would cost, making it even harder to save for a deposit. Those who do venture on to the property ladder are going to increasingly desperate lengths with an unprecedented 56 per cent borrowing more than three times their salary to get on the ladder. Millions are taking out 35-year mortgages to afford the cost. More than a third of all mortgages are now for longer than 30 years, compared with only 20 per cent in 2007, according to the Financial Conduct Authority. Around 40 per cent of buyers who took out a mortgage in 2017 will still be paying it off when they are 65. The number of people who own their own home outright has overtaken those with a mortgage in recent years, as those who own a property mortgage-free tend to be older this is another sign that younger buyers are unable to get on the property ladder Despite the decline in home ownership among the young, owner occupiers remain the largest chunk of the English housing market at 63%, with private renters the next largest at 20% How people are moving The housing survey showed how people are making their move in England, writes Simon Lambert. For example, in 2017 to 2018, among owner occupiers there were 70,000 new households created, 208,000 moved into the sector from private renting and 18,000 moved in from social renting, but 98,000 left into the private rental sector and 11,000 into the social rental sector. Within the 14.8million owner occupiers, 319,000 people moved home - just 2.1 per cent. The statistics also showed on average owner occupiers had lived in their property for 17.8 years, while private renters had lived in their property for 4.1 years. The chart above from the English Housing Survey shows how people moved around the sectors in 2017 to 2018 and the total number in them. Paula Higgins, of the Homeowners Alliance campaign group, said: These terrible figures show how many people are in rental accommodation, desperately trying to get on to the housing ladder as it gets further away from them. If youre lucky enough to have the bank of mum and dad, youre able to get on to the property ladder, but its incredibly difficult to raise money for a property. 'Were courting disaster. If an entire generation is unable to get on to the property ladder, then what will happen to them and their families in old age? The survey also showed more than 300,000 families in social housing are squeezed into too few rooms the highest rate of overcrowding since records started 24 years ago. More than 250,000 households are living in overcrowded private rented housing, the second highest level recorded since 1996. British manufacturers stockpiled raw materials at the fastest rate on record last month, as fears over post-Brexit trading mount. Output in the country's manufacturing sector got off to a 'lacklustre' start in January, falling to its lowest level since July 2016, new figures show. Within the sector, new orders slowed and employment levels fell for only the second time in the past two-and-a-half years. The closely watched Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 52.8 last month from 54.2 in December, which was a three-month low and the second weakest reading since July 2016. A reading of 50 or above indicates growth. Stockpiling: British manufacturers stockpiled raw materials at the fastest rate on record last month While the sector remains in growth mode, Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit, has warned there is there is a 'clear risk of manufacturing sliding into recession.' Explaining what is happening in the sector, Mr Dobson said: 'The start of 2019 saw UK manufacturers continue their preparations for Brexit. 'Stocks of inputs increased at the sharpest pace in the 27-year history, as buying activity was stepped up to mitigate against potential supply-chain disruptions in coming months. 'There were also signs that inventories of finished goods were being bolstered to ensure warehouses are well stocked to meet ongoing contractual obligations.' He added: 'January also saw manufacturing jobs being cut for only the second time since mid-2016 as confidence about the outlook slipped to a 30-month low, often reflecting ongoing concerns about Brexit and signs of a European economic slowdown. 'With neither of these headwinds likely to abate in the near-term, there is a clear risk of manufacturing sliding into recession.' With under two months to go until Britain leaves the EU, the precise terms on which the country will trade and conduct business remain unclear. As a result, companies up and down the country are working around the clock in a bid to avoid disruption to supply chains and gaps on warehouse and shop shelves. Sluggish: Output in the country's manufacturing sector got off to a 'lacklustre' start in January Output over time: The manufacturing sector's PMI reading since the year 2000 A survey from the Institute of Directors today revealed that 14 per cent of UK manufactrurers have shifted some resources overseas due to Brexit. Commenting on today's IHS survey, Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon, said: 'Contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit is providing only limited support to manufacturers at a time of weakening underlying demand, both in the domestic and export markets.' Stephen Cooper, head of industrial manufacturing at KPMG, said: 'The underlying data does not paint a rosy picture. 'And when taken with poor results from Europe - the big four countries in negative territory, macroeconomic issues and a downturn in activity in China, these factors suggest that a slip into recession for UK manufacturing is a distinct possibility. 'With this and the continuing Brexit saga, we continue to encourage manufacturers to take positive steps to understand their supply chains, mitigate risks and ensure, to the best of their ability, that financing is available in case conditions deteriorate further.' In the immediate aftermath of today's manufacturing survey figures, the pound dropped, shedding 0.3 per cent against the US dollar to hit $1.30. Against the euro, the pound was down 1.13. As ever, the pounds loss is the FTSE 100's gain, with the benchmark UK index now back above the 7,000 mark. Metro Bank is facing a legal assault from furious investors after an accounting error wiped 1 billion off its stock price. The bank is being targeted by Therium, a heavyweight funding firm which bankrolls major lawsuits by disgruntled investors. Therium is reviewing a 46 per cent crash in the lender's stock price since it revealed a mistake over how it calculates risky loans. In the firing line: Metro Bank chief executive Craig Donaldson is under growing pressure to quit This fall was made even worse when the Mail revealed that chief executive Craig Donaldson may have misled markets by suggesting the problem was uncovered through an internal review when it was actually spotted by Bank of England regulators. Therium is poised to launch a case against Metro which would see it hire lawyers and sign up aggrieved shareholders for a class action. Neil Purslow, chief investment officer of Therium, said: 'We are looking at providing funding support for Metro Bank shareholders who want to bring a claim against the bank. 'Amongst other things, we need to establish the extent of any wrongdoing and whether the market was misled.' Legal circles are awash with speculation that Metro is headed for a battle which could ultimately end up in the courts. One partner at a leading firm said his team is closely examining the case so it is ready to act if called on. And one investment company is understood to be preparing to instruct solicitors. Any case is likely to centre on whether management is at fault for the share price crash, which included the biggest one-day drop seen in British banking since the financial crisis. Metro revealed that it had underestimated the risk of some commercial and buy to let property loans, meaning it has to set aside more cash to guard against the risk they will go sour. It is feared this will force the bank to tap up its investors for another 300m, on top of the 553m it raised from shareholders and debt markets in 2018. Donaldson is under growing pressure to quit, with MPs and his own shareholders warning the bank may need a new boss. One top 20 investor told the FT: 'It's a pretty untenable situation. There has to be some accountability. That would normally be the chief executive.' Another major fund manager said: 'There has to be a new chief executive. The regulator spotted this, but now they need to follow through.' Ashley Hamilton Claxton, of City firm Royal London, is seeking to discuss what has happened with management. Therium which stumps up the cash for complainants to launch expensive City lawsuits, then takes a cut of the damages if they win is already involved in some of the City's biggest legal fights. It is funding financier Amanda Staveley in a blockbuster 700m row with Barclays over whether the bank mistreated her clients in a 2008 fundraising drive. Therium is also behind a group of shareholders suing Lloyds for 600m over its botched handling of the 2008 takeover of rival HBOS. Metro declined to comment. Shares rallied 10.4 per cent, or 113p, to 1200p yesterday after a week of heavy falls. With train ticket prices in Britain increasingly annually, new data has revealed that the cost of hopping on one to popular UK destinations can be up to 18 times more expensive per mile than flying halfway across the world. Bali came top of the list as the cheapest long-haul destination, according to comparison website Skyscanner, which looked through its extensive flight database to find flight routes with lowest prices per mile. Travelers typically pay 828 for return flights from London to Bali, which covers 15,530 miles and equates to, on average, 5.3p per mile. This compares to 89p per mile for a return train trip from London to Bath at peak times - or 18 times more expensive. Pricey: The difference in cost, per mile, between getting a plane and train from the UK is huge Comparing the price of each mile for the cheapest long-haul flights, to the cost of each mile for popular train journeys within Britain, we discovered that travelers can get far more bang for their buck flying. The train fares included in the comparison were all collated from the National Rail website and were for adult tickets, with no railcards or other discounts applied, to leave Friday and return Saturday. Prices vary considerably depending on if the trains are for off-peak or peak tickets. For example, a train ticket from London to Bath, off peak, can cost adults a smaller 61.40. This equates to 27p a mile, still more than five times more expensive, per mile, than London to Bali, but considerably lower than the peak option. CHEAPEST LONG-HAUL ROUTES BASED ON COST PER MILE From To Average Flight Price Distance (miles) for one way Price per mile (return) London Bali (Denpasar) 828 15,530 5.3p London Cebu 796 14,064 5.7p London Oakland 616 10,726 5.8p London Auckland 1,315 22,778 5.8p Manchester Manila 788 13,350 5.9p Manchester Auckland 1,343 22,548 6p Source: Skyscanner Cebu, a city in the Philippines, came second in the list of the cheapest long-haul destinations. Return flights from London typically cost holiday-goers 796 for a total of 14,064 miles, with the average mile costing 5.7p. In comparison, for those looking to travel within England, a peak train to York from London would cost travelers 265 - which equates to 64p per mile - almost 12 times more than travelling by plane. It's 5.3p per mile to get to Bali which is 18 times cheaper than a train from London to Bath Lisa Tyndall, senior growth manager at Skyscanner, said: 'Knowing there could be thousands desperate to find that far flung dream destination escape, we analysed our flight data to find which long-haul destinations are offering the best value based on cost per mile. 'There are many flight tips available to help travelers find the best flight deals, for example, setting price alerts, considering departing from a different airport nearby and just changing their departure day slightly can all help save money.' It is not just trains from London that leave commuters facing a significant price hike for peak fares. The Manchester to London peak train can cost up to 350 for a 414 mile return journey - the equivalent of 85p per mile. This is 14 times more expensive, per mile, than flying from Manchester to Auckland in New Zealand, which averages 6p per mile and costs 1,343 in total. Similarly, a train from Manchester to Edinburgh - a round trip of 436 miles can cost commuters 122.10 at peak times, meaning 28p per mile. However, flights from Manchester to Manila cost 788 for return travel, at 5.9 per mile - five times cheaper than Manchester to Edinburgh. TRAIN PRICES TO UK DESTINATIONS WITH AVERAGE COST PER MILE From To Miles (return) Peak return Cost per mile (return) Off-peak return Cost per mile (return) London Bath 228 203 89p 61.40 27p London York 414 265 64p 113.50 27p London Brighton 130 49* 37p 37.50 29p London Newcastle 562 320 57p 141.70 25p Manchester London 414 350 85p 89.60 22p Manchester Edinburgh 436 122.10 28p 81.50 19p * = two singles as no return available for that date Source: National Rail: Outbound: Fri 22 Feb 2019 Inbound: Sat 23 Feb 2019 Another example is with London to Oakland, California return flights, which are relatively cheap at typical price of 616 return, covering 10,726 miles both ways at 5.8p per mile. However, a train from London to Newcastle, which is 562 miles return, can cost 320 at 57p per mile - 10 times more expensive. For those looking to travel within the UK, if possible, it is highly recommended to travel off-peak, or to buy advance tickets, to avoid the increasingly hefty fares associated with peak travel. Anyone who has flexibility over their schedule could get to London to Newcastle, for example, for half the price by travelling off-peak. Similarly, those travelling from Manchester to London could save just four times the cost of a peak train by travelling off-peak. Robert Nisbet, regional director at the Rail Delivery Group, said: 'Comparing rail and air fares is like comparing apples and oranges. 'Planes cover long distances so a price-per-mile comparison is skewed in their favour, and customers have to buy a specific seat on a specific plane, but rail fares can be more flexible. 'The railway benefits Britain's local communities and its national economy, and with 98p of every pound from fares going into running the railway, taxpayers' money is freed up to build the bigger, better network needed today and for future generations.' The flights included in the table were the cheapest ones Skyscanner were able to find in their database and could include indirect routes with stopovers. Npower, one of the Big Six suppliers, has revealed it is cutting 900 jobs - around 14 per cent of its workforce - partly blaming the energy price cap for its decision. The firm said it is reducing its operating costs in response to 'the extremely tough UK retail energy market conditions' and specifically highlighted Ofgem's price cap as a main cause for the redundancies. It currently employs 6,300 staff but said it was too early to say which departments would suffer the cuts. The energy giant - with its HQ in Swindon - confirmed around 900 people will exit the company this year, but expects the actual number of redundancies to be lower. Npower has blamed the 900 job cuts on the energy price cap that came into force in January The cuts are the latest sign of a struggling energy market with many providers bemoaning the energy price cap, which came into effect at the beginning of January. Paul Coffey, NPower chief execuitive, said: 'The retail energy market is incredibly tough - Ofgem itself forecasts that five of the "Big Six" energy companies will make a loss or less than normal profits this year due to the implementation of the price cap. 'With several recent failures of new energy suppliers, it is clear that many have been pricing at levels that are not sustainable. 'Even with these reductions, we still forecast significant losses this year, but we're doing everything we can to minimise them whilst continuing to focus on service and value for our customers.' The price cap was introduced to stop people who did not switch energy provider being stuck on expensive default tariffs with the Government saying the cap will keep energy bills, for typical usage, below 1,137 a year. Ofgem, the energy regulator, also claimed that the cap should save the 11million UK households on fixed tariffs an average of 76 on their energy bills. Many energy companies, however, were accused of treating the cap as a 'target rather than a limit' after research from Bulb energy found the average default tariff from offered by the Big Six companies was just 4 under the price cap limit. A number of small energy companies have also collapsed since the cap was introduced, saying the it has made the market 'unviable'. Our Power was the latest small provider to go bust joining Extra Energy, Spark Energy, Future Energy, National Gas and Power, Iresa Energy, Gen4U, Usio Energy, One Select and Economy Energy in the long list of companies that have ceased trading in recent times. The price cap is set to be reviewed for the first time next week and it has been predicted that the cap is set to rise by a further 100. After the announcement is made on 7 February, the increase will kick in on 1 April. Dermot Nolan, chief executive of Ofgem said: 'Wholesale costs have risen significantly over the last year. 'As a result, it is likely that we will announce an increase and potentially a significant one in the level of the cap.' Npower was set to merge its retail business with rival SSE last year but the plans were scrapped after the cap was announced. SSE said the performance of the two businesses, the price cap and the changing energy market conditions meant the merge couldn't go ahead. NPower came 27th out of 30 suppliers for customer service in recent league tables by consumer group Which? In December, 35.5 per cent of customers who switched made the move away from the Big Six, compared to just 10.91 per cent switching to them, according to comparison website, Compare the Market. EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence scored the 100th goal of her career in a 16-1 win against Lincoln. St. Lawrence finished her career with 104 goals, eight short of the school record. The team did not play last season due to the coronavirus pandemic. JOSH MOONEY, Stonington track & field, sophomore: Mooney scored in three events at the State Open meet. Mooney was second in the 110 hurdles, fourth in the javelin and fifth in the 300 hurdles. He scored all 17 of Stoningtons points. ALEX STOEHR, Westerly softball, freshman: Stoehr hit three triples and a double in a doubleheader sweep of Barrington. For the week, she was 7 for 13 with four doubles, two triples and three RBIs. Stoehr is hitting .333 for the season. Vote View Results Kota (Rajasthan), Feb 1 (PTI) A 45-year-old woman and her daughter have been found dead in a suspected robbery attempt here, police said Friday. The deceased were identified as Vinita Vijay, wife of city jeweller Rajendra Vijay, and daughter Palak, 18, all residents of Gurudwara Road near Jain temple under Bhimganj Mandi police station limits, they said. According to the police, unidentified miscreants entered the victims' home after Palak's grandfather Chandmal Vijay had gone to the nearby temple while her father and other relatives were at their jewelery shop on Station Road. When Chandmal Vijay returned home at around 8.45 pm, he found the two bodies in pool of blood at the dining hall, while cupboards and lockers seemed to have been ransacked, and numerous items were scattered on the floor, Inspector Ramesh Chand added. After being alerted, police personnel led by Kota Range Inspector General of Police Vipin Kumar Pandey, Kota City SP Deepak Bhargav, ASP Rajesh Mill rushed to the spot and assessed the crime scene. The victims bore fatal injury marks and bled profusely, suggesting the crime occurred between 7.30 pm and 8.45 pm last evening, he said. The unidentified accused escaped with the CCTV cameras installed in the house and the recording devices attached to them, officials said, adding two iron rods were recovered from the spot. Police suspect the victims were attacked with the rods and there were no more than two perpetrators, who targeted the house to burgle it. Based on Chandmal's report, a case under relevant sections was lodged against the unidentified accused, the inspector said. The list of stolen items, including jewelery and cash, was yet to be submitted by the complainant, he said. The bodies were handed over to the family members Friday after post-mortem, police said. "The motive behind the crime is likely to be loot. Investigation is underway," said ASP Kota City Rajesh Mill. PTI CORR IND IND Ghaziabad, Feb 1 (PTI) A team of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) officials from Meerut arrested a retired police inspector from his residence here in connection with a disproportionate assets case, police said. Superintendent of Police (city) Shlok Kumar said a team headed by Inspector Yatendra Sharma arrived here and sought the help of local police to arrest retired inspector Puran Singh Mehra. He said Mehra was wanted in a case of disproportionate assets registered against him on the instructions of undersecretary (Home). He will be produced before special Judge of ACB for seeking a 14-day remand, police said. Mehra was booked on the basis of a complaint by Naresh Yadav, a resident of Noida, on June 21, 2009. The complainant alleged that Mehra amassed wealth more than his income when he was posted in Meerut. It was also mentioned in FIR, which was lodged on 1st January 2011, that Mehra made assets in the name of his wife too. Mehra was recruited as a sub-inspector on June 1, 1981 and was in-charge of various police stations in Ghaziabad district during his service. PTI COR TIR TIR Lucknow, Feb 1 (PTI) BJP president Amit Shah will be in Amroha on Saturday to participate in a meeting of booth presidents and other office bearers of western Uttar Pradesh, a party official said. On February 6, Shah will address BJP workers in Etah and on February 8, he will address party workers in Gorakhpur and Jaunpur,BJP state media in-charge Manish Dixit told PTI. "Party president Shah will be addressing a meeting of booth presidents and other office bearers at Rama Bai Ambedkar degree college, Gajraula, in Amroha on Saturday,"he said.PTI ABN ANB ANB JD(S) makes it clear it will not cede Mandya LS seat to Cong Bengaluru, Feb 1 (PTI) Amid pressure from within Congress not to cede Hassan and Mandya Lok Sabha seats to its coalition partner, the JD(S) Friday made it clear that it would not let go of the seats that are its party bastions. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Mandya was JD(S) stronghold and he cannot go against the feelings of the people and workers, while elder brother and PWD Minister H D Revanna said JD(S) was even ready for a triangular contest in Hassan. Both Hassan and Mandya, where the BJP's strength is negligible, are currently held by JD(S), which Congress too is eyeing this time. "Ifneeded, can do it (alliance) or else we are ready for a triangular (contest). We from Hassan had never asked for an alliance. We have the strength to fight," Revanna said. Speaking to reporters here, Revanna, also the Hassan district in-charge Minister said "...the wish of our family is that Deve Gowda should contest from Hassan and win with the highest lead." Asked about his son Prajwal Revanna contesting from Hassan, Revanna said the decision of Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy on the matter would be final. On several instances, Deve Gowda had indicated that Prajwal contest from Hassan, the party bastion he has been contesting from. Pointing out that seat sharing is to be decided by national leaders of both parties, Revanna said JD(S) would abide by Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy's decision on the issue. Congress sources said that during internal discussions on Thursday,local leaders had asked the leadership not to cede Mysuru and Tumakuru seats and the party be allowed to choose one seat between Hassan and Mandya. Seat-sharing is expected to be a litmus test for both parties, mostly in old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD(S) has emerged as a dominant force in the recent past and the Congress has its sitting MPs. On Revannas comments that JD(S) was ready for a triangular contest, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said such a situation may not arise. "He might have reacted because of developments in local politics there. Such a situation may not arise," he told reporters. Kumaraswamy also hit out at a media report that tickets of a movie, staring his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, were being given out free of cost in Mandya, as he was being projected as party candidate for the Lok Sabha seat there, by a section in JD(S). He is growing as an actor, he needs encouragement from everyone, I'm saying this as a father, not as Chief Minister," he said as he blamed the media of trying to push his son to politics He pointed out that Nikhil had stated that Deve Gowda should contest from Mandya, if not from Hassan. To a question on sections within Congress opining that late actor-turned-politician Ambareesh's wife Sumalatha be fielded from Mandya, Kumaraswamy said "She can contest, no issues. Can you stop anyone from contesting an election in this country? Everyone one has the opportunity. Maintaining that Mandya was JD(S) stronghold and people have nurtured the party there,he said "Just because someone is contesting,can I go against the feeling of our people? We will decide on it when the time comes....I cannot go against the feeling of my party workers." Some within the congress feel that that JD(S) will finally concede the seat for Sumalatha, as both Gowda and Ambareesh family share good bonding, party sources said. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after meeting a large group of Ambareeshs supporters who had come here to request her to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Mandya, Sumalatha said she needed time to decide about entering politics. "I dont want to lose this bonding that Ambareesh shared with the people of Mandya. I need to think about it because this is not a small decision to take at haste. I also have to discuss with Congress leaders. "I had no interest in politics earlier,but if I decide to enter politics, it will only be from Mandya," she said, adding that Ambareesh was associated with the Congress and the family too believed that "the party is theirs." Ambareesh had represented Mandya, both in Assembly and Parliament from Congress. He had also served as a Minister in both the state and central government. PTI KSU APR APR APR 'Ravi Pujari was living with new identity,Burkina Faso passport'; Karnataka police Bengaluru, Feb 1 (PTI) Underworld don Ravi Pujari,arrested in Senegal on a red alert by Indian intelligence agencies, was living with a new identity,had got a Burkina Faso passport for himself and his family and ran a chain of restaurants in some West African nations, Karnataka police said Friday. "Ravi Pujari had obtained a new identity as Antony Fernadez and got a Burkina Faso passport for himself, his wife and children. Being a dreaded criminal and always afraid of his identity getting exposed, he ran away from Burkina Faso and his track was lost," police said in a statement. It said Additional Director General of Police (intelligence) Dr Amar Kumar Pandey coordinated with the National Crime Record Bureau to expedite the Red Corner Notice to Interpol on the directions of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to ensure the arrest of the gangster, wanted in several cases in Karnataka, including extortion. Pandey also succeeded in obtaining information about the chain of restaurants Pujari ran in partnership in several west African countries like Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ivory Coast, the statement said. After getting information about Pujaris presence in Senegals capital city Dakar, he alerted the Indian Ambassador in that country, Rajeev Kumar. Kumar got in touch with Senegal interior minister Aly Ngouille Nbiaye and the director of judicial police, Seydou Bocar Yague, the statement said. On January 19, Senegal police received information about Pujaris presence in a barber shop and soon heavily armed policemen in three buses surrounded the place and arrested him, the statement said. On January 21, Senegal police confirmed his arrest. Pujari had hired shooters to attack his targets to create a scare, police said,adding,people used to pay up out of fear. There are 39 cases against Pujari in Bengaluru alone, including the murders of Shailaja and Ravi of Shabnam Developers on February 15, 2007, police said. He has 36 cases against him in Mangaluru, 11 in Udupi, and one each in Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kolar and Shivamogga, police said. The Karnataka government expressed its gratitude to the government of Senegal, especially the interior minister and director of judicial police, it said. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy earlier said that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka played a leading role in getting Ravi Pujari arrested from Senegal He said the arrest of the don was effected due to the 'sustained efforts' of Karnataka government officers, with the assistance of the central government and officials af the Indian Embassy at Senegal. PTI GMS APR APR APR New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) A Delhi court Friday allowed controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi, accused in a money laundering case, to travel to the UAE and Pakistan noting there was no material to oppose his plea. Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann allowed Qureshi to travel to the UAE from February 15-23 for attending the Gulf Food Festival and from March 6-20 to Pakistan to attend his niece's wedding. The ED and CBI opposed his plea. The court said it was not disputed that accused has travelled abroad in the past on many occasions with the permission of the court and except for the "apprehension" of the ED and the CBI that Qureshi may not return to face the trial or join investigation, there is "no serious contest" to his applications. "The apprehensions are general which are not supported by any additional material to show change in the circumstances," it said. "Passport be returned to the applicant to enable him to travel to UAE from February 15-23 and Pakistan from March 6-20," the court said. ED's Special Public Prosecutor D P Singh opposed the applications on the apprehension that he may not return to face trial. The CBI told the court that stringent security conditions be put as has been put by the Delhi High Court. The court directed Qureshi to furnish an additional security of Rs 2 crore in the form of bank guarantee and warned that in case of violation of any of the conditions imposed, the amount would be forfeited. It also asked Qureshi to surrender his passport within 24 hours of his arrival in the country. In the application, Qureshi sought permission of the court to travel to UAE from February 9-24 to meet buyers and attend the Gulf Food Festival for purposes of promoting and growing his business and to Lahore and Karachi in March to attend a relative's wedding and to permit him to retain his passport between the trips to obtain visa for Pakistan. "The visit to UAE is absolutely imperative for his business, failing which he is likely to suffer irreparable losses in his business as he has been practically out of business since November 2016. Needless to say, the nature of his business is such where he has to persuade and convince customers, chase the customers and goods and prepare for seasonal supplies of meat products in advance, and ensure continuous quality supplies," it said. The application further said that the visit to Karachi and Lahore is essential for his family ties. The court had granted him bail in 2017 in a case in which the ED had alleged that Qureshi was involved in hawala transactions through Delhi-based hawala operators Parvez Ali of Turkman Gate and M/s South Delhi Money Changer (DAMINI) in Greater Kailash-1. The ED has challenged the bail order in the high court which is pending. The CBI had lodged a case against him after the ED and Income Tax department's probe into money laundering allegations against Qureshi, in which ongoing investigations have allegedly revealed involvement of senior public servants. The probe agency had earlier alleged that money has been exported by the accused from one of the witnesses in the investigation through hawala channels in lieu of the help provided to him in a CBI case. PTI URD PKS PKS TIR TIR Sikkim govt signs pact with Microsoft for education sector Gangtok, Feb 1 (PTI) Aiming to transform the educational landscape in the state, the Sikkim government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with tech giant Microsoft, officials said. Sikkim Minister for Human Resource Development RB Subba said the state government was committed to harnessing the power of technology to transform e-governance and core sectors and partnering with Microsoft was a much-needed step to help prepare the future generation. He said the government's vision was to make the youth future-ready and Microsoft was an able partner for transformational initiatives. Additional Chief Secretary, HRD Department, GP Upadhyaya said the role of Microsoft India in the laptop distribution scheme to students in Sikkim was managed at a reasonable budget which led to the furthering of ties with the tech giant. As part of the collaboration, Microsoft would support the state in integrating IT content in the state board curriculum and build student capacity besides building teacher capacity through the Microsoft Educator Network and Innovative Educator Program. Two schools in the state will be identified and adopted for implementing the plan. The teachers and students will be trained on Microsofts curriculum on creative coding and gaming through apps, robotics, entrepreneurship and tools for collaboration, creativity and communication, he said. The training will be imparted through workshops at these schools as well as online webinars to equip them with technology skills to counter real-life challenges. PTI CORR JM JM New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu Friday night met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal amid ongoing efforts to cobble up a grand alliance of opposition parties in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, met his Delhi counterpart at the latter's official residence here and discussed a host of issues. AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was also present there. "It was great meeting @ncbn ji today. We will all fight together against Modi government," Kejriwal tweeted. He shared a picture of him and Naidu that the Andhra chief minister had tweeted. Earlier in the day, Naidu had met opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in an attempt to bring together opposition parties on a platform to take on BJP in the polls. Naidu said there is a "democratic compulsion" for all the opposition parties to come together. However, the political compulsion of each party at the state-level will be taken into account while forming a united force to fight the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls, he said. His statement assumes significance in view of speculation over the possibility of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress which is yet to materialise even as both sides are attacking one another and asserting that they are going solo for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. Sources claimed backroom parleys between the two parties were still on over a "seat sharing" formula for Delhi where seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake. PTI VIT AAR New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) The NHRC has sent a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government over reports that girls at a shelter-home in Ratlam were allegedly sexually exploited, assaulted and manhandled. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement, said it is "painful" to know that persons, who are supposed to protect the girl inmates, are accused of subjecting them to indignity in their custody. "The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging that girls at a shelter-home, Kundan Kuteer Balika Grah at Jaora town in Ratlam district, were being sexually exploited, assaulted and manhandled," the commission said. Five inmates of the shelter-home had escaped on January 24 by breaking the window of the toilet and were later traced in Mandsaur. Police have held three persons, including a couple, in this connection, it said. Reportedly, efforts are being made to arrest the current head of the shelter-home, who is also an accused in the case. The commission has issued a notice to the chief, seeking a detailed report in four weeks, including on the action taken against the culprits, steps taken for relief and rehabilitation or counselling of the victims. The response is expected within four weeks. "It has also expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of sexual exploitation of the girls at shelter-homes, which are meant to provide protection, relief and succour to them," the commission said. PTI KND KJ New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) A doctor has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor patient in outer Delhi's Sultanpuri area, police said Friday. The accused has been identified as Joginder Singh, a resident of Rohini. According to the police, the alleged rape took place on Wednesday morning when the girl had gone to the doctor's clinic for treatment. A case has been registered at Sultanpuri police police station under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said. The doctor has been arrested and investigation is in progress, a senior police officer said. PTI NIT SMN New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Leaders of the BJP-led ruling alliance lavished praise on the Union Budget with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying it benefits every section of society and will boost growth but the Opposition scorned its populist push, calling it election 'jumla' and an "account for votes" not vote on account. With some Union ministers hailing the budget as a "surgical strike" on the Opposition, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi mocked their show of euphoria, saying surgical strike will happen on Modi and his government on issues like the Rafale deal, jobs and demonetisation during the general election. The NDA leaders expressed hope that the budget's sops for the middle class, farmers and small industries will boost their electoral prospects and their optimism was visible in their praise for these. BJP chief Amit Shah said the interim budget "benefits" all sections of the society and asserted that it has underscored the Modi government's dedication to the aspirations of the country's youth, farmers and the poor. He highlighted the increase in income tax exemption to Rs 5 lakh, a move aimed at wooing the salaried middle class, and annual payout of Rs 6,000 to farmers to drive home his point. Modi said over 12 crore farmers, three crore middle class families and 30-40 crore workers employed in unorganised sector will benefit from the budget which, he asserted, is merely a "trailer" of what will guide India towards prosperity after the elections, expected in April-May. This budget will boost the efforts of 130 crore citizens in realising the goal of a new India, he said. Slamming the government for "trampling" on time-honoured conventions by presenting a "full-fledged budget" and not an interim one, former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram accused it of violating the Constitution. "My one line comment on the budget is that it was not a Vote on Account but an account for votes. It was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech," he told reporters. The government has said that it was an interim budget. In his reaction, Gandhi also accused the government of destroying the lives of farmers over the past fiver years, and said the budget's announcement of "Rs 17 a day" for them was an insult to everything they stand and work for. CPI-M leader Mohammad Salim called the announcements an election "jumla" (rhetoric), a sentiment echoed by former BJP ally and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, now in the Congress-led alliance, who added that the interim budget will be the "antim" (last) budget of this government. "The budget is anti-youth and misleading for all sections of society, including farmers. This is nothing by an election jumla," Kushwaha said. The budget's proposals have assumed significance as they come weeks ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule. BJP ally and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan hailed the budget as "second surgical strike", saying the first- a reference to the Army's attack on terror launch pads across the border- used bullets against the country's external enemies while this will use ballots to decimate the ruling NDA's rivals in the general election. He claimed that Modi will come back to power with the NDA winning more than 400 seats in the coming polls. RSS affiliates also praised the budget, terming it pro-people and a step towards ensuring universal basic income. "Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has enumerated many pro-workers measures already in place. Even though this is an interim budget, let the pro-worker vision form a part of the future road map for development," Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh president Saji Narayanan said in a statement. Echoing similar sentiments, Sangh-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said this budget has something for everyone, be it farmers, middle class or workers. "It is actually a pro-people budget," he said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh described the budget as "historic" and said it will accelerate the process of creating a 'new India' which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous. Union minister Arun Jaitley, who had been holding the finance portfolio but had to relinquish the office for health reasons, said the government's decision to exempt income of up to Rs 5 lakh from tax will benefit the "great Indian middle class". The significant announcement made by Goyal will strengthen the purchasing power of the middle class which holds the key for India's future, he said. He is currently in the US for treatment. The ruling TRS in Telangana claimed the cash dole for farmers was an "imitation" of a scheme launched by it but added that politics had taken precedence over economics in the budget. BSP president Mayawati called the budget 'jumlebazi' that did not address the ground realties. She claimed that economic disparities had grown during the last five years with only a handful of capitalists benefiting, instead of farmers and the poor. Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav said in a budget of one year, the BJP has given lies of "next 10 years". West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a key opposition leader, said Friday the interim budget for 2019-20 had absolutely no value as the term of the NDA government would end soon. "Who will implement this? Will the new government that will come into being implement this budget," the Trinamool Congress president asked. AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the budget will prove to be "final jumla" of the government. PTI KR JTR SKC VIT ASK ZMN New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Amid prayers and sound of a bugle, George Fernandes' ashes were Friday buried at a colonial-era cemetery in the heart of Delhi, and part of the remains will be taken to Bengaluru, his family said. The mortal remains of George Fernandes were cremated here Thursday amid chants of 'George Sahab amar rahe' as family, friends and admirers bid an emotional goodbye to the socialist leader. "Parts of his ashes were interred this morning at Prithviraj Road Christian Cemetery. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and George's friends and admirers were present. We bid the final adieu to him," Fernandes' brother Michael Fernandes said Friday. Born in 1930, in Karnataka's Mangalore, Fernandes also grew up in Bengaluru and his contribution towards realising the Konkan Railway dream is still recalled by people. "So, people have that emotional connect with him," he said. "People in his birth place, Mangalore, and also those in Bengaluru have been requesting to bury part of his remains in the two cities. So, we are taking part of the ashes to Bengaluru," he told PTI. Fernandes died Tuesday at the age of 88 at his residence -- 'Shanti Niwas' -- in upscale Panchsheel Park after prolonged illness. He was suffering from Alzheimer's disorder that had left him debilitated. At the cemetery, the ashes were buried in a wooden casket, bearing a shining cross, amid strains of soulful hymns after a short prayer service held at the cemetery located in Lutyens' Delhi. Amid a sombre atmosphere, the casket was lowered into a grave after three Gurkha Rifles' personnel sounded 'The Last Post' with their bugles, bidding final farewell to the former defence minister. Incidentally, no fresh burials are allowed at the British-era Prithviraj Road Christian Cemetery, which has graves dating to early 20th century as well. The Chairman of Delhi Cemeteries Committee, J Rebello, when contacted, said, "George Fernandes had booked it long ago before fresh burials were closed here. So, his burial took place there." "As of now, second burials in old graves of family members are allowed in this cemetery, but no fresh burials", said the head of the Delhi Cemeteries Committee, which administers the cemetery. Michael Fernandes said, George had once expressed his desire that his remains be buried in Bengaluru. "It was at the last rites of our brother Lawrence at a cemetery off Hosur Road in Bangalore in 2005. He got very emotional, and, later told me that he would wish his remains to be buried in the same cemetery," he said. Nitish Kumar, who arrived in Delhi on Tuesday after hearing of Fernandes' death, stayed throughout the last rites at the cemetery, and planted a candle next to his grave after his casket was lowered. Family members and friends offered earth in his grave praying for eternal peace for the departed soul. A group of Tibetans, who had come come from Majnu ka Tila here, offered ceremonial Buddhist scarves in his grave. Fernandes had proximity with The Dalai Lama. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP veteran L K Advani, Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Ravi Shankar Prasad, senior leaders Sharad Yadav and Upendra Kushwaha were among those who had attended the cremation at the Lodhi electric crematorium on Thursday. Chants of 'George Sahab amar rahe' (long live George Sahab), 'Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Goerge tera naam rahega' (Your name will be as immortal as the sun and the moon) also rent the air at the crematorium as he undertook his final journey to eternity. PTI KND TIR TIR Guwahati, Feb 1 (PTI) Three activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) staged a nude protest outside the secretariat building here, adjacent to the assembly, on Friday against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Security personnel were caught off guard when the protesters got down from a car near the secretariat and stripped, a police officer said. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he said. Policemen rushed to cover the protesters with blankets and took them into custody before whisking them away from the high-security area, the officer said. "The main gate leading to the secretariat has been shut for the time being to prevent protesters from entering the premises and security arrangements have been intensified in the area," he added. DCP Amanjit Kaur told reporters that all three protesters have been arrested and necessary measures taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The agitators, before being whisked away, said the nude protest was symbolic as the BJP governments in Delhi and the state were trying to strip Assam's people of their identity, culture and language. Echoing similar sentiments, a senior KMSS member said, "We hope that the protest shames the government and the bill is immediately revoked." Last month too the KMSS had staged similar protests outside Parliament as well as in Jorhat and Tinsukia districts of Assam. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. Protests against the bill have rocked the entire northeast over the past five weeks, with several organisations and political parties vehemently opposing it. The protesters claim that the bill will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for deportation of illegal immigrants, irrespective of religion. PTI ESB RMS DIV DIV Guwahati, Feb 1 (PTI) Asserting that provisions of the Assam Accord will not be violated by the Citizenship bill, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Friday claimed "unnecessary social disturbance" was being created over the bill ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Replying to the debate on Governor's speech during the ongoing Budget Session of Assam Assembly, Sonowal said no one in the state should feel threatened as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not take any decision to hurt the emotions and interests of the North-East region or Assam. "It is not right to unnecessarily create social disturbance ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Polls will come and go, but we will not harm the indigenous people," Sonowal said "All are 100 per cent safe here. We will continue to work for the people of Brahmaputra and Barak valleys," he added. Talking about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the chief minister asserted it is not true that the Assam Accord will be violated if the bill was implemented. "Many people are giving data on illegal foreigners, but without any basis. Once NRC is done, we will get the actual figure of illegal foreigners," he added. Sonowal said it would be a shame if people were misled by false information and the healthy environment of the state was destroyed. "In the last two and half years, we have not done anything secretly. We have to maintain good academic environment and we will not be pardoned if we destroy this for our cheap political gains," he said. Reacting to the ongoing protests against the bill, Sonowal said, "You can definitely talk and debate the Citizenship Bill, we will listen. But you do not have right to go on roads, disturb peace and affect livelihood of the poor. It is undemocratic." Request everyone to not take law into their hands, otherwise the administration will take action as per the law, Sonowal asked the Opposition parties to stop spreading lies. "Assam will not lag behind unless you create disturbances. There should be tolerance. We, the ruling party, cooperate with your demands. You also have the responsibility to tell the people truth," Sonowal said to the Opposition. "We have been told lots of things these days. We are very tolerant. But time will not forgive (you) if you confuse people to create unrest in Assam," he added. Regarding the apprehensions expressed by the members of the House, Sonowal said that if the problems of the society were addressed carefully, then there will be no issue and the state assembly needs to send out a healthy signal. "The Citizenship Bill is for entire nation, not only Assam... Then why unnecessary fear is being created among people? From where has this figure of 1.9 crore Hindu Bangladeshis coming to Assam emerged?", he wondered. "We should not confuse people by saying that Assamese identity and culture will be finished. The opposition should behave responsibly," he added. After partition, the minorities were tortured in the neighbouring countries and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel assured people to give shelter and the current policies were framed on those commitments. On the Clause-5 of the Assam Accord, which is about detection, deletion and deportation of illegal foreigners coming to Assam on or after March 24, 1971, Sonowal claimed the Modi government took steps to implement it. "Modi signed the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh and now sealing of border is going on in full swing. We are going to complete it in our tenure. By March, the riverine border will also be sealed," he said. "NRC update is also going on in our period and we will complete it by July 31, 2019 as per the Supreme Court order," he added. "We are sincere about it and engaged 55,000 government employees in this task. Once the NRC is ready, it will be the first step towards implementing Clause-5," he said further. Sonowal also slammed those who have called the high-powered committee on the Clause-6 of the Assam Accord and tabling of a draft Bill in Parliament for granting Scheduled Tribe status to six communities in Assam as lollipops. "The ST status to six tribes is a 40-year old demand. The Centre has given instructions to the Assam government, which has formed a Group of Ministers to deliberate on the issue and to hold talks with all stakeholders," he said. Sonowal regretted that a lot of misinformation was being spread on the issues despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam working for both minority and majority communities. "We will not tolerate any divisive politics. We need peace and amity for development... After becoming the PM, he (Modi) took bold steps for the development of the region," Sonowal asserted. On black flags being shown to him, he said, albeit in a lighter vein, that he was not allergic to any colour including black. "Today, the Speaker wore a black jacket. There is a black strip in my dress. No one should give an impression that we have allergy to black colour. The main thing is to have a clean mind," he said. PTI TR RG RHL Washington, Feb 2 (AP) The Trump administration is pulling the plug on a decades-old nuclear arms treaty with Russia, lifting what it sees as unreasonable constraints on competing with a resurgent Russia and a more assertive China. The move announced Friday sets the stage for delicate talks with US allies over potential new American missile deployments. In explaining his decision, which he had foreshadowed months ago, President Donald Trump accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with "impunity" by deploying banned missiles. Moscow denies it is in violation and has accused Washington of resisting its efforts to resolve the dispute. Democrats in Congress and some arms control advocates criticized Trump's decision as opening the door to an arms race. "The US threat to terminate the treaty will not bring Russia back into compliance and could unleash a dangerous and costly new missile competition between the United States and Russia in Europe and beyond," the private Arms Control Association said. It argued that Washington had not exhausted options for drawing Russia back into compliance. Trump said in a statement that the US will "move forward" with developing its own military response options to Russia's banned deployment of cruise missiles that could target western Europe. "We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other," Trump said. Other officials said the treaty could still be saved if Russia reverses course and returns to compliance, but that window of opportunity will close in six months when the American withdrawal is due to take effect. The Trump decision reflects his administration's view that the arms treaty was an unacceptable obstacle to more forcefully confronting not only Russia but also China. China's military has grown mightily since the treaty was signed, and the pact has prevented the US from deploying weapons to counter some of those being developed in Beijing. Leaving the INF pact, however, risks aggravating relations with European allies, who share the administration's view that Russia is violating the treaty but who have not endorsed a US withdrawal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking to reporters after Trump's statement, said Russia will be formally notified on Saturday that the US is withdrawing from the treaty, effective in six months. In the meantime, starting Saturday, the US will suspend its obligations under the treaty. Pompeo said that if, in the coming six months, Russia accepts U.S. demands that it verifiably destroy the cruise missiles that Washington claims are a violation, then the treaty can be saved. If it does not, "the treaty terminates," he said. Administration officials have dismissed concerns that the treaty's demise could trigger a race to develop and deploy more intermediate-range missiles. US officials have emphasised their fear that China, which is not party to the treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Whether the US will now respond by deploying INF noncompliant missiles in Asia is unclear. In any case, it seems unlikely Beijing would agree to any negotiated limits on its weaponry. Russia accused the US of unilaterally seeking to neuter the treaty. "I 'congratulate' the whole world; the United States has taken another step toward its destruction today," said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's upper house of parliament. INF was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometers (310 miles) and 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles). At the time, in the late stages of the Cold War, the U.S. and its allies were mainly concerned by the perceived threat of Russian medium-range nuclear missiles that were targeted at Europe. The U.S. deployed similar missiles in response, in the 1980s, leading to negotiations that produced the INF treaty. Rep Adam Smith, a Washington state Democrat and new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, blasted Trump for raising the risk of nuclear war. "The administration's ideological aversion to arms control as a tool for advancing national security is endangering our safety, as well as that of our allies and partners," Smith said. (AP) MRJ MRJ Rosenberg, TX (77471) Today Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 73F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Paris, Feb 1 (AFP) The Pakistani lawyer who secured the acquittal of a Christian woman facing the death sentence for blasphemy is himself seeking protection from European governments, his French lawyer told AFP on Friday. Saif-ul-Mulook has been targeted by death threats since his the spectacular acquittal of his client Asia Bibi, a labourer from central Punjab province on death row since 2010. "He is hoping that people will take into account his heroic actions in defending Ms Bibi, given the current circumstances in Pakistan, which led him to exchange his freedom for hers," Mulook's lawyer Francois Zimeray told AFP. "He does not want to seek asylum, but rather to ask for European nationality," Zimeray said. Mulook fled to the Netherlands last November after violent protests erupted over the Pakistani Supreme Court's decision to overturn Bibi's death sentence from 2010. He returned to Islamabad on January 26 to defend Bibi as she faced another appeal of the supreme court's decision, which was rejected on Tuesday. Bibi, who has been detained in protective custody, is expected to leave Pakistan as well to seek asylum in a North American or European country, and unconfirmed reports have said her children are already in Canada. The country's foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that Bibi was free to leave the country after her years-long legal ordeal, which drew worldwide attention to religious extremism in Pakistan. Even unproven accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan have caused lynchings and murders. Religious groups have said "they would kill her despite the judgment of the Supreme Court," Mulook said after the court's decision Tuesday. "Therefore, I think she should leave the country." (AFP) SCY SCY Lagos, Feb 1 (AFP) Boko Haram Islamists killed at least 60 civilians in an attack on the remote town of Rann in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. The human rights group's Nigeria director Osai Ojigho said "at least 60 people" were killed while satellite imagery showed "mass burning" of structures used by displaced people. (AFP) SCY SCY Brussels, Feb 1 (AFP) NATO said Friday it fully supported the US decision to pull out from a Cold War missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in breach of the agreement. "Allies fully support this action," the North Atlantic alliance said in a statement. NATO issued the statement in the name of its council of member states shortly after US President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Russia failed to meet a deadline set by the United States to dismantle a new medium-range missile system, which Moscow insists does not infringe the treaty. "The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russia's covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems," NATO said. But the Alliance said America's treaty withdrawal would take six months to come into effect, giving Russia a last window to destroy the offending missile system. "We continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia, when Russia's actions make that possible," NATO said. "We urge Russia to use the remaining six months to return to full and verifiable compliance to preserve the INF Treaty." (AFP) SCY SCY New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2010 hours: FGN10: US-CHINA-3RDLD TALKS Washington: US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a "great" trade deal between the world's two largest economies as crucial talks to resolve the tariff war that rattled the global economy ended without any deal. By Lalit K Jha FGN14: PAK-SHARIF Lahore: Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif should be shifted to a hospital from prison after he developed cardiac complications, a media report quoted a special medical board constituted to monitor his health as recommending. FGN19: LANKA-POLITICS Colombo: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government today sought the consent of the Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament to form a 'national government', a move seen as a step to get a majority in the 225-member House. FGN20: US-RUSSIA-2NDLD TREATY Washington: The United States said Friday it was withdrawing from the landmark Cold War INF missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in violation. (AFP) FGN9: US-FORCEFEEDING-INDIANS Washington: At least six immigrant detainees, including Indians, have been force-fed through nasal tubes by immigration authorities in the US after they went on a hunger strike to protest conditions at a processing centre in Texas, drawing a strong reaction from Indian-American groups which described it as violation of human rights. By Lalit K Jha FGN8: US-INDIANSTUDENTS-VISA-FRAUD Washington: The 130 foreign students arrested for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US are largely Indians and were not aware of the varsity's illegitimate operation, immigration attorneys have said while criticising authorities for using "troubling" methods to trap them. FGN5: US-INTELLIGENCE-TRUMP Washington: A day after advising his top spymasters to go back to school after they differed with him on global threat assessment, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he and the leadership of countrys intelligence community are "on the same page." By Lalit K Jha FGN1: US-VENEZUELA-AMNESTY Washington: The United States on Thursday urged Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to accept an amnesty offer from opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as president. (AFP) FGN3: VENEZUELA-GUAIDO-FAMILY Caracas: Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido said Thursday elite security forces had entered his home to threaten his family, blaming the government of Nicolas Maduro as international support grew for his bid to oust the embattled president. (AFP) SCY SCY Brussels, Feb 1 (AFP) NATO said Friday it fully supported the US decision to pull out from a Cold War missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in breach of the agreement. "The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russia's covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems. Allies fully support this action," the transatlantic alliance said in a statement. (AFP) SMJ SMJ Colombo, Feb 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government today sought the consent of the Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament to form a 'national government', a move seen as a step to get a majority in the 225-member House. Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella handed over a proposal to form a national government to the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's office. Wickremesinghe was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena in October last year and strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed the prime minister. The President also removed the members of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from the national unity government. Sirisena was forced to reappoint Wickremesinghe as the prime minister after Rajapaksa failed to prove his majority twice in Parliament. Since his reappointment in December last, the Wickremesinghe-led government has been functioning without the required majority of 113 in the 225-member House. Sirisena's move to dissolve Parliament to hold a snap parliamentary polls on January 5 was turned down by the Supreme Court. "The proposal (to form a national government) was handed over this morning to the office of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya," Kiriella said. The Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP) is also in talks with the Sirisena-led SLFP to join the national government claiming that a number party members were willing to become part of it. A national government would enable Wickremesinghe to appoint ministers from Sirisena's party. "We have been talking to the SLFP members on the need to expand the government," said Minister Mano Ganesan. The UNP, with 106 seats, had joined hands with the Sirisena's SLFP in 2015 to form a unity government. The Rajapaksa-led opposition has been demanding holding of fresh elections ahead of its schedule in August 2020. PTI COR SMJ AKJ SMJ SMJ Lahore, Feb 1 (PTI) Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif should be shifted to a hospital from prison after he developed cardiac complications, a media report quoted a special medical board constituted to monitor his health as recommending. Sharif, 69, has been serving a seven-year jail term in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case. The suggestion to shift Sharif to a hospital was made to the provincial home ministry in a report. According to Express News, the former premier has developed cardiac complications. On January 25, the Punjab provincial government formed the medical board to examine the health of Sharif. The medical board, comprising cardiac experts from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), conducted a detailed examination of the three-time prime minister on January 30 for two hours in Lahore's prison. Sharif's personal physician Dr Adnan also briefed the board about the medical history related to his heart ailment, the report said. Following the check-up and on the basis of some medical reports, the special medical board prepared its report which was later to the authorities concerned, insisting to shift the ousted prime minister to a hospital, the report said. Sharif's family has also demanded that he should be shifted to a hospital as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo was not getting proper medical facilities in the prison. Sharif has been behind the bars since December 24, 2018, after an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed under the direction of the Supreme Court. The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case was about setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money. Three corruption cases - Avenfield properties case, Flagship investment case and Al-Azizia steel mills case - were launched against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. PTI AKJ AKJ New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours: FGN10 US-CHINA-3RDLD TALKS Trump says he will meet Xi to strike "great" trade deal as US-China talks end with no agreement Washington: US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a "great" trade deal between the world's two largest economies as crucial talks to resolve the tariff war that rattled the global economy ended without any deal. By Lalit K Jha FGN9 US-FORCEFEEDING-INDIANS US immigration authorities force-feed detainees from India, Cuba Washington: At least six immigrant detainees, including Indians, have been force-fed through nasal tubes by immigration authorities in the US after they went on a hunger strike to protest conditions at a processing centre in Texas, drawing a strong reaction from Indian-American groups which described it as violation of human rights. By Lalit K Jha FGN8 US-INDIANSTUDENTS-VISA-FRAUD 130 students arrested in US immigration fraud, attorneys cry foul Washington: The 130 foreign students arrested for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US are largely Indians and were not aware of the varsity's illegitimate operation, immigration attorneys have said while criticising authorities for using "troubling" methods to trap them. FGN5 US-INTELLIGENCE-TRUMP On same page with intelligence community, says Trump Washington: A day after advising his top spymasters to go back to school after they differed with him on global threat assessment, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he and the leadership of countrys intelligence community are "on the same page." By Lalit K Jha FGN1 US-VENEZUELA-AMNESTY US urges Venezuela's Maduro to accept amnesty Washington: The United States on Thursday urged Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to accept an amnesty offer from opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as president. (AFP) FGN3 VENEZUELA-GUAIDO-FAMILY Venezuela opposition leader says family threatened by Maduro agents Caracas: Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido said Thursday elite security forces had entered his home to threaten his family, blaming the government of Nicolas Maduro as international support grew for his bid to oust the embattled president.(AFP) RUP RUP (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India&Accra, Ghana Business Wire India After the successful launch of Merck More Than a Mother Fashion Awards, Merck Foundation launches another unique initiative to break the stigma around infertility in Ghana and rest of Africa Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany announces the Call for Application of Merck More Than a Mother Film Awards in partnership with H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana, together with Ghana National Film and TV Institute (NAFTI). NAFTI Students are invited to create a Film, Drama or Docudrama with the aim to deliver strong and influential messages to empower infertile women and say No to Infertility Stigma. The applicants are requested to send their entries as a Youtube link to: info@merck-foundation.com. The closing date for applications is 30th of June 2019. I strongly believe that art plays a significant role in raising awareness about sensitive topics like infertility, hence will contribute significantly to break the stigma around infertile women in Africa. One of the great challenges today is that we often feel untouched by the problems of others, even when we can easily do something to help. Giving people access to data most often leaves them feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, not empowered and poised for action. This is where art can make a difference. We decided to launch this competition to select the best film that aims to remind our communities that Women are more than Just Mothers and Men are more than Just Fathers. It takes both a man and a woman to have a child emphasized Dr. RashaKelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother. Films can also deliver messages to encourage Men to speak openly about their infertility, because 50% of infertility cases are due to Male factor, Men too can be infertile, but they only blame women for the inability to have children. Through the films, we hope to create a Cultural Shift aiming to educate our communities that Fertility is a Shared Responsibility hence men should support their wives and join them during the treatment journey. Filmmakers, its time to showcase your talent and contribute towards making a difference in society with your unique films with strong and relevant messages about infertility. Dr. RashaKelej added. The best three Films will be selected by Merck More Than a Mother committee. Winners will be granted US$ 1000 each and will be celebrated during the Merck Africa Asia Luminary which will be conducted in Ghana on the 29th and 30th of October in presence of more than 15 African First Ladies and 1000 participants from more than 60 countries. Merck Foundation plans to scale up this initiative in many more African Countries. Merck Foundation has been empowering many infertile women in Ghana by building a productive life for them by setting up businesses of their choice for them, as women are much more than just mothers. Merck Foundation has also provided technical training to four candidates from Ghana under their Merck Africa Embryology Training Program to help build capacity in the field of infertility in the country. The program will be scaled up under the umbrella of the long term partnership with the First Lady of Ghana. Who can apply? Students from NAFTI, Ghana Last date of submission: Entries can be submitted till 30th June 2019. How to apply? Entries can be submitted via email to info@merck-foundation.com. Subject line of the mail should mention: Merck Foundation Film Awards Do also mention your name, contact number and email id. About Merck More Than a Mother campaign; Merck More Than a Mother initiative aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and health and by changing mind-sets. This powerful initiative supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe and effective fertility care. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention and management. In partnership with academia, ministries of health and international fertility societies, the initiative also provides medical education and training for healthcare providers and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries. With Merck More than a mother, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility on all levels: By improving awareness, training the skills of local experts, building advocacy in cooperation with decision makers and by supporting childless women in starting their own small business. Its all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child. The Ambassadors of Merck More Than a Mother are: First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO; H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana; H.E. DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi; H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa Republic; H.E. HINDA DEBY ITNO, The First Lady of Chad; H.E. DJENE CONDE, The First Lady of Guinea-Conakry; H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH BARROW, The First Lady of Gambia; H.E. AISSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, The First Lady of Niger; H.E. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone and H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia. Also, part of the campaign is our Merck Embryology & Fertility Training Program, a three-month hands-on practical course in partnership with IRSI, Indonesia, IIRRH, India and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal University), India to establish the platform of fertility specialists across Africa and developing countries. Merck Foundation provided for more than 84 candidates, in clinical and practical training for fertility specialists and embryologists in more than 29 countries across Africa and Asia such as: Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Cote DIvoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Burkina Fuso, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameron, Rwanda, Botswana, DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia. Merck Foundation is making history in many African countries where they never had fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics before Merck More Than a Mother intervention, to train the first fertility specialists such as; in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, Guinea, Ethiopia and Uganda. Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard Facebook: Merck Foundation Twitter: @Merckfoundation YouTube: MerckFoundation Website: www.merck-foundation.com Join Merck Foundation online community to exchange experience and information with other healthcare providers, researchers, students, policy makers and community members in Africa and beyond www.merck-foundation.com free registration About Merck Foundation The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please go to www.merck-foundation.com to read more and/or register online to interact and exchange experience with our registered members. About Merck Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck generated sales of 15.3 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. To View the Images Please click on the Links Below: First Lady of Ghana, H.E. Rebecca Akufo-Addo; CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. RashaKelej meet National TV & Film Institution to launch Film Awards to deliver messages to break infertility stigma 'Merck More Than a Mother' Film Awards Dr. RashaKelej, CEO of Merck Foundation with First Lady of Ghana, H.E. Rebecca Akufo-Addo To Watch the Video Please click on the Link Below: Watch what happened to Jackline Mwende,victim of infertility stigma, after meeting Merck Foundation 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.) Greater Noida, India, February 1, 2019/PRNewswire/ -- The 26th edition of SATTE was held at a new venue - India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR Over 1,000+ Participants from over 50+ countries and 28 Indian States Supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and UNWTO 2nd year of I-Pledge campaign to promote sustainable tourism - received over 40,000 pledges UBM India welcomed the year 2019 with a great start to the 26th edition of SATTE, a leading B2B travel trade engagement show which was held at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR for the first time ever. The three-day expo has witnessed a tremendous response from the industry with participation from over 1,000 exhibitors and representation from over 50+ countries, 28 Indian States and 90 cities from across India. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/675607/UBMLogo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816613/SATTE2019Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816611/SATTE2019ShowFloor.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816612/SATTEDancePerformances.jpg ) The signature expo was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for State for Culture (I/C), Government of India, along with key dignitaries - Mr. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Affairs and Wildlife, Govt of Sri Lanka; Mr. YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; Ms. Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia; Ms. Eunji Tae, Officer, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO; Mr. Subhash Goyal, Member, National Tourism Advisory Committee; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India and Ms. Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, UBM India, amidst an august industry presence. Speaking at SATTE's growing stature, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said, "I congratulate UBM India on a great start to SATTE 2019, SATTE is the tourism maestro and this platform has taken the tourism to a new height. I am proud to host this event in my constituency, the potential of tourism in India is high, it takes 6.8 per cent of country's GDP and has shown a growth of 9 per cent to 13 per cent in the number of tourists visiting India. It's the 26th edition of SATTE, my compliments go to the UBM group behind this as they have changed the meaning of travelling over the years. Good luck and good wishes to SATTE this year too and the tourism industry." This platform has been well-supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and is backed by international organizations and Indian associations. SATTE endeavours to analyse trends, forecast future developments, come up with viable solutions and of course, help businesses thrive. It showcases the true potential of tourism for India and other countries, all under one roof. Mr. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Affairs and Wildlife, Govt of Sri Lanka marked the growing importance of the Indian tourism market for Sri Lanka and noted that there was great potential for rapid growth and said, "The expo enabled professionals to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations to counteract economic uncertainties and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India. I am proud of my association with SATTE. Our goal is to make Sri Lanka the most preferred destination for Indian tourists. We are far from realising the full potential of the Indian outbound market in terms of longer staying and higher spending visitors." Ms. Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia said "An exhibition like SATTE comes to the fore with its reserves of ideas and thought leadership. India is a very important market for Indonesia as it is the second fastest with a growth of 30 per cent. This year, we have a target of 700,000 travellers from India and are looking to hit our target. I am glad and honoured to be a part of this spectacular B2B show where I represent my country Indonesia and welcome Indians to experience our culture and heritage. I wish all the best to the UBM team for putting an excellent effort for this show and for the near future." The expo saw a record participation from States of India - The partner Indian states were Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh was the host state for SATTE 2019. Among international tourism boards, Indonesia was the feature country destination and Azerbaijan was the focus country for SATTE 2019. Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai and Sri Lanka were the partner countries Speaking at the successful conclusion of SATTE 2019, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, "SATTE has always been a unique exhibition for us because of its aspirational nature. It has emerged as the subcontinent's largest, foremost and the only international travel show that both the exhibitors and buyers from across the world participate to showcase as well as shop for the diverse global travel and tourism products and services in this part of the world. Be it the overwhelming response from exhibitors, or the discussions at our conference pertaining to trending subjects like Tourism and Jobs, Cruise Tourism, Corporate Travel, MICE and destination briefing sessions by Czech Tourism, Dubai Tourism and Singapore Tourism to name a few, SATTE is a wholesome experience that no travel professional can afford to miss. Every year, we put in our best efforts to make the show more promising than the last one serving the industry and we look forward to another prolific year in tourism." "In its 26th edition at the new venue - India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR, SATTE continued to stand tall and we are glad that we have tapped the aspirational traveller like every year in SATTE that the visitor footfall has increased," he further added. This year too, SATTE continued to receive the support of international organizations/associations and Indian travel trade associations such as World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA), Network of Indian MICE Agents, Association of Corporate Travel Executives, Cruise Lines International Association to name a few. UBM India hosted the third edition of the SATTE Awards powered by T3 on January 17, 2019. The awards is an endeavour to recognize and celebrate the excellence, triumphs and innovations of key stakeholders in the Travel and Tourism industry and is based on transparent, authentic and genuine parameters, a philosophy which is imbibed in the values of SATTE and T3. The awards also included networking opportunities, presentations and other features. The 21 awards covered various segments of the travel and tourism industry including cruise, tour operators, hotels, destinations, online travel portals, to name just a few. SATTE Awards 2019 - Category and Winner List Category Winner Best Blogger - Company Operated Blog Holiday Travel Triangle Pvt. Ltd. Best Blogger - Individual Blog Travel See Write Best Cruise Liner Royal Caribbean International Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Best Domestic Tour Operator Corporation Ltd (IRCTC Ltd.) Best Foreign Destination Tourism Australia Best Foreign Destination Tourism Authority of Thailand Best Hotel in India - Heritage Hotel Vivaana Culture Hotel, Mandawa, Rajasthan Best Hotel in India - Luxury Hotel The St. Regis Mumbai Best Hotel in India - Mid Market Rokeby Manor Best Inbound Tour Operator Swagatam Tours Pvt. Ltd. Best Niche Tour Operator - Adventure Tourism Wanderlust Travels Pvt. Ltd. iCE Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd (iCE Group Best Niche Tour Operator - MICE Tourism India) Best Niche Tour Operator - Others PEAK DMC India Best Online Travel Booking Site Tavel Boutique Online Best Outbound Tour Operator Cox and Kings Ltd. Best Startup OYO Hotels and Homes Lifetime Achievement Award Amitabh Kant Industry Crusader Deep Kalra Women Leader in Travel Industry Priya Paul SATTE T3 Initiative Recognition - Exhibition Venue of the Year India Expo Mart Limited Tourism Brand of the Year Odisha Tourism About SATTE: SATTE is organized by UBM, which in June 2018, combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. Please visit https://www.satte.in/for more information on SATTE and https://www.ubm.com/global-reach/ubm-asia for our presence in Asia. About UBM Asia: UBM Asia recently became part of Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. Please visit https://www.ubm.com/global-reach/ubm-asia for more information about our presence in Asia. Source: UBM India Pvt. Ltd. PWR PWR New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 224.6 crore of a firm linked to former Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran in connection with a money laundering probe in an alleged multi-crore loan fraud at IDBI Bank. The agency said it has issued a provisional order for attachment of assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Siva Group of Companies and Axcel Sunshine Limited located in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. The ED, in a statement, said the assets include land parcels and office premises located at MRC Nagar and T Nagar in Chennai, mutual funds and deposits available in bank accounts. The total amount of attachment in the case is Rs 224.6 crore, it said. The agency said it registered a criminal case under PMLA, taking cognisance of a CBI FIR against the firms, C Sivasankaran and others for non-payment of loans of USD 67 million (about Rs 470 crore) disbursed by an IDBI Bank branch located in Chennai. The ED said its probe found that the "Siva Group negotiated, applied and obtained loan in the name of front company Axcel Sunshine Ltd. and mis-utilised the same for striking off their earlier and other loans knowingly that the companies were under NPA (non-performing assets) and the loans were not re-paid" by them. It added that the loan amount "granted by IDBI has been utilised for repayment of earlier loans and the earlier loan amounts were merged with the business expenses of Siva Group of Companies." The CBI had last year filed a criminal case in the incident. The case pertains to loans of Rs 322 crore and Rs 523 crore given to the companies of Sivasankaran. The loans later turned non-performing assets. PTI NES NES SMN SMN New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said the government may consider relief for taxpayers having annual income above Rs 5 lakh in the main Budget after polls. There is no change in the tax rate and limits for other category beyond Rs 5 lakh, Goyal said while talking to media after presentation of the Interim Budget. He expressed hope that next government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi other tax proposals will be looked at in the main Budget. "I had the constraint of this being an Interim Budget. However, there were many things which could not have been waited for the final Budget, particularly relief for small taxpayer which I have passed on. The rest is for the then Finance Minister for decide in July 2019," he said. Explaining the rationale for providing tax relief to lower middle class with annual income of Rs 5 lakh, Goyal said, "This neo-middle class required certainties about their future tax liabilities and save them from refund process, we have given benefit to this category". People falling in this category will be out of the tax net, he said. In order to improve tax collection, he said, the government has taken various steps. "The Income Tax Department now functions online. Returns, assessments, refunds and queries are all undertaken online. Last year, 99.54 per cent of the income-tax returns were accepted as they were filed," he said. The government has now approved a path breaking, technology intensive project to transform the Income-tax Department into a more assessee-friendly one, he said, adding that all returns will be processed in twenty-four hours and refunds will be issued simultaneously. "Within the next two years, almost all verification and assessment of returns selected for scrutiny will be done electronically through anonymised back office, manned by tax experts and officials, without any personal interface between taxpayers and tax officers," he said. Talking about income support scheme for small farmers, Goyal said: "Only record available right now is based on the land holding for farmers across the country. This scheme will be for the farmer having land holding of 5 acres". He also said there is no correlation of the income scheme with the subsidy. On the fiscal deficit, the finance minister said given the new number of GDP coming out, the fiscal roadmap may not change very much. Fiscal deficit for the next fiscal may be lower than 3.4 per cent as the GDP seems to be increasing as per the first revised estimate of GDP released on Thursday, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said. "The GDP for 2019-20 is Rs 2.25 lakh crore as per the estimate released yesterday. This is higher than Rs 2.10 lakh crore which we have assumed in our paper," Garg added. PTI JD DP BAL New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Economic Affairs Secretary S C Garg Friday said the government expects Rs 28,000 crore from the Reserve Bank as an interim dividend in the current fiscal. The government has already received Rs 40,000 crore from the Reserve Bank of India during 2018-19, Garg told reporters in the post Budget interaction here. When asked how much interim dividend the government expects from the RBI, he said, "Rs 28,000 crore". The decision with regard to interim dividend will be taken in the next board meeting. PTI JD DP MKJ Technology companies and experts hailed the government's focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitisation. They said it will go a long way in boosting advanced innovation, and pave the way for increased digitisation across the country. The initiative to ensure one lakh digital villages will translate into more digital transactions; that, in turn, will help popularise digital payments among the rural people. According to industry insiders, the national AI scheme announced by the government is very encouraging for technology players. The initiative to build one lakh digital villages will mean more digital transactions. Additionally, the finance minister has said that we [India] have possibly the lowest mobile and data tariffs in the world, said Rohit Garg, co-founder and CEO of SmartCoin, a Bengaluru-based fin-tech startup. For a fin-tech company in direct lending space, like ours, this is a huge push to achieve our visionbringing the masses under a formal credit system. Harnessing the power of AI, as other global super powers have been doing for years now, India will be able to build data lakes to identify problem areas. This is also a step towards becoming a data-first nation, in line with the govts 2030 mission of becoming a $15 trillion economy. AI and the use of data can take us there, with a large population covered under formal financial credit access system. Similarly, Rajnish Kumar, CTO and co-founder of the travel tech platform Ixigo feels that the initiatives announced by the government, around AI, will promote the use of digitisation and technology. The governments efforts in providing the necessary AI support, required by startups, further emphasises the role that new technologies will play in the development of the economy. Efforts to establish one lakh digital villages is also a positive step towards strengthening digital penetration in rural India and will significantly increase the adoption of digital platforms across the masses, said Kumar. On the other hand, Pankit Desai, the co-founder and CEO of Sequretek, a Mumbai-based cyber security startup is of the opinion that, though the government's move to set up a national centre for AI is a welcome move, proper execution is key. The success of this highly futuristic mission rests on three pillarstalent, money and use cases [times when the solution is actually used]. We wish for more clarifications from the government. Will this portal build a talent pool? Where will the funding for this programme come? We also need to see how many success stories ultimately spring out from this initiative. We need more clarity on how this program will be funded. For such a large initiative to work, the entire ecosystem has to be evangelised. The government, private companies and new age startups who are already working in the field will not only benefit from it, but will play a key role in developing this programme, explained Desai. Many also feel that the budget's proposals around AI, one lakh digital villages, and the thrust on RFID usage, will not only fuel entrepreneurship, but also unleash enormous job opportunities. The Internet and Mobile Association of India [IAMAI] has welcomed the announcements around AI made in the interim budget, and states that the budget acknowledges how the innovation is taking place in the country. The announcement of the national AI portal is expected to propel India on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive technologies for growth and economic prosperity and growth. Additionally, the governments vision to convert one lakh villages into digital villages over the next five years, with the help of Common Service Centres (CSCs), is ambitious and will usher in the much-needed digital revolution under the Digital India initiative. This will also bridge the rural-urban digital divide, and will open avenues to jobs and employment creation, said Subho Ray, president of IAMAI. Sterling, VA (20165) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. A two-seat Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force crashed at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Friday morning, killing both pilots. According to initial reports, the two pilots of the trainer version of the Mirage 2000 managed to eject after the aircraft developed a technical snag. The pilots have been identified as Squadron Leader Negi and Squadron Leader Abrol. The aircraft was flying a test sortie. The Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000 fleet is being upgraded by HAL in Bengaluru with new electronics and weaponry. The Indian Air Force's fleet of about 50 Mirage 2000 fighters has been one of its most reliable platforms as a multirole fighter, having seen combat in the Kargil War. Further details are awaited. A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of people participated in a march in Kargil district of Ladakh to demand the opening of Kargil-Skardu route. The march was organisged by Anjuman-e-Jamiat-e-Ulema Isna Ashariya Kargil (AJUIAK) which demands opening of the route from Khomeini Chowk to Laal-Chowk. The procession began after Friday prayers and led by AJUIAK president Sheikh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi. Several other clerics also participated in the march. The AJUIAK requested people to support their movement. Mohammadi told the gathering that around 12,000 to 15,000 families remained divided due to the closure of the route connecting Kargil with Skardu. The families got divided due to the formation of the ceasefire line in 1948 which later became the Line of Control (LoC). He appealed to the government of India to open both Kargil-Skardu and Turtuk-Khapualo roads on humanitarian grounds. He referred to the Parliament resolution of 1994 which said the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, was an integral part of India. Addressing the marchers, he said: The families were divided in a night in 1947. Again in 1971, more villages like Hundermo, Budgam, Tyakshi and Cholunkha came under India and more families got divided. He said many people waited and died without meeting their separated kin. Mohammadi said New Delhi should take up the issue with Pakistan which is ready to open the route. After the opening of Kartarpur corridor for the people of Punjab, several people in Kargil had demanded the opening up of Kargil-Skardu and other routes connecting the two sides. On January 29, AJUIAK had announced to launch a movement for opening up of the routes that connect Kargil with Gilgit and Baltistan. Kargil suffers due to lack of development and connectivity, he had said. Roads are opened in Punjab and J&K border but our people are not able to meet their relatives, Mohammadi had said. We remained cutoff for six months with the world and if this road opens, our 80 per cent problems would be solved. He had said the region has zero security threat. Supporting the demand for opening the traditional routes linking Kargil with Gilgit and Baltistan, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: PDP envisaged through #SelfRule not only opening of #KargilSkardu , but other routes too , to let people explore & increase contacts across borders . Such initiatives will not only open up jk to the world around us ,but also serve the cause of peace beyond boundaries @jkpdp PDP envisaged through #SelfRule not only opening of #KargilSkardu , but other routes too , to let people explore & increase contacts across borders . Such initiatives will not only open up jk to the world around us ,but also serve the cause of peace beyond boundaries @jkpdp pic.twitter.com/WTCSBze6ol Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 1, 2019 National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also chipped in. 1000s march in Kargil town in support of the demand to open the Kargil-Skardu road. @JKNC_ supports this genuine demand of the people of the area & hopes that @PMOIndia will announce this important CBM when he next visits J&K, he tweeted. 1000s march in Kargil town in support of the demand to open the Kargil-Skardu road. @JKNC_ supports this genuine demand of the people of the area & hopes that @PMOIndia will announce this important CBM when he next visits J&K. pic.twitter.com/OkEiQqIvpC Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 1, 2019 Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also threw his wait behind the demand by people in Kargil. He tweeted: Support Peoples march in #Kargil demanding reopening of old Kargil-Skardu route which is just 120 kms apart ! All natural routes of divided state of J&K should be opened and people allowed to connect to their loved ones,have access to essentials in harsh weather conditions and be able to visit their places of worship and do commerce. The opening of the route is likely to become major topic of debate ahead of the impending elections in the state. In light of Narendra Modi government's last and final budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this year, Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemned the Narendra Modi government for its 'incompetence and arrogance' over the last five years. Repeating the moniker 'NoMo' for the second time in two days, Rahul said the government destroyed the lives of farmers over the last five years. He tweeted, "5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for." Congress leader Shashi Tharoor called the BJP government's budget a 'damp squib'. Though he was appreciative of the tax exemption for the middle class, he questioned the income support reduction for farmers. "The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity?" Tharoor said as he stepped out of the parliament after Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the budget in the Lok Sabha. The budget was the last and final presentation of the NDA government ahead of the elections planned this year. It faces relection heat this year and has, according to many opposition leaders, presented an election budget aimed at wooing farmers and the middle class with announcements on pensions, tax exemption and farmers' income. "I would term today's budget as BJP's election manifesto," Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said. "This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters," he alleged. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year. "There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes," Kharge said, adding people understand that they will not be befooled any more. General elections are slated to be held in April-May. It was shocking for movie buffs when eminent Malayalam writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair last year announced that he was backing out from the mega-budget film Randamoozham for which he had written the screenplay. And now, in another surprise, a new producer, Dr S.K. Narayanan, has signed up for the movie, starring Mohanlal. UAE-based industrialist B.R. Shetty was initially supposed to produce the film but reportedly Shetty, too, backed out of the project. A photo of Narayanan signing the contract with director V.A. Shrikumar Menon is now doing rounds on social media. Narayanan was also joined by activist Jomon Puthenpurackal and Swami Vidyanand. Jomon also shared a photo on his Facebook page where the director and producer are seen having a discussion. Earlier, Vasudevan Nair had revealed to media that he was quitting the project as his contract for the screenplay had overshot the three-year deadline for completing the film. Shrikumar had reasoned that the project was delayed due to several international contracts and financial planning. Randamoozham, a Malayalam novel penned by Vasudevan Nair in 1984, won the Vayalar Award for the best literary work in Malayalam in 1985. It is a version of the Mahabharata from the perspective of epic hero Bheema. With both the writer and producer backing out, now all eyes are on actor Mohanlal to announce his stand. Amid reports that Jet Airways has accepted Etihad's bailout plan, the shares of the company surged in trade on Friday. The share prices of the debt-laden company surged by 15 per cent to hit the day's high at Rs 281.50 per share, data available with the BSE showed. According to reports, the Jet Airways (India) Ltd agreed to most of the conditions set by its partner Etihad for offering a lifeline to the debt-laden domestic carrier, Business Standard reported on Friday, citing sources. Both the airlines are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) within days. Jet Airways' Chairman Naresh Goyal is expected to step down from the board of directors. Jet Airways shares were trading at Rs 264.35, up by 11.35% on BSE after touching intraday high of Rs 281.50 and an intraday low of Rs 234.30 from the previous close. Report Rahm storms to maiden Major win at Torrey Pines Jon Rahm claimed his first Major Championship as a stunning finish handed him victory at the 2021 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course. A day after a report in Business Standard presented data from government statistics to show unemployment was at a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent, the paper on Friday reported that joblessness would be higher if the 'current weekly status' methodology. The new report states that the NSSO calculated the unemployment rate to be 8.9 per cent using the current weekly status methodology, pointing to the adverse impact of demonetisation and GST. The Business Standard report noted that the figure of 6.1 per cent unemployment was arrived at by the National Sample Survey Office using its usual approach of determining employment status of a person a year before the date of the survey. The current weekly status methodology determines the employment status of a person seven days before the date of the survey. An expert quoted by Business Standard said the current weekly status methodology would present a more accurate figure for unemployment in 2017-18 in the wake of demonetisation and introduction of GST. The new data from the NSSO, which critics allege the Narendra Modi government has tried to suppress, is expected to fuel further criticism from the opposition. Two members of the National Statistical Commission had resigned earlier in the week, purportedly to protest the Modi government delaying the release of unemployment figures. Following the initial Business Standard report on Thursday, the NITI Aayog held a press conference to state the NSSO data had been approved and was not final. Apart from Chulbul, his brother Makkhi, Rajjo will also be part of animated version Weeks before the interim budget, the Indian capital was agog with speculation about its beneficiaries: farmers or the countrys burgeoning 250-plus crore middle class. On Friday, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled his game plan for the nationpolitical cognoscenti called it a silver bullet that soothsayers use to kill the proverbial werewolfwith loads of giveaways for rural and poorer citizens. Almost instantly, television channels called it a move to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi pass a critical test in an election year and calm anger over depressed farm incomes and rising unemployment. This was the last budget of the Modi government, which will be seeking a second five-year term in national elections in May. The new government will determine the full-year budget for 2019-20. ALSO READ: Does Modi govt have anything to gloat over defence budget? Goyal had elections on his mind when he poured extra cash for farmers and a tax cut for low-income workers, but that came at a cost, with the country letting its fiscal deficit targets slip this year and next. Farmers in India comprise more than 60 per cent of Indias 1.3-billion population, and have the capacity to sway the elections outcome. For years, they have been demanding higher prices for their produce and a government waiver on farm loans to alleviate hardship. Many farmers have been driven to suicide by mounting debts for purchases of seeds, fertilizer and feed for their cattle. Interestingly, there was also a pension scheme for informal workers and a doubling of tax relief for the lower middle class around the time when the BJP-led NDA government faced tremendous flak over a report in a business daily that the government was suppressing data showing the countrys unemployment rate has hit a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent, nearly double the 3.41 per cent rate when Modis government took office in 2014. Two top members of a government statistics panel resigned, blaming the Union government of delaying the release of the job data. The opposition Congress and other opposition parties vehemently raised the issue in Parliament on Thursday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi even reminded Modi of his promise when he took over as prime minister in 2014 to create 20 million jobs every year. The government, expectedly, pushed its headline managers to tell pesky reporters that the data is premature and official figures will be announced in March. ALSO READ: Real estate gets big boost, home buyers to benefit But Goyal had his moments in the sun. The pro-farmer move triggered movements in the stock markets as Goyal said farmers would be paid Rs 6,000 annually. In one stroke, the stand-in finance ministeralso the railway ministerappeared to have benefited a whopping 120 million households. And then, there was the news that approximately 100 million workers in informal sectors would receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after retirement at 60 years. The budget doubled income tax exemptions for those earning up to Rs 5,00,000 a year from the existing Rs 2,50,000. The decision would benefit 30 million lower earning taxpayers, Goyal said. Stock brokers react as they watch the budget presentation live on the television screen in Mumbai | Amey Mansabdar Goyal, probably keeping in mind the recent brouhaha over defence deals, allocated Rs 305 billion for defence during the 2019-20 financial year, a small increase from Rs 285 billion in the current financial year, which ends in March. He was sure that the minor rise will not make much difference in terms of critical purchases of defence equipment. Seasoned writer and former corporate honcho Gurcharan Das, who once headed Proctor & Gamble in India, said the budget was politically very smart but added Modi should have generated more jobs. Das said the government did highlight improvements in sanitation and provision of electricity and expansion of public welfare provisions but the progress should have been both faster and extensive as promised. ALSO READ: Ayushman Bharat gets lion's share of health budget But there were others who felt the tax breaks were more than expected. Among them were Deloitte's Tapati Ghosh who said the budget was for the middle class. With the additional tax rebate, an individual with total income up to Rs 5 lakh will have no tax to be paid. This results in an assured tax benefit including up to Rs 13,000 at this level. Increase in standard deduction by Rs 10,000 for salaried taxpayers would ensure additional tax saving of Rs 2,080 to Rs 3,120 for tax payers not paying surcharge. But the days best line came from Abheek Barua, chief economist of HDFC Bank, who said the interim budget was more of performance reporting and aspirations than any big-ticket changes. This was expected as it is an interim budget valid for a few months. There is a slight slip in fiscal deficit. The new income support scheme is tepid, in terms of the actual numbers. It should not lead to a blowout in the fiscal deficit if it indeed is part of the budget when it is finally announced in full form. All eyes on the election boards. Shantanu Guha Ray is a special editor with Business Television India. Communication forHealthy Communities (CHC) is a five- year program implemented through acooperative agreement between the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment USAID/Uganda) and FHI 360. The project is designed to support theGovernment of Uganda and partners to design and implement quality healthcommunication interventions to contribute to reduction in HIV Infections, totalfertility, maternal & child mortality, malnutrition, malaria &tuberculosis. CHC works with Ministry of Health and partners to rollout anationwide OBULAMU integrated health communication platform through: Massmedia; outdoor media; social and digital media; and, inter personalcommunication (IPC). Argentinean Navy Releases Documents Regarding Necochea UFO The Argentinean navy released a series of documents related to the UFO sighting of Necochea in 1962. The documents present the story told by a motorist who was chased by a flying disc around La Dulce. By Inexplicata 1-29-19 [Translation (c) 2019 S. Corrales IHU with thanks to Ovnihoje.com and Guillermo Gimenez, Planeta UFO] Source: OVNIHOJE.COM (Brazil) and Planeta UFO (Argentina) Date: 05.015.2017 CEFORA recently published an article disclosing details of an important UFO sighting that took place in that city nearly 55 years ago.On August 29, 1962, Osman Alberto Simonini told his story about a UFO encounter near the 28 Km marker on Route 86. Simonini was on his way, leaving La Dulce, from the "Malabrigo" farm owned by Ernesto Arias. The case became widely known through an article in: The Navy commission launched an investigation through Captain Omar Paganini and the case now forms part of the private files of [researcher] Roberto Banchs.The incident took place around 8:10 pm, as Simonini drove at low speed and became aware - looking to his left, following his vehicle on a parallel trajectory at a distance of three meters and two meters above - of an "artifact" looking like two plates connected on their widest edges, gunmetal-colored, measuring approximately 5 meters in diameter.The object projected beams of green and blue light from its lower section. The beams were two meters wide, according to the description.Simonini says the artifact escorted him some 200 meters. The motorist was also able to see the grass moving as well, this being proof of its low altitude and some sort of "air or energy" expelled from the object's lower section.The object sped ahead some 200 meters, cutting him off some 600 meters ahead, near the road's shoulder at low altitude. Upon reaching the 26 Km. marker, the object executed a sharp 90 degree turn into the cultivated area. Simonini followed it and saw the object hover at a distance of less than a meter. He stopped and tried to approach the fence that separated the field from the road, placing his hands on the wiring, discovering as he did so that the metal was quite hot. He moved his hands away, only to find that the wire was even hotter further along. He wandered a few metes along the fence until he could make sure the wire was entirely cold.Two minutes later, the object took off at high speed and vanished into the sky.The witness reported his story to the Border Commissioner, the Federal Police Director, and officers of the Mar del Plata Air Force, with the support of writer Juan Jose La Terza, who claimed to have received the following reply when the incident was notified to the authorities:"Authorities specializing in these studies advised me that there was nothing extraordinary about the event, as phenomena of this sort was already being accepted as real, and that the scientific establishment was waiting for the next step: making contact with these artifacts.At the time, Guillermo Gimenez (CEFORA member and a contributing editor to INEXPLICATA) conducted an exhaustive local investigation after Juan Jose La Terza had contacted him.The article (in Spanish) along with other cases can be found at the following link here The documentation includes the report written by La Terza, who acted as an advocate for witness Simonini. Former Nevada Senator Harry Reid is calling for formal congressional hearings probing the enduring mystery of UFOs. The longtime leader of Senate Democrats quietly sponsored a By George Knapp www.lasvegasnow.com 1-31-19 secret Pentagon study of UFOs and related mysteries. The program was based in Las Vegas but ended in 2012.Now, in his first on-camera interview in more than a year, Reid says both Congress and the Pentagon should take a fresh look at the topic, and he intends to help make it happen. Morgan County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Glen L. Ledbetter, 46, of Hannibal, Missouri, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:23 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine and warrants accusing him of driving while license is suspended or revoked, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, use of unsafe tires, having no valid registration and contempt of court. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Malcolm V. Fitts, 24, 646 Brandywine Lane was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:18 p.m. Wednesday on a telephone harassment charge. Reid A. Jones, 19, of 621 N. Main. St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 12:52 a.m. Monday on charges of retail theft and possession of liquor by a minor. Ariel L. Motley, 21, of Chicago was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:38 p.m. Thursday on a domestic battery charge. ACCIDENT Glen A. Carls, 77, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of driving an uninsured motor vehicle after police say he was northbound in the 300 block of North Webster Avenue when the vehicle he was driving crossed into the southbound lane and hit a power pole at 11:28 a.m. Thursday. Carls was treated at the scene for minor injuries and released. Cass County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Mitchell L. Wells Jr., 19, of rural Beardstown was booked into the Morgan County jail at midnight Thursday on a charge of possession of a synthetic drug look-alike with intent to deliver. Compiled by Nick Draper and Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree EDWARDSVILLE The Edwardsville Police Department has announced it is accepting applications for the spring session of its Citizens Police Academy. The academy is a 10-week course held on Thursday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. The first session will start on Thursday, Feb. 28. Citizens who are interested in learning about constitutional law, rights of citizens and the duties of law-enforcement officers are encouraged to apply. The purpose of this academy is to strengthen the positive relationship between members of the Edwardsville Police Department and the citizens they serve. The academy gives participants a chance to learn certain aspects of law enforcement through a hands-on learning environment. Academy sessions will include tours, demonstrations and practical exercises that will allow participants to experience life from a police officers point of view. Topics to be covered include: Law review; Traffic/DUI enforcement; Use of force, excited delirium, crisis intervention; Firearms familiarization; Force on force/active shooter hands-on exercise; Drug trends and identification; Crime scene investigation with hands-on exercise; Computer crimes and identity theft; Juvenile law and trends; Four-hour ride along. The academy is presented to adults, 21 and older, and will be limited to 20 participants. Residency is not a requirement to participate in the academy. A $25 registration fee will be required for each participant who applies. If you would like to enroll in the City of Edwardsville Citizens Police Academy, please visit www.cityofedwardsville.com/police to download an application. Some portions may require physical activity. The department and staff will work to make reasonable accommodation to individuals with special needs but cannot guarantee participation in all activities. If you have any questions about the academy, please contact Sgt. Matt Breihan, Edwardsville Police Department at (618) 656-2131, ext. 151 or mbreihan@cityofedwardsville.com. BETHALTO Kaitlyn R. Rexford, 22, of the 400 block of Texas Boulevard, Bethalto, was charged Tuesday with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. She allegedly possessed a live round of 9 mm ammunition Monday while she was on parole. She also possessed between five and 15 grams of methamphetamine and fled from an officer at more than 21 mph over the speed limit. Bail was set at $60,000. EDWARDSVILLE Dylan M. Owens, 18, of Hillsboro, Missouri, was charged Wednesday with burglary and possession of burglary tools. He allegedly entered a Toyota Four Runner on Jan. 24 at 60 Circle Drive on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with the intent to commit a theft. He allegedly possessed pliers, flashlights, mask and gloves, suitable for breaking into a motor vehicle. Bail was set at $25,000. GODFREY Brandon Peterson, 33, of the 400 block of Saint Rose Drive, Godfrey, was charged Wednesday with burglary. He allegedly entered a shed in the 300 block of Tampa Street, Godfrey, Jan. 26 with the intent to commit a theft. Bail was set at $50,000. WOOD RIVER Eric D. Walker, 28, of Venice, was charged Tuesday with felony theft. He allegedly took an LG Android from an individual on Dec. 19. The item is valued at more than $500. Bail was set at $25,000. ALTON Cassandra M. Garland, 37, of the 2800 block of Residence Street, Alton, was charged Tuesday with identity theft. She allegedly used the personal identification information of another person to obtain electric and gas service. Bail was set at $25,000. EAST ALTON Reese L. Meier, 24, of the 100 block of Whitelaw Avenue, East Alton, was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault of a police officer and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. He allegedly drove a motor vehicle at a Madison County deputy on Monday. He was also accused of fleeing from the officer at at least 21 mph over the speed limit. Bail was set at $33,000. WOOD RIVER Brittany N. Stinnett, 28, of the 500 block of Mill Street, Bethalto, was charged Tuesday with unlawful possession of methamphetamine. She allegedly possessed less than five grams of the drug on Sept. 8. Bail was set at $25,000. WOOD RIVER Shanna M. Murrell, 32 of the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue, Wood River, was charged Tuesday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of fentanyl on Aug. 10. Bail was set at $15,000. MICHAEL Miss Calhoun County is more than a pretty face. The everyday life of this fair queen involves running two businesses, going to school and, most recently, buying her first house in her hometown of Michael, Illinois. Historic Mount Hope Barn Wedding Event Coordinator Sydney White, 20, is the 2018 Miss Calhoun County, who operates and manages Mount Hope and also started a fitness business, Sydwhite Fitness through Calhoun Crunch, as a personal trainer last year. She took a break within the last two weeks to compete (and make new forever friends) for the state title of 2019 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs 109th annual convention. White, a 2016 Calhoun High School graduate, also is majoring in accounting and business at Lewis and Clark Community College in a dual partnership through St. Louis Missouri Baptist University. Honestly, it was a life change, an everything change, White told The Edge, to give a glimpse inside the experience of earning the county title, while packing to go to the state pageant in Springfield, where she stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel, along with 70 other fair queens, each representing their home county, in the competition Jan. 18 - Jan. 20. I just decided, Im going to run for county queen, and now Im going to state in the morning. The whirlwind three-day competition earlier this month had an indelible impact on White. I had. Lifelong friendships have been made, she said upon returning home. Im so grateful and proud. Calhoun made me feel equivalent to that of a state winner. As a wedding planner, White knows the importance of grace under pressure, but more important than winning any title, is representing a community, she noted, especially her beloved Calhoun County, where she won the county title last September at the county fair pageant. It was fun, said White about the county competition, for which Historic Mount Hope Barn Weddings was a sponsor. I had overwhelming support from the community. It was awesome running a business here and also running for county queen. When I ran, the judges told me they could tell that Im an active member of the community and that really touched me. My job every day is showing off one of the many beautiful features of Calhoun County, she said of the countys mostly undeveloped landscape and its landmarks, such as Mount Hopes historic barn, now restored, on the 250-acre property of a former early Calhoun settlement. Being in an agricultural fair competition is like second nature to what I do every day, selling the landscape, presenting it all at such a larger scale. And, the whole idea of the state competition is promoting our little Calhoun County on such a larger scale. Historic Mount Hope Barn Weddings, an all-accommodating, multi-million-dollar investment, opened more than three years ago, owned by her father, Jonah White, of Billy Bob Teeth fame. But, Sydney has managed the property since the outset. The venue is located just outside Michael, near her dads White Tales Lodge, a commercial hunting getaway, and not far from Billy Bob Teeth headquarters in Hardin, all on a peninsula formed by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Something I really want to incorporate into my role as it relates to the state competition, is what I do every day, showing off the features of my little county, because its also one of the most beautiful sites in all of Illinois, Sydney said. This is more than just a beauty pageant. Its about having an actual deep love for the state that were in, not just our county, but the entire state, the diversity we represent, the intellect, knowledge and appreciation for the state that we live in. Thats what Im promoting. Born and raised in Calhoun County, both the county and state levels of competitions underscored Sydneys appreciation; but, really, the appreciation comes from her extensive travels to other places, including her mother Renee Whites native country, Australia, for which Sydney is named. I have exposure to a lot of other countries and places, so when I always come back home, I just have this ungodly appreciation, Sydney explained. Some people joke that people from Calhoun County never leave Calhoun County, Im the exact opposite. But, being from Calhoun County, Ive been representing Calhoun County every time Ive left and seen the world. Theres still nowhere like Calhoun County, thats the absolute truth. Theres nothing like crossing the Joe Page Bridge, onto the peninsula, into intimate natural seclusion. Calhoun County is one of Illinois least-populous counties, almost completely surrounded by water; it has just five municipalities, all of them villages, yet its still part of the St Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is famous for its peaches, nature reserves and the Center for American Archeology in Kampsville. I look at the Illinois County Fair Queen pageant not just as a complete honor, but as an opportunity, and Im not done. I havent achieved even close to where I want to go, but Im going to get there, and this is one route I can take, Sydney said. Visit www.barnweddingsillinois.com for more information. Contact Mount Hope Barn Weddings at sydneywhite@barnweddingsillinois.com or call 618-535-9803, which is also the telephone number to connect to Sydwhite Fitness. Reach Jill Moon at 618-208-6448 and Twitter @jill_moon. The Space Mountain roller coaster ride at Disneyland was closed Tuesday afternoon after a man in his 20s reportedly climbed out of the car he was in while it was in motion. It was still closed as of early Thursday afternoon. The man, who was not named and is reported to have cognitive disabilities, was not injured and walked unassisted to first aid before being taken to the hospital for examination, according to the Orange County Register. MANASSAS, Va. Lorena is very matter-of-fact about the whole thing. There, she said as she drove us around in her Kia on a recent afternoon, was the hospital where surgeons reattached John Wayne Bobbitts penis after she cut it off with a kitchen knife as he slept on the night of June 23, 1993. Fifteen minutes away, near Maplewood Drive, was the gravel-strewn field where she disposed of the detached penis out the driver's side window. So, why did she throw it away? I asked. I tried to drive the car, obviously, but I had this thing in my hand so I couldnt drive so I got rid of it. Obviously. Further down the road, is the nail salon where she worked and fled to that night. Im not a vindictive person because I told them where it was, Lorena Gallo, as she is now known, said. By them she means the police who, sometime after 4:30 a.m., clutched their loins and went digging through the overgrown roadside grass for the missing member. They found it, put it on ice in a Big Bite hot dog box from a nearby 7-Eleven and rushed it to the hospital where in a 9 1/2-hour feat of urological and plastic surgery it was reattached and restored to (almost) full function. These are the details everyone knows and the ones Lorena recites with the stoicism of the waiter at the Tortino Mare Italian restaurant who hours earlier had relayed the specials for us. Its the actual story, she said the one about a young immigrant who endured years of domestic violence, was raped by her husband that night, had nowhere to go and finally snapped that she wanted to talk to me about. They always just focused on it ... as in her husbands detached and reattached and then, a couple years later, surgically kind-of enlarged penis. That was all the media, before now, before the Womens March and the #MeToo movement, when we were all less evolved as humans, wanted to talk about. And its like they all missed or didnt care why I did what I did, she said. Lorena is correct, of course, that most people forget that before she was tried for what she did, John was charged with marital sexual assault. (He was acquitted.) At the time, marital rape only recently had been made a crime in all 50 states and was nearly impossible to prove in Virginia. Many in the media, including Ladies Home Journal and Gay Talese on assignment for The New Yorker, questioned whether it was an oxymoron. (Wife Rape? Who Really Gets Screwed? an earlier column in Penthouse read.) Al Franken, as character Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live, implored Lorena to apologize to Johns penis. And, she is correct that people forget that a jury found her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. We forget about the string of witnesses at her trial who testified that they had seen bruises on her arms and neck and that she had called 911 repeatedly and that John had bragged to friends about forcing his wife to have sex. In the years since the trial, he was arrested several times and served jail time for violence against two different women. (He denied the allegations.) This is about a victim and a survivor, and this is about whats happening in our world today, Lorena told me. That is the story she tells in Lorena, a four-part, Jordan Peele-produced documentary that will debut on Amazon Prime Video on Feb. 15. And that is why she took a break from volunteering with her daughters volleyball team and her work at her nonprofit, Lorenas Red Wagon, that helps survivors of domestic violence, to have lunch and show me around this bedroom community outside Washington, where it all went down. It has been 26 years since Lorena Bobbitt, a 24-year-old wounded bird of a woman with dark, wiry hair and sad, penetrating eyes became so enshrined in the annals of popular culture that she makes a cameo in both a Philip Roth novel and Eminem lyrics. Today, Lorena is shy, a petite 117 pounds in a black blazer, tasteful black stilettos, diamond hoop earrings and a Louis Vuitton handbag. (She told me her weight because she had weighed 95 pounds in 1993, when John said she had assaulted him.) Even though she has physically transformed, now the picture of an upwardly mobile 49-year-old suburban mom with wispy blond hair, she has the same, sad, dark, orb-like eyes. And even though she goes by her maiden name and, shortly after the trial, the media moved on (thank you, Tonya Harding), people meet Lorena in Manassas, and it doesnt take long for them to make the connection that she is that Lorena in Manassas. I live here. This is my home. Why should he have the last laugh? she said when I asked why she didnt move away. That afternoon we grabbed a coffee at Jirani Coffeehouse, near the courthouse where in 1994 the worlds media had descended to cover the Bobbitt trial, where vendors sold Love Hurts T-shirts and penis-shaped candy, and where inside Lorena, originally from Ecuador, trembled as she told a jury about how her husband, a former Marine, had repeatedly assaulted her. These days, the attention Lorena gets in this town is mostly positive. A woman who recognized her from a Zumba class ran up to us. Lorena, right? My father-in-law has the biggest crush on you! she said. She smiled politely and posed for the photo. Because even though she didnt want John, who continued to show up at her nail salon after the trial and still writes her love letters, to control her life, she knows that she cannot run from that phallic last name, not when you are Lorena in Manassas. I know I am still Lorena Bobbitt, she said. That name you know, its very important here. For a woman who has been a punch line for most of her adult life, Lorena Bobbitt Gallo is a surprisingly sincere person. That is the first thing I noticed about her when we met. She hugged me hello, coming up to my neck in heels, and I was struck at how warm and maternal she was. We talked about being moms and our naturally curly hair. I asked when she decided to go blonde. It wasnt long after the trial when a man she worked with at a salon offered to give her highlights. She wasnt trying to disguise herself or anything, she said, Its like oh, your roots are showing, so little by little I became blonder ... . And just like that, a straight iron and some hair dye and the scared young woman splashed on the cover of tabloids morphed into the sophisticated advocate who now sat across from me. Only later did I realize that we had had the kind of easy conversation of manicurist and client. The nail salon, after all, had been Lorenas refuge before and after the trial. She would talk to clients and learn that they, too, had been victims of domestic abuse. Thats when I realized what happened to me couldve happened to any woman in a desperate situation, Lorena said. She hopes to open her own shelter. When I was abused, I went to the salon and I didnt have the key and had to sleep in my car outside, she said. In 1994, after she served a brief, mandated stint in a mental hospital, Lorena went back to her life as a manicurist. She later did hair and sold real estate. She attended her Catholic church regularly and went to community college, where she met David Bellinger. The two were study partners and friends for years before they became romantically involved. She never dated anyone else, she said, because, well, how can you date, really, when you are that Lorena? The couple now have a 13-year-old daughter and live on a tidy street in a cream-colored brick house. When I finished with the trial, in the beginning, geez, I couldnt even go to the grocery store because people would say, Oh my God, You know what, I know you. I just wanted to put my groceries down and go home, Lorena said in still accented English. I just wanted to take care of myself and my family. You know, just to integrate myself into normalcy and a normal life. John went on to star in pornographic films (John Wayne Bobbitt: Uncut and John Wayne Bobbitts Frankenpenis). He became a fixture on The Howard Stern Show. I dont even buy that he was raping her, Stern said on one segment with John. Shes not that great looking. Lorena did some press, but mostly resisted offers to turn their castration saga into a film or TV series. She turned down $1 million to pose for Playboy. A million dollars is a million dollars, she said. It wouldve been amazing. But I wasnt raised that way. The filmmakers who approached her over the years never wanted to focus on the abuse, the story she really wanted to talk about. Even though the War of the Bobbitts, as People magazine called it, happened two years after Anita Hill inserted sexual harassment into the conversation and Thelma & Louise turned a housewife and a waitress into renegade icons of female revenge, most people never really thought of Lorena in those terms. Men, speaking from Charlie Rose's table and Geraldo Riveras armchairs, made Lorena seem like an unsatisfied, unhinged wife who had dealt a ghastly blow in the gender wars. And while many women defended Lorena and wondered what John must have done to drive her to it, some feminists argued that she had hurt the cause, making the sisterhood look deranged. It was like, Oh yeah, so now a lot of women are going to do this,' remembered Katha Pollitt, who wrote about the trial for The Nation. I do not remember Lorena Bobbitt, feminist hero. Domestic violence activists tried to refocus the conversation. Nobody cared about anything except John and his surgery and his loss,' said Kim A. Gandy, a former president of the National Organization for Women. We did a lot of interviews and the approach was often something like Well, thats what you feminists wanted all along.' Then, in 1994, O.J. Simpson was arrested and later acquitted in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman. That same year Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act. The national dialogue that started with Anita Hill, Lorena Bobbitt, O.J. Simpson, finally created a national discourse that gave us some traction on legislation, said Katie Ray-Jones, chief executive of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. So, even though most portrayals of Lorena made her seem like, in her words, this crazy, jealous lady, the Bobbitt trial did play a part in the laws changing. That was the version of the story that Joshua Rofe, a documentarian who had made Lost for Life, about juveniles serving life sentences in prison, wanted to tell. He explained that to Lorena when he reached out to her in December 2016, after reading about her work with domestic violence victims in HuffPost. They talked for nearly a year before Lorena, motivated by her outrage about the election of Donald Trump and, months later, the #MeToo movement, decided the climate was finally right to tell her side. It just so happened that at the same time, a wave of movies, documentaries and podcasts (I, Tonya, The Clinton Affair, Slow Burn) had shined new light on other women engulfed in scandals in the 1990s. Lorena identified with Harding and Monica Lewinsky. We were vilified by the media, vilified, and that is so sad. It happens to women, she said. Maybe, she figured, her story could finally get equal billing to Johns penis. Rofe said that before his talks with Lorena, hed thought about the Bobbitt case (the original clickbait, he called it) like most people did. I grew up being told it was common knowledge that some crazy white lady cut her husbands penis off in a fit of vengeance, he said. It was this red-hot thing that everybody got wrong. Not long after Peele won an Oscar for Get Out, Rofe casually brought up his fixation with reassessing Lorena Bobbitt. Peele devoured ESPNs O.J.: Made in America and saw the makings of something similar in Rofe's project. I loved the way that used 25 years of hindsight to look at this case that we thought we all knew, and I thought this spoke to gender dynamics in the way O.J. peeled back the layers of racial dynamics, Peele said in a phone interview. The documentary mostly unfolds in 1993, the dawn of Court TV and a proliferation of gossipy daytime talk shows. In Rofe and Peeles hands, the 24-hour news cycle becomes a voracious, multiheaded monster that eventually engulfs everything. There is a third character to this story besides Lorena and John, and that is us, society, and what we did with the information we had available to us, Peele said. Lorena ends with the number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, but the narrative itself doesnt take a side. It relies on news footage and interviews with Lorena, sitting in her living room. John is extensively interviewed, too, from a lounger in his home in North Las Vegas. He has maintained that he planned to divorce Lorena and that after he denied her sex that night, in a vengeful rage, she cut off his penis while he slept. In a phone interview, John, who was in New York preparing to tape The Dr. Oz Show, said he hadnt seen Lorena, but he said the filmmakers had set him up to make him look bad. She was never abused; she was always the abuser, and she cut off my penis because I was going to leave her, he said. I asked John about the additional charges that the film covers, including a harrowing interview with one of his ex-girlfriends who said he tied her to the bed in his Niagara Falls, New York, apartment and for several days repeatedly raped her. He was convicted and spent time in jail. Its all made up, and Im tired of it, John said. I was with a lot of women, a lot of women and none of them ever complained, except Lorena He paused. And Joanna. After we discussed the allegations, he proposed we keep talking over dinner at the Empire Hotel where he was staying. I declined. Back in the car, as Lorena pointed out the hospital where John had his surgery and where, just down the hall, she underwent a rape kit, I asked her if she regretted what she did. How can you regret something you didnt mean to do? she said. She explained, again, what she told the jury in 1994. John came home drunk. He raped her. She went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, spotted the kitchen knife and was overcome from years of abuse. She doesnt remember anything after that. To me, regret is Oh, I bought a black car instead of a red car when you dont choose right, Lorena said. I wasnt in my conscious mind. But I didnt just mean did she regret committing the act. I meant, did she regret making John Wayne Bobbitt a household name? Did she regret giving him a modicum of fame and a small but steady lifelong income? But Lorena doesnt think about things like that. Again, she told me, there are only choices. The black or the red car. He can choose. Its his life. Basically, I dont think I have anything to do with whatever he chooses to do with his life, you know, after the incident, she said. The incident that is what Lorena calls the shocking crime that still makes many men grasp their crotch and assume she must be serving a life sentence. Before she agreed to put the incident back into the publics imagination, Lorena talked to Peele, who explained to her that there would, inevitably, be comedy in this retelling. Lorena, Peele told me, fits with his larger mission to make films that give voices to marginalized people, but its impossible not to acknowledge that the story has the dark, tragicomic underpinnings of a Coen brothers movie. The first episode, after all, follows small town policemen digging around a field for a missing penis. Id be lying to you if I said theres not humor in this story, Peele said. He asked Lorena if she was OK with that. She told him she was. I was the subject of so many jokes in the 90s and to me it was just cruel, she said. They didnt understand. Why would they laugh about my suffering? But a couple decades later, after a lot of therapy, Lorena gets it now. She understands that the reason she has a platform is because of the detached penis, because of the hot dog box and Frankenpenis and that unforgettable last name. Ill put myself through the jokes and everything as long as I can shine a light on domestic violence and sexual assault and marital rape, she said. At one point, we drove along in silence. I looked over at Lorena, her hands gripping the steering wheel at 10 and 2. She stared straight ahead at the road, the same road she had been on that night in 1993, a night that even though she didnt want it to, has defined her life. It occurred to me that there would be no documentary, no Bobbitt jokes or permanent place in popular culture, had John severed some vital piece of Lorena. They laugh, she said several times during our afternoon together. They always laugh. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Senior ministry staff warned the education minister that rolling back the sex-ed curriculum could be perceived as outdated and not serving the needs of todays students, an Ontario human rights tribunal heard Thursday. Thats according to a document introduced as part of a human rights challenge launched by an 11-year-old transgender child who contends the provinces repeal of the 2015 Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum discriminates against LGBTQ students. In a memo to Education Minister Lisa Thompson, dated July 25, 2018, assistant deputy ministers Martyn Beckett and Denys Giguere wrote about the impacts of quashing the 2015 HPE curriculum for elementary students, and replacing it with an interim one that included sex-ed material from 1998. There would be no mandatory learning of the following topics: consent, sexting, homophobia, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, wrote Beckett and Giguere. They also pointed out that such a move could be perceived by the public as outdated and not serving the needs of todays students. And, they noted, some school boards have voiced their concern with utilizing sexual-health expectations from 1998. Have your say Nonetheless, in late August, Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government moved ahead with an election promise and repealed the modernized HPE curriculum, which some social conservatives felt was not age appropriate. It was replaced with an interim document from 2010, which includes sex-ed material from 1998. Read more: Consent big concern during sex-ed consultations, Minister Lisa Thompson says Sex-ed curriculum doesnt talk about consent enough, Education Minister Lisa Thompson says Transgender girl says sex-ed repeal made her nervous about returning to school The government also launched an extensive public consultation process on a range of education issues and received about 72,000 submissions between September and December. Beckett, who testified Thursday, said he and Giguere wanted to be clear and transparent with the minister about how the curriculum change would impact mandatory teaching expectations. But, he added that just because topics are no longer deemed mandatory doesnt mean teachers cant teach them. He said teachers have the ability to use their professional judgment in how they wish to develop their lesson and are free to teach about issues, such as gender identity, stereotypes and LGBTQ issues. Teachers have a responsibility to ensure that all students feel welcomed, included and celebrated, he told the tribunal. When asked why the province did not keep the 2015 curriculum in place while undertaking its consultation process, Beckett said the government was committed to giving Ontarians a voice. The applicant in this human rights case is an 11-year-old identified only as AB. Last week, AB testified that the governments rollback of the curriculum puts trans youth in the shadows. ABs lawyers Mika Imai and Marcus McCann argue that revoking an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum and replacing it with a noninclusive one violates the human rights of LGBTQ students. We think this puts trans and queer youth at risk of being bullied and being harassed, Imai told the Star, during a break in proceedings. The Ontario Human Rights Commission has intervened seeking to protect the rights of girls and LGBTQ+ students, which it says are among the provinces most vulnerable and at-risk people. It also believes the interim curriculum does not properly address consent, putting students at greater risk of sexual violence. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and Justice for Children and Youth are intervenors in this case. Lawyers for the government argue teachers have substantial discretion when it comes to delivering the interim curriculum and are allowed to use any resource they choose to help them design their lesson plans. Beckett said teachers can still use the 2015 curriculum as a resource that document, however, is no longer available on the ministry website. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Teachers are required to teach in an inclusive way, said Beckett. Teachers are to be mindful and inclusive of children in the community and in the province of Ontario. Although curriculum development typically takes about two years, Beckett said the province is committed to delivering a new HPE curriculum by September. The matter is being adjudicated by Jennifer Scott and Brenda Bowlby. Proceedings will resume Friday and closing arguments are scheduled for next week The province is also facing a separate human rights challenge launched by two transgender teens, and legal challenges by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. Read more about: Freezing cold temperatures failed to keep around 1,200 people from coming out to get some questions answered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a town hall in Milton on Thursday. The event, which was hosted by Oakville MP John Oliver and Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff, took place within the gymnasium of Craig Kielburger Secondary School and saw the prime minister answer questions on a wide range of subjects from Canadas troubled relations with China to electoral change to space exploration. Before he started taking questions, Trudeau talked about the importance of the event. These town halls, for me, are a really great way to hear directly from you and about the kinds of things you are preoccupied with, he said. They are also a really good opportunity for each of you to hear what your neighbours might be preoccupied with ... Maybe some of them are the same as your issues. Maybe they are completely different from your issues. The first question Trudeau took concerned how he would work to maintain a positive relationship with China in the wake of the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou and the subsequent jailing of Canadians in China, seemingly in retaliation. Trudeau noted Canada has an extradition treaty with the United States and it was Canadas independent justice system that decided Wanzhous arrest was warranted given that treaty. The Chinese government has been asking us to release this prominent Chinese citizen and interfere with the functioning of our independent judiciary. Different countries do things differently, but in Canada politicians dont get to weigh in on court proceedings. We have a judiciary that is independent of political pressures and political processes and that is a good thing, said Trudeau to the applause of the audience. We need to make sure China understands Canada is going to unequivocally stand up for the rule of law, respect our international treaties and obligations and always put the safety of Canadians first. That said, Trudeau noted he has no desire to escalate the situation with China and looks forward to continuing to trade with the nation. The prime minister also discussed the environment and questions about why his government has not done more to restrict single-use plastics. Trudeau said the issue with plastics is far greater than what is done with them in Canada. He noted that 90 per cent of the plastics currently in the oceans all come from just 10 rivers, none of which are in Canada. The prime minister argued plastic pollution is a global problem and said that is why Canada co-hosted a Global Oceans Conference with Kenya in November 2018. The conference, he said, looked at moving forward with a global approach to reducing and eliminating plastics. Trudeau said combating plastic pollution continues to be a key part of the Government of Canadas advocacy around the world. Questions about the federal governments purchasing of the Trans Mountain Pipeline and what good this investment in fossil fuels does for environment protection were also brought forward. The prime minister said it is not possible to choose between the environment and the economy as focusing solely on one and not the other will not have positive results. He said the fact is Canada has massive oil reserves, but 99 per cent of all the oil produced by the oilsands is sold to one customer, the United States. Trudeau said that means that customer can pretty much pick the price. To fix this situation, which Trudeau said is costing Canada between $20 billion and $80 billion per year, Canada is trying to get its oil to other markets via pipelines. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The Liberal government bought the Trans Mountain Pipeline for $4.5 billion in May 2018 in an effort to ensure the expansion gets built. This is not an answer that satisfies everyone. I totally understand that, but governing this country requires making choices, requires balancing competing interests, said Trudeau. To my mind, being able to move forward in a way that actually had Alberta agree to put an absolute cap on their oilsands greenhouse gas emissions, which will allow us to reach our Paris targets, means this is a thoughtful and responsible way forward. He also said the government has invested $1.5 billion on a world-class oceans protection plan to protect the British Columbia coast in the event of a spill. The prime minister also faced a question on electoral reform with one audience member asking if any work in this area would be done. Trudeau said the government has changed the way the Senate functions, removing patronage and partisanship, which he says has significantly improved the way the Senate operates. Changing the entire electoral system proved more difficult than expected, he said. We actually did put together a committee, we put together a number of working groups, we did pan-Canadian consultations to try and see if there was a consensus on the way forward to change our electoral system to improve our democracy, said Trudeau. Unfortunately, there was absolutely no consensus either across the country or among the parties with regard to how we should change our system. Therefore, I decided that rather than move forward with the majority I have to impose an electoral system on the country, it would be better that I step back from that promise That is a promise I didnt follow through on. Canadians will choose whether that is a good enough explanation when it comes to the next time to vote. Trudeau answered questions from the audience for around an hour and a half. He was well received by the majority of those present with his answers regularly drawing applause and there were none of the outbursts or removals that have made headlines at some of his other town halls. At the conclusion of the evening the prime minister took some time to shake hands and pose for selfies on his way out. One topic not brought up during the event was the proposed CN Rail hub that has been a source of concern for many Milton residents. The project is under federal jurisdiction, however, local municipalities are appealing to the courts in an effort to ensure that local laws are applied. Read more about: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has always been the kind of politician who dislikes more things than he likes. He never sat as an Opposition MPP where he would have learned to brandish disapproval out of mere habit. Its more that he dislikes change, change happens, and he rages that change must revert. Fords core likes are few: buck-a-beer; men; businessmen; business as the sunlit upland of human endeavour; intuition over research; rural people (real) over Toronto people (phoneys); cheapness as a virtue. Almost everything and everyone else, he seems to dislike. So it was hard to predict who or what would be the biggest targets of Fords innate misanthropy. At first it was individuals like former PC leader Patrick Brown, and allegedly overpaid Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt, who Ford got rid of at a cost of $103 million (U.S.) of the taxpayer dollars Ford claims to treasure. But by far his greatest animus has been directed at education. He doesnt like teachers, students, classrooms, subjects, kindergarten, universities or student unions. In first few months of government, he and his cabinet have cancelled plans for Ontarios first official French university and three new university campuses in Brampton, Markham and Milton, cut tuition fees thereby taking $440 million from university and college revenues, partially reverted to loans rather than grants for poorer students, forced universities to adopt a largely unnecessary free speech policy, considered cancelling sex education entirely, and are now preparing the ground for possibly ending full-day kindergarten in Ontario (at the moment hes claiming to back only full-day learning, and that sounds unreliable.) Ford also removed University of Toronto President Meric Gertler as a provincial appointee on the board of Waterfront Toronto, which might normally be listed in the I-hate-Toronto category of Ford spite firings but did I mention that Gertler is the president of the University of Toronto? Yes, twice, you say. I can see no other reason except that Gertler is highly educated and internationally regarded, which snapped one of the tighter elastics in Fords mental assemblage. The elites! Gertler isnt elitist at all. You cant be when part of your job is coping with as-yet untaught teenagers, and anyway a more courteous and patient person you couldnt devise to link Toronto and one of its largest core institutions. No, Ford does not like education or anyone involved in the process at any level. Ford went to high school and perhaps, like me, has bad memories of hours writing exams in the gym. But why would he take it out on full-day kindergarten, which is essentially education prep? Wait, its worse than that. He could be preparing the ground for more unlicensed private daycare which is pre-education prep which would mean that the most crucial years of child development will get less attention and money from government. Full-day kindergarten is essential. For every dollar invested in #FDK, Ontario generates $2.42 in reduced social costs and improved health outcomes, Kathleen Wynne tweeted on Thursday, but you know Fords view of Wynnes facts. Without it, frantic parents will be left to bring their kids to work full-time, or toddlers will be herded into arenas economies of scale, how thrilling to watch Peppa Pig on IMAX. Perhaps theyll attend daycares run by dubious mall Santas and play in old mine tunnels propped up with plywood. Actions have consequences. If Ford says farewell, 6-year-old wildcats will start showing up in Grade 1 classrooms without the capped student numbers that keep things under control. Its hard to say whats more destructive, to make life measurably worse for small children or for university students. Either way, young people will be less smart. Look at the U.S. All those fun stories about young people thinking Adolf Hitler ran a startup and that the Pledge of Allegiance is a furniture polish, thats going to be us. Yes, I am catastrophizing. As who would not these days, I ask. But whether Ford decides to cut education spending at the beginning or the end of youth, whether out of well-intentioned false economy or a genuine animus toward anyone better-educated than he, the result will be the same. Young people will be less equipped to face what may be the harshest century we have yet known. They will be at the forefront of what the former journalist Alan Rusbridger calls the flight from complexity. What a demolishingly understated English way of saying that people are stupid, and worse, they enjoy being so. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The results are in. We will have to list education as No. 1 on Premier Fords hate list. Its a great shame, if only because there are far easier and less destructive ways for Ford to save money. He could turn the derelict Hearn Generating Station into a hub, as they say, for drug users who allegedly clog emergency rooms, as opposed to us, the deserving unwell. Its in the Port Lands, after all, a channel away, like Little England after Brexit. Ontario could secede, to join Wisconsin, the Alabama of the North, which is what we too will be if Ford has his way. Read more about: God wanted me to write this column. Im kidding. I have no idea what God wanted me to do, or wants me to do, because I know the drill. He works in mysterious ways. Unless you are White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Then he is apparently quite direct. The usually surly Sanders gave an interview to the Christian Broadcasting Network this week in which she positively glows, presumably with the knowledge of His Word. And His Word, supposedly, is this: I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times. And I think that He wanted Donald Trump to become president. Thats why hes there and I think he has done a tremendous job in supporting a lot of the things that people of faith really care about. The funny thing about this statement is that though arguably nuts, its also arguably one of the least offensive things to come out of the mouth of a member of the Trump administration. But what does it mean? Supporting is the operative word here. President Trump does not behave in a manner most religious people are traditionally fond of. Few genuinely pious Evangelical Christians would desire their daughters to wed The Donald, nor even to ride in the same elevator as him. But what the President lacks in moral character, religious fervour, and basic decency, he makes up for in support; in support of Evangelical causes and in pandering to Evangelical preachers. Though in all likelihood Trump has as much regard for The Good Book as he does for Rosie ODonnell, he is politically shrewd enough to know that he needs conservative Christians to win a second term next year. He needs to continually remind them amid corruption and sex scandal, family separations at the border, and other events that should appall them, that he is in Gods corner. Everything he does and doesnt do is part of a larger, Lord-sanctioned plan. And they appear to believe him. Katherine Stewart, a journalist and author who has attended several Christian nationalist events, writes in The New York Times recently that, while she has heard plenty of comments casting doubt on the more questionable aspects of Mr. Trumps character, the gist of the proceedings almost always comes down to the belief that he is a miracle sent straight from heaven to bring the nation back to the Lord. I have also learned that resistance to Mr. Trump is tantamount to resistance to God. Stewart writes that many Evangelicals (not to mention Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) liken Trump to King Cyrus the Great, the Persian emperor who appears in the Old Testament and frees Jews from captivity in Babylon. In other words, she argues, Cyrus is a non-believer who aids the pious. So too, some say, is Trump. As for Sarah Huckabee Sanders, I liken the press secretary to Aaron in the story of Exodus. The Bible holds that Aaron spoke for Moses, because Moses wasnt much of an orator. (They didnt have Toastmasters back in the day.) The same can be said in some ways about Sanders relationship with Trump. After all, her boss is less sage on the mountain, more Tweeter on the toilet. A prime example, on Thursday, Trump shared the following wisdom with his 57 million followers: So great to watch & listen to all these people who write books & talk about my presidential campaign and so many others things related to winning, and how I should be doing IT. As I take it all in, I then sit back, look around, & say gee, Im in the White House, & theyre not! Yes, many love Trumps idiotic rhetoric, scores of Evangelicals among them, but Sanders remarkable statement to the Christian Broadcasting Network sounds to me like a pleading reminder to Christians who are less smitten with the Commander in Chiefs style: He is not his own man. He is Gods disciple. Bear with us. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... And they probably will. The only thing left for us non-believers to do is pray. Pray that Evangelical Christians do as the Jewish people once did and conclude that the prophet of the day isnt one. He is just a guy. He doesnt have Gods ear. In this case, he hasnt a clue. Read more about: News that U.S. negotiators held six days of peace talks with the Taliban last week should be cause for celebration. After all, until now theres been no end in sight to the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan that cost the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers and hundreds of billions in military and humanitarian aid. But nothing about the agreement in principle reached between the Americans and the Taliban feels right, or moral. By all accounts this is simply about getting U.S. forces out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to withdraw half the 14,000 American troops, and says hell bring the rest home if theres a deal. Its not about working out a long-term arrangement that would give Afghanistan at least a chance of establishing peace and democracy in a country riven by conflict for four decades. And it will leave the 40 countries that joined the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan wondering what exactly they were fighting and dying for. That very much includes Canada, which committed troops to the war for 12 years and lost 159 soldiers. So far what the two sides have agreed on amounts to a plan to extricate U.S. troops in a manner that hopefully will not lead to a repeat of the calamitous exit from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. In return the Taliban, according to U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad, has pledged not to give terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda safe haven or a platform from which to attack the United States and other western targets. Theres no word on how the Taliban could achieve that or about the inconvenient fact that the Haqqani network, one of the 20 terrorist groups on the U.S. intelligence list, forms the core of the Afghan Taliban. Nor is there a solution to the fact that the Taliban refuses to negotiate, never mind work with, the democratically elected Afghan government led by Ashraf Ghani. Khalilzad told the New York Times this past week that the Taliban must agree to a ceasefire and talk to the Afghan government before talks can proceed. But it does not bode well that Ghanis government was not at the table for the first round of negotiations, or that the Taliban continues to describe it as an illegitimate puppet of the Americans. Further, it is unlikely at this point that Ghanis troops can hold off a Taliban takeover when the U.S. troop pullout occurs. Indeed, since 2014, when NATO allies such as Canada pulled their soldiers out, 45,000 Afghan security forces have been killed and the Taliban has regained control of almost half of the country. That said, it was Ghani, not U.S. negotiators, who mentioned what should have been at the heart of any peace talks. He said there are values which are non-negotiable, including the basic rights of the citizens of the country. Theres no reason to believe the Taliban will respect any of that. The social and economic gains that Afghans, especially Afghan women, have made over the past decade and a half may be swept away once again. Its not just Afghans who should be worried. Senior U.S. national security analysts say a complete withdrawal of American troops will lead to an attack on the United States within two years. They are asking that, at the very least, a residual counter-terrorism force remain in the country after any troop pullout to keep an eye on Al Qaeda in the country, never mind Daesh (a.k.a. the Islamic State), which is making inroads there. Certainly, theres no reason not to talk to the Taliban, and many good reasons to do just that. As Israels one-time defence minister, Moshe Dayan, once said: If you want to make peace, you dont talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies. After 17 years of bloody and expensive conflict, this is long overdue. Still, a deal without provisions for power-sharing between the Taliban and the elected Afghan government, never mind one that doesnt mention human and constitutional rights, would be devastating for the people of Afghanistan. As it stands, it may well just open the door for renewed civil war. And it will undermine any future efforts for united security efforts involving the U.S. and its allies. If the Americans are prepared to just cut and run, why will others sign up to support them when new threats emerge, as they are bound to? It short, the deal is defeatist, something the Taliban has always been counting on. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Thats not the way it was supposed to be. Back in 2006, when 2,300 Canadian soldiers were based in Kandahar, Canadas then-Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, declared that we refuse to accept terrorism as a way of changing our societies and the international order. Those were bold words. But the agreement in principle being worked out between the Americans and the Taliban risks accepting exactly what the Canadians and many others were supposedly fighting against. U.S. negotiators are slated to begin further negotiations with the Taliban soon. When they do, they should bargain for far more than Trumps wishes for a fast exit. They should actually negotiate a deal for peace. Read more about: Ontarios New Democrats dropped a bombshell on Thursday with the release of a leaked, draft copy of the governments proposed health-care reform legislation. This happened on the same day that the government made public a report from an advisory committee, detailing problems in the health system. The report, by the Premiers Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine, states that council members are now working on a second report, one that will recommend fixes to those problems. But the release of the draft legislation raises questions about how serious the government is in seeking advice from the health-care experts it appointed to its council. Indeed, it reveals that the government has already come up with its own answers on how to fix those problems. This is concerning because Ontarios health system is like a huge game of whack-a-mole. Make a change to one sector and unexpected problems can easily pop up in another. As a guy who has worked in Ontario health care for more than 40 years, I am very aware that its important to proceed with caution and consult widely when making big changes. The current process is just backwards. The leak of the legislation reveals the new governments health transformation plan is essentially a fait accompli. Read more: Ontario wont contract health services to lowest bidder, Christine Elliot says Ontario health minister downplays confidential draft bill that would create super agency and allow more privatization 1,000 Ontario hospital patients a day being treated in corridors: Report That tells me it may be poorly thought out and makes me worry that implementation will be chaotic. I have gone through the 81-page Health System Efficiency Act and it has left me particularly concerned about what will happen to patients after they move from hospital into the community. Chaotic implementation would pose real risks to the 750,000 vulnerable Ontarians who receive home care. Heres what I see in the draft legislation. It divides power and authority between the health minister, the board of a new super agency and 70 new structures under the umbrella of the agency, called integrated care delivery systems. The legislation states that the integrated delivery systems would be created from organizations that provide at least two of the following sectors: hospital, primary care, home care, mental health, long-term care and/or palliative care. It is likely that 70 existing hospitals would be designated as integrated care delivery systems and also made responsible for organizing out-of-hospital health care in their communities. The health minister would have extraordinary powers under the new system. She could order that service providers be merged or eliminated, or that employees of such providers be transferred to the super agency. The minister could make binding orders upon the super agency, integrated delivery services and services providers to follow specific directives and standards. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... These orders could be made with as little as 30 days notice, no community consultation and no right of appeal. To me, this is the most important part of the draft legislation since it provides the opportunity for standardizing best practices in the provision of health services. But would it mean that primary care physicians would have to work according to standards developed at Queens Park. Or would these standards simply be adapted from the work of Health Quality Ontario. (The legislation would see HQO, an existing organization that provides advice on best practices, absorbed by the super agency.) There is also much concern that the legislation would encourage the provision of private care under super agency. This arises from a section that seems to allow the health minister to develop performance bonusing if efficiencies are generated. Under the proposed changes, Ontarios 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN) would fade into history. When that happens who would pick up responsibility for co-ordinating and paying for home-care services, as LHINs now do? Would it be the super agency, out of Queens Park in downtown Toronto? Or would it be the 70 integrated delivery services across the province that have yet to be developed? Or would the super agency rely on existing home-care delivery agencies, many of whom are for profit corporations? This is where my worry for 750,000 vulnerable home-care patients comes from. Ontarians should not have to parse through leaked draft legislation to determine what the future of health care will look like in the province. Again, this is backward. The government should develop its plans through consultations with experts, stakeholders and most especially citizens. When consensus is reached, a blueprint should be made public and Ontarians should be invited to comment on it. Only then should legislation be developed. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Latest on the Colorado River drought plan (all times local): 4:20 p.m. Water managers in Arizona and California say theyre confident theyll get the work done needed to complete a drought plan. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Friday that the two states missed a federal deadline to finish the plan to combat a shrinking supply of Colorado River water. Arizona passed legislation Thursday approving the authorization of the plan. More than a dozen agreements among water users still need to be signed. Two entities that deliver Colorado River water in California want to review final agreements before giving their OK. One also is seeking federal funding for a lake created by runoff thats been drying up. The Bureau of Reclamation says it would start taking recommendations on how to manage the water supply if California and Arizona dont wrap up the work by March 4. 9:50 a.m. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says two Western states failed to meet a deadline to complete a plan to address a shrinking supply of Colorado River water. The bureaus commissioner, Brenda Burman, said Friday that complex agreements among water users in California and Arizona havent been signed. She started a process to gather comments from governors in the seven states that rely on the river to address the supply. She says shell terminate the process if Arizona and California have agreements in place by March 4. The bureau operates under the Interior Department, which is considered the water master of the Colorado River. It has broad authority to step in and manage the river but Burman says she prefers the states reach consensus. Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming rely on the river. 12 a.m. All seven Western states that rely on Colorado River water now have agreed to a plan to keep key reservoirs from plummeting. Arizona lawmakers approved the plan late Thursday, becoming the last state to meet a deadline set by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The bureaus commissioner, Brenda Burman, plans to discuss the status of the plans Friday with reporters. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming spent years crafting plans that recognize a shrinking supply of river water. The river supports about 40 million people and millions of acres of farmland in the U.S. and Mexico but cant keep up with demand. Under drought contingency plans, states voluntarily will give up water to prop up Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Mexico also has agreed to cuts. WASHINGTON - The Latest on Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone (all times local): 2:55 p.m. A federal judge says shes considering a gag order in the special counsels case against Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Friday that the case has already received substantial publicity, including from statements Stone himself has made asserting his innocence. The judge said that while the case should not be treated like a book tour, she would not immediately rule until attorneys had a chance to respond next week. Stone said Thursday he would abide by a gag order if one was imposed but also said he would appeal one. Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges including obstruction and witness tampering. He is the 34th person charged in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into potential co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. ___ 1:15 a.m. Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone is due back in court in the special counsels Russia investigation as prosecutors say that theyve recovered voluminous material in the case. Stone faces a status conference in federal court in Washington on Friday, just three days after he pleaded not guilty to felony charges of witness tampering, obstruction and false statements. Stone and his lawyers will appear before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who also presides over special counsel Robert Muellers prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The judge imposed a gag order in that case after a lawyer for Manafort addressed reporters after his first court appearance. Stone has been outspoken since his indictment last week, repeatedly asserting his innocence and criticizing Muellers team for having him arrested before dawn. WASHINGTON - The Latest on the announcement by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., that hes running for president in 2020 (all times local): 3:05 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker says he wants universal health insurance coverage in the U.S. But the New Jersey senator says he doesnt want to eliminate private insurance. Thats one of the differences between Booker and one of his 2020 White House rivals, Sen. Kamala Harris of California. She made headlines this week by saying she wants to expand Medicare to cover all Americans, and that could mean eliminating private health insurance plans. Such a move would be a politically difficult and represent a drastic overall to the system. Booker is suggesting he would back more incremental proposals that would expand Medicare, while allowing private insurers to continue to provide coverage. ___ 2:15 p.m. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker says he want to help Americans find common ground. Booker is talking to reporters in Newark hours after announcing his plans to run for president. He says the nation needs more grace and less judgment from its leadership. The uplifting rhetoric has defined Bookers message Friday. It stands in contrast to some other Democratic contenders who have entered the race promising a scrappy, direct fight against President Donald Trump. Booker suggested he knows his message may not resonate with some Democratic voters. But, he says, love aint easy. ___ 11:50 a.m. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is appealing to Americans to come together from their partisan corners as he launches his 2020 presidential candidacy. The New Jersey Democrat appeared live on The View on Friday, telling its hosts that he is running as a counterweight to a caustic type of politics that threatens to divide the country. Booker did not specifically call out President Donald Trump as the source of that cancer in our country right now. When asked what his party would do to fight the Trump administrations detention of immigrant children, he struck a note of unity and said: The question is not what the Democrats do. The question is what we do, referring to all Americans. Booker is a former mayor of Newark, New Jerseys largest city. He joins multiple other candidates of colour in a diverse Democratic primary field. He was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and won re-election to a full term in 2014. ___ Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... 10:15 a.m. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has begun reaching out to key constituencies in his 2020 presidential bid. The New Jersey Democrat announced his candidacy on Friday and followed that up by calling in to three radio shows popular with black and Hispanic listeners. Booker spoke in fluent Spanish during his interview with Univision, vowing to work closely with the Latino community. In another interview he discussed his support for marijuana legalization. Booker is a former mayor of Newark, New Jerseys largest city. Hes the second black candidate in a primary field thats already historically diverse. He says he wants to unite a deeply polarized nation around a common purpose. Booker will be a Friday guest on The View, a TV talk show popular with female viewers. His mother plans to sit in the audience. ___ 7:05 a.m. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is running for president in 2020. The New Jersey Democrat made the announcement Friday in a video message to supporters, emphasizing a return to American unity in an era of deep political divisions. Booker enters a crowded presidential primary field that includes three of his fellow senators and could soon include three more. The 49-year-old visited Iowa and New Hampshire in October, an early indication of his intentions to challenge President Donald Trump. Booker is a former Newark mayor. He won a special election to the Senate in 2013 and won a full term in 2014. He will be able to run for a second Senate term in 2020 as well as run for president thanks to a law that New Jerseys governor signed in November. LOS ANGELES - The Latest on Los Angeles prosecutors decision to hold a hearing on allegations attorney Michael Avenatti roughed up his girlfriend (all times local): 11:25 a.m. Attorney Michael Avenatti says hes been vindicated by a decision by Los Angeles prosecutors not to bring misdemeanour charges based on a girlfriends domestic abuse allegations. The Los Angeles city attorneys office said Friday it had declined to bring charges at this time, but will hold hearings on the matter. A spokesman for City Attorney Mike Feuer says the informal hearings will allow both sides to present evidence and charges could be brought after that. Actress Mareli Miniutti accused Avenatti in November of dragging her by the arm across a bedroom floor of his apartment after an argument. Avenatti, who represents porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuits against President Donald Trump, has denied the allegations. A court has ordered Avenatti not to contact or be near Miniutti ___ 10:46 a.m. Los Angeles prosecutors say they will hold hearings over allegations that attorney Michael Avenatti roughed up his girlfriend. City Attorney Mike Feuer said Friday his office has declined at this point to charge Avenatti with a misdemeanour but the matter remains open. Actress Mareli Miniutti accused Avenatti in November of dragging her by the arm across a bedroom floor of his apartment after an argument. Avenatti, who represents porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuits against President Donald Trump, has denied the allegations. A court has ordered Avenatti not to contact or be near Miniutti. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Feuers spokesman says prosecutors will hold hearings to give the alleged victim and Avenatti a chance to be heard. The Los Angeles district attorney has declined to press felony charges in the case. Credit: Joey Martinez Gary Clark Jr. is headed to the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time. The blues rocker will make his debut on the iconic sketch series on February 16. Avengers actor Don Cheadle, who's currently starring in the Showtime series Black Monday, will host the episode. Following his SNL performance, Clark will release his new album This Land on February 22. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. WASHINGTONThe federal judge overseeing the criminal case against longtime Donald Trump friend Roger Stone said Friday she is considering whether to impose a gag order after Stone went on a weeklong media blitz to discuss the allegations against him. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told prosecutors and Stones attorneys to file any opposition to such a directive by next Friday. Stone, a political operative who relishes press attention, has said he worries about a possible gag order because his career is in speaking and writing. Jacksons comment came as Stone returned to federal court in Washington on Friday for a scheduling hearing after pleading not guilty this week to charges in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. The judge said Stone might have been justified in making his position clear after his arrest, but added that she needed to ensure he received a fair trial. This is a criminal proceeding, not a public-relations campaign, Jackson said, threatening to cut off public comments by parties and attorneys about the case. I believe its better for counsel and parties to do their talking in pleadings, not on courthouse steps, not on the talk show circuit. Stone, 66, a longtime GOP operative and self-described dirty trickster, entered Courtroom 3 wearing a charcoal grey suit with broad pinstripes and a billowing paisley pocket square. He sat with two lawyers to his right at the defendants table. Read more: Confidential Mueller evidence used in disinformation campaign, U.S. prosecutors say Big business plans all-out blitz on Washington to end trade war Donald Trump behind NFL drive to stop Canadians from watching U.S. Super Bowl commercials After the hearing, he declined to say to a reporter what he thought of a potential gag order. They told me no interviews in the building, he said, grinning. Asked if hed be speaking outside, he said, No, too dangerous. Stone is charged with lying about his efforts to gather information concerning hacked Democratic Party emails that were published by the WikiLeaks organization. Stone has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the charges. A gag order would not be entirely surprising; Jackson issued such a directive during Muellers prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which was a similarly high-profile case. But muzzling Stone might be more consequential. In the months he has been under investigation, Stone has given numerous interviews, and has vigorously attacked prosecutors case as he has sought to raise money for his defence. As recently as Thursday, he hosted a news conference to take questions from reporters. Jackson told Stone that prosecutors could use anything he said in public about his case against him, including by comparing it to previous statements. She also said that if Stone continues to speak out on his case, journalists could reasonably feel obligated to repeat the charges and evidence against him. Right now, I believe we will be able to seat an unbiased jury, Jackson said. But the upshot of Stones statements and coverage of them could be that we end up with an even larger percentage the of jury pool tainted by publicity than we have now. The judge said she was not contemplating limiting Stones public commentary on other matters unrelated to the subjects of the case. He can discuss foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady as much as he wants to, Jackson said. It remains unclear how soon Stone could go to trial. Prosecutors said they had discussed possible October dates with Stones defence, but Jackson said she was hoping for July. She set another hearing date in the case for March 14. Stone spoke aloud twice during the 20-minute hearing. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Yes, your honour, he said when she asked if he could hear a bench conference through earphone. I do, he said later, swearing to abide by the conditions of his pretrial release. Ahead of Fridays hearing, prosecutors and Stones defence lawyers agreed in court filings on a proposed protective order to keep secret evidence turned over by the government, and to waive Stones normal speedy trial rights, citing the cases complexity. The government said it will provide the defence with hard drives containing terabytes of data, including search warrants for Apple iCloud accounts and email accounts, bank and financial records, and contents of Stones devices such as cellphones, computers and storage drives spanning several years. The government said it also plans to turn over the contents of devices seized last week from Stones home, apartment and office. Stone is free on a $250,000 (U.S.) personal recognizance bond on the condition that he not possess or apply for a passport and not travel outside southern Florida, the Washington area and New York City. Prosecutors charge that in 2016, Stone repeatedly sought to learn when potentially damaging internal emails from Hillary Clintons campaign would be released. By itself, those actions may not constitute a crime, but Stone is accused of lying to Congress when asked about the efforts. He also is charged with obstruction and witness tampering. U.S. authorities in July indicted a dozen Russian military intelligence officers on charges they hacked Democrats computers, stole data and shared those files to disrupt the 2016 election. In Stones indictment, prosecutors charged that after the initial July 22, 2016, release of stolen emails, a senior Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1 had regarding the Clinton campaign. The indictment does not name the campaign official or who directed the alleged outreach to Stone. People familiar with the case identified Organization 1 as WikiLeaks, the global anti-secrecy group founded by Julian Assange. Stone has repeatedly denied any contact with Russia or WikiLeaks. He has said that he had no advance knowledge of what material WikiLeaks held and that predictions he made about the groups plans were based on Assanges public comments and tips from associates. Stone and WikiLeaks and Assange have said they never communicated with each other. In a Thursday interview with the New York Times, the newspaper reported that Trump said he never spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen emails it posted, and said he never instructed anyone to get in touch with Stone about WikiLeaks. Stone, a veteran GOP operative and friend of Trumps for four decades, briefly advised the presidential campaign in 2015 and remained in contact with Trump and top advisers through the election. Read more about: WASHINGTON - The International Committee of the Red Cross has talked to the United States about the risks of delivering humanitarian aid to Venezuela without the approval of security forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro. Opposition leader Juan Guaido has said he will defy Maduros refusal to allow humanitarian aid by asking neighbouring nations to help send in large convoys of medicine and food. Guaido has declared himself interim president of the country. The Trump administration has announced it is ready to deliver aid to Venezuela whenever and however is decided by Guaido. Alexandra Boivin, ICRC delegation head for the United States and Canada, said Friday that the ICRC had told U.S. officials that whatever plans they have to help the people of Venezuela, it has to be shielded from this political conversation. It is obviously a very difficult conversation to have with the U.S., she said. We are there also to make clear the risks of the path being taken, the limits of our ability to operate in such an environment. ICRC director of global operations Dominik Stillhart said the committee would only take part in such co-ordinated efforts if they are executed with the agreement of the authorities, whoever the authorities are. Stillhart said that the ICRC currently brings in its own medical supplies and emergency trauma care to support six hospitals located across the country. We are not kind of an implementing agency for any donor, specifically not to implement things that have a political tone, he said. The Geneva-based organization is currently in talks with the Venezuelan Ministry of Health to expand its budget in the South American country to at least $20 million. The expanded budget would provide increased support to high risk areas on the Venezuela-Colombia border and address a recent resurgence of malaria in the state of Bolivar, along the southern border with Brazil. We are not taking any side. Regardless of the political situation, our focus will always be on what we can do, Stillhart said. ICRC will also dedicate $35 million to Colombia to assist in areas where former FARC rebels maintained a presence and to care for more than three million Venezuelans who have fled the economic crisis in their country. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... ___ Luis Alonso Lugo on Twitter: twitter.com/luisalonsolugo DORAL, Fla. - U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence told a crowd in Florida on Friday that it is time to take action to end the socialist regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Pence told dozens of Venezuelans that Washington was working toward a peaceful transition so opposition leader Juan Guaido rises to power. But he reassured them President Donald Trumps administration would further weaken Maduro. This is no time for dialogue, Pence said at a church in the Doral suburb of Miami, prompting loud cheers among exiles who fled their homeland. It is time to end the Maduro regime. Before his speech, Pence sat down with a college professor who says he and his wife were physically assaulted by armed pro-government groups. In a round-table discussion, he also heard from other Venezuelans refugees such as a former city councilman who says he was accused of being a CIA agent. A doctor showed enlarged pictures of children seemingly dying of hunger. A Venezuelan accountant and professor at Andres Bello Catholic University, Jose Ali Ravanguoy, told Pence and Florida politicians that he was being persecuted for teaching about democracy in working-class neighbourhoods that were socialist strongholds. We started to make noise, he said. I am here as the face of many mothers who live with the fear that their husbands wont come home. That the father of their kids wont return. That their children live a childhood full of fear and persecution, said Francis Suarez, wife of Ravanguoy, who wore a shirt that said Make Venezuela Free Again. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center on the political crisis in Venezuela on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, in Doral, Fla. About 190,000 Venezuelans live in Florida, and many have arrived in recent years as the country spiraled downward as a result of an economic and political crisis under Maduro and former President Hugo Chavez. Sen. Marco Rubio, a fierce critic of Maduro, warned that time was running out for the socialist leader to voluntarily step down from office. Nicolas Maduro has got big problems. This is not like the other times. Youve made a terrible enemy in Donald Trump, Rubio said. The Florida Republican has praised the Trump administration for hitting Venezuelas state-owned oil company with sanctions. Pence said the Trump administration would continue to put diplomatic and economic pressure to force Maduro to cede power and restore democracy in the South American nation. He repeated a message that Donald Trump has given before regarding consideration a military intervention, and said all options are on the table. Alejandro Segovia Marquez, a former city councilman who says he was accused of working for the CIA, told Pence in a discussion that Venezuelans cant wait any longer because time equals deaths. We, the Venezuelans, stand by the United States side and are waiting for you, he said. For pity, for humanity, do not drag your feet on this issue. WASHINGTON - Cory Booker leaped into the 2020 presidential race on Friday with a call for Americans to unite in a time of bitter polarization while some of his Democratic rivals are taking a more combative stance as they vie to take on President Donald Trump. Bookers entry into the Democratic primary was steeped in history and symbolism, befitting his status as the second black candidate in a historically diverse field. Invoking the legacy of the national movements for civil rights and for womens suffrage, the New Jersey senator urged a return to a common sense of purpose and cast his appeal to the nations better angels as an uplifting alternative to Trump. The 49-year-old Booker told reporters outside his home in Newark that love aint easy, adding: The people I admire are the people that lead by calling out the best of who we are and not the worst. So, Im running for president because I believe in us. I believe in these values. Whether Democrats are in the mood to embrace Bookers optimistic persona after two years of fuming about Trumps presidency remains to be seen. With Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren running as a champion for the middle class in a fight against powerful interests, and California Sen. Kamala running on taking on Trump directly, Bookers fate may hinge on a bet that the electorate will respond again to the soaring oratory that helped Barack Obama break through in 2008. Known for his easy way with voters during an age of selfies and social media, Booker, the former mayor of Newark, announced his bid with a video that showcased his personal ties to the low-income, inner city community he says he led to a comeback. Booker won a special Senate election in 2013 and then a full Senate term in 2014. Veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye lauded Bookers video for a fresh perspective and suggested that the senator could fill a key niche in the 2020 primary. Sen. Cory Booker, in his announcement video, invoked the fight against slavery and the role of immigration in building the nation's character. There will be plenty of time for Democrats to take on Trump in the coming months, Heye said. No doubt that is what a sizable part of the Democratic base wants, but if the campaign is all about who is the true anti-Trump, Democrats could miss connecting with voters who want to see a Washington that works. Booker hustled to make those connections on Friday, calling in to three radio shows popular with black and Hispanic listeners and appearing on The View, a staple for female audiences, with his mother in the audience. Asked how a committed vegan could win fans at the meat-and-butter-centric Iowa state fair, Booker said he enjoys lots of deep-fried stuff and underscored his family ties to that pivotal early-voting state: His grandmother was born there. Sen. Cory Booker, in his announcement video, invoked the fight against slavery and the role of immigration in building the nation's character. Booker is cultivating key powerbrokers Iowa, as well as early voting New Hampshire and South Carolina. He plans to visit all three states before March. Before he hit the road, the White House took its own hit at his candidacy. Kellyanne Conway, a counsellor to the president, told CBS News that Booker often sounds like a Hallmark card and not necessarily a person who is there to tell you everything hes accomplished. Booker will be able to run for a second full Senate term in 2020 while running for president, thanks to a law that New Jerseys governor signed in November. Booker joined a field getting more crowded and diverse by the week. As many as five more Democratic senators could soon mount their own primary bids, creating a competition for voters attention. Several of Bookers rivals for the nomination bring higher name recognition to a race that could still include former Vice-President Joe Biden. He could face further difficulty winning the hearts of the progressive Democratic base due to his past financial ties to banking and pharmaceutical interests. Booker said he would stop taking contributions from pharmaceutical companies in 2017, the year that he partnered with potential rival Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on a bill that would allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada. Asked on Friday about Harris suggestion that the private health insurance industry be eliminated in the transition to single-payer health care, which both she and Booker support, Booker said that he envisions the continued existence of private providers. Still, Booker is underscoring his progressive identity by joining many other prominent Democratic White House contenders by forswearing all donations from corporate political action committees and federal lobbyists to his campaign, which is dubbed Cory 2020. A prominent Booker supporter, San Francisco attorney Steve Phillips, says he is working on millions of dollars in committed donations to a so-called super PAC that would boost the senators candidacy, but Bookers campaign is openly against super PACs playing any role in the presidential race. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... And he was resolute on Friday in elevating his message that the only way we can make change is when people come together. Weve got to be a country that gets back to sharing a common sense of purpose about what were for and who were for, Booker said during a satellite radio interview. ___ Associated Press reporter Michael Catalini in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report. WARSAW, Va. - A man charged with killing his parents and three others in Louisiana drove to Virginia to try to hug and kiss two aunts and a grandmother goodbye, his court-appointed attorney in Virginia said Friday. Dakota Theriot declined to fight extradition back to Louisiana, and authorities flew him back to Louisiana on Friday, news outlets reported. He basically wanted to say I love you, Im sorry, attorney Steve Barnette said. He knows hes probably never going to see the outside of a jail again. Theriot, 21, may face the death penalty on murder charges in the deaths of his girlfriend, her father, her brother and his own parents. Authorities in Louisiana have said Theriot confessed to investigators who had travelled to Virginia, although they said his motives remain unclear. Fridays hearing was Theriots first court appearance since being arrested outside his grandmothers house Sunday in Warsaw, a small town in a rural area about an hour northeast of Richmond. The brief hearing offered no new details about the killings. Theriot showed little emotion and offered polite yes and no responses to the judge, who explained that he had the right to fight extradition. Bound in handcuffs and chained in a blue jail jumpsuit, he awkwardly signed forms at a table. A deputy kept a hand on the chain throughout the hearing. He didnt appear to acknowledge his relatives in the courtroom, and they declined to comment. Barnette said Theriot told him he had recently tried to join the U.S. Army, but had some sort of falling out during the recruitment process. He knows he could face the death penalty, Barnette added. I think hes resigned and understands his fate. Elliott Brown, a staff attorney at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center, had also travelled to Virginia and met with Theriot. Brown did not speak during the hearing and declined to comment. His organization represents low-income defendants charged with capital crimes. Authorities in Louisiana have said Theriot provided a lot of information to investigators about how the killings unfolded , but a motive remained elusive. We dont really know what the motive is. We just know what he did, Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said at a news conference Tuesday. Authorities said Theriot had been taken in by his girlfriends family a few weeks earlier and after he was kicked out of his own house. Summer Ernest, 20, had been dating Theriot for only a couple of weeks. Ard said Theriot told investigators he used a gun he stole from his father to kill her. The other victims were identified as her father, Billy Ernest, 43; brother, Tanner Ernest, 17; and his parents, Keith Theriot and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50. Ard said Theriot had tagged along with Billy Ernest as he drove his wife to work early Saturday morning. Shortly thereafter, Summer Ernest and her father and brother were each shot once in the head. Two children in the Ernest home a 7-year-old and a 1-year-old went to a neighbours house and the neighbour called Livingston Parish law enforcement, he said. Keith Theriot survived long enough to call 911 and tell arriving deputies that his son had shot him, authorities said. Theriots grandmother in Virginia had checked into a hotel Saturday night, fearing he might show up there, authorities said. She asked police to check her house to ensure it was safe. Authorities said deputies were there Sunday when Theriot drove up in Billy Ernests pickup truck, a gun pointed out the window. Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith said shortly after the hearing that the gun was not pointed at the deputies, but they took cover behind their vehicles and told Theriot to stop the truck and drop the gun, which he did. Its a shame it happened, Smith said. Im just glad it turned out the way it did here. Smith said Theriot has several relatives who live in the area of Warsaw, a small town in a county of fewer than 10,000 people. Barnette, Theriots attorney for the extradition hearing, said he could not explain why Theriot was allegedly pointing a gun out of the trucks window when he arrived at his grandmothers house. Barnette said he was unaware of that allegation when he spoke to Theriot. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... People who lived with Keith and Elizabeth Theriot said their son had struggled with drugs and had violent outbursts. His relationship with Summer Ernest also raised red flags with her family and friends. In Louisiana, Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre has said he would not oppose the death penalty if prosecutors ask for it. We know what happened here, Webre said. He killed five people. So, this is a monster. BATON ROUGE, La. - The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has released the names of 37 clergy members it says were credibly accused of sexually abusing children or vulnerable adults. News outlets report Bishop Michael Gerard Duca on Thursday released the list, which says several clergy members were accused multiple times. Duca says the list will be updated and names will be added as more information is collected. It includes clergy who were accused within the dioceses territory before and after it formed in 1961 and clergy not accused in the dioceses territory but named as credibly accused by other dioceses. Two of the named clergy members remained in ministry until their deaths. One of the named clergy members was also a former Lafayette police officer, and more than a dozen of the clergy members are listed as deceased. BALTIMORE - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a Maryland lawsuit against President Donald Trumps administration for what it portrayed as recurring efforts to dismantle the national health care law and chase people away from coverage. U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander wrote in her decision that theres no question about Trumps profound disdain for the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010 by his predecessor. But she found the states allegations speculative, ruling that neither Trumps zealous attempts to repeal the statute, nor his derisive comments about it, support an inference that he will fail to enforce the law. In effect, the state proclaims the sky is falling. But, falling acorns, even several of them, do not amount to a falling sky, Hollander wrote in her 48-page opinion that entitles Maryland to revive the litigation at some later date. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, had sought a declaratory judgment that ACA was constitutional and the Trump administration must stop trying to sabotage the Obama-era law twice sustained by the U.S. Supreme Court. The opinion in federal court in Maryland comes weeks after a Texas federal judges December ruling that the Obama health care law is unconstitutional. Although the decision by the Republican-appointed judge in Texas was certainly sweeping, it has had little immediate practical impact because the health care law remains in place while the legal battle continues, possibly to the nations highest court. In the wake of the ruling in Texas, which is under appeal, the federal Health and Human Services Department put out a statement making clear that it will continue administering and enforcing all aspects of the ACA as it had before the court issued its decision. On Friday, Frosh said the effect of the federal court ruling in Maryland was simply that they must wait to pursue their case. We will resume this litigation immediately if the president breaks his promise of continued enforcement or when the stay of the Texas courts decision is lifted, Frosh said in a statement. In its lawsuit from last year, Maryland also sought to challenge Matthew Whitakers appointment as the countrys acting attorney general. William Barr has since been chosen as Trumps nominee for attorney general. ___ Follow McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Authorities say a Florida man on trial for a boat crash that killed two people appears to have killed himself. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that a circuit judge convened court Thursday morning long enough to declare a mistrial in Judsen Cunninghams boating-under-the-influence case and dismiss the jury. The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office says deputies responded to Cunninghams home earlier Thursday morning and found him dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Prosecutors had spent two days building a case against Cunningham in the March 2016 crash. Witnesses testified that he had been drinking and operating a boat with 11 other young people on board when it crashed into a jetty in Destins East Pass, killing Avery Hatchett and Anna Sorokina. ___ Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.), http://www.nwfdailynews.com SAN DIEGO - A passenger has been medevaced from a cruise ship off Southern California. The Coast Guard says the Norwegian Star requested assistance Thursday morning because a 68-year-old man was displaying symptoms of a heart condition. The ship was 310 miles (499 kilometres) at sea and diverted toward shore, meeting a Coast Guard helicopter 200 miles (322 kilometres) west of San Diego. The patient was hoisted aboard the helicopter and flown to San Diego, where emergency medical services personnel transferred him to UC San Diego Medical Center, Hillcrest. The Coast Guard says the man was reported to be in stable condition. VALPARAISO, Ind. - Authorities say a 13-year-old Indiana boy is charged with intimidation after he told Apples digital assistant Siri that he planned a school shooting and posted an iPhone screenshot of the response on social media as an apparent joke. The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the middle school student was being held at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center. Investigators dont believe the boy posed a threat or had access to weapons. Valparaiso police say the boy allegedly told Siri I am going to shoot up a school, and the digital assistant created a list of several Valparaiso schools near where he was visiting family. He allegedly posted the screenshot Thursday. It was reported to police in nearby Chesterton by the boys social media contacts. Police say he didnt specifically threaten any person or school. ___ Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com KETCHIKAN, Alaska - A mayor in southeast Alaska received a 10-day suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution. Klawock Mayor Lawrence Armour pleaded guilty to the misdemeanour charge Wednesday in court on Prince of Wales Island, the Ketchikan Daily News reported . The 36-year-old mayor electronically sent $400 to a woman on New Years Day, asking her to come to his residence for sex, according to court documents. Craig police obtained a copy of their communication on Facebook Messenger. The person took the money and just kept the money, Ketchikan District Attorney Timothy McGillicuddy told the court. There was no follow-through conduct that happened here. When questioned earlier this month, Armour told police he asked for sexual favours and made the payment, according to the documents. The defendant was remorseful and indicated that he had been drinking prior to the Facebook interaction, and he had made a mistake, Craig Police Chief RJ Ely wrote in the probable cause statement. Armour told the court that he went to emergency counselling and is planning to enter a treatment program. This is not behaviour that you want to model for youth or the community, Magistrate Judge Kay Clark told Amour. I think that people make mistakes, and this was a mistake. It is telling what people do after a mistake and in this case, you were quick to come forward and take responsibility for your behaviour, and I think that deserves some weight. Armour was also sentenced to six months of probation and fined $1,000. Half the fine amount was suspended upon completion of a substance abuse treatment program. ___ Information from: Ketchikan (Alaska) Daily News, http://www.ketchikandailynews.com Abortion opponents may be about to collect their first dividends from the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The court will decide in the next few days whether to temporarily block a Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to get admitting privileges at a local hospital. The measure is almost identical to a Texas law the court struck down in 2016 as imposing an undue burden on women seeking abortions. The question is whether a change in the courts composition since then with Kavanaugh replacing swing Justice Anthony Kennedy will lead the justices to let the Louisiana law take effect. The 2014 Louisiana law requires doctors to have privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility. Abortion-rights advocates say the measure will leave the state with only one clinic and a single doctor who can perform abortions. But a federal appeals court said on a 2-1 vote that the law wasnt forcing any clinics to close. The court said doctors werent making good-faith efforts to get the hospital admitting privileges they need to comply with the law. The vast majority largely sat on their hands, assuming that they would not qualify, Judge Jerry Smith wrote for the majority. A Shreveport abortion clinic and two unidentified doctors are asking the Supreme Court to block the ruling while the justices consider whether to take up an appeal. The appeals court ruling is set to take effect Monday unless the Supreme Court intervenes, though the state says no clinic would have to close immediately and there would be a lengthy process to determine compliance. Should the court refuse to block the appeals court ruling, the 2016 Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt decision could lose much of its practical force, says Gillian Metzger, a constitutional law professor at Columbia Law School. If the Supreme Court doesnt grant a stay, it may suggest that Whole Womans Health may be chipped back in practice, Metzger said. At the time, the Whole Womans Health decision appeared to be the biggest abortion-rights victory in a generation, in part because Kennedys vote had been in doubt. He sided with the liberals in the 5-3 ruling. The court in 2016 said the Texas requirement provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an undue burden on their constitutional right to do so. Although a decision letting the Louisiana law take effect would be a blow to abortion rights, it wouldnt necessary spell doom for the broader right to abortion, said Michael Dorf, a constitutional law professor at Cornell Law School. One could imagine the court paring back the abortion right substantially while affirming this sort of ruling, without upholding outright prohibitions, Dorf said. Should the court instead block the Louisiana law, it might be only a reprieve for the clinics and doctors. The court still would be able take up an appeal and uphold the law later on. Still, full-scale review may not be likely given the courts cautious approach in the months since the divisive Senate confirmation battle over Kavanaugh, the second high court nominee by U.S. President Donald Trump. Chief Justice John Roberts has tried to steer the court away from politically charged issues. And the courts liberals, though likely to be skeptical of the Louisiana ruling, probably wont want to give their conservative colleagues a chance to set a nationwide precedent, Dorf said. In a way, I think that nobody is going to be happy about getting this case, he said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Democrats said during Kavanaughs confirmation hearing they were concerned he could vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. He didnt rule on the abortion issue as an appellate judge, and he declined during his hearings to say if Roe was correctly decided or whether hed vote to uphold it as a justice. The court has kept its distance from abortion-related disputes during Kavanaughs first term. In December, the justices rejected appeals from two states seeking to cut off Medicaid payments to their local Planned Parenthood chapters. The court also has deferred acting on a pending appeal by Indiana. That state is seeking to revive a law that would require clinics to bury or cremate fetal remains and would bar abortions based on the fetuss race or gender or the risk of a genetic disorder such as Down syndrome. HONOLULU - The Latest on manslaughter charges against a suspected drunken driver police say plowed into a Honolulu intersection and killed three people (all times local): 2 p.m. Court documents say police found a half-empty bottle of vodka in a pickup truck that plowed into a crowded Honolulu intersection, killing three pedestrians. Alins Sumang is charged with manslaughter and didnt speak during a brief court appearance Thursday. A police statement filed in court says an officer found the bottle while responding to Monday evenings crash near popular Ala Moana Beach Park. The officer says Sumang was belligerent, spoke with slurred speech and cursed at emergency workers. Prosecutors say he recklessly caused the deaths of Casimir Pokorny of Pennsylvania, Reino Ikeda of Japan and William Lau of Honolulu. Police say the truck veered across three lanes, climbed a traffic island, hit six pedestrians, hit a pole and then crashed into another truck. Three people, including the driver of the second truck, were hospitalized and one was treated and released. ___ 12 p.m. A suspected drunken driver police say plowed into a crowded Honolulu intersection and killed three people has been charged with manslaughter. Alins Sumang didnt speak during a brief court appearance Thursday. He stood handcuffed and surrounded by deputy sheriffs. Hes being held on $1 million bail. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Prosecutors say he recklessly caused the deaths of Casimir Pokorny of Pennsylvania, Reino Ikeda of Japan and William Lau of Honolulu. Police say speed and alcohol appeared to factors in Mondays crash. Police Chief Susan Ballard says its one of Honolulus deadliest pedestrian crashes. Sumang was represented in court by the public defenders office. State Public Defender Jack Tonaki says its too early to comment. His office is still sorting out whether they will continue to represent Sumang. HOUSTON - Police stormed a Houston home in a raid that left five undercover narcotics officers injured in part after receiving a call from a woman who said her daughter had been doing drugs there. The officers were serving a search warrant at the house Monday when a gunbattle ensued and two suspects were killed. Police Chief Art Acevedo said Thursday that following the womans call, police sent a confidential informant to the house. That informant purchased heroin there the day before the search warrant was served. Acevedo said small amounts of marijuana and cocaine and several guns were found in the home following the shootout. Four of the officers were shot and a fifth suffered a knee injury. Acevedo says three of the officers remain hospitalized Thursday. MINNEAPOLIS - An attorney for the family of an Australian woman who was fatally shot by a former Minneapolis police officer is asking a federal judge to hold a hearing so he can find out whether the city is indemnifying the officer. Bob Bennett represents the family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who was fatally shot July 15, 2017, by Mohamed Noor after she called 911 to report a possible assault. The family sued for $50 million and their case is on hold while Noor faces criminal charges. Bennett says in a letter to the judge that hes been told the city of Minneapolis decided not to indemnify Noor, meaning the city wouldnt cover potential damages against him. But Bennett says he hasnt gotten confirmation from the city or Noors attorney and he wants answers. The city told The Associated Press on Thursday that a final determination on indemnification hasnt been made. RICHMOND, Va. - A pitched debate about late-term abortions in Virginia erupted into all-out political warfare Thursday as Republicans including President Donald Trump sought to capitalize on Democratic missteps. Republicans accused Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, a folksy pediatric neurologist who is personal friends with many GOP lawmakers, of backing infanticide. Republicans said recent statements by Northam and other Democrats have laid bare their support for on-demand abortions at any point of a pregnancy, including up to the moments before birth or even after. GOP lawmakers held a news conference to warn voters about what would happen if Democrats took control of the General Assembly. We need to take these words seriously. We need to understand that this is what is yet to come folks, and we need to make sure that we do everything to stop it, Republican Del. Kathy Byron said. Her comments came after Trump said in an interview that the controversy in Virginia could be a boost to the pro-life movement and tweeted early Thursday that Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime! Democrats countered that Republicans are panicked by their dim political prospects and willing to do anything to keep control of the legislature. Virginia is one of only a handful of states holding legislative elections this year, and the only one where Democrats have a strong chance of flipping control at the Capitol. Desperation can be ugly. And what weve seen from Republicans over the last few days has been desperate and it has been ugly, Attorney General Mark Herring said. At issue is legislation sponsored by Del. Kathy Tran that would reduce the number of doctors needed to certify late-term abortions from three to one. The measure also would delete the requirement that doctors determine that continuing a pregnancy would substantially and irremediably impair a womans health. Instead, doctors would have to certify only that the womans health was impaired. Recent video of Tran saying the bill would allow abortions up until moments before birth has been viewed millions of times. Opponents said the bill is designed to remove any meaningful limitations on late-stage abortions. Supporters say the legislation, which has already failed, would ease the bureaucratic burden for a small number of families facing severe medical issues that may require an abortion late in a pregnancy. The governor defended the legislation in a radio interview Wednesday and noted that late-term abortions are usually done because the infant is severely deformed or unable to survive after birth. Northam said that if a woman were to desire an abortion as shes going into labour, the baby would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between doctors and the mother, leaving open what would happen next. Republicans said Northams statements made his views clear. I dont think you can parse it. He was discussing how and whether to allow this child to die after it was alive, Republican Del. Todd Gilbert said. Northam denies advocating for infanticide and said he was trying to answer a question from a medical perspective. He has no regrets about what he said or how he said it. We believe legislators, most of whom are men, should not be making decisions about womens choices for their reproductive health. My Republican friends believe something different, Northam said at a news conference. Democrats made a show of party unity Thursday, with several lawmakers standing behind Northam has he spoke at a news conference. But one Democrat, Del. Dawn Adams, publicly apologized for supporting the bill and said Del. Kathy Tran didnt have the backup needed when presenting the legislation. Old Dominion politics has undergone a massive change in recent years. House Democrats used to be a small and largely irrelevant minority until 2017, when an anti-Trump wave helped them almost take control of the chamber. The caucus still lacks the experience and infrastructure House Republicans have long enjoyed. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... State Republicans are still trying to find a way to win back suburban voters who have fled the party in the Trump era. Before Virginias debate over late-term abortions gained national attention, state Republicans had largely tried to avoid hot-button social issues this year. Instead, they focused on kitchen table issues like curbing teen smoking and improving school safety. Republicans made clear Thursday, however, that abortion would be front and centre during the 2019 campaign season. I will keep fighting to protect the unborn. I dont think theres a more important issue we face up here, House Speaker Kirk Cox said. JERUSALEM - Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops skirmished Friday as hundreds demonstrated against violence by Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and thousands more against a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. In Gaza, mass demonstrations along the perimeter fence with Israel have been a weekly routine over the past 10 months. In the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority holds limited sway, the protest was sparked by the killing of a Palestinian at al-Mughayyir village last Saturday, which the Palestinians blamed on the settlers. Ashraf al-Kidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said 32 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire at several sections along the fence Friday. Earlier on Friday, mediators from Egypt and the United Nations, worried that the border violence could evolve into an all-out conflict between Hamas and Israel, met with leaders of the militant group. Ismail Haniyeh, the militant groups chief, described the meeting as unprecedented but did not elaborate. Hamas on Friday accused Israel of not honouring an unofficial truce agreement to gradually ease the blockade and vowed to escalate the protests, which have seen the death of nearly 190 Palestinians since they were launched in the spring. In the village of al-Mughayyir, hundreds of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags rallied, hurling stones at Israeli forces and burning tires. The Israeli army said it responded with riot dispersal means, referring to tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that seven Palestinians were injured. The circumstances that led to the death of Hamdi Naasan, 38, last Saturday remain in dispute, with Palestinians saying that Israeli settlers shot him and settlers contending they fired in the air to chase away attackers after a Jewish man was stabbed. The Israeli police and military have launched investigations. SKOPJE, Macedonia - Macedonias organized crime and corruption prosecutor has requested three former agriculture ministers and a deputy minister be jailed while they are investigated for abuse of power over the lease of farmland. The prosecutors office said Friday it ordered an investigation into the four former conservative government officials on allegations they signed more than 580 leases for state farmland with individuals who never paid rent, costing the state more than 1.4 million euros in lost revenue. Authorities did not identify the suspects, who were being brought for questioning before Skopjes criminal court. Many former conservative government ministers are being tried in corruption cases stemming from a 2015 wiretapping scandal, including fugitive former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment last year but fled to Hungary seeking asylum. BUCHAREST, Romania - The European Unions foreign policy chief says would-be member states from the former Soviet Union must hold free and fair elections to be eligible for future membership. Federica Mogherini was referring to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia who signed association agreements with the EU in 2014, amid sharp criticism from Russia. She said while the EU doesnt get involved in domestic political agendas, free, fair elections, this is our compass, in comments made Friday in Bucharest. Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu called free and fair elections a red line for the EU. Romania currently holds the EUs rotating presidency. Mouldova holds parliamentary elections on Feb. 24 where pro-European parties will face parties pushing for closer ties with Moscow. Under the association agreements, nationals of the countries involved were allowed visa-free travel to the bloc. ISLAMABAD - Pakistani authorities and the British Embassy say police have arrested a British man who fled to Pakistan in 2016 during his trial in Britain. He was later sentenced to 19 years for raping a child. Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency officials say the arrest was a joint operation by Pakistani officers and Britains National Crime Agency last Saturday in the town of Sangla in eastern Punjab province. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to reporters. The British Embassy identified the man as Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain, a convicted pedophile. It said Britain had worked closely with Pakistan since 2017 to secure his arrest and extradition. The case will now go to a Pakistani court, which is expected to approve the mans extradition to Britain. CARACAS, VENEZUELAVenezuela is on the brink. Grocery shelves lie empty as food becomes increasingly scarce and expensive. People are fleeing the country at record rates, flooding neighboring countries. Inflation is set to reach 10 million percent in 2019. In this landscape of desperation, public outrage was already coming to a head when last week, Juan Guaido, the opposition leader and head of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president. The recently re-elected President Nicolas Maduro has vowed to continue on. International attention swiftly turned to the two men at the center of the struggle for control of the country. But in the midst of the political push-and-pull, average Venezuelans are still struggling to get by in a country that has grown increasingly violent and where food shortages, electricity cuts and water shortages are the new normal. Deadly crackdowns on dissent are regular. Anti-government demonstrations are planned for Caracas on Saturday, and with discontent growing, new groups are taking to the streets, including those who were once staunch supporters of Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. We asked residents of the city to describe what their living situation is like these days, and if it is a factor driving them to take part in the demonstrations. We are starving here. Auristela Donawa, 67 The government benefits that Donawa and her family have long relied on like many of those from poor neighborhoods of Caracas are no longer enough. We are starving here, she said, describing how she and her son Dixon Bront are struggling to provide for her grandchildren. He has a 9-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old boy, and he cant buy anything for them. This is becoming impossible. Donawa never voted for Maduro or Chavez, but her son was a supporter of the socialist government. I dont know if he voted for Chavez, but he sympathized with him, she said. Bront and Donawa are beneficiaries of several government programs like Mision Vivienda, which provides housing for the poor, and a food distribution program known as CLAP. But Donawa said the government food box is often limited to sugar, pasta and powdered milk. As benefits have deteriorated, Bront, once a supporter of the government, decided to join the protesters calling for its demise. Two weeks ago, he was injured during demonstrations shot in the stomach at close range by security forces and is now bedridden after two surgeries, putting a further strain on the family. I cant be here in a hospital, sleeping in a chair, Donawa said from her sons bedside. Its not that I do not agree with him protesting, he is doing it like any other Venezuelan that is unhappy with this communist government. Her son has leukemia, but his hospital has no medicine. Lourdes Cedeno, 41 It is like the world opens in half and you just want to jump into the crack, said Cedeno, describing how she felt six years ago when she first found out her son, Miguel, had leukemia. Things were still manageable then. Her son was moved from a private hospital to the public Central Hospital of Venezuela where he was given medical treatment paid for by the state. He went into remission for years, but in 2017, Miguels cancer returned. Thats when, Cedeno said, everything changed. It was a race against time to get him proper treatment. I had to buy everything, she said. The chemotherapy, the antibiotics, the needles. But now its even worse. I have to buy gloves, cotton, alcohol, water, even the tubes for the lab if I need to ask for a blood test. Venezuelas main hospital has become a symbol of the catastrophic unraveling of the countrys health care system. It is often without running water, medicine and even doctors. The electricity regularly cuts out, which has resulted in patient deaths, opposition politicians say. Cedeno said she has never been a fan of the protests, but her son has told her he is eager to attend them. He said, Mom, I want to go out and make them feel the rage I feel everyday I am at this hospital without any help, she said. I have faith and hope. Sunny Balza, 35 Balza, 35, was a captain in the Venezuelan National Guard and quickly moved up the ranks, gaining the trust of officials who grew to rely on him, including Nicolas Maduro Guerra, Maduros son. But he didnt always support the decisions of his superiors. I never agreed with their lines, ever, he said. Two years ago, he fled Venezuela for the United States, where he now manages a company. Guaido, as interim president, has proposed amnesty for members of the armed forces who are willing to break with Maduros government, but Barza is unsure whether he will return. I worked from the inside against the government, Barza said, adding that he didnt necessarily think he needed to ask for amnesty. While he would like to get involved with some of the protests being held in the United States, he doesnt have time with his busy work schedule. But for the first time in years, he sees a way forward for his country. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... I have faith and hope, he said. She was detained for 118 days in a windowless room. Lisbeth Anez, 52 Anez knows what the governments crackdown on dissent looks like. She was arrested in May 2017, accused of involvement with groups organizing daily anti-government protests. I gave them food, I offered them shelter, she said. That is why they call me mama. For 118 days, she was held in a windowless room with another woman accused of gas smuggling. After the protests ended that year, Anez couldnt go back to her old life, saying being in jail had changed her. I can only tell you I am a better person now, and that I also knew true evil, she said. Since the latest round of protests began last month, Anez has scavenged for supplies for those wounded by the military and security forces. She has treated at least three protesters who were injured during recent demonstrations. Anez said earlier protests in 2014 and 2017 were too violent and not effective. Protests have to be like the one we had on the 23rd, she said, referring to largely peaceful mass anti-government protests held the day Guaido swore himself in as interim president, the kind that you cant hide. I will be out there with my gas mask. Inaki Zugasti, 60 Born in Spain but raised in Venezuela, Zugasti has been active in the opposition protest movement since Maduro first came to power in 2013. He plans to join the large demonstrations planned this weekend. This Saturday, I will be out there with my gas mask, my helmet and vest, to see what I can show the world, he said. Zugasti owned a family printing company for two decades, which enabled him to provide for his family. But profits dwindled, and in 2018, he closed the business. He said new people from different walks of life have been joining the recent protests. Before, he said, the movement was largely driven by the middle and upper classes. I used to see the same face every day, now its different, he said. Zugasti takes his camera with him when he protests, and took one especially memorable photo on April 4, 2017, of a young congressman confronting police who were blocking a march on Libertador Avenue. He didnt know it then but the politician in the photo was Guaido, who would become a major player in the countrys current political standoff. Every time I hear that he is someone that just started in politics, I know its not true, Zugasti said. He was always on the front line during protests. I remember him at every demonstration I went to. Read more about: CARACAS, Venezuela - The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local): 9:45 p.m. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has tweeted that the United States plans to send humanitarian aid to Venezuela despite President Nicolas Maduros refusal to accept aid. Boltons comments come after opposition leader Juan Guaido said late Thursday that he would defy the government aid ban and receive large convoys of medicine into Venezuela with the help of neighbouring nations. Bolton tweeted on Friday: Pursuant to the request of Interim President Juan Guaido, and in consultation with his officials the US will mobilize and transport humanitarian aid_medicine, surgical supplies, and nutritional supplements for the people of Venezuela. Its time for Maduro to get out of the way. Guaido declared last week that hes interim president of Venezuela and vowed to topple Maduros administration. Hes backed by the United States and roughly two dozen nations. __ 3:30 p.m. Venezuelan exiles who fled their homeland are telling U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence that the moment has come to intervene and overthrow President Nicolas Maduro. Pence told Venezuelans in Miami that Washington was working toward a peaceful transition so that opposition leader Juan Guaido comes to power, and he reassured them the Trump administration would continue to weaken Maduro. This is no time for dialogue, Pence said at a church, prompting loud cheers among Venezuelan exiles. It is time to end the Maduro regime. Before his speech, Pence sat down with a college professor, who says he was physically assaulted by armed pro-government groups. He also heard from other refugees such as a Venezuelan city councilman, who says he was accused of being a CIA agent. ___ 3:10 p.m. Chevron Corp. says its operations in Venezuela will continue normally for the foreseeable future despite newly imposed U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Chevron has four joint-venture operations for exploration and production with PDVSA, as the Venezuelan company is known. The Trump administration has banned U.S. companies from doing business with PDVSA but allowed a six-month grace period for companies with ongoing operations in the South American country. Chevron CEO Michael Wirth says that, For the foreseeable future, we feel like we can maintain a good stable operation and a safe operation on the ground in Venezuela. He spoke Friday in a conference call with Wall Street analysts. Wirth also said Chevrons refining operations in the U.S. are well-prepared to handle an expected disruption of Venezuelan crude supply due to the sanctions. Wirth says Chevron had a contingency plan in place in anticipation of the sanctions and has alternate sourcing. He says most of the Venezuelan crude oil it buys goes to its Pascagoula refinery in Mississippi. He said we will keep the refinery full with crude. ___ 1:15 p.m. U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence has arrived in Miami for a meeting with people who have fled Venezuela as Washington heightens its efforts to oust Nicolas Maduro from the presidency. Pence is also meeting with community leaders, former elected officials and Florida senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott in the Miami suburb of Doral to talk about the South American nations political crisis. The Trump administration has backed opposition leader Juan Guaido as he has declared himself the interim president of Venezuela. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart are also participating in the round table. ___ Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Noon A prominent Venezuelan lawmaker says that a group of European Union and Latin American countries aiming to solve the political crisis in Venezuela should support the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro without negotiations. Francisco Sucre heads the international committee of the opposition-led National Assembly in Venezuela. He says that the international contact group announced on Thursday by the EUs top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, should help to cease the usurpation of power by Maduro and establish a transitional government until new elections. There is no possible discussion here, Maduro has to leave, Sucre told The Associated Press on Friday in Madrid, where he is wrapping up a three-day European tour to enlist support for opposition leader Juan Guaido. The lawmaker says he welcomes the EUs involvement because we are going to need its co-operation during the initial stages of the recovery of our country. The European Parliament has called on the EUs member states to recognize Guaido as the interim president. The socialist government of Spain, which has strong historical, cultural and economic ties to Venezuela, has said it will do so on Monday if Maduro doesnt call a general election before Sunday. Sucre says European support for Guaido will influence others. He said: Power is evaporating from Maduros hands with the passing of the hours. We have been contacted by diplomatic workers across Europe who are ready to take a step forward, but they are waiting for the right moment. ___ 11:35 a.m. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido says hes respectfully declining offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido on Friday made public a letter that hes sending to both leaders. He urged them to be on the right side of history, saying that remaining neutral in the political struggle aligns them with Maduro. Guaido declared last week that hes interim president of Venezuela and vowed to topple Maduros administration. Hes backed by the United States and roughly two dozen nations. He says his priority is to hold democratic elections. The United States also rejects offers from Mexico, Uruguay and the Vatican to mediate a dialogue. MEXICO CITY - A strong earthquake jolted southern Mexico on Friday, rattling nerves and swaying tall buildings hundreds of miles away in the capital, but there were no reports of serious damage, injuries or deaths. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake had a magnitude of 6.6. It was centred about 10 miles (16 kilometres) from the city of Tapachula in Chiapas state and struck at a depth of 40 miles (68 kilometres). Chiapas civil defence official Arturo Barrientos told The Associated Press that there were no reports of serious damage and authorities were monitoring the situation. Barrientos said cracks appeared in a wall at an elementary school in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, but the children were evacuated safely. It was felt pretty strongly, but everything is normal. We went out into the street, and that was it, Enrique Vidal, a lawyer who lives in Tapachula said via text message. Those with children in schools went to look for them since there are buildings that are still damaged from 2017. The same region was rocked in September 2017 by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that killed nearly 100 people and damaged thousands of buildings. A more damaging 7.1 quake in central Mexico later that month left more than 400 dead, including at least 228 in Mexico City. Fortunately there is no loss of human lives nor injuries that require hospitalization, Luis Manuel Garcia, Chiapas civil defence secretary, told Foro TV. Only nervousness. Fridays quake was also felt in nearby Guatemala and farther away in El Salvador. In Guatemala, the Red Cross reported some mud and rockslides along roads, and a bridge in the city of Quetzaltenango had some minor damage. Along a central boulevard in Mexico City, which lies on lakebed soil that amplifies the effects of even faraway quakes, seismic alarms did not go off but some office workers briefly evacuated buildings. GEORGETOWN, Guyana - A court on Thursday ordered the government of the South American country of Guyana to hold general elections by March after upholding a recent no-confidence motion. The ruling comes as Guyana prepares to become what experts believe could be Latin Americas second-biggest oil producer within the next decade. Chief Justice Roxanne George declared the no-confidence motion legal and said elections were required unless Parliament votes to extend the life of the current government. It is unclear if that will happen. The ruling means the government would have to persuade the main opposition party to do so if the elections commission cannot get ready by March 20 or if an upcoming appeal to the ruling is not resolved by then. The ruling comes as President David Granger has nearly two years left in his term. Attorney General Basil Williams said he plans to appeal the decision and take it to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice if necessary. The Dec. 21 motion was passed with 33 votes instead of the 34 majority votes the government contends is needed. One of the votes came from Charrandass Persaud, a legislator of the ruling coalition who has since fled to Canada. He was later expelled from Parliament and replaced. The government has officially accused him of taking a $1 million bribe and said they are following several investigative leads. Persaud on social media has denied taking a bribe and called it a conscience vote based on his disappointment with the coalition government. In her ruling, George also said that lawmakers with dual citizenship like Persaud can no longer legally sit in Parliament. Several legislators hold dual citizenship, including Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge. Some worry about the effect the ongoing political upheaval might have on the start of oil production, which is expected for late 2019 or early 2020. Initial production levels have been estimated at 120,000 barrels per day, possibly reaching up to 750,000 daily by 2025 when two other major fields begin production. CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said he will defy a government ban on humanitarian aid by sending large convoys of medicine into the country with the help of neighbouring nations. In an interview Thursday, Guaido told The Associated Press that the move will be a new test for Venezuelas military, whose top brass has sided with socialist President Nicolas Maduro since protests against his rule broke out last week. In a few weeks they will have to choose if they let much needed aid into the country . or if they side with Nicolas Maduro, said Guaido, who recently offered an amnesty to members of the military in another effort to encourage them to defect from the Maduro administration. Guaido explained that aid for Venezuela will include life-saving medicines that are scarce in Venezuela and will be transported by vehicles arriving at several border points, after it is shipped into friendly ports in neighbouring countries. We are not just taking aid from the United States, Guaido said. But in the next few days we will announce a global coalition to send aid to Venezuela. The 35-year-old president of Venezuelas Congress declared himself to be Venezuelas legitimate leader last week and set up a transitional government that has been backed by the United States, Canada and most South American countries. Guaido argues that Maduro was re-elected in a sham election last year, and is invoking two articles of Venezuelas constitution that he says allow him as the leader of the national assembly to assume the presidency and call elections when the current president is holding power illegitimately. Maduro has described Guaidos challenge as a vile coup attempt and still has control of most of the Venezuelan government, including its cash cow, the state owned oil company. Earlier this week, the United States announced sanctions that will bar Venezuelan oil imports and could cost the Maduro administration up to $11 billion over the next year. Guaido backed the sanctions on Thursday and described them as a means to stop Venezuelas wealth from being looted by the Maduro government which he described as a corrupt dictatorship. Its not just the United States doing this, Guaido said. Our parliament and acting presidency asked for the protection of our countrys assets. Guaidos claim to the Venezuelan presidency has been backed by protests in which at least 35 people have been killed and more than 900 have been arrested, according to human rights groups. Guaido said that he is still sees transparent elections as the best way out of Venezuelas spiraling political crisis, but realizes that Maduro will not easily grant them unless he is pressured to do so by economic sanctions, street protests and Venezuelas military. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... We have to erode the pillars that support this dictatorship, he said. But he added that the opposition will have to continue to apply pressure mechanisms until Maduros usurpation of power has ceased. KAMPALA, Uganda - Officials say a staggeringly large bust of smuggled ivory and pangolin scales in Uganda is worth $3.5 million. Uganda Revenue Authority spokesman Vincent Seruma told reporters on Friday that the intercepted shipment contained more than three tons of elephant tusks and nearly a half-ton of pangolin scales. He calls this one of Ugandas biggest such busts of illegal wildlife products. Two Vietnamese nationals are being questioned in custody. While the three freight containers came from neighbouring South Sudan, Ugandan officials believe the ivory and pangolin scales came from neighbouring Congo and are speaking with authorities there. The contraband had been concealed inside pieces of timber and was detected with the help of a scanner. Both Africas elephants and pangolins are under threat from poachers and demand in some Asian countries. KIMBERLEY, South Africa - A special airlift for thousands of baby flamingos is under way in South Africa as drought has put their breeding ground in peril. A reservoir that hosts one of southern Africas largest flamingo populations is drying up. The flamingo eggs are losing their cool, moist protective cover and their inner membranes are hardening, making it difficult for chicks to peck their way out. Predators such as meerkats, dogs and hawks are nearby, waiting for the exhausted chicks to emerge. The site is littered with the bodies of hundreds of dead chicks. The cheeps of chicks trapped inside overheating eggs can be heard. Local and national groups, along with environmental authorities, have stepped in for the rescue operation swiftly organized online and by word of mouth. Bird experts and veterinarians have pitched in. Local diamond mines paid for an emergency flight to carry the first batch of 900 chicks to the capital, Pretoria. Other batches have been flown to Cape Town and other approved locations. Three thousand flamingo chicks have been moved in all. Another 6,000 to 8,000 young flamingos remain at the reservoir near Kimberley, active but still too young to fly. If the water levels keep dropping, experts said, the parents might abandon the chicks to save themselves. The chicks in new homes face a special diet of baby cereal, sardines, eggs, prawns and vitamin supplements. To simulate parents, feather dusters are placed in the chicks boxes. Interaction with humans is restricted beyond feeding to minimize imprinting. Infrared lights give warmth. Some of the chicks rescuers are already thinking about next year and what to do if drought occurs again. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa DAKAR, Senegal - Boko Haram has killed at least 60 people in a devastating attack on the northeastern Nigeria border town of Rann, Amnesty International said Friday, calling it one of the deadliest assaults by the extremist group in its nearly decade-long insurgency. Fighters on motorcycles drove through the town near the Cameroon border on Monday morning, setting houses on fire and killing people left behind, the international rights group said in a series of Twitter posts. The fighters also chased residents fleeing the massive attack and killed several outside town. Amnesty published satellite imagery that it said showed hundreds of burned structures. Many likely served as shelters for displaced people who had arrived in recent months seeking protection. Most of Rann is now destroyed, the group said. The attack came as Nigeria faces what it has called an extremist resurgence, posing a serious challenge for President Muhammadu Buhari as he seeks re-election in two weeks time. His administration once claimed Boko Haram had been crushed or technically defeated, while the military has faced questions over low morale and support. Rann also was attacked in mid-January, sending at least 9,000 people fleeing to Cameroon, according to aid agencies. More than 30,000 joined them across the border in late January, the United Nations refugee agency said. Thousands more fled to nearby Chad, the refugee agency said. Many people were in a state of shock and were clearly distressed by what they had witnessed. Now they have lost all that they have and need absolutely everything, Hugues Robert, the Nigeria program director for Doctors Without Borders, said following the mid-January attack. A nurse with the medical charity said the normally bustling town was like a graveyard following that attack. There was still smoke drifting in the sky and the fires were still burning in places, Isa Sadq Bwala said. All thats left are piles of ashes. Far-flung Rann has played a tragic role in Nigerias fight against Boko Haram. In January 2017, Nigerias air force mistakenly launched an airstrike on a refugee camp in the town because it said the camp was not appropriately marked as a humanitarian base on its maps. Officials and community leaders said between 100 and 236 people were killed. In March of last year, three workers for United Nations agencies were among 11 people killed in a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Rann. Three health workers were abducted. Two have since been killed despite urgent pleas from the aid community to spare their lives. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa JOHANNESBURG - The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus spread in the unstable region. This may be the most challenging Ebola outbreak ever. Health workers face the threat of attack from rebel groups and resistance from frightened communities. A highly mobile population produced two scares in the past week alone: The discovery of an infected, wide-ranging young trader led to vaccinations in a new, third province near the South Sudan border. And two contacts of Ebola victims slipped away and were found in the capital of neighbouring Uganda free of the virus. And yet this outbreak has seen a number of advances, including the widespread use of an experimental Ebola vaccine and a clinical trial of experimental treatments. Health workers say conditions have improved from the devastating West Africa outbreak a few years ago, when some patients were housed by the dozens in sweltering tents and used buckets for toilets. ___ BY THE NUMBERS Congos health ministry reports 759 cases, including 705 confirmed ones and 414 confirmed deaths. Ebola is spread via infected bodily fluids, including those of the dead. More than 70,000 people have received the experimental Ebola vaccine, whose efficacy has yet to be determined. Some people who have received the vaccine have still fallen ill. As concerns about the vaccine stockpile grow, drugmaker Merck last week said it will ship another 120,000 doses or so to Congo by the end of this month. Women and children make up a worrying number of cases, including more than 160 children under age 18. More than 280 children have been orphaned, the U.N. childrens agency says. Cases are still emerging without any link to confirmed ones, a sign of how difficult it is to track the virus in a dense and often wary population in a region with little infrastructure. Millions of people have been checked for Ebola at border posts with Rwanda and Uganda, which the World Health Organization says are at very high risk. ___ GUNFIRE AND RumourS People dont yet know what the disease is, Dr. Brian DCruz with Doctors Without Borders said this week a startling comment six months into an outbreak in which health teams have hustled to combat misinformation as soon as cases appear in communities. One survivor, Aline Kahindo Mukandala, recounted for the medical charity how she and others had thought Ebola patients at treatment centres were simply zipped into body bags on arrival. No, the foreigners are not here to steal our organs, another survivor tells communities as he helps the International Committee of the Red Cross speak out in churches, markets and schools. Ebola response workers have been attacked, both by rebels and community members. Other people fearing Ebola try to flee. Each suspension of virus containment efforts because of a security threat can lead to a jump in new cases. ___ THE NEXT FEAR The Ebola outbreak is now a days drive from Goma, a city of more than 1 million people on the heavily travelled border with Rwanda. The U.N. says co-ordination of the outbreak response is already being moved to Goma, where nearly 2,000 front-line workers have received vaccinations in preparation. Some health experts have warned that the infectious disease could defeat efforts to contain it and become a permanent threat in the turbulent region, which would force already struggling health clinics to adapt their operations. Ebola response workers aim to keep a two-meter distance from those infected and ideally wear head-to-toe protective gear. How local workers would assist with childbirths, treat malaria and carry out other daily activities among North Kivu provinces estimated 7 million people remains to be seen. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... And were Ebola to become entrenched there, international efforts to stop the disease would need continued resources and funding, while neighbouring countries would need to make border health checks permanent to prevent the importation of cases. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa Years before the U.S.-Mexican border wall became a synonym for anti-immigration measures pursued at all cost, Australia embarked on its own, deeply divisive experiment. More than half a decade ago, Australias government decided that all migrants arriving in the country by boat should be placed in offshore detention camps outside of the country, on the Pacific Ocean island nation of Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Island. The detention practice have since drawn severe protests in Australia, backed by international institutions such as the UNs Human Rights Committee, which called the camps unsustainable, inhumane and contrary to its human rights obligations. One of the asylum seekers who was detained there for years is the Iranian Kurdish journalist Behrouz Boochani and, as of this week, the winner in absentia of the countrys prestigious Victorian Prize for Literature, worth over $70,000. The award puts an uncomfortable, renewed spotlight at the ongoing treatment of asylum seekers by the governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea on behalf of Australia. The Australian government maintains that it is not responsible for migrants treatment in the processing centres. Its an Australian story that as a nation we cannot be proud of, but its a story that cannot be ignored, the Australian Human Rights Law Center wrote in a response to the award ceremony on Thursday. Dubbed Australias Guantanamo by its critics, the camp where Boochani was held was closed in 2017 after years of mounting pressure on Australia to end the controversial practice. Read More: Australia accused of paying smugglers to turn back refugees In his award-winning book, No Friend but the Mountains, Boochani wrote an inside look of the camp. Without a computer, he typed the book on his phone and shared it with a translator via WhatsApp. That way, he explained, camp guards were unable to detect and confiscate the documents. Boochani, like many other refugees who were held in the now-closed camp, still involuntarily lives on Manus Island and can neither enter Australia nor return to his home country, Iran, where he fears prosecution over his work. Authorities in Australia made no exception for Thursdays award ceremony in Melbourne, signalling that the current government stands by its controversial hardline stance on migration, even ahead of elections in May and a shift in public opinion toward a less radical approach. In some ways I am very happy because we are able to get attention to this plight and you know many people have become aware of this situation, which is great, Boochani told the BBC. But on the other side I feel that I dont have the right to have celebration because I have many friends here who are suffering in this place. In theory, Australias immigration policy prioritizes skilled migrants and those needed on the labour market. But Australias doors are shut to anyone attempting to make that journey on a boat, without a proper visa. Australias then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull openly acknowledged that zero-tolerance approach in a phone call with President Trump in Jan. 2017, saying: It is not because they are bad people. It is because in order to stop people smugglers, we had to deprive them of the product. So we said if you try to come to Australia by boat, even if we think you are the best person in the world, even if you are a Noble [sic] Prize-winning genius, we will not let you in. Despite calling the Australian approach a good idea, Trump nevertheless appears to be honouring a deal struck between Turnbull and his own predecessor, President Barack Obama, allowing some asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus island into the United States. You are worse than I am, Trump told Turnbull at some point during their phone call, which was later leaked to The Washington Post. Some human rights organizations would agree. The internment of children on Manus and Nauru, with many of them feared to suffer long-term mental health problems, helped critics of the Australian governments practices build momentum against the camps after details of their suffering emerged in reports and public testimony. Speaking to The Washington Post last fall, Daniel Webb, director of legal advocacy at the Human Rights Law Center in Melbourne, said that some children in Nauru had been there for so long that they have lost all hope to the point that they are no longer speaking or eating. While the government eventually agreed to evacuate most children and resettle some asylum seekers elsewhere, hundreds could not be resettled and the Nauru camp is still operational today. Conditions on Manus island became so critical in 2017 that senior Australian doctors urged the government in Canberra to provide them access, writing: We believe the humanitarian issues take precedence over politics. This is a matter beyond immigration and border control, but one that affects the health of people and others perceptions of our great nation. Human rights organizations dispute that sufficient steps were taken after those warnings. Doctors Without Borders condemned Australias treatment of migrants last December, writing in a report that the internment was having a disastrous effect on their mental health, leading many to contemplate or attempt suicide. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... In his acceptance speech delivered via videolink on Thursday, Boochani said that literature had helped him get through the ordeal. I have been in a cage for years but throughout this time my mind has always been producing words, and these words have taken me across borders, taken me overseas and to unknown places, he said. Even though Boochani says he was interviewed by officials and hopes that he might eventually be resettled to the United States, no such offer has been made, so far. But in his speech on Thursday, Boochani remained optimistic. I truly believe words are more powerful than the fences of this place, this prison. A Toronto police officer will be charged with two counts of professional misconduct in connection to the investigation into serial killer Bruce McArthur, the Star has learned. Sgt. Paul Gauthier is scheduled to appear before the Toronto police tribunal Tuesday to be formally charged with neglect of duty and insubordination. The details of his charges will not be released until after Gauthiers appearance, but a police source confirms to the Star that it is in connection to an internal review that was launched by Toronto police last year in the midst of the investigation into McArthur. The review was launched in March, shortly before revelations, published by the Star and other media, that McArthur was questioned by Toronto police in 2016, after a man reported that McArthur had attempted to strangle him during an otherwise consensual sexual encounter. The man immediately reported the incident to police, and McArthur was questioned, but he was let go without charges being laid. In a statement Friday night, Gauthiers lawyer said the decision not to charge Bruce McArthur for the 2016 incident was made in conjunction with Gauthiers supervisor and based on the information available at the time. Gauthier conducted a proper investigation and fully documented the arrest of McArthur so that the information was available to all other investigators, said lawyer Lawrence Gridin. Read more: Why experts say we should investigate Bruce McArthurs motive even if we never get answers Lives could have been saved: Family of McArthur victim Selim Esen calls for public inquiry https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/29/eight-men-eight-stories-what-we-know-about-serial-killer-bruce-mcarthurs-victims.html McArthurs monstrous nature was difficult to uncover because he led a life of extreme deception, not because of anything to do with the 2016 arrest . Gauthier has great sympathy for the victims and the community. Toronto police Insp. Hank Idsinga, one of the investigators who led the McArthur case, told the Star last March that he prepared a report for Toronto police professional standards unit for an internal probe. While did not disclose any details about the report, he said it was regarding the actions of some officers in a previous occurrence (who), I am led to believe potentially did not do what they were supposed to have done, according to our policies and our procedures, Idsinga told the Star at the time. Following the 2016 incident, McArthur went on to kill at least two other men: Selim Esen and Andrew Kinsman, who were each murdered in 2017. Dean Lisowick was killed on or about April 23, 2016, according to a review of the facts filed in court this week; its not clear if this incident was before or after the decision not to charge McArthur in the alleged strangling. McArthur pleaded guilty earlier this week to eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kinsman, Esen, Lisowick, Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi, Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam. According to police tribunal documents, Gauthier was previously charged with two counts of professional misconduct while he was with the sex crimes unit that are unrelated to the McArthur investigation. Those charges were ultimately dropped and the matter was dealt with internally. The police document that outlined the earlier allegations against Gauthier stated that, beginning in July 2011, Gauthier was working with the sex crimes unit when he was investigating a case where he had reasonable and probable grounds to arrest the suspect. Specifically, Gauthier had DNA evidence identifying the alleged perpetrator through a positive link to an offender in the National DNA databank. But the suspect was never arrested. Five years later, Peel Regional Police arrested the same man for unrelated sexual offences. During the Peel police investigation, it was determined that the information originally received in 2011, by (Gauthier), was never acted on, according to police documents. According to the police document, Gauthier failed to ensure that a thorough investigation was conducted; failed to ensure the DNA link was acted upon; and failed to ensure that the measures were in place for the apprehension of the suspect. In so doing, you committed misconduct, in that you did, without lawful excuse, neglect or omit to promptly and diligently perform a duty, as a member of the police force of which you are a member. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... While the actions of the Toronto police officers whose work led to McArthurs arrest have been praised by some within Torontos LGBTQ community, many say a public inquiry could identify systemic issues that may have prevented McArthur from being caught sooner. Former Ontario Court of Appeal judge Gloria Epstein is conducting an independent review of how Toronto police handle missing persons investigations. On Wednesday, Epstein wrote a letter to Toronto police board chair Andy Pringle asking that her review be broadened to allow her to examine the police investigation into McArthur himself. Currently, Epstein cannot review Toronto police handling of the serial killer including past contacts with him due to restrictions created to preserve McArthurs fair-trial rights. During the golden age of North American train travel, sleeping cars often came with porters who would carry your luggage and shine your shoes. Porters were smiling, courteous and unfailingly polite; for the better part of the last century, they were also Black, male, and sometimes referred to condescendingly as Georges boys or, simply, George. Both terms refer to George Pullman, a 19th-century American industrialist who pioneered and popularized a brand of train service modelled after the type of Black servitude found in Antebellum-era plantation houses. The first Pullman porters were ex-slaves and in Canada where post-Confederation railway companies imported and replicated the Pullman model Black porters worked for decades under discriminatory conditions for minimum pay. They were also perpetually at risk of being fired over the smallest offence. So whenever a passenger would call a porter by the name George the rich, white man to whom he was symbolically indentured the only acceptable response was to smile and nod. Most of them hated that name because it meant they had no individuality, says Cecil Foster, author of the new book They Call Me George: The Untold Story of Black Train Porters and the Birth of Modern Canada. When everyone would just simply say, Hey George, get me a cup of coffee; George, clean my shoes it meant that it didnt matter who was doing it, your labour was indivisible. You had no identity. You were just a George. But in his latest book, released this month by Biblioasis, Foster aims to restore the identities of the Black men who once worked on Canadian railroads. In the process, he also excavates a chapter of Canadian history that has been largely erased from the collective memory: the role that Black train porters played in furthering social justice and shaping Canada into the country it is today. In 2019, multiculturalism is considered official government policy and equal employment rights are protected by law. While significant challenges and inequities remain especially for Black and Indigenous communities the story of the Black train porter reminds us that such ideals did not come easily to Canada, where post-Confederation leaders like Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier envisioned a home for whiteness in the western hemisphere, Foster writes in his book. Canada wasnt originally intended to be a multicultural society, he writes. The train porters turned Canada black, brown, and a host of other shades. Yet this importance piece of Canadian history has yet to be fully told. Foster marvels at how little most Canadians know about this history; he himself only recently came to appreciate and understand it. The journalist and academic grew up in Barbados, where he watched men leave every year to toil on North American railroads; after he moved to Canada, he worked in several newsrooms, at one point even covering the transportation beat. He also knew the late Stanley Grizzle, a prominent labour and civil rights activist who became Canadas first Black immigration judge but worked for 20 years as a train porter, an experience Grizzle described in his 1998 autobiography, My Names Not George. Yet it was only recently that Foster pieced these fragments from his life together to realize they were all pieces of a larger story. I never put these elements together, he remarks. The truth is I only got to fully understand the impact of what these train porters did (in Canada) when I started to do the research on this book. In addition to interviewing surviving train porters, Fosters research involved digging through parliamentary speeches, newspaper clippings and government transcripts. And while he understood that early Canada was a racist society, he was still shocked by how frequently and openly this bigotry was expressed spanning from 1915, when politicians like Laurier casually used the n-word in Parliament, to the mid-50s when editorials openly disdained Black immigration. Nothing more disastrous could happen to Canada than an immigration flood of 5,000,000 Negroes, unless it might be a flood of 5,000,001, a national newspaper columnist wrote in 1954. We wish them all well, but we do not think it (would) be a good thing for their numbers to be appreciably added to Canada. Foster writes that early Canadian politicians worried about the racial turmoil they saw in the United States and strove to avoid a similar fate by suppressing non-white and Black immigration even though Canada was in desperate need of immigrants at the time. The Canadian Immigration Act of 1910, for example, prohibited immigration by anyone belonging to any race deemed unsuited to the climate or requirements of Canada. Foster points out that this stipulation conveniently disqualified Black people from the West Indies, who were native to the tropics (and therefore) deemed unsuited for the Canadian climate. Canada preferred immigrants who were British subjects; specifically, those that were white, Foster writes. He argues that this is why policymakers rejected pressure from Britain to allow the British West Indies to join the Canadian confederation, while Newfoundland was allowed in. By keeping the Black population low, Canadas leaders argued it had avoided the racial trap that the United States had created with its dependence on Black labour, Foster writes. Although Canadian policymakers eyed the British West Indies as a potential pool of cheap Black labour, fear of an increasing Black presence in the country meant that Black immigration in the early 20th century was limited annually to 100 people mainly men all of whom were channelled toward a career in portering. Indeed, railways were one of the only workplaces that would hire Black Canadians but only as porters. Workplace segregation policies meant that Black men were never hired for operational jobs or promoted to conductors, who supervised porters. For nearly six decades, railway employees were segregated into two groups: one for porters, nearly all of them Black, and one for all other railway employees, who were white. The major railway unions were no friends to the Black train porter, either. In fact, railways used unions to keep Blacks in their place, Foster says. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The very constitution of the conductors union indicated that membership had to be white, he states in his book. Porters on Canadian National Rail in particular would have to continue fighting their own union, the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Employees, for equality of treatment and for recognition as full union members for decades. But life would have been even harder without the limited opportunities offered by railroads and for much of the 20th century, the work of train porters became the centre of Black life in Canada, Foster writes. The father of former Lt.-Gov. Lincoln Alexander was a train porter; so, too, was the dad of jazz legend Oscar Peterson. In 1950s Calgary, around 90 per cent of the citys Black population depended on the railways for employment, according to Fosters book. Black train porters were always sharply dressed and the job conferred respect and prestige within their communities. But portering was a gruelling job, involving long hours and terrible pay along with the expectation that porters would provide friendly and impeccable service around the clock. The risk of getting fired loomed constantly and a passenger missing his or her stop, for example, was considered a firing offence. Porters were also vulnerable to exaggerated or false accusations, sometimes for becoming too familiar with white female passengers, Foster writes; such accusations tended to accumulate the closer the porter got to the age of retirement, an obvious attempt by the company to avoid paying pensions. Porters were responsible for everything from serving tea and retrieving luggage to pressing clothes and shining shoes while passengers slept an accumulation of tasks that left porters notoriously sleep deprived. A bitter joke was that porters were more appropriately called sleepy car porters rather than sleeping car porters, Foster writes. In an interview with the Star, former train porter Harold Adams, 76, recalls how he slept for just 3-1/2 hours when he first started working as a porter, often curling up on a couch in the mens washroom. I dont know how many times I came home and said Im not going back, this work is not for me, he tells Foster in the book. Adams says he never got involved with political activism but other porters, like Stanley Grizzle in Toronto, decided to organize and fight to improve the rights of Black Canadians. And in doing so, they played a significant role in taking Canada off the bankrupting path of trying to be an exclusive and racist country, Foster writes. Black train porters like Grizzle recognized that they had to fight both pillars of the social system: who got in and who got what work in Canada, he writes. This meant advocating for fairer and more equitable employment practices; it also meant pushing Canada to change its immigration policies and expand its vision for who could be included as Canadians. In his book, Foster frequently returns to a pivotal moment in 1954, when the Negro Citizenship Association chartered a sleeping car to mount a protest in Ottawa the first delegation of Black Canadians to meet with members of the federal Cabinet. The group was dominated by train porters and headed by respected civil rights leader Donald Moore, whose first job in Canada was as a sleeping car porter, Foster writes. In their meeting with then-immigration minister Walter Harris, the delegation presented a series of grievances, challenges and demands around Canadas discriminatory immigration policies. They had two broad aims, Foster writes; to challenge how Blackness and belonging was thought of in Canada, and to ensure that any benefits won by Black people were extended to all racialized groups. The delegations historic trip drew national attention to Canadas discriminatory immigration laws and paved the way for change. These guys were smart enough to go to Ottawa and say we have a different vision for our Canada, he says. They said theres an alternative, and the alternative is the Canada we live in today, where even (todays) minister of immigration (Ahmed Hussen) would not have been allowed in under that period. By the late 1960s, the activism of Black train porters had yielded a series of victories that included improving their work conditions and ending policies of workplace segregation. In 1955, George Garraway was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a conductor, making him the first Black Canadian to hold the job. Through their own struggle for social justice, Black porters made Canada a fairer place for everyone, Foster believes. Im hoping that people (who read this book) will take it as an unromanticized look at Canada, in which we look at Canada in all its warts and imperfections, he says. I also hope that they will think that the Black communities (were made up of) exceptional Canadians, where people had a vision of what Canada could be, he continues. There were those who fought for their ideas and their ideals of what a country should be and in getting those gains, theyve helped other groups achieve those gains as well. Ontarios Special Investigations Unit has charged three Peel Region police officers with assault after an incident in September that sent a Brampton man to hospital. On Sept. 15, an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle near Steeles Ave. and Financial Dr., the SIU says. The driver fled on foot and the officer pursued, eventually catching him along with two other officers. The SIU says an interaction ensued in the backyard of a home after which the man was arrested and sent to hospital for treatment of his injuries. Constables Connor Byrne, Roman Marchyshyn and Sunny Mukhi have each been charged with assault. Marchyshyn and Mukhi have also been charged with assault with a weapon. The three men are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 18. The SIU is an independent agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Jack Hauen is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jackhauen Read more about: Police are warning the public to avoid the area of Adelaide St. W. and Widmer St. after falling ice struck two vehicles. The ice pierced the roof of one of them. Toronto police have closed Widmer St. between King St. W., just south of Adelaide St. Officers have attended the same location in the past due to falling ice, spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said. The building the ice fell from has its entrance on Widmer St., just south of Adelaide St. W., Arrogante said. The building manager has been advised of the issue. No injuries have been reported. Toronto police have arrested a man in connection with an early morning shooting on New Years Day. At roughly 5:10 a.m. that day, police responded to a shooting at a club in the area of Oakwood Ave. and Vaughan Rd. They found a man, unconscious, and rushed him to hospital. He survived. Leo Soloman Martin, 28, of Toronto, was arrested on Jan. 30 on six charges, including attempted murder and owning a prohibited firearm without a license. He appeared in court on Jan. 31. Should consumers have the right to see competing offers on the same property. Should a realtor represent both the buyer and seller in the same transaction? Those are some of the issues the province is considering in a modernization of the 2002 rules governing Ontarios real estate industry, known as the Real Estate Business Brokers Act (REBBA). The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is gathering ideas for boosting consumer protection and enhancing the industrys professionalism through an online survey to close March 15. One of the biggest things were going to do as individuals or families is buy a home. We want to make sure were with the times. We want to make sure we listen to both the consumer and the professional and make sure we have legislation that reflects todays economy and todays world, said Minister Bill Walker. The REBBA update began under the previous Liberal government, which amended the legislation to allow the regulatory agency, the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), to double the fines for agents and brokers that violated the code of ethics. But the Liberals were voted out of office before the nuts and bolts around industry education, professional practices, language and disclosures were decided. Have your say A consultation paper released by the provinces Progressive Conservative government puts beefed-up powers for RECO on the table, suggesting tougher penalties for rule-breaking, unethical realtors. Right now RECOs disciplinary proceedings are archaic. Consumers making a complaint can wait years for resolution, said Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) CEO Tim Hudak, a former leader of the Ontario PC party. RECO should be able to fine rule-breaking realtors and force them to surrender their commissions which can exceed the penalties, he said. The average price (of a home in 2002) was $275,000. You couldnt buy a shack in somebodys back yard today for that price, said Hudak. Changes to some practices, including the privacy surrounding competing offers, will be difficult, say some agents. Multiple offers: Keeping multiple offers confidential among competing buyers has been criticized for driving up prices in hot markets. Elli Davis of Royal LePage doesnt want to see it change. I think a buyer has the opportunity to make their very best offer. They will know if theyre in competition. They will know how many offers there are in total and I think thats enough to know. I dont think its right that someone sees the private offer of another buyer, she said. John Pasalis of Torontos Realosophy brokerage said he cant see how offer details dont warrant the same confidentiality as other business dealings. But he acknowledged the system is problematic. You sometimes end up getting this one buyer who pays $50,000 to $100,000 more than he needed to because its a blind auction, although the highest price offer doesnt always win, said Pasalis. Sometimes sellers want different conditions rather than more money. Offers should be disclosed only with the consent of all the parties, starting with the seller, who would have the ultimate say in whether its an open bidding process, said RECO registrar Joe Richer. He notes that its in the sellers interest to keep the bids private. What is this solving in the broader public interest? Youre going to reduce the risk of the opportunity for somebody to blow everybody out of the water with a $50,000 (bid) over the next best offer. Youre not going to have that because everyones going to see everything. As a seller, I might say, I want a chance at that landslide offer, said Richer. Nothing prohibits the kind of open bid auction that is standard in Australia, he said. The thing is, in North America, its seen as a fire sale. Youre not going there expecting to pay the highest price; youre going expecting to pay the cheapest price, said Richer. Double-ending: Properly known as dual agency, where one agent represents the buyer and seller in a single transaction, needs to end in Ontario just as British Columbia has prohibited the practice, says RECO. It supports a system called Mandatory Designated Representation that allows a brokerage to handle both ends of a deal but a different agent must represent each client and the brokerage has to ensure that the two agents dont share client information. There would be exceptions for remote areas with limited real estate services or circumstances such as the handling of a family estate. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... That the act permits realtors to act on behalf of clients while serving another individual known as a customer is bordering on unethical, said Richer. The realtor is acting in the interest of a client. They may provide service to the customer, but they do not owe that person the same fiduciary duty. OREA has said that that, as is the case in Alberta, buyers and sellers should be required to sign a form declaring they understand they are using the same agent. But the realtor would not be permitted to share any confidential information. Davis says she has sold many of the houses she lists to her own clients. If you hire me to sell a property and I get a lead and I bring (it), that should be construed as a good thing, not a bad thing, as long as I disclose I could be on both sides of the transaction, I dont see any problem (with) it, she said. There are about 82,000 real estate agents and brokers in Ontario. RECO fined 69 individuals and six brokers a total of $712,950 in 2017. Among the 2,926 complaints the agency received that year, handling of competing offers and competent services was among the most common. It represented 9 per cent and 8 per cent of the totals, respectively. The devastated family of one of Bruce McArthurs victims says they want the serial killer punished to the maximum sentence, and are renewing calls for a public inquiry into police handling of the case. Ferhat Cinar listened in from his home in London, England, Tuesday as McArthur, 67, pleaded guilty to killing his brother, Selim Esen, and seven other men in Toronto between 2010 and 2017, most of the killings sexual in nature. Esen, a 44-year-old native of Turkey, was McArthurs seventh victim, killed in April 2017. Esens DNA was located in McArthurs van, as well as on the murder weapon, which was not specified in court Tuesday. A statement of facts read out said police found evidence of the use of a ligature. Found in McArthurs apartment was a notebook kept by Esen, who was described by his family as a lover of sociology and philosophy who had an inquisitive mind. We cant come to terms with his savage murder, Cinar said in a statement sent to the Star Thursday, on behalf of Esens family, many of whom remain in Turkey. How would anyone with a heart feel if their youngest brother, their son, is murdered when they thought he was living in one of the safest places in the world? Read more: Head of missing persons review asks permission to probe Toronto polices McArthur investigation Eight men, eight stories: What we know about serial killer Bruce McArthurs victims McArthur is the oldest confirmed serial killer in Canadian history. His age may have helped him hide in plain sight Submissions are scheduled to begin at Ontario Superior Court Monday, where McArthurs lawyers and Crown prosecutors will begin deliberations on McArthurs sentence. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years, when McArthur will be 91 years old. The hearings will decide whether McArthur serves the sentences for each first-degree murder concurrently, or if he will be granted consecutive sentences, pushing his parole eligibility far into the future. Next weeks proceedings will hear at least two dozen victim impact statements, including from Esens family. We feel and think strongly that the murderer must be punished with the maximum sentence, Cinar said. Renewing a call he made last year when he travelled to Toronto for Esens funeral, Cinar stressed that more needs to be done to determine how McArthur went undetected for years. The former landscaper killed his first victim, 40-year-old Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam, in 2010, seven years before Esen. In between, McArthur killed Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi, Dean Lisowick, Abdulbasir Faizi, and Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam. After Esen, McArthur killed Andrew Kinsman, his last victim. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... We think that a full independent public inquiry must be carried out in order to get into the bottom of this neglect over many years, Cinar said. Lives could have been saved, including Selims, if there were proper investigation in time and place. Former Ontario Court of Appeal judge Gloria Epstein is conducting an independent review of how Toronto police handle missing persons investigations. The probe was commissioned by the Toronto police board in the wake of controversy over the McArthur case and other high profile disappearances from the citys Gay Village. On Wednesday, Epstein wrote a letter to Toronto police board chair Andy Pringle asking that her review be broadened to allow her to examine the police investigation into McArthur himself. Currently, Epstein cannot review Toronto police handling of the serial killer including past contacts with him due to restrictions created to preserve McArthurs fair-trial rights. Pringle said the board will consider the request at a future meeting, considering McArthurs fair-trial rights are now no longer a concern due to his guilty plea. Toronto police spoke to McArthur twice in the years before his arrest, once during a previous investigation into the disappearances of his victims and again in 2016 after a man reported to police that McArthur had attempted to strangle him, but he was let go. While many within Torontos LGBTQ community have praised the actions of the Toronto police officers whose work led to McArthurs arrest, some feel a public inquiry could identify systemic issues that may have prevented McArthur from being caught sooner. Mayor John Tory said this week there may be cause for a broader inquiry into the case beyond Epsteins missing persons review and Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province would consider it. A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General said Wednesday that any consideration of an inquiry would happen after McArthurs sentencing hearing. A full independent public inquiry should help learn the lessons and put measures in place in order for people of any sexuality, whatever their background, feel free and safe to express themselves and live in harmony, Cinar said. Esens family described him as selfless, someone who loved playing with his cousins, supported his sister after her husbands death, and borrowed money to help his friends when they needed financial support. He had many talents and interests, Cinar said, including nature, growing trees, textile design, managing a cafe among many other things. We all loved our youngest brother Selim and miss him so much. Alance Forde had been wanting to learn how to play guitar for a few years. So, he figured, why not also learn how to build one? Thats why he signed up for a new one-of-a-kind guitar-making class at Yorkdale Secondary School. Students handcraft their own guitars, learn to play them and get to keep them. Its kind of awesome that I now have my own to play, said Forde, 20. And I hand-made it. The new interdisciplinary course part woodworking and part music is for students enrolled in the EdVance program, geared for 18-to-20-year-olds. The program offers specialized and intensive courses in a quadmestered setting, meaning daily classes run for nine weeks. Its for students who are new to Canada, working toward their high school diploma or who want to improve their marks for post-secondary goals, such as entering the workforce or going to college and university. Eric Dallin, the schools principal, says the class is the first of its kind within the Toronto District School Board. The first cohort of about 30 students completed the course in late January and it was so successful there are plans to offer it again in the spring or fall at the high school near Dufferin St. and Hwy. 401. Buying the guitar kits and equipment for the course cost the school a total of about $6,000. Its worth it, Dallin says. Students were so engaged that each day between 80 to 90 per cent of them made it to class, despite the fact many lead busy lives juggling jobs and family responsibilities. By comparison, attendance rates for some other EdVance classes can be around 50 per cent. They were there (in class) because they wanted to be, Dallin says. I visited the class a lot and you could see the pride in their faces. They took ownership of their guitars and their work. The class, he says, is a great way to incentivize coming to school because students will make the effort to attend guitar-making class, and then will stick around for other subjects, such as Science, English and Math. This unique course is the brainchild of music teacher Jon Goold and woodworking teacher Greg Morrell. I see a lot of projects started, but not a lot finished, says Morrell, seated in the schools wood shop surrounded by students. Everyone here finished. He says thats a testament to the energy and determination of the students, who sometimes lined up outside the class, eager to get in and get going. These (students) have actually seen the project (through) from start to finish Thats a huge transferable skill they can take out into the workforce or post-secondary. Students each received a guitar kit. They assembled the neck and body, as well as the strings, machine heads, saddle and bridge. And they sanded, stained and painted their own guitar, adding their own personal flair to the design. Finally, they learned to play some basic chords. Goold says a key motivator for students was that they got to keep their own instruments and take them home to show family and friends. So, they worked really hard on trying to get them to sound, and look, just right. Anytime there is ownership over learning, Goold says, it encourages a lot of active learning and participation. Student Abdirahman Mohamed, 19, says at the start of the course, some students planned on selling their guitar when it was completed. But, he adds, nobody did because everybodys attached to it. When Mohamed took his guitar home, he could see the awe in the faces of his family, adding I feel like I accomplished something in their eyes. Shane Estrella, who moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2017, took the class because she has always wanted to play the guitar. But after stepping into a wood shop for the first time, learning how to properly take measurements and painstakingly designing her guitar, the 19 year-old says the greatest lesson was learning to be more patient. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Pauline Cabal, who last year left her native Philippines and her beloved guitar behind signed up for the class so she could get a new guitar here. (Playing guitar) makes me feel safe, says Cabal, 19, who used to play with a choir back home. It comforts me. She said her mother was so amazed and excited with the new instrument that she purchased a guitar bag and music stand for her. Hanzel Kurt Locaben, 20, says his mother was also delighted with his new guitar so much so that shes been the one playing it at home. Forde, 20, who moved to Canada last summer from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, says his new guitar is also attracting a lot of attention at home. My little cousins and my brother and sister wont stop touching it. Toronto police have made an arrest in Scarborough after a man was allegedly carrying kilograms of drugs and multiple guns. Police say they received a tip on Jan. 24 at about 11 a.m. that a man was carrying the illicit goods near Kennedy Rd. and Village Green Sq. The suspect is accused of carrying five loaded restricted firearms, more than one kilogram of heroin, more than two kg of cocaine and some Xanax police did not say how much. Nonde Karapetrov, 31, faces 29 charges relating to possession of restricted firearms and possession for the purpose of trafficking. CALGARYVery few businesses long to be regulated. Baked Edibles is one of them. For the last three years, the Victoria, B.C.-based company has supplied edibles and topicals such as salves and massage oils to around 500 businesses across Canada. It remains an underground operation; these popular products were not legalized along with cannabis flower and oils last October. Sean Bird, Baked Edibles general manager, says the business is ready to adapt and submit to the federal governments coming regulations once theyre finalized. But he warned that the current section on edibles, as it currently stands, only allows a very conservative dose of THC the main psychoactive component found in cannabis. He believes the proposed limit of 10 milligrams per package of edibles, small even for novice users, will keep customers returning to the black market. Alternatively, consumers can cook up stronger edibles at home with relative ease. They will find other methods. Perhaps these methods will not be regulated, Bird said. As weve seen in the past, the black market will fill any holes it can. It will remain strong if theres demand. California, Colorado and Washington states allow a single package of edibles containing multiple gummies, brownies, cookies or other treats to contain up to 100 milligrams of THC. Oregons regulations are somewhat stricter at 50 milligrams. Have your say Read more: Move over Betty Crocker: Pot edibles to include anything you can brew, stew, cook or chew Entrepreneur sells do-it-yourself cannabis edible kits to bypass legal limitations Why cannabis companies are sweet on edibles Despite its draft regulations allowing just a fifth of Oregons limit, Health Canada said it looked to U.S. states for inspiration and cited the U.S. experience as proof that legalization does erode the black markets staying power. Experience in the U.S. has clearly shown that the legalization and regulation of cannabis in several U.S. states has led to a significant displacement of the illegal market, over time, in those jurisdictions, said Health Canada in a statement. Part of Canadas cautiousness comes from fears of overconsumption. Unlike smoking a joint or vaping cannabis oil, edibles have a delay between consumption and when a user starts to experience its effects. Novice users might eat an edible, not feel anything, and then eat several more under the assumption that they havent had enough. While cannabis overconsumption colloquially referred to as greening out can be acutely unpleasant and may mean a trip to a hospitals emergency room, it isnt fatal. Rebecca Haines-Saah, an assistant professor at the University of Calgarys department of community health sciences, agreed a 10-milligram THC limit is a very low dose. For most users, it would mean a relatively mellow high, although she noted that edibles produce a different experience than smoking or vaping. I imagine that putting out the draft regulations with a very, very low dose is meant to respond to this general concern among public health authorities, she said. Haines-Saah said its worth paying attention to the issue of overconsumption but said recent statistics suggesting an increase in hospital visits need to be taken in context. Before cannabis was legalized in Canada and certain U.S. states, bringing a child to the ER because they accidentally ate a special brownie could also mean a visit from child-welfare authorities. Now, she argued, parents in those jurisdictions are more likely to come forward. Its a really tricky issue to figure out, Haines-Saah said. Parliament is expected to approve the regulations, in some form, no later than Oct. 17. Consultations continue between Health Canada, cannabis industry players, provincial and territorial governments, First Nations and other members of the public. However they turn out, the final rules will have a big impact. Edibles are likely to be a significant part of Canadas recreational cannabis scene going forward, according to Mitchell Osak, managing director of business consulting and technology services at Grant Thornton LLP, who advises companies in the Canadian cannabis industry. Between January and July of 2018, he said, the demand for edibles in California and Colorado made up about 43 per cent of the total market for weed. Many potential consumers in Canada are staying out of pot shops because theyre waiting for edibles to arrive. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Thats how they want to experience cannabis, Osak said. And the new rules will almost certainly mean major changes for underground producers. According to Bird, breaking into the legal market will mean shuttering Baked Edibles as it currently exists, pulling out of arrangements with black market sellers and, it seems, discontinuing the potent edibles it currently sells. Nonetheless, Bird said this was always the plan. We want to be regulated and we want to offer a safe and reliable product, and we want to work within the confines of the law, he said. Read more about: CALGARYAlberta Opposition Leader Jason Kenney is demanding Premier Rachel Notley call the election now and stop campaigning with public money. Kenney says recent unbudgeted spending announcements and multimillion-dollar government ad campaigns for programs like the carbon tax are nothing more than partisan promotions for Notleys NDP. Kenney says if his United Conservatives win government, they would make changes to the law to allow the auditor general to prohibit at any time government ads deemed to be partisan. He says the UCP would also extend a ban on non-essential government advertising to include not only the campaign period, but also the months leading up to it. Kenney made the announcements on the first day of the window for Albertas election to be called. By law, Notley can call the election at any time over the next three months with voters heading to the polls no later than the end of May. Read more about: DAWSON CITY, YUKONThe Yukon government is pulling out of a project to build an ice bridge across the Yukon River that would have provided a winter-time connection between Dawson City and the little suburb of West Dawson. A snowcat broke through the ice bridge and sank last month while it was under construction. Paul Murchison, director of the Highways Departments transportation engineering branch, says the territory has already spent about three quarters of the $200,000 budgeted for the project and had to consider the value of the estimated two-month lifespan of the bridge with the cost of constructing it. He says successful completion depends on factors that are out of the governments control, including river hydraulics, ice conditions, water and air temperature. Ice bridges at Dawson City have always formed naturally as the Yukon River freezes, allowing about 100 residents of West Dawson to drive between the two communities, but ice has not formed as usual for the last several years. A homemade ice foot bridge allows pedestrians to reach work and shops in the community, but emergency vehicles cant access West Dawson until a government-run ferry resumes after breakup. Read more: Yukon says Dawson wastewater plant expensive, needs replacing after seven years Snowcat sinks to bottom of Yukon River as Dawson City ice bridge breaks The contractor hired to build the ice bridge will now begin removing equipment and cleaning up. I expect it will be a little bit of money as far as demobilizing from the site so if there is a little bit of money left over, it wont be spent, Murchison says of the $50,000 remaining in the project budget. A permanent bridge has not been discussed and probably wont get future consideration, he says. At a meeting in August, residents speculated that a growing gravel bar in the river north of Dawson City traps ice and forms a choke point there, rather than at the usual point between Dawson and West Dawson, where the river slightly bends and narrows. The Yukon government unsuccessfully tried to apply what it called an ice Band-Aid over the open water at Dawson last winter by spraying ice water to try and encourage ice formation. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The contractor this year used booms to do that and the plan seemed to be working, with a 45-centimetre-thick slab of ice forming. But work was halted when the snowcat unexpectedly shattered the slab while clearing snow off it in January. No one was hurt but the heavy equipment remains at the bottom of the river, although efforts will be made to retrieve it. Read more about: OTTAWAThe federal government says diplomats visited Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor today for the third time since he was arrested in China in December on allegations of endangering Chinese national security. A statement by Global Affairs Canada says the government continues to be deeply concerned by the arbitrary detentions of Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig, who was also arrested last month on similar allegations. The department has said that Kovrig, a Canadian diplomat on leave from his job, has received two consular visits. Canada is pushing for more consular access to both men and has demanded their immediate release. The arrests of Spavor and Kovrig are in apparent retaliation for Canadas December arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. The arrest of the Chinese telecom giants executive and her potential extradition to the U.S. to face charges of fraud and conspiracy have angered China, which says shes done nothing wrong. China has demanded her release and has warned of serious consequences for Canada if it fails to do so. Read More: Crisis Group says it trusts Ottawa to help free detainees after McCallum firing Canadian man, 61, arrested in China on fraud charges: local media Academics, former envoys to China press Xi to free two detained Canadians Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Read more about: OTTAWACanada and its Lima Group allies will use their Monday meeting in Ottawa to find new ways including financial to support the Venezuelan opposition and ease the refugee crisis in neighbouring Brazil and Colombia. The agenda for the gathering of foreign ministers from more than a dozen of Canadas Western Hemisphere allies was still being finalized on Friday, in part because of the speed at which the Venezuelan crisis is unfolding. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will host the meeting two days after Saturdays scheduled national street protests in Venezuela aimed at pressing the countrys socialist leader, Nicolas Maduro, to vacate the presidency. Canada has already contributed $2.2 million for the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela that has forced three million people from their homes, sending ripples across the region. Sources say Canada wont be adding to that fund because Maduro wont allow proper humanitarian access to the country. And while they stress Mondays meeting is not a pledging conference, sources said the discussions will include looking at new political and financial ways to support the politician they see as the countrys true interim president: parliamentary leader Juan Guaido. Read More: The best way to help Venezuela? Resist the temptation to interfere Venezuela opposition leader rejects mediation offers Venezuela opposition leader to police: Leave my family alone One source framed a central question for the talks as: How can we continue to pressure Maduro in such a way that he steps down to allow for a new election? What more can we be doing in terms of financial support but also general support? A possibility is to repurpose billions of dollars of overseas assets seized from the countrys corrupt leaders to help countries coping with the influx of refugees and to back Guaidos new government. That proposal comes from the Washington think-tank Inter-American Dialogue and the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Ont. Its a way of holding individual members of the regimes feet to the fire, said Fen Hampson, head of CIGIs global security program. Mondays meeting will also be focused on keeping the pressure on Maduro to vacate the Venezuelan presidency and turn it over to Guaido, whom the Lima Group, the United States and other democratic countries now call the South American countrys legitimate leader. He was elected president of the Venezuelan National Assembly in December and claimed the presidency of the country on the grounds that Maduros last election was illegitimate and the office is vacant. The Ottawa talks will be aimed at charting a path forward that ensures that the international spotlight remains on the opposition because were at a turning point. The last thing that we want is the international attention for fade and for Maduro to be emboldened to hold on, said one source. In recent days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been personally invested with that issue in a series of phone calls with foreign leaders, including Irelands and Italys. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... In his Thursday conversation with Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, Trudeau emphasized the importance of the international community sending a strong, unified, and clear message on the crisis in support of Guaido and the Venezuelan people, the Prime Ministers Office said. Trudeau has also stayed in close contact with the leaders of Venezuelas neighbours, which are directly affected by the crisis, said Federico Hoyos, the Colombian ambassador to Canada. The strength of the Lima Group resides in the unity of our voices demanding democracy in Venezuela, said Hoyos. The meeting comes at a time when the Trudeau government has been under siege domestically for how it conducts foreign policy. This has included the ongoing turmoil with China, which has imprisoned two Canadian following the RCMPs arrest of a Huawei executive on behalf of the U.S., unsuccessful efforts to get U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs lifted, and a high-profile rift with Saudi Arabia. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer cited those examples and others as evidence of the debacle Trudeau has made of Canadian foreign policy. Canadas Lima Group allies dont share that view. Canada is an important country on the world stage, and its support and leadership have been critical to reinforce the Lima Group, said Hoyos. Brazils ambassador Denis Fontes de Souza Pinto said Canada has been playing a key role in the Lima Group since its formation in August 2017. The participation of Canada shows it not only has to do with Latin America; its something that has to do with the American continents values, he said. The group has 14 members in North and South America, including Canada and Mexico, but excludes the United States. Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez have often painted the U.S. as a villain seeking to thwart Venezuelans popular will. Roland Paris, the University of Ottawa professor who was Trudeaus first foreign-policy adviser, said: This will be a substantive meeting, but it cant hurt the government politically to showcase Canadas international leadership on Venezuela. Read more about: WASHINGTONThe federal Liberal government laid the blame at Russias feet Friday after the United States pulled out of a 30-year-old nuclear missile treaty, rekindling Cold War fears and prompting fresh concerns about an escalating arms race. Russia has for years been alarming the U.S. and NATO allies alike by flouting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, with impunity and in plain sight of the world, U.S. President Donald Trump declared in a statement. The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions, he said. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct. The decision comes as no surprise, given fruitless U.S. efforts to convince Russia to abide by the terms of the pact, the first such measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range of up to 5,500 kilometres. Thats a little more than the distance from Vancouver to St. Johns, and twice that from Moscow to Paris. Cruise missiles are guided and powered and typically fly close to the ground, which makes them difficult for current missile-defence systems to shoot down. Read More: US pulls out of Cold War-era nuclear treaty, blaming Russia The Latest: Russian politicians fault US over arm treaty US calls for compliance with nuclear treaties Since 2017, Russia has deployed four battalions of the 9M729 cruise missile, up from three a few months ago, increasing its stockpile to nearly 100 of the missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Canada and NATO both sided with the U.S., making it clear that Russias aggression and intransigence is responsible for the imminent demise of a pivotal arms-reduction agreement seen as central to the end of the Cold War. Canada strongly supports global non-proliferation and disarmament efforts, which are essential to keeping the world safe. However, arms control only works if everyone follows their obligations, Adam Austen, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, said in a statement. Russia has failed to comply with this important treaty, and Canada is disappointed that Russias actions have led to (Fridays) announcement. Russia must come into compliance with this treaty immediately. NATO concurred: Allies fully support this action, the military alliance said in a statement. Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty. The U.S. argues that it was being hamstrung by the treaty at a time when threats are escalating around the world, not only from Russia but China, which is not party to the treaty and which officials fear has gained a significant military advantage in Asia. That cuts both ways: the end of the treaty could also serve Russias strategic interests. The move away from disarmament bodes ill for the safety of countless millions around the world, a coalition of activists, prominent Canadians and current and former political and business leaders warned last week in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Without these treaties, they wrote, the world would, for the first time since 1972, be without any formal constraints on nuclear arsenals, and would thus face a perilous future of renewed arms races and the heightened danger that political and military confrontations could escalate to nuclear use and widespread planetary annihilation. The U.S., which started a 60-day clock on its treaty obligations two months ago, will officially suspend the treaty on Saturday and begin the process of withdrawing fully over the next six months, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a briefing in Washington. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Even as he detailed the withdrawal, Pompeo insisted that the risk of nuclear proliferation remains Trumps highest American national-security interest, and that the U.S. will endeavour to replace an agreement that has stopped working. But in the interim, he said, the damage has already been done. We are prepared to enter into negotiations on these complex arms-control issues all around the world, including conversations about the renewal of other arms-control agreements as we move forward, Pompeo said. President Trumps mission set is to make sure that any agreement that we entered into has Americas best interest that is, it protects the American people, protects our allies around the world as well, and has provisions that other countries are both capable and willing to comply with, and allow us to verify that they have complied with those agreements. Read more about: GATINEAU, QUE. Premier Francois Legault said Thursday there is no Islamophobia in Quebec, closing the door on the idea of designating a national day to combat the problem. On Tuesday, the second anniversary of a mosque shooting that killed six Muslim men in Quebec City, his deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault appeared open to the idea of a national day to combat Islamophobia, which had been proposed by Muslim groups. Genevieve was careful in saying that we were going to look at that, Legault told reporters at the end of a caucus meeting in Gatineau, Que. We looked at it, and there wont be any, thats clear. As for why, he said simply: Listen, I dont think there is Islamophobia in Quebec. After the news conference a press aide told media the premier meant to say there is no current of Islamophobia in Quebec. The topic remains sensitive in Quebec, which continues to grapple with a debate over accommodating minority religions. Legault has promised legislation early in the next legislative session to prohibit public servants in positions of authority police officers, judges, prosecutors, prison guards and teachers from wearing religious symbols such as the hijab, turban and kippa. In Ottawa, the Commons heritage committee recommended last year that Jan. 29 be declared a national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination. Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week that the city was proclaiming Jan. 29 a day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia. Read more about: HALIFAXEllen Page used a late-night TV appearance on Thursday to lambaste conservative politicians in the U.S. and decry environmental racism in her home province in Canada. In an emotional conversation with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, the actress originally from Halifax made an example of Nova Scotia when Colbert asked her to explain what environmental racism is. Page said that environmental degradation disproportionately affects people of colour and pointed to cases in Nova Scotia to make her point. She told Colbert that theres a pulp mill in Pictou, Nova Scotia, thats been there forever and has destroyed the environment and the land of the First Nations people. Page and Colbert arrived at the topic after he mentioned her involvement in a lot of environmental causes. The actress has been unabashed in her opposition to the flushing of effluent from the Northern Pulp mill into Boat Harbour an issue that coincidentally hit a milestone on the same day as Pages appearance on The Late Show. Northern Pulp, which has been operating since 1967, was mandated by the provincial government to find another way to treat its effluent by Jan. 31, 2020. Despite the company saying on Thursday that it needs a one-year extension, the people of Pictou Landing First Nation celebrated the one-year countdown after calling for changes to the mills operations for several decades. Read more: Pictou Landing chief says no to Boat Harbour extension, 2020 deadline so sacred Ellen Page says Nova Scotia government needs to step up right now over pulp mill controversy Without specifying a location, Page also said that Nova Scotia has a disproportionate amount of landfills that are placed next to communities of people of colour. Page and Colberts nearly 10-minute conversation began with the topic of equality and representation in Hollywood something that Page has advocated throughout her career but especially since coming out publicly as gay in 2014. She told Colbert that she recently celebrated the first anniversary of her marriage to fellow Canadian Emma Portner, and after calling out environmental injustice in Nova Scotia, Page circled back to LGBTQ rights in the U.S., where she now lives. Have your say Sorry, Im like really fired up tonight, she told Colbert, but it feels impossible to not feel this way right now with the president and the vice-president, Mike Pence, who wishes I couldnt be married. Video of the interview has gone viral, with many Americans focusing on Pages slamming of Pence; she said the former Indiana governor wanted to ban same-sex marriage in his home state and believes in conversion therapy. Page appeared close to tears as she wrapped up the sprawling interview. The actress was purportedly on the late-night talk show to promote her upcoming TV series, The Umbrella Academy, but she and Colbert didnt get around to talking about it, save for a quick plug from the host in the final moments of the segment. There are plenty of celebrities who, like Page, use their public platforms to advocate for social, political or environmental change. Howard Ramos, a sociology professor at Dalhousie University, said that in some instances, celebrity intervention can detract from grassroots movements by diluting or misrepresenting the message. But in this case, he said, its a good thing. (Page) has progressive politics, and its nice to see that she takes her position as a public figure to advance the discussion of her progressive politics, Ramos said in an interview. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... It broadens the political discussion, the advocacy discussion to a popular audience. Without Page, its not likely that Colberts international audience would have ever heard about the pollution at Boat Harbour, Ramos argued. He said she isnt a perfect advocate for Pictou Landing, since she no longer lives in the province or spends time in the areas impacted by the mill, but he said her words stand to raise the profile of those who are more closely connected. StarMetro asked for Premier Stephen McNeils response to Pages remarks. In an email, spokesperson David Jackson said: Premier McNeil and this government have been clear that its unacceptable the community of Pictou Landing has had to live with the waste flow into Boat Harbour for decades. Thats why government is taking action passing legislation in 2015 to close the Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility early and planning for the cleanup of Boat Harbour. Read more about: In a controversial conference call with stock-market analysts on Monday, Neil Bruce, CEO of Montreal-based engineering and construction giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., appeared to deflect blame for his companys woes to Canadas recent decision to grant asylum to an 18-year-old Saudi woman. What Bruce, 58, said Jan. 28 was that the relationship of Saudi Arabia with regards to Canada has not been helped by the recent position with regards to the asylum seeker. That, from a Saudi perspective, has not gone down very well at all. Translation: Rescuing this teenager is bad for my business in Saudi Arabia. Its not often that the CEO of a $9.2-billion enterprise (2017 revenues) believes his firm is somehow jeopardized by a teenager. Or is witless enough to say so. In that same conference call, Bruce disclosed that SNC-Lavalin was taking a $1.24-billion write-down on assets, and that its 2018 profits would be significantly lower than Bruces most recent forecast to investors. SNC-Lavalins stock promptly tanked, erasing about $1.8 billion in shareholder value. For the record, Bruce, a Scottish ex-pat with about 30 years experience in engineering and construction, is a superb manager. He has used smart takeovers and an internal culture of collegiality to turn SNC into a focused enterprise and a global powerhouse. When he became CEO in 2015, Bruce took charge of a firm emerging from a thorough self-rehabilitation after a long period of alleged improper conduct, including bribery and illegal political payments in Canada and abroad. But despite SNC-Lavalins admirable transformation into a clean company, the firm continues to cope with a legacy of reputational damage. A Quebec court decision on whether the firm should endure a criminal trial related to alleged illegal payments in Libya in the 2000s is expected no sooner than this spring. And a Canadian federal prosecution agency has denied SNC-Lavalin the chance to resolve outstanding Canadian charges against the company with an out-of-court settlement. That is an expeditious practice that Canada has adopted and is widely used in G-7 countries. But that resolution process has been, without explanation, denied SNC-Lavalin. Theres no reason to doubt Bruces assertion that a full-blown prosecution of SNC-Lavalin that is hanging over it has cost it billions of dollars in Canadian contracts. If SNC-Lavalin is still paying for the alleged sins of its past, all the more reason for Bruce to be sensitive to injustice inflicted on an asylum seeker who, like his employer, has suffered unfairly from forces beyond her control. The teenager in question, Rahaf Mohammed, says she was repeatedly beaten by her mother for renouncing the Islamic faith. She says she feared still worse from male siblings. Though she is now in Canada, Rahaf is still in danger, as my Star colleague Rosie DiManno reports . The last thing Rahaf needs is to be spotlighted as she was by SNC-Lavalin. It is currently a given in the global financial media that Canada is paying a price for calling out a thuggish Saudi regime last year, imploring it to release two imprisoned human-rights activists, and for its recent rescue of Rahaf. The wording of those media reports is similar. Heres an example from Bloomberg News this week: Canada remains at odds with the kingdom, a dispute thats having an economic impact: Shares in Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. suffered a record plunge Monday in part because of the spat. At least for now, SNC-Lavalin is the only example given of collateral damage from the Ottawa-Riyadh tensions. So, lets have a closer look at this company: Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... SNC-Lavalin stock is has frequently tanked. SNC-Lavalin is among the most volatile large-cap stocks in North America. In the past decade alone, the firms stock has plunged five times, by an average of 28 per cent. The stock is dead money, in Bay Street parlance. It trades today in the same $35 range as it did in 2009, a period in which shares of Edmonton-based rival Stantec Inc. have almost tripled in value. Saudi Arabia is just one of SNC-Lavalins issues. On Monday, SNC-Lavalin said its financial performance was undermined by a payment dispute with an unnamed mining company (thought by analysts to be Chilean miner Codelco); an arbitration loss in Australia; and a volatile global energy sector in which projects have been scrapped and postponed worldwide. How difficult are Saudi conditions, actually? Bruce has reported that SNC-Lavalin has kept its existing Saudi contracts, and has slightly increased its Saudi workforce. Among those employees are more than 1,400 Saudi nationals. They are gaining world-class expertise in high-skill jobs that are hard to come by in Saudi Arabia and the region. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also reliant on firms like SNC-Lavalin, which has done business in the kingdom for some 50 years, to achieve his hyper-ambitious goal of reinventing the Saudi economy around world-class infrastructure. In many quarters, SNC-Lavalin is still a pariah. The firm emerged from rehab only a few years ago. Its alleged misconduct sprawls across more than a decade, when it is alleged to have bribed officials abroad and even in its hometown of Montreal. SNC-Lavalin has been effectively banned from World Bank-funded projects for a 10-year period ending in 2023, arising from the Banks disgust with SNC-Lavalins alleged misconduct in Bank-financed projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia. SNC-Lavalin has also acknowledged that it violated Canadian election-finance law in funneling illicit money to political parties and candidates. While those scandals all pre-date Bruces tenure, he has to cope with the continued bad odour around his firm, which inhibits its ability to bulk up its portfolio of projects. And SNC-Lavalin must secure a lot of new contracts, to cover the higher fixed costs that came with its Bruce-era expansion. Does SNC-Lavalin have a sufficient grasp on its business? On Monday, SNC-Lavalin blindsided the markets in forecasting a 2018 profit per share 79 per cent lower than Bruces most recent guidance. Bruce also mused that day about selling his firms Saudi operations, which investors had been told by SNC-Lavalin were a growth engine for the company. And on Nov.1 less than three months before announcing a $1.24-billion write-down Bruce had assured investors that despite the political issues weve had to contend with, our business is solid. Bruce has more than a teenage asylum seeker to worry about. His fateful Nov. 1 assurance to shareholders is the grist of investor class-action lawsuits launched almost daily in North America. And if Ottawas foreign policy is misguided, SNC-Lavalins experience in Saudi Arabia doesnt stand up as evidence of that. Read more about: FREDERICTON - New Brunswicks Tory premier is vowing to balance the current books and next years budget, without raising taxes, in an effort to get the provinces finances under control and lessen reliance on federal transfers. Blaine Higgs made the commitment Thursday night as he delivered his first state of the province address to a business audience in Fredericton since being sworn in as premier last November. Balancing the budget should not be a partisan issue. It should be a basic expectation of government, Higgs said. The previous Liberal government delivered a small surplus last year, the first in a decade. New Brunswick has a net debt of $13.9 billion and Higgs said the province pays seven cents out of every tax dollar in interest. Higgs said the province is too reliant on public money to keep the economy going, and its a problem that must be corrected. We want to grow the private economy so it can pay for the public services that we want. And we can tax everyone less, Higgs said. And he said there is a sense of urgency to make the changes. I see a province that has said yes to taxes and no to industry so often that we are sending the next generation out west to do jobs that we have turned away here at home, he told the crowd. Higgs said hes calling for an era of big citizenship where private business drives the economy. We need a big citizenship that doesnt ask How does this help me? but asks instead How can we move New Brunswick forward? Part of that, he said, is reducing New Brunswicks reliance on federal funding. Right now, 36 per cent of the provincial budget comes from federal transfer payments. He said that means that huge parts of the economy and the social safety net depend on decisions that others make. However, Higgs said hes calling on the federal government to provide support for priorities that drive the province forward, rather than directing federal money towards ribbon cuttings and good news announcements. We need to change the belief that every time Ottawa offers us a 50-50 funding project, we need to take the deal or we are losing money. His comment comes just a day after pulling the plug on financing for the 2021 Francophonie Games because of escalating costs and Ottawas funding formula. Kirsty Duncan, the federal sports minister, was critical of the decision, saying that Higgs was leaving federal dollars on the table. Higgs also used his speech to repeat his criticism of Quebec for standing in the way of the construction of a revived Energy East pipeline to move oil from the west to Eastern Canada and a refinery and export terminal in New Brunswick. He said Quebec wants to look at transmission lines to allow them to sell electricity to the New England market. As a Canadian, I want that for them too. But it wont be a one-way exchange, he said. I will expect equal concern from them for our economic future. Higgs touched on a variety of other topics including French immersion, the management of salmon stocks and social assistance. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The premier said he wants social workers to look for various solutions in an effort to break the welfare trap that keeps many people from getting jobs and breaking free of social assistance. If a ride, or child care, or a housing subsidy will help people break the welfare trap, we should be empowering social workers to find the right solution, he said. Higgs won a minority government last year. It is propped up by the three members of the Peoples Alliance party who have promised to support the government on votes of confidence for at least 18 months. TELFORD, ENGLANDFiltermist, a company flush with business across Europe, is scrambling to fix a problem whose contours are maddeningly unknown. In less than 60 days, absent a sudden outbreak of amity in British politics, the country will crash out of the European Union without a deal spelling out what happens next. Like the rest of British business, Filtermist, which makes devices that suck oil vapour out of factory air, cannot afford to simply wait and hope that everything works out. With the prospect of an unruly exit increasingly palpable, workers at a plant the company operates in Telford, a modest town in the Midlands of England, are rushing to assemble 800 clean-air units to stockpile in Europe. Filtermist will ship the units to a factory in southern Germany, squarely within the European Union. Then, come what may whether politicians in Britain and Europe strike a deal, or whether the bewildering torment known as Brexit yields border chaos the company can rely on that stash to get its goods to European customers after March 29, the day Britain is supposed to leave the European bloc. This is the tiresome yet unavoidable nature of business as Brexit shifts from a theoretical event to something real: Companies must plan for outcomes both wildly unknown and potentially damaging. Fearful of havoc, they are stockpiling products, exploring new shipping routes and making backup plans, all the while having no idea how the adventure will end. What are we contending with? asks Filtermists chief executive, James Stansfield. So long as he lacks an answer, his 50-year-old company will ship extra stock to Germany. Its meant extra resources, extra overtime, to get it done, he said. Everybodys stockpiling. Its incredibly annoying. Its frustrating. It also threatens to be expensive. The British economy is 2.3 per cent smaller than it would have been absent the June 2016 vote that set Brexit in motion, according to a recent estimate from the Center for European Reform, a pro-European research institution. The main culprit is the uncertainty that has discouraged commerce. Investment in the British auto industry plunged by nearly half last year as companies waited to see how Brexit would play out, a leading trade association said this week. That uncertainty is intensifying in the face of an epic stalemate. Parliament voted down an unpopular exit deal that Prime Minister Theresa May had negotiated with European leaders. Some lawmakers oppose Mays agreement because it takes Britain out of the European common marketplace; others because it ties Britain too closely to Europe. Parliament may yet approve Mays deal she survived a critical vote Tuesday that could have delayed Brexit especially if the primary alternative is a tumultuous no-deal departure. Britain might extend the deadline, hold another referendum on the question of leaving the European Union or even call the whole thing off. But barring the emergence of a majority behind a negotiated arrangement, Britain will crash out. That could profoundly alter the European single market, a free trade area running from Ireland to Greece. Customs checks would almost surely be revived at British and European ports, bringing paperwork, inspections and other bureaucratic elements not likely to speed up the transit of goods. Many companies that trade across the English Channel have been planning for a messy divorce while hoping to be pleasantly surprised by a smoother separation. Multinational banks now depend on rights within the European market that allow them to legally use offices in Britain to serve customers on the Continent. Brexit is likely to end that arrangement, so global banks have been shifting thousands of jobs from Britain to European banking centres. Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, provides more than half the insulin used by British residents with diabetes. The company makes most of its insulin near Copenhagen, trucking the product to the French port of Calais, where ferries carry it to the English port of Dover. Normally, Novo Nordisk holds seven weeks worth of stock at cold storage facilities in Britain. As the risk of a no-deal Brexit has risen, the company has increased that stockpile to a 16-week supply, said Pinder Sahota, the drugmakers vice president for the United Kingdom. Novo Nordisk has booked airfreight shipments to ensure that it can get insulin to Britain even if sea lanes are disrupted. This is one of the major logistical challenges that our industry has ever faced, Sahota said. Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical company, has also stockpiled medicines while shifting the required quality-testing of batches of newly released drugs from Britain to the Republic of Ireland, a European Union member. That way, the company remains in compliance with European regulations. Its complicated and costly, and its disruptive, said Hugo Fry, Sanofis managing director for the United Kingdom. Last week, the chief executive at Airbus, the European commercial jet manufacturer, escalated fears that a no-deal Brexit could be a serious blow to the British economy, warning that it could force the company to shift the making of wings out of Britain. Make no mistake, said the chief executive, Tom Enders, in a video posted to YouTube. There are plenty of countries out there who would love to build the wings for Airbus aircraft. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... John Nollett has grown weary of worrying about factors beyond his control. His company, Pressmark Pressings Ltd., makes auto parts at a factory in Atherstone, about 100 miles northwest of London. He and his partners bought the business in June 2016, closing on the purchase just a week after the Brexit referendum. We thought, It cant be catastrophic. The government will be prepared, he said. But its been a shambles, to be honest. Theres still no clarity. Roughly one-third of the factorys 92 workers are from Eastern European countries, including Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Latvia all members of the European Union. As long as Britain remains within Europe, they have the right to stay and work in Britain. But what happens in a no-deal Brexit? Limiting immigration was a primary aspiration among those who voted to leave Europe. Nollett himself complains that some of the immigrants weve had coming in dont fit with U.K. culture. If Brexit dislodges Eastern European workers, though, he frets that his labour costs could soar by as much as 30 per cent. He also worries about delays on the steel he imports from Belgium. The company makes parts for a supplier to a Nissan factory in northeast England. The supplier is obliged to deliver parts to Nissan every half-hour or face fines. Pressmark has increased its reserves of steel by half to ensure that it has enough to last 15 days. The coils lie in a corner of the factory, on a grease-stained patch of concrete. The company borrowed 200,000 pounds (about $263,000) to finance the additional steel. This, combined with a dip in British auto sales, prompted Nollett to delay buying newer presses. Why would we want to invest in a plant if we are going to lose volume? he asked. Youve got the uncertainty over Brexit. At Filtermist, which employs about 90 people in Britain, Brexit has posed a distraction from the companys surging growth. Sales increased by nearly a third from 2017 to 2018, as factories around the world sought to protect workers from the hazards of industrial air. Filtermist automated part of its production and found jobs for the workers displaced by robots. Stansfield, the chief executive, does not lack for other worries, among them an economic slowdown in China. But Brexit presents an especially acute danger: Manufacturers could leave Britain for industrial areas in Europe, especially in the key industries of aerospace and automotive. This was the point the Airbus chief brought home. He voiced what many people were thinking, Stansfield said. Its going to affect us. Filtermist is owned by a Swedish conglomerate. Stansfield has grown accustomed to phone calls from incredulous Swedish board members who assume that he, by dint of being English, must be able to divine the mysteries of Brexit. They call us and ask, Whats happening? Whats going to happen? he said. And we have to tell them, We dont know. Read more about: NEW ON DVD 'Bad Times at the El Royale' pulls the rug out from under its characters Staff reports Watertown Public Opinion Senate Bill 147, a bill to provide certain provisions regarding commercial pesticide applicators enjoys strong bipartisan support in both chambers of the Legislature because its purpose is to protect the people of South Dakota from an unseen and dangerous invasion of toxic chemicals that has been unchecked in the state. Rachel Carson wrote in "Silent Spring" (1962), It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never be used. I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm. Such ignorance is often caused in large part by manufacturers who rush products to market without sufficient research into the toxic hazards of their products. The situation is reportedly compounded by malicious lobbying efforts to keep damaging information out of the hands of the public. Carson continues, We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons, without their consent and often without their knowledge. We have witnessed the decertification of an organic farm and loss of bee colonies in Vermillion. These incidents, and likely many others, have happened because our State has been negligent in its duty to protect us from chemical trespass as neighboring states have done. This bill, brought to us by the hard work of Glenn and Angela Pulse and Sen. Arthur Rusch, has great merit and deserves the approval of our Legislature and governor. Albert Schweitzer said, Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth. Let us prove him wrong! Dr. Mark Winegar Vermillion Staff reports Watertown Public Opinion When Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workers returned to their jobs Jan. 28 after the recent, 35-day government shutdown, an estimated five million pieces of unopened mail awaited. Equally daunting, the shutdown coincided with the IRSs hiring of its annual army of temporary workers to process the impending tax seasons mail. The delay now leaves the IRS months behind in what most Americans see as the agencys most important job: sending out their tax refunds. This is just one of the unforeseen messes there are hundreds more confronting government departments powering up after the partial federal shutdown that cost the U.S. economy an estimated $11 billion and resolved exactly nothing. Worse, the U.S.-Mexico wall fight between the White House and Congressional Democrats still remains as another threatened shutdown looms Feb. 15. No matter how this fight ends, no solution currently under discussion addresses the most pressing immigration problem facing American farmers and eaters: the growing unmet need for immigrant labor to deliver much of the abundant, cheap food this nation enjoys. In fact, the growing labor shortage in California, the nations premier food-producing state, is so severe that 55 percent of its farmers told the states Farm Bureau affiliate in a 2017 poll that they experienced a severe labor shortage, USA Today recently reported. (The story was published, ironically, two days after the White House agreed to a ceasefire in its wall battle.) The poll also showed that another 33 percent of California farmers were delaying harvesting, eliminating crops and neglecting critical tasks such as pruning because they simply couldnt find people to do the work. More shocking, the poll also revealed that the governments often-reformed H2A agricultural (guest) worker program is a bust; only 4 percent of farmers used it to hire legal immigrant labor. The labor shortage is leading farmers to change in ways that arent good for rural California and the nation. For example, many are leaving crops to rot or allowing land to lay idle. The cutbacks cost consumers and pinch local economies. Another solution, notes USA Today, is even more stark. The most blunt of agriculture veterans simply say that their futures may involve operating solely out of Mexico-based operations or possibly shuttering their businesses altogether. How crazy is that? Without a reliable, legal migrant workforce steadily moving north, U.S. farming operations could be steadily moving south. The person holding the key to unlock this dilemma, President Donald J. Trump, has often told farmers he will help. You need these people, he recently told delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention in New Orleans. Were going to make it easier. The Trump White House, in fact, has made it much harder for even legal and asylum-seeking immigrants to enter the U.S. Still, its actions dont mean todays much-tinkered with immigration system is workable. If anything, it points to the need for a dramatic overhaul. According to the USA Today report, two California lawmakers, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, both Democrats, have a plan called The Agricultural Worker Program Act. It would grant blue card status to immigrants who have worked in agriculture for at least 100 days over the past two years. The sticking point, however, may be that the blue card, a reward for being an engine in the economy, could lead to a residency permit within a few years. As such, few GOP politicians, and no one in the White House, will touch it. That vacuum offers farmers and ranchers the opportunity to lead on immigration. They have, after all, both the need and the Presidents ear. But do they, including Big Ags most Trump-favored farm group, the AFBF, have the guts to help broker an overhaul of the nations immigration system so that it ensures both justice to the immigrants and a steady flow of high quality, reasonably-priced food to the nation? Its a bold move now in need of bold leaders. USA TODAY Watertown Public Opinion In today's fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some the week's top USA TODAY Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback. USA TODAY Opinion editors Roger Stone indictment isn't good news for those seeking Trump impeachment By Jonathan Turley "The raid on Stones home clearly made for great television, but the Roger Stone indictment hardly makes for a great collusion case. Lets be honest. After more than a year of investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller nailed a gadfly on false statements, witness tampering and obstruction rather than illegal collusion with Russia. That's what has been happening all along. Mueller has almost exclusively charged non-Russian defendants with either false statements or other process crimes." Democrats and Republicans flip all the time on border security. This was a fabricated shutdown. By Nancy Jacobson "Here's the reality: Both political parties believe in border security; no one seriously thinks people from other countries should be able to traipse into the United States unannounced. As recently as early 2018, Senate Democrats offered to give the Trump administration $25 billion, if the president would agree to provide the "Dreamers" with a pathway to citizenship. And neither side thinks the specific means of securing the border whether it's a wall or a fence or drones, whatever is worth a government shutdown." Most Americans don't want a standing ovation for abortions until birth. But Democrats do. By Ashley McGuire "What happened in New York last week is somber and tragic. But it was a teaching moment for us all in that it made plain the lefts position on a deeply divisive issue. As the bishop of Albany wrote in a letter to his parishioner, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, pleading him not to sign the bill, 'Do not build this Death Star.' The reality is that the left has moved past building Death Stars to celebrating death itself." I'm a plastic surgeon who won't perform Brazilian Butt Lifts. They're deadly. By Arthur W. Perry "Plastic surgery is the only medical specialty where new procedures debut on television shows, without the academic scrutiny required in fields like cardiac surgery. The high BBL death rate among properly trained surgeons is startling these are the cream of the crop doctors who spend six years in residency and pass certifying exams. When rogue doctors perform BBLs, I shudder to think about what their real death rates are because they are not reported anywhere. Worse, lay practitioners who inject silicone caulk from hardware stores are killing unsuspecting women in garages and hotel rooms." Howard Schultz: A third-party centrist candidate like me could win the presidency in 2020 By Howard Schultz "Becoming better begins by repairing our broken two-party system, which is why I am seriously considering running for president of the United States as a centrist independent. I will spend the next few months deciding by traveling the country, and listening to my fellow Americans. I already believe that the idea of a third choice will resonate." 6. Here's why you should have faith in Robert Mueller and the Russia investigation By Joyce Vance White "Despite President Donald Trumps efforts to denigrate this team of prosecutors, they arent 'Angry Democrats' or, for that matter, angry anything. They are hardworking people, and you would expect a president to be proud of them. Let me tell you why so many people like me, who served alongside some of these folks and worked in the Justice Department like they do, have faith in them." Why an ex-FBI agent decided to break through the blue wall of silence By Philip Hayden "I still believe that it's important for officers to be loyal to one another; it's a dangerous profession. But our first loyalty is to the law. Bad officers make maintaining that loyalty unnecessarily tough for everyone." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 7 of our top opinion pieces this week: ICYMI Elisa Sand Dakota Media Group Aberdeen could benefit from a couple bills making their way through the Legislature. Measures setting aside funding for the replacement of the Elm Lake Dam and for horse racing were discussed at last weekends cracker barrel. Horse racing In response to a question asking legislators what bills they were excited about, Rep. Drew Dennert, R-Aberdeen, noted one seeking an emergency appropriation of $600,000 for the states special racing revolving fund. Thats Senate Bill 128, which is awaiting its first reading before the Joint Committee on Appropriations. He said the money would help the two parimutuel horse racing tracks in the state in Aberdeen and Fort Pierre. We swept millions out of the horse racing fund during the (Gov. Bill) Janklow administration, Dennert said. Its our obligation to keep it going. There has been talk that horse racing in South Dakota is in danger because of a lack of money. Elm Dam Both Dennert and Rep. Carl Perry, R-Aberdeen, discussed Senate Bill 34, which seeks $521,403 for the Office of School and Public Lands to help repair the Elm Lake Dam spillway. This bill was unanimously approved by the Joint Committee on Appropriations and awaits consideration by the Senate. It would cover about one-third of the funding needed to replace the spillway, which is a city of Aberdeen structure. Public Works Director Robin Bobzien said the estimated cost to replace the spillway is $1.5 million. The city would have to work out the remaining financial details for the project to be completed in the next two to three years, he said. Other groups that could help, he said, include Brown County and the James River Water Development District. The spillway was built in 1937. Bobzien said some improvements were made in 1994. Anti-nepotism bill Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, and Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, addressed a proposed anti-nepotism bill. It would have prevented state employees from supervising a parent, spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister or in-law. The bill, dubbed the anti-nepotism bill, was drafted after Gov. Kristi Noem announced the hiring of her daughter Kennedy Noem as policy analyst. It was obviously brought because of current hiring decisions that have been made and was intended to make a statement, Greenfield said. He said the bill raises a valid concern, but he also wants government officials to have the ability to surround themselves with the best possible influences. Novstrup also opposed the measure. By definition, he said, nepotism is the hiring of friends and family. I try to hire my friends and family because I know and trust them, he said. Greenfield and Novstrup both said Kennedy Noem has proven herself in her position. Dan Crisler Public Opinion Staff Writer Pending a recommendation from Pierre officials next Tuesday, it appears that Watertown and the capital city will continue its Essential Air Service partnership to Denver. This time, however, the cities could see almost all their wishes fulfilled by SkyWest Airlines of St. George, Utah. SkyWest could be providing service as soon as April 3. Following the demise of the commercial air service provided by California Pacific Airlines last month, the Watertown Regional Airport Board unanimously recommended Thursday afternoon that the Watertown City Council submit its preference to the United States Department of Transportation for SkyWest to be the citys commercial air service provider for the next two years. The council will consider the boards recommendation at the formers meeting on Monday. Considered by city officials to be a highly reputable airline, the airport board recommended SkyWests bid over three other bids submitted by Boutique Air, Key Lime Air and Air Choice One. SkyWests bid calls for Watertown passengers to fly to and from Denver 12 times per week, with six of those being nonstop and the other six being one-stops in Pierre. SkyWests proposal put the passenger ticket price tag at $95 for one-way flights between Watertown and Denver. SkyWests bid did not list ticket prices for one-way flights between Watertown and Pierre. In its recommendation, the board noted that SkyWest checked all the boxes city and airport officials were looking for. Chief among those were 50-seat CRJ-200 jets of which SkyWest operates more than 200 acclimated to flying in cold climates, a 98 percent completion factor and interline agreements with United Airlines woven so deep that SkyWest is a member of the United Express partnership. SkyWest also has codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Its everything weve ever asked for, Watertown Regional Airport Manager Todd Syhre said. Theyre a reputable company. They have over 100,000 employees. Theyve been in business forever (since 1972). In contrast, Syhre noted the other three airlines presented significant drawbacks. While Boutique Air and Air Choice One presented options of flying nonstop between Watertown and Minneapolis-St. Paul from 24 to 36 times per week, they would have done so using eight- or nine-seat aircraft. Syhre told the board that going with any of those options could prevent Watertown from getting the 50-seat jet service it had enjoyed for the past 2 1/2 years. Once you go to a nine-seat operation per EAS, and you take it for 90 days, the USDOT does not ever have to let you have anything bigger, Syhre said. Key Lime Airs primary drawback, according to Syhre, is inexperience in commercial flights. Key Lime submitted a bid to also offer air service to Pierre and Denver. Key Lime Air is a fairly fresh company in the commercial air carrier world, Syhre told reporters. They have not ever flown an EAS route nor have they ever been awarded one. They fly to cities right now and theyve flown cargo and private charter for about 22 years. Syhre added that history sounded eerily familiar to CP Air. All things considered, that sounds all too familiar with what we were promised not that long ago. Its still a pretty deep gouge in the public eye right now, he said. About the only drawback to the proposals, including SkyWests, is that none of them proposed both an east and west hub. Even then, Syhre said SkyWest is looking to add flights to Chicago, although those flights would be not subsidized in the proposed contract. (SkyWest) actually wanted to get (the Chicago route) in this bid but they just couldnt pull the Chicago numbers soon enough to get this to work, Syhre told the board. I do believe we will see an east route sooner than later. Syhre argued a route to Minneapolis-St. Paul from Watertown would make little sense given Watertowns proximity to Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. The problem with Minneapolis and Watertown is were so close to Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, who both go to Minneapolis, he said. Although SkyWest would require a relatively high federal subsidy at about $6.8 million to operate the Watertown-Pierre-Denver route, Syhre expressed optimism the USDOT will accept the recommendation if Pierre officials were to also go with SkyWest along with Watertown. The USDOT takes the cities comments at the highest priority for EAS, Syhre said. As for the chances Pierre officials will vote to continue its relationship with Watertown when they make a recommendation next Tuesday, Mayor Sarah Caron said conversations with Pierre Mayor Steve Harding leave her encouraged. I will be shocked if they dont make the same recommendation, she said. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Hot. High 93F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. A Farm Update meeting for all Palo Alto County area farmers will be hosted by Cornerstone Insurance and Palo Alto Extension. These meetings will cover marketing strategies, fertilizer outlook, farm bill rewrite and crop insurance update. As all of us know, last year was a tough year for all farmers and Cornerstone Insurance and Palo Alto Extension and Outreach would like to offer the opportunity to area farmers to see what this upcoming year might look like. Brain Vogt, a grain marketing sales leader of Cargill MarketGuide, will be on hand to talk about some possible marketing strategies you might want to think about for the 2019 crop. He will talk about how grain marketing begins with a goal and how you should set your goal to be a manageable goal. Chris Meyer, a fertilizer sales representative from ADM Fertilizer, will be talking about how ADM Fertilizer has created a variety of fertilizer risk-management strategies to reduce market risk, which helps customers achieve maximum profitability. The timely execution of delivered fertilizer continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. Alejendro Plastina, an Assistant Professor and Extension Economist from Iowa State University, will be on hand to talk about the 2018 Farm Bill. He will enlighten us on the some changes in the 2018 Farm Bill. Chris Hardt, an agent of Cornerstone Insurance, will be on hand to discuss crop insurance deadlines and changes. Chris will also explain some alternative policies designed to provide top-end coverage. Farm Update meetings will be Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Cornerstone Insurance in Estherville and Thursday, Feb. 7, at Hap Ketelsen Community Building in Everly. Both meetings have the same speakers but are on multiple days and locations to reach more farmers. The meetings begin at 10 a.m. and include a complementary lunch. To register for these meetings, please call 515-272-0020. FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2010 file photo, a marijuana plant is seen growing at Med Grow Cannabis College in Southfield, Mich. Jean Buller, a retired Walled Lake school teacher, has been invited by Congresswoman Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, to be her special guest at the 2019 State of the Union Address to be delivered by President Trump on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington D.C. The next court date is scheduled for the Pontiac man charged with setting his girlfriend on fire, causing burns to over 45 percent of her body. A Troy man featured in the Netlix series Dope faces drug trafficking charges following an investigation by the Oakland County Narcotic Enfor Za'miya New, 4, at her home in Indian Head, Md., was participating in a study by University of Maryland researchers on napping. They put a helmet on Za'miya to simulate how she might feel in an MRI scanner. Washington Post phot by Calla Kessler Members of the Auxiliary to the VFW Post 2295 made a donation to the Storks Closet this month. Donated items were brought to the January meeting. Ellen Picray will take the donations to the hospital. Members were encouraged to bring items again next month. Auxiliary members met Tuesday Jan. 15, with six members present to answer roll call. President, Lou Ann Huberty opened the meeting with the pledge to the American Flag. The grant to obtain an AED has been submitted to Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation. Lou Ann presented a bill from the district meeting held in Algona. The bill was for four members lunch, groceries for the door prizes and a basket from St. Pats for the raffle. She also talked about the meeting and business that was conducted. The next district meeting will be May 11. Lou Ann also talked about Shop with a Cop. It was a big success and is scheduled to be held again in December 2019. March 1 will be the first fish fry and the auxiliary will be in charge. Members are encouraged to participate. A schedule of volunteers will be made at the next meeting. April 1 will be the beginning of bingo. Members discussed the project of serving lunch prior to playing bingo. The next meeting will be Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the VFW in Emmetsburg. This subscription will allow curernt subscribers of The News Guard 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 1-541-994-2178 or email admin@countrymedia.net. Courtesy photo by Ashton Bortz. American Mitsuba Corporation in Mt. Pleasant was honored for receiving a $360,000 grant from the Michigan Business Development Program on Wednesday. Shown are U.S. Rep. John Moolenaars chief-of-staff; David Stevens, American Mitsuba Corporation senior vice president; Roger Hauck, state representative of the 99th District; Will Joseph, mayor of Mt. Pleasant; President Kimura, CEO/COO of American Mitsuba Corporation and Executive Vice President, Executive Office and Chief of Americas Operations of Mitsuba; James McBryde, MMDC President and CEO; Nicole Noll-Williams, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters regional director; and Jeff Jacques, American Mitsuba Corporation plant manager. The global map of fashion sourcing could take another turn due to political tensions. The trade war between China and the United States, the pressure from the European Union on Cambodia, and the protests over wages in Bangladesh is causing instability in three of the biggest global hubs in the fashion industry. This scenario favours two other supply centres of the sector: Turkey and Vietnam. In the case of Turkey, the forecasts by the local Istanbul Apparel Exporters Association (IHKIB) indicate that in 2019 international sales of the sector will grow by 10%. In 2018, the country has increased clothing exports by 3.6% compared to the previous year, to 17.6 billion dollars. The European Union continues to be the largest market for the Turkish clothing industry. In 2018, 71% of its sales went to European countries. The only fear that the Turkish sector has is a hard Brexit, which could put in check exports to the European Union worth 2 billion dollars. Turkey and Vietnam expect to increase by 10% and 11%, respectively, its clothing exports in 2019 Despite global uncertainties, the Turkish garment industry expects a double-digit growth for 2019, relying on its investment in technology and labour. In this regard, the Turkish Government is committed to helping the local garment industry improve its facilities with a plan of 570 million dollars. Trade tensions between the United States and China may favour Turkey as a global fashion supplier. In fact, the local industry maintains the challenge of reaching international sales by 18 billion dollars in the medium term. Vietnam also wants to improve its positioning by taking advantage of the bad relationships between the largest fashion consumer market and its main supplier. The Vietnamese textile and clothing industry plans to increase its exports by 11% in 2019, to 40 billion dollars. The sector considers supporting this growth with the consolidation of the transpacific free trade agreement (TPP), as well as an increase in foreign investment that excludes China due to the effects of the trade war. Trade tensions between US and China will benefit the rest of the fashion production hubs On the other hand, Vietnam is about to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union, which would eliminate practically all existing tariffs in the exchange of goods between both parties. Cambodia and Bangladesh, on their behalf, have not advanced forecasts for 2019 yet due to the complexity and uncertainty that their respective garment industries are going through. In the case of Cambodia, the European Commission is making progress in the expulsion of the Everything but Arms program from the country, which grants zero tariff on its exports to the European Union. Despite this, the latest forecasts made by the Government of the country placed the garment industry as one of the pillars of its economic growth for 2019 along with construction and tourism. The Executive took into account that, in 2018, the international sales of the sector shot up by 24.7%. Cambodia shot up in 2018 its clothing exports by 25% and Bangladesh, 15.6% in the first half of 2018-2019 Bangladesh, on the other hand, is in the spotlight for the giants of fashion distribution which face a new wave of demonstrations by the workers of the textile industry in the country. The wage increase that has come into effect this year is not enough for the workers representatives and everything seems to indicate that the climate of conflicts in the main industrial areas will persist. In the first half of fiscal year 2018-2019, the textile and clothing exports from Bangladesh grew by 14.42% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 20.5 billion dollars. Only clothing exports soared in these six months by 15.6% to 17.08 billion dollars. However, in case the labour and social tension in the countrys factories tones down, Bangladesh also aims to take advantage of the trade conflict between the United States and China, and the political tension between the European Union and Bangladesh. Versum Materials, Inc. develops, manufactures, transports, and handles specialty materials for the semiconductor and display industries in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Europe, and rest of Asia. The company operates through two segments, Materials, and Delivery Systems and Services (DS&S). The Materials segment provides specialty chemicals and materials used in semiconductors, as well as specialty gases used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, including high purity process materials for deposition, metallization, chamber cleaning, and etching; chemicals mechanical planarization slurries; organosilanes; organometallics and liquid dopants for thin film deposition; and formulated chemical products for post-etch cleaning primarily for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, and thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. The DS&S segment develops, designs, manufactures, and sells bulk gas, specialty gas, and specialty chemical cabinets and systems, which are used to manage the delivery of key materials into the semiconductor manufacturing process; and flow and temperature control systems and analytical systems to capture data. It is also involved in the project management for installation and startup of the gas and chemical delivery systems, and inventory management; and provision of spare parts, equipment upgrades, equipment maintenance, and training services. In addition, this segment offers on-site services to assist customers in managing the inventory of gases and chemicals comprising ordering, product changes and monitoring, quality assurance, operation of delivery systems, and managing the bulk gas and specialty gas operations. Versum Materials, Inc. was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. Read More Ad All Marijuana Stocks New this week - 249 interested Fed Decriminalization of Cannabis Could Spark New Pot Stock Boom With Democrats now controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch, cannabis decriminalization on the federal level could be months away. This could result in established Washington State weed companies being able to market across state lines -- setting off a bidding war for quality stocks at reasonable prices. Ingersoll Rand Inc. provides various mission-critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through four segments: Industrial Technologies and Services; Precision and Science Technologies; Specialty Vehicle Technologies; and High Pressure Solutions segments. The company offers air and gas compression, vacuum and blower products, fluid transfer and management equipment, loading systems, power tools and lifting equipment, displacement pumps, liquid and precision syringe pumps, and compressors, as well as as well as aftermarket parts, consumables, and services. It also designs, manufactures, and markets golf, utility, and consumer low-speed vehicles, as well as integrated systems. The company's products are used in medical, laboratory, industrial manufacturing, water and wastewater, chemical processing, drilling, hydraulic fracturing, well servicing applications, precision irrigation, energy, food and beverage, agriculture, and automated liquid handling end-markets, as well as various manufacturing, industrial facilities applications, and other activities. It serves to various industries and sectors. The company sells its products through an integrated network of direct sales representatives and independent distributors under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Club Car, CompAir, Nash, Elmo Rietschle, Robuschi, Thomas, Milton Roy, ARO, Emco Wheaton, and Runtech Systems brands. The company was formerly known as Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Ingersoll Rand Inc. in March 2020. Ingersoll Rand Inc. was founded in 1859 and is based in Davidson, North Carolina. Read More Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Martin Petty and Karen Lema (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines Fri, February 1, 2019 21:03 870 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b12a7f7 2 SE Asia #Philippines,#ChurchAttack,church,bombers,Indonesian,couple Free A deadly church bombing that shook the southern Philippines at the weekend was a suicide attack carried out by an Indonesian couple, with help of an Islamic State-linked group, the Philippine interior minister said on Friday. Citing information provided by witnesses and undisclosed sources, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said he was certain that an Indonesian man and wife were behind Sunday's attack on the mainly Muslim island of Jolo, which killed 22 people and wounded more than 100, including civilians and soldiers. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for what it said were suicide bombings. Such attacks are almost unheard of in thePhilippines. "They are Indonesians," Ano, a former military chief, told CNN Philippines. "I am certain that they are Indonesians." Ano's remarks are the latest twist in a probe that has been fraught with inconsistent and sometimes contradictory accounts from authorities and, according to one investigator interviewed on television, complicated by a contaminated crime scene. Security officials had initially said the two bombs were remote detonated, but by Tuesday, that changed after President Rodrigo Duterte said it may have been a suicide bomber, a view supported by his defence minister. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said bag checks at the entrance to the church would have made it difficult to plant a bomb there, so a device strapped to the body was more likely. "According to the forensic investigators ... these body parts could belong to two persons: one inside the church and one outside," Lorenzana told reporters. Ano said the couple had received help from Abu Sayyaf, a militant organisation notorious for kidnappings and extremist factions. He said those who plotted the attack would have been under the instruction of an operative he said had been recognised by Islamic State. The violence has rekindled fears about the extent of Islamic State's influence in Southeast Asia, and the lure of Mindanao for extremists from Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere. Martial law has been in place in Mindanao since domestic and foreign fighters dressed in black outfits overran Marawi City in 2017 and clung on through five months of air strikes and street battles reminiscent of scenes in Syria and Iraq. The latest violence follow a peaceful Jan. 21 referendum that overwhelmingly approved autonomy for the predominantly Muslim parts of the Mindanao, following a peace accord that excluded the Abu Sayyaf. On Wednesday, two people were killed when a grenade was thrown into a mosque in nearby Zamboanga, a mainly Christian province. It is not clear who was behind it. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Fri, February 1, 2019 12:06 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10cde8 1 Business It,technology,skilled-workers,talent,Nongsa-Digital-Park,Batam,Singapore Free A Mozart composition could be heard in the open lounge area in a building at the Nongsa Digital Park in Batam, Riau Islands. Three young men sat around a table with laptops, phones and drinks visible, talking seriously and laughing occasionally. The young men, aged 22 to 25 years old, were taking a short course at the Glints Academy located in the technology park to polish their information technology (IT) skills. They were among many who came from Jakarta, Semarang (Central Java), Medan (North Sumatra) and Riau. The two-month course at the Glints Academy gives young people the skills to work for Singaporean startup companies. Despite job opportunities in the IT field being promising, it is not easy to find young people with the applicable skills. The technology park is the realization of a commitment by President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to develop Batam as a digital bridge between Singapore and Indonesia. Singapore, through the Economic Development Board, has appointed PT Glints to act as a headhunter for the recruitment of Indonesian human resources that suits the needs of companies in Singapore. In Singapore, the demand [for IT employees] is very high, while the availability of human resources is limited [] The Glints Academy was created to ensure that available [Indonesian] human resources are qualified to work for Singaporean companies, Nara Dewa, Citra Mas Group human resources and general affairs manager, said recently. Find Indonesian talents who want to work remotely from Batam for Singaporean companies has proven to be challenging as many big local startup companies, such as ride-hailing company Go-Jek and e-commerce platforms Tokopedia and Lazada, also need qualified IT employees. The young men, aged 22 to 25 years old, were taking a short course at the Glints Academy located in the technology park to polish their information technology (IT) skills. (JP/Fadli) Many local talents prefer to work for these popular local IT companies as it means they would not have to move to Batam, which is a one-hour ferry trip from Singapore. The park hosted the e27 academy from Nov. 28 to 30 last year and welcomed 200 guests from Indonesia and Singapore. Kris Wiluan, Citramas Group president director, said the e27 academy was organized to prepare Indonesian human resources to become technopreneurs. We want these young people to understand the concept. One simple example is how almost everyone can make coffee, and yet coffee made by Starbucks is different. They have the concept, he said. The park is a subsidiary of Citramas Group and a strategic partner of the e27, a regional platform established for the media, community, event, talent and ecosystems related to funding startups. An office in Nongsa Digital Park. (JP/Fadli) The park was built by the Citramas Group on a 166-hectare plot of land. About 3 hectares has been built with an investment of Rp 80 billion. It is located near luxury resorts in Batam and next to the Nongsa Point Marina ferry terminal, from where ferries depart for Tanah Merah in Singapore. The park was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on March 21 last year. It hopes to attract more than US$500 million in investment in the digital economy and create 10,000 jobs. Andi Satriawan Lubis, performance and culture manager at PT Glints Indonesia, said 110 Indonesians currently worked remotely from Batam for 80 Singaporean companies. Of the figure, only 30 percent of the young talents come from Batam and the remainder from Yogyakarta, Bandung, Ambon and other cities. For Singaporean IT or startup companies, the park is a great solution because they can reduce costs by recruiting Indonesians instead of Singaporeans. As an illustration, the standard salary for a fresh graduate in Singapore is S$3,600 (US$2,670) per month, for the intermediate level $5,000 to $7,000 per month and the proficient level $10,000 per month. In Indonesia, the monthly salary for fresh graduates starts at $500, $1,000 for the intermediate level and $2,000 for the proficient level. We encourage Indonesians to work for Singaporean companies first so that in a few years they can enter the international job market and get better incomes, he said. Felix Prawira Azali, 25, a young talent who works remotely from the park for Stendard, a Singaporean IT company, said he was recruited through Glints and was now working full-time. My target is to work here for two years and directly go to Singapore to work there, said Felix, who graduated from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. (win) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 14:45 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b11d0cf 1 City viral,photo,waste-management,littering,Jakarta-rivers,orange-troops,cleanliness,waste,Krukut-River Free Jakarta has some of the worlds most polluted rivers and one picture that went viral recently may explain in a nutshell why the Big Durians attempt to clean its rivers seems like a Sisyphean task. The picture shows a man caught casually dumping a bucket of household trash into the river while a river cleaning officer was on duty nearby. Standing in ankle-deep water, the officer watches the man empty his dustbin. The incident took place at Kali Krukut River in Kebon Dalam, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta on Wednesday. The next day, the man, identified as Mukhlicin, was fined Rp 300,000 (US$21.46) for violating Bylaw No. 3/2013 on waste management. Read also: Man fined for throwing garbage into Central Jakarta river Mukhlicin's act was caught on camera and posted by the Jakarta Water Body Management Unit on its official Instagram account @upkbadanairdlhdki. The post attracted more than 700 comments, most of which condemned the mans act. This is an example of something that should never happen in any part of the Earth. In an ironic act, a man intentionally threw a bucket of trash into a river when a Water Body Management Unit officer was on duty, the photo's caption reads. Many Indonesians still use rivers as a waste dumping area, Wicaksono Sarosa of Partnership for Governance Reform told The Jakarta Post on Friday. We need greater public education on this, he said. He argued that disposing waste into the rivers was a cultural issue that went beyond Jakarta. This is not only happening in Jakarta. The river is still considered a back area. Its a general attitude of urban communities in Indonesia. He said that local administrations should both enforce the law and raise public awareness on the need to keep the rivers clean. This incident should serve as a reminder that the regulation has never been enforced [] as both the enforcers and the public dont take it seriously. Jakartas rivers are notoriously dirty, receiving an estimated 2.5 million cubic meters of wastewater per day. More than 70 percent of the wastewater comes from millions of households and the remaining comes from commercial buildings and industrial activities. Household wastewater comprises the populations gray water or detergent water, other kinds of household wastewater and black water, which is wastewater from feces. The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) reported in February 2018 that 96 percent of river water in the city is severely polluted. The rivers are contaminated with high levels of biochemical oxygen demand, phosphor and nitrogen. During the Asian Games last year, Jakarta decided to cover up a river so polluted it is nicknamed kali item (black river) with a giant black nylon net amid concerns it would be an eyesore and too smelly for foreign athletes. The government has long planned to develop the Jakarta Sewerage System (JSS) to process household waste at the Jakarta IPAL before the water is pumped into rivers. The system is expected to reduce pollution in Jakartas 13 rivers, provide clean water and stop residents from pumping groundwater, an activity that has resulted in land subsidence. However, development of the JSS, which was scheduled to kick off last year, has been postponed to 2019 for various reasons. (ggq) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma (The Jakarta Post) Washington, DC Fri, February 1 2019 An avid social media user, President Joko Jokowi Widodo recently shared with his 15 million Instagram followers that, after a delay of several years, Indonesia and Switzerland will soon ratify a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement. This is a positive development. As the President explained to his Instagram followers, the MLA will enable Indonesian and Swiss financial institutions to trace illegal financial activities committed in both countries. The recovery of stolen assets has become a top priority in Indonesias anticorruption agenda. Last year, Jokowi issued Presidential Decree No. 54/2018, which details a national strategy to prevent corruption, and Government Regulation No. 43/2018, which encourages citizens to serve as anticorruption whistleblowers. These legal frameworks represent a significant step forward in the countrys fight against corr... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 11:56 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10cc9a 1 National #KitaAgni,Balairung,student-press,Pantau-Foundation,Oktovianus-Pogau-Award,sexual-abuse-on-campus,Sexual-assault,#NamaBaikKampus,#CampusReputation Free The Pantau Foundation, a Jakarta-based journalism research and training organization, gave the 2019 Oktovianus Pogau award on Thursday to two Gadjah Mada University (UGM) students, Citra Maudy Mahanani, 20, and Thovan Sugandi, 22. Citra and Thovan are the respective writer and editor of the UGM student press Balairung who in November released an investigative report about the experience of a UGM student, given a pseudonym Agni, who said she had been sexually assaulted by a classmate during a community service program (KKN) in Maluku in June 2017. The report detailed the victim blaming Agni received from some officials in the university after she reported the alleged assault. Her story went viral and attracted public attention, inspiring an online petition that has been signed by more than 250,000 people as of Friday, demanding UGM to give the victim justice. Citra and Thovan are bold in reporting the sensitive issue of sexual abuse on campus. Our hope is that this report will encourage a similar effort from other media, including the students, to defend sexual abuse victims, Andreas Harsono, who was appointed as chairman of the 2019 Oktovianus Pogau Award jury panel, said on Thursday. On Jan. 8, the Yogyakarta Police summoned Citra and questioned her for about two hours. The decision was criticized by the chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists Yogyakarta branch, Anang Zakaria. Reporters cannot be summoned as witnesses. The police should investigate the case by using the information published on Balairung, Anang said recently. Oktaria Asmarani, who is with the Balairung Publishing Agency and Student Press, said that instead of asking questions about the sexual abuse experienced by Agni, the police asked questions about the publications writing process, which she called irrelevant to the investigation. The Pantau Foundation respects the investigations carried out by the police and Gadjah Mada University, but we also believe that sexual harassment is a worrying phenomenon on various campuses in Indonesia. We appreciate the courage of Citra and Thovan, whatever the results of this investigation of this case will be, Andreas said. The Oktovianus Pogau award is given annually by the Pantau Foundation in honor of Papuan journalist Oktovianus Pogau, who passed away on Jan. 31, 2016. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 08:18 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b1022ce 1 Business Tunnel-boring-machine,high-speed-railway,Jakarta-Bandung Free A tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the 142-kilometer Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project has arrived in Jakarta after being transported on the Phoenix Pine ship from the Zhanghuabang Wharf in Shanghai, China. The TBM is able to construct a tunnel for double-track railways for high-speed trains, the president director of railway developer PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), Chandra Dwiputra, said at an event welcoming the machine at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Thursday. The machine, which weighs 3,649 tons with a diameter of 13.19 meters and a length of 105 meters, will first be operated in Halim, East Jakarta, to assist in the development of a 1,885-meter tunnel called "Tunnel #1", one of 22 points that will use the tunnel boring machine. The machine would be operated using a shield tunneling method to ensure that construction does not affect crowded areas above ground, like the Cikampek toll road and the Jatiwaringin overpass, Chandra said. He said the shield tunneling method was much safer than other drilling methods. The TMB will work for 24 hours without pause with a drilling rate of between 8 to 10 meters per day, Chandra said, adding that technicians needed 45 days to assemble the machine before it would be operated in March. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Fri, February 1, 2019 17:52 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b126d8a 1 National dolphin,environment,North-Sumatra,animal-conservation,JAAN,marine Free A joint team returned on Thursday night a male dolphin, a humpback, to the sea after it wandered into a river for five days. Another one, a 2.5-meter-long marine mammal, believed to be the young dolphins mother, died on Wednesday night. The two humpback dolphins were stranded and spotted by locals in the Kualuh River in North Labuhan Batu regency in North Sumatra. Marine mammals coordinator at the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Amank Raga, said they chose Tanjung Balai estuary to release the Sousa chinensis because they spotted a group of dolphins there. The release location was 2.4 kilometers from the coast's edge. Two weeks ago we spotted a group of dolphins in Tanjung Balai estuary, thats why we released the dolphin here, he told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Amank said he would monitor the welfare of the male dolphin for the next three days. He expressed hope that the young dolphin would be able to join its pod in Tanjung Balai, which is about 15 km from the Kualuh River. A humpback dolphin. (Wikimedia Commons/takoradee) Residents near the river first spotted two white dolphins swimming and jumping out of the water on Jan. 27. They rarely saw dolphins in the river and many residents flocked to the site to take pictures and videos. Kuala Beringin subdistrict head Edi Mansur Pane said he was among those who, out of surprise and concern, informed the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) about the appearance of the two dolphins. Amank of JAAN said he suspected the death of the female dolphin was caused by a wound near her blowhole. He said the wound might have damaged the dolphins navigation system. Dolphins are known to be good navigators. Amank said the process of returning the young dolphin involved locals besides the officials from the North Sumatra BKSDA. They began the rescue at 3 p.m. when the river's current was ebbing so the dolphin would be lured to a net on the riverbank. It took two hours for them to catch the dolphin. It was not easy, we tried 18 times before we caught it, he said. A joint team in North Sumatra rescues a young dolphin stranded in the river in the province on Jan. 31. (Courtesy of JAAN/-) He said when they caught it, the dolphin seemed to be exhausted and had some scratches on its body. But overall, he looked healthy. They gave the dolphin antibiotics, applied antiseptic and injected vitamins. The head of North Sumatra BKSDA, Hotmauli Sianturi, said they owed the successful release to JAAN and the locals. We have to appreciate this dolphin rescue mission, he said. In 2013, locals saved three bottlenosed dolphins stranded in the Wampu River, near Langkat regency. Locals helped guide the dolphins back to sea, roughly 15 km from the river, by slapping the water to create sounds. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alex Dalziel (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1 2019 Finding common ground: Sociologists, historians and curators share their views on Postcolonial Perspectives from the Global South, a public forum that was hosted by the Goethe Institute Jakarta at GoetheHaus Jakarta on Jan. 24 and 25. (Courtesy of Goethe Institut) Despite being one of the most colonized regions in the 19th century, Southeast Asia suffers from a lack of postcolonial literature. Postcolonialism can mean several different things depending on which academic you talk to. It is a school of philosophy that is hard to comprehend, especially to someone from a non-colonized country. Encyclopedia Britannica defines postcolonialism as the historical period or state of affairs representing the aftermath of Western colonialism. The encyclopedia, however, notes that the term also applies to the concurrent project to reclaim and rethink the h... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 14:07 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b114521 1 National dog-meat,Shaggydog,putri-indonesia,Yogyakarta,animal-abuse Free Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI), Yogyakarta band Shaggydog and 2018 Puteri Indonesia beauty pageant winner Alya Nurshabrina launched two videos to campaign against dog meat consumption on Thursday in Yogyakarta. DMFI representative Bobby Fernando hopes the videos, titled Kini Kamu Tahu (Now You Know), will influence people to stop eating dog meat. This is important to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases, Bobby said. He said there are many kiosks in Yogyakarta that are still selling dog meat. According to the DMFI, some 6,500 dogs are slaughtered in Yogyakarta every day for consumption. A record number of 12,000 dogs are slaughtered a day in the neighboring town of Surakarta. The two videos contain the testimonies of Alya and members of Shaggydog. They also show how brutally the dogs are caught and slaughtered. Alya called for more support particularly from the younger generation of the movement. Odyssey Sanco of Shaggydog said the two videos will be screened on videotrons across downtown Yogyakarta for a week and will be uploaded onto YouTube. Meanwhile, Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi signed an agreement with Animal Friends Jogja (AFJ) to keep pets free of rabies. The Yogyakarta administration acknowledged, however, that there was no specific regulation that bans the selling of dog meat for consumption but called on people to stop to practice. What can be legally processed is the torture against dogs as it violates Article 302 of the Criminal Code [KUHP], Heroe said, adding that the city administration would soon make a mayoral decree to follow up in a Husbandry Directorate General circular issued in September last year on the monitoring of dog meat distribution. (swa/swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 18:17 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b1283d2 1 Business investment,incentives,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,investors,tax-incentive Free Speaking to investors at a seminar in Jakarta recently, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati felt compelled to mention each of the business sectors eligible to apply for a tax holiday. I need to read this one [list of sectors eligible to apply for a tax holiday] because I heard [businesspeople say] we are not explaining [] this tax holiday effectively, said Sri Mulyani. I talked to some of the business [players], and they said they never heard of it. In April last year, the government revamped the tax holiday scheme, making the duration of the incentive conditional on the investment realized in certain sectors. Investors could also expect a speedier application process as they could apply for the incentive through the online single submission (OSS) system, a web-based licensing system operated by the Coordinating Investment Board (BKPM). Eighteen business sectors are eligible to apply for a tax holiday after the government expanded the incentive in November as part of its 16th economic policy package. The scheme offers full corporate income tax exemptions for investment of at least Rp 500 billion (US$ 35.53 million) and a 50 percent corporate income tax cut for a minimum investment of Rp 100 billion. The sectors that can enjoy this benefit are those considered pioneering sectors that were vital for the Indonesian economy to develop domestically to avoid excessive import growth, including raw pharmaceutical materials, upstream petrochemical basic metal, oil refineries and the basic organic chemical industry, among others. Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan P. Roeslani separately said that while the new tax holiday scheme gave certainty for business players for the duration of the tax cut, investors had demanded clarity over the application process for the incentives. [The government] should make it clear on how long will it take for us [businesses] to get this incentive [after submitting the application], Rosan said on Thursday. If we cannot measure the timespan [for the application process], such a good incentive then will become less interesting [for investors]. Finance Ministry data shows more investors have benefitted from the new scheme compared to the old one, which was only to be given for investments of least Rp 1 trillion. Twelve companies were granted the incentive under the current scheme for investments totaling Rp 210.8 trillion, compared to only five companies having been granted the tax holiday for investments of Rp 39.4 trillion between 2011 and March 2018. The ministrys Fiscal Policy Agency head, Suahasil Nazara, said he hoped for consistency in the implementation of the policy to ultimately send a clear message to the private sector. If we are consistent with this policy, I hope this will send a message to [foreign] investors [to] come in, said Suahasil. The government had pinned its hopes on fiscal incentives, such as a tax holiday and tax allowances, as well as other structural reforms like streamlining licensing through the OSS, to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) so as to bolster the balance of payments. Recently, the government also mulled over of implementation of the reverse Tobin tax scheme, which would incentivize foreign investors who wanted to reinvest their dividends in Indonesia as opposed to repatriating their dividends. Such policy was hoped to curb excessive capital outflow. FDI to Indonesia had decreased by 8.8 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 392.7 trillion in 2018, BKPM data revealed, as the global economy was haunted by uncertainties stemming from monetary normalization undertaken by the United States Federal Reserve and trade tensions between China and the US. Commenting on the latest BKPM data, Rosan called on the government to accelerate structural reform. High severance payments were also a factor that was widely seen as hurting the countrys competitiveness in attracting FDI compared to other countries, Rosan said, while calling on the government to revise the Labor Law to make Indonesias labor market more competitive in the eyes of foreign investors. The government should be bold in implementing policies that may be unpopular, such as revising the Labor Law, for example, as it may reduce incoming FDI to Indonesia, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 15:13 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b11f75f 4 Business LRT,construction,SluggishGrowth Free State-owned construction company PT Adhi Karya, the developer of the Greater Jakarta light rapid transit (LRT) network, has said problems in land acquisition had hampered construction work and the project would not be completed until 22 months after the initial deadline. We hope to complete the project in April 2021, 22 months later than the target, Adhi Karya president director Budi Harto was quoted by tempo.co as saying in Jakarta on Thursday. The sluggish acquisition of 10 hectares of land in East Bekasi, West Java, on which an LRT depot would be constructed, was among the problems faced by the developer. The construction of the LRT depot will take 20 months, Budi said. Budi explained that land acquisition for the depot for 32 trains started several years ago, with a number of payments being made. Sixty percent of the payments have since been made. He said that to meet the April 2021 target, the land acquisition had to be completed by March. The LRT will eventually service Jakarta, Bogor, Depok and Bekasi. The first phase of the project consists of three routes -- Bekasi-Cawang, Cawang-Cibubur and Cawang-Dukuh Atas -- with the total length of 44 kilometers. Each car is designed to transport 130 passengers, with each train comprising six cars, meaning that each LRT trip will be able to transport 780 passengers. Budi said Adhi Karya was ready to start construction as soon as the land was acquired, which was the governments responsibility. He stressed that the LRT would be operational once the first phase was fully completed. (bbn) Washington, MO (63090) Today Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. Cooler. High 72F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 16:59 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b125508 1 Business btpn,banking-industry,bank-sumitomo-mitsui,Merger,merger-and-acquisition Free Jerry Ng has officially stepped down from his role as president director of Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN), after making significant improvements to the lenders overall business and serving as the driving force behind a merger between BTPN and PT Bank Sumitomo Mitsui Indonesia (SMBCI). Jerry, who was born in Kalimantan in 1965, brought significant changes to BTPNs business. He expanded the banks focus from merely focusing on pension funds to tapping into micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mass-market segments. From 2007 to 2018, BTPNs asset grew from Rp 10.6 trillion (US$759.21 million) to Rp 101.9 trillion while loan disbursement rose to Rp 68.1 trillion in December 2018 from Rp 7.85 trillion in 2007. The banks third-party funds (DPK) also increased to Rp 80.5 trillion from Rp 8.08 trillion. Amid an era of digital disruption, BTPN has continued to innovate by adapting to customers needs. So far, the lender has created two digital banking platforms, namely BTPN Wow! and Jenius. BTPN Wow! provides branchless banking aimed to reach the unbanked population, while Jenius is a digital banking platform that focuses on targeting the consuming class. Through huge investments in digital banking services, BTPN claimed it had been able to cut operational costs to Rp 3.48 trillion in the January to December 2018 period, down 12 percent from Rp 3.93 trillion in the same months the previous year. The decline led to a higher net operating income of Rp 5.2 trillion, although its operating income only grew 2 percent to Rp 10.2 trillion. Meanwhile, the banks capital adequacy ratio stood at 25 percent, non-performing loans ratio at 1.24 percent and loan to deposit ratio at 96 percent. Partly due to a decreasing operational income, BTPN was able to post Rp 1.97 trillion in net profit in 2016, up by 61 percent from Rp 1.22 trillion in the same period last year of Since the beginning of this year, we have focused on our consolidation process in order to complete the merger with SMBCI. We are grateful we are able to accomplish all of this while posting a positive performance, Jerry said. After Jerry stepped down from his position, Ongki Wanadjati Dana was named the new president director for BTPN. Ongki will lead a new entity following the merger with SMBCI, which will bring together almost 20,000 employees and a total of 796 branches. On an official statement dated Jan. 30, the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) announced that the merger between BTPN and SMBCI would be effective on Friday. The merger would allow SMBC Group to focus on capturing the growth of key emerging markets, including Indonesia, in the medium and long term. By integrating the franchises of BTPN [in which SMBC has invested in since 2013] and SMBCI, we will operate a full-fledged commercial banking business in Indonesia that serves both the wholesale and retail segments, according to the statement. BTPN will be the surviving company after the merger and SMBCI will automatically cease to exist by operation of law and without any liquidation. The legal name of BTPN will be changed from the current PT Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional to become PT Bank BTPN Tbk starting on Friday. SMBCs logo will be added to the new logo of the merged bank. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Fri, February 1 2019 The following are four shortened versions of articles from the Lifestyle (J+) and Travel channel on our website. If you are keen to read the full articles or want to look for more interesting lifestyle pieces, complete with photos and videos, pay a visit to the Life channel in our website. However, for quick access, download QR scanner application in your smartphone and scan the codes display next to the articles. Restaurants at Jakarta hotels to visit on Chinese New Year Missing new year festivities already? Good news for you: Chinese New Year is coming soon with a series of attractions, including the lion dance and special delicacies. The cute, koi fish-shaped nian gao with its stickiness to symbolize harmonious friendship? Yusheng salad full of fun and freshness? The restaurants of Jakarta hotels listed below are places for you to enjoy ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1 2019 Presidential candidate and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto canceled a speech that he was scheduled make on Wednesday during a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) meeting because of sickness, according to PKS chairman Sohibul Iman. He was initially ready to come, but he was unwell. He said that he in fact had been sick for three days, Sohibul said as quoted by kompas.com. Prabowo was initially scheduled to address a consolidation meeting of PKS members in Jakarta. Sohibul, who criticized Prabowos speech during the first presidential debate for being too long and rambling, said the cancelation did not bother the PKS. Im not disappointed; people can get sick, he said, adding that he assumed Prabowo had a cold. In addition to PKS executives, other figures, such as Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, gave speeches at the event.... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 16:42 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b124807 1 Business tourist-arrivals,2018,BPS Free A total of 15.81 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia throughout 2018, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), falling short of the governments target of attracting 17 million tourists. However, the figure reflects a 12.58 percent growth in tourist arrivals from 2017 because of a significant surge in vacationers in December, BPS head Suharyanto said on Friday. We saw a significant increase in December, particularly during the Christmas and New Years Eve holiday, when the number of visitors jumped to 1.41 million, or up by 21.43 percent month-to-month, he told reporters at the BPS headquarter in Jakarta. This year, the government targets to welcome 20 million tourists. Suharyanto pointed out Indonesian tourism took a severe blow last year because of a string of devastating natural disasters across the country, such as Mount Agungs eruption in Bali, earthquakes in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Central Sulawesi and another tsunami in Tangung Lesung, Banten. Those disasters sparked questions among foreign tourists about whether its safe to travel to Indonesia, he said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 10:20 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b104cdf 4 Business tempe,exports,Hong-Kong,South-Korea,Middle-East Free Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said Indonesia will export more tempeh to Hong Kong, South Korea and a number of Middle Eastern countries in which many Indonesians live. "We are seeking technology to extend the shelf life," Anggartiasto said in Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday, adding that he would discuss the plan with members of the Association of Indonesian Tempeh and Tofu Producers (Gakoptindo). Meanwhile, Gakoptindo Ayip Syarifuddin welcomed the governments plan, saying that tempeh producers were ready to increase production to meet the possible demand increase. "Our products have met the requirements for export, in terms of quality and quantity," he said as quoted by Antara news agency, adding that the association had exported the food product but had not optimized existing markets. He said the government had provided producers with technology that could help extend the shelf life of tempeh to 306 days or even one year, depending on packaging. Syarifuddin said with the help of the government to expand the market, the association aimed to export 50 containers of tempeh per month. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 12:33 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10e6da 4 Business biodiesel,expansion,KEIN Free The National Economic and Industry Committee (KEIN) has called for the immediate use of 50 percent blended biodiesel, which would help reduce gas and oil imports and increase the use of local palm oil. KEIN vice chairman Arif Budimanta said the wide use of B50 would help the country save foreign exchange earnings to narrow both the trade and current account deficits and was in line with the General Planning for National Energy (RUEN). The country, which is the world's largest producer of palm oil, issued a regulation on the mandatory use of B20 fuels that took effect September 2018. Biodiesel fuel is already used in the transportation, industrial and mining sectors. The increased use of B50 would help absorb more palm oil, the main raw material of the fuel, the export volume of which has declined in recent months, Arif said, adding that it would further increase economic growth. "We need commitment to make the B50 program a success, not only from the government but also from other stakeholders -- palm oil suppliers, the automotive industry and research institutes, he said as quoted by Antara news agency. Oil imports contributed to last year's widening trade deficit of US$8.57 billion, compared to the previous year's $11.84 billion surplus. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the country spent $12.4 billion on oil and gas imports last year. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Smith (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Fri, February 1, 2019 08:08 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10188c 2 World #USA,#politics,Donald-Trump,frustration,border-wall Free Donald Trump's frustration over his campaign to fence off the US-Mexican border spilled into linguistic territory Thursday when the president declared himself fed up with people dancing around what to call his dreamed-of barrier. "Lets just call them WALLS from now on and stop playing political games! A WALL is a WALL!" Trump tweeted. In other tweets, he signaled that he's in no mood to compromise as Congress debates on providing construction funds. "The Wall is getting done one way or the other!" he vowed. He also said: "More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals.... With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive. Being Built!" Hours later, the head Democrat in the lower house of Congress, Nancy Pelosi, shot back with an equally emphatic statement that "there's not going to be any wall money in the legislation." The saga of Trump's troubled plan to boost defenses along the Mexican border has seen politicians and the president maneuver repeatedly in search of the right terminology. Originally, Trump reveled in the word "wall," leading chants at political rallies of "build the wall!" But as Democrats in Congress pushed back, accusing Trump of demonizing Central American immigrants and promoting "medieval" wall technology, he tried to soften the message, referring to "a barrier." Emergency funds Also, instead of a solid concrete structure, Trump began to emphasize that he was really asking for steel slats. "Artistically designed steel slats," he specified in December. Despite the word games, Democrats remained steadfast in declining to back the president's signature project. This led to a standoff in which Trump -- trying unsuccessfully to increase pressure on Congress -- refused to fully fund government, shutting down swaths of federal jobs for five weeks. Democrats and Republicans in Congress are now trying to come up with a border security compromise -- though Pelosi's tough statement Thursday did not augur well. If they don't agree to provide wall funding before a February 15 deadline, Trump says he'll impose another shutdown or bypass Congress by seeking emergency funds. "I don't think they're going to make a deal," Trump told reporters on Thursday. Pelosi is "just playing games." He confirmed that if wall building money is not provided, he is ready to declare an emergency. "I would do that," he said. Trump also indicated in another tweet the extent to which he may already be resigned to Congress not satisfying him on "the DESPERATELY needed WALL." "I don't expect much help!" he said. An emergency declaration would allow Trump to siphon off funds already appropriated for military and emergency uses. However, this would probably not end the wall debate. Democrats have said they would likely seek a court injunction to halt use of emergency funds at the border, arguing that Trump has exaggerated the seriousness of the situation and that there is no emergency. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara Fri, February 1, 2019 13:27 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b1122b3 1 National Ikat-Indonesia,Flores,East-Nusa-Tenggara,woven-fabric,Alfonsa-Horeng Free Through weaving ikat fabrics, tolerance is fostered between women of different religious backgrounds in Nagekeo regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. Rumah Sao Pipi Tolo (Sao Pipi Tolo House), founded by a retired member of the National Police, Com. Gen. Gregorius Gories Mere, brings together works of art through the characteristic weaving of Nagekeo, Ende and the whole island of Flores by Muslim and Christian women. Prior to the organization, the women wove fabrics in their own home and sell them at much lower prices. Gories said that Rumah Sao Pipi Tolo was founded after his daughter, Jesika Mere, visited Flores along with her husband. Jesika Mere told him that she had fallen in love with the hospitality of the Flores people, the beauty of its nature, as well as the woven fabrics. She was inspired to do something to help increase their income and to bring women together through the art of weaving that was unique to Flores. My daughter and her husband had inspired me to do something for Flores for the development and improvement of the local peoples income, which mainly came from the weaving of fabrics characteristic to Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende and all of Flores, he said recently. At the time, he went on to say, the price of fabrics woven by the women of Flores was very low, even though they were of very high quality. The craftswomen were selling their creations at between Rp 250,000 [US$17.93] and Rp 300,000, while they needed a month to complete them and sourced the dye from nature. So, the weaving process was incongruent with the low price, Gories said. The archbishop of Ende, Mgr. Vinsentius Potokotta, expressed his hope that the initiative would not only empower women but also promote tolerance among people of different religious backgrounds. [Such initiatives] also encourage and inspire us [priests] to do real things for the empowerment of women, he said. Alfonsa Horeng, a local female leader and also a well-known ikat expert, explained that weaving was an inherited tradition and maintained by women of different religions. All this time, Flores ikat is intended for customary affairs, bridalwear and other necessities, thus, selling the fabrics whether to local or international markets was not a priority for the women of Flores. I am a weaving trainer for the Pipi Tolo weaving house; I help the women weave fabrics that would be worth selling internationally. I train them on original dyeing techniques with ingredients sourced from Flores nature, on ikat motifs for Nagekeo, which are called Malapoma in Lawo and Ende, Alfonsa said, adding that she helped and collaborated with Gories to train Nagekeo and Ende weavers who work at the Sao Pipi Tolo house. Siti Lutwina, a weaver from the Nangaroro Weaving Group, said that weavers hailed from Riti Tonggo and Nangaroro villages, which had their own motives, such as Malapoma, Jawatiwa and Riti Tonggo. Nagekeos special woven products will be promoted to foreign buyers, both in Indonesia and overseas. Were very grateful, she said. (spl) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Fri, February 1 2019 One of two dolphins stranded in the Kualuh River over the last few days after swimming up the river was found dead by people from Kuala Beringin in Kualuh Hulu, North Labuhan Batu regency, North Sumatra, on Wednesday night. The two marine mammals, believed to be humpback dolphins, were seen swimming on Sunday in the Kualuh River, dozens of kilometers from the sea, attracting locals who took pictures and video recordings of the animals. Following reports about the two stranded dolphins swimming in the river, the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) sent a team on Monday to locate the two dolphins and help them swim back out to sea. The BKSDA has also asked a dolphin expert team from the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) to help search and save the stranded dolphins. Yet, the BKSDA received a report about the death of one of the dolphin... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 12:52 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10e93c 1 City MRT-Jakarta,groundbreaking,delay,second-phase,State-Secretariat Free The second phase of construction for the Jakarta mass rapid transit (MRT) has again been postponed from a revised plan to break ground in January, due to lack of approval from the State Secretariat. The second phase, which is to build the route connecting the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to Kota Station in West Jakarta, had already been pushed back from the initial plan to start work in December 2018. PT MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar said the State Secretariat's delayed approval was related to a land use issue concerning Medan Merdeka area in Central Jakarta. We are ready to break ground at any time. We have [already] decided on the developer. The ticket to starting this [phase] is the State Secretariat's approval," William said on Wednesday, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com. William said that another obstacle to commencing phase two was the land acquisition issue surrounding the location of the MRT interchange station, which was originally to be integrated with the Kampung Bandan train station. He added that the delay had no financial impact for the company. Aditya Dwilaksana, a member of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI)s railway section, said that the MRT's first and second construction phases, which would connect southern and northern Jakarta, was a national strategic program as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 56/2018 on accelerated infrastructure development. "In the regulation, it is clear that this national strategic program must be accelerated. The [State Secretariat's] approval should be given as soon as possible," said Aditya. He added said that the government, the Jakarta administration and MRT Jakarta should immediately decided on the location of the interchange to eliminate all further obstacles to the project. (ggq) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 15:24 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b11f8bd 1 National online-petition,conservative-Muslims,sexual-violence-bill,adultery,LGBT,Islam,rape,gender-based-violence Free The passing of a bill on sexual violence, which has been deliberated on by the House of Representatives since 2016, is at risk of being delayed again, this time by those who consider it to be "pro-adultery" and pro-LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] by omission. The bill was first proposed after the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Bengkulu in 2016 and gained traction again at the end of last year as the case of Baiq Nuril, a sexual harassment victim in West Nusa Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who was convicted for defaming her alleged harassed, came to light. Public calls for the House to quickly pass the bill gained lawmakers attention and House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said in his speech opening the current legislative session earlier this month that the House would prioritize passing the bill. We still have a lot of work to do to complete the bill and [eradicate] sexual violence, which has recently been in the public spotlight, he said at the time. People join and light candles during Solidarity Night for Save Our Sisters At Proclamation Monument in Jakarta on Friday, May, 13, 2016. The event was held to show solidarity for victims of sexual violence and commemorate the 40th day of the death of Y, the 14-year-old girl who was brutally raped and killed by 14 young men in Bengkulu. (Antara/Aprilio Akbar) But while concerns have been raised over whether lawmakers can work effectively in the lead-up to the 2019 General Elections, the bill has met another possible hurdle to its enactment into law: conservative criticism. Maimon Herawati, a Padjajaran University lecturer who previously gained attention by starting an online petition demanding the ban of an ad featuring South Korean girlband BLACKPINK, started another petition on change.org on Friday, calling on the House to reject the pro-adultery bill. The idea that women should be given the legal power to protect themselves is good, but there is a gap that was deliberately made to allow [loopholes], the petition said. There is no regulation on sexual crimes, such as sexual relations that violate moral and religious norms. In her petition, which has been signed by 120,000 people, Maimon further argues that the bill was incompatible with local norms as it allowed consensual sexual relations outside of marriage and criminalized marital rape. Consequently, a husband could be prosecuted if he touches his wife when the wife does not want to be touched, she warns. Korean fever: A man watches a commercial featuring K-pop supergroup Blackpink on his laptop in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 2018. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo) Euis Sunarti, a Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) professor who, along with the Family Love Alliance (AILA), previously petitioned the Constitutional Court (MK) to criminalize homosexual relationships, has expressed similar sentiments to the Houses Commission VIII, which is deliberating the bill. Most Indonesians do not want to separate a criminal act from the social norms that govern it, she told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. For example, the bill criminalizes forced prostitution but doesnt say anything about prostitution itself, when our social norms are clearly against prostitution. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), which helped compose the bill, said it welcomed opinions from all members of the public but argued that critics did not understand the intention of the bill. We hope that we can meet with them to discuss the bill, because Im sure that no woman would be against eradicating sexual violence, commissioner Mariana Amiruddin told the Post. She said the bill was crafted to protect the interests of victims of sexual violence and provide them with a legal instrument to enforce their rights. Issues like adultery and sexual morality are already included in the KUHP [Criminal Code] bill, she said. This bill is the only one that looks out for the victims. Fighting for rights: Evi Risna Yanti (left), the lawyer of 12 individuals who sought to ban premarital sex and same-sex relationships through a judicial review petition against the Criminal Code bill at the Constitutional Court, weeps after the court rejects their petition in a hearing in December in 2017. (JP/Seto Wardhana.) Veni Siregar of Forum Pengada Layanan (FPL), a non-governmental organization that provides advocacy for victims of sexual violence across the country, echoed Marianas sentiments. The articles in the bill are consistent with our experience in accompanying and advocating for victims, she said, adding that she hoped the recent criticism would not affect the Houses commitment to pass the bill. Our recent conversations and meetings with the bills working committee have been productive, she said. Hopefully, the petition will not change that. Maimons petition highlights the ongoing culture war between conservative Indonesians and their relatively more liberal fellow countrymen over the issue of sexuality and individual freedom. Komnas PA and AILA, for instance, are at odds over whether the state should criminalize any types of sexual relations outside of marriage. Gerindra Party lawmaker and Commission VIII member Sodik Mudjahid said deliberations on the antirape bill were still on course and would intensify after the elections in April. The protests occur because of a lack of clarity in the process and details of the draft bill, he told the Post. We will invite more members of civil society to gather more suggestions later. He added that the bill focused on protecting and rehabilitating victims of violence and did not discuss matters such as adultery and LGBT relations. But if there are articles that leave room for the legalization of adultery, of course we will change that and close the gap, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu Fri, February 1, 2019 11:21 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b10926e 1 National Palu-Earthquake-Tsunami,rehabilitation,reconstruction,bappenas,BNPB,central-sulawesi,Central-Sulawesi-earthquake Free The Central Sulawesi administration will need at least three years to rehabilitate areas most affected by recent natural disasters, including Palu, Sigi, Donggala and Parigi Moutong, an official has said. We may need two years to complete the permanent housing [for survivors], but the whole region may need at least three years to recover its economy, Central Sulawesi Main Planning Team head Suprayoga Hadi told The Jakarta Post recently. Suprayoga, who is also a planner with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), said the government had reactivated a trust fund for post-disaster rehabilitation, which was first established in 2010 and is currently managed by Bappenas. The trust fund currently manages around US$28 million and the government is seeking additional funds. Suprayoga said the governor was in charge of post-disaster rehabilitation because the Central Sulawesi earthquake and subsequent tsunami and soil liquefaction were regional disasters and never declared a national disaster. According to Suprayoga, the Central Sulawesi administration must establish an ad-hoc team comprising representatives of both local administrations and the government to bridge relevant agencies and bodies. The team can be attached to the governors office or the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), he went on to say, adding that he suggested that the governor appoint officials for the teams board. The governors role is imperative, he said. Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola said the administration needed Rp 40 trillion ($2.85 billion) to recover Palu, Donggala, Sigi and Parigi Moutong. [The amount] excludes stimulant funds amounting to Rp 2.6 trillion, which I proposed, he said, adding that he had proposed the budget to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in January. According to the governor, the funds will be used to mainly build temporary housing, assist survivors and rebuild infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Central Sulawesi Public Information Commission (KIP Central Sulawesi) called on the administration to open access to information for the public, including information regarding rehabilitation programs and finances. The public needs to be able to access information regarding the distribution of assistance and budgets, said KIP Central Sulawesi commissioner Isman Manes. A powerful earthquake followed by a tsunami and soil liquefaction rattled the province in September last year, killing 4,340 people and displacing over 170,000 others. In October, the BNPB estimated that the disaster resulted in at least Rp 13.82 trillion in economic losses, comprising Rp 1.99 trillion in lost income and Rp 11.83 trillion in physical damages. At least 100,000 houses, 327 places of worship, 265 schools, 78 offices and 362 shops were damaged in the earthquake. (swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 08:03 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b100950 1 City murder,son,father,alcohol,Dispute,West-Jakarta Free A 60-year-old man was allegedly killed by his son after scolding him for drinking alcohol in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. The father, Abdurachman, had gone to a security post where his son was hanging out on Tuesday afternoon and told the 24-year-old to stop drinking and go home right away, Cengkareng Police chief Comr. H Khoiri said. Khoiri said the son, identified as PI, was embarrassed and angry but followed his father home. Once home, the two got into a heated argument in the kitchen. While quarreling PI took a sickle and allegedly slashed his father's neck, Khoiri said on Wednesday. The victim was rushed to hospital but died due to blood loss. PI is being detained at Cengkareng Police station. (gis) Recent stories circulating on social media claiming Johor Princess Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim's marriage was on the rocks have been described as "malicious and untrue". The Johor royal family was upset that irresponsible parties were spreading baseless tales about their personal lives. In a statement, Tunku Aminah voiced her displeasure at such rumours about her marriage with Mr Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, as well as alleged business dealings with skincare and slimming products. "My husband and I are happy, contrary to what the rumors say. "I have also not endorsed any product as written by these unscrupulous people, who are out to use my name in order to get attention," she said, adding that complaints lodged with Facebook were not acted on promptly. The Johor royal family hoped the social networking service company would remove the malicious content, in line with its pledge to ensure fake news would be dealt with sternly. It is learnt that a police report has also been lodged on the matter. Read also: Princess Ayako to marry commoner Kei Moriya Tunku Aminah married the Dutchman in an elaborate ceremony filled with tradition in August 2017. She is the only daughter of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah. The wedding at Istana Besar was attended by local and foreign dignitaries such as Sultan of Brunei and the now Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Plans to build a sausage museum at an annex of the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald Thursday sparked protests over a "lack of historical awareness" in Germany. An association called Friends of the Thuringer Bratwurst had announced plans to move the Bratwurst Museum from its current location in Holzhausen to Muehlhausen, where a theatre and a hotel will also be built. But the Muehlhausen site was once part of the Buchenwald camp, where the Nazis imprisoned almost a quarter of a million people between 1937 and 1945. Around 700 Jewish women were held in the outlying location that is to be redeveloped into a tourist attraction. The prisoners had been sent from the Auschwitz death camp to work in a weapons factory nearby, and warned that they would be returned to the death camp when they could no longer work. Rikola-Gunnar Luettgenau of the Buchenwald memorial foundation said the redevelopment plan showed a "lack of sensitivity" and a "lack of historical awareness". He said the foundation does not automatically rule out any plans to re-use the site. "It depends on what is to be done there," he added. Read also: Auschwitz exhibits art of Jewish ex-prisoner Amid the uproar, the local mayor is holding talks with the region's Jewish community as well as the memorial foundation. An estimated 56,000 people died at Buchenwald. They were either killed by the Nazis or perished through illness, cold or starvation. Thousands of Jews were among the dead, but also Roma and political opponents of the Nazis, gays and Soviet prisoners of war. An Iranian asylum-seeker detained in Papua New Guinea under Australian asylum laws has won Australia's most valuable literary prize for a book he reportedly wrote using the online messaging service WhatsApp. Behrouz Boochani, a Kurd who has been held on PNG's Manus Island since 2013, was awarded the Victorian Prize for Literature on Thursday, said a statement on a government website for the Australian state of Victoria. The journalist and filmmaker was awarded the Aus$100,000 (US$72,600) prize for his book "No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison". He will receive an additional Aus$25,000 after it also won the non-fiction category. "(Boochani's) award was accepted by the book's translator Omid Tofighian, who worked with Boochani over five years to bring the stories to life," the state website said. Media reports said Boochani wrote the work on his phone and sent it to Tofighian bit-by-bit in text messages. This was because he felt unsafe in the guarded camp, which was shuttered last year after a local court ruling and the asylum-seekers moved elsewhere on the island. Read also: Uruguayan poet, 95, wins top Spanish literary award For years Canberra has sent asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to Manus Island or Nauru in the Pacific for processing, with those found to be refugees barred from resettling in Australia. The harsh policy is meant to deter people embarking on treacherous sea journeys, but the United Nations and other rights groups have criticised the camps' conditions and long detention periods. Boochani's book beat 27 other shortlisted works published last year in Australia to win the overall prize. Samuel Bollendorff is a well-known French photographer and documentary filmmaker who in 2011 became the president of Agence VU in Paris. His approach to photography and film is primarily social-humanitarian, whether addressing aspects of life in France or abroad. Winner of many awards for his journalistic reporting, Bollendorff continues to be funded by print publications such as Le Monde, audio-visual institutions and festivals like Visa pour lImage, as well as various foundations. Bollendorff is also supported by the nonprofit association Pour Que lEsprit Vive, which focuses on finding solutions to urgent social problems. It is this association that runs the Galerie Fait & Cause, 58 Rue Quincampoix in Paris where the show runs until Feb. 23. At the opening, Bollendorff explained, For 2018, I chose to travel the Earth. It is a small planet and can be covered in a matter of hours. Wherever I have looked I have seen darkness: a river, dead, over a distance of 650 kilometers, deformed fish, radioactive forests, children born with no eyes, the mafia dealing in toxic waste, plastic adrift in the ocean forming particles that are now part of a grotesque food chain. How have we let this happen? Based on his 2018 travels, Bollendorff focused on the pollution of natural resources around the globe, discovering that our forests, soil, oceans and even the air we breathe are polluted which contradicts the first impression we may have of a particular area still being pristine. This harrowing photo reportage was produced together with Le Monde, which printed 22 pages of Bollendorffs work during the Visa pour lImage festival last year. The traveling costs were funded by Fondation Tara Expeditions. Then, ICADE corporation contributed to coproducing the actual exhibition in Paris. The Contamination exhibit addresses cases of irredeemable industrial pollution that over decades and even centuries have turned land into areas unfit for living beings. Entire swathes of the Earth have been fouled by humans in chemical, mining or nuclear industries for generations to come. Read also: Fighting plastic pollution through small steps 'Mother Nature' : On the edge of once-pristine waters, bituminous toxic sands resulting from petrol foraging pollute the surroundings in Alberta, Canada. (Samuel Bollendorff/Samuel Bollendorff) One example is Alberta in Canada. Due to industrial drilling for petrol in Alberta, toxic bituminous sands proliferate, rendering the surroundings unfit for human beings. Inhabitants of the area once lived on the edge of the water, where trees were green and the water blue. When the drilling for petrol began, even the snow turned yellowish grey, animals began to die, birds did not fly like before and fish were deformed. Humans also began to suffer from various cancers. Another example is how insoluble plastic enters the food chain in the oceans. Fish mistake microscopic plastic balls for plankton and it enters their digestive system. Many will die instantly, but for others, it continues down the food chain eventually enters the human digestive system. We only have to visualize Bollendorffs image Tears of Sirens to understand what horrors are present in the Pacific Ocean where the biggest concentration of plastic in global oceans is found. Anniston, Alabama, in the United States was once 'the model city' but is now referred to 'the toxic town' after 20,000 inhabitants were driven out by Monsanto pollution. (Samuel Bollendorff/Samuel Bollendorff) Worse still is the town of Anniston in Alabama, the United States, where the Monsanto chemical industrial plant between 1927 and 1971 produced so much chemical refuse that was discharged into the waterways or open-air dumps and poisonous gases that were ejected into the air, the 20 000 inhabitants fled this former model city-turned toxic town. They left hundreds of ruined houses behind them. Although this may seem to be a highly simplified approach to the intricacies of the photo show, it should awaken the viewers conscious to the perils of toxic industrial waste. (kes) When actress Emily Blunt stepped onto the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards red carpet, all eyes were not just on her striking pink gown but also on her stunning waterfall earrings designed by Indonesian jewelry designer Eri Dwi Suciaji. Clad in a custom crystal-embroidered pink Michael Kors gown and Forevermark jewelry, Blunt collected her Best Supporting Actress trophy for her performance in science-fiction horror A Quiet Place along with a nomination for Best Actress in Mary Poppins Returns. While most would recognize the major brands responsible for her stunning look, few people know that her 11,73-carat diamond waterfall earrings in 18-carat white gold were designed by the 29-year-old Indonesian jewelry designer. The earrings worth approximately Rp 900 million (US$64,371) were selected by Blunts stylist Jessica Paster out of 16 specially-made jewelry pieces from Forevermark Indonesia. After the De Beers Group-owned jewelry brands launch in the country in April last year, the recent awards season marks the first foray of Forevermark Indonesia into the realm of international red carpet events. Thirty-two sketches were submitted for approval by Forevermark USA, which was later curated into 16 designs by 13 Indonesian jewelry designers. From the set, a necklace has previously been worn by actress Sandra Oh to the Golden Globes after-party and the pieces will remain in the US to be shown to stylists for the upcoming Academy Awards and later be returned to Indonesia to be put on display. Up close: Forevermark Waterfall Diamond Earrings set in 18 carat white gold. (Courtesy of Central Mega Kencana/Forevermark Indonesia) Eri could not help but be pleasantly surprised that his design was worn by such a renowned star like Blunt especially because out of the 32 original sketches, he only created one and it made it into the final 16 pieces made and delivered for the stylists perusal. Eri said organic and natural shapes have always influenced his designs. The inspiration for this particular set of earrings comes from the beauty of waterfalls. Im an avid traveler and many of my inspirations come from the beauty and grandeur of nature, Eri told The Jakarta Post on Thursday in his office in South Jakarta. He has spent nine years as an in-house jewelry designer for Central Mega Kencana, which holds the license for Forevermark in Indonesia. The designer: Indonesian jewelry designer Eri Dwi Suciaji is the man behind Emily Blunt's stunning diamond earrings at the SAG Awards. (Courtesy of Central Mega Kencana/Forevermark Indonesia) Eris career in jewelry design came by chance. As an art school student in his hometown of Yogyakarta, he got an offer to work as an in-house jewelry designer upon graduation from one of his seniors who worked in Central Mega Kencana. He initially declined the offer, wanting to feel free after graduation and able to explore other forms of art. After some time passed, I eventually got bored and asked my friend whether the job was still available. The company said the offer still stood and I drew several designs that landed me the job, Eri said. Eri underwent further training at the company to familiarize himself with the basics of jewelry design, from sizing precious stones to developing his designs into finished products. As an in-house designer, he has to meet targets, either weekly or monthly, creating sketches for new jewelry pieces. All these years, he has designed different kinds of jewelry but his favorite is rings for women, which was also the first piece he created as a designer. Demand for ladies rings is quite high, so I mostly explore designs for that particular category, Eri says. On paper: The inspiration for the earrings comes from the beauty of waterfalls (Courtesy of Central Mega Kencana/Forevermark Indonesia) The process starts by finding the inspiration, then traditional or digital sketches become two-dimensional flat drawings with a side and top-down view, which in turn gets developed into 3D renderings before finally going to production. At that point, as a designer, I will have to control the production process as well, whether the finished piece is made according to our specifications or not, he says. When designing the waterfall earrings that were worn by Blunt, Eri said he did not find any particular difficulties despite the larger dimensions, as he is used to the job. But before starting to work on their latest piece, Eri said jewelry designers must keep the 4Es in mind: estetika (aesthetics), ergonomics, economics and evolution. Aesthetic-wise, we have to make sure the jewelry will be pleasing to the eye. For ergonomics, we surely wouldnt want someone to feel light-headed after wearing a particularly heavy set of earrings, for example, he says. We also need to keep in mind the value of the jewelry, first and foremost. For evolution, designers should take note of whats in trend. Even with the challenge of designing for the opposite gender, Forevermark Indonesia brand manager Devi Chayadi found that male and female designers have different styles in design language. Based on her observations, female designers tend to go for smoother lines, while male designers usually go for precise, symmetrical designs. If you look at Mas Eris designs, all of them have design considerations that come from the males approach to design. Of course, it has its own challenges because hes not the one who is going to wear them, Devi said, adding that such an issue will be solved on its own when designers are in tune with the market. As a man working in an industry mostly targeting women, Eri realizes he must be able to understand certain parts of the female anatomy, such as wrist measurements or even curvature of the ears vital knowledge for men who work in industries where they are not the intended market. Other considerations include the price of the final products assigned to designers along with market trends. And the limit is only in how far the designers imagination can take them, Eri says. (ste) Dialita choir celebrates joy with their second album, Salam Harapan (Greetings of Hope). The acronym Dialita, which stands for "di atas lima puluh tahun" and refers to women over 50, has become synonymous with joy in the face of adversity. Several members of the choir of above-50 women were relatives of political prisoners who were incarcerated during the 1965-1966 purge of communists and suspected communists in the country; two of its members were political prisoners. Since 2000, the Dialita women have been collecting the lyrics written by female political prisoners of that turbulent era, such as Zubaidah Nungtjik or choir member Utati, on their ordeal at facilities like the Plantungan women's camp in Central Java. Their grave reality eventually became memories; these memories have now been set to music. Following the 2016 release of their inaugural album Dunia Milik Kita (The World Is Ours) with the help of mostly Yogyakartan musicians like Frau or Sisir Tanah, the choir has now released Salam Harapan that features the lyrics of female political prisoners. This time, Bonita and her husband Petrus Adoy Briyanto Adi, musicians from the Bonita & the Hus Band, were on board as producers, along with musicians such as Kartika Jahja, Siti Nursanti, Junior Soemantri and Endah Widiastuti. And so a tragedy was what introduced people to Dialita, but it is this irresistible jubilee that theyll be remembered for. At the concert celebrating the release of Salam Harapan, held Thursday evening at the Goethe-Institut Jakarta, the mood was exuberant throughout. It was also fitting that Rumah Bonita Bonita and Adoys record label was behind the occasion, as it had also organized the tour that played in the personal homes of volunteers. Uchikowati of the Dialita choir delivered an opening speech during which she invited Eko Agus Purnomo to the stage, introducing him as a taxi driver and one of the first few people who knew what Dialita was [about] from the beginning. That beginning was years ago, when Dialita was to perform at the Kedai Tjikini cafe, but couldnt find anyone to play the music. Eko, their driver at the time, happened to be a former bass player, so they asked him if he could play the guitar to accompany them. As it turned out, the cafe didn't have a guitar, only a piano. Eko didn't flinch, and so he played the piano. I was really surprised because he told us, You were all great, recalled Uchikowati. After they finished the show, the choir readied an ensemble to accompany them mostly the same ensemble that performed with Dialita at a December 2017 concert at the Graha Bakti Budaya cultural center. Each song at that concert commenced with the retelling of the story behind it. For example, birthdays were still celebrated in prison, but the usual birthday song didnt feel right. So Zubaidah wrote Tetap Senyum Menjelang Fajar (Still Smiling as Dawn Comes), which is the opening track of Salam Harapan,. Sita, with her high, clear voice, sang it at the concert to the accompaniment of rousing, folk-style music (strings, guitars, bass, drums). A tragic romance is told in Mawar Merah (Red Rose), a jazz tune with Adoy's lyrical arrangement that was sung by Junior. The songs traverse a variety of musical styles: Ibu (Mother), sung by Endah, is a lovely, slow-burning paean to mothers who were separated from their daughters, while Aku Percaya (I Believe) is sung by the entire choir and presents the women's vocal range and solid harmony. In the evening, Uchikowati announced there are still over 30 lyrics that have not been recorded. Rest assured, the joy continues on. (ste) They are confident, carefree and spend over $7,000 a year on luxury goods -- even before they turn 21. Meet Chinas Generation Z. Spoiled by parents and grandparents for being the only child in their families, these youngsters are living it up compared to their cautious, conservative peers in the West, according to a new survey. They are pumped up about the future and not worried about their career prospects or international politics, notwithstanding a trade war at their doorsteps. A study by research firm OC&C Strategy Consultants, reveals marked differences in attitude and lifestyle among young Chinese adults. The findings also help explain why the largest luxury brands are so dependent on continued splurging in Asias biggest economy. This is a generation that has never known worry, so they spend more and save less, said Adam Xu, a partner at OC&C based in Shanghai. We dont know if theyll grow up to be successful but we do know that they are already a significant spending force that consumer brands must pivot towards. Chinas Generation Z landed in an unusually sweet spot. Products of the countrys one-child policy and its astronomic economic growth in the 1990s and 2000s, these children didnt have to share while growing up and saw only an ever-rising wealth creation. By contrast, their peers in the U.S. and Europe witnessed the 2008 financial crisis and its brutal aftermath, are graduating with historically high student debt, may not earn enough to afford a roof over their heads and are seemingly more politically conscious than in the past. The survey, which defined Generation Z as those born in 1998 and after, questioned 15,500 people across nine countries including Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Turkey, U.K. and the U.S. Almost 2,000 of those were from China. Chinese Generation Z accounts for 15 percent of their households spending in the survey compared with 4 percent in the U.S. and the U.K. Although the vast majority are not yet drawing a salary, theyre big on consumption. Jasmine Wang, 22, admits to a weakness for perfumes. The graduate student from Shanghai has 20 to 30 bottles of limited edition scents from brands like Guerlain, Tom Ford and Chanel, which can cost more than 2,000 yuan ($295) per bottle. Read also: Millennials, Gen Z are diamonds' best friend: Report Red packets Besides a monthly allowance of 2,500 yuan from her parents, Wang says she has free use of their bank card and the so-called red packets, or cash gifts, from grandparents on either side. I think that its harder for families in the West because university fees are so expensive and they usually have more than one kid, Wang said. Her parents only had to pay 5,000 yuan per semester for her time at Fudan University, a Shanghai college thats one of Chinas top schools. In a separate survey last year, the same research firm found that over half of Chinese Generation Z shoppers spent more than 50,000 yuan on luxury goods last year, compared to their stingier elders. Only 32 percent of Millennials spent that much, compared to 34 percent of Generation X. Chinas slowdown is weighing on everyone from American farmers to Apple Inc. to Macaus casinos as GDP growth slows to lowest level in a decade. But that hasnt dented Generation Zs desire to seek Yeezys, a limited edition line from Adidas AG, and cult skincare brands so far. Key Findings: 41 percent of Gen Z respondents in China are optimistic about the future vs. 26 percent globally. Twenty eight percent feel theyll have better lives than previous generations vs. 24 percent worldwide. Less than a fifth of Chinas Gen Z worry about international politics, safety or economic prospects. Only 7 out of ten in China say they have savings, ranking it second-lowest in the survey. (Source: Survey by OC&C Strategy Consultants) The survey has uncovered two worrying trends. Youngsters in China seem to turning their back on a habit treasured by their elders -- saving -- endangering their nations record of having one of the worlds highest savings rates. And they are willing to take on debt in order to fund their purchases, according to Xu. Wang says she tries to save but often spends more what she set aside on Singles Day -- an annual shopping festival invented by Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. Somehow I end up spending 20 or 30 percent more than what I planned. African American writers have been ignored for too long by Hollywood but "things are going to change radically", declared the Oscar-winning filmmaker of "Moonlight", Barry Jenkins. The director said James Baldwin, one of the greatest American novelists of the last century has never been adapted for the big screen in his homeland, while Toni Morrison -- "one of the greatest US authors to have ever lived" -- has only made it once with her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Beloved". "Black writers in general are not adapted as often as their white counterparts in the US," said Jenkins, in Paris promoting his new film "If Beale Street Could Talk" -- based on a book by Baldwin -- which is in the running for three Oscars this year. The 1974 story of a young black man and women in Harlem whose lives are turned upside down by an unplanned pregnancy and a false accusation of rape, was previously filmed in France. Director Robert Guediguian transposed the story to the port of Marseille in "A la place du coeur" (Where the Heart Is) in 1998, but made the relationship at its heart an interracial one. Baldwin, who died in 1987, lived most of his life in exile, mostly in France. "I Am Not Your Negro", a documentary drawn from his unfinished history of racism in America, "Remember This House", by the Haitian-born director Raoul Peck, was nominated for an Oscar in 2017. Read also: In rap milestone, Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer for music Out of shadows Jenkins insisted that black stories and the work of black writers are about to step out of the shadows in Hollywood. "I think now, with what's happening in cinema, particularly in black cinema, it's going to radically change that. The industry has just caught up with Baldwin and not the other way round," he said. He said the success of his "Moonlight", the story of a young black boy in Florida coming to terms with his homosexuality, was a pointer of things to come. "What nobody ever acknowledges is that the Academy, this group that we think has been overwhelmingly white and male and conservative actually voted for a film ("Moonlight") made by the filmmaker no one had heard of, featuring a character struggling with sexual identity. That actually happened." The success of blockbuster films like "Black Panther" with its black superheroes is also remaking the landscape, he said. "'Black Panther' made more than a billion dollars. It is already a great year for black cinema," said Jenkins, who is now adapting Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel, "The Underground Railway", about black slaves escaping the American South in the 19th century. Octavia Spencer of "Hidden Figures" and "The Shape of Water," Allison Janney of "West Wing" and "I, Tonya," and Sam Rockwell of "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" are teaming up for "The Heart," a comedic organ transplant race down USA's east coast. Octavia Spencer and Sam Rockwell are headlining indie comedy "The Heart" as a pair racing against time to deliver a human heart. They're supposed to shuttle it from New York to Florida as part of a shady and illegal deal but, upon discovering the details, they instead try to get the vital organ to whoever's top of an above-board donor list. That makes them the target of some less than scrupulous individuals, which is where Janney's character comes in as a drug dealer and Spencer's old boss. Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney were both part of the cast of "The Help," which saw the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress go to Spencer, while Janney was among those to receive the Screen Actors Guild's ensemble award. "The Heart" is a second project from co-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who made 2013's well-received comedy drama "The Way Way Back" together. Read also: Ryan Reynolds to star in, produce action comedy Shotgun Wedding Faxon is perhaps more widely known as the voice of Captain Underpants ("The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants") and Elfo (Matt Groening's "Disenchantment"). He and Rash not only wrote and directed "The Way Way Back," which had Sam Rockwell in a key role, but also wrote fellow comedy drama "The Descendants," which netted the pair 2012's Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Filming is scheduled to begin towards the end of 2019; the announcement comes as "The Heart" representatives prepare to present it at the European Film Market, which runs alongside the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival, February 7-17. Netflix is producing an action-oriented heist movie set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, courtesy of "300" and "Justice League" director Zack Snyder, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Zack Snyder is returning to familiar territory with "Army of the Dead," 15 years after debut feature film and classic horror remake "Dawn of the Dead." The story concerns a group of hired guns who venture into Las Vegas as a zombie outbreak rages. Their goal is to pull off an audacious heist, one which The Hollywood Reporter describes as "the greatest heist ever attempted." Read also: 'Hillary's America,' 'Batman v Superman' top Razzies Netflix acquired the project from Warner Bros -- "Army of the Dead" had been in incubation there for a decade -- and Snyder praised Netflix for applying "no handcuffs" to him and "let[ting him] completely loose." "I thought this was a good palate cleanser to really dig in with both hands and make something fun and epic and crazy and bonkers in the best possible way," he told THR. "Army of the Dead" will be Snyder's first movie made away from Warner Bros since his second feature, 2006's graphic novel adaptation "300." Netflix has earmarked a $90m USD budget for the film project, north of "300" and in the region of Snyder's previous "Sucker Punch" and "Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" though over half that of superhero movies "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman," and "Justice League." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 08:38 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b1027cb 1 Editorial #Editorial,2019-legislative-election,former-convicts,corruption-case,corrupt-lawmakers,#2019GeneralElections,graft-convict,Indonesian-politics,democracy Free Among the more than 9,000 candidates running for seats in the national and local legislatures in the April elections, 49 are former graft convicts, according to the General Elections Commission (KPU). The KPU disclosed their names on Wednesday as part of its responsibility to inform citizens as much as possible about the track records of those seeking public office. The 49 names are from 13 of the 17 political parties competing in the elections. They are able to run thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last year that favored former graft convicts aspiring for legislative seats despite public outrage. Former graft convicts are only required to publicly announce their criminal records. The parties with no former graft convicts running as regional legislative councillors, House of Representatives lawmakers or Regional Representatives Council members are the National Awakening Party, the National Democrat Party, the United Development Party and the new Indonesian Solidarity Party. The KPUs move to make public the names of legislative candidates with a record of corruption is perhaps a small step toward strict enforcement of the 2017 Elections Law, but a big leap for Indonesian democracy. Rather than public shaming, the announcement is part of much-needed political education a responsibility that political parties have unfortunately failed to fulfil. Article 240 of the Elections Law requires legislative candidates who have been convicted of graft to confess their checkered past to the public. The law encourages voters to exercise common sense in choosing the best men and women to represent them in the legislative councils. Voting for legislative candidates because of sectarian reasons like religion and ethnicity is outdated. Track records, including conviction in graft cases, should be voters primary consideration when they are about to punch the ballot papers . Such a public announcement of a criminal record played a part in the defeat of a candidate in the election for the Semarang mayoral post in 2015. At the time, many voters might have believed the candidate had repented, but the majority refused to risk giving their mandate to a person who had served a jail sentence for defrauding taxpayers of their money for personal or other peoples gain. Corruption remains a major war the country has not won yet. Despite many in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of power who have been brought to justice for graft, Indonesia is still perceived as one of the most corrupt nations. The country scored 38 of a possible 100 in the latest Corruption Perception Index released by the credible Berlin-based Transparency International. Indonesia can prove the negative perceptions wrong if the nation gives its vote of no confidence to not only former graft convicts, but also other candidates who have been named corruption suspects or are under investigation for graft in the election. April 17 could serve as a test for whether the nation still tolerates, or at least remains silent about, acts of corruption. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 1, 2019 An avid social media user, President Joko Jokowi Widodo recently shared with his 15 million Instagram followers that, after a delay of several years, Indonesia and Switzerland will soon ratify a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement. This is a positive development. As the President explained to his Instagram followers, the MLA will enable Indonesian and Swiss financial institutions to trace illegal financial activities committed in both countries. The recovery of stolen assets has become a top priority in Indonesias anticorruption agenda. Last year, Jokowi issued Presidential Decree No. 54/2018, which details a national strategy to prevent corruption, and Government Regulation No. 43/2018, which encourages citizens to serve as anticorruption whistleblowers. These legal frameworks represent a significant step forw to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our content on web and app No advertising, no interruption A bonus subscription to share Bookmark and night mode functions on app Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login 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 Maya Wang (The Jakarta Post) China Fri, February 1, 2019 16:15 871 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b122ab2 3 Opinion Xinjiang,Muslim,Uighur,discrimination,China,Indonesia,human-rights,human-rights-abuse Free The Chinese government has been on the offensive in recent weeks, dismissing claims of one million unlawful detentions and other human rights abuses against Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in northwest China. In December, Beijing invited diplomats and journalists from mostly non-Western countries on a guided tour of Xinjiang, including visits to selected political education camps. Chinese state media portrayed the visit as a success, saying that the diplomats including from Indonesia had been impressed by these facilities. But does that rhetoric accurately reflect Jakartas position? And is Indonesia going to defend persecuted Muslims in China as it did for those in Myanmar? Over the past two years, United Nations bodies and human rights groups have reported on Chinese government abuses in the name of fighting religious extremism and terrorism. Human Rights Watch has used witness accounts and Chinese government documents to detail arbitrary detention, political indoctrination, mass surveillance, and severe restrictions on religious practice and movement throughout the region. For example, we published an official list of 75 behavioral indicators of religious extremism, which reveals that the Chinese authorities consider suspect people who store large amounts of food in their homes and who smoke and drink but quit doing so suddenly. Agence France-Presse also examined over 1,000 procurement documents issued by Xinjiangs political education camp authorities and found that they were purchasing cattle prods, stun guns, and spiked clubs. These findings stand in stark contrast to the Chinese governments claims that people held in these camps are trainees who had volunteered their time to learn a trade. So far, the Indonesian governments public response to this human rights crisis has been lackluster. Facing pressure from several Muslim groups to speak up about Xinjiang, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry summoned Chinas ambassador to Indonesia, relaying its concerns and asking the ambassador to communicate directly with Indonesian Muslim groups. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government maintains its official line on Xinjiang: that Jakarta would not interfere in Chinas domestic affairs. Chinas Xinjiang crisis is symptomatic of the deepening repression across China under President Xi Jinping, who assumed power in 2013. In March 2018, Xi scrapped term limits for the presidency and restructured the central government bureaucracy to give the Chinese Communist Partyand himselfgreater power. As Indonesia engages with the Chinese governments ambitious One Belt, One Road infrastructure plan, it should be wary of this powerful neighbor whose policy toward minorities displays a disturbing mix of racism, Islamophobia, and broad-based repression both within and beyond its borders. Indonesian government officials should speak up for Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, both publicly and privately with senior Chinese government officials, not only because the violations are egregious, but also because Indonesias advocacy can be particularly effective coming from a multicultural Asian country. Indonesia can also be a champion among other Muslim-majority countries at the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and puncture the Chinese governments claim that criticisms about Xinjiang is a Western conspiracy. The Indonesian government should join other governments at the upcoming March session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to press for independent access to Xinjiang. Although the OIC announced on Twitter on Jan. 20 that it will visit Xinjiang, it has provided few details. The Indonesian government should take all necessary steps to ensure that the visit will be truly independent. Together with other concerned governments, Indonesia should establish an international coalition to maintain pressure on Beijing over Xinjiang. Even a quiet diplomacy focus should at least include a push for the release of wrongfully detained Muslim scholars and intellectuals. A less robust approach risks creating the perception that Indonesia can be pushed to abandon its principles when defending them is difficult. *** Maya Wang is senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. ROXANA Nazarene Community Theatre will host a Southern Gospel Concert featuring the Anticipation Quartet from Manito, Illinois. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at the Nazarene Community Theatre, located at 400 N. Central Ave., (Highway 111), in Roxana. Come early for good seating. A love offering will be taken; please give generously. Future concerts include: From Branson, Missouri, Faiths Journey on May 18 at 7 p.m. plus from Arnold, Missouri, The Redemptions. From Trenton, Tennessee, Endless Highway on July 20 at 7 pm. Plus from East Alton, Wanda Mountain Boys. For more information, please call (618) 254-4026 or Sheron Cadle at (618) 616-2815. Cadle and her husband have put on these concerts at the Bethalto Church of God between 2003 and 2018. EDWARDSVILLE To best discuss, learn and understand American history, the antiquity of African Americans is an undeniably vital and interwoven piece of the multi-fabric of this country, according to Timothy E. Lewis, PhD, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville assistant professor in the Department of Political Science. As Black History Month begins in America, SIUE celebrates its annual Black Heritage Month with an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4 in the Morris University Centers Goshen Lounge. SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook will offer remarks, and the featured speaker will be Eugene B. Redmond, PhD, SIUE emeritus professor of English and East St. Louis Poet Laureate. Carter G. Woodson first began the national campaign in 1912 to recognize the achievements, history and traditions of African Americans, said Lewis. Woodson was one of the first black men to acquire a PhD from Harvard. In 1926, his campaign developed into Negro History Week, which aimed at teaching all children and adults about the history of black persons and their contributions to a global society. Woodsons dream was to evolve his campaign into the creation of a national K-12 Black History curriculum that would be taught within mainstream social studies, according to Lewis. By the early 1970s, more than 80 percent of schools were celebrating Negro History Week, and in 1978 President Richard Nixon expanded and renamed it Black History Month, noted Lewis. Today, there is still no national mandate for a K-12 African American history curriculum. However, 13 states have embraced the vision of Woodson and have required that African American history be taught in K-12 classes. Yet nationwide, only 8-9 percent of total class time is devoted to black history, according to the report, Research into the State of African American History and Culture in K-12 Public Schools, conducted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), cited Lewis. As a result, most Americans are ignorant of simple facts about black achievements and history. So today, there is still a great need to learn about African American history. Throughout SIUEs Black Heritage Month, some of the committee members have provided the following information regarding black history as it relates to SIUE: The History of Black History Month, by Timothy E. Lewis, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science Katherine Dunham, renowned dancer, anthropologist, and social activist who founded the Performing Arts Training Center (PATC) at the SIUE East St. Louis Center, by Terra Cole Brown, graduate program advisor, McNair, HBCU and MSI pathway recruitment coordinator in the Office of Graduate and International Admissions Emmanuel Eneyo, PhD, SIUEs first black full professor, by Patricia Merritt, media relations specialist in University Marketing and Communications Johnetta Haley, SIUE emeritus professor and former administrator, by J.T. Snipes, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Elijah P. Lovejoy, abolitionist from St. Louis for whom SIUEs library is named, by Rasheda King, SIUE Human Resource officer Thelma Mothershed, an SIUE alumna who was also a member of the Little Rock Nine, by Daniel Shields, counselor in the Office of Admissions Eugene B. Redmond, SIUE emeritus professor of English and East St. Louis Poet Laureate, by Kelly Jo Karnes, director of the Morris University Center EDWARDSVILLE Each year, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recognizes one faculty member who demonstrates the humanitarian qualities and philosophy of nonviolent social change such as those enunciated and demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In honor of his scholarship and servitude, Myron W. Jones, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Chemistry, received the Faculty Humanitarian Award at SIUEs annual Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 23 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. A champion for minorities pursuing an education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields, Jones serves others by helping them achieve their goals and supporting diversity. Dr. King worked tirelessly for the freedom and rights for all people, Jones said. His life was a model for those who value the virtues of equity, empathy, compassion, humility and justice. Making opportunities available for all makes us all stronger and helps our communities better resemble and emulate the world envisioned by Dr. King, Jones said. I hope my small part helps. Jones serves as project director for the SIUE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. A National Science Foundation-funded activity through Chicago State University, this program provides tutoring support and research stipends to minority students in STEM research. Jones also uses the funds to support student travel to the annual LSAMP Symposium in the Chicago area, as well as other conferences, enabling up to 15 student presentations annually by minority students that are actively involved in STEM fields at SIUE. Jones has worked alongside Eric Voss, PhD, distinguished research professor of chemistry, on science teacher professional development projects funded by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The colleagues developed a network of more than 200 area teachers and engage them in learning higher-level skills in chemistry, physics and biology. These teachers return to their classrooms, armed with materials funded by the project. Its always a pleasure to work alongside Myron, Voss said. I have seen his influence on teachers who serve school districts throughout Southwestern Illinois, Voss said. His efforts have improved the qualities of teachers in high-need districts, and as a result, thousands of middle and high school students have benefited. In their award nomination letters, Jones colleagues commended him for extending his service far beyond the service load of an assistant professor. He has played a key role in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) as a member of several committees, including the Black Studies Advisory Committee, the Honors Director Search Committee, and on the Ad Hoc CAS Budget Committee. In addition, Jones frequently attends extracurriculars that positively impact SIUE, CAS, and the community, including Meridian Scholars Day, Preview SIUE, the regional Science and Engineering Research Challenge (as a judge), and the annual Boy Scouts Chemistry Merit Badge Day. He has served for several years as the Chemistry Club advisor, a service assignment known for its expansive time commitment. For those outside of chemistry, being this club advisor might be considered light duty, said Michael Shaw, PhD, distinguished research professor of chemistry. However, it means near-daily interaction with students for events at close intervals throughout the year. Under Dr. Jones guidance, the club garnered two commendable awards from the national level of the American Chemical Society (ACS), with awards given in a public ceremony each spring at the National ACS meeting. Jones also lives SIUEs teacher-scholar model by involving undergraduate students in his research. Thirteen of those students have been involved in the Universitys unique Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program. Six students in the research group have been African Americans involved in LSAMP and have gone on to present at the regional meeting in Chicago. In addition to his professional duties, scholarship and servitude, Jones still finds time to work on his own academic research. He has developed a research lab geared toward the study of iron dinitrosyl complexes. EDWARDSVILLE Its been nearly two years since Proposition E, a tax rate increase to the District 7 Education Fund, passed. During the Prop E campaign, the district vowed to use the additional tax revenues to stabilize the districts finances, update curriculum and re-establish a curriculum development cycle as well as update school security and technology. In a series of articles, we look at where District 7 is on its promises and what is left to achieve in the remaining two years of its four-year post-Prop E plan. This article takes a look at the districts finances with David Courtney, Edwardsville District 7 assistant superintendent of business operations. The primary financial Prop E promises the district made to taxpayers were the achievement of a balanced budget by June 30, 2019, as required by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and elimination of the districts accumulating Education Fund debt. Since 2009, District 7 experienced a rapidly declining revenue. Yet despite reducing staff and other operational expenditures in an effort to balance the budget, the Education Fund has run operating deficits ranging from $1.5 to 4.7 million annually. The districts financial struggles resulted in it being placed on the states financial watch list where it has remained since 2009. While voters passed Prop E, a 55-cent tax increase, in April of 2017, due to the countys property tax cycle, the district didnt begin receiving the additional tax revenue until this current 2018-19 school year. In looking back on the districts finances, Courtney highlighted the financial difficulties during the past year as the district waited for the Prop E tax receipts to begin coming to the school. Last year the districts overall expenditures exceeded revenues by approximately $1 million. So in June of 2018, the board made a permanent transfer of $654,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Education Fund which once again depleted the year-end working cash fund balance while still leaving a negative balance in the Education Fund of over $5.3 million, he explained. For the third consecutive year, District 7 ended the fiscal year with a negative fund balance in the general fund while depleting all of its working cash reserves. In addition, the district had to issue $1 million in tax anticipation warrants, essentially borrowing against future tax receipts, to provide cash flow in the Transportation Fund to finish the last school year. The tax anticipation warrants were paid back, but the Transportation Fund will remain problematic for the district as long as state reimbursement payments continue to lag behind. When the 2018-19 school year began last fall, the district anxiously awaited Prop E funding to begin, and it immediately put the funding into action. For the first time in 11 years, the district has a balanced budget and is on track to begin reducing the Education Fund debt during the current 2018-19 school year. We started the year with $5.3 million in debt, he noted. Were hoping to end the year around $2 million, essentially paying off $3 to 3.3 million. Our goal is to try to get above zero next year, Courtney said. Looking at where were at now and projecting where we should be, if we stay the course with what we have today, we should be able to pay off the Education Fund debt by the end of next year, 2020, as promised. While paying off the debt is a big step forward, it wont be enough to remove the district from the states early warning or watch list. Even though were in this process, we really wont get off the list until we get to a 10 percent reserve which for us right now is about $8.5 million, Courtney said. Paying off the Education Fund debt at the end of 2020 then allows the district to focus on building its cash reserves. Assuming financial conditions and state funding remain on track and expenditure increases are controlled, Courtney projected that the district could reach $8 to 9 million in reserves and be removed from the states watch list by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Meanwhile as the state continues to keep a watchful eye on the district, it will be important for the district to remain diligent on watching its expenditures and new budget increases. We have to be careful about what we are restoring or what we add back as we go through this process because even at the end of this year well have a negative Education Fund balance, Courtney stressed. Part of the Prop E promises included restoring the curriculum development cycle as well as keeping technology and security systems updated on a regular cycle. In order to keep that Prop E promise, approximately $1.5 million of the total annual budget is required. The board of education will be discussing, later this spring, setting aside a restricted fund balance of approximately $1.5 million annually within the Education Fund for strictly curriculum, security and technology upgrades. While the districts finances appear to be stabilizing, one area, transportation funding from the state, continues to create budgeting hurdles. The district is receiving transportation payments from the state, but they continue to be received months late and ultimately causing cash flow issues. As of last week, the district had not received any transportation funding from the state for the current school year, and it owed the district in total almost $1.8 million $1.3 million in transportation alone. This is the most behind theyve been, even compared to five, six years ago at its worst, Courtney noted. Its rare that we would be almost at the end of January and not yet having received a payment. Since transportation was one of the budget items that the state intentionally omitted from its new evidence-based funding model, transportation remains a funding area that is fluid. Having cash reserves is critically important regarding transportation because this would allow the district the ability to transfer money from its reserve to transportation temporarily until state payments can be received. Having cash reserves also allows the district to avoid borrowing in this fund. Overall, the district is making strides on its Prop E promises and has plans in place to continue fulfilling them over the remaining two years. We are on track, Courtney added. We just have to stay the course. Newell Elementary School students were able to paint on canvas and enjoy cookies at an event Thursday night. Approximately 45 students attended the event, Cookies and Canvas, where they were able to work on a Valentines Day themed painting project. The event was sponsored by the Newell PTA. PTA President Jenny Scott said being a first-year president, she wanted to spruce some things up with the schools activities and events to make them more family-oriented. She added Cookies and Canvas was a way to accomplish this. Our mission, and the heart of what we are as a PTA, is to help the parents encourage the kids because that is what makes them successful in education is just being involved, Scott said. At Cookies and Canvas, students began by squirting some paint onto a paper plate. They then covered their canvas with the various-colored paint before using a hair dryer to dry the paint. From there, students traced around a heart-shaped pattern with a pen and filled the outline in with paint. Third-grader Kasen Kennedy painted his canvas blue before placing the hearts on it. He said the project is a Valentines Day present and that he painted his canvas blue because it is a happy color. She keeps readers guessing, Modlin said. She uses advertising slogans to break your heart. A seemingly humorous poem about the gym morphs into a serious reflection on race in America. Sealey, a visiting professor at Boston University and visiting poet at The City College of New York, serves as executive director of the Cave Canem Foundation, a national association of African-American poets, and was recently named a 2019-20 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Africana studies from the University of South Florida and Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from New York University. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and other publications, and her honors include the Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize from The American Poetry Review, Daniel Varoujan Award and Poetry International Prize. UNKs Reynolds chair professorship and Visiting Writers Series are supported by an endowment from Paul and Clarice Reynolds. This weekend at the Grand ... The Mule is showing this weekend at the Grand Theatre, 316 W. Third St. Showtimes are 7:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. By The Local , Jan . 29, 2019 A policeman in Geneva has lost his appeal against a 600-franc (528) fine he picked up for speeding while chasing suspected criminals. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland upheld the fine given to the officer for driving 92 kilometres an hour in a 50 km/h zone during a high-speed pursuit of suspects alleged to have robbed an automatic teller machine. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Its difficult to decide which is the more remarkable aspect about the Wilton Candlelight Concerts the length of the series, which is celebrating its 71st season this year, or the remarkable talent it has been able to bring to the stage year after year. Les Delices is one of those talents, and this Sunday the critically acclaimed early music ensemble performs at 4 p.m. at the Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Road (Route 33). Les Delices, pronounced lay day-lease and meaning The Delights in French, was founded by Baroque oboist Debra Nagy and is structured around a collective of musicians. Les Delices began as a forum for delving deep into music from the French Baroque, said Nagy, who also serves as artistic director. While names like Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi are well-known to classical music audiences, works by composers like Couperin, Rameau, Rebel, and others are no less complex, expressive, or tantalizing. But French Baroque repertoire requires performers to speak a different language. Even for specialists, this music is too-rarely performed and little-explored. So Les Delices set out with the goal of bringing masterpieces and little-known works of French Baroque chamber music to wider audiences through concert performances and recordings. Since 2008, weve produced four CDs and performed almost 40 modern or regional premieres. Les Delices is based in Cleveland and often performs there, although it tours nationally and has performed for the Wilton Candlelight Concerts before, in April 2016. Sundays program is titled Mozart in Paris and will feature music by Mozart and his contemporaries performed on period instruments along with readings from Mozarts letters. The instrumentalists will feature Debra Nagy on oboe and a string quartet consisting of Julie Andrijeski and Tekla Cunningham on violins, Cynthia Black on viola, and Elinor Frey on cello. As artistic director for Les Delices, I draw from a small roster of frequent collaborators depending on the program were presenting, said Nagy. Since our programming has expanded well beyond the French Baroque to include forays into Classical era and also late Medieval music, which is a second specialty of mine, it only makes sense to work with artists who have specialized skills and passion for those particular programs. We produce something like seven or eight programs per year, and were working with approximately 15 different artists. Period instruments also play a major part in the repertoire. For the Mozart in Paris program were presenting in Connecticut, were using a classical oboe, circa 1770 French, gut-strung string instruments and early-Classical bows. The program itself explores a tumultuous period in the composers career. Mozart was just 23 when he traveled to Paris with his mother in the spring of 1778. He was hoping to secure employment and gain a following for his music among the Pariss elite concert-going public. However, not only did the young Mozart struggle to ingratiate himself with colleagues and patrons, he also refused to do much of the necessary networking to get ahead. He had a few musical successes but would not adapt to local taste. His mother also became very ill and passed away during their Parisian sojourn. The program includes Mozarts Quartet for Oboe and Strings (K.370), along with works by composers whose music was popular at the time: Quintets by Luigi Boccherini and Christoph Willibald Gluck, a string quartet by Giuseppe Cambini, and a solo by the celebrated French cellist Jean-Louis Duport. Nagy, who studied oboe and historical performances at the Oberlin Conservatory, Case Western Reserve University, and Conservatory of Amsterdam, and is also principal oboist for Bostons Handel & Haydn Society, wants Les Delices to continue exploring conceptual programs with cross-disciplinary collaborators, she explained. For instance, were planning a program exploring 17th and 18th century settings of French fairytales next spring that will include visual display and puppetry. For information, visit: www.wiltoncandlelightconcerts.org Mike Horyczuns Sound Surfing column appears every Saturday in The Hour. Mike can be reached at: news2mh@gmail.com NORWALK The facade of the small building at 19 Day St., shrouded by the shadow of the new apartment building next door, was partially blocked on Wednesday afternoon. A construction vehicle sat idle near the entrance to what is now SoNo 1420, a reminder of the nearly two-year process of renovating and rebuilding the former LL Evergreen site to create the worlds first hemp-infused whiskey and gin distillery, which is now nearly complete. Now the fruits of our labor are coming to bear, said Ami-Lynn Bakshi, a partner in the new distillery, standing among the reclaimed wood bar top and tables inside its almost-complete tasting room. Bakshi, a former executive at Diageo, joined the project two years ago after meeting with Ted Dumbauld, a for former naval officer and businessman who hatched the idea of SoNo 1420 after investing in a friends medicinal cannabis business. The business was struggling, and Dumbauld was asked by his friend to explore hemp, around the same time that the government passed the 2014 Farm Bill that legalized the plant a relative of marijuana with trace amounts of the psychoactive chemical THC for certain uses. Theres nothing psychotropic or illegal in our products, it just provides a very nice flavor profile, Bakshi explained. Its very nutty, very spicy, very different. And we think consumers are always looking for new and different things. Dumbauld took a fateful trip to a conference on hemp in Kentucky, where it had gained support among former coal miners and tobacco farmers. What do you in Kentucky? You drink bourbon at night. One night, maybe after too many bourbons, a light-bulb went on, Dumbauld said. In the Navy I was a nuclear submarine officer. Theres a lot of distillation going on in a nuclear submarine, so this wasnt too far afield from my prior experience. He began touring distilleries around the country, ultimately meeting a distiller at Eight Oaks Craft Distillers, in Pennsylvania, where Dumbauld interned and learned the intricacies of the distillation process. Both whiskey and gin begin with a similar mash bill the mix of grains used to make the alcohol but their paths diverge from there. Whiskeys are typically distilled, left to ferment for several days, distilled once more, and then placed in a barrel to age for several years, Dumbauld said. In a back room of the South Norwalk facility, more than 60 oak barrels some as large as 53 gallons and others as small as 20 liters lay aging. Gin, on the other hand, is run through a still a distillation apparatus seven or eight times to eliminate all flavor associated with the mash bill. On its last run through, a variety of botanicals, called terpenes, are placed in the gin basket in the neck of the still. As the ethanol from the alcohol boils, the vapor becomes infused with the terpenes. In another room near the back of the distillery, visible through two large paned windows, large glass jars of botanicals juniper berry, bay leaves, all spice, coriander, to name a few sit on metal shelves. Bakshi and Dumbauld have come up with a line of three gins and two whiskeys. The gins are branded Sindica, a hybrid of indica and sativa, two of the more common strains of cannabis plant, and come in three varieties. Bangtail, the old Prohibition term for a racehorse, is a 114 proof Navy-strength gin made with energizing terpenes. The Skysail London Dry gin has flavors of citrus, pine and spice and the Midnight New American gin is a more mellow, lower alcohol option with terpenes that are meant to be relaxing. Beginning this month, the completed tasting room will be open for tours and samples of the gins and whiskeys. On Sunday, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the states historic vote to strike down Prohibition the tally, from which the distillery borrows its name, was 14 in favor to 20 opposed to the liquor-banning law SoNo 1420 will host a open house, with complimentary tours of the facilities and tastings. Bakshi said they plan to start slow to gauge traffic, but hope to expand to a Thursday through Sunday tasting room schedule. Theres no other distillery doing this. We love being able to offer something really unique and different. And that was one of the big things coming from a big company, Bakshi said. Ted said, Can we be successful? And I said, We can be successful if we do something different. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 NORWALK The artistic partnership of Katie Romano and Laszlo Balazs began at recess. The pair, both 11 now, eschewed more conventional free-time activities and, as Columbus Magnet School third-graders, hatched a plan to write the music, lyrics and book to an original fantasy play. I guess I was looking for something to do with my spare time, said Romano, who now attends Nathan Hal Middle School. I had done a lot of plays at Crystal Theatre and it was really fun. And I really liked writing. I had entered a writing competition and gotten second place, so I said, Hey, maybe I could be kind of good at this. Romano came to Balazs, now at Roton Middle School, whom she had known since kindergarten, with some themes for a play, at first asking Balazs, who started playing piano when she was 4, for help on the productions music and if he would act in the play. But Balazs role grew, and he and Romano were soon splitting leadership roles. Ive always just really loved music and musical theater, Balazs said. And the other thing that got me into this, is the idea of composing music and being like a mini Stephen Schwartz or a mini Lin-Manuel Miranda. Three years, and many rewrites later, the result is Growth Spurt, a fantasy play about multiple worlds, an evil wizard and a quartet of pre-teens attempting to save the world as they navigate middle school. I had read fantasy books, and I also had been in plays that are kind of fantastical. I could really envision something on stage that couldnt exactly happen in real life. Something that people would come to see because its original and not like something anywhere else, Romano said. The Saturday at 4 p.m., the play will be performed at Crystal Theatre, a one-time, sold-out event directed by the theaters Artistic Director Cheryl Kemeny, who was instrumental in shaping the piece that Romano and Balazs wrote. Kemeny hears from many children at the Crystal Theatre who express interest in putting on their own show. But few actually pull it off, especially at such a young age. I dont do it often, Kemeny said. I said, You just cant come to me with an idea, you have to have it written. Then well go through it and teach them how to format, how to write plays and how to write music. What impresses me is doers, people accomplishing something, Kemeny continued. They came to me with a completed work, with songs, so there was something to work on. Romano and Balazs benefited not only from the tutelage of Kemeny, but from the support of adults at their school. In fourth grade, thanks to the encouragement of Columbus music and gym teachers Lisa Murray and Smith Mowry, and the approval of Columbus Principal Medard Thomas, the pair held recess auditions and ultimately staged a version of the play for their classmates. We would come to school with a mini mp3 player and an agenda for what we would accomplish in the 20 minutes of recess, most of which we wouldnt get done, Balazs said. We were two third-graders trying to direct and instruct 30 third-graders. Somehow, they prevailed, and successfully put on a show with several of the scenes they had written to that point. Building on that momentum, the pair began communicating more regularly with Kemeny. By last summer, Kemeny, Romano and Balazs were working obsessively to tighten up the script. Balazs, who had at first just recorded the songs that were in his head, learned how to notate sheet music. Were all about developing creativity in the students, Kemeny said. For Romano and Balazs, having their show performed at the Crystal Theatre is a surreal experience. Its been really shocking, I cant even really process it to be honest. Cant even believe its happening, Romano said. If you think about it, Im only 11, this has been a quarter of my life that Ive been working on this play. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-824-2586 NEW HAVEN The Board of Education approved a $150,000 settlement in a sexual harassment case filed against a former principal of Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in 2017. The settlement agreement, obtained by the New Haven Register through a public records request, was signed on Jan. 14 following a brief executive session after a school board meeting. I am never comfortable when the Board of Education has to pay money from kids education to pay for lawsuits as a result of wrongdoing by employees or others of the New Haven Public Schools, Board of Education President Darnell Goldson said. Chanel Renee Rice, a former lead school counselor at Co-op, alleged in a federal lawsuit that her principal, Frank Costanzo, engaged in a pervasive campaign of sexual harassment against her and that Val-Jean Belton, now the schools principal but then was its Title IX coordinator, did not report her concerns. Further, Rice alleged the school board did not investigate or properly respond and that both Belton, after being promoted to principal, and the school board retaliated against her by transferring her to another school, denying her a raise and demoting her from the position of lead counselor. One of the terms of the agreement reveals that the school board presented copies of photos from Rices past modeling career in the litigation; under the agreement, the school board must remove any mentions of her past modeling career and the photos from her personnel file. Other non-monetary terms of the agreement include that Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks must meet with Rice; that Rice not be placed in a school where Belton is an administrator; that Rice not have her career advancement hindered by the district; and that the school board hire an outside law firm to provide sexual harassment training and update the districts policies regarding reporting on sexual harassment. Costanzo now is employed as chief of school operations in Norwalk Public Schools. In the Norwalk Hours reporting on Rices lawsuit, Costanzos attorney said he was prepared to see the lawsuit go to trial. More News News Norwalk school official accused of sexual harassment The lawsuit alleges Costanzo made sexual advances toward Rice in emails, phone calls and text messages for a period of 10 months, and at one point draped himself across Rices lap at a Christmas party. Rice said she reported the behavior to then-Vice Principal Belton, who she alleged did not do her duties in reporting the incident. Rice also alleged there was no investigation when the central office learned of the allegations. Rice alleged in her lawsuit that when Rice told Belton, as principal, that she would be consulting an attorney, Belton threatened her and became hostile, giving her poor evaluations. According to the settlement, the $150,000 payment is inclusive of more than $50,000 in attorney fees, with a check for $95,342.38 paid to Rice. Rice also would have five sick days restored that she alleged were used as a result of her claims. It was not immediately clear from the settlement whether Rices settlement represented any sort of compensation for lost wages following her demotion. All parties are subject to a non-disparagement clause. The agreement indicates that some of the matters within the lawsuit are disputed, but Rice is required under the agreement to release the defendants from any future action related to any past or present claims and grievances. Rices attorney, Emily Gianquinto, and the school boards attorney, W. Martyn Philpot, did not return requests for comment Wednesday or Thursday. Birks and Belton also did not return requests seeking comment. Rice declined to comment. At the same school board meeting where the settlement was approved, the board approved Rices transfer from Hill Regional Career High School to James Hillhouse High School as a counselor, where she has been working since Oct. 1, 2018. Although school counselors were among two groups of educators predominantly affected by layoffs this summer, Rices name was never presented to the school board as a candidate for being laid off, according to district personnel reports. The agreement is the second six-figure settlement approved by the school board following an executive session in the last three months, after former Chief Operating Officer Will Clark left the district for a similar job in Waterbury Public Schools with a payout of more than $100,000. Neither Clark nor members of the school board have commented on why Clark was paid, as he was leaving the district for another job. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify that the alleged harrassment took place in 2014 and the case was filed in 2017. Let's not overstate it. Iowa's agricultural heartland is still largely Trump country. But there are signs, nascent and just starting to bubble, that support is being tested. That was the message at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona this week. The state is the largest U.S. producer of corn-based ethanol. Donald Trump has time and again pledged to back the biofuel industry, even promising a plan that would mean higher sales this summer. But his trade war with China has meant American producers face tariffs, while ripples from the record-long government shutdown threaten to delay the policy change that could lift demand. "Farmers are optimistic," and feel good that Trump will follow through on his biofuel assurances, Jeff Altena, a farmer and a director of operations at Siouxland Energy Cooperative in Sioux Center, Iowa, said in an interview Tuesday at the summit. Still, the agriculture community has given the president "a long rope," but "there's a lot of folks" starting to get antsy for more progress, he said. America's farmers - part of the base that helped drive Trump's election victory -- have been the unintended victims of many of the administration's policies. The trade war sparked declines for crop prices as China snubbed American supplies. The president rolled out aid payments to help soften that blow. But then, the shutdown prevented some growers from filing paperwork for those payments. It also meant delays for some farm loans. Ethanol could end up being the ultimate test of patience. In 2018, Trump said he'd change policy to allow for summertime sales of gasoline blended with as much as 15 percent ethanol, something the industry for years had asked for in order to boost demand. The Environmental Protection Agency originally planned to issue a proposal on the rule in February in order to get it finalized before fueling restrictions kick in on June 1. EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said this month the shutdown could mean delays to the process, while saying he still expected the rule change in time for the summer driving season. At this week's summit, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association put up a poster-sized letter to Wheeler from the group, asking him to "take immediate action" to make sure the rule change is in place by June 1 to allow for the sales of higher ethanol blends, known as E15. Trump spoke at the annual biofuel conference back in 2016, when he said that he was with the industry "100 percent." Farmer Altena said he was there to watch then-candidate Trump lay out his promises, and that so far, "by golly, he's backing it up." Still, if some of the industry's concerns, including the trade war and E15 sales, aren't sorted out this year, then "Trump will find a very different reaction here" than he's been used to, said Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. "I don't think anybody in the White House should look at Iowa and say, 'Hey, that's automatically going to be renewable-fuels-for-Trump country." ' While overall school funding is based on complex formulas and factors, state lawmakers are debating whether and how to increase instructional funding for school divisions with a high percentage of students in the free-lunch program. Called the At-Risk Add-On Program, this funding was first approved in 1993 after the Governors Commission on Educational Opportunities for all Virginians found the cost of educating at-risk students exceeded funding. The commission also pointed out that student poverty correlates with educational risk. Free-lunch percentage was marked as an indicator for targeting schools with high poverty levels. In 2018, a family of four making at or below $32,630 130 percent of the federal poverty level of $25,100 would be eligible for free lunch. Franklin County school officials estimate that approximately 50 percent of the countys student population is eligible for the free-lunch program. Currently, the county receives $685,478 through At-Risk Add-On. Increasing the cap would bring the division an estimated $242,333 in state funding. At-Risk Add-On funds are distributed as a percentage added on to each school divisions basic per-pupil amount from the state. Therefore, school divisions with a higher percentage of students receiving free lunch receive more At-Risk Add-On funding. By Sara A. Carter , Jan . 31, 2019 The Pentagon is preparing to send several thousand more troops to the Southern border to alleviate Border Patrol agents on the front line, as three more migrant caravans head to the United States, according to Acting Defense Secretary Paul Shanahan. President Trump first sent national guardsmen to secure the border in October 2018. However, the deployments will mainly provide Customs and Border Protection agents with administrative, logistical, and operational support, according to the Department of Defense, Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Sheron Lawin (L), a member of the Board of Prison Terms commissioners, listens to Leslie Van Houten (R), after her parole was denied 28 June 2002 at the California Institution for Women in Corona, California. Van Houten, 53, has served over 30 years in prison for her involvement in the Tate-LaBianca killings. Van Houten's attorney Christie Webb is at center. (Damian Dovarganes/AFP/Getty Images) Youngest Member of Murderous Manson Family Again Recommended for Parole LOS ANGELESThe California parole board recommended on Jan. 30 that Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of Charles Mansons murderous family of followers, be released early from the life prison term she is serving for her role in the cults 1969 killing spree. The ultimate decision on whether to grant parole to Van Houten, who was 19 at the time of the slayings and is now 69, rests with California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose predecessor, fellow Democrat Jerry Brown, twice denied the boards recommendation that she be set free. Manson, who died in prison in 2017 at age 83, directed his mostly young and female devotees to murder seven people, including actress Sharon Tate, in August 1969 in what prosecutors said was part of a plan to incite a race war. Although Manson, one of the 20th centurys most notorious criminals, did not personally kill any of the seven victims, he was found guilty of ordering their murders. He was also convicted later of ordering the killings of two others during that summer music teacher Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald Shorty Shea. The Jan. 30 decision by the parole board capped the latest of 22 attempts by Van Houten to persuade the panel that she be deemed suitable for release. She is currently being held at the California Institute for Women in Corona. Healter Skelter In a statement, the parole board said its latest ruling begins an evaluation process of up to 150 days during which the agencys staff will review all the facts and matters of law related to the decision. If the grant withstands scrutiny, it will then be sent to the governors desk, the board said. The governor can uphold, reverse or modify the recommendation, or send it back to the board for further review. He may also opt to take no action, in which case the grant moves forward. Van Houten was convicted of fatally stabbing grocery owner Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in their Los Angeles home on Aug. 10, 1969. The words Death to Pigs, and Healter Skeltera misspelled reference to a Beatles songwere found scrawled in the victims blood on the walls and refrigerator. The previous night, members of Mansons cult broke into the rented Los Angeles hillside home Tate shared with her husband, filmmaker Roman Polanski. Polanski was away in Europe at the time. But Tate, who was 26 and eight months pregnant, was slain along with four friends of the celebrity couple, including coffee heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring. Van Houtens 1971 conviction and death sentence were initially overturned on appeal, but she was retried, convicted, and sentenced to prison in 1978. Earlier this month, local media reported that the board had recommended for parole another Manson followerRobert Beausoleil, 71, who has served nearly half a century for the Hinman killing. Newsom has not revealed his decision in that case. By Steve Gorman Virginia Police Detain Naked Suspect, Charge Him Over Biting Dog Police have charged a man for biting his dog, after tussling with him in the middle of a street in Virginia where they found him wandering around intoxicated and naked. Cory Michael Phillips, 31, also bit an off-duty FBI officer who had stepped in as a Prince William County officer struggled to bring him under control. According to a police report of the Jan. 29 incident, Phillips had at some point picked up his dog and bitten it on the ears and chest. A police officer had found Phillips wandering naked on his own street in Manassas, after calls to 911. The officer determined the accused was under the influence of an unknown substance and attempted to detain him, said the report. When the accused ignored the officers commands, the officer deployed pepper spray. Phillips then moved toward an off-duty FBI agent who had stopped to assist the officer, sparking a struggle among the three. During the struggle, the accused bit the FBI agent, identified as a 51-year-old male, on the neck causing a minor injury, the report stated. After Phillips was finally detained, he was taken to a local hospital as a precaution and then released to the Adult Detention Center, where was held without bond. Smoking Marijuana He has been charged with malicious wounding, animal cruelty, possession of marijuana, assault and battery, obstruction of justice, and intoxicated in public. According to the report, officers determined that the accused had been smoking marijuana earlier that morning inside his residence. At some point, the accused picked up his 5-year-old Labrador-boxer mix dog and began to squeeze it before biting the dog on the ears and chest causing minor injuries, said the report. Phillips went outside onto the streetswhere the temperature was around freezingwhere at one point he pushed a 60-year-old neighbor to the ground who had attempted to intervene. The neighbor was not injured, said the police report. Commenting on the Facebook page of the local newspaper Prince William Times, one person wrote, Holy snaps it was so cold that morning, oh my goodness. Another wrote, Yall commenting on this post when you dont know if he has any mental health issues if it was a bad drug interaction, anything! You dont know anything about this man. Have a little decency for once in your life. Getting to grips with a naked suspect is a challenge for police forces, and is no joking matter. Every Year or Two, an Officer is Killed by a Naked Person Dr. Bill Lewinski of the Force Science Research Center at Minnesota State University-Mankato, studied encounters between officers and naked suspects for more than 20 years. Every year or two, an officer is killed by a naked person, he told Police One. If someone is naked in public and is not drunk, not making a radical political or social protest, or not a paid professional like a stripper, the chances are overwhelming that theyre in the midst of a full-blown psychotic episode. In the vernacular, theyre really, really crazy and potentially very dangerous he said. The vast majority of police contacts with mentally ill subjects, of course, are nonviolent. But naked people are among those categories that are particularly difficult. Theyre usually beyond your ability to influence verbally. They have a heightened capacity to resist OC, impact weapons, even a Taser, he continued. Last year a New Hampshire man was charged with interference with a police dog after he put a K9 into a chokehold and sank his teeth into her head. Troopers investigating a shooting incident on Jan. 21, 2018, were trying to secure the scene when they found someone holed up in a trailer in the back of the property. The police broke a window, gained entry and deployed K9 Veda into the trailer, who quickly found the suspected under a pile of clothes. |The male began kicking and punching K9 Veda and on-scene troopers, said the report. At one point during the struggle, the male put K9 Veda in a chokehold and bit her in the head. After a significant struggle, troopers were able to place the male into custody. The incident caused a stir locally on social media. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a news briefing at the State Department in Washington on Feb. 1, 2019. (Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images) US Will Suspend Obligations Under Nuclear Treaty With Russia on Feb. 2 The United States will suspend its obligations under a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia starting on Feb. 2, according to simultaneous statements issued by the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. For years, Washington has accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The pact prohibits both nations from possessing short- and mid-range ground-launched missiles. The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions, President Donald Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. Both Trump and Pompeo said the U.S. withdrawal is backed by NATO allies, who joined Washington in December to declare Moscow in material breach of the treaty. NATO issued a statement on Feb. 1 backing the withdrawal decision by the United States. Unless Russia honors its INF Treaty obligations through the verifiable destruction of all of its 9M729 systems, thereby returning to full and verifiable compliance before the U.S. withdrawal takes effect in six months, Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the Treaty, the NATO declaration states. The withdrawal will be complete six months after the official notice is served on Feb. 2. During that time, Russia will have another opportunity to return to compliance by destroying the missiles which are allegedly in violation. American officials made more than 30 attempts over the past six years to bring Russia to compliance. Pompeo said on Feb. 1 that Moscow has refused to take any steps to comply with the requests. In December, Pompeo gave Russia 60 days to return to compliance with the treaty. He noted at the time that European allies have lobbied for the additional time in order to mount a diplomatic campaign to return Russia to compliance. Russias violation puts millions of Europeans and Americans at greater risk, Pompeo said on Feb. 1. It aims to put the United States at a military disadvantage and it undercuts the chances of moving our bilateral relationship in a better direction. Its our duty to respond appropriately, he added. When an agreement is so brazenly disregarded and our security is so openly threatened, we must respond. The United States alleges that Russias 9M729 missile is in violation of the INF treaty because it operates in a prohibited range. The treaty prohibits Russia and the United States from deploying ground-launched missiles with ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles. Russia denies the allegation, saying that the missiles range is a few miles short of 300 miles. Washington asked to test the missiles range, but Moscow refused and offered a testing scenario U.S. officials found unacceptable. Trump said that the United States will now move forward to respond to Russias deployments. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct, Trump said. Russia made a last-ditch attempt to preserve the treaty and displayed the disputed missile on Jan. 23 as proof, which American officials rejected. Trump noted that the United States stands ready to engage with Russia on arms control negotiations. The president also suggested that a positive resolution of arms control issues would pave the way to an outstanding relationship on economic, trade, political, and military levels. This would be a fantastic thing for Russia and the United States, and would also be great for the world, Trump said. A senior Trump administration official told reporters on Feb. 1 that the exit from the treaty has nothing to do with China, which has deployed more than 1,000 missiles neither Washington nor Moscow could deploy under the INF. The threat from China is a much bigger problem for Russia than it is for the United States, the official said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced concern about other nations fielding INF-prohibited missiles as early as 2007, noting that South Korea, North Korea, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Israel have those weapons. A natural gas flare on an oil well pad burns as the sun sets outside Watford City, N.D., on Jan. 21, 2016. (REUTERS/Andrew Cullen) US Nat Gas Use Hits Record During Freeze; Utilities Urge Conservation Several utility companies urged customers to cut back on power and gas use on Jan. 31 during the brutal freeze blanketing the eastern half of the country after U.S. homes and businesses used record amounts of natural gas for heating on Jan.30. Harsh winds brought record-low temperatures across much of the Midwest, causing at least a dozen deaths and forcing residents who pride themselves on their winter hardiness to huddle indoors. As consumers cranked up heaters to escape the bitter cold, gas demand in the lower 48 U.S. states jumped to a preliminary record high of 145.1 billion cubic feet per day on Jan. 30, according to financial data provider Refinitiv. That topped the current all-time high of 144.6 bcfd set on Jan. 1, 2018. One billion cubic feet is enough gas to supply about five million U.S. homes for a day. In Michigan, automakers agreed to interrupt production schedules through Friday after local utility Consumers Energy made an emergency appeal to curtail gas use so it could manage supplies following a fire at a gas compressor station on Wednesday. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Thursday it had canceled two additional shifts at its Warren Truck and Sterling Heights Assembly plants and General Motors Co. said it had suspended operations at a total of 13 Michigan plants and its Warren Tech Center. Ford Motor Co. said it had also taken steps to reduce energy use at its four Michigan plants supplied by CMS. Consumers, a unit of Michigan energy company CMS Energy Corp., said the Ray compressor station in Macomb County was partially back in service but urged all of its 1.8 million Michigan customers to continue their conservation efforts through Friday. Elsewhere in Michigan, DTE Energy Inc. asked its 2.2 million power customers to reduce electric use voluntarily to help safeguard the reliability of the regional grid. PJM, the electric grid operator for all or parts of 13 states from New Jersey to Illinois, said there were no reliability issues and noted that power demand had already peaked on Thursday below 140,000 megawatts. Reporting by Scott DiSavino Trump to Say When, Where Hell Hold Second North Korean Summit WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on Jan. 31 he will likely announce the site and date of a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the State of the Union address on Feb. 5. They very much want the meeting, Trump told reporters, saying his administration has made tremendous progress toward reining in the Norths nuclear ambitions. The summit is expected to take place around the end of February. The president said that before he took office in January 2017, it looked like we were going to war with North Korea. Now, theres no missile testing. Theres no rocket testing, theres no nuclear testing. We got back our prisoners, our hostages. Were getting back our remains. Trump has long contended that his outreach to Kim and their initial summit in June in Singapore have put the United States and North Korea on the path to peace. But his list of concrete achievements has not grown in the months since that meeting, and his own intelligence chiefs believe there is little likelihood Kim will voluntarily give up his nuclear weapons or the missiles capable of carrying them. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress on Jan. 29 that the governments intelligence assessment does not support the idea that Kim will eliminate his nuclear weapons or the capacity for building more. A skeptical Trump sent a tweet in response, Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school! .a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019 Private analysts, in several reports in the past four months, have drawn on commercial satellite imagery to determine that the North is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile technology despite the test suspension. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has led the diplomatic effort with North Korea, is sending a team to Asia to make preparations for the second Trump-Kim summit. He has not identified a venue for the meeting. Vietnam has been considered, along with Thailand, Hawaii, and Singapore. Pompeos point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, planned to travel to South Korea this weekend. He also was expected to see North Korean officials to discuss next steps to advance our objective of the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, according to the State Department. In a speech on Jan. 31 at Stanford University, Biegun said the administration was ready to move simultaneously and in parallel with the North in reaching the goal. Biegun also credited the North Korean leader with agreeing to dismantle two military installations and open them to outside inspections. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will travel to Seoul February 3 for a meeting with #ROK Special Representative Lee Do-hoon. pic.twitter.com/tHCTeUkgpw US Asia Pacific Media Hub (@eAsiaMediaHub) February 1, 2019 While these sites are not critical parts of current North Korean missile or nuclear programs, after an interlude of 10 years in which no international inspections of any kind have occurred, they represent a step in the right direction for our two countries to renew cooperation on the steps necessary to give confidence to the process of denuclearization, he said. Still, Biegun said there must be a dismantlement and destruction of North Koreas plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities. Biegun stressed that denuclearization could not happen without the North first presenting a detailed accounting of its nuclear and missile facilities so that dismantling them under an eventual deal can be verified. North Korea also must agree to have disarmament experts inspect its facilities to confirm they are no longer usable, he said. Such a declaration and access for inspectors has been a sticking point in the past. The North has balked at submitting an accounting of its sites and demanded that the United States ease sanctions before it makes any concessions. The United States has said repeatedly that sanctions will stay in place until denuclearization is complete, although it has held open the option of taking other confidence-building measures, including potential security guarantees. By Matthew Lee and Paul Elias President Donald Trump (L) with heads of intelligence agencies, including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats (R) and CIA Director Gina Haspel (3rd L) in the Oval Office in the White House on Jan. 31, 2019. (White House photo) Trump Says Intel Chiefs Agree With Him on Security Threats, Claims Media Distorted Testimony President Donald Trump said on Jan. 31 that he and the leaders of American intelligence agencies agree on their assessment of certain major threats to the country. Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc. Their testimony was distorted [by] press, Trump said in a Jan. 31 tweet. I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page! he added in a subsequent tweet. The heads of major intelligence agencies testified about global national-security threats before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Jan. 29. Some media focused on several points where the leaders appeared to diverge from Trumps positions. Still, the complete written statement by Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats largely aligns with Trumps statement (pdf). Coats stated that ISIS still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria but acknowledged the terrorist group probably realizes that controlling new territory is not sustainable in the near term after its positions were decimated in Iraq and Syria by the United States, its allies, and other powers in the region. On North Korea, the intelligence community continues to assess that it is unlikely to give up all of its WMD [weapons of mass destruction] stockpiles, delivery systems, and production capabilities, Coats stated, but also acknowledged that Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear-capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, has declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and has reversibly dismantled portions of its WMD infrastructure. Trump has said the denuclearization talks are progressing and expressed optimism that the goal can eventually be achieved. Coats also stated that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device. CIA Director Gina Haspel testified that Iran is still technically in compliance with the nuclear dealthe Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)that Trump withdrew from in May. Yet Coats also acknowledged that the JCPOA has merely extended the amount of time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon from a few months to about one year. Coats also raised alarm about other activities of Iran, such as its ballistic missile program, support for terrorists and various militias, and its cyber capabilities. Watch Next: The FEDIt Causes Crises it Claims to Fix Centralized banks were supposed to end the financial cycles of boom and bust, but instead amplified it. We explore the FederalReserve, state banks, the abandonment of the gold standard, and the financial cycles of debt and irresponsible lending. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Trump spoke during an event discussing the fight against human trafficking on the southern border of the United States and renewed his call for funding for the construction of a wall. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Trump Says Good Chance Hell Have to Declare National Emergency to Fund Border Wall President Donald Trump on Feb. 1 said there is a good chance that he will have to declare a national emergency to secure funds for a border wall. Asked if he will definitely declare a national emergency, the president said, I think theres a good chance well have to do that. I dont want to say, he added. Youll hear the State of the Union and lets see what happens. Trump reached a deal with Democrats on Jan. 25 to reopen the government for three weeks so that lawmakers can negotiate a deal that includes funds for a border wallthe presidents landmark campaign promise. On Jan. 31, Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats will not include any money for a border wall in their proposed legislation. Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Feb. 1 that the federal government is already building the wall. We havent declared the national emergency yet, but were building the wall, the president said. The chant should be now, Finish the wall. The president and Democrats are at an impasse over Trumps request for $5.7 billion in funds for border wall construction. The wall is part of a larger border security package requested by experts at the Department of Homeland Security. Trump told Congressional leaders that he wont sign a spending bill which does not include funds for a border wall. Republicans in the Senate need at least seven Democrat votes to sign a spending measure. The last time the Senate voted on a proposal which included funds for a wall, only one Democrat voted in favor of the legislation. We will be looking at a national emergency because I dont think anythings going to happen, Trump said. I dont think Democrats want border security. And when I hear them talk about the fact that walls are immoral and walls dont workthey know they work. Trump can declare an emergency and use funds drawn from other causes to fund wall construction. Asked if he expects the move to be challenged in courts, he said well, we have very strong legal standing. When they go to the ninth circuit, things happen, the president said, referring to the liberal Ninth Circuit appellate court which has often obstructed the administrations agenda. Its a shame, what they do. The president has repeatedly pointed to a crisis on the southwest border, where lethal drugs, criminal gangs, illegal aliens, and human traffickers pour into the United States unimpeded. A former Department of Homeland Security official wrote in an editorial on Jan. 30 that 10,000 children are trafficked across the border annually. Roughly 10,000 children are being smuggled into the U.S. every year to be sold as sex slaves, DHS Special Agent Timothy Ballard wrote. We owe it to them to finish this wall and protect them from the monsters within. On Jan. 31, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced their biggest fentanyl bust ever, saying they captured nearly 254 pounds of the deadly synthetic opioid from a secret compartment inside a load of Mexican produce heading into Arizona. Enough drugs were contained in the shipment to kill millions of people. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials have said that while 85 percent of the illicit fentanyl entering the United States from Mexico is seized at San Diego-area border crossings, an increasing amount is being detected on the border with Arizona, a state where the Sinaloa cartel controls the drug trade and fatal fentanyl overdoses are rising. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Theres a Better Way to Go Green, Georgetown Commentary As a fitting postscript to our four-part series about the challenges and limitations of utility-scale renewable energy, it appears that the wheels are coming off in Georgetown, Texas, the dream home of U.S. environmentalists. I have previously questioned Georgetowns spurious claims to be 100 percent powered by renewable energy, and recent events appear to justify my skepticism. Sorry, Al. At best, Georgetown has been purchasing a lot of renewable generation capacity, not actual electrons generated by windmills and solar panels. However, at least according to an op-ed penned by Texas Public Policy Foundation Vice President Chuck DeVore, they havent been able to do that consistently either. DeVore quotes University of Houston energy expert Charles McConnell responding to Georgetowns claims: Its not kind of misleading. Its very misleading and it is for political gain. Even with generous Production Tax Credits, wind, and especially solar, struggle to compete in free energy markets. Many states game the system through Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that have a percentage generation requirement. Californias RPS, for example, requires utilities to generate 33 percent of the power sold in the state using renewable assets by 2020, 40 percent by 2024, 45 percent by 2027, and 50 percent by 2030. Other states have similar programs, although Californias goals are far more aggressive than most. This type of program forces consumers to pay for renewable power, whether they want it or not, because the state mandate effectively creates a captive market. The Texas RPS is a bit different. Texas utilities were required to have 5,880 megawatts (MW) of renewable generation capacity in place by 2015, a requirement that was fulfilled. Texas also has a goal, not an absolute requirement, of having 10,000 MW of renewable generation capacity in place by 2020. That goal has already been reached, but note that were talking about capacity, not actual generation. In Texas, windmills compete with conventional sources of power in a free (relatively speaking) market. Despite much-vaunted increases in wind turbine and solar farm efficiencies, both are still inherently more expensive forms of generation than traditional sources of power like fossil fuel-fired plants and nuclear power stations. That was bad news for Georgetown and its renewable energy champion, Mayor Dale Ross. Georgetowns electric costs have reportedly risen alarmingly over the past four years as Ross struggled to make his green dreams come true. The town was $3.5 million over their projected electricity budget in 2015, $6.3 million over in 2016, $9.5 million over in 2017, and $10.5 million over last year, according to the Williamson County Sun. Reducing Greenhouse Gases Its difficult to believe that someone on the staff of the city of Georgetown didnt advise Ross that he was playing a dangerous game by committing his town to pay for all that renewable capacity and to claimas the town so proudly proclaimedthat it was cheaper to do so. Ultimately, it doesnt matter whether Ross was foolish or duplicitous, but one strongly suspects one term or the other applies. But that is a common problem among renewable energy champions. If one were legitimately interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global basis, there are ways to do it that are both affordable and achievable. If one were truly so frightened by global warming that one believes the planet is doomed (perhaps in 12 years?) then there are things we could do in the United States that would reduce our carbon footprint even more than we so drastically have over the last decade. There are two readily available, safe, proven technologies that could be employed to make massive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at relatively reasonable costs, at least assuming we can operate in a reasonable regulatory atmosphere that isnt chock-full of litigious public interest groups willing to abuse the judicial process to block every new project that offends their delicate sensibilities. The first is a no-brainer: combined-cycle power plants. Two processes are commonly used to turn the energy stored in combustible material such as fossil fuel or biomass into power. Both are familiar. One involves transferring the heat generated to a fluid, most often water, which then vaporizes into steam, which, if confined in a suitably strong system, will generate pressure that can be used to generate useful work, like spinning a turbine connected to an electric generator, for example. This is how a boiler works, a process known to engineers as the Rankine cycle. The other familiar way to convert fuel to work is to take advantage of the gas expansion that occurs when liquid fuel combusts. This gas expansion can be used to push a piston in an internal combustion engine, or to spin a turbine in a jet engine or combustion turbine. This process is called the Brayton cycle. Both the Rankine and Brayton cycles are limited in efficiency. The most you can expect to get out of either is about 35 percent efficiency. That is, for every unit of potential energy you put into a system, you can only expect to get around a third back in useful work. There are many ways that energy is lost, but both cycles have one major deficiency. The Rankine cycle doesnt take advantage of the gas expansion that occurs when a liquid or solid fuel is combusted, and the Brayton cycle doesnt take advantage of the heat generated in the process. So, what if we use both? Improved Efficiency The combination is called combined-cycle and it is the most efficient way to burn fossil fuel by far. A combined-cycle plant uses fuel expansion to spin a combustion turbine (Brayton cycle), and takes the heat of combustion and uses it to raise steam that can spin a steam turbine (Rankine cycle). The efficiency of a combined-cycle power plant is almost double that of conventional utility boilers or simple-cycle (Brayton only) combustion turbines. Increased efficiency equates to greatly decreased fuel use, which means, in turn, dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions per MW of power generated. With natural gas as plentiful and cheap as it is, one cannot help but wonder why environmentalists dont press industry and policy-makers to adopt strategies that have a chance of further reducing greenhouse gas emissions, like pushing for more combined-cycle power. That is, in fact, one of the things that the Sierra Club used to advocate circa the late 1990s, when the Sierra Club still maintained a veneer of reasonableness. As I have said before, Im not particularly worried about climate change and I believe that both the rate of change and mankinds contribution to it are too often grossly overinflated. But, I have been rumored to have been wrong before. So if those who are so certain that doom awaits unless we drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions ASAP really want to make a difference, why studiously avoid one of the two affordable, proven ways to do so: combined-cycle power? And the other? Well, thats obvious, isnt it? Its the best way mankind has discovered to generate cheap, reliable power and spread wealth to the poorest among us, and its the most maligned and misunderstood. Nuclear power could make all the difference, as we will discuss next time. Richard J. Trzupek is a chemist and environmental consultant as well as an analyst at the Heartland Institute. He is also the author of Regulators Gone Wild: How the EPA Is Ruining American Industry. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Tarrant County medical examiner found that Elizabeth Arellano's death was caused by "drowning with weight tied around neck." (GoFundMe) Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Wife by Throwing Her Off Bridge Tied to Concrete Block A Texas man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping his estranged wife, weighing her down with a 119-pound block of concrete, and shoving her off a bridge into a lake to her death. Rodolfo Rudy Arellano, 36, pleaded guilty to capital murder on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at a brief court hearing before State District Judge Robb Catalano in a Ft. Worth courtroom, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Prosecutors seeking the death penalty had initially been preparing to go to trial in the spring, but defense attorneys announced their client was willing to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison without the chance of parole. Prosecutor Allenna Bangs told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that family members of the slain Elizabeth Arellano were comforted by the guilty plea. The idea that he is going to admit it and he is going to say that it is him and that he is guilty brought them such a level of peace, Bangs said to the newspaper. Some of the family members are expected to provide statements in court next week, testifying about the impact of the kidnapping and murder of Elizabeth Arellano, with whom the defendant had four children. Richard Henderson, Arellanos defense attorney, called the plea deal a correct resolution to the case, according to the Star-Telegram. It was just a difficult case, Henderson said. A mother has been lost and a father has been lost to the children. Elizabeth Arellano was a mom and a daughter and a sister and friend and the people who love her know that they cant have her back, Bangs said, according to the Star-Telegram. So knowing that he is in prison for the remainder of his natural life and that is not going to change and knowing the comfort that brought them is what puts us where we are today. Suicide-Turned-Murder Investigation Officials initially thought 28-year-old Elizabeth Arellanos death may have been a suicide. A rope had been tied around her neck, attached at the other end to a heavy chunk of concrete. Swift-water rescuers who pulled the medical assistants body from Lake Worth on the morning of April 16, 2016, noted that she was still wearing her maroon-colored medical scrubs. She vanished the night before after going out with work colleagues. The last person to hear from Elizabeth Arellano was a co-worker, whom she called to say shed made it safely to her parents home in north Fort Worth after a late night out. Her mother called the police on the following the day after finding her daughters car abandoned nearby with the keys still in the ignition and her purse and cellphone inside. Detectives later said they believed Rodolfo Arellano had lain in wait outside her parents home and kidnapped her. Witnesses told police they had seen someone fall off the Interstate 820 bridge. One witness described hearing what sounded like screams on the way down, Fort Worth homicide Detective J. Cedillo wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit, according to the Star-Telegram. Investigators believe Elizabeth Arellano was still alive when she hit the water. Tarrant County medical officers ruled her death a homicide by drowning. Diana Ramos, a neighbor, told CBS 11 at the time of her death: How can somebody do something like that? I dont understand how people can be so evil and so mean, to another human being. Rodolfo Arellano Arrested Police took the victims estranged husband into custody ten days after her body was found. Investigators found remnants from the concrete block inside his vehicle and his yard, Newsweek reported. There was a piece of a wooden fence encased in the concrete block found attached to her neck and detectives reported discovering that Arellano had some time ago torn down a fence that had wood posts anchored in concrete. Cellphone records and surveillance footage also showed the estranged husband was in the vicinity of his wifes parents home during the time of the suspected abduction. Relatives cited by the Dallas Morning News said the couple had been together 13 years but that Elizabeth Arellano planned to divorce her husband. This illustration picture taken on April 20, 2018 in Paris shows apps for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple (GAFA) and the reflexion of a binary code displayed on a tablet screen. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images) Telecom and Tech Giant Conflict of Interest and Competition Violations: Part 2 Commentary In part 1 of this article, I discussed a conflict of interest between data-driven technology providers such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft, and telecom providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. The conflict of interest centers on the fact that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), state attorneys general, lawmakers, and telecom providers are enabling data-driven technology providers to monitor, track, and data-mine U.S. telecom subscribers by way of the subscribers smartphone or tablet PC. This is tantamount to AT&T enabling numerous companies to surveil and data-mine (including content) home and office phones and PCs for financial gain. A smartphone is an integrated cellular phone and PC. This means that a smartphone is no less significant than a home and office phone or a PC. No individual, business professional, or government official would willingly enable multiple companies from around the world, including China, to surveil and data-mine their home and office phone or PC for financial gain. Yet this is whats happening when it comes to the use of smartphones, tablet PCs, voice-automated products, connected products, and PCs that are supported by the Android operating system (OS), Apple iOS, and Microsoft Windows OS. Its clear that any company that can surveil and data-mine a telecom subscribers personal and professional telecom-related activities will have a huge advantage over its business competition. Companies such as Alphabet Inc. (Google) compete in many industries worldwide, yet are enabled to surveil and data-mine telecom subscribers, via smartphones that are supported by protected telecom infrastructure thats governed by the FCC. Consider this: If Google was a state actor, it would need a warrant from a domestic judge or the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC or also known as FISA) in order to lawfully surveil and data-mine a U.S. telecom-product user. State actors such as the Chinese company Baidu are enabled, through partnerships with companies such as Google, to surveil and data-mine U.S. telecom subscribers by way of intrusive pre-installed content such as web browsers, apps, and widgets, plus other intrusive and leaky content. The public and lawmakers need to understand that intrusive content, such as apps developed by Google, Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon, Facebook, and Baidu, are nothing more than a legal form of malware programmed to enable the app developer with the ability to surveil and data-mine the app user for financial gain. Privacy and Cyber Security Risks Defense contractors, business professionals, government employees, lawmakers, members of the military and law enforcement, first responders, utility workers, legal professionals, and doctors all work within a confidential and protected environment. This means that confidential and protected telecommunications, information, and data are governed by confidentiality agreements, nondisclosure agreements, industry and federal cyber security standards, federal information-processing standards, and confidentiality laws that govern classified information, medical information, and client-attorney privilege. Enabling companies such a Google or Baidu to indiscriminately surveil and data-mine U.S. telecommunications subscribers means that such companies can harvest confidential and protected data, which is illegal, as well as unethical, on numerous levels since Google and Baidu compete in numerous industries worldwide. Obviously, companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Baidu, and other tech giants have a huge competitive advantage over their existing and future competitors, stifling competition and innovation, while killing privacy and cyber security in the process. Business professionals who work for companies that compete against the tech giants are using leaky telecommunication products that expose their confidential and protected corporate information to existing and future business competitors. These business professionals might as well be enabling the tech giants to surveil and data-mine their home and office phones and PCs for financial gain and competitive advantage. Business professionals, for the most part, only have two choices when it comes to smartphones: Apple iPhones or products supported by the Android OS. Because of deals between Apple and Google, business professionals who work for companies that are in competition with Google have virtually no choice but to use telecom products that leak confidential and protected telecommunications and data to Google. Many Apple users are unaware of deals between OS developers such as Apple and Google that enable companies such as Google to surveil and data-mine Apple product users. This means that even though Apple views Google as a competitor, Apple still values Google as a customer, which reportedly pays Apple upwards of $9 billion to $12 billion a year to gain access to Apple product users. Google and Microsoft, in turn, auction off their OS product users to the highest bidders, such as Baidu, which is a state-owned Chinese company and a Google content developer. These types of exclusive deals between OS developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are clear examples of violations of antitrust and unfair business competition, which the FTC and state attorneys general are refusing to enforce. Additionally, BlackBerry and flip phone OEMs have adopted the Android OS, so there is virtually no option in the marketplace for a person to buy a telecom product that doesnt leak confidential and protected telecommunications and data to Google. In March of 2018, I tried to purchase a private, secure, and safe smartphone, tablet PC, or even a flip phone from Verizon. Initially, Verizon said that they could sell me such a product, but after three months of vetting their so-called private, secure, and safe solutions, I proved to Verizon that all suggested solutions were not private, secure, or safe. In July 2018, Verizon agreed with my analysis of their solutions. To my astonishment, Verizon admitted that they could not sell me a private, secure, or safe telecom product due to uncontrollable pre-installed surveillance and data-mining technology (apps, widgets, etc.) developed by Google, Apple, and Microsoft plus their affiliates such as Amazon, Facebook, and Baidu. We have reviewed your request at the highest levels of our organization and have confirmed that the only solutions to make a phone private and secure are available through third parties, not directly from Verizon. Additionally, Verizon is not equipped to address pre-installed solutions or applications on any device, Verizon told me on July 2, 2018. Not only are business professionals leaking confidential and protected information to their existing or future business competitors, but they are also leaking information to nation-state companies from China, such as Baidu. The GoogleBaidu relationship should be one of the biggest news stories in tech and telecom, yet major media outlets such as 60 Minutes, CBS News, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times dont report on the GoogleBaidu relationship. However, all major media outlets have no problem reporting on intrusive telecom-related surveillance and data-mining technology developed by ZTE and Huawei. Why are the FTC, FCC, and lawmakers enabling Google to distribute telecom-related surveillance and data-mining technology developed by a nation-state company from China? How did we get here? Nonenforcement of Existing Laws Lobbyists for tech giants have paved the way for companies such as Alphabet Inc. to surveil and data-mine U.S. telecommunication subscribers (individuals and businesses) and authorized device users, which include adults and children. The former chairman of Alphabet Inc., Eric Schmidt, explained in an interview with The Atlantic in 2010 how tech giants can lawfully buy off lawmakers in Washington: The average American doesnt realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists to protect incumbent interests, Schmidt told Atlantic editor James Bennet at the Washington Ideas Forum. Its shocking how the system actually works. Washington is an incumbent protection machine.' Later in the interview, Schmidt says, Google policy is to get right up to the creepy line and not cross it. Due to the predatory surveillance and data-mining business practices employed by Google, I believe Google crossed the creepy line in the 1990s, while the company today is forcing their way into all of our lives via smartphones, tablet PCs, voice-automated products, and other connected technology such as everyday electronics that are supported by the Android OS. These privacy and cyber security issues are not just limited to Google but are systemic to any smartphone, tablet PC, voice-automated product, connected product, and PC that is supported by the Apple iOS and Microsoft Windows OS. Frankly, Google, Apple, and Microsoft have killed privacy and cyber security for good, due to their predatory surveillance and data-mining business practices. Due to potential violations of existing consumer law coupled with civil liberty, privacy, cyber security, and safety threats associated with smartphones, PCs, and other connected technologies, its time for lawmakers to pass legislation that will protect technology product users from such companies discussed above. Its time for an Electronic Bill of Rights. In my next article, which will be the last in this series, Ill address the need for an Electronic Bill of Rights. Rex M. Lee is a privacy and data security consultant and Blackops Partners senior analyst and researcher. Visit him at MySmartPrivacy.com Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. By Reuters , Jan . 31, 2019 CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela will sell 15 tonnes of gold from central bank vaults to the United Arab Emirates in coming days in return for euros in cash, a senior official with knowledge of the plan said, as the crisis-stricken country seeks to stay solvent. The sale this year of gold reserves that back the bolivar currency began with a shipment on Jan. 26 of 3 tonnes, the official said, and follows the export last year of $900 million of mostly unrefined gold to Turkey. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Pigs are seen on the farm of pig farmer Han Yi at a village in Changtu County, Liaoning Province, China on Jan. 17, 2019. (Ryan Woo/Reuters) Swine Fever Outbreak May Bury Chinas Small Pig Farmers CHANGTU COUNTY, ChinaFor farmers Zhang Shiping and Bai Fuqin in northeast China, there is little to celebrate this Lunar New Year. Since African swine fever struck a farm in nearby Shenyang City last August, the couple has racked up about 300,000 yuan ($44,712.72) in debt, 10 times what they make in a good year raising pigs. The incurable disease has since traveled thousands of miles, striking mainly small farms in the worlds biggest pork-producing country and triggering unprecedented upheaval in Chinas $1 trillion hog sector. Though Zhangs farm was not infected, measures to halt its spread have effectively killed his familys livelihood. Beijing banned the transport of live pigs from infected provinces in September, part of its protracted war on a disease that typically takes years to eradicate. The restrictions crippled trade, particularly in northeast Liaoning Province, which produces about a third more pigs than it consumes and relies heavily on exporting. Prices in the province dropped below 4 yuan per kilogram this monththe lowest price in a decadejust weeks away from the Lunar New Year holiday, normally a time of peak pork demand. Zhang and Bai got rid of about 30 pigs this month, losing about 800 yuan on each, after feeding them months after they should have been slaughtered while waiting for prices to pick up. They still have almost 50 left, now so overweight and fatty that no processors want them. We can barely survive, Bai said during an interview at her modest farmhouse in Changtu County, a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning. Bai and three other farmers in Changtu said they would not continue raising pigs, even though they have few other options in the region, one of Chinas slowest growing. Tens of thousands like them are expected to abandon pig farming after months of weak prices and restrictions on moving pigs to market. That will reduce production in the country by one-fifth this year, according to some estimates, and boost prices and demand for cheaper imports. I have experienced all kinds of ups and downs in the pig industry. But nothing has been as hard and bitter as this year, said Sun Hongbo, another Changtu farmer. He will quit pig farming for good, he added, seeking manual work after the holiday. Graphic: No Support Small farmers producing fewer than 500 pigs for slaughter each year account for about 40 percent of Chinas output, or around 280 million pigs a year, according to 2016 figures from consultants at Rabobank. But the African swine fever epidemic looks set to accelerate change in an industry already shifting towards more industrialized farms, particularly in the north. Even if you want to raise pigs, the government wont give you loans because you lost money. Feed sellers wont lend you feed either. How can you raise pigs then? Sun said. Policy measures put in place to tackle African swine fever strongly favor larger farms considered better able to prevent the spread of disease with higher hygiene standards. A Dec. 27 government document that loosened the rules on transporting pigs out of infected counties only applied to incorporated farms. Another rule has outlawed the use of kitchen waste for pig feed, significantly boosting costs for many farmers who cant buy commercial feed at reasonable cost. The government wont encourage small farmers to raise pigs, thats the direction, said Wang Chuduan, professor at China Agriculture University. Its a sharp reversal from the years following the 2007 Blue Ear epidemic, which cut production by an estimated 10 percent. After that, Beijing gave generous subsidies to all farmers to replenish their herds, said Wang. Corporate farmers like Muyuan Foods Co. Ltd and Wens Foodstuff Group Co Ltd are suffering too, reporting a sharp plunge in profits last year. But with large, efficient farms and access to loans, they are able to ride out the tough times. Rural Burden Beijing has repeatedly called for the scaling up and industrialization of farming to raise efficiency and quality. For Chinas livestock industry, consolidating around more efficient producers is good, Wang said. For some regions, however, it could bring an additional burden, just as the countrys growth slows to its weakest pace in 28 years. Pig production in Chinas northeast has expanded rapidly in recent years as Beijing sought to move its livestock away from heavily populated regions and closer to grain production in the north, bringing a much-needed source of revenue to laggard local economies. Changtu, with about 1 million people, produced 1.6 million pigs in 2016 and nearly 3 million tons of corn, positioning it to benefit under that policy. But swine fever looks set to halt, or even reverse, the trend. Liaonings GDP grew 5.7 percent in 2018, well below its target that year. I think the expansion roadmap will be different in the next few years; therell be less investment in the northeast, said Pan Chenjun, senior analyst at Rabobank. Agriculture minister Han Changfu said this week the government would work to reduce the impact of the epidemic on other areas of the economy and society. Changtu farmers said they had seen no sign of government support. A county official said the local government had poured so much money and resources into preventing and controlling African swine fever that it risked bankrupting the county. He declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media. But he added that declining pig production in the county would hurt local revenue. The Changtu farmers have few options. Bai, who is illiterate, said after the holidaywhich welcomes the Year of the Pigshe would look for work washing dishes in the city. The pig cycle has never really brought me down, but then the policy did, said Zhang Haitao, another farmer struggling to get rid of his overweight pigs. By Hallie Gu & Ryan Woo Survey Shows Canadians Unsatisfied With Trudeaus Handling of China Tensions A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute reveals a majority of Canadians are not satisfied with how Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government has handled the deteriorating situation between Ottawa and Beijing. A majority of Canadians also feel that arresting Huawei CFO Meng Wangzhou was the right thing to do. Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018, at the request of the United States. Shes awaiting a hearing while out on bail to determine whether she should be extradited to the United States to face charges including violating international sanctions against Iran. Canada has always maintained that it will respect the rule of law and that Mengs arrest is not a political issue. China, however, has demanded her release, without taking into account the legal systems of Canada and the United States. China has threatened Canada with severe repercussions and has detained two Canadians in retaliation. A third has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling. The survey reported that 92 percent of Canadians feel the current situation between Canada and China is either quite serious or very serious. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of Canadians feel human rights and the rule of law should be more important for guiding Canada-China relations than business interests. And 44 percent of Canadians would like to see the Trudeau Liberal government take a tougher approach with China. Breaking this down further, the survey asked Canadians what kind of a job they thought the Trudeau government has done handling tensions with China. Fifty-two percent said either a poor or very poor job is being done and just 33 percent said the government is doing a very good or good job. Canadians have long felt China cannot be trusted when it comes to human rights. Canadian businesses have also warned the government of significant challenges in doing business in China. The Trudeau government got an earful from Canadians in public consultations back in late 2017. Further complicating matters, Canadas ambassador to China, John McCallum, was fired last week for very poorly chosen comments regarding Mengs arrest and extradition request from the United States. Angus Reid reported that Mengs arrest is capturing the attention of Canadians more than tensions with Saudi Arabia and the NAFTA trade negotiations. Global Affairs confirmed on Feb. 1 that Canadian consular officials in China visited with Michael Spavor, who has been detained since Dec. 10, 2018. Consular officials are also seeking further access to Michael Kovrig, who was also detained in China shortly after Meng was arrested. Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETBiz Shaping the Growth of New York City Fred Cerullo is a city planner excited about the future of New York NEW YORKNew York is the United States largest cityand one of the largest in the entire world. Home to some of the most iconic landmarks, its steeped in history, but is never standing still, constantly growing and evolving with the ever-changing population and technological advancements. Native New Yorker Fred Cerullo has seen a lot of change in the city during his lifetime, and for a large part of it, hes been at the forefront of that change. As president and CEO of the Grand Central Partnership, which manages one of the largest business improvement districts in the world, and a member of the New York City Planning Commission, Cerullo has helped shaped the way New Yorkers live, work, and play in the city that never sleeps. Its living, breathing work, Cerullo told The Epoch Times, describing how nothing is ever fixed when it comes to city planning. What seems like the right decision today will likely evolve with time and the changing needs of citizens. Growing Up Cerullo was born in Brooklyn, and moved to the more suburban borough of Staten Island when he was 2 years old. His family was one of the first to live in the Great Kills neighborhood of the borough, and he vividly remembers the dirt roads of the then-rural area. His parents loved Manhattan, and his family spent a lot of time shopping and going to the theater there. Growing up experiencing the different facets of the city, Cerullo grew to appreciate New Yorks diversity, and how the different neighborhoods fused together to create the city. Todays New York is even more diverse than the city of his childhood, Cerullo recallsin its people, facilities, and character. And its much safer. The city certainly was not as vibrant as it is today. I can think of streets being darker, he said. There were certainly areas as children we would not go. Now there are no bad neighborhoods in New York, Cerullo says, which is a great achievement. Crime was definitely, when I was a kid, a very different situation than it is today, where we are the safest largest city in America. We have a very different set of challenges in New York City [today]. Creating Change Its no surprise that Cerullo became involved in city government, considering his love for New York. In the 1980s, he began his career as young attorney for the minority leader of the city council, before becoming minority leader himself and serving on the Land Use Committee. I loved the fact that I was working within an institution that was representative of the whole city. That experience taught me so much about the neighborhoods of our city. And coming from a borough that tended to feel detached from the city, I learned where there were really common issues with neighborhoods that we would never had imagined that we could share, Cerullo said. As a result, Cerullo discovered he could easily link with council members and partner on bipartisan legislation. He got to know the people in his community, learned about their problems, and came up with creative solutions to solve them. At the same time, he dealt with city-wide issues such as the budget and the astronomical level of crime. Cerullo was on the council when it developed the Safe Streets, Safe City Program in 1991 to address the crime issue, particularly the high murder rate. This young kid from Staten Island, who was representing his community was also helping to debate and help craft solutions to save peoples lives across the city, he said, recalling with fondness the years he spent honing his skills and learning from colleagues. I always think back to my council days with a huge smile. Cerullo also served on the transitional teams for Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It was an exciting role, and ultimately helped shape the legacy of the respective mayors, bringing together people with a shared love for the city. Theres a real eye opening when you see the amazing talent that our city has, Cerullo said. To get to know those people and get to talk to them about the issues that they believe are important, there is really no greater experience. In 1999, Cerullo left the council to become the president and CEO of the Grand Central Partnership, taking on the stewardship of a 70-block area in Midtown Manhattan. One of the two biggest projects in the area is the development of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper on the corner of 42 St. and Vanderbilt Avenue, which is under construction. The second is JPMorgan Chases redevelopment of 270 Park Avenue. These two projects are helping to change the narrative about East Midtown in terms of looking toward the future, Cerullo explained. City Planning and Growth In 2004, Mayor Bloomberg called Cerullo and asked if he would be interested in becoming part of the City Planning Commission. He has served almost three terms as a commissioner and was reappointed in 2018. The City Planning Commission is the body that considers and approves or rejects applications for new developments, redevelopments, and changes in use, size, or character of neighborhoods, Cerullo explained. Its an entity that is intimately engaged in the character and the legacies of our communities. Areas that were previously used for manufacturing might be rezoned for residential use or vice versa. Changing character might involve allowing a high-rise building to be built in a low-rise area. The work of the commission provides for places for people to live, places for people to shop, places for people to work. It is the foundation upon which our cities are built, and that our communities can live, work, and play in, Cerullo explained. All of the decisions facilitate change. Its obviously always the intention that the change is positive or will facilitate positive change [in the future], he said. In some cases its about providing for growth and change, and in other cases the commissions work is, very importantly, about preservation and protection. Challenges and the Future As New York City ages, so does its infrastructurethe power network, water mains, technology, and transit systemall straining under the influx of new residents and the 65 million tourists New York attracts every year. As a city planner, Cerullo is concerned with meeting these demands, in areas of new development as well as old. The challenge is that it involves the work of many different agencies. Encouragingly, he says, the City Planning Commission has started working with the Office of Management and Budget to be involved in the budgeting process for the funds needed to address the citys infrastructure issues. The embrace of that responsibility will help guide the future better than it has been in the past, he said. Cerullo worked on the new Yankee Stadium and Hudson Yardsa large-scale re-development program on the West Side of Manhattanbut his most exciting project to date was involvement in the early phase of what became the rezoning of Greater East Midtown in the summer of 2017. His role with the Grand Central Partnership prevented him from participating at the commission level. The rezoning allows for the building of new state-of-the-art commercial buildings, such as One Vanderbilt, as well as reinvestment in existing buildings and infrastructure. The neighborhood has iconic landmarks and now will have just next door some classic iconic new development that will speak to the future, Cerullo said. Greater East Midtown has also always had a lack of open public spaces, and the city plans on creating three large plazas for residents and visitors to enjoy. People want to get out of their office go to the corner deli and get a salad or a soup and sit and enjoy being outside, Cerullo said, explaining that people expect much more from their work surroundings than they did 30 or 40 years ago. This piece of whats happening in the neighborhood, the development of new public space, is a critical component to people wanting to do business here. Cerullo will be celebrating his 20th anniversary at the Grand Central Partnership this month. I dont think Ive ever been bored one day in those 20 years and still enjoy this job the same way I did the first day I walked in the door, he said. The ability to work for amazing people who support what we do, and constantly want to come up with ways that bring the city forward and help keep the city vibrant and vital, really makes this an amazing job. I really have, if not the greatest job in the world, one of the greatest jobs in the world thats for sure. Search for Missing Alaska Plane Ends; Bodies Sought ANCHORAGE, AlaskaAn air ambulance with three people aboard that vanished in Alaska was presumed to have crashed and the owners said on Jan. 31 that they will look for the bodies of the crew. After an air and sea search of hundreds of square miles, the Coast Guard announced it was suspending the search for the twin-engine King Air 200, which went missing Tuesday while heading to the tiny community of Kake to pick up a patient. This was an extensive search effort in some very challenging conditions, said Coast Guard Capt. Stephen White in a statement. Suspending a search for any reason is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make. #UPDATE the #CoastGuard announces the suspension of the search for an overdue aircraft with 3 people aboard near Kake, AK. The search was suspended at 5:30pm Thursday. Multiple #USCG assets searched more than 63 hours. Read more: https://t.co/XdUthTARTN USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) February 1, 2019 A wing part and other aircraft debris were found near the planes last known position. Searchers could not immediately confirm the debris found is of the missing King Air 200 plane operated by operated by Guardian Flight, Chief Petty Officer Charly Hengen said. The debris was found in the water near the south tip of Admiralty Island about 22 miles west of the tiny southeast Alaska village of Kake. Guardian Flight, the medical flight company that owns the plane, announced late Thursday that it will try to recover the bodies of the missing: pilot Patrick Coyle, 63; flight nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and 43-year-old Margaret Langston, the flight paramedic. All were based in Juneau. Our hearts are heavy, and we respectfully offer our deepest thoughts and prayers to our lost employees and their families, Randy Lyman, a company vice president, said in a statement. The King Air 200 twin-engine plane took off from Anchorage on Tuesday and was expected to land in Kake at 6:19 p.m. to pick up a patient, but it never arrived, the Coast Guard said. Federal accident investigators on Wednesday were reviewing radar flight information received from the plane, but no clues to what happened to the plane were immediately found in the search of data showing the planes flight pattern, said Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board in Alaska. We dont even know for sure that we have an accident, he said. The Coast Guard said no electronic locating transmitter signal has been activated from the missing plane. When the plane failed to arrive in Kake, residents in a dozen boats went out Tuesday night to search, and some went back out Wednesday, City Administrator Rudy Bean said. Its just a sad situation, he said. The search by boats, ferries, and aircraft was focused on an area of sea about 20 miles west of Kake, Hengen said. #AirTindi #YellowKnife Canada Search and rescue teams have arrived at the wreckage of an Beech King Air 200 aircraft missing since Wednesday morning. Neither of the two pilots on board are believed to have survived, RCMP said. @AviationSafety https://t.co/CB8ukrhoqo PLANES OF LEGEND (@PlanesOfLegend) January 31, 2019 Guardian Flights other Alaska aircraft were grounded during the search, company spokesman Jim Gregory said. The Utah-based company initially grounded all of its 85 aircraft across the U.S. as a show of respect for the missing. It gradually re-started operations with aircraft based outside of Alaska. That really gave our employees time to reflect on whats happened to the missing crewmembers and to pray, Gregory said. Light rain, 7 mph winds and 10-mile visibility were reported in the area around the time the plane was due in Kake, Hengen said. The Kake clinic did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking information about the patient who was supposed to be picked up by the plane. By Rachel Doro Republicans Denounce VA Gov Abortion Comments as 11 Democrats Respond Differently Top Republicans denounced remarks made by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam that seemed to breach the border between abortion and infanticide as 11 Democrats claimed they hadnt heard about the remarks. Northam said during a Jan. 30 radio interview that in some cases, an infant would be delivered and kept comfortable while the mother and doctors decided whether the baby would be resuscitated. He was referring to a bill introduced by Virginia Democrats that would allow abortion up until birth if one physician signed off. Republicans denounced the remarks. This is morally repugnant, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement obtained by National Review. In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from safe, legal, and rare to keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide. I dont care what party youre fromif you cant say that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office. Heartbreaking: VA govs pro-abortion dogma is so extreme that he advocates taking the life of babies AFTER they are born. Watch the video. Every human life is preciousa gift from Godand the modern Democratic Partys embrace of late-term (or post-birth) abortion is truly tragic, added Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called Northams comments shocking. Heartbreaking: VA govs pro-abortion dogma is so extreme that he advocates taking the life of babies AFTER they are born. Watch the video. Every human life is preciousa gift from Godand the modern Democratic partys embrace of late-term (or post-birth) abortion is truly tragic. https://t.co/vQJABAu19e Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 31, 2019 If this isnt shocking in 21st century America, I dont know what is. This politician wants to allow infants to be killed once they have been born. In America. The Senate should vote to stop this today. Protect all unborn infants after 5 months https://t.co/CMNSkyMxnX Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 30, 2019 This politician wants to allow infants to be killed once they have been born. In America. The Senate should vote to stop this today. Protect all unborn infants after 5 months, he said on Twitter, adding that all Democratic presidential candidates should be asked immediately about their views on allowing abortions during birth. President Donald Trump also slammed the legislation the governor was referring to, telling the Daily Caller in an Oval Office interview, I thought it was terrible. Do you remember when I said Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? Thats what it is, thats what theyre doing, its terrible, he said. This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe its never been lifted up before, he added. He later took to Twitter to address the Democrats attempt to push late-term abortion in addition to more taxes, opposition to the southern border wall, and support for sanctuary states and cities. Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019 Democrats are becoming the Party of late-term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime! he said. Three in four Americans said that abortion should be limited to the first three months of pregnancy, if allowed at all, with some supporting exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, according to a Marist Poll (pdf) released on Jan. 15. Seventy-two percent of respondents told Gallup in a 2018 poll that abortions should be illegal in the second trimester while 87 percent said abortions should be illegal in the final trimester. Neither pollster asked if people supported killing babies after they were born, as was suggested by Gov. Northam. Democrats appeared to unilaterally decline comment on the issue, claiming they were unaware of the remarks. Daily Caller Capitol Hill reporter Henry Rodgers said that he spoke with 10 U.S. Democratic Senators on Jan. 31 amid the uproar over the comments. I just spoke with over 10 Democratic Senators in the past 2 hours. Not one of them would acknowledge @GovernorVAs comments on late-term abortion. Everyone of them denied ever hearing them. Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) January 31, 2019 Not one of them would acknowledge [Northams] comments, Rodgers said on Twitter. Everyone of them denied hearing them. Rodgers said he spoke with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Conn.), and Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.). Only Jones would comment about late-term abortions in general, saying he supported the law as it stands now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was also asked about Northams comments during her press conference on Thursday. You often talk about the diversity of viewpoints in the Democratic caucus. There are pro-life Democrats in your group. Considering the comments from Governor Northam yesterday, how does that make it harder for pro-life Democrats in the party and does that cause problems? a reporter asked. Im sorry, I just dont know what he said yesterday, Pelosi responded. Pelosi then addressed other reporters who raised their hands trying to ask her questions, stating, Are you going to ask a new question or is it the same old, same old? From NTD News Rare Deep-Sea Fish Known as Omen of Earthquakes Wash up on Japans Coast A deep-sea fish said to be a harbinger of earthquakes and tsunamis has stirred up fears in Japan after a number were recently washed ashore. The oarfish, which can reach over 30 feet in length, is thought to be behind some of the sea serpent myths of the west. The Japanese word for this fish, ryugu no tsukai, means, messenger from the palace of the dragon king. According to folklore, the fish rise from the depths to the surface and beach themselves when an earthquake is coming. Two oarfish were found washed ashore in the last few days, according to the Uoza Aquarium. The first, over 10 feet long, came ashore on Jan. 28. The second, nearly 13 feet long, washed ashore on Jan. 30. A fifth Oarfish was found in Toyama Bay in the last fiscal year, the aquarium reported. The previous record for the area was four in one year, according to the South China Morning Post. Scientists say that there is no proof that Oarfish are able to predict natural disasters, though there are various theories as to how they might do so. Sitting directly over the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Spotted Before the Fukushima Earthquake The news of oarfish rising to the surface prompted worried chatter on social media, according to the South China Morning Post. The myth of the Oarfish solidified after the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which killed over 20,000 people. There were reports of at least a dozen oarfish washing up onto Japans coastline in the previous year. Hiroyuki Motomura, a professor of ichthyology at Kagoshima University, told the South China Morning Post there is a more ordinary explanation for the fish appearing at Toyama bay. I have around 20 specimens of this fish in my collection so its not a very rare species, but I believe these fish tend to rise to the surface when their physical condition is poor, rising on water currents, which is why they are so often dead when they are found, he said. But, according to Rachel Grant, a lecturer in animal biology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, it is theoretically possible that oarfish deaths could be a signal of earthquakes to come. Sensitive to Active Faults When an earthquake occurs there can be a build-up of pressure in the rocks which can lead to electrostatic charges that cause electrically-charged ions to be released into the water, she told Euro News in 2017. This can lead to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which is a toxic compound. The charged ions can also oxidise organic matter which could either kill the fish or force them to leave the deep ocean and rise to the surface. There is no scientific evidence at all for the theory that oarfish appear around big quakes, Uozu Aquarium keeper Kazusa Saiba told CNN. But we cannot 100 percent deny the possibility. Newborn Baby Found Abandoned in Park in Near Freezing Temperatures A newborn baby was found abandoned in a London park, as temperatures approached freezing. The baby girl was found in a shopping bag in the east London park. She was wrapped in a towel and placed on the ground beside a bench next to a playground. A woman and her children out walking their dog heard the baby crying, around 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 31. She immediately called emergency services, The Telegraph reported. The baby girl was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition as of the morning of Feb. 1. She is connected to an IV and hospital monitoring equipment. Urgent appeal after baby found in parkOfficers are appealing for information to trace the mother of a newborn baby Metropolitan Police Service 201921 Police are searching for the babys mother. I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery. It is really important that we know that you are safe, said Inspector Shane Clarke, of the North East Command Unit, via a Metropolitan Police press release. I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward. The baby girl, named Roman by hospital staff, was found in a play park on #RomanRoad, near the junction with #SaxonRd. Police are increasingly concerned for the welfare of her mother who may be in need of urgent medical attention & urge her to contact police or @Ldn_Ambulance pic.twitter.com/mv8s8jxLLw Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 1, 2019 Some Facebook users who commented via the Metropolitan Police Services Facebook page on the issue, suggested that the UK should implement a safeguard like those found in other nations. In the US and a few other countries they have these drop boxes at fire stations for exactly this reason, obviously its not the best idea to encourage people to drop babies and run but for those who truly have no other options etc then these drop boxes are perfect, as soon as the baby is left inside the temp controlled box the silent alarm is raised and someone checks asap so no harm come to the baby, its awful that these girls/women feel they have to do this but at last the baby is coming to get the care needed instead of being left in a park etc, commented Haley Currie. Police are appealing for help to trace the mother of a newborn found in Newham https://t.co/zJqUwuyUIX pic.twitter.com/Qb7I1QxPgO Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 31, 2019 We need loads of those baby drop ins that they have in America. Such a good idea, I agree that leaving the baby on the floor in a park was a bad move but we dont actually know what happened ???? anything could of been going on with her. We should just all be thankful that baby is in safe hands now , commented Stephanie Picknell. In March, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a baby was left outside on a porch in cold weather with its umbilical cord still attached, in Fulton County, Georgia. Police headed to the home around 3:30 a.m., after they received a call from someone who found the baby there. Police continue urgent enquiries to trace the mother of a newborn baby girl found abandoned in #Newham last night. The child is in a stable condition in hospital. Her mother may need urgent medical attention. Call 101 ref CAD7825/31JAN or Tweet @MetCC. https://t.co/zJqUwuyUIX Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 1, 2019 A 17-year-old in the home later admitted to giving birth to the baby. Her family said they did not know she was pregnant. Police did not press charges. Also in March, passersby found an abandoned 9-month-old baby lying in the middle of the street, in temperature that went down into the teens. Multiple people stopped to rescue the baby and keep it warm, in Utica, New York, The Washington Post reported. A mother that lived nearby claimed that the baby was hers and that she did not know how the baby got away from her. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and authorities took all of her children away. From NTD News Anti-abortion marchers rally at the Supreme Court during in the 46th annual March for Life in Washington on Jan. 18, 2019. (Reuters/Joshua Roberts) New York-Style Abortion Law Has Been on Books in California for Years While a wave of backlash hit New Yorks government for passing a law relaxing abortion restrictions, California has had similar, if not looser, abortion laws for years. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a measure on Jan. 22 that allows abortions as late as the time of birth if necessary to protect the womans lifeor health. While he celebrated by having the spire of One World Trade Center in New York City lit up in pink, pro-life advocates have called for his excommunication from the Catholic Church. A major point of contention for opponents of abortion comes with the addition of health to the reasons for allowing late-term abortion. Previously, New York only allowed abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy if the life of the mother was at risk. Cuomo said the bill simply codified the Supreme Courts 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, a claim contested by others, including Albany Bishop the Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger. Yet, California has had Roe v. Wade codified for years in a way that seems to go beyond the New York law. In California, abortion is unauthorized if in the good faith medical judgment of the physician, the fetus was viable and in the good faith medical judgment of the physician, continuation of the pregnancy posed no risk to life or health of the pregnant woman. Neither the New York law, nor the California law, defines the health part, but a 1973 Supreme Court decision in Doe v. Bolton stated that the attending medical professional may judge the womans health considering all factorsphysical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the womans agerelevant to the well being of the patient. That opens the door to a situation described by Abby Johnson, the former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who later turned against abortion. What this means is that a late-term abortion can be provided for any reason, as long as the abortionist checks a box on her chart stating it was affecting her life or health. No documentation of proof is required, she wrote in a 2016 article. Californias legal barrier of no risk suggests that even a small amount of risk to mental health would suffice to clear the threshold. A similar law was proposed by Virginia state lawmaker Kathy Tran, causing a backlash, especially after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, responded by suggesting that parents should have the right to have their baby killed even after delivery in cases when the baby has severe fetal abnormalities or is deemed nonviable. President Donald Trump commented on the issue in a Jan. 31 tweet, saying that Democrats are becoming the Party of late-term abortion. Only 28 percent of Americans think abortion should generally be legal after the first trimester, according to Gallup. Does This Happen? Because California doesnt release official statistics on abortion, its hard to tell how many late-term abortions it performs. Close to 160,000 abortions were performed in California in 2014, according to a 2017 paper by the left-leaning Guttmacher Institute. Based on data from Californias Medicaid program (Medi-Cal), 1 in 12 abortions are performed by the Dilation and Evacuation procedure, for which long, heavy forceps are frequently required to pull out body parts of the fetus. The procedure is used for abortions after 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, a 2016 Medi-Cal document stated (doc). If data of the procedure within the Medi-Cal system holds statewide, some 13,000 such procedures were performed in California in 2014. New York, on the other hand, releases detailed statistics, showing over 82,000 abortions were undertaken in 2016. Of those, nearly 60,000 were done in New York City (pdf). About 1 in 20 (over 4,100) were done at 16 or more weeks of pregnancy. At 16 to 17 weeks, the baby is about 5 inches tall, exhibits coordinated limb movement, and starts to roll and flip, according to the Mayo Clinic. At 17 weeks, it is able to hear. About 1 in 47 abortions (close to 1,800) was performed at 20 or more weeks of pregnancy. At 20 to 21 weeks, the baby regularly sleeps and wakes, and starts to suck its thumbs. Regarding third-trimester abortionsthose after 27 weeks of pregnancyno officials statistics seem to exist, but various partial records collected by anti-abortion researcher Robert Johnston suggest several hundred may occur across the country every year. Mother Found Out She Was Having Twins While in Labor A Michigan mother found out that she was having twins when doctors spotted a second head during her 47-hour labor. Nicole Ziesemer, 31, a first-time mother, birthed daughter Blakeley when doctors realized she was still in labor, reported SWNS. She and her husband Matthew, 34, has a so-called natural pregnancy, with just one scan during the entire period that was taken on the day of the birth. About one hour after Blakeley was born, her brother Cade popped out. The couple is thrilled to have two children instead of one. It was crazy. We were over the moon but in utter shock, Ziesemer, who worked in insurance before becoming a stay-at-home mom, told SWNS from her house in Grand Haven. There were really no signs that I was carrying more than one baby, in fact, people said how small I was. We thought the biggest surprise was going to be the sex of the baby, little did we know! She admitted to having fear when doctors told her another baby was coming and she thought the information could be wrong. And I thought finding out about twins at an ultrasound was a surprise: Mom reportedly told she was having twins while in labor https://t.co/I9F4sDEMfP#twinmom #twindad #twinpregnancy Joe Rawlinson (@twindadjoe) February 1, 2019 I just couldnt take it all in and was still in so much pain that it was almost impossible to process. But I really cant imagine having just one baby now. Its like they were meant to be, she said. I love the thought that theyll always have each other. The couple planned a natural home birth with the help of a midwife but went to a hospital when Ziesemers water broke at 36 weeks. The new mother said that the scan taken after she arrived at the hospital did not show her son and doctors think he was hiding right behind his sister. It was truly was just such a surreal moment, added Matt Ziesemer, a chiropractor. I could not believe that my wife was carrying two children that entire time. My wife does an amazing job with the two of them. I really dont know how she does it all day every day. Twin and Other Births The number of twin births in the United States in 2016, the last year full statistics are available for, was 131,723, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of triplet births was 3,755 and the number of quadruplet births was 217. There were also 31 births of five children or more at once. The twin birth rate reached 33.4 per 1,000 live births. Twin, triplet, and higher-order multiple birth rates declined but the changes werent statistically significant. For instance, the twin birth rate in 2015 was 33.5 per 1,000 births. The agency said that 73,425 of the twin births were to white women, 22,267 were to black women, and 22,625 were to Hispanic women. Black women had the highest multiple-birth rate, with 41 per 1,000 births (pdf). Approximately 3.86 million births took place in 2017 in the United States, according to a report (pdf) from the CDC published in November 2018. Data was gleaned from birth certificates. That number was down two percent from 2016. Birth rates declined for women 39 or younger but increased for older women. The birth rate for women in their 20s continued to drop, a trend that started in 2006, and hit a record low for 20- to 24-year-olds, at 71.0 births per 1,000 women. The rate for women aged 30 to 34 had been increasing in recent years but declined two percent from 2016 to 2017, the first decline since 2010. The birth rate for women aged 35 to 39 also declined by one percent, the first decline since 2010. But the birth rate for women aged 40 to 44 was up to 11.6 births per 1,000 women, a two percent increase since 2016, and continuing a trend since 1985. Women aged 45 to 49 saw a birth rate of 0.9 births per 1,000 women, a figure unchanged from 2016, but the number of births to women aged 45 and over rose three percent from 2016 to 2017. There were 840 births to women 50 or older, essentially unchanged since the previous year, although the number has been increasing since 1997. From NTD News Jerry McFadden (C), who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified via DNA as the person who killed a 20-year-old woman, Anna Marie Hlavka, in Portland, Ore., authorities said on Jan. 31, 2019. (Kevin Green/The News-Journal via AP) Man Executed in Texas in 1999 Killed Oregon Woman PORTLAND, OregonA convicted murderer called the Animal, who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified by DNA as the person who killed a young woman in Portland, Oregon, nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka, 20, was killed in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said on Jan. 31, her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the Golden State Killer case. News Release: Cold Case Homicide Detail Solves 40-year-old Case (Photo) Portland Police Bureau 2019131 Hlavka was sexually assaulted and strangled with an electric cord. The Portland Police Bureau said at a news conference retired detectives submitted evidence to the state crime lab in 2009 for forensic testing. Authorities said that evidence eventually showed McFadden, who was executed in Texas for the rape and killing of an 18-year-old high school cheerleader, was Hlavkas killer. Original detective , retired Det. Kerry Taylor , seated , and cold case Det Meredith Hopper speaking about how police, the state crime lab and a private lab worked to solve 40yrold Portland homicide of Anna Marie Hlavka , age 20. pic.twitter.com/Q353IUyeMJ Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) 31 januari 2019 The 51-year-old McFadden was a notorious criminal in Texas. He was sentenced to death for a daylong murder rampage in 1986 that took the life of the cheerleader as well as two other people. Authorities said it took years of research and detective work to determine that McFadden killed Hlavka. Portland police said an unknown male DNA profile was found in 2011 in evidence collected from the scene of the 1979 slaying. The profile was deemed especially good considering how much time had passed. From 2012 to 2016, detectives collected and submitted eight subjects DNA profiles in an attempt to identify the killer, but authorities said all came back negative. Last May detectives researched forensic genealogy using unidentified DNA profiles from homicides scenes, the technology used to bring about the May 2018 arrest of the suspect in the Golden State Killer case. Detectives contacted Parabon NanoLabs and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab and it was determined that the evidence from the Portland cold case was a good candidate for that technology. Portland Police Bureau announces theyve solved the 40-year cold case homicide of Anna Marie Hlavka and identified her killer. https://t.co/YN4ZyBuqYy KATU News (@KATUNews) 31 januari 2019 Scientists were able to map three of the four familial lines of the Portland killer and identified him as McFadden. Detectives travelled to Texas to interview McFaddens relatives and obtain further DNA samples. Read Next: Killer of 24-Year-Old Houston Officer Executed After 3 Decades Three decades after he shot a police officer twice in the head at a Houston bookstore, just one hour after the Supreme Court rejected a final appeal, 61-year-old Robert Jennings was executed by lethal injection, as dozens of police officers stood in vigil outside, along with the fallen officers mother. The execution in Texas at 6:30 pm. on Jan. 30 was the first of 2019 in the United States. Jennings killed police officer Elston Howard during a botched robbery at an adult bookstore in 1988. Howard was 24 at the time. Howards mother was escorted by the Houston police chief outside the prison, who said that the police force would not abandon families who lost officers. Speaking outside the prison in Huntsville, Chief of the Houston Police Department Art Acevedo said, In this police department here in Houston no family will finish their journey to justice alonewe will be here with them. Jennings was killed by lethal injection, given at 6:15 pm. He was pronounced dead 18 minutes later, reported the Texas Tribune. A request to delay the execution scheduled for Jan. 30 was denied by higher and lower courts. The U.S. Supreme Court had earlier that day denied an appeal by Jennings attorneys to delay the execution. The court rejected the argument that during the trial, attorneys failed to ask jurors to fully consider evidenceincluding details of his remorse for the officers shooting and possible brain damage. The Epoch Times reporter Simon Veazey contributed to this report. It has long been known about Moscow's plans to influence the results of the presidential election in Ukraine. In recent years, Western countries have a new tradition of accusing Russia of such interference.In the National Intelligence Agency of the USA believes that Russia will use cybertechnology for interference in the presidential election in Ukraine on March 31. This was stated by the Head of the National Intelligence Agency Dan Coats at the hearings in the US Senate Intelligence Committee.Also, Dan Coats said that hackers from Russia can make attacks during the upcoming US elections in 2020.It is known that the United States is ready to protect Ukraine from Russian interference in the elections, as declared by the President Donald Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton, during a visit the capital city of Ukraine (Kiev) in August last year.In turn, the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Egor Bozhok recently said that the Russian Special Services received 350 million $ to interfere in the Ukrainian elections."The Kremlin will definitely try to interfere in the elections in Ukraine because Russia used to do this with the United States and African countries" - said the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasily Gritsak.The Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police and the Prosecutor General's Office are ready to resist Russian interference and know where Moscow can strike. Most actively Moscow is trying to make an information attack on Ukraine through TV screens. In addition, Russia uses information propaganda, cyber provocations, financially supports candidates and will try to capture polling stations. A 13-year-old Iowa boy was found dead days after he left home in the middle of a snowstorm, according to officials. (Marshalltown Police Department) Iowa Teen Corey Browns Preliminary Autopsy Reveals Likely Cause of Death: Reports Officials in Iowa have revealed the likely cause of death for missing teen Corey Brown, who was found dead amid harsh weather conditions last week. Brown ran away after he reportedly got into a fight with his parents, according to news reports. Police in Marshalltown, Iowa, said the boy died of blunt-force trauma after he apparently fell from a communication tower, the Des Moines Register reported. Marshalltown Police DepartmentMissing Person Investigation UPDATEThe Marshalltown Police Department regretfully Marshalltown Police Department 2019127 He was found by a search team near the tower in a secluded area on the west side of the city located about 50 miles from Des Moines. The 13-year-old suffered a major head injury, police told the news outlet. Police said he climbed over a fence and went onto the tower before he fell, officials said. They added that no criminal activity was suspected in the teens death. He had a fight with his parents after they took his phone away. Now he is dead. Daily Mail 2019127 His autopsy was performed by the Iowa state medical examiner earlier this week, and toxicology results wouldnt be available for eight weeks, said police. At the time of his disappearance, temperatures dropped below zero degrees Fahrenheit. When he didnt return home, several hundred people offered to help search for him, but police sent them home, saying the search could be handled by professionals, the Register reported. Its been hard for everybody, said Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, KCCI reported. Marshalltown is a very special community that is very supportive of their friends and neighbors. Well never really know for sure what happened, Tupper said. From the bottom of my heart, I want to ask everybody to think about the Brown family and pray for them. He added that nobody did anything wrong in the case. Corey Brown did nothing wrong. The Brown family did nothing wrong. Its a tragic event, he continued. The boy disappeared on Tuesday evening after his parents took away his cell phone, NBC News reported. He and his parents got into a spat, prompting the boy to leave. A 13-year-old Iowa boy, who ran away from home after his parents took away his cellphone, was found dead not far from his home, police say. NBC News 2019128 Anyone with kids has had discussions with their children about household rules, Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper told NBC on Jan. 28. This was a typical parent-teenager interaction. No anger. Nothing extraordinary. He was wearing the same clothes he left home in, Tupper said when the boys body was located. Its a typical interaction with a 13-year-old child, nothing extraordinary, Tupper also said last week, CBS News reported. But he reacted emotionally to that. The Marshalltown Police Department said he was found dead at around 10:45 a.m. in a secluded area on the west side of town, according to a news release from the police department. At this time, there is no evidence or information that indicates criminal activity is connected to this missing person/death investigation, the office wrote. Police added that its still an active investigation. All possible scenarios will be thoroughly investigated, the department stated. During the search for the boy, temperatures never got above 29 degrees Fahrenheit, and the low temperature was minus 9 degrees. Meanwhile, about 6 inches of snow fell in the city during that time. Communitys Response At a press conference last week when the boy was still missing, his parents issued an emotional plea for his safe return. Corey you know how much we love you, and Im not gonna stop until we find you, his mother Michelle Brown said at a press conference, CBS reported. According to the Times-Republican newspaper, he was described as a friendly and bright child. We are saddened to learn of the death of one of our students, Marshalltown Community School District said in a statement to the news outlet. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Brown family and those close to Corey. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed. We will continue to offer additional counselors at Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School to assist those in need. Our hearts bleed for the Brown family, Mayor Joel Greer said in a statement. The whole city and all well-wishers will keep them in our thoughts and continue our prayers for them. Rajiv Saxena (C), an accused in India's abortive, scandal-tainted helicopter deal with Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland, is escorted by police as he leaves a court in New Delhi, India, Jan. 31, 2019. (Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis) Indian Court Holds Two More People Sent From UAE in Helicopter Bribery Case NEW DELHIAn Indian court has ordered two men sent to India from the United Arab Emirates to be held pending trial over alleged bribery of government officials to buy helicopters, in a case which has become an issue in Indias upcoming general election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to embarrass the opposition Congress Party over the case. Congress was in power when the abortive deal to buy 12 helicopters from Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland for about 36 billion rupees ($500 million) was first agreed in 2010. Accountant Rajiv Saxena and businessman Deepak Talwar were handed over to investigators for interrogation on Jan. 31 after having been sent to India from the UAE. Their arrests follow that of another suspect in the case, British businessman Christian Michel, who was extradited to India from Dubai in December. A submission from Indias Enforcement Directorate on Jan. 31 said Saxena was the key money launderer in the scheme. Lawyers for Saxena told Reuters he denied wrongdoing. Reuters was unable to reach lawyers for Talwar. Michel has also denied wrongdoing. The official Twitter account of Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said the prime minister had acted like Batman in the case, given the speed with which Saxena and Talwar had been extradited from the UAE to face trial in India. Saxenas lawyers said the accountant had not been extradited through proper Emirati legal channels. Saxena had been visited at home in Dubai by Indian intelligence agents, lawyer Shivani Luthra Lohiya told Reuters. They picked him up from his house for what they called a 15 minute chat: next thing he knows he is put on a flight to India, she said. This is not extradition, its abduction. A spokesman for Indias foreign ministry said it had no information that correct procedures were not followed. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jan. 31. On Jan. 29 the UAEs ambassador to India Ahmed Al Banna told a press conference the speed of Michels extradition last month was down to the personal touch in the relationship between the two countries. That sometimes makes things that dont happen in one year, happen in one day, he said. Since the abortive India deal, AugustaWestland has been merged with its Italian parent company Leonardo. An Italian court cleared two Leonardo executives of corruption charges in January 2018 over the case, and Italy rejected a request from India to extradite them in May 2018. By Alasdair Pal Idaho Lawmakers Seek to Make Abortion Murder Within the State Two state legislators have released a draft bill that would make abortion murder in the state of Idaho. Republican Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard), who was joined by fellow Rep. John Green (R-Post Falls), released the draft of their Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act on Jan. 22. According to the draft, the intent of the bill is to protect law enforcement and officials from being directed by federal orders to allow abortions. Heather Scott 2019128 Idaho Code defines a fetus as a human and says killing a human is murder, abortion is in contradiction to the inalienable rights recognized in the Idaho Constitution, and the State of Idaho has the authority to nullify federal laws that allow abortion, the draft bill reads. Under Idaho code 32-102, an unborn child is considered a human being. It reads, a child conceived, but not yet born, is to be deemed an existing person so far as may be necessary for its interests, in the event of its subsequent birth. Idaho Code 18-4001 defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being including, but not limited to, a human embryo or fetus, with malice aforethought or the intentional application of torture to a human being, which results in the death of a human being. However, an exception to this code prevents the state from prosecuting a mother undergoing an abortion and the person conducting the procedure. If the new bill is passed, this exception to murder would be repealed. According to a press release, Scott and Green said that by allowing legal access to abortion in Idaho statutes, Idaho is currently alienating what are supposed to be the inalienable rights of all persons in the jurisdiction of Idaho. These rights are prescribed in the states constitution, which says, All men have certain inalienable rights, among which are enjoying and defending life and securing safety. We either define life as a fetus, or we dont, Scott said, reported KSL.com. A woman can go out of state if she needs an abortion. But we just wouldnt do it in our state. Well protect life in our state. The bill has not yet been introduced, and the lawmakers are waiting to see which committee it would be referred to or whether it would get a hearing, reported Post Register. If the proposed Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act passes, it would likely spark a number of legal actions against the state based on Roe v. Wadethe 1973 United States Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion. Green said he does not think the bill would go against the court ruling as this is about enforcing Idahos statutes and Idahos sovereignty, reported KSL.com. The draft copy of the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act was released on the same day a New York bill that allows mothers to abort their unborn child up until birth if her life or health is at stake was passed in the Democrat-dominated House and Senate and signed into law by the governor. New Yorks Reproductive Health Act (RHA) allows a mother to have an abortion if there is an absence of fetal vitality or the pregnancy is within 24 weeks from the start. It also allows abortion after the 24-week mark if a doctor acting on good faith determines that the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. The term health was not defined in the new law. The RHA also permits midwives and nurse practitioners to carry out medication abortions and allows physician assistants to perform some surgical abortions. A White House petition urging the federal government to ask New York State to overturn the RHA was started a day after it was passed and has collected over 276,000 signatures, as of Jan. 31. The creator of the petition Anna Spiller vowed to not stop until she has collected one signature for every baby aborted last year. J15 fighter jets on China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, during a drill at sea in April 2018. (AFP/Getty Images) Huawei Senior VP: Acknowledge and Study US Manufacturing Power On April 20, 2018, Chen Lifang, corporate senior vice president and president of public affairs at Huawei, gave a speech at a seminar for new employees, in which she encouraged staffers to learn from U.S. companiesto poach technology from them. Rather than adopting an anti-American attitude, we must acknowledge the power of the United States, see the gaps, study firmly from the United States example, she said. Chen was speaking as a trade dispute was escalating between China and the United States, and as Chinese state media was criticizing the U.S. administrations plan to slap tariffs on Chinese goods. Instead of employing nationalistic sentiment to oppose the United States, Chen urged her audience not to be arrogant. If the business does not have growth potential, does not have added value, nor key know-how, we cant catch up with the United States, she said. Chen then called on China to develop domestic versions of a wide-ranging list of top U.S. firms, from tech firms such as Cisco and IBM, to pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Eli Lilly, to defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. These companies, of course, are in sectors that Beijing has selected for high-priority, aggressive development in order to become a high-tech powerhouse. She acknowledged huge gaps in different technical fields: The capability to process data that DuPont has accumulated is more than 25 times than our countrys. In the field of turbines, the materials we have developed and the tests we have conducted are only 5 percent of GEs. Even greater is the gap in developing microelectronics and artificial-intelligence-enhanced equipment with as much precision and stability as the United States. Curiously, Chen then cited the Wassenaar Arrangement, a pact signed by 42 nations in 1996 to restrict countries exports of dual-use technologies, or those with both military and civilian uses. China isnt among the member states. But Chen talked about the need to import special testing equipment that is related to national defensewhich countries would be restricted from importing into China. [For those technologies,] we can only rely on a hidden battlefront and have comrades take the risk, she saidimplying that the Chinese should secretly smuggle such goods into the country, in violation of the pact. With Chinas heavy reliance on foreign imports, including for chips and other important tech components, Chen said there was much to learn from advances in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Without the American manufacturing industry, our CNC machines [machines automated by computers], electronics industry, energy industry and some military products would not work or the performance would be greatly reduced, she saidapparently confirming that Chinese sectors had acquired the technology from U.S. firms. Huawei in Europe: Will Mao Zedongs Strategy Win the Market? Huawei is facing roadblock after roadblock in the European market. Germany is considering stricter security requirements in an effort to exclude Huawei from building the countrys next-generation 5G networks, while French telecommunications company Orange announced it would not hire Huawei system for 5G in France. The UKs BT Group also banned Huawei from 5G and said it would remove the companys equipment from its existing 3G and 4G operations. Meanwhile, Czech intelligence agencies warned of the security threats from Huawei, and Poland is considering a ban, too, after a Huawei employee was arrested and charged for espionage. This wasnt something Huawei foresaw. The companys founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, had hoped to use former Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedongs strategy of seizing the countryside and then using rural bases to encircle and capture cities. As explained in a 2014 Chinese magazine article detailing Rens life, the executive wanted Huawei to conquer the less developed markets first, then use that experience to penetrate the more competitive and developed markets. The report noted that in 1997, Huawei made its first foray into the overseas market with Russia. Russias tech development was behind that of most of Europe and the United States, and the former communist country had maintained a good relationship with China. After Russia, Huawei targeted African countries, Eastern European countries, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South American countries. The companys ultimate goal was to win business in Western Europe and the United States. Forcing Its Way Into Markets The company has used a slew of unorthodox tactics to win business in markets around the world. On Oct. 14, 2014, Michael Makuei Lueth, minister of information for South Sudan, sent a formal letter to Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the countrys minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, alleging that Huawei hacked his official email account and sent a forged document to Li Ruogu, president of the Export-Import Bank of China, in order to help the company win a contract. Given the forgery, I suspect that Huawei has been hacking many government officials e-mail and falsifying and forging documents on behalf of the senior government officials, Lueth wrote in the letter. In 2016, an anonymous Huawei sales manager in Nigeria shared his experiences on social media. He talked about an incident in 2012, when the equipment room of an unnamed European telecom network operator caught fire and Ericsson equipment valued at roughly $20 million was burned to ashes. He and his colleagues saw a chance to enter the market. We decided to grab the chance and donate an equivalent system to them free of charge, the Huawei sales manager wrote. Strategically, it will help us break through the market [if the operator agreed]. The manager did not disclose the European country where this occurred. Lobbying, Hiring Huawei also knew how to recruit the right people to the company. In 2011, just after European Union Ambassador to China Serge Abou retired from his position, Huawei approached Abou to be its senior adviser. Abou joined Huawei in 2013 after the two years he was required to wait before taking on the consulting jobbut the potential conflict of interest raised eyebrows. In an October 2013 report, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted Olivier Hoedeman of Corporate Europe Observatory, a Brussels-based nonprofit that researches the effects of corporate lobbying, as saying: Even though Abou cannot directly lobby [for Huawei], he can help [the company] to gain access by his insider knowledge. There is a big risk of conflict of interest, because he knows which doors to knock on and how to open them. Aside from Abou, Huawei also hired seven lobbyists that are accredited to the European Parliament, and has hired five consultancy firms to lobby for them with the European Union, Hoedeman told SCMP. According to the EU Transparency Register, a voluntary registry of lobbyists, Huawei spent about 3 million euros ($3.42 million) each year lobbying the EU. In October 2011, John Suffolk, former chief information officer for the UK government, joined Huawei as its global head of cybersecurity after getting approvalas per UK regulationsfrom then-Prime Minister David Cameron. Suffolk had worked in the UK government for seven years. He helped Huawei developed its cybersecurity assurance system. Today, Huawei has 18 research and development centers in Europe, led by the Huawei European Research Institute based in Belgium. The company has academic partnerships with more than 100 universities in Europe, investing 75 million euros ($85.29 million) in them, according to the companys website. But they have recently been called into question amid growing scrutiny of the Chinese tech giant. In total, Huawei has signed more than 210 cooperation agreements with European companies. Suspected Interference in Arts Scene Huawei recently invested in the French arts and culture scenewith curious timing. On July 9, 2018, Paris Opera, Frances premier opera and ballet company, announced that Huawei would invest 900,000 euros ($1.025 million) over three years to set up a global digital academy for the performing arts company, including online courses, archival videos, and more, according to a report by radio station Europe 1. Chinese state media also praised the partnership in a media report, noting that the effort is supported by Chinas Ministry of Culture. Around the same time, the New York-based company Shen Yun Performing Arts was in negotiations with Paris Opera to rent a venue, the Palais Garnier, for several performances, as part of its 2019 world tour. Shen Yuns presenters in France told The Epoch Times that the discussion about booking the venue suddenly came to a standstill after Paris Opera made the deal with Huawei. After talks with Paris Opera stalled, Shen Yun presenters ultimately brought the performance to another venue in Paris, the Palais des Congres. The company just completed a successful run at the theater in mid-January and will perform there again in May. According to Shen Yuns website, the companys mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. Since its founding in 2006, the Beijing government has consistently tried to stymie the companys presence in the West, apparently due to the companys portrayal of topics considered sensitive by the regime, such as the Chinese Communist Partys persecution of the spiritual meditation practice Falun Gong. The Epoch Times, as well as European media outlets, have documented that Chinese consulates and their operatives around the world have for years pressured theaters not to lease their spaces to Shen Yun, or have sought to coerce Western government officials to not attend the performances or voice public support for the company. Robert Wright (centre R) with his family after the Tasmania State Emergency Service rescued him at Denison Gorge, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2019. (Courtesy of Tasmania Police) Heartfelt Reactions Flood Social Media as Tasmanian Police Find Missing Boy A Tasmanian childs emotional return home from an overnight escapade has captured the hearts of many people. Tasmanian Police confirmed at 5 a.m. local time on Feb. 1 that Robert Wright was safe and well in Lebrina, 38 kilometres (23.6 miles) north of Launceston. Bob went missing last night and an extensive search located him uninjured around 8.15am this morning, a police spokesperson said in a Facebook post. Great news missing 7-year-old boy Robert (Bob) Wright has been located safe and well in Lebrina. Bob went missing Tasmania Police 2019131 Bob, who suffers from autism, went missing last night and an extensive search located him uninjured around 8.15 a.m. this morning. Sergeant Michael Gillies thanked the many volunteers who assisted in the search for Bob, and the many other people who offered support. Bobs family are overwhelmed with happiness and extremely thankful for everyone who joined in the search. Great news missing 7-year-old boy Robert (Bob) Wright has been located safe and well in Lebrina. Bob went missing Tasmania Police 2019131 Tasmania Police are currently searching for a missing 7-year-old boy at Lebrina in the States North-West. Police are asking anyone who may have been in Lebrina area and seen a child who is described as having long hair, and was wearing a https://t.co/c0FbG5zHYZ Tasmania Police (@TasmaniaPolice) January 31, 2019 The SES team spotted Bob a little after 8 a.m. local time after noticing a piece of clothing and a shoe in dense bushland at Denison Gorge, about 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) south of Lebrina. The entire search process attracted quite a following on social media where other parents with autistic children found a chance to express their challenges of parenting. The look on the mums face as she touched her son says it all. From a fellow Autism mum to another set of parents, I send much love to [yo]ur family for your baby boy that has been found safe, Elise Chilcott-Rockliffe commented on Facebook. No one except us know what it is like to call out to a child that will not respond back to us if they wander off. Its blood curdling cold feeling and Im so happy for u that he is safe and well. Thank goodness. I have a little autistic absconder as well. Him wandering away is my worst fear, Lorri Ellison said on Facebook. Im so very relieved for this family hes been found safe and sound. Other parents offered to help counsel Bobs parents on their experiences in raising an autistic child and share their wisdom. We have an autistic little boy as well and this is our worst nightmare. Our boy loves water and will B-line to it in a heart beat, Dwain Evans said on Facebook. Tasmania Police please look where there is water near his house as he may be the same as our boy. Bath tub animal water, dams, rivers etc. I hope you find him safe and well. If his parents need to talk to someone who understands send me a PM. Dwain Evans, [I am an] autism mum here too. Exactly what has been going through my mind, Dana Mathews replied on Facebook. Youre very kind to offer your support. Sergeant Michael Gillies thanked the many volunteers who assisted in the search for the boy, and the many other people who offered their support. The family are overwhelmed with happiness and extremely thankful for everyone helped with the search, he said. Many fans left Facebook comments, praising the SES for finding the boy. As the mum of a boy who went missing in bush land once, not that long ago, my thoughts are with his loved ones, Tania Lockwood said. Those helicopter guys are the best at their jobs. Amazing work from the SES guys who kept searching throughout a long cold night, Ess Anala said. Kudos to the chopper crewsimply brilliant at what you do. Well done everyone. Great work everyone glad hes not hurt and home safe now, he would have been very scared poor little man, Natalee Vicki Macleod said. Thank you to everyone involved with the search and especially Tasmania Police, Grub Wright said. Another thanked the first responders. Well done to all the SES volunteers and to Tas pol terrific outcome, Trev Jurgens said. Many worried mums also chimed in on the good news. Oh thank god, poor little guy, glad his safe and home with his family who must be so relieved, Kathleen Turner said. Oh thank goodness. Great news, well done to all, Sue McKenzie said. Excellent news, was worried sick for him and his parents, Shell Zoe Elmer said. Also, a much older Bob, with the same name as the missing child, said he was was relieved the boy had been found. Great news that Ive been found, Robert Craig Wright said on Facebook. Im now 65 and didnt realise Ive been lost. A full moon rises behind the Temple of Poseidon before a lunar eclipse in Cape Sounion, near Athens, Greece, July 27, 2018. (REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis) Greece to Ratify Macedonias NATO Accession in Coming Days ATHENSGreece will bring Macedonias NATO accession agreement to parliament for ratification in the coming days, the government spokesman said Jan. 31, which will bring into effect the change of the countrys name to North Macedonia. Once parliament ratifies the NATO protocol, Greeces foreign ministry will inform Macedonias foreign ministry of the result, a move which will automatically bring into effect the name change, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said. He didnt give a specific date. The name change deal, dubbed the Prespa Agreement after the border lake where it was signed last year, ends a 27-year dispute between the two neighbors that had kept the former Yugoslav republic out of NATO and the European Union. Greece argued that the use of the name Macedonia implied territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name and usurped Greek history and culture, and had blocked its neighbors efforts to join NATO over the issue. Tzanakopoulos said the nearly three-decade dispute had given rise to the monster of lies, nationalism and extreme historic revisionism in Greece. Greek lawmakers Jan. 25 ratification of the deal was a historic milestone for peace, cooperation, and stability in the Balkans, he said during a media briefing, adding that the agreement restores Greeces leading role in the Balkans. The agreements ratification symbolizes the victory of political courage and respect of the countrys history, over opportunism, nationalism, the taking advantage of patriotism and the commerce of hate, he added. The deal has been met with vociferous opposition by many in both countries, with critics accusing their respective governments of making too many concessions to the other side. Once the deal comes into effect, Macedonia will have a five-year period to implement many of the practical changes it must make, including changing vehicle license plates and issuing new passports. Graham Applauds Trumps Picks for 9th Circuit, California Senators Object WASHINGTONChairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, threw his support behind President Donald Trumps three nominees for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, calling them highly qualified in a Jan. 31 statement over objections from both California Senators who claimed the White House did not do enough to include them in the selection process. On Jan. 30, the White House announced Trumps intent to nominate Daniel Bress, a private attorney with the Kirkland & Ellis law firm based in D.C.; Daniel Collins, a partner at the Los Angeles law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson; and Kenneth Kiyul Lee, a partner at the Los Angeles office of Jenner & Block law firm. We are deeply disappointed that the White House has chosen to re-nominate Daniel Collins and Kenneth Lee to the Ninth Circuit. We made clear our opposition to these individuals and told the White House we wanted to work together to come to consensus on a new package of nominees, Senators Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement. Collins and Lee were nominated last year but were never confirmed by the Senate. Another nominee from last year, Patrick Bumatay, was recently nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Bumatay is an assistant attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California. Its not clear why the White House changed its list this year. A Wall Street Journal Editorial Board article speculated that the Trump administration had capitulated to the senators over their opposition to Bumatay who might eventually be Supreme Court material. Instead, the White House chose Bress, who the Senators also objected to because of his lack of experience as a judge and the fact that he doesnt live in California. According to the White House, he worked in the San Francisco office of Munger, Tolles & Olson before joining Kirkland and Ellis, and according to his work bio, is a member of the California bar and a native of Gilroy, California. In letters to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, the Senators tried to get the White House to work with us to reach an agreement. They proposed each side picking a nominee from the others list, and negotiating a compromise on the third. Trump has often touted his record appointing conservative judges, in this case for lifetime appointments, as one of the crowning accomplishments of his first two years in office. It has also endeared him to many conservatives, who see his partys majority in the Senate as a hopeful sign that he can continue to appoint conservatives. Why on earth would the WH agree to tarnish its sterling legacy of circuit court judges & abandon the opportunity to improve the notorious 9th Cir to help Sens (and a would-be POTUS challenger) who are shafting him every chance they get? Carrie Severino of the Judicial Crisis Network wrote on Twitter. The POTUS challenger she was referring to is Harris, who earlier this month announced a 2020 run for president. Trump has made no secret that he considers the Ninth Circuit Court, which oversees the West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii, to be a panel of liberal activist judges that rule based on ideology more than law. The Ninth Circuit is a disaster, he said during a Jan. 10 roundtable on border security and immigration. You can take the most perfectly worded document and theyll always bring it to the Ninth Circuit and then you never know whats going to come out, he said at a roundtable on border security and safe communities Jan. 11. Read More Trump Seeks to Remake 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Trumps dislike for the court is not without context. The Ninth Circuit has repeatedly ruled against him, most recently in November over his emergency asylum policy, which mandated that asylum seekers present themselves at an official port of entry as opposed to crossing into the United States wherever they please. Earlier that month, the court ruled that he couldnt end the DACA program, begun under former President Barack Obama, which legally protects hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who were brought into the country illegally as children from deportation. It also ruled against a September 2017 executive order that banned entry indefinitely to nearly all citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen as of Oct. 18. In January 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in the administrations favor, allowing the ban to take effect. In a June-July 2018 NBC News poll of 2,652 adults, 47 percent of respondents said judicial nominations were one of several important factors they were considering in the midterms. A majority, 60 percent, also said they thought the vetting process for Supreme Court nominees had become too partisan. When asked what types of judges they would like to see nominated, 20 percent said they wanted liberal, 44 percent said moderate, and 32 percent said conservative. After the highly partisan confirmation hearings for Trumps Supreme Court nominees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, its hard to imagine other Trump nominees getting unanimous support. These are highly qualified nominees, Graham said in a statement. I am hopeful they will receive wide bipartisan support. From NTD.com Sophie Obadia (C), the lawyer of Canadian Emily Spanton (back L), arrives at the Criminal Court in Paris on Jan. 14, 2019. (Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images) French Police Officers Sentenced to 7 Years for Raping Canadian Tourist Two police officers have been jailed for seven years in Paris for raping a Canadian woman in a prominent police headquarters. Emily Spanton, 39, told the court she had met a group of police officers in a bar, where they offered to give her a tour of the headquarters at 36 Quai des Orfevres, which is well known in French film and literature. Instead, she was gang-raped at the HQ by the two men, who were former members of an elite anti-gang force. Three years ago, the case was thrown out, but Spanton waived her right to anonymity in order to pursue an appeal. The trial finally took place five years later, with a judgment coming on Jan. 31. The two officers, Nicolas Redouane and Antoine Quirin, have long maintained their innocence, claiming that Spanton had consented to the acts. Some events of April 22, 2014, arent in question. Spanton was visiting Paris as a tourist when she met three police officers in an Irish bar who offered to give her a tour of the historic police headquarters. CCTV footage shows that she entered the police building at 12:40 a.m. with two men and went to the fifth floor. What happened next has been disputed. By 2 a.m., she was in tears and told a guard that she had been raped by several police officers. He then raised the alarm with superior officers. In Spantons account, she said she was raped in two offices by three men, but she hasnt ever identified the third man. Court records show that DNA of the men was found on Spantons underwear and that she had bruises on her body. The president of the court said it was convinced by Spantons consistent statements, as well as DNA and phone record evidence. Spantons lawyer, Sophie Obadia, told reporters, The court considered that Ms. Spanton had not lied, that she is not a person who lies, and based its decision on objective elements of this case, not the word of one person against the word of the accused. Redouane and Quirin have been sentenced to seven years in jail and will have to pay Spanton 20,000 euros ($22,900) in damages, but they can appeal the ruling. Spantons lawyer Howard Rubel, who is based in Toronto, told the BBC: My client is, of course, very relieved with the verdict and is glad that she withstood the very arduous process that led to today. She is glad that she did her part in allowing justice to unfold. FedEx Workers Body Found Outside Amid Freezing Temperatures The body of a FedEx worker was found outside amid freezing temperatures, but officials said theyre not sure if the bitter cold contributed to the death. The body of the 69-year-old man was found outside of a FedEx Freight facility in East Moline, Illinois, on the morning of Jan. 31. A co-worker who was going to his semitrailer to work found the mans body, Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson told the Quad City Times. It appears to be a medical issue or natural, but we wont know if the frigid temperatures played a part until after the autopsy, he added. Authorities werent sure how long the body was there. An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death. The investigation also included reviewing security footage from cameras around the facility, reported WQAD. There were no significant signs of foul play, East Moline Police Department Capt. Darren Gault said. At least a dozen deaths occurred across the United States during the cold snap caused by a polar vortex. Some were definitely caused by the weather while the connection in others wasnt clear. Temperatures plunged into the minuses across the Midwest with voluminous amounts of snow and ice in some areas, including Northeastern states such as Pennsylvania and New York. Chicago recorded a low of -21 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, just slightly above the citys lowest-ever recorded temperature of -27 degrees. Other major cities saw similar temperatures. Harsh winds caused the low temperatures to feel even colder and made the weather even deadlier. According to the National Weather Service, the wind chills seen this week can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency rooms were seeing a number of patients rushed in with cold-related injuries. In Illinois, for instance, at least 144 people made hospital emergency room visits due to such injuries, with at least 65 visits in Chicago and at least 75 outside Chicago. The Illinois Department of Health said that the injuries were from either hypothermia or frostbite and that least one person died from cold-related injuries. Are School Districts Going Soft? As a blast of Arctic weather swept across the country, Waterbury Schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin consulted forecasts and transportation officials before making the call: Schools in the hilly Connecticut city would delay opening by two hours Thursday. Within hours, social media was ablaze with criticism. Some parents said schools should be closed entirely due to temperatures near zero degrees. With little snow on the ground, others questioned why schools should be affected at all. The extreme weather that shuttered schools across a swath of the northern United States this week spurred similar debates over when such calls are appropriate, and whether school districts today might be getting soft, as suggested by Kentuckys governor. The debates also provoked conversations about the disruptions of school closures or delays on working families and poor students. In making her decision to delay the start of school in Waterbury, Ruffin said she was worried about children walking to school on icy streets without sidewalksand especially children who would be counting on eating breakfast and lunch at the school cafeterias. In Waterbury, three-quarters of the students are in families below the income threshold to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. I am concerned about what happens if a child might be at home and there is no food, she said. That warm building for them might be the school. Superintendents in hundreds of districts had to wrestle with similar decisions during this weeks punishing cold snap. In Midwestern cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, it was a simple call given the temperatures that plunged to around 30 below zero, with wind chills much worse. It was a tougher decision on the East Coast, where it was cold and potentially dangerous, but not quite life-threatening. Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said he was being slightly facetious when he told a radio station that closing schools for cold weather sends messages to our young people that if life is hard you can curl up in the fetal position somewhere. In the debate touched off by his comments, many have pointed to the class divide between working parents that are inconvenienced by delays and poorer families that might not have a car to bring their children to school. Raenette Riddick, whose daughter attends Catholic Academy of Waterbury, Connecticut, said she understands the struggles of those who have to scramble to find childcare or whose children have to walk to school. But, she adds, its unfair to lay all the blame at the feet of school officials. We tend to view things from a very one-sided angle without appreciating everything that school officials are looking at from a balcony view, she said. And were looking at it from the floor. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. Vote View Results Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), speaks during a New Hampshire organizing event for her 2020 presidential exploratory committee at Manchester Community College on Jan. 12, 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Elizabeth Warren Apologizes to Cherokee Nation for DNA Test Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has apologized to Cherokee Nationthe largest federally recognized tribal enterprise in the countryfor taking a DNA test to prove her alleged Native American ancestry, only for the results to backfire. Warren, who launched a 2020 exploratory committee at the end of December and who is expected to formally announce her run for the presidency later this month, made the apology after concerns she may have hurt her image with Native American groups and her own Democrat supporters. Both Cherokee Nation and Warrens campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The apology, first reported by The Intercept and The New York Times, involved a brief and private conversation by phone to Bill John Baker, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Warren attempted to use the results as evidence to back up her claims of heritage. Senator Warren has reached out to us and has apologized to the tribe, Cherokee Nations executive director of communications Julie Hubbard told The Intercept. We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests. We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end. There were repeated calls for Warren to apologize for her test, especially from Cherokee Nation, who issued a sharp rebuke after her DNA results were released in October last year. Warren previously refused to apologize for the test, even after increasing political backlash. Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong. It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said at the time, in part. Many argued that Warrens release of her results played politically into President Donald Trumps hands. In a string of Oct. 16 posts on Twitter, Trump described Warren as a phony and said she only got her job as a law professor at Harvard University because of her heritage claims. A 1997 Fordham Law Review piece had described hiring Warren as Harvard Law Schools first woman of color. Trump also thanked Cherokee Nation for their statement. Pocahontas (the bad version), sometimes referred to as Elizabeth Warren, is getting slammed. She took a bogus DNA test and it showed that she may be 1/1024, far less than the average American, Trump wrote. Now Cherokee Nation denies her, DNA test is useless. Even they dont want her. Phony! Trump continued: Now that her claims of being of Indian heritage have turned out to be a scam and a lie, Elizabeth Warren should apologize for perpetrating this fraud against the American Public. Harvard called her a person of color (amazing con), and would not have taken her otherwise! Carlos Bustamante, a professor of genetics at Stanford University and adviser to Ancestry.com, conducted the test. Buried in page 3 of the report, (pdf) it states they used genetic samples from Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, for Warrens DNA analysis since there are no Native American reference sequences from inside the United States. The analysis placed Warrens purported Native American ancestry between 6 and 10 generations ago, revealing that Warren is possibly between 1/64 to 1/1024or 0.09 percent Native American. Scientists told the New York Times in 2014 that European-Americans are 0.18% Native American on average, potentially making Warren less Native American than most European-Americans. The Boston Globe, which first reported the results, said initially that Warren has strong evidence of Native-American heritage before later saying the calculations were wrong and issued a correction. However, the media had already pounced on the initial angle. Correction: Due to a math error, a story about Elizabeth Warren misstated the ancestry percentage of a potential 6th to 10th generation relative. The generational range based on the ancestor that the report identified suggests shes between 1/64th and 1/1,024th Native American, the Globe said in its correction. Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin Guzman Loera aka 'el Chapo Guzman' (C), is escorted by marines as he is presented to the press on February 22, 2014 in Mexico City. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) El Chapo Must Not Escape Again, US Prosecutor Tells Jury NEW YORKAccused Mexican drug boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans repeated escapes from the law prove that he knows hes guilty, a U.S. prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments at his trial on Jan. 30, urging them not to let him escape again. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Goldbargs description of Guzmans history of dramatic prison escapes capped off a day-long summation in federal court in Brooklyn in which she also attacked the defense argument that Guzman was a scapegoat. Standing in front of a table piled with trial evidence including AK-47 rifles and bricks of cocaine, Goldbarg said Guzman ran from the law because he wanted to avoid sitting before a jury. Do not let him escape responsibility, she urged the jurors. Guzman, 61, has twice escaped from high-security Mexican prisons, once hidden in a laundry cart and once through a nearly mile-long tunnel dug into his cell. While on the run, he evaded repeated capture attempts, once through a tunnel hidden under a bathtub in one of his safe houses. He was captured for the last time in January 2016 and extradited to the United States a year later. He could face life in prison if convicted of the 10 criminal counts he faces. One of Guzmans lawyers, Jeffrey Lichtman, claimed in his opening statement that the cartels real leader is Ismael El Mayo Zambada, who remains at large. Goldbarg dismissed that argument on Jan. 30, telling the jury that the prosecution had to prove only that Guzman was a leader, not the most important or only one. The trial spanned 10 weeks of testimony from more than 50 witnesses, including former Guzman associates who are cooperating with the U.S. government after striking plea deals. Guzmans lawyers have sought to undermine the cooperators credibility in cross-examinations, which Goldbarg addressed head on. These witnesses were criminals, she said. The government is not asking you to like them. However, she said, their testimony matched intercepted phone calls, text messages, and letters from Guzman. You know these cooperating witnesses are telling the truth because you heard the same thing from the defendants own mouth, she said. Goldbarg spent much her closing argument reviewing evidence linking Guzman to individual drug shipments. She also summed up testimony that Guzman plotted to kill his enemies. Guzman called only one witness in his defense on Jan .29. Lichtman is expected to deliver his closing argument on Jan. 31. By Brendan Pierson An abandoned Catholic church stands just off the road in Hachita, New Mexico, near the USMexico border on Feb. 19, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) Dont Use Church Closings as an Excuse to Bash Capitalism Commentary In recent years, thousands of local parishes and congregations throughout Christendom have disbanded due to dwindling attendance. One issue that arises when a congregation disbands is deciding what to do with existing church buildings. Some church buildings are grand and stately, others quite modest. Some are country churches, others occupy desirable locations on principal streets or near key intersections of cities and towns. With location, location, location being the three most important factors in real estate values and the cost of construction being so high today, many closed churches present attractive opportunities to entrepreneurs who envision new uses for them. Repurposing consecrated property for secular usage can elicit strong feelings. When my country church folded not long ago, my sadness was mitigated somewhat by the fact that another Christian congregation in need of a church home purchased our building. The small group of us who disbanded had realized that our small building could be converted into professional offices, an insurance agency, or some other type of business, but our earnest hope and prayer was that the gospel of Jesus Christ would continue to be preached there. Our prayers were answered, but for the members of many disbanded congregations, they have to see their former church converted to less lofty purposes. In a recent article, The Christian Science Monitor reported on efforts by church leaders, architects, and developers to look for ways to repurpose church buildings that respect their spiritual heritage. These efforts dont always succeed. Church buildings have been converted into bars, restaurants, nightclubs, strip clubs, luxury condominiums, and so on. Pope Francis has expressed his hope that deconsecrated churches could be given a new life, preferably in service of the poor, according to the article. Expanding on this, a professor of Catholicism and moral theology in Nova Scotia explained that the desire is not to surrender to the power of capitalism. This wording is bizarre. To present capitalism as a threat here is uncalled for. It is misleading, unfair, and possibly ignorant. It is a distraction from the worthy goal of searching for nobler uses of formerly consecrated properties. Not the Enemy First, let me state that, personally, I sympathize with those who lament the transition of a church to, say, a casino. In fact, several years ago, a nearby church was converted into a brewery and restaurant. Out of respect for its past as a church, I never entered that establishment. Im sure I wasnt the only one who felt that way. That brewery recently shut down, although likely not just because it wasnt being patronized by folks like me. Now, lets untangle the confused thinking that casts capitalism as an unholy enemy of Christianity. Capitalism is simply a system based on private property. The principle of private property is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, most explicitly in the commandments Thou shalt not steal and Thou shalt not covet. I understand why the pope and the professor object to certain uses of former church buildings, but they should at least acknowledge that they are acting within their rights. As St. Peter himself said (referring to a piece of property) when rebuking the dishonesty of Ananias and Sapphira, When it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And even after the sale, was the money not yours to do as you pleased about it? (Acts 5:4, James Moffatt translation). If Christians dont want their church buildings to be turned into sites for degrading or unwholesome activities, they have several options. They could pay for its conversion into something that will bless othersperhaps a homeless shelter, a safe place for children to play after school, or a senior citizen center. If that isnt feasible, they still could refuse to sell their building to anyone whose proposed use for it offended them. As a last resort, they have the option to demolish the structure rather than sell it for uses of which they disapprovein effect, giving a decent burial to a hallowed structure. Another point worth making in defense of capitalism is that it isnt a system of private property that tempts people into sinful or inferior pursuits. Humans sin and yield to temptation under socialism as readily as they do under capitalism. No political or economic system has the power to remove sin from the human heart. The difference is that, under capitalism, ownership of property tends toward its most highly valued use. If a buyer converts a church to a casino, I would agree that such a choice may indicate spiritual sickness in the societyall the more reason for churches to redouble their efforts to spread the gospel of salvation and convey the message that worshiping God brings more blessings than worshiping chance. Under socialism, buildings are used according to the preferences of the ruling elite, since the state outlaws private ownership and dictates the uses of buildings. Those uses may be just as evil if not more so than those chosen under capitalism. Under socialism, the state may decide to convert a church building into a prison, a psychiatric hospital, or a school for indoctrinating children into unchristian principles or even explicit atheism. Several years ago, I made a trip I had never believed I could make: I visited countries that had been sealed off from tourists by the Iron Curtain. In Prague, just down the street from Wenceslas Square, the Czechs had converted a secret police prison and torture facility into a museum of communism, to preserve the record of the atrocities against human rights that had made a mockery of the peoples republics. Next to it was a McDonalds restaurant. Right next door to where life and freedom were extinguished, people used their freedom to place a business that nourishes life. That is capitalism in action. Do human beings always make right and moral choices under capitalism? Of course not. As already stated, human beings are neither flawless nor sinless regardless of whether they live amid capitalism or socialism. But capitalism has blessed far more people than socialism, starting with having lifted billions of people out of wretched poverty over the last few centuries. And capitalism will accomplish even more for the benefit of humankind if Christian churches succeed in spreading Christian values. The bottom line is that capitalism is not the enemy of Christianity, nor is it the reason that some church buildings are converted to purposes of which Christians may disapprove. On the contrary, to the degree that people in capitalist countries bring their Christian values into the marketplace, blessings will abound. Mark Hendrickson is an adjunct professor of economics at Grove City College. He is the author of several books including The Big Picture: The Science, Politics, and Economics of Climate Change. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Law professor Zhang Qianfan at Chinas Peking University Law School harshly criticized the anti-constitutional standpoint of the Chinese Communist Party state-run media in an op-ed published in the Chinese edition of the Financial Times on Jan. 5, 2015. (Screenshot/law.ytu.edu.cn) Disappearing Textbook Highlights Debate in China Over Academic Freedom BEIJINGA constitutional law textbook written by one Chinas best-known reform-minded legal scholars has been pulled from book shops, apparently the latest text to run afoul of a government campaign against Western influence. The author, Zhang Qianfan, a professor at Peking University known for his advocacy of constitutionalism and judicial reform, dismissed any suggestion his writing excessively promoted Western ideas as utter nonsense, and said the academic world should not be politicized. Since taking office in 2012, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has tightened the Communist Partys control over society including the legal system and education. While authorities have not confirmed they ordered the book withdrawn, and no reason for its disappearance has been given, it comes after the government launched a sweeping review of teaching materials. The Ministry of Education in early January launched a nationwide check on the content of all university constitutional law textbooks, according to posts on the Jiangxi and Zhejiang Province Education Ministry websites. Universities were told the fact-finding sweep was of great importance and they must accurately fill in a chart detailing titles and authors of the books they used, with no omissions, according to the ministrys posts. The campaign drew criticism from some legal academics, which was amplified by a rumor that the sweep was sparked by an accusation by a professor that certain texts were promoting Western thinking and agitating for a Western system. The Education Ministry did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Chinas constitution promises freedom of speech, religion and assembly, but it is trumped in practice by legislation and regulations, and it is rarely invoked in legal cases. The constitution has long been a focus for political reformers, who argue that its status should be elevated within the legal system. Zhangs book could not be found on Chinas main online bookstores when searched by Reuters on Feb. 1. Everyone is Scared Zhang, in an interview published on the WeChat social media platform, rejected any suggestion his texts promoted a Western system over alternatives. To criticize purely for the sake of it and to shut our nation off to the outside world is closed-minded thinking, Zhang said. Constitutional law, as an academic discipline, should not be politicized, he said. Any academic discipline should retain a certain political neutrality. At this time, constitutional law is a sensitive topic. As far as I can see there is basically no public discussion. It seems that everyone is scared, he said. Zhangs interview disappeared soon after it was posted, to be replaced by a notice saying the content had broken relevant laws and regulations. Zhang did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comment. Many legal scholars took to social media to voice support for Zhang. Some posted the foreword from his book, in which he stresses the importance of giving people who have suffered injustices the chance to defend themselves using the constitution. Some voiced concern that some academics might accuse others of failing to toe the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) line. The worst part about this incident is that in the current environment, not only are these people not inhibited, but rather they are given a channel, or even rewards, Zhang Taisu, an associate professor of law at Yale University in the United States, wrote on Weibo, referring to the accusers. By Christian Shepherd Democrat Floats Idea for 80 Percent Tax on the Rich Following a proposal for a 70 percent tax on the rich by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar, a freshman Congresswoman from Minnesota, suggested that wealthy Americans should pay as much as 80 percent in taxes. Omar suggested the massive tax increase as a way to pay for socialist proposals like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Ocasio-Cortez and Omar are among a group of far-left Democrats pushing for the two proposals, which, if implemented, would have the government take near-total control of Americas healthcare and energy industries. There are a few things that we can do, Omar said in an interview with activist Zainab Salbi. One of them is that we can increase the taxes that people are paying who are the extremely wealthy in our communities. So, 70 percent, 80 percent, weve had it as high as 90 percent. So, thats a place we can start. The one percent must pay their fair share, Omar added. Omar also said that the military budget can be slimmed to fund the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. The Green New Deal is backed by Americas largest Marxist organization, the Democratic Socialists of America. The proposal calls for eliminating all carbon emissions in 12 years. Harris Backs Both Proposals Democratic presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) expressed support for both Medicare for all and the Green New Deal during a CNN town hall on Jan. 28. An audience member asked: What is your solution to ensure that people have access to quality health care at an affordable price, and does that solution involve cutting insurance companies as we know them out of the equation? I believe the solutionand I actually feel very strongly about thisis that we need to have Medicare-for-all, Harris replied. Thats just the bottom line. She said that health care should be understood to be a right and that having a system that makes a difference in terms of who receives what based on your income is unconscionable. In contrast to Constitutional rights, which are ensured by putting restraints on the government, quality health care, as it is now, requires a large industryworth nearly $3.7 trillion in 2018in which people participate voluntarily and expect compensation. Medicare for all has been estimated to cost over $32 trillion and would require more than doubling federal income and corporate tax revenues. The Green New Deal, by one estimate, would cost $49 trillion in the first ten years. Harriss plan, as she has acknowledged, would eliminate the health insurance industry as we know it. Who Pays? The Green New Deal proposal acknowledges that the cost of such a program would be astronomical. Even if all the billionaires and companies came together, and were willing to pour all the resources at their disposal into this investment, the aggregate value of the investments they could make would not be sufficient, the proposal states. The proposal instead calls on the Federal Reserve bank to issue new credit to fund the massive project. However a government decides to fund such a program, it would ultimately be taxpayers footing the bill, either to repay the credit or to cover the losses if the proposed state-run megaprojects run into trouble, as they historically have (pdf). The federal government already owes nearly $22 trillion and is projected to be increasingly squeezed by interest payments. In 2018, it paid $325 billion in interest and that number will reach $460 billion in 2020surpassing Medicaid spendingand $724 billion in 2025surpassing defense spendingaccording to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Ocasio-Cortez proposes taxing income above $10 million at 70 percent, which would theoretically raise $720 billion over 10 years, The Washington Post reported. But people would likely change their behavior accordingly to avoid taxes using a plethora of tricks, such as switching salary for stocks, moving overseas, or finding ways to pass on their income to spouses and children. For those making over $10 million, wages and salaries already comprise only 15 percent of their income, CNBC reported in 2015. Eliminating tax shelters, in turn, would crack down on abusers but also penalize those using such measures for legitimate purposes. Bowen Xiao contributed to this report. Deadly Fighter Jet Crash Killed Two Pilots in India BENGALURUAn Indian Air Force Mirage-2000 trainer aircraft crashed in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru on Feb. 1, immediately after taking off, killing both pilots. The plane crashed at the edge of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) airport compound, which is surrounded by several office and residential buildings, according to a Reuters eyewitness. The plane burst into flames immediately after the crash. One pilot died at the scene of the crash, while the other was seen being carried to a nearby hospital. Both pilots ejected, with one of them landing near the wreckage. The pilots belonged to the Air Forces Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment unit, an air force official said. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. An Air Force spokesperson did not have an immediate comment. The Air Traffic Control department at HAL declined to comment. Mirage-2000 is manufactured by Frances Dassault Aviation. By Ismail Shakil Read Next: Single-Engine Plane Crashes at California Airport With Nobody Inside A single-engine plane crashed at Modesto Airport in Northern California, officials announced on Jan. 30, adding that at the time of the crashthere was no one onboard. Police cited by CBS Sacramento said that prior to the accident, the owner of the Beech V35B Bonanza aircraft was servicing the plane, but was unsuccessful in trying to get it to start. However, after the owner walked away from the plane, the engine suddenly fired up, and the plane began moving down the runwayall by itself. The pilots told police the plane took off at speeds around 40 miles per hour. The plane was moving toward the busy Mitchell Road after it clipped a parked car. Witnesses said the unmanned plane hit speeds of around 40 miles per hour, before clipping a parked car and finally crashing into a chain-link fence. Modesto Police Department Sgt. Mark Phillips told KOVR-TV that after the plane hit the vehicle, it changed direction away from a nearby hangar, where there were people inside. He said the fence also kept the plane from making its way onto a busy road. If it was to get over that [grass] and get onto [the road], we would really have had a problem on our hands trying to stop that plane with nobody inside it, Phillips said. No one was injured in the crash, but two buildings were damaged. A pair of pilots working on a plane propeller at #Modesto Airport tell police it suddenly took off at around 40mph; clipping a parked car before heading towards Mitchell Rd. Luckily this fence stopped it from going into traffic. I'll have a live report on @CBSSacramento at 4pm. pic.twitter.com/b5aB5VHaJ3 Linda Mumma (@LindaBMumma) January 30, 2019 CBS Sacramento reported that the plane is registered to Doncam Consulting LLC in Modesto, citing a Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) database. Officials from the FAA were at the scene of the crash on Wednesday afternoon conducting an investigation. It is not known why the plane suddenly took off. Before the plane began to move of its own accord, mechanics had been working on the aircrafts electrical system, according to a tweet posted by local reporter Linda Mumma. A crane has arrived on scene at the #Modesto Airport to lift the crashed Beechcraft Bonanza out from on top of a fence. @ModestoPolice say no one was inside the aircraft when it suddenly took off while mechanics were working on the electrical system. Details on @CBSSacramento @ 5 pic.twitter.com/tvebX6Y3Zp Linda Mumma (@LindaBMumma) January 31, 2019 Mumma also noted in the tweet that a crane was used to take away the severely damaged Beechcraft Bonanza V35B. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the V series Beechcraft Bonanza is a smaller, more affordable version of the six-seater Bonanza A36s. The AOPA calls the V-tailed Bonanza, which is the same model as the one that crashed at Modesto Airport, a budget buy that doesnt sacrifice any of the Bonanza mystique. The AOPA does note, however, that the V35B suffered from a questionable reputation due to structural issues that prompted the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive, calling for structural enhancements. Many have heard of the V-tails reputation as an unsafe airplane prone to structural failure, writes the AOPAs Ian Twombly. Early problems with structural failure prompted the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive decades ago that beefed up the tail spars, and accidents have since decreased. Tom Turner, a respected safety advocate in the Bonanza community, analyzed NTSB records and found that between 1962 and 2007 there were an average of about three V-tail structural failures a year, most due to VFR flight into IMC, thunderstorm encounters, and airframe icing. During the same period the similar Debonairs and Bonanzas A36 sustained only 11 structural failures, Twombly noted. Despite this history, many owners say the V-tail Bonanza is a safe and reliable airplane that offers typical Bonanza gravitas for tens of thousands of dollars less in acquisition costs, Twombly said. The AOPA said the planes biggest plus was value for money, while its biggest con was costly insurance as well as the fact that early models have engines that might be harder to service. The Epoch Times reporter Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Dad Who Said He Couldnt Eat or Sleep After Daughter Went Missing is Arrested for Rape After Shes Found A missing Tennessee teenager whose cellphone had pinged in Kentucky was found alive in Wisconsin with her adoptive father, authorities announced. Savannah Leigh Pruitt, 14, vanished from her house in Madisonville on Jan. 13, her parents said. Its like having your soul ripped out of your body, Savannahs father Randall Pruitt said at a press conference on Jan. 25. You cant think, you cant eat, you cant sleep, you cant restlife has just ceased for us since she left. .@6News has been following this since the start. Earlier this week, Savannah Pruitts adoptive father, Randall Pruitt (arrested and charged with rape today) spoke about the national attention about her disappearance. #WATE pic.twitter.com/OZRzFBEX0T Madisen Keavy (@madisenkeavy) February 1, 2019 Savannahs cellphone pinged on Jan. 14 in Corbin, Kentucky, but she was ultimately located in Wisconsin, authorities said on Jan. 31. She is safe, she is in custody, and thats the best outcome for the situation, Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones said during a press briefing, reported WBIR. Randall Pruitt, described now as the teens adoptive father, was arrested and is being held in the Monroe County Jail on a rape charge without bond, Jones added. His first court date is scheduled for Feb. 5. The sheriffs office provided few details on how or where the girl was found and the connection between the missing persons case and the rape charge but Jones confirmed that the two cases were related. He said that Savannah had fled her house because of a bad situation there and is believed to have left under her own will. #BREAKING: Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones says Savannah Pruitt has been found safe in Wisconsin Thursday night, and her adoptive father has been charged with rape. https://t.co/7shHTCgOuW FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) February 1, 2019 Officials told WATE that the arrest came after explicit photographs and videos were found on the teenagers cellphone. Jones said Pruitt became Savannahs adoptive father several years ago. Im having to be vague in all my statements because this is still an ongoing investigation, Jones said, reported the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Theres the possibility of multiple other charges coming forward with multiple people involved. And truthfully thats about all we can say at this time. The girl had last been seen January 13 at her home in Madisonville, in eastern Tennessee https://t.co/JIX1AZS8y6 WNEM TV5 (@WNEMTV5news) February 1, 2019 Missing Children There were 464,324 missing children reported in the FBIs National Crime Information Center in 2017, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Under federal law, when a child is reported missing to law enforcement they must be entered into the database. In 2016, there were 465,676 entries. This number represents reports of missing children. That means if a child runs away multiple times in a year, each instance would be entered into NCIC separately and counted in the yearly total. Likewise, if an entry is withdrawn and amended or updated, that would also be reflected in the total, the center noted. In 2017, the center said it assisted officers and families with the cases of more than 27,000 missing children. In those cases, 91 percent were endangered runaways, and 5 percent were family abductions. About one in seven children reported missing to the center in 2017 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. Rape in the United States According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will be raped at some point in their lives. In eight out of 10 cases, the victim knew the perpetrator. About 25 percent of girls will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old, the center said. Three out of 10 women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first rape. About 34 percent of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child. From NTD News A bicyclist braves the cold while riding through downtown in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Jan. 29, 2019. (Stephen Maturen/AFP/Getty Images) College Student Goes Viral After Seen Wearing Shorts in Brutal Cold A Minnesota college students photo showing him wearing shorts during brutally cold weather has gone viral. A caption from the Minneapolis Star-Tribunes photo said he didnt want to be identified because his mother would get mad. It read: Miles, a University of Minnesota student who declined to give his last name because he said his mom would be mad at him for how he was dressed, crossed University Avenue Southeast in shorts Tuesday. CAPTION OF THE YEAR: pic.twitter.com/uxkUNxJgYl Torey Van Oot (@toreyvanoot) January 29, 2019 The student is seen walking across University Avenue Southeast near the university. A reporter with the newspaper shared the photo, saying it was CAPTION OF THE YEAR. Warming Trend The so-called polar vortex that has spread across the United States has killed at least 21 people across several states. But next week, the temperatures should move above freezing. I dont think theres ever been a case where weve seen [such a big] shift in temperatures during the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm, the Guardian reported. He added: Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures. The good news is the weekend will be great. The bad news is, well, the dark blue blob of below normal is back next week. pic.twitter.com/B7pzGJ2JdD NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) February 1, 2019 Temperatures from southern New England to the Upper Midwest should reach the mid-40s to low 50s Fahrenheit through the weekend and Monday, forecasters said, after a record-breaking cold snap that stopped mail deliveries in some parts of the Midwest and shuttered schools and businesses. In Chicago, which experienced temperatures as low as minus 22F (minus 30 Celsius) earlier this week, temperatures of 19F (-7C) on Friday morning felt positively balmy as a measure of normalcy returned to the nations third-largest city. It feels like summer, said Dolores Marek, 57, as she got off her commuter train in Chicago wearing a long parka coat as set out on the 1.5 mile-(2.4 km) walk to the local college where she works. This is much better than it was. Meteorologists linked the spell of brutal cold to the so-called polar vortex, a cap of icy air that usually swirls over the North Pole. Changing air currents caused it to slip down through Canada and into the U.S. Midwest this week. Bryan Jackson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the core of the vortex was pulling north into eastern Canada, though residual icy air was still pushing over to the U.S. Northeast. The unusual cold could stick around another eight weeks, Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert for Atmospheric Environmental Research, told The Associated Press. The impacts from this split, we have a ways to go. Its not the end of the movie yet, Cohen told AP. I think at a minimum, were looking at mid-February, possibly through mid-March. Reuters contributed to this report. This photo taken on January 19, 2019 shows a medical staff taking care of a new born baby at a hospital in Fuyang in China's eastern Anhui province. - China's population shrank last year for the first time in 70 years, experts said, warning of a "demographic crisis" that puts pressure on the country's slowing economy. (Photo by STR / AFP/Getty Images) China Will Grow Old Before It Grows Rich Commentary Why have the Chinese suddenly decided that now is not the time to have children? Because China is in the grip of its deepest economic downturn since the reform and opening to the outside world began some 40 years ago. Three years ago, the Communist Party announced an end to the one-child policy, thus ending its 40-year war on the Chinese populationa war that has cost an estimated 400 million lives. Party leaders anticipated a quick uptick in births in response to the policy change, if not an out-and-out baby boom. But now that the Chinese people are finally free to have two children, they are proving strangely reluctant to have even one. The National Health Commission had predicted that more than 18 million babies would be born in 2018. The actual number reported on Jan. 21 by the National Bureau of Statistics was only 15.23 million. In fact, some believe that even these anemic numbers are an exaggeration, and that the most populous country on earth is already filling more coffins than cradles. Among them is researcher Yi Fuxian of the University of WisconsinMadison. The year of 2018 was the turning point of Chinas population structure, which witnessed negative growth for the first time, Yi told the Global Times. His numbers show that deaths outnumbered births by more than 1 million: 11.58 million to 10.31 million. Yis belief that China is already in absolute demographic decline is disputed by some, but his critics admit that such a turning point is at most only a few years off. In any event, there is little doubt that the country is already in a full-blown demographic crisis. Why the Decline? Some might explain the recent downturn in births by saying that 40 years of anti-natal propaganda have done their work, brainwashing young people into rejecting marriage and children. Others might point to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and rising levels of education as factors that have gradually taken young Chinese, especially young women, out of the business of procreation. But these explanations hardly explain the precipitous drop in Chinas fertility rate over just the past couple of years. At present, Chinese couples are averaging only 1.05 children. This is half the 2.1 children needed for the country to sustain its current population and is among the lowest fertility rates in the world. Chinas current birth rate of 12 births per 1,000 people is by far the lowest level ever in recorded Chinese history. In fact, it is even lower now than during the famine that followed the Great Leap Forward. From 1960 to 1962, even as 45 million Chinese villagers were starving to death, the birth rate hovered around 19 births per 1,000. This suggests that the economy must be far worse than Beijing would like us to believe. Naive foreigners may still believe Party officials who claim that the countrys GDP is expanding at an annual rate of 6.5 percent or so, but the Chinese know better. They know that more than 10 million workers have been laid off, that tens of millions of newly constructed homes and apartments stand vacant, and that thousands of businesses, including some of Chinas largest firms, are on the verge of bankruptcy. The entire country is so heavily in debt that its a dead man walking. Even Chinas most successful high-tech firm, Huawei, is feeling the pinch. Its founder, Ren Zhengfei, whose daughter languishes under house arrest in Canada, announced recently that bitter days lie ahead for the company, and warned that layoffs were coming. All this is to say that Chinas economy is in free fall, and the birth rate is following it down. There is no doubt that birth rates tank during recessions. The Great Depression, for example, slashed the U.S. total fertility rate in half. American women went from bearing four or more children over their reproductive lifetimes down to bearing only two. Americans were understandably reluctant to bring children into a jobless, stagnant economy, or even to marry at all. As with Americans in the 1930s, the Chinese of today are increasingly wary of marriage and children in the face of a dramatically slowing economy. The fact that per capita incomes in China are far higher than they have ever been is irrelevant to their calculations. Marrying and having children are expressions of hope in the future, after all, not the past, and the future to many working-class Chinese is looking increasingly grim. Only about 10 million couples registered to get married in 2017, which marked a 7-percent decrease from the year before. The figures for 2018, which havent been released yet, are expected to show a further decline. Since the state forbids single motherhooda vestige of the one-child policya decline in marriages presages a further decline in births. If the economic slowdown has undercut the birth rate, then the reverse is also true: The declining birth rate will cripple economic growth over time as the aging and shrinking of Chinas population accelerates. Old-Age Tsunami Yi pointed out that Chinas current demographic profile bears an ominous resemblance to that of Japan in 1992. It is a snapshot of a society characterized by ever fewer births, a shrinking number of workers, and a surging elderly population. Japans prolonged birth dearth had, by the end of the nineties, produced the worlds first demographic recession. I would argue that Chinas decades-long one-child policy has now produced its second. In fact, birth rates in China have fallen further and faster than in Japan because of decades of government coercion. And they will continue to fall because so many millions of females have been eliminated from the population because of a cultural preference for males. All this is to say that the old-age tsunami that is about to hit Chinas economy will be even more severe than the one that sent Japan into recession 20 years ago. Add to this a further critical difference between Japan and China. The Land of the Rising Sun grew rich before it grew old. The Middle Kingdom is growing oldrapidlywhile it is still relatively poor. Japan possessed the wealth to weather its demographic recession, although its economy has never recovered its original dynamism and vitality. China, which has only recently joined the ranks of middle-income countries, will quickly run out of options. Economists, impressed by Chinas large population and rapid growth, have long predicted that the Asian giant would one day overtake the United States economically. Now, as the ranks of Chinese workers thin and gray, that possibility seems to be receding out of reach. Japan never became No. 1despite the many predictions that it wouldbecause of its dismal demographics. So, too, will the increasingly moribund Chinese population, along with the heavy hand of the Party-state, ensure that Chinas economy continues to lag behind Americas more youthful population and more dynamic economy. The Chinese Communist Party has only itselfand its wrongheaded war on peopleto blame. Demography is still destiny, after all, even if you have a billion people. Steven W. Mosher is the president of the Population Research Institute and the author of Bully of Asia: Why Chinas Dream is the New Threat to World Order. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Sandra Bullock in a scene from the film, "Bird Box." Netflixs post-apocalyptic survival film is drawing criticism for using footage of a real fiery train disaster but the streaming giant has no plans to remove it. (Saeed Adyani/Netflix via AP) Canada Condemns Netflix for Using Rail Disaster Images OTTAWA, OntarioCanadas Parliament passed a motion on Jan. 30, saying Netflix should compensate the people of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, for using footage of the 2013 rail disaster in the post-apocalyptic survival film Bird Box. The footage involved the disaster created when an unattended train carrying crude oil rolled down an incline, went off the tracks and exploded into a massive ball of fire, killing 47 people in the Quebec town. The motion is non-binding but is a stern rebuke from Canadas Parliament for the use of footage from the rail explosion in Bird Box and in the series Travelers. Members of Parliament voted to demand that Netflix remove all images of the Lac-Megantic tragedy. Netflix has apologized but has refused to remove the images. Netflix licensed the footage of the disaster from the stock image vendor Pond 5 and used it in Bird Box in an early TV news montage to set up its horrific premise. The Sandra Bullock-led thriller is about monstrous entities that compel any human who sees them to quickly try to kill themselves. To survive, they don blindfolds. In a statement to The Associated Press, Pond 5 said the footage was taken out of context and the company wanted to sincerely apologize. Pond 5 footage of the crash was also used in Netflixs Travelers. But a Netflix spokesman told the AP that it wasnt planning to cut the footage from Bird Box, saying, We will keep the clip in the movie. But he acknowledged that Netflix will be looking at ways to do things differently moving forward. Pierre Nantel, a legislator with the opposition New Democrat party who introduced the motion this week, said he cannot accept Netflix not removing the footage. We know people are going to go and watch this film, and again these real images will be used, he said. For people in Lac-Megantic, they saw images of their own downtown burning, and could imagine their own family members in it. The mayor of Lac-Megantic, Julie Morin, has decried the use of the footage in an interview with The Canadian Press, calling it a lack of respect. Criticism has also been leveled by Canadians on Twitter, who argue that the footage may trigger feelings of PTSD and additional victimization. But the Lac-Megantic mayor and a Netflix representative talked on Jan. 19, and Morin said the conversation was productive. Theyve committed to reflecting with their partners on the use of these images so that the situation does not repeat itself. We also felt they were sensitive to our citizens recovery. Im satisfied with this exchange, Morin said in a statement. Its not the first time Bird Box has caused an outcry. YouTube is cracking down on a wave of users committing so-called Bird Box Challenges like driving a car while blindfolded. Netflix refused to comment Wednesday, pointing only to a letter the company sent last week to Quebecs culture minister in response to her concerns. In it, Netflix public policy director Corie Wright said the company understands that many feel frustration and sadness at seeing images of this tragic event, but it cannot make changes to finished content. Take Five - This is your final free article during this 30 day period. Stay in touch with all of the news. Sign up today for complete digital access to The Daily News-Record. A homeless man (L) walks through the snowy streets of Boston, United States, on Jan. 4, 2018. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) and a spectator (R) cools off at the Australian Open tennis competition in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 16, 2018. (William West/AFP/Getty Images) As US Grapples With Polar Vortex, Australias Late Monsoons Bring Record Hot Summer North Americas polar vortex has caused temperatures in parts of the U.S. mid-west to plummet to record low Siberia-like temperatures. On Jan. 29, Chicagos overnight minimum dropped to minus 54 degrees Celsius (minus 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit), which city authorities warned to be cold enough for anyone to freeze to death in minutes. In stark contrast, Australia is experiencing its hottest summer on modern historic records, according to national median temperates. Although there is no such thing as an anti-polar vortex, a combination of high air pressure and a late monsoon season in tropical North Queensland has created unprecedented heat, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). The main contributor to this heat was a persistent high pressure system in the Tasman Sea, which was blocking any cold fronts and cooler air from impacting the south of the country, BOM Senior Climatologist Dr. Andrew Watkins said in a public statement. At the same time, we had a delayed onset to the monsoon in the north of the country that meant we werent seeing cooler, moist air being injected from the north. #ElNino is on hold, but FebruaryApril is likely to be warmer than average for the time of year across Australia. Rainfall is likely to be below average in many parts, particularly for Western Australia. More #BOMOutlook details at https://t.co/2jrPpiMX0U. pic.twitter.com/YrLaihJIyQ Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 30, 2019 The remarks came as BOM released its latest climate summary, showing that for the first time in any year, the mean temperature for January averaged more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Watkins described the latest monthly mean temperature as unprecedented. We saw heatwave conditions affect large parts of the country through most of the month, with records broken for both duration and also individual daily extremes, he said. The warming trend which has seen Australian temperatures increase by more than 1 degree in the last 100 years also contributed to the unusually warm conditions. BOM reported that rainfall has been below average for the southern half of the country, while the monsoon weather pattern in the northeast brought significant rainfall totals to Far North Queensland late in January. KAP getting results for Dams in Qld.Lets build more Dams in the NorthTime to vote #KAPKatter's Australian Party Daniel McCarthy KAP for Leichhardt 2019130 South Australia has experienced its driest January since 2013, with BOMs Adelaide city site recording a zero rainfall monthly total for the first time since 1957. Adelaide had one of the citys warmest Januarys on record, with maximum temperatures the hottest for at least 10 years. Victoria received less than 20 per cent of its January average rainfall and had one of the 10 driest Januarys on record. Melbourne was exceptionally hot, with some parts of the Batmania city recording their highest ever January temperatures. It was also the warmest January on record for mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures. Heres some amazing imagery from the Himawari-8 Satellite of the Jericho fire in Gippsland yesterday. The smoke plume reached over 7km high spreading smoke across Bass Strait. Images are taken every minutea live feed of the sky from 36,000km high! https://t.co/gpZ0D8Vtni pic.twitter.com/yMmsMH1ptl Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 27, 2019 In Queensland, a monsoon weather system brought heavy rainfall to the states far north late in the month. Brisbane was very hot, while rainfall was very low in the River City at about 20 percent of the January average. Watch our latest Weather Update on YouTube at https://t.co/5ce0fhBtZ3 re the heavy rain around #Townsville. Video current at 12 noon AEST Thursday 31 Jan. Check warnings on our website; follow advice from emergency services. @ABCemergency @QldFES #QldFloods #BigWet #QldWeather pic.twitter.com/SzpKjaRF6c Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 31, 2019 New South Wales experienced one of the driest Januarys on record in the Premier States northeast. Mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures for January have been the warmest on record. Sydney had one of its warmest Januarys on record, with just average rainfall recorded in the Emerald City. The Australian Capital Territory had rainfall close to average and its warmest January on record. BOMs Canberra International Airport site had a record four days with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The Northern Territory experienced a delayed monsoon season, causing the territory to receive less than half its average January rainfall. Darwin had below-average rainfall and also one of its warmest Januarys on record. The territory also recorded its warmest January for mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures. Weve had official monsoon onset at #Darwin 23rd of Jan. Only two days from the latest on record! #Monsoon trough expected to strengthen this week across Northern #Australia. Want to know more? Visit our Weekly #Tropical #Climate Note: https://t.co/r0jo3VJvu7 #NorthernAus pic.twitter.com/9aTlUCxep9 Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 29, 2019 Tasmania had the driest January on record and also one of its warmest Januarys for mean, minimum and maximum temperatures. The Natural States capital of Hobart experienced its driest and warmest month on record too. Western Australia had below rainfall average and the driest January since 2005. Although it was one of the warmest Januarys on record, the Golden State bucked the national trend by recording cooler than average temperatures in parts of the West Coast and southwest. Rainfall was about average in Perth, and the month was its coolest in more than a decade. Watch our latest Weather Update on YouTube at re: Tropical #CycloneRiley off the #WA coast, & the developing tropical low in the Gulf. Video current at 12 pm AEST Saturday 26 Jan. 2019. Check warnings on our website; follow advice from emergency services. pic.twitter.com/K4DzTyokaA Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 26, 2019 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 apparent meteorite landed in western Cuba on Feb. 1, according to reports and photos published on social media (Google Maps) Apparent Meteorite Impacts City in Western Cuba: Reports An apparent meteorite landed in western Cuba on Feb. 1, according to reports and photos published on social media. The National Weather Service in Key West said a meteor was seen in the sky over the Florida Keys. Were receiving reports that a meteor was seen in the sky across the Florida Keys, the agencys office wrote on Twitter. It appears that a meteorite impact occurred in western Cuba, near the town of Vinales, Pinar del Rio, earlier this afternoon. #BREAKING: Just got this video from a friend in #PinardelRio who says they think the trail in the sky was left by a #meteorite, which shattered windows and made extremely loud sounds. Sounded like two #explosions. #cuba @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/AMmb9ZE6vB Hatzel Vela (@HatzelVelaWPLG) February 1, 2019 Local 10 Cuba correspondent Hatzel Vela obtained video footage that believes the sky trial was left by the alleged meteorite. The meteorite also shattered windows and sounded like two explosions, Local 10 reported. Photos published on social media showed the fragments of the object. Only in Cuba does an apparent meteorite crash and you happen to know the person whos house was hit. pic.twitter.com/jYhAnBLUy0 Patrick Oppmann CNN (@CNN_Oppmann) February 1, 2019 Its not clear if there were reports of damage or injuries. Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde said there was a strong explosion near Pinar del Rio, NBC6 reported. Desde Pinar del Rio se dice que un meteorito ha caido. En el Mural de la Prehistoria hay reportes de piedras que han caido y que no pertenecen a los mohos tes. pic.twitter.com/8j2uE9HVGc Alberto C. Toppin (@toppin1893) February 1, 2019 $100,000 Meteorite? A Michigan man learned in October that a rock hes been using as a doorstop is a meteorite worth $100,000, according to The Associated Press. The nearly 23-pound hunk of iron and nickel is the sixth largest meteorite found in Michigan, according to the Smithsonian Museum and Central Michigan University. David Mazurek said he took his doorstop to the university for examination after seeing reports in January of meteorite pieces selling for thousands of dollars. I said, Wait a minute. I wonder how much mine is worth, Mazurek said. University Geology Professor Mona Sirbescu first identified the piece as more than just a rock, but she sent two small slices of the rock to the Smithsonian for confirmation. DETAILS: West #Cuba resident and Facebook user Fatima Rivera Amador collected a piece of the exploded meteorite https://t.co/YQVcDuhQOP pic.twitter.com/7IGqfA1NsR Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 1, 2019 I could tell right away that this was something special, she said. Its the most valuable specimen I have ever held in my life, monetarily and scientifically. Mazurek said the meteorite came with a barn he bought in 1988 in Edmore. He says the farmer who sold him the property told him it landed in his backyard in the 1930s. The story goes that it was collected immediately after they witnessed the big boom and the actual meteorite was dug out from a crater, Sirbescu said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in an interview with Maclean's journalist Paul Wells at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Sep. 17, 2018. (Reuters/Chris Wattie) Amid Cries of Traitor, Canadas Trudeau Set for Ugly Election OTTAWACanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who swept to power on a wave of optimism in 2015, is set for an ugly reelection campaign this October, judging by exchanges with voters in public town halls this month where he was grilled on topics ranging from immigration to housing affordability. Opinion polls show his center-left Liberals are barely ahead of their rivals, and party insiders privately admit they might lose their majority in the House of Commons, which would crimp the governments ability to govern. The next election is going to be a referendum on Justin Trudeauand whether or not people think he has performed, said Ipsos Public Affairs pollster Darrell Bricker. In contrast to more gentle exchanges in previous years, angry citizens slammed Trudeau for bungling the construction of pipelines, breaking promises to respect the right of indigenous groups, ignoring a pledge to balance the budget and allowing too many migrants into Canada. Liberal insiders say as a result of the feedback from the town halls, where attendees can also jot down their concerns on paper, policy tweaks are already being considered. Public unhappiness over illegal immigrants crossing the border from the United States is so great that the party will consider a promise to clamp down further, even though Ottawa considers the matter is under control, said one top Liberal. Widespread complaints about the lack of affordable housing are likely to produce a commitment for more spending, said the Liberal, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the situation. The verdict from voters is definitely mixed, judging by Trudeaus experiences as he traveled the country in January taking questions from all-comers, a practice he says helps him break out of what he calls the Ottawa bubble. A woman at a town hall in the province of Saskatchewan in Canadas west, a region where the Liberals are in trouble, accused Trudeau of working for your globalist partners to betray Canada. In the Quebec town of Saint-Hyacinthe, a man dressed in a yellow vest swore loudly at Trudeau and accused him of selling out the country. Liberals like the town halls on the grounds they demonstrate Trudeau is not afraid to take tough questions. Yet they also admit the exchanges show voters have more urgent concerns than topics such as gender equality, climate change and the aboriginal rights that Trudeau has been pushing hard at home and abroad since he took power in 2015. We need to focus on things that are of interest to all Canadians and not just some of them, conceded a second Liberal. While Trudeau has emerged as one of the worlds leading progressive leaders, at home Canadians are concentrating more on their jobs and taxes, said Bricker. Infrastructure Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, present in the hall at Saint-Hyacinthe as abuse was leveled at Trudeau, conceded, There is a level of anxiety out there and we need to allow for these discussions to happen. But insiders say regardless of the insults, Trudeau intends to stick to his policy of avoiding public arguments. The Liberals won a surprise victory in 2015 by mounting a massive campaign to register young and aboriginal voters and concede a similar effort will be needed this time. The Liberals have a majority of just 11 in the 338-seat House of Commons and polls show they are only slightly ahead of the main opposition Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer. Its going to be tightthe message to the troops is, there is no magic commercial advert that is going to win this campaign. Dont rely on the prime minister to belt one out of the park during the debates, said a third Liberal. Four students, all 12 years old, were allegedly strip-searched by officials at East Middle School in Binghamton, N.Y. (Google Street) Alleged School Strip-Searches of Four Teen School Prompt Police Investigation: Reports School district denies strip-search took place State police in New York are investigating accusations that four girls, who are all 12 years old, were strip-searched at a middle school in Binghampton. The parents of four East Middle School students claimed the girls were ordered to remove their clothes in front of a school nurse and the assistant principal in January, reported the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. The students parents said they werent told by the school about the purported incident. Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week called on the state Education Department and the New York State Police to investigate the incident. Under the direction of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York State Police have launched an investigation into the alleged strip-searches of preteens at East Middle School in Binghamton. pressconnects.com / Press & Sun-Bulletin 2019131 One mother said her daughter was detained for more than one hour, saying the search happened without her consent or knowledge. Given the severity of the allegations and the unrest they are causing in the community, state police will thoroughly investigate this incident, in consultation with local authorities, acting state police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett stated on Jan. 31. The Binghamton school district said there was no evidence that the strip-search was carried out, but it said it hired a third-party firm specializing in school law and employment law to investigate the matter, the publication reported. The allegations that 12-year-old girls were strip-searched for drugs after being perceived as hyper and giddy at a Binghamton middle school are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns of racial and gender bias, Cuomo said in a statement, NBC News reported. The Binghamton City School District explained that the girls were evaluated. There has been a lot of misinformation being spread through social media from third parties, the district said in a statement, Fox News reported. In a statement last week, the school district said administrators are trained to recognize behavior that it is out of character and will sometimes conduct medical evaluations for the students safety, reported the New York Times. The school policy stipulates that students might have to remove bulky outside clothing so that nurses can check their blood pressure and pulse. This is not the same as a strip search, the district insisted. The president of a local NAACP chapter has now demanded that the school board remove the principal, nurse, and assistant principal, according to Fox. This is outrageous that these girls got strip-searched and nobody got suspended, Broome-Tioga NAACP President Micah Barreiro said in a statement before the district denied there were any strip-searches. School rules say parents have to be informed before anything like this happens. Emily DeSantis, a spokeswoman for the Education Department, told the NewYork Times that state officials will work with the police department. The parents of four 12-year-old black girls say their daughters were strip-searched at their New York middle school. The school district has denied it, and the governor has called for an investigation. The New York Times 2019130 Parents Statement In a statement, the parents said their daughters were told to remove their clothing to be searched for drugs and other illegal substances, After the incident, they missed several days of school, and they no longer feel safe at East Middle. According to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Here are the conditions under which the school says it would conduct a strip search: School officials have highly credible evidence that such a search would prevent danger. School officials have highly credible evidence the search would yield evidence. In an emergency situation, when school officials believe the safety of others is threatened, the student will be isolated and secured, and law enforcement will be contacted immediately, along with the students parents. Jo Elgarf with her daughter Nora and the child's prescription medicine at their home in London on Jan. 30, 2019. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters) A Matter of Life and Death? UK Stockpiles Drugs as No-Deal Brexit Feared LONDONWith just 56 days until Britain leaves the EU, Jo Elgarf has begun stockpiling food in case politicians fail to strike an exit deal, but she says she cannot do the same with vital drugs her disabled daughter needs. Four-year-old Nora has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and relies on imported Epilim and Keppra daily to stop her suffering seizures. Elgarf wants to stock up on the drugs in case supplies are hit but she cant because they are only available on a monthly prescription. For Nora, this could be matter of life and death, Elgarf told Reuters at her home in southwest London. It could mean being sent off in an ambulance to hospital with a massive seizure that lasts five minutes plus. She cannot miss those medicines. Theres no ifs and buts about it and we cannot use alternatives either. With the clock ticking, British lawmakers are still struggling to agree on a withdrawal treaty with the European Union, having comprehensively rejected Prime Minister Theresa Mays agreement last month. The default position means Britain will leave on March 29 without a deal in place unless something can be agreed beforehand. That has led to fears that supply chains will be severely disrupted leading to shortages of food and medicines. Worlds Biggest Fridge Buyer Last August, Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlined plans to ensure Britain had an extra six weeks of supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit. In January, he said Britain had bought 5,000 fridges to hold medicines, making him the biggest buyer of fridges in the world, and secured warehouse space. Making sure patients continue to have access to the medicines they need is paramount, said health minister responsible for Brexit planning Stephen Hammond. We are working extremely closely with industry to make sure there are significant supplies of these drugs in the UK, Hammond wrote in an article last week. But some Britons do not share that confidence, and anecdotal evidence from newspaper readers suggests people are stockpiling everything from childrens painkillers to medicines for serious conditions. For Elgarf, that is not an option, and that has left her fearful. It doesnt matter even if I had all the money in the world, I cant go and buy these medicines because they are prescription-only. I have no way of securing my childs future, she said. It is not just patients and their families who are concerned. The chief executive of a body running hospitals in Birmingham, Englands second-biggest city, warned last week there was a risk that operations could be canceled because of a drug shortage. In the event of a chaotic, no-deal exit, many NHS trusts could quickly run out of vital medical supplies, Dr. Dave Rosser wrote in a memo to his board of directors. He said well-informed and non-political NHS sources had estimated goods from Europe across the English Channel could be reduced to between one-third and one-fifth of current daily volumes for a period of at least some months. According to the Brexit Health Alliance, an industry body, 45 million patient packs go to the EU from the UK every month, and 37 million packs go the other way. Any divergence from these harmonized standards by the UK in the future, and a lack of agreement on cooperation with the EU on medicines and medical devices, would mean that supply chains are at risk, it said. One unintended consequence of the concern is that patients stocking up on medicines might bring about problems themselves. Hospitals, pharmacies, surgeries, and patients should not stockpile medicines at any point during this process, health minister Hammond said. Doing so risks shortages for other patients. If everyone does what they are supposed to, we are confident the supply of medicines will continue uninterrupted whatever the Brexit outcome. By Edward Baran Bikers crossing Park Street at the intersection of University Ave during a late afternoon snow storm ,in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 18, 2019. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) 82-Year-Old Michigan Woman Using a Snow Blower in Freezing Temperatures Goes Viral An 82-year-old Michigan grandmother was cheered online for using a snow blower in subzero temperatures. Photos showed Marlene Fisher Downing using the machine in Muskegon, Michigan. Some people think Im crazy, Downing told ABC News. According to WXYZ, she said her children and grandchildren have told her to stay inside when the weather gets cold and to give up snow blowing. She added that she grew up in North Dakota and is used to the freezing cold. No point in being inside. I love being outside in all seasons, she said, adding that the snow blower reminds her of her Harley Davidson motorcycle, which she rides when the weather gets warmer. I was waiting for this snow, she told WZZM. They never shut anything down, she said. She thinks that its funny that people across social media shared photos of her snow blowing. The cold reminds Marlene of her youth growing up in Harvey, North Dakota. 13 On Your Side 2019129 Everyone just stay warm, and do their own thing, she told ABC. Weather Update The bitter cold that gripped the Midwest forced commuters to bundle up like polar explorers. By early next week, many of those same people might get by with a light jacket, according to The Associated Press. Just days after the arctic conditions, forecasts say, the region will seemingly swing into another season, with temperatures climbing by as much as 80 degrees. Experts say the rapid thaw is unprecedented, and it could create problems of its ownbursting pipes, flooding rivers, and crumbling roads. I dont think theres ever been a case where weve seen (such a big) shift in temperatures in the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures. Although many places remained painfully cold Thursday, the deep freeze eased somewhat, and the system marched east. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow (51 centimeters) gave way to subzero temperatures and face-stinging wind chills. On Friday, the wind chill in some areas was expected to be as low as minus 20 degrees (negative 28.9 Celsius). Bryan Jackson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the core of the vortex was pulling north into eastern Canada, though residual icy air was still pushing over to the U.S. Northeast, Reuters reported. Temperatures on Friday morning ranged from below zero Fahrenheit to the teens in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. That cold air that was over the Great Lakes, over the Midwest, has shifted off. Now the high pressure is over Pennsylvania and New York, Jackson said in a phone interview. As it moves east, itll bring in air from the south and we do expect it to warm up over the weekend. Temperatures in the Upper Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, will reach well above zero F on Friday, with highs making it into the teens and low 20s. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 70 Years for Louisiana Man Who Admitted Killing His Mother FRANKLINTON, La.A 25-year-old Louisiana man was sentenced to 70 years in prison after admitting during his trial that he killed his mother and wounded a neighbor and a police officer. Christopher Rashad Dillon of Franklinton pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Robin Dillon as well as attempted armed robbery, possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, District Attorney Warren Montgomery said in a news release Thursday. Franklinton Man Gets 70 Years Prison For Killing Mother and Injuring two Others. https://t.co/3ZTZRND4LR pic.twitter.com/JCs2OKWToF DA Warren Montgomery (@DAMontgomery22) February 1, 2019 Im glad we were able to achieve some measure of closure for the family of the deceased, Montgomery said of the plea agreement. Dillon entered his plea on Tuesday, after the second day of his trial. He admitted shooting a neighbor while trying to rob him on Dec. 19, 2013, then shooting and killing his mother while rummaging through her purse. When Franklinton police arrived, Dillon said he would surrender, but instead shot Sgt. Chad Dorsett. Montgomery said Dillon kept police from entering the house by claiming he held his mother hostage, but she already had been shot and was dying. After about an hour, he started a fire on the floor of the bedroom where his mother lay, crawling out through a window as the trailer home became engulfed in flames. The neighbors right arm was shattered. The bullet that hit Dorsett went through the officers arm and was then stopped by his bullet-proof vest, the news release said. District Judge Scott Gardner of Covington sentenced Dillon to 40 years for manslaughter, 50 years for the attempted murder counts, and 49 years for one count of attempted armed robbery. Those are to be served simultaneously, followed by 20 years on the weapons charge. He is not eligible for parole, probation or a suspended sentence, the judge said. Man Who Tied Concrete to Wife Gets Life Term in Her Drowning FORT WORTH, TexasA Texas man who admitted to killing his estranged wife by tying a massive chunk of concrete to her and throwing her off a bridge into a lake has been sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors in Fort Worth say Rodolfo Rudy Arellano pleaded guilty Wednesday to capital murder. Hell serve life behind bars without chance of parole. The 36-year-old man could have faced the death penalty if convicted at trial. The body of 28-year-old Elizabeth Arellano was discovered in April 2016 in Lake Worth after police say fishermen reported hearing screams and seeing someone fall from the bridge. Rodolfo Arellano plead guilty today to abducting his estranged wife, Elizabeth Pule Arellano, then weighting her down and throwing her off the Lake Worth bridge to drown. https://t.co/ZCJ6CeUB8J Deanna Boyd (@deannaboyd) January 30, 2019 When her body was discovered, a rope was tied around her neck attached to a 119-pound hunk of concrete. Rodolfo Arellano was arrested 10 days later. Murders and Violent crimes The number of murders and violent crimes committed in the United States dropped slightly in 2017, according to new crime statistics released in September 2018. Crime declined nationwide last year, consistent with our earlier analyses of 2017 data in the nations 30 largest cities, Ames Grawert, senior counsel for the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, told the Washington Times. Thats the good news. The bad news is that even while crime is falling, the number of Americans incarcerated remains near-record highs. Now is the time to address the problem. The number of cases of manslaughter and murder dropped 0.7 percent in 2017 from the prior year, the report said. Rapes rose by 3 percent and aggravated assault rose by 1 percent, but overall violent crimes dropped 0.2 percent, the report added. DALLAS -- Catholic leaders in Texas on Thursday identified 286 priests -- including 12 who served in the Brazos Valley -- and others accused of sexually abusing children, a number that represents one of the largest collections of names to be released since an explosive grand jury report last year in Pennsylvania. Fourteen dioceses in Texas named those credibly accused of abuse. The only diocese not to provide names, Fort Worth, did so more than a decade ago and then provided an updated accounting in October. The move by Texas church leaders follows a shocking Pennsylvania report in August detailing seven decades of child sexual abuse by more than 300 predator priests. Furthermore, the Illinois attorney general reported last month that at least 500 Catholic clergy in that state had sexually abused children. In the months after that report, about 50 dioceses and religious provinces have released the names of nearly 1,250 priests and others accused of abuse. Approximately 60 percent of them have died. About 30 other dioceses are investigating or have promised to release names of credibly accused priests in the coming months. 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 Oneonta, NY (13820) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 56F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Towanda, PA (18848) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 56F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. 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. A 25-year-long push by Buffalo Point First Nation to reclaim land currently designated as a provincial park may reach its conclusion this year, according to a band councillor with knowledge of the negotiations. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A 25-year-long push by Buffalo Point First Nation to reclaim land currently designated as a provincial park may reach its conclusion this year, according to a band councillor with knowledge of the negotiations. Once talks with the provincial government conclude, a 136-acre parcel that includes Birch Point Provincial Park will become reserve land, Buffalo Point councillor Herman Green said Tuesday. An access agreement for the lone road leading to the 32-acre provincial park, and a public boat launch just beyond the park boundary, is the sticking point, Green said. "Those are things that we have to spell out as to how the public will continue to use them." The tiny First Nation, which signed Treaty 3 in 1873, initiated the land claim process in 1994. Three years later, Manitobas Treaty Land Entitlement framework was established to give treaty signatories an avenue for claiming promised land allocations that never materialized. Green said the claim first filtered through two tripartite committees, then was handed over to a federal arbitrator, who ruled in favour of the First Nation in December 2016. "The arbitrator determined it was, by the end, okay to select that property." In January 2017, the Winnipeg Free Press reported the decision marked the first time any level of government had recognized an Indigenous land claim involving a provincial park. The province launched a Court of Queens Bench appeal to overturn the ruling the following month. "They backed out after a year or so," Green said. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Manitoba Sustainable Development confirmed discussions are ongoing with the First Nation. "However, nothing is final and the province is working to ensure continued access to the boat launch in the area, as it is the only point of access to Lake of the Woods from Manitoba," the spokesperson said via email. An Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson said the federal department can begin the land title transfer process once the provincial government "confirms the land is eligible for reserve creation." Located on the north shore of Buffalo Bay, 45 kilometres northeast of Sprague, Birch Point was designated a provincial park in 1961. All land inside the park boundary is classified for recreation, and it is considered a popular destination for Manitoban and American anglers, who camp at its 26-site campground or make day trips from nearby Moose Lake Provincial Park. Figures from a provincial spokesperson indicate Birch Point campground use rose over the past five years, climbing from 464 nights of use in 2014 to 864 last year. Green said he wasnt sure if Buffalo Point Resort would continue operating the campground, but didnt rule out public access. Wetlands surrounding the park are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, according to a 2013 park management plan. Guidelines stipulate Birch Point should remain "a natural-looking area" with "minimal site modifications" along the shoreline. The plan also acknowledged the treaty right of Indigenous peoples "to pursue traditional uses and activities within Birch Point Provincial Park." Green said there are no plans to develop the Birch Point land. "Were just going leave it the way its been used." As for the boat launch, Green said it may become pay-per-use, but stressed the access agreement hasnt been finalized. "Wed be costing it out in the same way that were costing out the launch here," he said, referring to the boat launch at Buffalo Bay Marina, which charges $12 per day, according to a fee schedule on its website. Green said the First Nation hasnt discussed the tourism implications of the land transfer with the RM of Piney, but encouraged park visitors concerned by the entitlement process to consider the lands historical and cultural significance. Buffalo Point First Nation, located at the south end of the bay, served as an Anishinabe gathering place for what was once a much larger traditional territory, Green said. At one time, before dams were built to regulate water levels on Lake of the Woods, community elders recalled walking "all the way from Birch Point to Warroad" on sand dunes, he said. Update: RCMP said in a release on Feb. 2 that French has been safely located. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Update: RCMP said in a release on Feb. 2 that French has been safely located. St Pierre RCMP are turning to the public for help locating a missing 16-year-old female from the RM of De Salaberry. RCMP HANDOUT Selena French has been missing since Jan. 22. Selena Symone French was last seen on William Avenue near the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 22. French is described as as 57", 130 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing black jeans, a black and grey hoodie, black shoes, and a beige and brown coloured jacket. Anyone with information is asked to call the St Pierre RCMP at 204-433-7433, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text "TIPMAN" plus a message to CRIMES (274637). 2016-2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RECALL WASHINGTON, DC (February 1, 2019) Mazda North American Operations has filed a Defect and Non-Compliance Information Report with NHTSA regarding a safety concern with certain Model Year (MY) 2016-2019 Mazda MX-5 Miatas. In affected vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, electrical noise in the range signal may be detected while driving in D range (including Manual mode). Due to inappropriate control logic of the clutch control software in the Transmission Control Module (TCM), this signal noise may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift, causing an abrupt deceleration of the drive wheels. A sudden decrease in the speed of the drive wheels while driving may negatively affect the directional stability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a loss of vehicle control and potentially resulting in a crash. Approximately 14,370 vehicles are affected. 2016 MY MX-5: 6,140 units 2017 MY MX-5: 4,519 units 2018 MY MX-5: 2,295 units 2019 MY MX-5: 1,416 units There have been no reports of accidents or injuries. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Hyundai Motor America Reports January 2019 Sales Hyundai Sales Up 3 Percent Best January SUV Sales Total Ever Kona, the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, Continues to Perform Well with Nearly 6,000 Units Sold FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 1, 2019 Hyundai Motor America reported January sales of 40,796 units, a 3 percent increase in comparison with January 2018. Despite a month with many challenges, including the U.S. government shutdown and severe arctic weather across the country, Hyundai was able to achieve increasing sales thanks to strong performances across its lineup of vehicles that feature leading safety, quality, and cost to own value. Sales Summary Jan-19 Jan-18 2019 YTD 2018 YTD Hyundai 40,796 39,629 40,796 39,629 January Highlights Hyundai sold 21,007 SUVs, representing 51 percent of the total sales volume. This was an all-time January SUV sales record and an increase of 37 percent compared with January 2018. Kona, the recently named North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, sold 5,696 units, its third highest monthly total ever. Santa Fe total sales grew by 2 percent, while retail sales of the model were up 20 percent. Increased availability in Southern California of Hyundais advanced fuel cell vehicle NEXO, resulted in 35 sales, the most fuel cell vehicles Hyundai has sold in a month. Sonata sales increased by 3 percent, while Veloster was up 15 percent, showcasing how Hyundais diverse lineup is meeting varied customer needs. We are pleased with Hyundais start to 2019 as we hit our January objectives, following a record-breaking December and several challenges outside of our control, said John Cook, director, Sales Operations, Hyundai Motor America. Weve also started the year with many positives as Hyundai won several prestigious industry recognitions, including Utility Vehicle of the Year and Car and Driver 10Best for Kona and Kona EV. January Product and Corporate Activities Kona and Kona EV Named Utility Vehicle of the Year: At the North American International Auto Show, the 2019 Kona and Kona EV SUV models were named the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, one of the industrys highest honors. At the North American International Auto Show, the 2019 Kona and Kona EV SUV models were named the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, one of the industrys highest honors. Car and Driver 10Best for Kona and Kona EV: Kona and Kona EV were also selected to the prestigious Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs list, the first time a Hyundai SUV has been named to the list. Kona and Kona EV were also selected to the prestigious Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs list, the first time a Hyundai SUV has been named to the list. Hyundai Elevate Concept: At CES, Hyundai unveiled its Elevate ultimate mobility vehicle concept that can traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle with its innovative robotic legs. At CES, Hyundai unveiled its Elevate ultimate mobility vehicle concept that can traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle with its innovative robotic legs. North American International Auto Show News: During the final winter Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled its Veloster N race car that competes in the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge, introduced the Elantra GT N Line trim and announced national advertising for its Shopper Assurance During the final winter Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled its Veloster N race car that competes in the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge, introduced the Elantra GT N Line trim and announced national advertising for its Shopper Assurance Super Bowl Ad: Earlier this week, Hyundai released its humorous Super Bowl commercial that will air in the first quarter and show how much better car buying can be with Shopper Assurance. Earlier this week, Hyundai released its humorous Super Bowl commercial that will air in the first quarter and show how much better car buying can be with Shopper Assurance. Government Shutdown Payment Relief: To help federal government employees affected by the shutdown, Hyundai offered auto loan and lease payment extensions. To help federal government employees affected by the shutdown, Hyundai offered auto loan and lease payment extensions. Santa Fe Redesign of the Year: Hyundais all-new 2019 Santa Fe captured the Redesign of the Year award by ALG that measures the degree of vehicle change and the quality of its execution. Hyundais all-new 2019 Santa Fe captured the Redesign of the Year award by ALG that measures the degree of vehicle change and the quality of its execution. Sonata Readers Choice Awards: The Detroit News awarded the Hyundai Sonata the Readers Choice Award in the Most for Your Money category at its 15th annual Readers Choice Awards. Model Sales Vehicle Jan-19 Jan-18 2019 YTD 2018 YTD Accent 1,825 2,429 1,825 2,429 Elantra 9,942 14,017 9,942 14,017 Ioniq 955 973 955 973 Kona 5,696 0 5,696 0 Nexo 35 1* 35 1* Santa Fe 7,832 7,677 7,832 7,677 Sonata 6,212 6,027 6,212 6,027 Tucson 7,444 7,637 7,444 7,637 Veloster 855 744 855 744 * Tucson Fuel Cell sale Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America is focused on delivering an outstanding customer experience grounded in design leadership, engineering excellence and exceptional value in every vehicle we sell. Hyundais technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to deliver peace of mind to our customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and the majority sold in the U.S. are built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Chicago Auto Show to Host Chicago Friday Night Flights, A New Craft Beer Night CHICAGO (Feb. 1, 2019) - Automotive manufacturers, exhibitors and enthusiasts from across the globe are revving up for the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, and show organizers are giving fans another reason to attend. The Chicago Auto Show will host the first indoor Chicago Friday Night Flights, a craft beer sampling event, on Friday, Feb. 15 at McCormick Place. Originally produced in partnership with the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Choose Chicago and Chicago Concierge, Chicago Friday Night Flights will feature a dozen local breweries including Alarmist, Arrowhead Ales Brewing Co., Band of Bohemia, Begyle Brewing Company, Brickstone Brewery, BuckleDown Brewing, Eris Brewery & Cider House, Gino's Brewing Co., Goose Island, Half Acre Brewery, Marz Community Brewing, Metropolitan Brewing, Motor Row Brewery, Revolution Brewing, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery and Temperance Brewing. By adding events like Chicago Friday Night Flights, we hope to expand the reach of the Chicago Auto Show and appeal to a broader range of individuals who are looking for a fun night out in February," said Chicago Auto Show Chairman Ray Scarpelli. "We're aiming to bring that summer festival vibe indoors to the show." Tickets can be purchased in advance for $30 and include a tasting pass to sample craft beer from a dozen local breweries as well as full access to the nation's largest auto show. Chicago Friday Night Flights is thrilled to partner with the Chicago Auto Show and introduce our first winter event of the CFNF series at one of the biggest indoor festivals, the auto show," said David Whitaker, Choose Chicago president & CEO. "For the past two years, the Chicago Friday Night Flights has celebrated Chicago's renowned craft beer scene while showcasing Chicago's amazing neighborhoods. With more than 65 craft breweries in the Chicago area, we expect Chicago Friday Night Flights to be an annual tradition in Chicago for years to come." The nation's largest and best-attended auto show, held annually at McCormick Place, opens to the public Saturday, Feb. 9 and runs through Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 18. The show is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, except for the final day of the show, when it closes at 8 p.m. The Chicago Auto Show features more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space showcasing brand-new vehicle introductions and a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, sport-utility vehicles, minivans and concept cars. In all, nearly 1,000 different vehicles will be on display including hundreds of interactive, aftermarket, accessory and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles, antique and collector cars. About the Chicago Auto Show The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2019 public show is Feb. 9-18. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=11&d=155&mid=375787&m=1702 or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=12&d=155&mid=375787&m=1702 About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=13&d=155&mid=375787&m=1702 2020 Supra Makes First Public Appearance at 2019 Chicago Auto Show 2020 Tacoma, 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition and 2019 RAV4 among vehicles on display Ken Gushi, Drifting Star and Team Toyota Athlete Buckle Up for Life Ryan Dempster, Former Chicago Cubs Pitcher Scott Paddock, President of Chicagoland Speedway Louie Vito, Olympic Athlete - Snowboard, Team Toyota Dash, mascot for Chicagoland Speedway At the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, visitors will experience Toyotas full vehicle lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs, including the 2020 GR Supra, which made its world debut in Detroit last month. The 2020 Tacoma, 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, 2019 RAV4, 2019 Prius AWD-e and Tundra PIE Pro will be amongst the vehicles in the 44,980 square-foot display, along with technology demonstrations and special guest appearances. The Chicago Auto Show takes place February 9-18 at McCormick Place.Tacom-ing soon! For more information on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma, fans can tune in to the Toyota Press Conference at 10 a.m. CST, Thursday, February 7 here:Following its Detroit debut, the 2020 GR Supra will make its first appearance in Chicago. More than 20 years in the making, the 2020 GR Supra is the first global Toyota GAZOO Racing model with design inspired by Caltys FT-1 Concept. The Supra goes on sale this summer and the first 1,500 vehicles will be Launch Edition models. The new Supra will feature an exhilarating blend of power, precision and agility thanks to a rear wheel design with a low center of gravity and optimal weight balance. The 2020 model will be powered by a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and its 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbo six will produce 335 hp and 365 lb.-ft. of torque and will be teamed with a quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.The 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition melds exclusive design with added function, honoring the iconic vehicles adventurous 60+ year history. The limited-edition vehicle features exclusive exterior and interior trim, a vintage-style Land Cruiser exterior badge and special bronze-colored, forged-aluminum BBS wheels with a Toyota center cap.Blending luxury with capability, the new vehicle has a 381 horsepower 5.7-liter DOHC V8 engine, 8-speed transmission, full capability 4-wheel drive with advanced chassis control. Standard features will include Downhill Assist Control, Hill Start Assist, CRAWL Control and Off-Road Turn Assist. only be a limited number of Heritage Editions available when it goes on sale in the summer of 2019.Now in its fifth generation, the 2019 RAV4 features an entirely reimagined design, enhanced performance and fuel efficiency thanks to the implementation of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform and two new powertrains. From multimedia technology to smarter all-wheel drive and a more efficient hybrid powertrain, the Toyota RAV4 is brimming with high-tech that works seamlessly and conveniently to deliver a rewarding driving and ownership experience. Every 2019 RAV4 model is equipped with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant capability and Entune 3.0 Audio.Boasting an estimated 52 mpg in the city, the new Prius AWD-e is one of the most fuel-efficient AWD-equipped vehicles in America, now allowing for more adventures outside of the city. The new AWD-e system (e stands for electric), provides additional traction in certain conditions including inclement weather, snow or rain, giving drivers the confidence to expand their horizons.While Toyota wont pick a side in the deep-dish debate, the Tundra PIE Pro features technology to bake pizzas from the bed of the truck. The concept vehicle is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain from a Toyota Mirai, resulting in a zero-emission mobile pizza factory. In the bed of the truck, a totally-contained pizza kitchen includes a refrigerator, a pair of computer-guided articulating robotic arms and a portable, high-efficiency conveyor oven that can bake a pizza from start to finish in seven minutes.Additional vehicles on display include the 2019 Avalon Hybrid, 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid and the TJ Cruiser, a new crossover concept vehicle that combines the roominess of a cargo van with the functionality of an SUV to seamlessly integrate work with life.Throughout the week special guests will be visiting the Toyota Live stage for presentations and giveaways.Saturday, Feb. 9: 11 a.m. noon and 2 3p.m.Saturday, Feb. 9: 5 6 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 10: noon 1 p.m.Car seat safety experts from Buckle Up for Life will conduct installation demos at the ToyotaLive stage and hold a raffle for car seats.Sunday, Feb. 10: 2 3 p.m.Dempster will be onsite for a Q&A session and will capture a Facebook Live video on the features and benefits of the all-new RAV4Sunday, Feb. 10: 3 4 p.m.Friday, Feb. 15: 11 a.m. noon and 2 3 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 17: 11 a.m. noon and 1 2 p.m. London: "All the best ideas come down the pub," says Richard. And this particular idea - to skewer the hypocrisy of Brexiteers on huge public billboards - has turned into a national campaign that is getting up the nose of some of the countrys most influential politicians. Photo: Twitter/@ByDonkeys Credit: In early January, Richard, a fortysomething professional in north London, was in a pub with three mates and, after a few beers, they got to complaining about a now-notorious tweet by then-prime minister David Cameron. "Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice," Cameron tweeted in advance of the 2015 general election. "Stability and strong government with me, or chaos with [then-Labour leader] Ed Miliband." Paris: France is in discussions about repatriating Islamic State fighters and their families, a policy shift prompted by the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Islamic State fighters. The French government confirmed this past week that French jihadists detained in Syrian camps may be returned back to France. "We are exploring all options in order to prevent these potentially dangerous individuals from escaping or dispersing," Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's foreign minister, told reporters. "If the forces detaining these French fighters decide to deport them to France, they would be immediately handed over to the judicial authorities. Jakarta: At least 43 journalists have been arrested in Myanmar since democratic elections were held in 2015, according to a landmark new report from Human Rights Watch. And approximately 140 cases of defamation have been brought - which carries a penalty of up two years jail - under section 66 [d] of the country's Telecommunications Law according to the report, which cities statistics from Myanmar civil society group Athan. Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo, left, and Wa Lone are escorted by police out of court on September 3. Credit:AP The report, Dashed Hopes - the criminalisation of peaceful expression in Myanmar, sets out in detail how journalists have been targeted, freedom of expression curtailed and how laws have been enacted and amended to cover up corruption allegations and military abuses of Rohingya Muslims, in Rakhine State. It covers the period since the National League for Democracy took power in March 2016, with Aung Sang Suu Kyi as its figurehead and state counsellor [she is barred from being President under the constitution], in what is the first democratically-elected government since 1962. As a regular(ish) meditator who experiences the calming benefits of meditation, I must admit I couldnt see how a tech headband loaded with sensors can help me improve my game, but it does. The Muse2 headband ($US249, or around $343) claims to be a brain-sensing headband that makes meditation easier. The Muse2 connects with your phone and sends it brainwave data. Its designed by neuroscientists at Canadian brain-sensing technology company Interaxon, which also created thought controlled computing installations at the Canadian 2010 Winter Olympics where people wore headsets detecting brainwaves to increase the brightness of the lights on Niagara Falls and other major landmarks just by thinking about it. The Muse2 also detects brainwaves, but during guided meditation sessions. The headset is a thin band with EEG (electroencephalograph) sensors that measure brain activity, and it sends that information via Bluetooth to the Muse app, which has graphs illustrating when your mind was calm, neutral or distracted during a meditation. Wealthy business owners, unions and the gaming industry were among the biggest donors to Australian political parties last financial year, directing cash where it was needed most in the states that held elections. Overall donations in 2017-18 were down on average - there was no federal election or $1.75 million gift from Malcolm Turnbull - but money still flowed into party coffers from the major clubs and hotels associations, mining companies and Big Tobacco. The Liberal Party received about $7.6 million in explicit donations compared to Labor's $7.1 million, according to disclosures released by the Australian Electoral Commission on Friday. However, both parties had total receipts in excess of $60 million, including loans and public funding. Parties' actual donations can be much higher than those explicitly disclosed as donations, as they receive contributions in kind such as rent and returns on investment. The Liberals benefited from donations by wealthy families, particularly in South Australia where they won the March election. Retired mining technologists Ian and Pamela Wall donated $393,500 to the Liberals in that state, while shopping centre owner Grant Lewis Kelley and commercial lawyer John Kain both chipped in $100,000. The chatter and clatter about Australia Day and Indigenous recognition may have abated a week out from January 26, but it will never go away until the matters are resolved. The victorious allies treated the vanquished Germans after World War I and II better than the colonising British and their Australian inheritors have treated Indigenous Australians. At least the Germans got a treaty after the first war and a lot of help after the second to bring their standard of living up to or better than that of the victors. Not so in Australia. And our Indigenous people were not the aggressors. Australia Day and the failure to duly recognise self-identifying Indigenous people will still be a grievance in 2388 unless it is properly dealt with. Credit:James Brickwood The reference to European conflict is pertinent. For a long time Australians wondered why the Europeans got themselves into stews over centuries-old blood feuds, battles and ethnic wars. The call, Remember 1389, or some other seemingly irrelevant grudge or grievance lost in time, seemed a bit silly from Australian eyes. Well, we have one of these grievances of our own. And do not imagine that it will be forgotten just because 600 years or so have passed. After all, 230 years have passed since British colonists claimed other peoples land as their own on January 26, 1788, and it is not forgotten. WA's energy minister has urged Collie residents to be "united" in the state government's vision for the future after tempers flared at a community meeting organised by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union last Friday. Bill Johnston, who attended the meeting to hear ideas on the future of Collie's economy and industry, said he was surprised to see the "significant division in the community". Energy minister Bill Johnston at the community meeting. Credit:Ashley Bolt I think that is unhealthy and I would encourage people to be united rather than divided, he said. Youre going to get better outcomes if youre united. Police have seized more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and $1.4 million in cash following several search warrants across Perth on Thursday. Firearms and steroids were also seized in the recent raids. Detective Sergeant Paul Schubert with some of the seized drugs and cash. Credit:phil hickey Police will allege they found $689,000 cash in a car which they stopped near a hotel in Rivervale on Thursday morning. A search warrant in High Wycombe yielded just over 8.4 kilograms of meth and another $809,000 in cash. An ex-police officer from WA who accessed the personal details of almost 100 women using a police computer, the majority of which he found through dating websites or apps, has been jailed for six months. Adrian Trevor Moore, 48, pleaded guilty to 180 charges in total, including 177 unlawful computer access-related charges. Adrian Trevor Moore leaves court after an earlier appearance. Credit:Phil Hickey Moore was also caught with videos and images of women engaged in sex acts with dogs and horses when internal affairs detectives searched his Kelmscott home last year. Extensive details surrounding Moores offending were revealed for the first time in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. Ive spent the night in Northbridge several times in my life but never have I ever welcomed the morning so refreshed and content. The new Doubletree by Hilton hotel is nestled between the tax office and James Street sex shops and as Northbridges tallest building it stands high above the cultural melting pot. The new Doubtletree Hilton. The front of the building is broad and has an imposing presence on James Street but the James Street Bar and Kitchen connected to the hotel helps it assimilate with its neighbours. The lobby is airy and true to the old fashioned Hilton style with a dash of funk to attract a more leisure-focused visitor. A north Queensland dam is nearing double its capacity and has been forced to open the floodgates, prompting the urgent evacuation of a further 100 homes that were expected to be inundated as a result. The amount of water in the Ross River Dam has been described as a "10-year high" by Townsville mayor Jenny Hill and the flooding as a "one-in-100-year event". Sam Salvador rides his bike through floodwaters on the Ross River in the Townsville suburb of Mundingburra on Friday. Credit:Andrew Rankin - AAP "The reason we have taken this decision is to reduce the risk of flooding, based on the best data weve been able to get," Cr Hill said. "Weve got that much water in the Ross River that it is very hard for our drainage system. Swarthmore, PA (19081) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms during the evening, then skies turning partly cloudy overnight. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Getting stung by a bluebottle is an Australian rite of passage, but conventional wisdom around treatment may have been - up until now - all wrong. Forget ice packs or vinegar, the most effective way to manage the pain is simple: hot water. If you are going to the beach in the summer, take an extra bottle of water and let it heat up in the sun or sand; then you are always ready, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Sydney Angela Webster said. There is a common misconception that cold water or ice can alleviate bluebottle stings, but they can speed up the protein in the venom, making the pain more intense, said Professor Webster. The whole of Australia has fewer agents and publishers than the western part of Manhattan. For a literary country of nearly 25million people who are desperate for more choice, we need more publishers of academic subjects along with more non-fiction and independent fiction publishers. Andrew Zbar, Caulfield North Unis have an academic and a cultural role What a shame that in our city of books and the arts, the University of Melbourne has forced a change of direction at a successful publisher, its own MUP. Let us hope that it does not move to curtail the activities of our other Melbourne icon the Melbourne Theatre Company, a department of the university. Surely universities have a community role so well exemplified over the last 60 years. As a taxpayer who partially funds our great universities, I want more from them than important teaching and research outcomes. Fostering cultural activities is surely part of the role, especially from Australia's top university. John Miller, Toorak An obligation to publish scholarly works I applaud the decision of Melbourne University to reconsider its editorial policy and move to regain its former reputation through publishing a greater proportion of scholarly works. Despite the shrill calls from politicians, there is no requirement for the university to publish lightweight pot boilers from former politicians works that will sink without trace whereas it has an obligation to publish scholarly works that will remain valuable references for decades. Robert La Nauze, Camberwell THE FORUM Facing the harsh truth How ironic that Behrouz Boochani won the Victorian Prize for Literature for No Friend But The Mountains (The Age, 1/2) while detained on Manus Island. His memoir provides a picture of how dehumanising it is to be incarcerated illegally, and offers us the opportunity to reflect on the soullessness of the Coalition and Labour parties. Their policies have denied refugees the right to seek asylum. For how much longer will this abuse of human rights be tolerated? People's lives, and hopes, are wasting away. Judith Morrison, Mount Waverley Such flexible guidelines I have been entering writing competitions for many years. The guidelines are always specific: if you do not comply with them, your entry is disqualified. Now I know how to circumvent the system, judging from Behrouz Boochani's win be a refugee, write in a foreign language, get someone else to translate it (hopefully the correct words), and not be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. It seems a bit unfair to all the other writers. Janet Moore, Heidelberg A very worthy winner If ever anyone deserves to be awarded a literary prize, it is Behrouz Boochani. His account of the horrors and utter hopelessness of life on Manus should be required reading for all of us who are sitting comfortably at home, and also for members of a government who put him there in the first place. He deserves recognition not simply because of who he is, but also because of his talent as a writer. I wish him well. Helen Scheller, Benalla Protect our public space Instead of protecting Federation Square, its own management wants to roll in the bulldozers and raze the Yarra Building to make way for an Apple superstore. All this just 12 weeks before the square can receive Heritage Register protection. This is the sort of tactic employed by dodgy suburban developers. With friends like that, Federation Square needs Melburnians to stand up and insist that we keep public space public and retailers in retail zones. Brett de Hoedt, East Prahran The cost of living So an Oxfam report has revealed that 26 billionaires had the same wealth as the poorest 3.8billion people combined, and about half the world's population lives off less than $US6 ($8.26) per day (The Age, 1/2). On what grounds can this inequality be justified? Marcia Roche, Mill Park Bring on federal ICAC The royal commission's report into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (The Age, 1/2) is more a prosecutor's brief. Images of depleted river beds, dead fish and full irrigation dams paints a damning portrait of incompetence for a body specifically established, and funded, to care for the river. If this were a private company dealing with billions of dollars in funding, and statements such as "gross negligence", "maladministration" and accusations of political compromise appeared, it would lead to shareholders requesting a police investigation and pointed questions being asked, probably under oath. However, because this is taxpayers' money, spent with little or no oversight, poorly regulated and with seemingly no accountability, we will not see a police investigation. Any questions will be rebuffed with the now-standard arrogance within government departments to refuse to disclose information they do not wish the public to see. The need for a federal ICAC grows more urgent. Stephen Farrelly, Donvale Release the water now Why are the irrigators who have huge storage dams, such as Cubbie Station, not been required to release water back into the river systems? We can grow cotton and rice from seed any time, but we cannot replace millions of dead fish, wild life, dust bowls of once productive soil and lost cattle and sheep. We have vandalised the river system and there is perhaps a small window of opportunity to rectify this man-made disaster. We must release the stored water. Christina Foo, Wahroonga Real choice at last I am dismayed, but not surprised, by the Liberals' reaction to Julia Banks' decision to run as an independent against Greg Hunt (The Age, 1/2). It has been nothing short of bullying and intimidation. Bring it on, Julia. As a long-time resident of the Flinders electorate, I can assure you that many constituents are looking for a change and many will volunteer to door-knock on your behalf to bring about that change. Until now, the electorate has not had a strong enough candidate to stand against Greg the primary reason he retains the seat. Voters in Flinders now have real choices. Good luck, Julia. Irene Wyld, Cape Schanck Birth of a new party? Are we witnessing the beginning of the splitting of the Liberal Party between genuine liberals, who are now calling themselves "independents", and conservatives? When will the independents unite to form a New Liberal party? Nicolas Low, Port Melbourne The Pollies' pet scheme It is interesting that with the current debate over negative gearing and franking credits, nothing has been said about family trusts. If the need for everyone to pay their fair share of tax is the reason behind the curtailing of these other schemes, why have successive governments looked the other way when it comes to properly taxing family trusts? It would not be that most politicians use this ploy to reduce their tax, would it? Mike Trickett, Geelong Did stimulus really work? Justification of the Rudd government's stimulus to prevent Australia going into recession (Letters, 1/2) is rose coloured glasses through the rear window. The $52billion budget to achieve this end was not money well spent, with no long-term advantages to climate change, education or homelessness. Maybe a recession would have been better for us? It certainly might have halted the mindless accumulation of cheap clothing and decor, and slowed the mantra of "growth at all costs" by our politicians who, in their wealthy bubbles, are insulated from the effects of such growth. I would not worry about Scott Morrison taking us through the next recession. It is clear he will not be here. It behoves us all to vote carefully at the election. Cate Ross, Sandringham Hear us all roar Hear, hear, Christine Vickers (Letters, 31/1), it is high time that architects, designers, builders and retail assistants took notice of the needs of older people. We are set to become a larger part of the population and we have a fair bit of cash to spend. Not only the buttons on microwave ovens cause trouble. Bending down and reaching up becomes harder, magazines with yellow print on white paper are unreadable, sharp corners in the kitchen tear fragile skin. We are invisible to retail assistants or else, with the kindest intentions in the world, 18-year-olds whom we have never seen before call us "darling". We prefer to be treated as adults, and planners, designers and manufacturers need to take notice of our changing needs. Kaye Cole, Princes Hill Risk with hard border A hard border with the European Union in Ireland could very quickly reignite an unending civil war in Northern Ireland, with the prospect of terrorist attacks in English cities. A hard Brexit would not be an error on the part of the UK parliament, but insanity. Tom Quinn, Rowville The haves and have nots The massive injection of additional money more than $4.1billion to Catholic schools over the next decade (The Age, 31/1) defies all logic. There are still scores of state schools with no music teacher, no foreign language, art, drama or science specialists, hopelessly inadequate cleaning budgets, and crumbling buildings. This is obscene in 2019. Tim Mahar, Fitzroy North AND ANOTHER THING Politics Self-funded retirees in Shorten's electorate may take Bowen's advice not to vote Labor. Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir Would a smart independent candidate for Menzies please step forward. Judith Ellis, Templestowe Hunt says Morrison could be "the most extraordinary leader" since Howard. I'll go along with that. Jean Tansey, Berwick I reckon he's the most extraordinary leader since Billy McMahon. Alastair McKean, Greenwich, NSW Sarah Sanders says God wanted Trump to become president. Who would have thought God was a Republican? Garry Meller, Bentleigh Trump claims to be extremely rich. Why doesn't he pay for the stupid wall? George Houlder, Cambrian Hill Banks are outraged over the royal commission's lockout? Boo hoo. And after all they've done for us. Rosemary Taylor, Castlemaine If only Behrouz Boochani could be here to accept his prize, Mr Dutton. Annie Wilson, Inverloch Murray-Darling Which towns along the MurrayDarling will conduct a "book burning" of the royal commission's report? Peter McCarthy, Mentone Littleproud, so proud of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's achievements, is living in Wonderland. Geoff Newton, Glen Iris As Water Minister for four years, what was Joyce doing instead of managing the MDBA? Doug Shaw, Sunbury Furthermore So it's OK to whip horses and have them die on the racetrack, but not OK to administer an electric shock? Strange. Dave Torr, Werribee If part of Fed Square must be demolished for Apple, why not the ugly Transport Building? Bruce King, Malvern Re a policeman testing a pill (1/2). Let's start with festivals and see where it goes from there. Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North Australias poker machine addiction is a national health crisis and it all started in NSW. Thats where the insidious machine rollout began, and thats where the worst of the industry and its political patrons still hang out. Both major parties in NSW have danced to the poker machine industrys tune for way too long. And Friday's revelations about staggering political donations to the major parties shows why the parties dance the way they do. Crime, destitution and suicide - some of the side effects of poker machines. Credit:Peter Braig Too many politicians ignore the truth that poker machine money is blood money, and the industry makes donations to affect a politicians priorities. Well never know exactly how many gambling addicts this has created and how many suicides its caused. But we do know that many more people will suffer and die as a direct result of the current memorandum of understanding co-signed by the poker machine industry and NSW Liberals. Labor is yet to sign this MOU, but it acts like it already has. Federal Labor has vowed to reinstate an independent advisory panel for judicial appointments and extend it for the first time to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, amid concerns the body has been politicised by the Coalition government following a series of Liberal Party-linked appointments. Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said on Friday that Labor would introduce a "robust, accountable and transparent" system for appointing Federal Court, Family Circuit Court and Family Court judges and AAT members, should it win the next federal election. Mark Dreyfus says Labor would reintroduce an independent advisory panel for judicial appointments. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Under the plan, judicial vacancies would be advertised and a shortlist of candidates prepared by an independent advisory panel. The government would be free to make an appointment outside the shortlist, but if it did so it would need to provide an explanation to Parliament. At present, judicial appointments including appointments to the AAT are made by the Attorney-General with no formal advisory process. At first, he said, what they were digging up looked something like a gold Lindt Easter bunny. They paused and took more photos as it became obvious they werent digging up a rabbit. "It was a beautiful pair of buttocks we unearthed," Mr Deschamps said. "We brushed the sand away and had a giggle; we thought it might have been a 1950s art deco candelabra or something. But in another minute of digging we turned up a baby Buddha." They brushed away the sand before gently dislodging the statue from its resting place. Credit:Finn Films The figurine appears to be made of gilded bronze and weighs more than a kilogram, despite its small size. The pair understand it belongs to them, as they were "fossicking" legally in a Main Roads reserve. While there is provision at a federal level for objects of exceptional cultural value to be appropriated by the government, at the moment it appears that possession is nine-tenths of the law and Mr Deschamps and Mr Thompson are comfortable that they have notified all possible stakeholders in considering what should be done with the object. They reported the finding to the WA Maritime Museum, sending photographs and high-definition footage. The Museum, which in such cases is concerned primarily with objects recovered from shipwrecks, suggested they contact WA Chinese community association Chung Wah. The associations council of elders put them in touch with the ambassador to China, whose office is making further inquiries. They have also reached out to the Museum of Chinese Australian History. "Were just white guy Indiana Jones wannabes but weve had a crash course in Buddhism," Mr Deschamps said. "We have also showed expert antique dealers who have not hesitated to identify it as early Ming Dynasty, around 1350-1637. "There are other examples of these from around the world but they are all from later in the Ming Dynasty. This one looks, from its roughness, to be from the early days." The front of the figurine, with the metal detector in the background. Credit:Finn Films The most exciting possible explanation for its presence in WA is the potential it is from a 1421 Ming treasure voyage. This could mean the Chinese visited that region almost 200 years before Dutchman Dirk Hartog landed in 1616. Museum of Chinese Australian History deputy chairman Mark Wang said Ming Dynasty items were rare. "If this Buddha is authenticated as Ming Dynasty, that will be pretty special," he said. Mr Wang said if it was authenticated and was a Ming, there were two ways it could have arrived. First, it could indeed have been left by the great Chinese explorer Zheng He, sent afield by the Chinese Emperor to travel the world during the Ming Dynasty. "He was the earliest great explorer; there werent that many people travelling the world in the 15th century," Mr Wang said. "He was quite an amazing person, who came back with specimens of animals he saw across the world, like giraffes and rhinoceros." Mr Wang said there was conjecture among academics that the Chinese explorers written records suggest he visited a great southern land with hopping animals. "But even if it is authenticated as Ming, it might not necessarily have come here then," he said. "A Ming Dynasty object could have also arrived in the last 150 or so years since the Chinese came to [that area], around the 1870s. "And you cant say that because its here, that a certain course of history took place. "I do know theres a lot of excitement about what it could mean, but it is hard to prove unless you proved the dirt or sand around it was from a certain time and how long it had been in the ground ... that would be a matter for an archaeologist." Mr Deschamps has received informal advice that the general location of the object near the coast, in the vicinity of a pearling camp historically used by Malay/Chinese pearlers, points towards the most likely explanation for its presence; that spirituality and religion was important to South East Asian seafarers and maritime workers, and the Malay/Chinese in the area likely had similar cultural practices. A Chinese Embassy staff member confirmed they were making inquiries regarding the potential relic. "We still need more time to deal with it due to the relatively complicated process of authentication," a spokesperson said. The year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of the first recorded Chinese immigrant to Australia and now, more than 1.2 million residents have Chinese ancestry. A Canberra woman will remain in custody after being charged over an alleged home attack involving the capital's newest bikie gang. Sharon Stott, 58, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday where she pleaded not guilty to a series of seven offences from two separate incidents. She did not apply for bail. The first incident was at Oaks Estate on January 10. Ms Stott is accused of directing Dean Stephen Reid, 30, and others to go to the Oaks Estate home and assault and threaten the occupant. On an earlier occasion the court heard the group had entered the home before Mr Reid, the alleged president of the Canberra chapter of the Satudarah bikie gang, held a knife to his throat and forced him to the ground. They've ridden the bikes, too. More than 8230 trips have been recorded since the start of the six-month trial, and Airbike says it has about 3050 "active users". The numbers are a fraction of those recorded interstate, but Airbike's 200-bike fleet is comparatively small, and the trial is limited to ANU, the city and the parliamentary triangle (though their dockless nature means they are prone to wander). Charlotte England, pictured above, is one of thousands of Canberrans using Airbike to travel around the city. Credit:Jamila Toderas The trip tally indicates most users have ridden the bikes only once, and anecdotal evidence suggests they're used mostly by tourists and university students. Nevertheless, the ACT government is pleased with what it has deemed a popular and largely trouble-free trial. It is allowing the operator to continue beyond the trial's January 31 end date, and has signalled its desire to have a permanent dockless share bike service in the nation's capital. Airbike is keen to roll out electric scooters on Canberra's street, following the technology's successful, albeit controversial, arrival in Queensland. When asked by The Canberra Times why dockless bike sharing appeared to have succeeded in Canberra where it had failed elsewhere, Airbike chief executive Terry Collins pointed to the people. "Canberrans are sophisticated," Mr Collins said last month. The explanation was brief, unscientific and laced with stereotype. But was it untrue? The median income in the ACT is the highest in Australia, and the city is blessed with world-class educational and research institutions. Per capita, there are more patents and trademarks registered in the ACT than any other jurisdiction in the nation, according to the government. For Petr Adamek, the chief executive of the Canberra Innovation Network, the apparent success of the dockless share bike can be explained with the same reasons all innovation and new technology should be able to thrive in the nation's capital. Canberra Innovation Network chief executive Petr Adamek, pictured above, said Canberra is the ideal environment for entrepreneurs Credit:Jamila Toderas "There are smart people here and they are happy to think and give feedback to the innovations," Mr Adamek says. "Canberrans are progressive and willing to try new things, which is really important for the innovation process. For the early stage of that process, it's really important that it's done with people who are open to new things. Failure is normal for them, and if something needs to be broken, it can be broken here [in Canberra] and fixed." Aside from a generally well-off, educated and open-minded population, Mr Adamek says Canberra has a number of characteristics which set it apart from other Australian cities as a breeding ground for startups. These attributes need to be leveraged, he argues, to help Canberra grow into as much a magnet for entrepreneurs as it is for public servants. For one, there's the many diplomatic embassies located in Canberra, which give companies a direct channel to international markets. The innovation network has strong ties with the US, Singapore and New Zealand. The ACT has no local councils, meaning operators do not have to undertake the oftentimes cumbersome task of negotiating with, and being bounced between, multiple levels of government. Then there's the city's size and geography - small, but not tiny, and on the doorstep of rural and regional land - which make it the perfect testing ground for service-based technology. Wing's chief executive James Ryan Burgess said Canberra's reputation for welcoming new technology was behind its decision to invest in the nation's capital. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Such as household delivery drones. Far from its California base, tech company Wing has used the Canberra region as the launching pad for its drone service, conducting trials in Googong, Royalla and now in Tuggeranong. Undeterred by furious and highly-organised community opposition to its Bonython trial, the company has announced plans to start a permanent operation in Mitchell, which is set to offer deliveries to Gungahlin, Franklin, Palmerston and Crace by the middle of the year. Wing chief executive James Ryan Burgess says Canberrans' reputation for being early adopters of new technology is among the reasons it chose to launch its "world-first ongoing delivery operation" in the ACT. The drones - which are marking their final deliveries of burritos, coffee and medical supplies to Bonython residents before the trial ends on Saturday - has attracted headlines across the globe, including in the Wall Street Journal, helping to draw the eyes of the tech world to the Australian capital. Local companies are making their mark, too. More than 650 companies and entrepreneurs are each year passing through programs at the Canberra Innovation Network, which the government launched in 2014 to help accelerate the capital's startup sector. Mr Adamek says the capital's capacity to nurture new enterprise is evident in the success of Seeing Machines, a tech company which develops systems to identify and prevent fatigue among equipment operators. Founded in 1997 at the Australian National University, and now listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Canberra-based company last month announced it would expand its remit to deliver eye-tracking capabilities to a flight simulator at a major national airline. Mr Adamek predicts companies in the defence and cyber-security sector will thrive in the near future, along with startups related to health and well-being in cities. He says the sector did face some headwinds, particularly with the challenge of luring talent away from high-paying jobs in the public service. Australian farmers should be allowed and encouraged to commercially harvest kangaroos to stop environmental degradation and sudden population crashes, researchers have argued. A research paper written by Australian National University zoologist George Wilson said Australia was constantly seeing the rise of unsustainable kangaroo populations that then crash during droughts. A drone photo of a kangaroo stuck in drying mud in the drainage canal of Lake Cawndilla, one of the four Menindee Lakes. Credit:Nick Moir As drought conditions worsen, more kangaroos will starve or be forced into urban areas, leading to more road accidents, Professor Wilson warned. The paper referenced research by ACT park ranger Bethany Dunne in which she estimated Canberrans claimed more than $10 million in insurance from roo collisions between March 2016 and June 2017. Australian Medical Association ACT president Antonio Di Dio thinks he could write a depressing list 100 long of brilliant clinicians to have left ACT's public health system in the past few years. He says years of cultural problems and poor management within ACT's public health system have come at a cost for Canberra. AMA ACT president Dr Antonio Di Dio. Credit:Jamila Toderas Dr Di Dio welcomed the interim report from the independent review into the workplace culture of ACT health services released on Friday, and said it must lead to real change. While the association had called for a more substantial board of inquiry, he's a self confessed optimist and hopeful the latest review of ACT's public health system's cultural problems will be the one to lead to real change. Atlas Elektronic Is Offering Its Next Generation MCM Toolbox for the Belgium-Netherlands MCM Program (Source: Atlas Elektronic Group; issued Jan 31, 2019) Atlas is offering the joint Belgium-Netherlands minehunter replacement tender what it calls its next-generation MCM toolbox, containing influence a mine-sweeping equipment capability, a VTOL drone, mine avoidance sonar as well as the related system integration. (Atlas image) Atlas is defining the standard in naval mine countermeasure systems for decades and is the only overall MCM system supplier providing the complete sensor to effector capability. The actual MCM Vessels operated by Belgium and the Netherlands were integrated by Atlas Elektronic and are equipped with the combat proven Atlas MCM Command and Control System (Integrated Mine Countermeasures System IMCMS).Atlas is offering its next generation MCM toolbox, containing IMCMS, ARCIMS USV, SeaCat AUV, Towed SAS, influenced mine sweeping equipment capability, a vertical take-off and landing drone, mine avoidance sonar as well as the related system integration.The offered system is not just a collection of bits and pieces build up out of proposals of different suppliers, it is a proven, integrated state of the art system and really at the 1.0 level. Atlas offer includes the sophisticated integration into the Combat Management System of the vessels and next to that being able to work on a stand-alone basis.Atlas would be proud to work with the Belgium Navy with respect to the continuous development amongst the procured MCM Toolbox and improve their logistics support. Such a cooperation would minimize costs and enable the involvement of the Belgium industry to a maximum.Next to the life cycle support capabilities of the Belgium industry, Atlas offer is leveraging the local Belgian industry to build the MCM Toolbox 1.0 and in the future the following generations of MCM toolboxes. Already the MCM Toolbox 2.0 could be a common European MCM toolbox aligning European navies. Participating on this common MCM Toolbox will be a big advantage for Belgium industry and all participating navies.The proposed Center for Maritime Autonomy (CMA) lays out the vision of Atlas Elektronik on how the Belgian Navy could succeed in the upcoming new area of naval force development. The Belgian Navy is the ideal partner to launch the CMA because it is agile and open towards new concepts such as the offered MCM toolbox. In adopting a holistic approach to naval innovation, the CMA will foster the Belgian Navy role as a thought and practice leader on maritime autonomy in the 21st century.CMA activities will support the MCM community as early adopters of unmanned technology and will expand to other warfare areas such as ASW, harbor and critical infrastructure protection an. Furthermore, opening up the CMA for cooperation with partners from other European nations (and beyond) strengthens Belgiums strong European vocation and will be instrumental in shaping European thinking on future naval operations with unmanned systems.The CMA is conceptualized as a public private partnership (PPP) between Belgium, Belgian industry, Belgian academia and research institutions and Atlas Elektronic. Consequently, the CMA will be a Belgian institution in Belgium for Belgium.Therefore, the CMA will utilize a comprehensive partnership program to make maximum use of the technology expertise of Belgiums research and industrial ecosystem. In doing so, the CMA will be a major hub within this ecosystem for applied research and development focusing on the naval and maritime application of unmanned systems. In addition, the Center will also become a major gateway for Belgiums partners to connect with international stakeholders and vice versa.The CMA will open up avenues to a broad set of partners:-- In the international defense arena, the CMA could join forces with different Centers of Excellence that have been established e.g. within NATO, the NATO Center for Maritime Research & Experimentation (CMRE) or the European Defense Agency.-- The Belgian defense industry offers opportunities for cooperation through two key clusters the Skywin aerospace cluster of Wallonia and the Flemish Space Industry.-- Besides the defense industry, Belgiums regions offer a vibrant cluster community. For example, the CMA could tap into the Blue Cluster of Flanders (marine industry), the Belgian Offshore Platform in Brussels, or the InfoPole Cluster of Wallonia (information and communication technology, ICT).-- Belgiums startup community is equally vibrant offering opportunities for cooperation in technology fields like robotics and unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, cybersecurity, as well as data analytics.-- In all of these technology fields Belgiums regions also offer most interesting research institutes, such as the two high-performance computing institutions Canaero (Wallonia) and the Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum, the IdLab at the Ghent University with a focus on distributed intelligence and machine learning as well as several research institutes working on additive manufacturing, materials technology and energy management.The CMA will support the Belgian Navys position as lead nation in autonomous naval MCM. The CMA also encompasses Atlas ambition to be part of the next generation of naval warfare systems for the decades to come. As neighbors within the European Union Atlas will be a reliable partner even in times of changing global security environments.Due to Atlas experience as MCM capability provider and our broad customer base, our mission is to develop the next generation of MCM systems.The direct Impact by just considering the BE NL future MCM program and closely related European MCM programs with Atlas involvement in will lead to additional work for the Belgian industry and thus creating hundreds of permanent jobs.This involvement will also include the build, outfitting an integration of the ARCIMS autonomous surface vessels, the related launch and recovery systems, building and integration of combat management consoles and the transfer of technology for the through life support.If the effects on other business in the field of autonomous systems besides MCM (e.g. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), security of critical infrastructure, offshore industry) and secondary effects based on the knowledge built up around the center for maritime autonomy are taken into account a much higher and sustainable impact on the Belgian industry will occur.-ends- NSW Primary Industries minister Niall Blair has dismissed criticism in the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission's final report he had used "crude language" and displayed "grossly irresponsible" behaviour after visiting the site of a massive fish kill on the Darling River. Bret Walker SC, the SA Royal Commissioner, called for an overhaul of the $13 billion basin plan, claiming "maladministration" and "politics rather than science" had effectively made it "unlawful". Some of the thousands of dead fish in the Darling River near Menindee in the second of three mass fish kills in the spate of about five weeks. Credit:Nick Moir The 746-page tome, though, also considered the recent fish die-offs near Menindee in far-western NSW. It said Mr Blair had used "crude language" by telling locals earlier this month that to cancel a planned project to divert some of the future flows from the nearby Menindee Lakes would "blow up" the basin plan. A new report on the struggles of Australian documentary makers has called for the introduction of local production quotas on Netflix and other streaming services. Acclaimed director-producer Tom Zubrycki believes the flourishing streaming sector should be compelled to invest in more Australian drama and documentaries. "Netflix, Amazon Prime and Stan are making millions of dollars from streaming mainly North American- and British-made content onto our various devices," Zubrycki writes in the Currency House Platform Paper The Changing Landscape of Australian Documentary, which is out on Saturday. "These companies must be forced to get involved in Australian-originated documentary projects right from the start." Journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review have dominated the 2018 Westpac Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards, taking out three of the five categories. Adele Ferguson, a multi-award-winning senior business writer and columnist for The Age, SMH and AFR, and former SMH and Age deputy business editor Nassim Khadem, along with the ABC's Lesley Robinson and Lucy Carter, won the global and economic reporting category for their expose, Mongrel Bunch of Bastards Taking on the Extraordinary Powers of the Tax Office. Adele Ferguson adds to her long list of awards. Credit:Simon Schluter The months-long Herald/Age/Four Corners investigation examined how the Australian Taxation Office uses its extensive powers on those a long way away from the big end of town, uncovering a litany of questionable business practices at the ATO. Amanda Hooton, journalist and columnist with the Herald and The Age, was a winner in the personal and consumer finance category for Other People's Money, which ran in the Good Weekend magazine in July. The Australian boss of mining giant Rio Tinto, Joanne Farrell, says it is time for Australia to "get on with it" and deliver constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians. Rio Tinto is one of the biggest employers of Indigenous people in Australia, with the miner employing more than 1500 Indigenous people as well as hundreds more as contractors. Managing director for Rio Tinto's Australian operations, Joanne Farrell, and BHP's CEO Andrew Mackenzie in Perth on Thursday. Credit:CEDA, Dale Watson Energy Images. Her comments come after a powerful joint statement released by miners BHP and Rio on Thursday, in which they endorsed the landmark Uluru Statement from the Heart, released by Indigenous representatives in 2017. The Uluru statement called for the establishment of a First Nations "Voice", to be enshrined in the Constitution. Former Victorian premier John Brumby has resigned from the board of Huaweis Australian operations in a damaging blow to the Chinese technology giant just days after the US government outlined a criminal case against it. Mr Brumbys decision to quit comes two days after The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei executive at the centre of the alleged global criminal conspiracy, established and oversaw the companys activities in Australia between 2005 and 2011. Former Victorian premier John Brumby. Credit:Paul Jeffers The former Labor politicians future at Huawei Technologies (Australia) has been under a cloud since June, after he announced he was reviewing all his directorships upon assuming the role of Chancellor of Melbournes La Trobe University. This weeks release of an indictment against Huawei and key executives by the US Justice Department has increased interest in Mr Brumby's position on the company's board. A jury of eight women and four men was unable to reach a verdict Friday in the federal trial of former drug agent Chad Scott, prompting the judge to order the jurors to take the weekend off but to come back to the courthouse Monday to continue deliberations. Soon after lunch Friday, the jury sent a note to U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo saying that after nine hours of deliberations over two days, they had been unable to reach a verdict on any of the seven counts against Scott, a former star agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Milazzo asked the jurors to continue deliberations, but she did allow them to take a break and walk outside under the supervision of court security officers. During that break, she ordered everyone else associated with the case to remain in the courtroom. A little less than an hour later, the jury sent another note to Milazzo saying they were still deadlocked. After consulting with attorneys for both sides, Milazzo agreed to recess the trial at 3 p.m. but ordered the jurors to resume deliberations Monday. The notes, the first clear indication of which way the jury was leaning in the case, caused a marked change of mood in the courtroom. Scott, his attorneys and family members had been subdued while they awaited the jurys verdict. But after Fridays developments, they were markedly more upbeat, sensing a possible mistrial. Prosecutors, who had been waiting in a conference room in another part of the building, seemed downcast after hearing the jurys questions. The two notes Friday were not the first time the jury had reached out to the judge. Shortly after beginning deliberations Thursday, the jury sent a note asking about a technical element of the two counts of falsification of government records facing Scott. Milazzo consulted with attorneys for both sides before responding, but the question gave an indication the jurors had not dismissed the defense's arguments, which had harped on that same element. Now, however, a mistrial on all counts seems a significant possibility, and with it questions about the future of the case involving Scott and his former task force. The trial and the three-year investigation that proceeded it have cost the government significant time and resources. The two prosecutors are from Washington, D.C., and many of the investigating agents are also from out of state. 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 Ripples from the probe have affected dozens of current and even former prosecutions in southeast Louisiana. Some defendants have had their guilty pleas dropped, while others facing pending charges have seen those charges greatly reduced. Thats especially true of Jorge Perralta, a Houston-based drug trafficker who testified against Scott. Perralta was convicted in a 2016 trial in New Orleans, but his conviction was overturned and he was released after prosecutors determined that Scott and two other witnesses lied under oath in proceedings against him. Those two witnesses, admitted drug traffickers Edwin Martinez and Frederick Brown, also testified against Scott at this trial, saying that he encouraged them to lie at Perraltas trial to enhance the chance of a conviction. Scotts actions around that trial formed the basis for five of the seven counts the jury is deliberating. The other two counts relate to a truck that Scott seized from Brown in Houston. On official DEA forms, Scott said the truck was seized in Metairie. The current trial is the first of two Scott is scheduled to face as the culmination of a three-year investigation into a Metairie-based drug task force he led. Two members of that task force, both former Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office deputies, have already pleaded guilty to federal charges. A third, former Hammond police officer Rodney Gemar, is scheduled to stand trial with Scott in October. Scott left court Friday with one of his attorneys and members of his family. He refused to comment. Prosecutors have declined comment throughout the trial. It was the third clergy sex-abuse list to be released by a Catholic bishop in Louisiana. And it was by far the most transparent. In a notable departure from his counterparts in New Orleans and Houma, Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca on Thursday made public in most cases the number of victims that each clergy member is alleged to have molested and where the abuse occurred. The list released by New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Nov. 2 did not provide that level of detail. Neither did the list put out by Houma-Thibodaux Bishop Shelton Fabre on Jan. 14. When asked why that information was not included in Aymond's list, spokeswoman Sarah McDonald defended the completeness of his disclosure, which included names, birth dates, dates of ordination, estimated times of abuse, years when the allegations were first received, years when clergy members were removed from ministry, and pastoral assignments. Can't see video below? Click here. After appropriate consultation and thorough discussion, we did not feel it necessary to name the place or places where abuse occurred but rather make the faithful aware of all pastoral assignments, McDonald said in a statement. In some cases we were not sure where, or (during) what assignment, the abuse took place. McDonald also said the archdiocese didnt distinguish between a single accusation or multiple allegations because one claim of abuse of a minor is one too many, therefore, no distinction was made. Officials with the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. While the Baton Rouge list is the most detailed accounting given by the church in Louisiana thus far, it is less comprehensive than a number of others released in other parts of the country. For example, a list from Wilmington, Delaware, names both diocesan priests and lay employees. One from Portland, Oregon, contains information about how officials responded or failed to react when presented with clergy abuse accusations. 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 However, those lists surfaced when the corresponding dioceses were in bankruptcy proceedings. David Clohessy, the former national director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Thursday that more detail is always better, and that the extra information Duca provided is vital to understanding offenders histories and to encouraging unidentified victims to come forward. However, he said, to be truly transparent, bishops must include clergy abusers pictures and complete work histories beyond a simple list of pastoral assignments. Its hard to protect your kids from predators if you dont know what they look like or where they are, Clohessy said. Most of the 37 names on Duca's list had not been previously disclosed. They included a prominent priest with ties to New Orleans: George Gensler, accused of abusing multiple victims while working at St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow in the late 1970s. Gensler, now dead, was also a policeman in New Orleans and Lafayette, according to media reports. He additionally worked for former state Attorney General William Guste, who had a high-rise public housing development named after him in New Orleans Central City neighborhood. Another of those named, James Funnel, quit his studies at New Orleans Notre Dame Seminary in 1979. Earlier this decade, the Baton Rouge Diocese said it received information that he had abused multiple victims while serving as a youth minister in Baker in the mid-to-late 1970s, which overlapped with his time as a student-priest. Several priests on Ducas list had previously been named in Aymonds release. Those men had been stationed in parishes that were part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans but were later put under the 58-year-old Baton Rouge Diocese. One such man is Malcolm Strassel, who died in 1987. Strassel, who spent time at St. Agnes in Baton Rouge, served most of his career in New Orleans, attaining the prestigious title of monsignor before a 2009 lawsuit accused him of fondling a boy while at Our Lady of Lourdes in Uptown between 1969 and 1971. The list also included a couple of priests who were among the "credibly accused" clergy disclosed in December by the Jesuit order covering a region that includes Louisiana. One is Thomas Naughton, who ran Manresa Retreat House in Convent in the 1980s. Naughton was removed from his California ministry in 2002 following accusations that he molested a boy when he was president of a Jesuit school in Dallas in 1978. Like others nationwide, the Louisiana lists have been offered as attempts to assuage Catholics disgusted by the continued aftershocks of the U.S. clergy abuse scandal that first hit a fever pitch in Boston in 2002. The scandal boiled over again last summer, when a Pennsylvania grand jury published a report spotlighting unreported allegations of abuse by hundreds of priests. Louisianas four remaining dioceses based in Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Shreveport have said they plan to publish their own rosters of alleged abusers. For all its ham-fisted stupidity, Entergy New Orleans' strategy of paying actors to feign support for a proposed power plant in New Orleans East may turn out to be a boon to the City Council, which now has tons of leverage over the utility. Entergy desperately wants to put the PR debacle behind it amid talk of rescinding the previous council's approval of the power plant. The council, which regulates Entergy, hopes to make a final decision this month on both the fate of the plant and a penalty against ENO for its "astroturfing" stunt. The council utilities committee will consider both matters when it meets Feb. 14. Report: New Orleans City Council calls special meeting to revisit Entergy power plant issue, proposed fine New Orleans City Council members have called a special meeting of the full council in order to introduce a resolution to "rescind and repeal" Meanwhile, Entergy has sent council members a letter outlining a potential compromise. If that leads to some grand bargain, it would be the first smart move the utility has made in quite some time. The letter outlines key concessions by Entergy: Significant help in addressing the Sewerage & Water Board's power-generation challenges; Accelerating improvements to Entergy's distribution system (which brings power to homes and businesses); Cementing the utility's investment in solar power; Containing costs at the new plant; and Clancy DuBos: City council canceling approval of NO East power plant would be dumber than Entergy's PR blunder City Council could rescind approval of power plant Paying the $5 million penalty the council already has announced. That money could help fund infrastructure needs at the S&WB and elsewhere. Both Entergy and the council have good reason to compromise. While the utility sorely needs to repair its image, it also already has spent at least $96 million on the new plant. Rescinding council approval of the facility would trigger a lawsuit that Entergy very likely would win, sticking taxpayers with the tab and leaving them with nothing to show for it. Pull Quote Thanks to Entergy's ill-advised PR stunt, we now get a lot more for our money. Those truths seemed to infuse a statement released Jan. 30 by At-Large Councilwoman Helena Moreno, who chairs the council's utilities committee. Moreno demanded more from Entergy but acknowledged that "New Orleans' ratepayers are on the hook for at least $96 million spent by Entergy since the approval." She said those costs have been verified and "represent an incredibly high 'exit' fee" for scrapping the plant. It now appears Moreno and other council members are ready to resolve these issues provided Entergy steps up. In another major development, the state Department of Environmental Quality green-lighted plant construction the day after Moreno's statement, effectively denying plant opponents' frenzied claims that the generating station poses a life-threatening hazard to neighboring communities. Such claims were just as intellectually dishonest as Entergy's reckless astroturfing move, in my opinion. Entergy painted a blatantly false picture of public support, but opponents likewise falsely created a sense of panic in vulnerable communities, which boosted opponents' turnout against the plant. The real threat to people's lives is not a gas-fired plant that is one-sixth the size of its predecessor and many times safer environmentally but rather an extended summer heat wave (or polar vortex in winter) that produces cascading outages that would leave many New Orleanians without power. Public hearings did not constitute any part of the official record of the City Council's deliberative process regarding the $210 million power plant. That record plainly supports building the plant. Thanks to Entergy's ill-advised PR stunt, we now may get a lot more for our money. After rapping with a mallet on the door, as is tradition, new Bishop of the Baton Rouge Diocese Michael Duca enters the doors of the church at his installment at St. Joseph Cathedral, Friday, August 24, 2018. A boy looks at the border wall, topped with razor wire and bathed in floodlights from the U.S. side, as he walks on the beach Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Tijuana, Mexico. Louisiana isnt last or near last in everything. JACKSON COUNTY -- A trucker accused of running vehicles off Interstate 10, leading to five hours of gridlock during negotiations, faces new charges including one that alleges he was driving impaired. A charge of DUI first offense is the least of legal concerns for Michael Troy Mack, a 33-year-old truck driver said to have threatened law enforcement officers with a machete in Jackson County before he retreated into his disabled 18-wheeler. The DUI charge is a misdemeanor. Can't see video (via The Sun Herald) below? Click here. Mack, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, now faces three aggravated assault charges two filed by the Mississippi Highway Patrol and one from the Jackson County Sheriffs Department. The MHP has also arrested him on a felony pursuit charge. County Court Judge Mark Watts denied bond on the felonies Thursday. The judge said he believes Mack is a danger to the community, sheriffs spokeswoman Marcia Hill 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 the original version of this story from The (Biloxi) Sun Herald, click here Authorities have said the series of incidents that started in Mobile County, Alabama, was caused by road rage. Mack reportedly was hauling a load of paper products for Paschall Truck Lines, based in Murray, Kentucky. Paul Rasmussen, a senior vice president, declined to discuss Macks driving record on Thursday or to say how long Mack has worked for the company. We are cooperating with local law enforcement, Rasmussen said. Several motorists took pictures and video of the 18-wheeler running off the road in Mobile County, weaving in and out of his lane, and running vehicles, including an ambulance, off the interstate. By the time he finally stopped with two shot-out tires about 19 miles inside Mississippi, he retreated into the cab. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said deputies obtained his cellphone number and tried unsuccessfully to get him to give up. Sun Herald: Armed with machete, Baton Rouge truck driver shuts down I-10 in Mississippi JACKSON COUNTY -- A section of Interstate 10 in Jackson County was shut down for nearly five hours while sheriffs negotiators tried to talk a Two men have been arrested in the shooting death of Travis Smart whose body was found last month on the edge of a sugarcane field off Interstate 10 in Iberville Parish. Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi said Smart was killed the night of New Years Eve in Baton Rouge. His body was then dumped in Rosedale just over a mile north of Interstate 10 at the Grosse Tete exit. Darnell Davies, 25, of Baker was arrested on second-degree murder and is accused of pulling the trigger. And Jason Carter, 30, was arrested on principal to second-degree murder, which Stassi said reflects his involvement after the fact. Stassi said additional arrests could follow. He said Smart, 28, was shot multiple times somewhere on North 32nd Street in Baton Rouge. 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 Stassi said his detectives worked tirelessly on the case even though it was "not tied to Iberville Parish except for where the body was found." He also said this is just the latest instance of a body being discovered in the Rosedale area, which has happened several times in recent years. "Sooner or later these criminals will learn that Iberville Parish is not the place to bring crime," Stassi said. "You will be caught and you will be prosecuted. We take great pride in our reputation as a peaceful community (and) we will not allow anyone to tarnish that reputation." The sheriff said an exact motive remains unclear, but investigators believe some kind of altercation took place before the shooting. He said the vehicle that transported Smart's body to the sugarcane field was later found in Mississippi, where those responsible for the death were trying to hide it. Smart's family said he left behind three children, including a baby daughter. They said he was a devoted father who had recently committed to turning his life around after the birth of his youngest child last year. WARSAW, Va. (AP) A man charged with killing his parents and three others in Louisiana before fleeing to Virginia had made the drive north to try to hug and kiss two aunts and a grandmother goodbye, the man's court-appointed attorney in Virginia said Friday. "He basically wanted to say 'I love you, I'm sorry,'" attorney Steve Barnette said. "He knows he's probably never going to see the outside of a jail again." Barnette had represented Dakota Theriot during a brief court hearing at which he declined to fight extradition back to Louisiana. Authorities in Virginia said they expected Theriot to return to Louisiana by plane that day. Theriot faces five charges of murder there in the deaths of his girlfriend, her father and her brother as well as his own parents. The 21-year-old could face the death penalty. Dakota Theriot, who admitted killing 5, waives extradition and will return to Baton Rouge area Dakota Theriot, the man accused of shooting and killing his parents, his girlfriend and two members of her family last weekend, waived extradi Authorities in Louisiana have said Theriot confessed to the killings to investigators who had traveled to Virginia, although they said his motives remain unclear. Friday's hearing in Virginia was Theriot's first court appearance since being arrested outside his grandmother's house Sunday in Warsaw, a small town in a rural area that's about an hour northeast of Richmond. The brief appearance offered no new details on the alleged murders. Theriot showed little emotion and offered polite yes and no responses to the judge, who explained that Theriot had the right to fight extradition. Bound in handcuffs, Theriot awkwardly signed forms at a table. He appeared chained in a blue jail jumpsuit. A deputy kept a hand on the chain throughout the hearing. Barnette, the court-appointed attorney, said Theriot told him he had recently tried to join the U.S. Army but had some sort of falling out with the service during the recruitment process. "He knows he could face the death penalty," Barnette added. "I think he's resigned and understands his fate." Elliott Brown, a staff attorney at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center, had also traveled to Virginia and met with Theriot. The attorney did not speak during the hearing and declined to comment. His organization represents low-income defendants charged with capital crimes. Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith said shortly after the hearing that a plane was already on its way to Virginia take Theriot back to Louisiana. Authorities in Louisiana have said Theriot provided a lot of information to investigators who traveled to Virginia about how the killings unfolded , although a motive remained elusive. "We don't really know what the motive is. We just know what he did," Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said at a news conference Tuesday. 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 Authorities said Theriot had been taken in by his girlfriend's family a few weeks earlier and after he was kicked out of his own house. Summer Ernest, 20, had been dating Theriot for only a couple of weeks. Ard said Theriot told investigators he used a gun he stole from his father to kill her. The other victims were identified as her father, Billy Ernest, 43; brother, Tanner Ernest, 17; and his parents, Keith Theriot and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50. The sheriff said that just a short time before the shootings, Theriot had tagged along with Billy Ernest as he drove his wife to work early Saturday morning. Autopsies for murder suspect Dakota Theriot's parents reveal shots to the head, sheriff says The parents of Dakota Theriot were both shot in the head at their home in Ascension Parish autopsy results show, according to Ascension Parish Summer Ernest and her father and brother were each shot once in the head, Ard said. Two children were in the Ernest home in Livingston Parish a 7-year-old and a 1-year-old Ard said. They went to a neighbor's house and the neighbor called law enforcement. Keith Theriot survived long enough to call 911. When deputies arrived he told them, just before he died, that his son had shot him, authorities said. Theriot's grandmother in Virginia had checked into a hotel Saturday night, fearing he might show up there, authorities said. She asked police to check her house Sunday morning to ensure it was safe. Authorities said deputies were there Sunday when Theriot drove up in Billy Ernest's pickup truck, a gun pointed out the window. Smith, the sheriff for Richmond County, said Friday that the gun was not pointed at the deputies. But they took cover behind their vehicles and told Theriot to stop the truck and drop the gun, which he did, Smith said. "It's a shame it happened," Smith said. "I'm just glad it turned out the way it did here." Smith said Warsaw is a small town in a county of less than 10,000 people. It's rarely involved in cases of this magnitude. He said Theriot has several relatives who live in the area. People who lived with Keith and Elizabeth Theriot said their son had struggled with drugs and had violent outbursts. His relationship with Summer Ernest also raised red flags with her family and friends. In Louisiana, Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre has said he would not oppose the death penalty if prosecutors ask for it. "We know what happened here," Webre said. "He killed five people. So, this is a monster." After closing arguments in which prosecutors said Chad Scott was a corrupt federal agent while defense attorneys called him a victim of lying witnesses, a jury in the trial of the former Drug Enforcement Administration agent deliberated five hours Thursday without returning a verdict. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo recessed the jury just before 5 p.m. Thursday after the eight-woman, four-man panel had not come to a decision on the seven counts Scott faces. Their task, which came after sometimes heated closing statements, was complicated by air conditioning problems in the jury room that made it uncomfortably warm. The jury began deliberating just before noon Thursday after listening to about two hours of closing arguments and half an hour of jury instructions from Milazzo. Scott faces seven counts in this, the first of his two federal corruption trials. The second, on additional counts, is scheduled for October. The seven counts now under deliberation include three counts of obstruction of justice, two of perjury and two of falsification of government records. Closing arguments rehashed the conflicting strategies the two sides have taken during the eight-day trial. Thursday morning, prosecutors repeatedly referred to Scott as a liar and said he abused the power afforded to him by the badge and gun of the DEA. He took that power and twisted, distorted, and abused it for his own purposes, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Duree argued before the jury. Weve proved he lied and cheated and manipulated to get what he wanted. Duree walked the jury through the counts against Scott: two falsification of government forms charges, three obstruction of justice counts and two perjury counts. He argued that Scott saw Frederick Brown, a Houston-based drug trafficker from whom Scott seized a truck in Houston, as a target with a lot of money who could get Scott what he wanted, including arrests and seizures in southeast Louisiana, Scotts territory. Two of the counts Scott faces stem from the seizure forms he filled out about the truck. He claimed to have been given it during a Metairie meeting with Brown. +3 Prosecution completes case at trial of former DEA agent Chad Scott; defense is up next Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday in the federal trial of former narcotics agent Chad Scott, capping a day of testimony that careened from Duree also said that Scott is responsible for the tainted conviction of another drug trafficker, Jorge Perralta. Perralta was convicted in his Jan. 2016 trial, partially on the testimony of Brown and another man named Edwin Martinez. Prosecutors allege Martinez and Brown lied at Scott's behest, believing that the agent could help them get lower sentences. Scott is also accused of lying under oath during a Perralta hearing. Perralta's conviction was overturned, and Duree blamed Scott. 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 It was not the United States who gave Perralta a get-out-of-jail card. It was defendant Scott, Duree said. Defense attorney Stephen Garcia attacked the governments case as flawed and accused prosecutors of using the term corruption in an effort to tug at your heartstrings. Consider the witnesses, he said. Drug dealers, who send poison into our schools, pistol whip other men with their four-year old daughters sleeping nearby, a reminder to the jury that Martinez admitted beating another man while his daughter slept in a car. Garcia repeated the defense assertion that the testimony against Scott had been coerced by prosecutors with the power to shorten life sentences. Cooperating defendant testimony like that of drug traffickers Frederick Brown, Edwin Martinez and former deputy Karl Newman is like quicksand, Garcia said. Prosecutors dont care what lie (a witness) tells as long as its the lies they want, Garcia said. At one point, Garcia said that the prosecutors had misled the jury, prompting an angry Mr. Garcia! from Milazzo, who called the attorneys up for a bench conference. Another bench conference followed an objection by Duree, who accused Garcia of misconstruing testimony. Garcia closed by noting that Scott, even in the midst of a 2004 reprimand, was commended for being committed to DEAs objectives, which include disrupting and dismantling illegal narcotics networks. The people who testified in this trial, he disrupted and dismantled their drug cartels, he disrupted and dismantled their armed robberies, Garcia argued. Now, by testifying against Scott, they have an opportunity to get back." Thursdays arguments played out in front of a packed courtroom with supporters of Scott filling several rows of the gallery behind the defense table and a legion of federal agents and interested onlookers filling the rest and standing along the back wall. The jury will return at 9 a.m. Friday to resume deliberations. The French Settlement police chief is now a convicted felon after he pleaded no contest to malfeasance in office Friday, resolving a case that has effectively ended his decades-long law enforcement career in the village. Harry Brignac was arrested twice on malfeasance in office last fall, first on accusations he was using public funds to buy gas for his personal vehicle and later because authorities said he directed his wife to drive his marked police unit even though she had a suspended license. He resigned from the elected position of police chief in October following his second arrest. French Settlement police chief steps down after second malfeasance arrest French Settlement's police chief stepped down from his elected position on Wednesday, a day after his arrest on counts of malfeasance in office. The 21st Judicial District Attorney's Office said in a news release Friday that Brignac entered a plea of no contest to one felony count of malfeasance in office. He was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for one year. His plea encompassed both allegations. French Settlement is a village of 1,200 people in southern Livingston Parish. The police department has two officers and a chief of police. Brignac served as chief for seven terms after first being elected in 1988. His most recent term would have expired in 2020. "The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office did a very thorough and professional job with this investigation," said 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. "While it is never a desirable situation to prosecute a law enforcement official, it is important for the public to know that we will always hold them accountable when it is proven that the law has been broken." 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 French Settlement aldermen appoint interim police chief, replacing indicted Harry Brignac The board of aldermen in French Settlement appointed an interim police chief Thursday night to replace Harry Brignac, who resigned two weeks a Brignac was also ordered to pay court costs and $60 in restitution to the town of French Settlement. Court documents indicate the former police chief was captured on video using his town fuel card to buy $60 worth of gas for his personal vehicle in May. Investigators also noted several other "questionable transactions," most stemming from the fact that Brignac was reporting miles per gallon well below what his vehicle should have been getting. When reached for comment Friday, his attorney Sherman Mack emphasized that Brignac had pleaded no contest, which means he didn't admit guilt. "After over 30 years of exemplary law enforcement service, he felt like this was what he needed to do to put this behind him," Mack said. "At this point, he's retired and ready to move on with his life." Officials also noted in the news release that Brignac is not the only small town police chief in Livingston Parish to face similar allegations in recent months. Former Killian Police Chief Dennis Hill also pleaded no contest to a malfeasance count in December after a legislative auditor's report found he was billing the town for hours he didn't work and similarly misusing his fuel card. Lubbock, TX (79409) Today Partly cloudy and windy. High 78F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 59F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Dakota Theriot, the man accused of shooting and killing his parents, his girlfriend and two members of her family last weekend, waived extradition in a Virginia courtroom Friday and is expected to return to the Baton Rouge area before the end of the day. Theriot has admitted to killing the five with a gun stolen from his father. He fled to the East Coast after last Saturday's killings in suburban Baton Rouge and deputies arrested him Sunday morning outside his grandmother's house near Warsaw, Virginia. He appeared in a Richmond County courtroom Friday morning, his first court appearance since his arrest. He faces five murder counts. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said in a news release that Theriot wouldn't fight his extradition, meaning authorities can transport him back to Louisiana as soon as possible. Sheriff's office spokeswoman Allison Hudson said he is expected to arrive sometime Friday but declined to say how he would travel. Authorities have previously said he will be booked first in Ascension Parish then in Livingston Parish. Theriot is accused of killing Summer Ernest, 20, a woman that investigators, family members and neighbors described as his girlfriend. Also dead are her father Billy Ernest, 43, and a brother, Tanner, 17. Theriot had been living with the Ernest family for about two weeks before the killings. Deputies say that, after killing the three near Walker, Theriot drove to his parents' home near Gonzales and killed his parents, Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, both age 50. Preliminary autopsy results revealed that all five were shot in the head. A motive has not been determined. A public defender appointed to represent Theriot in Virginia told The Associated Press on Friday that Theriot drove to Virginia after the killings to hug and kiss his relatives there goodbye. "He wanted to say 'I love you, I'm sorry,'" attorney Steve Barnette said. "He knows he's probably never going to see the outside of a jail again." 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 Theriot pulled up outside his grandmother's house Sunday morning, pointing a gun out the window of Billy Ernest's pickup truck after the overnight drive from Louisiana. The Associated Press reported Theriot showed little emotion during his hearing Friday morning and didn't appear to acknowledge his relatives in the courtroom. "He knows he could face the death penalty," Barnette said. "I think he's resigned and understands his fate." Autopsies for murder suspect Dakota Theriot's parents reveal shots to the head, sheriff says The parents of Dakota Theriot were both shot in the head at their home in Ascension Parish autopsy results show, according to Ascension Parish Public records show Theriot's life has been marked with a series of struggles, including emergency mental health commitments stemming from violent threats toward his relatives and a history of drug use and domestic abuse. He had been kicked out of his parents' house less than a month before the killings. During a news conference addressing the case earlier this week, authorities described him as a "monster" but didn't elaborate on his confessions or demeanor. Theriot had lived with his maternal grandparents in Virginia for some time in his teenage years before moving to Louisiana where he lived with his parents. +2 Funeral plans announced after Dakota Theriot allegedly kills five 5 in Livingston, Ascension One family that lost three loved ones to accused mass murderer Dakota Theriot announced funeral plans Wednesday, while another family learned A man once described as a "crusading priest-cop coming to the Cajuns' rescue" now stands accused of sexual abuse from his time as a priest 40 years ago in Ascension Parish. George Gensler, a diocesan priest and former police officer in New Orleans and Lafayette, was among 37 Roman Catholic clergy members identified Thursday by the Diocese of Baton Rouge as being credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor or a vulnerable adult. In law enforcement and in the church, Gensler portrayed himself as a hard-liner and a rule-follower, willing to blast those with different points of view. In 1976, Gensler put himself in the middle of a dispute between Lafayette's mayor and police chief, claiming the mayor was interfering by trying to get him to negate gambling charges against someone he arrested twice in six months for the same offense, the Times-Picayune reported. "It was an abomination of law enforcement work," Gensler proclaimed, describing his view of the mayor's interference. Can't see video below? Click here. And as a spiritual director for a diocesan prep school in Baton Rouge, Gensler blasted former New Orleans Archbishop Philip Hannan. Gensler claimed Hannan improperly interceded on behalf of the now-disgraced progressive Rev. Dan Drinan during the then-Claretian priest's tumultuous tenure at LSU's Christ the King Catholic Student Center. Former Baton Rouge Bishop Joseph Sullivan removed Drinan from Baton Rouge in 1979 amid the fallout. Both Drinan and Sullivan were also revealed Thursday to have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. "The lines of the church and in the history of the church are being drawn in the diocese," The Advocate quoted Gensler as saying in a morning Mass in 1979. "We must start raising our flag and our colors as in the days of old of battle. And to make it known whether we stand with the church or against it, whether we will follow a person into cultism or we'll follow Jesus Christ into Heaven." Throughout his life, Gensler served in positions of utmost trust and authority, both in law enforcement and as a priest. He began his career as a New Orleans Police officer before turning to the seminary, being ordained in the Diocese of Lafayette in 1970, according to news archives. There, he worked as a chaplain with the Lafayette Police Department. But in 1973, he decided to reclaim his place on the streets as a regular officer. +8 Baton Rouge bishop releases names of 37 clergy accused of abuse, two dozen never known before Bishop Michael Duca on Thursday released the names of 37 Roman Catholic clergymen credibly accused of sexually abusing minors the first majo When Gensler was sworn in as an officer with the Lafayette Police Department, then-chief Roland Dart said Gensler, an ordained priest, would make a great addition to the force. Dart told The Advocate in 1973 that Gensler would perform the usual functions of a police officer, but he planned to take advantage of Gensler's specialized training that would make him useful in youth programs. It isn't known whether Gensler committed any sexual abuse while he was in Lafayette or New Orleans. Neither the New Orleans Police Department nor the Lafayette Police Department responded to requests for comment by Thursday evening. Gensler died in 2016. According to the list from the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Gensler was first reported to the diocese in February 1994 for abuse that occurred in the late 1970s while Gensler was a priest at St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow. That 1994 report appears to have led to his ouster, as he was removed from the ministry that same year. But recent allegations indicate the extent of Gensler's abuse may not be known. Just three months ago, another person came forward to the diocese to report Gensler had abused them during the late 1970s, the diocese said. At a news conference Thursday, Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca said several people have come forward recently to tell their stories about being abused, perhaps for the first time. Some of those stories were about priests who were known to the church already. Duca encouraged more survivors to share their stories. "We want to talk about this, and we want victims who have not come forward to come forward," Duca said. +3 A victim of Catholic sex abuse steps forward as Baton Rouge bishop releases list of clergy accused of abuse As Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca released the names Thursday of 37 clergy members who had been credibly accused of sexual abuse, a man who s Gensler served as the priest at St. Anthony of Padua from 1979 to 1994, according to the church's website. He also served at Our Lady of Mercy in Baton Rouge and as a spiritual director at St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory Diocesan Seminary, where Gensler would have interacted with teenage boys. At least one of the three men who said former Baton Rouge Bishop Joseph Sullivan abused them alleged that his abuse happened at the same seminary, which closed in 1978. Rev. Keun-Soo Lee, the current priest at St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow, said he was not aware of the abuse until the diocese released the list Thursday. He said the parishioners were informed today when Duca released the list, but he had not received any calls about it as of midafternoon. "Personally, I have no idea what the heck was going on at that time," Lee said. The Diocese of Baton Rouge revealed Thursday that Roman Catholic priests and a seminarian have been accused of sexually abusing minors or vulnerable adults at 31 church parishes across the decades. Four parishes had multiple accused priests, and two of them in Baton Rouge may have had other wolves among the flock. The Diocese covers 5,500 square miles across 12 civil parishes along and near the Mississippi River. All but St. Helena Parish had at least one allegation of abuse in the last half of the 20th Century. Using records provided by the Diocese, The Advocate determined that St. Aloysius in Baton Rouge, St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant and St. Joseph Worker in Pierre Part each had two priests who were accused of abusing parishioners. The diocese said after a news conference Thursday that it was seeking more information after receiving credible complaints about a volunteer who had worked at St. Aloysius and a priest at St. Thomas More. Can't see video below? Click here. Formal reports of abuse have come in over the decades and continue to trickle in even today. Last September, someone reported abuse at the hands of the Rev. David Chaloux of St. Aloysius. Another person came forward in December to accuse the Rev. David Joseph Clark of St. Thomas More. During his news conference Thursday, Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca addressed the most recent allegations and handed out letters that will be read at those parishes at each Mass this weekend about the fresher allegations. Duca said the Diocese will continue to make credible abuse allegations public as the Diocese receives and investigates them. This is a process that were doing to help build trust, but to also help, hopefully, create a platform where people see we want to talk about this and hopefully victims who have not come forward come forward, Duca said. Secretaries at St. Aloysius, St. Thomas More and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant declined comment when contacted Thursday. The office at St. Joseph Worker in Pierre Part could not be reached by telephone. Duca said Thursday the Diocese received credible allegations that a church volunteer at St. Aloysius, the late Everett Gauthier Sr., sexually abused parish altar boys while volunteering at the church in the mid-1960s. At St. Thomas More, church officials are seeking possible leads on a priest who sexually abused a parishioner in the mid-1970s. The victim was not certain of the identity of the perpetrator but it is believed to be a priest, Duca said. The current search for the answers builds on years of reported abuse at the two parishes, which both have elementary schools at them. +5 Baton Rouge bishop includes more details on alleged sex abusers than New Orleans, but why? It was the third clergy sex-abuse list to be released by a Catholic bishop in Louisiana. And it was by far the most transparent. The reported abuse at St. Thomas More happened in the parishs infancy. The parish, founded in 1958, saw two priests, Clark and the Rev. Rodrique Hemond, accused of abusing parishioners in the mid- to late 1960s. The men were at the parish at about the same time and their tenures may have overlapped. Allegations against Hemond were made in 1992 and twice in 2002. At St. Aloysius, Chaloux and the Rev. Clyde Landry were accused of sexually abusing parishioners in the 1970s and 1980s, though it isn't clear whether they were assigned to the parish at the same time. Chaloux is listed in The Advocate archives as an officiant for more than a dozen weddings at the church in 1972 and 1973. Whether the priests faced repercussions is vague. According to The Advocate archives, Chaloux served at least one other parish, St. John the Baptist in Brusly, after leaving St. Aloysius, and returned to lay life in 1986. He died in 1990, 28 years before allegations against him came to light. +3 A victim of Catholic sex abuse steps forward as Baton Rouge bishop releases list of clergy accused of abuse As Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca released the names Thursday of 37 clergy members who had been credibly accused of sexual abuse, a man who s Landry, who was accused of abusing children at multiple parishes between the 1970s and 1980s, was first reported to the Diocese in 1988. But he remained in the priesthood despite leaving the Diocese of Baton Rouge and worked at an infamous home in New Mexico to rehabilitate pedophile priests. His priestly faculties were not removed until 1999, and more allegations of his past abuse surfaced in 2002 and 2004. Clark and Hemond, both of St. Thomas More, left the diocese and were returned to the supervision of their respective religious orders. Clark was reassigned by the Claretian Missionaries in 1965, and Hemond left the diocese in 1968. His victims were later referred to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. OPELOUSAS Over 200 citizens from St. Landry Parish along with local elected officials spoke out Thursday against a proposal by Lafayette company Eagle Oil LLC to drill an injection well near the Beggs community. The nearly three-hour public hearing, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' Office of Conservation at The Delta Grand Theater, included concerns from residents regarding the Chicot Aquifer, heavy traffic along the area's main highways and health risks to nearby residents. The proposed well site is near the Thistlethwaite Wildlife Management Area. The Office of Conservation has received over 500 letters of opposition, and a petition with over 500 signatures was presented during the meeting. The injection well will be designed to dispose of chemicals and water used in fracking. No one from Eagle Oil attended the meeting. Attempts to reach the company Friday morning were unsuccessful. "It's a beautiful community that will never be the same if this gets approved. ... It will destroy our community," said St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot. "I'm respectfully representing this community and I'm pretty sure there's no one here that's inviting this project. The industry may need something like this, but we don't want that here and we hope the state office would respect that and the governor would respect that." St. Landry Parish council members Harold Taylor and Ken Marks, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz, State Rep. Dustin Miller and environmental group representatives also spoke out against it. Many said an approval would make the area the "dumping ground of St. Landry Parish." Inside info on doing business in Acadiana We'll keep you posted on the Acadiana economy. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up William Landreneau, who was secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries under Gov. Kathleen Blanco and owns property nearby, said the company's application appears to meet necessary criteria for an injection well. He also accused Eagle Oil of misrepresenting the facts. The Office of Conservation, he noted, should visit the site, which includes a nearby pipeline. The entrance to the site, he noted, is along significant curve along La. 182, which will cause a "tremendous safety hazard for people who travel that highway," and detail that was not allowed when he worked for the state. Other concerns from residents included making it harder for farmers to grow crops and get them to market, safety for children who live along the highways and worries of contamination of the nearby St. Landry Solid Waste landfill. "The letter Eagle Oil sent us said the impact to the community and environment would be negligible...," said Norman Guillory, who lives in Washington. "We are not ignorant country bumpkins. One accident resulting in a rupture or leakage from either the trucks or at the site can destroy lives, homes, our health, businesses, our water source, even the very land we love. "Eagle Oil does not have the funds to repair or replace the irreplaceable. You're playing a cruel version of Russian roulette with the barrel aimed at our lives, our homes, our land and our future." Officials from Leonardo Helicopters and local elected officials celebrated the grand opening of the companys Gulf of Mexico Support Center in Broussard on Thursday. The Italian company, which specializes in military and commercial rotorcraft, opened its 21,000-square-foot facility that will provide blade repair, spare parts and technical support and will employ 15 people. Leonardo has over 700 helicopters in service across the Americas. The support center is located at 1036 QCP Park Drive just west of U.S. 90 Leonardo Helicopters is opening in Broussard, Louisiana to bring regional support to our Americas-based customers, said Mike Hotze, Leonardo Helicopters Vice President of Customer Support and Training. By localizing customer support in the Gulf of Mexico region, we will deliver the highest level of quality and service. The company's move to expand its footprint along the Gulf Coast was due to customer feedback and growing market success, allowing it to increase service to regional customers Arrow Aviation, Bristow, ERA, PHI and others. It plans to double its employment by 2023. Leonardo also has support centers in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Nevada and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lafayette and Acadiana anchor an aviation industry that has served the energy, training and emergency services sectors for decades," said Gregg Gothreaux, Lafayette Economic Development Authority president and CEO. "The establishment of Leonardo Helicopters facility will build on the regions long-standing aviation history. Leonardo will provide quality employment opportunities for our regions experienced aviation and manufacturing workforce. George Graham, Acadiana Table food blogger and author and President of the Graham Group exudes passion. He has passion for life, Cajun and Creole cooking, for photography and for Lafayette. He spoke with Jan Swift of the Discover Lafayette podcast. You can listen to it here. Graham began his award-winning food blog in 2012, which eventually led to a collection of stories and recipes published in his cookbook, Acadiana Table: Cajun and Creole Home Cooking from the Heart of Louisiana. In this Discover Lafayette interview, George Graham discusses his adventure with food, which began with his first dish, a grilled cheese sandwich he made when he was 5. Growing up in Bogalusa, he stirred the pot in his dads restaurant, the Acme Cafe. After college, George worked with the Lafayette-based Chart House group, owner of over 500 restaurants throughout the U.S. One of the reasons Lafayette has spawned such a robust restaurant culture, Graham said, is because so many people employed by Chart House have developed their own restaurant concepts. Graham also talked about how on a trip to France he realized the regions farm to table, fresh approach to its cuisine mirrored the focus on fresh food in Acadiana. Ada, OK (74820) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Posted Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:00 pm Officers responded Dec. 31 to the report of stealing a controlled substance and threats in the 300 block of Zoll Street. Officers responded Dec. 28 to the report of a single motor vehicle collision involving a tree. After an investigation, the case was transferred to the state. John M. Abrams, 30 was arrested Jan. 1 when officers responded to the report of domestic assault in the 700 block of Streck Court. Abrams was arrested on a charge of aggravated domestic assault. Wesley J. Romans, 24, was arrested Jan. 1 when officers responded to the report of a road rage disturbance at North College and East Gay streets. Romans was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana. James E. Campbell, 35, was arrested Jan. 1 when officers conducted a subject check in the 700 block of South Maguire Street. Campbell was arrested on probation and parole warrant. Brandon C. Tope, 32, was arrested Jan. 1 when detectives conducted a narcotics investigation in the 900 block of Anderson Street. Tope was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and domestic assault. Michelle L. Young, 41, was arrested Jan. 2 when officers responded to the report of a disturbance in the 400 block of North Maguire Street. Young was arrested on a Warrensburg municipal warrant. Cody A. Campbell, 28, was arrested Jan. 2 when officers responded to the report of disturbing public peace in the 100 block of West Culton Street. Campbell was arrested on a charge of disturbing public peace. Roy H. Carlyle, 59, was arrested Jan. 2 when officers conducted a traffic stop near North Holden Street and Hawthorne Boulevard. Carlyle was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and speeding. Alexis M. Rietbrock, 19, was arrested Jan. 3 on a Johnson County warrant. Michael S. McNeill, 25, was arrested Jan. 3 on a Johnson County warrant. Shirree J. Williams, 30, was arrested Jan. 3 when officers responded to the report of fraud in the 700 block of South Maguire Street. Williams was arrested on a Johnson County warrant. Destiny S. Lukecart, 18, and Trevor D. Payne, 23, were arrested Jan. 3 when officers responded to the report of a disturbance in the 400 block of East Culton Street. Lukecart and Payne were each arrested on a charge of domestic assault. Officers responded Jan. 1 to the report of shoplifting in the 300 block of North Maguire Street. Officers responded Jan. 2 to the report of a dumpster fire int he 700 block of Culton Street, assisting the Warrensburg Fire Department. After an investigation, the fire was determined to be intentional but no damage was done. A possible subject was identified. Officers responded Jan. 2 to the report of a motor vehicle collision involving a pole at South Street and Holden Street. Upon officers arrival, the vehicle had left the scene of the accident. Investigation is ongoing. Officers responded Jan. 2. to the report of stealing of motor vehicle parts that occurred Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 in the 100 block of West Market Street. Investigation is ongoing. Officers responded Jan. 2 to the report of stealing of motor vehicle parts in the 100 block of West Pine Street. Officers responded Jan. 2 to the report of found property in hte 300 block of North Holden Street. Investigation is ongoing. Officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of forgery the occurred Jan. 1 in the 300 block of East Cooper Boulevard. Christopher McMahan, 22, was arrested Jan. 1 when officers responded to the report of a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of Meadowbrook. McMahan was arrested on charges of domestic assault and driving while intoxicated. Officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of stealing in the 700 block of North Holden Street. Officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of burglary and theft that occurred between Dec. 5 and Jan. 3 in the 600 block of Meadowbrook. Investigation is ongoing. Officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of burglary and theft that occurred between Dec. 10 and Jan. 3 in the 100 block of West Culton Street. Officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of theft from a vehicle in the 700 block of East Culton Street. Brenden L. Delaney, 32 and Nicole J. King, 26, were arrested Jan. 4 after officers responded Jan. 3 to the report of domestic assault in the 600 block of West Clark Street. Delaney was arrested on charges of trespassing and unlawful use of a weapon. King was arrested on charges of trespassing and domestic assault. Travis M. Gutridge, 38, was arrested Jan. 4 when officers responded to the report of forgery in the 700 block of South Maguire Street. Gutridge was arrested on a charge of forgery. Alliah J. McClendon, 22, was arrested Jan. 5 when officers responded to the report of a disturbance in the 200 block of Hunt Avenue. McClendon was arrested on a Montgomery City warrant. Dashawn Washington, 24, was arrested Jan. 6 after officers responded to the report of armed robbery Dec. 13 in the 300 block of King Street. A report of the incident was sent to the prosecute for charges. Washington was arrested on a charge of disturbing public peace. Cody A. Campbell, 28, was arrested Jan. 6 when officers responded to the report of trespassing in the 100 block of South Holden Street. Campbell was arrested on a charge of trespassing. Gavin R. Guy, 19, was arrested Jan. 6 when officers conducted a traffic stop near College and Gay streets. Guy was arrested on charges of no proof of insurance, driving left of center and driving while intoxicated. Barbara M. Forgey, 30 was arrested Jan. 6 when officers conducted a traffic stop at Maguire and Culton streets. Forgey was arrested on charges of no proof of insurance, improper registration and driving without a valid license. Paige L. Ruona, 18, was arrested Jan. 5 when officers conducted a traffic stop at Russell and Maguire streets. Ruona was arrested on a Johnson County warrant. Angela M. Fewell, 37, was arrested Jan. 7 on a Johnson County warrant. Hannah M. Devries, 41, was arrested Jan. 7 when officers responded to the request for an agency assist in the 20 block of East Oak Street. Devries was arrested on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Tyler J. Spangler, 23, was arrested Jan. 7 when officers responded to the report of domestic disturbance in the 400 block of West North Street. Spangler was arrested on charges of property damage and assault. Paul A. Travis, 46, was arrested Jan. 7 on a Lees Summit warrant. Jaheed I. Curry, 17, was arrested Jan. 7 when officers responded to the report of assault in the 400 block of West Culton Street. Curry was arrested on a charge of domestic assault. Samuel D. Smith, 40, was arrested Jan. 8 when officers responded to the report of failure to comply with a court order in the 200 block of South Holden Street. Smith was arrested on a charge of failure to comply with a court order. Makaula S. Hawkins, 21, and Alexis T. Ceja, 22, were arrested Jan. 8 when officers conducted a traffic stop in the near the 500 block of Broad Street. Hawkins was arrested on charges of turn/hand signal required and possession of marijuana. Ceja was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana. Jacob R. Stagl, 34 was arrested Jan. 5 when officers responded to a subject waving them down in the 600 block of West Clark Street. Stagl was arrested on charges of property damage and trespassing. Stagl was later arrested Jan. 8 when officers responded to the report of disturbance in progress. Stagl was arrested on charges of nibrs only/assault, assault, resisting arrest for a felony, domestic assault, burglary, property damage and kidnapping. Michelle M. Bryant, 24, was arrested on two warrants in another jurisdiction. Blake M. Wedge, 25, was arrested Jan. 8 when officers responded to the report of a fire next to a dumpster in the 800 block of Prairie Hill Drive. Wedge was arrested on two charges of knowingly burning or exploding and two charges of property damage in various incidents. Wedge was later arrested Jan. 9 on a charge of property damage. Officers responded Jan. 5 to the report of stealing from a motor vehicle. Officers responded Jan. 5 to the report of stealing from a motor vehicle that occurred between Jan. 4 and Jan. 5. Officers responded Jan. 5 to a public affray in the 200 block of East Culton Street. Officers responded Jan. 6 to the report of stealing from a vehicle that occurred between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6 in the 400 block of Hawthorne Boulevard. Officers responded Jan. 6 to the report of stealing from a motor vehicle in the 600 block of Springridge Road that occurred between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6. Officers responded Jan. 6 to the request for an agency assist in the 500 block of East Market Street. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of theft in the 700 block of North Charles Street that occurred between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of theft from a vehicle that occurred in the 700 block of of North Charles Street. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of trespass of motor vehicles in the 900 block of Ridge Drive. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of a fire in the 800 block of Prairie Hill Drive. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of a fire in the 1000 block of Hawthorne Boulevard. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the report of domestic assault in the 1000 block of Bedford drive. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the report of stealing in the 1300 block of Stahl Drive. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the report of an animal bite in the 600 block of Springridge Road. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the report of stealing from a motor vehicle in the 400 block of Jefferson Street that occurred between Jan. 7 and Jan. 8. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the report of stealing from a motor vehicle in the that occurred in the 1200 block of Vest Drive between Jan. 4 and Jan. 5. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the report of stealing in the 100 block of South Holden Street that occurred between Dec. 31 and Jan. 8. Officers responded Jan. 7 to the 500 block of Christopher Street where a subject stated that their childs other parent did not return the child as per court order. The other parent was contacted and stated that they would not bring the child to the subject. Officers responded Jan. 8 to the 500 block of North Maguire Street where a subject stated that the other parent of their children was not complying with court orders regarding their children. Christopher E. Blake-Ricks, 45, was arrested Jan. 9 when officers conducted a vehicle and subject check in the 300 block of East Young Street. Blake-Ricks was arrested on a Johnson County warrant. Nicholas J. Marcotte, 33, was arrested Jan. 9 when officers conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Burkarth Road. Marcotte was arrested on a Warrensburg municipal warrant. Michelle L. Lewis, 48, was arrested Jan. 9 after officers responded to the report of a hit and run Dec. 30 that occurred in the 500 block of Creach Drive. Lewis was arrested on charges of property damage and leaving the scene of an accident. Lonnie E. Nelson, 17, was arrested Jan. 9 on a Johnson County warrant. Brian A. Cooper, 40, was arrested Jan. 9 after a shooting that occurred Nov. 1 in the 100 block of West Pine Street. Cooper was arrested on charges of property damage, unlawful use of a weapon, terrorist threat, assault and armed criminal action. Robert D. Vanblaricon, 30, was arrested Jan. 9 on a parole violation warrant. Daquon W. Cole, 19, was arrested Jan. 9 when detectives conducted a subject check at Main and King Streets. Cole was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Kimberly L. Konomos, 48, was arrested Jan. 9 when officers conducted a traffic stop at Holden and Marshall streets. Konomos was arrested on charges of improper registration and driving without a valid license. Officers responded Jan. 9 to the report of found property in the 400 block of Broad Street. The found property, being drug paraphernalia, was placed into evidence for destruction. Officers responded Jan. 9 to the report of attempted burglary that occurred between Jan. 6 and Jan. 8 in the 800 block of East Hale Lake Road. Officers responded Jan. 9 to the report of sexual assault that occurred Jan. 7 in the 600 block of Burkarth Road. Officers responded Jan. 9 to an alarm in the 300 block of Hawthorne Boulevard. Unknown suspects fled the scene prior to officers arrival. Officers responded Jan. 9 to the report of a burglary in progress in the 100 block of North Maguire Street. Two subjects forced entry into the building, causing property damage and stole a cash drawer. Investigation is ongoing. Sylvia M. Laube, 23, was arrested Jan. 10 on a Pettis County warrant and a Warrensburg warrant. Tyray D. Turner, 37, was arrested Jan. 10 on a charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and three charges of receiving/possessing stolen property in relation to three incidents. Melissa A. Meineke, 38, and Robert E. Brumley, 48, were arrested Jan. 10 when officers conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Carpenter Street. Meineke was arrested on charges of failure to maintain financial responsibility, possession of a controlled substance/dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended/revoked license, possession of a controlled substance/amphetamine. Brumley was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance/dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance/amphetamine. Dylan P. Myers, 21, was arrested Jan. 11 when officers pulled up on an abandoned vehicle at Maguire and Grover streets that had been involved in an vehicle accident at Maguire and Railroad streets. Myers was arrested on charges of Motor vehicle accident, careless and imprudent driving and driving while intoxicated. Ada, OK (74820) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Vendors will try to scare you to death to sell you their products. Dont fall for it, says an IBM vendor who sells security systems to military groups. At the Hot Topics in Tech track at ITEXPO in Fort Lauderdale yesterday, IBM security evangelist Westley McDuffie invoked Dwight Eisenhower when he told the assembled crowd that the desire to achieve absolute security might very well bankrupt your company. I preach the gospel of security, McDuffie says. He works with nations and governments, rather than corporations and businesses. The difference is, if you mess with my clients, they can kill you. McDuffie used statistics to reinforce his claim that vendors will sell you what you dont need. He says 75% of security threats can be attributed to internal attacks. But he notes that most of those internal issues are the result of carelessness, rather than an attempted attack. He says less than 1% of security issues arise from targeted attacks. Vendors still try to sell you on protection against zero-day, which accounts for less than 0.1% of security issues. McDuffie offered a few military-type tips for improving your IT security without breaking the bank: Align your security risks with your corporate goals, not the other way around. Dont let the tail wag the dog, he says. When security concerns get in the way of making money, corporate goals arent being pursued. Adjust your change of control procedures. Do you complete change-of-control functions over the weekend? McDuffie says push that to Thursday, so your chief technician not the weekend guy - is on duty, just in case. Spend the money when you need to. McDuffie says governments arent afraid to spend, while corporations limit their IT security outlays to around 7% of their budgets. Can you afford to spend a little more than normal? McDuffie stressed that proper security involves applying the proper procedures, over and over. Security is something you do, not something you have, he says. It doesnt help to let fear rule your decision making. Fear, uncertainty and doubt run rampant in the world, he says. Dont let vendors sell you the Swiss knife solution, or the magic bullet that will solve all your security concerns. The complete security solution doesnt exist, he says, and if it did, you probably couldnt afford it. Edited by Erik Linask Why it matters: Tech companies love nothing more than taking pot shots at each other, and Apple often seems to be the target. Taking over from usual perpetrator Samsung, it was OnePlus turn to stick in a recent jab. This time, its over a new report that puts the Chinese firm ahead of Apple in Indias premium smartphone market. According to the latest report by Counterpoint Research, the OnePlus 6 was the best-selling premium phone model in India throughout 2018, followed by the OnePlus 6T in second place. This helped the company to a 33 percent market share within the country last year, way ahead of Apples 23 percent. Samsung, whose Galaxy S9 Plus was the third best-selling premium phone, topped the list by just 1 percent, thanks to its broad range of high-end devices, including the quad-camera Galaxy A9. During Q4 2018, OnePlus led the premium smartphone segment for the third consecutive quarter. To celebrate its success in the country, the firm posted a tweet that asked Siri which is Indias No.1 Premium Smartphone? Disclaimer: OnePlus phones do not support Siri as a feature. Try Google Assistant OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) 30 January 2019 India has the second-highest number of smartphone users in the world, sitting behind China and in front of the US. Apple has been losing ground there recentlyits premium segment declined 25 percent YoY in Q4 due to the high price of its devices. Apple pays 20 percent on new handsets imported into the country, but with Foxconn about to begin production of flagship iPhones in India, prices should drop this year. On the global scale, Apple lost its position as the worlds second-largest smartphone seller to Huawei last summer. Despite the Chinese giants problems, its still thought to hold that title. Image credit: Framesira via Shutterstock Why it matters: If you prefer to watch Netflix through your Chrome browser rather than an app, you'll probably know about the various hotkeys that let you control the experience straight from a keyboard. Theyre quite helpful, but for those who want to add more, check out this handy extension. Those viewing Netflix in a web browser already have a few keyboard commands at their disposal; the left and right arrows are used to rewind or fast forward a video by 10 seconds, M acts as a mute button, and the up/down arrows control the volume. Netflix Extended is a Chrome extension that adds a few more key-activated functions into the mix. If youre watching a series and, for whatever reason, want to skip to the next episode, just hit the N key, or you can use B to go back to the previous episode. You can also hit escape while in the player to return to the main Netflix screen. Additionally, those who cant decide what to watch should hit R to start a random movie or series. Its Netflix Extendeds features that people might find most useful. If youre watching something and decide to jump to a different Chrome tab or program, the video will automatically pause. Once it comes back into focus, itll restart. - Press N to go to the next episode - Press B to go to the previous episode - Press Escape to return to browser - Press Up Arrow to increase volume (Netflix default) - Press Down Arrow to decrease volume (Netflix default) - Press M to mute/unmute (Netflix default) - Press Space/Enter to play/pause (Netflix default) - Press F to make video full screen (Netflix default) Other helpful options include automatically muting trailers on browser pages, the next episode of a series starting as quickly as possible, reloading videos that get stuck on the loading screen for longer than 15 seconds, and the skip intro/recap buttons being selected automatically. While you can perform these functions manually, Netflix bingers will no doubt appreciate having the hotkeys and features. Image credit: dennizn via Shutterstock WTF?! I own music on just about every imaginable medium. I have a vinyl collection, cassette tapes, CDs, and digital files of a variety of formats. Heck I even have a few old 8-track tapes that my parents used to listen to when I was young. Now it looks like I might be adding yet another format to my collection Sega Mega Drive cartridge. Video game companies have been devoting more and more time to retro gaming these days. Nintendo has seen great success from the re-release of the NES and Super NES in a mini form factor. Sony also released a miniature version of the original PlayStation. One of my favorite retro consoles would have to be the Sega Genesis, also known as the Mega Drive. Just last month the company released a Switch version of Sega Genesis Classics, which I snatched up on day one. Now the iconic 30-year-old console is seeing some unusual attention in the form of music. Serbian techno DJ Remutes upcoming album Technoptimistic was entirely composed and programmed using the six-channel FM synthesizer sound chip from the Sega Genesis. What will make the 16-track LP is even more novel is that it will be available on a Sega Mega Drive cartridge. A sample track titled "A Warm Feeling Of Total Immersion" is embedded below. Technoptimistic by Remute Dont worry if you dont have an old Model 1 or 2 Genesis lying around. Remute says the album will be available on Bandcamp to either stream or download in MP3, FLAC, and other formats. However, he admits that actually listening to the songs on the Sega hardware is the way to go if you have one. Technoptimistic is not Remutes first delve into unusual music formats. In 2017, he released an album titled Limited, which he released on vinyl and 3.5-inch floppy disk. The floppy disk version is currently sold-out. Technoptimistic launches on March 22 for 33.33 ($38.16 USD). You can pre-order through Bandcamp, and that price gets you access to stream and download the album, plus Remute will send you a copy on cartridge as well ($4.58 US shipping). Even if you dont have a Genesis collecting dust in the closet the novelty of the album on a cart is an engaging conversation piece. Image and song by DJ Unmute via Bandcamp Something to look forward to: It's no secret that Nintendo's Switch console has been a massive hit. With a platform-exclusive game attach rate of over 50 percent and more than $250 million in sales as of November, Nintendo is doing better than ever. Now, Nintendo may be looking to take the formula that's worked for them so far and iterate on it in the form of a new Switch model. Rumors about the possibility of a new Switch console have been circulating for some time. Previous reports suggested the device would have a higher-resolution screen (1080p versus 720p) and an LED panel instead of the LCD panel current Switches ship with. To that end, we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is, Nintendo does indeed appear to be working on a new Switch if a recent Nikkei report is anything to go by (partial translation available here). The bad news is, the model will probably not emphasize improved visuals or performance; quite the opposite. Nikkei's report claims that Nintendo's upcoming Switch model will be smaller, and missing some features in order to boost portability and make "playing outside" more convenient. As a result, the price will also be lower, though we don't know by how much. We have no idea what features Nintendo could be planning to cut for the new Switch model. However, as Ars Technica points out, if the system truly is going to focus on portability, the attached TV dock will likely be one of the first "luxuries" to hit the chopping block. It also wouldn't be surprising if Nintendo downgrades the Switch's 720p display to 480p. Though we wouldn't bank on it, if the system is intended to be smaller than the normal Switch, the difference in pixel density may not be all that noticeable for casual users. Speculation aside, we'll undoubtedly learn more about Nintendo's plans in the coming months. Nikkei says the company plans to release their new Switch systems as early as this year. Something to look forward to: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been teasing the company's upcoming electric SUV for a few years now, but we finally have details about its launch. In a letter to shareholders, the company announced it would begin production by the end of 2020, most likely at the Gigafactory. Tesla has been plagued with production issues for their current Model 3 production line, so investors were unsurprisingly a bit worried that the Model Y would have similar issues. Musk did his best to assure shareholders that Tesla had learned from the Model 3 and wouldn't make the same mistakes. The company estimates that the cost and complexity of the Model Y production line will be substantially lower than the Model 3 line. They predict this will result in a faster production ramp up. This is because Model Y will share about 3/4 of the components from the Model 3. Since production methods for those components have already been figured out and optimized, there is less room for error or delays. The Model 3 is produced at Tesla's Fremont plant in California, while the Model Y will likely be produced at the Nevada Gigafactory. While they company has yet to show a prototype of the design, tooling for the new production line will begin this year. The company predicts Model Y sales will be higher than the Model 3 which they believe will allow "the profitability of our business [to] become sustainable positive." In other news from the investor report, the Model 3 was the best selling luxury vehicle in the US in 2018. They plan to bring the Shanghai Gigafactory online by the end of 2019 to address global markets. The company also posted its first back-to-back profitable quarters in history. Posted Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:00 pm Hector J. Acevedo, 41, of 14 Greenwood Circle, waived a preliminary hearing in Associate Court and was bound over to Circuit Court for trial on two class D felony forgery charges. Arraignment was set for Jan. 23 and bond was continued at $10,000. The charges allege he passed checks on accounts belonging to other people on Nov. 7 and Dec. 4, 2018. Allen M. Cates, 28, Independence, was arraigned in Associate Court on a class D felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. Bond was continued at $10,000 and a preliminary hearing is set for March 6. The charge alleges he possessed methamphetamine on June 4, 2018. Nicholas A. Patterson, 26, Centerview, was arraigned in Associate Court on a class B felony charge of first-degree burglary. Bond was continued at $7,500 and a preliminary hearing is set for March 20. The charge alleges that on Nov. 11, 2018, he entered a building at 251 N.W. 121 Road to steal, while armed with a deadly weapon. Trevor W. Smith, 23, of 126 S.W. 400 Road, waived a preliminary hearing in Associate Court and was bound over to Circuit Court for trial on a class E felony charge of failure to register as a sex offender. Bond was continued at $15,000 and arraignment was set for Jan. 23. The charge alleges he failed to register with the Sheriffs Office between Nov. 3 and Dec. 6, 2018, within three days of being released from jail on a drug possession charge. Dennis W. Delapp III, 45, of 323 E. Gay St., was sentenced to nine-year and three-year concurrent terms in the Missouri Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty in Circuit Court to a class C felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a weapon. The charges alleged that on March 22, 2018, he possessed methamphetamine with intent to deliver it and that he possessed a 12-gauge shotgun after a prior felony conviction. Tahlequah, OK (74464) Today Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to steady rain this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 50F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- A State of Emergency has been issued for Jefferson County, according to a news release from New York State Police. The State of Emergency is in place until further notice, and a winter storm warning is in effect through Friday at 7 a.m. Conditions will be monitored and the travel advisory will be lifted as conditions improve, the release said. Snow and numerous accidents have made roads impassable for cars and snowplows. The State of Emergency was issued by the Jefferson County Board of Legislature. It is requesting motorists stay off all roads in Jefferson County to allow emergency responders and plows to clear the roadways, the release said. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office has put a strict no unnecessary travel" advisory in place in areas where snow has fallen heavily. Two days after Foxconn said it no longer planned to build a sprawling new factory in Wisconsin, the Taiwanese technology giant appears to have reversed course, citing a personal conversation with President Donald Trump. The surprise announcement followed heavy backlash in Wisconsin, which in 2017 agreed to pay the prominent electronics maker and supplier to Apple at least $3 billion in state tax incentives. At the time, Foxconn pledged to deliver up to 13,000 blue-collar jobs and a $10 billion display-making plant in the state's southeastern corner - a move Trump has repeatedly touted. "After productive discussions between the White House and the company, and after a personal conversation between President Donald Trump and Chairman Terry Gou, Foxconn is moving forward with our planned construction of a Gen 6 fab facility, which will be at the heart of the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park," the company said in a statement Friday. "This campus will serve both as an advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation for the region." Foxconn declined to comment on how Friday's decision was reached and when hiring is expected to begin. "Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou!" Trump tweeted Friday. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. On Wednesday, Foxconn said it would hire engineers and researchers in Wisconsin, rather than factory workers, asserting a change in global economic conditions had compelled the shift. The statement was a sharp reversal from its stance two years earlier, when officials announced what was billed to be a local manufacturing revival. "In Wisconsin we're not building a factory," Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn chief executive Terry Gou, told Reuters in a report released Wednesday. "You can't use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment." The company did not say precisely what conditions prompted the pivot. The flip-flop puzzled analysts who have followed the deal. "Going back and forth seemingly at random gives employees, investors and the community in which you operate cause for concern," said Joe Holt, a business professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. "Their inconsistency is dizzying." When companies draft factory plans, they conduct months of research, said Jeffrey Dorfman, an economics professor at the University of Georgia who has followed the Foxconn deal. Hundreds of people work on the project, studying the local workforce and infrastructure. "It takes years to set up supply chains and logistics," he said. "You don't just turn around on a dime." It's too early to tell what will unfold in Wisconsin, Dorfman said."When the jobs and the manufacturing equipment shows up," he said, "we'll believe it." Trump had unveiled the deal in the East Room of the White House with former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in 2017 and attended a groundbreaking ceremony last summer in Racine County. Economists pointed out that the subsidy package was 10 times larger than what's typically offered in the United States. Critics slammed the deal after Wisconsin's nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported the state would not make any money from the agreement for at least 25 years. State officials had said Wednesday that Foxconn will not receive tax credits and breaks until the company meets its job creation and workplace investment targets. "WEDC's performance-based contract with Foxconn provides the company the flexibility to make these business decisions, and at the same time, protects Wisconsin's taxpayers," said Kelly Lietz, vice president of marketing at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in a statement. Foxconn didn't hire enough employees last year to claim the economic sweeteners, ending 2018 with 178 full-time employees in the state, according to a letter the company sent state officials. That's 82 positions shy of the minimum requirement. The company has a history of walking back investment plans in the U.S. Foxconn said in 2013 that it would invest $30 million and create 300 jobs at a new high-tech factory in central Pennsylvania. But after the spotlight faded, the electronics maker quietly scrapped those plans. The company did not specify Friday how many of the future Wisconsin positions would be in manufacturing and how many would support the research side. The U.S. never made sense for a touch screen factory, said Steven Deller, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin. Those goods are cheaper to make in Asia. Analysts guessed in 2017 that Foxconn wanted roots in the Midwest to jump-start brand recognition among American shoppers. But when the company said Wednesday it would refocus on engineering and research in Wisconsin, Deller thought: That checks out. We still lead the world in developing new ideas and product lines, he said. Thats what were good at. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- City Auditor Marty Masterpole is seeking the Democratic Partys blessing to run for Onondaga County Comptroller. The Onondaga County Democratic Committee will meet in the coming weeks to designate candidates for several open positions this fall, including comptroller, county executive and district attorney. Masterpole is the only person who has signaled to the committee his intent to run for comptroller, according to Chairwoman Pamela Hunter. Masterpole is nearing the end of an eight-year run as Syracuses elected auditor. Hes term-limited out of office at the end of this year. Hes previously been elected to the Syracuse Common Council and the County Legislature. In 2017, Masterpole ran in a three-way Democratic primary for Syracuse mayor against Joe Nicoletti and Juanita Perez Williams. Perez Williams handily won that primary. Masterpole received less than 10 percent of the vote. He said Democrats learned from that race that a contentious primary hurts the party and the eventual candidate -- Perez Williams went on to lose to Ben Walsh in the general election. So far, Masterpole is the only Democrat whos told the committee he plans to run. If someone else comes along and gets the party designation, Masterpole said, he might step aside. If it looks like a primary, I may shift gears, he said. Masterpole had previously expressed interest in running for county executive against incumbent Ryan McMahon. The comptroller position, he said, is a better fit. If he gets the nomination, Masterpole would be up against Republican incumbent Matt Beadnell, who was appointed to the position after former comptroller Bob Antonacci left for a job in the New York Senate. Beadnell, 30 of Camillus, has worked in the comptrollers office since 2016. He previously worked as an auditor for KPMG. He has a masters degree in business administration from Le Moyne College. Despite 17 years in public office, name recognition and a Democratic voter advantage countywide, Masterpole said he considers himself an underdog in the race. Theres never been a Democratic elected comptroller, he said. The Onondaga County Democratic Committee will meet later this month to designate candidates for this fall. The petition period to get on the ballot begins at the end of the month. Masterpole owns an insurance agency with his brothers on the citys west side. If elected comptroller, he said he would either turn the company over to those brothers or sell it. The county legislature in 2017 banned outside income for full-time elected officials in Onondaga County. The comptrollers job pays $105,381. WASHINGTON - The vast majority of Senate Republicans backed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday in a rebuke of President Donald Trumps rationale for withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, voting to declare that the Islamic States presence and activity in both countries continues to pose a serious threat to the United States. The measure, presented as an amendment to a greater Middle East policy bill, is a striking reprimand of the president from a GOP that has become increasingly comfortable expressing its opposition to Trump's foreign policy through votes on the Senate floor. That it was spearheaded by McConnell, R-Ky., who often waits to cross Trump until there is overwhelming momentum in his conference, indicates how deeply the president's announcements broke faith within the party. Republicans spent years accusing Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, of pursuing capricious troop withdrawals and have refused to defend Trump's efforts to do the same. "I believe the threats remain. ISIS and al-Qaida have yet to be defeated, and American national security interests require continued commitment to our mission there," McConnell said Thursday, before the 68-to-23 vote. However, the measure divided Senate Democrats, with many arguing that rebuking Trump was not worththe cost of greenlighting endless war. "This amendment is not the right way for us to proceed as a means of correcting Trump's backward policies," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said. "It could, frankly, get us even more deeply mired into a series of conflicts in the Middle East." Nearly every Senate Democrat expected to run for president in 2020 voted against the amendment. In December, the president announced he would be withdrawing American military personnel from Syria, stating in a Twitter post: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump presidency." A month later, ISIS claimed credit for an attack in Syria that left four Americans dead. The backlash from Republicans has been steady, with some of the president's closest allies warning him about the dangers of leaving before al-Qaida, ISIS and their affiliates are expunged. Talk of an impulsive pullout from Syria has incited fears of an ISIS resurgence there, as well as growing concern for the safety of Kurdish fighters who have partnered with U.S. forces. Some lawmakers have warned that a vacuum caused by the United States' departure is likely to be filled by forces aligned with Iran, posing a threat to ally Israel. Thursday's vote comes as U.S. negotiations with the Taliban have raised the prospect of an eventual withdrawal, too, from Afghanistan, where U.S. forces have been deployed for more than 17 years. McConnell's amendment specifically names al-Qaida and ISIS as "a global threat, which merits increased international contributions to the counterterrorism, diplomatic and stabilization efforts underway in Syria and Afghanistan." It hat-tips "the positive role" the United States and its allies have played in Syria and Afghanistan "fighting terrorist groups, countering Iranian aggression, deterring the further use of chemical weapons, and protecting human rights." Critically, it also warns that "withdrawal of the United States forces from the ongoing fight against these groups . . . could allow terrorists to regroup, destabilize critical regions, and create vacuums that could be filled by Iran or Russia, to the detriment of United States' interests and those of our allies." Some Republicans stressed that the fringe benefit to Iran is why Trump was wrong to believe that the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan are problems for "other people." "This is not other people's wars. This is ours. These people, who are going to operate in these safe havens and Iran, we are their target," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. "If you give them any belief that they have a chance to win because you have withdrawn . . . I believe you increase the chance of war." While the Senate's Thursday vote does not carry the weight of law or prevent the president from pursuing his plans, it puts Senate Republicans on the record as being firmly at odds with Trump's Middle East policy. In recent months, Senate Republicans also have backed bipartisan measures expressing support for NATO in the face of Trump's criticisms and threats to withdraw from the alliance, and to hold Saudi Arabia's crown prince responsible for the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite Trump having accepted the royal family's denials. In late January, the House overwhelmingly passed a measure to prevent Trump from using federal funds to execute a withdrawal from NATO. Typically, such measures to counter Trump's international moves have pulled almost unanimous support from Senate Democrats. But many saw a potential Trojan horse in the language of McConnell's amendment, arguing that Trump's more hawkish advisers might see a measure seeking a commitment to hostilities in Syria and Afghanistan as permission to fight wars they believe Congress never authorized. The amendment asks the administration to show lawmakers that "conditions have been met for the enduring defeat of al-Qaida and ISIS" before starting any troop withdrawals - a definition that struck about half the Democratic caucus as too nebulous and far-reaching to support. Some worried it might prevent Congress from putting any limits at all on the president's war powers. "That's an abdication of our role to authorize the use of military force," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, one of many senators angling for Congress to debate and pass a new authorization to replace the 2001 measure under which the United States invaded Afghanistan. The authorization, written to approve hostilities against parties responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has been interpreted since as a basis for fighting al-Qaida and ISIS - an interpretation many believe to be flawed. Lawmakers have debated the outlines of a new military authorization specifically focused on al-Qaida, ISIS and related groups - but have failed to come up with a satisfactory compromise. Yet, several leading advocates for a new authorization still supported McConnell's amendment Thursday. Nothing in the McConnell amendment can be construed as an authorization for the use of military force, said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who backed the measure as an important message for Trump. We are not in the business of authorizing open-ended conflicts or keeping our troops on the battlefields forever. (c) 2019, The Washington Post Story by Karoun Demirjian Christopher D. Travis is a plant scientist, author and activist. Among other things, he is a board member of the Community Folk Art Center. He and his family live in Syracuse. He is a contributing columnist for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact him at chrisdtravis@yahoo.com. I have met many members of an invisible workforce. These men and women toil in obscurity on local farms that produce agricultural bounty, a point of pride here in Central New York. I know of these men and women who labor in cow barns, milking parlors, grain silos, apple orchards and hay lofts. They work 12-hour shifts, six days a week, regardless of weather conditions, often for pay less than the minimum wage, and they definitely dont receive a shift differential for third shift. Statistically speaking, farm labor is one of the most dangerous industries in the country -- a fact we were reminded of recently by the death of a 14-year old boy on a farm in Homer. Immigrant workers may not be informed of their rights to have personal protective equipment (PPE), which generally includes items like, gloves, masks, boots, safety glasses, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), eye-washes, first-aid kits, emergency showers (for chemical exposure), appropriate signage and training for use of heavy machinery and care of large animals. This lack of knowledge can be costly. But there are other financial burdens they bear. A worker on a farm, in let's say Preble, hears that his brother has been kicked by a cow on a different farm, and the injured man has been taken to a hospital in Utica. As an undocumented farmworker you have two options. You can pay your employer or one of his family members to take you where you need to go, or you can call a rider. Think of riders as Uber for the undocumented; they are drivers who ferry undocumented workers around the state, or even farther afield. But, an undocumented worker in Preble can expect to pay $150 for a one-way trip to Utica, $300 round-trip. Imagine you are a farmworker, and you want to go to Walmart to get groceries, or maybe some of that PPE your boss wont provide for you. You call a rider. The going rate for a rider is approximately $3 a mile, so the cost of buying food or other necessities, even if it is only a new toothbrush and some toothpaste, would cost a minimum of $60. Most undocumented workers dont know a rider, and are forced to ask their employers for rides. So, continuing our thought experiment, an undocumented worker is paid $500 on a Friday, after his boss has deducted rent and cable from his pay; because the worker is living in one of the trailers on the farm, and the large-screen television in that trailer is connected to cable. But this worker needs to go to Walmart, Walgreens and the doctors office so he pays his boss $100 to ferry him around for the day. An undocumented worker stranded on one of these farms can expect to pay a rider up to $1,000 for a trip to New York City to visit a consulate or an embassy, if he or she wants to start the fight to gain legal status. Public transportation is not a viable option for members of this vulnerable workforce. Here in Central New York, and anyplace within 100 miles of an international border, Border Patrol has jurisdiction to board buses and trains, and ask any individual they deem suspicious for documentation. Our own Regional Transportation Center has been a flash point for activists and apprehensions alike. There are many sanctuary cities, but that does not prevent Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement from trolling bus and train stations all along the Interstate 90 corridor. And you should not underestimate the frequency with which concerned citizens call ICE to a Walmart because they heard someone speaking Spanish. I have heard of such incidents at Walmarts in East Syracuse, Camillus and Auburn. Economic hardship and the potential for exploitation of vulnerable workers is why state legislation has been proposed that would allow for undocumented immigrants to apply for a drivers license. A drivers license for an undocumented person does not mean amnesty. It does not change his or her status as an undocumented immigrant. It does not confer on and undocumented immigrant the right to remain in the country indefinitely. But a license would allow these workers to access health care and education, and reduce the risk for further exploitation. According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, there are 209,000 immigrants who came into the country illegally living in Upstate New York. That number swells to 940,000 if we include immigrants working in New York City and on Long Island. Licensing all those undocumented individuals and the vehicles they would eventually purchase, will mean thousands of new insurance policies, thousands of new vehicle inspections, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of increased toll revenue and gas taxes going into the state coffers. Building a wall along our southern border wont keep out people willing to work for low wages at jobs most citizens dont want. Depriving them of the right to drive doesnt prevent them from engaging in commerce and living their lives. It does make them vulnerable to exploitation, however. More from our guest columnists. A provision in Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposed budget would change the states Freedom of Information Law to prohibit law enforcement agencies from routinely disclosing arrest and booking information, including the booking photographs known as mug shots. The governors goal is to prevent mug shots from living on the internet forever thus forever damaging the employment, housing and education prospects of people who have been accused of crimes, but who are not always convicted. Cuomo also wants to stop the extortion racket run by unscrupulous mug shot websites that charge people thousands of dollars to remove their booking photos. Despite those laudable goals, the governors proposal fails to balance an individuals right to privacy with the publics right to know who has been arrested by police, and why. Simply put, we do not have secret arrests in the United States, a concept that is in our nations DNA and rooted in centuries of common law. The governments power to deprive a person of his or her liberty is awesome. That power can be abused if agents of the government can exercise it in secret. The governors proposal would cripple the news medias ability to report in a timely manner on crime, public safety and policing matters of intense public interest. It would give police agencies sole discretion to withhold or release arrest and booking information. If law enforcement can selectively report arrests, would the public know if the police chiefs son or an elected official had been arrested? Would authorities withhold other legitimate public information, such as the names of people held in jail? The wording of the proposed law is vague. The legislation barely acknowledges legitimate reasons to release a defendants mug shot to the public: to encourage other witnesses or victims to come forward, to generate new leads for law enforcement, to show injuries that may have been inflicted by police, to prevent cases of stolen or mistaken identity, to reveal racial profiling or differing treatment of individuals based on demographic characteristics. It would deprive mug shot extortionists of new material, but would not punish or end their unsavory practices. Advocates for the governors policy cite a Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that exempted the U.S. Marshals Service from releasing mug shots in federal cases a model the Cuomo administration wishes to follow. A disclosed booking photo casts a long, damaging shadow over the depicted individual, the majority opinion said. Today, an idle internet search reveals the same booking photo that once would have required a trip to the local librarys microfiche collection. The dissenting opinion pointed out that the ease of finding arrest, indictment and conviction information on the internet cuts against the majoritys privacy argument. Unless were willing to adopt the European Unions right to be forgotten approach to internet privacy, the genie cannot be put back into the bottle. That said, remedies are available to people whose arrests did not lead to conviction, or offenders who have paid their debt to society and want a fresh start. Records can be expunged. Documentation can be obtained to show the disposition of charges. People who are being asked to pay to remove personal information from the web can petition Google to scrub its search results. In a radio interview Wednesday, Cuomo said he is open to a better solution to stopping mug shot extortion. It sounds like a job for New York Attorney General Tish James. If the AGs office can squeeze fat settlements out of the likes of Citigroup, Spectrum and Fiat Chrysler, it can take on mugshots.com and its kind. Meanwhile, we ought to be asking why the police arrest so many people on charges that do not stick, and why employers and landlords get away with such blatant discrimination. New York state is right to remove barriers that prevent people with criminal records from re-entering society. Shielding arrest information and booking photos from public view comes at too high a price -- the publics right to know. SYRACUSE, N.Y. Onondaga County taxpayers are likely to pay $250,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit brought by an African American seasonal employee who said his co-workers harassed him with racist comments and epithets. County legislators will vote Tuesday on the proposed settlement with Sean Hamilton, who worked two winters as a motor operator in the transportation department between 2012 and 2014. If lawmakers approve, the county will pay Hamilton $250,000, which includes attorney fees. Hamilton, who worked during winter months at the DOTs Camillus garage, said in the lawsuit that some white employees directed the N-word toward him a few times and made comments such as "We should have kept yall as slaves.'' The verbal abuse created a hostile work environment, Hamilton said. Hamilton also complained that he was not given equal opportunity to drive a truck or plow, despite holding the appropriate license. He was eventually fired in part because he could not drive a truck," according to his complaint filed in federal court. Several of Hamiltons co-workers who were accused of making racist comments said in sworn depositions that they were not aware of any hostility toward him. One worker, who conceded using the N-word, said he did not direct it at Hamilton and later apologized to Hamilton for uttering the slur in his presence. County transportation officials said in depositions that Hamilton's driving skills were inadequate for him to safely operate a vehicle. Hamilton filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March 2014, two months after he was fired. In June 2015, the commission found probable cause to believe that discrimination occurred. Hamilton sued the county and several co-workers in late 2015. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hamiltons lawyer, A.J. Bosman, of Rome, declined to comment. Former Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen never forgets his Upstate New York roots. The 60-year-old actor gave his hometown of Watertown, N.Y., a shoutout on national television Thursday night while promoting his new movie Green Book. The drama has been nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Mortensens third Oscar nomination for Best Actor. By the way, to the people in Watertown, New York, which is way up north, and Sandpoint, Idaho -- I know my movies dont usually make it there, but Green Book is doing so well that its playing in theaters in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Watertown, New York," he told ABC host Jimmy Kimmel. Mortensen said he still has family in both places; he is a graduate of Watertown High School and St. Lawrence University, and frequently returned to his familys farm in northern N.Y. over the years. His mother Grace was from Watertown and met his father Viggo Sr., a Danish farmer, on a trip to Norway; Grace died in 2015 and Viggo Sr. died in 2017. Viggo Mortensen is best known for playing Aragorn in Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as memorable roles in 1985s Witness, 1995s Crimson Tide; 2005s A History of Violence and 2009s The Road. He was nominated for two other acting Oscars, for 2007s Eastern Promises and 2016s Captain Fantastic. In Green Book, he plays a working-class Italian-American bouncer who drives an African-American classical and jazz pianist (played by Oscar winner Mahershala Ali) on a tour of venues through the South during the Jim Crow era. The movie opened in theaters nationwide in November and is still on the big screen, including at Regal Salmon Run in Watertown this weekend, due to critical acclaim. I have to say, since probably Lord of the Rings, I havent seen and heard so much intensity, passionate reactions to the movie, he told Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday. I cant tell you how many people have come up to me and said, Ive seen it three times and Im going to take so-and-so... to see it. Its great." Kimmel said his parents are among those who really loved the movie, sharing that they used to go to the Copacabana and saw the real-life Dr. Don Shirley (Ali) perform and knew Tony Lip (Mortensen). And theyre like, Yeah, it was exactly like that," the late-night said. EATON, N.Y. -- A Long Island man unlawfully entered a relatives home in Madison County and stole antique items, according to a Friday news release from New York State Police. Clifford R. Williams, 56, of Selden, was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, police said. Williams has been arraigned and is being held at the Madison County Jail without bail. He is set to appear in Town of Eaton Court on Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. Syracuse, NY -- It didnt take long for Johanen Pizarros lawyer to question the legitimacy of his arrest as the shooter in the October murder of a 12-year-old boy. Pizarro, 19, was only arrested after the initial suspected shooter, Alberto Pinet, was proven to be elsewhere at the time of the shooting on John Street on Syracuses North Side. Theres a question as to whether hes a suspect here, defense lawyer Graeme Spicer said. First it was Mr. Pinet, now oops, its Mr. Pizarro. There is a question as to whether Mr. Pizarro is properly charged. As it turned out, police arrested both Pizarro and Pinet on murder charges in James Springer IIIs death. Pizarro is the accused shooter, but Pinet is accused of helping set up the murder. Authorities have said it was Pinet who was involved in a dispute earlier in the day. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick early on acknowledged that arresting the wrong accused shooter would complicate the prosecution. But he noted that both men are accused of being involved with the murder. Whoever opened fire struck Springer and his mother in a crowd of people. Springer was not believed to be the intended target, authorities have said. The John Street residence near where the murder occurred is set to be torn down - possibly as early as this coming week - due to the condition of the building, city officials said. There was a second murder - the killing of 16-year-old Antonio Gullott - at the same location. The Syracuse Land Bank plans to demolish the apartment building at 165 John Street, where 16-year-old Antonio Gullotto was killed in December. The complex is also near where 12-year-old James Springer was killed in October. The cases against Pinet and Pizarro are just beginning. Today, Spicer voiced his objection when prosecutor Melinda McGunnigle asked for a court order to get Pizarros DNA. County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller noted that Pizarro had been indicted and said there was a basis for the DNA order. Pinet consented to the DNA sample without protest, his lawyer, Nick DeMartino, said in court. Pinet spent several days in jail, accused of being Springers killer. But he was released after surveillance video showed him at a store many blocks away at the time of the shooting. Pinet was later taken back into custody when he was indicted for murder as an accomplice. Both he and Pizarro remain jailed as their cases progress. Syracuse, NY -- Complaints from local Aldi store managers led to a nationwide lawsuit that ended recently in a $9.8 million settlement in local federal court. Fayetteville attorney Frank Gattuso launched legal action in 2016 on behalf of Central New York employees of the discount grocery chain. There are 10 Aldi locations in Onondaga County alone. The employees accused the store of paying them a flat salary for doing the same work as hourly employees, who were eligible for overtime pay. The managers were working 60 to 70 hours a week for an average pay of about $80,000, Gattuso said. Aldi denied that its managers were required to be paid overtime. The settlement did not include a court order that Aldi change its practices, Gattuso said. Aldi had been sued before for the practice and could be sued again, he said. A call for Aldi managers nationwide to join the lawsuit netted about 360 clients, Gattuso said. Each of those managers had to actively request to be a party in the lawsuit. A separate class of about 160 Aldi managers in New York State also won damages. Under New York law, the time frame for damages went back further -- 6 years, as opposed to 3 years under federal law -- and included all managers unless they opted out of the lawsuit, Gattuso said. Payouts to each manager ranged widely based on length of employment. The highest payout to a single employee was over $20,000, Gattuso said. Some received very small payouts because they had only worked for Aldi for a brief period of time. Gattuso was joined by nearly a dozen other attorneys across the state and beyond as the case grew. A final settlement was reached in late 2018 and payouts are beginning now, Gattuso said. County Administrator Michael Carter also acknowledged that Simpson will be missed. He told the News & Messenger, It is without question, that his elevation to the administrators position with Halifax County will leave a void here in Smyth County until we can find a new assistant county administrator to resume the duties the position demands. However, Carter also is grateful for the opportunity Simpson has before him. He said, I am happy to see him advance to the next level of his career and have nothing but support and encouragement for him as he takes this next step. Scott certainly leaves Smyth County with a vast understanding of local government and his knowledge and understanding of such will be a difficult task to replace as we move forward. We will continue to move forward in the days to come and wish Scott the best of luck in his new role. When the first atomic bomb was dropped, Phillips was on a ship in Manilla Harbor. I was up at daylight leaning over the deckspitting tobacco juice. Around the harbor, he recalled, were hundreds of ships, gathering to go into Japan. Rather than setting up shop, his company started filling in anywhere they were needed. They gave me a crew of Filipinos, a 6X6 truck and another truck. The war was over in Europe , and they were shipping equipment to the Pacific. Phillips crew went to the docks, got the equipment off the ships, and took it out to the country, filling acres and acres with the tanks, trucks, jeeps and guns. Phillips served four years and seven months in the military. As he put it, I was in there before the war started and in there when it was done. During Phillips time in the Army, his father had started working at the Radford Arsenal, and the family moved to Virginia. It was in Virginia that Phillips would connect with Leora Marshall from Indian Valley. The two met while roller skating. Their wedding was supposed to take place in a church in the Valley, and they were on their way to the church, but there was a big snow storm and they had to back up their vehicle several miles to get turned around. They ended up going to Radford and finding a preacher to marry them there. They honeymooned in Pulaski. Option two calls for the construction of a new Pre-k though 12 combined school to the tune of about $30.6 million. This option would require the school system to either purchase new land to accommodate the new facility or use the existing high school site. The VDOEs estimate includes the cost of the 30 acres of land it would recommend for such a facility. The report notes that cost savings would be realized on utilities by closing the elementary school. Additional money could be saved from the reduced bus travel, the report said. At just more than $26.5 million, the third and least expensive of the options calls for minor renovations to the elementary school and the construction of a new high school. This option would include a new roof, upgraded lighting and HVAC systems, and improved traffic circulation at the elementary school. It also calls for sixth-graders to be moved to the high school. The VDOE did not see room for significant cost saving with this option, according to the report. Schepers said the board would like to locate in either Bastian or Rocky Gap, if they decide new construction is the way to go. He noted that the 30 acres of land that the VDOE suggested may not be possible, though. Likewise, it may not be possible to locate a new facility entirely outside of a flood plain, he said. A Wytheville man is facing 15 criminal charges and traffic violations after Wythe deputies were called out on Jan. 20 to investigate a man going door-to-door attempting to sell items, including drugs and firearms. Chief Deputy Charles Foster said that 39-year-old Michael Dewey Church was located in the 500 block of Saint Lukes Road attempting to steal a pull-behind trailer, which he had already connected to the Dodge pickup truck he was driving. The truck turned out to be stolen, Foster said. According to the chief deputy, residents in the Saint Lukes Road area said Church had come to their residences in an attempt to sell them narcotics. He also stopped at a Stony Fork residence and tried to sell a gun to a resident, Foster said. The resident allowed Church into the home but didnt purchase the gun, Foster wrote in an email. While in the home Church stole narcotics from the homeowner who had it lying on a table. Officers found drugs, a .22-caliber pistol and other items in the truck after Churchs arrest, Foster said. Investigators learned that the truck had been stolen from the Northwinds apartment complex in Wytheville. 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. As back to school costs mount, families living in hardship are struggling to provide the essentials for their children. KidsCans data shows that one in every five children in low-decile schools around New Zealand will head back to class this year without enough food to fuel them. KidsCans CEO Julie Chapman says for families on the breadline, this time of year can be overwhelming. Every day they survive on very little. So theres no money for new stationary, school bags or expensive uniforms many dont even know how theyll afford to put food in their childs lunch box. We know when parents feel ashamed that they cant make ends meet, some dont send their children to school. Those that do go, start on the back foot because they dont have the right clothes, and theyre hungry. Julie says she is seeing no let-up in need, which is putting huge pressure on schools. One principal spent her holidays washing lost property to give to families who cant afford uniforms. Theyre doing so much more than teaching. Many schools have stopped asking for fees or donations, just to make sure they get kids in the door. But what they can offer in terms of equipment, extracurricular activities and class size suffers. KidsCans mission is to relieve pressure on both struggling families, and schools, by taking care of a childs essentials for learning. Last years Child Poverty Monitor found one in five New Zealand children more than 160,000 kids live in households without access to either enough food, or enough healthy food. It highlighted the huge impact that poverty can have on a childs chance of success. It found 68 percent of students from the most disadvantaged communities achieved NCEA level 2 in 2017, compared to 93 percent from the most advantaged communities. More children need help. KidsCan is asking New Zealanders to help make a difference by signing up to support kids in need for as little as $20 a month. When kids are fed and warm, theyre ready to learn, says Julie. When you level the playing field, it gives them the chance to succeed like any other child. Our aim is to keep kids in school, so they get great jobs which lift them out of poverty. On average, the charity is now helping to feed 20 percent of the roll in the record 742 schools it supports. Over 30,000 children a day are fueled with food from KidsCan, including baked beans, bread, spreads, yoghurt, fruit pottles, scroggin, supergrain bars, and in winter, hot meals. Last year KidsCan gave out 5.27 million items of food including 245,000 servings of baked beans, more than 130,000 loaves of bread and 1.6 million packs of scroggin. The numbers were up 20 percent on 2017. In 2018 the charity clothed 47,350 kids in warm jackets, and distributed 27,886 new pairs of shoes and socks. Girls received 22,000 boxes of tampons, pads and liners. In five years, the number of schools supported by KidsCan has almost doubled, from 388 to 742. 90 percent of 461 principals surveyed by KidsCan last year believed the charitys support helped to remove barriers for students, and improving attendance and participation. People can donate at www.kidscan.org.nz Bay of Plenty businesses are assessing the impact the Government's fair pay working group recommendations will have on them. Business NZ is warning the recommendations could bring risks to business and the economy. The controversial industrial relations plan recommends the support of as few as one in 10 workers could trigger a nationwide negotiation process. Theres concern employers across the country will have to abide by any agreement on employment standards above legal minimums, even if they took no part in the process. Thats the recommendation of a majority of the working group. BusinessNZ is one of three employer representatives on the working group who disagree with key recommendations of the report. Chief Executive Kirk Hope says the compulsory nature of fair pay agreements and the risk of industrial action and productivity loss are key concerns. "Being covered by a fair pay agreement would be compulsory for everyone in an industry or sector. We disagree with this and think the decision to enter any employment agreement should be voluntary, says Kirk "Fair pay agreements would limit business flexibility, as a collective covering every business wouldnt be able to meet the needs of individual firms. Businesses that wanted differently would have to negotiate separate agreements on top of their fair pay agreement, and this secondary bargaining would increase the risk of industrial action, as happened with similar rules in the 1970s. "There would be risks to productivity because everyone would have to attend paid stop-work meetings to agree on their fair pay agreement. All employer representatives on the working group were concerned that about the consequences and costs of this." Bay of Plenty Employers and Manufacturers Association spokesman Clive Thomson says most business are against it, but some CEOs say they wouldnt mind it. They say they wouldnt mind paying their staff, because there are some cowboys in the industry who are keeping wages low and theyll be happy to see that playing field leveled out, says Clive. But that view is not unanimous. The EMA will be making a lot of noise about this issues, because the EMA generally is not supportive of giving more power back to the unions, which effectively this will do. Clive says they will have to wait for the draft legislation to see how far it goes. He says the EMA has been quite successful in working with New Zealand First in things retaining trial periods for small employers. I imagine the same strategy will happen in relation to this and hopefully well see Winston slow them down or prevents some of the worst parts on the legislation. Clive says the fair pay working group report will be covered in detail at the next EMA members meeting at Mount Maunganui on February 25. Wellington Our client is in the civil construction sector and is looking for the next person to join their team in an exciting and interesting... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Six staff members from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board have been recognised for their efforts in teaching medical students. Chief Medical Officer Dr Hugh Lees and Oncologist Dr Richard North received high honours. The pair were recognised through receiving the University of Aucklands School of Medicine distinguished clinical teacher award. The University of Aucklands head of the school medicine professor Phillippa Poole says that Hugh is very deserving of the award due to his excellent teaching over the past 30 years. In particular his cystic fibrosis clinics are frequently identified as a fantastic multidisciplinary learning opportunity. We are very grateful to Hugh for the creation and development of such an excellent learning environment. Richards success at the awards comes as a result of supervising sixth year medical students at the BOPDHB for over four years. He puts a lot of energy into helping students with their medical exams and tutorials to ensure that they are prepared to become young doctors. Richard was also awarded a staff-student award from the Auckland University Medical Students Association, along with fellow BOPDHB staff members, Leonie Alley, Matt Sinton, Yvonne Boyes and Dr Rachel Thompson. Head of the BOP Clinical Campus Professor Peter Gilling is pleased with how the students are responding from their mentors. At Whakatane and Tauranga hospitals we are fortunate to be amongst the top sites in New Zealand for medical students to select as placements and for work. All staff contribute greatly as clinicians are committed to develop and supervise students and our Clinical Campus staff are outstanding in the service they provide for placements. The nightmare many parents worry about was captured in the immortal words of Liam Neesons character Bryan Mills from the film Taken. What I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. Taurangas Martial Arts Academy are offering a free community workshop on anti-abduction and back-to-school safety on February 6. It will be an informative, hands-on workshop presented by some of the martial arts academy instructors and a former CIB detective and security expert, says academy instructor Christine Young. Self-protection skills are so important for children of all age groups and both genders. Abduction occurs across every region of New Zealand, with 167 abductions reported between November 2017 and November 2018, according to NZ Police statistics figures. No fewer than eight of these were in the Western Bay of Plenty. These days, abductions are more often carried out by family members, as in the case of broken relationships between parents. Kidnappings and abduction involving strangers is rare. Parents have learned vigilance, and ensured their children know what to do if theyre approached by strangers. Schools also take care to stay aware and work hard to keep their pupils safe. Dwayne Morgan, who will help run the workshop, is an ex-soldier, a police detective with 13 years of experience in the force and a security consultant with Special Programs Security Ltd. Two years ago, Scott and Christine at the Martial Arts Academy did a similar seminar and I helped them out as a member of police, says Dwayne. When they said they were doing it again, I said Id help out. Ill be talking with the parents around the likelihood of risk, and Ill speak around the laws and rights of people and what they can and cant do. With talking about laws, obviously Im starting to talk towards parents, so they can put it in terms that their children can understand. The two-hour practical seminar, sponsored by the Martial Arts Charitable Trust, will run from 10am-12 noon at the Martial Arts Academy on First Ave West, Tauranga. We had such a great response from our seminar last time, so we are offering this once again, says Christine. We really want kids and parents to know about this stuff. Its like insurance its great if you don't need to use it, but its there just in case. This workshop is priceless and its free. We can fit up to 200 people, and want as many parents and kids to be there as possible. From my point of view, the workshop is fantastic, says Dwayne. Scott and Christine are very driven people and really care about the community. Its because of how passionate they are that I offered to help out. I think we need more of this, to give people some basic tools to help keep themselves safe. To register for this event, contact: reception@tmaa.co.nz or call: 021 980878. With recent cases of measles in our region and students returning to school, the Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health is urging parents to ensure their children have been immunised against measles. In January this year there were 11 reported cases of measles in the Waikato region and two in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes areas, says Dr Neil de Wet. It's an important time to check if you and your whanau are up to date with the measles immunisations. Measles is highly infectious and is spread from person to person through the air by breathing, sneezing or coughing. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can lead to infection if you are not immune. Measles can be serious with around one in ten people who get measles needing to be hospitalised. The vaccine that protects against measles is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. MMR provides effective protection against measles and is completely free for children and adults. MMR is given in two doses, normally at 15 months and four years of age, as part of the routine childhood immunisations, says Dr de Wet. People born before 1969 are likely to be immune because measles used to be quite common, but those born from 1969 onwards who are unsure if they have been immunised should check with their doctor. Contact your family doctor or practice nurse if you or your child need to be immunised its never too late to catch up. The first early symptoms of measles are fever, runny nose, sore red eyes and cough. After three to five days a red, blotchy rash appears on the face and head and then spreads down the body. If you think you or someone in your family may have measles, stay at home and phone your doctor to alert them of your symptoms and allow them to make arrangements to assess you safely and without infecting other people, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice. For more information: Toi Te Ora Public Health website: www.toiteora.govt.nz/measles Immunisation Advisory Centre free phone: 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) Immunisation Advisory Centre website: www.immune.org.nz Ministry of Health website: www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation Don't Assume You're Immune website: www.getimmunised.org.nz Mary Parker One Minute Wonders Dont be afraid of being rejected by others. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you. Laura Houssain. If you feel you are missing out on something, or you think you are out of the loop or being excluded, its easy to let feelings of rejection or inferiority become overwhelming. However, often it can be a misunderstanding or a combination of circumstances beyond anyones control, rather than a deliberate act of rejection. Find out why something has happened before you start believing its all about you and allowing feelings of rejection to overwhelm you. Do you immediately take control and examine what has happened when you experience feelings of rejection, or do you let yourself stay in that place of overwhelm? If you would like to know more about coaching or supervision, phone Mary Parker, The Fast Track Coach, on 07 577 1200/021 258 2145 or visit: www.thefacttrackcoach.co.nz He said lightly used routes would need to be dropped, but that HRT would need to run more often on its busiest routes to reverse a long term slide in ridership. HRT is looking at running electric buses, less costly to operate than its current fleet, and minibuses operating flexible routes in response to passenger requests, as well. The population of Hampton Roads is growing. But it lags other major metro areas in Virginia, according to new estimates, likely due to a combination of migration and low birth rates. Since 2010, the metro area has grown about 3.8 percent. The Richmond area grew 7.5 percent and Northern Virginia grew 12.4 percent. It had been the slowest growing metro area of the big three, said Hamilton Lombard, research and policy analyst at the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. It's slowed down even more just the last few years. The center released its official estimates for the states population as of July 1, 2018, this week. Virginia has more than 8.5 million residents, up about 6.5 percent since 2010. According to the centers numbers, thats the slowest growth rate since the 1920s. Much of the states population change comes from Northern Virginia, which Lombard said was responsible for about two-thirds of the over 50,000 new residents Virginia added last year. A younger population in that region has helped replace most of the people who move out of state there. Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth have had more people move out than in since 2010, according to estimates. Lombard said that while federal cuts may play a part, Northern Virginias population changes also affect Hampton Roads. Previously, more people from Northern Virginia relocated to Hampton Roads and other counties in Virginia. Maybe, with the weaker economy in Virginia, they either have to stay put or you have to relocate altogether out of state, Lombard said. You don't have that sort of luxury of picking where you want to go. Some parts of Hampton Roads are growing. Estimates show Chesapeake, Suffolk and some of the more rural counties in the area have seen growth. But there are caveats to that, Lombard said. In Chesapeake, where 12,000 more people moved in than out since 2010, data from the IRS suggests that its drawing people from within the region but fewer from out of state than in the past. Suffolk, Isle of Wight County and other counties are growing, but Lombard said theyre behind the growth they saw between 2000 and 2008, partially due to an aging population. For example, more than 8,000 people moved in than out of James City County since 2010, according to the centers estimates. A lot of the people moving in are older adults and retirees, Lombard said. Since 2010, 16 more people died than were born in the county. The aging population, Lombard said, isnt just a Hampton Roads issue. This past fall, enrollment in Virginia public schools dropped for the first time since 1984, as birth rates decrease. Migration is something people understand. But, the longer term trend that's probably going to have a much bigger impact and maybe is a little more complicated is the fact that our population is aging, Lombard said. Hampton Roads population, 2010-2018 Matt Jones, 757-247-4729, mjones@dailypress.com, @jones_mattryan Stillwater, OK (74074) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous during the morning hours. Cooler. High 73F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Western corporate news media have got to be one of the most irresponsible and toxic entities. In particular, their contribution to distorting international relations with Russia and stoking tensions is bordering on incitement. It is astounding and atrocious that such paranoid thinking is displayed on a massive scale. Western establishment news media, without a hint of irony, proclaim to be independent, critical, free-thinking and defenders of democracy. How delusional. They are increasingly serving up war propaganda like ministries of disinformation in a truly Orwellian scenario. And yet Western media have the arrogant hypocrisy to vilify Russia for malign intent. German media recently accused Russian news channels of propaganda and demanded their shutdown. British media, including supposedly quality brands, run sensational reports about Russian warships menacing Britain and Europe because those vessels sailed through proximate international waters. Alleged Russian cyberattacks are aiming to destroy civil society and infrastructure. And so on. But this week, it was American news media that once again excelled in irresponsible anti-Russia paranoia. The CNN news channel "informed" its viewers of how Russia and North Korea were teaming up as two of Americas most dangerous adversaries. The brief report is worth studying for its sinister use of images and innuendo to convey alleged nefarious intentions imputed to both Russia and North Korea towards US national security. A day before that report, the Washington Post published an equally hollow article claiming that Moscow had offered Pyongyang a deal to build a nuclear power plant in exchange for North Korea dismantling its ballistic weapons. The alleged deal, according to the Post, marked an attempt by Moscow to intervene in high-stakes nuclear talks as it asserts itself in a string of geopolitical flash points from the Middle East to South Asia to Latin America. That non-entity report was then cited by CNN subsequently to make its breathless case that Russia and North Korea were teaming up against the US. This non-stop fingering by Western news media of Russia as a malign nation is not news information to the public. It is simply disinformation, distortion and demonization. It is war propaganda. The caricature of Russia as being an evil enemy is not based on facts or evidence. It is based on repetition of lies and innuendo. Western news media are a disgrace to any claims of being independent public information. They are the antithesis of critical journalism. This incendiary role comes at a time when international relations are acutely strained. Russias deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned this week that the world has never been in greater danger in recent decades as it is now of an all-out military confrontation. He was speaking at a conference held in Beijing on nuclear arms controls attended by the US, Russia, Britain and France. Ryabkov was referring to the threat by the US to abandon the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. If the treaty collapses then international security is gravely weakened. Russia and the US accuse each other of breaching the INF. Moscow points to the actual installation of short-range US ballistic missile systems in Romania and Poland. For its part, the American side has not provided evidence to back up its claims against Russia. The point is, however, that the claims and counter-claims should be resolved through negotiations and dialogue. The unilateral abandonment of the INF by the US is reprehensible and reckless. But such high-handed conduct by Washington is based to a large extent on the sinister imaging of Russia as a dangerous enemy. This is why the Western news media deserve reproach. The Russophobia that they churn out on a weekly, daily basis has directly fomented a prejudice detrimental to international relations. Western state policies of antagonism towards Russia are being fashioned based on false perceptions. Those policies are partly enabled by public passivity inculcated by Western media constantly portraying Russia as a bad actor. The so-called Russiagate scandal has been running for almost two years in the Western corporate media. Yet, there is still no proof to substantiate the sensational claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential elections with the aim of getting Donald Trump elected. Nonetheless, the Western media continue to propagate that threadbare narrative. This week, the top US intelligence official, Dan Coats, claimed that Russia was going to interfere in the 2020 election on a much greater scale that it had allegedly done in 2016. The news media reported without any skepticism or investigation. Fortunately though, the establishment Western media has come to be seen by many people in Western states and around the world as a farce. The repetition of lies and fiction regarding Russia by supposedly august titles like the New York Times, London Times, BBC, Der Spiegel and many more has totally discredited Western so-called news media. Public trust in what is supposed to be an institution upholding democracy appears to be at an all-time low. The baneful condition is correlated with Western media and government anti-Russia paranoia being at an all-time high. This growing public distrust and contempt is good and a mercy. For if the deranged Western media and governments had their Russophobia fulfilled, the world would be plunged into war. One thing that emerges clearly is the past Cold War hostility towards the Soviet Union is recycled into animosity towards Russia. In the Cold War, the Western states could at least claim they were fighting against an unwanted ideology. There is no basis for such a claim post-Cold War, yet the aggression continues. That means the hostility emanates from the West. Why? That is a question Western populations should be asking about their media and governments and their foreign policies. What is the immanent need for such hostility? The Western medias function is to keep the mass of people drugged from asking searching questions about their condition and the imposition of irrational war-like mentality. Cold War 2.0 has hit South America with a bang pitting the US and expected minions against the four key pillars of in-progress Eurasia integration: Russia, China, Iran and Turkey. Its the oil, stupid. But theres way more than meets the (oily) eye. Caracas has committed the ultimate cardinal sin in the eyes of Exceptionalistan; oil trading bypassing the US dollar or US-controlled exchanges. Remember Iraq. Remember Libya. Yet Iran is also doing it. Turkey is doing it. Russia is partially on the way. And China will eventually trade all its energy in petroyuan. With Venezuela adopting the petro crypto-currency and the sovereign bolivar, already last year the Trump administration had sanctioned Caracas off the international financial system. No wonder Caracas is supported by China, Russia and Iran. They are the real hardcore troika not psycho-killer John Boltons cartoonish troika of tyranny fighting against the Trump administrations energy dominance strategy, which consists essentially in aiming at the total lock down of oil trading in petrodollars, forever. Venezuela is a key cog in the machine. Psycho killer Bolton admitted it on the record; It will make a big difference to the United States economically if we could have American oil companies invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela. Its not a matter of just letting ExxonMobil take over Venezuelas massive oil reserves the largest on the planet. The key is to monopolize their exploitation in US dollars, benefitting a few Big Oil billionaires. Once again, the curse of natural resources is in play. Venezuela must not be allowed to profit from its wealth on its own terms; thus, Exceptionalistan has ruled that the Venezuelan state must be shattered. In the end, this is all about economic war. Cue to the US Treasury Department imposing new sanctions on PDVSA that amount to a de facto oil embargo against Venezuela. Economic war redux By now its firmly established what happened in Caracas was not a color revolution but an old-school US-promoted regime change coup using local comprador elites, installing as interim president an unknown quantity, Juan Guaido, with his Obama choirboy looks masking extreme right-wing credentials. Everyone remembers Assad must go. The first stage in the Syrian color revolution was the instigation of civil war, followed by a war by proxy via multinational jihadi mercenaries. As Thierry Meyssan has noted, the role of the Arab League then is performed by the OAS now. And the role of Friends of Syria now lying in the dustbin of history is now performed by the Lima group, the club of Washingtons vassals. Instead of al-Nusra moderate rebels, we may have Colombian or assorted Emirati-trained moderate rebel mercenaries. Contrary to Western corporate media fake news, the latest elections in Venezuela were absolutely legitimate. There was no way to tamper with the made in Taiwan electronic voting machines. The ruling Socialist Party got 70 percent of the votes; the opposition, with many parties boycotting it, got 30 percent. A serious delegation of the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts (CEELA) was adamant; the election reflected peacefully and without problems, the will of Venezuelan citizens. The American embargo may be vicious. In parallel, Maduros government may have been supremely incompetent in not diversifying the economy and investing in food self-sufficiency. Major food importers, speculating like theres no tomorrow, are making a killing. Still, reliable sources in Caracas tell that the barrios the popular neighborhoods remain largely peaceful. In a country where a full tank of gas still costs less than a can of Coke, theres no question the chronic shortages of food and medicines in local clinics have forced at least two million people to leave Venezuela. But the key enforcing factor is the US embargo. The UN rapporteur to Venezuela, expert on international law, and former secretary of the UN Human Rights Council, Alfred de Zayas, goes straight to the point; much more than engaging in the proverbial demonization of Maduro, Washington is waging economic war against a whole nation. Its enlightening to see how the Venezuelan people see the charade. In a poll conducted by Hinterlaces even before the Trump administration coup/regime change wet dream, 86% of Venezuelans said they were against any sort of US intervention, military or not, And 81% of Venezuelans said they were against US sanctions. So much for benign foreign interference on behalf of democracy and human rights. The Russia-China factor Analyses by informed observers such as Eva Golinger and most of all, the Mision Verdad collective are extremely helpful. Whats certain, in true Empire of Chaos mode, is that the American playbook, beyond the embargo and sabotage, is to foment civil war. Dodgy armed groups have been active in the Caracas barrios, acting in the dead of night and amplifying social unrest on social media. Still, Guaido holds absolutely no power inside the country. His only chance of success is if he manages to install a parallel government cashing in on the oil revenue and having Washington arrest government members on trumped-up charges. Irrespective of neocon wet dreams, adults at the Pentagon should know that an invasion of Venezuela may indeed metastasize into a tropical Vietnam quagmire. The Brazilian strongman in waiting, vice-president and retired general Hamilton Mourao, already said there will be no military intervention. Psycho killer Boltons by now infamous notepad stunt about 5,000 troops to Colombia, is a joke; these would have no chance against the arguably 15,000 Cubans who are in charge of security for the Maduro government; Cubans have demonstrated historically they are not in the business of handing over power. It all comes back to what China and Russia may do. China is Venezuelas largest creditor. Maduro was received by Xi Jinping last year in Beijing, getting an extra $5 billion in loans and signing at least 20 bilateral agreements. President Putin offered his full support to Maduro over the phone, diplomatically stressing that destructive interference from abroad blatantly violates basic norms of international law. By January 2016, oil was as low as $35 a barrel; a disaster to Venezuelas coffers. Maduro then decided to transfer 49.9% of the state ownership in PDVSAs US subsidiary, Citgo, to Russian Rosneft for a mere $1.5 billion loan. This had to send a wave of red lights across the Beltway; those evil Russians were now part owners of Venezuelas prime asset. Late last year, still in need of more funds, Maduro opened gold mining in Venezuela to Russian mining companies. And theres more; nickel, diamonds, iron ore, aluminum, bauxite, all coveted by Russia, China and the US. As for $1.3 billion of Venezuelas own gold, forget about repatriating it from the Bank of England. And then, last December, came the straw that broke the Deep States back; the friendship flight of two Russian nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers. How dare they? In our own backyard? The Trump administrations energy masterplan may be indeed to annex Venezuela to a parallel North American-South American Petroleum Exporting Countries (NASAPEC) cartel, capable of rivaling the OPEC+ love story between Russia and the House of Saud. But even if that came to fruition, and adding a possible, joint US-Qatar LNG alliance, theres no guarantee that would be enough to assure petrodollar and petrogas preeminence in the long run. Eurasia energy integration will mostly bypass the petrodollar; this is at the very heart of both the BRICS and SCO strategy. From Nord Stream 2 to Turk Stream, Russia is locking down a long-term energy partnership with Europe. And petroyuan dominance is just a matter of time. Moscow knows it. Tehran knows it. Ankara knows it. Riyadh knows it. So what about plan B, neocons? Ready for your tropical Vietnam? The European Commission is going to start legal procedures against Hungary for criminalizing support for migrants within the nations borders according to Reuters. This presents an interesting case of both free speech and national sovereignty. Hungary is violating the concept of free speech and freedom of association by forcing individuals to not support migrants, while the European Commission is also against acting directly against these Western values by trying to force Hungarians to do the opposite and deliberately using force to change a nations opinion which brings the role of the nation-state in the EU back into question. Hungary, despite being deep in the Postmodern Empire itself has many growing critical ideological differences with the bloc of nations that cannot be reconciled. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has many times called for the EU to return to its Christian roots in both rhetoric, and far more importantly, policy. And unlike many supposed Euro-skeptics Orbans government has actually built a wall and routed the flow of migrants away from Hungary. This is action and not just populist words to pacify dissent. The European Commission finds this lack of support for migrants to be some sort of violation of human rights. However due to such actions by Orban fan base is growing in the European silent majority. Furthermore, Orban himself is reputed to have coined the term Illiberal Democracy as the name for what he and many in especially Eastern Europe see as a possible new political theory for the 21st century. As you might imagine the average ultra-Postmodern ultra-Liberal Brussels bureaucrat is not particularly thrilled with any of Orbans moves (despite their massive popular support in Hungary) especially his desire to create some sort of competing ideology to the status quo. That in todays medieval Europe is blasphemy. At times it seems as if the only thing that Hungary and the EU agree on (for now at least) is that Hungary is a European nation. The only real punishment that could be enacted on Hungary by the European Commission, if found guilty, would be some form of sanctions. However, this means that if the organizers of the union have the power to punish members of said union then those members are actually subjects of it, not free willed members. Even if you are against Orban and his policies one has to admit that if the EU is to be a group of nations working together no one should have the power to punish misbehavior. Nor should they be able to economically attack the civilians (this is whom sanctions harm the most) of their so-called allies. The United States of Europe would be a much better name for the European Union than its current branding because it is far more accurate, as the EU is beginning to resemble the US more and more. Ohio may have different speed limits than Massachusetts but it will not under any circumstances be allowed to go against Washingtons policies. Some conspiracy theorists say that some sort of Federalization is the ultimate goal for the EU. The threats coming from Brussels sure seem to make these conspiracy theories look more closer to conspiracy fact. Besides the hypocrisy, one major question is just how will good Europe punish bad Europe with sanctions within the framework of a block of nations with total free trade and open borders? Sanctioning closed off Russia is one thing, but how does one go about economically striking realm of the Magyars? One punishment that could actually be devastating for Hungary (in the short term) would be being ejected from the EU entirely. This would create a geopolitical nightmare of Hungary as the landlocked nation would be surrounded on nearly all sides by the EU with the exception of a small border with pro-European (yet also war-torn and collapsing) Ukraine to the East and economically limited but possibly friendly Serbia to the south. Serbia is a wonderful place with wonderful people but relying on it for an economic outlet will not work. Hungary getting the boot would give it the same destiny as many of the former Soviet Republics being torn from deep economic ties instantly then being forced to build new ones with absolutely no wealth to accomplish the task. The threat of being completely removed from the European Union would force Orban to back down or at least make some concessions, however if they were to do this it could cause major blowback. Orban and his popular policies did not come from out of nowhere or some sort of personal gripes. Orban hated Hungary being dictated to by Moscow during Communism and hates it being dedicated to from Brussels now. Discontent for the EU continues to grow and the ejection of one member could lead to further instability and a possible domino effect. In many ways economies live or die based on confidence in them, an ejection from the EU could create a crisis of said financial confidence. Stowe, VT (05672) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Morristown, VT (05661) Today Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Kudos to Missouri state Rep. Chrissy Sommer, R-St. Charles, for sponsoring legislation that would allow and in some cases require psychiatric or psychological evaluation and treatment for people convicted of animal abuse ("Animal abusers could be ordered into counseling under state proposal," Jan. 29). As the story noted, the National Sheriffs' Association recognizes what humane organizations have long known: that animal abuse is a precursor to other forms of abuse and crimes, from domestic violence to murder. In 2016, the FBI added animal cruelty to its National Incident-Based Reporting System in an effort to get a more complete picture of the nature of animal abuse, the crimes for which it is a marker, and the best plans for intervention. Illinois has already mandated psychological counseling for various forms of animal cruelty. It is past time for Missouri to do so. The Legislature should pass Sommer's bill. And while theyre at it, they should require counseling for people who abuse humans as well. Sarah Newman Lake Saint Louis I spy It turns out your iPhone may be spying on you. Apple has acknowledged a glitch that allows iPhone users to listen in on other iPhone users even if they dont answer their phones. As first reported by the website 9to5Mac.com, the bug allows a caller using the FaceTime app to listen in on the person being called, even if the person doesnt answer the call. Theres no indication to the receiver of the call that some connection has been made; it just keeps ringing while the person at the other end listens in. Another identified bug allows callers to see through the recipient phones camera. Apple announced it would release a fix. Until then, iPhone users were being advised to disable their FaceTime apps. Theres been no indication that this was the result of some intentional mischief. That might be the scariest part of all, that todays technology can end up invading users' privacy all on its own. Token of appreciation On the anniversary of the Blues Stanley Cup parade we take a look at some of the most memorable parade celebrations in St. Louis history. A 19-year-old man from Overland Park faces a felony charge after he was accused of killing a dog by sitting on it. Raphael Bright posted $10,000 bond on Thursday in Johnson County Court in metro Kansas City on the charge of cruelty to animals, on the conditions that he follows mental health recommendations, including taking of medication, and stays at least 100 feet from any animal, according to court records. Bright was arrested and taken to jail on Wednesday. The dog died on Dec. 21 in Overland Park, but other details weren't available, according to The Kansas City Star. JEFFERSON CITY The email system used by thousands of state government employees in Missouri came under attack by hackers Thursday. In an afternoon letter to state workers from the state's Office of Cyber Security, a large phishing attack was directed at the state starting at 7 a.m. Thursday. The campaign is still in progress, and it has been identified that some of the malicious emails are making it through the advanced detection system into State of Missouri mailboxes, the letter noted. Stephen Meyer, the acting chief of the division, warned workers not to click on emails that contained subject lines with the words such as invoice or "AT&T bill is available." If you discover an email matching the description below, please delete it from your inbox, Meyer wrote. By late afternoon, Office of Administration spokeswoman Brittany Ruess told the Post-Dispatch that it appeared the attack had ended. And, she said, officials believe it was unsuccessful. "Cyber security protections prevented any loss of data or information," Ruess said. "However, the Office of Cyber Security continues to monitor the situation." Updated at 10:25 a.m. with a comment from Hageman CLAYTON Patti Hageman, the former longtime chief lawyer in the city of St. Louis, has joined St. Louis County Executive Steve Stengers administration as a senior policy adviser. Hageman, 50, was appointed city counselor by Mayor Francis Slay in 2001 and served until early 2014. (She briefly served as Slay's chief of staff.) She joined the Clayton law firm of Bick & Kistner in January 2014 and changed jobs in December 2015 to serve as as director of the volunteer lawyers program at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Hageman is married to Ed Rhode, a political consultant who last year helped run Stengers successful campaign for a second term. Her old firm of Bick and Kistner represents St. Louis County Council and port authority members in a number of court actions against Stenger. Hageman is joining Stengers administration as one of the county executives longtime top advisers, Stephen LeResche, is retiring. Her annual salary is $130,000. Hageman said she was excited to be back in municipal government. She will not be working as an attorney in the office, "but in the sense that my experience and background lends itself to being a strong adviser, I'll certainly draw on that." Daily updates on the latest news in the St. Louis business community. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY State ethics officials have fined the former mayor of Cool Valley $10,380 for violating state campaign law during his unsuccessful run for a seat in the Missouri House last year. Floyd Blackwell, who sought the Democratic nomination for the Ferguson-based 73rd House District, signed a consent order with the Missouri Ethics Commission last week, in which he acknowledged not reporting thousands of dollars in expenses and contributions in the run-up to the August primary. He paid $1,037 to the MEC on Jan. 10 and can avoid the larger fine if he does not violate state law for two years. Everything is taken care of. Its water under the bridge, Blackwell told the Post-Dispatch. The violations occurred as Blackwell was vying against Raychel Proudie and electrician Lee Smith for the seat formerly held by Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Ferguson. Hayden: What I believe is that there are procedures in place. I believe that they are well founded through experience. And I also believe that currently as we do this investigation, I know that there may be some questions about parallel, and not just homicide scenes, on any criminal investigation our officers, our detectives, our evidence collectors are only operating under the purview of their supervisors and supervision so right now as we speak members of the Circuit Attorneys Office are allowed to be on scenes only as observers. Post-Dispatch: Can you say whether or not this is the first offense for these officers or have they been going rogue on duty going to their house for a long time? Has there been a pattern here or is this the first time you know of this happening for these particular officers at this point? Hayden: That would be a personnel matter and I would not Reporter: Do we know how many dispatches these two officers received or ignored while they were on Dover Place at the apartment and what they were for? Hayden: That will be part of the investigation. Reporter: Do you have an estimate? Joyce said the health department made a conscious decision not to comply with the laws requirements with full awareness of the consequences. ACLU of Missouri Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman was pleased with the decision. We hope this ruling makes state agencies think twice about deliberately denying the public its right to know, Mittman said. The ruling came two days after the Post-Dispatch filed a lawsuit against the agency after it declined to release records that would reveal who is seeking to sell medical marijuana in Missouri. The department says the names of the companies seeking permits can be shielded from public view because the constitutional amendment that legalized medical marijuana forbids the release of the records. Health Department Director Randall Williams also raised the ire of state lawmakers after he refused to release information about testing for the tick-borne Bourbon virus in Meramec State Park, where a state worker caught the disease and died in 2017. In 2012, according to court records, she and her child fled to a domestic violence shelter in Oklahoma, where they lived for several months. During that time, the childs father was awarded custody of their child. Licata was charged with felony interference with custody. She pleaded not guilty and went to trial. The jury found her guilty and she was sentenced to nine months in jail. Licata appealed and the conviction was affirmed. While she was in jail, public defender Amanda Langenheim filed a motion for post-conviction relief, citing issues with the trial. The prosecutor agreed that Licata had received ineffective counsel. The court vacated the conviction, and Licata accepted a plea bargain, pleading guilty to a misdemeanor offense of the same charge. She had already done her time in jail. As part of her new agreement with the court, Licata agreed to take responsibility for a bill of $22,694, for her nine months in jail, more than half of it for medical care. Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman 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 Rachel Smith, who starts Feb. 22 as chief trial assistant for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner, also will be the lead prosecutor in the Katlyn Alix case. Gardner announced the appointment and the assignment in a statement released Friday. Alix, a St. Louis police officer, was fatally shot Jan. 24. Her fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. Smith, who has worked as a prosecutor for 26 years with the circuit attorney's office and the Missouri attorney general's office, will lead a trial team of about 60 prosecutors and work with the offices diversion team on alternative sentencing plans. Smith, who has a law degree from Washington University, will make $120,000 a year. She will replace Travis Partney, who is returning to the Jefferson County prosecutors office. Your weekly capsule of local news, life advice, trivia and humor from Post-Dispatch columnist Joe Holleman. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The states performance-based contract with Foxconn provides the company the flexibility to make these business decisions, and at the same time, protects Wisconsins taxpayers, Mark Hogan, chief executive and secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, said in a statement. As has been reported, Foxconn will not qualify for tax credits until, at the earliest, 2020, and then only if the company meets its annual job creation and capital investment requirements. Our ongoing discussions with company officials reflect Foxconns continued commitment to the State of Wisconsin. PBMs administer drug benefits for employers and health plans and also run large mail-order pharmacies. Drugmakers say they are under pressure to provide rebates to the few PBMs that dominate the market in order to gain patient access to their products by having them included on preferred coverage lists. Drugmakers say that PBMs do not pass on enough of those savings to patients a contention the PBMs dispute and that the rebates force them to raise the list price of medicines over time to preserve their profits. They argue that the net revenue they actually see has little relation to list prices. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement that industry middlemen, such as PBMs, "have no accountability and consumers don't see any savings at the pharmacy counter," adding that he also wants drugmakers to lower their list prices. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the main PBM trade group, said eliminating rebates would drive up drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses for consumers. The group said drugmakers alone set prices. Express Scripts said it was evaluating the proposed rule, but said rebates help keep premiums low for Medicare beneficiaries. The administration of President Donald Trump unveiled a plan Thursday to channel now-hidden prescription drug discounts directly to patients, saying that would eventually lower prices for consumers. The proposed regulation from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar aims to eliminate behind-the-scenes rebates among drugmakers, middlemen and insurers and instead encourage that they be paid directly to consumers when they buy their medications. The idea is to do away with a hidden cost seen as contributing to artificially high list prices for prescription drugs. The proposal was co-authored with the Health and Human Services inspector generals office. The proposal comes as Trump is under political pressure to deliver results on his repeated promises to slash prescription drug costs. Democrats in Congress want to empower Medicare to directly negotiate prices with drug companies, but Republicans prefer a market-based approach that keeps the government out of setting prices. But the impact for consumers may not be immediate, since the changes would take effect over the next year if all goes according to plan. Also, drugmakers do not currently provide discounts for all their medications. Maritz laid off and furloughed 1,000 employees during the height of the pandemic. A year later, the company is hiring hundreds more as it strives to rebuild. The final say on the quartz duties is up to the U.S. International Trade Commission, which is likely to decide by June whether the U.S. industry was injured by Chinese trade practices. A coalition of 200 quartz fabricators firms that cut the material to size and prepare it for installation is asking the ITC to use a broad definition of the industry. The firms say U.S. fabricators collectively employ 50,000 workers, far more jobs than are at stake at Cambria. Graniterra, a 25-employee stone fabricator in St. Louis, is part of the coalition. The tariffs have definitely thrown a major risk or curveball into the quartz market, said John Parish, the firms vice president. You have consumers and builders trying to make decisions amid these trade developments, and they dont know what is happening. Builders, Parish said, often want to order product now that theyll need in 18 months. Its hard for him to quote a price without knowing how the trade case will turn out. To make things worse for some firms, the Commerce Department ruled in November that the duties should apply retroactively to any quartz imported after August. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com The USR chair Dan Barna considers that the budget proposed by the Government for 2019 is a budget "of lies and of pushing Romania into crisis", it is based on "aberrant" revenues and the expenditures are "impossible to cover". "This budget is the consequence of the photo that all the press presented last week with six people who decided on the future of Romania, three of whom have criminal convictions. The six people decided this budget, which I would call a budget of lies and of pushing Romania into crisis. (...) The revenues this budget is based on are aberrant. We are talking about an increase of 5.5pct in the conditions where we had 4pct last year, given that Europe is in stagnation and under the conditions that all European economic growth is on a downward trend. We are basically talking about some incomes that cannot even be theoretically attainable: probably a 2 to 3pct increase would be related to reality," Barna said on Friday in a press conference. "In the case of investments, we are presented with a fantasy by Mr. Valcov [prime minister's adviser]. If we had a 3pct increase in the last two years, we are now promised a 4.6pct. He has no references in the budget that can make them possible," Barna said.Referring to the "increase in resources left to the big cities", he said that this is "doubled by aberrant spending to be covered by these cities.""It is just a PR image that Liviu Dragnea has sold to the mayors he has. From this budget, I think that the localities are just victims and not the beneficiaries", added the USR head. Romania is a highly appreciated ally and contributes to our common security in many different ways, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday in an interview for the private television broadcaster Antena 3, mentioning both co-operation with the North-Atlantic Alliance's units in the country's territory, as well as Romania's contribution to NATO missions and operations abroad. Romania is a highly regarded ally and it contributes to our common security in many different ways. Here, in Romania, you invest more in defense, host a multinational brigade in Craiova, host a NATO anti-missile defense site and play a key role in the Black Sea region, working with the allies and contributing to an increased land, sea and air NATO presence, said Jens Stoltenberg. He also mentioned Romania's contribution to NATO missions and operations, including the mission in Afghanistan. So Romania contributes in many different ways and I thank Romania for its strong commitment to the Alliance, Stoltenberg said.My message to the Romanian people is that I thank them for their strong commitment to the Alliance, making Romania safer, making us safer, because as long as we are together and defend each other we are safer and a strong NATO is the best way to prevent conflicts, concluded the NATO chief. Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said on Friday before joining the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) that Romania supports the opening of new chapters in Montenegro and Serbia's negotiations with the EU, appreciating that speeding up the process will allow faster accession of these countries to the European Union. "Romania supports the opening of new chapters in the negotiations between Montenegro and Serbia with the EU, and we believe that accelerating these negotiations will have to enable faster accession of these countries to the EU, although at the level of the Commission 2025 was given as accession horizon. We are convinced that this process can be accelerated and we will support the acceleration of this process," Melescanu said in a statement to the press. The minister mentioned that on Thursday, on the first day of the informal meeting in Bucharest, the topic of the Eastern Partnership was also approached as it has a special symbolism for the Romanian presidency of the EU Council."It was a priority topic for Romania's presidency. We discussed it. It has a special symbolism for us because it is ten years since the creation of the Eastern Partnership and our concern is to prepare a ministerial meeting in Brussels to assess the good things that have happened in the framework of the Eastern Partnership and to give a certain perspective on the post-2020 period of the Eastern Partnership. For us it has a dual significance. On the one hand, encouraging the Eastern Partnership countries to continue with reforms that will make them compatible with EU values. On the other hand, we must recognize that these Eastern partners are very important contributors to the security of Europe," Teodor Melescanu said. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed his conviction on Friday, before joining the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) that while Romania is holding the EU Council Presidency, the relations between Turkey and the European Union will continue to normalize and the dialogue will be strengthened and expanded. "China is on the agenda of discussions. The extension, as well. The European Union does not have a clear position on extension. We were invited as candidate countries and I would like to thank the Romanian Presidency, whose priorities we support. I think that in the period in which Romania is holding the EU Council Presidency, the relations between Turkey and the EU will continue to be normalized and our dialogue will be strengthened and expanded. Thank you for the invitation. Turkey will have the chance to present its viewpoints on the global topics, in terms of Turkey-EU relations, but also as regards China or a number of regional issues," he said. Nikola Dimitrov, the head of Skopje's diplomacy, expressed his conviction that the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council would be an opportunity for his country."Romania has taken over the Presidency of the EU Council in a period full of challenges but also with opportunities. I think for Macedonia it is one of the best opportunities for success, in the context of the Romanian Presidency and its priorities," he said. Sharp stopped doing the posters in the early 1990s. His job as the citys artist was rifted a workplace acronym for reduction in force and he was moved to a new job as a home inspector. He emptied out his desk and his office. Among the frames he took off the wall was a framed poster from 1986, with the sailboat against the fuchsia sky. He and his wife were moving into a new home in a remote wooded area outside of James City County. He stuck the box from his office in the attic and forgot about it. Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar on Wednesday and Thursday participated, in his capacity as co-chair, in the Consultative Forum of Prosecutors General in the European Union, in the second meeting of the EUROMED Forum (Prosecutors General in the Euro-Mediterranean Area), an event held at the Eurojust headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. According to a release of the Prosecutor General's Office, at the Forum, Augustin Lazar presented the Public Ministry's standpoint with respect to the priority topics identified in the Euromed Justice Areas, such as terrorism, organised crime, cyberspace and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, e-evidence, data protection, joint investigation teams, as well as guiding principles of the Forum and coordination with other judiciary cooperation platforms. On the occasion of his participation in the meeting of the Euromed Forum at the Eurojust headquarters, they concluded the Memorandum of Understanding between the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Prosecutor General's Office attached to the Italian Court of Cassation, signed by the prosecutors general of the two institutions, Augustin Lazar and Riccardo Fuzio. "Starting from the common desire to work in the interest of justice as an essential element of the rule of law and its strengthening, the document represents the first bilateral cooperation agreement concluded between the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Prosecutor General's Office attached to the Italian Court of Cassation. This targets cooperation in the judicial and judiciary fields, the exchange of information in judiciary organisation, legislation and jurisprudence in the two states, on a regular basis, as well as the exchange of magistrates and the organisation of colloquies, seminars and other joint technical and academic meetings," reads the same source. President Klaus Iohannis on Friday welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Jeremy Hunt, in which context he showed that a UK withdrawal without an agreement with the European Union will have significant negative consequences both on this country and the EU member states, reads a press release of the Presidential Administration. Thus, in the context of the decisions made by the British Parliament on January 29, the head of the state showed that the agreement negotiated by the EU27 and the UK is the most efficient mechanism that will ensure an orderly withdrawal, limiting the negative consequences generated by Brexit and guaranteeing the rights of the EU citizens who live, work or study in the UK. "The agreement negotiated by the EU27 and the UK is the most efficient mechanism for ensuring an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland from the European Union, limiting the negative consequences generated by Brexit and guaranteeing the rights of the EU citizens who live, work or study in the UK," said the head of the state, according to the abovementioned release. In respect to the bilateral relations, the two interlocutors highlighted the very good political dialogue existing between the two countries under the Strategic Partnership concluded in 2003 and revised in 2011, which evolved positively over the years, mainly in the security and defence fields. President Klaus Iohannis underscored that the bilateral relation must not be negatively influenced by the Brexit process. "The Romanian President voiced his being in favour of strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership, as strengthening cooperation in foreign affairs, security, including within NATO and on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance is necessary. President Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romania's strong support and that of his own for NATO and the transatlantic relation, highlighting at the same time the importance of a fair burden sharing in respect to the defence expenditures. This approach was also shared by the British Foreign Secretary, who underscored that both states earmark 2 per cent of their respective GDPs for defence and firmly support NATO and the transatlantic relation," says the same source. Moreover the head of the state mentioned Romania's support for strengthening the EU-NATO partnership, including in the context in which Romania is holding the Presidency at the Council of the European Union, while pleading for avoiding "duplicates and promoting complementarity, so that a true synergy of the two organisations' efforts be reached." President Klaus Iohannis highlighted the role of the Romanian community in the UK and the strengthening of the bilateral relation and the importance Romania grants to the protection of the rights of its citizens in the UK, in the Brexit context. He emphasized the high level of integration of the Romanian community with the British society, as well as the added value this community brings to the host country. The head of the state reiterated that the protection of the rights of the Romanian citizens was and remains the main priority of Romania during the negotiations between the EU and the UK. Iohannis mentioned that, in the period ahead, the citizens, both the European citizens in the UK and the British citizens in the EU27, must remain a priority, so that, regardless of the scenario that will prevail as negotiations unfold, the negative effects with an impact on their lives be as reduced as possible. According to the Presidential Administration, the British Foreign Secretary voiced his country's special appreciation for President Klaus Iohannis's efforts in maintaining and strengthening the rule of law in Romania. Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu stated on Friday, within the informal meeting of the foreign affairs minister of the EU (Gymnich), that two weeks ago when he paid a visit to Chisinau, he conveyed the message that for Romania and for the other member states of the EU there is a red line that cannot be crossed, regarding the fair, democratic and efficient organisation of the elections in the Republic of Moldova. "Some of the issues which we are confronted with at the EU level are related to the elections in two key-countries of the Eastern Partnership. It's about the Republic of Moldova, but it is also about Ukraine. Ten days ago, namely two weeks ago, I paid a visit to Chisinau, occasion on which, among other things I discussed with Mr Prime Minister, I said very clearly that for Romania, but not only for Romania, for the European Union countries, there is a red line that cannot be crossed and this is connected to the fair, democratic and efficient organization of the elections in the Republic of Moldova. I have very clearly stated that it is an essential test, which the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the EU continues to depend on. I sent a very clear message. The second message I gave to the Prime Minister is not to break the connection with other parties in the non-parliamentary opposition, but with European orientation, because finding a majority based on the European idea might be taken into account," the Romanian Minister told a joint press conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. He mentioned that within the visit to Chisinau, he also carried out a meeting with representatives of all the non-parliamentary parties of the Republic of Moldova with pro-European tendencies and visions. "Sure, [we met] at the Embassy of Romania. It was very nice to see that all the structures existing at the level of the Moldovan society are there. And here, we made sure we are sending a message of observing the manner in which the free and fair elections are going to take place and, at the same time, I told them the reverse of the message which I addressed to Mr. Filip: that it's not good to say never in politics. So, for them, I gave a signal that they should also consider the possibility of other actions," he said. Melescanu mentioned that there will probably be numerous foreign observers during the electoral process. "I want to tell you that even at the Council of Europe level, and the OSCE [the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] level, there is an interest in carefully watching the way elections are held in Moldova. Therefore, we can expect to have numerous observers to do their job and be able to provide an as accurate as possible image of how the elections were held. We hope for [the elections] to be correct, fair, and the people we want to be elected," he said. Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu stated on Friday, within the informal meeting of the foreign affairs minister of the EU (Gymnich), that a particular aspect was represented by the fact that the representatives of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia sat at the same table, agreeing the idea of creating some necessary conditions for the Western Balkans countries to join the European Union. "Today, it was a special moment, in which our colleagues representing Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia, for the first time, have sat at the same table and came together, on the same idea, regarding the development and growth, the creation of some necessary conditions for the Western Balkans countries to join the European Union. After signing this agreement, I am convinced that there will be an accession invitation for the Republic of North Macedonia, but a second thing, which I want to underscore is that the signing of this agreement proved, even in difficult conditions, with a complicated history, that when there is a wish to find political solutions to political issues then miracles can truly be pulled off. Who would have imagined a few years ago, when it was practically one of the largest debates at the Western Balkans level, that it will come to this situation. We all commended and hope to continue to also produce a synergic effect on other countries that are negotiating in the Western Balkans on the same topics," Melescanu stated within a press statement held at the end of the Gymnich meeting. He mentioned that the Eastern Partnership is one of the priorities of the Romanian Presidency at the EU Council, in the context in which this year it is being celebrated the 10th anniversary since the launching of this partnership. "It was a great success policy of the European Union. It has determined profound changes at economic, social level and in the life of the citizens at the east of our border, the liberalisation of the visa regime, the multiplication of study opportunities in other countries, research, extensive interconnection projects across the European Union. All were practically unheard of ten years ago, when the Eastern Partnership was launched. Beyond the symbolism, our ambition is to have a summit at the level of the Foreign Ministers in Brussels on the topic of the Eastern Partnership. The objective is primarily to analyse and discuss very openly what were the results that the Eastern Partnership brought to the EU member countries and partner countries," he said. Melescanu mentioned that this discussion will also provide the opportunity to "look toward the future," to what will happen after 2020 and what will be the commitment of the EU countries and of the Union, in its entirety, in respect to the relation with the Eastern Partnership countries. "From this point of view, I have to tell you that we pay a special attention to the accomplishment of some objectives in the digital, energy, transport areas and business partnerships. Certainly, one of the paramount topics is the manner in which it will conclude, what will be the conclusion of our meeting at ministerial level. We hope very much to be able to shape up some ideas in relation to the assessment results, to try to think about the future and, especially, to have an official agreement of the member states - and partner countries, and from the EU - in view of continuing this programme even after 2020," he stated. After leaving the EU, the UK is determined to promote free trade and create new relations with its partners, Romania included, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Friday. He spoke in the official opening of the first office in Romania of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), alongside London Stock Exchange Group CEO David Schwimmer and Romanian Deputy PM for implementing Romania's strategic partnerships Ana Birchall. Hunt said that opening this office means jobs for almost 500 Romanians. London is one of the biggest centres in the world. Foreign investors come to London to get in touch with investors and finance and I am proud that Bucharest is part of this network, he said. The UK's prosperity was entirely built on free economic exchange. After we leave the EU, we are determined not only to keep this tradition, but to consolidate it, encouraging and promoting free trade worldwide. And trade with Europe is fundamental for our economic success, said Hunt. The British Foreign Secretary also spoke of the post-Brexit prospects. The UK is the fifth largest economy, and the EU is the biggest single market for British exports. In the context in which the UK repositions itself on the global stage, we plan to build new relations with our partners, Romania included, Jeremy Hunt pointed out. Hunt added that the volume of economic exchanges between Romania and the UK currently stands at 4 billion euro, having increased 9 percent from the previous year. I am confident that this trend regarding the economic exchange between our countries will continue. Over 5,000 British companies invested almost 1.5 billion euro in the Romanian economy, he highlighted, mentioning in context the Liberty House Group. At the same time, the British Foreign Secretary also talked about the Dacia and Ford exports to the UK. Today there is a turning point in our economic and commercial relation, Hunt also said. Ana Birchall sent PM Viorica Dancila's message, describing the event as "an extra confirmation of the attention granted to Romania both as trustworthy partner in business and as strategic partner of the UK." She said that the opening of the office in Bucharest means "hiring 400 highly qualified Romanians." "Each implemented investment, each opening means contributions to the budget and new jobs for our country's citizens, therefore I would like to voice my appreciation for London Stock Exchange Group and the decision to invest in Romania," Birchall conveyed. In context, the Deputy PM evoked Romania's economic growth. "Prime Minister Dancila and the Government believe that each new investment is a good opportunity to prove the international business community that Romania is a trustworthy business partner, strongly connected to development and growth. (...) We are gradually turning Romania into a place where the next generation has the long-waited opportunity of building careers that will bring them satisfactions," Birchall also said. In his turn, David Schwimmer said that the office covers over 42 LSEG services. The office has been operating since November last year, he pointed out, and the Friday event marked the official opening. Our decision to create hubs in Bucharest reflects many qualities that Romania provides - high level labour force, a strong education system, excellent infrastructure - which make Romania a first class destination for investment, Schwimmer said. 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Trump's speech had been scheduled for Jan. 29, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called it off because the shutdown was underway, leading to an angry response from the president, who denied her and several other Democrats access to a military plane to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Stacey Abrams, the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives who narrowly lost a gubernatorial race last fall, is slated to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to Trump. A joint negotiating committee on Capitol Hill is trying to work out a new spending deal to keep the government open past Feb. 15, with the three-week continuing resolution that ended the shutdown is set to expire. Pelosi has said there will be no money for a wall in any deal and, in an interview with the New York Times on Thursday, Trump called the talks a "waste of time." Asked if Trump would acknowledge the shutdown in his speech, the administration official said the president will "definitely talk about immigration and about where we are in that debate and present a path forward. The totality of the speech will address it because in some ways he will offer a vision forward." Rowan County deputies said they arrested a second suspect Friday accused in the killing a 25-year-old woman on Sunday. James Christopher Rife, of Third Creek Church Road, Cleveland, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted robbery. Rife is 36. Rife was arrested on unrelated charges earlier in the investigation after he was identified as a person of interest, according to a Rowan County Sheriffs Office news release. He is now being held without bond at the Rowan County Detention Center. He is the second person charged in the shooting death of Lakyn Jade Bailey, who lived in Davidson. Joshua Wade Kennedy, a registered sex offender who had been living in Iredell and Rowan counties, was arrested Wednesday evening on the same charges. He is also being held without bond. Bailey was found shot to death inside a car parked at the Country Cupboard Store on Statesville Boulevard, west of Salisbury, early Sunday morning. Deputies were called to that store around 1:30 a.m., but investigators believe the shooting happened on Apple Road, near Burmac Circle off Woodleaf Road, about three miles from where Baileys body was found. A man found guilty earlier this month of breaking into homes and cars in North Statesville last year will not have to spend time in prison. On Jan. 14 and 17, Dale Patrick Snider was convicted of four counts of second-degree burglary, four of identity theft and 13 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle. Iredell County Superior Court Judge Lori Hamilton sentenced him to 27 years on supervised probation. Snider, 43, gave an Alford plea, meaning he asserts his innocence while accepting a guilty verdict. The probation will be in lieu of a suspended prison sentence of 9-18 years, which he may still face if he does not comply with the terms of his probation. In the last week of September, the Statesville Police Department said it was investigating break-ins at multiple homes on Carolina Avenue. Police didnt say how many homes were involved or if items were stolen, but the department said it would increase patrols in the area. Snider, who police say has a history of committing break-ins and who had recently returned to the area, was identified as a suspect after officers went door-to-door in the neighborhood around Carolina Avenue and asked neighbors if they had seen anything suspicious. The following is a list of those booked in the Iredell County Detention Center on felony and driving while impaired charges from Jan. 24-30 in Iredell County. Listed information, including addresses, has been gathered from reports publicly available at area law enforcement agencies. If your name appears here and your case was dismissed or you were cleared of the crime, let us know by calling Ross Kiefer at 704-873-1451, ext. 4403 or emailing jkiefer@statesville.com. The 2019 Special Olympics Iredell County Polar Plunge will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. Anyone interested in taking a dip in the Statesville Leisure Pool on a chilly day and supporting charity at the same time can still sign up and participate. Proceeds will go to Special Olympics Iredell County. Registration costs $25 and plungers will get an event T-shirt. Special Olympics athletes are never charged to compete, and we need your help to continue to make this possible! organizers said on the event webpage. Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to participate as plungers, fundraisers for the cause, or just have them come to the event to cheer you on! Anyone interested in participating should wear a bathing suit, warm clothes, a costume or other appropriate garb. Clothes with rivets, metal buckles or anything that could damage the water slide is not allowed. You should bring a towel and a change of clothes. Locker rooms are available. Check-in and same-day registration opens a 1 p.m. Participants will line up at 1:45 for the 2 p.m. plunge. You can register ahead of the event at www.firstgiving.com/event/sonc/2019IredellPlunge. 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And, needless to say, Obama was Bushs. Then came Donald Trump, who emerged from central casting as the opposite not only of Obama but of all things decent, fair and true. Who, pray, will be the non-Trump? By all rights, it should be a woman of color to counter Trumps grab-em-by-the-[whatever] misogyny and his dog-whistling to Jim Crow. California Sen. Kamala Harris would be the obvious choice given those criteria. But as telegenic, experienced and charismatic as she is, Harris pro-debt-free-college and Medicare-for-all positions would be hard sells in a general election. Enter Schultz. Hes richer than Trump; as white as Trump; a man. You see the problem. But he does have antidotal qualities. Hes polite, smart, self-made, articulate, calm, rational -- and a centrist like millions of voters. Given that the two major political parties have been rendered ridiculous by their bases -- and 56 percent of Americans say they wouldnt consider voting for Trump, according to a Washington Post poll released Tuesday -- why not a third way? Besides, theres no guarantee hed attract only Democratic votes. SCOTTSBLUFF The Western Nebraska Community College Performing Arts season continues with six more performances throughout the spring semester. On March 1-3, WNCCs Theatre Arts program will present Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire to kick off the Spring Performing Arts Season. The play, directed by WNCC Theatre Arts Instructor Robert Thompson, Jr., tells the story of an amnesiac, Claire, who awakens each morning as a blank slate on which her husband and daughter must piece together the facts of her life. Fuddy Meers will be performed in the John. N Harms Center lower bay area at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance beginning Feb. 1 or at the door one hour prior to curtain. Viewer discretion is advised, as adult themes and language are used. The 29th Annual Gala Evening, which features the WNCC Vocal Music program, will then be held on March 29 and 30 at the Gering Civic Center. The 2019 Gala Evening, under the direction of Choral Activities Director Dr. Patrick Newell, will focus on the theme "Fairy Tales Do Come True." Though a variety of Disney favorites will be performed, Newell also found inspiration in musical theater, opera and folk songs. A social will begin at 6 p.m. each day with dinner and the performance set to start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase from March 1 until March 28 at noon. Inside the purses are personal hygiene items as well as socks, gloves, hats, scarves, mirrors, lotions and lip gloss. There are things in there to make them feel like a woman again, Sanna said. Its something that will help them survive, give them hope and let them know they do matter in this world. At the conference, a former homeless vet told attendees she wish she had something like that had existed during the long months she was homeless and lived in her car. You dont really think about it, Sanna said. We live in homes where its warm and dont think about what it would be like if we had to live on the streets. Sanna said she knows the purses wont end homelessness, but they are a reminder that even if you are homeless, you still matter. The purses and the items inside will go a long way with the women who receive them. These are items that our clients dont have and wouldnt use their little resources to buy, Wasserburger said. When we see them here, it speaks volumes to their (the Auxiliary) generosity. The DOVES program provides sexual, domestic and dating violence services and prevention in Scotts Bluff County. For assistance 24/7, call 308-436-HELP (4357), 866-95-DOVES (36837) or 877-215-0167 (espanol). Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Stinner said he believes the Revenue Committee would take action on the bill either Friday or early next week. We are still waiting for the Department of Natural Resources to come out with the next increment on how many acre feet (the NRDs) have to restore back to the river, Stinner said. That would give us more evidence that this 3 cents really goes to solve that issue. However, the bill has an uphill fight. With roughly 173 bills introduced that are aimed at reducing property tax in some way, a bill that would raise property taxes runs against that spirit, making it likely that Gov. Pete Ricketts would see the bill as a tax increase. Its an issue Stinner is no stranger to. Everybody is sensitive to property tax, and I get that, he said. Im probably one of those people that is very supportive of trying to find a solution to deal with property tax and property tax relief. On the Appropriations Committee, Stinner said he has been at work negotiating a $51 million increase for the property tax relief fund, bringing the balance to about $275 million. Thats just a start in solving the inequities of property taxes, he said. He rejects the idea that LB 134 amounts to a tax increase. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. 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 T he Specials - Encore (UMC/Island) **** A decade after their return as a touring act, The Specials are a depleted force for their first album in 38 years to feature original vocalist Terry Hall. Death, illness and internal arguments have left them with only three original members Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter. Founder Jerry Dammers has steered clear of the reunion. The Specials are in the invidious position of having to measure up to the superlatives associated with their peak of Ghost Town. They burned brightly in their youth, combining the fervency of punk with ska during a few years at the top. Inevitably, Encore is a more considered effort from seasoned musicians who can conjure up an elegant groove on Vote For Me or minor-key majesty on We Sell Hope. But theres no mistaking the lingering anger on tunes that tackle racism, big tech and the rise of populism. Goldings song BLM (Black Lives Matter) is a compelling spoken-word account of injustice, on which funk triumphs over hate. Elsewhere, the band recruit Saffiyah Khan the smiling protester involved in a stand-off at an EDL rally for an exquisite assault on misogynists and alt-Right losers. They still have a talent for judicious cover versions, including Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys by The Equals, another pioneering interracial band. The spirit of The Specials endures on a comeback that complements their mighty legacy. by Andre Paine Ian Brown - Ripples (Virgin) ** The much longed-for Stone Roses reunion resulted in huge gigs but not much new music just two singles that didnt really register in 2016. So frontman Ian Brown is solo again, releasing his first album in a decade. Without that famed line-up behind him the music sounds thin, almost like roughly recorded demos on Its Raining Diamonds and the clumsily strummed acoustic ballad Breathe and Breathe Easy. When he retreats to the baggy beats of his early work on First World Problems he sounds dated, but when theres less going on musically, as on the organ dirge Blue Sky Day, it gives too much exposure to that familiar but weak singing voice. Fun as it was to hear the old songs again in stadiums recently, there are no future classics here. by David Smyth Beirut - Gallipoli (4AD) **** Beirut is essentially a European gap year that got way out of hand. The bands mastermind, New Mexico native Zach Condon, has a remarkable talent for making you feel intensely nostalgic about things that never happened, wistful about places youve never been. Gallipoli sees the older, perhaps wiser traveller return to the sources that made albums such as The Flying Club Cup (2007) so delicate and distinctive. The vintage Italian electric organs, brittle ukuleles and sunset trumpets are to the fore again, as are the postcard locales. We tell tales to belong / Or be spared the sorrow, he wails on the title track, which like a lot of his compositions, seems to enter its outro phase about one eighth of the way in. You could argue its all mood and no movement, or that Condon is just a musical tourist. But he expresses so stirringly that timeless desire to escape into otherness, it scarcely matters. Anywhere, anywhere, anywhere but here! by Richard Godwin Ward Thomas - Restless Minds (Sony) *** Twins Lizzy and Catherine Ward Thomas, pictured below, continue the UK resurgence of new-wave country pop, echoing fellow British country pop staples The Shires. Restless Minds was made between Nashville, London and Hampshire and is a lengthy affair with 15 songs, focusing on everything from mental health to social media and womens rights. While thematically the messages in some songs can feel timely opener No Filter is a good example about the pains of social media, for example it can also feel forced. Musically, its similar to their well received studio debut, Cartwheels, with little in the way of variation stylistically. Fans looking for innovative country pop of the Kacey Musgraves ilk will enjoy the upbeat Same Love and I Believe in You but might get frustrated with some of the more anodyne ballad offerings on here. There is, however, still plenty to enjoy, such as album highlight Lie Like Me. by Elizabeth Aubrey Vardan Hovanissian & Emre Gultekin - Karin (MuziekPublique) **** It's hard to think of two instruments more emblematic of their cultures than the oboe-like, Armenian duduk and the plucked Turkish saz. Collaborations between Armenian and Turkish musicians are few and far between. Hovanissian and Gultekin first recorded together in 2015 to mark the centenary of the Armenian massacres, and have developed the idea with musicians from Iran, Georgia and more. The title track refers to the Armenian community in the Turkish town of Erzurum but others mark more recent events such as the death last year of a two-year old Kurdish refugee at the hands of Belgian police. Thought-provoking and beautiful. by Simon Broughton Elliot Galvin & Binker Golding - Ex Nihilo (Byrd Out) **** Given the new jazz literacy thats accompanying Londons fresh young jazz scene, the time feels right for a work that sees this younger generation smashing convention and revelling in raw avant-gardism. Keyboardist Elliot Galvin and tenor saxophonist Binker Golding have each carved reputations as experimentalists, Galvin as a technically dazzling bandleader, Golding as one half of high-flying sax-and-drums duo Binker and Moses. Their shared aesthetic a fearlessness empowered by the improvisers right to fail fires six tracks of wildly varying texture and tone. Opener Aeternum Vale builds into joyous dissonance as sax and keys compete then merge; Aliquid Stat Pro Aliquot is a glorious 10-minute free-for-all. A surprise pairing that makes exhilarating sense. They play Walthamstow Jazz Festival on February 16. N icholas Hoult has said he hopes J. R. R. Tolkien would be proud of his portrayal in the long-awaited biopic. Hoult plays the legendary author, who penned The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, in upcoming film Tolkien, which follows his early life and romance with his beloved wife Edith, played by Lily Collins. Its an honour, he told Standard Online. The director of About a Boy gave me The Hobbit to read and that was my first experience of Tolkien. I was such a fan. When they sent me the script and I learnt about his life I was blown away by everything he endured. There were all these wonderful things I didnt know about him. Weve made a very emotional film. I hope he would be proud. Hoult said it is not a role you take lightly because you want to do it justice, saying its hard to balance researching someones life with over saturating yourself. On screen love: Nicholas Hoult with Lilly Collins in Tolkien (Fox Searchlight Pictures/PiM) / Fox Searchlight He said: The reality of it is when youre playing a real character you try to learn as much about their lives that you care for them more and more. You say yes [to the script] then the more research you do the more you realise what youve taken on but you cant let that be stifling. Youre trying to inhabit a ghost of them in a way to tell their story. Its a balancing act for sure. He continued: We spoke to his family and his great grandson was on set. We were filming scenes from the Battle of the Somme. You want to have that connection. One to watch: Nicholas Hoult in Jaeger-LeCoultre / (Fabrice DallAnese) Hoult has had success with Mad Max: Fury Road, About A Boy, Skins and X Men, but said he now has to think carefully about roles since welcoming a son with partner Bryana Holly in April 2018. They change and grow so much and you want to be there for everything and be with them and experience that, he said. Before if someone said 'can you fly here and do this for three months?' its an adventure you dont think twice about but now you go thats a lot of time, can I make it work, whats more important?. Hoult was speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie after teaming up with watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, alongside fellow actor Amanda Seyfried. He said: I got involved through the Venice Film Festival. I love the brand and what they created before and how they created stuff. I feel very lucky to be involved. C omedian Jeremy Hardy has died from cancer aged 57. A stand-up comedian, Hardy was also a hit on panel shows such as The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Publicist Amanda Emery said in a statement: "Friends and family of comedian Jeremy Hardy are immensely sad to announce that Jeremy died of cancer, early on Friday 1st February. "He was with his wife and daughter as he died. Comedian Jeremy Hardy has died aged 57 / Rex Features "He retained to the end the principles that guided his life; trying to make the world more humane, and to be wonderfully funny. "He will be enormously missed by so many, who were inspired by him and who laughed with him." Funnyman: Jeremy Hardy with David Mitchell on BBC Radio 4 / BBC She said that a memorial would be held in Hardy's honour. Tributes flooded in from fans including Pointless regular Richard Osman who described Hardy as brilliantly funny. Politically outspoken: Jeremy Hardy reading some of the names of those who died in the Iraq war outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in 2016 / PA I was very lucky to work with Jeremy Hardy early in my career, he tweeted. Every day was a masterclass, a privilege. He was so naturally and brilliantly funny, and a man who chose to use his comedy to change the world, rather than to fill stadia. A very sad day. #RIPJeremy. BBC Radio 4 released a statement in the wake of the news, tweeting: We are desperately sad to announce that Jeremy Hardy, mainstay of Im Sorry I Havent A Clue and The News Quiz, and one of the funniest people around, has died of cancer aged 57. Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved him. Hardy made his television debut in 1986 in Now - Something Else before going on to enjoy roles in shows including Blackadder Goes Forth in which he played Corporal Perkins. He also starred on QI, Countdown and Grumpy Old Men as well as presenting an episode of Top of the Pops in the 1990s. He fronted Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation, a series of comedy lectures for BBC Radio 4, from 1993 and wrote Channel 4 sketch show Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives with Jack Dee in 1996, with the pair later going on to work together on Im Sorry I Havent A Clue. Live show: Jeremy Hardy performing on stage during the 'We Know Where You Live. Live!' event to mark the 40th anniversary of Amnesty International at Wembley Arena in 2001 / PA Dee paid tribute on Twitter, describing his friend and collaborator as ground-breakingly brilliant, off the register funny, compassionate and caring. E very year, it's estimated that three million girls are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) worldwide. There are around 137,000 women and girls affected by FGM in England and Wales alone, according to the NSPCC. Police and border control officers have recently stepped up their efforts to tackle FGM at airports on both sides of the Atlantic. Amanda Reid, the national operational lead for safeguarding and modern slavery in the Border Force, said: "We're here to send that message that FGM is a criminal act and we want to protect girls." FGM campaigner Leyla Hussein previously warned that although the practice, which involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia, is illegal in the UK, some girls still see it as a cultural practice. Many victims are taken to other parts of the world to get cut, such as North Africa and the Middle East. On Friday, a mother of a three-year-old girl became the first person in the UK to be found guilty of FGM at the Old Bailey. The Ugandan woman, 37, and her Ghanaian partner, 43, both from Walthamstow, east London, were accused of cutting their daughter over the 2017 summer bank holiday. The mother wept in the dock as she was found guilty of FGM and her partner was cleared of all charges after the Old Bailey jury deliberated for less than a day. Here's everything you need to know about FGM and why it's practiced in some cultures: What is FGM? FGM includes "the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons." Most often the mutilation is performed before puberty, often on girls between the age of four and eight. There has, however, been reports of FGM being performed on young babies. What's involved in the procedure? There are four types of procedures, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO): Type I: Partial or total removal of the clitoris Type II: Partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia (lips that surround the vagina), with or without removal of the labia majora (outer lips). Type III: Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with the creation of a covering seal, formed by cutting and repositioning the labia. Type IV: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. Where is it practised? The practice can be found in communities all over the world. FGM is known to be practiced in some African countries, including Ghana, Sudan and Somalia. It's also practiced in Asian countries like India and Indonesia, in Middle-Eastern countries like the UAE and Yemen, in Eastern European countries like Georgia and the Russian Federation and South American countries like Columbia and Ecuador. FGM is also practiced among diaspora populations in Western countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK. Why is FGM performed? FGM is performed for a variety of reasons but is often a result of deeply entrenched gender inequality within a society. It is sometimes carried out to ensure virginity before marriage and fidelity afterwards, and to increase male sexual pleasure. FGM can also be seen as a signifier of a girl's initiation into womanhood and some communities view the female genitalia as dirty and ugly. What is 'cutting season'? 'Cutting season' is the term given to the period over the summer holidays where potentially thousands of girls in the UK are flown abroad to undergo FGM. Who is at risk? In the UK, the Home Office has identified girls from the Somali, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Sierra Leonean, Egyptian, Nigerian, Eritrean, Yemeni, Kurdish and Indonesian communities most at risk of FGM. Girls are also at risk if FGM has been carried out on their mother, sister or a member of their extended family. Why is it dangerous? FGM has serious consequences for the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women. During the procedure, complications include severe pain, shock and haemorrhage. Long-term effects include complications during childbirth, urinary tract infections, lack of sexual pleasure and infertility. Young women who have had their vaginal opening sealed will also need to have it cut open again later to allow for sexual intercourse. Psychologically, the process is also deeply disturbing, with women affected going on to suffer from anxiety and depression. What's the legal status of FGM? In 2016, the United Nations adopted The Girl Child Resolution, which recognises FGM as a form of "discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child." In the UK, it's illegal to practice FGM and for UK nationals to perform FGM abroad. The maximum penalty for FGM is 14 years. What's being done to stop FGM? The government has put increasing efforts into tackling FGM in recent years and it is now compulsory for family doctors, hospitals and mental health services to report any new cases in their patients. There's still much more to be done though. There have been 6,195 cases recorded between April 2017 and March this year - but there is yet to be a successful prosecution involving FGM. If you know someone who has undergone or is at risk from FGM, you should contact the police. If the victim has already been taken abroad, you should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Who was the first convicted of FGM in the UK? The mother of a three-year-old girl has become the first to be found guilty of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the UK, after a failed bid to "shut up" her accusers with witchcraft. The Ugandan woman, 37, and her Ghanaian partner, 43, both from Walthamstow, east London, were accused of cutting their daughter over the 2017 summer bank holiday. Police found bizarre spells inside 40 frozen limes and two ox tongues with screws embedded in them aimed at silencing police, social workers, officers and lawyers in the case. The defendants, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denied FGM and an alternative charge of failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation. T he United States today warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro he faces serious consequences for egregious acts of intimidation after opposition leader Juan Guaido revealed members of a feared special police squad had visited his family home. Looking upset, Mr Guaido, 35, told how four agents from the polices Special Action Force had arrived at the apartment building in Caracas and asked security guards stationed there for his wife Fabiana. Mr Guaido, who has declared himself interim president and is backed by the US and most major European nations including Britain, had recently moved to a secret address as a security precaution. He rushed home and emerged an hour later holding his daughter, named after Francisco de Miranda, a patriot who paved the way for Venezuelas independence. Venezuela Protests: January 2019 - In pictures 1 /23 Venezuela Protests: January 2019 - In pictures Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images Security forces look on after clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Tachira, Venezuela Reuters A demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister Reuters Members of the Bolivarian National Police clash with protesters EPA Venezuelans opposed to President Nicolas Maduro hold a demonstration in Bogota, Colombia in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira Getty Images Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks to a crowd of supporters flanked by his wife Cilia Flores (L) and Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez during a rally in Caracas AFP/Getty Images An anti-government protester wears a makeshift gas mask to protect himself from tear gas, during clashes with security forces after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, AP Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard soldiers detain an anti-government protester AP Venezuelans based in Mexico gather to show their support for the leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself president of Venezuela, in the Plaza de Armas of the city of Saltillo, Mexico EPA Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guardsmen look for anti-government protesters after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela AP An anti-government protester who was overcome by tear gas is aided by a paramedic during clashes after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro AP A protester burns a motorcycle during clashes AFP/Getty Images National Police officers confront opposition supporters AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators ride in a back of a truck during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters National Police officers confront opposition supporters protesting against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images A vehicle is overturned as oppositors demonstrators block a freeway during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA People help a young woman who fainted after inhaling tear gas during a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA Thousands of Venezuelans living in Argentina, opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, hold a demonstration in Buenos Aires in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images A vehicle of the Bolivarian National Police Venezuelan is burning as thousands take to the streets during a protest against President Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images The dictatorship thinks they will frighten us, he said, before addressing the security forces directly: I will hold you responsible for any intimidation of my baby, who is just 20 months old. In a statement on Twitter, Venezuelas police denied that special agents had gone to Mr Guaidos home, dismissing the claim as totally FALSE. Mr Guaidos account brought condemnation from Washington. Such acts of intimidation are seen as very serious, very egregious by the United States, a senior Trump administration official said. There will be consequences for those engaged in such acts, they will be held accountable and they will be missing this unique opportunity to move on. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro / AP The official also referred to reports of a Russian plane allegedly landing in Caracas to ferry out gold from the crisis-hit country. We have seen some last-minute looting, he said. Moscow, which along with China backs the Maduro regime, has denied the allegations. The Venezuelan military is so far standing by the socialist president but the US official urged them to switch sides and accept an amnesty offer from Mr Guaido and his supporters, who are planning another street protest tomorrow. T he US is pulling out of a nuclear arms treaty with Russia that has been in place since towards the end of the Cold War, secretary of state Mike Pompeo has announced. The move from the Trump administration had been rumoured in recent months and was confirmed on Friday. It follows years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the 1987 document which bans certain ground-launched cruise missiles. However, Russia denies violating the treaty which bans either side from stationing short and intermediate-range land-based missiles in Europe Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday / AFP/Getty Images Mr Pompeo said the US will suspend its obligations to the treaty on Saturday and that if Russia does not come into compliance with it the treaty "will terminate". The US-Russia Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty has been a centerpiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,100 miles. This missile was questioned in regards to the treaty though Russia denied it violated it / REUTERS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance to the treaty efore it gave formal notice of withdrawal. That would then take place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday. Iin talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute. This left little reason to think either side would change its stance on whether a Russian cruise missile violates the pact. NATO allies "fully support" the United States' pending withdrawal notice from the INF nuclear missile pact over alleged breaches by Russia, a statement by the alliance said. This said: "The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russia's covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems. B rooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has pleaded guilty to nine charges, admitting his participation in a violent gang and pledging to cooperate with prosecutors against others. According to Pitchfork, the counts include racketeering conspiracy and multiple firearms offences. The rapper whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez entered the plea last week and said he helped others try to kill a rival gang member. During the plea, 6ix9ine said he joined the Nine Trey Blood Gang in autumn 2017. He said he helped gang members try to kill a rival last March. With his deal, 6ix9ine can gain leniency at sentencing from an otherwise mandatory minimum 47 years in prison if he admits to all crimes and testifies truthfully. Attorney Dawn Florio says 6ix9ine's safety is a chief concern after threats against him. M ore than 1,000 elephant tusks and eight tonnes of pangolin scales have been found in a haul worth about 6m. The contents were seized from a shipping container in Hong Kong on Friday, officials said. The illegal items had been transport from Nigeria and those responsible claimed it was carrying beef, but it was searched after a tip-off. It is the city's largest ever pangolin scale seizure and third largest ivory seizure. Scientists estimate the haul to represent the deaths of around 500 African elephants and up to 13,833 African pangolins Two arrests have been made following the discover. The pangolin scales are said to have medicinal value in parts of Asia and can be sold for huge sums. Within the haul, officials said customs officers seized 8,300kg of pangolin scales and 2,100kg of ivory tusks. A 6.6 magnitude earthquake has hit southern Mexico, with tremors felt as far afield as El Salvador and Guatemala. The strong earthquake rattled nerves and swayed tall buildings hundreds of miles away in the capital. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake was centered about 10 miles from the city of Tapachula in Chiapas state and struck at a depth of 40 miles (68 kilometers). Chiapas civil defense official Arturo Barrientos said that there were no reports of serious damage and authorities were monitoring the situation. People wait on the streets after an earth tremor in Mexico City / AFP/Getty Images Mr Barrientos said cracks appeared in a wall at an elementary school in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, but the children were evacuated safely. "It was felt pretty strongly, but everything is normal. We went out into the street, and that was it," Enrique Vidal, a lawyer who lives in Tapachula said via text message. "Those with children in schools went to look for them since there are buildings that are still damaged from 2017." The same region was rocked in September 2017 by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that killed nearly 100 people and damaged thousands of buildings. People wait on the streets after an earth tremor in Mexico City / AFP/Getty Images A more damaging 7.1 quake in central Mexico later that month left more than 400 dead, including at least 228 in Mexico City. "Fortunately there is no loss of human lives nor injuries that require hospitalization," Luis Manuel Garcia, Chiapas' civil defense secretary, told Foro TV. "Only nervousness." In Guatemala, the Red Cross reported some mud and rockslides along roads, and a bridge in the city of Quetzaltenango had some minor damage. Along a central boulevard in Mexico City, which lies on lakebed soil that amplifies the effects of even faraway quakes, seismic alarms did not go off but some office workers briefly evacuated buildings. T he family of an American war correspondent who died during a shelling in Syria has been awarded 230 million after a US court found President Bashar al-Assads government liable for her death. Marie Colvin, 56, died in February 2012 in the besieged city of Homs alongside French photographer Remi Ochlik, 28, when the building they were in was shelled. In a verdict unsealed late Wednesday night, US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson concluded the Syrian military had deliberately targeted the makeshift media centre where Ms Colvin and other journalists were working. Ms Jackson said it was an "extrajudicial killing". Rosemarie Colvin, the mother of journalist Marie Colvin, embraces a youth as her casket is is carried out of her funeral service as her looks on at St. Dominic's Church in Oyster Bay, New York, March 12, 2012. / REUTERS She also ordered Damascus to pay $302.5m (231m) in damages for an "unconscionable crime". The BBC reports it is the first time Mr Assads government has been held to account for war crime and sets a legal precedent. Ms Colvin worked for The Sunday Times, covering the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. She wore a signature black patch over her left eye after being blinded by a grenade in Sri Lanka in 2001. The film A Private War is based on her career. Rosamund Pike, who played Ms Colvin in the film, has said it was a "very, very, very good day" after the verdict. Journalist Marie Colvin is seen on the wall of the Newseum during the Journalist Memorial Re-dedication ceremony of the journalists who died reporting the news in 2012 in Washington. / AP War photographer Paul Conroy has said he feels "emotional and vindicated." Mr Conroy, a former soldier with the Royal Artillery who worked closely with Ms Colvin, escaped with a leg wound in the attack. He told the Press Association: "Since we came out of Syria and I spoke with everyone and I said 'in my opinion these attacks weren't random'. "I sat for a long time listening to the shelling and it was random, up and down, and on the day of the attack there was a distinct pattern of bracketing and that has stuck with me. "A lot of people were like 'oh you got caught up in crossfire, you were in a war zone', and granted we were, but as an artilleryman I knew the fire patterns, I detected that." Lawyers for Colvin's family argued that her death was not an accident. They hope to recover the $302 million verdict by targeting frozen Syrian government assets overseas. The Syrian government has never responded to the suit. Mr Gilmore said one of the main challenges of the lawsuit was to prove that Colvin's death wasn't caused by standard "fog of war" battlefield confusion. "This wasn't a stray shell," Mr Gilmore said. "The overwhelming weight of the evidence concluded that this was essentially an assassination." Technically foreign governments are immune from jurisdiction in U.S. courts through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. A US contractor is accused of throwing ice on the floor where he worked and pretending to fall on it before making a bogus insurance claim. Alexander Goldinsky, 57, has been charged with one count of insurance fraud in the third degree and one count of theft by deception in the third degree. This follows accusations he fraudulently filed an insurance claim in a fake slip and fall while working at a company in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Footage shows a man, alleged to be Godinsky, take ice from a drinks dispenser and put it in a plastic cup. Footage of the alleged incident has been released / Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office This is then tossed on the floor before the person walks to it and seems to deliberately keel over before laying on the ground. An investigation by Middlesex County Prosecutors Office stated: Goldinsky purposely threw the ice on the floor in the cafeteria at his workplace, placed himself on the ground, and waited until he was discovered. Documents from this enquiry state that between September 1 and November 1 of last year Goldinsky filed a false insurance claim for the ambulance service and treatment he received at a hospital for injuries he claimed he sustained at a business. He was arrested on January 15, 2019, following the investigation by Detective Sean Sullivan. Goldinsky, of Randolph, New Jersey, was released on a summons and his initial court appearance is scheduled for February 7, 2019 at New Brunswick Superior Court. A university has come under fire after being accused of handing a "slap on the wrist" to four students involved in a Facebook group chat which threatened rape and included racial slurs. The University of Warwick launched an inquiry last year after suspending 11 students over a series of online messages, including a post which stated: "Sometimes it's fun to just go wild and rape 100 girls." Racist and anti-Semitic posts were also cited in formal complaints made to the university, which is reported to have handed one student a lifetime ban. There have been reports that two male students will be allowed to return to campus after having 10-year bans reduced to one year on appeal. Overall, four excluded by the university - including the two undergraduates whose bans have been reduced - are reported to have been told they can return to campus in September 2019. A spokeswoman for the university called the online messages "abhorrent and unacceptable" but said two adjustments were made after bans were appealed. In an open letter to the university's student newspaper The Boar, one woman targeted by the chat group described the one-year bans as a "source of shame". The unnamed woman wrote: "Words cannot describe the heartbreak that overcame myself and other victims. "We were discussed so violently. We were humiliated, as if for sport. "Racism, sexism, sexually explicit descriptions, ableism, threats of sexual assault, and homophobia. Are these issues on which Warwick has nothing to say? "Does the university want its students to feel that such threats, comments and 'jokes' are acceptable and normal? This is the message sent out by the recent decision to allow the perpetrators back onto campus next year." After claiming that allowing the men to return so soon meant they have had nothing but a slap on the wrist, the woman said of the university: "Most importantly though, you have forgotten about and humiliated the victims. Questioning whether staff would be comfortable teaching the men, the letter writer, who has suffered depression and anxiety, asked: "You expect prospective students to continue applying to a university that prioritises them over those of us who do not feel safe? "It is a source of shame for past, present and future Warwick alumni that you lack the courage to stand by us." The university said disciplinary hearings were held for a number of the students involved in two chat groups, resulting in a range of sanctions being imposed. All students for whom major disciplinary cases were proven had received penalties which meant they could not return before the complainants had completed their studies, the university said. The University of Warwick's Provost, Christine Ennew, said: "The behaviour of the individuals who have been found culpable as a result of the investigation, and in the subsequent disciplinary processes, is both abhorrent and unacceptable in any circumstance." Ms Ennew added: "Like all other universities and public bodies, we allow appeals to be made against the outcomes of disciplinary process. "The appeals panel gave each case thorough and detailed consideration. In neither case was the appeal about the issue of culpability. Rather, the appeals panel focused instead on the scale of the penalties. As a result of those hearings two adjustments were made. "Privacy considerations mean that we are not able to disclose the specific details on which the decisions were made. "The penalties imposed combine direct punishment for the deeply offensive and threatening comments made during the chats, future behavioural restrictions and a requirement to engage in processes to enable them to learn from their past unacceptable behaviours." T he makers of Magnum and Ben & Jerrys ice cream are stockpiling products ahead of Britains departure from the EU in preparation for a no-deal Brexit. Graeme Pitkethly, chief financial officer of Unilever said that the company is building stocks for Brexit. He said: There has been just under half a billion increase in inventory and that is really due to some specific strategic decisions that we've made to mitigate some specific factors in this topsy-turvy world. "We're building stocks for Brexit, obviously, and assuming the worst-case scenario there, that is a build-up similarly around sanctions and other things." Other companies such as French pharmaceutical Novartis and Premier Foods have also said they are stockpiling goods ahead of Brexit. Meanwhile, Unilever's new boss started his tenure on a downbeat tone, saying he expects the new year to remain tough and that sales growth will come at the lower end of the firm's target. Alan Jope, who recently replaced Paul Polman as chief executive, said: "In 2019 we expect market conditions to remain challenging. "We anticipate underlying sales growth will be in the lower half of our multi-year 3%-5% range, with continued improvement in underlying operating margin and another year of strong free cash flow." He maintained that Unilever is on track for its 2020 goals. Mr Polman stood down at the end of December after a decade at the group where he oversaw the failed plan to move Unilever's headquarters from London to Rotterdam and fended off a takeover bid from rival Kraft Heinz. Mr Jope was promoted to chief executive from his previous position of president of the group's beauty and personal care division. Unilever posted a 5.1% decline in turnover to 50.98 billion euro (44.65 billion), which the company blamed on foreign exchange headwinds of 6.7% and the disposal of the spreads business, which was completed last July. However, pre-tax profits increased 52% to 12.38 billion euro (10.84 billion). Underlying sales grew by 2.9% in 2018 from the year earlier and, excluding the spreads business, by 3.1%. Mr Jope said Unilever had a "solid" 2018 with good volume growth of 2.1% and "high-quality margin progression". Unilever's operating margin grew 8.1% thanks to the 4.3 billion euro (3.7 billion) profit made on the sale of the spreads unit. "Looking forward, accelerating growth will be our number one priority. With so many of our brands enjoying leadership positions, we have significant opportunities to develop our markets, as well as to benefit from our deep global reach and purpose-led brands," Mr Jope said. "We will capitalise on our strengthened organisation and portfolio, and our digital transformation programme, to bring higher levels of speed and agility. "Strong delivery from our savings programmes will improve productivity and fund our growth ambitions." C ommuters face more travel chaos after heavy snowfall across much of southern England last night left hundreds of people trapped in their cars. Temperatures plummeted overnight to as low as -15.4C as England and Wales experienced their coldest night since 2012. A severe snow and ice alert has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of the country, with forecasters warning drivers could become stranded on roads on Friday morning. It comes as efforts to rescue motorists stranded on snowbound roads in Devon and Cornwall continued through the night, while hundreds of people were forced to find shelter where they could. UK Snow 2019 - In pictures 1 /85 UK Snow 2019 - In pictures Cars and lorries on the M40 near Oxford, in snowy conditions PA Commuters in Nottinghill faced heavy snow as a deep freeze gripped London on Friday morning. Jeremy Selwyn Two men help a driver try to get his car moving, after snowfalls yesterday and overnight have brought widespread disruption PA Children play in the snow in Hartley Wintney in Hampshire AFP/Getty Images Buses stuck on Highgate Hill Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks through Queen's Square in Bristol PA Snow dusts the Angel of the North sculpture and covers the ground surrounding it in Gateshead PA People walk as it snows in Bristol REUTERS Snow flurries in Piccadilly Circus, central London Nigel Howard Snow at Heathrow causing delay Alex Lentati Snowfall in Nottinghill on Friday morning. Jeremy Selwyn Snow at Heathrow causing delays Alex Lentati Snow on the hills around Buttermere in the Lake District, Cumbria PA A cyclist rides through Queen's Square in Bristol PA Pedestrians walk through Queen's Square in Bristol PA The sun rises over a fresh and frosty Hampton Pool @hamptonpool Snow at Heathrow causing delay Alex Lentati Snow covers houses in Gold Hill, in Shaftesbury, Dorset PA Snow causes accident in north London SplashNews.com Snow at Heathrow causing delay Alex Lentati Snow falls in Cricklewood, north-west London, this morning Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snow in Notting Hill Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Commuters in West Hamsted on Friday morning as the UK woke up from its coldest night since 2012. Jeremy Selwyn Snow in St John's Wood on Friday Jeremy Selwyn Cars stuck in the snow near Newquay PA A ice cream stops to ply his trade on an housing estate in Merthyr Tydfil as snow begins to fall PA Queues of cars on the A30 PA Ice forms on the Clunie water at Glenshee near Braemar in the Scottish Highlands PA A train at Hunt's Cross station in Liverpool PA A van sits in deep snow on the A53 near Buxton, Derbyshire PA A Shetland pony grazing in a field near Scalloway on the Shetland Islands after recent snowfall PA A jogger in frosty Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn Swimmers enjoy the fresh condition in the Serpentine, Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn A woman cross country skis through an area near Buxton, Derbyshire PA A person walks through an icy Allerton Cemetery near Liverpool PA Children play in the snow in Sefton Park, Liverpool. PA A woman scrapes a window to remove frost from her car in Peterborough PA A man walks by the River Thames in Windsor PA A dog walker passes a horse standing in the morning sun as a frost covers the ground of Basingstoke Common in Hampshire PA Dog walkers make their way across the frosty ground of Basingstoke Common in Hampshire PA A boy uses a quad bike to pull a sledge through snow near Mossley Getty Images Sheep grazing in a field near Tingwall on the Shetland Islands after recent snowfal PA Ian Low snowboards at Solomon's Temple in Buxton, Derbyshire PA A walker enjoys the snow in the mountains near Killakee, to the south east of Dublin PA Red deer graze in the snow on January 30, in Glen Etive, Scotland Getty Images Ice on the roof of a car in Bracknell, Berkshire PA A man on a pair of skis bypasses traffic in Didsbury, Manchester, on Wednesday morning Gabrielle Sanderson Sarah Filcek shovels snow outside her house in Buxton, Derbyshire PA A tractor equipped with a snow plow clearing snow on the A53 near Buxton, Derbyshire PA A snowplow clears a lane on the M6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria PA A man slips in snowy conditions near the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire, as up to 10cm of snow could fall on higher ground as temperatures drop across large parts of the UK this week PA Manchester Airport Harry Jewitt/Mercury Press A train between the village of Shap and Carlisle in the snow on the West Coast Line in Cumbria, as up to 10cm of snow could fall on higher ground as temperatures drop across the UK this week PA Sheep enjoy the snow in the mountains near Killakee, to the south east of Dublin PA A walker enjoys the snow in the mountains near Killakee, to the south east of Dublin PA Members of the public make their way through a snow shower in the West End Getty Images A man jogs through the park as some areas of the United Kingdom see the first snow of the year in High Wycombe Getty Images Snow at Stanmore Station Jeremy Selwyn A woman walks through a snow shower in London EPA A horse in a snowy field on Divis Mountain, north-west of Belfast in County Antrim PA Snow covers the path up to Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, Wales PA The Bucks War Memorial, in memory of those killed in the Boer War, is seen on Coombe Hill as some areas of the United Kingdom see the first snow of the year Getty Images A couple walk through the snow in High Wycombe Getty Images Snow in Stanmore Jeremy Selwyn A bus drives through a snow shower in London EPA A man walks through a snow shower in London EPA A crew steer a boat as sleet and snow falls on the River Thames in London Reuters Cars drive through a snow shower in London EPA A cottage covered in snow in Tyne Valley in Northumberland after a band of wintry weather brought hill snow and a risk of ice to large parts of the country PA Snow in Tring Jeremy Selwyn Wintry conditions at Kew Gardens statio PA Gritters were out on roads across the UK PA Heavy snow fall in Glasgow's West End Getty Images Grouse on a wall in a wintry scene at Nenthead in Cumbria PA Snow in Glasgow's West End. A band of wintry weather has brought hill snow and a risk of ice to large parts of the country PA A snow shower in Glasgow's West End Getty Images Traffic in Buckinghamshire was brought to a standstill amid the wintry weather conditions Maggie Wills A snow shower in Glasgow's West End Getty Images Heavy snow fall in Glasgow's West End PA People walk on a snow-covered beach in Whitley Bay on Thursday PA Heavy snow fall in Glasgow's West End Getty Images A snow shower in Kelvingrove Park Getty Images A snow shower in the West End Getty Images There have also been warnings of flight cancellations at Heathrow. British Airways said some short-haul flights to and from the airport have been cancelled or merged. Disruption for rail passengers is also expected. A bus drives through snowfall in Cricklewood on Friday morning. / Jeremy Selwyn Southeastern, which runs services in London, Kent and East Sussex, has put its winter weather timetable in place and warned travellers to expect peak times to be busier than normal. Snowfall in Nottinghill on Friday morning. / Jeremy Selwyn South Western Railway warned passengers to expect delays and that trains may be cancelled while work is done to check and clear the tracks. Commuters woke up to severe delays on the London Overground Friday morning as ice on the tracks caused power supply problems. There was no service between Willesden Junction and Watford Junction and severe delays between Gospel Oak and Barking. Cars stuck in the snow on the A30 in chaotic scenes on Thursday night / PA Meanwhile, Bournemouth Airport has said its airfield is closed "until further notice" due to snow. It said: "Clearing operations are under way and a further update will be made at 0700." Bristol International Airport has also come to a standstill, as teams worked through the night to clear snow from the airfield. Snow is still falling & the airfield remains closed until 0800. Please monitor our social media feed for a further update and contact your airline for specific flight queries, it said. An amber snow warning has been issued for an area west of London including parts of Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire, with stranded vehicles and power cuts "likely", and a "good chance" some rural communities could be cut off. Snow at Heathrow Airport has caused long travel delays for passengers. / Alex Lentati t comes after around 100 cars got stuck on a stretch of the A30 by Temple, Cornwall amid the freezing conditions last night. An "intensive effort" was under way to help the motorists, who had become stranded, police said. While the southwest was worst hit by the snow, the freezing weather is moving across southern England and Wales, affecting Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Dozens of schools in Corwall, where snow was laying at least 12cm deep, will be closed on Friday. Across Devonshire 34 schools have also said they will be closed or partially closed. Students at a collage in the county were forced to remain there overnight due to the severe weather. Temperatures in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, plunged to minus 14.5C (5.9F) on Thursday evening, which is the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in the UK since 2012, according to the Met Office. Motorists stranded on a snowy A30 in Cornwall The snowfall already exceeds the maximum 10cm of snowfall that was predicted when the forecaster issued a severe weather warning for yesterday. Cornwall Airport, which is near Newquay, was forced to temporarily close on Thursday because of the snow, and around 100 cars got stuck on a nearby stretch of the A30 by Temple. Snow flurries in Piccadilly Circus, central London (NIGEL HOWARD) / Nigel Howard An "intensive effort" is under way to help the motorists, according to Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, head of roads policing across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. Matt Argyle, 46, who got stuck on the A30 travelling eastbound near Temple, said he had been sat in the same spot for five hours. The Tower of London during a light snow shower in London. / PA He said: "A police search and rescue vehicle has just driven past, but that's the first service vehicle I've seen. There's no cars on the other side of the road so it must be completely blocked somewhere." The IT specialist has managed to stay warm using a sleeping bag and extra clothes he had packed in his car. Journalism student Georgette Beacham, 28, got caught in the snow while returning from Plymouth to Falmouth. She said: "Everyone was driving slowly but particularly on the hills, cars were jack-knifing and people were getting stuck going up hill and skidding going down hill and having to pull over." A plough and a gritter have been sent to help the drivers who are backed up along the snow-coated carriageway, according to images on social media. Cars stuck in the snow on the A30 near Newquay / PA There were also vehicles stuck on the A39 between Winnards Perch and Wagebridge, and Cornwall Council tweeted: "Please stay with your car. We have gritters on the way and they will clear the roads as quickly as possible." Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said motorists were stuck on the A38 near Haldon Hill and the A380 near Ideford Dip. Emergency services have warned drivers to stay in their cars and keep warm. The Met Office tweeted: "Snow, initially moving north and east across parts of southern and southwestern England, the Midlands and Wales, will stall and tend to fragment. "Wintry showers will continue in northern and eastern areas. Ice is likely in many parts overnight." There are "treacherous driving conditions in places", the forecaster added. Snow depths of 8cm in Cumbria and 7cm in Inverness-shire were also recorded by the Met Office on Thursday evening, although this is believed to be mostly leftover from Wednesday. Commuters in many parts of the country were warned to leave work early on Thursday to ensure they got home. C ommuters faced a second night of travel misery this evening as "flash blizzards" wreaked havoc on roads and rail in the south of Britain. A weather warning for snow was extended for four hours until midnight as forecasters warned wintry showers affecting southern England will continue to move slowly southwards throughout Friday night. Travellers were hit by long delays and schools closed their doors today as February began with the coldest night for seven years. By the evening RAF Odiham in Hampshire had recorded 19cm of snow, while London City Airport was forced to close its runway due to "heavy snowfall" at 10pm. Drivers became stranded during a whiteout in Basingstoke during the Friday rush hour / James Heming The whiteout caused long delays on the M3 westbound between junctions six and seven, with stranded vehicles sparking tailbacks stretching to Farnborough. Drivers reported being trapped on the motorway for more than five hours amid the heavy snowfall. Cars stuck in traffic on Ringway West in Basingstoke on Friday / PA And there were challenging driving conditions and delays reported throughout Hampshire and Surrey, with the A31, A3 and A30 among major roads affected. Hampshire Police urged motorists to "please stay in your cars" amid the adverse weather conditions. While South Western Railway reported delays on lines between Basingstoke and Windchester as "multiple" trees were blocking the railway. UK snow: video shows cars stuck on the M3 There were flurries of snow throughout the capital on Friday evening but heavy showers appeared to affect the south east of London by 10pm. Tim McSweeney shared footage of snow settling in Eltham, Greenwich. Highways England said that one lane of the M3 westbound is now open between junctions six and seven after closures due to snow and stranded vehicles including three jacknifed lorries. The closure caused severe delays and Highways England urged drivers to consider alternative routes. Frustrated motorists complained of tailbacks on the M3 as far as London. Lee Evans tweeted: "The M3 Westbound (eg out of London) is now largely a car park and is not moving from junction three. "Do not join the queue as it will be a very long delay." James Hemming said he was driving on the A30 from Newbury down to Basingstoke and Salisbury when a flash blizzard suddenly struck. He told the Standard: Lorries, and me, are struggling with even the slightest incline. Pretty much came from nowhere. Cars and lorries on the M40 near Oxford, in snowy conditions / PA It comes after a coating of up to 14cm of snow caused havoc in the south west on Thursday, forcing motorists to abandon their cars and seek shelter as traffic stood still. Following the snowy conditions rail commuters living in south east London and Kent were told to "travel earlier or later to avoid the busiest trains" as Southeastern's winter weather timetable came into effect today. Most flights were cancelled from a snow-covered Bristol Airport on Friday, but normal service is expected on Saturday. Flight disruption at airports in Cardiff and Bristol left queues of rugby fans facing a race to get to Paris ahead of Friday evening's France vs Wales Six Nations opener. Ex-Wales captain and BBC pundit Sam Warburton was one of the passengers due to fly on the cancelled 9.30am flight from Cardiff Airport to Charles de Gaulle, while fan Leon Brown's axed flight forced him to put his two game tickets up for sale. Salt-spreaders covered 80,000 miles of England's motorways and major A roads through the night to keep traffic moving, Highways England said. More snow is forecast going into the weekend, and though it is unlikely to be as heavy, there is a danger of untreated, treacherous ice covering paths and roads. A fresh yellow warning for snow and ice covering large areas of the UK took effect from noon on Friday until the same time on Saturday. It covers northern Scotland, most of Northern Ireland, the eastern coast of England and the west coast of Wales. A separate warning for ice is in place for the southern counties between 1pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday. Snow in Bristol / PA Conditions will be largely bright and cold through Saturday but a widespread hard frost and freezing fog are forecast for the early hours of Sunday. And temperatures this weekend could drop even lower than the blisteringly cold -15.4C experienced during the latest Arctic snap across Britain. On Thursday night the temperature hit the sub-zero figure in the Scottish highlands, the lowest recorded since 2012. Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: Saturday could threaten the coldest night of the year so far. This again would be in very rural Scotland, she added. Expanding upon the weekend, Ms Diamond said the temperatures across the board are to stay low while wintry showers are also possible. Snow in London 2019 1 /24 Snow in London 2019 Snow in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn Snow causes an accident in north London SplashNews.com Snow in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn Buses stuck on Highgate Hill Jeremy Selwyn The sun rises over a fresh and frosty Hampton Pool @hamptonpool Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Commuters in Nottinghill faced heavy snow as a deep freeze gripped London on Friday morning. Jeremy Selwyn Snow flurries in Piccadilly Circus, central London Nigel Howard Buses stuck on Highgate Hill Jeremy Selwyn Snow in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn PA Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snow at Heathrow causing delays Alex Lentati Commuters in West Hamsted on Friday morning as the UK woke up from its coldest night since 2012. Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snow in Notting Hill Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snow in West Hampstead Jeremy Selwyn Snowfall in Notting Hill Jeremy Selwyn A bus drives through snowfall in Cricklewood on Friday morning. Jeremy Selwyn Frosty in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn Swimming in the ice covered Serpentine AT Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn Snow at Heathrow causing delayS Alex Lentati However, crisp winter sunshine is set to shine down in many areas. On Saturday, she said: Another cold day but there will be plenty of winter sunshine for many. She added the snow will not be as widespread but there will still be a few wintry showers of snow. The areas most likely to be affected by snow are coastlines in the north and to the east, though as rain comes in from the west this could see elsewhere impacted. New weather warnings are in place for parts of Scotland and the north west of England, which will continue in to Monday. Throughout the days, temperatures are expected to sit around 2C to 4C, but overnight across the weekend most places will be sub-zero. For London, there is a slim chance of wintry showers on Saturday, though the frosty downpours are not likely to spread strongly inland. Snow beating down across Britain has already led to chaos on roads and at airports across the nation. Two men help a driver try to get his car moving, after snowfalls yesterday and overnight have brought widespread disruption / PA Highgate Hill in London saw major disruption with vehicles unable to get up the incline due to the coating across the road. Buses were seen along the route stuck due to losing grip on the carriageway and unable to move. Transport for London said that certain bus journeys were being cut short due to the large red wagons becoming stuck. Elsewhere on Friday, a landslip at a village in Cornwall blocked off vehicle access to around 30 homes and kept other cars trapped inside a cul-de-sac. Snow dusts the Angel of the North / PA Around 1,000 tonnes of hillside collapsed on to the narrow Scrations Lane, in the village of Lostwithiel, but no-one was injured and no property damaged, Cornwall Council said. More than 100 people who left their cars on the A30 to seek shelter at a pub in Cornwall were told to pick up their vehicles "as soon as possible" by Highways England. Councillor Geoff Brown, who handles transport at Cornwall Council, said "the actions of a few impacted on many" after abandoned cars blocked emergency services, delaying the clear-up. Animals in the Snow 2019 - In pictures 1 /23 Animals in the Snow 2019 - In pictures Frenchie the French Bulldog chases snowballs in the village of Tintwistle in the High Peak district Getty Images Kiri the Kune Kune pig enjoys the snow at ZSL London Zoo London Zoo Humboldt penguins enjoy the snow at ZSL London Zoo London Zoo Asian short clawed otters at ZSL London Zoo London Zoo Asian short clawed otters at ZSL London Zoo London Zoo Ducks on a frozen near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales PA A Shetland pony grazing in a field near Scalloway on the Shetland Islands after recent snowfall PA A swan sits on frozen Sefton Park Lake in Liverpool PA Red deer graze in the snow on January 30, in Glen Etive, Scotland Getty Images A dog lies in the snow by Mow Cop Folly Reuters A husky dog enjoys a walk on Camp Hill, Woolton PA Sheep grazing in a field near Tingwall on the Shetland Islands after recent snowfall PA A dog enjoys a fresh and frosty morning walk in East London Jeff Moore A red deer grazes in the snow in Glen Etive, Scotland Getty Images Dogs play in the early morning light on Primrose Hill as the sun begins to rise Getty Images A horse stands in the morning sun as a frost covers the ground of Basingstoke Common in Hampshire PA Luke, a five year old yellow Labrador plays in the snow at Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Northwich Reuters Grouse on a wall in a wintry scene at Nenthead in Cumbria PA A red deer grazes in the snow in Glen Etive, Scotland Getty Images Sheep enjoy the snow in the mountains near Killakee, to the south east of Dublin PA A dog enjoys a fresh and frosty morning walk in East London Jeff Moore Luke, a five year old yellow Labrador plays in the snow at Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Northwich Reuters Dogs play in the early morning light on Primrose Hill as the sun begins to rise Getty Images Authorities asked motorists to completely clear their vehicles of snow and Wiltshire and Thames Valley police forces advised drivers to travel only if absolutely necessary. One driver claimed he "could see perfectly well" after his car, with its side windows completely encased in snow, was stopped in High Wycombe, police added. Meanwhile, images posted online showed firefighters working with shovels to clear a route out of their stations. Thousands of schoolchildren were enjoying an extended weekend as hundreds of schools closed their doors on Thursday and Friday. Friday's closures included more than half of Bristol's schools, more than 300 in Buckinghamshire, more than 150 in Cornwall and scores across Oxfordshire. On the rail network, passengers were urged to check before they travel in case the conditions impact services and some Eurostar services were cancelled on Friday. Transport for London also advised passengers to check their service status before setting off. The Met Office said a low of -15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight on Thursday at Braemar in the Scottish Highlands. B ritish Airways passengers at Heathrow Airport are facing delays after snow fell in the capital. As Britain faced its coldest night in seven years, with temperatures plummeting to -15C, those hoping to travel out of the UK were met with a string of flight cancellations at the countrys busiest airport. BA made the decision to cancel flights to and from Heathrow on Thursday evening as the snowstorm began to wreak havoc. More than 90 BA flights from Heathrow were cancelled due to the snow. On Friday morning, passengers arrived to find the cancellations and delays had continued into the next day. A destination board noted many cancellations until at least 8.10am with suggestions passengers go to guest services. Cars stranded and flights cancelled due to heavy UK snow In a statement, a spokesman for the airline said safety was their "top priority" and they were "working hard to keep things moving." Snow at Heathrow Airport caused long travel delays for passengers / Alex Lentati "We recognise the uncertainty that the bad weather may be causing customers, and have offered those due to travel on short-haul flights to/from Heathrow the opportunity to postpone their journey," he said. "Due to the adverse weather conditions predicted, we have been forced to cancel and merge a number of short-haul flights today to ensure that we protect the rest of our schedule. "Our flights to and from Gatwick and London City Airports are planned to operate as normal." Heathrow Airport was telling passengers via social media that it did not expect significant disruption. In a statement, a spokeswoman said: To ensure our passengers and colleagues are travelling safely this winter, Heathrow is continuing to closely monitor and prepare for cold weather conditions forecast for the UK. Those travelling via Heathrow are encouraged to contact their airline for up to date flight information. Video from the airport tweeted by grounded passengers shows heavy snowfall at the airport. A father who had to stay six feet apart from his pregnant wife at all times after cancer treatment left him radioactive has celebrated the birth of a beautiful little boy. Ben Chapman, 42, had a six-hour operation to remove his thyroid gland and received radioactive iodine treatment before being Geiger tested and isolated in a lead-lined room, just weeks before wife Stacey, 38, was due to give birth to their son Joseph. Although usually harmless to others, low levels of radiation can be released by the patient and damage the DNA of unborn babies. The couple, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, had loved sitting together on the sofa, with Mr Chapman feeling his unborn baby kick. But instead he had to keep his distance and wipe down any surface he touched. An uncaught sneeze was scary and potentially dangerous. He even had to stop sharing a bathroom with their elder son Jakob, 14, in case of cross-contamination. Mr Chapman said: It was like thinking about breathing almost you had to be careful of what you were doing 24/7. I was second-guessing every single thing I did It was tough and emotionally difficult. The service delivery manager, who ironically joined Cancer Research UK at their Islington base from a similar position at Marks & Spencer months before his initial diagnosis in April last year, is in remission and back at work. Mr Chapman has a 10-inch scar on his neck, finds it painful to speak as the cancer spread to a vocal cord, and has to remain on medication for the rest of his life. He was able to see the birth of Joseph, now 10 weeks, and is optimistic about the future. I cut the cord on the baby and managed to be there for the whole thing. A High Court judge has used Twitter to send a come home plea to a woman who has gone missing with her three-year-old son. Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, disappeared with Olly Sheridan in July after becoming embroiled in family court litigation with ex-partner Patrick Sheridan. Mr Justice Williams, who is overseeing the case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London, on Friday urged Miss Yarrow-Sanders to bring Olly back. His plea was delivered in a tweet posted on the Judicial Office Twitter account using the hashtag #comehomeolly. Lawyers think it is the first time a judge made such use of Twitter. Miss Yarrow-Sanders' mother and sister also urged her to return. Her mother Donna, 47, and sister Maddie, 22, on Friday made a joint plea with Mr Sheridan, who is in his mid-40s, and said Olly needed to "come home to his normal life". The tweet was issued after Mr Justice Williams analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a hearing on Friday. Mr Justice Williams oversaw a hearing in private, but authorised lawyers to release a statement detailing his message to Miss Yarrow-Sanders. The statement was attached to the tweet. Patrick Sheridan and his three-year-old son Olly / PA The tweet said: "High Court Judge, Mr Justice Williams, and Ellie Yarrow-Sanders' mother and sister have made a direct appeal to Ellie to bring missing toddler Olly Sheridan home, with reassurances as to how she will be treated and given a voice in court." The attached statement outlined the judge's concern and included a promise that he would deal with Miss Yarrow-Sanders' case fairly. It said a senior social worker had been appointed to "promote Olly's welfare". Lawyers said the judge had made it clear that such a move did not mean there was any chance of Olly being placed in foster care. Ellie Yarrow-Sanders and Olly have been missing since July / PA The statement also said Mr Sheridan only wanted Olly to be returned and would not make any attempt to have Miss Yarrow-Sanders, her mother or sister "punished". Miss Yarrow-Sanders's mother and sister issued a joint statement with Mr Sheridan, which said: "We just want to know that Olly is safe and we plead for Ellie to return home as soon as possible. We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friends." Mr Justice Williams had initially raised the alarm about Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders at a hearing in December. He said then that he was gravely concerned for Olly's welfare. Miss Yarrow-Sanders disappeared with Olly a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a "critical" family court hearing, according to lawyers. Journalists had been barred from identifying anyone involved in the litigation. But Mr Justice Williams has lifted the identity bar in the hope that publicity will help find Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders. He said family members, who come from Basildon, Essex, could be named and photographs published. D owning Street has hit out at the EU for describing Gibraltar as a UK colony, branding the wording "completely unacceptable". Fears grew on Friday that Madrid may launch another sovereignty grab over the territory after the wording appeared in a proposed document granting Brits visa-free travel in Europe. In the proposal put forward by the European Parliament, which is expected to be passed into legislation, UK citizens travelling to the the Schengen area after March 29 should be granted visa-free travel for a short stay, defined as 90 days in any 180 days, even in the event of no-deal Brexit. But in the ruling the EU called Gibraltar a colony of the British Crown prompting a fresh row over the territory. No10 said describing Gibraltar as a colony was "completely unacceptable" / Peter Nicholls/Reuters The text said: Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Prime Minister's official spokesman responded: "It is completely unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way. "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family. This will not change due to our exit from the EU." Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo accused Madrid of trying to "bully" the British Overseas Territory by demanding the contentious description in the draft document. Key Brexit moments of 2018: in pictures 1 /23 Key Brexit moments of 2018: in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Chequers in July PA The Cabinet thrashed out a Brexit blue print PA The away day meeting PA Boris Johnson leaves Carlton House Terrace in Westminster after he resigned as Foreign Secretary PA David Davis pictured after quitting the government, resigning his post as Brexit Secretary AFP/Getty Images New role: Jeremy Hunt was appointed as Foreign Secretary in July Getty Images Dominic Raab took over the role of Brexit Secretary in July AP/Matt Dunham Exotic spresm: Liberal Democrats Leader Sir Vince Cable following his speech at the party conference PA More than half a million protesters descended on London for the People's Vote March in October Sky News Demonstrators called for a People's Vote on Brexit during a march in Liverpool earlier this year Getty Images Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, presented the red Budget Box as he revealed the government's financial plans in October Getty Images It was the last Budget before Brexit AFP/Getty Images Mr McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn listen as Chancellor Philip Hammond delivers his Budget statement AFP/Getty Images New Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay after Dominic Raab quit the post in November Getty Images Esther McVey also resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary Sir Keir Starmer opened the debate on a motion to hold the Government in contempt of Parliament on December 4 AFP/Getty Images Sir Graham Brady (centre), chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces that Theresa May has survived a confidence vote on December 12 PA Theresa May in Downing Street after winning the confidence vote Jeremy Selwyn The Prime Minister confronts Jean-Claude Juncker at an EU summit in December 'You called me nebulous' Philip Sime/Twitter Jeremy Corbyn was accused of mouthing the words "stupid woman" during the last PMQs of the year Jeremy Corbyn responds in the Commons amid the row PA Jeremy Corbyn denied reports he muttered the words "stupid woman" AFP/Getty Images The Gibraltarian government said "the use of such language, were it to materialise in the final documents, does not assist the creation of a climate of understanding and trust between Gibraltar and Spain as we prepare to leave the EU". Mr Picardo added: "No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect of Gibraltar. "The 32,000 people of Gibraltar are used to the constant attempts by successive Spanish governments to bully us in every possible way. "This is no different to the sort of abuse we have had from former Spanish administrations." A row with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over Gibraltar almost derailed efforts to agree the Brexit withdrawal agreement between Theresa May and the EU in November. D o you remember years ago when Theresa May stood astride the party conference stage and said: You know what some people call us? Dramatic pause. The nasty party. Well Nick Boles MP has a confession. It was me, he says. The first person who called us the nasty party was me. Its an admission hes never made (It probably wouldnt have been politically advantageous to do so), but hes telling us today because well the party to which hes dedicated his life has, in his view, gone back to those dark days of 2002. Back then he called the Tories the nasty party because, as a gay councillor who had recently come out, he felt absolutely appalled and outraged by its support for the Section 28 rules that discriminated against gays. He wrote a column denouncing it. Hes still horrified that colleagues including William Hague (as party leader) backed it Im sure entirely against his better judgment. Of course, under David Cameron the party went on to legalise gay marriage, and to be quietly proud that we did. But he asks: Can you imagine them initiating gay marriage now? If it hadnt been done then, could you imagine this Conservative Party were in now [bringing it in]? I dont think you could. Mays party, he argues, has lurched to the Right, and in so doing is returning to deeply Conservative, shading into reactionary, instincts. Those instincts now grip the party. So much so that his own association in Grantham threatened to deselect him because he tweeted he would quit if the Tories adopted a no-deal Brexit as official policy. Boles, of course, was the original force behind a cross-party initiative to legislate to make the Prime Minister delay Brexit if Parliament fails to ratify a deal by the end of February. This became known as the Cooper-Boles amendment defeated on Tuesday. But his efforts to stymie a no-deal outcome upset local members. The last time I had difficulties with my association was over gay marriage, he says. Not quite as overt as now, but [I was also threatened with] deselection. Weve met Boles in his office overlooking the Thames, directly above Jeremy Corbyns private office. Its decorated with Norwegian flags (he uncorks a bottle for a reception hes about to host for MPs who want a Norway-style Brexit) and splattered with posters from his Twitter satirist General Boles including a mock-up of him as David Bowies Aladdin Sane stamped: Rebel Rebel. Boles defines himself as a moderniser, a progressive, a disrupter. Hes a fan of Julie Burchills mantra, If it aint broke, break it, and likes stirring things up. But hes also a man who survived two knocks at the door from cancer most recently, in 2017, a brain tumour. The experience has made him bolder, even, determined to cut out the crap. Timely intervention: Yvette Coopers amendment asked for Brexit to be delayed / EPA As he seats us, he wants to get off my chest his history with the Tories. He knew he wanted to go into politics (after a stint running a paint factory with Sebastian James, now CEO of Boots, and a theatre group with Adam Spiegel) and that he was a Conservative. But he toyed, in summer 1997, with New Labour. I dont know if I came close but it was definitely a real subject, he admits. My main conclusion was: I would rather be on the liberal, progressive, moderate end of a party than on the Right-wing, tough, defence, hard-nosed, capitalist end. He was elected as a Tory councillor in Westminster in 1998 and was living near Old Compton Street a year later when a neo-Nazi bombed the Admiral Duncan pub because it was a gay haunt. Three died. It struck me that I was both representative of the area and it was my home, he says, and so I gave a speech in Westminster council in which I talked of freedom and Soho representing all that is best about a free society, and at the end I came out. The speech got a standing ovation and was emotional. But to this day hes not sure if he came out to party colleagues before his parents at their farm in Devon. Anyway, both receptions were lovely, even if his parents were not obviously overjoyed and asked questions of well-meaning ignorance about disease and risk and settled relationships and do they ever happen. His overwhelming sense was that there was not much desire to talk about it further. Perhaps the Conservatives felt the same, but Boles is not someone to be silenced. In SOHO he lived in a Georgian flat in Meard Street (a sign on the door reads: This is not a brothel), bought his suits at James Perse and socialised on the fringes of the Notting Hill set, which included David Cameron, Ed Vaizey and Michael Gove (his best friend). When he sold his flat to the colourful artist Sebastian Horsley he moved in with Gove in Mayfair (they founded the think-tank Policy Exchange). Did Boles experience homophobia in the party? Yes. He shrugs it off with a funny anecdote about how, when he first tried for selection for the seat of Bridgewater in Devon, he failed the second round having disclosed he was gay. He assumes this was due to his lack of experience but a selection panel member described it as rank homophobia on the front page of the Western Daily News. Forever after, he says, Cameron referred to the whole affair as Trouble over Bridgewater. He admires Cameron and sees gay marriage as a Conservative high point. I was not only one of the people who helped persuade David that it was right but also an early beneficiary. He married his partner, Israeli Shay Meshulam, in 2011 (but didnt convert to Judaism, not least because theres a painful procedure involved that Im keen to avoid). Has it heightened his sensitivity to the row over anti-Semitism in Labour? I hope that I would find it as appalling if I wasnt married to an Israeli. Its one reason why I could never do anything that made it more likely that Jeremy Corbyn or any of that gang made it into power. We ask given his loyalty to both if he is more Govian or Cameroonian? Oh thats unfair! he cries. Michael is my best friend. But David is probably the person whose politics comes closer of the two. Could he see Gove as leader? The way the political class has mishandled Brexit will finish off the current generation of leaders for good, he says. Voters will want fresh faces untainted by association with the referendum or the Brexit negotiations. He argues that while parties should never lose touch with their base there should always be tension. Listen, understand, talk and engage with them, but equally never stop challenging them. It has to be a relationship of respectful tension. You have to say: The world is changing, society is changing, generations are growing up. We need to understand them. Its particularly important for a Conservative party because its natural instinct is... he quotes Lord Salisbury Change, change: arent things bad enough already? I take the view of the Duke in [di Lampedusas] The Leopard: Everything must change for everything to remain the same. Although he tips Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, as a future party leader, asked if there will be a general election soon he says: Over my dead body. Given what hes been through, its hard not to wince. But later he twice says that working for Boris Johnson when he became mayor, nearly killed me. Their three months together in 2008 felt longer because it was maddening although never dull. He is funny about their differences. Boris went to Eton (rather than Winchester); was older (by one year) and though both went to Oxford, Boles didnt do student politics (but studied PPE), but he liked him. He has a very winning way, he says, shambling, shuffling, apologetic, slightly hurt. Hes not all braggadocio. Quite the opposite. Hes rather sensitive and vulnerable and constantly worried that he is disappointing people and that people arent liking him and all of that. In private he is hilariously funny. But overall he is disappointed: sad. Why? I thought he was the perfect emblem and champion of the kind of modern, liberal, progressive, open-minded, outward-looking, easy-going Conservatism, he says. No longer. Underneath it all, Johnson is probably the same person I dont think people change much over 40 but all the good bits have been swallowed by ambition and I see no trace of them. He blames the Brexit obsession. He jumped on a wave and the wave has grown and grown and swept him along and he cant get off. Actually, Brexit has allowed Boles to build cross-party friendships hed never had before. He lists MPs hes been working with: Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell, Liz Kendall and Hilary Benn, as well as Cooper. There are others who I admire like Jess Phillips we hang out sometimes and though I know her much less well, Angela Rayner. He adds that although Ive imagined leaving [the Tories] a number of times hes never looked at Labour, the Lib-Dems or SNP and been even tempted to join. Boles says his upbringing gave him a strong sense of public service as a noble calling inherited from my father. Sir Jack Boles was head of the National Trust and he grew up in not a huge house, six/seven bedrooms with five siblings (one adopted). Abiding memories are around the Aga, rearing orphaned lambs. (Although, one Easter they congratulated their stepmother on lunch and she said: Yes, didnt Basil eat well. At which point there was projectile vomiting all over the table because Basil was their little pet). Boless mother died of cancer when he was three. Does he remember her? No. He hesitates. But if you lose a parent when you are young and then gain a step, you never quite know what [in you] is your mum and what is your stepmum. His father died aged 87, in bed at home, surrounded by family. Boles describes this as the perfect death. Although housing is his first burning injustice, he sees the reform of assisted dying as the next great (small l) liberal reform after same-sex marriage. He believes that it will be like gay marriage in that two years after weve done it well be like, Why on earth didnt we do this before? He is lucky because he is not afraid of death. Not for myself. But I am afraid of how it affects everybody around me: family, my husband, close friends. That led me to question it and understand that one of the things that you would want is to be in control. A mother and son have told how they found a newborn baby abandoned in a shopping bag in an east London park after hearing her "crying for her life" as temperatures approached freezing. The girl, who has been named Roman by nurses, was found at around 10pm on Thursday in the park in Roman Road in East Ham. Police said Roman was wrapped in a white towel and placed in the shopping bag on the ground next to a bench in the small children's play park. The baby was rushed to hospital where she was in a stable condition on Friday morning, the Metropolitan Police said. Roman was discovered by grandmother-of-one Rima Zvaliauskiene, 50, just 100 yards from her home while walking her dog, Scout. Ms Zvaliauskiene, who used to be a midwife in her native Lithuania, told the Sun Online: "There was a crying noise from the bag. She was crying for her life. The baby saved herself. "I removed the towels and when I saw the baby I realised it was newborn. "I ran back to the house and brought back a blanket to put on the baby. "I was worried but when I heard her crying I knew she was a fighter." The woman called the emergency services while her son Ovidijus Zvaliauskas, 27, ran out from their family home to help her. Mr Zvaliauskas told the BBC it was "terrible" adding that he had "no words" for the mother who abandoned the baby. He added: "My mum was walking the dog and she heard a noise coming out from the bag. "She rang me up because she was too scared to approach the bag." Police said they are growing "increasingly concerned" for her mother's welfare as they believe she may be in need of urgent medical attention. A photo issued by police showed the baby had been hooked up to an intravenous drip and monitoring equipment once she arrived at hospital. Appealing directly to her mother, Inspector Shane Clarke, of the North East Command Unit, said: "I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery. It is really important that we know that you are safe. "I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward." T his is the moment a hero neighbour dashes into a burning house to save an elderly woman wearing only his underwear. CCTV footage from a doorbell camera shows Keith Charles, 52, run into the blazing terrace in Stoke Newington as it was engulfed by the blaze in the early hours. The builder raced across the burning threshold after being woken and alerted to the danger by his teenage son. Mr Charles said he had no choice but to try to save the woman, 85, who was banging on front windows in a desperate bid to attract attention. Hero: Keith Charles runs out of the house in his pants He said he was woken by his screaming son Joe, 17, who had seen the house opposite go up in flames. Mr Charles said: It was about four in the morning and I was fast asleep with my wife. Then my son just started shouting, The house is on fire, the house is on fire. I looked out and saw the flames and instinct took over. I just ran out and kicked the door in. I had to act. Its just human instinct: Keith Charles with his son Joe who alerted him Mr Charles said he had to battle his way through the flames which had reached the hallway. He rushed in and carried his stricken neighbour out. He said: The fire came right to us in the hallway. I got her out and passed her on to my wife who got her inside and called 999. Mr Charles managed to escape with just cuts and bruises, while his neighbour was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. She has made a full recovery. He said: She was shaking. She says I saved her life, but when you see someone in trouble its just human instinct to help them. I know it was probably a bit stupid, but Ive known her for about 10 years and shes a lovely neighbour. I had to do something. I dont think I am a hero Id never have forgiven myself if I hadnt tried to help. A firefighter at the scene said: He ran straight through into the fire and rescued the woman from inside. By the time we got there, there wasnt much to do. A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: We were called at 4.39am and sent two fire engines from Stoke Newington. The fire destroyed five per cent of the ground floor. A n annual street festival for thousands in south London might not go ahead amid concerns about safety. The Bermondsey Street Festival, which has been supported by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, faces not being granted a licence because the Met believe it is unsafe to proceed. A report to Southwark councils licensing committee states that the police have concerns around the viability of the event. The festival, which began 12 years ago, sees roads closed off, with performance stages and stalls lining Bermondsey Street and local parks. Last year more than 6,000 people turned up for the street party, described as a village fete in the city, with this years event due to take place on September 14. The police have concerns relating to the poor management of the previous event and feel that the current application fails to address those issues raised, the report from licensing officers states. One of the concerns is that it was agreed that road access would have hard barriers to stop unauthorised vehicle access to the event and stop a possible vehicle-style terrorist attack, but this was not implemented and plastic roadworks-style barriers were used. Festival organiser Bill Owen today insisted he had always complied fully with the requirements of Southwark council. He also disputed the Mets claims about what was agreed about barriers last year. He said he believed the security provision had been more than adequate, and that if the cost of installing anti-terror precautions such as concrete barriers became too much, the festival would not run. A terror suspect from east London has appeared in court charged with travelling to Syria and joining al Qaida. Mohammed Yamin, 25, was arrested on Wednesday and subsequently charged with three offences - engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, membership of a proscribed organisation, and possession of a gun for a purpose connected with terrorism. The Metropolitan Police said the charges relate to offences allegedly carried out between April 25 2013 and June 1 2014. The particulars of the alleged offences include engaging in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely the purchase of equipment and clothing; obtaining information about the routes to Syria from the UK, the purchase of a one-way flight ticket to facilitate the journey to Syria and his subsequent travel to Syria. Yamin appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday morning following his arrest as part of a pre-planned operation. He was remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance, at the Old Bailey, on February 15, Scotland Yard said. The Met said in a statement: "On January 30, officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command arrested a 25-year-old man as part of a pre-planned operation. P olice patrols have been stepped up outside two of Londons most prestigious private schools in response to a spate of muggings. At least six children under 16 reported having been robbed as they walked home through Dulwich village. In two of the cases, which all happened between 4pm and 8pm on January 21, the victims reported their attacker was carrying a blade. They include pupils at Dulwich College and nearby Alleyns, as well as children from the Kingsdale Foundation School. The mother of a 13-year-old pupil at Kingsdale described how he was ambushed as he walked home. The primary school teacher, 49, who asked to remain anonymous, said: He ran into a Co-op and called his friend who lives nearby, then stayed with his friend. Im just glad he did all the right things. It was such a shock. Id never heard of this happening in Dulwich, especially to children in uniforms. Her son said: This person was following me. He turned me around and reached into my pocket. I was confused. Then he said Give me your phone. He swung at me but missed. I ran down Ryedale Road and he chased after me. Then I saw some people and shouted Help, Im getting robbed. His attacker, whom he described as a white male with ginger hair and a green jacket, fled. In a joint statement, Dulwich College, Alleyns School and Kingsdale Foundation said: Such crimes, particularly targeting children, are deplorable... We are working assiduously with local police, councillors, our local MP and Safer Routes to School to help ensure pupils walking to and from school are safe, and feel safe. A gay porn star who took part in a brazen three-man orgy onboard a Northern Line train and posted the footage on Twitter has been fined 1,000. George Mason, 35, and Nicholas Mullan, 24, stripped off with a third, unidentified man as they romped on the southbound train as it travelled between Leicester Square and Waterloo. Westminster magistrates heard the incident, in front of other Tube passengers, was filmed by Mason who posted it online with the boast: 100 per cent genuine, adding that they couldnt help ourselves. British Transport Police were alerted to the outrageous romp, which happened in July 2017, when a video of the incident was posted online last February. Mason, who appeared in the BBC3 documentary series Queer Britain, was identified as one of the men involved, and he and Mullan were both charged with outraging public decency. Prosecutor Robert Simpson told the court: The two men in the dock engaged in a series of sexual acts on a Tube train. Nicholas Mullan (right) and George Mason who admitted outraging public decency at Waterloo underground station / PA This was in the presence of the travelling public. The incident was recorded by them, and the video of what happened was subsequently uploaded on to Twitter where another gay man saw it. He thought it had crossed the line of what was acceptable behaviour and the incident was reported to the police. Mr Simpson said the Twitter post, linked back to Mason, included the boast: Full on live sex in front of the general public on a subway train. It added: Couldnt stop ourselves, 100 per cent genuine. Defence lawyer Howard Cohen told the court the incident was spontaneous, and he claimed the footage had only been uploaded to an adult-only part of Twitter. He added that the two men have been subjected to a disgusting campaign of hate since the incident became publicly known. Magistrate Lucinda Lubbock sentenced Mason to an 18-month community order, including 30 days of rehabilitation, and imposed a 1000 fine. Mullan was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 15 days of rehabilitation, but was spared a fine as he is receiving state benefits. This was a very unpleasant and serious offence on the public underground system, she said. This has been a lesson for both of you, and you have been humiliated in the court of social media. I hope this will be the last time we see you in this court. Simon Arloff, from the CPS, said afterwards: This was an outrageous and distasteful act within sight of passengers who were travelling on public transport. Mason and Mullan thought they were being sexually risky and could earn some money from their stunt, but in doing so they showed complete disregard for other passengers on that Northern line train. Mason, from Camberwell, and Mullan, who lives in Belfast, both admitted outraging public decency. They were both ordered to pay 170 in court costs and fees. If you're a husband or wife about to celebrate your first wedding anniversary - congratulations! All wedding anniversaries are special but the first is a biggie. Traditionally, couples give one another gifts themed around paper to mark their first year of marriage. After that, there's a theme for every year, from silver for your 25th anniversary and gold for your 50th to the lesser-known willow (9 years) and wine (17). First wedding anniversary gifts usually revolve around paper, so we've run with the theme - curating a selection of wedding anniversary gifts for him, her and for the two of you. For the traditionalists, theres a few beautiful books dating back hundreds of years and notepads for scribbling love poetry into. If youre looking for more unusual first wedding anniversary gifts, weve also found a series of presents which expand on the theme: think paperclip jewellery, newspapers from the day you were married and a candle which smells just like a library filled with custom romantic classics. If youre willing to put in a little more effort, theres also a ton of gorgeous personalised presents filled with special meaning. From a charming illustration of your first home through to a print themed around your first dance tune, some one-of-a-kind gifts are available to throwback to your biggest relationship milestones. And for those who cant resist getting crafty, theres also a stunning wedding journal you can pen your own love story in. 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}} Read on for more first wedding anniversary gifts below... First anniversary gifts for him The Night Sky Custom Star Map Print 50 x 70CM This utterly romantic gift allows you to customise a star chart of what the night sky looked like at a time and date of your choice. Be it your first meeting, your first date, your wedding day or the birth of your child, youll be able to see how the stars aligned at that very moment and hang it up on your wall. 49 | The Night Sky | Buy it now Lonely Planets Epic Drives of the World Whether it's the Route 66 or a lush emerald expedition through Ireland, there's a ton of romantic stretches waiting for you to hop in a car and explore. Curated by the Lonely Planet team, this guide also makes a gorgeous coffee table book. 19.30 | Amazon | Buy it now Historic Newspapers Classic Gift Box Remember what was going on on the day you were married? For a unique memento of your big day, you can buy a newspaper that came out on your big day. There are loads of different publications to choose from and it all comes beautifully packaged and with a certificate of authenticity. 34.99 | Historic Newspapers | Buy it now Bottega Veneta Black Intrecciato Card Holder Keep your cards all in one place with this classic Bottega Veneta cardholder. 200 | SSENSE | Buy it now Montblanc Augmented Paper Writing Set You'll never want to carry around a notebook again with this high tech piece of kit. When you write on the notebook in this beautiful leather writing set, the notebook syncs to an app on a device so that you have a digital copy of everything you've scribbled down. 860 | Montblanc | Buy it now Luckies Scratch Map XL Edition Travelling with a loved one is a special experience, and this scratch off map keeps the fun going. It's covered in gold foil so you can scratch off the destinations you've hit as you go - here's hoping you can hit every continent. 22.95 | John Lewis | Buy it now Byredo Bibliotheque Candle There's nothing quite as warm and welcoming as the smell of a vintage book, which Byredo has managed to capture in a candle. Who needs a Beauty and the Beast-style library? 57 | Byredo | Buy it now First anniversary gifts for her Juniper Books Jane Austen Book Set This beautifully designed set of Jane Austen classics comes from Juniper Books, Gwyneth Paltrows personal book curators. Inspired by vintage leather bindings, these pink love stories remain some of the most timeless and will look beautiful in your home in the years to come. 121 | Juniper Books | Buy it now Alighieri Il Maestro Necklace Inspired by the literary masterpiece Dantes Inferno, Alighieris creations hark back to the Italian epic which details Dantes spiritual journey through the underworld in search of his lover Beatrice. This necklace, the Il Maestro, is inspired by the poet Virgil who guided Dante through the depths and according to Alighieri is based on their relationship of protection and trust, in a quest that cannot be accomplished alone. 210 | Alighieri | Buy it now When Strangers Meet Strapped Book Clutch Olympia Le Tan has made a name for itself taking books and transforming them into handmade clutches, including this romantic comic. For the bold fashion-loving woman (or man) in your life. 2,454 | Farfetch | Buy it now First anniversary gifts for couples ThisPaperbook 52 Date Night Cards Sneaking out for a cheeky date night is always a great way to keep the romance alive, but sometimes coming up with a fresh idea can be a little difficult. This box of date night cards will inspire you for the year to come with a list of things to do. 24.95 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now PaperJackIllustrates Custom Hand Drawn House Illustration Whether youve just bought your first house together or you want to remember the first home you shared, this personalised illustrated print is a sweet way to pay homage to the setting your love story unfolded in. 40+ | Etsy | Buy it now kikki.K Wedding Memories: Always and Forever Notebook This one will require a little more work from you, but itll mean a lot. This gorgeous white and gold book has been designed to help you pen your own romance. Adam JK Good Things Happen 18x24 Print Illustrator Adam JK has made a name for himself with his typography prints, which arent your typical cheesy home is where the heart is odes. This is one of his most popular and seems particularly apt at the moment, plus its available in pink, yellow, black, blue and purple in different sizes. 33 | Adam JK | Buy it now Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption The New York Times Modern Love column is home to some of the most beautiful, baffling and hilarious real romances and this book compiles the best of them. On top of that, it also includes a few stories from the likes of Tina Fey, Dev Patel and Anne Hathaway. 13.70 | New York Times | Buy it now Selected Poems by E.E. Cummings E.E. Cummings is one of the most romantic American poets of all time, writing at length about love and sensuality in a way that will have you falling for your partner all over again. 11.99 | Waterstones | Buy it now Sophia-Enjoy Bookend Hygeia in Purple These unusual bookends, modelled after the ancient Greek figures, will keep all your books and papers standing upright. C live Owen is set to return to the West End in a revival of Tennessee Williams The Night of the Iguana. He will appear alongside Lia Williams and Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn in a revival of the 1961 play at the Noel Coward Theatre. The play, which will be directed by James Macdonald, is set in 1940 on an old hotel verandah, where a group of lost souls meet and debate before a tropical rainstorm arrives. Owen last appeared on stage in 2015 in a Broadway production of Harold Pinters Old Times, but hasnt been in the West End since 2001 when he starred in a revival of Peter Nichols A Day in the Death of Joe Egg alongside Victoria Hamilton. One of his most notable stage performances was Patrick Marbers Closer at the National Theatre in 1997. Owen was the only original cast member to go on to star in the subsequent 2004 film adaptation. Williams was shortlisted for Best Actress at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards last year for role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse. Gunn was twice awarded an Emmy for her role as Skyler White in Breaking Bad. Game of Thrones star Julian Glover will also appear in the production. Lets face it, this cold weather has got us all in a bit of a wardrobe rut. Luckily, Copenhagen Fashion Week is currently underway and the streets of the Danish capital have come alive with stylish Scandi's, and thus oodles of sartorial inspiration. Want to up your game? The fashion crowd have made the case for embracing bold colours, the most popular hues including trendy lime green, shades of punchy violet and attention-seeking fire hues. As for pops of print? Animal spots and stripes are still very much the one to beat, however, cheetah and leopard are now considered slightly last season, as wild tiger stripes, unconventional cow print and snakeskin reigned supreme. Tiger, cow and snake were the most popular animal prints / Rex Features 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}} As expected, the fashion sets ensembles also heavily featured the hottest Scandinavian fashion brands, the most-loved choice being Saks Potts, a variety of their monogram tights, puffers and celebrity-approved coats making a major appearance. Fashionstas wear the same burgundy suit at Copenhagen Fashion Week / Rex Features As for the the hottest trend of all? Twinning with a fashionable friend. Whilst arriving in the same outfit as anyone else has previously been considered a major fashion faux pas at fashion week around the world, Copenhagen Fashion Week deliberately embraced the look. From simply wearing the same hue, to the exact same power suit, you and your BFF can now totally get away with rocking the same look. F urther to your article [The EU 27 Speak, January 30], what struck me is what fantastic opportunities Britain afforded to each and every person. However, I am reminded that across the UK there are millions of indigenous Brits from countless generations of families who toiled, worked and fought to ensure this nation offers so much opportunity. I find it telling that not one of them went on the record to say Thanks to the generations of a Brits for enabling the opportunity all said and done, they are guests. Andrew McNeilis I wake up and think: Why do you hate me? Why do you pour scorn on my European identity every day? Why do you try to wrestle my British identity from me? I come from Germany and am also the Londoner next door, a proud Tottenham resident. Ive helped keep this country running in 24 years of hard work. English is now my first language. I would describe Brexit as an evil force of delusion, division and destruction if it were not so ludicrous. Christina Egan I recently spoke to an English woman and her student daughter while at the opera. The lady began by saying how most of the people they had heard while walking to the opera house were foreigners, and how disturbing this was. As we parted, the mother said she was planning to leave herself to live in Canada. It will be interesting to see how she, when an immigrant herself, is received. Bob Reeves EDITOR'S REPLY Dear Andrew, Christina and Bob First, thanks to you, and to our EU 27, for your bravery in hoisting your views above the parapet. Brexit has cleft national opinion, and its good to talk. Putting aside who owes what to who, the recurrent theme my colleague Katie and I were most struck by when interviewing our featured 27 was the sheer frustration over misinformation, and the value, even in the most trying circumstances, of a free exchange of ideas. None of us know whats going on, one Cypriot told me. So lets work on that. We could all bear to know more about those we share this Tube carriage, borough, city or island with. If your smartphone, TV, or radio isnt telling you what you need to know about Brussels, talk to the cast of thousands you brush past every day, the baristas, bankers, bus drivers, builders, and denominations not beginning with B, who make up this city and this country. We as citizens need to ensure were really plugged into whats going on. Samuel Fishwick, Features Writer Corbyn ignores democracy danger Jeremy Corbyn, even after three years of debate, evidently hasnt grasped whats at stake in Brexit. He seems to believe that our trade will continue as before if we leave the EU while staying in the customs union. But the customs union is irrelevant to our trade in services which is fully 80 per cent of total trade; for this we must remain in the single market. And the EU has negotiated trade deals with countries, including Japan, with which we do at least 20 per cent of our external trade. Well very likely lose the benefit of these agreements, even if we stay in the customs union. More importantly, he appears to be indifferent to the dangers of leaving the EU for all of Europe including Britain. He asks who will be cheering if Britain leaves, and why. Since the list includes Vladimir Putin, Hungary premier Viktor Orban, Italys deputy PM Matteo Salvini, Marine Le Pen and ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon, he should acknowledge how dangerous leaving would be for the future of democracy here and across Europe. Robert Boyce No-deal Brexit threat to pets I have been informed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that should there be a no-deal Brexit the UK Pet Passport will become invalid after March 29. Therefore families posted abroad or hoping to holiday abroad with their pet dogs and cats, together with those dependent on UK assistance dogs or working with UK search and rescue dogs, will have to make other arrangements or not take their pet with them. The Governments silence on this issue of importance to many has been deafening. Mary Fretwell Chairman, Passports for Pets Lets unite to fight homelessness Londoners cant fail to have noticed the recent increase in homelessness and rough sleeping. E d Couchman, UK boss of Snap, discusses working in the industry... What is Snap? The owner of Snapchat, an app that centres solely around the camera on your phone. Everything is about the camera. It deletes the videos, pictures and messages you send by default, just like a natural conversation, letting you express yourself freely. What do you do? Im responsible for the London office and run the UK sales business. I maintain a close relationship with the US, where the company is headquartered. [Founder and chief executive] Evan Spiegel interviewed me seven months ago for the role when I was at Facebook. What do you like about it? Snap is very creative and working with advertisers to show them what a great product it is is good fun. Many think it is like Facebook but it is so much more than that. When the penny drops it is a great feeling. And dislike? It is a bit frustrating that everyone lumps us in the social media bracket. It does take a long time to explain the differences. It is the most important app for millennials. What was your biggest break? Getting into online media in the early Noughties at a firm called ad2One. I was reluctant at first and wanted to stay in the cushy world of print publishing. How lucky I was, traditional publishing is a bloodbath now. I joined Snap from Facebook where I was part of a team that sold the first ads on Instagram in 2014. Before that I was at Channel 4 for five years and helped launch 4OD as a brand and get our content on YouTube for the first time. And setback? I was made redundant in 2003 shortly after taking a new job and my wife was pregnant with my first child. I went home that night and I was crestfallen. I couldnt find a way to tell my wife, it was grim. I was naive and I hadnt done my due diligence when I took on the job. The firm was hugely loss-making. Fortunately I went back to ad2One. Hows your work-life balance? I have two daughters who are 15 and 11. We have dinner together every evening and there are no phones at the table at home in St Albans. I also go to spin classes, it refreshes me. Any tips? G lencores sales of cobalt from Democratic Republic of Congo face further delay after the government of the volatile African state forced it to halt construction of a vital uranium-removal plant. Ministers told Katanga Mining a mining company in DRC controlled by Glencore to suspend building an ion exchange plant, which is needed to remove uranium from cobalt. Katanga said it would engage with the ministry of mines to understand and address their concerns. Much of the cobalt produced this year will only be sold in 2020, it added. The firm is temporarily stockpiling the material, used in batteries, until the Ion exchange plant is up and running. Shares weakened 1.3p to 308.16p. In November Glencore had to suspend cobalt exports after uranium was detected. Overall production for the year ending December was in line with market estimates, including copper and cobalt production up by 11% and 54% respectively thanks to production at Katanga. T here was increasing concern for the future of broker Daniel Stewart today as it said it was no longer taking on new clients after two years of mounting losses, sources close to the company said. It is understood that scores of staff at the firm were made redundant at a meeting yesterday afternoon after Epsilon Investments, a Singaporean investment firm who had financially backed the broker, decided to pull the plug. They were sick of pumping money in for no returns, one source said. Epsilon Investments also has a stake in rival Novum Secruites. Daniel Stewarts website only carries a holding statement which says: Please be aware that as a result of internal restructuring Daniel Stewart & Company will not be accepting any new client instructions for the foreseeable future. Daniel Stewart employs around 20 staff, many of whom are now looking for new jobs. The firm has been letting senior staff go since the turn of the year and its latest results show it posted a 1.2 million loss for 2018, widening from a 879,029 loss in 2017. Daniel Stewart has a number of small-cap clients including Israeli diamond miner Shefa Yamim and oil and gas company Zenith Energy. City brokers have been struggling to survive in the wake of Mifid II regulation, ramping up trading costs for the smaller houses. Many brokers have already merged or are looking to merge. Late last year broker SP Angel said it would merge with rival Northland Capital Partners, while there are rumours that Panmure Gordon and Zeus Capital have held talks about a tie-up. Meanwhile Liberum and Peel Hunt are believed to have attracted attention from overseas. STAMFORD Three out-of-state Hispanic men, who police say were trying to pull off their second mail heist of the night in downtown Darien, were stopped and arrested by a sharp-eyed cop watching his downtown U.S. Post Office early Thursday morning. Darien police say Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson was keeping an eye on the Corbin Drive Post Office because of repeated reports of mail theft from the mailboxes there. According to the police report of their arrest, at 3:08 a.m. on Thursday, Johnson spotted a black Toyota Corolla driving slowly toward the post office when it spotted Johnsons marked police car and came to a sudden stop. When the vehicle made a turn onto the Post Road, Johnson noticed the car had a New Jersey license plate. Knowing that the FBI suspected that the Trinitarios Dominican gang out of New Jersey of the mail thefts, Johnson quickly decided to pull the car over and conduct an investigative traffic stop. When the occupants of the car were told to roll down the heavily tinted rear windows of the Corolla, Johnson saw that pieces of clothing had been placed over a yellow manilla envelope that had a Stamford Superior Court label on it that was on the carpet behind the driver. The driver, Jeremy Valdez, 20, of Patterson, New Jersey, could not produce a license and said he was on his way home from visiting a friend in Norwalk. At that point, because Corbin Drive was not a logical place for him to stop, the officer told Valdez to turn off his car and hand him the keys. Inside the vehicle that had two passengers, police say they found a large quantity of unopened mail, as well as a crowbar and hammer, which is consistent with reports of mail thieves using tools to break open the mailboxes, the police report says. Darien police quickly found that a U.S. Post Office box at 368 Heights Road in Noroton Heights in Darien had been forcibly opened and mail was missing. The mail found in the car consisted of an open plastic envelope containing a womens swim suit, a large envelope that contained 10 letters, 14 manila envelopes and 29 envelopes from the Stamford courthouse and seven other envelopes, the report said. Valdez, Carlos Artiles, 29, of Patterson, and Yimy Luciano, 18, of Redding, Pennsylvania, were arraigned at the Stamford courthouse early Thursday afternoon on charges of possession of burglar tools, sixth-degree larceny, first-degree criminal mischief, criminal trover and conspiracy to commit those offenses. A Stamford judge decided to hold the three in lieu of $100,000 court-appearance bonds and they are scheduled to make pleas to their charges when they return to court March 11. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com As a new state senator representing Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford, Im proud to be leading difficult but necessary public conversations about the biggest challenges facing our state and the biggest opportunities to fix them. This past week I hosted a second round of Community Conversations in New Canaan, Stamford and Greenwich focused on Bringing Business to CT. The goal of these conversations is to 1) welcome everyone, of all views, into a constructive public dialogue and; 2) learn from experts how to attract business and grow our economy. We all want Connecticut to have a robust and resilient economy and my duty as a legislator is to help design a road map to achieve this. Doing research and learning from experts is always my starting point. And I was thrilled that hundreds of people from every political party attended these conversations with a sincere desire to move our state forward. For our first round of Community Conversations, which we held in late November, we had low expectations for turnout. But despite pouring rain, it was standing room only. In those first meetings, I proposed some simple principles of civil discourse being respectful, limiting comments to personal experiences and facts, and citing ones sources. I asked the audience if they agreed to these and they applauded! For the conversations last week, I invited prominent business leaders to share their expertise on what drives business to Connecticut. Being pro-business is critical to the solvency of our state and this topic should appeal to everyone, regardless of political affiliation. Unfortunately, a few days before our public conversations last week, a small organization called No Tolls CT, funded by former state Sen. Scott Frantz and his wife Icy, seized the opportunity to target me politically. This partisan group, along with the official Connecticut Republican Party and its local affiliates, broadcast emails and social media posts asking people to protest my events and bring No Tolls signs. Curious behavior from a political party that claims to be pro-business. Why not participate in discussions about economic policy rather than protest them? I welcome anyone who engages in good faith. And, I unequivocally welcome those with dissenting opinions. When someone challenges the status quo, resistance is inevitable. I dont mind being the target. But when opposition takes the form of personal attacks like the ones posted about me on the CTGOP Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites, it raises questions. I have many Republican friends who are unaware that their own party chairman, J.R. Romano, made videos and podcasts about me, which are so full of untruths theyre laughable. The reality Ive experienced working with fellow Republican legislators is exactly the opposite they are consistently civil and collaborative. So why are official Republican party communications full of malice and misrepresentation? These antics illustrate a larger problem we face as a society. When eight protesters show up at an event attended by 300 community members, does their presence make the issue being discussed controversial? Or does it show that despite a small and vocal opposition, the vast majority of people support the policy? Perception shapes our reality. But perceptions can never substitute for the truth. The No Tolls protesters and others, including my own state Rep. Fred Camillo, have publicly misrepresented my bill on tolls, claiming it calls for 82 gantries. Read bill SB102 and see for yourself. It doesnt mention gantries at all. Why? Because my intention is to start a discussion guided by fact that delivers the best solutions using the latest technology. By the time tolls are implemented, gantries may be obsolete and we may be able to attach sensors to lamp posts, highway signs or bridges. The point is, lets not derail conversations by reducing them to erroneous talking points or simplistic slogans. People are intelligent and want the truth. Our job as legislators is to present the facts (all of them) and deliver positive public policy. And as citizens, we are all responsible for our words and actions. Spreading untruths intentionally or otherwise is not acceptable or civil behavior. Lets all stand up for truth and civility by modeling it ourselves. State Sen. Alex Bergstein, D-36, represents Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. Michael Bloomberg is assembling one of the most skilled and experienced campaign teams in Democratic presidential politics. And he might not even run. Bloomberg has retained more than two dozen of the party's leading operatives and data strategists, some of whom played prominent roles in Barack Obama's winning presidential campaigns. They are poised to leverage their networks and experience to help the billionaire former New York mayor make inroads with key constituencies across the country. For Bloomberg - who has been a Republican, independent and Democrat - the staffers could be critical as the 76-year-old businessman navigates the modern Democratic Party, giving him links to blocs and stakeholders who may be wary of his past and politics. Many of those advisers say that if Bloomberg does not enter the 2020 race, they plan to stay on his team anyway, working to build what one top aide described as a "Koch Brothers-type group for Democrats," a digital and grass-roots powerhouse that would spend hundreds of millions of dollars with the sole mission of defeating President Donald Trump. The spate of high-profile hires and the establishment of a sweeping, data-heavy political operation underscore Bloomberg's determination to shape the 2020 campaign, whether he decides to be a candidate or spends millions as an advocate and influencer, following a 2018 cycle in which he and his allied groups spent more than $110 million. And it reflects mounting unease in Democratic ranks about the political cost of a protracted presidential primary cycle in which a number of contenders could battle until the Democratic National Convention. Such a fight could leave the party distracted, Bloomberg advisers said, necessitating that someone construct an outside political machine ready for fall 2020. "Whether Mike runs or not, he really wants to advance the science of how you target voters," Kevin Sheekey, a longtime Bloomberg adviser, said in an interview. "One of the country's best technology entrepreneurs ever is going to make sure that whoever wins the Democratic nomination is going to all have the support they'll need to win a general election and beat Trump." Sheekey declined to reveal how much Bloomberg has spent so far but said that "Mike has certainly spent more than anyone else has raised" in the emerging Democratic field. According to Forbes, Bloomberg is worth more than $50 billion, making him one of the nation's richest people. One factor looming over Bloomberg's decision is former vice president Joe Biden, who has leaned toward running but has not made a decision. Bloomberg advisers said Biden's brand of politics is similar to the former mayor's, so a bid by the former vice president could push Bloomberg to stay out of the race. "Whatever the next year brings for Joe and me, I know that we will both keep our eyes on the real prize, and that is electing a Democrat to the White House in 2020," Bloomberg said in January at the National Action Network's Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast. The Washington Post confirmed Bloomberg's latest hires with several aides, some of whom were not authorized to speak publicly. Joining his inner circle as a strategist is Mitch Stewart, who directed Obama's triumphant Iowa caucus campaign in 2008. Brynne Craig, who has signed on as an adviser on political strategy, served on Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and has connections with many party and constituency groups. In some respects, Bloomberg's campaign-in-waiting is an outgrowth of Everytown For Gun Safety, his organization focused on gun control that has been a political force in recent elections. Bloomberg is working closely with Bully Pulpit Interactive, a marketing agency founded by Obama campaign veterans, to develop a national digital advertising and analytics operation. Dan Wagner, who was chief analytics officer on Obama's 2012 campaign, is advising Bloomberg on strategy, as well as other hopefuls. The former mayor has recruited top talent especially in the early voting states. Matt Paul, who ran Clinton's campaign in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, has signed on to advise Bloomberg in that state, though he's not doing so exclusively. A onetime broadcast journalist and aide to then-Gov. Tom Vilsack, Paul has relationships throughout Iowa. In New Hampshire, Bloomberg has hired Liz Purdy, a seasoned operative in the state, where she has worked for Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Purdy also helped steer Clinton's campaign in New Hampshire's 2008 primary. On communications, Jason Schechter, who oversees communications at Bloomberg L.P., the financial information and media company founded by Bloomberg, is playing a key role, along with other media aides. In recent weeks, a growing group of Bloomberg advisers has been holding private meetings in Manhattan near Bloomberg's philanthropic headquarters, mapping out his schedule and discussing strategy. Bloomberg has purchased national voter files so his team can get an early start, one adviser said. "The Trump campaign is extremely well-capitalized and the world is moving very fast from TV to online," said one Bloomberg adviser. "Democrats need to make sure they have the tools to be at full velocity." Leading the sessions is a trio of Bloomberg advisers who have worked with him for years: Sheekey, Howard Wolfson and Patti Harris. All served as deputy mayors in his administration. Wolfson was a co-chief strategist on Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, and Harris is the chief executive of Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg's longtime pollster Doug Schoen and media strategist Bill Knapp are also part of the team, according to three aides familiar with their work. The Atlantic first reported that Bloomberg is planning to spend millions of dollars on a data and political organization, regardless of whether he runs for president. Bloomberg's commitment to Democratic causes, driven by his antipathy toward Trump, and his work on climate change and gun control in recent years, stands in sharp contrast to another billionaire who moved closer to a 2020 campaign this week: Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, who is weighing an independent bid. In a statement Monday, Bloomberg criticized third-party candidacies. "In 2020, the great likelihood is that an independent would just split the anti-Trump vote and end up reelecting the president," Bloomberg said. "Given the strong pull of partisanship and the realities of the electoral college system, there is no way an independent can win." Bloomberg traveled to New Hampshire this week, and last Friday he called Trump a "pretend CEO." "The longer we have a pretend CEO recklessly running this country, the worse it will be for our country," Bloomberg told the Democratic Business Council of Northern Virginia. Speaking in New Hampshire, Bloomberg cast himself as a centrist in comparison with others in the Democratic mix, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has proposed a 2 percent annual fee on households with a net worth greater than $50 million. "It probably is unconstitutional," Bloomberg told reporters, explaining that he favored a more progressive income tax. "We shouldn't be ashamed of our system." - - - The Washington Post's Philip Rucker contributed to this report. Clarification: The story has been updated to reflect that Building and Land Technology can still pursue a dense development on land it owns in the South End. STAMFORD A South End group cleared a first hurdle this week in appealing a Planning Board decision that would have allowed more dense housing in part of its historic district, though it failed to appeal a change that paves the way for a large development next door. The Board of Representatives Land Use Committee has voted to recommend verification of the appeal, brought by the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone against the Planning Board which had changed the South Ends Master Plan to allow denser housing to go up between Woodland Avenue and Walter Wheeler Drive. The full Board of Representatives is to consider verifying the appeal Monday. Verification only means the NRZ has collected the required signatures to enter an appeal. The next step would be considering the appeals actual merits. The Master Plan change paves the way for a high-rise building in the South End Historic District, a 177-acre neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. The NRZ wants to quash the change to keep high-rises out of the historic district, and limit South End developer Building and Land Technologys larger buildings to the approved footprint of Harbor Point, its multi-billion-dollar project to overhaul the region, long marked by abandoned factories and brownfields. The Planning Board allowed for map changes, but kept BLT to a lower density than it had initially sought, in effect cutting the number of units it could later propose by a third. The NRZ quickly mobilized after the Planning Boards compromise decision and began garnering signatures to bring an appeal to the Board of Representatives. The group had to technically appeal two decisions because part of the Master Plan change was sought by BLT on land it owns, and part by the city, on land the developer did not. BLT has argued the change for more dense housing makes sense and simply replaces a noxious use on the block the old B&S Carting trash hauling site with apartments. Wednesday night, the Board of Representatives Land Use Committee recommended the full board verify half the petition, the map changes sought by the city. Resident Bob Katchko, who has a construction business on the B&S block, brought a letter from the city that said it would not change the map designation of his land. I have a letter here from the city of Stamford promising me my (Master Plan map) category was never going to be changed from four to anything else and my zoning wouldnt be changed and yet they changed (the Master Plan) ... without my permission, he said. The NRZ needed to collect signatures from 20 percent of landowners within 500 feet of the map change, according to the City Charter. The committee hewed closely to analysis and research done by Valerie Rosenson, legislative officer for the Board of Representative, and City Attorney Jim Minor. Consulting tax cards and ownership records, Minor and Rosenson wrote the NRZ had the required signatures to appeal the citys proposal, but came short of the signatures needed to appeal the Planning Boards decision on BLT. Lisa Feinberg, an attorney for BLT, said the company agreed with the citys findings. Tom Nolan, a spokesman for the builder, stressed that the verified appeal over the city brought portion of the Master Plan change, not BLTs does not change BLTs development plans. The appeal on BLTs project was denied unanimously, he wrote in an email. The NRZ considers the partial win a victory. We are hoping that the city and the developers take this opportunity to do something great for this city and this historic neighborhood by building something that blends in and enhances the neighborhood, said Sue Halpern, vice president of the NRZ. The full board will Monday meet and discuss whether the NRZ garnered enough signatures. If the appeal is verified, the Land Use Committee and then the full board will discuss the merits of the appeal, the Master Plan map change. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton James Rovella encountered plenty of police officers while working his way through college at the Hartford YMCA. As he was finishing his masters degree in public administration at the University of Hartford in 1981 after receiving a bachelors degree in criminal justice, a city detective dropped off an application for the Hartford Police Department. Ill be back for it tomorrow, Rovella recalled the detective saying. Nearly four decades later, the Hartford native is now the states highest-ranking law enforcement official as the commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. He oversees six agencies, including the State Police, and a staff of more than 1,300. The 61-year-old said he found his calling working homicides and cold cases as a Hartford detective. It was a riveting life for me, he said. Even back then, I was a sensitive detective. I talked to a lot of families who were trying to get resolution for the death of a loved one. By 2000, he transferred to the Chief States Attorneys Office to be an inspector investigating crimes statewide and alongside prosecutors in Hartford and Waterbury. He was picked to head the agencys Cold Case Unit in 2006 for his talent in managing people and investigations, Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane said. I specifically chose him because of his investigative skills and ability to supervise and direct other investigators, Kane said. He worked with inspectors and detectives from the state and local police departments. He was able to foster a team. We solved a significant number of cases under his direction. As the head of the unit, Rovella realized a problem: Police, corrections and parole officers as well as prosecutors all worked cases in their own silos. It all began with the theory of working outside of the silos, he said. We couldnt survive with just inspectors. We had to diversify. He pulled in local police, state police, officers from corrections, parole and probation, employees of the state crime lab and states attorneys offices to work collaboratively on cases that had frustrated law enforcement agencies for years. Within 18 months, the newly reconfigured group arrested four people charged with committing six murders, leading to five convictions. Among those charged was Pedro Miranda, accused of killing three Hartford women in the 1990s. Rovella also championed the launch of Cold Case playing cards now used by all inmates in the states corrections facilities. Each card features a different cold case. The thought was that inmates chat while playing cards. Maybe they would recognize a victim or killer. More than a dozen cases featured on cards have been closed with convictions since 2009. He was so invested, said former Farmington Detective John Beaulieu, who joined the team to work the 1998 murder of a woman found fatally shot on Metropolitan District Commission property. It didnt matter who the victim was, he wasnt just a supervisor, he was actively involved. He had a lot of cases and had intimate knowledge of them all. There were 15 notepads lined up on Rovellas desk, loaded with information on each case the team was working, Beaulieu said. He wasnt the type who would ask you every month what was happening, said Beaulieu, who is now an inspector with the Litchfield States Attorneys Office. He knew, because he was involved. He wanted to know what was going on, he didnt just want to be the boss. When Hartford became plagued with shootings and murders involving firearms in 2011, Rovella jumped in as a representative of Kanes office to craft a plan to reduce gun crimes. The Hartford Shooting Task Force was patterned after the same silo theory he applied to cold case investigations. By pulling together a similar team, Rovella and the task force helped reduce murders involving guns in Hartford by 42 percent in 2012. By then, Rovella was the interim Hartford police chief and took over the role permanently in September 2012. As Rovella took over the department of 400-plus officers, he implemented a few other simple theories: More arrests dont equal less crime and the community needs to trust police. When I arrest the right people, crime does go down, he said. We were policing a population of color that didnt trust the police. You cant make thousands and thousands of arrests and expect crime to go down. You have to make specific arrests of bad guys and you have to examine how you are treating the public. His focus on transparency and community outreach worked, but also got him into trouble, community activist Cornell Lewis said. Rovella joined a group of 100 people who marched a loop around Hartford in August 2014 to protest an officers use of a Taser on an 18-year-old, who supporters claimed was defending his sister in a fight. He caught big heat the next day, Lewis said. By 8 a.m., the police union was blasting him on TV. That, and other things, indicated to me that he was OK. He was the type of city leader who knew his relationship with residents would be the key to his departments success, South End community leader Hyacinth Yennie said. Chief Rovella started off building a relationship with the community, Yennie said. He realized that to get anything done, he had to partner with the community. He got involved and made sure residents were a part of the decision-making process. Rovella had an open-door policy with community leaders and engaged them in outreach programs, said Eliezer Mercado, who is running for Hartford City Council. Mercado believes Rovella will help the state look at things differently, he said. I truly believe in him, Mercado added. Hes the right person for the job. Rovella became the head of the state Environmental Conservation Police after retiring as Hartfords chief early last year. After Ned Lamont was elected governor in November, his transition team reached out to Rovella to apply for the commissioners role. Lamont called Rovella a few days before Christmas to give him a final nudge. Ive been a public servant my entire life, said Rovella, whose appointment needs to be confirmed by the General Assembly. I live by to protect and serve, why would I step back from a challenge? On issues relating to global warming and climate change, it is essential that all people children and adults need to be enlightened on the catastrophic consequences if we do not take urgent steps. Ignorance is a mortal sin that aggravates this crisis. Such ignorance was heard from the highest level this week. In Chicago and other parts of the mid-west of the United States, temperatures this week plunged to historically low levels of minus 60 degrees C. In an interview with CNNs top analyst Christiane Amanpour, the Nobel Peace prize-winning activist Al Gore called on world leaders to intensify their battle against global warming and climate change. Mr. Gore, a former US Vice President, was asked whether he had spoken to US President Donald Trump who still says that global warming or climate change is a Chinese hoax. Referring to the extreme cold weather in Chicago and elsewhere, Mr. Trump showed his ignorance of the issues by saying Where are these activists against global warming? See how cold it is in Chicago, responding to Ms. Amanpours question about his talks with President Trump, Mr. Gore said it would be unethical for him to give details of the private meetings. But he only said, You cant put sense into that mans head. That was more than enough. Today is World Wetlands Day and to underline the importance of wetlands in the battle against global warming and climate change, the United Nations has proclaimed this years theme as Wetlands and Climate Change. If there are people, who like Mr. Trump are ignorant about basic issues of this crisis, here are some facts and figures. According to reports, today as people come together to mark World Wetlands Day, it is the ideal time to reflect on the value of wetlands and how we can harness the natural power of this ecosystem to turn the tide on climate change. Yet more than a third of all our wetlands were lost in just 45 years. Today, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. The worlds corals face near extinction at 1.5C and certain extinction at a global warming of 2C. Wetland loss and degradation are a major concern, as they contribute to global warming by transforming these natural carbon sinks into emission sources. The burning and draining of peatlands accounts for a tenth of annual fossil fuel emissions - while wetland degradation contributes to nearly a quarter of global methane release, the reports add. Last year, parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Ramsar is a city in Iran - agreed to measures that protect, restore and sustainably manage peatlands and coastal eco-systems as a recognition of the important role of wetlands in mitigation and adaptation to climate change. In Asia, the storm protection benefits of mangroves in southern Thailand have been valued at USD10,821 a hectare. Mangroves are being restored along the Krabi River Estuary to protect the coastal communities against tropical storms. While Indonesia will be restoring two million hectares of peatlands to ensure the devastating fires of 2015 and 2016 caused by drought and peatland draining do not happen again. According to a Daily Mirror article today, Colombo is one of the first 18 cities accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City at the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP13) held in Dubai last year. This is an honour and a reflection of hard work of the urban planners, agencies and scientists of the country. While conservationists and Sri Lankas government are excited about the landmark achievement, we should also be reminded that this award brings an obligation to all the parties to sustain the vital green wetlands and the eco-system services that these wetlands provide by abiding to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). STAMFORD - In January 2015, after a Springdale legislator resigned, Mike Briscoe took a seat on the Board of Representatives. The Democratic Party asked Briscoe to fill the District 17 post until that November, when he would have to run for it in the municipal election. In that contest, Briscoe won by one vote. And then he lost by one vote. Election Day drew few citizens, perhaps because the races were for city boards only, so it was prone to close contests. The one between Briscoe and his Republican challenger, Jon Hoch, triggered a recount. It showed that I won the machine vote by eight, and lost in the absentee ballots by seven, for a net plus-one. Then, somehow, in the recount, I lost two votes and I was out, Briscoe said. It was really crazy. His story underscores the maxim every vote counts, and illustrates the importance of absentee balloting, now the focus of an investigation by the states attorneys office in the Stamford judicial district. The 20-month investigation resulted in the arrest Wednesday of John Mallozzi, former head of the Democratic City Committee. Mallozzi was charged with 28 Class D felonies, half for filing false statements in absentee balloting and half for second-degree forgery. The states attorney alleges that Mallozzi forged 14 absentee ballots in the 2015 election, in which candidates such as Briscoe ran for seats on the Board of Representatives, Board of Finance and Board of Education. According to Mallozzis arrest affidavit, his handwriting matched that of signatures on 14 absentee ballots assigned to voters who had not requested them. Im hoping its not true, Briscoe said. I know John and I like him a lot. He gave me the opportunity to be a representative, and Im thankful for it. Briscoe said he does not have a problem with the outcome of the race for the District 17 seat. More News News Former Stamford Dem Party boss charged with falsifying... I think too much is made about corruption, Briscoe said. The system mostly works. Checks, balances Town Clerk Lyda Ruijter, whose office handles absentee ballots, said office procedures uncovered the incident that sparked the investigation. It happened when a Cove resident, Shkodran Hoti, went to his District 8 polling place on Election Day 2015 and was told by a monitor he couldnt vote because records showed hed already filled out an absentee ballot. The arrest affidavit alleges that the signatures on Hotis ballot share common authorship with Mallozzis handwriting. The system of checks did what it was supposed to do, said Ruijter, who was not town clerk during the 2015 election. She was voted into office in November 2017. Procedures are designed, first, to protect the distribution of absentee ballot applications, and then the processing of actual ballots, Ruijter said. We number all the applications and log them in a book, whether we mail them or hand them out in the office, she said. If a person requests 10 applications, we know who that person is and that they took application numbers, say, 25 to 35. Campaign workers who request them have to account for each one. Once her office receives an application, her staff verifies that the applicant is listed on the voter registration rolls, numbers a ballot, logs it, and hands it or, more often mails it out. The person votes and sends the ballot back to us. We ask people to mail it to us, but if they return it in person they have to hand-deliver it themselves. We ask to see identification, Ruijter said. We record the ballots we receive and then they go to the registrars of voters so they know those people cant vote at the polls on Election Day. Its a burdensome procedure, she said. Theres a paper trail for each ballot. But Mallozzis attorney, Stephan Seeger, said that at the time of the 2015 election, all the Is were not dotted and all the Ts were not crossed in the town clerks office. Somehow, that became acceptable, Seeger said Thursday. The stringency of the rules appears to have eroded and evolved into such a state as to almost lend themselves to irregularities. In his clients case, the town clerks office gave the ballots in bunches to people other than those who requested them, Seeger said. Under no circumstance should a ballot be given to a person other than the one who is going to use it to vote. I dont want to cast aspersions against anyone - neither I nor Mr. Mallozzi want another person charged criminally to get to the bottom of this but he is not the only person to whom irregularities can be attributed. Broken system According to Mallozzis arrest affidavit, former Town Clerk Donna Loglisci was a witness in the investigation. The affidavit states that Loglisci admitted to giving unmarked absentee ballots to Mallozzi and a man who acted as his representative, and to receiving marked ballots from Mallozzi. A spokesman for the State Elections Enforcement Commission said Thursday it is a violation of state law to hand an absentee ballot to someone other than the voter, though ballots may be mailed to voters. In certain circumstances, such as when a voter is sick or infirm, election officials may take absentee ballots to them at supervised sites and help them fill them out, the spokesman said. Loglisci, who was town clerk for 16 years, has not been charged in the investigation. A request for comment left at a cellphone number for Loglisci Thursday was not returned. Loglisci ran for town clerk again in 2017 with the endorsement of the Republican Town Committee. She was defeated by Ruijter. City Rep. Steve Kolenberg, R-16, said voters increasingly seek absentee ballots because jobs, commutes and family demands have made it more difficult to get to the polls on Election Day. People are using absentee ballots as a form of early voting. Its a reason I am an advocate of instituting early voting in Connecticut, Kolenberg said. If the allegations in this case are true, it happened because people didnt have to appear in person to vote. Early voting would put an end to that. Seeger said it took 28 felonies against one man who spent 30 years in politics to bring attention to a system that is broken and needs to be revamped. Briscoe, living testament to the significance of fair and accurate elections, said he is not discouraged. Dont give up on the system, he said. It needs some tweaks, but it works. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. Democratic lawmakers are hoping to pass at least four bills aimed at reducing gun violence this year, including one named after a 15-year-old killed last year in Guilford. The Judiciary Committee, co-chaired by Sen. Gary Winfield and Rep. Steve Stafstrom, raised the concepts Friday for a public hearing. Only one of the concepts has been drafted as legislation. Ethans Law, which is named after Ethan Song of Guilford, would require gun owners to lock up all firearms in homes with children age 18 or under whether or not the weapons are loaded. If a tragedy similar to Songs death occurred, the owner of the gun would be charged with a felony, said Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford. In Songs case, the homeowner left the gun unloaded in a cardboard box in a closet with the bullets nearby, according to an investigation by Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt. Song and the owners son were handling the gun when the 15-year-old was shot and killed. Platt concluded that the owner couldnt be charged with a crime since under state law it is legal to leave an unloaded handgun unlocked. It is currently a felony to leave a loaded gun unlocked in a home with a child under the age of 16, lawmakers said. The bill, which is new this year, would have saved Ethans life as well as other lives across the country, said Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence. Stein demonstrated for the crowd a quick access gun lock safe that would prevent children from access to the firearm but allow the owner to quickly get the gun out. Safe storage is one of the prime responsibilities of any gun owner, Stein said. Another concept backed by Democrats would require gun owners to lock firearms stored in vehicles. People are stealing guns from cars and using them to commit crimes, Stein said after the press conference. We could easily reduce crime simply by getting rid of the supply of guns. Stafstrom said the committee will also debate a measure that would make do-it-yourself so-called ghost guns and 3-D printed guns illegal in the state. Ghost guns are homemade firearms from parts usually bought on the Internet. They are particularly dangerous since there has been no inspection process and the weapons dont have a serial number. They also arent recorded as a gun sale, making them impossible to trace, if the firearm was used in a crime, lawmakers said. They arent serialized and the person who makes the gun doesnt have to pass a background check, said Stafstrom, who believes the concept has broad support among Democrats and Republicans. The bill made it out of committee last year, but it didnt receive a debate in either chamber. A fourth bill, SB 60, would require those who open carry guns in public to produce their pistol permit if asked by a law enforcement officer. The measure is easily the most controversial, admitted Winfield who said a similar bill died in 2017 over concerns about racial profiling that were raised by the Black and Hispanic Caucus. I have those concerns right now, Winfield said. We need to take some time to allow the bills to go to the public hearing process and get some feedback. State Police have said there are 265,563 pistol permit holders in Connecticut. Winfield admitted that some of the bills introduced Friday havent gotten to the finish line in previous years. He was open to changes that would make the bills more palatable to a wide range of lawmakers as long as the underlying sense of what were doing stays intact, he said. The committee would also be raising three other gun-related bills Friday afternoon that werent favored by the Democratic leadership of the Judiciary Committee, including a bill to allow certain individuals to carry guns in state parks. Winfield didnt provide the specifics on the three bills but said they would go a public hearing. Flanked by dozens of supporters including the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Wethersfield Chief James Cetran, Winfield said he was confident all four concepts or in one case a bill would become law. I think it is possible to get the four bills done, he said. Not just because we have the numbers, but because of the way we will have the conversation. Second Amendment groups are likely to oppose many of the measures like they have in past because they believe the concepts punish law abiding gun owners and not criminals. Once, decades back, if you lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan you were caught in the Szechuan revolution. Few people had heard of this cuisine, but it caught on with the ferocity of the hot peppers that were in every dish. There were probably 10 legendary Szechuan restaurants between West 79th and West 86th Street. Everybody had their favorite, and their favorite dishes. These foods were nothing like the Cantonese cuisine that was back then the only Chinese foods familiar to Americans. Not only was this new stuff blazingly hot: spangled with birds eye chili pods and peanutsm but it was cooked in an almost dry wok. To this day, I cant think of any food I liked as much, even if I spent that decade doubled over with IBS. Like anyone searching for their lost love, I have spend much time trying out Szechuan restaurants and always leaving disappointed. The menu titles of the meals were correct but the food was blah, hot but not savory. Little did not expect to find a contender in South Norwalk. The name of the place I found is Enchanted Szechuan and it is on busy Washington Street which many think of as Norwalks restaurant row. I have eaten at steakhouses on this street, at Italian bistros and at Seafood emporiums, but only this week did I try Enchanted Szechuan, and I am so glad I did. Inside is a simple dining room and bar, both clean and appetizing. The servers are polite and capable, but the big attraction was the menu. As many times as I have eaten Szechuan food before, I have not seen many of these dishes. I love discovering new delights. I had not run into a restaurant that served Sour Cabbage Flounder Soup, Beef and Tripe in Chili Oil, Shredded Pork Pickles Soup, Spicy Sour Bean Jelly and Tofu Pudding Pot. At Enchanted Szechuan these unique dishes are scattered throughout the menu along with ubiquitous favorites like General Tsos Chicken and Kung Pao. The point is that this little restaurant is not aimed at gourmets who want odd new foods, but instead is a place where there is something for everyone. In addition to the unique dishes there were whole styles of cooking that were new to me. I ordered five dishes and was delighted with every one. No, they were not the equals to the mythical Upper West Side places of my memory, but they were as good or better then any Szechuan I have been served in years. The entrees on the menu contain all the proteins most of use ask for. Chicken, tofu, beef, lamb, shrimp, ribs, pork and fish. Where it gets interesting is that once you have selected your protein you are given a choice of lesser-known ways to cook it. Many were a revelation to me. The first unique cooking style I tried was listed as Rice Crust Style Chicken. The poultry was cooked quickly in a robust sweet and sour sauce. To this are added bamboo shoots, tomatoes (new to me in Szechuan cooking), black mushrooms and pea leaves. The fun starts when the dish is served. You hear the sizzling rice on the platter before you see it or taste it. More Information Enchanted Szechuan 120 Washington St, Norwalk enchantedszechuan.com See More Collapse I was also unfamiliar with Dry Pot Style food. As a freelance food detective, I had correctly guessed that Szechuan food was prepared in a very hot dry wok with hardly any oil. The Beef Dry Pot Style that I ordered came in a sizzling mini wok, again a great auditory dish. The beef was laced with blistering black Szechuan peppercorns, black mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Because of the heat of the mini wok the dish melds all the ingredients together and makes its own hot pot sauce, boldly flavored and not in the least greasy. A few degrees away from Dry Pot Style is Dry Pepper Style. Your choice of meat is triple flash fried with hot, long red peppers and tiny dried peppers as well. I ordered the ribs cooked this way, and because of the high heat and triple flash flying the dish was tender yet greaseless. Then Spicy Boiled Style caught my eye. I was not as crazy for this rather soupy preparation as the others. The leeks and celery all seemed to meld together and the flavors were not as bright. More interesting and unusual was Cumin Style, here the meat of choice is liberally dusted with cumin and then quickly stir fried with bell peppers, long hot peppers and onions. The taste of cumin always reminds me of Southwestern Chile and with this in mind I ordered the dish with beef. I dont think you could fool any Texan into thinking it was traditional but it is an interesting twist on broadening what we think of as classically Chinese. Cumin is such a forceful spice that it somewhat obliterated the peppers and onions. Garlic Sauce Style is a surefire favorite, as is the more well known spicy Kung Pao Style, but if you want a dish that is lighter and less common then the other styles, I recommend the Salt and Pepper Style shrimp. Big, fresh shrimp is delicately battered and served on a bed of minced pepper and onion. It may be the least hot of all the styles but in its own minimalistic way it outshines some of the more fiery ones. If you are not feeling adventurous, good old standbys like Orange Beef and General Tsos Chicken are on the menu, as is my favorite thing of all: the Szechuan String beans. Please understand I spent my entire childhood loathing string beans. I think they were canned, bloated sodden things that I snuck to my dog under the table. Szechuan String Beans were and still are minor miracles. Bright green and quickly dry fried and they are alive with spices and addictive. It is the best possible thing to do to this vegetable, and I would not share a single one with my dog. Bir Lehlu (Liberated Territories of the Saharawi Republic), Jan 29, 2019 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Brahim Gali, sent a message of condolences to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, following the the death of the President of algerian constitutional council, Mourad Medelci. The Saharawi leader expressed his support and solidarity to the Algerian people and Government and to the relatives of the deceased during these difficult times when Algeria loses one of its great men, a man who devoted all his life to the service of his nation. The death of the Hon. Mr. Murad Medelci, President of the Constitutional Council of Algeria, took place on the morning of this Monday, January 28, 2019. " The late president of the Algerian constitutional council held various functions, including that of minister of foreign affairs and cooperation in the Algerian government.SPS 125/090/TRA Jennifer (Natalie Martinez), shown. (Photo by: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP/Hulu) Jennifer (Natalie Martinez), shown. (Photo by: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP/Hulu) Guy (Matt Lauria), shown. (Photo by: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP/Hulu) Guy (Matt Lauria), shown. (Photo by: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP/Hulu) Guy (Matt Lauria), shown. (Photo by: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP/Hulu) ODDS & ENDS In the upper echelon of a skyscraper, a pair of coworkers with vastly different lives find themselves fated on a doomed elevator ride. Jennifer, played by Natalie Martinez, sends an email to someone named Derek - who she intends to meet. Given the subtext of the email and the words eaten by her backspace key, we can infer this is likely an ex.Guy, played by Matt Lauria, is on his way to see a work client with a bottle of wine. Both of them need to use the elevator to go from a floor above the fortieth and down to the basement level parking garage.Within moments of riding the metal canister of death down its shaft, the elevator shudders to a halt. And we've already established it's the three-day weekend for President's Day coupled with Valentine's Day, all in one. The odds of someone being available from maintenance are slim. I'm already tense.Of course nothing in the elevator is working except the lights and the tiny television screen playing advertisements. But none of the buttons are lit up, no one answers the call and even the alarm doesn't ring when they push it. They try to wave at the camera and it pans away to a monitor. Someone could be watching them.Jennifer is getting anxious because she has a flight to catch. Plus, come on, I firmly believe everyone has at least some degree of claustrophobia. At some point it's a survival instinct.Since they have nothing better to do, Jennifer and Guy begin to get know each other. She is an accounts supervisor in public relations on the 49th floor whereas Guy is a newcomer to an accounting firm on the 42nd floor. They pass away the hours playing games, talking about their work, and drawing pictures of each other.During their art session, Guy reveals he lied before. He has noticed Jennifer around the building and he's always thought she was attractive and upbeat. Jennifer flattered. He assures her he isn't a stalker but honestly, that was my first thought of where this episode might be headed.As expected, Jennifer and Guy eventually succumb to their mutual attraction and their boredom in the elevator. They end up having sex and the encounter is super steamy. Either Martinez and Lauria have excellent chemistry (that sexual tension was butterfly-inducing) or maybe just everyone inevitably connects in a confined space, but having sex is as good a way to pass the time as any and probably way more fun than throwing Hershey kiss wrappers into a bag.But, Guy lets slip he could "fall in love with her" and you can see the alarm bells going off in Jennifer's head. Everything unravels from that point in a familiar fashion. Guya stalker. He's been watching Jennifer for months. He works in the office security department and he orchestrated this entire scenario to get close to Jennifer.She reacts as one would, in panic, fear, and anger. They fight and their violent altercation leads to both of them going unconscious for a while. Frustratingly enough, Guy actually had the elevator key all along and there is a moment where he turns it back on and lets Jennifer leave! But instead of bolting out the door, she hangs around to yell at him about sending him to jail. Of course he doesn't take kindly to that! And turns it off again. Should have ran while you had the chance Jen.In typical stalker behavior, after Guy's violent outburst he goes back to playing the good guy and finds a ceiling panel he can move to get them out. But Jennifer convinces him to let her go first. Look, I'm not rooting for the empire here but Guyhave known she wasn't going to come back for him!And it plays out, again, as you'd expect. Jennifer almost gets out but Guy makes his way up not long after her and causes both of them to go crashing down into the elevator once again. Cue Guy's boring sob story - his real name is John Deakens.Finally, help arrives in the form of one of John's security team co-workers but John kills him. I mean if you have a scene or episode based on an elevator, you need to have someone get chopped in half by the doors, it's an unwritten Hollywood law. But he does get the other guy's key and uses it to take Jennifer out to the trunk of his car where he plans to murder her.But before he can manage that, she plays dead and tricks him into opening the trunk, giving her a chance to knock him in the head and steal his car. The odds are, John is going to come for her though so she decides to kill him and make sure she never has to deal with him again. Using the cigars he was smoking, Jennifer lights him on fire from where lays, injured, in a dumpster. He already provided the gasoline when he intended to kill her so the stage was set, all she had to do was light the match (or cigar in this case) and watch him burn.- I'm super claustrophobic and elevators terrify me. I've been stuck in one before and it was shaking the entire time because something was caught in the door so I'm traumatized for life. The very concept of this episode is a nightmare.- Girl: Are you claustrophobic? Guy: I'm notclaustrophobic.- I'm glad they mentioned the whole "having to pee when trapped in an elevator" thing it's something I always think about when it happens in horror movies or other shows.- As of yet, I don't think I've watched a single episode ofthat reallya 90 minute runtime.- Guy tells Jennifer he would rather kill her than go to jail and then a few minutes later gets pissed when she's scared of him. "Stop acting like I would hurt you!" Dude, self-awareness, learn some.- When Guy found an opening in the ceiling, I find it hard to believe he couldn't have just crawled out on his own? He was right there.- Did he really think he was going to get away with all this? I mean he left behind at least two bodies to be found in the elevator shaft and tons of his DNA everywhere. Paul van Hoeydonck's "Man in Space" edition recreates the Belgian artist's concept for a statuette that was left on the moon. A Belgian artist who saw his creation left on the moon as a tribute to fallen astronauts has now realized his original vision for the statuette. Paul van Hoeydonck, working with the Breckner Gallery in Dusseldorf, Germany, has recreated his 1969 concept for a celebration of humanity rising into space a small aluminum figure floating inside a piece of tinted blue acrylic. With a limited run of 1,971 signed and numbered pieces, the artwork marks the 50th anniversary of his idea, which, modified to meet NASA's requirements, became a memorial to the explorers who had given their lives in the pursuit of space exploration. "I didn't think it would ever happen. Of course I was interested in all this, but being an artist, who would have thought it possible of having one of my statuettes put on the moon?" said van Hoeydonck in a 2015 interview with the British Interplanetary Society's Spaceflight magazine. [Space for Art: New Exhibit Displays Artistic Side of Astronauts, NASA Workers] What began in March 1969 as an off-the-cuff remark by a New York art gallery manager eventually led to a June 1971 meeting between van Hoeydonck and the crew of NASA's Apollo 15 mission. David Scott, Jim Irwin and Al Worden agreed to fly the artist's creation to the surface of the moon, so long as it met their and NASA's conditions. "NASA imposed a lot of regulations for the statuette. It had to be small and lightweight, it couldn't have sharp edges nor could it be magnetic," van Hoeydonck told interviewer Danny van Hoecke, adding that it also had to be able to stand up to direct sunlight and the extreme temperatures of space. "David Scott wanted it to symbolize all humanity, without distinction of sex or race." Van Hoeydonck went about creating an abstract figurine out of aluminum, which he then set inside light blue plastic tube so that it could stand upright on the moon. "This symbolized humanity rising just the way I had pictured it in my head," said the artist. But there was a problem. Shortly before the July 26, 1971 launch of Apollo 15, Scott alerted van Hoeydonck that the acrylic cylinder could not fly NASA decided the plastic was a fire risk. Instead, van Hoeydonck rushed Scott a loose figurine to take on board the mission. "We left a small memorial on the moon about 20 feet north of [the lunar rover] in a small, subtle crater," revealed Scott during a press conference after returning to Earth. "There's a simple plaque with 14 names and those are the names, in alphabetical order, of all of the astronauts and cosmonauts who have died in the pursuit of exploration of space." Paul van Hoeydonck's "Man in Space" astronaut-size edition stands nearly 6-feet tall. It is intended for museums and art galleries. (Image credit: Breckner Gallery) "Near it is a small figure representing a fallen astronaut," added Scott. A replica of the "Fallen Astronaut" was donated for display to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Plans following the mission to also sell replicas to the public were set aside after Scott and NASA expressed concerns over the commercialization of the memorial. Now, almost 50 years later, van Hoeydonck is offering his original "Man on the Moon" concept in recognition of the history behind the "Fallen Astronaut." The limited edition "Man in Space," which floats in a 5.9-inch-tall (15-centimeter) blue acrylic block, is available for 590 euros (about $675 US). The Breckner Gallery is also offering 35 oversize aluminum figures that stand 16 inches tall (40 cm) for 12,800 euros each (about $14,650 US) and six astronaut-sized figures, each standing nearly 6 feet tall (180 cm), for an undisclosed price. Van Hoeydonck, now 94, joined Apollo 15 command module pilot Al Worden to reveal the new "Man in Space" limited editions during events held in Berlin and Dusseldorf in late January. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2019 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. An Orion capsule that NASA flew during an orbital test flight in December 2014 visited the White House July 23, 2018. The longest government shutdown in American history is over, but the damage it inflicted on the nation's space program may be felt for years to come. The 35-day partial shutdown, which caused most of NASA's workforce to be furloughed, ended last Friday (Jan. 25) with a temporary fix President Donald Trump signing a continuing resolution that funds the government through Feb. 15. There's no guarantee that everything will go smoothly beyond this fast-approaching deadline; President Trump has said he'll continue pushing for money for additional wall-building along the border with Mexico, the issue that sparked the shutdown in the first place. But even in the rosiest of scenarios, NASA and the broader American space program could feel considerable pain, experts said. [Watch: NASA's Plan for 2019] For example, the shutdown temporarily halted development work on many NASA missions, as well as outside projects that depend on grant money from NASA and/or other government agencies. This could have serious financial consequences down the road. "Projects that have been put on hold for a month or two maybe that's sort of incremental, but usually that winds up with that project costing a lot more," Megan Donohue, president of the American Astronomical Society, told Space.com. And some operational missions will also experience significant delays, as the teams involved get everything back up and running again. "The shockwave from the government shutdown will ripple through several months or more even after the shutdown ends, just from a schedule-conflict standpoint," Ken Sembach, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which manages science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, told Space.com. Even more concerning is the prospect of a brain drain. "It is absolutely true that when we have a shutdown, we lose people. And that in fact did happen," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Tuesday (Jan. 29) during a webcast "town hall" with agency employees. "We didn't have a mass exodus I think, had this gone on longer, we would have but we did lose people, onesies and twosies across the agency and here at headquarters," he added. [Presidential Visions for Space: From Ike to Trump] And immediate departures don't tell the whole story. The drama and chaos the most recent shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, was the third in less than a year may scare some talented scientists and engineers away from a possible NASA career and toward something more stable, said Casey Dreier, senior space policy adviser at The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization that advocates for space exploration. "How many people will re-evaluate whether they want to work for NASA in the future? We don't know, but it's greater than zero," Dreier told Space.com. "We're playing with long-term consequences, and we can't understand what they are yet." Such damage may ripple far beyond NASA (which, of course, is a victim of the chaos, not a perpetrator of it), roiling the broader American space industry and science enterprise. For example, some postdoctoral researchers young scientists just starting out, who often have significant college loans to pay off may leave science altogether, Donohue said. At particular risk of flight are international postdocs, who have visa issues to worry about as well. "They may take a second guess on whether they want to stay on in the U.S. long-term," she said. "We're talking about very highly educated, creative people." Then there are the involuntary departures. The shutdown cost a significant number of space-sector workers their jobs. Particularly hard-hit were employees of small companies that depend on contracts with NASA and/or other agencies businesses such as Washington-based Tethers Unlimited, which had to let 20 percent of its workforce go when the government checks stopped coming in. (Larger companies typically have heftier cash reserves and/or other funding streams, and can therefore weather dry spells for longer.) Some of these laid-off workers may well leave the field altogether. Bridenstine vowed that NASA will bounce back strong from the shutdown, but he acknowledged that there will be deleterious effects. For example, it will take NASA a while to get back to normal operations, Bridenstine said, because the agency will have to hire some new employees and find some new contractors: "It is not a one-for-one delay. One day of shutdown does not equal one day of getting back into business." And the shutdown may have complicated NASA's efforts to retain and recruit employees, added Bob Gibbs, NASA's chief human capital officer, who also participated in the Jan. 29 town hall. "We won't really know the true impact for probably some period of time on what it did to the workforce," Gibbs said. "We're in a hypercompetitive market for talent; our people are sought after." Space.com Senior Writer Meghan Bartels (@meghanbartels) contributed to this story. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate) is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Originally published on Space.com. Americans across the Midwest and Northeast can agree on one thing it's really, really cold this week and a NASA satellite monitoring air temperatures confirms the sentiment. An instrument called Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, or AIRS, on the Aqua satellite has been measuring the temperature of air masses across the United States. Aqua itself launched in 2002 and carries a half dozen different instruments designed to study parts of the water cycle, including evaporation, cloud formation and precipitation. The AIRS instrument focuses on temperature measurements, making it a helpful tool for looking at this week's frigid weather and its cause, the so-called polar vortex phenomenon in which cold Arctic air sneaks farther south than usual. A frigid look at the United States in the midst of this week's polar vortex, as seen by a NOAA satellite on Jan. 30. (Image credit: NOAA) The new NASA visualization of the instrument's data shows measurements gathered between Jan. 20 and Jan. 29. Temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius) are on display in purple, and can be seen stretching as far south as South Dakota, Iowa and northern Illinois. Everything in pale blue and "colder" colors represents temperatures below the freezing point of water, 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). If you live in the regions currently subject to this frigid air, be sure to bundle up and keep an eye on local weather forecasts until the cold retreats. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. A NASA scientist has visited a four-year-old island that satellites watched rise out of the waters a rare opportunity to see in person a new island that lasts more than a few months. Near the end of December 2014, scientists realized satellites were spotting a volcanic plume from territory within the nation of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. By the end of January 2015, the eruption was over and new land stretched between two older, small islands called Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai. (This third small island is referred to unofficially as Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai.) Dan Slayback, a scientist at NASA who focuses on using remote sensing data, watched the eruption unfurl and started plotting a way to see the new land in person. And in October, he and a team of scientists arrived. [Photos: Mars Volcano Views Revealed by Spacecraft] "We were all like giddy schoolchildren," Slayback told NASA's blog devoted to Earth expeditions. "It really surprised me how valuable it was to be there in person for some of this." Plants have begun to grow in the flat plain surrounding the volcano of a new island in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga. The island Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai formed in 2015. (Image credit: Dan Slayback/NASA GSFC) The island is an unusual survivor; most newborn islands disappear in just a couple months, as this one was predicted to do. But a 2017 analysis by NASA revised the island's life expectancy to between six and 30 years. It's one of only three volcanic islands to live longer than a few months in the past 150 years and the first to do so since a fleet of satellites began watching Earth's surface. But when scientists stepped foot on the new island, it didn't quite match what they had expected based on their satellite views. The elevation changes were more dramatic than researchers had predicted, for example. The data that the team gathered on the ground should help scientists hone the model that they use to convert satellite images to ground heights, according to NASA. The cliffs of a crater lake on the new island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai look otherworldly in this image by NASA scientist Dan Slayback during a visit to the nascent island with Woods Holes Sea Education Association (SEA) Semesters South Pacific cruise in 2018. (Image credit: Dan Slayback/NASA GSFC) NASA scientists have been particularly interested in the little island because it might be the closest we can get to ancient Mars as that planet would have looked before its oceans evaporated away and its volcanoes fell dormant. A drone operated by the Woods Hole Sea Education Association (SEA) Semesters South Pacific cruise visits a new volcanic island in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga. The new island was born in 2015. (Image credit: Woods Hole) That's a particularly intriguing comparison because of a mystery Slayback discovered when he arrived on the island. Pale-colored streaks of material coming out of the volcano's cone, visible on satellite images, turned out, in person, to be sticky mud, not volcanic ash, which is pulverized rock. "I'm still a little baffled of where it's coming from," Slayback told NASA. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. Part 3 In the previous article under this subject, we explained that the great Ayurvedic specialist in ancient times Charaka who had analyzed the mind-body relationship on a wide scale had identified the human mind under three Gunas (qualities) for the purpose of tracing disease. The three Gunas are: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva denotes goodness signifying the personality qualities being constructive and harmonious. Rajas denotes passion signifying action leading to confusion Tamas denotes darkness signifying destruction and chaos. Well -known sages in India have referred to these triple Gunas as the three basic energies or forces of nature. According to them there are correlations among the nine planets and the triple Gunas. The classical astrological work, Brihat Parasara Hora says: The Sun, Moon and Jupiter rule Sattva (goodness), Mercury and Venus rule Rajas (passion) and Mars and Saturn Tamas (ignorance or darkness). Rahu and Ketu Eminent astrologers consider that the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu too rule Tamas as their natural characteristics are treated as being similar to those of Saturn and Mars respectively. As the planets reflect the triple forces of nature, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas just as the triple Doshas, Kapha, Vata and Pitta, the status of planets signified by their placement in a horoscope of an individual would provide a key to understand the psychology of that individual and show him the way to meet challenges in his life be they related to health, finances or other misfortune, rationally and intelligently. The status of the planets, for example, would indicate whether the native is hot-tempered and aggressive by nature or whether he is prone to a disease in the liver or the heart and such foreknowledge or prescience would help him to adjust his conduct through introspection to avoid friction with others and take necessary measures to prevent the health problems he is prone to. Significance of Moon It is mainly from a scrutiny of the placement of the Moon in a given horoscope, that an assessment of the mental disposition of a person can be made. Affliction to the Moon in the horoscope would affect the mental health of the native whereas a Moon associated with or aspected by benefics would lead to mental wellbeing and positive attitudes of the native. When the planets ruling the Sattva Guna influence the Moon by association or by aspect, the native would get endowed with characteristics of such benefic planets. The Moon influenced by planets ruling Rajas and Tamas Gunas would confer on the native the characteristics of the latter planets the same way. The Moon rules Sattva Guna and if it in the Natal Chart is free from the influence of any other planet, it would manifest a preponderance of Sattva Guna. WASHINGTON A draft space policy directive that President Trump is expected to sign in the coming weeks orders the Defense Department to establish a U.S. Space Force as a sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces within the Department of the Air Force. But the policy memo also states that a separate "Department of the Space Force" will need to be created sometime in the future. The Pentagon is wrapping up a legislative proposal and budget request for fiscal year 2020 that it will submit to the White House for approval. The proposal recommends creating a Space Force with its own four-star chief of staff and a civilian undersecretary of space under the umbrella of the Department of the Air Force. This setup, however, is only a "first step toward a future military department for national security space," says a draft of Space Policy Directive-4. A copy of the draft labeled "predecisional" was reviewed by SpaceNews. [What Is the U.S. Space Force?] The establishment of the U.S. Space Force would be the Trump administration's fourth Space Policy Directive, or SPD-4. President Trump speaks to U.S. airmen at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force) The Pentagon's recommendation to organize the Space Force under the Department of the Air Force, sources said, was driven by political necessity as many members of Congress indicated they would oppose creating a costly new military department. Standing up the new branch as part of the Department of the Air Force could be an easier sell as a similar structure was endorsed nearly two years ago by the House Armed Services Committee in a "Space Corps" provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. The Air Force at the time pushed back on the proposal and it was later voted down by the Senate. The Trump administration is now banking on former proponents of the Space Corps, including Democrats, to support the establishment of the Space Force under a similar construct as what House Armed Services proposed. But SPD-4 makes it clear that the Space Force under the Department of the Air Force would be a temporary arrangement. After the Space Force is established, the SPD-4 draft says, the secretary of defense is required to conduct a "periodic review" and recommend a timeline for spinning off the Space Force into its own military department. "As the U.S. Space Force develops and as required for U.S. national security, it will become necessary to create a separate Department of the Space Force in the future," says the policy memo. "This Department will take over some or all responsibilities for the U.S. Space Force from the Department of the Air Force." The secretary of defense "will conduct periodic review to determine when to recommend that the President seek legislation to establish such a Department." The language in SPD-4 tries to balance political reality with the president's insistence that the Space Force should be an independent department. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said the Pentagon's Space Force proposal minimizes overhead costs. According to unofficial estimates, a "fully loaded" military department could be at least twice as costly as a Space Force organized under the Department of the Air Force. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said in a C-SPAN interview Jan. 25 that the Space Force "has to be cost effective." Smith has been a critic of the Air Force as a steward of national security space. He supported the Space Corps legislation that his committee advanced but ever since Trump seized on the initiative, Smith has said he would oppose a separate military department for space. He said he agrees with the "idea that we ought to have a special emphasis on space." However, "I do not agree with a separate space department. And even the White House and Pentagon have backed off of that." Smith noted that the Pentagon is now "proposing to have a Space Corps, sort of, still under the Air Force." But he stopped short of saying which way he would vote if Congress moves to take up the Space Force legislative proposal. "I want to emphasize space," said Smith. "I don't want to create more bureaucracy for the sake of bureaucracy." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. On Feb. 1, 2003, space shuttle Columbia broke up as it returned to Earth, killing the seven astronauts on board. NASA suspended space shuttle flights for more than two years as it investigated the disaster. An investigation board determined that a large piece of foam fell from the shuttle's external tank and breached the spacecraft wing. This problem with foam had been known for years, and NASA came under intense scrutiny in Congress and in the media for allowing the situation to continue. In Their Own Words: Remembering Columbia's STS-107 Crew Top 10 Questions About NASA's Columbia Shuttle Tragedy Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster Explained (Infographic) The Columbia mission was the second space shuttle disaster after Challenger, which saw a catastrophic failure during launch in 1986. The Columbia disaster directly led to the retirement of the space shuttle fleet in 2011. Now, astronauts from the US fly to the International Space Station on Russian Soyuz rockets or aboard commercial spacecraft, like the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsules which began "space taxi" service to the ISS in 2020. A fatal strike Columbia was the first space shuttle to fly in space; its first flight took place in April 1981, and it successfully completed 27 missions before the disaster. On its 28th flight, Columbia left Earth for the last time on Jan. 16, 2003. At the time, the shuttle program was focused on building the International Space Station. However, Columbia's final mission, known as STS-107, emphasized pure research. The seven-member crew Rick Husband, commander; Michael Anderson, payload commander; David Brown, mission specialist; Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; Laurel Clark, mission specialist; William McCool, pilot; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist from the Israeli Space Agency had spent 24 hours a day doing science experiments in two shifts. They performed around 80 experiments in life sciences, material sciences, fluid physics and other matters before beginning their return to Earth's surface. This image of the STS-107 shuttle Columbia crew in orbit was recovered from wreckage inside an undeveloped film canister. From left (bottom row): Kalpana Chawla, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon. From left (top row): David Brown, William McCool and Michael Anderson. (Image credit: NASA/JSC) During the crew's 16 days in space, NASA investigated a foam strike that took place during launch. About 82 seconds after Columbia left the ground, a piece of foam fell from a "bipod ramp" that was part of a structure that attached the external tank to the shuttle. Video from the launch appeared to show the foam striking Columbia's left wing. Several people within NASA pushed to get pictures of the breached wing in orbit. The Department of Defense was reportedly prepared to use its orbital spy cameras to get a closer look. However, NASA officials in charge declined the offer, according to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) and "Comm Check," a 2008 book by space journalists Michael Cabbage and William Harwood, about the disaster. The landing proceeded without further inspection. On Feb. 1, 2003, the shuttle made its usual landing approach to the Kennedy Space Center. Just before 9 a.m. EST, however, abnormal readings showed up at Mission Control. Temperature readings from sensors located on the left wing were lost. Then, tire pressure readings from the left side of the shuttle also vanished. This image is a view of the underside of Columbia during its entry from mission STS-107 on Feb. 1, 2003, as it passed by the Starfire Optical Range, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The image was taken at approximately 7:57 a.m. CST. This image was received by NASA as part of the Columbia accident investigation and is being analyzed. (Image credit: NASA) The Capcom, or spacecraft communicator, called up to Columbia to discuss the tire pressure readings. At 8:59:32 a.m., Husband called back from Columbia: "Roger," followed by a word that was cut off in mid-sentence. At that point, Columbia was near Dallas, travelling 18 times the speed of sound and still 200,700 feet (61,170 meters) above the ground. Mission Control made several attempts to get in touch with the astronauts, with no success. It was later found that a hole on the left wing allowed atmospheric gases to bleed into the shuttle as it went through its fiery re-entry, leading to the loss of the sensors and eventually, Columbia itself and the astronauts inside. Searching for debris Pieces of Columbia space shuttle debris are seen stored in a hangar at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during accident investigation in 2003. More than 82,000 pieces of debris from the Feb. 1, 2003 shuttle disaster, which killed seven astronauts, were recovered. In all, 84,800 pounds, or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia, was recovered. Imaged released May 15, 2003. (Image credit: NASA) Twelve minutes later, when Columbia should have been making its final approach to the runway, a mission controller received a phone call. The caller said a television network was showing video of the shuttle breaking up in the sky. Shortly afterward, NASA declared a space shuttle "contingency" and sent search and rescue teams to the suspected debris sites in Texas and later, Louisiana. Later that day, NASA declared the astronauts lost. "This is indeed a tragic day for the NASA family, for the families of the astronauts who flew on STS-107, and likewise is tragic for the nation," stated NASA's administrator at the time, Sean O'Keefe. The search for debris took weeks, as it was shed over a zone of some 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) in east Texas alone. NASA eventually recovered 84,000 pieces, representing nearly 40 percent of Columbia by weight. Among the recovered material were crew remains, which were identified with DNA. Much later, in 2008, NASA released a crew survival report detailing the Columbia crew's last few minutes. The astronauts probably survived the initial breakup of Columbia, but lost consciousness in seconds after the cabin lost pressure. The crew died as the shuttle disintegrated. Report calls for more funding, emphasis on safety In the weeks after the disaster, a dozen officials began sifting through the Columbia disaster, led by Harold W. Gehman Jr., former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Joint Forces Command. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board, or CAIB, as it was later known, later released a multi-volume report on how the shuttle was destroyed, and what led to it. Besides the physical cause the foam CAIB produced a damning assessment of the culture at NASA that had led to the foam problem and other safety issues being minimized over the years. "Cultural traits and organizational practices detrimental to safety were allowed to develop," the board wrote, citing "reliance on past success as a substitute for sound engineering practices" and "organizational barriers that prevented effective communication of critical safety information" among the problems found. CAIB recommended NASA ruthlessly seek and eliminate safety problems, such as the foam, to ensure astronaut safety in future missions. It also called for more predictable funding and political support for the agency, and added that the shuttle must be replaced with a new transportation system. "The shuttle is now an aging system but still developmental in character. It is in the nation's interest to replace the shuttle as soon as possible," the report stated. NASA's space shuttle Columbia was destroyed during re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003, in a tragic disaster that killed the shuttle's seven-astronaut crew. See how the Columbia shuttle accident occurred in this SPACE.com infographic. (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com) Returning to flight and retiring the space shuttle program The shuttle's external tank was redesigned, and other safety measures implemented. In July 2005, STS-114 lifted off and tested a suite of new procedures, including one where astronauts used cameras and a robotic arm to scan the shuttle's belly for broken tiles. NASA also had more camera views of the shuttle during liftoff to better monitor foam shedding. Due to more foam loss than expected, the next shuttle flight did not take place until July 2006. After STS-121's safe conclusion, NASA deemed the program ready to move forward and shuttles resumed flying several times a year. "We're still going to watch and we're still going to pay attention," STS-121 commander Steve Lindsey said at the time. "We're never ever going to let our guard down." Read more about the space shuttle program The shuttle fleet was maintained long enough to complete construction of the International Space Station, with most missions solely focused on finishing the building work; the ISS was also viewed as a safe haven for astronauts to shelter in case of another foam malfunction during launch. A notable exception to the ISS shuttle missions was STS-125, a successful 2009 flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe initially canceled this mission in 2004 out of concern from the recommendations of the CAIB, but the mission was reinstated by new administrator Michael Griffin in 2006; he said the improvements to shuttle safety would allow the astronauts to do the work safely. The space shuttle program was retired in July 2011 after 135 missions, including the catastrophic failures of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003 that killed a total of 14 astronauts. NASA developed a commercial crew program to eventually replace shuttle flights to the space station, and brokered an agreement with the Russians to use Soyuz spacecraft to ferry American astronauts to orbit. The first commercial crew flights were delayed several years due to developmental and funding delays. As of late 2017, the companies SpaceX and Boeing both planned to start test commercial crew flights in 2019. (NASA is also working on a deep-space program called Orion that could bring astronauts to the moon, Mars or other destinations.) A graphic from NASA's Day of Remembrance on Feb. 1, 2013, honors the memories of astronauts who died during the Apollo 1, space shuttle Challenger and shuttle Columbia tragedies. (Image credit: NASA) Columbia's legacy Some of the experiments on Columbia survived, including a live group of roundworms, known as Caenorhabditis elegans. Investigators were surprised that the worms about 1 millimeter in length survived re-entry with only some heat damage. Some of the descendants of these roundworms flew into space in May 2011 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, shortly before the shuttle program was retired. Columbia's loss as well as the loss of several other space-bound crews receives a public tribute every year at NASA's Day of Remembrance. That date is marked in late January or early February because, coincidentally, the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews were all lost in that calendar week. Read more: the Challenger Disaster In 2015, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center opened the first NASA exhibit to display debris from both the Challenger and Columbia missions. Called "Forever Remembered," the permanent exhibit shows part of Challenger's fuselage, and window frames from Columbia. Personal artifacts from each of the 14 astronauts are also on display. The exhibit was created in collaboration with the families of the lost astronauts. The crew has received several tributes to their memory over the years. On Mars, the rover Spirit's landing site was ceremonially named Columbia Memorial Station. Also, seven asteroids orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter now bear the crew's names. Additional resources: This article was updated on Jan. 26, 2021 by Space.com Reference Editor Vicky Stein. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 92F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Joseph Dits South Bend Tribune Officials are watching for the possibility of flooding along rivers and streets, plus potholes and broken pipes, as the Michiana area hits thawing temperatures of 40s on Sunday and 50s on Monday, mixed with chances of rain. The National Weather Service will be watching for ice jams on the rivers. This can happen where a portion of river freezes over, then begins to thaw, with the chunks of ice creating a sort of dam, said Chris Roller, a meteorologist with the agencys office in North Webster, Ind. As the melt continues, those dams can break free unexpectedly, releasing water with a strong enough force and volume to take trees with it. Its like a flash flood, Roller said. Not all rivers or river portions may be affected. If a river is higher, wider or has more volume, it takes longer to build up the ice. Neighborhoods that tend to see chronic flooding should watch carefully for the ice jams, Roller said. Capt. Rockey Adams, of Berrien County emergency management, said he spent much of a subzero Wednesday hiking along the St. Joseph River to look for ice jams and early signs of flooding, with the help of Niles city and township fire chiefs. He said he saw several spots along the entire length of the river where ice was restricting water flow. We are watching to see how the ice that is currently building up in the river, and along the banks, will break up and melt, Adams said. If the ice causes dams as it flows down the river, we may see flooding that could occur without much warning. Since the National Weather Service has a limited number of river gauges, it welcomes photos and videos of river ice. They can be tweeted to @nwsiwx, posted to Facebook at NWSNorthernIndiana or emailed to w-iwx.webmaster@noaa.gov. We cant see everything along the rivers, Roller said. The service has already issued a flood warning for the Kankakee River in the far northwest Indiana counties of Lake and Newton, along with parts in Illinois, because of the possibility of ice jams. The service also is seeing signs that an ice jam could be forming on the Tippecanoe River near Ora, Ind., southwest of Culver. The river level there is dropping, Roller said, which could be a signal that the river has been dammed upstream. Aside from ice jams, he said there may be a minor rise in river levels, but nothing like the massive flooding that we saw last February when several inches of rain quickly fell over a thick snow pack. The forecast calls for less than a tenth of an inch of rain Saturday and minor amounts after that. In Niles on Wednesday, the Marmont Street area near the wastewater treatment plant had minor flooding, Adams said. Elsewhere in the county, he said Royalton Township which sustained a lot of flood damage last February was seeing minor flooding on Tuesday. On Monday, a couple of parks in St. Joseph had minor flooding. Adams urged residents in flood-prone areas to keep an eye on the forecast, watch for flood warnings and report flooding issues to the weather service at www.weather.gov/crh/stormreports. These reports are very helpful to us, Adams said. Among other headaches, deeply frozen roads could add a glaze of ice depending on how the rain falls, though thats still uncertain. If its a mist or drizzle, Roller said, it could form the sort of glaze we saw last week. A heavier rain, he added, may take longer to freeze. Mishawaka and South Bend city officials say their crews will clear snow and break up ice that may be plugging stormwater drains, to avert the chance of street flooding. South Bend crews also will clear any debris from drains where Bowman Creek passes into an underground pipe on the citys south side to keep water draining to the St. Joseph River, said the citys public works director, Eric Horvath. Street crews will also fill and refill the potholes that are inevitable as moisture seeps in, then expands and contracts with freeze-thaw cycles. Until the temperature stops wavering around the freeze-thaw point, said Mishawaka Street Commissioner Tim Ryan, We may have to go back to some holes a few times in a week. Mishawaka water crews will be on the alert Monday for water mains that could break under the thaw, but Dave Majewski, water division manager at Mishawaka Utilities, is hopeful that the frost line isnt as deep as the water mains, which are 5 to 7 feet under ground. He wont know for sure until Mondays thaw. Frost lines can be deeper after a prolonged freeze. This one hit briefly and sharply after a relatively mild start to winter. South Bend has responded to five water main breaks this week, two that crews repaired a wet job that is awful in this weather and three that theyre monitoring for small leaks, Horvath said. South Bend also got 14 calls this week for frozen service lines between the house and the water main, he said. Horvath urged South Bend residents to report any problems with service lines or mains by calling 311 any time of day. Mishawaka water crews responded to 15 to 20 homes this week with frozen pipes, where the city can replace the meter but not the pipes. Majewski suggests homeowners can thaw frozen pipes gently with a space heater, providing a steady supply of heat. Rapid heat or a torch could cause the pipe to split, he said. To prevent a pipe from completely freezing up, he advises, leave the tiniest of trickles in your faucet. It also helps if the pipes are in a heated part of the home. John Wisely and Christina Hall Detroit Free Press (TNS) An explosion and fire Wednesday morning at Consumers Energy's Ray Compression Station in northern Macomb County couldn't have come at a worse time, or place. Wednesday was the coldest day of the year and that facility was handling almost two-thirds of the natural gas capacity for the company's 1.8 million Michigan customers when it failed. Consumers Energy has customers in Cass, St. Joseph, Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties in southwestern Michigan. "We were prepared for these extremes, however, we could not overcome the failure of our equipment as a result of the fire at our largest storage and delivery facility," Patti Poppe, Consumers president and CEO, said during a conference call Thursday afternoon. The company is working to get the facility back online and determine the cause of the fire. It rerouted gas supplies from other facilities and pipelines to meet demand, allowing it to lift voluntary use restrictions as of midnight Thursday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered a review of the state's energy supply system in the wake of the crisis. So how close did Michigan come to shutting off people's heat on the coldest day of the year? No one can say for sure, because customers heeded the urgent plea for reduction in use. State rules allow a utility to interrupt supply in extraordinary circumstances, but this crisis was unprecedented in the 130-year history of Consumers Energy, according to Poppe. Margrethe Kearney, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago, said the state's natural gas infrastructure is old, but the Public Service Commission has tried to make sure we have a safe natural gas system in Michigan. Incidents across the country have people questioning the safety of natural gas lines but, asked whether people should be worried about Michigan's energy supply, Kearney said no. She added that the crisis presents an opportunity to re-examine the system to insure redundancy or diversity of supply. The fact the customers willingly turned down their thermostats also shows that residents would be open to a discussion about more energy efficiency. Fire and ice About 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, a fire touched off an explosion at the Ray Compression Station in Armada Township in northern Macomb County. "The fire sounded like thunder," said Bill Kancanowski, 46, who lives across the street from the plant and was home at the time. "The flames were shooting 50, 100, maybe a couple of hundred feet in the air. Then there was an explosion and our house shook." Kancanowski said he feared the worst and starting gathering his kids and his dog to evacuate, but as he did, the flames began to die down, so he decided to stick it out. He checked his house for damage and found some around his picture window. "It dislodged the whole window frame from the drywall and the caulk," he said. The Ray facility includes three plants and all of them were immediately shut down while the fires burned. Just a few hours earlier, Consumers Energy had set a record for demand, with more than 3.3 billion cubic feet of gas being used as record cold sent temperatures below zero. "We knew that peak was going to carry," Poppe said. "We could see it." Consumers, like all utilities, buys natural gas ahead of time when prices are good and stores it in 15 underground storage fields scattered across the state. As it's needed, the company pumps it out of the ground and through the pipes that take it to homes and businesses. Poppe said supply was not an issue. The company has more than 300 billion cubic feet of gas stored to get customers through the winter. The issue was getting it through the pipes. The Ray facility is a compression station, which raises the pressure in the pipes to push it to the customers. When it went down, there was a risk of pressure dropping in the system, cutting off some customers. Poppe said her company began scrambling, cranking up other compression stations and bringing online compression facilities that weren't scheduled to run Wednesday. It also pulled in gas from other suppliers like DTE Energy and SEMCO Energy to maintain pressure in the system. "The load was not dropping, it was historic," Poppe said. By midafternoon, the company began calling its largest industrial customers like automakers, asking them to voluntarily reduce their usage. Some agreed almost immediately. Others needed time to prepare their own systems. "We didn't have to cut off anyone's supply; they ultimately all volunteered to shut down their production," she said. Perfect storm As afternoon turned into evening, temperatures continued to drop, but demands on the system didn't. "This unprecedented temperature and demand was the perfect storm with the absence of our Ray Compressor station," Poppe said. "There came a later point we could see that the system was at risk." The company had been in touch with the state government throughout the day, and the emergency managers at the state level were talking with their counterparts at the local level. Tom Hardesty, manager of the Homeland Security Division for Oakland County, said he, like his counterpart in Macomb County, were updated that "there might be a concern that (the utility) couldn't meet demand." But Hardesty said the information wasn't specific in terms of which particular community could be impacted, with the only information being east of Clarkston. "That's a long ways north and south," Hardesty said. Hardesty said Oakland partially activated its emergency operations center in case it was needed to begin evacuating residents or finding warming centers. The state also opened its emergency operations center and the governor stayed there throughout much of the afternoon and evening, said center spokesman Dale George. But the demand for gas continued to tax the system, Poppe said. "We still had 3 billion cubic feet of demand at 10 p.m.," she said. "That never happens." After hearing about the continued demand, state officials agreed to use the Integrated Public Alert Warning System to plea for residential customers to curtail their use. Once they settled on the wording of the text message, it was sent to a lieutenant with the Michigan State Police who typed it into the system, George said. When he pushed send, by design, the system paused to ask again whether he was certain he wanted to send. A second click sent the message, which goes out across multiple platforms, including television and radio. It also is forwarded to cellular towers, which push the message out to all network devices within range. The system is typically used for Amber Alerts to report a missing child. Those messages are typically targeted to a smaller geographic location near where the child went missing. This message was broadcast throughout the entire Lower Peninsula, which means people in neighboring states who get cell service from Michigan towers also got it, George said. "It's never been used that way before," George said. "This is the largest area we've ever sent out." About 10:30 p.m., mobile devices across Lower Michigan buzzed with the alert, pleading with residents to turn down their thermostats. George said it's impossible to know precisely how many devices received the message because it depends on their proximity to a cell tower. At Consumers, officials began to see demand fall for the first time. Despite record low temperatures outside, homeowners were dialing down their thermostats. Poppe said demand on the system fell by 10 percent overnight, giving the company time to stabilize the system. By late Thursday afternoon, Poppe said customers could turn up their heat at midnight. Local emergency managers, began to breathe easier, too. In Oakland County, Hardesty said that by 1 a.m. Thursday "they had 100 percent confidence that no resident would lose gas at all," thanks in large part to the cooperation of businesses and residents to reduce thermostats, which was "making a significant impact." Poppe thanked the industrial users, who shut down production in many cases to keep the supply of gas flowing, and residents who slept in colder homes. She even thanked rival gas suppliers DTE Energy and SEMCO Energy for helping during the crisis. "We couldn't have done it without everyone's actions," Poppe said. Marshall V. King Tribune Columnist SOUTH BEND Lauren Barry refers to herself as a flavor artist, and her new space at LangLab is her studio. For the past several weeks Barry has been creating art in the form of bread, doughnuts and a growing array of combinations of crust and crumb from her new commercial kitchen in the multiuse building. Before that, she was doing so in the basement of her home. Barry is synonymous with The Elder Bread, a bakery supplying local restaurants, including Crooked Ewe, Render and Bantam Diner, as well as Zen Cafe and Purple Porch Co-Op. Its a one-woman show unless you count Nancy, her 13-year-old sourdough starter that is part of nearly every creation. The new space is alongside where Hans Westerink is turning chocolate beans into bars laden with fruit and spice at Violet Sky. Thats next to where Shaun Maeyens and his staff are roasting and serving Zen Cafe coffee. This is a growing collective of food purveyors doing things by hand using both science and ancient practices. You do everything the real way, Barry said. There is no other way. The 29-year-old is a chef who got her start nine years ago at Uptown Kitchen in Granger. She doesnt count the years she worked at the Chocolate Cafe as a teenager. I still didnt know what I was doing, she said. From Uptown Kitchen, she went to Cafe Navarres kitchen for about four years and then on to Chicago, where she started at Bernies Lunch & Supper. There I basically learned how to be a chef, she said. From there, she joined Kitsune as it opened. Thats where she learned how to make bread with a sourdough starter from Justin Belhke, who had interned at Noma, the Copenhagen restaurant that is touted as one of the best in the world. Barry came back to northern Indiana in October 2017 and brought part of the starter with her. She started making bread as she worked at Whole Foods. My friends told me I should start selling the bread, she said as she removed heavy lids from the cast iron skillets in which her loaves bake. Myles Robertson allowed her to sell at the Purple Porchs weekly markets. A friend lent a tent. Maeyens started using her bread to serve toast at the new cafe in LangLab. Everybody kind of contributed, she said. Though Indianas home baking rules allow some sales of breads, cakes and doughnuts you make at home, they eventually limited Elder Breads markets. She saved money from her sales and invested in ingredients and equipment that found a home in LangLab alongside Westerink and Maeyens. Barrys workspace is roomy and bright. She moves from oven to table to tend rising dough, fried doughnuts or round loaves transforming under a deep brown crust. Theres a flow, she said. Six days a week, shes making 12 loaves of bread. Its a two-day process that involves a slow rise, folding the dough and baking in those skillets. The result is a loaf that is moist with an amazingly crisp crust. The starter produces a faint sourness. Its remarkable bread. Six days a week, shes making batches of two different kind of doughnuts. Theyre dressed with glazes and toppings that go way beyond the normal icing and sprinkles. As we spoke, she dipped old-fashioned doughnuts into a blood orange glaze and sprinkled on candied turmeric pieces. The pastry was both firm and tender. The glaze was bright and not overly sweet. The turmeric was slightly bitter and chewy. This was a perfect doughnut. Barry started making madeleines, a butter cake shaped like a scallop shell on which French writer Marcel Proust reminisced. This past week, she posted Instagram photos of her process to create golden-brown pretzels laced with sea salt that were to be sold at Zen Cafe. She makes, bakes and de livers. I literally do every step, she said. She doesnt plan on hiring employees. Her husband, Brendan Barry, who is also a chef, sometimes collaborates with her efforts and she helped with his recent Ottaramen pop-up. Were just seeing what we can do with this space, she said. Its fun. Its so fun. Demand is high for her amazing, artisan food, and producing it doesnt feel like work. At the end of the day, she said, youre just grateful for doing what you love. Im hungry. Lets eat. President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday it was not good for the countrys sovereignty if certain groups obtained the help of foreign powers to rule the country and take the decisions they wanted. He said this at a function held at the Olaboduwa Rajamaha Viharaya in Horana yesterday. The President said various foreign powers were operating against Sri Lanka using new tactics and had resulted in his nationalistic programme being heavily criticised. He said though some people were talking about a new constitution, he had neither received a relevant draft nor had been informed about it. He added that such moves were only creating unrest among the Buddhist community in the South and deceiving the people in the North. The President said for a new constitution, the priority must be to establish a strong parliament and that he was ready to support such a move. The absence of a strong parliament would result in the inability to take decisions needed for the future and destabilise the country. Somerset, KY (42501) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 81F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. PHILIPSBURG: --- The pretrial detention of George Pelgrim and Ron Elferink have been extended by eight days. The two men were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday after officers from the TBO Team conducted searches at their homes and offices, the TBO is busy with the LARIMAR Investigation that involves Windward Road, its former director Jan Hendrik Boekar, a former Dutch civil servant Ronald Masdaam who worked with leader of the United Democrats while he was a commissioner. Spokesman for the TBO Roderick Gouverneur confirmed that the two men will remain behind bars as the investigation continues. In a press release issued on Wednesday states In the interest of the ongoing Larimar criminal investigation, the Anti-Corruption Taskforce (TBO) of the National Detectives (RST), conducted several houses and office searches on Sint Maarten and Curacao. As a result, property was seized and suspects G.P. and R.E. were arrested. The Larimar investigation underscores corruption, money laundering and payment of bribes to a public official on Sint Maarten by a construction company. In connection with the reconstruction of Sint Maarten following Hurricane Irma, TBO is on alert for signs of corruption and fraud in both the public and construction sectors. The TBO is a collaborative force consisting of the RST and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Attorney General of Curacao and St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The TBO specializes in tackling financial crime and corruption and investigates several aspects of fraud, such as tax fraud, forgery and money laundering. Corruption diminishes the countrys income and has a negative impact on the countrys economic prosperity. PHILIPSBURG:-- -Fighting poverty and protecting fundamental rights were the two primary topics on the agenda of the Ombudsmen of the Kingdom recent annual meeting. Annually the Ombudsman meet to discuss developments within the Kingdom and share best practices. This time the meeting took place on Saba. Poverty In the Netherlands, there has been a lot of discussion about a report that revealed that two out of five families in the Dutch Caribbean are living in poverty. This situation is not unique to the Dutch Caribbean but applies to the entire Kingdom. The Ombudsmen have discussed what might be possible for them to do. The National Ombudsman of the Netherlands has started an investigation into the circumstances under which people in the Kingdom live. The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten is also expected to start with a similar investigation at the conclusion of a District Outreach Program, which is scheduled to start later this year. A connection was made with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) as established by the United Nations, specifically SDG 10: reduced inequalities, in combination with SDG 17: partnerships for the goals. For the Ombudsmen, it was clear that the difference in living standards within the Kingdom is unacceptable. They will start drafting an action plan on what they can do to improve the living condition of the citizens within the entire Kingdom. Refugees The flow of refugees from Venezuela is increasing rapidly. This topic plays mainly in Curacao and Aruba but is certainly not unknown on Bonaire and Sint Maarten. Curacao does not acknowledge being bound by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees nor its 1967 protocol, furthermore, the country does not have legislation governing refugee protection or asylum procedures. The shelters are of very low standard and the policy is to send everyone back. Because there is still no structural improvement for the reception of refugees in the Kingdom, the Ombudsmen will look into the possibility of undertaking joint action about the situation, with the intention of mapping out what is going on and give the Ombudsmans perspective on the situation. Actions These and other actions were agreed upon and in their continued cooperation, the Ombudsmen aim to improve good governance within the Kingdom. New York: US President Donald Trump says the US and China have made "tremendous progress" towards striking a deal on trade, but any resolution will depend on the outcome of an expected February meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP Trump, a former real estate mogul who prides himself on his ability to strike deals, places enormous importance on his personal chemistry with fellow world leaders. While he has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Trump believes he has a strong rapport with President Xi and is confident they can find common ground in a face-to-face meeting. The US has threatened to increase the tariff from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods if the two nations cannot reach a deal on trade by March. This comes in addition to the 25 per cent tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese technology products in place since August. Sussex: An Anglican priest from Perth, Western Australia, has been extradited to Britain to face sex assault charges dating back to the 1970s and 80s. Meirion Griffiths, 80, from Maddington in Perth, was charged on an extradition warrant issued by Westminster magistrates court in London in December 2016, Sussex police said. The warrant alleges that he committed several indecent assaults against a girl then in her late teens in the mid-1970s, and several indecent assaults against a woman then in her mid-20s in 1982. St Pancras' parish church, Chichester, West Sussex. Credit:Wikimedia Commons The offences allegedly took place in West Sussex. At the time of the alleged offences Griffiths was Church of England vicar of St Pancras in Chichester, police said in a statement issued on Thursday. Queensland's old trains could be sunk in Moreton Bay to create the state's newest artificial reef. Queensland Rail's fleet of old electric multiple units (EMU) are being progressively replaced with the New Generation Rollingstock, which are being fixed to comply with disablity laws after being described as flawed "from day one". Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the EMU trains were manufactured in Maryborough and part of Queensland's proud rail history. Credit:Department of National Parks - Moreton Bay artificial reef project However, rather than end up on the scrap heap, a proposal is being considered by the government to turn a few of the old trains into an underwater tourist attraction in south-east Queensland. A petition, lodged in the Queensland Parliament, is calling for a small number of the fleet of 87 EMUs to be reused as an artificial reef in Moreton Bay when they are retired. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday the proposed resolution by the United National Party (UNP) to form a national government was only a shameful ploy to increase the cabinet of ministers. JVP propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath told a news conference that the government was planning to form a national government with the support of an MP who contested the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) ticket. Lakshman Kiriella has said they would submit a resolution in parliament to form a national government. They are planning to do so with the SLMC MP who is already in the government, he said. The MP said the government was planning to capitalize on the national government concept in the constitution to increase the cabinet of ministers as a solution to the crisis in the UNP over ministerial portfolios. The UNP government which was formed after the October 26 political conspiracy is caught up in a crisis. Some ministers are crying over the portfolios they received while others are fighting for ministerial portfolios, deputy and state portfolios. This fight has left some key ministries without cabinet ministers. The fight for ministries is not to develop the country but to satisfy their greed for power, he said. The MP said an amendment introduced to the constitution to restrict the number of the cabinet ministers after countrywide protests about the unlimited number of ministers. A clause to restrict number of ministers to 30 and deputy and state ministers to 40 was included in the 19th amendment to the constitution. But the government ultimately introduced an amendment to increase the cabinet through a national government. We objected to this amendment. But it was passed in parliament. Cabinet of ministers should be increased by passing a resolution in parliament, he said. (Ajith Siriwardana) Politicians and public officials facing corruption charges will be prosecuted by a new specialist unit attached to the Department of Public Prosecutions, which will have the power to freeze and seize their assets. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian promised to establish the unit by July if the Coalition government secured a third term in office at the state election next month. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses media following a visit to Heathcote High School. Credit:AAP The integrity measure forms part of a broader election commitment announced by the Premier on Saturday, which also includes new travel disclosure rules for MPs and additional disclosure requirements for lobbyists representing foreign states or companies. Ms Berejiklian said measures were designed to improve transparency with the NSW political system and to combat the potential for foreign entities to improperly influence state politics. The booming population of north-west Sydney looks set to receive a "substantial" hospital in the next few years, with the NSW government acquiring a site just 200 metres from the Rouse Hill town centre and the yet-to-be-opened Rouse Hill metro station. Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Friday announced the hospital will be built on the corner of Windsor and Schofields roads in the north-west, where the population is expected to soar to 250,000 over the next 10 years. An artist's impression of the new hospital development in Rouse Hill. Credit:NSW government "The new development will commence in the next term of government," he said, standing at the empty site alongside local MPs including Kevin Conolly and Ray Williams. "A lot of planning will now go on with the local community and with the physicians to determine the range of services. It will be a very substantial hospital." "Climate change is not only real - it is happening," Banks said in a statement outlining her reasons for taking on her erstwhile colleague, adding effective action was "an urgent imperative". Loading The emergence of these four independents may not be the end of it. Former Liberal leader John Hewson says "people are fed up with a government not doing anything on climate change", and expects more challengers to emerge. One Liberal source says a prime seat for similar candidates is Hughes, in southern Sydney, which is held by right-wing backbench Liberal MP Craig Kelly, who has regularly questioned climate science and led the charge to block climate action. The seat of Hume, in central NSW, held by Angus Taylor - the current energy minister who has backed state support for new coal-fired power stations - is also ripe for a Liberal-leaning independent, the source says. "I'd be delighted if other other independents stood up," Yates says. "We're fighting for the future after all." Loading Meanwhile, those being challenged and Prime Minister Scott Morrison himself defended the government's track record on climate change action. Australia remained committed to the Paris goals - which would cut carbon emissions 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 - while Australia was in the midst of a record take-up of renewables, various ministers said. Abbott declared Steggall to be "the carbon tax candidate" - a line the Olympian skier says is "an old argument" and that debate has "moved on", given the price of renewable energy such as solar and wind have fallen so far. National emissions, though, have been rising for four years, with the increase coinciding roughly with the Abbott government's axing of the carbon price. Australia was the first and only nation to make such a reverse. Then Environment Minister Greg Hunt congratulated by colleagues after the Abbott government succeed in scrapping the carbon price in 2014. Kelly O'Dwyer, Christopher Pyne, Peter Dutton and Mal Brough (back to the camera). Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Phelps says the tag of climate change independents is a "very relevant identifier" for the four challengers. "It is a strong motivator for each of us to stand for election and is high on each of our policy agendas," she says. "We all reflect the strongly held views of our electorates on this." Loading Surveys, such as the Lowy Institute's annual poll, have long found Australians overwhelmingly supported renewable energy, with a majority viewing climate change as a serious issue. That support may well be on the rise, particularly as weather extremes increase in intensity, frequency and duration - as scientists have been warning for decades. This summer is on course to be the hottest for the country after December broke records for that month and January smashed all previous monthly records by a stunning one-degree margin. And a series of blistering heatwaves produced a whopping eight of the 10 warmest days ever registered in Australia in just a single month, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Another big fish kill surfaced this week on the Darling River at Menindee, possibly larger than the previous one just a fortnight earlier that left up to one million fish dead. Credit:Graeme McCrabb Add in the recent massive fish kills in the Darling River, the past week's bushfires in parts of Tasmania that may not have burnt for thousands of years, and months of images of drought in NSW and Queensland, and it's not unreasonable to think that concern about climate change is not about to subside. "A decade ago, a lot of the climate impacts were theoretical," says Tim Flannery, the palaeontologist and science communicator who helped raise the issue's profile during his stint at Australian of the Year in 2017. "It's now very much a part of people's lived experience." Flannery, who is now back at the Australian Museum, says he has helped Steggall with the "scientific phrases of the policy" on climate. While the rise of the climate independents reflects "an ideological divide" that has split the Liberal party, there's more to that than just a rejection of ineffective climate action, Flannery says. Loading MPs from political parties typically "give up their right to autonomy", and often stay on out of self interest, he says. "The rise of the independents is a kind of rejection of that model ... There are no trade-offs for parties." Hewson, who says he didn't resign from the Liberals but simply stopped paying membership fees, says he told his party when an MP that he was "an Australian first, Liberal Party member second". To deny the science of climate change means "you forfeit the right to govern", whatever your political stripe, he says. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the deaths of up to 18 Iraqi civilians during the battle for Mosul as "difficult and tragic" but said it is not clear if Australian bombs were responsible. Following a year-long investigation, the Australian Defence Force revealed Australian Super Hornets "may have" killed an estimated six to 18 civilians at the height of the battle to defeat Islamic State. According to the ADF, Iraqi security forces requested help on June 13, 2017, after Islamic State fighters were spotted setting up positions in a built-up west Mosul neighbourhood. As part of the response from the US-led international coalition, two Australian Super Hornets dropped bombs on a building and a courtyard. 'Terrible incident': Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Brisbane yesterday. Credit:AAP The ADF says its air crews hit the targets accurately and initial Australian assessments suggested there were no civilian casualties. But Airwars a website that tracks civilian deaths in war claimed civilians in a nearby building were killed. The Morrison government is backing the head of the beleaguered Murray-Darling Basin Authority, despite a royal commission accusing its senior officials of "gross negligence" and "maladministration". In his final report, commissioner Bret Walker, SC, said he had "serious doubts" about whether the authority's management could do its job, while calling for a dramatic overhaul in the way Australia's longest river system is managed. His report also accused the Murray-Darling Basin Authority of failing to account for climate change and breaking the law when working out the "sustainable diversion limits" that govern how much water can be taken out for irrigation. It said "politics rather than science ultimately drove [the decision]". Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud is backing the head of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the authority's chief executive Phillip Glyde "must go now", adding "heads should roll" to save the Murray-Darling. The federal government is gearing up for a fresh battle with the states and territories over disability funding after a Productivity Commission report identified major gaps in service provision, calling for a key agreement to be scrapped and rewritten. In its report released on Friday afternoon, the commission said the National Disability Agreement "no longer serves its purpose, has a weak influence on policy, and its performance targets show no progress in improving the wellbeing of people with disability." "A new agreement is needed to promote co-operation, enhance accountability and clarify roles and responsibilities of governments," the report said. Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher says the states must continue funding disability services. Credit:Paul Braven The Morrison government was quick to seize upon the report in support of its position that the states must continue to provide health care for people with a disability, regardless of how much funding they have provided to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Macquarie, ANZ and financial services lobby groups handed over $1 million in political donations as pressure mounted on the government to launch the royal commission into financial misconduct last year. The banks, along with energy, mining and consultancy giants dominated the list of corporate donors again in 2017-18, according to the annual release of the Australian Electoral Comission's of political donations on Friday. Westpac gave the Coalition $107,000 and Labor $70,000, up from the $146,000 it donated the year before. The Commonwealth Bank increased its spend by 65 per cent on its 2017 figures, handing $85,340 to the Coalition and $72,000 to Labor. The big banks added nearly $1 million in political donations last year. Credit:Arsineh Houspian ANZ cut its donations by $100,000 last financial year, but still handed over the largest contributions of the big four, giving both Labor and the Coalition $100,000 each. Huawei sacked Mr Wang, who has denied wrongdoing, after his arrest in Poland. A spokesman for the Australian Technology Network said the Seeds of the Future program was part of an Australian government commitment to the global "New Colombo" plan. John Brumby will become Chancellor of La Trobe University in March. The spokesman said a thorough and on-going due diligence process was in place. The ATN is not aware of any reason to change its involvement in the program, but is monitoring global events and will of course be happy to take direction from the Australian government if they have any concerns. Curtin University said it was involved with other universities, Main Roads WA and Huawei to administer an Australian Research Council grant on managing infrastructure. A Curtin University spokesman said the contracts were not yet signed and the university would take any advice from the Australian government. Loading Mr Brumby announced his resignation from the companys Australian board in a teleconference on Friday amid increasing speculation about his future with Huawei. His departure marks the end of a difficult week for the tech giant. On Tuesday, the US government released the details of a criminal indictment against Huawei and a senior executive, alleging sanctions-busting dealings in Iran and the theft of trade secrets from rival T-Mobile. Prominent among those named in the US Department of Justice indictment was Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei and former director of Huaweis Australian subsidiary. Ms Wanzhou, who has been detained in Canada since December at the request of the US, was on Huaweis Australian board between 2005 and 2011. Mr Brumby, who joined the Huawei board in 2011, said the timing of his resignation was unrelated to the scandal enveloping the company. Huawei has expressed dismay at the US charges and vowed to be vindicated in the courts. Mr Brumby said he had signalled his intention to stand down to fellow board members a year ago. His resignation takes effect next month. Mr Brumby is soon to become Chancellor of Victorias La Trobe University. Huawei's Australian operation remains chaired by retired Navy rear-admiral John Lord. While acknowledging Huawei had experienced some challenging times in Australia most notably federal government bans from participation in the NBN and 5G mobile network rollout Mr Brumby was proud of the local operations growth. Mr Brumby declined to directly criticise the role of the Australian Signals Directorate in advising the federal government to last year ban Huawei from 5G, based on its security concerns. The ASD warned that Huawei would find it increasingly difficult to resist pressure from Beijing to spy on or sabotage the 5G networks of western countries. Mr Brumby said he had full confidence in assurances from Huaweis head office that the company would never do anything against the interests of Australia. He did, however, point out that Huawei had found itself at the centre of a clash for technological superiority in 5G networks between the US and China. This is a global battle that is being played out, Mr Brumby said. On Oxfords decision to sever ties with Huawei for the time being, Mr Brumby said he was not aware of the move. Stints at Stawell and St Arnaud showed him country policing is not just about law enforcement; it is about becoming part of the community. The badge gives you authority but your commitment builds trust. He worked with troubled kids, built a climbing wall and used his search-and-rescue skills to encourage outdoor activities. He learned that the concept of shifts with a start and a finish wasnt suited to country time. You worked when there was work and didnt turn people away when they needed help, no matter what the time. In 2004 he was appointed officer in charge of Marysville, with the added perk of a house next door to the station. With no fence he could wander from his three-bedroom home to the office in less than 10 seconds. In peak hour it could take 12. He simply loved it. The people of the pretty tourist town embraced him (they had found one of the previous incumbents not their cup of herbal tea). In the build up to February 7, 2009 firestorm, Graham saw the weather similarities to the last fire disaster the February 16, 1983 Ash Wednesday fires that had killed 47 people in Victoria. The post office area across the road from Marysville police station in the aftermath of Black Saturday. Credit:Kevin Graham On the day Graham was in Melbourne, conducting a diving training course, and was underwater as the temperature and wind started to swallow the state. His wife, Jenny, was at home. They had discussed the growing possibility of fire and had decided to leave early, but on this day the local mobile phone tower was defeated by the weather and the couple couldnt talk. By the time Marysville was under attack, Graham had no way of knowing if his wife was alive. Hours later - they were the longest of my life - he would find she had escaped to the nearby Alexandra police station in the clothes she stood in. Graham wanted to head home but his car overheated on the way. He borrowed another but realised he would become part of the problem driving into the dangerous fire scene and had to wait. When he finally made it back to Marysville the next day, it was gone. A police officer stands inside what remains of the Marysville station days after the fire. The Total Fire Ban sign can be seen against the fence on the left. Credit:Kevin Graham There were only a handful of buildings still standing, with more than 90 per cent of the town destroyed. The final death toll there was 34, the total across the state 173. Kev knew many of them. Some he considered friends. When he saw the survivors in a hall in Alexandra, he knew most of them had lost everything they owned and there was little he could do for them. Graham stood where once had been his police station. It was still smouldering - the stink of destruction and death was everywhere. He could see the silver-coloured flagpole on the ground, felled by fire and the oxygen-stealing winds that turned the town into a firestorm. His eyes followed the felled pole and at the end was the Australian flag, lying in the charred ruins, damaged but intact. It was our flag, the station flag. It was the only thing I recognised, everything else was gone. I wanted to save it for the community, he says. Flames still smouldering in the police station building. Credit:Kevin Graham Within days he handed it over to the Alexandra police and it was taken to the Police Museum, where it has been kept ever since. It is, after all, just a piece of cloth, but to the police, the community and the museum curators it is much more. Laura Miles, manager of the Police Museum, says: We have taken a great deal of care to look after the flag for the local community. It is a particularly fragile item, a very special one. Miles says it was laid out and gently vacuumed to remove acid and ash particles. Then it was placed by experts on a special backing board and stored in a darkened, temperature-controlled, secure room. For the handover the flag was transported back in a custom-made archival box, then moved to a purpose-built display case to be housed in the new police station. It is a very important item to us, she says. After recovering the flag and inspecting the ruins, Graham moved on to the residence next door that was his family home. It was just as bad. Eventually they went back to see if there was anything they could recover from the ashes. We took a trailer but could just fill the glovebox. The remains of a bedroom at sergeant Kevin Graham's residence next door to the station. Credit:Kevin Graham But in the rubble from his shed there was a valuable find a set of what would seem to be indestructible spanners, made by his coal miner father Stan back in Scotland in the 1950s. The handmade tools, forged from car leaf springs, made it to Australia in a tea chest when the family migrated to Australia in 1961. Kev was 18 months old. Back in 2006 the spanners were kept in a Stawell shed that burned down in the Grampians fire. Graham found them in a pile of burned-out, discarded material. They lived in the boot of the car for a while, until that was stolen and torched. Again they survived. Now they are in a plaque on the wall. The 'indestructible' set of spanners made from car leaf springs by Kevin Graham's dad Stan. Credit:Kevin Graham Graham didnt go back to work at Marysville it was thought he would be better off with a new start. It was my community. I didnt think I could work effectively as a policeman somewhere else. He has moved back to Melbourne to follow his other passion, working as a professional diving trainer. It took three years to rebuild the station and instead of using cheap-looking, low-maintenance brick the award-winning architect-designed building was clothed in timber to reflect the history of the timber town. Graham was asked to consult on the building but declined. I felt it was for the local people to make local decisions. I knew I wasnt going to work there. Marysville has grown from the ashes but there are some things in life that cant be forgotten. No one who lived through those fires will ever forget. At the 10th anniversary there are events around the state to remember the dead, praise the survivors and thank the emergency service workers who risked everything. It was a story repeated around Victoria. For emergency service workers it is hard enough to deal with the death and trauma of strangers, but the county cops, ambos and firies saw some friends die and others lose their homes. Some police drove around threatened areas urging people to leave. Some did and others didnt. Many didnt survive. Footage taken from a Channel 9 helicopter shows David Key's crew struggling to rescue four people from Coombs Road, in Kinglake West. Key was cut from his line and managed to rescue the people and their horses. Credit:Nine News There was the senior policeman who calmly kept the state informed that night while knowing members of his extended family had surely perished, the police helicopter lineman who was cut loose inside the fire and somehow managed to lead four people, three horses and a dog to safety and the ground crew who refused a direct order to stand down after 16 hours without food because they felt locals were still in danger. EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. Federal Labor has flagged funding a new publishing house, to continue the influential work of Melbourne University Publishing, if it wins the election. The Opposition's Innovation, Industry, Science and Research spokesman Kim Carr proposed the funding model following the University of Melbournes controversial decision to overhaul its publishing arm, which led to the resignation of chief executive Louise Adler and five board members. Im open to the prospect of providing seed funding, as we did with The Conversation, to ensure we protect political culture and debate, Senator Carr told The Age. The number of nuclear weapons possessed by the US and Russia is a fraction of what it was during the height of the Cold War. Successive presidents on both sides, since the time of John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, have feared their destructive power. Their supposed value, so called Mutually Assured Destruction, known by its capitals, MAD, is in fact valueless. They cannot be used, and nearly everyone accepts that. Yet they continue to exist and, as President Mikhail Gorbachev and his ally in nuclear arms control, President Ronald Reagan, both said, there is the fear of a false alarm or two errant officers in the silo entering simultaneously their keys which allows the firing of the rocket. Yet here we are in 2019 with a new American nuclear initiative just announced last weekend. (I doubt that US President Donald Trump is in the clutches of Russia. Otherwise, why would he be pushing for such a significant anti-Russian policy?) The Americans are planning a new deployment of nuclear rockets and the radar to go with them, this time supposedly aimed at Iran but with also the range to reach Moscow. Yet here we are in 2019 with a new American nuclear initiative just announced last weekend. (I doubt that US President Donald Trump is in the clutches of Russia. Otherwise, why would he be pushing for such a significant anti-Russian policy?) How can Iran ever be a threat is the first of many questions. Voluntarily, in an agreement negotiated with the Administration of President Barack Obama, Iran has forsaken the technical wherewithal to manufacture nuclear weapons. Even if it didnt observe the treaty it has no rockets that could carry a nuclear or serious conventional payload as far as Europe. No wonder the Russians wonder what the Nato plans are all for, and come to a reasonable conclusion- they are meant for them. The initial defensive screen, according to the New York Times, rests upon a network of early-warning satellites, a new high-powered X-band radar based in Turkey, and at least one on an Aegis-equipped US warship, deployed in the Mediterranean, capable of shooting down incoming missiles. Two land-based missile defence sites are also planned- first in Romania, and later in Poland. When Obama decided to modify this latter part of the deployment, President Vladimir Putin expressed his thanks. But the deployment appears to have crawled on to the agenda again. Some Russian generals have said that Russia will deploy the nuclear-capable Iskander missiles against any Nato missile sites constructed in Poland and Romania. To what extent does Russia have a point? Dmitri Trenin, the Russian director of the (American) Carnegie Center in Moscow, sees US ballistic defence plans as global in scope. Their concern, he believes is that strategic defence impacts upon strategic offence, devaluing the deterrent value of Russias own nuclear arsenal. in an agreement negotiated with the Administration of President Barack Obama, Iran has forsaken the technical wherewithal to manufacture nuclear weapons. Even if it didnt observe the treaty it has no rockets that could carry a nuclear or serious conventional payload as far as Europe Moscow wants both formal assurances and an insight into the systems parameters, to be confident that the US has no intention of degrading Russias own deterrent power, and that the Nato system has no capability against Russian strategic missiles. Washingtons reluctance to give assurance about either raises Moscows suspicions. Trenin believes that Washington must engage Moscow before both sides get entrenched with their plans. For all its hostile rhetoric, Russia must be somewhat relaxed as it can see that the kind of missile the US plans to use if attacked is the so-called Standard-3 missile. Professor Theodore Postol, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Americas leading scientific university, an expert on Natos nuclear policy, says, All the tests have been characterized by extraordinary efforts to eliminate all objects that could possibly confuse the kill vehicle. For these reasons and others it is overwhelmingly likely that if it is used in real combat it will be a total failure. Of course, the paradox is that even when they dont work, potential adversaries will treat them as if they do. This produces the worst of all possible worlds- no defence but build-ups of offensive weapons to deal with these defences. The missile has only been tested under non-combat conditions. For those with long memories we recall Reagans Star Wars speech. He said the US would deploy weapons in space to shoot down incoming Soviet missiles. This would be a missile shield. Thus nobody would get hurt. 36 years later there is no sign of such a system working. At the same time Trump has threatened to withdraw from the 1987 INF treaty that eliminates short-range missiles in Europe. So far its been a great success. Trump says Russia is cheating. But American defence experts who have held high positions in the Defence Department and Congress argue that it would be a grave mistake to terminate the treaty. As for the Russians they see an overlap between the radar and missiles to be deployed against Iran and the weapons banned by the INF treaty. The Iran dimension of all this could be solved if Trump would recognize the treaty signed by Obama and Iran to halt Irans bomb research. Time is running out for sensible decision making. An aerial view of the Lara recycling site whoise owner breached safety orders. Credit:Justin McManus The bankrupt former owner of a Victorian waste facility has been jailed for 90 days after breaching fire safety orders at the debris-laden site. David McAuliffe immediately lodged an appeal against the custodial sentence at Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday, after magistrate John Lesser deemed a financial penalty would be of little use. McAuliffe breached Victorian Civil and Administrative orders on three occasions by failing to keep an excavator, bulldozer and water tank on the Lara site for fire prevention. He pleaded guilty to nine charges, brought by the City of Geelong, of breaching VCAT orders in 2018. A new report into Australias 2018 strawberry tampering crisis, which caused catastrophic economic damage to the industry, has found food-tracing protocols need to be strengthened. It also found that food safety expertise in the horticulture industry was variable due to there being many small businesses, with no regulatory or industry oversight particularly for strawberry farmers. A photo of a contaminated strawberry posted to social media. Credit:Facebook/Angela Stevenson The fragmented nature of the sector also complicated matters with no regulation tracking strawberry farm locations during the crisis, and the use of seasonal or contract pickers muddying traceability. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) was commissioned by Health Minister Greg Hunt to review the response to the strawberry contamination crisis, which began on September 9 when a man swallowed a needle hidden inside a strawberry. When a lawyer of the standing of Bret Walker SC uses language such as "maladministration", "unlawful", "gross negligence" and "indefensible" to describe the conduct of a statutory authority, its understandable that it attracts attention. While these findings are central to the report of his Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission, they might on their own give the impression that he was only interested in undertaking a legal analysis of the drafting and implementation of the basin plan. He was interested in much more. Dead fish at Menindee amid the Darling River tragedy. Credit:Nick Moir Leaving aside the assistance given by so many fine scientists, there are a few passages of evidence that I would commend to our basin decision-makers first. One is the evidence of Grant Rigney, of the Ngarrindjeri nation, traditional owners of the lower Murray. He and his people arent just concerned about the health of the river. They are the river. They are its native fish, its plants. There were echoes of that in the evidence of Badger Bates of the Barkandji nation, from the Darling (Barka) River. I wonder what they think when they see it now? When you can step over it in one stride? Then theres the evidence of farmers from the lower Darling. About what a lack of flow in that river has done to their livelihoods, their families, their sense of worth. About the putrid smells from the water. And that was before a few million dead fish started floating to the surface like its part of some Old Testament plague. When Phillip Glyde, the CEO of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, and federal minister David Littleproud insist that the basin plan is lawful, that it is based on science, and that it takes into account climate change in a meaningful way, they should keep in mind the evidence not just of scientists but of the First Nations people of the rivers, and those suffering farmers. Then they should withdraw those statements. Because they are nonsense. It is a brand-new word that has crept into the dictionary and though it might not be in your vocabulary just yet, you have been exposed to you and you are more than likely guilty of doing it yourself. It is called phubbing the practice of snubbing or looking at your mobile phone or tablet while in the presence of others. While the phenomenon may appear relatively harmless at first glance, phubbing can do significant damage to the quality of interaction between people in a face-to-face setting, most probably because the person being phubbed feels unimportant and feels they are regarded as a low priority. Phubbing can do significant damage to the quality of interaction between people in a face-to-face setting. Credit:Shutterstock This unsavoury practice is creeping into our workplace in such a way that many suggest it is now mainstream organisational behaviour. And the biggest culprits are not everyday employees but their bosses. The older brother of Milad Atai, convicted of aiding and abetting the man who fatally shot police accountant Curtis Cheng, was shot in what police are calling a "targeted" attack in Sydney's west. Mohammed Atai, 25, was taken to hospital after being hit in the leg in a drive-by shooting on Lomond Street, Guildford West, while he was chatting to a neighbour on Wednesday night. The brother of convicted terrorist helper Milad Atai has been shot. He had a gunshot wound to his knee and a broken femur. Police said the gunman drove a white Audi TT stolen from Cronulla in November. It was found dumped and burnt out in a suburban street in Merrylands, five kilometres away. Police have not yet made any arrests but are searching for two men. A Virgin Australia plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport on Friday. The Brisbane to Sydney flight was diverted to the Williamtown airport after a warning light was triggered in the cargo hold. After a safe landing, emergency services met the plane on the tarmac. "Virgin Australia flight VA938 has landed safely after diverting this afternoon following the activation of warning light," a Virgin Australia spokesperson said. An Uber driver who accelerated while a passenger was getting out in the middle of a Sydney intersection, causing him to fall and be hit by a bus, has been spared a prison sentence but remains haunted by the death. Nazrul Islam, 32, was found guilty by magistrate Mary Ryan in November of negligent driving occasioning the death of Englishman Samuel Thomas in June 2017. Uber driver Nazrul Islam arrives for his sentence hearing at Downing Centre Court in Sydney on Friday. Credit:AAP The 30-year-old was "half-in and half-out" of the car when he was caught off balance by Islam moving off after the light went green. Mr Thomas fell under an adjacent bus at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bathurst streets and died instantly. An essential first step to a proper plan is to put politics aside and reduce the amount of irrigation water drastically, towards zero, either by agreed buy-backs of irrigation licences or, if that fails, simply by revoking them by statute. - Greg McCarry, Epping There is only one way to restore the health of the Murray-Darling Basin and that is to leave the water in the river. We must face the fact that even with all the warnings, the future looks bleak; the Murray-Darling Basin will become the Murray-Darling dust bowl. Release the stored water now. - Christina Foo, Wahroonga Since the beginning of their control 200 years ago, commercial farmers have learnt nothing about this country and have not respected or tried to adapt the experienced and ancient sustainable land-management practices of the first nations farmers, who kept this country beautiful and sanctified. Instead commercial farmers have, for generation after generation, entirely cleared and denuded their lands. Farmers, bring yourselves into the 21st century and contribute to a sustainable future instead of the profiteering drought disaster that you have created. - Aanya Whitehead, Portland Sceptical: Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Morrison's tone-deaf response to Indigenous Voice Prime Minister, the point is that it is not about what you want ("PM lukewarm on Indigenous Voice", February 1). In rejecting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Scott Morrison is merely reinforcing two centuries of Europeans imposing their will on the Indigenous people of Australia. If Morrison really does want progress he must move on from the mindset that he knows what is best for Indigenous people. He must move beyond hiding behind his vague mantra of "practical things" and engage with the core issues. Only by listening to, and respecting, the knowledge of Indigenous people will they be given some control over their future. Only then will we see the progress that Morrison says he is concerned about. - Anne Croker, Woonona Good on you BHP and Rio Tinto for backing a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice in the national Parliament. As we all should. Just how out of touch with the electorate is this Coalition government when their allies are more progressive on this and many other important issues? They'll find out soon enough. - Deborah Lloyd, New Lambton Just imagine, PM, that no one listened to you - that no matter what you thought, there was no mechanism via which your opinions or concerns on matters that directly affected you, could be acknowledged and addressed. I'm sure your sense of disenfranchisement would be palpable. That scenario is exactly what our first nations people are trying to address with their meaningful call for a Voice to Parliament . - Bill Young, Greenwich The photo of a sceptical Morrison opposing a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament says it all for the Indigenous community. No wonder they feel disempowered. - Vicky Marquis, Glebe Rudd and Abbott: Political twins I'm nearly 72 years old and have voted Labor in local, state and federal elections all my life but I nearly choked on my early-morning tea when I read Kevin Rudd call Tony Abbott "the single most destructive individual in Australian politics"(Letters, February 1). Surely Abbott learnt from the master himself: Kevin Rudd. - Alexis Lander, Kensington In Trump they trust God moves not in mysterious but in totally incomprehensible ways ("God wanted Trump to be President, says Sarah Sanders", smh.com.au February 1). - Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT) Rats forget their place Rats: isn't this supposed to be the lunar year of the pig ("Rat attack shuts dumpling shop", February 1)? - Edward Loong, Milsons Point Liberals' year of the pig For many in the federal Liberal Party it has been the year of the chauvinist pig for some time ("Fortune favours the bacon", February 1). - Peter Miniutti, Ashbury Protection from untruths As a media company, of course you describe Australia's defamation laws as "complex and outdated" ("Ambitious 18-month timetable for reform", February 1). But they are the only protection available from the publication of harmful untruths. - John Miller, Coogee Fashion statement I'm thinking about wearing my Dad's old safari suit with a few strategically placed rips to see if it catches on (Letters, January 31). - Robert Hickey, Green Point Behrouz Boochani, author of No Friend but the Mountains. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Literary prize highlights national shame over refugees It is no wonder that Behrouz Boochani is in no mood to celebrate his success in this year's Victorian prize for literature ("Writing prize awarded offshore", February 1). He and the men he has supported during his five years on Manus Island remain there, imprisoned and seemingly forgotten. We can only hope that Boochani's memoir will prompt Australians to demand an end to the suffering of refugees in our off-shore detention centres. - Zeny Giles, New Lambton I will buy five copies to help Boochani get some money but I cannot bring myself to read it, because I would never get over the shame of what our country did to him and to all the refugees who inspired him to write it. - John Rome, Mount Lawley As I read your report, I learnt about a man who possesses the intelligence, sensitivity, literary skill and command of the English language to win the Victorian prize for literature, but is unworthy to live in our Australian society. Boochani called it "paradoxical"; I call it shameful. - Lorraine Hickey, Green Point Australia's richest prize for literature being awarded to a stateless Kurdish-Iranian writer is a most damning indictment of a nation that has shamelessly abdicated its collective moral conscience. Nothing will absolve this unmitigated and deliberate act of psychological torture from being legally constituted as a crime against humanity. - Vincent Zankin, Rivett (ACT) PM wrong on banks Scott Morrison fought tooth and nail for the government not to establish a royal commission into the banks ("PM urges caution on bank reforms", February 1). Now that the commission's report is about to be released, he needs to know that the community will not accept a soft approach towards the banks disguised by the need to have a "free flow of credit". From the buckets-full of evidence that has been presented to the commission and the community, the banks need to urgently clean up their acts. They need to rid themselves of staff who are incompetent or dishonest, they need to have in place strong governance systems, adhere to codes of ethics and values and become client not profit-focused. - Ross Butler, Rodd Point Prime Minister, what would be a "rash" response to the banking royal commission? Our banks have behaved immorally and fraudulently. Would it be rash to expect senior executives to be sentenced to prison? That banks be fined? That you give the financial regulators the licence to police the banks vigorously? The banks have violated the trust given them. Executives took money for what are, in fact, criminal acts. Doesn't that deserve a strong response? Why is yours so weak as to be an insult to the public? - David Ashton, Katoomba Independent action I take issue with your correspondent in regard to independents (Letters, February 1). We have seen some very effective independent members of Parliament over the years, such as the late Peter Andren, and Tony Windsor. They have worked in the interests of their constituents, not on instructions from a political party. Bring on more independents. - Derrick Mason, Boorowa While it might be true that some people standing as independents might have "huge egos and only work for their own selfish agendas", this description seems to fit many of our current Liberal, National or Labor MPs and senators. The definition of a democracy is rather more than having "only two, strong political parties". This misconception about democracy, combined with a misunderstanding of the preferential system of voting is, in part, to blame for the poor group of politicians we have elected. - Bruce Welch, Marrickville Sinking feeling And having thumbed his nose at the rules, this man wants us to make him a rule-maker ("Leyonhjelm In deep water over illegal backyard pool", February 1). - Adrian Connelly, Springwood High price of retirement I am not a wealthy, tax-dodging businessman ("Preaching to the deserted", February 1). I am not a wealthy landlord nor do I hold excessive portfolios of Australian or international shares. By nature I am a cautious and conservative soul and have planned my retirement carefully. I am now classed as a self-funded retiree, albeit with a modest annual income. The Liberal/National Party has become captive to the plotting and scheming of its far-right members and the Labor Party appears to hold I am undeserving of my modest retirement income, some of which is gained through dividend imputation credits. Waleed Aly claims the economy to be an abstraction. My dwindling annual income tells me the economy is no abstraction but I am disinclined to support either side of politics. - James Laukka, Epping I know that the self-funded retirees are very proud of that title, but if you are getting government money, either money back for tax you should be paying on your income (like the rest of the population) or getting refunds for tax you are not paying, then you are not a self-funded retiree. - Janelle Graham, Kincumber Quick to judge Koran The Supreme Court judge has declared parts of the Islamic Koran violent, but does not comment on whether parts of the Jewish Torah or Christian Bible are also violent ("Judge calls on Muslims to disown Koran's 'violence"', February 1). There are times when I wonder whether we will ever get past this nonsense of my Abrahamic religion is better than your Abrahamic religion. - Bernie de Vries, Bolwarra Justice Desmond Fagan's call for Muslims to disown Koran violence draws obvious parallels to White Ribbon and their annual call to men. Both are predicated upon a clumsy use of collectivism. Gross generalisations that scoop up a whole societal group and casually tar them with the sins of a few. - Andrew Stark, East Gosford Trumped by blackout It was a major disaster at a Double Bay bridge club Thursday morning ("Weeds to blame for blackout", February 1). The blackout knocked out most of the morning's bridge results. In such a highly charged, competitive atmosphere it was about the worst thing that could happen. - John Temple, Rose Bay It seems the electricity suppliers can now recycle that British rail standby: "Service disruptions were due to leaves on the line". - Franz Weiss, Maroubra Abbott feels the heat What's the chances of next January being even hotter ("The 'exceptional story' to emerge from Australia's January heatwave", February 1)? What say you, Tony? - Stewart Copper, Maroubra Nature hung out to dry This morning I watched a woman hosing a handful of leaves off her patio using hundreds of litres of the most precious commodity on earth - fresh water. Yet with the dams running so low, the Liberal Party refuses to impose water restrictions. This should have been done months ago when first warned of the impending extreme summer. Water restriction should be permanent but given the Liberal Party's hatred for our countries unique environment, it goes without saying that as long as they remain in office nature doesn't stand a chance. - Michael George Wren, Surry Hills Postscript Rosemary for Canberra? We won't pretend the suggestion of a tilt at parliament by Rosemary O'Brien, of Georges Hall, met universal acclaim. "Scary" was one response. But our conscientious contributor didn't exactly dismiss the idea. "The very canny Brian Collins has already noted I'm 'articulate, politically committed, and a highly principled woman', so what the hell? I'm musing over a parachute drop into Warringah, where I'm told the political ground is, um, fascinating and fertile. Not a word to my family though - they're Labor to their bootstraps." Thanks, and apologies, to everyone who winced, when we misused the word "criteria" this week. "Rosemary would never make such an error," observed a fuming Gordon Phipps, of The Entrance. In Sydney's Warringah, the barrister and ex-Olympian Zali Steggall is targeting Abbott. In Melbourne's Kooyong, the funds manager and former head of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Oliver Yates is running against the deputy leader of the Liberals, the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg. And Liberal defector Julia Banks is going after Health Minister and Dutton running mate Greg Hunt for his seat of Flinders on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Loading These challengers are all attacking from the same direction from the small "l" liberal left, sometimes described derisively as "Liberal lite". They are all economically conservative, socially liberal and, most prominently, they want urgent action on climate change. The Liberals have already lost three once-safe seats to this sort of centrist independent. Cathy McGowan took a once-safe Liberal seat in Victoria, Indi, in 2013. Rebekah Sharkie took Alexander Downer's former seat of Mayo in 2016 and rebuffed an effort to dynastic reclamation by his daughter, Georgina, last year. And, once Turnbull quit parliament, Kerryn Phelps took the formerly super-safe seat of Wentworth from the Liberals last year. "I think the emergence of so many small 'l' liberal, sensible-centre independents is a real reflection of where the Australian people really are," says Phelps. "The people who speak to me are exasperated and frustrated by the Liberal lurch to the right and the control of the party by the right-wing reactionaries. You can't call them conservatives. Because of the evidence of lack of due process. The 'it's okay to be white' resolution that they voted for in the Senate, and the very poorly thought-out proposal to move the embassy in Israel, show shambolic governance and lack of attention to due process." Among the disaffected Liberal voters she spoke with, "two policy issues filtered to the top", Phelps says. "Climate change and what planet are we leaving to the next generation and people are aghast that Scott Morrison would bring a lump of coal into the Parliament and the treatment of refugees on Nauru and Manus Island." Loading And it is climate change that is the unifying cause among the high-profile independents: "There's no question," says Phelps, "that frustration at the lack of action on climate change is motivating a lot of independents to challenge" Liberal MPs. But is it true that the Liberals have lurched to the right? John Howard was reluctant to acknowledge the need to act on climate change. Yet, ultimately, he was pragmatic enough to commission a report on carbon trading. And to take to the 2007 election a policy to create an emissions-trading scheme. For a couple of years it was the bipartisan position of the Australian political system. It was Tony Abbott, together with the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce, who broke ranks, broke the consensus and described climate change as "absolute crap". So the Coalition has indeed moved to an ideological and counter-scientific realm of right-wing fiction. In recent years Howard, too, has expressed greater scepticism of climate change, indicating the conservative movement more broadly has, with Donald Trump, moved to a new rejectionism. The conservatives aren't deserting the Liberal Party because they have come to own it. Bernardi's "conservative revolution" hasn't happened outside the party because it has happened within. The Liberals, at the insistence of their conservative faction, have wilfully chosen to ignore the facts. And now the facts, inconveniently for the Coalition government, have decided to ignore them. Till now, the Liberals were able to turn the climate theme to their advantage by flipping the issue on its head. When anyone said "climate change", the Coalition said "electricity". By arguing power prices and reliability as the greater imperative and not the state of the planet the Coalition was able to survive in the broad political struggle. But even these refuges of the rejectionists are now falling down around them. The electorate is not seeing power prices falling appreciably, despite government rhetoric. And the power failures of the past week were not the result of renewable energy flops but of coal-fired power generators. Coal-fired power failures, together with extreme weather events at home and abroad, have brought the Coalition's climate denialism to the point of political exhaustion. But this is politics, so merely being on the wrong side of history, science and reality doesn't disqualify the Coalition from winning an election. In any two-horse race, you need to consider the other runner. The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, this week showed remarkable grit by declining the offer of a meeting with Rupert Murdoch. Snubbing the world's most successful media tycoon in the approach to an election was, until now, unimaginable. For the leader of either major party. Of course, it is an entirely practical decision. Murdoch has only ever supported Labor when it was on course for inevitable victory. Any businessman would want the ear of the new prime minister and Murdoch is no different. But the moment it suited him, Murdoch's media outlets would turn savagely. Whenever he has appeared to support Labor initially, his empire has always worked to destroy it ultimately. Labor leaders always meekly lined up to genuflect to the great man regardless, convinced that they would be able to manage him. That was always vanity over reality. Shorten is the first to recognise the reality that, as Kevin Rudd puts it, the Murdoch media empire is a partner in the Coalition. Why allow himself to be gulled? Still, it is an act of political bravery to be so blunt about it. And it hints at a boldness and seriousness in Shorten and his leadership. It's not an isolated example. Labor under Shorten's approach to policy is also bold and serious. Where opposition leaders usually offer themselves as "small targets" with minimal policy offerings, Shorten's Labor has announced big reform measures that knowingly tackle difficult issues, despite the risk of political backlash. And the backlash is beginning already. Labor's policy to curb the excesses of negative gearing is designed to contain excessive house prices and allow the younger generation to aspire, one day, to owning their own home. Even in Sydney and Melbourne. It's about intergenerational fairness. It's also about limiting the tax advantages of negative gearing to save money for the Treasury to allow more spending on other areas. Similarly, Labor's policy to cancel the cash refunds of excess dividend franking credits is designed to remove an unearned benefit from one group generally retired people with self-managed superannuation funds so that it can be redirected to other spending priorities. Both policies are justified as redistributive in the cause of greater fairness. Both create categories of potential losers. And both give the Coalition a delicious opening to whip up a mighty scare campaign, which is its only hope of holding office. Medicare is sure to be revised as time goes on and circumstances change, although not as dramatically as Medibank was. The 1 per cent levy on taxable income, the agreement with the States on hospital grants, the range and extent of medical rebates, the categorization of private practice in public hospitals are among the potential candidates for review sooner or later. But common sense and experience suggest that there is no fairer, financially sounder and popularly acceptable alternative to the principle of all-in, income-related, centralised health insurance scheme short of, perhaps, a fully integrated health care delivery service based on the British model. Wednesday is Medicare Day. The introduction of Labors new, modified model of a national health insurance scheme has been preceded by as much conflict and confusion as the phasing in of the original Medibank and the subsequent successive stage of its destruction by the Fraser Government. Many Australians may find it hard to believe, and some are finding it hard to accept, that this time Medicare is here to stay. These doubts are understandable, given the resistance by doctors to attempted controls over their freedom and income, the resentment by private hospitals and insurance funds of a likely loss of business, the fears of public hospitals that they will not have the resources to cope, and the uncertainty of many people about the arrangements, if any, they should make for private insurance. The creation of the original Medibank concept is generally attributed by its critics to the Whitlam Governments profligate reforming zeal. But there was a hard edge of economic rationality as relevant today as it was then to Labors motivation of social justice. The myth is that Medibank triggered an unprecedented upsurge in health care costs. The truth is that the development of Medibank coincided with a 50 per cent increase in 1975-76 in doctors incomes, massive pay rises for traditionally underpaid nurses and hospital workers, and a boom in expensive medical technology. The States could no longer afford the upkeep of public hospitals; the private health insurance funds would not have been able to keep pace with soaring costs without massive public subsidies. One way or another, the Federal Government had to intervene. Bob Hawke holds one of the first Medicare cards issued. Credit:David Bartho Hundreds of thousands of Australians were not covered for medical treatment or hospital care. Hundreds of thousands of others could ill afford the rising cost of private health insurance. Special arrangements had to be made for pensioners, but doctors were becoming reluctant to treat poor patients for little or nothing, or to continue the honorary system at public hospitals. The danger was that rising health insurance rates would begin to dry up the pool of voluntary contributors, especially the young and healthy, leaving the funds with potentially less income, but proportionately more claims, and forcing them to push their rates even higher or to press for bigger subsidies. Medibank and now Medicare was designed to overcome these problems and inequities. Under Medicare, everyone in the community is insured. Everyone contributes through an income tax levy according to means (subject to upper and lower limits). Everyone is entitled to have the greater part of their medical expenses refunded pensioners and other very low-income earners, including the unemployed, need pay nothing if doctors are willing to bill the Government direct for 86 per cent of the schedule fee and everyone is eligible for free treatment by salaried or sessional medical staff in a public hospital. Most Australians will be better off financially under this income-related scheme; many higher-income families (especially those with two incomes) will pay more, certainly if they also wish to insure for hospital treatment as a private patient. A fringe benefit for the Federal Government is that the unions have accepted Medicare benefits as part of the social wage under the prices and incomes accord, and that the Medicare levy, unlike private health insurance premiums, is not counted in the consumer price index. Most of the current public confusion and concern is over whether it is worthwhile insuring privately to provide for choice of doctor and better accommodation in public hospitals, and access to expensive private hospitals, which could mean priority as well as choice of doctor for non-urgent operations. This is something everyone must decide for themself or their family in the light of their preferences and means. It should be remembered, however, that much of the advice being given is not disinterested. Doctors are keen to preserve the lucrative advantages of the fee-for-service system, and private hospitals and private health insurance funds are eager to stay in business. The work-to-rule campaign by the Customs Trade Unions is continuing after today's discussions with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the removal of Customs Director General P. S. M. Charles had failed, the CTU Alliance said. Unions Deputy Secretary Sudath de Silva said the minister had explained the reasons for removing the DG but the unions said the reasons given were unsatisfactory. "The minister said Ms. Charles was unable to increase Government revenue by way of raids and unable to increase the percentage of drug raids which was five per cent during her term of office and pointed out that the police had earned 30 per cent government revenue from drug raids," he said. Mr. de Silva said during the discussions, he had explained to the minster about the available resources of the Customs to carry out raids. We said we did not even get the requested sniffer dogs.The police, Navy, and Army have a large amount of resources to carry out raids across the country but the Customs department deals with the international communities and able to raid drug trafficking which only comes through the Customs, he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama) Each week The Canberra Times polls a group of committed readers on a range of issues. To join our Insiders panel to have your say and be in the running for prize draws, go to canberratimesinsider.com.au Full survey results are published in each Saturday's newspaper. Here are some of this week's reader responses. The Order of Australia medal. Credit:Peter Braig Do you agree with Labor's plan to introduce a gender target in the Australian honours system? Yes 50% No 38% Unsure 12% Introducing quotas for women receiving national honours will damage the Order of Australia, which changed political appointments in favour of every Australian having the right to nominate someone for an honour. Do we want to go back to a system that requires an nomination to have a politician's approval? A target is not a quota - it's an aim that ensures the issues and problems are considered and barriers to reaching equality are minimised or removed. To set a target for honours would mean looking at the total system, what encourages people to nominate and how those awarded are selected. 'Merit' is not always completely objective and can be made more so. A 12-year-old girl under care and protection is being repeatedly locked up in juvenile detention in a system that has run out of options. The girl appeared once again in the ACT Childrens Court on Friday after spending 45 nights in Bimberi since December 17. The grounds at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. Credit:Rohan Thomson While the court has said Bimberi is no place for the vulnerable 12-year-old, there are concerns her placement in the community is not meeting her needs. And the government has so far failed to provide the kind of secure therapeutic protection place already allowed for under the law. The Australian National University School of Music has a new director, less than two weeks after the abrupt departure of Kenneth Lampl from the role. Kim Cunio, currently an associate professor in composition and convenor of musicology, has been described as an accomplished composer and performer, whose music has been performed around the world, including at the White House and various international music festivals. Dr Kim Cunio, the new head of the School of Music at the Australian National University. Credit:Karleen Minney His appointment was announced Thursday, after the departure of Professor Lampl less than two years into his appointment. Dr Cunio was chosen for the role after an internal selection process. A lawyer for the couple who successfully sued a law firm for negligence after it advised them in the sale of a Mr Fluffy home said it was possible, but not likely, there would be similar suits to follow. The couples solicitor John Harris, of OConnor Harris, also said on Thursday that any possible claims would likely be limited to people who bought their property between about 2007 and 2014. That is the years after the ACT government started warning the public of the possible ongoing risks of asbestos, but before the government-funded buyback. In a judgment published Wednesday, the ACT Supreme Court found the firm Meyer Vandenberg was negligent and ordered it pay Karen McLennan and Andrew Spong nearly $40,000. They had bought the Griffith home in 2009 and hired the firm to advise them on the sale. On my desk at work is your first school photo. It's your kindergarten class at St Josephs Primary School, OConnor. You've got your hair in pigtails, freckles across your nose, a hesitant smile, but a look in your eyes that says I am ready to learn. The kindergarten class of 2007: all young adults now, heading into their last year of school. Thirteen years have flown by and youre about to embark on your final year. Part of me wants to start again, to be a better mother, to be more attentive from the start, more aware that these years will go by so quickly, to read to you more, to encourage you. But neither of us really wants that. Youre about done and so am I. Youre ready to move on to the next stage, whatever that may be, university, work, travel, hopefully all three in the near future. I wish you that. Over the past year or so Ive watched your independence grow. Youve taken charge of your own life, organised yourself, learned to drive a car, succeeded at a part-time job, stayed well on top of your studies. Youve needed me less and less, and while that rocks me to my core, it brings me joy that I havent done a bad job of turning you into a fine young woman. Therell come a day soon when youre gone. I will miss you terribly. So before you go The rockstar chef phenomenon has been growing ever since Jamie Oliver started spruiking pukka tucker on the television, but Australias celebrity cook obsession reached a new level this week with two of Britain's most famous food personalities selling out venues across the country with their words. Nigella Lawson at the Sydney Opera House this month. Domestic goddess Nigella Lawson, author of 11 recipe books and host of various BBC cooking programs, will speak about her culinary experiences to a sold-out Sydney Opera House this evening. Meanwhile, food lovers packed Melbourne Town Hall last night to hear London-based Yotam Ottolenghi discuss his Israeli heritage and love of vegetables. Ottolenghi also spoke to 2500 people (the chefs largest audience ever) at a sold-out Sydney Opera House show on Tuesday. Ottolenghi has had a profound influence on the way Australians cook at home, said Dr Edwina Throsby, head of Talks and Ideas at Sydney Opera House. I think Opera House audiences might be hoping some of his magic will rub off. With resumes boasting Hollywood film credits and a Victorias Secret show, it's little surprise David Jones has welcomed back models Jessica Gomes and Victoria Lee as their brand ambassadors for their Autumn/ Winter 2019 campaign. Joined by newcomer Cameron Robbie, brother of Margot, the genetically-blessed trio are in front of the camera as they prepare for a three day extravaganza in Tasmania next week, showcasing a curated selection of the department store's best in fashion, beauty, home and food. The modelling trio ahead of the art of living showcase. Credit:Janie Barrett The closely guarded guestlist flying down to Hobart for the event are rumoured to be 100 of the industrys most important people, including media, designers and influencers. Guests at the two-night jaunt, held at Hobarts Museum Of Old and New Art (MONA), have three events to look forward to. Ben Quilty, Fairy Bower Rorschach (detail), 2012, oil on linen, 241 x 520 cm overall. Art Gallery of New South Wales. Ben Quilty Credit:Lindy Percival Martin King's recent Black Thursday Diaries, the result of a 2018 State Library of Victoria creative fellowship, began with King contemplating William Strutt's epic painting Black Thursday (1851). King's Diaries are carefully constructed books that offer a way of processing tragedy, echoing the fragility of life and the power of nature with which catastrophes confront us. Boylan's and King's broader interests also tap into Australia's most significant catastrophe to date the impact of colonial arrival on the Indigenous inhabitants. The genocidal violence that ensued is a subject of increasing attention for many contemporary artists. Martin King, black thursday diaries VIII, 2018, etching, relief etching, egg tempera, watercolour, wax, hard cover book, ribbon. Credit:Ian Hill Photography Look at the recent Colonial Frontier Massacres Map charting the killings of Indigenous people in Australia, and it can be easy to get lost in the extent of trauma. Whose psyche isn't disturbed on first taking in the enormity of these slaughters, which began in 1788? They were still going on in 1960, says Lyndall Ryan, professor of history at the University of Newcastle's Centre for the 21st Century Humanities. Ryan and her team created the massacre map, based on rigorous evidence-based methodology, launched 18 months ago and expected to eventually list more than 500 massacre sites. "But the number is indicative rather than comprehensive," Ryan says. "Most of the massacres were carried out under the aegis of the state, often as joint operations between settlers and police. At no stage did any government official say, 'this has to stop'. Every Aboriginal community in Australia experienced frontier massacre and the trauma continues in every generation." Martin King, black thursday diaries XII, 2018, relief etching, egg tempera, wax, hard cover book, ribbon. Credit:Matthew Stanton Among the many artists who have grappled with the massacres are Judy Watson, Julie Gough and Ben Quilty. Watson created her own massacre map as an artwork called The names of places, which has been presented in various exhibitions and now also exists as a website. In 2016 it was presented on a tablet, featuring a rolling scroll listing massacre sites, shown in the exhibition When Silence Falls at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. That exhibition dealt with histories of violence and conflicts that are not often acknowledged, with the Australian massacres as the central subject. It also featured Kimberley artists Timmy Timms, Rusty Peters and Paddy Bedford, who paint places where their relatives were killed en masse. Writing about the exhibition in The Conversation in 2016, University of New South Wales art and design professor Joanna Mendelssohn argued a "great amnesia" has served to convince many Australians that we have no connection to the crimes of the past. "Yet ending the silence and recovering memories is a prerequisite for national healing," she wrote. Jessie Boylan, Rupture, 2018, video still, courtesy of the artist. With much attention being paid to her Frontier Massacres Map significantly, even The New Yorker published a long essay on it Ryan says this code of silence about Aboriginal massacres is being broken "as truth telling takes over". Many massacre sites in Australia now have physical memorials devised by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, but Ryan observes that this massacre memorialisation is a community project. "The national government has shied away from engaging with the issue," she says. "A national memorial is certainly required in Canberra, and whether aspects of frontier massacre should be part of the Australian War Memorial or included in a separate memorial is to be resolved by national debate." Imagine what such a memorial might do for our culture, especially if commissioned as a powerful architectural artwork? Imagine what might happen in such a space to our collective, complex feelings? In her book Traumascapes (2005) Australian writer Maria Tumarkin raises the way we might be suspicious of monuments the fear they will, instead of compelling remembering, encourage forgetting; that "instead of representing the past they may in fact mystify and displace it". But, as she details, many contemporary memorials have entered a new age of being closer to artworks, however fine the distinction, and are now often being designed by visionary architects. Tumarkin's insightful book was in my thoughts several years ago when I stood at the southern end of Manhattan gazing into the waterfalls memorialising the victims of 9/11. Seeing this inverted monument, the pits in the ground with the water falling like so many tears, like so many bodies, I was deeply affected. In her book, Tumarkin cites other extraordinarily powerful memorials, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin concrete slabs like inverted graves that cover 19,000 square metres and the Sarajevo roses, red cement poured into shell holes on the footpaths as reminders of the many who died in that protracted siege. Tumarkin observes that even years after a tragedy, going to such sites is like entering an unhealed wound but notes that the power of these extraordinary monuments "enables them not just to carry and give voice to the past but also to reveal hints and signs of the future". One Australian massacre site is the glorious-sounding Fairy Bower Falls in NSW's southern highlands where, according to oral histories, two young white male settlers of the 1830s slaughtered scores of Indigenous adults and children. There are no written records of the event, and no memorials. Artist Ben Quilty painted the Falls as his own sort of memorial. In 2014 I asked him about this Rorschach-like painting, knowing nothing of the massacre story, and he told me the site had once been "filled with the noise of singing and of children and families" who had been using that place for thousands and thousands of years. "And in one day in 1834 that place went silent, and all that was left was the sound of running water." The Colonial Frontier Massacres Map is at c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres Crime stories Sydney Noir Edited by John Dale Xoum, $24.99 At a time when a significant swathe of Australian crime fiction has relocated to the regions and the drought-stricken interior most recently with Chris Hammer's Scrublands and Jane Harper's The Lost Man it's good to get back to the grime of the city even if the outlook is a tad bleak. Edited by John Dale, Sydney Noir brings together 14 compelling short stories by established and emerging Australian authors, each offering a startling glimpse into the dark heart of Sydney and its sprawling suburbs. Sydney Noir, edited by John Dale. Sydney Noir is the first Australian addition to the Akashic Noir series of short stories set in cities from Atlanta to Zagreb. Since 2006 there have been 100 titles published, with more in the pipeline. Each comes with its own map of the urban terrain, confirming the proposition that crime tourism may indeed be "a thing", even when it happens on the couch. But the settings are real and intensely realised. In Sydney Noir we travel from Parramatta and Bankstown in the west, to Clovelly and La Perouse in the east, with a return to the haunted corners of Kings Cross, Newtown and Redfern. Dale has organised these tales from the dark side into three sections Family Matters, Sex and the City, and Criminal Justice. Inevitably, given the diverse authorship, while these stories may have themes and noir tendencies in common, they are emphatically different in style and tone. Kavanagh is young and like all his contemporaries can't talk to his parents. As he says: "The diagnosis isn't hard the diagnosis isn't even controversial. It's guilt: mass guilt, generational guilt. The Old feel they irretrievably fucked up the world, then allowed us to be born into it. You know what? It's true. That's exactly what they did. They know it, we know it. Everybody knows it." Kavanagh rants about how some people his own age have a thing about beaches - watching films and television programs about them. That's not for him. "The level of my interest exactly corresponds to the number of beaches. And there isn't a single beach left, anywhere in the world." Lanchester says there is an overarching issue about intergenerational fairness in Britain, the feeling that the older generation had a more generous welfare state, a more generous education system, easier access to housing basically an easier and better deal all round. "I started to take particular interest in the thing about what happens inside families if you take this current sense of intergenerational fairness and dial it all the way up and what that could do to the texture of family life, the texture of individual relationships." Lanchester was pondering trends when he started writing in 2016. "I was writing about things that looked like they were heading in a certain direction and I drew those lines straight out into the future. Now it's 2019 and we're still on track. I suppose one way of describing it is the book is my attempt to stop it happening. Writing about the future is the best I can do to prevent it." He is one of the most interesting British writers around today, adept at many forms and genres. Five novels, a family memoir, two books about contemporary economics and money matters, a book about the District line of the London Underground (the green one), and stacks of journalism for The London Review of Books, where he is an associate editor, and The New Yorker. He has even done a couple of stints as a restaurant reviewer. There is never a dull moment in a piece of his writing and, you would think, in his writing life. Last year in After the Fall: Ten Years after the Crash for the LRB Lanchester pointed out that while the initial event had been economic, the consequences had been acted out through politics and from a sociological point of view, "the crisis exacerbated faultiness running through contemporary societies, fault lines of city and country, old and young, cosmopolitan and nationalist, insider and outsider". So how The Wall links to his previous novel, Capital, about the inhabitants of one London street as the economy starts to go bung, is the issue of the amount of agency people have to influence their worlds. Lanchester was struck by hearing on the radio the wife of a retrenched fireman asking what they could have done differently, what were their mistakes? "And the truthful answer was you didn't do anything wrong and there is nothing you could have done differently and that is a very difficult thing to hear. We are not designed to hear that we have no agency, no lever in our hands that we can pull, and there is nothing we can do. That is one of the things that link the economy and the climate there is a desperate search for a lever you can pull." In Britain there are politicians who see Brexit as the lever, but Lanchester, who acknowledges a "'democratic deficit" around the EU and its institutions, says none of the problems affecting Britain would be helped in any way by leaving the EU. He is, however, staggered by the ineptitude displayed the people in power. "It's impossible to believe that the vote was in June 2016 and here we are in 2019 and we're leaving the EU on March 29 and I couldn't tell you neither, by the way, could anyone else the nature of the arrangements we have with the EU when we leave." He castigates British PM Theresa May for triggering the process without knowing what arrangements would be in place after and reckons the judgment of history will be severe. "You wait all this time for the most incompetent Prime Minister in British history to come along and then two come along at once." As he sees it, there is a shakeup coming in Europe and "we would have arrived at a different relationship with Europe and I think Europe will have a different geometry in the next decade. But I think this is the wrong way to do it, the wrong Brexit, the wrong time for the wrong reasons." Lanchester knows when his fiction writing is going well because he's in what he calls a "a kind of flow state". If he's not, then he can't force the writing. There is resistance from the book usually at the beginning although also along the way and he has a rule about not checking emails or his phone until he's written his 500 words for the day. "I can tell if the book is fighting me because I will check my emails and if my accountant has emailed me with a complex query, it's great." But when the writing's going well, that's all he knows. "I have a really consistent thing that I can't remember where I was when I write. If you asked what was going on in your life at that bit, I would have no idea." Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC, Sri Lankas largest poultry sector operator and the producer of Prima Chicken, warns of higher prices due to the spread of Sena caterpillar (fall armyworm) in many maize farmlands in the country. The recent spread of invasive Sena caterpillar (fall armyworm) in many maize farmlands of the country has caused a shortfall in the domestic maize production for the upcoming Maha season, and this will affect the prices adversely. This may in turn affect the overall poultry industry performance, Ceylon Grain Elevators Executive Director/CEO Cheng Chih Kwong, who is also known as Primus, noted in an earnings release that accompanied the firms December quarter (4Q18) interim financial accounts. Sri Lanka is said to be facing its worst pest infestation in history, which could cut the countrys maize and rice output, according to government officials. Crop-eating army worm Sena was first confirmed in October, and since then it has spread swiftly to many parts of the country. It is estimated that the pest has damaged almost half of the countrys 80, 000 hectares of maize cultivation. Maize is the key raw material in the poultry industry. Short supply and low quality of maize remains the biggest obstacle for the development of the industry, as poultry producers face government restrictions in directly importing their requirement. The December quarter results of Ceylon Grain Elevators were affected by the weaker rupee and inclement weather that persisted during the period. The group revenue rose 18 percent year-on-year (YoY) during the three months to Rs.4.47 billion, but the earnings fell by 34 percent YoY to Rs.240.6 million or Rs.4.01 a share. However, for the year ended in December 2018, the group reported earnings of Rs.890.5 million or Rs.14.84 a share, an increase of 13 percent YoY. The group has been able to improve profitability despite the adverse effect of upward revision in fuel prices, the continuous depreciation of the Rupee against US dollar, inclement weather conditions and the glut in the market for chicken that hindered the last quarter performance, with prudent management and cost control, Primus said. The glut in chicken in the market has arisen due to excess supply, but as a result of weak demand due to higher prices stemming from higher production costs caused by weaker rupee. Due to the governments protectionist policy on maize imports, price of chicken remains high in Sri Lanka, which keeps it beyond the reach of many, hindering their required protein intake. Ceylon Grain Elevators direct costs, which mainly consist of prices paid for maize, during the quarter under review, grew 24 percent YoY to Rs.4.0 billion weighing on the gross profit. Hence, the damage caused to the local maize produce by Sena caterpillar and the rupee weakening could become a double whammy for the local poultry industry. Ceylon Grain Elevators provides feed for the livestock industry under Farmers Choice brand. Meanwhile, the group subsidiary, Three Acre Farms PLC, which has the market leadership in broiler day old chicks, reported earnings of Rs.218.8 million for the quarter and Rs.748.8 million for the full year, up 12 percent and 14 percent YoY. The group revenue has increased due to the improved demand for broiler day old chicks (DOCs) during the year. Stable demand for layer DOCs in the last quarter of the year after recovering from the volatile table egg market further strengthened the performance of the group, Primus said. As at December 31, 2018, Singapores Prima Limited held 45.45 percent stake in Ceylon Grain Elevators. Employees Provident Fund also held 8.92 percent stake. Australia faces a one-in-five chance of going into a recession during the next term of government, as China and the US face economic slowdowns and workers' wages go nowhere fast, compounding historically high levels of household debt. The verdict, from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Scope economic survey of 18 leading market, academic and industry economists, will spark concerns among both Labor and Liberal leadership teams, as both parties head into the May election vowing to fight over their economic credentials. The economists found that many of the risks were beyond the control of Australian policymakers - as "global financial markets enter a secular bear market phase," spooked by $350 billion worth of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The US-China trade war continues to cast a shadow over world markets. Credit:AP "If China sneezes, Australia will catch pneumonia given household debt levels and the lack of other drives in this economy," said former treasury official and Industry Super chief economist Stephen Anthony. Australian private hospital operator Healthscope has agreed to a $4.4 billion takeover bid from Brookfield despite the Canadian investment group offering less than what it initially pitched in November. "Having fully considered a range of alternatives, the board unanimously concluded that the Brookfield transaction is in the best interests of our shareholders," said Healthscope chairman Paula Dwyer in a statement sent to the ASX on Friday morning. Healthscope chairman Paula Dwyer and chief executive Gordon Ballantyne. Credit:Elke Meitzel The Healthscope board has recommended the bid in the absence of a superior proposal, and subject to an independent expert's report. Investors may have to wait until as late as June for a meeting to approve the deal, which may leave time for a late return by rival suitor BGH-AustralianSuper, but the share price reaction on Friday suggested investors like the current offer. 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 Islander Romolo Colantone has held a premises license for a handgun for almost 50 years. He would like to transport the weapon to his second home in Hancock, New York, a small town in Delaware County, to defend himself and his family while staying there. Hes unable to do so, however, because the Rules of the City of New York bar premises-license holders from transporting their handguns to any place outside the city even when they are unloaded and locked up in a container separate from their ammunition. In fact, under the rules, he can only transport his handgun to seven authorized shooting ranges within the city. Five years ago, Colantone and two other premises-license holders, joined by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, initiated suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the city rules. On Feb. 23, 2018, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court decision in favor of the city. Undeterred, the petitioners filed an application with the U.S. Supreme Court for review of their case. Last Tuesday, the nation's highest court agreed to hear the matter. Although the case will likely not be scheduled for oral argument until next fall, the stage has been set for what could become a landmark decision on the scope of the right to bear arms. Second Amendment The Second Amendment provides: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. In its 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court held that this constitutional provision protects an individuals right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, and that this right is unconnected with militia service. So, while the militia-clause may still be bandied about in political circles, the court has disposed of that argument with finality. It is important to note, however, that common-sense bans on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill will withstand constitutional scrutiny Reinforcing the Heller decision two years later, the Supreme Court held in McDonald v. City of Chicago that "the right to keep and bear arms [is] among those fundamental rights necessary to our system of ordered justice". Hence, it declared that not only the federal government, but state and local governments as well, are barred from abridging it. By declaring the right to bear arms to be "fundamental" a term of art in law the court sent a message to courts and legislatures across the country to be very careful when playing around with it. Draconian restrictions In their successful petition for review to the Supreme Court, Colantone and company asserted that as a result of New York Citys draconian restrictions on the transport of premise-licensed handguns, the Courts transformational rulings (in the Heller and McDonald cases) remain theoretical for the Citys 8.5 million residents. For the city rules under review to survive the constitutional challenge, the city must demonstrate that they not only serve a compelling government interest but are necessary to serve that interest. The feeling here is that the city will be hard-pressed to do so. In its response to the petition for review, the city failed to cite any evidence that transporting an unloaded handgun, locked up in a container separate from its ammunition, poses any realistic danger to anybody. Moreover, as Colantone and the other petitioners pointed out, the city law itself undermines public safety by requiring premise-licensed handgun holders to either leave their weapons at home or, ironically, carry them around the city the precise activity the city says is dangerous in search of seven in-city shooting ranges tucked into the boroughs. Burdening commerce The city rules also appear to violate the Constitution's Commerce Clause by inhibiting Colantone and others similarly situated from patronizing shooting ranges in neighboring states. As the Supreme Court declared in its 2005 decision in Granholm v. Heald, a state may not enact laws that "deprive citizens of their right to have access to the markets of other States on equal terms". The law is also problematic in that it conditions the exercise of petitioners' rights as American citizens to travel freely outside the city on the surrender of their fundamental constitutional right to bear arms. The Supreme Court has two choices here. It can issue a narrowly- tailored ruling on whether the city rules are constitutional. On the other hand, it can use the case as the predicate to address and, in all probability expand, the right to bear arms in public places. If the court does the former, its decision will nonetheless be very important. If it does the latter, its decision will be enormous. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A raid at a 17-year-old boys New Brighton home just hours after he made gun-related threats on social media uncovered a loaded firearm, drugs and a large amount of cash, authorities and law-enforcement sources allege. He was arrested on Tuesday in front of his home on Clinton Court. The defendant, whose name is being withheld due to his age, allegedly posted video to social media showing a gun and making threats against another person, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Witnesses also notified the authorities of alleged threats made by the 5-foot-9-inch, 150-pound suspect, according to the criminal complaint. Police armed with a search warrant raided the boys bedroom on Jan. 23 at about 6 a.m., about 12 hours after the social media posts. A loaded .22-caliber High Standard Sentinel and .22-caliber bullets were found and about $1,770 in cash was seized, according to the criminal complaint. Officers also discovered two bottles containing codeine, plus several empty containers for the liquid mixture, the complaint alleges. Bond has been set at $75,000/$50,000 cash and he is due back in court on Monday. He has other cases in Criminal Court on charges including alleged drug possession and weapons, according to public records. He has been charged in this case with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A New York Community Bank employee was caught on video helping herself to thousands of dollars from the bank vault in November, authorities allege. Paula Sgroi, 49, stole $10,000 from the Richmond County Savings Bank branch 1785 Victory Blvd. in Castleton Corners on Nov. 7 and left the location with the cash, said the criminal complaint. Richmond County Savings Bank is a division of the Long Island-based New York Community Bank, according to Advance records. The defendant was arrested Wednesday and charged with felony grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny. Sgroi was released without bail following her arraignment, according to online state court records. Her attorney and a bank spokesperson could not immediately be reached. Sgroi is the second Staten Island resident busted this week for allegedly stealing from the bank where they worked. Danny Lazkani, 28, swiped approximately $13,000 from the accounts of more than a dozen customers while working as a teller at the Santander Bank branch in West Brighton, authorities allege. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Prosecutors on Thursday announced the filing of a certificate of indictment against a Clifton man accused of brutally beating a 57-year-old woman on her way to a prayer meeting in that community several weeks ago. Linden Beaton, who is considered to be a person of interest in a separate case involving the death of 69-year-old woman found in Stapleton on Sunday, was not produced at the brief proceeding in Criminal Court. The certificate moves the case to state Supreme Court, St. George, where Beaton, 31, will be arraigned in the near future, possibly as early as next week. The indictment itself hasn't been filed, so specific charges haven't been made public, although Beaton was initially accused of first- and second-degree assault, criminal weapon possession and obstruction of breathing, stemming from the alleged Jan. 5 attack. The victim, Beatrice Kaliku, was walking on Bowen Street near Sobel Court Park when Beaton savagely beat her, authorities allege. Meanwhile, authorities this week said Beaton has been deemed a person of interest in the death of 69-year-old Johynita Jordan. Jordans bruised corpse was found around noon Sunday inside a home on the 700 block of Van Duzer Street, said police. Beaton has not been charged in that case. A Police Department civilian employee and a supervisor were disciplined for wrongly closing Kalikus case. Beaton wasnt arrested until Friday, March 25. Police Commissioner James ONeill has said both cases will continue to be reviewed. "The investigation is not done, he said. Were taking a look at it to make sure that [the clerical error is] is true in this case and theres not more to it. Regarding the indictment, Gillian Kress, Beatons lawyer, said: My client absolutely denies these allegations. We ask that the public not rush to judgement. Kress declined comment with respect to the probe surrounding Jordans death. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Cops arrested a 25-year-old man from Virginia after they allegedly found about 9,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes during a car stop in Eltingville. Anwar Hafeed, 25, of Richmond, Va., was curbed by police at about 12:40 a.m. Tuesday at the corner of Wilson and Wainwright avenues after the suspect failed to obey a stop sign, according to the criminal complaint and police. Hafeed was alone in a 2019 black Chevrolet Tahoe that allegedly contained the cigarettes. The cigarette packages did not bear any New York City or State tax stamps on them, according to the criminal complaint. Hafeed faces various various counts of evading the cigarette and tobacco products taxes. The suspect has been released on his own recognizance and is due back in Criminal Court on April 10, according to public records. An attorney for the suspect could not be reached immediately for comment. Pictures of the confiscated cigarettes were posted on the 123rd precinct Twitter feed. (Island Government is a periodic roundup of Staten Island political and civic events.) CITY HALL -- Congressman Max Rose (D-Staten Island) has introduced a bill that would push the federal government to construct the East Shore Seawall. Before we get to hell and high water, this Seawall needs to get built, Rose said. Im going to keep fighting to make this happen by law, but I see no reason why the administration cant blow through the red tape now. They have the power, its time to make this happen. Thousands of hard working Staten Islanders are being crushed by rising flood insurance costs and the fear of not if, but when, the next storm will come. Red tape between federal agencies over waterfront access has held up the project. The seawall would protect vulnerable areas of Staten Island from severe flooding, as well as lower insurance premiums for residents. Roses legislation would authorize the easement for state and local governments to the lands needed to construct the seawall, which is currently owned by the federal government as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Roses office said funding for construction has already been appropriated and authorized by the federal, state, and local governments. MALLIOTAKIS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WEBSITE, STARTS FUNDRAISING Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) launched an official campaign website Thursday to solicit donations in her run for Congress. Sometime, later this year, Ill have to make an important decision; should I enter the race for New Yorks 11th Congressional District. It will be a tough race and a great deal will be at stake, Malliotakis said. It will also cost a lot of money to win. As I contemplate the challenges ahead, I have launched this website to help raise funds for the race. The launch of her campaign website comes after she filed with the Federal Election Commission last week signaling a first move in running for Congress in 2020. Malliotakis said she can continue to raise money for both offices, but will have to give up her Assembly seat she has held for nearly a decade at the end of her current term if she decides to continue to pursue her run for Congress. Not just Malliotakis, but Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), a Trump surrogate who co-chaired his presidential campaign, also traveled up to Washington, D.C. earlier this week and met with officials in the White House, the National Republican Congressional Committee, fundraiser representatives and consultants. Meantime, former Republican congressman Michael Grimm, has also said he leaving the door wide open on a 2020 Congressional run. ISLANDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP TO CONDUCT LOCAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation will conduct a local needs assessment for the entire borough, through the help of funding from State Sen. Diane Savinos office. The assessment will provide an overview of the existing demographic, land use, and real estate conditions in the borough and will eventually produce a plan which will lay out a set of recommendations and a road map for issues related to housings, transportation, infrastructure, resiliency, open space, as well as economic and business development. LANZA TO VISIT CSI NURSING SIMILATION LAB State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) will pay a visit to the College of Staten Islands High-Fidelity Nursing Simulation Laboratory on Feb. 1 to tour the newly upgraded laboratory. Lanza has provided funding to upgrade the laboratory to help it land state of the art wireless communication and patient simulators. The lab features an upgraded, wireless, simulation system, as well as upgraded simulators for the current simulation center that functions and adapts to healthcare scenarios quickly, challenging students to make decisions in real time. The high fidelity simulation center is an incubator for the development of requisite critical thinking and clinical reasoning that is necessary for the delivery of safe, quality nursing care in a dynamic healthcare environment, said Dr. Natalie Fischetti, interim chairperson of the Department of Nursing. MALLIOTAKIS TO HOLD PRESS PROPERTY TAX PRESS CONFERENCE Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) and Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-Staten Island) will host a press conference Saturday. Feb. 2, to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to add New York City in his proposed property tax cap. In his State of the State address earlier this month, Cuomo said he would make the local property tax cap of 2 percent permanent. Malliotakis wants to ensure the tax cap extension is given to New York City too. The press conference will take place at 1 p.m. at Malliotakis district office at 11 Maplewood Place. Its that time of the year again, when the voices of the people announce the nations top brands and services. . The SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards will take place on the 27th of February at Waters Edge. The awards are a unique concept where the citizens of Sri Lanka, from all walks of life, vote for their favorite brands, personalities, companies, advertisements, films and songs among other subjects. The story of the SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards began 13 years ago with the appointment of Mr.Nishan Navaratne as President of SLIM. The concept was aimed at providing a platform for the people of Sri Lanka to vote for their favorite brands. To achieve its objective,the institute formulated an all-island survey conducted by Nielsen Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Thus was the SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards program born. The SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. The process of selecting winners is based on a nationwide quantitative one-on-one survey covering men and women of all ethnicities between the ages of 15-60, over a period of five months using a structured questionnaire. The survey covers all districts in the country and is conducted by trained interviewers from Nielsen Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, who visit the districts using a random selection process among households in each street to be interviewed. Respondents are questioned about their favorite brands, services and personalities from a cross section of householders. This year will see the inclusion of over 5000 Sri Lankan citizens selected for the survey, making it the largest number of participants included. As the national body of marketing, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing has been in service since 1970. SLIMs ultimate purpose is to contribute to the economic growth of the nation, by fostering the development and growth of marketing as a key element in management, advising and assisting in the formation, implementation and appraisal of national policies on any matter connected with marketing, both within Sri Lanka and abroad. It also promotes, maintains and upholds professional and ethical principles and standards in the practice of marketing in Sri Lanka. For almost half a decade SLIM has stood at the centerof Sri Lankas marketing fraternity. The SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards program is but one of the many initiatives by SLIM to promote and encourage the development of the countrys marketing industry. However, the SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards hold a special place in the long list of the institutes events due to it being the only event of its kind that reflects the choices of the people. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Groundhog Day is celebrated each year on Feb. 2, when the country relies on a rodent to predict the weather. While New York City is familiar with Staten Island Chuck, just how much do we know about that other famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil? Here are some fun facts about Phil and his Groundhog Club, based in Punxsutawney, Pa. THE PROCLAMATION Every year on Feb. 2, Phil emerges from him his burrow in Gobblers Knob and communicates with the president of Punxsutawney Groundhog Club -- speaking to him in a language only the president understands. The proclamation is then translated to the nation. HOW OLD IS PHIL? According to Groundhog Club members, there has only been one Phil -- and he has been predicting the weather for over 120 years. THE CLUB The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was established in 1887 by a group of groundhog hunters. The editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper was also a member of the group, and claimed that Punxsutawney Phil was the only true weather-predicting groundhog. The furry rodent has developed a large following, making him famous nationwide. THE INNER CIRCLE The inner circle is made up of a group of dignitaries who are responsible for caring out the Groundhog Day traditions and celebration. The group also manages Phils health and takes care of him all year long. FAMOUS FACES Phil has met some very prominent people, and has had nationwide exposure over the years. Phil traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1986 to meet with President Reagan. He met Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburg in 1987. Phil appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1995. In 2001, Phils prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square. PHILS PREDICITIONS Groundhog Club records show that Phil has seen his shadow 104 times since he made his first prediction in 1887. The science behind the predictions is based on whether Phil sees his shadow. If the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog doesnt see his shadow, spring will come early. THE FIRST PREDICTION Phil made his first recorded prediction on Feb. 2, 1887, and it was also the first official trip to Gobblers Knob. Phil saw his shadow for the first time that same year. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Six years ago, a jury needed only a half-hour to convict a Tompkinsville felon of burglarizing a Meiers Corners home in 2011. On Thursday, a second jury convicted David Orama just as quickly at his retrial. The bespectacled 60-year-old defendant, who sat with his hands folded on the defense table, displayed no emotion as the foreman announced the verdict of guilty of second-degree burglary. Jurors found that Orama had broken into a Wheeler Avenue home on Nov. 30, 2011, with the intent to commit a crime. The original jury had convicted the defendant of the same crime. However, last year, an appellate court, citing errors by Oramas original lawyer, unanimously reversed that conviction and ordered a new trial. Orama, who as a persistent felon was serving a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, remained behind bars pending the retrial in state Supreme Court, St. George. During the original trial, Oramas original lawyer presented a mistaken-identity defense. On appeal, Orama contended the attorney was ineffective for failing to request the court submit to the jury a misdemeanor charge of second-degree criminal trespass as a lesser-included offense of second-degree burglary, a felony. In that case, the jury could have considered the criminal trespass charge if they deemed prosecutors had not proven the burglary charge. Under state law, a person is guilty of second-degree criminal trespass if they knowingly enter or remain unlawfully in a dwelling. Second-degree burglary entails knowingly entering or unlawfully remaining in a dwelling while intending to commit a crime. Orama did not have any of the victims property in his hands when the man confronted the defendant in his basement. In contesting Oramas appeal, prosecutors contended mistaken identification was the strongest possible defense, the ruling said. Defense counsel could have tactically chosen not to request the lesser-included trespass charge as part of an all-or-nothing defense, prosecutors reasoned. That is, the jury had to convict or acquit Orama of burglary, without the option of considering the lesser trespass charge. But the appellate court opined there was less-than-compelling evidence Orama had stolen something. Taking that into consideration, along with his bizarre behavior on being discovered the defendant exclaimed Hallelujah! and waved his arms in a circular motion - it could be argued Orama intended to commit trespass but not burglary, the appellate court said. A trespass conviction would have resulted in a sentence of no more than a year in jail. In his summation on Wednesday, defense lawyer Louis Gelormino contended prosecutors case was rife with reasonable doubt. The victim, who testified at the retrial, could not identify Orama as the burglar, said Gelormino, who did not represent the defendant at his first trial. The victim also testified the man he confronted in his basement bolted and discarded a blue shirt as he ran. However, the shirt was never found, Gelormino said. In addition, Orama had gloves on his hands when cops arrested him less than two blocks away; however, the victim mentioned nothing about gloves, said Gelormino. Furthermore, there was no forensic evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints linking Orama to the crime, and the victim said nothing was taken from his basement, the lawyer said. This whole mess could have been cleaned up with fingerprints and DNA, Gelormino told jurors. No fingerprints. No DNA. Why? If his client was guilty of anything, he said, at most it was trespassing, not burglary. In her closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Nancy Fayed countered there was no question of identity. The victim had gotten a good look at the thief in his basement and followed the man when he fled. The victim called 911 twice during chase, giving police a minute-by-minute account of the thiefs actions, said Fayed, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Darren Albanese. The victim followed the burglar for a block-and-a-half to a location on Perry Avenue, she said. Responding officers found Orama there, holding a shovel and wearing batting gloves, 11 minutes after homeowners initial confrontation with him, said Fayed. Orama matched the physical description the victim gave police, to include what he was wearing and having a pair of orange-framed glasses in his pocket, she said. The victim told cops the thief was wearing orange-framed glasses, said Fayed. There was no reason to check for fingerprints since Orama was wearing gloves, she said. And the fact Orama didnt have any of the victims belongings in his possession, doesnt constitute a lack of intent to commit a burglary, said Fayed. The defendant, she said, had set aside some of the victims possessions on a table with the intent to filch them. The only reason he didnt steal anything is because was interrupted, said Fayed. He broke into a complete strangers home. He broke in to steal from him. Orama faces up to 25 years to life in prison if sentenced again as a persistent felon. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14 in state Supreme Court, St. George, before Justice William E. Garnett. Todays top-count conviction against the defendant proves that a life of crime truly does not pay, as he will continue to serve significant prison time for his actions, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in a statement. I want to commend ADAs Nancy Fayed and Darren Albanese for their tremendous work in retrying this case and I thank the jury for their service, said McMahon. Gelormino declined comment outside court. Orama has spent most of his adult life behind bars. He was paroled in December 2010 after serving more than 30 years of a 15-year-to-life sentence for attempted murder, show online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. A law enforcement source said Orama was arrested in Brooklyn in March 1978 for shooting at two cops attempting to arrest him for drug sales. Previously, in July 1974, Orama was busted in Brooklyn for robbing a 79-year-old man of $9, said the source. He was 16 then. Orama was convicted of second-degree robbery in that case and released from prison in November 1977 after serving a three-year sentence, a Corrections spokeswoman previously told the Advance. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Traveling along Lighthouse Hill, often used as a shortcut for Staten Island drivers to travel between Richmond Road and Manor Road, can often be a precarious proposition due to the narrow, winding roads. Adding to the existing hazardous conditions are impatient drivers, regularly seen disobeying traffic laws in an effort to cut down their commute times. Justine Montalbano, a Lighthouse Hill resident of about four years, has shared multiple videos that show various vehicles, including a school bus, blow through a three-way stop sign intersection on a regular basis. The intersection, located at the corner of London Road and Terrace Court/Meisner Avenue, had previously featured just one stop sign coming off London Road, allowing Terrace Court/Meisner Avenue drivers to continue without stopping, according to Montalbano. Approximately two years ago, the Department of Transportation (DOT) implemented a three-way stop at the intersection, requiring all vehicles to come to a complete stop before proceeding, Montalbano said. However, as seen in the video above, drivers on Terrace Court/Meisner Avenue routinely ignore the posted stop sign. They put this three-way stop sign and its like its non-existent, said Montalbano. They just completely disregard this stop sign. She is concerned that unless something is done to address the issue, vehicles turning left onto London Road could be T-boned by oncoming drivers ignoring the stop sign. Montalbano has asked the NYPD to increase enforcement in the area, but said she feels that a reconfiguration of the intersection may be required in order to truly address the issue. Eventually I think theyre going to have to put a light here, said Montalbano. The Commanding Officer is aware and is addressing the condition, according to an NYPD spokesperson. After being alerted to the issue, NYPD enforcement was spotted at the intersection Thursday morning, but shortly after they left, drivers continued ignoring the stop sign, according to Montalbano. The DOT did not respond to request for comment by the time of publication. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Petland Discounts plans to close its two Staten Island locations -- in New Dorp and New Springville -- as part of a mass closing of all operations after the pet store chains owner and founder died. Neal Padron, 74, who launched the business in 1965, died earlier this month of bladder cancer, according to PetProductNews.com. The chain eventually grew to more than 100 stores in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, according to nj.com. The stores are expected to liquidate all stock beginning in March, the report says. "Mostly online is killing us. Amazon, Chewy.com, a Queens store manager told the Queens Daily Eagle. Its been dead today. No one has come in. And when they do come in, they say, I can get this cheaper online. Petland Discounts has maintained a presence on Staten Island for decades, serving thousands of Staten Islanders and their pet dogs, cats, birds and fish. Aside from the New Dorp and New Springville stores that will be closing down, the company recently closed a store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond. Most of the Petland Discounts website has been taken down, informing customers the website is currently under construction. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER MANHATTAN, N.Y. The former Staten Island man who filmed Eric Garners fatal encounter with an NYPD officer is likely to be the first witness at the cops department trial this spring. Ramsey Orta, who is currently incarcerated in a facility in upstate New York for drugs and weapons charges, will testify via video or will be produced in the courtroom, said attorney Stuart London after a brief hearing Thursday at 1 Police Plaza. Video taken by Orta showed Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo wrestle Garner to the ground while Garner could be heard repeatedly shouting I cant breathe. Orta is my hero, said Garners mom, Gwen Carr, after the proceeding. Without him we would not have been here today. We would not have known what actually happened to Eric. I think they dont want him to come because hes the key witness..he should be there, she added. Pantaleo, who did not attend the hearing, will likely take the stand in his own defense, London added. This case is going to come down to the video, experts and the medical testimony, he said. The NYPD is being coy about who trained Pantaleo during his time at the Police Academy. During the conference, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) was given a witness list of 33 instructors who could have potentially trained the disgraced cop. We havent been able to identify the instructors who trained Officer Pantaleo, said Suzanne OHare, deputy chief prosecutor of the Administrative Prosecution Unit. London said he knows who the instructor is because the witness has previously testified before the federal grand jury. The CCRB is trying to ascertain who the instructor was at the academy, he said after the hearing. "Ive already spoken to him hes the instructor who taught him the use of force and the use of the seatbelt method. The CCRB has charged Pantaleo with using a chokehold to subdue Garner during the fatal encounter on July 17, 2014 in Tompkinsville. The defense maintains he used a seatbelt maneuver to take down Garner during his arrest. A grand jury declined to indict the officer on criminal charges several years ago. OHare said she plans on calling 17 witnesses, not including the 33 names from the instructor list. London has at least 22 people on his witness list. Carr hopes the department isnt playing games in an attempt to delay the trial set for May 13. The trial will be about eight or nine days, London said. Theyre not releasing the name of Pantaleos trainer when he was in the academy, she said. I hope they go forward with this trial and dont delay it further. I hope Pantaleo is fired, she added. Garner, 43, died when cops attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose cigarettes near Bay Street and Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville. The case is on for April 4 at 1 Police Plaza. NEW YORK New York City and U.S. housing officials announced a deal Thursday that will keep the citys massive public housing system out of federal receivership, but require the city to spend $2.2 billion over the next few years fixing chronic problems with lousy living conditions, lead paint and lack of heat. The settlement, announced by U.S. Housing Secretary Ben Carson and Mayor Bill de Blasio, resolves a lawsuit in which federal authorities filed on behalf of the system's 400,000 tenants. It would put the New York City Housing Authority under the eye of a federal monitor, but stop short of a solution suggested by a federal judge last fall, which would be to take the system out of the city's hands and place it under federal control. Carson called the agreement a "positive outcome" for the nation's largest public housing system. De Blasio, a Democrat, called it "a partnership to get things done for the residents." Tenants in the system have complained for decades about rodents, mold and heat and hot water outages. Authority chairwoman Shola Olatoye last year after an investigation revealed years of falsified reports about lead paint inspections. An earlier $2 billion deal between the city and federal government was rejected by U.S. District Judge William Pauley in November. Pauley, after hearing testimony from tenants, said that earlier settlement wouldn't do enough to improve conditions. He suggested the federal government should take over the authority and gave the city a mid-December deadline to file papers outlining a repair plan to avert a federal takeover. The deadline was later extended to Jan. 31. HUD and the U.S. attorney's office for Manhattan said this new settlement won't be subject to judicial approval because the lawsuit is being withdrawn. De Blasio has blamed years of neglect by the state and federal governments as well as previous mayoral administrations for NYCHA's ills and insisted that a federal takeover would only make things worse. HUD said it expects to give the system $1.5 billion this year. The monitor, selected later by HUD and the U.S. attorney with input from the city, will get regular reports on the attempts to improve the system. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Local bus riders will soon have the opportunity to offer valuable feedback regarding the boroughs ailing bus network. New York City Council Speaker and Acting Public Advocate Corey Johnson will wrap up his five-day, five-borough tour, encouraging residents to take the 2019 Bus Rider Survey, this Friday at the Eltingville Transit Center at 4 p.m. The survey, which can be found and completed online, looks to compile comprehensive data regarding why residents use the buses, how satisfied they are with their current service and possible ways to improve upon it. Improving the citys transportation system is going to take a lot of hard work and careful planning over the next several years. It will also take coordination between the city and state, but our most important resource for creating those plans is you the rider. If the system isnt working for you, it isnt working for New York City," according to the survey site. Johnson, who will be joined Friday by Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), began his five-borough tour in the Bronx on Monday, before traveling to Brooklyn on Tuesday, Manhattan on Wednesday, and Queens on Thursday, ultimately concluding the tour on Staten Island on Friday. A similar survey was rolled out in early January, when Johnson was joined at the St. George ferry terminal by Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and Borelli to discuss citywide subway and rail service. Page Content Legislation involving the minimum wage aims to raise pay for people with severe disabilities but could result in eliminating their jobs. Congressional Democrats recently introduced the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour by 2024. It would also stop the Department of Labor (DOL) from allowing certain employers to pay workers with significant disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. Nearly 2,000 employers currently participate in the Section 14(c) subminimum wage certificate program, usually as community rehabilitation centers, sometimes known as sheltered workshops. These employers often contract work from the federal government and local businesses. [SHRM members-only online discussion platform: SHRM Connect] In July 2018, there were about 153,000 U.S. workers with disabilities being paid a subminimum wage under federal law, according to the DOL. The wage waiver was created under the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 and was meant to help people with severe disabilities, including mental illness and developmental disabilities, find work. Some workers are paid less than $1 an hour, as their productivity is significantly lower than that of workers without disabilities. In May 2015, New Hampshire became the first state to ban paying subminimum wages to workers with disabilities. Maryland (in 2016) and Alaska (in 2018) have since done the same. "Eliminating the 14(c) exception is long overdue," said Cheryl Bates-Harris, senior disability advocacy specialist at the National Disability Rights Network, the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States. "What started out as a good idea many years ago has become a method to exploit people with disabilities," she said. "Businesses are making millions of dollars sending contract work from the government to [rehab work centers] and paying people $1 an hour or $2 an hour." Bates-Harris added that the subminimum wage "was not intended to be a lifelong thing" and rather, it should be a stepping stone while workers learn job skills. "The intent of sheltered workshops was to prepare people for competitive employment, but the competitive employment never comes, keeping workers with disabilities trapped in poverty," she said. On the other hand, opponents of the legislation say that raising the minimum wage for workers with severe disabilities to $15 an hour would likely lead to those workers losing the chance to work at all. "Section 14(c) is there for a reason," said Tammy McCutchen, the former head of the Wage and Hour Division under President George W. Bush and an attorney in the Washington, D.C., office of Littler Mendelson. "The exception ensures that jobs are available for workers with significant disabilities. Eliminating it will lead to the loss of those jobs and the shuttering of the community rehab centers that employ them." McCutchen explained that the exception allows employers to pay a worker with a disabilitywho may not be able to produce as much as a worker without a disabilitya lower wage. "If the disabled worker can only produce 50 percent of the widgets of the nondisabled worker, then the Fair Labor Standards Act allows payment of 50 percent of the wage," she said. "This area is highly regulated and very closely watched by the DOL. Employers must first survey the prevailing wage for the position in question and then time-survey the productivity of a disabled worker against the productivity of a nondisabled worker." She recommended that the DOL first conduct a comprehensive study on the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities and determine if eliminating the lower wage in favor of paying a higher federal minimum wage would be positive or negative for affected workers. More Resources and Support Needed Bates-Harris said that getting sheltered-workshop employers to make bigger investments in assistive technology, job accommodations and skills-matching programs is more critical than eliminating the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. "It's appalling to me that workers with disabilities are not provided technology or technology assessments that would help anyonetechnology enhances everyone's productivity," she said. "This proposal may be the leverage to get these employers to re-examine their businesses, change their business models and look at placing people into appropriate jobs. If I go to work in a sheltered workshop, and all of the available jobs require fine motor skills, and I have cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, then I won't be good at that job. I understand that. But we don't see any attempt in these facilities to get to know what the person can do and what kinds of supports he or she would need to be successful and move on to integrated employment. We want these workers to be looked at as individuals with capabilities and build supports around them, not just as cheap labor." (Colombo) REUTERS: Sri Lankas rupee ended over 1 percent firmer yesterday, posting a weekly gain of 2.8 percent, as foreign investors purchased government securities after an International Monetary Fund (IMF) statement and governments US $ 1 billion debt repayment boosted confidence. The rupee closed at 176.60/177.00 per dollar, compared with Thursdays close of 178.40/60, market sources said. The currency has appreciated 3.4 percent so far this year. Investor confidence in Sri Lanka is stabilising after the country repaid a US $ 1 billion sovereign bond in mid-January, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy told Reuters on Monday. Worries over heavy debt repayment after a 51-day political crisis that resulted in a series of credit rating downgrades dented investor sentiment as the county is struggling to repay its foreign loans, with a record US $ 5.9 billion due this year, including US $ 2.6 billion in the first three months. The IMF on January 16 said it would resume discussions in February for further disbursal of part of a US $ 1.5 billion loan. Fitch Solutions Macro Research, a subsidiary under Fitch Group on Thursday downgraded its average forecast for the rupee to 186.00 per U.S. dollar for this year and 192.00 in the next year, from 177.00 and 183.00 respectively. It expected the rupee to continue weakening over the short term due to a worsening terms of trade, although the pace of depreciation is likely to ease from what was seen during the 2018 constitutional crisis. The rupee dropped 16 percent in 2018, and was one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia due to heavy foreign outflows. The political crisis had dented investor sentiment and delayed Sri Lankas borrowing plans. Sri Lanka was plunged into political turmoil when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and then dissolved parliament. Wickremesinghe was later reinstalled as premier. A court ruled the move was unconstitutional. The Colombo Stock Index ended 0.13 percent weaker at 5,982.05 yesterday. The bourse rose 0.06 percent for the week, but declined 1.03 percent in January. Turnover was Rs.810.6 million, less than last years daily average of 834 million rupees. Foreign investors net sold Rs.82.5 million worth shares on Thursday. They have been net sellers of Rs.2.3 billion worth of stocks so far this year and Rs.15.7 billion since the political crisis began on October 26, 2018. Sharon, PA (16146) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press SEOUL The funeral procession of a woman sexually enslaved by Japanese soldiers as a girl during WWII concluded Friday near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, where Kim Bok Dong had protested for decades against what she called Japanese failure to come to terms with its wartime brutality. Hundreds of mourners, many dressed in black and holding paper cutouts of yellow butterflies that the 92-year-old had adopted as a symbol, crowded around a bronze statue of a girl representing the thousands of Asian women experts say the Japanese military forced into front-line brothels as it pursued colonial ambitions. WASHINGTON The United States is suspending one of the last major nuclear arms control treaties with Russia after heated conversations between the two powers recently failed to resolve a long-running accusation that Moscow is violating the Reagan-era treaty. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision Friday as the Trump administration maintained that the Russian government has been unwilling to admit that a missile it has deployed near European borders violates the terms of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Pompeo and his deputies have insisted that Moscow destroy the missile. Instead, the government of President Vladimir Putin counter-accused the United States of violating the treatys terms because of the way in which it has deployed launchers for antiballistic missile systems in Europe. Countries must be held accountable when they break the rules, Pompeo told journalists at the State Department. But while the U.S. has insisted Russias actions sank the treaty, the Trump administrations real aim is to broaden its prohibitions to include China. Constrained by the treatys provisions, Washington has been prevented from deploying new weapons to counter Chinas efforts to cement a dominant position in the Western Pacific and keep U.S. aircraft carriers at bay. China was still a small and unsophisticated military power in the mid-1980s, and not a signatory to the treaty that was negotiated between the U.S. and a rapidly weakening Soviet Union. By contrast, much of Beijings growing nuclear arsenal currently consists of missiles that fall into the distance ranges that are prohibited by the treaty that applies only to Russia and the United States. The issue now is whether the administration has a plan for what comes next, said Pranay Vaddi, a fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department official who worked on nuclear arms control issues. There is no question that the Russians committed a violation. But it is not militarily significant because it doesnt change the balance of power in Europe. With the treaty on its last legs, the question is whether Pompeos announcement will result in a flurry of last-minute negotiations with Moscow which seems unlikely or whether it will accelerate the Cold War-like behavior among the United States, Russia and China. David E. Sanger is a New York Times writer. TEHRAN Iran on Friday began celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, overturned 2,500 years of monarchical rule and brought hard-line Shiite clerics to power. The climactic events that year from revolutionaries in the streets of Tehran to blindfolded American hostages in the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis months later not only changed Irans history but also helped shape todays Middle East. The festivities start every year on Feb. 1 the day Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned home from France after 14 years in exile, to become the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Across Iran, sirens wailed from trains and boats, while church bells tolled at 9:33 a.m. the exact time that Khomeinis chartered Air France Boeing 747 touched down 40 years ago at Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport. The festivities, known as the Ten Days of Dawn, conclude on Feb. 11, the date Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis government collapsed after brief clashes between some army units and revolutionary gunmen, following nationwide protests. As part of the celebrations, many Tehran buildings, mostly government institutions and offices, were draped in the colors of Irans green, white and red flag while multicolored lights decorated the main streets. Car drivers turned on their headlights and honked in celebration as helicopters dropped clusters of flowers along Khomeinis 21-mile route from the airport to the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran where he made his first speech back home and where his tomb stands today. Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani paid homage Wednesday at Khomeinis tomb to renew allegiance to him. At a ceremony at the tomb Friday, Ahmad Jannati, head of a constitutional watchdog that vets candidates for presidential and parliamentary elections, slammed what he described as U.S. psychological warfare against Iran in the form of cruel sanctions. The enemies today have targeted the economy to make Iranians feel pessimistic about Islam, said Jannati, a hard-line cleric. Last year, the Trump administration pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that curbed Irans nuclear program in return for lifting of economic sanctions. The U.S. reimposed its sanctions in November. Germany, France and Britain, which have worked to preserve the nuclear deal, announced Thursday they have established a new system so their companies can continue trading with Iran without incurring U.S. penalties for doing so. Nasser Karimi is an Associated Press writer. HONG KONG Hong Kongs High Court refused on Friday to allow three transgender men to be recognized as males on their official identity cards because they have not undergone full sex-change operations. The ruling was seen as a blow to the fledgling LGBT movement in the semiautonomous Chinese city of 7.4 million people, which is preparing to host the 2022 Gay Games. The three, identified as Henry Tse, Q and R, are shown on their ID cards as having been born female, but are undergoing hormone therapy. A full sex change would require the removal of female sexual organs, making them sterile. Appearing in court, Tse unfurled a banner that read, Forced Sterilization is cruel and inhumane. Recognize our Rights NOW! In his ruling, Judge Thomas Au wrote that the change of gender entry stated in the ID card does not only concern the private right of the transgender person but also the wider public interest. Like many Asian societies, Hong Kong has become more open about gender issues, although the legal system is sometimes slow to follow. Amnesty International called the judgment a missed opportunity to address the discrimination transgender people in Hong Kong face. No one should be forced to undergo gender affirming surgery in order to have their gender legally recognized, said Man-kei Tam, director of Amnesty International Hong Kong. Fridays decision follows a ruling last week by Japans Supreme Court upholding a law that effectively requires transgender people to be sterilized before they can have their gender changed on official documents. That ruling was widely denounced by human rights and LGBT activists. Violet Law is an Associated Press writer. DAKAR, Senegal Boko Haram has killed at least 60 people in a devastating attack on the northeastern Nigeria border town of Rann, Amnesty International said Friday, calling it one of the deadliest assaults by the extremist group in its nearly decadelong insurgency. Fighters on motorcycles drove through the town near the Cameroon border on Monday morning, setting houses on fire and killing people left behind, the international rights group said in a series of Twitter posts. The fighters also chased residents fleeing the massive attack and killed several outside town. Lashing winds with isolated gusts up to 80 mph will accompany a powerful winter storm poised to barrel across the Bay Area Friday night. On Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service upgraded a high wind watch to a more severe warning in effect 3 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday for the entire region. "Trees and power lines will go down with near-certainty," says Ryan Walbrun, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Bay Area. "Stuff will be flying around the city. Scaffolding will be coming off buildings. Trees falling on cars and houses and everything." ALSO: Color-rich sunrise wows Bay Area residents ahead of big storm While more typical wind events impact higher elevations, this system will also blow howling winds into the valleys. "I think the concern with this one, is it will be a widespread damaging wind event even in lower elevations that usually don't get strong winds," Walbrun says. Southeast winds will average 25 mph to 35 mph with isolated gusts ranging from 50 mph to 65 mph and possibly even up to 80 mph. The wind will most likely start to crank up between 3 p.m and 5 p.m. Friday with the strongest velocities occurring between 10 p.m. and Saturday morning. MORE: Here's when Friday's storm will deliver a one-two punch of high winds and heavy rain Daniel Swain, a climatologist at UC Los Angeles, points to weather models indicating "this could be the strongest wind event in at least several years" in coastal Northern California. Walbrun says it's difficult to quantify the event, but has no doubt, it will cause damage. "It's a very deep surface low that happens to be west of the Golden Gate this time," he says. "it definitely has the potential to be severe." The flight deal gurus at Thrifty Traveler have teamed up with SFGate to provide a weekly roundup of the best domestic and international flight deals from the San Francisco Bay Area. This week our deals include flights from Bay Area airports to Phoenix, Long Beach, Hawaii, Australia, and New York City. All fares listed are round trip. We will only suggest highly restricted "Basic Economy" fares for flights of less than two hours. (This is our weekly feature called Friday Fare Deals. If you are a Bay Area bargain hunter, be sure to tune in each Friday morning or sign up for our free bi weekly email alerts. ) NEW YORK CITY: JetBlue has its nonstop transcontinental route from San Francisco to New York City priced at just under $200 right now. Flights to New York from the Bay Area are usually between $270 - $350, so book ASAP! Flights at this price are available February through April. Flights at this price on JetBlue are also available out of San Jose (SJC) airport. JetBlue flights include advance seat assignment, free carry-on bag, free in-flight WiFi, and more generous legroom. $196 - San Francisco (SFO) to New York City (JFK) - JetBlue LONG BEACH: Get to SoCal for under $100! JetBlue is offering $96 nonstop flights to Long Beach from San Francisco right now. Flights from the Bay Area to Long Beach are typically $160. This flight deal is available in May. More dates February through May are available for $116. JetBlue flights include advance seat assignment, free carry-on bag, free in-flight WiFi, and the most legroom in Economy than any US carrier. $96 - San Francisco (SFO) to Long Beach (LGB) - JetBlue PHOENIX: Airfare to Phoenix has dropped to under $100. Nonstop flights from Oakland to Phoenix on American Airlines are just $94 right now. Flights to Arizona are typically double that price. This American Airlines flight is basic economy, which includes a free carry-on bag but not advance seat assignment. Upgrade for $60 to receive advance seat assignment. $94 - Oakland (OAK) to Phoenix (PHX) - American Airlines (upgrade for $60 more ($154 total) to get advance seat assignment) Check out Thrifty Traveler Premium for daily international flight deal notifications. HAWAII: Volcanic activity on the Big Island has simmered down, and flights to Hawaii are under $300 right now, so book ASAP! Fly from Oakland to Kona from February through May. Fares to Hawaii from the Bay Area are usually closer to $450 during this time. This cheap fare is on Hawaiian Airlines, and includes advance seat assignment and a free carry-on bag. Just one short stop each way. Book quick -- this price wont last long! $299 - Oakland (OAK) to Kona, Hawaii (KOA) - Hawaiian Airlines AUSTRALIA: Fiji Airways cheap flights will save you hundreds on airfare to Australia right now. Cheap fares from San Francisco to Sydney from February through June for just $692, and August through November for $694. There is also some availability at these prices into Melbourne. Flights from San Francisco to Australia are typically $900 - $1,100, so these flights could save you $400. Fiji Airways fares include advance seat assignment, meals, and checked bags. Just one short stop each way. $692 - San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney, Australia (SYD) - Fiji Airways All flights are best found via the Google Flights links list here. New to Google Flights? Check out Thrifty Travelers guide. All fares are round-trip and valid at the time of posting, but as always, are subject to change. Have our Friday Fare deals helped you find a cheap trip? Let us know what you think in the comments! Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. Dr. Vishaka Sooriyabandara receives the appointment letter from Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake Dr. Vishaka Sooriyabandara has been appointed as Chairperson of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka. The appointment letter was handed over to Sooriyabandara by Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake on January 31, 2019, at the ministry premises, in Sethsiripaya. A ministry statement said this was the first time Dissanayake appointed a chairwoman to head a key institution under his ministry. Sooriyabandara is also the first female chairperson of the history of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Sooriyabandara, a Special Degree holder in Political Science and a lawyer, has completed the postgraduate programmes at the University of Peradeniya and University of Oslo. Since 2001, she has been serving as a lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Researchers reported a precipitous decline of western monarch butterflies overwintering in California last year, but a glimmer of hope remains for the once-abundant insect now marching toward extinction. In just one year, the overwintering population of eastern monarch butterflies increased by 144 percent in Mexican forests surveyed annually by the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico and other organizations. The survey found monarchs in 6.05 hectares (14.94 acres) of Mexican forest, up 2.48 hectares (6.12 acres) from the same time last year, WWF said in a press release. Scientists say the increase is attributable to conservation efforts and hospitable weather. "Everything that could go right, did," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, of last year's weather. Last year's super-generation (monarchs who live for nine months) were greeted by warm temperatures in Texas when they flew north in the spring. When the next generation was born, they too were greeted by warm weather, facilitating a comfortable migration. "This was a Cinderella year," Curry said. The eastern monarch's siblings to the west seemed not to fare so well, according to counts of the western monarch populations overwintering in California this year. Eastern and western monarchs are genetically similar and are differentiated predominantly by their geographical locations. The Xerces Society, a nonprofit environmental organization, recorded fewer than 30,000 butterflies in counting sites around California an 86-percent decline since the 2017 count. The population was already staggering low. It's declined by an estimated 97 percent since the 1980s, when bright orange clumps of monarchs clung bountifully to the West Coast's trees. The species will likely go extinct in the next few decades if nothing is done to save them, a 2017 study by Washington State University researchers found. The boon in the eastern monarch population may help to bolster the number of western monarchs. "It's possible that some of those monarchs could migrate into the western population," Curry said. Though eastern monarch overwintering populations increased this year, the population is just barely over the threshold that scientists have determined signifies imminent migratory collapse. Monarchs covered 6.05 hectares (14.95 acres) in the recent Mexican count. The quasi-extinction level is 6.0 hectares (14.83 acres). Scientists blame the decrease in monarch populations on climate change, habitat destruction and the devastation of milkweed, the monarch caterpillars' source of sustenance. Milkweed has been devastated by the increased spraying of herbicides and pesticides, like RoundUp, frequently used to control weeds and pests on industrial corn and soy farms, Curry said. Old trees at California overwintering sites pose another problem, she said. As the trees age and contract disease, managers must cut them down, limiting already meager sites for monarchs to land. To help conserve the butterflies, Curry said more native trees must be planted, before the invasive eucalyptus trees common at monarch habitats are rooted out. She also advised individuals looking to help preserve the butterflies to plant native milkweed and to avoid corn and soy products sown from industrial farms, where pesticide and herbicide spraying is common. Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@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. An anti-vaxxer mom, worried about a measles outbreak, turned to her fellow vaccine truthers on Facebook for advice this week. What should she do to protect her unvaccinated 3-year-old? Some of the suggestions she received in the comments did not appear to be from the anti-vaxx community: "Bring her to the edge of the flat earth. The air is cleaner there." "Have you tried thoughts and prayers?" "Build a wall around her and make the vaccinated people pay for it. Sending my thoughts and prayers." "Did you try sharing her picture on Facebook with the caption '1 like equal one prayer'?" When the post was picked up on Twitter, the responses were just as brutal. Not all comments were critical. One older person suggested she should just let the kid get sick, just as he or she had been as a youth, and develop antibodies that way. Outbreaks of measles, a childhood disease declared to be eliminated in 2000, have been reported in the Pacific Northwest 41 cases as of Friday and Georgia. Clark County, the epicenter of the outbreak in southern Washington, has a 78 percent vaccination rate well below the 95 percent required for "herd immunity" for such a contagious virus. Herd immunity, or community immunity, is when enough of the population is vaccinated to protect those who haven't been vaccinated for medical reasons or because they are too young. Newsweek reported that in recent weeks children who want to get vaccinated despite the wishes of their anti-vaccine parents such as this youth on Reddit have been going online looking for help. "Mature minors" those old enough to understand the consequences of a medical procedure are allowed to consent to vaccinations in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia, according to Vaxopedia. California requires that children be immunized against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps rubella, hepatitis B and varicella (chickenpox) before entering kindergarten. "Since 2000, over 21 million lives have been saved through measles immunizations. However, reported cases increased by more than 30 percent worldwide from 2016," the World Health Organization said in November 2018. MORE: 10 lies anti-vaxxers are saying about the measles vaccine Measles is highly contagious. Someone with the measles virus will infect 90 percent of the unimmunized people in close proximity to them, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can be transmitted through the air via sneezing or coughing, or via an infected surface that is touched. Before mass vaccination, 400 to 500 people in the U.S. died of the measles every year, 50,000 people were hospitalized and 4,000 people developed brain swelling that can cause deafness, Dr. Alan Melnick, public health director for Clark County, Wash., told the Associated Press. One to three cases out of every 1,000 are fatal, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this article. --- Read Mike Moffitt's latest stories and send him news tips at mmoffitt@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. Palo Altohome to Stanford University and dozens of tech companiesis one of the Silicon Valley cities where historic and modern homes now co-exist on the same street. Built in 2017, this 6,000-square-foot modern masterpiece in the city's coveted Crescent Park neighborhood is on the market for $7 million, which is nearly triple the citys median listing price of $2.5 million. A true original, the six-bedroom, 4.5-bath home was inspired by Hawaii. Nowhere is this truer than the windows that retract into walls. In fact, the entire first floor features walls of glass. Theyve always been interested in architecture, listing agent Michael Repka of DeLeon Realty says of the sellers, and they love the tropical Hawaiian type of environment. The sellers were living there while they were doing the construction. The home is a labor of love. The home includes automated control for lighting, temperature, music, and security. And modern materials were used everywhere, including the distinctive choice of stainless steel for the soaking tub in one of the baths. An open kitchenconnecting with a sitting area that features a fireplaceis outfitted with chef-grade appliances (on the island), and a design that features plenty of storage as well as clean lines. Speaking of storage, its seamlessly built into nearly every room, including the home office and the finished lower level. And as for that first-floor bathroom? Its behind a sliding chalkboard panel. Its that basement that helps this house stand above its competitors in the neighborhood. You have an incredible basement that is all lit up, says Repka, thanks to translucent panels embedded into the ceiling. Basements are rare in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a basement this well-conceived is rarer still. Creating outdoor space, particularly in an urban setting with limited space, was also a priority. A two-story deck and artful landscaping on the lot are well-suited for everything from al fresco dining to entertaining a family with young kids. The Crescent Park neighborhood is a huge draw because bustling University Avenuewith shops, restaurants, and a historic movie theateris only a short walk away. Youre within walking distance of downtown, but you still feel like youre in a residential area, says Repka. Unlike other parts of Palo Alto, it doesnt feel as crowded. You have beautiful tree-lined streets. Will a design lover scoop up this retreat or will it be a family (due to the six bedrooms)or both? It will probably be a family that wants to take advantage of the schools, says Repka. The listings also been very appealing to people who understand and love technology but also like to walk to University Avenue and are attracted to a vibrant lifestyle. The post Silicon Valley Style: $7M Ultramodern Pad Wows in Palo Alto appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. The Court of Appeal today fixed for support on February 12, the Quo Warranto petition against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes parliament membership. The Bench comprised Justices A.L.S. Gooneratne and K. Priyantha Fernando. Colombo Municipal Councils UPFA member Sharmila Gonawela who is also the Co-President of Women for Justice cited the Premier, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Parliament General Secretary Dammika Dasanayake and two others as respondents. The petitioner states that the Premier is a shareholder of a private institution which held contracts to supply printing materials to public enterprises. She is seeking the Court to issue an interim order preventing him from functioning as an MP until the final determination of the petition. (S.S.Selvanayagam) Queen Elizabeth II in a message on Sri Lankas Independence Day has extended her best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of the people of Sri Lanka in the coming year. It gives me great pleasure to send Your Excellency Maithripala Sirisena my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of the people of Sri Lanka in the coming year, she said in the message. The Presidential Committee appointed to look into SriLankan Airlines has in one of its recommendations said the airline should team up with a strategic partner, preferably a non-competitor, to revitalise the national carrier, State Minister of Finance, Eran Wickramaratne said yesterday. The Committee, headed by the State Minister, submitted its report within the stipulated time of two weeks to President Maithripala Sirisena. The President is now expected to request the subject minister to proceed with the implementation of these recommendations. He advised that in the absence of an airline partner, a non-airline partner should be found. The State Minister told journalists that the net loss incurred by the national carrier was some US$ 100 million last year. There was a total loss of US$185 million. But with profits of US$80-85 million from ground handling and catering, the net loss was down to US$100 million, he said. The State Minister said the government, as a shareholder, had limit to injecting capital and therefore his committee recommended internal capital generation as an option. He said ground handling, catering and engineering would be one of the better options to generate internal capital. It is very difficult to quantify the economic benefits, he said, while adding that the airline could not be operated purely on financial returns and stressed the need to operate it on economic returns as opposed to financial returns. The Committee had also proposed the closure and start up as another solution to the problem faced by the national carrier, but closure itself would be expensive in the present context. It is not possible. We need to adopt a bankruptcy law. Once such a law is available, it will strengthen the negotiating position, the State Minister said. The Commission says that leasing arrangements were unreasonable according to evidence made available to it. Leasing arrangements should be renegotiated with the total outstanding debt at US$900 million," the State Minister said. He said forming a co-operate structure of the airline governance was a fundamental importance and for that purpose an independent body should be established. The State Minister also said government control was there for a long time, but it had not produced the desired results and instead of the government identity for the airline, he proposed a Sri Lankan identity. (Kelum Bandara) Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 89F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has halted imports of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder until the company proves its product is free from cancer-causing asbestos, two government officials and the products local distributor told Reuters. Stocks of the product already in Sri Lanka can still be sold, but there will be no new imports of the talc, a popular healthcare product across Sri Lanka and much of Asia, until J&J India, from where Sri Lanka imports the product, provides fresh test results. On Dec. 14, Reuters reported that the U.S. drugs and consumer products group knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder, leading to tests in several countries, including in India. The report was based on thousands of pages of company memos, internal reports, and other confidential documents. J&J has described the Reuters story as one-sided, false, and inflammatory. Kamal Jayasinghe, chief executive of Sri Lankas National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA), which is part of the health ministry, said it had informed the distributor, A.Baur & Co., that it would require further tests for it to continue importing the powder. We have held their re-registration and informed the distributor to submit quality reports from an accredited laboratory to ensure there is no asbestos in their products, Jayasinghe told Reuters. The license for A.Baur & Co to import the product expired in December, a second person at the NMRA said. Shalutha Perera, head of consumer for A.Baur, told Reuters the firm has informed J&J in India of the suspension of the licensing process. J&J India directly handles all the regulatory matters, he said. Perera said the NMRA contacted A.Baur in December regarding new asbestos testing. A spokeswoman for J&J India declined to comment on the halt of shipments to Sri Lanka but said the company is in full compliance with current Indian regulatory requirements for the manufacturing and testing of our talc. We are fully cooperating with the Indian government and are awaiting results from their testing, she added. The spokeswoman said the product was routinely tested by both suppliers and independent labs to ensure it is free of asbestos. A shipment of illegal cigarettes worth over Rs.20 million had been seized by the officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) while transporting them in a container lorry near the Wimaladharma Clock Tower in Colombo yesterday, police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said. He said the contraband had been imported from Dubai under the guise of importing ship spare parts. During the investigations, the PNB officers had found 400,000 cigarette sticks, he said. The driver of the container lorry had been arrested and a special investigation was underway to arrest the main suspect who was a businessman from Wattala area, the spokesman added. (Darshana Sanjeewa and T.K.G. Kapila) Pix by T.K.G. Kapila The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development is set to establish Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the future administrative city, as a Megapolis, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He said the Ministry will submit a proposal to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils on the matter in the near future. Speaking at the ceremony to kick start the mixed development and transport hub project amidst the hustle and bustle of Battaramulla, Ranawaka said the land area proposed for the administrative city came under the purview of several local government bodies such as the Maharagama Urban Council, Kaduwela Urban Council, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council and the Kotikawatte-Mulleriya Pradeshiya Sabha. We are fully aware that the relevant mayors and chairpersons will be against this proposal but we are ready to go ahead with it despite the opposition that we will face as this will be a solution for the administration and management of the area. We hope to establish Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte areas as the administrative city within the next five years, he said. Video by Damith SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) In response to a brutal attack in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley earlier this month that left an elderly member of the Chinese community with life-threatening injuries, police will begin holding bilingual office hours to address residents' concerns. According to District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, the office hours will be held every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Asian Pacific American Community Center, located at 66 Raymond Avenue starting on Feb. 6. During those times, bilingual officers who speak both Chinese and English will be available to residents to file reports and follow up on cases. According to Walton, the announcement comes after his office held a community meeting earlier this month following a Jan. 8 assault on an 88-year-old woman at the Visitacion Valley Children's Playground. In that case, the elderly victim suffered facial and skull fractures as well as a brain injury. The 18-year-old suspect, who has since been arrested, also allegedly burglarized her home, police said. The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, her family said on Monday. In the wake of the incident, Walton has called for a new police substation in the area, while Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee said he'd like to see more officers visible along San Bruno Avenue and in the Visitacion Valley area, as well as more cameras. "While this is a short-term solution, I will continue to work with our community, SFPD, and our city departments to establish a permanent substation in Visitation Valley, increase bilingual officers, expand the Community Ambassadors Program and create a community safety plan that is community driven and community implemented," Walton 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) Friends of a Daly City woman who went missing Saturday in San Francisco gathered Thursday at the restaurant where she was last seen to announce a $5,000 reward for information about her whereabouts. Christa Mahoney, 37, was last seen leaving John's Grill near Powell and Ellis streets around 2 p.m., after having eaten lunch there. A short while later, Mahoney's dog Buddy was turned in to San Francisco Animal Care and Control after he was found wandering alone near Union Square. Additionally, Mahoney's wallet and phone were found on the San Francisco Municipal Railway line N-Judah along The Embarcadero, according to Daly City police Sgt. Ron Harrison. Speaking outside of John's Grill Thursday, Mahoney's friend Paula Lykins described Mahoney as a "very outgoing, productive, hardworking" person but, "in the last few months, she's had some pretty significant health problems which have sort of led to some mental health issues." "We're just really, really concerned that she's being taken advantage of and not well and in some way incapacitated and unable to really defend herself and speak up for herself," Lykins said. "It's really concerning that she had not tried to find her dog. The Christa that I know would have walked seven miles to go and locate her dog," she said. John's Grill is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Mahoney, restaurant manager Johnni Konstin said. "Everyone at John's Grill is onboard with this and we really, really hope that she's OK," he said. Based on accounts from restaurant staff on Saturday, Konstin said, "she seemed OK through most of her experience here. Toward the end she seemed a little shaky but nothing out of the ordinary." Harrison said his department is working with San Francisco police to find Mahoney, but at this point they don't suspect foul play. "As far as any significant signs of foul play, we don't have any information on that other than concerning behavior she has exhibited that we are worried about and we want to find her and make sure she's safe," he said. Harrison said investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage from both John's Grill and Muni to find any possible clues. "She was here by herself, had lunch, left alone," he said of the last time she was seen. "She seemed OK, there was nobody following her. It seemed like a normal lunch here at the grill." In addition to the reward announced Thursday, some of Mahoney's friends started a GoFundMe account Tuesday to also raise funds for a reward for information about her whereabouts. The page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/operation-find-christa. Police described Mahoney as being 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 110 pounds, with light brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark coat with a fur hood, long pants and brown boots. Additionally her friends say Mahoney is originally from England and has a slight English accent. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Daly City Police Officer Tommy Yip at (650) 991-8119. 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 Alameda County prosecutor on Thursday asked jurors to find four reputed gang members and associates guilty of murder for the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man in East Oakland in broad daylight in 2016. In her closing argument, prosecutor Stacie Pettigrew ridiculed the contention by defense lawyers that the men, who Oakland police say are members or associates of the Five Kingdom Mafia gang, acted in self-defense when they surrounded and shot Anthony Stevens in the 1400 block of 92nd Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. on July 9, 2016. Showing jurors photos of the four defendants during the shooting, Pettigrew said, "This is not the picture of self-defense" and said surveillance video footage doesn't show any fear on their faces. Pettigrew said the four men were "armed and ready to fire" when they approached Stevens, who was alone in his parked car. Stevens, who had addresses in both San Leandro and Oakland, was armed with a gun but Pettigrew said there's no evidence that he fired it. Standing trial are Anthony Roy Wilson, 27, of Vallejo, Aoderi Qwai Samad, 25, of Berkeley, Derrick Lee McFadden, 22, of Berkeley, and Tyrone Anthony Terrell Jr., 25, who's originally from Berkeley and has ties to Sacramento. A fifth defendant, Kermit Tanner, 23, of Richmond pleaded no contest on Nov. 15 to his role in the shooting and is expected to be released from custody when he's sentenced on March 22. His lawyer said Tanner didn't fire any shots at Stevens. Pettigrew said the fatal shooting of Stevens the morning of July 9, 2016, occurred next to a street memorial for Wilson's half-brother, Roderick Tucker, 21, who died after he was shot multiple times in that area at about 7 p.m. the previous night. Pettigrew said the motive for the shooting of Stevens was revenge and told jurors, "These defendants went to that area armed and ready to do whatever was necessary and acted with hostility in their hearts." But Samad's attorney Steven Alpers said the men simply wanted to talk to Stevens "about the situation" and there's no evidence to show that they believed he was the person who killed Tucker. Alpers said the shooting occurred only after Stevens appeared to reach for his gun when the men approached the car. Alpers said the shooting "was not an organized action" and instead was "a random attack on the spur of the moment." He told jurors that when they watch the video of the shooting, "You see more or less chaos there." Closing arguments in the lengthy trial, which began on Jan. 7, will conclude on Friday and jurors will begin deliberating on Friday afternoon or Monday morning. 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) A Southwest Airlines flight headed to Portland, Ore. safely diverted to Oakland International Airport Thursday after an apparent lightning strike, according to airline officials. Southwest flight 1816 from Los Angeles was departing from LAX when the incident occurred. The flight landed in Oakland Thursday at 10:41 a.m. Eighty-one passengers and five crewmembers were moved to another aircraft and continued their flight. 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. Marin and Sonoma counties will be testing new voting systems in the coming two months. The Marin County Registrar of Voters received three bids on a modern voting system this month, and the three vendors will demonstrate their systems at the Sheraton Hotel in San Rafael on Feb. 13. County residents are invited to see the machines, ask questions and provide feedback to county staff. "The current system has worked really well for 20 years," Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts said. "But the hardware is old and many spare parts are no longer made. Our residents deserve to know the results of an election as promptly as technology allows," Roberts said. Seventy percent or more of registered voters cast ballots by mail, and a faster central accounting system would expedite the count on and after Election Day, Roberts said. The Registrar of Voters Office received 33,000 ballots by mail, personal delivery or from polling places on Election Day in November 2018, Roberts said. "Many verification processes mandated by law are still manual, however. It will still take time to prepare ballots for counting," Roberts said. Marin County has federal and state funding available to lease or purchase new voting equipment. County staff will present an analysis and recommendation whether to lease or purchase to the Board of Supervisors in the spring. The successful bidder's new voting system is expected to be installed in time for the November 2019 election, and running smoothly for the March 2020 primary and November 2020 presidential elections. In addition to the new voting system, the county will have a new accessible voting machine at each polling place, Roberts said. California counties may choose from three state-certified voting machine vendors. The county's Elections Department, Information Services and Technology Department, County Administrator's Office and Marin County Elections Advisory Committee will review and rank the three bids. The new machines will replace equipment dating to 1999. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a contract in August with Dominion Voting Systems Inc. for its new modern voting system known as "Democracy Suite." The new equipment arrived in December and it will be put to the test during an election March 5 in the Palm Drive Health Care District. The new system replaces a 35-year-old ballot style and tallying system. "The new system has modern technology and security features but still uses paper ballots which we know was important to our voters," County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters Deva Proto said. "We are revising procedures to include tally updates throughout the canvas, and the ability to release final results much sooner. We will be more efficient and cost effective," Proto 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. SANTA ROSA (BCN) Police in Santa Rosa Thursday night arrested a man in connection with a homicide. William Armister Amons, 62, of San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of murder, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department. Officers responded Thursday at 9:40 p.m. to a report of a fight that had just occurred near Piner Road. A woman who reportedly witnessed the fight ran into the El Brinquito Restaurant at 810 Piner Road and reported a man was getting beaten with a stick behind a nearby business. Police said the victim was able to give a detailed description of the suspect in the incident. Responding officers located a man lying on the ground behind an industrial building in the 900 block of Piner Road. Police said the victim had visible injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma and died at the scene. A short time later, an officer located a man matching the suspect's description riding a bicycle in the 1700 block of Piner Road. Police said the suspect, identified as Amons, had injuries consistent with a recent physical altercation. Police have identified the victim only as a 50-year-old homeless man from Santa Rosa pending the notification of his family. Police are still investigating the incident and are looking to identify other subjects who were present at the time of the assault. 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. It is reported that former Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has decided not to attend the National Independence Day celebrations to be held at the Galle Face on February 4. When our paper inquired from the Field Marshal about why he was not attending this important event, he said an invitation had not been received by him up until yesterday. He was of the view that if he does not receive due respect for the position he holds, he will not participate at such an event. It is the practice the world over to give due respect to a person who holds the position of a Field Marshal, Fonseka added. A rehearsal of the Independence Day celebrations was held yesterday at the Galle Face Green and the list of guests to be received on a priority basis was announced. Those who took part in the rehearsal claimed that Sarath Fonsekas name was not among those mentioned. When this matter was referred to the Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Local Councils and Local Government, Kamal Padmasiri, he said that he was not in a position to comment on this matter at the moment. A man was fatally shot in Oakland Thursday morning, according to police. Officers responded to the 1900 block of 40th Avenue just after 7 a.m. on report of a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Additional information was not immediately available. A U.S. Marine veteran and filmmaker says he was assaulted by a Vallejo police officer and suffered a concussion just for filming the officer from his front porch on Jan. 22. Adrian Burrell, 28, posted video of the encounter to Facebook this morning and provided it to Bay City News. He has retained civil rights attorney John Burris, who called the case "egregious" and said the officer's use of force was "unnecessary and unreasonable." Vallejo police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A priest with the Diocese of Oakland has been placed on administrative leave as the diocese investigates an allegation of sexual misconduct against a minor by the clergyman, according to diocese officials. Father Alex Castillo, who serves as the diocese's director of Department of Faith Formation and Evangelization and episcopal master of ceremonies, is not allowed to function publicly as a priest during the investigation, said diocese spokeswoman Helen Osman. There have been no interim appointments made to assume Castillo's duties, Osman said. A Marin General Hospital spokeswoman responded Wednesday to a strike planned on Friday by hospital engineers and imaging technicians. Twenty engineers and 65 imaging technicians are striking to protest the hospital's demand that workers pay hundreds of dollars more a month to keep their health plans or accept a lesser plan forcing them to find new doctors, National Union of Healthcare Workers spokesman Matthew Artz said in a news release. The engineers, whose contract expires today, are staging an open-ended strike starting Friday. The imaging technicians' contract expired in October, and they are joining the strike on Friday only, Artz said. Marin General Hospital spokeswoman Jaime Maites said both unions have contracts with numerous hospitals in the region but none of the contracts include health benefits as generous as Marin General's proposal. San Leandro police said their SWAT team executed a search warrant on Thursday morning on behalf of San Francisco police detectives who are investigating a violent robbery in their city. A vehicle that was involved in the robbery in San Francisco was tracked to an address on Preda Street in San Leandro, according to police. Authorities said San Francisco police detectives obtained a search warrant for the location and followed protocol by delivering the order to the San Leandro Police Tactical Operations Team for execution. Police said that at 5 a.m. on Thursday members from the San Leandro's SWAT Team converged on the location and successfully executed the search warrant and the registered owner of the involved vehicle was located and detained without incident. Detectives from San Francisco police and officers from Alameda police were present and helped with the operation, according to police. Friends of a Daly City woman who went missing Saturday in San Francisco gathered Thursday at the restaurant where she was last seen to announce a $5,000 reward for information about her whereabouts. Christa Mahoney, 37, was last seen leaving John's Grill near Powell and Ellis streets around 2 p.m., after having eaten lunch there. A short while later, Mahoney's dog Buddy was turned in to San Francisco Animal Care and Control after he was found wandering alone near Union Square. Additionally, Mahoney's wallet and phone were found on the San Francisco Municipal Railway line N-Judah along The Embarcadero, according to Daly City police Sgt. Ron Harrison. Speaking outside of John's Grill Thursday, Mahoney's friend Paula Lykins described Mahoney as a "very outgoing, productive, hardworking" person but, "in the last few months, she's had some pretty significant health problems which have sort of led to some mental health issues." An expanded 11-judge panel of a federal appeals court on Thursday overturned a San Francisco law that would have required billboard and poster advertisements for sodas and other sugary drinks to carry a health warning label. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed with beverage companies' arguments that the requirement violated their constitutional First Amendment free speech rights. The panel cited a decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court by a 5-4 vote last year stuck down a California law that would have required anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers to post a notice stating that free and low-cost family planning services are available. The appeals court said that under the standards set by the high court, the San Francisco ordinance's requirement that the warning must cover 20 percent of the ad was an undue burden on commercial free speech. Circuit Judge Susan Graber said in the lead opinion that the city hadn't shown that the notices on 20 percent of the space would not risk drowning out the beverage companies' 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. The reopening of The Richmond Plunge, an indoor pool in Richmond, will be celebrated Friday afternoon and evening, city officials said. The celebration will start at 3:30 p.m. and last until 7 p.m. at the pool at 1 E. Richmond Ave. in Point Richmond. A welcome reception and tours will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. families can swim together. Admission is free and drinks and food will be available. A raffle, as well as demonstrations and programs will also be part of the celebration. A homicide suspect was arrested Thursday following a fatal shooting/stabbing Wednesday afternoon in the unincorporated Santa Cruz County community of Aptos, sheriff's officials said. Aptos man Patrick Collins, 36, was arrested on suspicion of murder following the killing Thursday afternoon at a home in the 3100 block of Trout Gulch Road, sheriff's Sgt. Dee Baldwin said. Deputies responded at 4:15 p.m. to the home after the sheriff's office received reports of a shooting. Sheriff's officials said when deputies arrived they found two people seriously injured and another person dead. The injured people were each taken to a trauma center where they were in serious condition earlier Thursday. A federal bankruptcy judge in San Francisco on Thursday gave PG&E Co. permission to go ahead with spending an initial $1.5 billion in bank loans to keep operating during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The $1.5 billion is part of a $5.5 billion set of bank loans the utility arranged on the eve of its bankruptcy filing on Tuesday. The banks will get top priority among creditors in repayment. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali will decide at another hearing on Feb. 27 whether to allow PG&E Co. to spend the remainder of the loan funds. Shareholder-owned PG&E, California's largest utility, provides electricity and natural gas to 16 million customers in Northern and Central California. The San Francisco-based company and its parent holding company, PG&E Corp., cited an estimated $50 billion in lawsuits and claims from the devastating 2017 and the 2018 Northern California fires as the reason for seeking bankruptcy protection. The Chapter 11 process enables PG&E to freeze its debts but keep operating while developing a financial reorganization plan. An expanded 11-judge panel of a federal appeals court on Thursday overturned a San Francisco law that would have required billboard and poster advertisements for sodas and other sugary drinks to carry a health warning. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed with beverage companies' arguments that the requirement violated their constitutional First Amendment free speech rights. The panel cited a decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court by a 5-4 vote last year struck down a California law that would have required anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers to post a notice stating that free and low-cost family planning services are available. The appeals court said that under the standards set by the high court, the San Francisco ordinance's requirement that the warning must cover 20 percent of the ad was an undue burden on commercial free speech. Circuit Judge Susan Graber said in the lead opinion that the city hadn't shown that the notices on 20 percent of the space would not risk drowning out the beverage companies' message. Several hundred city of Oakland employees rallied on the steps of City Hall during the lunch hour on Thursday to ask for higher wages and demand action on the rising vacancy rate at city agencies. Union spokesman Todd Stenhouse said members of Local 21 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers led the rally but workers who belong to other unions, including public works employees, firefighters and service workers, also participated. Local 21 represents engineers, planners, transportation and public works staff, neighborhood service coordinators, accountants, housing services staff, and Head Start program coordinators. Stenhouse said Oakland workers are upset about a compensation study commissioned by the city that found that the salaries of its frontline public service professionals are as much as 10 percent lower than comparable jobs in neighboring jurisdictions. Stenhouse also said the city's cost of living is growing more than 8 percent faster than the wages of its employees, forcing many of them to be priced out of being able to live in Oakland. A chiropractor who allegedly fled Sonoma County nearly two years ago just hours before a jury convicted him of sexual battery on his patients will be arraigned Friday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court. Darius Bunyad, 38, was arrested in Mexico last week and booked into the Sonoma County Jail Wednesday evening for allegedly committing a felony while on bail and willful failure to appear at a court proceeding. Bunyad was allegedly not in court when the jury returned the verdicts and a no bail warrant was issued for his arrest. A resident of Playa del Carmen, Mexico called Santa Rosa police on Nov. 26 to report Bunyad's whereabouts. The resident sent photos of Bunyad and police confirmed they were of Bunyad. The U.S. Marshal's Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted finding Bunyad and he was booked in the Los Angeles County Jail. 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. Elected officials and members of news organizations toured several homeless encampments along Contra Costa County's northern waterfront Wednesday morning in conjunction with the annual point-in-time count, which aims to measure the homeless population in something like a census. Wednesday's count began during the early morning hours as staff and volunteers with Contra Costa Health Services' Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services began visiting known homeless encampments to survey the residents living there. State Sen. Steve Glazer and Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis visited an open field in Antioch, where 33-year-old Victoria has pitched a tent amid some tall piles of stacked-up construction supplies near the Antioch BART station. She lives with her partner, their dog Titan and two cats. They'd prefer to live indoors, but the cost of housing is prohibitive and Victoria said she has trouble finding work due to a medical condition. Meanwhile, living outdoors, one of her biggest concerns is dealing with law enforcement. "They're always harassing us," Victoria said. "They basically come out and tell us 'you have 24 hours or 72 hours,' then they make you move." That process is primarily handled by code enforcement officers, according to a spokesman for the Antioch Police Department, but officers do get involved in a peacekeeping role that can be compared to a civil-standby. This was Glazer's second point-in-time count. He finds that hearing from people like Victoria gives him a better understanding of the challenges faced by his homeless constituents. "What I've found when you go out on the homeless counts and you talk to the folks who are struggling, you get to hear their stories," Glazer said. "In my own personal experience, they're neighbors who have run into trouble and have ended up here," Glazer said. "And they're here because it's still their neighborhood, they know it better than any other place." Further down the delta, that turned out to be the case at a camp in Bay Point where 43-year-old Tiffany Hicks and 53-year-old Wendy Vigil have taken up together for safety and support. Hicks, Vigil and their friend Michael Finnigan, 66, all lived nearby before they became homeless over the last few years. "It's brutal out here for these women," Finnigan said. Hicks pointed out that homeless women like her are particularly vulnerable when living outdoors. She and Vigil routinely get unwelcome visitors at their campsite, and getting caught off guard could mean being sexually assaulted or robbed. "The men try to take advantage of the women out here," Hicks said. She's been known to sprinkle broken glass around their camp so she can hear it break under the feet of anyone attempting to sneak up. She calls it a "booby trap." Hicks and Vigil have also had issues with theft. They said their belongings have been stolen by other homeless people as well as people living in homes. They've had laundry go missing, as well as wigs and identification. "We have to rebuild when everything gets took," Hicks said. The data collected in the count won't be available for weeks, but it will help county staff keep track of ongoing trends affecting the homeless community and local governments may also be able to use that information for the purpose of budget allocation. Last year, their outreach determined that roughly 80 percent of respondents surveyed were living in Contra Costa County when they became homeless, and adults 62 or older were going homeless for the first time at an increasing rate. Conducting the count also gives the county's outreach workers an opportunity to make contact with individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them with services that could help them get into shelters, access food and other resources. More information can be found at www.cchealth.org/h3. 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) Several hundred city of Oakland employees rallied on the steps of City Hall during the lunch hour on Thursday to ask for higher wages and demand action on the rising vacancy rate at city agencies. Union spokesman Todd Stenhouse said members of Local 21 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers led the rally but workers who belong to other unions, including public works employees, firefighters and service workers, also participated. Local 21 represents engineers, planners, transportation and public works staff, neighborhood service coordinators, accountants, housing services staff, and Head Start program coordinators. Stenhouse said Oakland workers are upset about a compensation study commissioned by the city that found that the salaries of its frontline public service professionals are as much as 10 percent lower than comparable jobs in neighboring jurisdictions. Stenhouse also said the city's cost of living is growing more than 8 percent faster than the wages of its employees, forcing many of them to be priced out of being able to live in Oakland. Stenhouse said workers also are upset that the staff vacancy rate has swelled to nearly 17 percent, or more than 740 positions. He said the problem is particularly acute at the city's Department of Transportation, which he said is "woefully understaffed" and has resulted in many people working overtime. The rally marked the beginning of 2019 collective bargaining between the city of Oakland and unions representing most of its employees. Negotiations will begin soon and the city and the unions hope to reach a new agreement before the current contract expires on June 30. City of Oakland spokeswoman Karen Boyd declined to comment on the union members' concerns except to say that the city will address them during negotiations. "We will not bargain in public," Boyd 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) San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday helped celebrate the opening of the city's newest fire station. Fire Station No. 16, located in the city's Cow Hollow neighborhood at 2251 Greenwich Street, was designed to be seismically safe and meet national accreditation standards. In addition to having resilient life-safety systems and accessibility features in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the two-story, 10,870-square-foot building includes a mezzanine and rooftop access. Additionally, the fire station will be equipped with a rotating crew of 33 first responders, with nine firefighters on duty at any given time. It also has an engine truck and a ladder truck. The new station was built to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold certification. "When the next major earthquake hits, our first responders need to be able to immediately get to work helping those who have been affected and restoring critical city services. We cannot risk damage to fire stations and other critical response locations," Breed said in a statement. "The new fire station 16 is a perfect example of the investments the city has made in earthquake safety, and I look forward to working over the coming months to bring people together in support of a new earthquake safety bond to continue to prepare San Francisco for the next major disaster." Outgoing Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, who is expected to retire sometime this year, said in a statement, "With this new state-of-the-art facility, the dedicated men and women of the San Francisco Fire Department will be better equipped to serve the surrounding communities during times of crisis and emergency." Construction on the $14.2 million project was paid for through the city's Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program, according to the Mayor's Office. In 2010, the city's voters approved a $412 million ESER Bond and in 2014, voters approved a second $400 million ESER Bond. 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 ROSA (BCN) A chiropractor who allegedly fled Sonoma County nearly two years ago just hours before a jury convicted him of sexual battery on his patients will be arraigned Friday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court. Darius Bunyad, 38, was arrested in Mexico last week and booked into the Sonoma County Jail Wednesday evening for allegedly committing a felony while on bail and willful failure to appear at a court proceeding. Bunyad was allegedly not in court when the jury returned the verdicts and a no bail warrant was issued for his arrest. A resident of Playa del Carmen, Mexico called Santa Rosa police on Nov. 26 to report Bunyad's whereabouts. The resident sent photos of Bunyad and police confirmed they were of Bunyad. The U.S. Marshal's Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted finding Bunyad and he was booked in the Los Angeles County Jail. Bunyad, of Petaluma, was convicted on March 9, 2017, of six felony charges of sexual battery by fraud and six misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child. Some of the juvenile victims were high school cheerleaders or athletes and the adult female victims were between 27 and 51 years old. The batteries and molestations occurred in examination rooms at Bunyad's Santa Rosa practice. 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. Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said yesterday he had requested the President to dissolve the Western, Southern and Uva Provincial Councils in order to hold elections for all nine provinces on the same day. He said the terms of the Western, Southern and Uva PCs would be expired in a few months, whereas the terms of other Provincial Councils had expired already. The terms of the Western, Southern and Uva Provincial Councils will be expired in a few months and all chief ministers have unanimously decided to dissolve the councils' terms, he said. Responding to a question raised by a journalist on whether the former economic development minister would contest for the Western Province Chief Ministers post from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), he said no such information was received yet. However, the decision to appoint a new chief minister to the Western Province has to be taken by the President. Therefore, there will be no hesitation in appointing Basil Rajapaksa to the post, he said. (Indika Sri Aravinda) MADISON, Wis. - Millions across the US Midwest experienced a freeze normally reserved for the Arctic Circle on Wednesday as temperatures dropped to nearly 50 degrees below zero. The frightful cold, expected to bottom out with record lows Thursday morning, was blamed for several deaths across the region, and fears for the most vulnerable populations soared as night fell. The nearly unthinkable temperatures caused airline gas lines to freeze and electrical grids to collapse, and they kept much of the northern United States home-bound. Power outages roiled swaths of Wisconsin and Iowa, plunging thousands into a brief, unheated darkness. The dry, frigid air froze exposed water instantly, led to spontaneous nosebleeds, and made even brief forays outdoors extremely hazardous. Officials in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota had linked six deaths to the weather as of Wednesday night, including several people who probably froze to death. Governors in Wisconsin and Michigan declared states of emergency and ordered all state government offices closed; some state agencies in Illinois were closed Wednesday, as well. For the regions most vulnerable - even those hardened to the Upper Midwests long winters - this polar vortex has been especially perilous. Even some Midwestern homes were not cold-proofed refuges for hardened residents. Brian Wallheimer, a science writer for Purdue University, corralled his three young children at home in Rockford, Illinois, after schools closed their doors Wednesday. The freezing air infiltrated his-two story home northwest of Chicago, he said, and frost has accumulated on the window sills and door hinges. By Katie Mettler, Alex Horton, Amy B Wang, Angela Fritz(c) 2019, The Washington Post Jan 31, 2019 There was an outstanding amount of Rs.292, 900 owed to SriLankan Catering for food ordered by former Civil Aviation Minister, Priyankara Jayaratne, for several private functions organised by him during his tenure, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was told yesterday. Finance Manager of SriLankan Catering, Nalaka Sanjeewa, informed the Commission that there have been several instances when the former Civil Aviation Minister had ordered food from SriLankan Catering without submitting written requests. He informed the Commission that then CEO of SriLankan Catering, Sarath Fernando, had verbally instructed their financial division not to invoice these orders. The witness added that a luncheon that was organised by the former minister that was catered by SriLankan Catering had cost Rs.600, 000 and the amount was settled by the then government.(Yoshitha Perera) Video by Damith Cabinet approval expected for new FTA negotiation team next couple of weeks FTA talks with India, China and Thailand likely to resume from March onwards By Nishel Fernando Director General of Department of Commerce (DoC) Sonali Wijeratne is tipped to be appointed the Chief Negotiator of Sri Lankas Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation team shortly, as the country plans to resume FTA talks from this March following the completion of the reviewing process of proposed FTAs. It is most likely that the DG of DoC will be appointed as the Chief Negotiator with the approval of the Cabinet, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama told Mirror Business yesterday, on the sidelines of the 17th Exporters Forum held at Export Development Board (EDB) in Colombo. The post of Chief FTA Negotiator remained vacant as former Chief FTA Negotiator K.J. Weerasinghe tendered his resignation, indicating health reasons earlier this year. The move is expected to considerably increase the involvement of DoC in the FTA negotiation process. Several experts in international trade were critical of DoCs limited involvement in the FTA negotiations process, although several DoC officials were included in the core FTA negotiation team and the sub-committee to obtain their technical expertise. The DoC is responsible for foreign trade policy formulation, and all related coordination and implementation matters. However, it comes under the purview of the Industry of Commerce Ministry. The new FTA negotiation team is likely to be consisted of few new members as well as several existing members. Samarawickrama plans to seek Cabinet approval for the new FTA negotiating team within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, the reviewing process of all completed feasibility studies of the on-going FTA negotiations as well as the proposed FTAs are expected to be completed with the involvement of the Commerce Department by end of February. Following the conclusion of the review, Samarawickrama said that the government plans to resume FTA talks with India, China and Thailand while FTA negations with Bangladesh is expected to commence following the completion of a joint feasibility study. The Sri Lankan and Indian FTA negotiators have already completed 11 rounds of negotiations on the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA). Sri Lanka and Thailand launched FTA talks for the proposed FTA in July last year. However, the proposed China-Sri Lanka FTA talks remain stalled for over one year due to disagreements over the schedule of tariff liberalisation. Speaking of Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA (SLSFTA), Samarawickrama said that the agreement can be reviewed in April during the scheduled joint committee meeting between the two countries as stated in the agreement. However, he pointed out that despite heavy criticism, no one has come forward with proposals to amend any specific articles in the agreement. Samarawickrama expects to appoint the Sri Lanka side of the joint committee soon. The committee will ask departmental heads whether they need any amendments after departmental heads review all SLSFTA chapters. Then, we can discuss those proposals in April, if there are any, he said. Referring to the report of the Committee of Experts (CoE) on SLSFTA commissioned by the President, Samarawickrama pointed out that the report mostly looked into procedures rather than pointing at specific articles that need to be amended. The SLSFTA is Sri Lankas first comprehensive FTA covering goods, services, e-commerce, telecommunications, foreign direct investment, intellectual property and public procurement. Samarawickrama reiterated that the main purpose of the SLSFTA was to draw foreign investments to the country. Doug and Merry Jackson were sitting side-by-side on the couch watching TV when out of the blue the call came from the Connecticut Department of Correction. Scott Gellatly was dead. Their son-in-law who shot to death their youngest daughter Lori, tried to kill Merry, and who shot Nika, the German shepherd trying to protect them met his fate. I almost didnt answer the phone, it was an 860 number, Doug recalls this week of the call that came four days before Christmas. They said they found Scott unresponsive in his cell, dead. Thats all they could tell us. I thought, Really? Oh my god!, Merry says. We had mixed emotions. One thing, you feel bad, in a way, it was a human life, Doug says. But in another way, we felt relief. Always in the back of my mind, I worried he might get out, maybe on grounds the trial wasnt right. You dont know. But now its over. Relief, Merry says. Now when the kids get older, they wont see their father. Though his death at age 50 is as final as the period at the end of this sentence, it can not set things right. Scott was found dead in his cell Dec. 21 at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. A Department of Correction spokesman said Thursday the cause of death is not yet determined; the investigation by DOC and State Police is open. The best that can be said of the ordeal that changed so many lives is that it also led to state legislation to protect other victims of domestic violence. Merry and Doug, from the living room of their new home in Wallingford this week, recalled the past that is always present. I was lying on the floor, Scott pushed me hard in the chest and I fell. And he pulled a gun out of his pocket, and I thought: How did it come to this? Merry says with disbelief, as though it was still the early morning of May 7, 2014. You cant protect yourself from a gun Scott Gellatly was their neighbor, two houses up the hill on Sioux Drive in Oxford, when he took a shine to their pretty 32-year-old daughter Lori, with the strawberry-blonde hair and a good job with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He swept her off her feet, made her feel special. They had a Florida destination wedding. He had two sons from a previous marriage; in 2012 Lori gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. Merry retired from her job as a bookkeeper to help take care of them. This was our time, Merry says wistfully. She was my best friend. Before long, though, the warning signs couldnt be ignored. He was very controlling, Merry says. At family gatherings, he would always sit right next to Lori and would pinch her under her arm. He made her drop all her male friends from Facebook. If we were out, he would call or text constantly. It got so she didnt have any friends, Merry says. She became scared for her daughters safety. Tension escalated to a fight that early spring of 2014 and Lori escaped with the twins to her childhood home down the hill. She got a temporary restraining order on April 1, but the State Police couldnt serve it because Scott left for Virginia. A friend there sold him a gun, a private sale between him and his buddy. It was a legal transaction, Doug says. No background check needed, in accordance with present law. That law has to change. Lori had five weeks, from April 1 to May 7. Merry went to every house on the street and told neighbors to call the police if they saw Scott. We had a routine, Doug says. When I left for work, Lori would lock the door with a dead bolt and the screen door. But you cant protect yourself from a gun. We got ADT security in the house, Merry adds. Lori and I wore panic buttons if we went outside. We thought if he heard the alarm, he would take off. But you cant stop crazy. He was crazy to a point, Doug responds. His intention was to get her out. One state trooper believed she was in danger. He called every night. But Scott drove back to Connecticut with Virginia plates, undetected. The morning before Lori was going to court for a permanent restraining order the most dangerous time in these situations Scott parked at the bottom of the hill, around the corner on Route 67, at dawn. He waited until Doug left for work, then barged in the kitchen door. He wanted to take Lori with him. Our arms were interlocked, he had her by the hair, Merry recites. He pushed, she fell. Her daughters last words were: Please dont kill Mommy. Scott shot Lori four times, once in the heart. She didnt suffer; she died immediately, her mother realized later. The 18-month-old twins were in an upstairs bedroom, unharmed. He shot Nika the dog, he shot Merry four times, once near her eye. She spent 12 days in the hospital; her recovery was lengthy. Doug retired to be by her side. It plays in my head a lot, Merry says. He lost, because he didnt get her. He never had remorse My husband and I lived next door. We knew the Jacksons and Lori; Doug and Scott often offered to plow our driveway. They were good neighbors in every sense. Sharp gunshots pierced drowsiness around 5:45 a.m. Screams. As we called 911, from our second-story bedroom window we saw Scott run from the house, the garage door rolled up, Scott backed Merrys car out and drove up the hill. It was then eerily quiet; not even a dog was barking. We feared the worst. Other neighbors also heard the shots and called 911. While an ambulance rushed Merry to the hospital, a manhunt ensued to capture Scott. He was found, six hours later, in a fast-food parking lot in Winsted with a hose on the exhaust. Suicide didnt work, that time. He ended up pleading guilty and on Nov. 17, 2015 was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He never had remorse, Doug says with disgust. Never blamed himself. He said he made a mistake, hes not a monster, Merry says. The judge took care of that, Doug replies. The hardest thing was to hear him say Lori was his angel, Merry says. Living for Lori Merry could never stay in the home they built together again, where they raised their children, and lived for 28 years, and expected to enjoy in retirement. Merrys parents and uncle were among the first to buy land in that Swan Lake neighborhood about 70 years earlier. But it could be home no more. They moved to Wallingford and their older daughter became the legal guardian of her sisters twins, now 6-years-old. They have Mommy, and they have Mommy Lori in heaven. How do you patch together lives that will never be the same? For Lori, they became activists and advocated successfully for a state law to enable police to remove weapons when a restraining order is served. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act to do the same on the federal level, but Congress didnt pass it. Time to try again. For Lori, Merry speaks at places such as the State Police Academy, the University of New Haven and Housatonic Community College. She describes the warning signs of an abuser. For Lori, they help raise money through Bowl-a-Thons (the next is March 3 in Milford) and polar plunges for the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia, where Lori volunteered in high school. They joined a Survivors of Homicide group that meets monthly. It helps to talk to others who bear the heartache. Yet every day, theres the struggle. Its very easy to go into that dark place, but I want to be happy, Merry says. Its very tough. I miss her every day. Shell never be forgotten. Scott is dead. Relief. But lives will never be the same. Everything is divided, Doug says, welling up. When Lori was alive, and when she wasnt. Jacqueline Smith is an editorial page editor with Hearst Connecticut newspapers; her columns will appear Fridays in this spot. Email her at jsmith@hearstmediact.com; follow on Facebook: Jacqueline Smith, on Twitter: @JackyNT. Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama chairs 17th Exporters Forum along with Ministry Secretary S.T. Kodikara (extreme left), Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara (left) and Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte (extreme right) Pic by Pradeep Pathirana Over US $ 10bn investments from Singapore under discussions Steel plant to be commissioned in Trinco; cement plant at Htota EPZ Steel to be exported to region; cement production to reduce imports By Nishel Fernando Sri Lanka moves closer to secure US $ 1.1 billion investments from Singapore and Chinese investors to set up a steel plant and cement plant as the government focuses on regaining the investor confidence that derailed during the political crisis. Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Development Strategies and International Trade Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara revealed that a Singaporean investor would visit the country next month to set up the steel plant in Trincomalee, with an investment of US $ 1 billion. The steel plant is on the track. The Singaporean investor will visit Sri Lanka next month to finalise the agreement, Samarawickrama said. Bandara said that the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry is in the process of transferring a 500-700-acre land in Trincomalee, nearby the Trincomalee harbour, to the Board of Investment (BOI), in this regard. He noted that the Singaporean investor is investing in the plant targeting steel exports to the region. Samarawickrama revealed that a Chinese cement manufacture, partnering with a local firm, has invested US $ 100 million to set up a cement plant in the Hambantota Export Processing Zone. He noted that the construction of the plant would commence next month. The plant is scheduled to commission cement production in 2020. According to Bandara, the plant would help to reduce the reliance on imports of cement for local consumption, as the country imports around 55 percent of the cement requirement. Meanwhile, Samarawickrama revealed that the government is discussing with several Singaporean investors to set up two oil refineries in Sri Lanka, with an estimated investment of over US $ 10 billion. He noted that the investment for the first plant would be around US $ 3-4 billion and US $ 8 billion for the second. The government has set an ambitious foreign direct investment (FDI) target of US $ 3 billion for this year, after achieving the estimated US $ 2.3 billion in FDI last year. Its tough but we are determined to reach that target, Samarawickrama said. Due to the political crisis that triggered towards the end of last year, he noted that the investor confidence has been eroded, in particular with the Japanese investors, who are sensitive to changes. Because of what happened during those 51 days of last year, the investor confidence we built gradually since 2015 has eroded. Japan, in particular, wants to ensure that the democratic process is in place. So, once again, we have to rebuild the investor confidence that we lost out during the 51 days, he said. Samarawickrama also revealed that discussions are underway with President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a new chairman for the BOI, as the current Chairman Hemasiri Fernando has been appointed as Secretary to the Defence Ministry. In addition, two new directors are also expected be appointed by the president within next few days. D.J. Kumarage, B.A. (Lon) took the rein of Rahula College, Matara in 1937. It was a critical period in the history of Rahula. He courageously faced those challenges and overcame all obstacles and constraints and rebuilt Rahula. Principal Kumarage made Rahula the most radiant centre of learning in the South during his tenure. Its present glory and fame is the result of his untiring effort and dedication. C.A. Ariyathilake, as the Manager of Rahula stood by him as a tower of strength in every crisis. Mr. Kumarage had a brilliant staff who were dedicated and devoted. One of the outstanding teachers was late Justin Wijewardena, a famous writer and a former M.P. for Matara Mr. Kumarage had a brilliant staff who were dedicated and devoted. One of the outstanding teachers was late Justin Wijewardena, a famous writer and a former M.P. for Matara. He showed remarkable skills in management, administration and organization. Within a short period of his able principalship, Rahula reached the Zenith of glory and reputation among other assisted schools of the South. In 1940, under Mr. Kumarages dynamic leadership, Rahula produced the best results among all schools in the island at the senior school certificate examination. He gave the correct guidance to his students in their studies as well as in their moral conduct and behaviour. Students of all races studied as sons of one mother under the roof of Rahula because Mr. Kumarage gave an honourable place for ethnic unity and co-existence. There were Tamil teachers on the teaching staff. With the generous assistance of well-wishers past pupils and philanthropists, Mr. Kumarage added several magnificent buildings to the college as the numbers of students were gradually increasing day by day. About three decades ago a countless number of students of Principal Kumarage occupied some of the most illustrious and prestigious positions in government and other institutions in Sri Lanka as well as abroad. Mr. Kumarages period was known as the Golden Period of Rahula Mr. Kumarages period was known as the Golden Period of Rahula. His vast achievements were largely due to the cordial relationship he established with his learned staff. Mr. Kumarage initially was an ardent supporter of the National Freedom Movement. He associated with national heroes of the calibre of F.R. and D.S. Senanayake, SWRD Bandaranaike, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and he had also close contacts with Ven. Pelane Sri Vajiragnana Thera, Kalukondayawe Sri Pragnasekera etc. He was closely guided by Anagarika Dharmapala and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. Mr. Kumarage produced many generations of eminent and worthy citizens who have already created history in their own rank and file. Some of them are eminent physicians, surgeons, university professors, engineers, administrators, ministerial secretaries, ambassadors, parliamentarians and successful businessmen. Mr. Kumarage had a towering and dignified personality. He practised what he preached. He loved his students. The name of Mr. Kumarage will be gratefully and affectionately remembered by all Rahulians for his greet achievements. His life was active And the elements so elegant In him, that all Rahulans will Bow their heads and say To all the world He was a Greet Man By Dahlan Salahudeen, Matara. (An Ex-Exco-Member of the OBA) OLIVIA MEEHAN (right) is among those serving soup on Thursday night at Living Hope Wesleyan Church. Church members hosted a dinner for federal employees who were furloughed when planning for the event began. WARSAW, Va. A man charged with killing five people in Louisiana and fleeing to Virginia was being flown home after waiving extradition on Friday. Authorities said Dakota Theriot confessed and could face the death penalty on five murder charges. They said he shot his girlfriend along with her brother and father, then shot his parents. Theriot, 21, showed little emotion in first court appearance, offering polite yes and no responses to the judge. He appeared chained in a blue jail jumpsuit. A deputy kept a hand on the chain throughout the hearing. Theriot was arrested last Sunday outside his grandmothers house in Warsaw after his grandmother, fearing he would come, alerted police and checked into a hotel. Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith said after the hearing that a plane was already on its way to take Theriot back to Louisiana. The hearing offered no new information on what might have motivated the killings. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard has said Theriot was cooperating with investigators who had traveled to Virginia. Ard said Theriot provided information about how the killings unfolded, but investigators still havent determined why. Authorities said Theriot had been taken in by his girlfriends family a few weeks earlier after he was kicked out of his own house. Summer Ernest, 20, had been dating Theriot for only a couple of weeks. The other victims were identified as her father, Billy Ernest, 43; brother, Tanner Ernest, 17; and his parents, Keith Theriot and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50. Ben Finley is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON The Environmental Protection Agency has appointed a scientist who argues for lighter regulations on lower-level radiation exposures to lead the agencys radiation advisory committee. Acting EPA head Andrew Wheeler announced the appointment of Brant Ulsh, a health physicist, as one of the EPAs science advisers and the panel chairman. Ulsh has been a leading critic of the EPAs decades-old position that exposure to any amount of ionizing radiation is a cancer risk. In a paper he co-wrote last year, Ulsh and a colleague argued that the position was based on outdated scientific information and forced the unnecessary burdens of costly clean-ups on facilities working with radiation. The EPA under President Trump has targeted a range of environmental protections, in line with Trumps arguments that overly strict environmental rules have hurt U.S. businesses. Environmental and public health advocates say the rollbacks threaten the health and safety of Americans. Some environmental groups and scientists have criticized what they say is the administrations openness to an outlier position on radiation risks. Once again the Trump administration is moving to the fringe for its scientific advice, choosing someone who could undercut foundational protections from radiation, Bemnet Alemayehu, a staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council environmental advocacy group, said Friday. We need sound science to dictate health protections, not dangerous theories. EPA spokesman John Konkus declined to comment, referring a reporter to a news release announcing the appointment. Ulsh did not immediately respond to an email Friday asking for comment, including whether he intended to use the advisory position to encourage reconsideration of the EPAs no-tolerance policy on lower doses of radiation exposure. Last year, Ulsh told the Associated Press that we spend an enormous effort trying to minimize low doses at nuclear power plants, for example. Instead, lets spend the resources on minimizing the effect of a really big event, he said. Ellen Knickmeyer is an Associated Press writer. The bitter cold that gripped the Midwest forced commuters to bundle up like polar explorers. By early next week, many of those same people might get by with a light jacket. Just days after the arctic conditions, the region will seemingly swing into another season, with temperatures climbing by as much as 80 degrees, according to forecasters. Experts say the rapid thaw is unprecedented, and it could create problems of its own: bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads. I dont think theres ever been a case where weve seen (such a big) shift in temperatures in the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. ... Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures. The temperature finally creeped above 0 degrees in Minneapolis and Chicago on Friday. In western North Dakota, the temperature in Dickinson climbed above freezing 32 degrees by midmorning a jump of nearly 50 degrees compared to Tuesdays low of minus 17 degrees. Over the past week or so, weve had strong northerly winds bringing cold arctic air out of Canada but that has all changed today, National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Jones said Friday. Weve got westerly winds bringing in more mild Pacific air. The warmer air continues to move east, though many places in the Northeast remained painfully cold Friday. The wind chill in some parts of New York was expected to be as low as minus 20 degrees. The dangerously cold and snowy weather is suspected in at least 26 deaths, including a man found frozen in his backyard Thursday in suburban Milwaukee and a man who died Friday after rear-ending a salt truck in Indiana. But relief from the bitter Midwestern cold is close. Rockford, Ill,, was at a record-breaking 31 degrees below zero on Thursday but should be around 50 degrees on Monday. Other previously frozen areas could see temperatures of 55 degrees or higher. Potholes are likely to appear on roads and bridges weakened by the freeze-thaw cycle. The same cycle can crack water mains and homeowners pipes. Tammy Webber and Jeff Karoub are Associated Press writers. WASHINGTON Cory Bookers unremitting optimism, wonkish attraction to big ideas and, of course, his background as a community organizer have long drawn comparisons to another pioneering African American lawmaker who went on to bigger things: Barack Obama. Whether Booker can ultimately harness it all as successfully as Obama did is about to be tested. On Friday, the New Jersey senator launched his White House bid. I believe we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind, Booker said in a video announcing his run. Where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame together we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose. Booker, a Stanford University graduate, is entering an increasingly crowded field, where he is up against some close Senate colleagues, including Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. But the senator has proved adept at carving out an independent ideological lane, taking an approach to confronting President Trump and the GOP that veers in a direction different from that of other marquee candidates. Booker, 49, began his career as a political neophyte who toppled an entrenched and corrupt Newark mayoral administration in 2006. The fight, which the Rhodes scholar and Yale Law School graduate waged from an apartment he had taken in a public housing project, drew national attention to Booker after the release of Streetfight, a documentary that captured the battle, frame by frame. But on the stump, Booker hardly presents as a street fighter. He talks of universal love and building bridges. He confronts the anger Trump vents on Twitter with hopeful rhetoric. Let me tell you right now: I love Donald Trump, Booker said on CNN just after Trump mocked his speech before the Democratic National Convention in 2016. I dont want to answer his hate with hate. Im going to answer it with love. Im not going to answer his darkness with darkness. I love him. Skeptics question the authenticity of it all, and find the senators tone too saccharine in these tumultuous times. In addition, his warm ties with major financiers and venture capitalists once considered a major political plus now make him suspect in the eyes of some in the partys populist wing. He has a message of unity and optimism, but the question is whether that is what voters are looking for, said Andra Gillespie, an African American politics scholar at Emory University in Atlanta and author of The New Black Politician: Cory Booker, Newark, and Post-Racial America. Evan Halper is a Los Angeles Times writer. "Miss Bala" -- or "Miss Bullet," as they say on Google Translate is a real surprise. It seems to promise an exploitative genre movie, about gangsters and drug deals, and it delivers on that, but it's something more. Director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocet have taken a Mexican thriller, with a female victim at its center, and have turned it into an intelligent feminist film. The intelligence is as important as the feminism. It's common in movies for the most misogynist fantasies of the male imagination to be fobbed off in the publicity as "strong, feminist statements," so long as they show a woman, any woman, demonstrating strength, even if it's strength in the service of evil, cruelty or self-destruction. But this is Hardwicke, who has made terrific movies, such as "The Nativity Story" and "Thirteen," and she knows exactly what she's doing. Gloria (Gina Rodriguez, who couldn't be better) is a normal American woman, a make-up artist, originally from Tijuana. She crosses the border and goes back to the city of her birth to visit an old friend, Suzu (Cristina Rodlo), who is preparing to answer the Miss Baja (as in Baja California) beauty pageant. In these early scenes, Gloria is the more diffident of the two women, and Suzu is the more outgoing, more at home in her world and in control of her environment. Then the two go off to a nightclub and end up separated, when gang members break in and start spraying the place with bullets. They seem to be trying to assassinate one person in particular, but they're not big on subtlety. It's the first of at least three big action sequences, and Hardwicke establishes the pattern here by staying almost entirely with Gloria and her perspective. In a sense, Hardwicke has us become her, and so we develop a deep and serious interest in Gloria's survival. It would be critically reckless to say anything more about a story that figures out new surprises to spring on us every 10 minutes. Based on the synopsis of the original Mexican film I haven't seen it the American remake has come up with a series of new and inventive turns, while staying focused on its larger project of presenting the action as one woman's education. At the center of the film is the complicated dynamic that develops between Gloria and Lino (Ismael Cruz Cordova), a young gangland honcho with a small vicious crew. As played by Cordova, Lino is charismatic and rational. He might be redeemable, or he might just be exhibiting residual traces of having once been a human being. At one point, Gloria finds herself at his mercy, forced to do his bidding, and, for a brutal guy, he's nicer than he has to be. Lino's not just charming, but vulnerable. He likes her. He sees something in her. Yet we sometimes wonder if any of that even matters. For an obvious movie in an obvious genre, "Miss Bala" has a light touch. Thus, Gina Rodriguez's transformation, though notable and satisfying, takes place on screen in the way such things happen in life, not action movies. The change is acted by the actress, not imposed on her. And though the change isn't big, it feels huge, because it's real. Turkey burglars are the new turkey burgers. Police in Elk Grove responded to a burglary call Thursday morning, the police department wrote on Facebook. At first, it seemed standard. A second story window was shattered and the blinds were askew. CRIME: Oakland police warn of scammers impersonating dispatchers When they got inside, however, things took a turn. In lieu of a human burglar, they found a turkey. "When You Thought You Have Seen It All," the post was entitled, describing the turkey discovery as "something we don't see every day or even in a career." ALSO: The weirdest stuff you'll find in Bay Area suburbs "Officers observed the suspect still in the house hanging out in the living room," they wrote. "Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect but he would only respond with fowl language." The turkey was successfully wrangled and released into the wild, police said. It was not clear if the wayward turkey in the Sacramento suburbs was a man bird or a Lady Bird. Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter Memphis, TN (38152) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 87F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm during the evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. For more stories like this, check out The Chronicles weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. In the spring of 1843, George Madeira gazed up and saw the bright body and hazy tail of a comet streaking across the night sky. The sight sparked an interest in astronomy that would carry him throughout his life, and ultimately set in motion a chain of events that led to the construction of the worlds largest telescope, atop Mount Hamilton in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose. Madeiras adventure began in 1852 when, at the age of 15, he migrated west with his parents and siblings in an ox-drawn wagon, toward California in search of the gold that brought many others to the region. He brought his interest in astronomy, along with his collection of astronomy books and star charts. Many times during the latter end of the trip ... when the load must be reduced, my books and charts were tossed out only to be returned by myself to the wagon, Madeira wrote in 1887. Madeira and his family arrived in Amador County and settled in a town called Volcano, nestled in the foothills in the western Sierra, just one year after the town was formally established and the post office opened. The winding main street followed the curve of a small ravine, past a hotel, saloons and other businesses that served miners and prospectors searching for fortune. In 1860, at age 23, Madeira set up an amateur observatory on a hillside close to main street in Volcano. Using only heavy canvas and oilcloth covering to protect the telescope from the weather, Madeira began to plot the stars and study the sun through a 3-inch telescope he had purchased and had delivered from San Francisco. He had great timing: On a summer afternoon in 1861, he was observing sunspots and noticed the hazy tail of a comet near the horizon. I have discovered a huge comet! he exclaimed upon arrival at the home of his mentor, a fellow astronomy enthusiast and mathematician who also lived in Volcano. While Madeira was not the first to discover what would come to be called the Great Comet of 1861, it was still a historic sighting, especially for an amateur. Madeira is mentioned by name in W.W. Campbells 1913 book A Brief History of Astronomy in California: Madeira has recorded his discovery of the brilliant Comet 1861 II ... only a few hours following its discovery in Europe. After establishing his observatory, Madeira began touring Northern California, lecturing on objects in the night sky and demonstrating the use of his new portable telescope. Following a lecture in San Jose in 1860, Madeira wrote that he was approached by an older gentleman who inquired: Will you accept an invitation to visit my place and remain a few days? At the time, Madeira did not know the man but accepted his invitation and brought his traveling telescope. Madeiras host during the three-day stay was real estate tycoon James Lick. Lick is well known to contemporary Bay Area astronomers, largely because of the observatory near San Jose which bears his name. Born in 1796 in Pennsylvania, Lick began building his fortune in South America and amassed his wealth through real estate as Gold Fever swept California. (He tried his hand in the gold fields before realizing that the money was in owning the land itself, not mining it.) He was a patron of social services and the sciences, donating to the Humane Society of the United States and supporting senior citizen care. He also helped establish the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. (The details of Licks life are best documented through his friends and benefactors. He was not a prolific writer, and there is no official biographical narrative of his life on record.) When he met Madeira, the 64-year-old Lick was a well-connected, wealthy land baron with an estate near the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County. He and Madeira spent the nights of Madeiras visit stargazing and speaking about the planets and stars overhead. They discussed the value of larger telescopes and how glass technology was not yet able to build the kind of instruments that would unlock the deepest secrets of the heavens above. In a bold move, Madeira said to Lick: If I had your wealth, Mr. Lick, I would construct the largest telescope possible to construct, according to a letter Madeira wrote in 1887 to Edward Holden, director of the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton in San Jose. Those words apparently stayed with Lick through the remainder of his life. In 1874, at the age of 78, Lick suffered a stroke and began planning his legacy. He really wanted to be remembered. And so he was thinking of a grand monument to himself, says Elinor Gates, staff astronomer at the Lick Observatory. He wanted something that would be enduring. Lick considered several outrageous ideas: a pyramid to rival those in Egypt to be erected at the corner of Fourth and Market streets in the heart of downtown San Francisco; a huge statue of himself and his parents near the Golden Gate. Ultimately, Lick began to consider donating a large portion of his fortune to the sciences. Saner heads prevailed, Gates says. He recalled what George Madeira had said to him previously when he was down in his homestead in south San Jose. And so Lick wrote into his deed of trust, established in 1875, that his fortune would be used to build the worlds most magnificent lens through which to peer into the heavens a telescope superior to and more powerful than any telescope yet made ... and also a suitable observatory connected therewith. Lens technology had improved since Licks conversation with the young Madeira, and Lick began to consider how to build the largest telescope possible. Encouraged by friend George Davidson, an astronomer and president of the Cal Academy, Lick organized a search for the perfect location for a year-round mountaintop observatory where his telescope could stand forever. Lick set aside $700,000, or over $20 million in todays money, to establish the Lick Observatory. At the time, it was the largest private donation to science in U.S. history. In 1876, a location on San Joses Mount Hamilton was chosen, and construction began. Though other locations had been considered, its likely that Mount Hamilton was visible to Lick and Madeira on those fateful nights they spent stargazing together. It may well have been the mountain that George Madeira might have pointed to, saying, I would put a telescope there, just to make a point, Gates says. Unfortunately, James Lick did not live to see his observatory or telescope completed, in 1887 and 1888 respectively. Lick passed away at his home in San Francisco in 1876, at the age of 80. For nine years, the 36-inch Lick Refractor was the largest telescope in the world, and Licks body was moved to a tomb under the telescope that bears his name. In 1892, astronomers used the Lick Refractor to discover Amalthea, one of Jupiters moons the first one discovered since Galileo discovered the four largest in the 17th century, according to Holdens A Brief Account of the Lick Observatory published in 1894. Since the 1890s, the Lick Observatory has grown to house 10 refractor and reflector telescopes ranging in size from 20 to 120 inches in diameter. Over the decades, astronomers at the Lick Observatory have been credited with the discovery of several more moons of Jupiter, planets outside our solar system, and the gas and light emitted from several galaxies. Astronomers today use the imaging telescopes to search for more extrasolar planets, brown dwarf stars and even extraterrestrial life through the Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program. Though many of the original letters and records have been lost to time, astronomers at the Lick Observatory credit Madeira with his influence on Licks decision to bequest the largest portion of his fortune to build the observatory. The dreams and discussions Lick and Madeira shared of building larger telescopes materialized because Lick put his wealth behind the idea. For those of us that regularly give talks about James Licks life and the founding of the observatory, George Madeira is mentioned in every one of those lectures because he was so influential and for giving that spark, Gates says. Late in his life, Madeira corresponded regularly with staff members at the Lick Observatory, sharing his thoughts on the latest publications and discoveries they were making. In the years since his amateur observatory stood on the hillside in Volcano, massive developments in astronomical technology had unlocked great wonders of the night sky. All honor to the astroscientists who have accomplished so much in so short a time, Madeira wrote. Madeira continued lecturing and writing about astronomy until 1922, when at age 85 he fell ill on a trip from his home in Healdsburg to San Francisco and died. In 1958, Victor Killick, vice president of the Sacramento Junior College Observatory, wrote of Madeira: He engaged in astronomy strictly for the love of it a true amateur in the exact meaning of the world. At the main intersection in Volcano, youll find California Historic Landmark #715, marking it as the first amateur astronomical observatory of record in the state, and the final public testament to Madeiras work and influence on Californias astronomical history. What can parks teach us about philanthropic giving? It turns out, quite a bit. Recently, I watched my 2-year-old twins chase each other around the Childrens Corner at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, the same playground I frequented as a kid. The park, buzzing with families from all walks of life and socioeconomic strata and maintained by contributions from local philanthropies, is a true testament to the value of local investment. Philanthropists who make the headlines tend to set their sights on global challenges solving climate change, alleviating poverty, eradicating diseases often to the exclusion of more local but no less important issues, like homelessness, affordable housing, income inequality, access to education and parks. While its noble and exciting to tackle major issues, we also cant lose sight of how important local philanthropy is for the livelihood of our own communities. The Bay Area, for example, is a region of extreme contrasts. Its home to Silicon Valley and world-renowned colleges and universities, and a global hub for talent, technological innovation and first-class innovators who are inventing the future. It boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, with a median household income of $96,000, well over the national average. San Francisco is also home to 74 billionaires, more than almost any other city in the world. At the same time, the Bay Area has some of the highest numbers of homeless and working poor families in the country, and housing and food costs are soaring, making it hard to make ends meet. According to Open Impacts Giving Code, 80 percent of Silicon Valleys community-based nonprofits reported an increased demand in services in the past five years. Yet Philanthropy Roundtable noted that in 2016, just 7 percent of all donations made by private foundations in Silicon Valley were directed to local nonprofits, and the rest went elsewhere. Wealth does not obligate anybody into philanthropy. In fact, the beauty of philanthropy is that its roots are in an individuals decision to promote human welfare and the common good through personal generosity. If one has the means to improve the community in which they live as so many in San Francisco do why not be generous? At a time when the political landscape is divisive and it feels increasingly difficult to make progress, local communities can be the place to find rare common ground by uniting people in support of projects and initiatives that help the community flourish. A city is rich because of its diversity of ideas, vibrancy of cultural institutions and equity of treatment toward those who call it home. It cant just be for billionaires. The Bay Area should be a place where all people have the opportunity to strive and thrive. It should be a place where services are available to those who need them, and education and employment are achievable regardless of who you are and where you come from. Local philanthropy is the critical ingredient to achieving this. After all, locally based, community-minded philanthropists like the Hellmans, Haases, Fishers and Korets helped build the cultural and educational institutions that define the Bay Area and help it thrive today. But they cant carry the torch alone. The Bay Area will require billions of dollars of investment over the coming years to meet urgent local challenges ranging from homelessness to public education to the housing affordability crisis. As a new, younger generation assumes leadership roles within the philanthropy community, its imperative that they set their sights and their funding on the most pressing quality-of-life issues here at home. And its on Bay Area residents to support the local community by giving to organizations that invest in it. Every resident who benefits from quality education, affordable housing, green spaces, and community-renewal projects has a vested interest in helping support the organizations that make these investments a priority. The Bay Areas most vulnerable and underserved populations, and the health and well-being of the community at large, depend on it. Which brings me back to the Childrens Corner in Golden Gate Park. In June 2017, an arsonist destroyed a section of the playground. Immediately, then-Mayor Ed Lee committed public funds to rebuild the park. Students from the nearby Stepping Stones Preschool raised $300 selling lemonade and doughnuts, and other individual and institutional funders gave through the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The park reopened in March to the delight of many in the community me and my kids included. My recent trip to the park was more than just a stroll down memory lane; it was a reminder of the vital role that local investment plays in the health and well-being of communities everywhere. As I watch my children experience the same joy I had once gotten from San Francisco parks, I am thankful for the support of foundations and individuals who cared enough to invest locally in places like these that make a real difference in peoples lives. Its now time for the next generation of philanthropists to step up and make that same investment. Our communities depend on it. Danielle Foreman is the director of programs at the Koret Foundation, a philanthropic foundation based in San Francisco that works to elevate the quality of life for all who live in the Bay Area. Regarding Restaurant takes some heat over MAGA hat ban (Page 1, Jan. 31): Im not a supporter of President Trump, his nativist views or his divisive rhetoric. However, I also dont support the decision of the owners of the Wursthall restaurant in San Mateo to ban service to people wearing those Make America Great Again caps. As a gay man, I wouldnt want to be refused service by a public establishment because of my sexual orientation. Similarly, Im sure that these restaurant owners wouldnt want to be denied being accommodated at a hotel or diner because of their ethnicity. Trumps desire to build a border wall to keep out asylum-seeking migrants is foolish and discriminatory. So, too, is the notion that people should be kept out of businesses serving the public because of who they are or what they wear. Charles Carrington, San Francisco Leave out politics Regarding Restaurant takes some heat over MAGA hat ban (Page 1, Jan. 31): After reading the article about Make America Great Again hats and restaurants, I have come to the following decision: The next time I go out for dinner, I will be eating at Wursthall in San Mateo. I only hope the food is as good as the policies. Wursthall has set a policy that no one would be allowed to eat in the restaurant wearing a MAGA hat. From all the arguments for and against this rule, it has become apparent that anyone wearing a MAGA hat is trying really hard to make a point, and the owners of this restaurant have every right to disagree with that point. Eating out is supposed to be a pleasant experience, and I choose to eat in a place where politics from either side is left outside. Thank you, Wursthall. Robert Nice, San Mateo Fear for safety Regarding UC chief: Proposal would aid predators (Jan. 31): University of California President Janet Napolitano is one of many strong critics of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sweeping changes to the federal Title IX law, which would greatly limit the responses of colleges to sexual assault. A few weeks ago, the third annual Womens March commenced on the streets of San Francisco, yet our governments understanding of sexual assault seems to regress. For me, as an incoming college freshman, the fear of sexual assault is real. If the law changes, colleges may become places of terror where sexual predators get a free pass while a womans path toward a bright future is encumbered. Even with current laws, we have witnessed college campuses turning a blind eye to sexual misconduct. What will happen if the proposed Title IX changes further silence victims? How can young women feel empowered to obtain an education when the government deems their safety inconsequential? Im afraid to ask. Selina Zhang, Atherton Nations challenge My husband and I just spent a week in San Francisco, delighted by museums, cable cars, painted ladies and other architectural eye candy. Of great concern are the number of homeless and seemingly very emotionally disturbed homeless. The sense of hopelessness for the young and old, walking and in wheelchairs, was overpowering. What can be done to help, or should we not help? Giving spare cash and food is a temporary salve to the conscience of the passerby, but shouldnt the mentally ill be treated with more dignity? I dont mean this as a tourist cleanup; I mean these comments as support for programs for our mentally ill and affordable housing for all. Im a New Yorker, so I know the problem isnt isolated. Its too cold for New York homeless to live on the streets right now, but they are there. San Francisco just made our American challenge more visible. Housing is getting unaffordable to even our able working class. Americans are creative and compassionate. There should be a way to solve this. Here is our challenge. Janet Tullo, Fishkill, N.Y. Issue with PG&E Ive been meaning to write to say how much I appreciate Kathleen Pender continually shining light in murky economic corners. PG&E shares leap after filing for bankruptcy (Business, Jan. 30) is a case in point. She notes that on the day that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. declared bankruptcy, its stock price quite counterintuitively jumped substantially. As Pender explains, it seems that certain expert financial analysts are pretty sure that the company will skate on many of the wildfire claims against it in bankruptcy court. For my part, I cant help wondering how much of the analysts thinking centered on the fact that the California Public Utilities Commission seems to be a wholly owned PG&E subsidiary. John Hauf, Fairfax Buy the street The furor over Lombard Street traffic is dismaying considering that an easy solution to the problem can be obtained. The residents of the affected block could do anything they wanted with the street if they simply pooled their money and bought it. Matte Gray, San Francisco Year of the ostrich In 2019, the Chinese Lunar New Year will be celebrating the Year of the Pig. But in the Oval Office, a certain stable genius who refuses to listen to intelligence from his senior advisers will be observing a Lunar New Year containing a heretofore unknown animal in the Chinese zodiac: the Year of the Ostrich. Tina Liu, Millbrae No intelligence Concerning Trump turns on his advisers (Editorial, Jan. 31): Its laughable that President Trump, who still cant grasp the fundamentals of how our government works after more than two years in office, tweeted that leading intelligence and national security advisers who reject his feckless foreign policy initiatives should go back to school. The only conclusion one can draw from Trumps criticism of valuable information about Islamic State and North Korea being provided by experienced FBI, CIA and other national security agents is this: A man who rejects intelligence has no intelligence. Michelle Wang, Mountain View Back in October, when President Trump sent nearly 6,000 troops to the Mexican border to counter the threat supposedly posed by desperate Central American migrants, it looked like a politically driven misuse of the military at the height of election season. Now this pointless show of force is becoming a more lasting, costly and risky error. Even as he vows to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Syria, Trump has doubled down on the domestic deployment, at one point the largest on the border since shortly after World War I. While the frontier force has since fallen to about 2,350 active-duty troops, Pentagon officials told the House Armed Services Committee this week that they will dispatch an additional 2,000 to help Homeland Security conduct surveillance and erect concertina wire. Two weeks earlier, they announced that the border mission, originally scheduled to end before the new year, is expected to linger until the fall. Tuesdays committee hearing also revealed that the active-duty border contingent has so far cost taxpayers $132 million, while National Guard troops deployed there have cost $103 million. Guard expenses are expected to reach $550 million by the end of the fiscal year; officials declined to predict total active-duty expenses. The Democrats newly in charge of the committee expressed appropriate skepticism about the militarys ill-defined border mission. Many of these service members have now lost time with their families at Thanksgiving, at Christmas, at New Years, [and] are still there, said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo. They dont have an end-of-the-mission date that they can rely on. I dont think this is the way to treat our service members. Apprehensions at the southern border have generally fallen since they reached about three times current levels during George W. Bushs administration. When you look at the statistics, the peak of our problem on the border was in 2004 and 2005, said committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash. So while border security is always a challenge, theres really not much evidence that right at the moment, it is a crisis that would call for the, if not unprecedented, then highly unusual step of sending active-duty troops to the border. While the past year has seen an increase in families seeking asylum under U.S. and international law, active-duty troops are as misguided an answer to that problem as Trumps beloved border wall. Democratic Rep. Susan Davis of San Diego, whose district nearly reaches the border, told defense officials that the struggle to hire and retain Border Patrol agents would be a more productive focus for the administration. Were losing as many people as were hiring, she said. And yet the president threatens to extend the military misadventure by using defense funds and personnel to wall off more of the border if lawmakers continue to resist the project. Such abuses should shake Congress long-standing and often undue deference to presidential authority over the military. 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. The smell of incense hung heavy in the temple air, amid ornate carved altars bedecked with flowers for Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, and Cashen, the god of wealth. Shady and cool, the temple felt like a respite from the incessant honking and narrow bustling streets down below. Halfway around the world from San Francisco, I found familiar gods in Kolkatas Chinatown. Last week, when I traveled to the City of Joy for the Kolkata Literary Meet book festival, I waded into the milky Ganges river, strolled though the peaceful grounds of Mother Teresas home, sipped chai from tiny clay cups and bargained at market stalls. But I also discovered that the city has been home to Chinese since the late 18th century, when they entered trades such as leather tanning, shoemaking, dentistry and carpentry and, in time, opened restaurants. In my travels, from Argentina to Panama, Israel to Thailand to Peru and more, Ive sought out the Chinese diaspora, in search of homey smells, sights and sounds. Asian Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, Feb. 5, and preparations are under way in communities all over. Its celebrated in Vietnam as Tet and as Seollal among Koreans, and also among Kolkatas Chinese. I met Victor Wu on the ground floor of the Sea Ip temple, which functions as a sort of community center where he was among a handful of men reading newspapers at a long wooden table. A solemn portrait of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Chinese republic, looms over the hall the same portrait Ive seen in benevolent associations in San Franciscos Chinatown. Amid the turmoil of the Chinese civil war in the 1940s, his grandparents immigrated to India. As the 51-year-old shoemaker led me from temple to temple, crumbling yet beautiful, we chatted about American politics and race relations. Though he works in the family business, one of his sons majored in journalism and now is in marketing and the other majored in commerce and hopes to find a job at a bank. And so, Wus generation may be one of the last engaged in the shoemaking tradition. He dropped me off at Eau Chow, perhaps the oldest family-owned Chinese restaurant in the city, where I polished off a delicious plate of chicken chili rice the pieces deep-fried and tender, savory and spicy on a bed of basmati rice. The decor seemed out of central casting the bubbling fish tanks, tasseled Chinese lanterns, misty brushstroke landscape paintings and Kimlan soy sauce bottles with faded lettering seen in Chinese restaurants everywhere. The menu offers Indo-Chinese cuisine, with dishes such as Manchurian chicken, fried chili potato, butter garlic prawn and Josephine noodles, but also, yes, American chop suey. I chatted with the warm and thoughtful Josephine Huang, whose husbands grandparents founded the restaurant sometime in the 1920s. Exactly when shes not sure, since they have passed away, as has her husband. Their portraits appear in a shrine at the restaurant, on a high red shelf adorned with candles and incense. The 64-year-old explained that the restaurants name means Europe in the Hakka dialect. A Chinese restaurant named Europe? I asked. Huang speculates that the name referred to clientele during the British rule of India, before the country gained independence in 1947. The Chinese population has dwindled from its peak, after the 1962 war between India and China led to the incarceration and deportation of thousands of ethnic Chinese, who were viewed as spies and sympathizers to the Communist cause. But in Huangs childhood, the Chinese community was still tight-knit and well-organized, she said. She attended a Chinese school daily, and on her fathers side of the family, the 12 siblings would get together on Lunar New Year, going from house to house for visits. But she also is Indian in character, she said, which she described as humble and helpful. Her extended family has dispersed, moving to Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. Her daughters and grandchildren live in Canada while her son, Joel, helps run the restaurant. Eau Chow continues to adapt. Now that more Indians have traveled abroad to China or bring Chinese business partners for a visit, shell cook to their taste, with dishes steamed, stir-fried or braised in traditional Chinese style. Like me, shell clean house to get ready for the holiday. Shes also closing the restaurant the first day of the new year. We are all the same, whether New Year, funerals, or weddings we follow all the same way. We are quite connected. Vanessa Hua is a Bay Area author. Her columns appear Fridays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com The San Francisco district attorneys office dropped all criminal charges Friday against three sheriffs deputies accused of forcing city jail inmates to fight each other in gladiator-style battles more than three years ago. The decision to dismiss the inmate fight club case comes after prosecutors said they learned the Sheriffs Department mishandled the investigation into deputies Scott Neu, Eugene Jones and Clifford Chiba by destroying evidence and improperly conducting joint administrative and criminal investigations. The revelations of the botched probe offer the latest twist in a sensational legal saga that Public Defender Jeff Adachi exposed in March 2015, bringing scandal to then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and the department and leading the city to settle a lawsuit filed by three inmates. The San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association and attorneys for the defendants have long called the charges overblown. Neus attorney acknowledged that fighting had occurred, but he said his client was allowing inmates to wrestle as a way to blow off steam. While San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ross Moody granted the district attorneys motion to dismiss the criminal charges that carried possible state prison terms, a new prosecution team will review the case to determine whether there is enough untainted evidence to proceed with new charges. At the center of the dismissal decision are statements the deputies were required to make during an internal affairs investigation by the Sheriffs Department. Such statements, known as compelled statements, cannot legally be used in criminal probes because they violate a defendants Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Law enforcement agencies usually isolate administrative and criminal investigations from each other in a process called walling off to avoid such conflicts. As the district attorneys office and FBI began investigating the case in April 2015, they learned that the Sheriffs Department had been conducting its own criminal investigation and had interviewed more than 40 witnesses and compiled several binders of evidence. The sheriffs criminal investigators, however, had been working alongside internal affairs during the probe, prosecutors said. Even after the administrative investigators had obtained compelled statements from the defendants, the administrative and criminal investigators jointly prepared for and conducted interviews of numerous witnesses, Assistant Chief District Attorney Evan Ackiron wrote in a motion to dismiss the charges. Some of the investigators interview questions, prosecutors said, were informed by compelled interviews from the defendants. The district attorneys office initially believed the case wasnt tainted despite the bungled investigations, officials said. Senior Deputy Vincent Chew, who was leading the sheriffs criminal investigation, testified during a November 2016 hearing that he had not seen or received any compelled statements, and no such statements were in the criminal case file he submitted to prosecutors. Things began to unravel after prosecutors learned potential evidence in the case had allegedly been destroyed. When Neus defense attorneys learned about the conflicts with the investigations, they requested the departments internal communications to make sure tainted evidence wasnt handed over to the district attorneys office. Neus attorneys said they soon discovered that important department emails from internal affairs investigator Sgt. David Murphy had been deleted during the investigation. When the attorneys asked to search his laptop to try to recover the deleted emails, the Sheriffs Department admitted that Sgt. Murphys laptop had been destroyed, Neus attorney, Nicole Pifari, wrote in a December motion to dismiss the case. Upon further inquiry, the Sheriffs Department explained that sometime in October, approximately seven months after they had received two preservation demands, the Sheriffs Department destroyed the laptops hard drive by smashing it with a hammer, Pifari wrote. Since taking over the Sheriffs Department in 2016, Sheriff Vicki Hennessy has updated and reaffirmed the departments criminal and administrative procedures and training to ensure the integrity of all investigations and secure accountability, department spokeswoman Nancy Crowley wrote in an email Friday. Harry Stern, another attorney for Neu, blasted the district attorneys office in court Friday while unsuccessfully asking Judge Moody to grant his motion to dismiss the case with prejudice, so prosecutors could not refile charges. They waited four years, and now we get this 11th-hour dismissal, Stern said. Were glad about that. Lets keep in mind this is the end of four years of hell basically for the clients. I dont like their attempt to divorce themselves from responsibility and not be accountable. The allegations against the deputies were exposed by Adachi, who said sheriffs deputies arranged and gambled on fights between inmates during a two-day period in early March 2015, at County Jail No. 4 on the seventh floor of the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St. The deputies threatened inmates with violence or withheld food if they didnt fight each other for the deputies amusement, Adachi said. A yearlong investigation followed, and in March 2016 the district attorneys office charged Neu, the groups alleged ringleader, with 17 criminal counts, including assault under color of authority, making threats, inhumanity to a prisoner and cruel and unusual punishment. Neu faced up to 10 years in prison. Jones and Chiba were accused of assault under color of authority, inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and breaching official duties. All three deputies pleaded not guilty. Neu was later fired, Jones was suspended without pay, and Chiba was placed in a position where he does not have contact with inmates. The inmates Ricardo Palikiko-Garcia, Stanley Harris and Keith Richardson filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city and Sheriffs Department and settled in September 2016 for $90,000. Despite dismissing the charges, the district attorneys office said it will forward the case to its Independent Investigations Bureau, a unit tasked with investigating officer use-of-force incidents, officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths. Because the underlying allegations, that the San Francisco Sheriffs Department deputies forced jail inmates to fight each other, are so serious, the district attorneys investigation is not over, Ackiron wrote. But given the complexities of the case, Stern and the judge separately said it is unlikely that the district attorney would be able to put together an untainted case. If they attempt to refile this case, we would come at them with both barrels blazing, Stern said. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky / A suspect was arrested Thursday for allegedly beating a woman and leaving her to die outside a church in Richmond in the citys fourth homicide to occur in just two weeks, authorities said. The spate of killings stands in stark contrast to last year, when no homicides had yet to occur in the city. A peaceful five-month lull starting in November 2017 ended in April 2018, when two people were shot and killed within three days of each other in unrelated homicides. Dancing through disaster Among the many things destroyed by the Camp Fire was Trudi Angels ballet school in Paradise and its holiday production of The Nutcracker. Then her phone started ringing. Dancing through disaster Among the many things destroyed by the Camp Fire was Trudi Angels ballet school in Paradise and its holiday production of The Nutcracker. Then her phone started ringing. OROVILLE, Butte County The music halts abruptly, the last piano notes reverberating, as a small woman in the front row of the theater leaps to her feet. Shes wearing ballet slippers and a pink Star Wars sweater reading, The Last Jete. Her halo of white hair is frizzing. Tempo! Youre not jumping, Trudi Angel, 75, shouts at the dancers. Thats not ballet. Do it again. She settles back into her seat as the tune resumes, taking notes in tight script on folded paper and whispering directions into a walkie-talkie. On stage, the teenagers jump from foot to foot, their pointe shoes thudding, as a phalanx of tinier dancers, barely 6 years old and dressed as fluffy white sheep, bob alongside. Three days remain until an opening night that had been pushed back a month to late January. Visual Essay: A ballet refuses to let the Camp Fire stop the show Its a small miracle that theyre here at all, practicing at the Oroville State Theatre, nestled on a quiet block of restaurants that close by 9 p.m. Angel, the director of the Northern California Ballet in Paradise, had planned to do The Nutcracker in late December, just as she had for the past 33 Decembers since founding the towns first dance studio. Its a small company, but every year she sends at least one student to a professional company, in places like Houston, Boston and New York City. Angel held auditions for the winter recital in September, though the more prominent roles, like Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, were cast a year earlier. By November, the dancers had memorized the choreography, though it still needed perfecting. She had altered costumes, repaired sets and reserved a weekend at the Paradise Performing Arts Center. Everything was on schedule. Then Paradise caught fire. With its metal walls and high ceilings, the ballet studio off Clark Road looked like a car repair shop. When Angel applied for a construction permit in the 1970s before she installed tall mirrors and long ballet bars and built an office and a smaller studio out back town officials didnt know what sort of permit to issue. They tried to classify the Northern California Ballet as a bar, then a church, then a meeting hall. Finally, they created a new category: dance hall. Angel relished being a pioneer and raised generations of ballerinas, graduating them from soft slippers to pointe shoes. Her students both revered and feared her. When teenagers tried to assert their independence, she cracked down. Flexibility is not one of her strengths, she will admit. Precision and perfection are. On a bulletin board in the hallway, she hung a quote: The only right you have is to dance beautifully. Over the years, other businesses sprang up around the studio: a Black Bear Diner, a Taco Bell, the Gold Nugget Museum. Angel lived nearby, on a dead-end road, Brookview Way, so close she could cut through her backyard and walk to work. When the Camp Fire roared out of Feather River Canyon the morning of Nov. 8, she wasnt worried, not at first. The entire ridge would have to burn before flames hit the commercial corridor on Clark Road. And thats exactly what happened. In its first 12 hours, the worst fire in California history destroyed more than 18,000 structures, including 10,155 homes, 490 commercial buildings, 30 school buildings and 19 churches. It killed 86 people in their homes or their cars. Beautiful Paradise, with its thick canopy of oak and ponderosa pine, became a dire warning about fire danger in a warming climate. Bad news trailed more bad news. Angels home and studio were destroyed. So was a storage shed on Skyway, the towns main thoroughfare. It had held nearly $300,000 worth of costumes. She wasnt one to dress students in cheap tutus from a catalog, the kind some studios would mark up and sell to parents. Her huge papier-mache dragon, a $2,000 find in San Franciscos Chinatown, burned. So did the hand-painted sets. Many of her students were flushed from Paradise to even smaller towns across Butte County. Some moved to Chico, Grass Valley, Sacramento or Davis, others left for Oregon, Idaho and New York. Angel and her husband, Wayne, were nomadic, first sleeping on the floor of Chicos Masonic Lodge, then shuttling between Marysville and Linda in Yuba County and the Sacramento suburbs, anywhere they could find a room. The Nutcracker was off. The dancers had no tights or leotards. The studio had no sets or costumes. No one could afford to replace what the Camp Fire had taken away. The annual show became just one more loss in an unfathomable string of them. But along with pain, wildfires often yield resilience. The shows tiniest dancers the fluffy white sheep began calling Angel from their parents cell phones, sobbing and pleading. Angels dance-world contacts run deep, and as news of the Camp Fire spread, her email flooded with goodwill offers: Costumes and sets from Eugene Ballet Company in Oregon. Eight boxes of shoes and tights from a studio in Sioux City, Iowa. Clothing racks, top hats, tuxes and pointe shoes from Germany, Japan, England and Texas. Ten seamstresses from Sacramento volunteered to alter the loaned costumes. OK, Angel said to her dancers, just before Thanksgiving. Lets make the show happen. There was still one problem: The student assigned to dance the most prominent and difficult role had dropped out because of the fire. Without a Sugar Plum Fairy, The Nutcracker was incomplete. So Angel picked up her cell phone and dialed a 17-year-old named Grace Rosendin. Trudi Angel is not the kind of woman who gives up. She danced for the Los Angeles Ballet as a teenager, but was barely 5 feet tall, so when the company switched artistic directors, she was asked to leave. Back then, short women didnt dance professionally. She went on to earn a nursing degree from UCLA, working in emergency care at Los Angeles County Hospital. She moved to Paradise in 1963. A doctor shed worked with opened a private practice in the foothills community and promised Angel a job. She was 21 and single, with no real interest in living in the retirement community. Her mother bet her she wouldnt survive two months. Angel stayed 54 years just to prove her wrong. Online extra Visual essay: How the Nutcracker ballet rose from the ashes in fire-scarred Paradise: https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2019/visuals/camp-fire-ballet How to help Donate to the ballet schools GoFundMe account: http://bit.ly/paradiseballet She grew to love Paradise, which had two stop signs, one grocery store and plenty of bachelors. A local Realtor persuaded her to create the choreography for the towns production of Oklahoma, and thats where she met Wayne, a physicist who had minored in theater arts. They dated for three years and married at a historic hotel in nearby Inskip. He insisted she begin teaching ballet again. Only if you find me a studio to rent for $40 a month, she said. The next week, Wayne took her out for coffee, then parked in front of an abandoned barbershop in a strip mall at the intersection of Pierson and Clark roads. The windows were dark and dusty. Heres your studio, he said. Angel refused to choose between her ballet and nursing careers, so she did both, waking at 4 a.m. to drive to Sacramento, where shed taken a job as an X-ray technician, then returning to Paradise by 6 p.m., just in time to teach for four hours. At first, she had only four students, including her daughter, who she named Trudi Lee after herself. In 1986, the Northern California Ballet debuted The Nutcracker in the auditorium at Paradise High School. The girls wore white leotards and chiffon skirts, because Angel couldnt afford to invest in hand-sewn cream dresses and Russian tutus. No one had enough experience to dance the Sugar Plum Fairy, in Angels view, so she did it herself. The seats filled up that year and for more than three decades. In late November, Angels name popped onto Grace Rosendins iPhone. The 17-year-old was living with her grandmother in Sutter, 50 miles south of Chico. She was a senior at Paradise High, but classes had already been canceled for two weeks due to the fire and district administrators were unsure when they would resume. Grace hadnt danced in weeks. The ropy muscles in her legs were beginning to weaken. Her mother, Kim, had enrolled Grace at the Northern California Ballet when she was 5, hoping she would embrace dance in a way her older sister hadnt. She did. Ballet taught Grace discipline and confidence, and carried her far from Paradise. She had never been on an airplane, but summer intensive programs took her on road trips to bigger places like San Jose and Salt Lake City. Even when dance was difficult when Grace fell out of a turn, or the arabesques and back bends agitated the scoliosis in her lower spine ballet brought a certain kind of peace. Everything else disappeared as Grace spun across the floor, her arms curved above her head like half-moons. The calm, dependable middle child of a second-grade teacher and a nurse, Grace is sandwiched between a 20-year-old sister and a 13-year-old brother. She is a rule-follower, the kind of daughter who doesnt complain about having to share a pull-out couch with her younger brother. So when Angel called and asked if she could learn a role that another girl had spent a year practicing, Grace said yes. She had five weeks to become the Sugar Plum Fairy. Now its late January, and in the days before The Nutcracker opening, unrelenting rain pummels Butte County. The ash blanketing Paradise turns into a thick mud, stopping crews from hauling rubble and scorched trees from the decimated town. Adults whisper behind their hands about the lack of progress, silencing their conversations when younger dancers are within earshot. Of the 58 performers, all but 12 lost their homes in the Camp Fire. The State Theatre in Oroville is a warm refuge, the approach of the show bringing an ineffable lightness. For a few hours, the dancers can forget about the fires scars and the winter storms that had arrived too late. Angel checks in with each student as she unloads boxes of leotards and tights from her car, her laugh low and rumbling. Its Thursday, the last dress rehearsal before opening night. A few mothers sell tickets at a folding table near the theaters front doors. In the orchestra pit, members of the Paradise Symphony tune their instruments and thumb through sheet music. The dancers finish a scene, barreling offstage and down narrow steps to a basement reeking of hairspray and hot glue. A half-dozen dressing rooms line the far wall, protected by flimsy white curtains. Thick yellow pipes jut across the low ceiling, costumes dangling from them. The younger dancers outline their lips in red, sloppily veering off course. A mother layers mascara on her sons lashes. Grace crouches, using a blue lighter to singe the ends of the ribbons on her new pointe shoes so they wont fray. She swipes a thin layer of gel onto an infected nail, then tucks bloodstained wool between her toes and rolls her tights over each foot, tucking them into her slippers. Over the last few weeks, Angel had taught her the choreography. Then she learned it again when her partner, 20-year-old Joshua Webb, flew in from London. They had faltered and fumbled, their legs shaking, their faces contorted in pain hours of work followed by breaks eating rubbery scrambled eggs at fast food joints, talking and flirting. Now Grace, in the theaters basement, repeats the movements in her head and hopes she wont fail. Joshua buttons her leotard, her back exposed and splotched red from the rub of rhinestones and sequins. A glittering crown a sticker taped to its plastic back reading, Sugar Plum is pinned in her dark hair. She adjusts it in the mirror. Where did you get that crown? jokes Alejandro Davidson, 17, her best friend, who plays the role of the Nutcracker. I made it from fire and ash, she says, smiling. But Sugar Plum was supposed to be Kiera, right? he asks. Im so happy it was you in the end. The music crescendos, the low throb of bass sinking into the basement and breaking the moment. A quiet exhaustion usually seeps in by a shows last performance. But the Northern California Ballet had resurrected The Nutcracker when all seemed lost, and by the Sunday matinee, few felt ready to finish. The shows had been imperfect, but Angel embraced the flaws with a newfound compassion. At one show, Joshuas sleeve had caught on the back of Graces tutu, partially unsnapping it as she turned. At another, a prop had fallen, breaking. But the audience was always packed and the applause thunderous. On Sunday afternoon, Grace slithered out of her clothing and tugged on her leotard. She slicked her hair with spray and twisted it into a bun. The dressing room was littered with mens deodorant and rain boots. Discarded tutus, looking like sand dollars on a beach, layered the floor. Grace held her iPhone in front of her face, smiling in her bejeweled crown for a Snapchat, then headed upstairs. Maybe Ill try out for track this spring , she thought absently. Angel didnt know when the studio would reopen, and Grace figured she would have more free time without dance practice. From the theaters dark wing, Joshua led her into the stages soft glow for the last time, the thick curtains clicking behind them. In the shadows, younger dancers mirrored Graces movements, arms askew, dreaming of being the Sugar Plum Fairy someday. Angel watched intently from the balcony. Joshua twirled Grace, delicately, in tight circles. Her legs bowed slightly, trembling. He lifted her into the air, one of her knees bent at 90 degrees, and dipped her toward the audience. From backstage, students clapped, and the audience joined. Grace beamed, her arms raised and costume sparkling. Then it was over. Ballerinas dance in the final performance of the Nutcracker at the State Street Theater in Oroville, California, on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. Ballerinas dance in the final performance of the Nutcracker at the State Street Theater in Oroville, California, on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Camp Fire aftermath: For the Paradise ballet, the show had to go on after the blaze 1 / 17 Back to Gallery A stagehand passed out carnations wrapped in clear plastic. Joshua and Grace stood hand-in-hand as other performers filled the stage, bowing. The applause went on and on. Someone shouted Graces name, and she blushed. Then, with a swoosh, the curtains closed. And its done! someone yelled. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn After four years of city approvals and construction, Yotel opened Friday in San Franciscos Mid-Market neighborhood. The 203-room hotel in the historic Grant Building at 1095 Market St. offers rooms that are smaller and less expensive than nearby lodgings in the city. Rooms, which Yotel calls cabins, span around 120 square feet and have foldable or elevated beds. Nightly rates range from around $200 on weekdays and $150 on weekends, said Mony King, the hotels director of sales and marketing. In comparison, the Proper Hotel, another newly renovated hotel across the street, has room rates upward of $400 a night. King said San Francisco visitors are more interested in exploring the city and dont necessarily need spacious rooms. Instead, Yotel will have communal areas that include co-working space, a fitness center, a ground-floor restaurant and rooftop bar operated by chef Daniel Patterson. The restaurant and bar are expected to open by summer. People dont spend that much time in their rooms. People are perfectly fine with the more micro size, King said. Yotel had initially planned to open by 2017, but construction and permitting delays pushed back the opening to this year, he said. Other hotel projects, such as the Virgin Hotel in the South of Market neighborhood, which plans to open this quarter, have also experienced delays. We know that the market is so, so busy, which is great, said Isabelle Matter, general manager of Yotel San Francisco. Its also very challenging from the (construction) labor standpoint. Yotel The building that houses Yotel, named after businessman Joseph Grant, was one of the tallest buildings in the city to survive the 1906 earthquake. Original, century-old staircases are preserved in the hotel. The roof has sweeping views of City Hall and the Financial District, and King expects the upcoming bar to be a big draw for both hotel guests and the public. High development costs and a lengthy permitting process mean that only a handful of San Francisco hotels have opened in the past few years. Low supply and record tourism have pushed room rates and occupancy up to record levels, according to San Francisco Travel, the citys tourism bureau. In 2018, the citys hotels had an 82 percent occupancy rate and $264 nightly revenue per available room, according to San Francisco Travel. Occupancy is expected to rise to 83.9 percent this year, and revenue per room is expected to grow 5.6 percent. A new Hyatt Place hotel opened in January at 701 Third St. near Oracle Park. A Grand Hyatt is also opening next to San Francisco International Airport this year. Yotels focus on lower costs should make it stand out from its pricier neighbors, said Brett Allor, senior director of market strategy and research at San Francisco Travel. The smaller rooms are an exciting addition, said Kevin Carroll, CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, which represents hotel owners. Space is limited, especially in San Francisco. Travelers are changing what their needs are. Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available. Yotel The hotel will appeal to both business travelers, because of its proximity to offices, and convention attendees going to Moscone Center, Carroll said. King said the Mid-Market area still has difficulties around safety and homelessness, but hes been encouraged by the citys focus on reducing crime in the area. Theyre really making a concerted effort to improve the community, he said, adding that Yotel will have 24-hour security. Yotel opened in London in 2007 and has expanded to Mammoth (Mono County), Boston, Miami, New York City, Paris, Singapore and other cities. The Yotel San Francisco building owners are a partnership of Synapse Development Group, Kuwait Real Estate Co. and GreenOak Real Estate. Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf PG&E Corp. won a judges approval Thursday for a $1.5 billion bank loan to fund the utilitys operations for the first four weeks of bankruptcy proceedings, despite questions from a federal trustee on whether the company needs the money. The first full day of hearings on the financial plight of Californias largest utility was devoted to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.s short-term plans to keep afloat and pay its bills. The parent companys bankruptcy filing Tuesday listed $71.2 billion in assets and $51.4 billion in debt, a figure that does not include tens of billions of dollars in potential liability for the Northern California wildfires of the past two years. The $1.5 billion bank loan would carry PG&E through Feb. 27, when it plans to seek approval for an additional $4 billion for the remainder of the bankruptcy proceedings. At Thursdays hearing in San Francisco, however, Lynette Kelly, a lawyer for the Justice Departments U.S. bankruptcy trustee, questioned the need for any loan and said PG&E has projected a cash balance of $1.6 billion as of Feb. 6. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali read the figures differently and said the company had listed its net worth at $670 million. Paul Zumbro, a lawyer for PG&E, told Montali that after deducting funds that belonged to the utilitys parent company and customer deposits, the cash on hand was about $230 million. We actually do need the money, Zumbro said. Theres not a sufficient cushion to cover all the exigencies. Montali approved the funding. He also approved a request by PG&E and one of its prospective lenders, JPMorgan Chase, to seal the lending documents from public view, other than the $95.3 million cost of the overall $5.5 billion loan. Kelly said the public should have more access to the information, but Zumbro said some aspects of the fees were commercially sensitive for both PG&E and its banks. The hearing came a day after U.S. District Judge William Alsup, in the same courthouse, blamed PG&E for death and destruction from the wildfires and suggested he might require the company to remove trees near power lines and shut off electricity during times of high fire danger. Alsup is supervising the companys probation from its felony convictions on charges related to the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion, which killed eight people. Consumer groups have accused PG&E of trying to evade responsibility to the fire victims by declaring bankruptcy. Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, urged Alsup to place the company under federal receivership in a column in Wednesdays Chronicle. But Stephen Karotkin, another lawyer for the company, told Montali that bankruptcy was the only viable alternative to restore PG&Es financial stability and to fairly address the wildfire claims. It is not a strategic ploy to evade PG&Es responsibility, Karotkin said in his opening statement at Thursdays hearing. If the system works as intended, he said, it will resolve fire victims claims more quickly than the state courts where their lawsuits are pending, while assuring service for 16 million customers. The payments PG&E wants to make during the bankruptcy proceedings include its annual performance bonuses for 2018, totaling $130 million for as many as 14,000 employees, according to the companys court filings. The payments, to begin in March, will be considered by Montali at the Feb. 27 hearing, but they drew a protest Thursday from a lawyer for wildfire victims. Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available. Dario de Ghetaldi represents families impacted by the 2015 Butte Fire, which burned more than 70,000 acres and killed two people. The fire started when a tree struck a PG&E power line and has prompted numerous suits against the utility. We want to make specific objections to (bonuses for) those employees who we believe were at fault, de Ghetaldi said. He asked Montali to halt any bonuses to employees in the companys vegetation management and risk-assessment divisions until he and other lawyers could identify those who may have been responsible for the fire. Karotkin replied that the bonuses were for employees work in 2018, not earlier years. He also noted that they did not cover 38 high-ranking PG&E officers and directors. The company says the payments would range from $5,000 to $90,000 and average $13,000. Montali said he is sympathetic to the lawyers concerns, but he declined to issue any such orders before approving wage and benefit payments to PG&E employees, without considering the performance bonuses. He also allowed PG&E to pay $30 million to vendors and suppliers that the company considers essential for its operations, despite objections from several lawyers that PG&E had not identified those suppliers or said why they were considered essential. Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko An excruciating pain jolted Zander Brandt awake at 1 a.m. on Nov. 1. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and when his wife touched the painful spot on his midsection, he vomited. She was like, OK, thats not a good sign, he recalled. Lets go to the emergency room. The couple rent an apartment on the edge of the Mission, just blocks from San Francisco General Hospital. Brandt, a 31-year-old project manager at a financial technology company, had heard horror stories of short ambulance rides costing patients thousands of dollars. So instead the couple walked, slowly and gingerly, to the citys lone trauma center. But what they thought was a frugal course of action turned out to be just the opposite. Brandt left the hospital two days later with the pain and his appendix gone. But despite having health insurance through his employer, he now personally owes the hospital $92,470. Now thats excruciating. Though its too late to help Brandt, Mayor London Breed, the Department of Public Health and the hospital have just agreed to halt the practice of balance billing sending patients bills if their private insurance companies dont pay the full requested amount immediately but temporarily. Last year, that practice stuck 300 patients Brandt included with unexpectedly big bills. The 90-day respite from balance billing is intended to give the hospital time to come up with a long-term plan to treat privately insured patients more fairly. Although balance billing affects a very small number of (S.F. General) patients, the stress and hardship they experience when it happens is very real, Breed said in a statement. In an emergency, peoples focus should be on getting help quickly, not on what hospital they should go to. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle As it comes up with a plan, the hospital has begun pursuing contracts with private insurance companies, though CEO Susan Ehrlich wouldnt say which ones or how many. She said S.F. General will also do a better job informing patients they may qualify for financial assistance, look at expanding the income requirements to qualify for charity care, set an out-of-pocket maximum for patients, and study how other Bay Area hospitals handle their billing. Thats all great news, but theres one big caveat. The halt isnt retroactive and Brandt still owes $92,470. And hundreds of other patients stressed out over their shockingly high bills are still on the hook, too, stuck in endless Dilbert-like phone exchanges with hospital billing agents and sent after 90 days to collections at the city treasurers office. The retroactive part of it is what we need to study, Ehrlich said in her hospital office. Anybody who was subject to these policies previously, thats something we have to work with our city partners and city policy makers on. All that was done under policies that were in place at the time. But if its agreed now that those policies are broken, they were broken last year, too. All privately insured patients who have outstanding bills at S.F. General should have them forgiven. Ehrlich said its too soon to say whether that will happen, because hospital officials have a duty not only to provide excellent medical care, but to be good financial stewards. She said the hospitals roughly $1 billion annual budget comes half from Medi-Cal, a quarter from Medicare and the rest from the city, private insurance companies, patient bills and other sources. She said she doesnt yet know how much forgiving those outstanding bills would cost or where the money would come from. We view ourself as a very special resource for the city and all of the people who live here, Ehrlich said. We want to make sure we do a better job in the future of taking care of peoples financial health as well as their physical health. A Board of Supervisors committee hearing on the billing situation has been set for Feb. 21. Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who called for the hearing, said patients like Brandt should absolutely see their bills cleared and that the hearing will include a discussion of whether to make the new prohibition on balance billing retroactive. These people should be made whole, he said. At issue is the fact that S.F. General has no contracts with private insurance companies, which was first reported by Vox. That means the hospital charges all privately insured patients the full rack rates approved each year by the mayor and Board of Supervisors. In its forms, the hospital states that it bills patients private insurance companies as a courtesy. But because there are no contracts with those companies, they can pretty much decide to pay whatever they want. The problem is the hospital sticks the patient with the rest, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for everyday ailments like appendicitis, broken bones and migraines. California law inexplicably bans balance billing for patients insured through health maintenance organizations, but not for those insured through other forms of insurance, including preferred provider organizations. Its privately insured patients who arent on HMO plans who are facing the big bills from S.F. General. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Brandt is insured through Aetna on a exclusive provider organization plan, which offers a local network of doctors and hospitals but pays nothing toward out-of-network care. True emergencies must be covered by exclusive provider plans if treated out of network, but theres a dispute over Brandts bill because he was moved to in-patient care and waited more than 36 hours for surgery, as new patients with gunshot wounds and other traumas kept taking priority. They told me about an hour before I was going into surgery that S.F. General is out of network for every provider and because I have an EPO, I wouldnt be covered for anything, he said. I was like, Are you kidding me? I said, OK then, Im going home. They said, Well, we wouldnt recommend that. We just want to let you know that we charge an average of $20,000 to $30,000 a night. He said hospital officials called around, but no other emergency room in the city had space for him. So he proceeded with the appendectomy at S.F. General on the afternoon of Nov. 2 and was discharged Nov. 3. Several weeks later, he received a bill for $97,000. Aetna has paid a few thousand, but Brandt still owes $92,470. It was a shock, Brandt said of the bill. Weve been trying to save up to buy a house here in the Bay Area, which obviously is extraordinarily difficult, and this would all but end that. Now Playing: Zander Brandt saved two voice mails from San Francisco General Hospital shortly after being discharged. This message is reminding him of his follow-up appointment. Video: Courtesy of Zander Brandt He saved two voice mails from the hospital shortly after being discharged, one reminding him of his follow-up appointment and one recommending he not show up for it because it would cost him so much more money. Now Playing: Zander Brandt saved two voice mails from San Francisco General Hospital shortly after being discharged. This message is recommending he not show up for a follow-up because he is not in-network. Video: Courtesy of Zander Brandt Told theres now a temporary halt on balance billing but that hes still on the hook for $92,470 Brandt said thats pretty outrageous. Its pretty unfair theyre able to take in the money from me, but not someone whos getting an appendectomy tomorrow, he said. It seems like a no-brainer that this should be applied unilaterally to anyone with pending bills. Its a no-brainer indeed and heres hoping City Hall and the hospital will see it that way. Eventually. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Under no circumstance are you likely to be called by a police dispatcher out of the blue. You certainly shouldnt expect such a call to end with the dispatcher demanding money. But thats the scam thats been pulled at least once in Oakland. And now the real department is warning people about it. Sen. Kamala Harris campaign was adamant about draping American flags from Oakland City Hall at the kickoff event last weekend for her presidential bid but it almost didnt happen. After campaign staff hit snags in getting approval, Mayor Libby Schaaf stepped in to give the green light. The Beaux-Arts-style municipal building inside of which the City Council recently stopped saying the Pledge of Allegiance before its meetings and outside of which Occupy Oakland took hold was awash Sunday in an atypical display of red, white and blue. There were at least seven U.S. flags hanging from City Hall, not to mention others placed around the plaza and podium. The road to getting there was bumpy. Four days ahead of the rally, the campaign learned that our request to hang US flags from city hall was denied, the campaigns project manager on the event, David Cusack, wrote to City Attorney Barbara Parker, hoping she could cut through the red tape. He said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama both got to hang American flags from the building during their campaign swings through Oakland. We would simply like to augment the beauty of city hall with additional US flags. One hung amongst the Corinthian columns and three US flags on either side of the main entrance, Cusack wrote. Since Senator Harris is the first person to announce a presidential campaign from Oakland, we want to make sure the pomp and circumstance is appropriate for the occasion. Therefore, we hope the same courtesy that was offered to Senators Obama and Sanders would be offered to her campaign. Parker replied that night that she would forward the request to City Administrator Sabrina Landreth. I did not deny your request and it is not my role, nor do I have authority to make these decisions, Parker said. City Administrator Landreth oversees the city administration and city facilities. But by Friday evening just a day before the campaign needed to begin setting up the event city officials had not approved the flags. After another email from Cusack, Parker wrote Saturday morning that it was up to Landreth. But it was ultimately Landreths boss, Mayor Libby Schaaf, who made the call. The Oakland mayor typically doesnt make decoration decisions for private events in the city. The campaign ran it up the flagpole, and the mayor made the decision to let the flags fly, said Justin Berton, a spokesman for Schaaf. Initially, Berton said, there was uncertainty among city staff about what political campaigns are allowed to do just humans being humans. Harris, an Oakland native, ultimately got her flags and more. Lined up behind the rally stage were flags from all 50 states. Event organizers estimated that 20,000 people came to see Harris and hear her 35-minute speech. The California senator is among a growing field of Democratic candidates hoping to take on President Trump in 2020. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov One woman pulled her daughter out of school to make it to the courthouse on Montgomery Street. Another caught a ride from Fresno. A teenage girl and her ailing mother waited for hours, clutching documents that summoned the mother to Immigration Court Jan. 31. But none of them got what they came for and expected: a hearing before a judge. Dozens of people reported Thursday to hearings previously scheduled by the Department of Homeland Security at the federal San Francisco Immigration Court, only to find the appointments didnt exist. Immigration attorneys described similar scenes in Chicago, Atlanta, Virginia, Miami and Texas, where long lines snaked around courthouses for hours. Federal officials said Thursdays problems resulted from the government shutdown delaying the process of rescheduling the hearings. But attorneys representing immigrants called the court dates fake, and said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is sending immigrants notices to appear charging documents instructing people accused of being in the country illegally to come to court with court dates it knows are not real. Every city in every jurisdiction is doing this, obviously knowing that there really wont be court on that date, said Christable Lee, an immigration attorney in San Francisco. These immigrants are standing with their kids outside with no direction. Theyre afraid to stand outside on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse because there could be other immigration authorities there. Its a really harrowing situation. Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle Attorneys say the new practice stems from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, known as Pereira vs. Sessions that requires notices to appear to include a specific date and time in order to be valid. Previously, immigration authorities could send notices with the date listed as to be determined. A similar situation occurred in several cities nationwide Oct. 31 when dozens of people showed up for court hearings that didnt exist. Since then, some have reported court dates scheduled on weekends or late at night. In a prepared statement, ICE denied giving immigrants a fake court date, saying, Due to the recent partial lapse in government appropriations, the administrative process to resolve this issue was delayed, resulting in an expected overflow of individuals with Notices to Appear listing immigration proceedings on January 31. Meanwhile, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees all immigration courts, said it was unable to proceed with hearings for some people who believed they had hearings scheduled Thursday. In some cases, the cases had been rescheduled to another date, but the lapse in appropriations prevented the immigration courts from issuing new hearing notices far enough in advance of the prior hearing date, the agency said in a statement. In other cases, EOIR did not receive the Notice to Appear (NTA) in a timely manner. Immigration proceedings do not commence until the Department of Homeland Security has filed an NTA with an immigration court. Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle Attorneys with the American Immigration Lawyers Association said theyve received more than 1,000 reports of immigrants who had notices to appear in court containing fake dates, though they said its extremely difficult to track. Mothers with small children, families and confused couples clutching manila folders crowded the sidewalk in San Francisco Thursday while others filled nearby coffee shops and restaurants after being told to come back a different day. The news was particularly troubling for immigrants who traveled several hours to get to the courthouse, many relying on relatives and friends for rides. More than a dozen people waiting outside the courthouse declined to be interviewed but told The Chronicle that staff informed them court wasnt in session Thursday. Some people who showed up in the morning were asked to come back later in the day, though its unclear what happened once they returned. Norma, 50, of Guatemala, who asked to be identified only by her first name because she is undocumented and fears retaliation from ICE, arrived at the courthouse around 8:40 a.m. Thursday for a hearing on her asylum claim but was told to return at 10:45 a.m. She waited with her daughter outside the courthouse as she made arrangements with her ride. The person who gave me a ride, a relative, he missed a day of work to be able to bring me, she said. Hes paying for parking, which is extremely expensive. All for them not to give us an appointment. Another woman, who asked not to be identified, said immigration officials in Fresno told her to report to the courthouse in San Francisco Thursday. But the clerk didnt have a record of her appointment, she said. They need to send me a document informing me of when to show up next, she said. Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez Democracy and social decency are in trouble in the United States, former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy told law students on Friday. The philosopher Aristotle once said he did not think democracy could mature. And its our duty to prove him wrong, Kennedy told a packed auditorium at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. At the moment, we are failing. Rational, enlightening dialogue ... is whats missing in our society, he said. We have a social framework of decency that were very quickly losing. The 82-year-old retired justice did not cite any public officials or political controversies as evidence of his critique, and instead bemoaned the shortcomings of the cyber age. I am so concerned with the egocentrism that the cyber age has brought us, Kennedy said. Our young people in the cyber age dont think the past is important. ... If its not on your screen, its not important. Kennedy, often the swing vote on a divided court, ended his 30-year tenure in July, allowing President Trump to appoint Brett Kavanaugh, whose record suggests he will move the court further to the right. Kavanaugh, like Trumps previous appointee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, worked as a law clerk for Kennedy in 1993-94. When Gorsuch joined the court in 2017, I told him, You didnt do what I wanted when you were my law clerk. Youd better do it now, Kennedy said jokingly to a panel of three of his former law clerks at Fridays event. Hes going to be a wonderful judge, just like Brett. Asked about his early career, Kennedy recalled his years as a legal aide to then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, who as president appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1988. Kennedy said Reagan had years earlier encouraged him to accept President Gerald Fords nomination to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and later persuaded him, after quite an argument, to take the Supreme Court appointment. Before his appointment to the appellate court, Reagan enlisted him to draft a state tax-cut initiative in 1974 and scoffed at his protest that he wasnt up to it You cant write something that says were spending too much money? the governor asked him. That measure failed, but four years later, with Jerry Brown as governor, the voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, which slashed local property taxes and made future tax increases much more difficult to approve. Kennedy said he told Reagan in 1978 that Prop. 13 was the opposite of what you wanted due to its impact on local revenues and services. I think this will ruin the state of California, he recalled telling the governor. Reagan nevertheless endorsed Prop. 13, but he didnt take a very strong position, Kennedy said. As a justice, Kennedy was known as a supporter of free speech, in rulings that included the 2010 Citizens United decision finding that bans on corporate political spending violated the First Amendment and one of his final decisions, striking down a North Carolina law that made it a crime for convicted sex offenders to use the internet. But in another panel at Hastings on Friday, Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley, said Kennedys reputation as a defender of free expression was overrated. Kennedy often rejected free-speech claims when the interests of the government are at stake, Chemerinsky said, citing his 2006 ruling that government employees have no constitutional protections for statements they make as part of their job. And while the Citizens United ruling protects corporate speech, Chemerinsky said, what about the voices that are drowned out by corporate political spending? Kennedy didnt discuss any of his rulings Friday, but said he had tried to keep an open mind like a character in one of his favorite movies, Guess Whos Coming to Dinner? In that 1967 film, Spencer Tracy, playing the father of a young woman who wants to marry a black man (played by Sidney Poitier), opposes the marriage until he goes for a walk on his posh San Francisco property one day and realizes he was wrong. Like Tracys character, Kennedy said, every judge has a duty to think, What is it thats directing my decision? Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelko Today on the Google.com home page is a Doodle for Black History month for African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth. When you click on the Doodle, you get the option to see an AMP Story on desktop, not just on mobile - which may be new. She was born in Swartekill, New York sometime in the year 1797 and passed in Battle Creek, Michigan at the age of 86 on November 26, 1883. Truth was born into slavery and escaped with her infant daughter in 1826. She became the first black woman to win a case against a white man regarding recovering her son. You can learn a lot about her life on Wikipedia. Google wrote: Todays Doodle by Philadelphia-based guest artist Loveis Wise kicks off Black History Month by celebrating Sojourner Truth, a powerful advocate for justice and equality in the United States of America during the 19th century who paved the way for future generations. Born an enslaved person in Ulster County, New York around 1797, Isabella Baumfree endured the horrors of the American slave tradeas well as seeing her children sold into servitude. Despite the hardships she faced, she went on to win her freedom, changing her name to Sojourner Truth, and starting a new life as a traveling and prominent preacher, abolitionist, and suffragist. During her advocacy journeys throughout the country, Truth met activists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, who encouraged her to speak out against the evils of slavery. She published a memoir in 1850, which earned her widespread acclaim as an author and speaker. She was even invited to meet with Abraham Lincoln in the White House. In her autobiography, Sojourner Truth recounted the day she escaped with her infant daughter, forced to leave her other children behind. With her daughter, she was taken in by Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen, who helped Sojourner Truth sue for the freedom of her five-year-old son Peter, who had been sold illegally by her former slavemaster. This historic lawsuit made her one of the first black women to successfully sue a white man in the U.S. The courthouse where the case was heard is referenced in todays Doodle. After her books publication, Truth began a lecture tour that included a womens rights conference in Akron, Ohio, where she delivered the famous Aint I Woman speech. Although the exact wording of the speech is still debated, her message came through loud and clear: women of any race, color, or creed are as strong and capable as any man. Truths memory and legacy continues to this day. Most recently, the US Treasury announced that she will be featured on the nations ten dollar bill along with other suffragists. The design for the new bill will be unveiled in 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Heres to Sojourner Truth, who devoted her life to the cause of speaking truth to power. You can see the AMP story over here. Forum discussion at Twitter. 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. London, KY (40741) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. MIDDLE EAST Yemen Expected Council Action In February, the Council is likely to be briefed on the implementation of resolutions 2451 and 2452 by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. It is also expected to renew the Yemen sanctions regime which expires on 28 February 2019. The mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) expires on 16 June. Key Recent Developments Implementing the Stockholm Agreement, reached during consultations in Sweden in December by the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, has been difficult with only limited progress. On 22 December, a UN advance team led by General Patrick Cammaert, which was authorised by resolution 2451 adopted the day before, arrived in Yemen to begin monitoring and supporting the Stockholm Agreement. Soon after his arrival, Cammaert activated the Re-deployment Coordination Committee (RCC) that the parties had agreed in Sweden would supervise implementation of the Hodeidah agreement. The Hodeidah agreement is one of three agreements that together make up the Stockholm Agreement. It established a governorate-wide ceasefire in Hodeidah and agreement for the mutual redeployment of forces from Hodeidah city and the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Issa that have been under Houthi control. The Hodeidah agreementin effect since 18 December 2018has been hobbled by mutual allegations of ceasefire violations and the challenge for the RCC, which includes representatives of the Yemeni government and the Houthis, to determine operational details for its implementation. Following two meetings of the RCC in late December and early January, Cammaert as its chair has had to meet separately with Yemeni government and Houthi representatives, after the Houthis did not attend a third RCC meeting scheduled on 8 January in government-held territory. The initial deadline set in Sweden for completing the redeployment of forces by 8 January was not met. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and Griffiths (via video teleconference) briefed the Council on 9 January. Griffiths said that although there has been some violence, the parties were largely adhering to the ceasefire. Lowcock said that despite the agreements in Sweden, the humanitarian situation remained catastrophic. Cammaert addressed Council members via video teleconference during closed consultations, apparently emphasising that the timelines set out in the Hodeidah agreement had not been realistic. On 16 January, the Council adopted resolution 2452, establishing the UNMHA for an initial period of six months. The new special political mission, comprising up to 75 monitors, is mandated to lead and support the functioning of the RCC and to monitor the parties compliance with the ceasefire in Hodeidah governorate and the mutual redeployment of forces. UNMHA will work in close collaboration and coordination with other UN entities operating in Yemen, including the Office of the Special Envoy, the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, the UN Country Team, and the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism, all of which are envisioned as having roles in support of the Hodeidah agreement, including providing management backing to Yemeni port authorities and the collection of port revenues. Cammaert was appointed to head UNMHA, with the mission reporting to the Secretary-General through the Special Envoys Office and the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. While the situation in Hodeidah was calmer compared to the heavy fighting prior to the Stockholm Agreement, elsewhere in Yemen the conflict escalated by mid-January. On 10 January, the Houthis attacked a government military parade at Al-Anad air base using a drone that exploded above the ceremony. The attack killed at least six soldiers and wounded several Yemeni government and military officials. On the evening of 19 January, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which supports the government, conducted some of its most intense airstrikes in months on Sanaa. Two days earlier, on 17 January, an armoured vehicle in Cammaerts convoy was hit by a bullet as it was leaving a meeting with Yemeni government representatives. The UN said it did not have information on the source of the fire. On 31 January, Council members were briefed in consultations by Griffiths and Cammaert via video teleconference. Lowcock provided an update on the humanitarian situation. That same day, the UN announced that Cammaert was stepping down from his position, and would be replaced by Major General Michael Anker Lollesgaard of Denmark, former Force Commander in the UN Multidimensional Stabilisation Mission in Mali in 2015 and 2016. Sanctions-Related Developments On 18 January, the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee met with the Panel of Experts to discuss the panels recently-submitted final report. Discussion was apparently less controversial than last year (when the panel found that Iran was in non-compliance with the targeted arms embargo against the Houthis), as the final report did not contain any new conclusions on arms supplies in violation of resolution 2216. It did identify what was likely a donation of fuel, loaded from ports in Iran, for the benefit of an unnamed individual on the sanctions list, with revenues from the fuels sale in Yemen helping finance the Houthi war effort. Women, Peace and Security The first meeting of the Informal Expert Group (IEG) on Women, Peace and Security in 2019 will be on Yemen, as announced by IEG co-chair Germany during the 9 January briefing. Key Issues and Options The Hodeidah agreements implementation remains a key issue. Challenges have included the need for the parties to agree on implementation modalities, including for monitoring troop withdrawals and establishing new deadlines for the redeployment of forces; the parties also have different interpretations regarding the local security forces that are to take over security responsibilities in Hodeidah city and the ports, according to the agreement. According to the Secretary-General, the difficulties reflect a lack of trust and reluctance to make operational concessions outside of a comprehensive political agreement. Scaling up the UN presence has also been flagged as a challenge, including identifying accommodation for the UNMHA personnel and other UN entities, in addition to threats that have been directed at the UN. Implementing the Hodeidah agreement is also critical for a new round of consultations to proceed. In Sweden, the parties agreed to a follow-up round of consultations during January, but will not do so without progress on the Hodeidah agreement. There has also been little progress advancing the other components of the Stockholm Agreementa prisoner exchange and the establishment of a joint committee in Taiz, a city that has seen some of the most intense fighting during the war. Yemens humanitarian crisis, including the risk of a major famine, remains a key issue for the Council, involving monitoring restrictions on access, protecting critical infrastructure, and advancing measures to stabilise the economy. A high-level donor conference will be held in Geneva on 26 February for OCHAs 2019 humanitarian response plan for Yemen, which calls for $4 billion. Council action around the political process and humanitarian situation is likely to depend on developments on the ground. It could seek to adopt a statement reaffirming the importance of the parties remaining committed to the Stockholm Agreement, including the Hodeidah agreement, while expressing support for the Special Envoys efforts to advance a political process. For the sanctions renewal, a potentially contentious issue may be over referring to Iranian non-compliance with the arms embargo, as previously concluded by the panel. As was ultimately done last year, the Council may adopt a strictly technical resolution renewing sanctions for a further year, without mentioning specific states. Another option is including a condemnation of Iran for non-compliance with resolution 2216, though a draft resolution doing so last year was vetoed by Russia, which disagreed with the panels conclusions. Council Dynamics Resolutions 2451 and 2452 adopted since the 13 December 2018 Stockholm Agreement were, with the exception of the annual sanctions renewals, the Councils first resolutions on Yemen since April 2015. One effect of these resolutions is that they provide for the first written reporting on Yemen to the Council from the Secretary-General. Kuwait, as a member of the Saudi-led coalition, tends to champion its positions. It has sought to facilitate political efforts, hosting peace talks for three months in 2016, and last December provided aircraft to transport the Houthi delegation to the consultations in Sweden. New member Germany hosted an international conference on the Yemen peace process on 16 January and has indicated its interest in keeping attention on the humanitarian situation. Peru and Poland were part of a group of elected members last year that often coordinated their positions on humanitarian issues or when they perceived Council products as lacking balance. The US has sought to have the Council condemn Iran for supplying weapons to the Houthis. Recently, it took the position during negotiations on resolution 2451 that if such a reference to Iran were not included, it could not support the resolution going beyond issues directly related to the Stockholm Agreement. That led to the watering-down of the section on humanitarian issues. Conversely, singling out Iran is a red line for Russia. The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Peru chairs the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN MIDDLE EAST Syria Expected Council Action In February, the Council will receive the monthly briefings on the humanitarian situation, the political process and the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Key Recent Developments The beginning of 2019 has been marked by increased regional tensions involving Syria. The 19 December 2018 announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the withdrawal of US troops from Syria has contributed to this. The US actively supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Kurdish militia YPG, and the US decision has introduced fresh uncertainty into efforts to prevent an escalation of violence between Turkey and the YPG, counter-terrorism operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the fate of the territory currently controlled by the SDF in the northeast. Along with Idlib, the northeast is one of the main areas outside Syrian government control. The decision sparked the resignations of the US Secretary of Defence and the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL. Trump initially indicated that the US would withdraw its forces rapidly, but following considerable pressure from members of Congress and key US allies, he and senior officials have said the withdrawal will happen more slowly. At press time, the details of the withdrawal, including its timeline and conditions, remained unclear. Tensions between Syria and Israel have escalated in recent weeks. On 20 January, Israel conducted airstrikes against Iranian and Syrian military targets throughout the country. The attacks reportedly killed 21 people, including 12 Iranian soldiers. A statement from the Israeli Defence Forces described the attacks as a response to the firing of a surface-to-surface missile aimed at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights by Iranian forces stationed near Damascus, and said that this proved that Iran is attempting to entrench itself in Syria, thus endangering regional stability. The situation in Idlib remains critical. In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to establish a demilitarised zone 15 to 20 kilometres wide along the contact line between armed groups and government troops. The zone, which was aimed at preventing a military offensive, also facilitated the separation of forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (a Council-designated terrorist group) from other rebel groups. On 11 January, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over control of most of Idlib from the National Liberation Front, the Turkish-backed coalition of moderate armed groups. The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to be dire, and has been exacerbated by harsh winter conditions, including torrential rains. On 13 December 2018, the Council adopted resolution 2449, drafted by Kuwait and Sweden, which renewed for a year the authorisation for cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access to Syria. Through this authorisation, which was renewed with the abstention of China and Russia, UN actors and implementing partners have been able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance across the border to millions of people by notifying the Syrian government, rather than awaiting its authorisation. However, many humanitarian challenges persist, including the vulnerability of some three million people in Idlib, the fate of thousands of people who remain trapped by ongoing hostilities in ISIL-held areas in Deir ez-Zor and those who have fled the area, and difficulties in securing sustained humanitarian access, including to areas under government control. Efforts to reach 40,000 people stranded in harsh conditions in the makeshift camp of Rukban near the border with Jordan in December 2018 were unsuccessful. Despite international pressure, effortsongoing since January 2018to form a credible, balanced and inclusive constitutional committee had not yielded results by the end of the year. The constitutional committee is expected to comprise 150 people, one-third each from the government, the opposition, and civil society. The Syrian government refused to accept the UN-prepared list of civil society participants. After several failed attempts, the guarantors of the Astana processIran, Russia and Turkeyagreed on a civil society list at an 18 December 2018 ministerial meeting, but this version was not acceptable to the UN. Briefing the Council on 20 December 2018, then-Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said that the list represented significant joint input but that the UN did not feel comfortable accepting all its 50 names as meeting the necessary criteria of credibility and balance. During his briefing, de Mistura identified several elements regarding the constitutional committee that it should be possible to agree on, including having a balanced co-chairmanship arrangement and a 75 percent voting threshold. Geir O. Pedersen took office as the new Special Envoy for Syria on 7 January. Since taking office, he has had several meetings with the Syrian government, the opposition and relevant regional and international players involved in Syria. The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, briefed Council members on 8 January. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) continues to have concerns regarding the limited cooperation of the Syrian government in addressing the gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies identified in Syrias initial declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile. In the coming weeks, Council members expect to receive the report of the OPCW fact-finding mission regarding the alleged chemical weapons attack that took place in Douma (Eastern Ghouta) on 7 April 2018. According to a 23 July interim report, no nerve agents or their degradation products were detected, but chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two locations, along with residues of explosive. Women, Peace and Security The Syrian Womens Advisory Board continues to be included in regular consultations with the Special Envoy. According to the latest Secretary-Generals report on the humanitarian situation in Syria, the group called for credible participation of women in the yet-to-be-established constitutional committee, as well as overall strengthened participation of women in the political process. During his 20 December 2018 final briefing to the Council, de Mistura said that one of the co-chairs of the constitutional committee should be a woman, considering that women represent over half of the Syrian population. Key Issues and Options Given the crucial role of Russia, Turkey and Iran on both the political and humanitarian fronts, Council members could seek an informal interactive dialogue with their representatives to have a more action-oriented discussion regarding current and future efforts to avert a full-fledged military offensive in Idlib. Council members continue to be profoundly divided over Syria, and some question whether any effort on the political process is likely to yield results, considering the Syrian governments emphasis on regaining territory and consolidating control. As Pedersen initiates contacts with relevant actors, Council members could hold an informal and frank discussion to consider how, individually and collectively, they can best support the prospects of a political process based on resolution 2254, which in December 2015 laid out the steps toward a political solution in Syria. The issue of detainees, abductees and missing persons has not attracted much attention in the Council and is mostly considered under the rubric of confidence-building measures being discussed by the Astana guarantors. With little progress on this front and the Syrian governments release of thousands of prisoner death notices, the Council could hold a meeting on this matter. A new concern is that the recent takeover of most of Idlib by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham could be used to justify a military offensive by the Syrian government and its allies. The Council could request a briefing from the Secretariat to focus on the potential for instability in north-eastern Syria, call on the actors involved to exercise restraint, and support good-offices efforts to address long-standing grievances. Council and Wider Dynamics The potential for regional instability connected to the Syrian conflict has not featured prominently in Council discussions, which have mostly focused on three dimensions of the crisis: the political process, the humanitarian situation, and the use of chemical weapons. It remains to be seen whether developments on the ground will make this discussion unavoidable or if any Council members would like to pre-emptively request a meeting specifically on this question. As the government consolidates its territory, some Arab countriesincluding the United Arab Emirates and Bahrainhave started to reinstate their diplomatic presence in Damascus, and Jordan upgraded its level of representation in the Syrian capital. Diplomatic relations between most of these countries and Syria had been severed at the beginning of the crisis in 2011. Among the areas Russia focused on in the negotiations on resolution 2449 were the inclusion of references to the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and the need to increase the international communitys assistance to Syria. Inclusion of this language has been systematically opposed by the P3 and other like-minded countries, which argue that there can be no international support for funding for development and long-term reconstruction until irreversible progress has been made in the political process. Belgium, Germany and Kuwait are co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Syria. UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA AFRICA Sudan (Darfur) Expected Council Action In February, the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee by 12 February, in advance of its expiration on 12 March, as set out in resolution 2400. The Council will also be briefed on the Secretary-Generals 90-day report on the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as requested in resolution 2429. The mandate of UNAMID expires on 30 June. Key Recent Developments According to the Secretary-Generals most recent report, covering 4 October 2018 to 3 January, the security situation in Darfur remains relatively stable except for intermittent clashes between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid in the Jebel Marra area. Intercommunal violence and human rights violations declined during the reporting period, with the relative stability in most parts of Darfur reportedly leading some internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their places of origin. The root causes of conflict, however, remain unaddressed, the report said. There has been some recent progress in the Darfur peace process, including the signing on 6 December 2018 of a pre-negotiation agreement for the resumption of the peace process, but implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) itself remained slow, according to the report. The troop reduction and reconfiguration of UNAMID in accordance with resolution 2429 is proceeding as scheduled, including the relocation of mission assets to Central Darfur; the repatriation of military personnel, reducing the missions military strength from 8,735 to 5,470 by 31 December 2018; and the redeployment of the formed police units, as set out in the Secretary-Generals report. Five team sites have been closed and three others have been handed over to the missions formed police units. On 19 December 2018, protests took place across Sudan, sparked by food and fuel shortages and the governments announcement that it would end bread subsidies. The demonstrations have spread to several parts of the country, with protestors calling for President Omar al-Bashir, who has ruled the country for nearly three decades, to step down. Sudanese security forces have reportedly responded to protesters by using live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas, as well as arresting protesters and opposition figures. The government said on 24 January that the official death toll since 19 December was 30 people, while human rights organisations and opposition groups have said the number is much higher, with many more injured. Several actors have expressed concern over the situation. On 28 December 2018, the Secretary-General issued a statement appealing for calm and restraint, calling on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and violence, and emphasising the need to safeguard freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. On 8 January, the US, UK, Norway and Canada issued a joint statement saying the government of Sudans actions and decisions over the coming weeks will have an impact on the engagement of our governments and others. On 11 January, a spokesperson of the European External Action Service said in a statement that the actions of the government of Sudanwill have an impact on our bilateral phased engagement. Sanctions-Related Developments On 10 January, the final report of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee was released. According to the report, the resumption of significant clashes across Jebel Marra has led to casualties, new displacement, a humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses. The report noted that conflict-related sexual violence continues in Darfur and that the return of IDPs has proved difficult. The report also found continued challenges in the implementation of the sanctions regime. Regarding violations of the arms embargo, the report found that the government of Sudan continued to transfer military equipment into Darfur without seeking the committees approval, as required by resolution 1591. As for the travel ban and assets freeze of the four designated individuals, the report said the government of Sudan has not submitted its implementation report. The report also noted that most of the Darfuri armed groups have consolidated their presence in Libya, where they derive income from mercenary activities, smuggling and other criminal actions. On 17 January, Ambassador Joanna Wronecka (Poland), chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, briefed the Council on the committees work. She referred to the 24 October 2018 briefing to the committee by the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. According to a 15 November 2018 committee press statement, Patten informed the Committee on the ongoing patterns of sexual violence in Darfur as well as the progress made by the government of Sudan to address them. Wronecka also referred to the 14 December 2018 briefing of the committee by the Panel of Experts on its final report. (For more details, see our Whats In Blue story of 16 January.) Human Rights-Related Developments On 17 January, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement that credible reports of the use of excessive force, including live ammunition, by state security forces against protestors across Sudan over the past month are deeply worrying. The statement said that according to information received, security forces have also followed some protesters into several hospitals and fired tear gas and live ammunition. Bachelet called on the government to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. She also noted that fact-finding committees had been established by the government and the National Commission of Human Rights and urged any investigations to be conducted promptly and transparently, with a view to accountability. Women, Peace and Security The threat of sexual violence in Darfur remains significant, according to the Secretary-Generals latest report on UNAMID. This impedes the ability of women to move freely in and out of IDP camps for livelihood activities. Most cases of conflict-related sexual violence occurred in Jebel Marra, notably during clashes involving Sudanese government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid. The report said that the protection of women in that region is still a major challenge for UNAMID. Key Issues and Options An immediate issue for the Council is renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts. Another issue is to consider reviewing the sanctions measures on Darfur, as signalled in resolution 2400. An option is for such considerations to be informed by the final report of the Panel of Experts. Another option is to consider expanding the regimes designation criteria to include the commission of acts of rape or sexual violence, as was apparently recommended by Patten during her 24 October 2018 briefing to the committee. A key issue that Council members will want to follow closely is the effect on the security situation of further troop reductions and implementation of the missions revised priorities as set out in resolution 2429, including on human rights reporting and intercommunal mediation efforts. A related issue is to monitor progress made on the proposed benchmarks and indicators of achievement for the exit of the mission set out in the Secretary-Generals report of 12 October 2018. The Council took note of these in its 11 December 2018 presidential statement to help guide the Security Councils considerations on the future of UNAMIDs mandate. An option would be to invite Joint Special Representative and head of UNAMID Jeremiah Mamabolo to brief on these issues as well as on next steps in the implementation of the DDPD. Council Dynamics There continue to be differences amongst Council members in assessing the overall situation in Darfur as well as in their positions on the sanctions regime, as was again made apparent during the discussion following the 17 January briefing. Council members China, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait and Russia presented more positive assessments of the situation in Darfur and expressed support for reviewing the sanctions regime with a view to lifting sanctions. Other members including Belgium, France, Germany, Peru and the UK raised serious concerns and expressed support for including sexual violence as a new listing criterion for targeted sanctions, which Russia expressly opposed. Some membersincluding France, Germany, the UK and the USalso raised concern over the recent widespread protests in Sudan. Russia said these events fall outside the scope of the Councils consideration of the issue and that raising them constitutes interference in the countrys internal affairs. The UK and Germany are co-penholders on the issue; Poland chairs the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. UN Documents on Darfur Status Update since our January Forecast Afghanistan On 3 January, Council members issued a press statement condemning the terrorist attack in northern Sar-e-Pul Province and Balkh Province on 31 December 2018, targeted at the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, resulting in at least 27 security forces killed and 20 injured (SC/13655). On 30 January, the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee held joint informal consultations with the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, receiving a briefing on their Monitoring Teams December 2018 visit to Afghanistan. The meeting was followed by informal consultations of the 1988 Committee also focusing on the visit. Somalia On 3 January, Special Representative and head of UNSOM Nicholas Haysom briefed the Council (S/PV.8440) on the latest Secretary-Generals report on Somalia (S/2018/1149). Francisco Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia and head of the AU Mission in Somalia, also briefed. On 5 January, Council members issued a press statement expressing their regret at Somalias decision to declare Haysom persona non grata (SC/13657). On 16 January, Council members issued a press statement condemning a terrorist attack in Nairobi the previous day and paid tribute to Kenyas role in the fight against terrorism, particularly its role in AMISOM, fighting against Al-Shabaab (SC/13666). UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel On 10 January, the Council was briefed (S/PV.8442) by Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas on the Secretary-Generals latest report on developments in West Africa and the Sahel and the activities of UNOWAS (S/2018/1175). Children and Armed Conflict The Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict met on 14 January to introduce the report on children and armed conflict in Syria (S/2018/969) and on 28 January for a first reading of its Syria conclusions. Mali On 16 January, the Council was briefed on the situation in Mali by Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, Kamissa Camara, participated in the meeting (S/PV.8445). The basis for the discussion was the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/1174). After the meeting, Council members issued a press statement expressing a significant sense of impatience with parties over the persistent delays in the full implementation of key provisions of the agreement (SC/13667). On 20 January, Council members condemned an attack against the MINUSMA camp in Aguelhok, which resulted in 10 peacekeepers from Chad killed and several others injured, in spite of the robust response from MINUSMA (SC/13672). On 25 January, Council members condemned the attack perpetrated earlier that day against a MINUSMA convoy near Douentza (region of Mopti), which resulted in two peacekeepers from Sri Lanka killed and several others injured (SC/13678). Libya On 18 January, the Council was briefed by the Special Representative and head of UNSMIL, Ghassan Salame, on the situation in Libya. Jurgen Schulz, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany, briefed in his capacity as chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee on the activities of the committee (S/PV.8448). Israel/Palestine On 22 January, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on the Middle East (Israel/Palestine) (S/PV.8449). Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov briefed the Council via video teleconference. Mladenov urged continued attention to dangerous dynamics on the ground, especially highlighting the impact of Israeli settlements. He also stressed the importance of intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts. Colombia On 18 January Council members condemned a terrorist attack at the General Police Academy in Bogota the day before (SC/13671). On 23 January, the Council received a briefing from Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia (S/PV.8450). The meeting was chaired by Miguel Vargas, the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, and included the participation of the Foreign Minister of Colombia, Carlos Holmes Trujillo. The discussion focused on the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/1159). On 24 January, Council members issued a press statement reiterating their full and unanimous support for the peace process in Colombia and sharing the assessment set out in the report of the Secretary-General (SC/13676). Cyprus On 23 January, Special Representative and head of UNFICYP briefed Council members in consultations on the latest developments and most recent Secretary-Generals report on Cyprus (S/2019/37). On 30 January, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2453 which extended the mandate of UNFICYP for another six months. UNRCCA (Central Asia) On 24 January, Special Representative and head of UNRCCA Natalia Gherman briefed Council members in consultations about areas of focus and concern of the UNRCCA, including counter-terrorism, organised crime, transboundary water management, and youth engagement in the five Central Asian states. Women, Peace and Security On 24 January, Germany, Peru and the UK co-hosted an Arria-formula meeting entitled Whats next for Women, Peace and Security in the Middle East and North Africa: The Potential of National Action Plans (S/2019/39). Focused on the examples of Iraq and Lebanon, briefings were given by Suzan Aref from Iraq, human rights activist and founder and Director of the Erbil-based Women Empowerment Organisation; Lea Baroudi from Lebanon, Director and co-founder of MARCH, an organisation dedicated to promoting gender equality and civil rights in Lebanon; Nada Makki, from the Office of the Lebanese Minister of State for Womens Affairs; and Asa Regner, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. Climate and Security On 25 January, the Security Council held an open debate focused on addressing the impact of climate-related disasters on international peace and security (S/PV.8451). A concept note (S/2019/1) was prepared by the Dominican Republic, whose foreign minister, Miguel Vargas, chaired the meeting. Over 70 Council and other member states participated. Briefers included: Rosemary Di Carlo, Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator (via telephone); Pavel Kabat, Chief Scientist of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); and Lindsay Getschel, Research Assistant at the Stimson Centers Environmental Security Program. Venezuela On Saturday, 26 January, the Security Council held a meeting on the situation in Venezuela during which it was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo (S/PV.8452). The briefing was requested by the US, and several member states participated at foreign minister-level, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the foreign minister of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza. Working Methods On 28 January the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions held a meeting to discuss its work plan for 2019. Draft presidential notes on various aspects of implementation of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods, Note 507 (S/2017/507) were circulated by the chair. Overview Equatorial Guinea will have the presidency in February. It will organise a high-level debate on Mercenary activities as a source of insecurity and destabilization in Africa, with the Central African sub-region as a focus. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea is expected to preside. President Obiang will also chair an open debate on the AU initiative Silencing the Guns in Africa. A debate on transnational organised crime at sea is also planned. The Council will undertake a visiting mission to Cote dIvoire and Guinea-Bissau in February. A briefing on the visiting mission is scheduled shortly after the delegation returns. Later in the month the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau. The other mandate renewal expected this month is for the Panel of Experts of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. Also anticipated are a briefing and consultations on UNAMID in Sudan and on the peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, in the CAR and the 2127 CAR sanctions regime. The Council is expected to follow developments in Yemen closely and is likely to be briefed by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths during the month. It is also expected to renew the Yemen sanctions regime before its expiry at the end of February. Other Middle East issues that will be considered are: Iraq, an update on the activities of UNAMI; Israel-Palestine, the regular monthly meeting; and Syria, the monthly briefings on chemical weapons and the humanitarian situation, and an update on the political situation. Other meetings include a briefing by Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, and Michele Coninsx, the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on the Secretary-Generals strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The Council is expecting a briefing on UNMIK (Kosovo) and another on the activities of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee. Meetings may also be added on Burundi, the DRC and Myanmar during the month. Members are also anticipating three Arria-formula meetings: on children and armed conflict, peacekeeping and women, peace and security. SECURITY COUNCIL AND WIDER UN STRUCTURE Open Debate on Silencing the Guns in Africa Expected Council Action In February, under the agenda item Cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the AU initiative on Silencing the Guns in Africa. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat are expected to brief. Equatorial Guinea intends to present a draft resolution endorsing the AU initiative, to be adopted during the debate. Background According to Equatorial Guineas concept note, it aims for the high-level open debate to discuss the challenges of creating a conflict-free Africa through eliminating all wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts, and preventing genocide, as well as how the UN-AU partnership can make tangible progress in this regard. The AU Heads of State and Government adopted the programme for silencing the guns by 2020 as part of the May 2013 Solemn Declaration marking the AUs 50th anniversary. Since the declarations adoption, the AU has periodically held meetings and workshops on progress. It has also adopted the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns to address implementation. In July 2018, the Council and the AU Peace and Security Council held their third annual informal meeting and discussed how reinforced cooperation could assist in ending conflict. In its concept note for the open debate, Equatorial Guinea blames continued challenges on governance deficits, the global economic slowdown, commodity prices, high rates of unemployment, mismanagement of ethnic diversity, and competition over power and resources. Equatorial Guinea also attributes the increased risk of relapse in post-conflict countries to weak state institutions. Equatorial Guinea stresses the importance of establishing ownership of the master roadmap by affected member states through active participation and addressing root causes of conflict. The concept note also says that the AU members need to strengthen all existing preventive diplomacy tools and fully implement the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It seeks better cooperation at the sub-regional, continental and international level, and urges the Council to mobilise the necessary support. Cote dIvoire, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia, as well as South Africa and the AU, held an Arria-formula meeting in October 2018 on silencing the guns. During this meeting, the Permanent Observer of the AU noted that despite great strides in mediation and prevention tools, much remained to be strengthened: coordination and harmonisation of various policies of the AU; systematic involvement of all relevant local, national, regional, and international stakeholders; addressing root causes; and mobilisation of necessary funds. Council members who spoke at the Arria-formula meeting all welcomed the opportunity for greater cooperation and coordination between the AU and UN, while some stressed the need to support African solutions for African problems. Some called for sustainable and predictable financing for AU operations. Several speakers noted the detrimental impact of small arms and light weapons trafficking and are likely to reiterate during the open debate their desire for common efforts to fight trafficking. Other possible topics may be the need for inclusion, especially of women, in conflict prevention and how some believe the mismanagement and exploitation of natural resources leads to and sustains conflict. Council Dynamics At the October 2018 Arria-formula meeting, Cote dIvoire announced that it would present a draft resolution on silencing the guns during Equatorial Guineas presidency in February. This idea was supported in statements by other speakers, including Kuwait and incoming member Germany, and may be an outcome option. Negotiations might be difficult, however, because of differences in positions on issues such as financing of AU proposals, inclusion of language related to womens involvement in peace processes, and the role of the Council in supporting an AU initiative. ASIA Myanmar Expected Council Action The Council anticipates a possible briefing in February on the situation in Myanmar from Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener, who visited the country at the end of January. There may also be interest in hearing from UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who are both planning to visit Myanmar in the coming weeks. Key Recent Developments In consultations on 16 January, Council members were briefed on Myanmar by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Grandi, and Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific for the UN Development Programme Haoliang Xu. Fighting between armed separatists and the national security forces has been ongoing for several months, but the 4 January attack on four military border posts by the Arakan Army, a separatist group demanding greater autonomy for Rakhine State, signalled an escalation of the violence. On 24 October 2018, Marzuki Darusman, chair of the fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Council (HRC), briefed the Security Council on the missions report. Among its findings was that Myanmar security forces had committed what amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity in their treatment of several ethnic and religious minorities in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States and that there was sufficient information regarding the treatment of the Rohingya ethnic group in Rakhine State for senior officials in the Tatmadaw to be investigated to determine their liability for genocide. The meeting had been requested on 16 October by nine members of the CouncilCote dIvoire, France, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, the US and the UK. On 18 October, Bolivia, China, Equatorial Guinea and Russia responded with a letter to the president of the Council expressing their objection to such a briefing on the grounds that there was no precedent for a briefing from an HRC special mechanism on a country-specific issue, and that it was not within the missions mandate. The provisional agenda was put to a vote, and received nine votes in favour, three votes against, and three abstentions. In the briefing, Darusman stressed the importance of accountability and urged the Council to impose sanctions against those responsible for serious crimes under international law. He also called for the Councils support for an independent inquiry into UN involvement in Myanmar since 2011. Burgener visited Myanmar from 19 to 28 January. During her visit she met with government ministers, Rakhine State government officials, political parties, humanitarian agencies, and civil society. Among the issues covered were plans to develop the state freedom of movement in Rakhine State. She also visited displacement camps that have housed Rohingya Muslims since 2012 and visited Rakhine and Hindu refugee camps in Sittwe. She also met representatives of the Tatmadaw. Human Rights-Related Developments In a statement on 18 January, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee expressed alarm over escalating violence in northern and central Rakhine state and in Chin state. Since November 2018 the Myanmar military has been engaged in heavy fighting, resulting in deaths and injuries to civilians and the displacement of 5,000 people, the statement said. Lee called for full and unfettered humanitarian access to the region following a 10 January order by the Rakhine State government blocking humanitarian activities of international agencies in several areas. Issues and Options Key issues include: the lack of appropriate conditions for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh; restricted access in Rakhine state, affecting the provision of humanitarian aid; the need for full implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Myanmar government, UNDP and UNHCR, as well as of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on the Rakhine State, which was established at the request of the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and mandated to make recommendations to improve the situation in Rakhine State; and addressing accountability issues. The Council could consider a visiting mission, possibly of a sub-group of its members, to assess developments since its visit in April-May 2018. It could also consider a resolution setting out a regular reporting cycle which could provide for more regular Council oversight. A briefing by Burgener and others who have visited the region can inform the Council of the impact of the increased instability in Rakhine state on efforts to repatriate Rohingya refugees and on the national peace process, which are of concern to members. Briefers will also be able to provide an update on any progress made in the implementation of the trilateral MOU. An issue is the Myanmar governments reluctance to work with the Council. Whether it might be useful to have greater involvement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in working with the Myanmar government on humanitarian assistance and repatriation of refugees may be worth consideration. Council Dynamics Council members appear open to hearing from the Special Envoy and others who have recently visited Myanmar. However, agreement on a robust product may be more difficult. In December 2018, Council members were negotiating a draft resolution on Myanmar that would have set out a regular reporting cycle on the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission and progress in investigations of alleged human rights violations. However, China and Russia did not engage on the resolution, and the UK, the penholder on Myanmar, decided in late December not to table the draft for a vote. While it is not off the table, it is unclear when the UK, which has pursued a policy of incremental pressure on this issue, will take it up again. It is too early to say how the change in the Councils composition might affect support for its more active engagement on Myanmar. While China is seen as having the potential to play a key role, given its geographic proximity and its more active role in the peace process, its position has been that the Council should not get too involved, and it is likely to continue to advocate a bilateral approach to the repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh. Among those who joined the Council in January, Indonesia is in the unique position of being a member of ASEAN, which includes Myanmar. It brings a deep understanding of the Myanmar situation to the Council, but its association with ASEAN could also be a complicating factor. Indonesia and Kuwait are also members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which has called for the protection of the rights of the Rohingya. UN DOCUMENTS ON MYANMAR THEMATIC ISSUES Maritime Crime Expected Council Action On 5 February, the Security Council is scheduled to hold a debate on transnational organised crime at sea. Equatorial Guineas Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, is expected to chair. The Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, and the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, are expected to brief. No formal outcome is anticipated. Key Recent Developments Equatorial Guinea circulated a concept note describing the purpose of the debate as focusing on the root causes of transnational organised crime at sea and inviting Council members to discuss means of prevention and enhanced cooperation in this regard, including by addressing the linkages between terrorism; piracy; and human, weapons and drugs trafficking in this context. The debate seeks to build on the Arria-formula meeting held on 13 June 2018 on maritime crime as a threat to international peace and security, which was convened by Cote dIvoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, the Netherlands and the US, jointly with UNODC. The concept note said the meeting would allow member states to address the common and interlinked emerging crimes at sea, including piracy and armed robbery, arms and drug trafficking, fisheries crime, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. (For more details, see our Whats In Blue story of 12 June 2018.) The Council has considered the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia for over a decade and each year reauthorises international naval forces to fight piracy in that area. The Council has also addressed piracy in the Gulf of Guinea since 2011. Following an April 2016 open debate on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the Council adopted a presidential statement expressing concern over the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea. It also noted the links between piracy, armed robbery at sea and transnational organised crime. On 19 December 2018, during Cote dIvoires presidency, the Council held a meeting on drug trafficking in West Africa as a threat to stability, with Fedotov briefing. The Council had previously discussed drug trafficking and its threat to stability and peace and security five years earlier, in December 2013. Fedotov highlighted new, alarming trends in drug trafficking in West and Central Africa, with disruptive and destabilizing effects on governance, security, economic growth and public health and referred to linkages among terrorism, illicit drugs and other forms of crime. Key Issues and Options Key issues include: addressing the root causes of maritime crime; considering how preventing and countering maritime crime can contribute to preventing conflicts and sustaining peace in post-conflict environments; considering how to improve international and regional cooperation in preventing, investigating and prosecuting maritime crime; and identifying gaps in the legal frameworks governing maritime crimes. Council Dynamics Council members recognise that the broad range of peace and security threats related to maritime crime require coherent and effective multilateral approaches, given the transnational implications of this issue. Cote dIvoire and Equatorial Guinea, which are on the Gulf of Guinea, have particular interest in the issue, given the significance of these threats to their respective sub-regions. Following the June 2018 Arria-formula meeting held at the initiative of the Netherlands, Council members negotiated a draft presidential statement on maritime crime for several months, but were unable to reach consensus on a text. It is unlikely that the draft will be revived at this time. UN Documents on Maritime Crime EUROPE Kosovo Expected Council Action In February, the Council is expected to hold a briefing on the situation in Kosovo. The Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Zahir Tanin, will brief on recent developments and the latest report by the Secretary-General. According to established practice, Serbia is likely to participate at a high level while Kosovo will probably be represented by its ambassador to the US. Key Recent Developments Growing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina marked the end of 2018 and have continued this year. In December, Kosovos parliament approved a series of laws that initiated the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), which had until then addressed non-military tasks, into a more traditional army. These developments prompted an emergency Council meeting on the situation in Kosovo on 17 December 2018, following a request by Serbia. Presidents Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Hashim Thaci of Kosovo attended the meeting. Vucic condemned the move by the Kosovo authorities and emphasised that formation of a Kosovo army violates resolution 1244, which gave international troops led by NATO the responsibility for ensuring security in Kosovo. Thaci said that the actions taken by Kosovo were in line with international law and were within Kosovos rights as a sovereign and independent state. Among Council members, Russia defended the Serbian position and said that the creation of a Kosovo army poses a threat to peace and security in the region. The US reiterated its support for Kosovo and stressed the need to coordinate its actions with NATO and ensure outreach to minority communities during the transformation of the KSF. Council members were generally united in calling on both parties to avoid exacerbating tensions and to engage in dialogue. After a failed bid to secure membership of Interpol in November, Kosovo imposed a 100 percent tariff on imported goods from Serbia as of 21 November 2018, responding to what it perceived as a campaign by Serbia against its bid to join the police organisation. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has called on Kosovo to reverse its decision on tariffs. The US, Kosovos main ally, also urged it to rescind the tariffs and avoid further escalation of tensions. Kosovos prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has said publicly that the tariffs will be maintained until Serbia recognises Kosovo. Thaci has ,called on Haradinaj to heed the USs advice and abolish the tariffs, thus exposing some divisions within Kosovo over this issue. The row over tariffs has continued, and at press time the policy remained in place. Over the course of the past two months, the prosecutors office of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) has conducted interviews with some former senior commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The KSC, a special court based in The Hague that operates under Kosovo law and is staffed by international judges, was set up to investigate alleged war crimes committed by the KLA during the conflict in Kosovo in the 1990s. The prosecutors office is expected to issue its first indictments this year. Key Issues and Options Given the volatility in relations between Belgrade and Pristina, the Council is primarily concerned with reducing tensions and maintaining stability in Kosovo. The Council will continue to monitor the implications of the decision by Kosovos legislature to initiate the transformation of the KSF into a regular armed force and whether this will have implications for resolution 1244. The Council will follow developments related to the possible final agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, including the potential for territorial adjustments; such an agreement could affect neighbouring countries and possibly re-ignite ethnic tensions in the region. Dialogue on this agreement stalled amid growing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina in recent months. The EU has been the main facilitator of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue which resulted in the 2013 Brussels agreement on normalisation of relations between the two. At the core of the agreement is the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Municipalities in northern Kosovo. While there was progress in some areas, an issue for the Council remains the lack of implementation of main aspects of the agreement and what role, if any, UNMIK might play in facilitating its implementation. Notwithstanding the recent tensions, several Council members, and the P3 in particular, have continued to question the usefulness of the current quarterly reporting cycle and have also called for downsizing the mission in light of the overall relative stability on the ground. A growing number of Council members share these views, and an option for the Council would be to consider formal proposals for changing the reporting cycle, and possibly changing the format of the meeting to consultations. In addressing the effectiveness of the mission, the Council could request the Secretary-General to conduct a strategic review of UNMIK. Council Dynamics Despite the recent developments that drew the Councils attention to Kosovo, it remains a low-intensity issue for the Council and is followed closely mainly by members with a specific interest in the region. One of the factors that has contributed to this is the pre-eminence in Kosovo of regional organisations, including the EU, NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Deep division among permanent members has continued to characterise the Councils consideration of the Kosovo issue. France, the UK and the US recognise Kosovos independence and tend to be supportive of Kosovos government, while China and Russia do not recognise its independence and strongly support Serbias position. A simmering issue is that the P3 and the EU members of the Council have become more outspoken in advocating a lengthening of UNMIKs reporting cycle and, with this, less frequent meetings on Kosovo. Presiding over the Council in August 2018, the UK took concrete steps to this end by removing the quarterly Kosovo meeting from the programme of work (POW). This also demonstrated that there is a substantial support among members for lengthening the reporting cycle. Russia and China opposed the omission of Kosovo from the August POW, but it appears that they would not have been able to secure the necessary support to challenge the decision through a procedural vote. The US has been the most vocal proponent of a drawdown and eventual withdrawal of UNMIK, citing the level of stability in Kosovo. The US has also asserted that the mission is overstaffed and over-resourced for its limited responsibilities, and that these resources could be put to better use in more pressing situations on the Councils agenda. Given the ongoing emphasis on reviewing UN peacekeeping operations with the aim of reducing costs and increasing efficiency, the issue of modifying UNMIKs mandate is likely to become more prominent. Alone among missions regularly discussed by the Council, UNMIKs mandate is open-ended. Any attempt to change it would require a new resolution, which Russia would strongly oppose and most likely block. UN DOCUMENTS ON KOSOVO MIDDLE EAST Iraq Expected Council Action In February, the Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is scheduled to brief the Council for the first time since officially assuming her position on 17 December 2018. She will be briefing on the latest Secretary-Generals report on UNAMI, the most recent developments in the situation, and the latest Secretary-Generals report on the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. UNAMIs mandate expires on 31 May 2019. Key Recent Developments Following the 12 May 2018 parliamentary elections and 2 October 2018 election of Barham Salih as president (a Kurdish politician who has held regional and federal office before), independent Shia politician Adel Abdul Mahdi was named prime minister by Salih. The formation of the Iraqi government continues. As at late January, the cabinet positions of the ministers of defence and the interior remain open. On 16 December, Hennis-Plasschaert arrived in Baghdad. In a UNAMI press release, she named post-conflict recovery and the well-being of the Iraqi people as priorities for UNAMI, which will work towards these in the security, humanitarian, political, economic and development fields. She has met high-level government counterparts, including president Salih, prime minister Mahdi, foreign minister Ali Al-Hakim and the speaker of the House of Representatives (the Iraqi parliament), Mohamed al-Halbousi. Iraqi government forces defeated the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in December 2017 after three years of fighting that resulted in massive destruction and the internal displacement of over two million people. In September 2017, the Council adopted resolution 2379, which requested the Secretary-General to establish an investigative team to support Iraqi domestic efforts to hold ISIL accountable for crimes it committed in the country by collecting, storing and preserving in Iraq evidence of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. On 31 May 2018, the Secretary-General appointed Karim Asad Ahmad Khan of the UK as Special Adviser and head of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD). Support for UNITAD is part of UNAMIs mandate. On 4 December 2018, Khan gave his first briefing to the Council, based on his first report on the activities of UNITAD. In his briefing, Khan addressed UNITADs guiding principles, such as the independence and impartiality of the mechanism, while working in line with the principles of the UN Charter, UN policies and best practices. As pointed out in his report, the focus of UNITAD will be on those ISIL members who bear the greatest responsibility among the leadership as well as regional and mid-level commanders. Key priorities in the next few months will be completing the work on UNITADs premises in Baghdad, finalising its Standard Operating Procedures and recruiting staff. One-third of the members of the investigative team are to be Iraqi, with the recruitment process aiming at balance in gender, ethnic and religious representation. The report further lays out the complex operating environment for UNITAD, considering that ISIL is still active in Iraq, some of the affected areas are not under the full control of the Iraqi government, and some require the removal of explosives. A steering committee composed of members of the Iraqi government and law enforcement bodies is charged with coordinating cooperation between the Iraqi government and UNITAD. Due to the ongoing government formation, the composition of the steering committee has been changing. UNITAD is currently focusing on a number of core activities, such as collection of existing evidence, identifying gaps and field-based investigations. Negotiations between UNITAD and the Iraqi government on the modalities of UNITADs engagement in the field are ongoing. At a later point, evidence will be analysed, preserved and stored, to be used for proceedings in Iraq and other states, upon request by these states and following approval by the Council. The Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly, responsible for adopting the UN budget, endorsed UNITADs request for $21.5 million. The next report is due in May. In a joint report published on 6 November 2018, UNAMI and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights detailed the discovery of 202 mass graves since 2014 in areas formerly controlled by ISIL, with the expectation of more such discoveries. At the end of December 2018, another mass grave was discovered in northern Iraq, where residents described past extrajudicial killings by ISIL. Regarding the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, the then-head of UNAMI, Jan Kubis, reported in his final briefing to the Council on 13 November 2018 that there had been progress on the repatriation of Kuwaiti property from Iraq. This was welcomed by the Secretary-General in a statement on 14 November, calling it an important step towards the full normalization of relations between the two countries. The UNs 2018 humanitarian response plan for Iraq of $568.7 million was funded at 92.5 percent at $525.9 million, representing the highest coverage of all UN humanitarian response plans in 2018. Sanctions-Related Developments On 9 January, the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee held its first meeting since 2005. Members met with a high-level delegation from Iraq, discussing the recovery of Iraqi financial assets abroad, handling of delisting requests, and delisting of Iraqi entities. According to the annual report on the work of the committee, 20 entities were delisted in 2018 via written procedure, bringing the number of listed entities down to 149. Women, Peace and Security Hennis is the first woman to lead UNAMI, joining the two female Deputy Special Representatives, Marta Ruedas (head of the development and humanitarian support component) and Alice Walpole (political, electoral and constitutional support). During the Councils 13 November meeting on Iraq, a few Council members pointed out that no women had been considered for cabinet positions during the government formation process so far and called upon the Iraqi government to ensure womens representation at the highest decision-making level. Issues and Options The Council will continue to follow Iraqi progress in forming a government, and a formal Council product to express support for the new government is an option. The Council could consider conducting a visiting mission to Iraq to get a better understanding of current challenges on the ground. As chair of the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee, Poland could seize upon the momentum and political will of Council members and the Iraqi government to advance the delisting of entities and follow-up on concrete proposals on the unfreezing of Iraqi assets. As for efforts to hold members of ISIL accountable for international crimes, the Council will continue to monitor developments regarding the investigative team. Some members, especially those opposed to the death penalty, continue to have concerns about the possibility that evidence shared by the team might be used in criminal proceedings in which capital punishment could be imposed. This may continue to affect member states willingness to contribute to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General, which currently consists of contributions made by the UK and Qatar, with the Netherlands having pledged earmarked contributions supporting witnesses and victims. Council Dynamics Council members are unanimous in their support for UNAMI. Both the new composition of the Council since 1 January and how Hennis-Plasschaert, the new head of UNAMI, will work in Iraq and with Council members will influence the Councils engagement on that file. Considering that Kuwait is currently an elected member of the Council, a formal Council product on the Iraq-Kuwait file may be a possibility at some point. The US is the penholder on Iraq issues in general, and the UK is the penholder on Iraq-Kuwait issues. Poland is the chair of the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAQ THE SECURITY COUNCIL In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2018 The fractured state of Council relations, particularly among the permanent members, was reflected in the difficulty of obtaining consensus on Council resolutions. This is not entirely new: the number of vetoed and non-consensus resolutions has been rising for eight years. In 2018, three resolutions were vetoed, while four tabled drafts failed due to insufficient votes. A lower number of resolutions was adopted54, against 61 in 2017of which nine had fewer than 15 votes in favour. There were four procedural votes, a number not seen since the early 1990s; the heightened recourse to these votes, on whether a Council meeting can take place as proposed, is one indicator of difficult dynamics. Twenty-one Arria-formula meetings were held, compared with 17 in 2017: the most since the Council began using this informal meeting format in 1992. The number of meetings, and the hours spent there, reflect a busy Council, although the total number of meetings and decisions declined compared to 2017. One new situation was added to the Councils agenda when the UK called for a meeting on the use of a nerve agent in Salisbury, the United Kingdom. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) closed its doors. The mandate of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group was terminated when the Council decided to lift the sanctions imposed on Eritrea, and a new Panel of Experts on Somalia was established. As in previous years, Africa featured prominently in the Councils work, accounting for 50 percent of country-specific or regional situations and about 70 percent of resolutions and presidential statements. Among the most frequently discussed African situations were the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Sudan. The Council also paid close attention to the Central African Republic (CAR), Libya, and Mali and the Sahel. Council divisions continued to affect issues in the Middle East. As the Syria conflict entered its eighth year, the Council held 34 public meetings in 2018 on different aspects of the situation but with little change in Council dynamics. Difficulty agreeing on culpability for the use of chemical weapons in Syria and on how the Council should respond led to one veto and to two draft resolutions that fell short of the nine votes needed for adoption. On the humanitarian situation in Syria, largely through the efforts of the penholders, Kuwait and Sweden, the Council was able to adopt one resolution renewing the cross-border delivery of aid, and another demanding a month-long humanitarian pause for the delivery of aid following an escalation of the conflict in February. Israel/Palestine issues were discussed monthly, with an uptick in meetings in April and May, a period of deadly violence at the border between Gaza and Israel. There was a failed attempt to adopt a resolution on the protection of civilians in Gaza. A draft by Kuwait garnered ten votes in favour, one veto by the US and four abstentions. A US draft, initially presented as amendments to the Kuwaiti text, received an affirmative vote only from its sponsor, with 11 members abstaining and three voting against. Yemen, too, continued to occupy the Councils attention. There were 15 meetings, with two resolutions and one presidential statement adopted, and one draft resolution vetoed. Disagreement over including language on Irans non-compliance with the Yemen sanctions regime led to a Russian veto of a draft text to renew that regime. Instead, a Russian draft based on the previous years resolution was adopted. Conversely, the Council was able to show unity by adopting a resolution in December 2018 that authorised an advance team to monitor and provide support to the recent Hodeidah Agreement. Trends in 2018 An increase in non-consensus resolutions on a broader range of issues The years nine non-consensus resolutions reflected Council disagreements not only on traditionally divisive issues such as chemical weapons in Syria and Israel/Palestine, but also on some peacekeeping and sanctions mandate renewals. Of the nine non-consensus resolutions, four pertained to the renewal of three missionsin the CAR, Haiti and Western Saharathat have been on the Councils agenda for many years. This was the first non-consensus mandate renewal for missions in the CAR and Haiti. The mission in Western Sahara, which had a non-consensus renewal in 2016, saw two non-consensus renewals in 2018. This comes at a time when the reform of peace operations has been at the forefront of discussions in the UN. Of the three non-consensus resolutions on sanctions renewals, two were on South Sudan, both adopted with nine votes in favour and six abstentions, reflecting differences at a time when some members felt that the peace process was at a critical juncture and that additional sanctions would be counterproductive. The lack of unanimity on a resolution renewing the Libya sanctions regime stemmed from concerns on the part of Russia and China about language on sexual and gender-based violence. Council members were also unable to find unanimity on resolutions on the renewal of the mandate of the prosecutor of the international residual mechanism for tribunals and the delivery of cross-border aid in Syria. The three vetoes were cast over chemical weapons in Syria, on Israel/Palestine and, for the first time, on Yemen sanctions. In addition, of the four resolutions not adopted because of insufficient affirmative votes, one was on the protection of civilians in Gaza, and the other three related to chemical weapons in Syria. Using Working Methods: Procedural Votes There were four procedural votes last year. The last time the Council invoked so many procedural votes was in the early 1990s, when the procedural vote was used regularly over Palestines participation in meetings. Between 2006 and 2013, there were no procedural votes at all. Between 2014 and 2016, it was used sparingly, with only one procedural vote yearly in connection with a meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). In 2017, there were three: on holding the DPRK human rights meeting, and two related to the Joint Investigation Mechanism (one on postponing a meeting and the other on the sequence of voting on draft resolutions). In 2018, procedural votes were required for a proposed briefing on Syria by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for a Myanmar briefing by the chair of the Human Rights Fact-Finding Mission, and for two issues related to Ukraineone over a particular briefer, the other on an agenda item proposed by Russia. Only the Myanmar briefing went forward, while the other proposals were blocked by the procedural vote. Decrease in Council Outputs; Public Meetings Remain High After a five-year period that saw a steady increase in decisions, a downward trend was observed last year. The Council adopted 75 decisions, down from 88 in 2017. It adopted 54 resolutions, seven fewer than the year before, while presidential statements dropped from 27 to 21. Formal meetings remained at comparable levels288 in 2018, and 296 in 2017, while the hours spent in meetings rose very slightly, from 673 in 2017 to 678 In 2018, the Council continued to devote about 56 hours a month to meetings. Almost all of its meetings were public: at 275, this was the second-highest number in the Councils history, after the 2017 meeting count of 282. The 13 private meetings in 2018 were one fewer than 2017. Consultations continued to fall, dropping to 120 from 137 in 2017. This can be attributed partly to an increased tendency for the Council not to go into consultations (a closed meeting) following a briefing where all 15 members have delivered statements in public. There were 87 press statements, which are not formal decisions of the Council, after 93 in 2017, continuing a fall from a peak of 138 in 2014. The number of visiting missions went from five in 2017 to three last year. The reduction in meetings and outcomes can be attributed to several factors, including the closing of the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire in 2017 and UNMIL in 2018, both of which had annual mandate renewals and were discussed regularly in the Council. Another factor was the more stable situation on the Korean peninsula: in 2017 there were 12 public meetings and seven consultations on the DPRK compared to three public meetings and no consultations in 2018, all of them regular briefings by the chair of the sanctions committee. The Council also had fewer meetings on situations that had been more volatile in 2017, including Burundi, the DRC and Myanmar. The Rise of the E10 In the face of acute divisions among the permanent members, the ten elected members (E10) emerged more strongly as a cohesive group despite their political differences, enhancing their contribution to the substantive work of the Council. Elected members played a significant role in pushing the Council to address humanitarian issues in Syria and Yemen. They were also strong proponents of a number of thematic issues, including children and armed conflict, conflict prevention, climate change, hunger and conflict, peace operations, peacebuilding, and women, peace and security. On many of these issues, elected members worked together to negotiate successful outcomes and integrate themes into country-specific situations. Collectively, they strove to advance equitable distribution of labour and burden-sharing in the context of chairing subsidiary bodies and penholdership. Guinea-Bissau Expected Council Action In February, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), which expires on 28 February. Prior to this, the Council will undertake a visiting mission to Guinea-Bissau, followed by a briefing on the mission. (For more information, see our brief on the Security Councils visiting mission.) Key Recent Developments Organising legislative elections has remained a priority in trying to move Guinea-Bissau beyond a political crisis that has now lasted three and a half years. The elections were delayed twice in 2018. On 19 December 2018, Guinea-Bissau concluded its voter registration. The next day, President Jose Mario Vaz issued a decree setting 10 March as the date for the legislative elections. Vazs announcement complied with a call by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) during a 12 December ministerial mission to Bissau that the date of the legislative elections be determined before the 22 December ECOWAS summit of heads of state and government. At this summit, West African leaders mandated the chairman of ECOWAS to impose sanctions, on the basis of recommendations from the president of the ECOWAS Commission, against political stakeholders and others who obstruct the smooth conduct of the electoral process. On 7 January, the National Electoral Commission announced that the election campaign for the 10 March poll would run from 16 February to 8 March. After the vote, the Supreme Court of Justice will consider possible complaints from 14 to 17 March, with the definitive results to be announced on 19 March. On 8 January, the Guinea-Bissau public school teachers unions signed an agreement with the government to resume classes after a four-month strike over payment of salary arrears, which kept schools closed. Regarding UNIOGBIS, the Secretary-General submitted a special report to the Council on 6 December 2018 on a strategic assessment on the mission. The report highlighted that the missions ability to implement its mandate has been hindered by a lack of national leadership and political will. It proposed a phased reconfiguration and then withdrawal of UNIOGBIS, which with its predecessor mission, the UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, has been present since 1999. According to the report, UNIOGBIS should continue in its current role through mid-2019 to support upcoming elections. The assessment found that the mission has been valued by interlocutors on the ground, who say that in the current politically sensitive electoral cycle, the joint presence of UNIOGBIS and the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (the 600-person military force deployed by ECOWAS) is critically needed. During the second half of 2019, UNIOGBIS should be reconfigured into a streamlined good offices mission and develop a transition plan, according to the assessment. The third phase would see tasks transferred to the UN country team, the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and international partners, with the mission exiting by 31 December 2020. The Secretary-General has already directed UNOWAS to increase its engagement in Guinea-Bissau and, after UNIOGBIS leaves, could encourage ECOWAS and the international community to remain attentive to Guinea-Bissaus implementation of ongoing reforms and issues of drug trafficking. The Council last met on Guinea-Bissau on 21 December 2018, holding a briefing and consultations with Assistant Secretary-General Taye-Brook Zerihoun on the electoral process and the Secretary-Generals special report. While widespread violence was unlikely, Zerihoun said, Guinea-Bissau risks lurching from one political crisis to another unless decisive steps are taken by the government to meet the new election date. On 27 December, Council members issued a press statement stressing that legislative elections should take place prior to the presidential election foreseen in 2019. It noted members intention to deliberate on the findings and recommendations of the Secretary-Generals special report in negotiating the next UNIOGBIS resolution in February 2019. Developments in the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) At the 21 December Council meeting, Ambassador Mauro Vieira (Brazil), chair of the PBCs Guinea-Bissau configuration, emphasised the PBCs potential role in helping develop and support any transition plan for UNIOGBIS. Key Issues and Options A key issue is Guinea-Bissaus keeping to the current electoral calendar, starting with the holding of legislative elections as scheduled on 10 March, since their continued delay undermines constitutional provisions and risks provoking further political instability. There have been concerns about the governments commitment to timely elections, especially relating to Vaz who, according to the Secretary-Generals August 2018 report on Guinea-Bissau, is thought to want to combine the legislative elections with the presidential election later this year. The political crisis has pitted Vaz against the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), to which he belongs, and he has often aligned himself with the second largest party, the Party for Social Renewal (PRS) and a group of dissident members of the PAIGC. Besides the elections, other processes that should occur according to the Conakry Agreementbrokered by ECOWAS in 2016 to end the crisis and advance reformsinclude agreeing on a stability pact and undertaking a review of the constitution. On 17 January, the Organizing Commission of the National Conference for Peace and Development delivered a draft stability pact to Vaz, intended to break the cycle of successive governments over the last three-and-a-half years. The constitutional review is especially important to clarify the powers of the president and prime minister, disputes over which were one of the causes of the political crisis. During the visiting mission, Council members may reiterate several messages to Bissau-Guinean authorities and political actors, including the need to conduct credible elections without further delays and to complete the constitutional review before the presidential election. They may further emphasise that implementation of the Conakry Agreement is the primary framework for peacefully resolving the political crisis, maintaining political stability and building sustainable peace. Considering the proposals from the Secretary-Generals special report are a further key issue. For the mandate renewal, the Council may decide to reconfigure UNIOGBIS into a streamlined good offices mission during the second half of 2019, and signal that UNIOGBIS should exit by the end of 2020, as proposed by the Secretary-General. In this regard, the Council could request that the UN develop a peacebuilding plan in consultation with national and international interlocutors, including the PBC, that identifies tasks that could be assumed by other UN and international entities, resources required and potential capacity gaps. Another option is to make the reconfiguration and withdrawal of UNIOGBIS contingent upon achieving benchmarks, particularly the completion of the electoral cycle and the formation of a new government. This could be done through setting such benchmarks in the resolution, or mandating a short renewal period, allowing the Council to assess the situation in June (when the electoral process, in a best-case scenario, should be completed) and then work out the details regarding potential changes to UNIOGBIS. Council Dynamics On Guinea-Bissau, the Council tends to follow the lead of ECOWAS, seeking to support its decisions or agreements. In Bissau, representatives from ECOWAS, the AU, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the UN and the EU often act together to defuse tensions. Members maintain concerns that transnational criminal organisations and drug traffickers or terrorist groups in the region can exploit the political instability. Despite the militarys having refrained from interfering in the political crisis, members remain attentive to this risk given Guinea-Bissaus history, including a military coup after the first round of the 2012 presidential election. On UNIOGBIS future, Council members have appeared generally supportive of the assessments recommendations in December 2018. Some have cautioned that the electoral cycle should be completed before deciding on UNIOGBIS reconfiguration and exit. Cote dIvoire is the penholder on Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea chairs the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee. Equatorial Guinea, which holds the Councils February presidency, has been active on the issue. As chair of the committee, the countrys ambassador, Anatolio Ndong Mba, travelled to Guinea-Bissau in June 2018 and has said that after the presidential election, the committee would revisit the question of whether to maintain the sanctions regime imposed following the April 2012 coup. UN DOCUMENTS ON GUINEA-BISSAU ASIA DPRK (North Korea) Expected Council Action In February, the chair of the 1718 Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen (Germany) is due to provide his first briefing in this capacity. Ahead of the briefing, the committee is likely to discuss the final report of its Panel of Experts, although the report is not expected to be formally presented to the Council until March. Key Recent Developments Diplomatic efforts through 2018 led to several significant breakthroughs on the Korean peninsula, resulting in an overall decline in tensions and the halting of missile-testing activities by the DPRK. Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un held three summits and made commitments towards further improving relations between the two countries. In June, US President Donald Trump and Kim held the first US-DPRK summit and signed a joint declaration pledging to work on building new relations, striving to achieve lasting peace on the peninsula, and working towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Besides some symbolic moves, the DPRK has yet to take concrete steps towards denuclearisation. On 18 January, the DPRKs main negotiator, Kim Yong-chol, held talks in Washington with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and later with President Trump. The White House announced the same day that the second US-DPRK summit would take place at the end of February. At press time, however, neither side had provided further details about the summit. In a press conference on 18 January, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres encouraged the negotiations between the US and the DPRK and emphasised the need to develop a clearly defined roadmap for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. In his annual January address to the media, Moon called on the DPRK to take tangible steps towards denuclearisation to justify sanctions relief. He also emphasised that the US would have to realise that it would have to take reciprocal denuclearisation measures. In his new years national address, Kim noted that his country had stopped testing and producing nuclear weapons. He stressed, however, that further actions on denuclearisation would be contingent on the willingness of the US to provide sanctions relief. In December 2018, the Council broke with the practice of holding an annual meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK because of a lack of sufficient support by members. Each year since 2014, the discussion of the agenda item the situation in the DPRK has required a procedural vote in order to be included on the programme of work. In December, however, proponents could not gather nine members to sign the letter requesting the meeting. (Council decisions of a procedural nature need nine affirmative votes for a decision to be adopted, and the veto does not apply.) Human Rights-Related Developments The special rapporteur on human rights in the DPRK, Tomas Ojea Quintana, visited the South Korean capital, Seoul, from 7 to 11 January. In a statement on 11 January, he said that despite the positive developments of the past year, it was regrettable that the human rights situation on the ground remains unchanged and continues to be extremely serious. He also expressed concerns about the system of political prison camps and urged the DPRK government to allow him to visit the country. He repeated a call made to the Security Council to supervise the implementation of its sanctions regime with a view to ensuring that it is not detrimental to the people of the DPRK. In March, the Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold an interactive dialogue with the special rapporteur. Key Issues and Options While tensions on the Korean peninsula declined dramatically during the last year, the security situation remains sensitive and warrants the close attention of the Council, whose primary issue continues to be maintaining stability in the region. Given that major diplomatic breakthroughs took place outside its purview, the Council has only played a limited role in this process. The future role of the Council on this issue will largely depend on how the broader geopolitical events develop. A persistent issue for the Council, which is likely to become more prominent this year, is keeping the right balance between applying sanctions and simultaneously exploring the diplomatic track. In this context, the Council could consider modifying sanctions in an effort to encourage more substantial diplomatic engagement by the DPRK. There is a growing concern among some members about the negative effects of sanctions on the humanitarian situation in the DPRK. The Council could consider seeking assistance from OCHA in getting more information on humanitarian exemptions. Another option would be to consider adding to the monitoring panel assisting the sanctions committee an expert on humanitarian issues who could analyse the impact of sanctions on the civilian population. The ongoing dire human rights situation in the DPRK remains an issue. Although there was insufficient support among members to discuss this in 2018, an option would be for the Council to hold a meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK in the near future. The Councils composition in 2019 could make it possible to garner the nine votes required to hold the meeting, should there be a procedural vote. Council Dynamics In the latter part of 2018, the Council became more active in trying to address the implementation of sanctions on the DPRK. This has resulted in growing tensions among permanent members and exposed the rift between the US and Russia, in particular. The US has accused Russia of violating the sanctions on the DPRK by engaging in the illicit trade of petroleum products through ship-to-ship transfers. The tensions were further exacerbated over the midterm report of the Panel of Experts. The US blocked the publication of the midterm report in September 2018, claiming that Russia interfered in the work of the Panel, pressuring it to modify the report to conceal Russian violations of the sanctions regime. While most Council members remain cautious in their optimism about the DPRKs denuclearisationit seems that only a few members were eager to adopt an outcome that would welcome the relative success of the inter-Korean and US-DPRK summits in 2018they continue to support diplomatic efforts between the US and the DPRK as well as between the two Koreas. Some members are starting to question whether a new approach is needed in the Councils relationship with the DPRK, including a greater response to positive developments through Council outcomes and other possible means of showing support for serious dialogue on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Most members would still want to see more concrete measures towards denuclearisation before considering any outcome. Council members might be more open to considering this option, should the anticipated diplomatic efforts this year result in substantial progress. Some members, in particular China and Russia, are becoming increasingly interested in considering some form of sanctions relief for the DPRK. Russia has continued to call for easing the sanctions as a reward for positive actions by the DPRK. It also emphasised that further sanctions-tightening would have negative consequences on the humanitarian situation and other areas not related to denuclearisation. Some members seem to be open to exploring ways to exempt some inter-Korean joint projects from sanctions. The US is the penholder on the DPRK, and Germany chairs the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON THE DPRK AFRICA Democratic Republic of the Congo Expected Council Action In February, the Council will continue to follow the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While no meeting was scheduled at press time, the Council may request to be briefed on the political situation and implementation of election benchmarks by the Special Representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Leila Zerrougui. MONUSCOs mandate expires on 31 March 2019. Key Recent Developments After being delayed since the end of 2016, presidential, legislative and provincial elections were held in most of the DRC on 30 December 2018. The exceptions were Beni, Butembo and Yumbi, where the government announced postponement until March due to concerns about Ebola and the security situation. The elections were held after a difficult campaign period, with violent clashes at rallies and a decrease in political space. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced results on 10 January. The provisional results showed opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi, of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party, as the winner of the presidential election with 38.57 percent of the vote, ahead of rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu of the Commitment for Citizenship and Development Party. Emmanuel Shadary, the candidate of current President Joseph Kabilas party, Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Democratie, placed third. At the same time, Kabilas coalition, the Common Front for Congo, received a super-majority in the legislative elections: as many as 350 out of 500 seats. Since the elections, significant tensions and contradictory statements from national, regional, and international stakeholders have added to the sense of uncertainty. Almost immediately after the election, CENI and the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO), which deployed about 40,000 electoral observers, disagreed publicly on the election tallies. Several media organisations undertook independent analyses and have called the declared results fraudulent, naming Fayulu the clear winner. The Council discussed the issue on 11 January. Members heard briefings from Zerrougui, CENI, CENCO, the AUs permanent observer, and Zambias minister for foreign affairs as the representative of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). On 15 January, the Council released a press statement welcoming the peaceful holding of the elections, noted the announcement of provisional results by the CENI, and stressed the need for those concerned to take actions in line with electoral law and to preserve the generally peaceful climate. In the wake of fraud allegations, both SADC and the AU held emergency meetings on 17 January. Both then released statements, but they differed. SADC called for all disagreements with results to be resolved in line with the DRCs constitution and laws. The AU communique called for the DRC to halt any election announcements and said it would dispatch a high-level delegation to Kinshasa. The situation evolved further after the DRC Constitutional Court confirmed CENIs provisional results on 19 January. Fayulu continued to publicly contest the results. In response, both the AU and SADC released statements noting the decision by the Constitutional Court and calling for unity, peace, and stability. The AU decided to postpone the high-level delegations visit and will discuss the political situation in the DRC at a summit in February instead. The US State Department said on 23 January that it welcomed the certification of Tshisekedi as President, signalled commitment to working with the new government, and called on stakeholders to address reports of electoral irregularities. On 24 January, Tshisekedi was sworn in as president in a generally calm ceremony. On 30 January Council members received an update on political developments from Leila Zerrougui, who briefed in consultations under any other business. As political developments unfolded, the security situation remained difficult. According to the 4 January report of the Secretary-General, armed groups committed violence in the east, the Force de Resistance Patriotique de lIturi armed group remains active, and some parts of the Kasai region continue to face militia attacks. The Kasai problems were worsened by the return of an estimated 300,000 Congolese citizens expelled from Angola in October 2018, and up to 200 a day since that first wave. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of attacks on population centres. In Beni in October 2018, the local population held several protests to denounce violence against civilians and call for more protection from national security forces and MONUSCO. The DRC Ebola epidemic is the second-largest known outbreak. Approximately 700 people have been reported as infected since last August, and over 400 have died. In December 2018, UNICEF said more than one-third of those infected were children. Tackling the outbreak has been made more difficult because of the poor security situation, continued use of rape as a tool of war, and distrust of health workers. In Marabo, Ituri province, violent protests erupted over a proposal to build an Ebola treatment centre, and rumours spread against the vaccination attempt of local high schoolers. Nevertheless, the vaccination campaign continues throughout the infected areas, and over 59,000 people have been vaccinated. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited affected areas over the New Year. WHO offices in Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda have begun to increase preparedness and operational readiness because of the possibility of further spread. Regarding the humanitarian situation, the Secretary-General reported that the UNs response was severely hampered because the appeal in 2018 was only 24 percent funded. Sanctions-Related Developments The 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee is scheduled to be held on 1 February to discuss the midterm report of the Group of Experts. The committee is tentatively discussing a visit to the DRC in the latter half of 2019. Human Rights-Related Developments On 7 January, the special rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, released a statement calling on the DRC government to restore internet services in the country after all primary telecommunications were shut down ahead of the announcement of the election results. A general network shutdown is in clear violation of international law and cannot be justified by any means, Kaye said. On 16 January, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement saying that according to allegations from credible sources, at least 890 people were killed between 16 and 18 December 2018 in four villages in Yumbi territory, Mai-Ndombe province, in the west of the country, apparently in clashes between the Banunu and Batende communities. According to the statement, most of the population of the affected villages has reportedly been displaced, including an estimated 16,000 people who sought refuge by crossing the Congo River into the Republic of Congo. The UN Human Rights Office and national judicial authorities have launched investigations into the incidents, the statement said. In March, the Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioners oral update and report on the DRC. Key Issues and Options Initially, the Security Council faced the question of how involved it should be in the dispute over the election results. Given that several media and civil society groups decried the elections as fraudulent, there was some expectation that the Council might issue a press statement or hold a meeting; with Tshisekedis inauguration, however, there seems to be less sense of urgency for immediate Council action. The Council is likely to follow developments closely and may issue a presidential or press statement once the new DRC government is formed. An outstanding issue is the arrangements for the March vote by 1.25 million voters in Beni, Butembo and Yumbi where elections were postponed for security and Ebola-related reasons. The Council could hold a meeting in February to consider this matter. Council Dynamics The Council has remained engaged in following elections-related developments in the DRC, with two meetings and a press statement in January. Divisions surfaced in members reactions to the elections and claims of fraud. New member Belgium has long historical ties to the DRC as the former colonial power and appears to be taking a cautious yet prominent role, along with France as the traditional Council lead on the DRC. Both France and Belgium have publicly criticised the provisional results. However, on 22 January, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini met with AU members in Brussels and called for the new DRC president to be a unifying force. The EU members on the Council could therefore be expected to align their positions. Meanwhile, South Africa, joining China and Russia, views this as an internal and sovereign issue. South Africa has issued statements in favour of the formation of a DRC government as a result of the 2018 elections. Some in the Council may look ahead to mandate renewal negotiations in March, particularly an eventual exit strategy for MONUSCO. MONUSCO and its predecessor MONUC have been in place since 1999. Events in the coming weeks, including the security situation in the east, are likely to have an impact on Council members thinking. The DRC government, under President Kabila, has called for preparations for MONUSCOs exit. It remains to be seen how President Tshisekedi may act. France is the penholder on the DRC, and Kuwait chairs the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON THE DRC THEMATIC ISSUES Counter-Terrorism Expected Council Action In February, Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT), and Michele Coninsx, the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), are expected to brief the Security Council on the Secretary-Generals strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Daesh), followed by consultations. Background and Key Recent Developments Under the terms of resolution 2368 of 20 July 2017, the Secretary-General submits a strategic-level report on ISIL to the Council biannually. In his August 2018 report, the Secretary-General found that ISIL has continued to transform itself into a covert global network, with a weakened yet enduring presence in Iraq and Syria and with regional affiliates worldwide. Briefing the Council on the report on 23 August, Voronkov emphasised that although ISIL has suffered significant losses, it remains a serious and significant concern. On 4 December 2018, the Council received the first briefing by Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, the Special Adviser and head of the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD), established in resolution 2379 of 21 September 2017 to support Iraqi domestic efforts to hold ISIL accountable for crimes it committed in Iraq. UNITAD formally began its work on 20 August, and the first group of UNITAD staff deployed to Baghdad on 29 October. In his briefing, Khan outlined the preparatory work being done by UNITAD to implement its mandate and its key priorities as it prepares to begin its work in early 2019. (For more on UNITAD, see our Iraq brief.) Resolution 2368 required the Council to review the implementation of measures under the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daesh) & Al-Qaida sanctions regime regarding ISIL, including asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes on the listed individuals and entities. Accordingly, on 21 December 2018, the Council adopted a presidential statement in which it said that upon review, no further adjustments to the regime were necessary at that time. The short statement also said that the Council would continue to evaluate the regimes implementation, making adjustments as needed. After the statements adoption, Ambassador Carl Skau (Sweden) took the floor on behalf of his country and France, Kuwait, the Netherlands and the UK in support of the Office of the Ombudsperson assisting the ISIL Sanctions Committee. He described the Office as critical to the respect for due process rights of those on the sanctions list, and therefore for the efficiency of, and compliance with, the sanctions regime. Skau expressed support for strengthening the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson and affirmed the importance of safeguarding its independence. He welcomed continued discussions among member states about how to ensure respect for due process standards across sanctions regimes. At press time, on 30 January, the 1267/1989/2253 Sanctions Committee, was scheduled to meet the Monitoring Team assisting it, on the teams visit to Afghanistan in December 2018. Beyond the Council, US President Donald Trump announced on 19 December 2018 that the US would withdraw its forces fighting ISIL in Syria, saying that the group had been defeated. The modalities and timing of the pull-out remained unclear at press time. On 16 January, a suicide bombing claimed by ISIL in Manbij, northern Syria, killed four US soldiers and wounded three others, with a total of 19 people killed in the attack. (For more details, see our Syria brief.) UN DOCUMENTS ON COUNTER-TERRORISM AFRICA Council Visiting Mission Expected Council Action During February, Security Council members are expected to undertake a visiting mission to Cote dIvoire and Guinea-Bissau. Cote dIvoire and Equatorial Guinea are co-leading the mission. Background and Recent Developments The visit to Guinea-Bissau comes ahead of legislative elections scheduled for 10 March which were delayed twice last year amidst a political crisis that has now lasted three and a half years. (For more on Guinea-Bissau and the mandate renewal of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau [UNIOGBIS], see the brief on Guinea-Bissau.) The visit to Cote dIvoire will take a retrospective look at the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) which closed in 2017, 13 years after it was established and six years after post-electoral violence in 2011 led to the deaths of approximately 3,000 people. At a 5 December 2018 Council debate on post-conflict reconstruction chaired by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, the Security Council discussed Cote dIvoires successful emergence from the crisis. According to President Ouattara, Cote dIvoire based its post-conflict strategy on what it calls three processes: the restoration of the economy; security sector reform along with the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former fighters; and reconciliation. Annual gross domestic product growth from 2012 to 2017 surpassed 8 percent. Over 65,000 combatants were disarmed and reintegrated, facilitated by the creation of two million jobs since 2012. On 6 August 2018, the government granted amnesty to 800 individuals for offences related to the 2011 post-electoral crisis. This included pardoning former first lady Simone Gbagbo, who had been sentenced in March 2015 to 20 years in prison. In September 2018, ICC judges began a review of whether Simone Gbagbo could still be tried at the ICC. On 15 January, the ICC acquitted former President Laurent Gbagbo and his supporter, politician and former Minister for Youth Charles Ble Goude, of responsibility for crimes committed during the post-electoral violence. On 18 January, ICC appeals judges delayed the release of Gbagbo and Goude until the completion of an appeal of the ruling, which could come as soon as 1 February. Cote dIvoire has faced challenges, including mutinies that broke out in 2017 in several cities among elements in the military who demanded better pay and working conditions. There are political tensions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, and the country also remains alert to the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region. Guinea-Bissau has been in political crisis since August 2015, barely more than a year after restoring constitutional order following a 2012 coup detat. Council members visited Guinea-Bissau in March 2016, stressing that the situation needed to be resolved through dialogue, and in accordance with national laws and the constitution. In October 2016 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brokered the Conakry Agreement to resolve the crisis and advance reforms to reduce future instability. Last February, ECOWAS imposed sanctions against 18 individuals, including the son of President Jose Mario Vaz, for obstructing implementation of the Conakry Agreement. These sanctions were lifted in July 2018 following the appointment of a consensus prime minister (in the words of the Conakry Agreement), Aristides Gomes, the formation of an inclusive government, and Vazs decision to schedule legislative elections for 18 November 2018. Due in part to logistical challenges with voter registration, these elections did not take place as scheduled, and on 20 December 2018, Vaz issued a decree setting 10 March as the new date for the legislative elections. At a 22 December ECOWAS summit, West African leaders threatened to impose sanctions on those who obstruct the current electoral process. Council members issued a press statement on 27 December 2018, stressing that legislative elections should take place prior to the presidential election foreseen in 2019. There had been, and remains concern that the government, and in particular President Vaz, would like to combine the legislative elections with the presidential election to be held later this year, thus delaying the legislative elections even further. The statement by Council members followed a 21 December Council briefing and consultations on the electoral process and a special report of the Secretary-General that proposed reconfiguring UNIOGBIS and ending the mission by 31 December 2020. Key Issues and Options A key issue during the visit to Cote dIvoire will be to consider the experience of transitions from mandated UN missions to non-mission settings. In addition to government representatives and civil society, Council members plan to meet with the UN Country Team, and possibly the country teams of Liberia and Sierra Leone, to discuss their recent transitions and understand current challenges. The visit also provides an opportunity to demonstrate support for the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) which was requested by the Council to make available its good offices, as necessary, to the Ivorian government and the UN Resident Coordinator following UNOCIs closure. UNOWAS has taken on similar responsibilities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Guinea-Bissau part of the visiting mission is meant as a conflict-prevention initiative. The continued delay in the legislative elections has undermined constitutional provisions and risks provoking further political instability. Council members may reiterate to authorities and political actors the need to conduct credible elections and refrain from further delays. They may also stress to the parties the need to complete the constitutional review before the presidential election. The review of the constitution, a process set out in the Conakry Agreement, is intended, in particular, to clarify the powers of the president and prime minister, disputes over which are one of the causes of the current political crisis. The mission will also provide an opportunity for members to assess the situation on the ground ahead of decisions they may take regarding the Secretary-Generals proposals to reconfigure and draw down UNIOGBIS when the Council renews its mandate later in February. Likewise, it will contribute to members considerations regarding the future of the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee, established following the April 2012 coup detat. Council Dynamics Cote dIvoire has been interested in sharing lessons of its successful emergence from conflict, and as UNOWAS penholder it is supportive of the work of the regional office, which has worked closely with ECOWAS. In general, members view UNOWAS as an effective conflict-prevention tool. Regarding Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea (which chairs the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee) has taken a broader interest in the situation and is eager for the Council to play a more active role in helping the country emerge from the current political crisis. Council members remain concerned that political instability could be exploited by drug traffickers and terrorist groups in the region. Cote dIvoire is the penholder on Guinea-Bissau and UNOWAS. UN DOCUMENTS ON COTE DIVOIRE AND GUINEA-BISSAU AFRICA Burundi Expected Council Action In February, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy, Michel Kafando, is scheduled to brief the Council on the situation in Burundi in accordance with resolution 2303 of 29 July 2016, which requested the Secretary-General to report to the Council on Burundi every three months. Ambassador Jurg Lauber (Switzerland), the chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, may also brief; at press time, however, it was unclear if the meeting would take place. Key Recent Developments The security and political situation in Burundiwhich deteriorated sharply after April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would run for a controversial third term later that yearremains unsettled. While the Burundian government maintains that the security situation is good throughout the country, serious human rights abuses continue to be committed daily with impunity, mainly by the government and the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of Nkurunzizas party. The overall level of oppression and state control over Burundian society has increased, manifested by arbitrary deprivations of life, enforced disappearances, cases of torture, and arbitrary detention on a massive scale. Furthermore, these actions are taking place in an environment where freedom of expression, association and assembly is virtually non-existent. Against this backdrop of oppression and severely limited freedoms, controversial constitutional amendments were approved by a 73 percent majority in a referendum on 17 May 2018. The amendments remove references to the Arusha Accord, which put an end to civil war and ethnic violence in 2000 and established the basis for the current constitution. They provide for a possible future review of the ethnic quotasa key element of the Arusha Accordof 60 percent Hutu and 40 percent Tutsi in the executive branch, the parliament and the judicial branch, as well as the military. The amendments also extend the presidential term to seven years from the previous five and specify that the two-term presidential limit is to be counted from the adoption of the amendments, thus opening the door for Nkurunziza to run for re-election in 2020, although he announced on 7 June 2018 that he would not do so. In an end-of-the year address to the public on 31 December 2018, Nkurunziza said that the new constitution consolidates national sovereignty and places Burundi in the hands of God. Since the referendum, Burundi has started preparations for the 2020 elections, which it says it will fund without external assistance. The preparations include discussions about a draft electoral code. Concerns about inclusivity in these discussions were raised after several opposition leaders were not invited to a 4 January meeting convened by Minister of the Interior Pascal Barandagiye about the draft. Burundi suspended 30 foreign NGOs in January after they failed to comply with a recent controversial law which tightens financial oversight over them and requires them to hire 60 percent ethnic Hutu staff and 40 percent ethnic Tutsi staff. The inter-Burundian dialogue between the government and opposition partieswhich has been held outside Burundi, led by the East African Community (EAC), with little progress thus farlast convened in Arusha between 25 and 29 October 2018 after months of delay. The facilitator of the dialogue, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, submitted a report to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the official mediator of the dialogue, with recommendations for a roadmap for credible elections in 2020, including dialogue with the exiled opposition. Nkurunziza rejected the report and any concerns about Burundis political situation in a letter to Museveni on 4 December 2018. Museveni replied on 8 December, saying that developments related to the third presidential term had disrupted peace in Burundi and undermined the Arusha Accord, which was guaranteed by the EAC, among others. An EAC heads of state meeting on Burundi, which had been postponed twice since November 2018, has now been set for 1 February. In January, Burundis parliament approved a plan to move the countrys capital from Bujumbura to Gitega in a process that will take a few years. Nkurunziza first announced this plan in 2007, saying that Gitega is more centrally located. Some in the opposition see this as an attempt to move political institutions from Bujumbura, known to be an opposition stronghold. Kafando last briefed the Council on 21 November 2018. Lauber also briefed as chair of the Peacebuilding Commissions Burundi configuration. Human Rights-Related Developments On 17 September 2018, the Human Rights Council (HRC) held an interactive dialogue during its 39th session with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, established by HRC resolution 33/24 on 30 September 2016, and considered its report (A/HRC/39/63). The report concluded that the serious human rights violations documented in the first year of the Commissions mandate, including crimes against humanity, persisted in 2017 and 2018. These included cases of summary execution; enforced disappearance; arbitrary arrest and detention; torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; sexual violence; and violations of civil liberties such as the freedom of expression, association, assembly and movement. The report found that state entities are most often implicated in these violations and perpetrators operate in an overall climate of impunity. One of its recommendations is that the HRC submit the report to the Security Council. On 28 September 2018, the HRC adopted resolution 39/14, extending the Commissions mandate for another year and requesting a final report at its 42nd session in September, with oral updates at its 40th and 41st sessions in March and June, respectively. It also urged the Burundian government to authorise the Commission to conduct country visits. The resolution recalled the Security Councils resolutions 2248 and 2303 and its presidential statement of 5 April 2018. It was adopted with 23 votes in favour, seven against and 17 abstentions. Security Council members also on the HRC voted as follows: Belgium, Germany, Peru and the UK in favour; China against; and Cote dIvoire and South Africa abstained. Key Issues and Options The post-referendum political situation heading into elections in 2020 and the lack of progress in the EAC-led mediation remain serious concerns that the Council will need to monitor closely. An option would be to adopt a presidential or press statement, noting Nkurunzizas commitment not to run for president in 2020, urging the EAC to intensify efforts to revive the dialogue and calling on Burundi to allow for an inclusive electoral process. Another major issue is the continued lack of accountability for human rights violations, including possible crimes against humanity, over the last several years in Burundi. One possible way to address some of these issues would be to impose targeted sanctions against those obstructing a genuine political dialogue and those responsible for human rights violations. Council Dynamics Council members agree that the continued viability of the Arusha Accord as a basis for stability in Burundi is important. Burundi, for its part, remains entrenched in its opposition to the international communitys involvement in its political affairs, most recently manifested by its rejection of efforts by Mkapa, the inter-Burundian dialogue facilitator. The Council has been unable to find a fresh avenue to re-engage with Burundi over the political situation thus far. Despite the political concerns, some Council members continue to question the need to keep Burundi on the Councils agenda, viewing the situation as an internal issue that lacks a pressing international peace and security dimension. An attempt by France to discuss Burundi under any other business in January was not welcomed by several Council members, including the African members, as they saw no security issue warranting discussion at that time. At press time, it was uncertain whether the meeting on Burundi would take place given the disagreement among Council members. If not, it may happen in March under the French presidency of the Council. This difference in views also manifested itself with respect to the Secretary-Generals reporting on Burundi. Those questioning the need to discuss Burundi, such as Russia and African members of the Council, prefer that the Secretary-General not produce written reports prior to briefings on Burundi, while other members disagree. The November 2018 report was in written form; however, this has been done sporadically due to the differing views. France is the penholder on Burundi. UN DOCUMENTS ON BURUNDI Well, Seattle. We have almost survived "viadoom." The new state Route 99 tunnel is set to open in time for the Monday morning commute. "The moment has nearly arrived, and we are very excited to be at that point where we can finally open the tunnel," Dave Sowers, deputy administrator of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, said Thursday in a conference call with reporters. Opening the tunnel will be no easy feat. Just like the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, it will take several hours to open each on- and off-ramp to the tunnel. It will take time, Sowers said, but the plan is to have it completely open before the Monday morning commute, if everything goes smoothly. As for how to use it -- Washington State Department of Transportation officials recommend drivers look at maps and watch instructional videos on where to enter and exit the new tunnel. RELATED: New tunnel, new rules: How to navigate downtown Seattle when new tunnel opens "It's important to pay attention to the signage that's up," Sowers said. "Things will be different. I really want to encourage drivers to be paying attention." Driving through downtown will likely be confusing for those coming from the south and the West Seattle Bridge, as the new northbound exit ramp to Alaskan Way and downtown Seattle will remain closed for up to two weeks for additional work, WSDOT explained in a blog post. Though there will be a lot of construction activity around the tunnel over the coming days, officials say they were on-track to open on-time as of Thursday. "There is still a lot going on," Sowers said. Concrete and asphalt have been placed. Lights still need to be installed and striping work needs to be done. It will take about 72 hours of around-the-clock work to make it happen, he said. "We feel very confident that we will be able to make that official transition in the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning," Sowers said. Those attending events this weekend to celebrate the new tunnel will see crews at work. RELATED: Your last chance to walk the tunnel, viaduct is about to sell out Weather expected to move in Thursday night and linger through early next week, including the chance for some snow showers, was not expected to impact the tunnel opening, Sowers said. Eventually, a toll will be imposed on SR-99 tunnel drivers, with rates ranging between $1-$2.25, depending on the day and time. Drivers without a Good to Go! pass will pay an additional $2. Toll rates will increase by 3 percent every three years, starting in summer 2022. Tolls were not expected to take effect until the summer. RELATED: 'The safest place to be': Why the new SR-99 tunnel will withstand large earthquakes Most of the three-week period following the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct before the opening of the new SR-99 tunnel has been better than expected. Early commuters saw more congestion than usual, but commute times rarely grew to the levels Seattleites were expecting. South end drivers were hit the hardest and earliest, according to traffic analysis by Kirkland-based INRIX. Now, there's only a few commutes to go before the worst of the Seattle Squeeze comes to an end. "This has been a long time coming," Sowers said. "I think a lot of the engineers and administrative staff will be glad when Monday comes." Producer Natalie Guevara can be contacted at natalie.guevara@seattlepi.com. As one tunnel prepares to open, another prepares to close. The Battery Street Tunnel will close for good at 10 p.m. Friday. By the Monday morning commute, the new state Route 99 tunnel is expected to open. The Seattle City Council decided to seal the Battery Street Tunnel in March 2018 in a 7-1 vote. The tunnel will eventually be filled with dirt and debris from the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which is also expected to begin next week. Both the Battery Street Tunnel and Alaskan Way Viaduct were constructed in the 1950s -- and were not considered seismically sound by today's standards. The viaduct, which first opened in 1953, was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, a magnitude 6.8 event. The elevated highway required expensive repairs and bi-annual checkups. RELATED: Battery Street Tunnel to become landfill The Battery Street Tunnel, opened one year after the Alaskan Way Viaduct, was also in need of seismic updates to the tune of tens of millions of dollars before any alternative could be considered for the tunnel, Seattle Department of Transportation officials told the Seattle City Council last year. So, filling and sealing it was ultimately what was decided. The closure of the Battery Street Tunnel also marks the beginning of work to rebuild Aurora Avenue and reconnect Harrison, Thomas and John streets -- three streets that were previously cut off by SR-99. This work is set to begin this month and continue through mid-2020, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation's website. RELATED: DeMay: As the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes, so closes a chapter of Seattle history Meanwhile, crews were also preparing to open the new SR-99 tunnel before the Monday morning commute. The opening will require about 72-hours of around-the-clock work, but officials said Thursday that they were "very confident" the official transition will happen by Monday morning. Though, as Dave Sowers, deputy administrator of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program put it, "there is still a lot going on." RELATED: The end of 'viadoom' is near: New SR-99 tunnel set to open Monday Officials also encourage motorists to learn where the tunnel will take them before trying to drive it. Producer Natalie Guevara can be contacted at natalie.guevara@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter. Find more from Natalie on her author page. Michael Moore, director of controversial documentary films including "Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Where to Invade Next," doesn't want Howard Schultz to run for president. Moore spoke out against the former Starbucks CEO during a Thursday night appearance on "Late Night with Seth Myers." Moore took issue with Schultz calling himself a "self-made billionaire" in a 60 Minutes interview -- then immediately saying he grew up in the projects in Brooklyn. "By admitting that you had subsidized public housing paid for by the tax dollars of the American people, you are not self-made," Moore said. "You got a hand up, from us, like we want to do. We want to help our fellow Americans." RELATED: Schultz: A 'humble' mogul seeing self in shoes of George Washington Moore goes on to say Schultz also attended Northern Michigan University -- a public university -- and sells coffee made with water from municipal water systems. Then, he revealed a plan to pressure Schultz not to run. "First of all, none of us should go to Starbucks until he announces he's not running," Moore said. Meanwhile, he said those who support such a boycott should set up lemonade-style stands so people can still get their morning cups of coffee. "People need their coffee, I understand that," Moore said. See Moore's "Late Night" appearance in the video above. Elizabeth City, NC (27909) Today Thunderstorms in the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies late. High 92F. N winds shifting to WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua, an exiled leader of Indonesias Papua region, Benny Wenda, second left, presents a petition to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, second from right, on Friday, January 25, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland with two members of the Vanuatu delegates. The document was delivered to the U.N. last week after being rebuffed in 2017. Photo:ULMWP Curious just how far your dollar goes in Bellingham? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring housing in Bellingham if you're on a budget of $1,100/month. Take a peek at what rentals the city has to offer, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1900 18th St. (South) Here's a 650-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom at 1900 18th St. that's going for $1,085/month. The building offers outdoor space, a swimming pool, a fitness center, garage parking and a sauna. In the apartment, there are a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a fireplace and a ceiling fan. Animals are not permitted. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is somewhat walkable, is fairly bikeable and has some transit options. (Take a look at the full listing here.) 4330 Fuchsia Drive Next, check out this 512-square-foot apartment that's located at 4330 Fuchsia Drive. It's listed for $1,050/month. The apartment features a dishwasher, wooden cabinetry, in-unit laundry and a breakfast bar. When it comes to building amenities, expect assigned parking, a fitness center, outdoor space and a residents lounge. Both cats and dogs are permitted. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, this location isn't very walkable, is convenient for biking and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here.) 2829 W. Maplewood Ave., #208 Located at 2829 W. Maplewood Ave., #208, here's a 588-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's listed for $1,025/month. Apartment amenities include a dishwasher, in-unit laundry, a balcony and electric heating. The building boasts assigned parking and outdoor space. Cats and dogs are not permitted. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address isn't very walkable, is bikeable and has some transit options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here.) 140 S. Ashley St., #202 (Puget) Also listed at $1,025/month, this 525-square-foot zero-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 140 S. Ashley St., #202. Apartment amenities include hardwood floors, a dishwasher, in-unit laundry and a balcony. Pets are not welcome. Expect a $45 application fee and $100 administrative fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area is moderately walkable, is somewhat bikeable and has some transit options. (Check out the complete listing here.) EDMONDS Edmonds baker Ken Bellingham said he's "unapologizing" for the "Build the Wall" cookie he sold last week. And now, he's re-selling the controversial cookies by the dozen. "The phone messages saved has like 40-or-50 messages that I can't even respond to from people all over the country wanting me to ship them cookies," said Bellingham on Thursday. Bellingham, who has owned the Edmonds Bakery for 26 years, initially apologized for designing and selling the "Build the Wall" cookie last week. RELATED: Washington baker apologizes for 'Build that Wall' cookie On Tuesday, he wrote on the company's Facebook page, "I will not be making anymore cookies of a political nature, but a narrow line of Love and Sweetheart and maybe Nice Butt." But on Thursday, Bellingham told KOMO News he's protected by the First Amendment in selling these cookies. "Am I supposed to be quiet because I can't write what I want, or I can only write what they want or makes them happy? No. That's not how it is. They can write whatever they want on their own cookie and I can do that on mine." A patron, Ana Carrera, saw the cookie and took a picture of it, and sounded off, upset about what Bellingham initially called a joke. "There's nothing funny about racism or racist ideals + policies," Carrera said on Facebook. Her Facebook post caught the attention of liberals and conservatives across the country. KOMO reached out, but Carrera was unavailable for a follow-up interview Thursday. Others KOMO spoke with on Thursday said this baker's decision to sell the cookies does not reflect the character of the Edmonds business community. "We cannot condone this type of behavior and business practices not only in Edmonds but anywhere in the country," said an Edmonds businessman who asked to remain anonymous. Bellingham said he does support border security but would not go as far as to say he supported a wall. In the end, he said his decision to sell the 'Build the Wall' cookies was a business decision, rather than a political one. "People should lighten up," said Bellingham, as he etched 'Lighten Up' on a heart-shaped cookie. In a Facebook post that was shared more than 28,000 times in the span of a day, Courtney Schnitzler, who lives outside Louisville, Kentucky, called for cooler heads. "School is cancelled because not all kids have parents like you," she wrote. "Not all kids get a ride to school, some walk the entire way. Not all kids get to sit in the warm car while they wait on the bus to come to the stop." Its that time of year again: Many deans of nursing and nursing board members are demanding new laws so nurses can have all of the rights and privileges of a full medical license, but in fairness, there is a precedent: Since some people dont want to go to nursing school, non-nurses demanded a new licensing law. After these students complete a non-nursing degree that is easier, cheaper and years shorter, a state board then issues the equivalent of a nurse practitioner license. But non-nurses cant begin to meet nursing license standards, which is why they needed a new law, so what happened? People who didnt go to nursing school wrote lower standards, which only apply to people who didnt go to nursing school. Wait. ... Is that really true? Of course not: Health care is not improved by slashing standards. Its wrong to demand something you refused to earn, and licensing double standards are illegal. FLORENCE, S.C. Florence After Five is set to return next week and continue through October. The city of Florence's downtown development corporation announced on its website that Florence After Five is scheduled to return from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 25 in the 100 block of South Dargan Street. The band for the first Florence After Five in more than a year will be Hip Pocket. LAKE CITY, S.C. The American Heritage Festival is returning to Lake City this weekend for the fourth year. People will be able to visit Grahams Historic Farm on McCutcheon Road on Saturday and Sunday to take a walk back in history and to learn about American military heritage. The American Heritage Festival is a living history event that highlights Colonial South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. According to the events website, documents show that the farm supplied food for the Continental Army during the war and was used as s stopover camp site for patriot forces, including Francis Marions brigade of partisans and captured British troops. This years festival will feature cannon demonstrations, guest speakers, drill and musket firing displays and a battle re-enactment, among other things. Paul Graham, director of the festival, said the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution groups will do a wreath-laying ceremony at 3 p.m. Saturday for the men who fought along with Francis Marion. Statewide representatives of the organizations are expected to attend the ceremony. FLORENCE, S.C. This fall, West Florence High School students will be able to take two advanced placement (AP) courses in computer science through the Amazon Future Engineer Program. This program is a part of Amazons commitment to spend $50 million on computer science education, according to Florence One Schools. Chris Rogers, director of STEM for Florence One Schools, said participating in the program will offer a lot of opportunities for students even after high school. Rogers said the program is a three-part program for students. First, the students can take the classes, second the students who are pursuing computer science degrees can apply for a $10,000 scholarship through Amazon, and third, the students can apply for internship position at Amazon, Rogers said. West Florence High School Principal Matt Dowdell said being selected for this program continues the momentum the school has gained in expanding its AP course listing. We think this is the perfect complement to offering the AP Capstone diploma, Dowdell said. One of our goals was adding more AP courses for the next school year and being chosen for this program will allow us to do just that. A US-German research team has simulated meteorite impacts in the lab and followed the resulting structural changes in two feldspar minerals with X-rays as they happened. The results of the experiments at DESY and at Argonne National Laboratory in the US show that structural changes can occur at very different pressures, depending on the compression rate. The findings, published in the 1 February issue of the scientific journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters (published online in advance), will aid other scientist to reconstruct the conditions leading to impact craters on Earth and other terrestrial planets. Meteorite impacts play an important role in the formation and evolution of Earth and other planetary bodies in our solar system. But the impact conditions, meaning the impactor size, velocity and the peak pressure and temperature, are usually determined long after the impact occurred from permanent changes in the rock forming minerals in the impact crater. To solve the puzzle of a meteorite impact, that is reconstructing the impact conditions from the rock record in an impact crater hundreds to millions of years after the event, requires scientist to reconcile observations from the field with the results of laboratory experiments. Over the past decades a classification scheme has been developed that ties impact conditions to pressure and temperature induced changes in rock forming minerals that can be found in typical rocks in impact craters. The feldspar group minerals albite (NaAlSi 3 O 8 ), anorthite (CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 ) and their mixture plagioclase (Na x Ca 1-x Al 2-x Si 2+x O 8 ) are highly abundant in planetary crusts. Therefore, changes in these minerals with respect to pressure and temperature, such as the structural transformations or amorphisation, that is the loss of ordered crystal structure, are nowadays widely used as indicator for very large impacts. However, for the feldspar group minerals the reported values for the pressure conditions of the amorphisation transition differ vastly if static or dynamic compression techniques are used. "These differences point to large gaps in our understanding of compression rate induced processes in minerals," says Lars Ehm from Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, the principle investigator of the project. This has far-reaching implications for the interpretation of natural impact events based on the rock record with respect to the velocity, size and other properties of the meteorite. The inner structure of minerals and other samples can be investigated with X-rays that are diffracted by the crystal lattice of a material. Form the characteristic diffraction pattern the inner structure of a sample can be determined. This technique has been used and refined since more than a century. It can now also be used to track dynamic processes. "The emergence of new and very powerful X-ray sources such as PETRA III, Advanced Photon Source, and the European X-ray Free Electron Laser in combination with the recent quantum leaps in X-ray detector technology provide us now with the experimental tools to investigate materials' response to measure the atomic structure at rapid compression conditions," says Hanns-Peter Liermann, head of the Extreme Conditions Beamline P02.2 at DESY's X-ray source PETRA III, where some of the experiments were conducted. "In our experiment we used gas- or actuator-controlled Diamond Anvil Cells to rapidly compress our samples, while we continuously collect X-ray diffraction patterns," explains Melissa Sims, lead author of the study. "This allows us to monitor the changes in the atomic structure during the complete compression and decompression cycle, and not only at the start and end of the experiment as in previous so-called recovery experiments." The research team was able to observe amorphisation of albite and anorthite at different compression rates in the experiment. They compressed the minerals to a pressure of 80 gigapascals, corresponding to 80,000 times the atmospheric pressure. In the experiments different compression rates from 0.1 gigapascals per second (GPa/s) to 81 GPa/s were used. "The results show that, depending on the rate of compression, the minerals undergo the amorphisation transition at very different pressures," Ehm points out. "The increase in compression rate lead to a lowering of the observed amorphisation pressure." For example, at the lowest compression rate of 0.1 GPa/s, albite turned completely amorph at a pressure of 31.5 gigapascals, while at the highest rate of 81 GPa/s this occurred already at 16.5 gigapascals. "For these reasons, amorphisation in plagioclase minerals is not likely to be an unambiguous standard to suggest specific peak pressures and temperatures conditions during meteorite impact," summarises Ehm. Further investigations are needed to fully understand the behaviour of these minerals and to assess if impact conditions can be gauged against the structure of rock minerals. Researchers from Stony Brook University including members of the Remote, In Situ and Synchrotron Studies for Science and Exploration (RIS4E) team part of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), DESY, European XFEL, Argonne National Laboratory, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena and Brookhaven National Laboratory contributed to this study. Membraneless assemblies of positively- and negatively-charged molecules can bring together RNA molecules in dense liquid droplets, allowing the RNAs to participate in fundamental chemical reactions. These assemblies, called "complex coacervates," also enhance the ability of some RNA molecules themselves to act as enzymes -- molecules that drive chemical reactions. They do this by concentrating the RNA enzymes, their substrates, and other molecules required for the reaction. The results of testing and observation of these coacervates provide clues to reconstructing some of the early steps required for the origin of life on Earth in what is referred to as the prebiotic "RNA world." A paper describing the research, by scientists at Penn State, appears January 30, 2019 in the journal Nature Communications. "We're interested in how you go from a world with no life to one with life," said Philip C. Bevilacqua, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State and one of the senior authors of the paper. "One can imagine a lot of steps in this process, but we are not looking at the most elemental steps. We are interested in a slightly later step, to see how RNA molecules could form from their basic building blocks and if those RNA molecules could drive the reactions needed for life in the absence of proteins." Life as we know it today generally requires genetic material -- DNA, which is first transcribed into RNA. These two molecules carry information for the production of proteins, which are in turn required for most functional aspects of life, including the production of new genetic material. This sets up a "chicken and the egg" dilemma for the origins of life on early Earth. DNA is required to produce proteins, but proteins are required to produce DNA. "RNA -- or something similar -- has been thought of as a key to solving this dilemma," said Raghav R. Poudyal, Simons Origins of Life Postdoctoral Fellow at Penn State and first author of the paper. "RNA molecules carry genetic information, but they can also function as enzymes to catalyze the chemical reactions needed for early life. This fact has led to the notion that life on Earth went through a stage where RNA played an active role in facilitating chemical reactions -- "the RNA World" -- where self-replicating RNA molecules both carried the genetic information and performed functions that are now generally carried out by proteins." Another common feature of life on Earth is that it is compartmentalized in cells, often with an outer membrane, or in smaller compartments inside cells. These compartments ensure that all the components for the chemical reactions of life are in easy reach, but in the prebiotic world the building blocks for RNA -- or the RNA enzymes needed to drive the chemical reactions that could lead to life -- would probably have been scarce, floating around in the primordial soup. "You can think of these RNA enzymes like a car being produced in an assembly line," said Poudyal. "If you don't have the parts in the right place in the factory, the assembly line doesn't work. Without coacervates, the parts needed for chemical reactions are too dilute and are unlikely to find each other, but inside the coacervates, all the parts that the enzyme needs to work are nearby." The researchers therefore looked at a variety of materials that may have existed in the pre-life Earth that can form coacervates -- membraneless protocells -- and then allowed critical functions like sequestering the building blocks of RNA and bringing together RNA enzymes and their targets. "It was previously known that RNA molecules can assemble and elongate in solutions with high concentrations of magnesium," said Poudyal. "Our work shows that coacervates made from certain materials allow this non-enzymatic template-mediated RNA assembly to occur even in the absence of magnesium." The coacervates are composed of positively charged molecules called polyamines and negatively charged polymers which cluster together to form membraneless compartments in a solution. Negatively charged RNA molecules are also attracted to the polyamines in the coacervates. Within the coacervates the RNA molecules are as much as 4000 times more concentrated than in the surrounding solution. By concentrating the RNA molecules in the coacervates, RNA enzymes are more likely to find their targets to drive chemical reactions. "Although all the polyamines we tested were able to participate in formation of RNA-rich droplets, they differed in their ability to support RNA elongation," said Christine Keating, professor of chemistry at Penn State and a senior author on the paper. "These observations help us understand how the chemical environment within different membraneless compartments can impact RNA reactions." "Although we can't look back to see the exact steps taken to form the first life on Earth, coacervates like the ones we can create in the laboratory may have helped by facilitating chemical reactions that otherwise would not have been possible," said Poudyal. In addition to Bevilacqua, Poudyal, and Keating, the research team at Penn State includes Rebecca M. Guth-Metzler, Andrew J. Veenis, and Erica A. Frankel. The research was supported by the Simons Foundation and NASA. Studies of human monoclonal antibodies isolated from survivors of coronavirus-induced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are unveiling surprising immune defense tactics against fatal viruses. Atomic and molecular information about the workings of the highly potent antibodies may provide insights to prevent these serious and sometimes deadly lung infections. Currently, no vaccines or specific treatments are available for any of the six coronaviruses that can infect humans. Some of these coronaviruses cause only common-cold like symptoms, but others provoke lethal pneumonias. Past deadly outbreaks in several countries foreshadow the possibility of coronavirus-mediated pandemics. Additionally, genetic surveillance of coronaviruses in bats, and the fact that the MERS coronavirus naturally circulates in dromedary camels, suggest that previous outbreaks may not be unusual incidents. The animal/human species barrier is likely to be crossed again and lead to new emerging coronaviruses in the future. As part of anticipation and preparation initiatives, infectious disease research groups are trying to develop an anti-coronavirus arsenal. An international team headed by UW Medicine scientists is among those attempting to understand how SARS and MERS coronaviruses infect humans, and how their presence elicits a response from the immune system. The research group is particularly interested in how neutralizing antibodies target the coronavirus' cell-invasion machinery. Their most recent findings appear in the Jan. 31 online edition of Cell. The first authors are Alexandra Walls and Xiaoli Xiong, and the lead and senior author is David Veesler, all of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Coronaviruses have multi-functional surface spikes that recognize and attach to receptors on the surface of a host cell. They then fuse the virus and cellular membranes. They use these trimeric spike glycoproteins as their molecular break-in tool. advertisement The spike glycoprotein densely decorates the surface of coronaviruses. The numerous projections resemble burrs on a seed-pod. The spikes are key to the infectivity and pathogenicity of the coronavirus. They are the target of neutralizing antibodies and the main focus of subunit vaccine design. Previous studies in the Veesler lab at UW Medicine looked at the structural states that occur in the coronavirus spike before and after the membrane fusion reaction. The researchers saw large conformational changes in the spike glycoprotein. Details about activation of the membrane fusion cascade, however, remained unclear. Using cryo-electron microscopy and other powerful technologies, the researchers gained insight into how the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from the SARS and MERS survivors inhibit the viruses at the molecular level. Their findings also helped elucidate the unusual nature of coronavirus membrane fusion activation. The researchers found that both the SARS and the MERS coronavirus antibodies blocked the virus spikes from interacting with the receptors on the host cell membrane. The SARS coronavirus antibody also did something unexpected: it functionally mimicked receptor-attachment and induced the spike to undergo conformational changes leading to membrane fusion. This trigger seems to be driven by a molecular ratcheting mechanism. "The finding is an unprecedented example of functional mimicry," the researchers noted, "whereby an antibody activates membrane fusion by recapitulating the action of the receptor." This study used molecular imaging to characterize the structures of both SARS and MERS coronavirus spike glycoproteins in a complex with their respective antibodies. The researchers also provided a blueprint of the carbohydrates that bedeck the spike glycoproteins, in the context of whole viruses. Coronaviruses use this strategy to mask the vulnerable portion of their fusion apparatus to limit antibody access to it and expose it only to carry out the recognition and infection of host cells. This study was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Pew Biomedical Scholars Award, Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, European Molecular Biology Organisation, Zoonoses Anticipation and Preparedness Initiative, Pasteur Institute, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, LabEx Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases. University of Washington Arnold and Mabel Beckman cryoEM Center, UW Proteomics Resource, and beamline 5.0.1 at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The cost of sitting in traffic or being stuck on a train thats going nowhere fast is slowing all of us and crippling our states economy. People and businesses in our state need a reliable transportation system that gets them where they need to be when they need to be there, or theyre going to go somewhere else. The time to act is now. Lager beer is cold, crisp, dry -- and worth about half a trillion dollars worldwide. Behind the world's most popular alcoholic beverage is a yeast adapted to the cold, and hungry for the sugars it will transform into bubbles and booze. That yeast is a hybrid, an amalgamation of the domesticated baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a recently discovered wild species, Saccharomyces eubayanus. Hundreds of years ago, the two species combined their strengths into a cold-fermenting strain that readily produces the crisp, light taste that came to dominate the beer market in the centuries that followed. In a pair of new papers, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor of Genetics Chris Todd Hittinger, his graduate student EmilyClare Baker and others show how modern lager yeast adopted the cold-loving and sugar-hungry traits essential to their success. In one paper, to be published Feb. 1 in Science Advances, the team demonstrates that when the cold-loving S. eubayanus donated its mitochondria -- the power-generating portion of the cell -- to the new hybrid, it conferred cold tolerance on the strain. Today, all industrial lager strains retain the S. eubayanus mitochondria and ferment at cold temps. In a second paper, Baker and Hittinger investigated the ability of S. eubayanus to ferment all the sugars in wort, the barley malt extract that ferments into beer. Most strains of S. eubayanus cannot ferment maltotriose, the second-most common sugar in wort. But the researchers were able to evolve a brand-new protein capable of transporting maltotriose into the cell, revealing a potential path to more aggressive fermentation of all available sugars, a key trait in producing a dry, crisp beer. The paper was published on the pre-print server bioRxiv ahead of publication in the journal PLOS Genetics. advertisement The new research is the first to identify the genetic underpinnings of how two of the most defining features of lager production -- cold tolerance and complete fermentation -- evolved in S. eubayanus and its hybrid offspring. Hittinger and Baker have applied for patents based on their work, which could provide new opportunities for altering both the temperature range and sugar metabolizing ability of industrial lager strains. In 2011, Hittinger was part of the team that first isolated S. eubayanus in the wild from forests in Patagonia. Since then, his lab has worked to uncover how S. eubayanus combined with the bread-and-ale yeast S. cerevisiae some 500 years ago to kickstart the behemoth lager beer industry. Their partners in the brewing industry and the UW-Madison food science department helped them zero in on researching the origin of two key traits: growth in the cold and churning through all the sugar in wort. One clue to lager yeast's cold preference came from a slate of recent studies showing that temperature tolerance in a wide range of species could be linked, at least partially, to mitochondria. These cellular components generate the bulk of the energy that cells rely on and have their own genome, albeit a small one with just a handful of genes. Baker and Hittinger had previously shown that lager yeast inherited their mitochondria from S. eubayanus. To see if these mitochondria helped lager yeast thrive at cold temperatures, Baker treated S. eubayanus or S. cerevisiae strains with a chemical that broke down the yeast's mitochondrial DNA. "Some yeasts are able to dispense with their mitochondrial genome," says Baker, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oregon. "As a result, you can get this blank slate strain without a mitochondrial genome and use that for crosses." By making crosses between the two yeast species with or without their mitochondria intact, Baker produced two sets of hybrids: one had mitochondria from S. cerevisiae, the other from S. eubayanus. Other than the origin of their mitochondria, the hybrids were identical. advertisement When Baker tested the growth of these hybrids at different temperatures, the differences were immediately apparent. The yeast with S. eubayanus mitochondria tolerated cold but wilted in the heat; strains with S. cerevisiae mitochondria couldn't handle the cold. "At the most extreme temperatures, it's basically the difference between growing and not growing," says Hittinger, who is also a member of the Department of Energy-supported Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center headquartered at UW-Madison. "For the first time we can remake custom lager strains that have the S. cerevisiae mitochondrial genome. And when you do that you get shifted temperature preferences," says Hittinger. "This is a new category of brewing strains that right now is not in anyone's arsenal. And we think it very well could have novel properties in beer production." Cold-loving lager yeast take a long time to ferment and require refrigeration, which makes lager production more expensive than brewing ales. Hittinger and Baker believe that shifting lager production to slightly warmer temperatures with tailored mitochondria could produce huge cost savings -- as long as the distinctive lager taste is preserved. But some brewers are looking to move beyond the traditional lager. Since S. eubayanus was discovered in 2011, brewers have tried to brew beer with the wild yeast in hopes of creating a new market. Heineken has released a limited-edition S. eubayanus beer and the Wisconsin Brewing Company in Verona, Wisconsin, is trying to do the same in partnership with the Hittinger lab. However, S. eubayanus cannot ferment all of the sugar in wort. Most strains of the yeast lack the ability to transport the sugar maltotriose into the cell to digest. Because maltotriose is the second-most common sugar in wort, brewing with S. eubayanus can result in an overly sweet beer. So Baker and Hittinger tried to evolve better use of maltotriose in S. eubayanus strains. Over several months, the researchers grew S. eubayanus with plenty of maltotriose and a dash of other, digestible sugars -- just enough to let the yeast slowly reproduce. Then they looked for any yeast that gained the ability to transport and ferment maltotriose. More than 2,000 generations later, they found a single strain that could grow on the sugar. When they looked at the yeast's genome, they found a new gene. The yeast had combined chunks of two genes capable of transporting maltose -- a sugar related to maltotriose but smaller and easier to transport. "And that was particularly interesting because neither of these genes was able to transport maltotriose by themselves, but this new chimeric gene was," says Baker. By reconfiguring existing genes, the yeast strain was able to quickly evolve a new trait without having to accumulate many slow, random mutations. "We're hopeful that this will provide a way to reduce the sugar content in the final product," says Hittinger. "It'll make pure S. eubayanus beers less cloying and drier, more like a conventional lager, but will still retain some of the wild character that you expect from this wild, cold-tolerant strain." Hittinger's office boasts empty bottles of Heineken's S. eubayanus beers and he's looking forward to seeing more of the wild beers available. His group is now working with brewers to test the new yeast strains under realistic conditions. "This is a really interesting basic science story about how you take the different capabilities of two species that diverged from one another millions of years ago, hybridize them together, and get the best of both worlds to eventually create a multibillion-dollar industry," says Hittinger. This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project no. 1003258), the National Science Foundation (grant no. DEB-1253634), the Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (DOE BER Office of Science; nos. DE-SC0018409 and DE-FC02-07ER64494) and the National Institutes of Health (grant no. GM080669). On an almost daily basis, I see how these issues have impacted people who have been through the judicial processes, as well as the actual members of our criminal justice system. This is a systemic issue for cities, states and the federal government that needs to be addressed as part of a thoughtful, collaborative effort. We can and need to make necessary changes to improve how we all interact with each other. Rutland, VT (05701) Today Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Sin and corruption are not new to the clergy. The church has seen scandal since the times of the Apostles. And although the nature of the sin in the abuse crisis is particularly disturbing, most of us of any maturity are not surprised that priests, bishops and cardinals are, like us, sinful and fragile humans. We selfishly want and expect more from them, and more often than not, they do not disappoint. Chandigarh, February 1: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Unit president and Sangrur Member of Parliament (MP) said that the union budget 2019 was nothing but a mere political gimmick to lure the gullible people ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. In a statement issued from the party headquarters here on Friday, Mann said the sole objective of the budget was to entrap the people by offering them small sops. He added that the ploy would not work this time around as the people had enough of this budget jhumla during the past budgets it presented. He said that the common man had been hit hard every time the budget was presented by the union government, leaving a vast majority high and dry. Mann further said that the provision of annual payment of Rs six thousand to the farmers owning two hectare (5 acre) land holdings under the Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi was akin to adding salt to injuries. The need of the hour was to salvage the debt ridden farmers by allowing loan waivers and to ensure remunerative prices for their produce. Interim budget for 2019-20 He demanded that the Modi government should immediately implement the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission instead of giving them small consolations in terms of granting sops offered in the budget. The MP lamented that the budget had nothing for the youth, touted to be the future of the country. He said the government in the saddle had made tall promises to generate 2 crore employments for the youth per year in the country, but nothing concrete had come about, leaving them with no choice but to try their luck on the foreign shores, he further said. Mann said that the budget was anti-students that had left them totally dismayed and disillusioned. He said that by holding back the university grants since 2014 showed the anti-student face of the saffron party holding the fort in Delhi. Mann said that last budget of its tenure presented by the government had brought disquiet among the farming community, the youth and the students among others in the country, who would ventilate their ire by voting the Modi juggernaut out of power in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Ahmednagar, Feb 1: Social activist Anna Hazare's hunger strike Friday entered the third day with his doctor stating that the 81-year-old's blood pressure and blood sugar levels had "significantly" increased. Hazare has been on a hunger strike since Wednesday in Ralegan Siddhi village in the state's Ahmednagar district demanding appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs at the Centre and in Maharashtra and resolution of farmers' issue. Hazare has been on a hunger strike since Wednesday Dr Dhananjay Pote told PTI, "There has been significant increase in blood pressure and blood sugar when I examined Hazare in the morning on Friday." Hazare has also been demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations on ways to address agrarian distress, besides some electoral reforms. Increase in BP, blood sugar levels, says doctor Local residents, who have come out in large numbers in support, accused the state and Central governments of ignoring his demands. Several of them also protested Friday in front of the office of Ram Shinde, the district's guardian minister, a close aide of Hazare said. Sarah Bellamy, Edana Munnik, Amaryia Bi, Amaan Ali Saqlain, Adiba Bi, William Brown, Sundas Raza, Toni Paxford, Molly Crossmore, Emilia Ashton, Natanael Zytkowiak YOUNG people from Rotherham won big at a ceremony which recognises inspirational youth work bringing home a handful of accolades. The Youth Voice Star Awards, run by the British Youth Council, celebrated the breadth and diversity of youth work regionally. They also recognised the workers and organisations that make it happen, as well as projects which do things differently to address local and national issues. Rotherhams Youth Cabinet, whose recent manifestos have focussed on improving opportunities for youth mental health training, helping to raise awareness and enabling mutual support, were big winners at the ceremony in Leeds. It was their work to raise awareness of mental health issues which caught the judges eye, including how teenage body image can cause distress, especially due to pressures of social media. The young politicians scooped the young campaigners of the year award, while individual members were also adorned with accolades for their commitment to rolling out Paiges Project which offers safe spaces for children with eating disorders, mental health difficulties and invisible, chronic illnesses. Toni Paxford (19), who scooped the regional diversity award for her work on Paiges Project, said: Im exceptionally proud of all the work we have achieved as a project and as a borough, it demonstrates the amazing work going on in our area and Im glad this got recognised. We are committed to making sure we tackle what is pressing for young people here in Rotherham. So far, we have campaigned on body image, mental health, open water safety and public transport issues. We will continue to campaign to ensure our young people have a voice and are heard. Emilia Ashton (19) got a special award for commitment to youth voice. Youth cabinet member Molly Crossmore (17) scooped two awards the personal development award and the accolade for best youth-led project for her work as part of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Steering Group. Rotherham Borugh Council officers were also recognised for their role in helping to promote the voice of young people. Sarah Bellamy, who runs the youth cabinet, won the regional youth voice worker award. Ruth Fletcher-Brown, from the councils public health team, was a joint winner of the youth voice champion award, for her work in promoting mental health services for young people, including with the My Mind Matters website. Ruth shared the award with Tim Taylor from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, who was rewarded for his commitment to improving the experience of young people on public transport . Mr Taylor, who is SYPTEs irector of customer services, said: I am honoured and humbled to have won this award and Im extremely proud that SYPTEs commitment to improving public transport for young people has been recognised. Cllr Gordon Watson, the councils deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young peoples services said the youth cabinet were such an asset to us here in Rotherham for their tireless work they do to ensure the voice of our young people is heard and acted upon. He added: These awards clearly recognise the numerous successes they have had and their dedication and commitment to improving services for young people. Heres to them winning further awards nationally later in the year. The regional winners will attend the national awards in London on March 8. Iftab on his first Vision Aid Overseas trip to Ethiopia in 2016 AN OPTOMETRIST with a vision to deliver clearer eye care to people in developing countries is setting off on his next voluntary trip. Iftab Akram (37), of Masbrough, will fly out to Sierra Leone in West Africa in two weeks with charity Vision Aid Overseas. Iftab, who works for Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and as a part-time locum, will use his 13 years experience to help train local eye care workers, teach university students and deliver outreach by testing the eyes of people in rural places, in one of poorest countries in the world. It will be the father-of-twos second assignment with Vision Aid Overseas after he visited Ethiopia in 2016 and he said he was looking forward to helping people in desperate need. Iftab said: I wanted to do something different from my day-to-day work and get involved with the charity to give something back. I hope it will inspire others to. I have twin girls Nusaybah and Ruqayyah (aged 5) and I hope I inspire them to do charity work when they grow up. My wife Nahzia is really supportive. Instead of seeing his usual 40 patients a day, Iftab and four other volunteers will see around 200 Africans daily during the two-week trip. They do have (eye) diseases more specific to poorer places due to poor sanitation, he said. There could be more tropical, fungal diseases which are less commonly found in the UK. Around 1.2 billion people worldwide cannot see clearly simply because they do not have a pair of glasses and 89 per cent of these live in developing countries. Iftab said it was amazing to see peoples reaction when they are handed a pair of glasses, after struggling to see their whole life. Its the reason I wanted to go overseas again with the charity, he said. If someone has quite a high prescription and you show them how much clearer their vision can be with glasses, their reaction, smile its amazing. Iftab has urged people who have old spectacles lying around the house to donate them to their nearest opticians. Most opticians, like Specsavers and Scrivens, will have an agreement with Vision Aid Overseas to recycle donated glasses to countries in need, he added. Im really excited to take on this volunteering assignment, so many people around the world cannot access affordable eye care services and glasses like we can in the UK, but Vision Aid Overseas is working to change this. For more information visit www.visionaidoverseas.org. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg: Her district includes part of Richmond, which is ground zero for the states most outdated schools. Seven Richmond schools are so old that they pre-date Americas involvement in World War I. That includes George Washington Carver Elementary, where in 2016 a five-pound piece of ceiling tile fell from the ceiling and hit a fifth-grader on the head. In all, Richmond has 17 schools that pre-date World War II. Given that, youd think a legislator representing Richmond would be leading this effort, not trying to defeat it. When we look at the rest of her district using a list of schools compiled by the state Department of Education we find nine others. Thats 26 schools in her district that pre-date 1950. Youd think that would mean 26 reasons to vote for this measure more than any other legislator on the panel. Her vote is the most inexplicable of all, especially given how poor much of her district is. Today, though, marks a more recent anniversary, historically speaking. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first integrated public schools in Virginia. The fitful and often shameful period of Virginia history known as Massive Resistance is one that too few Virginians are fully familiar with. For those of a certain generation, Virginia history lessons tended to end with Appomattox. Today, we mark this red-letter anniversary, with a brief recap, one in which politicians, judges and business leaders from this part of the state figure prominently (sometimes nobly, sometimes not). For those who want to know more, we highly recommend the book We Face the Dawn by Virginia journalist Margaret Edds. It tells the story of Oliver Hill and Spotswood Robinson, the two Richmond-based lawyers most responsible for the legal victories that brought down segregation in Virginia. Hill, of course, grew up in Roanoke and the city recently renamed its courthouse in his honor. The story of Groundhog Day in Virginia is both fascinating and bizarre. The interesting tales began in Richmond in 1914 when there was a Groundhog Day hoax at the State Capitol. A 1958 Times-Dispatch article recounted the hoax which occurred when Some state official, with a decided sense of humor issued a press release that on February 2, 1914, at noon, a groundhog would emerge from beneath the pavilion that housed a statue of Henry Clay on Capitol Square (this statue is no longer in place at the capitol). On Groundhog Day, an estimated two to three thousand people assembled by the pavilion to watch for the groundhog. The rumored groundhog never appeared and eventually the unhappy crowd dispersed concluding the successful prank whose organization remains a mystery. In the decades that followed, local scientists studied Groundhog Day in Virginia to decipher how truthful the rodents prediction skills were. Richmond weathermen were not fond of competing with the groundhog on making weather predictions and one year the government even forbade acknowledging the groundhogs prediction all together. On February 2, 1985, Times-Dispatch staff writer Albert Oetgen compiled the some of the highlights of Groundhog Day in Virginia as follows: The sheriffs office responded to a call reporting a number of individuals trespassing on private property at 10:30 a.m., authorities reported. In the area surrounding Howell were banners reading No MVP and Anticapitalist solidarity worldwide. According to a news release from Appalachians Against Pipelines, an environmental advocacy group, Howell said her protest was in honor of all life on earth. We do this for all life on earth, for the ones not yet brave enough to take a stand against the injustices of this world, stated Howell in the release. We do this for each other, for every living being on this planet, because we all need clean water and clean air to live. As law enforcement officials worked to remove Howell, the other eight protesters stood on the edge of the property cheering her on at times. One protester jeered at the construction site workers through a megaphone, calling out phrases. One, two, three, f--- MVP, she called out, among other statements. Another protester from Southwestern Virginia who would only identify herself as Lauren said she traveled about one-and-a-half to two hours to reach the construction site Friday morning. The two boys, who didnt know each other, told similar stories of abuse in various rooms of the church and school including the church altar and his office at the Catholic school where he would call them out of class and make them sit on his lap. By the end of 2002 five more lawsuits had been filed naming McSheffery as the abuser. By then he had gone to Florida where he would live the rest of his life. The church kept paying him a stipend although he was barred from celebrating Mass or hearing confession and he could no longer wear the priests collar. The bill is a major reworking of the two lawmakers original proposals, which would have established tolls along I-81. Under their original plan, initial toll would have be set at 17 cents per mile for trucks and 11 cents per mile for other drivers. People living in and outside of Virginia could purchase an $30 annual pass. Passes would not be available to trucks. Landes said he has remained open to any funding source, whether by tolls or increasing the states gas tax. There hasnt been total agreement on what the funding mechanism should be for Interstate 81, Landes said. Theres been disagreement on funding among state lawmakers, as well as members of the public. Landes said his revised bill should earn more support among lawmakers. At the House Transportation Committee, Thursdays speakers from the business community and trucking industry many of whom also spoke the day before at a Senate committee about other I-81 bills said they were more amenable to the revised bill. Randy Grumbine, executive director of the Virginia Manufactured and Modular House Association, told the Transportation Committee he was not supportive of legislation that would impose tolls, but he recognized the need to fix I-81. "This is one medium by which China can contest American influence in the Asia-Pacific," he said. "And it's unfair for the U.S. to voluntarily restrict itself in a bilateral treaty when one side of that partnership (Russia) is failing to live by its obligations. The U.S. ... is voluntarily fighting with one hand tied behind its back." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with withdrawal taking place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday. Technically, a U.S. withdrawal would take effect six months after this week's notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty. However, in talks this week in Beijing, the U.S. and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance on whether a Russian cruise missile violates the pact. "We have raised Russia's noncompliance with Russian officials including at the highest levels of government more than 30 times," Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. "We have provided Russia an ample window of time to mend its way. Tomorrow that time runs out." Pulaski police reported that a 91-year-old man died Friday, a day after being hurt in a vehicle crash in the town. Harvie Newon Bowles of Dublin was driving a Chevrolet sedan Thursday when he collided with a Toyota pickup at the intersection of Lee Highway (U.S. 11) and Peppers Ferry Road, according to a police news release. Police were called at about 2:23 p.m. A witness said the pickup was turning from Peppers Ferry Road onto southbound Lee Highway when Bowles Chevrolet failed to stop at the stoplight and struck the pickup, according to the news release. The pickups driver was treated and released from LewisGale Hospital Pulaski, the news release said. Bowles was taken to the Pulaski hospital as well, then airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He died there early Friday, police 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. CHARLOTTESVILLE Admissions season is year-round for many colleges, with some top colleges filling nearly half of their freshman classes through early admissions processes that start at the beginning of fall. UVa is no exception; on Jan. 25, the school announced its Class of 2023 is so far more selective and more diverse than the previous year. A record 25,126 students applied early, according to the school. UVa awarded 6,550 acceptances, for an offer rate of 26 percent. Early-action admissions processes mean a student can still apply to and decide to go to other schools. Many selective institutions use a process called early decision, where a student must commit to attend if they are awarded admission. Applying [to UVa] felt more like a pipe dream to me rather than something realistic, said Sara Dunklee, who lives in Newport News. I was sitting in the living room with my family and was taken by surprise when I received the email notification that decisions were out. Dunklee said she hopes to study biology and eventually attend medical school. Shes almost certain shell attend UVa, but she wants to hear back from all of the other 10 schools to which she applied. PULASKI A $40 robbery will send a Blacksburg man to prison for four years, a judge ruled. Austin Tyler Morse Lenoir, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit robbery and was sentenced Wednesday in Pulaski County Circuit Court. A charge of robbery was dropped in a plea agreement and Judge Brad Finch imposed an eight-year prison term, to be suspended after Lenoir serves four years. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Justin Griffith said that on July 17 Lenoir and two other men accosted Wayne Donaldson as he walked through a Pulaski apartment complex on his way home from work. There was a brief scuffle and the men took Donaldsons wallet. They removed $40 and his bank card before throwing the wallet on the ground, Griffith said. Police were summoned and Lenoir was soon picked up. A town patrol officer was able to identify Lenoir by the prominent tattoos on his face, neck, arms and hands, Griffith said. Lenoir and defense attorney Nicole Cumberland of Radford agreed that the evidence was enough to justify a conviction. Finch ordered Lenoir to avoid any future contact with the robbery victim and also to pay back the $40 within six years. A Jan. 30, 2025, hearing was scheduled to review if the money had been repaid. 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. A fiberglass Hokie Bird known as Carnival of the Mind was stolen from its perch in downtown Blacksburg early Thursday morning. The Mardis Gras-themed bird has sat in front of the Tech Bookstore on Main Street for more than a decade, helping bring people into our store, said Matt Adamo, the bookstores manager. A news release from the Blacksburg Police Department said the theft occurred at about 3:30 a.m., Thursday. Two white SUVs and a dark-colored SUV were seen in the area around the time of the theft, the release said. The hand-painted bird was part of the Gobble de Art program. About 75 of the birds are scattered around the region after they were commissioned by the Blacksburg Partnership. The birds were sold by the partnership as a fundraiser for between $5,000 and $15,000 each, according to The Roanoke Times archives. Theft and vandalism of the birds has been common. In the first year they were placed at least 10 were stolen or damaged. Messages left for Blacksburg Police spokesman Lt. John Goad requesting information about the theft were not returned Friday. Blacksburg Police are requesting anyone with information in reference to the larceny to contact the Blacksburg Police Department at 540-443-1400 or anonymously at (540) 961-1819 or by email at CIU@blacksburg.gov. Adding Atlantic to the name also references the banks geographic expansion with branches in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, he said. Atlantic Union Bank is the perfect marriage between who we are today and where we came from, Asbury said. The company changed its name in 2014 to return to its legacy name of Union Bankshares. It was the name it had used for more than 15 years before changing to Union First Market Bankshares Corp. in 2010 in connection with its acquisition of Richmond-based First Market Bank. The name change then came months after Union First Market Bankshares combined with Charlottesville-based StellarOne Corp. Under terms of the most recent merger agreement, Access shareholders received 0.75 shares of Union stock for each share of Access stock. The deal is valued at about $500 million based on Union Bankshares stock closing on Thursday at $31.56 a share. The deal was valued at $610 million when it was announced in early October as shares were trading then at $38.92. The combined company would have total assets of about $16.8 billion, deposits of about $12.2 billion and loans of about $11.9 billion, based on financial information reported as of Dec. 31. Union Bankshares now has 155 branches, including 19 in the Roanoke and New River valleys and the Alleghany Highlands. DUBLIN A Turkish delegation made a two-day visit to Pulaski County earlier this week as local economic development officials tried to plant seeds for future job announcements. Someday, county leaders hope a Turkish company will contact the countrys embassy in the nations capital with plans to open a facility in the U.S. Those embassy officials in theory will remember Pulaski County and will pass along the recommendation. Tuesdays tour wasnt tied to any specific company or factory, but rather focused on relationship building that may come in handy for future projects down the road. Ninety percent of economic development is timing, Pulaski County Administrator Jonathan Sweet said. Were willing to be patient and better understand what their needs are, what the opportunities are and try to provide solutions to their needs. The visit is nothing new for Pulaski, which has launched a concerted effort to attract more international companies to the area. This didnt need to be a fight but it wasnt one we were going to back down from, said Andrew Julien, the Courants publisher and editor-in-chief. As we noted in an editorial, the state didnt only keep the writings of Adam Lanza from the press, but from researchers, experts and clinicians who could have learned more about what early warning signs might have been missed; what educators and clinicians need to pay attention to when dealing with angry, lonely children; what prevention strategies might be helpful in preventing another such tragedy from ever happening again. It was thrilling, validating, and humbling to see my work presented so beautifully, Sons wrote. Floyd-based artist Tom Nakashima provides elaborate images of downed trees in piles, a comment on the chaos that results when humankind encroaches on nature. One of the artists deals with landscape as a witness to Southern history, everything from the Civil War and servitude, the land and these trees having witnessed that horrific past, Crutchfield said, referring to the silver gelatin prints made by North Carolina artist Linda Foard Roberts. How do you reconcile that with what has come since? Another North Carolina-based artist, Eric Serritella, contributes pieces that look like logs and branches, that are so hyper-realistic that its startling to learn that they are ceramic sculptures. As for the aforementioned paper towel rolls, those are delicately hand cut by New York-based Japanese artist Yuken Teruya. Whats fascinating about them is not only the intricacy of them but the shadows that come into play, Crutchfield said. That is even more prominent in the paper bag pieces. Teruya also cuts these elaborate tree shapes out of designer bags, such as a Prada bag, because hes making a comment about our throwaway culture and how things are not treasured. Richmond, KY (40475) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. In his written apology, Northam said he would heal the damage his past conduct had caused. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their governor. Last month, Floridas secretary of state, Michael Ertel, resigned after photos emerged of him posing as a Hurricane Katrina victim in blackface 14 years ago, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Jack Wilson, chairman of the state GOP, said in a statement Friday afternoon, "Racism has no place in Virginia," and the "pictures are wholly inappropriate." Wilson said: "If Governor Northam appeared in blackface or dressed in a KKK robe, he should resign immediately." Under questioning from Republicans, Tran said her bill would change that standard in Virginia in a similar way. Expressing horror at the celebratory response to the law in New York, Republicans have warned Democrats would do the same thing if they take control in Virginia. The shameful cheering that occurred in Albany last week may be coming to Richmond next year, folks, said Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford. Cox said he was proud of the questions put to Tran during the hearing. The speaker said he felt it was Republicans duty to draw attention to the things Tran said about her own bill. This debate needs to be had nationally, Cox said. And were ready to have this debate. Even as Republicans accuse Democrats of refusing to draw a clear line on late-term abortions, Cox refused to say Thursday whether he believes third-trimester abortions should be banned entirely, with no exceptions for the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Northam also refused to discuss Trans bill directly after being asked to respond to Republicans claims the legislation would allow third-trimester abortions in cases where a woman said she was feeling anxiety about becoming a mother. Del. Jeff Bourne, D-Richmond, one of the three Democrats who voted in favor of Trans bill after the subcommittee hearing, said his vote would probably be different today after the intense scrutiny of the third-trimester provisions. As Senator Kaine said, the law thats been on the books for decades strikes the right balance, Bourne said. Tran spoke about the bill from the floor for the first time Friday, saying she regrets that the debate surrounding it has been politicized. She said she was simply caught off guard by the questions during the hearing that led her to say her bill would allow abortions for mental health reasons up until the moment of birth. Simply put, infanticide is illegal. And House Bill 2491 does not change this, Tran said. It would continue to remain illegal. And I want to make clear that I strongly condemn those types of actions. Tran said she has heard from women across Virginia who support her efforts to keep politicians out of womens health care decisions. I really appreciate the support that I have of some of my House of Delegates and Senate members as well as some of our state leaders, she said. When Melchiorre took the witness stand, she acknowledged that she believed Butler should go to prison. But she said her comments had nothing to do with bias. Instead, she said she was trying to ensure equal treatment of defendants. It makes me sad. Im not angry; its just sad because none of it is true, Dimeo said. Were not a fake clinic, we have a doctor on staff; we have sonographer on staff. We do ultrasounds, STD testing, pregnancy testing. "Were HIPPA compliant, so we meet all regulations. We are part of a financial accountability organization. All of our services are to help women who are facing pregnancy, unplanned or not with material assistance up to 2 years old and with medically accurate information on all of their options. We are not here to tell them what to do. On site for 20 years, the Pregnancy Center of Culpeper consistently gets positive reviews from its clients in anonymous exit surveys, she added. Friday's vandalism was a first for the center, Dimeo said. We already had a client come by this morning just to give me a hug. And to say shes here for us and what she can do to help, she said. We particularly appreciate the adjustment the superintendent has made to the teacher salary scale to begin the transition from a compressed scale to a linear one, he said. Matthews was joined by Hanover Professional Educators president Bill Callahan as both groups endorsed the proposed budget set for approval at the Feb. 12 school board meeting. Our two groups also concur with the counselor, special education and behavior support positions, as well as the additional funding proposed for special education so that our students with disabilities can receive all of the services they need, Matthews concluded. Callahan recommended the board assume the entire cost of health insurance costs for the coming year, something the budget addresses but does not guarantee. Gill explained thats because those rates are negotiated through county government offices and the plan includes not only school employees, but he expressed concern regarding those rising costs. We would simply ask the board to fund the entire increase in health insurance costs for the 2019-20 school year, Callahan said. Gill and Callahan agreed that better educating employees on efficient ways to use their health insurance could reduce future increases. Altimari told his evaluators he developed a paranoid delusion that he was under surveillance by his employer, the government or the military. He believed he was forced to follow a script and that he and his father were in danger of being tortured or killed. So to save his father from a slow and painful death, Altimari said he killed him as an act of mercy. But the judge noted that Nelson raised the issue of corroboration for Altimaris delusion 26 separate times in his 27-page report. There wasnt any. Altimari didnt write down an account of his delusion and during his early incarceration did not experience any hallucinations or engage in any bizarre behavior, or raise any of these issues during the police interview or with the jail mental staff, Johnson said. The judge said Nelson wrote in his report that while Altimaris delusional account very neatly fits an insanity defense, there was good reason to wonder if it really was how he felt at the time of the offense ... given the nearly complete lack of objective support for it. Another real possibility was that after he killed his father, he developed a delusion as a kind of psychological defense as the reality of what he did, and to explain it to himself, the judge quoted Nelson as writing. Stoney said that in his first two years in office, the citys Department of Public Works has repaired 2,900 alleys, fixed 3,200 sidewalks and filled 50,000 potholes. In the budget he will present the council in March, Stoney pledged to include a 20-year plan laying out how the city can pay to improve its infrastructure in the long term. He also cited the formation of a new Department of Citizen Service and Response, which oversees the citys 311 Call Center and RVA311 website. The new department fielded 98,000 calls from residents in its first six months and handled 60 percent of them on the spot. The mayor promised to convene a group of city and civic leaders to chart a vision for Shockoe Bottom that would include commemoration of the areas slave-trading history. The group, which Stoney called the Shockoe Alliance, will build on the work his administration began last year with the National League of Cities and the Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use. I firmly believe that telling the true story of the tragic history that occurred in Shockoe can be the most inclusive history told anywhere in America, and telling an inclusive story of our history will attract visitors from all over the globe, Stoney said. If it's up, then it's up, then it's up, then it's stuck in your head. Say what you will about Cardi B, but she knows how to make hits that breathe their own air and make their own space in the culture, and she's got no problem releasing them one at a time (see last summer's "WAP"), album cycles be damned. "Up" is catchy, colorful and motivational, and works just as well in the background at a summer cookout (depending on who's around, you may want to opt for the clean version) or at the gym. (Explicit lyrics, to say the least.) And with the companys expansion into Northern Virginia with the Access acquisition, Asbury said Unions name was going to be confused with other banks in that market. We dont want to be operating multiple different bank brands, he said. Besides, Asbury said, many banks across the country operate under the Union Bank name. It is a good strong name, he said. Union Bank & Trust is limited. Atlantic Union Bank is a unique identifier. The company said it considered hundreds of name options and conducted research on the new name with customers who responded positively to it. Shareholders will need to approve the change to the name of the parent company when it holds its annual meeting in early May. Access branches will be renamed Atlantic Union Bank when the conversion to Unions computer systems takes place in mid-May. Unions branches in Virginia also would get the new moniker at the same time. The company does not initially plan to change its UBSH stock ticker symbol. Theres no compelling reason to change the ticker. We will let some time past and get some feedback and then we are going to re-evaluate, Asbury said. School Name Status Buckeye Central Schools Closed Bucyrus City Schools Closed Clear Fork Christian Preschool Not Reported Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Closed Colonel Crawford Schools Closed Crestline Village Schools Closed Crestview School District Closed Discovery School Closed Fairway School Not Reported Foundation Academy of Mansfield Closed Galion City Schools Closed Heartland Academy 2 hour delay IMAC Closed Lexington Child Development Center No morning preschool Lexington Local Schools Closed Lucas Local Schools Closed Madison Adult Education Closed Madison Local Schools Closed Mansfield 1st EPC Preschool Closed Mansfield Christian School Closed Mansfield City Schools Closed Mansfield Seventh-Day Adventist School Closed Northmor Local Schools Closed Ohio Heartland Headstart Closed OSU-Mansfield/NCSC campus Not Reported Ontario Local Schools Closed Pioneer Career & Technology Center Not Reoported Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools Closed Richland School of Academic Arts Closed Richland Newhope Not Reported Sacred Heart School - Shelby Closed Shelby City Schools Closed St. Joseph's School - Crestline Closed St. Joseph's School - Galion Closed St. Marys School - Mansfield Closed St. Marys School - Shelby Closed St. Peter's School - Mansfield Closed Sullivan Head Start Closed Temple Christian School Closed Trinity Shining Lights Preschool - Shelby Closed Valley View Christian Preschool Not Reported School closings in and around Richland and Crawford Counties can be seen here. To view closings and delays in Ashland, visit ashlandsource.com, and if interested in closings and delays in Knox County, visit knoxpages.com. COLUMBUS Attorney General Dave Yost is urging Ohioans to watch out for scammers this tax season and to protect their personal information and refund dollars. Everybody loves a tax refund especially bad guys, who want yours, Attorney General Yost said. Theyre rubbing their hands with glee now that its tax season, and their favorite criminal tool is your personal information. The Attorney Generals Office has received more than 130 reports of tax-related scams in January. The office encourages citizens to follow these steps when filing their taxes: File your taxes as soon as possible: Tax identity theft generally occurs when someone steals your personal information to file a tax return and fraudulently obtain your refund. The sooner you file, the less likely it is that someone can file on your behalf. Choose a reputable tax preparer: If you use a tax preparer, make sure they have the credentials youre looking for by visiting the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparersor by confirming a Certified Public Accountants credentials. Before having your tax return prepared, ask about all associated fees. Research a business with the Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Better Business Bureau. Protect your personal information: If you file your taxes online, make sure to use a secure internet connection. If you file by mail, take your completed return directly to the post office. Keep sensitive documents in a secure place. Shred any unneeded documents that contain your Social Security number or other sensitive information. Consider the costs of any fast refunds: Offers for instant or fast refunds may be costly refund anticipation loans or refund anticipation checks. These products may involve substantial fees. Avoiding a refund anticipation loan may save you money without diminishing the amount of your refund. When filing your taxes electronically, you can have any refund directly deposited into your bank account, typically within a few weeks. Use any refund wisely: Be an informed consumer and smart shopper by spending any refund wisely or saving it for later. For any major purchases such as a vehicle, do business only with reputable dealers. You can find help researching a companys reputation through the Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to get everything including any promises made by the dealer in writing and read the fine print. Consumers who suspect a scam or an unfair business practice should contact the Ohio Attorney Generals Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515. He then claimed that he was the victim of a swatting incident by his wife. She did so to protect her adulterous affair," he said. I know that. I have 3,000 pieces of evidence in this courtroom in my bag to support that. So, therefore, I am very comfortable in making that statement with hope that someone in the states attorneys office will take that statement serious and explore that. MANSFIELD -- Have you ever heard of The Company Line? In honor of Black History Month, and as a way to kick off the speaker series of the African American Leadership Initiative (AALI), Andrew Sewell of Lawhon & Associates will talk about a unique piece of local history: The Company Line, Mansfield's first African American neighborhood. Sewell will present his research about the former Company Line neighborhood, discussing this rich piece of Mansfield history, and show artifacts from the archaeological excavation. He will talk about the development of this former Black working class neighborhood and its connection to the rest of Mansfield. NECIC officials note this is a unique example of archaeology practiced on a 20th century site and a piece of local history often referred to but rarely explored. The presentation will be Monday, Feb. 11 from noon to 1:30 pm at the North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Inc., at 134 N Main St, Mansfield, Ohio 44902. Tickets are required and can be purchased through the NECIC website. For more information, call Leona Smith at 419-522-1611, Ext. 114 or Edward Akinyemi at 419-522-1611, Ext. 127. Shes seated across from me in the ambient light of the Director of Deaf Services office. Her interpreter is by my side so she can have a clear view of her hands, and so I dont mistakenly direct my attention and questions to the interpreter instead of the woman herself. Shes been a client of Catalyst Life Services for over two decades. In May, she will be sober for one year. I ask her what first brought her to Catalyst and she begins rapidly moving her hands to tell her story. I think I was 25. I was addicted to drugs and had attempted suicide. Theres a pause before she continues, It was from my childhood. I had a really bad experience. I was sexually molested and that was why I was depressed. So, when I added drugs and alcohol... She makes a gesture like a bomb going off. 25 was a difficult age for this woman, who wished to remain anonymous. She unexpectedly ended up pregnant, left her family, and married the father of her child--a marriage that eventually ended, leaving her to raise her children on her own. It was only when she came to the Richland County Health Department for assistance during her pregnancy that she learned she could use the services of an interpreter. The interpreters she found came from the nearby Rehab Center--now part of Catalyst Life Services; it was through contact with them that she was able to find the help she needed when her life took a turn for the worse. Through Catalyst, shes taken part in addiction therapy groups, private counseling sessions, visited the Audiologist, and utilized the many services offered at the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. When I asked her how Catalyst helps her she indicates a never-ending list. Theres the mental wellness part, of course, but then there is the more day to day assistance. Director of Deaf Services Tanya Haga explains that for many deaf clients, English is not their first language, so paperwork that they get from the doctors office or letters they receive from schools concerning their children are difficult to read. The uninitiated, myself included, may be forgiven for not understanding that American Sign Language isnt based off of American English. The grammar is completely different, says Haga. ASL is modeled on French grammar and flipping it around and translating it into written English can be challenging for many clients, which was a problem for this woman encountered when she entered the workforce. Employers would try to communicate by writing messages back and forth. Its hard because, English language, its a lot of writing. ASL is short. Thats the deaf way. In English, they just go on and on and on, she gestures while shaking her head. Its a different language; perhaps, even, a different way of thinking. Much of what the Community Center offers is help translating all that is left unsaid or lost in the fine print. Imagine trying to understand the implied points of a phone contract, or bank loan, or the myriad other transactions we of the hearing world take for granted. You have to understand that many of our clients didnt overhear their parents talking about the bills at the kitchen table, says Haga. Its an example of whats known as incidental learning, and it accounts for much of the learning we absorb during our lifetime. Those missing pieces can have far-reaching consequences, as was the case for the woman in front of me. When asked, she doesnt recall learning about the dangers of drugs in school. Learning for her was mediated through sight. For me, its like my eyes are my family. I watched all the behaviors of my family. My father was an alcoholic, so its what I witnessed. It was also through sight and guesswork that she was first introduced to harder drugs by a group of friends. As she describes it, I had no idea what was even going on. The first time I was looking at them and they were doing it. I was curious, so they offered it to me. Like many deaf children, she was born to hearing parents. Unfortunately, her parents were not as supportive as some, My mom required me to speech read. I dont have a relationship with my mom, because she didnt want to learn sign language. She didnt want to learn how to communicate with me. She has a sister who is close with her mother. My mom and sister are best friends, she says, and its clear that the pain of this still cuts deep. A pain of feeling left out-- the effort to communicate too unfamiliar or bothersome. Many deaf individuals report feelings of isolation and loneliness, which is easy to imagine; the party you attend but cant fully understand; the troubled look on the strangers face when they realize they dont know how to interact (especially when youre hyper attuned to facial expressions). The deaf community is a close-knit group that counteracts such isolation--the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing a cherished resource and harbor of understanding. It was through Catalysts vocational program, Progress Industries, that she did find work; however, her early attempts were beset by her ongoing addictions. Now that shes finally clean, she thinks shed like to re-enter Catalyst work program. The work she really loved, what she described as her dream job, was working on the factory assembly line. A surprising dream to some, but one that makes sense when she describes it, I love it because you can just stay focused and you can think positively about what youre doing. It was easy for me to be positive there. What she finds on the assembly line is a place where people dont need to pass notes back and forth. A place where she can feel competent. A place where she finds what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmimihalyi calls "Flow." Deaf Services and Catalyst as a whole have touched many aspects of this womans life. A life without these services for her would be frustrating and more difficult than necessary. I decided to come here so I could have someone support me throughout my life. A life shes now excited to keep living. God told me that I have to get healthy and that means I have to get back to work. I have to trust in myself and in my abilities to just work. Donations raised during Catalyst Rehab Telethon help support services like these and may just help save a life. Please support Catalyst by donating online at www.catalystlifeservices.org/donate, or during the Telethon February 2nd at The Richland Mall. SHELBY -- The Richland Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 120th annual dinner Thursday evening with a circus of awards. The event, themed "Under the Big Top," was complete with unicycles and jugglers, but recognized some serious accomplishments, including the Chamber's progress towards its strategic plan. A series of awards culminated with the presentation of the chairman's and the ATHENA leadership awards. Local architect Dan Seckel was honored with the 2018 Chairman's award. Richland Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Jodie Perry received the 2019 ATHENA Leadership award. Before he was invited on stage, a video highlighted Seckel's accomplishments. He was recognized for his work on the Richland Carrousel Park, the Ohio State Reformatory, Kingwood, and the former National Electric building, which is being transformed into the Hudson & Essex restaurant. The video detailed how Seckel promptly left work to stand outside of the Ohio State Reformatory when he found out a wrecking ball was on its way to the historic building. Later, he would provide a vision for the historic structure's future. Perry was presented with the ATHENA leadership award. It's been presented every year since 1989, recognizing a woman living in north central Ohio who demonstrates excellence in her profession, provides a valuable service to the community, supports other professional women in achieving their goals and exhibits initiative and creativity in enhancing her profession. "She is a tireless advocate for the betterment of our community and goes above and beyond to meet the needs of those she serves," said Sally Gesouras, a former winner, who introduced Perry and two other finalists. The other finalists were Annamarie Fernyak, founder of Mind Body Align, and Julie Kleshinski, executive director of the New Store. Perry moved to Richland County in 2014 to become president of the chamber and now leads the Richland Community Development Group (RCDG), too. RCDG and the chamber boards voted to become affiliated in 2017, entrusting Perry to lead the transition. She highlighted the success in her state of the Chamber address, which noted the organization will be using a new logo now, "Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development." "Her influence has brought a full scale change to the Chamber," Gesouras said. "The Chamber is energetic, welcoming, relevant, has an inspiring feel. "Under her leadership the Chamber has grown in memberships, budget and events." In the state of the Chamber, Perry also mentioned the first ever Richland Idea Audition, the addition of a northern Richland County economic development liason and the Chamber's involvement in the Mansfield Rising plan Perry also serves on the national board of trustees for the Institute of Organizational Management for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and seven local boards. She's the former president of the Rotary Club. Economic Excellence Awards The Business Excellence Award was presented to Stoodt's Market and Main Street Market's owner, Jason Potes. The award is given to a business that has experienced strong growth, capital investment, product development, and civic involvement. Potes opened Main Street Market in Lexington last year after finding success at the Bellville-based Stoodt's Market. The Distinguished Performance Awards were given to two recipients, Barbara Lindsay, president of Commercial Cutting & Graphics, and Jay Allred, publisher at Richland Source The award is meant for people who live the RCDG mission to improve the economic vitality of Richland County, have demonstrated leadership and aided in the growth of the local economy. The Community Improvement Corporation of Shelby received the Economic Impact Award, meant for a public sector or non-profit entity for their effort in supporting economic development in Richland County. Dr. Dorey Diab, president & CEO, North Central State College received the Investing in our Future Award. This award for a person or program that has significantly contributed to preparing the workforce of the future. RYP Awards Richland Young Professionals (RYP) also presented awards to two Richland County residents. Jake Penwell, of Penwell Turner Funeral Home, received the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award -- given to a local business that either started or reinvented itself in the last 24 months, led or owned by a young professional. Jennifer Alt of OhioHealth received the Community Hero award -- for an individual, organization or business that is fully committed to serving the community thereby spurring economic growth and development. Other Awards The Chamber ambassador of the year award was presented to Eric Gilbert of MT Business Technologies. Last weekend, a team from Narragansett High School (pictured above) competed and won the state championship at the Rhode Island Ethics Bowl, a competition that promotes respectful, supportive, and rigorous discussion of ethics among thousands of high school students nationwide. NHS participated in the competition for the first time. WASHINGTON -- The Republican-led U.S. Senate approved a mainly symbolic bill opposing plans to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan in a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump. With substantial support from both parties, the Senate on January 31 voted 68-23 in favor of a nonbinding amendment stating that the Senate believed that Islamic militant groups in both countries continue to pose a "serious threat" to U.S. security. The amendment acknowledges that progress has been made in the fight against Islamic State and Al-Qaeda insurgents in both countries. But it said the region could be destabilized should "a precipitous withdrawal" occur without measures taken to secure the gains, likely creating a vacuum that could be filled by Iran or Russia. The legislation called on the U.S. administration to verify conditions have been met for the militant groups' "enduring defeat" before any significant withdrawal of troops takes place in Syria or Afghanistan. The bill was drafted by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has rarely spoken out against Trump or his policies. McConnell said this week that the Senate amendment "would acknowledge the plain fact that Al-Qaeda, [Islamic State], and their affiliates in Syria and Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to our nation." "It would recognize the danger of a precipitous withdrawal from either conflict, and highlight the need for diplomatic engagement and political solutions to the underlying conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan," he said. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said Trump's planned withdrawal was a "bad idea." Trump surprised U.S. lawmakers and international allies on December 19 by announcing he was withdrawing all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, where they are assisting a Syrian Arab and Kurdish alliance fighting against Islamic State militants and other forces. "We have won against ISIS, we have beaten them, and we have beaten them badly," Trump said at the time. "And now it's time for our troops to come back home." Trump has since repeatedly defended his decision, saying the troops were initially only going to be there for three months but have remained for years. U.S. officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have said Trump is in the "process of evaluating" whether to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan, where they have been since 2001. With reporting by AFP and Reuters U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced the United States will suspend its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty as of February 2. Speaking on February 1, Pompeo said Washington will formally notify Moscow that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty in six months. "For years, Russia has violated terms of the INF Treaty without remorse," Pompeo said. "To this day, Russia remains in material breach of obligations." "The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty effective February 2," Pompeo said. "We will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty effective in six months, pursuant to Article 15 of the treaty." Moscow denies it has violated the treaty and has called on Washington to offer proof of its allegations. Shortly after Pompeo's announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a written statement saying: "we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other." Trump added that Washington "will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct." Pompeo told reporters in Washington that the United States remained open to arms-control negotiations with Russia. He said U.S. President Donald Trump wanted an agreement that is verifiable and enforceable. Pompeo said the United States had gone to "tremendous lengths" over nearly six years to save the treaty and that the issue had been discussed, including "at the highest levels," more than 30 times. Minutes after Pompeo's expected announcement, NATO allies issued a statement saying they "fully support" the U.S. decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urged Russia to "restore confidence" in the treaty, writing on Twitter "there will be less security without the treaty." The U.S. action has been expected for months and was virtually assured after last-ditch talks in Beijing on January 31 between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and U.S. Undersecretary of State Andrea Thompson ended without agreement. "Unfortunately, there is no progress," Russian news agencies quoted Ryabkov as saying after the talks with Thompson. In an interview with Reuters, Thompson said, "The Russians still aren't in acknowledgment that they are in violation of the treaty." The fate of the 1987 INF Treaty, widely seen as a cornerstone of arms-control stability in Europe and elsewhere, has been a source of tensions between Moscow and Washington. Washington and NATO accuse Russia of breaching the treaty by developing the 9M729 cruise missile, also known as the SSC-8. Moscow denies that the missile violates the INF Treaty and accuses the United States of seeking to abandon the pact so it can start a new arms race. The Wall Street Journal on January 31 quoted Western officials as saying Russia had deployed four battalions of the 9M729 cruise missile, up from the three battalions Russia was said to have a few months ago. The 1987 treaty prohibits the two countries from possessing, producing, or deploying ground-launched cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The agreement was the first of its kind to eliminate an entire class of missiles. The United States first publicly accused Moscow of violating the INF Treaty in 2014. After several years of fruitless talks, Washington began stepping up its rhetoric in late 2017, publicly identifying the missile in question and asserting that Russia had moved beyond testing and had begun deploying the systems. Late last year, Washington began providing NATO members and other allies with more detailed, classified satellite and telemetry data, as part of the effort to build support for its accusations. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and The Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump says in an interview that his lawyers have been assured he is not a "subject" of the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in U.S. elections. In an interview with The New York Times published late on January 31, Trump said his lawyers have been reassured by the outgoing deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, that he himself was not a target of the wide-ranging probe. "He told the attorneys that I'm not a subject. I'm not a target," Trump was quoted by The New York Times as saying. When asked if that were also true about a separate investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, Trump responded, "I don't know about that." Trump also told The New York Times he did not direct anyone to speak with Roger Stone about WikiLeaks and stolen Democratic Party e-mails. No, I didnt. I never did, he said. When asked if he ever directed anyone to get in touch with Stone about WikiLeaks, he responded, Never did. Stone, a longtime Trump ally, was arrested on January 25 by the FBI and charged with seven criminal counts connected to Mueller's Russia investigation. The indictment against Stone detailed his alleged discussions about stolen Democratic e-mails posted by WikiLeaks in the weeks before Trump beat Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. The indictment alleged that top members of the Trump campaign were in contact with Stone and sought information on when damaging e-mails related to Clinton would be made public. It did not disclose the names of the "senior" campaign officials. Mueller has been tasked with leading a probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 elections and possible interactions between Trump associates and Russian officials. Trump has denied any collusion with Russia, and Moscow has denied that it interfered in the U.S. election. The New York Times said the interview with Trump took place in the Oval Office at the White House on January 31. The newspaper said the interview was arranged after Trump reached out to New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger and invited him for an off-the-record dinner. Sulzberger declined, suggesting instead he would prefer an on-the-record interview that included two of his reporters, and the president agreed. So the detours from a straight line path in life are the experiences that give you diverse perspectives, which you can bring to later challenges, he said. Almost everyone my age has a lifeguarding story. In fact, I encourage you to ask a role model or parent about the detours they took that they had no idea at the time would influence their lives. I bet they will have one. Kosovar President Hashim Thaci says the countrys politicians need to look at the broader picture as they consider what to do about a retaliatory tax levied on imports of Serbian goods. In a thinly veiled warning to the Balkan nations politicians, Thaci told RFE/RL in an interview on January 31 that no agenda should be put ahead of the interests of the strategic partnership Kosovo has with the United States and other Western countries. I haven't proposed, nor asked for a suspension of, the tax, the 50-year-old Thaci said during the interview as he shuttled between meetings with officials to discuss the issue. I am just encouraging our institutions and political leaders to look toward the future, toward strategic steps that are essential for our state and bolster it in the eyes of our partners, especially the U.S. and the EU. Kosovo can go forward and can be successful only in close coordination with those two, he added. Both Brussels and Washington have pressed Kosovo to repeal a 100 percent tariff on imported Serbian and Bosnian goods that has strained international efforts to broker a deal between the former foes. Kosovo imposed the import tax in November in retaliation for what it called Belgrade's attempts to undermine its statehood, such as spearheading a campaign to scupper Pristinas bid to join Interpol. Belgrade has not recognized the independence of its former province, proclaimed in 2008 after a 1998-99 guerrilla war. More than 10,000 were killed in the war, which prompted NATO to launch an air campaign in the spring of 1999 to end the conflict. The possibility that Serbia and Kosovo might end their long-running dispute through a land swap was briefly floated last year. But the proposal was immediately abandoned following a firestorm of criticism from rights groups as well as Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who is against ceding any territory to Serbia and recently said the fate of the tax shouldnt be linked to relations with Belgrade. The tax is the sovereign decision of the government, and we do not condition the dialogue with the decisions of the Serbian government, he said on January 31 after a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador Philip Kosnett, Thaci, and Kosovos parliamentary chief, Kadri Veseli, on January 31. Haradinaj has proposed an international conference to work out a final deal for his country and Serbia to normalize relations. Such a deal, he said, would allow for the immediate suspension of tariffs that Kosovo has imposed on Serbian goods, though it cannot include border changes that could potentially revive old enmities in the Balkans. Other conditions to a final accord include visa-free travel for Kosovar citizens to the EU, the full implementation of an energy treaty signed between the two countries in Brussels, Serbias removal of all nontariff barriers on goods coming from Kosovo, and for Belgrade to publicly state it wont act against "the aspirations of Kosovo as a sovereign state," Haradinaj said. There are no conditions for the dialogue. It can continue but without conditions. The tax will remain until the recognition of Kosovo. Remember that! he said on February 1 in the city of Klina. Thaci told RFE/RL that to any solution to the impasse needs to be balanced, respecting the sovereignty of Kosovo while at the same time understanding that there is another side at the negotiating table. Its up to the Kosovo delegation to talk about concrete and clear issues, and what can be discussed and how to find a creative, elegant solution that both sides will agree on, Thaci said. But he did put one caveat on finding a solution: no Russian participation. "We do not need to create circumstances that would bring Russia to the table. We need to trust in the EU and the U.S. without involving other parties that have not recognized Kosovo's independence and are not excited about Kosovo's future in NATO and the EU, Thaci said. Serbia and Russia have long shared close cultural and economic ties, including Slavic cultural and Orthodox affinities. Moscow has helped block international recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state while trying to assume a role in the mediation of the dispute. A 47-year-old U.S. man who attempted to sail from Alaska to China in an small dinghy with scant provisions has been deported by authorities in Russias Far East, where he washed ashore five months ago. John Martin was returned this week to Washington and told The Anchorage Daily News that he plans to be back in Alaska by the weekend of February 2-3. Martin, from the city of Kenai in Alaska, attempted his journey with a bucket of salmon bellies, bread, water, and a jug of grape juice to sustain him. He spent 11 days at sea before washing up on shore in Russias Far East at a fish camp near the tiny village of Lavrentia. Well, I was trying to reach China. Of course, I didnt make it, he told Alaska Public Media. He was flown to Anadyr, the administrative capital of Chukotka, in Russias Far East. Martin said he was trying to meet up with his wife and child in China when he set out in July from an Alaskan village about 500 miles west of Anchorage. He planned to sail across the Bering Strait and along the coastline until he was near a small slice of Chinese territory between Russia and North Korea. Based on reporting by AP and Alaska Public Media The Russian Prosecutor-General's Office has reopened the investigation into the mysterious deaths of nine young hikers in the Ural Mountains some 60 years ago. Prosecutor-General's Office spokesman Aleksandr Kurennoi said on February 1 that investigators were looking into the notorious Dyatlov Pass deaths and hope to establish the truth of how the hikers died. He said that although some 75 theories have been put forward, prosecutors believe the most likely cause of the deaths was either an avalanche or a heavy storm. The hikers died on February 1-2, 1959, at a place that was later named Dyatlov Pass after the group's leader, Igor Dyatlov. Information about the case was classified by the Soviet authorities until the 1970s. Soviet investigators concluded that during the night, an "unknown, compelling force" prompted the two women and seven men to cut their way out of their tents and flee the campsite without shoes or warm clothing, despite the freezing cold. They determined that six of the hikers died of hypothermia, while three had signs of physical trauma including skull fractures and chest injuries. One of the women had her tongue and eyes removed. After the investigation concluded that an "unknown compelling force" had caused the deaths, numerous theories, including conspiracy ones, have circulated in Russia for decades. Some theories include animal attacks, infrasound-induced panic, and military testing. A 10th member of the excursion, Yury Yudin, turned back after becoming ill on January 28 and died in 2013 at the age of 75. Kurennoi said a group of investigators and forensics experts will visit Dyatlov Pass in March to determine the exact location of the group's campsite, the gradient of the slope, the depth of the snow, and other data. Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and RIA Novosti A woman whose identification document says she was born in 1889 has died in Russia's Chechnya region, state media reports say. Koku Istambulova was buried in her native village of Bratskoye on January 27, the news agency TASS cited a grandson, Ilyas Abubakarov, as saying. If the birth year in her internal passport is accurate, Istambulova was 129 or 130 when she died, making her the oldest person ever on record worldwide. No other specific evidence of her age has been cited. The passport, which was issued in 2003, does not give the month or day of her birth, but she had said she was born on June 1. Istambulova had been "basically...in good health, having only some blood pressure problems, Abubakarov said on January 31, according to TASS. But suddenly she felt sick, complaining of breathing problems. We called a doctor, who gave her an injection, but she did not recover," he said. Istambulova outlived her six children. Speaking to RFE/RL in 2018, Istambulova said several of her relatives including two sons died when Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's government sent Chechens en masse to internal exile on the Central Asian steppe in 1944. TASS reported 10 days earlier that Nanu Shaova, a native of another North Caucasus republic, Kabardino-Balkaria, died at the age of 128. People from the Caucasus region are often noted for their long lifespans. According to Guinness World Records, the "greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment," a Frenchwoman who died in 1997. French scientists who validated Calments status as the oldest person ever to have lived have dismissed a recent claim by two Russian scientists who dispute her age at death, contending that her daughter assumed her identity decades earlier. With reporting by TASS, RIA Novosti, Reuters, and The Evening Standard Romania will take over for Canada in the massive and dangerous peacekeeping mission in the African country of Mali this summer when Ottawa's deployment ends, the two countries announced. "Romania will supply transport helicopters to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), after the end of the Canadian deployment in Gao in 2019," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on January 31. "Canada welcomes the commitment of Romania, a credible and capable troop-contributing ally, to replace our Canadian air task force," she added. Canada, which is due to leave on July 31, has six helicopters and 250 support troops based near the northern Mali city of Gao. The United Nations said that 177 people deployed in Mali have been killed since 2013, making it the world's deadliest peacekeeping mission. An Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 10 UN peacekeepers from Chad in the north of the country on January 20. The UN mission began after northern Mali fell to Islamic insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda. Some 14,000 peacekeepers are part of the mission. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters Prison officials in Russia say the situation is under control at prison IK-7 in the Saratov region after hundreds of inmates rioted earlier on February 1. The Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said the riot was sparked after inmates refused to disperse when guards ordered them to break up a fight. There were no reports of injuries or deaths. The head of the regional FSIN branch, as well as prosecutors and the chairman of the regional public-oversight commission, quickly arrived at the prison, which houses particularly dangerous criminals. The FSIN statement said there are about 800 inmates at the prison, but only a fraction of them were involved in the incident. The FSIN statement did not elaborate on the methods used to restore order. Conditions in the Russian penal system and allegations of violations of inmates' rights have come under scrutiny since a video surfaced in July showing at least 17 guards beating an inmate in a prison in the Yaroslavl region. At least 15 guards from the Yaroslavl prison have been arrested following the public outcry following the release of the video. KYIV -- The supervisory board of Ukraine's public broadcaster has fired the operator's director without explanation in a closed-door decision just two months before a potentially divisive presidential election. The timing of the National Public Broadcasting Company decision to dismiss Zurab Alasania -- after an unscheduled vote two years before his contract was due to expire -- has raised fears of political interference as the field of President Petro Poroshenko's likely challengers swells to around two dozen. Alasania said the move was "not unexpected" but called it "imprudent." He vowed to appeal the decision in court. Alasania has been described as a "maverick" for his outspokenness and fiercely independent management style. Alasania previously came under pressure over programs that investigated possible corruption and suspect dealings by top Ukrainian officials and oligarchs, including Poroshenko. Commenting on Facebook after the vote, Alasania said, "The authorities' allergy to [the National Public Broadcasting Company, known as UA:Pershy] has reached the stage of intoxication." Alasania said he was given no specific reason for his dismissal but that UA:Pershiy would provide an explanation in five days' time. Svitlana Ostapa, a deputy head of the broadcaster's board, wrote on Facebook that nine board members had voted to fire Alasania while three voted against. In comments to the Kyiv Post, Ostapa, who said she opposed Alasania's dismissal, said the move was not linked to censorship but conceded that his successor could be someone less independent. Dozens of independent Ukrainian journalists, including some whose programs air on UA:Pershiy, banded together under the name "Initiative 34" to object to the move. Initiative 34 is a reference to Article 34 of the Ukrainian Constitution, which guarantees the rights to freedom of thought, speech, and expression, published an open letter to the public broadcaster's board on February 1. "We, the undersigned, consider the actions of the Supervisory Board of [UA:Pershiy] a direct manifestation of censorship and an extremely dangerous precedent for the country," began the group's open letter, which was shared on Facebook by former Hromadske TV CEO Katya Gorchinskaya. It goes on to say that while many of the details surrounding Alasania's dismissal remain unclear, the public information so far "leave[s] no doubt that this decision is political and was approved by the authorities." The group demanded that Alasania's dismissal be overturned immediately. Alasania criticized the timing of the move but suggested he'd seen it coming. "They've tried [to fire me] for a long time, but they did it in such an in-your-face manner before the election," he said, "and this is imprudent." He accused the board of violating procedures and said the issue of his dismissal had not been included beforehand on the meeting's agenda. Alasania was appointed director of the state-funded broadcaster in 2014, before it was rebranded in 2015 as UA:Pershy. The channel was previously known as Pershiy Natsionalniy, or First National. With Alasania at the helm, UA:Pershiy, which reaches 93 percent of Ukrainian households, was said to have set out to reinvent itself as a Ukrainian version of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) -- a public broadcaster independent from the government. Tetyana Popova, a former Information Ministry official who quit in 2016 to protest perceived government inaction following attacks on journalists, told RFE/RL that Alasania was fighting an uphill battle from the start. Popova, who now heads the media communication working group at the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, called Alasania's firing a big step back "for freedom of speech and the public broadcaster" that appeared to be "political." "It's about elections and politics and anticorruption programming," Popova said. She pointed to investigative programs Our Money (Nashi Groshi) and Schemes (Skhemy), an RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service project, both of which aired on UA:Pershiy and were often critical of Poroshenko or members of his government. In November, Schemes aired a program revealing secret meetings between Poroshenko and Viktor Medvedchuk, a shadowy Ukrainian political operative with close personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions of backdoor deals. A January 2018 Schemes program that exposed a $500,000 New Year's vacation by Poroshenko to the Maldives, in particular, caused a public uproar that forced the president's team to conduct damage control. Poroshenko was one of Ukraine's richest businessmen -- with an empire that spanned the confectionery, agriculture, and car industries -- as well as being a lawmaker and foreign minister before he emerged to replace ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, with the country battling Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. He announced his reelection bid on January 29. Dmytro Gnap, a former journalist whose Slidstvo.info investigative program aired weekly on UA:Pershiy and who is now running for president, said on Facebook that he believed Alasania's firing was political and he suggested Poroshenko's government had grown tired of the unfavorable coverage. "This is undoubtedly the introduction of censorship ahead of the election," he wrote. In July, a popular morning program called Good Morning, Country was shuttered after it aired an interview with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whom polls suggest is among Poroshenko's strongest competitors in the March 31 vote. The morning show's host at the time, Tetiana Terekhova, accused the channel of censorship, while UA:Pershiy said she had violated their standards. A man found guilty in Russia 20 years ago of chopping up a classmate and drinking his blood was recently found to be posing as a doctor at a medical clinic in the city of Chelyabinsk. The Investigative Committee announced on February 1 that a man in Chelyabinsk had been arrested on charges of using a forged university diploma and illegal drug possession. The Investigative Committee did not identify the individual but said he had been under forced restrictions since 2000 when he committed what it called a serious crime. Russian media, however, said the man was 37-year-old Boris Kondrashin, who in 1998 killed and dismembered a classmate before drinking his blood. Following his trial, Kondrashin spent 10 years in a psychiatric ward after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kondrashins sister was quoted in reports as saying that after he was released in 2010 her brother was ordered to remain under constant monitoring and received a monthly disability payment. Based on reporting by by Znak.ru, TASS, RIA Novosti, Argumenty i Fakty, and Moskovsky Komsomolets Iran is marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the shah and ended centuries of monarchy in the country. On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from France after 14 years in exile to become the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Across Iran on February 1, sirens blared at 9:33 a.m. the exact time Khomeinis plane touched down at Tehrans international airport 40 years ago. Known as the Ten Days of Dawn, the anniversary ends on February 11, the date Mohammad Reza Pahlavis government collapsed, bringing hard-line Shiite clerics to power. Photo Gallery: February 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini Returns To Iran From Exile The return of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to Iran on February 1, 1979, marked a turning point in Iranian history. Millions of followers turned out in Tehran to greet Khomeini as he arrived from Paris, where he had spent 14 years in exile as an outlawed cleric. Iran's ruler at the time, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had fled the country two weeks before Khomeini came back. In March, Khomeini led the drafting of a constitution for the renamed Islamic Republic of Iran. He was officially installed as supreme leader after a referendum in November 1979. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Email to a Friend Share on LinkedIn Thousands gathered at Khomeinis mausoleum in Tehran on February 1 as an army band played revolutionary anthems. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Irans influential Assembly of Experts, criticized those seeking better ties with the United States. "Curses on the wrong school of thought that thinks we can't run the country unless America helps us," Jannati was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. "America's power is on the decline. We should not be afraid of America," Jannati added. Based on reporting by AFP and AP The Supreme Court in the Netherlands has been urged to overturn a ruling holding the country partly liable for the deaths of about 300 Muslim men in Srebrenica in 1995 during the Bosnian war. The courts attorney-general, Paul Vlas, said a Dutch appeals court in 2017 had made an incomprehensible decision by upholding a decision that Dutch peacekeepers had not done enough to protect the men who were seeking refuge at their UN base. His opinion on February 1 will be taken into account when the court makes its final ruling, expected on April 19. Altogether, 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops under the command of General Ratko Mladic in Srebrenica in July 1995, the worst mass killing on European soil since World War II. Many of the victims had fled to the UN-declared "safe zone" in Srebrenica, only to find the outnumbered Dutch troops there unable to defend them. The Dutch government resigned in 2002 after acknowledging its failure to protect the refugees but said the peacekeepers had been on "mission impossible." The original verdict in 2014 ruled that Dutch soldiers should have known the men would be murdered by Bosnian Serb troops if they were forced to leave the base. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters Police said the cell phone used to order both food deliveries belonged to Brown. The phone was then tracked to the Motel 6 where Brown was registered as a guest, police said. The press secretary of a Belarusian opposition party who was facing expulsion back to Russia in part over an unpaid mass transit ride has been allowed to stay. Writing on Facebook on February 1, Anna Krasulina, spokeswoman for the United Civil Party (AHP), said her expulsion case had been closed by Belarusian authorities. She said her next step was to apply for Belarusian citizenship. Last year, Belarusian migration officials ordered Krasulina, who is a Russian citizen, to leave the country by November 30, to "maintain public order." According to Krasulina, migration officials cited an unpaid ride on public transportation a fine for which she had already paid and participation in two unsanctioned demonstrations in 2016 and 2017. Krasulina appealed the decision to a court in Minsk, which reversed the ruling to expel Krasulina. The AHP's chairman Anatol Lyabedzka, who testified at the December 19 hearing, called the migration officials' order to expel Krasulina "a provocation by the authorities" and "political schizophrenia." Krasulina moved to Belarus in 2002 and her husband and children are Belarusian citizens. Krasulina has been the AHP press secretary since 2011. Military lawmakers will not participate in discussions on forming a joint committee to amend Myanmars constitution and have submitted a letter objecting to the measure to the parliamentary speaker, the groups leader said Thursday, two days after the national legislature approved the first step of the measure. Myanmars parliament voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to approve the initial stage of a proposal to form an ad hoc committee to reform the country's constitution, despite opposition from military lawmakers who control a quarter of the seats in the legislature and whose political power would likely be eroded by changes to the existing charter. Their bloc of seats gives them a crucial veto over proposed constitutional changes. Army legislators oppose the emergency proposal because they say it is not in line with parliamentary law and procedure. We officially rejected the proposal [to form a joint committee] by submitting a letter to the Union Parliament speaker, said Brigadier General Maung Maung, leader of the members of parliament from the armed forces. We havent decided whether we are going to discuss it during the parliamentary session or not, he added. More than 60 lawmakers registered by Thursdays deadline to discuss the proposal, though RFA could not confirm whether the group included any dissenting military MPs. Discussions will begin on Feb. 1. Thaung Aye, a lawmaker from the military-backed opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) who represents Mandalay regions Pyawbwe township, said that if those who oppose the measure need to discuss it, they will do so from the point that the emergency proposal goes against parliamentary procedure. If we let it go the way it is, then wed have to reconsider the dignity of the Union Parliament, he said. But Khin Aung Myint, a former speaker of the upper house of parliament who now represents Mandalay regions No. 8 constituency as a USDP lawmaker, disagreed, saying that lawmakers should review the constitution. It is time to review the constitution, he said. We have nothing to say if the proposal is one to form a committee for reviewing the constitution. It doesnt exactly say we are amending the constitution, just reviewing it. But the constitution has to be amended after reviewing it anyway, he added. Aung Kyi Nyunt, a lawmaker from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party who submitted the proposal to create the ad hoc committee, noted that MPs do not need to be invited separately to discuss the measure, because they all are required to attend parliamentary meetings. As Brigadier General Maung Maung said, they [military MPs] dont reject amending the constitution, so they have to work with us then, he said. Amend it systematically Separately on Thursday, Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he already agreed to amend the constitution at the right time in a systematic way during the quasi-civilian USDP government that preceded the NLD administration. I already agreed to amend the constitution, he told reporters in a VOA video broadcast after joint army, navy, and air force exercises in Mandalays Meiktila township. I have never said we would not amend the constitution. I said it many years ago, since the time of the first civilian government, he said. But it is important to amend the constitution systematically. And I have nothing to say about anything else. We have to amend what we need to in the constitution when it is necessary. Before the NLD won the 2015 general election, it campaigned heavily on a pledge to amend key parts of the 2008 constitution, drafted by a former army junta that ruled the country. The military objected to calls by the NLD to amend Article 59(f), which bars NLD leader and current State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president, and Article 436, which requires that proposed constitutional changes be supported by more than 75 percent of legislators, effectively allowing the military MP bloc to reject amendments with their veto power. NLD leaders later backed away from their push after coming to power so as not to provoke the powerful armed forces. Reported by Win Ko Ko Latt and Htet Arkar for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi addresses lawmakers during a ceremony in Naypyidaw marking the third anniversary of the second parliamentary sessions, Feb. 1, 2019. Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said Friday that the countrys lawmakers are responsible for dealing with a proposal approved earlier this week to form a committee to amend the constitution and urged them to tolerate constructive criticism from members of different political parties instead of attacking each other. Her comments came three days after parliament approved an emergency proposal to form a joint committee to make changes to the 2008 charter drafted by a former military junta that ruled the country. Aung San Suu Kyi also said MPs should have courage to change for the better if they have wrong attitudes but should hold steadfastly to their convictions if they are correct. Opposition doesn't mean you have to attack the other side, but to build up their qualifications based on criticism from others, she said. If we have different points of view from other organizations and parties, our qualifications grow stronger. Aung San Suu Kyi made the comments during a ceremony in Naypyidaw marking the third anniversary of the second parliamentary sessions, attended by President Win Myint, the countrys two vice presidents, the parliamentary speakers, the defense minister, and lawmakers. Win Myint also urged legislators to be receptive to different views and discuss them with a positive attitude. As MPs come from different classes and different groups of people, it is natural to have different opinions and views among them, he said. We all have to work on these different opinions and views with a positive attitude in line with democratic standards, he said. As the parliament gains momentum and gets stronger, we can focus more on the interests of the people. Lower house speaker T Khun Myat said, This is a time when we are trying to build a democratic union which all ethnic peoples want. All MPs already know how important the legislative pillar is at this moment. Myanmars bicameral legislature comprises a 440-seat House of Representatives and a 224-seat House of Nationalities, both controlled by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which won the general elections of 2015 in a landslide vote. Military lawmakers, who control a quarter of the seats in the legislature by appointment, have a critical veto to block any proposed changes to the constitution, especially ones that would erode their political power. They heavily opposed the measure to form a committee to amend the charter and boycotted the vote by standing in silence in parliament. The proposal put forward by an NLD legislator calls for lawmakers from all parties to be included in the committee, though military MPs said Thursday they would not participate in discussions regarding the measure and that they had submitted a formal letter of objection to the parliamentary speaker. Reported by Win Ko Ko Latt for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Bronze statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill Grand Monument in Pyongyang, in a file photo The North Korean authorities are ordering citizens to hold lighting ceremonies by any means possible despite a countrywide power shortage. The regime has directed state organizations to proceed with festivities for the Day of the Shining Star, a holiday that commemorates the lives of former leaders Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) and Kim Jong Il (1941-2011), the father and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. Falling on Kim Jong Ils birthday, the Day of the Shining Star is celebrated with the illumination of statues of the late leaders in a ceremony called the First Lighting. But with power shortages causing many to go with little or no heating or electricity in the cold winter months, sources say that citizens are expressing anger over what they see as wastefulness. Officials and workers are very dissatisfied with the directive, said a source from North Hamgyong Province in an interview with RFAs Korean Service on Tuesday. At the beginning of the New Year, we were provided only a small amount of electricity so we could watch [Kim Jong Uns] New Years speech and light [the statues] at night, the source said. "But now the electricity has stopped, and everything is pitch dark at night, except for statues of the Kim family and some of the buildings at historic sites, the source added. Up until last autumn, [important buildings and monuments] were being lit until 11:30 at night, but now with the power shortages worsening this winter, they moved it up to 10:30, and recently they stopped lighting them up altogether, said the source. Not that long ago they even stopped shining light on the giant mountain banner with the words Following the Supreme Leader Until the End of the Sky and Earth that can be seen from the view of a hotel in Rason, where many foreigners stay, the source added. People are feeling the reality of electricity shortages in their bones, said the source. Even with [the shortage] the regional committees are commanding us to somehow find a way to hold the First Lighting, the source said. Another source, also in North Hamgyong said, Electricity completely stopped after the New Year holiday. The instruction to maintain lighting [on the statues] was delivered to every level of every institution, especially emphasizing the time that these should be lit, the source said. Theyre demanding that we maintain lighting on Kim Jong Ils birthday to create a holiday atmosphere regardless of the situation on the ground, the source said, adding, They distributed statues to every factory and are telling us to light them until 9 P.M. Employees of each institution have resorted to collecting funds to purchase fuel for a gas generator, because theres no electricity, said the source. People are even bribing workers in the electric company in an attempt to draw electricity from other regions just to light up these statues, the source said. There's no dam power The main causes of North Koreas power shortages are deteriorating power plants and bad management of water resources needed for hydroelectric dams, sources say. The latter cause is especially pronounced in winter, when flowing water freezes. A source from Chagang province said that his region is now reeling from power shortages because most of the region depends on hydroelectric power. Almost all the hydropower plants dont have enough water, and theyre getting old, so [to us] the shortage is real, he said. Most of the equipment in the plants are retreads that were used in Eastern Europe in the 60s and 70s. Its all basically junk, said the source. Every time theres a malfunction they replace the parts over and over to give it more life, but now theyve reached their limit, theres no way these can continue to operate, the source said. Reported by Jieun Kim and Myungchul Lee for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Dukin Han. Written in English by Eugene Whong. The wife of a Taiwanese rights activist and NGO worker jailed by the Chinese Communist Party for subversion has been denied permission to visit her husband after complaining of his mistreatment in prison. Lee Ming-cheh, a lifelong activist with Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was sentenced by Hunans Yueyang Intermediate People's Court to five years in jail for "attempting to subvert state power in November 2017. He was accused of setting up social media chat groups to vilify China. His wife Lee Ching-yu said she has been banned from visiting her husband for three months because "her public statements were inconsistent with the facts." "Your country has stated that I disregard the facts, and that my public statements are inconsistent with the facts," Lee told the Chinese Communist Party in a news conference on Wednesday. "I request that you make public the video footage of visits," she said. "Tell me, what lies have I told about my husband, who is locked up in one of your jails? I will be able to dismantle your lies right away." "Humanitarian [prison] visits are the inalienable right of prisoners and their families," Lee said. "I ask that if you don't allow me to visit, you should allow international human rights organizations and officials of [Taiwan's] Mainland Affairs Council to visit him." 'Inhumane treatment' Lee had previously said that her husband is being subjected to "inhumane treatment" including forced labor at Chishan Prison in the central Chinese province of Hunan. He was also moved to a prison near Beijing, where he remained for 10 days before being taken back to Chishan, she said. While Lee was the first resident of Taiwan, the last remaining territory of the defeated Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist government of the 1911 Republic of China, to be sentenced under draconian security laws governing overseas NGOs, he isn't the first to be incarcerated in mainland China, or to simply disappear. An estimated 500 Taiwan nationals have gone missing, believed detained, in mainland China over the years, while more than 1,000 have been locked up for various reasons, human rights groups say. Yang Sen-hong, president of the Taiwan Association for China Human Rights, said there are growing concerns about Lee Ming-cheh's physical well-being. "He has lost 30 kilograms in a short space of time," Yang said. "This is definitely the result of torture." "Whether or not he can come home sooner rather than later depends on the degree of international support," he said. "Whenever [U.S.] congressmen or women visit Taiwan, they will always meet with Lee Ching-yu, so they are very aware of Lee Ming-cheh's situation." Universal values Yu Mei-nu, a lawmaker for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), called on the Chinese authorities to reinstate family visits for Lee as soon as possible. "This would be in accordance with universal values," Yu said. "It is normal procedure for all family members of prisoners to have the right to visit them." "They can't extend controls on freedom of speech to his family by demanding that they keep quiet after their visits, on pain of not being allowed further visits," she said. Eeling Chiu, who heads the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, said her organization will be making representations at the United Nations during a forthcoming meeting of the Human Rights Council. "We will be calling once again on the international community and the U.N. to show their concern for these violations of a Taiwan rights defender's right to freedom of expression, personal liberty, and humane treatment in prison," Chiu said. "We want them to condemn this collectively." A tense relationship Taiwan has a tense relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which regards the island as a renegade province awaiting "unification," despite never having ruled the island. President Tsai Ing-wen rejected calls from Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month to move towards "unification" with the People's Republic, saying its people have no wish to give up their sovereignty. In a Jan. 2 "Letter to our Taiwan compatriots," Xi was insistent that China must be "unified," saying that China would make no promises not to use military force to take the island. But a recent opinion poll found that more than 80 percent of Taiwanese would reject Xi's offer to rule the island via the "one country, two systems" model used for the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau. 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 island began a transition to democracy following the death of Chiang Kai-shek'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 Hwang Chun-mei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A court in Cambodias capital on Friday ordered a member of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) detained pending a bail hearing after questioning him over a post he made on Facebook last month, which said the European Union plans to impose a tariff on Cambodian rice. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court had earlier questioned Svay Rieng province-based CNRP activist Kong Mas in connection with charges of insulting the government and incitement to commit a crime based on his Facebook post, which also contained comments critical of Prime Minister Hun Sens regime. After the proceedings, Kong Mass lawyer, Sam Sokong, told RFAs Khmer Service that the court judge ordered his client detained in Prey Sar Prison ahead of a bail hearing next week. The judge ordered my client detained, awaiting further investigations, he said. My client asked the judge for bail and the judge said he will consider it next week. Sam Sokong said Kong Mas had stated to the court during Fridays questioning that his post and comments on Facebook were legal under the guarantee of freedom of expression in Cambodias constitution, adding that they were constructive criticism and not intended to insult the government. Kong Mas was taken into custody at a coffee shop in Phnom Penh on Jan. 16 by around 10 officers accompanied by a government prosecutor and told he was being arrested because of a Facebook post he made the same day, although police provided no further details at the time. In the post, Kong Mas said that EU officials plan to impose a tariff on Cambodian rice of U.S. $200 per ton. A day later, the EU announced that it would levy the tax on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar for three years, after an investigation found that a significant increase in imports of the grain from the countries had caused economic damage to European producers. Cambodia and Myanmar benefit from the EUs Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme, which grants them, and other least developed nations, tax- and quota-free access to the blocs market. But the European Commission said that as of Jan. 18, the EU will reinstate the normal customs duty on Indica rice from the two countries of 175 euros (U.S. $199) per ton in year one, following by a reduction to 150 euros (U.S. $170) in year two, and 125 euros (U.S. $142) in year three. Cambodias Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told RFA at the time that his government was unconcerned by the Commissions announcement, adding that the rice tax would demonstrate that Cambodia is entirely capable of competing with other countries in international trade. He also said that in order to cope with the new tax, Cambodias government will further develop the local market so that it will be ready for any circumstances, while encouraging exports to alternative markets, such as the Philippines, and continuing to rely on demand in China. On Friday, Soeng San Karuna, spokesman for local rights group Adhoc, told RFA that Kong Mas Facebook post was ineligible as evidence against him, because Cambodians are guaranteed freedom of expression and have the right to their own opinions. The judge should have released him on bail because freedom of expression is guaranteed in the democratic world, he said. [Charging Kong Mas] would only happen in a communist country. If we are a democracy, we must protect the rights of people who are involved in politics, as well as ordinary people. Universal Periodic Review Also on Friday, Soeng San Karuna called on the official Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) to accept and implement hundreds of recommendations made by the international community in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 32nd meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Councils Universal Periodic Review (UPR) where Cambodias human rights record was examined for the third time on Wednesday. Keo Remy, president of the CHRC, led a delegation to Geneva for the UPR, during which he told the assembly that Cambodia has worked to promote human rights and strengthen democracy and rule of law, according to a report by the Khmer Times. He cited a national report on human rights progress in the country which said that, among other guarantees, Cambodians enjoy freedom of expression, but cautioned that using freedom of speech to commit crimes, such as exaggeration and false allegation, is prohibited. All rights, including the right to development, shall be indivisible and human rights issues must be addressed within the global context through a constructive, non-confrontational and non-politicized dialogue-based approach, the report said. Representatives from the international community, however, suggested that Cambodia needs to do more to improve its rights record, and specifically called for greater political inclusion, noting that a ban on the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November 2017 allowed the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament following an election in July last year that was widely seen as unfree and unfair. On Friday, as Keo Remys delegation returned to Cambodia, Soeng San Karuna urged the CHRC to honor the 202 recommendations submitted during the UPR, noting that the government had refused to do so following earlier reviews and instead blamed civil society for issuing fake reports about rights violations. The international community knows all about [Cambodias rights record], so the government must accept the truth and make changes that will improve the countrys reputation on the world stage, he said. Am Sam Ath, senior investigator for local rights group Licadho, echoed Soeng San Karunas call, saying the 202 recommendations are similar to those proposed by local civil society groups. He noted that Cambodias rights record has worsened in recent months, and that the governments representatives to the U.N. are facing increased criticism from other member states of the world body. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Cambodias government on Friday denied reports that the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) plans to amend the constitution to allow China to build a naval base in the country, amid growing influence from Beijing in the Southeast Asian nation. On Jan. 29, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats submitted a Worldwide Threat Assessment to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that warned of Cambodias slide toward autocracy after its Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November 2017, paving the way for the CPP to steamroll a general election in July last year. Such a slide, which the assessment said culminated in the CPPs retention of power and complete dominance of the parliament after it won all 125 seats, opens the way for a constitutional amendment that could lead to a Chinese military presence in the country. The assessment comes amid speculation that Beijing is building a 45,000 hectare (111,200-acre) naval base in Cambodias Koh Kong province, based on a Nov. 15 report by Hong Kongs Asia Times online news portal, which cited unnamed diplomatic sources. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen later dismissed the report, saying such a move would violate the constitution, while Cambodias Ministry of National Defense called it fake news and part of a foreign campaign to mislead the public and the international community with the intention of destroying the countrys independence and neutrality. If such a naval base were built on the Gulf of Thailand, it would allow China to significantly expand patrols on the South China Sea, which Beijing claims much of, while rival Taiwan and ASEAN countries Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have their own stakes in the waters. On Thursday, Ministry of Defense spokesman Chhum Socheat rejected the U.S. intelligence assessment in an interview with RFAs Khmer Service, saying it had no merit. But political analyst Kim Sok told RFA that the assessment has solid foundation, adding that he believes Hun Sen is not only willing to amend the constitution to allow a Chinese military presence in Cambodia, but to eliminate the system of constitutional monarchy to provide him total control of the country. On Friday, the Council of Ministers Quick Reaction Unit issued a statement denouncing the RFA report, calling it fake news and alleging that it was aimed at twisting words, provoking chaos, and destroying peace and stability, as well as the development of the country. The statement also denied that Hun Sens government wants to amend the constitution to end the countrys monarchy, noting that the prime minister had pledged to the late King Norodom Sihanouk protect it. CIA invitation The same day, Cambodias Ministry of Defense extended an invitation to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to come to Cambodia and investigate for itself whether a Chinese military base is being built there. The Ministry of Defense welcomes the U.S. CIA to seek the truth on any suspicions about foreign military bases and a plan to amend the constitution [to allow for a foreign military base], the ministry said in a statement. But if they cant find any evidence, we would like the U.S. to immediately stop this exaggeration, incitement, labeling and interfering in Cambodias internal affairs, the statement said, adding that Cambodia doesnt need to amend its constitution because it is enjoying peace. In response to the invitation, chief of public affairs and spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Arend Zwartjes, told RFA that Washington will continue to monitor reports about Chinas interest in establishing a military facility in Cambodia. We welcome the Prime Ministers statements confirming that Cambodias constitution explicitly prohibits foreign military bases on Cambodian territory, Zwartjes said in an emailed statement. We hope that the Cambodian government provides more transparency about the investment and development taking place on Cambodias coastline, and that Cambodias sovereignty is protected for future generations. Zwartjes said that the U.S. welcomes contributions by China to regional development, as long as they adhere to high standards, and cautioned against countries taking on huge loans from construction and infrastructure projects, only to find themselves saddled with debt that they cannot repay. They are then forced to renegotiate unfavorable terms that hinder their future development, and undermine their sovereignty, he said. Chinese investment can be beneficial, but these deals need scrutiny, transparency, and close supervision to make sure the benefits go to the country, not the dealmakers. Western influence waning After the CPPs election victory, Beijing offered its full support of Hun Sens government, and Cambodia has increasingly backed China in disputes with the ASEAN nations over its actions in the sea. Meanwhile, Western influence in Cambodia is on the decline amid criticism of Hun Sen and the CPP over rollbacks on democracy in the lead up to and aftermath of the ballot. The U.S. has since announced visa bans on individuals seen as limiting democracy in the country, as part of a series of measures aimed at pressuring Cambodia to reverse course, and the European Union, which was the second biggest trade partner of Cambodia in 2017, has said it will drop a preferential trade scheme for Cambodian exports based on the countrys election environment. Hun Sen has repeatedly stressed that his country does not need foreign governments to recognize the legitimacy of Cambodias elections, saying acceptance by Cambodians is sufficient. He has also said that he will continue to welcome aid from China, which is currently Cambodias largest international aid provider and typically offers funding without many of the prerequisites that the U.S. and EU place on donations, such as improvements to human rights and rule of law. Trade volume between Cambodia and China was valued at U.S. $5.8 billion in 2017, up 22 percent from U.S. $4.76 billion dollars a year earlier, while China is currently Cambodias largest investor, and has poured U.S. $12.6 billion into the Southeast Asian nation from 1994 to 2017. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. (L to R-front row) Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, China's President Xi Jinping, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US Vice President Mike Pence, pose for a "family photo" during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Port Moresby, Nov. 18, 2018. Chinas growing presence among the islands of the South Pacific worries Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. And some island governments are now pushing back against that presence. But when it comes to both island governments and many local citizens, the biggest issue at the moment appears not to be geopolitics but the issue of illegal Chinese fishing. Chinese fishing trawlers have been scooping up tuna fish, a main source of protein for islanders. For tourists, the South Pacific conjures up visions of romantic beaches, heritage and culture, world-class diving, and natural wonders, as an Australian travel agent put it. But on the less sunny side, the writer Michael Field warned nearly two years ago that illegal fishing, much of it by China, is costing some of the worlds smallest and poorest nations hundreds of millions of dollars. Its important to keep in mind that in six of the 18 Pacific nations and territories, the GDP per capita comes to only $2,100 to $5,700 a year. Possible destruction of tuna industry Inside esoteric fishing rights conferences it is common knowledge that Chinas new and powerful boats could within a decade destroy the $3 billion a year Pacific tuna industry, Field wrote for The Spinoff Bulletin in New Zealand. Overfishing of a single species can reduce the size of a fish population to the point where it can no longer reproduce, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as a crash in that population. The congressionally funded U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) said in a report published in mid-June of last year that tuna is a vital source of food and employment for Pacific Islanders. For some South Pacific countries, it said, the tuna within their 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) are their only major renewable resource. However, in recent years, the USCC report said, increasing competition with subsidized Chinese vessels, declining catches, and depressed tuna prices are pushing many local tuna fishing fleets to exit the industry. In contrast, the growth of Chinese fishing fleets worldwide has been sustained by Chinese tax exemptions as well as by central and local government subsidies. Chinese fishermen reach as far from home as West Africa and Latin America, so it should be no surprise that theyve begun showing up in greater numbers in the South Pacific. Chinese fishing companies are motivated by high profits. And members of Chinas growing middle class are willing to pay for high-quality fish. China underreports distant-water catches A 2012 European Parliament study found that China massively underreports the catch of its distant water fleets. But Chinese boats are not the only foreign vessels to fish in the South Pacific. Boats from Taiwan and sometimes from Italy and Spain can be seen there, though in smaller numbers than those from mainland China. The United States is also part of the picture. As the USCC notes, the United States negotiates access to Pacific island fisheries through a South Pacific Tuna Treaty. The treaty allows 40 U.S. purse seine fishing boats to fish in the islands waters along with vessels from Australia and New Zealand. A purse seine is a large line of netting, a kind of vertical net curtain, used to surround a school of fish. The bottom is drawn together much like a purse to enclose the fish. According to the USCC report, the Chinese government has been sensitive to the criticism of its distant water fleets and has taken some steps to deter illegal fishing in the Western Central Pacific Ocean. Those steps include fining and terminating the licenses of some Chinese companies found to have fished without authorization. Toward the end of 2017, the Chinese government stopped calling for an expansion of the fleets. Chinas Ministry of Agriculture released a five-year plan that restricts the total number of offshore fishing boats to under 3,000 by the year 2021. Worth watching in the future are Chinese provinces and fishing companies that would still like to expand their fishing catch rather than curb it. On Jan. 7, Bloomberg magazines editorial board argued that illegal fishing carried out not only by Chinese fleets but also by other foreign fleets has reached the point where it needs to be taken seriously as a global security threat. More than 50 countries have signed a pact to better manage ports by denying entry to boats that cant document their catches, Bloomberg says. But illegal fishermen head to smaller ports that still lack monitoring, and that includes some in the South Pacific. Chinese investment in the South Pacific As the USCC reports, Chinese direct investment in Pacific Island countries has grown rapidly, reaching $2.8 billion in 2016. Nearly 70 percent of that investment was concentrated in Papua New Guinea, by far the most heavily populated of the Pacific Island countries. President Xi Jinpings visit to Papua New Guinea to attend a summit meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization held Nov. 17 and 18, 2018 underlined Chinas growing links with Papua New Guinea. But it also triggered criticism of Chinas timber exports from Papua New Guinea from local environmental and community leaders. On Nov. 22, 2018, John Cannon, writing for the website Mongabay, an environmental nonprofit organization, reported on a letter written by these local leaders during the APEC meeting and addressed to President Xi. In the letter, which was delivered to Chinas ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the group spoke of illegalities and corruption that plague PNGs forestry sector. Chinas influence in PNG is strong and growing, Peter Bosip, executive director of the Papua New Guinea Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELOR) said in a statement. But, meanwhile, the forests that sustain our livelihoods and culture are being liquidated, Bosip said. Cannon reported that communities had not given their consent for the forests they are charged with managing to be cut down. And, according to Cannon, agricultural companies have improperly used leases that were meant to promote food production to instead harvest and export timber. The Belt and Road Initiative While the Pacific Islands receive less Chinese attention than other areas of the world, Beijing includes the region in President Xis Jinpings signature Belt and Road Initiative. This suggests that China has geostrategic interests in the region, the USCC says. An April 2018 news report on purported discussions over a potential Chinese military base on Vanuatu raised concerns because it could pose challenges to U.S. defense interests as well as those of Australia and New Zealand, U.S. partners in the region. The Economist magazine said in its Jan. 19 edition this year that the report that Vanuatu might allow China to build a military base there really galvanized the Australian establishment. That development, had it been realized, the magazine said, would have crossed a red line: the first potential military threat in Australias near-abroad since the Second World War. Both China and Vanuatu said that the report about a potential base was inaccurate. But Chinas diplomatic and strategic aims clearly include gaining access to raw materials and natural resources as well as reducing Taiwans presence among the Pacific Islands. The Pacific Islands are home to six of Taiwans 18 diplomatic partners. Chinas inroads in Micronesia, where most of the United States engagement in the Pacific Islands is concentrated, could threaten U.S. agreements with Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, according to the USCC report. In a U.S. territory near Guam in the Northern Mariana Islands, Chinese investors casino resort development could complicate U.S. Department of Defense plans for extensive training and exercises for U.S. Marines based in Guam. Marianas authorities and citizens have opposed the plans for training drills on Guam for fear that they will cause damage to a fast-growing tourism industry and casino business, according to RNZ, a New Zealand radio station. Climate Change Climate change is understandably also a big issue for many of the Pacific Islands governments. The Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puma has asserted that once the United States withdrew from the 2017 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, other countries were prepared to step into the vacuum of leadership that is left by America in the South Pacific But apart from its access to Pacific Island fisheries through a South Pacific treaty, the U.S. plays a role in fisheries management through its involvement in a Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. And the U.S. maintains a number of programs to help Pacific Island countries combat illegal fishing. These include agreements with 10 of these countries that allow U.S. Coast Guard ships and aircraft to patrol national EEZs on their behalf. Backlash against a Chinese diplomat in Nauru Meanwhile, China has increased pressure on Taiwans unofficial partners in the Pacific Islands in an attempt to further reduce Taiwans influence in the region, according to the USCC report. Following Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens visit to the island nation of Palau in 2017, China was reported to have banned Chinese tour group visits to Palau in an attempt to pressure Palau to abandon Taiwan. Tourism plays a key role in Palaus economy, and Chinese tourists comprise nearly half of all tourists visiting the island, according to the USCC. While Beijing has bolstered its diplomatic presence in the South Pacific, Chinese diplomats have a mixed record so far in their efforts to enhance Chinas image. In one case in mid-September of last year, an island leaders angry pushback against a Chinese diplomat went public. Naurus President Baron Waqu demanded that China apologize for arrogance shown at a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), where he accused the Chinese of buying their way through the region. Theyre not our friends. They just need us for their own purposes, President Waqu told reporters. According to a report from Agence France Presse (AFP), the summits usual discussion on climate change was overshadowed by Naurus row with China over its treatment of asylum seekers held on the island under a deal with Australia. As AFP reported, the diplomatic spat pitted Nauru, with a population of some 11,000 people and an area of eight square miles, against an Asian superpower. Dan Southerland is RFA's founding executive editor. Elliot Nails, 29, was arraigned Thursday on charges stemming from a complaint to police. Detectives said Nails did not know the family. He must return Feb. 7 to Superior Court in New Britain to face charges of risk of injury to a minor, public indecency and first-degree stalking. The first charge is a felony that carries a potential 10-year prison sentence. 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 please call (208) 542-6777 for help. We get it. You don't want to see the ads. We'd just ask you to understand that those ads help us pay the bills and our reporters. Please, consider white-listing the Standard Journal in your ad-blocker or, even better, purchase a subscription so that you can help support quality local journalism. Delivery of the Report will take 2-3 working days once order is placed. Smart Fitness Devices Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Scenario is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Smart Fitness Devices industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Smart Fitness Devices manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2014-2024 global and Chinese Smart Fitness Devices market covering all important parameters. The key points of the report: 1.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. 2.The report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2014-2019 market shares for each company. 3.Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Smart Fitness Devices industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. 4.The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. 5.The report then estimates 2019-2024 market development trends of Smart Fitness Devices industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. 6.The report makes some important proposals for a new project of Smart Fitness Devices Industry before evaluating its feasibility. There are 3 key segments covered in this report: competitor segment, product type segment, end use/application segment. For competitor segment, the report includes global key players of Smart Fitness Devices as well as some small players. At least 6 companies are included: * Apple Inc. (U.S.) * Fitbit Inc. (U.S.) * Garmin Ltd. (Switzerland) * Samsung Electronics Co. * Ltd. (South Korea) * Xiaomi Inc. (China) The information for each competitor includes: * Company Profile * Main Business Information * SWOT Analysis * Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin * Market Share For product type segment, this report listed main product type of Smart Fitness Devices market in global and china. * Product Type I * Product Type II * Product Type III For end use/application segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for key applications. End users are also listed. * Head-wear * Torso-wear * Hand-wear * Leg-wear * Bike mount Reasons to Purchase this Report: * Estimates 2019-2024 Smart Fitness Devices market development trends with the recent trends and SWOT analysis * Market dynamics scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to come * Market segmentation analysis including qualitative and quantitative research incorporating the impact of economic and policy aspects * Regional and country level analysis integrating the demand and supply forces that are influencing the growth of the market. * Market value (USD Million) and volume (Units Million) data for each segment and sub-segment * Competitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the new projects and strategies adopted by players in the past five years * Comprehensive company profiles covering the product offerings, key financial information, recent developments, SWOT analysis, and strategies employed by the major market players * 1-year analyst support, along with the data support in excel format. Any special requirements about this report, please let us know and we can provide custom report. Lebanon, IN (46052) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 74F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 49F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Police arent saying how or why the animals were kept in the city, but officers arrested the man they believe was responsible and charged him with animal cruelty. Doug and Merry Jackson were sitting side-by-side on the couch watching TV when out of the blue the call came from the state Correction Department. Scott Gellatly was dead. Their son-in-law who shot to death their youngest daughter Lori, tried to kill Merry, and who shot Nika, the German Shepherd trying to protect them met his fate. I almost didnt answer the phone, it was an 860 number, Doug recalls this week of the call that came four days before Christmas. They said they found Scott unresponsive in his cell, dead. Thats all they could tell us. I thought, Really? Oh my god!, Merry says. We had mixed emotions. One thing, you feel bad, in a way, it was a human life, Doug says. But in another way, we felt relief. Always in the back of my mind, I worried he might get out, maybe on grounds the trial wasnt right. You dont know. But now its over. Relief, Merry says. Now when the kids get older, they wont see their father. Though his death at age 50 is as final as the period at the end of this sentence, it can not set things right. Scott was found dead in his cell Dec. 21 at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. A Department of Correction spokesman said Thursday the cause of death is not yet determined; the investigation by DOC and State Police is open. The best that can be said of the ordeal that changed so many lives is that it also led to state legislation to protect other victims of domestic violence. Merry and Doug, from the living room of their new home in Wallingford this week, recalled the past that is always present. I was lying on the floor, Scott pushed me hard in the chest and I fell. And he pulled a gun out of his pocket, and I thought: How did it come to this? Merry says with disbelief, as though it was still the early morning of May 7, 2014. You cant protect yourself from a gun Scott Gellatly was their neighbor, two houses up the hill on Sioux Drive in Oxford, when he took a shine to their pretty 32-year-old daughter Lori, with the strawberry-blonde hair and a good job with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He swept her off her feet, made her feel special. They had a Florida destination wedding. He had two sons from a previous marriage; in 2012 Lori gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. Merry retired from her job as a bookkeeper to help take care of them. This was our time, Merry says wistfully. She was my best friend. Before long, though, the warning signs couldnt be ignored. He was very controlling, Merry says. At family gatherings, he would always sit right next to Lori and would pinch her under her arm. He made her drop all her male friends from Facebook. If we were out, he would call or text constantly. It got so she didnt have any friends, Merry says. She became scared for her daughters safety. Tension escalated to a fight that early spring of 2014 and Lori escaped with the twins to her childhood home down the hill. She got a temporary restraining order on April 1, but the State Police couldnt serve it because Scott left for Virginia. A friend there sold him a gun, a private sale between him and his buddy. It was a legal transaction, Doug says. No background check needed, in accordance with present law. That law has to change. Lori had five weeks, from April 1 to May 7. Merry went to every house on the street and told neighbors to call the police if they saw Scott. We had a routine, Doug says. When I left for work, Lori would lock the door with a dead bolt and the screen door. But you cant protect yourself from a gun. We got ADT security in the house, Merry adds. Lori and I wore panic buttons if we went outside. We thought if he heard the alarm, he would take off. But you cant stop crazy. He was crazy to a point, Doug responds. His intention was to get her out. One state trooper believed she was in danger. He called every night. But Scott drove back to Connecticut with Virginia plates, undetected. The morning before Lori was going to court for a permanent restraining order the most dangerous time in these situations Scott parked at the bottom of the hill, around the corner on Route 67, at dawn. He waited until Doug left for work, then barged in the kitchen door. He wanted to take Lori with him. Our arms were interlocked, he had her by the hair, Merry recites. He pushed, she fell. Her daughters last words were: Please dont kill Mommy. Scott shot Lori four times, once in the heart. She didnt suffer; she died immediately, her mother realized later. The 18-month-old twins were in an upstairs bedroom, unharmed. He shot Nika the dog, he shot Merry four times, once near her eye. She spent 12 days in the hospital; her recovery was lengthy. Doug retired to be by her side. It plays in my head a lot, Merry says. He lost, because he didnt get her. He never had remorse My husband and I lived next door. We knew the Jacksons and Lori; Doug and Scott often offered to plow our driveway. They were good neighbors in every sense. Sharp gunshots pierced drowsiness around 5:45 a.m. Screams. As we called 911, from our second-story bedroom window we saw Scott run from the house, the garage door rolled up, Scott backed Merrys car out and drove up the hill. It was then eerily quiet; not even a dog was barking. We feared the worst. Other neighbors also heard the shots and called 911. While an ambulance rushed Merry to the hospital, a manhunt ensued to capture Scott. He was found, six hours later, in a fast-food parking lot in Winsted with a hose on the exhaust. Suicide didnt work, that time. He ended up pleading guilty and on Nov. 17, 2015 was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He never had remorse, Doug says with disgust. Never blamed himself. He said he made a mistake, hes not a monster, Merry says. The judge took care of that, Doug replies. The hardest thing was to hear him say Lori was his angel, Merry says. Living for Lori Merry could never stay in the home they built together again, where they raised their children, and lived for 28 years, and expected to enjoy in retirement. Merrys parents and uncle were among the first to buy land in that Swan Lake neighborhood about 70 years earlier. But it could be home no more. They moved to Wallingford and their older daughter became the legal guardian of her sisters twins, now 6-years-old. They have Mommy, and they have Mommy Lori in heaven. How do you patch together lives that will never be the same? For Lori, they became activists and advocated successfully for a state law to enable police to remove weapons when a restraining order is served. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act to do the same on the federal level, but Congress didnt pass it. Time to try again. For Lori, Merry speaks at places such as the State Police Academy, the University of New Haven and Housatonic Community College. She describes the warning signs of an abuser. For Lori, they help raise money through Bowl-a-Thons (the next is March 3 in Milford) and polar plunges for the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia, where Lori volunteered in high school. They joined a Survivors of Homicide group that meets monthly. It helps to talk to others who bear the heartache. Yet every day, theres the struggle. Its very easy to go into that dark place, but I want to be happy, Merry says. Its very tough. I miss her every day. Shell never be forgotten. Scott is dead. Relief. But lives will never be the same. Everything is divided, Doug says, welling up. When Lori was alive, and when she wasnt. Jacqueline Smith is an editorial page editor with Hearst Connecticut newspapers; her columns will appear Fridays in this spot. Email her at jsmith@hearstmediact.com; follow on Facebook: Jacqueline Smith, on Twitter: @JackyNT. Wind chills around the state ran from 10 below zero to 22 below zero during the Thursday morning rush hour, but Friday should have less of a bite. The forecast in Greater Hartford is for 3 degrees at 7 a.m., but with only light winds the wind chill shouldnt get below zero. TORRINGTON Cleanliness is the most common problem found when restaurant inspections are conducted by Torrington Area Health District inspectors. Its not frequent, but its common, Deputy Director of Health Thomas Stansfield said about interior surfaces such as floors, walls and ceilings being dirty. Buffet restaurants are a key concern, he said, because there is a large quantity of food being handled. Since the food is on display for long periods, it can also be exposed to improper handling and reheating. Temperature violations are the most severe, he said, which receive a four-point demerit, the highest given by inspectors. Scores are based of a maximum of 100, and any violation is subtracted from that. An inspection report with a score of 90 is like receiving a C grade, Stansfield said. The typical restaurant owner is much more aware of food handling than ever before, Stansfield said. He noted that the increased awareness is based on regulations that require food establishments to have a qualified food operator on the staff. They are more formally trained. He also believes restaurants are more regularly able to pass inspections due to the publics involvement. It is a more litigious society, he said. Restaurants have a (method of operation). They want to be allowed to stay open. A total of fewer than 80 points means the business has received a failing number. However, if a four-point demerit is given, the establishment also will fail the inspection, despite the total score, and must be reinspected. Establishments given fewer than 80 are reinspected two weeks later, Stansfield said. Read more about Connecticut restaurant inspection rules here. The inspections reported in the most recent round at the Torrington Area Health District were conducted between August and early January. Bohemian Pizza, Bantam Road, Litchfield, was inspected on Dec. 5 and received a score of 88 and a four-point demerit. The report showed that food in a prep station was not kept at the proper temperature. Shredded pork, ribs and shredded chicken had to be discarded. Additionally, the business lacked facilities to maintain proper temperatures, food was not protected during storage or preparation and food handling was not minimized, the report said. The reinspection on Dec. 12 showed proper food temperature protection standards for the prep station had been met. The report did not include information on the status of lesser items, which were generally connected to the prep station malfunction. Restaurant manager Jason MacKenzie said Wednesday that the improper food temperature was caused by a malfunction of the prep stations cooler. It froze and caused the temperature to go up. We had a repair guy in the next day and it was fixed the next day, MacKenzie said. A minimal amount of food in the prep station had to be discarded, he added. The total score for reinspection was not available. If a report shows that a food establishment is out of (safe) temperature limits, the inspector will ask the proprietor to discard the food. We can embargo food, as well, but it never comes to that, Stansfield said. They are happy we discovered it. The Wendys restaurant at 220 Dibble St., Torrington, received a score of 93 but was given a four-point demerit on Nov. 7 for a potentially hazardous food violation. The inspection showed that the left side of the food prep station had multiple food products above the required 41 degrees, according to the inspection report. Feta cheese was tested at 52 degrees, cut tomatoes at 50 degrees and chicken at 48 degrees. A reinspection on Nov. 15 showed that all of the food products read at 39 degrees or lower. A spokeswoman for Wendys franchise headquarters did not return a call for comment. The total score for reinspection was not supplied by the district. The Moon Star Restaurant on High Street, Torrington, was inspected on Nov. 5. It was given a score of 80 and a four-point demerit for a potentially hazardous food violation. The report states that egg rolls kept on a tray near the woks tested at 50 degrees, 9 degrees higher than the required 41 degrees. They were discarded. The inspector noted that the egg rolls had to be kept in a refrigerator before they were fried and served. The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 20 and received a comment of good job, for correcting items of concern. The manager of the restaurant did not return a call for comment. The total score for reinspection was not available. North End Two Guys Pizza, Main Street, Torrington, was inspected on Aug. 13. The report notes a score of 87 and that the restaurant received a four-point demerit for a potentially hazardous food violation. It showed food was not protected during storage, preparation and service. It noted that garlic butter was at 65 degrees rather than 41 degrees or below. The inspection also found the presence of insects. The establishment was reinspected on Aug. 30 and passed, with the report noting that no flies were present and food items were at the correct temperature. I know I have to fix a couple things, but others have been fixed, North End Manager Bulent Ozdemir said this week. He noted that the restaurant had a regularly scheduled inspection on Jan. 13 and the establishment passed. The total score for reinspection was not available. Ozdemir said when an inspector arrives at a restaurant, they come in and I walk with them. They write down whats wrong, and we look at it. He noted that the garlic butter that was found to be not in the safe temperature range in the August inspection happened because we forgot to put it in the cooler. The Friends Deli Market, South Main Street, Torrington, was inspected on Sept. 13 and received a score of 89. It received a four-point demerit for a potentially hazardous food violation. The report shows that the meat cooler case measured at 50 degrees, salami tested at 50 degrees and turkey was at 49 degrees, all above the required 41 degree-maximum. The report also showed that good hygienic practices were not being followed. The inspector noted that the cooler must be repaired a.s.a.p. A reinspection report for the deli was not provided by the health district. Owner Teresa Del Toro said she fixed the cooler where the meat was not at the right temperature. The Barn, North Elm Street, Torrington, was inspected Sept. 14 and then received a score of 83 on Sept. 27, and a score of 96 was issued at reinspection on Oct. 4. It had received a four-demerit score because food in reach-in refrigerator was spoiled with suspected mold growth. The food was disposed of. The reinspection noted the reach-in refrigerator was at less than 40 degrees and the raw chicken and beef were at 36 and 39 degrees, respectively. Owner Ryan Turner said he was on his honeymoon when the restaurant was inspected in September. He noted that his score was 96 when the inspector returned two weeks later. Business is great. Only one restaurant in the district has closed in the last 16 months due to a health inspection report, officials said. The former Landing Zone Grill on Burlington Road in Harwinton closed in December 2017 based on failed inspections, but it was resolved and reopened, Stansfield said. The business closed permanently in February 2018, but it was voluntary, there were other issues, Stansfield noted, not related to the health inspection. The Torrington Area Health District covers 20 towns and has seven health inspectors. NEWTOWN The state Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones that his free speech rights have been violated by a lawsuit brought against him by the families of the Sandy Hook tragedy. In a briefly worded letter, Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Robinson denied the application for appeal by Jones lawyer, Jay Wolman. Wolman and Christopher Mattei, who represents the Sandy Hook families, were in court Thursday afternoon on other matters in the case and declined comment on Robinsons decision. In their lawsuit, eight families of children who died in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School at the hands of shooter Adam Lanza accuse Jones of defaming them by arguing on his Texas-based web program Infowars that the shooting was a hoax, and inciting others to act on these malicious lies. Jones has claimed in court that he no longer believes the massacre was faked, and that he has the right to have been wrong about it. Wolfgang Halbig is an experienced investigator who claimed that his investigation led to the conclusion that the shooting was a hoax, Jones appeal application states. Mr. Jones and the other defendants are alleged to have reported on Halbigs theory by having him as a guest on a radio show, disclosing his websites URL, and sending videographer(s) and a reporter to document his activities. Plaintiffs claim that reporting the theory implies that Plaintiffs fabricated the deaths of their loved ones. The application continues that a ruling by Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ordering Jones and other defendants to turn over documents and other materials in the case permits plaintiffs to take virtually boundless, unspecific, and irrelevant discovery. The families countered that for more than five years, Alex Jones and his companies profited from broadcasting outrageous lies about the plaintiffs in this case The Jones plea for an appeal established only one thing: their private and self-serving interest in avoiding discovery for as long as possible. Beckley, WV (25801) Today Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon hours. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Source: February 01, 2019 23:14 IST IMAGE: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses the gathering at Dharma Sansad, called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad during Kumbh Mela 2019, in Allahabad, on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo A congregation called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday adopted a resolution saying the Hindus will not rest and also not leave others in peace until a grand temple is built at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The participants at the VHP's 'dharm sansad', or the religious council held at the Kumbh Mela venue in Allahabad, criticised the 'delay' in the Supreme Court in deciding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. Some speakers also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. But the resolution adopted at the end of the two-day event praised the Centre government for filing a petition seeking the court's permission to return the 'surplus' land adjacent to the disputed site. It said the seers had 'expectations' from the Centre on the Ram temple issue and by filing the petition it had made clear its commitment. "There certainly has been a delay in the construction of the Ram temple, but we are sure that it will take meaningful steps in resolving the Ram temple and other issues related to Hindu pride," the resolution said in Hindi. Addressing the meeting earlier, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said the temple issue is now at a 'decisive stage'. "The Ram temple is on the verge of being built. So we must tread cautiously," he said. He said those campaigning for the temple must not get diverted from their goal. People should be made aware of the issue and, if needed, there should be an expression of 'anger', the RSS head said. He suggested it may be alright to watch developments for up to about six months, but after that 'we all should ensure' that the construction begins. Bhagwat praised the BJP-led government for bringing a Bill in Parliament to help non-Muslim minorities from neighbouring countries seek Indian citizenship. Former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand criticised the Supreme Court for showing haste while deciding on the Sabarimala matter but saying that the Ayodhya issue was not a priority. Mahant Ramji Das said this has shaken the Hindu community's belief in the apex court. Shyam Devacharya Maharaj warned the Narendra Modi government that it would not be possible for it to return to power in the name of development. "When Ram devotees can sacrifice their lives, can't those in power sacrifice their chair?" he said. An earlier meeting at the Kumbh Mela, by another set of seers, had taken a tougher stand on the construction of the temple. In that gathering on Wednesday, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati had called for a ceremony at the disputed site on February 21 to mark the beginning of its construction. Witnesses said an adult and a juvenile male entered the rest area. The adult suspect displayed a gun, while the juvenile waited by the door. Source: February 01, 2019 17:27 IST The second summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang in late February, according to a media report. IMAGE: A view of Danang city from the top of an hotel at night. Vietnam appears to be the leading contender to host the second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump at end of February. Photograph: Linh Pham/Getty Images The White House last month announced the second meeting between the two leaders will be held in late February following discussions with Kim Yong Chol, North Koreas lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting between the two leaders happened in June in Singapore. A senior Trump administration official and a source with knowledge of the meeting told CNN that the current plan is for the second summit between President Trump and the North Korean leader Un to be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. The plan is being finalised. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location. The source said there are no discussions right now for Trump to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit, but the source says Xi is very supportive of the summit. IMAGE: Workers decorate a park near city center with flowers for the incoming Lunar New Year in Danang, Vietnam. Photograph: Linh Pham/Getty Images Trumps agenda during the summit is still not clear. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the next summit between the two leaders to be held somewhere in Asia. On Thursday, the State Departments top envoy on North Korea said the US is not looking to invade the reclusive nation and seemed to strongly signal that the US would be willing to formally end the Korean War. Trump and Kims first summit in Singapore ended with a commitment from the North Korean leader to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, but negotiations appear to have stalled since then. Many critics accuse the Trump administration of failing to get Kim to agree to specifics at their first summit. IMAGE: Vehicles pass over the Dragon Bridge, a new symbol of Danang city, Vietnam. Thailand and Hawaii have also been mentioned as possible sites although multiple reports have identified Vietnam as front runner. Photograph: Linh Pham/Getty Images On Wednesday, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence officials after they had contradicted several of his foreign policy claims -- including on North Korea -- during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said during the hearing that North Korea is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons. Central Intelligence Agency Director Gina Haspel said Pyongyang is committed to developing a long-range nuclear-armed missile that would pose a direct threat to the United States. Trump said on Thursday that those same intelligence chiefs told him their comments had been taken out of context and had been totally misquoted and that the administration was all on the same page. Source: February 01, 2019 12:54 IST The Supreme Court Friday asked the Centre why it has not appointed a regular Central Bureau of Investigation director and said it was averse to the appointment of an interim chief for the agency for a long period. A bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Naveen Sinha said the post of CBI director was sensitive and the government should have appointed a regular director by now. Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court that a high-powered committee, headed by the prime minister, will hold a meeting on Friday to select a new CBI director. He also told the court that the Centre had taken the approval of the high-powered committee before appointing IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. Taking account of the attorney generals submissions that the committee will hold a meeting on Friday, the apex court posted the matter for hearing on February 6. The bench was hearing a petition of NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of Rao as interim CBI Director. During the hearing the bench said the process of appointing a CBI director should have been over by now as it was known that the earlier CBI chief was going to retire in January. The court also told the attorney general that the new CBI director who would be appointed must trace the movements of files during the period when former CBI chief Alok Kumar Verma was reinstated to the post for two days. The attorney general placed before the bench in a sealed cover the minutes of the meeting of the high-powered committee held earlier. The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained inconclusive. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner NGO, told the bench that the apex court must also look into the aspect of transparency in the process of appointing the CBI director. You want an immediate appointment. Let us stop there. Let the appointment be made first.If you have any grievance that the process is not followed and transparency was not there then you can challenge it later, the bench told Bhushan. The top court on Thursday had set up a fresh bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra to hear a petition challenging the Centres decision to appoint Rao as interim CBI director after Justice N V Ramana had recused himself from hearing it citing social reasons. Justice Ramana had expressed his disinclination to hear the matter saying he belongs to Andhra Pradesh, from where Rao hails, and had attended the wedding of the IPS officers daughter who is married to an advocate known to him. He became the third judge of the apex court to recuse himself from hearing the matter after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and the second senior-most judge in the top court Justice A K Sikri. Both had recused themselves earlier from adjudicating the case. In its petition in the apex court, the NGO has sought specific mechanisms to ensure transparency in the process of appointing the CBI director. It has alleged that Raos appointment was not made on the basis of the recommendations of the Selection Committee. The plea has alleged that the October 23 last year order of the government appointing Rao as interim CBI director was quashed by the top court on January 8 but the Centre acted in a completely mala fide, arbitrary and illegal manner to appoint him again in complete contravention of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. It has sought a direction to the Centre to appoint a regular CBI director forthwith. The plea has also sought immediate direction to the government to ensure that all records of deliberations and rational criteria related to short-listing and selection of the CBI director be properly recorded and made available to citizens in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act. Source: Last updated on: February 02, 2019 00:10 IST Senior IPS officers Javeed Ahmed, Rajni Kant Misra, S S Deswal and Shivanand Jha are said to be among the front-runners for the coveted post. The Centre is likely to announce the name of next Central Bureau of Investigation chief soon despite Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, a member of the prime minister-headed selection panel, raising objections to the names proposed during its meeting in New Delhi on Friday, officials said. During the second meeting of the three-member selection committee, the government is understood to have put forth the names of a few officers who could be considered for the appointment as the CBI director, they said. However, these names were objected to by Kharge, who is part of the three-member committee, the officials said. Senior Indian Police Service officers Javeed Ahmed, Rajni Kant Misra, S S Deswal and Shivanand Jha are said to be among the front-runners for the coveted post. Ahmed, an officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present the chief of National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences New Delhi. Ahmed's cadre and batchmate Misra is head of the Border Security Force (BSF). Deswal, who is from Haryana cadre, is the director general of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). "The meeting was inconclusive. No decision could be taken during the meeting," a senior government official said, without citing further details. The development assumes significance as earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said it was 'averse' to the arrangement of an interim CBI director and the Centre should 'immediately' appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. The post of CBI director is 'sensitive' and 'important', and it is not good to keep an interim director of the agency for longer period, the top court observed and sought to know as to why the government has not made the appointment yet. The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges. Both Verma and Asthana had accused each other of corruption. M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief after Verma's ouster. Friday's meeting was held at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence -- that lasted for over an hour -- and attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Kharge. Among the front-runners, Ahmed, a 1984-batch IPS officer, is at present the chief of National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences in his cadre state Uttar Pradesh. Misra, also from the same batch, is head of Border Security Force. Whereas, Jha, a 1983-batch IPS officer, is at present head of Gujarat police. The selection panel's January 24 meeting had also remained inconclusive. A list of eligible officers along with their dossiers was shared with the panel members in the last meeting. "The government presented names of 70-80 officers. There was no mention of their career details including relevant experience. We (referring to CJI Gogoi) have asked them to provide all the necessary details. The next meeting will be convened may be by next week," Kharge had told reporters after the January 24 meeting. Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director by the PM-led panel, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards -- a less significant portfolio. Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he has completed 60 years age of superannuation on July 31, 2017. He had taken over as the CBI chief on February 1, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure that ended on Thursday. Source: February 01, 2019 23:48 IST Amid pressure from within Congress not to cede Hassan and Mandya Lok Sabha seats to its coalition partner, the Janata Dal-Secular on Friday made it clear that it would not let go of the seats that are its party bastions. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Mandya was JD-S stronghold and he cannot go against the feelings of the people and workers, while elder brother and PWD Minister H D Revanna said JD-S was even ready for a triangular contest in Hassan. Both Hassan and Mandya, where the Bharatiya Janata Party's strength is negligible, are currently held by JD-S, which Congress too is eyeing this time. "If needed, can do it (alliance) or else we are ready for a triangular (contest). We from Hassan had never asked for an alliance. We have the strength to fight," Revanna said. Speaking to reporters Bengaluru, Revanna, also the Hassan district in-charge minister said '...the wish of our family is that Deve Gowda should contest from Hassan and win with the highest lead'. Asked about his son Prajwal Revanna contesting from Hassan, Revanna said the decision of Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy on the matter would be final. On several instances, Deve Gowda had indicated that Prajwal contest from Hassan, the party bastion he has been contesting from. Pointing out that seat sharing is to be decided by national leaders of both parties, Revanna said JD-S would abide by Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy's decision on the issue. Congress sources said that during internal discussions on Thursday,local leaders had asked the leadership not to cede Mysuru and Tumakuru seats and the party be allowed to choose one seat between Hassan and Mandya. Seat-sharing is expected to be a litmus test for both parties, mostly in old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD-S has emerged as a dominant force in the recent past and the Congress has its sitting MPs. On Revannas comments that JD-S was ready for a triangular contest, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said such a situation may not arise. "He might have reacted because of developments in local politics there. Such a situation may not arise," he told reporters. Kumaraswamy also hit out at a media report that tickets of a movie, staring his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, were being given out free of cost in Mandya, as he was being projected as party candidate for the Lok Sabha seat there, by a section in JD-S. "He is growing as an actor, he needs encouragement from everyone, I'm saying this as a father, not as chief minister," he said as he blamed the media of trying to push his son to politics. He pointed out that Nikhil had stated that Deve Gowda should contest from Mandya, if not from Hassan. To a question on sections within Congress opining that late actor-turned-politician Ambareesh's wife Sumalatha be fielded from Mandya, Kumaraswamy said, "She can contest, no issues. Can you stop anyone from contesting an election in this country? Everyone one has the opportunity." Maintaining that Mandya was JD-S stronghold and people have nurtured the party there, he said, "Just because someone is contesting, can I go against the feeling of our people? We will decide on it when the time comes....I cannot go against the feeling of my party workers." Some within the congress feel that that JD-S will finally concede the seat for Sumalatha, as both Gowda and Ambareesh family share good bonding, party sources said. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after meeting a large group of Ambareeshs supporters who had come here to request her to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Mandya, Sumalatha said she needed time to decide about entering politics. "I dont want to lose this bonding that Ambareesh shared with the people of Mandya. I need to think about it because this is not a small decision to take at haste. I also have to discuss with Congress leaders. "I had no interest in politics earlier,but if I decide to enter politics, it will only be from Mandya," she said, adding that Ambareesh was associated with the Congress and the family too believed that 'the party is theirs'. Ambareesh had represented Mandya, both in assembly and Parliament from Congress. He had also served as a minister in both the state and central government. February 01, 2019 08:20 IST The detainees include Sikhs, Gujaratis and Bengalis, and from Punjab in Pakistan. Rediff.com Senior Contributor P Rajendran reports from New York. IMAGE: A protest against Donald John Trump in Los Angeles, November 12, 2016. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images Eleven detainees at the El Paso processing centre in Texas, USA, including those from South Asia, are being nasally force fed after they went on hunger strike to protest against the lack of due process. Many are reportedly too weak to stand or talk. The detainees include Sikhs, Gujaratis and Bengalis, and from Punjab in Pakistan. According to Amrit Kaur, the attorney for one of the detainees, "The strike began because of a discrimination between races." The point of contention was over immigration bonds, the surety used to ensure that the detained alien be let out until the matter is decided by an immigration judge. According to Kaur, "There are Indians and people from other countries there. Bonds are being granted to people from other countries, but not people from India." Finally, she said, her client and others went on hunger strike early in January, which in legal terms involves reusing nine consecutive meals. The Associated Press news agency, which first reported the story, got confirmation from spokesperson Leticia Zamarripa that the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- ICE -- that 11 detainees in El Paso are on hunger strikes, as were an additional four in the agency's Miami, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco locations. Amrit Singh of California said his two nephews, who illegally crossed the border near El Paso and sought asylum, are in bad shape now. According to him, after a federal judge ordered the force-feeding of the protesters, the authorities dispensed with the soft, slim lubricated tube used in such cases, opting for harder, larger ones, and leaving them on permanently in some cases. "Four are bleeding from their noses," Singh said, adding that the detainees vomited repeatedly after the experience. The AP report also described the claim of Eiorjys Rodriguez Calderin, who described himself as a Cuban dissident and said that people were restrained before the tubes were put in their noses and that people were being put into solitary confinement as punishment. Despite ICE directives (external link) to avoid solitary confinement for non-violent detainees, the practice has been reported as being widespread (external link). Force-feeding, often condemned as a form of torture, has been rejected by the American Medical Association (external link) and the World Medical Association (external link). Amrit Singh also addressed the root cause for the protest. "The people with last names Singh and Kumar, the judges first deny their bond, say they are lying," he said, adding that without checking for any more details, the judges deny them asylum. According to him, nearly 100 people are trapped in two detention centres in the area -- the one at El Paso and at the nearby Otero county processing centre. Kaur said given the lack of a suitable response, she and the groups she is working with -- Advocate Visitors with Immigrants in Detention and the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee -- are trying to get the word about the situation at this location. El Paso was where just before Christmas last year ICE officials dropped off hundreds of immigrants at the bus station without any warning to non-profits that might help. February 01, 2019 10:34 IST Unlike conventional subs that must surface every 48 to 72 hours, these subs can stay submerged for up to 14 days. Ajai Shukla reports. IMAGE: The Indian Navy currently has a submarine fleet consisting of 9 Russian-origin Kilo-class vessels; 4 German-origin HDW boats; 6 French-origin Scorpene submarines being built by Mazagon Dock Ltd. Photograph: R Nagendra/Reuters The ministry of defence on Thursday, January 31, cleared the procurement of 6 advanced submarines for 'over Rs 40,000 crore' (Rs 400 billion). This acquisition, codenamed Project 75-I, has been in the pipeline for a decade. The 6 submarines will have 'air independent propulsion', which will allow them to remain submerged for up to 14 days, during which it is difficult to detect them. Conventional diesel-electric submarines must surface every 48 to 72 hours to charge their batteries, when they become vulnerable to detection. 'This is the second project under the MoD's ambitious Strategic Partnership model that envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian SP who will collaborate with a foreign original equipment manufacturerto set up production facilities in the country,' stated the MoD. 'Today's Defence Acquisition Council approval would be the second such (SP model) project following indigenous production of 111 naval utility helicopters that was approved in August 2018,' the MoD pointed out. In 2017, the navy sent out 'requests for information' to a number of global OEMs, soliciting interest in Project 75-I. The navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, stated in December 2017 that four vendors had come forward: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems from Germany, Kockums from Sweden, Naval Group from France and Rosoboronexport from Russia. This has opened the door for a two-track process: Floating a global tender to select the OEM, while simultaneously going ahead with shortlisting prospective Indian SP firms. Once that is done, the SPs will bid in partnership with their chosen OEMs. The selection and contracting process and the actual building of 6 submarines could take another decade. Meanwhile, the navy will make do with a depleted conventional submarine fleet that consists of 9 Russian-origin Kilo-class vessels; 4 German-origin HDW boats; 6 French-origin Scorpene submarines being built by Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai. In addition, the Indian Navy operates one Akula-class nuclear submarine leased from Russia, and plans to build 6 indigenous nuclear attack submarines. There will also be 4 to 6 Arihant-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines. These will be a part of India's nuclear deterrent, with no role in conventional naval warfighting. Source: Last updated on: February 01, 2019 23:36 IST Gangster Ravi Pujari, on the run for the last 15 years, has been arrested in Senegal in West Africa, a source in the security establishment said on Friday. Security agencies got clues about his whereabouts following the arrest of one of his close associates in Mumbai recently, the source added. Pujari, who allegedly ran an extortion syndicate targeting mainly builders in Mumbai, was held from a hotel in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on January 22, a senior official told PTI on the condition of anonymity. The Mumbai Police did not comment on whether the report was true. The Indian Embassy got information about his arrest on January 25, the official said. Pujari is facing dozens of cases of extortion and murder in various parts of India. His trusted lieutenants, William Rodricks and Akash Shetty, were recently arrested by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police in an extortion case. The Indian authorities will now initiate the extradition process to bring Pujari back to the country, the official said. As per the senior official, investigating agencies received information about Pujari's whereabouts from Rodricks who used to be in touch with him over phone. According to the police, Pujari, who hails from Karnataka, was initially associated with gangster Chhota Rajan, but he had also worked for fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Pujari reportedly parted ways with Rajan following an attack on the latter in Bangkok, said to be carried out by the Dawood gang, and formed his own gang. Like Rajan, Pujari too tried to project himself as a 'Hindu don', and allegedly killed some of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case when they were out on bail. He was known for threatening builders and celebrities for extortion. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt had told Mumbai Police that Pujari threatened him, following which some members of his gang were arrested for conspiring to kill Bhatt. Advocate Shahid Azmi, who was shot dead in 2010, had alleged that the Pujari gang had threatened him for representing terror accused. Pujari was living with a new identity,had got a Burkina Faso passport for himself and his family and ran a chain of restaurants in some West African nations, Karnataka police said on Friday. Ravi Pujari had obtained a new identity as Antony Fernadez and got a Burkina Faso passport for himself, his wife and children. Being a dreaded criminal and always afraid of his identity getting exposed, he ran away from Burkina Faso and his track was lost, police said in a statement. It said Additional Director General of Police (intelligence) Dr Amar Kumar Pandey coordinated with the National Crime Record Bureau to expedite the Red Corner Notice to Interpol on the directions of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to ensure the arrest of the gangster, wanted in several cases in Karnataka, including extortion. Pandey also succeeded in obtaining information about the chain of restaurants Pujari ran in partnership in several West African countries like Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ivory Coast, the statement said. After getting information about Pujaris presence in Senegals capital city Dakar, he alerted the Indian Ambassador in that country, Rajeev Kumar. Kumar got in touch with Senegal interior minister Aly Ngouille Nbiaye and the director of judicial police, Seydou Bocar Yague, the statement said. On January 19, Senegal police received information about Pujaris presence in a barber shop and soon heavily armed policemen in three buses surrounded the place and arrested him, the statement said. On January 21, Senegal police confirmed his arrest. Pujari had hired shooters to attack his targets to create a scare, police said, adding, people used to pay up out of fear. There are 39 cases against Pujari in Bengaluru alone, including the murders of Shailaja and Ravi of Shabnam Developers on February 15, 2007, police said. He has 36 cases against him in Mangaluru, 11 in Udupi, and one each in Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kolar and Shivamogga, police said. The Karnataka government expressed its gratitude to the government of Senegal, especially the interior minister and director of judicial police, it said. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Friday that the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in the state played a leading role in getting Pujari arrested. He said the arrest of the don, wanted for many crimes in the state, was effected due to the 'sustained efforts' of Karnataka government officers, with the assistance of the central government and officials of the Indian Embassy at Senegal. Lauding the efforts of Indian Ambassador to Senegal, Rajeev Kumar, Kumaraswamy said the officer and his subordinates got in touch with the Prime Minister and interior minister of that country and briefed him about the activities of 'the most wanted gangster.' The chief minister said he was concerned over the extortion racket running in Karnataka, targetting builders and businessmen and had told Director General of Police Neelamani Raju and Additional Director General of Police (intelligence) to check the activities of Pujari. "Many murders have taken place and many families were orphaned due to the gangster, whose sole objective was to make money through unfair means," Kumaraswamy said. He said intelligence agencies got information that Pujari was present at a cricket match at Senegal on December 31 last year and closely monitored his activities since then. They then informed the Indian Ambassdor in Senegal, who got in touch with the Prime Minister of that country. The Indian ambassador Rajeev Kumar played a significant role in getting Pujari arrested, the chief minister said. "He (Pujari) was arrested on January 19. Since then, we have moved ahead rapidly to extradite him with the help of the Central government. In the coming days, we will get more information," the chief minister said. Kumaraswamy expressed confidence that the entire network would be busted soon. Source: February 01, 2019 19:22 IST IMAGE: Sean Fernandes carries the mortal remains son of his father George Fernandes for final rites, at Prithviraj Road Graveyard in New Delhi, on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo Amid prayers and sound of a bugle, George Fernandes' ashes were on Friday buried at a colonial-era cemetery in the heart of Delhi, and part of the remains will be taken to Bengaluru, his family said. The mortal remains of George Fernandes were cremated in New Delhi on Thursday amid chants of 'George Sahab amar rahe' as family, friends and admirers bid an emotional goodbye to the socialist leader. "Parts of his ashes were interred this morning at Prithviraj Road Christian Cemetery. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and George's friends and admirers were present. We bid the final adieu to him," Fernandes' brother Michael Fernandes said on Friday. Born in 1930, in Karnataka's Mangalore, Fernandes also grew up in Bengaluru and his contribution towards realising the Konkan Railway dream is still recalled by people. "So, people have that emotional connect with him," he said. "People in his birth place, Mangalore, and also those in Bengaluru have been requesting to bury part of his remains in the two cities. So, we are taking part of the ashes to Bengaluru," he told PTI. Fernandes died on Tuesday at the age of 88 at his residence -- 'Shanti Niwas' -- in upscale Panchsheel Park after prolonged illness. He was suffering from Alzheimer's disorder that had left him debilitated. At the cemetery, the ashes were buried in a wooden casket, bearing a shining cross, amid strains of soulful hymns after a short prayer service held at the cemetery located in Lutyens' Delhi. Amid a sombre atmosphere, the casket was lowered into a grave after three Gurkha Rifles' personnel sounded 'The Last Post' with their bugles, bidding final farewell to the former defence minister. Incidentally, no fresh burials are allowed at the British-era Prithviraj Road Christian Cemetery, which has graves dating to early 20th century as well. The Chairman of Delhi Cemeteries Committee, J Rebello, when contacted, said, "George Fernandes had booked it long ago before fresh burials were closed here. So, his burial took place there." "As of now, second burials in old graves of family members are allowed in this cemetery, but no fresh burials," said the head of the Delhi Cemeteries Committee, which administers the cemetery. Michael Fernandes said, George had once expressed his desire that his remains be buried in Bengaluru. "It was at the last rites of our brother Lawrence at a cemetery off Hosur Road in Bangalore in 2005. He got very emotional, and, later told me that he would wish his remains to be buried in the same cemetery," he said. Nitish Kumar, who arrived in Delhi on Tuesday after hearing of Fernandes' death, stayed throughout the last rites at the cemetery, and planted a candle next to his grave after his casket was lowered. Family members and friends offered earth in his grave praying for eternal peace for the departed soul. A group of Tibetans, who had come come from Majnu ka Tila here, offered ceremonial Buddhist scarves in his grave. Fernandes had proximity with The Dalai Lama. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP veteran L K Advani, Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Ravi Shankar Prasad, senior leaders Sharad Yadav and Upendra Kushwaha were among those who had attended the cremation at the Lodhi electric crematorium on Thursday. Chants of 'George Sahab amar rahe' (long live George Sahab), 'Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Goerge tera naam rahega' (Your name will be as immortal as the sun and the moon) also rented the air at the crematorium as he undertook his final journey to eternity. February 01, 2019 09:20 IST 'Who's providing all this money to the BJP? And who's providing all this money to the Congress?' 'Where did all this money come from?' 'Who is enabling all these MLAs to be bought for Rs 50, 60 crores?' 'There's one MLA on whose behalf somebody claimed that the BJP invited him for Rs 60 crores. Whose money is this?' IMAGE: Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa and other party leaders at a hotel in Gurugram. Photograph:ANI/Twitter There seems to be no end to the H D Kumaraswamy government's troubles in Karnataka. Every second day the 'instability' of the political situation in Karnataka makes it to the headlines, whether it is over an alleged 'poaching' attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party or the infighting within the Congress or Congress MLAs scorning their alliance partner, the Janata Dal-Secular. At least twice Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has complained about the attitude of the Congress MLAs towards him. And every other day he levels allegations of poaching against the BJP. The recent tension in the state saw both the Congress and BJP shifting their MLAs to hotels or resorts. While state BJP chief Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa took all the party MLAs to Gurugram, saying the Congress may try to 'buy' their MLAs, the Congress shifted all its MLAs outside Bengaluru when four of its legislators skipped the legislature party meet on January 18. "Certainly, there is plenty in the Congress that is dirty and murky. But there is no doubt in my mind that much of what is happening in Karnataka is entirely because of the BJP, entirely because of dirty money and black money, and entirely because mainstream media ignores the sins of the BJP," political commentator Krishna Prasad tells Rediff.com's Utkarsh Mishra. Has Operation Kamal 2.0, to replace the JD-S government with the BJP, failed? Operation Kamal is a nice way to describe something that is extremely damaging to Indian democracy. What is a very deeply disturbing, deeply dangerous, attempt to subvert democracy by the BJP has been given a name like Operation Lotus in the media, as if it is some army operation. When it happened previously, 10 years ago, it was bad. And this time it was worse. I don't think it has ended. It may just have a brief pause. But most importantly, I think that Operation Lotus is a business model that the BJP is using in many states. So I think that whatever you call this horrible thing, Operation Lotus or Kamal or 2.0 or whatever, has only had a brief pause because constantly the BJP is going to try to dislodge the Kumaraswamy government. Which is a legitimate exercise, they are free to do that. But the methods, the money, the muscle power, the tax terrorism that is involved in this whole operation will continue till this goes on. The BJP, which got more seats than the Congress and the JD-S in the last assembly election, will continue to dub this alliance as an unholy one. It will continuously keep pretending that it deserves a first shot at power, that it has been denied that attempt legitimately by the Supreme Court. When the Congress-JD-S formed the government, everyone was very sure -- because of their difficult relationship -- that it will not last beyond the Lok Sabha elections. Even for the Lok Sabha elections, it's not a relationship cast in stone. So because of that nature, there will always be efforts by the BJP. But I don't think they can afford to have one more effort to form the government before the Lok Sabha elections, because it's not feasible in terms of time. If, for example, the BJP is dislodged from power in 2019, I think Operation Kamal or Operation Lotus or 'operation disgusting' will cease. But if the BJP comes back to power (at the Centre) in 2019, the attempts to dislodge (the Congress-JD-S) government will keep going on because there are still four more years left for the (Karnataka) government. Whether the BJP wins or loses the Lok Sabha polls it will continue to have 104 seats in the Karnataka assembly. So therefore they will always see their chances. Will the BJP make another attempt before the 2019 election? No, I don't think so, unless there are other things to this Operation Lotus. The first time it (Operation Lotus) happened 10 years ago, the whole idea was that Congress MLAs would resign their seats without giving any valid reason. And in the fresh elections they would stand as BJP candidates. And that's how the BJP would get more numbers. But I think now, with the BJP in power at the Centre, the strategy may well have changed to also include the office of the governor. So, for example, if the Karnataka governor decides to dismiss the state government, then it takes a different route. But the original Operation Kamal I don't think they (the BJP) can afford to do once again before the elections because then they will get distracted. They need to keep their focus on the Lok Sabha polls. The party won 17 (Lok Sabha) seats in 2014. From what we hear, the target now is 20 seats. So if they have to fulfil the target they can't keep getting distracted by attempts to form a government here. So I would presume they won't mount another attempt unless they use the governor's office to do something, which is a strong possibility. IMAGE: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his ministers at the swearing in ceremony. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo For the time being, do you call the overall situation in the state stable? Not at all. I think all three parties are going through a fair bit of churn, a fair bit of action. There is no way anyone can say this government is stable. As I said, (not only) because of the BJP, but also because of themselves. They (the Congress and JD-S) also have contradictions. But for the moment I think it would be, at least for the next two-three months, unless there is a really dramatic set of developments, I would presume, it will be a somewhat stable, somewhat unstable, somewhat fragile, somewhat weak, somewhat juicy -- for other parties -- a Trishanku kind of situation. That may be the case till the general election. Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah threatened to invoke the anti-defection law, but despite that four MLAs skipped the CLP meet. I think one of the things that is really worth looking at is what has really caused this instability to this government. It's easy for the Congress to blame the BJP, but the Congress itself has plenty to explain. I don't think the Congress comes out very well in these last six or seven months. It is very easy to blame Operation Lotus or operation this or that. But since they managed to prevent the BJP from coming to power in Karnataka, I think the Congress has conducted itself extremely poorly. They have fought over portfolios, they have fought over inclusion of some MLAs. There has been a whole lot of trouble between Siddaramaiah's group and this group and that group. The whole trouble seems to have started by D K Shivakumar who is seen as the architect of this alliance and who is from southern Karnataka, entering into Belgaum, in a place called Gokak, which has not been taken too kindly by the MLAs and established forces in that part of the state. So what you see is a complete cock-up by the Congress. The Congress seems to have been so completely satisfied at preventing the BJP from coming to power that they have let loose a whole variety of forces which have really damaged this government. It has been a very lacklustre government of seven months; absolutely colourless, absolutely joyless. If you look at Kumaraswamy, half the time he's crying. It is almost as if they are just trying to spend time till the general election. There have been no great policy initiatives. Kumaraswamy is a big waffler. Even on an issue like farm loan waiver, he has just gone on and on. So while we might blame the BJP, I think both parties have enough to explain to the people. It has been a relentless set of messages and signals from the Congress, one against the other. Kumaraswamy's brother against Siddaramaiah, the deputy chief minister (G Parameshwara) against somebody else, Shivakumar against somebody else. Take out the external optics, I think internally the Congress has really poorly served in these past seven months. There are rumours that Siddaramaiah himself is trying to come back to power. I can tell you that he has told two friends of mine personally that he will come back to power. So I think part of the reason for being seen as an unstable government is this. Every other day there is talk of dissidence, every other day there is talk of resort politics, every other day there is talk of Congress vs JD-S or JD-S vs Congress, every other day there is talk about ministerial portfolios or chairmanship of boards and corporations. So it has been a very mediocre Congress on display in Karnataka. And this attitude of the Congress is not just limited to Karnataka. You see the same situation in Gujarat. There, too, after somehow putting up a creditable performance, the Congress has shot itself in the foot. So a broad national message is that the Congress is so completely satisfied with preventing the BJP from coming to power or by giving them a tough fight that they just don't bother after that. What after you win and what after you stop the BJP? What do you do as policy? What do you do as people? I am pretty sure it will be reflected in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan also. Rahul Gandhi, after doing what he did and getting all the praise for it, must read the riot act to his partymen who are making a mockery of these verdicts. It just seems that both parties, especially the Congress, are extremely happy to allow this situation to go around till the Lok Sabha election. If the BJP wins the 2019 election, this government will be in a really serious trouble. There were reports that this chaos was primarily caused by the rivalry between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah and the BJP was not so responsible for it. I don't believe that. Of course, there is rivalry between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah as it should be, you know, they are all powerful politicians with great ambitions. But nobody can deny that the BJP has been up to no good for all this time. If the BJP was not involved in it and it was primarily a Congress thing, then why did the BJP need to keep its MLAs at a hotel where the room rent starts from Rs 25,000 per room per night? Why would they do that? What you are seeing in Karnataka is an absolutely disgraceful sight. Who's providing all this money to the BJP? And who's providing all this money to the Congress? We should never forget that in the early 1980s, Karnataka was seen as a state of value-based politics. Ramakrishna Hegde was the chief minister, he introduced this term 'value-based politics'. And he would resign every other day because he felt he owed a debt to the people. From Hegde's value-based politics the state (has come to) this kind of situation politically where the BJP spends hundreds of crores. If you look at the numbers provided by the BJP, it spent three times more money than the Congress in the assembly elections last year. Where did all this money come from? Who is enabling all these MLAs to be bought for Rs 50, 60 crores? There's one MLA on whose behalf somebody claimed that the BJP invited him for Rs 60 crores. Whose money is this? Who is paying for all these room rents? So therefore, to blame (internal politics) of the Congress for all this is not the right thing here. The BJP has much to explain. Mr Narendra (Damodardas) Modi talks of corruption-free politics, saying 'ye dhan wadi hain' (for the Opposition), but whose dhan (money) is being used here? How come the Reddy brothers are in the scene each time in different ways? What you are seeing in Karnataka is a shift from value-based politics to this kind of absolutely third-rate politics, this goondagiri where MLAs beat up each other, where MLAs are offered Rs 60 crores. Two MLAs actually resigned and if you look at the resignation letters of both, they are identically worded. They are written in the same font, the same words are used, which tells you that there is a concerted attempts to subvert Karnataka's democracy by the BJP. For no reason would I believe that it is the Congress whose troubles (have caused all this). Certainly, there is plenty in the Congress that is dirty and murky. But there is no doubt in my mind that much of what is happening in Karnataka is entirely because of the BJP, entirely because of dirty money and black money, and entirely because mainstream media ignores the sins of the BJP. And wants to focus on other parties while not questioning the BJP on its source of funds, the money it spent in Karnataka, the money it is spending in buying up MLAs. So to answer your question, yes, the Congress is much to blame. But the BJP is the one who is the guilty party here. Why is Karnataka so crucial for the BJP that it keeps attempting to dislodge a full majority government? One, of course, is because the BJP got 104 seats, up from 40 seats that it got in the previous election. They think that they have been denied a legitimate shot at power by the Supreme Court. They wanted 15 days, but the Supreme Court said no you prove majority in two days. So they were exposed in their attempt to form a government by the Supreme Court. But they believe they have a legitimate right to form this government because they got the most number of seats. So that is one reason. The second reason is, of course, their prestige, which is that this is the only state in the South where the BJP has done well in the last 15, 20 years. So they see this as their so-called gateway to the South. And thirdly and most importantly, at this point the BJP has suffered three big losses in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. So they need to create some positive hawa. Therefore, they are trying to do this as an optical game. And Karnataka is one of India's richest states, particularly Bangalore city. So they want hold over a state which is very rich in finances. So for these three or four reasons I think the BJP is desperate to come to power in Karnataka. Congress dissidents have been accommodated as ministers in the couple of ministerial expansions and now the Congress's quota of ministries is full. Are there still dissidents? How will the Congress deal with them? Yes. And from what I am reading in news reports, they mollified some of the dissidents in the Congress legislature party meeting, saying they will be accommodated in some fashion or the other. Either they will make somebody resign, or give corporation chairmanships or do one of those things. It's a self-goal by the Congress in a sense because D K Shivakumar's overtures in northern Karnataka have not gone down well. In a family of two brothers -- Satish Jarkiholi and Ramesh Jarkiholi -- one was in the ministry previously, the other one has been accommodated. First, the Congress ignored M B Patil who is seen as the architect of the Lingayat movement. But he has been accommodated now. You see a lot of different Congress MLAs calling each other names. These people are not holding back anything anymore. What you see in Karnataka is an overall collapse of any kind of values in politics. Questions should be asked from both the Congress and the BJP, and in fact the JD-S, that from where all this money is coming from. The only thing that united all the politicians in Karnataka is the death of Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami. It brought all these fellows on the same platform. But otherwise they are all snapping at each other. There is no decency in their discourse. Can these attempts by the BJP backfire on the party in the general election? I don't know how much all these things play on people's minds. If these operations were bad in the eyes of the people, they wouldn't have voted for the BJP a second time. They've seen this and they've seen that and they think that 'hamaam me sabhi nange hain (we are all naked)'. In this political milieu that we have, there is also an underwhelming feeling that the Congress and the JD-S have formed the government by beating the people's mandate. So people are going to excuse these things. I, for one, do not believe that this will have an impact on the general election. It will only have an impact if the BJP comes to power (before the general election). Then it will be able to convert those 17 seats into 20. On the other hand, if the JD-S and Congress manage to stay together, will it really impact the BJP? Because most people think that looking at their vote share, the BJP will get about seven or eight seats out of 28. If that happens, then it can be said that Operation Lotus -- Operation Dirty Lotus -- has really backfired. So it depends on the outcome of the general election whether the Kumaraswamy government will complete its full term or not? 100 per cent. But that is secondary. As I said, another obstacle that has emerged now is the governor's office. If the governor becomes proactive and decides to do what all governors seem to do elsewhere, then even before the general election, you could see some action. But if the governor allows politics to go on as normal, if he doesn't intervene using the central government, then I think the Lok Sabha election will decide the future of this government. Athens, GA (30605) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 89F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then thunderstorms developing late. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Traverse City, MI (49684) Today Cloudy skies. Windy this morning. Morning high of 67F with temps falling to near 55. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph, becoming SW and decreasing to less than 5 mph. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Property details: CLUB DE SOLEIL Las Vegas, Nevada Club de Soleil offers the taste of a lavish European lifestyle in the middle of Las Vegas. 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The house was built in about 1858 by Abraham Patterson, an early 19th-century worthy of the area, it is known locally as The Old Patterson House. Abrahams father, John Patterson, arrived in Nova Scotia from Scotland on the emigrant ship "Hector... Price: CAD 750,000 Number of Bedrooms: 6 Property Address: 72 Queen Street, Box 424 State/Province: Nova Scotia Seller State of Residence: NS Number of Bathrooms: 2 Zip/Postal Code: B0K1V0 Property Type: House City: TATAMAGOUCHE Setting: Rural, Country Sale Type: Existing Homes For Sale by: Owner Year Built: 1858 Location: B0K***, Tatamagouche, Ns You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 1858 There was never a good war or a bad peace, Benjamin Franklin purportedly wrote. The maxim certainly hails from a different time, but despite some notable exceptions it is hard to argue with the rule. Yet peace should not be rushed. And patience should especially temper the prospects of a possible U.S.-North Korea peace declaration, a political agreement that would rhetorically declare an end to hostilities between Washington and Pyongyang. Such a peace declaration -- one that would fall short of a formal peace treaty -- could be under discussion at the next summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expected to take place in February. It could even be seen as a diplomatic deliverable at the meeting. There is no doubt that some positive developments were birthed at the Trump-Kim summit in June. Overall tensions have relaxed, and there have been no North Korean nuclear or missile tests in the months since. Still, moving ahead with a peace declaration that would do little more than superficially end the Korean War could threaten American interests and policy in several unintended ways. First, a little background. The 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a formal peace treaty. The cease-fire agreement was signed by the U.S. military on behalf of the United Nations Command and by the North Korean military for North Korea and the Chinese Peoples Volunteers at Panmunjom in July 1953. Since then, the Demilitarized Zone at the 38th parallel has served as the dividing line between North Korea and South Korea. It mediates a sometimes hot but mostly frozen conflict that is stretching toward its seventh decade without a final peace. Since serious diplomatic talks have resumed with Washington, Pyongyang has been pushing for a peace declaration as a necessary step that must be taken before it will consider any moves toward denuclearization. In North Korea's view, declaring a political conclusion to the Korean War would further ease friction with the United States and would promote trust between Seoul, Washington and Pyongyang as negotiations proceed. This peace declaration would leave the heavy lifting on other important matters -- a formal peace treaty, official diplomatic recognition, confidence- and security-building measures, etc. -- for later on. Moreover, it would not likely result in any immediate change in the disposition of U.S., North Korean or South Korean conventional forces. Nor would it bring about any reductions in Pyongyangs nuclear weapon or missile forces. In essence, a peace declaration would be little more than a symbolic gesture of potential better political relations between Washington and Pyongyang. As envisioned, this starter peace pact, even if it is concluded, seems rather inconsequential in creating the real conditions needed for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, especially considering the unchanged disposition of the belligerents conventional and strategic forces. If that is the case, why is Pyongyang pushing for it? North Korea might be betting on a bevy of potential benefits that could come to the regime after signing a peace declaration with the United States, finally ending what Pyongyang calls Washingtons outdated, anti-North Korean hostile policies. For instance, once peace has supposedly been declared between Washington and Pyongyang, what stops North Korea from pushing for an additional reduction in U.S.-South Korea exercises? That could hurt our military readiness. Demands could easily go beyond military maneuvers. The signing of a peace declaration could also strike up a chorus of politicians and opinion leaders in the United States and across the globe. What if these voices begin to call for a rash drawdown or even withdrawal of American troops from the Korean Peninsula before a formal peace treaty is signed? Indeed, South Korean public sentiment could certainly move in that dangerous direction. It would be promoted by anti-American sympathizers, North Korean supporters, and problematic propagandists active in Northeast Asia. This would certainly play to North Koreas advantage. Pyongyang might also feel that it has grounds to insist that Washington abandon the layers of punitive economic sanctions that have been heaped upon North Korea since it started the Korean War. Further, a peace pact could give license to China and Russia to violate (or further violate) already leaky U.N. trade sanctions against North Korea over its threatening nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs. Few would argue that Pyongyang sees sanctions relief as key to the regimes survival as well as its international legitimacy. Penning a premature U.S.-North Korea peace declaration could also lead to significant political tensions with our South Korean and Japanese allies if it doesnotprotect and advance their national interests sufficiently. You are no doubt beginning to see the issue: a peace declaration at this point in the negotiating process could create big problems. It gives Pyongyang leverage to make more demands. It might also significantly reduce the political, economic and military pressure on the Kim regime, possibly undermining its willingness to address issues essential to peace and security. A peace pact to end the Korean War once and for all may be in the future. Regrettably, a peace declaration now is not the way to get there. Dr. Peter Brookes is a Heritage Foundation senior fellow and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense. The views expressed are the author's own. Europe's approach to the crisis in Venezuela has lacked assertiveness, yet it has taken decisive and consequential action in the past. Venezuela has been in a state of crisis for years now. While the European Union has repeatedly insisted on its commitment to help resolve the crisis through peaceful and democratic means, until last year it supported negotiations that were clearly going nowhere. Finally, in 2018 the European Union imposed targeted sanctions against Venezuelan officials. The next logical step of the Unions policy towards Venezuela is to recognize Juan Guaido as President of Venezuela and to extend its targeted sanctions to make these as effective as possible. Venezuelans have suffered for too long from humanitarian, political, economic and social crises. They need a government that represents the will of the people -- and one that can work toward solutions. In the long term, however, a change in government will not be enough. Venezuela needs a full transition back to democracy. The European Union has said that it is committed to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. Its reaction now will show whether Europe is serious about this commitment. Taking a harder line The European Unions approach to Venezuela has lacked assertiveness. Its commitments to support Venezuelan democracy have not often been followed by meaningful action, as the years of futile negotiation with a recalcitrant Maduro regime showed. That is why I started to call for targeted sanctions at the very beginning of this mandate of the European Parliament, in 2014. Sanctions are appropriate as a response to constant human rights abuses and are useful as a tool to pressure Maduro to reach a solution with the opposition. They are in fact one of the only such tools available to the European Union. In November 2017, the European Union finally took action. It adopted an arms embargo and a ban on materials that could be used for internal repression. In January 2018 Brussels imposed targeted sanctions against seven Venezuelan officials. This list was expanded to include 18 individuals in June 2018, in response to the fraudulent presidential elections the month before. These were positive steps. They showed that Europe is serious about confronting the violations occurring in Venezuela and is committed to helping resolve the crisis. The situation, however, continues to get worse by the day. Venezuelans are dying from a severe humanitarian crisis that Maduro has refused to address. The next logical step for the European Union should be to intensify its sanctions, extending them to include close family members of those already sanctioned, and to the state-owned oil firm, PDVSA. We cannot stop there. The crisis has escalated over the new year, following Maduros illegitimate inauguration. National Assembly President Juan Guaido has declared that he is the interim president. Millions have taken to the streets to support Guaido. But Maduro is unwilling to call new elections, increasing the risk that an already volatile political situation might escalate even further. U.S. President Donald Trump almost immediately recognized Guaido, an act that was followed by Canada and many other countries in the region. The EUs response however, through a declaration by its foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, paled in contrast. While it was a clear message of support to the National Assembly and regretted that fresh elections had not taken place, the high representatives declaration fell short of recognizing Guaido as interim president. The European Union cannot fall short of its values and its principles in Venezuela. This is why I wrote a letter, which was co-signed by 29 Members of the European Parliament from four different groups, asking Mogherini to explicitly recognize Juan Guaido as President. Following declarations from France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom recognizing Guaido, on Jan. 26 Mogherini issued a new declaration, this time calling for urgent free, transparent and credible presidential elections. If no announcement is made in the next days, Mogherini has stated that the EU will take further actions, including on the issue of the countrys leadership. Maduro quickly rejected this ultimatum on elections, and now we are left to see how the European Union will react. The European Parliament voted in a non-binding resolution on Jan. 31 to recognize Guaido as interim President, but this will not be enough. The European Union needs a united position in defense of democracy in Venezuela, and for that we need all of its member states as well as the high representative to clearly state this line. The statements made by some member states supporting Guaido as President over the past week were important. The other states now need to follow. They have taken united action before in consenting to targeted EU sanctions against the Venezuelan regime for its human rights abuses -- that decision required the unanimity of all members. They need to pull together again. The European Union has time and again denounced the actions of Maduros government. Finally, after several years, Europe made a decisive move and imposed sanctions. We cannot back down now. Nor can we continue to wait and see how much worse the situation will get. Maduro has made clear that he will not hold new elections. The European Union should therefore not only swiftly recognize Guaido as the President, but also continue to pressure the regime through expanded targeted sanctions. The EU needs a strong and united position on Venezuela if we want to remain credible defenders of human rights, democracy and the fundamental values that unite our member states. The views expressed are the author's own. Across the United States, Republicans are scrambling to play catch-up. Many of them did not believe the warnings in 2018, thought the polls were wrong and got smashed under a blue wave that crested over them. Their response is to operate out of fear, and they are doing strange and crazy things. Georgia is a perfect example. In that state, Democrats picked up seats in the state legislature but failed to capture any statewide office. The Republicans saw their suburban districts turn against them. Every bit of polling data suggests these voters did not wake up on Election Day and decide they are Democrat. Instead, they woke up Election Day and decided they did not like the president or anyone tied to the president. They voted Democrat to hold the Republicans accountable. But Republicans are acting as if the suburbs rejected not just President Trump but core beliefs. As a result, the Georgia Republicans are considering passing taxpayer-funded abortion on demand. They are doing so through consideration of the so-called Equal Rights Amendment. If Georgia passes it, 38 states will have ratified it, making it the newest amendment to the United States Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment (or ERA) sounds rather innocuous. After all, under the laws of the United States, everyone already has equal rights. In fact, in the United States right now, women tend to graduate from college more, tend to be homeowners more and tend to have higher long-term earnings potential compared with men, despite all the hype about a wage gap. But read the writings of people like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and you will find that the ERA is actually a progressive fantasyland. Ginsburg, writing during the original fight for the ERA back in the '70s, argued that its passage would mean doctors would no longer be allowed to object to providing abortions based on their faith. In the states that have adopted state versions of the amendment, taxpayer-funded abortion is considered a constitutional right. American progressives may think all of that is good, but consider one of the other arguments in favor of the ERA in the '70s. Activists argued states would be required to offer special college scholarships to women to bring their enrollment up to the level of men. Now that the numbers have flipped, scholarships designed to boost women's enrollment would be unconstitutional. Also most likely unconstitutional? Alimony. There is clear research in the United States that women are more likely to be awarded custody of children and more likely to be paid alimony. Based on the data, there is a clear bias toward women in divorce courts. That would be scuttled with the ERA. The larger issue, though, are political parties resting on their laurels. Republicans flipped the state of Georgia in 2002, mostly with Democrats switching the letter after their names from D to R. Only in 2018 did the Georgia Republicans elect a governor who had been an actual Republican for his entire political career. The state Republican Party has not advanced an agenda that is innovative, growth-oriented or any different from what the Democrats offered during their control of the legislature. The GOP in Georgia and nationwide now finds itself in a defensive position because the party is not really sure what it stands for. Democrats have organized and are mobilized, united behind left-wing social policy and left-wing economic policy. They are routinely sustaining campaigns long after the election is over, hoping to define the other side early. They have the GOP running scared. Republican legislatures need to consider turning the table. In states like Georgia and elsewhere, they should get Democrats on record about aggressive late-term-abortion measures. They should push resolutions in opposition to 70 percent tax rates proposed by Democrats at the federal level. They should support school choice and reform. They should support protecting faith-based nonprofits. But doing any of these things would require pushback against Democrats and an often-sympathetic media. Unfortunately, in Georgia and elsewhere, Republicans tend to be afraid of their own shadow these days. COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM President Donald Trump should send liberals a big fat thank-you note. For each day Americans see how truly radical the Democratic Party has become is a win for the president, who, by contrast, looks like a full-blown moderate. Take Democrats' extreme swing to the left on women's reproductive issues. What used to be a party that said abortion should be safe, legal and rare is now pushing hard in Virginia, Rhode Island and beyond for legalized late-term abortion on demand -- meaning a woman could get an abortion at any time during a pregnancy, up until the baby's birth. Never mind the fact that science has proved that at 20 weeks, a fetus can feel pain and that many babies can live outside the womb after gestating for just six months. That's irrelevant to such abortion radicals as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who just inked legislation -- proposed by Democrats -- allowing such a barbaric practice to take place. Make no mistake; late-term abortion and partial-birth abortion are not mainstream practices outside the U.S. by any means. In fact, only six other countries allow the grisly practice -- North Korea is one -- as billions of compassionate humans worldwide consider the termination of a 9-month-old baby in utero or born alive to be infanticide. Call it what you will, but a growing number of prominent Democrats, in lockstep with Planned Parenthood, support it. Then there's presidential hopeful Kamala Harris. At a televised town hall meeting this week, the Democratic senator from California called for "Medicare for all," which means that if she were to be elected president, 177 million Americans on private health insurance would lose their plans. If that were not radical enough -- wiping out an entire health care industry and abolishing consumer choice -- "Medicare for all" would cost taxpayers an estimated $32.6 trillion over 10 years. But that's not the only cost far-left liberals want to raise. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another Democratic presidential hopeful, is calling for an incremental wealth tax on the rich -- catapulting America toward socialism -- despite the fact that a recent Forbes analysis found that her proposal would cost billionaires an estimated $85 billion per year. That's money that many billionaires currently use for seeding startup enterprises, for supporting higher education with significant private grants and for other worthwhile charitable and philanthropic endeavors benefiting humanity -- all of which would contract, if not collapse, if the taxman came knocking. Then there's Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, who also wants to fleece the rich. She wants a 70 percent marginal tax rate for the highest income tax bracket, a policy undoubtedly embraced by Venezuela's illegitimate dictator, Nicolas Maduro, who's led his high-tax nation to economic collapse, causing millions of poverty-stricken citizens to flee the country. But that's not all. Scores of liberal lawmakers are calling for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE's members protect America by apprehending sex traffickers, violent criminals and drug dealers and prohibiting them from entering the country. Far-left liberals, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, continue to support open borders and refuse to build the barrier wall Trump is asking for to secure the porous southern border. As the race for 2020 heats up, voters are beginning to see the sharp contrast between America's two major political parties. Who knew Democrats could make Donald Trump, an unconventional president, appear mainstream? Congrats, Democrats. You've already succeeded. COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM President Trump will sign an executive order Thursday to increase Buy American preferences for federally funded infrastructure projects. Douglas MacArthur was born on Jan. 26, 1898, and went on to become one of the most important Americans of the 20th century. He made important contributions to military strategy, political theory, educational reform, and world peace. Shadowing MacArthur is also a great way to shadow the republics rise to global prominence. In celebration of the mans day of birth I thought itd be a good idea to highlight the 10 most important battles he took part in. 10. Occupation of Veracruz (April - Nov. 1914). It seems tough to fathom today, in 2019, but the United States military invaded and occupied an important port city of Mexico less than 100 years ago. The Mexicans were in the throes of a revolution when American troops arrived in Veracruz, and one side of the Mexican conflict was allied with the Americans, so it wasnt like Washington just invaded its neighbor for the heck of it. The Occupation of Veracruz was not like the Mexican-American War. Calvary in 1914 meant horses, not tanks. In MacArthurs career, not his lifetime but just his career, the U.S. military went from horseback to air power. 9. Second Battle of the Marne (July - Aug. 1918). Like most of World War IIs famous American leaders, MacArthur fought in World War I. The Second Battle of the Marne was the last German offensive of World War I and it was massive. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died. Many more were wounded. MacArthur was there, leading from the front lines, and probably earning one of the many medals he accumulated throughout the war. 8. Battle of Chosin Reservoir (Nov.-Dec. 1950). Fought on the Korean Peninsula, take a quick moment to reflect on the rapid, violent change that catapulted the United States from regional hegemon in 1914 to world power less than half a century later. And MacArthur served in the military throughout the whole change. The Battle of Chosin Reservoir decisively ended MacArthurs plans for reuniting Korea under one banner and established the two-country situation of the Korean Peninsula found today. One hundred and twenty thousand Chinese troops pushed 30,000 American, Korean, and British troops out of what is now North Korea and changed the trajectory of the Korean War once and for all. It also led to MacArthurs political downfall, as his increasingly public calls to attack Chinas coastline (with atomic bombs) angered Washington and eventually led Truman to dismiss MacArthur. 7. Battle of Sio (Dec. 1943-March 1944). A World War II battle, this one was led by MacArthur, too, and it saw the expulsion of the Japanese from Papua, which was then a territory of the British Empire rather than the independent country of Papua New Guinea. MacArthur concentrated on Japanese supply lines and Australian and Melanesian troops to smash the Japanese military in Papua and give Australia some breathing room (Papua is right next door to Australia). The most important aspect of the Battle of Sio was the capture of Japanese cryptographic information, which led to a breakthrough for Allied codebreakers and helped them throughout the rest of of the Pacific campaign. 6. Battle of Saint-Mihiel (September 1918). MacArthurs World War I units were much smaller than an entire Allied force in the Pacific Rim, but they were no less successful. The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was the only American-led offensive of World War I and it bloodied the nose the retreating German forces (though it didnt knock them out). A combined French-American force pummeled the Germans, and American commanders like MacArthur continued to lead their men from the front lines. 5. Battle of Unsan (Oct.- Nov. 1950). As MacArthurs United Nations force pushed through Korea and ever closer to the Chinese border, Chairman Mao got increasingly anxious and eventually ordered a secret invasion of Korea. The Battle of Unsan was an accidental encounter between MacArthurs forces and the Chinese Communist invaders. The forces of the United Nations were outnumbered and had to retreat. The losses kept coming, of course, and the Americans under MacArthur were pushed back to the 38th Parallel, where they remain today. 4. Battle of Corregidor (May 1942). Officially named Fort Mills, Corregidor was an island fortress in the Philippines that served as MacArthurs last bastion of resistance to the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. Because the Japanese had such a tough time taking Corregidor, Tokyos scheduled assault and takeover of Australia, the Dutch East Indies, and British colonies was delayed, and allowed MacArthur and the Allies time to regroup and eventually retake their colonies from the conquering Japanese. The American and Filipino prisoners the Japanese took had to endure three years of horror in Japanese prison camps, but MacArthur reconquered the Philippines, the archipelago was granted independence on July 4, 1946. 3. Battles of the Meuse-Argonne (Sept.-Nov. 1918). Note the plural. These battles were about attrition and fought until the very end of the war, when Germany officially surrendered. MacArthur and his men fought alongside vengeful French troops in the deadliest battle in American history. MacArthur so impressed during World War I that he was given the position of Superintendent of West Point following the war. He took home two Distinguished Service Crosses, seven Silver Stars, one Distinguished Service Medal, two wounded chevrons, and three French medals of honor (two Croix de Guerres and an honorary appointment as commandeur of the Legion dhoneur). 2. Battle of Inchon (September 1950). Inchon was the feather in the cap of a long, distinguished military career. The communists had overrun the non-communists in Korea and the Americans were about to be pushed into the sea. MacArthur, who was busy setting up a democratic government in Japan (no easy task), urged the United Nations to attack at Inchon. After strong misgivings from various military strategists, the United Nations went ahead with MacArthurs plan and the rest, as they say, was history. 1. Bonus Expeditionary Force (July 1932). Military vets were not always revered in the United States. In July of 1932 (during the Great Depression) tens of thousands of them marched on and then camped out in Washington to demand payment for their service in World War I. MacArthur was charged with removing the protestors (and their families), and he did so. After kicking them out of D.C., he burned the tents and any property that was left behind. Further thoughts Aside from contributing to military strategy and political theory (through his largely benevolent regime in conquered Japan), Douglas MacArthur was also responsible for reforming the American military academys educational system. One of the 20th centurys greatest Americans (along with Muhammad Ali), MacArthur once retired from the American Army (as a five-star general) so that he could become field marshal of the Philippine Army. MacArthur was the only foreigner to receive such an honor. He was also given the title Chief of Chiefs by some of Native American nations he lived with on the American frontier as a boy on the frontier (his father fought against Geronimo as a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army, and was also Military Governor of the Philippines before being relieved of duty due to public clashes with President Taft). Have a good weekend. The ODNIs map highlights the Islamic States and al Qaedas global footprint, though the jihadists are not a major force in some of the countries depicted. The ODNIs map recognizes the presence of Al Qaedas senior leadership (AQSL) in Iran. The Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released its annual Worldwide Threat Assessment today. The written statement accompanied oral testimony given by Director Daniel Coats to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The ODNI warns that both the Islamic State and al Qaeda maintain global networks that are far from defeated. The Islamic State still has thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria alone, contradicting claims by President Trump and other administration officials that the so-called caliphate has been defeated. The map above is the ODNIs assessment of the areas where the Islamic State, al Qaeda and affiliated groups operate. The Islamic State and al Qaeda remain bitter rivals, often clashing in some of the areas shown. However, both have a significant global footprint. Al Qaedas senior leadership and global network Despite years of counterterrorism pressure, al Qaedas senior leadership remains active and in command of a widespread network. Al Qaedas senior leaders (AQSL) are strengthening the networks global command structure and continuing to encourage attacks against the West, including the United States, the ODNI states. The ODNIs map officially recognizes the presence of AQSL in Iran, as well as in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. (FDDs Long War Journal assesses that members of AQSL have been stationed in other countries as well, including in Syria, Turkey and Yemen.) With respect to AQSLs command-and-control, the ODNIs language is similar to that employed in a United Nations committee report released in July 2018. The UN also reported on the active role played by AQSL inside Iran. Al Qaeda leaders in the Islamic Republic of Iran have grown more prominent, working with Ayman al-Zawahiri and projecting his authority more effectively than he could previously, according to the UN, which cited intelligence from its member states.* [For more on recent official statements concerning the presence of AQSL in Iran, see FDDs Long War Journal reports, Analysis: 2 wanted al Qaeda leaders operate in Iran and UN: Iran-based leaders have grown more prominent in al Qaedas global network.] The ODNIs report also highlights the significant role played by al Qaedas regional branches or affiliates. Each affiliate is overseen by an emir who has sworn his personal bayat (or oath of loyalty) to Ayman al-Zawahiri. The affiliates listed in the ODNIs report are: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Shabaab in Somalia. Other al Qaeda-linked groups listed on the map include Hurras al-Din (the Guardians of the Religion Organization) in Syria and Jund al-Islam in the Sinai. All al-Qaida affiliates are involved in insurgencies and maintain safe havens, resources, and the intent to strike local and regional U.S. interests in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, the ODNI states. However, the ODNI does not explain why each of these al Qaeda affiliates is waging an insurgency. They are attempting to overthrow existing governments or power structures and replace them with Islamic emirates, or states, based on al Qaedas version of sharia. For al Qaeda, this is a long-term project, fraught with difficulties and setbacks, but it is the organizations goal nonetheless. AQAP has twice seized much of southern Yemen, only to retreat under pressure from a coalition of forces. AQIM and JNIMs predecessor groups conquered much of Mali before a French-led intervention forced the jihadists to release their grip on territory. AQIS is dedicated to helping the Taliban resurrect its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan a goal that is closer today than at any point since late 2001. The ODNIs report notes that the al Qaeda networks affiliate in South Asia, meaning AQIS, provides support to the Taliban. In Somalia, Shabaab holds much ground and is attempting to take even more territory from the international-backed government. The ODNIs map points to Hurras al-Din in Syria, but doesnt list Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Until July 2016, Al Nusrah Front was al Qaedas official affiliate, or branch, in Syria. Al Nusrahs primary goal was to topple Bashar al-Assads regime and eventually replace it with an Islamic emirate. Al Nusrah Front was rebranded twice and has operated as HTS, an ostensibly independent organization that has disassociated itself from al Qaeda, since Jan. 2017. Hurras al-Din was formed by former Al Nusrah officials in early 2018, after a leadership dispute erupted in the jihadis ranks. While the ODNI doesnt list HTS as an al Qaeda affiliate, the State Department still considers the group to be one, as does the UN. ODNI states that al Qaeda elements in Syriacontinue to undermine efforts to resolve that conflict, without naming the specific parties. Hurras al-Din is in the al Qaeda fold, but FDDs Long War Journal assesses it is likely that other groups in Syria are as well. The true picture is murky for a number of reasons, including the repeated organizational reshuffling and serious disagreements among the jihadis about basic matters. Al Qaedas other affiliates remain strong in several areas around the globe. Al Qaeda affiliates in East and North Africa, the Sahel, and Yemen remain the largest and most capable terrorist groups in their regions, the ODNI reports. All have maintained a high pace of operations during the past year, despite setbacks in Yemen, and some have expanded their areas of influence. The setbacks in Yemen include both a high-value target campaign led by the U.S. and a multi-sided war. The latter has meant that AQAPs commanders and fighters are embroiled in a day-to-day conflict against various adversaries, including the Iranian-backed Houthis. The ODNI notes that al Qaedas media continues to call for attacks against the United States, including in statements from regional al Qaeda leaders, reflecting the networks enduring efforts to pursue or inspire attacks in the West. It should be noted that al Qaedas network has not successfully struck a target in the West since Jan. 2015, when a pair of brothers, facilitated by AQAP, conducted a targeted attack on Charlie Hebdos offices in Paris. The networks affiliates are largely focused on matters inside the regions in which they operate, though it is always possible that al Qaeda will attempt a more significant plot in the West once again. Islamic State maintains its own global network The ODNIs Worldwide Threat Assessment contains a clear warning about the Islamic States ability to regroup, should the U.S. and its partners give the self-declared caliphate the space. The Islamic State still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria, and it maintains eight branches, more than a dozen networks, and thousands of dispersed supporters around the world, despite significant leadership and territorial losses, the ODNI warns. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadis organization will exploit any reduction in CT pressure to strengthen its clandestine presence and accelerate rebuilding key capabilities, such as media production and external operations. The U.S. intelligence community also thinks the Islamic State very likely will continue to pursue external attacks from Iraq and Syria against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States. The Islamic State maintains a global network of provinces, which are headed by officials loyal to Baghdadi. Some of these provinces have poached from existing al Qaeda groups, though with limited success. In the Sinai and Southeast Asia, Baghdadis enterprise wooed significant cadres of jihadists to its cause. After a series of leadership losses weakened al Qaedas presence in the Caucasus, the Islamic State won the loyalty of important commanders. In Somalia and Yemen, the Islamic States attempted expansion was met with stiff resistance from al Qaedas affiliates, but the group has established a foothold. The limits of maps Maps such as the one produced by the ODNI are a useful tool for envisioning the extent of the jihadists operations, but they have limits. A note at the bottom of the map hints at the problem: Groups are not present in all parts of identified countries. For example, the entirety of India and Saudi Arabia are colored in with a light purple that is intended to signify the Islamic States presence. Of course, the group doesnt control either country and its operations appear to be much smaller in scale than the coloring would suggest. The same is true for Iran, where al Qaedas leaders operate and the group maintains a facilitation network. But al Qaeda doesnt control territory inside Iran. Both groups have facilitation networks inside Turkey, as depicted on the map, but it is difficult to assess the overall strength of these operations as compared to other countries. Indeed, the map could mislead the reader into thinking that all countries are equally important to the jihadis when this is clearly not the case. In some countries the jihadis have large-scale guerrilla armies, while in others they have less substantial terror or facilitation networks. For instance, both Iraq and India are colored purple to recognize the Islamic States presence. But whereas Iraq has been central to the Islamic States so-called caliphate, India has been far less significant, with the jihadis establishing only a limited terrorist presence thus far. Similarly, all of Egypt is colored in to represent the presence of both the Islamic State and al Qaeda, but the jihadists are currently conducting only sporadic attacks inside the mainland. And most of these are attributed to the Islamic States local arm. There are other problems like this as well. Still, the ODNIs map is useful for conveying the fact that both the Islamic State and al Qaeda are operating in multiple countries today. And in some of the countries depicted, the jihad rages very hot. *Obviously, it is likely that the U.S. gave the UN much of the information cited in its report on al Qaeda and the Islamic State, so the similarity in language and conclusions shouldnt be surprising. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. This article appeared originally at FDD's Long War Journal. After seventeen years of war in Afghanistan, the NATO Mission Commander, U.S. Army Gen. Austin Scott Miller, provided a candid assessment of the situation, stating: This [war in Afghanistan] is not going to be won militarily This is going to a political solution. Last week, talks between Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, and the Taliban produced a tentative agreement that has generated hope for peace. What then are the mechanisms through which the military resources of the remaining thirty-nine troop-contributing nations can be translated into an enduring political resolution in Afghanistan? Four lines of effort are distilled from the reorientation of the desired end state: reconciliation,reintegration, narrative shaping, and transition. While these concepts have been utilized in the past, they can only have the intended outcome when woven into a strategic coherence that incorporates operational art and intuitive judgment as applied by seasoned professionals, rather than the constraints of rigid bureaucratic planning. We sketch out this effort below. Afghan Ownership of Afghanistans Future All solutions developed to address Afghan problems must incorporate five key characteristics. First, solutions should favor localized bottom-up approaches that recognize Afghanistans diverse nature and its internal regions and are tailored to meet those specific challenges. Second, solutions should be Afghan-led and Afghan-implemented, but with U.S. oversight that holds Afghanistan accountable for the results. The United States and its coalition partners must permit and support Afghan initiatives, while balancing the pursuit of core national interests. Third, solutions should be durable and sustainable. The Afghan government must recognize the forthcoming decreases in donor support and implement and sustain solutions without the excessive U.S. or coalition funding commitments. Next, solutions should be resilient to changes in U.S. and Afghan leadership (both military and civilian), policy, political personalities, and political priorities. Finally, once developed, the initial implementation of initiatives should be in areas that are most conducive for success. Proofs of concept or confidence targets should be used to enhance the resiliency of solutions before full-scale implementation. Beyond the militarys explicit responsibility to apply pressure on the Taliban, coalition forces have many features that should enable them to assist Afghan progress. They have access to less-secure areas of the country, possess established relationships with Afghan officials, and contain powerful intelligence assets that make them a critical component in facilitating a political solution. Given these attributes, how can military actors direct their efforts to better enable a sustainable political resolution? We now turn to four lines of effort upon which planners should focus: reconciliation, reintegration, narrative shaping, and transition. Reconciliation Getting Taliban insurgents to reconcile or reach a settlement will require a careful mixture of carrots and sticks. This will require inducements to insurgents to put down their arms, but in a manner that does not alienate those members of the population that have remained loyal to the Afghan government. Some of the reintegration will likely happen organically at the local level, while some may require centralized government intervention. To create circumstances most conducive for negotiations, the Afghan government must maintain military and social pressure on the Taliban while simultaneously providing viable, attractive, and feasible alternatives for those choosing to abandon the fight. Due to the somewhat fractured nature of the Taliban, the Afghan government should apply a methodical and targeted approach to pressuring the Taliban in designated areas with greater susceptibility to government influence, while pursuing a simultaneous bottom-up and top-down approach to reconciliation efforts. Reintegration The prospect of large numbers of former insurgents, coupled with Afghanistans burgeoning youth bulge, creates the prospects for new waves of social instability and potential radicalization. Preventing future insurgency or expanded criminal activity requires concurrent investments in economic and human capital development to provide a tangible opportunity for the youth population and former insurgents. A regionally oriented programloosely based on a national modelthat simultaneously supports local infrastructure development, provides immediate work opportunities to former Taliban, and teaches basic skills to foster future employment and counter potential extremism might fit the bill. In addition, programs should be geared toward youth engagement to implant national identity, provide job opportunity, build life skills, and foster hope for the future. Afghanistan Narrative and Influence Operations The foundation for progress in Afghanistan will be based on the Afghan governments ability to mobilize the population through influence operations. Changing Afghan perceptions will require a long-term, coordinated strategic approach that synchronizes words and actions with a unified narrative for Afghanistan. To further improve narrative and influence operations, the coalition should empower Afghan-led messaging that leverages Islam and culture to build a better story. The messages must appeal to emotions through appropriate dissemination mechanisms and be backed by deeds. Information operations against the Taliban need to be synchronized with broader strategic goals. A campaign to increase social pressure on individual Taliban leaders to pursue peace could reap large benefits by creating a suffocating degree of social pressure on local Taliban targets to force reconciliation. To further the narrative, a psychological operation could be devised to foment uncertainty about the ability of Taliban members families to remain in Pakistan. This would serve two purposes. First, it could sow doubt between the Taliban and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Second, it could put direct pressure on Taliban leaders to consider settlement or reconciliation more thoroughly as a viable alternative. The Transition of Roles in Afghanistan Most importantly, the coalition needs to continue shifting ownership of the mission to its Afghan partners, or the United States will find itself attempting to solve the same Afghan problems seventeen years from now. Failing to encourage Afghan independence and legitimate governance will result in Afghanistan remaining a donor state reliant upon foreign presence and support to function beyond the current Resolute Support Mission. More specifically, the U.S. government will have to reconsider its deployed structure, organization, and roles to appropriately address changes in the environment. As the situation improves, troop numbers may decrease, and the military must determine how it will accomplish updated objectives. The lead agency should transition from the Department of Defense to the Department of State, with the military in a supporting role, such as with the presence of a Special Operations Command Forward battalion headquarters or participation in sub-national interagency platforms. Finally, the Afghan government needs to set the conditions for greater regional cooperation external to Afghanistan. Initiatives leveraging the Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF) can encourage regional partnerships and increase interoperability with partners to promote regional security and cooperation on other issues. In sum, the path to the end of the conflict in Afghanistan will be political (as opposed to military) and it will be in the hands of the Afghans (as opposed to Americans). Millers pointed recognition of this fact creates the space for a fundamental reframing of this foreign policy challenge, and we have sought, for our part, to provide some ways forward. For further details that explain these topics and more, refer to the authors full report. Majors Thang Tran and Philip Swintek are Army Special Forces officers from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). They are graduates of the Defense Analysis Department at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Both officers have multiple combat tours in Afghanistan. Leo Blanken is an associate professor in the Defense Analysis Department of the Naval Postgraduate School and an Atlantic Council nonresident senior fellow. He is the author of Rational Empires: Institutional Incentives and Imperial Expansion (University of Chicago Press, 2012) and co-editor of Assessing War: The Challenge of Measuring Success and Failure (Georgetown University Press, 2015). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. This article appeared originally at Atlantic Council. On July 11, 2014, battalions from Ukraine's 24th and 72nd Mechanized Brigades assembled outside of the town of Zelenopillya, located about 5 miles from the Russian border. Having achieved success against the Russian-led separatist forces in the breakaway oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk (the Donbass) over the previous two months, they were assembling before what was planned to be a final push to the border to cut off the supply lines of the paramilitary forces from their Russian sponsors. What started as a fairly normal day soon took an unexpected turn. It started with the buzzing of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) overhead and cyberattacks against Ukrainian command, control and communications systems. The Russians then launched an attack consisting of short-range BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system rockets from across the border. The attack lasted only two or three minutes, but it was immensely destructive to the Ukrainian forces. The attack destroyed most of the armored vehicles, killed at least 30 soldiers and wounded hundreds more. The attack left the Ukrainian forces decimated and demoralized, and represented the high-water mark for the Ukrainian offensive. Made by True to Nature and commissioned by the BBC and UKTV in association with Fremantle, Expedition with Steve Backshall is described as an ambitious, prime-time adventure series filled with world firsts such as the first descent of a white-water river in the Himalayas; trekking through unexplored jungle in South America; and climbing mountains in the deserts of the Middle East.The series follows adventurer Steve Backshall, his team of world-class experts and his film crew, as they venture into undiscovered worlds. To be successful, Backshall and his adventurist experts including cave divers, kayakers and mountaineers have to rely on each other and the power of teamwork.The first four, hour-long episodes will premiere on BBC Two in 2019. UKTVs Dave will show the full, 10x60 series later in the year, exclusively premiering six new expeditions as well as showing its own versions of the four BBC episodes. Fremantle holds global distribution rights.Expedition with Steve Backshall represents the best in factual programming and we are pleased to have France Televisions as our first global partner for the series. said Al De Azpiazu, VP, sales and distribution, Western Europe, International, Fremantle . Steve attempts a world first expedition in every episode, which in this era is very special. The danger and drama of these adventures combined with Steves inquisitive and charismatic personality, all in the most breath-taking locations across the world, will be sure to draw in French audiences.Commenting on behalf of France Televisions, commissioning editor Amandine Picault said: We are really thrilled to be involved in this exciting new series, which will bring new knowledge of some of the world's unexplored corners. The combination of real-life adventure and stunning scenery will be a powerful mix which packs a real emotional punch. The series fits perfectly with our public-service remit to provide strong and intelligent content in a lively and accessible format. Red Arrow Studios International has secured a deal with AMC Networks Sundance Now SVOD platform for distribution of the stylish neo-noir crime drama, Stella Blomkvist. The series has also been recommissioned for a second season by Siminn in Iceland.Sundance Now is available in North America, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Stella Blomkvist has previously sold to channels including NBCUniversal Global networks for Spain and the French-speaking territories.Based on the best-selling crime novels, Stella Blomkvist is directed by Oskar Thor Axelsson and stars Heida Reed as a quick-witted lawyer. Smart and ruthless, with a dark past, a fluid sexuality and a taste for whiskey and easy money, Stella takes on cases that always lead to danger.Stella Blomkvist is a gripping, stylishly executed female-driven series that puts a satisfying spin on the Nordic Noir phenomenon, said Bo Stehmeier, president of Red Arrow Studios International . Broadcasters and platforms continue to be attracted to genre-breaking international dramas such as this, and we are delighted to be bringing the show to audiences around the world.Jan Diedrichsen, executive director at Sundance Now , added: The Sundance brand is synonymous with great storytelling, and Stella Blomkvist is sure to appeal to Sundance Nows discerning subscriber base, who come to the service for high-quality original content from around the globe. AUSTRALIA: Aurizon completed the sale of its Queensland Intermodal business to logistics group Linfox on January 31, with the first train under the new management leaving Brisbane for Mackay on February 1. INDIA: The national government has approved plans to develop a 40 km dedicated test track in Rajasthan for railway research and testing. This is expected to reduce the requirement for new and experimental trains to be tested on the increasingly busy national network. POLAND: Infrastructure manager PKP-PLK has awarded Czech company AZD Praha a contract to supply signalling and interlocking equipment for the modernisation of the Sonice Szczecin Dabie section of European corridor E59. Hand gauges at the point of manufacture are commonplace, but this doesnt mean just any gauge can be used Innovalia Metrology Bio Metrology Working Smarter With Advanced Metrology Innovalia Metrology raises the bar for measuring, calculating, analyzing, and deciding Rss Send Article (Must Login Author Archive Industry 4.0 has catapulted industrial production processes into new realms of advanced manufacturing, in some cases leaving quality control scrambling to catch up. The trend of industrial quality management is to implement lean and accurate production systems; however, for many enterprises, using modern technologies to do thissuch as operational processing of big data and digitizing products during productionisnt always an affordable strategy. Cost-effective solutions that combine both trends are therefore really interesting to consider. Headquartered in Alava, Spain, with outlets in 10 countries, Innovalia Metrology has always held a consistent focus on dimensional metrology, and this has helped it stay ahead of developments in inline quality control. The company offers solutions that integrate traditional metrology with the latest technological developments, whether these be in laboratories or on production lines. It designs and manufactures coordinate measuring machines (CMMs); provides scanning systems and related software for sensor engineering and quality control; and offers accredited calibration and measurement verification. Like what you're reading? Log in or create FREE account to continue Enter your Quality Digest username OR email address. Enter your Quality Digest password. By logging in you agree to receive communication from Quality Digest. Privacy Policy Remember me Create a FREE account Forgot My Password Quality Digest does not charge readers for its content. 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Thanks, Quality Digest Discuss About The Author Innovalia Metrology Innovalia Metrology systems and metrology solutions are designed to provide customers with a guarantee of measurement accuracy for parts and components that are vital to the manufacturing process, and to enable the achievement of higher levels of productivity and efficiency in production processes. Published on: 30 January 2019 The multi-centre trial, which involved almost 900 smokers who also received additional behavioural support, found that 18.0 per cent of e-cigarette users were smoke-free after a year, compared to 9.9 per cent of participants who were using other nicotine replacement therapies. Lead researcher Professor Peter Hajek, Director of the Health and Lifestyle Research Unit at Queen Mary's Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, said: This is the first trial to test the efficacy of modern e-cigarettes in helping smokers quit. E-cigarettes were almost twice as effective as the gold standard combination of nicotine replacement products. Although a large number of smokers report that they have quit smoking successfully with the help of e-cigarettes, health professionals have been reluctant to recommend their use because of the lack of clear evidence from randomised controlled trials. This is now likely to change. Testing newer e-cigarettes and behavioural support The only previous trial comparing e-cigarettes to nicotine patches used early cig-a-like e-cigarettes with very low nicotine delivery, had no face-to-face contact, and found low efficacies for both treatments. Funded by the National Institute for Health Research, supported by Cancer Research UK and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the new study was set-up to test the long-term efficacy of newer refillable e-cigarettes compared with a range of nicotine replacement treatments. 886 smokers attended UK National Health Service stop smoking services (in Tower Hamlets, City of London, Leicester and East Sussex) and were randomised to receive either a nicotine replacement treatment of their choice (including patches, gum, lozenges, sprays, inhalators, or a combination of products) provided for up to three months, or an e-cigarette starter pack with one or two bottles of e-liquid and encouragement to buy future supplies of their own choice of strengths and flavours. All participants received weekly one-on-one behavioural support for at least four weeks, with expired air carbon monoxide monitoring. Higher abstinence rates In addition to e-cigarettes being almost twice as effective, the researchers found that: The participants comprised largely of middle aged dependent smokers, with 40 per cent entitled to free prescriptions (a marker of social disadvantage or poor health) Abstinence rates were higher in the e-cigarette arm at all time points Among abstainers, e-cigarette participants were more likely to use their allocated product at 52 weeks than nicotine replacement participants (79.8 per cent vs 9.1 per cent) Among participants who did not achieve full abstinence, more e-cigarette users achieved a carbon monoxide-validated reduction of smoking by at least 50 per cent Adherence was similar in both arms, but e-cigarettes were used more frequently and for longer E-cigarette participants reported more throat/mouth irritation (65.4 per cent vs 50.8 per cent) and nicotine replacement participants reported more nausea (37.8 per cent vs 31.4 per cent) E-cigarette participants reported greater decline in incidence of cough and phlegm production after 52 weeks Both products were perceived as less satisfying than cigarettes, but e-cigarettes provided higher satisfaction and were rated as more helpful than nicotine replacement treatment E-cigarette arm abstainers experienced less severe urges to smoke at 1 and 4 weeks post-quit date. They also reported a lower increase in irritability, restlessness and inability to concentrate after the first week of abstinence, compared to those in the nicotine replacement arm The evidence to help health professionals recommend e-cigarettes Study author Dunja Przulj from the Health and Lifestyle Research Unit at Queen Mary's Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine said: The UK specialist stop smoking services will now be more likely to include e-cigarettes among their treatment options, and health professionals will feel more comfortable in recommending e-cigarettes as a stop-smoking intervention. This may ultimately further accelerate the reduction in smoking and in smoking related diseases. Professor Hywel Williams, Director of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, said: This groundbreaking NIHR-funded study provides clear evidence that e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy for helping smokers to quit. Cigarette smoking is still a major cause of ill health and death in the UK, so this study will provide much needed evidence to help people and policy makers to make informed choices. Martin Dockrell, Tobacco Control Lead, Public Health England, said: This landmark research shows that switching to an e-cigarette can be one of the most effective ways to quit smoking, especially when combined with face-to-face support. All stop smoking services should welcome smokers who want to quit with the help of an e-cigarette. The study saw a stronger e-cigarette effect than in previous trials, and the researchers say this could be due to the inclusion of smokers who were seeking help, the provision of face-to-face support, and the use of refillable e-cigarettes for which smokers sourced their own choice of e-liquids. The researchers add that the reason e-cigarettes were found to be more effective than other nicotine replacement therapies could be primarily because they allow better tailoring of nicotine dose to individual needs, but also because they provide some of the behavioural aspects of smoking cigarettes. 'Smokers shouldnt be afraid to experiment to find what works' Sophia Lowes, from Cancer Research UK, said: This is the first study to show the effectiveness of e-cigarettes combined with behavioural support for giving up smoking, and the results are extremely positive. This research should give doctors, nurses, pharmacists and Stop Smoking Service advisers further confidence to recommend e-cigarettes as an effective means of quitting. Smokers have a range of options available to help them quit, including nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication or e-cigarettes. Everyone is different, so smokers shouldnt be afraid to experiment and find what works for them. But whatever the method, its clear that using the support available from local Stop Smoking Services gives smokers the best chance of quitting. The study has several limitations. Product allocation could not be blinded, which could affect results if nicotine replacement was seen as an inferior option and those participants were putting less effort into their quit attempt. The team tried to limit expectation effects by recruiting only participants with no strong product preference, and the results in the nicotine replacement arm were at least as good as in routine practice. The findings may not be generalisable to smokers who are less dependent, or to first generation cig-a-like e-cigarettes, and further trials are needed to determine whether the results generalise outside the UK services. More information Im dying, says Emilio Estevez, as a throng of librarians queues up outside a theater at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, eager to see a screening of Estvez's forthcoming movie, The Public. The film, scheduled for an April 5 release, is set in the Cincinnati Public Library, where a crisis unfolds after a group of patrons turns the library into a homeless shelter to escape an extreme arctic blast. Yet despite strong reviews from librarians after previous screenings for librarians, including at the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans last June, Estevez says hes still "terrified" ahead of each librarian screening. I stood through all three screenings in New Orleans, pacing in the back of the theater, sweating, terrified, Estevez says, because I thought if we dont get it right here, with social media being what it is, if it goes out that the movie sucks, or the same stereotypical depiction of librarians once again, thanks Hollywood! well, thats the nightmare. At this point, it seems like Estevez doesnt have to worry. The reviews from librarians have been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, the first question put to Estevez after the first screening in New Orleans, he recalls, was how did you get us so right? The answer: Estevez has done his homework. "The Public" has been a 12-year labor of love for Estevez, the seed for which was planted when he first read Chip Wards 2007 essay What They Didn't Teach Us in Library School: The Public Library as an Asylum for the Homeless, in Toms Dispatch. Estevez wrote, directed, and stars in "The Public" alongside a strong cast, including Jeffery Wright, Jena Malone, Gabrielle Union and Alec Baldwin. And Estevez says he has relied heavily on librarian input throughout the process, including from multiple screenings at ALA conferences and in various public libraries around the country, which he used to tweak the films final cut, an effort that mainly involved getting the run time under two hours, and eliminating enough F-bombs to avoid the box-office killing R rating. In addition to librarians, festival audiences have also given the film high marks. The reaction in Toronto was a standing ovation, and thank you for making this film. Then we took it to the Toronto Public Library for a private screening, same reaction, Estevez says. But despite, the strong reception, Estevez still seems genuinely nervous ahead of the latest showing Seattleand in talking with him, it becomes clear why: Hes not only invested in the movie, hes invested in libraries. Hes invested in the message. "The film is very entertaining, unexpectedly so, I thinkI mean, public libraries, mental health issues, homelessnesspeople might think, yeah I could see that on the news, he says. But then you see them watching the film, its engaging. Its entertaining. I think that was the real sleight of hand with this film. In addition to good reviews from librarians and festival audiences, Estevez says he also got another meaningful nod of approval: from Chip Ward, who, Estevez said, told him hed written a song for the unsung. For librarians who werent able to make a screening in New Orleans, or last week in Seattle, youll have more chances soon. Estevez says the plan is to continue to screen the film at public librariesincluding in libraries doing some of the most innovative work with their city's homeless populations, including the Denver Public Library, and The San Francisco Public Library. And no doubt, many librarians this week are getting a sense of what makes the film's story so compelling. Nearly a quarter of the country this week was blanketed in whats being called a once-in-a-generation blast of arctic air, raising concern for the homeless population. Reserve Reading American Libraries, has a great rundown of the speakers who graced the stages at Midwinter, and some interesting news of out the ALA council, including news that ALA has an interested buyer for its headquarters in Chicago. Also, some interesting survey feedback on both the ALA Annual and Midwinter conferences. Check out Publishers Weekly, too, for coverage of what was a busy, bounce back year for ALA, with a roughly 13% increase in attendance over last year's Midwinter Meeting in Denver. Like Michelle Obama, who opened the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans last year, could Melinda Gates have the next mega-selling memoir? The Midwinter Meeting kicked off with an inspiring opening keynote by Gates, who spoke passionately about the fight for gender equality, and her own transformation into a gender equality activist. Gates' memoir, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, is due out in April, from Flatiron Books. After a few years of relative calm, e-books and digital content were once again a hot topic at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Among the takeaways, the ALA's ASCGLA division released a wide-ranging paper drawn from its National E-book Summit, held last year at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. Download an epub version. In addition, a session convened by the ReadersFirst coalition focused on some of the more immediate challenges facing libraries, such as Macmillan's contested "experiment" with embargoing frontlist e-book titles from its Tor imprint, and concerns over Amazon, which is signing more and more exclusive content which is not available to libraries, especially audio content under its Audible division. In another e-book session, Cliff Guren and Steve Potash updated librarians and publishers about the Panorama Project, the nascent research initiative launched by OverDrive to collect data on how libraries impact book and author discovery, brand development, and retail sales. Guren offered a quick presentation and took questions on how Panorama is collecting data and going about its work. And in his introductory remarks, OverDrive CEO Steve Potash told librarians why he started the project: because libraries are simply not getting credit for the work they do on behalf of publishers and authors. Weve had progress, Potash said, but there is still a lack of hard, objective data and information to educate every publisher and every agent and every author that it is in their economic interests to appreciate, to leverage, and to love the channel of libraries and librarians. In Seattle, librarians took time out their Midwinter Schedules to librarians also took time out from the show for a rally at Seattles famous main library, the latest stop in a series of rallies hosted around the nation by ALA president Loida Garcia-Febo as part of her Libraries=Strong Communities initiative. In honor of the event, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a proclamation, dubbing January 26 Take Action for Libraries Day. From Inside Higher Ed, some alarming news out of the ALA Midwinter Meeting. "A scholarly communications librarian at New York University set off an uncomfortable debate among fellow librarians about the racial views and values of the American Library Association after sharing that she was verbally attacked by a white colleague at an ALA meeting this week." The librarian, April Hathcock, writes about the incident, and the ALA's response on her blog. More disturbing news from local TV affiliate NBC 10: a Philadelphia library says it will go ahead with a planned "Drag Queen Story Fun Time" despite threats and opposition from conservative Christian groups. And, the same in Houston. The Independent reports on a conservative radio host who, reportedly armed with a gun, "barged into a Texas library in an attempt to stop a drag queen reading books to children." Today is a huge day for net neutrality supporters, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today heard oral arguments in a legal effort to overturn the FCC's repeal. Ars Technica has a great piece on the issues in the case, as well as links to the petitioners' joint brief and the FCC and Department of Justice's defense of the repeal. Audio of the oral argument was streamed live, and an archived version should be available soon on the court's website. In a statement, the ALA Washington Office issued a statement reiterating its support for net neutrality protections. ALA is committed to equitable and open access to the internet, and we believe the courts will rule in our favor," said American Library Association (ALA) President Loida Garcia-Febo. "Among other errors, the FCC ignored the impacts on libraries and institutions of higher learning in its decision to eliminate the 2015 Open Internet rules. This arbitrary decision has imperiled the internet as an unbiased platform for research, learning and information sharing, and that decision should be reversed. We will continue to fight for strong, enforceable net neutrality protections in every venue available. From Inside Higher Ed, academic libraries are buying fewer books than they used to, according to the "Library Acquisition Patterns" report, issued by research service Ithaka S+R. In addition, Amazon was not found to be a significant vendor of academic e-books. From Kansas State University student newspaper, the Daily Collegian, comes a report that the K-State Libraries have announced a moratorium on purchasing any new books, journal titles, databases or other subscription-based materials until the end of the fiscal year due to budget constraints. The article says that staffing positions in the libraries have been reduced by 30% in the last five years, "in part to try to make up for the cost of subscription increases." From Science, a report that only 15% of the 5987 science and medical journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) would fully comply with Plan S, the initiative primarily by European funders to make all papers developed with their support open access by 2020. What happens when you quit Facebook? The New York Times cites a A new study, which concludes that quitters will see "more in-person time with friends and family. Less political knowledge, but also less partisan fever. A small bump in ones daily moods and life satisfaction. And, for the average Facebook user, an extra hour a day of downtime." From CBS News: "Steven Pruitt has made nearly 3 million edits on Wikipedia and written 35,000 original articles. It's earned him not only accolades but almost legendary status on the internet." Sales for Amazon surged passed $200 billion in 2018, increasing 31% to $232.9 billion, compared with $177.9 billion in 2017. Operating income in the year tripled, to $12.4 billion, compared with an operating income of $4.1 billion in 2017. Among the many reasons cited for the big 2018 financial gains was the performance of Amazons third-party sellers. More than 50% of units sold on Amazon over the holidays were from third-party sellers, and third-party sales are growing faster than first-party sales, Amazon said. Third-party sales of books has been a growing concern for authors, publishers, and booksellers since the company allowed third-party sellers to win the buy button on its book pages, and there are questions about where the resellers acquire their titles. Revenue at Amazons cloud service unit, AWS, jumped 47% in the year, to $25.6 billion, and delivered operating income of $7.3 billion. Sales in Amazons North American division rose 33%, to $141 billion, and it also had operating income of $7.3 billion. The companys international operations lost $2.1 billion. The companys report on its bookselling and publishing businesses was limited to repeating an earlier statement asserting that in 2018, authors earned more than $260 million from the Kindle Direct Publishing Select Global Fund. Amazon also noted that hundreds of thousands of authors have self-published millions of books through KDP since launching the service in 2007. More than a thousand authors surpassed $100,000 in royalties in 2018 through KDP, Amazon added. Amazons employment practices, especially for hourly workers, have often been criticized by company critics, and the year-end press release tried to address that issue that by noting that its $15 hourly minimum wage went into effect in the U.S. on November 1 for all full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees. Amazon said the new minimum wage will benefit more than 250,000 employees in the U.S. After announcing the increase in the minimum wage, Amazon said that it received a company record of approximately 850,000 work applications for hourly positions in the U.S. in October 2018. Raising the minimum wage will not impact Amazons bottom-line, however. In looking at the first quarter of 2019, the company said it expects operating income to jump between 21% to 74% over last years first period, on a sales increase of 10% to 18%. While cold weather affected a huge swath of the U.S. this past week, Midwestern booksellers were hit especially hard by the polar vortex. Temperatures plummeted to subzero levels: Norris Camp, Minn., was the coldest city in the U.S. on Wednesday, reporting an air temperature of 48 degrees below zero, while, on Thursday, Cotton, Minn. reported a 56 degrees below zero air temperature. Due to the dangerous cold, and with authorities asking people to stay indoors, many of the Midwestern bookstores PW queried shut their doors on Wednesday, while several others simply set shorter hours. While most of the stores reported sales being down this week due to the extreme weather, all of the booksellers PW spoke with put a positive spin on an unfortunate situation, explaining that these past few days have provided them with an opportunity to catch up on tasks that too often are pushed aside during busier times. Its been a miserable week, Nina Barrett, the owner of Bookends & Beginnings in Evanston, Ill., said, reporting that she closed her store all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. [Loss of sales[ has been significant. But I feel philosophical about it: January is always rough. The silver lining is that we always get administrative things done. So, its been a devastating loss in sales, but I dont feel devastated. We may not make it up next week, but well make it up sometime. Lisa Baudoin, the owner of Books & Company in Oconomowoc, Wisc., said that the store shut its doors on Monday, due to a snowstorm while she was still enroute from Albuquerque and WI14. On Wednesday, however, the store opened its doors from 8:00 a.m to 3 p.m. only because she lives the closest and has a garage and could thus make it to work, albeit solo. I had phone calls and customers, she said, but sales are down 50% this week and a reading by Nick Petrie, who lives in Milwaukee, that was scheduled for Wednesday evening was re-scheduled for next week. It could have been worse, Baudoin said, it could have happened during the holidays. Book Table in Oak Park, Ill., also stayed open on Wednesday, but bookseller Bianca Walters reported super slow sales, with only four customers the entire day. But we had a great holiday season, they said, This January slump in comparison to last years is way more welcome. While her store kept normal hours all week, Kate Rattenborg, the owner of Dragonfly Books in Decorah, Iowa, reported that sales are down 50%. A frozen water pipe that burst in the building further complicates matters by driving up expenses beyond the usual cost of doing business. Fortunately, she says, most of the water hit cardboard packing material waiting to be recycled. I own the building, so repair work is my responsibility and I have yet to see what the emergency, after-hours repair costs will be, she said, During a normal week, Id be able to recoup some of those costs from the weeks sales, but with snowy weather on Monday and frigid temperatures since, sales are abysmal. Rattenborg says she kept the store open, primarily to babysit the building and to monitor inside temperatures so as to prevent any other disasters. I wont know the true financial impact until I receive water, heating, and plumbing bills, she said, noting that its not just a lack of foot traffic affecting sales: UPS on Thursday resumed deliveries that it had suspended earlier in the week; special orders were finally delivered but have yet to be picked up and paid for. Several bookstores reported that sales were especially brisk on Tuesday, as people prepared for Wednesdays further drop in temperatures, so that closing their stores on Wednesday didnt really impact the bottom line. People knew what was coming, Judith Kissner, the owner of Scout & Morgan Books in Cambridge, Minn., reported on Thursday, adding that while the store was closed Wednesday due to weather for the first time in 17 years, when the air temperature was -32 degrees, customers returned on Thursday when it rose to -11. Minnesotans are tough, she said. Further north, in Duluth, Minn. Nikki Silvestrini, the manager at Zenith Bookstore reported that the store closed its doors on Wednesday because it was just too cold and also re-scheduled for next week a reading by Brian Freeman, who lives in the Twin Cities. We had regular hours on Tuesday, and people were coming in, she said, adding that on Wednesday, someone posted on Facebook their disappointment that they had gone to the store only to find that it was closed. Some people would brave it, no matter how cold it gets, she said. Greg Zandbroz of Zandbroz Variety in Fargo, N. Dak., said that the store stayed open all week, but with shorter hours on Wednesday. Noting that schools and businesses were closed all over the city, and that there were some people stranded at hotels, Zandbroz reported that he sold a few books, and thats good. We have to come in and shovel anyway, and some people came out. In contrast to the other booksellers PW spoke with, who reported losses, two Minneapolis booksellers reported better sales this week over last year, even though, like many other stores, both shut their doors on Wednesday. It was way brisker Tuesday than usual, Hans Weyandt, the manager of Milkweed Editions Bookstore in the Open Book building said. That evened it out. Angela Schwesnedl, the co-owner of Moon Palace Books added that even though the store closed early on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday, the Super Bowl took place in Minneapolis this time last year, and that had more of a negative impact on sales than this weeks weather. Plus, theres this, she wrote in an email, attaching a screen shot of a customers tweet declaring, "It might be -31 real feel in Minneapolis, but nothing is going to stop me from getting my favorite pizza at my favorite bookstore, Moon Palace. If I lose a toe, it was worth it. In theory, I agree with Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Yet I cant seem to quit hoardinger, savingchildrens books. So how many of them live in our house? Certainly well over a thousand, though Ive never counted them (and actually dont want to know). And no, theyre not organized alphabetically or by subject matter. Recently I panicked when I couldnt find To the Top! Climbing the Worlds Highest Mountain, about Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgays Everest quest, which had enthralled our daughters (both now in college). I ordered a new copy, just in case. So which kids books can I prune? Certainly nothing that made us laugh a lot. So keepers include everything ever written by Sandra Boynton, P.D. Eastman (Go, Dog. Go! = Stay, Dog. Stay!), Kevin Henkes, Robert Munsch, Barbara Park (Junie B. Jones, we love you, your haircut, and your smelly bus!), and Bill Peet. Would it be OK to discard books that are unlikely to go out of print? Clifford the Big Red Dog? The Harry Potter series? Corduroy? Caps for Sale? Flat Stanley? Angelina Ballerina? Curious George? No. Theyre still sparking joy. Yikes. Then what can I tidy up (aka KonMari)? I soured on Theodor Geisel when I found out he cheated on his first wife, Helen Palmer, author of Fish Out of Water, a family favorite. Still, I cant bear to purge any Dr. Seuss stories. Too many memories. My husband feels especially nostalgic about The Cat in the Hat. Its perfectthe tension with the mom coming and that bad cat, he says. I can remember our girls on pins and needles. What will the mother say when she gets home and sees this house?! Could I part with Stop, Drop and Roll? No, I keep thinking about how it helped the girls learn about fire safety. I cant just thank it for its service yet. Kondo might grimace because I havent come close to finishing the job. Still, I have tried to weed out at least a few titles. I gave our local library all ofour American Girl bookseven the most spellbinding one, Meet Kit, about a Depression-era girl whose dad loses his car-dealership job and whose mom takes on boarders to make ends meet. Sad to say, I have givers remorse. The book prompted discussions about people coping during hard times. The girls also learned about history (the highs and the lows) from So You Want to Be President?, 5,000 Miles to Freedom, Hitler Youth, and George Washingtons Teeth. Sorry, Marie. Those titles get to stay, too. With the girls snuggled next to me, I also read stories from my childhood and even my parents childhoods. So Katy No-Pocket, about a kangaroo missing a pouch, keeps her position on the living room bookshelf. Same for my still-bright-yellow Nancy Drews. Childrens books carry more emotional weight than the old Turkey Trot 10K T-shirts that I was able to thank for their service, as Kondo would say, and pass along years ago. I look at Amazing Rescues and remember the girls sitting in my lap, wondering whether someone whose parachute didnt open would survive. When they were listening to Roald Dahl tales like The Enormous Crocodile and The Minpins, our daughters could also sit still for hours. They always liked unusual stories with a little suspensethink William Steigs Doctor De Soto, about a mouse-dentist who outsmarts a hungry fox patient. All these page-turners earn protected status. So how does my husband feel about my failure to Kondo-ize the childrens collection? Surprisingly, to me at least, hes all right with it. He knows these stories mean something to me (and to him). In fact, when I thought Id mistakenly given away Roger Hargreavess Mr. and Miss books, I told my husband, who frowned. Not the Mr. books! he said. No more Little Miss Fun? He thinks it would be better for me to say goodbye to the old magazines and other pure clutter in our bedroom. I will wager that nothing under the bed sparks joy, he says. He also gently suggests that I bid adieu to some old book-group selections. You dont have any real emotional attachment to them, he said. Certainly compared to Little Miss Fun. A final confession: Im holding onto the childrens titles in part (okay, in large part!) because I hope to share our most prized stories with grandchildren. (No pressure, girls!) Id love to be blessed with a book-driven trip down memory lane, starting with pop-ups like Alpha Bugs and touch-and-feels like Pat the Bunny, and eventually getting to Harry Potter. Some families treasure old clocks or antique tables and chairs. Our heirlooms are childrens books. Marie Kondo, Im sorry. But its Ramona Foreverand truthfully, just about every kids' title foreveraround here. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening. A steady rain arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. This accreditation will allow us to offer our clinical tests to patients in many countries worldwide and supports our mission of advancing the science of the microbiome and making it useful to people. - Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder and CEO of uBiome, said. uBiome, the leader in microbial genomics, has been granted ISO 15189 Accreditation for Clinical Testing Laboratories by A2LA, which establishes requirements for medical laboratories to demonstrate competence to deliver timely, accurate, and reliable results to an international standard. The laboratory is already CLIA-licensed as well as College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited, a designation given to the top three percent of laboratories in the world. Established in 1978, A2LA is a non-profit, public service membership society dedicated to the formal recognition of competent testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, and reference material producers. They offer three main service lines accreditation, training, and membership to support recognition of competence in laboratory and laboratory-related industries. Since 2015, about 60 countries have made ISO 15189 part of their mandatory medical laboratory accreditation requirements, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, among others. First published in 2003, ISO 15189 is an international standard for laboratory testing developed by the International Organization for Standardization's Technical Committee. Not only is ISO 15189 the most recognized standard for clinical laboratory accreditation in Europe, but its also accepted worldwide, representing 95% of global GDP. In the United States, ISO 15189 is voluntary, promoting continual improvement and empowering employees to implement solutions. For patients and healthcare providers, it offers assurance that clinical lab services are safe and reliable for patient testing. ISO 15189 accreditation involves an independent assessment of the clinical testing laboratory that includes an examination of personnel qualifications and competence, equipment, reagents and supplies, quality assurance, and pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical factors. We are proud to have been granted ISO 15189 by A2LA, a prestigious accreditation which is evidence of uBiomes high standard of quality and compliance, Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder and CEO of uBiome, said. This accreditation will allow us to offer our clinical tests to patients in many countries worldwide and supports our mission of advancing the science of the microbiome and making it useful to people. For more information about uBiomes laboratory standards and certifications, please visit https://ubiome.com/#cliacap. _____ 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. JW Maxx Solutions has you covered if you need a free consultation, please feel free to reach out to us. We provide positive media solutions to growth-oriented companies and individuals. Call us at 602 291 9769 Online reputation management firm JW Maxx Solutions based in Phoenix AZ has been offering personal online reputation management, and also to small and large businesses corporate reputation management. They discuss the in's and out's of getting hacked. The world we live in today if someone or some foreign country wants to hack into your website there is probably not much you can do about it. The point is the level of sophistication is so immense that our NSA and others are vulnerable so what does that leave us, with the mom an pop shops or other small businesses are we at risk? The short answer is yes. There are some steps you can take to prevent the less sophisticated ones from defacing your site. #1 Zero Day Hacks What is a zero-day? Very simple. Remember in Jurrasic Park the original, how the Raptors tested the fences to find the weak points. There are people that are called penetration testers. Most do it for profit say Apple has a glitch that can cause an unwanted intrusion and they can show this to Apple, and get paid a reward or bounty. This all they do for a living, and they get paid very well. The fact is most sites don't get regular upgrades they need, so when your site is not maintained, you may be suspectable to a Zero-day hack which is the weak point in the fence. You may think this some tremendous foreign power, but it could be a 14-year-old in Bulgaria sitting in his parent's basement doing it for fun with no monetary value only for bragging rights. The Solution: Update your site regularly or hire a company like JW Maxx Solutions to maintain it. #2 Make multiple layers of entry to the login: For example, the most popular platform is WordPress to access the login panel all you need to do is type the company name then /wp-login.php. Now you are in the login section most sites that are made are set to default the username to Admin. The hacker types in Admin and runs a series of bots that will work different combinations over and over again till they get the right one. Also what about your Facebook they can tell all about you they know your children's name their birthdays your birthdays your dog's names and so many other things that could be added to the bot code to narrow the field down making it that much easier. Wordpress offers many plugins that can be used to customize the login access by having to type in another phrase to gain access to the main panel. Afterward, you can set the username to something other than Admin making access that makes it much harder. Then you can install another plugin to lock out attempts made more than three times and add an IP locator to see where the intrusion is coming from. Most likely they will be using a VPN that allows them to change there IP, but after a while, they will run out of IP's. Sooner or later they will give up. #3 Back up the site every week: The safest way to reface if being hacked is to clean the files on the servers running malware programs then reinstall the backup. This will take you about a few hours to restore it. Remember these tips they can help you quite a bit. Also, try not to keep sensitive information on your site and for transactions use Paypal or other trusted third party payment processing sites they have a much higher level of security JW Maxx Solutions has you covered if you need a free consultation, please feel free to reach out to us. We provide positive media solutions to growth-oriented companies and individuals. Three Catholic Academy of Bridgeport Students Awarded In Martin Luther King Essay Contest I want to finish high school and get into a good college. A chance to become a nurse or teacher. Not everything that you hear about Mexican immigrants is true. Three eighth-grade students of the St. Augustine campus of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport were announced as winners of Fairfield Universitys annual Martin Luther King Jr., essay contest. Awards were presented at FFUs 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on January 30, 2019. Mariela Aca won second place, while Sierra Dufane and Brendy Xochicale both earned honorable mentions. The contest, co-sponsored by the Connecticut Post, invited Bridgeport students in Grades 6 through 8 to answer the question, As we embrace the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., how would you act to address and eliminate a problem caused by racism, injustice and/or inequality within your own community? Acas winning essay explains that change begins with ones own actions. I can abstain from making jokes about stereotypes. When I hear others teasing or bullying someone based on their race, nationality or skin color, I can stick up for them. Aca goes on to encourage others not to make harsh judgments based on a persons heritage. I am a Mexican immigrant. I am here legally. I am not a drug dealer, a rapist, a lazy bum or a criminal. I am just a 13-year-old girl with hopes and dreams. I go to school and study hard. I want to get a good education. I want a chance like everyone else. I want to finish high school and get into a good college. A chance to become a nurse or teacher. Not everything that you hear about Mexican immigrants is true. Aca was awarded $150 for her second-place win and will be recognized in the Connecticut Post. In addition to the Convocation, all three students were invited to attend the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Youth Leadership Academy on February 1st at FFUs Barone Campus Center. The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport has four campuses in the city of Bridgeport: St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Augustine and St. Raphael. The comprehensive academic curriculum and nurturing environment strives to help students in Pre-K through 8th grade reach their fullest potential. The Academy educates 900 children of diverse faiths and ethnicities, and educates the whole child: body, mind and spirit. Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who quality. For more information, call 203-362-2978. Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE Courtesy Betsey Johnson(NEW YORK) -- Theres no doubt about the fact that Betsey Johnson is one-of-a-kind. The 76-year-old fashion designer is known for her bright clothes and her even brighter personality. Johnsons fashion empire celebrates femininity and strength and has spanned decades, but the designer is the first to admit she never expected to end up here. I never wanted to go near fashion, Johnson told ABC News' Good Morning America. I just loved sewing and I just wanted to keep doing it. ABC took a trip down memory lane with Johnson to learn more about her journey to becoming a fashion icon and why being yourself never goes out of style. Do everything until you find your one thing Although shes a designer by trade, Johnsons first love was dancing. That was my fantasy world, my dancing years, she said, adding that her mother made all her costumes despite how much she hated sewing. Johnson took dance classes while she was growing up in Connecticut. Although it wasnt her only pastime as a child, it was the one that captured her heart the most. You start to love so much [that] you just try to do it all and somehow it becomes a focus, she said. It's OK to be weird Despite her mothers aversion to sewing, the activity soon became Johnsons passion. This is what I love, making clothes, Johnson told GMA. As a teen, she would take inspiration from her dolls costumes and make dresses for them. Little did she know that these little costumes would ultimately launch a fashion empire. I didnt ever sit and go, That was a good look, she said. Johnsons style has always been unapologetically her own. I knew there were more girls like me. I just knew it, she said. You need a little luck in life The ultimate spark in Johnsons fashion career came in 1965 when she won a Guest Editor Contest for Mademoiselle magazine. Her foray into the fashion industry even took her by surprise. Johnson studied art in college but never took a fashion course in her life. I just loved sewing and I just wanted to keep doing it, she explained. Her grit and passion made up for her lack of industry experience. After a decade of working with various designers and boutiques, Johnson launched her own fashion line in 1978. I have talent. I work really hard and Im lucky, she adds. Having a kid won't cramp your style While running her new fashion label, Johnson was also able start a family. Look how happy I am, Johnson exclaims in this photo with her daughter, Lulu. Having a kid was always a lifelong dream for Johnson and being a mom while also running a booming business made for a very unique experience. From Hong Kong to Turkey, I took Lulu all over the world, Johnson said. Be an icon, not a celebrity Johnson reconnected with her first love of dance when she joined the cast of ABC's Dancing With The Stars in 2014. She described the experience as terrifying yet wonderful. Although she was eliminated after the fourth week, the fashion designer was blown away by the support she received from fans. Theyll come over and hug me, Johnson said, adding that fans would often share stories about what my clothes did for them. Tell the story you want to tell Forty-one years after launching her eponymous fashion label, Johnson has solidified herself as a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry -- and shows no signs of stopping. Even working within a corporate level, I still love my brand, she said. Hearing Johnson talk about her new Pretty N Punk fragrance, its obvious that her excitement and passion for her job is stronger than ever. She explained that she chose the name for the perfume because it epitomizes her brand -- fierce and feminine. I love what it represents [my company] has kind of had the same pretty and punk attitude, she said. Trends may come and go, but for Johnson, embracing your individuality never goes out of style. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. SouthAmerica.travel Fam Trip Photo "FAM Tours gift our Team with an incredible opportunity to see first-hand what our clients experience on a customized travel package, including the guided city tours, adventurous excursions, luxurious private transfers, and comfortable accommodations." SouthAmerica.travel takes great pride in its superior knowledge of South America. Their expert Travel Consultants have journeyed through and called South America home for nearly twenty years. From the world-renowned coffee fields of Colombia, through the Amazon Rainforest, across Iguazu Falls and up the Andes - even as far-reaching as Antarctica - nobody takes more pride than SouthAmerica.travels outstanding team of professional travel experts. They use their passion and personal experience to create incredible travel packages for clients all around the world. They help prospective and curious would be travelers find everything from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to locals secrets. To continuously fuel their employee's desire to travel, founders Juergen Keller and Bradley Nehring inspire a unique and rare work perk named Familiarization Trips (nicknamed, Fam Tours). Fam Tours treat employees, from all global offices, to an all-expense paid trip to a myriad of popular destinations in South America. After all, how can we inspire others to explore the hidden gems of South America have not been there twice? Last year, the company flew employees from the United States and other global offices to Brazil and arranged local guides to help them explore Rio de Janeiro, Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Congonhas and Belo Horizonte. All expenses, including the flights, accommodations, dinners and transfers were covered. Margo Lynott, a pivotal member on the marketing team at South America.travel says: FAM Tours gift our Team with an incredible opportunity to see first-hand what our clients experience on a customized travel package, including the guided city tours, adventurous excursions, luxurious private transfers, and comfortable accommodations. We discover what we love the most about our tours and what we can improve on, all while learning more about the culture, peoples, and sights in South America. It's a rare experience which cannot be matched anywhere else. This year, they are taking employees to Brazil and covering different cities including Curitiba, Morretes (Antonina), Sao Paulo, Juiz de Fora (Tiradentes), Congonhas do Campo, Belo Horizonte and Rio! It doesnt stop there either! SouthAmerica.travel also provides its employees with Mini FAM Tours, a smaller but equally rewarding opportunity to better understand the colorful countries in South America. Mini FAM Tours center around the companys international offices in Argentina, Brazil and Peru. Employees living outside these countries are encouraged to fly to one of the offices and work there for a period of time. That way, on the weekends they can explore the city, the surrounding area and discover hidden gems they are unaware of. Some may travel to Patagonia to visit a particular lodge they are curious about. Some may go to the Amazon to try out one of the cruises. With SouthAmerica.travel, the opportunities are endless. -- About Us: SouthAmerica.travel is a tour operator specialized in custom South America tour planning for travelers worldwide from its offices in Seattle, Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Stuttgart. The website offers hundreds of sample itineraries as well as local phone numbers in 88 countries. SouthAmerica.travel offers 4-star & 5-star South America Tours to Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and more. Licensed and bonded in the U.S., SouthAmerica.travel has been sharing its love of travel to South America since 1999 and is proud of its A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau and ASTA affiliation. SouthAmerica.travel - Our name is our passion Follow SouthAmerica.travel: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAmericaDotTravel Twitter: https://twitter.com/SouthAmTravel Blog: https://news.SouthAmerica.travel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southamerica-travel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southamericadottravel/?hl=en Mulvaney Cousins Adventures: The Unfinished Manuscript: a compelling historical adventure, is the creation of published author Terry M. Becker, a blessed grandfather who shares his love for American history and heritage with his wife. They reside in Californias central coast. Becker writes, Erin Mulvaney never dreamed a simple book report could end up an adventure beyond her wildest imagination. She, along with her brother and her new best friend, convinced her cousins to join them in a journey through the pages of a mysterious ages-old unfinished manuscript. Unknown to them, they were about to embark on an excursion they would never forget filled with mystery, danger, unknown ancestors and outlaws. Erin and the rest of the Mulvaney cousins found things were not always what they seem as they search for the answers to the clues left over a hundred years ago. Not knowing what they were searching for or if it could still be there, they continued their quest. Was it a treasure or the truth to an old legend? Whatever it was, they could not stop their pursuit. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Terry M. Beckers new book is a captivating tale that encourages readers to dust off their thinking caps and take their memory of American Civil War history out for a spin. Becker offers an irresistible treasure hunt for a few hours spent in breathless page-turning. View a synopsis of Mulvaney Cousins Adventures: The Unfinished Manuscript on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Mulvaney Cousins Adventures: The Unfinished Manuscript at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Mulvaney Cousins Adventures: The Unfinished Manuscript, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. As we look forward, we see acquisitions and future financing as playing a key role in strengthening our competitive positioning and international presence. Simplus, a leader in Salesforce Quote-to-Cash, has successfully closed $20 million to further increase capacity across its product and service offerings, as well as acquire companies with complementary solutions valuable to customers. Silicon Valley Bank will provide an additional $6.5 million in debt financing. The round, designed to further ongoing expansion, was led by Kensington-SV Global Innovations LP (KSV) and joined by Savano Capital Partners. Existing investors Salesforce Ventures, Cross Creek Advisors, EPIC Ventures, University Growth Fund, Simplus CFO Paul Fletcher and G2 Crowd CEO Godard Abel also participated in the round. KSV was drawn to Simplus because of its strong management team and performance along with its unique combination of high customer satisfaction and award-winning culture. Simplus enjoys high customer satisfaction and loyalty while maintaining a long history of exceptional performance and growth, said Dan Gay, principal of KSV. When you couple that with its coveted status as a Platinum Salesforce Partner and remarkable culture, we see a winning combination. Our new partnership will enable Simplus to attract additional talent and further develop its unique approach to delivering for customers and winning in the marketplace. High customer satisfaction is evident in the hundreds of five-star Salesforce AppExchange reviews, and Simplus currently ranks as one of the top solutions for Salesforce customers. Numerous awards, such as Entrepreneur Magazines Top Company Culture, the Lotus Culture award and USA Todays Best Places to Work, attest to Simplus mantra, Culture is our number one metric. Simplus chose KSV to lead the Series C funding round because of its expertise in global markets, merger and acquisition transactions, and high-quality partnerships with companies in growth-stage businesses. With additional capital in hand, we aim to accelerate growth into new geographies, industries and products, said Ryan Westwood, CEO of Simplus. We have completed six acquisitions of complementary firms in the last two years. As we look forward, we see acquisitions and future financing as playing a key role in strengthening our competitive positioning and international presence. Simplus and KSV will focus their partnership on bringing Simplus expertise as the leader in Salesforce Quote-to-Cash to the global community and expanding its offerings to include products and services that enhance the Quote-to-Cash process. Salesforce is a proven platform to serve customers, and Simplus has emerged as the leader in Quote-to-Cash innovation. Because of this, we have enjoyed a steady inflow of experienced professionals attracted to the success and culture of Simplus driving remarkable organic growth. In joining Simplus, they see enhanced career opportunity and enjoy an award-winning culture, said Mr. Westwood. We are grateful for our remarkable team located in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Australia, and throughout the world, as well as our strong partnership with Salesforce. We look forward to helping customers across the globe digitally transform their enterprises and realize the strategic benefits from doing so. Simplus is currently one of the largest CPQ (configure, price, quote) global technology service providers, with more than 150 certified consultants and offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and the Philippines. Simplus has emerged as a strong leader in Salesforce Quote-to-Cash innovation, introducing intellectual property such as the first CPQ-focused manufacturing accelerator for Salesforce in Fall 2018. Simplus was ranked as the No. 1 fastest-growing consulting firm in 2018 by Consulting Magazine and a leader among 285 Salesforce consulting providers on the G2 Crowd Grid. For more information about Simplus services or the Series C funding round, please contact (949) 813-0182 or email amyc(at)simplus(dot)com. Salesforce CPQ is among the trademarks of Salesforce.com, Inc. About Simplus Simplus provides enterprise-wide digital transformation across the entire Salesforce ecosystem through advisory, implementation, change management, custom configuration and managed services. As a Platinum Salesforce Partner, we use leading cloud solutions to help companies achieve a strategic vision, improve performance and increase value to stakeholders. With more than 2,000 projects and a customer satisfaction rating in the top 1 percent of all Salesforce partners, Simplus helps companies improve, innovate and grow. For more information about Simplus, please visit http://www.simplus.com. Salesforce Ventures Salesforce Ventures is the fastest-growing enterprise software company and the No. 1 CRM provider globally. Salesforce Venturesthe companys corporate investment groupinvests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Customer Success Platform, helping companies connect with their customers in entirely new ways. Portfolio companies receive funding as well as access to the worlds largest cloud ecosystem and the guidance of Salesforces innovators and executives. With Salesforce Ventures, portfolio companies can also leverage Salesforce's expertise in corporate philanthropy by joining Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 280 enterprise cloud startups in 18 different countries since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.salesforce.com/ventures. Not knowing what to expect when seeing a fertility specialist is what prevents many people from scheduling that first consultation. What this event is intended to do is alleviate that fear by arming attendees with information so they can feel confident in taking that first step. Shady Grove Fertility physicians hosted nearly 150 free educational events in 2018 and helped thousands of couples successfully overcome infertility. With more than 10 SGF babies born each day, physician-hosted open seminars cover the myriad of treatment optionspersonalized to each patientthat are available at SGF. Events are hosted live throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Georgia, and Florida, and virtually from any location. Each event offers an open question and answer session or private opportunity to ask questions of the physician host. What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting is a seminar series that covers a variety of topics and walks attendees through the different touchpoints of the fertility journey. Not knowing what to expect when seeing a fertility specialist is what prevents many people from scheduling that first consultation. What this event is intended to do is alleviate that fear by arming attendees with information so they can feel confident in taking that first step, says Dr. Best who will be hosting an event on February 13 in Atlanta. I hear over and over again from my patients, If I had only known how simple fertility testing was, I would have done it sooner. Not to mention, they tell me of the tremendous relief they feel to finally have some answers after years of trying. I remind them, four simple tests is usually all it takes to determine the cause of infertility, adds Dr. Best. In fact, according to a 2018 survey of SGF patients, 65% of respondents said they wish they hadnt waited so long to see a fertility specialist. I remind my patients, especially considering how important a womans age is as it relates to fertility potential, the longer you wait to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of whats preventing conception, the more narrow your treatment options become. We see our highest success rates in couples who seek a fertility evaluation early, adds Best. There are many different treatment options available and they dont all involve the most advanced, in vitro fertilization (IVF). In fact, half of SGFs treatments are considered low tech or more basic and may involve simple timed intercourse, medications, and/or outpatient intrauterine insemination (IUI), shares Best. Is my period normal is a question millions of women ask themselves, especially if they are trying to conceive. A womans menstrual cycle reveals a tremendous amount of information thats useful to us as fertility specialists, and lends an understanding to potential issues that are preventing a healthy pregnancy from occurring, says Wende Allen, PA-C, host of the virtual event What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility on February 28. Often patients dont realize that absent, heavy, irregular, or painful periods indicate an underlying problem that can make becoming pregnant without help very challenging. Fortunately, we have many treatments available that can assist, adds Allen. Find a seminar nearby in one of the practices six regions: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Florida or sign up for a virtual, live webinar. Visit the Shady Grove Fertilitys calendar of events. All events are complimentary but interested parties must register to attend. If you are struggling to conceive, it may be time to see a fertility specialist. Contact the Shady Grove Fertility New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete a brief online form and get started on your path to parenthood. February Seminars February 6 | Fairfax, VA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Eric Levens February 13 | Atlanta, GA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Monica Best February 19 | Richmond, VA| What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Geof Tidey February 19 | Columbia, MD | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Lorna Timmreck February 20 | Woodbridge, VA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Brad Swelstad February 27 | Frederick, MD | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Jason Bromer February 27 | Arlington, VA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Anitha Nair February 28 | Chesterbrook, PA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Isaac Sasson February Webinars February 7 | Online| IVF Webinar | Dr. Shruti Malik February 12 | Online | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Naveed Khan February 28 | Online | What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility | Wende Allen, PA-C View SGFs growing library of on-demand webinars and free e-books. About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 50,000 babies born and counting. With 33 locations throughout MD, PA, VA, D.C., GA, and FL, we offer patients individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com. RouteOne Brad Rogers has done a remarkable job with and for RouteOne since its inception in 2002. His leadership has helped form and enable our strategy Brad Rogers, RouteOnes current Chief Operating Officer, announced today his resignation after his long tenure, beginning in 2002 and playing a critical role in shaping RouteOne into the industry leader it is today. Rogers will be leaving to take leadership of an organization in an adjacent industry. As a result of his departure, his portfolio will be assumed by expanding the responsibilities of RouteOnes current leadership team as follows: Chris Irving, Chief Technology Officer, will add oversight of the Business Intelligence team, and continue to lead IT Operations, Application Delivery, Architecture, and Internal IT systems. Jeff Belanger, Senior Vice President, Business Development, will add the OEM and Strategic Alliance teams to his current responsibilities of Dealer and Finance Source relationships, giving him responsibility over all of RouteOnes Business Development activities. Amanda George will assume responsibility for RouteOnes Marketing team and be elevated to Senior Vice President, Product, Customer Solutions, Integrations, and Marketing. Jason Bolduc will add the Business Operations team to his current portfolio of Customer Success and Strategic Planning teams and assume the title of Vice President, Strategy and Operations. Anthony Goulbourne will be elevated to President, Canadian Operations. All of the above will report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Justin Oesterle. Separately, the IT team will be making the following moves: Rotating their assignments, Maureen Foley will now be Director, IT Operations and Suren Edara will now be Director, Application Development, to benefit the overall continuity at RouteOne. Brad Rogers has done a remarkable job with and for RouteOne since its inception in 2002. His leadership has helped form and enable our strategy we thank him for his contributions and wish him the very best as he pursues his new venture, stated Justin Oesterle, Chief Executive Officer. We are equally enthusiastic for the growth opportunity this change presents for our leadership team. RouteOne is fortunate to have an incredibly talented team and we are excited for this next chapter in our journey. About RouteOne RouteOne was formed in 2002 by Ally Financial, Ford Motor Credit Company, TD Auto Finance, and Toyota Financial Services to improve the F&I process for automobile dealers and their customers. Connecting thousands of dealers and finance sources in North America for vehicle financing, RouteOnes platform delivers a comprehensive suite of F&I solutions across multiple channels: in-store, online, mobile, and via third-party solutions. Its product line-up includes credit application, eContracting, menu, online/mobile retail services, and compliance. In addition, RouteOne enables dealer choice across a wide variety of best-in-class providers through open integrations with over 170 DSPs. More information is available at http://www.routeone.com. Navy SEAL Foundation welcomes Vice Admiral (RET.) Sean Pybus as the new chairman. I believe the legitimate demands expected of the Navy SEAL Foundation will continue to rise - and I have no doubts that the NSF Team and Board will continue to meet those needs. The Navy SEAL Foundation today introduced Vice Admiral (RET.) Sean Pybus as the new chairman of the Foundations board of directors, replacing Rear Admiral (RET.) Garry Bonelli who completed his tenure as of January 31st. Having worked on the board with my friend and colleague Admiral Bonelli for many years, I know firsthand about the big shoes to be filled, but Im looking forward to building on this Boards success today and in the years to come, Vice Admiral Sean A. Pybus stated. I believe the legitimate demands expected of the Navy SEAL Foundation will continue to rise - and I have no doubts that the NSF Team and Board will continue to meet those needs. Its been my honor to serve as chair of the Navy SEAL Foundation, said Rear Admiral (RET.) Garry Bonelli. Our volunteer board, professional staff, and steadfast donor support have helped enhance the resiliency of our warriors and their families who sacrifice so much every day for the defense of our great Nation. Bonelli added, "I can think of no better frogman than Sean Pybus to lead our foundation forward. He will inspire both our donors and our dedicated volunteers." A Vietnam combat veteran, Admiral Bonelli, (BUD/S Class 51) is the 2019 Chairman of the Board of the San Diego Unified Port District and has served on the Foundations board as chair for the past five years. The organization greatly strengthened its financial security during his leadership and expanded to a second location in order to more conveniently serve SEAL communities on both coasts. Under his watch, the NSF earned unprecedented consecutive Four-Star ratings and perfect scores according to the esteemed non-profit watchdog, Charity Navigator. Before retiring as a career Naval Special Warfare (NSW) SEAL officer in December 2016, Vice Admiral (RET.) Pybus served multiple Joint Special Operations duty assignments in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia and later command tours in Panama, Germany and Bahrain, as well as duty as Commodore, NSW Group One, San Diego. After duty as Commodore, NSW Group One, he went on to command Special Operations in the Pacific; the NSW community; and NATOs Special Operations Forces. Today, he is president of The Pybus Group of Odessa, FL. In that role, he consults and advises defense and security sector organizations, providing strategic recommendations and business development steerage to C-Suite leaders. Pybus attended the University of Rochester where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1979. He earned a regular Navy commission through NROTC and graduated Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in December 1979, with Class 105. Decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (one award), Distinguished Service Medal (one award), Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), and various other awards. He is also a 1998 Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College with a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. About the Navy SEAL Foundation: The Navy SEAL Foundation's mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community and its families. U.S. Navy SEALs have been in sustained combat for over 18 years, performing hazardous work in unforgiving environments at an unrelenting pace. SEALs are currently deployed in over 30+ countries across the globe and can spend up to 270 days each year in harm's way. The Navy SEAL Foundation stands behind these warriors and their families by providing a comprehensive set of programs specifically designed to improve health and welfare, build and enhance resiliency, empower and educate families and provide critical support during times of illness, injury or loss. Like the community it serves, the Navy SEAL Foundation is a high performing organization committed to excellence. NSF has received seven consecutive 4-Star ratings from Charity Navigator. It is one of less than 70 charities from among more than 9,000 to have earned a perfect score of 100 for its financial health, accountability, and transparency, placing NSF in the top 1% of the rated charities. Ninety-four cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs or is retained for future mission use. The Navy SEAL Foundation is a 501c3 national non-profit charitable organization. TAX-ID 31-1728910. The Navy SEAL Foundation is a non-federal entity. It is not a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components, and it has no governmental status. For more information, please visit: http://www.navySEALfoundation.org World Cruises 2021. You Only Live Twice. By operating two World Cruises in 2021, we are increasing the offering for our guests, pushing boundaries in the world of travel, says Manfredi Lefebvre dOvidio, Silverseas Executive Chairman. Silversea Cruises continues to push boundaries with the announcement of two pioneering World Cruises in 2021, including the worlds first ever Expedition World Cruise. Offering distinct sets of experiences and differing ways to discover our planet, the two World Cruises will enable Silverseas guests to travel deeper into the worlds authentic beauty on their own terms, as they cruise in superlative comfort. Today, January 30, marks the opening of an exclusive pre-sale to world-cruising guests of 2019 and guests booked on the World Cruise 2020. Sales for the two World Cruises 2021 will open to the general public in March 2019. 2021 Expedition World Cruise. The Uncharted World Tour. Affirming the cruise lines market leadership in its 10th year of expedition travel, Silversea reveals the 2021 Expedition World Cruise, described as the uncharted world tour. Fully inclusive, Silverseas Expedition World Cruise 2021 is unprecedented with regards to the scope of immersive experiences on offer: the itinerary is crafted to connect the most rewarding travel experiences around the planet. This experience-focused expedition will appeal to those with a passion for discovery, who like to stay active on their travels, and continue to challenge their own sense of adventure. From Ushuaia to Troms, the 167-day voyage will call at 107 of the planets most amazing destinations, in 30 must-visit countriesincluding six new ports of call for Silversea (Naxos, Folegandros, Nafpaktos, Ksamil, Bejaia, and Fort William). The 2-bedroom Owners Suite on Silver Cloud is offered at a price just short of USD 1 million for the entire World Cruise. This highly experiential expedition will enable guests to engage with remote destinations through hands-on exploration; immersive shore excursions, which are included; informative lectures from Silverseas Expedition Team; and featured lectures from many world-class experts, including, among others, the inspirational Felicity Aston MBEa recipient of the Polar Medal and the first and only woman to cross Antarctica aloneand Tim Severina world-renowned explorer who has retraced the storied journeys of Saint Brendan the Navigator, Sindbad the Sailor, Jason and the Argonauts, Ulysses, The First Crusade, and Genghis Khan. Guests will enjoy a private dinner on London Tower Bridges walkway, an exclusive Viking feast in Kjarnaskogur Forest in Iceland, and a number of other bespoke events around the world. Moreover, for a segment of this innovative World Cruise, Silverseas Senior Vice President of Expedition and Destinations Experiences, Conrad Combrink, will feature as Expedition Leader, enriching the voyage for guests. Departing Ushuaia on January 30, 2021, Silverseas ultra-luxurious ice-class crossover, Silver Cloud, will journey between Antarcticas highlight destinations, before setting course for Chiles Valparaiso via the Chilean Fjords. Subsequently, guests will set sail for Papeete, Tahiti, via Easter Island and the fabled Pitcairn Island, before voyaging towards Lautoka, Fiji. Calls in a number of other iconic destinations in Oceaniaincluding remote exploration stops in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guineaprecede guests arrival in Cairns, Australia, which then leads to the Kimberley Coast. Guests will subsequently unlock various destinations in Indonesia, before arriving in Singapore. Next, Silver Cloud will set sail for Sumatra, Sri Lanka and Cochin, India, prior to reaching Piraeus (Athens), Lisbon, and Reykjavik. Part of an emphatic conclusion, guests aboard Silverseas 2021 Expedition World Cruise will then explore the highlights of Iceland, ahead of calls in the Svalbard Region and the voyages conclusion in Troms, Norway, on July 16, 2021. 2021 World Cruise. The Finest World Tour. For connoisseurs of travel who wish to get closer to the authentic beauty of the world at a relaxed pace, enjoying the opportunity to form deep connections and savour experiences over time, the 2021 World Cruise beckons. Referred to as the Finest World Tour, this 54-port, 150-day, 34-country itinerary will begin with the departure of Silverseas Silver Whisper from Fort Lauderdale on January 7, 2021, and will conclude in New York on June 6. On the World Cruise 2021, world-cruising guests will both embark and debark in the USA, having travelled around the planet. In addition to many of the benefits that will enrich the Expedition World Cruise 2021, guests on this cultured voyage will enjoy two new Silversea initiatives: Dine Around Town, which will offer guests the chance to indulge in a meal on us at fine restaurants in their choice of two of four cities, with bespoke menus and wine pairings; and Your Day Your Way, which will enable travellers to travel deeper on their own or with friends, accompanied by English-speaking guides and transported in private sedans or minivans. Also, as part of a rich schedule of bespoke events, guests will enjoy a traditional Venetian masquerade ball in the City of Water and a glamorous night at the races in Hong Kong. Silver Whisper will depart Fort Lauderdale to begin the World Cruise 2021, before unlocking many remarkable destinations for guests in Central America. After transiting the iconic Panama Canal, guests will reach Callao (Lima), before enjoying the delights of Easter Island and various other highlights of the South Pacific Region, and subsequently arriving in Auckland, New Zealand. From New Zealand, the World Cruise will continue onto Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, before reaching Benoa in Bali. Various stops throughout the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea precede the ships arrival in Tokyo. After Kagoshima, guests will travel deeper to the iconic destinations of Asia: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Yangon, Colombo, and Mumbai. Silverseas guests will next set sail for Piraeus (Athens) and Lisbon, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the ultimate stretch of the World Cruise 2021 to New York. By operating two World Cruises in 2021, we are increasing the offering for our guests, pushing boundaries in the world of travel, says Manfredi Lefebvre dOvidio, Silverseas Executive Chairman. With a passion for sharing the authentic beauty of our planet, we are enabling our guests to discover the world on their own terms. Building on our already remarkable World Cruise offering, Silversea will become the first ever cruise line to launch an Expedition World Cruise in 2021, says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea Cruises CEO. This momentous voyage is the result of 10 years of experience and industry-leading knowledgequalities which enable us to unlock remarkable travel experiences for our guests and have contributed to our reputation as the industry leader. Aboard Silversea ships, guests enjoy ocean-view suites, sumptuous cuisine, and the personalised service of a butler. Enriching the experience are such all-inclusive amenities as complimentary premium wines and spirits, speciality coffees, bottled water, juices and soft drinks served throughout the ship; an in-suite bar, stocked with guests' preferences; in-suite 24-hour dining; and unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi. Throughout both World Cruises in 2021, guests will also benefit from a complimentary laundry service; medical service; and an inclusive visa package for nationals of the USA, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia. Find out more information about both World Cruises in 2021: https://www.silversea.com/lp-world-cruises-2021.html View and download images and videos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9wnupsqla88rvht/AAC8NI1MBqpj73QKLPI7UG6qa?dl=0 2019 PDA Annual Meeting The 2019 PDA Annual Meeting offers something for everyone in the PDA community, whether they are working on technology transfers, developing innovative manufacturing strategies, or maneuvering the various regulatory hurdles to innovation. The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) announced plans to release the results of its 2019 Technology Transfers Survey during the 2019 PDA Annual Meeting at the Marriott Marquis San Diego, Calif., March 11 13. The survey results will be discussed at the Technology Transfer Interest Group session on Tue., March 12, 10:45 12:15. The session will also focus on the essentials of technology transfers, including a discussion of benchmarking, tools and tips, by Beth Haas, CAI, and John Wass, CAI. PDA is currently working on several initiatives relating to technology transfers, which are a necessary but complex part of modern drug and biologic manufacturing. Gathering data to better understand how companies implement technology transfers and the challenges that they encounter is the first step. PDA anticipates over 200 participants in the survey. Ultimately, the goal is to incorporate findings into a potential revision of PDA Technical Report No. 65: Technology Transfer and develop additional guidance on the topicboth using the survey results and the discussion generated at the PDA conference. Each session at the 2019 PDA Annual Meeting: Solving Manufacturing and Supply Challenges for Current and Future Medicinal Products is designed to engage attendees in discussions on improving existing processes or entirely new technologies and therapies. The 2019 PDA Annual Meeting offers something for everyone in the PDA community, whether they are working on technology transfers, developing innovative manufacturing strategies, or maneuvering the various regulatory hurdles to innovation, said Richard Johnson, PDA President & CEO. I look forward to seeing the many advisory board, interest group, chapter and other volunteers who attend this meeting each year. Richard Johnson will be available to discuss important industry trends and PDA initiatives with members of the press on Mon., March 11, 3:10 3:30 (room location TBD). Press passes are available to bona fide members of the press. About PDA Connecting People, Science and Regulation The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is the leading global provider of science, technology and regulatory information and education for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical community. Founded in 1946 as a nonprofit organization, PDA is committed to developing scientifically sound, practical technical information and resources to advance science and regulation through the expertise of over 10,500 members worldwide. Go to http://www.pda.org/footer/about-pda to learn more. Blue Dome Press is pleased to announce the release of "For the Sake of Allah: The Origin, Development, and Discourse of the Gulen Movement" by Anwar Alam. When Anwar Alam first encountered members of the Gulen or Hizmet Movement, it was a chance meeting. This initial encounter led to multiple trips to Turkey, where Alam interacted with and studied members of Hizmet, as well as other members of Turkish society, to better understand a movement that, to him, seemed hardly Islamic. What Alam found was a remarkable civic society organization, one that straddles the religious and secular worlds, and believes in democracy, universal human rights, and education. Despite facing spurious doubts from secular Turks and enormous cultural changes that have led to a merciless government crackdown, Hizmet and its idealistic members have continued to pursue the kind of positive, peaceful changes needed in the world. "For the Sake of Allah" studies the movements origins in the latter half of the 20th century; its development and growth; and finally, its discourse on matters both domestic and global. Its a perfect primer for those unfamiliar with Hizmet and is required reading for those interested in the Gulen Movements outlook, approach, and efforts to create a more just society. It will also dispel the many unfounded, malicious rumors that have been circulated about the Movement, drawing instead upon the authors extensive firsthand experiences with this remarkable organization. Anwar Alam, PhD, is Senior Fellow with Policy Perspectives Foundation, New Delhi. Earlier he served as Professor of International Relations at Zirve University, Gaziantep, Turkey, and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Director of Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Associate Professor at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Germany, and specializes in West Asian and South Asian Studies. Title: "For the Sake of Allah: The Origin, Development, and Discourse of the Gulen Movement" by Anwar Alam ISBN 9781682060223, 385 pages, hardcover, March 2019, $24.95 Distributed By: NBN - National Book Network Medicaid patients in Northwest Florida have the highest number of preventable emergency room visits in the state; the highest rate of premature births; and high rates of smoking, obesity and substance use disorders. I think this needs to change. Today, Lighthouse Health Plan announces its launch as a doctor-led Medicaid health plan based in the Florida Panhandle. By linking providers with the new Lighthouse Health Plan, we create a new, local way of thinking about health care and the role of health plans in our communities. Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, Lighthouse Health Plan is a community-based Medicaid insurance plan created and run by doctors. Today, Lighthouse officially begins providing Medicaid coverage to approximately 24,000 beneficiaries in Medicaid Regions 1 and 2 of Florida. Approximately 200,000 people in the Florida Panhandle qualify for Medicaid. Of those, 70 percent are at-risk children, many of whom face food and housing insecurities and social and economic disadvantages, creating challenges to receiving basic health care. Medicaid patients in Northwest Florida have the highest number of preventable emergency room visits in the state; the highest rate of premature births; and high rates of smoking, obesity and substance use disorders. I think this needs to change, said Christie Spencer, CEO, Lighthouse Health Plan. By working directly with doctors, Lighthouse does not have to navigate all the things traditional insurance companies do, Spencer furthered. We can convene the right set of health care and community resources to make sure patients receive the care they need. Lighthouse is partnering with a broad network of doctors, hospitals and other providers to serve members. Thousands of providers have already joined the Lighthouse network. These organizations are coming together because of the need for a more coordinated, lower cost care for Medicaid beneficiaries that are locally based. I put a high value on a community-based health plan model, said Dan Sontheimer, Chief Medical Officer for Lighthouse Health Plan. Thats why I have chosen to join Lighthouse with a doctor-led approach that offers new resources and higher levels of local support than traditional health plans, allowing doctors to do what they do best, providing patients with high quality care. The best part of achieving your goals is the ability to set another, higher goal. Early education and child care franchise Lightbridge Academy can attest to this on multiple fronts thanks to a wildly successful year celebrating two decades in business. Giving back has been a part of the brands DNA from the beginning; founder and CEO Guy Falzarano created the Lightbridge Foundation as an extension of the brands Circle of Care philosophy in 2001, just three years after its first center opened. To date, the Lightbridge Foundation has given away nearly $450,000 to those in need -- including a whopping $68,000 awarded in grants and support this year. Dina Duffy, the foundations executive director, explained her teams original goal was to grant 20 wishes with $20,000 in celebration of Lightbridge Academys 20th anniversary. The Lightbridge Foundation raised funds through a variety of activities and events, including its inaugural Field Day, an event full of fun games and friendly competition challenges--including a baby race-- that Duffy said had phenomenal participation from kids, their families and Lightbridge staff across all of its locations. Field Day and several other events helped the foundation raise nearly $40,000 over the year, which when coupled with funds reserved from prior years, allowed for a record $68,000 in donations being awarded by the Lightbridge Foundation. For Duffy, being able to support the greater community in such a substantial way holds great personal meaning. I lost my son two years ago, and if it wasnt for my Lightbridge family, I dont know what I would have done, Duffy said. When you go through something like that, you want to reach out to others to help them with what theyre going through. The Lightbridge Foundation prides itself on supporting anyone who falls within the company's Circle of Care philosophy: children, families, staff, franchisees and the greater community regardless of their affiliation with Lightbridge. Duffy detailed the variety of community members the foundation granted wishes to over the course of the year, from a staff member who needed medical equipment in order to come home from the hospital, to children diagnosed with cancer in need of expensive support, to a community member with nine children who lost everything in a fire. We work very hard to find some way to help, Duffy said. Whether it is through active participation in community events, volunteering or providing financial support, theres heart involved. For us, its all about demonstrating that we care deeply for those families in need and are here to support them through their journey. One beneficiary of the Lightbridge Foundation was Lisa Hayward, a longtime Lightbridge Academy staff member who began her career while still in college as a teachers assistant located in Rutherford, New Jersey. Hayward eventually received a full-time teaching position at another Lightbridge center in nearby Clifton where she has worked ever since. When Haywards triplet daughters were born prematurely, the foundation stepped in to help. When my daughters were born at 29 weeks, we didnt know what to expect, Hayward said. Lola and Delilah spent 66 days in the NICU, while Stella spent 113 days there. I was on a lengthy maternity leave, some of which was unpaid. The Lightbridge Foundations grant helped us pay for expenses for travel to NYC to see our girls daily, as well as help us make ends meet before I could go back to work. For Hayward, Lightbridges impact on her family goes far beyond the tangible support they received during an extremely difficult time. The family at Lightbridge has been part of our lives for a long time, she said. Not having to stress about financial issues, being able to focus on our girls getting stronger and enjoying our time together. I was completely taken aback and didnt expect such generosity. Now happy and healthy, Haywards daughters are enrolled in Lightbridge Academy. The staff is extremely supportive of us as parents and our girls, and we know that their time there will be well spent, she said. After an incredible year of giving, Duffy is already motivated and ready to kick into high gear for next years efforts to support deserving individuals within the Circle of Care like Hayward and her family. There is never a lack of families needing support, Duffy said. Its my job as executive director to raise the funds and resources to help the foundation meet that demand. We are reaching out to larger companies and conducting bigger fundraising events than just inside our centers. I know the difference we make and am passionate about continuing to building the Lightbridge Foundation in order to supporting the families in the communities we serve. About Lightbridge Academy: Established in 1997, Lightbridge Academy provides early education and child care to children ages six weeks through kindergarten, as well as special programming for children up to 10 years old during school holidays, breaks and summer camp. The company franchised in 2011 in an effort to expand their distinctive concept throughout the Northeast; it currently has over 100 child care centers either open, under construction or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Guy and Julia Falzarano founded the company based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners, and the community. Lightbridge Academy was ranked on the Entreprenuer Magazine Franchise 500 in 2019 and on the Franchise Times Top 200+ in 2018. To learn more about Lightbridge Academy, prospective families and franchisees are encouraged to visit http://www.LightbridgeAcademy.com or call (732) 980-1900 x 199. Fully mobile, gorgeous website for Lana'i Federal Credit Union "OMNICOMMANDER has provided us the tool to put us in the front line, I highly recommend their services to those who want to revitalize the face of their credit unions! The website features modern, mobile-responsive and accessible design, functionality, and enriched content areas to help current and prospective credit union members make well-informed decisions about their banking, financial needs, and goals. The developers built custom animation specifically for this website, adding a little flair and creativity. OMNICOMMANDER Founder and CEO, Eric Isham said, Lanai FCUs new site is another stunning realization of what small credit unions should be demanding for their digital presence. Im honored that they trusted us to build their first website. The executives at Lanaii worked seamlessly with our implementation team to create a truly unique and inspiring website. To stay ahead of the curve in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, OMNICOMMANDER developed the industrys first four step process for website accessibility. With litigation risks sweeping the country, credit unions have found themselves needing a partner experienced in building websites that are WCAG 2.1, level AA compliant. "Scanners and widgets simply don't work. Only manual reviews of websites can insure accessibility," stated Isham. "We have full-time compliance officers, as well as a disabled blind veteran on board who ensures our websites are accessible." Lanai Federal Credit Unions CEO/Manager Charity Texeira said, As a small credit union on a small island with no digital services to offer, keeping up with the economic changes was surely a challenge. We realized that technology has clearly changed the landscape of how people move through their daily lives, specifically in how they choose to do their banking. We were afraid that if we wait any longer to jump on the bandwagon of digital services, we would be left behind. We partnered with OMNICOMMANDER to not only design our very first website, but also to rebrand and redesign our credit union logo, and we are so VERY thankful we did! Building a website from the ground up can be a tedious process, though working with the OMNICOMMANDER team made it so easy and seamless! Our new website displays our brand and our true character of the small island community we serve. Our members have provided only positive feedback, with excitement on what the future will bring as we continue to implement digital services. OMNICOMMANDER has provided us the tool to put us in the front line, I highly recommend their services to those who want to revitalize the face of their credit unions! About OMNICOMMANDER OMNICOMMANDER is a veteran owned and operated credit union website design and social media marketing firm. With a focus on member experience, the company ensures every touchpoint has the exact same user interface. Along with incredible design, OMNICOMMANDER creates sites with built-in mobile responsiveness, SSL encryption, and observance of ADA guidelines on accessibility for disabled members. Additionally, OMNICOMMANDER provides other marketing services including targeted marketing, branding, and social media. For more information, visit OMNICOMMANDER on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. About Lanai Federal Credit Union Established in 1938, the Lanai Federal Credit Union, originally known as HAPCO Lanai Federal Credit Union, was organized to serve the employees of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, on the island of Lanai, Hawaii. Lanai was once the largest pineapple plantation, producing 90% of the worlds pineapple during the 1950s 1970s. Over the years, agriculture began to diminish throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Lanais pineapple production ceased completely, transitioning to the industry of hospitality and tourism. In 1986, the organization changed its name to the Lanai Federal Credit Union. Today, they continue to serve the community of Lanai with great pride, and will continue to fulfill their mission for many more years to come. MIAMI Chairman of the Board Jose Maria Chepe Serrano Im incredibly honored to lead our South Florida Realtor family into another successful year, Serrano said. The MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI) has elected Jose Maria Chepe Serrano as its 2019 chairman of the board. He and the 2019 MIAMI leadership boards will be installed this afternoon at MIAMIs 2019 Inaugural and Awards Celebration at Jungle Island. Im incredibly honored to lead our South Florida Realtor family into another successful year, Serrano said. In 2019, MIAMI Realtors will continue to work to protect homeownership rights, improve communities and benefit consumers. Our priorities in 2019 include market influence, increased professionalism, broker/member profitability, professional development, collaboration and cooperation with other organizations, community initiatives and more. Serrano, who is the founder and owner of New Miami Realty Corp. in Miami since 2003, will lead the MIAMI Corporate Board. The board analyzes trends and makes key policy decisions affecting the real estate industry in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. MIAMI represents nearly 50,000 residential, commercial and international real estate professionals. Serrano first came to the United States from Bogota, Colombia to attend Xavier University in Ohio. He didnt have any family and friends in America. He didnt speak English. Serrano learned English and moved to Miami to study at Florida International University, where he met his wife, Simona, and had two children (son Nicolas and daughter Daniela). Simona is also a Realtor at New Miami Realty. Serrano partnered with his older brother, Gabriel, to launch New Miami Realty, Corp. in 2003. Eager to help his community and his industry in the way his parents taught him, Serrano began volunteering his time on local Realtor boards at the local, state and national levels. In 2017, Serrano served as MIAMI commercial president. That same year, Serrano was awarded the prestigious Commercial Achievement Award by the Florida Realtors for his excellence in commercial real estate, and his dedication and commitment. In addition to serving as 2019 MIAMI chairman, Serrano is the vice president of his local Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) chapter. At the state level, Serrano has served on more than 33 committees for Florida Realtors. He is a Florida Realtors-accredited instructor and teaches regularly at the local and state level. At the national level, Serrano is a member of NARs Global Business and Alliance Committee. He helped launch the NAR Pilot Grant Program, designed to actively give back to and enhance local communities. Locally, Serrano remains involved with FIUs alumni association. He also teaches as an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College. A devout Catholic, Serrano is an active member in his Miami parish. Serrano is in the Archdiocese of Miamis lay ministers program. He helps his church in the married couples ministry Matrimonios en Victoria/Marriages in Victory and in the marriage preparation ministry FOCCUS. Announcing the 2019 MIAMI Corporate Board Joining Serrano are: Chairman of the Board-Elect Jorge L. Guerra, Jr., CRS of Real Estate Sales Force; 2018 Chairman of the Board George C. Jalil, RAA, TRC of First Service Realty, Real Living; Secretary Mark Sadek of The Keyes Company, Inc.; Treasurer Jack H. Levine, ABR, ABRM, CRB, CRS, SRES of Levine Realty Inc., Commercial President Jennifer Wollmann, CIPS of EWM Realty International; Residential President Ines Hegedus-Garcia of Related ISG International Realty; Broward President Jonathan Keith of Compass Florida, LLC; JTHS-MIAMI President Kim Price, CIPS of Jupiter Lighthouse Realty; YPN President Wesley Ulloa, CLHMS of LUXE Properties; Commercial President-Elect Fernando Arencibia, Jr, CDPE of RE/MAX Realty 1; Residential President-Elect Raul Estrada of Gables Mavens; Broward President-Elect Sharon R. Lindblade, CIPS, GRI, PMN, PSA of Century 21 Hansen Realty; JTHS-MIAMI President-Elect David Avernathy of Waterfront Properties & Club; 2019 YPN President-Elect Peter Ortega of Keller Williams Miami Beach; Director John Dohm, SIOR, CCIM, CFP of Infinity Commercial/Florida Transatlantic; Director Brian Sharpe of Sharpe Properties Group; Director Ron A. Shuffield of EWM Realty International; Director Moe Veissi of Veissi & Associates, Inc.; Director Christopher Zoller, CRS of EWM Realty International. Teresa King Kinney, CAE, CIPS, GRI, RCE, TRC serves as the CEO for the MIAMI Association of Realtors. About the MIAMI Association of Realtors The MIAMI Association of Realtors was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 99 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward Council, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents more than 46,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 204 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IVR Doctors Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary Automated phone system usability specialists start second decade. IVR Doctors, one of the leading usability and human factors consulting firms for evaluating and improving customer experience and system performance in automated phone systems, celebrates its first decade in business in 2019. With clients throughout the U.S. and Canada, the IVRInteractive Voice ResponseDoctors team has assisted a wide range of companies in making the customer experience and service a top priority for callers to their automated telephone systems, reducing operating costs and customer frustration. Given the typical track record of start-up businesses, this anniversary marks a significant milestone, says Mark Camack, Principal and IVR Doctors co-founder. Were so pleased and grateful for the recognition weve received for understanding that the user experience is an ongoing, essential component in evaluating how technology works for real people in the real world. Another key reason for our success, as were often told by clients, is that we are technology agnostic, focused only a better customer experience, not selling hardware or software which otherwise might bias our consulting, says Peter Brandt, IVR Doctors Principal and co-founder. IVR Doctors clients include large and small energy utilities, and companies in financial services and healthcare segments, including the Berkshire Hathaway Energy utilities (MidAmerican Energy, NV Energy, PacifiCorp), Hydro One (Canada), Sempra Energy (San Diego Gas & Electric and SoCalGas), Southern Companys (Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power); BMO Harris Bank; Navy Federal Credit Union; CVS Health; and many others. Read more about IVR Doctors here. Contact IVR Doctors at http://ivrdoctors.com. IVR Doctors is a (DBA) collaboration of Brandt Marketing Group, based in Charleston, South Carolina, and Camack Consulting, Inc., in Portland, Oregon. ## The new website boasts an easy to use, intuitive layout, sharp graphics and a large array of helpful features. Its optimized for use on all devices. Prospective Honda buyers and shoppers in the Santa Maria area will find their experience streamlined through the new website for Honda of Santa Maria, a Honda dealership catering to the local and surrounding community. The new website boasts an easy to use, intuitive layout, sharp graphics and a large array of helpful features. Its optimized for use on all devices. Honda of Santa Marias entire used and new inventory are available for online perusal, sorted conveniently by model type and trim. Theres also a detailed search feature that allows users to search for vehicles based on desired model, price range, color, features, body style, fuel economy and more. The websites Finance section features a variety of pages that allow users to get lease and loan information, assess values, schedule a test drive and even apply for credit approval online. The Service section allows users to learn about available services, schedule an appointment, order from the parts and tire store, check service specials and learn about Honda warranty information. Theres also a tool allowing users to research whether a particular Honda vehicle has been recalled. The Specials section allows users to easily check available offers, including weekly ads, national offers and service specials. It also contains pages detailing Honda of Santa Marias Military Appreciation Offer and College Grad Leasing Program. The About Us section features several pages of information to help users learn more about Honda of Santa Maria, including customer testimonials, information about Honda of Santa Maria and its staff, and career opportunities at the dealership. It also includes a link to the Honda of Santa Maria blog, which features periodic entries on Honda, Santa Maria, and general car-related topics. Those with questions or inquiries regarding Honda of Santa Maria or the features on their new website are encouraged to reach out to the dealerships staff. Honda of Santa Maria employees can be reached through the dealerships website (http://www.hondaofsantamaria.com), by calling 866-421-2268 or by visiting the dealerships location at 2175 S. Bradley Road. We are very excited to welcome Cory and Miri as key staff members in our new Boise office. With their experience, talents, and enthusiasm well be able to extend Guidants presence in and throughout Boises vibrant business community, said David Nilssen, CEO of Guidant Financial. Guidant Financial, a leader in small business financing, is pleased to announce that Cory Sanford and MirI Wroten have joined the company in key management roles for the new Boise, Idaho office. Cory is the new Human Resources Director and Miri is the new Finance Manager. They join the company bringing extensive experience in human resources and finance to the new office. With the staff in place it furthers Guidants commitment to Boise, and making this new, second office a viable part of the community. We are very excited to welcome Cory and Miri as key staff members in our new Boise office. With their experience, talents, and enthusiasm well be able to extend Guidants presence in and throughout Boises vibrant business community, furthering our commitment to the community, said David Nilssen, CEO of Guidant Financial. Most recently Cory was the Human Resources Director for Ashley Manor in Boise. Prior to which he worked as the Human Resources Director for Auburn Crest Hospice, Chief Excitement Officer for tHRee60 Consulting and Employee Relations advisor and Human Resource Generalist for Ada County. He has a Bachelor of Science, Human Resources Management from Boise State University and is currently working towards a Masters from Cornell University. He lives in Boise with his family. Prior to joining Guidant, Miri was a Senior Financial Analyst for Micron Technology in Boise. She also worked as a Revenue Accounting Manager and Senior Financial Account for Micron. Earlier in her career, she was an Accounting Manager for Kleinsmith & Co., a Staff Accountant for Cooper Norman/Hopper and a Tax Payers Service Agent for the Idaho State Tax Commission. She has a Master of Science in Accountancy from Boise State University and a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Guidant Financial announced in November 2018 its expansion plans to open a new office in Boise, Idaho. The office is led by Jeremy Ames, president and co-founder of Guidant Financial and is located at 9196 W. Emerald, Boise 83704. It is anticipated that nearly 100 employees will be working in the new office in the next 2-3 years in sales, customer service, administration, and other areas. Guidant Financial is dedicated to maintaining and expanding its competences and expertise as it continues to grow. Guidant is committed to helping people succeed in small business, from helping first-time business owners identify and secure the right financing to investing in technology and providing a continuum of services to customers through the life of their business. About Guidant Financial Headquartered in Bellevue, WA Guidant Financial helps business owners secure financing to start, buy or grow a business. An industry leader in business and franchise financing, Guidant works with new and existing entrepreneurs to identify, evaluate and deploy customized financing solutions. Their services include, but are not limited to, 401(k) business funding, SBA loans, unsecured credit, and portfolio loans. In total, Guidant has helped over 20,000 entrepreneurs in all 50 states to invest more than $4 billion in funds to start small businesses, resulting in more than 85,000 U.S. jobs created. Visit Guidant on the web at guidantfinancial.com. Danielle N. Garno, a shareholder in the Miami Litigation Practice of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., will speak Feb. 1 at the Fifth Annual Fashion Law Symposium Working Together: Understanding the Different Players in the Fashion Game. Hosted by the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, is sponsored by the Fashion Law Society and the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship. The Symposium brings together fashion experts in the law and the industry. This years event will include discussions on how founders and leaders of fashion companies interact with both inside and outside counsel to run successful businesses. Other speakers include Maryann Lawrence, Assistant General Counsel at Chanel; and Tiffani McDonough Solomon, Senior Counsel at Louis Vuitton. At Greenberg Traurig, Garno focuses her practice on issues faced by the fashion community, including startup phase and commercial advice, intellectual property such as trademark and copyright infringement, social media marketing, advertising, and anti-counterfeiting, as well as employment and general business litigation. She also handles complex civil litigation matters with an emphasis on white-collar defense and fraud actions. Her white-collar practice includes defending corporations against federal and state indictments, as well as internal investigations and negotiations with various federal and state agencies. Garno represents fashion clients of all sizes from start-ups to multi-national, global brands, helping them navigate through legal issues as well counseling them on growing and sustaining a successful brand. She has also tried cases in a variety of areas, obtaining verdicts in favor of her clients. She is also actively involved in a number of professional and community organizations. Garno is a trustee of the National Young Arts Foundation and also serves as chair of the Beacon Councils Creative Design Committee. She is currently a member of the board of directors of Fashion Group International of South Florida. Garno also is counsel to Style Saves, a nonprofit that raises funds through fashion-focused events providing underprivileged students with the necessities for back-to-school. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law where she teaches a Fashion Law course. 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. Rachelle Blough, Corporate Memory Care Director for Gardant Management Solutions Rachelle is a world-class leader in memory care and is driven to provide an environment that celebrates the gift of each residents experience. Past News Releases RSS New Assisted Living Community... Gardant-Managed Assisted Living... New Affordable Assisted Living... Gardant Management Solutions, a leader in the assisted living industry, has hired Rachelle Blough as its new Memory Care Director. In this newly created corporate position, Blough will provide support for the Gardant-managed memory care communities that are currently open as well as several new properties that are under development. She will also conduct dementia care training for all Gardant communities. Rachelles unmatched passion and innovative approach to person-centered care places our memory care communities at the forefront, and advances our mission to bring purpose and vitality to our memory care residents, said Stephen Harris, Vice President of Clinical Service and Compliance for Gardant. Rachelle is a world-class leader in memory care and is driven to provide an environment that celebrates the gift of each residents experience. Blough brings nearly 25 years of senior living experience to the role and is a certified recreational therapist, a certified dementia practitioner and a certified Alzheimers disease and dementia care trainer and vice president of corporate training for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP). Prior to joining Gardant, Blough worked in a variety of positions at senior living and skilled nursing communities, including memory care specialist, activity director, program director, associate executive director, community relations director and vice president of life enrichment and innovation. She has also served as a memory care specialist and a regional director for memory care, supporting more than 100 communities in the Midwest and Canada. Blough earned her bachelors degree from Ohio University. Gardant Management Solutions is the largest provider of assisted living in Illinois. It operates more than 40 assisted living, senior living and memory care communities in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, the Metro East area of St. Louis, and other locations in northern, central and southern Illinois. The company also manages properties in Indiana, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, ranking as the 10th largest provider of assisted living in the country. An Ohio community is under development and expected to open later this year; a property in Washington, D.C. will open in 2020. For more information about Gardant Management Solutions or the assisted living, senior living and memory care communities the company operates, call 1-877-882-1495 toll-free. FabriTec passed their ISO audits with no deviations! This is a huge accomplishment. After months of preparation, FabriTec Structures is proud to announce that the company is now ISO 9001:2015 Certified. ISO 9001 is a standard that sets requirements for a quality management system. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. We have been working diligently to prepare for our external ISO audit. Our parent company Pfeifer has a group certification so all 28 of their companies must meet the ISO requirements for any of us to be certified. The companies are audited on a rotational basis, said HR Director Steve Pandukht. The ISO 9001 standard is based on several quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation, and implication of top management, the process approach, and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001:2015 benefits both the business by optimization operations and the customer by ensuring they get consistent, good quality products and services. FabriTec passed their ISO audits with no deviations! This is a huge accomplishment. There were some recommendations which we will implement. We also will be taking steps to further implement the ISO processes, said Pandukht. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) was established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1947 to develop international standards to help ensure that supplies, materials, products, processes, services, systems, tools, equipment, and personnel are working safely and effectively. Conformity assessment guides were developed to help ensure organizations applied the standards. About FabriTec Structures FabriTec Structures is an award-winning lightweight structures contractor specializing in the design and construction of complex cable and custom tensile membrane structures and building envelopes. Structures that the company produces range vastly in scope and service from massive stadiums and amphitheaters to building entryways and covered walkways. The companys core designs include mast-supported, arch and frame supported and point-supported fabric structures. FabriTec designs and develops fabric structures from an assortment of highly engineered membrane materials including ETFE foil, PTFE, and PVC fabrics. The support structures are forged from cold-formed carbon steel and include specially designed cables and fittings all manufactured in-house. Eric Labrador was born in Havana, Cuba. Since he was young, he was attracted to writing and expression through poems, short stories and songs. In 2016 he managed to emigrate to the USA with his family to ensure a better future. In 2017 he started studying Culinary Arts and now presents his first novel, "La Vida en Berlin", a story of love, passion, pain and disappointment, in the midst of a network of lies, which led our protagonist to mature in every aspect of his life. The author gives readers a world of intrigue and adventure, where the protagonist develops as a person, and must surpass herself or sink with the problems that are presented around her: "Elizabeth is a young woman who lives in Argentina until, unexpectedly, a beloved aunt dies in Germany. This is the reason why she decides to move to Berlin, to change the direction of her life. When she arrives in the country, she is contacted by a lover of the aunt, who tells her about the existence of a company, the place where the deceased worked, so that she finds a job there. It is a company that is responsible for the manufacture of art objects with custom designs. The executive president of the company, Paula, hires Elizabeth to work for the company as soon as she learns about her studies, her experience and her skills. "Elizabeth did not arrive alone to Germany, her sister Manuela joins her; in order to achieve their ambitions to be rich and live a luxurious life in the new city. Manuela is later hired with the help of Elizabeth, to also work in the company of her deceased aunt. "The arrival of the niece of the deceased feeds a secret conspiracy of the American investor Tammy Taylor, to obtain the position occupied by Paula. To her bad luck, she was discovered by Manuela, who decides to blackmail her in exchange for a better position. As a result of the trap, the president of the company is unfairly prisoned; while, in her absence, Elizabeth ends up falling in love with the company's lawyer and Paula's boyfriend, Leonhard, and they inevitably have a hidden love affair." Published by Page Publishing, based in New York City, Eric Labrador's work, "La Vida en Berlin," is a novel of romance, adventure and deception everywhere, where mystery lurks on every corner. Readers who wish to experience this exciting and original work can purchase La Vida en Berlin at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. The first of it's kind solution for automated data erasure and third-party verification. Extreme Protocol Solutions (EPS), leading-edge developer of Enterprise Data Erasure software, announced today that their flagship erasure software, XErase will now include optional third-party verification support thanks to a new partnership with CPR Tools. EPS is the exclusive distributor and integrator of this verification tool written by CPR Tools. EPS is excited to offer this new service to our customers, said EPS President/CEO, Roger Gagnon, welcoming the news after coordinating the process with John Benkert, CEO of CPR Tools. This highly respected verification platform is now fully automated and its results fully integrated into our reporting and injected directly into our customers asset management databases and ERP Systems. We even provide the user selectable percentage calculations for total number of assets required to be processed by certifications such as R2 and NAID. We are honored to have been chosen by EPS as their third-party validation solution. said CPR Tools CEO, John Benkert. The integration of our validation into their erasure solution provides an all in one solution compliant with NIST 800-88r1 guidelines and any certification body that bases their data erasure and validation requirement on this standard. About CPR Tools CPR Tools has been providing industry leading data recovery tools and services since 1987. Drawing on a combined expertise in Data Forensics, Data Recovery, and Best Security Practices including 3rd Party Data Eradication Verification services. CPR Tools is a woman-owned customer-centric small business based in Fort Myers, FL. https://www.cprtools.com/ About Extreme Protocol Solutions EPS provides the most sophisticated enterprise data erasure software, hardware and services to all industries. Trusted for over 20 years by Storage OEMs, ITADs, Financial, Medical and Retail giants, our solutions and services can destroy sensitive data beyond forensic recovery. Founded in 1996, EPS is a privately held company headquartered in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit http://www.enterprisedataerasure.com Contacts Extreme Protocol Solutions Colin Carufel ccarufel(at)extremeprotocol.com +1 508-278-3600 x111 The Rev. David R. Anderson is the appointed Chaplain for Episcopal Community Services and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania The leaders of both ECS and the Diocese aim to deepen their responses to the persisting problems and trauma that intergenerational poverty creates. A new Covenant provides a basis for their shared goal of eliminating poverty. It is founded in respecting the dignity of all human beings. Episcopal Community Services (ECS) and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania announce the appointment of The Rev. David R. Anderson as Chaplain. Rev. Anderson will work with the staffs of both organizations and with volunteers from across the Diocese. The leaders of both ECS and the Diocese aim to deepen their responses to the persisting problems and trauma that intergenerational poverty creates. A new Covenant between ECS and the Diocese provides a basis for their shared goal of eliminating poverty. It is founded in respecting the dignity of all human beings. Our hope is that together we can grow in our responses to the persistent challenges of poverty, said David E. Griffith, ECS executive director. The Rev. Anderson is an Episcopal minister living in Springtown, Pa. After completing graduate studies in English literature at the University of Chicago, he taught English literature and writing workshops at Columbia College (Chicago) and Northern Illinois University. Sensing a vocation to ministry, he attended Yale Divinity School, graduated magna cum laude and was ordained in the Episcopal Church. He has served parishes in both Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Rev. Anderson is the author of Breakfast Epiphanies: Finding Wonder in the Everyday (Beacon Press, 2002), named by Spirituality & Health as one of The Best Spiritual Books of 2002. His latest book, Losing Your Faith, Finding Your Soul: The passage to new life when old beliefs die (Convergent Books) was published in September 2013. Rev. Anderson has served on numerous boards, including the Trustee Board of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, where he also served as President of the Graduate Society Council. He was selected by the Episcopal Church Foundation to participate in the Clergy Leadership Project, and for a sabbatical to pursue his writing he was the recipient of a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Anderson is married to Pam Anderson, a cookbook author and food blogger. They have two daughters. You can read Rev. Andersons written work at http://findingyoursoul.com. To learn more about Episcopal Community Services, visit http://ecsphilly.org or contact Robert Pierson, 215.351.1459, robertp(at)ecsphilly.com or Lisa Simon, 215.545.4715 x22, lsimon(at)sprytecom.com. About Episcopal Community Services Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is a multi-service agency that embraces adaptability and program innovation in order to meet the evolving and diverse needs of Philadelphians who have been disadvantaged by poverty. ECS has a 148-year legacy of transforming itself in times of crisis and providing essential support services for the citys most vulnerable. Today, its mission is to challenge and reduce intergenerational poverty, and guided by a new strategic plan, ECS programs focus on increasing peoples ability to achieve economic independence and mobility. About Episcopal Community Services Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is a multi-service agency that embraces adaptability and program innovation in order to meet the evolving and diverse needs of Philadelphians who have been disadvantaged by poverty. ECS has a 148-year legacy of transforming itself in times of crisis and providing essential support services for the citys most vulnerable. Today, its mission is to challenge and reduce intergenerational poverty, and guided by a new strategic plan, ECS programs focus on increasing peoples ability to achieve economic independence and mobility. Marketing and Sales leaders in southeast Michigan looking to improve their marketing and prioritize converting leads into customers have reason to rejoice. Digital marketing agency Inbound 281 has moved to a new location in Troy, Michigan. The firms address is 2155 Butterfield Drive, Suite 205, Troy, MI 48084. We are thrilled, says Inbound 281 president and founder Mark Parent. Troy is the business hub of southeast Michigan. Our new location puts us closer to our existing clients, as well as within reach of many other companies who could benefit from inbound marketing. Many organizations are looking for ways to automate their marketing and nurture prospects to the decision stage to support the sales efforts. Our mission is to help them, Parent says. Inbound 281 specializes in inbound marketing, a proven method that helps organizations grow by using a tightly-woven sequence of proven tactics to attract, convert and close new customers online. Inbound uses the HubSpot platform to achieve its objectives. HubSpot is the worlds leading inbound marketing tool. Parent is a thought-leader in inbound marketing and HubSpot. He is such a believer in the platform that he has taken on the leadership role for the Detroit HubSpot User Group (HUG), which meets quarterly to provide education, insights and training to southeast Michigan HubSpot users. Inbound also hosts monthly Professional Development Workshops tailored to organizations that want to improve their marketing efforts. Recent topics have included corporate storytelling and content personalization. Parent says he was attracted to the new location in Troy because of the facilities. The Butterfield building houses a 90-person auditorium, as well as a 40-person training room. Our new location gives us the ability to host the kind of events we love hosting to bring together and educate todays business leaders about digital marketing, he says. Parent encourages anyone seeking to utilize inbound marketing to visit the firms website at http://www.inbound281.com. We have a ton of great educational resources, as well as interactive tools, he says. We also provide free consultations. Inbound 281s next Professional Development event is Feb. 28. The next Detroit HUG meeting is April 18. To register for either, go to http://www.inbound281.com/inbound-281-events-your-destination-for-marketing-sales-education Inbound 281 grows market share by accelerating inbound marketing & web design strategies. Their 2019 Fuel Your Inbound Marketing Engine Professional Development Series of workshops feature talented expert speakers and presenters who provide knowledge and tools to help companies grow their business. To learn more, visit http://www.inbound281.com Community Health Charities proudly welcomes new Board Member Charleeda Redman, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Population Health, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia. Charleeda brings a wide range of experience and expertise in the field of health, said Community Health Charities President and CEO Thomas Bognanno. We are fortunate to have her join our organizations Board as we expand into addressing the broader factors that impact health and empower people to take action to improve health and wellbeing in their community. Redman is responsible for providing strategic guidance for establishing and implementing high priority programs across an enterprise of 14 acute care hospitals, seven urgent care centers, 19 outpatient centers, and expanding ambulatory care practice settings. She assists in the development and integration of a clinical information systems for the Clinical Pillar, and oversees process improvement programs, workflow redesign, and continuing education. She has been a registered nurse for over 20 years and worked in hospital case management for more than 18 of those years. For the last three years, her area of concentration has been in healthcare informatics. Redman is the recipient of numerous honors including HealthShare Exchange (HSX) Champion Award (2018), New Pittsburgh Courier 50 Women of Excellence (2012), 40 Under 40 Recognition (2010), Manchesters Whos Who of Executives and Professionals (2005), and KDKA-TV Lift-up Award (2003) for Hard work and Dedication in the workplace. She has been a member of ACMA since 2005 and is Past President of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter. She is also a member of Sigma-Theta-Tau Nursing Honor Society and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Redman joins an impressive national Board of corporate professionals and nonprofit executives working to build stronger, healthier communities. Her official term on the Community Health Charities National Board of Directors will begin at the February board meeting, hosted by The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. About Community Health Charities Community Health Charities has been empowering people to improve health and wellbeing for over 60 years, by raising awareness and resources for health and wellbeing. We support education, treatment, and prevention for those with health challenges; bring organizations together to improve community health; provide individuals with opportunities to get involved; and increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Visit https://healthcharities.org/ or @healthcharities. It will take time for blockchain technology to create solutions that lead to mass adoption and answer market needs though cybersecurity is a promising avenue within the blockchain space. As one of the few blockchain-based cybersecurity projects, Cloudbric looks to streamline the blockchain experience of everyday users by addressing one of the hurdles in its road to mass adoption: security. In addition to the development of a decentralized universal security platform, comprised of enterprise-grade website, mobile device and crypto asset security, Cloudbric has taken steps to reduce the prevalence of cyberattacks through upcoming cyber initiatives with partners, addons to their existing web services, and new projects. Cloudbric has partnered with diverse projects, firms, and exchanges in and out of Korea. For example, a partnership with ICE Protocol, a decentralized consumer data platform, was one of the first projects the company collaborated with to provide web security. The team also worked closely with blockchain-based insurance protocol, Insureum Protocol, for the development of cybersecurity insurance products. Additionally, Cloudbric partnered with cybersecurity firm Hacken, which offers a decentralized bug bounty platform, to interchange knowledge and experience and reduce cybersecurity attacks. Another major partnership was with Klaytn, a blockchain platform developed through South Koreas number one mobile-messaging service KakaoTalks blockchain affiliate, Ground X. After their mainnet opens, Cloudbric will soon be deployed as a potential DApp within the Klaytn blockchain platform to allow easy access to website security. Cloudbric is also currently working with crypto exchanges to provide high level security to some of these players including BitForex, BitSonic, KDEX, and GDAC Exchange for both their platforms and websites and is working with wallet platforms like CoinUs and CoinManager to eventually provide wallet security. Cloudbric is supported by funds and investors Goldford VC, Zero Cap, and FoundationX, who share Cloudbrics belief that leveraging blockchain technology can enhance and revolutionize the cybersecurity sector by introducing a way to decentralize cyber threat information. With the support of our strategic investors and community, we hope to not only accelerate the development of our security platform but also the adoption of blockchain technology for cybersecurity, an industry that we strongly believe can benefit from this innovation, commented TJ, CEO of Cloudbric. He continued, Rather than focusing on purely numbers, we truly believe that a successful blockchain project is one that focuses on creating a vibrant community. Our vision is to create a community that works together to promote the best cyber practices by sharing threat data and contributing to our security platform. Cloudbric has big plans for the latter half of the year including the integration of a secure cryptocurrency wallet and a crypto address hacker database that will be available through Cloudbric Labs via a sharing platform. Cloudbric is also expected to roll out their service console mobile application for managing and monitoring websites that are currently being protected by Cloudbric within this first quarter. About Cloudbric Cloudbric is a decentralized universal security platform featuring enterprise-grade website, mobile device and crypto asset security, as well as access to a community driven threat intelligence database all powered through a deep learning technology called VISION. It features one of the most accurate (low false positive rated) security detection engines on the market. Visit cloudbric.com to begin using their website services today. California Casualty Music and Arts Grant We want to help students soar with music, dance, fine art and other creative outlets. California Casualty has introduced a new grant program to benefit school music and arts programs. Educators at public K-12 schools can apply for a $250 Music and Arts Grant at http://www.calcasmusicartsgrant.com. The entry deadline is June 30, 2019, with grants awarded in September. The grant is designed to foster creativity in schools such as choir, band, dance, film, theater, computer arts and graphics or any K-12 curriculum that employs art for learning. California Casualty has partnered with education associations since 1951 and understands the importance of music and arts education for children. Numerous studies have concluded that sharing a love of the arts enhances students: Brain development Creativity Classroom involvement Music and art curriculum has also been shown to reduce disciplinary issues and dropout rates. Unfortunately, arts education at many schools has been reduced or eliminated by budget cuts. California Casualty hopes to fill the need with the Music and Arts Grant. The funds will be used to subsidize music and arts programs or projects in the classroom. Applicants must be a current member, or referred by a current member, of the state NEA affiliate or one of the other participating educator associations including ACSA, CASE, COSA, KASA, NASA or UASSP. A pilot program in 2018 helped fund: Ukuleles for the Kennydale Elementary School (WA) music and dance program Uniforms, robes and instruments for the Edison High School (MN) choir and band program Sketch books and art supplies for Highland Park Central Elementary School (KS) We want to help students soar with music, dance, fine art and other creative outlets, said California Casualty AVP Brian Goodman. Apply now for the California Casualty Music and Arts Grant, and the chance to receive $250 for a worthy music, art or performance project, at http://www.calcasmusicartsgrant.com. Founded in 1914, California Casualty provides the NEA Auto and Home Insurance Program. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit http://www.calcas.com/NEA or call 1.800.800.9410. As Big Blue Swim School continues its growth throughout the Chicagoland area, communities are beginning to take notice. Ahead of the March 4 opening of its fifth corporate-owned location in the North Center neighborhood, the swim school franchise has pre-sold a staggering 1,400 memberships, helping the brand make a splash with its first location in the city of Chicago before ever opening its doors. Founded by former U.S. National Swim Team member Chris DeJong and fellow competitive swimmer John Lonergan in 2012, Big Blue Swim School has gained quick traction as a standout swim lesson program thanks to its specialized curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary app. The excitement and interest we're seeing around the opening of our North Center location on Western Ave is pretty incredible, DeJong said. We plan to open doors March 4th for lessons and we couldn't be more excited about it. Big Blue Swim School uses a distance-based, results-oriented curriculum to help children learn strokes and achieve goals faster. Simultaneously, parents access the companys Lesson Buddy app to easily schedule lessons and monitor their childs performance. In essence, Big Blue Swim School brings value to the entire family. The interest the brand is already seeing in North Center reflects on the value parents place on the importance of quality swim lessons in their children's lives, DeJong said. North Center is a tremendous place to raise children, DeJong said. Parents are really embracing Big Blue Swim School coming to their neighborhood because they realize swim lessons are a vital life-saving skill, generating an immense amount of excitement about this important addition to such a family-oriented community. DeJong explained that ahead of the opening, the brand has partnered with a number of local parents to help spread the word about how Big Blue Swim Schools unique offering is as much a child enrichment program as it is a swim lesson facility. We have a really awesome pre-opening promotion where were offering a membership deal for our North Center location that local parents are helping us spread the word about, he said. Their enthusiasm and dedication have played a huge part in the tremendous buzz weve been able to generate. Big Blue Swim School doesnt charge registration fees or yearly membership dues. Lessons range from $21 to $26 per class and are available seven days per week with morning, afternoon and evening offerings. Classes are limited to three kids per instructor for all lessons for 3 to 5-year-olds, while lessons for more advanced swimmers are based on ability and capped at four to seven kids per instructor. All interested families are eligible to receive exclusive access to Big Blue Swim Schools North Center pre-opening deal by visiting the brands website. When families walk through the door of Big Blue Swim School, theyre greeted by remarkable staff in a unique facility designed to provide the best swim lesson experience possible, DeJong said. We create a fun and safe environment for swimmers in a relaxed and comfortable setting for parents. This pre-opening strategy will be applied to franchise locations in the future as the company begins growing with qualified franchise partners. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://www.YourBigMomentStartsHere.com. Protect Your Online Reputation The company has helped many control the way they appear online. In many cases, some individuals in need of online reputation management call for help. So many individuals ask about how to fix or do their own personal reputation management. The answer is quite simple. It takes hard work, however, it can be done without spending a great deal of money. The firm JW Maxx Solutions who recently celebrated its ten years in the field of corporate reputation management offers these helpful tips. JW Maxx Solutions founder Walter Halicki explains, "Fixing your online reputation can be done yourself. However, the amount of work is intense." The idea is to suppress the harmful content with positive media that will push down the negative posts that are affecting one's brand or good name. How this is handled is by opening many sites around 15 or so such as Wordpress and Blogger and other social platforms. Facebook and Twitter are great, and video platforms like YouTube can also be added to the mix. The next step would be to create new and engaging content that is 100% original. Imagine that one needs a defense surrounding them. One or two sites will simply not work. Why is this, one might ask? The answer is simple Google, and other search engines have ten results. The goal is to control all 10. Posting content that one found online is merely stealing. If caught, the site can be removed and or even face litigation. So make sure everything that is written is at least 400 to 500 words or more and include eye-catching graphics. The video aspect can be done using software to create videos, or one can use a smartphone and take short videos then upload them on Youtube. Every site that has content must be optimized for the maximum effect otherwise it will never rank thus never gaining the momentum to suppress the negatives that are causing the issue. JW Maxx Solutions has been a frontrunner as one of the most trusted online reputation management firms based in Phoenix Arizona. The company has helped many control the way they appear online. In many cases, some individuals in need of online reputation management call for help. We hope these handy tips can be used to help when working with a limited budget. If any help is needed, please visit the DIY courses section on the companies website. JW Maxx Solutions has offices in Phoenix AZ, and also covers all of Mexico and Central America. Brian W. Freeman These people need help, and I want to offer the best possible service I can to them. The people who process and handle all of our online Amazon.com orders are frequently getting injured on the job. I am targeting areas that a lot of personal injury lawyers arent, such as the warehouse workers for the big companies in Moreno Valley and throughout the Inland Empire, said Freeman. These people need help, and I want to offer the best possible service I can to them. The people who process and handle all of our online Amazon.com orders are frequently getting injured on the job. The new site, https://workerscompensationlawyerinc.com/, includes links for how to file a claim, a blog and information about workplace injuries and industries. All we do is help individuals and families through the bureaucratic nightmare of filing or appealing a workers compensation claim and obtaining an accepted claim for your matter, noted Freeman. Many clients of Freeman initially make the mistake of talking to a lawyer theyve seen on TV or someone who isnt a workers compensation attorney, but practices a wide variety of law. The problem with this is that workers compensation law is highly complex, and people often learn that the only time theyll ever talk to their lawyer is when they get signed up. However, this makes Workers Compensation Lawyer, Inc. uniquely qualified to help with your matter because its all we do and theres no situation we arent already familiar with or experts at, added Freeman, who has an Avvo rating of 10. Concluded client Trae, Our experience before hiring Brian was a horror show! We were given the runaround, lied to and received zero compensation. Once we hired Brian all that changed. The insurance company still tried the runaround, but Brian quickly responded and turned things around. Once Brian was on the case, things started moving in the right direction. He always communicated with us every step of the way and got the proper results for us. About Brian W. Freeman, Workers Compensation Lawyer, Inc. Brian W. Freeman handles all kinds of work-related injury cases, from catastrophic loss of limb to psychological-stress injuries. With a background in civil litigation, Brian is passionate about fighting for the rights of Californias injured workers in the complex workers compensation system. He seeks to receive maximum value for his clients and there is no fee to the injured worker unless they win a recovery. CA Lic. # 256439. For more information, please call (844) 428-4563, or visit http://www.biginjurycases.com. The law office is located at 11762 De Palma Road, Suite 1C PMB 301, Corona, CA, 92883. For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361. With approval, the AMDS offers physicians and patients in Europe the first marketed arch remodeling device and a breakthrough treatment for type A aortic dissections. Ascyrus Medical, a privately-owned medical device company focused on innovative treatments for aortic dissections, today announced the CE mark approval of its Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS) for treatment of acute type A aortic dissections. The AMDS is an arch remodeling hybrid graft designed as an adjunct to the current surgical reconstruction. The AMDS helps reduce the risk of complications and reoperations by treating malperfusion and stabilizing or reducing the size of the aorta, known as positive aortic remodeling. An acute type A dissection is a life-threatening condition that requires emergent repair. Todays surgical treatment, although lifesaving, does not effectively treat malperfusion and leaves the aorta untreated beyond the ascending segment, which can lead to negative remodeling, reoperations, and increased risk of mortality. CE Mark approval for the AMDS was based on data from the DARTS I trial, the largest prospectively controlled device trial for treatment of type A dissections. DARTS successfully demonstrated effective single- stage malperfusion treatment, positive remodeling, and improved survival vs. standard of care historical controls. By reducing the complications and reinterventions associated with acute aortic dissections, the AMDS significantly improves the care of patients far beyond what we have been able to accomplish prior to the AMDS therapy, said Dr. Michael Moon, Cardiac Surgeon at the University of Alberta Edmonton and National Principal Investigator for DARTS. Earlier this week at the 55th Annual STS meeting in San Diego, Ascyrus presented results from the DARTS I Trial, demonstrating the AMDS effectively treating malperfusion in over 95% of cases. A unique characteristic in this cohort in addition to recovery of visceral vessels was healing of malperfusions involving cerebral vessels and reversal of dissection-induced paralysis. We continue to be impressed with the clinical outcomes of the AMDS device and are thrilled with this milestone achievement of CE Mark approval. We look forward to partnering with hospitals and physicians throughout Europe to bring this lifesaving technology to more patients world-wide, said Ali Shahriari, MD, Founder and CEO of Ascyrus Medical. For additional information, please contact info(at)ascyrus.com or visit http://www.ascyrus.com Solvency and accounting firm Worrels has been appointed as voluntary administrator to the makeup brand Napoleon Perdis. Founder and makeup artist Napoleon Perdis attributed blame to a wide range of factors from greedy (lenders) to declining foot traffic in the retail sector and entry of multinational fashion brands to the Australian market. The company's 56 stores closed their doors for a stocktake on Thursday but reopened today, Friday. More than 600 staff are employed the company, which opened its first store in 1995, The majority of their storefronts are in NSW, specifically Sydney, however they have at least one store in every capital city across across Australia Worrels was appointed after the Napoleon Perdis directors were unable to find investors or sell the business over the past few months. Mr Perdis (pictured below) said in an interview with Your Money, that demand for their products is still strong through partner stores including Priceline and Terry White chemists, as well as its online store. He complained that landlords are "squeezing" small and large businesses while they allow "large multinational (businesses) to negotiate much lower per square meter return rate". "I just want an equal playing field" "For a couple of years now we've been trying to consolidate our retail structure and there's been enormous costs," he stated. He disclosed to ABC, "If you estimate that we close 20 to 25 stores, there's three staff per store on average, so close to 100 staff may need to be redeployed, however we're looking to actually see whether we can place them in partner businesses like Priceline." Sydney and Melbourne both saw their median house prices fall in the month January as they both approach 11% annual declines, according to CoreLogic. Sydney median house price went back a further 1.4% to be 10.9% down annually, while Melbourne's accelerated decline saw its median value drop another 1.7%, making it now 10.6% down annually and closing the gap on the harbour capital every month. It's the third month in a row that the two capitals have seen declines over the one percent mark. Click here to enlarge. The median house price in Sydney now has slipped to $902,000, with Melbourne's at $740,000. Only 12 months ago Sydney's stood at $1.058 million, and Melbourne's $832,000. Dwelling prices in the two major property markets dropped 1.3% in Sydney and 1.6% in Melbourne, due to apartments now getting caught up in the downturn (Sydney -1.2%, Melbourne -1.3%). Click here to enlarge. Nationally, capital city dwelling values declined 1.2% over the month of January, led by Darwin (-1.7%), then Sydney and Melbourne. There were losses over the one percent mark in Perth, while Brisbane and Adelaide record small loses. The heat has even come out of the Hobart market. They saw a 0.2% decline. The median dwelling value in the Tasmanian capital is still 7.4% up annually. CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless said the top quartile in Sydney and Melbourne are suffering the most. Click here to enlarge. Weakness across the most expensive quarter of the market is most visible in Melbourne, where values across the top quartile are down 12.4% over the past twelve months and 13.8% lower since peaking. Sydneys top quartile of the market is showing a similar trend with values down 10.8% over the past twelve months and 14.6% lower since peaking. Queen of the track Angela Belle McSweeney downsized in late 2018 having sold the family Rose Bay home at the start of the 2018. McSweeney, the director of the Australian Turf Club, has stayed close to the harbour, opting for an apartment in Darling Point. She's spent $2.35 million on a three bedroom apartment in the 1970s built complex of just nine apartments. Spanning 160 square metres, the apartment was marketed as a blank canvas by Bradfield Cleary Double Bay agent Brenton Gadsby. It sits on the top level of the block with views across the harbour to the bridge from its open plan living space which opens to a balcony. McSweeney had previously been based at Belle Vue, the nearby Rose Bay home which had been owned by the McSweeney racing family for five decades. The Tivoli Avenue home, which fetched $7 million through Gavin Rubinstein at Ray White Double Bay, was bought by Angelas late father Tony, the prominent horse owner and former chair of Tattersalls Club, for 29,000 in 1965. It sold to veteran estate agent Michael Marano. McSweeney helped to introduce fashions on the field in NSW in the early 1980s. She's been a part-owner and manager of more than 60 thoroughbred horses through the decades, including the Magic Millions winner Our Horizon in 1990. This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. Children of celebrity chef Jacques Reymond, the proprietors of South Yarra's Bistro Gitan and Prahrans L'Hotel Gitan, have signed a lease to establish a third restaurant. Located in North Yarra, Cremorne, this new eatery will occupy the whole ground floor of Cobild Constructions new eight level office development at 9-11 Cremorne Street. Teska Carsons Luke Bisset and Matthew Feld brokered the lease. Mr Bisset said Nathalie, Antoine, and Edouard Reymond (pictured alongside their father) would split the 345 sqm tenancy into two spaces a 35-seat European focused wine bar and a 75-seat bistro. Antoine Reymond says the yet-to-be-named restaurant will be slightly different to either of the Gitans. "It will be a little more European as opposed to French-focused." SJB Interiors, who did work on the Gitans, will design both spaces. "It'll be French new-wave," says Antoine. "There's a gorgeous, heritage-listed brick facade, a terrace out the front, and nice high ceilings inside." The family hopes to open by early June. After Helaba converted its representative office in the Stockholm into a branch last year, the company has now appointed Birgitta Leijon as the branch's new General Manager. Leijon will assume her new role on 1 February 2019, taking over responsibility for the bank's real estate business in Sweden, Finland, Norway Photos: Juliana Wiklund [] Beijing, Feb 2 : China and Japan have held a regular diplomatic consultation and a security dialogue here. During the activities attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and visiting Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori, the two sides agreed that 2019 is a vital year for China-Japan relations to move toward a higher level, Xinhua reported. The two countries should grasp the opportunity and implement the consensus reached by their leaders that China and Japan are cooperation partners rather than a threat to each other, and that they should support each other in peaceful development, according to a press release issued after the consultation on Friday. The two sides agreed to plan and prepare for high-level exchanges, make solid progress in trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and properly handle major, sensitive issues. During the security dialogue, the two sides stressed that they share important responsibilities for safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, and that they should stick to the path of peaceful development. Both sides agreed to step up dialogue, manage differences, build up trust and strive for a constructive relationship in security. Washington, Feb 2 : US President Donald Trump has said there is "a good chance" that he will declare a national emergency to obtain funding for his long-promised US-Mexico border wall. Trump made the comments on Friday at a White House event as he appeared downbeat about the prospect that Democrats would agree to give money to build the border wall as congressional negotiations on border security adjourned for the weekend, Xinhua reported. "I could see we're getting nowhere with the Democrats, we're not going to get anywhere with them," the President said. "We will be looking at a national emergency because I don't think anything's going to happen." Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of declaring a national emergency, a legally-mandated executive power of a US president, while claiming there is a "humanitarian crisis" at the nation's southern border with Mexico due to illegal immigration, which Democrats have rebuked. Such a declaration would enable Trump to bypass congressional approval and redirect funds already allocated by Congress for other purposes, possibly at the Pentagon, to his wall, but is almost certain to draw political backlash and legal challenges. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that "there's not going to be any wall money" in legislation as part of border security measures for the rest of this year. The California Democrat also said she was open to negotiating funding for more ports of entry or additional border security technology. A bipartisan conference committee of lawmakers from the Republican-held Senate and Democrat-controlled House is tasked with negotiating a deal on border security, with a February 15 deadline. About a quarter of federal government reopened last week after Trump ratified a bill funding them for three weeks, ending a historic 35-day partial government shutdown. The shutdown was a result of an impasse between the White House and Congressional Democrats over whether to provide billions of US dollars for the Trump-proposed border wall. Washington, Feb 2 : The Donald Trump administration has announced that the US is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday at the State Department, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow, Xinhua news agency reported. The move, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened quitting the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the US and then-Soviet Union. "We will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the US is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, effective in six months," said the top US diplomat. A senior Trump administration official later told reporters that the US will officially inform Russia of its decision on Saturday. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will "move forward with developing our own military response options". The US "will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct", said Trump in a statement released by the White House. Meanwhile, Pompeo said Washington would reconsider its pulling-out decision in the following months if Russia could take actions toward what the US regards as bringing the country back into compliance with the treaty. Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of violating the historic arms control deal amid increased tensions. New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Delhi High Court on Friday granted one month more to CBI to probe wrestler Narsingh Yadav's complaint related to doping filed ahead of 2016 Rio Olympics. The Central Bureau of Investigation told Justice Najmi Waziri that it needs more time to probe the case as it is in process of obtaining the statement of theA members of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The investigation agency has send requests to question the foreign nationalsA through diplomatic channels. Narsingh had tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Rio Olympics and was debarred from representing India. Thereafter, Yadav filed a complaint alleging that his food was spiked. Narsingh had lodged the complaint after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s decision not to give a clean chit to the wrestler in the doping matter. He has been banned for four year. CBI also told he court that Narsingh Yadav is one of best wrestler of the country and has full sympathy with him. CBI also assured that it is trying to conclude the investigation as early as possible. The probe agency also filed a report in a sealed cover. Claiming that after his several representations to the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete the probe went unheeded, he moved the high court seeking speedy disposal of his complaint. The court has listed the matter in March for further hearing. CBI counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj has told the court that the probe agency has to question members of the CAS panel and the scientists involved in the decision-making process who are foreign nationals. Mumbai, Feb 1 : Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff who launched his new music video 'Are you Coming' on Friday evening, says he loves to party at night after a long working day with his friends. Talking about his party life and how he connects it with the song, Tiger told media, "I believe in the philosophy of 8p.m. where you allow yourself to the party, chill and relax with your friends after a hectic day at work and that's what resonates with me about this music video." The music video is choreographed by the film director and choreographer Remo D'Souza and sung by Benny Dayal. The song is composed by Sachin-Jigar. The 'Baaghi' actor said, "It was delightful shooting the video, especially with some fabulous moves, all under Remo's excellent guidance. I had a great time working with Happy Productions India and this music video is full of fun, excitement, romance and sure to rock your season of love." Tiger will soon be seen in the film 'Student Of The Year 2'. Kolkata, Feb 1 : Raising concern over security of data of small businesses under the scheme for sanctioning speedy loans for micro, small and medium (MSMEs) enterprises, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Friday questioned who all are the beneficiaries of the programme. He accused the Centre of committing a scam through the scheme and manipulating data to suppress the truth about economic growth. During the Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the Centre undertook many effective steps to strengthen the MSME sector, which provides employment to crores of people and mentioned the scheme of sanctioning loans up to Rs 1 crore in 59 minutes. "The 'MSMEs loans in 59 minutes' scheme is one of the biggest scams. You have created a website (for the scheme) and you have done competitive bidding. A company - CapitaWorld - was selected to take the data of small businesses. "All data including identification number, income tax return, banks' statement of last six months, directors' and ownership details went to a company which was non-existent till 2015. The company was formed in 2015 and it suffered a loss in 2016. How was the company selected?" he asked. Mitra also said when it was found moving towards a scam, "a State Bank entity was forced to take 60 per cent equity from the company". "Who are going to get benefits of the scheme? Globally, many big companies were being charged for misusing personal data," Mitra said. He also said the report of unemployment was not allowed to be released. "Central Statistics Office has been asked to say that the GDP growth was 8.1 per cent in the middle of demonetisation particularly, when there was relatively less GDP growth in the last quarter of 2016-17 and in the entire year, economic growth was 7.1 per cent. "They are data manipulation masters," he said. Not only black money generation, the west Bengal government said that hawala transactions have been taking place due to Centre's failure to put in place a GST regime which is seamless and transparent. "It (hawala) is happening because there is no proper matching of invoices. It is a big scam. You failed to provide GST that is seamless and transparent. You created an opportunity for some people to make money by claiming input tax credit which is non-existent," he said. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal at the latter's residence here. After the meeting, Kejriwal said they would fight together against the Narendra Modi government. "It was great meeting Naidu ji today. We will all fight together against Modi govt," Kejriwal tweeted. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh was also present in the meeting. Hyderabad, Feb 1 : The Hyderabad police on Friday arrested a woman techie for kidnapping a youth, who was harassing her. Police arrested Pulleri Divya, Project Management Officer at Wipro, and five others who helped her in the crime. The 24-year-old techie with the help of other accused kidnapped V. Sai Kumar, a carpenter, on Thursday. According to K. Srinivasa Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gopalapuram Division, Divya called Sai Kumar to a place in Secunderabad. When he reached there, all the accused attacked him and made him sit on one of their three bikes. They took him to two different locations and thrashed and beat him with sticks. On a complaint by Sai Kumar, 23, Gopalapuram police station began the investigations and on Friday arrested the accused. They were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and attempt to murder. According to police, Sai Kumar had attended a work in the house of one Pravalika in Borabanda. She once used the mobile phone of her friend Divya to call the carpenter. The youth then started calling Divya and was sending her messages on WhatsApp. She decided to take revenge and took help of five persons including two car drivers, a security guard and diesel mechanic to kidnap him. The police officer said that if any woman faces humiliation and harassment she should lodge complaint with the nearest police station or approach 'She' team of the police. "Don't take law in your hands as this will make you an accused," said the ACP. Kolkata, Feb 1 : Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "compelling" his officers to send notices for "humiliating opposition political leaders", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she had no problem if the authorities choose to arrest her. "I have opposed the (interim) Budget. I have said a few words before you. For this if they arrested me also, I don't have a problem," Banerjee told mediapersons here. Banerjee hastened to add: "My Hindi is not good. I said they may do it because this is their habit". The Trinamool Congress supremo, however, said she was not blaming officials. "I don't blame the officers, because they are compelled to do that. I am told that Narendra Modi ji summons officers to his residence. He then tells them do something, do something to bring down the Opposition in the eyes of the people," she said. Banerjee said she was waiting for the day when even the person who cooks her food would be questioned by government agencies. The Chief Minister's outburst came a day after Manik Majumdar, her close aide and long-time secretary of the small office at her south Kolkata's Kalighat residence, was quizzed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the multi-billion rupee Saradha ponzi scam. Banerjee, however, threw a challenge to Modi saying "the way we do our politics with a pure heart, nobody else does". Alleging that the Modi-led BJP government was fighting it "personally" as they were incapable of taking on the opposition politically. "You cannot fight us politically. If you fight us politically, we have no problem. But why are you fighting it personally? You are humiliating all political leaders. "Why are you humiliating even those who have been working with us for 30-40 years? These people don't do anything, they only look after the household. They only carry out instructions... How can you send notices to even those who serve tea?" she asked. Mumbai, Feb 1 : Stocks of diversified natural resources major Vedanta plunged by around 18 per cent on the back of a decline in Q3 consolidated profit. The company's scrip on the BSE fell 17.82 per cent or Rs 35.20 on Friday to Rs 162.30 from its previous close. "Shares of Vedanta fell around 18 per cent on Friday on account of a 21 per cent on year decline in its third quarter consolidated profit due to lower commodity prices and shutdown of copper smelter at Tuticorin," said Deepak Jasani of HDFC Securities. "But the bigger worry was the purchase in economic interest in Anglo American from parent that should raise capital allocation risks. This related-party transaction may hurt valuations as the counter-party risk is high because the highly leveraged parent derives its value from Vedanta." New Delhi, Feb 1 : Six girls who were trafficked from Nepal and brought to Delhi were rescued by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), it said on Friday. The girls, in the age group of 18 -25 who were trafficked to India on pretext of jobs in the Gulf countries, were rescued from a house in Bhalaswa in North-West Delhi. The rescued girls told the Commission that the agent had promised them to pay Rs 1 lakh which they did not receive, adding that around 12 girls had left that house the day DCW conducted the raid. "The rescue team found many visiting cards of a consultancy in New Friends Colony, printouts of passports, beer bottles and used condoms at the house," DCW said. The girls were taken to the Bhalaswa police station for recording their statements. They were shifted to shelter home Nirmal Chhaya in the capital. However, DCW alleged that the police initially did not register the case saying the statements were in Nepalese. DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to SHO Bhalaswa seeking a copy of the FIR as well as reasons for not registering statements in the matter. "The laid-back attitude of Delhi Police does not help the women's causes and will eventually lead to increase in such cases in the city. The Commission will work with the police to curb trafficking in the city," Maliwal said. Hyderabad, Feb 1 : Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Friday met US Consul General Katherine Hadda and discussed the issue of Telugu students stuck in that country. Rama Rao, who is son of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, appealed for assistance to the students from the US government. Many students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among over 100 arrested so far in a "pay-to-stay" sting operation of US authorities using a fake university. Several hundred Indian students face arrest following detention of eight recruiters and some students over an alleged immigration fraud detected by a fake university sting operation set up by government agencies to crack down on visa scams. The American Telugu Association (ATA) reported that 100 students were arrested on Wednesday. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Traffic in the eastern parts of Delhi and Noida on Friday witnessed heavy traffic jams as farmers blocked the DND flyway after they were denied entry into the national capital, police said. The farmers from Uttar Pradesh were on way to Delhi in the afternoon to protest against the government over farm issues, according a police officer. National Highway 24, Kalindi Kunj, Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road and other major roads here were affected due to the protest, while the DND flyway was blocked for a few hours towards the evening. According to the police officer, the Uttar Pradesh farmers' protest rally was led by their leader Manveer Tewatia. "They had come in tractors. When we told them that they can't enter Delhi with tractors, they blocked the roads. It led to heavy traffic jam on the DND flyway. The jam lasted for almost two-three hours," he said. The Delhi Police advised commuters on Twitter to use alternate routes via Mayur Vihar and Kalindi Kunj for movement between Noida and Delhi to avoid inconvenience. Mumbai, Feb 1 : India Inc. has welcomed the announcements made in the Interim Budget on Friday and called it forward looking, primarily due to the enhancement of income tax rebate, measures to boost rural economy and the SME sector. According to the industry, proposals made in the Interim Budget will increase the levels of consumption and in turn provide a fillip to the domestic manufacturing sector. The Budget presented at the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal contained proposals to aid small farmers and the middle class. Welcoming the budgetary proposals, industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)President Rakesh Bharti Mittal said: "The measures announced in the Budget are likely to provide a significant impetus to consumption spending in the economy, which will boost growth in the near to medium term." "In an astute balancing act, the Finance Minister has presented a budget, which addresses issues of every segment of society. This a true peoples budget". However, K.G. Purushothaman, Partner, Advisory, and Telecom Leader at KPMG expressed concerns for the telecom sector. "With a strong focus on overall fiscal growth of the Indian economy, the telecom sector remained forlorn in the interim budget 2019." Purushothaman said that the telecom sector, despite being the foundation ground of the digital India, remained wanting for critical support needed by the sector to reinvigorate itself. The ailing telecom sector had huge expectations from the budget in terms of relaxation and reduction of huge taxes and levies paid by them. Adding that the significant financial distress faced by the sector due to huge debt pile up and the impending infrastructure spend which is estimated to be over Rs 1 trillion, the industry was expecting a financial relief and resolution of some disputed issues like SUC etc. Hailing the announcement of an assured Income Support Scheme for Small and Marginal farmers, Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI said: "The Union Budget for FY 19-20 is growth oriented and forward looking in nature... Interest Subvention announced for farmers pursuing Animal Husbandry and Fishery will provide a fillip to this sector". "Raising the full tax rebate up to Rs 5 lacs will surely be welcomed by country's emerging middle class. We believe, this will further strengthen the purchasing power of the growing middle class thereby providing a welcome fillip to the economy at large." B.K. Goenka, President, Assocham explained that India is an agrarian economy and has the largest number of people depending on it. "The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi where Rs 6,000 assured income benefit would be provided to all farmers with land holding of less than 2 hectares would encourage small farmers to continue in the field." "An additional 3 per cent interest subvention to farmers repay loans on time would also encourage timely repayment of bank loans," he added. Sandip Somany, President, FICCI said: "It is a progressive budget that addresses both the current challenges being faced by the economy as well as presents an outline of the vision the government has for the future of India ten years ahead". "It's good to see the focus of the interim budget on rural sector, middle class. More money in the hands of rural and middle class is good for driving consumption in the country And hence good for economic growth." said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO Flipkart Group. "More and more local MSME manufacturers and sellers can cater to this increased demand from rural, tier 2-3 towns and we at Flipkart marketplace will be happy to support thousands of such sellers to access the consumers cost effectively and efficiently." New Delhi, Feb 1 : Opposition parties on Friday panned the Modi governments final Budget, saying the entire exercise was made eying the Lok Sabha elections and claimed it failed to address the acute agrarian and employment crises. If the Congress called the interim budget an "account for votes", the Trinamool Congress said it was "BJP's manifesto" for the Lok Sabha polls and questioned the Modi government's fiscal prudence. Leading the charge Congress President Rahul Gandhi called the scheme to provide direct income support of Rs 6,000 each to poor farmers as the "biggest insult". When Rs 3.5 lakh crore of loans to a handful industrialists have been waived, an income Rs 17 per day to our debt ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can no bigger insult than that "Giving Rs 17 per day to our debt-ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can be no bigger insult," said Gandhi after participating in a meeting of 21 Opposition parties where agrarian crisis and unemployment were the core issues discussed. Flaying the Modi government over the agrarian crisis and alarming unemployment, Gandhi also said they will be major issues ion the Lok Sabha polls. Congress veteran and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said "It was not a Vote on Account but an Account for Votes." He pointed the big takeaway of the budget was the present government had "further weakened fiscal stability" and said the exercise points to the government's "incompetent fiscal management and a disdain for fiscal prudence". West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee described the Budget as a "farce" and a "BJP manifesto". "The Budget proposals will be not implemented... New government will present the Budget. This government's expiry date will be over in one month. What will they implement in one month?" "There is no future of the Interim Budget ahead of the elections," Banerjee told the media in Kolkata. "It is obvious that economic emergency is going on in our country. Our apprehension is where the money will come from," she added. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) ridiculed the budget as another 'jumla' (fake promise) and questioned the government move to present Budget for the entire year. "This cannot be the final budget for this year because the government presenting it, and the Lok Sabha considering it, will both cease to exist less than two months into the financial year to which the budget pertains," it said. CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said "Promises made today are not worth the paper they are written on". "Modi government came to power in 2014 promising 10 crore new jobs, 100 new smart cities, doubling of farmers income and Rs 15 lakh in each bank account. This is another attempt to fool people before polls but it won't succeed," he added. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party head Arvind Kejriwal called it the "final jumla of Modi government". Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav billed the interim budget as "everything but true". "The budgetary provisions are a bundle of lies," he said and blamed the Modi government for the "highest unemployment rate in 45 years". "The youth will take revenge on the false promises and joblessness in the Lok Sabha elections," added Yadav. Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha also attacked the Budget. "It is a cash-for-votes budget. It is illegal for a candidate to do it, but when the government does, it is perfectly valid. I hope the people of India will not be fooled by these last-minute gimmicks," he tweeted. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The annual theatre festival of National School of Drama (NSD), now in its 20th year, kicked off Friday evening. It was inaugurated by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and Rajya Sabha MP and classical dancer Sonal Mansingh. The sounds of Kerala's Panchvadyam musical form echoed in the Kamani Auditorium here, during the opening of the festival of 111 diverse plays, Bharat Rang Mahotsav, in different Indian vernacular and international languages -- representing India's 'rang' (theatre) culture. Calling theatre's message to humanity powerful and capable of communicating India's rich heritage to the world, the culture minister inaugurated the "theatre Olympic". "Theatre has a social responsibility, because it's a direct and serious medium that reaches a larger audience, and receives their responses immediately. "Although theatre festivals seem to be increasing, and many receive government aid, what needs to be questioned is the thoughtA and quality behind it," NSD Director-in-charge Suresh Sharma told IANS. Highlighting the representation of languages, regions and regional cultural forms, Sharma said that the 21-day fest will also run inADibrugarh,AVaranasi, Ranchi, MysoreAand Rajkot -- "regions where theatre can achieve new heights if pushed". A 50-minute performance of aKaranth ke Rang', directed by Amod Bhatt, also featured in the opening. It is a medley of songs composed by late B. V. Karanth (1929-2002), a stalwart of Kannada and Hindi theatre, and a prolific composer of songs and scripts. The theatre and film personality was an alumnus and director (1977-81) of NSD. The fest will stage plays in Hindi, English, Bengali, Marathi, Manipuri, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Odia, and Maithili (among others), along with international productions from Bangladesh, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic, Italy, Nepal, Romania, and Singapore. Apart from plays, it will also host folk performances and other traditional performing art forms, street plays by around 50 dramatic societies of colleges in Delhi, and two national and two international seminars. A theatre bazaar, coupled with photographs from NSD's abiding plays, also has the NSD campus decked up. Tickets to the shows can be bought online at www.bookmyshow.com or offline at NSD, and range from Rs 50 to 300. It will run at NSD, Kamani and Shri Ram Centre till February 21. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The government has provided a token amount of just about Rs 1 lakh as budgetary support to the ailing national carrier Air India which has been saddled with a debt burden of around Rs 55,000 crore. In the Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal to Lok Sabha on Friday, an allocation of only about Rs 100,000 has been provided to the national carrier. Separately, the airline has been allowed to raise Rs 434 crore through Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR). However, the Finance Minister has proposed to provide Rs 2,600 crore for the next fiscal to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) -- Air India Assets Holding Ltd -- created to transfer a substantial portion of national carrier's debt. As per the ministry-wise summary document of Budget provisions, the government had allocated Rs 3,975 crore to the carrier in the revised estimates for Budget 2018-19. The cash-strapped airline has received loans worth Rs 2,600 crore from the National Small Savings Fund, while the Central government was expected to further infuse Rs 1,500 crore in the company. Additionally, the Interim Budget has proposed to provide the airline with Rs 1,084 crore for the purchase of two new aircraft for "Special Extra Section Flight" or VVIP operations. The Finance Minister has proposed to provide Rs 2,600 crore to the SPV for the next fiscal, while Rs 1,300 crore has been provided in the revised estimates for 2018-19. "The provision is kept for servicing of loan transferred to SPV as a result of financial restructuring of Air India," the document said. In November, the government had announced of its plans to transfer Rs 29,000 crore out of the a debt burden of around Rs 55,000 crore owed by the national carrier. In addition, the government has planned to provide the SPV with proceeds from divestment of the airline's land banks, buildings and ground handling subsidiary -- Air India Air Transport Services Limited to retire the debt. Further, the government is expected to issue the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) for the divestment of Air India's ground handling subsidiary by next week. The purpose of PIM is to provide certain information about the company to enable the interested parties to make assessment about the proposal prior to the submission of Express of Interest (EoI) bids. Last year in November, an inter-ministerial panel, Air India Specific Alternate Mechanism, decided to divest the government's stake in AIATSL. The steps to financially revive the airline come as the state-owned carrier failed to attract any bidder after the government last year had offered to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India. On May 31, 2018 the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that "no response" was received even during the extended submission deadline for the EoI bids under Air India's divestment process and the "further course of action will be decided appropriately". Kolkata, Feb 1 : Not ruling themselves out even after falling behind 0-2, captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Friday said India paid the price for not making the most of the opportunities in their first singles rubber against former champions Italy in the Davis Cup World Group qualifier tie here on Friday. India's top two singles players Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanathan were swept aside by Italy's senior-most player Andreas Seppi and rising star Matteo Berrettini to hand Italy a commanding 2-0 lead going into the second day's play. While 22-year-old Berrettini was head and shoulders above Prajnesh, who he beat in the Chengdu ATP last year, sealing the tie in less than an hour, Ramkumar frittered away two break points in the first set to turn the tide in Seppi's favour. "We had half-a-chance early there in the first set of the first match and we didn't take it. "When you are playing players who have so much experience and are used to playing at a level you have to take your chances. We didn't at 3-4, 30-40. I am a firm believer that if you take your chances, you will get rewarded. That's where the momentum swung," Bhupathi told reporters. Ramkumar got a break point in the second game after he was leading 1-0 but Seppi, ranked 37, held serve. In the eighth game, Ramkumar was leading 4-3 but failed to cash in as Seppi changed gears to wrap up the set 6-4. He won the second set easily by 6-2. Bhupathi remained hopeful, saying he will will now bank on their doubles specialists Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan to keep them afloat. "There is no doubt that we are disappointed but tomorrow is a light day and stranger things have happened. We are not going to rule ourselves out. We will try and win the doubles, we will try and chip away one by one and see what happens." India bounced back to defeat China 3-2 from a similar situation last year Ramkumar, who is on a career high 102, said he became nervous after failing to break despite being 4-3 up in the first set. "Nerves and tension got to me. It's a learning experience for me. I gave my best, Seppi was better today. He deserved to win." Prajnesh completely surrendered to Matteo Barreettini 6-4, 6-3 in less than an hour. It was a harrowing start for the southpaw, who conceded breaks in both his opening games of first and second set. "That put a lot of pressure on me because he is a good front-runner and has a very good serve. He used that to his advantage. I think he played more aggressive than I did and that worked well for him," he said after losing to Berrettini for the second time since Chengdu ATP last year. Hailing Berrettini, Prajnesh said: "He is a very good first strike player with a big serve, big forehand. He uses those to his advantage. I feel I needed to put more balls in play, start the rally and I felt I would have more of an advantage and I just didn't do enough to get that to happen." New Delhi, Feb 1 : The small and marginal farmers with landholdings of 2 hectares or below are likely to get the first dole of Rs 2,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in early March. As per the scheme announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament on Friday, farmers with small landholdings will get Rs 6,000 per year as a supporting amount divided into three intalments. "Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land up to 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs 6,000 per year. This income support will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each," the Finance Minister said. The scheme would come into effect retrospectively from December 1, 2018 and the first instalment of Rs 2,000 for the period up to March 31, 2019 is likely to be paid by the Central government in early March itself. Goyal said that around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from the programme that entails an annual expenditure of Rs 75,000 crore. The government has set aside Rs 20,000 crore for payments for the December-March period. Goyal said the money would meet the farmers' emergent needs before the harvest season. However, the scheme has left out the landless farmers who do not have any land but till others'. Responding to a media query in this regard, Goyal said: "The only record available is of the farmers with landholdings. There are many other schemes that would automatically benefit the farmers who are tilling others' land." "Those who own the land but not tilling it, I am sure they would pass on the benefit to those who are tilling the land," he added. New Delhi, Feb 1 : A week after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammad Ashar, the counter-terror probe agency on Friday said it has arrested another absconding accused in the 2006 Kerala twin blasts from the airport here. P.P. Yoosaf, who had since been absconding, was arrested on Friday from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here after he arrived from Saudi Arabia, an NIA spokesperson told IANS. He was produced later in the day before an NIA Special Court in the national capital to obtain a transit remand to take him to Kochi for his production before the Special Court in Ernakulam. According tothe NIA official, Yoosaf, along with Ashar, who was arrested on January 23, had assisted T. Naseer in preparing the IEDs and had planted them at bus stands in Kozhikode City. The twin blasts near the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation and Mofussil bus stands had rocked Kozhikode on March 3, 2006, and left two persons injured and a few properties damaged. The NIA had taken over the case from the Kerala Police in 2009 and filed the chargesheet against eight accused in August 2010 under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA official said thier probe revealed that besides Yoosaf and Ashar, were involved in the conspiracy hatched by prime accused T. Naseer and others to carry out the IED blasts after bail was denied to the accused involved in the Marad communal riots of 2003 in Kozhikode district. Ashar and Yoosaf had assisted Naseer in preparing the Improvised Explosive Devices and planting them. New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Soon after the Central government announced a scheme to provide an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganized sector, several labourers living in the national capital hailed the scheme. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced the "Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan", a scheme to provide an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganized sector who earn up to Rs 15,000 per month. For 35-year-old Mohan, a tea seller, the scheme will help him in days when he will not be in a state to do much physical work. "I heard people talking about the Budget and also the pension scheme for people like us. I got to know that a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 will be given to us. I hope the scheme will turns out to be good. I cannot work throughout my life, and if there is a security that I will get some money after the age of 60, it will help me and my family," he told IANS. For Raju Pushkar, who sells fast food and is in his early 20s, the scheme will be helpful for sure. "I have seen my parents. They were also from the unorgnaized sector. Now they depend on us and have nothing apart from their little savings, which they have kept for my sister's marriage. I don't wish to be like them. I will opt for the scheme so that I can live my life in old age with dignity," he said. Anita, a domestic worker, said as there is hardly any security in her profession, the scheme will help. "People like us are most exploited. We have nowhere to go in old age. Most of the times, our own children throw us out of the house. At least with such a scheme, we will not have to beg in our old age," said the 23-year-old. While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the scheme will benefit 10 crore workers and might become the world's biggest pension scheme for the unorganized sector in the next five years. "Half of India's GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganized sector. We must provide them a social security coverage," said Goyal. He said the mega pension scheme will benefit household helps, rickshaw pullers, agricultural labourers and beedi workers -- and more. A worker joining the scheme on attaining 29 years of age or above will have to contribute Rs 100 a month while those joining at age 18 will contribute Rs 55 per month. The workers will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after attaining 60 years of age. However, not all labourers were happy with the scheme. "This is not the first time a government has promised us anything. We are used to such promises. Plus, the election is coming. I have seen many parties and governments making promises but I have not seen any change in my life," said 56-year-old rickshaw puller Rampal Yadav. Echoing the sentiments, another rickshaw puller, standing next to him, said: "I will only believe in the schemes when I actually see the change. They (government) makes false promises and takes our votes and then there is no one to even listen to us." (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 1 : The NDA government's last budget on Friday laid extra emphasis on the farm and rural sector with announcement of direct income transfer of Rs 6,000 to farmers, besides enhancing the outlay by over 43 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2.89 lakh crore for 2019-20. The increase comes to 30 per cent when compared to the revised budget estimates for 2018-19, which was Rs 2.22 lakh crore. Presenting the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha for 2019-20, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said agriculture is the main driver of the rural economy and there is a need to provide income support to farmers with small and marginal land holdings, who are facing problem of lower returns. Goyal said the government has earmarked Rs 75,000 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in the total allocation of Rs 1.50 lakh crore for agriculture and allied activities. The rural sector has received Rs 1.39 lakh crore. "This income support will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the farmers in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each," he said, adding that the scheme would be funded 100 per cent by the Central government. The government has allocated Rs 20,000 crore for the PM-KISAN in the revised estimates of the current year as the scheme will be effective from December 1, 2018. The government has allocated Rs 14,000 crore for the crop insurance scheme -- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for 2019-20 -- as against Rs 13,000 crore an year ago. Goyal said the farm loans have increased to Rs 11.68 lakh crore in 2018-19. Total allocation for interest subsidy for short-term credit to farmers has been increased from Rs 15,000 crore for 2018-19 to Rs 18,000 for 2019-20. He said the benefit of two per cent interest subvention would be provided to the farmers pursuing activities of animal husbandry and fishery who avail loans through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). The Minister proposed to provide benefit of 3 per cent interest subvention for disaster-affected farmers for the entire period of reschedulement -- from the earlier period of one year -- besides interest subvention of 2 per cent. Centrally-sponsored schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Horticulture and Sub-Mission on Agriculture mechanisation have slight changes in their allocation for 2019-20. The total outlay for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is Rs 1,196 crore in 2019-20 as against Rs 1,000 crore in the revised budget for 2018-19. The government has allocated of Rs 1.92 lakh crore for the Food Ministry, out of which Rs 1.84 lakh crore has been set aside for food subsidy. For the rural sector, the government has earmarked Rs 60,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme that aims at enhancing livelihood security of rural households. The government had allocated Rs 61,084 crore for the scheme in the revised estimates for the current year from Rs 55,000 it had earmarked when the Budget for 2018-19 was announced. During his budget speech, Goyal said the government would shell out more funds for the scheme, if required. Stating that the government intendes to break the urban-rural divide in the country, Goyal said road construction works under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has been tripled. The allocation to the PMGSY has been enhanced to Rs 19,000 crore for 2019-20 from Rs 15,500 crore in the revised budget of current year. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The Union Home Ministry has been allocated Rs 103,927 crore -- the highest so far -- in the Interim Budget 2019 presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday, which is Rs 10,477 crore more than the last budget. As per the revised estimate for 2018-19, the Home Ministry expenditure has been pegged at Rs 99,034 crore, while the budget estimate for FY'19 was Rs 93,450 crore. In 2017-18, the actual expenditure of the Ministry stood at Rs 87,547 crore. "For the first time, the allocation for the Home Ministry in the budget has exceeded Rs 1 lakh crore," a Home Ministry statement said. Out of the Ministry's budget, the government proposes to spend Rs 3,378 crore for modernisation of police force, which was Rs 3,192 crore in the revised estimate for 2018-19. The budget allocation for police infrastructure is Rs 5,117 crore -- slightly higher than Rs 4,836 crore in 2018-19 budget estimate. For the border infrastructure and management scheme, the government has decided to allocate Rs 2,000 crore -- lower from Rs 2,001 crore in the revised estimate for FY'19. For the relief and rehabilitation of migrants and repatriates, there is a provision of Rs 825 crore in the allocation for the Ministry, which was Rs 771 crore in 2018-19 revised estimate. For pension and other benefits to freedom fighters, the Ministry has been granted an allocation of Rs 953 crore, which was Rs 858 crore in 2018-19 revised estimate. For protection and empowerment of women, an amount of Rs 1,330 crore has been proposed to be spent which was Rs 1,156 crore in 2018-19 revised estimate. Apart from these, Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated for assistance to states from the National Disaster Response Force, which is equal to what was allocated in the 2018-19 revised estimate budget. An amount of Rs 10,344 crore has been proposed to be spent on grant-in-aid for States Disaster Response Fund which was Rs 9,852 crore in 2018-19 revised estimate. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Over 20 opposition parties including the Congress, SP, BSP and the Left on Friday discussed the agrarian crisis, rising unemployment and "attacks on democratic institutions" by the Modi government here and resolved to petition the Election Commission (EC) over tampering of EVMs. The 'Save the Nation, Save Democracy' meeting at the Constitution Club here was participated by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and NCP chief Sharad Pawar among others. Addressing the media after the meeting, Gandhi said the opposition parties will on Monday submit a memorandum to the EC with their proposals seeking to address their "doubts" over the fairness of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The parties also discussed at length the core issues that the country is faced with -- agrarian distress, unemployment and the systematic attacks on democratic institutions by the Modi government. "It was a very good meeting where we all discussed two central issues and one structural issue - the issue of unemployment where the Modi government has completely failed, the agrarian crisis and the systematic attacks that this government has been carrying on," said Gandhi. Raking up the Rafale deal which he alleges to be the India's "biggest defence scam", Gandhi also said that agrarian crisis, unemployment and the attacks on democratic institutions along with "Modi's corruption in the jets deal" will be the core issues in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The memorandum on the EVMs signed by representatives of 21 parties will be submitted to the EC on Monday evening. "The main issue with the EVMs is that there are doubts about the fairness of the system in many people. We want to create a backup system, it is about building the confidence of people in the electoral system," said Gandhi adding that the memorandum to the EC has several proposals seeking to address the doubts about the voting machines. Communist Party of India-Marxist Lok Sabha member Mohammad Salim said among the major demands to the EC was ensuring verifying 50 per cent of VVPATs with the paper trails instead of the now 10 per cent. "Doubts over the EVMs have been raised by all opposition from time to time and that's why VVPATs were introduced. But even then the issues remain because only a fraction of the paper trail is verified. The demand is to ensure 50 per cent of verification if not more," said Salim. Among other present in the meeting were Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, Ramgopal Yadav of SP, Sharad Yadav of LJD, Sanjay Singh of AAP, Omar Abdullah of National Conference, Satish Chandra Misra of BSP, Manoj Jha of RJD, Kanimozhi of DMK, Jayant Chaudhary of RLD, D. Raja of CPI, Danish Ali from JD-S and Jitin Ram Manjhi of HAM. While the opposition parties had earlier demanded the EC to revert to paper ballot system for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but with only two months remaining for the poll battle, they have insisted on enhancing the paper trail verification of VVPATs. On the Interim Budget presented by the Modi government, Gandhi was fiercely critical of the scheme of annual income support of Rs 6,000 for small farmers, calling it an insult. "When Rs 3.5 lakh crore of loans to a handful industrialists have been waived, an income Rs 17 per day to our debt ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can no bigger insult than that," he said. Countering the BJP's assertions that devoid of any issues, the Congress was criticising the budget, Gandhi said the Lok Sabha elections will be fought on the issue of Modi's corruption in the Rafale deal. "There will be surgical strikes happening in the next couple of months, on Rafale, on agriculture crisis, on unemployment, we have many issues and the biggest issue is that Modi enriched his crony by Rs 30,000 crore in the Rafale deal," added Gandhi. Imphal, Feb 1 : A bomb exploded on a mountain in Manipur's Noney district on Friday, killing two teenage tribal sisters, police sources said. The two had climbed the mountain near their Leisok village to fell trees for doing shifting cultivation. The victims were identified as Akhiuna Kamei (17) and Gaikhonlieu Kamei (15). "The elder sister died on the spot while the younger one succumbed to the injuries on the way to hospital. Their mother was also injured and had to be hospitalised," a police officer said. The bodies were taken to Imphal for post-mortem. One report said the bomb appeared to be of World War II vintage. But official speculation is that the bomb might have been buried there to attack insurgents of rival outfits. Some armed groups are active in the mountains of this district. Kochi, Feb 01 : The Kerala high court on Friday gave its stamp of approval to woman IPS officer Chaitra Teresa Johns decision to conduct a raid on the CPI(M) district committee office in Thiruvananthapuram the other day. Considering a petition filed by NGO public eye seeking a directive to the CPI(M)-led LDF government to desist from initiating disciplinary action against the IPS officer, the court observed that the decision to conduct a raid on the office of the party governing the state showed that the state of law and order in the state was robust. The court, however, called the petition premature, saying that the court could intervene only if any legal issue was involved and adding that the IPS officer had the opportunity to approach court directly if she had any grievance. In light of the courts observations, the NGO withdrew its petition. The NGO had in its petition contended that the LDF government had stripped Ms. John of additional charge as deputy commission of police Thiruvananthapuram and an inquiry ordered against her in the wake of the incident. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself had criticised the IPS officer and said that action would be initiated against her. CPI(M) state committee member and former MLA V Sivankutty had said that the party was mulling initiating legal action against the woman IPS officer, accusing her of acting in violation of law and flouting standard procedures. A police team led by Ms. Chaitra Teresa John had raided the CPI(M) Thiruvananthapuram district committee office acting on a tip-off that CPI(M) workers who had pelted stones at a police station in the capital city had taken refuge in the party office. Los Angeles, Feb 1 : Actress Ellen Page has slammed US President Donald Trump for anti-LGBTQ policies. During the "The Late Show", she spoke about the aftermath of Trump's policies on marginalised people, reports hollywoodreporter.com She said: "If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering... what do you think is going to happen? "Kids are going to be abused, and they're going to kill themselves and people are going to be beaten on the street." Page also called out Vice President Mike Pence for his ultra-conservative views on same-sex marriages and conversion therapy. "It feels impossible not to feel this way right now with the president and the vice president Mike Pence, who wishes I could not be married, let's just be clear. "The vice president of America wishes I didn't have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in conversion therapy, he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana," added the "Gaycation" star. Page married Emma Portner in 2018. Portner teaches contemporary jazz at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York. Mumbai, Feb 1 (IANS) Elections may not be a beauty contest but who says pretty women can't be in active politics, questions actress Aahana Kumra, who played Priyanka Gandhi in "The Accidental Prime Minister". Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi took potshots at Priyanka Gandhi by saying that an election is "not a beauty contest" and people will cast their vote on the basis of past performance. Aahana has a strong opinion about it. "Why can't a pretty woman be in politics? She's (Priyanka Gandhi) gorgeous, and why not? Is India full of ugly men or people who are not nice looking? Does it have to be the older men all the time? "Why can't a younger woman take part in active politics? Why do they have to shun somebody down... There are very few women in Indian politics, and I am completely up for those who are actively participating. "If they don't, who do we look at? We don't have role models then," said the young actress. On Priyanka Gandhi's foray into active politics as Congress General Secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Aahana quipped: "I think I inspired her." But on a serious note, she added: "It was obviously something that the Congress had thought about. I don't know what their policies are. But I was very excited when I got to know about it. "I was like, 'Oh! Did I just hear it right? She's finally foraying into active politics'... Because she had been denying it all this while. I was reading so much about her and following what she had done, so it was very interesting to know." As a responsible citizen, Aahana says she is a regular voter. "I am one from those families that wake up in the morning and goes into voting first thing," she said, adding that the culture of voting is something that needs to be nurtured at home. "Maybe parents don't push the youngsters enough. In my house, people actively follow politics... It is something ingrained into my life. I don't understand why people don't go and vote. And NOTA is not a vote. Have an opinion. Vote for the person you want to vote," she urged the youth. Aahana spoke to IANS on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019, where she walked the ramp as showstopper for designer label Gazal Mishra. She looked elegant in a stylish lehenga choli. (Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in. She is in Mumbai on an invitation by LFW organisers) New Delhi, Feb 1 : Michael Firestones "I AM KING: The Michael Jackson Experience" -- a live concert paying tribute to late King of Pop Michael Jackson -- will reach India in March. After entertaining people across the world, "I AM KING - The Michael Jackson Experience" will be held across seven shows at Mumbai's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and Bengaluru's St. John's Auditorium from March 13 to March 17. Online ticketing platform BookMyShow along with event company L.A.T. (Live At The) is bringing the show to India, read a statement. Having performed to fans worldwide and in Las Vegas, the show will feature Jackson tribute artistes dancing on some of his popular hits. The shows will feature talented musicians, Broadway and Las Vegas dancers. The performance will be led by Firestone, hailed by fans and critics for aping MJ's look and style. It will feature renditions of Jackson's hits including "Bad", "Billie Jean", "Thriller" and "Human nature". Kunal Khambhati, Head- Live Events and IP, BookMyShow, said: "Michael Jackson was not just a legendary pop artiste, but a phenomenon that took the world by storm. His music and dance styles find home in every corner of India and we are absolutely delighted to bring the show to the country." New Delhi, Feb 1 : Hailing the Interim Budget, tech companies on Friday said the focus on leveraging digital technologies will boost rural manufacturing and create jobs. "The focus on leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable a positive impact on the lives of people is an encouraging step," Sumeer Chandra, MD, HP Inc. India, told IANS. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced that the government will soon launch a National Artificial Intelligence Portal. "Further, the expansion of rural industrialization using digital technologies, development of clusters encompassing the MSMEs, village industries and start-ups, will boost rural manufacturing, job creation and strengthen the overall economy," added Chandra. Dr Subho Ray, President, The Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said the announcement of a National Artificial Intelligence portal is expected to propel India on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive technologies. "The budget acknowledges that is now the second-largest hub for start-ups in the world," he added. Sanjay Jalona, CEO and MD, LTI (L&T Infotech) said the continued support by the government to New-Age concepts such as AI is a huge trigger to further advancements in these fields. "The role of such exponential technologies in driving the nation's development is immense and provides a much-needed avenue to address and overcome pertinent age-old issues," he added. Budget proposals such as those on AI, one lakh digital villages and the thrust on RFID usage will not only fuel entrepreneurship but also unleash enormous job opportunities, noted Deepak Maheshwari, Director-Government Affairs, India, Symantec. Souma Das, Managing Director, Teradata India, said the investment proposed by the government in the field of AI and allied technologies will lay a strong foundation for making revolutionary transformation in the scope of governance and the opportunity to provide seamless and improved citizen services experience. Lucknow, Feb 1 : The interim budget presented by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha on Friday brought mixed reactions from political parties in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the proposals in the budget and said that "this was a budget that would fulfil the dreams of the middle class and take India on the path of becoming 'new India'". He also said that the budget had taken good care of all sections of the society. "The budgetary provisions will help the farmers, the labour class, and the Union government needs to be patted for it," he stated. In contrast, however, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav billed the interim budget as "everything but true". "The budgetary provisions are a bundle of lies" he said. He also blamed the Modi government for the "highest unemployment rate in 45 years". "The youth will take revenge on the false promises and joblessness in the Lok Sabha elections," said Yadav. Bengaluru, Feb 1 : The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday regretted the Mirage-2000 fighter crash which killed two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots during a test sortie in Bengaluru. "HAL expresses condolences to the grief stricken families of the two pilots. The company has initiated an enquiry into the accident in co-ordination with the IAF," HAL said in a statement here. Squadron Leader Samir Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi died after the upgraded Mirage-2000 crashed on a test sortie at the military airport in the city's eastern suburb, an official told IANS. While Negi hailed from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Abrol was from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. They were both test pilots with the IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). The crashed Mirage-2000, which was upgraded by HAL, was developed by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Populist announcements, including full income tax exemption for individual tax payers having an annual income up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6,000 cash support to small and marginal farmers drew the most attention from Lok Sabha members on Friday when Finance Minister Piyush Goyal was presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20. It elicited loud cheers from the treasury benches as members chanted 'Modi-Modi' amid thumping of desks, while the opposition members looked on unmoved and some even jeered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, too hailed the announcements by thumping their desks. During these announcements, the family members of Goyal who were seated in the Speaker's gallery cheered and applauded. As the Finance Minister entered the House for presenting the last Budget before the general elections, none noticed him because most of the treasury benches members were busy in chatting to each other. Goyal, who for the first time presented the Union Budget, missed the rousing welcome that Finance Ministers usually get through loud cheers and thumping of desks. Soon after reaching his seat Goyal touched the feet of Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharti and BJP veteran Shanta Kumar. The members then welcomed him. As he stood up for the budget speech, the opposition benches accused the ruling party of leaking the budget proposals to the media even before it was presented in the House. Members of the Congress and Left parties held up placards related to the unemployment situation in the country. Almost all the Telugu Desam Party members sported black as a mark of protest against the government's failure to award special status to Andhra Pradesh -- of not fulfilling the promises made during its bifurcation. However, they attended the proceedings. The dance, drama and masti of the Trinamool Congress members drew a lot of attention. Idris Ali was seen dancing at his seat. Many a time to attack the government in his sarcastic style he raised different kinds of voices. He was supported by other party members Arpita Ghosh, Mamtaz Sanghamita and Moonmoon Sen. Ali's style of protest also drew Goyal's attention, who took a jibe saying, "You remind us of Ramlila." Congress member Rajiv Satav reached the treasury benches with folded hands even as Goyal's speech was in progress. He put a placard in front of him and another near the Prime Minister. Then he returned to his seat without saying anything to anyone. Pappu Yadav from Bihar was seen protesting against the 13 point roster system in universities. He approached the podium holding some papers and placards. When Goyal was about to conclude his speech, Yadav reached him with folded hands and tried to show him the placard. BJP's Anurag Thakur intervened and took him to his seat. Union Minister Ram Das Athawale tried to invoke Congress President Rahul Gandhi when the measures related to farmers and SC/STs were announced by Goyal. "Rahulji suno ...gaur se suno (listen carefully)," he said. During the speech, Gandhi left the House once, which prompted some of the treasury benches members to say, "Kaha chal diye (Where are you off to)." However, he returned in a while. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was missing from the scene though. After Goyal's speech ended, Union Ministers and several other party leaders rushed towards him to congratulate him. Suresh Prabhu was the first to congratulate him. Gadkari, who was sitting next to him hugged him. Goyal then touched the feet of party veterans L.K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh too congratulated him. The Budget presentation were applauded by almost every member from the treasury benches. Some of them were heard saying, "wah-wah", "kya baat hai" and "aapne sirf budget pesh nahi kiya, janata ko saral shabdon me samjha bhi diya" (You did not only present the budget but made the people understood in simple language). Many of the Rajya Sabha MPs, including Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Mazid Memon, V. Muralidharan and others were seen in the gallery. Beijing, Feb 1 (IANS) Sri Lanka will get a $1 billion loan from China, its biggest lender and might sign a free trade agreement with Beijing, becoming the third country to ink such a pact in India's neighbourhood. Sri Lankan envoy to Beijing Karunasena Kodituwakku, who made the announcement here, said it was wrong to accuse China of pushing the South Asian island nation into a debt trap. Sri Lanka will soon sign a concessional loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China to borrow $1 billion to fund a major highway from Colombo to its second largest city Kandy, Kodituwakku said on Tuesday at a briefing, apparently only for select media. The money will be used for the first stage of the central highway and the second stage will be financed by Sri Lankan consortiums and the third by Japanese loans, the Global Times quoted him as saying. It was not clear if the envoy was talking about the same $1 billion loan which his country's top bank official said will come from the Export-Import Bank of China. Sri Lanka is trying to limp back to normalcy after being hit by a deep political crisis last year that plunged the credit rating of the already-indebted country. The Chinese have made deep inroads into the strategically located nation in the Indian Ocean and have a 100-year lease of the Hambantota Port after Sri Lanka failed to pay back loans. Beijing's growing presence in Sri Lanka worries India which held considerable clout in the country. The envoy also said that Sri Lanka was in talks with China on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). "They have reached consensus on many issues, but (the agreement) isn't finalised," said the Ambassador. "We hope this year will be the critical year to finalize it." If materialised, Sri Lanka will be the third South Asian country to sign such a pact after Pakistan and the Maldives. The new Maldivian government is rethinking on its FTA as it believes that the pact is blindly in favour of Beijing. Kodituwakku also revealed that Sri Lanka was negotiating with the China Development Bank for short-term loans. He slammed the Western media's allegations that China's financial assistance to Sri Lanka had led it into a debt trap. "We don't agree with that. China never forced us to take a loan... If there is something wrong with the loans we have taken, it's our responsibility. It's not fair to blame China or another country, saying Sri Lanka is a victim," he said. He emphasised that it was on Sri Lanka's request that China provided funds, especially the development assistance. "This year Sri Lanka has to settle nearly $4 billion, and the country has more than $8 billion in reserves. But we cannot use all that money just to pay back. We have to keep a minimum balance," he said. According to the Ambassador, the Colombo port was a very crucial transit port serving India. India's strong economy will prop up the port as a successful entity. He hopes Chinese firms can turn the Hambantota Port into a successful facility. In October, Sri Lanka received orders worth at least $15 million at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). "We would like to enhance exports to the Chinese market," he said, adding the items could include tea, jam, vegetables, fish and natural rubber-based products. "We also invite more Chinese investors to invest in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan exports have concessional access to US, Indian and European markets. They can come to take advantage of these opportunities." Kolkata, Feb 1 : Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday said the Commission was fully committed to providing a safe and conducive environment to conduct the coming general elections in West Bengal. Arora was here along with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) since the last two days to oversee poll preparedness in the state. "After holding meetings with all political parties yesterday (Thursday), the ECI has taken note of all their concerns regarding security. "The ECI is committed to providing safe and conducive environment during the elections. It has asked the administration that effective monitoring and vigilance be done and concerns of the political parties be addressed," Arora told the media here. He said that along with the norm of appointing general and expenditure observers, the Commission will also appoint accessibility observers for the first time during the coming elections. It has also proposed intensive action plans to enable adequate confidence building among the voters. "Bengal is an emotional place. It has been at the pinnacle of culture and traditions and so on... But if those emotions get channelised in the direction of violence, the EC will intervene," the Commissioner said. "I have asked the District Magistrates and police officers to ensure speedy execution of non-bailable warrants and disposal of pending cases from the last elections." He said the Commission has directed the officials to make electoral rolls error free and identify the expenditure in sensitive constituencies. Arora said VVPATs will be used along with EVM machines at all polling booths in the state for the first time. "The Chief Electoral Officer in this state has been directed to organise review and awareness campaigns at the booth level," he added. Amaravati, Feb 1 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Centre and asked if it thinks Telugu people have no masculinity. "Do you think Telugus have no masculinity?" Naidu asked in an angry tone while speaking in the Assembly over the Centre not fulfilling the commitments made to the state including grant of special category status. Naidu blasted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vishnu Kumar Raju for his claim that the Modi government had done more for the state than what it had promised. Naidu, also the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President, challenged Raju to show what the Centre had given to the state. He asked the BJP leader to compare the assistance provided to Andhra Pradesh with the funds given to Gujarat and other states. The Chief Minister told the BJP leader that he is not fit to be a public representative. Naidu, who was wearing black shirt to protest the Centre's "unjust attitude" toward the state, vowed to continue the fight for justice. "We are not going to rest. We will not allow BJP leaders to move around," the TDP chief warned. He demanded to know what development south India achieved during BJP rule. Naidu said M. Venkaiah Naidu was a union minister from the south but because of 'their' anger he was made the Vice-President. "Only God knows whether this was a promotion or punishment for him," he added. --IANS ms/mr A Ayodhya, Feb 1 (IANS) The jury may be out on whether Narendra Modi will lead the NDA back to power. But, for those thronging the Ram Janmabhoomi (RJB) site at this temple town he is "the only man who will get the Ram temple constructed". For 19-year-old Suraj, who sells rosaries (beaded maalas) and other religious items near the barricade of the 'isolated zone' of the RJB, there is only one man who can get the temple built - Modi. Ramesh Maali, who has come with his friend Ram Niyaad Pandya from Ajmer, said: "Only the Prime Minister appears serious in doing this." Septuagenerian Chattrapal who sells religious books like the Ramayan and Gita - came across as a disappointed soul but somewhat hopeful too. Angry at the political class for the inordinate delay in the construction of the temple, he asked: Will the political class build the Ram temple?" A self-professed fan of Subhas Chandra Bose, he fumed at the Congress and blamed it for the delay in temple construction. Sumitra, who is from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh and is on his twelfth visit to the RJB, said she and her family are certain that Modi would help build the temple. Raunak Pandey, from Lucknow, on his maiden visit to the temple town with his family echoed similar sentiments. He was in class 2 when the 16th-century Babri mosque was razed in 1992. He admitted that before his visit to RJB on Thursday he had little idea of how much the issue mattered to millions of Hindus. Ram Nath Pandey from Jaswantnagar, Etawah, who is back from Kumbh and made a stopover in Ayodhya, was, however, doubtful on the timeline of the Ram temple's construction. "Modi is sincere but what of the other politicians?" he asked. Everyone was busy creating and appeasing vote banks, Pandey said as he negotiated his way through the rusted iron-grilled corridors leading to the Ram Lalla's makeshift temple under a tent. Fourteen-year-old Bimal Narayan Das, who is learning priesthood at the fabled Hanumangarhi temple, however, has a different take on the issue. "Not Modi, Not Rahul Gandhi...the temple will be built only when Hanumanji wills," he says. (Mohit Dubey can be contacted mohit.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 1 : Former Finance Minister and Congress veteran P. Chidambaram on Friday described the Interim Budget as an "Account for Votes" and not a Vote on Account and said the Modi government has further weakened fiscal stability. "It was not a Vote on Account but an Account for Votes," Chidambaram told the media here. "It was a full-fledged Budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. By doing so, the government has trampled on time-honoured conventions," he said. He added that the government had no hope of returning to power and had, therefore, "acted desperately and recklessly, and in violation of the Constitution". He said the big takeaway was that the present government had "further weakened fiscal stability". "For the second year in succession, the government has missed the Fiscal Deficit target. The revised estimate shows a slippage from 3.3 per cent to 3.4 per cent. Worse, for 2019-20 too, the government has proposed an FD of 3.4 per cent. The government has thrown the FRBM Act out of the window. "Similarly, the government will end the year with a Current Account Deficit (CAD) of 2.5 per cent as against the CAD in the previous year of 1.9 per cent," said Chidambaram. "Both numbers for the current year and the estimate of FD for 2019-20 point to incompetent fiscal management and a disdain for fiscal prudence," he said. Pointing to the "last-gasp" announcements including a scheme for welfare of cows, a new Department of Fisheries and pension scheme for unorganised workers, Chidambaram asked: "If these were important and necessary interventions, what was the government doing for five years?" He also questioned the "measly" farmers' income support. "The government's desperation is proved by its announcement of the Farmers' Income Support Scheme to provide a measly sum Rs 6,000 per year to every small/medium farmer. The Fiscal Deficit numbers are telling. "By recklessly breaching fiscal discipline, the government will fund the scheme this year entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 20,000 crore. Next year too, the scheme will be funded entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 75,000 crore. "While I welcome the support to farmers, I ask what about the non-farmer poor? What about the urban poor," he asked. He said the new scheme was intended to help the farmer, but in reality it will also help the absentee landlord. "I would like to ask how the government will reach the money to the tenant-farmer and farm labourer who actually tills the land," he added. Washington, Feb 1 : US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will hold a second summit in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang by February end, a senior administration official said here on Friday. The plan for the summit is being finalised, CNN quoted the official as saying. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location ever since the second summit was announced. White House officials announced on January 18 that the two leaders will hold the second summit following discussions with Kim Yong-chol, North Korea's lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting took place last June in Singapore. Another informed source said that there were no current discussions for Trump to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit. Trump's agenda for the summit and the actual date were yet to decided. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The government on Friday announced a budget of Rs 38,572 crore for its National Education Mission which comprises the Centrally sponsored schemes for education under which it allocates funds to the states and union territories. The budget amount is an increase from last year's Rs 32,334 crore. Most part of this entire amount -- Rs 36,472.40 crore -- is for school education for students from pre-primary to class 12. This amount is meant to be allocated for schemes which include Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan -- formed with the merger of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan last year -- and teacher training. A part of this budget component, that is, Rs 2,100 crore, is meant for higher education, which will go towards the Ministry of Human Resource Development's Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan or RUSA. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced a 2 per cent interest subvention for the MSME sector and Rs 3,000 monthly pension for workers in the unorganised sector, both of which were hit hard by the demonetisation. The 2 per cent interest subvention for loans up to Rs 1 crore can be availed by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are registered with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Goyal said while presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha. "The government has undertaken many effective steps to strengthen the MSME sector, which provides employment to crores. "Recently, a scheme of sanctioning loans up to Rs 1 crore in 59 minutes has been launched. GST-registered SME units will get 2 per cent interest rebate on incremental loan of Rs 1 crore," he said. The requirement of sourcing from SMEs by government enterprises has been increased to 25 per cent, including three per cent quota for sourcing from women-owned SMEs, he said. Another section that was hit hard by the demonetisation and the GST-impact on small businesses is the unorganised sector that accounts for half of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs more than 42 crore workers. Announcing a mega pension scheme for that sector, Goyal said workers in the sector will get a pension of Rs 3,000 per month after retirement in lieu of a minimum monthly payment of Rs 55 or Rs 100, depending on the age at the time of joining the scheme. "Our government proposes to launch a mega pension yojna namely 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income of up to Rs 15,000. "This pension scheme shall provide them an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 from the age of 60 years," he said. A worker joining the scheme at 18 years will have to contribute Rs 55 a month, while those above 29 years will have to contribute Rs 100 every month till they turn 60 years old. The government will deposit equal matching share in the pension account of the worker every month. Goyal allocated Rs 500 crore for the scheme in the current fiscal. Yangon, Feb 1 : The lawyers for two jailed Reuters journalists on Friday filed an appeal with Myanmars Supreme Court against the seven-year prison sentences imposed on them on charges of violating the country's Official Secrets Act. In January, the High Court of Yangon rejected an initial appeal against the convictions, reports Efe news. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on the night of December 12, 2017 immediately after receiving documents from two police officers. The journalists were at the time investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslims at Inn Din village in Rakhine state during a Myanmar Army crackdown after Rohingya rebels launched a series of attacks on security posts in the region. During the reporters' trial, one of the police officers involved in the arrest, Captain Moe Yan Naing, testified that the two had been trapped in a set-up planned by a senior police official. After the testimony, the policeman was sentenced to a year in prison for violating Myanmar's Police Disciplinary Act. On December 11, the reporters were named by Time magazine as "People of the Year" in 2018 along with murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Filipina CEO of Rappler magazine Maria Ressa and staff of American newspaper Capital Gazette, where five workers were killed in a shooting last June. Kolkata, Feb 1 : The Election Commission (EC) has sought an explanation from the West Bengal government for the absence of city Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at a meeting convened by the panel, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said here on Friday. A letter seeking explanation was sent to Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya. Kumar had not turned up for the meeting with the full bench of the EC on Thursday and instead the city police was represented by Special Commissioner (II) Jayanta Kumar Basu. "The Election Commission of India has sought an explanation from the Home Secretary for the absence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at its meeting on Thursday," said Arora. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the government has provided Rs 1,330 crore for the protection and empowerment of women, an increase of Rs 174 crore from last year. "An amount of Rs 1,330 crore has been provided for 2019-20," Goyal said while presenting the Interim Budget it in the Lok Sabha. "While taking several welfare initiatives for women, the emphasis of the government has been to move from 'women's development' to 'women-led development' during the last four and a half years." Goyal said that more than 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana were women who were getting affordable and collateral-free loans to start their own businesses. The Minister also added that maternity leave of 26 weeks have provided financial support to women while empowering them to participate in work. He noted that the government embarked upon the Ujjawala Yojana to deliver eight crore free LPG connections and six crore connections have already been provided while the remaining will be given by next year. New Delhi, Feb 1 : In a major relief to small savers, the TDS threshold on interest on bank and post office deposits has been raised to Rs 40,000 in the Interim Budget for 2019.20. Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the TDS threshold on rental income had been increased from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. The earlier TDS threshold on the interest on such deposits was Rs 10,000. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The Congress on Friday dubbed the Interim Budget as the "BJP manifesto", saying the entire exercise was aimed at wooing voters for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls without providing a report card of the Modi governments performance. "Today's budget is BJP's election manifesto. This is nothing but trying to bribe the voters and the entire exercise was done keeping in mind the upcoming elections," Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told the media after Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the Interim Budget. "The budget is silent about the performance of the government in the last five years. What achievements they made, how much of their promises were fulfilled -- what about the promise of 10 crore jobs in five years or giving Rs 15 lakh each to the people of India," he asked. The Congress veteran also questioned the move to present a "full budget" instead of a vote on account. He demanded to know who would fulfil the new promises the Narendra Modi government was making as its tenure ends in May. "This should have been a vote on account, their mandate is till May. Instead of that, they presented a budget for the entire year. "Who will fulfil these promises they have made? This is nothing but misleading the people ahead of the Lok Sabha polls." He also refused to give credit to the government proposing tax exemption for individuals with annual incomes of Rs 5 lakh. "This has been done to woo the middle class ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. And yet it is not a game changer because the people know what this government has done and how it has performed during the last five years." Kharge said the budget neglected the poor, especially the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). "There is nothing for the poor, farmers and especially for the SCs and STs. They have proposed Rs 60,000 core for MNREGA, which is just Rs 1 crore more than last year. "The fact is that to pay the dues in this regard to various state governments, the government needs Rs 10,000 crore," he said. "They feel they will get the votes through this budget but the farmers and people realise that they have been defrauded. "They have only listed what they will do in next year but did not inform about what they did in the last five years," added Kharge. Hyderabad, Feb 1 : Telangana's Rythu Bandhu scheme showed the way to the Centre, which on Friday announced the PM Kisan Yojna to provide income support to farmers. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in his Interim Budget announced the scheme for direct cash transfer to small farmers. Every farmer owning less than two hectares of land will get Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments. It was Telangana, India's youngest state, which came out with the investment support scheme last year as part of its measures to transform the agriculture sector. It is aimed at taking care of the initial investment by the farmer so that he doesn't have to approach private lenders. However, under Rythu Bandhu, farmers irrespective of their land holding are getting Rs 8,000 per acre annually, at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre per crop. Launched in May last year by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government, the scheme has so far benefited 58 lakh farmers. In the Budget for 2018-19, the state had set aside Rs 12,000 crore for this scheme. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan had noted last month that Rythu Bandhu not only found its place in the national agenda but also won appreciation from the UN. To ensure that benefits of Rythu Bandhu reach the actual beneficiaries, a comprehensive programme for purification, rectification and update of revenue records was taken up. Under the programme, ownership of 94 per cent of lands was determined and passbooks were issued to farmers. The only aspect of Rythu Bandhu which has come under criticism is that tenant farmers are not entitled for the benefit. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Finance Minister Piyush Goyal praised the latest release "Uri: The Surgical Strike" during the Interim Budget session here on Friday. While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, the Minister praised the movie and said: "I had the opportunity to watch the film ... recently. 'Kya josh tha, kya mahaul tha' (the atmosphere there was great)." As Goyal spoke about the film, several BJP leaders including Paresh Rawal, who also featured in the military drama, thumped their desks in Parliament. In the past also, several politicians such as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have praised the film. "Uri: The Surgical Strike" is based on the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces on terror hubs in Pakistan. The movie, released earlier this month, also stars Yami Gautam and Mohit Raina. In the film, Vicky Kaushal plays the role of an Indian commando who is involved in the 2016 surgical strike. Guwahati, Feb 1 : Three men on Friday staged a nude protest near the Secretariat here in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The protesters were swiftly removed by security personnel, police said. Protests against the Bill have enveloped virtually the entire north-eastern region since the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. The Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to six non-Muslim minority groups from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The fear in the northeast is that if this is done, "outsiders" will overwhelm the locals in the region. A nude protest was also staged last month by 10 Assamese youths in front of Parliament in the national capital. Washington, Feb 1 : Every Catholic diocese in the US state of Texas has released the names of all priests, deacons and other clergy members accused of sexually abusing children. The dioceses publicly identified on Thursday at least 298 clergy members across the state that have faced "credible abuse" allegations dating back to the 1940s, reports CNN. The decision for the public identification was taken last October as part of an effort "to promote healing and restoration of trust in the Catholic Church". Lists published on each diocese's website, include the names of the clergy members, details about when and where they were ordained and which parishes they were assigned to. Each diocese compiled it's own list and the details about those accused and the allegations vary. There are 8.5 million Catholics and 1,320 Catholic parishes in Texas, according to the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. Washington, Feb 1 : An ongoing rift between US President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the construction of a wall along the Mexican border appeared to have widened even as negotiators worked to strike a deal ahead of a looming deadline. On Thursday, Pelosi made her strongest comments against the wall since the government reopened last week after the longest shutdown in US history, reports CNN. "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation," she told the media. Pelosi added that other aspects of border security involving infrastructure and technology were part of the negotiations. In response, Trump dismissed the Speaker's remarks as "just playing games", insisting even she would be "begging for a wall" if an onslaught of undocumented immigrants swarm the border. "I'm not waiting for this committee and I've told a lot of people I don't expect much coming out of the committee because I keep hearing words that 'We'll give you what you want but we won't give you a wall'. And the problem is, if they don't give us a wall, it doesn't work," he said at the Oval Office. Also in a series of tweets early on Thursday, Trump insisted his long-promised border wall would come to fruition one way or another, blaming "political games" for delaying the inevitable. The war of words between the two leaders came as Republican and Democratic negotiators began talks on Thursday over a government funding measure that Trump insists must include the border wall funding. The President and his aides were continuing to make preparations for the national emergency order this week in the event that the negotiators on Capitol Hill fail to reach an agreement by mid-month, according to White House officials. San Francisco, Feb 1 : Global cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks has discovered a malware that is capable of stealing saved usernames and passwords in Google Chrome, saved credit card credentials in Chrome and iPhones text messages if backed up to a Mac. The malware named "CookieMiner" is capable of stealing browser cookies associated with mainstream cryptocurrency exchanges and wallet service websites visited by the victims, said Unit 42, an arm of Palo Alto Networks. It steals saved passwords in Chrome and iPhone text messages from iTunes backups on the tethered Mac. "By leveraging the combination of stolen login credentials, web cookies and SMS data, based on past attacks like this, we believe the bad actors could bypass multi-factor authentication for these sites," the researchers noted. If successful, the attackers would have full access to the victim's exchange account and/or wallet and be able to use those funds as if they were the user themselves. The malware also configures the system to load coinmining software on the system. Web cookies are widely used for authentication. Once a user logs into a website, its cookies are stored for the web server to know the login status. If the cookies are stolen, the attacker could potentially sign into the website to use the victim's account. "Stealing cookies is an important step to bypass login anomaly detection. If only the username and password are stolen and used by a bad actor, the website may issue an alert or request additional authentication for a new login," said Unit 42 in a blog post on Thursday. However, if an authentication cookie is also provided along with the user name and password, the website might believe the session is associated with a previously authenticated system host and not issue an alert or request additional authentication methods. Most modern cryptocurrency exchanges and online wallet services have multi-factor authentication. "CookieMiner" tries to navigate past the authentication process by stealing a combination of the login credentials, text messages and web cookies. "If the bad actors successfully enter the websites using the victim's identity, they could perform fund withdrawals," said the researchers. Apple's Safari is not the only web browser targeted. Google Chrome also attracts the threat actors' attention due to its popularity. "Cryptocurrency owners should keep an eye on their security settings and digital assets to prevent compromise and leakage," the report suggested. Washington, Feb 1 : US authorities arrested three people on charges of running "birth tourism" companies that catered to Chinese clients in southern California, the media reported. It is the first time that criminal charges have been filed in a US federal court over the practice, CNN quoted Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office, Central District of California, as saying on Thursday. "Birth tourists" travel to foreign countries to give birth, so that their children acquire the citizenship of that country. In the US, the legal principle of "jus soli" or right of the soil, automatically confers citizenship upon babies born on US soil. Other countries, including Switzerland and Japan, do not grant citizenship automatically unless one or more parents are also citizens. Federal prosecutors also unsealed indictments of 16 more people, who are considered fugitives who are all linked to three alleged Southern California birth tourism companies that catered to Chinese clients. According to a Department of Justice (DoJ) statement issued on Thursday, the three businesses under scrutiny allegedly advertised access to "the most attractive nationality; better air and less pollution; priority for jobs in US government; superior educational resources, including free education from junior high school to public high school; a more stable political situation; and the potential to receive your senior supplement benefits when you are living overseas". The three people in custody have been charged with "conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, international money laundering and identity theft", according to the DoJ statement. The charges stem from a 2015 raid of dozens of "maternity hotels", CNN reported. Pregnant clients paid between $15,000 to $50,000 each, for lodging, transportation and food during their stays. According to the indictment announcement, the companies instructed women to wear "loose clothing that would conceal their pregnancies" before US immigration officials. Bengaluru, Feb 1 : A Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Friday at the military airport runway in the city suburb during a training sortie, an official told IANS. Details were awaited. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced direct annual income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers with land holding of two hectares. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the Pradhan Mantri Fund Scheme has been constituted with an aim to double farmers' income by 2022. He said Rs 75,000 crore will be allocated for the scheme for 2019-20 and Rs 20,000 crore has been set apart in the revised estimates for the current year 2018-19. The money will be transferred in three instalments through direct benefit transfer. The scheme, to be implemented from December 1, 2018, will be notified shortly. He also said that Rs 1.7 lakh crore has been allocated on food subsidy and Rs 60,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. New Delhi, Feb 1 : Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday wished his predecessor Arun Jaitley a speedy recovery, good health and long life. At the outset of his Interim Budget presentation in the Lok Sabha, he said everyone misses Jaitley at this time. "I join the House in wishing Jaitley a speedy recovery, a healthy and long life in the service of the nation," Goyal said. Goyal was given charge of the finance portfolio last week after Jaitley rushed to the US for medical treatment a fortnight ago. Amaravati, Feb 1 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday wore a black shirt to protest against the Centre's "step motherly" treatment to the state and for not fulfilling its promises including granting special category status. Naidu, also the President of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), reached the Assembly wearing the black shirt and white pants. His cabinet colleagues including his son and Information Minister Nara Lokesh and all other party legislators also wore black. The Chief Minisger wore black to the Assembly as a sign of protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "step-motherly treatment meted out to Andhra Pradesh and for breaking all promises made including #SpecialStatus", tweeted Lokesh. According to TDP sources, this was the first time Naidu wore a black shirt. He is usually seen wearing white, cream or yellow coloured clothes. Even when he was in the opposition, he confined to wearing a black badge in protest. The TDP leaders also expressed solidarity with a day-long shutdown called in the state by Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi (PHSS), which is fighting for the special status to the state. Earlier, during a teleconference with TDP leaders, Naidu said that demonstrations would be held in the state till February 10. The next day he will head to New Delhi where he would lead a protest. The protests in the national capital would continue till February 14. Canberra, Feb 1 : Schools South Australia have begun a trial of a Holocaust education program to fight the rise of anti-Semitism, an official said. The program to be taught to 15 and 16-year-old students at 12 secondary schools around Adelaide would equip students with knowledge and compassion, Xhua news agency reported. Coordated by the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Steer Education Centre,it will then eventually be corporated to an -house resource at the museum when it opens late 2019 so that more schools could be cluded. The Holocaust was a genocide durg World War II which Nazi Germany, aided by its collaborators, systematically murdered some six million European Jews, around two-thirds of the Jewish population there between 1941 and 1945. "We've seen around the world the rise of anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and racism," Nicola Zuckerman, chair of the museum, told the Australian Broadcastg Corporation (ABC) late on Thursday. "I thk it's now more important than ever that the younger generations are educated about the history of the Holocaust and the lessons to be learned from it. "Without understandg that, it's difficult for them to understand today's world why anti-Semitism and any form of hatred is just entirely unacceptable," she said. This knowledge and understandg of the sorts of sentiments that lead to the holocaust will prepare them to stand up agast similar evil. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry November 2018 had revealed anti-Semitic cidents rose by an unprecedented 60 per cent 2018 compared to 2017. Of the 366 reported anti-Semitic cidents 2018, 156, or 43 per cent, were considered attacks and 210, or 57 per cent, categorised as threats. "There are some places and countries where it's not taught, it's not acknowledged and younger generations don't even know what occurred. "We have to ensure that we create a society that is understandg, compassionate and acceptg of all people," Zuckerman said. New Delhi, Feb 1 : The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the interim Budget for 2019-20. The interim Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in Parliament. Earlier, Goyal called on President Ram Nath Kovind to get his signatures on financial proposals. He later drove to Parliament. Rome, Feb 1 : Senators from Italy's ruling grassroots Five-Star Movement have deplored a vote by the European Parliament recognizing Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, calling the move "dangerous" and "a political act". "European Parliament's recognition of Guiado as Venezuela's legitimate President is a political act that could destabilize and deepen the crisis in the country, complicating dialogue and a negotiated solution," said the lawmakers from the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee. "We hope that European Union foreign policy chief (Federica) Mogherini will not go down this dangerous route," the lawmakers added. The abstention from Thursday's vote by Five-Star members of the European Parliament "should remain on the record as an act of responsibility and of rejection of any external interference", the lawmakers said. In a non-binding resolution, Euro-MPs voted to recognise Guaido, Venezuela's self-declared interim President as de-facto head of state and called on all EU governments to follow suit. Guaido, the elected leader of the opposition-held National Assembly, declared himself the interim President on January 23 after leftist president Nikolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term earlier this month following polls marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging which triggered large protests in Venezuela. The US and more than 20 countries have backed Guaido while Maduro has the support of Russia, China and Turkey. About three million people have fled Venezuela amid acute economic problems and there has been an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. San Francisco, Feb 1 : Facebook and Twitter have taken down multiple Pages, groups and accounts from Iran, Russia, Bangladesh and Venezuela that engaged in coordinated inauthentic behaviour on their platforms. Facebook removed 783 pages, groups and accounts that it said was directed from Iran, in some cases repurposing Iranian state media content, and engaged in coordinated inauthentic behaviour targeting people across the world, more heavily in the Middle East and South Asia. "About 2 million accounts followed at least one of these Pages on Facebook, about 1,600 accounts joined at least one of these groups, and more than 254,000 accounts followed at least one of these Instagram accounts," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy said in a blog post late Thursday. Some of the activities on these accounts dates back to 2010. "Less than $30,000 in spending for ads on Facebook and Instagram paid for primarily in US dollars, UK pounds, Canadian dollars, and euros. We have not completed our review of the organic content coming from these accounts," said Facebook. The suspected Pages hosted eight events. "Up to 210 people expressed interest in at least one of these events. We cannot confirm whether any of these events actually occurred," said Gleicher. According to Yoel Roth, Head of Site Integrity at Twitter, they identified and suspended a very small number of accounts originating from Bangladesh for engaging in coordinated platform manipulation. "The Tweets were entirely in Bengali and focused on regional political themes," he wrote in a separate blog post. Twitter also identified and suspended 2,617 additional malicious originated in Iran. Twitter has suspended a total of 3,843 accounts from Russia. "Our ongoing efforts have uncovered an additional 418 accounts. We cannot render definitive attribution to the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) for these accounts, although most appear to originate in Russia," said Twitter. It also said it removed 764 accounts located in Venezuela, where there was major political upheaval. "Additionally, we have removed 1,196 accounts located in Venezuela which appear to be engaged in a state-backed influence campaign targeting domestic audiences," said the micro-blogging platform. Washington, Feb 1 : Cha's trade delegation has said it made "important progress" the latest round of talks with the US and the two sides had "candid, specific and fruitful" discussions. A statement released by the Chese delegation here on Thursday at the end of a two-day meetg said Cha pledged to purchase an additional five million tonne of US soy beans, Xhua news agency reported. US President Donald Trump touted the promise as evidence that the two sides were makg progress. At a press conference with Vice Premier Liu He on Thursday, Trump said he hoped to meet his Chese counterpart Xi Jpg to hash out a fal agreement by the March 1 deadle. He also said he planned to send US officials to Cha for another round of talks. "We have made tremendous progress," he said. "That doesn't mean you're gog to have a deal but there's a tremendous relationship and a warm feelg." Washington, Feb 1 : North Korea has pledged to destroy all its nuclear material enrichment facilities, the US special envoy has said. Stephen Biegun said he planned to discuss "corresponding measures" the US can take in return for the country's denuclearisation, the BBC reported on Friday. The US would first however need "complete understanding" of the country's weapons programmes. President Donald Trump earlier said both countries had made "tremendous progress". Speaking in the Oval Office, the President said he would soon announce the date and location of a planned summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un. The pair met in Singapore last year, the first meeting between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader. In a speech at Stanford University in California, Biegun said North Korea had made the pledge to South Korea and to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But the US needed to agree on "expert access and monitoring mechanisms" of North Korea's nuclear programme first, he said. "President Trump is ready to end this war," he said. "We're not going to invade North Korea. We are not seeking to topple the regime." However, he reiterated the US would not lift sanctions until denuclearisation was complete, and said Washington had "contingencies" in case diplomatic efforts failed again. Biegun will meet his North Korean counterpart in South Korea on February 3 for talks. North Korea has complained about continued US sanctions and the slow pace of change in their relationship. Kim Jong-un has strived to improve relations with South Korea in the past year, seeking a formal end to the Korean War, which ended with a truce in 1953. The two Koreas marched under the same flag at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and Kim even sent puppies to South Korea's dog-loving President Moon Jae-in as a peace offering. But there are still sceptics on the Korean peninsula and in the US. US intelligence chiefs presented the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment report to the US Senate earlier this week, which assessed that North Korea is "unlikely to give up" its weapons programme. The report also said Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, as the Trump administration has said, prompting a tweet from the president telling the intelligence heads to "go back to school". Rome, Feb 1 : Japan has contributed over $8 million to help the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation improve food security and nutrition for some 200,000 of the most vulnerable households affected by the war in Yemen, where the world's worst humanitarian crisis in modern times is looming, the FAO has said. The Japanese funds will go towards inputs and services in Yemen's crucial agriculture sector, including the distribution of cereal and legumes seeds, restocking of livestock, and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems and other agricultural facilities, using "cash for work", the FAO said in a statement on Thursday. These measures will help hungry households produce life-saving food and generate income as well as stimulate local economies through rural job creation, the statement said. "FAO is on the frontlines in the fight against hunger in Yemen, providing extremely vulnerable people with the means to resume and maintain food production for their families and their communities," said FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva. "This generous contribution from the Government of Japan allows us to continue supporting the Yemeni people in this time of their greatest need. It will enable FAO to help save the lives and the livelihoods of the country's most food insecure people and to put agriculture back on track to reduce their dependence on food assistance and food imports in the long run." Under the project, FAO also intends to focus on emergency livestock assistance and protection. Provision of animal feed and animal health services such as vaccination campaigns will ensure that products, especially milk, are available to the most vulnerable members of the poor families -- especially children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The Japanese funding will also enable FAO to improve food production practices and strengthen communities' ability to manage land, soil and water resources in a sustainable manner, as well as their resilience. The current humanitarian situation in Yemen is worse than any the world has experienced in the last few decades. With the conflict now entering its fifth year, almost 16 million people in Yemen (53 per cent of the population) are experiencing severe acute hunger, FAO said. FAO is appealing for a total $218.5 million to provide agricultural support to 8.6 million people in Yemen this year. Japan is the second largest contributor to FAO's regular budget, and a leading voluntary contributor to FAO's field programmes. New Delhi, Jan 31 : Keeping its promise of providing safe rail travel, the Railways has achieved its target of eliminating all unmanned level crossings, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Sharing the news of elimination of all the 3,479 unmanned level crossings across the country, Goyal tweeted in Hindi, "Today during his address in Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind said that almost all unmanned level crossings has eliminated in the country. I am proud to say that the last unammed level crossing of the country has also been eliminated this evening." According to a senior Railway Ministry official, the Indian Railways has eliminated as many as 3,479 unmanned level crossings in the last one year. The official said the last unmanned level crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad region was converted into a manned level crossing. The achievement comes after Goyal prioritized the manning of the level crossings after a deadly accident in Uttar Pradesh in April last year that killed 13 school children when a passenger train crashed into a van at an unmanned railway crossing. A railway ministry official said that the railways eliminated 1,253 UMLCs in 2015-16. In the last seven months, progress improved more than five times as compared to the last years. According to the Ministry official, in 2014-15 at least 130 people died in incidents at unmanned level crossings. The number fell to 58 in 2015-16 and to 40 in 2016-17. In 2017-18, 26 people died while from April 1 to December 15, 2018, there were only 16 such deaths. I just learned of the death of Phyllis Mills Wyeth on Jan. 14 at age 78. Known for her philanthropic endeavors as well as her family history in the Sport of Kings, she had a love affair with her homebred colt Union Rags that has earned a place in the history books, most notably the chapter on the Belmont Stakes. Her husband, Jamie is an artist and the son of Andrew Wyeth, one of the great artists of the 20 th century, whose works can be seen at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, also known as the Wyeth Museum for its extensive collection of works by the Wyeth family - grandfather N.C., father Andrew and son Jamie. Phyllis was born into racing, the daughter of James and Alice du Pont Mills. The story of Phyllis and Union Rags played out like some great saga and seemed destined to end the way all fairy tales do. The story began on Wyeths historic Point Lookout Farm overlooking Pennsylvanias Brandywine Valley, scene of the Battle of Brandywine, fought in the Revolutionary War. Wyeths parents raced under the name Hickory Tree Stable, based in Middleburg, Va., and bred and owned such top-class horses as Devils Bag and Gone West. Phyllis, who would hotwalk her fathers polo ponies as a young girl, said she could ride before she could walk. She worked on John F. Kennedys presidential campaign in 1960. In 1962, she was injured in a car accident, suffering a broken neck, which left her unable to walk. For 50 years, she has moved about in a motorized scooter. Phyllis is the most remarkable person I have ever met, said her close friend Rick Porter, owner of Fox Hill Farm, several years ago. Her life was turned upside down and shes been prevented from doing the things she was always able to do, mainly ride and jump horses. As a person, she is in a class alone from anyone I have ever met. Every day is full of roadblocks that most of us cant even fathom. Yet, she always gets to where she wants to go, no matter how hard it is for her. She needs to have action and is always planning something. She never looks at a situation and feels defeated. She meets the challenge every time. Wyeth always dreamed of having that special racehorse, and she thought she had found one in a young Union Rags, who was the last foal from her favorite broodmare, Tempo, who had difficulty breeding and maintaining a pregnancy. They even thought theyd lose her on a couple of occasions. Her foal by Dixie Union was so laid back and easy-going you could sit on him while he was lying down in his stall. But he showed great promise right from the start. Thats why Wyeth was devastated when her accountant told her she had to sell the colt in order to show a profit and run the farm as a business. This was the horse she had dreamed about her whole life and she was forced to give him up. She admitted she never had such affection for a horse. She wound up selling the colt at the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale at Saratoga for $145,000 to IEAH Stable, who had won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Big Brown. But she immediately began having sellers remorse and the thought of losing the horse brought her to tears. This was Point Lookouts and her familys legacy, and he was gone. She kept having a recurring dream that she was meant to have this horse and told her longtime adviser an friend Russell Jones to see if he could buy him back. Then one day about six months later, Jones called her and said the colt was in the Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old sale at Palm Meadows. IEAH was having some financial issues of their own and had been pinhooking horses in order to create as much cash flow as possible. They had sent Union Rags to Eddie Woods in Ocala to prepare for the sale. He was such a big, beautiful mover, Woods recalled. He had the potential to be anything. And he was just the perfect gentleman to train. When Wyeth heard from Jones about her colt being in the sale, she was simple and to the point: Get him. Jones told her she was going to have to pay a lot more than she sold him for, but she was determined to buy him back. Jones thought he could go as high as $400,000, and Wyeth told him to go to $390,000, and if she had to she would borrow the money from the bank. When the colt stepped into the ring, the auctioneer said, Oh, boy, isnt he beautiful? The bidding rose steadily in $10,000 increments, reaching Jones limit. He bid $390,000 and that was it. Down came the hammer. The auctioneer said, Thank you and good luck, and Wyeth had her horse back. It was as if it was supposed to happen, Jones said. She picked that number out of thin air and thats what he sold for. You have to believe he was meant to come home. Wyeth turned Union Rags over to Michael Matz and was a bit apprehensive when he entered him in a five-furlong maiden race at Delaware Park. Matz, who has never had a reputation for sending out precocious 2-year-olds, realized the colt needed experience and had been training well, so he decided to run him short. When the colt won, he and Wyeth knew they had something special on their hands. Romps in the Saratoga Special and Champagne followed, and then came a tough defeat to Hansen in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. To Matz surprise and indignation, Hansen not only won the Eclipse Award, but won in a landslide. I didnt mind losing the Eclipse Award, but I didnt think Hansen should have gotten four times as many votes, he said. It was one of those instances where you look at something and say, How can I be so wrong? But what was on Matz and Wyeths mind now was the Derby trail. That was the race Wyeth dreamed about an felt Union Rags was destined to win to give the story its fairy tale ending. Everything started off perfectly when Union Rags romped by four lengths in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. With his pedigree and running style, the talk around the sport was not about winning the Derby, but the Triple Crown. However, a third-place finish in the Florida Derby at odds of 2-5 came as a jolt of reality and put those dreams on hold temporarily. But the hope had not died. After all, any horse can be excused for one defeat. So Wyeth went to Louisville with high hopes and the utmost faith in the horse who she had fallen in love with as a baby and who had somehow managed to return to her. She never stopped believing that she destined to run him on the first Saturday in May. That dream, however, was shattered when Union Rags was squeezed badly at the start and had to take up, falling far back. Passing the finish line the first time he was nearly last in the 20-horse field. After three-quarters, he was still back in 18th place, some 20 lengths off the lead. All hope was gone. He actually di well to finish seventh, making up early seven lengths in the final furlong. Wyeth, crushed by the defeat, went to her home in Maine with her husband to unwind from the bitter disappointment of the Derby. She was good right after the race, but as the week went on it started to sink in that its finished; thats it, the Derby is gone, Matz said. She took it tough and rightly so, said Russell Jones. With all the attention she was getting, it put her on a level she wasnt used to being on. She really doesnt like all the attention. This colt has always been so special to her and to have the rug pulled out from under her was very tough. She went up to Maine and when I talked to her recently she sounded better, but she was whipped. The Derby wasnt the way the fairy tale was supposed to end. But there was still the Belmont Stakes, the Test of the Champion. After the Derby, Union Rags returned to his home at the bucolic Fair Hill training center in Fair Hill, Md. Meanwhile, Ill Have Another had captured the hearts of racing fans all over the country with his gutsy victories over a stubborn and game foe in Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. A new hero had been born, with the stamina, courage, and toughness to conquer the elusive Triple Crown. The decades of waiting seemed to finally be at an end. But back at Fair Hill, far away from all the tumult, Union Rags awaited his final chance at Triple Crown glory. Fair Hill was the perfect place for Union Rags to unwind, with its forests and gentle rolling hills and winding horse paths, where horses frolic in sand pens and graze contentedly in paddocks. One morning, shortly after the debacle of the Kentucky Derby, Matz was applying ointment on the cuts the colt suffered on his pastern at Churchill Downs. A steady morning rain prevented Union Rags was going out in the paddock and he made his displeasure known. Matz had decided to skip the Preakness and point for the Belmont to give the colt time to recover from his ordeal. Everything couldnt have gone any better except for the last two minutes, Matz said. And that was the only part we couldnt control. I didnt know what to say to Phyllis, she was so disappointed. You cant criticize the horse if he isnt given a chance to run. Union Rags, as most horses do, was flourishing at Fair Hill. Two weeks before the Belmont, he went out for a steady gallop following an early morning thunderstorm. His regular rider, Matz assistant Peter Brette, was taking his first day off in four months, and Paul Madden, an amateur rider who had competed at the Fair Hill races the day before, was given a leg up on the colt. He walked in Union Rags stall, gave him a smack on the neck and said. Its an honor and a privilege to get on his back. After his gallop, Union Rags was put in the sand pen for a while before being turned out in a spacious paddock, as he is every morning. Matz was hoping to salvage one of the Triple Crown events and felt his best chance to do so was skip the Preakness and train him for the Belmont. I dont know if a mile and a half is the place to accomplish that, but I feel he deserves to go in one of the last two Triple Crown races, and the Belmont looks to be his best chance, Matz said. The colt remained cloistered at Fair Hill while Ill Have Another and trainer Doug ONeill dominated the headlines. Ill Have Anothers arch rival, Bodemeister, owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, was skipping the Belmont, replaced by another lightly raced colt from the same connections named Paynter, who at one point was regarded as the more talented of the two. On the Sunday before the Belmont, John Velazquez, who was replacing Julien Leparoux, went down to Fair Hill to work Union Rags, who breezed five furlongs in a brisk :59 flat. Michael just said he wanted me to get a feel for the horse, Velazquez said. As soon as I got on him, the first words out of my mouth were, Man, hes pretty strong, Michael said, Dont worry, hell be good for you in the race. Hes been a unlucky horse, so just try to get a clean trip and well go from there. He did everything so easily in the work; I was very impressed with him. Hopefully, I can give him the trip he deserves. Hes just a big, strong, gorgeous horse, and I think people are going to be surprised to see him return to the Union Rags they knew. Although 12 were entered in the Belmont, only five were given a legitimate chance to win Ill Have Another, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Dullahan, Union Rags, Paynter, and Street Life, third in the Peter Pan Stakes. Atigun, trained by Kenny McPeek, who upset the 2002 Belmont with Sarava, looked to have the stamina to be considered a live longshot. Then the day before the Belmont, all hell broke loose as ONeill and owner Paul Reddam announced at a press conference that Ill Have Another would not run because of a tendon injury and was being retired. The news came as a crushing blow to a sport in dire need of a hero and to all those yearning to see a Triple Crown winner, many for the first time in their lives. Although racing had just had the wind knocked out of it, there was still a Belmont to be run and a glorious opportunity for Union Rags to finally make history. Velazquez had Union Rags down on the inside in fifth after breaking from post 3 and was just biding his time, waiting for room. The longer the race went the more uneasy Matz and Wyeth became, seeing the same scenario as the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby unfolding. I was having flashbacks of the last two races and was starting to get nervous, Matz said. Paynter continued to lead, while under a comfortable hold by Smith and looked to be in control of the race, slowing down the fractions with a 1:38.85 mile. Passing the three-eighths pole, Atigun made a bold move on the far outside and looked to be a legitimate threat. Union Rags, meanwhile, had made steady progress without having to break stride at all, but found himself directly behind Paynter, with the outside sealed off by Atigun. Smith could sense the danger from Atigun and went to a left-handed whip after turning for home. Paynter eased slightly off the rail, just enough to allow Union Rags a path, as narrow as it was. Velazquez jumped at the opportunity and came through the tight spot. Paynter had repulsed the challenge from Atigun and now had to turn his attention to Union Rags, who was creeping up on his inside. I saw the hole and I waited for it to open up, Velazquez said. I got lucky. The horse did it all. Paynter dug in again, but Union Rags kept coming and was able to just get up by a neck. The colt had come through for Wyeth and Matz and closed out the 2012 Triple Crown by writing at least one chapter of the trilogy and turning the fairy tale into reality. As Wyeth, seemingly overwhelmed by the experience, was wheeled into the winners circle, one of those cheering her on was her niece Sophie Derrickson, who lives in Bali with her husband Lance. Im so happy for Phyllis, she said. She really needed this. After the Derby, she was great until she got home. Once she got home she crashed for several days and then left for Maine. Phyllis is like my mother. Weve done everything together. We traveled together just the two of us when I was young and she was able to. Whenever she had something exciting to do she asked me to be there with her. Its so wonderful to have such a great aunt who treats me like a daughter. Im the only grandchild in the family. I only wish Ill Have Never would have been here for us to beat him. After the race, the quiet and reserved Wyeth passed on the post-race interview, much to the disappointment of the media, and was taken to the directors room before heading back to the barn to see her hero. I want to see Peter and the boys, she said, holding a half-smoked cigar. I went upstairs, but it got so hot I was ready to pass out. I had to go out and have a little puff of my cigar. Union Rags had just been out grazing for a short while and Brette asked her if she wanted to see him out. No, if you tell me hes alright, thats fine with me, she said. You call me in two days and tell me if theres any heat. Im sorry I didnt mention you (on TV); everything was out so of control. But Brette had the colt brought out anyway, and Wyeth wheeled herself over to him and gave him a pat on the forehead. And so, Wyeth and Union Rags got to complete their fairy tale and live happily ever after. The horse was put on a van that night and returned home to Fair Hill. Tomorrow hell be turned out in a nice paddock, said Matz, and can stay out as long as he wants to. The Belmont would be Union Rags final race, as a suspensory injury discovered a month after the Belmont ended his career. As this years Derby trail unfolds, Union Rags, who has developed into a top-class sire at Lanes End Farm, has three recent impressive maiden winners who look to be very promising Dessman, trained by Bob Baffert, Motagally, trained by Chad Brown, and Laughing Fox, trained by Steve Asmussen. Wyeth wont get to see how they pan out, but her legacy will live on through the grand-looking colt who miraculously returned to her and enabled her to live out her dream. Mission Vets wrestling coach retires When Bensavio Ben Yzaguirre began coaching at Mission Veterans High School, not a single one of the wrestlers on this years Patriots and Lady Patriots wrestling teams had been born yet. Thats because he just completed his 19th and final year of coaching at Mission Vets. And while hanging up SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet, today announced that it has jointly released the white paper "5G Best Choice Architecture" along with IHS. Based on a comparative analysis of 5G SA and NSA, the white paper concludes that SA architecture is the better path to the target network in 5G era from the perspectives of long-term investment, business capability and network performance. From the perspective of network investment, in spite of low initial investment of NSA architecture, NSA architecture's long-term cumulative investment cost is relatively higher than that of SA architecture, considering the upgrade cost of existing LTE network equipment and the evolution cost to SA architecture. Furthermore, the initial deployment cost of SA architecture can be significantly reduced by virtue of an appropriate 5G deployment strategy. For instance, selective 5G coverage in hot spots, 4G and 5G co-site, deploying 5G Core Network on the existing data center, and starting with fundamental 5G Core functions only, opening the interfaces and introducing service features step by step. From the perspective of service capability, SA architecture not only improves the access bandwidth, but also supports applications such as URLLC and mMTC. SA architecture can deliver customized network capabilities to different applications through flexible network slicing. Therefore, the introduction of SA architecture in the early stage can launch differentiated innovative services and business models in the vertical industry market as soon as possible, and bring more revenue sources for operators. From the perspective of network performance, SA architecture can make full use of the dual antenna transmit diversity and high power transmitter of 5G devices, achieving better network coverage, system capacity and other KPI, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of devices and thereby enhancing the end user experience. In addition to the analysis of 5G network architectures, the white paper also elaborates the maturity of 5G core network and devices, one of the operators' major concerns, to eliminate their worries for a better network architecture. In recognition of the capabilities of commercial 5G networking for both NSA and SA architectures, ZTE actively promotes 5G commercialization, completes network verification and tests of NSA and SA architecture with multiple partners. In the white paper, IHS uses ZTE's SA application cases and commercial field test data as a supplement. The following is the link to access the full white paper "5G Best Choice Architecture": https://res-www.zte.com.cn/mediares/zte/Files/PDF/white_book/5g-best-choice-architecture.pdf?la=zh-CN About ZTE ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, carriers, companies and public sector customers. As part of ZTE's strategy, the company is committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE's products and services are sold to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in international standard-setting organizations. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn. Media Contacts: Margaret Ma ZTE Corporation Tel: +86 755 26775189 Email: [email protected] SOURCE ZTE Corporation Related Links http://www.zte.com.cn WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- We the People of Nigeria will host a live international news conference at 3:30 p.m. EST/2030 GMT on Monday, February 4th, 2019 to urge the government of the United States of America to take action to promote democracy in Nigeria. The factors contributing to the decision to have this International Press Conference will be elaborated on February 4th. The Press and members of the Nigerian expatriate community in the Washington DC area are invited to attend this event, as they wield enormous influence on Nigerian voters and public opinion. The event will be recorded and distributed via live stream, news outlets and social media to increase awareness of the issues and stress the importance of accurate, safe, free and fair elections in Nigeria. We aim to ensure that democracy and the rule of law are respected and upheld by the current Nigerian administration. We desire that Nigerian voters are allowed to safely and democratically choose their leaders, without coercion, without fear or favor, free of violence and intimidation. We abhor vote rigging. Event speakers will include: Dr. Lloyd F. Ukwu , Human Rights lawyer, Institute for Strategic & Development Studies , Human Rights lawyer, Institute for Strategic & Development Studies Miss Annkio Briggs, Human Rights and Environmental Activist Dr. Salamatu Machunga, Chairman, Nigeria Middle Belt Forum ATTENDANCE IN PERSON: The "Spotlight on the February 2019 Nigerian Elections" news event on February 4, 2019, 3:30 p.m. EST/2030 GMT in the Zenger Room, the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C. Attendance will be limited to credentialed members of the news media and RSVP'd invitees. For security reasons, all attendees must RSVP in advance. SOURCE We the People of Nigeria JAMESTOWN, Va., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans to English North America in Jamestown, Va. in 1619. During Black History Month, Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution is generating awareness about this formative event and shedding light on untold, or under-told, stories of 400 years of African-American history that indelibly shaped today's America. In August 1619, the first "20 odd" Africans in English North America arrived in Point Comfort, today's Hampton, Virginia, aboard the White Lion. They were forcibly landed and traded to the Virginia Colonists in exchange for food and supplies. These individuals, originally captured by Portuguese enslavers in West Central Africa (likely modern-day Angola), were the first recorded Africans to arrive in English North America. This was the moment when African culture first became American culture and the beginnings of a powerful influence on the development of our nation. "In Virginia, you can learn about a wide range of American history and experiences, specifically the 400-year arc of African-American history," said Kathy Spangler Executive Director of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution. "We encourage local, national and international audiences to visit the Commonwealth to learn about and understand the importance of accurate and authentic portrayals of the beginning of African-American history in our country." Diversity is a central theme in Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution. In 2019, American Evolution is convening more than 20 events, programs, educational initiatives performances and exhibitions that examine and lift up the African-American experience. These events showcase several key events from 400 years ago in 1619 Virginia, which set our nation on the course towards the ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. In addition to the arrival of the first Africans to English North America, these important 1619 Virginia events include the first representative legislative assembly in the New World, the recruitment of English women in significant numbers, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America, and the development of the Virginia colony's entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. A full schedule of American Evolution programming can be found here. Upcoming 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution African-American focused events are listed below: Faith Journeys in the Black Experience 1619-2019 Conference , March 19 21, 2019, Richmond, VA : The Virginia Council of Churches, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University will convene a conference focusing on "The Missiology of Jamestown 1619 and Its Implications" to explore long-standing assumptions related to Christian mission. It will focus on religion in 1619 Jamestown, its impact on Native Americans and Africans, and the origins of a religious and culturally diverse 21st-century America. : The Virginia Council of Churches, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at will convene a conference focusing on "The Missiology of 1619 and Its Implications" to explore long-standing assumptions related to Christian mission. It will focus on religion in 1619 Jamestown, its impact on Native Americans and Africans, and the origins of a religious and culturally diverse 21st-century America. Historic Jamestowne: Democracy & Diversity , April 1 September 30, 2019 , Williamsburg, VA : Jamestown Rediscovery and the National Park Service will focus on the establishment of representative government and rule of law, protections for private property, and sustained encounters among different peoples Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans who first came together at Jamestown . This includes programs that exhibit the site where one of the first documented Africans in Virginia , "Angela," lived in the mid-1620s. Jamestown Rediscovery and the National Park Service will focus on the establishment of representative government and rule of law, protections for private property, and sustained encounters among different peoples Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans who first came together at . This includes programs that exhibit the site where one of the first documented Africans in , "Angela," lived in the mid-1620s. Dance Theatre of Harlem World Premiere , May 3 5, 2019, Norfolk, VA : The 2019 Commemoration and the Virginia Arts Festival have commissioned an original interpretive ballet from Dance Theatre of Harlem, which explores the African arrival story and the ongoing impact of diversity in America today. : The 2019 Commemoration and the Virginia Arts Festival have commissioned an original interpretive ballet from Dance Theatre of Harlem, which explores the African arrival story and the ongoing impact of diversity in America today. Cosmologies from the Tree of Life: Art from the African American South , June 8 November 17, 2019 , Richmond , VA: Timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival of the first Africans in Virginia , this special exhibition celebrates the extraordinary contributions that African American artists have made to art and culture since that time. The exhibition will include paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and quilts from the VMFA's permanent collection and will feature recent acquisitions from contemporary Southern African American artists. This exhibit will reflect the Commonwealth's and nation's historical diversity and complexity, which are cornerstones of the 2019 Commemoration. Timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival of the first Africans in , this special exhibition celebrates the extraordinary contributions that African American artists have made to art and culture since that time. The exhibition will include paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and quilts from the VMFA's permanent collection and will feature recent acquisitions from contemporary Southern African American artists. This exhibit will reflect the Commonwealth's and nation's historical diversity and complexity, which are cornerstones of the 2019 Commemoration. Determined: The 400-year Struggle for Black Equality , June 19, 2019 January 5, 2020 , Richmond, VA : The Virginia Museum of History & Culture exhibition will explore the African American experience from the arrival of the first Africans in English North America in 1619 to the present day. This exhibition charts the advances and setbacks, the triumphs and trials of African Americans on their long and unfinished journey toward full equality by focusing on a series of key Virginians and key Virginia events individuals and events that shaped the broader contours of American history. : The Virginia Museum of History & Culture exhibition will explore the African American experience from the arrival of the first Africans in English North America in 1619 to the present day. This exhibition charts the advances and setbacks, the triumphs and trials of African Americans on their long and unfinished journey toward full equality by focusing on a series of key Virginians and key events individuals and events that shaped the broader contours of American history. African Arrival: Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center Dedication Ceremony , August 23 25, 2019, Hampton, VA : To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English North America, the 2019 Commemoration will showcase the dedication ceremony with hosts, Fort Monroe Authority and the National Park Service. This project involves the renovation of the former Coast Artillery School Library at Fort Monroe , where profound stories of Captain John Smith , the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, and the culmination of 242 years of slavery as the first contrabands came to Fort Monroe to receive their emancipation, will be told. To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English North America, the 2019 Commemoration will showcase the dedication ceremony with hosts, Fort Monroe Authority and the National Park Service. This project involves the renovation of the former Coast Artillery School Library at , where profound stories of Captain , the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, and the culmination of 242 years of slavery as the first contrabands came to to receive their emancipation, will be told. 1619: Making of America Summit, September 25 28, 2019, Norfolk, VA : This two-day cross-cultural event will begin with the exploration of the contributions and influences of the three founding cultures African, Native Peoples, and English. This expanding cultural tapestry of our nation will be explored by celebrated scholars, artists, film makers, musicians, and students from throughout the nation. About the 2019 Commemoration The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution, highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects will position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. American Evolution commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Resources is an American Evolution Founding Partner and Altria Group and TowneBank are Virginia Colony Partners. SOURCE American Evolution Related Links http://www.americanevolution2019.com COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditions Health, LLC announced today that Ronda Van Meter has been named Chief Operating Officer of the organization. Ronda is a home care executive with over 25 years in the home health and hospice industry. Ronda joined the Traditions Health team in 2018 as President of Traditions Health's California division. "I am happy that Ronda has accepted this new role within our organization. Her leadership experience and clinical expertise are invaluable in promoting organic growth and providing ongoing improvement and sustenance to our model as we continue growth through acquisition. While growth is important to us, clinical outcomes and customer satisfaction remain in the forefront of everything that we do. Ronda strives for excellence in all areas and I am very confident in her leadership ability," said Bryan Wolfe, Traditions Health's CEO and President. As Chief Operating Officer, Ronda will be responsible for oversight of the organization's business operations, promotion of the company's mission and core values and execution of the organization's strategic plan. Prior to joining Traditions, Ronda held leadership positions with Gentiva, Harden Healthcare and Texas Home Health. Ronda is a member of the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice, where she has served as the Chairman of the Education Committee and the Annual Meeting Committee. She is also a member of the California Hospice & Palliative Care Association, the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Ronda received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and her MBA from The University of Texas at Tyler. About Traditions Health, LLC Traditions Health, LLC is a holding company that focuses on health care industry related businesses including home health, hospice, consulting services and online policy manuals. Traditions Health is a portfolio company of Dorilton Capital Advisors, LLC. For more information, visit our website at www.traditionshealth.com. For media inquiries or relevant opportunities, please contact [email protected]. Related Links http://www.traditionshealth.com SOURCE Traditions Health, LLC PLANTATION, Fla., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TradeStation, a Monex Group company and award-winning* broker-dealer and futures commission merchant, has been ranked the "Best Online Broker" for Equity Trading Tools and among the top three online brokers for Best Options Platform and Educational Resources in the seventh annual survey of active investors conducted by Investor's Business Daily (IBD). "TradeStation scored highest for equity trading tools among the brokers in this year's survey, and historically it has been the category leader," according to IBD. "Its platform is rich with features." While noting that the company has long catered to active self-directed investors, IBD noted, "TradeStation built its platform to serve everyone from the beginning investor to the experienced trader, giving users the ability to scale up as they grow in confidence." Martha Krawczyk, Vice President of Marketing at TradeStation Group, Inc., underscored this point, telling IBD that TradeStation is broadening its outreach to "clients who may or may not aspire to trading full-time for a living but who are interested in . . . managing their brokerage accounts on a daily basis." IBD also singled out for praise TradeStation's OptionStation Pro options trading and analysis platform. "A new organization of tools and streamlined navigation increased the efficiency and ease-of-use for clients," according to IBD. "OptionStation Pro provides the analytic depth that TradeStation is known for with its robust database. Working with spreads? TradeStation boasts that its SpreadMaster technology helps track performance for custom spreads. You also get visually appealing profit and loss charts, customizable columns in options chains and more." The IBD Best Online Brokers Report, published in the January 28, 2019 edition of IBD, is one of the largest of its kind, with 2,762 self-identified active investors rating their experience and satisfaction with their primary online broker in 14 categories. "We're honored to be recognized by Investor's Business Daily as America's "Best Online Broker" for equity trading tools," said John Bartleman, President of TradeStation. "Even as we reach beyond our traditional client base to welcome beginning and aspiring investors into the TradeStation family, we remain as committed as ever to producing stock and options trading tools that are second to none in the industry." To speak with an account executive to learn more about TradeStation or to open an account, call 1.800.808.9336 or visit TradeStation.com. About TradeStation Group, Inc. For more than 30 years, the TradeStation Group companies have been pioneering leaders in the online trading industry, committed to delivering the best trading technology, brokerage services, trading education and support to individual and institutional traders. TradeStation's award-winning trading and analysis platforms offer access to equities, options and futures trading at the major U.S. equities and options exchanges and market centers, as well as the major futures exchanges. TradeStation's clients have access to the powerful tools needed to design, test, optimize, monitor and automate custom trading strategies, and its mobile and web trading apps allow clients to take the power of the TradeStation trading experience on the go. TradeStation also provides a vast array of educational offerings to help beginning and advanced clients learn online trading and investing skills to help them meet their trading and investment objectives. * Visit TradeStation.com/Awards for more information. SOURCE TradeStation Group, Inc. Related Links https://www.tradestation.com He said: "Today, we have assembled to showcase our love for the PDP. And we have reasons to do so. "PDP is the party that gave our people the President of Senate of this country. They gave us Deputy President of the Senate. They gave us the National Chairman and Secretary of the PDP. They gave us the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. They gave us the Minister of Finance. They gave us the Chief of Army Staff for the time since after the civil war. They gave us the Inspector General of Police. In fact, they gave us a sense of belonging. "But since the PDP lost power at the centre, we lost all these. Now, we are going back to power. Now, we are believing that with our own son as the Vice President and our sister as the First Lady, we will return to power. So, this is down to our people." In terms of infrastructure, Ekweremadu said the PDP started the Second Niger Bridge, that the PDP also gave the South East "access to the international community through the international airport, just to name but a few". "So, the PDP has done so much for us, but the good news is that the party is even ready to do more for us. "Therefore, when we go to the polls on 16th February, we will vote Atiku Abubabar as President and Mr. Peter Obi as his Vice President, and return all the PDP candidates to the National Assembly. We will do the same on 2nd March and return our Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and all our House of Assembly candidates," he added. Uche Anichukwu Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate SOURCE The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Load monitoring system market to exhibit significant growth during 20182024 The load monitoring system market is estimated to grow from USD 2.6 billion in 2018 to USD 3.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period. The key factors driving the growth of the market include rise in demand for load monitoring system in healthcare, increase in use of load monitoring system for testing and monitoring aircraft parts, decline in instrumental errors owing to technological innovations in load cells, and increase in demand for remote load monitoring. However, compliance with various standards and complex manufacturing process are the key restraining factors for the market growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05730481 Indicator and controller to witness high growth potential during forecast period The market for indicator and controller is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2024.The indicators and controllers are basically display units that display the readings and data collected by the load cells. The critical industrial applications are expected to create growth opportunities for load cell indicators and controllers.The load indicator and controller facilitate in increasing process control with ease of operation and enhance workers' safety. In addition, the growing adoption of Industrial IoT and automation is expected to increase the demand for load cell indicators and controllers. The indicators and controllers play a major role in the load monitoring system as they help the users to understand the load measurements and carry out the further activities. Market for digital load monitoring system to grow at higher CAGR during forecast period" The digital load monitoring system market is estimated to grow at a higher CAGR from 2018 to 2024.Analog load cells can show errors owing to the number of environmental discrepancies, As a solution, a number of manufacturers have inbuilt A/D converter to the load cells, thereby eliminating the disturbance due to use of connecting wires between strain gauge and A/D converter. Factors such as increased digitization, IoT adoption, higher accuracy, and digital load cell durability are fuelling the digital load monitoring system market. Furthermore, the rising demand for precision weighing in heavy lifting applications is expected to drive the growth of the digital load monitoring system market. Load monitoring system market for healthcare to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period The load monitoring system market for the healthcare industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2024.The development in technology and functionality of medical devices and digitization in healthcare operations are the factors fuelling the growth of load cells in the healthcare industry. The use of load monitoring system plays a vital role in R&D process of pharmaceutical manufacturing as scientists have to precisely weigh chemicals and substance samples.One of the major applications of load cell is prosthetics. The load cells used in prosthetics are sensitive, reliable, and durable, and are used for detecting minute changes in the load. Further, load cells are expected to be used in several applications, including a wide range of preventive medical equipment, in the coming year. Europe to be largest market for load monitoring system during forecast period Europe is expected to lead the load monitoring system market, in terms of size, from 2018 to 2024.The load monitoring system market in Europe is mainly concentrated in Western Europe with countries including Germany, the UK, and France. The presence of a large manufacturing base of automotive and aerospace industries that cater to material handling activities drives the demand for load monitoring system in Europe.The pharmaceuticals industry is among the major contributors to the growth of the European economy. According to the IMS Health Data (MIDAS, May 2017), Europe accounted for 21.5% of the world pharmaceuticals sales in 2016. Major pharmaceutical companies such as Accord, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Novartis, Roche, and Bayer have their manufacturing facilities setup in this region. These companies are expected to increasingly adopt advanced and customized load monitoring systems for meeting their pharmaceuticals manufacturing demands. Break-up of the profile of primary participants for the report is given below: By Company Type Tier 1 42%, Tier 2 36% and Tier 3 22% By Designation C level 35%, Director level 41%, Manager level 24% By Region North America - 21%, Europe 32%, APAC 42%, RoW 5% The key players in the market include Flintec (Sweden), Mettler Toldo (Switzerland), Precia Molen (France), Spectris (UK), Vishay Precision Group (US), Dynamic Load Monitoring (UK), JCM Load Monitoring (UK), LMC Systems (UK), Load Monitoring Systems (UK), Straightpoint (UK), Wirop Industrial (Taiwan), Eilersen Electric Digital Systems (Denmark), Euroload (UK), Futek Advanced Sensor Technology (US), Mantracourt Electronics (UK), PCE Deutschland (Germany), Standard Loadcells (India), Strainsert (US), Tecsis (Germany), and Thames Side Sensors (UK). The global load monitoring system market has been segmented on the basis of offering, technology, industry, and geography.The market, by offering, has been segmented into load cell, indicator and controller, and data logging software. Based on technology, the load monitoring system market has been split into analog and digital.The industries that are included in the study of load monitoring system market include automotive, marine, construction, food & beverages, aerospace, oil & gas, healthcare, and agriculture. The load monitoring system market is segmented into 4 regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Rest of the World (RoW). Reasons to buy the report: Illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast for markets based on offering, technology, industry, and region have been conducted to give an overall view of the load monitoring system market. The value chain analysis has been performed to provide an in-depth insight into the load monitoring system market. Major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges for the load monitoring system market have been detailed in this report. The report includes a detailed competitive landscape along with key players, in-depth analysis, and revenue of key players. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05730481 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 TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "TGOD") (TSX: TGOD) (US: TGODF) is providing a detailed construction update on its domestic Valleyfield and Hamilton operations where significant progress has been made towards the completion of both facilities. TGOD recently identified a need for design modifications during the construction process. As a result of learnings, the engineering design improvements enable optimized facility throughput which, together with organic specific modifications, provide a forecasted domestic productive capacity increase from 156,000 kg to 202,500 kgs. The recently improved designs are being implemented in phases to leverage efficiencies and further learnings from each prior phase, with the objective of achieving best in class results. The updated construction plan requires an additional three months for start-up in Valleyfield and increased capital expenditures of approximately $30 million for the completion of the structures. These incremental expenditures for the larger processing facility, along with operating system improvements, resulting in the increased capacity, will be phased in over time and are expected to be funded from operational cashflow. TGOD is pleased to note the Growers Circle launch remains on schedule with first shipments of premium, certified organic cannabis arriving to medical patients across the country this month. "Not only have we addressed the important redesign requirements, we have also made significant improvements to the operating capacity and capital timing of our facilities, resulting in an additional 46,500 kgs of productive capacity," said Brian Athaide, CEO of TGOD. "This allows us to bring additional product to both Canadian consumers and global markets. We are also excited to supply our first patients in the Growers Circle with premium organic cannabis this month, generating our first domestic revenues." VALLEYFIELD Original Plan: Phase 1 Hybrid Greenhouse and Processing facilities: 820,000 sq ft; 102,000 KG capacity, ramp up in H2 2019 Phase 2 hybrid greenhouse: 287,245 sq ft, 40,000 kg, 2020 Combined Facilities: 1,107,245 sq. ft. capable of producing 142,000 kg Revised Plan: Phase 1a Hybrid Greenhouse: 289,000 sq ft; 65,000 KG capacity, Q4 2019 Phase 1a Central Processing facility for all phases: 443,000 sq ft; Q4 2019 Phase 1b Hybrid Greenhouse: 289,000, sq ft; 65,000 kg capacity, 2020 Phase 2 Hybrid Greenhouse: 289,000 sq. ft.; 55,000 kg, 2021 Combined Facilities: 1,310,000 sq. ft. capable of producing 185,000 kgs By optimizing original design and operating parameters and increasing automation, TGOD estimates it will increase productive capacity by approximately 30%, resulting in an increase of 43,000 kgs of annual production from the total Valleyfield site. TGOD will split its Phase 1 into two parts with the first twelve flowering rooms representing an annual capacity of 65,000 kgs coming online in Q4 2019. Construction crews will then shift focus to phase 1b of another twelve rooms with production ramp-up in 2020 to provide annual capacity of an additional 65,000 kgs. Applying similar upgrades to phase 2 with production ramp-up in 2021 will deliver an additional capacity of 55,000 kgs. This updated plan will now provide a combined output of 185,000 kgs from Valleyfield resulting in significant additional annual revenue potential. Additionally, the processing facility is being upgraded and optimized to handle the combined output and be scalable for future potential additional production efficiencies from Valleyfield. "We have run a detailed cost-benefit analysis on Valleyfield's enhanced strategy," commented Athaide. "The benefits of the additional production capacity on a phased basis are substantial and far outweigh the extension to the production schedule and additional capital cost. We will utilize our learnings from the design review and progress to date in each phase and continue to strive to achieve efficient and low-cost organic production." Valleyfield Construction began in January 2018 on the 2,700 sq. ft. breeding facility. In April 2018 this facility was completed, and in June 2018 received a cultivation license. Please view the latest construction update video for Valleyfield here. HAMILTON Original Plan: Combined facilities: 150,000 sq. ft. capable of producing 14,000 kgs Timeline: Completion H1, 2019 Revised Plan: Combined facilities: 166,000 sq. ft. capable of producing 17,500 kgs Timeline: Completion end Q2, 2019 Similar to Valleyfield, TGOD has modified major systems from the original design and re-engineered the entire harvesting process to increase production uptime and facility throughput, resulting in increased productive capacity from 14,000 kgs to 17,500 kgs. Vertical grow systems will be installed in vegetative rooms increasing available flowering space and product matrix variability. Three level vegetation gives TGOD the plant counts needed to support increased flowering space and cycles and provides flexibility in multi-strain production planning. The facility redesign and improvements will require an additional two months to complete construction of the hybrid greenhouse which has now been extended to end of Q2, 2019. The Company has grown and successfully harvested multiple crops in its pilot facility and stored product for its imminent medical pilot launch, commencing with the Growers Circle this month. TGOD continues to work with the city of Hamilton and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ("LPAT") on the zoning by-law amendment for the hybrid greenhouse and anticipates a positive outcome. Please view the latest construction update video for Hamilton here. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX:TGOD) is a publicly traded, premium global organic cannabis company, with operations focused on medical cannabis markets in Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Canadian adult-use market. The Company grows high quality, organic cannabis with sustainable, all-natural principles. TGOD's products are laboratory tested to ensure patients have access to a standardized, safe and consistent product. TGOD has a planned global capacity of 219,000 kgs and is building 1,643,600 sq. ft. of cultivation and processing facilities across Ontario, Quebec, Jamaica and Denmark. TGOD's Common Shares and warrants issued under the indenture dated November 1, 2017 trade on the TSX under the symbol "TGOD" and "TGOD.WT", respectively. For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release includes, but is not limited to, statements about the outcomes of zoning appeals in Hamilton, statements about future research, development and innovation by the Company, statements about future facility construction and capital costs, statements about production timing, efficiencies, capacities and ramp-up, statements about future production, revenue and cashflows, statements about the offering of any particular products by the Company in any jurisdiction and statements regarding the future performance of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of Toronto Stock Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. LITTLETON, N.H., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tender Corporation, which sells a range of best-in-class branded consumer products, today announced the completion of a management-led transaction to recapitalize the business and to help the growing company accelerate its growth in both the outdoor and consumer packaged goods marketplaces. The new investor group is led by Victor Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in middle-market businesses with powerful brands, and the company's CEO Jason Cartwright, who will retain a significant investment in the business. Founded in 1973 in the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains, Tender Corporation has built a range of trusted brands in safety, preparedness and first aid. Tender's product portfolio includes After Bite, the leader in insect bite relief, highly-rated insect repellents Ben's and Natrapel, and outdoor first aid and survival product leaders Adventure Medical Kits and Survive Outdoors Longer. Tender Corporation will maintain its operational headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Littleton, New Hampshire, as well as its marketing and sales office in Alameda, California. "Partnering with Victor Capital will ensure continued and accelerated growth and innovation for Tender Corporation's strong portfolio of brands and allows us to better serve our global retail and on-line partners and our loyal consumers," says Cartwright. "The relationship will also allow the company to continue its successful strategy of selectively introducing and acquiring new, innovative products and brands that can benefit from our global distribution relationships." "We are excited to be partnering with Jason and the Tender Corporation team in the next chapter of the company's growth," says Victor Capital Managing Partner Doug Korn. "We look forward to helping the company expand its reach into new markets, enhance its core product offerings, and continue the strong growth trajectory it has enjoyed in recent years." The primary selling shareholder was Prospect Partners, LLC, the Chicago-based private equity firm. Financing for the transaction was provided by Deerpath Capital Management, LP and Tender's shareholders were represented by Piper Jaffray & Co. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Longtime CPG executive Gary A. Kiedaisch to serve as Chairman of the Board Gary Kiedaisch, an experienced outdoor products and consumer packaged goods executive with a long history of helping companies grow and prosper, is also investing in Tender and joining the company's Board of Directors as Chairman. Kiedaisch recently served as Chairman and CEO of Igloo Products Corporation, and as CEO of the Coleman Company. "Tender Corporation has an impressive portfolio of products that can be used in almost every household around the world," says Kiedaisch. "This iconic company has a long history of marketing the highest quality products, helping people enjoy the outdoors while staying safe and comfortable." About Tender Corporation: Founded in 1973 in the heart of New Hampshire's iconic White Mountains, Tender Corporation brands have always operated with a simple, unified goal: To help people enjoy the outdoors, no matter the conditions. With innovative products from the organized-by-injury Adventure Medical Kits to the category-dominating After Bite insect sting treatment, Tender hasand continuesto make good on that promise. www.tendercorp.com About Victor Capital Partners: Victor Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that invests in branded businesses with compelling growth potential. Victor Capital's focus areas include specialty consumer products and services, industrial manufacturing and technology, and industrial and business services. Victor Capital uses its capital and resources to partner with companies that have valuable brands, solid foundations in technology, potential for add-on acquisitions, and attractive business and market trends and characteristics. The firm was founded by Douglas R. Korn, a private equity veteran who has been partnering with strong management teams to help build great companies since the late 1980s. For more information on Victor Capital, please visit www.VictorCapitalPartners.com. SOURCE Tender Corporation Related Links http://www.tendercorp.com KALAMAZOO, Michigan, USA, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Stryker announced today that the company is launching a voluntary field action on specific units of the LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillators. The company is notifying certain LIFEPAK 15 customers of an issue that may cause the device to lock up after a defibrillation shock is delivered. The lock-up condition is defined as a blank monitor display with LED lights on, indicating power to the device, but no response in the keypad and device functions. A device in this condition has the potential to delay delivery of therapy, and this delay in therapy has the potential to result in serious injury or death. The company is contacting customers with impacted devices to schedule the correction of their device(s), which will include an update to the firmware for a component on the System Printed Circuit Board Assembly. Stryker anticipates that all devices subject to this field action will be serviced by December 31, 2019. If a customer experiences this issue, they should contact Stryker as soon as possible at 1 800 442 1142 and selecting option 7. Since the initial commercialization of LIFEPAK 15 in 2009, Stryker has become aware of 58 complaints reported globally for this issue, including 6 events in which the patient died following a delay in therapy. In all six of these cases, at least one shock was delivered prior to the device experiencing the lock-up condition. There are 13,003 devices potentially impacted by this issue and within scope of this field action. The company is instructing customers to continue to use their LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator according to the Operating Instructions until the correction can be completed. Device Automatic Self-Tests do not identify this fault, as it occurs during defibrillation. Customers should continue to perform the daily check as described in the Operator's Checklist, specifically, the QUIK-COMBO therapy cable check as described in the General Maintenance and Testing Section (pages 10-4 and the LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator Operator's Checklist, number 7). If a device exhibits the lockup condition during patient use, the steps from the General Troubleshooting Section (page 10-18) of the LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator Operating Instructions should be immediately followed: Press and hold ON until the LED turns off (~5 seconds). Then press ON to turn the device back on. If the device does not turn off, remove both batteries and disconnect the device from the power adapter, if applicable. Then reinsert batteries and/or, reconnect the power adapter, and press ON to turn the device back on. Information about this notice is available at: http://www.strykeremergencycare.com/productnotices. Impacted customers will be notified by letter and will be requested to verify their device status. Customers with questions regarding this notification, please contact Stryker by calling 1 800 442 1142, option 7, 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific) Monday Friday, or by email to [email protected] or fax to 1 425 867 4948. In addition to contacting Stryker, any potential quality problems or adverse reactions or events associated with the use of a product from Stryker may be reported to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program online at https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/, by phone 1 800 332 1088 or fax 1 800 FDA 0178. About Stryker Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. The company offers innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. More information is available at www.stryker.com. Media contact Jon Zimmer [email protected] SOURCE Stryker Related Links http://www.stryker.com LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today highlighted payment options and protections for federal employees who have been affected by the recent government shutdown. Customers who are having a hard time paying their natural gas bill may request an extension of their payment due date. SoCalGas does not charge late payment fees to residential customers. Additionally, SoCalGas will not disconnect service to those customers who are furloughed federal employees for a period of 45 days after the end of the government shutdown. Federal employees whose service may have been disconnected will be reconnected without the need to make their balance current and any reconnection fees and deposit requirements will be waived if the customer agrees to a payment plan for the balance on the account. Customers may also be asked to provide proof of federal employment. Customers are encouraged to call 1-877-238-0092 to speak with a representative about their bill. SoCalGas customer service is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. "We understand that our customers who were furloughed during the recent government shutdown may be worried about paying their upcoming natural gas bill," said Paul Goldstein, vice president of customer services at SoCalGas. "We want to help ease their concerns and ensure they have the reliable natural gas service they depend on." SoCalGas offers customers programs and tips to save money on their natural gas bill year-round. For example, customers who purchase a smart thermostat can save an additional $75 by applying for a smart thermostat rebate from SoCalGas. More information about smart thermostats and additional rebates may be found at socalgas.com/rebates. The utility also offers energy-saving tips for your home. 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 Californiansabout 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. SOURCE Southern California Gas Company Related Links https://www.socalgas.com NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), a national securities and consumer rights litigation firm, is investigating whether certain directors and officers of XPO Logistics, Inc. ("XPO" or the "Company") (NYSE: XPO) breached their fiduciary duties to the Company and its shareholders. If you are an XPO shareholder, you are encouraged to contact Scott+Scott for additional information. Scott+Scott is investigating whether members of XPO's board of directors made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) XPO's highly touted aggressive M&A strategy had yielded only minimal returns to the Company; (ii) XPO was utilizing improper accounting practices to mask its true financial condition, including, inter alia, under-reporting of bad debts and aggressive amortization assumptions; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On December 13, 2018, Spruce Point Capital Management released a report, titled "Trucking Ridiculous: End Of The Road," which alleges that XPO is plagued by "financial irregularities that conveniently cover its growing financial strain and inability to complete additional acquisitions despite repeated promises." The report also characterizes XPO's financials as "unreliable and dubious." What You Can Do If you are an XPO shareholder, you may have legal claims against the Company's directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at (844) 818-6982 or at [email protected]. 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 CONTACT: Joe Pettigrew Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP 230 Park Ave, 17th Floor, NY, NY 10169 (844) 818-6982 [email protected] SOURCE Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Related Links http://scott-scott.com In making the announcement, Tom Joyner offered "What better way to say thank you to the people I owe my career to! I hope everyone will be as excited as I am to celebrate with good music, good fun and good hugs! We have 25 years worth of partying to achieve, so let's do it together, with the ultimate One More Time Experience!" The planned tour dates as of this announcement follow below, while more dates and other artists are expected to join in the celebration. DATE CITY VENUE Friday, May 10th Washington DC The Theater at MGM National Harbor Friday, June 7th Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center Saturday, June 8th Indianapolis, IN Indiana Farmers Coliseum Friday, July- 12th Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena Saturday, July 13th St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena Friday, July 19th Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park Saturday, July 20th Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion More concerts to be announced. The full lineup can be found at BlackAmericaWeb.com. Radio stations in the tour markets will host the event and link to ticket sites, while surrounding markets will have the opportunity to invite their audiences as well. Joyner - who first gained popularity after earning his nickname "The Fly Jock" while flying round-trip between Dallas and Chicago for seven years and eight million miles - hosted morning and afternoon shows in two different cities. Joyner revolutionized radio, becoming the first morning show with music in syndication launching January 3rd 1994. Joyner announced that he would retire from broadcasting in December of 2019, capping one of the greatest careers in communications. Follow Tom Joyner on social media: @TomJoynerMorningShow on Facebook; @TJMShow on Twitter; and @FlyJockTomJoyner on Instagram. About the Tom Joyner Morning Show Radio's leading syndicated urban morning show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show has distinguished itself over the years by continuously giving back to its audience with quality programming, community initiatives, special events and philanthropy. Tom Joyner and the show's popular co-host Sybil Wilkes relate to listeners by empowering, informing and entertaining with positivity. Regular contributors including Roland Martin, Jacque Reid, Huggy Lowdown, Shaun King, Chris Paul, Reverend Al Sharpton and Mellody Hobson engage the audience by exclusively connecting them with the people they want to hear from. Sherri Shepherd, Kym Whitley, Guy Torry and Damon Williams, sit in the shows' "Funny Chair," on various days providing humorous insight. Joyner has also established major destination events including the 20th annual Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage Cruise and the 17th annual Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Orlando. The Tom Joyner Morning Show is distributed by REACH Media Inc., founded in 2003 by Tom Joyner and CEO David Kantor. REACH Media is an Urban One company. *All performances, artists, and schedules are subject to change. SOURCE Urban One, Inc. Related Links http://www.radio-one.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Jose Corujo, Juan A. Rivera, and Teresa Caballero, Master franchise owners of FASTSIGNS Puerto Rico, which includes three locations, received national recognition as the recipients of The FASTSIGNS Award at the 2019 FASTSIGNS International Convention recently held in Orlando, Florida. FASTSIGNS of Puerto Rico Team Celebrates after Winning The 2019 FASTSIGNS Award This award, which is the most prestigious recognition in the franchise network of over 700 locations in nine countries worldwide, is presented to the franchisees who best represent the FASTSIGNS brand in their community and in the network, and provide exceptional customer service, mentoring, company culture and employee development. FASTSIGNS Puerto Rico also received an award for their involvement in the Franchise Advisory Council. "It is a huge honor for us. We feel it is such a high recognition to receive this award, because we know the quality of our peers within the franchise network. It's impossible to describe how we felt, and it was very emotional," said Caballero. Having a strong client base on the island through a company that specialized in POP (point-of-purchase) marketing, Corujo, Rivera and Caballero converted their existing business in 2012 into FASTSIGNS. The team signed a Master Franchise Agreement to expand the FASTSIGNS brand into Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. During 2012, FASTSIGNS opened its first Puerto Rican center in Guaynabo, followed by the Caguas center in 2014 and Carolina in 2015. FASTSIGNS Puerto Rico also has a production workshop, located in the Lucchetti Industrial Park, and its more than 19 employees are proud to contribute to the local economy with their sales talent and production capacity. "With conversions, franchise owners have the tools but it is up to each of us to take those tools out into the market and to the next level. Knowing that FASTSIGNS didn't yet have a presence in Puerto Rico, we worked to raise awareness on a local and national level," said Corujo. "It took courage, requiring us to leave what we were currently doing and take the next step. Our story shows that if franchisees embrace the model, it really pays off. We are extremely proud of all of the hours we invested as we made every effort to embody and share the FASTSIGNS brand." When the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria, in 2017, all three locations were without power for a period of time with only their production center powered by a generator. They provided support financially and emotionally to their employees. "The Hurricane Maria situation changed not only us but the whole island's psyche. The way that we approach problems is quite different now," said Rivera, franchise owner with FASTSIGNS Puerto Rico. "We were forced to keep moving. This made us and the team stronger. We learned no matter how tough things may look, there's a light on the other side." "This team excels in solving visual communications, helping customers achieve their objectives, and represents the FASTSIGNS brand with passion, excellence and enthusiasm," said FASTSIGNS International, Inc. CEO, Catherine Monson. "Not only are they committed to FASTSIGNS, they are also committed to helping their local community while consistently having a positive impact. They've also been amazing in helping us grow the FASTSIGNS network both domestically and internationally. We are thankful to have them as members of the FASTSIGNS family." About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS is a locally and independently owned and operated sign, graphics and visual communications company that provides comprehensive visual marketing solutions to customers of all sizesacross all industriesto help them attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables, digital signage and marketing materials. To learn more, visit: FASTSIGNS of Carolina | fastsigns.com/2119 | 787.946.4465 FASTSIGNS of Caguas | fastsigns.com/2005 | 787.961.6446 FASTSIGNS of Guaynabo | fastsigns.com/609 | 787.966.7446 Contacts: Teresa C. Caballero 787-405-9151 [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816931/FASTSIGNS_International_Puerto_Rico_Team_Award.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/333668/fs_logomtfmts_Logo.jpg SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Related Links http://www.fastsigns.com WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO JC Scott issued the following statement on the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General's proposed rule on prescription drug rebates in Medicare: "While we are reviewing the proposed rule, we stand ready to work with the Administration to achieve our shared goal to reduce high drug costs. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are part of the solution to high cost prescription drugs. Drugmakers alone set and raise prices. We have been encouraged by recent proposals aimed at using more PBM tools to increase competition, reduce overall costs, and improve patients' access to needed medications. We are concerned, however, that eliminating the long-standing safe harbor protection for drug manufacturer rebates to PBMs would increase drug costs and force Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, unless there is a viable alternative for PBMs to negotiate on behalf of beneficiaries. The Medicare prescription drug benefit has succeeded in providing affordable access to medications for Part D beneficiaries. PBMs keep coverage affordable by negotiating rebates with drugmakers, which are used to enhance benefits and reduce beneficiary cost sharing and premiums. Part D premiums have remained lower than initially projected since the program began and enrollees are highly satisfied with their prescription drug coverage. Any proposals to eliminate PBM-negotiated rebates must consider the impact it will have on Medicare beneficiaries' access to affordable prescription drugs and costs to taxpayers." Evidence that rebates are working to reduce prescription drug costs, includes: A study by Oliver Wyman Consulting found rebates have reduced costs in Medicare Part D by $34.9 billion and eliminating them would have caused Part D premiums to increase by 52 percent in 2018. and eliminating them would have caused Part D premiums to increase by 52 percent in 2018. Data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2019 Part D premiums, and national average plan bids, show a negative trend for the first year since 2007. CMS cites drug manufacturer and pharmacy price concessions as a factor driving these lower costs. A number of recent analyses prove that PBM-negotiated rebates are not correlated to drugmakers' pricing strategies. A recent study Reconsidering Drug Prices, Rebates, and PBMs shows drug manufacturers alone set prices independent of rebates. The study highlights top-selling Medicare Part D brand-name drugs with steady price increases and no change in rebate levels over a five-year period from 2012 to 2017. In addition, the study analyzes a number of Medicare Part B drugs, which have no PBM rebates, and large price increases. shows drug manufacturers alone set prices independent of rebates. The study highlights top-selling Medicare Part D brand-name drugs with steady price increases and no change in rebate levels over a five-year period from 2012 to 2017. In addition, the study analyzes a number of Medicare Part B drugs, which have no PBM rebates, and large price increases. A separate Visante analysis shows no correlation between increasing prices set by drugmakers and rebates. shows no correlation between increasing prices set by drugmakers and rebates. A Medicare report by HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the number of brand-name drugs with rebates dropped from 72 percent to 61 percent. Additionally, a legal analysis, included in PCMA's comments on the Blueprint, raises significant concerns as to whether there are any viable alternatives to rebates, in light of drug manufacturers' inability to offer up-front discounts under current antitrust case law. PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million Americans who have health insurance from a variety of sponsors including: commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, union plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), state government employee plans, Medicaid plans, and others. SOURCE Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Related Links http://www.pcmanet.org QuantaStor has the broadest hardware support of any Software-Defined Storage platform on the market, with support for hardware from vendors including Dell, HPE, Cisco, Lenovo, Supermicro, Seagate, and Western Digital. The new QuantaStor Solution Design web apps make hardware selection, price estimation, and proper solution engineering accessible to a broad audience. Whether the design is for a small SAN/NAS configuration or a hyper-scale S3 object storage deployment, the tools greatly streamline the process and collaborative efforts between resellers and customers. "Designing Software-Defined Storage solutions used to be a complex process due to the hardware flexibility that comes with SDS. With these new web apps, we've cleared the way for customers and partners to design and model solutions faster and more efficiently than ever," said Steven Umbehocker, CEO of OSNEXUS. "We're really pleased with all the feedback we've seen so far and will be enhancing the apps with new hardware and modeling features." Solution Design Web Apps The SAN/NAS Solution Design web app makes designing SAN/NAS storage clusters quick and easy. Clusters are designed around a two-node server model with attached SAS or NVMe storage chassis. As capacity is increased, the design tool automatically adds servers and storage chassis to meet the requested usable capacity. Customers and Sales Engineers simply move a slider bar to the required usable capacity, pick a use case, and all the calculations to determine the solution design are done for them automatically. Protocol coverage includes block (iSCSI/FC) and file (SMB3/NFS4) storage access. Similarly, the Object Storage Solution Design web app provides this same ease of configuration and design for scale-out storage clusters. QuantaStor scale-out clusters support replica and erasure-coding based data protection. Protocol coverage includes block (iSCSI/FC/Ceph RBD), file (SMB/NFS/CephFS), and object storage (S3/SWIFT) access. For more information on the QuantaStor Solution Design web apps, visit osnexus.com/design . About OSNEXUS Founded in 2010, OSNEXUS enables organizations to manage hybrid-cloud storage environments ranging from small sites to hyper-scale deployments across global datacenters with its QuantaStor industry-leading Software Defined Storage (SDS) platform. The QuantaStor platform provides scale-out file, block, and object storage technology as a single, easy-to-manage solution. QuantaStor, deployed by Fortune 500 companies worldwide, addresses a broad set of storage use cases including server virtualization, big data, cloud computing, and high-performance applications through scale-out physical and virtual storage appliances. 2019 OSNEXUS Corporation. All rights reserved. OSNEXUS and QuantaStor are trademarks or registered trademarks of OSNEXUS Corporation. Product features, specifications, system requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. SOURCE OSNEXUS Related Links http://www.osnexus.com OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Omaha has hustle. From just-in rankings as Fortune Magazine's No. 5 city where employees are the happiest, to the 2018 No. 1 best metro area for millennials, Omaha is celebrating a winning streak marked by high opportunity and low cost of living. "Home to titans of industry, a charming turn of the century downtown district and a rocking music scene, Omaha is anything but a fly-over city," wrote Jeffery Marino, ZipRecruiter's data journalist when he and colleagues named Omaha the No. 1 Best City for College Grads to Start Their Careers in 2018. Marino also noted Omaha ranked "first on our list for recent college graduates because it strikes the rare balance of affordability, high job opportunity and a great quality of life." U.S. News and World Report joined ZipRecruiter in applauding Omaha's accolades, naming the metro the No. 7 Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2018, thanks to a median annual salary of more than $46,000. For Nebraska millennials, that median income is even higher: $59,886, according to GoBankingRates' Kelly Hoey. Hoey, who dubbed Omaha the No. 2 City Millennials Should Consider for Optimal Careers, pointed out in, Dear Millennials, This is Where I Would Move If I Were You, "Omaha has an emerging startup community, along with a thriving art, food and craft beer scene. Plus, the city is home to dynamic female-founded businesses such as Hello Holiday and Hardy Coffee Company." That same startup community is fueled by The Startup Collaborative, Omaha's premiere incubator for software startups, catalyzing more than 100 new entrepreneurial ventures in 2018 alone, and exemplifying the region's We Don't Coast slogan. About Greater Omaha Greater Omaha is a No. 1 ranked up-and-coming-tech hotspot and Time magazine's 2017 No. 3 Most Up-and-Coming City in America . Recognized for its " We Don't Coast " attitude, and named America's No. 2 Best Small City , Greater Omaha is home to more than 30 communities and nearly 1 million people, with a youthful population (more than 40 percent are age 24 or younger), low cost of living and steady economic growth that outpaces the nation. Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc. and Union Pacific all Fortune 500 companies call Greater Omaha "home." MEDIA INQUIRIES Jill Bruckner, Communications/PR Manager Greater Omaha Chamber 402-978-7920 [email protected] SOURCE Greater Omaha Chamber Related Links http://www.omahachamber.org Held each year in Amsterdam, ISE attracts more than 80,000 visitors, making it nearly twice the size of InfoComm, a similar venue in the U.S. Bringing the latest in new technology for interactive displays, virtual reality, robotics, collaboration and all the peripherals, ISE draws attendees from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pac. The GPA arranges for socializing, networking and learning leading into ISE by hosting its own UX Summit for AV and UC decision makers on February 4-5. Held at the Movenpick Hotel, Amsterdam, the UX Summit guest speakers include Julian Phillips, Executive Vice President of Whitlock and 2018 President of the Audio Visual and Integrated Experiences Association (AVIXA), and Han Gerrits, professor, author and CEO of KPMG's Innovation Factory group. Both will present on the modern workplace and new trends in strategy, technology and best practices for collaboration and business agility. As ISE kicks off on the 5th, the GPA will be present throughout the show in booth 1-E85 and will also be hosting a Global Lounge in the Emerald Auditorium with speakers and refreshments on Wednesday, February 6. On the docket to speak in the GPA Global Lounge are: Paul Muckleston , Microsoft, Worldwide GM for Surface Commercial , Microsoft, Worldwide GM for Surface Commercial Jody Thomas , TargetPath, Senior Partner , TargetPath, Senior Partner Ira M. Weinstein , Recon Research, Founder/Partner , Recon Research, Founder/Partner Byron Tarry , GPA, Executive Director , GPA, Executive Director Iris Van Den Akker , ABN-AMRO, Commercial Manager "Product as a Service" Portfolio Beyond presentations from thought leaders, the GPA will use its booth and lounge areas to promote its new Velocity Ecosystem for global enterprises. Velocity offers an integrated and standardized portfolio of collaboration solutions, which include program planning, hardware/software, deployment and support, along with a strategic management and analytics dashboard. As the name implies, Velocity solutions deliver a quick path for standardization, simplification and scale worldwide. The system was developed in partnership with key GPA technology partners, including Crestron, Cisco, Logitech, Legrand AV, Domotz and LG. "After a decade of working together, the GPA has achieved strong alignment across our members, partners and customers," explains Byron Tarry, Executive Director. "Our UX Summit brings together a unique mix of ideas and talent from all around the globe, which should help drive more excitement and adoption for new workplace solutions at ISE. We look forward to using this time next week to achieve better collaborative workflows and improved business outcomes." More details on the UX Summit and GPA events can be found online at https://www.global-presence.org/news-events/2019/01/10/gpa-ux-summit-customer-events-at-ise/. About Global Presence Alliance The Global Presence Alliance is a consortium of privately-held audiovisual and collaboration technology integrators, who deliver solutions and support as one organization to global customers. Aligned by similar values and a business commitment as part of the GPA B.V., our members offer a combined talent pool of thousands of professionals, following the same protocols and procedures all across the globe. GPA customers enjoy the convenience of working with local, "in-country" specialists with oversight from global program managers. Together, we deliver technology strategy, roadmap reviews, integration and 24/7 managed support. Our global AVNOC is located in the Netherlands, where we are incorporated. GPA members offer worldwide staging and demonstration facilities as well as onsite support for all major business hubs. Learn more at www.global-presence.org. SOURCE Global Presence Alliance Related Links http://www.global-presence.org PHOENIX, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro Phoenix Bank (OTCPink: MPHX) ("MPB") announced the hiring of four commercial lenders: Rickard Strom, Kristen McLean, Larry Stangler, and David Mahar. Rickard Strom has nearly 20 years of financial industry experience coupled with a finance degree from Boise State University . As SVP, Lending, Mr. Strom will utilize his commercial lending expertise to spearhead specialty programs, working closely with industry leaders and clients. has nearly 20 years of financial industry experience coupled with a finance degree from . As SVP, Lending, Mr. Strom will utilize his commercial lending expertise to spearhead specialty programs, working closely with industry leaders and clients. Kristen McLean is a dynamic and knowledgeable commercial real estate lender with 21 years banking experience. Throughout her career, she facilitated multi-million-dollar commercial real estate investment deals, secured construction financing, and managed sizable commercial loan portfolios. Ms. McLean's professional expertise will lend itself well to her position as Metro Phoenix Bank's VP, Commercial Lending. is a dynamic and knowledgeable commercial real estate lender with 21 years banking experience. Throughout her career, she facilitated multi-million-dollar commercial real estate investment deals, secured construction financing, and managed sizable commercial loan portfolios. Ms. McLean's professional expertise will lend itself well to her position as Metro Phoenix Bank's VP, Commercial Lending. Larry Stangler brings 20+ years of banking experience, most of which has been focused on Small Business Administration (SBA) and commercial real estate lending. Mr. Stangler will be in charge of leading the Bank's SBA department and will hold the position of VP, SBA Manager. His proven track record of networking, creating loan programs and branding will be a true asset for MPB. brings 20+ years of banking experience, most of which has been focused on Small Business Administration (SBA) and commercial real estate lending. Mr. Stangler will be in charge of leading the Bank's SBA department and will hold the position of VP, SBA Manager. His proven track record of networking, creating loan programs and branding will be a true asset for MPB. David Mahar's career includes 15 years banking experience with an emphasis in relationship building. He excels at providing sound financial advice to business clients while balancing their needs with those of the bank. He truly ensures a positive customer experience and will hold the role of AVP, Commercial Loan Officer at MPB. Stephen P. Haggard, MPB President and CEO, commented, "We are excited to have recruited top talent that aligns with our continued growth strategy in the Arizona market. All four individuals have exceptional market knowledge, are well connected throughout the community, and will be instrumental in the Bank's successful growth. With such additions to our already dynamic team and our commitment to helping our business community thrive, we are excited at what 2019 may bring." About the Company Metro Phoenix Bank, Inc., established in 2007 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a full-service community bank that caters to small-to mid-sized businesses and real estate professionals. MPB offers commercial clients a variety of services ranging from commercial lending (including real estate construction), SBA financing solutions, and a robust treasury management platform that includes a specialty Homeowners Association (HOA)/Property Management program. The company is traded over-the-counter as MPHX. For additional information, visit: www.metrophoenixbank.com. Contact: Stephen P. Haggard President & CEO 602-346-1800 [email protected] SOURCE Metro Phoenix Bank Related Links http://www.metrophoenixbank.com IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total January sales of 20,045 vehicles, a decrease of 19.7 percent compared to January 2018. With 25 selling days in January, compared to 25 the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 19.7 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. KEY SALES NOTES: Sales of the Mazda6 totaled 1,619 in January, an increase of 4.3 percent compared to January 2018 . . CPO sales totaled 3,892 vehicles in January, an increase of 9.3 percent compared to January 2018 Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported January sales of 5,120 vehicles, an increase of 8.3 percent compared to January last year. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom. Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA. Month-To-Date Year-To-Date January January % % MTD January January % % YTD 2019 2018 Change DSR 2019 2018 Change DSR Mazda3 4,596 5,825 (21.1)% (21.1)% 4,596 5,825 (21.1)% (21.1)% Mazda6 1,619 1,552 4.3% 4.3% 1,619 1,552 4.3% 4.3% MX-5 Miata 347 436 (20.4)% (20.4)% 347 436 (20.4)% (20.4)% CX-3 971 1,350 (28.1)% (28.1)% 971 1,350 (28.1)% (28.1)% CX-5 10,652 13,463 (20.9)% (20.9)% 10,652 13,463 (20.9)% (20.9)% CX-9 1,860 2,336 (20.4)% (20.4)% 1,860 2,336 (20.4)% (20.4)% Total Vehicles CARS 6,562 7,813 (16.0)% (16.0)% 6,562 7,813 (16.0)% (16.0)% TRUCKS 13,483 17,149 (21.4)% (21.4)% 13,483 17,149 (21.4)% (21.4)% TOTAL 20,045 24,962 (19.7)% (19.7)% 20,045 24,962 (19.7)% (19.7)% Selling Days 25 25 25 25 SOURCE Mazda North American Operations Related Links http://www.mazdausa.com LINE-X and DieselSellerz partnered with some of the hottest names in the industry to help represent its brand as a leader in polyurea coatings and truck accessories. The build features several premium products, most notably the LINE-X ULTRA exterior coating tinted in olive drab green with a UV topcoat. Featured companies on the build include: "Our relationship with the DieselSellerz has really grown over the past few years and we're honored to be able to show their incredible build at the Chicago Auto Show. Heavy D and Diesel Dave remain very popular in the diesel community, and we are proud to be able to put their talents on display at the show," said Dennis Weese, president of LINE-X. "In addition to the Diesel Brothers-built truck, we will also have on display an outfitted 2019 RAM 1500 truck courtesy of Great Lakes LINE-X that gives show attendees some great examples of the customization possible at LINE-X shops around the country." AFTERMARKET EXCELLENCE ON DISPLAY In addition to the 2018 RAM built by the DieselSellerz, the LINE-X booth will also feature a customized 2019 RAM 1500 with top-quality aftermarket accessories and upgrades. This truck includes some of the most popular products sold through LINE-X franchisees and was built by local Chicago-area shop Great Lakes LINE-X. 2019 RAM build includes: LINE-X PREMIUM bedliner LINE-X Specialty Automotive Exterior Coating on Drop Steps, Fender Flares and Bumpers Truck Gear by LINE-X Drop Steps Truck Gear by LINE-X LXP Tonneau Cover Bushwacker Pocket Style Fender Flares Grid Wheels Mickey Thompson Baja Boss Tires Daystar Lift Kit Rigid Light Bar Addictive Desert Design Front and Rear Bumpers Husky X-Act Contour Floor Liners Suntec Window Film Sticker Dude Designs Vehicle Wrap Gibson Stainless Steel Exhaust TrailFX 9500lb Winch WeatherTech Rain Guards Owners and staff from local franchises including Great Lakes LINE-X, LINE-X of Bartlett, LINE-X of Kenosha and LINE-X of Northern Illinois will be on hand to discuss various types of LINE-X protective coatings and vehicle customization options available at LINE-X franchise locations. Show goers that visit the LINE-X booth can sign up to receive special show discounts and enter to win exclusive LINE-X and Truck Gear by LINE-X products, like a Truck Gear Expedition Cooler, Jump Starter and Power Bank, and more. LINE-X will be located at booth SH8 in the South Hall of the McCormick Place convention center. SOURCE LINE-X Related Links http://www.linex.com CHICAGO, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Keller Lenkner LLC today announced that it filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all purchasers of securities of General Electric Company ("GE" or the "Company") (NYSE:GE) from October 12, 2018 through and including October 29, 2018 (the "Class Period"). The action was filed in the Southern District of New York and is captioned Birnbaum v. General Electric Company, et al., No. 1:19-cv-01013. The complaint alleges that GE and its Chief Executive Officer, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by issuing false and misleading statements relating to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") expanded investigation into the Company's accounting practices, including investigating GE's $23 billion goodwill impairment charge (the "Power Charge"). The Company announced the Power Charge on October 1, 2018, and the SEC investigation began shortly after. The Company revealed the truth on October 30, 2018, when the Company announced that the SEC had expanded its previous investigation into the Company's accounting practices to now include the Power Charge. The Company announced that the Department of Justice was also investigating GE. GE had failed to disclose this material information on October 12, 2018 when defendants announced that GE was delaying the release of the Company's quarterly earnings. Upon disclosure of these facts, GE's stock price fell sharply from a closing price of $11.16 on October 29, 2018, to a closing price of $10.18 on October 30, 2018a nearly 10% market declineon trading of almost 345 million shares. GE shares traded as low as $9.87 on October 30, 2018. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file a motion with the Court no later than April 2, 2019, which is the first business day on which the District Court for the Southern District of New York is open that is 60 days after the publication date of February 1, 2019. Any member of the proposed class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice. Keller Lenkner represents the plaintiff. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact Plaintiff's counsel, Ashley Keller of Keller Lenkner at 312-741-5220, or via e-mail at [email protected] Keller Lenkner pursues high-stakes litigation for plaintiffs across a variety of claims and practice areas. Its lawyers are uniquely situated at the intersection of law and finance, with experience that includes litigating in courts throughout the country as well as co-founding the world's largest private litigation finance firm. www.kellerlenkner.com SOURCE Keller Lenkner LLC Related Links http://www.kellerlenkner.com/ BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to provide seamless continuity and service to retirement plan third party administrators (TPAs), John Hancock Retirement Services (JHRPS) announced that Heather Windjue will succeed Head of TPA Strategy and Support, Ann Slotwinski, who will be retiring after 37 years with the firm. Ms. Windjue, a 22-year veteran of the retirement plan industry, had been serving JHRPS as assistant vice president of Operations Strategic Planning and Projects. She will begin in the new role on February 1, reporting to Scott Francolini, senior vice president of Strategic Relationship Management and Consulting (SRM&C). "Heather comes to her new role with strong existing relationships across the TPA community and a deep understanding of the TPA and John Hancock service model, operational efficiency, relationship management and strategic leadership," said Mr. Francolini. "I look forward to her vision and leadership as she works to take the TPA team to the next level to support sales, retention and profitability, as well as to her joining the broader leadership team of SRM&C." Ms. Slotwinski will remain with the business until June and assist with the transition. She has been in TPA services for 23 years, seven of which she was head. In that role, she refined JHRPS' TPA segmentation strategy, updated the TPA RMD role and oversaw the creation of the JHRPS TPAessentials program, providing TPAs with education, tools and programs to succeed in growing their businesses. "We will miss Ann tremendously as will the industry," said Mr. Francolini. "Not only has she been a leader at John Hancock, she is known throughout the industry for her strong relationships and the work she's accomplished through her participation on the Board of Directors for National Institute of Plan Administrators (NIPA). We are forever grateful for her time and commitment to JHRPS." About John Hancock Retirement Plan Services As of September 30, 2018, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services serviced over 58,000 plans with over 2.8 million participants* and over $168 billion in AUMA.1 About John Hancock and Manulife John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.1 trillion (US$863 billion) as of September 30, 2018. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com. One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and college savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com. MGR012719484629 John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (John Hancock USA), John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York (John Hancock New York), and John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, LLC are collectively referred to as "John Hancock". John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, Boston, MA 02116. NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED 2019 All rights reserved. 1John Hancock Retirement Plan Services consists of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (not licensed in New York), John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York (licensed in New York), Valhalla, New York and John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, LLC. Approximate unaudited figures for John Hancock Retirement Plan Services division, provided on a U.S. statutory basis. TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 SOURCE John Hancock Retirement Plan Services Related Links http://johnhancock.com DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:JEC) COO and President of Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear Terry Hagen will present at the 40th Annual Cowen Aerospace/Defense & Industrials Conference in New York on Thursday February 7, 2019, at 2:05 p.m. ET. Interested parties can listen to the presentation and view accompanying slides on Jacobs' investor relations site. The company will host its investor day on February 19, 2019, in Miami. Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou, CFO Kevin Berryman, COO Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities Bob Pragada and COO Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear Terry Hagen, as well as other members of management, will present from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET, webcast live on the company's investor relations site. About Jacobs Jacobs leads the global professional services sector delivering solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With $15 billion in fiscal 2018 revenue and a talent force of more than 80,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com, and connect with Jacobs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For additional information contact: Investors Jonathan Doros, 817-239-3457 [email protected] Media Marietta Hannigan, 214-920-8035 [email protected] SOURCE Jacobs ATLANTA, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of each of the Invesco closed-end funds listed below today declared the following dividends. EX-DATE 2/12/19 RECORD DATE 2/13/19 REINVEST DATE 2/28/19 PAYABLE DATE 2/28/19 Name of Closed-End Management Investment Company Ticker Monthly Dividend Amount Per Share Change From Prior Distribution Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II VKI $0.04931 - Invesco Bond Fund VBF $0.0700 +0.0010 Invesco California Value Municipal Income Trust VCV $0.05101 - Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund VTA $0.06251 - Invesco High Income 2023 Target Term Fund IHIT $0.0500 - Invesco High Income 2024 Target Term Fund IHTA $0.0467 - Invesco Municipal Income Opportunities Trust OIA $0.0328 - Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust VMO $0.05541 - Invesco Municipal Trust VKQ $0.05251 - Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust VPV $0.0580 - Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust IQI $0.0531 - Invesco Senior Income Trust VVR $0.0210 - Invesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals VGM $0.05161 - Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals VTN $0.05541 - Invesco Value Municipal Income Trust IIM $0.0594 - 1 A portion of this distribution is estimated to be from a return of principal rather than net income. The Section 19 notice referenced below provides more information and can be found on the Invesco website at www.invesco.com. Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year will report distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund's annual report to shareholders will include information regarding the tax character of Fund distributions for the fiscal year. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions in 2019 will be made after the end of the year. In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each Fund will provide its shareholders of record on the record date with a Section 19 Notice disclosing the sources of its dividend payment when a distribution includes anything other than net investment income. The Section 19 Notice is not provided for tax reporting purposes but for informational purposes only. If applicable, this Section 19 Notice information can be found on the Funds' website at www.invesco.com The amount of dividends paid by each fund may vary from time to time. Past amounts of dividends are no guarantee of future dividend payment amounts. Investing involves risk and it is possible to lose money on any investment in the funds. For more information, call 1-800-341-2929. About Invesco Ltd. Invesco Ltd. is an independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life.NYSE: IVZ; www.invesco.com. Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd. It is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply. NOT FDIC INSURED l MAY LOSE VALUE l NO BANK GUARANTEE Invesco SOURCE Invesco Ltd. Related Links https://www.invesco.com CHENNAI, India and SUNNYVALE, California, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Indium Software, a global end-to-end software services provider, announced that it has enhanced its digital services capability by becoming a Microsoft Partner Network member with the Silver Analytics Competency. This will give Indium greater access to Microsoft tools, technologies and training that will in turn benefit its customers in their digital transformation journey. Microsoft Azure is an open, flexible and enterprise-grade cloud computing platform trusted by 95% of Fortune 500 businesses, governments and startups. It offers a wide portfolio of tools in Data Management, Advanced Analytics, IOT, Machine Learning & AI, to meet customers' evolving needs in today's mobile-first, cloud-first world. Indium Software has a growing team of certified experts working on various Microsoft platforms. By signing up with the Microsoft Partner Network, the company is taking this relationship to its logical extension. This will not only help Indium Software gain a deeper understanding of the business goals of its customers, but also assist them along the way in technology selection, tool advisory, data migration, system continuity, center of excellence establishment etc., thereby laying the foundation for sustainable success. Indium Software has the required infrastructure, a strong team, cross-domain experience, analytical capabilities, and expertise in holistic solution development to be able to leverage this partnership. The company has 50+ Microsoft-ready members in-house, and can immediately deliver on the Microsoft tech stack, ranging across Big Data & Data Management, Data Visualization and Advanced Analytics. "We believe that the Microsoft Silver Analytics Competency is a step forward in increasing our ability to delight our customers with a wider range of Data Analytics capabilities and technology choices," says Ram Sukumar, Co-Founder and CEO. "By achieving the Silver Analytics Competency, Indium Software has proven its commitment and expertise in specific technology areas, which places them among a small percentage of Microsoft partners worldwide," said Rajiv Sodhi, General Manager Partner Ecosystem at Microsoft India. "For customers looking for a partner to help meet their unique business needs, choosing a company like Indium Software, that has attained Microsoft competencies is a smart move. They have highly qualified experts with access to Microsoft technical support and product teams." Indium Software has successfully implemented solutions on both Microsoft Azure & Power BI platforms. It recently helped a customer ingest data from various data sources to improve visibility, accessibility and provide business insights of its sales performance globally. The process involved setting up Azure Data Factory pipeline to extract the required data sets and then visualize using Power BI dashboards which were integrated within an enterprise web UI. In another instance, Indium Software leveraged Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio to help a leading ecommerce aggregator by delivering a product categorization solution. This solution was achieved by "name matching" various product categories across websites to ensure that their customers had access to faster free-text searches and better user experience overall. The Microsoft Partner Network helps partners strengthen their capabilities to showcase leadership in the marketplace on latest technologies, to better serve customers and to easily connect with one of the most active, diverse networks in the world. About Indium Software Indium Software is a rapidly growing technology solutions company with deep expertise in Big Data solutions, Analytics services, Independent QA, Blockchain and Gaming. It has over 19 years of experience, serving 350+ customers ranging from Fortune 100 to Global 5000 with a growing team of 700 associates. Indium Software has been serving customers in North America, India, APAC, Europe and South Africa. They operate through their registered offices in the Bay Area, New Jersey, Atlanta and Kuala Lumpur. Their Global Delivery Centers are located in Chennai and Bangalore, India. Indium Software has spearheaded and supported many technology-led business transformation programs for its customers. Thanks to a ringside view to the world of technology across the globe, Indium Software had the unique opportunity to constantly evolve and learn from their customers. This unique world-view, coupled with a forward-looking mindset, has been helping Indium continuously scale up existing solution areas, while building and nurturing new services. Media Contact: G. Mohan Global Head - Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Indium Software CHICAGO, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report on "High Density Interconnect Market by Product (46 Layers HDI, 810 Layers HDI, and 10+ Layers HDI), End User (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Telecommunications, Medical), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the HDI market is expected to grow from USD 9.5 billion in 2018 to USD 16.9 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2018 to 2023. A few key factors driving the growth of this market are increasing adoption of advanced electronics and safety measures in the automotive vertical and growing demand for smart consumer electronics and wearable devices. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=179767298 10+ Layers HDI to hold the largest share of the HDI market during the forecast period 10+ layers HDI would likely continue accounting for the largest share of the HDI market during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to 10+ Layers HDIs being used in a wide range of devices, such as high-reliability automotive products, high-density mobile devices, and IoT modules. 10+ layers HDI offer benefits such as small size, lightweight construction, and enhanced flexibility. HDI market for the medical end-user segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The HDI market for the medical end-user segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The range of HDI PCB applications in the medical industry is vast and ever-growing. HDI PCBs can be found in pacemakers, defibrillators and heart monitors, medical imaging systems, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasonic equipment among others. HDI PCBs are also used in medical devices like body temperature monitors, blood glucose monitors, and electrical muscle stimulation equipment. Browse in-depth TOC on "High Density Interconnect Market" 68 Tables 39 Figures 130 Pages APAC to hold the largest share of the HDI market during the forecast period APAC would likely account for the major share of the global HDI market during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing application of HDI in consumer electronics, automotive, and healthcare verticals in countries such as China, India, and South Korea. It is also due to the extension of telecommunications networks in China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and other developing countries in APAC. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=179767298 Unimicron (Taiwan), Compeq Co. (Taiwan), TTM Technologies (US), Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik (Austria), Zhen Ding Tech. (Taiwan), IBIDEN (Japan), MEIKO ELECTRONICS Co. (Japan), FUJITSU INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES (Japan), Tripod Technology Corp. (Taiwan), Unitech (Taiwan), SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS (South Korea), Daeduck GDS Co (South Korea), DAP Corp. (South Korea), Korea Circuit (South Korea), CMK (Japan), NCAB Group (Sweden), SIERRA CIRCUITS (US), and Multek (Hong Kong) are among the major players in the HDI market. Please Explore Relevant Reports: Molded Interconnect Device (MID) Market by Process (LDS, 2-Shot Molding, Film Techniques), Product (Antennae & Connectivity Modules, Connectors & Switches, Sensors, Lighting), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 Flexible Electronics & Circuit Market by Application (OLED & LCD Display, Printed Sensor, Battery, Thin-Film PV, OLED Lighting), Circuit Structure (Single-Sided, Multilayer, Double-Sided, Rigid), Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 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, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-641 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/high-density-interconnect-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com SOURCE MarketsandMarkets AMH Gerson L'Chaim Prize SIM Missionary, 56-year-old-Dr. Rick Sacra, Massachusetts native, received the prestigious 2018 AMH Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L'Chaim ("To Life") Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service last night (Jan. 31, 2019). The annual awardthe largest of its kind in the worldsupporting clinical care in Africacomes with a $500,000 gift. The prize is awarded by African Mission Healthcare (AMH), www.AfricanMissionHealthcare.org, a non-profit organization that strengthens mission hospitals to aid those in greatest need. AMH was co-founded in 2010 by entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Mark Gerson and medical missionary, Dr. Jon Fielder, who is the organization's chief executive; the two became friends in college. Gerson, and his wife, Rabbi Erica Gerson, established, and began funding, the annual award in 2016. They jointly presented the 2018 prize to Dr. Sacra during the awards ceremony. "I was overwhelmed when I learned about the award and am extremely honored to receive it, which I accept on behalf of all those serving God with their medical skills," said Dr. Sacra who returned from Liberia for the awards ceremony. "I'm so grateful for the financial resources, and team of people God is putting in place to deploy them. This kind of support opens the door to accomplish things we've been dreaming about for years, which will benefit our patients and our community by improving the healthcare of thousands of Liberians." Dr. Sacra is the third recipient of the AMH Gerson L'Chaim Prize. Why Dr. Sacra? Award benefactor Mark Gerson explained why Dr. Sacra received the 2018 AMH Gerson L'Chaim Prize. "L'Chaim means 'to life'and it is the gift that the Christian medical missionaries serving in Africa provide to so many with remarkable effectiveness. Dr. Rick Sacra is a wonderful example of the love, compassion, and skills needed to provide this gift of life. When faced with adversity, including civil war, inadequate resources, and Ebola, he demonstrated heroism and commitment that we can only marvel at. When you add his passion and plans for training African health professionals, strengthening ELWA Hospital, and caring for the poor of Liberia, it's very clear why he was selected as our 2018 AMH Gerson L'Chaim Prize winner." What the $500,000 will be used for? Dr. Sacra will use the prize money to strengthen facilities at SIM's ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Hospital in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia; train Liberian Family Medicine residents; establish an intensive care unit with trained staff; and install solar power capacity. Ebola While caring for women with prolonged and crisis labor at ELWA Hospital, often operating to deliver their babies, Dr. Sacra was unknowingly exposed to and contracted the Ebola virus. He was flown back to the U.S. for specialized intensive treatment. On recovering, several months later, he returned to Liberia once more to continue his work. SIM/Missionary Work During his childhood, Dr. Sacra became inspired to pursue medical missionary work after hearing the story of the Good Samaritan. He is one of many doctors and other medical professionals serving with SIM in places of need around the world, using their skills to help share God's love through their care, presence and example. He first went to Liberia to serve on a short-term mission trip in 1987. He and Debbie, his wife, moved there for full-time service in 1995. When civil war drove many Liberian refugees into neighboring Ivory Coast, the Sacras temporarily relocated there to serve them, before returning to Liberia. During his time in Liberia with SIM, Dr. Sacra has provided patient care training for medical workers and helped found ELWA's HIV/AIDS counseling and treatment program. AMH-Christian Broadcasting Network Matching Grant In addition to the $500,000 L'Chaim Prize, Dr. Sacra is also one of the beneficiaries of a matching grant collaboration between AMH and Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), which is providing a total of $2 million across eight mission teaching hospitals, including ELWA Hospital, in Africa to expand care, training and infrastructure. About SIM SIM ( www.simusa.org ) is an international Christian mission organization with more than 4,000 workers from 65 nations. SIM serves in education, community development, health care and Christian witness in more than 70 countries. Founded in 1893 as Sudan Interior Mission, SIM now serves on six continents, responding to need, proclaiming the gospel and equipping the Church. About African Mission Healthcare African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is a US 5013 non-profit organization which strengthens mission hospitals to aid those in greatest need. AMH's approach is unique, investing time and resources to identify the investments that are really needed, carefully selecting the hospitals they work with, and truly partneringnot prescribing answers but together developing solutions. Since 2010, AMH has distributed nearly $20 million in assistance to 40 facilities in 16 countries. This support has made possible over 600,000 patient visits, 13,000 surgeries and corrective procedures, 115 healthcare scholarships, and training of more than 3,000 healthcare professionals. About the Gerson L'Chaim Award The Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L'Chaim ("To Life") Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service is the world's largest annual award dedicated to direct patient care. The product of the generosity of philanthropists Mark and Erica Gerson of New York City, the L'Chaim Prize is an annual $500,000 award selected by a panel of leaders in African medicine. About Mark Gerson Gerson graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and earned his Juris Doctor (JD) from Yale Law School. Co-founder and chairman of the Gerson Lehrman Group, a knowledge brokerage and primary research firm, he is also the author of books on intellectual history and education, and has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, USA Today and other publications. Gerson and his wife Erica have four children and live in New York. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregg Wooding @ 972.567.7660 [email protected] SOURCE SIM Related Links http://www.simusa.org At Hangzhou's Showtime visitors can dig into the 5000-year Liangzhu mystery and its archaeological site that is currently on the UNESCO tentative list, as well as explore the two significant UNESCO heritage sites in Hangzhou -- West Lake and the Grand Canal in depth, along with Hangzhou's long list of Intangible Cultural Heritage such as tea and calligraphy culture. The journey begins with #HangzhouShowtime, featuring a gorgeous setting of the West Lake on the main boulevard inside Universal Studios Hollywood. At Universal Plaza, calligraphy workshops taught by professional calligrapher provide hands-on opportunities for guests to learn the authentic way of writing Chinese characters, and Hangzhou Bamboo Basket master, Hong Liping, will demonstrate the intricate art of traditional basket weaving. The Municipal Bureau will vividly bring Hangzhou to life for fans. QR codes located throughout the theme park will guide guests to three different interactive selfie frames. Each frame features one of Hangzhou's culturally significant Chinese New Year elements: Leifeng Pagoda, cartoons of Xu Xian and White Snake Bai Suzhen from Legend of the White Snake. Guests visiting Universal Studios Hollywood's Lunar New Year event to experience #HangzhouShowtime will receive an assortment of gifts: red packet featuring Liangzhu's significant god emblem symbol, the most glorified symbol of Liangzhu Culture which signifies 5,000 years of alternate history of Chinese civilization, a stylish silk scarf embodying the tangible cultural heritage of Hangzhou, and the Hangzhou's Showtime Postcard. Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism has a staggering track record for staging cultural festivals outside of China. In particular, the festival, "Hi 5 Hangzhou Fan Gala" at New York City's landmark Grand Central Terminal in 2018, which celebrated the official 5th anniversary of its social media presence, was a key milestone for foreign fans and a chance to promote the city's profound culture and history. This opportunity aligns with this year's event - "Hangzhou's Showtime" at Universal Studios Hollywood. Guests interested in attending Lunar New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood can visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com Hangzhou's Showtime Destination: Universal Studios Hollywood Date: 9th- 10th February 2019 SOURCE Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism CLEVELAND, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) released its nonpartisan 2019 2020 Public Policy Agenda today, a guide that outlines the top policy priorities of its members for the next two years. The latest installment of the GCP Public Policy Agenda reflects shared issues that are of greatest importance to more than 11,000 diverse GCP organizations made up of global corporations to middle-market companies to local entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Greater Cleveland. As the business community's primary private economic development platform, GCP launched the forwardCLE Strategic Plan in 2018. In order to succeed, forwardCLE must be adequately supported by an integrated, aggressive GCP Public Policy Advocacy Agenda constructed by and for our members and it will adapt as needed. "Our sheer numbers offer all GCP members the chance to have a powerful, collective voice," said Scott Chaikin, Executive Chairman of Dix & Eaton and Chair of GCP's Board of Directors. "It is our members' non-partisan, tested, savvy views and experiences that build trust with policymakers translating into meaningful advocacy results for the advancement of our region." GCP releases a member-driven public policy agenda every two years, sequenced with new U.S. Congressional and Ohio General Assembly cycles. Growth and innovation is the theme of the GCP agenda and it will require a continued focus on fundamental priorities: 1.) An Adaptable Government & Public Sector 2.) A Sustainable & Predictable Tax & Regulatory Environment 3.) Talent Development & Retention to Advance Business Growth Forging an inclusive and equitable region will continue to be a critical part of the initiatives GCP engages in throughout each overarching category. GCP President and CEO Joe Roman stated, "In unveiling the 2019 2020 GCP Public Policy Agenda, this document identifies barriers and proposes some familiar and some less familiar solutions in support of the business community and their employees to bolster weak links and allow for a burgeoning economy. A commitment to diversity is a necessary, fundamental part of each initiative." Some of the signature policy positions include: Protect and renew the Ohio Third Frontier program and more closely align it with JobsOhio. program and more closely align it with JobsOhio. Restore state general revenue funding for public transit . . Expand the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI) with proper legislative oversight. (CSI) with proper legislative oversight. Create a statewide Opportunity Zone to complement the federal program in underserved communities. to the federal program in underserved communities. Support the scale and growth of industry sector partnerships . . Review the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) programs for necessary legislative and regulatory reforms. (MBE) and (EDGE) programs for necessary legislative and regulatory reforms. Preserve Ohio's CyberOhio Advisory Board and enhance technology industry support services and resources. Click here to view the full 2019 2020 GCP Public Policy Agenda. For more information, contact Sarah Johnson: 216-592-2283. About the Greater Cleveland Partnership The Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create attractive business conditions that create jobs, grow investment and improve the economic prosperity of the region. SOURCE Greater Cleveland Partnership Related Links gcpartnership.com BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Fish & Richardson has elevated 11 attorneys to principal at the firm, effective January 1, 2019. The new principals in the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Group are: Bryan Basso and Katherine Prescott (Silicon Valley); Jackob Ben-Ezra (Houston); Dr. Christina Brown-Marshall (Atlanta); Megan Chacon and Alex Gelberg (San Diego); Phillip Goter (Twin Cities); Dr. Jeffrey Shneidman (Boston); and Daniel Tishman (Washington, D.C.). The new principals in the Patent Group are Dan Smith (Dallas) and Dr. Joseph Valentino (New York). Bryan Basso represents both plaintiffs and defendants, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, in complex patent litigation in U.S. district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He received his J.D., cum laude, from Brigham Young University in 2011 and his B.S. in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University in 2008. Jackob Ben-Ezra represents the world's largest tech companies in complex patent litigation. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law in 2010 and his B.S., with high honors, Phi Beta Kappa, in computer science from the University of Texas in 2007. Dr. Christina Brown-Marshall focuses her practice on patent and mass tort product liability litigation and has successfully represented clients facing scrutiny by federal prosecutors and regulatory agencies. She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2011, her Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University in 2008, and her B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Kentucky in 2001. Megan Chacon focuses her practice on complex patent litigation across a wide range of technologies. She has extensive experience in the life sciences and pharmaceutical fields, including Hatch-Waxman litigation. She received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2011 and her B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Utah in 2008. Alex Gelberg focuses on patent litigation and post-grant matters in the areas of electrical engineering and computer science. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2011, his M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Irvine in 2005, and his B.S., with highest honors, in computer engineering from the Moscow Automobile and Highway Engineering Institute in 2001. Phillip Goter has extensive experience working with global, high-tech clients in the computer software and hardware space and has litigated across a diverse technology spectrum, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals, in courts across the country. He received his J.D., with high distinction and honors, Order of the Coif, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2011, his M.B.A. from the University of Iowa in 2008, and his M.S. (2005) and B.S. (2001) in computer science from the University of North Dakota. Katherine (Katie) Prescott focuses on patent and trade secret litigation with an emphasis on software, network and internet technologies. She has experience before federal courts nationwide and has handled all aspects of litigation. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001, her M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University in 1998, and her B.A in earth and planetary science from Johns Hopkins University in 1997. Dr. Jeffrey Shneidman focuses on patent licensing, patent and trade secret litigation, and post-grant matters. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2011, his Ph.D. in computer science from Harvard University in 2008, and his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Dan Smith focuses on post-grant proceedings, patent prosecution, client counseling, and portfolio development in the computer-related, electrical and mechanical arts. He received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2010 and his B.A. in computer science from the University of Texas in 2004. Daniel Tishman represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex patent litigation in federal district courts and before the International Trade Commission. He received his J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Tulane University Law School in 2011 and his B.S., cum laude, in information science and technology from Pennsylvania State University in 2007. Dr. Joseph Valentino focuses on patent prosecution and analysis, including substantial experience producing patentability, patent infringement and patent validity opinions across a broad array of technical fields. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Rutgers School of Law - Newark in 2014, his Ph.D. (2007) and M.A. (2003) in electrical engineering from Princeton University, and his B.S., magna cum laude, in electrical engineering from Villanova University in 2000. Fish & Richardson, a premier global intellectual property law firm, is sought-after and trusted by the world's most innovative brands and influential technology leaders. Fish offers patent prosecution, counseling and litigation; trademark and copyright prosecution, counseling and litigation; and commercial litigation services. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. We have an established reputation as a top-tier firm for patent portfolio planning, strategy and prosecution, as well as post-grant proceedings at the PTAB. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences and perspectives. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson. Contact: Amy Blumenthal or Kelly Largey Blumenthal & Associates Fish & Richardson 617-879-1511 800-818-5070 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Fish & Richardson Related Links http://www.fr.com "We know we're going to put a smile on your loved one's face this Valentine's Day," says John Jetts, president and co-founder of Jet's Pizza. "You never know what you're going to get when you open up a box of chocolates, but when you order from Jet's pizza, you know you're going to be opening up a delicious, made-from-scratch, heart-shaped pizza." Jet's places a special emphasis on the quality of their ingredients and the way they prepare their pizzas to ensure that the products continue to live up to customers' expectations. Every morning dough is prepared by hand, premium mozzarella is grated, vegetables are hand cut and sauce is made with fresh vine-ripened tomatoes mixed with Jet's proprietary spice and herb blend. Jet's Pizza is better because it has to be. To order online or find a Jet's Pizza near you, visit www.jetspizza.com. Available for carry out or delivery. Jet's Pizza, based in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is one of the most rapidly expanding pizza franchises in the country. Since its founding in 1978, Jet's has grown to more than 400 stores in 20 states. The company ranked 13th in Pizza Today's 2018 list of the top 100 pizza companies in the U.S. by gross sales. Jet's America, Inc. 37501 Mound Road Sterling Heights, MI 48310 586.268.5870 www.jetspizza.com SOURCE Jets Pizza Related Links https://www.jetspizza.com STOCKHOLM, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolux today implements strategic and organizational changes to reinforce its ability to create outstanding consumer experiences and drive profitable growth in its consumer business. Electrolux is revising its business area structure to create four consumer-focused regional business areas, ensuring a unified approach to each market with common branded platforms and interactions with consumers. This means the Home Care & SDA business area, currently responsible for Electrolux offering of vacuum cleaners and other products for wellbeing in the home, is being combined with the four current major appliances business areas. To accelerate product and ownership experience innovation, Electrolux is also pulling together central functions focused on consumer experiences into a new organizational structure, headed by a Group Chief Experience Officer (CXO). This organization is globally responsible for areas such as marketing, design, product lines, digital consumer solutions and ownership experience. Ola Nilsson, currently head of Home Care & SDA, has been named Group CXO and Executive Vice President. Related to this change of roles and responsibilities within Group Management, Chief Operations Officer Jan Brockmann is also being named Executive Vice President. The Electrolux Board of Directors yesterday announced an intention to separate and list the Professional Products business area. Read more about the intended proposal to shareholders here. "During the past years we have made many improvements in terms of focusing Electrolux brands and product offering on consumer experience innovation. We've increased the speed of digital transformation and made significant investments in modularization and automation. These changes have resulted in a substantial improvement of our performance in 2017 and 2018," said Jonas Samuelson, President and CEO of Electrolux. "As Electrolux now becomes even more focused on the consumer business, we have tremendous opportunities to drive profitable growth. We will do this by accelerating innovation in our key experience areas, developing our aftermarket presence through a world-class ownership solutions offering and leveraging the continued digital evolution of the marketplace. With four consumer-focused business areas and strong global capabilities both in the front and back end of our operations, we are organizing ourselves to deliver in these areas. Electrolux financial targets will remain unchanged following a separation of Professional Products." The changes announced today are effective immediately. Electrolux will publish its first quarterly report based on the updated business area structure on April 26, 2019. Proforma figures showing the performance of the merged business areas will be made available through a press release prior to the quarterly report. For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46-8-657-65-07. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/electrolux/r/electrolux-sharpens-organization-to-drive-profitable-growth,c2729995 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Electrolux "We want to bring the most value to customers and one powerful way to achieve this goal was to absorb the tariff costs completely," said Mike Radenbaugh, Co-Founder and CEO of Rad Power Bikes. "We believe ebikes can truly revolutionize transportation and the communities we live in, and we're here to make sure that happens no matter the cost." Ebikes are the fastest growing segment of the bicycle market, with U.S. sales increasing eightfold since 2014 according to NPD . Ebikes are used as a car replacement, and help broaden the cyclist population by eliminating barriers associated with traditional bicycles. A tariff threatened the future of ebike adoption and sustainable transportation by increasing the costs of ebikes to consumers. Some ebike brands are increasing prices for a second time since the tariff went into effect. The 25% tariff was imposed on ebikes and other goods worth $16 billion in a second round of duties placed during trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. At the time, Rad Power Bikes was able to absorb most of the impact, but was still forced to increase prices by $200. When co-founders Mike Radenbaugh and Ty Collins announced the price increase in a candid video , thousands of customers expressed devastation that the ebikes were no longer in their budget. "We've been working tirelessly ever since to find a solution," said Radenbaugh. To fully absorb the costs of the tariff, Rad Power Bikes focused on what they could change, rather than deferring to factors outside their control. The company streamlined business processes, standardized components across their models, enhanced relationships with vendors, and diversified manufacturing. These efforts allowed the company to return to their original pricing of $1,499-$1,599 without compromising quality, customer support, or the growth of their U.S. based business. The return to original pricing arrives as Rad Power Bikes releases its 2019 models . The lineup features a number of new, unique enhancements across six models that further drive the durability, safety, and accessibility of ebikes. Learn more at radpowerbikes.com and follow the brand on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . ABOUT RAD POWER BIKES Rad Power Bikes is North America's largest ebike company. Their lineup of feature-rich fat tire, commuter, folding, and cargo ebikes are reliable, accessible, and fun alternatives to traditional transportation options. Rad Power Bikes was co-founded by Mike Radenbaugh and Ty Collins who have been building ebikes since childhood and were named to the Forbes and Inc. Magazine "30 Under 30" lists in 2017. SOURCE Rad Power Bikes Related Links https://www.radpowerbikes.com/ BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Richard Gaines and his team at Life Gaines Medical & Aesthetics Center in Boca Raton specialize in Age Management. They are now offering hormone replacement therapy, platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, non-invasive facelifts, and advanced metabolic wellness protocols. Anti-Aging procedures and scientifically-backed hormone replacement therapies performed under Dr. Richard Gaines help to reverse the effects that years of stress and physical activity can have on the body. The adverse effects of aging starts in the late 20s, so everyone needs help to maintain a higher quality of life. Gaines' personally-tailored treatment plans are designed to help reverse the effects of aging and provide a better way of tackling these issues other than relying on cookie-cutter prescription medications that do nothing more than mask these issues. As time goes on, the body's ability to naturally maintain and heal itself becomes diminished due to various factors such as hormone decline, reduced tissue health, and also imbalanced physiology. As time passes and individuals move through the various stages of their lives, key hormone production sites begin to lose their function and cause the body to be deprived of these key chemicals. With these hormonal changes, aging patients are often left with a variety of diseases and undeserved obstacles keeping them from enjoying the best years of their life. Life Gaines Medical and Aesthetics Center Can Help Patients Reverse the Effects of Aging Call Life Gaines at 561-931-2430 to set up an appointment or go to https://lifegaines.com to learn more. Common for most aging patients are declines in hormones that increase irritability, contribute to lower energy levels, and also increase the symptoms and risk of developing depression and other common ailments that those over the age of 50 experience. Aging commonly results in multiple metabolic diseases - all of which require multiple prescription medications to mask and control. Both men and women often list a decreased sex drive after the change in hormone production occurs, which is normally treated with medications that do nothing to heal the source of the issue. With an innovative and personalized approach to health, patients who see Dr. Gaines are presented with a treatment plan that can help alleviate their pains and enable them to live an active and healthy lifestyle without depending on prescription medication for the rest of their lives. Offering treatments that help combat the natural process of aging, declining skin health, as well as impaired joint health, patients can experience pain relief, a boost in self-confidence, and an overall sense of wellness after engaging in treatments with Dr. Gaines. Dr. Richard Gaines understands the changes aging can bring that affect quality of life. His practice in Boca Raton, Florida offers anti-aging treatments for men and women. Living with joint pain, decreased energy, and various metabolic diseases can often make it difficult to get through daily activities that were once done without a second thought. Being unable to care for oneself while becoming dependent on medication only serves to further the cycle of depression that patients express, they already feel during hormonal changes. Coupled with the decreased ability to move around, aging can put both the mind and the body in a challenging spot. Dr. Gaines uses advanced stem cell therapy techniques that have been clinically proven to target problems in the joint that cause pain as well as for the skin when it loses its tightness and bright appearance. These treatments stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to naturally improve all aspects of one's health and aesthetic. The team also provides patients with non-invasive facial rejuvenation treatments from skin tightening to stem cell rejuvenation therapy. These one-of-a-kind therapies can help one's skin to look younger and more vibrant without the need for invasive surgery by utilizing the body's natural healing mechanisms. Life Gaines Medical and Aesthetics Center offers treatments for those experiencing the worst parts of aging and who are looking for a way to take back control of their health. Joining them for a consultation about their anti-aging programs will help individuals know which treatments are best for them and how they can naturally combat the symptoms of aging by rethinking the approach taken to treat conditions caused by aging. Dr. Richard Gaines and his team recommend a variety of products and lifestyle habits to help patients ensure that their years are spent living fruitfully and exactly how they want. Many patients try to find answers in topical, surface-level treatment plans to help reverse the signs and symptoms of changes that result from aging. For a more targeted and comprehensive approach, Dr. Gaines offers state of the art joint and tissue therapy as well as a revolutionary sexual health therapy for men with erectile dysfunction with acoustic pulse technology. Therapies Offered: Growth Hormone | HGH Therapy Testosterone for Men Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for Women Peptides Stem Cell Therapy Shockwave Therapy for ED Body Contouring & Weight Loss Non-Invasive Facelift Visit Life Gaines Medical & Aesthetics Center at Address: 3785 N Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Call to set up an Appointment: (561) 931-2430 or email for more information at [email protected] . Life Gaines Medical and Aesthetics Center prides themselves on an anti-aging approach that is individualized and integrative. Overall wellness is impacted by more than just one type of treatment and cannot be simply masked with prescription medication. For best results, the office of Dr. Richard Gaines creates a unique program for each patient that helps them achieve optimal wellness tailored to their specific situation. To find out more about how a personalized anti-aging treatment process can improve the quality of life for those who are aging, visit their website. Life Gaines Medical & Aesthetics Center in Boca Raton is responsible for this press release. Related Images dr-richard-gaines.jpg Dr. Richard Gaines Dr. Richard Gaines is the Chief Medical Officer of LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics, a new anti-aging medical practice located in Boca Raton, FL. His revolutionary new practice offers a complete regenerative medicine program for men and women that includes hormone optimization, sexual health, as well as facial rejuvenation. LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics can help people of all ages improve en boca-raton-center-for-hormone.jpg Boca Raton Center for Hormone Growth Replacement Treating adult HGH deficiency for more than 10 years. Learn what our research and patients say about growth hormone and health. at-lifegaines-medical-and.png At LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics in Boca Raton, we use an integrative and complimentary approach to total patient wellness. Achieving wellness includes up-to-date weight-loss strategies, advanced hormone replacement and optimization, as well as newer "regenerative" cellular therapies like Platelet-rich Plasma, Stem Cell Therapy and Exosomes. Learn what we can do for you today! bioidentical-hormone-therapy-for.jpg Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for Women Safe and effective hormone replacement in women is possible with bioidentical hormone replacement. Learn more. SOURCE Life Gaines Medical & Aesthetics NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 2, 2019, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a default judgment in favor of American luxury jeweler David Yurman, awarding the company $1,550,000 in aggregate statutory damages against 31 defendants who operated infringing websites selling counterfeit David Yurman jewelry. The Court also issued a permanent injunction against the defendants, and any person acting with them, from manufacturing, distributing, advertising or selling any counterfeit David Yurman products. The judgment further requires the defendants to permanently transfer the domain names of the infringing websites to David Yurman. The defendants operated a network of websites designed to appear like authorized David Yurman websites by unlawfully using the company's trademarks and copyrighted campaign images in a deliberate attempt to deceive consumers. Having designed the infringing websites to falsely convey an affiliation with David Yurman, the defendants offered for sale counterfeit David Yurman jewelry. "We are pleased with the judgment and will continue to take aggressive action to protect our consumers, our designs and our trademarks," said Carol Pennelli, President, David Yurman. "We will not tolerate infringers and counterfeiters in the marketplace regardless of where they operate." About David Yurman David Yurman is the premier American luxury jewelry brand with a mission to share in life's exceptional moments. Founded by two artists, David and Sybil Yurman, in New York, artistic inspiration, craftsmanship and unconventional yet elegant designs are at the core of the brand. The marriage of David's background in sculpture with Sybil's natural understanding of color and art yields signature jewelry designs; diamond, pearl, and gemstone jewelry and Swiss-crafted timepieces that are renowned for capturing the essence of relaxed American luxury. David Yurman collections are available at 48 retail and concession locations throughout the United States, Canada, and France and at over 350 locations worldwide, through their exclusive authorized fine jewelry and timepiece network of retailers, including in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, UK, Russia and the Middle East. Gabrielle de Papp David Yurman [email protected] 646.264.7766 Adrienne Houdmont HL Group [email protected] 646.460.8928 SOURCE David Yurman Related Links https://www.davidyurman.com The Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center will feature the latest technology and equipment to prepare the workforce of the future, provide current employees with cutting-edge training and offer faculty, students and industry the opportunity to work collaboratively on solutions and new developments. Facilities will be available for corporate demonstration purposes, shared training activities, meetings and events that connect the college to its workforce partners more than ever before. Included in the program were CCM President Tony Iacona, Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (Legislative Manufacturing Caucus), Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (Legislative Manufacturing Caucus), New Jersey Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Robert Asaro-Angelo, Deputy Secretary of State Higher Education Diana Gonzalez, and Morris County Chamber of Commerce President Meghan Hunscher. "Today's groundbreaking serves as a reminder of how important manufacturing is, not only to our immediate area, but to New Jersey as a whole," said Assemblyman Anthony Bucco. "Together, we will continue to develop new and innovative technology and manufacturing systems that will help stimulate and grow our economy and pave the way for our future generations." Tony Iacona credited the partnerships between the business, education, and legislative communities for their strong advocacy. New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) was recognized by Tony Iacona, Assemblyman Bucco and Robert Asaro-Angelo for their work and advocacy to help more than 11,000 Manufacturers/STEM firms in New Jersey to achieve manufacturing excellence across the state; by introducing programs such as apprenticeships, their work on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation, Logistics and Distribution Industry Partnerships, State-of the-State Manufacturing Summit held in Trenton and at CCM, and National Manufacturing Day. "NJMEP is proud to join a partnership supporting the development of the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center and the groundbreaking is a celebration of the manufacturing community, built to last on a foundation of investment in our people's skill sets," said John W, Kennedy, Ph.D, CEO, NJMEP. "Workforce development is one of the pillars of spurring economic growth and is critical to attracting and growing businesses in New Jersey," continued Kennedy. "CCM has been training the next generation of advanced manufacturing employees for years and their experience coupled with the program's expansion will help to ensure manufacturers have the skilled employees they're looking for," added Kennedy. Manufacturing and engineering are vital parts of the Morris County economy, but meeting the need for skilled employees is challenging as those industries continue to grow and new demands develop. The center is designed to address a multitude of needs within the manufacturing and engineering sectors. The facility will feature two electronics labs, two prototyping labs, two computer labs, a 3D printing room, an analysis lab, an automation and controls/robotics/emerging technologies lab, a measuring and materials testing lab, a welding lab, maker space, conference rooms, classrooms and offices. Currently, CCM offers associate degrees in Electronics Engineering Technology, Engineering Science and Mechanical Engineering Technology. Through its Division of Workforce Development, the college also provides an extensive offering of skills training in such areas as Auto CAD, Program Management, Shop Math and Measurement, Six Sigma, Supply Chain Management and more. About NJMEP: NJMEP is a private, notfor-profit organization that improves the profitability and competitiveness of New Jersey's manufacturers. Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NJMEP enables organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. For more than 20 years, NJMEP has used its extensive network of connections and proven track record of success to help manufacturers adapt to the latest innovative technologies and best practices to realize more than $3.8 billion in value. Our services are categorized into the following three areas: Operational Excellence, Innovation and Growth Strategies, and Workforce Development. NJMEP also has a signature philanthropic program, Manufacturing Cares, which is designed to provide a platform for manufacturers to give back to the community by pooling efforts to increase our impact. For more information about NJMEP's State-of-the-State Manufacturing Summit, please visit: 'State-of-the-State Manufacturing Summit'. SOURCE New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program Related Links njmep.org Prima instruire pentru spectacolul de Teatru Social la care protagonisti au fost tinerii si tinerele din Falesti ST. LOUIS, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that it has been awarded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) 2019 Health Equity Award for its commitment to provide equal access to quality healthcare and services for people with disabilities. The award recognizes organizations demonstrating a commitment to health equity by reducing disparities among the CMS beneficiaries they serve. In 2018, Centene launched a partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) called the Provider Accessibility Initiative (PAI). The goal of the PAI is to provide equal access to quality health care and services that are physically and programmatically accessible for Centene's members with disabilities and their companions by increasing the percentage of Centene medical providers that meet minimum federal and state disability access standards. The PAI includes a national "Barrier Removal Fund" (BRF) that was piloted in 2018 in three states including Illinois, Texas, and Ohio. "The Provider Accessibility Initiative is driven by Centene's core belief that local partnerships enable meaningful, accessible healthcare," said Dr. Ken Yamaguchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Centene. "We are honored to be recognized by CMS with this prestigious award and we look forward to continuing our efforts in helping provide equal access to quality healthcare services to all of our members." To date, 52 health care providers in Illinois, Texas, and Ohio have received grants from the BRF. The grantees range in size, location, and specialty and include both physical and programmatic access improvements. In addition, more than 2,500 onsite Accessibility Site Reviews have been conducted to verify provider self-reported disability access data. As a result of these combined efforts, more than 36,000 Centene members now have improved disability access to their medical provider's offices and services. In 2019, Centene plans to roll out this initiative in Florida, Kansas, and New Mexico, and continue its efforts to develop disability-related data collection processes and directory improvements that can be scaled across states. About Centene Corporation Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), dual eligible programs and programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. Centene also provides healthcare services to groups and individuals delivered through commercial health plans. Centene operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, commercial programs, home-based primary care services, life and health management, vision benefits management, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services. Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors. Forward-Looking Statements The company and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) of 1995, including statements in this and other press releases, in presentations, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), reports to stockholders and in meetings with investors and analysts. In particular, the information provided in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Centene and certain plans and objectives of Centene with respect thereto, including but not limited to the expected benefits of the acquisition of Health Net, Inc. (Health Net) (Health Net Acquisition) and the acquisition of New York State Catholic Health Plan, Inc., d/b/a Fidelis Care New York (Fidelis Care) (Fidelis Care Acquisition). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "seek", "target", "goal", "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "can", "continue" and other similar words and expressions (and the negative thereof). We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in PSLRA. A number of factors, variables or events could cause actual plans and results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves; competition; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies and advances in medicine; increased healthcare costs; changes in economic, political or market conditions; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act and any regulations enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions or judicial actions, including the ultimate outcome of the District Court decision in "Texas v. United States of America" regarding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Friday, December 14, 2018; rate cuts or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting Centene's government businesses; Centene's ability to adequately price products on federally facilitated and state-based Health Insurance Marketplaces; tax matters; disasters or major epidemics; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings; changes in expected contract start dates; provider, state, federal and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension or termination of Centene's contracts with federal or state governments (including but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; challenges to Centene's contract awards; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from acquired businesses, including, without limitation, the Health Net Acquisition and the Fidelis Care Acquisition, will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the exertion of management's time and Centene's resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for the Health Net Acquisition or the Fidelis Care Acquisition; disruption caused by significant completed and pending acquisitions, including the Health Net Acquisition and the Fidelis Care Acquisition, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of acquisition transactions, including among others, the Health Net Acquisition and the Fidelis Care Acquisition; changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price and accretion for acquisitions; the risk that acquired businesses, including Health Net and Fidelis Care, will not be integrated successfully; the risk that, following the Fidelis Care Acquisition, Centene may not be able to effectively manage its expanded operations; restrictions and limitations in connection with Centene's indebtedness; Centene's ability to achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and future growth; availability of debt and equity financing, on terms that are favorable to Centene; inflation; foreign currency fluctuations; the stock split and the required stockholders approval to increase Centene's authorized common stock; and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect Centene's current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by Centene in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors it believes appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this press release could cause Centene's plans with respect to the Health Net Acquisition, the Fidelis Care Acquisition, actual results, performance or achievements, industry results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is currently believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this press release are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this press release. Centene does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release (whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law. This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other risk factors that may affect Centene's business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in Centene's filings with the SEC, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. SOURCE Centene Corporation Related Links https://www.centene.com MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealth management firm Cassaday & Company, Inc. has been awarded first place on the 2019 Best Places to Work in Virginia ranking. Created by Virginia Business and Best Companies Group, this annual award identifies, recognizes, and honors outstanding places of employment throughout Virginia, benefitting the state's economy, workforce, and businesses. The 2019 Best Places to Work in Virginia list comprises 100 companies. "One of my objectives in founding the firm was to create a workplace that would attract and retain top talent who think like owners," said CEO & Chairman Steve Cassaday. "Encouraging employees to always do the right thing keeps our culture centered on our client's best interests, and this clarity of purpose has led to high employee pride and satisfaction. Saying employees are our greatest resource is a slogan at most businesses, but here, it's part of our ethos." To participate, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements: - Be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity; - Be a publicly or privately held business; - Have a facility in Virginia; - Have at least 15 employees in Virginia; and - Be in business a minimum of 1 year. Combined scores from a two-part survey determined the ranking of the Best Places to Work in Virginia. The first part, worth approximately 25% of the overall assessment, evaluated each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second part, worth approximately 75% of the overall assessment, consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data, and used their expertise to determine the final ranking. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkVA.com. About Cassaday & Company, Inc. Cassaday & Company, Inc. is an independent wealth management firm in McLean, Virginia with more than $2.7 billion in assets under management (as of Jan. 2018). Disclosures: Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory and insurance services offered through Cassaday and Company, Inc., a registered investment adviser not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. Contact: Michelle Tigani [email protected] SOURCE Cassaday & Company Inc. Related Links www.cassaday.com EMERYVILLE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- BRG Capital Advisors (BRGCA) announced today that Lance Bell has joined the firm as a Managing Director and will lead BRGCA's efforts in Healthcare services. Based in Nashville, Bell brings valuable investment banking experience in the healthcare sector. During his 15-year M&A career, Bell has completed over $2 billion in transaction value across a broad range of transactions, including sell- and buy-side advisory, as well as capital raising for public and private companies. His healthcare expertise includes physician practices, behavioral healthcare, facilities and alternate sites and outsourced healthcare services. Before transitioning to investment banking, Bell worked as a corporate and securities attorney at one of the largest law firms in the Midwest US. "We are very excited to have Lance spearheading our growth initiative in the healthcare banking sector," said Roger Johnson, a BRGCA Managing Director. "It's a natural extension of our fast-growing Healthcare consulting team." BRGCA's healthcare team focuses on the following subsectors: healthcare providers and facilities, including physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient and post-acute care; behavioral healthcare, including substance use disorder, medication assisted treatment, eating disorders and autism therapy/IDD; and outsourcing, including healthcare consulting and physician, clinical and specialty staffing. Bell graduated summa cum laude from Transylvania University with a BA in accounting. He earned a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. About BRG Capital Advisors, LLC BRG Capital Advisors (www.BRGCA.com) is a US-registered broker dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Its seasoned investment bankers have worked on a wide variety of transactions for financial institutions and corporate clients. BRGCA is an affiliate of BRG. About BRG Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG) is a global consulting firm that helps leading organizations advance in three key areas: disputes and investigations, corporate finance, and strategy and operations. Headquartered in California with offices around the world, we are an integrated group of experts, industry leaders, academics, data scientists, and professionals working beyond borders and disciplines. We harness our collective expertise to deliver the inspired insights and practical strategies our clients need to stay ahead of what's next. Visit thinkbrg.com to learn more. SOURCE BRG Capital Advisors, LLC Related Links http://www.brgca.com MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Editorial Advisory and Securities Review Committee of BetterInvesting Magazine today announced National Beverage Corp. (NDQ: FIZZ) as its April 2019 "Stock to Study" and Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) as its April 2019 "Undervalued Stock" for investors' informational and educational use. "The committee selected National Beverage for its leadership and growth opportunities in natural ingredient beverages and reasonable current valuation," said Adam Ritt, editor of BetterInvesting Magazine. "For the Undervalued selection, the committee cited Ford's high current dividend yield and the industry's favorable product mix." Check BetterInvesting's April issue for more details about these selections. Go to the trial version of BetterInvesting's online tools to study the investment potential of National Beverage and Ford by viewing their fundamental data and applying judgments. Committee members are Robert M. Bilkie, Jr., CFA; Daniel J. Boyle, CFA; Marisa Bradbury, CFA; Philip S. Dano, CFA; Maury Elvekrog, CFA; Walter J. Kirchberger, CFA; and Adam Ritt. As stated, the BetterInvesting committee's Stock to Study and Undervalued Stock choices are for the informational and educational uses of investors and are not intended as investment recommendations. BetterInvesting urges investors to educate themselves about the stock market so they can make informed decisions about stock purchases. About BetterInvesting BetterInvesting is a national nonprofit organization that has been empowering individual investors since 1951. Founded in Detroit, the association (formerly known as National Association of Investors Corporation) was borne of the conviction that anyone can become a successful long-term investor by following common-sense investing practices. BetterInvesting has helped more than 5 million people become better, more informed investors by providing webinars, in-person events, easy-to-use online tools for analyzing stocks, a monthly magazine and a community of volunteers and like-minded investors. For more information about BetterInvesting, visit its website at www.betterinvesting.org or call toll free (877) 275-6242. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE BetterInvesting Related Links http://www.betterinvesting.org CHICAGO, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Automotive Glazing Market by Polycarbonate-Application (Windscreen, Sidelite, Backlite, Sunroof, Quarter Glass, Front & Rear Lighting), Advanced Applications, Vehicle Type (On-Highway, Off-Highway, Electric & Hybrid), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Automotive Glazing Market is estimated to be USD 1.4 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 2.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 10.13%. The market will be driven primarily because of the increase in demand for vehicle weight reduction owing to stringent emission norms. Polycarbonate weighs 50% less than glass and provides 20 times more strength which is estimated to drive the Automotive Glazing Market for polycarbonate. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=133207870 Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive Glazing Market" 94 Tables 47 Figures 181 Pages Passenger car to be the largest market for automotive glazing, by vehicle type Passenger cars include vehicles such as hatchback, SUVs, and sedans. According to OICA, the production of passenger cars accounted for the maximum share of the total global vehicle production for all the regions including in 2018 and is expected to dominate during the forecast period. Due to the better adaptability to complex design and glass like transparency, nearly all vehicles are equipped with polycarbonate front and rear lightings. Applications such as sunroof and rear quarter glass, which are used mainly in passenger cars, are estimated to have high potential for polycarbonate installation. With the increasing installation of sunroof and rear quarter glass applications in passenger cars and usage of polycarbonate for these applications, passenger car is estimated to be the largest segment by vehicle type. BEV is anticipated to be the fastest growing component market for electric vehicle automotive glazing Vehicle weight reduction is the predominant criteria in BEVs. As polycarbonate usage in glazing will reduce the vehicle weight by 2025 kg, it will have a huge impact on the BEV range. Additionally, a majority of BEVs such as Tesla Model X, Model S, Model 3, and BMW i3 fall under the premium vehicle category Premium vehicles are equipped with sunroof and rear quarter glass. These applications are estimated to garner high potential for polycarbonate glazing. Increasing sales of BEVs coupled with the increasing penetration of polycarbonate glazing applications will result in BEV being the fastest growing segment. "Asia Oceania expected to be the largest Automotive Glazing Market" Asia Oceania is the largest Automotive Glazing Market and is expected to retain its position during the forecast period. Asia Oceania has emerged as a hub for automotive production in recent years owing to increasing population and urbanization. According to OICA, Asia Oceania accounted for ~46% of the global vehicle production in 2018 because of the presence of OEMs such as SAIC, Hyundai, Toyota, Suzuki, Tata, and Honda. Manufacturers in this region are focused on developing specific solutions that address fuel efficiency mandates. As consumers in the region are showing an increased inclination toward convenience and safety, the region has witnessed higher growth than the matured markets of Europe and North America. Because of high vehicle production, the total market size is greater than North American and Europe because of which Asia Oceania is estimated to be the largest Automotive Glazing Market. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=133207870 The key players in the Automotive Glazing Market are SABIC (Suadi Arabia), Covestro (Germany), Teijin (Japan) Webasto (Germany), and Freeglass (Germany). 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, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/auto-glazing-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com SOURCE MarketsandMarkets ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations announced the connected vehicles solutions company Noregon as a Featured Product Provider. "ATA is thrilled to continue our relationship with Noregon, a company that consistently brings state of the art solutions to market in the trucking industry," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "Noregon is a great example of how a major industry influencer can get involved in ATA and help our fleets experience a return on their investment." Noregon is an Internet of Things (IoT) company that specializes in connected vehicle solutions. "We are excited to extend our relationship with the American Trucking Associations as a featured product provider," said Noregon CEO Tim Bigwood. "The ATA provides a tremendous amount of support to the industry and works directly with the fleets and other industry leaders who benefit the most from products like TripVision and NextStep." TripVision is Noregon's real-time fleet asset management solution. It monitors the health, safety, and performance of the truck and is available across all makes and models, making it accessible to use industry-wide. According to the company, TripVision can help to reduce repair costs, decrease breakdowns, and maximize vehicle uptime through analysis of hundreds of real-time data points. TripVision updates in 2019 will include a host of new impactful features and functionalities. Details will be announced at the company's press conference at the TMC 2019 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in booth #2131 Tuesday March 19 at 11:30 AM. In conjunction with TripVision, Noregon has developed NextStep, which provides troubleshooting and repair information through live vehicle data. NextStep works to improve truck repair processes by providing features such as wiring diagrams and test procedures. Per Noregon, both products work to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of trucks and businesses. A complete list of ATA Featured Product companies is available at www.atabusinesssolutions.com or by calling 866-821-3468. For more information about Noregon visit www.Noregon.com. Noregon, the industry-recognized vehicle data expert, is an IoT company specializing in connected vehicle solutions. Through advanced commercial vehicle applications, including in-shop tools and remote vehicle solutions, Noregon helps businesses maximize vehicle uptime. Since 1993, Noregon has been creating products that increase the efficiency of in-shop technicians and help companies make better decisions when it comes to the health, safety, and performance of their vehicles. Today's top fleets, OE dealers, independent repair facilities, municipalities and the military all rely on Noregon to keep their vehicles rolling. American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook . Trucking Moves America Forward . SOURCE American Trucking Associations Related Links http://www.trucking.org SALISBURY, Md., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankur Girdhar, MD, FCCP is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in the field of Pulmonary Medicine in recognition of his role as a Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Physician. With over fifteen years of experience in the medical profession, Dr. Ankur Girdhar is commended for his remarkable contributions to the healthcare industry. A well sought after professional, throughout his illustrious career Dr. Girdhar has attained extensive expertise in all facets of pulmonary medicine. Early in his career, Dr. Girdhar attended All India Institute Of Medical Sciences where he completed his Medical Doctor Degree. Dr. Girdhar would then go on to complete two residency programs at the University of Florida College of Medicine and Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute. Thereafter, Dr. Girdhar completed two fellowship programs at the University of Florida and the University Of Florida-College Of Medicine. To further enhance his professional development, Dr. Girdhar is a distinguished fellow of several elite organizations including the Red Cross of America and Pulmonary Hypertension Association. Dr. Girdhar dedicates this recognition to his educators, for giving him the tools he needs for his success and his family, for giving him the time to practice medicine. SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alerian reported index linked product positions of $12.2 billion as of December 31, 2018. Linked products include exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes, return of capital notes, and variable insurance portfolios. Below is a full list of energy master limited partnership (MLP) positions, as of December 31, 2018, in products linked to the Alerian Index Series. Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products (Units) Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products (Units) AM 263,899,952 12,337,539 HESM 7,359,735 433,436 AMGP 24,203,468 2,164,890 MMLP 8,779,875 854,073 AMID 3,077,796 1,015,774 MMP 1,247,269,411 21,858,910 ANDX 479,673,242 14,763,719 MPLX 1,177,648,855 38,866,299 BPL 595,601,797 20,545,078 NBLX 16,482,876 571,528 BPMP 19,676,084 1,266,157 NGL 154,292,414 16,088,886 CEQP 192,715,792 6,904,901 NS 287,285,980 13,726,038 CNXM 18,067,773 1,109,814 OMP 4,571,218 285,880 CQP 206,907,541 5,731,511 PAA 1,125,026,450 56,139,044 DCP 336,748,682 12,712,295 PAGP 5,424,250 269,863 DKL 6,684,769 228,539 PBFX 13,235,675 658,491 DM 23,528,978 1,304,267 PSXP 324,430,457 7,704,357 ENBL 167,560,630 12,384,378 SHLX 285,307,221 17,386,180 ENLC 17,754,625 1,870,877 SMLP 10,948,584 1,089,411 ENLK 260,846,143 23,691,748 TCP 244,732,394 7,619,315 EPD 1,244,084,301 50,593,099 TGE 506,946,913 20,827,729 EQGP 15,735,076 788,726 TLP 13,754,684 338,952 EQM 504,371,255 11,661,763 USDP 3,786,871 362,380 ET 1,202,873,904 91,057,828 VLP 24,979,336 592,348 GEL 283,821,762 15,366,636 WES 595,274,881 14,096,019 GPP 4,060,666 299,238 WGP 36,494,378 1,316,061 HEP 183,467,985 6,423,949 About Alerian Alerian equips investors to make informed decisions about energy infrastructure and Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). Its benchmarks are widely used by industry executives, investment professionals, research analysts, and national media to analyze relative performance. As of December 31, 2018, over $12 billion is directly tied to the Alerian Index Series through exchange traded funds and notes, separately managed accounts, and structured products. Visit alerian.com to learn more. SOURCE Alerian Related Links http://www.alerian.com PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FAX) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it paid on January 31, 2019, a distribution of US $0.035 per share to all shareholders of record as of January 23, 2019 (ex-dividend date January 22, 2019). Your Fund's distribution policy is to provide investors with a stable monthly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date (11/01/2018 - 12/31/2018), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from month to month because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0151 43% $0.0452 43% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* - - - - Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains - - - - Return of Capital $0.0199 57% $0.0598 57% Total (per common share) $0.0350 100% $0.1050 100% *includes currency gains The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2019 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following table provides information regarding the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 12/31/20181 1.74% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 8.96% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2018 to 12/31/2018) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 3.97% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 1.49% 1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of December 31, 2018. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Aberdeen Standard Investments is a brand of the investment businesses of Standard Life Aberdeen plc, its affiliates and subsidiaries. In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Ltd. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the NAV of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected] aberdeenfax.com SOURCE Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. Related Links http://www.aberdeenfax.com COLD SPRING, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MRO software company, CloudVisit, provides industry-specific software to conduct remote inspections effectively in preparation of harsh weather. Across the continent, the maintenance, repairs, and operations (MRO) of numerous industries have been directly impacted by the polar vortex's subfreezing temperatures. Using this software, on-site technicians can quickly complete proactive maintenance and operations prior to the arrival of intolerable weather conditions. Whether an aircraft needs to be quickly serviced, or a wind turbine's blades are in need of repair, CloudVisit's aviation maintenance software, wind turbine inspection, or renewable energy software enables quicker diagnosis so critical assets do not incur weather-related damages, and the safety of on-site technicians as well as customers remains the first priority. CloudVisit MRO software can be used in advance of the polar vortex' harsh weather for preventative maintenance, repair, and operations CloudVisit's Aviation Software Offers Remote Inspections and Cuts Travel When temperatures drop below 35 degrees, airport ground maintenance is impacted. These temperatures increase the complexity of daily operations, and weather-specific precautions must be taken. The ground crew must de-ice runways and wings, as well as empty water lines. Equipment must be heated, or left running when not in use, and additives mixed in with fluids to lower their freezing point. "CloudVisit's Aviation MRO software can be used to streamline this preventative work, so that all processes are quicker, and all precautions are taken before a storm hits," Founder and CEO Daniel Gilbert explained. Using MRO software for preventative operations can mean less weather-related maintenance, as well as less flight delays and cancellations. Preventative maintenance can impact the safety of both on site technicians, and the safety of passengers. MRO Software Prepares Many Industries For Harsh Weather When a storm is about to hit, preventative safety inspection, maintenance, and operations must be taken to quickly, and it is imperative that experts are available to assist on-site technicians to take the steps necessary to protect expensive infrastructures. Using CloudVisit's MRO software, experts do not need to travel from site to site, and can remotely inspect operations from their office, which reduces travel time. Since travel time is cut, experts availability increases, enabling them to inspect more critical assets which ultimately improves safety and mitigates the risk of damage to aircrafts. MRO software was designed with industry-specific features to create a seamless workflow for majority industry. Multiple-participant videoconferencing increases the availability of experts, and videoconferences can be easily recorded and stored in the cloud. A multi-purpose checklist enables experts to create specific punch-lists for on-site technicians, so that no step is overlooked during complex weather-related operations. Video and audio recordings, chats and images can be stored in the cloud to serve as a record of safety and quality assurance. No inspection can be marked as complete until the remotely-based expert verifies all steps been completed. "CloudVisit's MRO software is the perfect tool to use in preparation of sudden, dramatic changes in weather," concludes Gilbert. MRO software can protect the safety of others and the very infrastructures on which industries depend. CloudVisit MRO software provides industry-specific remote inspections. This software enables experts to inspect projects from their office, and can lead to reduced travel time as well as overtime paid to on-site technicians waiting for the inspectors to arrive. CloudVisit currently serves many industries, and offers Construction Software, Aviation Software, Maritime Software, Transportation Software, and Telemedicine Software, and is expanding. Our company is backed by 15 years of success in software programming, video conferencing and telecommunications with a proven record of excellence, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and security. For questions about our quality control and inspection software, or to request a no-obligation demo, call 845-809-5770. Contact CloudVisit, Inc. Daniel Gilbert CEO, President, and Founder 3182 Route 9, Suite 107A Cold Spring, New York, 10516 Related Images cloudvisit-mro-software-for.jpg CloudVisit MRO Software for Inspections and MRO Prior to Polar Vortex CloudVisit MRO software can be used in advance of the polar vortex' harsh weather for preventative maintenance, repair, and operations mro-software-company-cloudvisit.jpg MRO Software Company CloudVisit Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary CloudVisit celebrates 15 years of aviation software, energy software, maritime software, construction software, transportation software, telecommunication software and telemedicine software cloudvisit-15-year-anniversary.jpg CloudVisit 15 Year Anniversary CloudVisit MRO software enables industry-specific remote inspections for energy, aviation, transportation, construction, maritime, telecommunications and more cloudvisit-mro-software.png CloudVisit MRO Software CloudVisit provides Software as a Service Related Links CloudVisit Cloud Visit Aviation Maintenance Software SOURCE CloudVisit Posted Thursday, January 31, 2019 5:03 pm George C. Dawley, 82, passed away peacefully at Providence Centralia Hospital Jan. 23, 2019. He was born Feb. 22, 1936, in Spokane, Wash. George went to high school in Shelton and attended Centralia College, where he met the love of his life, Marilynn Jones. They married Aug. 16, 1958. Early in their marriage, George served in the United States Navy in San Diego, Calif. Later in life, he spent his career as the manager of Central Automotive and Bearings, Inc., both located in Centralia. In addition to his family, George loved trains, whether helping to save the steam engine in Fort Borst Park or building his expansive Bear Canyon Railway model train layout. George enjoyed collecting, rebuilding and detailing rare brass engines and cabooses. He was known for having the best tables at area train swap meets because of his low prices, meticulous attention to detail and quality of craft for his favorite hobby. George also enjoyed restoring antique cars and took great pride in maintaining his historic home. In earlier years, he was a longtime member and officer of the Centralia-Chehalis Elks Lodge. He was preceded in death by in-laws, Ron and Wilma Jones; wife, Marilynn Dawley; and sister-in-law, Pat Shultz. George is survived by his daughter, Sherry Dawley of Wenatchee; son, Matt and daughter-in-law, Kate and granddaughter Annika Dawley of Olympia; nephew, Ron Shultz of Olympia; and brother-in-law, Al Jones and his wife, Marla of Kingston. He is also survived by a half-sister, Helen King; and numerous nieces and nephews in Oregon, Washington and Missouri. The family appreciates the support given by Georges close friend, Don Smith during his recent illness. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 11 a.m., at Newell-Hoerlings Mortuary, 205 W. Pine St., Centralia, Wash. SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PEO SCORE, a California-based technology company transforming the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) connection process, announced today the official launch of its website, www.peoscore.com. PEO SCORE is closing the gap between employers, insurance brokers and PEOs through a robust national web-based platform. The company is the first to use a proprietary scoring process for employers derived from an algorithm it developed which serves as the basis for the PEO SCORE REPORT. The Score assists PEOs in quickly submitting a concise proposal and provides an innovative online solution for qualifying and connecting employers to PEOs. Kara Parker, CEO and Founder of PEO SCORE, said, "PEO SCORE is a startup with a mission to disrupt the way employers and insurance brokers connect with PEOs. Our visionary Innovation Team made the PEO connection process as it should beautomated, direct and cost-effective." PEO SCORE is solving the complexity and lack of access issues that employers and insurance brokers may experience when seeking to connect with a PEO. Its cutting-edge technology is driving market growth and producing cost reducing solutions for the business community. Notably, all PEO SCORE services are free for employers and insurance brokers. PEO SCORE privately launched its web-based platform in early January 2019 to Professional Employer Organizations to build its PEO database. According to Parker, "We have had a tremendous response from PEOs of all sizes across the country. Our research has proven to be valid in that PEOs are looking for economical lead generation alternatives, and they realize the market is demanding a fast and reliable bidding process that is 100 percent online." As an associate member of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), PEO SCORE is committed to serving the PEO industry. According to NAPEO, small businesses that use PEOs grow 7 to 9 percent faster, have 10 to 14 percent lower employee turnover, and are 50 percent less likely to go out of business. PEOs allow businesses of all sizes to improve productivity and profitability, to focus on core business needs, and to grow. PEO SCORE connections will result in long-term mutually beneficial business relationships. ABOUT PEO SCORE PEO SCORE's innovative technology connects employers and insurance brokers with Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) across the nation. PEOs receive qualified leads and greater business opportunities at no cost or obligation. Insurance brokers and employers quickly receive more proposals in one comparative report leading to cost reducing business solutions. These direct connections are made easy and result in lasting business relationships. PEO SCORE's technology drives these connections through a robust web-based platform complete with custom private profiles for PEOs, insurance brokers and employers. ABOUT KARA PARKER Prior to the start-up of PEO SCORE and joining the proportionately small group of female tech executives, Kara practiced law over the course of several decades primarily as General Counsel for national companies. She also founded and managed a successful real estate company. As a business owner and attorney for multiple employers, Kara worked closely with executive management teams and HR departments to address the rising costs of employee benefits, employee retention issues, compliance management and payroll administration matters. In 2017, Kara retired as General Counsel for a national employer to bring the PEO SCORE concept to life. CONTACT INFORMATION: Kara Parker, CEO & Founder PEO SCORE (888) 301-4146 [email protected] peoscore.com LinkedIn Related Links PEO SCORE LinkedIn Related Video https://vimeo.com/307892448 SOURCE PEO SCORE Related Links http://www.peoscore.com ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power today filed its 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). The company files an IRP every three years to outline how it will continue to deliver clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to its 2.5 million customers over the next 20 years. The 2019 plan is a result of the in-depth IRP process, which includes projections of future fuel costs, load and energy forecasts, an analysis of available generation technologies, the 10-year transmission plan, and an economic assessment of potential and proposed energy efficiency and demand response programs. The company also evaluates the cost-effectiveness of its generating resources given changing environmental regulations and emerging technologies and discusses the growing importance of resilience to the electric system. "At Georgia Power, we are committed to making smart investments for Georgia's energy future while ensuring our customers have the clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy they expect and deserve," said Allen Reaves, senior vice president and senior production officer, Georgia Power. "Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission, we have invested in a diverse energy mix of nuclear, natural gas, hydro, renewables, coal and energy efficiency resources in order to maintain high levels of reliability for our customers that have resulted in rates that are 15 percent below the national average." As part of today's filing, Georgia Power is proposing new renewable energy programs, including a request to approve the procurement of up to 1,000 MW* of new renewable resources. If approved, the company's total renewable energy capacity would increase to 18 percent of Georgia Power's already diverse portfolio by 2024. The 2019 plan also proposes energy efficiency targets similar to those approved in previous IRPs, while adding new, innovative energy-saving programs for both residential and commercial customers. By 2022, these programs are designed to help reduce peak demand approximately 1,600 MW, which is 10 percent of the company's current peak demand. The company is emphasizing the importance of resilience in both generation and power delivery planning in recognition of the change in generation resources, availability of new and emerging technologies and related factors in providing reliable, affordable energy to customers. "As our generation mix evolves toward more natural gas fueled plants and intermittent renewable resources, resilience will grow in importance," said Reaves. "This IRP discusses considerations that may go into future planning processes." Additionally, in its filing, the company is: Requesting the decertification of four coal units at Plant Hammond near Rome, Ga. Requesting the decertification of one coal unit at Plant McIntosh near Rincon in southeast Georgia . in southeast . Seeking approval to issue two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to explore potential market opportunities for future generation needs. Acknowledging the continued economic pressure felt on coal-fired units, including Plant Bowen units 1 and 2 in Cartersville, Ga. Proposing not to renew its operating licenses for the company's Langdale and Riverview hydro project dams (representing 0.4 MW of generating resources) located on the Chattahoochee River in west Georgia , initiating a multi-year review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that includes a request for eventual removal of the dams. , initiating a multi-year review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that includes a request for eventual removal of the dams. Seeking approval of the environmental compliance strategy, which includes Georgia Power's plans to permanently close all of its ash ponds in full compliance with the federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule, as well as the more stringent requirements of Georgia's state CCR rule. Today's filing initiates a series of additional filings and public hearings with the PSC. Following this process, the PSC is expected to vote on the company's IRP request this summer. To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com. * REC Disclaimer: Georgia Power purchases only the null energy output from some renewable generating facilities that have contracted to sell that energy to Georgia Power. Ownership of the associated renewable energy credits (RECs) is specified in each respective power purchase agreement. The party that owns the RECs retains the right to use them. 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, ranking the company number one in business and residential customer satisfaction in the South for 2018. 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). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning expected components of the IRP and the timing of Georgia PSC consideration of the IRP. Georgia Power cautions that there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations; the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to IRP; and available sources and costs of fuel. Georgia Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information. SOURCE Georgia Power Related Links http://www.georgiapower.com Kushal is an expert in building focused, result oriented technology teams and business development teams for global businesses by attracting and incentivizing the best global talent; driving business outcomes and revenue realizations through innovative technology solutions with differentiated product and service portfolios. With his in-depth knowledge of technology, expertise in implementing digital transformation and global network and more than 15 years of experience in the banking and financial services domain, Kushal mission is to grow Belfrics into a global market leader in blockchain technology driven business solutions. Mr. Kushal plans to hire hundreds hands on Java resources in Bangalore to deliver the current business pipeline Belfrics have from USA, Africa and Middle East. He is focused on creating next generation blockchain enabled digital FinTech revolution. Belfrics is offering their BelriumTM branded social media KYC and identity driven enterprise public blockchain infrastructure for systems integrators and the developer community globally. Making the announcement, Mr. Praveen Kumar, CEO, Belfrics said, "We are delighted to have Mr. Kushal as the CTO at Belfrics. A skilled and reputed leader with extensive experience in successfully leading and managing multiple programs and large teams simultaneously, Mr. Kushal brings with him a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge and global experience, which will help strengthen Belfrics' presence in the market as the leading player of Blockchain solution provider. His vast global experience spanning close to two decades will help take Belfrics to new heights by adding deeper research, latest technology and knowledge and newer business ideas. We at Belfrics are confident that Mr. Kushal will have great success in driving our technology vision forward." Expressing thoughts on joining Belfrics, Mr. Kumar C. Kushal said, "I am extremely excited to be a key stakeholder in such a dynamic company and scalable disruptive technology and hope to build great synergies together. Belfrics is known for its innovations in the sector and I wish to continue that distinction while scaling up the business. Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all and I am enthused to lead Belfrics' technology vertical to mark the company as the undisputed leader in the blockchain segment in the near future. I am thrilled with the immense possibilities and look forward to drive business values and deepen our relationships with the customers." Kumar Kushal has MS in Robotics from West Virginia University, USA and has done his B Tech in Engineering from IIT, Madras. About Belfrics: Belfrics Group is one of the leading blockchain technology firms and cryptocurrency exchanges with close of the world. Established in 2014, Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all. Headed by Founder & CEO Praveen Kumar and his team have envisioned the opportunities and benefits of cryptocurrencies as the future of the digital currency market. Globally headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Belfrics Group has already expanded its operations across countries like Singapore, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Tanzania and Bahrain. Belfrics has already structured a team of skilled trading industry professionals who aim at maximizing the benefits of an individual investor through the company's reliable, simplified and secured trading platform. SOURCE Belfrics Group Related Links https://www.belfrics.com HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2000, when Bennett Greenspan, President and Founder of Gene-by-Gene Ltd. and FamilyTreeDNA, launched FamilyTreeDNA as the first direct-to-consumer DNA testing company, he never imagined that it would lead to the creation of a booming industry. An avid genealogist, Greenspan created FamilyTreeDNA to help other family researchers solve problems and break down walls to connect the dots of their family trees. Without realizing it, he had inadvertently created a platform that, nearly two decades later, would help law enforcement agencies solve violent crimes faster than ever. Gene-by-Gene, Ltd., which is privately owned by Greenspan and his business partner Max Blankfeld and is a CAP and CLIA accredited laboratory that performs all of the consumer DNA testing for their company FamilyTreeDNA as well as several other commercial clients, is working with the FBI to test DNA samples provided by law enforcement in order to help identify perpetrators of violent crimes and to identify the remains of deceased individuals. After receiving inquiries from the FBI, Greenspan found himself asking whether, as a trusted guardian of consumer DNA data and consumer privacy according to U.S. News and World Reports, FamilyTreeDNA in good conscience and without violating consumers' trust could help the FBI identify the remains of deceased persons or perpetrators of violent crimes (as defined in 18 U.S. Code (924) (e) (2) (B)), saving lives and preventing others from becoming victims? "We came to the conclusion," says Greenspan, "that if law enforcement created accounts, with the same level of access to the database as the standard FamilyTreeDNA user, they would not be violating user privacy and confidentiality. In order for the FBI to obtain any additional information, they would have to provide a valid court-order such as a subpoena or search warrant." Working with law enforcement to process DNA samples from the scene of a violent crime or identifying an unknown victim does not change our policy never to sell or barter our customers' private information with a third party. Our policy remains fully intact and in force." As specified in FamilyTreeDNA's Terms of Service law enforcement can only receive information not already accessible to the standard user by providing FamilyTreeDNA with valid legal process, such as a subpoena or a search warrant. In order to, at their request, assist law enforcement, the Gene-by-Gene laboratory will generate SNP data profiles from samples submitted by law enforcement, which can then be uploaded to all public DNA databases, one of which belongs to FamilyTreeDNA, by law enforcement officials in their effort to build the suspect's or deceased individual's family tree . In the case of FamilyTreeDNA, without a valid court order, law enforcement will only be able to see information that is available to the standard FamilyTreeDNA user. Additionally, as part of FamilyTreeDNA's continued commitment to ensuring their customers' privacy, customers have the ability to opt out of the matching feature in their account settings. By opting out of matching, a user cannot see their DNA matches nor can they be seen as a match by anyone else, including law enforcement. According to Greenspan, "If we can help prevent violent crimes and save lives or bring closure to families, then we're going to do that. We're going to do it within a framework that continues to ensure that the privacy of our customers, which has been paramount to us since day one and remains so today, is protected to the greatest degree possible." Video/Graphic Assets: Bennett Greenspan, President and Founder of Gene-by-Gene and FamilyTreeDNA Connie Bormans, PhD, Laboratory Director, Gene-by-Gene https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y4rsm3qjgo8gxg2/AABu1lcJHBUPnBcENzUEEWnFa?dl=0 ABOUT FAMILYTREEDNA AND GENE-BY-GENE Founded in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA is the pioneer of the genetic genealogy and direct-to-consumer DNA testing industry and the top choice for consumer privacy, according to U.S. News and World Reports. FTDNA is a privately held company located in Houston, Texas. www.familytreedna.com . Gene-by-Gene is a CAP and CLIA accredited laboratory located in Houston, Texas which processes genetic tests for commercial customers, along with consumer DNA tests for its FamilyTreeDNA division. www.genebygene.com SOURCE FamilyTreeDNA Related Links https://www.familytreedna.com PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the success of Finest Playa Mujeres , Excellence Group Luxury Hotels and Resorts has announced plans to open the second outpost from their Finest Resorts brand. Set to open its doors the first half of 2020, Finest Punta Cana will be set on the shores and crystal blue waters of Punta Cana and will be the third Excellence Group property in the Dominican Republic. The first of its kind in the area, Finest Punta Cana will house all of the exacting standards and personalized luxury that Excellence Group has become renowned for, with 450 suites, including 60 family suites, that will range from 800 to 2000 square feet. All of the elegantly designed suites will offer the Excellence Group guest touchpoints that have helped the group earn their place on the Travelers' Choice for Hotels Awards , such as oversized jaccuzis, fully stocked in-room premium bars, private pools, decks with breathtaking views, rooftop terraces, and family-designed suites. Guests will be able to choose from at least twenty bars and restaurants, private club settings in the Excellence Club for those seeking adults-only relaxation, an exclusive Finest Club for all ages, a world-class spa with hydrotherapy circuit, six swimming pools complete with a children's pool and baby wading pool, and a playground and pavilion for children and teens. With a wide array of activities for guests of all ages and unmatched culinary experiences, Finest Punta Cana will bring a new level of all-inclusive luxury to the area. Excellence Group's Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Domingo Aznar, stated, "We are thrilled to be opening our second Finest Resort in Punta Cana. Our resorts offer the convenience of an all-inclusive experience and the amenities of a luxurious five-star property while seamlessly combining both family-friendly and adults-only options. We are thrilled to offer a whole new all-inclusive luxury experience for both adults and families traveling to the Dominican Republic." Surrounded by a beautiful palm grove and bordering the Caribbean Sea, Finest Punta Cana will be conveniently located on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, only 35 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport and 75 minutes from La Romana International Airport. For additional information please visit Excellence Group or call +1-866-540-2585 SOURCE Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts Building on the company's more than 10-year commitment to Canada's North, Canada Goose commissioned 14 seamstresses representing nine communities across the four Inuit regions Inuvialuit, Nunatsiavut, Nunavut, and Nunavik to create bespoke parkas using their traditional skills and unique designs, and Canada Goose materials. The exclusive collection includes anoraks, parkas and traditional amauti-style jackets for men, women and children many adorned with artistic embellishments and crafted from patterns that have been passed down from generation to generation. All proceeds from the sale of the collection will go to Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami , the national representational organization that works to improve the health and wellbeing of Inuit in Canada through research, advocacy, public outreach and education. "Canada Goose was built in the North and we have a responsibility to be a meaningful part of the community that we call home. For more than 10 years, Arctic stewardship has been woven into the fabric of our business and Project Atigi is our way of leveraging our entrepreneurial success to expand theirs," said Dani Reiss, President & CEO, Canada Goose. This initiative continues the company's long-standing commitment to supporting the North. For more than 10 years, through its Resource Centre Program, Canada Goose has donated more than two million metres of materials to northern communities across the Arctic. Project Atigi was inspired by this commitment and the relationships the brand has cultivated in the North two of the seamstresses featured in Project Atigi helped inspire the Resource Centre Program. Starting early February, the Project Atigi collection will be showcased in Canada Goose stores around the world and available for purchase on canadagoose.com. About Canada Goose Inc. Founded in a small warehouse in Toronto, Canada in 1957, Canada Goose has grown into one of the world's leading makers of performance luxury apparel. Every collection is informed by the rugged demands of the Arctic and inspired by relentless innovation and uncompromised craftsmanship. From Antarctic research facilities and the Canadian High Arctic, to the streets of New York, London, Milan, Paris, and Tokyo, people are proud to wear Canada Goose products. Employing more than 3,400 people worldwide, Canada Goose is a recognized leader for its Made in Canada commitment, and is a long-time partner of Polar Bears International. Visit canadagoose.com for more information. SOURCE Canada Goose For a $25 fee for up to two bags, travelers flying into or out of Miami International Airport can now request their carry-on or checked bags to be picked up and delivered with just a touch of a button. Starting late February, the service will be available for travelers flying into or out of New York City's La Guardia and John F. Kennedy Airports, followed by Los Angeles International Airport summer 2019. Users can sign up through its web-based app on www.bringitapp.com, enter their flight details, and Bringit will pick up their luggage at the airport and transport it to their desired destination, whether that be a hotel, office, or other location. Travelers can request the pickup in advance of or even during their flight. When it's time to return home, Bringit can also transport luggage from traveler's hotel (or other location) to the airport. Bringit users can get an early, smooth start to their vacation or business trip by completely avoiding time wasted standing in lines at baggage claim or dragging luggage through busy city streets and crowded public transportation. The experience will also eliminate the physical strain and awkwardness of lugging heavy suitcases around, allowing users to walk out of their flights or hotel completely unencumbered. The bags are each tagged, controlled and sealed to assure they are tamper-proof. Travelers can also track their luggage in real-time through Bringit's tracking technology and SMS status updates. Bringit is currently available on its website and will soon be available via mobile app for Android or iOS when the service debuts in New York. Bringit is the brainchild of Bringit Technologies, an East Coast start-up founded two years ago by Israel Arellano, a creative director and business developer with more than a decade of tech development experience. "On a business trip in NYC I noticed people lugging their baggage down Times Square, and asked myself, 'with today's technology, why are we still traveling with our bags like we did 100 years ago?", said Bringit founder Israel Arellano. "Is it me, or does that seem old fashioned?" After undergoing two rounds of seed investment, the company has reached $1.8 million in funding and is expected to reach $5 million by June 2019. During this time, Arellano and his team underwent a rigorous government and TSA analysis and held ongoing tests to its logistics and operations systems. "We've made Bringit for the masses, not for the travel elite," said Peter Lobanov, Bringit's head of marketing and brand development. "Our long-term vision is for hands-free travel to become the accepted standard, so that everyone can travel the world without luggage slowing them down." Bringit will be accessible to travelers flying in and out of Miami International Airport (MIA) from all of its terminals, including international flights. The service will expand to New York this February and Los Angeles this summer, with another 10 major international airports over the next 24 months. Similar to Uber's business model, Bringit relies on independent car-owners who apply to be Bringit couriers. After being vetted, background-checked and approved, couriers set their own hours and use their own vehicles to transport customer's luggage to and from the airport. Couriers are set to earn a higher-than-average per-hour wage compared to similar on-demand transportation companies. For more information on Bringit please visit: www.bringitapp.com Media Contact Camila Gamero QUINN [email protected] SOURCE Bringit Related Links http://www.bringitapp.com HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-eight former Penn State University Beta Theta Pi fraternity members, including several who have pled guilty in connection with the February 4, 2017 hazing death of 19-year-old pledge Timothy J. Piazza, have been named as individual defendants in a Federal Court civil wrongful death, negligence, and conspiracy complaint, Thomas R. Kline, attorney for Mr. Piazza's parents announced today. Mr. Kline also said that the parents have reached with PSU, without filing a lawsuit, a comprehensive, safety-focused settlement agreement, aimed at protecting present and future generations of students from harm by ensuring a "healthier and safer environment". The complaint (4:19-cv-00180-MWB Piazza et al v. Young et al, USDC for the Middle District Pennsylvania / http://bit.ly/2Wz56FX) filed late yesterday in Federal court, also named as a defendant St. Moritz Security Systems, Inc., and includes a demand for a jury trial. Mr. Kline, whose law firm, Kline & Specter, PC, has represented the Piazza family since shortly after Tim's death nearly two years ago, said, "This lawsuit filing, and announcement of our sweeping out-of-court settlement with the university, marks two milestone developments in this long and difficult journey of Jim and Evelyn Piazza as they fight for the full measure of justice and permanent Greek life reforms - in memory of their son following his preventable death. The complaint, which also follows last December's landmark settlement with the national fraternity of Beta Theta Pi, is necessary to avert future tragedies. With the assistance of recovered fraternity house interior surveillance video, and text messages amongst the defendants, we intend to hold all those responsible for Tim's death fully accountable. Only through the civil justice process can these objectives be accomplished." Jim and Evelyn Piazza, stated Mr. Kline, have tirelessly and courageously worked for justice in the name of their son. Last October the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law was enacted in Pennsylvania. They will be spending this weekend in private remembrance of their son, and respectfully ask that their privacy be respected. Mr. Kline stated that in reaching the settlement with Penn State, they acknowledge and endorse the important strides made at PSU, especially the significant work of President Eric Barron, in bringing about meaningful and permanent changes in Greek life to Penn State and college campuses around the country. According to the multi-count complaint, "For more than 11 hours after his fall (at the pledge, or bid-acceptance event) on the night of February 2, 2017), Timothy Piazza endured horrible pain and suffering, which was documented by closed-circuit cameras. Video from that night shows Timothy Piazza writhing and deteriorating. Despite knowing the serious nature of Timothy Piazza's fall, and despite knowing that some fraternity members wanted Piazza to receive professional medical care, the Fraternity Defendants did not seek medical care for him until it was too late. Upon realizing the grave consequences of their conduct, the Fraternity Defendants unsuccessfully sought to conceal evidence of their hazing." The battery counts in the complaint relate to claims that several fraternity "brothers" physically assaulted including slapping and punching - Mr. Piazza while he was incapacitated. The complaint paints a vivid picture of the chapter's members, acting individually and through their organizational committee structure, engaged in a conspiracy to wreak alcohol-laced havoc on Mr. Piazza and others in his pledge class. It alleges that they "planned, orchestrated, organized, oversaw, participated in, facilitated, or directed the hazing of pledges, including Timothy Piazza." Mr. Kline, who has been at Jim and Evelyn's side, along with his co-counsel David C. Williams, throughout the criminal proceedings in Bellefonte, Centre County, said the civil complaint depicts how the fraternity members knew or should have known they could cause grave harm to the pledges. It was also announced today that the parents last week reached a final settlement with Penn State. While the monetary terms are confidential, the significant safety-related reforms portion of the agreement is public on the Penn State website. Covering numerous aspects of fraternity and sorority operations, and individual conduct at the University, it is highlighted below: Enhanced Greek Life Accountability & Safety The University will report any violation by a Greek Life Organization of University policies regarding underage drinking or hazing to (a) the Greek Life Organization's national organization and (b) the Greek Life Organization's alumni housing board. The University shall encourage each Greek Life Organization with a chapter house to have a trained adult, non-Student Organization member reside in the chapter house. The University shall encourage Greek Life Organizations with a chapter house to consider the feasibility of the installation of security cameras in the common areas of such chapter house. The University shall encourage the installation of security cameras at all Greek Life Organization housing, including (a) encouraging each Greek Life Organization's alumni housing board to have cameras installed and periodically monitored by a third party, (b) encouraging the Greek Life Organization's alumni housing corporation to fund the installation and monitoring of such security cameras. If a national organization withdraws recognition for its local affiliate student organization, including fraternities and sororities, the University shall, in most circumstances, continue its practice of withdrawing recognition from the organization for at least the same period stated by the national organization. Alcohol Control The University will support any Greek Life Organization's determination to adhere to an alcohol-free housing arrangement. If a Greek Life Organization's national organization has implemented a substance-free housing policy, the University shall encourage such Greek Life Organization's implementation of said policy. Ensuring BTP Expulsion, Barring "Underground" Organizations Continuing to adhere to its March 30, 2017 decision "to permanently revoke recognition of Beta Theta Pi banning it from ever returning as a chapter at Penn State ," the University shall not support, or otherwise take any voluntary action to facilitate the reinstatement of Beta Theta Pi as a Greek Life Organization at Penn State . decision "to permanently revoke recognition of Beta Theta Pi banning it from ever returning as a chapter at ," the University shall not support, or otherwise take any voluntary action to facilitate the reinstatement of Beta Theta Pi as a Greek Life Organization at . The University shall not support, or otherwise take any voluntary action to facilitate reinstatement of the Beta Theta Pi house for Greek life purposes. If there is reasonable cause to believe, based on information available to the University at the time, that an organization seeking University recognition is merely a reconstitution, in some form, of an organization that has lost University recognition, the request for recognition is likely to be denied. This denial would prevent the organization from participating in the privileges that come with University recognition, including participation in intramurals and THON. Enhanced Bystander Engagement Efforts Each year, the University shall continue to offer educational programming about alcohol, hazing, sexual assault, bystander intervention, mental health concerns, and good citizenship in the community at New Student Orientation and Parents' Weekend specifically for natural and legal guardians, including where feasible a presentation from an individual or individuals who have personally experienced tragedy as a result of hazing, excessive drinking, sexual assault, or other Greek Life-related activities. The informational literature referenced in paragraph l of Appendix A (below) shall include the University's anti-hazing policy. The University shall continue to encourage strong and uniform fraternity and sorority participation in its existing bystander intervention programStand for State, as well as the implementation and promotion of an anonymous reporting application, such as LiveSafe Mobile. The educational programming referenced in paragraph k of Appendix A (a) shall be communicated to all students participating in New Student Orientation; (b) shall be offered for all students planning to participate in Greek Life Organization new member affiliation activities and, annually, for students who are members of Greek Life Organizations and (c) may include live or recorded lectures, live or recorded presentations, or interactive online courses. Culture Change & Enhanced Transparency The University shall amend its publications and literature, including online, to change references to terms such as "pledge", "pledging", and "rush" to words such as "new member," "new member affiliation activities," "new member affiliation process," and "new member affiliation programs." If any University campus adopts or otherwise implements a hitherto nonexistent Greek Life reform, the University shall adopt and otherwise implement the reform at all University campuses where feasible. The University shall promptly publish, in a readily visible location online, information to the public that includes, but is not limited to: Greek Life Organization suspensions and closures; the beginning and ending dates of the new member affiliation period in each semester; the University's policies on hazing and alcohol use, to include specific penalties for students found to violate said policies; all Greek Life Organization violations of University policies involving alcohol or hazing after notice to the University; the University's investigation findings regarding Greek Life Organization violations of University risk management policies; and Score Card data referenced in Paragraph h of Appendix A, which shall include reported incidents of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and physical assault; Unless otherwise agreed to, the University shall use reasonable efforts to implement the reforms herein no later than the start of the University's 2019-2020 academic year. Mr. Kline added that the settlement with Penn State was a "direct outgrowth of the determined dedication by Jim and Evelyn Piazza to the cause of preventing hazing injury and death in Greek life." Just last week they participated in the announcement that Penn State would also be the new home for the national Greek life research center, also named in Tim's honor: Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform. SOURCE Kline & Specter, PC The partnership will strengthen their industry based consulting capabilities for flexible & scalable delivery of automation solutions LIVONIA, Michigan, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNEX Datamatics, leading provider of Open Source, Cloud & Automation technology solutions & services announced today that it has partnered with Automation Anywhere, the global leader in Cognitive Robotic Process Automation & Digital Workforce Platform. The partnership will focus on delivering automation consulting and implementation services across North America & South East Asia. Organizations today are looking to implement smarter processes across multiple business units to increase collaboration and productivity. By partnering with Automation Anywhere, CIGNEX Datamatics aims to further strengthen their track record of successful delivery by automating front & back offices tasks or processes, thus enabling organizations to save time and cost. Harish Ramachandran, CEO, CIGNEX Datamatics said, "We have worked across industries helping our customers achieve digital transformation through diverse business applications. Automating these applications through cutting-edge platforms like Automation Anywhere is the logical next course for us. We look forward to working with Automation Anywhere to deliver superior customer experience & operational efficiency to our customers." "Enterprise adoption of automation is growing at a rapid pace. With the addition of CIGNEX Datamatics to our ecosystem, our aim is to leverage their expertise to help more customers automate business processes and enable human workers to focus on activities that truly require human ingenuity," said Anubhav Saxena, Executive VP, Partnerships, Strategy & Operations, Automation Anywhere. CIGNEX Datamatics has invested in RPA since 2016 & built a COE of 30+ RPA professional to solve customer challenges from process identification, architecture design to workflow orchestrations. About CIGNEX Datamatics (www.cignex.com) CIGNEX Datamatics is a Michigan based global consulting company offering solutions & services on Open Source, Cloud & Automation. Since 2000, CIGNEX Datamatics has been delivering enterprise class solutions that enable organizations achieve unparalleled results. About Automation Anywhere (www.automationanywhere.com) Automation Anywhere is a leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform on which organizations build world-class Intelligent Digital Workforces. Automation Anywhere's enterprise-grade platform uses software bots that works side by side with people to do much of the repetitive work. 1400+ organizations use this AI-enabled solution to manage and scale business processes, with near-zero error rates, while dramatically reducing operational costs. Media contacts: Priyanka Sharma CIGNEX Datamatics priyankap.sharma@cignex.com +91-79-6701-0345 Dayna Fried Automation Anywhere dayna.fried@automationanywhere.com +91-9254939020 Related Links http://www.cignex.com SOURCE CIGNEX Datamatics Inc. Zero Hedge February 1, 2019 Two days of intense trade talks in Washington have yielded some progressbut not nearly as much as the Trump administration has let on. Looking past US Trade Rep Robert Lighthizers post-hoc press conference, where he revealed that, during two days of intense discussions, the two sides had focused on US demands for structural reforms by Beijing (including ending the forced transfer of technology from US companies and reining in the use of industrial subsidies, two of the USs biggest asks), as well as the requirements for enforcement. But it doesnt appear that the US or China were in the mood to make any new commitments. No specific concessions had been made by Beijing. Instead, a US delegation led by Lighthizer and Mnuchin are planning to travel to Beijing after the Chinese New Year for another round of talks. And after that, President Trump the closer in chief himself is expected to meet Xi on the southern island of Hainan after the second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to seal the deal with President Xi. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that I think that probably the final deal will be made, if its made, between myself and President Xi. But he offered little in the way of anything concrete to justify why investors should be optimistic now. As Chinas Xinhua news agency reported, the two sides had clarified the timetable and roadmap for the next consultation after holding frank, concrete and constructive discussions on issues like technology transfers and IP protections. But though the two sides had clarified the roadmap toward a deal, it doesnt appear that any actual progress was made, despite Xi telling Trump in a letter delivered by the Chinese delegation that the intensive consultations had yielded good progress, according to Bloomberg. And the US has continued to insist that if there isnt a deal by March 1, tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods will increase from 10% to 25%. I hope our two sides will continue to work with mutual respect and win-win co-operation, the Chinese president wrote, adding that an agreement would send a positive signal to our two peoples and the broader international community. So far, China has offered to boost its purchases of soybeans and discuss improving market access to international investors but neither of these offers is anything new. But as the Financial Times points out, China remains unwilling to reduce state support for its economy in any way that could impact its ability to compete with the US. So whatever progress was made on this key US demand, it was, apparently, superficial, at best. Setting aside the administrations optimistic tone, Trumps team is apparently leaning on the notion that the US has the upper hand because the Communist Party would be unwilling to rock the boat at a time when the economy is slowing. But the US is facing pressures of its own pressures that have been exacerbated by the government shutdown and nothing about Chinas behavior so far suggests theyre leaning toward caving. Plus, Beijings simmering outrage over the USs perceived persecution of Huawei remains a major complication. But the White House is facing pressure of its own in the form of the hit taken by the US economy this month from the partial government shutdown and Mr Trumps sensitivity to adverse movements in equity markets. Politically, Mr Trump is striving to fulfil one of his key 2016 campaign pledges to reset trade relations with China. But any agreement that is seen as weak or inconclusive would expose him to attacks from Democratic rivals. The chance of a big breakthrough this week in the trade talks was relatively low, after Beijing reacted with outrage to Mondays indictment of Huawei, the Chinese telecoms equipment maker, on criminal charges it stole US technology and violated US sanctions. But US officials said there was no evidence it adversely affected the negotiations. A new summit between Mr Trump and Mr Xi would follow their steak dinner in Buenos Aires on December 1,just after the G20 summit in the Argentine capital. That meeting resulted in a commercial ceasefire between the US and China and avoided a tariff escalation that was originally scheduled for January 1. Speaking with the FT, a professor of economics at Syracuse University named Mary Lovely highlighted what appears to be the biggest obstacle to a deal: The Trump administration remains unwilling to make big concessions. Mary Lovely, a professor of economics at Syracuse University and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think-tank, said it was still unclear whether the US was prepared to make tough trade-offs with the Chinese in the final stretch. This was perhaps best encapsulated by Trumps hint (a suggestion he later walked back) that the talks could be extended past the March 1 deadline. This isnt going to be a small deal with China, Trump said. This is either going to be a big deal or its going to be a deal that well just postpone for a while. So if the administration doesnt have a change of heart, it would be easier and more politically expedient for Trump to continue hailing incremental progress while putting off the real breakthroughs until the next meetingand the next meetingand the next meeting. This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:03 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Posted Friday, February 1, 2019 10:32 am Bruce Reed, the Onalaska man charged with fatally shooting his wife multiple times during an argument in their home, is set to go to trial in August on a single count of first-degree murder. This week, the Lewis County Coroners Office officially released the name of the victim as 67-year-old Frances A. Reed of Onalaska. While public court documents had identified the deceased as Bruce Reeds wife of 15 years, they did not include her name, and a press release from the sheriffs office saying the release of her identity would be contingent on confirmation from the coroner. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death is homicide, according to the coroners office. During an arraignment hearing in Lewis County Superior Court with Judge James Lawler presiding Thursday, Reed, 67, pleaded not guilty and signed a waiver of his right to speedy trial, instead opting for a trial date the week of Aug. 5, 2019. Currently, he has an omnibus hearing scheduled for April 11, and a trial confirmation hearing on July 25. According to Lewis County Sheriffs Office incident reports obtained by The Chronicle, at 9:20 p.m. Jan. 22, deputies responded to the 200 block of Burchett Road in Onalaska after Reed called 911, saying he had shot his wife. During an interview with deputies, Reed allegedly said his relationship with his wife had been a contentious one. The day he allegedly shot and killed her, they had argued about finances and a remodel of their house. He said she was screaming and yelling at him, and then he took out a .32 caliber handgun from a shelf in a breakfast nook and loaded it. Mr. Reed explained once he had the gun in his hand he felt Mrs. Reed had essentially challenged him. Mr. Reed stated Mrs. Reed said something to the effect of, This is how youre going to do it huh, reads an incident report from the sheriffs office. Reed said he emptied the magazine while firing a total of eight bullets. Frances Reed fled the residence when the shooting started, and deputies say they found her body outside, near the house. They found Bruce Reed in the driveway, with an ear still to the phone and holding a puppy in his coat. In a transcript of the interview between Bruce Reed and a deputy, he expressed regret for the alleged shooting. Are you, are you sorry about what youve done today? the deputy asked. (Chuckle) what the hell do you think? I mean I cant believe I done this. Am I sorry. F*** yeah. Look what Ive done. Look, look what Ive done to Fran. Look what Ive done to her, to the kids, look what Ive done with these dogs. Am I sorry, he replied. During an arraignment hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday afternoon, Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said if Bruce Reed, represented by attorney Kevin Nelson, is to make an insanity plea, that something must be in writing within 10 days of Thursdays date. Daily Caller February 1, 2019 President Donald Trump said Thursday he did not direct anyone in his campaign to ask Roger Stone to contact WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign. No, I didnt. I never did, Trump told The New York Times in an Oval Office interview when asked if he spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks. He repeated the same concerning whether he directed anyone on the campaign to reach out to Stone about contacting WikiLeaks, which released emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta during the campaign. Never did, said Trump. Ive always liked I like Roger, hes a character, Trump said of Stone, who worked on the Trump campaign through August 2015 but remained an informal adviser to the real estate mogul. Speculation has mounted over the past week about who Stone spoke with on the campaign about WikiLeaks, which the special counsels office alleges received pilfered emails from Russian government hackers. Read more This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 8:13 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Chris Menahan Information Liberation February 1, 2019 Senator Rand Paul slammed his colleagues in the Senate on Thursday for refusing to help the American people but rallying together to defend our endless wars in Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 68-to-23 on Thursday to rebuke President Trump for moving to bring our troops home from Syria and pull out half our forces from Afghanistan. Jesse Kelly responded to the news on Twitter writing: This senate that cant repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, or pass a budget. But God help you if you want to bring our boys home. Theyll lock shields and fight like lions for the right to kill your son in Afghanistan. This senate that cant repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, or pass a budget. But God help you if you want to bring our boys home. Theyll lock shields and fight like lions for the right to kill your son in Afghanistan. Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) January 31, 2019 Senator Rand Paul responded: Hes not wrong: Suddenly, when we finally have a President trying to end wars and withdraw troops, the Senate miraculously rallies to act, to wrongly try to stop wars from ending. Hes not wrong: Suddenly, when we finally have a President trying to end wars and withdraw troops, the Senate miraculously rallies to act, to wrongly try to stop wars from ending. https://t.co/YVR57kH4Oh Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 1, 2019 Paul also spoke out against the resolution on Fox News. I stand with @realDonaldTrump. It is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Syria. It is ludicrous to call withdrawal after 17 years "precipitous." pic.twitter.com/IKMjOruKP1 Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 31, 2019 To call it a precipitous withdrawal after 17 years is ludicrous, Paul said. Weve been there 17 years. He said he spoke with President Trump on Wednesday and said hes steadfast that we need to do things differently, that the foreign policy swamp that says that we should stay forever in Afghanistan, that theyre wrong. That in Syria, we did defeat ISIS, 99 percent of the land has been taken away. Paul said we can give people a helping hand but we cant be there forever. This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 6:51 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Daily Mail February 1, 2019 Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has called for an income tax of up to 90 per cent on Americas multimillionaires. Speaking to 60 Minutes, Omar argued that tax rates of previous years had risen to the 90 per cent mark for top earners as she doubled down on fellow freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs calls for a 70 per cent rate. There are a few things that we can do, Rep. Omar said. One of them, is that we can increase the taxes that people are paying who are the extremely wealthy in our communities. So, 70 percent, 80 percent, weve had it as high as 90 percent. So, thats a place we can start. The one percent must pay their fair share, she continued. Omar claimed her radical tax plan would act as a catalyst for programs like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal being proposed by Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez called for zero carbon emissions within 12 years, in an interview with 60 Minutes on her first day as a member of Congress. A d v e r t i s e m e n t Omar also said she wants to slash the national defense budget in order to pay for the sweeping policy changes. Read more This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:31 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Breitbart February 1, 2019 NewsGuard, the news-filtering browser extension recently partnered with Microsoft and run by neoconservatives, Obama-Clinton alumni, and other assorted Trump haters, has advised advertisers to withdraw their business from websites on its blacklist of unreliable news websites a list that includes Breitbart News, The Drudge Report, and the Daily Mail. NewsGuards tactic is similar the one used by far-left smear peddlers Sleeping Giants, whose mission is to spread baseless accusations of racism and white supremacy to the advertisers of pro-Trump media outlets in order to put them out of business and silence their voice. Two of the sites on NewsGuards list, Breitbart News and the Daily Mail, are also prominent targets of Sleeping Giants. The effect isnt merely to silence pro-Trump media. It also ensures advertisers dont market their products to Trump voters, causing them to rely less and less on consumers in the heartland, and more on progressive consumers who read establishment news sources. The ultimate result: corporations cater their products and corporate values even more to the latter, and not at all to the former. Read more This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:27 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article RT February 1, 2019 The EU council has agreed to allow British citizens visa-free travel to member states, even in the event of the UK leaving the bloc without a deal. The European Parliament are now expected to sign it off. EU ambassadors in Brussels on Friday gave British citizens the green light to travel within the Schengen area for short days after Brexit without requiring a visa. The UK government has stated that they will not require EU citizens to obtain a visa to travel to Britain for short-term stays (90 days in any 180 days). EU rules dictate that visa exemption must be based on the condition of reciprocity. The decision will now be progressed to the European Parliament to pass into legislation. Last month they backed proposals for visa-free travel even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Theresa Mays Tory government has broadly welcomed the news, but have been riled by certain language contained within the EU proposals. A new regulation within the proposed new legislation refers to Gibraltar as a colony of the British Crown. It sparked this response from a UK government spokesperson: Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltars democratic wish to be British. This article was posted: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 8:10 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Tokyo Olympics: Ugandan tests positive for Covid in Japan A member of Uganda's Olympic squad has become the first to test positive for Sperm count not harmed by Covid-19 vaccine, study says If you are a man who has hesitated to get the Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns Ghana to establish cocoa processing plant in Rwanda Ghana is collaborating to establish a chocolate production plant in Rwanda to Ethiopian couple forego wedding party for Tigray aid An Ethiopian couple has donated funds they had set aside for a lavish wedding South Africa gems that sparked rush are quartz not diamonds The South African government says that stones found in a village last month are Ghana to establish cocoa processing plant in Rwanda Ghana is collaborating to establish a chocolate production plant in Rwanda to Ghana to establish cocoa processing plant in Rwanda Ghana is collaborating to establish a chocolate production plant in Rwanda to Euro 2020: Lewandowski earns Poland a point against Spain Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal of Euro 2020 as Poland held Spain to ECOWAS postpones launch of Eco single currency to 2027 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a new road South Africa gems that sparked rush are quartz not diamonds The South African government says that stones found in a village last month are 3 players shortlisted for NASCO Player of the Month Award Three players have been shortlisted for the NASCO Player of the Month Award for ECOWAS postpones launch of Eco single currency to 2027 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a new road Ghana to establish cocoa processing plant in Rwanda Ghana is collaborating to establish a chocolate production plant in Rwanda to Posted Friday, February 1, 2019 11:13 am OLYMPIA New studded tires would carry a $100 fee if purchased after July 1 of this year and be banned after mid-2025 under a proposal being considered by the House Transportation Committee. The proposal, which would replace the current $5 fee and eventually phase out studded tires, would raise an estimated $3.5 million over the next two years. But that wouldn't make up for the estimated damage to state roads that a state Department of Transportation study puts at $20 million or more a year. A spokeswoman for Les Schwab Tires said the state is halfway through a two-year program to educate consumers on options other than metal studs for winter driving. Jennifer Ziegler said lawmakers should allow the $150,000 program to finish "before you make any major policy decisions about studded tires." Studded tires are one of the issues that highlight the East-West and urban-rural divides in Washington. The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, talked about the damage from metal studs she said "are chewing up our roads." The bill would allow drivers who prefer studded tires to other options on the market to use them until July 2025, phasing out tires they have. But the state should raise the fee for new tires, Ryu said, and collect a total of $400 for four new tires. "That is just a tiny little drop in the bucket toward the damage they are causing," she said. But $400 is "real money for people on a fixed income," Mark Johnson of the Washington Retailers Association said. Paul Parker of the state Transportation Department said four states in the Midwest -- Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois -- have banned studded tires, as the Federal Highway Administration recommends. Rep. Morgan Irwin, R-Enumclaw, asked if any of those states have a mountain range like the Cascades or parts of the Rockies running through them. "Not the last time I looked," Parker said. Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, asked if the department had studied the effect on tire businesses in Washington if residents drive to Idaho or Oregon to buy their studded tires. Parker said it hasn't. Pat Dunn, another Les Schwab spokesman, said the problem with studded tires may be solving itself as drivers learn of more options. They are used by less than 2 percent of drivers statewide, and that's falling even in the Spokane area, which usually has the heaviest use of studded tires. The committee will decide if it will vote in the coming weeks on whether to send the proposal to the full House. Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms this evening. Low 59F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Now that COVID-19 cases are declining and the majority of Minnesotans have received vaccinations, what activities are you most looking forward to resuming this summer? You voted: ATLANTIC CITY A few doors down from Sheila Freemans quaint, bayside house sits a home with its windows boarded up and overgrown grass spilling onto the sidewalk. Vacant since Hurricane Sandy more than six years ago, it's a seemingly dead house. But Freeman still saw an "unkempt man" entering and leaving every so often. Squatters, who have been drawn to the empty house for at least a year, were breaking in and seeking refuge from the cold in the winter. She alerted the city, and last week, the windows were sealed again. 011519_nws_blight ebleax Mary Cotton, a long-time Atlantic City resident living next to blight, says she's "constantly" calling the public works department about tras 011519_nws_blight ebleax Mary Cotton, a long-time Atlantic City resident living next to blight, says she's "constantly" calling the public works department about tras The fact that the house isn't being cared far, it makes people leery about walking around, said Freeman, president of the Bungalow Park Civic Association. "Part of the issue with blight, they're often sites for drug dealers." Bungalow Park is a community that's "on the fence," Freeman said. Around the corner from tidy homes with well-manicured lawns are pockets of urban decay. The entrance to the community is dotted with decrepit row homes. A Rutgers University survey from 2016 found that 26.6 percent of the neighborhood is vacant, equal to almost 14 acres. Last month, a team of enforcement officers walked through the neighborhood as part of an effort to update Atlantic City's 2016 list of more than 500 abandoned properties. The city's 12 compliance officers cover 11 densely populated square miles. Freeman has a young granddaughter who, when she visits, freely rides her bicycle around the neighborhood. When blight creeps into the community, she said, letting kids play outside is perceived as unsafe. "I've seen unsettling things, folks wandering up and down the street and trying side doors," Freeman said. "I'm not interested in seeing the complexion of the neighborhood change to where it's not safe anymore." Less than a mile away, 76-year-old Mary Cotton looks out from her porch on Grammercy Place. To her right and left are empty lots littered with debris, although 2 inches of snow hid the usual mess last month. In the summer, she said, the weeds grow knee-high, bringing rodents and feral cats. Two broken-down trailers are parked behind three abandoned multifamily homes. On Oct. 4, Cotton had enough. She called the Sanitation Department a number she's dialed dozens of times and requested the weeds be cut. A mix of people and entities owns the lots beside her home: the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the city and a former Republican City Council candidate, Keith Groff. The city received 675 such calls from residents in the past three years, including for lot cleaning, trash collection and high grass. Complaints have been dropping each year, from 331 in 2016 to 161 in 2018. Around the corner, Cotton said she often walked past the site of illegal dumping on Congress Avenue for years, until the Sanitation Department cleaned up the empty lot last week. You pick it up, and the next day you have more trash, said Cotton, who bought her three-story house in 1999 after moving to Atlantic City from Philadelphia. A drop-off in complaints from citizens, though, can be attributed to stricter enforcement, said Dale Finch, director of the Department of Licensing and Inspections. In March, he'll send letters to lot owners previously fined for high grass or trash detailing the consequences of continued noncompliance. "Property owners are more aware of property maintenance issues because they have been hit in the pocket, so to speak," he said. A look at Atlantic Citys history explains the barren landscape in the South Inlet and other parts of the city. In the mid 1960s, city housing czar Pauline Hill used an urban renewal grant to raze 80 acres there, displacing 4,500 people in hopes of creating a commercial district. Development never came, leaving small pockets of housing amid desolate beach blocks. 011519_nws_blight ebleax Mary Cotton, a long-time Atlantic City resident living next to blight who says she's "constantly" calling the public works department about tr After casino gambling was legalized in 1978, land speculators bought properties along the Boardwalk hoping to sell the empty lots to casino developers. A requirement that casinos be at least 500 rooms meant huge tracts of land were needed. But money didnt start flowing into the South Inlet as expected. To this day, large chunks of land remain in the hands of a few land speculators who are patiently waiting for a return on their investment. John Mycek, a Brigantine native, bought three beachfront lots on Hygeia Avenue in 2007 for $197,000, which now sit in the shadow of the $2.4 billion Ocean Resort Casino. In a bid to attract developers, Mycek recently replaced an old, chipping sign with a new one that sells the land as the Most sought after beachfront property in the world! His marketing strategy hasn't worked. Despite being a stone's throw from the ocean, Mycek said he doesnt get many offers" on the land. Im just holding onto it and waiting. I might be dead before I sell it, Mycek said. I thought that area was going to be built up by now. Officials try to keep the city clean by warning and then citing owners who have lots covered in brush, tall grass or weeds with a $2,000 violation. If property owners take no action, city workers cut the grass and send a $100 administrative fee to the owner. It's a similar process for excessive litter. About four years ago, Mycek said he received a warning about overgrown grass on his property. That was the last time he heard from them, he said, but others are frequent offenders. The number of "cut and cleans" in Atlantic City has increased over the past three years. In 2016, code enforcement trimmed 109 lots, Finch said. That number jumped to 174 in 2018. A lack of marked boundaries between lots makes it difficult to determine who owns which empty parcels in the South Inlet, he said, and sometimes the city or CRDA fixes properties they aren't responsible for. My lots are well kept, Mycek says, but a lot of these people that own land here dont care. People are talking about how to reinvent Atlantic City. Join the conversation here. Drive to Gardners Basin easy and habit forming Regarding the recent editorial, Too soon for Atlantic City to try to make the most of Gardners Basin: I disagree with some of what was said in the editorial regarding Gardners Basin. It stated that Gardners Basin was disconnected from the rest of the city. Gardners Basin is at the end of Absecon Island. In order to be by the water, you must go to the edges of the island. Of course its going to be away from the center of town. Thats the beauty of Gardners Basin. And Absecon Island is not that wide. You are less than five minutes from either the marina casinos or any of the other casinos at the Boardwalk. I also take issue with the statement that one must drive through a questionable neighborhood to get to Gardners Basin. New Hampshire Avenue, the main street into Gardners Basin, is a large four-lane street, with a median that is well tended with summer flowers and shrubs all year. Lining the avenue are beautiful townhomes, single-family homes, a high-rise timeshare and a luxury condominium. Nowhere is there a questionable neighborhood leading to Gardners Basin. Cannabis hasnt been federally approved for any use. Its a toxin that impairs judgment and driving ability. It increases the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia, and smoking it harms the respiratory tract, Dr. Peter B. Bach, a pulmonary physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, wrote recently in The Wall Street Journal. A National Academy of Medicine report calls the evidence for these harms substantial. Medical marijuana has paved the way for states to legalize the drugs use for pleasure. The Murphy administration would like to make cannabis legal like alcohol and tobacco, two other harmful substances that adults can choose to use. Those drugs and many other intoxicants can also reduce the experience of pain and anxiety but calling them medical whiskey or medical cigarettes would be absurd. A responsible consideration of whether cannabis should be legalized should be preceded by public education on its harms and risks, and determining whether a regulatory scheme can keep them to a minimum. Much more and better research is needed to determine the health benefits, if any, of marijuana. Doctors can decide in the meantime whether its possible benefit and harm are worthwhile for particular patients and state-selected conditions. But until cannabis is supported by the kind of studies routinely required for over-the-counter and prescription drugs, the Murphy administration should back off pushing it for unproven treatments. New Jersey lawmakers passed a measure Thursday that would restore government subsidies for the states horse racing industry. The state Assembly and Senate gave final approval to a bill providing $20 million a year for five years to the racing industry as it struggles to compete with out-of-state tracks that have casino gambling. The bill now goes to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. It includes an escape clause that lets the Legislature get out of paying the subsidy if it determines the payments are not substantially improving the industry. The money would help subsidize race purses, or prize money. The recipients of the aid would have to file a report with the state outlining how they spent the money. Former Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, ended state support for the industry seven years ago, diverting the money to help struggling Atlantic City. Dennis Drazin, president and CEO of Darby Development, LLC, which operates Monmouth Park Racetrack, called the votes an across-the-board win for New Jersey. Were thankful to all the legislators who have recognized the importance of this legislation and the impact it will have on our industry, he said. ATLANTIC CITY-- A 23 year-old Newfield man was arrested Wednesday after police received a call claiming he had brought a handgun into the Applebee's on Michigan Avenue. Stefano Santiago, who police said matched the description from the 911 call, was detained exiting the restaurant. He was not armed, according to police. During the investigation, officers said they learned that before their arrival, Santiago had left the restaurant another time and went in between the dumpsters next to the building. K9 Officer Alberto Gonzalez began to conduct a track with his partner, Chalk, in an attempt to locate the handgun. Chalk led Officer Gonzalez to the dumpsters where police said they found a loaded handgun. Santiago was taken into custody and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Police ask anyone with information about this accident to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766 or text anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. The owners of Salem Countys nuclear power plants the last still operating in the state do not need ratepayer subsidies to keep the plants from closing in three years, according to a new report by the director of the Division of Rate Counsel. Stefanie Brand said the request by PSEG Nuclear LLC and Exelon Generation Co. LLC for ratepayers to give the three reactors in Lower Alloways Township a combined total of up to $300 million per year should be denied by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. In making their case for ZEC (Zero Emission Credit) subsidies ... PSEG and Exelon have overstated their costs and understated their revenues, said Brand. In short, they skewed the analysis of future revenues in order to deflate those revenues and support their claim of financial distress. Nuclear subsidy program given green light by BPU The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved a Zero Emission Credit program last week f PSEG spokesman Michael Jennings said the company has met the requirements of the ZEC act. The information submitted makes clear that the financial problems facing the nuclear plants are real and that there would be significant degradation of New Jerseys air quality if the plants were to close, said Jennings. OCEAN CITY Impressed with state Board of Education student representative Nora Faverzani and the things happening in her home district, New Jersey Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet decided to pay her school a visit this week. Every time I turn around, Ocean Citys winning an award, Repollet said Friday morning at Ocean City High School. Ive got to find out whats going on in Ocean City. Now I see. Repollet was greeted by Faverzani and other students, staff and administrators, as well as the districts Red Raider mascot. Ocean City, Greater Egg to receive state grants for STEM education Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced $2 million in grants to 29 districts across the stat Were going to show him a lot of our awesome programs weve been working on in the school, Faverzani said, including the television/media lab and the teen wellness center. Faverzani, a senior, was selected last year to serve as the statewide student representative on the state board and will serve until the end of the year. She said she has the chance to speak with Repollet at the monthly board meetings in Trenton and share what is happening in her district. A big part of what hes doing is he likes to be involved, she said, adding the visit was good timing. Police blotter information is supplied by local police departments and other law-enforcement agencies. All people named are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Dowdal, Ryan J., 33, of Egg Harbor, was arrested Jan. 16 and charged with driving while license suspended. Maltese, Robert Andrew, 27, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested on warrant on Jan. 18. Ricks, Franklin Russell, 32, of Pleasantville, was arrested Jan. 19 and charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Geese Jr., Christoph A., 23, of Pleasantville, was arrested Jan. 21 and charged with sexual assault. Muhammad, Andre M., 18, of Pleasantville, was arrested Jan. 22 and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault (pointing a handgun), possession of cocaine/heroin, possession of firearms to distribute CDS, possession of weapon for unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon (handgun). CAPE MAY The wardens and vestry of the Church of the Advent have announced the church's new rector, the Rev. Alan Leonard. He will officiate at services beginning Sunday, Feb. 3 at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Leonard comes from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, where he served as rector at St. Margarets Church in Boiling Springs, South Carolina. He received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Ripon College in Wisconsin, a master's degree in counseling from Northern Illinois University and a master of divinity degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California. He completed clinical pastoral education at Dublin Federal Correction Facility. Leonard served as a U.S. Army field artillery officer prior to entering seminary, and returned to active duty as an Army chaplain for seven years, including a tour of duty in Iraq in 2007. In addition to his parochial duties, he has been actively involved in developing successful outreach ministries to veterans, creating Christian education programs for young adults, and in keeping a multi-generational focus across the spectrum of his professional ministry. Recognized for his administrative and canonical skill and effectiveness, he has served terms as a deputy and alternative deputy of the Diocese of Upper Carolina to the General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Adelodun Rasaki, the state collation agent for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun governorship election has explained why results were cancelled in seventeen polling units during the September 22, 2018 exercise. Mr Rasaki, who testified before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Friday said the results were cancelled by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to inability to reconcile number of votes. Mr Rasak said this while being cross examined by counsel to INEC, Adesina Agbede. He said it was during collation of results from the 30 local governments in the state, that some local government collation officers reported that some polling units results could not be reconciled. That led to the cancellation of the results of these polling units. That was at the point of aggregation of all results from the 30 local governments. The returning officer of the state informed that the number of registered voters in these units exceeded the margin between the first petitioner (Senator Ademola Adeleke) and the second respondent (Gov. Gboyega Oyetola). The margin showed that the difference is small compared with the number of registered voters and that they cannot be disenfranchised, he said. He stated all party agents who signed the result sheet (Form EC8D) for the state were present when the cancellation decision was taken. The witness was equally cross-examined by counsel to APC, Lasun Sanusi (SAN). He told Mr Sanusi that he, along with other APCs polling unit agents discovered discrepancies in some of the Forms EC8A brought to him as the state collation agent of the party. He also told Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel to the petitioners that he was not at the collation centres in the local governments and as such did not see the persons who made corrections on the various Forms EC8A, B and C. He informed that during collation of results at the state collation centre, presiding officers from the polling units were not allowed in. He said that Only the local government officers were allowed. Polling unit agents of parties were not present when the decision to cancel result if seven polling units was made. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are challenging the declaration of Mr Oyetola of APC as the winner of the September 22 and 27, 2018 election. They alleged that the election was marred with massive rigging, over voting, vote buying and other forms of electoral malpractices and that it was not conducted in compliance with the law. Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned its sitting until February 5 at the instance of the counsel to the governor; Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN). ADVERTISEMENT Mr Owonikoko had sought the adjournment to enable the second respondent, Mr Oyetola to bring his remaining witnesses to testify for him. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT A campaign vehicle of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, in Lagos was attacked on Thursday. Mr Agbaje said the attack on his campaign bus in Lagos is a sign of the growing intolerance of the ruling party in the state against opposition figures and supporters. According to a statement issued by Mr Agbajes campaign office on Thursday, some hoodlums believed to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked the PDP candidates convoy and left several people injured. The incident occurred after Mr Agbaje had visited the palace of the traditional ruler of Iba, Goriola Oseni, in Ojo Local Government Area of the state. Vehicles in Agbajes convoy of about a dozen were attacked and damaged, including a Toyota Coaster bus that had its rear glass broken, while a Toyota Hummer bus had a side glass broken, the statement said. Although the candidate himself (Mr Agbaje) escaped unhurt, several supporters sustained various degrees of injury and were left bleeding after some ruffians, believed to be loyal to the ruling party, gave the PDP team a hot chase with guns, knives, machetes and other assault weapons. Left injured were Tunde Lawal, Toheeb Alamu, Dayo Sofola, and Segun Moyo who were stabbed. Some on the entourage lost valuables, such as phones and cash belonging to Olufemi Musbau, Ajoke Sanni, Banji Ibrahim, Omolara Wonuola, Michael Mba, Mutiu Badiru, and Kalu Austin. The PDP also said their candidate was denied use of the Ojo Town Hall which their leaders had earlier booked for their councils version of the series of town hall meetings Mr Agbaje had been holding around the state. As a result, the partys event was shifted to the sidewalk of the ever-busy busy Olojo Drive, in Ojo Local Government, where Mr Agbaje hosted hundreds of supporters under the watchful eyes of the police, the campaign said. Elections are about choice; it is about democracy, the statement quoted Mr Agbaje as saying, after the incident. There is so much intolerance on the part of ruling party to having people choose their preferred candidates. When contacted, Joe Igbokwe, the publicity secretary of the APC in Lagos State, said he is not aware of the incident. We went to do our mega rally today in Ikorodu and almost all the leaders of our party were there and our supporters, so who were those boys that attacked them? We have not sent anyone to go and fight for us, Mr Igbokwe told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night. When our own supporters disrupted our campaign, did we say it was PDP? We went on air and said these are our party members. They should learn from us. Mr Igbokwe said there was no need for his party supporters to be violent or intolerant because they are winning the election hands down. Even if it is true that it was APC supporters that attacked them, we condemn it in the strongest terms. But I dont think it is true. Some people are doing this to get at APC. ADVERTISEMENT The campaign teams of All Progressives Congress, APC and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) on Thursday engaged in a bloody clash. The violence caused panic in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, forcing residents to shut businesses. A witness said the fight broke out between supporters of the two parties during a campaign tour at Mokola junction of the town. He said the clash was between supporters of the governorship candidate of the APC, Dapo Abiodun, and a candidate of the APM, Mukaila Kazzim. Mr Kazzim is the candidate of the APM for Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency. Suspected political thugs engaged themselves in a gun duel during the violence. They also used other dangerous weapons like cutlasses and knives. During the violence, some vehicles and properties were damaged while some supporters sustained injuries. It took the intervention of police officers in the campaign teams to salvage the situation as they fired sporadically into the air. They eventually succeeded in restoring peace and dispersing the political thugs. A member of one of the campaign teams (name withheld) while narrating the incident to journalists said, it as an act of desperation by some politicians to win the elections by hook or crook. When we were approaching Mokola Junction in Abeokuta North Local government, we saw some group of people approaching us, we realised that they were fully armed. Suddenly they started shooting at us. Thank God for the gallant policemen who were on ground and rose up to the occasion and chased them away. If not for them, only God knows what would have happened today. It is unfortunate that our politics has gotten to this level where it has become do or die affair. We should rather canvass for votes and endear ourselves to the people. That is the only way that we would have a peaceful election, he emphasised. The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, while reacting, said, Yes, we have heard about it (attack) but we are yet to get full details. But that notwithstanding, we have deployed our men to the area to keep the peace. ADVERTISEMENT Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming elections, has urged the youth in Ebonyi State to protect their votes in the forthcoming general elections. Mr Abubakar made the call on Friday during the partys presidential rally in Abakliki. You are agile, patriotic and determined, so make sure that you protect your votes. Go and vote massively for all the candidates of the party in the forthcoming general elections, he told the youth. Mr Abubakar commended the governor of the state, David Umahi, for mobilising massive crowd for the rally, and for his infrastructural strides, especially in road construction. Mr Abubakars running mate, Peter Obi, said the partys presidential candidate could turn around the economy of the country. He will replicate the infrastructural and related strides of your governor at the national level. We will ensure adequate security in the country. We will also ensure that our children are in school, because, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike would have been averted. The governor said the state was the mainstay of the PDP in the country, and would massively vote for Mr Abubakar and other candidates of the party in the general elections. I warn mischief makers who doubt the authenticity of the state as the headquarters of the party in Nigeria to desist from such. They should leave us alone as this is the highest mobilisation of party supporters in the nation ever since, and we are intact for the party. The National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said the mobilisation proved that the people of the state had actually accepted the party. Abubakar will rescue the country from insecurity and poor state of the economy, while enhancing the wellbeing of our youths and women whom he believes in, he said. The state Chairman of the party, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, promised that party faithful would vote for all the candidates of the party in the elections. The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for February 16, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls come up on March 2. NAN ADVERTISEMENT Public primary and secondary schools in Enugu were abruptly shut on Friday following the campaign rally of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students of various public secondary schools were seen going home as early as 10 am. A student from Day Secondary School, Independence Layout who spoke to NAN anonymously said their teachers told them to go home because of the visit of Mr Abubakar. It was the same situation in other public schools, including Oconnor Primary School, Queens School, Urban Girls Secondary School and Government Training College in Enugu town. The student, however, said they were not mandated to attend the campaign rally holding in Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. Meanwhile, some parents in the state have expressed mixed feelings on the decision to send students home over a political campaign rally. Francis Ogbu said it was wrong to have suspended academic activities due to an individuals political aspiration. Mr Ogbu said underaged students needed not to be dragged into politics. Uzoamaka Onukwuburi wondered what may have informed the closure of public schools before the usual time. Mrs Onukwuburi said that she could not understand why politics had degenerated to the level of suspending academic activities due to a campaign rally. Another parent, Chinwe Eke, commended the decision adding that it was for the safety of the children in case of an outbreak of violence during the rally. Mrs Eke, however, said that government should have announced the directive early so that the children would stay at home rather than moving up and down. When contacted for reaction, the state Commissioner for Education,Uche Eze, declined comments. Meanwhile, major roads leading to Nnamdi Azikiwe venue for the rally were cordoned off while traffic was diverted to alternative routes in the coal city. Business activities in the stadium were shut to allow free movement. (NAN) Traditional rulers in Anambra State have accused President Muhammadu Buhari, of marginalising the people of the South-east. They stated this at a session with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and his entourage. The event held at the Imeobi Palace of the Obi of Onitsha. It was attended by traditional rulers, town union presidents, and religious leaders in Anambra State. Chuma Onyia, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, told Mr Abubakar that the Igbos are not happy with the way things are going in the country, at the moment. Mr Onyia is the deputy chairman, Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the monarch of Odekpe community in Ogbaru LGA. He said the Buhari administration has neglected the Igbos, both in strategic political appointments and in the provision of infrastructure. He said he had the mandate of the traditional rulers to ask for Mr Abubakars commitment to his promises of restructuring and also making Onitsha River Port functional, dredging of the River Niger, completion of the second Niger Bridge among others if he eventually wins the presidential election. He described Mr Abubakar not only as an in-law to the Onitsha people but as a good friend of the Igbos, assuring him that his victory in the presidential election would also be a victory for the Igbos. Earlier, while welcoming Mr Abubakar, the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, read out text messages he sent out to the governor, Willie Obiano, intimating him of the proposed meeting of traditional rulers with Mr Abubakar. But surprisingly, Mr Achebe said he later received another text message from the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters telling him that the governor had fixed a meeting same day with the traditional rulers at the Government House in Awka. He told Mr Abubakar that the traditional rulers who made themselves available to meet with him were those who decided not to honour the impromptu meeting in Awka. The national chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, in a remark described Mr Abubakar as Nigerias president-in-waiting. He said the country is at crossroads presently because of the APC-led government and said Mr Abubakar is the best to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse. Mr Abubakar, in a brief response, thanked the royal fathers for honouring the invitation, describing Onitsha as his second home. PDP presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar. [PHOTO CREDIT: Twitter handle of Atiku Abubakar] He delegated one of the presidential campaign spokesperson, Osita Chidoka, to respond to the royal fathers request. Mr Chidoka, in his response, said Messrs Abubakar and Obi possess the requisite credentials to return the country to the path of progress once more and assured that all they requested for would be granted if Mr Abubakar wins. He said in 2015, many Nigerians that mattered stood out and ensured that Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan to become president but those Nigerians today have deserted Mr Buhari for failing to bring the much-anticipated change. He enjoined the Igbos to get on board the moving train so that they would not arrive late at the destination. Today, Obasanjo is here, Saraki, Danjuma, Babangida, Dogara and all others are here seeking to enthrone a new order for the good of the country through Atiku and Obi. More so, Peter Obi is our son, so let no one do anything that will harm him. The party is about to kick off and I urge Ndigbo not to come late to this party. Let us be wise, he said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday commenced training of 35,000 ad-hoc staff in Kaduna State, ahead of the February and March general elections. The INECs Commissioner for North West Zone, Anthonia Sinbene, disclosed this at the flag-off of the training expected to last for three days across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is coming two weeks to the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly polls. Mrs Sinbene said the ad-hoc staff would take charge of some key areas of the electoral process to ensure smooth conduct of polls in 5, 102 polling units across 255 wards of the 23 LGAs in the state. The Commissioner, who said she was satisfied with the arrangement for the training, however, expressed worry over the large turnout of youth who either did not apply for the job or not invited for the training. She said the Commission would strictly follow the list of those it invited through their mobile Short Message Service (SMS), those who applied in persons, and those with printout slips from online applications. Our visit to the training centers in Kaduna North and South Local Government areas showed large turnout of applicants, she said. According to her, the ad-hoc staff will go make the commissions job easier, but expressed concern that the venues for the training were too congested. The Commissioner, therefore, directed that some of the applicants be moved to other venues to decongest the present training centres. NAN learnt that the commission requires 33, 200 ad-hoc staff for the polls, but is recruiting 35,000, to fill up gaps in case some of those trained failed to turn up for election duty. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT A nine-year-old girl, Hassana Aliyu of Kasarau Yamma quarters in Dutse, Jigawa State, lost her life on Thursday after falling into a well. Ahmed Danyaro, the Director, Jigawa State Fire Directorate, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Friday that the incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Nobody can ascertain how the deceased fell into the well as we just received a distress call that she had fallen into the well in their home. We quickly sent our rescue team which rescued her unconscious and she was later confirmed dead at the hospital. He said that the deceaseds corpse had since been handed over to her parents for burial. The director advised parents who have wells in their homes to raise their height and provide covers for them to protect their children and wards. According to him, the agency will continue to sensitise the public on how best to use wells at homes. (NAN) Sumayya Abubakar was pregnant when she and her twin daughters were abducted in Dauran town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State October last year. Her abductors threatened to kill her after the family said it could not raise the N20 million ransom they demanded.The kidnappers told Mrs Abubakars father on the telephone that they had killed 20-year-old man, Suraju Umar, a neighbour of Mrs Abubakar who they also abducted at the same time. Mrs Abubakar and Mr Umar were abducted alongside four others.She was released in December after the family paidf N10 million to the abductors. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES Halimah Yahaya, Mrs Abubakar narrates her ordeal with the kidnappers and how she witnessed the execution of a young neighbour abducted with her. PT- How did the whole thing happen? Sumayya It happened on a Tuesday at about 11:30p.m. My husband travelled and left only the three of us in the house, myself and the twins. They had already slept and I was just lying down when I overheard some voices talking. Not quite long after, I began to hear knocks on my gate. For a while, they continued knocking without stop, then I thought to myself that this is danger. Immediately, I woke the twins up and told them what was happening and the need for us to hide in the room, since we were all in the parlour. After a while, one of those people gave an order that we should open the door. I told them I would not. They added that if we did not open the door for them and they found their way into the house, they would shoot us because they had guns with them. I never had the intention of opening the door but the twins advised I opened it. While I was walking towards the door, I was shivering with fear. I opened it and they all came into the house with force. Immediately, one of them slapped me and said I should bring all the money in the house. I told the kidnappers that there was no money in the house. They insisted I give them money, if not they would shoot. There is a box where I save my money, I cannot really tell the amount in that box because I just drop money into it. I brought out the box. They quickly broke it and took all the money in it. After that, they brought us out of the house. Coming outside, we saw two boys lying on the floor that they captured before coming to my house. Altogether we became five of us with them. The kidnappers in front and behind us, we started walking without having the knowledge of where we were being taken to. We walked for almost three hours before we got to where they had parked their motorcycle. They took us on the motorcycle and drove on very high speed for about an hour and a half. We got to a place very bushy with worms everywhere. We were there for a week. The kidnappers had clashes with some soldiers hunting them. After the fight, they noticed their hideout was no longer safe, so they decided to relocate us to a different place. After two weeks we were brought back to the first place. It was while we were returning from the journey, which was for almost two hours that we fell from our own motorcycle, because it was Husseina and I that it carried. While I was on the floor, I was very weak to the extent I could not move my legs. They noticed the weakness even with their threat that if I didnt get up, they would shoot me. They later decided to carry me to a nearby bush where I was laid on a lying tree. I was very sick and unconscious. I could not even tell where I was. I laid for a while, then they said we needed to continue with the journey. They lifted me and placed me on the motorcycle. If we drive for a while, they would stop and leave to rest and then continue. My eyes were open but I was not seeing anything. We continued with the stop and rest until we got to where we were going. For about two weeks, I was not myself. During this period, one day I started bleeding seriously. It was a miscarriage, I lost my pregnancy. There was nothing like medication. We were there till when negotiation for the twins started. They bargained till the kidnappers accepted to collect the amount. The money was paid but only the twins were released. I was left alone there for about three weeks. Meanwhile, they kept threatening my parents that if their request of N30 million was not paid, they would kill me and Surajo, the boy they took with us. The call went on and on for days till one day, they took Surajo on their motorcycle and took him somewhere and shot him. I was watching how they killed him, he was shot on the head severally. After that, they approached me and said I should stand up or they would also shoot me. I stood up and climbed their motorcycle and I was taken to another place. I did not know they had agreed with my people to collect N5 million for me to be released. The old man that was sent with the money came with it, they collected it and also abducted him. The old man and I were there for 27 days. ADVERTISEMENT PT Where the kidnappers giving you food? Sumayya As regards food, I was made their cook. They would threaten me even with my sickness to still cook and that if I did not do it, I would be killed. I had no choice than to do what they asked me to do. There were days they brought food stuff and told me to cook. After cooking we and the little ones among them ate the food. The bosses did not eat with us. It was not funny at all because on the days they were not able to bring anything, I ended up cooking white rice with salt in it, which we ate. PT What medication did they give you when any of you fell ill? Sumayya Anytime I fell sick, I used to tell one of them that was somehow sympathetic. If he had drugs with him, he would give me. But on days I asked and he did not have any with him, he would ignore me and say he did not have drugs to give me. PT How were you released? Sumayya Hmmmm, there was a time they became serious with their threat to my parents that within a stipulated time, if they did not pay the ransom, I would be killed. The threat continued till the moment they observed they were being hunted, that was when they reduced the money from N20 million to N10 million, adding that it would be the last price. If my parents did not pay, they would kill me and the old man with them. That was how they were given the N10 million and we were released to the Glory of God. PT How have you been since your release? Summaya I have nothing to say than giving thanks to God for keeping me this far in their captivity without harm. Although I have been taken to the hospital. I have had a series of tests and I was told that the pregnancy was no more. But since then, I have been on medication. I am recuperating fully. Since I came back, people have been trooping in and out to come and greet me. They have been praying for me seriously and up til now, they still come to our house. The old man is also doing fine. PT If by chance, your abductors are caught, what should be done to them? Sumayya The only thing I wish for them is for God to make them realise their errors and repent. I am praying for them to leave that way of life and be better people in the society because if they continue, there is high tendency that they would not end well if they do not desist from this illicit act. I would advise government at all levels to be on their toes on the issue of kidnapping. It is eating up the society every day, with people being kidnapped on daily basis. I am lucky to be out alive. How about the ones they are killing? It is a very serious case that should be tackled with immediate effect. ADVERTISEMENT Mustapha Lamido, the son of ex-governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, on Thursday, said his desire to contest for an elective position was motivated by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mustapha is running for a senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke with journalists shortly after a gubernatorial debate which took place at Ahmadu Bello Hall, Dutse. He stated that the president strenthened his conviction to run when he (Buhari) signed the Not To Young to Run bill into law. He explained that without Mr Buharis action, he may not have desired to be a senator for Jigawa North-central. He added that the president had given Nigerian youth a wonderful opportunity worthy of commendation. He commended the federal lawmakers for supporting the bill. He pledged to be a responsible representative of Jigawa North-central if elected into office. President Muhammad Buhari and Yakubu Gowon led this country perfectly at very tender ages. I see this as a motivating factor for me to be a responsible leader like them, the younger Lamido said. He also said he is confident of winning the senatorial seat due to the poor representation of the serving APC senator, Sabo Nakudu. Mustapha, alongside Aminu Abubakar, Bartholomew Agoha and three companies are being tried on 43-count charges of money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds. His father lost his bid to unseat Mr Buhari, when he lost the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party at the primaries. He has since thrown his support behind the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. ADVERTISEMENT The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara State, Esther Ikupolati, says 7, 759 corps members will serve as ad-hoc staff during the general elections in the state. The State Coordinator made this known on Friday in Ilorin, the state capital after the state-wide tour of various corps locations. A statement issued on Friday in Ilorin by the NYSC Head of Public Relations, Dipo Morakinyo, quoted Mrs Ikupolati as saying that the scheme was prepared for the 2019 elections. It is no longer news that the members of the National Youth Service Corps, by virtue of the existing MOU with the INEC, will constitute the bulk of ad hoc staff who will be conducting the elections, the coordinator said. She allayed the fear of insecurity of corps members while addressing them at their various local government areas across the state. According to her, all the security agencies in the state, including the police, military, DSS and NSCDC, have assured the NYSC of the safety and security of corps members before, during and after the elections. Even the representatives of the various political parties in Kwara State assured the NYSC that they will ensure the security of corps members on election duties, she said. She urged the corps members to be worthy ambassadors of the NYSC by not involving in any act that could compromise the integrity of the election process. According to her, NYSC is apolitical and all corps members must not be partisan in their activities. She warned the corps members not to allow unscrupulous politicians to lure them into election malpractice. The coordinator also assured the corps members that they would not be deployed to noted flash points in the state where their security could not be guaranteed. She also appealed to the people of the state to see the corps members on election duties as unbiased umpires. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT A group of Nigerians under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians Living in the UK (CNLUK) on Friday stormed the Nigerian High Commission in London to stage a peaceful protest. The group was protesting the illegal suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the perceived harassment of opposition figures by the federal government. Some of the protesters, who were holding Nigerian flags, also carried placards with inscriptions like no voters intimidation by police, free and fair elections in Nigeria. The convener of the protest, Wilson Diriwari, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, said the aim of the protest was to kick against the suspension of Mr Onnoghen and to also call for free and fair elections. We the Concerned Nigerians Living in the U.K. are kicking against all forms of political impunity and social injustice in our motherland, Nigeria, he said According to CNLUK, Nigerians in Diaspora are kicking against unleashing of terror by the presidency on opponents from other parties. As Nigeria prepares for the 2019 elections, we have observed that the incumbent government of President Muhammadu Buhari is unleashing fear and terror on opponents from other parties and this is unacceptable. As this atrocity continues to play out, it is becoming very clear that the Buhari government is not prepared to shift position. The implications are terrifying and leave us worrying about our relatives back home that might get caught up in whatever ensues next. Buharis government said it would not accept any foreign meddling after the European Union, the United States and Britain raised concerns over last weeks suspension of Nigerias most senior judge just weeks before February 16 presidential election. This statement means that the Buharis government is not ready to listen to neither its citizens or the international community. We are concerned that such attitude is capable of breaking the nation, derailing the fragile democracy, put life and property at risk and potentially degenerating into a pronounced humanitarian crisis, Mr Diriwari said. The protesters also complained about the alleged harassment and arrest of vocal members of the Senate who oppose the governments view on one policy or the other. They also frowned at the clamp down on media houses, such as the Daily Trust Newspaper that was recently raided by heavily armed military personnel over a report it published. uk protest ADVERTISEMENT The Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Gombe State has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the presidency has said. A statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said Bala Bello Tinka (alias Tinka Point) met with President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, on Thursday night. Mr Adesina said during the meeting, Mr Tinka pledged allegiance to the APC and also vowed to bring his political weight to bear on the election of the President for a second term in office. Coming exactly a fortnight to the presidential election, the defection of Alhaji Tinka deals a massive blow to the PDP in Gombe. PDP currently governs the state, and has done so since 2003, Mr Adesina said. President Muhammadu Buhari campaigns in Gombe Saturday and Alhaji Tinka is expected to formally join the APC, alongside others, during the event. Mr Tinka had aspired to succeed Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo as governor but was unsuccessful in clinching the governorship ticket of the party. The businessman is a major contractor in the state. He owns Tinka Point Limited, which he started in 1986 as Bala Tinka Enterprise. The company has since grown into a major local construction company in the country handling construction of roads, erosion control and other infrastructures for the federal and some state governments. Mr Tinka was a close ally of Governor Dankwambo, and it remains unclear why he defected from the governors party. There were reports in January 2018 that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained the businessman over alleged complicity involving alleged slush funds used by the PDP for its 2015 campaign. The status of the case remained unclear. VA Abortion Advocates Want Infanticide Contact: Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 1, 2019 /Christian Newswire/ -- Democratic Governor Ralph Northam and Democratic Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran are advocating to loosen the requirements of late-term abortion in Virginia, which even includes killing of the child during or after delivery. The Repeal Act, introduced as HB2491 by Tran, would repeal restrictions on third trimester abortions all the way up to 40 weeks. This bill would allow abortionists to self-certify the necessity of the procedures, eliminate informed consent requirements, repeal health and safety standards for abortion clinics, and allow late-term abortions to be performed in outpatient clinics. The Repeal Act removes hospital requirements on clinics and providers, laws that mandate informed consent, a combination of mandatory ultrasounds, "biased literature," the 24-hour waiting period for abortions in Virginia, and additional doctor requirements for late-term abortions. In fact, if a woman is dilating and about to give birth, she could still request an abortion. Governor Northam defended these efforts to loosen abortion restrictions in Virginia. Northam said, "If a mother is in labor...the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians & mother." In an exclusive interview with the Daily Caller, President Donald Trump supported the sanctity of human life when he harshly criticized Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Democratic Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran's advocacy to loosen requirements of late-term abortion. President Trump said, "Do you remember when I said Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? That's what it is, that's what they're doing, it's terrible...This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it's never been lifted up before...I think this will very much lift up the issue because people have never thought of it in those terms." Today, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) is re-introducing live on the Senate floor S.130, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, in response to the horrible acts of New York and Virginia. "I condemn the heartless acts of the New York and Virginia politicians," said Liberty Counsel's Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. "The same legislator in Virginia that introduced a law allowing babies to be killed during birth and after birth introduced a law to protect caterpillars. These acts and recent statements are not fitting under any circumstances. This evil must be stopped," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. The Commonwealth has deployed a 20-member Observer Group, led by former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, for the February 16 Nigerian presidential election. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, constituted the observer group following an invitation from Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to Commonwealth Secretariat. Josephine Latu-Sanft, Commonwealth Secretariats Senior Communications Officer, said members of the group included politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender and election administration from across the Commonwealth. She quoted Ms Scotland as saying that an advance group of observers was deployed to Nigeria on January 28, while other members of the team were expected to arrive in Abuja on February 8. Ms Scotland said: The Commonwealth has a long history of observing elections in member countries, in solidarity with electors as they choose their leaders, and in support of efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in accordance with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. The Commonwealth has observed the previous five elections in Nigeria, and I am pleased to be deploying so distinguished a group to again support the nation in its continuing journey of democratic development. The Commonwealth Observer Groups mandate was to observe and consider factors affecting the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. It would assess whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself, with reference to national legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and international commitments. Where appropriate, the Group could also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework. The Commonwealth Observer Group would consider the pre-election environment and election preparations. Members would be deployed to various regions of the country where they will observe the voting, vote-counting and results procedures. The Group would submit its final report for consideration by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and she will in turn share it with the Government of Nigeria, INEC and political parties. The Secretary-General would also convey the report to all Commonwealth governments after which the report would then be made public. The Group would be supported by Commonwealth Secretariat staff led by Katalaina Sapolu, Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate. Other members of the Commonwealth Observer Group are Lesley Clark of Australia; Gary Dunn, former Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General from Australia; and Omar Jallow from The Gambia. Members of the group also comprised Emmanuel Akwetey, Prosper Bani and Emmanuel Bombande, all from Ghana. Shahabuddin Quraishi from India, Orrette Fisher from Jamaica and Jedidah Waruhiu from Kenya are also members of the group. Also in the group are Notemba Tjipueja from Namibia, Eric Kwa from Papua New Guinea, Ernest Sagaga from Rwanda and Marcella Samba-Sesay from Sierra Leone. ADVERTISEMENT Others are Crystal Orderson from South Africa, Joy Napier from St Kitts & Nevis, Elizabeth Donnelly from United Kingdom, Linda Duffield, also from United Kingdom, and Musa Mwenye from Zambia. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Code of Conduct Tribunal says it will resume hearing in the case of alleged false asset declaration brought against suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. Mr Onnoghen was charged by the Code of Conduct Bureau for allegedly omitting details of his domiciliary accounts in one of two forms submitted to the bureau in 2016, among other offences. He has failed to appear at the two hearing sessions when the matter was called at the tribunal. Following an order of the Court of Appeal, the tribunal chaired by Danladi Umar suspended the trial indefinitely at the last adjourned date on January 22. On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal directed the tribunal to proceed with the hearing after refusing a request by Mr Onnoghen for the trial to be suspended. In response to the appeal court decision, the tribunal on Thursday said it would continue sitting on January 4. The tribunal said its decision followed a request by the CCB for the case to continue. Conduct Tribunal Fixes 4th February for resumption of alleged Non-asset declaration trial against Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen. Following Court of Appeal ruling yesterday on the trial against Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter, on alleged non-declaration of asset before Code of Conduct Tribunal is hereby fixed for Monday, 4th of February, 2019. The decision was reached today sequel to a correspondent from Code of Conduct Bureau, applying for the resumption of trial of the case captioned; Application for resumption of trial of the case of FRN V. Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel case No: CCT/ABJ/01/19, addressed to Hon. Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal, dated 30th January, 2019, jointly signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq). The request reads in part; The above subject refers. This case came up for hearing of preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal on the 28th of January, 2019 but the Tribunal could not proceed due to the pendency of the case at the Court of Appeal, the statement said, quoting the communication from the CCB. It added that the latest request by the bureau is therefore in response to the recent ruling by the court of appeal. ADVERTISEMENT The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to disqualify President Muhammadu Buhari from the February 16 presidential election. The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, made the call on Friday evening while speaking at the presidential campaign rally of his party in Enugu, South-East Nigeria. What we witnessed in Kano yesterday at the APC rally. President Buhari brought in mercenaries two governors from Niger Republic with arms, with money, with people to come and vote to influence our election in Nigeria, Mr Secondus said. I hereby as PDP chairman, call on on INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, to disqualify President Buhari for bringing mercenaries from abroad to influence our election. It remains unclear how INEC will respond to the call by the PDP. The INEC Commissioner in charge of publicity, Festus Okoye, could not be reached for comments Friday evening. Two governors from neighbouring Niger Republic had visited Kano Thursday to campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari. Issa Moussa of Zinder Region and Zakiri Umar of Maradi had visited Kano to campaign for Mr Buharis reelection. They dressed in babanriga, a traditional attire, designed with APC campaign ornaments. Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a spokesperson for Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano, shared pictures his principal took with the two foreign governors as they prepared to receive Mr Buhari in Kano earlier on Thursday. No sooner had Mr Tanko-Yakasai shared the pictures on Twitter than a flurry of critical comments began to trickle in, with many reactions pointing to peoples befuddlement. The development comes barely days after both the presidency and the APC issued separate statements attacking Western diplomatic missions for expressing outrage over Mr Buharis suspension of Mr Onnoghen, an action widely deemed unconstitutional. Mr Buhari himself did not say he followed the guidelines enumerated in the Constitution for the removal of a chief justice but said he acted on an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, an auxiliary judicial panel under the presidency. This is clearly shocking and absurd, Chris Ngwodo, a foreign affairs expert, told PREMIUM TIMES of the visit of the two Niger governors to Nigeria to campaign for Mr Buhari. It is simply difficult to process and come to terms with this. Both Zinder and Maradi have proximity to northern parts of Nigeria from the south of Niger Republic. While the Niger governors visit to Nigeria for a political rally may appear strange, the Nigerian electoral law does not seem to have placed restrictions on foreigners hitting the campaign trail with candidates. The electoral law is only more pronounced about limits of campaign contributions from foreign elements, according to Clement Nwankwo, a pro-democracy and electoral reform campaigner. The Friday meeting between the federal government and leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended without a resolution of the strike by the university lecturers. The meeting was then adjourned to February 7. The lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike on November 4. They are demanding improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government. The meeting which started few minutes to 12 noon held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja. The meeting ended at 3:15 pm Prior to Fridays meeting, at least eight other meetings held between both parties. The national president of the union, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union will be unable to communicate the outcome of the meeting with journalists until I communicate with my members. According to him, we have another set of information for our members and we will like to hear from them before saying anything. We have discussed on all the areas but we need to tell our members first. It was the feedback and we have a set of information for our members, he said. Mr Ogunyemi said the meeting has been adjourned till next week Thursday. In his address, the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, said all the demands of the unions have been met. Well, the meeting has been protracted and we are getting to the end of the tunnel and we will soon see the light, he said. When asked about the federal governments response to the demands of N50 billion made by the union to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements with them, Mr Ngige said the government cannot afford the amount. But we will offer something reasonable which they are taking back to their members, he said. Both parties refused to give any specific details of what was discussed in the meeting. Background PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the union asked the Nigerian government to release N50 billion to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements with them. The striking lecturers gave this as one of the conditions for calling off the strike. A major issue dragging the negotiations forth and back is the revitalisation of the universities. At present, the government is yet to release the N1.1 trillion it agreed to release as part of the funds for the project. The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities need N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. ADVERTISEMENT The fund was to be released in tranches of N200 billion in 2013; N220 billion 2014; N220 billion 2015; 220 billion in 2016; N220 billion in 2017 and N220 billion in 2018. The previous government of Goodluck Jonathan released N200 billion in 2013. Since then, no major bulk sum has been released. Meanwhile, ASUU on Monday received the certificate of operation for a pension management company. The refusal of the Pencom Commission to approve the commission was one of the major issues in the dispute between the ASUU and the federal government. ADVERTISEMENT The federal government on Friday resumed talks with the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the ongoing strike in public universities across the country. The lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike on November 4, demanding improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government. The meeting, currently holding at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, is not the first since the beginning of the strike. Prior to Fridays meeting, at least eight other meetings held between both parties. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES earlier this week, the national president of the union, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the leadership of ASUU was still consulting with its members. Mr Ogunyemi said the union would communicate its decision to the federal government before the end of the week. In his opening remark on Friday, Mr Ogunyemi commended the government for issuing certificate for operation for the Nigerian University Pension Management Company from the National Pension Commission. ASUU on Monday received the certificate of operation for the pension management company. The refusal of the pencom commission to approve the teachers unions pension commission for operation was one of the major issues in the dispute between the ASUU and the federal government. Mr Ogunyemi said there are other areas the government needs to attend so that the strike can be resolved as soon as possible. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the union asked the Nigerian government to release N50 billion to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements with them. The striking lecturers gave this as one of the conditions for calling off the strike. A major issue dragging the negotiations forth and back is the revitalisation of the universities. At present, the government is yet to release the N1.1 trillion it agreed to release as part of the funds for the project. The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities need N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. The fund was to be released in tranches of N200 billion in 2013; N220 billion 2014; N220 billion 2015; 220 billion in 2016; N220 billion in 2017 and N220 billion in 2018. The previous government of Goodluck Jonathan released N200 billion in 2013. Since then, no major bulk sum has been released. ADVERTISEMENT The scheduled arraignment of the former head of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Folashade, on Friday could not go on as the defendants failed to present themselves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. An EFCC prosecutor told journalists the commission would issue a statement shortly about the development. The couple had been scheduled to be arraigned before a federal court in Lagos on a four-count charge of money laundering running into millions of dollars. A source within the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that they had been waiting for Mr Oke and his wife to report to the agencys Lagos office but without success. Mr Oke was removed from office in October 2017 after millions of dollars belonging to the NIA were found in an apartment in Lagos. In count one of the charges filed by the EFCC, the couple were accused of hiding $43 million belonging to the federal government in an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. The second count stated that the couple indirectly used $1.6 million of government money to acquire an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi. The government listed 13 witnesses including those who would give evidence of how they received almost $300 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria and delivered to Mr Oke. The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, says Nigerian leaders should be prepared to build more prisons and cemeteries if they fail to invest in education. The governor said there is a direct relationship between the unrest in the Niger Delta and the low level of education, unemployment and under-employment. Mr Dickson said this in Abuja on Thursday while receiving the letter of recognition and approval for Bayelsa Medical University at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC). We sit here and all our children are going to neighbouring countries and they are paying in dollars. Nigerians are hungry for good and quality education. The enrolment figures have increased in our schools so we have to think of the third and a specialised university, he said. Mr Dickson said funding is one of the reasons for the depreciation of universities in Nigeria. Nigeria universities cannot afford to be cheaper than our nursery and primary schools and this is the fault of our government. When it comes to nursery and primary schools, we pay higher but when it comes to funding universities, we play politics with it, he said. The Executive Secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, said the university will become the 48th state university in the country with effect from January 31. He urged the state government to adhere strictly to the technical advice which includes the rules and regulation of the commission. There are 169 universities in the country, 43 are owned by the federal government, 47 are owned by state government, 75 are privately owned, he said. According to him, Nigeria now has four specialised medical universities in Nigeria. Bayelsa state university is now the second medical public university in Nigeria and the fourth medical university in Nigeria. The public medical universities are situated in Port Harcourt and Lagos State while the two private medical universities are in Ondo State and Bayelsa State, he said. The four medical universities are Bayelsa State Medical University, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Port Harcourt and Eko University of Medical Sciences, Lagos. Seriake Dickson He said JAMB, TETFUND and NYSC had been informed of the creation of the university. Mr Rasheed said about one per cent of Nigerias population is in the university. The reason for more universities is because the 169 universities have a total enrolment of only two million students and we are a population of about 2000 million people. If you google search, you will find out that countries with only one-third of our population have up to 500 universities, he said. The Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of four new private universities in January. The new universities are Greenfield University, Kaduna; Dominion University, Ibadan Oyo State; Trinity University, Ogun State and Westland University in Iwo, Osun State. GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING A HIGHER INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA ADVERTISEMENT Pursuant to the recommendations of the Commission on the Review of Higher Education in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved guidelines for the establishment of higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. Relevant excerpts contained in the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) (Amendment Decree No. 9 of 1993 are reproduced here under:- 19A. An institution of Higher Education may be sponsored or owned by the Government of the Federation or of a State or Local Government or by any of the following, that is:- a. By a Company incorporated in Nigeria: or b. By an individual or association of individuals who are citizens of Nigeria, and who satisfy the criteria set out in the Schedule to this Act for establishment of institutions. 19B-(1) Application for the establishment of an institution of higher education shall be made to the Minister:- a. in the case of a University, through the National Universities Commission: b. in the case of a Polytechnic or College of Agriculture, through the National Board for Technical Education; c. in the case of a College of Education, through the National Commission for Colleges of Education; and d. in any other case, through the Director-General of the Federal Ministry of Education, in accordance with the guidelines prescribed for making the application. (2) No State, Local Government or tertiary institution shall benefit from the education tax with respect to a tertiary institution unless the application for the establishment of that tertiary institution was made in accordance with the provision of subsection (1) of this section. (3) No person shall be granted approval to establish an institution of higher education unless the criteria set out in the Schedule to this Act have been satisfied. CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHING AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION (1) The academic structure and spread of discipline of the institution shall be such as would cater for areas of felt needs. (2) 1. Evidence shall be produced to show that the institution would be provided with adequate:- (a) Funding, both Capital and Recurrent; (b) Academic and Support Staff. 2. The proposed staffing guidelines shall meet with current guidelines of :- (a) The National Universities Commission; or (b) The National Board for Technical Education; or (c) The National Commission for Colleges of Education, as the case may be. (3) The Federal Government must be satisfied that, on approval being given, the sources of funding and necessary funds will be available. (4) The Federal Government or its accredited agency shall ascertain and be satisfied itself that:- (a) The fixed and enabling assets, that is, funds, land, movable and immovable assets, are appropriate for establishing the institution in the light of such factors as:- i. The type of institution envisaged ii. Its philosophy and objectives, iii. The cost of goods and services prevailing at the time; (b) The assets shall be assigned to the institution on approval being given for the institution to be established; and (c) That the applicant has supplied a concrete and guaranteed source of financial support for the University to the tune of N200 million, N100 million for Polytechnic or Mono technic, and N50 million for a College of Education, over a period of 5 years. (5) (1) A proposed institution shall have clearly spelt out master plan for infrastructural and programme development for at least 20 to 25 years which shall make adequate provision for:- (a) Plan space, aesthetic beauty and fixed final assets; (b) Minimum land area of 100 hectares for a University, 50 hectares for a Polytechnic or Monotechnic and 25 hectares for a College of Education, in a salutary site. (2) The site distance from an urban complex shall take into account availability of municipal services, including water, transportation, private accommodation, communication and other consequential inadequate in its Community. (6) (1) A proposed institution shall have an adequate environment base and shall be open to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic derivation, social status, religious or political persuasion. (2) Accordingly, its laws and status shall not conflict with the conventional responsibilities in academia or interfere with avowed traditional institutional autonomy. (7) To pre-empt problems of inadequate municipal facilities, the proposed institution shall have a clear policy on student and staff accommodation and catering services. (8) The proposed institution shall have a well-articulated mission and set of objectives which may be original and innovative but unequivocally in consonance with the socio-economic and political aspirations of Nigeria. (9) To create and sustain credibility and confidence from the start, the administrative structure of the proposed institution shall not depart too radically from established norms. (10) The library, laboratory and workshop facilities including instructional tools and consumables, shall be adequate and there shall be long-range plans for sustaining them. (11) The planning and feasibility report of the proposed institution include proposed contracts and affiliation with existing similar institutions and plans for cooperation and interaction. (12) The criteria set out in this Schedule shall also apply to a proposed institution which is an Open University except that:- (a)The minimum land area requirement shall not apply; and (b) Guidelines prescribed by the appropriate authority as regard technical infrastructure for functional and effective operation shall be satisfied ADVERTISEMENT The electoral commission, INEC, has released the full list of candidates cleared to contest the state assembly and governorship elections. The governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled to hold on March 2 across Nigeria. In the list sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the commission, no candidates of Nigerias ruling party, APC, were listed for Rivers and Zamfara states. INEC had said it would not allow the APC field candidates in Zamfara because the party did not hold primaries within the stipulated time. Internal wrangling among leaders of the APC in Zamfara led to the inability to hold the primaries within the stipulated time. Although the APC faction loyal to Governor Abdulaziz Yari claims it held congresses and has candidates, the faction loyal to a senator, Kabiru Marafa, has insisted no primaries held. The party headquarters also said no primaries held but said it adopted consensus candidates within the stipulated time. PREMIUM TIMES reported how two separate courts in Abuja and Zamfara gave conflicting judgements on INECs stance. While the court in Abuja said the commission acted right, that in Zamfara ruled that the APC did conduct primaries and INEC should ensure the party presents candidates for the general elections. The electoral commission, however, says it would abide by the judgement of the Abuja court. In Rivers, a federal high court recently ruled that the APC disobeyed a high court order on its congresses and so its primaries that produced its candidates were null and void. The APC in Rivers is split into two, with a faction loyal to the transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and another loyal to a senator, Magnus Abe. It is based on the high court ruling that INEC refused to recognise any APC candidate in Rivers. The commission, however, said it would wait to see if the appeal court would give a different ruling on the controversy. DOWNLOAD LIST OF GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES Eight staff of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) who were unjustly sacked five years ago have been reinstated. The victims, who are all chartered accountants, include the former bursar of the institution, Olu Ibirogba, and seven other staffers of the colleges bursary department. One of the reinstated workers, Bashiru Adedeji, died on January 9, 2017, following complications that set in after he was operated for an ailment at a hospital in Ibadan. The other affected workers, are Charles Akarayi, Bamidele Ajinde, Olusola Dada, Mopelola Ibitomi, Funmilayo Dada and Temilola Akinwusi. The reinstatement followed a 2018 judgement of the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Lagos, which voided Mr Ibirogbas dismissal and ordered the governing council and the management of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to immediately reinstate him. Mr Ibirogba was initially suspended in 2013 before he was sacked alongside seven others in 2014 for exposing alleged corrupt practices in the institution. In its judgement in 2018, the court also awarded damages and legal costs to the tune of N21 million to be paid by the college to Mr Ibirogba, who it said had suffered injustice by being unfairly sacked. In the judgement, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES, the presiding judge, O.A Obaseki-Osaghae, also directed the institution to pay Mr Ibirogba all outstanding salaries and benefits due to him since he was dismissed in July 2015. According to Ms Obaseki-Osaghae, the same court had in July 2015 ruled in favour of the claimant, Mr Ibirogba, in a similar matter he filed against the institutions Council, Management and the then Rector, Margaret Ladipo, over what the court described as his illegal suspension. Ms Obaseki-Osaghae had lambasted the counsel to Yabatech, Omolola Satar, whom she said did not advise his client properly. She said the action of the institution while the case lasted was a disrespect of the judicial process and the rule of law. She also directed the Inspector General of Police and the chairpersons of two anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC, to commence investigations into the allegations of corruption raised by Mr Ibirogba against the immediate past management of the college. Justice Obaseki-Osaghae, who ordered the council of the school to pay Mr Ibirogba all his accrued benefits, directed that this should be done within 30 days, or the monies would attract a 10 per cent interest. I find that there was a calculated and deliberate attempt by the defendants to subvert the cause and administration of justice. This is one of the instances the Court must grant punitive costs to forestall a repeat of the contemptuous actions of the defendants. Consequently, I award the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) as punitive damages jointly and severally against the defendants for the unjust termination of the claimants appointment and deliberate attempt by the defendants to subvert the cause of justice, the judge ruled. In obeying the ruling, the management of the institution, led by the new Rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, and the polytechnics governing council chaired by Lateef Fagbemi, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said they had reached a middle ground with the affected staff. The management agreed to reinstate Mr Ibirogba and the seven others with the condition that their salaries and allowances attached to their levels at the point of their exit would be paid while their promotion would be effected notionally. Mr Ibirogba was asked to report to the Epe Campus of the polytechnic as a director. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ibirogba thanked Nigerians including President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and particularly the media for standing in their defence while the matter lasted. He said: We sincerely appreciate everyone who stood by us and all those who intervened to ensure that there is an amicable resolution at the end of the day. ADVERTISEMENT Our heart is with one of us who unfortunately died before this resolution. Mr Adedeji was not only a team player but core professional. Speaking on behalf of the college, the Public Relations Officer, Ndubueze Ejiofor, said as a law-abiding institution, the college has reinstated all the affected workers. He said relevant steps are being taken to get them settled comfortably at work. In a short message to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ejiofor said; The dismissed bursary staff were reinstated based on a valid court judgement, with the terms of agreement in reference to the judgement implemented. By this, I mean the terms of agreement in line with the court judgement have been adhered to by the college. ADVERTISEMENT The Chief Medical Director-designate of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Jesse Otegbayo, has pledged to transit the facility from a tertiary to a quaternary healthcare institution. Mr Otegbayo made this pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Friday. We are trying to move from what we are, which is a tertiary hospital to a quaternary level hospital. Tertiary is the 3rd level while quaternary is the last and the 4th level and that is where we want to go. And what do I mean by that, how do we get there? There are lots of clinical services and investigations that are highly technical that are done at the quaternary level and may not be available at the tertiary health level. Things like Assisted Reproductive Technology- Invitro Fertilization (IVF), Heart transplant, Cardiac Catheterisation and all kinds of transplantation including Liver, Kidney and so on. All these forms of treatment would become routine. And, of course when we put good clinical services in place, it will form a bedrock of landmark and elegant research. Mr Otegbayo further said the transition would be made possible through training and retraining of staff, as well as investment in relevant equipment and specialisations. In order to achieve this vision, we will give priority to delivering value for money through the provision of excellent patient care. We will aim to be a leading training and educational centre, driven by compassionate, efficient and effective leadership, as well as staff desire to commit to excellent health care delivery. As CMD, I will provide the strategic leadership to ensure that the mandate of the hospital, under the guidance of the Board of Management is actualised. Mr Otegbayo also promised to harness and deploy the collective energies of management and staff of the hospital by setting the agenda for accelerated and advanced development of the facility in line with the vision of the Federal Government. He said his administration would ensure industrial harmony, completion of on-going projects by previous management, adding that it would provide quality healthcare for all and sundry irrespective of their background and social status. NAN reports that the CMD designate is a professor of Medicine with sub- speciality in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is expected to assume office on March 1, while the current CMD, Temitope Alonge, will leave office on February 28. (NAN) 'Unplanned' Premieres in US Theaters March 29, 2019 Former abortion industry worker and Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year turns whistleblower to abortion giant after assisting in an ultra-sound guided abortion procedure Contact: Kristina Hernandez, 908-902-8473 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2019 /Christian Newswire/ -- UNPLANNED: THE TRUE STORY OF ABBY JOHNSON - in theaters nationwide March 29, 2019 - is the dramatic account of a former Planned Parenthood superstar. Johnson was one of their greatest allies as the youngest director of a clinic in the nation, until she walked out after assisting in an abortion of a 13-week-old fetus. Johnson worked for the abortion industry for eight years and was awarded the 2008 Employee of the Year at Planned Parenthood. She became a national headline when she walked out and even though Planned Parenthood tried to silence her, no court found their arguments credible. CLICK HERE TO VIEW TRAILER "I thought I was helping women," said Abby Johnson, founder and director of And Then There Were None, the only group in the country that helps abortion workers exit the industry and find them new jobs. "But I was doing more harm than good. It wasn't until I saw a child fight for its life that my world came crashing down and I understood the enormity of my actions. I had to leave. No one will be able to walk away after seeing this movie and say 'I didn't know.'" During her time as director of Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas, Johnson facilitated over 22,000 abortions. Since leaving, she has helped nearly 500 former abortion workers, including seven doctors, leave their jobs and find fulfilling careers outside of the abortion industry. Bringing to life this powerful real-life story of redemption and love, UNPLANNED stars Ashley Bratcher (WAR ROOM, 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN) as Johnson; Brooks Ryan as her husband, Doug; Robia Scott (CSI, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) as Abby's superior at Planned Parenthood; Emma Elle Roberts (HUNGER GAMES:MOCKING JAY, I AM NOT ASHAMED, ) as Marilisa Carney, Kaiser Johnson (LITTLE BOY, VAMPIRE DIARIES, SLEEPY HOLLOW); and Jared Lotz (OF LITTLE CONVENIENCE, THANKSGIVING) as Shawn Carney. Actress Ashley Bratcher was nearly aborted by her own mother, which she didn't find out until filming began. "I was born for this role," said Bratcher. Written, produced and directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, (GOD'S NOT DEAD, GOD'S NOT DEAD 2, DO YOU BELIEVE) and produced by Daryl Lefever (I CAN ONLY IMAGINE), UNPLANNED puts the story of the Abby Johnson, the most prominent defector from the abortion industry, on the big screen at a time when the life issue is hanging in the balance amidst a divided political landscape. "This is the most important movie anyone will ever see on the most controversial issue of our time," said Solomon and Konzelman. "When UNPLANNED comes to theaters, this movie will make abortion unpopular." With nearly one million abortions that take place each year in the United States, and public opinion evenly split on the topic, UNPLANNED shows what life is like on both sides of the fence. During the March for Life Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City and the head of the U.S. Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, gave the film a rousing endorsement during his homily, "If you see one film this year, see UNPLANNED ... I warn you, UNPLANNED is graphic, it's painful, but at the same time, inspiring ..." For more information on UNPLANNED, visit www.unplanned.com. For key art and images, see this link. For interviews, please contact Kristina Hernandez at 908-902-8473 or khernandez@carmelcommunications.com. Share Tweet PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 11:00:26 Press Information Fact.MR Office: Dublin 2 Suite 9884 27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Sudip Saha Head of Marketing +353-1-4434-232 email https://www.factmr.com/ # 888 Words Office: Dublin 2Suite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandHead of Marketing+353-1-4434-232 UV Cured Inks Market: IntroductionUV ink is a type of digital printing ink that uses the ultra-violet light to dry or cure the inks as it printed. Based on the ink and drying property, there are mainly two types of inks available that are UV Cured Inks printing and conventional inks printing. The printing process of both UV Cured Inks printing and conventional inks printing is exactly the same, the only difference is in the ink and dry process associated with those ink. Most of the printers are now using UV Cured Inks printing, due to the many advantages over the conventional inks printing that includes conventional inks printers are mostly using solvent inks and the solvent inks are not the best option for the printing because these types of inks are easily evaporate into the air and releases VOCs. Conventional inks often require additional spray powder to dry the ink because conventional inks are easily absorbed by the paper, the color dilutes into the paper and reduces the brightness of the paper color. Conventional inks are absorbed by the substance they are printed, so we cannot use the conventional inks printer on the materials such as plastics, acrylics or foils. The UV Cured Inks are dry through the petrochemical process and the UV Cured Inks are exposes to the ultra violet as they are printed, immediately turned from liquid to solid with little evaporation of solvent and no absorption of ink stored in the paper. Due to the less absorption property, we can print easily whatever we want by using the UV Cured Inks. Since the UV Cured Inks dry immediately, they releases no VOCs into the environment. Thus, the UV ink printers are using green technology, for safe the environment and leaving an almost zero carbon footprint. UV Cured Inks are used in the various printing applications such as digital printing, screen printing, gravure printing, flexographic and offset printing.Get Free Exclusive Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2532 UV Cured Inks Market: DynamicsThe global UV Cured Inks market is projected to grow over the forecast period, due to the increase in the demand for UV Cured Inks in various industries such as automotive, medical, packaging, publication and commercial printing. The demand for UV Cured Inks is expected to increase in the automotive industry, due to the increase in the sales, repair and maintenance of vehicles. The growth of end-use industries such as medical, automotive, publication and commercial printing, building and construction in the developed and developing countries, such as the U.S., Germany, India, Japan and China is expected to be one of the major factors driving the growth of the global UV Cured Inks market. The demand for UV Cured Inks in North America and Asia is expected to increase due to the growth in the manufacturing, development, and new technology innovation in the coming years. The increase in raw material price can be the major restraints for the global UV Cured Inks market, due to the increase in raw material price the major global players can partnership with various companies and distributors to sell the products and to increase their footprint in the global UV Cured Inks market. However, due to the technological advancement, research and development activities are expected to create opportunities for the major players in the global UV Cured Inks market. Technological advancement and innovation to produce UV Cured Inks are 99.5% volatile organic compound and it is environment friendly products. UV Cured Inks are mostly used in the automotive, medical, packaging, publication and commercial printing.UV Cured Inks Market: Regional OutlookNorth America prominently generate revenue in UV Cured Inks market in 2017, also anticipated to grow significantly due to the increasing demand for automotive, medical, packaging, publication and commercial printing industries. Europe is projected to be the prominent revenue generating region in the global UV Cured Inks market by 2028, owing to the growing demand from the medical, automotive, and packaging industries. Due to growing industry, increasing scope in packaging, labeling and printing applications. China and other parts of Asia Pacific, the UV Cured Inks market in these regions is expected to increase during the forecast period. Latin America, Africa, and Middle East are growing markets for UV Cured Inks.Ask For Customized Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=2532 UV Cured Inks Market: Key Participants:Examples of some of the key players in the UV Cured Inks are:Eastern marking machine corp.APV engineered coatingsDartronics Inc.ITW trans techLeibinger InkjetRuco USARicoh CompanyDIC CorporationToyo Ink Co., LtdT&K TOKA CO., LTDFlint GroupINX International Ink CoFUJIFILM Holdings America CorporationSiegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaAFor more information on this report, please visit: https://www.factmr.com/report/2532/uv-cured-inks-market About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@ factmr.com Web: www.factmr.com/ Read Industrial News : http://insiderstribune.com/ Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Solar Micro Inverters Market " report to their offering Future Market insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:28:37 Press Information Future Market insight 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 Bhudholia MANAGER 8455795705 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 993 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.comMANAGER8455795705 The first commercially successful micro inverter was launched by Enphase in 2008, which played a key role in popularising solar micro inverters globally. Currently, the global market comprises numerous domestic as well as international players supplying quality micro inverters.Modularity, safety, and maximum energy harvest will continue to drive the market at a considerable pace through 2020. Till recent years, the demand for micro inverters was highly restricted to North America. However, the market is gradually shifting toward commercial applications, and witnessing expansion in most of the developed as well as developing regions outside the U.S.Adoption of solar micro inverters has gained momentum in the recent past, resulting in a growing market in developing nations, including Asia Pacific. Improved device features and enhanced efficiency are currently pushing the market in APAC, which is projected to continue in the near future as well, creating a lucrative market for micro inverters on a global level.APAC Solar Micro Inverters Market: Key DriversDeclining Prices to Push DemandThe market is currently growing at a considerable pace. Persistent advances in R&D of solar micro inverters and substantial reduction in costs of micro inverters are estimated to boost the market during the forecast period.Get More Information @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/asia-pacific-solar-micro-inverters-market Size and Modularity to Impact Maximum ApplicationsCompact size and high modularity of solar micro inverters make them ideal for residential applications. These two are the key drivers why micro inverters are currently gaining an impetus at a global level.Superiority over Conventional Inverters is a Key DriverSolar micro inverters are superior over conventional centralised or string inverters in various ways.Unlike string inverters, micro inverters are tolerant to shade and do not let the power generation performance of individual solar panels drop, even if the area surrounding them is shady. This character is identified as one of the key factors positively influencing the demand for micro inverters when it comes to their efficiency.Contrary to centralised inverters, solar micro inverters are compact in size and do not need separate air cooling, resulting in lesser heat loss. This is another factor fuelling the demand for micro inverters in the market.Moreover, a broken string or centralised inverter faces halted performance merely due to a defect in one panel, whereas a defective panel in a micro inverter does not degrade the performance of the entire system because the system architecture allows individual panel monitoring. The maximum power is generated through MPPT. This has been an important driver in popularising micro inverters over the years.Higher Costs Can Create ChallengesHowever, relatively higher initial costs associated with installation and replacement of micro inverts may continue to create a major roadblock for solar micro inverters from becoming a widely commonplace device across Asia Pacific. Furthermore, installation of micro inverters requires the installation of another extra monitoring device - a communication bus, in addition to the basic common monitoring system. This in turn adds up to the final costs.APAC Solar Micro Inverters Market SegmentationFMIs research offers a six-year forecast, segmenting the APAC market for solar micro inverters based on the type, consumer, and application.Based on the type, the market is segmented into standalone solar micro inverter market and grid tied solar micro inverter market. On the basis of consumers, the solar micro inverter market in Asia Pacific is segmented as urban and rural. The urban segment dominates the market owing to rising awareness about alternate energy usage and growing population density in urban areas.According to the application, the solar micro inverters market in APAC is segmented as residential and commercial. As micro inverters are economically lesser affordable compared to other traditional inverters, their residential applications find a lower market share in economically sensitive regions in Asia Pacific. However, the commercial solar micro inverter market application currently dominates the market.Market to Explore Untapped Growth Opportunities in APACAlthough the U.S. is a leading market for solar micro inverters, adoption of solar micro inverters is expected to gain traction in Asia Pacific, especially in India, Japan, and Australia. Soaring fuel prices, burgeoning demand for power supply, and favourable government policies are currently driving the market in APAC.Regional Analysis: APAC Solar Micro Inverters MarketIndia, owing to the availability of ample renewable energy sources, captures a prominent position in the APAC market for micro inverters. Growing awareness about benefits of micro inverters and widespread adoption of renewable energy sources for agriculture are expected to fuel the demand for solar micro inverters across India. The Union Budget of India for 2014-15 has clearly indicated emphasis on using solar for electricity generation. This is a key factor, anticipated to provide momentum to the market for micro inverters in and post-2016.Japan, despite representing a key residential market potential, has been facing limited micro inverter shipments. Stringent certification norms are anticipated to govern the Japanese market but domestic suppliers are expected to encounter growing opportunities.Australia is a relatively emerging market for photovoltaics, which makes it an unestablished market for string and centralised inverters. The Australian market, since the past few years, has been reflecting growing demand for micro inverters and FMIs research indicates string growth prospects for micro inverter suppliers. Recently, Enphase announced to commercially launch their AC battery first in Australia, later this year. ARENA Australia, through ample of renewable energy funds, will continue to provide an additional thrust to the market.In addition, there are other expanding market, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines. Malaysia hosts several off-grid projects, whereas Indonesia is up for a thousand islands project. Philippines is also continually initiating multiple rural electrification projects. Utility companies located in all the three countries are currently prioritising rural electrification.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-ap-278 Key Players in APAC Solar Micro Inverters MarketKey participants in the Asia Pacific market for solar micro inverters, include Enphase Energy, Solar Bridge Technologies, SolarEdge, Green Ray Solar, and Enecsys PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 11:00:28 Press Information Fact.MR Office: Dublin 2 Suite 9884 27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Sudip Saha Head of Marketing +353-1-4434-232 email https://www.factmr.com/ # 705 Words Office: Dublin 2Suite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandHead of Marketing+353-1-4434-232 Tire and Rubber Lubricants Market: IntroductionTire and rubber lubricants are slippery fluids used to produce products such as rubber bands, toys and tires and mount & demount tires on the rim of a wheel. Moreover, tire and rubber lubricants are used during the mixing of rubber compounds to improve the dispersion fillers and flow characteristics of the compounds during the manufacturing process of different rubber products as well as giant vehicle tires. Additionally, tire and rubber lubricants are also used as rubber or tire assembly lubricants as rubber materials are intrinsically difficult to remove, install, or otherwise manipulate even when wet. The benefits of tire and rubber lubricants as rubber assembly lubricants include reduced installation force, closer fit, improved performance, reduced damage to parts and reduced accidental conditions, among others.Furthermore, tire and rubber lubricants exhibit adequate miscibility and excellent plasticizing properties. Attributing to these properties, tire and rubber lubricants reduce the viscosity of rubber compounds (making rubber processing easier or more efficient), enhance mechanical properties, improve the braking efficiency and fuel consumption of the automotive and improve versatile range to adjust solvency. Tire and rubber lubricants also improve the low-temperature performance of tire and rubber products.Moreover, tire and rubber lubricants are developed taking into consideration the type of rubber and end product application. Thus, they can be categorized into different grades, i.e. aromatic, paraffinic and naphthenic.Get Free Exclusive Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2530 Tire and Rubber Lubricants Market: DynamicsThe growth of the tire and rubber lubricants market can be attributed to the growing consumption of tire and rubber lubricants in the manufacturing of vehicle tires. Growth of the automotive industry across the globe has contributed to the increasing demand for rubber tires in the automotive sector.On the other hand, tire and rubber lubricants are highly toxic and carcinogenic, due to the presence of high polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs) in these lubricants. This may hamper the demand for tire and rubber lubricants during the forecast period.Tire and Rubber Lubricants Market: Regional outlookAsia Pacific is estimated to account for a dominant share in the tire and rubber lubricants market, owing to the strong investments in China, Japan and India for continuous innovations towards energy efficiency, eco-friendliness and automation in the automotive industry. The growth of the Asia Pacific tire and rubber lubricant market can be attributed to the increase in the sales of automotive in the region, which is expected to boost the consumption of tire and rubber lubricants in the region during the forecast period. Major automobile companies are outsourcing their parts from Asia Pacific on account of the low prices. Such factors are expected to drive the tire and rubber lubricants market over the forecast period.The tire and rubber lubricants market in North America has been witnessing sustainable growth, owing to the demand for high-efficiency automotive in the U.S. and Canada. Europe is estimated to account for considerable growth of the tire and rubber lubricants market, owing to an increase in the number of manufacturers and the growing sales of automotive parts in the region during the forecast period.Ask For Customized Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=2530 Tire and Rubber Lubricants Market: Market participantsSome of the market participants involved in the tire and rubber lubricants market are:Total S.A.Nynas ABWBF Pte Ltd.Repsol S.A.Behran Oil CompanyPanama Petrochem Ltd.Shell GlobalHindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)Indian Oil Corporation LimitedUnipetrol GroupIdemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.Apar Industries LtdCPC CorporationGulf Petroleum Ltd.Chevron CorporationSah Petroleums Ltd.For more information on this report, please visit: https://www.factmr.com/report/2530/tire-and-rubber-lubricants-market About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@ factmr.com Web: www.factmr.com/ Read Industrial News : http://insiderstribune.com/ Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 17:50:45 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 520 Words U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager+1 03479183531 Growing need for broadleaf weed regulation will continue to be the key driver to the demand for dicamba globally. The global dicamba market is foreseen to witness healthy growth, reaching a value worth US$ 313.3 Mn in 2016. North America may outpace the largest dicamba market i.e. Europe, in terms of Y-o-Y growth.Use of dicamba as an herbicide for controlling broadleaf weed in domestic, commercial, and non-commercial applications, will remain the primary factor fuelling the demand. Farmland maintenance is the most prominent driver to dicamba market growth. In addition to easy usage and widespread availability, rising need for food safety and security, and growing awareness about efficient crop protection, are likely to favour the growth of the dicamba market, especially in developing countries. Surging need for maximum crop yield without losing facing significant loss is also identified to be one of the important market drivers. Steadily increasing exports from China are foreseen to push the market growth further.A number of modern agricultural practices involve replacement or combination of glyphosate with dicamba, which may create lucrative opportunities. Moreover, wide acceptance of integrated pest management is also expected to spur the consumption of dicamba. The U.S. EPAs recent approval for the usage of a non-volatile dicamba-based herbicide by Monsanto is now considered to be a major booster to dicamba market growth. Emergence of innovative applications of dicamba in addressing multiple weed destruction will be another critical factor pushing the market.Request Sample Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2556 Drift damage caused due to the volatility of dicamba can remain a longstanding challenge to the market growth. Similarly, reported cases of illnesses and allergies in humans post-exposure to dicamba, will remain a major barrier to mass adoption. Strict regulations regarding approval is another key factor expected to restrain the market growth.With revenues beyond US$ 265.0 Mn in 2016, agriculture will continue to lead the market in terms of application, with over 84% market value share. Lawn and turf segment is also expected to register a remarkable market share of over 12% in 2016. While the Y-o-Y growth of agriculture segment is projected to be of around 8.7% in 2017 over 2016, that of the lawn and turf segment is estimated at 7.3%.Regionally, Europe is currently the largest market for dicamba. However, it may witness a slight decline post-2016. This region is likely to account for over 26% market share in 2016, whereas the revenues can reach beyond US$ 83 Mn. A higher growth rate is expected to be registered by North America, possibly accounting for almost 24% share of the market value in 2016. In 2017, Europe will exhibit a strong Y-o-Y growth of 7.7% over 2016, whereas that of North America is projected to be of 9.2%.BASF SE, E I du Pont de Nemours & Company, Monsanto Co., The Dow Chemical Company, Bayer AG, Nufarm Limited, and Syngenta AG are some of the leading companies competing in the global dicamba market. Recently, DuPont and Monsanto Co. announced a multi-year dicamba supply agreement, confined to North America.Long-term Outlook: The global dicamba market is expected to expand at a robust CAGR of 15.4%.Need more information about Report Methodology? @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2556 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 08:09:51 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 manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 666 Words 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.commanager+1 03479183531 In parallel with the rise in global consumption of alcoholic beverages, local entrepreneurs from all corners of the world have begun treading the waters of brewing businesses. A considerable rise in the number of microbreweries being set up across the globe is stimulating the growth in consumption of specialty malts a key ingredient for making alcoholic beverages such as beer. Innovations in brewing techniques has further consolidated the application of specialty malts in production of flavoured alcoholic beverages.A new research report from Future Market Insights reveals that the global market for specialty malts, which is currently valued at an estimated US$ 2.16 billion, is expected to soar at a steady CAGR of 6.4% and bring in revenues worth over US$ 4 billion by 2026 end.Since the growth in demand for specialty malts continues to remain contingent upon global alcoholic beverage consumption, more than one million tonnes of specialty malts are anticipated to be consumed through 2026. Incidentally, this will also shore up the global production of barley, wheat, corn, soybean and other grains used for deriving specialty malts. By lending a unique flavour, texture, and colour, the application of specialty malts continues to gain significance in production of beverages, revenues from which will impose nearly 90% share on global specialty malts market value throughout the forecast period. The research reveals that revenue share of alcoholic beverages in the global specialty malt market will remain consistent at nearly 82% through 2026. Meanwhile, about 130,000 tonnes of specialty malts were globally consumed for production of non-alcoholic drinks & beverages in 2016.Request Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2439 Western Europe Largest Consumer of Specialty MaltsWhen it comes to consuming flavoured alcoholic beverages, consumers in Western European countries such as Germany, France or Belgium will certainly not shy away. By the end of the forecast period, more than 500,000 tonnes of specialty malts will be consumed across Western Europe, making it the largest consumer of specialty malts in the world. With respect to production, the demand for specialty malts will register stellar growth in the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region. The APEJ specialty malts market will register the highest value CAGR of 7.8%, and procure over US$ 1 billion revenues during the projected period. North America and Latin America are anticipated to account for a collective share of more than 24% in global specialty malts revenues through 2026.Cargill, Inc. Largest Producer of Specialty MaltsWith more than 10% share in global revenues, Cargill Incorporated will retain its title as the largest producer of specialty malts in the world. With its manufacturing plants based in Germany, the company will also boost the status of Western Europe in the global specialty malts market. Joining Cargill in inducing higher production of specialty malts are prominent European companies, namely, IREKS GmbH, Viking Malt Oy, Groupe Soufflet, Malteurop, Axereal and Simpsons Malt Limited. Other key producers of specialty malts profiled in the research report include Australias GrainCorp Ltd., the Cooperative Agraria Agroindustrial of Brazil and Barmalt India Pvt. Ltd.Ask the Analyst @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-2439 In the report, titled Specialty Malts Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026, Future Market Insights discloses that global demand for caramelised malts will incur a decline in 2017 and beyond. While their dominance on global market revenues will be retained through 2026, the rate at which caramelised specialty malts are consumed in the world will be outpaced by surging consumption of roasted malts. By the end of forecast period, more than US$ 1.5 billion worth of roasted specialty malts are being projected to be sold in the world. Over two-third of global specialty malts production will be sourced from barley grain produce. Although, advancing farming techniques will also increase the production of specialty malts from wheat and rye grains. Likewise, dry extracts of specialty malts will dominate the global specialty malts revenues by accounting for a steady share of 69%. On the other hand, liquid and malt flour extracts will lose market presence in the years to come, exhibiting a marginal dip in their global revenue share. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 07:20:26 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us 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 sales@futuremarketinsights.com Sales 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 796 Words Contact UsFuture 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.comSales3479183531 Retinal biologics market value surpassed US$ 14.6 billion in 2018 and projected to grow at 10.7% y-o-y in 2019, as per a new FMI study. The projected growth of the market can be attributed to,Increasing prevalence of diabetic eye diseases and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)Significant R&D investments engaged in developing biologics for infectious and non-infectious retinal diseasesGrowing application of specific biologic molecules as a promising drug targetDevelopment of gene therapy as retinal biologics in the wake of large number of monogenic retinal disordersHigher specificity of retinal biologics as compared to other traditional therapies has escalated R&D efforts in the retinal drug delivery field. Rising burden of diseases as well as treatment on the back of ageing population and spread of diabetes epidemic have increased efforts in finding the cure of untreatable diseases. Greater strides to develop long-acting therapeutics in a bid to reduce disease burden is set to augur well for the retinal biologics market and generation of US$ 16.2 billion market value is projected in 2019, says FMI report.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8663 Promising Treatment of VEGF-A Antagonist Drug Translates to Hefty Revenue GenerationThe FMI study estimates that adoption of VEGF-A antagonist class of drugs remains higher as compared to TNF- inhibitor. In 2018, VEGF-A antagonist drugs witnessed significant penetration while accounting for a hefty 93% revenues of the retinal biologics market. Significant advances in developing biologics for VEGF-A antagonist therapy and their delivery to posterior ocular tissues are underway.Ubiquitous acceptance of VEGF-A antagonist therapy has led manufacturers to invest in the development of retinal biologics in a similar area. For instance, Eylea by Regeneron and Lucentis by Roche are VEGF-A antagonist drugs available in the market.The study finds that despite lower revenues, penetration of TNF- inhibitor drugs is likely to increase at a rapid pace in the coming years. In 2019, annual revenues of TNF- inhibitor drug class is expected to grow at an impressive rate of 11.6%.Retinal Biologics Find Prominent Use in Macular Degeneration TreatmentThe study opines that over 35% of the retinal biologics revenues were consolidated in the treatment of macular degeneration. Highest revenue growth of 12.3% is also expected in macular degeneration as compared to other indications where retinal biologics are used in 2019.Macular degeneration (MD) remains the leading cause of vision loss wherein it affects over 10 million Americans, the prevalence is higher than the combined incidences of cataract and glaucoma, as per the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF). As macular degeneration mainly affect people of age 50 years or more, with the ageing population, the prevalence of MD continues to rise despite improved treatment options.Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema treatments also significantly include retinal biologics in therapy. FMI shows that collectively both the disorders accounted for over 43% of the retinal biologics market revenues in 2018. Annual revenue growth in these two disorders is estimated to remain above 10% in 2019. Increasing incidences of diabetes complications on the back of growing epidemic of diabetes will continue to increase cases of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, thereby generating demand for retinal biologics in the coming years.Retinal Biologics Distribution in Specialty Clinics and Hospitals ProminentManufacturers in the retinal biologics market distribute the products through institutional and retail distribution channels. The FMI study finds that institutional sales will garner higher revenues in the retinal biologics market wherein retinal biologics are distributed in specialty clinics and hospitals. Sales in hospitals accounted for over 35% of the market revenues in 2018.The study estimates that retail sales of retinal biologics will garner similar revenues as that of hospitals and grow at 11.9% in 2019. Retail distribution occurs through retail pharmacies and mail order pharmacies of which retail pharmacies will register higher revenues as compared to its counterparts in the coming years.Penetration in North America Higher, APEJs Attractiveness to IncreaseNorth America continues to hold leading revenues in the retinal biologics market. According to FMI valuation, North America held over 46% of the global retinal biologics market revenues in 2018. Revenues in North America are expected to grow at 10.4% y-o-y in 2019 on the back of increasing prevalence of retinal disorders, steady growth of the healthcare infrastructure and favorable reimbursement scenario.Read Comprehensive Overview with Methodology of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-8663 Europe garnered nearly one-fourth revenues in the retinal biologics market, wherein a bulk of demand penetration was observed in Western European countries such as Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and others. The attractiveness of the APEJ retinal biologics market is expected to rise at the rate of 11% in 2019, wherein China and India remain the most lucrative markets.The FMI report tracks the retinal biologics market for the period 2018-2028. According to the report, the retinal biologics market is projected to grow at 11.1% CAGR through 2028. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Advanced Functional Materials Market " report to their offering Future Market insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:22:59 Press Information Future Market insight 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 Bhudholia MANAGER 8455795705 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 576 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.comMANAGER8455795705 Advanced functional materials offer a huge scope for study, as its horizon encompasses a wide range of products and applications across industries. Functional materials are generally considered to be materials which posses some native functional properties, and not materials with just load bearing capabilities. The advanced functional materials can be segmented by product types into: advanced functional ceramics, advanced functional composites, nano materials, advanced energy materials, and conductive polymers among others. These functional materials find applications in a host of end user applications.Advanced functional ceramics are used as components in electronic and electrical devices. Functional ceramics also finds extensive bio-medical applications. Apart from its use in manufacturing of medical devices, it is also used as femoral heads and acetabular cups in the hip replacement procedure. Functional ceramic is also used for dental implants and as scaffolds and bone fillers for tissue engineering. Advanced ceramic materials play a key role in the development of many fields such as energy and environmental technology, transportation and production technology. Nano materials also have interdisciplinary functions and are used in various applications in different chemicals, materials, electronic products, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace industry. A lot of research has been undertaken to explore other possible applications of nano materials, and the segment is assured of growth in the future.Get More Information @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-advanced-functional-materials-market Functional composites harness the desirable properties of several materials and combine them to produce a new functional material. Functional composites are extensively used in electronics, building and construction, automotive, marine and aerospace applications. It is also used to manufacture pipes, tanks and other consumer goods. Advanced energy materials refer to the materials which functionally store energy. These materials are used in applications such as batteries, flywheels, solar cells, super capacitors, and high energy density capacitors among others. This segment has witnessed strong demand due to the advent of portable electronic devices and renewable energy systems. The segment is also expected to grow faster than the industry growth rate with the growth in demand for advanced technologies across the world. Conductive polymers are organic polymers with the capability to conduct electricity. It is preferred to the metallic conductors, mainly due to their processability through dispersion.The largest market for advanced functional materials is Asia Pacific region. The demand for the different kinds of functional materials in this region is high due to the presence of manufacturing economies in this region. Automotive, aerospace, and electronics account for the bulk of the demand. China, India, Japan and South Korea are the main markets in this region. The demand from Asia Pacific was followed by that from North America and Europe. The Asia Pacific market is expected to witness the highest growth.Advanced functional composites are the largest market by product type. The market can be further sub segmented into metal matrix composites and fiber reinforced plastics by types. The advanced functional composites can be classified by strengthening mechanism into particle reinforced composite, fiber reinforced composite and dispersion strengthened. The fastest growing segment in advanced functional materials is nano particles, and it is expected to out-perform other functional materials in the foreseeable future.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-147 There are a lot of companies participating in the lucrative market. Some of the big players in advanced functional materials market are 3M Company, Applied Materials, Inc., CNANO Technologies Ltd., Bayer AG, Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. among many others Some of the key market players in real-time e-healthcare market are Fitbit, Garmin, Jawbone, Misfit Wearables, DexCom, Medtronic, Abbott, Cerner Corporation, GE Healthcare, Epic Systems Corporation, Medical Information Technology Inc. (MEDITECH). Real-Time E-Healthcare PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:06:37 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/ # 548 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 Real-time e-healthcare system is one of the best ways to keep your health records and track it anytime, without any geographical constraint. Patients can always stay in touch with their doctors and communicate with them about any health issue. They can self-check also for an immediate result without any third partys dependence. With advanced technology and rapid innovation, these days products are being made in such a way that it should be more consumer friendly and easy to use. Real-time e-healthcare system fulfills all the above criteria and hence, the market is growing at a positive rate.Recently, Kaiser Permanente implemented an EMR protocol in Community Health Centres in Oregon, US, to improve clinical decision support for patients with diabetes, which can remind them to prescribe hypertension medications to reduce heart attack and other strokes. iPatientCare EHR, Praxis, EMR, Insta HMS, e-MDs Chart, WRS Health, AccuMed, WEBeDoctor, A.I.med are some of the top Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software products.Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Drivers & RestraintsTechnological advancement, increasing disposable income, increase use of online services, increase use of mobile devices, increased health cost and expenditure, increasing need of an integrated healthcare system are the most important driving factors in real-time e-healthcare system market. Sine real-time e-healthcare system reduces medical errors and easily accessible information, the demand for real time e-healthcare system has increased regardless of the geographical location.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-593 Lack of inexperienced professionals, high maintenance and service cost, privacy concerns, the complexity of systems, less presence of real-time e-healthcare system in rural areas including developed nations like Europe and are acting as a barrier for real-time e-healthcare system market.Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: SegmentationReal-time e-healthcare system is broadly classified on the basis of the following segments By Product:Fitness Bands/wristband deviceClip on monitor devicesThermometerBlood-pressure monitor deviceM-health applicationsBlood glucose monitor devicesBy End-user:Public/Private HospitalsPharmacyIndividualsOthersReal-Time E-Healthcare System Market: OverviewThe real-time e-healthcare market has grown substantially at a healthy CAGR due to rising disposable income, increasing health awareness by consumers, ageing population and increasing healthcare expenditure. With rapid technological advancement and variety of options available in the market, real-time e-healthcare market is expected to grow globally. North America represents the largest market for this product category. Asia Pacific will emerge as the fastest growing region in real-time e-healthcare market.Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Region-wise OutlookThe real-time e-healthcare market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, real-time e-healthcare market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market due to the improved healthcare infrastructure and high healthcare cost and rising disposable income. Increase demand of cloud computing from the developed nations like Europe and North America may also increase the demand for real-time e-healthcare systems by the end of forecast period.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-593 Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in real-time e-healthcare market are Fitbit, Garmin, Jawbone, Misfit Wearables, DexCom, Medtronic, Abbott, Cerner Corporation, GE Healthcare, Epic Systems Corporation, Medical Information Technology Inc. (MEDITECH). The research Non-Vascular Stents report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. Non-Vascular Stents PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:19:20 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/ # 353 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 Stents are the tubes or other devices that placed in the body to generate a passage between hollow spaces. And stenting is process of placement of such stent in the body. Stents are used in both vascular as well as in non- vascular organ for various reasons such as palliation of transient and chronic obstructions of natural circulatory pathways that enable the transfer of air, bodily fluids, and other substances that are involved in systemic metabolic and energy exchange. Non-vascular stents are generally used to make a pathway in vessels of the body especially the arteries and veins that carry blood and lymph.Non-Vascular Stents Market: Drivers and RestraintsPresently, non-vascular stents global market drives by the technological advancement in healthcare global industry, rising disease prevalence of cancer and urolithiasis, increase in the aging population. Non-vascular stents global market drives by the rapid technological advancement in healthcare global industry, increase in the aging population, rising prevalence of cancer and urolithiasis, preference for minimally-invasive solutions, increased life expectancy. However, burden of rising regulation, proving long-term efficacy, pricing pressures, and medical devices excise taxes are some major barriers for this market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-653 on-Vascular Stents Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement, increase in the aging population, and rising prevalence of cancer and urolithiasis. The non-vascular stents global market is expected to have a healthy growth rate in the forecast period (2012-2025).Non-Vascular Stents Market: Region-wise outlookDepending on geographic region, global non-vascular stents market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America, Europe and Asia Pacific are the leading market regions for this market due to the rapid technological advancement and large aging population.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-653 Non-Vascular Stents Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating players in non-vascular stents global market are Boston Scientific Corporation, Covidien plc. Cook Medical, Allium Medical Solutions Ltd., Novatech Health Care, ConMed, W. L. Gore & Associates Inc., C.R. Bard, Merit Endotek, Micro-Tech (Nanjing) Co., Ltd, and others. On Sunday, the Korean congregation at Zion Lutheran Church, located in Belleville, IL, had a special service to send off Jeremy Shultz as a missionary to Joyful Lutheran Church in Korea. It is a very unusual occurrence for a Korean congregation in America to send an American to Korea as a missionary. After I was appointed assistant pastor for the Korean congregation at Zion Lutheran Church in February 2013, I had more time to talk to Jeremy, Pastor Jin O Jeong said. Prior to that, Jeremy came with his Korean friends to worship of Sunday, but after February of last year, while attending consistently, he became a formal member. Jeremy first came to the Korean church with his Korean friends that went to the same high school and became a formal member of the church that, he said, had a warm, family like atmosphere. I came with my friends at first because I was curious about a Korean church. I met Pastor Jeong and the church members, and because of their warm welcome and love, now Zion is not only my church, but like my family, he said. It was not easy for Jeremy to be an official member at the Korean church. But it was a much more difficult decision for him to be a Lutheran. This is because Jeremy, including the rest of his family was Catholic. Pastor Jeong said, When Jeremy told me that he would like to be a member of Korean Congregation at Zion Lutheran Church, at first I hesitated. So, I advised him to discuss with his family, and to think more about. However, his parents willingly gave him their permission, because they know that he loves Korean congregation so much. During the last two years while being in the Korean Church, Jeremy has learned the Korean language and culture. He continues to devote over three hours a day studying Korean. This effort enabled him to possess a proficient level of Korean. Currently, Jeremy studies political science in Loyola Chicago, and in September of this year, he is scheduled to study in Sogang University as an exchange student for a year. During this time Jeremy will do various activities to serve such as teaching English and Children Bible School - as a missionary for the Joyful Lutheran Church in Korea. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:53:58 An abrasive is a material that when rubbed against a surface, producesthe desired surface finish and shape. Abrasives are usually minerals that are often available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and types. They are usually used to clean, grind, scour, abrade or remove the solid material usually by using impact or by the rubbing action. Abrasives are mainly classified as bonded abrasives, steel abrasives, coated abrasives, loose abrasives grain and raw super abrasives, among others. The abrasives material or the abrasives product finds various applications in industries such as electrical & electronics, machinery, metal fabrication and transportation among others.Bonded abrasives are the natural or synthetic abrasive grains which are usually bonded into a solid form. Bonded abrasives are usually made of the abrasive grains that are closely sized and molded or pressed to produce a wide variety of the products. Bonded abrasives are usually in the shape of a wheel. The products range of the bonded abrasives also includes the snagging wheel, mounted wheel, grinding and the cut-off wheel, cones and plugs. Bonded abrasives are mainly used for precision grinding, cutting, rough grinding, lapping, sharpening and light grinding among others.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-357 The growing automobile industry is expected to boost the overall growth of the bonded abrasives market. Bonded abrasives are widely used in giving the required surface finish as well as the desired design to the automobiles. The increasing demands for the advanced technology based machineries are further expected to boost the demand for the bonded abrasives. The bonded abrasives help in the super finishing of the machine shaft in order to achieve the required roughness. The bonded abrasives are used in providing the smooth finish to the various tools and the machineries that are manufactured. The bonding abrasives are used in the polishing as well as deburring of the bore holes on the machine blocks. Regular maintenances of the workshops further boost the overall demand for the bonded abrasives market. The increasing use of the bonded abrasives for de-scaling and for the rust and dust removal has augmented the overall growth for the bonded abrasives market. The bonded abrasives are also widely used in the medical sector. Bonded abrasives are used to sharpen the dental tools. The bonded abrasives are also used for smoothening of the edges of the dental tools such that it is extremely convenient for the doctors to use the dental tools on the patients.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-357 The bonded abrasives segment accounts for the largest share within the global abrasives market. North America is expected to be the largest market for the bonded abrasives. The growing demand especially in U.S is expected to boost the growth of the global bonded abrasive market. Europe is expected to be the next largest consumer of the bonded abrasives especially due to the growing demand especially in Germany. Asia Pacific is expected to be fastest growing market for the bonded abrasives market mainly due to the presence of various end-use industries especially in China and India.Norton, 3M, Baystate, Tyrolit, Treibacher and Noritake among others are some of the key participants of the global bonded abrasives market. Companies are extensively conducting research in order to develop and introduce new products in the market such that they can efficiently cater the needs for the specific application. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:23:15 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 # 798 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 With the increasing infection outbreaks and growing awareness in the healthcare sector, infection control requirements are gaining greater significance. Emerging economies are working towards spreading awareness of the importance of infection control.Health Care Centers to recognize the Need for Infection Control and PreventionHealthcare centers are increasingly recognizing the need for effective infection control and prevention. Some healthcare centers taking measures for infection control by collaborating with infection control solution providers.For instance, CareOne, the post-acute care company has taken key measures for patient safety with the partnership with Reduce Infection Deaths, a dedicated organization working towards increasing awareness of infection control and prevention in the healthcare setup. Similarly, Hamad Medical Corporation encourages its clinical staff across the hospital network to take necessary actions for preventing hospital-acquired infections with the help of the Infection Prevention and Control Programme (IPCP). Furthermore, Department of Health (DOH) launched the infection control campaign with infection outbreak in two hospitals in Essex County and Passaic County.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-391 Increasing Awareness in Emerging Countries to Provide Sales Avenues for Infection Control Market ParticipantsEmerging countries promoting the concept of infection control and prevention by conducting programs and infection control workshops that are expected to provide revenue opportunities for infection control providers. For instance, the Super Specialty Hospital in Jammu, India held a workshop for infection control that included a presentation, reflecting protective measures and focused on promoting the idea of preventing infections effectively.Moreover, China has witnessed increasing prevalence of infectious diseases. For example, according to the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing registered 22 norovirus infection cases which were found collectively in children from middle school, elementary school, and even kindergarten. The cases were relatively higher than last year and there was also a weekly rise noted. This scenario would create a demand for efficient infection control in China. Owing to these factors Asia Pacific market would be a fruitful investment for the infection control market contributors.Furthermore, according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming an issue of top priority for OECD countries and beyond. They stated in their report that AMR is growing rapidly and is projected to create a large health concern followed by economic strain in OECD and European Union countries. This would create increasing demand for infection control in these regions.Key Infection Control Market Players Focus on Catering to Increasing Infection Prevention RequirementsThe infection control market participants focus on expanding their services to ensure effective remediation of infection, with the help of their enhanced infection control services for healthcare. The key players in the infection control market include Nordion, Inc. Johnson and Johnson, Belimed AG, Getinge Group, Cantel Medical Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, CISA Group, Steris Corporation, and Synergy Health plc.Steris Corporation has witnessed a growth of nearly 6 percent in the revenue of healthcare product category including the infection control products. Moreover, the company is also receiving contracts for infection control, such as the one received from Detroit Medical Center hospitals, which highlights its continual contribution to the infection control market.Cantel Medical Corporation, a leading infection control market player has been carrying out expansion strategies to strengthen their product portfolio. These strategies allow the company to acquire a stronger market presence while providing its range of products to the customers. In line with this, the infection control market player acquired the Stericycle, Inc.s Controlled Environmental Solutions business for $17 million, with an aim to strengthen its infection control and prevention solution portfolio. The company also acquired Aexis Medical to advance its leadership footprint in infection prevention with its entry in the market for healthcare information analytics.Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the infection control market participant has also been focusing on expansion strategies. The $30 million deal for improving and expanding the production facility in North Carolina is the companys strategy to strengthen their market presence.Understanding the Key Market Segments of Infection Control MarketThe infection control market is categorized on the basis of type of product, its application and the end user segment. On the basis of application the infection control market is classified into surface disinfection and surgical disinfection, while the end use category elements include diagnostic laboratories, academic institutions, clinics, and hospitals.When classified on the basis of the product type, the division is done in an in-depth manner and the elements in this category include:Non-Woven DisposableDrapesGownsSterilization WrapsFace MaskSterilization EquipmentHeat Sterilization EquipmentMoist Heat Sterilization EquipmentDry Heat Sterilization EquipmentLow Temperature Sterilization EquipmentRadiation Sterilization EquipmentDisinfection EquipmentDisinfectorWasher DisinfectorFlusher DisinfectorEndoscopic Reprocessor SystemsHigh-End Endoscopic Reprocessor SystemsMid-Range Endoscopic Reprocessor SystemsLow-End Endoscopic Reprocessor SystemsDisinfectantsRequest to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-391 Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 17:52:42 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 476 Words U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager+1 03479183531 Competitive advantage of adopting power tools has lowered the adoption of hand tools. Multiple industrial operations are being equipped with power tools to benefit from their cost-effectiveness, lesser labour-induced work and higher efficiency. Furthermore, advancements in existing power tools are swiftly outpacing the upgrades done on conventional hand tools. In the long run, there is a possibility that hand tools might lose their applicability to power tools. Future Market Insights projects that during the forecast period 2017-2027, the global market for hand tools will showcase a moderate growth, registering a CAGR of 3.9%.Future Market Insights recently published report, titled Hand Tools Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2017-2027, estimates the global hand tools market to reach US$ 15.6 Bn value by end of 2017. In the ten-year forecast period, the global demand for hand tools is likely to witness a downtrend, bringing in just over US$ 22.3 Bn in revenues towards the end of 2027. Factors impacting the growth of global hand tools market are compiled in the report, which include:There has been a rise in the number of major manufacturing plants and industries in the world, wherein hand tools are widely used for maintenance purposesAutomotive repair & maintenance sector is presently a lucrative industrial vertical for application of hand toolsAlthough, the global demand for hand tools is predicted to decline due to rising prices of raw materials such as iron ore and aluminiumRequest Sample Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1114 Increasing prevalence of DIY activities and rising employment opportunities for technical jobs are observed as key trends of the global hand tools market. The report further reveals that a majority of hand tools sold in the world will be used for industrial purposes. In 2017, industrial application of hand tools is expected to net global revenues worth over US$ 9.3 Bn. Key findings in the report also indicate that metal cutting tools will be observed as top-selling products, registering a steady revenue growth at 4.9% CAGR. Also, throughout the forecast period, over 40% of global hand tool sales will be accounted by retail distribution channels. Online distribution of hand tools is also expected to gain traction towards the latter half of forecast period.North America is estimated to remain as the most-lucrative region for growth of hand tools market. Consistently procuring one-third share on global revenues, North America will remain the dominant region in the global hand tools market through 2027. On the other hand, the hand tools market in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region will register fastest revenue growth, exhibiting 6% CAGR over the forecast period. Companies such as Channellock, Inc., Akar Tools, Ltd., Apex Tools Group, Wera Tools, Snap-On, Stanley Back Decker, Kennametal Inc., Klein Tools, and JK Files (India) Limited are profiled in the report as key manufacturers of hand tools in the world.Need more information about Report Methodology? @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1114 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 06:40:22 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us 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 sales@futuremarketinsights.com Sales 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 823 Words Contact UsFuture 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.comSales3479183531 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.A sample of this report is available upon request @ 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.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ 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 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 17:20:42 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 460 Words U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager+1 03479183531 Scented products are chosen by a large number of inhabitants. Considering daily life, products containing fragrance are preferred, consumed and utilized which in turn has resulted in increase in demand for global anisic aldehyde market. Anisic aldehyde also known as para-methoxybenzaldehyde is a clear colourless pale yellowish liquid with powerful aroma. Being an organic compound, it is used in both natural and synthetic form to provide fragrance and flavour. Anisic Aldehyde, form of speciality chemical is increasingly cited as a trigger to produce more scented and odourless products. It is found in vanilla aroma and in essential oils of fennel and anise. It is produced commercially by methoxytoluene using manganese dioxide. It can also be created by oxidation of anethole (an allied fragrance that is found in alcoholic beverages). Owing to its good persistence, it is widely used in perfumery and pharmaceuticals applications.Anisic Aldehyde Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe demand for anisic aldehyde is constantly rising with growth in fragrance & flavour, pharmaceuticals and personal care industry. An advanced chemical, physical & efficient property of anisic aldehyde drives the demand for global anisic aldehyde market. With progress in the global pharmaceutical market followed by high consumption in cosmetics and personal care, the global anisic aldehyde market is likely to expand at double digit CAGR during the forecast period (2016-2025). However, unexpected fluctuation in raw materials along with government regulations is acting as a restraint in the growth of global anisic aldehyde market.Request Sample Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-479 Anisic Aldehyde Market: SegmentationOn the basis of end-user, the global anisic aldehyde market has been broadly segmented into:Perfumes & FragrancesPharmaceuticalsPersonal & Home CareOthersOn the basis of regions the global acetophenone market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and Japan.Anisic Aldehyde Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global anisic aldehyde market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. India and China is the major manufacturing hub for anisic aldehyde. As of 2015, Asia Pacific, and Western Europe dominates the global anisic aldehyde market in terms of market revenue. U.S., Australia and South Africa are few other countries having a large consumer base for speciality chemicals like anisic aldehyde. India, China & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will continue to contribute to the global anisic aldehyde market value, exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2016?2025.Anisic Aldehyde Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global bariatric surgery devices market are BASF SE, Atul Ltd, Neshiel Chemical Pvt Ltd, Parchem, AscentFinechem Pvt ltd and Elan Chemical Company and Nandolia Organic Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Global Essence, among many others.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-479 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:52:42 Glutaraldehyde is an organic compound widely used as disinfectant and as preservative. It is a colorless and slimy liquid, commonly available in aqueous solution. Glutaraldehyde solutions commonly contain about 1% to 2% glutaraldehyde in it. Glutaraldehyde is usually manufactured industrially by oxidizing cyclopentane or by reacting methyl vinyl ether and acrolein followed by hydrolysis of the compound. The chemical is used in different applications but its primary application is as a disinfectant or cold sterilant for medical dental and surgical equipments.All medically invasive procedures require sterilization of the equipments in order to rule out any chances of infection resulting from contaminated equipments. Glutaraldehyde solution is extensively used in the medical and health care industry to cold sterilize the equipments prior to any surgical procedure. Some of the medical equipment sterilizing products that contain glutaraldehyde as an active ingredient are Hospex, Glutarex, Cidex, Aldesen and Soniacide among many others. Apart from its use in medical device sterilization it is also used as a fixative agent for tissues. Tissue fixation comprise of two steps: killing the normal function of the tissue and stabilizing the structure of the tissue. Glutaraldehyde cross links the protein of the cells and helps to kill the cells quickly. This completes the first step of tissue fixation. Apart from that glutaraldehyde is also employed as a hardening or cross linking agent to reduce the drying cycle in X-Ray film processing. This application is not only wide spread in the medical industry but has found application in some engineering applications as well.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-308 Glutaraldehyde is also used as a chemical for the treatment of water in cooling towers, water recirculating systems and air washers in order to control and eliminate microbial growth in the systems as well as prevent corrosion. It also finds significant application in off-shore applications, where it is added to sea-water in order to prevent attack from certain sulfate reducing micro organisms which cause corrosion. Glutaraldehyde is also used as 9industrial cleaning agents particularly in food and beverage industry and tobacco industry. It is also present in the general retail cleaners in small quantities. Owing to its good disinfecting property highly concentrated solution of glutaraldehyde is used in the paper manufacturing industry to inhibit the growth of micro organisms in paper pulps. The disinfectant also finds application in several other industries such as aquaculture, leather tanning, cosmetics, and animal healthcare.In spite of the compounds wide spread application its high toxicity and environmentally hazardous nature is a major restraint for growth. The chemical is highly regulated owing to the health risk it poses. Even 1% solution of glutaraldehyde is poisonous for human and animals alike and any product containing more than 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution is labeled hazardous. The common ways of poisoning include contact with skin or inhalation of fumes. High level of precaution needs to be undertaken in order to reduce occupational as well as environmental exposure to glutaraldehyde, which is a costly affair for the market players. Due to these concerns, efforts have been undertaken to reduce dependency on glutaraldehyde and find suitable substitutions.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-308 The largest demand for glutaraldehyde is derived from Europe followed by North America and Asia Pacific regions. However the demand is expected to slow down in Europe and pick up in Asia Pacific region lead by China and India.Some of the major companies operating in this market are BASF SE, Dow Chemicals, and Union Carbide Corporation among many others. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 06:43:10 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us 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 sales@futuremarketinsights.com Sales 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 637 Words Contact UsFuture 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.comSales3479183531 Squash is a concentrated syrup which is made up of fruit. Squash is generally non-alcoholic in nature as it is not fermented. Generally while manufacturing squash sugar is added, but now a days few company offers sugar free squash. In modern squash, food coloring and additional flavors are also added. In traditional squash some sort of herbal extract such as ginger extract and elderflower extract are also added to enhance the quality of the squash. Squash are also known as cordial. Squash are also used mixed with alcoholic drinks in order to make cocktails. Orange and lime base are the most commonly used squash in any social event. Squash has a large market share in the global market of fruit juices. Squash is very popular in Denmark, India, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Argentina, Pakistan, Ireland,Indonesia, Israel, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Cyprus, Kenya, Australia, Chinaand New Zealand.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3331 Market Segmentation:Squash marketis segment on the basis of type, distribution channel and region. On the basis of type the squash market is segmented into orange squash, lemon squash, blueberry squash and mixed fruit. Among all these application, orange squash segment accounts for significant share of total squash market. The demand for Squash is also more as it is very refreshing and is loved by children. On the basis of distribution channel the squash market is segmented into hyper/supermarket stores, departmental stores, grocery/retailers and online retailers. Hyper/supermarket is expected to hold a relatively higher share in the squash market, followed by grocery/retailers segment. As we all know online stores offers great discounts and easy delivery of the product at the doorstep, thus this segment is anticipated to grow enormously in the forecast period. On the basis of region the squash market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and MEA.Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of Squash is divided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and MEA. Among these segment Asia Pacific is expected to be the leader of squash market share globally, and is expected to be dominant in the forecaster period. In Asia Pacific region the countries like India, Bangladesh and China are the key market for squash. In terms of revenue Europe is the expected to be the second leading contributor in theSquash market, followed by North America.Market Drivers:The rising demand for non-alcoholic products among consumers is the major driver for the growth of squash market globally. The increasing adoption of natural fruit juices as an alternative to aerated drinks by health conscious consumers is anticipated to drive the growth of global squash market. The increasing growth of natural sweeteners market is expected to bolster the growth of global squash market. In order to carter to the rising demand of healthy drink , manufacturers are manufacturing squash that are sugar free and has no artificial color. The Squash market is also driven by the love for refreshing juice by the children. Children prefer chilled tasty drinks after doing any sort of physical activity and squash is a perfect answer to their demands. Squash which contains herbal ingredients are generally a rich source of vitamins which is another reason for the growth of squash market in the forecast period globally. However, the amount of fructose present in the squash which may cause some health issue can be a restrain to this growing market of squash.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3331 Market Key Players:Some of the major players in squash market includes Robinsons, Kissan, Britvic, Hamdard, Coca Cola, Rasna, Assis, Prigat, Primor, Suntory, Nichols and Sunquick among others. Cyber Security of Security Services or information technology security is the protection of computer systems from theft or damage to their hardware, software or electronic data, as well as from interruption or misdirection of the services they provide. Cyber Security of Security Services Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 20:43:06 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064. Mr. Sunny Denis Sales Manager +1-888-631-6977 email https://www.researchnreports.com # 405 Words 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064.Sales Manager+1-888-631-6977 Global Cyber Security of Security Services Market Report provides wide-ranging homework provides in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and supportable forecasts about market size. Market Research Report offers is an appreciated source of understanding data for business strategists. The overall outlook of the market covers various aspects of the market prospects. Report gather comprehensive information and research methodologies. The research report supports as a repository of analysis and info for every facet of the market.Global Cloud Business Email Market is expected to grow at an approximate CAGR of +13% forecast to 2025.Request Sample Copy of this Report@:Cyber Security of Security Services Market includes the top key players such as: Venustech, Westone, H3C, Huawei, Topsec, Nsfocus, Sangfor, 360 Enterprise Security, Symantec Corporation, Asiainfo, DBAPPSecurity Ltd, Others.Depending on the type of security, Global Cyber Security of Security Services Market is categorized as enterprise, endpoint, cloud, network and application security. Of these, the network security segment is expected to show significant growth in revenue during the forecast period. This is largely due to increased demand for network security across the industry to maintain network-wide operational flows and SMEs' use of network security solutions.Geographically, the global Cyber Security of Security Services Market can be classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa. The Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, is expected to grow tremendously over the next few years as the perception of the need for cyber security services increases as well as the increase in cybercrime.Get Reasonable Discount on this Premium Report @:Global Cyber Security of Security Services Market report describes market characteristics, size and growth, SWOT analysis, Porter's five Forces models. Report also conduct segmentation, regional and national breakdown, inexpensive landscape, market size, trends and strategies. Through this, the research report serves as a repository for analysis and information on all aspects of the market, including, but not limited to, local markets, technologies, types and applications.For More Information:Key Questions Answered in This Study Report: What will the market size be in 2025 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key players in this market? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players? Blockchain Technology, initially block chain, is an increasing list of records, called blocks, which are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. By design, a blockchain is resistant to modification of the data. Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 20:39:02 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064. Mr. Sunny Denis Sales Manager +1-888-631-6977 email https://www.researchnreports.com # 349 Words 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064.Sales Manager+1-888-631-6977 Global Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market Report provides detailed qualitative insights, historical data, and maintainable projections about market size. The industry report emphases on the latest trends in global and local space for all critical components including capacity, cost, price, technology, supply, production, profit and competition. This report offers detailed profile estimation and multi-scenario revenue forecasts for the most promising industry participants.Global Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market is forecast to grow at an approximate CAGR of +37% forecast to 2025.Request Sample Copy of this Report@:Global Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market includes the top Manufacturers such as:Microsoft Corporation, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, IBM Corporation, R3, Chain Inc, Consensus Systems (ConsenSys), Ripple, Digital Asset Holdings, Credits.Increasing demand for the IT sector will influence the growth of the Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market. Report contains growth drivers and constraints that provide a thorough segmentation of the block chain technology that empowers emerging markets to explore competitive advantage.Get Discount up to 40% on this Exclusive Report @:Geographically, the Global Blockchain Technology Powering Emerging Market has been fragmented into several regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe. Market report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, size and growth, SWOT analysis, Porter's five Forces models, segmentation, regional and national breakdown, competitive landscape, market share. Report offers also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development.Reasons for Buying this Report: This report provides pin-point analysis for varying competitive dynamics. It provides a progressive perspective on diverse factors driving or restraining market growth. It provides a six-year forecast evaluated on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow. It supports in understanding the key product segments and their future. It provides analysis of changing rivalry dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors. It helps in making up-to-date business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making comprehensive analysis of market segments.For More Information: Augmented Reality (AR) is a collaborating experience of a real-world environment where the objects that exist in in the real-world are "augmented" by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory, and olfactory. Augmented reality is related to two mostly synonymous terms: Mixed Reality and Computer-Mediated Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 20:38:47 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064. Mr. Sunny Denis Sales Manager +1-888-631-6977 email https://www.researchnreports.com # 439 Words 10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064.Sales Manager+1-888-631-6977 The Global Augmented Reality (AR) Market Report offers a dynamic information to achieve and research market size, market opportunities and competitive landscape. The report embraces the several affecting impacts like market share, competitive intelligence, and growth opportunity. It also covers the comprehensive landscapes of the businesses such as sales strategies, planning models to get better insights for the businesses. This report provides exhaustive profile evaluation and multi-scenario revenue forecasts for the most promising industry participants.Global Augmented Reality (AR) Market is predicted to grow at an approximate CAGR of more than +11% forecast to 2025.Request Sample Copy of this Report@:Report contains an overview of the companies, contact details, revenue generation and features of the companies. The Top companies are Total Immersion, Magic Leap, Sony, Apple, Blippar, Wikitude, PTC, Microsoft, Google.Augmented Reality (AR) Market Contain Some Growth Factors:One of the main factors driving growth in the augmented reality market is the high adoption rate of smartphones. The growing demand for smart devices and the increasing popularity of e-commerce are another key driver of growth in the global Augmented Reality (AR) market. We are also seeing increased market awareness of customer transaction tracking, sales records and billing calculations.The Augmented Reality (AR) market report focused on the main regions such as North America, Europe and Asia and the main countries like United States, Germany, Japan and China. The Asia Pacific market growth is qualified to technological advancements and augmented adoption of mobile devices across various industry verticals.Get Up to 60% Discount on this Premium Report @:Global Augmented Reality (AR) Market report surveys market entrances, growth, SWOT analysis, Porter's five power models, segmentation, market size, share, trends and strategies. The report also provides comprehensive information on important parts such as key drivers and constraints that define the future growth of the market. Complete demand and stock chain of market have been elaborate to give detailed description about requirements of global as well as domestic customers.For More Information:Reasons to Purchase this Report: Report provides data to make premeditated business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Augmented Reality (AR) industry and each market within it. Provides better understanding the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Augmented Reality (AR) industry. Evaluate the cheap dynamics in the Augmented Reality (AR) industry. Expansion insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Ireland. Increase understanding as well as insights into key regulations leading the Global Augmented Reality (AR) Market. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) Composites Market " report to their offering Future Market insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:26:53 Press Information Future Market insight 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 Bhudholia MANAGER 8455795705 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 593 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.comMANAGER8455795705 Glass fiber is a lightweight and durable fiber produced from very fine fibers of glass. As compared to carbon fibers, glass fibers exhibit low brittleness and the fibers of glass used for their production are more cost effective. Moreover, as compared to metals, the glass fibers are possess better properties, both strength wise and weight wise. Furthermore, the glass fibers can be smoothly formed using different molding techniques. Glass fibers are widely used as an important raw material for producing distinct types of composite materials. Manufacturing of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites, the largest class of composite materials, is the most important application of glass fibers and almost 90% of the reinforcements used in the composites industry are glass fibers. GFRP composites are extensively used in a diverse range of industries including wind energy, construction, automotive, aerospace, piping and anti-corrosive industrial equipments. The growing demand for GFRP composites from transportation and construction industries is anticipated to drive the global glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites market in the next six years.Get More Information @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-glass-fiber-reinforced-plastic-composites-market Asia Pacific and North America are the largest producers and consumers of glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites. Both these regions together account for more than 50% of the global market for glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites. The infrastructure development and growing construction industry in emerging economies such as China and India is anticipated to drive the demand for glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites in Asia Pacific in the next six years. The North American market for glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites is primarily driven by the growing demand from construction, automotive, aerospace, wind energy and defense industries in the U.S.Apart from glass fibers, thermoset resin is a very important raw material used for the production of GFRP composites. Polyester, a cost effective and uncomplicated material, is the dominant thermoset resin used in the manufacturing of GFRP composites. Polyester thermoset resins are vastly used in producing composite materials marine, piping and building and construction applications. In addition to glass fibers and resins, some typical materials are used as fillers are used in the production of composite materials for improving the physical properties of composite materials. The manufacturers of glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites are conducting extensive research and development activities for identifying the best range of raw materials that can be use for the production of optimum quality composite materials. Nowadays, thermoplastic resin is growingly used as a raw material in place of thermoset resin in the production GFRP composites. The use of thermoplastic resins as a raw material ultimately reduces the time and cost required to manufacture GFRP composites. Moreover, the thermoplastic resins offer higher impact strength and better surface finish to the composite materials. Furthermore, thermoplastic resins can be easily molded and can be recycled. The use of such innovative raw materials improves the quality of GFRP composites and therefore, drives the demand for GFRP composites in distinct industrial applications.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-167 Some of the major companies operating in the global glass fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites market are Johns Manville, BGF Industries, Asahi Glass Company Limited, Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC, Chomarat Group, Jushi Group Co. Ltd., Taishan Fiberglass Inc., Owens Corning, PPG Industries Inc., Binani 3B-The Fibreglass Company, Saertex Group, Chongqing Polycomp International Corp., Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, Nitto Boseki Co. Ltd. and Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Chromatography Resins Market " report to their offering Future Market insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:14:06 Press Information Future Market insight 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 Bhudholia MANAGER 8455795705 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 345 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.comMANAGER8455795705 Chromatography resins are used in purification and separation of proteins and other bio-molecules in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, and environmental analysis. Chromatography resins are of three types, viz., synthetic, natural and inorganic media. Natural and synthetic resins are preferred over inorganic media. Chromatography resins are used in affinity, mixed-mode, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction and size exclusion techniques. In terms of revenues, Protein A resins accounted for the highest share of the market.The main driver for the chromatography resins market is huge demand for monoclonal antibodies. Huge demand for monoclonal bodies is on account of the number of growing critical diseases resulting in these types of therapeutics to swiftly gain significance. Biotechnology & pharmaceutical are the leading end-users for chromatography resins and are likely to gain more importance in near future. Food manufacturing was second-largest end-user application for chromatography resins. Chromatography resins are also used in industrial applications, genetic engineering and drug recovery. However, presence of stringent regulations regarding manufacture and usage of this product is expected to hamper the growth of the market over the next few years. Research & development in chromatography resin for various applications is expected to open new opportunities for the growth of the market.Get More Information @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/chromatography-resins-market In technology terms, ion-exchange chromatography had the highest consumption in past few years. Though, affinity chromatography resins hold the key share of the revenue. This is mainly due to the higher selling costs associated with affinity resins. Demand for chromatography resins was highest in North America. However, there is huge demand for chromatography resins from Asia Pacific region due to the growing pharmaceutical industry, particularly in India, China and South Korea. Additionally, the emergence of CMOs and CROs is driving the chromatography resins market in Asia Pacific region. Europe is expected to show steady growth over the forecast period.Some of the key players in the chromatography resins market are Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Tosoh Corporation, Merck KGaA, Life Technologies Corporation and Pall Corporation among others.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-274 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 11:00:22 Press Information Fact.MR Office: Dublin 2 Suite 9884 27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Sudip Saha Head of Marketing +353-1-4434-232 email https://www.factmr.com/ # 712 Words Office: Dublin 2Suite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandHead of Marketing+353-1-4434-232 Floral Water Market OutlookOver the past couple of decades, the natural cosmetic market have been surging at a significant rate in terms of value sales which is attributable to consumers preference for natural ingredients in their cosmetic products. People prefer natural and herbal products, which are more beneficial and have comparatively few side effects, rather than the chemical ones. Floral water is a good alternative for the products having the similar value. Due to a varied range of benefits associated with the consumption of floral water, the products has wide range of large scale applications in various industries, such as food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and personal care. Though in the initial phase, the volume sales for floral water market witnessed a dip however in the recent years, the consumption for floral water has been on rise due to increasing awareness on health benefits associated with the consumption of the product. Hence over the forecast period, the floral water market is expected to grow with same consistency.Get Free Exclusive Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2544 Growing Demand for Floral Water in Cosmetic, Beauty and Food IndustriesIn the last few decades, there has been rise in concern over skin care due to consumer exposure towards scorching sunrays or the UV rays. Several key cosmetic manufacturers are using natural alternatives in their marquee products to cater the demand of their target customers. Floral water has been one such product, the cosmetic manufacturers are considering to use. Floral water has various medical properties; it acts as an antiseptic and disinfectant. Floral water is extensively used for the tightening of the acne prone skin, smoothening and moisturizing of the dry skin. The floral water contain antioxidants that are useful to prevent the aging of the skin. Floral water is also used in various Indian and North African cuisines for aroma. Other beauty products that are chemically produced are costly as compared to the floral water, which is easy to extract and hence it is a cheap solution to most of the skin-related problems. Growing consumption of packaged drinks and personal care products are the major driving factors for the growth of the global floral market.Global Floral Water: Key PlayersExamples of some of the key players operating in the market for floral water are Jean Gazignaire S.A.S, Graeen Ltd, Sohary Trading Sarl, Sevessence, Vesselino Ltd, Venkatramna Industries, Laboratories Tridyn, Norfolk Essential Oils, Beach Stone Enterprises, Neo Essential Oil, etc.Opportunities for Market ParticipantsFloral water being a mild agent shows immense scope as a skin care product for infants, which is one of the key factors increasing the adoption of floral water in baby care products. In Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa where packaged drinks are trending, it can be used as a flavoring agent. Besides, floral water can be used as a green alternative for aerosols. It is also used as an effective perfume and air freshener. The market which is full of chemical cosmetics, and increases in demand of natural alternative across the globe, it would be anticipated that there would be higher returns for the investors of floral water in the future.Ask For Customized Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=2544 Global Floral Water: A Regional OutlookIn the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific, particularly India, China and Indonesia, floral water is used in cuisines for aroma and as a flavoring agent. Most of the floral water is exported from Asia Pacific to North America and Europe and it is used in cosmetics and personal care products. Floral water has a huge market value after reviewing these facts.For more information on this report, please visit: https://www.factmr.com/report/2544/floral-water-market About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@ factmr.com Web: www.factmr.com/ Read Industrial News : http://insiderstribune.com/ PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 00:11:58 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2019 / EVITRADE Health Systems Corp.(CSE: EVA, OTCQB: EVAHF) (the "Company" or "Evitrade") hereby announces that effective January 31, 2019 it has mutually terminated and unwound the previously announced transaction and underlying agreement with Tree Chest Safety Corp.("TCS") for the acquisition of TCS by Evitrade.Post-closing due diligence on the integration of TCS into Evitrade's corporate structure revealed matters that the parties could not agree upon resulting in the failure to fully effect closing of the transactions under the agreement between the parties including the issuance of any securities and/or cash consideration to TCS shareholders for the acquisition.No cash or securities have been paid or issued with respect of the transaction between TCS and Evitrade by either party, and the parties have unwound the transactions related to the acquisition and terminated their agreement for the same.As of the date of this press release, TCS is not a subsidiary of Evitrade.Management of Evitrade believe that the contemplated transaction was no longer in line with the business and commercialization strategies of the Company leading to the mutual termination of the agreement and unwinding of the transactions contemplated therein between the parties.For more information, please contact:Sydney Au, DirectorEVITRADE Health Systems Corporation(formerly Auxellence Health Corporation)Email info@ evahealthsystems.com Website http://www.evahealthsystems.com CSE Micro-site: http://thecse.com/en/listings/technology/evitrade-health-systems-corp US OTC Markets (OTCQB): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EVAHF/news About EVITRADE Health (CSE: EVA, OTCQB: EVAHF)EVITRADE Health Systems Corp.(formerly Auxellence Health Corp.), is a Technology company specializing in the Life Sciences sector looking to deliver effective health solutions with a higher degree of predictability and consistency. The Company is focused in four main areas, Autonomous Medical Care, Molecular Biology, Nutraceutical Solutions and Genetic Selection.Through its Focus on Autonomous Medical Care, the Company offers a physiologically interactive computing platform that integrates medical devices and artificial intelligence applications into a fully automated, personal health management system for hypertension, arrhythmia, diabetes, and obesity.DisclaimersThis news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), or any other regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.The Company does not undertake to update this news release unless required by applicable law.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States.The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S.Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S.Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S.Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.SOURCE: EVITRADE Health Systems Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:51:54 Disinfectants are chemicals that are applied to objects and surfaces in order to eliminate microorganisms that thrive on them. Different varieties of disinfectants are applied for different purpose. Some disinfectants are strong and are effective against a wide spectrum of microorganisms, while some are mild and applicable to eliminate only certain disease causing organisms. Disinfectants can be broadly segregated into three main types, namely, air disinfectants, water disinfectants and surface disinfectant. A variety of chemicals are used in different proportions to manufacture disinfectants applicable for various purposes.Alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol have been observed to be good general purpose disinfectants. 70% to 90% concentration of these alcohols can effectively act against lipophilic viruses. However, it is not effective against bacterial spores or non lipid virus as the contact time is less owing to high volatility of the substance. Chlorine compounds are the most common house hold disinfectants. Sodium hypochlorite is the main ingredient in house hold bleaches. It has sufficient contact time and inactivates the bacterial spores. Disinfectant solutions containing 50 to 500 parts per million of chlorine is effective against most vegetative bacteria and viruses. However, chlorine is rendered ineffective upon exposure to light and air, and hence should be carefully packaged or prepared fresh before application. Formalin is another widely used disinfectant. 5% concentration of formalin has the power to inactivate most bacteria and viruses. Glutaraldehyde is another very effective disinfectant. The compound is closely related to formalin but is much more active biologically. Glutaraldehyde can effectively disinfect bacterial spores, fungi and most viruses. Apart from the aforementioned chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, calcium hypochlorites, chloramines and chloramines T are some of the widely used disinfectant chemicals.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-341 The disinfectant market is driven by the general consciousness to disinfect surroundings and live healthy. The recent outbreaks of flu such as avian flu and swine flu and other infectious diseases in different parts of the world, have triggered the use of disinfectants all over the world. The initiatives of cleaning and disinfecting surroundings to contain such outbreaks of fatal diseases have been on the rise, with governments promoting disinfection in all public places and individual homes. Scarcity of safe drinking water in many parts of the world has also resulted in the growth of water disinfectant market. Water disinfectants such as chloramines have witnessed high growth in the recent years.Although disinfectant chemicals market has witnessed substantial growth, there are some concerns for the market as well. Some disinfectants such as formalin and glutaraldehye are very effective in killing bacteria, however, they are toxic in nature and over exposure to these chemicals are hazardous to human as well. Occupational exposure to these chemicals is extremely harmful and proper precautions and protective clothing is absolutely necessary.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-341 North America is the largest market for disinfectants in the world and is expected to grow at a brisk pace in the foreseeable future. Europe region accounted for the second largest market share in terms of demand followed by Asia Pacific. The market growth rate in Asia Pacific region is high and the region is expected to account for a larger market share in the foreseeable future owing to its rising population as well as standard of living.Some of the main companies operating in this market are DuPont, 3M, ABC Compounding Co., Inc., and Cardinal Health, Inc., among many others. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:54:20 Diketene is a light colored or colorless liquid, non-hygroscopic that is polymerized on standing. It has a pungent odor and is irritant to eyes, nose and throat. Diketene is inflammable and has a moderate risk of fire. It is a dimeric form of ketene and is similar to but less toxic than ketene. It readily polymerizes and hence cannot be stored or shipped in gaseous state. Diketene is not isolated but it is consumed once as it is produced. It is known by the formula (CH2CO) 2 and is a member of the oxetane family that is formed by dimerization of ketene. Diketene is produced by dehydrating acetic acid at a temperature of 700 to 750 degree celcius in the existence of triethyl ether as a catalyst. The other method for manufacturing diketene is by thermolysis of acetone at a temperature of 600 to 700 degree celcius in the presence of catalyst such as carbon disulphide. Some of the diketene derivatives include acetoacetates, arylamides, alkylamides, acrylic acid esters and other diketene derivatives.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-332 Diketene is an important industrial intermediate that is used in the manufacture of acetoacetate amides and esters which also substitutes 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolones. It is also used in the production of dyestuff and pigments. Diketene is a highly reactive building block that can be combined to manufacture a wide range of products. It has applications in vitamins, pharmaceuticals, pigment and agrochemical industries among others. Some of the niche markets are in plasticizers, cosmetics and paints to name a few.The factors which drive the diketene market are the growing applications in the pharmaceutical and pigment industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, diketene is used in the manufacture of wide range of antibiotics. The others industries such as the paints and agrochemical are also anticipated to boost demand for diketene in the market in the near future. Among the above mentioned factors, the upcoming application in the pesticide industry is also expected to fuel demand for diketene as 40% of diketene is consumed by the pesticide industry.The factors that are responsible to hamper the growth of the market include the ill effects of diketene on human health as it is a strong irritant to eyes, nose and throat. Inhalation of diketene causes respiratory tract infection and irritation, can be harmful if swallowed and can be harmful if absorbed by skin causing skin irritation. These factors act as restraining factors for the growth of the diketene market.The key segments for diketene market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The strong growth in the pigment industry in the developed countries such as U.S. is expected to cater demand for diketene in the market. The developing country such as the Asia Pacific has huge growth potential for the pharmaceutical industries and hence is anticipated to boost demand for diketene. China has huge production facilities for diketene and hence it consumes huge amount of diketene for a wide variety of applications.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-332 The major companies profiled for diketene are Lonza (Switzerland) and Synthetic Chemical Industry, UCC, FMC (United States), Eastman (United States), Celanese (Britain), Hoechst (Germany), Teijin Shoji Co. Ltd (Japan), Daicel Chemical Industry (Japan). The companies like Eastman have expanded the production capacity of diketene, primarily the derivatives such as acetoamides, acetoacetates and acetoacetanilides to meet the growing demand of the pharmaceutical industry and the pigment industry. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:24:56 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 # 571 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 Molecular spectroscopy is the qualitative and quantitative study of molecules by observing their interaction with variousfrequencies and energy. In other way, it is the study of absorption of light by molecules. It is analyzed by ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light and infrared radiations using an instrument called a spectrometer. Thermo Fisher Scientific,Agilent Technologies, Danaher Corporation, PerkinElmer, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, JASCO International Co., Ltd. and Jeol Ltd. are some major players engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of instruments used in molecular spectroscopy study. Antaris II FT-NIR Analyzer, picoSpin 80 spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer, 4300 Handheld FTIR (Agilent Technologies) are some prominent brands available in the market.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-399 The global market for molecular spectroscopy has been segmented as follows by technology type:Color Measurement SpectroscopyInfrared SpectroscopyNear-Infrared (NIR) SpectroscopyNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) SpectroscopyRaman SpectroscopyUltraviolet Visible (UV-Vis) SpectroscopyThese technologies may be further segmented as well. For example, infrared spectroscopy may be segmented by the type of devices available on the market such as bench top IR spectroscopy, portable spectroscopy or terahertz IR spectroscopy. Similarly, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be categorized as continuous wave nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fourier transform NMR and Solid-State NMR. Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy may be segmented as single-beam UV spectrometer, double-beam UV spectrometer and array based UV spectrometer.On the other hand, on the basis of application, the market has been segmented into:PharmaceuticalsBiotechnologyFood and Beverages TestingEnvironmental TestingResearch InstitutesGovernmental legislation that are compelling pharmaceutical companies to maintain very high quality of drugs and excipients during manufacturing and increasing concerns for food and beverages safety are some major factors driving the growth of molecular spectroscopy market.Governmental support by funding research related with molecular spectroscopy is also oneof the major factors driving the market growth worldwide.Technological developments in the area of molecular spectroscopy are also encouraging manufacturers to opt for this technology as it will give them competitive in terms of quality. On the other hand, high cost associated with acquiring molecular spectroscopy technology may hamper the market growth to some extent.Geographically, the market for molecular spectroscopy has been segmented into four major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). North America holds the largest regional market, followed by Europe. Federal governments investments to support research in the area of medical sciences are one of the reasons driving the market growth in the region. Presence of a large number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the region also plays a key role in propelling the market growth. Europe represents the second largest market after North America. The market in Western European region which includes countries like Germany, France, Spain and United Kingdom is relatively mature than the markets of Eastern European region. Emerging economies of countries of Eastern region will help in driving the market growth in the region due to the significantly large contract manufacturing market.India and China in particular are expected to increase the number of companies offering contract manufacturing services to the western region. It is likely to result in growing demand for various molecular spectroscopy devices, and thus will help in driving the market growth in the region. In RoW region, Brazil, Mexico, Israel and Middle East countries are the potential markets for molecular spectroscopy.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-399 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 07:11:02 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us 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 sales@futuremarketinsights.com Sales 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 740 Words Contact UsFuture 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.comSales3479183531 The 3D cell culture market revenues surpassed US$ 778 million in 2018, as per a new FMI study. The market is estimated to grow at 7.8% y-o-y in 2019; key factors responsible for the projected market growth include,A steady rise in global research and development expenditureEfforts to leverage the potential of 3D cell culture to replace animal model testingIncreasing demand for biosimilar productsExtensive application of stem cell research and a growing emphasis on regenerative medicineWhile 2D cell culture revolutionized the research efforts in stem cells, tissue engineering and molecular biology, 3D cell culture has pushed the boundaries of traditional 2D cell culture technique with functional superiority. As the R&D efforts continue to rise in a bid to investigate the cause of different diseases and improve human health, 3D cell culture is set to remain a highly sought-after technique in the coming years, says FMI.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2843 The FMI study finds that scaffold-based 3D cell culture techniques are highly preferred over scaffold free 3D cell culture. Owing to a significant adoption of scaffold-based 3D cell culture, study finds that this techniques garnered over 81% of the global market revenues.Scaffold based 3D cell culture techniques deliver researchers with additional functional operations in terms of material natural or synthetic and different mechanical properties.The technique uses either hydrogel-based support or polymeric hard material based support. Both types of supports find equivalent penetration in terms of application, however revenues garnered from polymeric hard material based support are higher.According to the study, revenues of polymeric hard material based support held over half the scaffold-based 3D cell culture technique revenues in 2018 and the trend is expected to continue in the future.Application of 3D Cell Culture in Cancer Research ProminentThe FMI study estimates that 3D cell culture application in cancer research accounted for over 31% of the 3D cell culture market revenues in 2018. Cell culture is an integral part of cancer drug discovery practices. Greater strides are underway in the field to precisely characterize the diseases and develop advanced tumor cell lines using 3D cell culture techniques.2D culture lines are considered as a standard for in vitro pre-clinical cancer treatment screening. However, more recently, the field is turning to 3D cell culture techniques to implement an ideal experimental model that mimics the human body environment to its best.Stem cell technology is another lucrative field for 3D cell culture market. According to the FMI study, application in stem cell technology accounted for over one-fourth of the 3D cell culture market revenues in 2018. While 2D cell culture posed challenges of scalability in stem cell technology, apart from few challenges, 3D cell culture has provided greater density and multi-fold expansion of the culture system in stem cell technology. Other fields that utilize 3D cell culture techniques are tissue regeneration, regenerative medicine and drug discovery.Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries - Prominent End-UsersThe study reveals that the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries were accounted for over one-fifth of the global 3D cell culture market revenues in 2018. Buoyancy in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries can be profitable for the 3D cell culture market in the coming years and over 9% growth is projected in 2019 over 2019.Academic research institutes are the second prominent end-users of 3D cell cultures wherein they accounted for over one-fourth of the global 3d cell culture revenues in 2018. Government funding in cancer research projects carried out at academic institutes and organizations has increased significantly, thereby supporting the investments in advanced technologies including 3D cell culture techniques.Read Comprehensive Overview with Methodology of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2843 Revenues in North America Continue to SurgeNorth America continued to spearhead the revenues of 3D cell culture market during the historical period and the status-quo is likely to continue in the future. In 2018, North America accounted for over two-fifth of the global 3D cell culture market revenues. The study estimates that regional revenues are expected to grow at 8% in 2019 over 2018.Funding in research and development, especially in cancer research remains higher in the United States as compared to other developed countries. Europe also presents significant funding in R&D activities. The FMI study finds that over one-fourth of the 3D cell culture market revenues were accounted for the Europe region in 2018, of which a bulk of revenues come from Western European countries such as Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 16:13:32 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 1, 2019 / While decisions on career paths are generally made later in life, the experiences of ones formative years often ignite unknown passions and crystalize focuses that guide the personal and professional decisions of the future. For academic and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals board member, Cynthia Telles, her experiences as a child sparked a commitment to the service of others.At a very young age, Cynthia had a strong example of what a life of service looked like. Her father, Raymond Telles, served his nation twice as a member of the Air Force, first in World War II and again in the Korean War. His service didnt stop at the military, and he later was elected the El Paso, Texas county clerk. His work and roles in El Paso would continue to grow, with Raymond becoming mayor of the city and the first person of Hispanic origin to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city.Always focused on using the best of his talents to impact the world around him, four years later, he was appointed by President Kennedy as the ambassador to Costa Rica - giving him another first, the U.S.s first Hispanic ambassador. Watching her fathers matriculation through military and government service created in Cynthia a unique understanding of the power of purpose and hard work. This understanding guided her and was reinforced by other pivotal experiences.One such experience was the time she spent volunteering at the orphanage ran by her great grandmother and grandmother. Long before Cynthia was born, her great grandmother was a minister, midwife, and nurse who opened and ran an orphanage in Juarez. Cynthias family maintained her great grandmothers legacy of service to underserved children, allowing Cynthia to volunteer at the orphanage throughout her childhood. These efforts not only cemented her desire to follow in her familys legacy of service but further instilled in her a deep sense of and responsibility to community.While the examples set by her parents and grandparents were core to her foundation, it was a small, everyday occurrence - a mosquito bite - that gave Cynthia the perspective of self and community to pursue her purpose. At age 10, Cynthia contracted viral encephalitis from a mosquito bite and was given three days to live. However, through the dedication and perseverance of doctors and nurses, and support from her family and other patients, Cynthia made a remarkable and unexpected recovery. The commitment to her wellness from the community around her and hospital staff reaffirmed that her life would be devoted to improving the lives of others. She wasted no time setting on her path and shortly after her recovery returned to Costa Rica and began volunteering in a childrens hospital - officially launching her life-long career of service.From those early years growing up in the light of her familys love and commitment to others, Cynthia has gone to earn her PhD and garner numerous prestigious positions and honors, including serving as Chair Emeritus of the California Community Foundation and being appointed by President Obama to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. She has also served on the boards of MALDEF; the National Alliance for Hispanic Health; the Pacific Council on International Policy, a non-partisan international affairs organization; and the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles.Contact: john.e.nelson@kp.org SOURCE: Kaiser Permanente Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 12:58:29 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/ # 418 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 Critical care units are special departments of health care facilities that caters to critically ill patients or those with life threatening severe illnesses. Thus, critical care units can be defined as the area of health care facility which is equipped with special resuscitation as well a monitoring equipment that are essential in order to address critical emergencies. The critical care unit necessitates close monitoring and support by means of specialist equipment which ensure normal functioning of the various organs of the body. The various equipment that serve the function of monitoring and addressing critical conditions of patients comprise hemodynamic monitoring products, vital signs monitoring products, neurologic monitoring systems among the others.Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global critical Care Patient Monitoring Products market is expected to witness a steady growth during the forecast period. The growth of overall health care sector during the forecast period is expected to influence the growth of global critical care patient monitoring products market. Besides this, the major driving factors for global critical care patient monitoring products market are population aging and an increase in rate of chronic diseases. Moreover, increase in number of health care facilities across the globe is expected to fuel the growth of global critical care patient monitoring products. Also, Increase in lifestyle influenced diseases such as coronary heart diseases, along with the growing affluence has resulted in a steady growth in demand for critical care patient monitoring products. On the flip side, the high cost of these critical care products can act as an impediment to the growth of global critical care patient monitoring products market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-575 Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products Market: SegmentationDepending on the type products, global Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products market can be segmented in to the following key segments:Brain function monitoringVital signs monitoringNeurologic monitoringHemodynamic monitoringCritical Care Patient Monitoring Products Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of geographic regions of the globe, global Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products market is segmented into seven major segments. These key market segments are North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa, Latin America.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-575 Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products Market: Key PlayersSome of the identified major participants of the global Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products market are as follows:Edwards Lifesciences CorporationIntegra LifeSciences CorporationGeneral Electric CompanyPhilips Medical SystemsCovidien Ltd Global Cosmetic Pencil & Pen Packaging Market to Witness Significant Growth Owing to Rising Consumer Demand for Easy-To-Apply Cosmetics fmi PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 09:12:14 Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market in its published report titled Global Cosmetic Pencil & Pen Packaging Market Forecast, Global Industry Analysis, 2012-2018, and Opportunity Assessment, 2017-2027. In terms of revenue, the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period owing to numerous factors about which FMI offers insights and forecasts in this report. The Asia Pacific cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market is expected to remain in the leading position during the forecast period.In this report, the cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market has been segmented on the basis of material, product type, application and region. On the basis of material, the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market has been segmented into plastic, wood and metal. Plastic packaging is a cost-effective alternative to metal cosmetic pencil & pen packaging. Plastic components are often subject to UV coating or metallisation to impart a metal finish look, and this technique is widely used by the manufacturers of cosmetic pencil & pen packaging to attract high-end customers.Request more information of Report with table of contents and Figures @The leading cosmetic pencil & pen packaging companies across the globe are strategically focused on the localisation of cosmetic products. Following the industry leaders, several tier-II cosmetic pencil & pen packaging companies also replicated a similar strategy to achieve success in the local market, consequently transforming the dynamics of the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market. Furthermore, these companies of cosmetic pencil & pen packaging also leverage the local benefits of the local market, which is largely characterised by economic production and quick integration with the existing supply chain. Multinational cosmetic pencil & pen packaging companies have outsourced their production to local and regional players, thus ensuring technical know-how and industry expertise. Over the past three years, more than ten European cosmetic pencil & pen packaging brands entered the high-potential Asian market, mostly the countries in South and Southeast Asia. The trend is likely to continue as several tier-II companies are also planning to foray into cosmetic pencil & pen packaging markets. In addition, local cosmetic pencil & pen packaging brands are challenging the global brands by selling their products at highly competitive prices, thus paving the way for way for more competition in the cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market.The growth of the cosmetic pencil & pen packaging can be mainly attributed to the contributions of emerging economies such as countries in the APEJ region, which include India & China. China is expected to be at the forefront, spearheading the growth of the cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market during the forecast period. According to the research by Future Market Insights, the China cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market has witnessed rapid growth in the past couple of decades.Ask a question to Analyst @The manufacturers of cosmetic pencil & pen packaging are likely to eye the lucrative regions of Asia Pacific as well as Middle East & African countries in the coming years. Some of the key drivers of the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market include the positive impact of Internet/E-commerce retailing, demand from commercial setups and the easy-to-apply nature of these cosmetics. These factors are propelling the demand for global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging. The Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market is expected to create the highest incremental $ opportunity during the forecast period.Some of the key competitors in the global cosmetic pencil & pen packaging market include Intercos S.p.A; Swallowfield PLC; A.W. Faber-Castell Cosmetics GmbH; Schwan-STABILO Cosmetic GmbH & Co. KG; Alkos Cosmetiques SAS; Oxygen Development LLC; JOVI S.A; Confalonieri Matite S.R.L; Columbia Cosmetics Manufacturing Inc.; Quadpack Spain SL; Ningbo Beautiful Daily Cosmetic Packaging Co., Ltd.; Eugeng International Trade Co., Ltd. and The Packaging Company. These key players of cosmetic pencil & pen packaging are constantly focusing on product innovation and geographical expansions to sustain their market presence and increase revenue generation by delivering various types of cosmetic pencil & pen packaging as well as outstanding offerings to several end users.Ask a question to Analyst @ PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:22:47 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 # 622 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 Chromatography is the most essential and well known separation technique which is extensively used across various industries. Chromatography is referred to as a technique that is used for the purification of biomolecules in which the components that are to be separated are distributed between two phases. Among these two phases, one is stationary phase and other is a mobile phase. All types of chromatography systems work on the same principle i.e., separation of sample mixture into stationary phase (solid or liquid supported on solid) and mobile phase (liquid or gas). Over the years chromatography technique and its instrument are being used in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for the development of pure drug molecule. The instruments that are utilized in the chromatography have benefitted the researches due to their ability to separate, analyze and purify a molecule in an efficient and effective manner. These chromatography instrumentation techniques are used in various application areas such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food production, diagnostics, genetic engineering, drug discovery and water analysis.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-383 The global market for chromatography instrumentation can be segmented as follows:By systemGas chromatography systemLiquid chromatography systemHigh pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)Ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC)Low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC)OthersIon-exchange chromatographyAffinity chromatographySuper critical fluid chromatographyColumn chromatographyThin layer chromatographyBy consumables and instrumentsColumnsSyringe filtersVialsTubingsDetectorsAutosamplersPumpsFraction collectorsOthersBy end usersBiotechnology and pharmaceuticals industriesHospitals and research laboratoriesAgriculture and food industriesOthers (cosmetic industries, environmental agencies and nutraceutical companies)The market for chromatography instrumentation holds an immense potential due to increasing number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Rising government investments for research purpose, expansion of chromatography companies in the Asian region and increasing collaborations among the existing players in the market are some of the other propelling factors for this market. The chromatography instrumentation market is also witnessing huge advancements in the design of column which is consequently raising the demand for development of better analytical resins and reagents. Additionally, emergence of green chromatography, usage of nanomaterial in chromatography and increasing usage of chromatography instrument for monoclonal antibody purification are some of the other opportunities that are fuelling the growth of this market. However, high cost of the chromatography systems and economic slowdown across the globe has resulted in decreased sales of chromatography systems. In addition need of skilled personnel for operates chromatography instrument is a factor which might restrict its demand in the global chromatography instrumentation market.Geographically, North America accounts for the largest share of the chromatography instrumentation market followed by the European region. The dominance of these regions in this market is seen due to growing government investments and funding for research. Further, augmented research and development activities of drugs and biologics and increasing number of conferences on chromatography are some of the key drivers of this industry. However, in the near future the U.S market is expected to decline its market share owing to the market maturity. Asia-Pacific region is expected to show healthy growth in the near future due to expansion of chromatography companies in the regions of India, China, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. Additionally, several major pharmaceutical companies are also increasingly outsourcing their drug and development services especially in the Asian region which is indentified as another major driver that is augmenting the demand of chromatography reagents in this region.Major players operating in this market includes Agilent Technologies, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bio-Rad Laboratories, GE Healthcare, Life Technologies Corporation, Pall Corporation, Regis Technologies, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Waters Corporation, Helena Laboratories, Phenomenex, Inc. WWR International, Tosoh Corporation and others.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-383 Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Chocolate Syrup Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Chocolate Syrup Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 07:14:54 Chocolate has been traditionally used as a flavoring ingredient in various food products such as cakes, ice-creams, milk shakes and others. Chocolate syrup also known as chocolate flavored condiments, is a concentrated solution of chocolate primarily used as a topping or dessert sauce in various desserts. Cocoa powdered, sweetener such as sugar, corn syrup and others are some of the key ingredients for chocolate syrup. Increased usage of chocolate syrup as a flavor enhancer in coffee, tea, milkshakes, cakes and others is expected to support the market growth over the forecast period.Chocolate Syrup Market SegmentationChocolate syrup is segmented on the basis of type which includes organic and conventional. Among both of these segments conventional chocolate syrup has been estimated to account for major share in terms of value and expected to be remain dominant over the forecast period. Organic chocolate syrup is expected to create relatively higher CAGR over the forecast period. Due to increasing awareness among the consumers towards healthy lifestyle they are continuously switching towards organic products which is expected to fuel the segment growth over the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3286 Chocolate Syrup market is further segmented on the basis of distribution channel which includes hypermarket/supermarket, convenience stores, specialty outlet, grocery stores and online retailing. Among all these segments hypermarket/supermarket is expected to account for major market share during the forecast period. Increasing penetration of retail industry especially in developing regions such as Asia Pacific, Middle East and others is expected to support the hypermarket/supermarket segment growth in chocolate syrup market during the forecast period. Online retailing segment in chocolate syrup market is expected represent favorable growth in the near future. Increasing internet penetration level and rising consumer influence towards online shopping is expected to support the segment growth over the forecast period.Regional OutlookGeographically in chocolate syrup market Western Europe is expected to account for the major market share followed by North America during the forecast period. Western Europe is one of the largest consumers for chocolate, which is expected to support of the market growth in the region. However these region is expected to account for moderate growth due to mature market. Among North American region U.S. is expected to be the major contributor in terms of revenue followed by Canada. Moreover Asia pacific is expected to show the favorable growth during the forecast period followed by Latin America. In Asia pacific region China and India is expected to account for the substantial growth due to increased demand for chocolate based or chocolate flavored products. Moreover in Latin America Brazil is expected to be the major contributor in terms of revenue followed by Mexico.Chocolate Syrup Market Drivers & RestraintsIncreased used of chocolate syrup as a toppings or flavor enhancer in desserts such as ice-cream, pan cakes, coffee, pastries and others is expected to support the market growth over the forecast period. Coffee shops or cafes are of the largest consumer for chocolate syrup, thus increasing penetration of coffee shops in developing countries such as India, China, Brazil and others is further expected to fuel the market growth in the near future. However, increased lifestyle disorders such as obesity, diabetes and others in developed economies are leading to various health problems which may include respiratory disorders, heart ailments, anxiety and others. All these factors has led consumers to get inclined towards healthier food options and products containing low calorie or sugar level. Thus, this may restrain the market growth in the near future.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3286 Chocolate Syrup Market: Key PlayersSome of the major key players operating in chocolate syrup market includes Santa Cruz Natural Incorporated, AH!LASKA, THE HERSHEY COMPANY, The J. M. Smucker Company, Bosco Products, Inc, Walden Farms, and Nestle S.A.among others. Cardiac Rhythm Management PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:08:12 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/ # 384 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 Around 30% of total death worldwide is caused by cardiovascular diseases, of which major part is accounted by heart diseases. The risk factors of heart disease includes elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, obesity and hypertension. Frequency of these factors varies demographically, i.e. on the basis of geography, sex ratio and ethnicity.Ischaemic heart disease, is the leading type of heart disease, and causes 46% of cardiovascular deaths in men and 38% in women.Cardiac rhythm management market is the established segment of cardiology devices market, used majorly in the treatment of patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF).Cardiac Rhythm Management Market: Drivers & RestraintsAn implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a specialized device designed to directly treat a cardiac tachydysrhythmia. High level of alcohol consumption, cholesterol levels and smoking obesity contribute to heart disease; continence of such lifestyle will increase the requirement of ICD implants. Lack of awareness about sudden cardiac arrests and high cost of the devices is expect to hinder the growth of the cardiac rhythm management market. Higher disposable income increase in number of aging population, technological advancement will spur the growth of global cardiac rhythm management market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-602 Cardiac Rhythm Management Market: SegmentationOn the basis of devices, cardiac rhythm management market is broadly segmented as:Cardiac Rhythm PacemakersSingle Chamber PacemakersDual Chamber PacemakersCardiac Resynchronization TherapyCardiac Resynchronization Therapy PacemakersCardiac Resynchronization Therapy DefibrillatorsImplantable Cardioverter DefibrillatorsTransvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (T-ICDs)Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs)Implantable Loop RecorderCardiac Rhythm Management Market: Region Wise OutlookNorth America cardiac rhythm management market is matured and hold the major share of the total market. Asia Pacific cardiac rhythm management market is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecasted years. Manufacturers in the industry are looking forward for capitalized growth in developing countries such as China and India. With rapid technological advancement global cardiac rhythm management market is expected to increase at a double digit CAGR during the forecast period.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-602 Cardiac Rhythm Management Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the cardiac rhythm management market we identified includes, Medtronic Plc, St. Jude Medical Inc, Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Biotronik, and Sorin Group. The Global Business Resource Management Consulting Market Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the present market. The report starts with the basic overview for this market and then goes into each and every detail. Business Resource Management Consulting Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 20:40:45 Press Information It Intelligence Markets Contact info: Contact Name: Vijay Tanna Address: Survey No-9/4, Flat# 6, Panchshil Park, Ganpati Marg, Nigidi, Pune 411044 Email: sales@itintelligencemarkets.com Phone: +91 976-460-7607 Vijay Tanna Sales Manager 9764607607 email http://www.itintelligencemarkets.com # 705 Words Contact info:Contact Name: Vijay TannaAddress: Survey No-9/4, Flat# 6, Panchshil Park, Ganpati Marg, Nigidi, Pune 411044Email: sales@itintelligencemarkets.comPhone: +91 976-460-7607Sales Manager9764607607 Business Resource Management Consulting is a kind of service that provide customers for business strategies and human resources advices. Resource management is a key element of activity resource assessment and project human resource management. Resource management is the efficient and effective development of an organization's resources when they are needed. Such resources may include financial resources, inventory, human skills, production resources, or information technology (IT) and natural resources.The Business Resource Management Consulting market is expected to grow worth of USD +18 Billion and at a CAGR of +12% over the forecast period 2018-2025.The report, titled Global Business Resource Management Consulting market defines and briefs readers about its products, applications, and specifications. 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. By using SWOT analysis and Porters five force analysis tools, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of key companies are all mentioned in the report.Companies Profiled in this report includes:RTM Consulting, SUEZ, EY,,KPMG, Accenture, PM Solutions, Business Consulting Resources ,Global Resources, Deloitte, PWC, EBM International, Groupe Montpetit, Univest, Trissential, Robert Half, Stillwell Management, Baku Business Consulting, TPOAsk For Sample Copy of this Report @The key components of the global Business Resource Management Consulting market have been elaborated to get a clear idea about the requirements of the businesses. Financial and economic aspects of the businesses have been presented by using graphical presentation techniques such as charts, graphs, tables, and pictures.Across the globe, several regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe have been examined on the basis of productivity, manufacturing base and revenue generation. It offers a stronger and effective business outlook by providing various parameters of businesses such as Business Resource Management Consulting.The global Business Resource Management Consulting market is analyzed in terms of its competitive landscape. For this, the report encapsulates data on each of the key players in the market according to their current company profile, gross margins, sale price, sales revenue, sales volume, product specifications along with pictures, and the latest contact information. The reports conclusion leads into the overall scope of the global market with respect to feasibility of investments in various segments of the market.This study considers the Business Resource Management Consulting value generated from the sales of the following segments:Segmentation by product type:Succession and Transition PlanningMergers and AcquisitionsOrganizational DevelopmentOperations and PerformanceHuman ResourcesSegmentation by application:Small BusinessBig BusinessAsk For upto 40% Discount on this Report @Key questions answered in this research report:-What will the market size in the forecast period?-What are the recent trends which are influencing the growth of Business Resource Management Consulting market?-What are the outcomes of SWOT analysis?-What are the global opportunities for expanding the Business Resource Management Consulting market?-What is driving or hampering this market?-Who are the key players, vendors, and sellers of the Business Resource Management Consulting market?Table of Content:Global Business Resource Management Consulting Market Research Report 2018-2025Chapter 1: Industry OverviewChapter 2: Business Resource Management Consulting Market International and Global Market AnalysisChapter 3: Environment Analysis of Business Resource Management Consulting.Chapter 4: Analysis of Revenue by ClassificationsChapter 5: Analysis of Revenue by Regions and ApplicationsChapter 6: Analysis of Business Resource Management Consulting Market Revenue Market Status.Chapter 7: Analysis of Business Resource Management Consulting Industry Key ManufacturersChapter 8: Continue to TOC.For enquiry before buying:About Company:We at IT Intelligence Markets conduct intensive market research and generate detailed reports about the products and services offered in the IT domain. Our team is devoted to providing custom reports that are taylor-made to suit the customers requirements. We make sure to keep our customers updated with the latest market dynamics as IT industry is undergoing sea change intrinsically & extrinsically by forces such as regulatory fluctuations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and newer technologies. Not only do our market research analysts scrutinize market requirements but also track competitors relentlessly for obtaining the most updated scenario of the market. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:53:49 Bismuth is a chemical element that is represented using symbol Bi. Bismuth is a pentavalent chemical that resembles chemically with antimony and arsenic. In the earths crust bismuth is twice as abundant as gold. Elemental bismuth occurs naturally and is a free element that is 86% as dense as lead. Bismuth is brittle metal that is silvery white in color when produced freshly. However, bismuth turns into pink tinge mainly after its surface oxidation. Bismuth is one of the most abundantly available diamagnetic elements and thus, has one of the lowest thermal conductivity among other metals. Bismuth metal has its physical property similar to that of tin and lead. Bismuth oxide is the most important industrial compound manufactured from bismuth. Bismuth oxide has a common starting point as that of similar to the bismuth chemistry. Bismuth oxide is naturally found as the mineral bismite, however, it is also obtained as a by-product from the smelting of lead ores and copper ores. Bismuth trioxide is widely used to manufacture the dragon eggs effects in fireworks as it is a major alternative for lead. Bismuth trioxide is commercially manufactured using from bismuth subnitrate. Bismuth subnitrate is manufactured by dissolving bismuth in hot nitric acid. Bismuth oxide is mainly found as a heavy yellow powder. Thus, bismuth is an essential raw material used to manufacture bismuth oxide.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-356 Bismuth oxide has few commercial applicationshowever; none of applications use bismuth oxide on a large scale. Bismuthoxide is used as an ingredient in the pharmaceutical industries. However, the use of bismuth oxide in dental materials is slowly declining. Compounds such as bismuth oxychloride have a wide range of applications in the cosmetic industry. Bismuth oxide is used as a pigment in manufacturing paints for eye shadows, nail polishes and hair sprays. Growing cosmetic industry is expected to boost the overall demand for bismuth market. Bismuth oxide are widely used in manufacturing of several machineries such as automatic sprinkler systems for fires. Bismuth oxide is used as an alternative to lead and hence, has been used in range of applications where previously lead was used. Bismuth oxide is mainly used as an alternative for lead especially in the manufacturing of bullets, shots and other ammunition. Currently, bismuth oxide is being evaluated as a lead replacement in manufacturing free machining brasses especially for plumbing applications. Owing to its low toxicity bismuth oxide is used in the manufacturing of food processing equipments and other copper processing pipes. Growing food industry is expected to drive the overall growth in the demand for bismuth market. Bismuth oxide is also used in automobile industry.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-356 Asia Pacific is expected to be the leading manufacturer of bismuth oxide. Presence of large scale bismuth manufacturers in China is expected to further boost the growth of the market. North America and Europe are expected to be the major consumers of bismuth oxide. The growing awareness about the hazardous effect of lead is further expected to augment the overall growth of the market.Hunan Jinwang Bismuth Industrial Co., Ltd, The Shepherd Chemical Company and The Kurt J. Lesker Company are among the major participants of the bismuth oxide market. The companys are mainly focused towards increasing their production capacity in order to reduce the overall demand supply gap. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:23:00 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 # 556 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 Study of electromagnetic radiations that is emitted or absorbed by atoms is known as atomic spectroscopy.When electrons are excited, they move from higher valence bond to lower valence bond and emit radiations (emission). However, a relaxed electron moves from lower valence bond to higher valence bond resulting in absorption of energy.Atomic spectroscopy market can be segmented as below based on technologies:X-ray Fluorescence SpectroscopyX-ray Diffraction SpectroscopyInductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS)Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) SpectroscopyAtomic Absorption SpectroscopyElemental AnalyzersRequest For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-382 Among all aforementioned technologies, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy market accounts for the largest share to the atomic spectroscopy market. This is due to the fact that they are efficient in analyzing solid samples precisely. Also, procedures performed via X-ray fluorescence are user-friendly in nature along with being cost efficient.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) market is expected to show the highest growth rate during the forecast period 2015 to 2025. This growth is attributed to revision in various regulations (chapter 231) of the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention. The revised regulation mandates the utilization of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy by pharmaceutical companies, which will propel the overall growth of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy market.Atomic spectroscopy is utilized in various institutes (applications):Food and Beverage TestingPharmaceuticalIndustrial ChemistryEnvironmental TestingBiotechnologyAmong all these, application of atomic spectroscopy in pharmaceutical market accounts for the largest share of total market. This large market size is due to increased utilization of atomic spectroscopy in the various pharmaceutical activities such as drugs manufacturing.Their efficiency helps develop and manufacture drugs precisely, that increases the uptake of atomic spectroscopy while manufacturing drugs by pharmaceutical companies. Hence, atomic spectroscopy market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period 2015 to 2025.Stringent safety regulations regarding the drug safety, and food and beverage testing by regulatory authorities across the globe will drive the growth of atomic spectroscopy market at a high CAGR during the forecast period. Safety regulations will propel the demand for the utilization of atomic spectroscopy in industrial chemistry sector along with environmental testing since; it will help monitor the volume of metal in any sample. Likewise, increasing application of atomic spectroscopy in medical research and drug safety will also boost the growth of atomic spectroscopy market.However , lack of trained professionals for handling atomic spectroscopy devices and technology may restrain the growth of atomic spectroscopy market.Domicile of large pharmaceutical and industrial chemistry companies in North America have supported the region to contribute the largest share of total atomic spectroscopy market. Also, stringent government regulations regarding safety of drugs, food and beverages has also supported the large market size in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to foresee the highest CAGR during the forecast period 2015 to 2025. This is due to the fact that major players such as Agilent Technologies are intending to expand their business in the emerging nations like India and China, which will drive the growth of atomic spectroscopy market. The major players operating in the atomic spectroscopy market include Agilent Technologies, Aurora Biomed, Bruker Corporation, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, GBC Scientific Equipment Pty Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, PerkinElmer, Inc., Analytik Jena AG and Rigaku Corporation among other significant players.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-382 Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Flexible Glass " report to their offering Future Market insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:27:59 Press Information Future Market insight 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 Bhudholia MANAGER 8455795705 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 422 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.comMANAGER8455795705 Future Market Insights (FMI) announces the release of its latest report titled, Asia Pacific Flexible Glass, Market Opportunity; 2014 to 2020 Forecast." According to the report, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is expected to account for $612.7 Mn by 2020, registering a CAGR of 36.5% during the forecast period. Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays is expected to contribute to the growth of the Asia Pacific flexible glass market over the forecast period.In terms of application, Asia Pacific flexible glass market is mainly segmented into display and solar PV (photovoltaic). Currently, display application segment dominates the Asia Pacific flexible glass market. The display segment was valued at US$ 74.2 Mn in 2013, and is expected to reach US$ 417.3 Mn by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 33.4% for the forecast period. Moreover, the development of Roll2Roll process is expected to create a demand for flexible glass in solar PV application. As a result, solar PV is projected to be the fastest growing application segment for the forecast period.Read Report Overview @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/details/apac-flexible-glass-market The display application is further sub-segmented as smartphones and tablets, curved TV, building mounted displays and, wearables. Among all the aforementioned sub-segments, smartphones & tablets segment is expected to dominate the market with 50.1% of the total revenue share by 2020. However, curved TV is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR of 37.1% during the forecast period. Additionally, influx of new entrants is predicted to fuel the growth of curved TV application segment over the forecast period.Browse Full: "Asia Pacific Flexible Glass, Market Opportunity; 2014 to 2020 Forecast" Report at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/details/apac-flexible-glass-market Country-wise, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is segmented into Japan, China, South Korea and others. Japan is the most lucrative market, followed by South Korea and China. Moreover, Japan is expected to contribute 40.0% market share to the Asia Pacific flexible glass market by 2020. The growth of South Korea market is supported by the strong presence of smartphone & TV manufacturers along with growing number of R&D centres in South Korea.Assessing the various factors driving this market, FMI lead analyst, Abhishek S. said, Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays, development of Roll2Roll process for flexible PV and growing R&D investments in flexible glass by key glass manufacturers are expected to fuel the demand for Asia Pacific flexible glass market. Key players in the Asia Pacific flexible glass market are Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Corning Inc., Schott AG and Nippon Electric Glass Company Ltd.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB--60 Arthroscopy Devices PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 13:04:07 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/ # 526 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 Surgeons use arthroscopy as a means of seeing inside joints. During an arthroscopic surgery a small device is implanted into a joint through a small cut. The tiny lens and fibre optic light of the arthroscope is connected to a camera and monitor which allows the orthopaedic surgeon to observe inside the joint and perform variety of different procedures. Each year orthopaedic surgeons perform more than five million arthroscopies. Due to the continuous growth and aging of global population, there will be a steady demand for both emerging as well as established arthroscopy devices. Knee and shoulder arthroscopy remain most common arthroscopic procedures worldwide. Most large or medium size joints, such as knees and shoulders are repaired by arthroscopic approaches. Surgery that years ago was able through an open approach now can be done via an arthroscopic approach, with similar long term outcomes, low post-operative pain, and reducing hospital stays.Global Arthroscopic Devices Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe arthroscopic devices market has emerged as one of the attractive industries in the medical equipment sector. In the recent past, the orthopaedics industry has seen major private equity transactions, several mergers and innovative product launches which acts as a key driver for global arthroscopic devices market. Rise of aging population along with advancement in technology especially in medical and healthcare sector is likely to fuel arthroscopic devices market. As consumers have become more health conscious and prefer high layout for orthopaedic treatments, global arthroscopic devices market is likely to project a promising future over the forecast period. A growing geriatric population worldwide has boosted the demand for arthroscopic devices and treatment globally. Increasing use of robotics creates more potential for arthroscopic devices market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-586 Global Arthroscopic Devices Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global arthroscopic devices market is segmented intoArthroscopesArthroscopic ImplantsShoulder ImplantsKnee ImplantsHip ImplantsSmall joint ImplantsArthroscopic shaver systemsArthroscopic visualizationFluid management systemsArthroscopic Radio Frequency DevicesArthroscopic Radio Frequency SystemsArthroscopic Radio Frequency WandsOn the basis of procedures, the global arthroscopic devices market is segmented intoShoulder Arthroscopic procedureKnee Arthroscopic procedureHip Arthroscopic procedureOthersGlobal Arthroscopic Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the global arthroscopic devices market has been divided in to seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan. The global arthroscopic devices market is expected to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period and offers considerable commercial potential. However regions of Latin America and emerging economies of Asia-Pacific are major hotspots for global arthroscopic devices market. Technological advancement have brought rapid growth in the Europe and North America market.Asia-Pacific countries such as India and China have high growth rate due to low taxation, rise in disposable incomes and investment friendly environment accelerating the growth of arthroscopic devices market in Asia-pacific.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-586 Global Arthroscopic Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global arthroscopic devices market are ConMed Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Arthrex Inc, Stryker Corporation and DePuy Synthes. Research Solution Insights (RSI) has launched the report titled, Hybrid Vehicles Market: Global Industry Analysis, size, sales and Forecast by 2026: Research Solution Insights. PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 18:09:53 Research Report Insights in its report titled Hybrid Vehicles Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026 offers detailed insights and in-depth research on the global hybrid vehicles market over a 10-year forecast period 2016 2026. The report covers the important factors driving the growth of the global hybrid vehicles market, untapped opportunities for manufacturers, trends and developments shaping the dynamics of the global hybrid vehicles market and other insights across various key segments.The report identifies the drivers and restraints affecting the growth of the global hybrid vehicles market. Changing trends are also analysed and incorporated in the report to equip the client with exhaustive information about the market resulting in better decision making. Macroeconomic factors that directly and indirectly affect the growth of the global hybrid vehicles market are also incorporated in the report.Report For Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchsolutioninsights.com/report/sample/230154-Hybrid-Vehicles-Market Global Hybrid Vehicles market segmentationTo understand and assess opportunities in the global Hybrid Vehicles market, we have divided the report into three sections based on market segmentation as under:By Product TypeBy Engine TypeBy Power Train ConfigurationBy Vehicle TypeBy Region Hybrid Electric Vehicle PlugIn Hybrid Vehicle Gasoline Hybrid Diesel Hybrid Parallel Hybrid Series Hybrid Power Split Hybrid Passenger Vehicle Light Commercial Vehicle Heavy Commercial Vehicle North America Latin AmericaThe market value for all segments is taken in US$ Mn and the market volume is also identified in units for all the segments.A section of the report highlights country-wise hybrid vehicles demand. It provides a market outlook for 20162026 and sets the forecast within the context of the global hybrid vehicles market, including the new technological developments as well as product offerings for niche applications in the global hybrid vehicles market.In the final section of the report, a competitive landscape has been included to provide report audiences with a dashboard view. The report provides details market share analysis of the hybrid vehicles market on the basis of key manufacturers. Detailed profiles of manufacturers are also included within the scope of the report to evaluate strategies, key offerings and recent developments in the global Hybrid Vehicles market.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchsolutioninsights.com/report/discount/230154-Hybrid-Vehicles-Market Our research methodologyMarket volume is inferred through in-depth secondary research and validated from industry experts through primary interviews. Each interview is thoroughly analysed and average market volume is deduced and reconfirmed prior to incorporating in the report. The price of Hybrid Vehicles is deduced basis the tipping type, where the average price of each Hybrid Vehicles type is inferred across all the seven assessed regions. The market value of the global Hybrid Vehicles market is thus calculated from the data provided by the average selling price and market volume.For the 10-year forecast of the global Hybrid Vehicles market, various macroeconomic factors and changing trends have been observed, giving an idea about the future of the market. Other important factors considered to arrive at market forecast are the size of the current market, inputs from the supply side and the demand side and other dynamics shaping the scenario of the market.In the compilation of the report, the forecast is conducted in terms of CAGR, while other important criteria such as year-on-year growth and absolute dollar opportunity have also been incorporated presenting the client with crystal clear insights and future opportunities as far as the global Hybrid Vehicles market is concerned.Analyst SpeakWhat we have observed here is that these days hybrid vehicles are not only used on construction and mining sites but they are also used for internal transportation of materials in regions such as North America, Europe and APEJ.The growing demand from the consumers to transport bulk amount of materials and goods is the chief driver for the global hybrid vehicles market. Furthermore, the rising infrastructure development in the emerging economies is expected to fuel the growth of the tipper bodies in the global market. Additionally, the growing trend to live healthily and keep the country & the surroundings clean is acting as a catalyst for the hybrid vehicles in the waste management sector.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchsolutioninsights.com/report/analysis/230154-Hybrid-Vehicles-Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:22:02 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 # 652 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 Radiation therapy or particle therapy is exhibited as a more promising treatment option for cancer treatment. Radiation therapy also affects the adjacent organs or make delivery of doses too difficult because numerous radiation morbidities might occur. Absorbable tissue spacer is introduced to overcome the therapeutic and anatomical problems and deliver effective radiation doses. Absorbable tissue spacer is effective to block particle beams and separate normal tissue from the radiation field. Absorbable tissue spacer has reduced the effect of radiation therapy on adjacent organs. Absorbable tissue spacer is Bioabsorbable spacer which injected into place before to start of radiation treatment. Absorbable tissue spacer remains stable during radiation therapy and slowly absorbed by the body after radiotherapy has been completed. Nonwoven fabric spacer, absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) and absorbable hydrogel spacer are some of the absorbable tissue spacers. Absorbable tissue spacer such as absorbable hydrogel spacer is used during prostate radiotherapy to create distance between the prostate and the rectum. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancer types in men. Absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) spacers are effective to treat upper abdominal tumors. Absorbable tissue spacer such as PGA spacers is majorly used for pancreatic cancer which used to keep away gastrointestinal tract from radiation.Absorbable Tissue Spacer Market: Drivers and Restraints-The increasing prevalence of prostate cancer expected to drive the growth of the absorbable tissue spacer market. National Cancer Institute estimated that 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018. High adoption of radiation therapy or chemotherapy to treat cancer are expected favors the growth of the absorbable tissue spacer market. Increasing number of cases of pancreatic cancer expected to spur the demand for radiation therapy and favors the growth of the absorbable tissue spacer market. According to the American Cancer Society estimated 55,440 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018. Growing development of new technology and products for effective cancer treatment expected to drive the growth of the absorbable tissue spacer over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8507 Absorbable Tissue Spacer Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, absorbable tissue spacer market can be segmented as:Absorbable Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) SpacersAbsorbable Hydrogel SpacerOn the basis of application, absorbable tissue spacer market can be segmented as:Pancreatic CancerLiver CancerProstate CancerOthersOn the basis of the end user, the absorbable tissue spacer market can be segmented as:HospitalsCancer Treatment CentersCancer Research CentersAbsorbable Tissue Spacer Market: OverviewAbsorbable tissue spacer is Bioabsorbable tissue spacer used for protection of adjacent tissue during the radiation therapy. Absorbable tissue spacer is made from nonwoven fabric and hydrogel which exhibit the more focused effect on the target tissue. Absorbable tissue spacer is used for providing appropriate protection and create strong protection barriers. Absorbable tissue spacer is expected to create strong demand for prostate cancer.Absorbable Tissue Spacer Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the market has been divided into seven regions including North- America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia- Pacific excluding & Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle-East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is the most dominating market for absorbable tissue spacer market due to high prevalence of prostate cancer in United States. According to National Cancer Institute, in 2015 around 3,120,176 men living with prostate cancer in United States. Western European expected to contribute second largest revenue share in absorbable tissue spacer market due to high adoption radiation therapy for cancer treatment and growing demand of technologically advanced products. The Asia Pacific excluding Japan absorbable tissue spacer market is expected to gain a high growth rate over the forecast period due to increasing healthcare spending and government support for cancer treatment.Absorbable Tissue Spacer Market: Key Market ParticipantsExample of some market players participants in global absorbable tissue spacer market identify across the value chain are Boston Scientific Corporation (Augmenix Inc.) and others.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-8507 PR-Inside.com: 2019-02-01 14:23:44 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 # 669 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 Home Healthcare Software is the most evolving and cutting-edge technology in the healthcare industry in the recent years. In the past decade, medical documentation was not only difficult to maintain, but also time consuming. It involved a lot of paper work to maintain patient and clinical records.Home Healthcare solutions are extremely user friendly solutions that provides error free healthcare information which increases the operational efficacy and also enables home care agencies and physicians to communicate effectively to provide quality care to the patients. These solutions provides all healthcare professionals with real time information to deliver superior patient care.These specially designed softwares are used for maintaining patient electronic medical records, medication history, billing records, scheduling, and point-of-care clinical documentation.Home Healthcare Software Market: DriversToday, aging population is a key factor for driving home healthcare software market. With the advancement of technology and growing adaptation of home healthcare based solutions. There is a pressure to reduce healthcare cost, patient readmission and increase in the quality of care in home care settings. These solutions are cost effective, ease of use and provides error free medical information. With this cutting edge technology and remarkable investments from the stakeholders, this market is expected to create a better business opportunities in the coming years.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-481 Home Healthcare Software Market: SegmentationBased on the commercially available software products, global home healthcare software market is segmented as follows:Hospice SystemsAgency Software SystemsTele-Health SystemsClinical Management SystemsFurthermore, the global home healthcare software market is classified based on usage mode as:Non Clinical Homecare SystemsClinical Homecare SystemsBased on the delivery mode, the global home healthcare software market is segmented as follows:Cloud-based softwareOn-premises softwareWeb- based softwareThe major end-uses of this market include:Private dutyHospice agenciesHomecare agenciesOthersCloud based software segment is currently growing at a faster rate due to its offered advantage of data storage and accessibility. Tele-Health Systems is the fastest growing product segment among other commercially available home healthcare software products.Home Healthcare Software Market: OverviewWith rapid acceptance of technology and taking into account the above mentioned drivers and other macroeconomic factors, it is expected to grow at a rate of around 13-15% in the forecast years (2015-2025). The home healthcare software market will reach four times by 2025. There was an immense demand for home healthcare software in the recent past and as per our estimates, it will witness further growth in the forecast years as well. The emphasis of using such kind of systems by different healthcare agencies has prompted companies to focus more on the existing technologies and products.Home Healthcare Software Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global home healthcare software market is segmented into North America, Latin America (LATAM), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and African regions. At present, North America dominates the global home healthcare software market followed by Western Europe. Factors such as existence of highly developed healthcare infrastructure, rapid adoption of advanced technologies and higher rate of implementation of innovative technology in the practice are driving the North America home healthcare software market towards growth. Asia-Pacific is lucrative market for home healthcare software due to the easy availability of skilled manpower, innovations and highly developed information technology sectors in the emerging countries mainly China and India. India accounts for second largest population pool in the world. With aging of population in country like India, the prevalence of chronic diseases will be higher, which will result in higher patient population and thus demand for home healthcare software to grow more in such country.Home Healthcare Software Market: Key PlayersSome of the major companies contributing to the global home healthcare software market are Agfa Healthcare, NextGen Healthcare Information System LLC, Cerner Corporation, GE Healthcare, MEDITECH, Mckesson Corporation, Medical Information Technology, Inc. (Meditech), Siemens Healthcare and Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-481 The sacramental or positive good view of abortion lurks in the Democratic orthodoxy regarding a womans right to choose, but Democrats ambitious for national office have mostly remained content to keep the view implicit and to decry the difficulty of the choice in these terms even in the third trimester of pregnancy, as Hillary Clinton did in the third of her debates with candidate Trump in 2016. Candidate Trump effectively drew out the logic of this position. Ramesh Ponnuru has followed developments closely over the years and has a good summary of where we are now in The infanticide craze. Ramesh emphasizes: The Supreme Courts abortion jurisprudence has for decades effectively forbidden any state from prohibiting abortion even late in pregnancy. But [s]upporters of the countrys expansive abortion regime now fear that the Supreme Court will retreat from it, either by declaring that the Constitution permits states to protect unborn children in general or by letting them offer more protection. Thats why they are pushing legislation in the states to codify that regime. It is an effort that is forcing supporters of abortion to be a little more candid about what they really want Virginia presents as a case study. The subject is current in part thanks to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. This past Wednesday on WTOPs Ask The Governor, Northam defended Fairfax County Delegate Kathy Trans 40-week abortion bill (now tabled in subcommittee, thanks to Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates). If a mother is in labor, Governor Northam helpfully explained, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. See the account, the links, the videos and the apologetics here on Vox. Northams defense of Trans bill seems like a notable moment on our downward path. Scott wrote this morning about Virginia Governor Ralph Northams extraordinarily shocking open embrace of infanticide, and this afternoon the story is breaking about this image from Northams medical school yearbook page (see the upper right): It is not clear yet whether Northam is the person in blackface, or the person in the Klan hood (nice choice). The Virginia Senate Democratic leader Richard L. Saslaw told the Washington Post: While its in very poor taste, I would think no one in the General Assembly who would like their college conduct examined. I would hate to have to go back and examine my two years in the Army. Trust me. I was 18 years old [Note: Northam was well into his 20s at the time this photo was taken] and I was a handful, OK? His life since then has been anything but. Its been a life of helping people, and many times for free. Okay, fine. Did the good senator say anything like that about Brett Kavanaugh, whose high school yearbook Democrats scrutinized more closely than the Zapruder film? Just imagine what youd hear if such a photo were found in any Republican office holders yearbook these days. The Post would run stories on the front page for a month, like it did with Sen. George Allens infamous macaca comment in 2010. I suspect Northam will get a complete pass, because hes a Democratunless polls show his abortion comment is playing so badly with Virginia voters that Democrats decide hes a liability and decide this is a good excuse to dump him. I wonder if there is any way to buy a futures option on Democratic Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax? As Drudge says, developing. . . UPDATE: Northam has apologized, but has not said which person he is in the photo. Also, going around Twitter right now (so I cant vouch for authenticity) are two different slate mailers Northams campaign sent out, apparently to areas with different, um, ethnic compositions: Ive always said that the only thing worse than a liberal is a southern liberal (think Jimmy Carter or Tom Wicker). Finally, someone has pointed out that were missing the truly incriminating evidence on the yearbook page: Chaser: Unfortunately Ive run out of popcorn. Heather Mac Donald has warned that identity politics, having engulfed the humanities and social sciences on American campuses, is now taking over the hard sciences. Here is an example: A friend sent me this application form for the Graduate Data Science Summer Program at the National Institutes of Health. Those accepted to the summer program will spend the summer at the NIH learning how to use their computational skills to help answer critical biomedical research questions that can have significant societal impact. The application states: Students with disabilities; students who are Pell Grant-eligible; students who are or have been enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); students who identify as LGBTQ; and individuals disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters, are encouraged to apply to GDSS. Why does NIH encourage gays, lesbians, and transgenders to apply? What interest is served by having these students, as opposed to heterosexuals, improve their computational skills. Is there any evidence that such students have been disadvantaged when it comes to obtaining such skills? This type of encouragement clause is a standard way of signaling that members of the groups identified will be preferred to non-members. As my friend notes, given the comparatively small number of trans people, identifying as trans probably improves chances of selection to a greater degree than being, say, black. Yet, being black normally presents more obstacles to getting to the point of being qualified for summer work in computing at NIH than being trans. Thus, to the extent NIH wants to prefer certain groups in order to offset barriers its members may have faced, its inclusion of transgender and, indeed, gays and lesbians is misguided. If the goal, instead, is to increase diversity for diversitys sake, whats the point? Whatever the arguments for the valuing diversity in some areas, its difficult to see how they might apply when it comes to the analysis of data. NIH tells applicants to discuss the following important elements in the application cover letter: Prior research experience, and current and future research interests. Educational and career goals. How participation in GDSSP will assist in achieving stated goals. Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community within the biomedical research enterprise. Leadership experiences in school and in the community. Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community within the biomedical research enterprise? By a summer intern? This is part attempt to brainwash and part an invitation to bullsh*t NIH. People who consider race, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc. irrelevant to data analysis i.e. reasonable people will either have to lie on their application or guarantee their non-selection. Where will the obsession with diversity in math and science lead us? I agree with Mac Donald: [L]owering standards and diverting scientists energy into combating phantom sexism and racism is reckless in a highly competitive, ruthless, and unforgiving global marketplace. Driven by unapologetic meritocracy, China is catching up fast to the U.S. in science and technology. Identity politics in American science is a political self-indulgence that we cannot afford. The gun police recovered from Jeremy Oatman was found to be a realistic-looking BB gun. @montcocourtnews on Twitter Carl Hessler Jr. is a multi-media reporter who writes about crime and justice from the Montgomery County Courthouse for 21st Century Media Newspapers Greater Philadelphia area publications. Follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews featured NEW TWIST ON YOGA Breathe in and Release the Axe Women combine empowered yoga poses and axe throwing to demonstrate 'divine energy' 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. Bart and Priscilla have been married for three years. Both had a very successful career. Bart was a lawyer and Priscilla was a pediatrician. T Read more A transition committee report submitted to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero's administration documents unspecified allegations of sexual harassment, favoritism and low morale among members of the Guam National Guard. The report doesn't name people or specify dates or incidents. It lists other issues, including alleged inequities in promotions, job assignments, training or fitness compliance; "abuse of power"; a hierarchy involving a "privileged few"; an "untenable" ratio of men to women in senior leadership positions; low morale; and a "climate of fear." Guard leadership is preparing to release a response, said Maj. Josephine Blas, the Guam Guard's spokeswoman. The report was put together by unnamed members of a group within the gubernatorial transition committee who conducted interviews with members of the Guam Guard. It mentions a "hostile work environment" in the Guard and incidents of "erroneous pay." The pay issues led to problems such as underpayment, overpayment or payment delays, the report stated. "Immediate administrative action is needed to correct the dire circumstances expressed by many service members who wish to protect the integrity of the Guam Guard and to raise the level of morale and commitment to excellence that drives many soldiers to enlist in the first place," the report states. The report mentions the financial challenges of deployed Guard members who have to take time from their regular jobs to serve in military missions overseas. "Employed service members should be made aware of financial support services available to them to ease the extra burdens that affect household expenses while away from home," the report states. The report recommends an evaluation, audit or investigation "to understand the scope of past leadership decisions and practices that (have) led to a climate of fear and intimidation." It also mentions that "the efficiency and effectiveness of the role of the 'Council of colonels' in key decisions deserves a hard look." The report was discussed within the administration and among key staffers Friday. Leadership appointment questioned As this transition report circulated in the community, questions also were raised about the governor's choice for the new leader of the Guam National Guard. Lt. Col. Esther Aguigui was appointed as the Guard's leader for her history-making record, including being the first woman in the Guam Army National Guard to graduate from the U.S. Army War College, and deployments to Afghanistan and the Philippines. Aguigui replaces Maj. Gen. Roderick Leon Guerrero. The Guam Daily Post has received a few calls over the past few days that Aguigui allegedly had a record of reprimand during her time at the War College, which a spokeswoman for the Guam Guard has denied. "While we do not discuss personnel matters, Lt. Col. Aguigui would not have been appointed if there was anything derogatory in her record," spokeswoman Blas said. Aguigui's appointment is completely at the discretion of the governor, Blas said. Blas also clarified Aguigui's new role doesn't mean she outranks Guard officers with military ranks higher than hers. "The adjutant general, or TAG, is a title not a rank and she meets the requirement of that position." 'Esther is a model soldier' Vice Speaker Sen. Telena Nelson expressed support for Aguigui. The legislative leadership on Friday also was briefed on the questions raised about Aguigui's new leadership role in the Guard. "Some senators were informed of an apparent issue involving Lt. Col. Esther Aguigui's appointment this morning," Nelson said. "Esther is a model soldier and I trust her leadership. The Guam National Guard will move forward with her at the helm." Nelson is a captain in the Guard, but her recent promotion as major was revoked because of "an administrative error." Longtime talk radio show host Jon Anderson died early Friday morning at Guam Regional Medical City, his wife Mahie Anderson confirmed. He was 76. His broadcast career on Guam began in 1977 when he became general manager of KUAM. Four years later he and some partners bought a radio station that became K-57 where he launched the first news-talk format on the island. For nearly two decades as host of the K-57 Breakfast Show, Jon ruled the morning drive time on Guam. Power brokers, politicians, Tun Juan and Tan Maria all tuned in to listen, or called in to be heard. Jon arbitrated the debate with a fair-minded calm admired by all. Following his career at K-57 he served as editor-in-chief of the Marianas Variety newspaper before retiring in 2014. I always admired Jons talent to know exactly what to say to (defuse) tensions, to cut through the rhetoric, and to comfort our listeners in even the most trying times," said Rex Sorensen, president of the Sorensen Media Group. "I wish I had the words to express what a tremendous loss to our community and to our SMG family this news represents." To Mahie and Jons children: Guam is indebted to you, for encouraging and supporting Jon during his decades of service to our people. Jon Anderson is, and will forever be, the Godfather of talk radio on Guam. Rest in peace friend; youve earned this station break," said Sorensen. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero issued a statement saying, Our hearts sank this morning upon hearing of the passing of Guam radio icon Jon Anderson ... His voice brought us together more than any current social media channel ever could. Guam has lost a media legend whose contributions to our island will be remembered for generations, she said. Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio said - Jons integrity, as a radio talk show host, a journalist, and as a person was evident in everything he did. Our hearts go out to his family, most especially his wife Mahie, his daughter Debbie, and his sons Keoki, Maka, Darren, and Tony." Former Guam delegate to Congress and retired UOG president Dr. Robert Underwood said, "For many of us who first learned how to talk on the radio and get interviewed, Jon was our mentor. He was very gentle and intelligent and careful. I think many, many public figures were under his tutelage. He was a great friend and contributor to our lives." Ray Gibson, the managing partner and host of the morning show on ThePoint radio station said - "Jon hired me at KUAM when I was 17 and mentored me right up until our last conversations ... I'll miss his rich voice and his dedication to journalism and radio. I imagine there is a great gathering in Radio heaven now with Jon, Bill Gibson, Dick Williams, Johnny Gerber and Travis Coffman. My family extends deepest condolences to Mahie and the children." Mahie Anderson said funeral arrangements are pending. The Anderson family is waiting for relatives to arrive on the island. A date for the funeral will be announced at a later time, she said. When Internal Revenue Service workers returned to their jobs Jan. 28 after the recent, 35-day government shutdown, an estimated 5 million pieces of unopened mail awaited. Equally daunting, the shutdown coincided with the IRSs hiring of its annual army of temporary workers to process the impending tax seasons mail. The delay now leaves the IRS months behind in what most Americans see as the agencys most important job: sending out their tax refunds. This is just one of the unforeseen messes there are hundreds more confronting government departments powering up after the partial federal shutdown that cost the U.S. economy an estimated $11 billion and resolved exactly nothing. Worse, the U.S.-Mexico "wall" fight between the White House and Congressional Democrats still remains as another threatened shutdown looms for Feb. 15. No matter how this fight ends, no solution currently under discussion addresses the most pressing immigration problem facing American farmers and eaters: the growing unmet need for immigrant labor to deliver much of the abundant, cheap food this nation enjoys. In fact, the growing labor shortage in California, the nations premier food-producing state, is so severe that 55 percent of its farmers told the states Farm Bureau affiliate in a 2017 poll that they experienced a "severe labor shortage," USA Today recently reported. (The story was published, ironically, two days after the White House agreed to a ceasefire in its wall battle.) The poll also showed that another 33 percent of California farmers "were delaying harvesting, eliminating crops and neglecting critical tasks such as pruning" because they simply couldnt find people to do the work. More shocking, the poll also revealed that the governments often-reformed H2A agricultural (guest) worker program is a bust; only 4 percent of farmers used it to hire legal immigrant labor. The labor shortage is leading farmers to change in ways that arent good for rural California and the nation. For example, many are leaving crops to rot or allowing land to lay idle. The cutbacks cost consumers and pinch local economies. Another solution, notes USA Today, is even more stark. "The most blunt of agriculture veterans simply say that their futures may involve operating solely out of Mexico-based operations or possibly shuttering their businesses altogether." How crazy is that? Without a reliable, legal migrant workforce steadily moving north, U.S. farming operations could be steadily moving south. The person holding the key to unlock this dilemma, President Donald J. Trump, has often told farmers he will help. "You need these people," he recently told delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in New Orleans. "Were going to make it easier." The Trump White House, in fact, has made it much harder for even legal and asylum-seeking immigrants to enter the U.S. Still, its actions dont mean todays much-tinkered with immigration system is workable. If anything, it points to the need for a dramatic overhaul. According to the USA Today report, two California lawmakers, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, both Democrats, have a plan called The Agricultural Worker Program Act. It would "grant blue card status to immigrants who have worked in agriculture for at least 100 days over the past two years." The sticking point, however, may be that the blue card, "a reward for being an engine in the economy," could lead to a residency permit "within a few years." As such, few GOP politicians, and no one in the White House, will touch it. That vacuum offers farmers and ranchers the opportunity to lead on immigration. They have, after all, both the need and the presidents ear. But do they, including Big Ags most Trump-favored farm group, the AFBF, have the guts to help broker an overhaul of the nations immigration system so that it ensures both justice to the immigrants and a steady flow of high quality, reasonably-priced food to the nation? Its a bold move now in need of bold leaders. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High around 90F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. , Cookies . cookies. Advertising Donald Trump arranged for an interview with the New York Times, apparently so he could use the prominent newspaper as a forum for disseminating more lies. Specifically, he tried to convince the interviewers that the Moscow Trump Tower project was not a business deal, and that when foreign countries use his hotels he loses money. He also issued several denials concerning legal matters which were obviously untrue. Excerpts From Trumps Interview With The Times The New York Times https://t.co/WpL5rZXTak Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 1, 2019 In the interview Trump maintained that while running for president he didnt need to disclose that he was trying to negotiate a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. When asked by Times reporter Peter Baker if he felt that hed lied to the American public when he said he had no business dealings with Russia during the 2016 campaign, Trump replied to say that a major deal to build a massive Trump-branded skyscraper in the Russian capital shouldnt be seen as a business deal. Advertising That wasnt business, Trump said. Peter, that wasnt business. Isnt that misleading to say you werent pursuing business there, right? Baker pressed again. I had no money invested. It was a letter of intent, or option. It was a free option. It was a nothing. And I wasnt doing anything. I dont consider that even business. And frankly, that wasnt even on my radar. If you take a look at that, take a look at the deal. There was no money put up. There was no transfer. I dont think they had a location. Im not even sure if they had a location. In fact, according to a letter of intent signed by Trump himself in late 2015, the proposed Tower would have been located in Moscow City, a major commercial district of the Russian capital that is home to some of Europes tallest skyscrapers. And many details of the proposed business transaction have been published, proving just how serious Trump was about the project. In the interview Trump also complained about how much money hes lost by being president, saying: I lost massive amounts of money doing this job. This is not about the money. This one of the great losers of all time. You know, fortunately, I dont need money. This is one of the great losers of all time. But theyll say that somebody from some country stayed at a hotel. And Ill say, Yeah. But I lose, I mean, the numbers are incredible. I love this job, Trump added. During the interview Trump also made the following denials, which are questionable, to say the least: Trump denied that he discussed Wikileaks with Roger Stone No, I didnt, Trump claimed. I never did, Trump denied that he is at odds with his intelligence agency chiefs They said, Sir, our testimony was totally mischaracterized, Trump argued. I said, What are you talking about? And when you read their testimony and you read their statements, it was mischaracterized by the media. Trump denied that he is the focus of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation He said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, told the attorneys that Im not a subject, Im not a target. Hopefully the readers of the New York Times are smart enough to see through Trumps lies and recognize that almost nothing he says is true. 218 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Editors Note: This article is from June of 2018 but is relevant due to Trump raising human trafficking as a reason for his border. Ellen Wulfhorst ALAMO, Texas (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Fear of tightened border patrols and tough new immigration laws is driving victims of human trafficking into hiding in the Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of the U.S. border with Mexico, according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation. Stretching more than 100 miles (160 km) along the river that divides the two nations, the Valley in Texas has long been a major entry point for Central American migrants who stay and find jobs as farmworkers, ranchhands and housekeepers. Advertising But worried and silenced by the nations hardened attitude toward migrants, frightened workers face greater risk of falling victim to forced labor, trafficking, wage theft and debt bondage, advocates and officials told the Thomson Reuters Foundation during several trips over a five-month period. The number of calls from trafficking victims to the National Human Trafficking Hotline fell 30 percent to 325 last year in Texas, listed by the U.S. government as having the most human trafficking activity alongside New York and California. The fact is they hide, even from us, said Jose Torres, a grizzled legal aid investigator who has roamed the fields of the Valley helping trafficked farmworkers for four decades. Already reluctant to reveal their plight, casualties of trafficking are even more distressed by the Trump situation, he said. President Donald Trump wants to build a border wall with Mexico promoted in part to stop drug smuggling and criminal immigration and his administration plans to expel 250,000 immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador. In the Valley, National Guard helicopters fly low overhead and Customs and Border Patrol agents keep watch on city streets and remote dirt roads. Added to that, Texas has a new state law called SB4 that allows law enforcement to ask for a persons immigration status. The stepped-up policing and laws like SB4 create a chilling effect, said Efren Olivares, racial and economic justice director at the Texas Civil Rights Project. We are already seeing that happening, he said. We are very concerned its going to affect and revictimize human trafficking victims. More than nine in 10 people have Hispanic roots in the fast-growing Valley, and traffic clogs the imposing port-of-entry bridges spanning the Rio Grande from Mexico. Related Coverage Factbox: Tighter security, immigration crackdown boost trafficking concerns along U.S.Mexico border Signs in Spanish hawk Mexican fare at cantinas and taquerias, where stray dogs hunt for scraps. Migrant fieldhands ride in pick-up trucks to gather oranges, cauliflower and onions, and domestic workers wait at bus stops to start their days cooking and cleaning. Throughout the Valley, workers without legal immigration documents fear being found out and deported. Those with legal papers do not want to jeopardize family members who do not. Yolanda, a Mexican domestic worker in the country illegally for more than a decade after overstaying a visitor visa, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that her employers dont always pay her wages after she cleans their houses. Theyd say, Yeah Ill pay you. Yeah, Ill pay you, but then they never paid, said Yolanda, who did not want to give her surname. There are many bad people, people who are like that. Her husband Luis added: Theres nothing you can do about it. With this president, everything is very difficult. CAPTIVE AND HELPLESS Although few victims speak up, the state is home to an estimated 234,000 adult labor trafficking victims, according to 2016 research by the University of Texas. Their captors earn as estimated $600 million a year in illicit profits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates a quarter of the 50,000 or so people trafficked every year from foreign countries to the United States enter through Texas. The number that were serving is very small, compared to the actual numbers that are at risk or could be victims of trafficking, said Rachel Alvarez of the Refugee Services of Texas which is aiding about 20 Valley trafficking survivors. A lot of them are very scared to go out of their home, if its not work or to take their kids to school, because of immigration. Sponsored No statistics are available just for the Valley, but campaigners voice concern about more workers especially those laboring on isolated ranches and farms falling prey to traffickers with no access to help. Attorney Libby Hasse from the Tahirih Justice Center in Houston described a case of a woman who fled El Salvador, where she had been targeted for being a lesbian. She crossed illegally into the Valley with a smuggler who took her captive and demanded more money from her family. She was forced to cook and clean and take care of kids for several months, Hasse said. Unfortunately its something that we see fairly frequently. A pregnant young woman from Mexico told police in the Valley city of San Juan that a smuggler had raped her and bound her with duct tape so she could not escape. You may not know youre being trafficked, but you then discover it when you arrive, said Alex Channer, principal analyst at U.K-based Verisk Maplecroft, a human rights data research company that studies labor abuse. Youre owned and controlled by someone else. U.S. federal authorities said they had received no reports of labor or sex trafficking cases in the Valley but blamed the silence on the traumatic nature of the crime. We have no evidence of it happening as far as our case work is concerned, said Carl Rusnok, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman. (But) the whole issue of human trafficking is extremely secretive. It could be going on all around us. UNDER-REPORTED CRIME Stacie Jonas, an attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid that has about 120 open or pending trafficking cases currently, said employers threats grow more credible and frightening amid anti-immigrant rhetoric. Peoples fear of reporting is enhanced substantially Its driving immigrants underground, empowering bad employers, she told the Foundation. Human trafficking, and labor trafficking especially, is notable for being under-reported, experts say. Nationwide, some 700 criminal trafficking cases were open last year. Only five percent of the cases and about 100 victims involved labor trafficking, according to the Human Trafficking Institute, a legal and research group. In the most recent statistics available, the U.S. government said it convicted 14 people of labor trafficking in 2016. Globally, some 25 million people are estimated to be trapped in forced labor, according to leading anti-slavery groups, many of whom fell into the hands of criminal gangs while seeking to escape poverty or violence. Many migrants fleeing brutal gang violence in Central America pay to enter through the Valley where smugglers can take advantage of the bustling commercial development and busy roadways, said San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez. Its not a lot of open area so its a lot easier to smuggle people, he said. Its a lot easier to camouflage them. Smugglers, known as coyotes, charge up to $12,000 a person. The steep cost makes migrants vulnerable to being taken captive to work off what they owe, experts say. One former coyote named Eloy told the Foundation he used to ferry illegal migrants from the banks of the Rio Grande two miles (3 km) to a secret stashhouse in South Alamo in his pickup truck. A truckload of seven people earned him $1,400. Somebody told me, Hey, you want to help me? Its good money, he said, now out of smuggling and back to farming. Sometimes we make mistakes, but mine didnt catch up with me. Migrants who managed to cross the river from Mexico become trapped in the Valley, unable to sneak past high-security government checkpoints further north, advocates say. You dont complain, said Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston. You live in the shadows because you can be caught at any minute. Funding for this story was provided by the International Womens Media Foundation Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. 726 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough on Friday compared Donald Trumps failed border security plan with the New Coke debacle. He said that Trump is doubling down on a political strategy that failed miserably in last falls midterm elections. Trump forced a deeply unpopular government shutdown over funding for his border wall, and now he is again threatening to send U.S. troops to the border to stop caravans of migrants just as he did ahead of the midterms. If you just look at vote total in the history of America for any midterm election, (Republicans) lost by more than any other party ever, they lost more seats than at any time since Watergate, Scarborough said. Then this (president) decides hes going to double down on that remember the strategy going into that election was the fake caravans, the fake border crisis, the fake need to send troops done to the border, right? It failed historically, he added. This is like from Coca-Cola to New Coke, right? Advertising MSNBC contributor Donny Deutsch laughed and said that was exactly the comparison he was going to make, but Scarborough took the analogy even further. Except now were moving from New Coke, Scarborough said. It would be as if the board of directors in Atlanta, Georgia, for Coca-Cola said, and forgive me for saying it this morning, Hey, you know what, New Coke didnt work, so were going to add cat urine to it. Its the worst its ever been in history, the worst loss since Watergate, Scarborough said. Hes doubling down on the strategy, and now his answer is and this is where our cat part comes in hes going to continue, but now hes going to violate the United States Constitution, right, and hes going to have the Supreme Court most likely overturn his decision (to declare a national emergency) unanimously. This is a board of directors that I mean, they got to step in to save themselves, he added. Deutsch said the presidents strategy revealed troubling insights into his mental state. It would be like bringing back the wall now and say, not only are we going to have the wall, were going to embroider the wall thats going to make the difference here, Deutsch said. I go back and it seems like a thin response and a cheap shot, and youve got nothing else to say, (but) hes insane. CLICK HERE to watch the Morning Joe video on YouTube. 1.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Ivanka Trump, the person who is supposed to represent everyday women in the Trump White House, said of human trafficking on Friday, No one can meet with a survivor without being deeply moved. Kellyanne Conway, who doesnt believe the vetted women who accused Trump SCOTUS Brett Kavanaugh or those many women who accused Trump himself, suggested these human trafficking stories are under-reported. Meeting participants on Friday took turns telling horror stories about people who were trafficked over the southern border. When they get here, really a nightmare, said Joel Roundtree, an HSI special agent, according to the White House pool report sent to PoliticusUSA. The Trump White House held a meeting Friday on human trafficking. Before you get excited that this could be a sign of missing-in-action humanity on the part of the Trump administration, Trump is using this issue to advance his wall and try to paint Speaker Nancy Pelosi as someone who is advancing human trafficking. Advertising Nancy Pelosi is doing a very, very great disservice to our country, Trump said, trying to push the Speaker to pay for his wall for which he falsely promised Mexico would pay. You can file this comment along with the one that Democrats want his wall. That is to say, it is simply inaccurate. A lie, even a bold-faced one. There is no evidence that Democrats support his wall. None. Trump claimed that human trafficking is a problem that specifically can be helped by the wall. Trump said people couldnt just go through a point of entry with people bound up and all sorts of problems. To carry on our theme of Reality V Trump, reality is almost the opposite. Research has shown that it is Trumps own tough immigration laws that put migrants at greater risk of being trafficked. And when Trump tried this tact in 2017, NBC News pointed out that experts and even his own Department of Homeland Security said they couldnt guarantee how a wall would impact trafficking. Dottie Laster, executive director of the Heidi Search Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a human trafficking expert, explained NBC News that the challenges of getting into the United States is a tool traffickers sometimes called coyotes use to their advantage. Thomson Reuters Foundation published research in June of this year, funding for which was provided by the International Womens Media Foundation, that showed that Trumps tougher immigration laws were driving victims of human trafficking into hiding and put migrants at risk. But worried and silenced by the nations hardened attitude toward migrants, frightened workers face greater risk of falling victim to forced labor, trafficking, wage theft and debt bondage, advocates and officials As for Ivankas heart-warming comment that no one can hear these stories and not be moved, thats true, but only because these stories serve Trump. The horrific stories of gang rape did not move anyone in the Trump administration. First Lady Melania Trump said victims of sexual assault need to provide really hard evidence when going public with their accusations. This is, of course, a great point unless one is dealing with the facts, and the facts are that there are seldom witnesses to sexual assault and the only evidence is physical and can be explained away by saying it was consensual. This is why victims face such huge legal hurdles having the crimes perpetrated against them adjudicated. So, no one can remain unmoved except Kellyanne Conway, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Senate Republicans Basically no one is a survivor unless their story helps Trumps political agenda. The Trump administration believes victims of human trafficking (right now, when selling the wall), but they do not believe American citizens who have been raped. There is a grotesque callousness about using an issue the entire Republican Party has said doesnt matter for a Supreme Court Justice to advocate for a wall no one but the ever-dwindling Trump base wants. Only an empty shell of an alleged human being would use a horrible crime against women and children to push for a solution that will actually not do anything to protect those vulnerable people. There are bonus points in Hell for caging these vulnerable children and justifying that by wrongly accusing their parents of committing a crime by seeking asylum in this country. There are even more points when one is defending a serial-accused sexual assaulter and is now using sexual crime to drive support for broken campaign promise. And finally, super duper extra points for not believing any women and women who were children at the time who come forward against any Republican man, but suddenly believing women and children when it advances ones political agenda. Nancy Pelosi isnt the person who is doing a very, very great disservice to our country. Trumps got that covered from top to bottom. Ivanka Trump is supposed to be the compassionate public relations model for the Trump administration, but she is sadly all lip-service and no action. Advertising Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Friday announced that he would be seeking the Democratic nomination for president to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020, according to The Washington Post. Cory Booker is a force of nature, @VanJones68 after the New Jersey senator announces 2020 presidential run. Hes not a normal candidate. Hes somebody who brings an extra gear when it comes to energy and empathy. https://t.co/PDDXctVfN8 pic.twitter.com/XdMANVguV4 New Day (@NewDay) February 1, 2019 Booker made his announcement by sending an email and video to his supporters. He has interviews scheduled throughout the day on Friday. Booker said in his video: Advertising The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame. Booker is 49 years old and first began his political career by running for mayor of Newark, N.J. in 2002. He has long been considered a potential presidential candidate, so his announcement comes as no surprise. In the video announcing his candidacy, Booker spoke of his childhood in New Jersey, one that he says distinguishes him from others in the Senate as well as from his competitors in the presidential race. When I was a baby, my parents tried to move us into a neighborhood with great public schools, but Realtors wouldnt sell us a home because of the color of our skin, he said. A group of white lawyers, who had watched the courage of civil rights activists, were inspired to help black families in their own community, including mine. And they changed the course of my entire life. Because in America, courage is contagious. My Dad told me, Boy, never forget where you came from, or how many people had to sacrifice to get you where you are. 457 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday morning that the Trump administration is suspending the nuclear treaty between the United States and Russia. The ending of the treaty formally called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty will increase fears of a new nuclear arms race. Pompeo and other U.S. officials have discounted that risk and said it is not likely to happen. A spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday that Russia greets the news with much regret. Advertising Jennifer Epstein from Bloomberg News tweeted a formal statement from Donald Trump explaining the decision: Full Trump statement on beginning the process tomorrow of withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty pic.twitter.com/NsvNucK4nU Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 1, 2019 The treaty has been the most important element of superpower arms control since the Cold War, and many experts are concerned now that if the treaty ends then arms control will also end. The following statement on the impact of withdrawal from the treaty was issued by the Associated Press, and reported in the Guardian: An American withdrawal, which has been expected for months, would follow years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the pact, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometers (310 miles) and 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles). Russia denies that it has been in violation. U.S. officials also have expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treatys limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but its unclear how it would do that. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with actual withdrawal taking place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday, and the administration is expected to say as early as Friday that efforts to work out a compliance deal have failed and that it would suspend its compliance with the treatys terms. JUST IN: Secretary of State Pompeo announces withdrawal from nuclear arms treaty https://t.co/JLSPgYvf9n pic.twitter.com/pTy8BOxNAW New Day (@NewDay) February 1, 2019 1.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising The amendment, which was proposed by Mitch McConnell, and had wide backing within the Senate was overwhelmingly passed in the Senate as a rejection of Trump foreign policy. The final vote was 68-23. Trump was doomed as soon as the Senate voted to cut off debate. According to The New York Times: Advertising The Senate, in a stinging bipartisan rebuke to President Trumps foreign policy, voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation drafted by the Senate majority leader to express strong opposition to the presidents withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Syria and Afghanistan. The vote to cut off debate ensures that the amendment, written by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and backed by virtually every Senate Republican, will be added to a broader bipartisan Middle East policy bill expected to easily pass the Senate next week. The latest defeat comes on the heels of more Republican Senators voting for the Democratic bill to end the government shutdown than voted for Trump border wall bill. Trump is rapidly losing support in the Senate In December, Senate Republicans broke with Trump and cut off aid to Saudi Arabia for their war in Yemen. The message here is loud and inescapable. Senate Republicans have had enough of Trumps extremism. Republicans might be starting to see that Trump is a sinking ship, and they are trying to save themselves before the party goes under. The vote today was a humiliating defeat for Trump at a time when his party is fracturing, and it is a message that the message must keep in mind as the president weighs another government shutdown. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Donald Trump attacked the media on Thursday for having the nerve to film this weeks congressional testimony in which his own intelligence chiefs contradicted his claims about foreign affairs. In a pair of tweets, the president said, Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media. Trump added, I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc. Their testimony was distorted press. pic.twitter.com/Zl5aqBmpjF Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019 Advertising .I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019 There is a slim to zero chance that Trump and his intelligence team are on the same page after their Oval Office photo-op on Thursday. As I noted on Wednesday, Not only did the intelligence community conclude that North Korea is not giving up its nuclear stockpiles and Iran isnt in the process of making a bomb, but they found that Russia and China are a growing cyber threat to the United States. These assessments from the intelligence community havent changed since yesterday, and its unlikely that Trumps inability to accept and learn new information has changed either. The media didnt mischaracterize the intel chiefs. They just rolled the tape. One of Donald Trumps favorite defense strategies is to point the finger at the media for whatever mess he created for himself. But his effort to blame the press for what his intel chiefs told Congress is particularly ludicrous. The media didnt mischaracterize the testimony; they simply rolled the tape. As MSNBC producer Kyle Griffin said on Thursday, The hearing was televised. Theres a transcript. And video. Trump claims that his intel chiefs who openly contradicted him in their national security threats hearing were mischaracterized by the media. The hearing was televised. Theres a transcript. And video. Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 31, 2019 The president is desperate to change the subject after his own intelligence community made him look foolish again this week. He is free to frame this any way he likes, but the truth is on tape. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Trump admitted that he is making money from foreign governments staying at his hotel while whining about losing money while being president. The New York Times reported on an interview that they had with Trump: At one point, he scoffed at the notion that he was making money from the presidency, calling the job a loser financially. I lost massive amounts of money doing this job, he said. This is not the money. This one of the great losers of all time. You know, fortunately, I dont need money. This is one of the great losers of all time. But theyll say that somebody from some country stayed at a hotel. And Ill say, Yeah. But I lose, I mean, the numbers are incredible. Advertising Still, he dismissed any speculation that he might not run for re-election next year. I love this job, he said. And he said he did not think he would face a challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, even though several candidates are mulling a race. I dont see it, he said. I have great support in the party. Trump wasnt alone in the Oval Office for this interview. His Chief Of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, his press secretary Sarah Sanders, and his communications director Bill Shine were in the room with him and none of them had the power to stop Trump from admitting to Americas newspaper of record that he is violating the Constitution and committing crimes by taking money from foreign governments and officials through his hotel. Trump admitted an impeachable offense There are lawsuits working their way through the court system about Trumps Emoluments Clause violations. House Democrats plan on investigating the president for violating the Constitution by taking money from foreign governments. It is a certainty that the Trump brand has been gravely damaged by his presidency, but that is not the presidencys fault. Trump has damaged his business with his divisive and unpopular rhetoric and policies. Trump has destroyed his own brand. The New York Times interview was a textbook example of Trumps self-sabotage. Trump admitted his crimes, and he not only gave a boost to the Emoluments case against him, but he also gave House Democrats an impeachable offense. Never in the history of this country has a president self-destructed and burned his political career to the ground in real time in front of the entire country. It is amazing, and we all need to step back and take in what is going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 569 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Full disclosure: I was born and bred in Ohio, where I continue to live and vote. Ive seen our U.S. Senator, Sherrod Brown, up close since he was elected in 2006 and before that when he served in the House of Representatives for seven terms. While some might make the case that being from the Buckeye State disqualifies me from making an objective argument in favor of his candidacy, Id argue just the opposite. It is exactly because Ive observed Brown up close representing this state seeing him literally walk the walk in his fight for everyday people that I am convinced he would be just as appealing and effective across the country as he is in Ohio, a state Trump carried in 2016 by eight points. In the 2018 midterm elections, while Democratic candidates in Ohio lost up and down the ballot, Brown coasted easily to his third Senate term by about seven percentage points over Trump-endorsed Republican Jim Renacci. Advertising Not only would the popular Ohio Senator be poised to bring the Buckeye State back into the Democratic column, but he could appeal to voters in other key Midwestern states Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania come to mind who either stayed home in 2016 or swung to Trump after voting for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. An unabashed progressive who can win in the heartland There are a lot of Democratic primary voters who think its a mistake to overanalyze the results in 2016, and they make valid arguments. After all, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, and she was only denied the presidency because of 77,000 votes across the three aforementioned midwestern states and, of course, a big assist from Russia and former FBI director James Comey. But there is still no question that without the midwest in his column, Donald Trump will lose in 2020. And who better to expose Trumps phony America First con in the heartland than Sherrod Brown, a man who only wears American-made suits? Its also a false choice to suggest that in 2020 Democrats must choose between a strong progressive candidate someone who can appeal to base voters and coastal liberals and a nominee who can win over blue-collar voters in the midwest. Through his long career in public service, winning 10 straight elections in Ohio, Sherrod Brown has shown that its possible to win on a message of social equality and economic opportunity. Its a message that has resonated with liberals in Cleveland and factory workers in Youngstown. You dont have to act like Donald Trump or compromise your progressive values to win in places dubbed Trump country by the media, and the Ohio Senator has proven that for decades. As the Ohio senator said recently, Some national Democrats, theyve created this sort of binary choice that you speak to the progressive base or you talk to working-class voters of all races. I dont think its an either/or, I think you do both. Thats how you win in the heartland. Its the message he delivered on Thursday when he spoke to voters in Iowa. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown discusses his plan to undo the damage of Trumps tax scam. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/ttUtwGJDIP PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 1, 2019 Brown is hoping this will resonate as he continues to tour early primary states ahead of the launch of his possible candidacy. If he is given a fair hearing by voters and the media, I have a feeling it will. Any Democrat would be better than Donald Trump Of course, this is not an endorsement just an acknowledgment that Sherrod Brown should be given more attention by the media and Democratic primary voters than he is currently getting. There are a handful of Democratic candidates that could represent the party well and defeat Donald Trump in 2020. Former Vice President Joe Biden would have widespread appeal across the midwest, and people Republicans and Democrats generally like him. Having served under the popular and dearly missed Barack Obama wouldnt hurt his chances either. Beto ORourke, who nearly unseated GOP Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, has inspired and energized voters in a way we havent since, well, Barack Obamas campaign for president. Sen. Kamala Harris has also gotten a jolt of momentum following her successful campaign launch earlier this month. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker, among others, could also make strong nominees to carry the party torch into 2020. Any of these candidates and a whole bunch I havent mentioned would be formidable. All of them would make a better president than Donald Trump. But Democratic primary voters would be smart to put Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown a man uniquely qualified to expose the fraud of Trumpism near the top of their personal shortlist in 2020. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 2.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising A group of Senators has introduced new legislation that would block Trump for launching a new nuclear arms race with Russia. The Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2019 would, prohibit funding for the procurement, flight-testing, or deployment of a U.S. ground-launched or ballistic missile with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers until the Trump Administration provides a report that meets seven specific conditions. Read the bill that is sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH): Sen. Merkley said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA: Advertising Theres a reason that kids today dont do duck-and-cover drills in schools and that nobody has bomb shelters in their backyards anymore. That reason is because of key agreements like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. This era of stability is put at great risk by President Trumps decision to unilaterally pull out of the INF Treaty. This decision ignores all the lessons from the Cold War. There is no doubt that Russia is violating the INF Treaty, but the right path forward is to work to bring them back into compliance, not free them to produce more nuclear weapons. Blowing up the Treaty risks the proliferation of nuclear-capable systems by Russia, threatening Europe and jeopardizing decades of bipartisan efforts to reduce nuclear dangers with Russia. .. Pulling out of the INF Treaty plays squarely into Russias hands while undermining Americas security and betraying our NATO allies. The Trump administration needs to work more closely with our NATO allies to force Russia back into compliance. And as the chance of a confrontation between American and Chinese forces rises the Indo-Pacific, it makes little sense to add further ambiguity over whether U.S. missiles stationed around the region are nuclear-armed. This legislation will help ensure that we dont match two major adversaries missile-for-missile, trigger a new nuclear arms race, and incur unacceptable amounts of risk in an already tenuous security environment. Trump Wants To Start An Arms Race, And Democrats Are Out To Stop Him A new arms race would weaken NATO, and help Putin strengthen Russia, which is the purpose of all of Trumps foreign policy. A new arms race would add instability to the entire world and push humanity closer to a nuclear war. There is no good policy reason to trash nearly a half a century of nuclear agreements. Russia is violating the treaty, and instead of putting pressure on them, Trump is going to enable Putin to run wild. The Trump presidency is loaded with dangerous landmines, but one of the most dangerous for the planet is his desire for a new arms race that could destroy humanity. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Rachel Maddow pointed out on Thursday that even Republicans are coming to the realization that most of the country reached a long time ago: Donald Trump is unfit to be commander-in-chief. While they continue to toe the line for him on most domestic issues, including the ongoing special counsel investigation, the GOP is starting to break away from him on key matters related to foreign policy. As Maddow pointed out on Thursday, thats a big deal. The idea that Congress, even the Republican-controlled side of the Congress in the Senate, that they might get up on their hind legs on issues like that and express themselves and take back some of their power on an issue like that, that would be a huge thing, the MSNBC host said. Advertising Video: Maddow said: The number of Republican senators who crossed over and voted with Democrats to try to stop the Trump administration from lifting Russian sanctions on Oleg Deripaska, that number of Republican crossovers was not sufficient to stop the administration but it did hit double digits. And in the House it was well over 100 Republicans that joined with the Democrats to try to stop the Trump administration on that, too. Today, Senate Republicans got behind a legislative rebuke of the president on Syria and Afghanistan. Senate Republicans showed today they are willing at least to rebuke him on issues like that. That dynamic will be fascinating to watch regardless of what you think about whether there ought to be more American troops in Syria and Afghanistan and for how long. The idea that Congress, even the Republican-controlled side of the Congress in the Senate, that they might get up on their hind legs on issues like that and express themselves and take back some of their power on an issue like that, that would be a huge thing. War powers and decisions about authorizing the use of American military force have accrued increasingly to the presidency for a couple of generations now. For every president since Vietnam, increasingly and inexorably, it has been this one-way swing of U.S. military power being consolidated within the presidency. Decision-making power and authority over U.S. military force being consolidated in the executive. I wrote a book about it in 2012 called Drift in which I did not anticipate that the thing that might ever turn that drift around would be the election of a president who was so widely perceived on a bipartisan basis to be manifestly unfit to wield those kinds of concentrated powers when it comes to U.S. force. But thats where were at. It has taken a Trump presidency to swing the pendulum back in the other direction. Republicans are taking foreign policy out of Trumps hands On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to rebuke Trumps foreign policy as it relates to Afghanistan and Syria. As Rachel Maddow pointed out, this follows other votes where Republicans in both the House and Senate have broken from Trump. As this president becomes more unhinged this week insulting his own intelligence community Republicans in Congress are increasingly casting votes that curb or check his foreign policy powers. They seem to recognize finally that in some cases U.S. national security is more important than partisan politics. The idea that Donald Trump is unfit to be commander-in-chief is no longer up for debate. Even Republicans in Congress are trying to take matters of national security out of his hands. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Advertising By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) Congressional Democrats exploring ways to obtain President Donald Trumps tax returns may target the adequacy of the Internal Revenue Service audit that Trump often cites as his reason for not making the returns public, according to sources familiar with the matter. Such a strategy, focused more on the IRS than on Trump, could help Democrats craft an iron-clad legal argument for what would likely follow from such a request an unprecedented court battle over the tax records of a sitting president. Targeting the audit would put the request for the returns squarely within the oversight authority of the House of Representatives tax committee, which oversees the IRS, and deflect Republican accusations of a fishing expedition by Democrats unfairly targeting the president, the sources said. Advertising House tax committee Chairman Richard Neal, who has vowed to request Trumps returns, said this week that the long-standing audit claim could be the basis on which the committee ultimately decides whether to go to court to obtain the returns. The returns are expected to become an issue soon. A subcommittee of Neals panel on Thursday set a hearing for Feb. 7 on issues related to presidential and vice-presidential tax returns. Also planned is a hearing on the Democrats H.R. 1, a bill that would require presidential candidates to release their tax records for elections. Another strategy for House Democrats might be to probe whether Trump profited from the Republican tax overhaul that he signed into law in 2017, or how his income could be affected by amendments to the tax code likely to come before the committee in months ahead. No decisions have been made, and sources with knowledge of the discussions could not say how much weight House officials working on the issue might give to any proposal. The deliberations reflect the caution Democrats are taking in launching investigations of Trump, his businesses and his presidency, now that they have majority control of the House. The president has repeatedly said on the campaign trail and then after becoming president, he intended to do this, to release them, except that he was under audit, said Neal, the only House member authorized by law to request Trumps returns from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. So thats the basis we proceed on, Neal told reporters on Tuesday. If we cant have a voluntary submission, then we use the legal apparatus thats available to us. A Democratic spokesman for the committee declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Treasury, which supervises the Internal Revenue Service, said Mnuchin will review the legality of any request for Trumps returns with the departments legal counsel. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SHALL FURNISH As the Republican presidential nominee in 2016, Trump broke with decades of precedent by refusing to release his returns, saying they were being audited by the IRS. Many tax experts have replied that an IRS audit does not preclude their release. As president, Trump has retained ownership of extensive hotel interests and other business ventures. For this reason, House Democrats say his returns would be a linchpin for oversight investigations of potential ties between the president and Russia and other conflicts of interest. Federal law gives the chairmen of the House tax panel, the Senate Finance Committee and the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, the authority to request any return and says that the Treasury secretary shall furnish it. Trump and Mnuchin are widely expected to fight any such action. The law has been used to obtain tax records, which are normally held in strict secrecy by the IRS. But in the interests of transparency, modern presidents have routinely disclosed their returns to the public voluntarily. Progressive Democrats and outside groups have ramped up pressure on Neal to act swiftly to obtain Trumps returns and eventually release them to the public. The law is very clear that were entitled to get those returns, Representative Lloyd Doggett told CNN on Thursday. If the Treasury secretary refuses to do it, then we will have to take some court action, said Doggett, a senior Democratic member of Neals Ways and Means Committee. BAD PRECEDENT Experts say an approach without careful justification could leave Democrats vulnerable to Republican claims of overreach. It sets a very, very bad precedent. If they can demand that the public see the presidents tax returns, whats going to keep them from demanding to see anyones tax returns, said Representative Kenny Marchant, a Republican on Neals panel. The legal strategy of focusing on IRS audits of Trump is only one option at Neals disposal. Theres a variety of legitimate reasons for why Ways and Means would seek the presidents tax returns, said Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center think tank. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Dan Grebler) You Are Missing Out on All These Benefits by Not Being a Skrill VIP January 30, 2019 Matthew Pitt Skrill is the easy and secure way to manage your poker bankroll. Accepted by dozens of online poker sites around the world, in addition to thousands of vendors worldwide, Skrill users have the flexibility of transferring their funds quickly and easily, plus can withdraw from their accounts using a Skrill MasterCard. Using Skrill is extremely easy, which is one of the reasons it is so popular in the online poker and gaming world. The more you use Skrill, the better the rewards are thanks to the Skrill VIP Programme. Skrill VIP Tiers Make 6,000 worth of transactions during a quarterly period and you will become a Bronze Skrill VIP, meaning you have access to 24/7 dedicated VIP care, lower fees for sending money and a lower FX rate if your Skrill account is set up in a different currency to what you are buying. Silver Skrill VIPs, a status awarded if you transact 15,000 in a quarter, enjoy even better benefits including sending money for free, withdrawing to your bank for free and even lower FX fees than Bronze members enjoy. You can also have a second Skrill account in a different currency once you reach Silver. Those of you who make even more transactions may be eligible for Gold and even Diamond status. Gold members need to transact 45,000 in a quarter, with Diamond VIPs being identified as having made 90,000 worth of transactions during a quarter. Skrill VIP Programme Benefits Benefit Bronze Silver Gold Diamond Multi-currency account No One account Two accounts Three accounts Personal Account Manager No No Yes Yes Priority bank uploads No Yes Yes Yes Dedicated 24/7 VIP Care Yes Yes Yes Yes Send Money Fee 1.45% Free Free Free Send Money Fee Cap No cap Zero Zero Zero Bank withdrawal fees 5.50 Free Free Free Skrill Waller FX Rates 3.79% 2.89% 2.59% 1.99% For the purpose of the Skrill VIP Programme, the yearly quarters are considered to be: Quarter 1: January to March Quarter 2: April to June Quarter 3: July to September Quarter 4: October to December VIP statuses are carried onto the next quarter. If you achieve VIP status within a quarter, you are guaranteed VIP status for the following quarter. Use Your Skrill Balance via a Free MasterCard Skrill VIPs have access to the account balances and can spend their money wherever they see the MasterCard logo thanks to the Skrill Prepaid MasterCard, which is free for Skrill VIPs. MasterCard is accepted by millions of vendors around the world, plus you can withdraw cash from any ATM you see the MasterCard logo. As you would expect, the higher your VIP status, the better the rates and fees for the Skrill Prepaid MasterCard. Fee/Limit Non VIP Bronze Silver Gold Diamond Application Fee 10 Free Free Free Free Daily ATM Limit 900 1,200 1,500 3,000 5,000 ATM withdrawal fee 1.75% 1.80 Free Free Free Daily POS limit 2,700 3,000 3,000 5,000 10,000 FX Fee 3.99% 3.79% 2.89% 2.59% 1.99% Replacement fee 10 Free Free Free Free Annual Fee 10 Free Free Free Free Sign up for your free Skrill account today and see if you can become a Skrill VIP and enjoy a wealth of benefits around the globe. New York City Ballet principal and Dance Against Cancer Co-Founder Daniel Ulbricht in New York City's Columbus Circle. Travis Magee, Courtesy DAC. Written by Marlon Slack Some motorcycles perfectly reflect a time in history. And the early Honda Bol Dor is a prime example of it. All hard lines and pressed steel wheels, theres something about it that screams late 70s optimism and chest hair. But Belarus Recast Moto changed that, cutting, shutting and kicking it into a dark, modern roadster. And it all happened by chance. We visited our friends who bring bikes over from the Netherlands, Recasts Latiz Lemark recalls. In a large hangar we found two motorcycles that interested us, one of which was the CB900 Bol Dor. The team grabbed it and wheeled it onto a truck for a trip back to their workshop in Minsk. But the motorcycle was rough. It was in poor condition, Latiz says, and it could only be push-started. Later, during the autopsy, it turned out the problem was the starting mechanism, bolts were broken and the whole system was unclamped. But the problems didnt end there. Even when it started there were still some extraneous sounds in the engine so we decided to disassemble it and check everything. While the team was pulling their engine and hair apart, they began outlining their plans for the rest of the bike. Rather than come up with an overarching concept for the bike, Recast decided to let it develop organically with end goal in mind. That goal? A naked bike for the city thats street-oriented, aggressive and stylish. First to change was the wheels and suspension. The front forks and triple clamps were taken from a 2000 Kawasaki Ninja, dropping the front of the bike down a tad and offering the rider more adjustment. Then Latiz started pondering the rims. He wanted to ditch the standard stamped metal comstars for something a little more modern. He opted for 16 inch alloy rims, running wide retro Shinko tires. Further dragging the Bol Dor out of the late 70s is the razor-sharp front guard made from stainless steel. The Recast team were happy with the stock fuel tank, but in typical form, they decided it need a trim based on a few mistakes theyd made before. I was never happy with what weve done previously, Latiz admits, just painting over the lower part of the tank in black. It wasnt very elegant. So instead they cut off the lower portion of the tank and dropped it four centimeters closer to the engine. The difference is surprising, giving the Bol Dor a more hardened, aggressive look and proving yet again that one and a half inches can make quite the difference. On top of the tank went a layer of gray satin acrylic and a wide stripe that matches the dark grey engine paint, all capped off by a new fuel cap finished in the Recast Moto logo. [superquote]The difference is surprising, giving the Bol Dor a more hardened, aggressive look[/superquote] The exhaust system, which was in surprisingly good condition, also copped a Recast treatment from Latiz and the team. It was blasted and coated in matte black and fitted with a converted Yoshimura muffler, with the garish logo removed and mounting points adjusted. All that hard work and careful eye for design makes Recasts Bol Dor one of the best 70s roadster weve seen. Theres a hell of a lot of work and we havent even touched on the frame modifications, scratch built LED headlight ring or air intakes but it still manages to be one of the most cohesive-looking bikes to grace these pages in a long time. [ Recast Moto Instagram | Photos by Dmitry Homich ] Steve Foley (231) 439-9397 Its common as the mercury drops on the thermometer, so too, do peoples moods fall. This weeks winter storm forced many people across Northern Michigan to take cover from the snow, cold and bitter wind chill, which in turn can often lead to a drop in spirit. Add in a message many received late Wednesday from Consumers Energy asking people to turn down thermostats to 65 degrees as a result of a fire to a compressor station in Macomb County to avoid a gas shortage. If you couple all those factors with holiday bills arriving and lack of sunlight, winter doldrums or even cabin fever has arrived in full force. Carolyn Wiese, a physician assistant at McLaren Northern Michigan-Mitchell Park Family Medicine, said cabin fever is often a result of the depths of bone-chilling days, long and dreary nights and a lack of sunlight. Cabin fever is defined as irritability and restlessness that a person feels from spending too much time indoors during the winter, Wiese said. Often, cabin fever may be mistaken as a form of seasonal affective disorder, as both share similar characteristics. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is related to the changing seasons, Wiese said. Cabin fever is not a diagnosable medical condition while seasonal affective disorder is, although the symptoms overlap. If a strong pot of coffee doesnt do the trick to get you out of bed on these cold days, there are a few scientifically proven ways to lift your spirits and ease those midwinter doldrums. Brighten your environment When your body is craving more daylight, sitting next to an artificial light also known as a light box for 30 minutes a day has been proven to be as effective as antidepressant medication. Light therapy involves the use of a special type of light fixture that produces much brighter light than regular indoor lighting. The intensity of the light is given in lux, which is measured at a specific distance away from a light source. For light therapy devices, the specific distance is at the users eyes. Most light boxes use 10,000 lux of white, fluorescent light with no ultraviolet wavelengths. Users typically use the light for 15 minutes to a half hour early in the morning at about 18 inches away from their face. Also, opening house blinds and curtains, trimming back tree branches and sitting closer to windows can also help provide a dose of sunshine, when it is, in fact, out. Exercise A 2005 study from Harvard University suggests walking fast for about 35 minutes a day five times a week or 60 minutes a day three times a week improved symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Exercising under bright lights may be even better for seasonal depression. Dr. Randal Baker, a surgeon at Grand Health Partners, said in a November 2017 article, Michigan always has been toward the top in obese states mostly because of the winter. People just arent as active, Baker said. Theres a huge link between lack of sleep and obesity. When you think back to the Little House on the Prairie days, when the lights werent on you went to sleep. Now, when you have the lights on you dont sleep as much and nighttime is when the nibbling and snacking tends to happen. As far as exercise options, important considerations include finding something people enjoy and in a location that makes them comfortable. What Ive found to be the most successful and consistent form in terms of exercise is when you go to a place, you do it, Baker said. That means going to the YMCA, to a club, a local high school or college. Today, (the options are) so much better and theres more options, some of which are very cost-effective. Eat smarter Certain foods, like chocolate, can help enhance your mood and relieve anxiety. Other foods, like other types of candy and carbohydrates, provide temporary feelings of euphoria, but could ultimately increase feeling of anxiety and depression. Plan a vacation If youre longing for sunnier days at the beach, research has shown the simple act of planning a vacation causes a significant increase in overall happiness. According to a 2010 study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, just planning or anticipating your trip can make you happier than actually taking it. The studys authors found that people only experienced a boost in happiness post-vacation if their trip was relaxing. If their vacation was deemed stressful or neutral, their post-trip happiness levels were comparable to those who hadnt taken a vacation at all. Help others Volunteering at a local church, food pantry or charitable organization can also help improve mental health and life satisfaction during the winter and connect you to new people and friendships. The United States Coast Guard suspended its 63-hour search Thursday evening for an overdue Guardian King Air 200 medical life flight near Kake. On board were pilot Patrick Coyle, 63, flight nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and flight paramedic Margaret Langston Allen, 43. "Suspending a search for any reason is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make," said Capt. Stephen White, Sector Juneau commander in a USCG press release. "This was an extensive search effort in some very challenging conditions. We are thankful for the assistance from the search and rescue teams, Alaska State Troopers, Army Air National Guard and good Samaritans." Debris from a plane was located in the water approximately 22 miles west of Kake on Wednesday afternoon, but both the USCG and Guardian Flight couldn't confirm the debris was from the overdue aircraft. Since then, both the USCG and Guardian Flight have stated in prepared releases that the debris appears to be from the Guardian Flight aircraft. No other debris has been located. "While the formal search and rescue effort has been discontinued and we recognize the gravity of the situation, we will continue efforts to recover our friends in order to hopefully reunite them with their beloved families," said Randy Lyman with Guardian Flight in a prepared statement. Photo courtesy of Dave Berg The view from the harbor security boat on Wednesday near Kake as members of Petersburg Search and Rescue look for signs of the overdue aircraft. The aircraft departed out of Anchorage Tuesday afternoon and was expected in Kake at 6:19 P.M. to pick up a patient. Jim Gregory, a spokesman with Guardian Flight, declined to give further information about the patient, including how the patient was ultimately cared for, because Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations prevents him from disclosing information that would lead to the identify of the individual. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa, home ported in Petersburg, an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk crew, the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco and an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 rescue helicopter were involved with the search of the aircraft. Petersburg Search and Rescue also sent six of its members onboard a harbor security boat Wednesday morning at 9 A.M. to assist with the search, according to Petersburg Fire Department assistant fire chief Dave Berg. Alaska State Troopers, Kake Search and Rescue, Wrangell Search and Rescue, Alaska Marine Highway ferries, Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center and good Samaritans all contributed to the search effort. This week brings a useful reminder that Facebook is not in the helping-you-keep-in-touch-with-friends business. It's in the ad-selling business - a business that requires data. Lots of data. Long story short: On Wednesday, Apple shut down a research app Facebook had distributed to some iPhone and iPad users, paying them up to $10 in exchange for downloading the app, and $20 a month to keep it installed. The app allowed Facebook to collect an enormous amount of user data. News coverage has emphasized the privacy aspects of the story, painting the issue principally in terms of good and evil. Apple is again portrayed as the champion of user protection; Facebook, as usual, is the bogeyman, indifferent to the privacy of its users. Facebook seems clearly to have earned its latest privacy black eye, but it's important not to overstate what's going on here. This is essentially a contract dispute. Some background. In addition to services that allow companies to distribute software to consumers in the form of apps, Apple also offers something called the Developer Enterprise Program, which provides a certificate that allows distribution of apps to multiple iOS users within a firm, bypassing the App Store. For example, the firm can develop a communications app for internal use and, using the certificate, download it to all employee iPhones and iPads. It can use the same process to share beta versions of potential apps among its in-house researchers. As first reported by TechCrunch, however, since 2016 Facebook has been using its certificate to offer users the opportunity to participate in a "paid social media research study." The offer, made through ads on Snapchat and Instagram, targeted users between 13 and 35, but was mainly aimed at teens aged 13 to 17. (Parental permission was required before teens could participate.) Those who signed up would receive money in exchange for Facebook's ability to collect browsing history, location data, content of messages and more - including "which apps are on your phone" and "how and when you use them." To install the app, users were not directed to the App Store or Apple's beta-testing system, either of which would have allowed Apple review the app before it could be installed on consumer devices. Instead, those who signed up for the research program were sent to a Facebook site from which they could download its certificate. That's where the problem arose. The certificate does not permit distribution of apps to users outside the company. Apple's response, as quoted by TechCrunch, was immediate and harsh: "Facebook has been using their membership to distribute a data-collecting app to consumers, which is a clear breach of their agreement with Apple. Any developer using their enterprise certificates to distribute apps to consumers will have their certificates revoked, which is what we did in this case to protect our users and their data." The revocation is no trivial matter. Again, the certificate grants permission for the company to distribute apps internally. With its certificate disabled, Facebook will have to find a workaround. Still, let's be clear about what constitutes Facebook's "clear breach." The problem isn't the vacuuming up of consumer data. It's that Facebook has done so in a way that violates the terms of the enterprise certificate. Apple's concern about its "users and their data" might well be sincere, but this particular dispute isn't about the fact that Facebook collected user data; it's about the way that Facebook collected user data. That's it. That's the whole case. I'm not suggesting that what Facebook has done isn't serious. But neither is it the end of user privacy as we know it. Yes, had Facebook sent the app through normal channels, Apple might well never have approved it. And, yes, users who downloaded the app allowed Facebook extraordinary access to their online activity. But users seemed to know what they were getting into - and were also paid for the privilege. Twenty dollars per month might not sound like a lot to, say, the typical Bloomberg reader. So imagine Facebook instead had promised one free local Uber ride per month. Or a free digital subscription to The New York Times. It turns out that $20 per month can buy a lot. That's not a defense of Facebook's apparent breach of its agreement with Apple. I'm just suggesting that users who allowed Facebook to install the app on their iPhones were not necessarily being exploited. Freedom to contract doesn't seem terribly high on our list of fundamental values these days, but some of us still insist upon its importance. As to the misuse of the certificate, I assume the two companies will swiftly work things out. (Google has voluntarily ended a similar program.) The revocation of the certificate is a pain, but in the end it's likely to prove mostly symbolic, a useful weapon in the never-ending public relations war between Apple and Facebook over which cares more about data privacy. The skirmish will be brief, because the two companies need each other. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Facebook's enterprise developer certificate has been restored by the time you read these words. But the contretemps still matters because public image matters. Apple will once more steal a march on Facebook in their continuing privacy wars. Maybe six months from now nobody will remember the details, but people will remember that Facebook goofed on privacy again. The goofs are starting to add up. The company has to reverse this trend. Even when you're the only game in town, sooner or later reputation affects your bottom line. -- Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down Americas Most Powerful Mobster. I had gone for a walk in the woods but soon was lost. This is odd, I thought to myself, I know these woods like the back of my hand. I heard leaves crackling behind me and soon was joined by another man. Lost? he inquired. Come walk with me. Why are you walking? he asked. I confessed that I was just trying to get away from all the vexing chatter about our political problems. It gives me a headache, I said, and I fear its only deepening our divide. The man smiled and nodded his head. Worried that this stranger was only getting us more lost, I asked him if he knew where he was going. Oh yes, he replied. I have a compass. Well, which way is north? I asked, a bit suspicious about his claim. Oh, I dont know, he replied. My compass only points upward. Its a moral compass. We soon came upon a large lodge, a sign above the door saying Heroes Hall. This is really getting creepy, I mused to myself, as we entered the lodge, filled with people of all descriptions, men and women, young and old and of all races. My friend seemed to know everyone and began introducing me. This is Bill Evans, he said, as I shook hands with a sturdy young man. Bills a farm boy from Iowa. He led his unit onto Omaha Beach. He died there. And this is Helen McCloskey. She died when hit by a stray bullet while binding up the wounds of a soldier from the other side on the battlefield at Gettysburg. And James Jeffers over there was with the Tuskegee Airmen in WW II, while the woman next to him is Maria Perez she drove a school bus for 40 years without an accident and while raising four children. I was amazed and confused, thinking this was surely a dream. But in due time I even met a few presidents, as well as some scout leaders, Billy Graham, and a former neighbor who volunteered at our local hospital. How did all these people get here? I asked. My friend smiled. They followed their moral compass. As we resumed our walk, I asked my friend about this moral compass business. Are you telling me that God is the glue that holds us together, that will bind up this deep and bitter divide that so deeply troubles us Not exactly, he replied. God is only a guide. He will point you in the right direction. But you have to keep in touch with him. We soon came to a clearing, and I could even see our house in the distance. I turned to thank the man, my new friend, for guiding me home. But he was gone. -- James F. Burns is a retired professor at the University of Florida. As we kick off the legislative session and look ahead to Governor Wolfs budget address, there are many challenges facing our divided government. And yet, there is common ground that transcends party lines and regional boundaries. From Erie to Philadelphia, Pennsylvanians support strong economic growth, steady job opportunities and a healthy environment. Clean, abundant natural gas presents a generational opportunity that the Commonwealth can harness for the good of all Pennsylvanians. Not a red or blue issue, the safe production and reliability of affordable energy is an area where we can all agree. With the right pro-growth policies in place that drive energy-sector investment, Pennsylvania is poised to realize 100,000 new jobs and $60 billion in gross domestic product growth over the next 10 years, according to Forge the Future, an economic analysis by McKinsey & Co. Across the board, in fact, Americans overwhelmingly back energy development and infrastructure modernization, according to a recent national survey by Harris Polling, with 78 percent of voters supporting the increased production of domestic oil and natural gas. Pennsylvanias diverse energy portfolio puts the Commonwealth at the forefront of the countrys energy revolution and uniquely positions the state for economic growth. Thanks to natural gas, we are welcoming a wave of manufacturing expansion and union halls are at full employment. Consumers, too, are realizing significant home energy savings, and all this while we are benefiting from unprecedented air quality improvements. Focusing on policies that make Pennsylvania more attractive for continued investment and dont interfere with free market growth will be crucial to maximizing shales shared benefits for all more jobs, consumer energy savings, cleaner air and a regional manufacturing rebirth that could pay dividends for generations. Despite these shared benefits, however, we have seen attempts to eclipse opportunity with politics. Higher and additional energy taxes levied on top of the impact fee Pennsylvanias special natural gas tax thats on track to generate nearly $1.7 billion since 2012 jeopardizes jobs and undercuts our ability to attract continued investment. Whats more, Pennsylvania consumers from families to small businesses would pay for this political maneuver through higher energy bills. Meanwhile, extreme environmental activism motivated by the radical Keep It in the Ground movement is slowing important energy infrastructure modernization and the economic uplift that comes with it. Delays in pipeline construction have cost our nation more than 728,000 jobs, $20 billion in tax revenue and $90 billion in economic activity, according to a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce report. Infrastructure expansion is fundamental to safely meeting growing consumer and manufacturing energy demand. Regional pipeline constraints caused southeastern Pennsylvania to miss a significant polypropylene manufacturing investment in 2017. As a result, the region lost out on more than one billion dollars in economic activity and one thousand new, good-paying jobs, according to a Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association report. These are troubling trends that need to change. With local, clean, job-creating natural gas, the Commonwealths economic and environmental outlook is increasingly bright. This year, we're looking to Harrisburg for action on commonsense, pro-growth policies that will move our economy and environment forward for all Pennsylvanians. -- Gene Barr is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. David Spigelmyer is president of the Pittsburgh-based Marcellus Shale Coalition. David N. Taylor is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association. Why do I write letters to the editor? For many years now, I have been witness to the degradation of my beloved USA. Because our education institutions no longer teach the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and authentic American history, those destined to govern our country are ignorant of those ideals that make our country unique and great. Socialism is now the preferred form of economics among the younger citizens thanks to those (like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) who, quite honestly, doesnt know that socialism has never worked. Just look at Venezuela today. I remember reading about the ancient Romans who merely discarded their unwanted babies, leaving them to die. Western civilization can no longer be deemed more enlightened in todays world if humans continue to ignore compassion and embrace relaxed laws spawned under Roe V Wade, such as the one that was recently passed, with great enthusiasm, in New York state. Under New Yorks new law, babies even at the point of full-term birth can be killed. To my mind, thats just simply murder. The most innocent among us have no protection under the law. Finally, think about this: We used to be a nation of laws. Now, even our most trusted institutions such as the Department of Justice, the CIA, and/or the FBI cannot be trusted to steadfastly follow our laws. Witness the never-ending Mueller investigation. Justice is no longer blind. In my own very modest way, I am trying to save our country. What about you? GAYLE CRANFORD, Fairview Township With two more state lawmakers now under fire for sexual misconduct, two Luzerne County lawmakers including one who accused a fellow lawmaker of domestic violence are calling for the creation of a panel to address complaints of unethical behavior involving state lawmakers. Sen. Lisa Baker and Rep. Tarah Toohil, both Republicans, are seeking support from their colleagues in their respective chambers for creating a Legislative Conduct Review Board. They want to see a panel that would be similar to the states Judicial Conduct Board, which investigations allegations of ethical misconduct against judges. Under the current system, House and Senate Republican and Democratic leaders decide how allegations are addressed. Baker said its time to change the system. We dont have a consistent practice in every caucus that everybody has to adhere to and this is one way to make it uniform, Baker said. Its important for people to believe that we are taking it seriously. I think were at a real crucial juncture in terms of the institution and there are many people who dont believe we can police our own. Different solutions have been floated for dealing with alleged complaints from public corruption to sexual harassment. Many times in the past, the Senate and House have their hands tied constitutionally when it comes to the type of action they are allowed to take against a member," Toohil said. This legislation answers the call for uniformity across the entire legislature both in the House of Representatives and the state Senate. Several misconduct claims involving Pennsylvanias state lawmakers have surfaced since the #MeToo movement first swept across the nation in the fall of 2017. Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery County, is currently the subject of a Senate Democratic Caucus investigation concerning allegations he coerced a then-17-year-old woman minor to perform oral sex in 1991. Leach has denied any wrongdoing. In December 2017, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported female legislative and campaign staffers had complained about his sexually suggestive humor and in at least two cases, unwanted touches. Leach apologized for making staffers feel uncomfortable and pledged to improve his conduct. Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler County, is accused of sexually assaulting an incapacitated woman in 2015 after leaving a Harrisburg bar. The Dauphin County District Attorneys office is investigating the allegation. Attempts to reach Ellis for comment have been unsuccessful. Former Rep. Nick Miccarelli, a Republican, last year was accused of domestic violence and sexual assault in a complaint Toohil and a political consultant filed with the House Republican Caucus and subsequently turned over to the district attorneys office. He was not charged with any crime although a House Republican investigation of the claims found them to be credible. Toohil also went to court and through a consent agreement, obtained a protection from abuse order that limited Miccarellis contact with her. Miccarelli denied any wrongdoing. It was revealed in 2017 the House Democratic Caucus issued a $248,000 payment in 2015 to settle a sexual harassment complaint against Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks County. Caltagirone has insisted he was innocent of any misconduct. The lawmakers' proposal would create a 12-member board consisting of one legislator and two outsiders, including experts in human resource management and lay people who bring diversity and differing viewpoints, from each of the four caucuses. The board would receive complaints about unethical conduct in violation with any rule, statute or constitutional provision governing the ethical conduct of legislators. It would investigate the complaints and render judgment about their credibility. Our proposal will also provide that upon the board making a threshold determination of credibility, a recommendation may be made to suspend a member from voting and committee participation until a final determination is reached. In cases where this board makes a final determination that the accusations are credible, the matter would revert to the full Senate or House for any appropriate disciplinary action, according to Bakers cosponsorship memo to her Senate colleagues. It goes on to say: It is not defensible to tell people that we take their complaints seriously, but then refrain from taking any apparent or decisive action. This process is designed to assure both the member and the complainant that due process will be afforded. And it will provide incontrovertible evidence that we are taking a strong stand against harassment, public corruption, or other misconduct, no matter the position or the party of the accused. Republicans and Democratic senators have signaled interest in exploring the idea, Baker said. Toohil said the Judicial Conduct Board this panel would be modeled after is an effective and time-tested method by which complaints can be lodged against sitting judges who are elected officials. She said she is seeking support in the House for this proposal "to add to the current conversation and to add an option to gauge interest or support moving forward. While those who bring or have brought a black-eye to the General Assembly represent a minority of its 253 members, observers agree each incident besmirches the reputation of the rest of their colleagues and the institution itself. There are really good people [in the General Assembly] who are there who are very dedicated, Baker said. Its important for us to revisit things and look at are there other ways to evaluate this and do a better job and give the public greater confidence. In the last legislative session, state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-Delaware County, introduced a bill that would have established an independent review office to handle complaints involving legislators and their staffers; the measure didnt gain traction. She said she was unfamiliar with this proposal. However, she remains convinced that any such panel needs to be independent of the caucuses in order for it to give victims confidence that their complaint will be handled thoroughly and confidentially. That really appears to be the best practice when you look at how to handle these situations, she said. As long as legislators are responsible for policing themselves, it will be hard for victims and survivors to have trust in that process. Former longtime state Sen. Robert Jubelirer considers it regrettable that there is even a need for such a panel to handle these kinds of complaints that he noted have become so prevalent in every facet of society. But particularly in the Legislature, he thinks its a shame. Overwhelmingly most of the members of the General Assembly are not involved for sure. They are decent, honest, hardworking, moral people, he said. But for those who taint the whole institution, he said establishing a Legislative Conduct Review Board may very well be a first step in trying to do whats right in society today. Less than an inch of snow is expected to fall Friday in the Harrisburg area, but, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist, it could complicate the morning commute. That is especially true because of the recent cold temperatures, which mean that snow could easily accumulate, covering roadways and creating spots of slippery ice, meteorologist John Banghoff said. It does look like it is going to affect the morning rush, Banghoff said. But the Friday storm, which is expected to begin sometime between 5 and 7 a.m., also is likely to usher in a period of warm weather, Banghoff said. And it is possible that temperatures could reach 60 degrees by the middle of next week. If you're tired of the cold, we've got some good news! High temperatures were 25 to 35 below average today. By Monday, high temperatures will be 10 to 15 ABOVE average! Temperatures will be near 50 across the entire state Monday! #PAwx pic.twitter.com/ua5Uig3WqJ NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 31, 2019 Banghoff described predicted accumulation from the Friday storm as not significant," but he urged motorists to use caution. The snow will stick and could create some icy spots in the morning, he said. Snow is expected to fall into the early afternoon, he said, but, then, warmer weather is expected to move into central Pennsylvania. That weather will be in stark contrast to the recent polar vortex, which has chilled the Harrisburg area with single-digit temperatures and below-zero windchills. On Friday, temperatures are likely to reach the mid-20s, Banghoff said. On Saturday and Sunday, they could reach 40 degrees. And by Monday, they could reach 50 degrees, with a possibility of reaching 60 degrees by midweek, Banghoff said. Its wild," he said of the expected drastic change in temperature. Thats rare for here. After this warm period, it is likely that temperatures will return to wintry levels later in the month, he said. TANEYTOWN, Md. (AP) A Maryland police chief has resigned weeks after federal agents executed a search warrant at the department in an investigation with still unclear origins. News outlets cite a Thursday release from Taneytowns mayor and city council saying they accepted the resignation of William Tyler. Tyler and an unidentified officer was placed on administrative leave Jan. 17, two days after agents with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched the police department and locations in Fairfield, Pa. The town's news release confirmed that one of the Pennsylvania locations was Tyler's residence. The release says Taneytown is "still evaluating the underlying situation." The town says public safety needs are being met and haven't been compromised. Lt. Jason Etzler will continue leading the department until officials develop a plan. A GoFundMe campaign has been created for a Northeastern High School Student who was killed in a crash involving a school bus Thursday morning. The campaign is to help cover funeral expenses for Masey Rae Dacheux, according to the campaigns description. As of 10:45 a.m. Friday, the campaign raised $6,789 of its $8,000 goal. Dacheux, 17, was killed in the crash about 9:15 a.m. Thursday in the 4100 block of Lewisberry Road in Conewago Township, York County, Coroner Pam Gay said. There, Dacheuxs vehicle crashed into a school bus, and it was caught up under the bus, the coroner said. News RELEASE: @YCoCoroner confirms identity of 17 yo Northeastern HS student who died today in Conewago Twp crash with school bus - https://t.co/k1uAqzKU8A York County Coroner (@YCoCoroner) January 31, 2019 The bus' driver and passengers were not injured in the crash, authorities said. Dacheux was a senior at Northeastern High School, her friends said. DALLAS (AP) Catholic leaders in Texas on Thursday identified 286 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children, a number that represents one of the largest collections of names to be released since an explosive grand jury report last year in Pennsylvania. Fourteen dioceses in Texas named those credibly accused of abuse. The only diocese not to provide names, Fort Worth, did so more than a decade ago and then provided an updated accounting in October. There are only a handful of states where every diocese has released names and most of them have only one or two Catholic districts. Arkansas, for instance, is covered by the Diocese of Little Rock, which in September provided a preliminary list of 12 former priests, deacons and others. Oklahoma has two districts: The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is scheduled to publicly identify accused priests on Feb. 28 and the Diocese of Tulsa previously named two former priests accused of predatory behavior. The move by Texas church leaders follows a shocking Pennsylvania report in August detailing seven decades of child sexual abuse by more than 300 predator priests. Furthermore, the Illinois attorney general reported last month that at least 500 Catholic clergy in that state had sexually abused children. In the months after that report, about 50 dioceses and religious provinces have released the names of nearly 1,250 priests and others accused of abuse. Approximately 60 percent of them have died. About 30 other dioceses are investigating or have promised to release names of credibly accused priests in the coming months. In Texas, the Diocese of Dallas and some others relied on retired police and federal investigators to review church files and other material to substantiate claims of abuse. Its not clear whether any of the names released Thursday could result in local prosecutors bringing criminal charges. The majority of those identified have since died. Some investigations dated back to 1950 while other reviews, as in the case of the Diocese of Lubbock, only went to 1983 because thats when that diocese was established. "Our office stands ready to assist local law enforcement and any district attorney's office that asks for our help in dismantling this form of evil and removing the threat of those who threaten Texas children," said Marc Rylander, spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office. "To date, we have not received any such requests, but we are ready to provide assistance to local prosecutors in accordance with state law and original criminal jurisdiction." The head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, also is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is expected to attend a February summit called by Pope Francis to sensitize church leaders around the globe to the pain of victims, instruct them how to investigate cases and develop general protocols for church hierarchy to use. DiNardo said in a statement Thursday that, "The Bishops of Texas have decided to release the names of these priests at this time because it is right and just and to offer healing and hope to those who have suffered. On behalf of all who have failed in this regard, I offer my sincerest apology. Our church has been lacerated by this wound and we must take action to heal it." In a statement released with the report of the San Antonio archdiocese, which had the longest list of names among Texas dioceses with 56 dating to 1940, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said the abuse allegations and the mishandling of some by bishops "are tearing the church apart. Although the release of the report brings tension and pain, the archbishop said he was filled with serenity and peace by the disclosures. Victim advocates and those who have been tracking clergy abuse for decades have said the church has a bad record of policing itself and law enforcement investigations into church records of allegations are the only way to ensure real transparency. They argue that there is no uniform definition of credibly accused priests and dioceses use different standards when deciding what names to release. For example, the San Antonio archdiocese examined decades of allegations made against clergy and religious order priests dating back decades. The Diocese of Laredo released no names after its bishop said staff had examined its records back to 2000 when the diocese was created shortly before new stricter standards for handling abuse allegations were instituted across the church and found no credible allegations. ___ By David Warren, Associated Press AP writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Terry Wallace in Dallas contributed to this report. WILLIAMSPORT - The mother of an inmate who hanged himself in the old Northumberland County Prison in 2014 has settled her federal wrongful death suit for $300,000. Hope Lewis, on behalf of the estate of her son Cyrus, accused the county and PrimeCare Medical Inc. of Harrisburg of ignoring his desire to commit suicide. The $300,000 is split, with the county responsible for $187,500 and PrimeCare, the medical provider at the prison, $112,500. Insurance will cover the county's share, Commissioner Rich Shoch said. The county was notified if it did not accept the insurance carrier's $300,000 settlement offer, it would be responsible for any amount awarded above that if the case went to trial, he said. Lewis committed suicide June 15, 2014, five days after he failed to post $30,000 bail on charges that alleged he stole a vehicle while drunk and wrecked it. He had told an officer that June 2 when charged but jailed he wanted to kill himself, court documents state. In that incident he was accused of taking his wife's car without permission and while drunk crashing it into a tree. Results of a behavioral health assessment conducted in prison resulted in Lewis being placed on the type of suicide watch that required checks every 15 minutes. The county and PrimeCare contended all suicide prevention procedures were followed with Lewis. READ MORE: Harrisburg firm remains defendant in suit over Northumberland County inmate's suicide However, U.S. Middle District Magistrate Judge Karolene Mehalchick, who presided over pretrial matters in the case, found last September in denying a defense motion for summary judgment that a reasonable jury could find Lewis was particularly vulnerable to suicide, the defendants had knowledge of this and the county defendants were deliberately indifferent. She cited evidence that indicated: Corrections Officer Jennifer Lashomb had prisoners check on inmates and fostered a relaxed and unprofessional relationship with inmates Supervisors responsible for reviewing documents confirming inmate checks did so only to make sure they were completed. Lewis was placed in a cell with anchor points and bed sheets despite staff aware two other inmates had used the anchor points to commit suicide by hanging. Defendants in the suit besides the county, PrimeCare and Lashomb were the prison board, three other prison officials, and a psychologist, mental health clinician and licensed practical nurse employed by the medical provider. The suicide occurred in the old county prison that was destroyed by fire in 2015. The county has a new prison in Coal Twp. outside Shamokin. Note: This article had been updated to include a response from the superintendent of Mechanicsburg Area School District. Students in a Bible club at Mechanicsburg Area High School have filed a lawsuit alleging their school is violating their right to free speech by refusing to allow them to give away Bibles during lunch. Its the latest development in a dispute that began last year after the students invited classmates to list things they were thankful for on a poster during lunch period, and offered Bibles to those who wanted them. School officials have said there is no ban on the Bible or any religious materials, but the students violated school rules intended to control distribution of written materials by students during school. The district has further said it encourages students of all religious backgrounds or views to express themselves. The students are represented by a pair of lawyers, Jeremy Samek and Randall Wenger, of the Independence Law Center, which brings civil rights cases, and is representing the students for free. On Thursday, the lawyers said they have tried and failed to resolve the matter through discussions and letters to the school district. They said the students had followed the correct procedure for obtaining permission to distribute written materials at school. The issue was discussed during a recent, well-attended school board meeting. The lawyers said the districts policy regarding distribution of materials during school is overly broad, enabling it to deny requests as it sees fit. In an email, Mark Leidy, the superintendent of Mechanicsburg schools, said the law center lawyers are engaging in a publicity student rather than a productive dialog with the school. He disputed their contention that the students had submitted the appropriate formal request, and said the district looks forward to responding to the suit in court. Religious materials including the Bible have, and always will be, welcome at Mechanicsburg. Students have always been welcome to bring, share, and discuss religious materials at school, including but not limited to the Bible, Koran or Torah, Leidy wrote. Samek and Wenger said the lawsuit they filed in federal court is needed to bring about a consistent policy and protect the rights of all students and organizations in the district. They further said the district has told the students their only option is to distribute the Bibles on public sidewalks bordering school property 30 minutes before school or 30 minutes after school. The lawyers said the district has taken away student speech rights in the school and even seeks to regulate their speech rights during non-school hours on public sidewalks that every member of the general public possesses. The lawsuit names Leidy and David Harris, the high school principal, as defendants. The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of four students who are members of the school club, Christians In Action, and their parents. Asked what kind of speech or materials it would be appropriate for the district to ban, Samek said the U.S. Supreme Court has established that speech such as speech that is obscene or that incites violence or breaking the law can be banned. But other most other speech must be allowed. If you want to build a Linux-powered website, DreamHost should be one of the first places you look. The web hosting service has a rich feature set that satisfies many personal- and business-related web hosting needs by offering shared, WordPress, virtual private server (VPS), cloud, and dedicated plans. In addition, its website-building software gives webmasters simple tools to create attractive, flexible sites. As a result, DreamHost is an Editors' Choice award-winning web host, racing to the top alongside competitors like HostGator, Hostwinds, and Liquid Web. Shared Web Hosting If you're looking to create a web site, but don't want to spend a lot of money, shared web hosting is the way to go. Shared hosting is an extremely low-cost form of web hosting that sees your site share CPU, RAM, and other server resources with other websites. As a result, it isn't a very powerful hosting tier; if you expect your site to see a large amount of traffic, you should look into virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated hosting. Additionally, since the "shared" in shared hosting refers to the fact that each server may host multiple sites that share the resources of the hardware, you are to some extent at the mercy of your server mates. If one of them gets on the front page of Reddit, you might find that your site slows to a crawl as a result. DreamHost has two shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited. Shared Starter (starting at $4.95 per month, or $3.59 per month with a one-year commitment) offers unlimited monthly data transfers and storage, but lacks email. That's right: no email. For that, you must upgrade to the Shared Unlimited (starting at $10.95 per month, or $4.95 per month with a one-year commitment). That plan adds email and unlimited website hosting. The lowered price for the one-year plan (previously $7.95 per month) puts it in striking distance of the Starter option, making it a much better option than before. That said, HostGator, the Editors' Choice winner for shared hosting, is one of the few web hosts we've reviewed that offers Windows-based shared web hosting. That's a big deal, as there are many businesses that require Microsoft's operating system to run specific software. DreamHost, on the other hand, only offers Linux-based servers. HostGator also offers unlimited email across the board. VPS Web Hosting DreamHost offers four Linux-based VPS web hosting plans (starting at $15.00 per month, or $13.75 per month with a one-year commitment) for businesses that need servers with more power than what shared hosting offers. VPS hosting places your website on a server with far fewer virtual roommates than shared hosting. As a result, there's more server power available for your site to tap. DreamHost's VPS plans offer unlimited monthly data transfers and domains, which is a nice perk. However, the base memory and storage is quite low; the Basic plan (whose prices are quoted above) offers only 1GB of RAM and a 30GB solid-state drive. On the other hand, the highest configuration ($120 per month, or $110 per month with an annual contract) maxes out at 8GB of RAM and 240GB of solid-state storage. Unfortunately, the VPS plans only offer the Ubuntu Linux operating system. Hostwinds, PCMag's top pick for VPS hosting, has superior VPS plans. It has wallet-friendly, well-rounded VPS offerings. Take the managed Linux VPS plans, which start at just $5.17 per month for 1GB of RAM, 30GB of disk space, 1 TB of monthly data transfers, and unlimited email and scale to $247 per month for 96GB of RAM, 750GB of disk space, 9TB of monthly data transfers, and unlimited email. Dedicated Web Hosting If you want maximum web hosting power, you need to get a dedicated server. With this setup, your website lives on a server all by itself, thus leveraging all the system resources. You should look into dedicated hosting if you're expecting your site to see an incredible amount of traffic, and if your site is so mission-critical that it absolutely can't go down or slow down. DreamHost has several dedicated server options. The offerings start with the Standard 4 plan ($169 per month, or $149 for an annual commitment) that includes 4GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The options top off with the $379 per month Enhanced SSD 64 plan that boasts 64GB of RAM and 240GB of solid-state storage. Each DreamHost dedicated server plan has unlimited data transfers. Unfortunately, DreamHost lacks Windows-based dedicated servers; it's Linux or bust here, too. If you want a build a website using Microsoft's operating system as a foundation, we suggest checking out AccuWeb, PCMag's Editors' Choice for dedicated web hosting, which offers Linux and Windows dedicated server options. AccuWeb also has powerful dedicated plans, including a $1,070 per month package that has 8TB of storage, 512GB of RAM, and up to 50TB of monthly data transfers. Cloud Hosting You've probably heard of cloud hosting, which spreads resources across multiple servers (traditional hosting pulls resources from a single server). Cloud hosting allows sites to easily increase server needs when the situation calls for it. Fortunately, DreamHost offers three cloud hosting tiers512MB RAM Server, 2GB RAM Server, and 8GB RAM Serverthat come in Linux, BSD, and Windows varieties. DreamHost has excellent packages that start at $4.50 per month (for 512MB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers) and top out at $48 per month (for four CPU cores, 8GB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers). As a result, DreamHost's powerful specs make the web host the co-Editors' Choice for cloud hosting services. If you're a corporate customer who wants world-class cloud hosting, 1&1 Ionos is the way to go. It's a co-Editors' Choice for the category that boasts incredibly powerful cloud hosting packages. Reseller Hosting If you're looking to get into the web hosting business, but don't want to deal with infrastructure matters, reseller hosting is the way to go. Unfortunately, DreamHost doesn't offer standalone reseller plans; you can resell your own server space, but only if you add other domains to your own. Check out DreamHost's reseller FAQ page for more information. If you really want to dabble in reseller hosting, we recommend Hostwinds, the category's Editors' Choice. Hostwind's plans, starting at $3.29 per month, have unlimited email, storage, and data transfers. On offer are dedicated and VPS packages of both the Linux and Windows variety, as well as shared hosting, which is limited to Linux. The servers have the same RAM and storage amounts as those that Hostwinds supplies directly, which is not always the case. Hostwinds also lets you apply your own branding to the servers you rent, and it supplies 24/7 tech support, too. Building a Website Overall, we like DreamHost's user interfaceit's simple and well laid out, and it made getting started on my test site easy. Instead of going the HostGator or iPage route with cute, screen-cluttering icons, DreamHost offers a tree of menu options on the left side of the screen. It's easy to find billing information, manage domains, and view the settings for VPS and dedicated servers. We had no trouble finding the security options or the third-party app marketplace. DreamHost now offers the WP website builder, which lets you start building your site right away. You no longer have to endure a long wait time as your Dreamhost account gets approved, as you once did. It's a great addition. WP Website Builder comes with dozens of themes you can alter, using its simple drag-and-drop functionality. We found it refreshingly simple to add photos (my own, or those from DreamHost's royalty-free gallery), text, and video. You also have the option of installing third-party applications to your account, such as concrete5, Joomla, MediaWiki, Piwigo, and, of course, WordPress. WordPress Web Hosting Like several of its competitors, DreamHost offers WordPress hosting, in three different categories: WordPress Basic, DreamPass, and VPS WordPress. DreamPress is the standard option with managed WordPress hosting, a service that gives your website the white-glove treatment by auto-updating the popular content management system software, performing automatic daily backups, and providing WordPress-specific security. The entry-level WordPress Basic (starting at $4.95 per month, or $3.95 for a three-year commitment) comes with 50GB of SSD storage, purchasable email similar to the Shared webhosting, and unlimited monthly data transfers, as well as a variety of free WordPress themes. Moving up to the starting DreamPress option (starting at $12.00 per month), it kicks off with 30GB of SSD storage, unlimited email and monthly data transfers, and support for up to 100,000 monthly visitors. DreamPress Plus (starting at $24.00 per month) doubles the storage, increases the visitor count to roughly 300,000, and adds a content delivery network (CDN) for faster site loading. The top-tier DreamPress Pro (starting at $71.95 per month) offers 120GB of SSD storage and 1,000,000 visitor limit. DreamPress lets you install any plug-in you desire; Pagely and WP Engine, on the other hand, restrict you from installing a small number of plug-ins that may impact your site's performance. Recently, DreamHost added staging to its WordPress offerings, so you can test new site features on another site instance that won't affect your live pages. Impressive as DreamPress is, the Linux-backed A2 is the PCMag Editors' Choice in the category. A2 boasts an optimized environment that is supposed to be six times faster than traditional hosting environments. Plus, A2's WordPress plans offer unlimited storage and monthly data transfers in most of its options. For more on the fantastically popular content management system, you can read our story on how to get started with WordPress. E-Commerce Options DreamHost offers the free ZenCart, which you can access from the One Click Install menu. This open-source online shopping cart software lets users quickly check out the products that you have for sale. It also supports Woo Commerce. Along with a $100 Google AdWords credit, DreamHost lets you track site traffic and analytics via Chartbeat. This is different from most other services, which tend to focus only on Google Analytics. Security and Other Features DreamHost offers antispam on its email, but no antimalware services. That oversite aside, we like its attention to other aspects of website security. The control panel has an easy-to-find link for editing the .htaccess file to control access to the site or to set up a password. For parts of the site that shouldn't get indexed by search engines, you can block spiders. You can set up cron jobs (automated batch jobs) to schedule tasks and monitor processes on the site. DreamHost also offers free secure-socket layer (SSL) certificates, which is a must-have addition for people who sell products online. If you are a developer or manage a software development team, you will like the fact that DreamHost comes with Subversion, which can help you manage your source code files. Most web hosting providers restrict you to whatever applications are listed on its software marketplace. Version-control tools such as Subversion rarely make it onto these marketplaces, so it's nice to see the option to set up your own repository. Of course, that's assuming you don't just use Git repositories for your code. What if you don't really want a website or a blog, but just a place to store your files? DreamHost also offers DreamObjects cloud storage plans, starting at 95 cents per month for 40GB and going up to 20TB for $299.95 per month. Terrific Uptime Website uptime is a vital element of the web hosting experience. If your site goes down, clients or customers will be unable to find you or access your products or services. For this testing, we use a website monitoring tool to track my site's uptime over a 14-day period. Every 15 minutes, the tool pings my website and sends us an email if it is unable to contact the site for at least one minute. The data revealed that DreamHost is incredibly stable, and didn't go down during the test period. In fact, there's been only a single, brief failure in many, many months. As a result. you can count on DreamHost to be a rock-solid foundation for your website. No Phone Support, Excellent Chat Support DreamHost offers email and ticket-based support, as well as online chat. It has a robust knowledge database, too. Unfortunately, DreamHost lacks phone support, which is too bad; sometimes you just want to deal with a human being. That said, the chat support is quite good. We tried it on a weekday afternoon and evening. In both instances, we waited less than a minute before someone fielded my questions. We asked about the differences between VPS and dedicated hosting. The representative gave me a thorough, satisfying answer. We also asked the representative how to import my WordPress.com setup into DreamHost and received a very helpful link with step-by-step instructions. Again, we was quite pleased with the answers. DreamHost also offers a Knowledgebase that answers many commonly asked questions. DreamHost has a very good money-back guarantee policy. According to its terms of service, you can cancel your shared web Hosting service within 97 days of the initial signup and have the money promptly refunded. Considering most hosts offer 15 to 30 days, this flexibility is welcome. A Power User's Dream Thanks to its extensive tools, including useful website-building software, security options, a generous money-back guarantee, and unlimited storage, monthly data transfers, domains, and email, DreamHost is a top pick and a PCMag Editors' Choice for cloud-based web hosting services. That said, if you're a corporate customer who wants world-class cloud hosting, 1&1 Ionos is the way to go. It's a co-Editors' Choice with DreamHost for the category, and boasts incredibly powerful cloud hosting packages. For more, check out our tips for creating the best website, and our primer on how to register a domain name for your website. DreamHost Web Hosting 4.0 Editors' Choice Check Price Pros Strong security features Extensive domain-management tools Excellent cloud hosting offerings Unlimited data transfers per month Generous money-back guarantee Useful WordPress staging feature View More Cons No email with Shared Starter plan Lacks Windows-based servers No telephone support The Bottom Line DreamHost offers outstanding features at excellent price points, with a bevy of tools to make the process easy for novice webmasters. On what grounds can Calvin or his followers argue that this is impossible? I dont see at all that it is impossible for God or prohibited by the Bible. Colossians 3:11 states that Christ is all, and in all. The Bible refers to God being in physical things, such as fire and clouds (so why not also under the appearances of bread and wine?). All of this is exactly analogous to eucharistic adoration of the host: GOD SPECIALLY PRESENT IN FIRE * Exodus 3:2-6 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. [3] And Moses said, I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. [4] When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I. [5] Then he said, Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. [6] And he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (cf. Acts 7:30-33; Dt. 4:12, 15; 5:4-5; Mk 12:26; Lk 20:37) Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them . . . by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night; (cf. 14:24) Exodus 19:18 And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (cf. 24:17) Exodus 40:38 For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. (cf. Num 14:14; Dt 1:32-33; Neh 9:12, 19) Deuteronomy 4:12 Then the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. (cf. 4:15) Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, . . . (cf. 9:10; 10:4) GOD SPECIALLY PRESENT IN THE SHEKINAH CLOUD / GLORY OF THE LORD * Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, . . . (cf. 14:24; 16:10; Dt 1:33; 31:15) Exodus 24:15-16 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. [16] The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Exodus 33:9-11 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. [10] And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door. [11] Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent. . . . [14] And he said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (cf. Num 14:10, 14; 16:19, 42) Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. Exodus 40:34-38 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [35] And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [36] Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would go onward; [37] but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up. [38] For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, . . . (cf. Lev 9:4-6, 23) Leviticus 16:2 and the LORD said to Moses, . . . I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. [ark of the covenant] Numbers 11:25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him . . . Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of . . . the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice . . . 1 Kings 8:11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. (cf. 2 Chr 5:14) Psalm 99:7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud . . . (cf. Neh 9:12,19) Ezekiel 10:4, 18 And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherubim to the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD. . . . Then the glory of the LORD went forth from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. GOD SPECIALLY PRESENT ABOVE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT Exodus 25:22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you of all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Exodus 30:6 And you shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you. (cf. Lev 16:2) Numbers 7:89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him. (cf. 1 Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; 2 Ki 19:15; 1 Chron 13:6; Ps 80:1; 99:1; Is 37:16; Ezek 10:4; Heb 9:5) GOD ADORED AND WORSHIPED THROUGH FIRE, THE CLOUD OF HIS GLORY, AND THE TABERNACLE (TENT) / TEMPLE Exodus 33:9-11 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. [10] And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door. [11] Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. . . . Numbers 20:6-7 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, [7] and the LORD said to Moses, . . . [this glory was manifested by a cloud, as proven by many passages seen above (Ex 24:16; 40:34-35; 1 Kgs 8:11; 2 Chr 5:14; Ezek 10:4) ] 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. [2] And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORDs house. [3] When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. GOD ADORED AND WORSHIPED THROUGH THE ARK OF THE COVENANT Joshua 7:6-8 Then Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads. [7] And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, why hast thou brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! [8] O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 2 Samuel 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 1 Kings 3:15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. 1 Chronicles 16:1-2, 4 And they brought the ark of God, and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. [2] And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD, . . . [4] Moreover he appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 5:6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. Mutually respectful discussion between those of differing political views is so rare today. This is particularly true with regard to the issue of illegal immigration, border laws, and whether or not we need to build more miles of wall on the Mexican border. I shall try once again to engage in dialogue on the broad issue (having tried many times), with Henry Karlson: fellow Patheos blogger. Henry, a Byzantine Catholic, has done graduate work in philosophy, theology, and comparative religious dialogue. He has taught as an adjunct at both Georgetown University and the Catholic University of America, and his book, The Eschatological Judgment of Christ: The Hope of Universal Salvation and the Fear of Perdition in the Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, was published by Wipf and Stock in 2017. I shall be citing mostly the first portion of his article, What Would You Do? (1-30-19) and replying, with Henrys words in blue. As soon as I publish this, Ill inform Henry underneath his article, and then if he wants to further continue dialogue, itll be up to him. Im always game, as long as it is civil and on-topic. ***** If Jesus was at the border, poor and destitute, on the run from brigands and government officials alike, would you welcome him into your home, giving him food, drink, and shelter? If He knocked on my door and asked me to, yes (especially if I knew it was Jesus!). If, on the other hand, He broke in (violating property laws) and stole food (theft), and then informed me that he had a right to be here and also to receive food and shelter and medical care (questions of citizenship, rights of citizens, and rights of non-citizens, that are legitimate issues to debate), then I would not welcome Him. But of course, Jesus, being sinless and incapable of sin (impeccable) wouldnt break into homes and steal in the first place (let alone assert so-called rights), so that is a rather moot hypothetical. In other words, it is a loaded question and assumes many things that themselves have to be examined one-by-one. If Jesus was at your door, speaking to you in a language you did not understand, would you belittle him before telling him to go away? A how often do you beat your wife?-type question, leading the witness, so to speak. Why would anyone belittle a foreign language? Thats just stupid. Speaking for myself (as a political conservative), I took a year of Spanish in college (in case anyone was wondering if I knew anything of other language). I also have three of my books available in Spanish, one in Portugese, and one in French. If Jesus was being questioned by border patrol, being asked to show his papers, of which he had none, would you speak up for him and ask the border patrol to leave him alone? I would uphold the border laws of the country He was trying to get into, and encourage legal entry, with the proper required papers and procedures followed. Again, Jesus would do the same, so this is a non-issue. He wouldnt willfully break laws. After all, He said, render unto Caesar what is Caesars (regarding taxes) and told a Roman centurion to be content with his wages. St. Paul reiterates that we are to honor and obey rulers (Romans 13). When he was writing, the Roman emperor was Nero (who had him beheaded). I live a few miles from Canada, in metro Detroit (my father was born there and was a legal American immigrant). The last time I went over the bridge to Canada, I had to have a passport. Now if I hadnt had that, I wouldnt try to deviously get across the river somehow without proper papers. And I wouldnt do so because that is breaking the law, and a sin. I had to have a passport when I visited Israel in 2014 as well. If a group of people surrounded Jesus, telling him he is not welcome in America, that he should be back to his own homeland, would you join in? Of course not. But again, this appears to assume what it has the burden to prove: i.e., that Jesus would seek to come here illegally and that we should all think that was wonderful and accept it: that illegality and law-breaking is acceptable in the first place. Jesus simply wouldnt do that. So insofar as this is referring to an illegal immigrant scenario, its a dumb and misguided question. If Jesus was found beaten and abused, would you tell him it is all his fault, that he deserved it for all that he said and done, before leaving him to die from his wounds? I would follow the model that He laid down in His parable of the Good Samaritan. Then if I discovered that He was an illegal immigrant, I would report Him to the authorities. But He wouldnt be, etc. If Jesus was crying before your feet, having been sexually assaulted, would you ask him what he did that made someone treat him like that? No. Only a moron would. Or is this a stereotype of how a conservative is supposedly taught to act and think? If Jesus was seen begging for food, would you tell him to get a job? If I knew it was Jesus, I would know that He already had a job (proclaiming the Good News, healing and saving people, and being the Messiah) and would gladly take Him to lunch for as long as I possibly could. If I didnt know it was Him, I would take Him to lunch and ask how it is that He didnt have a job, and what could possibly be done (on both our parts) to find Him one. If Jesus, unwashed for days, was seen going into your local coffee shop, seeking a place to rest from the cold, would you complain to the manger, asking him to be kicked out of the store because of his stench? No; I would inquire of local shelters, and then do what I could to get Him established in a job and a home: just like we literally did with one of our sons friends: harboring him for a while, then helping him get on his feet again, and just as we did with a daughter of a friend: renting her our old house at a bargain of a rate, which made us no profit. If Jesus was seen lying overnight on a park bench, would you ask him to get off it so that you can sit down, and if he did not move, would you call the police? See my previous answer. If Jesus was seen being beaten up by police, before being escorted away in a squad car, would you say that the police did no wrong and that he deserved all that he got? Another loaded question. Of course if it was Jesus, He couldnt have done any wrong. If it was anyone, we would have to know all the facts: oftentimes what is described as police beating someone is simply a difficult arrest, with the person mightily resisting. Other times (but much more rarely) it is truly excessive use of force. But that has to be determined in a courtroom. Many times, police were acquitted, when the media narrative was shown to be fictitious. If a police officer abuses his or her power, I think they should lose their job, and if they break a law, they should go to jail and have the book thrown at them. If they kill someone without cause, they should go to jail for life (as I am against the death penalty). If Jesus was seen in jail, pleading his innocence, would you tell him no one is innocent to justify his incarceration? That would be stupid. This is why we have a rule of law. And the rule of law includes border laws and enforcement. If Jesus was being executed before your eyes, either by firing squad, injection, or the electric chair, would you praise his executioners for removing him from the face of the earth, ridding it of a criminal who did not deserve to live? No, if I knew it was Him, I wouldnt be like those calling for His crucifixion, when Pilate asked for a show of hands. If I didnt, I would oppose it since I oppose capital punishment. But one guilty of serious crimes has to be punished for the good of society and for justice sake. What would you do? What would you do to Jesus? I have given my answers to the best of my ability. That is the question we should all ask ourselves. Yes we should. But the questions should also not be loaded, logically circular, and presupposing many dubious premises. If we demand migrants to speak English before they are welcomed, then we will never welcome Jesus, who didnt speak English. This has never been the case, There were millions of immigrants taken in through Ellis Island in New York City in the 1890s who didnt speak English. It wasnt required prior to entry. Nor is it now, that Im aware of. But its simply common sense to encourage immigrants to America to learn English, for their own well-being: so they can get ahead in a society where that is the primary language. Its compassionate to do so. I have written many times about this issue of illegal immigration, and I always seek to be in conformity with the teachings of Holy Mother Church and the Holy Bible and Christian charity and compassion. There is not only one way to do that (the politically liberal or leftist way). The first two listed are my most succinct treatments of the issue (1000 words each): * * *** Photo credit: The Good Samaritan (c. 1563), by Jacopo Bassano (1510-1592) [public domain / [public domain / Wikimedia Commons *** Given that today is Friday, it should be no great surprise to anybody that a new article has appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. Its by Professor Matthew L. Bowen, of Brigham Young University Hawaii: Messengers of the Covenant: Mormons Doctrinal Use of Malachi 3:1 in Moroni 7:2932 Abstract: Although not evident at first glance, shared terminology and phraseology in Malachi 3:1 (3 Nephi 24:1) and Moroni 7:2932 suggest textual dependency of the latter on the former. Jesuss dictation of Malachi 34 to the Lamanites and Nephites at the temple in Bountiful, as recorded and preserved on the plates of Nephi, helped provide Mormon a partial scriptural and doctrinal basis for his teachings on the ministering of angels, angels/messengers of the covenant, the work of the covenants of the Father, and prepar[ing] the way in his sermon as preserved in Moroni 7. This article explores the implications of Mormons use of Malachi 3:1. It further explores the meaning of the name Malachi ([Yahweh is] my messenger, my angel) in its ancient Israelite scriptural context and the temple context within which Jesus uses it in 3 Nephi 24:1. Happy weekend! *** You might perhaps find this of interest in connection with my New Testament Note 13, which is focused on John the Baptist: Video: The special symbolism behind the place where Jesus Christ was baptized *** From the Deseret News: These are the top challenges facing BYU and other religious schools in 2019 And heres a related piece: This Is What Anti-Christian Bigotry Looks Like: A progressive private academy says its unsafe to play games at a Christian school. *** For your study of this years New Testament curriculum: Reflections on Come Follow Me 5: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3) *** Robert Boylan issues strong endorsements of Julie Smiths new Latter-day Saint commentary on the gospel of Mark: Book Recommendation: Julie M. Smith, The Gospel of Mark Julie M. Smith on Peter being Called Satan and Peters Three-Fold Denial Before the Cock Crowing Twice Julie M. Smith on Marks Christology and Jesus as God in the Garden of Eden *** 7 Fascinating Facts About the Come Unto Me Window in the Rome Visitors Center (+ Pictures) *** Im not precisely sure what were supposed to do about this situation in Utah, or whether its thought to constitute some sort of problem: Mormons account for nearly 90 percent of state Legislature Are nonmembers of the Church perhaps barred from seeking political office in Utah? Does the states constitution mandate a minimum percentage of Latter-day Saints in Utahs House and Senate? Is there a religion test for voting in the state? Should the results of democratic elections in Utah be modified in order to meet religious quotas? Is there something wrong with people being allowed to vote? Did the current members of the state legislature exercise mystic Mormon voodoo powers in order to gain control of the government? Whenever I can, Im going to continue to supply you with material for your Christopher Hitchens Memorial Religion Poisons Everything File. Heres an important new piece of evidence illustrating how religion or religious involvement ruins lives: Does faith make you happier? New research explores links between religion and well-being *** BYU one of nations highest producers of foreign-language degrees: BYU comes in at No. 3 overall, tops several specific language categories BYU is the top producer of foreign-language degrees in Arabic, Russian and Portuguese, the fourth for Korean, and the sixth for French. Thats gratifying to see. My friend Kirk Belnap, a long-time colleague in the Arabic Section of BYUs Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages, delivered a lively and interesting presentation about the history of the Universitys intensive Arabic study abroad program to a faculty audience at a Humanities Colloquium this afternoon, from which Ive only just now returned. Here is the precis that he offered in advance of his presentation, which was entitled Reflections on a 30-Year Experiment with Experiential Learning and Cognitive Dissonance: The aims of a liberal arts education were clearly spelled out by the fourth century: well-rounded global citizens capable of the critical thinking needed to address the challenges of the times in which they live. This outcome is foundational to our own and other general education programs. Really getting students attention in order to affect real change is key. The cognitive dissonance resulting from grappling with a difficult real world problem is widely acknowledged as an effective high impact practice. Following a brief sketch of the history of our sections highs and lows in experimenting with experiential learning in eight countries, I will lead a discussion of factors that can hopefully help all of us as we seek to leverage opportunities around us at BYU and beyond to build life-changing interdisciplinary educational encounters. *** Not bad: BYU professors film short gets Sundance premiere, wins Jury award *** Im saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Lawrence Poulsen: Lawrence Poulsen (1933-2019) Larry wrote a review for the FARMS Review back in the bad old days, when I served as its vicious and mean-spirited editor: The Light Is Better Over Here The Russia Government has succeeded where the FBI and others have failed. It was reported yesterday by the American online site "Foreign Policy" (FP) that under Russian counterterrorism laws, Apple could be compelled to decrypt and hand over user data to security services on request. The Russian law goes one step further, it doesn't need a warrant to force Apple to comply with a request for data on its citizens. Alexander Zharov, the head of Russia's media agency Roskomnadzor (The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media), has already raised the prospect of banning Facebook if it fails to handle Russian user data in country. Later this month, the body will vet Apple for its compliance under the law. Human rights advocates described the legislation as Russias "Big Brother" law, amid concerns that it provides sweeping rights to the Federal Security Servicethe successor to the KGBto access peoples communications without judicial oversight. Sergey Medvedev, a senior lawyer with the Moscow-based law firm Gorodissky and Partner said the law could potentially be applied to Apples iMessage service. LinkedIn, now owned by Microsoft, was banned in Russia for refusing to move its data processing to the country. The move was interpreted as a warning shot about the potential ramifications of not adhering to the law. Last spring, Russia attempted to block the end-to-end encrypted messaging app Telegram for refusing to give the countrys security services access to users encrypted messages. In the process, the government accidentally placed a temporary block in Russia on more than 15 million websites that route through Amazon and Google servers. Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused Apple of blocking global updates to the app after the Russian authorities demanded it be removed from the App Store. For more on this, you could read the full FP report here. Apple announced last year that their Chinese partner for iCloud Services would have equal access to Chinese customer's stored data. Apple's CEO Tim Cook later argued that storage of data in a country doesn't mean access to the data. According to Cook, it didn't really matter where cryptographic keys are kept; "it matters whether they're safe or not, right? And keep in mind that the only people that have a key for iMessage or for messages are the sender and the receiver." This is why the Russian news is so interesting. Apparently their laws go much further than China's in that they can demand decryption of messages without a warrant. Though until this is enforced in a real life situation, we don't know how much of the report on the Russian law and Apple's compliance is hype or reality. The same goes for Australia who passed what is described as an anti-encryption law. Until Australia actually challenges Apple, we have no idea if there's real teeth to their new law. It may be more bark than bite. For now, stay tuned because at some point in the not-too-distant future, a foreign government will attempt to force Apple to decrypt data and we know that Apple is unlikely to comply for technical reasons. The fireworks are coming, we just don't know when and where the challenge or show will begin. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Stand-up comedian and comedy writer Kevin Barnett, also known as Bird Luger, passed suddenly on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Memorial fundraiser shows were held at the Bell House in Brooklyn on Jan. 25. Neruda Williams, a friend and colleague of Barnetts, wrote about the memorial and Barnetts life for Paste. I really didnt want to write this article. I actually just wanted to celebrate my dudes life and be with those of us who knew him. But unfortunately Kevin was such a good god damn person both Bell House shows were sold out. So I had to use Pastes media credentials as cover to get in. You may know Kevin Barnett or you may not. He was a brilliant comedic mind behind some of the funniest and most compelling work on television over the last few yearshe co-createdRel, wrote for Broad City and The Carmichael Show, was a cast member on Friends of The People, and did so many other things. The name Bird Luger was born in New Orleans, when he was wearing a bird shirt, standing next to a bird painting, while holding a giant bird book. He was one of kinda big kid, silly and unapologetically Black. Kev grew up in Florida originally and was a graduate of FAMU. I met him in NYC, in 2010, when I first started doing stand-up. He was already making a name for himself, I believe originally starting in Florida before moving to New York to pursue a career. When I first met him I was intimidated, not just because he was taller than everyone at the mic but also because none of it seemed to phase him. You could see the nerves in everyone waiting to go up, not sure if what theyre about to say on stage is well thought out or even makes sense. He never seemed to care, though. He always seemed to be in on a bigger joke that we were all missing. And that was the fun of being in his presenceyou thought for a second maybe you too were in on this cosmic joke. I remember vividly my last interaction with him. I was walking up the steps of the Creek and Cave headed into the upstairs show room. I had just sat around the open mic downstairs trying to kill time until the show I was on upstairs started and I was going up. As usual I had a scowl on my face and as I was entering the show room I see Kevin sitting at one of the dining tables with Ben Kissell and the rest of the Round Table of Gentlemen, probably after recording an episode of the podcast. I was going to just keep it moving. I never wanted to be an annoyance or a hanger on., so I always just kept my head down and did my thing. Kev noticed, like I think he did all the time. He said Sup, Neruda. I was caught off guard for a second then I said what up Kev. He asked me how I was and what was going on with me and was just genuinely interested in my life. I was thrown off. Not because it was strange for him to talk to me but because Im just so used to people in this industry being surface friends, passersby that have a shallow feigned interest in you so long as you can do something for them. And at that moment I was just a comic in my head and he was THE Kevin Barnett. But he didnt see it like that. He saw me. The dude he knew from 2010. He never separated himself and never let his success cloud his perspective. Its rare to find truly genuine people these days. In a sea of Facebook friends, Insta followers, cat fishers, and fakers, Kevin stood out and above most. At 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 25 I hop in an Uber cause Im always late. When I get to the venue theres a line around the corner. I dont have tickets, just a Paste Magazine bomber jacket, but Im gonna make it work Like Tim Gunn. I get inside the venue and Im told to speak to Andrew who I assume is a manager or booker for the Bell House itself. I introduce myself and explain that Im covering the event for Paste Magazine and that I was friends with both the Lucas Bros. producing the show and also most of the comics on the show. He says fine, stamps my hand, and I head back to the show room. I walk in and its already packed to standing room only. The first person I see as I approach the back stage entrance is Joyelle Nicole dressed in what can only be described as Black Mistress Goth chic. Petey Deabreu was on stage talking about the Bronx, as he does. Backstage is filled with blunt smoke, as it should be. The hugs are tight, extensive, and meaningful. The space is filled with a whos who of comedy, laughing, embracing, and remembering the wonderful life we all knew and were going to miss. On stage each comic, from Hasan Minhaj to Hannibal Buress, Ilana Glazer to Michelle Wolf, all spoke about Kevin and his impact on their lives to hilarious affect. At times it was hard to hold back tears even as the rumble of laughter from the show room rattled the green room. The one anecdote that stands out the most to me was from Mookie Thompson. Though the name Mookie is usually a Black dudes name, this particular Mookie is a white. He reminisced about the time Kevin made him say nigger in public, and how Kev then saved his life when a random Black dude overheard it. A perfect glimpse into what being friends with Kevin was like. He was always fun and didnt take himself or anyone else too seriously. Kevin passed away Tuesday Jan. 22, 2019, from a nontraumatic hemorrhage caused by pancreatitis. He was 32 years old. Coincidentally Bill Hicks died of pancreatic cancer at the same age. Whenever a comic dies it reminds me that in my ten years of doing comedy Ive known more comics whove died than bangers and drug dealers Ive known my entire time selling drugs growing up in Harlem, New York. The first comic I met who passed away while I was doing comedy was Mike Destefano. We met while I was hanging in the greenroom of Times Square Arts Center, a comedy club in, you guessed it, the heart of Times Square. I was waiting to do a check spot and my extended cousin Greer Barnes introduced us. It was 2011, and later that year he would die of a heart attack. Then Patrice ONeal, whom I met a few times, died of a diabetes related stroke that November. My friends Jay Smith and Hiawatha Rutland would be next in 2014, then the legendary Gary Marinoff in 2015. Lorde Johnson in 2016, Joseph Rocha and Mike Jacobs in 2017, and this year we lost the great William Stephenson and, of course, Kevin Barnett. Comedy is a contact sport and it lends itself to an unhealthy lifestyle. The long late nights, bad food, drinking and drugging, are par for the course. Sadly it results in the early death of some of the most beautiful people. My condolences to those that knew and loved Kevin; in the short time I knew him he never ceased to bring me joy and Im sure he had the same affect on everyone who met him. 11:30 p.m. and its getting late. The second show is in full flow, Im finishing my beer, grabbing a couple of the weed candies on the green room table, and saying my goodbyes. As Im leaving Nimesh Patel comes in directing a group of barbacks carrying boxes. He says chill for a second so I sit back down. As we talk he sees my Paste Magazine jacket and asks if Im working. I reply yes, and he says that what its about, Working and Bombing. Nimesh bought us all Popeyes Fried Chicken and biscuits. We love you, Kevin. And well always miss you. Neruda Williams is a comedian based in New York. He is the founder and Executive Director of The Harlem Comedy Festival. Surrounded by legislative leaders, Gov. Doug Ducey prepares to sign the legislation ratifying the Drought Contingency Plan. The plan, which was a long time in the making, will help Arizona cope with a drier future after years of drought. As a retired midsize company president, I can assure you that boards of directors expect/reward management for lesser employees per unit of output, not more jobs. The 'why' is simple. Using my own manufacturing company metrics of our fully absorbed benefits for our factory workers: When it exceeded 50 percent of their average wage (healthcare costs were 37 percent of the 50 percent, with vacation, sick days, leave, holidays, etc., the balance), we accelerated our employee cost/expense reduction planning and strategies to reduce employment levels. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Contrary to political rhetoric, the decades-long job loss in the U.S. has been over 80 percent due to AI (artificial intelligence), automation, and robotics, not foreign countries draining away our jobs. At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the focus was on transforming businesses into lean, digitized, and automated operations ... with AI as the golden ticket to savings. What is critical to watch is the business choice between using technology for shared prosperity (worker in the mix with shareholders) or more wealth concentration with the 1 percent. The best personal strategy, armed with this reality, is education and training. The balance will be decided at the ballot box. Richard A. Brown, Normal Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Cheers ... to Chestnut Family Health Center for its $8 million expansion that will allow twice as many low-income people to be treated by the Bloomington-based health provider. The center, 720 W. Chestnut St., served nearly 2,300 patients in 2018. The number is expected to be more than 5,000 once the expansion is complete. About 92 percent of the center's patients are on Medicaid, Medicare, or are uninsured. The remainder have commercial insurance. Cheers ... to Logan County Farm Bureau, for providing meals for staff at the USDA Lincoln Service Center while the government shutdown continued. We're sure a number of other Central Illinois groups did likewise for other federal employees. We thank them all for their thoughtfulness. Cheers ... to the SmartMeals program at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. The program provides a once-a-month bag of healthy ingredients for a four-serving meal, the recipe, nutritional information and a grocery shopping list for that meal. About 1,000 meals have been given away in the last year. Ingredients for each meal cost $7 or less. Individuals aren't charged but are asked to fill out a brief survey. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. "SmartMeals is teaching people that they can eat inexpensively at home in a healthy manner," said Center for Healthy Lifestyles Manager Erin Kennedy. Cheers ... to Woodford County, for moving ahead with fixes to its courthouse belltower and its clock. The project hopefully will start this spring and half the money has been deposited, although donations are accepted through the county treasurer's office. Some of the work is structural, some is cosmetic. Either way, the county is custodian of one of the most visible pieces of Woodford County landscape. It's always the right "time" to keep history in working order. Thank you ... to The Pantagraph carriers - and everyone else with an outdoor job - who braved bitter temperatures this week to make their deliveries, provide emergency care, offer a jump-start for a dead battery, and deliver food, blankets and other items to the less fortunate. A special shout-out to those businesses and organizations that opened their doors to welcome those who needed a break from the cold. Oops ... Yes, we know Illinois has a new governor. An unfortunate production error last week on our Opinion page listed outdated information for our state's leader. The name was wrong but the contact information was correct. You'll hear this again ... Happy Groundhog Day (a bit early). Let's hope the critter does not see his shadow tomorrow. We've had enough of winter. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (ALMH) in Lincoln has joined several other Central Illinois hospitals in enacting temporary visitor restrictions because of an increase in seasonal flu. Springfield-based Memorial Health System which includes ALMH, Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville and Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville announced Friday that visitor restrictions had been imposed at all four hospitals. While flu activity remains low at each facility, Memorial Health System said there is an increase in flu activity statewide, leading the Illinois Department of Pubic Health to recommend that hospitals implement visitor restrictions. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. ALMH and the other Memorial Hospitals are limiting inpatient hospital visits to two visitors at a time per patient. In addition, all visitors should be 18 years and older and show no sign of illness. The health system is encouraging Memorial outpatient facilities to consider the same recommendations. Other area hospitals that previously enacted visitor restrictions because of an increase in flu include OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Advocate Eureka Hospital in Eureka, Hopedale Medical Complex in Hopedale, HSHS St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur, and Peoria and Champaign-Urbana hospitals. Visitor restrictions are lifted when flu activity declines in the spring. Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech 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. Stephanie Mangan, 26, is charged with drug-induced homicide in the July death of Brandyce Mrazek, 30, who was found unresponsive July 2 at her residence in the 300 block of East Mulberry Street, Bloomington. Authorities have not released details of the death, including the drug Mangan allegedly provided. Mangan testified Thursday that she would stay with a friend in Bloomington and look for a job, if released after posting the $1,000 available to her for bond. She also said she would continue taking medications prescribed at the jail and would attend support meetings for substance abusers. Defense attorney Brian McEldowney acknowledged to Judge Casey Costigan that the request to reduce the bond from $1 million to $10,000 required the judge to take a chance on the defendant. Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Horve argued that Mangan is undeserving of that chance. He cited eight pending petitions to revoke Mangan's probation in three prior cases based on new charges filed since the cases were resolved. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. A sentence of probation in a 2016 case afforded Mangan a "golden opportunity to turn her life around," said Horve, calling the defendant "out of control and a threat to public safety." When asked by Horve to name her drug of choice, Mangan replied, "opiates." Among her prior convictions is for drug possession linked to an incident at a Bloomington elementary school, Horve told the judge. A co-defendant in the 2016 case was accused of hurling racial slurs and waving a tire iron at a Stevenson Elementary School staff member working on the playground. Mangan was driving the co-defendant in a vehicle later found to contain cocaine, said the prosecutor. In his denial of the lower bond, the judge told Mangan "public safety is by far my most important consideration when I look at a bond." Costigan agreed with Horve's assessment that Mangan has acquired new alleged violations of the terms of her probation and has "not followed through with what you said you were going to do" in terms of drug rehabilitation efforts. Mangan is set for an April 5 status hearing on the charges that could send her to prison for up to 30 years. Contact Edith Brady-Lunny at (309) 820-3276. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_blunny 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. The suspect lived in Bloomington at the time of the alleged assaults and was acquainted with the alleged victim, according to authorities. Charges indicate Barclay sexually assaulted the girl between 2008 and 2010 and between 2010 and 2013. The alleged victim recently disclosed the accusations to Bloomington police investigators, according to Assistant State's Attorney Erika Reynolds. ATLANTA The Atlanta Public Library District will host the exhibit, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America" that will open Saturday at the Atlanta Museum. The district/museum was selected last year as one of six organizations in Illinois to display the exhibit produced by the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays through March 16, and by appointment. The museum also will organize guided group outings upon request. More information is available by calling the library 217-648-2112. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Gold sponsors of the Crossroads exhibit include the Smithsonian, Illinois Humanities, and the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. Lead sponsors are the Atlanta Betterment Fund, Atlanta National Bank, Gary Gemberling, and David Kindred. A number of local donors also have provided funding and in-ind support for the project. In conjunction with the Crossroads exhibit coordinated by Illinois Humanities in partnership with the Smithsonian the Atlanta Museum will unveil a new companion exhibit, "Classrooms and Community: Changes in Rural Americas Sense of Community." This exhibit will examine the impact of the development from one-room rural schools to the larger consolidated Olympia school district. Based on a series of oral interviews conducted in 2018, the exhibit is rooted in an exploration of how a sense of place, common memories, and shared values combine to enliven the school experience and shape a communitys perception of itself. Also on Saturday, the Library District will unveil a new community mural in its Union Hall Visitors Welcome Center and mount an exhibit of artwork by students of Olympia High School. The mural celebrates the rural community of Atlanta its history, dreams and visions for the future. The art show is designed to capture the themes of the Smithsonian exhibit. The Crossroads exhibit describes the views of various cultural communities regarding the use and management of land, and examines the role of land in the formation of local economies. It also discusses the emergence of rural communities and the evolution of their economic and social structures, especially during the period of rapid change in the mid-20th century. And, it explores ways in which rural communities are responding effectively to challenges in the 21st century and invites communities to contemplate their own potential paths into the future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD As it considers raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour, Illinois has a few examples to follow. This week, the Illinois Senate Labor Committee had a hearing on raising Illinois minimum wage from $8.25 to $15. There is no agreement on how long the transition would take, or if it should be done uniformly statewide. Legislation could be sent to the Senate floor as early as Wednesday. Raising the minimum This year began with 18 states having new, higher minimum wages. Of those, eight wage increases were automatic cost-of-living adjustments. The other 10 were the result of specific legislation, according to the National Confederation of State Legislatures. But only three states and Washington, D.C., have approved the significant jump to $15 an hour. And each of those states has done it differently. Consider California, which was the first state to pass such legislation in 2016. There, it will take six years by Jan. 1, 2022 -- for the statewide minimum hourly wage to reach $15. The nations capital also passed legislation in 2016, with a slightly shorter timeline of four years. New York, on the other hand, took a geographical approach. Passing its legislation in 2016, wages in New York City are already $15 an hour for businesses with 11 or more employees. By the end of 2019, that rate will extend to all businesses in New York City, while Long Island and Westchester County will have a $15 minimum wage by the end of 2021. But in the rest of the state, the minimum wage will increase to only $12.50 an hour by the end of 2020. Massachusetts Massachusetts is the most recent state to pass a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Its plan, approved last year, takes five years to complete. The first increase from $11 an hour to $12 kicked in this year. Andrew Farnitano twice helped to lead the campaign to raise Massachusetts minimum wage. The first time was in 2014, when his organization, RaiseUp Massachusetts, found success in legislation that increased the wage from $8 to $11 within three years. Immediately after, Farnitanos organization began campaigning for an increase to $15 an hour, succeeding in June 2018. Farnitano says what happened after the first round of raises was the opposite of what many people and groups, especially business associations, expected. As the minimum wage went up, we saw massive job growth, a stronger economy, and the biggest drops in unemployment in the communities where the most people, some 30 or 40 percent of workers, benefited from the increase, Farnitano said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Farnitano added that, rather than shutting down or downsizing, many employers had a hard time filling available positions. In Massachusetts, theres places where low-wage workers cant survive on $11 an hour, Farnitano said, referencing 2017s minimum wage. So they move somewhere else, and then those businesses cant find people to fill those jobs after. Christopher Carlozzi, state director for the Massachusetts branch of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, had competing arguments about the effects of a higher wage. Even though weve only done the first increase to $12 an hour, were already starting to see the effects, Carlozzi said. Directly after the new year, there was a string of restaurant closures in Boston itself (citing labor costs). Were especially concerned about the areas outside Boston where you cant charge $15 for a sandwich at lunch, he said. Businesses either have to raise their prices, start reducing workforce hours, or cut or not create new jobs. Making comparisons There are no exceptions in the Massachusetts minimum wage law: In a few years, it will be $15 an hour for all employees, regardless of age, experience, or region. Mark Grant, who heads the Illinois branch of NFIB and testified at this week's hearing, says Illinois cannot handle a universal minimum wage like Massachusetts. The Chicago region is a completely different kind of region than everything outside of it, Grant said. Our main concern is the businesses that are outside it, would they be able to deal with a $15 minimum? As such, Grant says Illinois would need a regional system like New York has, where different areas have different wage floors depending on many economic factors. Grant also talked of keeping Illinois teen wage a lower wage for teenage workers which could lighten the load on small businesses having to adjust to higher wages. Farnitano, however, said that one of the best parts of Massachusetts bill was not having a teen wage, so that employers could not cycle through a new teen worker every six months. Another variable is to make different minimum wage timelines for different-sized businesses, which happened in California. There, the threshold is on businesses with 25 employees. Those with fewer than 25 have an extra year until the $15 rate kicks in, making a seven-year, which was a number floated during Wednesdays Illinois Senate committee hearing. There are also concessions that can be made to the business community, particularly small businesses. Carlozzi discussed these concessions as part of a grand bargain in Massachusetts, where businesses were provided some relief to help accommodate higher labor costs. They included a statewide sales tax holiday, and elimination of time-and-a-half pay on Sundays. Minimum wage hike likely Though Grants organization, NFIB, is in full opposition to raising Illinois minimum wage to $15 an hour, he admits that it will likely happen. We have to be ready to negotiate, Grant said. The governor wants it, and hes got a legislature thats more than willing to help him do that. Illinois isnt the only state considering a minimum wage increase. Thursday, the New Jersey legislature passed $15-an-hour minimum-wage legislation, to be phased in over five years. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to sign the bill. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The following students from the Midland area have been named to the Dean's Honor Roll for the Fall 2018 semester at Lawrence Technological University. To be named to the honor roll a student must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average for the term. Gerard Bringard, Computer Science Studley Grange presented 140 dictionaries to the third-graders at Pine River and Floyd Elementary schools. This is the 16th year Studley Grange has donated dictionaries to third-graders in the Bullock Creek School District and have given away over 2,285 dictionaries during this time. One-hundred-fifteen dictionaries were also presented to the third graders at Clare Primary School in November. Studley Grange operated two concession stands at the Chippewa Nature Center. Nature Fest was in September and Nature at Night was in October. Six students from the Bullock Creek High School Robotics Team assisted at Nature Fest. Donations were made to the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry's Backpack Buddies Program and the Thanksgiving Baskets Program. Candy was purchased for Floyd Elementary School's Halloween Walk. An appreciation dinner was held for all those that worked at the Midland County Fair food stand. In November Studley Grange donated13 new winter coats to the three elementary schools in the Bullock Creek School District. Studley Grange placed first in the Michigan State Grange community service program. At the National Grange Convention they were judged against 26 granges from across the country. The Grange is a family, friendly agriculture organization that is present in 36 states and 2,100 communities. Studley Grange and its members strive to help others in need in the Midland community. Studley Grange meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. For more information about the grange, call Tricia at 989-631-0079. At a price of $400 million, a Wisconsin-based assisted-living company will be acquiring eight Independence Village facilities in the Midwest, including the one in Midland. Located at 2325 Rockwell Drive, the Midland location is one of several Independence Village facilities that Great Lakes Senior Living will be acquiring, including five more in Michigan and two in Ohio. The other five facilities in Michigan are located in Grand Ledge, Plymouth, White Lake, Oxford and Bear Creek. The Mid-Michigan Children's Museum (MMCM) in Saginaw has announced that it has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children's Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting MMCM for a minimal fee of $3 per person, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 250 museums across the country. Portlands Bureau of Transportation allowed two e-scooter companies to unilaterally redact public records prior to their release, an unorthodox step by a government body to give private companies say over public information. The consultations, disclosed by bureau officials Wednesday, reflect the citys practice of letting companies decide what portions of public documents describing their operations they believe contain confidential trade secrets. Oregon public records law allows government agencies to withhold records that contain genuine trade secrets. It also illustrates the fuzzy intersection of the governments obligation to transparency and a companys right to keep its proprietary secrets from competitors. Portland officials said they consider company officials better equipped to know what constitutes a bona fide trade secret, and they said they feared the city could face legal action from highly paid corporate lawyers if they publicly disclosed information the national e-scooter companies considered proprietary. The e-scooter situation arose after Ryan Felton, an investigative reporter for Consumer Reports, filed a records request for permit applications filed by companies Lime and Bird to participate in a city pilot program. The companies were awarded the permits, which allowed them for four months to deploy battery-powered scooters in Portland and charge riders a few dollars to zip around (often to the annoyance of pedestrians). The permit applications Felton asked for contain a trove of information about Lime and Birds operations, including marketing details, scooter battery life information and, most importantly to the public, crash data. City officials consulted with Lime and Bird, and the companies asserted the documents contained valuable trade secrets. The city then released the applications to Felton, but with sections redacted with black boxes by company officials. That is unusual, said Jack Orchard, an attorney who represents the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association in public records matters. Government officials have an obligation to decide what information is redacted from public records, he said. You don't have a non-public source say, Oh, well we'd like to redact records this way, Orchard said. Why doesnt the city just do its job? Orchard said. These are public records in the custody of a public agency. Requests for comment were not returned by the Bureau of Transportation; the office of Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, the transportation commissioner; or by attorneys representing Bird and Lime. Jenifer Johnston, a senior deputy city attorney overseeing public records matters, said the nuances of trade secrets law are tricky and technical. The city allows companies to suggest redactions out of an abundance of caution, she said, and officials accept companies redactions if they appear to meet legal requirements. It is better to have the city be overly cautious than to wrongly out a companys trade secrets and face a costly lawsuit, Johnston said. She noted that anyone seeking city records may appeal to the district attorney for review of a decision to keep documents or portions of them secret. Thats exactly what Felton, the investigative reporter, did. Usually the city would defend its decision to keep records secret; this time, it let Bird and Lime formulate the rationale. A senior city attorney emailed the district attorneys office to say it wasnt taking a position on whether the records should or should not be released. In filings with District Attorney Rod Underhills office, the companies said giving Felton un-redacted documents would expose their valuable trade secrets. Underhill didnt buy it. The materials certainly contain details here and there that would likely be of interest to a competitor, he wrote, but on balance these are marketing materials and the companies did not show their release would hamper their ability to compete. Underhill ordered the city to give Felton new copies of the permit applications without any information blacked-out. The Oregonian/OregonLive has filed a request for the same documents and has not received a response. -- Gordon R. Friedman GFriedman@Oregonian.com The Portland Fire Bureau wont enforce a city ordinance requiring earthquake warning signs on vulnerable brick buildings when it takes effect in March. City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty on Thursday directed the Fire Bureau, which she oversees, to indefinitely delay enforcement of the placard ordinance. Meanwhile, she asked the Bureau of Emergency Management, also part of Hardestys portfolio, to lead work sessions on the issue and investigate financial incentives for seismic upgrades. No one is interested in putting our residents at risk, but we need to look at ways to better support businesses and non-profits in seismically upgrading their buildings, Hardesty said in a statement. A placard is a band-aid for a much larger problem. Until we have better support in place, especially in the form of funding assistance for these projects, I want placarding enforcement on hold for businesses and non-profit organizations. The decision, however, puts Hardesty at odds with Mayor Ted Wheeler, who said he stands by the City Councils decision. And the Fire Bureau shares enforcement authority with the Bureau of Development Services, which Wheeler oversees. Commissioner Hardesty announced she is delaying proactive enforcement through the Portland Fire Bureau - but the requirement to put earthquake warning signs is still the law, Wheeler said in a statement. I will continue to work with Commissioner Hardesty and building owners to ensure the safety of all Portlanders. Hardesty took office this month and wasnt on the City Council when it approved the ordinance in October. She replaced the retiring Dan Saltzman, a vocal proponent of both the placarding ordinance and a more aggressive approach to requiring building owners to complete seismic upgrades. The ordinance would require owners of brick and similar buildings to prominently post signs with the disclosure: This is an unreinforced masonry building. Unreinforced masonry buildings may be unsafe in the event of a major earthquake. The same warning must be distributed to tenants of the building under the rule, which was set to take effect for most of the buildings in March. The ordinance had attracted a lawsuit from the Masonry Building Owners of Oregon, a nonprofit coalition of brick building owners, as well as developer John Beardsleys company and building owner Jim Atwood. The plaintiffs argued the sign ordinance violated their First Amendment right to free speech. Theyre seeking an injunction before the rule begins and a hearing in that case is set for Feb. 26. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also opposed the ordinance, saying it would reinforce gentrification in historically black segments of North and Northeast Portland. And they were joined in a rally against the ordinance by owners of music venues that arent seismically upgraded. The lawsuit isnt affected by Thursdays announcement, said John DiLorenzo, the attorney for the plaintiffs, in part because theres no indication the Bureau of Development Services would suspend enforcement. DiLorenzo had previously asked city attorneys to suspend enforcement. The Fire Bureau has really a limited role here, DiLorenzo said. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. A pair of Democratic lawmakers in the Oregon Legislature want to divert the states unique kicker tax rebate on a one-time basis to help tackle the states public pension crisis. Oregon taxpayers are currently on track to receive $724 million worth of kicker rebates when they file their income taxes in 2020. Under a plan co-sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Taylor of Portland and Rep. Karin Power of Milwaukie, that money would instead go into an account created by Gov. Kate Brown to encourage local governments to pour more money into the underfunded pension system. So far, its one of the more substantial proposals to address Oregons pension problems this session. The governor and leaders in the Democratically controlled Legislature have pitched few major ideas on the topic to date and may not sign onto the pension fixes being offered by Republicans. If state economists predictions hold, the kicker tax credits to be issued next year would be the largest in dollar terms in more than a decade, according to the state Office of Economic Analysis. The median taxpayer in Oregon with an adjusted gross income of about $35,000 could get a $174 credit. However, most of the benefit goes to the states highest-income households, who pay the most taxes. The top 1 percent, who bring in more than $401,000, could cut their tax bills by roughly $7,175, economists predicted . Taylor did not respond to requests for comment by deadline on Thursday. Power said Taylor was the driving force behind the bill and referred questions to her. During a call with reporters on Thursday, Brown said she wants to preserve the tax rebate for certain taxpayers. I certainly think that hardworking families should get their kicker rebate, Brown said. Certainly, the legislature will have conversations about the kicker and modifications, at least for the short term. Sen. Tim Knopp, a Republican from Bend, has repeatedly introduced pension reform bills, including this session . He was also behind measure that voters approved in 2000, enshrining the kicker in Oregons Constitution. In an interview Thursday, Knopp reiterated a point he has made previously, saying the kicker is the only spending control, essentially, you have on state government at this point. Although Knopp did not rule out that he might support diverting the kicker, he said it should be part of broader conversations about PERS reform, structural spending reform, cost containment and revenue reform. Oregon's kicker rebate is triggered when tax revenues for a two-year budget cycle come in more than 2 percent above economists' forecast made at the start of the cycle. The Legislature can hold onto that kicker money by passing a bill on a two-thirds majority vote. But lawmakers have historically been reluctant to do so except in a handful of cases: 1991 for the personal income kicker and 1993 and 2007 for the corporate income kicker, according to the Legislative Revenue Office. Achieving a two-thirds majority vote would require Senate Democrats to get the support of their entire caucus, which would not be a foregone conclusion given the political sensitivity of getting between voters and a tax credit. House Bill 2170 would allow Oregon to hold onto the kicker by retroactively resetting the states personal income tax revenue estimate for 2017-19 to $17.8 billion, up from the $17.1 billion estimate on which the current budget was built. Since $17.8 billion is state economists latest revenue prediction from November, it would likely allow the state to avoid paying out a kicker. Another bill introduced this session, Senate Joint Resolution 3 , would refer a measure to voters asking them to amend the Oregon Constitution to send future kicker rebates into a rainy day fund for schools. Some business leaders appear to be onboard: At an event in Portland in December, Oregon Business Council Vice President Jeremy Rogers told attendees that polling has shown roughly 60 percent of respondents would support such a measure , and lawmakers could refer the question to voters in the May 2019 election. In 2018, the legislature created two funds to help offset increasing pension costs for public employers. The first one is dedicated to schools, and the second would provide a 25 percent match for any employer who makes a qualifying lump-sum payment to a side account with PERS. Thats the fund that would receive the one-time kicker diversion. Neither fund, however, has been capitalized. The school fund is expected to receive an $11.5 million transfer this year from interest on unclaimed property from the Department of State Lands. So far thats its only funding, though Browns recommended budget did include an additional $100 million appropriation. Thats not enough to make a noticeable difference in schools pension costs. On average, schools will be making PERS contributions during the next two years equal to 29 percent of their payroll costs on average, excluding any credit from side accounts theyve established. Offsetting 1 percentage point of those rates would require a balance of $435 million in the school district fund, according to PERS. So far, the only identified source of revenue for the employer incentive fund is a portion of the state tax revenue generated by repatriation of corporate profits due to recent changes in the federal tax code. Those revenues are not expected until after July 1, 2021, and they may only amount to tens of millions of dollars - inadequate to offset much PERS costs. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Ted Sickinger | tsickinger@oregonian.com | 503-221-8505 | @tedsickinger Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. SALEM The federal government needs to send more resources to do more forest thinning on public lands in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday as she searches for ways to stem wildfires that are getting bigger and more dangerous. One possible option Brown said she would consider is allowing some fires to burn, but keeping them away from populated areas, as well as prescribed burns and increased thinning. "Fire is an instrumental part of maintaining a landscape, a healthy landscape," Brown told reporters in a conference call. But she is being cautious about the approach, citing a megafire in 2017 that wasn't immediately snuffed out and that threatened the town of Brookings on the southern Oregon coast. "I still feel the pain of the Chetco Bar fire," she said, referring to the blaze that scorched 190,000 acres over several months. Wildfire experts like John Bailey, an Oregon State University professor of silviculture and fire management, say fires make forests more fire-resilient and healthy. They advocate using prescribed burns more aggressively. As part of her efforts, Brown announced Wednesday an executive order establishing the Oregon Wildfire Response Council, tasked with evaluating the current response system to large fires. "We have to re-examine how we fight fire," Brown said Thursday, noting the current model has been used for a century. She said federal public lands have been mismanaged for many years. Since the 1970s, there has been little timber harvesting on federal lands, with a resulting increase of 57 percent more standing timber in the United States than existed in 1953, according to a study by Donald Healy, a forestry expert from Lynnwood, Washington, who formerly worked for wood products company Boise Cascade. He said the situation has "set the stage for disastrous forest fires." The council Brown established is to make recommendations in September on the future of Oregon's wildfire response infrastructure. She said Democrats and Republicans will be members as well as Native Americans, and that it will ramp up quickly. If its recommendations require changes in state law, legislation could be prepared for the Legislature in time for its 2020 session, Brown said. Some recommendations could be handled by executive order, though determining funding could take a year or two. Council chairman Matt Donegan should also make sure federal partners are fully engaged, Brown said. The U.S. Forest Service doesn't currently dedicate enough resources to properly thin national forests, Brown complained in the conference call. U.S. Forest Service land comprises about 14 million acres in Oregon, or roughly one-quarter of the state. Brown and the governors of California and Washington state wrote President Donald Trump on Jan. 8 about the issue. "The federal government is a major landowner and a critical partner in preventing, fighting, and recovering from wildfires," Brown, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told Trump. They asked the president to double the investment for managing federal forests in the three states, noting that the federal forest management budgets have remained flat in recent years. Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr., of Grants Pass, said he's encouraged by the governor's actions. "This is a great first step, but we need to take a serious look at how we manage our forests, including creating a long term 100-year plan to prevent these massive fires from occurring in the first place," Baertschiger said. The Associated Press A 24-year-old prison inmate died Tuesday at Oregon State Penitentiary. The Oregon Department of Corrections hasnt released any details about how Shawn H. Hutchison died. The agency announced his death Thursday. Hutchison was sentenced to prison in June 2011 after being convicted in Marion County for third-degree assault and aggravated harassment. His earliest release date was in February 2035. Since being sentenced to prison, Hutchison has either been convicted of or accused in several attacks on corrections officers, Oregon court records show. Hutchison had 10 years added to his initial prison sentence after pleading guilty in Malheur County Circuit Court in November 2017 to attempted aggravated murder. He admitted to stabbing a Snake River Correctional Institution prison guard with a shank eight months earlier, court records show. Up until his death, Hutchison was facing charges in four other cases. Hutchison was accused of injuring two corrections officers at Oregon State Penitentiary in July 2017, having another weapon at the prison in December 2017 and using a weapon to injure a third corrections officer as well as trying to hurt two others at the prison in May, according to court records. He is also suspected of burning a mattress at the prison in August. In a form asking a Marion County judge to approve restraints for Hutchison during an April 2018 court appearance, a county deputy described Hutchison as exhibiting assaultive behavior and cannot be trusted unrestrained. The man was being held in a maximum security unit at the time, the deputy wrote, and fears of being assaulted himself so (he) feels he has to be the first to assault. The judge approved the request. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. The Lower Columbia River Chief Petty Officer Association extends our members gratitude to the entire North Coast. The communitys residents embraced our chapter with donations that we were able to distribute to families associated with Coast Guard units in southern Washington including Grays Harbor, Cape Disappointment and Kennewick, and northern Oregon communities including Garibaldi and Portland, as well as right here in the Astoria/Warrenton/Seaside area. The shutdown event and this communitys response has defined what Coast Guard City really means. North Coast residents rallied behind the chapter with its generous financial donations as well as tremendous support for the Be the Light Food Pantry, all in the name of assisting our Coasties during the government shutdown. The association used your donations to provide immediate grants for recipients to pay bills and gift cards to Coast Guard members who needed help making ends meet. With the continuing resolution signed for the next three weeks, we are cautiously optimistic that things will return to normal. Ever in the shadow of stalled legislation, if the government remains unfunded the chapter will continue to work to provide Coast Guard members and other federal employees in need grants and donations to assist them as we continuing to serve the public. The vision of the Lower Columbia River Chief Petty Officer Association is to continue to represent the richest traditions of service through assisting active duty Coast Guard members in difficult situations, as well as integrating and interfacing with our North Coast community through fundraising projects, donations to community organizations, continued support to local schools and funding our established scholarship at Clatsop Community College. There are so many businesses and residents that we want to thank, and we will work towards that individually in the near term. For the community, I extend our deepest thank you from the chapter. Your support for our group is appreciated. My most sincere thank you to our community! Senior Chief Matthew Gerber Gerber is president of the Lower Columbia River Chief Petty Officer Association By Aliza B. Kaplan and Venetia L. Mayhew Kaplan is a professor at Lewis & Clark Law School and director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic. Mayhew is the staff attorney of the clinics clemency project. As attorneys who regularly work on clemency cases, we meet and work with fully rehabilitated, genuinely remorseful and capable Oregon men and women every week who currently pass their lives in prison, often with no end in sight. This is largely because they were convicted of crimes that carry long mandatory sentences under Measure 11 that neither courts nor the Oregon Department of Corrections have the power to shorten for good behavior. They, their families, and our communities suffer greatly as a consequence. Gov. Kate Brown can ease this problem by commuting the sentences of people who have worked hard in prison to turn their lives around and who, but for the current system that rejects releasing people based upon their rehabilitation, would be home already. We implore her to do so. As a progressive governor, she should be committed to reducing the impact of mass incarceration. When Oregonians voted in Measure 11 in 1994, the United States was over a decade into President Reagans tough-on-crime policies that created our current mass-incarceration crisis. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, media-hyped narratives such as the now-discredited rise of youthful super-predators stoked peoples fears of out-of-control crime rates. States followed the federal governments lead by passing their own punitive sentencing reforms. Adhering to Reagans philosophy that rehabilitation did not work, prison sentences were designed to incapacitate people for as long as possible. Since 1982, the number of incarcerated people nationally has quadrupled, according to U.S. Justice Department statistics. Oregons Measure 11, designed with an identical goal in mind, was described by the architects of the measure as warehousing those implicated. Warehousing is indeed what we did. But, as so many families in this state now know to their detriment, Measure 11 cast a very wide net. In 1994, there were just over 6,000 people incarcerated in Oregon; now the number hovers around 15,000 people. Each month the Oregon Department of Corrections takes in more people than it lets out. Despite a campaign that focused on incapacitating repeat offenders, Measure 11 has resulted in huge increases of incarcerated youth and vast numbers of first-time offenders mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children. Our prisons are overflowing, the waste of human potential is a tragedy, and the suffering of the often-forgotten victimsthe children and families of incarcerated people persists. The societal costs are huge, but so are the financial costs that are imposed on Oregon taxpayers, and it is becoming more and more expensive. The math is simple long mandatory sentences result in a rapidly aging prison population who become increasingly expensive to incarcerate. For instance, per-inmate prison health care costs increased 245 percent between 2001 and 2008 and its medical budget now stands at 15% of the Department of Corrections entire budget for the biennium. What makes this so frustrating is the fact that recidivism rates of the elderly are almost non-existent; yet aside from the governors intervention, there is no pathway for release for the old or sick who were convicted under Measure 11. The governor is the only person with the power to grant early release to people who were convicted under Measure 11. The Oregon Constitution gives the governor broad powers to grant mercy to all people convicted of crimes except treason. Early governors used the power liberally often releasing large percentages of the entire prison population annually for reasons such as rehabilitation, doubt as to their guilt, the needs of their families, and the advocacy of judges, jurors and prosecutors who felt their sentences were too long. They did so because the system provided no other avenue for relief. Gov. Brown, please help end mass incarceration by showing mercy on the many people who have demonstrated their commitment to transformation while incarcerated. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state Legislature had the legal authority in 2017 to pass a law that reduced prison sentences for some repeatedly convicted thieves. In doing so, the high court rejected arguments that the Legislature undermined the will of voters, who passed Ballot Measure 57 in 2008 to lock up some repeat burglars, car thieves and identity thieves for longer terms. Although the Supreme Court didnt directly rule on his case, Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote sued the state in 2017 over the same issue. Foote contended the Legislatures passage of House Bill 3078 required a two-thirds yes vote but it received only a simple majority. Foote said hes disappointed by the Supreme Courts ruling but will abide by it. We are very concerned that the unique power of Oregons initiative process has been badly damaged by the actions of the Oregon Legislature and the courts decision today, Foote said. And we are further concerned that the strong sentences overwhelmingly passed by the voters in Ballot Measure 57 for repeat felony property offenders will continue to be reduced by the Oregon Legislature. The 2017 law reduces prison sentences for some defendants convicted multiple times of first-degree theft and identity theft. That means that under Measure 57, some of those offenders would have received 18 to 24 months. But under the newer law, the most they can receive is 13 months. Groups including Partnership for Safety & Justice cheered the high courts ruling. They contend the Legislatures bill -- also known as the Safety and Savings Act -- recognized the importance of focusing less on prisons and more on spending money to treat root problems of addiction and mental health that lead to the crimes. This decision affirms what Oregon lawmakers knew when they passed the Safety and Savings Act: our criminal justice system is broken and saddled by laws that were passed decades ago that have ballooned our prison system and not paid enough attention to effective public safety strategies like addiction treatment, mental health services, and crime survivor resources, said Andy Ko, executive director of Partnership for Safety & Justice. Kos organization was a big backer of the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon praised the Supreme Courts decision -- it said for recognizing that lawmakers have the power to change criminal sentencing laws. In this case, it was to avoid the need to build a second womens prison in the state, said David Rogers, executive director of ACLU of Oregon. There needs to be a give and take between crafting law via the ballot and the Legislature, Rogers said. We need lawmakers to be able to adjust laws passed via ballot measure to ensure the policies remain viable, safe, and effective. The Supreme Court ruled on the criminal case of Santiago Maximo Villan, a 27-year-old man charged in 2017 with first-degree theft in Lincoln County for stealing a camera or camera equipment from a woman. Villan previously had been convicted three times for theft and once for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The prosecutor asked for 22 months in prison -- the sentence called for under Measure 57. But the defense argued that the Legislatures bill applied, calling for 13 months. Lincoln County Circuit Judge Thomas Branford agreed with the prosecution. The two sides, however, ultimately agreed that Villan would be allowed to enter HOPE Court, a probation program that focuses on treating property offenders for their addictions and paying back victims for their monetary losses. The high court ruled that Branfords interpretation of the law -- that the 22-month sentence applied -- was wrong. Read the Supreme Courts ruling here. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. A judge on Friday heard more requests from prosecutors and defense attorneys about what they can present to jurors during the trial of Jeremy Christian, accused of fatally stabbing two men on a MAX train and seriously injuring a third. Christian is charged with the aggravated murders of Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche in the May 2017 attack. A five-week trial is scheduled for June and July in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Christian, 36, sat calmly during the two-hour hearing and refrained from making any explosive statements as he had early in the case. A sister of Namkai-Meches attended the proceedings -- essentially an extension of an October hearing when Judge Cheryl Albrecht heard dozens of requests about what should be allowed at trial. Albrecht didnt make any decisions Friday about which defense or prosecution motions to permit. Christians defense attorneys renewed arguments that they believe the death penalty is unconstitutional and fraught with problems and that the judge shouldnt allow jurors to consider it as a possibility for Christian if hes found guilty. Defense lawyers also asked the judge to let them argue that Christian was experiencing an extreme emotional disturbance -- that he was so overcome by emotion at the time of the stabbings that he couldnt control himself. Although defense attorney Greg Scholl noted the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court have said extreme emotional disturbance cant be used as a defense to aggravated murder charges, he said those courts have gotten that wrong time and time again. Meanwhile, prosecutors asked the judge to allow jurors to hear statements that Christian made to police about his views on his use of violence during an armed robbery of a convenience store in 2002. Prosecutors also asked that jurors be allowed to hear about Christian being diagnosed years ago with anti-social personality disorder. The judge didnt say when shell announce her rulings. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. A 9-year-old Vancouver boy infected with measles wasnt vaccinated because his parents feared he would have an allergic reaction, the boys father said this week. The case is one of 41 infections in a monthlong outbreak in the Vancouver area that has spread to Oregon. Clark County has among the lowest vaccination rates in Washington. Health officials havent identified the source of the outbreak or any connections between those infected. Most of those with the measles are unvaccinated children, spurring a push by infectious disease specialists to encourage parents to vaccinate their kids. Washington allows parents to opt out if they have religious, philosophical or medical reasons. In this case, the father agreed to an interview to help illuminate the issue and explain his familys situation. He asked not to be named for medical confidentiality reasons. The boys father, in his 40s, moved from Kyrgyzstan to Washington with his wife and two daughters in 2002. The boy and another daughter were born in the United States. The family isnt opposed to vaccines, the father said, pointing out that all three of the boys sisters are vaccinated. The boy has had severe hay fever, he said, and the family feared that getting him vaccinated would make him feel worse. The father said hell get the boy vaccinated going forward and wasnt aware of the seriousness of the disease. Of course I regret this happened. One always thinks, Better that I get sick than my child, he said. Public Exposure Locations: Map by David Cansler. Source: Clark County Public Health. The vast majority of vaccine exemptions in Clark County schools are for personal or philosophical reasons, Washington immunization data show. Medical exemptions are usually limited to children undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments that weaken their immune systems, according to public health officials. Vaccines pose no risk to children with hay fever, said Dawn Nolt, an expert in child infections at Oregon Health and Science University. Some children are allergic to components in vaccines, but having an allergy to pollen doesnt mean a child is any more likely to be allergic to a vaccine, she said. Measles is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. An infection can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and blindness. Out of every 1,000 people infected with the virus, one to two die. The vaccine is 97 percent effective and can reduce the risk of infection if received within 72 hours of exposure to the virus. Its unclear if the boy infected anybody else. People can transmit the disease starting about four days before the measles rash first appears and up to about five days after. The boy went to school for one day before he started feeling sick, his parents said. That was four days before they first saw a rash on his face. Andrey Dolbinin, director of the Vancouver private school Slavic Christian Academy, said none of the other students at the school have gotten sick, including the four children in the boys class who he said are unvaccinated. The father said he doesnt know where or when the boy caught the virus but pointed to a Dec. 23 gathering at the Church of Truth as a possibility. The pentecostal church had an event for kids that day, he said, where children watched plays depicting scenes from the Bible. Clark County Public Health listed the Church of Truth as a possible exposure site for anyone who went there on Saturday, Jan. 6. More than 50 places, including Portland International Airport, 15 schools and child care centers, and a Trail Blazers game are on the list. The family rarely left the house during the holidays, the father said, except for a few shopping trips and an outing to an empty park on Mount Hood. The boy went to Slavic Christian Academy for the first school day of the year on Jan. 7, then started feeling unwell, his father said. The boy was feeling weak, he said, and the family decided to keep him home. At the time, the family assumed he had a cold or the flu. On Jan. 11, the parents saw a rash on the boys face. The mother had rubella as a child, and they assumed thats what their son had. They didnt take him to the hospital or immediately consult with a doctor, treating him at home instead. Rubella, also called German measles, has milder symptoms and is less infectious than measles. The boy spent most of his time in bed sleeping. The parents would take turns reading aloud to him, the father said, including childrens stories by Leo Tolstoy and stories based on the Bible for children. The parents took the boy to a doctor Jan. 17 because he had a temperature around 104 degrees and a severe cough. The doctors took a blood sample and called back two days later to say that the boy had measles but was no longer contagious. The boy stayed home another week to fully recover and went back to school this week. Molly Harbarger contributed to this report. Do you know how this outbreak started? Get in touch. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakota is sending an emergency response team to assist in efforts to control an escalating measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest. The North Dakota Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response will deploy a five-member unit to relieve existing members of the Washington state response group, the Bismarck Tribune reported. "We are pleased to assist with this serious public health emergency," said Tim Wiedrich, Emergency Preparedness and Response's section chief. "Our participation not only assists Washington but also strengthens our North Dakota response capabilities." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Jan. 25 because of the measles outbreak. Public health officials in the state have confirmed 43 measles cases mostly clustered in southwest Washington, including 41 identified by Clark County. Most patients were under 10 and not immunized. Public health authorities recommend that all children be vaccinated against the extremely contagious viral illness at ages 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years. Washington submitted a request for the specialized team through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The mutual aid agency enables a disaster-impacted state to request and receive aid from other member states swiftly and efficiently. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact has been ratified by the federal government in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Washington will reimburse North Dakota's expenses as outlined in the agency's request. -- The Associated Press A handful of deep-water oarfish have recently washed up in Japan or been caught in local fishing nets. The conclusion many social-media users in that country have reached: Its time to head for high ground. "This is no doubt evidence of a precursor to an earthquake, one Twitter post offered. In Japan, sightings of the large, snake-like oarfish are believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes and tsunamis, CNN reports. The fish supposedly head for the oceans surface or beach themselves when a major underwater earthquake is brewing, the idea being that the deep-water fish are attuned to the quivering of fault lines and act accordingly. Science, however, does not back up the legend. "There is no scientific evidence at all for the theory that oarfish appear around big quakes, said Kazusa Saiba of Japans Uozu Aquarium. But we cannot 100 percent deny the possibility." Kagoshima University ichthyology professor Hiroyuki Motomura told Asia One that oarfish tend to rise to the surface when their physical condition is poor, which is why theyre often discovered washed up on beaches. The oarfish myth reportedly returned to prominence in Japan following news that about a dozen of the fish had been discovered along the countrys shores in the months leading up to the devastating 2011 Fukushima earthquake. A large underwater earthquake in the Pacific Ocean could significantly impact both Japan and Oregon. An estimated magnitude-9 earthquake in 1700 flooded the Oregon coast, causing massive landslides and leveling large sections of forest. Officials in Japan at the time recorded the results of a destructive orphan tsunami. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry PASADENA, CALIFORNIA The ever-expanding Star Trek universe, politically charged satire on The Good Fight and first-season hit shows were among the topics covered during CBS panels at the Television Critics Association 2019 winter press tour. The twice-yearly press tour brings TV stars, writers, executives and producers onstage to talk about new and returning projects and answer questions or not, in some cases posed by journalists and critics. On the second day of the tour, CBS, CBS All Access and Pop TV all presented panels. Here are some highlights: CBS freshman hits: While the network has been undergoing off-camera strife involving sexual misconduct allegations leveled at network producers, performers and former network chief Les Moonves, most of the focus during CBSs TCA day was on the networks successes. That included sessions featuring stars of FBI, The Neighborhood and God Friended Me, enjoying a victory lap after CBS announced all three freshman series have been renewed. But stars of The Neighborhood did respond to a question about whether the network sexual misconduct allegations had an impact on cast and crew of CBS shows. Thank God change is being made, and thank God were talking about it, and thank God that we are addressing it, Tichina Arnold said, adding, I like the fact that CBS is more inclusive. They are more diverse, hey, because Im on it. I made it on CBS, so change is happening. Change is happening for the good. Beth Behrs, who previously appeared on CBS in the sitcom, 2 Broke Girls, said, I was very lucky on 2 Broke Girls. I thought it was an incredible environment always. Kat and I always felt safe with the people we worked with. However, you know, I have always stood with, and will always stand with, survivors of sexual assault. I think its amazing that the conversation is happening, but I still think we have a lot of work to do. Cedric the Entertainer said theyve had group seminars to raise awareness of sexual harassment and misconduct issues. We try to make sure that that we operate in a very respectful set, anyway, he said. We can call it sexual harassment, but in most cases its about one person being more powerful than the other one, and just doing whatever they want to do with that. We try to make sure that this is never the case. The Star Trek universe keeps expanding: The network used Star Trek: Discovery to help build its streaming service, CBS All Access. While more original series are being added, CBS All Access is investing even more in Star Trek-related programming. As Julie McNamara, head of the CBS All Access original content team told journalists, in the services third year, CBS All Access has already launched Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery, with such familiar characters as Capt. Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck). But, as McNamara said, Discovery is not the only Trek series in our arsenal. Were deep in prep on our Picard series which will drop at the end of the year, with animated Lower Decks to follow. Were also developing a series set in Starfleets notorious Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh. Despite what McNamara said may seem like a constant flurry of Star Trek activity, were taking a measured approach to incubating, prepping, and releasing shows in this universe." The fans demand as much, and we take that responsibility seriously, she continued. Each show must stand on its own both in terms of quality, and also by bringing a new point of view to the table. Discovery features premium serialized drama and adventure. Picard will focus more on the next chapter in this beloved characters life. And Lower Decks is an adult appeal comedy from Rick and Morty writer, and lifelong Trekkie, Mike McMahan. These and potential others will only debut when the vision and execution make them undeniable additions to the world and when the pacing feels right. The Good Fight, politics, singing and more: The Good Wife was a standout series for CBS. When it ended, Christine Baranskis Diane Lockhart character was featured in a spinoff, The Good Fight, also created by Robert and Michelle King. In a panel discussion of Season 3, which premieres March 14 on CBS All Access, cast members and the Kings discussed how the show tackles politics during the Trump era, racial and legal issues in Chicago and how The Good Fight characters try to prevail in a post-factual world. King told journalists that theyre subtitling Season 3 the Stormin Season, which is based on what Trump said at the end of last season: This is the calm before the storm. And someone asked, Well, whats the storm? And he said, Youll find out. So, this season is about finding out what that storm is. It involves a lot of thoughts about how much is narrative trumping facts in the world in the present world, and continues some of the thoughts of understanding how the guardrails are coming off for institutions, and what do you do in those circumstances? How does Christine Baranskis character, Diane, fight? What does a resistance look like, given those circumstances? As if that isnt incendiary enough, Season 3 also introduces a new character, Ronald Blum, whos played by Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex). King said the Blum character is really based on Roy Cohn, or the modern version of Roy Cohn, Roger Stone. Blum is a lawyer, King said, who isnt so much interested in liberal or conservative viewpoints. What matters is winning, and how you win and how you get ahead, King said of the Blum character. And he is just like a devil, a Satan within our law firm, trying to encourage people to embrace their id. Sheen said there was something liberating about playing a character who isnt hung up on ethics or morality. Hes disruptive, Sheen said, adding that the Blum character can also be described by all the words that people have been using to describe Roger Stone in the last few days. Its essentially -- what do they call him? Like, the dirty trickster, and that kind of stuff? And so, he is kind of like a trickster figureand you kind of are both drawn to that, and repelled by it, and everyone else has to just deal with (that). It turns the world upside down. Sheen added that he, along with Baranski and cast member Audra McDonald, will also have occasion to sing in Season 3. This season has been changed to Blum! The Musical, Sheen joked. I get to sing the Jacksons Ill Be There. Yeah. It was one of the most terrifying things Ive ever done, but, you know, I think its going to make for historic TV, he added, with humor. McDonald and Baranski, who are both known for their skillful singing voices, will also treat viewers to a tune. We ended up singing Raspberry Beret at some point, McDonald said. We sing while were doing our legal work, Baranski said. And we sing late at night. She sings better than me, Baranski said of McDonald. She knows all the lyrics. I never thought wed be singing a Prince duet on television, McDonald said, but there you have it. The Good Fight has a reputation as a show about liberal characters, but Robert King said the series point of view isnt that simple. Were not real fans of shows that preach to the choir, King said. And I think our show is probably perceived as doing it." He said that, in fact, a lot of the show is a satire of the left, as was a lot of The Good Wife. King said that The Good Fight also deals with racism within the law firm thats at the center of the story. Its really about the people who pat themselves on the back for giving to all the right causes, King said, and how they are really kind of scumbags, too. I dont think its a liberal platform show, Baranski said. I mean, its a show with a lot of people dealing with what is going on. And many of the characters are conservative or Republican. So, its the interaction of the various points of view. Stay tuned for more news and notes from the TCA 2019 winter press tour. -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Portland police must strive to use cover, time and distance to their advantage when responding to potentially violent encounters and staff evaluating police shootings should stop saying that a suspect killed "left the officer with no other option,'' outside consultants say in a report made public Friday. The analysis by the California-based Office of Independent Review Group reviews nine shootings by Portland police from 2014 to 2017, including their deadly encounter with 17-year-old Quanice Hayes, a suspect in an armed robbery. Its the sixth report by the consultants, contracted by the city to examine police shootings and deaths in police custody. Police cornered Hayes on the morning of Feb. 9, 2017, outside a Northeast Portland home. Officers discovered him in an alcove in front of the home and ordered him to keep his hands up and crawl toward them on the driveway. When Hayes appeared to reach toward his waistband, Officer Andrew Hearst said he fired three shots from an AR-15 rifle, according to a transcript of the grand jury investigation. A replica air pistol was found in a flower bed, about 2 feet from Hayes' body, police said. The consultants report concluded officers placed themselves in a dangerous position with no available cover when they confronted the teen who they suspected was armed. Police needed to slow down, find cover for officers and coordinate commands, according to the report. Some officers there that day reported confusing and conflicting orders such as keep your hands up and crawl forward just before Hayes was shot and killed, the analysis noted. Upon discovering Mr. Hayes crouched in the alcove, officers almost immediately began giving him commands to crawl out. An alternative would have been to hold Mr. Hayes at gunpoint in the alcove while conferring with each other about a plan for taking him into custody, the report said. Delaying the subjects move out of the alcove also would have given officers time to coordinate who would be giving him commands. While the bureaus Training Division recognized this, it concluded that the rapidly evolving circumstances left officers with no other options. But the consultants said its "rarely true'' that officers could have done nothing to change the course of events and urged the bureau to explore more deeply whether officers placed themselves in a vulnerable situation "where they felt constrained to use deadly force.'' In the Hayes case, police could have moved back, with guns still pointed at Hayes, and moved a car to the driveway to create cover for officers, for example, the consultants said. Document: OIR Group Report The consultants also cautioned police against frequently relying on the so-called action-reaction principle to justify their shootings and urged the state medical examiners office to avoid finding that someone shot by police died from suicide by cop. They also suggested that the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office take steps to prevent grand jurors from considering highly prejudicial statements from witnesses in reviews of officer-involved shootings. Hearst, the officer who shot Hayes, repeatedly cited the action-reaction principle in explaining why he fired his rifle. Officers are trained that someone can pull a weapon and use it before they can defend themselves - that the initiator of an action has an advantage. One pitfall of law enforcements reliance on the action-reaction principle is that it can easily be misconstrued by officers who may believe they have a mandate to shoot anyone holding a gun or someone who might have a gun and makes a sudden movement, regardless of other tactical alternatives or threat assessment, the report said. We have seen in some agencies where action-reaction has become the justification for almost any use of deadly force. The consultants issued 40 recommendations, and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw said she agreed with all of them. Among some of the other recommendations: -- Video record all interviews by detectives and internal affairs investigators of police and witnesses to officer-involved shootings. (The chief agreed but said this would have to be negotiated with the police unions.) -- Prohibit an officer who is minimally involved in a police shooting or death in custody from also participating as part of the investigative team. -- Dont allow officers who are close relatives to work on the same patrol team or specialized assignment. -- Train officers not to back-step but to sidestep to avoid an approaching, armed suspect. -- Have command staff hold debriefings with officers involved in multiple shootings to identify any potential patterns or pitfalls. In three of the nine shootings reviewed, officers fell while backing away from armed people who were advancing on them with weapons. The stumble or fall put the officers at a significant disadvantage, such as in the 2017 police shooting of Terrell Johnson. Portland police trainers had identified this problem after earlier shootings, but theres no record of any follow-up or additional training for officers, the report said. In the Johnson case, Portland Transit Officer Samuel Ajir quickly retreated when a suspect he had been chasing for about 200 yards suddenly turned around holding a knife. Ajir yelled, Drop the knife! as he backed up and drew his gun. Ajir took two to three steps back when his heel suddenly dropped down on a curb he didnt notice. As Ajir fell, he held his 9mm Glock pistol in both hands. He fired four shots, killing Johnson, 24, who collapsed on top of a folding box cutter knife. Ajir, an eight-year member of the Police Bureau, worked for the Transit Division for three years and was riding with his brother, a Clackamas County sheriffs deputy, when the two responded to the Southeast Portland call at a MAX platform. The consultants also urged outside training for the non-police members of the bureaus Police Review Board, which considers whether police actions in officer-involved shootings adhered to policy and training, and, if not, recommend discipline. Of 50 officer-involved shootings or deaths in police custody between March 2004 and May 2017, three officers were disciplined. One of the three was fired but then reinstated by an arbitrator and given a 120-day suspension instead. The report said the Police Review Board doesnt appear to serve as an independent check on officer performance and noted that few of the Training Divisions recommendations to the board resulting from the consultants' shooting reviews are put into practice. If further tangible results arent seen, the shooting review system may require an overhaul, the consultants said. The consultants will present the report at a community meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall and then to City Council at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The council also will consider extending the consultants $140,000 contract by no more than $60,000 to allow the group to complete a seventh report to analyze more recent police shootings. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian A Multnomah County judge Friday ordered records to remain sealed in the case of a romance mystery novelist suspected of gunning down her chef husband. Documents containing the suspected motive and other evidence used by authorities to charge Nancy Crampton Brophy, 68, with murder will now remain a secret until a scheduled bail hearing in late April more than seven months after her arrest. Crampton Brophy, who published the essay " How to Murder Your Husband " in 2011, was not present when Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Walker issued the decision. Police booked the author last September after they say she fatally shot Daniel Brophy, her husband of 27 years. A beloved instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute, Brophy was found in a kitchen at the school June 2, 2017. The early morning killing yielded no immediate suspects, though investigators eventually zeroed in on his spouse. After Crampton Brophys arrest, Walker, in a rare move, approved a request by prosecutors to seal court documents that typically lay out the case against a defendant. Prosecutors at the time claimed those records, if made public, could jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation. Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet on Friday asked Walker to unseal the records. But public defender Kathleen Dunn requested they remain shielded from public view until her clients bail hearing. Walker granted Dunns request and set the hearing for April 19. With titles such as "The Wrong Husband" and "Hell on the Heart, Crampton Brophy's self-published books featured "rugged men, strong women and a good story," the author wrote on her personal website. Their paperback covers depicted handsome heroes and at least one heroine with chiseled bodies and dark coiffed hair. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 The national president of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club and five other members and associates have been charged with racketeering, kidnapping and murder in a new indictment unsealed Thursday. Under the leadership of national president Kenneth Earl Hause, 61, of Aumsville, also known as the Wiz or Boss, members are accused of wielding their power through intimidation, violence and murder while enriching themselves through extortion, robbery and drug distribution, according to the indictment. The indictment describes members involved in barroom brawls that left people unconscious, brutal assaults of rivals, threats to kill those who talked to police, beatings or torture of club members who got in the crosshairs of club leaders and the distribution of methamphetamine in one members motorcycle saddlebags. In September 2018, Hause is accused of using large rings or brass knuckles to knock out the teeth of a member of the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association. Hause told the man that he had 30 days to shut (the veterans motorcycle club) down and ordered him to no longer wear the Gypsy Joker patches, the government alleges. Hause threatened to kill anyone who reported the assault, the indictment says. On another occasion, investigators allege Hause punched, kicked and stomped a fellow Gypsy Joker with his heavy motorcycle boots, knocking out several of the members teeth and telling him that he was no longer a member of the club. In December 2008, Hause and other members allegedly assaulted people at Portlands Bar 181 after learning that one of the victims had spoken to police about the motorcycle club. They hit one man in the face and struck another over the head with a sap weapon, knocking him out, the indictment says. When a female associate was caught dancing with members of the rival Mongols Motorcycle Club , members of the Gypsy Jokers ordered her assault for disrespecting them, the indictment alleges. Angry with another Gypsy Jokers member, Hause and others are accused of showing up at his home, pushing him down a flight of stairs and then locking him outside in the snow barefoot, the indictment says. Prosecutors had already charged four of the clubs members in the kidnapping and killing of Robert Lee Huggins, 56, in the summer of 2015 "to maintain and advance their positions in the Gypsy Joker Outlaw motorcycle gang, '' according to court records. Huggins' body was found by loggers on July 1, 2015, minutes after it was dumped in a Clark County field. He had a fractured skull, a broken rib, a broken leg, a removed nipple, nails driven through his boots, slash wounds to his back and face and many blows to his face. Police believe Huggins was the target of a revenge killing. Police said the defendants acted together to kidnap Huggins from a Southeast Portland home by knocking him on the head with a hard object and zip-tying him. They are accused of killing him on a rural property near Woodland, Washington, then dumping his body in a field near Ridgefield, Washington. Police and prosecutors contend the men were seeking revenge against Huggins for burglarizing the Woodburn home of Portlands Gypsy Jokers president, Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, and tying Dencklaus girlfriend to a chair at gunpoint in June 2015. Under the new indictment, Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, of Gresham; Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, of Gresham; Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, of Battle Ground, Washington; and an unnamed defendant are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death. Fisher, Negrinelli and Folkerts entered not guilty pleas to the new indictment in U.S. District Court in Portland on Thursday afternoon. Once arrested, investigators discovered jail notes passed between Dencklau and Fisher that helped tie them further to Huggins killing, according to prosecutors. Fisher had handwritten notes that he shared with Dencklau while behind bars discussing the 2015 beating of Huggins, the taking of his property and his killing, according to the indictment. Dencklau wrote to Fisher, If were both hoping to be in a situation where we can testify in front of the jury, our testimony needs to be similar. Dencklau also cautioned Fisher to make sure the letters were destroyed and gotten rid of." "The last thing we need is something like that coming back to haunt us, he wrote. One of the accused, Tiler Evan Pribbernow, already pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. He was an associate of the Gypsy Jokers through his membership in the Road Brothers Northwest Motorcycle Club, according to court records. Hes set for sentencing Feb. 13. The Gypsy Jokers had a clubhouse on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and allowed in only white men 21 or older who had American-made bikes. They call themselves a One Percent bike club, referencing an old motorcyclist maxim that 99 percent of bikers abide by the law while the other 1 percent are outlaws. They stitched the 1% patches on their jackets or tattooed the sign on their bodies. Kenneth Hause is the leader of a criminal organization that, through its many chapters and support clubs, has sowed violence and intimidation throughout the Pacific Northwest, Oregons U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said in a statement. This is an organization whose members and associates pride themselves on living outside the law and use kidnapping, assault, murder and other forms of violence to extend and maintain their power. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian A Reed College senior went to federal court to urge a judge to temporarily halt a campus judicial hearing on a complaint that he sexually assaulted another student who was too intoxicated to provide consent. The 21-year-old student, identified as John Doe, contends the college mishandled the complaint, allowing a disciplinary hearing on a nearly 3-year-old stale allegation, violating Title IX's "promise of prompt resolution of grievances.'' He also argued that Reeds administration was biased against him because hes male and failed to consider text messages he received from the complaining student, including one sent the morning after that said, Ty (thank you) 4 spending da night. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon denied the students request for a preliminary injunction to stop the hearing before Reeds Judicial Board, but the case and the courtroom arguments gave a local focus to the national discussion of how colleges handle sexual assault and harassment allegations under Title IX. The student who complained had alerted campus authorities less than a year after the 2016 encounter. The alleged victim, who represents as binary, is referred to as Jane Roe in court records. The college countered that its investigation supports the allegation, and the student who complained less than a year after the 2016 alleged assault has a right to a hearing before the colleges Judicial Board. It took time for two campus investigators to locate and interview witnesses, then more time passed as Doe appealed the initial findings, according to the colleges attorney. It is not a hardship to permit the college to proceed with what is required under its policies to allow Jane Roe to request a hearing for a wrong alleged to have been committed, particularly when the investigative process has found substantial evidence that such a wrong did occur, argued Paula A. Barran, representing Reed. John Doe took the stand in federal court, telling the judge hes been harassed, ostracized from certain campus social events and perceived as essentially a monster already. His attorney, Susan C. Stone, said hes lived in complete and total paralysis and fear, not knowing until last month -- more than 2 years later -- if his accuser would pursue a formal complaint that would spur a Judicial Board hearing that could lead to his expulsion. Reed Colleges culture, Stone said, is different than that of most other colleges, describing it as a place where males are vilified and treated as perpetrators if theres any perception of having done something offensive to a woman. Stone argued that Reed has overreacted and violated her clients rights as a result. The two students had been in a relationship that started their first year of college in September 2015. The alleged assault occurred on the night of April 22 or 23 in 2016 when John Doe met up with Jane Roe after she had attended a play and sometime later, drove her back to Roes dormitory, according to court records. After their relationship ended, Jane Roe reported to the college in August 2016 multiple instances of alleged nonconsensual sex with Doe. About three weeks later, John Doe filed his own report with the college, alleging Jane Doe sexually harassed and abused him. The investigation by the schools Community Safety Office, according to court testimony, found sufficient evidence that John Doe had sexual intercourse with Jane Roe when Roe was extremely intoxicated and couldnt have consented, based on statements from Roe and witnesses who had seen Roe that night. The investigation found John Does explanations werent credible. Investigators also found in a separate investigation that Jane Doe engaged in relationship abuse of John Doe. John Doe last March appealed the finding to the colleges Vice President Michael A. Brody, who serves as the schools Title IX coordinator. Doe presented hundreds of text messages he had exchanged with his ex, including the one Jane Roe sent him the morning after the sexual encounter and a polygraph exam he had taken. Brody affirmed the earlier finding, ruling that Jane Roe was severely intoxicated that night and incapable of giving consent to have sex. John Doe told Brady that he believed Roe had sobered up sufficiently to consent to have sex, but he couldnt describe how he got Roes consent, according to Reed College. The college maintained a no-contact order between the two students but took no further steps until Jane Roe turned her report into a formal complaint on Dec. 10. John Doe argued that Reed shouldnt have allowed Jane Roe an open-ended amount of time to file a formal complaint. Ive already been investigated. To go through it again, a year later seems unfair because undoubtedly my memory has faded and that seems to work to the advantage of Jane, he testified. His lawyer said the absence of any deadlines set by Reed College for making a formal complaint created a hostile environment for her client as his future hung in the balance. Barran, the colleges attorney, said Reed has an obligation to investigate sexual assault allegations and considers that traumatized survivors of sexual violence may not report allegations immediately. The investigators did what they could do to get to the bottom of it, she said. The Judicial Board hearing, which is closed to the public, is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Portland shipbuilder Vigor Industrial will build a new class of U.S. Army landing craft in Vancouver, a 10-year, $1 billion project that could create 300 new jobs. Vigor confirmed the news Friday. The company said it will move aluminum-based operations in Seattle and Clackamas to the Christensen Shipyards site just east of downtown Vancouver. Vigor said it eventually expects to employ 400 at the site. It plans to begin some production there in May and start building a prototype of the Army craft sometime this summer. Vigor had been deliberating for several months over whether it would build the ships in Portland or Seattle, with both communities offering unspecified financial incentives to lure the company. Ultimately, though, Vigor passed over both cities. The company said it saw a chance to consolidate its aluminum operations in a single location. It chose Vancouver because of its proximity to existing Vigor operations in Oregon and because the Christensen facility was especially suitable for shipbuilding. While weve had operations in Vancouver since 1980, this move represents a substantial increase in the number of Vigor employees who will be living and working here, Vigor chief executive Frank Foti said in a written statement. Vigor said it will buy the Christensen site but declined to disclose the purchase price. Christensen, a luxury yachtbuilder, entered receivership in 2015 and shut down. Operations subsequently resumed there under a new company, Christensen Shipyards, but Vigor said the current occupant will vacate the property later this year. Vigor has 2,300 employees in several locations, including its Portland headquarters and a 60-acre shipyard on Swan Island. Vigor said 50 to 60 jobs will move from Clackamas to Vancouver the two sites are 18 miles apart. More than 400 other Clackamas employees will continue working at that site. Additionally, Vigor will move 25 jobs currently in Vancouver to its main facility on Swan Island. Additionally, Vigor said it will ask 50 employees working in Seattles Ballard neighborhood to relocate to Vancouver. The company said those unwilling to move will have opportunities with Vigors Harbor Island facility, just south of downtown Seattle. Our team worked intently with Vigor to find a competitive solution to keep these jobs in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement. Im glad to see the continued success of one of our great corporate citizens contributing to our economy by creating living wage jobs in Vancouver. Past correspondence with the city of Portland indicated Vigor was seeking training for aluminum welders, permitting assistance and financial incentives. Vancouver said Friday it offered no specific incentives but said Vigor had indicated it may want a city dock at the site extended in the future and the city said it is open to doing that. Additionally, the Christensen site is in a federal opportunity zone, which could provide tax savings. Washingtons state Commerce Department said it is still talking about possible incentives for Vigor. One option, the department said, could be a grant from an economic development fund the governor administrers. Vigors Army contract calls for building a "tribow monohull landing craft to improve maneuverability and stability in high seas. Vigor is to build at least 36 of the landing craft over at least a decade of work. Clark County has historically trailed the rest of the Portland metro area in economic activity, but long-awaited commercial and residential development of its riverfront could change that. And, like the rest of the region, employment has surged during the long economic expansion. Clark Countys jobless rate was 5.0 percent in December, near the lowest point since the 1990s. The December unemployment rate across the metro area was 3.8 percent. This article has been updated with Vigors confirmation of its plan and additional detail. It has also been corrected to note that only Vigors aluminum operations are closing in Clackamas. Other operations will continue there. -- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 At the end of the first month of the measles outbreak, Clark County Public Health officials have identified 41 people who have contracted the disease. Thats a three-person jump from Wednesday. The number of suspected cases -- ones in which public health officials have identified people with measles symptoms but must wait on bloodwork to confirm the diagnosis -- also rose to 15. The numbers indicate that the outbreak is picking up steam. Public health officials also announced a new elementary school as a site where people might have been exposed to the disease. Because the child would have exposed other people to measles during an after-school activity, all staff and students at Minnehaha Elementary School who have not been vaccinated are asked to stay away from the school. Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th St., Vancouver from 3:45 to 7:45 pm Thursday, Jan. 17. Nearly all of the cases are of people who have not been vaccinated against the disease. Thirty cases are children 10 years old or younger. Only one is an adult. One person has been hospitalized. The highly contagious virus spreads through the air and can linger for up to two hours in an isolated space. People who have never received a measles vaccine are susceptible to the disease, which can be deadly. The measles vaccine is 97 percent effective and can reduce the risk of infection if gotten within 72 hours after exposure to the virus. The public health department has spent nearly $187,000 so far on investigating and limiting the spread of the outbreak. To further limit the spread of the virus, health officials ask that people who think they might have measles call their doctor or health care provider before visiting a hospital or doctors office. Washington State Department of Health keeps track of residents immunization status so people can see if they need shots. Clark County Public Health also now maintains a daily call center for questions about the outbreak at 360-397-8021. Dr. Richard Leman of the Oregon Health Authority discusses vaccinations and the Vancouver-area measles outbreak. Posted by The Oregonian on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Agency Main Content Continuity of Operations (COOP) Business Continuity Management (BCM) addresses all aspects of business continuity and emergency management for the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). Background Checks The Background Check Unit provides background check services and support to all ODHS and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) divisions for employment purposes, for those who provide services or seek to provide services as a contractor, subcontractor, vendor or volunteer, or are employed by qualified entities that provide care and are licensed, certified, registered or otherwise regulated by ODHS or OHA. Contracts & Procurement Doing Business with ODHS The Department of Human Services, Office of Contracts and Procurement (OC&P) is responsible for purchasing and contracting for services, equipment and supplies. OC&P provides statewide contract and procurement services for the ODHS and some of its partners. The OC&P team accomplishes this by employing a skilled and diverse workforce which is committed to providing exceptional quality service to our employees, partners and vendors. Visit the OC&P website to find more information about doing business with ODHS. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) program helps to provide interpreters for clients that are members of the deaf, deaf-blind, or hard-of-hearing communities. Financial Recovery Financial recovery comprises several programs under the Office of Payment Accuracy and Recovery (OPAR) that collect money from individuals, the estates of people who received certain DHS services, institutions and others. Forecasting, Research and Analysis The Office of Forecasting, Research and Analysis (OFRA) supports ODHS and OHA by providing accurate, timely, unbiased caseload forecasts, and related research and analysis to support budgeting, policy development and operational planning. Explosive growth on Food Service Restaurant Market Industry 2019 Business Overview, Forecast to 2026 and key profile : McDonald's, Yum! Brands, Subway https://www.qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=105767 https://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount?report-id=105767 http://qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying?report-id=105767 www.qyreports.com Announces the statistical report titled as a global Food Service Restaurant market to its massive repository. It has been employed by using primary and secondary research methodologies. It offers a detailed analysis of the global Food Service Restaurant market on the basis of different terminologies such as Food Service Restaurant Base year considered for the study is Food Service Restaurant and forecast period is Food Service Restaurant Different strategies which have been adopted by multiple key players are stated in the research report. It is expected to grow at Food Service Restaurant in the near future.The Food Service Restaurant research is an Hotel research report to provide the proper guidelines in the businesses. Business strategies to improve the performance of the businesses have been included in the research report.The market was divided into food service sector and distribution channel. The total consumer food service market is divided into full service restaurants, fast food restaurants, coffee shops / bars, pizza services for the house, street stalls, kiosks, self catering restaurants and home delivery restaurants.Sample copy of this Report @:Global Food Service Restaurant Forecast till 2026*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are McDonald's, Yum! Brands, Subway, Seven & I, Burger King, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Dunkin' Donuts, Sonic Drive-In, Papa John's, Dairy Queen, Little Caesars & China Quanjude.The catering service, and whisked away are the increasing trends in the food service restaurant sector (FSR) in the United States. The US food restaurant market is expected to record a CAGR of +11% during the forecast period from 2019-2026. The United States is the second largest market for catering services, worldwide, because of the increased culture of eating out of the home.The global food service market is mostly driven by increased global disposable income. This leads to an increase in consumer spending on eating out and taking home catering services. Engaging technological advances, such as online payment and launching mobile phone applications in the restaurant market, makes the process hassle-free and more convenient for customers. Customer loyalty programs tend to change the relationship with the market over a decadeThe table service is a serving service served to the customer table by waiters and bartenders, also known as "servers". Table service is common in most restaurants, while the fast food counter service is a common form. With the table service, the customer generally pays the end of the meal.Get Discount on This Premium Report @:Reasons to Purchase this ReportAnalyzing outlook of the market with the recent trends and Porters five forces analysisMarket dynamics, which essentially consider the factors, which are impelling the present market scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to comeMarket segmentation analysis, including qualitative & quantitative research incorporating the impact of economic & non-economic aspectsCompetitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the key strategies adopted for development in the past five yearsFor More Information:Global Food Service Restaurant market have been fragmented across the several segments such as Food Service Restaurant It also offers analysis of segments based on various terminologies.Regional outlook: According to Market the global Food Service Restaurant market has been examined across the globe. North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe have been examined on the basis of different business terminologies. Finally, researchers throws light of data analysis technologies such as SWOT and Porters five analysis.We at QYReports(qyreports.com), a leading market research report publisher cater to more than 4,000 prestigious clients worldwide meeting their customized research requirements in terms of market data size and its application. Our list of customers include renouned Chinese companies multinational companies, SMEs and private equity firms. our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering you accurate, in depth and reliable market insight, industry analysis and structure. QYReports specialize in forecasts needed for investing in an and execution of a new project globally and in Chinese markets.QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com Future Growth of Automotive Gesture Recognition Market Global Analysis by Key Players - Harman International, Delphi Automotive PLC, Sony Depthsensing Solutions, Melexis, Continental AG, and eyeSight Technologies Ltd https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/871728/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/871728/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/automotive-gesture-recognition-market/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com/blog The automotive gesture recognition Market research report assembled by Market Study Report, LLC, provides a succinct analysis on the recent market trends. In addition, the report offers a thorough abstract on the statistics, market estimates and revenue forecasts, which further highlights its position in the industry, in tandem with the growth strategies adopted by leading industry players.Increasing vehicles demand with technologically advanced features including enhanced navigation and gesture-based infotainment systems are expanding the automotive gesture recognition market over the forecast timeframe. Incorporation of advanced sensors and electronics into the vehicles for improving the overall driving experience will further expand the business penetration till 2024.Request a sample of this premium report at:Few of the players in the automotive gesture recognition market place include Harman International, Delphi Automotive PLC, Sony Depthsensing Solutions, Melexis, Continental AG, and eyeSight Technologies Ltd. Other notable players include Texas Instruments, Intel, Visteon Corporation, and Synaptics Incorporated. Industry participant are continuously innovating their product portfolio and introducing innovative technologies for gaining edge over the competition. For instance, in 2017, Continental AG launched an advanced HMI system that enable superior haptip feedback, multi-finegr gestures, and handwriting capabilities, positively influencing their industry share till 2024.Increasing adoption of electronic components in vehicles for complying to stringent government norms associated with vehicle safety and emission are supporting the industry expansion. Usage of gestures for controlling various operations within vehicles including changing music, answering phone calls, and control the navigation are further strengthening the industry growth.Industry participants are continuously investing in R&D to improve the gestures and improve the overall efficiency of the system for enhancing the overall driving experience. For instance, Hyundai is working on an eye-tracking based gesture control system for its HCD-14 vehicle. Further, the system allows for easier control of multiple operations including smartphone connectivity, audio control, infotainment and HVAC operations, positively influencing the automotive gesture recognition market share.Higher costs associated with the acquisition and maintenance of these systems may hamper the automotive gesture recognition market growth over the projected timeframe. Further, the requirement for high precision sensors and components for detecting gestures under diversified lighting conditions may limit its adoption till 2024. However, industry participants are introducing low cost solutions for budget vehicles for increasing the system demand, lowering the overall cost and meeting the economies of scale.Automotive gesture recognition market share form touch-based systems accounted for the highest volume share at around 69% in 2017. This dominance is attributed to the increasing usage of such systems in multiple models across various price range. Proliferating usage of capacitive touch screens for controlling multiple car features including music control, phone connectivity, and HVAC controls further strengthens the business expansion.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Hand or fingerprint authentication was valued at over USD 1,400 Million in 2017. This dominance is credited to the proliferating usage of these systems owing to easier operation and incorporation of IR sensors and cameras supporting the segment share. For instance, in 2015, BMW launched the 7-Series model line-up with improved hand and fingerprint sensing technologies for controlling multiple car operations, thereby contributing to the overall automotive gesture recognition market expansion.Multimedia, navigation, and infotainment systems showcased a significant growth rate at around 44% over the study timeframe. Increasing trend towards providing customer comfort along with the requirement for advanced navigation facilities supports the industry expansion. Further, the proliferation of advanced connectivity applications including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offering higher quality multimedia and navigation content within the vehicle, further accelerates the segment penetration till 2024.PCVs accounted for more than 2,500 units in 2017 and is expected to continue its dominance over the projected timeframe. This can be credited to the increasing automotive sales across the globe. Improving living standards along with proliferating disposable income further supports the industry share over the projected timeframe. Increasing sales of luxury and premium vehicles with advanced electronic systems along with the availability of multiple models at varied price range further supports the business expansion over the forecast timeframe.Europe accounted for over 43% revenue share in 2017 owing to the presence of major automobile companies focusing on introducing advanced infotainment systems in their products for improving the driving experience. Further, supporting government regulations for introducing multiple safety standards for vehicles as standard is further supporting the industry expansion till 2024. For instance, the European Commission announced the mandatory fitment of technologies including e-call technology and automated emergency services in automobiles, thereby providing a positive outlook for the industry growth.More Details on this Report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Worldwide Automotive collision repair Market Key Players M, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honeywell International Inc., Federal Mogul Holdings Corporation, Denso Corporation, Bosch, Faurecia, and Continental Corporation https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467595/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/467595/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/automotive-collision-repair-market/?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=razz www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com/blog The Automotive collision repair market research report framed by Market Study Report, LLC, delivers a thorough analysis of the industry trends influencing the global business scenario. In addition, the report offers definitive information pertaining to the commercialization aspects, revenue estimation, and market size of the industry. The report overtly defines the status of key players in the competitive landscape while including their portfolio and geographical expansion endeavors.Automotive collision repair market is projected to cross USD 275 billion by 2024. Increasing traffic congestion leading to road accidents and vehicle damage will drive industry share over the forecast timeframe. Rising vehicles demand across the globe owing to shifting preference towards personal mobility will further escalate automotive collision repair market share.Request a sample of this premium report at;Major industry participants operating in the automotive collision repair market place include 3M, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honeywell International Inc., Federal Mogul Holdings Corporation, Denso Corporation, Bosch, Faurecia, and Continental Corporation. Industry players are engaged in long term partnerships and agreements with automobile OEMs to strengthen their foothold. For instance, in May 2016, Denso Corporation collaborated with Hino Motors U.S.A. for supplying diesel engine components such as particulate filters to its dealership network for easier servicing of their vehicles.Proliferation of automobile repair service centers focusing on enhancing efficiency and operational productivity with the introduction of innovative materials will drive the automotive collision repair market. Growing multi-branded service centers offering maintenance at lower costs and warranties will support the industry growth.Technological advancements such as spectrophotometer and automotive sanding systems ensure premium color finish. It minimizes the need of trail and error and enhances process efficiency. Emergence of innovative technologies to increase process efficiency will drive automotive collision repair market in next six years.Growing organized multi-brand car service centers offering economical vehicle repair will support the industry growth till 2024. Industry participants are engaged in offering quality servicing and repair alternatives along with extended warranty services, thereby supporting the revenue generation. Further, industry is witnessing shifting trend from OEMs to more affordable aftermarket and recycled products similar branded and private label products.Increasing technical complexities in vehicles with the incorporation of innovative technologies such as lane departure warning systems, automatic emergency braking, forward collision systems, and night vision, may pose a threat to the industry players. The technologies require highly skilled technicians along with the high-end tools and equipment for car repairs. High acquisition cost of skilled workers and fluctuating raw material cost will restrict industry growth over the projected timeframe.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:The paints and coatings segment accounts for significant share in the automotive collision repair market owing to the increasing requirement to maintain vehicles aesthetics for longer time period. Further, dents and scratches owing to vehicle accidents will support the segment share. Adhesives and sealant will witness steady growth with its application for lightweight composite materials.PCV leads automotive collision repair market owing to the increasing vehicle production across the globe. Rising preference towards SUVs and crossovers along with availability of multiple vehicle models at lower costs will ensure its dominance over study timeframe. Moreover, automobile manufacturers are focusing on improving the car servicing experience by introducing premium lounge and other services for enhancing the overall customer experience.OEMs hold major share in automotive collision repair market with consumer preference for complicated component servicing in electrical and transmission systems. Aftermarket segment will showcase substantial growth rate owing to the availability of services, parts, and labor at lower costs compared to the OEMs. Customers with vehicles over the age of three years prefer to opt for aftermarket solutions owing to similar performance and expiration of the vehicle?s warranty.Dealer-owned shop will generate major revenue share in the automotive collision repair market. This can be attributed to the continued focus of the automobile manufacturers to offer customized servicing and repair solutions to its customers. Industry participants are focused on improving customer experience by introducing transparent pricing schemes and policies to prevent over charging by the service centers and support in revenue generation.Europe leads automotive collision repair market owing to presence of major automobile industry players. According to European Automobile Manufacturers Association, passenger car and commercial vehicle owners rely heavily on OEMs. Asia Pacific will witness strong growth with increasing automotive production across the region. Further the presence of major automobile manufacturers engaged in offering multiple variants including SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, and crossovers are further supporting the industry growth till 2024.More Details on this Report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Pipeline Safety Market Growth Will Escalate Rapidly by Global Top Competitors -Siemens AG, BAE Systems, Future Fibre Technologies, Thales Group, Senstar Corporation, Syrinix, POLUS-ST, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-pipeline-safety-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-pipeline-safety-market The report provides a unique tool for evaluating the Market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. This report recognizes that in this rapidly-evolving and competitive environment, up-to-date marketing information is essential to monitor performance and make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, and focuses on markets capacities and on the changing structure of the Global Pipeline Safety. The report also presents forecasts for Global Pipeline Safety investments till 2024.Request for Sample Report @The Global Pipeline Safety Market accounted for USD 6.3 billion growing at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast to 2024.Global Pipeline Safety MarketPipelines are used to transport gas & liquid products to various locations and to users over long distance across the country. These pipelines are recognized as a safe & reliable means for transporting hazardous product over significant distance. However, improper handling and distribution of these hazardous product may endanger human life and adversely affect the environment. The Transportation Security Administration, within the department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the lead agency for security & transportation including pipelines. Increasing requirement of controlling and monitoring fluid dynamics in Oil & gas industry is expected to boost the demand for pipeline safety market over the forecast period.Major Market Competitors:Some of the major players of the global pipeline safety market are GENERAL ELECTRIC,ABB,Schneider Electric,Siemens AG,BAE Systems,Future Fibre Technologies,Thales Group,Senstar Corporation,Syrinix,POLUS-ST,Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., and others.Products of the report:1.Historical and current market size and projection up to 2024.2.Competitive landscape3.Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth4.The study provides an in-depth analysis of the Global Pipeline Safety Market and current & future trends to elucidate imminent investment pockets.5.Analyze and forecast Global Pipeline Safety Market on the basis of type, function and application.6.Company profiling of key players which includes business operations, product and services, geographic presence, recent developments and key financial analysis.Major Market Drivers & Restraints: Balanced use of resources Increased spending by oil & gas companies for infrastructure and network protection Expansion and upgradation of refineries, drilling sites, and exploration of new Sites Lack of apprehensions Growing population and political instability in the middle eastNote: If You Have Any Special Requirements, Please Let Us Know and We Will Offer You the Report as You Want.Customization With Discount Available On This Report @ Sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.comTable of Contents1. Introduction2. Market Segmentation3. Market Overview4. Executive Summary5. Premium Insights6. Global, By Component7. Product Type8. Delivery9. Industry Type10. Geography10.1. Overview10.2. North America10.3. Europe10.4. Asia-Pacific10.5. South America10.6. Middle East & Africa11. Company Landscape12. Company Profiles13. Related ReportsMarket Segmentation: The global pipeline safety market is segmented on the basis of technology and solution into perimeter intrusion detection, secure communication, SCADA for pipeline, pipeline monitoring system, industrial control systems security (ICS). The secure communication segment is further sub segmented into satellite monitoring and GIS mapping, and video surveillance. The pipeline monitoring system segment is further sub segmented into leakage detection, external threat detection, pig tracking, and integrated fiber optic monitoring. On the basis of service, the global pipeline safety market is segmented into pipeline integrity management services, and professional services. The professional services segment is further sub segmented into risk management, consulting services, and repair and maintenance On the basis of vertical, the global pipeline safety market is segmented into natural gas, crude oil, refined products, and others. On the basis of geography, the global pipeline safety market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Company Share Analysis:The report for global pipeline safety market include detailed vendor level analysis for market shares in 2016 for Global, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America specifically. Also impact and development analysis of key vendors is registered in the market and factored on the basis of Vendor Positioning Grid Analysis which measures the vendors strengths and opportunities against present market challenges, measure providers ability to identify or satisfy present market needs, map providers market vision to current and upcoming market dynamics among others. The report also measures technology life line curve and market time line to analyze and do more affective investments.Inquiry Before Buying @About Us:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge Market Research provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Data Center Automation Market Expected to Reach $8,619 Million, Globally, by 2022 | Global Leading Players: VMware, Inc., BMC Software, Cisco Systems, Inc., IBM Corp., Hewlett Packard Enterprise https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2108?utm_source=OP&utm_medium=Pratik https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2108?utm_source=OP&utm_medium=Pratik https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com The global data center automation market size was valued at $2,483 million in 2015, and is projected to reach $8,619 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 19.6% from 2016 to 2022. The IT & telecom segment was the highest contributor in 2015, accounting for around 23% of the global market.A data center is a facility that consists of a network of computers and storage systems. It is used to process, organize, store, and distribute large amounts of data for a business or an organization. Data center automation offers faster and enhanced productivity, operational reliability, and consistency to its users, which results in its increased demand in various industry verticals.Send Purchase Enquiry@Manufacturing is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 22.8% during the forecast period. In the manufacturing industry, large amount of data is generated on the operation and shop floor, which needs to be analyzed to improve the quality, accuracy, and delivery time. By automating the data center, the data can be accessed continuously for performing predictive analysis to identify relationships and patterns among various processes and associated factors to recognize and enhance those factors that have the largest impact on the output.Based on the geography, the data center automation market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. North America was the highest revenue contributor in 2015, accounting for around ~60% share of the market size. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 25.3%, owing to the adoption of data center automation techniques to achieve effective and efficient control over the ongoing processes and operations.Energy efficiency is a key influencing factor in the data center automation market. Small, medium, multi-tenant, and corporate data centers consume a large amount of energy; however, underutilized servers largely cause energy wastage. Data center automation offers higher energy efficiency compared to traditional data centers. With the ongoing global energy crises, the impact of this factor is expected to increase in the future, thereby driving the market growth.Key Findings of the Data Center Automation Market: The consulting services segment accounted for the highest share of the data center automation market in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 20.4% during the forecast period. North America was the highest revenue-generating segment in 2015, with $1,558 million. Asia-Pacific dominated the market in terms of growth in 2015, and is projected to continue its dominance in the future as well. U.S. was the leading country, in terms of spending on data center automation market, in 2015. In addition, India, China, and other emerging markets are projected to provide significant opportunities for major players.Request Sample Report@The report features a competitive scenario of the data center automation industry and provides comprehensive analysis of key growth strategies adopted by major players. Key players profiled in the study are VMware, Inc., BMC Software, Cisco Systems, Inc., IBM Corp., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft Corp., Puppet, Citrix Systems, Inc., ServiceNow, Inc., and Chef Software, Inc.About Allied Market ResearchAllied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies clients insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free (USA/Canada):+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: Backpack Travel Bag Market Segmented by Top Manufacturers - Samsonite, Osprey, Victorinox, Travelers Choice, Lowe Alpine, Deuter, Standard Luggage Co, Timbuk2, Herschel Supply, VF Corporation https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2879853/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2879853/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2879853/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/global-smart-homes-systems-market-data-survey-report-2025-market Bigmarketresearch.com present the report on global Backpack Travel Bag Market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research. The report extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2019-2024.Backpack Travel Bag market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request for a sample copy of this report @Global Backpack Travel Bag Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Samsonite, Osprey, Victorinox, Travelers Choice, Lowe Alpine, Deuter, Standard Luggage Co, Timbuk2, Herschel Supply, VF CorporationBackpack Travel Bag market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2019-2024, as per a recently compiled report Market Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaGlobal Backpack Travel Bag Market Segment by Product Segment Analysis, covers BackpackRolling BackpackRequest for a Discount of this report @Global Backpack Travel Bag Market: Application Segment AnalysisAdultKidsMarket Segment by Table of Contents:Chapter 1 About the Backpack Travel Bag Industry1.1 Industry Definition and Types1.1.1 Screen Size Less Than 12 inch1.1.2 Screen Size 12-14 inch1.1.3 Screen Size More Than 14 inch1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Backpack Travel Bag Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2019Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2019Major Players2.2 World Backpack Travel Bag Market by TypesScreen Size Less Than 12 inchScreen Size 12-14 inchScreen Size More Than 14 inch2.3 World Backpack Travel Bag Market by ApplicationsWindowsAndroidIOS2.4 World Backpack Travel Bag Market Analysis2.4.1 World Backpack Travel Bag Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-20192.4.2 World Backpack Travel Bag Market Consumption and Growth rate 2013-20192.4.3 World Backpack Travel Bag Market Price Analysis 2013-2019Enquire about this report @Related Report:Global Smart Homes Systems Market Data Survey Report 2025Summary The global Smart Homes Systems market will reach Volume Million USD in 2019 with CAGR xx% 2019-2025. The main contents of the report including: Global market size and forecast Regional market size, production data and export & import Key manufacturers (manufacturing sites, capacity and production, product specifications etc.) Major Application Major Type Key manufacturers are included ...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 to 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 Global Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco market Discover Top Key Players Nakhla, Godfrey Phillips India, Eastern Tobacco, AL-WAHA, Mazaya, AlFakherdr, Al-Tawareg Tobacco, Shiazo https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2809366/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2879788/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2879788/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco Market 2019 report focuses on the major drivers and restraints for the global key players. It also provides analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market. The report spread across 113 pages with tables and figures in it.Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request for a sample copy of this report @Global Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Nakhla, Godfrey Phillips India, Eastern Tobacco, AL-WAHA, Mazaya, AlFakherdr, Al-Tawareg Tobacco, Shiazo, MujeebSons, Starbuzz, Fantasia, Social Smoke, AL RAYAN Hookah, Cloud Tobacco, Haze Tobacco, Alchemisttobacco, Fumari, DekangHookah (Shisha) Tobacco market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2019-2024, as per a recently compiled report Market Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaGlobal Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco Market Segment by Product Segment Analysis, covers Single FlavorMixed FlavorRequest for a Discount of this report @Global Hookah (Shisha) Tobacco Market: Application Segment AnalysisGroup UsePersonal UseMarket Segment by Table of Contents:Chapter 1 About the Stone Paper IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World Stone Paper Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesChapter 6 Globalisation & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World Stone Paper Market Forecast through 2024Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewEnquire about this 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 to 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 Self-Driving Cars Market Global Size and Demand 2018 - 2025: Toyota, BMW, Volvo and More https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1647002 https://www.researchtrades.com/discount/1647002 https://www.researchtrades.com/report/global-self-driving-cars-market-professional-survey-report-2018/1647002 www.researchtrades.com The Self-driving Cars Market status and forecast, categorizes the global Self-driving Cars market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia and other regions (Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).Request for sample@Automatic/Self Driving Car is a vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. Autonomous vehicles feel their surroundings with such techniques as radar, lidar, GPS, Odometry, and computer vision. Advanced control systems interpret sensory information to identify appropriate navigation paths, as well as obstacles and relevant signage.Currently, the self-driving car has not yet entered in the commercial production, and in short time, the production volume will don?t have great improvement; in 2025, the total production is about 100 K Unit, and USA will be the largest production region, because the USA?s law has more compatible than other region and the government support the self-driving cars than other regions.The future of the self-driving cars depends on the technology and downstream customers? acceptance and the sales price; Currently, for the technology, the technology is far from mature and has some accidents; for the acceptance, the consumers can not accept that the hands leave from the steering wheel, for the price, the price is far from acceptance of ordinary consumer due the high price of radar.The self-driving car can be divided into the passenger car and commercial car, in the application, it can be divided into the home use and commercial use; in the commercial use, it mainly means logistics, for the home use, it has great relationship with the carnet;In our opinion, when the price and technology problems have been solved, the self-driving car will have great improvement and the accident and death toll will have great decrease.The global Self-driving Cars market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportToyotaBMWVolvoMercedes-BenzAudi...Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPassenger VehicleCommercial VehicleBy Application, the market can be split intoHome UseCommercial USDThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Self-driving Cars capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Self-driving Cars manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Request for discount@In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Self-driving Cars are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersSelf-driving Cars ManufacturersSelf-driving Cars Distributors/Traders/WholesalersSelf-driving Cars Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsWith the given market data, Offers customizations according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:Regional and country-level analysis of the Self-driving Cars market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Table of ContentsGlobal Self-driving Cars Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Self-driving Cars1.1 Definition and Specifications of Self-driving Cars1.1.1 Definition of Self-driving Cars1.1.2 Specifications of Self-driving Cars1.2 Classification of Self-driving Cars1.2.1 Passenger Vehicle1.2.2 Commercial Vehicle1.3 Applications of Self-driving Cars1.3.1 Home Use1.3.2 Commercial USD1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 Europe1.4.3 China1.4.4 Japan1.4.5 Southeast Asia1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Self-driving Cars2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Self-driving Cars2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Self-driving Cars2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Self-driving Cars3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Self-driving Cars3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Self-driving Cars Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Self-driving Cars Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Self-driving Cars Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Self-driving Cars Major Manufacturers in 2017Browse complete report@4 Global Self-driving Cars Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Self-driving Cars Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Self-driving Cars Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Self-driving Cars Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2017 Self-driving Cars Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2013-2018E Global Self-driving Cars Sales Price4.4.2 2017 Self-driving Cars Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)Who we areResearch Trades has a team of experts who is working on a comprehensive analysis of market research. This estimate is based on a comprehensive study of the future and estimates of future estimates, which can be used by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the customer's specific requirement. Our company provides a large collection of high-quality reports obtained by customer-centered approaches, thus providing valuable research insights.Contact Us:Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +1 6269994607 (USA), +91 7507349866 (IND)Web:Skype ID: researchtradescon Bioabsorbable Stents Market will Procure US$ 350 Mn by 2022 | Boston Scientific Corporation, Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd., Tepha, Inc. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4819 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-4819 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Bioabsorbable stents function like normal medical stents. The main difference between regular stents and bioabsorbable stents is the material which is used in their manufacturing; bioabsorbable stents use material which is easily absorbed in the body.The growth of the global bioabsorbable stents market is influenced by factors such as rise in cardiovascular surgeries on a global scale, lower treatment cost, and exact stent placement. These factors are reinforced with technological developments, which are again intensifying thereby fuelling the growth of the global bioabsorbable stent market. However, there are certain limiting factors which offer challenge to the growth of the global market, such as possibilities of complications during insertion or post surgery and less awareness about bioabsorbable stents.Request to View a Sample Copy of This Report @The global bioabsorbable stents market is poised to reach a value of around US$ 350 Mn by the end of 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a robust CAGR during the period of forecast of 2017 to 2022.6 Forecast Highlights on Global Bioabsorbable Stents MarketBy product type, polymeric stents segment is expected to dominate the global market. As of 2017 statistics, this segment reflected a higher market share of 57.6% thus portraying dominance and is expected to continue to dominate the global market throughout the forecast periodPolymeric-coated metallic stents product segment is anticipated to reflect the highest growth rate to register an exponential CAGR of 12.2% throughout the period of forecast 2017-2022. This segment is also poised to gain the highest BPS by the end of 2022Europe region is the most lucrative region and dominates the global market. This region is poised to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. North America region is anticipated to show the highest growth rate to register a CAGR of 10.2% throughout the period of forecast of 2017-2022Hospitals segment by end user shows higher market share of 62.1% and also grows at a higher growth rate during the forecast period. Following this segment, cardiac catheterization labs segment has secured second place with respect to market share and growth rate throughout the forecast period of 2017 to 2022Coronary artery disease segment by disease indication is anticipated to grow at a significantly higher growth rate to register a CAGR of 10% and also poised to hold higher market share thereby dominating the global market. This segment is also expected to gain higher BPs by the end of 2022Slow absorption rate segment by absorption rate is poised to register a CAGR of 10.3% throughout the period of forecast of 2017 to 2022 and also portrays dominance by reflecting a higher market share during the forecast periodRead Comprehensive Overview with Methodology of Report @The report has also profiled key leading players in the global bioabsorbable stents market, which would remain active through 2022. These include players like Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Becton Dickinson and Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd., Tepha, Inc., REVA Medical, Inc., Elixir Medical Corporation, BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Amaranth Medical, Inc., and Abbott Laboratories.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers 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 customized 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: Automotive Fastener Market Comprehensive Analysis | Key Players KAMAX, ITW, Araymond, NORMA, STANLEY, Meidoh, Fontana, Boltun, Topura, Meira https://www.globalinforeports.com/request-sample/1072571 https://www.globalinforeports.com/check-discount/1072571 https://www.globalinforeports.com/send-an-enquiry/1072571 https://www.globalinforeports.com Global Automotive Fastener Market Report 2019-2025 includes a comprehensive analysis of the current market (Top 20 Countries). The report starts with the basic Automotive Fastener industry overview and then goes into each and every detail. Automotive Fastener Market Report covers the manufacturers data, including purchase, price, revenue, entire profit, reproduction, market distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. Automotive Fastener report also covers all the regions which show a regional development status, including Automotive Fastener market size, volume and value, as well as cost data.Global Automotive Fastener Market analysis is provided for the World markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Global Automotive Fastener Market is specially distributed because of the presence of much medium and huge range of players within the market.Request for a sample copy of this report@The key market company covered in the report is: KAMAX ITW Araymond NORMA STANLEY Meidoh Fontana Boltun Topura MeiraBy type Non-threaded Fasteners Threaded FastenersBy Application Aftermarket Automotive OEMAutomotive Fastener Market Report Provides Regional Analysis & Forecast (2019-2025) Including the Following Regions: North America Automotive Fastener Market (United States, Canada, Mexico) Europe Automotive Fastener Market (Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy) Asia Pacific Automotive Fastener Market (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia) Middle-East and Africa Automotive Fastener Market (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa) South America Automotive Fastener Market (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Request for a Discount of this report@The market report dependent on our extraordinary research philosophy conveys exhaustive expository investigation of the worldwide Automotive Fastener Market scattered over a few fragments. The report additionally comprises of current size and synopsis of the market of this industry combined with point of view prospects. Also, key market makers of Automotive Fastener are considered on numerous viewpoints, for example, organization review, item portfolio, and income subtleties amid the determined year. Additionally, the total capability of the market is advised in the full report.Points Covered In The Report: The major drivers, restraints, opportunities, challenges, and industry trends and their impact on the Automotive Fastener Market forecast are discussed thoroughly. Detailed profiles of various Automotive Fastener Market key companies are covered in the report along with their business overview, strategic development and financial data. Every Automotive Fastener Market is studied based on their historic data from 2014 to 2017 and forecast data from 2018 to 2025. The developing factors of the market are discussed in-depth and different segments of the Automotive Fastener Market are explained in detail.Inquire about this report@About Us:Global Info Reports is a pioneer in off-the-rack market research. We study markets across the globe to assist our clients to analyze competitive activity and perceive further than market disruptions, and eventually grow intellectual business strategies. We offer vast portfolio of research reports with respect to geographical coverage, topics, and profiled companies. Global Info Reports has an experienced and skilled team which is dedicated to top-notch analysis and research. Our research team comprehends the demands of its clients and therefore keeps updating the reports as the market requirement changes. Our in-house professionals are highly motivated towards their work and meet the clients demands and deadlines irrespective of any time zone, thereby impeccably delivering projects.Contact Us:Web:Email: sales@globalinforeports.com Gas Pipe Fittings Market 2019 Global Analysis By Key Players MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, Aston Fittings Ltd, Charlotte Pipe, GPS PE Pipe Systems, Ward Manufacturing Gas Pipe Fittings Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3717294-global-gas-pipe-fittings-market-2019-by-manufacturers https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3717294-global-gas-pipe-fittings-market-2019-by-manufacturers https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3717294 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Gas Pipe Fittings Market 2019 Global Analysis By Key Players MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, Aston Fittings Ltd, Charlotte Pipe, GPS PE Pipe Systems, Ward Manufacturing.Gas Pipe Fittings Industry 2019Description:-Gas Pipe Fittings is the occupation of installing or repairing piping or tubing systems that convey gases. This work involves selecting and preparing pipe or tubing, joining it together by various means, and the location and repair of leaks.Scope of the Report:Currently, the main material of Gas Pipe Fittings including copper, brass, bronze, iron, stainless steel, PVC, etc. But different manufacturers will choose raw materials with special functions. The main Application is General Gas Distribution System,Gas Meter Fixings,Gas Fire Fittings.The price of Gas Pipe Fittings keeps fluctuate in past five years owing to the price of raw material and the Consumption of Gas Pipe Fittings. The price is at about 8.4 USD/ Piece in recent years. In the next few years, we predict that price will keep to stabilization.The worldwide market for Gas Pipe Fittings is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly xx% over the next five years, will reach xx million US$ in 2024, from xx million US$ in 2019, according to a new GIR (Global Info Research) study.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis report focuses on the Gas Pipe Fittings in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMUELLER WATER PRODUCTSPcfsctAston Fittings LtdCharlotte PipeGPS PE Pipe SystemsWard ManufacturingRadius Systems LtdLFF GROUPJM EagleDalian Norpico Pipe Fitting Making Co. LtdSunlion Piping Engineering Co.,LtdPlasson USAMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversMetal Pipe FittingsPlastic Pipe FittingsOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoGeneral Gas Distribution SystemGas Meter FixingsGas Fire FittingsThe content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:Chapter 1, to describe Gas Pipe Fittings product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Gas Pipe Fittings, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Gas Pipe Fittings in 2017 and 2018.Chapter 3, the Gas Pipe Fittings competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.Chapter 4, the Gas Pipe Fittings breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2014 to 2019.Enquiry About Report @Table Of Contents Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Gas Pipe Fittings Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Metal Pipe Fittings1.2.2 Plastic Pipe Fittings1.2.3 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 General Gas Distribution System1.3.2 Gas Meter Fixings1.3.3 Gas Fire Fittings1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.4.4.5 Turkey Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Product A2.1.2.2 Product B2.1.3 MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.2 Pcfsct2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Product A2.2.2.2 Product B2.2.3 Pcfsct Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.3 Aston Fittings Ltd2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Product A2.3.2.2 Product B2.3.3 Aston Fittings Ltd Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.4 Charlotte Pipe2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Product A2.4.2.2 Product B2.4.3 Charlotte Pipe Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.5 GPS PE Pipe Systems2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Product A2.5.2.2 Product B2.5.3 GPS PE Pipe Systems Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.6 Ward Manufacturing2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Product A2.6.2.2 Product B2.6.3 Ward Manufacturing Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)2.7 Radius Systems Ltd2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Gas Pipe Fittings Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Product A2.7.2.2 Product B2.7.3 Radius Systems Ltd Gas Pipe Fittings Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2017-2018)ContinuedBuy 1-user PDF @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.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Paraben-free Preservative Systems Market Outlook on Current Industry Trends 2028 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=4551 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=4551 https://www.tmrresearch.com/paraben-free-preservative-systems-market Proven to have a functional ability to mimic oestrogen, parabens are often linked to the proliferation of breast tumors, which will remain a predominant factor pushing the quest for paraben-free preservative systems to be used for cosmetics and personal care products. Apart from health safety concerns, parabens are perceived as unsustainable in terms of their environmental impact.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Paraben-free Preservative Systems Witnessing High Traction, as Consumers Amass the Natural & Organic TrendThough parabens continue to lure mass markets as a highly preferred preservative for PC products and cosmetics, the aforementioned health and safety concerns will remain a longstanding challenge questioning their usage across the skincare industry. This is eventually projected to bolster the growth of paraben-free preservative systems market in the near future.A number of cosmetic products manufacturers are developing formaldehyde- and paraben-free preservative systems based on multiple combinations of preservatives such as sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, neolone, potassium sorbate, hydantoin, benzethonium chloride, glycacil, OptiphenPlus, and natrulon. Others are augmenting investments in R&D, pushing the prospects of innovative paraben-free preservative systems market.Request TOC of the Report @Cosmetic Brands Experimenting with Synergistic Blends of Multi-functional IngredientsKiehl's recently released a revamped variant of one of their bestsellers, Ultra Facial Cream. This reformulation, in the backdrop of elevating consumer demand for entirely natural ingredients in skincare products, is free from parabens. The globally popular heritage skincare cosmetics brand is planning to go completely paraben-free across the full products lineup by the end of this year.Inolex, a global leader in specialty PC and cosmetic ingredients, has made hefty investments in R&D of an alternative concept of cosmetics and personal care products preservation. In an effort to introduce antimicrobial attributes in cosmetics, the brand has developed a novel concept i.e. Hurdle technology inspired by a similar technique in food science. The technology involves combined usage of multiple ingredients to infuse a broader antimicrobial impact, over the conventional use of a single standalone preservative (i.e. parabens) that may even fail to combat microbial contamination all at once. The principle is based on keeping a constant check on the proliferation of microbes through a series of different preservative ingredients that have a mild individual impact. Such research driven innovations are projected to improve the penetration scope of paraben-free preservative systems in coming years.Why Are Industry Experts Still Reluctant on Paraben-free Preservative Systems?Although the beauty and cosmetic circle has been looking out for alternative preservatives with a broad and strong spectrum of microbial inhibitory impact, research findings in recent years indicate that no preservative ingredient can single-handedly pose a negative influence on other cosmetic ingredients, and ensure complete cosmetic safety. This has been repositioning parabens in a not-so-unsafe zone when it comes to consumer concerns. Experts also point to a hyped trend wave of paraben-free preservative systems invading previous consumer perceptions about the safety of cosmetics.Moreover, FDA considers parabens in the cosmetic ingredients category and thus, does not impose any particular regulations for preservatives or parabens. Except color additives, no other ingredients that are used in cosmetic formulations require an FDA approval before the launch, according to the FD&C Act (the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Naturals & Organics Have Still Not Arrived at a Competitive Price PointWhile a large number of personal care products and cosmetics manufacturers are onboarding the natural and organic wagon to prominently toss out the likes of parabens, higher contamination risks and more safety concerns associated with the former cannot be understated. Moreover, the price point surges manifold in case of natural, organic, and paraben-free preservative systems, which is a strong factor that continues to advocate the cost effective use of parabens in cosmetics and other skincare products.Increasing use of plant-based ingredients in the development of paraben-free preservative systems certainly highlights an important trend that may direct the growth of paraben-free preservative systems market towards a competitive price point. However, adequate availability of plant-based preservatives will remain a major concern for companies in the long run. Moreover, the complete safety of natural, organic, paraben-free preservative systems still remains to be proven. It would be interesting to discover whether or not paraben-free preservative systems will completely take over the conventional consumption of parabens in the cosmetics industry, and at a lower price point than that of parabens.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Europe Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices Market to reach $6.5 bn by 2024- Abbott, All Medicus, ARKRAY, Inc., Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Dexcom, Johnson & Johnson, LifeScan, Medtronic Europe Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices Market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1020/sample https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1020/inquiry-before-buying https://www.graphicalresearch.com/industry-insights/1020/europe-self-monitoring-blood-glucose-devices-market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/ The Graphical Research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Europe Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices (SMBG) Market based on Product, End-User, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, End-User Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018 2024.Europe SMBG Devices Market size is set to surpass USD 6.5 billion by 2024. Increasing number of baby boomers and rising number of people diabetic cases will act as primary driver for growth of Europe self-monitoring blood glucose devices market over the forecast timeframe.Request for a sample of this research report -Presence of associations such as Primary Care Diabetes Society creating awareness about the target disease to promote adoption of diabetes monitoring tools will positively impact industry growth over the coming years. However, stringent regulations pertaining to development of SMBG devices and high cost associated with self-monitoring blood glucose monitors will hinder industry expansion to a certain extent over the forecast period.High adoption of sedentary lifestyle along with unhealthy food habits has escalated number of people suffering from chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Majority of obese people suffer from type 2 diabetes thereby fueling industry size growth.Growth of home healthcare sector and technological advancements in homecare SMBG devices has stimulated adoption rate. Moreover, growing demand for minimal invasive disease monitoring tools coupled with rising number of health-conscious people will stimulate growth of home healthcare self-monitoring blood glucose devices market.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) product segment is anticipated to witness robust growth of 5.6% during the forecast period. These devices form an essential part of homecare diabetes monitoring as it delivers real time blood glucose readings as well as detects abnormal patterns of glycemia many folds better than conventional systems will drive business growth of CGM devices.UK self-monitoring blood glucose devices market will witness 4.3% CAGR during the forecast period owing to technological advancements in SMBG devices and high technological adoption in the country. Growing demand for self-diabetes monitoring devices applicable to homecare setting as well as growing geriatric population base will fuel industry growth over the coming years.Diagnostic centers and clinics end-user segment of Europe self-monitoring blood glucose devices market is forecasted to witness considerable growth owing to rising number of people suffering from abnormal blood glucose levels and growing awareness about diabetes and diabetic treatment. Increasing per capita healthcare expenditure will positively impact growth of diagnostic centers and clinics segment.Few notable industry players operating in Europe self-monitoring blood glucose devices market are Abbott Laboratories, All Medicus, Arkray, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Bayer Healthcare, Bionime Corporation, Dexcom, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, LifeScan, Medtronic, Nipro Diagnostics, Nova Biomedical, Sinocare and Trividia Health. Market players are focusing on new product development to gain significant market position and broaden product as well as costumer portfolio in the self-monitoring blood glucose devices industry.Browse key industry insights from this 2018 report @Segments We Cover:Europe Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices Market, By ProductSelf-monitoring blood glucose metersContinuous glucose monitorsTesting stripsLancetsEurope Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices Market, By End-userHospitalsHome settingsDiagnostic centers and clinicThe above information is provided for the following countries:GermanyUKFranceSpainItalyRussiaUkrainePolandSwitzerlandBelgiumGreeceCzech RepublicNetherlandsSwedenOthersAbout Graphical Research:Graphical Research is a business research firm that provides industry insights, market forecast and strategic inputs through granular research reports and advisory services. We publish targeted research reports with an aim to address varied customer needs, from market penetration and entry strategies to portfolio management and strategic outlook. We understand that business requirements are unique: our syndicate reports are designed to ensure relevance for industry participants across the value chain. We also provide custom reports that are tailored to the exact needs of the customer, with dedicated analyst support across the purchase lifecycle.Contact Us:Parikhit B.Corporate sales,Graphical ResearchEmail: sales@graphicalresearh.comWeb: Tobacco Products Market Research Report by 2025: Top Key Players - Republic Group, Alliance One International, Universal Corporation, Gallaher Group Plc https://www.statsandreports.com/request-sample/80770-global-tobacco-products-sales-market-report-2018 https://www.statsandreports.com/report/80770-global-tobacco-products-sales-market-report-2018 https://www.statsandreports.com/check-discount/80770-global-tobacco-products-sales-market-report-2018 https://www.statsandreports.com/placeorder?report=80770-global-tobacco-products-sales-market-report-2018&type=SingleUser www.statsandreports.com Global Tobacco Products is latest research study released by SNR MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing dynamics of Global Tobacco Products Market.If you are involved in the Tobacco Products industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Ask for sample:Tobacco Products market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Tobacco Products global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2019-2025.The major players covered in this report1. Republic Group2. Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation3. Alliance One International4. Universal Corporation5. Gallaher Group Plc6. Century Tobacco7. ARD Filters8. Gulbahar Tobacco9. BMJ Industries10. Oriental11. Al Matuco Tobacco Company12. Kaane American International Tobacco13. China National Tobacco Corporation14. Philip Morris International15. Imperial Tobacco Group16. Altria17. British American Tobacco18. Reynolds19. Japan Tobacco InternationalRead Full This Report:The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.The generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.Global Tobacco Products Market Industry Analysis and Forecast 2019-2025 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market-driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. Stats and Reports ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real-time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real-time scenario.Ask for the discount:The information for each competitor includes: Company Profile Main Business Information SWOT Analysis Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Market ShareResearch MethodologyThe research report has been prepared by conducting various rounds of primary interviews with key management of several Tier-I and II companies. The primary research percentage of all of reports are above ~80% whereas ~20% of secondary research includes data from hoovers, factiva, one source aviation and other government published records. Both top-down approach has been applied for the calculation of market size, volume, import and export and has been validated thoroughly.Key Reasons to Purchase:1. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Smart application processor manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.2. The report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology.3. The report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2013-2018 market shares for key vendors.4. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.5. The report estimates 2019-2024 market development trends of Smart application processor industry.6. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out7. The report makes some important proposals for a new project of Smart application processor Industry before evaluating its feasibility.Buy this Report:Customization of the Report:Stats and Reports provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UsStats and Reports is a global market research and consulting service provider specialized in offering wide range of business solutions to their clients including market research reports, primary and secondary research, demand forecasting services, focus group analysis and other services. We understand that how data is important in today's competitive environment and thus, we have collaborated with industry's leading research providers who works continuously to meet the ever-growing demand for market research reports throughout the year.Contact:Stats and ReportsSatish K. (Global Sales Manager)Mangalam Chamber, Office No - 16, Paud RoadSankalp Society, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038Phone: +1 650-646-3808Email: sales@statsandreports.comWeb: Global Baking Mixes Market Report 2019 Companies included Pillsbury (U.S.), Nestle (Switzerland), Pioneer brand (U.S.), Betty Crocker (U.S.), Duncan Hines (U.S.) and Others Baking Mixes http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/about-us.php We have recently published 7th edition of market research report on Baking Mixes. For inquiry email us at: sales@marketreportscompany.comReport includes data about consumer perspective, comprehensive analysis, statistics, market share, company performances (Stocks), historical analysis 2012 to 2017, market forecast till 2026 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR. The report also provides detailed segmentation on the basis of product type, applications and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Request report sample pages prior purchase@Report Coverage:Top CompaniesPillsbury (U.S.),Nestle (Switzerland),Pioneer brand (U.S.),Betty Crocker (U.S.),Duncan Hines (U.S.),Hungry Jack (Australia),King Arthur Flour (U.S.),Jiffy (U.S.)Others (Note: We cover all the Top players actively present in the market and you can also request to profile your competitors data as a part of report customization without any additional cost)Baking Mixes market segments by Type:read Mixes,Cookie & Biscuit Mixes,Cake & Muffin Mixes,Pancakes & Waffle MixesOthersRegions covered: (we can provide region/country specific report)North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide country or region specific report on request; please contact us at sales@marketreportscompany.com )The Global Baking Mixes Market analysis report covers detailed value chain analysis of Global Baking Mixes Market. The value chain analysis helps to analyze major upstream raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario on macro and micro level. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in the market during current and past few years. The Global Baking Mixes Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, we can exclusively provide information about import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.How helpful this report will be? Baking Mixes Market share (regional, product, application, end-user) both in terms of volume and revenue along with CAGR from 2019 to 2025 Key parameters which are driving market and restraining its growth. Report will help you understand Industry Research, Market Size and Forecast, Market Entry Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Pricing Analysis, Consumer Insights, Procurement Intelligence, Next-generation Technologies, etc.Purchase Inquire before Buying @Table of Content:Global Baking Mixes Market Size, Status and Forecast 20261 Industry Overview of Global Baking Mixes2 Global Baking Mixes Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles4 Global Baking Mixes Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2019)5 Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2019-2026)12 Global Baking Mixes Market Dynamics12.1 Global Baking Mixes Industry News12.2 Global Baking Mixes Industry Development Challenges12.3 Global Baking Mixes Industry Development Opportunities (2019-2026)13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Baking Mixes Market Forecast (2019-2026)15 Research Finding/Conclusion16 Appendix.........................to receive complete Table of Content @What Does Report Include?Historic Data: What was the Baking Mixes Market data (Size, competition, company share, YoY growth rate, etc.) from 2013 to 2019.Current Market Status: A comprehensive analysis of current market Size, trends, growth drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and opportunities for players.Market Forecast: Report will comment and provide details about market growth and forecast till year 2025.Customization: We can provide following things 1) On request more company profiles (competitors) 2) Data about particular country or region 3) We will incorporate the same with no additional cost (Post conducting feasibility).About us:Contact Us:Jason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comPhone: +1-312-376-8303Address: 20 N State Street,Chicago, Illinois, 60602United States Diabetic Retinopathy Market to hit US$2.6Bn by 2025 | Industry Analysis by Growth, Opportunity, Revenue and Forecast https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report-sample/HC0622 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/diabetic-retinopathy-market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/check-discount/HC0622 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/send-an-enquiry/HC0622 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/latest-report The Proficient Report Published by Crystal Market Research titled, Diabetic Retinopathy Market, approximates that the Diabetic Retinopathy Industry size is estimated to flourish at a significant CAGR in the future, and this is attributed to the escalation in need for this product across the globe along with novel innovations in the market.Summary of Report:The worldwide diabetic retinopathy market is projected to be around $2.6 billion by 2025. This evolution can be attributed to increase in prevalence of diabetes, increase in demand for early screening techniques and increase awareness about disease and available treatments among patients.Get Sample report @Major Companies 2019:Bayer HealthcareNovartis AGActavis PLCThromboGenicsSirnaomics IncorporationGenentechGlycadia PharmaceuticalsRegeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc...Key Growth Factors 2019:Technological advancements will continue to play significant role in growth of the market. For instance, U.S. based Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems has launched an integrated software diabetic retinopathy screening technique that not only enable early detection of disease but also enhances patients care.Rising incidence of diabetes caused blindness will further enhance the growth of market during forecast period. As per global Diabetes Federation (IDF) 415 million people worldwide suffered from diabetes and diabetes related complications as of 2015 and this number is expected to reach 642 million by 2040.Diabetic Retinopathy Market Classification:Diabetic Retinopathy Market, By TypeDiabetic Macular EdemaProliferative Diabetic RetinopathyDiabetic Retinopathy Market, By ManagementAnti VEGF DrugsSteroid ImplantsLaser SurgeriesVitrectomyRead Full Report @Regional Outlook and Trend Analysis 2019:North AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaJapanSouth KoreaIndiaSoutheast AsiaRest of Asia-PacificSouth AmericaBrazilArgentinaColumbiaRest of South AmericaMiddle East and AfricaSaudi ArabiaUAEEgyptNigeriaSouth AfricaRest of MEAGet Customized Report @Table of Contents:Chapter 1, Definition, Specifications and Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy , Applications of Diabetic Retinopathy , Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, Industry Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Diabetic Retinopathy , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, Overall industry Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea & Taiwan, Diabetic Retinopathy Segment Market Analysis (by Type);key Company Profiles:7.1. Bayer Healthcare7.1.1. Business Overview7.1.2. Type Portfolio7.1.3. Key Financials7.1.4. Strategic Developments7.2. Novartis AG7.2.1. Business Overview7.2.2. Type Portfolio7.2.3. Key Financials7.2.4. Strategic Developments7.3. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.7.3.1. Business Overview7.3.2. Type Portfolio7.3.3. Key Financials7.3.4. Strategic Developments7.4. Actavis PLC7.4.1. Business Overview7.4.2. Type Portfolio7.4.3. Key Financials7.4.4. Strategic Developments7.5. ThromboGenics7.5.1. Business Overview7.5.2. Type Portfolio7.5.3. Key Financials7.5.4. Strategic Developments7.6. Sirnaomics Incorporation7.6.1. Business Overview7.6.2. Type Portfolio7.6.3. Key Financials7.6.4. Strategic Developments7.7. Genentech7.7.1. Business Overview7.7.2. Type Portfolio7.7.3. Key Financials7.7.4. Strategic DevelopmentsClick here To get more Information of Diabetic Retinopathy Report @Contacts UsJudy | 304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesE-mail: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com | Ph: +1-888-213-4282Read More Research Reports | Spinal Fusion Devices Market: Top Leaders, Insights and Forecast Research 2018-2024 | Titan Spine LLC, K2M Group Holdings, NuVasive, Zimmer Biomet Holdings https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/1656 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/purchase/1656 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/ The main objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the global Spinal Fusion Devices market on the basis of types of applications, major sectors, deployment models, organization size, and regions. The report contains an analysis of the major factors influencing the growth of the market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges). It aims to strategically analyze the micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the market. The report attempts to forecast the market size for 5 major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. It contains key vendor profiles and comprehensively analyzes their core competencies. The report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments, including partnerships, collaborations, acquisitions, new product developments, and R&D activities in the market. According to report the global spinal fusion devices market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3% over the forecast period of 2018-2024.Get Sample copy of this Report @Cerapedics: first patients enrolled in bone graft trialIn August 2018, Cerapedics, Inc. has announced that the first patients have been enrolled in an investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical trial of its next-generation P-15L Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).FDA Clears First Nanotechnology Peek Devices for Spinal Intervertebral FusionIn Jun 2018, Vallum Corporation, a medical device company, announced that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) spinal interbody fusion device with a PEEKplus nanotextured1 surface created by Vallums proprietary and patented Accelerated Neutral Atom Beam (ANAB) technology.PEEKplus is the first and only FDA-cleared nanotextured surface on a PEEK interbody device.Fuse Medical, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Maxim SurgicalIn August 2018, Medical, Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Palm Springs Partners, LLC d/b/a Maxim Surgical (Maxim), a manufacturing company in the spinal fusion device market and full-service medical device and distribution company (the Acquisition).Growing incidences of spinal disorder to promote the growth of Spinal Fusion Devices MarketAccording to the world health organization, Based on the 2012 world population estimation, every year between 250 000 and 500 000 people suffer a spinal cord injury. Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) incidence rates vary widely across the world, 13 to 53 cases per million population. Road side accidents are the leading cause of the TSCI. The major factor such as growing incidences of spinal disorder such as Osteoarthritis, Low back pain, Spinal disease, Injury, Degenerative disc disease, Chronic pain Spinal cord injury and Spinal fracture occur in young adults and elder people globally are driving the growth of market. However, high cost of treatment procedure may restrains the growth of the Spinal Fusion Devices Market. Going further, advancement in innovative screw systems and modern materials such as titanium alloy used for the manufacturing of locking mechanism is anticipated to create growth opportunities for the Spinal Fusion Devices Market in near future. In the coming years, rise in demand from orthopedic centers and clinical of Spinal Fusion Devices will provide growth opportunities for the market.Buy this Report @Asia Pacific region to contribute to growth in the global Spinal Fusion Devices Market over the next 6 yearsAmong the regions, North America is anticipated to be the leading region in the spinal fusion devices market followed by the Asia pacific region. The factor attributing the growth of market in this region are growing focus of market players on the innovation in the devices and rising awareness about the advanced treatment. The growth in Asia pacific region due to growing incidences of spinal disorder, low cost of spine procedure in India as compared to U.S. and rapidly aging population are the driving forces for the growth of this region.The major key players in spinal fusion devices Market are Titan Spine LLC, K2M Group Holdings Inc., NuVasive Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., Medtronic plc, Braun Melsungen AG, Alphatec Holdings Inc., Orthofix International N.V., Stryker Corporation and Globus Medical Inc..About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact Us:Infinium Global ResearchTel: +1-800-638-0796Email: info@infiniumglobalresearch.comWebsite: Automotive Active Grille Shutter (AGS) Market likely to be a US$ 1078.7 Million opportunity in 2023 https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/323/Automotive-Active-Grille-Shutter-Market.html https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/323/Automotive-Active-Grille-Shutter-Market.html Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Automotive Active Grille Shutter (AGS) Market by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, LCV, and M&HCV), by Shutter Vanes Type (Horizontal AGS and Vertical AGS), by Shutter Type (Visible AGS and Non-Visible AGS), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2018-2023This report, from Stratview Research, studies the global automotive active grille shutter market over the trend period 2012 to 2017 and forecast period 2018 to 2023 both in terms of value and units. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.The Global Automotive Active Grille Shutter (AGS) Market: HighlightsActive grille shutter is an advanced mechatronic component, which performs a key function of selectively allowing or restricting airflow with an automatic opening and closing of shutters based on real-time needs. This results in reducing aerodynamic drag to an extent and improving the fuel economy of the vehicle, thereby leading to reduced CO2 emissions. The automotive industry is very keen on adopting technologies, which lead to an improvement in fuel economy and a reduction in harmful emissions.Click here for table of contents:-OrRequest a sample here:-The automotive active grille shutter market is likely to grow at an impressive double-digit rate over the next five years to reach US$ 1078.7 million in 2023. The auto industry has efficaciously been ushering in a new era of aerodynamic vehicles with a meticulous investment into advanced components that can address the changing business requirements in the most effective manner. All the major automakers have vigorously been incorporating active components in their most-renowned vehicle models with the purpose to improve the overall fuel efficiency of vehicles in order to address stringent government regulations, such as CAFE Standards and EU Commission on Carbon Emissions Reduction Targets.Active grille shutter is a key component of active aerodynamic family and has been catching the automakers attention by offering a vast list of advantages. On an average, AGS offers signification weight reduction up to 20% and improvement in aerodynamic performance up to 30% as compared to non-AGS vehicle. Today, AGS has successfully found its presence in both premium vehicle models as well as mass-produced vehicle models of almost all major automakers including Ford, GM, Toyota, BMW, Lincoln, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls Royce.The biggest factor driving the market for AGS is an incessant increase in its penetration in the automotive industry year on year as all the major automakers are incorporating this technology in their major vehicle models. One side, major automakers are working closely with the AGS suppliers in order to make their vehicle more fuel efficient, whereas another side, AGS suppliers are working hard to quickly meet automakers rising demand for a well-engineered, high-quality AGS system that helps to address fuel economy standards.AGS has a disruptive journey so far in the automotive industry and has evolved a lot with changing market needs and designs. However, to maintain the growth momentum, AGS must to adapt itself as per the new business environments including a greater incorporation of ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) electronics, such as auto-braking and auto cruise control; the development of new diesel and electric engines; and introduction of more stringent regulations regarding pedestrian protection and carbon emission reductions.Development of innovative AGS solutions is an indispensable focus area of the AGS suppliers based on the requirements of auto OEMs. The market for AGS is marked by major global automotive tier players including Rochling Automotive, Magna International Inc., and Valeo SA. Also, it is expected that the excellent growth of active grill shutters may entice other players to enter the market to tap the growth potential.The global automotive active grille shutter market is segmented based on the vehicle type as Passenger Car, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) and M&HCV (Medium- and Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicle). A passenger car is expected to remain the growth engine of the global automotive active grille shutter market during the forecast period of 2018 to 2023. Increasing production of passenger cars coupled with increasing penetration of AGS in passenger car models is likely to elevate the demand for AGS in the passenger car segment.Based on the shutter vanes type, the automotive active grille shutter market is segmented as Horizontal Vanes and Vertical Vanes. Horizontal vane-based active grille shutter is expected to remain most dominant type in the global automotive active grille shutter market during the forecast period. Both horizontal, as well as vertical vane segments, are likely to witness healthy growth rates over the next five years.Based on the regions, Europe is expected to remain the largest automotive active grille shutter market during the forecast period. Stricter emission norms of European Commission have led to a faster adoption of active grille shutter into European vehicles. Ford Focus & Fusion, BMW 5 Series & 7 Series, Renault Twingo & Talisman, Citroen C4 Picasso, and Audi Q7 are some key European models that have active grille shutters. Asia-Pacific is likely to depict the highest growth during the forecast period with China being the key source of growth.The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, actuator suppliers, automotive active grille shutter manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and dealers, and end-users. the key raw material suppliers for automotive active grille shutter are Lanxess AG, Celanese Corporation, and BASF SE, whereas some of the major active grille shutter actuator suppliers are Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Sonceboz SA, Johnson Electric, and Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG.The key automotive active grille shutter manufacturers are Rochling Automotive, Magna International Inc., Valeo SA, SRG Global, HBPO, and Shape Corporation. The development of integrated active grille shutters and forming strategic alliances with the automakers are the key strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.Report FeaturesThis 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 into 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: Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis Market trend and forecast analysis Market segment trend and forecast Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc. Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities Emerging trends Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players Key success factorsThe global automotive active grille shutter market is segmented into the following categories.Automotive Active Grille Shutter Market, By Vehicle Type Passenger Car (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW) Light Commercial Vehicle (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW) Medium- & Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicle (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)Automotive Active Grille Shutter Market, By Shutter Vanes Type Horizontal Vanes (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW) Vertical Vanes (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)Automotive Active Grille Shutter Market, By Shutter Type Visible AGS (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW) Non-Visible AGS (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)Automotive Active Grille Shutter Market, By Region North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico) Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific) Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Argentina, and Others)About Stratview ResearchStratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2600, Detroit, Michigan, MI 48243 United States of America Global Animal Health Services Market 2019 Top Key Players: Vetoquinol, Elanco Products Company, Ceva Sante Animale, Novartis Animal Health Inc., Zoetis Inc. Animal Health Services Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3713593-global-animal-health-services-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3713593-global-animal-health-services-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3713593 SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Animal Health Services Market 2019 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2024 reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Animal Health Services Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Animal Health Services Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report focuses on the global Animal Health Services status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Animal Health Services development in United States, Europe and China.The key players covered in this studyVetoquinolElanco Products CompanyBoehringer Ingelheim GmbhCeva Sante AnimaleVirbac SANovartis Animal Health Inc.Bayer AGMerial Ltd.Merck & Co. Inc.Zoetis Inc.Request a Sample Report @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoFeed AdditivesPharmaceuticalsVaccinesMarket segment by Application, split intoProduction AnimalsCompanion AnimalsMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze global Animal Health Services status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the Animal Health Services 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.At any Query @Major Key Points in Table of Content1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Animal Health Services Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2025)1.4.2 Feed Additives1.4.3 Pharmaceuticals1.4.4 Vaccines1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Animal Health Services Market Share by Application (2014-2025)1.5.2 Production Animals1.5.3 Companion Animals1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 Animal Health Services Market Size2.2 Animal Health Services Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 Animal Health Services Market Size by Regions (2014-2025)2.2.2 Animal Health Services Market Share by Regions (2014-2019)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities.12 International Players Profiles12.1 Vetoquinol12.1.1 Vetoquinol Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.1.4 Vetoquinol Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.1.5 Vetoquinol Recent Development12.2 Elanco Products Company12.2.1 Elanco Products Company Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.2.4 Elanco Products Company Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.2.5 Elanco Products Company Recent Development12.3 Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh12.3.1 Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.3.4 Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.3.5 Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh Recent Development12.4 Ceva Sante Animale12.4.1 Ceva Sante Animale Company Details12.4.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.4.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.4.4 Ceva Sante Animale Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.4.5 Ceva Sante Animale Recent Development12.5 Virbac SA12.5.1 Virbac SA Company Details12.5.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.5.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.5.4 Virbac SA Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.5.5 Virbac SA Recent Development12.6 Novartis Animal Health Inc.12.6.1 Novartis Animal Health Inc. Company Details12.6.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.6.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.6.4 Novartis Animal Health Inc. Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.6.5 Novartis Animal Health Inc. Recent Development12.7 Bayer AG12.7.1 Bayer AG Company Details12.7.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.7.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.7.4 Bayer AG Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.7.5 Bayer AG Recent Development12.8 Merial Ltd.12.8.1 Merial Ltd. Company Details12.8.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.8.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.8.4 Merial Ltd. Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.8.5 Merial Ltd. Recent Development12.9 Merck & Co. Inc.12.9.1 Merck & Co. Inc. Company Details12.9.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.9.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.9.4 Merck & Co. Inc. Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.9.5 Merck & Co. Inc. Recent Development12.10 Zoetis Inc.12.10.1 Zoetis Inc. Company Details12.10.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.10.3 Animal Health Services Introduction12.10.4 Zoetis Inc. Revenue in Animal Health Services Business (2014-2019)12.10.5 Zoetis Inc. Recent DevelopmentBuy NOW @Continued.Contact Us: sales@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 LtdPune 411028Maharashtra,+91 841 198 5042 Technological Changes in Modern Healthcare Facilities Hit the Global Endoscopy Devices Market to Reach reach $40,854 million by 2022 www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1483 www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1483 www.alliedmarketresearch.com Rise in prevalence of diseases that require endoscopy procedures such as cancers and gastrointestinal diseases is one of the prime reasons that drives the growth of endoscopy devices market. In addition, growth in baby boomer generation with high risk of targeted diseases, rise in awareness about novel endoscopy devices, and patient preference for the minimally invasive nature of endoscopy devices propel the market growth.Modern endoscopy techniques have revolutionized the examination and treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract (including esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) and the colon. Increase in adoption of innovative endoscopy devices such as capsule endoscopes and robot-assisted endoscopy along with ultra-high-definition visualization systems further augments the market growth.Endoscopy Devices Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $40,854 million by 2022 from $27,273 million in 2015, registering a CAGR of 5.7% during the period 2016 to 2022. The flexible endoscopes are expected to dominate the global endoscopy devices market. North America is projected to continue its lead, accounting for more than one-third share of the global endoscopy devices market in 2015.Get sample copy of this report @The laparoscopic interventions is anticipated to generate the highest revenue of $9,350 million, whereas the gastrointestinal endoscopy interventions is expected to grow at the fastest rate of 6.8% during the analysis period, owing to its increase in need, as the surge in geriatric population is directly proportionate to the rise in number of diseases related to the GI tract.Flexible endoscopes dominated the endoscopy devices market, accounting for over three-fourth oftotal share in 2015, owing to their ability to reach viscera and cavities not visible to the naked eye and where the rigid endoscopy fails to examine. Diversified use of flexible endoscopy devices in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases such as gallbladder disease with lower risk, followed by rapid recovery along with minimal post-surgical complications favored its growth in the laparoscopy market. Among other products, the endoscopy cameras hold more than one-fifth of the total stake in the endoscopy visualization and documentation systems. This is attributed to the fact that cameras, being an integral component of the endoscopy system, are continuously evolving, and currently cameras offering ultra-high-definition resolution and clarity are being employed to capture the meticulous detail of the visceral organs during surgery.North America accounted for the major share in the endoscopy devices market in2015, and is expected to maintain this trend throughout the forecast period. This is due to the rise in prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with increase in geriatric population, high adoption rate of technologically advanced endoscopy devices, and high awareness regarding the benefits of endoscopy interventions. In addition,presence of highly sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, rise in measures for preventive healthcare, and favorable reimbursement scenario propelled the market growth. However, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow rapidly attributed to the presence of ample growth opportunities in terms of unmet medical needs for the diagnosis of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer in this region and questfor improved quality of life in emerging countries.Top Key Players : Olympus Corporation HOYA Corporation Fujifilm Holdings Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation CONMED Corporation Stryker Corporation Smith & Nephew Plc Medtronic Plc KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG Johnson & Johnson.Send Enquiry on this report @About Us: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 StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1?855?550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: Bioresorbable Scaffolds Market 2019 Analysis - Research Covers Top 10 Players as Abbott, Boston Scientific Corporation, Elixir Medical Corporation, REVA Medical, Inc, Amaranth Medical, Inc., Kyoto Medical Planning Co. Ltd Etc Bioresorbable Scaffolds Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1251 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bioresorbable-scaffolds-market-1251 MarketResearchFuture Present a Premium Research Report on Global Bioresorbable scaffolds Research Report - Forecast To 2023 Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 18.9% During Forecasted Period of 2018-2023.Bioresorbable Scaffolds Market - SegmentationFactors taken into consideration during segmentation of the global bioresorbable scaffolds market include material, types, application, end-users, and region. Materials used in bioresorbable scaffolds have been segmented into polymeric scaffold, polycarbonate scaffold, absorbable magnesium stent (AMS), and others.Types of bioresorbable scaffolds have been segmented into sirolimus-eluting device, paclitaxel-eluting device, drug-eluting coronary scaffolds, everolimus-eluting device, and novolimus-eluting device.Applications of bioresorbable scaffolds include regulation of blood flow, peripheral vascular intervention, and others.End-users identified in the bioresorbable scaffolds market include clinics, hospitals, and others.Request Sample Report atBioresorbable Scaffolds Market - InsightsBioresorbable scaffolds are naturally dissolving devices which have been innovated from traditional scaffolds. Also known as bioresorbable stents, these devices are manufactured from various materials for the prevention or treatment of blockage in blood vessels, and are safely absorbed by the body over a period of time. Market Research Future's analysis and calculations regarding the market's growth has concluded that the global bioresorbable scaffold market is expected to grow at a highly optimistic CAGR of 18.9% during the assessment period ranging between 2017 and 2023.Cardiovascular disease incidence has risen tremendously and is one of the leading causes of death across the world. Stents or scaffolds are often used in the treatment of such diseases where there are arterial blockages around the heart among others. Such cardiovascular diseases can be caused by several factors, many of which are highly prevalent today, making the demand for bioresorbable scaffold quite high.The adoption of highly unhealthy lifestyles choices such as poor diet and sedentary lifestyles has drastically increased the prevalence of diabetes and obesity. In 2014, 39% of adults across the globe over the age of 18 were found to be overweight with 13% being obese. Government support regarding research and development of cardiovascular treatment devices and the like is a huge booster for the growth of the bioresorbable scaffolds market. Development of bioresorbable scaffolds has been a recent innovation and reduces the requirement for multiple surgeries making it a highly attractive option, thus increased demand for the same.However, the market's growth is obstructed by the demand and availability of alternate treatment options as well as the current high costs associated with bioresorbable scaffolds. Product innovation is likely to mitigate these constraints over the forecast period.Latest Industry NewsReva Medical has expanded its bioresorbable scaffold commercial operations to seven new countries in Europe. The U.S based company will be expanding to several eastern European countries.Low commercial sales have prompted Abbott to withdraw its bioresorbable scaffold from the Indian market.Browse Complete 130 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 52 Respective Tables and Figures atBioresorbable Scaffolds Market - Regional AnalysisThe Americas are a very large region in the global bioresorbable scaffolds market. The region has some of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease incidence, making the Americas the most significant region in the global bioresorbable scaffolds market. The region also has a large geriatric population and a strong presence of several leading market players in the region. Countries like the US have a high obese population due to sedentary lifestyles being highly common as well as poor eating habits which eventually cause high chances of heart problems. Asia Pacific has a huge patient population and accounts for the fastest growing regional market due to the development of sophisticated medical technology which is increasingly being adopted in the APAC region. APAC also has several emerging economies where healthcare reforms are expected to help expand the bioresorbable scaffolds market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Product Fall Protection Systems Market Highlighting Globally Revenue Shares through 2018-2028 | Key Players - Huck Nets (UK) LTD, w.w. Cannon Inc., CERTEX USA Inc., US Cargo Control, etc. https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=853 https://www.factmr.com/report/853/product-fall-protection-systems-market https://www.factmr.com/checkout/511/S https://www.factmr.com/ https://factmrblog.com/ In order to study the various trends and patterns prevailing in the concerned market, FactMR has included a new report titled Product Fall Protection Systems Market Highlighting Globally Revenue Shares through 2018-2028 to its wide online database including upcoming trends and growth factors. This research assessment offers a clear insight about the influential factors that are expected to transform the global market in the near future. The report studies the product fall protection systems market trends worldwide, especially in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, India and Other Regions with production, size, growth, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions.Request for Sample of this Global Market Research Report Here Transportation service providers are analyzing damage risks for products at the time of transit to develop risk-specific equipment, which in turn is likely to pave new opportunities in the product fall protection systems market. Various industries including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, and food & beverage, are employing product fall protection systems for optimizing procedures to secure products during shipping.FactMR recent study foretells that the product fall protection systems market will record a modest 4.2% value CAGR over the period of forecast, 2018 to 2028. Improving product safety along with aiding productivity enhancement in various manufacturing process are key benefits of product fall protection systems that have driven their market expansion. The product fall protection system market will also remain influenced by robust application in flat rack securing, warehousing and railcar securing.With the warehousing industrys uptake, fuelled by expansion of ecommerce and proliferation of online trading platforms, rack safety products such as pallet rack safety nets have observed significant adoption in recent years. With employees and goods protection being one of the primary agenda of the warehousing industry, pallet rack safety nets are extensively employed. Manufacturers of rack safety products are mandated to comply with regulatory standards such as the National Fire Protection Associations longitudinal flue space requirements. These standards have further improvised equipment development.Request Global Market Report with TOC Here -Most of the product fall protection systems such as cargo bednet, cargo stabilization bar, and cargo load bags find numerous applications in the transportation and logistics industry. The increasing growth of the world trade industry and e-commerce sector has therefore been driving growth of the transportation and logistics industry. It has further created maximum demand for goods protection equipment, thereby fostering expansion of the product fall protection systems market.However, recent changes in the foreign trade policy are likely to impact the import and export activities, which may hamper the demand for warehousing and transportation services. This will further inhibit expansion of the product fall protection systems market to a certain extent. For example, border tax adjustments, or BTAs is an important part of the changes trade policies, which imparts taxes on goods imported from countries and do not impose any rules or regulations to control emissions from various manufacturing companies. This might impact the transportation & logistics industry in various countries, impeding the overall growth of the product fall protection systems market.Absence of laws and regulations apropos of product safety in most of the developing as well as underdeveloped nations is another key factor impeding growth of the product fall protection systems market. Additionally, lack of awareness on availability of advanced product safety equipment among manufacturing facilities has hindered adoption, thereby curbing the growth potential of the product fall protection systems market.With the primary focus of warehouses being dedicated to pallet storage, risks of product damage against the backdrop of falls remains high in warehouses. This is paving requirements among warehouse owners to prevent products from being damaged.To buy this Report, Click here -About FactMrFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400, Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Blog: Rice Powder Market www.qandqmarketresearch.com/reports/7461815/rice-powder-market-39 www.qandqmarketresearch.com/reports/7461815/rice-powder-market-39 www.qandqmarketresearch.com/reports/7461815/rice-powder-market-39 https://The global Rice Powder market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 20192025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Rice Powder market based on company, product type, end user and key regions.This report studies the global market size of Rice Powder in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Rice Powder in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Rice Powder market by top players/brands, region, type and end user. This report also studies the global Rice Powder market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels and distributors.https://The following manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, market share for each company:Burapa ProsperThai Flour IndustryRose BrandCHO HENGKoda FarmsBIFLieng TongBobs Red Mill Natural FoodsPornkamon Rice Flour MillsHUANGGUOMarket size by ProductBrown Rice PowderGlutinous Rice PowderOtherMarket size by End UserRice Noodle and Rice PastaSweets and DessertsSnacksBreadThickening AgentMarket size by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsiaPacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of Central & South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Rice Powder market size value & volume by company, key regions, products and end user, breakdown data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.To understand the structure of Rice Powder market by identifying its various subsegments.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industryspecific challenges and risks.Focuses on the key global Rice Powder companies, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape and recent development.To project the value and sales volume of Rice Powder submarkets, with respect to key regions.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Rice Powder are as follows:History Year: 20142018Base Year: 2018Estimated Year: 2019Forecast Year 2019 to 2025This report includes the estimation of market size for value million US$ and volume K MT. Both topdown and bottomup approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of Rice Powder market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market. Key players in the market have been identified through secondary research, and their market shares have been determined through primary and secondary research. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified primary sources.https://For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2018 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.QandQ Market Research is a Market aggregator brand owned solely by Megamind Research Pvt Ltd., an India based company. QandQ Market Research is an online marketplace of research report published by leading market research agencies by collecting their global and regional market reports on 100+ industry verticals.Our database includes 1,000,000+ market research reports from over 75 leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With vast years of experience in the research field and comprehensive information about the publishers and their respective industrial expertise, we have gained grass root knowledge about the gaps prevailing within the research industry. Using this, we enable our clients to compare comprehensive research studies of various publishers so that they can procure best researching solutions for their organization. With this, we wish to collaborate with top companies across globe in being a trusted name for their researching requirements.QandQ Market Research constantly strives to expand its existing market report collection to give broader choices to its esteemed clients.Be it first time or every time, with our expertise in research offerings and wide range of publications, we ensure we deliver all your research needs.We are available 24/7 to offer support to our customers. So contact us anytime for your specific research needs and we will get in touch immediately to help you find a market research report you need.QandQ Market ResearchVia dell'Archeologia 29,Roma 00133,Italy.Call us : +1 833 267 4156Email : lokesh@qandqmarketresearch.com Urinary Catheters Market Needs, Business Strategies And The Growth Condition By Top Leading Manufactures: Boston Scientific Corporation, Hollister Incorporated, Teleflex Incorporation, CR Brad and more Urinary Catheters Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-toc-and-sample/1391 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1391 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/urinary-catheters-market A urethral catheter is a partially flexible, hollow tube that collects urine from the bladder of a patient suffering from a condition such as dementia, urinates and undergoes surgery at the site of the body, such as the genital or prostate, and includes multiple sclerosis, urinary incontinence, damaged. Urethane catheters are the only medical device that helps this problem because there is no cure that can easily pass urine through the body. Latex, silicone or polyurethane are widely used in the manufacture of urethral catheters.The large pool of elderly people suffering from urinary disease, increased demand for advanced urethral catheters, the ease of buying a urethral catheter, and good reimbursement policies are key drivers for the demand for urethral catheters. However, patient mismatches, concerns about disposal of used catheters, social stigmatization and the availability of alternative substances are expected to hamper market growth. Approximately 75% of the UTIs contracted at the hospital are due to urethral catheters. Market participants are seeking to develop advanced technologies to reduce urinary tract infections in the urethral catheter market.Download PDF Report Sample @Leading companies have adopted strategies such as new product launch and acquisition to expand their product portfolio and gain a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in September 2015, Boston Scientific Corporation launched new balloon catheters, which were designed to cater to the issue of peripheral intervention. In addition, in September 2014, Boston Scientific Corporation acquired Bayer AG, to enhance the ability of healthcare solutions.The key players profiled in this report are Boston Scientific Corporation Hollister Incorporated Teleflex Incorporation CR Brad Inc. Cure Medical Cook Medical CompactCath ConvaTec BioDerm Coloplast A/S B. Braun Melsungen AG.This report categorizes the global urethral catheter market by product type, application, and region. Depending on the product type, the market is classified as Intake Catheter, Intermittent Catheter and External Catheter. Depending on the application, the market is classified as spinal cord injury, incontinence, prostate surgery and urinary incontinence. Markets are analyzed based on North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and LAMEA regions.Make an Enquiry before Buy @KEY BENEFITS: The report provides a quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations from 2014 to 2021. The world urinary catheters market is analyzed based on product type, application, and geography. The urinary catheters market is analyzed based on regions to understand the regional trends across various geographies. SWOT analysis highlights the internal environment of key market players to facilitate effective strategy formulation. Key market players within the world urinary catheters market are profiled in this report and their strategies are analyzed thoroughly, which helps in understanding competitive outlook of world urinary catheters market.Access Full Summery @About Us:Allied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free (USA/Canada):+1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.com Smart Clothing Market Business Growth Statistics and Key Players Insights: Heddoko, Ralph Lauren, Hexoskin, Cityzen Sciences Smart Clothing Market https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1063952 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1063952 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/1063952 This report researches the worldwide Smart Clothing market size (value, capacity, production and consumption) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (China, Japan) and other regions.This study categorizes the global Smart Clothing 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.Global Smart Clothing market size will increase to Million US$ by 2025, from Million US$ in 2017, at a CAGR of during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Smart Clothing.The following manufacturers are covered in this report: Heddoko Ralph Lauren Hexoskin Cityzen Sciences Gymi Xsensio Athos AiQ Smart ClothingGet Sample Copy of This Report @Worldwide Smart Clothing Market 2019 research report conveys industry business patterns and the undertaking information, tolerating one to grasp clients and the stock driving gainfulness and yield development. The report highlights information on improvements and Global Smart Clothing market trends, drivers, revenue and furthermore available. The market report pulls in the most peculiar bits of knowledge of this business additionally makes Smart Clothing forecast that is important out there. It accompanies estimations concerning the Smart Clothing advancement, subordinate and draws in the distinguishing proof of their industry status.This report provides in depth study of Smart Clothing market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Smart Clothing Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.Smart Clothing Breakdown Data by Type Adult Smart Clothing Children Smart ClothingSmart Clothing Breakdown Data by Application Diving Clothing Protective Clothing Medical Clothing OtherSmart Clothing Production Breakdown Data by Region United States Europe China Japan Other RegionsGet The Best Discounts Offer of This Report @Report Includes:-The report cloaks the market analysis and projection of Smart Clothing Market on a regional as well as global level. The report constitutes qualitative and quantitative valuation by industry analysts, first-hand data, assistance from industry experts along with their most recent verbatim and each industry manufacturers via the market value chain.The research experts have additionally assessed the in general sales and revenue generation of this particular market. In addition, this report also delivers widespread analysis of root market trends, several governing elements and macro-economic indicators, coupled with market improvements as per every segment.The study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Smart Clothing capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast;To focus on the key Smart Clothing 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.FEATURES OF THE REPORT:1. The analysis of Smart Clothing market, their Growth, Demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed.2. The key players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. The new strategic plan and suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed.4. The Smart Clothing market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, opportunities, end-user analysis and achievement and so on.ContinuedTo Get info on this Report, Do Enquiry Here @About QY Research Groups:-QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comRoom B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Global Pharmerging Market to 2016-2024| Abbott Laboratories, Koninklijke Philips N.V., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1066982 https://www.researchmoz.us/pharmerging-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1066982 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreportandanalysis.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Pharmerging Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on pharmerging market studies the current as well as future prospects of the market globally. The stakeholders of this report include companies and intermediaries engaged in the manufacture and commercialization of various pharmaceutical products as well as new entrants planning to enter this market. This report comprises an elaborate executive summary along with a market snapshot providing overall information of various segments and sub-segments considered within the scope of the study. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global pharmerging market with respect to the leading market segments based on major products, applications and geographies.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The market overview section of the report explores the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the global pharmerging market and could influence the market in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis has been provided in all the sections of the report in order to explain the intensity of competition in the market across different products/materials/technologies/end-users/geographies. The competitive scenario among different market players is evaluated through market share analysis in the competition landscape section of the report. The section also includes competition matrix that analyzes the competition among some of the top global players operating in the market. All these factors would help market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their shares in the global market.Global Pharmerging Market: SegmentationThe global pharmerging market is divided into: by product, by economic growth levels, by distribution channel and by geography. Product type segment of pharmerging market was divided into Pharmaceuticals (Branded Prescription Drugs, Generic Drugs (Branded Generics, Unbranded Generics), and OTC Drugs) and Healthcare (Medical Devices, and Diagnostic Instruments, Others (IT and record management)). On the basis of Economic Growth Levels the market was divided as - Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3). On the basis of distribution channel the pharmerging market is divided as hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, e-commerce, and drug stores.The market for these segments has been extensively analyzed based on their utility, effectiveness, sales, and geographic presence. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn and market volume in terms of units for the period from 2016 to 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all segments, considering 2016 as the base year.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Geographically, the pharmerging market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Each regional market for pharmerging market has been further categorized into major product, applications, material, and end-user segments considered within the scope of the study. Key country (U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, U.K., Australia, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, India, etc.) market revenues have also been provided in different regional sections within the report. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn and volume in terms of units for the period from 2014 to 2025 along with CAGR % from 2016 to 2025 are provided for all the regions and nations considering 2016 as the base year.Companies Mentioned in the Research ReportThe report profiles key manufacturers in the pharmerging market based on various attributes such as company details, SWOT analysis, strategic overview, financials, and business overview. Major players profiled in this report include Abbott Laboratories, Koninklijke Philips N.V., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline plc., LUPIN, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd., etc.Make An Enquiry @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 us on Blogger at : Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Market: Know The Key Growth Drivers Developments and Innovations In 2017 - 2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/12008 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/toc/12008 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/checkout?rep_id=12008&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz is providing you Retail Market Research report of "Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Market - Global Industry Trend Analysis 2012 to 2017 and Forecast 2017 - 2025 ".The objectives of this study are as follows: To define, describe, and forecast the "Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)" market by type, application, component, delivery model, end user, and region To provide detailed information regarding major factors influencing market growth (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges) To analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall market To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leaders To forecast the market size of market segments with respect to the four key regions: North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW) To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their product portfolios, market positions, and core competenciesGet Sample Copy Of This Report @The television and broadcasting sector has been undergoing significant technological and structural changes, which have given consumers access to a great variety of broadcasting services. The existing Analogue TV Transmitters in world serve about 66% of world population. Constrained by limited frequency capacity, the analogue terrestrial television platform needed a new & more efficient transmission system to meet the demands of the future and to allow for the launch of new services. Whole world has adopted DVB Standard for its digitalization of terrestrial network. In today's growing market for electronic devices, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) with advanced video and audio features are in constant demand. High definition video quality and voice clarity are a few of the major parameters that are needed for new Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting allows the transmission of about 10 or more digital services in a single frequency channel, depending on the technical parameters used and the quality of services desired.Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market: Drivers and ChallengesThe major growth drivers of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market include increasing demand of smart TVs and recent technological advancements in telecom and broadcast industry. In addition, Growth of smart residential properties will drive the growth of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market. Increasing penetration of internet has led to growth of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) across the globe.Worldwide financial uncertainty and macroeconomic situations such as currency exchange rates and economic difficulties are some of the major factors which are hindering the growth of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Market.Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market: SegmentationGlobal Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Market can be segmented as:Segmentation on the basis of By Channel:On the basis of product type Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market is segmented into audio standard definition channel and video high definition channel.Segmentation on the basis of end-user:Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) are widely used in residential and commercial. Residential segment is becoming the prominent segment in global Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market.Competition LandscapeKey contractsKey Contracts in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market are as:In September 2015, Intelsat S.A., United States based communications satellite services provider entered into partnership with Sentech, a South Africa based broadcasting signal distributor. In order to Delivers Direct-to Home and Digital Terrestrial Television Services.Key PlayersSome of the major players in Global Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Market are Humax Co., Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Kaonmedia Co., Ltd., Technicolor SA, ADB (Advanced Digital Broadcast) SA, Sagemcom SAS, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., ARRIS Group, Inc., EchoStar Corporation, Intelsat S.A., Sentech and others.Request For TOC @Regional OverviewNorth America is holding the largest market share for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market due to adaptation in residential segment. Due to increasing demand for HD video channels Asia Pacific will hold maximum market share for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in near future. Europe is fastest growing market for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Sturdy economic progress, driving the growth of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market in MEA region. The Demand for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market has risen dramatically over the past 18 months globally.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market SegmentsMarket Dynamics of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) marketHistorical Actual Market Size, 2012 - 2016Market Size & Forecast 2017 to 2027Value Chain of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) marketMarket Current Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedMarket Drivers and RestraintsRegional analysis for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market includes development of these systems in the following regions:North AmericaBy USBy CanadaLatin AmericaBy BrazilBy MexicoBy OthersEastern EuropeRussiaPolandRest OF Eastern EuropeWestern EuropeGermanyFranceU.K.SpainItalyNORDICBeneluxRest of Western EuropeAsia PacificBy Australia and New Zealand (ANZ)By Greater ChinaBy IndiaBy ASEANBy Rest of Asia PacificJapanMiddle East and AfricaBy GCC CountriesBy Other Middle EastBy North AfricaBy South AfricaBy Other AfricaMRR.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.Pre Book Report @About UsMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Craft Beer Market Research Report 2019 | Industry Analysis, Share, Size and Top Key Players Guiness, Tsingtao Brewery, Carlsberg,Kirin Brewery, Heinekein Holding NV Forecast to 2023 Craft Beer , Craft Beer Market, Craft Beer Market Trends, Craft Beer Manufacturing, Craft Beer Market Share https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3332506-global-Craft https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3332506-global-Craft Global Craft Beer Industry Research Report 2019Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Craft Beer - Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers and Analysis of Top Key Players to 2023 To Its Research DatabaseGlobal Craft Beer Market 2023Based on the Craft Beer industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Craft Beer market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Craft Beer market.The Craft Beer market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.Major Players in Craft Beer market are:GuinessAnheuser-Busch InBev S.A. NVTsingtao BreweryCarlsbergDiageo PLCKirin BreweryHeinekein Holding NVSAB MillerGet Sample Report of Craft Beer Market@Beer-market-by-manufacturers-regions-type-andMajor Regions play vital role in Craft Beer market are:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaOthersMost important types of Craft Beer products covered in this report are:AlesLagersMost widely used downstream fields of Craft Beer market covered in this report are:On-tradeOff-tradeComplete report with Comprehensive table of contents@Beer-market-by-manufacturers-regions-type-andMajor Key Points in Table of ContentGlobal Craft Beer Industry Market Research Report1 Craft Beer Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Craft Beer1.3 Craft Beer Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis1.3.2 Global Craft Beer Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2012-20221.4 Market Segmentation1.4.1 Types of Craft Beer1.4.2 Applications of Craft Beer1.4.3 Research Regions1.4.3.1 North America Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.2 Europe Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.3 China Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.4 Japan Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.5 Middle East & Africa Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.6 India Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.7 South America Craft Beer Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Drivers1.5.1.1 Emerging Countries of Craft Beer1.5.1.2 Growing Market of Craft Beer1.5.2 Limitations1.5.3 Opportunities1.6 Industry News and Policies by Regions1.6.1 Industry News1.6.2 Industry Policies5 Global Craft Beer Production, Value ($) by Region (2012-2017)5.1 Global Craft Beer Value ($) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)5.2 Global Craft Beer Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)5.3 Global Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.4 North America Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.5 Europe Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.6 China Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.7 Japan Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.8 Middle East & Africa Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.9 India Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.10 South America Craft Beer Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9 Global Craft Beer Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application9.1 Global Craft Beer Market Value ($) & Volume Forecast, by Type (2017-2022)9.1.1 Ales Market Value ($) and Volume Forecast (2017-2022)9.1.2 Lagers Market Value ($) and Volume Forecast (2017-2022)9.2 Global Craft Beer Market Value ($) & Volume Forecast, by Application (2017-2022)9.2.1 On-trade Market Value ($) and Volume Forecast (2017-2022)9.2.2 Off-trade Market Value ($) and Volume Forecast (2017-2022)10 Craft Beer Market Analysis and Forecast by Region10.1 North America Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.2 Europe Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.3 China Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.4 Japan Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.5 Middle East & Africa Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.6 India Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)10.7 South America Market Value ($) and Consumption Forecast (2017-2022)Continued................Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Feminine Hygiene Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2019 2025 Global Feminine Hygiene Industry Latest Report on Feminine Hygiene Market Global Analysis & 2025 Forecast Research Study The report covers the analysis and forecast of the feminine hygiene market on global as well as regional level. The study provides historic data of 2016 along with the forecast for the period between 2017 and 2025 based on revenue (US$). The study provides a detailed view of the feminine hygiene market, by segmenting it based on by product type, by distribution channels and regional demand. In developed and developing countries, rise in disposable income of individuals leads to growth in sales of feminine hygiene products. Moreover, increasing demand of biodegradable and organic based sanitary products, further strengthens the market position. Huge scope in buying process of feminine hygiene products also contributes to the growth of the market in near future. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. The segmentation also includes by product type, and distribution channels in all regions. These include different business strategies adopted by the leading players and their recent developments. Try Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2882934-global-feminine-hygiene-market-by-product-type-sanitary-pads-tampons A comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics that is inclusive of market drivers, restraints, and opportunities is part of the report. Additionally, the report includes potential opportunities in the feminine hygiene market at the global and regional levels. Market dynamics are the factors which impact the market growth, so their analysis helps understand the ongoing trends of the global market. Therefore, the report provides the forecast of the global market for the period from 2017 to 2025, along with offering an inclusive study of the feminine hygiene market. The report provides the size of the feminine hygiene market in 2017 and the forecast for the next eight years up to 2025. The size of the global feminine hygiene market is provided in terms of revenue. Market revenue is defined in US$ Mn. The market dynamics prevalent in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America has been taken into account in estimating the growth of the global market. Market estimates for this study have been based on revenue being derived through regional pricing trends. The feminine hygiene market has been analyzed based on expected demand. Bottom-up approach is done to estimate the global revenue of the feminine hygiene market, split into regions. Based on product type and distribution channel, the individual revenues from all the regions is summed up to achieve the global revenue for feminine hygiene. Companies were considered for the market share analysis, based on their innovation and application and revenue generation. In the absence of specific data related to the sales of feminine hygiene several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of the companys penetration and regional presence. The report covers a detailed competitive outlook that includes the market share and company profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Unicharm Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Edgewell Personal Care, Ontex among others. The global feminine hygiene market has been segmented into: Global Feminine Hygiene Market: By Product Type Sanitary Pads Tampons Panty Liners Feminine Hygiene Wash Menstrual Cup Disposable Razors and Blade Global Feminine Hygiene Market: By Distribution Channel Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Pharmacies & Beauty Stores Drug Stores Convenience Stores Online Purchase Global Feminine Hygiene Market: By Geography North America o U.S. o Canada o Mexico Europe o U.K. o France o Germany o Italy o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o India o China o Japan o Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa o South Africa o Rest of Middle East and Africa Latin America o Brazil o Rest of Latin America For Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2882934-global-feminine-hygiene-market-by-product-type-sanitary-pads-tampons Some points from table of content: 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2.1 ECOSYSTEM OF FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET 2.2 TOP-DOWN APPROACH 2.3 BOTTOM-UP APPROACH 2.4 ASSUMPTIONS 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3.1 GLOBAL FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET SNAPSHOT 3.2 GLOBAL FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET REVENUE, 2017 2025(US$ MN) 4 MARKET OVERVIEW 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 KEY TRENDS ANALYSIS 4.3 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION ANALYSIS 4.4 PORTERS FIVE FORCE ANALYSIS 4.5 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS 4.6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 4.7 COMPANY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS 4.8 EXPANSION STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY LEADING PLAYERS 5 GLOBAL FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE 5.1 OVERVIEW 5.2 SANITARY PADS 5.3 TAMPONS 5.4 PANTY LINERS 5.5 FEMININE HYGIENE WASH 5.6 MENSTRUAL CUP 5.7 DISPOSABLE RAZORS AND BLADE 6 GLOBAL FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET, BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS 6.1 OVERVIEW 6.2 SUPERMARKETS/HYPERMARKETS 6.3 PHARMACIES & BEAUTY STORES 6.4 DRUG STORES 6.5 CONVENIENCE STORES 6.6 ONLINE PURCHASE 7 GLOBAL FEMININE HYGIENE MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY 7.1 NORTH AMERICA 7.1.1 MARKET DYNAMICS 7.1.1.1 DRIVERS 7.1.1.2 RESTRAINS 7.1.1.3 OPPORTUNITY 7.1.2 U.S. 7.1.3 CANADA 7.1.4 MEXICO 7.2 EUROPE 7.2.1 MARKET DYNAMICS 7.2.1.1 DRIVERS 7.2.1.2 RESTRAINS 7.2.1.3 OPPORTUNITY 7.2.2 U.K. 7.2.3 FRANCE 7.2.4 GERMANY 7.2.5 SPAIN 7.2.6 REST OF EUROPE 7.3 ASIA PACIFIC 7.3.1 MARKET DYNAMICS 7.3.1.1 DRIVERS 7.3.1.2 RESTRAINS 7.3.1.3 OPPORTUNITY 7.3.2 INDIA 7.3.3 CHINA Continued. For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.com 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 understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. Contact Us: Norah Trent +91 841 198 5042 Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Rising Production Rate Across Color Cosmetics Market Impacts Growth until 2022 | Key Players - Procter & Gamble, Chantecaille Beaute , Revlon, Limited, Coty, Shiseido Company, the Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Avon Products https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=64 https://www.factmr.com/report/64/color-cosmetics-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=64 https://www.factmr.com/ https://factmrblog.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ The color cosmetics market rides on the back of several macro-trends in the overall beauty industry. The distinct demand trajectories for color cosmetics has been witnessing several spikes over the past few years driven by changing fashion and fads. These changes have been increasingly being driven by consumers who are looking for newer and more effective formulations in skincare and anti-aging products. The growing inclination toward color cosmetics based on natural and organic ingredients has unlocked promising prospects in the market. Strategies on capitalizing on these avenues have led to notable product innovations in color cosmetics, especially in developing and developed regions. Market players are also leveraging the potential of online commerce to introduce new products and tap into emerging markets for color cosmetics.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @According to Fact.MR, the opportunities in the color cosmetics market is expected to cross worth of US$80 billion by the end 2022. The demand for color cosmetics will rise at a promising pace over the forecast period of 20172022, projects the report.There is a vast demand for lip care in the color cosmetics products, world over. The segment contributed a revenue share of around 40% in the global color cosmetics market and by the end of it is forecast to reach a worth of US$33 billion. A large chunk of this revenue, about half of it, is expected to come from Asia Pacific region. However, the demand of nail products is fast gathering steam among the users of color cosmetics. The rising popularity of color cosmetics applied on nail will give a substantial boost to the segment in the coming years, with estimated valuation in 2017 was nothing less than US$ 12 billion. The nail care segment is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2017-2022.Lucrative Avenues in Asia Pacific to impart Substantial Growth Impetus to Color Cosmetics MarketAsia Pacific is emerging as the regions with immense potential for companies in the color cosmetics market. This is attributed to the large lucrative avenues in key product segments notably facial make-up and hair color segments. A rapidly aging population has led to a burgeoning adult population, women as well as men, increasingly demanding hair dye brands. This is expected to lead to an extensive uptake of hair color cosmetics products in the region. However, in the coming years, players in the color cosmetics market may shift their attention to North America. A probable reason supporting this shift is the higher growth pace of the regional market, which is anticipated to rise at CAGR of 4.1% during the assessment period.The facial make-up segment is equally attractive segment in the color cosmetic market. The segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6%. The opportunities was estimated at US$7 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to touch an approximate valuation of US$8.7 billion.Get complete report with Comprehensive table of contents @Companies find Substantial Prospects in Hypermarkets/SupermarketsHypermarkets/supermarkets are presently the most popular medium of sales channel for manufacturers and retailers of color cosmetics. Presently, the segments contribute the major share of revenue by sales channel amounting to over 75.0% in the global color cosmetics market. The segment is expected to hold its sway in the global color cosmetics market coming few years as well. The segment is projected to rise at 5.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2022 accounting to a revenue of US$18 billion. However, small retailers are offering stiff competition to change the status quo enjoyed by hypermarkets and supermarkets in the overall color cosmetics market. Over the assessment period, the revenue generated by retailers is projected to be US$5 billion.E-commerce channels in the color cosmetics market are expected to proliferate at a robust CGAR in the coming years. In the year 2017, its revenue share was not substantial amounting to 11.6% in the overall color cosmetics market. However, there are several trends stoking the popularity of online channels for producers of color cosmetics. Rapid advances being made in the internet technologies, especially in emerging and developed economies, and changes in consumer buying patterns, are expected to fuel the demand for e-commerce sales channels in the color cosmetic products. The ease of the accessibility and rapid delivery of products are making e-commerce channel the cynosure of attention for users of color cosmetics.Make an Enquiry before buying this report @About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Blog:Read Industry News at - Microgrid Market to cross 6 GW by 2024, Top Key Players are Lockheed Martin, Exelon, Hitachi, Emerson, Alstom Grid, Honeywell, Caterpillar Inc., Schneider Electric, Siemens, Eaton, GE, ABB, Advanced Microgrid Solutions Microgrid Market www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1187 www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1187 www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/microgrid-market https://www.openpr.com/news/1532214/Worldwide-Pumped-Hydro-Storage-Market-Share-Size-and-Top-Key-Players-Include-Toshiba-Enel-Northland-Power-Inc-Sinohydro-DONGFANG-ELECTRIC-CORPORATION-DEC-Genex-Power-J-Power-Eskom-Holdings-SOC-Ltd-EDF-Voith-Group-Alstom-Power.html www.gminsights.com www.industry-source.org In an era where distributed energy sources are continually promulgated in power networks, microgrid market stands to gain remarkable prominence, given the systems exceptional credibility of ensuring reliable operation in distributed grids with robustness and high flexibility. As the energy demand in conjunction with the environmental concerns have increased dramatically since the past decade, experts believe, decentralized electricity supply through LT lines might not be an optimal solution to address the requirement, especially across remote areas.Request for a sample of this research report @In fact, with the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources in mainstream electricity supply, the operational reliability of the grid network has become an intricate issue for the power giants. In a bid to address this critical aspect, eminent companies are highly banking on microgrids for a seamless integration of distributed generation systems into the network, ensuring highly efficient and reliable power delivery. Therefore, it goes without saying that the changing trend along with the dire necessity of reducing reliance on fossil fuels has provided a significant impetus to microgrid market.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:1. Lockheed Martin2. Exelon3. Hitachi4. Emerson5. Alstom Grid6. Honeywell7. Caterpillar Inc.8. Schneider Electric9. Siemens10. Eaton11. GE12. ABB13. Advanced Microgrid SolutionsAs reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc., Microgrid Market size will exceed USD 19 billion by 2024. Favorable government norms pertaining to integration of renewable energy technology coupled with ongoing measures to electrify rural and urban areas will foster the microgrid market share. Power reliability, economic competitiveness, relatively low power cost and reduced T&D losses are some of the key parameters which will boost the product adoption. In addition, growing off-grid networks across the developing nations will further complement the business outlook.Make an inquiry for buying this report @The U.S. microgrid market size is set to reach over 2 GW by 2024. Growing deployment of sustainable energy sources to reduce the dependence on existing electric networks will positively encourage the industry dynamics. Increasing investments across clean energy sources in the country will further propel the business landscape. According to IEA in 2016, the U.S. invested over USD 250 billion toward development of various energy sources across the nation.Other than Europe, China is also claimed to hold a strong ground in the global microgrid industry share. The exponential increase in power consumption in tandem with the growing investment by the regional government in rural electrification development can be primarily credited for the regional market demand. For the record, presently there are over 20 large-scale microgrid projects operational in China.China microgrid market is set to exceed 1 GW by 2024. Exponential rise in power consumption along with increasing investments across the commercial and industrial development will embellish the business outlook. Favourable government initiatives toward rural electrification coupled with integration of sustainable energy technologies will propel the product penetration.Looking at the promising microgrid sector, big shot investors are betting big on the regional microgrid market. For instance, recently, Capstone Turbine, the renowned California based gas turbine manufacturer has inked a deal with the Chinese Government to supply microturbine for the countrys 10 MW microgrid network. With a strong pipeline of such encouraging initiatives, China microgrid market is slated to exceed a power generation capacity of 1 GW by the end of 2024.Browse key industry insights spread across 300 pages with 798 market data tables & 12 figures & charts from the report, Microgrid Market in detail along with the table of contents:Natural gas as a fuel is set to witness strong growth on account of increasing exploration of unconventional sources across the U.S., China and Russia. Ongoing adoption of fuel as a low emission substitute to conventional source will foster the microgrid market. In August 2016, Capstone Turbine signed a deal with the government of China to supply microturbine for 10 MW microgrid network.Utility microgrid market is set to grow owing to the rapid industrialization and urbanization across the emerging economies. Escalating high-end electricity consumption backed by the presence of new HVAC and heavy load machinery systems in the industrial sector will foster the business growth.Flow battery in 2016, accounted for over 5% of the global microgrid market share. High-end investments toward integration of clean energy technologies along with technological advancement catered to the development of cost-effective energy storage solutions will augment the industry size. Longer life cycles along with higher efficiencies as compared to its competitive counterparts will further complement the product outlook.Rising concerns toward energy security coupled with increasing adoption of sustainable energy sources will stimulate the Japan microgrid market. Government backed extensive research and development projects along with implementation of virtual private networks (VPPs) to mitigate emergency crisis will further embellish the business outlook. In 2017, Panasonic in collaboration with Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry planned to build Solar PV powered microgrid to provide electricity to 117 homes in western Japan.Some Key players in microgrid market include ABB, GE, Eaton, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Caterpillar Inc., Honeywell, Alstom Grid, HOMER Energy, Power Analytics Corporation, Advanced Microgrid Solutions, EnSync Energy Systems, Viridity Energy Solutions, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Exelon, Hitachi, and Emerson.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: Cyber Insurance Market Size, Share, Trends & Growth Industry Forecast 2022 | Key Players are American International Group, The Chubb Corporation, Zurich Insurance Co, XL Group Ltd, Berkshire Hathaway and Others Cyber Insurance Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1705?utm_source=OpenPR https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1705?utm_source=OpenPR https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/cyber-insurance-market?utm_source=OpenPR https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Cyber Insurance Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $14 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of nearly 28% during the period forecast 2022. North America constituted the largest cyber insurance market share in 2015 and it would continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. Growth in the region is supplemented by enforcement of data protection regulations in U.S. Moreover, increase in levels of liability and legislative developments accelerate the market growth.Increase in awareness about cyber risks from boardroom to data centers owing to the rising number of cyber-attacks in the past 23 years is the prime factor that drives the market. However, complex and changing nature of cyber risks limits cyber insurance market growth. Low market penetration of cyber insurance policies in developing countries offers promising business opportunity for market players.Request Sample Copy at :The global cyber insurance market is segmented based on industry verticals, company size, and geography. Based on industry verticals, the market is segmented into healthcare, retail, financial services (BFSI), information technology and services, others (utilities, energy, manufacturing, construction, and transportation). BFSI and information technology sector were the early adopters of cyber liability insurance policies to protect their data. Although, as per the study, Healthcare vertical generates around one-third of the premium as these companies possess huge third-party data such as personal details of consumers, employment details and cyber criminals can easily misuse this data to make money. For instance, in U.S., around 78% of hospitals are secured under cyber insurance.Based on revenue generated by companies, cyber insurance market is categorized as very small-sized (2.5 million to 99 million), small-sized (100 million-299 million), medium-sized (300 million to 1billion), and large companies (1 billion and above). Despite the fact that cyber security and cyber risks are acknowledged as serious threat, several companies do not purchase cyber insurance policies. However, the market has witnessed a change in the scenario. Companies of all sizes tend to purchase cyber insurance policies, owing to legal developments. Large companies contribute significantly, i.e., around 70% of the overall cyber insurance market in 2015, as loss of any kind of data has negative repercussions on their businesses.North America dominates the cyber insurance market and accounts for around 87% of the overall cyber insurance market in 2015. Mandatory legislation regarding cyber security in several U.S. states has led to higher penetration of cyber liability insurance policies. The U.S. cyber insurance industry has become mature, and growth of the cyber insurance industry is projected to decrease owing to rising adoption of cyber liability insurance policies. Europe has very less penetration of cyber insurance liability policies as compared to that of the U.S. The European council has recently passed regulations regarding data protection and security, which are projected to be brought into effect in 2018. These regulations would oblige companies to purchase cyber insurance policies. Though Asia-Pacific accounts for negligible percentage share, it is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period owing to a significant increase in ransomware attacks.Purchase and Enquiry Report:Key Findings of the Cyber Insurance Market: North America generated highest revenue in 2015 and will continue to lead the market during the forecast period. Europe is projected to grow at the highest rate. Large companies contribute significantly in generation of cyber insurance premium. Healthcare industry was the major buyer of cyber insurance policies in 2015 and will continue to lead the market during the forecast period.Key companies profiled in the report are American International Group, Inc. (U.S.), The Chubb Corporation (U.S.), Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd (Switzerland), XL Group Ltd (Republic of Ireland), Berkshire Hathaway (U.S.), Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (Germany), Munich Re Group (Germany), Lloyds (U.K.), Lockton Companies, Inc. (U.S.), and AON PLC (U.K.).View full summary of the report at:Allied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies clients insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free (USA/Canada):+1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: Global Massage Bathtub Market 2019 - By American Standard, Kohler, Signature Hardware Massage Bathtub https://bit.ly/2ShuEYZ https://bit.ly/2BogWKj https://bit.ly/2BeTjUh http://www.marketdeeper.com/ The Global Massage Bathtub market report offers a detailed analysis of the global Massage Bathtub market. It also highlights the novel contributors and existing players in the Massage Bathtub market. This report summarizes the global Massage Bathtub market. It emphasizes on the leading performers in the global market. The global Massage Bathtub market report offers comprehensive data of the principal contributors in the market by highlighting their latest developments, market shares, business review, and product contributions. The report analyzes the growth of the key market players with the help of SWOT analysis.This report focuses on the global top players and Manufacturers, covered bellow:-American Standard, Kohler, Signature Hardware, Atlantis Whirlpools, Appollo, ARROW, SSWW, Roca, CRW, FAENZA, Annwa, Clarke ProductYou have to check this link for free PDF sample report @The Massage Bathtub report emphasizes the key features helping for the growth of the global Massage Bathtub market. It also projects the market valuation within the estimated time period. The global Massage Bathtub report reveals the latest market trends in the related field. The report comprises of the global revenue [USD Million] and size [k MT] of the market. In addition, the major product types and segments [Acrylic, Fiberglass] along with their sub-segments or application [Residential, Commercial] of the global market also are enclosed in the report. The study discusses the details of major market players, their strategies, and other factors.The research report evaluates the global market growth with the help of various methodical tools. The Porters five forces are been considered for analyzing the growth of the global market. The global Massage Bathtub market is segmented on the basis of applications, product categories, and regionally. It furthermore highlights all product categories in the consumer application segmentRead detailed index of full research study at @The study objectives of this report are:-To analyze and study the global Massage Bathtub sales, value, status (2013-2018) and forecast (2019-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key Massage Bathtub players, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Enquire here get customization & check discount for this report @Available Customization'sWith the given market data, Market Deeper offers customization according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:Regional and country-level analysis of the Turf Protection market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players, if you want Customization in report please Contact Us: sales@marketdeeper.comThanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Asia-Pacific Europe, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa.About usMarket Deeper is a well-versed platform that offers precisely crafted market reports. With the integration of expert teams efficiency and reliable data sources, we produce some finest reports of infinite industries and companies. We make reports that cover critical business parameters such as production rate, manufacturing trends, supply chain management, and expansion of distribution network.Market Deeper is also associated with various leading publishers and persistently upgrades the data to provide enhanced access to our work for the client's betterment. We offer our clients with diverse customization options. No matter what statistics you need, our proficiency in the field will help to fetch minuscule information of the specific industry and company.Our aim is to deliver detailed picture of the market trends and forecasts for precise business executions.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, USAUSA Tel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@marketdeeper.comWeb: Technological Advancements To Aid Growth Of Business Process As A Service Market | Accenture, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Cap Gemini S.A., Computer Science Corporation (CSC), and Fujitsu Limited Business Process As A Service Market https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=45026 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=45026 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=45026 Business Process As A Service (BPaaS) as the delivery of business process outsourcing (BPO) services that are sourced from the cloud and constructed for multitenancy. Services are often automated, and where human process actors are required, there is no openly dedicated labor pool per client. The pricing models are consumption-based or subscription-based commercial terms. As a cloud service, the BPaaS model is accessed via Internet-based technologies.The Global Business Process As A Service Market to expand at an impressive CAGR of +8% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025.The Business Process-as-a-Service Market report analyzes key information that helps industry experts, analysts and business decision makers determine their business strategy and achieve their proposed business objectives. This report compares this data with business process state in the current market to discuss future trends that will change the business process-as-a-service market.Request Sample Copy of this Report@:This market research report on analyzes the growth prospects for the key vendors operating in this market space including Accenture, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Cap Gemini S.A., Computer Science Corporation (CSC), and Fujitsu LimitedIncreasing acceptance of technologies such as cloud computing, business analytics, social media platforms and process automation software are contributing to Business Process As A Service Market growth. BPaaS solutions provide a technical environment on an integrated, centralized platform, helping to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency by restructuring the system background.In the Asia-Pacific region, Business Process As A Service Markets are growing, driven by increased corporate sector and broadband penetration in countries such as China and India. In Europe, there is a growing need for business organizations to deploy holistic solutions that address not only operational costs, but total service costs. Companies in Central and South America and the Middle East and Africa are adopting BPaaS solutions to overcome deficiencies in legacy technologies that degrade the efficiency of business processes.Get Reasonable Discount on this Premium Report @:What the research report offers:1. Market definition of the global Business Process As A Service Market along with the analysis of different influencing factors like drivers, restraints, and opportunities.2. Extensive research on the competitive landscape of global Business Process As A Service Market.3. Identification and analysis of micro and macro factors will be affect on the growth of the market.4. A comprehensive list of key market players operating in the global Business Process As A Service Market.5. Analysis of the different market segments such as type, size, applications, and end-users.6. It offers a descriptive analysis of demand-supply chaining in the global Business Process As A Service Market.7. Statistical analysis of some significant economics facts8. Figures, charts, graphs, pictures to describe the market clearly.This report provides an effective business outlook, different case studies from various top-level industry experts, business owners, and policymakers have been included to get a clear vision about business methodologies to the readers. SWOT and Porters Five model have been used for analyzing the Business Process As A Service Market on the basis of strengths, challenges and global opportunities in front of the businesses.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. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently, we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny Denis10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064.Contact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(Research N Reports) Global Trends: Impact Resistant Glass Market Anticipated for Progressive CAGR Growth During 2019-2025 Impact Resistant Glass Market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-impact-resistant-glass-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-impact-resistant-glass-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-impact-resistant-glass-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-impact-resistant-glass-market This Report mentions the development divisions of the Impact Resistant Glass market and its distinctive driving factors. This study helps to understand the dynamic situation, key players and market drivers. Market for seven years can assess how the market is expected to develop.The Impact Resistant Glass market is growing and the Industry joins it in the forecast years 2018-2025. The report includes a brief summary of the market. It helps to prepare the dynamics of the market and completes the analysis with the key business resources and key players based on type and applications.This analysis examines various segments that depend on the fastest estimate development. The latest improvements, shares and systems on the market areFor In-Depth Review | Get Free Sample Copy@Global Impact Resistant Glass Market is expected to reach USD 30.89 billion by 2025, from USD 20.12 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.These glasses are used in various industry including construction & infrastructure, automotive & transportation and others. According to U.S. Census Bureau, in 2016, total construction spending increased 6.5% from the year 2015. Moreover, in 2014, construction spending was up nearly 11.0% and in 2015 it increased 10.7%.According to U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, construction sector will have one of the largest increases in real output and will reach almost USD 1.2 trillion by 2020. Moreover, the U.S. population is expected to grow from 321.2 billion to 338 billion by 2020 and requires more construction. Hence the growing construction industry across the globe will drive the impact resistant glass market.Market Key Competitors: Asahi Glass Nippon Sheet Glass Saint-Gobain Guardian Industries Fuyao Glass Industry Group, Central Glass, Sisecam Group, Taiwan Glass, Vitro, S.A.B. De C.V., CGS Holding Co., Ltd., Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, Cardinal Glass Industries, Euroglas GmbH, China Luoyang Float Glass Group Co., Ltd., Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions, Schott AG, Scheuten Glass, Sangalli Group, China Specialty Glass AG, Syracuse Glass Company, Gulf Glass Industries, Qingdao Kangdeli Industrial & Trading Co., Ltd., Jin Jing (Group) Co., Ltd., Fuso Glass India Pvt. Ltd among others.Competitive Analysis:The global impact resistant glass market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of spray adhesives market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa. In March 2018, merger between J.N. Phillips and Techna Glass results in the second largest automotive glass company.Speak To Industry Experts, Request For Details Report@Table Of Contents:1 Introduction.2 Research Methodologies.3 Executive Summary.4 Premium Insights.5 Market Overview.6 Industry Trends.7 Compliance in Impact Resistant Glass Market8 Impact Resistant Glass Market, By Service9 Impact Resistant Glass Market, By Deployment Type10 Impact Resistant Glass Market, By Organization Size11 Impact Resistant Glass Market Analyses, By Application12 Geographic Analyses North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East & Africa13 Competitive Landscapes14 Detailed Company Profiles15 Related ReportsToc continued!For Full Toc Visit @Market Drivers: Increasing demand from construction & infrastructure sector Growing automotive & transportation industry and increasing penetration of impact resistant glass in passenger cars Stringent automobile and building safety codesMarket Restraints: Government regulations on carbon dioxide emission Lack of logistics and volatile raw material prices affecting supply chain managementMarket Segmentation:By Interlayer Polyvinyl Butyral Ionoplast Polymer Ethylene Vinyl Acetate OthersBy End-user Construction & Infrastructure Automotive & Transportation OthersBy Geography Asia Pacific North America Europe South America Middle East & AfricaNote: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Make an Inquiry for Discount On this Report@About Us:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Sodium Benzoate Market 2025 | A.M. Food Chemical Co. Limited, Foodchem International Corporation, Wuhan Youji Industries Co., Ltd. Eastman Chemical Company, DuPont de Nemours Company, https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124798/Sodium-Benzoate-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124798/Sodium-Benzoate-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124798/Sodium-Benzoate-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Sodium Benzoate is a well known additive that is utilized in foods. Various enterprises, for example, cosmetics, food generally utilize this additive in various products. Cosmetics and food sector is majorly reliant on the additives that are intensely used to expand the timeframe of the products.Apart from this, Sodium benzoate is broadly acknowledged in pharmaceuticals and skin care sector. The chemical is utilized to shield cosmetics and food items from intermittent decay. The requirement of sodium benzoate is growing increasingly with passing time. The markets are extending past various universal beauty care products and food markets spread all over Europe and North America. Impacts of urbanization and globalization are decidedly affecting the finance and economy of Asia Pacific region and transforming it into a potential center of the cosmetics and food products industry. The utilization of destructive chemicals in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics products is entirely observed and confined by government experts present in the Europe and North America region which is affecting the pace of development of the sodium benzoate market in this region of the world. Then again, Asia Pacific regional market is gradually turning into a thriving market for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food. Consequently this region has built up a positive atmosphere for the development of the sodium benzoate market and this development is likely to proceed in the approaching years. The enormous development of the purchaser market in India and China. The requirement for halal beauty care products is ascending in the Middle East & Africa and South East Asian markets that are considered to make an appropriate base for the developing additives market.Request For Report Sample:Sodium benzoate is labeled as an unsafe additive and its utilization is constrained in a few enterprises. It is effortlessly dissolvable and moderate which augments its utilization, however research uncovered that the abuse of this chemical dissolvable could cause cancer by influencing the oxygen cells existing in the body. In spite of the fact that this chemical is available in a few fruits, however the expansion of the synthetic type of sodium benzoate is to a great degree lethal for the body. Sodium benzoate is established in jams, fruit juices, soda and vinegar which are available in the everyday diet of the each resident on the planet. The extending world of industrialism is in desperate demand of foods that could be stored and packed for a considerable length of time and the quick way of life of the individual are advancing the extension of a cosmetics and food industry which is totally supported by harmful chemical additives.Request For Report TOC:The demographical alterations in the MEA and Asia Pacific region have made a huge market for additives. The buyer market is ushering and swelling worldwide brands to take care of the day by day increasing demand. The financially enabled millennial populace is growing new appraises for Sodium benzoate in the market for Asia Pacific. Natives of China and India are seeing a gigantic change in their food propensities. Markets for packed foods are taking off in these areas. Latest investigations uncovered that in excess of sixty percent of the number of inhabitants in India likes to attempt packed food. The administrations of these nations, for example, India and China are unresponsive about the use of the harmful additives in food articles. The restorative purchaser security laws are effortless. Subsequently the prospects for the additives creators are most extreme in this market.A.M. Food Chemical Co. Limited, Foodchem International Corporation, Wuhan Youji Industries Co., Ltd. Eastman Chemical Company, DuPont de Nemours Company, and E.I. are a few of the foremost companies that are active in this market.Report Analysis: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 personalized 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 trendsResearch Report Insights (RRI42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Polythiols Market 2025 | BASF SE, Bruno Bock Chemische Fabrik GmbH & Co. KG, TORAY Industries, Inc., ITW Polymers Sealants North America, Akzo Nobel N.V., https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124752/Polythiols-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124752/Polythiols-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124752/Polythiols-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Polythiols are mixes with a few mercaptans functions. They can be utilized in various applications, for example, the preparation of adhesives and sealants or as chain exchange operators. Polythiols is a fluid pitch comprised by a principle polyether chain with the thiol base presented at its finishes. At the point when joined with epoxy gum utilizing amine impetus, QE-340M can fix the tar rapidly. It is utilized as a snappy relieving epoxy sap glue in development/structural designing, mechanical and general applications. QE-340M is produced/sold by Toray Fine Chemicals.There are different variables which are considered as the significant drivers for the development of Polythiols Market development of the populace is relied upon to upgrade the shopper products industry .The power business is in requirement for cutting edge transmission systems for power transmission keeping in mind the end goal to have great associations between the terrain stations and shores. All inclusive, it is normal that a large number of circuit kilometers of new transmission lines are to be included the not so distant future. There are numerous preferences of utilizing high voltage links and embellishments for power transmission which incorporates diminished line current for specific measure of intensity, better proficiency, and enhanced voltage control.Request For Report Sample:Local examination in market incorporate North America (U.S., Canada), Latin America (Mexico. Brazil), Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain), Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia), Asia Pacific (India, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand), China, Japan, Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, S. Africa, Northern Africa, Turkey)The polythiols advertise in Middle East and Africa is relied upon to become inferable from critical development in the car and paints and coatings businesses in this locale. Significant development of the car part and moderate development in the development area of South East Asia is relied upon to help the polythiol showcase in this district to a specific degree.Request For Report TOC:The developing populace in India has given a stage to the development of the car, development, electrical and paint enterprises, or, in other words decidedly affect the development of the polythiols showcase in the coming years. The developing car division in Japan and also expected development in the nation's development industry is required to help support the polythiols advertise in the area.Some Of the Prominent market players include BASF SE, Bruno Bock Chemische Fabrik GmbH & Co. KG, TORAY Industries, Inc., ITW Polymers Sealants North America, Akzo Nobel N.V., Merck KGaA ,Arkema Group, Seidler Chemical Co., Inc.Report Analysis: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 personalized 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 trendsResearch Report Insights (RRI42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Amphibious Aircraft Market Latest Advancement and Technology Research 2019 to 2023 Amphibious Aircraft Market https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064153/global-amphibious-aircraft-market-segmented-by-aircraft-usage-civilian-and-military-and-by-geography-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023/inquiry?source=openpr&Mode=11 https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064153/global-amphibious-aircraft-market-segmented-by-aircraft-usage-civilian-and-military-and-by-geography-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023/discount?source=openpr&Mode=11 https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064153/global-amphibious-aircraft-market-segmented-by-aircraft-usage-civilian-and-military-and-by-geography-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023?source=openpr&Mode=11 The report elaborates the complete details covering product definition, product type, and application. The report covers useful details which are categorized based on Amphibious Aircraft production region, major players, and product type which will provide a simplified view of the Amphibious Aircraft industry. The Amphibious Aircraft market report presents the competitive scenario of the major market players based on the sales revenue, customer demands, company profile, the business tactics used in Amphibious Aircraft market which will help the emerging market segments in making vital business decisions.Amphibious Aircraft Market Segmentation:This report on Global Amphibious Aircraft market is a detailed research study that helps provides answers and pertinent questions with respect to the emerging trends and growth opportunities in this industry. It helps identify each of the prominent barriers to growth, apart from identifying the trends within various application segments of the Global market for Amphibious Aircraft. Collecting historical and recent data from various authentic resources and depending on all the factors and trends, the report presents a figurative estimate of the future market condition, along with compound annual growth rate (CAGR).Inquire for sample copy at:Global Amphibious Aircraft market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Vickers Aircraft Company Limited, Dornier Seawings GmbH, MVP Aero, NP korporatsiya Irkut PAO, and atolavion among others.Regional InsightsThe region of Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the amphibious aircraft market in 2017. Amphibious aircraft in China has been witnessing a significant growth, owing to the introduction of newer technology in terms of amphibious aircraft which have proved to be a success while possessing the capability of excelling various other amphibious aircraft produced by Japan and Russia. Furthermore, China has progressed rapidly with the development of their newest AG600 amphibious aircraft. The AG600 has been developed by China as a part of a drive to modernize the military capabilities of the region amidst the territorial disputes taking place in the South China Sea, which has led to rising tensions in the regions of Asia-Pacific and the United States. Moreover, China expects to deliver their largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600, to their customers worldwide by 2022. Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the manufacturer of the airplane has stated that they have received 17 delivery orders from the Chinese government for the aircraft. Owing to the growing developments in China, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the market in 2017.Get Exclusive Discount at:Rising Demand for Amphibious Aircraft WorldwideIn the present scenario, a recently published Dubai tourism performance report has highlighted that Dubai, in the recent years, has witnessed a significant growth in terms of the number of tourists visiting the city. Moreover, according to the report, there has been a 7.5% growth in terms of international passengers visiting Dubai. The report also highlights a total number of 11.58 million international guests visited Dubai in the first 9 months of 2017. The increase in the number of international tourists visiting the city in 2017 has also been attributed to the fact that a rise in the number of amphibious aircraft in the region has helped in the development of tourism in Dubai.This independent 102 pages report guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. With over 80 tables and figures examining the Amphibious Aircraft market, the report gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2023.Browse full report at:Key Developments in the Market May 2018: China has highlighted that they shall deliver the worlds largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600 to their customers by 2022. The AG600 amphibious aircraft manufactured by China is considered to be the largest amphibious aircraft in the world and has been designed as a part of the ongoing military modernizing procedures in China. Apr 2018: Mahindra Defense, which is a part of the Mahindra Group, in 2018, announced that they have been selected by the Japanese aircraft maker ShinMaywa Industries Limited, to be the regional partner for conducting manufacturing and related operation for the US-2 seaplane, which was being manufactured by ShinMaywa Industries Limited for India.Reasons to Purchase this Report Analyzing various perspectives of the market with the help of Porters Five Forces Analysis Detailed analysis on the segment that is expected to register the highest growth rate Study on the region and country that are expected to dominate the market Identifying the latest developments, market shares, and strategies employed by the major market players 3-months analyst support, along with the Market Estimate Sheet (in Excel)About Us: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 Reports4893, Pepper drive, Harrisburg ,NC 28075,United StatesPhone: + 1704 266 3234 | Mob: +91-750-707-8687sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Next Imaging Technology Market 2019 Global Key Leaders: Karl Storz, Barco, Flir Systems, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Qualcomm, Galaxy Core, Olympus https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1154 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/next-imaging-technology-market-1154 Market Research Future published a research report on Next Imaging Technology Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2027 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2027.Next Imaging Technology Market, Global Market - OverviewImaging technology is the process of creating and obtaining images from documents and photographs by electrical-tracing soundwaves, chemicals, and temperature. In other words, next imaging technology is a process for managing medical images that are used to manage, store, and control the medical imaging data with the support of image management systems. Imaging technology is one of an imminent technology which comprises visual representation of diagrams and images. The technology is spread across various commercial verticals, specifically medical sector. The healthcare sector is going through major transformations due to competitive market. To sustain in the competition medical organizations, are adopting strategies to improve and advance their medical technologies and equipment. As mentioned, the imaging technology is widely used in the medical sector to examine the body parts of the patient for medical diagnosis. Additionally, next imaging technology offers precise images to provide better results to perform medical treatments. Hence, the growing demand of imaging technology medical sector is one of the driving factor that is expected to propel the next imaging technology market over the assessment period. Furthermore increasing penetration of smartphones that eventually leading to rising demand for digital imaging that transforms film cameras to digital cameras is also expected to create a huge popularity for the next imaging technology marketGet Sample of Report @Next Imaging Technology Market Global Market SegmentationThe Next Imaging Technology Market is segmented on the basis of type, technique, application, and region. These segments are further sub-segmented into the following: Segmentation by type: this is segmented into induction tomography, CMOS imaging, and electromagnetic imaging Segmentation by technique: the segments are on the basis of optical, thermal, radiography, and scanning Segmentation by application: this segment is sub-segmented into medical, consumer electronics, automotive, civil engineering, and surveillance Segmentation by region: this segment is sub-segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and rest of the World.Key PlayersSome of the major players in Global Next Imaging Technology Market include Karl Storz (U.S.), Olympus (Japan), Sony (Japan), Barco (Belgium), Imaging technology solutions (U.S.), Flir Systems Inc. (U.S.), SK Hynix Inc. (South Korea), TOSHIBA CORPORATION (Japan), Qualcomm (U.S.), and Galaxy Core Inc. (China) among others.Next Imaging Technology Market Global Market - Regional AnalysisThe regional analysis of next imaging technology is done for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world.North America is expected to dominate the market with the largest market share during the forecast period. Increasing awareness about the latest advances in technology, new products, and increasing usage of smartphones, are the major factors for the dominance of the region in the next imaging technology market. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate in the market, as the region is driven by high disposable income of consumers and their increasing health awareness. Europe is expected to register a positive growth in the next imaging technology market during the forecast period.Get complete Report @Industry NewsMay 2018, FLIR System launched radar and thermal products.FLIR Systems revealed the launch of two FLIR Rangers and one Recon which are used militaries and government agencies globally as patrol agents on border. These products include the most advanced equipment. They offer the capability to offer mid-range detection as well as fixed base installation.February 16, Qualcomm developed snapdragon processor 625, 435, and 425.Qualcomm announced the development of their snapdragon processor 625, 435, and 425. These processors are used to provide imaging and sensor systems and advanced modem facilities for mainstream devices. They also launched microscopes which are used for the observation of structures and tissues inside living cells.About 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 Global Solar Photovoltaic Materials to reach US$19.60 bn by the end of 2024 at CAGR of 11.4% between 2019-2024 : In-Depth Analysis Photovoltaics :BASF SE, Mitsubishi Material Corp., Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. LLC, Solar Photovoltaic Material https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1127879 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1127879 https://www.researchmoz.us/solar-photovoltaic-material-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html/toc www.researchmoz.us Press Release 01 Feb 2019Research and Development News --. .Latest Update "Solar Photovoltaic Material Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" with Industries Survey | Global Current Growth and Future.' 'Global Solar Photovoltaic Material Market: OverviewSolar photovoltaic materials are the materials that are used in manufacturing of solar panels or modules which are installed for generating electricity. Solar photovoltaic materials are basically of two types crystalline and thin film. Crystalline is further divided into polycrystalline and gallium arsenide whereas thin film is of three types namely amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium diselenide. Out of all the solar photovoltaic materials, polycrystalline is the most dominant material because of its good efficiency and easy manufacturing process. Thin film materials like cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide is expected to grow in the near future.Research has estimated that from the valuation of US$7.55 bn in 2015, the global market for solar PV materials is expected to attain the value of US$19.60 bn by the end of 2024. This market is expected to expand and a healthy CAGR of 11.4% during the period 2016-2024.. . Get Sample Report_' 'The report estimates and forecasts the solar photovoltaic material market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the solar photovoltaic material market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period.The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the solar photovoltaic material market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of solar photovoltaic material and global average price trend analysis.Global Solar Photovoltaic Material Market: SegmentationThe study provides comprehensive view of the solar photovoltaic material market by dividing it into end-user and geography. The solar photovoltaic material market has been segmented into crystalline, polycrystalline, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide and others. End-user segments residential, commercial, and industrial have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for solar photovoltaic material in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for end-user segments. Key countries such as the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., China, India, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual end-users in all the regions and countries.. . For Other Requirement and Enquiry_' 'Global Solar Photovoltaic Material Market: Competitive AnalysisThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Major players profiled in the report include BASF SE, Mitsubishi Material Corporation, Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation LLC, LDK Solar Co. Ltd., Okmetic, Wacker Chemie AG , Applied Materials, Inc, Shin-Etsu Chemicals Co., Ltd., Atecom Technology Co., Ltd., Topsil GlobalWafers A/S, Silicor Materials, Inc., Targray Technology International, Inc. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report. In-depth interviews and discussions with wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Continue..... More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Global Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Market Forecast Indicates Notable Growth Rate through 2018-2028 | Industry Key Players are TTI Floor Care, Panasonic Corporation, Haier Group, Eureka Forbes, etc. https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=902 https://www.factmr.com/report/902/bagless-vacuum-cleaner-market https://www.factmr.com/checkout/902/S https://www.factmr.com/ https://factmrblog.com/ In order to study the various trends and patterns prevailing in the concerned market, FactMR has included a new report titled Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Market Forecast Indicates Impressive Growth Rate through 2018-2028 to its wide online database including upcoming trends and growth factors. This research assessment offers a clear insight about the influential factors that are expected to transform the global market in the near future. The report studies the bagless vacuum cleaner market worldwide, especially in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, India and Other Regions with production, size, growth, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions.Request 100 Page Sample Report from Here -Busy lifestyle of people has led to the development of quick methods, such as bagless vacuum cleaners, for cleaning household as traditional cleaning not only takes time but also involves physical strain. With their cleaning applications across residential as well as commercial spaces, bagless vacuum cleaners are expected to witness significant surge in demand worldwide. In addition, stringent regulations laid by regulatory bodies, such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) regarding healthy atmosphere in indoors including home, commercial buildings and public entertainment spaces have led to significant adoption of advanced cleaning systems, consequently providing growth prospects for bagless vacuum cleaners market.A new study by FactMR has revealed the growth prospects and provided an opportunistic scenario for bagless vacuum cleaner market at the global front. The report forecasts that the bagless vacuum cleaner market is projected to rise at a steady CAGR of 4.7% throughout the period of assessment, 2018-2028. In addition, it reveals that the demand for bagless vacuum cleaners in emerging economies of Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is anticipated to spur at a significant rate, making APEJ a highly attractive market for bagless vacuum cleaners with their sales concentrated in the APEJ revenue pockets such as China and India.In the era of automation, another autonomous product is no big deal as bagless vacuum cleaners go robotic. New age technological advancements have led manufacturers of bagless vacuum cleaners to develop advanced versions of their products that can carry out operations without human intervention, making tasks more convenient and simpler for users of bagless vacuum cleaners. Robotic bagless vacuum cleaners are expected to witness a meteoric demand, which has pushed their market to new heights, as a consequence supporting the growth of the bagless vacuum cleaners market. Robotic bagless vacuum cleaners come with unique characteristic features that distinguish them from traditional bagless vacuum cleaners. For instance, the multi-floor mop robotic cleaner is developed to carry out cleaning and mopping a simultaneously performed dual operation by this robotic bagless vacuum cleaner.Browse Market Report with TOC Here -Given the high traction received by robotic bagless vacuum cleaners, manufacturers have come up with robotic bagless vacuum cleaners intended to perform specific tasks such as cleaning pet hair along with other debris, dirt and fluff accumulated on floor. The iRobot 564 is one such robotic bagless vacuum cleaner developed for homes with pets that carries out aforementioned tasks with higher precision and efficiency.In addition, another factor influencing the demand and sales of robotic vacuum cleaner is the application of smartphones. Robotic bagless vacuum cleaners have been designed that can be monitored using smartphone technology. iRobot Corporation has introduced Roomba 980 that combines visual localization and adaptive navigation with a cloud connected application control of ease of operation. Integration of smartphone technologies and cloud in robotic bagless vacuum cleaners can enable remote start and stop function as well as plan new cleaning schedules without the users physical presence. This aspect is expected to increase the demand and sales of robotic bagless vacuum cleaners, in turn fuelling the growth of the bagless vacuum cleaner market during the period of forecast.Bagless vacuum cleaner market has witnessed a shift from traditional upright bagless vacuum cleaners to their canister counterparts. In the past, upright bagless vacuum cleaners dominated the bagless vacuum cleaner market as they were the most preferred choice for cleaning mattresses and carpets. However, manufacturers, understanding the cons of upright bagless vacuum cleaners such as increased noise and heavy design that compromises efficiency, have developed canister bagless vacuum cleaners that are more powerful than their upright equivalents, with a lighter design hence easy to maneuver, more silent and come with variety of tools such as crevice nozzle, mechanized brush and upholstery brush to enhance their cleaning efficiency, particularly for thick carpets and rugs.Grab Customized Market Report from Here -About FactMrFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400, Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Blog: Global NGS Data Analysis Market: Future Forecast Indicates Impressive Growth Rate Till 2026 by Market key players- ABM Inc., Agilent Technologies, Biomatters, Ltd, DNAnexus, Dovetail Genomics LLC, Edge Biosystems https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=505 https://www.factmr.com/report/505/ngs-data-analysis-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=505 https://www.factmr.com/ https://factmrblog.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Continual advancements in data integration & cloud computing solutions have effectively helped in addressing the data-handling bottlenecks, which involves analyzing large high-throughput sequence data. Such technological advancements in the field of bioinformatics are anticipated to offer promising avenues for this vertical, in turn driving demand for NGS data analysis in the foreseeable future.Claim Sample Report For FREE:There has been a rise in demand for rapid and accurate sequence interpretation tools and algorithms for expediting data analysis, with the emergence of NGS solutions along with their surging employment in genomics research, personalized treatment of various ailments, and clinical diagnosis. Additionally, scope of sequencing projects is set to expand on the back of concurrent fall in cost of sequencing and high genetic data output, which in turn will fuel demand for elaborate bioinformatics pipeline incorporating efficient and sophisticated solutions. Narrowing the difference between sequence processing and generation, the trend of substituting local computing software with the cloud-based computing databases is being increasingly employed by researchers in the healthcare sector. Existing challenges concerning biological interpretation of output genomic data will direct research efforts toward the development of precise healthcare data analytical tools, thereby driving the market growth in the near future.However, infrastructural investments required for the development of algorithms & software will keep the market growth in check. NGS data analysis solutions have been deemed time consuming, and have been witnessing a confined adoption since the recent past. Commercial service providers have lucrative opportunities in the design and development of novel solutions to offer faster turnaround times.A new report of Fact.MR envisages the global NGS data analysis market to record a spectacular growth during the forecast period (2017-2026). Approximately US$ 280 Mn revenues are estimated to be generated by sales of NGS data analysis solutions worldwide by 2026-end.North America to Remain Largest Market for NGS Data AnalysisNorth America is home to several well-established organizations of NGS data analysis. A significant number of NGS research projects are being carried out in Canadian universities, which in turn has resulted into huge demand for NGS data analysis, thereby affecting the revenue growth in the region. North America is set to remain the fastest-expanding and largest market for NGS data analysis.Browse for full details about this Report with TOC:Asia-Pacific excluding Japan will also record an impressive expansion in the market through 2026, mainly driven by rising number of research grants related to sequencing projects in its developing nations such as China and India. Incorporation of high-throughput screening encouraged by positive research & development outcomes in the region will further drive the market growth in APEJ.Of all end-users in the global NGS data analysis market, academic research institutes are projected to account for the largest market revenue share during 2017 to 2026. Dominance of academic research institutes in the market can be attributed to robust utilization of high-throughput sequencing in university-based and academic research projects.Competition TrackingMajor companies providing the NGS data analysis solutions have been undertaking strategic collaborations & partnerships, in a bid to increase their existing product portfolios, meanwhile maintaining a competitive edge in the market. These collaborations & partnerships are primarily focused at developing feasible infrastructure solutions for enabling researchers in performing a population-scale genomic analysis. Key market participants supporting growth of the global NGS data analysis market include ABM, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Biomatters, Ltd, DNAnexus, Dovetail Genomics, LLC, Edge Biosystems, Genestack, Illumina, and Roche.Ask Industry Expert about this Report:About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market insights reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Blog:Read Industry News at - Vigorous Research on E-Commerce Platform & Shopping Market Till 2025 With Top Vendors Shopify, Magento, YoKart, BigCommerce https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=229939 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=229939 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=229939 An ecommerce platform is a software application that allows online businesses to manage their website, sales and operations. Ecommerce platforms provides the powerful features needed to run a business, while also integrating with common business tools allowing businesses to centralize their operations and run their business their way.Global E-Commerce Platform & Shopping Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of +13% during the forecast period 2019-2025The Global E-Commerce Platform & Shopping Market is driven by the ecommerce software which are user-friendly, affordable for a small business entity. The cost of adding an ecommerce component to current business and penetrate in newer market ranges between US$ +95 to US$ +140 per month and allows development through online business. Ecommerce platforms deliver the basics requirements to start online business.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Global E-Commerce Platform & Shopping Market report comprises a vast data about predictions of the growth that can be explained through various graphical representations. This Market study examines the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends. It also provides market drivers, opportunities and challenges, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. It gives a particular description of the market by using various analytical procedures that are inculcated to find out the desired data about the target market.Top Market Players in the Market:Shopify, Magento, YoKart, BigCommerce, VTEX, WooCommerce, TictailGet Upto 30% discount@E-Commerce Platform & Shopping market report study represents scenario about market segmentation, such as trends, applications, and the size of the industries. Analyst of the report focused on the strategies of existing industries, which helps to give better insights for the development of the companies the regions which have been examined in depth are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.Finally, this report is concluded with recent developments, and weaknesses of the current strategies, which helps to improve the E-Commerce Platform & Shopping market. The report provides the restraints that help to deal with the obstacles for the businesses for a enormous growth. Through this report, consumers can easily get views on E-Commerce Platform & Shopping market based on the current scenario.it focuses on some needs of the customers and quality of services, which helps in balancing of the industries.Report Highlights:- The E-Commerce Platform & Shopping market report offers a detailed analysis on current and future market trends to find the investment opportunities- Market forecasts till 2025, using projected market values as the base numbers- Significant market trends across the business segments, Regions and Countries- Major developments and strategies observed in the market- Market Dynamics for example Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and other trends- complete company profiles of key players and upcoming prominent players- Growth prospects among the developing nations through 2025- Market opportunities and recommendations for new investmentsEnquiry before Buying: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. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently, we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.comResearch N Reports Cyber Security Insurances Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018 2026 Cyber Security Insurance Market Analysis https://bit.ly/2FnyA3x https://bit.ly/2TVS0Ar https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/cyber-security-insurances www.blueweaveconsulting.com According to a new market report published by BlueWeave Consulting, the global cyber security insurance market was valued at US$ 3,329.0 Mn in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 25.3% from 2018 to 2026, reaching US$ 32,543.6 Mn by the end of the forecast period. According to the report, North America was the largest contributor in terms of revenue to the cyber security insurance market in 2016.Request for Sample Copy of Study Report on Cyber Security Insurance Market:Growth In Cyber Insurance Market:Cyber insurance helps protect businesses against losses resulting from cyber-attacks or data breaches. Cyber insurance coverage can include data loss and restoration, extortion, legal fees, and more. Cyber security insurance increases and improves cyber security with the benefits of good security, and internalizing of the costs of poor security. There are many benefits that coincide with investing in insurance.The growth of the US cyber insurance market is due to the introduction of legislation in most states to take appropriate security measures to protect against cyber risks and report serious breaches to national authorities. This led to an increase in demand for cyber insurance products covering personal data breach. The U.S. is the largest market for the cyber security insurance market. The U.S. economy loses US$57 billion-US$109 billion per year due to malicious cyber activity, according to White House Council of Economic Advisers.Cyber challenges in Asia Pacific region, such as low cyber security investments and long dwell times, can be attributed to the complex geopolitical tensions, exposed critical infrastructure, and the severe shortage of cyber security talents in the region. Brazil is undergoing a digital revolution with few parallels in the developing world. The rate of digital penetration and social media adoption has risen exponentially over the past decade. Over 50% of Brazilians are active Internet users, & Brazilian financial institutions were early adopters of online services. Cyber security and online fraud are major concerns, with annual losses reaching billions of dollars.Get Complete Table of Content Having Unique Analysis on Several Factors:Cyber Security Insurance Market: Scope Of The ReportThe global market for cyber security insurance is segmented on the basis of service type, enterprise size, industry vertical and geography. On the basis of service type, the market is segmented into risk management, integrity, forefront portfolio, third party liability, and others.On the basis of enterprise size, the global cyber security insurance market is bisected into small & medium enterprises and large enterprise. On the basis of industry vertical, the market is divided into banking and financial services, telecom and IT, government, healthcare, education, manufacturing, travel and hospitality and others. Financial services, energy and utilities, and telecommunications are among the most investigated industries in APAC, highlighting the need for higher awareness levels, stronger mitigation measures, and improved cyber security posturesGeographically, the global cyber security insurance market is bifurcated into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The North America holds the largest market share of cyber security insurance market in 2017.Asia Pacific is the most promising markets for cyber security insurance market and are slated to offer players a host of opportunities in the coming years. In Indian market, the high demand for cyber insurance policies is due to telecom revolution. Moreover, increase digitization of the economy further boosts the demand. Latin America is experiencing significantly more data breaches and with that, increased sales of cyber insurance. Norton Security has reported cybercrime cost Brazil roughly US$8 billion and Mexico US$3 billion in 2015. Cyber security insurance coverage is still in its at beginning stage in Latin America.This factor increases the need of cyber security insurance market in Latin AmericaGlobal Cyber Security Insurance Market: Competitive DynamicsMajor industry players in cyber security insurance market are adopting different strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations for technologies and new product development. For instance, In June 2017, Zurich Brasila, subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, has launched insurance coverage for cyber-related risks, amid the fast-growing use of internet among companies and individuals. The company will offers protection in nations more exposed to cyber-attacks, such as the US, the UK and China, will now offer this product in Brazil due to increasing demand.For instance, in June 2014, the UK Government launched a joint initiative with some major British insurers to increase the level of IT security in UK companies called the Cyber Essentials Scheme, it is based on certificates and will ensure that certified organizations have a certain amount of security measures in place. Cyber Essentials has been developed in close consultation with the insurance industry and is backed by AIG, Marsh, Swiss Re, the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) and the International Underwriting Association (IUA). The global cyber security insurance market includes key players such as XL Group Ltd., American International Group Inc., Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd, AON PLC, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Munich Re Group, Chubb, HSB, BCS financial corporation, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Markel Corp, Travelers group, Hiscox, Beazely Insurance group and others.Browse Full Research Report on Cyber Security Insurance Market:About UsBlueWeave Consulting is a one-stop solution for market intelligence regarding various products and services online & offline. We offer worldwide market research reports by analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data to boost up the performance of your business solution. BlueWeave has built its reputation from the scratches by delivering quality performance and nourishing the long-lasting relationships with its clients. We are one of the promising digital market intelligence generation company delivering unique solutions for blooming your business and making the morning, more rising & shining.Contact Us:Email: info@blueweaveconsulting.comWebsite:Phone: +1 8666586826 Global Clear Brine Fluids Market Share Industry Growth Forecast Report 2024 | Key Players: Albemarle Corporation, ICL Group, TETRA Technologies, Inc., Cabot Corporation, Halliburton, EMEC, GEO Drilling Fluids, Inc., Clear Brine Fluids Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1133 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1133 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/clear-brine-fluids-market https://www.gminsights.com http://technologymagazine.org/ Massive changes in the oil and gas industry dynamics over the past few years have significantly driven clear brine fluids market. These clear brine fluids are extensively used in traditional oil drilling process for maintaining the internal pressure and temperature, thereby limiting the reservoir damage risk. The fact that the number of oil rigs across the world is increasing notably day by day, the demand for the product is likely to surge in the coming years. For instance, in 2013 global oil rig count was almost 15000, which is estimated to cross 20000 by 2024. U.S., Canada are some of the few topographies expected to contribute prominently to the market share, subject to the increasing installation of oil rigs in these regions. As per a report by Global Market Insights, Inc., Clear brine fluids market is slated to exceed a revenue of USD 1 billion by the end of 2024, with a projected CAGR of 5% over 2016-2024.Request for a sample of this research report @Heavy depletion of conventional energy sources has resulted in an increasing emphasis on exploration of alternative fuel sources such as shale gas, tight gas, coal-based methane, etc. This shifting trend toward unconventional energy sources is shedding a positive influence on clear brine fluids market share. In this regard, shale boom in U.S. and Russia has immensely affected the overall market dynamics, subject to the fact that it has substantially increased the product demand. Since the application landscape of clear brine fluids market is mainly centralized around oil and gas industry, huge crude oil price discrepancies over the past couple of years, is negatively impacting the clear brine fluids market price trends. Nonetheless, escalating energy demand both from unconventional and conventional sources is expected to scale up the growth chart.Considering the product trends, potassium chloride emerged as one of the dominating segments in 2015, accounting for almost 25% of clear brine fluids industry. Potassium chloride based brine fluids are widely deployed in oil & gas applications, as this composition helps in the stabilization of oil pressure during the drilling process. Comparatively cheaper cost is another factor that is allowing heavy penetration of this product segment. Other than this, calcium bromide based clear brine fluids market will also witness considerable growth at a CAGR of 5% over 2016-2024.Clear brine fluids industry has already established its strong foot fold across various topographies around the world. However, North America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa represent a major chunk of the overall industry share.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:1. EMEC2. Albemarle Corporation3. GEO Drilling Fluids, Inc.4. Great Lakes Solutions, LLC5. ICL Group6. Zirax LLC7. Solent Chemicals8. TETRA Technologies, Inc.9. Cabot Corporation10. Clements Fluids11. Halliburton12. Chemtura CorporationMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Clear brine fluids market in North AmericaNorth America contributed maximum toward the global clear brine fluids market share in 2015, covering 50% of the overall volume with a market valuation of USD 550 million. Rapid growth in shale gas exploration particularly in the United States and Canada is propelling the product demand. In addition to this, several mandatory regulatory compliances have been initiated by the U.S. government pertaining to energy security and sustainability. This trend is likely to provide significant impetus to the market, subject to the rising inclination toward unconventional energy sources.Clear brine fluids market in Asia PacificAsia Pacific encompassing some of the most developing countries within its belt has always been one of the prominent region partaking in the overall clear brine fluids industry. Chinas shale gas exploration is a major factor propelling the regional market. In fact, estimates depict the country held 15% of the overall APAC clear brine fluids market in 2015. With China at the helm, APAC market is anticipated to observe maximum gains at more than 6% CAGR over 2016-2024.Clear brine fluid market in MEAMiddle East & Africa has already carved a strong position in the global clear brine fluids market. Prevalence of major crude oil deposits in the region is prime factor enhancing the regional market growth. South Africa, Egypt, Libya, West Africa, are some of the countries that are expected to contribute lucratively toward the regional share. Though fluctuations in crude oil price trends which is presently witnessing a downturn, is likely to hamper the growth prospect to some extent, the surging energy demand across the globe will allow MEA clear brine fluids market to witness a hike. As per estimates, the market is projected to cross USD 150 million by 2024.Worldwide, clear brine fluid market is highly consolidated with some of the renowned companies covering almost 30% of the overall share. Some of the key players include Albemarle Corporation, Halliburton and Chemtura Corporation, Solent Chemicals, Zirax, Israel Chemicals, EMEC, and TETRA Technologies. Though crude oil price uncertainties may act as a deterrent in the growth chart, the increasing exploitation of shale gas reserves is likely to lead to an appreciable commercialization of this market in the years ahead.Clear Brine Fluids Market by Product Potassium chloride Calcium chloride Sodium chloride Potassium bromide Sodium bromide Calcium bromide OthersBrowse key industry insights spread across 118 pages with 95 market data tables & 13 figures & charts from the report, Clear Brine Fluids Market 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: Quantum Computing Technologies Market 2019: Top Key Players are Airbus Group, Cambridge Quantum Computing, IBM, Google Quantum AI Lab, Microsoft Quantum Architectures etc. Quantum Computing Technologies Market https://www.researchreportsworld.com/enquiry/request-sample/13796983 https://www.researchreportsworld.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/13796983 https://www.researchreportsworld.com/purchase/13796983 Quantum Computing Technologies Market 2019 Report analyses the industry status, size, share, trends, growth opportunity, competition landscape and forecast to 2025. This report also provides data on patterns, improvements, target business sectors, limits and advancements. Furthermore, this research report categorizes the market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Get Sample Copy of this Report@ -Global Quantum Computing Technologies market 2019 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Quantum Computing Technologies market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analysed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.Quantum Computing Technologies Market research report spread across 97 pages with top key manufacturers and list of tables and figures.Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @ -Global Quantum Computing Technologies market competition by TOP MANUFACTURERS, with production, price, revenue (value) and each manufacturer including Airbus Group Cambridge Quantum Computing IBM Google Quantum AI Lab Microsoft Quantum Architectures Nokia Bell Labs Alibaba Group Holding Limited .This report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaGlobal Quantum Computing Technologies Market providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Global Quantum Computing Technologies market development trends and marketing channels are analysed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With tables and figures helping analyse worldwide Global Quantum Computing Technologies market, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Order a copy of Global Quantum Computing Technologies Market Report 2019 @ -Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Software HardwareMarket segment by Application, split into Government Business High-Tech Banking & Securities Manufacturing & Logistics Insurance OtherThe study objectives of this report are: To analyse global Quantum Computing Technologies status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. To present the Quantum Computing Technologies development in United States, Europe and China. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyse their development plan and strategies. To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.There are 14 Chapters to deeply display the global Quantum Computing Technologies marketChapter 1: To describe Quantum Computing Technologies Market Overview, Introduction, product scope, market opportunities, Application.Chapter 2: To analyse the Top Manufacturers of Quantum Computing Technologies, with sales, capacity, production, revenue, and price of Quantum Computing Technologies, in 2014 and 2019.Chapter 3: Quantum Computing Technologies, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers with capacity, production, share by region, sales, revenue, gross margin and market share in 2014 and 2019.Chapter 4: To show the global market by regions, supply, consumption, with sales, export-import, revenue and market share of Quantum Computing Technologies, for each region, from 2014 Quantum Computing Technologies to 2019.Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 To analyse the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, analysis by application, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions.Chapter 10 and 11 To show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, strategy analysis and factor analysis from 2014 Quantum Computing Technologies to 2019.Chapter 12 Quantum Computing Technologies market forecast, by regions, type, with sales and revenue, growth rate, price Forecast from 2019 to 2025 Quantum Computing Technologies.Chapter 13: Connected Quantum Computing Technologies.Chapter 14: To describe Quantum Computing Technologies sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.About Us:Research Reports World is the credible source for gaining the market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs. At Research Reports World, our objective is providing a platform for many top-notch market research firms worldwide to publish their research reports, as well as helping the decision makers in finding most suitable market research solutions under one roof. Our aim is to provide the best solution that matches the exact customer requirements. This drives us to provide you with custom or syndicated research reports.Contact Us:Name: Mr. Ajay MoreEmail: sales@researchreportsworld.comOrganization: Research Reports WorldPhone: +1 408 520 9750/+44 203 239 8187 Augmented Reality Market in North America to surpass 67.5% CAGR by 2024: Facebook, HTC, Intel, AccuVein, Inc., Affectiva, Inc., APX Labs, Google, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation North America Augmented Reality Market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1004/sample https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1004/inquiry-before-buying https://www.graphicalresearch.com/industry-insights/1004/north-america-AR-augmented-reality-market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/ North America Augmented Reality Market size is set to surpass USD 19 billion by 2024. Emerging applications of AR devices in the retail sector are growing at a rapid pace in North America AR market. The applications of this technology in the sector are attracting the customers and providing them with information about the products & services of the company. Several retail companies have installed these devices in their stores, providing visual merchandising of these products. For instance, Charlotte Tilbury has installed magic mirror AR technology. It has partnered with Holition, a software provider to install such mirrors.The Graphical Research report North America (AR) Augmented Reality Market analysis based on Component, Application, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024.Request for a sample of this research report -Head-Mounted Displays (HMD) are experiencing a high growth in the North America AR market. The growing demand for this technology in the defense sector is encouraging the manufacturers in the region to provide HMDs, which will serve the purpose of simulation-based training. This technology can be used to provide training to the soldiers to survive critical conditions in different situations, places, and environments, and to develop their skills and provide them real-life experiences of war conditions. In 2019, the U.S. Army is planning to test the AR system HUD 3.0, which will provide the information about the location of enemies and their units. They are developing a system, which will be helmet-mounted to project all the information at the sight of the soldier.The applications of the technology in the healthcare sector are providing advanced techniques to analyze and test the disease of a patient. These devices are used for describing the symptoms by the patients, finding the veins & organs, and providing them proper medications depending on the type of the disease that has affected them. Several major players in the North America AR market are offering technologies, which will support the healthcare applications. For instance, Medsights Tech is working on creating a software, which will test the feasibility of the AR technology in creating 3D reconstruction images of tumors.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @The key players operating in the North America AR market include Facebook, HTC, Intel, AccuVein, Inc., Affectiva, Inc., APX Labs, Google, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation. These players in the North America AR market are targeting the healthcare sector wherein a high demand for these devices can be witnessed for the treatment of several diseases. In February 2018, Intel Corporation developed AR smart glasses, which project the information directly to the retina of the observer.Segments We Cover:North America Augmented Reality Market Statistics, By ComponentHardwareSoftwareNorth America Augmented Reality Market Trends, By ApplicationMedicalAutomotiveAerospace & defenseGamingRetailIndustrialThe above information is provided for the following countries:U.S.CanadaBrowse key industry insights from this 2018 report North America Augmented Reality Market in detail along with the table of contents at:About Graphical Research:Graphical Research is a business research firm that provides industry insights, market forecast and strategic inputs through granular research reports and advisory services. We publish targeted research reports with an aim to address varied customer needs, from market penetration and entry strategies to portfolio management and strategic outlook. We understand that business requirements are unique: our syndicate reports are designed to ensure relevance for industry participants across the value chain. We also provide custom reports that are tailored to the exact needs of the customer, with dedicated analyst support across the purchase lifecycle.Contact Us:Parikhit B.Corporate sales,Graphical ResearchEmail: sales@graphicalresearh.comWeb: Enterprise Networking Market Analysis & Technological Innovation by Leading Key Players - Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Extreme Networks, F5 Networks, FireEye, Fortinet, Arista Networks, Broadcom & More Enterprise Networking https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/1434125 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/1434125/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/enterprise-networking-market https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-enterprise-digital-rights-management-market-growth-status-and-outlook-2018-2023/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog MarketStudyReport.com Adds New Enterprise Networking Market 2018 2024 research report providing information and data By Component, By Deployment, By Application, Industry Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across 270 Pages with table and figures in it.The BFSI vertical in the enterprise networking market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% from 2018 to 2024. Hackers are targeting banking institutions as they hold huge amounts of customer information and their financial records. The growing instances of cyber-attacks on financial IT networks have prompted institutions to undertake initiatives for modernizing their network security policies. Also, banks are rapidly adopting the virtualization technology due to the emerging needs of banks and other financial institutions to have an infrastructure that can accommodate multi-channel digital services and handle increasing data flows. A wide variety of virtualization approaches such as machine OS virtualization, application virtualization, and desktop virtualization allow them to significantly reduce costs and manage IT resources in a more centralized manner.Request a sample of this premium report at:The Europe enterprise networking market is expected to hold a market share of over 20% by 2024 due to the rising internet penetration, attracting a lot of malware and viruses to halt enterprise networks. According to a recent study by the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA), major cyber-attacks using ransomware were among the top cyber-attacks reported in 2016. An increase in cyber-attacks in countries such as the UK, Germany, and Italy have compelled government agencies and enterprises to come up with the enhanced cybersecurity policies and solutions. For instance, in November 2016, the UK government issued its five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The government invested around USD 2.4 billion to defend critical national infrastructure and deter cyber-security criminal activities. Also, the growing trend of network virtualization is likely to accelerate market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in April 2016, Germany?s SysEleven selected Midokura?s Enterprise MidoNet (MEM) technology to meet strict new data sovereignty and IT security government requirements. This new technology offered ideal network virtualization solutions to help the enterprises to easily manage application workloads.Anti-virus solutions held a majority of the market share in 2017 and are expected to maintain the market dominance in the enterprise networking markets due to rising instances of malware attacks on enterprise networks. As several malware programs are created by attackers each day, the demand for robust antimalware solutions is expected to increase over the forecast timeline.Enterprise Networking market is projected to surpass USD 90 billion by 2024. With the increasing popularity of the mobility trend and growing connectivity demands, enterprises are finding new ways to modernize their networks and expand their networking capabilities. Enterprise networking solutions enable them to ensure that their networks are optimized for reliability and managing network components such as switches, cabling, and routers. The massive production of corporate information due to the advent of Big Data has put a strain on traditional networks. Thus, to improve the network?s resiliency and efficiency, enterprises are deploying solutions, which help them in optimizing their network traffic and storage for accommodating new network resources.The cloud deployment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 10% over the forecast timeline. This market growth is attributed to the growing adoption of the cloud-platforms to improve the efficiency of critical business processes. Organizations are adopting cloud-based models due to an increase in the volume of business and financial data and the need for reducing additional hardware maintenance costs.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:With the proliferation of BYOD, the rise in security threats to enterprise networks is expected to fuel the adoption of network security solutions. Due to increasing instances of malware attacks on government and corporate networks, the demand for robust security solutions has increased considerably. Solutions such as firewalls, web content filtering, and intrusion prevention provide organizations with a complete control over applications, users, and content and help them to detect and prevent potential threats. The large-scale deployment of enterprise security solutions is expected to drive market growth over the forecast timeline.Companies operating in the enterprise networking market are implementing new solutions to accelerate the provisioning of new customers, applications, and networks with cloud-scale efficiency. For instance, in March 2018, Telefonica Spain partnered with Nokia and Nuage Networks to build data center network investiture. The company extended its SD-WAN infrastructure and included new software-defined data centers, which helped to expand the agility and scalability of its cloud-based services. Major internet service providers are using cloud-based solutions to enhance the manageability of network architectures. For instance, in September 2018, Equinix invested USD 73 million to open its first International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Paris. The new site provides low-latency and private connectivity options, enabling enterprises to access cloud providers at Equinix.Table of content:Chapter 1. Methodology & ScopeChapter 2. Executive SummaryChapter 3. Enterprise networking Industry InsightsChapter 4. Competitive Landscape, 2017Chapter 5. Enterprise Networking Market, By ComponentChapter 6. Enterprise Networking Market, By Deployment ModelChapter 7. Enterprise Networking Market, By ApplicationChapter 8. Enterprise Networking Market, By RegionChapter 9. Company ProfilesMore Details on this Report At:Related Report:Global Enterprise Digital Rights Management Market Growth (Status and Outlook) 2018-2023According to this study, over the next five years the Enterprise Digital Rights Management market will register a xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2023, from US$ xx million in 2017. In particular, this report presents the global revenue market share of key companies in Enterprise Digital Rights Management business, shared in Chapter 3.HPE, Arista Networks, Broadcom, Checkpoint Software Technologies, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Extreme Networks, F5 Networks, FireEye, FortinetAbout 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: Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Unlisted natural resources funds raised a record $93bn in 2018, surpassing 2017's record of $91bn, despite the number of funds closed falling from 145 the previous year to 91 in 2018. Though this marks a five-year low in the number of funds closed, it represents a record high in capital raised, said a report by Preqin. "Energy-focused funds accounted for almost all of the year's activity as 77 funds raised $89bn. By comparison, just four metals & mining funds closed and raised $2.5bn," Preqin said. In fact, all 10 of the largest funds closed in 2018 were energy focused, including the largest, the $7.4bn KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III. North America-focused funds made up the largest proportion of activity, with 51 funds focused on the region raising a combined $58bn. A further 25 Europe-focused funds raised $28bn. Furthermore, over half (57%) of natural resources funds exceeded their targets in 2018, indicating that investor appetite outstripped fundraising capacity. Preqin's Patrick Adefuye, Head of Real Assets, commented: "2018 marked a record year for natural resources, with funds raising close to $100bn - a new high for the industry. Energy funds in particular had a banner year, accounting for the vast majority of total natural resources fundraising activity." Patrick added: "The energy market has typically dominated natural resources, which may be an impediment to the asset class's long-term...................... To view our full article Click here Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Global listed property fund manager, Jaguar Listed Property has announced its spin-out from Northwood Securities. The new firm includes substantial minority investments from strategic partners Jaguar Growth Partners of New York and Hwa Hong Corporation Limited of Singapore. The creation of JLP represents the next chapter for the investment management team from Northwood Securities. JLP will continue to manage active, unconstrained and concentrated publicly-listed real estate portfolios on behalf of its institutional investor partners and clients in the U.S, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. All investment team members from Northwood Securities have joined JLP and will manage the existing and new investment strategies. "We're really excited about where the firm is headed," JLP CEO Jim Rehlaender tells Opalesque. "When we started with Northwood the firm was still small and it looked like securities were going to be part of the picture. But as they matured the vision changed and we were given the opportunity to take over the business." JLP is headquartered in New York, with research offices in Amsterdam and Singapore. The Firm currently manages assets for institutional investors through a range of segregated accounts, mutual funds, and is a sub-advisor for UCITs/SICAV funds. As an independent firm, JPL has plans to expand its business lines and to focus on active management. The partnerships with Jaguar and Hwa Hong will...................... To view our full article Click here Can men get arrested for sporting long hair: Apparently in Pakistan YES! Pakistan dismantled major foreign spy network, say local media reports International oi-Shubham Ghosh Islamabad, Feb 1: Local media in Pakistan have reported that an "international spying network" on its soil has been dismantled in the wake of arrests at least five intelligence officials who were in action to serve foreign interests. As per Pakistani daily 'The News International', the arrests were made earlier this week by the Federal Investigation Agency, the country's primary counter-intelligence body. The arrested members allegedly belonged to Pakistan's intelligence and security branches, it was reported. The arrested reportedly included a Pakistani official with diplomatic credentials and serving in a Pakistani embassy "in a European capital", Intel News cited. Anguished says India on Pak statement on Qureshi's call to Mirwaiz The report though did not specify the foreign intelligence agency for which the officials were allegedly working but said that it belonged to one of "the world's most powerful countries". "It added that the network had been "completely dismantled" following a counterintelligence operation that an unnamed source described to the paper as "remarkable". As a result, the adversary spy network in Pakistan had been "crippled [...] completely", added The News International," said Intel News. The paper, which supports the country's current prime minister, Imran Khan, also indicated that the alleged spy network might have been working for the CIA, the US's external intelligence body. Pakistan: Surface-to-surface ballistic missile 'Nasr' test fired successfully It was reported that the agency that was involved in running the spy network had been allowed by Islamabad to "roam free" inside the country after the 9/11 attacks in the US. Its officers were also reportedly allowed to recruit agents in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It said PM Khan decided to stop the foreign intelligence agency from running spy networks after it decided that these networks were not working to serve Pakistan's interests. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 14:08 [IST] Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions What Team Modi Government' says about Budget 2019? India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, Feb 1: While the opposition has criticized the government after the presentation of the Interim Budget 2019-20 on Friday; the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led states and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies have lauded the Budget. Addressing the nation shortly after the presentation of the interim Budget 2019 in the Lok Sabha by acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the development initiatives of the NDA government have touched several lives. "This is an interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the Budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development. From middle class to labourers, from farmers' growth to the development of businessmen, from manufacturing to MSME sector, from growth of the economy to development of New India, everyone has been taken care of in this interim Budget," said Prime Minister Modi. In a tweet, he also said, "Over 12 crore farmers and their families, over 3 crores salaried professionals and their families will gain thanks to the #BudgetForNewIndia. It is good to see more people being removed from the shackles of poverty. Our Neo-middle class is rising and so are their dreams". [What businesses say about Budget 2019?] Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is undergoing medical treatment in New York, said on Twitter that "the Budget expands spending while pragmatically sticking to fiscal prudence. The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class." Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it's a historic budget, and all the sections of the society will benefit from it. Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party is an ally of the BJP, dubbed Budget a "surgical strike on the Opposition". Another Union Minister R. K. Singh and Bihar's Finance Minister Sushil Modi also seconded Paswan. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told ANI, "Opposition has no issues to talk about, they are scared of Modi Ji's Welfare Schemes: We don't do vote bank politics; we do development politics. We are dedicated to take farmers to new heights." [Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar welcome Budget, Punjab CM asks what about 'unemployed youth'] BJP President Amit Shah tweeted: "Due to progressive policies of Modi govt, number of tax payers have increased from 3.79crore to 6.85crore leading to increased revenue,which jumped from 3.68lakh crore to almost 12lakh crore. This has helped the govt increase its welfare programs without jeopardising the economy." His second tweet said, "This budget strikes a fine balance between financial prudence and welfare of the citizenry. Budget has provisioned a 75,000 crore outlay for farmers while holding the fiscal deficit at just 3.4%, which had ballooned to 6% during UPA era. #BudgetForNewIndia." In a tweet, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "My greetings to @PiyushGoyal for presenting a great Budget that reiterates commitment of PM @narendramodi towards creating a robust and fast growing economy by ensuring prosperity for farmers, middle class, youth, poor and all other sections of society. #BudgetForNewIndia." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that all sections of the society including farmers, middle class, poor & women have been mentioned in this budget and this budget will help achieve the dream of a 'New India'. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje tweeted: "A historic #UnionBudget! With the common man at its centre, the #BudgetForNewIndia is inclusive, progressive and empowering. I congratulate PM Shri @narendramodi ji and FM Shri @piyushgoyal ji on delivering a budget which will further transform India (sic)." Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said," Today's budget is a gift to farmers, labourers, women & middle class of India. The defence budget was enhanced beyond Rs 3 lakh crore, a first in history of India. Statesmen don't talk about only one yearr. The budget has created a blueprint of India of 2030." [Budget 2019: 'Rs 17 per day to farmers is an insult', says Rahul Gandhi] Terming the interim budget as progressive and positive, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said the government's "pathbreaking" budget provided a narrative of India's continued development growth. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose party Janata Dal (United) is an ally of the BJP, termed Interim Budget 2019 as positive and said that it will strengthen the economic condition of rural areas. Talking to reporters, Kumar said, "I welcome the decision to transfer Rs6000 directly to farmers' accounts every year. It will strengthen the economic conditions of rural areas. Also, I welcome the decision of tax rebate for taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh. It'll give relief to middle-class." Interestingly, the Shiromani Akali Dal, an old-time ally of the BJP, didn't comment on the Budget. It's notable that the SAD had skipped an important meeting of the NDA on Thursday that was called for chalking out the strategy during the Budget session. SAD is said to be "extremely sad" with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's alleged interference in the affairs of gurudwaras. The disgruntled ally also demanded a financial assistance package for its farmers from the Centre. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 23:05 [IST] Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions What opposition says about Budget 2019? India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, Feb 1: After Narendra Modi government presented the Interim Budget for 2019-20 on Friday, the opposition parties found many faults in it. The Congress leaders started using #AakhriJumlaBudget on Twitter. Congress President Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government destroyed the lives of farmers over the past five years, and it insulted them by announcing Interim Budget announcement of "Rs 17 a day" for them. "Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget," Rahul tweeted. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed the Budget as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) "election manifesto" and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha Polls. [From farmers, salaried people, to fiscal deficit: Key takeaways from Budget 2019] Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said, "Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes. He added: "The Interim FM tested our patience by the longest interim Budget Speech in recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech." Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor told ANI that "the whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour & dignity? He also accused that most numbers given out by Piyush Goyal in the Budget are blatant lies. He later tweeted: "Having promised a separate Ministry of Fisheries in their 2014 campaign, the BJP backs away from that commitment in Parliament & now announces a separate Department which will have at best one month to work before the Election Commission's Code of Conduct kicks in." [Goyal hits back at Chidambaram, says most of the schemes were conceived way before elections] Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted: "So #Modi tried his last trick with #AakhriJumlaBudget . Another embarrassing flop. Time to say #ByeByeModi has come." The Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet, "Budget 2019-20: It is a testimony to the BJP's fear and desperation about what that verdict of the people might be that it has sought to use what is an interim budget to make promises that are not for it to make." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also criticized the government. "This government has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power. The government will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless," she told mediapersons. Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is running the government in the state with the support of the Congress, said, "Friends of BJP have made this budget. I want to ask if this #budget was prepared by officials of finance dept or RSS? In this budget, Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop." Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has stitched an alliance with historically opponent Mayawati of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, said all sections of the society want to get rid of the BJP. "Talk of 10 years in a year's Budget is a false story. There is no relief for the majority of landless farmers and workers. After five years of torture and suffering; the farmers of the country, businessmen, unemployed youth want to get rid of the BJP and don't want any false announcements," he tweeted. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal also castigated the government over the Budget. "Final jumla of Modi govt : it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially," Kejriwal tweeted. He suggested to the government that invest heavily in education and health, increase minimum wages and enforce it, give crop prices 1.5 times of the cost, and give one time farm loan waiver. "This would put money in pocket of poorest, create demand, give boost to economy and create jobs. None of it done in budget," Kejriwal said. Members from opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, alleged that proposals of the interim budget were leaked to the media even before the document was presented in the House. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 20:07 [IST] Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions What businesses say about Budget 2019? India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, Feb 1: The interim Budget unveiled by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday has got thumbs up from business houses and industrialists. However, the small traders are not happy with the budget. When Goyal presented the government's last budget before the general elections, India's middle class and small farmers hit the jackpot as the government doled out tax relief measures and a huge giveaway for farmers in a series of populist moves. Interim budget a trailer, 'picture abhi baaki hai,' says Modi The India Inc. said the budget will stimulate demand and boost economic growth. "India's middle class, small traders and farmers are the lifelines of its economic growth. By catering to these ambitions #Budget2019 infuses hopes for millions of dreams," Adani Group Chairman and Founder Gautam Adani tweeted. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said in a tweet, "I was bracing for a populist, profligate budget driven by 'election panic.' I'm just grateful that the reliefs to the key middle class & farmer segments were delivered in a measured way without risking bankruptcy of the economy. This was a controlled, pump-priming exercise..." CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said the Budget for 2019-20 touched the right notes for stimulating demand and growth in the economy. Walmart India President and CEO Krish Iyer also said the Budget rightly focused on the middle class, rural sector and on enhancing farmers' income. Welcoming the Budget, FICCI tweeted, "@ficci_india feels that the #budget2019 is positive & will help address the challenges faced by the agrarian sector, stimulate consumer demand and thus propel greater investments & higher growth." FICCI President Sandip Somany said, "We feel that the budget is positive and will help address the challenges faced by the agrarian sector; stimulate consumer demand and thus propel greater investments and higher growth." However, the Budget did not elate the small traders. Their body, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), said "The Union Budget though seems to be overall good has utterly neglected the trading community and it has highly disappointed 7 crore traders of the Country who were hoping very high from the budget." CAIT National President B.C.Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that every other section of the economy has been given relief in the budget except the trading community which is the backbone of the economy. Budget 2019: Full text of Piyush Goyal's budget speech "The budget makes us to feel that trading community is like an unwanted community in the Country." They added that "after renaming DIPP as Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and giving no extension to FDI policy in e commerce, the traders were hopeful that they will get due attention in the Budget but with totally left out from the Budget, the traders feel aggrieved". However, the CAIT has said that it will send a fresh memorandum to Prime Minister and Finance Minister urging them to take care of the trading community. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 17:37 [IST] Talks with China will not help says USA NSA on situation on Ladakh 20 members of a family removed from US flight after mask of 1 slipped under nose US in serious negotiations on Afghanistan for first time: Trump International pti-PTI Washington, Feb 1: The US is in serious negotiations with the Taliban for the first time in 19 years to end the war in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump has said as he touted his administration's talks with the militant group. The optimistic tone come hours after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad defended his talks with the Taliban and cautioned against a rush to judgment. While Khalilzad said his nearly week-long meeting with Taliban officials yielded "significant progress," Afghan President Ghani expressed concerns about the US troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. "I can't tell you that this is a guarantee because we are going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan and for the first time, they are talking about settling, they are talking about making an agreement and we bring our people back home if that happens," Trump told reporters at the White House. On same page with intelligence community, says Trump "We will see what happens but they are in very serious negotiations for the first time," he said. Early this week, Khalilzad announced that he has reached a draft peace framework after six days of talks in Qatar. As per the draft framework, the Taliban will deny safe haven to terrorist groups. This is based on the understanding that the Taliban must enter into direct talks with Kabul and, at the same time, agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile, a media has said the Trump administration is unlikely to order withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan without a comprehensive cease-fire agreement with the Taliban and a political road map for peace. Based on interviews with unnamed senior administration officials, The Washington Post in a news report said that no withdrawal will occur until a comprehensive cease-fire and a political road map for peace have been negotiated between the militants and the Afghans. PTI Telangana TSLPRB, Reschedules, SI, Constable PET Revised Admit Cards release date India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Feb 02: The Telangana TSLPRB, Reschedules, SI, Constable PET Revised Admit Cards will be released soon. The admit cards once released will also be available on the official website. The test will be held from February 11 and candidates will have to download their revised admit cards to take part in the recruitment process. The Board has cancelled two venues for the test-- Goshamahal, Hyderabad and KU Grounds, Warangal. The admit cards will be available for download on February 5. The admit cards can be downloaded until February 9. The job notice reads, that he tests will be held within a period of 35-40 working days, which is by the third week of March. "PMT / PET will be conducted at 3 Venues / Grounds in Hyderabad (for Hyderabad and erstwhile RR District Candidates) and at 1 Venue / Ground in each of the Headquarters of the other erstwhile Districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Sangareddy, Adilabad and Nizamabad. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:34 [IST] SSC GD Constable admit card 2018 to be out soon India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Feb 01: Staff Selection Commission is expected to issue SSC GD Admit Card 2018 soon. However, the commission has not yet issued any notice in connection with the SSC GD Admit Card 2019 release date. The SSC GD Constable 2018 examination would be conducted from February 11, 2019 to March 11, 2019. The admit cards would be released on the regional websites for SSC, links of which are available on ssc.nic.in. Steps and instructions on how to download are provided below. Direct link to different regional SSC websites is provided for reference. SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2018: How to download Visit the official website of SSC i.e. ssc.nic.in Click on the link of SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2018-19 Enter all required credentials and click on the submit button The admit card will be displayed on the screen Candidates can download it and take a printout of it for future use Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions Over nations resources, poor have the first right India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: Pitching for bridging urban-rural divide, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said the country's poor have the first right over nation's resources. Presenting the budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said, "We plan to provide urban facilities in rural areas while preserving 'soul of village'." He further said the government has worked to bridge the urban-rural divide and "the poor have the first right over nation's resources". Highlighting the achivements of the government, mentioning the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Goyal said India has achieved over 98 per cent rural sanitation coverage and about 5.4 lakh villages have been made open defecation-free. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 12:24 [IST] Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar welcome Budget, Punjab CM asks what about unemployed youth' India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Feb 01: Reactions on the interim Budget presented by the Modi government are pouring in from all quarters. While many have praised the budget, the opposition leaders have stuck to criticism. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed direct income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to farmers announced in the Budget, while Punjab CM Amarinder Singh asked what about the unemployed youth. While proposing the Interim Budget in Parliament on earlier in the day, Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme which would give direct income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to farmers who own less than two hectares of land. "I welcome tax benefits for middle and lower income groups. I welcome direct benefit transfer to both small and marginal farmers on lines of our KALIA Scheme. However, it would have benefitted farmers more if the quantum of assistance is equal or more than KALIA Scheme," ANI quoted Patnaik as saying. [Ghatabadhan leaders mock Interim Budget 2019] "I welcome the decision to transfer Rs 6000 directly to farmers' accounts every year. It will strengthen the economic conditions of rural areas. Also, I welcome decision of tax rebate for taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh. It will give relief to middle-class," said Nitish Kumar. [Goyal hits back at Chidambaram, says most of the schemes were conceived way before elections] Amarinder Singh slammed the Budget asking what has been done about the farmers who are in debt. "I want to know what have they done for the problems of the farmers who are in debt about whom every minister including PM talks about. What have they done for unemployed youth? They are our future. The government should have thought about them," Singh told ANI. Highlights of Budget 2019: The government proposes to raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. Individuals with gross income up to Rs. 6.5 lakh will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities. Piyush Goyal has announced Rs 6,000 per annum direct cash transfer to farmers owning less than 2 hectares of land. This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers to earn a respectable living. Rs 60,000 crore has also been set aside for MGNREGA, the rural employment scheme. Direct tax collections up from 6.38 lakh crore in 2013-14 to almost 12 lakh crore; tax base up from 3.79 crore to 6.85 crore. All income tax returns to be processed within 24 hours. The gratuity limit has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh crore. Tax collection increased to Rs 12 lakh crore this year, returns filed to 6.85 crore. Goyal also announced Rs 500-crore mega pension plan. Under the scheme, monthly pension of Rs 3,000 will be paid to after retirement. The Finance Minister announced 8 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana. Goyal announced 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission', with an increased allocation of Rs 750 crore in current year. Defence budget for the first time has increased to Rs 3 lakh crore and additional funds will be provided. Over 100 operation airports in the country and domestic passenger traffic has doubled in last five years. Pension scheme for unorganised sector workers with monthly income up to Rs. 15,000 will be given. Assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 after they retire on reaching 60. Goyal announced a 10-year roadmap to improve ease of living and make India a pollution-free country by leading the world in transport and energy storage devices, bringing down dependency on imports for energy needs. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 19:56 [IST] More than 30 BJP workers killed in attacks made by TMC in West Bengal: Dilip Ghosh Do not come back: TMC slams West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who is visiting Delhi Explained: Can Mukul Roy be disqualified as MLA for jumping from BJP to TMC Modi-Mamata poster war in West Bengal ahead of PM's visit India oi-Vikas SV Kolkata, Feb 1: Poster wars erupted in West Bengal's Durgapur where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit on Saturday. The BJP alleged that Mamata Banerjee's posters were deliberately put in front of Modi's posters near the venue where the Prime Minister is set to hold a meeting. Mamata's posters were put in such a way so as to cover PM Modi's poster. "Just 50-70 metres away from the meeting venue of PM Modi in Durgapur, WB CM Mamata Banerjee's posters are being put above PM's banners. This is proof there is no democracy in West Bengal. When one of our workers protested against such activities he was attacked," BJP's Rahul Sinha told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal's Durgapur on Saturday to launch a nearly 300-km-long electrified section of the railways. He will also inaugurate a 20-km-long Hijli-Narayangarh third line, a statement from his office said. [Opposition rally will sound the death knell for BJP: Mamata] The prime minister will dedicate to the nation the railway electrification of the 294-km-long Andal-Sainthia-Pakur-Malda and the Khana-Sainthia sections. The electrification of this section will enable ease of transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North and Northeast India in a seamless manner, the statement said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 2, 2019, 1:43 [IST] Life under threat, Ravi Pujari says as extradition proceedings get underway India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: The extradition formalities to bring underworld don, Ravi Pujari from Senegal to India have begun. Pujari was held by the Senegal authorities on January 22, following which officials from India began formalities to extradite him to India, where he is wanted in several cases ranging from extortion to murder. Following his arrest, he was produced before the Attorney General of Senegal. Through his counsel, El Hadji, he filed an application seeking his release. He argued that he be kept in Senegal and also added that his life is under threat in India. How a visit to a wedding led to the location of underworld don Ravi Pujari India expects that the extradition would take place soon. We are in touch with the authorities concerned in Senegal. We are also in touch with the prosecutor, the official said. There are some formalities remaining and that would be completed soon, the officer also said. The Attorney General who heard the argument by Pujari, however did not grant him the interim relief he was seeking. Following the hearing, he was sent back to the Reubeus prison in Senegal and he continues to remain lodged there. There was a red corner alert issued against Pujari and he has been on the run since the past 15 years. The agencies had learnt that he had been travelling on a passport using the name Anthony Fernandez. He has operated in Thailand and later shifted to Australia, where it was widely believed that he was hiding. However based on the interrogation by the police and further intelligence gathering, his location was traced to Senegal. Following his arrest, he was placed under extradition detention at the Rebeuss Detention Centre at Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. Sources say that he was arrested by the Senegal police on January 22. He was running a restaurant in the capital city of Dakar which went by the name Namaste India. He is wanted in a host of cases that range from extortion, murder and kidnapping. Underworld don, Ravi Pujari arrested: Extradition round the corner Last month, the Mumbai crime branch had invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against two alleged members of the Ravi Pujari gang. William Rodricks and Akash Shetty were arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) earlier this month for threatening a builder. Both are said to have given more details to the police and agencies about Pujari, which finally led to the agencies tracking him down. Intelligence agencies are currently coordinating the operation and are getting more details on the detention in Senegal. Once these details are ascertained, the agencies would make a push for his extradition, following which he will be brought down to India. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 16:30 [IST] Karnataka: No examinations for Classes 1 to 9, gives mass promotion JKBOSE Class 12 Kargil division results 2018 declared : Check now India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Feb 01: The JKBOSE Class 12 Kargil division results 2018 have been declared. The results are available on the official website. All those students who had appeared for the same are required to check their respective scores at the official website - jkbose.ac.in. The Higher Secondary Part Two Examination (Class 12th) annual regular/private, 2018 - Kargil Division result can be either checked using roll number or by searching candidate's name. JKBOSE Class 12 Kargil division results 2018: How to check Go to jkbose.ac.in . . Click on the link "Result for Higher Secondary Part II Examination (Class 12th) Annual Regular/Private 2018 (Kargil Division). In the provided field, enter your roll number or name Click on submit Your result will be displayed on the screen Download the same and take a printout For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 13:42 [IST] J&K police gun down three terrorists in Shopian, J&K As targeted killing of J&K BJP leaders continue, Lashkar front claims responsibility for latest attack Sopore attack: Lashkar operatives carried out reconnaissance along with Pak terrorist J&K: One CRPF constable injured in grenade attack India oi-Vikas SV Srinagar, Feb 01: The terrorists on Friday hurled a grenade at a CRPF battalion in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam, said reports. One CRPF constable was reportedly injured. Terrorists hurled a grenade at the D/43 battalion CRPF at Namtihal in Budgam. Yesterday (Jan 31), terrorists hurled a grenade on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, injuring seven people, including three women and two CRPF jawans. Terrorists lobbed the grenade at the security forces at Sherbagh in the Anantnag area, a police official said. [2 Terrorists killed in encounter in Pulwama district] On January 30, at least three persons were injured in a grenade attack by terrorists on a police station in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier today, two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajpora area of Pulwama. Both terrorists are affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 19:02 [IST] Income Tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh will be implemented only by next govt Interim budget 2019: Rs 6k a year scheme for farmers gets mixed reaction India oi-Shubham Ghosh New Delhi, Feb 1: India's interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, February 1, presented the interim budget of 2019 and it was a document which aimed at showing a kind face to the country's farming and middle classes. The government came up on the occasion with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, a scheme whereby any farmer who owns up to two hectares of land would be assured an annual income of Rs 6,000. Budget 2019: 'Rs 17 per day to farmers is an insult', says Rahul Gandhi The budget for Fiscal 2020 has allocated Rs 75,000 crore for the same and it is expected that 120 million land-owning farming households will benefit from this. The Centre will count December 1, 2018, as the starting date for the inaugural year for transfer of cash while an additional Rs 20,000 crore have been allocated for the same for the current financial year ending next month. Goyal said the amount will be transferred into the farmers' bank accounts in three installments of Rs 2,000 each and the date of disbursing the first installment will be declared soon. After the defeat in three Hindi heartland states in December, it was expected that the Narendra Modi government would come up with some measures for fast relief for the agriculturists who are having a difficult time and the never-ending tragedy of farmers' suicide making the headlines often. However, the declaration about farmers' scheme in the interim budget did not please all. 'Ask Modi to keep his Rs 6,000' According to a report in Quartz, many of the farmers were seeking implementation of sweeping reforms as recommended by the Swaminathan report in place of cash grants. One farmer Shyambhir Singh from UP's Ghaziabad district even said: "Ask Modi to keep his Rs 6,000. The farmers aren't begging" -- Quartz reported. There were also others who felt that it was better to get at least something than nothing. Budget 2019: Full text of Piyush Goyal's budget speech This is not the first time that the Modi government has hiked agricultural spending though. Yet, the farming community's woes haven't reduced and they were recently seen marching to the cities from villages seeking loan waivers and higher price ceilings for their produce. The Opposition has also made full use of the opportunity. Soon after coming to power, the Congress waived farm loans in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and its president Rahul Gandhi also promised that if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections this year, his party will provide minimum guaranteed income to individuals below the poverty line. Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram mocked the scheme for farmers saying he would be surprised if they are happy with the amount that comes to around Rs 17 a day. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 17:11 [IST] How a visit to a wedding led to the location of underworld don Ravi Pujari India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: A week back, a team of the Mumbai Police crashed into a wedding in Mangalore. They returned with one Akshay Shetty, a close aide of Ravi Pujari. A few days prior to the arrest of Shetty, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Police had arrested William Rodrigues on the charge that he had provided the contract details to Pujari of a developer. Underworld don, Ravi Pujari arrested: Extradition round the corner In a late night development on Thursday, the Senegal police in Western Africa detained underworld don, Ravi Pujari based on a tip of by the Indian agencies. The arrest of Pujari comes as a crucial time, when he had been upping the ante on extortions. There was a lull in Pujari's operation following the arrest of his close aide Dasharath Shinde in 2017. However the Mumbai police learnt that in the past 5 to 6 months, Pujari's had resumed operations and Shetty had become the frontman for the gang. For the sleuths getting to Shetty was the first priority. They learnt that he had set up a hotel in Udupi, which was being used as a front for the cartel. A team of the AEC then landed at the hotel, but he was not found there. Later it was learnt that he would be at a wedding venue, following which the team went there. After a bit of hide and seek and a six kilometre chase, the sleuths arrested Shetty. Both Shetty and Rodrigues became crucial links that ultimately led up to Ravi Pujari. Both of them gave the agencies ample details about Pujari, which in turn helped in pin-pointing the location to Senegal. There was a red corner alert issued against Pujari and he has been on the run since the past 15 years. The agencies had learnt that he had been travelling on a passport using the name Anthony Fernandez. He has operated in Thailand and later shifted to Australia, where it was widely believed that he was hiding. However based on the interrogation by the police and further intelligence gathering, his location was traced to Senegal. Who is Ravi Pujari Following his arrest, he was placed under extradition detention at the Rebeuss Detention Centre at Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. Sources say that he was arrested by the Senegal police on January 22. He was running a restaurant in the capital city of Dakar which went by the name Namaste India. He is wanted in a host of cases that range from extortion, murder and kidnapping. Last month, the Mumbai crime branch had invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against two alleged members of the Ravi Pujari gang. William Rodricks and Akash Shetty were arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) earlier this month for threatening a builder. Both are said to have given more details to the police and agencies about Pujari, which finally led to the agencies tracking him down. Intelligence agencies are currently coordinating the operation and are getting more details on the detention in Senegal. Once these details are ascertained, the agencies would make a push for his extradition, following which he will be brought down to India. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 11:02 [IST] Who is Subodh Kumar Jaiswal? Former Maharashtra IPS officer apointed as new CBI Director High powered panel to pick new CBI chief today India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Feb 01: The next meeting of the selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to pick a new CBI director will take place today, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also member of the panel, said. The last meeting of the panel took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". "The next meeting of the panel on selection of the CBI chief will take place on February 1 at around 6 PM," Kharge told reporters. Four officers appointed in CBI Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads the three-member panel with Kharge and Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as its members. In the last meeting, Kharge had sought details of dossiers of all the eligible officers for the post. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:08 [IST] Diplomacy blues for fugitives: How India is ensuring extraditions of high value targets India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: The past couple of weeks have seen several fugitives being extradited from India. With more expected to take place in the next couple of weeks, let us take a look at what has worked for India, when it comes to extraditing these high profile offenders. In the past five years till date there have been 22 extraditions that have taken place. The high profile extraditions and deportations include that of Chhota Rajan, Jagtar Singh Tara Abdul Wahid Siddibapa, Wily Naruenartwanich, James Christian Michel among others. There are various reasons why the number of extraditions and decorations have gone up. AgustaWestland: The importance of Rajeev Saxena and how he will help crack the money trail The Indian agencies have been persistent in their demand and coupled with diplomacy, they have managed to put up a very strong case before the countries they have been dealing with. Extraditions and deportations have not been restricted to the UAE alone, which has in recent times extradited a large number of fugitives. Extraditions have taken place from Australia, Thailand, Morocco, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nicaragua, Canada, Indonesia and Bahrain. India has had a lot of success in ensuring extraditions of high profile personalities from the UAE in particular. James Christian Michel, Rajeev Saxena and Deepak Talwar were the latest to be extradited. While Michel and Saxena are accused in the AgustaWestland case, Talwar is accused of other economic offences. In the past five years, there have been six others who have been extradited or deported from the UAE in connection with cases of murder and terrorism. Highly placed sources tell OneIndia that there are two factors that have worked. One is the cases that were filed and presented were water-tight. This leaves any country with very little scope to reject a demand made by India. The other factor is that the UAE does not want unwanted elements on its soil and this made the process easy. This has also been coupled with diplomacy and constant interactions between India and the countries from where the extradition has been sought. Officials say that the cases have been pursued very seriously. It is important that once is a target is being pursued, there should be no lag in the operation. Once the case papers are in place and the diplomacy set in motion, it is important that the case is pursued. More importantly it is important to keep the information confidential so that target does not escape, officials explained. In all the extradition carried out in the past couple of years, India has relentlessly pursued the target with the help of the foreign authorities. However the most important aspect has been the case papers which have been water-tight in nature. More in the pipeline: India could expect some more extraditions in the days to come. On Thursday, there was news that the Senegal police had arrested underworld don, Ravi Pujari. He is set to be extradited to India soon. Sources say that the officials are in talks with their counterparts and Pujari will soon be brought to India on a special flight. How a visit to a wedding led to the location of underworld don Ravi Pujari In addition to this, there are efforts on to bring back both Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, accused in the PNB scam. The other fugitive that India is looking to bring back is Jatin Mehta. It may be recalled that Mehul Choksi and Winsome Diamonds promoter Jatin Mehta have taken citizenship in these parts. The duo had availed the controversial paid citizenship programme provided by the Islands in the Carribbean. Mehta had become a citizen of St Kitts a few years back, while Choksi had taken citizenship of Antigua and Barbados recently. These islands provide visa free travel to 132 countries. As PM led panel gets set to meet, here are the officers in contention to become next CBI chief Departmental action stares at ousted CBI chief, Alok Verma India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: Ousted CBI director Alok Verma is likely to face departmental action for defying a government order asking him to join as chief of Fire Services on Thursday, the day of his superannuation, and this may include suspension of pensionary benefits, officials said. According to the officials, this non-compliance of the directive amounted to violation of service rules for all India services officers.The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed Verma to take charge as director general of the Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards on Thursday. From govt's caged parrot to punching bag; CBI hasn't seen worse days As Verma did not take up the new assignment as directed, he is likely to face departmental action which may include suspension of pensionary benefits, MHA officials said.Attempts to reach Verma for a comment did not fructify.In a letter sent to Verma Wednesday, the MHA said, "You are directed to join the post of DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards immediately". This communication was seen as a rejection of his plea in a letter to Secretary, Department of Personnel, earlier this month in which he said he should be deemed to have retired from service on July 31, 2017, the day he completed 60 years. Verma had contended that he had crossed the superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards and he wanted to be treated as having superannuated from the day he was moved out of the CBI.He said that he "was only serving the government as CBI director until January 31, 2019 as it was a fixed tenure role". The tenure of CBI director is fixed for two years. Verma, a former Delhi Police Commissioner, was first moved out of the CBI by the government in a midnight order on October 23 last year on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission(CVC) but was reinstated by the Supreme Court on January 9. Former CIC demands disclosure of material which led to Alok Verma's removal as CBI Director After the Supreme Court order, a high-powered panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a 2:1 decision removed Verma and asked him to join the residual term of the CBI director as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. The prime minister and Justice A K Sikri, the nominee of Chief Justice of India, favoured removal of Verma while the third member of the committee -- leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge -- opposed the move. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 5:32 [IST] Sonia Gandhi took both doses of COVID vaccine, Rahul's jab delayed due to positive result: Congress Complaint filed against Rahul Gandhi over posters depicting him as Lord Rama India oi-Vikas SV Patna, Feb 1: A complaint has reportedly been filed against Rahul Gandhi and five others over posters of Congress president being depicted as Lord Ram which surfaced in Patna a couple of days ago. The complaint, filed in Patna's CJM court, accuses Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha and four others of allegedly hurting religious sentiments. According to reports, Congress worker Vijay Kumar Singh is the one who had got the posters printed and erected them at several places including outside Congress party office at Sadakat Ashram on January 29. "They (read BJP) kept chanting Ram's name, but you are living like him," reads the slogan on the posters. The posters were put up ahead of 'Jan Akanksha rally' in Patna's Gandhi Maidan on February 3 in which Rahul Gandhi is set to address. ['NoMo Jobs': Rahul Gandhi targets PM over unemployment data] After this, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the posters proved that sycophancy remains the "supreme conduct" of Congressmen. "First refute the existence of Shri Ram, then dress Rahul as Shri Ram. Good that you became Shri Ram. Now tell, Congress people, what is your stand on the petition the Centre submitted before the Supreme Court today?" asked Patra in a tweet. The complaint case was reportedly filed by one Rakesh Dutt Mishra. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 21:17 [IST] Citing communal violence, anti-national activities, Centre bans SIMI for 5 years India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: The Centre has extended the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India. The ban on the outfit under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act will continue, the Union Home Ministry has said. In a notification, the Home Ministry said that the Centre is of the view that if the unlawful activities of the SIMI are not curbed, it would take the opportunity to continue its subversive activities and re-organise its members who are still absconding. It will also disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people creating communal disharmony, propagate anti-national sentiments, the ministry also said. Former SIMI man accused of sedition arrested at Varanasi airport The notification also stated, " the central government is also of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the SIMI, it is necessary to declare the SIMI to be an unlawful association with immediate effect; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as an "unlawful association" and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette." As per the assessment done by the intelligence agencies, the outfit continues to pose a high threat to national security. Moreover in the recent past, the SIMI has re-surfaced especially in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. All the above mentioned states had informed the Union Home Ministry about the activities of the outfit. They have also cited the convictions of Safdar Nagori and Abu Faisal, who are top operatives of the outfit. In Kerala, the SIMI poses a major threat. It is closely associated with the PFI and has been involved in several radical activities. Recently the role of the SIMI was also found in the double murder case at Bharuch in Gujarat. The police learnt that the SIMI along with some members of the underworld were tasked with killing Hindu leaders in a bid to create communal tension. SIMI operative gets 10 years in jail for attack on cops An incident in Yavatmal, Maharashtra also made an attempt to kick start a wave of communal incidents. In this incident, an alleged member of the SIMI at the behest of a religious preacher had stabbed a constable protesting the beef ban in the state. The IB has warned that such incidents could occur in smaller towns of the country and if the police are not watchful there is a danger of the same spreading across the country. The IB also says that groups from Pakistan in association with the underworld will look to launch such attacks in order to increase the communal divide in the country. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:19 [IST] Chidambaram tears into Goyals English-Hindi speech during interim budget, says it confused people India oi-Shubham Ghosh New Delhi, Feb 1: Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, February 1, presented the interim budget 2019 and it tried to be a wish fulfiller, keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The minister spoke in Hindi and English, explaining some key proposals in the native language and although it was applauded by members of the ruling BJP, the Opposition took a dig over the fact. Finance ministers traditionally present their budget speech in English but the 100-minute speech that Goyal gave had a blending of both languages. He even gave reference to the recent Hindi blockbuster 'Uri' and BJP's victory in the Haryana bypolls during his speech. Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal woos middle class with tax cuts, farmers with sops and more Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, who had presented the last interim budget in 2014, tore into the NDA II's interim budget and especially Goyal's bi-lingual speech while addressing the media. He said those who did not know Hindi didn't understand half of the budget while those who did not know English didn't get to understand half as well. He said the government left people confused, at least for a day. Around 17 rupees a day for farmers! He also mocked the budget's presentation of Rs 6,000 to farmers with less than 2 hectares of land annually saying it came to Rs 17 a day and said he would be surprised if that made them happy. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 15:09 [IST] Calicut blasts: NIA arrests second accused on arrival from Saudi Arabia India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 01: An absconder in the Calicut twin blasts case has been arrested upon his arrival from Saudi Arabia. The National Investigation Agency arrested P P Yoosaf, who originally hails from Kannur district. The cases pertains to the twin IED blasts that had occurred at KSRTC and Mofussil Bus Stands in Calicut (Kozhikode) City on 3rd March 2006, causing injuries to two persons besides damage to property. Calicut twin blasts: NIA arrests accused on arrival from Saudi Arabia It may be recalled that on January 23 another accused connected to the same case was arrested on arrival from Saudi Arabia. The NIA took over the investigation from the Kerala police in 2009. The trial against four accused was completed in 2011 and the court had sentenced the accused persons to life imprisonment. The conspiracy was hatched by T Nasir to protests against the denial of bail to the Muslim accused persons involved in the Marad communal riots of 2003. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 18:32 [IST] Interim budget a trailer, picture abhi baaki hai, says Modi India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Feb 01: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the budget had something for everyone and will directly benefit 12 crore farmers, 3 crore middle class taxpayers and 30-40 crore labourers. While addressing the media after the inerim budget, says "this budget will direct benefit more than 12 crore farmers, more than three crore middle class families and 30-40 crore labourers. The budget takes care of everyone he says, adding that this is an important step towards "strengthing the nation." 'From housing to healthcare, several aspects have been touched in the Budget For New India. The development initiatives of the NDA government have touched several lives,'' he said. The prime minister said,"nearly 50 crore people will benefit from Ayushman Bharat. The farmers never got the benefits of PM Kisan Yojna. However, now nearly 12 crore farmers will reap benefits of the scheme, which is one of the largest schemes." He then adds that the budget is proof that government is sincere towards public.'' Modi also said, "a separate department for fisheries will help the fishermen and those involved in it. We are witnessing development in different sectors and the number of people getting employed is also increasing. The previous government did not worry about my labourers, the poor. But the Jan Dhan yojna, Ayushman Bharat yojna and such other schemes will help them lead a life of dignity." Earlier in the day, Finance minister Piyush Goyal presented the sixth and hence, the interim budget of the Narendra Modi government on Friday. Goyal, in the interim budget, had proposed that income tax exemption limit will be doubled from Rs 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh, but left the implementation of it to the next government. Amid confusion on when the changes in tax structure would be effective, he clarified that he just "wanted the middle class to know what the government was planning". Narendra Modi government has lapped up its final chance to woo voters ahead of the general elections in Budget 2019, by appealing to the widest cross-section with its announcements. Budget 2019: Why are Budget copies a secret document? India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Feb 01: While interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Union Budget before Parliament on Friday, there is a team of over hundred officials who have been spending more than a week in the ministry building with no social interaction. This core team of civil servants work to prepare one of the most well-guarded documents in the country. The use of both fixed-line and mobile phones are banned as the officials work in the quarantine zone inside the building. The Finance Ministry has been under quarantine since December 1. This process of quarantine is observed every year to avoid any leak of information. Why are the copies a secret document? On the day of the UK Budget in 1947, Hugh Dalton, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, met a journalist as he walked into parliament and casually spewed a few details on tax changes. The journalist went on to break the story before the speech. Dalton, as a result, had to resign. This is when India's Budget became a secret document as well. Also, when Parliament is in session, it became necessary for it to be informed first of any government matter to be discussed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 10:19 [IST] Budget 2019: What is Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan? India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Feb 1: Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, while presenting Budget 2019, announced the launch of a social security pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector, called the 'Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan'. Under the scheme, an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be provided to workers in the unorganised sector after 60 years of age. However, to avail of the scheme, workers will have to contribute Rs 100 month. He further said the scheme, which would benefit 10 crore workers, would be implemented from this fiscal itself. "It may become the world's biggest pension scheme for the unorganised sector in five years," he said. Goyal also announced an increase of gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh from the next fiscal. Budget 2019: Funds hiked for MGNREGA scheme The new pension scheme will run alongside the existing Atal Pension Yojana, which guarantees returns post-retirement. He said 50 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from "sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector." A sum of Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the Scheme. Additional funds will be provided as needed. The scheme will also be implemented from the current year. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 15:17 [IST] Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions Budget 2019: Sensex opens at 36311.74; Nifty opens at 10851.35 India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Mumbai, Feb 1: Hours before the Interim Budget 2019, 30-share Sensex trades at 36,311.74, 55.05 points higher in the pre-open session on Friday. Yes Bank, Power Grid, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, SBI and NTPC are the major gainers on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The SGX Nifty was last seen trading 43.5 points, or 0.4 per cent, higher at 10,898.55 on the Singapore Exchange. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.1 per cent after a stellar 7.2 per cent gain in January. Budget 2019 LIVE: Piyush Goyal will present interim Budget at 11am today Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present Narendra Modi government's sixth and final Budget, which will be an interim one, keeping up with established tradition. This will be the last Budget of the BJP-led NDA government ahead of the General Election. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar hints that the Budget 2019 could be "for the poor" says 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has been our government's mantra and it will reflect in the Budget. Last year, the headline indices Sensex and Nifty crashed a day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tabled the Budget 2018 in Lok Sabha and brought Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) on equities and equity-linked mutual funds under the tax net of 10 per cent. However, later it was discovered that the negative movement in domestic stock markets was due to the contagion effect of global sell-off in equity markets. Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal woos middle class with tax cuts, farmers with sops and more India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Feb 1: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on 1 February presented Narendra Modi government's sixth and final Budget, which was an interim one, keeping up with established tradition. This was the last Budget of the BJP-led NDA government ahead of the General Election. The Budget will seek Parliament's nod for spending for four months till a new government is sworn-in. Goyal announced big cheer for the salaried and middle-class taxpayers. In a huge boost, taxpayers with income up to Rs 5 lakh will get full rebate, standard deduction was raised by Rs 10,000, capital gains benefit for those selling a house property and reinvesting the proceeds, huge jump of Rs 30,000 in the threshold for TDS on bank interest and income from post office investments. Even the TDS threshold on rental income was hiked substantially from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh, thereby giving relief to landlords. A big income support scheme for farmers by the name of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, a pension scheme for unorganised workers called Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan, financial support for cos and fisheries are the key highlights of the big budget push towards rural and poor. In his speech in Lok Sabha, finance minister Piyush Goyal announced annual support of Rs 6000 per year for farmers holding land below 2 hectares. The gratuity limit has been pegged at Rs 30 lakh. There is a 2% interest subvention for farmers engaged in fisheries and animal husbandry. On the jobs front, the finance minister said that a fast-growing economy is creating jobs based on EPFO data and that sectors like solar have created lakhs of jobs. Here are the highlights: Here's what to expect from 2019-20 Interim Budget: Agriculture Farm relief package itself could run to at least Rs. 1 lakh crore ($14.04 billion) Set to earmark about Rs. 1.8 lakh crore for food subsidies in the fiscal year Expected to waive premium for taking insurance policy for food crops Proposal for waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time Divestment Target of about $11 billion from state asset sales in FY 2019-20 Potential stake sales via IPOs include Telecommunications Consultants India, Indian Railways' subsidiaries IRCTC, RailTel Corp India and National Seeds Corp Metals Gold - Speculation around a duty cut Health Budget allocation for health is likely to increase by 5 per cent from a year ago Taxes An anticipated corporate tax rate cut to 25 per cent from 30 per cent may be put on hold until after the elections Higher tax exemptions for the middle class and for small businesses anticipated Banks Discount of 2 percentage points on loans for businesses with annual sales of less than Rs. 5 crore; government to compensate banks for the costs Rs. 4,000 crore-rupee capital infusion for public-sector general insurers Autos Reduction of goods and services tax (GST) on electric vehicles and batteries IT/Telecom Better digital infrastructure in rural areas Abolition of the angel tax to boost start-ups Exemption from GST for spectrum and licence fee payouts, reduction in spectrum fees and cuts in import duty on telecom equipment (currently at 20 per cent) Now, pay Rs 10,000 as penalty in case you enter wrong Aadhaar number for transactions Budget 2019: Chidambaram mocks PM Modi over note ban India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 01: Minutes before Budget 2019 presentation, senior congress leader P Chidambaram has mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation. "The demonetisation year was the best year of growth (8.2 per cent) under Mr Modi. So, let's have another round of demonetisation.This time let's demonetise 100 rupee notes," he tweeted. Chidambaram also attacked the Narendra Modi government on GDP data ahead of the announcement of the interim budget. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram questioned the upward growth of GDP figures against rising unemployment. Taking a jibe at NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, the former finance minister reiterated his question, "How can a country grow at an average of 7 percent without employment?" Kumar had earlier dismissed the NSSO report, which suggested that unemployment in India in this fiscal has been the highest in the last four decades, saying those figures were not released by the government, and the government was procuring more accurate data to prepare a fresh report. The NSSO, a division of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), had released data on January 31, that suggested that unemployment in India stood at 6.1 percent in 2017-18, the highest in 45 years. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 11:11 [IST] US: CDC classifies Delta variant, first identified in India as 'variant of concern' In strong message, Centre tells social media platforms not to lecture India on freedom of speech Anguished says India on Pak statement on Qureshis call to Mirwaiz India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Feb 01: India reacted sharply to Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's phone call to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and subsequent statement by Pakistan foreign office on it primarily to send a "very strong" message that certain "red lines" must not be breached, government sources said on Thursday. India was particularly anguished over Pakistan's statement on Tuesday, sharing details of the conversation that centred around the Kashmir issue, they said. Though Pakistani leaders may have telephoned separatists in Kashmir in the past but perhaps, it was the first time in recent years that Islamabad put out a statement highlighting the talking points which New Delhi felt was a clear case of violation of the red lines, the sources said. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale Wednesday night summoned Pakistan envoy Sohail Mahmood and categorically told him that Qureshi's action was a "brazen attempt" to subvert India's unity and territorial integrity. He was also "cautioned" that persistence of such behaviour will have "implications". Pak foreign dials Hurriyat friend, discusses Kashmir issue Asked at a weekly media briefing about the possible "implications" if Pakistan does not heed to India's warning, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said he was not at the liberty to spell out contours of the "consequences". "The Pakistani foreign minister's action is not only a direct interference into India's internal affairs but it also encourages other individuals associated with terrorism and anti-India activities," he said. The spokesperson parried a question whether government considers the Mirwaiz a terrorist. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan summoned India's high commissioner in Islamabad on Thursday to lodge a protest over the summoning of its envoy in New Delhi. In a statement, the MEA on Wednesday said Gokhale conveyed to the Pakistani envoy that Qureshi's "deplorable act" has violated all norms for the conduct of international relations even by Pakistan's own standards and that India condemned it in the strongest terms. It said Gokhale underscored that the action has confirmed yet again that Pakistan officially abets and encourages individuals associated with terrorism and anti-India activities. "It has exposed to the entire international community Pakistan's duplicity in professing their desire for normal relations with India on the one hand, while openly inciting anti-India activities on the other," the MEA said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 5:55 [IST] AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive AgustaWestland: ED set to widen ambit of probe India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Feb 01: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to widen its probe as it is looking into at least a dozen of Swiss bank accounts allegedly linked to Rajeev Saxena and suspected kickbacks paid in deals linked to national carrier Air India where Deepak Talwar is a suspect, official sources said Thursday. They said the ED will now confront 61-year-old Saxena, a Dubai-based businessman, with Gautam Khaitan to unravel the trail of alleged slush funds and kickbacks paid in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers purchase case. AgustaWestland: The importance of Rajeev Saxena and how he will help crack the money trail While Delhi-based lawyer Khaitan has been arrested in this case earlier and he later obtained bail, he was last week again arrested by the central probe agency in a new criminal case of possession of alleged black money. The agency, in the past, has charged Saxena of being "in collusion" with Khaitan. Sources said that Saxena, a resident of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, will also be confronted with Christian Michel, the alleged British-origin middleman extradited by India recently in the same case. A dozen bank accounts located in Switzerland are under the scanner of the agency and it is suspected that Saxena operated them and that a good amount of kickbacks of the helicopters deal could have been parked there, they said. The agency, sources said, has got a "prize catch" in the form of Talwar (60), whom it suspects to have laundered about Rs 100 crore kickbacks that were sent to bank accounts of an NGO linked to him in India, in connection with sale of Airbus planes to erstwhile Indian Airlines, which was later merged with Air India. The CBI and the ED are already probing the case, under criminal sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), for alleged irregularities in over Rs 8,000-crore deal for supplying 43 aircraft of the French company to erstwhile Indian Airlines in 2005. He is also under the scanner for his alleged role in lobbying for certain foreign airlines in a deal related to sharing of profit-making routes of Air India. "Suspected funds to the tune of Rs 212 crore are under the scanner as this money reportedly was paid as kickbacks to Talwar for the routes sharing deal and money was sent to bank accounts in Singapore," the sources claimed. AgustaWestland: After Michel, another accused deported to India While Saxena was sent to a four-day ED custody, Talwar was similarly sent to seven-day custody of the agency by a court here. Talwar, said to be a corporate lobbyist in the aviation sector, was also wanted by the ED and the CBI in a case of allegedly misusing over Rs 90 crore taken through the foreign funding route. In a major boost to agencies probing the high-profile corruption cases, the duo were flown in on a special plane that landed in the technical area of the Delhi airport at about 1.30 am on Thursday. Officials said they were picked by Dubai authorities on Wednesday "in assistance" to a request made by Indian agencies. The ED had also arrested Saxena's wife Shivani Saxena in this case from the Chennai airport in July, 2017. She is now out on bail. It had alleged that Rajeev, his wife and their two Dubai-based firms -- Ms UHY Saxena, Dubai and Ms Matrix Holdings -- routed "the proceeds of crime and further layered and integrated in buying the immovable properties/shares among others". The ED had said its probe found that Agusta Westland International Ltd, UK paid an amount of euro 58 million as kickbacks through Gordian Services Sarl, Tunisia and IDS Sarl, Tunisia. "These companies further siphoned off the said money/ proceeds of crime in the name of consultancy contracts to Interstellar Technologies Ltd, Mauritius, and others which were further transferred to UHY Saxena, Dubai and Matrix Holdings Ltd. Dubai and others," the ED had charged. The ED had said Rajeev is "beneficial owner" of Interstellar Technologies Ltd and both his companies received proceeds of crime in their respective Dubai bank accounts from this firm. It had said that Rajeev Saxena and his wife allegedly remitted/ transferred a "huge amount of money" through their Dubai-based companies to various other accounts. The ED had named Rajeev Saxena and Shivani Saxena in its charge sheet filed in this case and had got issued a non-bailable warrant against the former. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore paid by the firm for securing the deal. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:53 [IST] Accused of being informer, girl shot dead at point blank range in Kashmir India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Srinagar, Feb 01: In a tragic incident, a bullet riddled body of a girl was recovered from South Kashmir's Shopian on Friday morning. A group of terrorists had abducted her and shot her at point blank range. Minutes after the incident, the video, which is extremely disturbing in nature was circulated. The police have advised people not to share the video. In the video the girl is seen seeking pardon before she was shot down. 2 Terrorists killed in encounter in Pulwama district The girl identified as Ishrat Muneer Bhat of Dangepora, Pulwama was abducted and later shot dead from point blank range at Cherbagh area of Draggad in Shopian. The police said that the girl is the maternal cousin of slain terrorist Zeenat-ul-Islam. While the police is yet to ascertain the reason behind the killing, it is suspected that it was the information given by her that led to the killing of Islam in an encounter last year. Islam was one of the most dreaded terrorists in the Valley and had been graded A++. He was killed along with his associate at Katpora in Kulgam. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 10:48 [IST] 7th Pay Commission: Confirmed, no good news for CG employees today in Budget India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 31: It has been clarified that it would be an interim budget and this brings us to the question, whether there would be any announcement relating to the 7th Pay Commission. Central Government employees have been demanding a hike in their basic minimum pay and have said that what was recommended by the pay panel was not sufficient. However the question is will the issues relating to fitment factor and basic minimum pay be addressed by the government in what is called a vote on account. A source says that had it been a full budget, the government could have made some major announcement relating to the 7th Pay Commission. The interim budget is unlikely to address this issue. This means that opposed to media reports suggesting that there could be some announcement on a hike in basic minimum pay, there could be none in reality. However the source also added from what can be gathered, there could be an announcement on the income tax slabs for those in the low income sector. Announcements relating to the farm sector is also on the cards. No major announcement could be made as the government does not have time to pass a full budget. Convention demands that in such an event, the government presents an interim budget and leaves the full budget to the next government. However there has been some good news for employees in the Railways. The ministry has agreed to changes proposed for promotion by the rail employees' association. The All India Railway Men's Federation had demanded that those employees who are more educated, irrespective of their posts be given a chance to a get a promotion by taking a written examination. The ministry has now agreed to the demands and has also instructed that immediate steps be taken in this regard. The federation had said that most employees who are working on the 7th Pay Commission scale of 1,800 are educated than the requirement for the post, but they are working on a lower post than what they deserve. PMs meet with J&K mainstream parties to focus on delimitation, elections: Sources J&K: All party meet with Centre to focus on seat de-limitation say sources At all party meet with PM, J&K parties to demand for restoration of statehood Chidambaram seeks restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir 2 Terrorists killed in encounter in Pulwama district India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Pulwama, Feb 1: Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajpora area of Pulwama on Friday. Both terrorists are affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Two terrorists were identified as Shahid Ahmad Baba and Aniyat Ahmad Ziger. One SLR and one Pistol recovered from the possession of the deceased militants. Kashmir's Islands of Peace: How the Valley is gradually becoming terror free Earlier, a gunfight raged between terrorists and a joint team of security forces in Rajpora area around midnight. Teams from the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force and the police's Special Operation Group cordoned off Baba Mohalla of Drabgam around 8 pm on Thursday based on a tip, Rising Kashmir reported. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 8:59 [IST] This is our fault. We are not living up to our responsibility to be informed citizens participating in our political process. We have voted for weak, lazy, self-interested politicians in most positions of our government. I have written to our local legislators regarding the frivolous bills they have proposed. I have contacted the ACLU and religious freedom agencies to report the conduct of our governor and legislators who seek to impose their personal agendas on the entire population of the state. We all have to stand up to this attack on our personal rights and freedoms. And we all need to put more time and effort into our decision-making process before we vote. When we dont, we get this mess. David Keech, Lincoln Steve King and positions of power Rep. Steve Kings recent comments have been distasteful and contradictory, leaving many people across the country confused as to whether King should be left in a position of authority. King has been quoted in the New York Times supporting white-supremacist language and has been known to fly the confederate flag at his desk. However, the response that my patients describe receiving when they first expressed their gender identity, usually during childhood or early adolescence, has a tremendous and lifelong impact. Most adults I see as patients describe a time in childhood when they tried to express this deep understanding of themselves to a parent or other adult and were informed, implicitly or explicitly, that their self-awareness was incorrect, unacceptable and should be suppressed. They may go on to struggle with acceptance by self and others for decades. Fortunately, as societal awareness of gender dysphoria has increased, I now also see many young people who were affirmed as they talked with parents and teachers about their identity, averting the same needless suffering. Those children whose authentic identity is supported and affirmed by parents and other important adults, including therapists, counselors and teachers, go on to experience lower rates of depression, school interruption, homelessness and many other negative life consequences than those whose gender identity is dismissed or rejected. This observation is supported by extensive research on this subject, which was highlighted in a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics in October 2018. Landowners along the lower basin of the Missouri River have expressed concern over higher flows, which often lead to wet or unharvestable fields, and they lay the blame on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Although increased frequency and variability of high flows is a fact, placing the blame on the Corps may be misplaced, because that agency is faced with a steady increase in flows, well beyond anything contemplated when the dams were first constructed. When the flood control dams were designed in the early 1940s, there was little hydrologic data available, and the project was developed without any systematic knowledge of the basins resources. Since then, the volume of water flowing through the dams has increased and is moving toward a point at which the dams can no longer manage high waters without also releasing flows that push out into the rivers historic, natural flood plain. Unconventional cultivation methods have taken root in a number of Nebraska farms. These methods, such as no-till farming and use of diverse cover crops, are praised for their promotion of soil health. The benefits of this approach, and whether the state should create a state task force to promote it, were the subject Tuesday before the Legislatures Agriculture Committee. This regenerative farming approach brings major benefits, including a reduction in fertilizer volume and irrigation. Scott Gonnerman, who farms near York, uses such methods. The approach has enabled him to reduce his nitrogen use by 50 percent to 60 percent, and he has eliminated his use of phosphorous completely, he told the Agriculture Committee. The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District has pointed to Gonnermans methods as exemplary in promoting soil health. Such production methods provide another important benefit: They reduce the runoff of nitrates into nearby streams, which is the key water quality challenge for Nebraska. Various NRDs are working with farmers to reduce high nitrate levels in creeks and rivers. The handmaiden of peace is exhaustion. We are seeing that lesson in the killing fields of Afghanistan and Yemen. Fragile peace agreements are emerging in both conflicts, thanks to skillful diplomats. There are a hundred reasons why each negotiation may fail, and in assessing Middle East conflicts, we should remember that, unfortunately, pessimism pays, as my former Wall Street Journal colleague Karen Elliott House observed nearly 40 years ago. But a process has started: Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy, said Monday, We have a draft of the (peace) framework that has to be fleshed out. A senior Gulf official told a Washington gathering Monday night that because of U.N. mediation efforts, We are at the beginning of the end in Yemen, and that the war there is now moving from a military to a political phase. Recent diplomatic efforts are bolstered by fatigue and frustration at the existing, costly stalemates in both battlefields. The Trump administration (despite the presidents own clumsy statements) has found a balance between saying (rightly) that the wars must end and (wrongly) setting a precise timetable for withdrawing U.S. military support. Ambiguity is the mother of peace deals. Things are seriously broken in Washington when large numbers of senior positions are unfilled two years into an administration, when basic functions such as funding day-to-day government operations are beyond our lawmakers abilities and when at any given moment it is reasonable to fear that federal workers performing basic services, such as air traffic controllers, wont be fully staffed. Government should be boring, not chaotic. Federal agencies need to be stable, competent and plainly routine. After the financial crisis and nearly a decade of slow if not stagnant economic growth, it was probably inevitable that the federal government would undergo a thorough shakeup. Wed argue a shakeup was well deserved. But in the end, the point of such a shakeup is to make the government more functional, more responsive to the needs of the citizenry and more respectful of the people it seeks to govern. All four Republican senators from Nebraska and Iowa supported the amendment, which calls on the administration to certify that conditions have been met for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS before initiating any significant withdrawal of United States forces from Syria or Afghanistan. The situation in Syria is at a critical point, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters Thursday. Ive been clear in my opposition to any withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria an issue the president and I disagree on, Ernst said. I believe our mission there is to defeat ISIS, and that hasnt been accomplished yet. Pulling American troops out would bolster ISIS, embolden Russia and deter allies in the Middle East from cooperating with the U.S., Ernst said. She said she has expressed her opposition to withdrawal to the president directly in the Oval Office and will continue doing so. He has stated, and I think he has been advised by others, that ISIS has been defeated in Syria, but what intelligence shows us is that they have not, Ernst said. Bipartisan concern about hasty withdrawals extends to the other side of the Capitol as well. LB 291 incorporates changes sought by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Both bills would require that so-called marketplace platforms collect taxes on the sales they handle for smaller online vendors. Such platforms, like Amazon Marketplace, help facilitate sales by other retailers. McCollister said the provision reflects the reality that many vendors use marketplace platforms. He called it the only fair way to deal with Internet sales. James Plucknett, owner of Four Star Card and Gift Gallery in Lincoln, supported both LB 284 and LB 291, saying it is way past due for online retailers to collect the same sales taxes as local brick-and-mortar stores. He said the difference in tax collection has contributed to struggles among local retailers. This is absolutely an issue of fairness, and it is critical we pass this, he said. But Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, whose LB 18 did not address marketplace platforms, raised concerns that such a provision would be on shaky legal ground. About a dozen states have passed laws requiring marketplace platforms to collect sales taxes, although the issue was not part of the Supreme Court decision. Steve LeClair, president of the Omaha Firefighters Union, will be charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct after a woman said he punched her at a bar and said a racist remark. City Prosecutor Matt Kuhse said Friday that after a thorough review of the details of the investigation, he has directed the Omaha Police Department to cite LeClair with assault and battery and disorderly conduct. In reviewing the evidence and circumstances of this incident, these are the appropriate charges to pursue, Kuhse said. Pat Dunn, LeClairs attorney, said allegations that his client punched a woman are fundamentally untrue. Mr. LeClair looks forward to addressing these issues in the courtroom, Dunn said. Kuhse said hes aware that the word punch was used to describe the sensation the woman said she felt. The investigation reveals that a physical contact of some sort occurred and was witnessed, he said. The Nebraska woman who has been charged with incest told a police officer that she wanted to have sex with her father because of a competition with her half sister to see who could do it first. Travis Fieldgrove, 39, and his 21-year-old daughter, Samantha Kershner, each has been charged with one count of incest in both Hall and Adams Counties. Each still was being held Friday in the Hall County Jail Fieldgrove on $100,000 bail and Kershner on $20,000 bail. According to a court affidavit, Grand Island police officers spoke to Fieldgrove and Kershner in September after receiving a tip about their relationship and allegations of incest. Both admitted they were having a romantic and sexual relationship. About three years ago, Kershner told police, she told her mother she wanted to know who her father was and meet him. Her mother identified Fieldgrove as the father and arranged a meeting. For the next three years, Fieldgrove and Kershner told police, they had a father-daughter relationship. I looked up from the hospital bed and gazed at my newborn daughters tiny face through the side of the clear bassinet. She was perfect. As I stared at my second child, I knew I was heading home to 12 weeks of paid family leave with her. I asked for it. I was grateful for it. But I also felt the guilt of privilege. I know not every parent is so lucky. It shouldnt have to be that way. I want every parent whether through birth or adoption to have access to paid family leave. It shouldnt be based on having the right boss or benevolent coworkers. Because I had paid time off, we were able to focus on the task at hand and I was able to heal without worrying about replacing my lost income. Unpaid leave from the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 doesnt truly help a new parent who is facing a choice between caring for a newborn or returning to work as soon as possible to pay bills. "Our village was under occupation and my father, who had a beautiful beard like most self-respecting Jews, felt threatened. German soldiers would capture bearded men and cut-off their beards with their bayonets. Sometimes skin would come off as well," Benjamin Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor recalled. "The soldiers would take pictures of their victims and say, "Oh, I will show this to my fiancee!" But when my sister and I saw my father when I came home, we burst out in tears." Orenstein was born 93 years ago in Annopol, south-west of Poland, the youngest of five siblings in a practising Jewish family. He said that antisemitism was present before, during and after the Second World War. After their arrival, it took the German army only 10 days to vanquish Poland. Those soldiers were soon replaced by the SS who put in place a code of conduct for the Jewish villagers: they had to wear white armbands featuring the Star of David. For those who refused, death was their sentence. Every day, the noose of oppression was tightened; first, the army soldiers desecrated the villages synagogue and burned all its sacred books. The next day, they grabbed two notables on the villages bridge and executed them. "Their third victim was my cousin, Jacob Orenstein; he was killed in front of his two children and his wife while trying to protect her from soldiers advances," Orenstein said. By 1941, the SS had transformed Annopol into an open-air ghetto with a one-kilometre perimeter, forbidding the villagers to exit. "They did not cram us together to live; they crammed us together to die. We were not dying fast enough for [the SS], so they came up with the "Final Solution" in 1942." First, they subjected all the villagers to hard labour; for Orenstein, it was breaking rocks at the nearby quarry. Then, the population was taken to labour camps. Orensteins father was the first in his family to be rounded up and deported to Ieniszow; he was 60 years old. "My brother Haim was one of the overseers of that camp. He asked me if I was ready to take my fathers place. I said yes," Orenstein said - he was 15 years-old at the time. "I had no idea what a camp was. But could I have said no? My father would have died in that camp." Soon, Orenstein would escape. He said there were many evasions from Nazi concentration camps, but no one survived. Those who found them in the forest, sleeping "under the stars" would bring them to SS soldiers for a reward: a litre of petrol, a kilo of sugar and half a bottle of vodka. "That was the cost of a Jewish life." A cold march towards death and freedom A few days after Orensteins return to his village, his brother Leon was taken to Janowska labour camp. Annopols Jews lived every day with a death sentence over their heads. When the time for deportation came, one commander had a right to life or death in his hands. Orenstein and his three brothers were then deported to neighbouring Rachow in October 1942, and later with only one of his brothers to Budzyn. A few months later, that brother was deported back to Rachow where in 1943 he was executed with the rest of the prisoners. Orenstein later learned that, after having walked for days, his remaining brothers were killed in Belzec extermination camp. They died asphyxiated in less than 35 minutes. By the end of 1943, Benjamin Orenstein was the last surviving member of his family. "Had I been alone in those camps, I wouldnt have survived. When I was tortured, my brothers nursed me, they protected me," Orenstein recalled. "I saw dozens of people executed, including my mothers family members." "I dont know how to make you feel what life was back then." He paused. "It is unimaginable." After reaching Ostrowiec camp in May 1944, Orenstein was deported to Auschwitz on 4 August where his identification number B 4416 was tattooed on his left arm. A few days later, he was taken to sub-camp Furstengrube where he was forced to work with other deportees in old coalmines. In January 1945, the SS escorted the prisoners to Dora; that would be Orensteins last camp. For 10 days, they walked weakened in the harshness of the cold. "On each side of the Death March lay thousands of dead bodies," Orenstein recalled. It was on 11 April 1945 that the American army freed Dora camp. Orenstein had suffered severe frostbite and an infection in his leg. The Red Cross took him to Thionville in France, and after one of his cousins contacted him, he finally moved to Lyon where he has been living since 1951. Benjamin Orenstein recounted his story on 28 January 2019 in Geneva where the UN held a Holocaust memorial ceremony in Palais des Nations, its European headquarters. Seventy years ago, in the wake of the Second World War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights marked a turning point in humanitys history. It became the first universally accepted document that acknowledges that the "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbaric acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind." Orenstein is one of the last witnesses of the Nazi concentration camps. At 93, he perpetuates the memory of the Holocaust by telling his story to pupils in primary and secondary schools across France. Please Enable Cookies www.ogj.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Celebrity architect Dermot Bannon leads a Late Late line-up including the very best of new Irish Enterprise, impressionist Conor Sketches and Galway hurler Davy Glennon this Friday, February 1. Ahead of his new four-part series, Dermot Bannons Incredible Homes, Dermot will join host Ryan Tubridy to compare and contrast how people live in different cities around the globe such as Sydney, London, Melbourne and Sweden. The Late Late will celebrate the best of new Irish enterprise with some of the inventions and products set to make a mark in the coming year. Exhibits include a new GAA training tool, an innovative way of farming, and a very unusual memento to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. At the age of 14, Gillian Quinn left school to move to England, but family circumstances meant she never returned to education, and never completed a state examination. After seeing her husband Niall Quinn receive an honorary degree some years ago, Gillian was inspired to return to college and joins Ryan to chat about how she's proved that it's never too late to get an education. Known for his impressions of some of the sporting worlds best-known characters including Joe Brolly, Davy Fitzgerald and Tiger Woods, Conor Moore Sketches is on the sofa to chat about his rise to success, and how his impressions helped him secure a gig with a major US TV network. For years, Galway hurler Davy Glennon hid a chronic gambling addiction from his friends, family and employers before a life of lies caught up with him. The All Ireland winner joins Ryan to discuss the events that led to him receiving 240 hours of community service, and how his life has changed since coming clean about his addiction. Theres also music from tenor Alfie Bow. You can all that on The Late Late Show, RTE One, Friday, February 1st at 9.35pm. Barbara Comstock Former Virginia Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, who lost her seat in 2018 to underdog Democrat Jennifer Wexton, has joined Baker Donelson as senior advisor in its government relations and public policy group. Before first being elected to Congress in 2014, Comstock was running Corallo Comstock PA firm with Mark Corallo. Both had worked as spokespeople in John Ashcroft's Justice Dept. As director of the office of public affairs, Comstock handled communications for terrorism investigations, corporate fraud and antitrust matters. Sheila Burke, who chairs BD's government relations and public policy group, praised Comstock's "in-depth understanding of federal policymaking" and "commitment to bipartisan cooperation." She served 19 years on Capitol Hill, which included a stint as chief of staff to then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Dan Coats The ultra-busy tweeter-in-chief probably has not yet gotten to read page 23 of the Worldwide Threat Assessment report presented Jan. 29 by Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, apparently one of Donald Trumps naive intelligence chiefs. Thats too bad because page 23 deals with environment and climate change, which Trump unfortunately dismisses as a Chinese hoax. From the Report: Global environmental and ecological degradation, as well as climate change, are likely to fuel competition for resources, economic distress and social discontent through 2019 and beyond. Climate hazards such as extreme weather, higher temperatures, droughts, floods, wildfires, storms, sea level rise, soil degradation, and acidifying oceans are intensifying infrastructure, health, and water/food security. Irreversible damage to ecosystems and habitats will undermine the economic benefits they provide, worsened by air, water, and marine pollution. Extreme weather events, many worsened by accelerating sea level rise, will particularly affect urban coastal areas in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Damage to communication, energy and transportation infrastructure could affect low-lying military bases, inflict economic costs, and cause human displacement and loss of life. The intelligence chiefs believe the US will probably have to manage the impact of global human security challenges brought on by the negative effects of environmental degradation and climate change. But its impossible for the US to manage the climate change crisis as long as its leader remains out-to-lunch about its potential threat. For over a decade, residents of the O Calvario and A Doblada neighborhoods in the Spanish city of Vigo have been living in fear of finding their cars scratched or with toothpicks jammed in the keyhole. The culprit? A 79-year-old man who has reportedly vandalized over 1,000 cars in the last year alone. Most often than not, vandals try to make sure there are no witnesses before damaging someone elses property, but thats not how Jose Antonio V., a 79-year-old man from Vigo, operates. He scratches parked cars and jams toothpicks into their keyholes in broad daylight, with a total disregard disregard for witnesses. And if someone dares to say something or try to stop him, the old man gets aggressive and often hits people with his cane. Police estimate that last year alone, the notorious vandal damaged around 1,120 cars, and hes off to a great start in 2019 as well, with evidence linking him to over 120 vandalized vehicles. Its fair to assume that someone so committed to vandalizing parked cars at random suffers from mental problems, but the doctors who evaluated him last year say that he is cognitively well. He agreed to check himself into the hospital to have his mental state assessed, at the request of local police, but after three days doctors discharged him with a clean bill of mental health. Doctors concluded that the only condition he suffers from is a complete lack of empathy. He is not sick, hes simply bad and angry with the world, one police expert told La Voz de Galicia. He is what they call a very stubborn man. Stubborn is a very accurate description of this elderly vandal. Despite having been arrested dozens of times over the last few years for property damage and physical aggression against others, he refuses to change his ways. He goes out on the street and scratches cars using a key or metal coins and sticks wooden toothpicks into their keyholes. Jose is notorious in the two Vigo neighborhoods he operates in. Almost all the locals know about him, and there are warning posters with his face on them on every block, so people who dont know what he looks like can watch out for him. A spokesperson for the Citizen Security Brigade of the Vigo Police Station told reporters that residents of the O Calvario and A Doblada neighborhoods are scared of the 79-year-old man. They are afraid to leave their cars parked in public places, but also to confront him should they catch him in the act. The vandal has previously attacked some of his victims with a wooden cane or an umbrella, even breaking a mans nose and cracking his glasses. The local police estimates that Jose Antonio V. has caused around 500,000 euros in damages just last year, but theres not a lot they can do to stop him. They have arrested him more than a dozen times in the last few years, written him countless fines, but as soon as they release him, he picks up where he left off. TALLAPOOSA COUNTY A 61-year-old New Site man was charged on drug-trafficking offenses involving hydrocodone. Rickey ONeal Wyckoff was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking hydrocodone (Lortab) and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance. Over the past several months, the countys Narcotics Task Force has been investigating a possible source of hydrocodone distribution in Tallapoosa County, according to a news release from the Tallapoosa County Sheriffs Office. The epidemic of opioid addiction that is gaining a foothold in Alabama is no longer a secret not when citizens are overdosing by the dozens, the news release read. The illegal drug trafficking and distribution in this prescription medication, has moved high up on our list of drugs to combat in Tallapoosa County. The news release refers to a report that states Alabama has the highest level of prescription opioid use in the nation, and that there was an 11 percent increase in opioid related deaths from 2016 to 2017. We have an obligation to seek out, investigate and bring to justice, individuals that prey on others with an opioid addiction, the release read. Illegal trafficking, distribution and possession of narcotics remains under investigation in Tallapoosa County. Alabama Secretary of state John Merrill was the keynote speaker Thursday at the Boys and Girls Club 25th annual Champion for Kids Luncheon to commence the yearly campaign to fund the club. In the Southern Room at Southern Union State Community College's Opelika campus, the University of Alabama graduate Merrill wore blue and orange in support of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County. You know one of the things we have to remember when we come together for a program like the one today, is that this program, Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, is about one thing. Its about influencing and changing lives, Merrill said. Thats the key, thats the reason and thats why all of you are here today. One of the things you have to ask yourselves is what role am I going to be able to play to enhance the mission of this great organization, that for the past 25 years that has been about changing lives for students in East Alabama?" he added. To celebrate Alabamas bicentennial, Auburn University political sciences Professor Steve Brown installed an exhibit showcasing eight landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases establishing civil rights and liberties. The exhibit is about great Supreme Court cases that originated in Alabama and had an impact on all American lives, Brown said. When I first came to Alabama in 1998 to teach at Auburn, I was surprised by all these landmark cases from the state, and the bicentennial this year gave me the opportunity to capitalize on that and inform other Alabamians of these cases. An exhibit for all ages All residents are welcome to visit the first floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library on the university campus to learn about these pivotal cases in state and federal history, and the exhibit has interactive elements to engage younger audiences as well. Its been designed to be user-friendly to all ages, Brown said. It has information on the panels, and it has an iPad kiosk where people can learn some additional information. You can hear oral arguments; it has learning games and stuff like that at almost every panel. We would love to have people come by and check it out. Still, dog owners need to learn some things, said Damoon Ansari, a veterinarian at the Paytakht Pet Clinic in Tehrans Shahrak-e Gharb neighborhood. We need to educate dog-owners, he said. They should have rights, but also responsibilities. Larger dogs need training, droppings need to be scooped, and children should be taught how to deal with animals and dogs, he explained. And when it comes to dog-walking there is no middle way, he said. Dogs need to walk outside. Period. Near the Imam Khomeini International Airport on Thursday, Hoda Sedghi Shamir, 37, was busy feeding the 23 dogs she is sheltering. Some are paralyzed, others are blind, most are strays that she found roaming around. I never had children, so these are my kids, she said. Ms. Shamir said she has helped dogs hurt when stones were thrown at them, and others shot by air rifles. I spend around $600 a month on all of them, for their food, vaccinations and training sessions, she said. As for the ban on dog walking, Ms. Shamir shrugged and said this, too, will pass. For a while we have to lay low, but then the rule will again be forgotten, she said. LONDON Order fish and chips in Britain and you would normally expect to find a fillet of battered cod or haddock lying atop the thick-cut fries. It would certainly be a surprise to find endangered shark on the menu. But a study by the University of Exeter in southwest England has shone a light on the labeling of a species of shark called a spiny dogfish or spurdog as rock salmon, rock or huss for use in the traditional dish. Because consumers in Britain would traditionally have balked at eating shark, terms like rock salmon have been used to make the fish sound more palatable. Few would know that ordering rock salmon, which can refer to several species of small shark, could mean they were eating an endangered species. The researchers analyzed the DNA of more than 100 samples from takeout restaurants, fishmongers and a wholesaler, mainly in the south of England. White House officials on Friday said the United States would begin withdrawal from a landmark 1987 nuclear arms-control pact with Russia, asserting the Russians have violated it for years. The decision suspends American obligations under the treaty, and terminates the accord unless Russia comes into compliance within six months. But with Russia asserting it is complying, the outlook for preserving the treaty, regarded as one of the most important in the history of preventing nuclear war, is bleak. Here is a look at the origins of the accord, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the possible impact of its demise. What is the I.N.F. Treaty and how did it come about? The treaty resolved a crisis of the 1980s when the Soviet Union deployed a missile in Europe called the SS-20, capable of carrying three nuclear warheads. The United States responded with cruise and Pershing II missiles based in Europe. BERLIN A German museum dedicated to sausages has stirred an unexpected controversy in announcing its new location: a site where prisoners of a concentration camp were once used as slave labor for the Nazi war machine. The German Bratwurst Museum announced on Wednesday that it would be moving complete with a cannon with a giant sausage in place of its barrel to an industrial lot in Muhlhausen, a small city near the geographical center of Germany. Hours later, it emerged that the same site had been during World War II a satellite of the Buchenwald concentration camp, with a munitions factory that used forced labor. Most of those who lived there were Jewish women from Poland and Hungary who had been transported from Auschwitz. Of course we are upset about it, said Reinhard Schramm, who leads a Jewish community group in the state of Thuringia. PARIS The police in France received drastically more reports of sexual crimes last year, according to a government analysis that found victims had grown more willing to come forward, in part because of the #MeToo movement. Reports of rape increased by nearly 17 percent from 2017 to 2018, and reports of other types of sexual assault, including sexual harassment, by about 20 percent, according to the analysis, an annual review of crime statistics issued on Thursday by the French Interior Ministry. The publication coincided with the conviction on Thursday of two former elite police officers, Antoine Quirin and Nicolas Redouane, who were sentenced to seven years in prison for the gang rape of a Canadian tourist, Emily Spanton, in a case that had come to be seen by some as a test of how the French authorities treat victims of sexual violence. Ms. Spanton, now 39, revealed her identity to speak publicly about her ordeal and what she described as an invasive investigation, after which judges initially dismissed the case. Mr. Quirin and Mr. Redouane, whose names were initially protected under French law because they belonged to an anti-gang unit, have repeatedly denied the accusations, and are appealing their convictions. PARIS Rejecting complaints that heavy police use of golf-ball-size rubber bullets has caused serious injuries, including blindness and fractures, during the Yellow Vest protests, Frances highest administrative court Friday upheld the legality of the weapons. The ruling was a boost for the French governments tough police strategy in the face of a popular uprising that is diminished but still vigorous. Dozens have been mutilated or blinded by the projectiles over weeks of Yellow Vest demonstrations, according to victim advocates. Bystanders, passers-by, people with their arms in the air, and journalists have been hit. Jaws have been fractured, hands crushed, eyes shot out. Their use overuse, critics say, with more than 9,200 firings recorded, including forbidden shots to the head have come to symbolize an increasingly fierce police response to the Yellow Vests, especially after a protest leaders eye was seriously injured last week. LONDON A woman in London was convicted on Friday over the genital cutting of her daughter, becoming the first person to be successfully prosecuted under the countrys law banning the practice. The 37-year-old woman was found guilty of committing female genital cutting in August 2017, when her daughter was 3. The girls father, 43, was cleared of charges. Neither parent was identified because of reporting restrictions placed on the case. Female genital mutilation has an appalling physical and emotional impact on victims that usually lasts their entire life, said Lynette Woodrow, a deputy chief crown prosecutor, in a statement. A 3-year-old has no power to resist or fight back. A jury in London heard the girl was deliberately cut and her injuries amounted to F.G.M., the statement from prosecutors said, referring to female genital cutting, the practice of a girls genitalia being cut and removed. TORONTO The Rev. Gretta Vosper hadnt noticed the giant industrial metal cross rising in front of her church for years, hidden as it was by a bushy tree. But then someone complained about it. Since Ms. Vosper does not believe Jesus was the son of God, the complainer wrote in an email, she should take the cross down. The next day, a storm took the tree out, she said, peering up at the cross with a benign smile. Some Christians might call that an act of God. But Ms. Vosper does not believe in God either. Instead, the parable says more about her determination. Despite being an outspoken atheist, Ms. Vosper has steadfastly maintained her place in the United Church of Canada, which with two million followers across the country is Canadas pre-eminent Protestant church. This is my church, said Ms. Vosper, 60. The United Church made me who I am. [Want more Canadian coverage in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly Canada Letter newsletter.] HONG KONG Officials in Hong Kong said on Friday that they had intercepted a shipment of nine tons of scales from pangolins, the largest seizure the city has ever made of products from one of the most frequently trafficked mammals in the world. A thousand elephant tusks were in the same shipment, officials said. The scales and tusks were seized on Jan. 16, said the customs authorities, who displayed the contraband for reporters. They were found hidden under slabs of frozen meat on a cargo ship that had stopped in Hong Kong on its way to Vietnam from Nigeria, said officials, who estimated the shipments value at nearly $8 million. The pangolin is an anteater-like creature covered in large scales. There are lucrative black markets for it in China and Vietnam, where its scales are pulverized for use in traditional Chinese medicine and its meat is served in restaurants as a delicacy. Hong Kong officials estimated that the intercepted scales had come from nearly 14,000 pangolins. NEW DELHI A new pension plan for rickshaw pullers. More money for fisheries. Tax breaks for the middle class and cash handouts to struggling farmers. On Friday, the Indian government announced its budget, and with a major election looming in the next few months, the spending plan was stuffed with financial inducements intended to woo voters, though they will increase Indias debt beyond targets the government itself has set. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers have been trying to deflect criticism that they tried to bury an official jobs report that showed unemployment at a 45-year high. Mr. Modi came to power five years ago promising to create millions of jobs for Indias 1.3 billion people. The latest numbers, leaked to the Indian news media this week, show that even while Indias total economy has been growing, at an impressive 7 percent rate or even higher, unemployment also has been rising, hitting 6.1 percent. Many of them have been calling us saying: What is going to happen? We want to stay with you, we want to recognize President Guaido as the new president, Mr. Vecchio, 49, said in an interview in borrowed office space in downtown Washington. The dueling diplomacy is critical in Venezuelas political rivalry, as the envoys are responsible for maintaining support for their respective presidents from their host countrys leaders. Given Mr. Maduros reliance on political support from Moscow, for example, his ambassador is most likely firming ties with President Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremlin. Russia and Cuba are Mr. Maduros most important allies. Mr. Vecchio is doing the same in Washington. Our interest is to just put in all the effort, all the pressure, to end the suppression of power, to end the dictatorship, Mr. Vecchio said of his meetings over the last week with American officials. Of course, we will discuss how we can protect our assets right here, he added. So far, Mr. Guaido has dispatched ambassadors to the United States, Canada, the Lima Group and eight Latin American countries. On Tuesday, Mr. Vecchio flew to Washington from his home in Miami, where he has been a political activist working with the Venezuelan opposition in exile, for a White House meeting with Vice President Mike Pence. Also present was Julio Borges, the ambassador to the Lima Group, an organization of Western Hemisphere countries that have been trying to resolve the long-running instability in Venezuela. We were explaining to the vice president that this is a huge opportunity, Mr. Vecchio said. We need to take advantage of this. This is the moment to move forward with increasing the pressure. Mr. Vecchio told Mr. Pence and other American officials of the need to block Mr. Maduros government from obtaining Venezuelas foreign assets and to instead turn them over to Mr. Guaido. In the United States, that includes potentially billions from oil revenues sitting in bank accounts the United States has imposed oil sanctions on Venezuela and the embassy itself. SAO PAULO, Brazil The presiding judge on Brazils Supreme Court overturned an injunction on Friday that had suspended an investigation into bank transactions involving Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of President Jair Bolsonaro, ruling that the inquiry could proceed. The investigation has proved one of the biggest challenges to Mr. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician who rose to power in Brazil on the back of his promise to eradicate entrenched political corruption and elitist privileges. The case involving Flavio Bolsonaro began unfolding in December, when federal financial investigators discovered that about 1.2 million reais, or about $327,000, had been moved in and out of a bank account belonging to an aide, Fabricio Queiroz, in 2017. At the time, Flavio Bolsonaro was a Rio de Janeiro State lawmaker and Mr. Queiroz was his driver. Some of the payments were to Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of the current president. Jair Bolsonaro has said that those transactions were because Mr. Queiroz was repaying a loan to his wife. A sudden shortage of one of the safest anti-anxiety drugs on the market has spread alarm among people who rely on the medication, buspirone, to get through the day without debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. Physicians are also expressing concern, because there is no information about when the supply will resume, making it difficult to manage patients. Shelby Vittek, a 27-year-old writer in New Jersey, fruitlessly called dozens of drugstores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in an attempt to locate the medication after her pharmacist told her the drug was on back-order with no end in sight. She ended up weaning herself off the drug, spreading her last three pills over six days to avoid having to go cold turkey before starting a difficult transition to an antidepressant. I pretty much lost over a month of work, and have just started to feel like myself again, she said. A 34-year-old New York woman who couldnt get her buspirone refilled in January said she couldnt sleep and had such severe panic attacks that she had to use Klonopin, a drug she dislikes because it is addictive. Im trying to take care of my anxiety, and its giving me a panic attack, said the woman, a sexual assault survivor who asked not to be identified. A Pennsylvania medical school student received her mail-order shipment of medication last week with no buspirone in it and no explanation, so she scrounged around the house and dug up old pills from missed doses. Last weekend, the student, who asked not to be identified, was so anxious she could not leave the house. Here are the different fronts that Democrats and even a few Republicans are pushing around the country. Restoring voting rights to ex-felons Floridians voted overwhelmingly in November for a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights that had been permanently stripped from as many as 1.4 million citizens with felony convictions. Now similar amendments have been proposed in Iowa and Kentucky, two states with the most draconian of such bans. The Iowa measure was proposed this month by the states Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, to a Republican-dominated legislature that seemed skeptical. The prospects in Kentuckys Republican-controlled Legislature are also unclear. Minnesota, Connecticut and New Jersey Democrats are backing legislation to restore voting rights to those on parole or probation, and a bill in Arizonas Legislature would lift a lifetime ban on voting by people convicted of two or more felonies. In New Mexico, where Democrats won full control of government in November for the first time since 2010, a state legislative committee has approved a proposal that would restore voting rights to anyone with a felony conviction, including prisoners. To date, only Maine and Vermont allow imprisoned felons to vote. A similar measure was filed in the New Jersey Legislature last year. Making it easier to cast a ballot As of November, 38 states allowed voters to cast ballots before Election Day, either by opening polling places early or by letting voters cast early absentee ballots for any reason. This month, New York became the 39th, and some form of early-voting legislation or constitutional amendment has been filed in all remaining states except Alabama and Rhode Island. Thirty-six states request some form of identification at the polls; the strictest measures were largely enacted by Republican legislatures after 2008. In two of them, Virginia and Texas, Democrats have introduced bills to repeal ID requirements; only the Virginia legislation is considered to have a chance of passage. An Indiana bill would expand that states strict ID law to include student identification cards. Improving voter registration In 17 states and the District of Columbia, when a resident applies for a drivers license, they are automatically registered to vote unless they ask to be excluded. Now at least 12 more states are taking up automatic-registration bills, many of which are likely to pass. Automatic registration is the rare voting rights innovation that frequently gets bipartisan support. In addition, at least nine state legislatures have bills that would allow voters to register on the same day that they vote. Two more, Texas and Mississippi, have legislation that would permit online registration. New York Democrats have approved legislation allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister, an option that has been shown to increase participation in elections; lawmakers in four more states Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have filed preregistration bills. Perhaps most notably let out of the presidents doghouse were the nations intelligence chiefs, whom he had described just a day earlier as extremely passive and naive people who should go back to school! Now, he said, all was fine because they had reassured him that their report to Congress this week that conflicted with his foreign policy had been misinterpreted by the news media. The media, of course, remains permanently in the presidential doghouse, although Mr. Trump enjoys talking with reporters and bashing them in almost equal proportions. On Thursday, he gave the reporters three times as much time as scheduled, gamely taking on all questions, unrushed, and asked them to call him personally if they had questions. I came from Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica Estates, and I became president of the United States, he said, beseeching A.G. Sulzberger, the Times publisher, for better coverage. Im sort of entitled to a great story from my just one from my newspaper. But Mr. Trumps description of his call-on-the-carpet meeting with the intelligence chiefs underscored how the president forms what his former communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, himself an author of a tell-all, once called Mr. Trumps reality distortion field where he curves facts toward himself. Reporting to Congress earlier in the week, Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, and his counterparts said that North Korea was unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons, Iran was not currently building a bomb and the Islamic State was not defeated, all conclusions at odds with the presidents approach. In their meeting on Thursday, Mr. Trump said he challenged them on this disconnect. One of the things they said very strongly, according to was that Iran is, essentially, a wonderful place, the president recounted. And I said, Its not a wonderful place, its a bad place, and theyre doing bad things. And they said, We agree. I said: What do you mean you agree? You cant agree. And they said the testimony was totally mischaracterized. But it may be that Mr. Trump was the one who mischaracterized it or at least misunderstood it. The intelligence chiefs never said that Iran was a wonderful place or anything like it; they simply said there was no evidence of a nuclear program in violation of the agreement it made to give it up. Mr. Trump in effect set up a straw man by overstating their testimony, and they could honestly knock it down without taking back what they actually did say. If so, it worked. Mr. Trump was happy enough to blame the disparity on the news media via Twitter tweets that were actually sent out while he was talking with his Times visitors. He had an aide fetch printouts of the tweets to pass around. What Trump Said You look at the heroin and a lot of the other drugs, they come from 90 percent, more than 90 percent from right across the southern border. And unlike what the Democrats say, they dont, you dont bring trucks of drugs through the checkpoints. You bring trucks of drugs by making a right 20 miles, and a left into the country. False. Mr. Trump is right that the majority of heroin comes in through southern border, but contrary to his assertions, most of it comes through ports of entry, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. About 90 percent of heroin was seized at ports of entry from Oct. 1, 2017, to Aug. 30, 2018, compared with about 10 percent in the areas between ports of entry. What Trump Said But look, we have among the highest polls and actually the highest polls but among the highest polls ever in the history of the Republican Party. False. Mr. Trump had an 88 percent approval rating among Republicans at Day 737 of his presidency, according to Gallup, compared with 93 percent for President George W. Bush, 95 percent for President George Bush and 92 percent for President Dwight D. Eisenhower at roughly the same point in their presidencies. What Trump Said You know, weve created over 500,000 manufacturing jobs, and the previous administration lost 200,000 over eight years and said that was the magic wand. This is misleading. The numbers omit important context. President Barack Obama presided over a net loss of 192,000 manufacturing jobs from January 2009 to January 2017. Under Mr. Trump, the economy has added 473,000 manufacturing jobs so far. But when he took office, Mr. Obama inherited a deep, job-killing recession, while Mr. Trump was sworn in during an economic recovery that began under his predecessor. What Trump Said I got him more money than the military has ever seen before. False. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019, which Mr. Trump signed in August, provided $716 billion for the Pentagons basic operations and war spending, as well as for the Energy Departments national security programs. But thats not the largest military budget in recent history, let alone all of American history. Even if inflation were not taken into account, Mr. Obama signed a $726 billion National Defense Authorization Act for the 2011 fiscal year. Adjusted for inflation, Congress authorized more money for the Pentagon every fiscal year from 2007 to 2012, during the peak of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. What Trump Said You know its interesting, historically, you just never you rarely put a military person in, which surprises me. When I first got here, I said, What do you mean? Thats the natural of all naturals. Actually, you need special approvals to put them in, you know, etc. etc. Normally, a business person goes in and I mean, you have one exception or two exceptions but historically, a business person goes in to the secretary of defense. False. The opposite is true. Most secretaries of defense have had previous military experience. Of the 26 men to have held the position since 1947, when the position was created, 19 have served. The other seven were businessmen: Charles E. Wilson and Neil H. McElroy under Mr. Eisenhower; James R. Schlesinger, the former director of the C.I.A., under President Richard M. Nixon; Harold Brown, a scientist and former secretary of the Air Force, under President Jimmy Carter; Dick Cheney, the future vice president, under President George Bush; William S. Cohen, a former senator, under President Bill Clinton; and Ashton B. Carter, a scientist and former deputy defense secretary. WASHINGTON The Trump administration said on Friday that it was suspending one of the last major nuclear arms control treaties with Russia, following five years of heated conversations over accusations by the United States that Moscow is violating the Reagan-era agreement. The decision has the potential to incite a new arms race not only with Russia, but also with China, which was never a signatory to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, widely known as the I.N.F. It also comes as the United States has begun building its first long-range nuclear weapons since 1991, a move that other nations are citing to justify their own nuclear modernization efforts. Taken together, the two moves appear to signal the end of more than a half-century of traditional nuclear arms control, in which the key agreements were negotiated in Washington and Moscow. For the Democratic Party, where most Jews have long made their political home, the risks are clear and visible across the Atlantic. In Europe, left-wing parties are courting Muslim immigrant voters with increasingly anti-Israel positions, while the populist right is wooing Jews and cozying up to Israels right-wing government. In Britain, the leader of the Labour Party is besieged by accusations of anti-Semitism, bringing British Jews to the streets of London in protest. Mr. Trump and Republicans are trying to find the same rifts among Democrats. Next week, the Senate is expected to easily pass legislation aimed at curbing the boycott-Israel movement and stifling the new Democratic voices like Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar that back it. The bill would allow state and local governments to break ties with companies that participate in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions, or B.D.S., movement, which is intended, among other things, to pressure Israel into ending the occupation of the West Bank, and backed by some who advocate a single state with equal rights for all, instead of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Backers of B.D.S., including Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar, argue that economic boycotts are protected by the constitutional right to free speech; opponents insist the movements true goal is to destroy Israel as a Jewish state. The Senate bill, which has considerable Democratic support, is destined to fail in the House, where Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Caucus chairman, has labeled it a political stunt. But the debate is more than political. It is also playing out at the uncomfortable intersection of race, gender and religion in a Capitol whose complexion has changed dramatically with the arrival of an extraordinarily diverse freshman class. Allies of Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar accuse Republicans of bullying and bigotry, and they say Republicans are looking for a Democratic twin of Mr. King, the Iowa Republican who was recently rebuked by the House for his seeming embrace of white supremacy. I see this as an Islamaphobic attack against two outspoken women of color who are shaking things up by boldly standing for crucial issues, said Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Critics of Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar, he said, are failing to recognize that Palestine is increasingly becoming part of the progressive politics of justice for all. Bill Clinton had suggested first volunteer, and their daughter, Chelsea, offered first laddie, a nod to their Irish roots that would have left the Flotus acronym intact. Nevertheless, first gentleman is so unconventional that its completely absent from The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage. (Dating back to at least 1895, the style guide encourages consistent language in Times reporting.) According to the guide, first lady applies to the wife of a president, a prime minister, a governor or a mayor in her public role as a spouse. Also absent, not surprisingly, is first partner the term recently adopted by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of Governor Gavin Newsom of California, who said that she sees it as more inclusive. Change is upon us, and the title for the spouses of our political leaders is evolving along with it. Although Hillary Clinton didnt become the first woman president, she paved the way for Americans to start thinking about it, said Melissa R. Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College near San Francisco, of the evolving titles. Many more Americans are comfortable with the idea, but there may be limits to that comfort, Dr. Michelson said. First gentleman is definitely on the horizon, but I dont see the country ready for much else, she said. Historically, the title of first lady (which to this day is an unofficial designation) was not used to introduce a presidents wife until Lucy Hayes, wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, who took office in 1877. Some of the earlier wives, including Dolley Payne Todd (James Madisons wife) and Sarah Childress (James Polks wife), were called presidentess. Nowadays, the changing tides give Americans an opportunity to rethink titles altogether, Dr. Michelson said, adding that many nations, including Britain and Germany, dont bestow titles on spouses of political leaders at all. Im launching an exploratory committee for president. Senator Elizabeth Warren could be fighting President Trump for the keys to the White House in 2020. But the two already have a long history of trading barbs. She is a goofus. Wannabe tyrant. Heres how Elizabeth Warren has faced off against Donald Trump. In the 2016 election, Warren gleefully played the role of attack dog for the Democrats, taunting Trump on Twitter and in speeches. A small, insecure money-grubber who doesnt care who gets hurt, so long as he makes a profit off it. Donald Trump is worried about helping poor little Wall Street. Let me find the worlds smallest violin to play a sad, sad song. After Trump went after a federal judge because of his Hispanic heritage Hes a Mexican. Were building a wall between here and Mexico it was Warren who went on the attack. Trump is picking on someone who is ethically bound not to defend himself. Exactly what you would expect from a thin-skinned racist bully. And at the Democratic National Convention, Warren told liberals that Trump had ripped off ordinary Americans. But he filed business bankruptcy six times, always to protect his own money, and stick the investors and contractors with the bill. And for one low, low price, hell even throw in a goofy hat. But it was her fight with Trump over her claim of Native American heritage that got the most attention. And Massachusetts is represented by Pocahontas, right? Pocahontas. They call her Pocahontas. Ive got more Indian blood in me than Pocahontas, and I have none. I mean sadly, I have none. But I have more than she does. Hi. This is Elizabeth Warren. Trumps unrelenting mockery prompted Warren to release the results of a DNA test that she says is proof of her ancestry. The announcement largely backfired. She apologized to the Cherokee Nation for taking the DNA test. My mother was born in eastern Oklahoma. But the feud between Warren and Trump continues. President Trumps actions and instincts align with those of authoritarian regimes around the globe. He embraces dictators of all stripes. He cozies up to white nationalists. He undermines the free press and incites violence against journalists. As the 2020 presidential race heats up, one thing is clear the skirmishes could get nastier. A headline-grabbing former mayor with a love of social media who says hes the only vegan in Senate history. Thank you for a vegan mecca. Senator Cory Booker is throwing his hat in the ring for president of the United States. Im in this race to try to build our nation up. So, who is he? Tight end Cory Booker. Nice move. Booker is a former college football player and Yale Law School graduate. Mayor Booker, for those who dont know whats He became a national figure as mayor of Newark, by bringing in money and attention to the city. A $100 million challenge grant. And in 2013, he was elected to the Senate. Thank you, New Jersey! Booker is known for coming to his constituents rescue literally. The building next door was on fire. Yes, yes. And your first instinct was to go in? Yeah. He ran into the burning building and up the stairs. Also his upbeat attitude. Lead with love. And his public speaking. This is about the closest Ill probably ever have in my life to an I am Spartacus moment. Some of Bookers priorities? So far criminal justice reform, and hes also likely to focus on racial and gender equality and marijuana legalization. Hes been in the Senate for a while, but he doesnt have many signature legislative accomplishments. Booker also has ties to Wall Street, something that might be an issue for the partys more progressive wing. So how has he taken on President Trump? Booker has been one of Trumps most aggressive critics in the Senate. And it is a failure. For Booker, the Trump presidency poses a moral moment in our nation. But this approach may fall flat with Democrats, who are energized by their anger toward Trump. For his part, President Trump has said this: I mean, take a look at Cory Booker. He ran Newark, New Jersey into the ground. He was a horrible mayor. So what are his chances? So far hes polling in the middle of the assumed pack. But its pretty early. Booker has been building a national profile for a while. Hes already traveled to many states that could be key to winning the White House. In Newaygo County, Mich., where a 21-mile ice jam on the Muskegon River had flooded yards and closed a bridge, the warm-up was welcome. Abby Watkins, the director of the county emergency service agency, said she expected the thaw to help clear out the ice and lower water levels. But it was not all good news: With giant ice hunks moving down the river, she said there was the possibility of more localized flooding. That ice then can still clog as its trying to move downstream, Ms. Watkins said. Its kind of like playing a game of Tetris. These large chunks of ice are trying to find a path. The cold air mass that has now moved east is uncommon, only seen about every five or 10 years, Mr. Kluber said. The Midwests deep freeze was brought by the polar vortex, a mass of cold air that is normally contained above the North Pole but in recent weeks broke apart, sending a block of icy air toward the United States. The cold spell caused significant destruction. The deaths of at least 29 people were being linked to the weather system. Among the deceased: A 72-year-old woman found unresponsive in her garage on Friday morning in Germantown Hills, Ill. Dr. Stathis Poulakidas, a burn surgeon at Chicagos John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, said nearly 50 patients had sought treatment for frostbite in recent days, about half of them homeless. Dr. Poulakidas said he expected about half those patients to require amputations, ranging from a single finger or toe to a whole arm or foot. Even with temperatures starting to increase, he said the full consequences of the polar vortex would not be known for months. When you get frostbite, he said, you dont stop getting frostbite. It kind of evolves over a period of days to weeks to months. The surge is partly thanks to increased computing power on the vessels themselves. Ships now have better data centers, satellite connectivity and IT staff on board, said Manny Vellon, chief technology officer of the software and consulting company, Level 11, that worked with Carnival to create its wearable OceanMedallion. Here are some of the ways companies hope to address the most common complaints: It Takes Too Long to Check In Customers have long complained about the check-in process, which can require standing in lines for passport presentation, photo-taking and excursion booking. This can stretch sometimes to an hour or more, according to Jay Schneider, senior vice president for digital at Royal Caribbean International, which owns Celebrity Cruises and other lines. The goal now is to get passengers from car to bar in 10 minutes, he said. Passengers on all 25 Royal Caribbean and 13 Celebrity Cruises ships can now use a mobile app to scan their passport, take a security selfie and receive a digital boarding pass before they even arrive at the ship. I Want to Order a Drink, but Cant Find a Waiter A passenger with Carnivals OceanMedallion can order a drink using a mobile app, and the medallion tells the server the persons name and location, even if they have moved, said John Padgett, Carnivals chief experience and innovation officer. The waterproof device acts as identification, charge card and location beacon. Two ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, which is owned by Carnival, offer the medallion and three more will offer it in 2019. I Feel Anonymous on This Big Ship Wearables can allow crew members using a mobile device to view the name of the person approaching them so they can greet the passenger by name. Thats a level of service expected on the most expensive cruises, but we can make that available to all passengers, Mr. Padgett said. But plasma companies locate their collection centers disproportionately in destitute neighborhoods, according to Heather Olsen, who, as a graduate student researcher at Case Western Reserve University, examined 40 years of data on collection centers across the country. Theyre surgically placing these, she said. Healthy people can donate plasma twice a week, up to 104 times a year. The plasma industry says that most people do not donate so frequently and that there are minimal health risks involved, but other researchers disagree. One 2010 study found that paid donors who sell their plasma frequently have fewer proteins in their blood, which some experts say could put them at risk for infections and liver and kidney disorders. In the short term, plassers have reported fatigue, tingling sensations, anemia and blacking out. Nonetheless, many are grateful for the opportunity. The money that comes from it can be the only form of cash income for families living in extreme poverty, as Luke Shaefer and Kathryn Edin note in their book $2 a Day. A number of people at the CSL collection center in North Philadelphia last November confirmed that the money they received there was their only income; they were putting it toward food, rent and bus fare. Some, like Kevin Hayway, were veteran plasma sellers; he estimated that he had sold his plasma more than 100 times a year for the past three years. Robert Jenkins said he had learned about the center when he was living at a homeless shelter; residents there recommended it as a good place to make fast cash. He planned to spend the money on food, starting at a McDonalds across the parking lot. First-time donors like Mr. Jenkins are paid the most, around $50; after five donations, payment is based on body weight, plus bonuses. Mr. Shaefer, the poverty scholar, said the solution was not to ban the practice, but instead for policymakers to have a real debate about the risks. He suggested they might consider enforcing a minimum wage for plasma sellers. Ideally, he said, Id like to have a good discussion about what a fair price is. His idea has some precedent : Selling whole blood used to be reputable, with professional blood sellers living in collective boardinghouses and even forming a union in the 1930s, according to Rose Georges book Nine Pints. During World War II, a biochemist figured out how to separate plasma, which can be dried, from whole blood, which was perishable and difficult to ship to the front. Soon after, the plasma industry was born. I started looking for those four letters in everyone I met. What could they tell me about a person? Did they act as a secret code, a mirror or a smoke screen? My belief in the power of this system stems from the fact that my own type which presents itself to me consistently, no matter how many times I take the test or which version I take is eerily spot on. Those letters, INTJ, became a mooring for me during a period of great uncertainty. They also gave me insight as to why I wanted to leave the man with whom I had spent 19 years and had four children. A tattered treasure map of our similarities and differences, the trail of which had led us not to the glinting coins of a golden wedding anniversary but to a dead end. When I met Adam, I was an American college student in London and he was a British academic in his late 20s. He was basically the same person he is now, and so was I, but its harder to see who people really are through the fog of courtship. Our conversations were compelling in the early days, but that kind of discourse, as it turned out, was not his natural inclination. Adams personality type is ESTJ (extroversion, sensing, thinking, judging). We share the last two letters, so we agreed on a lot of the big things: We were committed to intellectual rigor, harbored a deep skepticism of organized religion, and had similar attitudes about money. Neither of us wanted children, until we both did. But our differences (extrovert versus introvert, and his concrete, linear style of thinking and communicating versus my tendency toward abstraction and patterns) revealed themselves over time to be a source of stagnation, not growth. One spring night in Wisconsin, John Martin, a biologist, was in his backyard with an ultraviolet flashlight. Suddenly, a hot-pink squirrel flew by. It was a southern flying squirrel, a small, furry creature most active at dawn and dusk. Under most circumstances, it has a warm brown color. But in the beam of Dr. Martins flashlight, it sported a gaudy Day-Glo hue closer to something you might see in a nightclub or a Jazzercise class circa 1988. He told his colleagues at Northland College, but of course, everyone was pretty skeptical, said Allison Kohler, a graduate student at Texas A&M University. Dr. Martin asked Ms. Kohler, then a student at Northland, to look into it. After examining more than 100 specimens of flying squirrels across two museum collections and spotting five more squirrels under UV light in the wild, the researchers and their colleagues reported surprising results last week in the Journal of Mammalogy: The pink is real. Its not just numbers out of a hat, said Gary Barnett, the president and founder of Extell Development, which built One57, about how he arrives at prices. The penthouse there, on the 89th and 90th floors of the 90-story tower, was first listed for $98.5 million, then raised to $115 million, according to filings with the state attorney general. The apartment sold to a limited-liability company connected with the tech billionaire Michael Dell, according to people familiar with the sale. At 10,923 square feet, the unit went for about $9,200 a square foot. Thats not a crazy price, Mr. Barnett said, as lower apartments in the building had sold for around $8,000 a square foot. Maintaining those prices at resale, now that the luxury market is awash with unsold inventory, is another thing. While One57 set a high-water mark when sales began in 2011, recent resales have softened. An apartment on the 63rd floor that sold for $32.5 million in 2014 resold in 2018 for $23 million, a 29 percent price cut, according to StreetEasy data. An unsold listing on the 87th floor, a 6,234-square-foot unit just a few floors below the penthouse, is now being listed for $67 million (or $10,748 a square foot). But Mr. Barnett, who has offered a number of sweeteners at his properties, including discounted common charges, has no illusions about the likely sales price. My guess is it will trade somewhere in the 50s, he said of the unit, predicting a considerable discount. Falling prices and shrinking units are widespread. Nearby, at 432 Park Avenue, another Billionaires Row skyscraper with Central Park views, a 71st-floor unit that sold for $28.9 million in 2016 sold again last year for $25.25 million, a drop of almost 13 percent. And in a trend seen at other towers, a number of full-floor units near the top of the project were subdivided into smaller apartments in 2015, to appeal to a larger pool of buyers. But each submarket of Manhattan has its own comparative set, with challenges that ultimately dictate the ceiling on prices. At Madison Square Park Tower, a new 777-foot tower in the Flatiron district in downtown Manhattan, the developer is listing a 13,060-square-foot triplex at the top of the building, with panoramic city views, for $77.7 million. Around the corner from the center is St. Marks United Methodist Church, where prisoners in good standing can attend services. They crowded the sanctuary with their babies, partners and other visiting family members as I joined them for prayers one Sunday. The week Ms. Dockery died the pastor, Tony Brinson, told me inmates stood up during services to speak of what they had witnessed, many in tears. I interviewed several as we sat in the pews; each was wearing a GPS-tracking ankle monitor. Other inmates, such as Nini Mora, who used her own money to buy Ms. Dockery Tylenol some of the only medical care she received during her ordeal were not eligible for outside privileges. So I interviewed Ms. Mora over Facebook Messenger, asking her to record her thoughts as diary entries and send me the audio clips. I also spoke with Ms. Dockerys mother, her sisters and her aunt, who all told me of their searing loss. Eyewitness testimony, I knew, was not enough. So I reached out to the Elkhart Board of Commissioners, which runs corrections in the county. Not once was I allowed to speak with a member; over the months I was working on the article, the board responded solely through a lawyer, Michael DeBoni of the Goshen law firm Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham. Typically, a reporter and a representative of a public entity will engage in on-background conversations to answer simple questions of fact, such as: How many inmates are there? And how many guards? But Mr. DeBoni refused to ever get on the phone with me. Nearly every snippet of conversation was conducted through formal legal letters, each delayed by several days. It was such an unusual correspondence that I have since initiated a freedom of information request to find out how many hours Mr. DeBonis firm spent working on responses to my questions and the hourly rate the firm has charged the county. (I may report back when and if that request is fulfilled.) Nonetheless, little by little, my editor Shaila Dewan and I found that the official picture of what Ms. Dockery endured was emerging. It came via documents I obtained through the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. On Dec. 12, 1975, Paul Delaney, then the only black reporter in The New York Timess Chicago bureau, sat in a smoke-filled room at Washingtons Sheraton Park Hotel at a meeting of nearly 100 black journalists and media professionals. They had all come to the hotel to cover a convention honoring black leaders held by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Mr. Delaney and the others had to squeeze their own meeting in between listening to speeches about increasing diversity in politics. After all, they had their own goal in mind: collecting signatures for the founding document of the National Association of Black Journalists. In 1967 and early 1968, black journalists represented fewer than five percent of newsroom staff members in the United States, according to the Kerner Commission on Race. At the founding meeting, many people were afraid to sign. The other members of the group were afraid of drawing attention to themselves and the organizations they worked for, said Leon Dash, another founder and a reporter for The Washington Post at the time. They felt their careers would be hampered. Or they would be put in line to be fired. Their cultures are toxic and intransigent. As Vance writes, poverty is in the family tradition, as is learned helplessness. In other words, the hillbillies of his book have no one but themselves to blame for being hillbillies. Many of his neighbors are painted as lazy dependents of opioids and government handouts. Theres plenty of fighting, fornicating and fact-denying. He is scornful of government help programs. I am a conservative, he writes in a new afterword, one who doubts that the 1960s approach to welfare has made it easier for our countrys poor children to achieve their dreams. But it was a government hand up the great meritocracy of the Marine Corps and federal aid to get through college that sent Vance on his way. To his credit, he has recently helped raise more than $150 million in venture capital to encourage new businesses in overlooked communities. Tara Westovers story is more harrowing. Its not just the dark cave of ignorance in which she was raised. She says she was beaten senseless by her brother, in a family that enabled domestic abuse. Her father believed that doctors were minions of Satan, and public school was a plot of the Illuminati. College was her lifeline. Between battering from her brother and serious injuries at the old mans junkyard, she taught herself enough to get into Brigham Young University. There she first heard about the Holocaust and bipolar disorder, among many revelations. College is certainly no panacea for all 16 million whites living in poverty, among Trumps strongest backers. But it is for enough of them. And what Trump offered these people, in his proposed budget for last year, were proposals to cut education aid by $200 billion over the next decade. He would have made it harder for the poor to stay in college. When Westovers father visited her at Harvard, he told her, You have been taken over by Lucifer. She saw it differently. College gave her a life of the mind, a new self. You could call this selfhood many things, she writes at the end of a fabulous story. I call it an education. I invite you to follow me on Twitter (@nytegan). The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Secretary of State Mike Pompeos announcement on Friday that the United States is suspending the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty should worry everyone. The I.N.F. is a landmark treaty and it has made the world a safe place. It was the first nuclear agreement to ever outlaw an entire class of weapons. The Trump administration has dismissed the I.N.F. as irrelevant because Russia has abrogated its commitment to it by developing a treaty-busting cruise missile of its own. The Russians, for their part, claim that it is the United States that started this race to the bottom by announcing its withdrawal from the Antiballistic Missile treaty in 2001 and building missile defense systems near Russias borders. Regardless, it should be kept in place. The turn away from arms control agreements is not happening in a vacuum. The National Nuclear Security Administration, the part of the Department of Energy that oversees weapons production, announced this week that it has begun production of a new low-yield nuclear weapon that is about one-third as powerful as the bomb used on Hiroshima. These bombs are considered by some small enough to use. It could be ready for deployment by the end of the year. Welcome to the new age of nuclear instability. This is a perilous time in which agreements that have restrained the most dangerous weapons on the planet are dissipating and threatening new technologies including cyberweapons that could attack nuclear command and control systems are advancing quickly. The likelihood of a nuclear accident or blunder seems to be growing by the day. India has a job crisis , and the government would rather you didnt notice. Last month, it hastily amended the Constitution to set aside 10 percent of all government posts for the economically weak. But it defined the economically weak as anybody from a household earning less than 800,000 rupees, roughly $11,200, a year or owning a very tiny bit of land . And as the sociologist Sonalde Desai has argued, that covers about 95 percent of Indias population. A quota that includes virtually everybody means little. But the new 10 percent quota is even worse than that: It contains a caveat that explicitly leaves out individuals belonging to Indias disadvantaged castes, who benefit from other affirmative action measures. Thats a little bit as if the United States government announced that it was reserving 10 percent of government jobs for all but the richest 5 percent of Americans, and African Americans need not apply. How did India get to this point, especially on the watch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to power in 2014 partly on the back of promises to create more jobs? Back then, the manifesto of his Bharatiya Janata Party had called Indias labor force the pillar of our growth. According to data released by the Labour Bureau, a wing of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, unemployment in 2013-14 was 4.9 percent. But an undisclosed study by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), a government agency that conducts large-scale research , has reportedly placed the figure for 2017-18 at 6.1 percent a 45-year high. The ongoing tension between Apple and Facebook flared again this week, causing a dramatic hubbub in the tech industry. Id argue it was a nothing burger. Not because it was unimportant, but because its clear that despite persistent evidence that our privacy is being violated, it might not matter. Basically, the two digital giants engaged in an esoteric tussle over how Facebook did an end run around Apples very strict rules about data use on its app platform in order to suck up more user data. Through an app intended for internal use, Facebook paid people including teenagers $20 a month to track everything they did online. Since Facebook had been warned about this kind of thing before, Apple noting the move was in clear breach of their agreement retaliated by cutting off the oxygen, and Facebooks access to its own internal apps. It did not, as many suggested it should, shut off other popular consumer-facing offerings on the iPhone like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Shall I explain more? No, I shall not, because the details hardly matter, except to note that what Facebook did is the equivalent of sneaking out of the house after the curfew your parents imposed after you last sneaked out of the house. To put it more plainly, it was obnoxious and squirrelly and just the kind of behavior that we all now assume the company is capable of. Which is to say, we dont trust Facebook in any way when it comes to using and protecting the data we entrust to it. [Kara Swisher answered your questions about this column on Twitter.] And neither does Apple and its chief executive, Tim Cook. Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder and chief executive, is clearly getting on Mr. Cooks last nerve. I feel a little responsible for the acrimony, since it was in an MSNBC interview I did with Mr. Cook in March that the older, more seasoned executive decided to go full-bore on the young, leadership-challenged one. Under the bills actual text, virtually any claim of impairment would suffice to meet the acts requirements, wrote National Reviews David French. Anxiety? Depression? The conventional physical challenges of postpartum recovery? Any of those things could justify taking the life of a fully formed, completely viable, living infant. French appears to be worried that women will seek, and doctors will perform, late-term abortions for trivial reasons. But theres contempt for women embedded in the idea that, absent legal prohibition, someone on the verge of giving birth might instead terminate her pregnancy to avoid the brutalities of labor. No matter what the law were, in real life, these things dont happen, said Frances Kissling, president of the Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy and the former head of Catholics for a Free Choice. I am not saying that there would not be one woman out of 20 million who decided at the 33rd week of pregnancy that she needed an abortion, and I would suggest that she probably does have mental health problems. However, this woman is not going to find anyone who will do this. Kissling is well known in the pro-choice movement for thinking deeply about the ethical gray areas surrounding abortion. As she points out, there are only about a dozen doctors in the country who perform third-trimester abortions at all, and shes spoken to several of them, asking specific questions about patients theyve turned down. What I have learned is that all of them have limits and have declined to do abortions in certain circumstances for certain reasons, she said. (The murderous abortionist Kermit Gosnell, serving a life sentence in prison, is an exception, but he was operating outside the law.) A person who is ambivalent about abortion might wonder why, if the situations put forward by Gilbert and French are so unthinkable, pro-choice people would object to laws making them illegal. But the law is a blunt instrument for making judgments about extreme and unusual contingencies. Having extra doctors sign off on each late abortion safeguards against (mythical) cavalier terminations, but it means that women in anguished, urgent situations need to jump through extra hoops. Abortion opponents treat mental health exemptions as easily exploited loopholes, but one instance in which theyre invoked is when a woman learns that her fetus has little chance of surviving outside the womb, and cant face the prospect of going through labor only to watch her baby die. Sojourner Truth, the well-known colored lecturer, died at Battle Creek, Mich., yesterday, aged 103 years . For almost three-quarters of a century she delivered lectures from the East to the West upon temperance, politics, and the womans rights question. She was born a slave, in the state of New York, and spent the early part of her life until 1817, when slavery was abolished in this state in hard work in the fields of her many masters. Her parents were brought from the coast of Guinea, and sold as slaves on arriving in the United States. Her real name or that which had been given to her by her first master was Isabella Hardenburg, but, becoming dissatisfied with it, it is said that she went out into a wilderness and prayed to the Lord to give her an appropriate name. After praying for some time she heard, she said, the name Sojourner whispered to her, as she was to travel up and down, and afterward Truth was added to it to signify that she should preach nothing but truth to all men. Sojourner had a tall, masculine-looking figure she was almost 6 feet high and talked in a deep, guttural, powerful voice that made many people who heard her think that she was a man, and was imposing upon them by masquerading as a woman. Rosemary Mariner, who shattered barriers when she became one of the Navys first female pilots and the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron and who later successfully fought for a congressional measure that lifted a ban on women serving in combat died on Jan. 24 in Knoxville, Tenn. She was 65. Her husband, Tommy Mariner, a retired commander in the Navy, said the cause was ovarian cancer. When Captain Mariner joined the Navy in 1973, she was a licensed pilot and a graduate of Purdue University, where she had been the first woman to enroll in a newly created aeronautics program. She had been enthralled by flight since she was young, when she watched Navy pilots taking off from Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Most women in the Navy of the early 1970s were assigned to hospital posts or clerical jobs. But times were about to change. After graduating from officer candidate school in 1973, Captain Mariner was chosen for the Navys first flight-training class for women; she was among six of its graduates to earn wings in 1974. The next year she became the first female aviator in the Navy to fly a jet attack craft, a single-seat Skyhawk. The Rev. Dr. Rena Joyce Weller Karefa-Smart, the first black woman to graduate from Yale Divinity School and a leader in the international movement to bring churches closer together, died on Jan. 9 at her daughters home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was 97. Her death, under hospice care, was confirmed by the daughter, Dr. Suzanne Karefa-Johnson. In addition to her achievement at Yale from which she graduated in 1945, when black women on any college campus were extremely rare Dr. Karefa-Smart was the first black woman to earn a doctor of theology degree from Harvard Divinity School, in 1976. She was also the first female professor of any color to receive tenure at Howard University School of Divinity, in 1979. It is impossible to measure the distance youve traveled and how youve helped Yale Divinity School to travel, Elijah Heyward, a divinity school graduate, said in 2017 when he presented her with the schools Lux et Veritas alumni award. The inspiration youve stirred for generations of African-American women at Yale Divinity School and beyond is incalculable. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] The rapper and Instagram star known as Tekashi 6ix9ine has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his role in a violent drug-trafficking gang and was cooperating with federal prosecutors, according to newly unsealed court records. The rapper, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, admitted at a federal court hearing in Manhattan on Jan. 23 to being a member of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, and said he had helped other gang members rob people at gunpoint. In one case, he said, I helped members of Nine Trey attempt to kill a rival gang member. Mr. Hernandez added, I did this to maintain or increase my own standing in Nine Trey. He also said the gang engaged in shooting at people, robbing people and, at times, drug trafficking. Mr. Hernandez said he apologized to the judge and to anyone who was hurt, to my family, friends and fans for what I have done and who I have let down. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Four years ago, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo pushed through a plan to put New York at the forefront of a national movement to reshape American public education: He vowed that half of a teachers rating would be determined by student results on standardized exams. But his initiative met with immediate resistance from teachers unions and parents, especially those in New Yorks wealthy suburbs and progressive urban pockets. They protested on the basis it would place undue stress on teachers and children, whose test scores are used for high-stakes admissions decisions and academic tracking. As a result, with Mr. Cuomos assent, the evaluation system was suspended only months after it had been adopted. Now, in a final capitulation to a yearslong backlash, Mr. Cuomo is set to sign a bill the Legislature just passed that essentially guts the testing component. Eric Simmons, a social worker at one of the nonprofits, Bronx Community Solutions, typically manages a caseload of about 60 defendants. Some are disinterested in services, he said, but on occasion he has been able to make a meaningful difference. He recalled how one client, who had been addicted to heroin for decades and entered the program after a related arrest, had long been stymied in entering a drug-treatment program because hed lost his only means of identification. Mr. Simmons helped him replace it and begin the recovery process. Hes reconnected with his daughters, who had lost touch with him, Mr. Simmons said. Pretrial supervision is not a novel idea cities around the country have operated programs for decades and Miriam Popper, the executive director of the New York City program, said it benefited from their experience. We built this program on: What does the evidence say? Can it help someone get back to court and be successful? Whereas programs elsewhere may monitor defendants through electronic ankle bracelets and mandatory drug-testing prompting reformers like Michelle Alexander to warn that they contain the seeds of the next generation of racial and social control New York City doesnt incorporate either practice. Cherise Fanno Burdeen, chief executive of the Pretrial Justice Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for reforms of pretrial practices, said that New York City is also setting a markedly different tone by employing social workers as case managers. Treating this as a structured opportunity to provide people connections to the services in the community that they need in order to be successful is much better than a law enforcement-focused model. Felony theft and felony drug possession are among the most common charges faced by people admitted to supervised release. Those participants assessed as being at lowest risk of failing to appear in court are required to meet with a case manager monthly; those at highest risk are required to meet weekly, accompanied by a weekly check-in by phone. Judges are apprised of participants compliance as their cases proceed. After growing quickly in the year following its citywide launch, supervised release has steadily enrolled around 400 new cases per month. The mayors office reports that in the programs first three years, 89 percent of defendants made all court appearances; only 8 percent were rearrested for a felony while participating in the program. But some remain skeptical. On one side, James Quinn, who has been a prosecutor in the Queens district attorneys office for 41 years, maintains that the risk to public safety posed by many of the people who secure release through the program is not being given sufficient consideration. Taking into account both misdemeanors and felonies, nearly 20 percent of those on supervised release are rearrested during the program, city data show. Federal defenders said they were flooded with calls from inmates this week as temperatures began to drop. Our phone was ringing off the hook, said the lead federal defender in Brooklyn, Deirdre von Dornum. She said inmates, using a dedicated line that connects the jail to federal defenders offices, had gathered around the telephones on their floors to report poor heating, little to no hot water and no lights in their cells. On Thursday, Rachel Bass, a paralegal at the Brooklyn office of the federal defenders, said that she had fielded calls from about 15 inmates. In the past hour I have gotten 11 calls, she said. People are frantic. Theyre really, really scared. They dont have extra blankets. They dont have access to the commissary to buy an extra sweatshirt. She said many inmates complained of congestion and sore throats. The president of the local chapter of the union, Anthony Sanon, said the problems began around Jan. 5 when the jail first lost power. The heating issues began last week, leaving inmates and staff to face freezing weather for the first time. We didnt have heat in the building, we didnt have light, Mr. Sanon said. The weather was actually unbearable. The heat and power issues were unrelated, according to union leaders who spoke to facilities workers. The heating issues began when units that draw water up from the boilers froze. The workers said that the heat was on, but several units had been disabled. The electrical problems originated in an electrical panel that blew out last month, the union leaders said. Although the panel was initially repaired, it caught fire on Sunday. The jail switched over to emergency power, leaving the corridors lit only by dim lights, the cells dark and inmates confined to poorly heated cells during the coldest days of the winter so far. This week, the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees in New York City, as frigid weather swept over the Midwest and Northeast. The heat isnt coming out properly, Mr. Sanon said. One inmate told a federal defender that a corrections officer had taken the temperature in a housing unit, which was warmer than the cells, and it was 34 degrees. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Eric Newman, showrunner of the Netflix show Narcos: Mexico, sat rapt in the gallery on a recent day when Lucero Guadalupe Sanchez Lopez, the former mistress of the Mexican crime lord known as El Chapo, tearfully testified in Federal District Court. I got lucky it was a really good day, Mr. Newman said. The drug conspiracy trial of Joaquin Guzman Loera, known as El Chapo, began in November and Mr. Newman said it had been an amazing open book for us. He made a special trip to New York just to watch the proceedings in person. To hear these people talked about in the first person is remarkable. In reality, there have been many good days at El Chapos trial in Brooklyn at least for those looking for scripted-material fodder. In 10 weeks of testimony, 56 witnesses for the prosecution have described nearly every possible detail about Mr. Guzmans Sinaloa drug cartel: the high-tech methods used to traffic tons of cocaine, the gruesome murders the kingpin ordered and committed and the Game of Thrones-like dynamics within the organization. But the trial has also uncovered the absurd. For example, during one of her two days of testimony, Ms. Sanchez said she had once accompanied the kingpin when he had eluded authorities while fleeing naked through a secret tunnel. Today, the casting would be the subject of blog posts, tweet storms and op-eds. But 35 years ago, when Peter Weir embraced the spirit of the title The Year of Living Dangerously and hired an American woman to play a Chinese-Australian man in that political drama, his gamble paid off: Linda Hunt became the only person to win an Academy Award for playing a cisgender character of the opposite sex. It wasnt an easy decision. The filmmaker had asked a fellow Australian, David Atkins, to take the role of the dwarf Billy Kwan in the drama about expats in Indonesia during the 1965 coup attempt. But Atkins didnt click with the movies star, Mel Gibson, during rehearsals. Sets were being constructed in Manila, and the clock was ticking, Weir recalled in a recent email. The casting agent said he had a possible Billy Kwan called L. Hunt. He then revealed he was a she. We were desperate and gave her a try, and she was great. But Hunt, a stage actress whose sole film credit was a part in Robert Altmans Popeye, wasnt sure she could pull off the role of a male photographer who facilitates a romance between an Australian journalist (Gibson) and a British diplomat (Sigourney Weaver). She said, Could you rewrite it for a woman? Weir remembered. I said it would change the whole story. Silence. Could you play a man? Now a really long silence. Only if you believe in me, she said. So we took the plunge. During the early stages of production, Hunt still doubted herself. I thought, oh my God, Im going to have to go somewhere when this film opens, just away, as far as I could get, she told The Daily Beast in 2011. She said she thought her performance was so awful. It got better and better as we went on. Hunt declined to be interviewed for this article. Movie studios usually blitz viewers with trailers on Super Bowl Sunday, but this years telecast isnt expected to feature as many of them as usual. Universal jumped the gun with Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, releasing the first promotional clip for the Dwayne Johnson-Jason Statham spinoff two days before its set to air during the big game. The Rams and Patriots will be hard-pressed to top this nearly three-minute teaser when it comes to pure action. The Fast & Furious franchise has grown beyond its car-chase roots, and this latest installment adds a sci-fi twist, as Idris Elba plays a genetically engineered supervillain. Archrival trackers Hobbs (Johnson) and Shaw (Statham) must team up to stop his evil plan. Amusingly set to the tune of Wars 1975 hit Why Cant We Be Friends? the trailer contrasts the styles of the American Hobbs, who declares, Im an ice-cold can of whup-ass, and the British Shaw, who uses a champagne bottle to bludgeon bad guys. Theres no sign of Helen Mirren, who will reprise her role from The Fate of the Furious (2017) as Hobbss mom, but Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret on the first two seasons of the Netflix drama The Crown) does get in on the action as his sister. At War is a newsletter about the experiences and costs of war with stories from Times reporters and outside voices. In the desperate fight for Hill 875 in South Vietnams Central Highlands, at least 20 soldiers from the United States Armys 173rd Airborne Brigade were killed in one of the deadliest friendly-fire incidents of the entire Vietnam War. Just past dusk on Nov. 19, 1967, a Marine Corps A-4 attack jet dropped two 250-pound Mk-81 Snakeye bombs, which landed inside the 173rds hastily formed defensive perimeter. One of the bombs was a dud; the other exploded as it hit a tree, under which was the American command post as well as the collection point for the units most seriously wounded soldiers. The story is based on an unredacted Air Force investigation, whose details have not previously been made public, into the incident and first-person accounts from service members who were there, including Jon Wambi Cook, a soldier who survived the battle. Cook vividly remembers what happened on the ground in the moments after the blast, as the investigative report recounts what happened in the air above him. The combined narratives point to the sorrow and doubt that endure for a lifetime after a battlefield mistake. In reporting this story (read it in full here), I consulted with two people who have written extensively on what became known as the Battle of Dak To. One, Edward F. Murphy, scoured the National Archives for records related to the battle before publishing a book about the fight in 1993. The second was a retired Army infantry colonel named Leonard B. Scott, who wrote his graduate thesis about the battle while a student at the Army War College in 1988, and searched through the school librarys hoard of primary-source documents related to Dak To. Both men told me that they had never seen the report before. Reading up on it, she found case reports of patients who sounded remarkably like her husband. He had at least two of the symptoms (polyneuropathy and monoclonal plasma cell proliferation). Maybe it is POEMS, she suggested to the neurologist. Not likely, he said. Its quite rare, and her husband didnt fully fit the diagnostic criteria. Besides, the proliferation of antibodies that made him think of POEMS in the first place is seen in up to 10 percent of patients with C.I.D.P. He cited the aphorism leveled at all who suspect zebras: An unusual manifestation of a common disease is much more likely than even a classic presentation of a rare disease. Thats when the patients wife decided they needed a second opinion and made an appointment with Dr. Kazim Sheikh, a neurologist at the University of Texas at Houston. The first neurologist had encouraged them to seek a new neurologist, because if the patient didnt have C.I.D.P., he wasnt sure what he had. An Important Clue She took her husband to see Dr. Sheikh a few weeks later. He listened to the patient and his wife describe their hellish year, and even before he examined the patient, he made his first diagnosis: I think you have a cancer. Im not sure what kind, but I think you should be seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She shared her thoughts about POEMS syndrome. It might fit, he agreed. But there were also other possibilities. He ordered a PET scan to look for lesions on the bone. In POEMS, patients often develop tumors made up of cells that produce antibodies. A PET scan looks for cell activity, and because malignant tumors are constantly producing abnormal cells, they light up on this kind of scan. There, on his pelvic bone, was a tiny hot spot, a tumor, too small to be seen on the earlier scan. Harsh Treatment The patient was referred to MD Anderson, where he was finally given the diagnosis of POEMS. Initial treatments were ineffective. His last chance was a stem-cell transplant. This is a brutal therapy in which after collecting a sample of stem cells that can grow into both red and white blood cells, the patient is blasted with chemotherapies designed to kill everything left behind. Only then can the harvested cells be reintroduced to their newly cleaned bone marrow to repopulate. Long-term remission rates after treatment are high nearly 100 percent in one four-year study for those who survive. At this point, though, the patients doctors were concerned that he was too sick to survive this terrible treatment. His wife insisted that the doctors should let him take the risk of dying from the treatment rather than be certain of death without it. Seeing the patient, Dr. Muzaffar Qazilbash, the transplant oncologist, was reminded of Stephen Hawking, with his six foot frame folded into a wheelchair, shrunk down to just over 100 pounds. He re-evaluated the man could he survive the procedure? and agreed. The patient made it through the transplant and then the many complications afterward. Slowly, slowly, he recovered. His transplant was just over four years ago. He no longer needs a cane and is back to walking. Hes once again driving his daughters to their after-school events. And hes back to work, full time. He knows that he is one lucky man. He was lucky to have the insurance he had, lucky to have survived both the disease and the treatment and really lucky to have a wife who wasnt going to let him go. The following report compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan from the past seven days. It is necessarily incomplete as many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information. The report includes government claims of insurgent casualty figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified. Both sides routinely inflate casualty totals for their opponents. At least 51 pro-government forces and eight civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the past week. The casualties of pro-government forces and civilians decreased this week, possibly because of the cold weather in most parts of the country. The Taliban attacks were most concentrated in Kandahar Province, where insurgents carried out four attacks, killing 15 members of security forces and one prosecutor. Six police officers were killed in two insider attacks in Kandahar and Kunduz provinces. The bloodiest attack took place in Zabul Province, where 12 police officers were killed in Taliban attacks on their outposts. Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan's president, speaking last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said 45,000 members of the security forces had died since he took office in September 2014 a much higher total than anyone in his government had previously acknowledged. Additionally, a new report released by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction said that the Afghan governments control of its country declined late last year, in terms of both territory and population. [Read the Afghan War Casualty Report from previous weeks.] Jan. 30 Farah Province: two children killed Two children were killed when a mine exploded in Purchaman District. Local officials said they were investigating the incident. I wanted to be a witness to people who were trying to improve the conditions of African people throughout the world, he said. To be in Tanzania on my first trip to Africa at a time when Tanzania was considered the ideal in Africa because of the leadership of Julius Nyerere. He was Mandela before Mandela became the leader of South Africa. He was a man of the people. His concern for how people of color have been represented in the news shaped his approach to covering disasters, too. During his 1984 reporting trip to Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, he explored the devastating impact of the drought and subsequent famine. Later, while covering Haitis earthquake in 2010, he was unsettled by scenes of death and destruction. He approached it carefully, figuring out how to show something horrific had happened, but avoiding broken and bloodied corpses. There seems to be some racial imbalance when it comes to covering people of color in that situation as opposed to covering folks who were killed in Paris, he said. You just dont see something comparable in white enclaves. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, he considers his coverage of South Africas first free elections in 1994 an indelible experience. I felt like I was a part of it, he said. These are my brothers and sisters, too, and we were one large family. That might not be a good thing for a journalist to feel, but we share things in common besides skin color. We are people who have been oppressed and subjected to the worst horrors human beings can be subjected to. This was a moment of redemption. Dr. Mechanik was just 14 when she lost her mother, Jean Pollio Spina, to cancer in 1967. One of four children, she was left to help her father, Henry Spina, raise two younger siblings at their home in Farmingdale, N.Y. She eventually went to the University of South Florida, where she graduated cum laude and received two bachelors degrees, one in foreign languages (Russian, French and Spanish) and the other in biology, as well as a medical degree. (Her father worked in Manhattan at the time repairing typewriters and other business machines until he moved to Vero Beach, Fla., where he owned a coffee shop. He later retired in Tampa.) Mr. Westenberger, whose parents are both deceased, is one of eight children who grew up in an unstable environment. His parents, Teresa Westenberger, a registered nurse, and John Westenberger, a chef who owned a luncheonette in Brooklyn, had lived troubled lives, and placed Mr. Westenberger in foster care at least three times between the ages of 5 and 6, until they were able to take him and several of his siblings back under their own roof in West Islip, N.Y., and at several other addresses around Long Island where they lived. From the time Rick was born, he never had anyone consistently love him, Dr. Mechanik said. Despite not having any role models to show him how to love and be loved, he somehow turned out to be such a loving, kind and tender man. Mr. Westenberger, forced to work at an early age to support himself, attended Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., part-time for seven years, where he majored in marketing, but did not graduate. I simply ran out of courses I could take there on a part-time basis, he said. Ms. Bloomfield, the British-born chef who has been one of the most famous and successful women in the industry in this century, now has only two restaurants in her portfolio, The Breslin (also in the Ace Hotel) and Tosca Cafe in San Francisco. The Hearth & Hound, her restaurant in Los Angeles, closed in January. In 2004, Ms. Bloomfield and her business partner, Ken Friedman, opened their gastropub The Spotted Pig in West Village of Manhattan to immediate acclaim. The John Dory, their big, colorful British take on a classic New York oyster bar, opened in the meatpacking district in 2008 before moving to the Ace Hotel. Ms. Bloomfields shellfish pan roasts, whitefish salad and Parker House rolls were instant hits. It was the beginning of a decade of empire-building that ultimately included eight restaurants in New York and California. In December 2017, The Times published a report, based on interviews with dozens of employees, that Mr. Friedman had sexually and verbally harassed employees throughout their partnership. Mr. Friedman immediately stepped away from the business, and Ms. Bloomfield began the process of dissolving their partnership. At the end, several ventures had closed, Ms. Bloomfield was left in charge of four restaurants, and Mr. Friedman retained control of the Spotted Pig. In October 2018, Ms. Bloomfield spoke out for the first time about her role, acknowledging that she hadnt done enough to protect employees from the toxic behavior. (CNN) Germany, France and Britain have joined forces to establish their own trade channel to Iran and circumvent United States sanctions, according to a joint statement made by the so-called E3 on Thursday. The three signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have been working for months to establish a measure allowing payments between Europe and Iran to continue, in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in May. Now the European countries have officially established that channel, in a move likely to displease Washington. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the "special purpose vehicle," known as the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), at a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Bucharest, Romania. The INSTEX channel will be used by Europe to sell only food, medicine and medical equipment to Iran, with the possibility of expanding in the future, German broadcaster NDR reported. "We have been looking for ways to obtain this agreement because we are firmly convinced that it serves our strategic security interests in Europe," Maas said during a press briefing in Brussels earlier in the day. "We do not want Iran to get out of this agreement and back into uranium enrichment. This has to do with our security interests in Europe," he said. Maas said that Germany was "working very closely" with France, Britain and the European Union to "implement this special-purpose vehicle." According to a report by NDR, INSTEX will be based in Paris and managed by a German banking expert. A supervisory board will be run out of the UK. The announcement comes just over three years after the Iran nuclear deal came into effect, limiting the country's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. But the Obama-era agreement was torn apart in May last year after long-time critic U.S. President Donald Trump announced his country would be quitting the deal -- much to the dismay of European partners. Shortly after, the U.S. reimposed sanctions against Iran and Trump warned countries against doing business with it. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that it was "closely following" reports on the mechanism. "As the president has made clear, entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran risk severe consequences that could include losing access to the U.S. financial system and the ability to do business with the United States or U.S. companies," a State Department spokesperson said. The U.S. withdrawal and ensuing sanctions have hit the Iranian economy hard, with the collapse of the rial leading to widespread shortages -- including medical medical supplies and equipment. The European channel is likely to ease relations between Europe and Iran, which had become strained recently amid Iran's ballistic missile program and attacks against Iranian dissidents in Europe. How willing European companies will be to take up the new payment channel remains to be seen, with many larger businesses already cutting back or eliminating links with Iran for fear of U.S. sanctions. This story was first published on CNN.com, "European countries set up trade channel with Iran to bypass US sanctions." The Thwaites Glacier on Antarcticas western coast has long been considered one of the most unstable on the continent. Now, scientists are worried about the discovery of an enormous underwater cavity that will probably speed up the glaciers decay. The cavity is about two-thirds the area of Manhattan and nearly 1,000 feet tall, according to a study released Wednesday by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The hulking chamber is large enough to have contained about 14 billion tons of ice most of which the researchers say melted in three years. The Thwaites Glacier, which is about the size of Florida, holds enough ice that if it all melted, it would raise the worlds oceans by over two feet, a change that would threaten many coastal cities. Climate scientists tend to watch this glacier closely, usually alongside the nearby Pine Island Glacier, which is also flowing rapidly into the Amundsen Sea. Rising sea levels, among the most obvious threats of global warming, are caused by the melting of ice sheets, as well as the thermal expansions of the ocean. A separate study released last week found that Antarctica was contributing more to rising sea levels than previously thought. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: On Thursday in the Oval Office, the president of the United States debated the publisher of The New York Times about the role of a free press. Its Friday, February 1. Oh, for the purposes of this interview, how would you like me to refer to you, like, in terms of your actual name? Do you want to be A. G.? Do you want to be Arthur? a g sulzberger A. G., yeah. michael barbaro O.K. Good. A. G., tell me the story of what happened this past summer. a g sulzberger Well, I had recently been named publisher of The Times. And I was coming back from dinner one day, and I got a email from Sarah Sanders not someone who had emailed me before and she asked if I could come to the White House later that week for a private, off-the-record meeting with the president. Our journalists are typically extremely cautious about giving off-the-record meetings to prominent newsmakers. But its part of the responsibility that comes with being publisher to be willing to sit down across from folks who are regularly receiving coverage, particularly regularly receiving tough coverage, and hear if they have any concerns. So I felt that I should accept. Meeting face to face with the president, I felt it was really important to raise some of my concerns about his increasingly strong anti-press rhetoric. I also felt pretty strongly that I should bring a journalist along as well. So I brought James Bennet, my colleague who oversees the Opinion department, including the editorial page, and we headed down to Washington. michael barbaro And what happened? a g sulzberger James asked most of the questions as the journalist in the room. And then at some point, I sensed a natural break in the conversation, and I brought up what I had been wanting to share with him. I said to the president, Im increasingly alarmed by your anti-press rhetoric. You know, phrases like fake news I find very troubling. But Im deeply concerned about the implication of phrases like enemy of the people. And I believe that this language is not just divisive, its dangerous. michael barbaro And this is all off-the-record, so this is just a message that you very much wanted to deliver to the president directly. a g sulzberger Thats right. And it was a civil meeting. He did hear me out. And at the end of the conversation, after we had stood up and were preparing to leave, he thanked us again for coming in, turned to me, pointed to his head and said, youve given me a lot to think about. And I really will think about it. michael barbaro So you leave the White House, and what happens? a g sulzberger So largely nothing. I go back to work. He goes back to work. And about a week, maybe 10 days later, Im at home. It was Sunday morning. I think I was either changing a diaper or had just finished changing a diaper. And I get a call that informs me that the president has just tweeted about our meeting. archived recording Some breaking news now as The New York Times goes to Washington. President Trump tweeted just a little while ago that he met with A. G. Sulzberger, the relatively new publisher of The New York Times, at the White House recently. Tweeting this today. Quote, Had a very good and interesting meeting at the White House with A. G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times. President Trump continuing, quote, Spent much time talking about the vast amounts of fake news being put out by the media and how that fake news has morphed into the phrase enemy of the people. Sad. michael barbaro And is that your understanding of what happened in the room? a g sulzberger No. It was a gross mischaracterization of our conversation. I mean, certainly we had had a meeting at the White House. Ill leave it to him to decide whether it was good and interesting. And we talked about his use of phrases like fake news and enemy of the people. But it was not a conversation in which I was agreeing with those characterizations in the least. michael barbaro So what exactly did you do? a g sulzberger So I grabbed my laptop and typed out a very brief account of what had actually transpired in the meeting. We issue our statement, which I thought spoke for itself, and the news cycle moved on to other things, and I moved on to other things. And then six months later, this week, I get another email from Sarah Huckabee Sanders, this time asking me to join the president for a private dinner at the White House. michael barbaro Huh. And what are you thinking when you get that invitation? a g sulzberger Im thinking that I cant possibly accept this invitation. michael barbaro Why not? a g sulzberger Because Im already reluctant about allowing people to go off the record. But the notion that I would do that with someone who had so clearly violated the terms that he had requested, and that I had agreed to, a second time just felt like a non-starter to me. michael barbaro So youre prepared, it sounds, to say no and to walk away from this opportunity. a g sulzberger I did say no. I wrote an email back, which I thought was perfectly polite but also very direct, saying that given what had transpired the last time we had such a meeting, that Id be unable to accept a private dinner with the president. But I also added and I thought it was probably a long shot that if the president was willing to meet on the record with several of our journalists for an interview, that Id be happy to join. michael barbaro And what was the response? a g sulzberger To my surprise, the next day they said yes. So this morning, Maggie Haberman and I took the train down to D.C., where we met our colleague, Peter Baker, and prepared for the first significant on-the-record interview weve done with the president in over a year. michael barbaro And how are you thinking about this interview, because youre the publisher of The Times. Youre not a reporter. But you are going to the White House with two of the Timess star White House reporters. What exactly is this meeting, in your mind? a g sulzberger Well, thats exactly right. My role in that room is very different than Maggie and Peters. So you know, when we sat down to plan it out, I made very clear that I would leave the reporting part of the meeting entirely to them. But I also said that there were a few things that I wanted to convey to the president following up on our previous meeting. michael barbaro Essentially some unfinished business. a g sulzberger Thats right. The White House is just a few blocks from the bureau, so maybe 20 minutes before the meeting, we headed out into the cold and walked over. Got to the White House security. Maggie breezed through, Peter breezed through, and then it turns out that I had not been entered into the system. So I found myself standing outside in the cold for quite some time while they decided what to do with me. michael barbaro And what did they decide to do with you? a g sulzberger Eventually some embarrassed member of the communications team came over and apologized for forgetting to enter me into the system. And I guess I passed whatever test of trustworthiness, and they gave me a pass and went through security. So we get in. Were escorted into the Oval Office and take some seats in front of the presidents desk. He walks in the room. maggie haberman Mr. President, good to see you. a g sulzberger Shakes each of our hands. president trump Sit down, please. peter baker Thank you. a g sulzberger Very friendly. And we begin the conversation. president trump We just had a great meeting with the vice premier of China. a g sulzberger Pretty early in the conversation, he talks about how, just moments earlier, there was a group of Chinese leaders there, along with most of his cabinet, for trade negotiations. president trump And we had it set so you could walk in. But were you delayed at the gate or something? maggie haberman There was an incident. [LAUGHS] president trump Oh, what happened? a g sulzberger Oh, everythings fine. That he had been very much hoping that we would see the impressive scene and wondered why we were late. maggie haberman Were fine. Everythings fine. a g sulzberger I think I looked like a suspect individual. president trump You look good. maggie haberman They werent sure they wanted to let A. G. in. president trump You look good. a g sulzberger At which point Sarah Huckabee Sanders had to let him know that I had been blocked at the gate. michael barbaro You were the reason why. a g sulzberger I was the reason why. peter baker So having had the meeting today with the vice premier, do you feel like you got a deal, or close to a deal? president trump Well, were getting closer. a g sulzberger So after some small talk, the interview begins. Maggie and Peter start going through their long list of questions. maggie haberman Youve talked about the sacrifice that this has presented for yourself, for your family, being president, for your business. Could you ever see a point in the next year where you say, you know what, I dont need to do this again? I dont need to run for re-election? president trump I dont see it because so I just gave you a list of a lot of the things weve done. And this list isnt even complete. I dont know if you have it. Yeah. Thats not even just grab it. Reading material for tonight. a g sulzberger Maggie asks him whether hes intent on running for another term. president trump Maggie, heres the bottom line. I love doing it. I dont know if I should love doing it. But I love doing it. a g sulzberger He talks about his recent phone call with the head of the Venezuelan opposition. president trump We had a very good talk. Just more than anything else, I guess, I wished him good luck. a g sulzberger He talks about Nancy Pelosi. maggie haberman This is your first experience dealing with Nancy Pelosi having the gavel as the speaker. Do you feel that you properly estimated her strengths? Do you feel like you underestimated them? president trump Ive actually always gotten along with her, but now I dont think I will anymore. I think that shes hurting the country very badly. a g sulzberger And says that hes given up on their relationship. president trump If she doesnt approve a wall, the rest of its just a waste of money and time and energy. a g sulzberger He talks about the shutdown. president trump But based on what I hear and based on what I read, they dont want to give money for the wall. You know Im building the wall. You know that. Im building the wall right now. a g sulzberger You know, for the beginning of the interview, he seems excited and engaged, almost gregarious. Hes talking in superlatives and with obvious excitement about the work and what he describes as his accomplishments. president trump And one of the generals said, youve done more to defeat ISIS than any other person, not even close. a g sulzberger And then, as the questions shift towards Russia maggie haberman Has Rod Rosenstein given you any sense over the course of the last year about whether you have any exposure, either in or theres any concerns, or whether youre a target of either Mueller or president trump Well, he told he told the attorneys that Im not a subject Im not a target. Yeah, oh yeah. a g sulzberger And to the Cohen investigation. peter baker Can I ask you, sir, can you clarify the Trump Tower Moscow proposal, right? There was this discussion. And weve learned since the campaign that this went on longer through the campaign than we had expected. president trump So let me tell you about Trump Tower Moscow. This was a very unimportant deal. This was a very unimportant deal. a g sulzberger He becomes visibly more cautious. His arms creep up and theyre now folded on his chest. peter baker You told people that you didnt have any business there. And people might have misunderstood president trump Well, that wasnt business. peter baker [INAUDIBLE] Misleading to say president trump Peter, that wasnt business there. That was a peter baker Well, youre pursuing the business, right? president trump That was essentially I had no money invested. a g sulzberger His sentences are growing shorter. maggie haberman Did you ever talk to him about WikiLeaks? Because that seemed to be what Mueller was you never had a conversation with him about that. president trump No, I didnt. maggie haberman And did you ever tell him to or other people to get in touch with him? president trump Never did. a g sulzberger And its clear hes being cautious. At one point, he was visibly uncomfortable enough that Sarah Sanders sort of muttered under her breath, next topic. president trump This job is, from an economic you know, I get a kick out of these people saying, oh, a rich Arab stayed at his hotel. a g sulzberger And then, as weve seen in previous interviews with President Trump, there are a lot of interesting tangents that hell take. president trump I lost massive amounts of money doing this job. This is not for money. a g sulzberger One of the more striking was him talking about how everyone assumes hes making so much money and benefiting so much from being president, but that actually president trump This is one of the great losers of all time. You know, fortunately I dont need money. a g sulzberger Assuming the office had come at a significant financial cost. And I think he used some language like, its the biggest loser. michael barbaro Being president. a g sulzberger Thats right. president trump But I lose I mean, the numbers are incredible. a g sulzberger So initially we had been told that the conversation would be around half an hour. And maggie haberman Maggie, hes been doing a great job. Yeah? speaker Just have some important calls whenever youre finished. president trump O.K. Ill be in in a little while. a g sulzberger Like clockwork, at about half an hour, his assistant came into the room and told him that time was up and he had a busy schedule. president trump Whats more important than The New York Times, O.K.? Nothing. a g sulzberger The conversation continued like that for fully another half hour. So a full hour. speaker Mr. President, were coming up on 45 minutes. president trump Yeah, thats O.K. a g sulzberger On multiple occasions, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Bill Shine tried to interject by saying, O.K., lets do one or two more questions. maggie haberman Mr. President, can I ask you a question that I was wondering as you were all talking about this? speaker And then maybe [INAUDIBLE] Make this the last one. maggie haberman Can I ask you five more questions? [LAUGHTER] a g sulzberger But Maggie and Peter just kept right at it. And President Trump seemed happy and interested to continue to answer their questions. michael barbaro And what are you doing while Peter and Maggie are pressing the president on all these various questions? a g sulzberger I didnt say a word. I thought my role there was to open the doors for the two of them for an on-the-record interview. michael barbaro So you stayed silent the entire time. a g sulzberger Thats right. president trump That doesnt happen at The New York Times. a g sulzberger Mr. President, before we wind down, I didnt want to miss the opportunity just to raise a concern that we discussed last time. But then I realized that the meeting was actually starting to wrap up. And it felt like the moment was right to share the concern that I wanted to raise with the president, which stemmed from our previous conversation. We discussed last time I was here. president trump By the way, youre right. And I did not know, when we did you apologize, I hope? sarah huckabee sanders Yeah. president trump Because I did not know that. And I apologize for that. O.K.? a g sulzberger Thank you for saying that. president trump I did not know that. a g sulzberger And immediately he interjected and offered something of an apology. It took me a second to realize what it was about. But I believe he was apologizing for breaking the off-the-record agreement he had asked for in the previous meeting. michael barbaro Ah, the tweet. a g sulzberger But I circled back and said So the concern I raised then was about your anti-press rhetoric fake news, enemy of the people. And at the time, I said I was concerned that it wasnt just divisive, it was potentially dangerous, and warned that I thought it could have consequences. I feel like in the time since, weve started to see some of those consequences play out. Weve seen around the world an unprecedented rise in attacks on journalists, threats to journalists, censorship. And as Im saying this, he is leaning in and asking questions. Jailing of journalists and murders of journalists. president trump Where in particular? a g sulzberger Globally on every continent. Im happy to send you some of the literature. Its very closely tracked. But one of the things thats been really striking to me is, as Ive talked to my colleagues around the globe, working in different countries particularly working in countries where a free press is already a tenuous thing they say that they are increasingly of the belief that your rhetoric is creating a climate in which dictators and tyrants are able to employ your words in suppressing the free press. And I wanted to michael barbaro So it sounds like you two are having a genuine back-and-forth about the concerns you have about the dangers facing journalists, and your belief that he, as president, is contributing to that. a g sulzberger Thats right. Thats right. And to his credit, he heard me out and he listened to it. I guess the concern I want to raise is the effects that the broad-based attacks on journalism and journalists continue to have seems to be growing. And it particularly seems to be growing abroad with folks who arent covering your administration. Theyre trying to do hard, dangerous work of ferreting out the truth in societies where the leadership often tries to suppress it. And Id urge you to reconsider these attacks. president trump I understand that. a g sulzberger But if you choose not to, I want you to be aware of some of the consequences that Im starting to see out there. president trump Would you say more so now than over the last five years? a g sulzberger Yes. president trump Right now? I mean a g sulzberger Yes. president trump But more so now than even a year ago. a g sulzberger Yes. And I think president trump Im not happy to hear that. a g sulzberger The murder of Khashoggi is just the highest-profile example. But were seeing michael barbaro A. G., are you experiencing the presidents questions and reactions as authentic? Because suddenly its starting to sound like hes saying the things that a publisher of The New York Times might want to hear. a g sulzberger Yeah, I think thats right. The United States and the occupants of your office historically have been the greatest defenders of a free press and of free speech globally. president trump And I think I am, too. I want to be. I want to be. a g sulzberger Look, it is hard for me to be optimistic about breaking through to him given that I had raised this exact set of concerns six months earlier, and he had said he was listening, said he was troubled by what he had heard, said that he thought his rhetoric had probably gone too far, and said that he would think about toning it down, and then has continued, if not escalated, his attacks on the free press. So he made a good show of listening. He asked follow-up questions. He expressed concern about some of the things I said. But it wasnt fully clear whether I was getting through to him. And I wanted to circle back to this, first, I guess, to ask you if you were aware of these broad consequences that were seeing. president trump So the person, honestly, thats been most suggestive of that is you, more so than others. I do notice that people are declaring more and more fake news, where they go, fake news. I even see it in other countries. I dont necessarily attribute that to me. I think I can attribute the term to me. I think I was the one that started using it, I would say. But I do see that. But a g sulzberger But can I just respond to that? president trump Yes, please, go ahead. a g sulzberger Because the phrase fake news, youre exactly right. It has been embraced globally. And several countries have actually banned fake news. But it was a technique to actually ban an independent media. And so its not about viral stuff on Facebook. Its about countries using that term to actually ban independent scrutiny of their actions. president trump Right. Ive seen that. a g sulzberger Yeah. president trump I dont like that. I mean, I dont like that. I dont like though I do think its very bad for a country when the news is not accurately portrayed. I really do. a g sulzberger And after this conversation goes on for a few minutes, he takes it in an interesting direction, and perhaps a predictable direction. michael barbaro Which is what? a g sulzberger He starts complaining about his own coverage and explaining he feels that he has been inaccurately portrayed. president trump And I do believe Im a victim of that, honestly. In all due respect, I know what a good writer these two people are. But Peters been very tough on us the last couple of months. I dont know why, because I really think Im doing a great job. a g sulzberger And at one point, he mentions Peter specifically, and says his recent articles have been too tough. Can I just say something on Peter? I mean, Peter has covered four administrations, four presidential administrations, starting with Clinton. president trump I know. a g sulzberger But one of the things that weve learned over a century and a half of covering the men whove occupied this office is that every occupant feels that the press is too tough at times. But tough coverage is part of occupying the most powerful seat on earth. That chair right there that youre sitting in is the most powerful seat on earth. And it comes with it scrutiny and questions. You have my speaking for The Times my enduring commitment that we will treat you fairly and accurately. I actually noticed a oil painting of President Lincoln over his shoulder, and I said, weve been covering presidential administrations for 150 years. Starting, I think, with that guy. president trump He was a good one. a g sulzberger Yeah, hes a good one. michael barbaro One of the best. a g sulzberger Yeah. president trump I understand that. And I do. I would say this. I dont mind a bad story if its true. I really dont. You know, were all, like, big people. We understand whats happening. Ive had bad stories, very bad stories, where I thought it was true. And I would never complain. But when you get really bad stories where its not true, then you sort of say, thats unfair. And, you know, you have a tremendous power. You have the power of the pen, the power of the ink. You have a tremendous power. a g sulzberger And so we continued to go back and forth. And the striking thing about the conversation now is if the first hour of the conversation felt very much like a traditional interview questions being asked by Maggie and Peter, and questions being answered by President Trump now the conversation had taken a real turn, and it felt like we were having a searching debate about the role of media. president trump What you do is a very important thing. And I will tell you, I would love if I was just covered fairly. If I were covered fairly like, this should be a fair story. I dont know what the story is this should be a fair story. I actually think your readers would respect it. a g sulzberger There were interruptions. There was back and forth. And if at first he was listening to my concern, he became increasingly animated in sharing his concerns. michael barbaro I mean, this is fascinating. Im curious, were you surprised in the moment by how this conversation was playing out, that it was becoming a conversation? Was that what you expected, because it seems like you had just wanted to reiterate a final point from your previous interview on the way out the door. a g sulzberger I certainly wasnt expecting the full back-and-forth, his level of interest and engagement in the conversation. At one point, Maggie jumped in. president trump Let me look in the mirror. maggie haberman But what do you see the role of the free press as? What is it that you think that the press does? a g sulzberger And he gave her, in some ways, the most cautious, literal response that Ive heard from him in either of my meetings with him. president trump It describes, and should describe, accurately whats going on in anywhere its covering, whether its a nation or a state or a game or whatever. And if it describes it accurately and fairly, its a very, very important and beautiful thing. michael barbaro And do you agree with that definition of a free press? a g sulzberger Well, I think his definition is accurate, but its also narrow. I view the core responsibility of The Times not just as helping people understand the world, but in seeking the truth wherever it leads, holding power to account. Those parts of our job can be hard to be on the other side of, and Im sympathetic to that. But those are essential parts of how we meet our responsibility to inform the public. But I was really struck. There was this moment it was a very human moment, and it seemed like a very sincere moment when he talked about being a Queens-born kid. president trump But I came from Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica Estates, and I became president of the United States. Im sort of entitled to a great story from my just one from my newspaper. I mean, you know. a g sulzberger And he just wanted his hometown paper to write one positive story about him. michael barbaro He just wants The Times to say something nice about him. a g sulzberger Thats what he said. president trump Im sort of entitled to one good story in The New York Times. I started off, I ran against very smart people and a lot of them. a g sulzberger And he said it a few times. president trump I just sort of think Im entitled to a great story from The New York Times. I mean, Ive done something that nobodys ever done. michael barbaro Well, listening to the president talking about the media, did you feel that any of his complaints about the media were legitimate and recognizable? a g sulzberger I dont buy his premise that he hasnt had that positive story. The first story he got was Trump Triumphs. You know, that was literally the headline. But hes a disruptive political figure who has had an incredibly divisive approach to governing, and the coverage has reflected that. michael barbaro So what do you think that this conversation meant to President Trump, and why do you think it became a conversation in the first place? a g sulzberger I dont know if I have the answer to that. I mean, obviously, this is a man whose public posture is that journalists are the enemy of the people. And Ill tell you, part of what troubles me so much about that phrase is what do you do with enemies? You fight them. You lock them up. You kill them in war. But thats never been President Trumps private posture with journalists. And I think what this conversation showed is this is actually a man with a lot of respect for The New York Times as an institution. And I think he wants to feel that respect back. But he wants to feel it in a certain kind of way, with celebration of his actions, with validation of his performance, that Im not sure a serious news organization, an independent news organization, can give any president. And so we have this tension between a president who, in a room with three journalists, can have a really interesting, open conversation about the role of journalism and the role of his own rhetoric in putting journalists at risk. But in public, Im not sure we can expect change. I hope itll change. I really do. But Im skeptical. michael barbaro A. G., thank you very much. We appreciate it. a g sulzberger The digital publishing industry took a big hit in recent days, when more than 1,000 employees were laid off at BuzzFeed, AOL, Yahoo and HuffPost. Vice Media started the process of laying off some 250 workers on Friday, and Mic, a site aimed at younger readers, axed much of its staff two months ago before a competitor bought it in a fire sale. Coupled with recent layoffs at Gannett, the company behind USA Today and other dailies nationwide, the crisis in the digital sphere suggested that the journalism business was damned if it embraced innovation and damned if it didnt. The cuts at BuzzFeed were the most alarming. Wasnt this the company that was supposed to have it all figured out? Didnt its team of wizards, led by the M.I.T.-trained chief executive, Jonah Peretti, know tricks of the digital trade that lay beyond the imagination of fusty old print publishers? Chris Hayes, the author and MSNBC anchor, summed up the bleak outlook with a tweet that asked, What if there is literally no profitable model for digital news? The in-the-moment doomsaying was understandable. But look past the gloom, and a complicated narrative emerges that does not lend itself to a one-size-fits-all interpretation of What Went Wrong or a handy forecast of journalisms future. The bank is looking at paying several billion dollars in fines and restitution. Toward the end of last year, Goldman began setting aside money for the case, which is being pursued by federal prosecutors and bank regulators, as well as authorities in Malaysia. Goldman is eager to avoid a more punitive resolution, like a deferred prosecution agreement. In a deferred prosecution, the authorities ultimately decline to pursue charges if a company complies with certain requirements such as overhauling its compliance operation and paying hefty fines. One former top Goldman banker has already pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the investigation, and a junior banker has also been charged. Federal prosecutors have said that at least $2.7 billion was looted from the fund by people close to Malaysias former prime minister, Najib Razak. A financier, Jho Low, who was charged in the fraud, is a fugitive believed to be in China. Goldman Sachs was the primary banker for 1MDB, helping to sell nearly $6 billion in bonds. The bank has said it regretted the fraud carried out by its former partner, Tim Leissner, but has said it followed appropriate procedures and was cooperating with the investigation. The bank has said the scheme was carried out by rogue employees who deceived management at Goldman. The bank said the clawback provision would give the board the flexibility to reduce the size of the award to senior executives, if necessary, as a result of the 1MDB case. Mr. Solomon replaced Mr. Blankfein as Goldmans chief executive on Oct. 1; Mr. Blankfein stayed on as chairman of the board through the end of the year. Xinjiang is a region where we have documented severe human rights abuses both by the police and ordinary officials, said Maya Wang, a researcher for Human Rights Watch. Anything that would involve training government officials involved in this repression would be contributing to human rights abuses. United States officials have taken notice. Lawmakers have introduced bipartisan bills that urge the Trump administration to punish Chinese officials and to prevent sales of some American equipment to some Chinese state agencies. Officials at the White House and in the State and Treasury Departments have been discussing whether to impose economic sanctions on Chinese officials who oversee the system of repression in Xinjiang. Mr. Prince made a name for himself as the founder of Blackwater, a private military contractor that did business in Iraq. After Blackwater employees were held responsible for civilian deaths in Baghdad, Mr. Prince sold the company and set up FSG, turning his sights to the growing demand from Chinese companies moving into countries and regions with ethnic strife. FSG, which is listed in Hong Kong, has unabashedly courted Chinese officialdom. Citic Group, one of Chinas biggest state-owned conglomerates, owns a quarter of FSGs stock. A security and logistics company, FSG has tied itself to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a major campaign by President Xi Jinping to develop geopolitical ties by building bridges, trains and ports through Asia. China considers Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan and several other Central Asian countries, a gateway to a strategically important region. Tumxuk lies between Kashgar and Aksu, larger settlements that have been a focus of the Chinese governments drive to stifle antigovernment sentiment. The city comes under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, an organization run along military lines and founded in the 1950s to bring security, development and Han Chinese settlers members of Chinas largest ethnic group to the region. Even now, the corps acts as a kind of parallel administration in Xinjiang, holding vast areas of land and operating its own schools, courts and other institutions. But Tumxuk has also been drawn into the regionwide drive to transform Uighur society through indoctrination camps. The government says the camps wean Uighurs and other Muslim minorities from religious extremism, while teaching them Chinese language and job skills. But former inmates have described harsh, even brutal treatment, and United Nations human rights committees and experts have condemned the camps for holding people in the camps without legal appeal. This is Choire Sichas final column as your Work Friend. Youll have a new friend next week. Isnt that just like you. Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to his successor workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, even if you want them withheld. Letters may be edited. Drunk at Work I work for a nonprofit that relies heavily on private sponsors. Our new boss loves to celebrate with wine or Champagne when any amount is donated and we constantly receive donations. Even for a TGIF, the boss decided to bring in drinks just because. As a person who is not a heavy drinker, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. How do I rectify this culture change of constantly drinking in the workplace? Elmsford, N.Y. Really though, arent we all drinking in the workplace? Drinking the rancid Kool-Aid of corporate eco-terrorism and capitalist larceny, that is! But alcohol-drinking, honestly, isnt that fun in the office. I do find it cute when people parade a bar cart around on Friday at 6 p.m. Its charming! Yet I find it way less cute at 5:45, and reprehensible before 5:15. (I just pack up and go home when people start drinking. But as you can tell, Im the funnest person in the room.) UNDERGROUND A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet By Will Hunt A book can often have its greatest impact by rethinking familiar terrain, forcing readers to reconsider their entrenched preconceptions. Sometimes this comes from embracing an unexpected vantage point, as in Howard Zinns classic A Peoples History of the United States, which chronicled American history from the bottom up rather than the top down. The sociologist Sudhir Venkateshs work examines the unseen economic and social forces operating all around us; his last book, Floating City: Hustlers, Strivers, Dealers, Call Girls and Other Lives in Illicit New York, has forever colored my interactions with the citys hotel concierges, bartenders and bodega owners. Will Hunt taps into our deep fascination with what lies beneath the surface of things by exploring, quite literally, whats going on beneath the surface. His book, Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet, delves into the natural and manufactured caves, catacombs, mines and tunnels that dot the globe in both urban and rural settings. Using assorted scientists, tribesmen, urban adventurers and other locals as his guides, Hunt has spent years burrowing into the most storied holes in the grounds. Image Credit... Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters In following his journey from New Yorks subways to the Parisian catacombs and from Australian ochre mines to the prehistoric caves of the French Pyrenees it soon becomes clear that Hunt is less interested in what he actually finds underground than in his own obsession with this dark world. Yes, we encounter plenty of graffiti, cave paintings, stalactites, subterranean creatures and remnants of religious rituals. But Underground is most concerned with understanding the fixation, shared by humans for millenniums, with these hidden realms. The novel opens with a letter to Anton from Buddy, a.k.a. Dad, taking center stage as usual. Anton is in Gabon with the Peace Corps, hospitalized after a near-fatal bout of malaria. Buddy, a celebrated talk show host, is recovering from a nervous breakdown that took place on national television in front of millions of viewers. Not one to recover quietly in a yellow room, Buddy reports the public response. Everyone has his or her theory about what Ive been through. Some ask: Didnt you use to be Buddy Winter? Phil Donahue calls it Buddys Razors Edge journey. Image When Anton, still in recovery, returns from Gabon, Buddy, plotting his resurrection, asks him to work as his sidekick and also, its plain, his alter ego. Anton agrees, sucked in by Buddys charm and charisma, shining on him after his years in the shadows. Buddy is at his most seductively charming with strangers. In taxis, he sits in the front seat and interviews the drivers, drawing out insights they didnt know they had. Anton thinks of his parents as the husband and wife in the Thin Man movies: witty, glamorous and, tellingly (though he doesnt say it), childless. Still, Anton has an interest in reviving Buddys career. After all, as Buddys son he gets to live in the Dakota and hang with John Lennon. Lennon was probably the most famous inhabitant of a building that has housed many famous people, including Leonard Bernstein, Rosemarys baby and Boris Karloff, a previous occupant of the Winters apartment. The building itself is a New York celebrity, with its brooding Gothic front, its water-powered elevators, its tenement-like upper floors occupied by the Leftovers, the servants and mistresses left behind when their employers moved out. Describing it to a friend, Anton is quick to say it isnt a snobby place, more like a European village in, say, Luxembourg. Anton meets Lennon in the Dakota and teaches him to sail. A friendship grows and Lennon takes his young neighbor on a life-altering sailing trip to Bermuda. Like everyone else in this novel, they spend a lot of time talking. Barbash has given Lennon a captivating voice, catching his cadences and playfulness, as well as his astuteness. Midway through the novel, Lennon tells Anton hes his fathers sodding Cyrano de Bergerac. Toward the end, as Anton struggles to break from Buddy, Lennon blesses him with a rock baptism: A year ago you were dying of malaria in a rancid hospital bed. Now look at you. Ive sprinkled you with Beatle dust. At their worst, theres little to distinguish poorly conceived memoirs from the kind of thing better suited for a mental health professional. At their best, memoirs burn through the me of the genre, and into the universal of the human experience. Those masterly memoirs are rare: Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings comes to mind. Anything that works against you can also work for you once you understand the Principle of Reverse, Angelou tells us in that debut autobiography, thereby generously bestowing her readers with the precious key to her own liberation. In other words, a beach read offers escapism; an excellent read offers the means to escape. Enter, then, into my reading nights this dark winter season three memoirs written by women who have in common their gender but little else. Gallingly, none of the works rise very far above this special-interest corner; theyre neither sufficiently escapist for beach reads, nor sufficiently wise to offer the means to escape. If you dont like something, change it, Angelou famously advised. If you cant change it, change your attitude. I AM YOURS A Shared Memoir By Reema Zaman Of the three memoirs under review here, the most successful by which I mean the one that does the most to reach beyond itself is Reema Zamans I Am Yours. Zaman, raised in Bangkok by Bangladeshi parents (her father hails from the countrys ruling classes), is both privileged enough to receive an education and female enough to have that education compromised by the usual means. When a teacher stalks Zaman, everyone, including her father, dismisses her objections. Power only responds to power. I have none. The predator is protected. I am a stain, initially irksome, ultimately forgotten, she writes. Still, Zaman doesnt turn cynical or bitter, just increasingly anorexic. Zaman can write beautifully about the frustration and pain of being a woman in a mans world, an immigrant in a world suspicious of outsiders. In the States she finds not only the promise of liberation, but also its opposite. A colleague rapes her; a man she has trusted. She decides to keep the assault to herself. I cannot jeopardize my chances at staying in America, she explains. Im profoundly American. Im independence, grit and freedom of speech, personified. Staying here is crucial for the life I want, to be a voice for those without one. The irony is acutely painful. An autumnal air of melancholy seems to hang over Charles Todds elegant police procedurals featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard. As THE BLACK ASCOT (Morrow, $26.99) begins, Edward VII has just died and the fashionable socialites attending the 1910 Ascot races are shrouded in mourning. Alan Barrington uses the occasion to arrange a fatal motorcar accident for the man who drove his best friend to commit suicide, or so he believes. Barrington then disappears for nearly 10 years. When he finally resurfaces, Rutledge is sent to discreetly track him down. This reflective series always seems eager to get Todds sensitive detective out of London and into the English countryside, where the reverberations of World War I are still being felt. In Merwyn, a gray, bleak village of lost souls, he finds a wife who thought she was a war widow and her veteran husband, who feels he might as well be dead. And in Hampshire, Rutledge visits a clinic where, staring at shellshocked victims, he sees his own traumatized face. By now I should know better than to continue reading a novel that opens with a telephone call in the middle of the night. Its usually a tipoff that the dialogue is going to be dreary. (Hello. Who is this? Hello. Hello. Who is this?) Fiona Barton has written better books than THE SUSPECT (Berkley, $26), and I expect to read more of them in the future. But this one recycles familiar themes and old plot points. Kate Waters, a British journalist with amazing survival skills in a weakened industry, takes an assignment involving two teenage girls who have gone missing in Thailand. Since her own son, Jake, is roaming the world and rarely calls home, this case is bound to be a heartbreaker for her and a strain for any reader who doesnt want to plow through another weepy story about suffering mothers and their callous children. But its my own fault. After all, I caught that middle-of-the-night phone call and I didnt hang up. Heres one for the Shooting Yourself in the Foot Department: THE MURDER PIT (Mira, paper, $15.99), a Victorian potboiler by Mick Finlay, who had the very good idea of spoofing Sherlock Holmes by creating a private investigator who is his exact opposite. Unlike that famed cerebral sleuth, William Arrowood is the detective of last resort, relying on instinct, impulse and sudden brainstorms to resolve distasteful cases for unsavory clients. Norman Barnett, Arrowoods faithful assistant and the narrator of this story, doesnt waste his breath describing bucolic country scenes. And if he and Arrowood should leave London, theyre more likely to visit a working farm with its attack dogs, its slaughter shed, its mountains of stinking dung. Arrowood shows real skill in dealing with the case of Birdie Barclay, who hasnt been heard from since she left home to marry a pig farmer. But Finlay has no sense of proportion. Its not enough that his hero is rude, crude and lacking in social skills. His personal hygiene is so appalling hes unable to eat or drink without soiling himself, so he pretty much smells like a barnyard. Here, have a napkin! His new book, Dreyers English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style, is the climax (so far) of his nearly three decades in the copy-editing business, and it shows his playful sense of humor as well as his deep appreciation for clear writing and good language. The book is full of no-nonsense pronouncements on matters like the Oxford comma (use it) and the word literally (use it at your peril). It is also idiosyncratic, because writing style is highly personal, subject to an individuals taste and whim. Image Credit... Alessandra Montalto/The New York Times Thats why could care less might bug you, but does not bug him. (I appreciate its indirect sarcasm.) It is why, by his own admission, he is perhaps overly fond of parentheses and of the word quite, and also why he applauds a nice semicolon. (The best thing to know about semicolons is that Shirley Jackson liked them, he said, of the author of The Haunting of Hill House. End of discussion.) As he writes, If the English language itself is notoriously irregular and irrational, why shouldnt its practitioners be too? Dreyer, 60, was born in Queens and raised in Albertson, Long Island. He did not set out to be a writing guru; he set out to be an actor, but actually became a waiter. In Manhattan in the early 1990s, facing the prospect of the middle-of-the-night shift at Forty Four, the Royalton Hotels restaurant, he instead took a job as a freelance proofreader for St. Martins Press after claiming to his future boss that he owned a copy of the ninth edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, which was true, and that he was familiar with standard proofreading symbols, which was not. (Luckily, they were set out right there in the dictionary, under P, and he is a quick study.) He loved the job, and the job loved him. Its like a treasure hunt and the treasure is bad, he explained. It turns out that I have a very good ear, and a nose for finding mistakes. Mr. Castor was the Montgomery County District Attorney in 2005 when Ms. Constand approached authorities to complain that Mr. Cosby had sexually assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia. Mr. Castor declined to bring charges, saying he found insufficient credible and admissible evidence and that both sides could be portrayed in a less than flattering light. Ms. Constand then sued Mr. Cosby and won a civil settlement in 2006. Ms. Constands defamation lawsuit referred to comments that Mr. Castor made later, in 2015, after a number of other women had come forward to accuse Mr. Cosby of drugging and sexual assaulting them. Mr. Castor was asked then about his decision not to prosecute and he offered answers that Ms. Constand said suggested she had been inconsistent in describing the assault and had provided a more detailed account in the Cosby civil suit. If the allegations in the civil complaint were contained in that detail in her statement to the police, we might have been able to make a case out of it, Mr. Castor told The Associated Press. In a tweet, he said the account she had given the police was much different than she told court in her lawsuit, according to the filing. Mr. Castors successors as prosecutors for Montgomery County decided later in 2015 to bring charges against Mr. Cosby, in part because of new evidence. Mr. Cosby was convicted last year of aggravated indecent assault and is serving a sentence of three to 10 years in prison. Mr. Castor had argued that his comments were true and so they could not be a basis for a defamation suit. Hercule Poirot is a flexible little fellow. He can be dapper and twinkling, as David Suchet played him for 24 years on television. He can be vigorously obsessive-compulsive, as Kenneth Branagh played him in Murder on the Orient Express in 2017. And as it turns out, he can also be a depressed, guilt-ridden loner, as John Malkovich is forced to play him in The ABC Murders, a three-part mini-series now available on Amazon Prime Video. The British screenwriter Sarah Phelps has been taking liberties with Agatha Christies mystery tales, on behalf of the Christie estate and the BBC, for a while now ABC Murders, based on the 1936 novel of the same name, is the fourth mini-series shes adapted from the books. Her method is extreme makeover, redoing Christies plots and reshaping her sensibility in a lurid and ominous fashion that, combined with top-flight casts, produced entertaining results with And Then There Were None and Ordeal by Innocence. The ABC Murders is Phelpss most thorough teardown yet, and this time shes so suffocatingly revisionist that whats left isnt really Christie at all. The insistence on making everything grimmer and grosser is almost comically complete. In January, Ms. Chaker released Inner Rhyme, a haunting yet quietly rigorous album that integrates the disparate parts of her identity as a composer, performer and improviser who tiptoes along cultural fault lines. A recent performance at the Stone in Manhattan showed off the hallmarks of this music, built on the maqam scales of Arabic music, with jazzy flights of improvisation and fleeting echoes of early Baroque ornamentation. The pianist and composer Vijay Iyer witnessed the genesis of Inner Rhyme at a workshop he ran in Banff, Alberta. We rigorously explored the microtones she worked with and tried to square them with a piano, he said in a phone interview. It created something that, to my ear, was unprecedented. It was like nothing Id ever heard on this planet. It was coming out of traditions, but stepping into a real experimental sensibility. Mr. Iyer introduced Ms. Chaker to some of the stylistically polyglot musicians who joined her in this project. The ensembles name, Sarafand, is that of a Palestinian village that became a ghost town after the founding of the state of Israel. Loss and exile are central themes, even if they are distilled into purely instrumental music. Ms. Chakers point of departure is poems written by Syrian, Iraqi and Palestinian writers whose political messages are sublimated in metaphors. She took their poetic meters and turned them into the rhythmic skeleton of her music. Berliozs sweeping epic become a tale of insurmountable illness. The lines between playacting and reality begin to blur. Didon and Enee do fall in love, though without ever touching during their duet Nuit divresse. But he, hearing voices and teeming with toxic masculinity, hubristically leaves for Rome. She is left alone to sing her swan song, Adieu, fiere cite, while downing a bottle of pills and putting back on her childlike crown and cape. Its pathetic, and devastating. Fade to black but then the lights come on: In what seems like a typical Tcherniakov move, Didon appears not to have died at all. The role-playing exercise instead continues, with the chorus narrating Didons climactic funeral pyre and the birth of Rome. But Didon seems a bit out of sync with the crowd woozy, fading. The pills were real after all; she collapses as the score comes to its mighty end. Without changing a word, Mr. Tcherniakov turned this sprawling tale, of romance amid the fall and rise of civilizations, into an all-too-real story about two people who, ravaged by suffering, fail to ever recover. JOSHUA BARONE Jussie Smollett, the star of the Fox television show Empire who said he had been attacked by two men yelling racial and homophobic slurs, released his first public comments about the incident on Friday. Let me start by saying that Im O.K., Smollett said in a statement released by his publicist. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly, I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. He went on, acknowledging some social media theories that the attack might not have occurred in the way Smollett said. I am working with authorities and have been 100 percent factual and consistent on every level, Smollett said. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served. Vicky Shick and her nerves are no strangers. But shes dealing with more than the usual amount of agitation with her latest work, Next to the Sink. Shes down one dancer. And its been nearly impossible to get the others in the room at the same time. Then theres her natural state, which fluctuates between steely resilience (just watch her dance) and crippling indecision (just listen to her talk about her dance). I feel kind of like a turtle or a tortoise, she said during a recent interview in which she lamented that her dances end up exploring similar territory: a community of people, usually women, whose inner life is revealed through fragility and strength. But I just have to try to trust myself. We are inside this world that is so screwed up. Onstage, her dance world shows that frailty. But, she said, shes also interested in some kind of gentle flamboyance or glamour or passion why not? Ms. Shick laughed: Thats part of an inner life, and sometimes I think you either have that or you dont. Over time, Ms. Shicks works have become more exacting as they reveal the complexity of who she is: a 67-year-old choreographer who was born in Hungary and had dreams of becoming a ballerina, but instead carved out a career in postmodern dance, performing with the esteemed choreographers Sara Rudner and Trisha Brown. With precision and strangeness, her dances celebrate the very thing she finds herself racked with: vulnerability. SYDNEY, Australia A stateless Kurdish-Iranian asylum-seeker detained by the Australian government won the countrys highest-paying literary prize on Thursday. But he could not attend the festivities to accept the award. Behrouz Boochani, a writer, journalist and filmmaker who has been held in offshore detention on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea for more than five years, won the 2019 Victorian Prize for Literature for his book, No Friend but the Mountains. The prestigious award, selected from a short list of winners in other categories, grants the winning author 125,000 Australian dollars (about $90,000) and counts the countrys most prominent writers among its recipients. Mr. Boochani fled Iran after the police there arrested several of his journalist colleagues and raided his office. After the Australian Navy intercepted his boat as he was trying to reach the country, he was sent to Manus Island in 2013. WASHINGTON A top American diplomat signaled on Thursday that the United States might no longer demand that North Korea turn over a complete inventory of its nuclear assets as a first step in the denuclearization process that President Trump is pursuing. The diplomat, Stephen E. Biegun, said in his first public speech that before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean W.M.D. and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration. Mr. Biegun, appointed in August to be special representative for North Korea, was speaking to a room of North Korea experts at Stanford University. His reference to the timing of North Koreas releasing a full list of its weapons of mass destruction indicates that the United States could be more flexible than it previously indicated about at what point in the negotiations the list is handed over. If American negotiators drop their demand that the list is an essential first step in denuclearization, that would remove one obstacle that has hampered diplomacy since a summit meeting last June between Mr. Trump and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. If it seems impossible that Venezuelas government could have remained in power nearly two years into the countrys self-imposed economic collapse, consider that Naunihal Singh, a leading expert on power transitions and coups, is just as baffled as everyone else. Its just perplexing, Professor Singh said. It shouldnt be in anybodys interests for the country to get destabilized to this extent and for this many people to starve. A hint as to why the crisis has stretched on lies in the growing dispute over legitimacy, just the latest sign of a monthslong deadlock over the countrys future. Both Nicolas Maduro, the president, and Juan Guaido, an opposition lawmaker who has pointed to Mr. Maduros widely disputed election victory, claim to be Venezuelas legitimate leader. Military leaders, political elites, protesters and foreign governments have all weighed in. The lists published on Thursday were prepared separately by each diocese, and each one takes a slightly different form. Many of the names dated to the middle of the 20th century some dioceses began their reviews at 1940 and others at 1950 and many, but not all, of the clerics listed have died. Some have resulted in prosecution. Some lists contain limited detail about alleged abuse but many consist of little more than the names of clergymen and scant biographical information. The lists focus primarily on the alleged abuse of minors, although some contain references to allegations of sexual harassment or abuse of adults. Advocates for abuse survivors said they were disappointed by those shortcomings. Paul Petersen, a spokesman in Dallas for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the overall lack of detailed information pointed to the need for state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the history of clerical sex abuse in Texas. All of this is the fox guarding the henhouse, he said. Most of this has not been corroborated by the police department, so you have to scratch your head and say, Where is the actual transparency? Mr. Petersen also said he thought it was probable that there were more than 300 priests who had committed sexual abuse in Texas since 1950. He pointed to a report in December by the Illinois attorney general that said the Catholic Church there had withheld the names of at least 500 priests accused of sexually abusing minors. There are 3.4 million Catholics in Illinois, according to the Catholic Conference of Illinois, or less than half as many as in Texas. I am skeptical, he said. I am not trying to make it bigger than it is, but I think the number 300 is crazy low. WASHINGTON President Trump proclaimed on Thursday that without funding for his wall at the southwestern border, the panel of lawmakers negotiating a broad compromise on border security would be wasting their time, issuing what appeared to be an ultimatum even as lawmakers pleaded for a chance to reach a deal that would head off another shutdown. Without a wall, it doesnt work, Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Im not saying this as a Republican, Im not saying it as anything other than a fact stater. If you dont have a wall, he added, theyre all just wasting their time. And in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, the president indicated that he was prepared to move forward without lawmakers, saying that he had set the stage for doing what Im going to do. He declined to directly say whether he planned to declare a national emergency to build a wall. [Read the New York Times interview with President Trump.] The comments came as 17 House and Senate lawmakers from both parties struggled to reach a bipartisan border deal before Feb. 15, when much of the government again runs out of money. Republican leaders, especially in the Senate, have made it clear that they do not want to suffer through another debilitating shutdown, and senators asked the president to give them room to work. We want to hear from our readers. Have a question? Well try to answer it. Have a comment? Were all ears. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. ____________________ Whatever happened to One of our biggest pet peeves at On Politics is the way stories often seem to fade away, without any follow-up. With that in mind, we wanted to update you on some of the stories we covered this month. We brought you the story of Julia Quintanilla, a contract employee cleaning federal government buildings, who worried about how she would pay her bills or even afford groceries during the government shutdown. The government has reopened, but Ms. Quintanillas fight isnt over. Democratic lawmakers in the Senate are pushing a bill that would ensure low-wage workers get back pay. So far, the legislation has failed to attract any Republican co-sponsors. Since we wrote about the former Starbucks C.E.O. Howard Schultzs difficult path to the presidency, his troubles have gone from tall to venti. Over the past three days, it has come out that Mr. Schultz has voted in just 11 of the past 38 elections. He doesnt know the price of a box of Cheerios, the countrys No. 1-selling breakfast cereal. And he was heckled at a book event in New York City, with another protest planned tonight in his hometown, Seattle. Before President Trump agreed to end the government shutdown last Friday, we wrote about how damaging the situation had become for his political standing. On Tuesday, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that a whopping 56 percent of Americans said they would definitely not vote for him in 2020. (Dont count him out yet, though. We are still two years away from any ballots being cast.) For our first newsletter of 2019, we wrote about the likability question that plagues female politicians most recently Senator Elizabeth Warren. Since then, two other female senators have entered the 2020 race. The first question Kirsten Gillibrand received at her first news conference: Is she too nice? Sigh. [Sign up here to get On Politics in your inbox.] ____________________ The Soapbox SEATTLE As cars and pedestrians passed by during the evening rush on Thursday, Paula Harper-Christensen, a retired teacher, smiled and waved her sign with an upside-down Starbucks mermaid. Dont spill our chance, the text said under the logo. Susan Glicksbergs protest placard was more blunt: Do Not Run! Howard Schultz, the former chief executive of Starbucks, has returned to his hometown, Seattle, and it has not been a uniformly warm welcome. Mr. Schultz, 65, has come under fierce criticism from many fellow Democrats for being a possible 2020 spoiler after he disclosed his interest in running as an independent candidate for president. He says he will weigh whether to run over the few next months as he undertakes a national book tour describing his vision for fixing Americas ills. [Check out the Democratic field with our new candidate tracker.] Thursday night was his first major appearance in Seattle since his political announcement. Roughly 40 protesters gathered to greet him before his planned event to promote the book and his possible candidacy. Some, like Mary Hanke, were overtly hostile to Mr. Schultz and his record as a businessman. I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what shes doing, and ultimately, I think Ive set the table very nicely. I think people understand, well, they understand, Peter. They didnt know what was going on in the southern border. Now they know. They had no idea the amount of crime, the amount of drugs, the amount of human trafficking, which can be stopped with a proper system. Ive set the table, Ive set the stage for doing what Im going to do. Yeah, Im going to wait till the 15th. I think its a waste of time. Well, he told, he told the attorneys that Im not a subject, Im not a target. Yeah, oh yeah. About which? I dont know. I dont know about that. I, that I dont know about. No, I dont. We didnt discuss it. You know weve had polls as high as 93 percent, which is the highest there is. Reagan was 86. During, during the tiny little period during the World Trade Center. That ended quickly. No. No, I have great support in the party. I like Roger. Hes a character, but I like Roger. For a team of 29 people with AK-27s, or whatever they were using, to charge a house like they did at 6 oclock in the morning. I think that was a very sad thing for this country. No. No, I didnt. I never did. Never did. I dont think I have the authority to do that. Im not sure I do. But I wouldnt, I wouldnt do it. Jareds a good, I was, I was never involved with his security. I know that he, you know, just from reading, I know that there was issues back and forth about security for numerous people actually. But I dont want to get involved in that stuff. The use of force-feeding, she said, represented an escalation in the tactics used by immigration officials on detainees. Its barbaric, she added. An ICE spokeswoman did not comment directly on the allegations leveled by Ms. Kaur and Ms. Fialho. But the agency said that it does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers and that it tells detainees about the negative health effects of not eating. Officials closely monitor the food and water intake of detainees who have been identified as being on hunger strike, they said. The Associated Press reported the hunger strikes and use of force feeding earlier this week. Since May 2015, Freedom for Immigrants has documented 1,396 people on hunger strike in 18 immigration detention facilities across the United States, Ms. Fialho said. Generally, she added, detainees starve themselves as a way to protest unsanitary and abusive conditions at their holding facilities as well as the length of their detention, which often appears to them to be indefinite. Although court orders have allowed officials to administer fluids to detainees intravenously, Ms. Fialho said she was aware of only one other instance in Georgia in 2017 when a court allowed someone to be force-fed at an immigration detention center. Attempts to locate the court orders referred to by ICE on Thursday were unsuccessful. Force-feeding people is an uncomfortable practice in which you put in a tube through the nose, and then you pour a nutritional formula through the tube, said Dr. Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York Universitys School of Medicine. Putting the tube through the nose is often painful, particularly if the person is resisting, Dr. Caplan said. People who are fed involuntarily can lose muscle mass, Dr. Caplan added, and in the Texas case, prisoners could become infection-prone. 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 BOESMAN AND LENA at the Pershing Square Signature Center (previews start on Feb. 5; opens on Feb. 25). A man and a woman, tramping from shantytown to shantytown, have arrived back in New York. As part of the Athol Fugard residency, the Signature revives this 1969 play, and though its set specifically during the apartheid era, it also speaks to a more universal sense of displacement. Yael Farber directs a cast that includes Zainab Jah and Sahr Ngaujah. 212-244-7529, signaturetheatre.org CALL ME MADAM at New York City Center (performances start on Feb. 6). This 1950 Irving Berlin musical imagines a gentler world in which the worst the State Department has to contend with are finicky matters of protocol and a few inconvenient love affairs. Encores! revives this ambassadorial gem, starring Carmen Cusack, Ben Davis, Jason Gotay and Lauren Worsham. 212-581-1212, nycitycenter.org That immediately cut off Facebooks 35,000 workers from its internal iPhone apps. And the problem snowballed when mobile apps like Workplace and Messenger two internal communication tools also stopped working, frustrating employees and resulting in hours of lost productivity. Late Thursday, Apple relented and restored Facebooks access. Yet the episode was a stark reminder of where the power really lies in the technology world. While Facebook is the worlds biggest social network, Apple controls the distribution of apps including Facebooks on its phones. That power is a longstanding concern for Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder and chief executive, making his company beholden to the rules of others. The spat underscored the tensions between two of Silicon Valleys largest tech companies, which have competed for years over talent and new technologies. Recently, each has taken potshots at the other over data privacy, with Apples chief executive, Timothy D. Cook, trading slights with Mr. Zuckerberg in interviews. Facebook also worked last year with a public-relations firm, Definers Public Affairs, to urge reporters to scrutinize Apple and other tech companies. And Apple has made changes to some of its tech features that limit the ability of Facebook and others to track users. Apple did not immediately have a comment on Thursday after reinstating Facebooks access to its internal apps. In a statement, Facebook said it was getting our internal apps up and running and added, To be clear, this didnt have an impact on our consumer-facing services. In an interview on Wednesday, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, said of the dispute with Apple, Obviously we want to be in full compliance with all of our partners. She added that the Facebook research app at issue hadnt been a secret and had been operated only with its users consent. SEATTLE Amazon held off stiffer competition for online shoppers during the holiday season, once again increasing its sales. But the company said on Thursday that growth slowed from its usual breakneck pace and it came at a cost, with the company spending far more on shipping to win customers. While strong, the latest quarterly results suggested that Amazons retail business not only faces more competition, it is also maturing. The company reported that its revenue from retail sales and services grew 17 percent to almost $65 billion globally, while its shipping costs rose 23 percent, to $9 billion, compared with the same quarter a year ago. The company is compensating for slowing growth in e-commerce by expanding its fast-moving, highly profitable cloud and advertising businesses. Over all, the company produced a profit of $3 billion in the quarter, up more than 60 percent from the same period a year earlier. Competition for shoppers over the holidays was intense and expensive, as other big retailers stepped up their promotions. Target offered free two-day shipping, no matter how small an order, and Walmart and others tried to maximize use of their physical stores, an advantage they have over Amazon. On Christmas Eve, Best Buy customers could order products online from store inventory as late as 5 p.m. and pick them up just an hour later. Five days after Christmas, the Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen stood in her serenely decorated basement studio in Osterbro, a leafy residential neighborhood in eastern Copenhagen, with one of her team members. They considered all of the work that still needed to be done for her fall 2019 runway collection, her fifth to date, which was showing in a month. She had an idea, but it had not yet translated into a single garment. Something interesting often arises from situations where you feel cornered or under pressure. It adds a dynamic that you cant create on your own, she reflected recently, as she walked through her narrow studio on a misty January afternoon. Her pace seemed surprisingly calm for a designer who was 72 hours out from her show. It actually hasnt been that hectic this time around, compared to the first couple of shows that we did, she added. When Bahnsen, 34, presented her first runway collection of gauzy ruffled pieces, in the Copenhagen Opera House in February 2017, the interest from buyers was immediate and widespread, and not long after she was shortlisted for the LVMH Prize. Her brand has introduced a new ethos to Scandinavian womens wear, offering pieces that are both unabashedly romantic and exquisitely finished but also relatively straightforward in their shapes. Last year, facilitated by a growing demand for her pieces, she grew her team from one to five full-time employees, allowing her to focus on what she does best design while expanding the operations side of the company. Now, her collections can be found at over 60 retailers worldwide, including Selfridges in London and Dover Street Market, whose New York location will host an installation by Bahnsen next week. INTERNATIONAL An article on Thursday about the Canadian governments decision to withdraw some of its diplomatic staff from its embassy in Cuba misstated when the Trump administration expelled Cuban diplomats from the United States. It was in October 2017, not October 2018. ARTS A review on Thursday about the play God Said This misstated Leah Nanako Winklers age. She is 33, not 34. A review last Friday about a survey at the American Folk Art Museum of the artist John Dunkley misstated the closing date of the exhibition. The show closes on Feb. 24, not Feb. 20. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. Why is American politics so dysfunctional? Whatever the deeper roots of our distress, the proximate cause is ideological extremism: Powerful factions are committed to false views of the world, regardless of the evidence. Notice that I said factions, plural. Theres no question that the most disruptive, dangerous extremists are on the right. But theres another faction whose obsessions and refusal to face reality have also done a great deal of harm. But Im not talking about the left. Radical leftists are virtually nonexistent in American politics; can you think of any prominent figure who wants us to move to the left of, say, Denmark? No, Im talking about fanatical centrists. Over the past few days weve been treated to the ludicrous yet potentially destructive spectacle of Howard Schultz, the Starbucks billionaire, insisting that hes the president we need despite his demonstrable policy ignorance. Schultz obviously thinks he knows a lot of things that just arent so. Yet his delusions of knowledge arent that special. For the most part, they follow conventional centrist doctrine. After the catastrophic rupture of a mine-tailings dam in Brazil last week, leaving behind at least 110 dead , 238 missing and an environmental disaster of epic proportions, the police were quick to arrest five people who had been responsible for inspecting the dam and who most recently proclaimed it stable. Certainly they had erred, and courts will decide whether they did so criminally. But rounding up the usual suspects does not begin to address responsibility for a disaster of this scale and a danger many mining communities face around the world. Tailings are the wet waste from mining operations, often laced with toxic chemicals. At thousands of mines around the world, millions of tons of the muck accumulate behind dams. The most common type of dam and the cheapest to build is known as upstream, made by piling up thick sludge and raising the height of the dam as the pond grows. At the mine where the accident occurred in southeastern Brazil, owned by the giant mining company Vale, the dam was 28 stories high. The danger posed by tailings dams is well known. Three years ago another upstream dam in the same Brazilian state, Minas Gerais, and co-owned by Vale and Australias BHP Group, collapsed, killing 19 people. The muck from that mine flowed 400 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Other dams have collapsed in many countries around the world, and while the overall number of failures each year has been declining, the occurrence of major collapses has increased. According to the database World Mine Tailings Failures, there were 46 serious or very serious collapses such as those in Brazil between 1998 and 2017. One reason is increased rainfall because of climate change, which can erode a dam wall years after the tailings pool is no longer in use. One study found that heavy rain was cited as a contributor to a quarter of global dam failures. Given that there are thousands of tailings dams around the world, and that mining companies generate ever more waste they produced 8.5 billion metric tons in 2017, more than double the amount in 2000, according to an Australian researcher the dams pose a danger that arresting a few workers wont address. SYDNEY, Australia Since this countrys founding in the early 20th century, the packs of untamed horses that roam freely through our beautiful and hostile alpine landscape have captured the publics imagination. The savage grace and freedom of the horses known here as brumbies have made them into a popular symbol of the national spirit. Today, environmentalists want the brumbies shot. Not since cattle roamed the mountain parks (before a ban in the 1950s) have animals done such damage to the alpine regions that Australians proudly call the high country. A 2014 survey estimated there were more than 9,500 wild horses in the Australian Alps. Some of the horses descend from animals that belonged to settlers in the early 1800s. The brumbies eat fragile alpine moss. Their hooves trample the banks of creeks, killing vegetation that stops silt from building up. They destroy peat that takes thousands of years to develop. Campers report the fear of being trampled by herds in the middle of the night. Dusan Makavejev, a Serbian director whose movies, full of politics, sex and metaphor, were hailed on the film festival circuit in the 1960s, 70s and 80s but also sometimes reviled, died on Jan. 25 in Belgrade, Serbia. He was 86. Marija Nikolic Radonjic, head of the rectors office at the University of Arts in Belgrade, where Mr. Makavejev studied directing, confirmed the death. Mr. Makavejev was, as The Nation once put it, the brightest star in the avant-garde firmament in the early 1970s, thanks to movies like Man Is Not a Bird (1965), Innocence Unprotected (1968) and especially WR: Mysteries of the Organism, a brash hodgepodge that was a darling of the 1971 Cannes Film Festival. That movie, incorporating Mr. Makavejevs signature mashing together of documentary footage and fictional elements, invoked the ideas of the psychologist Wilhelm Reich (the WR of the title) to examine fascism, capitalism, sexual liberation and more. Vincent Canby, writing in The New York Times, captured Mr. Makavejevs sense of politics and the absurd when he described a central scene in which a Belgrade beautician and Reich admirer thaws an uptight Stalinist by giving him the perfect orgasm. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] It is not enough that a subway fare increase could soon make traveling underground in New York City more expensive. The cost of getting around above ground is going up, too. An extra $2.50 fee will be tacked onto any yellow taxi rides in Manhattan that begin, end or pass through south of 96th street, and an extra $2.75 fee will be added for other for-hire vehicles, including Ubers and Lyfts all before the car even starts. The new ride fees were supposed to start Jan. 1, and are intended to raise more than $1 million a day to help fix the citys broken subway system. New York is following a growing number of states and cities, including Chicago and Seattle, that have adopted similar per-ride fees in recent years to pay for public transportation and other services. In New York, the new ride fees had been temporarily blocked at the last minute by a lawsuit filed by a coalition of taxi owners and drivers who called it a suicide surcharge that would drive away customers and devastate an industry already crumbling under financial pressures. Its going to come into play, quite frankly, in the elections next year. Were not going to let it go away, Carol Tobias, the president of the National Right to Life Committee, the countrys largest anti-abortion group, said of New Yorks law and Virginias defeated proposal. Youre going to see articles written and speeches, and our affiliates around the country are going to take it up, Ms. Tobias added. She singled out a video clip of the Virginia lawmaker, Kathy Tran, earlier this week acknowledging that her bill would allow, in certain circumstances, for a woman to request an abortion when she was about to give birth. Ms. Tran later clarified that she misspoke and that the bill would not allow the prevention of a live birth. Nonetheless, the clip of her initial comments, already viral, was further amplified when Virginias Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, was asked during a radio interview on Wednesday about Ms. Trans bill. Mr. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, said late-term abortions would be permissible in cases of severe deformities or nonviable fetuses, and described a situation in which such an infant would be delivered, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. Conservatives seized upon the answer as proof that Mr. Northam approved of killing an infant even after it was delivered, even as Mr. Northams office said the reply was taken out of context and called the idea that he would support such a proposal disgusting. Thats going to be played in legislative bodies around the country or at least used to lobby, Ms. Tobias, of the National Right to Life Committee, said. It already has: Virginias Republican Party sent a fund-raising email with the clip of the Virginia lawmaker; the National Republican Congressional Committee has also attacked several newly elected House Democrats from Virginia, trying to link them to the debate in the statehouse. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida likened the Democratic proposals to legalizing infanticide, and the former United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, said the idea made her sick. [Read about the events that our other critics have chosen for the week ahead.] IN-PERSON REENACTMENT at Anthology Film Archives (Feb. 1-13). Last year the Quad held a retrospective of films in which real-life figures, from the Beatles to John Malkovich, played themselves. This unrelated series explores similar terrain, highlighting films that blur the line between candid realism and self-dramatization. Two of them star Muhammad Ali: the documentary Muhammad Ali, The Greatest and the biopic The Greatest, both showing on Saturday and Feb. 13. In Man of Aran (on Sunday and Feb. 10, with Four Men on a Raft, a reconstructed segment from Orson Welless uncompleted Its All True), Robert Flaherty, one of cinemas original nonfiction fabulists, assembled a fake family on the Aran Islands in Ireland and filmed them hunting basking sharks, as if it were part of their daily lives. (In reality, the custom had been obsolete for generations.) Somehow, its still some of the most stunning footage ever filmed. 212-505-5181, anthologyfilmarchives.org YORGOS LANTHIMOS at the Film Society of Lincoln Center (Feb. 1-5). Now that Lanthimoss topsy-turvy palace-intrigue comedy The Favourite (on Monday) has tied Roma for the most Oscar nominations for 2018, the time is ripe to revisit the Greek auteurs earlier work to get a sense of just how weird the idea of Academy Award nominee Yorgos Lanthimos really is. All six of his features will screen, including his breakthrough, Dogtooth (on Saturday and Tuesday), which brought him international attention after winning a prize at Cannes, and Kinetta (on Friday and Sunday), the seldom-shown film that preceded it. 212-875-5601, filmlinc.org Richard Sackler has stated that he was not involved in the companys marketing activities. However, the 2008 email appears to be among the first internal company emails to suggest that Mr. Sackler urged the promotion of higher strengths of OxyContin. Two other members of the family, Jonathan and Mortimer Sackler, were copied in on the email, according to the new disclosures. That email is one of several disclosures that emerged Thursday when Ms. Healey filed a version of her lawsuit that contained information that Purdue Pharma had sought to block from public view. In a filing last week, several parts of the lawsuit were redacted, but a Massachusetts state judge agreed with several groups, including The New York Times and other media organizations, that the entire complaint should be made public. A last-minute effort Thursday by Purdue Pharma to block the release failed. The drug maker has long sought to depict the Sackler family as removed from the companys day-to-day operations. The Sacklers are one of the richest families in the United States, with much of their wealth derived from sales of OxyContin. Their name graces museums and medical schools around the world, and the new revelations are likely to renew calls for institutions to decline their philanthropic gifts. In a statement, Purdue Pharma, which is based in Stamford, Conn., said that Thursdays release of the remaining portions of the Massachusetts lawsuit was part of a continuing effort to single out Purdue, blame it for the entire opioid crisis, and try the case in the court of public opinion rather than the justice system. The Labor Department did revise downward its estimate of December hiring by 90,000 jobs, an unusually large adjustment. But the strong growth in January, combined with upward revisions to earlier months, meant that the pace of hiring, averaged over six months, actually rose. That combination of strong hiring and modest wage gains has put the economy on a strong, sustainable footing. More jobs means more income for consumers, which leads to more spending, and in turn more hiring. The virtuous cycle continues, said Michael Gapen , chief United States economist for Barclays. Whats kept this recovery going, whats kept the U.S. economy so resilient to all the things that have clouded the outlook, is a virtuous cycle of a continuously growing U.S. labor market. None of the threats to the economy over the past several years have disrupted that central pattern. The shutdown, for example, caused ripple effects throughout the private sector, but companies and businesses also found ways to cope. Ben Herzon , an economist for Macroeconomic Advisers, a forecasting firm, said that as a result, the shutdowns economic impact might be more muted than simple economic models might suggest. The economy is resilient, Mr. Herzon said. People and businesses find a way to work around these disruptions. People want to buy stuff, and businesses want to find a way to make that happen. James Diana and his wife started JDs Canine Cruiser, a dog-walking and pet-sitting business in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, in 2012. The areas strong economy has allowed them to expand the business and bring on more contract employees, many of whom are at-home parents and others who might not find work in a less robust economy. Many of Mr. Dianas customers are federal employees or contractors, and the shutdown hit his business hard. He said cancellations in January were roughly double their normal level, costing him thousands of dollars in lost business. Government workers, he noted, will get back pay, but that wont help him. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday met with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at the White House, saying major progress was made in the latest round of U.S.-China trade talks. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, led the Chinese delegation for the two-day trade talks that concluded on Thursday in Washington. Liu delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Trump, in which Xi pointed out that China-U.S. relations are at a critical stage. Xi said when he and Trump met in Argentina last December, the two heads of state agreed to jointly advance the China-U.S. relationship featuring coordination, cooperation and stability. "According to the consensus we have reached, economic teams from both sides have since conducted intensive negotiations and achieved positive progress," said Xi. The Chinese leader said the two countries should, in the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, continue to try to meet each other half way and step up consultations, so as to reach a mutually beneficial agreement as early as possible. This, he said, will send a positive signal to the international community, promote the sound development of China-U.S. ties, and add impetus to the steady growth of the global economy. Xi expressed his readiness to keep in close touch with Trump through various means, and extended greetings from himself and his wife Peng Liyuan to Trump, First Lady Melania and their family members on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. On the China-U.S. trade talks, the Chinese vice premier said that teams from both sides have spared no time in implementing the important consensus between the two heads of state. He noted that during the latest round of talks, the two sides held candid, specific and constructive discussions about issues of common concern, which included trade balance, technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights and a two-way enforcement mechanism, as well as other issues of concern to the Chinese side. The talks made important progress for the current stage and laid foundation for further consultations at the next stage, said Liu. The two sides will maintain close communication and strive to reach an economic and trade agreement that serves the interests of both countries and both peoples as soon as possible on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, the vice premier said. Expressing appreciation of Xi's message, Trump asked Liu to convey cordial greetings to Xi and his wife from himself and First Lady Melania, and extended best wishes to the Chinese people for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Trump said that he cherishes his good personal relationship with Xi, and that U.S.-China relations have remained strong and kept moving forward under the guidance of the two heads of state. The latest round of economic and trade consultations between the two countries have made major progress, said Trump. He hoped that the two sides could reach a great deal as early as possible, which he believed is of great significance to both countries and the world at large. The president confirmed that a U.S. delegation headed by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will go to China in mid-February to continue the consultations. Trump said that he looks forward to meeting with Xi at an early date and witnessing together the historic moment when the two countries reach an agreement on economic and trade issues. My father said, during all the years I lived with him, that I was the ugliest boy he had ever seen, and I had absolutely no reason to doubt him. So wrote James Baldwin in 1976, and he repeated his fathers words often. He did have reason to doubt them though. They didnt jibe with my impression of the writers appearance as taken from a photograph on the cover of the 1955 paperback edition of Notes of a Native Son, which I owned and treasured when I was a teenager, and a copy of which youll find on display toward the start of the exhibition God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin at David Zwirner. I would have first seen that photo at some point in the early 1960s. Baldwin was African-American; I was a white kid in the process of working my way through the sociopolitical dynamics of all that through reading him. What I mainly saw in the photo, though, was a young man, slope-shouldered in a floppy sweater, looking warily self-contained, and emphatically un-butch. I could relate. As a young person, I was a constant, precocious reader, as he had been binging on Dickens at 11, Shakespeare at 12; that kind of thing. My wonkishness led me to make older friends; as a high school freshman I hung out with juniors and seniors, who would pass on literary contraband. And in, I think, 1962, one good friend, Nina Angelo, gave me a copy of Baldwins novel Giovannis Room, which had openly homosexual characters. CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI SCULPTURE: THE FILMS at the Museum of Modern Art (through Feb. 18). This show is built around works by the Romanian modernist (1876-1957) that have been longtime highlights of the museums own collection. But these days, can Brancusi still release our inner poet? The answer may lie in paying less attention to the sculptures themselves and more to Brancusis little-known and quite amazing films, projected at the entrance to the gallery throughout the duration of the exhibition. MoMA borrowed the series of video clips from the Pompidou Center in Paris. They give the feeling that Brancusi was less interested in making fancy museum objects than in putting new kinds of almost-living things into the world, and they convey the vital energy his sculptures were meant to capture. (Blake Gopnik) 212-708-9400, moma.org ROCHELLE FEINSTEIN: IMAGE OF AN IMAGE at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (through March 3). In her career survey, this wisecracking Bronx native proves that she can do just about anything with painting. She can chronicle history or tell a joke. She can alchemize linen, photographs, newspapers, cardboard and photocopies into art. She can teach you something about looking and life. A whiz with color, she sprays and squeezes paint, and stains with it. Several works feel like odes to color charts or to the color theory art students learn in school. A morbid strain runs through other works as Feinstein grapples with and battles the forces trying to shut down painting in favor of other media. (Martha Schwendener) 718-681-6000, bronxmuseum.org LUCIO FONTANA: ON THE THRESHOLD at the Met Breuer (through April 14). The art of this Argentine-Italian modernist looks a bit like it comes from another planet, and it might as well, given how seldom we see it in New York. The Met Breuer show, with single environments at the Met Fifth Avenue and El Museo del Barrio, is the artists first museum survey here in over 40 years. This wouldnt be especially notable plenty of his Latin American peers never get seen at all were Fontana, who died in 1968, not so influential a figure. The threshold in the title refers not only to the early phase of his career, which the Met Breuer show highlights, but also to his position as a forebear of contemporary art as we know it. Things we take for granted installation, new media and the poly-disciplinary impulse that defines so many 21st-century careers Fontana pioneered in the 1950s. (Holland Cotter) 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org THE JIM HENSON EXHIBITION at the Museum of the Moving Image. The rainbow connection has been established in Astoria, Queens, where this museum has opened a new permanent wing devoted to the career of Americas great puppeteer, who was born in Mississippi in 1936 and died, too young, in 1990. Henson began presenting the short TV program Sam and Friends before he was out of his teens; one of its characters, the soft-faced Kermit, was fashioned from his mothers old coat and would not mature into a frog for more than a decade. The influence of early variety television, with its succession of skits and songs, runs through Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, though Henson also spent the late 1960s crafting peace-and-love documentaries and prototyping a psychedelic nightclub. Young visitors will delight in seeing Big Bird, Elmo, Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef; adults can dig deep into sketches and storyboards and rediscover some old friends. (Farago) 718-784-0077, movingimage.us Retiring baby boomers, a technology skills gap and students less prepared for careers are cause for concern in todays rapidly changing workplace and emerging gig economy. As employers are scrambling to find candidates with the skills they need to fill jobs that didnt even exist five years ago, it is clear that career technical education has not kept pace with todays workforce demands. Originally developed to prepare high school students who were unlikely to go on to college for a trade like construction or welding, federal funding for vocational programs or CTE in high school passed in 1917, even before public education was required in every state. But more than 100 years later, a growing number of top employers from Google and Apple, to IBM and Ernst & Young are desperately trying to fill open positions. Were facing an estimated 55 million job openings by 2020 without the workforce to fill them. There is clearly a disconnect between what schools are offering and what employers need, and the skills gap continues to grow as a result. To fix this we need to deliver more career pathways to more students, at an earlier age. We can do this by leveraging innovative technology across a national infrastructure. A Region hospital is taking part in a national trial to determine the most effective ways to quit smoking. St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart is one of 18 hospitals nationwide, and the only from Northwest Indiana, in the study, which is being conducted by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health and the Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Centers of Excellence Network. The trial aims to find out the best smoking-cessation techniques to be given along with lung cancer screenings. St. Mary CEO Janice Ryba notes that many Northwest Indiana communities have above-average smoking rates, which her hospital tries to address through education, screening and the latest in treatment, including minimally invasive robotic surgery. The Centers for Disease Control reports that between 80 and 90 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses result from smoking, she stated. Tobacco cessation remains one of our most important tools in the fight against lung cancer." WASHINGTON President Donald Trump says "unity" will be the theme of his State of the Union address next week, and says he respects Stacey Abrams, who will give the Democratic response. Trump told reporters Thursday that he's familiar with Abrams from the 2018 Georgia governor's race, which she narrowly lost to Republican Brian Kemp. Trump said, "I hope she does a good job. I respect her." Trump said his speech next Tuesday will be sweeping "but part of it's going to be unity." Abrams will be the first black woman to deliver a Democratic response. Democrats chose her in part because she represents the future of the party and the black women who anchor it. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 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. MERRILLVILLE Fire officials returned to the site of Wednesday's fire that ravaged a warehouse to begin determining its cause. "Foul play is not suspected," Merrillville Fire Chief Ed Yerga said. At 3 p.m., as temps climbed to zero, Merrillville firefighters took an excavator to the scene and put out remaining "hot spots" in the wreckage, Yerga said. He said the investigation is still ongoing. Merrillville first responded at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday to an industrial park south of U.S. 30 and east of Interstate 65 to a fire at 9148 Louisiana St., which housed several businesses, including Vitner's Potato Chips and Stanley Steemer. Thick black smoke from the fire could be seen for miles Wednesday afternoon. Yerga said the fire started on the north side of the building. The cause is still under investigation. Firefighters were met with fire shooting through the roof of the commercial building and fought the blaze from ladder trucks. Fire Departments from Schererville, Munster, Hobart, Gary, St. John, Crown Point, Griffith and Lake Ridge assisted Merrillville in extinguishing the blaze. Firefighters and equipment were caked with ice from the mist of their water hoses in subzero cold. Just before 8 a.m. Central time, messages began rolling in to the Cafe Fresco Facebook page notes of encouragement from strangers across the country who were inspired by Zolfos acts of kindness. I just watched your story on CBS. I forever support you and your shop. I hope to visit your place one day, one person from New York said. If you ever end up in Rhode Island, our door is wide open, another said. Zolfo took a phone call, and then another, and then a third all from east-coasters asking if they could buy her coffee and how they could send money to the cafe. You cant believe how many emails Ive gotten in the last 15 minutes, Zolfo said before seeing the show herself. Everyones crying on the phone. Its making me nervous. A few Cafe Fresco regulars wandered into the cafe, seeing Zolfos car out front. Is it on yet? one man asked. Someone told me you made John Dickerson cry, another said. Not able to wait for the live central-time broadcast, Zolfo found the segment online. She watched the full 3-minute-and-13-second segment, smiling and shaking her head. If temperatures climb to the predicted 51 degrees by Monday, that would be a 70 degree difference in a four-day span, compared to Thursday morning's frosty minus 19 degree record temps. However, as a warm-up is underway, so is the possibility of flooding. On Friday businesses and residential buildings reported flooding due to issues with their pipes throughout the day. Red Lobster in Munster had water spurting from the ceiling, as seen in videos posted on social media. However, officials predict the Region's waterways shouldn't be too treacherous in the near future. We are aware with all of the melting and the frozen ground that rising water levels are a possibility, but we don't expect it to cause too much trouble according to our latest forecast information, Little Calumet River Basin Commission Executive Director Dan Repay said. Snow Thursday night into Friday led to gridlock on Northwest Indiana expressways Friday morning as police responded to dozens of slide-offs, spin-outs and other crashes. A backup on the Borman Expressway, which began about 3:30 a.m. Friday when three semitrailers jackknifed in the eastbound lanes near Indianapolis Boulevard, lasted well into late morning. VALPARAISO City Councilman Matt Murphy has filed as a Republican candidate for mayor, making official his November announcement of his plans to seek that office. Murphy said he has worked with Mayor Jon Costas as the the city's economic development director, and has served on the Board of Works and Redevelopment Commission to revitalize historic downtown Valparaiso. "Valparaiso is the star of Northwest Indiana," he said in a prepared statement. "Our community is blessed to have great public schools, a fantastic university and a thriving downtown. With continued partnerships, we will work to bring high-paying jobs and attract more middle-class families to live and work in Valparaiso." Murphy is a lifelong resident of Valparaiso. He graduated from Valparaiso High School and Indiana University before getting his MBA at Valparaiso University. He is the president of Valparaiso-based Jifco Products Inc. "I am grateful to be able to call Valparaiso my familys home, and I am excited to continue the great work Mayor (Jon) Costas has started and keep moving Valparaiso in the right direction," he said. "I have called Valparaiso home my entire life and want the next generation to choose our city as the place to live, work and raise a family." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. The appeals court, in its 3 to 0 ruling, said Bradford's decision to deny Qualls' request for counsel was "clearly improper" under the U.S. Constitution's right to counsel guarantee for criminal defendants. "Sentencing is a critical stage of the proceedings at which a defendant is entitled to representation by counsel," wrote Judge Paul Mathias for the appellate court. Beyond the denial of counsel, which the court said alone would be sufficient justification to reverse Qualls' sentence, the appellate judges said the need was even greater given Bradford's decision to resentence her at all. The appeals court observed that after a criminal sentence is pronounced, jurisdiction over the defendant is transferred to the Indiana Department of Correction. "In the present case, the trial court cited no statutory authority for its alteration of its original sentencing order, and we are aware of none," Mathias said. "Nor did the trial court's original sentencing order reserve any authority to modify the sentence at a later date." "Accordingly, we agree with Qualls and the state that the trial court exceeded its authority when it revised Qualls' original sentence." The appeals court directed Bradford to issue a new sentencing order that matches the original prison term he imposed on Qualls: three years at the Department of Correction and three years on probation. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Flash British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told the BBC "extra time" may be needed to finalize the legislation around the country's exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, which is scheduled for March 29. With two months to go, the country has still not managed to agree divorce terms from the other 27 EU member states, and the proposed exit agreement Prime Minister Theresa May managed to hammer out with EU leaders has been heavily rejected by members of Parliament back in London. May says she wants more talks with European leaders, but the EU has made it clear they have no interest in more talks, saying the deal rejected in Westminster is the best one Britain can get. Downing Street insists the March 29 deadline remains in place, but previously, the leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom had said that the EU may be willing to give the United Kingdom a "couple of extra weeks". Now Hunt is the most prominent figure yet to have spoken about the possibility of an extension to Article 50, the process by which the UK will leave. "It is true that if we ended up approving the deal in the days before March 29, then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation," he told the Today program. "But if we are able to make progress sooner, then that might not be necessary. We can't know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen." The main stumbling block continues to be the Northern Ireland backstop. This is a so-called insurance policy to ensure there is no return to a hard border, with checks on people and goods crossing, where Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, meets the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. This is the UK's only land frontier with an EU country. On Tuesday, MPs voted for May to seek further discussions on the backstop, but even before she had announced her intention to do so, the EU had already made it clear that as far as it was concerned, there were no more negotiations to be had over the issue. Hunt called this situation "challenging" and said the government was "not ruling out any of these potential solutions" to the issue. Meanwhile, in a bizarre turn of events, the editor of the BBC's Six O'Clock news Paul Royall has blamed "human error" after a script on Wednesday evening's program which referred to May flying to Brussels for talks was accompanied by video footage of Spitfire fighter planes taking off during World War II. Those pictures were part of an unconnected news story about a historic aerodrome. INDIANAPOLIS It's not quite winning the lottery, but Hoosiers last year collectively got back $61 million from forgotten bank accounts, stock dividends, insurance proceeds, product refunds, rental deposits and other unclaimed property. The Indiana attorney general's office, which administers the state's unclaimed property system, said that was $2.1 million more than Hoosiers received in 2017. "We take this role very seriously and work aggressively every single day to return unclaimed property to its rightful owners," said Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr. Hoosiers can conduct a free search for any unclaimed property attached to their names at the website: indianaunclaimed.gov. Last year, the attorney general's office upgraded its internal processing system, so Hoosiers who find unclaimed property listed on the website can file an electronic request for their money. Staffers from the attorney general's office also hold unclaimed property events across the state throughout the year where Hoosiers can receive search assistance and immediately file a claim. But despite returning $61 million last year, the unclaimed property keeps pouring in. VALPARAISO A 13-year-old was being held at Porter County Juvenile Detention Center following a Siri interaction gone wrong. The boy allegedly said to Siri, iPhone's voice assistant, I am going to shoot up a school," according to a news release from the Valparaiso Police Department. Siri then replied with a list of multiple Valparaiso schools near his location. The boy, identified as a Chesterton Middle School student, posted a screenshot of the inquiry and response on social media, which was reported to Chesterton police by the boy's social media contacts. Chesterton police then contacted the Valparaiso Police Department, which launched an investigation into the possible threat. Valparaiso officers determined the boy made no direct threat to a specific person, school or school system and that he had no access to weapons ultimately stating the picture was posted on social media as a joke. The threat is not believed to be credible at this time; however, these types of communications are taken very seriously by the Valparaiso Police Department and our community, police stated in a news release. We continue to work with the Valparaiso Community Schools to ensure the safety of the students and staff. The boy is being detained at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center and has been charged with intimidation, according to the news release. Valparaiso and Chesterton police said the incident remains under investigation, according to the news release. Love 2 Funny 11 Wow 6 Sad 8 Angry 14 VALPARAISO A second boy is in custody in the wake of threatening social media posts involving photos of weapons and the statement, "I'm going to shoot up a school." The 14-year-old Duneland area boy "acknowledged the photographs that were taken but denied involvement in making any such threats," according to Porter police. Police believe the photographs of the weapons may have been taken in the fall, but do not believe the boy had access to weapons when he was taken into custody. Also being held is a 13-year-old Chesterton Middle School student who is accused of saying to Siri, iPhone's voice assistant, "I am going to shoot up a school," according to Valparaiso police. Siri replied with a list of multiple Valparaiso schools near his location, and the boy posted a screenshot of the inquiry and response on social media, police said. The posts were reported to police. Police in both Porter and Valparaiso said the boys made no direct threats to any specific schools. Valparaiso police said the 13-year-old boy claimed to have posted the picture on social media as a joke. GARY A Gary councilwoman injured in a domestic incident Wednesday allegedly at the hands of longtime political ally Jamal Washington said she wants to thank everyone who has sent her "prayers, well wishes and support." Im doing OK, and I survived, LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, told The Times on Thursday. Sources close to the investigation told The Times the alleged incident lasted nearly 16 hours, including Sparks-Wade being held against her will and being battered. Washington, a former Lake County councilman and current Gary City Council candidate, is accused of taking Sparks-Wade's phone during the hourslong confinement. She eventually was able to make contact with a friend for help early Wednesday, and the friend called 911, sources said. Though not yet formally charged, Washington, 45, is being held on probable cause for domestic battery, criminal confinement and intimidation in connection with Wednesday's incident, jail records show. Lake County prosecutors said they expect to file formal charges Friday. The incident prompted a top Gary city official to consider banning Washington from City Hall, pending an outcome in the case. VALPARAISO Nearly a year and a half after Phillip Kress fled during his child molesting trial, the 30-year-old was sentenced Friday to 10 years behind bars for that offense and an additional two years for the escape and a child pornography charge. Kress, who declined to comment before sentencing, later announced he will be appealing the child molesting conviction. Deputy Prosecutor Rebecca Buitendorp had requested enhancing the sentence on the child molesting charge from six to 10 years, arguing it was warranted because the female victim was just 5 at the time of the offense and was in a position of care under Kress. Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer cited both concerns when announcing the sentence. "What you did, there is no excuse," he said. Kress pleaded guilty Friday to the felony escape charge and one of several child pornography charges that were pending against him. He was given one year behind bars on each count. A jury found Kress guilty in October 2017 on a felony count of child molesting a day after he left the trial at lunch reportedly to go to the hospital, complaining about kidney stones, court bailiff Tracy Goodpaster said at the time. Sparks-Wade told The Times she is doing OK and thankful to have survived the ordeal. Supporter-turned-accuser For years, Sparks-Wade has been unwavering in her support for Washington through his domestic violence convictions, going so far as favorably testifying on his behalf late last year when he faced a jury trial for battering a 24-year-old female cousin. She posted bond for him in that case, and also sent The Times a video through Facebook after his arrest, which purported to show Washington, who is off camera, asking the cousin to leave the house, contrary to allegations he held her there against her will. Moments after the jury issued a verdict in that case, the two even appeared in a Nov. 14 Facebook video together where Washington claimed the charges were brought as part of a conspiracy against him. Court records filed Friday, however, show it was less than a month later that she alleged he abused her, she told authorities. Sparks-Wade said she didnt report him to authorities then, but on Dec. 13, he allegedly smacked her face with an open hand and threatened to stab her in the neck, the affidavit states. The Towle Theater in downtown Hammond will stage the Midwest premiere of the musical "Swing State," a musical about tolerance and not the electoral politics the name suggests. Named after Marcus Towle, one of Hammond's city fathers, the theater at 5205 Hohman Ave. will lead off its 16th season with the play by Dana Yeaton and Andy Mitton. "The Towle has continued to bring fresh new works to Northwest Indiana and 2019 is no different," the Towle Theatre said in a news release. "Three out of the four shows this season are premieres. Jeff Caseys vision, when he opened the Towle in 2003, was to seek out shows that were not being produced in Northwest Indiana and to challenge their audiences." Casey will direct "Swing State," which will be performed Feb. 22-24, March 1-3, and March 8-10. It features a contemporary score that reflects influences as diverse as Stephen Sondheim, George Gershwin, Ben Folds and Brian Wilson, mixing in "hints of rock, gospel, and folk." The New York Times described it as "an odd little show" that "is not a farce about elections but instead a drama about personal loss and childhood trauma." "Bend It Like Beckham" director Gurinder Chadha knows a little bit about being a Bruce Springsteen fan, having seen The Boss at Wembley Stadium in 1984 where she proudly stood atop her chair and sang her heart out to his songs. So when she came across Guardian journalist Sarfraz Manzoor's memoir about being a British Muslim boy who finds inspiration, comfort and understanding of his own circumstances in Springsteen's lyrics, she knew it would be perfect for a film. Ten years later, the 1987-set "Blinded by the Light," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Sunday night to a warm response for the feel-good film that's packed to the brim with 17 Springsteen anthems. As the lights went down, the crowd in the Eccles Theater whispered rumors of a possible Springsteen appearance in Park City. He wasn't there and was never supposed to be, but as Chadha explained, he "didn't want to take away from the movie." Springsteen gave his blessing to Chadha and Manzoor to do the film back in 2010. They had both gone to the red carpet for the premiere of the rockumentary "The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town" hoping to maybe get a picture with him. Springsteen recognized Manzoor and came over to tell him that he'd read his book. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday said China was ready to tap more cooperative potentials and enhance all-round cooperation with Qatar to benefit the two peoples. The remark came as Li met with visiting Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Hailing Qatar as China's important cooperation partner in the Middle East and the Gulf, Li said relations between the two countries had enjoyed healthy and stable development, with cooperation in trade, investment and other fields growing rapidly. Li said China was ready to tap more cooperative potential with Qatar and establish a long-term and stable strategic cooperation partnership in energy. As a developing country, China attracts the most foreign investment and is willing to open basic industry to Qatar to achieve mutual benefit, Li said, calling on the two countries to deepen security cooperation to safeguard regional and world peace. China is ready to work with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to start the next round of FTA negotiation as soon as possible and will strive for an early agreement, the premier said. Tamim said that faced with current international political and economic situation, Qatar and China should further enhance cooperation, which was also the purpose of his visit. Qatar is optimistic about China's economy and is ready to work with China to explore new cooperation areas, said Tamim, adding that Qatar hopes to seek more investment opportunities in China and is ready to work with China and other parties to promote the FTA negotiation. He also expressed appreciation of China's active and constructive role in the Gulf region and Arab world, saying Qatar was looking forward to China's greater role in the future. We'll start with Best Foreign Film for a reason: No foreign film has ever won Best Picture, but that could change this year. "Roma" tied with "The Favourite" for the most nominations with 10 and is a lock to win this category. It's also the current betting favorite to win Best Picture. Its only competition in this category is Poland's "Cold War," but that's running a distant second. Alfonso Cuaron's semi-autobiographical story of a year in the life of a Mexico City housekeeper and the family she works for is gorgeously filmed in black and white and is a technical masterpiece. It could also make history with its status as a Netflix release with extremely limited actual theatrical presence, which would be another first if it wins Best Picture. The other three candidates here, "Shoplifters" (Japan), "Capernaum" (Lebanon) and "Never Look Away" (Germany) all are worth your time if you seek them out and can tolerate subtitles; they can be found in the city. The South Shore Line's service suspension will continue Friday as a result of a Wednesday night freight train derailment that damaged Metra Electric District infrastructure in Illinois. The South Shore Line joins Metra's tracks in south Chicago. While the derailment of the CN freight train took place south of there, the damage delayed other repairs that were made necessary by the mid-week deep freeze that suspended service on both railroads Wednesday and Thursday. The CN derailment, just south of Metra's Harvey station, "damaged the structures supporting the wires that provide power to the line, as well as two electrical substations that supply power to that section of track," Metra said Thursday. "This is in addition to the damage caused to the overhead wires at multiple points along the line Wednesday by the severe cold. Repairs to that damage continued Thursday." The South Shore said in its announcement that it hopes to be able to restore service on Saturday between Millennium Station and Michigan City Carroll Avenue. Bus service will be offered from there to South Bend. "However, Saturday service is not a certainty at this time," according to the South Shore. "Metra advises that information about weekend service will be announced Friday." Three upcoming wind farm projects will help NIPSCO move toward its goal of being coal-free by the end of 2028, the company announced Friday. Wind farms in Montgomery, White and Benton and Warren counties will add nearly 300 turbines and 800 megawatts of electricity generating capacity to the state's landscape, and NIPSCO has entered agreements to acquire power from each. The projects involve partnerships between the Merrillville-based utility and the private companies developing the farms. The agreements resulted from a request NIPSCO issued last year for proposals for alternative energy generation. Were excited for the opportunity to add more home-grown renewable energy in Indiana, NIPSCO President Violet Sistovaris said in the company's announcement. In addition to the economic benefits that projects like these add, the transition were making in our electric generation equates to an estimated $4 billion in cost-savings for customers over the long-term. Dogs, cats held up by court case now up for adoption Flash Lebanon announced on Thursday the formation of a new government, breaking a nine-month political deadlock in the country, local TV Channel LBCI reported. In a televised address, Fouad Fleifel, secretary general of the council of ministers, said Lebanon finally succeeded in forming a 30-member national unity government headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri with all main political parties represented as promised. Hariri's Future Movement will be allocated six ministers, the Free Patriotic Movement 10 ministers, the Lebanese Forces four ministers, Hezbollah three ministers, Amal Movement three ministers, Progressive Socialist Party two ministers, and one minister for Marada and the Consultative Gathering respectively. "We finally succeeded in forming a government. Our duty, first of all, is to apologize to all the Lebanese for the delay in forming the government," said Hariri following the announcement of the new cabinet. He guaranteed that all ministers will work together to overcome the financial, economic, social and security challenges facing the country. "The government has an agenda that cannot be delayed further and no one can ignore the problems facing this country," the new prime minister noted. Hariri also emphasized the need to implement real and serious reforms. "The international community has pledged to offer 11 billion U.S. dollars for Lebanon but the fund cannot be delivered without the implementation of real financial and economic reforms," he said. Lebanon has struggled to form a government since Hariri was designated Prime Minister last May following parliamentary elections, mainly because of the differences among the parties over their representation in the new government. Hezbollah, a Shiite political party, and the Free Patriotic Movement, founded by Lebanese President Michel Aoun and currently headed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, had demanded to grant cabinet representation to a group of six Sunni lawmakers who are known as the Consultative Gathering and not affiliated with Hariri's Future Movement. The Consultative Gathering finally succeeded in having Hassan Mourad, son of one of the six Sunni lawmakers, appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Trade and its representative in the new government. Indianapolis, IN (46208) Today More clouds than sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 52F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. WASHINGTONHigh stake trade talks between the United States and China started Jan. 30 in Washington in a bid to resolve differences and reach an agreement before the March deadline. The U.S. and Chinese officials met at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building located next to the White House, opening two days of high-level talks. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer leads the American delegation, while the Chinese team is headed by Vice Premier Liu He. President Donald Trump will also meet Liu on Jan. 31. As part of the truce deal between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in early December last year, China agreed to deliver structural changes that Washington has been demanding for years. Both sides agreed to start talks on reforms with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft, and opening the Chinese market to U.S. services as well as agriculture. In an effort to ease negotiations in Washington, Beijing announced that it would pass a new foreign investment law to end forced technology transfers and other restrictions imposed by the state. The announcement came hours before the start of two-day talks. State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the National Peoples Congress would vote on the new investment law, when it holds its first annual session on March 5. Once adopted, the unified law will replace three existing laws on Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, non-equity joint ventures (or contractual joint ventures) and wholly foreign-owned enterprises, stated the Xinhua report. The report also said that the law would help attract more foreign investment to China, protect foreign investors legal rights and interests, and provide a favorable business environment. The draft legislation, which was first reviewed by the NPCs Standing Committee in December is said to ban compulsory technology transfer, guarantee equal treatment of foreign companies, and protect their intellectual property rights. According to critics, however, some of the details of the draft law are vague and hence Beijings move will not play a significant role in the negotiations. The Chinese Communist Partys expedited review of the foreign investment law intended to serve as a bargaining chip for trade negotiations, according to Xie Tian, a professor at the University of South Carolina. The most crucial issue is that no matter what the CCP does, the international community does not believe it, he told NTD, a media partner of The Epoch Times. Delivering Structural Reforms China uses various tactics to gain economic advantage, such as forcing foreign investors to form joint ventures with local partners and hand over their most sensitive technologies. The regime also pressures foreign firms to relocate their production and R&D facilities in exchange for market access. Trump took a tough stance with China last year to end Beijings decades-long protectionist and trade-distorting practices. He imposed tariffs and investment restrictions on China last year. Beijing, in response, retaliated with tariffs against U.S. products. To stop an escalating trade war, both sides declared a 90-day ceasefire on tariffs on Dec. 1, at the end of a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Argentina. As part of the deal, Trump agreed to postpone the planned increase in the tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. If both sides fail to reach an agreement by March 1, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will be raised from 10 percent to 25 percent. It would be hard for both sides to a strike a deal soon that addresses most difficult structural issues, according to Marie Kasperek, deputy director of global business and economics program at Atlantic Council. However, she expects a partial agreement that will be sufficient to avoid an escalation of the crisis for the short term. By March 1, China may commit to opening its market significantly to U.S. products especially in the agricultural sector and delivering foreign investment reform that ends forced technology transfer, she said. If there is a deal it will be mostly focusing on economic wins for the United States and an agreement to commit to further dialogue, she added. According to Scott Kennedy, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, catching up on the reform and opening agenda for Beijing may take time. However, China can make some meaningful progress immediately to break the ice, he wrote in a report. These immediate changes would build goodwill and serve as a starting point for structural reforms to be implemented over years to come on a feasible schedule, he said. From The Epoch Times Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High near 95F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low near 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Sheriff Jerome Kramer elaborated on Thursday about his hopes to expand the Lincoln County Detention Center and described other updates he hopes to bring to the jail without new construction. At a Jan. 22 Lincoln County commissioners meeting, Kramer expressed his wish to expand the jail to an additional 60 beds. The project would cost a maximum of $5 million, low enough that the issue would not have to go before voters, he said. Commissioners did not take a formal vote after Kramers presentation. He hopes to start requesting updates that dont require construction within the next month. With 163 beds currently, inmates are housed based on various classifications: low, medium and high risk. Females are housed separately from male inmates. Weve always got beds, but it makes it a little hard to classify sometimes, Kramer said. There are an additional five cells for inmates on suicide watch and inmates who cannot function around other people, Kramer said Thursday. He called this behavioral segregation. Last year, the jail housed an average of 120 inmates per day. On any given day, about eight were in the suicide watch/behavioral segregation pods. Kramer hopes to double the number of these pods. NETs popular television series Nebraska Stories will continue with new episodes throughout February beginning at 8 p.m. CT next Thursday. Enjoyed by viewers across the state for its engaging storytelling and beautiful visuals, Nebraska Stories explores the art, nature, food, science, history and people that make Nebraska special. Next weeks episode will feature River of Surprises, the 35-day canoe journey of photographer Mike Forsberg and filmmaker Pete Stegen on the Platte River; Hometown Husker, a profile of Nebraska volleyball player and Malcolm native Hayley Densberger; and Guardians of the Baton, the story of how two Lincoln women returned composer Richard Wagners baton to his home in Germany. Other story highlights in February include: War Quilts showcases brilliantly colored antique wool quilts made by British soldiers, displayed at Lincolns International Quilt Study Center and Museum this past summer. Drilling for Perfection features a group of young cadets at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who have restarted the National Society of Pershing Rifles. The Big Sounds of Bobby Layne profiles big-band orchestra leader Bobby Layne. New images of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+ have been leaked showing the smartphones in a range of three different colors. The colors are expected to be for handsets for the European market: There is black, a metallic green, and white with a pearlescent effect. The upcoming flagship smartphones are also expected to come in blue at some point in the future. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! Especially English native speakers welcome! English-Chinese-Translator - Details here There have been so many leaks concerning the Galaxy S10 that it almost feels like the smartphone has been out on the market for some time now. However, the devices, which are expected to be revealed to the world on February 20, have apparently only just gone into mass production, so theres still some waiting time left yet. But at least now we know what colors the variants for the European market will sport. Unsurprisingly, there are black versions of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+ that should appeal to users who arent attracted by striking colors on their smartphone of choice. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, Samsung is offering a metallic green with a hint of blue to it (or metallic blue with a hint of green if you prefer). Arguably the standout color chosen for the Galaxy S10 is what has been called Prism White. This choice offers a gradient effect with white, purple, and blue showing in the renders leaked by WinFuture. However, it seems Samsung fans wanting to buy a brand-new Galaxy S10 or S10+ wont always be limited to picking one of these three color options. According to a report, blue handsets will eventually make their way to the European market, and there is even mention of a yellow Samsung Galaxy S10E that will undoubtedly be brilliant, if not to everyones taste. Check out the color options in the images below. Flash The UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa on Thursday after a four-day visit to end a disagreement over the implementation of a peace deal reached in Stockholm in December last year. "Deeply concerned about recent hostilities in Yemen, the special envoy calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and de-escalate tensions," Griffiths said on Twitter after departing Sanaa. "What we need now is speedy redeployments according to an RCC (redeployment coordination committee) plan," he added. During his visit, Griffiths discussed with the Houthi leaders the ways to end the disagreement with their foe, the exiled government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. They also talked about withdrawal of both rival forces from the country's port city of Hodeidah. He also visited rebel-held Hodeidah, the main lifeline entry for Yemen's most food imports and international aid on the Red Sea. Griffiths inspected the cease-fire between the Houthi fighters and the government forces, which have advanced and recaptured the southern and eastern outskirts of the port city. The UN envoy has been shuttling between the Yemeni rival parties in Sanaa and the Saudi capital Riyadh to rescue the peace deal. The deal was the major breakthrough into the four-year devastating civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the impoverished Arab country to the brink of starvation. Under the deal that went into force on Dec. 18, 2018, and focused on Hodeidah as the first step in trust-building, the cease-fire between the warring parties has largely held despite some skirmishes. However, both rival parties have so far failed to withdraw their forces from the city and its outskirts and kept trading accusations of breaching the truce. The UN said the discussions have been stalled because of different interpretations of the Stockholm Agreement over who would control key points of Hodeidah during the partial cease-fire. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north. On Wednesday, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said the Arab coalition "is prepared to use more calibrated force to prod Houthi compliance with Stockholm Agreement." In response, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi highest revolutionary committee, said "Hodeidah is not easy." "It is either the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement or the hell which is waiting for the invaders and their mercenaries," al-Houthi tweeted. Napoleon, OH (43545) Today Windy with showers early then cloudy in the afternoon. High near 75F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. HARRISBURG StateRep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming) joined House Republican leaders, Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Alleghany), Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and Policy Committee Chairman Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) on Wednesday, in calling on the state court system to leave certain legal reforms in place that prevented a health care crisis in 2002 from worsening. The state court system is looking to repeal one of its rules on medical malpractice lawsuits, which doctors say will cause their insurance rates to skyrocket and force them to increase prices or close up shop and retire. They worry that patients will lose their trusted doctors and that many will be traveling long distances for care. Medical innovation and the recruitment of physicians and specialists would be almost impossible, as it started to become in the early 2000s. Health care providers joined lawmakers in calling for a public hearing to examine the negative impact that such an action would have on the states doctors and patients. A video of the press conference can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb-o5YVZMJY&t=8s . It is absolutely incredible to think that the court is considering such a plan after all of the progress that has been made on this issue during the past 17 years, Wheeland said. Pennsylvania is known for its world-renowned doctors and specialists and it would be a shame for us to lose them to neighboring states, especially as we face an aging population that is in great need of health care. In the early 2000s, medical malpractice civil lawsuits from all over Pennsylvania were being steered to Philadelphia for trial, even if none of the alleged malpractice actually took place there. This is due to the fact that Philadelphia juries routinely awarded substantially higher payouts compared to other counties. Many doctors, including family practice, OB-GYNs, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and other specialists, retired early, closed entirely or moved to other states. That led to higher health care costs overall and patients losing their physicians and specialists. Access to health care suffered statewide. The legislative and judicial branches acted together to address this crisis. In 2002, the Legislature enacted a series of legal reforms relating to medical malpractice liability insurance. One of those reforms prevented plaintiffs lawyers in medical malpractice cases from shopping around for a court venue. Then in 2003, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted a rule that mirrors one of those reforms, so that medical malpractice cases must be brought in the county where the alleged malpractice occurred. House Republicans worked with the courts to put an end to the medical malpractice crisis and their reforms saved our Commonwealth from a staggering doctor shortage and out-of-control prices for consumers, Wheeland said. I hope that the courts listen to these doctors and the public and that they leave these reforms in place. I look forward to the public hearing and encourage residents of the 83rd District to make their voices heard. Residents can visit PAGOPPolicy.com before Feb. 22, 2019 to leave a comment about how a reversal of this rule could hurt their health care. The General Assembly can submit comments on the pending change until Feb. 22. The public hearing, to be held by the House Majority Policy Committee, will take place on Feb. 12, 2019 at St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem so that the committee can hear more about the negative impact the repeal of this rule could have on the health care community and on patients. WILLIAMSPORT -- A Philadelphia area man was arrested this month for allegedly trafficking narcotics in the area of Cherry Street and Park Avenue in Williamsport, which police note is a high narcotics trafficking area. Damien T. Washington, 40, was driving a rental car in that area around 6 p.m. on January 16, 2019 and was pulled over by Williamsport Bureau of Police for a traffic violation. Washington told Officer Clinton Gardner he comes to the area frequently to visit family, according to the affidavit. Gardner noted that Washington was visibly shaking and breathing rapidly. When asked, Washington told Gardner that he did not have a weapon and he consented to a pat down. Gardner noted in the affidavit that he smelled marijuana on Washington, and he allegedly claimed that he came from a house where people were smoking it. Washington consented to a search of the vehicle and Gardner found gutted cigars, pieces of copper mesh and a second cell phone (the first one was on Washington's person), according to the affidavit. The phone in the vehicle rang constantly during the investigation, Gardner noted. Gardner also found $703 in cash, mostly in large denominations. Washington was handcuffed and taken to police headquarters. Gardner noticed that Washington cleared his throat several times while they were en route. When they arrived at headquarters, Gardner asked Washington to open his mouth and he saw a clear plastic bag of crack cocaine underneath his tongue which he made him spit out, according to the affidavit. Charges of possession with intent to deliver, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia were filed at the office of District Magistrate William Solomon. His case was waived for court. WILLIAMSPORT Honoring a long-time donor, campaign volunteer, and a past board member, the Lycoming County United Way (LCUW) has selected Diane L. Stine to receive the organizations highest award, the Douglas C. Dickey Humanitarian Award, which will be presented at the organizations annual meeting and awards event on April 18, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Downtown, 100 Pine Street, Williamsport. The award is presented annually to individuals whose dedication, commitment and outstanding leadership have made a major contribution to the welfare of Lycoming County. Presented since 1947, the award was renamed in 1997 to honor the memory of the late LCUW President, Douglas C. Dickey, who was among those lost in the crash of TWA Flight 800. As a past award recipient, I am honored to welcome my friend Diane to a group of people who have dedicated their lives to service in our community and to our organization, reflected Ron Frick, President of the Lycoming County United Way. Diane has been a supporter for decades and has served our resource development, community impact efforts and our Board for that entire time. Diane and her family have always been in our corner and we are grateful for her leadership in so many ways. Stine, and her mom Evelyn Free, are most known for their work on the LCUW Basket Bingo, held annually at the Pennsdale Civic Center. Over a period of ten years the event raised almost $100,000 for the organizations mission and grant making efforts to program partners in our community. But holding the event was just the icing on the cake. Stine and her mom worked tirelessly for almost a year before each event, purchasing Longaberger baskets and collecting items to fill them, investing numerous hours and thousands of their own funds to assure that all the proceeds were available to the United Way. The fundraiser was just a fun way Stine showed her commitment, leadership and heart for her community and the LCUW. She started her service with LCUW as a campaign volunteer in the Pacesetter Division, helping leadership get workplace campaigns started early, months before the formal campaign began. Recognizing her leadership, then campaign chair Frick, asked her to chair the retail section of the employee division of the campaign. Frick reflected, Diane was always willing to help without really taking any credit. She understood the value of helping others and just pitched in. Recognizing her commitment, she was asked to lead the employee division for a year and joined the Funds Distribution Committee around that same time; a group she served until 2017, serving as a co-chair of one of the panels charged with making grant recommendations. Dianes commitment to helping others in our community was evident during her years of service on the Funds Distribution Steering Committee. Her passion and insight proved very valuable in our efforts to effectively and responsibly allocate the funds which had been raised each year," said Don Shade, Chair of the LCUW Community Impact Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. In 2005, Stine was appointed to the LCUW Board of Directors, where she served two terms, and ten years later was recognized as an outstanding campaign volunteer with the Douglas C. Shangraw Memorial Volunteer Award, which will also be awarded at the annual meeting. While serving on the Board, Stine recognized that workplace campaigns were facing challenges and the United Way was dependent on them for almost 60% of its revenue. In 2008, she and her mom started the labor of love and the Basket Bingo was born. Starting slow and building over ten years, the final year of the event raised almost $20,000 for the organization. While we continue to depend on workplace campaigns for a majority of our revenue, special events like basket bingo helped to bolster that revenue and provide for programs which need our support, Frick said. Diane and her mom are special people who recognized that this event was something the community would love and appealed to a different group of donors, many who were retired or not affiliated with a workplace campaign. The event ended after ten years after LCUW could not use the venue any longer and Stine and her mother decided to move on to other commitments including additional job responsibilities and family. Several members of the nominating committee for the award, past recipient themselves, described Stine as an everyday humanitarian who should be recognized for her untiring dedication to those needing a hand up. All agreed that for her almost 18-year commitment to LCUW and her community, she should be recognized with this honor. Stine has been employed by L3 Technologies for 19 years and currently serves as Procurement Supervisor. She is the proud mom of two children, two step sons, one step daughter, and ten grandchildren. We hope the community will come out and celebrate our accomplishments as an organization and recognize employees, companies and volunteers who make us who we are as an organization, said Becca Slocum, Director, Marketing & Communications, who is planning the event with staff and board member Patti Jackson-Gehris, Vice President of Marketing and Development for UPMC Susquehanna. For the second year in a row, thanks to the generosity of past Dickey recipient George Tsunis and his wife Olga, program partners will be given two tickets to the event free of charge, and all net proceeds will be used to support LCUW programs. Programs are again be printed by Impact Advertising & Video at no cost. Tickets to the April 18 event are $25/person and can be purchased by calling the Lycoming County United Way office, 570-323-9448 or via email at bslocum@lcuw.org. Checks should be made payable to Lycoming County United Way. Both checks and credit cards can also be accepted in advance or at the door the night of the event. Norman, OK (73070) Today Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. Cooler. High 77F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Thursday offered some reprieve, and even warmer temperatures are expected today and into the weekend. Todays high is 38 degrees, with Saturdays high near 46 though theres a chance of rain and flurries in the morning, according to the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska. Sunday is forecast to hit 57, before giving way to a chance of rain and snow overnight. Looking back at the cold of Wednesday, in the near-record cold that gripped the region Scott Demers was near death when found along the bank of Carter Lake, according to emergency dispatchers and a police report. Demers, 49, of Grand Island, suffered the most severe case of exposure of the half-dozen cases reported by Omaha-Council Bluffs area hospitals Wednesday. Most residents across the metro area hunkered down to wait out the cold. Homeless shelters overflowed. Local utilities reported near-record demand as people cranked up their furnaces, and house-bound students and families turned on their computers and gadgets. School and mail delivery were canceled. Omahas trash collection was suspended and will run a day late the rest of the week. The Lewis Central Community School District Board of Education has selected three finalists in its search for someone to replace Superintendent Mark Schweer, who will retire on June 30. The finalists were chosen after the board conducted video interviews with nine semifinalists Monday in closed session. Those candidates were picked from an original pool of 28 applicants. All of the finalists seemed capable, said Dorene Scheffel, board president. Reviewing each resume, responses to questions asked of references and the 25-minute video interview to answer eight questions, I believe each candidate has the experience and knowledge to lead Lewis Central, she said. Our goal has always been student achievement and each child succeeding. We found that goal in each candidate. Finalists include Dr. Eric Knost, superintendent of Rockwood School District in St. Louis, Missouri, Nicole Kooiker, superintendent of the Ottumwa Community School District and Dr. Jeffrey Geihs, associate superintendent of Clark County School District in Las Vegas, according to an update from the board and Grundmeyer Leader Search. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Fe y Esperanza (Faith and Hope) United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, is handicap accessible and open to the public. Membership in the church is not required to participate in any activities. Tonight everyone will meet for prayer and Bible study at 7 p.m. The Rev. Humberto Gonzalez invites everyone to our bilingual Sunday worship service (in Spanish and English) at 12:30 p.m., accompanied by our praise band. The youth group will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. Call 712-323-3124 for more information. The pastor can be reached at 712-828-1340. The church is on Facebook at Fe y Esperanza UMC. Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, will hold worship with Communion will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship and coffee at 10:30 and a mental health support group meeting at 11. On Monday, Communion will be held at Midlands Living Center at 11 a.m. Tai Chi will also be held at 11 a.m. On Tuesday, Girl Scouts will meet in the community room at 5:30 p.m., and the boy scouts in youth center at 7. On Wednesday, Mission Action Quilters will meet at 9:30 a.m.; church dinner will be held at 6 p.m., adult study and Kidz Kamp will begin at 6:45, worship will be held in community room at 7:30. On Thursday, adult study will begin at 9:30 a.m., Tai Chi will begin at 11; Game Day will begin at 1 p.m., choir rehearsal will start at 6:30 followed by DaBand rehearsal at 7:30. The church office is closed on Friday. On Feb. 8, the potluck will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a showing of the movie The House with a Clock in Its Walls at 6:45. On Feb. 9, Girl Scouts will meet at 4 p.m. On Feb. 10, worship with Communion will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship and coffee at 10:30 and Confirmation at 11. Visit the church online at emanuelcb.org or facebook.com/emanuellutherancbia. Flash Britain, France and Germany announced on Thursday the creation of a new mechanism for facilitating trade with Iran in order to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. Foreign ministers of the three European countries, known as E3, said in a joint statement that they have set up an Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges, or INSTEX, to support legitimate European trade with Iran, focusing initially on the sectors most essential to the Iranian population - such as pharmaceutical, medical devices and agri-food goods. "The creation of INSTEX is a major first step taken by E3 countries today," said the statement, adding that "the operationalisation of INSTEX will follow a step-by-step approach." But INSTEX is not yet operational, according to the statement, which also vowed the INSTEX will function under the highest international standards with regards to anti-money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism, as well as compliance with the European Union and United Nations sanctions. INSTEX aims in the long term to be open to economic operators from third countries that wish to trade with Iran and the E3 would continue to explore how to achieve this objective, according to the statement, suggesting other countries in and out of Europe could take advantage of it. It is a reflection of the E3's commitment and continued efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 2231. The Iran nuclear deal was inked by Iran with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States under the Obama presidency. But the Trump administration later pulled the U.S. out of the deal and imposed its sanctions on Iran. Iran has been credited as fulfilling its part of the deal. Therefore, despite the quitting of the U.S., the other parties remain steadfast to uphold it. TODAY Roller Skating at UMBA Hall Skating every Friday night at the UMBA Hall in Underwood except holiday weekends or if Underwood Schools are cancelled due to weather. Fourth grade and younger may skate from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fifth grade and older skate from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $4. No outside skates are allowed. The party room may be reserved for birthday celebrations for $30. Private skating parties are available for two hours of skating for $300. Call 712-566-2222 to reserve a time. According to the scathing 2011 report the Department of Justice wrote about the New Orleans Police Department, Detentions without reasonable suspicion are routine, and lead to unwarranted searches and arrests without probable cause Of the arrests that NOPD initiated, we found that a significant portion reflected on their face apparent constitutional violations, in that officers failed to articulate sufficient facts to justify stops, searches and arrests. That report, which spelled out multiple other ways New Orleans police were ignoring the Constitution, led to the New Orleans Police Department entering into a consent decree with the federal government so that constitutional policing could become a reality in New Orleans. Three years after that DOJ report, Michael Harrison, then the police superintendent of NOPD, told an auditorium of mostly black boys and men, Everybody has stories about being stopped for the color of our skin or being stopped for reasons we dont know." Harrison made it his mission, though, to change the way New Orleans police operate so that at a minimum people stopped by officers in New Orleans would know why the officers stopped them. But for all the progress that the department has made on the consent decree, the problem of police officers not explaining the reason theyre making stops remains. According to consent decree deputy monitor David Douglass, audits of body-cam footage dont show that New Orleans police are still making blatant unconstitutional stops. But that footage does show, he said, that officers are still making stops without making their reasons plain to those theyve stopped. In addition to that, Douglass said, consent searches are not always approved by supervisors, and theyre supposed to be. The Jan 25. consent decree hearing at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law featured mostly good news for the New Orleans Police Department. Though U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan began her presentation by quoting from some of the most problematic findings from the 2011 DOJ report, she only did so, she said, to highlight how remarkable the transition has been. Remarkable reforms made at NOPD, but work on consent decree remains, judge says But just because the Police Department has improved as much as it has doesnt mean that the Police Department has improved as much as it needs to. Recruiting enough new officers continues to be a problem. As mentioned above, the problems with stops remain a problem. And the problem with police supervision is bigger than the proper permission not being secured for consent searches. Jonathan Aronie, the lead monitor, has said there are three problems with NOPD supervisors: some dont care; some care but dont know how to properly supervise other officers and then there are those who care and know how to supervise but dont have time enough to do it well. That problem with supervision was one of the findings that jumped out at Randolph Scott, one of the leaders of an anti-police brutality group called Citizens United for Change. When you have supervisors who are not making corrective actions on police officers, then you have a problem, Scott said in a Jan. 31 interview. At the same time, Scott acknowledged, It appears that theres been a lot of good progress made by the New Orleans Police Department. My hats off to Harrison, Scott said. His multiple encounters with the former superintendent led him to conclude, he said, that Harrison does not like corrupt cops and that he was committed to starting disciplinary proceedings against them as soon as possible. And the community noticed and appreciated his commitment, Scott said. He said he hasnt seen enough from new Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson to know if hell be as committed to reform as his predecessor was. Despite the good things he had to say about the departments progress and Harrisons leadership, Scott said his group doesnt think NOPDs work is finished, any more than Judge Morgan does. Officers not explaining why theyre making stops, he said, is a big problem. Were against the so-called Terry Stops, Scott said, referring to stops police make based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, a lesser standard than probable cause necessary to make an arrest. Weve always had issues with that. Unless they justify those stops and give an explanation, we look at it as them basically violating the constitutional rights of citizens. You cant sugarcoat that at all. Either youre doing it the right way, or youre doing it the wrong way. In April 2018, civil rights attorney Bill Quigley wrote a letter to the consent decree monitors on behalf of Citizens United for Change. The community has found the public hearings and community meetings to be meaningless exercises where people raise complaints which are listened to but not responded to, the letter reads. When meetings are held it seems they are just formalities. That continues to be our same position, Scott said, that community voices have largely been excluded from the official consent-decree conversations. Therefore, as the Police Department keeps trying to get better, Citizens United for Change will keep fighting to make community input a bigger part of the evaluation process. 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. Breaking a months-long silence that had frustrated her St. Tammany Parish School Board colleagues enough that they took the extraordinary measure of calling her out, board member Sharon Lo Drucker on Friday (Feb. 1) apologized for any discordant feelings" a misdemeanor shoplifting charge against her has caused. She also said she has no plans to resign her 9th District School Board post. I take full responsibility for my actions and am participating in the diversion program, seeking treatment which does not conflict with my commitment as a school board member, Drucker said in a statement. Drucker, 53, just started her second term representing a Madisonville-based district on the school board. She easily won re-election to the post in November, despite news of shoplifting accusations against her coming to light during the campaign. Druckers response Friday came a day after School Board President Beth Heintz issued a statement urging Drucker to apologize and consider resigning her post. Although that statement was written by Heintz, the president said she first sent it to the 14 other board members, including Drucker, and had not received any objections to putting it out to the public. Heintzs statement has been posted on the school districts website. Several board members had said in recent weeks that they wished Drucker would publicly address the matter. 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 Board president: 'Consider resigning' Drucker was detained at the Wal-Mart near Covington on July 6, 2018, and accused of shoplifting items. A responding St. Tammany Parish sheriffs deputy issued a summons for Drucker to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of theft under $1,000. The Advocate, citing the police report, has reported that the items totaled $58.25. Drucker pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in October, and last month District Attorney Warren Montgomery said she had been placed in a diversion program. Under that program, the charge is put on hold and will be dismissed if Drucker completes the 12-month program, Montgomery said, adding that Drucker was a good fit for the program, which designed to help first-time offenders accused of non-violent misdemeanor crimes. In her statement, Drucker said she wishes to extend a genuine apology for any discordant feelings that my misdemeanor matter has created within our community and the St. Tammany Parish School Board." Since elected in 2014 and elected again in 2018, I have positively contributed and advocated for academic excellence for our students and teachers while representing District 9 constituents to the very best of my ability and my hard work continues to this day," her statement said. I have no plans to resign my school board seat. I regret any distractions this situation has caused from the good works of our school system." She also thanked supporters who have reached out as I mend from this incident." Shell Offshore Inc. has agreed to pay a $2.2 million civil fine to the federal government to settle charges that the company violated the Clean Water Act by spilling 1,900 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in May 2016 when a subsea pipeline cracked at the companys Green Canyon oil field. The fine, announced in the Federal Register on Friday (Feb. 1), will be paid after the expiration of a 30-day comment period. The money will be deposited in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is used to pay for oil spill cleanups. The new fine is in addition to $3.9 million the company agreed to pay to state and federal agencies in July to settle natural resource damage charges stemming from the spill. About $3.5 million of that settlement will be used for natural resource restoration projects, with the rest aimed at repaying the agencies' costs in responding to the spill. Federal and state trustees representing various agencies are working on a draft restoration plan and environmental review, required under the federal Oil Pollution Act, and when complete, it will be released for public review and comment, said Stephanie Morris, an attorney representing the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinators Office. No date was given for the completion of the plan. Shell Offshore to pay $3.9 million for 2016 deepwater oil spill from cracked pipeline The most recent settlement and an accompanying complaint document were filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Jan. 8. The complaint and a study of the accident by the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement outlined how the accident occurred. A Shell transfer pipeline that connected to a subsea well in Shells Green Canyon Block 248 oil production system in the Gulf of Mexico, about 97 miles south of the Louisiana coastline, cracked and discharged about 80,000 gallons of crude oil. Oil polluted portions of the Gulf from the sea floor to the waters surface and spread across a surface area totaling over 1,270 miles, the complaint said. The oil spill was the result of a series of events over several years that resulted in a pipeline installed about 3,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico becoming covered with debris and the weight of the debris causing a stress fracture in a joint, allowing crude oil to escape into the water, according to an investigative report released March 9, 2018, by the Department of Interiors BSEE, which oversees safety issues involving drilling in federally-controlled waters offshore. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The 6-inch pipeline is described as a "jumper," which was part of Shell's complex system used to collect oil from wells in the Green Canyon oil field, where it was transferred to other pipelines leading to the company's Brutus tension leg platform, seven miles away. Just after 11 p.m. on May 11, 2016, control room operators overseeing oil production in the pipeline system were warned of "substantial acoustic activity" in the pipe, but believed the noise was caused by a bubble of natural gas moving through the pipe, which had caused similar drops in pressure in the pipe in the past, something they called "slugging." When the pressure anomaly didn't end by 5 a.m. the next morning, the operators asked workers to check for leaks of oil from equipment at the surface associated with the Glider oilfield. Just over an hour later, the workers reported no problems with surface equipment, prompting the operators to "shut in" the Glider subsea field, basically turning off the flow of oil into the pipe. At 7 a.m., a helicopter transporting workers for a crew change on the Glider facility was diverted to look for signs of a leak, and a half hour later reported that they'd spotted an oil sheen on the surface. Despite the alarms and sustained pressure loss, Shell continued to actively pump oil through the cracked pipeline for at least another seven and a half hours, which was in part caused by the companys failure to provide adequate training for the operators, the civil complaint said. Under the consent agreement, Shell agreed to improve its leak-detection training program for its operations in the Gulf. Since the spill, Shell has provided enhanced training to its control room operators and subsea supervisors, said the settlement announcement in the Federal Register. Shell will now develop and conduct refresher training that focuses on leak detection and includes simulator-based exercises that incorporate conditions experienced during the May 2016 spill. According to the complaint, the surface oil released from the pipeline traveled west-northwest for five days. Oil was observed within 75 miles of shore before strong winds mixed much of the remaining oil into the water column, the complaint said. Scientists from the University of Georgia and Florida State University who traveled to the oil slick site in the days after the leak reported seeing bottlenose dolphins swimming through oil and balls of fish covered with oil. Seabirds also were seen in the area. New Orleans police are looking for a 33-year-old man they say stole his girlfriends car and crashed it with two young children inside Thursday morning (Jan. 31) in Little Woods. Gregory Marshall is accused of carjacking the vehicle around 7:20 a.m. in the 7800 block of Sun Street. According to an initial police report, Marshall and his girlfriend were arguing in her car when she realized she left her phone inside the house. When she got out of the car to get her phone, Marshall tried to take her car keys, police said. Marshall pushed his girlfriend and the keys fell out of her hand when she fell to the ground, police said. Marshall took the keys and pushed the womans head into the car door as she tried to stand up. He pushed her a second time over the hood of the car. Marshall got in the car and drove off with two children inside, police said. After he crashed the car, he ran. Additional information on the ages of the children or their condition was not immediately available. Police also reported two armed robberies and an attempted robbery between Thursday and Friday (Feb. 1). Armed men rob Algiers gas station Two armed men described as wearing masks and blue gloves demanded cash from a Shell Station in Algiers around 6:25 p.m. Thursday, police 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 The cashier complied and the two men fled the gas station located in the 3000 block of General DeGaulle Drive. Man robbed at gunpoint in Central Business District A stranger approached a 37-year-old man as he was getting out of his car on the end of Poydras Street near the river and placed an unknown object to his back, police said. The person told the 37-year-old not to move while he searched him and took his belongings, police said. The stranger fled in an unknown direction. Stranger bear hugs 52-year-old in ATM robbery attempt A 52-year-old man was using an ATM on St. Charles Avenue early Friday morning when a stranger approached him from behind and placed him in a bear hug while trying to search his pockets, police said. The 52-year-old man fought off the stranger and the stranger fled in a white car, heading southbound on Jackson Avenue and then in an unknown direction, according to an initial police report. The attempted robbery was reported at 1:15 a.m. in the 2200 block of Saint Charles Avenue. After deliberating for just under two hours, a St. Tammany Parish jury Friday afternoon (Feb. 1) convicted Jason Magee of Pearl River of two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his ex-wife and her boyfriend in 2017. Magee, who sat stoically throughout the five-day trial, showed no emotion when a clerk read the verdicts from the jury of eight women and four men in Covington. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, meaning Magee, 39, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. State Judge August Hand set formal sentencing for April 8. Magee, who did not take the witness stand, was found guilty of the murders of Jennifer Magee, 32, of Pearl River, and her boyfriend, Donald Gros, 34, of Marrero, in the womans home on June 19, 2017. Gros' mother, Donna Thiebaud of Bridge City, said she was pleased with the verdicts. Im very very happy with the outcome. It brings a small bit of closure . . . but Ill never get over this. Gros' sister, Bonnie Griffin, said family members thought this day would never come. I can honestly say its like a weight off my shoulders. Pearl River man killed ex-wife and boyfriend with 'military-like precision': prosecutor Jason Magees mother, Bonnie Cooper, declined to comment on the trials outcome, which means she now has two sons with first-degree murder convictions. Magees brother, James Magee was convicted and given the death penalty in 2009 for gunning down and killing his estranged wife and 5-year-old son near Mandeville in 2007. During closing arguments, prosecutor Blair Alford noted that eight shots were fired that night in 2017 in Pearl River, seven of them hitting the victims. Thats an execution. There are no other words for it. Testimony showed that Magee became upset on the night of the killings when his then-6-year-old son was on the phone with his mother and asked to speak to Mr. Donald. Magee drove to Jennifer Magees home on Louisiana 41 near Pearl River and saw her car and Gros car in the driveway. Magee then dropped his children off at their grandmothers house and left. A short time later, Magee talked to his step-father, Tommy Cooper, on the phone, telling him, I shot Jennifer. I killed her, Cooper testified. Cooper called 911 to report the phone conversation, and authorities later found the bodies of Jennifer Magee and Gros inside her home. She had been shot four times from the rear; Gros had been shot three times. Jason Magee went on the run and was arrested the next day after being seen emerging from a wooded area alongside Interstate 59 near Pearl River. He was covered in scratches and bug bites after spending the night in the swamp. Investigators never found the murder weapon or Magees pickup truck. During her closing, Alford said the killings were all about control. 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 When the defendant lost his ability to control his ex-wife, Jennifer and Donald lost their lives, she said. Its about her moving on and him losing control. Jennifer Magee was a home-health nurse and Gros, the father of two children, an EKG technician and phlebotomist at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Prosecutors said that Magee had sent his wife ugly and threatening text messages, including one that said, F--- you. Crash and die. Magees attorneys, public defenders John Lindner II and James Carrington, maintained Magee did not intend to kill anyone. They said Magee went to his ex-wifes home on the night of killings to talk to her. But the situation became heated, and Gros pulled a gun on Magee, Carrington said during opening arguments. The two fought over the gun, which discharged and struck Jennifer Magee, according to Carrington. Jason Magee eventually gained control of the gun and shot Gros in self-defense, he told jurors. Prosecutor Collin Sims, during his closing argument, called the self-defense claim, laughable. He noted that evidence indicated Magee broke into the trailer through a door. There was no evidence of a struggle in the trailer between the two very large men, he said. Moreover, Magee never mentioned a struggle or self-defense in statements he made to police, sheriffs deputies or family members, prosecutors said. St. Tammany Parish Chief Deputy Coroner Michael DeFatta testified that two bullets struck Gros in the head and were fired from at least 3 to 3 feet away. He said he found no defensive wounds on his body. A gunshot residue expert testified that Gros had a small amount of gunpowder residue on his hand. No residue was found on the hands of Jennifer Magee or those of Jason Magee after his arrest the day after the killings. During his closing, Lindner argued that prosecutors had not proven that Magee intended to kill anyone and noted that Gros was the only one with gunpowder residue on his hands. He told jurors that prosecutors showed them countless photos displaying the victims bodies in order to play on their emotions, and they put the Magees' 10-year-old daughter on the stand to elicit sympathy. He argued the facts of the case did not support a conviction on first- or second-degree murder. During his closing, Lindner asked the 6 foot 4, 300-plus pound Magee wearing black pants and a black-and-gray striped dress shirt - to stand up. Hes a rough looking S.O.B., Lindner said. He looks like a scary person. He is a scary person, but thats not enough to send him to prison for the rest of his life. Outside the courtroom after the verdicts were read, Terri Hernandez, the fiancee of Jennifer Magees brother, Jason Wallace, said the verdicts were a long time coming. We will be here for sentencing. Were just sorry there wont be the death penalty on the table. Flash British Members of Parliament (MPs) signaled their support for Prime Minister Theresa May's revised Brexit deal, but the European Union (EU) said it won't consider it. The Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and Britain remains the best and only deal possible and will not be renegotiated, said Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, at the European Parliament's plenary session debate on Wednesday. "The European Union said so in November. We said so in December. We said so after the first meaningful vote in the Commons in January," Juncker said, casting a cloud over Britain's latest move toward Brexit. May was buoyed by a majority vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday night, backing her Brexit deal if the so-called Irish border stopgap measure is removed. It puts her Brexit deal within grasp, if she can persuade EU leaders to agree to change their insistence on measures to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "MPs decided they want May and the EU to change the Irish Backstop," Alan Wager, fellow at the independent think-tank UK in a Changing Europe, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. "They say that leaves Britain tied too closely to the EU, and also following its rule; they want to make the UK less bound to EU rules," Wager said. The Withdrawal Agreement contains a Northern Ireland Backstop, which seeks to preserve the open border between the two nations. "What May's MPs want is something that says the EU and Britain are not locked into this agreement on the Northern Irish border indefinitely," Wager said. Both Juncker and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, however, said that they would reject any British efforts to renegotiate the Irish border backstop. "It looks like although May has now a majority in parliament, something she was lacking a couple of weeks ago, she now needs to go back to the EU and reopen those negotiations -- she will find it very difficult to get a compromise that will be supported by the EU and by her own MPs," Wager said. London and Brussels have joined a game of chicken. May plans a series of meetings starting Thursday with politicians from her Conservative Party to consolidate the support she received Tuesday night. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29. May now has several weeks to persuade the EU to change its mind on the Irish backstop arrangement. (CNN) Senate investigators have obtained new information showing Donald Trump Jr.'s mysterious phone calls ahead of the 2016 Trump Tower meeting were not with his father, three sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN. Records provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee show the calls were between Trump Jr. and two of his business associates, the sources said, and appear to contradict Democrats' long-held suspicions that the blocked number was from then-candidate Donald Trump. The information came to light recently and could answer one of the key questions over the meeting Trump's eldest son set up to get Russian dirt on the Clinton campaign. Trump Jr.'s phone calls involving blocked numbers -- meaning the numbers are private and do not appear in the phone records -- have been a lingering issue as investigators have probed the meeting and whether Trump himself had advance knowledge through any means that his son, son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chair Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr.'s phone records included calls with two blocked phone numbers the same day he exchanged calls with Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, the son of a Russian oligarch who spearheaded the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. The calls came three days before the Trump Tower meeting, and an additional call with a private number occurred several hours after the meeting. CNN has not confirmed the identity of the business associates who spoke with Trump Jr. nor what they discussed on the calls. The purpose of the calls and their relevance to the Trump Tower meeting and the Russia investigation is still unclear. Trump Jr. attorney Alan Futerfas declined to comment. The Senate Intelligence Committee's two-year investigation into 2016 Russian election interference is still ongoing and it's unknown whether the committee is still investigating the Trump Tower matter. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, both declined to comment. It's not evident whether special counsel Robert Mueller has also obtained the phone records disclosing the identity of the private numbers, but the Trump Organization has provided both Mueller and Congress with a range of Russia-related documents. The documents showing the calls were not with then-candidate Trump could resolve a key line of inquiry that House Democrats have said they want to get to the bottom of this year now that they are the majority party and have control of investigations. The June 2016 Trump Tower meeting was hatched when Agalarov asked British promoter Rob Goldstone to arrange a meeting between Veselnitskaya and campaign officials. In an email to Trump Jr., Goldstone said that Veselnitskaya would provide "dirt" on Clinton at the meeting. "If it's what you say I love it," Trump Jr. responded, though when the meeting occurred on June 9, 2016, Veselnitskaya focused her presentation on Russian sanctions, and not Clinton dirt. All of the participants in the meeting have spoken with one or all of the three congressional committees that have probed the meeting. Democratic lawmakers have zeroed in on Trump Jr.'s four-minute call that occurred between the two calls he exchanged with Agalarov on June 6, 2016, three days before the Trump Tower meeting. Trump Jr. then had an 11-minute call with a private number that same evening, and also another a three-minute call with a blocked number two hours after the meeting. Trump Jr. told congressional investigators in 2017 that he did not know who the blocked calls were with. When asked if he told his father about the meeting or the underlying offer of dirt on Clinton, he told the Senate Judiciary Committee: "No, I did not." House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, has slammed his House Republican counterparts for not following through to obtain phone records to determine to whom Trump Jr. had spoken, writing last year that "the committee has not pursued leads to determine who called Trump Jr. at this crucial time from a blocked number." He's pledged to make it one of his first priorities as chairman. In a 2018 memo outlining the areas of the Russia investigation that went unexplored, Schiff wrote that "(b)ased on the timing of these calls, the committee must determine whether some of these calls may be between Trump Jr. and Donald J. Trump, including calls concerning the Trump Tower meeting." "We wanted to get the phone records to determine, was Donald Trump talking to his son about this meeting," Schiff told CNN in November. "It's an obvious investigative step, but one the Republicans were unwilling to take because they were afraid of where the evidence might lead." Schiff declined to comment through a spokesperson for this story. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also highlighted the blocked numbers in a Democratic report last year on that panel's probe of the Trump Tower meeting. "We also do not know who they told about this meeting, including whether they ever discussed it with Mr. Trump," Feinstein wrote. In her report, Feinstein wrote that Trump Jr. had placed the three calls to the blocked numbers. But Schiff's report in fact states that the first June 6 call was incoming to Trump Jr. A source familiar with the records provided to Congress said they did not indicate if the blocked calls were incoming or outgoing. Democrats had reason to suspect the private number was Trump, as Trump's first campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the committee that Trump's "primary residence has a blocked (phone) line," according to a report from Democrats on the House Intelligence panel. In addition to the phone calls, Schiff has called for a subpoena to Trump Jr. to compel him to discuss the conversations he had with his father in 2017 about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting before Trump Jr. released a misleading public statement about the purpose of the meeting. Trump Jr. has claimed the conversations with his father were protected by attorney-client privilege when he testified in December 2017. The President said in written responses to Mueller's questions that he did not know about the meeting in advance. In July, Agalarov told Vice News he had remembered speaking with Donald Trump Jr. "I said, 'Listen, there's some people that want to meet you.' They obviously want something that could potentially help them resolve things that you could be interested in or maybe not. If you can spare a few minutes of your time, I'd be grateful. If not, no problem. Obviously Don Jr. obviously being Don Jr. said, 'Of course. I'll do it if you're asking,'" Agalarov told Vice. Scott Balber, the Agalarovs' attorney, previously told CNN that his clients have no reason to believe then-candidate Trump knew about the meeting with the Russian lawyer before it happened. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Senate investigators told Trump Jr.'s mysterious calls weren't with his father." Jordy Robertson, the father of New Orleans Saints superfan Jarrius JJ Robertson, was arrested Thursday (Jan. 31) on conspiracy to distribute cocaine, wire fraud and threatening a witness charges, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent said. Robertsons arrest is connected to a federal investigation launched last year that led to a DEA raid of Robertsons home in Reserve and his It Takes Lives to Save Lives Foundation in LaPlace in October, DEA Special Agent Debbie Webber said. Robertson, 35, told WVUE Fox 8 News at the time of the raid the agency was looking into his taxes, the foundation and a GoFundMe account he set up for his son to defray medical costs associated with a second liver transplant. The account raised more than $46,000, including a $30,000 donation from Drew Brees. The It Takes Lives to Save Lives Foundation promotes organ donation awareness, and was started in honor of Robertsons son, Jarrius, who is battling a chronic liver disease. The foundation is registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State, and Jordy Robertson is listed as the manager and registered agent. The foundations website is no longer active. Jarrius Robertson, 16, became popular both locally and nationally, making appearances on national television and at Saints and LSU games. He was awarded ESPNs Jimmy V Perseverance Award and the WWEs Warrior Award. Jordy Robertson had an initial court appearance Friday morning, and has a detention hearing Monday in federal court, Webber said. Michelle Hunter contributed to this report. While loading a transport van for the trip back to the Orleans Parish jail, a deputy spotted something orange in the back of an inmates wheelchair. The orange item was the cap for a syringe, found tucked into the back of the wheelchair with a Kool-Aid packet containing a powdery substance and napkin containing pills, according to arrest documents for the inmate, 28-year-old William Reed, who was rebooked Monday (Jan. 28) on drug charges. Reed is accused of using his wheelchair in an attempt to smuggle heroin into the Orleans Justice Center jail. Deputies discovered the syringe and drugs about noon Monday, as they placed Reed and his wheelchair into the van, which was about to head back to the jail from the courthouse. A deputy was placing the wheelchair in the van when he spotted the orange syringe cap, according to an Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office gist sheet sworn by Deputy Ian Johnson Sr. In searching the back of the wheelchair, Johnson found the syringe, Kool-Aid packet containing heroin and pills. At the jail, officers searched Reed, finding more pills on his person, the arrest documents allege. It was not immediately clear why Reed used a wheelchair. Reed was rebooked Monday (Jan. 28) with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and introducing contraband into a prison. His bond was set at $16,000 on those charges, Orleans Parish court records show. Reed was in jail ahead of his rebooking to serve a 120 day sentence in the Orleans Justice Center jail, which Orleans Criminal District Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier ordered in October, court records show. She ordered the sentence after he violated his probation related to a November 2017 conviction for theft of goods under $1,000. His sentence in November 2017 was initially suspended, and he had received drug treatment at Bridge House, records show. But the judge ordered Reed to serve 120 days after he twice failed to appear in court, in February 2018 and again in October, for probation hearings. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Emily Lane contributed to this report. Shortly after emerging from woods and being captured in 2017, double murder suspect Jason Magee told a St. Tammany Parish detective, I didnt plan on any of it. I know yall want answers; I just cant give them to you. During Magees trial on two counts of first-degree murder, jurors on Thursday (Jan. 31) watched a video of a sobbing Magee, his head buried in his handcuffed hands, being interviewed by sheriffs Detective Lawrence Hudson. Its a hard thing, Magee said, repeatedly taking deep breaths. Im just worried about my kids, man. After three full days of testimony in Covington, the state rested its case against Magee, 39, of Pearl River. He is accused of shooting to death his ex-wife, Jennifer Magee, 32, of Pearl River, and her boyfriend, Donald Gros, 34, of Marrero, on June 19, 2017. Public defenders John Lindner II and James Carrington presented their case in short order Thursday evening, calling two witnesses to the stand, including Magees mother. Bonnie Cooper of Pearl River described her son as a caring father to the two children he had with Jennifer Magee. He loved his children, Cooper testified. He was a very good father. He adores them. The defense also called Jennifer Jones, a good friend of Jennifer Magee. She testified that Jennifer Magee had a sexual relationship with a friend of Jason Magees after the couple had separated. Jason Magee found out about it but discussed the situation with the man over a beer, without any fighting, Jones said. Closing arguments are set for Friday morning before the case goes to the jury of eight women and four men before state Judge August Hand. Prosecutors maintain that Magee went to Jennifer Magees home on Louisiana 41 in the Pearl River area and shot the couple after hearing his son speak of his ex-wifes boyfriend and becoming enraged. Jurors watched a videotaped interview in which Jason Magees young daughter said her father became angry while they were on the phone with her mother on the evening of the killings. The then-8-year-old girl was interviewed June 20, 2017 the day after the killings - at the Child Advocacy Center in Hammond, not knowing about the fate of her mother or her fathers arrest. In the video, the girl answered questions while playing with a purple stuffed animal and occasionally petting Heyward, a service dog the center uses to help make children feel at ease. She told the interviewer her father took her and her younger brother, then 6, to pick up food from a McDonalds restaurant in Pearl River and were driving to her grandmothers house when they called Jennifer Magee to tell their mother goodnight. During the call, her brother asked to speak to Mr. Donald, angering her father, she said. Magee got on the phone and called his ex-wife the B-word, the girl said. He was kind of upset. It got a little rough. He said he would come talk to her (Jennifer Magee) in a minute. The girl said her father drove to Jennifer Magees home, where they saw Gros car in the driveway. Magee then drove away and dropped her and her brother off at their grandmothers house before leaving, she 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 The now 10-year-old girl - wearing a pink jacket adorned with gold stars and a large white bow in her hair - also took the witness stand for a short time on Thursday, the fourth day of Magees trial. Prosecutors alleged that Jason Magee became enraged to learn that his son knew that Jennifer Magee had a boyfriend. During opening arguments, Assistant District Attorney Blair Alford said Magee went to the home, broke in and killed the couple with military-like precision. Jennifer Magee was shot four times; Gros was shot three times. Defense attorney Carrington told the jury that Magee went to his ex-wifes home to talk to her, but things got heated and Gros pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. He said Magee fought with Gros and the gun went off, hitting Jennifer Magee. Jason Magee eventually gained control of the gun and shot Gros in self-defense, Carrington said. Detective Hudson, a prosecution witness, testified that eight 9mm shell casings were found in the home, but the gun was never located. The casings were Federal-brand aluminum-cased rounds. Investigators found a box for 9mm Federal aluminum-cased bullets in a gun cabinet in Jason Magees home, but the box contained a different type of bullet, Hudson said. During his interview of Magee, Hudson and another detective implored the suspect to tell them everything. Its a hard thing, Hudson told him. Youll feel 100 times better if you get it off your chest. Magee later said he wanted a lawyer and didnt want to talk any more. Jurors also heard a recorded telephone conversation Magee had with his mother while in jail. Im sorry, a tearful Magee told his mother. This wasnt planned. Bonnie Cooper told him that she loved him and was taking care of the children as well as Magees home and belongings. We told (the kids) you had to go away for a while, she said. Regarding their mother, Cooper said they told the children, Shes an angel. Shes in heaven and had an accident. When Magee suggested the kids were better off without him, Cooper told him, Good people do crazy things all the time. Magee replied: Not like this. Defendant's murderous brother becomes issue in North Shore murder trial Police arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with a shooting and robbery in Algiers Monday night (Jan. 28). Michael Allen was booked with simple robbery, aggravated second-degree battery, simple battery, illegal possession of a firearm and simple kidnapping, jail records show. Allen took out a firearm and shot another man multiple times while they were arguing in the 700 block of Leboeuf Street around 9:40 p.m., New Orleans police said. Allen put his gun inside his car before fleeing the scene. Shortly after, Allen approached a 50-year-old woman at a bus stop near the intersection of Mardi Gras Boulevard and L.B. Landry Avenue and took her phone out of her hand, police said. He then forced her to walk with him and demanded she empty all the contents from her pockets, including her house keys. Police searched Allens car after they stopped him shortly after the robbery and found four fully-loaded firearms. One of them was reported stolen from Vidalia, Louisiana, police said. In 2017, Allen pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and illegal carrying of weapons in connection to the November 2015 mass shooting at Bunny Friend Park, according to jail records. Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact NOPD 4th District detectives at 504-658-6040. Man shot in the back in Algiers: NOPD A Marrero man with a suspended drivers license turned himself in to Louisiana State Police Friday (Feb. 1) and was booked with hit-and-run and other charges in connection to a fiery Jan. 9 crash on the Interstate 10 that shut down eastbound lanes in Metairie for more than seven hours, the agency said. The crash occurred just before 6 a.m. on I-10 East near the Veterans Memorial Boulevard exit. A silver 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by the arrested man sideswiped a Volvo truck trailer that was pulling two trailers, State Police said. The truck driver lost control, crossed the center lane and overturned on its side before one of the trailers tumbled over the north side of the interstate bridge and caught fire, State Police said. The flames were fueled by paint products inside the trailer. The truck driver was treated at a hospital for moderate injuries, the agency said. Brandon Eserman, 26, who State Police say drove the Grand Marquis, faces charges of hit-and-run, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, negligent injuring, driving with a suspended license, no insurance and a fraudulent inspection certificate, according to a news release. State Police obtained a warrant for Eserman on Wednesday, the agency said. Troopers had recovered the Grand Marquis hours after the hit-and-run on Jan. 9, after a concerned citizen called in with a tip that the car was parked in the 1000 block of Edenborn Avenue in Metairie, State Police said. Damage to the car matched what investigators expected, the agency said at the time. 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 Authorities initially shut down I-10 in both directions at the crash site for about two hours. Eastbound I-10 and northbound Interstate 310 remained closed until about 1 p.m. The fire also caused damage to the bridge, closing the left lane of I-10 East for more than a week while the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development made repairs. Earlier: Suspect vehicle from hit-and-run that shut down I-10 found in Metairie Staff reporter Michelle Hunter contributed to this report. Five people have been indicted in connection with three Algiers shootings that left four people dead over a three-month span in 2018. Michael Wild Robinson, 35; Denzel West, 24; Kirk Powell, 23; Terence Favorite, 31; and an unidentified John Doe were charged in a 14-count indictment handed up by an Orleans Parish grand jury Thursday (Jan. 31), according to District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office. Robinson is charged with second-degree murder in three shootings that killed Leroy Benn Jr., Gavonte Lampkin, Chantrell Parker and Reena Smith. Each was found fatally shot in Algiers between July 18 and Sept. 27, 2018. Benn, 43, was killed in a double shooting in the 3400 block of Vespasian Boulevard on July 18, 2018. His relative was injured. Robinson and West are charged in that shooting in counts one through four of the indictment with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and obstructing justice in a homicide investigation. Firefighters found the bodies of Lampkin and Parker while responding to a brush fire near Maumus Avenue and Bennett Street on July 29. The couple was fatally shot at a house on Tullis Street before their bodies were burned, authorities said. Lampkin, 20, was a victim of two shootings in 2016. Authorities said the second shooting was an alleged attempt to keep him from testifying against the people accused in his earlier shooting. Cannizzaros office said Thursday Lampkin refused relocation assistance and broke off contact with the district attorneys offices victim-witness program. He was killed two days before his alleged attacker was scheduled to go to trial. 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 Parker, 18, was Lampkins girlfriend. Days after son and his girlfriend went missing, mother makes a horrible discovery Robinson and Powell are charged in counts five through 11 of the indictment with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice in a homicide investigation and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder connected to the Lampkin and Parker killings. West also is charged in their death with obstruction and conspiracy to obstruct justice in a homicide investigation. Favorite and John Doe are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. Smith, 38, was found fatally shot in a ditch in the 3200 block of Luna Street on Sept. 27, 2018. Robinson and John Doe are charged in counts 12 through 14 of the indictment with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in a homicide investigation. Robinson and Powell have been in custody since their arrests in the Lampkin-Parker homicides, on bonds of $1 million each. Ad hoc Criminal District Judge Dennis Waldron issued arrest warrants for the other men named in the indictment. The district judge allotted their case will set their bonds. Assistant District Attorney Abigail MacDonald presented the case to the grand jury. New Orleans police arrested a 33-year-old man after police say he molested a six-year-old girl while she was in his care, according to court documents. Roderick Thompson was booked into the Orleans Justice Center Tuesday (Jan. 29) and faces charges of sexual battery, molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile under 17, jail records show. When the six-year-old girls mother returned from running an errand, her daughter told her that Thompson touched her underneath her clothing, according to court documents. Her mother confronted Thompson and her daughter continued to talk about it in his presence, police said. The girls mother then called the police. The girl told police she was looking at her notebooks while in the kitchen with Thompson when he started to touch her. 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 During an interview with a detective, Thompson said that the girls mother entered the kitchen and accused him of touching her daughter. He told police that the girls mother could not have seen him touching the six-year-old girl due to the houses design and where he was sitting at the time. He then denied touching the girl, according to the documents. Police collected a DNA swab and issued an arrest warrant for Thompson. Thompsons risk level was set at five, on a scale of six, in a Public Safety Assessment. The assessment is used to help judges better determine who poses a public-safety risk, as well as help lower the incarceration rate in New Orleans. The document suggested Thompson be under maximum supervision, if released. His bond was set at $20,000, jail records show. According to court documents, Thompsons lengthy criminal history dates back to 2003 and includes convictions stemming from burglaries to battery of a police officer. On January 27, French President Macron arrived in Egypt for his first visit since he took office in 2017. During Macron's three-day visit, he aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership with Egypt, which France considers an important country in the Middle East. Macron was accompanied by five ministers and 24 academic, cultural and scientific personalities, as well as representatives from over 50 companies. What were the reasons behind Macron's visit to Egypt? Economic cooperation with Egypt The French president wants to increase economic cooperation with Egypt, as the French economy has suffered a long-term trade deficit with Egypt. In 2017, the deficit reached US$89.5 billion. On January 28, Sahar Nasr, Egyptian minister of investment and international cooperation, said Egypt and France had signed around 40 agreements worth a total of 1.6 billion euros. Cairo is one of the largest importers of French weaponry, buying warships and fighter jets. Preliminary discussions for the sale of 12 additional Rafale fighter jets started two years ago and were discussed during this visit. Secretary of State for the French Ministry of Economy said that, "France is one of the largest investors in Egypt, with a total investment of US$5 billion." Egypt is the largest market for France in the region and the third largest in Africa after Nigeria and Ethiopia. The head of the Egyptian trade office in Paris said that Egypt's total export volume in 2016 was 492.6 million euros, and Egypt's imports from France were worth over 1.5 billion euros. France contributed to the establishment of the first subway line in Egypt, but many countries have since become partners in building subsequent lines, so France would like to see itself resume a leading role in the construction of future subway lines. Egypt was the biggest beneficiary of foreign investment in Africa in 2018, which made France to seek a greater stake in Egypt's mega-projects in the new administrative capital and other mega-projects. The situation in Libya and how to confront illegal immigration There is no doubt that the problem of the illegal immigration to EU countries continues to pose a dilemma to the EU. Italy recently criticized France as one of the important causes of Africa's poverty claiming it still exploited 14 African countries. Italy called on France to desist from its colonial practices and the exploitation of Africa's natural resources. France therefore wishes to cooperate with Egypt to present a solution to the civil war in Libya and prevent migrants from using Libyan territory to cross into Europe. France also wants to intensify its cooperation with Egypt, as Egypt is the Chairman of the African Union this year, which gives an opportunity to cooperate on such issues as the fight against terrorism, security, poverty and other issues. Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria and the stability of the Middle East France is deeply concerned about the decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and believes that the decision opens the way for Iran and Hezbollah to dominate the region, especially Lebanon, which has strong ties with France. France wants to discuss with Egypt the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal and how to confront the Iranian threat in the region. Diverting attention away from protests France relies heavily on tourism revenues. It has for years retained the world's number one tourist destination, with some 87 million tourists in 2017 earning revenue of about US$61 billion. The repeated demonstrations of yellow vests accompanied with violence and social unrest, have led to evacuations of tourist locations, and shop closure. The French president visited Egypt to draw attention away from the ongoing demonstrations which may have a major negative impact on tourism in France over the coming year. The French president's visit to Egypt may give the impression that the situation is fine and things are progressing normally. Macron chose the temple of Abu Simbel as the first place to visit, referring to the importance of tourism. Hisham Abu Bakr Metwally is the first economist researcher with the Central Department for Export & Import Policy under the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Police in Sussex County are warning residents to look out for homemade, spiked tire slashing devices found near driveways. Vernon Township police said they were investigating reports of someone placing the metal devices near driveways and entrances to farms over recent weeks. Please report all suspicious vehicles and persons, especially in the overnight hours, police said in a widely-shared statement on Facebook. We ask that anyone who has farm-like property to be vigilant and check the end of your driveway when you are pulling in or out. Police shared a picture of one of the spiky objects officers recovered. The departments post generated a flood of responses from locals. Attention Residents: Over the past couple of weeks, we have received reports of incidents in which someone has been... Posted by Vernon Police on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 We found these exact ones in our driveway! We've had 6 total flat tires since New Years, one comment said in response. The police union in nearby Warwick, New York, also urged residents to report any of the destructive devices. The homebuilt item appeared similar to a caltrop, a weapon with nails or other spikes sticking up and used throughout history to slow enemy troops or scattered on runways. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. It may soon be illegal for New Jersey stores and restaurants to keep you from paying with cash and force you to pay with a credit card or your phone instead. Both houses of the state Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that would make New Jersey only the second state in the U.S. and the first in 40 years to bar no-cash policies at businesses. Its now up to Gov. Phil Murphy to sign or veto the measure. Experts say its becoming more common for businesses to require electronic payments especially in cities thanks to credit cards, debit cards, self-service kiosks, and mobile devices like Apple Pay being more readily available. Its quicker and more convenient for businesses. But experts and lawmakers say cashless businesses disenfranchise people who dont have the means to set up a bank account or cant afford credit card debt. Bill Maurer, a professor at the University of California-Irvine who directs the schools Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion, said about 25 percent of the U.S. population doesnt have access to credit cards or similar technology. State Sen. Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, a main sponsor of this measure, cited a federal survey from 2015 that shows 7 percent of American households had no checking or savings accounts and the number was twice as high for black and Latino households. A lot of people forget that access to banks and lines of credit are luxuries not everyone has and the costs associated can often put them out of reach for many low-income families, Pou said. The United States currency dollars and coins are legal tender for all debts and dues." This bill (S2785/A591) would apply only to in-person sales. It excludes telephone, mail, or internet-based transactions. The measure was also amended so the statute would not apply to airport services if a certain number of food providers on site accept cash. It also wouldnt apply to parking facilities owned by a municipality or private parking lots that accept only mobile payments. Those who violate the statute would face a $2,500 fine for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, any subsequent offense would be unlawful practice under the state Consumer Fraud Act. The state Senate passed the bill 39-0, and the Assembly passed it 71-2. New Jersey would join Massachusetts as the only states to have such a ban. That state enacted its law in 1978. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.comFollow him on Twitter @johnsb01 Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. All of New Jerseys public schools will likely soon be required to install silent panic alarms used to help protect students during emergencies like an active shooter. State lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill named Alyssas Law after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old former Woodcliff Lake resident who was among the 17 killed in the February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The measure would require the about 2,500 public schools across the state to install the alarms that will alert local police. Lawmakers agreed to changes to the bill put forth by Gov. Phil Murphy, who conditionally vetoed an earlier version when he said its funding needed to be revamped. Murphy would now have to sign the measure for it to become law. The legislation would cost between $2.5 million and $12.5 million to install the alarms, according to the non-partisan state Office of Legislative Services. The money will come from a portion of a $500 million bond voters approved last year that will pay for improvements to public schools, vocational schools, and community colleges. Both chambers of the Legislature agreed with the governors conditional veto with broad bipartisan support. The state Senate voted 38-0 in favor of it Friday and the state Assembly approved it 78-1 in December. Alhadeff lived in Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County with her family from 2010-14. She was a freshman at Marjory Douglas when she died. In an interview aired on CNN after the shooting, her mother, Lori Alhadeff, called on Republican President Donald Trump to find ways to reduce gun violence. President Trump, you say what can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these childrens hands, Lori Alhadeff said. You can do a lot. This is not fair to our families. Murphy, a Democrat, has made gun control a focus of his first year as New Jerseys governor. He signed six bills in June to tighten the states already strict gun laws, citing the Parkland shooting as why theyre necessary. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. UPDATE: Attorney General investigates fatal shooting by police of man on Passaic street Authorities say a police officer shot and wounded a man Thursday night in Passaic County Thursday. The shooting in Passaic happened around 11:30 p.m. the area of Myrtle Avenue and Harrison Street. Authorities say officers responding to reports of shots fired saw some men on a street and noticed one had a gun. The shooting occurred a short time later, but further details were not immediately available. The wounded man was taken to a hospital, but his name and further details on his injuries have not been disclosed. No officers were injured in the shooting. Authorities say a handgun was recovered at the scene. The investigation is being handled by the state Attorney Generals Shooting Response Task Force. A 64-year-old man died after he was pulled from a house fire that engulfed a Wayne home Thursday night, officials said. Robert Freudenberg succumbed to injuries from the blaze at St. Joseph's Hospital, according to the Passaic County Prosecutors Office. An emergency call around 7:45 p.m. reported the fire at a single-family home Ratzer Road, near Baldwin Terrace, according to authorities. The home was fully engulfed by flames. Police officers tried to get inside the burning home, but they were kept at bay by conditions from the fire, said Capt. Laurence Martin, of Wayne Police Department. The fire was not considered suspicious, according to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Julie Serfess. Anyone with information was asked to call county investigators at 1-877-370-PCPO or township police at 973-694-0600. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. It was inevitable, and now its official: Sen. Cory Booker is running for president. That means hes about to face brutal and unrelenting attacks from competing Democrats, wary Republicans, and probably a few dozen Russian bots. Im here to help sort it out. Ive been following Booker closely for two decades, since he won a seat on the Newark city council at the age of 29. Hes a rich target in crazy times like this, because hes not a normal guy. Hes a vegan and a Rhodes Scholar, and he never touches alcohol or tobacco. He meditates daily, and Tweets quotes from Jewish scholars and Buddhist priests. He once supported vouchers for private schools, and he attends prayer meetings with a Republican senator who thinks climate change is a hoax. I like all that, myself. Well see how it goes over with factory workers in Toledo. But put that aside. The core criticism of Booker is that he is a showboat with a silver tongue, a man whose real talent is promoting himself, not getting stuff done. That last part -- about not getting stuff done -- is wildly unfair. He may be famous for that silver tongue, but he carries an iron hammer to work. In Newark, Booker beat the corrupt old guard and became the first mayor in 45 years to leave office without being indicted. He cut the citys workforce by 25 percent, a record of austerity unmatched in the state. He doubled the supply of affordable housing. He drove down crime sharply, at least until a cut in state aid forced police layoffs. He was a key figure in expanding charter schools that now educate one-third of city students, and are rated as among the best in the country by outside experts. Showboat? The man likes a camera, granted. But theres a lot more to him than that. In the Senate, Booker had cringe-worthy moment on national TV in September during the confirmation hearings from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when he threatened to break ethics rules by releasing confidential records on Kavanaughs attitudes towards racial profiling. This is about the closest Ill probably ever have in my life to an I am Spartacus moment, he said. Ouch. It was self-aggrandizing, and it turned out the documents had been cleared for released several hours earlier by the committee itself. That was a little over the top, says Rutgers professor Ross Baker, one of the nations leading experts on the U.S. Senate. But, again, look at the larger record. Booker was a leading negotiator of the most important bipartisan effort since President Trump was elected, the criminal justice reform signed in December that shortened sentences and reformed prison practices. It was a chief goal of Bookers since his election in 2013, and he nailed it. A few years back, I wondered how Booker was doing in the fight to get money for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, New Jerseys top priority in Washington. I called Tony Coscia, the chairman of Amtrak. He gushed about Bookers success in finding support from Republicans for a critical low-interest loan program. It was stalled, and he played a huge role in getting it moving, Coscia said. Now were making real progress. Sorry, folks, the effort to finance the tunnel has gone south since Trump took office. But you get the idea. The showboat accusation is a cheap shot, Baker concluded. * * * Could Booker win? Baker believes he has a shot, but he wonders if America is ready to elect a second African-American president four years after Barack Obama. Glass ceilings that are broken are often repaired, unfortunately, he said. Aside from race, Booker has important vulnerabilities. The Newark police, on Bookers watch, accumulated a horrifying record on race and brutality that prompted federal intervention in 2016. A Justice Department review found that police targeted blacks in a stop-and-frisk operation that was out of control and used excess force as a matter of routine. That stuff was going on way before Booker, says the current mayor, Ras Baraka. I grew up in the city and I know how those guys behaved, and some still do behave. Booker is one of the Senates leading recipients of money from Wall Street and Big Pharma, and that may cost him in a Democratic primary as well. Its a tough rap because Booker does not dance for those dollars. He wants to sharply raise taxes on Wall Street by closing the carried interest loophole, and he opposes efforts to soften the Dodd-Frank banking regulations. On pharma, he co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Bernie Sanders to allow imports of cheap Canadian drugs and wants to use Medicares market power to negotiate lower drug prices, both positions deeply hostile to the industry. Still, the money trail from these industries into Bookers treasury will make for a spicy 30-second attack ad. A final problem: The staggering corruption at the Newark Watershed that was revealed after Booker left office -- one manager alone admitted taking $1 million in bribes. It is a non-profit agency overseeing the citys watershed properties and delivery systems, but Booker was an ex-officio trustee and never attended a single board meeting. I wont try to handicap Bookers chances, especially after the Shock and Horror of 2016. I just hope that if he loses, its not because hes seen as a tool of Wall Street, or a showboat without substance. Those things are just wrong. Baraka used to slam Booker as a showboat, back when they were rivals. Whenever theres a real issue in the city that needs to be resolved, the mayor is nowhere to be found, Baraka said of Booker in 2013. The only way you can see the mayor is if you turn on Meet the Press. But Baraka has changed his tune. I did once think he was just glory seeking. But he does the work, whether its business development or crime, he does the work. And hes found his voice in the Senate. Hes fearless. Hes passionate. Ten years ago, I never would have said that. But even my mother supports Cory Booker now. Six years ago, I was in the newsroom when a report came across that Booker had charged into a burning building to save a woman screaming for help. Oh please, I thought. But we looked into it, and it was true. Booker burned his hand when flaming debris fell from the ceiling as he charged through the smoke-filled house carrying the woman, Zina Hodge, over his shoulder. He needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation. Hodge later said she was glad to be alive. Her mom added this, on Booker: I think hes a super mayor, and he should stay mayor and then be president. Thats one vote. Now comes the long march to drum up millions more. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Replace the pipes, and replace them faster. Thats the message that a growing number of North Jersey towns has for SUEZ, the private water utility that serves most of Bergen County and Hudson County. Earlier this month, SUEZ announced that the drinking water in 57 towns across the two counties was possibly at risk of elevated lead levels. The news came after 16 of the 108 water samples tested by the utility in the second half of 2018 showed lead levels higher than the federal drinking water standard. When the news broke, SUEZ promptly placed the blame on thousands of lead service lines --- the pipes that carry water from a water main to individual properties. According to SUEZ spokeswoman Debra Vial, the utility owns 8,508 lead service lines in the system. Another 7,582 utility-owned lines in the system are made of unknown materials. Tracy Schoenberg, the Oradell council president, said that in a meeting following the public announcement, SUEZ told local elected officials that it planned to replace 7 percent of utility-owned lead service lines per year, for the next 14 years. SUEZ will give filters to customers that are served by the lead lines while they wait for the pipe to be replaced, Schoenberg said they were told. But thats not good enough in the eyes of some local officials. We were not exactly thrilled with their response or their planned response, Schoenberg said. The councils of at least five Bergen County towns -- Oradell, Teaneck, Ridgefield, New Milford and Palisades Park -- passed resolutions this week urging SUEZ and the NJDEP to replace more than just 7 percent of the lead service lines every year. Two more towns, Dumont and Tenafly, are scheduled to consider the resolution in upcoming meetings. Schoenberg said the resolution has been distributed through the Bergen County Mayors Association, and she expects more towns to adopt the measure. Mohammed Hameeduddin, the mayor of Teaneck, said he hopes the resolution stirs SUEZ to move faster. Hey look, we understand theres a problem, we understand that youre working on it, but understand that we need answers and we need a sense of urgency, Hameeduddin said. The thousands of old lead service lines become problematic if the water flowing through them is not properly treated. Normally, drinking water is treated to be minimally corrosive. That keeps the water from eating away at old pipes, and lowers the possibility of lead from the pipes leaching into the water. But problems at SUEZs Haworth water treatment plant mean that the water in the system is wearing down old pipes, sending lead into the water just before it reaches the tap. Its the same kind of problem that has spurred lead issues in the water systems in Newark and Trenton. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has agreements with those two cities that call for those water utilities to replace 7 percent of the lead pipes they own every year. For its part, SUEZ has 30 days from Jan. 7 to evaluate the corrosion control system at the Haworth plant, and a recommendation for achieving optimal corrosion control at the plant needs to be submitted to the NJDEP by June 30. SUEZ must also provide a total count of lead services lines in the affected system, and a replacement schedule for those service lines, within 60 days of the state notice being sent out on Jan. 7. And SUEZ is required to send educational materials about the possible effects of lead in drinking water to affected customers by March 1. It is clear that our customers and elected officials, like us, want strong action, Vial said in a statement. SUEZ is embarking on an aggressive effort to replace utility-owned lead service lines, work that will cost tens of millions of dollars in 2019 alone. Vial said that the utility is prioritizing work in municipalities with the highest number of utility-owned lead lines, as well as towns that have planned road work so it can replace the water pipes at the same time. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Robert Smyth Jr.s voice wavered a little as he told jurors how he buckled his 23-month-old daughter into a car seat in her mothers vehicle and said goodbye on July 2, 2016. The girls mother was going to take her home to Gloucester City for a few days. I kissed her. I said I love you, Smyth said in Camden County Superior Court Thursday. That was the last time I [saw] my daughter alive. He did see her again, three days later, but she was unconscious in a hospital bed in Cooper University Hospital. He had to say another goodbye, this time for good. I had to pull my daughter off life support, Smyth, 28, testified Thursday. Authorities have said that Ariana Smyth died after being raped and assaulted by her mothers boyfriend of two weeks, Michael Disporto Jr., then 22. The girls mother, Amber Bobo, now 28, served 15 months in jail after admitting she didnt get medical help for her daughter after she saw bruises and watched her condition deteriorate over the course of a day. Her plea deal requires her to testify against Disporto. Ariana died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head, but also had internal and genital injuries, a broken arm and head to toe bruises, according to assistant prosecutor on the case, Peter Crawford. In opening statements last week, Crawford told jurors that Bobos witness testimony shows Disporto is the only one who could have caused the injuries. But Disportos attorney, Jason LeBoeuf of Newark, said DNA evidence proves he is innocent. Disporto, now 25, of Manahawkin, sat mostly expressionless through the second day of testimony at his murder trial. His attorney said he has never once wavered from his avowal that he is innocent not in 12 hours of police interrogation, or over the two and a half years since. Robert Smyth Jr., the father of Ariana Smyth, shows jurors the shared-custody schedule at the trial of Michael Disporto Jr. Jan. 31, 2019. At left is Assistant Prosecutor Peter Crawford. Robert Smyth Jr. testified that since he had moved out of the Gloucester City apartment in April of 2016, he and Bobo informally shared custody, each taking Ariana for part of the week. Crawford said that after Bobo picked up her daughter from Smyth on the afternoon of July 2, Disporto took Ariana to the park alone after telling Bobo he wanted to be alone with the girl to get to know her better. Nothing seemed amiss until Bobo woke up in the night and realized that her daughter, who had been asleep in bed with her, was sleeping on the couch, Crawford said. In the morning, she discovered Disporto had changed her daughters clothes and the girl had bruises on her head, genitals, back and arm. He told jurors that Bobo will testify that Disporto dissuaded her from seeking medical help because he was afraid of what people might think of the injuries. Instead, they went to the Deptford Mall and shopped for several hours, the assistant prosecutor said. Around 6 p.m., after Ariana had repeatedly vomited and her eyes were rolling, Bobo called 911. Smyth testified that his daughter was acting perfectly normal when he last saw her July 2, though she had small bruise on her forehead that he believes she got while with Bobo. Crawford said his family will back this up, and that means Disporto was the only one who spent time with Ariana besides Bobo during the time period she was injured. Crawford told jurors the trial wouldnt have lots of scientific evidence like an episode of CSI. Its not going to be proven through DNA, fingerprints, fancy computers, he said. Its going to be proven to you in what Ill call the old-fashioned way: through witness testimony. He said testimony about the nature of her injuries from doctors, the medical examiner and an expert witness will corroborate the evidence and disprove Disportos initial claim to police that the girl might have hurt herself in a fall. Amber Bobo, 28, right, the mother of Ariana Smyth, left, served 15 months in prison after taking a plea deal that requires her to testify against Michael Disporto Jr. (Provided by Tawnya Hughes/Dept. of Corrections) LeBoeuf told jurors that police have absolutely no DNA evidence against Disporto, but not for lack of trying. Numerous tests from Arianas body, diapers, and clothes failed to turn up any of Disportos DNA, he said. There is not a single, solid, solitary shred of scientific evidence to support the theory that Michael Disporto assaulted Ariana, LeBoeuf said. But after hearing Bobos story, police were so convinced that Disporto was guilty that they didnt follow any leads that didnt support their theory, LeBoeuf said. And when they came upon something that showed them they were flat-out wrong, they ignored it, he said. This meant that they never investigated the possibility that Ariana was abused before Disporto was even there, he said. Police didnt interview Smyths family with whom he lived or search their home, the attorney said. He also told jurors that there is evidence Arianas head was injured days earlier. On June 29, 2016, a staffer at Arianas daycare photographed bruises on both sides of her forehead and was skeptical about Bobos explanation that the girl had injured herself rolling around in her sleep, LeBoeuf said. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A Canada goose trapped in the ice of a frozen pond was freed Thursday thanks to the efforts of a New Jersey rescue squad member working in bitterly cold conditions. The gooses feet had become trapped below the ice of a small pond in Raritan Township, its body stuck to the frozen surface, according to a Facebook post by the Flemington-Raritan First-Aid and Rescue Squad. Temperatures had dipped to around zero overnight in the area. The thermometer was hovering at about 12 degrees when rescuers arrived at 11 a.m. Police, squad members, nearby Lambertville Fire Department and the local animal control office all responded to the call about the Canadian goose, according to the Facebook post. The pond is located next to a condominium development near the intersection of Hart Boulevard and Sun Ridge Drive. Squad member Ian Green donned an ice rescue suit and crawled out to the goose. After a few minutes of careful tugging, the goose was freed and brought back to shore. The squad stated in the post it has helped with animal rescues in the past and will continue to do so in the future. The goose, currently being housed at the Raptor Trust in Millington, is receiving care there because it is underweight and has frostbite on one wing, according to a spokesperson. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Firefighters in Elmwood Park felt they were making progress against the fire in Building 41 of the sprawling Marcal Paper campus, pushing back the flames with four lines, like they had done so many times over the decades. Then, from the west, the squall hit, unleashing fierce winds that pushed the fire towards the sky. Within minutes, the 86-year-old plant, packed with combustibles, erupted into a raging inferno that continued to burn nearly a day later. The roof caught fire, we heard cracking, we automatically pulled everyone out at that point, Elmwood Park Fire Chief Michael Sulick said. It just went downhill from that point on. By the time the intense flames receded, 500 people were left without jobs, and one of the most well-known industrial landmarks of Southern Bergen County lay in smoldering, icy ruin. 40 Massive blaze at historic Marcal Paper plant turns building into charred wreckage Were trying to figure out how we can get benefits to these employees while they get back on their feet. That will be our number one objective right now, Governor Phil Murphy said at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Elmwood Park Municipal Building after touring the still smoking site. The fire will likely not be completely extinguished for a couple of days, Murphy said. Throughout the blaze there were 375 to 400 firefighters from 50 departments in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris and Hudson counties, Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said. The fire went to 10 alarms and burned through the frigid night. It was so big it could be spotted on weather radar throughout the region. "If it was under normal circumstances, I believe that Elmwood Park Fire Department and its members probably wouldve been able to make a stand, said Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, himself a 43-year volunteer fireman. Because of the fire load, because of the construction, because of the weather -- there were a lot of things that were making this a challenging fight. Tedesco said Sulick made the right choice to pull firefighters out and protect the surrounding properties. The chiefs decision made it so that there was nobody injured," he said. Traffic was detoured around the site for most of the day Thursday, clogging local roads and forcing drivers onto surrounding highways. Residential streets close to the Market Street complex were covered in ice from the water used to douse the flames. Bushes and wires strung between telephone poles around the paper plant were cased in icicles. Theyre working at making the scene safe so the demolition company can come in, Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said. Once they come in they can identify where the hot spots are. Firefighters can eliminate that stuff and then I guess well have a little bit of an investigation to find out what actually was the cause of this. And then they can start clean-up. Robert Baron, CEO and President of Soundview Paper Company, which owns Marcal, said tissue manufacturing is a temperature, high dust environment. Our normal fire suppression measures just could not overcome what was horrific wind, he said. This is devastating to us, Baron said. "We worked really hard to turn that Marcal sign back on a couple of years ago. Were so proud of who we are and to have that come down yesterday was a traumatic experience. Baron said hes happy the companys most important asset, its people, were able to walk away unharmed. Our lone priority right now is the care of our workers, he said. "Were trying to work as soon as possible to have answers for them. U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell, who toured the site with Murphy, said both state and federal labor departments would work together to help the workers. Were not gonna give up. New Jersey needs manufacturing jobs. This is 500 jobs were talking about here. Weve got to do everything we can to make sure the people who worked here are going to be ok tomorrow," he said. Marcal is part of the communitys DNA, he said. Residents of Elmwood Park and surrounding towns were mourning the iconic business Thursday, with its towering red sign. It was a landmark for folks traveling, said Debbie Thomas, of Paterson, outside the Elmwood Park Diner Thursday morning. And its going to be a hit to the economy to lose a business like that. Its sad, she said. It brought tears to my eyes. Council President Daniel Golabek said, seeing the reactions on social media, its apparent how significant Marcal was. Its been here so long, its a part of us, said Councilwoman Lorraine Pellegrine. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez received four routine emails laying out accusations of sexual assault involving members of Gov. Phil Murphys election campaign, but did not read the substance of them, according to the state Attorney Generals Office. In a letter obtained by NJ Advance Media sent to a legislative committee looking into what Suarez may or may not have known about the controversial case, state investigators said they also determined that Suarez did not reply to the emails or forward them to anyone. Suarez has consistently denied knowing her office was investigating the alleged sexual assault. At the same time, the Attorney Generals Office also said it will not release the emails to the state Legislature. In its letter, the office outlines their own internal review going into unusual detail about typically confidential investigations. The law enforcement professionals that make up or county prosecutors offices would not be able to operate effectively and conduct their important public safety responsibilities if their internal deliberative communications were subject to routine public disclosure, wrote Matthew Beck, who serves as outside counsel for the Attorney General. These privileged and confidential records would not be subject to production either in civil litigation or as discovery in a criminal prosecution and they should not be produced pursuant to the current request. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, the co-chair of the special legislative committee looking into the investigations by state and county prosecutors, was not surprised by the refusal to turn over the emails. I expected it, Weinberg, D-Bergen, said. The committee is scheduled to meet again next week, she said, and the matter will be discussed then. NJ Advance Media first reported on Tuesday that Suarezs name was on the emails. The news organization independently obtained copies of two of the emails, which revealed that prosecutor had been included on a chain of messages laying out the accusations, three days after the April 2017 alleged rape of campaign supporter Katie Brennan by Albert J. Alvarez, who was then the campaigns outreach director for Muslim and Latino communities. The letter to the Legislature confirmed those emails had been sent by a Hudson County Prosecutors Office sergeant overseeing the offices Special Victims Unit. He said the prosecutor was routinely included in such emails. Beck said such emails generally included details about case openings and developments in various criminal investigations. He said Suarez was asked specifically about the emails in the Alvarez case and she told investigators for the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity & Accountability, or OPIA, that like most routine case updates, she did not read the substance of them. The Legislature was told that OPIA determined Suarez did not reply to the emails or forward them to anyone. In addition, investigators concluded that Suarez did not send any other emails regarding the investigation prior to October 2018. Suarez has denied attempting to influence the investigation in any way and state investigators interviewed the detectives and prosecutors in the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, who all denied being contacted by Suarez in connection with the matter. This review uncovered no evidence of impropriety by Prosecutor Suarez or anyone else, said Beck. The Attorney Generals Office did a review of the case after Suarez determined she had a conflict of interest. Neither Suarez or her attorney returned phone calls. In the wake of the letter, attorney Alan Zegas, who represents Brennan, called on officials to make the emails public, saying their release wouldnt interfere with any ongoing investigations and they are pertinent to what the legislature is looking into. In the interest of a fair and just hearing, they should be turned over, he said. The case has shaken the Murphy administration, with lawmakers from his own party questioning how the case was handled by Suarez, and whether Brennans requests for help were addressed by the governors office. It has also put pressure on state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, whose office cleared Suarez of any wrongdoing in October. Grewal assigned the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office to independently review the allegations. Last week, that agency announced it would not bring charges against Alvarez, reaffirming the Hudson County decision. Alvarez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said that what happened that night after a campaign event in Jersey City was consensual. One of the internal emails that shows Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez was among those notified about the ongoing investigation. In the emails obtained by NJ Advance Media, investigators summarized Brennans allegations claiming that Alvarez drove her home from a campaign event for Murphy in Jersey City and asked if he could use her bathroom. Once in the apartment, Brennan said, Alvarez allegedly forced her down on the couch and forced himself on her. She went to the police the following day. Brennan, 31, who is currently chief of staff to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, alerted the Murphy transition team on Dec. 1, 2017, of the alleged assault, telling them that Alvarez could soon face charges. Later that day, she was told the Hudson County Prosecutors Office had closed the case. Alvarez was in the meantime appointed as chief of staff to the New Jersey Schools Development Authority in the Murphy administration, a position he held until he resigned on Oct. 2, 2018, when the Wall Street Journal published an interview with Brennan. Craig McCarthy may be reached at 732-372-2078 or at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. JERSEY CITY In 2012, a local battle was being waged between the Jersey City teachers union and education reformers. The reformers were winning. After a string of successes at the ballot box, a group of reform-minded parents took control of the nine-member school board, forced out longtime schools chief Charles T. Epps Jr. and appointed Marcia V. Lyles as the superintendent of Jersey Citys 30,000-student school district. Before Lyles was hired, Ron Greco, the new president of the Jersey City Education Association teachers union, warned board members that outside forces were behind her appointment. Greco noted Lyles was trained at the Broad Academy, a leadership school that critics refer to as corporate training. Im afraid the wolf (is) inside Jersey City, Greco told them. The board didnt listen to Greco then, but things have changed. Starting in 2014, the JCEA was successful in getting 11 of its candidates elected to the board. And on Thursday, the board voted 7-1 to say bye-bye to Lyles effective immediately. Even one of the two remaining board members whose campaign was backed by education reformers voted to sack Lyles. It was a triumph for the union and a stinging defeat for the education reformers who at one time held political influence in Jersey City as a group called Parents for Progress but were eventually beaten back by the JCEA, with major financial assistance from the statewide teachers union. Education reformers said they wanted to bring more accountability to a struggling school district and ensure its poorest students received the same education as its richest. Their critics said they wanted to kill tenure for teachers and divert funding to charter schools. The rise of these reformers led to their downfall in Jersey City, according to teacher and JCEA operative Kristen Zadroga-Hart. Most teachers dont want to wade into politics, but they will mobilize when faced with what they see as a threat, she said. Teachers just want to close their doors and teach their kids, Zadroga-Hart said. But education reformers and Broad Academy types, they opened our door and they let us out. She added, Now we're out and we're going to stay out." Shelley Skinner is a local education advocate and charter school official who helped fund Parents for Progress campaigns. Skinner, who remains a fan of Lyles, said she doesnt think of Thursdays action as a win for the union or a loss for education reformers, but as a loss for the districts 30,000 students. Skinner said Thursdays action, and what she sees as poor treatment of Lyles since 2012, does not bode well for finding a strong successor. "The current environment is certainly not inviting to a talented individual coming to run the district, she said. Lyles could not be reached to comment on Friday (she was not present at Thursdays meeting). Her attorney did not return a request for comment. A request for comment from one of Lyles' early supporters, Mayor Steve Fulop, was also not returned. When Fulop was rising to political power in Jersey City, he was aligned with Parents for Progress. After becoming mayor and with an eye on running for statewide office, he began to curry favor with the teachers union. He has largely stayed out of local school politics in recent years. The rise in influence for the Jersey City teachers union comes as teachers nationwide are flexing their muscle for better pay, stronger health coverage and more classroom resources, walking off the job in places like West Virginia, Oklahoma and Los Angeles. Christ Rhomberg is an associate professor of sociology at Fordham University who has written books about labor. Rhomberg said teachers have been successful in recent years in part because they have done the groundwork of getting support from a key group: parents. "Theyre reaching out to parents and trying to explain their positions to the community, he said. Theyre trying to make their case that their working conditions are the students' learning conditions. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The Jersey City school board voted to relieve Schools Superintendent Marcia V. Lyles of her duties on Thursday night, one day after Lyles filed a federal lawsuit accusing the board and the local teachers union of harassing and defaming her. The action was taken during the boards regular meeting at School 26 in front of a crowd of more than 150 teachers, some waving Lyles go now!!! signs. It represents a major victory for the Jersey City Education Association teachers union, which has been itching for Lyles removal for years. The board voted 7-1-1 in favor. Matt Schapiro voted no. Amy DeGise abstained. There was no public discussion. The vote was taken after a closed-door meeting that lasted about an hour. Franklin Walker, an associate superintendent, will become the districts new chief administrator as the board seeks as more permanent replacement for Lyles. Taxpayers will still be on the hook for paying her for the next year and a half. In sacking Lyles, the board cited a provision in her contract that allows it to fire her as long as it pays her salary and benefits for the duration of her contract. Lyles pact ends in June 2020. Her base salary is $231,000. Lyles is the second Jersey City superintendent in a row forced out by the school board. A board under entirely different makeup paid her predecessor, Charles T. Epps Jr., $268,200 in exchange for stepping down early in 2011. Thursdays action is the latest twist in a drama that began unfolding on Jan. 2, when the nine-member board told Lyles it will not rehire her when her contract expires. She was first hired in 2012 to lead the 30,000-student school district. That decision was not much of a surprise. After Novembers school election, the number of Lyles allies on the board shrank to three at most. But the timing was unusual. The board does not legally have to give Lyles more than four months notice that she will not be reappointed. On Jan. 24, the board met for a special meeting that featured nearly two dozen teachers and teachers union officials putting the blame for numerous district problems at Lyles feet. During the meeting, JCEA President Ron Greco told Lyles, Pack your bags. The temperature rose on Thursday morning when The Jersey Journal reported on Lyles lawsuit, which cites alleged civil rights violations. Within an hour, the JCEA announced its leadership had taken a no-confidence vote in Lyles and demanded she resign immediately. By Thursday night, the board was met with an auditorium of teachers. Lyles was not present at the meeting. Someone close to her said she was sick. The mood was occasionally boisterous, with a crowd that appeared to know what the board had planned. One man in a JCEA shirt periodically tooted on a mini-air horn. A teacher played a portion of a Hello, Dolly! song called So Long, Dearie into a microphone. The crowd was also largely anti-Lyles. One speakers wish that Lyles has a speedy recovery was greeted with laughter. Many of the speakers were teachers who criticized the condition of schools, the quality of school lunches, student behavior and Lyles overall management of the district. "Treating education like a business and a corporation has been a hallmark of the inner circle of this administration from day one, said teacher Mike Greco. And here we are more than half a decade later and that corporate, top-down mentality of treating 30,000 children like ID numbers with no feelings and emotions has failed miserably. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A North Bergen killer who served a 17-year prison term for aggravated manslaughter and was locked up yet again last week after parole officers said they found guns in his home. New Jersey State Parole officers arrested Fundador F. Bonet on Jan. 24 in North Bergen and charged him with two counts of weapons possession and issued him a parole warrant for violation of his parole conditions, New Jersey State Parole Board spokesman Tony Ciavolella said Thursday. Bonet, 38, shot and killed Charles Mincey, 19, outside a Hoboken public housing complex on Aug. 30, 1997. Bonet, who was 16 at the time, had grown up in the complex. After serving the long prison term, Bonet tearfully told The Jersey Journal during a 2014 interview at his home that he was a changed man. That child died a long time ago in prison, Bonet said during the interview. Im really religious now. I try to keep to my religion and follow it to the best of my ability I wish I could sit down and talk to myself back then and try to get myself to open my eyes before he did what he did." Bonet was paroled on Aug. 29, 2014, but it didnt take long for him get on the wrong side of the law again. He was back in prison from Oct. 14, 2015 to July 13, 2016 for a parole violation. It doesnt stop there. On May 25, 2017, Bonet hung his head and cried after a jury convicted him of a Hoboken aggravated assault. The conviction earned him a three-year prison sentence but he was paroled on Sept. 6, 2018. Last week, he was picked up for most recent parole violation related to weapons offenses and by the next day, he was back in state prison. According to corrections records, his maximum term to finish out the aggravated assault sentence is 191 days. The criminal complaint says an officer conducting a routine visit to Bonets Paterson Plank Road residence found the guns in an unlocked strong box in a dresser drawer that held only Bonets possessions. Children were present when the guns were found, the complaint says, adding that a cell phone and computer seized. Bonet faces another long prison term if convicted due to his prior record. Ciavolella said the Parole Boards investigation into Bonet is ongoing. A worker at a CarePoint doctors' office in Bayonne was charged with stealing $2,300 in equipment, cash and checks from her workplace, police said. Jasmine M. Sanabria-Vargas, 30, of Jersey City, was arrested at her workplace, the CarePoint Medical Health Group office at 744 Broadway, and charged with theft on Jan. 30, Bayonne Lt. Eric Amato said. Sanabria-Vargas has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, said Jennifer Morrill, spokeswoman for CarePoint Health. Workers at the medical office told police on Dec. 27 that numerous items, including electronic and computer equipment, cash and checks, had been taken from the office between Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, Amato said. Sanabria-Vargas was arrested an investigation by the Bayonne Police Detective Bureau. None of the stolen proceeds have been recovered, Amato said. Morrill said no patient information was taken or compromised. A retired Bayonne fire battalion chief allegedly stole 58 items from the citys fire museum and sold them on eBay for more than $25,000, according to court documents released Thursday. Paul Avery, 64, of Tenafly, made his first court appearance on the one count of theft Thursday afternoon in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City. The criminal complaint states that among the items in evidence are printouts of items for sale on eBay and information received by the eBay drop-off center in Pierpont, New York. At Thursdays hearing, CJRC Judge Margaret Marley said the allegations against Avery will be presented to the grand jury and his next hearing will be Feb. 26 before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul Depascale. The charge against Avery is a third-degree offense and carries a possible prison sentence of three to five years, although there is a presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders. Averys attorney, Gerald Miller, declined to comment after the brief hearing. The John T. Brennan Fire Museum, which is owned by the city and is located on West 47th Street, houses artifacts owned by the local Exempt Firemens Association chapter. The building served as a firehouse until 1928 and was eventually converted into a museum. Donny Haiber Jr., a Bayonne fire captain who oversees day-to-day maintenance of the museum, said an inventory of artifacts is being undertaken in the wake of the allegations against Avery. Avery was very involved with the museum and was instrumental in getting the interior in shape for the 100th anniversary in 2006, Haiber said, adding that he painted, refinished cabinets and built display cabinets. A Jersey Journal report from 2006 said Avery restored and cataloged many old photos, prints and documents. When Bayonne police announced his arrest on Jan. 21, a department spokesman said police recovered four of the items that were allegedly stolen three helmets and a speaking trumpet but many others have not been salvaged. Avery retired from the Bayonne Fire Department in 2017 after 36 years on the job. He made an annual salary of $185,448 the year prior to his retirement, and now is paid an annual pension of $129,813. It is unclear if a conviction would affect his pension. In court Thursday, Avery stood beside Miller and said nothing other than when he responded to two questions from the judge. He said he is a United States citizen and is not a veteran. The state was represented by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Pahopin at the CJRC hearing. JERSEY CITY Police have arrested the second man who beat up and robbed an 87-year-old woman as she walked home from church on Saturday. Kelvin Jamison, 18, has been arrested and charged with robbery and conspiracy in connection to the Saturday evening attack in which the woman was punched in the face. It is the second arrest in the assault of Ana Lagundi, who was left with a swollen and black eye and a swollen lip after the attack. Safwan Pridgen, 19, was also arrested and charged with robbery an conspiracy. At the time of Pridgens arrest, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Jamison. Lagundi was walking home from church Saturday evening when two men pushed her down and punched her in the face multiple times before running away with her purse, she said. Suddenly, the person pushed me and punched me. And then I fell down, Lagundi told The Jersey Journal on Monday from inside her home. When Lagundi yelled for help, her attackers muffled her screams, she said. I am shouting. I am shouting, but they gripped me and punched me. They gripped my mouth," she said as tears welled in her eyes. Lagundi, who attends Mass daily at Our Lady of Mercy church, was supposed to be with a companion during the 10-minute walk from home. But she was by herself Saturday evening at around 6:30 p.m. when the two muggers approached her at the bottom of the staircase at the foot of Gates Avenue. The assault was not caught on video, but Jersey City police released footage of the two men prior to the mugging and asked for the publics help in identifying the suspects. I forgive them (the attackers), and I pray they dont do it again, Lagundi said Monday. I hope the Lord guides them to the right way." BAYONNE The city school districts search for a permanent superintendent began in earnest Wednesday night, but only five trustees on the nine-member body will be able to participate moving forward. Board members voted 4-1 to hire Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA), an education consulting firm, for a contract not to exceed $39,900. The firm, based in Illinois, will conduct a national search for a new superintendent. The quorum voted 4-1 on the firm, with Christopher Munoz, Maria Valado, Carol Cruden and Board President Joseph Broderick voting yes. Michael Alonso was the dissenting vote. He cited the higher cost of the firm than the two other competing companies which would have set a contract for less than $20,000. Four members Ava Finnerty, Charles Ryan, Jodi Casais and Vice President Denis Wilbeck were excluded from voting and were not allowed to participate in certain parts of executive session because of a conflict of interest. The four have at least one immediate family member working in the district. Board attorneys cited state advisory opinions that said any board member who has a relative or immediate family member employed in the district would... be prohibited from participating in any and all issues related to the superintendent, including the search, contract approval, and evaluation of performance. Ryan, Finnerty and Wilbeck all voted to hire Wanko in January 2017. Board Secretary Gary Maita said that, at the time, the trustees were covered by a doctrine of necessity because there would have not been a quorum otherwise. HYA has conducted comparable searches in the state, including the Princeton and Ridgewood school districts. The firm was one of three options presented to the board during the open public workshop prior to the meeting; the board heard from officials with the New Jersey School Boards Association and the Education Services Commission of New Jersey. HYA was endorsed by Munoz, who said the company is the premier search firm on the northeast for this type of position in education. "This is Bayonne. We want the best and we will find the best," he said. Alonso disagreed, saying I dont really think this company is going to be able to do something so much more spectacular than (the New Jersey School Board Association) where it justifies spending extra money. The board has less than six months to find a replacement for Interim Superintendent Michael Wanko, who was hired after the board declined to renew longtime Superintendent Patricia McGeehans contract in 2016. Moving forward, only the five non-conflicted members Munoz, Valado, Alonso, Cruden and Broderick will be able to vote on the matter. Now, rather than create a four-member committee for the superintendent since the board has a quorum the district will have additional meetings when issues regarding the search need to be addressed. On Feb. 7 at 6 p.m., the board will meet with HYA for a planning meeting, Maita said. Then, on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., community members and stakeholders will be allowed to ask questions of the firm before moving forward with its candidate selection. A man who kidnapped a woman off the street in Newark has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for her abduction and subsequent sexual assault, prosecutors said Thursday. Jerome Mitchell, 37, had been convicted at trial in June of second-degree rape and second-degree sexual assault in the Oct. 10, 2017 abduction, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. He later pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a handgun during the kidnapping. Mitchell, who was sentenced Jan. 23 by Superior Court Judge Alfonse Cifelli, had approached the 44-year-old woman as she was walking and started a conversation, before grabbing her and taking her to a boarding home in the 700 block of South 18th Street. He proceeded to sexually assault the woman for more than two hours, Assistant Prosecutor Amani Abdellah said in a statement. Authorities said Mitchell, who was represented at trial by the state Public Defenders Office, had six prior felony convictions for drug and weapons offenses. He was on federal supervision at the time of the rape. Under state law, Mitchell must serve at least 22 years of the sentence before hes eligible for parole, according to the prosecutors office. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The good news: You wont have to pay the parking fee at Newark Liberty International Airports Terminal C garage. Bad news? Your car was possibly reduced to a charred shell by a raging fire there Thursday. Terminal C parking garage was closed until further notice after a blaze burned 17 vehicles on the rooftop level of the deck, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Early Friday, all but level 1 had been re-opened. Level 1 remains closed until further notice, the airport tweeted. A Port Authority spokeswoman said Friday morning that a structural engineer deemed the deck to be structurally sound. #EWR Terminal C Parking Garage has been reopened to entering traffic on levels 2,3 and 4. Level 1 remains closed until further notice. [55] Newark Liberty Airport (@EWRairport) February 1, 2019 Newark firefighters rushed to the short-term parking area at Terminal C around 6:40 a.m. and found multiple vehicles burning, city Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Catherine Adams said. Icing conditions will keep terminal C parking garage closed for quite some time at #NewarkLiberty airport after the morning fire. This vehicle is at ground level. @News12NJ @CarissaLawson @KristinaBehr @TonyCaputo @JeremySettle #NJmornings pic.twitter.com/u4u86VjH8g Jim Murdoch News12NJ (@ReporterJim) January 31, 2019 There were no injuries from the inferno, which was brought under control by Newark fire crews about an hour later, the spokeswoman said. NewsCopter 7 over cars on fire at a Newark airport parking garage. #BreakingNews https://t.co/XzHApNkUV3 Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) January 31, 2019 Police detained, but later released the owner of one of the burned vehicles on unrelated traffic warrants, officials said. While the garage remains closed, parking fees are being waived for customers picking up their cars in the Terminal C parking garage today, Port Authority spokeswoman Lenis Rodrigues said. Newark fire officials were investigating what sparked the blaze, but there was no immediate sign it was suspicious. Outstanding job by #PAPD and the Newark Fire Department at Newark Airport's Terminal C parking garage fire this morning. #PAPDPROTECTSNYNJ #newarkairport #newarkfd pic.twitter.com/TGI0avpizq Port Authority PBA (@PAPD911) January 31, 2019 Flights were not impacted by the fire. Emergency crews worked to quell the blaze through brutally-cold temperatures. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Herman's Hermits'of frontman Peter Noone was 16, too young to drink, when he walked into London's legendary Bag O' Nails in the early 1960s, but no matter. J John Lennon ordered the drinks, handling the two-drink minimum by ordering two Coca-Colas for Noone, two shots of rum for himself and then swapping glasses. Eric Clapton was there, as was Marianne Faithfull, Twiggy and members of The Rolling Stones. While The Beatles had already conquered the United States, the other acts were still fighting for world-wide stardom. And yet, the vibe was friendly. "There was a strange camaraderie among us. We all knew each other and supported each other and wished each other good luck," Noone said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. "I used to think, 'Wouldn't it be great to tell this story, about how we were all in the room at the same time?'" The time to tell that story has come: "My Very Own British Invasion" is premiering at Paper Mill Playhouse and runs through March 3.The jukebox musical features 40 songs originally performed by acts including Noone's Hermits, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield and The Animals. Paper Mill is also offering enrichment activities including multiple conversation clubs, a post-performance Q&A with the cast and a pre-show talk with the director. "It's all about the music," Noone said. This "Musical Fable of Rock n' Love" has a powerhouse creative team featuring book writer Rick Elice, whose won Tony Awards for "Jersey Boys" and "Peter and the Starcatcher" and director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, winner of two Best Choreography Tonys for "La Cage aux Folles" and "Kinky Boots." Other Tony-winning members of the creative team include scenic designer David Rockwell; costume designer Gregg Barnes; and lighting designer Kenneth Posner. Bringing the production to Paper Mill is a hint that the team has greater ambitions. Other Paper Mill musical premieres that found a home on Broadway include "The Bronx Tale," "Newsies" and "Honeymoon in Vegas." Another hint of Great White Way dreams? Noone, and he's not even hinting. "I think it's good enough for Broadway," he said. "It's good fun, the idea of it going all the way." Noone first thought of turning his tales into a stage show about five years ago. But if he were going to do that, he said, he wanted the best team he could build. That meant getting Elice and Mitchell on board. Both men demurred, either because of other commitments or lack of interest. Noone would not be dissuaded. "In the famous words of my father, if you're looking for a plumber, you have to wait. Because a good plumber is going to be busy," Noone said. "Persistence paid off. I think it always does." Elice was already familiar with the Bag o' Nails: his late husband, actor Richard Rees, had also frequented the club in the 1960s and had enjoyed regaling his partner with stories from the scene. (Elice wrote about the 34-year relationship in his 2017 memoir, "Finding Roger: An Improbably Theatrical Love Story.") "It's not a place known to Americans, but I knew about the Bag O'Nails, oddly," Elice said. "It was like a karaoke bar for soon-to-be superstars... Whatever was happening, it always seemed to be happening at the Bag O'Nails. They were kids, showing off their wares to other kids, waiting to become famous." Noone shared his remembrances with Elice and the writer saw a story line emerge: "a small story, a love triangle, taking place between the classic, self-infatuated bad boy, the good boy primed for his first love affair, and the English rose, the irresistible young lady spreading her wings and getting ready to fly straight into the sun," Elice said. "It was sort of Helen of Troy, a classic, mythic story," the writer said. "This girl's face would launch a British invasion." The chosen songs move the story along: Herman's Hermits' "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" is one early song, The Animals' "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" follows later, The Beatles' "In My Life" comes farther on. "I was able to select from a breadth of records we treasure now to help me best tell the story," Elice said. "It's a thrilling mass of songs, coming at you like a wave of rock and roll... At the end of act one, a dozen people are playing guitar. It's thrilling." The "good guy," based on Noone, is appropriately named "Peter." His rival, called "Trip," has hints of Mick Jagger. The woman in the middle of it all, "Pamela," is based on Marianne Faithfull. In real life, Noone said, there was no love triangle between the three because "I was only 16 and I wasn't old enough for any of that. Mick got Marianne. I just wanted her." Just as the kids hanging around the Bag O'Nails were largely unknown, the cast is composed of a group of relative newcomers. Of the cast, only three people are older than 30. The rest are under 25, Elice said. "It's a group of 15 people that you do not know who are wildly talented," Elice said. "We wanted to recreate the atmosphere of this club. It would have been odd to look for 'starry' people because (the Bag O'Nails crew) weren't stars yet. it would throw off the balance of the show off if you were looking at actors who were known for doing other things." Among the newcomers is 22-year-old Jonny Amies playing Peter, who also recently notched his first television credit in the Netflix/Eleven Film series "Sex Education." Having spent a summer playing and singing '60s songs at venues throughout Europe with musician friends, Amies comfortable with the music. "One of my first CDs was Elvis Presley's number one hits. I'm a small kid with jet black hair and I was spiking up and doing my best Elvis Presley growl," Amies said. "The part is fantastic. The script flowed and is incredibly funny but also sincere at different parts. And the music is incredible." Amies is the only Brit in the cast -- an ensemble member is a native of Scotland but is a long-time U.S. resident -- something that has not gone unnoticed. "There have been a lot of jokes about me being a one-man British invasion," Amies said. "It's been less aggressive than an invasion. It's more of a collaboration." MY VERY OWN BRITISH INVASION A Musical Fable of Rock and Roll Paper Mill Playhouse 22 Brookside Dr., Millburn, Tickets: $47-122, available online at www.papermill.org. Jan 31-March 3. Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. "Inheritance" By Dani Shapiro (Knopf, 249 pp, $24.95) Every answer we seek stems from the most basic of questions: Who am I? Once secure in that knowledge, perhaps we revise details, but the answer to that question usually remains one of the few constants in life. Not for Dani Shapiro, though. The serial memoirist (this is her fifth) plums a sea change in her origin story. An ancestry test proves the man she adored, her dad who raised her, was not her biological father. And at 54, that revelation shatters, yet eventually completes her world. Reared in Hillside, an only child of Orthodox Jewish parents, both Ashkenazi, Shapiro attended Solomon Schecter Day School, then Pingry. She was well schooled in her family's history; had passed it on to her son. "I had a powerful, nearly romantic sense of my family and its past." Her father, a stockbroker, was religious and loving. Her mother, a homemaker, was more emotionally remote, and didn't seem perturbed her daughter roamed the neighborhood, basking in the warmth of neighbors' homes where moms were home, and cookies were stocked. Shapiro always questioned who she really was, and had spent hours gazing into the mirror, wondering why she was so fair while her family was dark. Family friends with the Kushners, Jared Kushner's grandmother had said to her: "We could have used you in the ghetto, little blondie. You could have gotten us bread from the Nazis." For those of us with small families, a result of pogroms, the Nazis, and eventually age, those sepia-tinted portraits assume tremendous significance. She explains the basic Jewish tenet of L'dor vador (from generation to generation). "I am the tenth and youngest grandchild of Joseph Shapiro, self-made industrialist, philanthropist, a leader of modern Orthodoxy ... I am the tenth and youngest grandchild of Beatrice Shapiro, his beautiful, gracious wife, who was admired by religious women of her generation the world over. I am the daughter of their oldest son, Paul. Everything I am, everything I know to be true, begins with these facts." When her husband did an ancestry test, she did one also. Hers, however, came back with shocking results; she was only half Eastern European Ashkenazi. Shapiro and her husband embarked on a quest to figure out why her genetic makeup was so different from her half-sister's. Shapiro takes readers through the unsettling sensations of having her identity upended in middle age. Far luckier than many, Shapiro was able to puzzle out, with the help of her husband, who her biological father was, and did so, shockingly, in under two days. The quest to meet him and how she processes the knowledge fleshes out the book. It took intelligence, logic, and bravery to follow through on this information. Shapiro was repeatedly lucky. The sperm donor, then a medical student who thought he was anonymous, does respond to her emails. That medical student because a medical ethicist so if anyone were prepared to contend with the moral fallout from this, it would be him. But could anyone be prepared? The story untangled is that as her mother was closing in on 40, and very much wanting a child, she and her husband sought the help of a man doing cutting edge fertility work. That clinic, which ran contrary to accepted practices, is long shuttered. Shapiro writes the man an email she knew would be shocking and gave him an out in case he did not want to respond. He does though. Understandably hesitant, he then withdraws but returns. He lives across the country and has his own family. They correspond and later, meet. As she uncovers this truth about her beginnings, Shapiro asks probing questions. "What do we inherit, and how, and why? The relatively new field of epigenetics studies, the impact of environment and experience on genes themselves. How much had the gene pool of the Waldens - that apparently cheerful extended family I had seen singing on YouTube - formed me? I did not come from the line of small, wiry, dark-eyed people of the shetl, the men swaying over crumbling tombstones, prayer books in their hands. The imprint of pogroms, of the difficulties and sorrows of immigrant life was not mine - at least not in a physical sense." As the book went on, I sometimes felt she was still staring endlessly into the mirror. Yet, given Shapiro's riveting story it's a reflection worth sharing. Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri, Keith Kinkaid, Blake Coleman and the New Jersey Devils will renew their rivalry with Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello and the New York Rangers for the first time during the 2018-19 season when the teams face off at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Prudential Center in Newark. Kinkaid and Lundqvist will go head-to-head in the starting goalie matchup. The Devils have won their past three home games against the Rangers. Join NJ.com's live chat in the comment section, and follow along with live updates in the box above. Here is everything you need to know about the home game: What: New Jersey Devils (19-23-7) vs. New York Rangers (21-21-7) When: 7 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey TV: MSG+ / MSG Live stream: MSG Go A Cumberland County jury was confronted with two narratives in the trial of a man accused of murdering his ex-wife and her infant child. The defense argued that Ricardo Carrillo Santiago, 37, of Millville lashed out in a red fog of shame and rage after his ex, Neidy Ramirez, supposedly insulted his manhood. The prosecution countered that Santiago, who admitted to the 2015 killings in interviews with police, knew exactly what he was doing before, during and after the murders. In the end, the jury found the prosecutions case more compelling, and convicted Santiago Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains. Ramirez and her 3-month-old daughter, Genesis, were reported missing after she didnt show up for work. Her SUV was found abandoned on Route 55. Santiago was interviewed by police and, after changing his story several times, admitted to killing the mother and child in the victims Vineland apartment and disposing of their bodies in a nature preserve. His ex-wife was found buried in a shallow grave covered with leaves. Genesis was found a hundred yards away in a trash bag. Neidy Ramirez and her infant daughter, Genesis, were killed in 2015. (Submitted photos) Ramirez had been strangled and her daughter died of chest compression asphyxiation, which would have resulted from a squeezing of the childs chest for a significant period of time, Assistant Prosecutor Lesley Snock said during the trial. Prosecutors alleged that Santiago left the SUV on the side of Route 55 to divert suspicion that he had anything to do with their disappearance. Santiago was not Genesis father, but is the father of one of Ramirezs other two children. Ramirez had obtained a temporary no-contact order against him following an incident months earlier in which Santiago allegedly threatened her, according to reports at the time. The restraining order expired a week before the killings. Defense attorney Dinaz Akhtar described her client as a devoted father who was trying to reconcile with his wife when he visited her apartment. Ramirez allegedly expressed her preference for another man and taunted Santiago, the attorney said, before throwing a dirty diaper at him. Santiago was consumed by a red fog of humiliation, shame and rage, and lost control, Akhtar told the jury. Snock argued that Santiago could not justify his actions and knew full well before, during and after the murders were committed what he was doing. Santiago faces consecutive mandatory terms of life in prison without parole for the murder convictions and 5 to 10 years on the convictions for unlawful disposal of human remains. Sentencing is scheduled for March 8. A year after he brutally murdered his ex-fiance and her stepsister and then turned his knife on a third woman, Mark Lyczak was sentenced Friday to 47 years in prison in a Camden courtroom full of his victims loved ones. When Judge Thomas J. Shusted Jr. offered him a chance to speak, Lyczak, 45, of Burlington County, said he had no words to say. But the family and friends of his victims, Alysia McCloskey and Colleen Brownell, had plenty of words for him in court Friday, including unforgivable and evil. There is now a hole in my life that will never be filled because he ripped that person from me, Megan Russell, McCloskeys sister, said tearfully as she addressed the court. She said that while McCloskey, 41, and Brownell, 48, were kind, good people who worked to make the world better, Lyczak did the opposite. His life has been a series of bad decisions, she said. Shackled and seated at a table in the courtroom, Lyczak stared blankly ahead and rubbed a finger back and forth on the table as the relatives and friends gave tearful victim impact statements before the judge. He pleaded guilty to two murder charges and one count of aggravated assault on Dec. 10, and will have to serve nearly 40 years before he will be eligible for parole. Lyczak and Brownell had dated for over 20 years, but he was abusive and she left him in the summer of 2017, her friends said in an earlier interview. She got a restraining order but after he violated it and came to her Cherry Hill home, she decided to move in with McCloskey, her friends said. Colleen was repeatedly threatened by him and she took all the right steps and she still wasnt protected, Russell said through tears. I beg you, please take threats like his seriously. Detain them, take them seriously when they threaten people she said. On Dec. 30, 2017, Lyczak showed up at the home on East Narberth Terrace and once inside, stabbed Brownell and McCloskey repeatedly, according to police. The neighbors, also close friends of the sisters, screamed and called 911 as they saw McCloskey lying bloodied on the porch and the knife-wielding Lyczak refused to let neighbors near her. When police arrived, Lyczak was on top of a third woman, identified as his girlfriend. She survived her stab wounds. Step-sisters Colleen Brownell, 48, left, and Alysia McCloskey, 41, were killed Dec. 30, 2017 by Mark Lyczak, 45. (Facebook) McCloskey was the mother of two boys. The oldest is going to graduate from high school this year, her friend said in court. Our grandchildren have suffered the loss of their beloved mother and their aunt, said a woman who identified herself as the stepsisters mother. She said the family is trying to move forward despite the huge loss. Our daughters will always be in our hearts and minds. Nothing will ever change that for us," she said. Many of the neighbors on the dead-end street were close friends. Kelsi Shields said she will miss McCloskeys laugh and their talks on the porch. I knew I could go to her about anything and everything and she would be there with advice and a hug, she said. Mary Sheffield, a friend of McCloskeys for 17 years, said their kids grew up together. McCloskey was a great friend, she said, and Brownell was quickly welcomed into the East Narberth family. I love you both and miss you so much, Sheffield said. Just so you know, we will always be there for your boys and you will always be our East Narberth Angels. In a past interview, Brownells friend, Eileen McKay, said Brownell was a fun, adventurous woman and a great friend. She was planning a move to Florida to reconnect with her adult son, who had been adopted as a baby, when she died. Since her friends death, McKay has been pushing legislators to try to get a law passed that she believes could have prevented Lyczak from killing the two women. The bill would create a pilot program where a domestic violence offender who violated a restraining order would have to wear electronic monitoring devices that would alert authorities if he started getting too close to his victim. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Two heroin dealers who admitted selling the drugs that killed three customers were sentenced to prison in unrelated Atlantic County cases on Friday. Jamal Campos, 25, of Egg Harbor Township, was sentenced to an aggregate 20-year term in prison after pleading guilty last year to charges of strict liability drug induced death and leading a narcotics trafficking network. He will have to serve 8 1/2 years before he is eligible for parole, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office. Adam OGara, of Egg Harbor Township, died of an overdose on April 22, 2016, and the investigation into his death led police to Campos, who was arrested during a 2017 raid at Bayview Inn & Suites in Atlantic City. Prosecutors office detectives and police from several agencies descended on the motel, which was heavily damaged during Hurricane Sandy, and recovered cash, drugs and Airsoft guns during a search of all 80 rooms. Seven dogs were also rescued from the property, along with an alligator living in the swimming pool. Also sentenced Friday was Jonathan Porter, 27, of Trenton, who admitted selling heroin and fentanyl to Tuan Tran, 31, of Galloway Township, and David Hinckley, 52, of Somers Point. Both died of overdoses in 2017. Porter pleaded guilty in November to two counts of first-degree strict liability homicide for drug-induced death. He was sentenced to two concurrent 14-year sentences and must serve at least 85 percent of his time before he is eligible for parole. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Windy with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Bai Xiangqun, former vice-chairman of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, pleaded guilty in court on Thursday in Liaoning province to taking bribes, insider trading and leaking of insider information. Prosecutors accused him of taking advantage of his various positions to help departments and individuals in coal resource allocation, real estate projects, construction contracting and promotions from 1999 to 2018. In turn, Bai solicited and accepted money and property worth a total of 85.2 million yuan ($12.6 million). Prosecutors said Bai used his positions as Party chief of Wuhai city and Xiliin Gol League to illegally transfer public property valued at more than 7.1 million yuan to himself five times from 2008 to 2012. From October 2010 to February 2015, Bai also illegally obtained insider information about several stocks and instructed others to buy them, earning a profit of 17.2 million yuan. The disclosure of inside information also caused others to buy the same stocks, from which those people made a profit of more than 40.5 million yuan. Born in 1962, Bai started his career in 1984 at the education bureau of Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia. He also served as secretary of the Communist Youth League of the autonomous region, mayor and Party chief of Wuhai, and Party chief of Xiliin Gol League. He took the position of vice-chairman of the autonomous region in May 2012. He was placed under investigation in April last year and expelled from the Party and removed from public office in October. Bai made a final statement and pleaded guilty at Dalian Intermediate People's Court. A verdict will be handed down at a later date. Much attention, and understandably so, has been given to what the United States Catholic Bishops discussed at our last November meeting about the crisis of clerical sexual abuse and the accountability of bishops. There was, however, another important action taken by the bishops at our November meeting; namely, the approval of Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, a Pastoral Letter Against Racism. Notwithstanding the progress that has been made since the last century, racism continues to rear its ugly head in our country and in the world. The release of our pastoral letter noted the deterioration of public discourse and the episodes of violence and animosity with racial and xenophobic overtones that have re-emerged in American society in the last several years. Our pastoral letter says that racism is what makes us see the other with suspicion or to attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people. This evil manifests itself in our individual thoughts, and also in the workings of our society itself with regard to people of color. Todays continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth, and representation in leadership positions can also reflect the wounds of racism rooted in the legacy of slavery. This is by no means the first time the Bishops have addressed this issue or other moral issues. Whether it be the right to life from conception until natural death, or a just and humane policy on immigration, or rational principles for the regulation of firearms, the bishops speak up and make an appeal to Catholics and all people of good will on the basis of both faith and reason. All the issues I have mentioned, including racism, are all related to a fundamental truth: the dignity and rights of every human person created in the image and likeness of God and destined for eternal life. In January, we witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Day and the annual March for Life, and for me, the two are related. When I was in Washington for the latter event in 2018, I was invited to celebrate Mass at Georgetown University for a group of pro-life university students. While I was preparing the homily, I took a walk to the Martin Luther King Memorial and I found inspiration from these words of his inscribed on one of the massive walls: I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. Dr. King certainly lived by these words, and I believe that they apply equally to any movement that strives to uphold the God-given dignity and rights of the human person. As the bishops point out, the reform of society and its institutions has to begin with individuals who are motivated to do what is right, and who are prepared to work with others in a common cause for what is right and just. If we say we believe in God, that we love God, then we need to obey God by loving our neighbor, whatever his or her race, ethnicity or religion. And we cannot be silent or inactive when the dignity and rights of others are threatened, confident that right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair is the Archbishop of Hartford. NEW HAVEN In a world that divides people into male and female, Sasha Carney doesnt identify as either gender. So Carney, a sophomore at Yale University, is feeling some relief that the university is taking steps to recognize transgender and other nonbinary people in their student records. Yale Registrar Emily Shandley announced this month that students can register their identity in three ways in the student information system: M, F or N, for male, female and nonbinary. According to a statement from Maria Trumpler, director of Yales Office of LGBTQ Resources, Allowing students to change and enter non-binary genders is a basic best practice that we identified about 8 years ago, and it has taken this long to find the technology to implement it. Trumpler is also a senior lecturer in Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Students also have pressed for the change, including petitioning the administration. The Common Application implemented ways for students to express nonbinary gender preferences in the 2016-17 academic year. Carney, who asks to be referred to by the pronouns they, them and theirs, said in an email to the New Haven Register that navigating a world that labels people as either male or female can be frustrating and disheartening. I think its a shame that birth sex, or the gender you were assigned or thought to be at birth, is so enshrined in our legal and registration systems, Carney wrote. Getting a gender marker formally changed on official records, identification, etc. can be a long and complicated process, requiring proof of surgery in some states, and even when a transgender person does succeed in getting a gender marker change, the marker can still put them at risk. Carney said discrimination is rampant against transgender people who identify as one gender but may appear to be another, or to those who register their gender as X, which is allowed in Oregon, Washington state, Maine, Washington, D.C., and New York City. California allows residents to register as nonbinary on identification and birth certificates. Other universities go beyond Yales three choices. Princeton University offers six choices: cisgender, genderqueer/gender nonconform, man, other, trans/transgender and woman. Students may select multiple gender identities, according to campusreform.org. Other Connecticut universities have not gone as far as Yale, however. At the University of Connecticut, students can identify as male or female at registration and can change their designation by request, according to spokesman Mike Enright. Julia Anderson, program coordinator at the Rainbow Center, the LGBTQ resource center at UConn, said, We do not ask gender questions at all of enrolled students except for registration and in the housing application, where the student can enter any preferred gender. Anderson said incoming students are asked to choose between male and female for federal reporting purposes. For example, males are required to register with the Selective Service System (in case of a military draft) while females are not. Leigh Appleby, spokesman for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, which include Southern Connecticut State University and Gateway Community College, said the system has a preferred name policy and a restroom/locker room policy, but only allows students to identify as male or female in its registration system. Appleby said the Student Advisory Committee is looking at proposing a change to the policy. Quinnipiac University Registrar Joshua Berry said that school allows students to identify as male, female or undeclared. The University of New Havens Gender Identity/Expression Policy states, The University, and this policy, support an inclusive educational environment, which respects individual identities and the right of an individual to express themselves within the University community, but does not specifically list gender choices. Andrea Kovacs, spokeswoman for Albertus Magnus College, said the school follows the federal requirements and allows only for female and male choices. As an example of the complexity of nonbinary gender identification, the Washington state Department of Health published a rule change in 2018 saying that X means a gender that is not exclusively male or female, including, but not limited to, intersex, agender, amalgagender, androgynous, bigender, demigender, female-to-male, genderfluid, genderqueer, male-to-female, neutrois, nonbinary, pangender, third sex, transgender, transsexual, Two Spirit, and unspecified. Yale is required to report gender as male or female to the federal government, and, according to a memo leaked to the New York Times in October, the Trump administration wants to define sex strictly under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex. Sex means a persons status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth, according to the memo drafted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Times reported. The sex listed on a persons birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a persons sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence. Mary Bernstein, a sociology professor at the University of Connecticut who focuses on sexualities, said, The Trump administration is basically trying to make it mandatory that you can only identify with the sex you were assigned at birth and theres a huge amount of pushback. There are about 1.4 million Americans who identify as a sexual identity other than male or female. She said the LGBTQ movement has evolved to increase awareness of nonbinary sexualities. Even though for a long time the movement has been called LGBT, the T part has been given short shrift even within the movement itself, she said, referring to the acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. In 2014, Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBTQ civil rights group, apologized for not being more aware of transgender issues. HRC has done wrong by the transgender community in the past, and I am here to formally apologize, he said at a national conference. I am sorry for the times when we stood apart when we should have been standing together. Even more than that, I am sorry for the times you have been underrepresented or unrepresented by this organization. What happens to trans people is absolutely central to the LGBT struggle. And as the nations largest LGBT civil rights organization, HRC has a responsibility to do that struggle justice, or else we are failing at our fundamental mission. But while there is more awareness of trans and other nonbinary sexualities among the general public, Bernstein said, It cant be understated how important the current attacks are on transgender people and the attempts to reduce their rights and protections. Bernstein said gender has become more public with the achievement of same-sex marriage nationwide, but also with the current presidential administration and debates about bathrooms and debates about transgender people in the military that transgender people are very much under attack. Young people, especially, are becoming more vocal, she said. The idea of challenging the gender binary is not new but its become much more common. I think its part of a growing acceptance of people who are lesbian and gay and I think that has also expanded to understanding sexuality as fluid. I often find it frustrating that gender has to be known within the system at all, and an optimal world would be one where that doesnt have to be registered on e.g. drivers licenses or school systems, Carney wrote in the email. I really appreciate the steps the administration has been taking to mitigate the discomfort this causes trans & nonbinary students, Carney said, calling the nonbinary ID option a huge relief, as trans & nonbinary people often run into gatekeeping of their gender from official systems, the notion that they are not really their gender, or, often in the case of nonbinary people, that their lived experiences and comfort with their identity doesnt really exist at all. Yale also allows students to register a preferred name in addition to their legal name. Students also may record the pronunciation of their name and list their preferred pronouns. More and more, professors are being encouraged to ask students their pronouns in introductions, which saves trans and nonbinary students the discomfort of feeling singled out when they say their pronouns, or having to have difficult conversations after class, Carney wrote. In emphasizing the importance of recognizing nonbinary gender identities, Carney referred to an October 2018 study in the journal Pediatrics, which found that 14 percent of teenagers had attempted suicide, but among those who did not identify as male or female the rate was much higher. Slightly more than half of male-to-female transgender adolescents had attempted suicide, and those who identified as not exclusively male or female tried to kill themselves at a 41.8 percent rate. Its exhausting to live in a world which invalidates your identity at every turn, Carney wrote. Ive met a lot of people, many of them well-meaning, who need a full-scale explanation of my personal experiences with being nonbinary, as well as a political explanation of who nonbinary people are and what position we occupy in society, before they will agree to use my pronouns, or not call me a girl. Formal systems that allow us to take back a little bit of that control as to how we are referred are so important, particularly at college, which for many people (as it was for me) is their first experience of discovering their gender, or being fully out as nonbinary. Casey Odesser is a Yale junior who identifies as nonbinary, which she called unstable, dynamic, fluid. She said she was a bit wary of how the university would use the information and of the wisdom of adding nonbinary to an existing male-female system. Its not natural to have two sexes. Its something thats been manmade, she said. I personally feel that gender is just not a binary and anytime we enforce the fact that it is I feel a whole history of patriarchal violence and sexism. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382. China has achieved real-time transmission of deep-sea data at 6,000-meter depth through Beidou satellites for the first time, according to the Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is one of the breakthroughs Chinese scientists onboard research vessel Kexue, or "Science", made during its latest mission into the West Pacific. The scientists have also upgraded the country's scientific observation network in the West Pacific. The vessel returned to its home port in the Qingdao West Coast New Area in Qingdao, Shandong province on Thursday. The ship sailed more than 12,000 nautical miles during the 74-day mission, the longest distance and time it has covered outside the country since its maiden voyage. Orange Police Department BRIDGEPORT A 50-year-old New Haven man pleaded guilty this week to one count of bank robbery, according to a news release. Vincent Jones pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport on Thursday, according to U.S. Attorney John H. Durham. North Haven Police photo NORTH HAVEN - A Bronx, N.Y. woman was arrested Thursday after she tried to withdraw $3,500 from a victims bank account at TD Bank on Washington Avenue. At 12:30 p.m., officers were sent to the bank for a report of a 911 call that was disconnected. NEW HAVEN For 10 years, students at Fair Haven School have gone beyond a regular college fair and have become part of the action. On Friday, at the schools annual Snowball assembly where students perform dances they learned in their physical education classes alongside college mascots from around the state students and onlooking parents learned some basic facts about 10 colleges and universities from around the state. One day you will be going to college or university; one day you will be there, said Principal Heriberto Cordero. You have to go to college when you grow up. From pre-K to eighth grade, students bounced on the schools auditorium stage in rhythm alongside mascots such as Southern Connecticut State Universitys Otus the Owl and Yale Universitys Handsome Dan. Following each dance, students learned about the various higher education options available to them in Connecticut. Students also learned about the criteria to be eligible for the New Haven Promise scholarship, a public-private partnership that offers New Haven students free tuition to a Connecticut college or university if they have good attendance, a positive disciplinary record, complete several hours of community service and maintain a B-average in high school. U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, told the student body, which has a large number of Latino immigrants, that she, too, is the daughter of an immigrant, and education presented her with options. Education is the great equalizer in this country, she said. Some of the students didnt need much convincing. Eighth-grader Miguel Ramirez said his brother is the first in his family to attend college, and he wants to follow in his footsteps. After high school I have to start thinking about college, he said. Right now, hes hopeful to be admitted to Yale University. Not all of the students at the auditorium were as eager, though. I dont want to go (to college), said second-grader Kelly Mendez. Its too scary. I dont want to meet new people. According to New Haven Promise statistics, students from Fair Haven were better represented among the scholarship programs ranks than any other city neighborhood in the first eight years of the scholarship, with 282 students attending college with free or discounted tuition available for four years. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com HAMDEN Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian and John Lahey, her immediate predecessor, are expected to meet next week as the university weighs the future of Irelands Great Hunger Museum. Through a spokesman, Lahey confirmed Thursday that he plans to meet with Olian. John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations for Quinnipiac, said the university does not comment on Olians calendar. The meeting comes as Quinnipiac reassesses the future funding sources for the museum, which it announced Wednesday in response to press inquiries. The university is in the midst of a rigorous and comprehensive strategic planning process around the critical priorities of student learning and institutional excellence, Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs, said in a statement. Given our many student-centric priorities, our hope is that Irelands Great Hunger Museum identifies diverse sources of support for its programs and initiatives, including philanthropy. The university also decided not to march in or sponsor the New York City St. Patricks Day parade this year. Both the museum, which opened in October 2012, and the universitys participation in the parade began during Laheys tenure. The planned meeting first was reported by the Irish Voice. Lahey, while making clear he did not wish to criticize Olian or presume to make decisions for the school, said Wednesday he was perplexed by the decision not to march in the parade and would consider it horrifying, speaking personally as an Irish-American, if the museum were forced to close. He said the museum shares a story relevant to Irish-Americans in the United States, many of whom live in Quinnipiacs backyard in New York and Boston, and provides an international brand and identity for the school. Its themes, of a peoples encounter with bigotry and hatred, are universal, he said. Lahey said Murray Lender, who provided financial backing for the museum before his death in 2012, was struck by the common relevance of these themes. Attorney Hugh Keefe, who said he served on the Quinnipiac board of trustees for approximately 25 years before leaving in June 2018, said Thursday he was unsure whether the university could withdraw funding for the museum without board approval. If the majority of the board opposed the idea, he believes it would get its way. Keefe, who attended Quinnipiac University and received a distinguished alumni award from the school, said the idea of closing the museum, which he considers a tribute to a terrible situation, was a slap in the face of the Irish Catholic community. He wondered at the motives behind the thought. The Irish have faced discrimination in America before, he noted. Instead of mulling over the future of the museum, the school should be determining what building to name after Lahey, he said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com NORTH HAVEN Town officials, businesspeople, residents and firefighters celebrated the communitys donation of a new drone and gator utility vehicle for the North Haven Fire Department Thursday. Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said the drone and vehicle would expand the departments search-and-rescue capabilities. With the drone, the department can have an aerial vantage point when needed potentially useful when looking for someone lost on the Quinnipiac River or in Peters Rock Park, he said. The gator vehicle will then aid firefighters in getting to and rescuing whoever is in trouble. Januszewski said the drone could also be useful when responding to hostile incidents, such as last years standoff and explosion on Quinnipiac Avenue the department called in two drones for help on that night, he said or after natural disasters like the May tornado, allowing it to see down tree-choked streets or over hazardous areas. This is really unique for us to be able to have this opportunity, said Januszewski. Fire Commissioner Peter Criscuolo said he spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the equipment, bringing approximately $73,000 in funds from 18 town businesses. He has played this role for the department in the past as well, raising money for other helpful equipment not included in its budget. Criscuolo said he has been a commissioner for 24 years, building a relationship with the firefighters and the department over that time. The department is like a home to him its family. I have a passion for the fire department I want to give something back to the community, said Criscuolo. We have the best fire department around. We really do. He credited the donors belief in the team around the department the firefighters, First Selectman Michael Freda as well as his relationship with each of them for making the fundraising effort happen. Chris Ulbrich, chief executive officer of Ulbrich Stainless Steel, said he was the main funder for the drone, donating approximately $23,000. The new technology would help the department with rescue operations, he said it was a practical addition. He said his company also had a fire last year in North Haven. The company, which opened in Wallingford in 1924, has been a part of the community since the 1970s, he said, and he wanted to give back to the department that responded. Ulbrich said while $23,000 is a hefty sum, it was spent on a wise purchase. In the scheme of things, compared to a life or something, it seemed very reasonable, said Ulbrich. Freda said the fundraising effort symbolized how North Haven operates. This is a wonderful, perfect storm of collaboration, said Freda. Thank you everybody for an outstanding effort. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com EAST HAVEN Out of East Havens 125 food service establishments that went through health department inspection from 2017 through the end of January 2019, 16 got perfect scores of 100, another 92 establishments scored between 90 and 99, while 14 scored between 89 and 80, the lowest passing score. All three establishments that failed actually got scores high enough to have passed, were it not for the automatic failure that comes with a 4-point violation, East Shore District Health Department records show. One of those, Sabor Latino Deli at 405 Main St., which failed a Dec. 20 inspection with a score of 82, already has corrected most of its problems and rebounded Monday with a solid 96 after being reinspected, records show. The owner of another establishment that failed its most recent inspection with a score of 87, T-Asian Market at 692 Foxon Road, said he largely has corrected the problems found in his Nov. 7 inspection, although records were not immediately available to confirm that. The owner and manager of the third establishment that failed, Juan Carreno of Bistro Mediterranean and Tapas Bar at 383 Main St., said he takes health inspections seriously and is working to address all the issues the restaurant was cited for. Its already been fixed, he said of a problem with a walk-in cooler that was not consistently keeping food at the correct temperature at the time of a Jan. 7 inspection the reason for a four-point violation that triggered an automatic failure. Other issues an inspector identified, included door gaskets that need replacing, are in the process of being addressed and fixed, said Carreno, who returned Sunday from three weeks in his native Ecuador attending to the health of a relative. If theres a problem we have to fix, well fix it, said Carreno, who is proud of the food Bistro Mediterranean serves and the reputation that the restaurant, run by his two brothers and he, has built over nine years in business. On the other side, the health department, they have to do what they do... Im happy to work with them... Carreno said. Im the first person whos happy to work with them and have my restaurant safe ... I dont want people to get sick. Bistro Mediterranean, which is well-regarded for its food and part of a small chain that has grown to also have restaurants in Norwalk and Westbrook, was sent a letter the day after its inspection from a health department sanitarian. The letter from Registered Sanitarian Hillary Lawrence to owner Juan Carreno warned that it failed based on numerous repeat violation(s) and the walk-in cooler was not maintaining food at proper temperature. The letter listed 11 other violations that were supposed to be corrected within two weeks, including replacing broken door gaskets, labeling the compartments of a three-compartment sink, employees wearing hats or hair nets while preparing food, fixing the rusty floor in a walk-in cooler and explaining cooling and thawing procedure with employees because improper thawing of food was observed during the inspection. Assistant Health Director Alex Cinotti said Bistro Mediterranean had a four-point violation related to temperature. That is one of the most common violations, and also one that often can be a cause of foodborne illness, he said. Bistro Mediterranean and Sabor Latino both failed because of 4-point violations related to the temperatures at which food is prepared, displayed, served and stored. In each case, We believe that they have been taken care of, but we need to get out there and reinspect so everybody knows that theyve been taken care of and theyll be fine, said Cinotti. We will be out there as soon as possible. In T-Asians case, the automatic failure was the result of a 4-point violation relating to its food being wholesome and coming from an approved source. Sabor Latino owner Gloria Hernandez said her restaurants problems related to a lack of walk-in coolers, but she said she solved the problem by cooking in smaller batches during the traditionally slow winter season so she doesnt need to store things in a walk-in cooler. She (Lawrence) wants me to put in walk-in coolers, but there are not too many customers this time of year, so we cook less, Hernandez said. Hernandez said she understood the idea behind the health ratings. Like I was telling her, she comes to do her job and we have to be responsible, she said. Sabor Latino serves Mexican and other Latin American foods, as well as both American and Latin American breakfasts, along with frozen yogurt. The owner of T-Asian Market, Roger Jaruch, said his stores failure resulted from baked pork buns it was bringing in from New Yorks Chinatown, which lacked the required USDA labels necessary for resale. He said he has resolved the issue by getting the buns from a new company that does provide the labels. Jaruch also said he plans to set up a required three-bay sink with separate compartments for washing, rinsing and sanitizing and has addressed several other issues, including covering tofu stored in a cooler and taking greater care to eliminate fruit flies that an inspector came across in the store. He said he has an exterminator come in every month and has had no problems with roaches, mice or other pests. T-Asian moved to a much larger, newer location at 692 Foxon in 2017 after being in business for a number of years farther down the street. Jaruch said the store now has a full kitchen and only a few weeks ago began cooking to order. The 16 establishments that got perfect 100 scores included Big Lots, Blondies Confections, Boston Market, Calabro Cheese Store, Citgo Gas Station at 957 Foxon Road, Dunkin Donuts at 704 Foxon Road, East Haven Community Kitchen, Guachos Tacos, One World Roasters, Overshores Brewing Co., Phils Canteen, Sugar Bakery Cupcake Truck, Sushi East at Shop Rite, Sweet Creations, Talmadge Park Operating Co. and Wendys at 65 North Frontage Road. The lowest passing scores all 82s were given to Krauszers at 540 Foxon Road, Golden Dragon Buffet at 25-75 Frontage Road., Dunkin Donuts at 91 Frontage Road and Donde El Paisa at 851 Foxon Road. While Golden Dragon passed on Sept. 11, it was issued a notice of a public health code violation after a roach infestation was found in the dining room in all the buffet stations and in sushi cabinet. An inspection also found other unsanitary conditions, including mold on the interior of an ice machine, a dirty and greasy dumpster area, a broken gate on the dumpster enclosures and the presence of flies. Assistant Health Director Cinotti said Golden Dragon, which was ordered to have an exterminator come more often and, according to records, to provide a weekly professional exterminator report for a month and then monthly reports for a year hired a professional exterminator, and my understanding is that it is now OK. They had evidence of a cockroach infestation but since then they provided us with evidence of a professional exterminator coming in to take care of the problem, Cinotti said. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com China's research icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, is expected to return from the Antarctic to Shanghai in mid-March, a month ahead of schedule. The return will come after a four-and-a-half-month expedition, according to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration. The ship, on its 35th Antarctic expedition, departed from Shanghai on Nov 2, with missions including the construction of an airfield near Zhongshan Station, completion of the second stage of Taishan Station, continuing the construction of the country's fifth research station near the Ross Sea, and various marine observations and studies. The crew however adjusted Xuelong's voyage route after a collision with an iceberg on Jan 19, when the ship was caught in a sudden thick fog on the Amundsen Sea. The collision broke the ship's mast and left about 250 metric tons of snow and ice on its front deck. According to the administration, Xuelong on Jan 25 arrived at Changcheng Station on Antarctic, where an examination by vessel experts found that its key parts, including its engines, shafts and communication systems, were operating properly. After the repair to its front deck, the vessel departed from Changcheng Station on Jan 29. It will pick up researchers working at Zhongshan Station before it returns home. HARTFORD - Renewable energy producers say the states electricity is cleaner than ever, but the struggle with traditional power sources continues. Renewable and traditional energy industry is at odds, said Mike Trahan, executive director of Solar Connecticut. Both can work together for the betterment of ratepayers, Trahan said. But I dont see us both growing in the same direction. Trahan and others representing renewable energy those who produce electricity through solar, wind, fuel cells or food waste on Thursday told members of the General Assemblys energy and technology committee that progress in reducing the states reliance on carbon-based energy has been significant. But they warned that other states New York and Massachusetts, most notably are doing more and making more progress. Matt Morrissey, vice president of Deepwater Wind, a wind farm off Block Island, said other states are pressing hard to obtain wind and other renewable energy developments. There should be consideration of a long-term program that gives the industry a view of what kind of opportunity exists in Connecticut, Morrissey said. If you see the market opportunity you start to invest...New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts are pressing heavy to invest in their states. Connecticut recently issued a round of clean energy contracts, handing the lions share to the Millstone nuclear plant in Waterford and the Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire. Those two contracts accounted for some 1,256 megawatts of power, or more than 82 percent of the overall bids accepted. The state also accepted 104 megawatts of offshore wind power and approved nine solar projects offering 164 megawatts of power. Three of the projects are located in the state. Environmentalists and the renewable energy industry complained that while Millstone produces clean electricity, the award did little to advance other forms of clean power. Brad Kranz, a vice president for NRG Energy, said traditional energy generators natural gas and oil burners are not attempting to stall renewable energy. We are not about putting up roadblocks or preserving the status quo, Kranz said. We looking forward to working on a plan to decarbonization. But Kranz noted the impact of the subsidies paid to make renewable power affordable can be higher bills for consumers. The cost of fuel for solar and wind is zero, Kranz noted. Its nearly impossible to ensure carbon-based energy is being obtained at the best possible price. Rules and rates Daniel Collins, director of government relations for the New England Power Generators Association, said wholesale electric prices have been declining. But Collins noted transmission rates have gone up 400 percent. Those rates are a main source of revenue for electric companies such as Eversource and United Illuminating. There is a certain amount of gold plating of the system, Collins said. We feel in New England, there has been a more aggressive buildout compared to other systems in the country. Wind farm production has grown significantly in 10 years and the cost of production has dropped dramatically, said Francis Pullaro, executive director RENEW Northeast, which represents the renewable industry. We have reached parity, Pullaro said, referring to the cost of many renewable sources when compared to traditional power sources. If you compare [solar] to a large scale natural gas plant, its about the same, Pullaro said. Prices in Europe have reached the subsidy free zone. Pullaro added We would encourage [the state] to set up a program of long-term contracting for large projects over the next decade. Dont make it harder than other types of lawful development. And work collectively with the New England states. Incentives more generous Paul Michaud, executive director of the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Business Association, said one problem is current rules restrict how much solar power can be built in a given setting, Energy policy is trying to promote solar but environmental policies are saying you must have a letter from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Agriculture Department before going to siting council, Michaud said It is restricting many projects in the state, Michaud added. Trahan said the solar industry is looking for a development system that ensures the 2,000 jobs already created are retained and homeowners see lower electric bills. Incentives for solar in Massachusetts are more generous, Trahan said. The effort [in Connecticut] has been to drive the incentive down as quickly as we can, Trahan noted. Programs are set to expire this year. Confidence in state government is at an all-time low, and there is fear about keeping people in work. bcummings@ctpost.com These days, entrepreneurship is not just a young mans game. Whether its turning a hobby into a business or leveraging decades of experience to carve out a niche, the start-up and small business community in southwestern Connecticut has expanded to a place where more than just millennials can thrive. The age of people starting businesses is pretty amazing, said Anne Hunt, director of the U.S. Small Business Administrations Connecticut district. A 2018 report from the Harvard Business Review found that the average age of entrepreneurs nationwide at the time they founded their companies was 42. While the same report noted that most of those new operations were small businesses like dry cleaners and restaurants, that hasnt kept older generations from branching into industries that have prided themselves on their youth. Take founders of high-tech industry. Overall, the average age of people who founded the highest growth startups was 45. Industry observers in the states startup sector suggest that Fairfield Countys pool of entrepreneurs mirror the national average. In some cases, the older the entrepreneurs have a deeper network and have broader exposure and experience in the industry they are investing in, said Matt McCooe, CEO of Connecticut Innovations. The agency is responsible for helping Connecticut businesses grow through innovative financing and strategic help. Connecticut Innovations has invested in roughly 55 tech companies in Fairfield County alone. One unique aspect of Fairfield County is there are pockets of wealth, McCooe said, so raising capital added to the abundance of people with exposure to different industries has yielded some very accomplished people in the regional startup community. When it comes to gender, the Womens Business Development Council in Stamford, which provides support and resources to women business owners throughout the state, is also seeing an uptick in activity among female entrepreneurship. CEO Fran Pastore said they have seen an increase in women enlisting their services, especially among Latino women, which she said are starting businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts. Pastore said the ages of business owners between 25 to 45 years old has continued to increase among their clientele since the organization was found 22 years ago. I think that it is the time and the space that we are in in society, Pastore said. Theres a new womens movement and women are embracing risk. They want to be in control of their own destiny, they want the flexibility to work hard and they want to build assets. Capitalizing on their skills The wave of older professionals setting out to do their own thing has created a market for several co-working spaces now open throughout Fairfield County. Stamford-based space Comradity Strategy and Creative Resource Center has seen a more mature demographic rent desks or office space for their startups. Many of the entrepreneurs using the Stamford-based business space are in their 40s and 50s and looking to break away from the corporate grind and strike out on their own, according to co-owner Katherine Hern. They have unique insights into the businesses and often worked in the corporate sides that they wouldnt be able to capitalize on by staying in the corporate world, so they do that here, Hern said. Thats what inspired Hern to start the co-working space with her husband, Jim, four years ago. She had previously worked for an advertising agency and spent time around entrepreneurial businesses. You have to really have some expertise in these areas to be able to provide a competitive product and service, know what the channels of distribution are and how to get it out there, Kern said. It takes some chops. You cant just come up with some idea and hope that it will work. Older owners in a budding industry Theres certainly a presence of more mature business owners in the thriving craft brewery market, which has exploded since state law opened the floodgates in 2012. As a result, the industry has grown from a dozen breweries to more than 80, many of which are run by people in their 40s and 50s. Theres definitely some young blood in the industry, but its a mix, said Peter Cowles, chair member for the CT Brewers Guild and founder of Aspetuck Brew Labs in Bridgeport. The 50-year old Fairfield resident started the microbrewery with his wife, Tara, after 26 years in the marketing and business development industry. While he kept his day job for roughly three years after opening Aspetuck, Cowles has since left that behind to run his business full time. The same can be said for dozens of other Connecticut residents who have joined the states $718 million brewery industry in pursuit of their own business dreams. Youre taking people who are seasoned business people who are applying their know-how and knowledge and their experience to this growing industry in Connecticut, Cowles said. All of them started as hobbyist and home brewers, but to take that next step you really have to completely put that business hat on because this is first and foremost a business. Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com Tesla cars and other electric vehicles are having trouble with the cold weather hitting much of the United States. However, Canadians deal with cold weather every winter and Canadian Tesla owners did not have more problems than regular car owners. Both gasoline and electric vehicles become less fuel efficient at colder temperatures, cutting the distance they can travel using the energy they carry. EV Need to Be Programmed so Battery and Car is Warmed and Regular Car Owners Need to Plug in a Block Heater Electric vehicles (EV) can use electricity from the grid to warm and condition the battery while charging overnight. Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plugn Drive, told CBC News that EV owners can program their vehicles to warm the interior so that more battery power can be dedicated to moving the car. Extreme cold does have one noticeable effect on EVs: a dramatic drop in range. When the temperature is -20 C or colder then the EV range can drop by 40%. EV owners can extend their range by using the seat and steering wheel heaters instead of warming up the entire cabin. Electric cars with battery issues cannot be boosted. An electric vehicle needs to be charged, not boosted. Cold Weather Problems for All Cars Problems that all electric and regular cars have. * Window wipers can get frozen in place. * Door handles can get frozen * Windows can get frozen * Doors can get frozen * Warming up the car can take time I have lived through over 20 Canadian winters. When temperatures get below -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) then freezing problems become issues and can become challenging. If your regular car does not have a block heater or was not in a heated garage then it will not start. If there is a lot of blowing snow then snow and ice can cover the side(s) of a car and get into openings to seal windows, doors and keyholes. You can break off the ice on the windows with good scrapers. Frozen Doors The tips on dealing with frozen doors and windows are: * prevent freezing by getting the car into a garage overnight. Ideally it should be a heated garage * try another door and then try to open the frozen door(s). You have more leverage. * Use scrapers * Use a long extension cord and a hair dryer * pour warm water onto and into the door and windows. This can take many trips. I have poured warm water into it to get rid of the ice. Never use hot water to clear a frosted windshield, as it could crack the window. Seats and Tires Freezing Materials can change under extreme cold. I was in Northern Manitoba one year and went into an old school bus in below -40 temperatures. Minus 40 is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit. It is where they cross over. The school bus benches were frozen into a half dome shape and sitting on the frozen plastic was like sitting on a hard block of ice. The rubber compound in all-season tires hardens when temperatures drop below minus 7C, causing them to lose grip, whereas winter tires stay soft and stick to the road in sub-zero temperatures. Colder temperatures will cause tire pressure to drop about 1 psi for every 6C/10F drop in air temperature. At -40 Celsius (which is the same as -40 Fahrenheit) the air will deflate in the tires of a parked vehicle causing the rubber against the ground to go flat and then freeze solid. If you manage to get the vehicle started and in motion, then you will experience what some Canadians refer to as square tires. The frozen, flattened side will cause a very bumpy ride. It may take about 100 meters (110 yards) of driving for the rubber tires to soften up enough to become somewhat round again although they will remain underinflated. Many materials and fluids are generally not rated for minus 40 or less. Record temperatures in Canada have gone to minus 50 to even minus 61 Celsius. When I was in Canada it was usually a once or at most twice a winter thing to get to near or below minus 40. Block Heaters are Standard in All Cars in Canada Lubricating oil freezes in cold temperatures. Block heaters are used to prevent this. Block heaters are pretty much standard in all cars in places with cold winters such as the northern United States, Canada, Russia and Scandinavia. The most common type of block heater an electric heating element in the cylinder block, connected through a power cord often routed through the vehicles grille. In colder climates, block heaters are often standard equipment in new vehicles. In cold climates, electrical outlets are found in public or private parking lots. Electric Motors dont require lubrication from conventional oil. However, they do require a minimal amount of grease for the bearings inside the motor. Cold air is unlikely to spoil the upcoming Spring Festival holiday in most parts of the country, though some travelers may face bouts of high wind and snow on their journeys home for family reunions. Temperatures in most areas in the country are expected to be slightly higher than average and the possibility of freezing rain and snow are "very low", according to the China Meteorological Administration. However, two bouts of cold air are forecast to affect the northern parts of the country around Sunday and again on Feb 7, but they are not expected to bring big temperature fluctuations because they are weak, said Chen Tao, chief forecaster with the National Meteorological Center, in a news conference on Thursday. The seven-day Spring Festival holiday this year will start on Monday. Zhang Zuqiang, spokesman for the administration, said southern parts of the country are expected to experience more precipitation than average during the holiday, and most of it will fall around Feb 7. The region around the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, for example, will receive precipitation of 2 to 4 centimeters, he said. He also said the administration has been publishing special weather reports every day since Jan 18 to serve the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which started on Jan 21. People could get reports from TV, radio and new media channels such as Sina Weibo. Zhang said the country experienced a comparatively warm and dry January, with an average temperature across the country of4.1 C0.9 C higher than average. The country received average precipitation of 11.9 millimeters, 10 percent less than average, he said. Many areas have been stricken by high winds, snow or sleet since a bout of cold air penetrated into the country on Monday and brought a temperature decrease of up to 18 C. On Wednesday, many areas in Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan provinces were engulfed by rain, snow or sleet. The precipitation in some areas was up to 4 centimeters, according to the National Meteorological Center. The center said the cold air penetrated further to affect southern parts of the country on Thursday, resulting in a temperature decrease of up to 12 C. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May demanded that her party reject her own Brexit plan so she could go back to negotiations with the European Union and dismantle an agreement that her government reached with the continent, on an impossibly fast timeline, during talks that have already been ruled out. On every level, it is an insane way to behave. The British government is actively sabotaging the work it has spent the past two years completing and then doing a victory dance. The problems all lie with something called the Irish backstop. You wouldn't know it, given how deranged the party has become about it, but it is a Conservative idea. Their problem was simple: They wanted two contradictory things. On the one hand, the Brexit campaign during the referendum promised to "take back control" from Brussels. That meant returning regulatory decision-making to London. But on the other, it promised that everything would continue as before, with no effect on trade. That is impossible, because as soon as you take back regulatory powers, you have delays on the border with Europe. The whole issue with the border is based on the concept of trust. In the European Union, member states share laws, courts and enforcement procedures. They know that the rules on the slaughter of cattle, the electronic components of cars or the chemical compounds in children's toys are all the same. They can take someone to court if something goes wrong, even if they're in another country, because they have the same institutions. This creates trust. And that's why goods cross over national borders freely, with no checks. That has been particularly crucial in Ireland. After years of conflict, peace was reached in the '90s on the basis of continued cooperation between the north and south of the island. And that meant, more than anything, an open border between the Republic of Ireland in the south and British Northern Ireland in the north. But then Brexit came and blew it all to pieces. Instead of grappling with the hard choices the vote required, May pretended that Brexiteers could have everything they wanted. London would get back control of regulatory decisions. And the border with Ireland would stay open. The fact that these two promises were incompatible was never addressed. She just kept on pretending that it was all possible and that people should have greater faith. There was a weird, and very un-British, quasi-religious undercurrent to all this - a sense that things would work if you just believed in them hard enough, a hatred of practical judgment and a bubbling tide of chest-beating jingoistic nationalism. Brexit was a political project based on the idea that identity politics could answer technocratic questions. If the technocratic question keeps proving problematic, you just need to have more faith in your identity. It was like trying to unlock a door with a slice of bread. That culture has not changed since the 2016 referendum. In the past week alone, three interviews exhibited the kind of fevered puritanism that Brexit has triggered. Conservative Member of Parliament Mark Francois responded to a letter from the German CEO of Airbus, warning that the company might move its factories out of Britain,by tearing it up on live television and saying: "My father, Reginald Francois, was a D-Day veteran. He never submitted to bullying by any German; neither will his son." A former trade minister, Digby Jones, claimed that negotiations are facing difficulties because "the Remainers and especially the establishment elite have set about sabotaging Brexit." One Brexit supporter interviewed on the street by the BBC about warnings from retailers over supply chains insisted that it would "do the country good" to go without food. For her first two years in power, May kept pace with this new political culture. She acted like everyone's Brexit dreams would come true and no trade-offs would ever have to be made. And then, last summer, her Brexit strategy finally acknowledged reality. This involved the backstop. It was an insurance policy. It said that sure, Britain could look for ways to maintain an open border with Ireland while taking control of regulatory decision-making. But if that failed, which it would, Northern Ireland, at least, would have to lock into the EU's regulatory infrastructure so that the EU. would know that the rules on things like cattle slaughter, the electronic components of cars and the chemicals in children's toys were all the same. This would allow the border to stay open, without the need for checks. In essence, it promised that if the fairy tales failed, reality would take over, on a strict timetable. The plan was May's baby. She negotiated it. She even demanded it be extended from Northern Ireland to the whole United Kingdom. But it was just too much bleak practical reality for the Brexiteers. So when she brought it to the House of Commons almost three weeks ago, lawmakers smashed it into a million pieces, with a historic government defeat. After she reeled for a couple of weeks, Tuesday night saw May finally regain some sort of initiative: She grabbed hold of an amendment floating around by Conservative lawmaker Graham Brady and tried to use it to her advantage. It was a very strange and pointless amendment. It said, in a not legally binding manner, that Parliament would back the Brexit deal if "alternative arrangements" were found for the backstop. What were these alternative arrangements? How do you promise to keep a border open while simultaneously not promising to keep a border open? Brady couldn't say. Neither could the prime minister or any other member of her government. They had no idea what they were doing. They just needed some words, any words, that could win majority support in the Commons. The fact that the specific words they chose made no sense was an advantage. If the amendment had made sense, someone would have taken offense at its implications. This is the logic of fairy tale politics. The most common idea among Brexiteers is that they will use "high-tech solutions" to remove the need for checks at the border. But the technology they are wishing for does not exist anywhere on Earth. It is science fiction. Not only did Brady's proposition have no meaning, it was common knowledge before it was voted on that it could not be delivered. The EU has closed the talks on the withdrawal agreement. It has made it quite clear that they cannot be reopened. And even if they could, the backstop took nearly two years to negotiate. There are only two months left before Britain leaves the EU. That's not enough time to do whatever it was lawmakers voted for Tuesday night. That's what made the debate so truly pitiful. It was a return to the world of fairy tales and hallucinations, of the kind of quasi-religious nationalist politics that have fueled the Brexit project from the start. British politicians were confronted with reality and given a chance to fix the problems with Brexit instead of pretending there weren't any, and they once again fled back into mythmaking. The country is now on the verge of disaster. On March 29, unless something is done, Britain will fall out the European Union without a deal. That will affect every aspect of the economy. It's likely to block haulage cargo at the border; pulverize agricultural exports; trigger shortages of food, medicine and radioactive isotopes; spark employment chaos by suddenly canceling the mutual recognition of qualifications between British and European institutions; halt the legal basis for data transfer overnight; and lead to massive and sudden flows of immigration in both directions. The list goes on and on. There is no part of society that is unaffected. And yet not only does the British political class not seem to understand the consequences of what it is doing, it is lost in populist fantasies instead of addressing the cold reality. Britain is one of the richest and most advanced democracies in the world. It is currently locked in a room, babbling away to itself hysterically while threatening to blow its own kneecaps off. This is what nationalist populism does to a country. - - - Dunt is the editor of politics.co.uk and the author of "Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now?" Last week, Oxfam International released its annual report which found that altogether, the wealth of the worlds 26 wealthiest people hit $1.4 trillion in 2018, which is as much as the total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest people. Let that sink in: 26 people have the same amount of money as 3.8 billion. The study was published ahead of the start of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which is attended by some of the worlds most high-profile business leaders and policymakers. In 2018, the average speaker at Davos had a net worth of $414.3 million. RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Republicans doubled down Thursday on their effort to paint Gov. Ralph Northam and other Democrats as radicals who favor infanticide, a sharp shift in political strategy after years of trying to minimize socially divisive issues to win back suburban voters. And Democrats, who helped create the furor through missteps and unclear statements, also dug in on abortion, trying to paint Republicans as extremists looking to meddle in women's health care. It was Day 2 of partisan warfare over an issue that hadn't been on the Virginia political agenda for years. The turn was even more remarkable for the personal subtext. House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, is a longtime colleague of Northam's and the two have enjoyed a close working relationship. But with control of the General Assembly at stake in this fall's elections, both sides were aggressive. The uproar began this week when freshman Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, pitching a bill to loosen restrictions on late-term abortions, said the measure would allow a woman to terminate a pregnancy until the moment she gives birth. Northam, a pediatric neurologist added to the furor in a radio interview with comments that Republicans took as an endorsement of killing live babies after delivery. National Republicans - including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence - and conservative media outlets seized on Northam's remarks, flagging him as an example of a Democrat with a frightening agenda. Tran, a first-term lawmaker from Fairfax, said Thursday that she "misspoke" and acknowledged she was poorly prepared to present the bill and misrepresented what it did. But Northam called the infanticide charge "disgusting" and stood his ground, as did Republican leaders. The two sides held dueling news conferences just hours apart on Capitol Square. At the GOP gathering, Cox said, "I really do feel like we're at a crossroads in Virginia. I think the Democrats have been very, very clear...that their goal is to flip this legislature, flip this House of Delegates and this [abortion bill] will become law." Asked if he truly believed Northam was advocating infanticide, Cox said: "He was very clear in what he said and I think that was very disturbing." At his own news conference, Northam did not clarify his remarks from the day before; instead he gave a full-throated endorsement of abortion rights and attacked Republicans. "We believe that reproductive freedom leads to economic freedom for women. Virginia Republicans have long advocated for taking those rights away," Northam said. "There is a stark choice and Virginians time and again have chosen to support women and their reproductive health." The drama over abortion has been a jolt in a legislative session that was otherwise entangled in arcana over tax policy. Tran's bill would not have fundamentally changed abortion law in Virginia, where late-term abortions are already legal under extreme circumstances. But it would have made the procedure easier to obtain. Currently, a woman can terminate a pregnancy in the third trimester only if her life is at grave risk. Tran's bill would have allowed a single doctor to sign off on the procedure, instead of the three now required. It also would have removed language requiring that the danger to the mother be "substantial and irremediable." A subcommittee tabled the bill on a party-line vote on Monday. Similar measures have been introduced and failed for the past three years, and a companion bill died in the state Senate last week without comment. But video of Tran presenting her bill to the subcommittee was posted Tuesday by The Republican Standard and sent out by Virginia Republicans that night. On Wednesday, Northam was asked about the bill on a radio interview and gave a response that escalated the outcry. The procedures, Northam said in the WTOP interview, are "done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus that's not viable. So in this particular example, if a mother's in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother." Fox News, Breitbart News, Buzzfeed, the Republican National Committee and national figures including Trump, Pence, Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, weighed in, and Twitter storms accused Northam of endorsing the killing of live babies. Amid the tumult, Northam's office made clear the governor was talking about prognosis and medical treatment, not ending the life of a delivered baby. On Thursday, Cox characterized Northam's words as "hard to believe." Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, the House majority leader, was more direct: "Remember he first said resuscitate the child if that's what the parents wanted. ... The fact that any physician, any God-fearing human being would do anything other than try to breathe life into that child is abhorrent to many of us. and so I can think of no other option at that point other than to allow this living human being to live... and the governor meant something completely different than that." The 2017 state elections nearly wiped out Republicans' 2-to-1 majority in the House, leaving the GOP with the thinnest of margins. They hold control over the Senate by two seats and the House by three seats. Until now, Cox has quietly tried to avoid the socially divisive issue of abortion, preferring to position his caucus as moderate problem-solvers in an effort to win back suburban voters who have been abandoning Republicans in recent elections. But that strategy shifted this week. "They think that they can make this into an issue that dominates not only this election cycle, but makes the case they wanted that Republicans both in Virginia and in the nation want to make, which is: The Democrats are a scary group of people who are going to ruin your business and justify all kinds of immoral activities," longtime Virginia political scientist Bob Holsworth said. Even Republicans close to Northam were lined up behind their leaders. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, one of Northam's closest friends in the legislature, said he believed the governor was talking about infanticide. "Virginia is the petri dish of the radical left now," Stanley said. "Ralph Northam as I've known him is a very plain speaker, he does not fumble over words. He chooses his words very carefully... His words were plainly spoken and were not subject to other interpretations - he doesn't talk that way." Asked at the news conference Thursday to clarify his comments to WTOP, Northam spoke in broad generalities. "As a child neurologist, I have had very difficult conversations with patients and their families during very tragic times, and that is why those discussions should be between a physician such as myself and a patient," he said. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, D, - who has announced his intention to run for governor in 2021 - took the opportunity to remind voters about a now-infamous 2012 GOP bill that would have required most women seeking an abortion to undergo a vaginal ultrasound. That legislation was ultimately modified to specify a less-invasive abdominal ultrasound, but not before turning Virginia Republicans into a punchline for late night comics. "For years Virginia Republicans have thought up more extreme and complicated ways to put themselves in the way of a woman's right to make her own health care decisions," Herring said at the news conference. "These Republicans have tried to force women to undergo an invasive and demeaning vaginal ultrasound. They keep trying to close women's health cetners that provide cancer screenings and family planning. These Republicans have tried to ban some forms of contraception. And these Republican legislators would deny women the right to choose even in the case of rape and incest." "And now Kirk Cox has taken his caucus completely off the deep end, accusing Gov. Northam of supporting infanticide, which would be laughable, if it weren't such a grotesque and abhorrent claim," Herring said. Getting cannabis off Schedule 1 of the federal Controlled Substances Act is the biggest goal of the marijuana industry. A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would accomplish that goal by requiring cannabis be regulated like alcohol instead of like heroin (which is another drug on Schedule 1). H.R. 420, called the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, would remove marijuana from the Schedule I list of controlled substances and put the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in charge of regulating cannabis instead of the vehemently anti-marijuana Drug Enforcement Agency. Its just one step shy of making marijuana legal nationwide. But does it stand a chance of passing? Certainly, with the Democrats now in control of the House, it at least is expected to get a fair hearing. Tom Angell, a cannabis advocate who runs Marijuana Moment, told Politico: For the past several Congresses, there have been dozens of pieces of marijuana legislation filed, but this is the first time where advocates can legitimately say that some of these bills can actually pass. Related: Your Cannabis Company Can Get a Bank Account but Not Easily What Is H.R. 420? Introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon, the bill number is a reference to 420. That date - April 20 - has become a national holiday of sorts for marijuana advocates (the story behind it is interesting and has nothing to do with a date, but with a time). Blumenauer told Willamette Week that while the bill number is tongue in cheek, the issue is very serious. Oregon was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. Blumenauer is co-founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, which he started in 2017 along with Dana Rohrabacher of California, Don Young of Alaska and Jared Polis of Colorado. The bill would accomplish a long-time goal of Blumenauer in allowing states to set their own laws on marijuana without fear of interference from the federal government. The bill also taxes and regulates marijuana in the same way tobacco and alcohol are regulated. On his website, Blumenauer says that while states have taken action on marijuana, its created a patchwork of laws around the country. He adds, Congress has the power to unravel this mess. Related: Oregon Has So Much Extra Weed, It Wants To Export It To California Why Is H.R. 420 Important? The DEA has for many years refused to remove marijuana from Schedule 1, which keeps it on par with heroin and cocaine and creates serious drawbacks for entrepreneurs in the weed business. For example, banks do not provide routine business services to companies involved with marijuana because for fear they will run afoul of federal money laundering law. Thats left many pot businesses operating on a cash-only basis, which leaves owners, employees and even customers more vulnerable to crime. The illegal status also has limited research on marijuana in the U.S. Regulation by the ATF, however, would lift restrictions on research and remove the fear of a potential federal crackdown on states where pot is legal. In theory, it also would allow the sale of marijuana across state lines -- something important to Oregon, where there is currently a cannabis glut. Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: Congress Is Seriously Considering Regulating Weed Like Alcohol 3 Cheers for the Rising Stars of Cannabis Your Cannabis Company Can Get a Bank Account but Not Easily Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved GREENWICH First Selectman Peter Tesei will not run for re-election this fall, ending his time as Greenwichs top elected official after six terms when his term is up in December. Tesei made the announcement Friday afternoon before a crowd of nearly 50 people, including his mother, ending months of speculation about his political future. Its time to finish this journey and begin a new one with the same focus, passion and determination that Ive shown these past 31 years in Greenwich government service, Tesei said, promising to enjoy his remaining months in office. I will continue to say and will say until my dying day that we are here to put Greenwich first. Greenwich first is what you believe in if you believe in the values of the community. Its not a political statement, its just what you do. Tesei recalled his first run for office 12 years ago and looked back over his accomplishments, including overseeing the construction of Glenville School, the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center and, most recently, New Lebanon School. A Republican, Tesei also noted the creation of a harbor management plan, the work of the First Selectmans Economic Advisory Committee, the dredging of the Mianus River, the creation of Cos Cob Park on the old power plant property, a new municipal pool and other advances in areas like public safety and the environment. And he did it all he said while overseeing a fiscally responsible government. I could not have accomplished any of this without others, Tesei said, crediting his family, friends, staff, town department heads and everyone else who helped make his time in office a success. The cheering crowd of Teseis bipartisan supporters included several current and former town officials, including Selectman John Toner, state Rep. Livvy Floren, R-149, former state rep Michael Bocchino and former Selectmen Drew Marzullo and Peter Crumbine. Bocchino and Bea Crumbine, who serves as the towns ambassador-at-large, led the applause. In saying his thank yous, Tesei repeated a phrase he has often used: it is a government of we, not me. Republican Town Committee Chair Richard DiPreta said the town was fortunate to have had Tesei as first selectman. Peters devotion and tireless dedication to this town have in no small part made Greenwich the premier destination for people of all ages to live and raise a family, DiPreta said. His strong principles of sound fiscal stewardship have allowed Greenwich to succeed where so many other towns in our state have not. Tesei had previously indicated he would run for a seventh term, remarking at an October state-of-the-town luncheon for the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, I would like to continue what I do. But in November, Tesei expressed more doubt and said the political environment had become increasingly more negative and, frankly, not the same ... from when I initially got involved. On Friday, Tesei said he would soon turn 50, calling it a milestone. Having looked at 32 years of service to the town, he said, I could have said I was going to do this until no one wants me to do it. Or theres a big world out there with a lot of other opportunities and venues for which I can apply the skills and experiences I had that will help me become a much broader person in life. Questions about his political future had begun in earnest last spring when Tesei agreed to run for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor on a ticket with then-gubernatorial candidate Erin Stewart. Teseis alignment with the mayor of New Britain ended when she later abandoned her gubernatorial bid and ran for lieutenant governor instead. But he put her name into nomination for governor at the State Republican Convention and campaigned with her during her unsuccessful primary run. The first candidate has already thrown his hat in the ring to run for the open seat in the first selectmans office. BET member Michael Mason, a former chair of the finance board, made his candidacy official on Friday to seek the Republican nomination. State Rep. Fred Camillo, R-151, is expected to soon follow. Both men praised Tesei on Friday. Mason said the town was losing a good leader, and Camillo saluted Teseis lifelong dedication to the town, starting with his election at age 18 to the RTM. He set an example of civic engagement and commitment that will long be remembered, Camillo said. When asked Friday about his future, Tesei, a father of two, said his family would be a big focus. The kids deserve to have a father who is available more predictably, rather than running off to meetings or saying, I can take you but wont be able to watch it because I have to go deliver this proclamation, Tesei said. It was really taking into consideration their needs and what I think is right for them. But he said he would continue to be interested in community service and civic life after his term is up. Id like to take the experiences that Ive had and apply them either in a nonprofit or governance (role) or in a small business or startup company, Tesei said. Certainly, I would want it to be something thats mission-focused, has the need for someone to manage and execute based upon plans and really communicate. I really enjoy being around people. Tesei began in politics as a teenage member of the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting and later included time as chairman of the Board of Estimate and Taxation. He was first elected as the first selectman in 2007. His six terms in office set a record for Greenwich, breaking the run of five terms as first selectman held by John Margenot. At his announcement, Tesei thanked his political mentors, including Floren, Town Clerk Carmella Budkins and former town Registrar of Voters Veronica Musca as well as BET member Leslie Tarkington and former BET Chair Stephen Walko. And he also specifically credited former First Selectman Rebecca Breed. Had she not given me the time in 1983, sitting in an office across the hall, I would not be standing here today, Tesei said. When she was first selectman, she took the time to mentor me and talk to me about what the job is all about. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com RIDGEFIELD Settling on one of the three senior tax breaks suggested to them, the selectmen agreed to propose to voters that the upper income limit for participation in the towns senior tax deferment program be raised from $55,000 to $65,000 a year. Under the deferment program, qualifying seniors can live in their homes for years without paying annual tax bills from the town. The program allows the accumulated tax debt to be paid when their house is eventually sold because theyve moved, or by their heirs. Pensions are still very, very flat. Social Security has not increased at all. Our cost of living has fallen behind our income, said Dr. John Fisher, president of the OWLS senior citizens group, urging the selectmen to act. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Assessor Al Garzi was recommending the change from $55,000 to $65,000 as a first step with a further increase to $75,000 possible, based on how many people take advantage of the deferments. Al said change it from 55 to 65 how many are out there, we dont know and then consider if you want to go to 75, based on the response, Marconi said. The selectmen agreed by consensus to put the program on a path to approval that Marconi described: drafting of a revised ordinance by Garzi, a review by town attorneys, then a public hearing followed by a town meeting where voters will consider approving the revised ordinance. In the Jan. 23 discussion, all five members of the Board of Selectmen appeared to support the change. Three proposals It was early in last years budget proceedings that Fisher, the OWLS president, put forward three proposals to reduce the tax burden on seniors. One was the deferment program the selectmen are now pursuing except Fisher had proposed raising the income limit more, from $55,000 to $75,000. All Ridgefield seniors now get a $1,048 tax credit that they can deduct from their tax payments to the town, and Fisher had also asked the selectmen to increase that to $1,200. Fishers third propsoal was a freeze against any tax increases that seniors could take advantage of once they reach the age of 75. What I gathered from being at meetings, and also newspaper reports, you were not terribly thrilled, Fisher told the selectmen. Now, Fisher said, he was scaling back his ambitions and hoped theyd pursue at least the deferment program, which benefits only relatively hard-pressed senior taxpayers. Assessor Garzi proposed some changes to the ordinance designed to make the program more user-friendly that he will work into the revised wording, Marconi said. Costs Earlier in the fall the selectmen had reviewed research by Garzi on the potential costs of proposals under discussion. Currently, the tax credit program giving any taxpayer 65 or older $1,048 off their tax bill is enjoyed by 1,675 households that receive a total of just over $1,739,000 a year, Garzi said. Increasing the tax credit from $1,048 to $1,200 as requested by the OWLS a $152 per taxpayer increase would cost the towns other taxpayers an additional $254,600 a year, Garzi projected. A smaller increase, to $1,100, would cost $87,100 annually, he said. On the proposal to freeze taxes for property owners over 75, Garzi said there were 949 households with taxpayers over 75 that would qualify. He projected that with annual tax increases of 2 percent by the town, the proposal to exempt people over 75 from the increases would require about $225,000 a year more from other taxpayers. As for the senior tax deferment program the selectmen want to raise the limits on, Garzi said that with only senior households with annual incomes of $55,000 or less eligible there are 47 senior taxpayers deferring their taxes. The total of deferred taxes is about $2 million, Garzi said. Town official say they dont know how many more people would try to take advantage of the program if the limits were raised, or how much would be deferred. For all the months of public discussion, Garzi has had relatively few taxpayers show interest in the deferment programs potential expansion. He said hes had two, three people inquire about it, Marconi said. The latest round of China-U.S. trade talks made important progress for the current stage, and the two sides had candid, specific and constructive discussions, the visiting Chinese delegation said on Thursday. Guided by the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state in Argentina, the two sides discussed the topics of trade balance, technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), non-tariff barriers, service sector, agriculture and enforcement mechanism, as well as certain issues of particular concern for the Chinese side. The two-day talks in Washington, which started on Wednesday morning, were led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, with the participation of dozens of senior officials from both governments. Liu and Lighthizer held candid, specific and constructive discussions in particular on such topics of common concern as trade balance, technology transfer, IPR protection and enforcement mechanism, as well as certain issues of particular concern for the Chinese side, according to the Chinese delegation. Important progress has been made for the current stage, and the two sides also determined the timetable and roadmap for next-step consultations. Both sides attach great importance to the issue of IPR protection and technology transfer, and have agreed to further enhance cooperation in this regard. The Chinese delegation said that creating a market environment of fair competition goes in line with the general direction of China's reform and opening-up, and therefore the Chinese side will actively address relevant U.S. concerns. The two sides have agreed to take effective measures to promote a more balanced development of bilateral trade. The Chinese side will make active efforts to expand imports from the United States in the sectors of agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services, which will help China's pursuit of high-quality economic development and meet the people's demand for a better life. The two sides also discussed some specific concerns of the Chinese side, and the U.S. side said it would seriously address these concerns. Both sides believe that it is very important to establish an effective two-way enforcement mechanism, so as to ensure all measures agreed upon through consultations will be implemented. They have reached consensus in principle on the framework and basic elements of the enforcement mechanism, and will continue to hammer out more details. The world has been watching the China-U.S. trade talks closely, with many hoping for some substantial, positive progress to be made. The talks marked a significant step in the implementation of the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump during a working dinner in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 1. The two heads of state agreed back then that the two sides should try to reach a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement within 90 days to bring an early end to their months-long trade friction featuring massive tariffs on imports from each other. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Danbury police arrested Navindra Ramdass, 31, of Danbury, on Jan. 26, for first-degree threatening, carrying a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct after he allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with a handgun that turned out to be a BB gun. While the incident between the two did not escalate to a physical altercation, police said, the victim was frightened by the gun, as well as Ramdasss statements, to the point that she feared for her safety. Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media DANBURY Local high school parents can learn more about online safety for their children next week at a presentation with longtime law enforcement official and internet safety expert Scott Driscoll. The Empowering Smart Online Choices seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Danbury High School. BROOKFIELD Residents at The Village at Brookfield Common knitted hats Thursday afternoon for babies to raise awareness for congenital heart defects. The program was part of Little Hats, Big Hearts, an initiative through the American Heart Association that encourages volunteers to knit red hats for babies born in February. February is American Hearth Month. STAMFORD For decades, some of the countrys leading universities, museums and hospitals have opened wings, halls and new buildings bearing the name Sackler. But the shine has come off the letters embedded in all that marble and granite, as members of the Sackler family have become targets for a growing number of prosecutors and protesters pursuing their company, Purdue Pharma. Recently released documents in lawsuits filed by the attorneys general of Connecticut and Massachusetts accuse the Sacklers of fueling the nations opioid crisis through relentless and deceptive marketing of Stamford-based Purdues top-selling drug, OxyContin. In turn, activists are piling pressure on recipients to disavow the family. But beneficiaries such as the University of Connecticut, Greenwich Hospital and Yale University havent renounced one of the countrys most prolific philanthropic families, or their many millions. Particularly for the likes of UConn and Yale, but potentially also for others, this debate is more of a public relations and branding question, than one about charitable giving, said Karla Fortunato, president of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. From where I sit, charitable giving is always good. But I can see how organizations could decide for PR reasons, organizational values or brand reasons not to take these dollars. Litany of allegations The Connecticut and Massachusetts lawsuits the first two filed by states that name Sacklers as defendants assert that eight family members, who control a majority of the companys board seats, have driven a concerted campaign to push sales of Purdue opioids. At a launch party for OxyContin which went on the market in 1996 Richard Sackler predicted a blizzard of prescriptions that will bury the competition, according to the Massachusetts complaint. In addition to his board membership, he was a Purdue senior vice president at that time and later served as the companys CEO. The Sacklers then allegedly directed thousands of sales-representative visits to doctors that distorted the drugs risks and benefits and encouraged dangerous dosages. In the coming years, Connecticut and Massachusetts like the rest of the country saw opioid-related deaths skyrocket, driven by escalating prescription-painkiller abuse. In Connecticut, 474 people died of heroin-related overdoses in 2017, compared with 174 in 2012, according to the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Addiction to the prescription painkillers fomented a surge in the use of heroin and other inexpensive and widely available street drugs. Today, OxyContin generates most of Purdues estimated annual sales of more than $3 billion. Through the years, the Sackler defendants have paid themselves and their family billions of dollars from those opioid revenues, Massachusetts alleges. Purdue said in a statement that Massachusetts litigation is littered with biased and inaccurate characterizations and that the company and individual defendants a list that also includes current Purdue CEO and President Craig Landau would aggressively defend against these misleading allegations. Meanwhile, the Manhattan-based Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm plans to add the Sacklers as defendants to about 250 lawsuits filed against Purdue by cities and counties that it represents. In recent years, more than 1,000 cities and counties and about three-dozen states have sued Purdue as a company. Major donors Long before the legal barrage, the Sacklers had established themselves as philanthropic powerhouses. Their combined net worth has been estimated at $13 billion. The late Raymond Sackler who bought Purdues predecessor company in 1952 with brother Mortimer and his wife, Beverly Sackler, gave millions of dollars to an array of organizations. UConn ranks as one of their largest beneficiaries. The states flagship public university received donations totaling about $4.5 million from the couple and their foundation between 1985 and 2014, according to UConn officials. Some $3.1 million benefited the UConn School of Medicine, while another $1.2 million supported the School of Fine Arts. Those contributions largely supported endowments to fund research, programming, student scholarships and faculty initiatives. The couple also gave smaller amounts to other areas, including UConns global affairs department and university libraries. None of their donations related to research, teaching or programs focused on pain management covering opioids, UConn said. All of their substantial gifts were made before 2012, according to the university. Raymond Sackler died in 2017, at the age of 97. A message left for a representative of Raymond and Beverly Sacklers side of the family was not returned. Yale University is another major recipient. Its Raymond and Beverly Sackler Institute for Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences focuses on research and teaching initiatives and hosts faculty specializing in arts and sciences, engineering and applied sciences, and medicine. In the Sacklers longtime hometown of Greenwich, Greenwich Hospital houses the Sackler Center for Pain Management. Its services focus on alternative pain-management interventions, which do not include prescribing Purdue-made opioids, according to the hospital. Raymond and Beverly Sacklers donations to the hospital date to 1991. Their support included a $500,000 gift, according to the hospitals 2014 annual report. Sackler family members are also prominent museum benefactors. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, the Sackler Wing houses the Temple of Dendur from ancient Egypt. The Sackler family has been connected with The Met for more than a half century, Daniel Weiss, The Mets president and CEO, said in a statement. The family is a large, extended group, and their support of The Met began decades before the opioid crisis. A few blocks up Fifth Avenue from The Met, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum houses the Sackler Center for Arts Education. In addition, several museums bear the name of the late Arthur Sackler, brother of Raymond Sackler. His 1982 donation paid for the construction of the building that originally housed the Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard, but his foundation does not fund the museum, the university said in a statement. In Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institutions Arthur M. Sackler Gallery opened in 1987, following his 1982 donation of more than 1,000 works of Asian art and a $4 million contribution toward construction of the centers building on the National Mall. Arthur Sackler died in 1987. Alongside philanthropy, his major professional pursuits encompassed extensive scientific research and editing and publishing medical publications. The widow and children of Arthur Sackler have said in recent statements that they have not financially benefited from OxyContin sales and that he is not at all culpable for the opioid crisis. Pressure on recipients In contrast with political organizations, such as the Connecticut Democratic Party, that have also received major contributions from the Sacklers, leaders of museums, universities and hospitals have appeared wary of distancing themselves from the family. Allegations in the Massachusetts case are deeply disturbing, said UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz. But the university does not plan to give back any Sackler donations. Returning the money to the Sacklers would not undo the damage of the opioid crisis or punish the family or the company they are associated with, Reitz said. Rather, it would hamper the work of UConn students and researchers who have no connection to the issues at hand and have done nothing wrong. The universitys decision on whether to accept more gifts from the Sacklers would depend entirely on the donations purpose (and) would need to be for a good and worthy cause, Reitz said. State Sen. Tony Hwang , R-Fairfield, agreed with UConns decision to keep the money because he said he was satisfied with the universitys explanation that it had not used the funds to support opioids. But the co-ranking member of the Legislatures Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee would not support the university taking additional donations from the family. By not accepting any future money from the Sacklers and their foundations moving forward, UConn has an opportunity to send a powerful statement in joining the fight against the opioid crisis, Hwang said. State Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport, co-chair of the Higher Education panel, also called for greater scrutiny of the universitys ties to the Sacklers. The truth of the matter is that Purdue Pharma misled and exploited both patients and doctors, contributing greatly to the prescription-drug crisis that now plagues so many Connecticut residents, Haskell said in a statement. I believe the university should strongly consider its continued relationship with the Sackler family, including renaming buildings and awards that bear the Sackler name. Other organizations that have taken Sackler dollars are less direct than UConn in answering questions about the familys largesse. But none are primed to return contributions or rename Sackler buildings or programs. We appreciate the current issues surrounding the Sackler family, and we are reviewing the nature of the gifts and the use of those funds, Dana Marnane, Greenwich Hospitals vice president of public relations, said in a statement. The Met is engaging in a further review of our detailed gift-acceptance policies, and we will have more to report in due course, Weiss, the CEO and president, added in his statement. And Smithsonian officials said in a statement that they give careful consideration to the process of naming. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery would keep its name in perpetuity, according to the donation agreement. Messages left for a Yale spokeswoman were not returned. But University President Peter Salovey told the Yale Daily News in 2017 that generosity from the Sackler family has funded issues core to Yales mission. The Committee to Establish Principles on Renaming at Yale formed as the university was debating whether to rename a college named for 19th-century U.S. Vice President and slavery proponent John Calhoun (it did), issued a document in 2017 that stated: the presumption against renaming is at its strongest when a building has been named for someone who made major contributions to the University, according to the university paper. Grassroots groups are not satisfied. They want institutions to cut financial ties with the Sacklers and remove their name from buildings and programs. At an Aug. 17 demonstration outside Purdues headquarters at 201 Tresser Blvd., protesters deposited pill containers in front of the main entrance. The capsule labels listed the Sacklers as the prescriber, with a warning of extremely addictive, will kill and an Rx number of 200,000 dead, referring to estimates of opioid-related deaths in the past 20 years. I dont think, at the time, these institutions were aware of the blood Purdue had on their hands, but they certainly are now and should stop taking any money in the future, said Cheryl Juaire, of Marlborough, Mass., who organized the Aug. 17 event. And we will fight these institutions that dont make this happen. A few weeks earlier, activists scattered pill bottles and held banners that read Shame on Sackler during a protest at the Sackler Museum at Harvard. Similar demonstrations have also taken place in the past year at The Met and the Smithsonians Sackler Gallery. When you have long-standing supporters who have helped build impressive and exciting programs for the public, institutions probably arent going to denounce the family, said the Connecticut Council for Philanthropys Fortunato. At the same time, nobody wants bad publicity, so these organizations are going to have to be more careful going forward. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott Let me be the first to apologize that a postal worker couldn't take the chance to bring you a Wednesday paycheck because climate change threw the Midwest a curve ball. Call a snowflake and see if they have the ability to change the weather, so being devastated will only affect you one time. Maybe the snowflake has a crystal ball and can send a message to Mother Nature, and straighten this weather out. They all talk and act act like they do. New York : Facebook says it has removed 783 Iran-linked pages, accounts and groups from its service for what it calls coordinated inauthentic behaviour. Thats the social networks term for fake accounts run with the intent of disrupting politics and elections. Facebook has been disclosing such purges more regularly in recent months, including ones linked to groups in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia. Twitter also said on Thursday that it found found limited operations that have that may have been connected to sources in Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. It did not give further details and said it suspended the suspicious accounts before the 2018 US midterm elections. The accounts on Facebook and Instagram typically misrepresented themselves as locals in more than two dozen countries ranging from Afghanistan, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia and the US. Facebook said Thursday the accounts spent about USD 30,000 on advertisements, paid for in US dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars and euros. Also Read | Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido says family threatened by Nicolas Maduro agents The company said Twitter helped its investigation by sharing information about suspicious activity it found on its own service. The companies, along with others in the tech industry, have been cooperating more when it comes to such account takedowns by sharing information. Such cooperation can help the companies avoid regulatory scrutiny by showing critics and lawmakers that they can set aside differences when it comes to battling outside threats that affect their users. The latest removed accounts, Facebook said, typically represented themselves as locals in various countries, often using fake accounts and posting news stories on current events. This included using stories from Iranian state media about conflicts in Syria and Yemen. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Two terrorists were killed in an early morning encounter with security forces in South Kashmirs Pulwama district on Friday. During the search, terrorists opened fire at security forces in the Rajpora area. A J&K Police official said security forces launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) late on Thursday evening in the Drabgam village, according to reports. As the search operation was going on, hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, the official said as quoted by the Indian Express. The two terrorists have been identified as Shahid Ahmad Baba and Aniyat Ahmad Ziger, the police said. Both the terrorists were affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The Kashmir Zone Police tweeted, Two terrorists killed in the #Pulwama operation. Identity and affiliation being ascertained. Arms and ammunition recovered. This is a breaking news story. More details will be added soon. Please refresh the page for the updated version. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hyderabad: A 22-year-old engineering student of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) fell to death from his hostel building. The student died on the spot after allegedly falling from the building of his seven-storey hostel on Friday. Identified as M Anirudhya, the deceased was a fourth-year student of mechanical and aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Hyderabad located at Kandi village of Telangana. Initially, it was suspected to be a case of suicide, but visuals from the closed circuit television cameras showed that he slipped and fell down from the terrace while speaking on his phone. He died instantly due to multiple injuries, Sangareddy (rural) sub-inspector of police, Srikanth, was quoted as saying by a report in Hindustan Times. The deceased went to the terrace at 12.45 am to talk to a friend on the phone when he fell and died instantly, The sub-inspector stated that it was discovered that Anirudhya used to go to the terrace to read books on his mobile phone and for talking on the phone as well. The police handed over the body to his family after the autopsy was conducted at the Sangareddy government hospital. The only son to his parents, Anirudhya's sudden death has left his parents depressed and taken aback. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Indiana now ends voter registration about a month before an election. Voters typically become more engaged in the election in that window, and then find out they waiting too long to register, Pfaff said. Her bill would allow voters to register until noon on election day. (CNN) On Thursday night, Mariah Carey will perform on stage in Saudi Arabia. This concert is a pathetic attempt to show that the country is becoming more tolerant toward women. But there are many women languishing in Saudi prisons, simply for campaigning for the better treatment of women. Some of them have been brutally tortured and sexually assaulted. One of these women is my sister, Loujain Alhathloul. As a fan of Carey's work, I'd like to see her ask for the release of my sister while she is on stage. After eight months of praying that she'd be released, I am here to tell her story. I am not a writer and have never written an article like this before. But my sister does not belong in prison and I feel I owe it to her to speak up. Loujain is a women's rights hero in Saudi Arabia, and the majority of her activism focuses on male guardianship, women's right to drive and domestic violence. Loujain worked with vulnerable women to find solutions for them so we don't see cases like that of Rahaf al-Qunun, an 18-year-old who recently sought asylum in Canada. Loujain's dream was that these victims could find safety without having to flee the country. She was even in the process of setting up a domestic violence shelter called Aminah, which means "safe" in English. We now know that this shelter was one of the main reasons Loujain was arrested. One month after her arrest, Loujain called me from a withheld number. She told me she was locked in a "hotel" in Jeddah and not in a conventional prison. During the conversation, she said "once I'm free I will help you find the woman of your dreams." I told her "let's focus on getting you out and then we can think about love and romance." She has a big heart, and she has always cared more about others than she cares about herself. At that time, we did not know that she was going through regular and systematic torture. With all the pain she's been through, physically and psychologically, she still only thinks about others. It saddens me that she was hiding her pain from us. Looking back, every time I asked her about her case she would reply that she couldn't answer. It seemed like there was always someone monitoring closely and telling her what she could or couldn't say. Recently, my parents were able to visit Loujain in jail. She started to talk about how they took her from Dhahban prison at midnight to what is known as the "hotel." She described it as a "palace of terror" that is 10 minutes away from the prison. She said she was taken blindfolded and thrown into the trunk of a car on the way to this secret place. The torture sessions, she said, normally occur in the basement of this palace. When I think about what goes on in that basement, I feel sick. My own baby sister said she is being whipped, beaten, electrocuted and harassed on a frequent basis. She said that sometimes there are masked men who wake her up in the middle of the night to shout unimaginable threats. This is the type of treatment she said Saud al-Qahtani, a top adviser of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, oversaw. Isn't that the definition of a rogue state? Along with the many forms of physical torture, Loujain described how she must also endure horrifying interrogations. One of the investigators said "if you don't marry me I will rape you." She said she was also offered the chance to work for them and go after Saudi women living in exile to bring them to Saudi Arabia. She, of course, rejected the offer, and because of that the treatment worsened. Whenever Loujain spoke about the torture sessions to my parents, her hands shook uncontrollably. I fear the pain will stay with her forever. It confuses me: Saudi Arabia is so keen to promote itself as a reformer, yet a true Saudi reformer is being held behind bars. Loujain's work and her values should make her the poster child for the crown prince's reform campaign. Loujain always envisioned a Saudi Arabia where women had fundamental rights and could live without fear. Loujain is not a traitor, she is a patriot. When I moved to study in Canada, I was counting down days until I finished school so I could return home and contribute to what is called "Vision 2030." I was so passionate about it. When I was asked by professors and friends what I would do after I graduated, I would immediately reply that I would return home and help make my country a better place. After everything that has happened, I feel naive for believing these illusions, especially after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. I had no idea that my trip to Toronto would be a one-way flight, since my family and I have been put on a travel ban. I had no idea I'd have to make Toronto my new home. I keep asking myself if I will be able to see my family, or my home country, again. Saudi Arabia was never a democratic country. But in the past when an activist was arrested, the family was never implicated. This is no longer the case. Saudi Arabia always claims that it respects the rule of law. I started to question that, especially now my family is on travel ban without legal basis. The court did not issue any order to place my family on travel ban. If we really want "Vision 2030" to succeed and bring in new foreign investment, people need to be comfortable that the rule of law is respected. Loujain does not deserve to be in jail. I die when I think about my sister staying in prison and not being able to do anything about it. Loujain is my angel on Earth. But she's also the hero of many women and girls across Saudi Arabia and throughout the world. We cannot stand by and watch her suffer. I've been silent for eight months, and still, all doors are closed. There is no sign of progress in my sister's case. All I want is to see my sister free. Now that I told you the story of my sister, will Mariah Carey call for her release on stage? Will my voice be heard? This story was first published on CNN.com, "While my sister is in a Saudi jail, Mariah Carey could use her voice to help her." New Delhi: After their big fat wedding in India last month and vacations in the UK, Switzerland and Caribbeans, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas were now seen attending the second annual Learning Lab Ventures Winter Gala in Los Angeles, and needless to say they looked great together. While Nick looked handsome in a black tux and white shirt, Priyanka made heads turn in a long mesh dress. Priyanka presented the next-gen award and even bonded with Elizabeth Chambers Hammer and her husband and actor Armie Hammer. Take a look at the photos from the starry gala night here: For the uninitiated, Learning Lab Ventures is an organisation involved in tackling generational poverty using intensive after-school education and enrichment programming. For those who have missed out, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas tied the knot on December 1 and 2 in a lavish wedding ceremony at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur. When a magazine asked Priyanka how she and Nick take time out for each other from their hectic schedules, she had said, "Yeah, good question. We don't! You have to accommodate and make time for each other, I think that's really important. We both are extremely hardworking people, we both love our jobs, we are extremely big workaholics but at the same we know that we have to prioritise each other as well." On the work front, Priyanka is gearing up for the release of her next Hollywood Film, Isnt It Romantic? On the other hand, her Hindi film Shonali Boses The Sky Is Pink is still being shot. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: With just months to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, News Nation conducted an opinion poll to assess what the performance of each of the political parties in Uttarakhand would be in case the Parliamentary Elections were to be held today. News Nation team travelled across all the five Lok Sabha constituencies across the state - Nainital, Almora, Garhwal, Hardwar, and Tehri Garhwal and asked several questions to the people in a bid to find out who will have the better chance in upcoming General Elections. Who will be the top choice for prime minister in Rajasthan? Will the BJP manage to repeat its 2014 performance in the state? Will the Congress be able to make a comeback after in the Lok Sabha polls after registering a thumping victory in three Hindi heartland states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - in 2018 Assembly polls? Other important facts that will impact the General Elections in the hill state include - list of achievements and developmental works of the existing government, the 10 per cent quota for economically backward in general category and Modi governments stand on China and Pakistan, a controversy surrounding politically sensitive Rafale fighter jet deal. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had swept the Lok Sabha Elections by winning all the five seats in Uttarakhand - which was formed in the year 2000. Earlier in the year 2009, the Congress won all five seats in the State and in the year 2004 the BJP won three seats, and the Congress and the SP won one seat each. Check Live Updates Here 18:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 43 per cent people in Uttarakhand say development is the prime agenda of the Modi government at the Centre and 41 per cent people say it's politics. 18:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Choice for Prime Minister? 52 per cent people see Narendra Modi as the best choice for the post of Prime Minister while 23 per cent say Rahul Gandhi can be the good choice for it. 18:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Will BJP benefit from 10% general caste quota decision? 48 per cent people of the state feel that the move will benefit the government while 26 per cent say it wont. 18:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We are promoting home stays in the state. We are also providing subsidy on purchase of vehicles for tourism and sight-seeing: Uttarakhand CM 18:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today, Uttarakhand is attracting many tourists. Even several movies are being shot in the state lately: Uttarakhand CM 18:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Our per capita income has increased. In next 1.5-2 years, the economy of the state will go further up: Uttarakhand CM 18:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We are doing everything to promote tourism in the state, says Uttarakhand CM. 18:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Top choice for Prime Minister in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections: When asked about Prime Minister's choice in 2019, 52 per cent people in Uttarakhand chose Narendra Modi while 23 per cent people want Congress president Rahul Gandhi to run the country. 14 per cent people wanted someone else as the Prime Minister of India. 18:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We are among the fastest growing economy and the efforts done by the state government have started showing results. Jobs are being created in the state and youths are happy with the development. 23:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Being asked about the biggest ongoing issues in Uttarkhand, people said Employment (29%), Inflation (13%), Corruption (11%), PM Candidate (11%), GST-Demonetisation (8%), Migration (7%), Farmers (6%), General caste quota (5%), Others (8%), and can't say (2%). 18:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In According to opinion poll, BJP to win 4 Lok Sabha seats and Congress 1. 18:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 49 per cent people in Uttarakhand say they are satisfied with the work of NDA government. 39 per cent people in the Himalayan state say they are not satisfied with the Centre government. 18:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 49 per cent people in Uttarakhand say they are satisfied with the work of NDA government. 39 per cent people in the Himalayan state say they are not satisfied with the Centre government. 18:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Satisfied with the work of BJP government in the state? 45 per cent people said they are satisfied while 31 per cent say they are not. 18:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In On protest being held over issues related to environment, the Chief Minister said that people from outside are coming in Uttarakhand to stage such protests. People of the state are satisfied with the environment. 18:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the Supreme Court has already cleared everything on Rafale. 18:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 37 per cent people in Uttarakhand say there is substance in allegations leveled by Rahul Gandhi over Rafale Deal, 35 per cent people say the allegations are baseless. 18:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Is Modi govt giving a fitting reply to China and Pakistan? While 46 per cent voters in the state responded Yes, 41 per cent people in the state said a No. 18:05 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJP is predicted to win 42 per cent vote share in Uttarakhand while the Congress may win 34 per cent vote share in General Elections 2019. 18:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In the year 2004 the BJP won three seats, and the Congress and the Samajwadi Party won one seat each. 18:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In the year 2009 the Congress won all five seats in the State. 18:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It witnessed its third Lok Sabha polls on May 7, 2014 in which the BJP won all the five Lok Sabha seats. New Delhi: Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) has released Xavier General Management Aptitude Test (XGMT) 2019 Result on the official website. Students can check the results by visiting the official website of the institute xub.edu.in. In order to access it, XUB ID and Date of birth need to be filled. The XUB ID should be in XU19XXXXX format and date of birth should be in dd/mm/yy format. Candidates will now have to appear for the next round as per their performance in the entrance examination. Candidates will have to appear for Group Discussion (GD), Writing Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI). These rounds take place in 7 cities which are: Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, and Bangalore. Final selection of the candidates will be on the basis of performance in these three rounds and scores in the entrance examination.Candidates selected for admission to the academic year 2019-21 will get the intimation by the end of April. They will receive the offers letters on the registered email id. The new session will start in June 2019 for the first year students. About XGMT: Conducted by Xavier University, XGMT is a management aptitude test for the various Masters programmes.Recently, the university also started the two executive MBA programmes in the field of Agri-Business Management and Business Analytics. Fresh Graduates can pursue MBA in Business Management, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Rural Management, Sustainability Management, and Urban Management & Governance. New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the CMAT 2019 Answer Key today on the official website of the agency. The candidates who have appeared for the examination can now check the answer key on the official website of the agency i.e. ntacmat.nic.in. Now, that the CMAT 2019 key and question paper are available, the candidates can cross-verify the answers marked by them in the examination. For the convenience of the students, we have mentioned the process via which the candidates can download the answer key: The candidates will first have to visit the official website of the agency. On the homepage of the website, the candidates need to click on the link Question Paper and Response Sheet. In the next step, the applicants will have to log in by entering their Application Number and Password/ Date of Birth. Click on the Sign In button to submit the details. The candidates need to click on the relevant link for CMAT 2019 question paper. On clicking the link, the candidates question paper and response sheet for their respective shift will appear on the screen. The Response sheet for CMAT consist details such as Application Number, Name of the candidate, Roll Number, Question Type, Question ID, Options ID, Status of the response (Answered/ Not Answered), Chosen Option by the candidate, etc. It is advisable that candidates download and take a print out of the CMAT 2019 Question Paper and Response Sheet as it is available for a limited time period only. ABOUT NTA National Testing Agency (NTA) has been established as a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. To assess competence of candidates for admissions and recruitment has always been a challenge in terms of matching with research based international standards, efficiency, transparency and error free delivery. The National Testing Agency is entrusted to address all such issues using best in every field, from test preparation, to test delivery and to test marking. Washington: President Donald Trump hailed tremendous progress in US-China trade negotiations Thursday and Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that their relations were at a critical stage, with one month left to settle their tariff dispute. You will be going early February with your group to China, Trump said in the White House to negotiators after they spent the second day of talks with Chinese counterparts. In a letter from Xi to Trump that was read out by the Chinese delegation, Xi said relations were at a critical stage and that he hoped our two sides will continue to work with mutual respect. The Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He was in Washington for the complex talks on resolving a trade war between the worlds two biggest economies. Washington has set a deadline of March 1 for China to agree to deep reforms ending what the White House says are unfair trade practices, including protectionism and systematic intellectual property theft. Trump said relations between the two countries are very, very good. If there is no deal, though, he says tariffs already imposed on $200 billion in Chinese imports will rise from the current 10 per cent to 25 per cent. US trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer said that although there had been progress..., we have much work to do. Talks on Thursday focused on structural issues and how to enforce any agreement, he said. Its impossible for me to predict success but... it could happen, Lighthizer said. Earlier, Trump said that he did not want a half-hearted deal that only got China to open up trade on certain products. I have to do the real deal. I have to open up China. Were open to them, they have to be open to us, Trump said. Its going to be a very comprehensive deal. Were going to cover everything. I think we can do it by March 1. Can you get it down on paper by March 1? I dont know, Trump said. He also said that any final deal would probably require a meeting between him and Xi. Later, he said that such a summit hasnt been set up yet. Washington and Beijing since last year have exchanged tit-for-tat tariffs on more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade, putting downward pressure on the Chinese economy, where growth is slowing. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: SE benchmark Sensex ended on a higher note by 212.74 points at 36,469.43 while the NSE Nifty reclaimed the 10,800 mark on Thursday and ended 62.70 points more at 10,893.65. Trading sentiment received a boost as global markets rallied following US Federal Reserves dovish policy stance. After rallying over 500 points to hit the days high of 36,778.14, the 30-share index gave up all gains and sank to 36,221.32 in late-afternoon trade. It finally ended 212.74 points, or 0.59 per cent, higher at 36,469.43. Heavy short-covering on expiry of January series futures and options (F&O) contracts too buoyed the benchmarks, analysts said. The 30-share Sensex rallied 665.44 points, or 1.87 per cent, to close at 36,256.69. The broader Nifty soared 179.15 points, or 1.68 per cent, to 10,830.95. All BSE sectoral indices finished in the green, led by IT, energy and banking. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal proposed to double the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and increased the standard deduction to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000. The proposal will benefit 3 crore middle-class tax payers, Goyal said while unveiling the budget proposals for 2019-20. Also Read | Prices of petrol, diesel slashed ahead of Interim Budget, check rates here It was mainly propelled by two important factors. The first being the moderation in the monetary policy stance of the Fed, as the key Fed funds rate was left unchanged. The status quo, in the midst of looming fears over an impending economic slowdown, and also as the probability of future hikes may be far and few, catapulted the markets to higher levels. The second one being high expectations from the interim Budget by way of measures that would alleviate the agrarian distress and boost the employment and consumption levels, he said. On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 130.25 crore Wednesday, and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 502.26 crore, provisional data available with the BSE showed. In the Sensex pack, Axis Bank, Tata Motors, Infosys, Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank, RIL, Bajaj Auto, SBI, HUL, Tata Steel, Vedanta, HFDC, TCS, ITC and Sun Pharma jumped up to 4.64 per cent. On the other hand, Yes Bank, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, and Coal India fell up to 2.56 per cent. Also Read | This is just trailer, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Piyush Goyals Interim Budget speech Global investors were also optimistic about the ongoing two-day high-level talks between the US and China aimed at settling their six-month trade war. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kongs Hang Seng soared 1.08 per cent, Japans Nikkei rallied 1.06 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.35 per cent. Koreas Kospi slipped 0.06 per cent. Vedanta was the biggest loser on the Sensex, cracking 17.82 per cent after the metals and mining giant Thursday reported a 25.54 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,574 crore for the December 2018 quarter on the back of higher expenses and drop in commodity prices. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Presenting the last budget of the Narendra Modi government, acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that the NDA government has removed the policy paralysis plaguing the country. He said India is back on track and the country is heading towards growth a prosperity. Here are key takeaways from Goyals speech: 1: The mega tax announcement will benefit three crore middle class taxpayers. Individual taxpayers having annual income upto Rs 5 lakhs will get full tax rebate. Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities, Goyal said. 2: Amid growing concerns over farm stress, the Finance Minister announced the Kisan Samman Nidhi under which Rs 6,000 will be credited to the accounts every year for the farmers holding 2 hectares of land. This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs 75,000 crore. 3: In the election year, Goyals Interim Budget is billed as extremely populist in nature. Apart from the farmers, another major winner in the Interim Budget are the cows! Goyal announced Rashtriya Gokul Mission, with an increased allocation of Rs 750 crore in current year. 4: The Interim Budget is seen as the way to gain the decisive mandate in the Lok Sabha Elections so that the NDA government can continue structured reforms. Presenting the budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said, "We are moving towards realising New India by 2022." 5: The Finance Minister announced 8 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana. "We have got decisive mandate to continue structured reforms. We have reversed policy paralysis," he added. 6: Another big announcement was the hike in gratuity limit. The gratuity limit has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh crore. 7: Goyal also announced Rs 500-crore mega pension plan. Under the scheme, monthly pension of Rs 3,000 will be paid to after retirement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'. Goyal stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. Goyal began the interim budget speech by wishing Union Minister Arun Jaitley speedy recovery and good health. Earlier, the Cabinet had approved the Interim Budget for 2019-20. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah was all praises today after the acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the Modi governments last Budget before the 2019 general poll. While addressing the media, Shah said, this budget will fulfil the aspirations of farmers, middle-class and labours. He further added, that the Union Budget will "benefit" all sections of society and said it has proved that the Modi government is dedicated to the aspirations of the country's youths, farmers and poor. Shah told reporters that the budget will spur growth, generate employment and also provide relief to the middle class, farmers and poor workers among others. The BJP chief described the hike in income tax exemption announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as "historic" and said it will not only provide tax relief to the middle class but also deepen their participation in the country's development. He highlighted various measures announced in the budget for different sections of society and said those for farmers will prove to be a "milestone" in doubling their income. Congratulating the government for announcing a Rs 3 lakh crore outlay for the defence sector, Shah said it is the highest so far. The country's security has always been a top priority for the BJP-led NDA dispensation, he said. Shah also praised measures like monthly pension of Rs 3000 for the over 10 crore poor workers after 60 years of age, creation of a separate fishery department and schemes for women. Relaxation in interest on loan for farmers and more for those who pay their debt in time is a big step for their welfare, he said. New Delhi: For many industrialists run-up to the budget means time to present wish lists to the government. However, for Rajiv Bajaj, the managing director of Bajaj Auto, watching budget presentation itself is a waste of time, let alone wish for any favour from the government. Bajaj, who claims not to have watched budget presentations in the last 28 years, said Monday that he would rather spend time working on a product than waste four hours watching the budget. In a candid admission at an event, Bajaj even went a step further declaring that he won't be watching it in future as well, as there "was nothing worthwhile" in it. "You will be surprised to know that in the last 28 years (that) I have been in Bajaj, I have not seen Budget even a single time," Bajaj said when asked about his expectations from the Interim Budget. The Union Budget is one of the most watched, discussed and followed annual exercise in India among industry players as well as common man as it sets out the government's fiscal policies. Bajaj, however, has a different take. "There is no benefit by watching the Budget because it does not have anything which is worthwhile and without seeing Budget it has not affected my company," he said, adding if there were any important policy changes there would be people who would informing him "through Whatsapp" about those changes any way. "Rather than sit for four hours and burden your brain, it is better to go and make a product. Nor I have seen it and nor I will see it in the future, you can report that," he said to a full house of media and other company executives. Bajaj, who is well known for speaking his mind over a range of issues whether political or business, also clarified his stand on the reduction in GST on two wheelers saying he supported the call not to treat two-wheelers as luxury items. "I do concede that to call two-wheeler or a motorcycle in this country a luxury item doesn't have a logic. It is not a luxury item...If 28 per cent tax is for luxury items and 18 per cent is for normal items then logically it seems to me that 18 per cent (for two-wheelers) make sense," Bajaj said. He further said, "My personal opinion is that any motorcycle up to 250 cc is a mass motorcycle and I would say all such bikes are being bought by people basically for commuting. It is not that you will be taking a 150 cc bike for racing." While expressing his difference of opinion with other two-wheeler makers who wanted a cut in GST rate on two-wheelers in the wake of decline in sales in the past three months, Bajaj said keeping in mind cost escalations due to implementation of safety norms and upcoming BS-VI, there was indeed a need to rationalise the rate. "Since safety norms will be coming this year and emission norms next year and between these two the average 150 cc bike, we should expect the prices to go up by around Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000. So if there is going to be such a steep increase, we will have to pass it on, most of it, not all of it. "So if the government were to take a kind view of this and mitigate some of the cost increase by adjusting the GST at that time, to me that seems to me a logical thing," Bajaj said. Earlier, Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor Company had asked the government to slash GST on two wheelers from the current 28 per cent slab to 18 per cent to give relief to the customers. New Delhi: Acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented a populist Budget which had something for everyone. From farmers to defence personnel to women to the middle class, the Budget speech included sops that garnered praise from all quarters. Let us take a look at how the public, as well as the politicians, reacted to the Interim Budget 2019. It comes as no surprise when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that "this budget will help achieve the dream of a 'New India'." Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the Budget has shown the commitment of the government to the welfare of every section of the society. On the other hand, Congress leader Majeed Memon said, "It is not a Budget. The government is going to change." Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister: My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. @PiyushGoyal Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 P Chidambaram, Congress leader: Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Its a historic budget, and all the sections of the society will benefit from it. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Union #Budget2019: Its a historic budget, and all the sections of the society will benefit from it. pic.twitter.com/IHVvV5dadK ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: All sections of the society incl farmers, middle class, poor & women have been mentioned in this budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of a 'New India'. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on #Budget2019: All sections of the society incl farmers, middle class, poor & women have been mentioned in this budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of a 'New India'. pic.twitter.com/s06XQCfMXU ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 1, 2019 Neeru Ahuja, Partner, Deloitte: We all were expecting it, If we add up all the things then people with an annual income around Rs 7.5 lakh wont have to pay tax. It wasnt the full budget, it was interim budget, so I would give it a 8/8.5 out of 10. Neeru Ahuja, Partner, Deloitte: We all were expecting it, If we add up all the things then people with an annual income around Rs 7.5 lakh wont have to pay tax. It wasnt the full budget, it was interim budget, so I would give it a 8/8.5 out of 10. pic.twitter.com/qCApHAa8iU ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Shashi Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress: The Budget presented in Parliament is BJP's election manifesto. Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India leader: #Budget2019 actually rubs salt in the wounds of farmers The 'historic' 6,000 rupees a year for a family of 5 translates to Rs 3.3 a day. This is even lower than MNREGA or old-age pension! #Budget2019 actually rubs salt in the wounds of farmers The 'historic' 6,000 rupees a year for a family of 5 translates to Rs. 3.3 a day. This is even lower than MNREGA or old-age pension! Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) February 1, 2019 Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog CEO: #Budget2019 places immense resources in hands of farmers & middle class. This will boost demand particularly in rural areas, increase the pace of economic growth specially agriculture without distorting markets & credit culture. Development getting democratised. #Budget2019 places immense resources in hands of farmers & middle class. This will boost demand particularly in rural areas, increase the pace of economic growth specially agriculture without distorting markets & credit culture. Development getting democratised. Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) February 1, 2019 Congress: Interim FM @PiyushGoyal claimed farmers are receiving fair MSP & the govt. is on track to double their income - if this was true why were there 5 nation wide farmer protests in 2018? Interim FM @PiyushGoyal claimed farmers are receiving fair MSP & the govt. is on track to double their income - if this was true why were there 5 nation wide farmer protests in 2018? #Budget2019 #AakhriJumlaBudget pic.twitter.com/Hm7nKkpCW7 Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2019 Nitin Gadkari, Union minister: Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble PM Sri @narendramodi ji, Sri @arunjaitley ji and @PiyushGoyal ji. This budget is for the welfare of every section of the society as per our mission of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble PM Sri @narendramodi ji, Sri @arunjaitley ji and @PiyushGoyal ji. This budget is for the welfare of every section of the society as per our mission of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. #BudgetForNewIndia Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 1, 2019 Amit Shah, BJP president: The budget has met the expectations of farmers, labourers & middle class. By bearing a cost of Rs 75,000 crore,the govt will implement Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This scheme will also benefit those farmers who do not take loans. It has since been discovered the (younger) male had no access to weapons and posted the picture on social media as a joke, Valparaiso police said, adding the threat is not believed to be credible at this time, however these types of communications are taken very seriously by the Valparaiso Police Department and our community. New Delhi: Interim Budget 2019 Live Updates: Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, who has been given the additional charge of Finance Ministry due to Arun Jaitleys ill health, will present the Interim Budget 2019 in the Lok Sabha on Friday. With general elections looming large, the Narendra Modi government is likely to present a pleased-all budget and tax sops for the middle class and farm relief package may figure in its last budget. According to reports, the Modi government is expected to project the countrys economic growth at around 7.5 per cent for the next financial year. However, ahead of the interim budget 2019, Fitch Ratings on Thursday warned the Modi government that India may face second consecutive year of fiscal slippage if it resorted to woo the voters by populist measures. So, will Modi go for votes over country's economic growth? Finance Minister Goyal has all the answers in his briefcase. Stay with us for full live coverage of Interim Budget 2019. Here are the live updates on Interim Budget 2019: 21:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday welcomed the "pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-common man" interim Union Budget 2019-20, which the Opposition denounced as a mere "gimmick" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. 18:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I want to know what they have done for the problems of the farmers who are in debt about whom every minister including PM talks about. What have they done for unemployed youth? They're our future. Govt should have thought about them, says Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh 18:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 1. Invest heavily in edu n health 2. Increase min wages n enforce it 3. Give crop prices 1.5 times cost 4. One time farm loan waiver This wud put money in pocket of poorest, create demand, give boost to economy n create jobs None of it done in budget Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 1, 2019 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In My greetings to @PiyushGoyal for presenting a great Budget that reiterates commitment of PM @narendramodi towards creating a robust and fast growing economy by ensuring prosperity for farmers, middle class, youth, poor and all other sections of society.#BudgetForNewIndia Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 1, 2019 16:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the budget, which is dedicated to the poor, middle class and farmers, tweets Sushma Swaraj 16:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I congratulate the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for this historic Interim Budget which is not only development friendly but also pays special attention to the middle class, farmers, workers in unorganised sector and other vulnerable sections of our society, says Rajnath Singh 16:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rs 1330 Crore provided in the Interim Budget 2019-20 for the Mission for Protection and Empowerment, says Union Minister Sadananda Gowda 16:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In National programme on Artificial Intelligence is a welcome step towards harnessing new age technologies to encourage innovations and catalyse capabilities of our youth. #BudgetForNewIndia Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 1, 2019 16:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless, says TMC chief Mamata Banerjee 16:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nothing new in Budget, UPA harping on achievements, Budget prepared with an eye on electoral benefits: Mayawati 15:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In This budget is for everyone and is a good one, says Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker: This budget is for everyone and is a good one. Work will go on like this. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/wthHEsOqjX ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 15:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In This is an Interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi: This is an Interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/aWzi76nzKw ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 15:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Budget2019: Opposition has no issues to talk about, they are scared of Modi Jis welfare schemes. We dont do votebank politics, we do development politics. We are dedicated to take Indian farmers to new heights. 15:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rahul Gandhi reacts to Interim Budget 2019, says "Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for." 15:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "As per my calculation, the Rs 6,000 per year cash relief to farmers makes Rs 17 per day for per family. I don't understand how is this a big relief," says Chidambaram. 14:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech," says Chidambaram. 14:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It is a never-before development, including development in North Eastern Region, which the Government has delivered, along with fiscal prudence: FM Shri Piyush 14:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Under the new system being developed, income tax assessment to be done in 24 hours. Acceptance of more than 99% tax returns without scrutiny is a historic development, Government is working towards the whole nation walking on the path of honesty: Piyush Goyal 14:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The announcements made in Budget 2019 for defence sector reflects the Government's commitment and gratitude towards its armed forces: Piyush Goyal 14:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "A holistic approach has been taken by the Government for the welfare of all sections of the citizenry. 2 per cent interest subvention to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries," says Piyush Goyal. 14:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Every year, poor farmers will get Rs 6,000 which will be a big help for them. Pension scheme announced in the Interim Budget 2019, will start from this month, says Piyush Goyal. 14:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Our govt. has initiated the World's largest behavioural change movement with the SwachhBharat Mission. India has achieved 98% rural sanitation coverage and as many as 5.45 lack villages have been declared ODF," says Piyush Goyal. 14:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "It's an election budget. In these circumstances of the case, concessions to farmers and concessions to middle class will obviously have implications in the election," NDTV quoted former prime minister Manmohan Singh. 14:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand the plight of the small farmers. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This is a historic decision," says Piyush Goyal in the post-budget press conference. Finance Minister @PiyushGoyal addresses press conference, says Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is a historic decision and will benefit nearly 12.5 lakh farmers. Follow LIVE updates: https://t.co/YJsKUAccVW LIVE TV: https://t.co/8BhJ6kHL2g #BudgetWithNN #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/qDzBZ2IdcJ News Nation (@NewsNationTV) February 1, 2019 14:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The announcement of cash relief for farmers will help to double their income by 2022. PM Modi has taken a big step by Kamdhenu Yojana for cows. This will help in the conservation of several breeds of cows. PM Modi has fulfilled people's aspirations," says Amit Shah. 13:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Budget2019 actually rubs salt in the wounds of farmers. The 'historic' 6,000 rupees a year for a family of 5 translates to Rs. 3.3 a day. This is even lower than MNREGA or old-age pension!" Says Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India. 13:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "We have also issued guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. In 2018-19 financial year, for months before March, Rs 2000 will be transferred to farmers' accounts, and in the financial year 2019-20 farmers will get Rs 6000," says Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. 13:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rajnath Singh: This is a historical budget, all the sections of the society will benefit from it. 13:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class. Between 2014-19, every Budget has given significant relief to the Middle Class," says Arun Jaitley. 13:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "All sections of the society, including farmers, middle class, poor and women have been mentioned in this budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of a 'New India'," says Yogi Adityanath. 13:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Neeru Ahuja, Partner, Deloitte: We all were expecting it, If we add up all the things then people with an annual income around Rs 7.5 lakh wont have to pay tax. It wasnt the full budget, it was interim budget, so I would give it a 8/8.5 out of 10. 13:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The whole exercise has turned out to be a damn squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity?" Shashi Tharoor. 13:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes," says former finance Minister P Chidambaram 13:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In On Interim Budget 2019, Majid Menon said "it is not a budget, the government is going to change". 13:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Budget was like surgical strike, says Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal. 12:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Benefit of rollover of capital tax gains to be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains up to 2 crore rupees; can be exercised once in a lifetime. 12:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In TDS threshold on interest on bank and post office deposits raised from 10,000 to 40,000 rupees: Piyush Goyal 12:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In TDS threshold on rental income raised from 1.8 lakh to 2.4 lakh rupees. Standard tax deduction for salaried persons raised from 40,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees. 12:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities. Around 3 crore middle-class taxpayers will get tax exemption due to this measure: Piyush Goyal 12:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Both tax collection and tax base have shown significant increase due to government initiatives in recent years, and we have moved to a moderate tax regime, with high collection. Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get full tax rebate. 12:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 6. Oceans and coastlines is the sixth dimension of our vision for 2030, says acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. 7. India becoming launchpad of the world, placing an Indian astronaut in space by 2022. 12:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 4. Expanding rural industrialization using modern industrial technologies, based on #MakeInIndia approach, using grassroot MSMEs and startups across the country. 5. Clean Rivers - with safe drinking water to all Indians, sustaining and nourishing life, using micro-irrigation techniques; long coastline can be pivotal for the economy, using strength of blue economy and SagarMala. 12:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In FM underlines 10 most important dimensions that will guide the Government in Vision 2030. To build next-gen infrastructure - physical as well as social - for a 10 trillion dollar economy and to provide Ease of Living. To build a Digital India that reaches every citizen, our youth will lead us in this, by creating innumerable startups and jobs. Clean and Green India - an India that drives electric vehicles, with renewables becoming major source of energy, bringing down import dependence and increasing energy security for our people. 12:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Reducing tax limit for middle class always our priority. All returns to be processed within 24 hours and refund simultaneously: Piyush Goyal 12:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Over 1 crore people paid income tax for the first time after demonetisation, claims Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. 12:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 14 per cent growth in state tax collections was guaranteed and underwritten the by the Government of India: Piyush Goyal 12:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Businesses with less than Rs. 5 crore annual turnover, comprising over 90% of GST payers, will be allowed to return quarterly returns. GST collections in January 2019 has crossed 1 lakh crore rupees: Piyush Goyal 12:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "GST has been continuously reduced, resulting in relief of 80,000 crore rupees to consumers; most items of daily use for poor and middle class are now in the 0%-5% tax bracket," says Piyush Goyal in Budget Speech. 12:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In GST is undoubtedly the biggest taxation reform implemented since Independence; through tax consolidation, India became one common market; inter-state movements became faster through e-way bills, improving Ease of Doing Business: FM Piyush Goyal 12:08 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Direct tax collections from 6.38 lakh crore rupees in 2013-14 to almost 12 lakh crore rupees; tax base up from 3.79 crore to 6.85 crore. 99.54 per cent returns have been accepted without any scrutiny: Piyush Goyal 12:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Government contribution in PF increased from 4 per cent to 14 per cent. Those earning 21,000 per month will be given a bonus: Piyush Goyal 11:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Our commitment to promote renewable energy is reflected in our initiative to set up International Solar Alliance; installed solar generation capacity has increased 10 times in last five years; lakhs of new jobs being created by the sector: Piyush Goyal 11:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In India has achieved over 98% rural sanitation coverage. 5.45 lakh villages declared ODF. SwachhBharat now a national movement: FM Piyush Goyal 11:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Construction of rural roads has been tripled; 15.8 lakh out of a total 17.84 lakh habitations have been connected with pucca roads under PMGSY. PMGSY allocated 19,000 crore rupees in 2019-20(BE): Piyush Goyal 11:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In To ensure cleaner fuel and health assurance, we embarked on @PMUjjwalaYojana, a programme to give 8 crore free LPG connections to rural households, 6 crore connections given already. Next year will achieve the target of 8 crore: FM Piyush Goyal 11:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In A committee under @NITIAayog to be set up to identify and denotify nomadic and semi-nomadic communities; Welfare Development Board to be set up under @MSJEGOI for the welfare of these hard-to-reach communities and for tailored strategic interventions: FM Piyush Goyal 11:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Mega Pension Yojana, namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan, to provide assured monthly pension of 3000 rupees per month, with the contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age: FM Piyush Goyal 11:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In place of rescheduling of crop loans, all farmers severely affected by severe natural calamities will get 2% interest subvention and additional 3% interest subvention upon timely repayment: FM Piyush Goyal 11:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In High growth and formalization of economy has resulted in increased EPFO membership by 2 crore in last two years: FM Shri Piyush Goyal 11:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Without disturbing the existing reservation system, a 10% reservation for Economically weaker sections in educational institutions and government jobs has been ensured: FM Piyush Goyal 11:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Increased allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission to 750 crore in current year. Modi government announces Kamdhenu Yojana for cows. Under the scheme, 2% interest subvention will be given to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries: Piyush Goyal 11:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs. 75,000 crore 11:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, 6000 rupees per year for each farmer, in three instalments, to be transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts, for farmers with less than 2 hectares landholding," announces Piyush Goyal. 11:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In For the welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision was taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops. To provide assured income support for small and marginal farmers, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has been approved: Piyush Goyal 11:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rs 60,000 crore to be allocated to MNREGA in FY20, announces Piyush Goyal in his budget speech. 11:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Almost 3 lakh crore has already been recovered in favour of banks and creditors, big defaulters have also not been spared by our government: Piyush Goyal 11:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Meanwhile, Sensex is currently 110.15 points up at 6,366.84, Nifty at 10,861.35. 11:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Current account deficit is expected to be 2.5 per cent this year. Fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4 per cent in the revised estimate of 2018-19: Piyush Goyal 11:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We've prepared the foundation for sustainable progress & prosperity for our people; we are moving towards realizing the dream of New India by 2022: Piyush Goyal 11:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Inflation in December 2018 was 2.1%. Fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4% in the revised estimate of 2018-19," Piyush Goyal in Budget Speech. 11:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Inflation is a hidden and unfair tax; from 10.1% during 2009-14, we have broken the back of back-breaking inflation," says Goyal. 11:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "I can confidently say, India is solidly back on track and marching towards growth and prosperity," says Piyush Goyal. 11:05 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Piyush Goyal presents Interim Budget 2019 in Lok Sabha in the absence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is undergoing treatment in US. Goyal also wished Jaitley a speed recovery. 11:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Breaking News: Union Cabinet has approved the interim Budget 2019-20. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal to begin speech shortly. 10:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at the Parliament. Following the Cabinet meeting, Piyush Goyal will present the interim Budget 2019-20 at 11 am. 10:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "They'll try to introduce populist schemes in the Budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls. Budgets they've presented so far havent really benefitted general public. Only 'Jumlas' (gimmicks) will come out today. They've only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?" says Congress Leder Mallikarjun Kharge. 10:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The last five budgets have been dedicated to the farmers, the government's sixth budget will also be for the farmers, it will empower them," says Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. 10:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In What experts say about populist measures like farm loan waiver - "Loan waiver is not the solution to farmers problems. Had it been the solution, the farmers' condition in the country would have changed by now," says senior jounalist and expert Manoj Gairola. 10:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Do you know - Interim Budget, also known as vote-on-account is approval for essential government spending for a limited period. The Interim Budget is presented if its date of presentation falls few months ahead of Lok Sabha polls. 10:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "The way the government has increased the investment in railways, from installing CCTV cameras to WiFi, I believe further investment in railways will certainly be increased," says Manoj Sinha, (MoS) Railways 10:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Finance Minister Piyush Goyal arrives at the Parliament with the Budget briefcase. Following the Cabinet meeting, he will present the interim Budget 2019-20 at 11 am. 10:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Finance Minister Piyush Goyal calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Interim Budget 2019. He will now head to the Parliament House and attend a Union Cabinet meeting. 09:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Ahead of Budget 2019, Sensex opens in green. The benchmark 30-share BSE index is up by over 90 points at 36,352.51, Nifty at 10,858.75 in the opening trade. 09:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar: 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has been our government's mantra and it will reflect in the Budget. 10:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Piyush Goyal and his team outside Finance Ministry ahead of Budget 2019. Goyal will present interim Budget 2019-20 in the Parliament at 11 am today. Delhi: The printed copies of #Budget 2019-20 being security checked by sniffer dog pic.twitter.com/McqnCegoQ6 ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 09:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Do you know: In 2016, the Railways Budget was clubbed with the General Budget for the first time. 09:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Do you know - Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in 2017 changed the date of budget presentation to February 1. 08:54 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to chair Union Cabinet meeting ahead of Interim Budget 2019 today. 09:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Piyush Goyal arrives at the Ministry of Finance. He will present interim Budget 2019-20 in the Parliament today. (ANI Photo) 08:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Finance Minsiter Piyush Goyal will reach Parliament House at 10 am. Interim Budget 2019 to be presented by him at 11 am in the Lok Sabha. 08:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Piyush Goyal left for Finance Ministry at 8:30 am from his residence 8, teen murti three idols. At 9 am, he will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan. 08:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Modi government is a popular government, it's natural that we will take care of everything. We will do whatever is possible for the people. We have always presented a good budget," says Shiv Pratap Shukla, MoS (Finance). 07:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Here is what you can expect from Interim Budget 2019: Agriculture: Farm relief package, food subsidies in the fiscal year, waiving premium for taking insurance policy for food crops and interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time. Taxes: Higher tax exemptions for middle class and small businesses, corporate tax rate cut to 25 per cent from 30 per cent may be delayed due to elections, reduction of GST on electric vehicles and batteries. Health: At least 5 per cent incsrease expected in health allocation from previous year. Banking Services: Discount on on loans for businesses with annual sales of less than 50 million rupees. Rs 40 billion may be infused in public sector. 07:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Income tax concessions, farm relief package may figure in Modi governments last Budget. With its voter base shrinking, the ruling government may offer income tax concessions to middle class, a farm relief package, support for small businesses in its last-ditch attempt to woo the voters ahead of elections. New Delhi: The Congress on Friday alleged that the Budget has been leaked. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said, Since morning, government sources have been sending Budget pointers to media houses. Now if these pointers are there in the finance minister's speech then it tantamounts to a leak. It would be a serious issue of breach of secrecy. The former I&B minister posted a number of screenshots on Twitter and suggested that should the pointers mentioned in the images were to be part of the budget, it can then amount to a 'budget leak'. These pointers are being Circulated to Media people by Govt Sources . If all this or substantive amount of these proposals find reflection in the budget would it not tantamount to a BUDGET LEAK ? @RahulGandhi @AICCMedia @INCIndia @PTI_News @ndtv @IndiaTodayFLASH @MallikarjunINC pic.twitter.com/uPgAMjszNG Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) February 1, 2019 Earlier today, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said "only Jumlas will come out today". In a veiled attack on the Narendra Modi-led BJP government Kharge criticised the Centre's attempt to introduce the populist schemes, saying the Budget 2019 will be presented keeping an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections only. In an apparent reference to the earlier budgets presented by the Modi government between 2014 and 2018, the former Railway miniterfurther said, "Budgets they have presented so far have not really benefitted general public". "They have only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?" Kharge reiterated. New Delhi: Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal is all set to unveil the Union Budget 2019 in Parliament on Friday, February 1, 2019. Goyal will present his budget speech at 11 am in the Parliament. The first phase of the Budget session that started on January 31, will continue till February 11. This is the last Parliament session of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government before the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 due by May. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley missed the session as he has been undergoing medical treatment for the past few weeks in the United States. The second session will take place after the General Elections 2019. As the Annual Budget for 2019 is eagerly anticipated, investors are keeping their hopes high and expecting an increased investment in many areas with agriculture being in the main focus. With a view that India will go to poll in April-May, the Narendra Modi government is also aiming to woo rural and urban middle-class voters via farm relief measures and tax cuts. Besides, the government is likely to expand capital spending on railways, roads and ports by 7-8 per cent and may project economic growth of around 7.5 per cent for the financial year 2019-20. Budget 2019 is crucial for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after its recent setbacks in three Hindi heartland states - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Let's have a quick look at some of the items which are likely to dominate the Annual Budget for the year 2019. AGRICULTURE: - At least 1 trillion rupees ($14.04 billion) for farm relief package - About 1.8 trillion rupees for food subsidies in the fiscal year - Premium for taking insurance policy for food crops is expected to be waived off - Proposal for waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time DIVESTMENT: - Target of about $11 billion from state asset sales in FY 2019-20 - Potential stake sales via IPOs include Telecommunications Consultants India, Indian Railways' subsidiaries IRCTC, RailTel Corp India and National Seeds Corp METALS: - Gold - A duty cut is expected from this year onwards HEALTH: - Expenditure for health is likely to increase by 5 percent from a year ago TAXES: - An anticipated corporate tax rate cut to 25 percent from 30 percent may be put on hold until after the elections - Higher tax exemptions for the middle class and for small businesses anticipated BANKS: - Discount of 2 percentage points on loans for businesses with annual sales of less than 50 million rupees; government to compensate banks for the costs - 40 billion-rupee capital infusion for public-sector general insurers AUTOS: - Reduction of goods and services tax (GST) on electric vehicles and batteries IT/TELECOM: - Better digital infrastructure in rural areas - Abolition of the angel tax to boost start-ups - Exemption from GST for spectrum and licence fee payouts, reduction in spectrum fees and cuts in import duty on telecom equipment (currently at 20 pct). For minitute-to-minute LIVE Updates on Budget 2019 click here: Interim Budget 2019 LIVE Updates: Will Modi government go for populist spending to woo voters? New Delhi: In what can be called as the masterstroke of the Narendra Modi government, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced full tax rebate up to Rs 5 lakh for the individual taxpayers in the Interim Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The mega tax announcement will benefit three crore middle class taxpayers. Individual taxpayers having annual income upto Rs 5 lakhs will get full tax rebate. Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities, Goyal said. The announcement brought cheer to the Dalal Street as Sensex zoomed over 400 points. Standard tax deduction for salaried persons raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. Benefits under Section 80 (i) BA being extended for one more year, for all housing projects approved till end of 2019-2020. The TDS or tax deducted at source threshold on interest on bank and post offices deposits raised from RS 10,000 to Rs 40,000. Apart from the middle class, farmers were also the biggest gainer in the Interim Budget. Farmers who own up to 2 acres of land will be given Rs 500 a month i.e. Rs 6000 a year. This income support will be transferred in three equal instalments, said FM Goyal while presenting the Interim Budget for FY19. This project will be funded solely by the Central government and directly imapact 12 crore farmer families. The scheme will cost the government Rs 75,000 crore. The Finance Minister announced 8 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana. "We have got decisive mandate to continue structured reforms. We have reversed policy paralysis," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'. Goyal stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. Goyal began the interim budget speech by wishing Union Minister Arun Jaitley speedy recovery and good health. Earlier, the Cabinet had approved the Interim Budget for 2019-20. New Delhi: What can be termed as a landmark decision, the Finance Minister Piyush Goyal today said that Rs 1 crore loan can be obtained under 59 minutes while presenting the interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha. Rs 1 crore loan can now be obtained under 59 minutes, said Goyal, while stating that his government has implemented several measures to ensure clean banking and instituted a resolution friendly mechanism for recovery of non-performing loans. Nearly Rs 3 lakh crore has been recovered in favour of banks and creditors, he said, adding that big defaulters too have not been spared by our government. Finance Minister Goyal said that he remained confident that given the pace of reforms in the banking sector, other banks too will recover. At the same time, recapitalisation of banks amounting to Rs 2.6 lakh crore has been done, said the Finance Minister. The 4R approach and a number of measures have been implemented to ensure clean bankingrecognition, resolution, recapitalisation, and reforms, he said. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal also said 10 lakh patients have been treated so far under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world's largest health care programme. Presenting the Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal also said the government has been providing cheaper drugs through Jan Aushadhi stores. Highlighting steps taken up by the Narendra Modi-led government to provide affordable health care to the poor, Goyal said 21 AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) have been established or operating in the country, "of which 14 have been sanctioned since 2014". Another one will be in Haryana, he added. New Delhi: The upcoming Budget may have provision for Rs 4,000-crore capital infusion for public sector general insurance companies to shore up their capital. The Budget 2019-20 will be presented by Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, February 1. According to sources, the Department of Financial Services sought Rs 4,000 crore in the Budget for fund infusion in three insurance companies -- National Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company and United India Insurance Company. Depending on the capital that Budget provides, individual allocation would be made, sources added. This capital is required to strengthen their financial health. The profitability of many general insurance companies, including that of state-owned ones has been under pressure owing to rising underwriting losses and higher claims. It is to be noted that the government, in Budget 2018-19, had proposed to merge National Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company and United India Insurance Company. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget speech had announced that the three companies would be merged into a single insurance entity. The process of merger is likely to be completed during the current fiscal. As on March 31, 2017, the three companies together had more than 200 insurance products with a total premium of Rs 41,461 crore and a market share of around 35 per cent. Their combined net worth is Rs 9,243 crore, with total employee strength of around 44,000 spread over 6,000 offices. In 2017, state-owned New India Assurance Company and General Insurance Corporation of India were listed on bourses. Initial estimates suggest that the combined entity formed by merging the three insurers will be the largest non-life insurance company in India, valued at Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh crore. New Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday hailed the government for the Interim Budger 2019 and came down heavily on the Congress-led UPA for not doing much for farmers in its 10 years in power. "What did the UPA do in their 10 years in power? A one-time loan waiver of Rs 70,000 crore. Only Rs 52,000 crore were waived off and the CAG report was that out of that Rs 52,000 crore a significant part of money went to traders and businessmen and not to farmers," Jaitley said. Speaking to news agency ANI in New York, where the former finance minister is undergoing treatment, asked the Opposition not to "shed crocodile tears" after it criticised the government over Rs 6,000 fixed income per year for farmers who own upto two hectares of land. Arun Jaitley in New York on opposition's criticism of Rs 6000/year for farmers having upto 2 hectares of land: Please don't shed crocodile tears today for farmers. If opposition also has several govts let them announce similar schemes. I'm sure other govts will also consider this pic.twitter.com/SZEc93YPls ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 "Please don't shed crocodile tears today for farmers. If opposition also has several governments let them announce similar schemes. I'm sure other governments will also consider this," he said. "This is a huge amount that we are doing. We are now as against the one-time loan waiver of Rs 52,000 crore. This is Rs 75,000 crore in the first year itself. I'm sure it will expand in future years," he said. #WATCH New York: Arun Jaitley reacts to media reports that National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) data was leaked which stated that unemployment was at a record high. pic.twitter.com/Hzm367PSGh ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Jaitley added: "Now, look at what we have been doing. Rural roads - 91% completed, rural housing - 2022 everyone will have a roof, 98.7% people in rural areas now have sanitation, every willing home is having electricity, every man has switched over the cooking methods." Responding to the Opposition's allegation that it was an "election budget," Jaitley said: "Mr Chidambaram on a number of products, including engineering products and automobiles, gave a duty rebate. The same argument can be taken now. Budgets are an essential part of any parliamentary democracy so are elections." Leaders of the BJP-led ruling alliance lavished praise on the Union Budget with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying it benefits every section of society and will boost growth but the Opposition scorned its populist push, calling it the saffron party's poll manifesto and election 'jumla'. With some Union ministers hailing the budget as a "surgical strike" on the Opposition, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi mocked their show of euphoria, saying surgical strike will happen on Modi and his government on issues like the Rafale deal, jobs and demonetisation during the general election. Former finance minister P Chidambram mocked the budget as an account for votes and not a vote on account as it should have been. The NDA leaders expressed hope that the budget's sops for the middle class, farmers and small industries will boost their electoral prospects and their optimism was visible in their praise for these. BJP chief Amit Shah said the interim budget "benefits" all sections of the society and asserted that it has underscored the Modi government's dedication to the aspirations of the country's youth, farmers and the poor. He highlighted the increase in income tax exemption to Rs 5 lakh, a move aimed at wooing the salaried middle class, and annual payout of Rs 6,000 to farmers to drive home his point. Modi said over 12 crore farmers, three crore middle class families and 30-40 crore workers employed in unorganised sector will benefit from the budget which, he asserted, is merely a "trailer" of what will guide India towards prosperity after the elections, expected in April-May. This budget will boost the efforts of 130 crore citizens in realising the goal of a new India, he said. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Friday reported a 9 per cent decline in total vehicle sales in January to 12,067 units, compared with 13,239 units in the same month last year. Commenting on the sales performance, TKM Deputy Managing Director N Raja said: With the closure of special offers/year-end schemes, the buying sentiment has witnessed a dip this month. The tightening of vehicle financing availability has also added to the challenges in the market. Japanese automaker Toyota recently signed an agreement with another Japanese carmaker Suzuki to share few models and technology. In the second half o of 2019, Toyota is all geared up to sell Baleno under Toyota badging and will be available for sale at the Toyotas dealership. N Raja, Deputy Managing Director at Toyota Kirloskar Motor said to Autocar India said, One thing we're working on now is one of the products from the alliance the Baleno. Towards the second half of this year, we should be seeing it made available to our dealers for sale. From Toyota's side, our focus is to differentiate the sales experience for the customers that we get. We would look at Toyota's strengths of sales. We have more than 1.5 million Toyota customers, we have to focus on how we approach them and offer them this product so that they remain in the Toyota family, added Raja. As per the agreement, Suzuki will share its Baleno as well as Vitara Brezza to Toyota. On the other hand, Toyota will share its best-selling car Corolla to Suzuki. Meanwhile, premium hatchback Baleno is in direct competition Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz. Under the new badging, Baleno is expected to arrive with few cosmetic changes on the front end as well on the inside of the car. It will be interesting to see whether this collaboration helps Toyota in the Indian market to increase the number of sales significantly or not. New Delhi: South Korean auto major Kia Motors will launch one model every six months once it starts selling vehicles in India from mid-2019 but is not considering the high-volume compact cars segment, a top company official said Tuesday. The company, which has set a target to be among top five players in three years in India, is looking to position itself as a premium brand in the mass segment. "Yes, we are considering six models in three years, which is one model every six months," Kia Motors India CEO and Managing Director Kookhyun Shim told PTI. The company, however, is not considering the compact cars segment which accounts for about 70 per cent of the total Indian passenger vehicles (PV) segment that stood at around 3.3 million units in 2017-18. Currently, the Indian PV market is dominated by Maruti Suzuki India followed by Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and Honda. "We want to position ourselves as a premium brand. At the moment there is no plan for compact cars in India," he said. When asked how confident is the company of becoming a top five player in India while being absent from the compact segment, he said,"Kia has lot of experience in the global market with presence in 180 countries. Our target is based on our experience and not just a dream target." Shim further said, "We think it is very feasible. So, at the moment compact car is not on our line-up. However, whenever we think we need some volume support we can put compact car in our line up." From the middle of 2019, Kia will start selling its will start with SUV, SP Concept that was showcased at the Auto Expo this year. "We are developing out first product, SP Concept, based on Indian customers' aspirational needs, as well as engineering and design. We are bullish about the success of this car," he said. Asked if Kia would continue to develop such India specific products in future too, Shim said,"We will. We find that the Indian market is very diverse and each segment there will be different needs. We are looking at the market segment wise and serve all the customer needs. We are monitoring the market." Kia is investing USD 1.1 billion to set up its plant in Andhra Pradesh which will have an annual capacity of three lakh units. It will employ around 3,000 persons when fully operational. Daylight Saving Time began on March 14. It can be a controversial subject. Do you love it, despise it, or are you somewhere in between? You voted: First and foremost, I want everyones vote to count, and I want everybody who wants to vote to have the ability to vote. We must accomplish those two things. If we cant, we need to continue to make sure those two things are accomplished, he said. Shamokin, PA (17872) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Fears of another devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been heightened after multiple sightings of the rare and ominous oarfish. Several of the deep-sea creatures have recently washed up or been caught in fishing nets - spreading panic and alarm. The large snake-like creatures, which can grow as much as 11-metres-long, are known as "Ryugu no tsukai", or "Messenger from the Sea God's Palace". According to legend, they come to the surface and beach themselves on land ahead of underwater earthquakes. A waste management company says the rubbish being left behind at festivals is getting out of hand. Raglan's Xtreme Zero Waste was left with a massive clean-up job that included 600 discarded tents from the New Year season. It says companies that sell such cheap, disposable products should foot the bill for clean-up. Chief Entrepreneurial Officer of Xtreme Zero Waste, Cheryl Reynolds, says companies like The Warehouse need take some responsibility for the rubbish. She's asked the company to step-up and help fund the clean-up, and is calling for the sale of such tents to be banned. The Warehouse said in a statement that their tents are good quality and designed for multiple use and certainly are not designed to be used once and left behind. It hopes the festival organisers can somehow recycle the tents so they are able to be used again. Ms Reynolds says if the wind had been blowing the other way, a lot of discarded tents would now be in the sea. Cardboard tents recently made their debut at New Zealand's largest music festival, Rhythm and Vines, and provide one solution to the problem. They were set up by the festival, and are recyclable, so don't turn into a pile of unwanted rubbish when the party's over. Ms Reynolds says maybe they need to be adopted by all festivals in the future to stop the huge amounts of post-festival trash currently being produced. Newshub. The Government is being urged to make doctor's visits free by revamping its healthcare funding. Academics at Otago University believe cost is a major barrier preventing people from going to their GP. For many than 80 years, New Zealand's health system has allowed free hospital, but charge for most people to see a family doctor. Prof Robin Gauld, the Otago Business School Dean, says this is a barrier for a lot of New Zealanders. "For roughly 20 percent of New Zealand the cost barrier is significant. That's wrong." A group from Otago University's Business School is proposing a major shakeup, axing individual exemptions and subsidised fees, and the Government either fully funding all general practices or paying doctors a salary. Prof Gauld said this would not be cheap. "It would come at a cost. It could be several hundred million in order to fully subsidise the patient charges to see a GP and bring them down to effectively zero." The Business School group believes that's affordable with the Government spending $18 billion a year across the health sector. GPs are welcoming the debate, but charges aren't the only reason people don't see a doctor. Dr Samantha Murton, President of the NZ College of General Practitioners says people have many other reasons for skipping on doctors' visits. "They can't get off work, they may not be able to drive as far as they need to, or they don't have the petrol to get there. So it's not just about the fee." And GPs warn free-for-all setups like the UK's National Health Service can create problems, with some patients tying up doctors' resources. "Sometimes they are overwhelmed, because a free service means that people will turn up regularly. And I talked to one GP in the UK, who said he'd seen a patient 150 times in a year," said Dr Murton. A Government review aimed at "future-proofing" the country's health system is already underway, with a final report due early 2020. Newshub. A British graduate has turned down a job, saying the behaviour of the company's chief executive during her interview was like that of her "abusive ex". Olivia Bland, 22, has called out Craig Dean, CEO of tech company Web Applications UK, after he allegedly tore into her personality and criticised her taste in music. Ms Bland says she endured a "brutal" four hour interview. When she was offered the job, she turned it down and took to Twitter to share her email response declining the job offer. The Scarlet Witch seems poised to be Marvel's next Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange is going to die, which means the title of top Marvel Universe magic-wielder will up for grabs, with Wanda in prime position to grab it The roundabout at Calumet Avenue, Vale Park Road and Roosevelt Road experienced the most crashes, with 74. The interchange of Indiana 49 and LaPorte Avenue came in second with 37, followed by LaPorte Avenue and Silhavy Road with 26; Morthland Drive and Sturdy Road with 24; and Morthland Drive and Washington Street with 14, a reduction of 27 crashes for that intersection from the previous year. Jeffersonville, IN (47130) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam apologized Friday after admitting he appeared in a racist photo in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook depicting one person in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan outfit. Northam said in a statement Friday evening that he was one of the two people in the photo and that he is "deeply sorry." The statement did not say whether Northam was the person wearing blackface or the person wearing a Klan outfit. The news rocked Northam's administration and led to calls for his immediate resignation, which Northam was resisting. Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive," Northam's statement said. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now." The right-wing blog Big League Politics first published the photo on Friday, saying it showed Northam and a friend Northam in blackface and the friend wearing an outfit of the Ku Klux Klan. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, issued a statement Friday afternoon saying he hoped the picture was "inaccurate," but said that if it is true Northam should resign immediately. But Beverly Long had friends, none closer than her co-worker Veronica Bennett, who is Monicas mother. Long and Veronica Bennett worked together at the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Salem, where Bennett was a nursing supervisor and Long was a registered nurse. Long, divorced and in her 50s at the time, grew close to the Bennetts and became Monicas godmother. Beverly Long sort of adopted Monica as the grandchild she never had, taking her to dinner at Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays every week, and buying her presents every birthday and holiday. Monica called her Grandma Bev. Nobody talked about the war, about Ralph Printzs service or about his Silver Star. After Long died, the Bennetts delayed her memorial service for a week, so that they could run multiple obituaries in The Roanoke Times in hopes that one of her family members would see it and come to the service. None did. But about the same time that Long died, her fathers medals surfaced a couple of counties away when a woman named Sharon Eubank, who lived in Campbell County, bought a box of merchandise at an auction. When she got home, she found the military paraphernalia in the bottom. The value of the property and vehicles received is well in excess of $50,000, Amherst County Sheriff E.W. Viar said. Property has been recovered for the city of Lynchburg, Appomattox County, Liberty University and Norfolk Southern Rail Road, in addition to Amherst County, Viar said. An Amherst County couple, Charles Wesley Branham and Lauren A. Branham, are wanted in connection with the thefts and are on the run, Viar said. Charles Branham is charged with one count of grand larceny in Amherst County and faces two counts of grand larceny in Lynchburg while Lauren Branham is charged with one count each of grand larceny and possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon in Amherst County, according to authorities. Brandon Wayne Lipscomb faces one count of grand larceny in Amherst County and is in custody, Viar said. Additional charges and indictments will follow as the investigation progresses and more property is identified, he said. Stolen items include saws, power tools, air compressors, generators, a four-wheeler, guns and weapons, said Viar. Two large loads were recovered Thursday and while some items already have been returned to owners, the sheriffs office is processing more of the seized property so it can be returned to owners, he said. The race is on to become the new face of the Lynchburg Police Department. The force announced this month it is accepting applications to become the departments first full-time civilian spokesperson. Since the job listing went live two weeks ago, nearly 100 people have applied to take on the new role, according to LPD Capt. and current spokesperson Nick Leger, who serves in the role part time in addition to overseeing the administration bureau. The new community relations coordinator, as the position officially is known, will respond to media inquiries and organize community-policing initiatives throughout the city, according to an online job listing. Leger described the position as a hybrid between a crime prevention specialist and a public information officer who will rely on social and digital media to spread the word about department-related news. Were a media-driven culture in a lot of ways, Leger said. And one of the main jobs we have as a police department is to collaborate and work with the community. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure that were sharing our message and sharing our information with the community in the ways that they expect. Moore said when supervisors are talking about attracting people whether businesses or residents to move to Campbell County, they need to think of them as customers. As a county, if the people in the community are our customers, what are we doing to retain them, what are we doing to attract them? he asked. You cant have any gap between what they expect and what you deliver. What is it that they want, what do we have and whats the gap? To me, its broadband. The board of supervisors formed a broadband authority last fall to investigate the potential of expanding the technology in the county. During Thursdays meeting, supervisors agreed on the importance of broadband to the county but said they need more detailed information to understand the return on investment. Rogers said he will bring additional analysis to the next broadband authority meeting in March. Another topic at the forefront of supervisors minds Thursday was schools. Hogg said the Campbell County school system was the reason she moved her family into the area years ago and knows it serves as a draw for other families. She said it was important for the county to prioritize school maintenance so they could continue to serve as its greatest resource. They argued that the former sheriff did nothing illegal and all the donations and fundraising tickets purchased were legitimate. Jurgensen said during the six and half years of cooperating with the FBI, hes been paid roughly $140,000. He said $30,000 of that amount was for expenses. New Delhi: Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Modi government on Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and gave tax rebate to those earning up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. Among the major sops, finance minister has announced Rs 6,000 per annum direct cash transfer to farmers owning less than two hectares of land. The move, months before general elections, is likely to benefit 12 crore farmers. Rs 60,000 crore has also been set aside for MGNREGA, the rural employment scheme, with Piyush Goyal adding that the allocation can be increased further. "Farmers earlier did not get full cost for their produce. Farmers income has reduced over the years. Income support to farmers small and marginal farmers Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) has been approved. Famers having 2 hectares and less will be provided with Rs 6000 per annum directly into their accounts," Goyal said. The amount will be directly transferred to the accounts of farmers in three equal installments. The ruling TRS in Telangana claimed the cash dole for farmers announced in the union budget was an "imitation" of the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme in the state with slight modifications. Working out the math, Congress president Rahul said "Rs 17 per day is an insult" to what the farmers stand for. "Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget," tweeted Rahul. The loud cheers over the Narendra Modi governments bold income tax proposal, to exempt those earning up to Rs 5 lakh in annual taxable income from any tax, have already given way to cynical shakes of the head. Lok Sabha had erupted into a loud cheer, with the Prime Minister joining others in thumping his desk enthusiastically, when Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced during his Budget speech on Friday morning that the salaried class will be given such a relief. Fiscal deficit for 2018-19 has been pegged at 3.4 per cent and current account deficit at 2.5 per cent. Justifying inclusion of tax proposals in an interim budget, he said, "Though as per convention, the main tax proposals will be presented in regular budget, small taxpayers especially middle class, salary earners, pensioners and senior citizens need certainty in their minds at the beginning of the year about their taxes. "Therefore, proposals, particularly relating to such class of persons should not wait." Terming inflation as hidden and unfair tax, he said the government has "broken the back of back-breaking inflation". Inflation stood at just 2.1 per cent in December 2018 from 10.1 per cent during 2009-14. Fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4 per cent in the revised estimate of 2018-19. "If we had not controlled inflation our families would have been spending 35-40 per cent more on daily use items," the finance minister said. Goyal said the pace of construction of rural roads has been tripled in the last five years. During 2014-18, 1.53 crore houses have been constructed under PM Awas Yojana. He said 10 lakh patients have been treated so far under Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world's largest health care programme. The scheme was launched to provide medical care to nearly 50 crore people, resulting in savings of Rs 3,000 crore for poor families. The government announced setting up of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog to enhance productivity of cows. Hailing the budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the interim budget is merely a "trailer" of what will guide India towards prosperity after the Lok Sabha polls and described it as something which will benefit all sections of the society. In his remarks after the interim budget was presented in Parliament, Modi said it empowers people and referred to a host of budgetary announcements and schemes to drive home his point. In his remarks after the interim budget was presented in Parliament, Modi said it empowers people and referred to a host of budgetary announcements and schemes to drive home his point. "Our neo-middle class is rising and so are their dreams ... Interim budget a trailer for what will take India towards prosperity after Lok Sabha polls," he said in a televised statement. Underlining the importance of safeguarding the interests of the unorganised sector, he said PM Shram Yogi Man Dhan Yojana will be of great help. This sector needed more safeguarding of their interests and the budget for new India has done so. Ayushman Bharat Yojana and social security schemes are also going to touch their lives, he added. Union minister Arun Jaitley, who had been holding the finance portfolio but had to relinquish the office for health reasons, said the government's decision to exempt income of up to Rs 5 lakh from tax will benefit the "great Indian middle class". The significant announcement made by Goyal will strengthen the purchasing power of the middle class which holds the key for India's future, he said. He is currently in the US for treatment. With some Union ministers hailing the budget as a "surgical strike" on the Opposition, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi mocked their show of euphoria, saying surgical strike will happen on Modi and his government on issues like the Rafale deal, jobs and demonetisation during the general election. Former finance minister P Chidambram mocked the budget as an account for votes and not a vote on account as it should have been. Slamming the government for "trampling" on time-honoured conventions by presenting a "full-fledged budget" and not an interim one, former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram accused it of violating the Constitution. "My one line comment on the budget is that it was not a Vote on Account but an account for votes. It was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech," he told reporters. The government has said that it was an interim budget. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a key opposition leader, said Friday the interim budget for 2019-20 had absolutely no value as the term of the NDA government would end soon. "Who will implement this?" the Trinamool Congress president asked. File photo of former Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. Finance minister Piyush Goyal, in the interim budget, had proposed that income tax exemption limit will be doubled from Rs 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh, but left the implementation of it to the next government. Amid confusion on when the changes in tax structure would be effective, he clarified that he just "wanted the middle class to know what the government was planning". The centre piece of this poll-itical budget was the direct cash transfer scheme for farmers to arrest the unrest in the agrarian community ahead of elections, in an answer to Congress, which announced farm loan waivers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Piyush Goyal says the government will give farmers whose land holdings are less than 2 hectacre Rs 6000 per annum and 12 crore farmers will benefit from the scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is supposed to be an interim budget or a Vote on Account, but the announcements have led the opposition to call it a full budget. "There was nothing interim about it," former finance minister P Chidambaram said. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said giving farmers roughly Rs 17 per day was an insult. Under pressure from a resurgent Congress which is going all out to lure voters with the promise of debt waiver for farmers and a minimum income for the poor if voted to power, Goyal has announced a direct transfer of cash to farmers. This may or may not replace subsidies that the farmer gets but will certainly be aimed at addressing rural distress, which was primarily blamed for BJP's defeat in recent assembly elections in key states. Goyal, who stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment, was widely expected to raise income tax exemption thresholds, but the government passed the burden to the next government. As U.S. immigration enforcement becomes stricter under the Trump administration, more immigrant families are cutting ties with health care services and other critical government programs, according to child advocates who work with such families. In Texas, researchers studying the issue say its a major reason why more children are going without health insurance. Ana, who lives in Central Texas with her husband and two children, has been increasingly hesitant to seek help from the government. In particular, shes worried about getting help for her 9-year-old daughter, Sara, who was diagnosed with autism a few years ago. Ana entered the country without documentation about 10 years ago, which is why NPR and KHN have agreed not to use her last name. Both of her children were born in the United States and have been covered by Medicaid for years. But ever since President Donald Trump took office, Ana has been using the program only for basics such as checkups and vaccinations for the kids. This decision to forgo care comes at a cost. Managing Saras behavior has been challenging, even after the autism diagnosis brought her parents some clarity. Sara acts out and has tantrums, sometimes in public places. Ana finds it difficult to soothe her daughter, and the situation has become more awkward as Sara grows. To other people, Sara just seems spoiled or a brat, Ana said. After the diagnosis, Ana felt unsure about her next steps. She eventually went to a nonprofit in Austin that guides and supports parents whose children have disabilities. Its called Vela (candle in Spanish). At Vela, Ana learned about a range of services Sara could get access to via her Medicaid plan including therapy to help the child communicate better. However, the thought of asking for more government services for her daughter increased Anas anxiety. I am looking for groups who are not associated with the government, Ana explained. Ana is in the middle of the long, expensive legal process of applying for permanent resident status, known informally as a green card. Recently, the Trump administration announced that it may tighten part of this process the public charge assessment. The assessment scrutinizes how many government services a green card applicant currently uses or might use later in life. If a person uses many government services, they could pose a net financial burden on the federal budget or so goes the rationale. The governments algorithms are complex, but public charge is part of the determination for who gets a green card and who doesnt. The rule change proposed by the Trump administration which might not come to pass has already led many applicants, or would-be applicants, to be wary of all government services, even those that wouldnt affect their applications. I am afraid they will not give me a legal resident status, Ana said. Her husband already has a green card, and the couple is determined to not jeopardize Anas ongoing application. So they have decided just to be safe to avoid seeking any more help from the government. Thats even though their daughter, who is a citizen, needs more therapy than shes getting right now. I feel bad that I have to do that, Ana said. She says she would love to treat her daughters autism, but has decided that there is nothing more important than getting that green card, in order to keep the family together in the U.S. Im running into families that, when its time for re-enrollment or reapplication, they are pausing and they are questioning if they should, said Nadine Rueb, a clinical social worker dealing with Anas case at Vela. Rueb said a range of fears are behind immigrants avoidance of government services. Some are staying under the radar to avoid immediate deportation. Others are more like Ana they just want to be in the best position possible to finally get permanent legal status and move on with their lives. The climate of fear is so pervasive at this point, and there is so much misinformation out there, said Cheasty Anderson, a senior policy associate with the Childrens Defense Fund in Texas. Anderson said she thinks the parents fears have led to an uptick in children going without health coverage in Texas. A recent study from Georgetown Universitys Center for Children and Families found that 1 in 5 uninsured kids in the U.S. lives in Texas. And a big percentage of those uninsured children are Latino. The report shows that after years of steady decline, the number (and percentage) of uninsured children in the U.S. increased in 2017, the first year of Trumps presidency. Nationally, 5 percent of all kids are uninsured and in Texas the rate rose to 10.7 percent, up from 9.8 percent in 2016. Joan Alker, author of the Georgetown report, said the Trump administrations effort to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration is one of many factors driving up the uninsured rates. And its especially perceptible in Texas, where a quarter of children have a parent who is either undocumented, or who is trying to become a legal resident. For these mixed-status families, there is likely a heightened fear of interacting with the government, and this may be deterring them from signing up their eligible children for government-sponsored health care, Alker said in a phone call with reporters in November, when the report was released. Anderson, of the Childrens Defense Fund in Texas, said the repercussions fall hardest on kids with disabilities kids who need services. Texas is proud to be Texas in so many ways, but this is one way in which we are failing ourselves, she said. From the perspective of Rueb, a disability rights specialist, timing is an essential issue for these children. The sooner you catch [the diagnosis or condition], the sooner you support the child [and] the sooner you support the family, Rueb said. I think its just a win-win for everybody. You are supporting the emotions of the family, and then that supports the child. For now, said Ana, shes relying on the services offered by her daughters public school which arent counted in the federal governments public charge assessment. And shell keep doing that until she gets that green card. This story is part of a partnership that includes KUT, NPR and Kaiser Health News. Sartorius, a leading international partner of biopharmaceutical research and the industry, is pleased to announce that it has joined NIIMBL, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals headquartered in Newark, Delaware, USA. The Institute, launched in 2017, is a public-private partnership and has an extensive network of academic and industry partners within the United States. Among the 115 associated members are 71 academic institutions, research laboratories, non-profit organizations and 44 companies ranging from startups, small, medium and large companies. In addition, NIIMBL also engages several federal agencies. NIIMBLs multi-pronged mission includes the following: accelerate biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovations, support the development of standards, enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities and establish an international, leading workforce to fundamentally strengthen the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry. Recently NIIMBL expanded its membership offerings, allowing technology providers wider access to participation. Sartorius has joined the organization through this new affiliate membership program that permits the company to actively support the NIIMBL community activities. Furthermore, the program gives Sartorius the opportunity to influence the organizations portfolio of existing innovation projects, give feedback to the review of new project proposals and directly sponsor one of the upcoming projects. As a new member, Sartorius will initially learn about the NIIMBL technology project portfolio and seek opportunities to provide expertise on innovative ideas and solutions, including the application of existing technologies from its broad and unique product and technology portfolio. Examples such as single-use sensor technologies along with process analytical tools (PAT), data analytics and innovative solutions for next generation bioprocessing will be among the key technologies Sartorius will contribute to these projects. We are very pleased that Sartorius is now a member of the NIIMBL organization and are excited about being able to collaborate with its members. I am convinced that with our access to the combined expertise of the NIIMBL community, we will be able to contribute substantially to further optimizing and accelerating the current manufacturing processes in the biopharmaceutical industry. As a leading partner of this industry, I see many highly interesting synergies that will result from the interface between Sartorius and NIIMBL members." David J. Pollard, Head of Advanced Materials & Processing unit at Sartorius Corporate Research Equally the NIIMBL organization is excited to have Sartorius as part of our membership community. The Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute awarded research grants to four projects that focus on understanding how treatment of bladder cancer affects women, why the disease has a less favorable outcome for women than men, and how biology could play a role in offering new targets for cancer therapy. Top Left to Right: Natasha Gupta, M.D., Brady Urological Institute, Sima Porten, M.D., M.P.H., University of California, San Francisco, Sumeet Bhanvadia, M.D., University of Southern California. Bottom Left to Right: Margarget Knowles, Ph.D., University of Leeds, Jenny Southgate, Ph.D., & Simon Baker, Ph.D.,University of York The institute encourages new strategies for combating bladder cancer and rewards those areas of innovative study with grants of $25,000 to $50,000. David McConkey, Ph.D., director of the Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, says it was not happenstance that some of the projects selected this year focus on womens bladder cancer. Bladder cancer presents different clinical challenges in men and women. It is diagnosed more often in men, but on average, women develop more aggressive disease, says McConkey. Identifying the root causes of these discrepancies is a top priority for ongoing research. We also need to optimize our surgical approaches in men and women to ensure that we are obtaining the best possible outcomes. The projects we are funding this year directly address both of these priorities. The Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute recently launched a womens bladder program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Jean Hoffman-Censits, M.D., and Armine Smith, M.D., will lead the program. Two of the projects awarded research grants are looking at how bladder cancer treatment impacts the sexual health of women and how women are counseled after undergoing radical cystectomy, a surgical procedure during which the bladder and, typically, the uterus, ovaries and part of the vagina, are removed. Natasha Gupta, M.D., is a resident at the Brady Urological Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her project aims to examine the components of sexual health and dysfunction among women with bladder cancer who undergo radical cystectomy, as well as the counseling patients receive regarding these issues. I am grateful for the resources and support provided by the Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, says Gupta. They have allowed me to design and conduct studies to understand the important but poorly understood topic of sexual health and dysfunction among women with bladder cancer. Gupta and her team will also study national practice patterns among urologists regarding radical cystectomy in women and counseling about sexual dysfunction. They are conducting in-depth interviews with patients and their partners about these issues. Gupta hopes a better understanding of sexual health and dysfunction in women with bladder cancer will lead to improved decision making about treatment and better management of sexual dysfunction in patients who undergo radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Sima Porten, M.D., M.P.H., is a member of the urologic oncology team at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco. Sumeet Bhanvadia, M.D., is an assistant professor of clinical urology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. The two want to do an in-depth assessment of sexual outcomes among women after radial cystectomy to understand the extent of sexual dysfunction and its impact on patients and their partners. We are honored to have received this award from the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, Porten says. We believe this will help us address an unmet need and improve the care for women with bladder cancer. Their pilot study hopes to generate data to develop a quantitative measure of degrees of sexual dysfunction and quality of life issues among women with bladder cancer. This information can be used to develop alternative treatment plans and properly prepare patients for what they may experience after radical cystectomy. Margaret Knowles, Ph.D., at the University of Leeds, and Benjamin Hopkins, a Ph.D. student at Leeds, have identified biological differences between cultured normal cells from the bladders of men and women. Such differences may have a major influence on the process of tumor development, Knowles says. This award will allow us to examine normal cells directly isolated from the bladders of normal males and females to determine whether such differences also exist within the body. While acknowledging that different exposure risks have been highlighted, Knowles and her team suggest a complete explanation for the gender-related differences in bladder tumor behavior relates to genetic and epigenetic distinctions in these tumors, and such differences may develop because of inherent differences in the biology of the normal male and female bladder. Their goal is to make it possible for treatments to target the specific biology of tumors, taking into account any gender-related differences. Jenny Southgate, Ph.D., director of the Jack Birch Unit for Molecular Carcinogenesis at the University of York, and Simon Baker, Ph.D., deputy director of the Jack Birch Unit, are examining how the skin layers inside the bladderknown as urothelial cellsdevelop and how those cells have genetic qualities seen in some subsets of bladder cancer. We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the grant from the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute. It is a particularly exciting time for bladder cancer research, with the international surge of interest in this long ignored but important cancer and with much recent progress in establishing different disease subgroups, Southgate says. From our particular perspective of normal bladder biology, our study aims to explain the different ways bladder cells use their genes when exposed to different stimulations in the laboratory, which will offer new targets for cancer therapy. Southgate and Baker will look at receptors in the urothelial cellsturning them on and offto discover what role they may have in tumor development. They believe their work will provide new insights into bladder cancer subtypes and a new understanding of urothelial biology. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today offered a ringing endorsement of the bipartisan Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, a proposal in the U.S. Senate to ensure communities across the U.S. have access to health professionals and other critical supports improving care for us all as we age. Introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), the bill aims to address the shortage of health professionals expertly trained to care for older people, and also advances supports for older adults, caregivers, and the interprofessional teams responsible for delivering high-quality care. The bill draws on considerable insights from the Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA), a collaborative comprised of more than 30 member organizations, including the AGS, reflecting the diverse expertise of millions of professionals who support health and aging for older Americans. "The future we're working for at the AGS--a future when all older Americans have access to high-quality, person-centered care--begins by building the workforce to make that possible, and by ensuring that workforce can connect us to the tools and supports we need as we age," notes AGS Chief Executive Officer Nancy E. Lundebjerg, MPA. "We commend Sens. Collins and Casey for working with us and our partners to make that future a reality with the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act. By standing behind this legislation, we're committed to a future when all Americans can look forward to affordable, high-quality, and person-centered care." The Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act supports two critical objectives for geriatrics healthcare professionals, older adults, and millions of caregivers across America. First, the bill would formally establish and authorize funding for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), the only federal program designed to increase the number of health professionals with the skills and training to care for older people. The GWEP was launched in 2015 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with 44 three-year grants provided to awardees in 29 states where the workforce shortage is particularly pronounced. This important legislation will authorize GWEP funding of $45 million annually through 2024, allowing current and future awardees to: Educate and engage with family caregivers by training providers who can assess and address their care needs and preferences. Promote interprofessional team-based care by transforming clinical training environments to integrate geriatrics and primary care delivery systems. Improve the quality of care delivered to older adults by providing education to families and caregivers on critical care challenges such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The bill also would reauthorize the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACAs), a program that enabled career development for hundreds of clinician-educators (so named because they excel at providing care for older adults and training for others to do the same). The program was eliminated in 2015 through a consolidation of several training programs. However, HRSA late last year announced they were bringing the program back. The bill will authorize GACA funding of $6 million annually through 2024. Since 1998, original GACA recipients have trained as many as 65,000 colleagues in geriatrics expertise and have contributed to geriatrics education, research, and leadership across the U.S. Renewed GACA funding comes at a critical juncture for the field. Researchers reporting in 2017 on the impact of the GACA noted that, without a substantial increase in funding for geriatrics education and research, the U.S. risked "decimating a workforce that is essential to training health professionals on the unique healthcare needs of older adults." The introduction of this important legislation follows announcements of related funding opportunities from HRSA in November 2018, making each program more actionable even as legislation wends its way through Congress. HRSA anticipates funding 47 GWEPs for five years and 26 GACAs for four years. Authorization of the GWEPs and GACAs as outlined in the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act will help ensure that HRSA receives the funding necessary to carry these critically important geriatrics workforce training programs forward. "This Act provides support for the health professionals and clinician-educators engaged in geriatrics education and research," Lundebjerg concluded. "The GWEP provides support for the current transformation of primary care, while the GACA develops the next generation of innovators to improve care outcomes and care delivery. Together, these platforms play a critical role in developing the workforce we all need as we age." A new study has revealed that using e-cigarettes are twice as effective as chewing nicotine containing gum or using nicotine skin patches in quitting smoking. The results of the study were published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Disposable vape pen. Image Credit: GrungeElfz / Shutterstock A study involved 886 long term smokers who were ready to quit smoking. These participants had seeked help from the NHS to help them quit. In United Kingdom, experts believe that smoking e-cigarettes has brought down rates of smoking significantly and helped many quit. Prof Peter Hajek from Queen Mary University of London and his team looked at the group of participants and assessed if vaping or nicotine replacement therapy were similarly effective in helping smokers quit. The smokers were mostly middle aged and were divided randomly intow two groups. One group was supplied with e-cigarettes as a means to quit smoking while the other group was designated to receive nicotine replacement therapy. This involved use of nicotine chewing gum, lozenges, sprays and using nicotine skin patches. In addition all participants were offered behavioural support during their efforts to quit. Results at the end of the year showed that 18 percent of those who were using e-cigarettes to smoke had quit smoking altogether and 9.9 percent using nicotine replacement therapy had stopped smoking. At the end of the year 80 percent of the vapers were still using the e-cigarettes while only 9 percent in the other group continued to use nicotine replacement. Hajek explained that the fact that end of the year so many of the participants were still using e-cigarettes is a potential problem but also potentially beneficial. He said, There are both sides to it and I think the beneficial side is stronger. The negative one is they are still using something and e-cigarettes are unlikely to be totally safe. They are unlikely to have more than about 5% of the risks of smoking but there is still some risk and if using it for one year means that they are using it for 30 years and if that generates some health risk then they would be better off not using it. Authors write that this is the first randomized trial that compared the two available and approved methods of quitting smoking. According to Hajek, Although a large number of smokers report that they have quit smoking successfully with the help of e-cigarettes, health professionals have been reluctant to recommend their use because of the lack of clear evidence from randomised controlled trials. This is now likely to change. Researchers in the United States do not agree with the usefulness of e-cigarettes in helping people quit smoking. Instead they say that the nicotine in the e-cigarettes are just as addictive and their flavours are attracting young adolescent smokers as well who are taking up vaping. According to the researchers, the initial few days of quitting smoking are associated with symptoms such as irritability, lack of concentration etc. Those in the e-cigarette group experienced some amount of throat and mouth irritation as side effects of the therapy while those on nicotine replacement therapy said they experienced some degree of nausea. At present use of e-cigarettes to help quit smoking is being supported by researchers in the UK as well as the Public Health England. Martin Dockrell, tobacco control lead at PHE said in a statement, This landmark research shows that switching to an e-cigarette can be one of the most effective ways to quit smoking, especially when combined with face-to-face support. All stop-smoking services should welcome smokers who want to quit with the help of an e-cigarette. The PHE has called for availability of e-cigarettes on the NHS within the next five years to help smokers quit. US scientists Belinda Borrelli and George T OConnor from the Henry M. Goldman school of dental medicine at Boston University wrote a comment paper in response to this study. Like many US scientists they disagree with the superiority of e-cigarettes over other measures that help people quit smoking. They write, We recommend that e-cigarettes be used only when FDA-approved treatments (combined with behavioural counselling) fail, that patients be advised to use the lowest dose needed to manage their cravings and that there be a clear timeline and off ramp for use. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to the tune of seven million euros will run for five years and will be implemented in sub-Saharan Africa. "Global problems such as antimicrobial resistance and foodborne diseases pay no heed to national frontiers," says BfR President, Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel. "We need international scientific cooperation in order to develop solution strategies". At the beginning of the workshop, Parliamentary Secretary of State Dr. Maria Flachsbarth (BMZ) delivered a welcoming speech which was followed by Dr. Juliet Sentumbwe of the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. After short presentations by representatives of the project partners, Professor Dr. Lothar H. Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), emphasized the significance of the project. The foundations of the project, which was approved in November 2018, were laid in the spring of 2018 when ten scientists from the BfR, the Freie Universitat (FU) Berlin and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) participated in a workshop organized by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The goal was to strengthen research cooperation between the ILRI and the German institutions, exchange the results of research activities and jointly develop new projects. The BfR was involved in working groups on institutional cooperation, antimicrobial resistance and parasitic foodborne zoonoses. The main focus of the overall project are the strengthening of veterinary services, promotion of agricultural research (livestock farming), improving the safety and quality of animal products and support of global campaigns to combat animal diseases. The project considers the One Health approach, which describes the complex connections between humans, animals, the environment and health and which requires the close cooperation of the professional groups involved in the public health and the veterinary system. The detailed planning of the individual work packages for the entire project period was undertaken in several working groups of the workshop. Work packages 1 and 2 deal with sheep and goat plague and Rift Valley fever. The BfR is involved in work packages 3 and 4. Work package 3 deals with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in chicken farming in Uganda. The factors that influence resistance are to be examined here along with their significance for the contamination of food with resistant bacteria. The goal is to develop a surveillance system for antimicrobial use and resistance as well as the contamination of foods with resistant bacteria in order to recognize and reduce the risks to human health. An essential aspect is to train specialized personnel in Africa and provide the authorities with a long-term support in the build-up of the necessary structures. The focus of work package 4 is the improvement of the microbiological safety of foods of animal origin at the time of slaughter. Approximately 70% of foods of animal origin are sold in Uganda at so-called informal markets. These markets are important for ensuring the food supply and providing jobs. Food monitoring personnel will be trained on-site and, laboratory methods will be tested for their suitability, and applied accordingly. Washington took the phone in Sparks-Wades hand and threw it at her, striking her in the mouth, which she said gave her a busted lip, the affidavit states. Sparks-Wade said she crawled across the bed as Washington threatened to knock her out and kill her, according to the affidavit. The Harris Family Scholarship at the Connecticut Community Foundation is now accepting applications. The scholarship was previously available just for New Milford students. Now, students residing in any of 21 towns in the foundations service area in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills are encouraged to apply. The scholarship will be awarded for the 2019-20 academic year. The Harris Family Scholarship at the foundation was established by the Harris children and the New Milford Farmland and Forest Preservation Committee from donations given in memory of Vivian and George G. Harris, longtime New Milford farmers and agriculture proponents. Viviana and George took great joy in inviting area residents to their farm and in sharing the importance of agriculture. My grandparents were champions for farmland preservation in the state, and they recognized that preservation is just as much about preserving knowledge and tradition as it is about preserving the land, said Ryan Winkelvoss, the Harris oldest grandson. As one of the largest college scholarship providers in the region, the foundation has awarded thousands of scholarships since 1989 thanks to the generosity of donors who have established more than 130 scholarship funds to benefit area students pursuing college degrees. Last year, by awarding scholarships totaling more than $900,000, the foundation made college more affordable for 420 students attending two-year and four-year schools across the country. High school seniors or current or returning college students who are pursuing agricultural studies can apply for the scholarship through the foundation using the special scholarship form at www.conncf.org/apply-for-scholarships/ by March 15. Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Ralph Whyte, 43, of Waterbury, was charged with first degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint after turning himself in at Danbury police headquarters Jan. 27, on a warrant for his arrest stemming from an incident in Danbury last March. On March 5 of last year, a woman complained to Danbury police that Whyte had held her against her will and sexually assaulted her. The woman said Whyte was an acquaintance of hers. MILFORD The city has asked the judge who refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by the family of Maren Sanchez to reconsider his decision in light of a state Supreme Court ruling released last week. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Feb. 19. Sanchez was stabbed to death by classmate Christopher Plaskon in April 2014 at Jonathan Law High School after she rebuffed his invitation to the prom. The lawsuit says that in November 2013, Sanchez reported to the high school guidance department that Plaskon was emotionally disturbed and threatening to commit suicide or acts of serious self-harm with a knife, and she believed it was important for high school personnel to prevent him from engaging in potentially violent conduct. The main issues in the case: whether school officials had discretion in responding to Sanchezs warning within the school districts Suicide Prevention and Intervention Procedure, and whether more of an intervention would have prevented the killing. State law shields municipalities from liability if employees are negligent in performing discretionary acts, but not necessarily for negligence in the performance of mandatory acts. Plaskons guidance counselor failed to advise the principal, school security or others in the school administration or the state Department of Children and Families of Sanchezs report, in violation of mandatory school policies and state law, the lawsuit states. In a Jan. 4 memorandum, Judge Barry Stevens did not accept the argument by the city that Plaskon intended to kill Sanchez and that there were no actions the school system could have taken to prevent it. Sanchezs report that Plaskon was exhibiting suicidal ideation was an indication of an emotional problem sufficient to trigger the mandatory procedure of the Suicide Prevention and Intervention Procedure, the judge ruled in denying the citys motion for summary judgment. More for you News Milford wants Sanchez stabbing suit thrown out But in a Jan. 25 motion, the city says a recent Connectiut Supreme Court ruling means the judge should reconsider. The citys motion points to a Jan. 22 decision by the state Supreme Court it says clarifies the legal principles in the case. In that case, an East Haven cop investigating a possible domestic violence incident in a vehicle couldnt verify the owner of the car had a valid drivers license, but declined to order it towed and instead drove the man home. The owner then returned to his vehicle and drove it away, after which he got into an accident with another man who sued the town for damages. A jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, but the appeals court decided the case should have been thrown out because the officer wasnt obligated to order the mans car towed. In Milfords new motion in the lawsuit, the city says last weeks state Supreme Court ruling upholding the appeals courts reversal in Ventura v. East Haven illustrates why school officials had discretion while responding to Sanchezs complaint. The concepts of whom and what to monitor, how to do so, and how long to do so, are not subject to prescription, the motion says. This is because, as in the law enforcement context addressed in Ventura, there is considerable discretion inherent in such determinations, due to the array of situations which could trigger the (Suicide Prevention and Intervention Procedure). The judge has asked a lawyer representing Sanchezs family to respond to the citys filing by Feb. 14. Plaskon was sentenced on June 7, 2016, to 25 years in prison after he pleaded no contest to murder for stabbing 16-year-old Sanchez to death on April 25, 2014, with a steak knife in the hallway of the high school. A week later, Sanchezs mother, Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, filed suit in Superior Court in Milford against the Plaskon family and the citys Board of Education, seeking damages for her daughters death. The Plaskon family later agreed to pay Cimarelli-Sanchez an undisclosed settlement, ending the lawsuit against them. Messages were left Wednesday for the lawyers representing Sanchezs family and the city. ethan.fry@hearstmediact.com FAIRFIELD Before a different audience, Bryan Ripley Crandalls morning-long writing workshop might have been considered a cure for writers block. The objective in front of this audience of 77 Bridgeport middle school students was to inspire them to make a difference in their community. The goal is to have kids realize that writing is empowerment, said Crandall, a professor at Fairfield University. About tapping into Martin Luther Kings legacy ... putting thoughts into action. It was a fitting topic to cap off a three-day celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. on the Jesuit campus. Using the words of Martin Luther King and others, the students were challenged to write about what they know through a series of exercises. They began by copying one of several King quotes, then listing all the words that quote brought to mind. Then they had to use the same amount of time to jot down a longer list. They wrote lists of things they love and hate or want to make better. On the list of Ruhama Choudhury, a seventh-grader from Multicultural Magnet School, of things that need fixing was the American Education system. There needs to be more focus on the present day, Choudhury said. Pollution was one of the things on Batalla seventh-grader Elsa Nguyens list. Janelle Newell, a Multicultural Magnet seventh-grader who last year competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, had pressure on her hate list. Also, people who doubt her and who walk slowly in front of her. After putting it all down on paper, the students worked on possible solutions before turning to yet another writing exercise by putting together a story using a series of random words and then another based on illustrations from a picture book. Crandall, who heads the Connecticut Writing Project, told them there are power in words and encouraged them to write and read every day. Other events on campus during the week, which carried the theme of Fighting for Racial Justice, included a keynote speech by historian Ibram X. Kendi and an awards dinner featuring winners of the Jesuit universitys annual MLK Essay contest. The theme was how they would change their community. Choudhury won first prize in that essay contest. Also at Fridays writing workshop were Jeff Brown, a Fairfield U alumni and first-year English teacher at Batalla School, and Anthony Dozier one of his students. Earlier in the week, the pair won an Action for Justice Award from the university. Dozier, a seventh-grader, not only wrote an essay about his dream of stopping bullying at Batalla, he put his words into action by forming a club. That club is hosting a week-long series of antibullying events in March, Brown said. He sprung into action, secured funding. Membership in his club is growing, Brown said. It is all student-driven. Dozier said bullying at his school is an issue. Students call students names. He is trying to change it. I want to make people see the error of their ways, Dozier said. Many members in his club were with him on Friday. Others at the leadership conference included hand-picked middle school students from Claytor, Winthrop, Waltersville, Multicultural Magnet, Read and St. Augustine. Some said this was their first time on a college campus. Rony Delva, director of Upward Bound at Fairfield University, said this is the eighth year the university has hosted the youth leadership conference. We want them to leave here as change agents, he said. When they see something going wrong at school, like bullying, we want them to stand up, use their voices. lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck A High Bridge man was fatally injured in a motorcycle v. SUV crash at about 10:39 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, on Route 31, according to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III, Chief of Detectives Frank R. Crisologo and Lebanon Township Police Chief Jack Gale. According to ElSaffar, the first installment bills will not reflect homeowner, senior citizen or other exemptions, nor will they reflect the impact of successful assessment appeals filed in calendar year 2018. Exemptions and successful appeals will instead appear on second installment bills, along with the effect of changes in the tax levies of local governments. 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. Byfield - David Jackson, age 62, of Byfield, formerly of Amesbury, passed peacefully at Penacook Place Nursing Home in Haverhill on Monday evening June 14, 2021. Born in Winthrop, Decermber 20, 1958, he was one of seven children of the late Austin and Marie (Redman) Jackson. Among the variou After several years of starts and stops on legislative discussions of marijuana legalization in Vermont, theres a new push in the Vermont Senate to regulate the legal sales of cannabis and cannabis products to any adult. The move would be on top of sales to people already approved to buy cannabis specifically for medical usefrom dispensaries that are currently in operation. We have to have a regulated market, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan said Thursday, announcing his support for S.54, the bill currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is common sense. The bill would create a regulatory system for cannabis and cannabis products, and would okay retailers to open in 2021a few years behind neighboring Massachusetts. In a new stance from him, Donovan said having rules on the production, labeling, and sales of legal cannabis would mean important protections for consumers. An estimated 80,000 Vermonters regularly use marijuana, according to a study a few years ago from the RAND Drug Policy Research Center that is often cited in discussions at the Vermont State House. Donovan called out a possible contradiction in current Vermont law. People are allowed to grow and possess small amounts of marijuana in the state, but without licensed retailers for nonmedical cannabis use, buyers are often forced to turn to the black market. People are going to going to say, I can possess marijuana, and the next logical question is, Well how do I obtain it? Donovan noted. And when its going to be sold, absent regulations, thats when you raise the risk of somebody getting hurt. While Donovan is the states top law enforcement officer, many in public safety remain opposed. As do many public health officials. It would be not only unacceptable but unconscionable, to have legislation that would create this kind of potential marketplace that would not at least make an effort, explicitly, to have a revenue stream going towards education and prevention, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine testified Wednesday, also before the states Senate Judiciary Committee. Past attempts to tax and regulate marijuana sales have been met with roadblocks in the Vermont House of Representatives, where opponents have voiced concerns about how to implement prevention programs, as well as how to keep roadways safe. Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, has repeatedly said he shares those concerns, and an administration spokesperson said Thursday that the governor still wants roadway safety to be a regular part of any discussions of expanding access to cannabis. Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington County, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he is optimistic the bill to create a regulatory framework will get a fresh look by new members of the Vermont House. The House has turned over dramatically in the last two years, Sears observed in an interview with necn. My hope is theyll look favorably on S.54, as a vehicle to bring Vermont forward. In response to Levines testimony Wednesday, Sears said Thursday that the Scott administration should have included money in its budget proposal for prevention measureswith an expectation that they could be funded by future tax revenues from cannabis sales. Senators have more testimony and other work scheduled on the bill in the coming weeks. A new exhibit at a landmark Vermont museum showcases the work of a renowned artist who calls New England Home. Life is full of surprises, furniture maker and lighting designer Johnny Swing said during a recent visit necn paid to his studio in southern Vermont. In his Windham County workspace, Swing transforms quarters, half dollars, and other coins into usable sculptures. He lines up coins in fabrication molds to work inside out and uses anywhere from 30-80,000 individual welds to fuse the coins together and join them seamlessly to a frame. Im almost collaborating with the people who designed the coins, which is fun, Swing said of his admiration of the artistry in U.S. coinage. Clear across Vermont at the famous Shelburne Museum, a new exhibit titled Johnny Swing: Design Sense is open until early June. Visitors can learn more about Swings philosophy and process, from his sketches, models, and prototypesto his finished pieces. He sees the hidden potential in everyday objects, observed Shelburne Museum curator Kory Rogers. The exhibit spotlights giant lamps made from satellite dishes, chairs made from unusual materials including baby food jars, and rugs quilted from actual dollar bills. Everything that he makes is designed to A) surprise you, B) spark your curiosity, and C) if its a functioning piece of furniture, be comfortable, Rogers explained. Swing said the materials he usesespecially the coinageseem to fascinate people and generate questions, like how many coins are in that? or what is the face value of the coins in your furniture? This piece has $1,400 in coins in it, Swing said, referring to a piece he was working on in his studio when the television station visited. Clearlyworth quite a bit more when its done. So how much do collectors and institutions worldwide pay for all these re-imagined coins? If you have to ask, you probably cant afford a Johnny Swing original. I think it challenges people to think about what money is actually worth, Swing said of his work involving coins and currency. The value to Swing is in opening eyes: urging us to see the world in fresh wayseven things as simple as what jingles in our pockets. Its nice to make things that people enjoy, Swing told necn. Click here for more information on visiting Shelburne Museum. The death of a 12-year-old boy is under investigation after his body was found Friday afternoon in the Bellamy River in Dover, New Hampshire. Authorities said Nathaniel Boily was last seen Thursday leaving Dover Middle School at the end of the school day. His family contacted police when he didn't return home. Dover police and divers with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department located Boily's body at about 1 p.m. in the river near Back River Road and Central Avenue. It appeared that he had fallen through the ice. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said Boily's official cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, but it appears accidental. A 12-year-old Milford boy is the first child to die from flu-related illness in Massachusetts this winter. The boy, identified by town officials as Aaron Zenus, died Wednesday after being treated at a hospital. Milford School Superintendent Kevin McIntyre said in a statement that it was a sad day for the town and that Aaron was a beloved member of the school community. Grief counselors will be available at Stacy Middle School where the boy was a seventh-grader. Zenus' aunt told NBC10 Boston that he caught the flu last weekend. After several days, his family took him to the hospital. Parents like Susan Boudreau are in shock over the boy's death. "I can imagine as a parent going through that at all," said Boudreau. "I mean complications do happen. Tragedy happens. It's beyond heartbreaking." Hopkinton mother Cynthia Gebler said the tragedy is one reason why flu shots are a must. "I have children that have health issues so it's almost required for them to have the flu shot," Gebler said. State public health officials said it was the first pediatric flu-related death in Massachusetts this season. The most recent weekly flu report from the Department of Public Health indicated an increase in rates of flu-like illness in the state. A 33-year-old Limington, Maine man was arrested after authorities discovered an alleged meth lab in his home when they conducted a bail compliance check. Andrew Sweeney was arrested Wednesday following the compliance check at his Hemlock Lane home, where authorities say items commonly used to make methamphetamine were found. The suspect was released on bail earlier this month following a drug possession charge. After the discovery, police contacted the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency to for assistance. A lab team processed the scene and discovered five active, one-pot meth labs inside Sweeneys home, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. Forty inactive meth lab containers were also found in a shed on the suspects property. Sweeney was arrested and taken to York County Jail on Wednesday. He was charged with unlawful operation of a methamphetamine laboratory and is scheduled to appear in York District Court on Monday. A convicted killer who spent 20 years on the run, hiding in plain sight as a poet, went before the Massachusetts Parole Board to ask to be released Thursday. Norman Porter, 79, said he takes full responsibility for his crimes, which include two murders, followed by a prison break that kept him under an alias in Chicago for 20 years. "If it wasn't for my behavior, those men would not be dead," Porter said, apologizing to the board and the family members of his two victims. "I would like to express my deep sorrow." Porter was convicted of two slayings in the 1960s. The first was John Piggot, a store clerk shot in an armed robbery in Saugus. The second was David Robinson, a jail master killed during an escape. "It's another slow death, is what it is. It's a void in your life that didn't have to happen," said Piggot's brother, Bob Piggot, who attended the hearing. Following his incarceration, Porter broke out of custody in 1985 and moved to Chicago, where he lived under the alias J.J. Jameson and published poetry in the city. He was eventually captured and returned to Massachusetts in 2005. While he faced opposition from several family members, Porter received support from three members of the public, including an employee at one of the prisons where he served time. In his plea to the board, Porter said he would do whatever was asked of him. "I'm willing to do whatever you want me to do," Porter explained. "Whatever you wish me to do that would satisfy your questions and your concerns." A decision is expected in the next few months. What to Know Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam apologized Friday after a 1984 yearbook photo surfaced of people in blackface and a KKK robe. Northam said the behavior did not reflect his values. He did not say which of the two offensive costumes he wore. The chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia said earlier Friday that Northam should resign if he was one of the two people in costume. Update: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam now says he was not shown in an 1984 yearbook photo that led to calls for him to step down. He says he will not resign. See the latest here. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam apologized Friday evening after a 1984 yearbook photo of him surfaced showing a man in blackface alongside someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood. Northam confirmed in a statement that he appeared in the photo but did not say which of the two offensive costumes he wore. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now," the Democratic governor said in a statement. Later Friday, he posted an apology video on Twitter, saying, "That photo and the racist and offensive attitudes it represents does not reflect that person I am today or the way that I have conducted myself as a soldier, a doctor and a public servant." My fellow Virginians, earlier today I released a statement apologizing for behavior in my past that falls far short of the standard you set for me when you elected me to be your governor. I believe you deserve to hear directly from me. pic.twitter.com/1rSw1oxfrX Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 2, 2019 Northam gave no sign that he intends to resign. "I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust. I have spent the past year as your governor fighting for a Virginia that works better for all people. I am committed to continuing that fight through the remainder of my term and living up to the expectations you set for me when you elected me to serve," he said in the video. The photo inside Eastern Virginia Medical School's yearbook is placed alongside photos of the future governor. Philip Wells The Norfolk medical school said the photo appeared in the student-produced yearbook. Reporters with the Associated Press and WAVY-TV in Norfolk saw the yearbook page and confirmed its authenticity. A photo of the page was first posted Friday afternoon by the conservative website Big League Politics. Northam Pressured to Step Down Prominent Democrats and Republicans in Virginia and nationwide have called for Northam to resign. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe said on Twitter late Friday night that Northam should step down. "The situation that he has put himself and the Commonwealth of Virginia in is untenable. It's time for Ralph to step down, and for the Commonwealth to move forward," he said. The NAACP has called on Northam to resign. "Black face in any manner is always racist and never okay. No matter the party affiliation, we can not stand for such behavior, which is why the @NAACP is calling for the resignation of Virginia Governor @RalphNortham," NAACP President Derrick Johnson said on Twitter. The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus also asked for Northam's resignation after a late-night meeting with the governor. "We fully appreciate all that he has contributed to our Commonwealth. But given what was revealed today, it is clear that he can no longer effectively serve as Governor," the VLBC said. Earlier in the evening, the VLBC issued a fiery statement that said in part: "We feel complete betrayal. The legacy of slavery, racism, and Jim Crow has been an albatross around the necks of African Americans for over 400 years. These pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nation's sins." Virginia Senate Democrats joined the request for his resignation. The Ralph Northam we know is a pediatric neurologist, a dedicated public servant, and a committed husband and father. Nevertheless, it is with heavy hearts that we have respectfully asked him to step down, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement. The chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia said earlier Friday that Northam should resign if he was one of the two people in costume. "Racism has no place in Virginia," Jack Wilson said in a statement. "These pictures are wholly inappropriate. If Governor Northam appeared in blackface or dressed in a KKK robe, he should resign immediately." Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, two African-American candidates seeking the Democrats' 2020 presidential nomination, joined the chorus. Hours after announcing he will run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, Booker said Northam should resign. "These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and theyve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northams ability to lead," Booker tweeted. Fellow Democrat 2020 hopefuls Elizabeth Warren, Julian Castro, Kirsten Gillibrand, John Delaney also outright said Northam should resign. Northam's close allies did not immediately say anything publicly. Democratic Sen. Jennifer McClellan, a well-known African-American lawmaker from Richmond, just shook her head when approached by a reporter seeking comment. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam weighed in on third-trimester abortions laws on Wednesday, speaking with News4s Julie Carey live on WTOPs Ask the Governor. Lt. Gov Justin Fairfax, the second African-American man to be elected to statewide office in Virginia, would finish Northam's term as governor in the event of a resignation. Last month, Fairfax temporarily stopped presiding over the state Senate as some lawmakers honored Robert E. Lee's birthday. Fairfax has not released public comment at this time. The state's next gubernatorial election is set for 2022. Photo Published on Northam's Yearbook Page The governor, a pediatric neurologist, graduated from the Eastern Virginia Medical School after graduating from Virginia Military Institute. The caption under the photo on his yearbook page says, in part, "Quote: There are more old drunks than old doctors in this world so I think I'll have another beer." The man in blackface and person in a KKK robe in the photo are holding cans. The rest of the half-page shows photos of Northam in a jacket and tie, in a cowboy hat and posing next to a sports car beneath his name. The page lists his undergraduate alma mater and his interest as pediatrics. The publication of the photo comes amid a bruising week for the governor. State Republicans accused him of advocating infanticide after he defended a failed bill that would have lifted restrictions on late-term abortions. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both weighed in, slamming Northam and Del. Kathy Tran, who introduced the bill. In Florida, the secretary of state resigned last week after photos from a 2005 Halloween party showed him in blackface while dressed as a Hurricane Katrina victim. Here's Northam's full statement: "Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor." Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' proposal to rewrite how universities handle complaints of sexual assault and misconduct had already sparked strong rhetoric from assault survivors and civil liberties groups when she first announced an overhaul in 2017. With the conclusion Wednesday of a 60-day public comment period, NBC News reported, the Federal Register noted that almost 103,000 letters and messages were logged online revealing just how passionate people remain on either side of the debate. An official with the American Council on Education, higher education's biggest lobbying arm, estimated the volume of submissions would total 20 times what is typically received for a major regulatory proposal, according to The Washington Post. Most of the comments appear to oppose the Department of Education's reworking of the federal guidelines known as Title IX, which prohibit gender discrimination, including sexual assault, on college campuses as well as in primary and secondary schools. "I was a victim of campus sexual harassment," one person wrote. "It is clear the proposed rules would not protect students from sexual harassment." In a bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump, the Senate voted 68-23 Thursday to advance an amendment that would oppose withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The amendment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell comes after Trump called for a drawdown of troops in both of those countries. The measure says the Islamic State and al-Qaida militants still pose a serious threat to the United States, and it warns that "a precipitous withdrawal" of U.S. forces from those countries could "allow terrorists to regroup, destabilize critical regions and create vacuums that could be filled by Iran or Russia." Trump abruptly tweeted plans for a U.S. pullout from Syria in December, arguing that the Islamic State had been defeated even though his intelligence chiefs have said the group remains a threat. Trump also ordered the military to develop plans to remove up to half of the 14,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan. McConnell didn't frame the measure as a reproach to the president, but he said before the vote that "I've been clear about my own views on these subjects." He said he believes the threats remain. "ISIS and al-Qaida have yet to be defeated," McConnell said. "And American national security interests require continued commitment to our missions there." The vote is the latest indication of deepening cracks between the Republican Senate and Trump on foreign policy matters. Similar rifts exist within Trump's own administration, evident this week when the heads of major U.S. intelligence agencies testified to the Senate and contradicted him on the strength of the Islamic State and several other foreign policy matters. Trump's announcement on Syria, meanwhile, prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. McConnell's amendment, which is nonbinding, would encourage cooperation between the White House and Congress to develop long-term strategies in both nations, "including a thorough accounting of the risks of withdrawing too hastily." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., argued in support of the amendment on the Senate floor, saying Trump's withdrawal announcement has already undermined U.S. credibility in the region. "This is being used against us right now," Rubio said. "This is a very dangerous situation. That's why this is a very bad idea." Though many Democrats have argued that the U.S. should eventually withdraw from the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan, around half of them supported McConnell's resolution. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said after the vote that she believes it's "far past due for the United States to negotiate an appropriate end" to the conflict in Afghanistan. But she said she also agreed with McConnell that the "precipitous withdrawal" from either country without political resolutions would risk what troops there have already achieved. She voted in favor of the measure. Many of the most liberal members of the Senate including several Democrats who are eying presidential runs in 2020 voted against the amendment. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said he thinks Trump announced the withdrawals too abruptly, but the U.S. has been in Afghanistan and Syria for too long. "What McConnell is saying is let's maintain the status quo," he said. A handful of Republicans also opposed the amendment. McConnell's Kentucky colleague, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, missed the vote but said he was against it. "It's time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Syria," Paul wrote in a tweet, saying he stands with Trump. "It is ludicrous to call withdrawal after 17 years 'precipitous.'" A vote on final passage of the amendment could come early next week. If it succeeds, the language would be added to a wide-ranging foreign policy bill that has been pending on the Senate floor for several weeks. The legislation includes measures supporting Israel and Jordan and slapping sanctions on Syrians involved in war crimes. That bill has also split centrist and liberal Democrats over a provision by Rubio that seeks to counter the global Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians and their settlements. Israel sees a growing threat from the BDS movement, which has led to increased boycotts of the Jewish state in support of the Palestinians. That has led to a "boycott of the boycotts" as Israel pushes back against those aligned with BDS. In support of Israel, Rubio's measures would affirm the legal authority of state and local governments to restrict contracts and take other actions against those "engaged in BDS conduct." Several states are facing lawsuits after taking action against workers supporting BDS boycotts of Israel. Opponents say Rubio's measure infringes on free speech. A few examples of available projects were seventh-graders creating and recording a video about a two-step algebraic equation and then debating the answer with another student, kindergartners finding a family picture and writing a story about the day on which it was taken and fifth-graders designing a new terminal for OHare International Airport. We hear it all the time: "The country's dealing a terrible blood shortage. Please donate." That's true right now, even as the country wraps up National Blood Donor Month. The Red Cross says the region that includes DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia came up short by thousands of donations last year. Kaitlyn Adams, 19, knows how dangerous a shortage can be. The Morgan State sophomore was born with sickle cell anemia. "From one to ten, Adams told News4s Aaron Gilchrist, my normal pain scale was a seven every single day." Sickle cell anemia is a painful disorder in which red blood cells die early and can block blood flow. It could be achy or it could be like a hammer just hitting you constantly or it could be like a sharp pain, Adams said. About a year ago Adams turned to apheresis. Every month her body is essentially drained and nine bags of fresh, sickle cell-free blood are transfused. So, Adams relies on the kindness of strangers, blood donors. But, the Red Cross Blood Services says demand is outpacing donations. "We would like to have a five-day supply of blood," said Regina Boothe Bratton, Red Cross External Communication Manager. We don't have that. Right now, we have less than a three-day supply of blood." The Red Cross provides blood products to more than 100 hospitals in the DC region. There's usually a decline in donations in the winter, but the current downturn has been a problem since September, and the government shutdown last month meant nearly 5,000 possible donations didn't happen. "We need you to act now because patients need assistance right now. Patients can't wait until next week or next month," said Bratton. The Red Cross has been pounding the pavement to get the word out, appealing to civic groups and churches and even knocking on doors to tell anyone who will listen that blood is badly needed. "We are so thankful and blessed for people who donate blood," said Kaitlyns mother, Tijuana Adams. She remembers her daughter's lifetime of pain and the time she spent in intensive care units. She thanks God every day for Kaitlyn's new life with donated blood. "I'm grateful that Kaitlyn is doing so much better and Kaitlyn is ready to be out in the world on her own," said Tijuana. There are blood drives scheduled across our region right now. You can find one by visiting www.redcrossblood.org. A day after he lashed out at U.S. intelligence agency chiefs over their assessments of global threats, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course Thursday and said that he and the intelligence community "are all on the same page." Trump met with his director of national intelligence and other top security officials in the Oval Office and said afterward that they told him their testimony at a Senate hearing had been "mischaracterized" by the news media. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats had slammed the president for his comments disparaging Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other top security officials. The officials told Congress on Tuesday that North Korea is unlikely to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and that the Iran nuclear deal is working, contrary to what Trump has claimed. Coats and the other officials "said that they were totally misquoted and ... it was taken out of context," Trump told reporters at the White House. "They said it was fake news." Trump later tweeted that he and the intelligence leaders "are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc." and that he values their service. "Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page!" he tweeted. Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters that the intelligence officials were "courageous" in speaking "truth to power" by publicly contradicting Trump. "One dismaying factor of it all is that the president just doesn't seem to have the attention span or the desire to hear what the intelligence community has been telling him," Pelosi said Thursday, calling Trump's comments attacking the intelligence leaders "cause for concern." Trump tweeted that intelligence officials were wrong about North Korea, Iran and the Islamic State, which they said remains a terrorist and insurgent threat. "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump tweeted Wednesday. Pelosi said Trump's comments were "stunning." "It's important for the Republicans in Congress to recognize they have to weigh in with the president to say, 'You can't act without knowledge,'" Pelosi said. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said it was "past time" for U.S. intelligence officials to stage an intervention with Trump. In a letter to Coats, Schumer called Trump's criticism of intelligence agencies "extraordinarily inappropriate" and said it could undermine public confidence in the government's ability to protect Americans. Schumer urged Coats and other officials to "educate" Trump about the facts and raw intelligence underlying threat assessments so the administration can speak "with a unified and accurate voice about national security threats." Asked about his tweets earlier Thursday, Trump did not back away from questioning the assessment by Coats and Haspel. "I disagree with certain things that they said. I think I'm right, but time will prove that, time will prove me right probably," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think Iran is a threat. I think I did a great thing when I terminated the ridiculous Iran nuclear deal. It was a horrible one-sided deal." Speaking about intelligence agencies generally, Trump added: "I have great respect for a lot people but I don't always agree with everybody." At a hearing Tuesday, Coats said intelligence information does not support the idea that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will eliminate his nuclear weapons. Trump later insisted on Twitter that the U.S. relationship with North Korea "is the best it has ever been." He pointed to the North's halt in nuclear and missile tests, the return of some U.S. service members' remains and the release of detained Americans as signs of progress. U.S. intelligence agencies also said Iran continues to work with other parties to the nuclear deal it reached with the U.S. and other world powers. In doing so, they said, Iran has at least temporarily lessened the nuclear threat. In May 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from that accord, which he said would not deter Iran. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran," Trump tweeted. "They are wrong!" Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM PDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures between 98 to 102. * WHERE...In Washington, Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Washington. In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon. * WHEN...From noon to 9 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will cool slightly Tuesday but still remain hot. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. && Foxconn Technology Group has shifted its stated strategy yet again on Friday for a massive Wisconsin campus, crediting a conversation with President Donald Trump for cementing plans to proceed with building a factory to make high-tech liquid display screens. The news capped a week of confusion about Foxconn's plans in Wisconsin. The company announced in 2017, to much fanfare, that it planned to invest $10 billion in the state and hire 13,000 people to build an LCD factory that could make screens for televisions and a variety of other devices. The company last year said it was reducing the scale of what was to be made in Wisconsin, from what is known as a Gen 10 factory to Gen 6. But this week, even that was thrown into question with Foxconn executive Louis Woo said it couldn't compete in the television screen market and would not be making LCD panels in Wisconsin. But on Friday, in yet another twist, Foxconn said after discussions with the White House and a personal conversation between Trump and Foxconn chairman Terry Gou, it plans to proceed with the smaller manufacturing facility. "Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou!" Trump tweeted. Wisconsin's new Democratic governor criticized the company Friday for its flip-flopping. "There's no limit, frankly, to skepticism if the messaging isn't coherent," Evers told reporters. "I'm comfortable that they're still committed to the state. They're committed to this Generation 6 technology, but that doesn't mean that we (won't) encourage them to be more transparent and consistent in their messaging." The latest Foxconn statement did not say whether the commitment to this size factory would affect the type of workers who would be employed in Wisconsin. Foxconn executive Louis Woo told Reuters earlier this week that about three-quarters of workers in Wisconsin would be in research and development-type jobs, not manufacturing. Woo said the Wisconsin project would be more of a research hub, rather than having a manufacturing focus. A Foxconn spokeswoman had no immediate comment about what its plans to build the "Gen 6" factory would mean for the makeup of the workforce. The difference between a "Gen 10" and "Gen 6" plant rests with the size of the original glass used to make the screens. The larger plant, which had been part of Foxconn's initial plans, would have used glass more than three-times as large as what the smaller facility will use. The "Gen 6" plant can make screens ranging in size from a smart phone to a 75-inch television, while the larger plant would have allowed for devices as large as 9 feet by 11 feet. The "Gen 6" plant is expected to be smaller in size and less expensive than a "Gen 10" factory, but Foxconn has not specified just how large it will be. Foxconn, the world's largest electronics company, said Friday the campus will house both an advanced manufacturing facility and a center of "technology innovation for the region." Local Wisconsin government and economic development officials where the Foxconn campus is located praised the news, saying construction of the "Gen 6" factory will coincide with construction of other related buildings over the next 18 months. Wisconsin promised nearly $4 billion in state and local tax incentives to Foxconn if it invested $10 billion and created 13,000 jobs for the project, which Trump heralded last year as the "eighth wonder of the world." But Foxconn has repeatedly revised its plans for what will be made in Wisconsin and who will work there, causing confusion in the state and leading critics of the project this week to accuse Foxconn of a "bait and switch." The original deal was struck by then-Gov. Scott Walker and Trump. Evers, Wisconsin's current governor who used Walker's support for Foxconn against him in the race, was a critic of the project during the campaign but has said this week he's working closely with Foxconn on the project. Foxconn earlier this week cited a changing global market as requiring a move away from making LCD panels in Wisconsin. Apple is Foxconn's main manufacturing customer and it has forecast a drop in revenue from the Chinese market due to decreasing demand for iPhones. ___ Associated Press writer Todd Richmond contributed to this report. What to Know Mass. AG's Office made public a wholly unredacted version of the complaint filed against Purdue Pharma, which was filed last year. According to the lawsuit, Purdue considered selling suboxone, a drug used to treat addiction, calling it "an attractive market" in a memo. Health officials say nearly 48,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2017 involved some type of opioid, including illicit drugs. The family behind OxyContin raked in billions of dollars as it pushed to keep patients on the powerful painkiller longer despite evidence that the drug was helping to fuel the nation's deadly opioid crisis, Massachusetts authorities allege in newly public court documents. While aggressively marketing OxyContin, the Sackler family also sought to profit off the drug abuse crisis its company helped create by exploring selling drugs used to treat addiction and reverse overdoses, state lawyers contend in previously secret parts of their lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. Attorney General Maura Healey is suing Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, along with some company executives and members of the wealthy Sackler family, in an effort to hold them accountable for the toll of the state's drug crisis. Massachusetts' is the first state case to personally name members of the Sackler clan, whose name is emblazoned on walls at some of the world's great museums and universities. Purdue had fought to keep the new allegations secret, but three courts ruled against the company. Its lawyers said after the wholly unredacted complaint was released late Thursday that Massachusetts is trying to "single out Purdue, blame it for the entire opioid crisis, and try the case in the court of public opinion rather than the justice system." Health officials say nearly 48,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2017 involved some type of opioid, including illicit drugs. Massachusetts accuses Purdue of keeping track of doctors who were potentially overprescribing OxyContin, but failing to report them to authorities. In 2012, one Purdue employee told an executive that the company should tell insurance companies the names of the doctors suspected of illegal prescribing, calling it the "right and ethical thing to do." "If it reduces abuse and diversion of opioids then it seems like something we should be doing," the employee wrote in an email. The executive rejected the employee's suggestion, and the secret list of the suspected illegal prescribers, known as "Region Zero," continued to be kept, lawyers say in the complaint. The lawsuit, filed in state court, also details tactics that the state says Purdue and the Sacklers used to keep patients on the drugs longer and get more patients taking higher doses -- even as that made them more prone to addiction. Meanwhile, the Sacklers paid themselves more than $4 billion from 2007 through last year, according to the lawsuit. Richard Sackler, who served as Purdue president for several years, told management in a 2008 email that they should "measure our performance by Rx's by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths." Years later, the state says in the suit, consulting firm McKinsey & Co. advised Purdue that it could increase opioid prescriptions by sending sales reps dozens of times per year to visit prolific prescribers. The Sackler family was given a report in 2012 that found savings cards to help pay for OxyContin led to 60 percent more patients using the drug for more than three months. An internal company report from that year found that every dollar invested in the savings cards brought in more than $4 in additional sales. In 2014 and 2015, Purdue considered selling suboxone, a drug used to treat addiction, the lawsuit says. "It is an attractive market," an internal memo read, according to the suit. The company later explored selling naloxone -- known by its brand name Narcan -- which reverses overdoses, the state's lawyers contend. A presentation made to the board in 2016 said that Narcan could bring in $24 million in sales to Purdue through 2025, the complaint says. "Purdue's analysis of the market for Narcan confirmed that they saw the opioid epidemic as a money-making opportunity and that the Sacklers understood -- in private, when no one was watching -- how Purdue's opioids put patients at risk," attorneys for Massachusetts wrote. Purdue said the lawsuit is taking pieces of company documents out of context. "Massachusetts seeks to publicly vilify Purdue, its executives, employees and directors while unfairly undermining the important work we have taken to address the opioid addiction crisis," the company said in an email. The company said it was doing due diligence on buying rights to the anti-addiction drug, which was already on the market. Purdue never went into the suboxone or naloxone business. The suit is one of more than 1,000 by state and local governments pending against Purdue. A federal judge in Cleveland overseeing lawsuits filed in federal court is pushing for a settlement aimed at stemming the crisis. Massachusetts lawyers say while the company was secretly considering ways to profit off trying to cure addictions, it was while publicly deflecting blame for the crisis. For instance, Richard Sackler said in an email at one point that the company had to "have to hammer on the abusers," calling them "the problem" and "reckless criminals." Jonathan Novak, a Dallas lawyer who is representing several governments, including the state of Utah and the city of Albuquerque, in lawsuits against the drug industry, said the Massachusetts lawsuit could provide a roadmap of documents for other plaintiffs. Novak said the state's approach is important to the telling of the opioid crisis story. "These are the people who invented the drug," he said. "These are people who blame patients who got addicted and call them criminals." Canada's Parliament passed a motion Wednesday saying Netflix should compensate the people of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, for using footage of the 2013 rail disaster in the post-apocalyptic survival film "Bird Box." The footage involved the disaster created when an unattended train carrying crude oil rolled down an incline, went off the tracks and exploded into a massive ball of fire, killing 47 people in the Quebec town. The motion is non-binding but is a stern rebuke from Canada's Parliament for the use of footage from the rail explosion in "Bird Box" and in the series "Travelers." Members of Parliament voted to demand that Netflix remove all images of the Lac-Megantic tragedy. Netflix has apologized but has refused to remove the images. Netflix licensed the footage from the stock image vendor Pond 5. Pierre Nantel, a legislator with the opposition New Democrat party who introduced the motion this week, said he cannot accept Netflix not removing the footage. "We know people are going to go and watch this film, and again these real images will be used," he said. "For people in Lac-Megantic, they saw images of their own downtown burning, and could imagine their own family members in it." Netflix refused comment Wednesday, pointing only to a letter the company sent last week to Quebec's culture minister in response to her concerns. In it, Netflix public policy director Corie Wright said the company "understands that many feel frustration and sadness at seeing images of this tragic event," but it cannot make changes to "finished content." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared Thursday that there'll be no "wall money" in any compromise border security deal as she and President Donald Trump signaled that congressional negotiators may never satisfy his demands in a new government spending bill. Trump, who in recent weeks has expressed indifference to whether the term "wall" or something else is used, clung with renewed tenacity to the word that became his campaign mantra, declaring, "A wall is a wall." Yet in a series of tweets and statements, he issued conflicting messages about what he'd need to declare victory and suggested that merely repairing existing structures along the boundary could be a major component of a triumph. Amid signs that Trump's leverage in Congress is atrophying, he seemed to aim one tweet at his conservative followers. He wrote that Democrats "are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Pelosi, D-Calif., left the door open for an accord that could finance some barriers, citing what she said was already existing "Normandy fencing" that blocks vehicles. "If the president wants to call that a wall, he can call that a wall," she told reporters. She added, "Is there a place for enhanced fencing? Normandy fencing would work." Yet Pelosi's other remark "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation" underscored the linguistic battle underway. It also showed that Democrats see no reason to let Trump claim a win in a cause that stirs his hard-right voters and enrages liberals. Trump's political muscle weakened following Democrats' capture of House control in the November election. It waned further after his surrender last week in ending a record 35-day partial government shutdown without getting a penny of the $5.7 billion he'd demanded to start building the wall. In another sign of his flagging hold over lawmakers, the GOP-controlled Senate backed legislation on a 68-23 vote Thursday that opposes withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. When Trump folded on the shutdown, he agreed to reopen government until Feb. 15, giving lawmakers more time to craft a bipartisan border security compromise. If there's no deal by then, Trump has threatened to revive the shutdown or declare a national emergency, which he claims would let him shift billions from unrelated military construction projects to erecting his wall. He criticized Democrats' negotiating stance so far, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Pelosi is "just playing games" and saying GOP bargainers are "wasting their time." In an interview with The New York Times published Thursday night, Trump said he has "set the stage" to take action on his own. "I'll continue to build the wall, and we'll get the wall finished," he added. "Now whether or not I declare a national emergency that you'll see." Democrats remain united against those tactics. Republican opposition seems nearly as strong, and GOP leaders are becoming increasingly assertive about publicly telegraphing those feelings to Trump. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that "there are a lot of us that are trying to dissuade" Trump from declaring a national emergency should border security talks deadlock. Cornyn, a close adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said he has "absolute confidence" that such a declaration would be challenged in court, tying up the money, and said Congress might even vote to defy him. "The president needs to know that before he heads down that path," Cornyn said. No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters that "a lot of folks are uncomfortable" with an emergency declaration. He stopped short of ruling out a challenge by the Senate, calling the question "hypothetical." Earlier this week, McConnell, R-Ky., a longtime opponent of shutdowns, called the move "government dysfunction which should be embarrassing to everyone on a bipartisan basis." Lawmakers caution that if Trump declares an emergency, future Democratic presidents might do the same for issues they favor that Congress derails. Some are reluctant to cede Congress' constitutional power to control spending to any president, and many say there is no real border emergency. Democrats offered further details of their border security plan Thursday, unveiling a measure that would provide no wall funds. It would significantly boost spending for scanners at ports of entry, humanitarian aid for apprehended migrants, and new aircraft and ships to police the U.S.-Mexico border. It would freeze the number of border patrol agents and block any wall construction in wildlife refuges along the border. Without a border security accord, lawmakers could avert another shutdown by once again temporarily financing dozens of federal agencies, perhaps for months. Trump has been unpredictable in the shutdown debate, mixing softer rhetoric about a multifaceted approach to border security with campaign-style bluster about the wall. Lawmakers negotiating the bill are aware that he could quash an agreement at any time, plunging them back into crisis. "Obviously, it makes it more challenging," Cornyn told reporters. "You keep talking and try to understand where he is and try to work it out." What to Know Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine pleaded guilty to nine counts in his criminal case, will cooperate with federal officials, court records say 6ix9ine was arrested last November, among five people charged in an indictment containing racketeering and firearms charges According to court documents, the rapper and other associates are allegedly part of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has pleaded guilty to nine counts in his criminal case and will cooperate with government officials, court records show. According to documents, the rapper plead guilty Saturday, but court records were sealed. Prosecutors applied to unseal the documents Thursday. The motion was granted Friday. 6ix9ine will cooperate with federal officials "against multiple violent people associated with the same criminal enterprise of which he admits, or will soon apparently admit, being a member," according to court records. 6ix9ine was arrested last November, among five people charged in an indictment containing racketeering and firearms charges. The indictment alleged that he participated in the July shooting of a bystander in Brooklyn and the gunpoint robbery of one of his gang's rivals last spring. The rapper was specifically charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of firearms offense - racketeering conspiracy, three counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering, three counts of firearms offense and one count of narcotics trafficking. According to court documents, the rapper and other associates are allegedly part of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, "a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in, among, other activities, acts involving murder, robbery, and narcotics trafficking." Prosecutors say Nine Trey operated in and around Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, New York. In November 2018, defense attorney Lance Lazzaro said in a previous statement that his client was "completely innocent of all charges." "An entertainer who portrays a 'gangster image' to promote his music does not make him a member of an enterprise," Lazzaro previously said. Originally, on Nov. 26, 2018, the rapper pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering and firearms charges he faces at which point a pretrial conference was set for Jan. 22 with a trial date of Sept. 4. What to Know A judge has lifted a temporary restraining order that blocked NY congestion surcharges on taxis and other for-hire vehicles in Manhattan The New York Taxi Workers Alliance called the fees an additional 'crushing burden' on drivers It's unclear when the new fees will start A judge has lifted a temporary restraining order that blocked the state's congestion surcharges on taxis and other for-hire vehicles in Manhattan. The new ride fees were supposed to start Jan. 1, but drivers sued over the proposed fee of $2.50 for yellow taxis and $2.75 for other for-hire vehicles, including Ubers and Lyfts. The money raised would go to fund the MTA. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance called the fees an additional "crushing burden" on drivers. The State Supreme Court judge on Thursday also allowed the case to move forward by denying a motion from the state to dismiss the lawsuit. Gov. Cuomo released a statement saying they're "moving forward vigorously with a full congestion pricing plan." It's unclear when the new fees will start. On top of those congestion fees, customers can also expect to pay more for drivers' wages: Uber is responding to new regulation that forces ride-share companies to pay their drivers the New York City minimum wage. The wage increase is a welcome relief for drivers. But two other ride-share companies, Lyft and Juno, are suing the city over the new rules. Lyft said it's not against higher wages and will pay drivers more but is concerned about "the way the TLC plants to implement the rules." What to Know A 27-year-old man was hospitalized and treated for burns to his left leg after allegedly sustaining injuries from an e-cigarette Jacob Dudhnath was on his way to a plumbing job early Monday morning when his e-cigarette battery, inside his pocket, exploded, he says Experts say 62 percent of e-cigarettes that explode do so while they are in use or carried in a pocket A 27-year-old man in Westchester County was hospitalized and treated for severe burns to his left leg after sustaining injuries from an e-cigarette that allegedly exploded in his pants pocket. Jacob Dudhnath was on his way to a plumbing job early Monday morning when the emergency call went out. NBC 4 New York spoke with him from his Westchester Medical Center hospital bed by phone. According to Dudhnath, he arrived at his first job site when he felt the sparks from his e-cigarette's spare battery and then it burned through his pants pocket and down his pant leg. Dudhnath says a coworker who was with him and saw the smoke emanating from his pants was able to rip the piece of clothing off him. His coworker rushed Dudhnath back to the plumbing supply store where an ambulance met them, Dudhnath says. Their office manager, Debbie Nye, says she couldn't believe her eyes, adding "his leg was all burned." Experts say 62 percent of e-cigarettes that explode do so while they are in use or carried in a pocket. There has been at least one fatality. Dudhnath, who is married with a son, says he is not out of the woods yet after sustaining first- and second-degree burns. "They say they're going to have to see how things start healing up," he said, adding he may need skin grafts because "it could get better or worse." What to Know House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declared there'll be no 'wall money' in any compromise border security deal A new report estimates nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of heart or blood vessel disease, the American Heart Association said Jussie Smollett's family said the attack on the black and gay 'Empire' actor was a 'hate crime' and now they are calling for justice 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, Pelosi Remain Far Apart on the Border Wall Issue House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declared there'll be no "wall money" in any compromise border security deal as she and President Trump signaled that congressional negotiators may never satisfy his demands for his cherished Southwest border proposal. Trump, who in recent weeks has expressed indifference to whether the term "wall" or something else is used, clung with renewed tenacity to the word that became his campaign mantra, declaring, "A wall is a wall." Yet in a series of tweets and statements, he issued conflicting messages about what he'd need to declare victory and suggested that merely repairing existing structures along the boundary could be a major component of a triumph. Amid signs that Trump's leverage in Congress is atrophying, he seemed to aim one tweet at his conservative followers. He wrote that Democrats "are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Pelosi, D-Calif., left the door open for an accord that could finance some barriers, citing what she said was already existing "Normandy fencing" that blocks vehicles. Nearly Half of US Adults Have Heart or Blood Vessel Disease A new report estimates nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of heart or blood vessel disease, a medical milestone that's mostly due to recent guidelines that expanded how many people have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association said more than 121 million adults had cardiovascular disease in 2016. Taking out those with only high blood pressure leaves 24 million, or 9 percent of adults, who have other forms of disease such as heart failure or clogged arteries. Measuring the burden of diseases shows areas that need to improve, the heart association's chief science and medical officer, Dr. Mariell Jessup, said in a statement. High blood pressure, which had long been defined as a top reading of at least 140 or a bottom one of 90, dropped to 130 over 80 under guidelines adopted in 2017. 'Empire' Actor's Family Calls for Justice in Chicago Attack Jussie Smollett's family said the attack on the black and gay "Empire" actor in downtown Chicago this week was a "hate crime" and they pushed back against any suggestion that he was anything but honest with the police. Smollett, who plays the gay character Jamal Lyon on the hit Fox television show, hasn't spoken publicly about the attack, though his representative said Smollett was recovering at home. Smollett's family issued a statement through a spokesman saying they believe he was the victim of an unprovoked "racial and homophobic hate crime" and that he has been forthright with the police, who are still searching for surveillance video of the attack. His family thanked the public "for their prayers" and said they are "so grateful that God saw him through this cowardly attack alive." They said such incidents will continue to happen until people are held accountable. Detectives have recovered more surveillance footage of Smollett walking home from a Subway restaurant that morning, including video of him arriving at his apartment building with a rope around his neck. 'Fiji Water Girl' Is Now Suing Fiji Water The woman who went viral by photobombing celebrities while holding a tray of Fiji Water at the 2019 Golden Globes is now suing Fiji Water for attempting to capitalize on her sudden fame. Court documents obtained by E! News reveal the star, whose stage name is Kelleth Cuthbert, is suing the brand for "the unauthorized use of [Fiji Water Girl's] photograph, likeness and identity." In plain terms, the model is suing the company for using her image as the focal point of a global marketing campaign, which was inspired by Kelleth's viral moment on the red carpet of the award show. According to the documents, the model claims she never gave Fiji Water authorization to use her photos to create cardboard cutouts of herself. She also claims that she did not "sign away her rights to 'Fiji Water Girl'" as the beverage brand allegedly tried to get her to do. Moreover, the model claims that Fiji Water pressured her into signing a "fake document" authorizing the use of her image. Fiji Water has since spoken out about the lawsuit, calling it frivolous and entirely without merit. Warning: Graphic details could be offensive or disturbing to some readers. The mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing wearing a maggot-infested diaper is standing trial in his death. Court records say 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The trial was moved to Le Mars in Plymouth County from Chickasaw County because of publicity. Prosecutors are expected to begin their case Wednesday. Medics called to an Alta Vista apartment in August 2017 found 4-month-old Sterling Koehn dead in a swing in a dark, sweltering bedroom. An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in the maggot-infested diaper for up to two weeks. The boy's father, Zachary Koehn, already has been sentenced to life in prison. "He died of diaper rash. That's right, diaper rash," Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister said in December during that trial. In the opening statements of Koehn's trial, his attorney said the baby's death was a tragedy, but not a crime. McAllister denied the defense's claims, saying Koehn was an experienced parent. He noted that Koehn's 2-year-old daughter was also in the apartment and was healthy, and that Koehn had money to buy food and baby supplies. He stated Koehn was a drug user. Nurse and county rescue squad EMT Toni Friedrich testified that she was the first to arrive at the apartment after Koehn called 911 to report the baby had died. Friedrich said Koehn showed no emotion when he led her to the dark, hot bedroom where the baby's body was. The baby's "eyes were open, and it was a blank stare," she said. Friedrich said when she touched the baby's chest, his clothing was crusty. When she moved his blanket, gnats flew up, she said. Vice President Mike Pence visited Miami Friday to hold a roundtable discussion with Venezuelan exiles and community leaders and to show support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Pence attended the event at Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center in Doral, along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and fellow Republicans Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. Pence told Venezuelans in Miami that Washington was working toward a "peaceful transition" so that Guaido comes to power, and he reassured them the Trump administration would continue to weaken President Nicolas Maduro. "This is no time for dialogue," Pence said at the church, prompting loud cheers among Venezuelan exiles. "It is time to end the Maduro regime." Before his speech, Pence sat down with a college professor, who says he was physically assaulted by armed pro-government groups. He also heard from other refugees such as a Venezuelan city councilman, who says he was accused of being a CIA agent. Guaido, the 35-year-old president of Venezuela's Congress, declared himself to be Venezuela's legitimate leader last week and set up a transitional government that has been backed by the US, Canada and most South American countries. He argues that Maduro was re-elected in a sham election last year. Earlier this week, the United States announced sanctions that would bar Venezuelan oil imports and could cost the Maduro administration up to 11 billion US dollars over the next year. Guaido backed the sanctions on Thursday and described them as a means to stop Venezuela's wealth from being looted by the Maduro government. What to Know Its Friday, February 1st and NBC 6 has the top six stories you need to know for the day. Its Friday, February 1st and NBC 6 has the top six stories you need to know for the day. Weather wise, spotty showers will blanket parts of the area Friday morning ahead of increased rain chances Saturday and Sunday with high temps near 80 degrees. No. 1 - Police are investigating what led up to a shooting inside a northeast Miami-Dade home that left a 2-year-old boy injured. The victim was driven to Aventura Hospital by his father and is recovering and in stable condition after being transferred to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, police said. No. 2 - Outrage and concern with surfaced videos of middle school students fighting violently with each other on and off campus have prompted school officials to re-evaluate its policies. Students and parents say fighting is a problem at Miami Springs Middle School. Another video showing another violent fight involving Miami Springs Middle students was shared Thursday to NBC 6. No. 3 - Officials say a former Florida State student charged in a fraternity hazing death is returning to jail after testing positive for alcohol in violation of his pretrial conditions. Court records show that Clayton Muehlstein had been barred from drinking alcohol while awaiting trial. He's charged with felony hazing in the November 2017 death of Andrew Coffey, a Pompano Beach native who died of alcohol poisoning at an off-campus Pi Kappa Phi initiation event. No. 4 - New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker entered the Democratic presidential race on Friday, announcing he is running for president. In 2013, he won a special election to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate and was re-elected in 2014 to a full six-year term. Booker follows other senators who have also announced they are running for president in recent weeks, including New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Sen. Kamala Harris. No. 5 - Publix Supermarkets has issued a recall for one of their more popular deli items over a concern that it may contain a foreign material. In a statement released Thursday, the company issued the voluntary recall for popcorn chicken sold both hot and in refrigerated cases at all Florida stores and in stores located in southern Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. No. 6 - One of Floridas top theme parks is looking to fill thousands of positons ahead of the busy spring break season. Universal Orlando announced they will hold several job fairs over the next few weeks to hire around 2,500 full and part time workers. The hires comes as the theme park is increasing base hourly pay to $12 starting Sunday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declared that there'll be no "wall money" in any compromise border security deal as she and President Donald Trump signaled that congressional negotiators may never satisfy his demands for his cherished Southwest border proposal. Trump, who in recent weeks has expressed indifference to whether the term "wall" or something else is used, clung with renewed tenacity to the word that became his campaign mantra, declaring, "A wall is a wall." Yet in a series of tweets and statements, he issued conflicting messages about what he'd need to declare victory and suggested that merely repairing existing structures along the boundary could be a major component of a triumph. Amid signs that Trump's leverage in Congress is atrophying, he seemed to aim one tweet at his conservative followers. He wrote that Democrats "are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Pelosi, D-Calif., left the door open for an accord that could finance some barriers, citing what she said was already existing "Normandy fencing" that blocks vehicles. "If the president wants to call that a wall, he can call that a wall," she told reporters Thursday. She added: "Is there a place for enhanced fencing? Normandy fencing would work." Yet Pelosi's other remark "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation" underscored the linguistic battle underway. It also showed that Democrats see no reason to let Trump claim a win in a cause that stirs his hard-right voters and enrages liberals. Trump's political muscle weakened following Democrats' capture of House control in the November election. It waned further after his surrender last week in ending a record 35-day partial government shutdown without getting a penny of the $5.7 billion he'd demanded to start building the wall. In another sign of his flagging hold over lawmakers, the GOP-controlled Senate backed legislation on a 68-23 vote Thursday that opposes withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. When Trump folded on the shutdown, he agreed to reopen government until Feb. 15, giving lawmakers more time to craft a bipartisan border security compromise. If there's no deal by then, Trump has threatened to revive the shutdown or declare a national emergency, which he claims would let him shift billions from unrelated military construction projects to erecting his wall. He criticized Democrats' negotiating stance so far, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Pelosi is "just playing games" and saying GOP bargainers are "wasting their time." Democrats remain united against those tactics. Republican opposition seems nearly as strong, and GOP leaders are becoming increasingly assertive about publicly telegraphing those feelings to Trump. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that "there are a lot of us that are trying to dissuade" Trump from declaring a national emergency should border security talks deadlock. Cornyn, a close adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said he has "absolute confidence" that such a declaration would be challenged in court, tying up the money, and said Congress might even vote to defy him. "The president needs to know that before he heads down that path," Cornyn said. No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters that "a lot of folks are uncomfortable" with an emergency declaration. He stopped short of ruling out a challenge by the Senate, calling the question "hypothetical." Earlier this week, McConnell, R-Ky., a longtime opponent of shutdowns, called the move "government dysfunction which should be embarrassing to everyone on a bipartisan basis." Lawmakers caution that if Trump declares an emergency, future Democratic presidents might do the same for issues they favor that Congress derails. Some are reluctant to cede Congress' constitutional power to control spending to any president, and many say there is no real border emergency. Democrats offered further details of their border security plan Thursday, unveiling a measure that would provide no wall funds. It would significantly boost spending for scanners at ports of entry, humanitarian aid for apprehended migrants, and new aircraft and ships to police the U.S.-Mexico border. It would freeze the number of border patrol agents and block any wall construction in wildlife refuges along the border. Without a border security accord, lawmakers could avert another shutdown by once again temporarily financing dozens of federal agencies, perhaps for months. Trump has been unpredictable in the shutdown debate, mixing softer rhetoric about a multifaceted approach to border security with campaign-style bluster about the wall. Lawmakers negotiating the bill are aware that he could quash an agreement at any time, plunging them back into crisis. "Obviously, it makes it more challenging," Cornyn told reporters. "You keep talking and try to understand where he is and try to work it out." Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report. What to Know New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker entered the Democratic presidential race on Friday, announcing he is running for president In 2013, he won a special election to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate and was re-elected in 2014 to a full six-year term Currently, Booker serves on numerous Senate committees New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker entered the Democratic presidential race on Friday, announcing he is running for president. "Together, we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose," Booker said. Booker is the second black candidate in a primary field that's already historically diverse, delivered his message of unity amid an era marked by bitter political division. He announced his run on the first day of Black History Month, underscoring his consequential status as America's potential second black president after Barack Obama. "What my neighbors are concerned with, and I've heard all around the country, is that people in America are losing faith that this nation will work for them," Booker said during a press conference held in Newark, New Jersey, Friday afternoon. Im running for president. Join me on this journey. https://t.co/fEDqOVIfwh pic.twitter.com/h1FTPUYRzo Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 1, 2019 While addressing the public, Booker stressed the importance of leadership that champions patriotism and unity. He said he is looking to "unite Americans in this race" and bringing people together. "It's about time we get to the hard work of building this nation to be who we want us to be -- our best values, our best ideals, the best of who we are," he continued on to say, adding "We need leadership in this country who understands what patriotism means, and patriotism is love of country. And, you can't love your country unless you love your fellow countrymen and women." During his press conference, Booker also talked about his support for a more fair tax code, public education, justice and teachers. In his announcement video, Booker invoked the fight against slavery and the role of immigration in building the nation's character. "The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country and those who linked arms to challenge and change it," he said. Booker, who grew up in Harrington Park, served as Newark mayor for more than seven years starting in 2006. Prior to his tenure in office leading New Jerseys largest city, he founded a nonprofit organization to provide legal services for low-income families and, at age 29, served in the Newark City Council. In 2013, he won a special election to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate and was re-elected in 2014 to a full six-year term. Booker now serves on the Senate judiciary, foreign relations, environment and public works and small business and entrepreneurship committees. Booker is also the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, the Senate panel responsible for overseeing Amtrak and passenger rail in the U.S. Booker follows other Democratic senators who have also announced they are running for president in recent weeks, including New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Sen. Kamala Harris. Whos Running for President in 2020? The race for the 2020 presidential election is underway, and the field of Democratic candidates is packed. Those who have announced presidential bids include a vice president, senators, House members and three mayors. As for the GOP, a single Republican has announced his bid to challenge President Donald Trump for the party nomination: former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who ran for vice president (and lost) in 2016 on the Libertarian party ticket. Click the photos to learn more National parks across the United States are scrambling to clean up and repair damage that visitors and storms caused during the recent government shutdown while bracing for the possibility of another closure ahead of the busy Presidents Day weekend later this month. Visitors left human waste, piles of trash, graffiti, used unauthorized trails and damaged Joshua trees at the namesake park in California during the 35-day shutdown. Many of the parks went unstaffed, while others had skeleton crews with local governments and nonprofits contributing money and volunteers. National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst in Washington, D.C., declined to provide a full accounting of the damage at more than 400 locations, saying it was isolated and most visitors took good care of the land. But conservationists warn that damage to sensitive lands could take decades to recover. Even before the shutdown, national parks faced an estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog that has now grown. President Donald Trump has said another shutdown could start Feb. 15 if he and Democratic leaders can't agree on funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, compounding the pressure the park service faces to catch up on repairs and maintenance. Hiring seasonal workers who typically start in the spring as rangers, fee collectors and hiking guides also has been delayed. "We're kind of ready to just have a bit more stability," said Angie Richman, a spokeswoman at Arches National Park in Utah. Arches visitors left human waste outside a restroom, stomped out five trails in a permit-only area that was supposed to be closed and damaged an entrance gate to allow vehicles to drive on snow-covered roads when the park was closed after a storm, Richman said. At Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, one of the iconic twisted-limbed Joshua trees was run over by an off-road vehicle and a juniper tree was cut down, said park superintendent David Smith. Several other Joshua Trees were damaged, including one that was spray painted, but the park has yet to determine the exact number, he said. Off-road vehicles created extensive unauthorized trails in the park's deserts, with wheel marks dug into the delicate soil nearly a foot deep in some spots, Smith said. Employees at Death Valley National Park found human waste and toilet paper scattered in the desert and evidence people tried to kick in locked restroom doors, said David Blacker, executive director of the Death Valley Natural History Association. The group kept the visitors center open during most of the shutdown, where tourists got information on packing out trash and digging a hole to use the bathroom. A time-lapse video on Death Valley's Facebook page showed how it took staffers two hours to clean a restroom overflowing with trash and splashed with waste. Crews also have to rake and replant vegetation to repair ruts from off-road vehicles, which delays work elsewhere in the 3.4 million-acre park. "It became pretty depressing the kinds of things people will do when they are unsupervised," Blacker said. People in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park drove around locked gates and through meadows, spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee line, visitors cut locks on some gates to closed roads and stole about $5,000 in maintenance tools, spokeswoman Dana Soehn said. Winter storms damaged some parks that lacked enough staff to make repairs quickly. Officials at Zion National Park in Utah, Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado and Olympic National Park in Washington were fixing trails, roads and campgrounds. Mesa Verde wasn't set to open until Monday, and some areas were still closed at Zion and Olympic. Campgrounds, visitors centers and trails that seasonal workers help prepare could face delayed openings, and families planning spring break or summer vacations might think twice about visiting national parks if they don't think they're safe or fully staffed, said Phil Francis, chairman of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. "There are a lot of impacts that will be felt in the future that aren't being felt or even talked about now," he said. In some parks, animals that typically don't interact with visitors claimed the space. A colony of elephant seals took over a Northern California beach in Point Reyes National Seashore without staffers to discourage the animals from congregating in the popular tourist area. Rangers and volunteer docents will lead small groups of visitors starting this weekend to the edge of a parking lot so they can safely see the elephant seals and their newborn pups. Meanwhile, the prospect of another shutdown looms. Grand Canyon National Park could miss out on its main centennial celebration Feb. 26 and other related events. "It's a big deal, and we are looking forward to celebrating it in whatever way we can," park spokeswoman Emily Davis said. Elizabeth Jackson, a spokeswoman for Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the Texas-New Mexico border, noted the stress it places on workers. "It's a way of life if you're a federal employee," Jackson said. "Not to be glib, but it's something we face every year." Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer, David Warren, Matt Volz and Dan Elliott contributed to this story. A new bill introduced this week would make selling appointments at the Department of Motor Vehicles illegal. People who don't have the time or the patience for hours-long lines at California DMV have opted to pay for services, like Oakland-based startup YoGov, where someone else will stand in line for you. But Assembly Man Tyler Diep, R-Long Beach, is looking to ban those services with Assembly Bill 317. "Government is supposed to treat everyone equally, regardless of how much they can afford to pay," Diep said about his very first legislation. The bill would not only apply to businesses like YoGov but to individuals who will face a $2,500 fine, which would be deposited into the state's transportation fund. An Oakland-based startup will wait in line for you at the DMV, if youre willing to pay The DMV has looked into YoGov's operation and found that the company charges customers a fee to find an appointment, something that is free for everyone though phone and internet, DMV spokesperson Artemio Armenta said Friday. "The DMV continues to look into matters involving third parties such as YoGov, and so far no legal violations have been found but the investigation continues," Armenta said. He would not comment on the pending legislation. YoGov CEO and founder Ryder Pearce told NBC Bay Area that he created the service because of government inefficiency. "The proposed bill would not affect our operations, since we provide a on-demand personal assistant service for people who need help accessing government services. We're incredibly proud to have helped from all socio-economic backgrounds," Pearce said in a statement Friday. He argued that YoGov helps people who would need to take unpaid day off work just to go to the DMV. He also previously noted that many people who get paid to wait in line are Uber and Lyft drivers and people who are looking for extra income. Looking back, I have to say it was a cosmic catastrophe of timing. Had he been first assigned to my class, say, three years later, when I had more experience and confidence in the classroom, I would have known how to use and redirect his humor and energy, rather than fight it in order to advance whatever lesson I was teaching. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) The town of Orion in Bataan has been declared under a state of calamity after a huge fire razed half of a village Tuesday, killing one and affecting more than a thousand families. The fire in Sitio Depensa, Brgy. Capunitan began when two kids started playing with matchsticks, said Emmanuel Gloria, Orion Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Office Chairman. "Naglaro lang po ng posporo itong dalawang bata, at hindi inaasahan na napunta po ito sa kutson na madaling pong nagliyab. Sa kalituhan po ng mga bata, gusto pong buhusan ng tubig, pero gasolina po 'yung naibuhos," Gloria told CNN Philippines Friday. [Translation: The kids were playing with matchsticks when it unexpectedly fell on a mattress which quickly caught fire. Amid the confusion, the children wanted to put out the fire with water but ended up pouring gasoline.] Gloria said over 50 were injured, and 1,018 families were affected by the fire. What to Know Rosa Salazar trained for 5 months to play Alita. Robert Rodriguez directed the film. "Alita: Battle Angel" opens Feb. 14th. Filmmakers James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez are bringing a popular Manga graphic novel to the big screen in "Alita: Battle Angel." The story begins in a futuristic dystopian society called Iron City where cyborgs walk openly among men, and humans do whatever it takes to survive. Alita (Rosa Salazar) is found in a junkyard by a cyberphysician named Ido (Christoph Waltz) who pieces her back together with parts he's collected. The pair develop a father/daughter relationship while Alita goes on a journey to find out who she really is, and why she has such incredible fighting powers and instincts. We spoke with Salazar and Waltz at a press event in Wellington, New Zealand, the birthplace of Weta Digital. The Weta Digital team worked on this film for more than 3 years using motion capture and performance capture technology to bring this graphic novel to life. "For me it was very exciting to actually bring another person to life," Salazar said. "It's great to tell a story to young girls who are forming their own identities and tell them a story about a very capable young girl who is trying to find her own identity." Salazar trained for several hours a day over the course of 5 months to nail the action scenes in "Alita." She says she and her trainer used several different forms of martial arts including Wushu, Muay Thai and Kung Fu to get just the right feel for Alita's fighting style. "The training almost killed me. I had to get my endurance way up," Salazar admits. We interviewed producer Jon Landau live on Facebook where he told us one of the biggest challenges with a film like this is to make it look and feel like the graphic novel. Landau said luckily the Weta Digital team had time to work on each shot, frame by frame, to perfect the technology that gives Alita that human look. Waltz said that despite all the technology, there is a real human connection between the characters, one he hopes will resonate with girls and boys, men and women of all ages. "There is an aspect of humanity that unites us. Even if you are a boy or a man the quest for identification is still a very important one," Waltz said. There is also a bit of a YA romance element that teens will enjoy in this film. Grown ups will enjoy "Alita" for the sheer magnitude of special effects and a fast-paced game called "motorball." The entire world of Iron City is a visual feast and Alita's journey a fascinating tale. "Alita: Battle Angel" stars Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Ed Skrein, Jennifer Connelly, and Mahershala Ali. It was directed by Robert Rodriguez and will be released in theaters on February 14th. January storms raised the vital Sierra Nevada snowpack to normal for this time of year, an important development for California's water supply, state officials said Thursday after the second survey of the winter. The snowpack was 100 percent of average to date, the California Department of Water Resources said. "This is a significant increase since the last survey," said John King, a water resources engineer who conducted a manual survey of a snow course at Phillips Station, one of hundreds of locations measured. At the site, the snow depth measured 50 inches with a snow-water equivalent of 18 inches. That's 98 percent of average to date at the location, the agency said. On Feb. 1, 2018, Phillips Station had a snow-water equivalent only 14 percent of average. When the Sierra Nevada snowpack melts in spring and summer it provides about 30 percent of California's water needs. Persistent drought has also dried out trees and brush, contributing to severe wildfires. "It's a start, but the next two or three months will determine what it means for our reservoirs and overall water supply," DWR Director Karla Nemeth said in a statement. The measurement came as wet and snowy January ended with yet another storm impacting the state and another, potentially more potent, tempest following about a day behind. Downtown San Francisco received more than a half-inch of rain by early morning before the storm spread southeastward, causing roadway flooding and small debris flows. Southeast of Los Angeles residents were ordered to evacuate areas of Riverside County near mountain slopes burned bare by a wildfire last summer. Authorities ordered long stretches of beaches and piers closed along the Southern California coast because of lightning, and a JetBlue flight headed to New York returned safely to Los Angeles International Airport after the crew reported the aircraft was struck by lightning. Thursday's storm is expected to be followed by a brief break before an even stronger storm arrives on Friday, bringing another heavy pounding of snow and rain to the Sierra Nevada. Forecasters discouraged travel. A veteran Los Angeles City Hall official is one of the latest victims of an epidemic of the infectious disease typhus that continues to worsen across LA County. For months, LA County public health officials have said typhus is mainly hitting the homeless population. But Deputy City Attorney Liz Greenwood, a veteran prosecutor, tells NBC4 she was diagnosed with typhus in November, after experiencing high fevers and excruciating headaches. "It felt like somebody was driving railroad stakes through my eyes and out the back of my neck," Greenwood told the I-Team. "Who gets typhus? It's a medieval disease that's caused by trash." The Symptoms of Typhus Greenwood believes she contracted typhus from fleas in her office at City Hall East. Fleas often live on rats, which congregate in the many heaps of trash that are visible across the city of LA, and are a breeding ground for typhus. "There are rats in City Hall and City Hall East," Greenwood added. "There are enormous rats and their tails are as long as their bodies." Last year set a new record for the number of typhus cases 124 in LA County for the year, according to the California Department of Public Health. Last October, Mayor Garcetti vowed to clean up piles of garbage throughout the city to combat the typhus epidemic. The Mayor allocated millions of dollars to increase clean-ups of streets in the Skid Row area, known lately as "the typhus zone." But four months later, the I-Team documented huge piles of garbage just outside the "typhus zone." "You can't solve it (the typhus epidemic) until you hit the cause," says Estela Lopez of the Downtown Industrial Business Improvement District, "and the cause of it is that you still have these mountains of trash." Added Greenwood: "This is a terrible illness and I wouldn't wish this on anybody. But it's not just homeless folks getting it." She believes the city should fumigate City Hall and City Hall East to protect the thousands of workers and visitors who could be at risk from getting typhus. Responding to complaints from other city workers fearful of getting typhus, LA has already fumigated LAPDs Central Division office and parts of the LAPDs main headquarters. Garcetti's office did not respond to NBC4's questions about why the city hasn't fully fumigated City Hall buildings as well. Greenwood says she doesn't want to return to work at City Hall East until the entire building is fumigated for typhus-carrying fleas. "I am concerned about going back to work and getting this again, because I thought I was going to die," Greenwood said. Statement from Mayor Garcetti's Office: "Last fall we directed multiple City departments to begin a coordinated and comprehensive effort to improve cleanliness and protect public health in the Civic Center, including City Hall and City Hall East. In addition to increased trash collection and cleanings, aggressive action has been taken to address pests both in the buildings and in the surrounding outside areas including abatement treatments and the filling of 60 rodent burrows and 114 tree wells. This work in busy and highly populated public buildings is executed carefully to protect workers and visitors, and the scheduling of extermination activities takes these factors into consideration." -- Vicki Curry, spokeswoman, city of Los Angeles What to Know Harvard University graduate who is the first so-called Dreamer to receive a Rhodes scholarship will attend Trump's State of the Union New York congresswoman Rep. Grace Meng says she invited Jin Park, 22, to attend Trump's Tuesday address Park, a native of South Korea who came to the United States when he was 7 years old, is now a Queens resident A recent Harvard University graduate who lives in New York City and is the first so-called Dreamer to receive a Rhodes scholarship is attending President Donald Trump's State of the Union address as a guest of a New York congresswoman. Democratic Rep. Grace Meng says she invited Jin Park to attend Trump's address Tuesday in the hope of bringing more attention to his plight and that of thousands of other young immigrants. It is shameful that Jin may have to abandon this coveted opportunity for a Rhodes Scholarship, an opportunity that he worked tirelessly to achieve," Meng said in a statement. "Im proud stand in solidarity with him and I will continue to fight against the divisive policies that have been hallmark of the Presidents administration. According to Meng's office, the 22-year-old Queens resident fears he might not be allowed back in the country if he attends Oxford in England this fall. Park is a native of South Korea and was brought to the United States by his parents when he was 7 years old. He has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, which protects him from deportation. It is such an honor to be invited to the State of the Union by Congresswoman Meng, Park said in a statement. As a DACA recipient and a resident of her district in Queens, I look forward to attending the State of the Union to listen, learn, and discuss the importance of legislation to find a permanent solution for DACA recipients and all 11 million undocumented immigrants. The DACA program, which former President Barack Obama created by executive action in 2012, allowed qualified immigrants who were brought to the country as children to receive work permits and stay in the United States. Federal courts blocked Trumps effort to terminate DACA. Trump has rescinded overseas travel benefits for DACA holders as he seeks to end the Obama-era program. The rules were clear when she was growing up: Women were not allowed to fly U.S. military aircraft. But that was not going to stop Rosemary Bryant Mariner. The daughter of a Navy nurse and an Air Force pilot who had died in a plane crash when she was 3, Mariner made it her goal to be as qualified as possible to fly in the armed services. She got her private pilot's license at 17. Then she got her aeronautics degree from Purdue University in 1972 when she was 19. A year later, as a growing feminist movement took hold amid a push for the Equal Rights Amendment, the Navy lifted its restrictions and opened up its flight program to women setting Mariner on a path to becoming a pioneer in the military. She was in the inaugural class of women who earned their Navy wings in 1973. Mariner then became the first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet in 1974, at just 21; in 1982, she was among the first women to serve aboard a U.S. Navy warship; in 1991, during the Gulf War, she became the first woman to command an aviation squadron. Later, she was instrumental in the repeal of combat exclusion restrictions on women. Capt. Mariner died at 65 last Thursday, Jan. 24, of ovarian cancer, nearly five years after she had been diagnosed. At her funeral service on Saturday, the Navy plans to honor her with a "missing man flyover" a tribute honoring aviators who have died that will consist of all women. It will be the first all-female flyover ever, the Navy said. Dancers from across Texas hope to be on point when they compete in Irving this weekend. Hundreds of young ballet dancers, ages 9 to 19, from all over Texas are auditioning for the Youth America Grand Prix. A news release describes it as "the American Idol of ballet." Students will attend workshops, dance classes, and audition in hopes of making finals week in New York City in April. The eventual winners will get scholarships to top schools and companies around the world. The journey for Texas dancers starts at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Boulevard. You can check out the performances for free through Sunday. A full break down of the schedule can be found here. For the past 20 years YAGP has awarded more than $250,000 annually in scholarships to send up-and-coming dancers to prestigious schools and companies around the globe. YAGP Alumni have gone on to join American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, among others. This year's international semi-finals held auditions in Brazil, Korea, Australia, Japan, Italy, France and Spain. National semi-finals include 22 cities across North America including Los Angeles, Toronto, Denver, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Tampa, Chicago, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta. Although 800,000 federal workers have stopped receiving a paycheck during the longest government shutdown in history, their bills have not stopped piling up. Some workers, such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and some members of the military, are working without pay. Many federal workers are worried about how the shutdown will affect their credit score. That's because jobs at some government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Defense, among others, require that employees maintain proper credit and don't have debt in collections. "Debt poses vulnerability to potential bribery and even potential collaboration with a foreign adversary," U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said during a Monday news conference with federal workers at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. Blumenthal highlighted the ramifications of working without pay during the furlough. Experts say informing creditors of the situation is the first step to protect one's credit score. "If I'm an employee affected by the shutdown, one of first things I am going to do is call my lender or creditor and say I'm in trouble. I need help. What can you do to help me? What can we do together to mitigate the shutdown impact on me and my family?" said Eric J. Ellman, Consumer Data Industry Association senior vice president of public policy and legal affairs. On Jan. 2, the CDIA issued forbearance guidance to lenders and creditors on how best to report to the credit bureaus Equifax, TransUnion and Experian so the forbearance has no negative impact on the consumer. A TransUnion spokesperson said that contact information for lenders can be found on your most recent bill or credit report. TransUnion was also recommending that lenders use a code they've provided "that will help give people a break on their credit during this difficult time." "Though we cant instruct financial institutions on how to help consumers, our code recommendation is nearly universally followed," the spokesperson added. Some national companies are offering debt relief to impacted workers. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management tweeted a link to sample letters that workers may use to write to their creditors and seek help. Feds, here are sample letters you may use as a guide when working with your creditors during this furlough. If you need legal advice please consult with your personal attorney. https://t.co/t6h6OzALsS OPM (@USOPM) December 27, 2018 Here's an overview of some companies offering relief to workers impacted by the shutdown. This list includes companies compiled by USA Today (Read their full article here). UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS Federal workers impacted by the government shutdown are eligible for unemployment benefits, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Obtain information on benefits here. CELL PHONES AT&T is helping workers imapcted by the shutdown by offering flexible payments. Details here. Sprint is assisting customers by providing short-term payment solutions. Customers should call 888-211-4727 or chat with a representative online. T-Mobile is providing flexible payment support options to customers, including deferring payments or spreading payments out over time. Contact 611 or 877-746-0909. Verizon launched a Promise to Pay program, which allows customers to set a future payment date via the app or call 866-266-1445. BANKS and MORTGAGES Wells Fargo will work with "individuals and business banking customers whose income is disrupted as a result of the shutdown. Customers should call 1-800-TO-WELLS, or the number on their credit card, debit card or statement for assistance, or visit any Wells Fargo branch." Contact information here. U.S. Bank has launched a low-rate and quick loan for their customers needing assistance. Details here. The Federal Credit Union is waiving fees for early withdrawls and other benefits outlined here. The Congressional Federal Credit Union is offering multiple solutions for those impacted, scuh as a relife line of credit, personal loans, credit increases and deferment on existing loans. More information here. Navy Federal Credit Union is offering loan programs for qualified federal workers. Information about how to register can be found here. CREDIT CARDS Bank of America is providing client assistance tailored to customer needs. Call 844-219-0690. Chase is offering hardship programs and encourages customers to call 888-356-0023 to explore their options. Some of the benefits being offered include automatically waiving or refunding overdraft and montly service fees. Citibank offers a range of assistance to customers experiencing financial hardship. Customers can call 800-950-5114 for credit card assistance and 800-283-7918 for mortgage assistance. Discover says it's available to assist government employees affected by the shutdown. Call 1-800-DISCOVER. LENDERS SoFi is offering payment forbearance during the government shutdown. Customers may call 844-975-7634 for qualifying information. A woman has died after she was hit by a car in New Haven last month. Police said 44-year-old Helen Ramos was trying to cross Middletown Avenue near Foxon Boulevard when she was hit by a car on January 18. was seriously hurt when she was hit by a car in New Haven Friday. She was hospitalized and died of her injuries on January 29. The driver of the car did stay on scene and is cooperating with police. The case remains under investigation. The warmth felt by families and friends as they reunited with loved on aboard the USS North Dakota overpowered the bitter cold they waited in before the submarine moored at the Naval Submarine Base New London Thursday. Lastenia Chavez Galvan and Marco Antonio Garcia drove six days from Michoacan, Mexico to surprise their son, Petty Officer Third Class Jorge Alberto Garcia-Chavez. They both said thats their son, their friend and their hero, another military mom translated for the couple. Im just so glad to see my parents. Its been a long trip and all I can think is I feel so joyful just to see them again, Garcia-Chavez said with a big smile. The Yanez family traveled from Diamond Head, Mississippi. Theyre a three-generation military family. I cant say enough about him. Im so proud of him, said Peter Yanez, an Army veteran, about his son Zachary. Kids jumped into their dads arms. There were kisses, selfies and endless hugs. The USS North Dakota spent six months in the European Command Area of Responsibility. The fast-attack Virginia-class submarine was under the lead of Cmdr. Mark Robinson. The crew executed the Chief of Naval Operations Maritime Strategy in supporting national security interests and Maritime Security Operations. Ensign Shawn Brennan returned home to find out he was having a daughter. Wife Ryan brought a box carrying pink balloons for the big gender reveal. Its exciting. Its very exciting, Brennan said. Were so excited to have daddy back, Ryan Brennan said, wiping away tears of joy. The USS North Dakota was commissioned on October 25, 2014 and is the eleventh Virginia-class fast attack submarine. The crew is made up of approximately 132 people; 15 officers and 117 enlisted sailors. The Elm Citys New Haven Promise has been inspiring students for years, encouraging them to set their sights on college as a child through an annual winter celebration. The initiatives 10th Snowball Celebration was another success Friday morning as students at the Fair Haven School sized up several of the states public and private colleges through dance and movement. We start in Pre-K, explained Fair Haven School principal Heriberto Crodero. They take on Gateway and kindergarten with Quinnipiac. As youll see, they all kind of take a different university and as they go through, they get to experience every single university here in the state of Connecticut. You dont get to university by thinking about it when youre a senior or a junior in high school, Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian said. You get to university because you start out early. Ivanaliz Zayas is an eighth grader at the K-8 school, which has had the most New Haven Promise Scholars than any other neighborhood in the city. Sports help you a lot getting into the colleges that you want to go to and different programs that will help get you the good grades you need, Zayas said. Olian said this is where they belong. This is exactly what we should be doing, preparing the youngest of the youngest generation to see their future in education, Olian said. Tickets are $33 and $38 with discounts for students and seniors. For more information, call 630-637-7469 or go to www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. Gov. Ned Lamont is practically tearing up his predecessors playbook when it comes to the states plan of economic development. Lamont unveiled his new strategy and top advisors on the topic during an event in Hartford Friday. We have been a laggard if you look around the country, for many many decades to tell you the truth and thats about to change, Lamont told the crowd at Upward Hartford. As were rethinking our whole strategy when it comes to economic growth and economic development. He announced a new partnership between the non-profit Connecticut Economic Resource Center and the Department of Economic and Community Development as being the main driver of economic policy. He tapped David Lehman, a Goldman Sachs executive to lead DECD, and he will serve as senior economic advisor to the governor, a new role. Lehman, Lamont said, reached out to members of his transition team and volunteered to serve in the administration. He said he plans on using his relationships in the corporate to help the image of the state. I think the governor has used the word, hospitable, Lehman said. It needs to be a welcoming environment that encourages growth. Lamont will also lean on two corporate allies who have provided him with different kinds of support over the past year. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCos former CEO, and Jim Smith, Webster Banks former CEO, will join CERCs board, and work with Lehman on economic development. Recently, Smith helped the Lamont administration craft its policy to provide state-backed loans through private banks to unpaid federal workers. Lamont and Nooyi have a relationship that goes back decades to when the two were classmates at Yale. Nooyi even provided an introduction for Lamont with Infosys CEO, which eventually led to Infosys selecting Hartford for expansion last year. She says she is committed to helping Connecticut. Nooyi said, Id like people to say once again, Connecticut is the greatest state. Weve made some detours, but were once again the greatest state in the country. As for strategy, Lehman would not commit to any particulars, as he will not start his new position until February 19, and his commissioner nomination must be confirmed by the General Assembly. Lamont, however, said he does not plan on continuing the First Five, Program, which was championed by the Malloy administration. The program was used to craft individual incentive and tax break packages for major corporations. Among its biggest successes were ESPN and United Technologies, with them committing to the state. However, the program was also used to lure Alexion Pharmaceuticals to New Haven, where the company built a new headquarters. Within five years, Alexion had announced plans to move its headquarters to Boston, forfeiting major tax breaks. Lamont said he expects a new vision for how the state lures companies, but would not rule out providing cash, loans, or tax breaks in ways other states compete for companies. I dont think you want the state of Connecticut picking winners and losers. Were going to do everything we can to help incubators like [Upward Hartford] create the next generation of jobs and well do our best to recruit and keep new companies coming to Connecticut. A man faces animal cruelty charges after a goat wandering the streets of Hartford led police to a collection of farm animals Thursday night. Police said their investigation started when they got a report of a roaming goat chasing pedestrians. They tracked the goat back to 31 Blue Hills Ave. and found over a dozen other goats, roosters and chickens in a small area in the back of the home. The animals were in "filthy" conditions, according to police, and many were injured or malnourished. Kenya Miller, 41, was arrested and charged with 25 counts of animal cruelty. The 16 goats, eight roosters, one hen and two ducks were seized and will be relocated to a better home. No other details were immediately available. Connecticut Democrats, with some support from Republicans, are looking to enact gun reforms that they were unable to pass last year. In particular, they want to ban the manufacture of homemade firearms known as 3D or ghost guns. They also want to mandate new safe storage parameters for firearms. This prevents children from getting access to handguns and it allows the owner to get quick access to it if they should need it, said Jeremy Stein, the executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence, as he displayed a lockbox. Under the proposed legislation, a gun owner would be criminally liable if their weapon was not stored properly and led to someone being shot. The legislation was crafted following the death of Ethan Song, a Guilford teenager who died when a gun he came across accidentally fired. The gun was not locked away. Rep. Sean Scanlon, a Democrat who represents Guilford said of the bill, If the gun is used in a crime, as it was in this case, then the police and the prosecutors would be able to charge that individual with a crime of improper storage. At least 10 Republicans are backing a measure that would ban the manufacture and use of ghost guns in Connecticut. Rep. Gail LaVielle, (R Wilton), says the wide support from so many Republicans is a response to last Novembers election results, and what they heard from voters during the campaign. All of us who have introduced a ghost gun bill have heard loud and clear from our constituents that this is important to them, she said following the press conference. Democrats now control the Connecticut Senate, and they have wider numbers in the Connecticut House. Gun reforms are expected to be priorities for them, as Gov. Ned Lamont also campaigned on those issues. The Connecticut Citizens Defense League favors gun storage legislation, but is not supportive of the ghost gun proposal. CCDL President Scott Wilson told NBC Connecticut in a statement, "It is legal under federal law for a person to build a firearm for personal use provided that the gun is kept for themselves. It is also important to note that it is 'illegal' under federal law for a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm (such as a felon) to build or even own a firearm. There is nothing in this proposal that would prevent a determined criminal from gaining access to an illegal gun." Some of Connecticuts most popular restaurants have a history of health violations, but you might never know about them. Despite living in the age of the Internet, most cities and towns in our state are still doing inspections on paper, making it difficult to find out how your favorite eateries are performing. Shannon Berton got salmonella at a New Haven restaurant and said shes a lot more careful since about how her food is prepared. The abdominal cramps, that was like the primary thing. It was something that made you drop to the ground, she said. Bertons story is not an isolated one. An estimated 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne illness in homes and restaurants every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Records NBC Connecticut Investigates reviewed show the restaurant where Berton got sick failed a half dozen health inspections over the past two and a half years. Connecticut has 66 health agencies, which are supposed to conduct inspections three times per year at restaurants where hot food is served for issues that can cause foodborne illness, close any restaurant that fails an inspection and then inspect it again. However, the state does not require restaurants to post inspection scores online or in restaurants. In other states if you want to check and see if your favorite restaurant has any health violations, you can check it out online. In Connecticut you have to go to your local health department, ask for the individual file for your favorite restaurant, and then look up each inspection individually. NBC Connecticut Investigates asked the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District for restaurant inspections going back three years. We were only allowed to look at the records for one restaurant at a time. The inspections are on paper, kept in individual folders and are not necessarily in chronological order. When asked about access to the records and the efficiency of the system for consumers as well as the health departments, Health District Director Steve Huleatt said, I mean I keep saying to you, consumers can come here, and well give them that information. People seldom do that, according to Huleatt. What are consumers missing without reading these restaurant inspections? NBC Connecticut Investigates spent days reviewing restaurant inspections and found dangerous, repeated violations for failure to keep food at proper temperatures, and more: One restaurant had toxic chemicals stored in a food prep area. An inspector discovered moldy fruit at another. And then there was the report that showed that an inspector found mouse droppings in the flour in one restaurant. While some were isolated incidents and the restaurant fixed the issue by the next inspection, there were other cases in which restaurants were found to be in violation year after year, but consumers would never know unless they spent days looking at the paper records. Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in foodborne illness cases, said if Connecticut health departments were more transparent about restaurant inspections it might help patrons avoid restaurants that are repeat violators and reduce their chances of getting a food related illness. If you know that a restaurant has a food safety problem, or a series of food safety problems, or theyve had an outbreak, or they continue to have bad inspections, as a consumer, you wanna know that, Marler said. In hundreds of areas around the country, restaurant inspections are readily available online. You can simply click on your favorite eatery and review their inspection reports. But just a handful of health districts do this in Connecticut, and not West Hartford-Bloomfield. After we asked for restaurant inspections from the Hartford health department, we got a stack of restaurant inspections. We asked, Is that everything? and they said You tell us. Months later, we got to inspect piles of restaurant reviews, which were not organized by restaurant but rather by restaurant inspector. Liany Arroyo, Hartfords new health director, told NBC Connecticut Investigates the restaurant inspection file there, needs a humongous overhaul. We need a digitized system that allows inspectors to immediately do an inspection, upload it into a database, so that its much easier for us to have you come in and say, Here, heres all the inspections for the last two years, on this tablet, have at it. Or, Here, were gonna print this out and give it to you. In New Haven, we had to ask for the restaurant inspections we wanted in advance and show up at a ninth-floor office to view them. When asked about making it easier for the public to get access, the New Haven health department said, Were working on it. Were supposed to be getting digitized. But change may be on the way. This year, the state will adopt a new food code, which will change what is analyzed during restaurant inspections. Connecticut food protection program supervisor Tracey Weeks said the state will eventually post a lot of the inspections online and someday, maybe, even on an app. The state restaurant association said it is also in favor of more restaurant inspection transparency, pointing out online reviews of their clients can sometimes have false information. After this report, legislators on the Public Health Committee told NBC Connecticut Investigates that they will consider changes to make restaurant health inspections more transparent. They really should be put on the computer so that people have access to be able to see the scores of the restaurants, said state Rep. Phil Young (D-Stratford). I dont see that its going to be that much of an increase in cost in manpower or womanpower to make this happen, said Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-Seymour). Both said they will pursue legislation to get the information online. Here are links to the health departments in Connecticut that do make inspection information available online: Darien Health Department East Shore District Health Department Farmington Valley Health District Quinnipiack Valley Health District Naugatuck Valley Health District Norwalk Health Department Stamford Health Department Waterbury Health Department [[505149071, C]] Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought Wednesday to reassure U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria that they will be safe after American troops withdraw from the country. Amid confusion over plans to implement President Donald Trump's pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, Pompeo made an unannounced stop in Iraq while on a weeklong trip to the Middle East aimed at assuaging the fears of Washington's Arab partners that the U.S. is abandoning the region or walking away from the fight against the Islamic State group. "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. His comments were similar to those made earlier in the week by Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, who said on visits to Israel and Turkey that protecting the Kurds is a priority for the U.S. even as it moves to withdraw some 2,000 American troops from Syria. Bolton's comments drew a quick rejection from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said they were a "serious mistake" and that Turkey "cannot make any concessions in this regard." Turkey regards the Kurds as terrorists and has vowed to attack them. Pompeo, however, downplayed Erdogan's response to Bolton and predicted that any differences could be ironed out in upcoming talks between the U.S. special envoy for Syria, Jim Jeffrey, and Turkish and Kurdish officials. "Erdogan has made commitments; he understands that - I think he uses the language - he talks about he has no beef with the Kurds. We want to make sure that that's the case, and I'm confident that as Ambassador Jeffrey and others travel through the region in the days ahead, we'll make real progress on that," Pompeo said. Still, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday that Turkey will not refrain from military action to protect its borders from what he describes as threats posed by Syrian Kurdish fighters. The Turkish rebuffs continue to amplify a rift between the NATO allies and raise new questions about how the United States would protect fighters who are U.S. allies in the war against the Islamic State group. Earlier in Baghdad, Pompeo said he told Iraqi officials that "the fight to counter Iran is real and important." Pompeo and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi discussed efforts to ensure the "lasting defeat throughout the region" of the Islamic State group, State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said. Pompeo also promoted the U.S. push to move Iraq toward energy independence, said Palladino. Iraq imports electricity and natural gas from Iran to meet its energy needs. Iran has cultivated close ties with Iraqi politicians and religious and business leaders since the 2003 U.S. invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein and destabilized the country. Neutralizing those relations will be a difficult and possibly dangerous task. Iran has the ear of several powerful Iraqi militias that rival the might of the country's U.S.-funded security forces. Abdul-Mahdi and Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi, who met with Pompeo separately, both said they told the American diplomat that Iraq values good relations with its neighbors. Pompeo also met with Iraqi President Barham Salih and Foreign Minister Mohamed Alhakim and stressed the U.S.'s support for strong, relations based on the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement between the two countries. Pompeo has said the Syria withdrawal would not detract from U.S. efforts to contain Iran's considerable clout in the region. The White House reinstated sanctions against Iran last year for allegedly violating the 2015 nuclear deal championed by former President Barack Obama. International nuclear inspectors had said there was no evidence that Iran was violating the deal. Pompeo's visit is the third high-profile visit by an American official to Iraq in the last month. Iraqi politicians were incensed when Trump last month made an unscheduled visit to a U.S. base in western Iraq without also meeting Abdul-Mahdi, as his predecessors Obama and George W. Bush had done. Trump said on his Dec. 26 visit that the United States could use its bases in Iraq as a platform for continued operations against the Islamic State group in Syria. The visit left lawmakers smarting and prompted calls to annul a 2014 agreement that brought U.S. forces back to Iraq. Some 5,200 U.S. troops are now stationed in the country. Earlier in December, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry urged Iraq to sever its energy dependence on Iran and open its energy sector to American investment. He was in Baghdad with a trade delegation arranged by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A series of ice jams along the Kankakee River is causing major flooding concerns in numerous suburban communities. A River Flood Warning is currently in effect in Kankakee, Will, and Grundy counties in Illinois, as well as Newton County in northwest Indiana. The worst of the flooding is occurring near Wilmington, located in Will County. The city is bisected by the Kankakee River, which is currently more than four feet above flood stage due to ice jams that have formed near bridges in the area. no description Several roads and structures have already been impacted by the flooding, and the National Weather Service says that more flooding is possible as the weather warms up and the ice begins to thaw, threatening to release even more water downstream. Ice Jams Create Dramatic Scenes Along Kankakee River The river is currently at flood stage between Wilmington and the confluence of the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers in Grundy County. To help control ice jams on the river, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency are working with Exelon Corporation to discharge warm water from the cooling ponds at the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, located in suburban Morris, into the river. As part of normal operations, the Dresden Power Station pulls water from the river, but instead of discharging a portion of the water into the Illinois River, the water will be put into the Kankakee River. The strategy has no anticipated impact on aquatic life, given the flow of the Kankakee River, according to the agencies. Video from Sky 5 shows Chicago's stunning lakefront after parts of Lake Michigan froze in record-breaking sub-zero temperatures. There is also minor flooding due to an ice jam near Momence, located in Kankakee County. The river is currently eight inches above flood stage in those locations, impacting mostly low-lying areas between the jam and the confluence of the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers in Aroma Park. In Newton County, the river has just reached flood stage, impacting low-lying areas. The National Weather Service warns that ice jams can result in rapid fluctuations in water levels with little to no warning, and advises residents to be vigilant as the weather warms up over the weekend. Rainfall, which is in the forecast for the weekend, could also exacerbate the flooding, as it collects on frozen ground and helps to accelerate snow melt. A Massachusetts State Police trooper is being credited for saving the life of an infant Wednesday evening after the infant stopped breathing. Police said the mother of the 8-day-old boy had been traveling along Soldiers Field Road in Boston at 5:40 p.m. with the grandmother in the backseat feeding the baby. When the baby became distressed, the mother pulled into a parking lot and called for help. Authorities at the Brighton police barracks were given their location, but when Trooper John Arone, who was patrolling nearby, arrived at an IHOP parking lot, he determined that the white SUV he was looking for wasn't there. He ended up finding the SUV at the nearby McDonald's and quickly assessed the situation. Arone, a father of a 4-month-old himself, said the infant was not breathing and checked his airway. He said he did not see anything blocking the infant's airway so he loosened the baby's swaddling and gave the infant a pat on the back causing the baby to release an air bubble and a large amount of saliva and formula. The infant began to breathe again and started crying. He was then taken into the McDonald's to keep warm until first responders arrived to check his vital signs. Arone said both his police training and skills as a dad enabled him to act so quickly. "We have the finest instructors at the academy. We go through amazing training here. But I'm also a father as well. I have a boy that's 4 months old," said Arone. "It came natural. It just resorted to instinct." The infant was then taken to Boston's Children's Hospital for further evaluation. Tenants at a Palo Alto apartment building are up in arms after they were told to move out. Owners of the downtown President Hotel Apartments on University Avenue plan to turn the building into a hotel. Thursday was the last day for tenants to move out. Iqbal Sarang, who has lived at the building for 30 years, said Thursday's move-out day felt more like an eviction. "People ask the question, do I have a plan B? I don't have a plan B," Sarang said. The building's owner, AJ Capitol Partners of Chicago, began notifying tenants six months ago the apartment building will be turned into a hotel. Some residents like Michelle Kraus were initially given until the end of June to move, but recently found out they had to leave before the end of January. "I don't blame the owner," Kraus said. "They saw an opportunity and seized it. But I do blame the lack of coming together and communication in a straight-forward way." The building's owner or Palo Alto city officials would comment on this report. For a $3 donation, balloons will line the corridors and rooms of the residents. Donations will be accepted until Wednesday, Feb. 13, and may be sent to: DuPage Care Center, 400 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. How many citizen scientists does it take to discover a new species? A recent expedition to the Ulu Temburong forest in Borneo proved that you only need 10 enthusiasts with no professional training, yet fueled with curiosity and passion for the outdoors, to find a new beetle the size of a pinhead in leaf litter. The species, named Clavicornaltica belalongensis, is a tiny, 1.25-mm-long leaf beetle that eats moss on the forest floor. Published in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal, it is the latest discovery from Taxon Expeditions, an initiative that organises scientific field trips to remote and biodiverse locations for teams of scientists and laypeople. Unlike other science/adventure trips, Taxon Expeditions gives a unique opportunity for laypeople, or citizen scientists, to describe and publish new species of animals and focus on the thousands of 'little things that run the world'. Thanks to the initiative, they learn about tropical biology techniques while participating in the process of taxonomy and the study of hidden biodiversity. The new beetle, for example, is one of hundreds of thousands of tiny beetle species that inhabit the leaf litter of tropical forests and have remained unknown and scientifically unnamed up to our days. In a YouTube video, Simon Berenyi, who joined the expedition along with his 14-year-old son, says: 'I had no idea how special this would be; you become a student again - you become a child again.' Entomologist and founder of Taxon Expeditions, Dr. Iva Njunjic explains: 'We introduce the general public to all these tiny, beautiful, and completely unknown animals, and show them that there is a whole world still to be discovered.' Last year, another survey in Borneo organised by Taxon Expeditions ended up with the description of a new water beetle species (Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi). Named after famous Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio. The discovery raised a real furore on the public scene, culminating in the new insect making an appearance on the profile image of the celebrity's facebook page. (Natural News) A new product created by Microsoft that supposedly differentiates between real and fake news online has been exposed as a propaganda tool tied to none other than Saudi Arabia, arguably the worlds most oppressive theocratic regime. The so-called NewsGuard browser plug-in claims to be all about restoring trust and accountability to online news content, assigning a news rating to every web page that shows either a green color for approved material, or a blue color for unapproved material. But a little bit of digging reveals that NewsGuards third-largest investor is Publicis Group, a Paris-based advertising firm whose subsidiaries include an extensive array of public relations firms, the sole purpose of which is to spin the news and influence the public on behalf of corporate clients, reports Breitbart News. One of these P.R. firms is Qorvis Group, a Washington, D.C.-based company whose clients include both Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Qorvis has reportedly represented Saudi Arabia ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when it helped the Sharia-dominated country to protect its image in response to the revelation that 15 of the 19 alleged terrorists were Saudi nationals. In the seven-month period between March and September 2002, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia reportedly paid Qorvis an astounding $14.7 million to spread fake news about how Saudi Arabia is supposedly a bastion of goodness, holding many shared values with the United States. The firm also shuttled Saudi officials on whirlwind tours of major media outlets, and broadcast ads promoting the 9/11 Commission finding that there was no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded [Al Qaeda] while omitting the reports conclusion that Saudi Arabia has been a problematic ally in combating Islamic extremism,' reads a portion of an article published by Mother Jones, which was republished by Breitbart News. Many of NewsGuards employees are former Bush Administration officials It would only make sense that Qorviss job was to play cleanup for the Saudi regime, seeing as how its employee ranks are stacked with former Bush Administration officials, many of whom are aggressive war hawks with an interest in spreading pro-war fake news on behalf of Saudi Arabia. Concerning Saudi Arabias brutal war in Yemen, Qorvis was there to spread fake news about how the Saudi regime is doing a good thing by sending cluster bombs into civilian locations in Yemen, for instance. Qorvis has also actively promoted this war, as has the Trump Administration, despite bipartisan agreement in both the Senate and the House that the U.S. lacks congressional authorization to support this violent intervention in the Middle East. Qorvis has also led the charge in actively manipulating public opinion about Saudi Arabia throughout American media, creating an entire website known as OperationRenewalOfHope.com that paints Saudi Arabia in a positive light. It also researched potential grassroots supporters in select states and provided an ongoing effort to reach out to supporters concerning the Yemen war,' revealed The Intercept, as relayed by Breitbart News. Believe it or not, Qorvis also backs an online hub for news related to the (Saudi) Kingdom known as Arabia Now, which is managed by a consulting firm known as Targeted Victory thats owned and run by GOP strategist Zac Moffatt, the former digital director for the Mitt Romney campaign. Since then, the site has worked to promote Saudi Arabia as a bastion for human rights and progress, with posts claiming that the Kingdom is the most generous country in the world,' The Intercept further reveals. Be sure to check out the TruthWiki page for NewsGuard for more information about the companys corrupt ties to authoritarian regimes. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com TruthWiki.org (Natural News) With Democrats now aggressively pushing for legalized child murder / infanticide, its important to affirm where we all stand on this issue. Today, Im announcing that Natural News is officially a pro-life publisher in the greatest sense: We protect and support all LIFE, encompassing human life, animal life, plant life, ecological life and especially the lives of the unborn innocents who are now being targeted by deranged, violent Leftists who have been possessed by a demonic bloodlust. With the recent child murder provision signed into law in New York and the Governor of Virginia declaring his support of post-birth infanticide the Democrat party has now become the party that murders children with celebration and glee. Make note that any political party which assigns zero value to a human baby is just one small step away from carrying out the genocidal murder of political opponents. To them, life means nothing. The next step for Democrats is a nationwide ethnic cleansing to eliminate all Christians, conservatives and Trump supporters Its now clear that if the Democrats could disarm American conservatives and Trump supporters, they would order and carry out a nationwide ethnic cleansing massacre to eliminate conservatives, Christians and patriots. This is who Democrats are: Mass murderers and evil demons who exhibit the exact opposite of tolerance or coexistence. They cant even coexist alongside a harmless human infant without wanting to murder it how much tolerance do you think they really have for people who have political opinions the Left Cult finds offensive? Important note: The deranged, violent Left demonstrates exactly why Americans should never give up your guns, not under any circumstances. Not even if the lunatic Left outlaws them. The minute you voluntarily disarm yourself, the Left will launch a whole new Holocaust genocide agenda against Christians and conservatives. They are violent murderers, after all, and if theyre willing to murder their own babies, do you think they will even hesitate for a moment to murder you? Natural News is Pro-Life Today Im publishing an extended, one-hour podcast that explains exactly what we believe here at Natural News. We are Pro-Life. We defend the unborn, the innocent and the divinity of human life. And we pray to God for divine protection to help us defeat the DEMONcrats who are now taking over society, running mass censorship, economic sabotage, domestic terrorism and criminalization campaigns to silence and destroy their political opponents. Democrats truly wont be happy until they murder every last Christian, conservative or Trump supporter in the country. Its time to realized thats what they want, and they wont be stopped by any civil method (such as voting at the ballot box or trying to appeal to logic or reason). The only way to stop the DEMONcrats is to force them to stop. Be prepared to defend your life against radical left-wing tyranny. Be prepared to recognize the demons that now inhabit the DEMONcrats, and be prepared to send them all back to Hell, where they originally came from. A cosmic, Biblical war is now upon us, and the war is truly LIFE vs. DEATH. The Democrats want death. We support LIFE. Which side are you on? Listen to my full podcast here: Brighteon.com/5997425872001 (Natural News) Before smartphones became popular, people needed to bring reading material like newspapers or books to the toilet. Now, you can sit on the john for as long as you want if you have your smartphone with you. However, researchers warn that using your phone while youre on the toilet may be bad for your health. Using your phone while on the toilet is linked to bacterial exposure People usually bring their phones to the toilet to stay entertained while they go about their business, but researchers say that this practice exposes people to germs like Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. C. difficile is a spore-forming, gram-positive anaerobic bacillus which produces two toxins toxin A and toxin B. These toxins can cause gastrointestinal disease, usually with severe complications. E. coli is a bacterium that can survive in both human and animal intestines. Salmonella is the second most common intestinal infection in the U. S. More than one million Americans contract Salmonella yearly. A 2011 report revealed that there was an average of 20,000 Salmonella-related hospitalizations in the country, with at least 400 deaths occurring due to Salmonella poisoning. Researchers explained that if you wipe yourself or touch the flush or the toiler door, youre most likely going to touch your phone before you wash your hands. Even if you place your phone on the side, such as on top of shelves, your device can still be exposed to dangerous bugs. Dr. Ron Cutler, director of biomedical science degrees at the Queen Mary University of London, suggests that if you want to avoid the transfer of viruses and fecal contamination, just dont bring your phone with you to the toilet. He added that levels of contamination can vary depending on the location of the toilet. For example, a small office is relatively safe, but you may be exposed to all kinds of viruses if youre on a heavily populated area like a cruise ship. (Related: Whoops, you dropped something: Mans rectum falls out after sitting on the toilet too long, playing games on his mobile phone.) Dr. Lisa Ackerly, a hygiene expert, said that you can do a risk assessment to protect yourself from these dangers. If you need a book or your phone when youre on the toilet, remember to [read] the book or phone in your right hand, then transfer it to the left. Wipe yourself and flush using your dominant hand, then carry the book or device using your other hand. Dont touch anything else, then wash your hands thoroughly to avoid contamination. Ackerley added that if you wipe yourself and then touch your phone using the same hand, you dont need to bother washing your hands because all the bacteria you put on your phone will end up back on your hands. The researchers also agreed that you shouldnt place your phone on the toilet roll holder or on a shelf. Place your device in your pocket or in your bag, if you hang your bag on a hook. Researchers suggest that its better to avoid using your phone altogether if youre going to the toilet because germs can stay on your phone for several days. Cutler noted that since phones can get a little warm, this gives bacteria a warm environment to multiply in. The next time youre going to use the toilet, think twice about bringing your phone with you. Are you willing to risk your health just so you wont get bored for several minutes? Sources include: WVLT.tv FoodPoisonJournal.com (Natural News) Among those on the pro-Trump Right, there is nothing that gets them more excited than CNN. The Clinton News Network has built a well-deserved reputation of reporting false information, often breathlessly, in the age of POTUS Donald Trump, pushing the phony Russian collusion narrative so far that three network journalists working in an investigative unit were forced to resign over a fake news report. Now, Trump-supporting patriots are planning to besiege the network wearing an article of clothing many on the Left are now equating with the KKK or Nazism: The venerable red MAGA hat. (Related: Have you committed a HATcrime? Its the new crime of wearing a hat that triggers deranged Leftists.) Wear your hats and bring pro-Trump signs. We will be walking around CNN Center. We want to show that we are freedom loving Americans that love our country and that we will not be intimidated into not wearing the hats, the group, Main Street Patriots, wrote on its Facebook event page. This is an idea whose time has come The idea is to disavow the Lefts stereotypical description of Trump supporters: Low-income, low-forehead, racist, bigoted, Bible-thumping, gun-toting White supremacists who want to return to colonial days when early Americans owned slaves and stole land from the Indians. Are these folks delusional or paranoid? Hardly. A week doesnt go by when some CNN analyst doesnt use a derogatory term to describe the average Trump supporter. In November, for instance, political analyst Kirsten Powers called women who voted for POTUS racist. CNN's Kirsten Powers on women who voted for Trump: "They'll say, 'Well, I'm not racist. I just voted for him because I didn't like Hillary Clinton.' And I just want to say that's not that doesn't make you not racist. It actually makes you racist." pic.twitter.com/P4Hy3KJeHY Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 18, 2018 The same month serial race-baiter and Republican strategist Ana Navarro ranted that the president is racist. Actually, hes a racist pig, she said of the president of the United States, who has never exhibited that behavior. CNN, like the bulk of the Left-wing mainstream media (MSM), has gone out of its way to mischaracterize the president and the tens of millions of Americans who voted for him. Its about time they got to meet some supporters up close not that the networks coverage will change. Read more about fake news networks in the MSM at NewsFakes.com. Sources include: WesternJournal.com money.CNN.com TheNationalSentinel.com (Natural News) A quick reminder to our many faithful readers: Dont believe everything you hear over at Fox News, despite the networks seeming support for conservative, a.k.a. liberty-centric, ideals because things are not always as they seem. Just a few days ago, Fox News Medical Correspondent, Dr. Marc Siegel, declared war on health freedom by stating that he believes doctors who issue vaccine exemptions should be prosecuted. Responding to the recent measles outbreak in Washington State, Dr. Siegel went on a tirade against parents who choose not to vaccinate their children with the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella, expressing anger over the fact that some Americans are exercising their freedom not to vaccinate. This is a disgrace, Dr. Siegel shouted during the segment. And I am hoping that the doctors that are responsible for this get prosecuted. When asked to explain what he believes is the problem, Dr. Siegel went on to state that there are a few doctors in California that are not even pediatricians, (who) are writing exemption letters for a ton of kids in certain schools. Some schools have up to 20 percent of their kids dont have the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine because they got a crazy exemption letter thats fraudulent, Dr. Siegel added, barely taking a breath amid his rant. For more vaccine-related news, be sure to check out Vaccines.news. Big Pharma is the biggest advertiser at Fox News Anyone who watches Fox News and pays close attention to whats being advertised during every commercial break has likely noticed that the network pushes pharmaceutical drug after pharmaceutical drug after pharmaceutical drug so much drug advertising, in fact, that Fox News might as well be renamed Big Pharma News. With this in mind, its not really all that surprising that Foxs top medical talking head is aggressively pro-vaccine, as drugs and vaccines appear to be what keeps Fox News financially afloat. It would also explain why Fox News remains aggressively anti-cannabis, as healing plants are a threat to Foxs Big Pharma advertisers. ALL Americans have the right to refuse vaccines for ANY reason Contrary to Dr. Siegels wild claims, vaccine exemptions are not fraudulent, and all doctors, pediatricians or otherwise, are free to write them for whomever they wish. Further, sovereign American citizens are free to refuse vaccines for any reason, and dont technically or legally need a vaccine exemption at all though the medical establishment is working overtime to squelch that truth, as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warned about. A medical doctor can give you an exemption for whatever you want, but theres not even a law there, points out Alex Jones from Infowars. Be sure to watch the full segment with Alex Jones about the MMR vaccine below: So [Dr. Siegel is] saying its a fraud, when hes engaged in fraud. See, hes saying these are fraudulent letters you dont even need the letter for the exemption. They just trick you into that. You have a right theres no law that you have to take these vaccines. According to Dr. Siegel, however, its a problem that parents are allowed to refuse vaccines even with a signed medical exemption. In his view, the MMR vaccine, and presumably all vaccines, are simply awesome which, in his mind, means that everybody should be forced by the government to get injected. It is one of the greatest inventions in the history of public health, Dr. Siegel maintains about the MMR vaccine. For a more in-depth discussion about measles, be sure to check out this article by Roger Stark. You can also keep up with the latest news about the establishments assault against medical freedom of choice at VaccineJihad.com. Sources for this article include: YouTu.be NaturalNews.com IndianaHealthChoiceCoalition.com NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on Monday (28 January 2019) for talks with Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan. Calling US leadership key for the Alliance, the Secretary General highlighted the real results seen over the past few years, including higher readiness, stepping up in the fight against terrorism, and better burden-sharing. He recalled that since 2016, European Allies and Canada have spent an extra 41 billion US dollars in real terms, and that by 2020, this figure is expected to increase to $100 billion. Ahead of next months meeting of Allied Defence Ministers in Brussels, Mr. Stoltenberg and Mr. Shanahan also exchanged views on a range of issues, including Russias violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. They agreed to continue working together to implement the decisions made at the NATO Summit in July 2018. The implementation of summit decisions, as well as other issues related to Allied security, were also on the agenda of Mr. Stoltenberg's meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the National Security Advisor of the United States, Ambassador John R. Bolton. On Monday, 4 February 2019, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller, will travel to Oslo. The Deputy Secretary General will participate in the Leangkollen Security Conference organized by the Norwegian Atlantic Committee. She will deliver a keynote address followed by a Q&A session. The event will be livestreamed by the organizers and can be watched here: https://livestream.com/accounts/3722443/events/8545671. More details on the event can be found at: http://www.atlanterhavskomiteen.no During her visit the Deputy Secretary General will also have meetings with high level officials. Follow the Deputy Secretary General on Twitter @Gottemoeller. Also follow us at @NATOPress. The exhibit is a collaboration with The Conservation Foundation and features about 20 original oil paintings by local artist Joel Sheesley that evoke the beauty of the Fox River. Sheesley is The Conservation Foundations artist-in-residence and is an emeritus professor of art at Wheaton College. Please note that this visit has been cancelled. On Monday, 4 February 2019, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel. During his visit to NATO Headquarters, Mr. Messahel will also brief the North Atlantic Council. There will be no media opportunity. Still and video images from the bilateral meeting will be available on the NATO website after the event. Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, on Tuesday (29 January 2019) to discuss regional issues and defence investment. The Secretary General thanked Slovakia for its long-term engagement in Afghanistan and for its wider commitment to boosting Alliance security. Mr. Stoltenberg and Mr. Lajcak, as Chairmanin-Office of the OSCE, also discussed the situation in Ukraine. The Secretary General welcomed Slovakias continued efforts to reduce tensions, build trust and facilitate dialogue, stressing that NATO will continue to press Russia to respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and to live up to its Minsk commitments. In his capacity as OSCE Chairman-in-Office for 2019, Mr. Lajcak also briefed the North Atlantic Council on the priorities for the year ahead. The three areas for actions established by the Slovak Chairmanship will be to prevent, mediate and mitigate conflict while focusing on the people it affects, to provide for a safer future and to promote effective multilateralism. By Lynn Parramore, Senior Research Analyst for the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website Economist Peter Temin has noted that when societies like the United States split into separate economies of haves and have-nots, there remains one ticket to a better life: education. Youve likely heard that this ticket is getting shredded. What once made America exceptional robust investment in public education to prepare kids for life in a democracy has faded, partly thanks to the efforts of a handful of haves whose money and influence foisted market-based makeovers onto American schools. Over the last few decades, the handiwork of a tiny group of philanthrocapitalists and business tycoons with names like Bill Gates and the Waltons, of Walmart fame, have channeled their vision of corporate-style education reform into a series of deeply flawed programs, from George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind, based on a fraudulent testing regime in Texas, to President Obamas Race to the Top, which fused teacher evaluations to test scores and pushed to privatize more schools. Today, thanks to this incredible shrinking vision of education, the average American student endures over a hundred standardized tests by the time of 12thgrade rolls around. As if that werent enough, misguided assessment-and-accountability regimes have burdened public schools with frightened teachers, stressed students, narrowed curricula, and massive cheating scandals. All the while, increasing numbers of both for-profit and non-profit charters many of them focused on enriching executives drain students and scarce resources from public schools. Journalist Andrea Gabor, author of After the Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend Business Reform, is among the growing chorus concluding that the application of outdated, market-based models to a complex process like education has done more to exacerbate social problems than improve the performance of American children. As she sees it, the widespread embrace of approaches obsessed with the production of math and English language test scores over civics and learning for learnings sake even helped spawn an electorate susceptible to the demagoguery of Donald Trump. So thats the bad news. But Gabor has good news, too. While dilettante corporate reformers were making headlines with their quick-and-dirty education schemes, some far-sighted educators, active citizens, and imaginative thinkers across the nation have been swimming against the tide of the top-down, millionaire-driven reform movement with approaches to learning that are not only much more democratic, but remarkably effective and better attuned to the needs of 21st century students. Theyve enjoyed less attention than their market-oriented counterparts, but theyve gotten something better: results. Oases of Innovation Gabor offers a trip through far-flung regions of country where vastly different public school systems have bucked the market-focused trends, including the state of Massachusetts and the Leander district in Texas, north of Austin. Instead of prodding teachers and students with sticks and carrots, inflicting them with an endless grind of test preparation, the schools focus on creating a rich setting for learning, exploring, and developing human potential. And they manage to do so with greater efficiency, better outcomes, and certainly more enjoyment for everybody involved than what is often found in corporate reform-modeled schools. Gabor turns first to Massachusetts, where John Adams presciently decided that an educated populace was critical for preserving a democracy and set down a mandate to adequately fund it in the state constitution. By 1990, however, recessionary conditions and the Reagan-era tax-cutting frenzy had left many public schools with resources nothing close to adequate, including the once-cutting-edge Brockton High, which had become the states largest and poorest high school. A poster child of dysfunction, it limped along with decimated budgets, teacher layoffs, and giant classes woefully unequal to the task of educating ever-growing numbers of students, many of them needing special assistance. Brocktons turnaround began with a successful lawsuit that lit the spark for the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993, a law backed by a broad coalition of leaders from government, the business community, teachers unions and the judiciary that restored funding equity to public schools across the state. These leaders agreed that reforms would need to be collaborative, democratic, and focused on changes that would neither be rushed nor imposed from above. They capped the number of charter schools at 25, making them pretty much irrelevant. (The cap has been raised a couple of times since then, but Massachusettss voters remain skeptical of charters, voting down a proposal to expand them in 2016). Armed with new funding, a committee of teachers and administrators at Brockton launched an ambitious literacy initiative in the late 90s to give students a foundation for success in all subjects. In addition to basics like reading and writing, students learned skills not covered by standardized testing, such as speaking, and found themselves urged to pursue fine arts, drama, sports, and activities that foster a personal connection to the school. Professional development was structured to include both top-down and bottom-up elements, with strong input from teachers. For both staff and students, building a culture of trust was a top priority. These efforts led to a decade-long transformation commended by Harvard researchers, who found that by 2012, even though two-thirds of the tenth-graders at Brockton are black and Hispanic and 64% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, they were outperforming most other students in the state. Another compelling case of educational innovation is illustrated in Leander, Texas, a large, non-urban school district in the midst of a mostly white Christian and Republican populace, where around 35 years ago, reformers embraced the ideas of quality expert and statistician W. Edwards Deming. Demings notion of continuous improvement in organizations stands in contrast to practices advocated by the better-known management guru Frederick Winslow Taylor; a mechanical engineer devoted to efficiency and standardization whose ideas became gospel to American business schools in the 20th century. The imprint of Taylorism and his anti-union perspective can be found in top-down, one-size-fits-all programs centered on standardized testing like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Deming, who is especially revered in Japan, where his ideas fueled Toyotas success, took a different approach, emphasizing the contributions of ordinary employees and advocating managements in which hierarchies were either loosened or abolished. His methods emphasized driving fear out of the workplace and fostering the intrinsic motivation of employees. In the 1980s, the Leander district suffered from problems so severe it was in danger of losing its accreditation. At that time, a group of educators began to apply Demings ideas to education, committing to continuous improvement driven by strong leaders working collaboratively with teachers and other stakeholders; meaningful teacher training and development; long-term thinking; and close attention to how organizational ecosystems work. By nurturing a culture devoted to grassroots-driven quality and experimentation, they turned a once-struggling district into one of the states best performing. Where corporate-style reformers seem to have bequeathed to schools the worst lessons of the business world that numbers can lie and books can be cooked, the Leander model suggests that education reform can benefit from business lessons more appropriate to the open-source, flexible milieu of the 21st century. Gabor notes that in 2015, at a time when many school districts were plagued with teacher shortages, the Leander district, which is about the size of New Orleans, saw a six-to-one applicant ratio for teaching jobs. Massachusetts and Leander, as well as other cases Gabor discuses, such as the progressive reform movement in New York City, have distinctly different cultures. Rather than accepting one-size-fits-all solutions mandated from above, each developed its own model, tailored to the needs of the students in a particular community. However, the schools have several things in common: a respect for democratic processes and participatory improvement, a high regard for teachers, clear strategies with buy-in from all stake-holders, and accountability frameworks that include room to innovate. They also feature robust leadership and strong teacher voice. Their success underscores the importance of equitable funding and suggests that problems like income inequality are far more detrimental to education that the usual suspects, like bad teachers. A Revolution Grows Louder Something seems to have shifted on the education battle lines in the last couple of years. First, reports emerged that even once-enthusiastic proponents of corporate-style reform, like former education secretary Arne Duncan, had started to voice second thoughts about things like standardized testing. Parents across the ideological spectrum began to opt out and rebel against testing regimes like Common Core. Then came the election of Donald Trump, a man of decidedly undemocratic values, whose appointment of Betsy DeVos the wealthy architect of Detroits disastrous charter system as education secretary galvanized critics of privatization and market-oriented education models. In 2018, media coverage started to turn from heralding tech millionaires as the intrepid disrupters of schools to highlighting the boldness of teachers, especially those in non-union states, engaged in strikes, walkouts, and protests around the country. The American public was supportive of the strikes and resonated with teachers who didnt make a living wage and yet poured their hearts into doing their best for high-risk children under terrible conditions with few resources. Critics like Gordon Lafer are now warning that if antidemocmratic forces and deep-pocketed elites continue to set the agenda for what children should learn, American schools will turn into places where inequality is not only exacerbated, but actually inculcated something quite different from what most of us grew up understanding as their purpose. Instead of being prepared for lives as healthy and productive citizens, most will be groomed for a life of lowered expetations and servitude. Gabor sees in all this an opportunity to push to restore democratic principles and participative decision-making to education reform and champion a more humane, sustainable model for success. She views what happens under Trump as the catalyst for better approaches and a recognition that preparing young people for a competitive global marketplace and life democratic society do not have to be at odds: schools can and must do both. Fortunately, as Gabors book demonstrates, we dont have to invent the wheel: there are plenty of great examples and strategies to choose from. The stakes could not be higher. If America can begin to issue more tickets to prosperity through education, the country will most certainly survive the current turmoil and chart an optimistic path to the future. If not, the U.S. becomes just another oligarchy. Yves here. This program to help seniors stay in their homes and out of high-cost nursing homes and retirement facilities is high impact and inexpensive. Its also the sort of program that demonstrates that there is plenty of important community work that a Job Guarantee could fund. By Judith Graham. Originally published at Kaiser Health News DENVER Pauline Jeffery had let things slide since her husband died. Her bedroom was a mess. Her bathroom was disorganized. She often tripped over rugs in her living and dining room. I was depressed and doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself, said the 85-year-old Denver resident. But Jefferys inertia faded when she joined a program for frail low-income seniors: Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE). Over the course of several months last year, an occupational therapist visited Jeffery and discussed issues she wanted to address. A handyman installed a new carpet. A visiting nurse gave her the feeling of being looked after. In short order, Jeffery organized her bedroom, cleaned up her bathroom and began to feel more upbeat. Theres a lot of people like myself that just need a push and somebody to make them feel like theyre worth something, she said. What they did for me, it got me motivated. New research shows that CAPABLE provides considerable help to vulnerable seniors who have trouble with activities of daily living taking a shower or a bath, getting dressed, transferring in and out of bed, using the toilet or moving around easily at home. Over the course of five months, participants in the program experienced 30 percent fewer difficulties with such activities, according to a randomized clinical trial the gold standard of research published this month in JAMA Internal Medicine. If someone found a drug that reduced disability in older adults by 30 percent, wed be hearing about it on TV constantly, said John Haaga, director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research at the National Institute on Aging, which provided funding for the research. Positive findings are especially notable given the population that was studied: 300 poor or near-poor older adults, nearly 90 percent women, over 80 percent black, with an average age of 75 and multiple chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While about 1 in 3 older adults in the U.S. need help with one or more daily activities, rates of disability and related health care costs are higher in this challenged population. Half of the older adults in the trial received the CAPABLE intervention, which includes six visits by an occupational therapist, four visits by a registered nurse, and home repair and modification services worth up to $1,300. The control group received 10 visits of equal length from a research assistant and were encouraged to use the internet, listen to music, play board games or reminisce about the past, among other activities. Both groups experienced improvements at five months, but older adults who participated in CAPABLE realized substantially greater benefits. Eighty-two percent strongly agreed that the program made their life easier and their home safer. Nearly 80 percent said it enabled them to live at home and increased their confidence in managing daily challenges. Sarah Szanton, who developed CAPABLE and directs the Center for Innovative Care in Aging at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, attributes positive results to several program elements. Instead of telling an older adult whats wrong with them, a mainstay of medical practice, CAPABLE staff ask older adults what theyd like to be able to do but cant do now. Seniors often say they want to cook meals for themselves, make their beds, use the stairs, get out of the house more easily, walk around without pain or go to church. The focus then turns to finding practical solutions. For someone who wants to cook but whose legs are weak, that could mean cutting vegetables while sitting down before standing up at the stove. A bed may need to be lifted on risers and a grab bar positioned between the mattress and box spring so a person can push herself up to a standing position more easily. Or, a nurse may need to go over medications and recommend potential changes to a persons primary care doctor. Why does it work? Because were guided by what people want, and in order to get better, you have to want to get better: It has to be important to you, said Amanda Goodenow, program manager for CAPABLE at the Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, the agency that assisted Jeffery. In Colorado, CAPABLE has been funded by a local foundation and Habitat for Humanity, which supports the program in six markets. Hattie Ashby, 90, who has lived in the same two-story house in Aurora, a city adjacent to Denver, for 43 years, told Goodenow last summer that she wanted to get up and down the stairs more easily and walk around outside the house. Ashby has high blood pressure and COPD. They gave me a walker and made arrangements for me to put my oxygen tank on it so I could go to the mall, she said, recalling some of what the CAPABLE staff did. They fixed the wall in my bathroom and put something I could hold onto to get in and out of my bathtub. And going up and down my stairs, they put another rail on the wall where I would be able to hold onto. It is a remarkable service for a senior citizen to be encouraged, to be helped, to be supported that way, Ashby said. It also turns out to be a cost-effective investment. For every dollar spent on CAPABLE, nearly $10 in combined savings accrues to Medicare and Medicaid, largely because of hospitalizations and nursing home placements that are prevented, research by Szanton and others has shown. (Many CAPABLE participants are eligible for both government health insurance programs because of their low incomes.) The average program cost per person is $2,825, far below the average $7,441 monthly cost of a semiprivate room in a nursing home in 2018. With a new grant of nearly $3 million from the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation, Szanton is turning her attention to expanding CAPABLE across the country. Currently, the program is available at 26 locations in 12 states, and Medicaid programs in Massachusetts and Michigan have adopted a version of it for some members. A major challenge is securing funding, since public and private insurers dont typically pay for these kinds of services. So far, foundation and grant funding has been a major source of support. Szanton hopes to persuade Medicare Advantage plans, which cover about 19 million Medicare recipients and can now offer an array of nonmedical benefits to members, to adopt CAPABLE. Also, Johns Hopkins and Stanford Medicine have submitted a proposal to have traditional Medicare offer the program as a bundled package of services. Accountable care organizations, groups of hospitals and physicians that assume financial risk for the health of their patients, are also interested, given the potential benefits and cost savings. Another priority will be looking at how to extend CAPABLEs impact over time. Since benefits diminished over a 12-month period in the just-published clinical trial, additional program elements phone calls, extra visits and follow-up assessments will probably be needed, said Dr. Kenneth Covinsky, a professor of geriatrics at the University of California-San Francisco and co-author of an editorial on CAPABLE that accompanied the study. Hes bullish on CAPABLEs prospects. As clinicians, when we see older patients with conditions we cant reverse, we need to understand we havent run out of things we can do, Covinsky said. Referring patients to a program like CAPABLE is something that could make a big difference. Local Man Arrested After Cosplaying Mr. Freeze And Yelling Cold Weather Puns At People Sioux Falls Headliner Huge Cavity in Antarctic Glacier Signals Rapid Decay NASA America colonisation cooled Earths climate BBC (original). 1492s version of the Jackpot, as it were. We may be overestimating the carbon cleanup power of trees Anthropocene Radical rethink needed to tackle obesity, hunger, climate: Report Channel News Asia (original study from The Lancet: The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change). Global warming and climate change are disasters at conveying our environmental predicament Quartz Does Facebook Really Know How Many Fake Accounts It Has? NYT. Lol no. Seems a bit gentle; the conclusions from Plainsite (cited in the Times article, and linked to at NC on January 25 under The Bezzle) seem more in line with what we know about Facebook, the enterprise: Fcebook has been lying to the public about the scale of its problem with fake accounts, which likely exceed 50% of its network. Its official metricsmany of which it has stopped reporting quarterlyare self-contradictory and even farcical. The company has lost control of its own product. Deutsche Banks Slump Deepens as Trading Hit Hurts Revenue Bloomberg TSB suffers first full-year loss as IT fiasco costs weigh on profit FT New York Insurers Can Evaluate Your Social Media UseIf They Can Prove Why Its Needed WSJ Venezuela Syraqistan The U.S. Army In The Iraq War, Volume 2, Surge And Withdrawal 2007-2011 (PDF) Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press. The invasion of Iraq showed that even an operation designed as a limited regime decapitation can precipitate state collapse in centralized, authoritarian political systems, after which must follow either martial law imposed by a large military presence or civilian authority prepared to step in and immediately assume responsibility for governance itself a massive undertaking. If this does not happen, the void will at least partly be filled by malignant actors. Brexit Deflection script used to get Universal Credit claimants off the phone emerges Sky News 300,000 Margaret Thatcher statue needs plinth to keep out vandals ITV Italy slides into recession after economy shrinks Reuters China? India Trump Transition Democrats in Disarray What The Left Gets Wrong About Bernie Sanders And Elizabeth Warren HuffPo (OregonCharles). The Kind Of Policy We Must Never Make Again Current Affairs. Obamas Race to the Top. Big Brother Is Watching You Watch Health Care Our Famously Free Press Loss of newspapers contributes to political polarization Associated Press Black Injustice Tipping Point Detroit Cop Posts Racist Video Of Black Woman In Freezing Cold After He Seized Her Car HuffPo. This is bad, and that cop should feel bad. Imperial Collapse Watch Weaponized Interdependence Interdependence (PDF) Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman, International Securuity (forthcoming). We develop a different understanding of state power, which highlights the structural aspects of interdependence. Specifically, we show how the topography of the economic networks of interdependence intersect with domestic institutions and norms to shape coercive authority. Our account places networks such as financial communications, supply chains, and the Internet, which have gone largely neglected by international relations scholars, at the heart of a compelling new understanding of globalization and power. For example, SWIFT. Class Warfare Poor southerners are joining the globes climate migrants Scalawag (MR). Public housing residents, along with other poor, disabled, elderly, and vulnerable people, are becoming a first wave of climate migrants in the U.S.people selectively displaced by increasingly frequent storms and floods, moved because they cant afford to stay. Their forced removal also marks the sputtering end of a long effort to close down the project of government-subsidized housing in this country, leaving affordable housing to the so-called free market. Never let a crisis go to waste. How Houston Has Virtually Ended Homelessness Among Veterans Pacific Standard (TW). TW: Making veterans the first part of the homeless population for the police to focus on is probably very effective in breaking down the resistance to empathy that conservative types (which the police mostly are) and educates them in later assisting other homeless people who do not immediately get sympathy from police as veterans probably do. As the 500 note slowly dies, Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff is getting his wish Quartz Gallup poll: Animosity toward Trump, Putin must worry all of us Deutsche Welle. [F]or the first time we are registering a downtrend in the ratings for all major political leaders in the world. Moar cowbell. Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidote: Relaxed Capybara enjoys getting hair brushed pic.twitter.com/9PhJZYpce8 Welcome To Nature (@welcomet0nature) January 29, 2019 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Bicycle owners will soon be requested to produce bicycle licences at municipal road blocks with defaulters having their cycles impounded, the city has said. The local authoritys spokesperson Micheal Chideme said the measure was in response to a increasing number of unregistered bicycles before adding that the enforcement move was partly inspired by the need to increase revenues. Those who use bicycles should licence their bikes. The municipal police road blocks will be checking for these licences and those without will have them impounded, Chideme told Kukurigo. Council imposes annual licence fees on bicycles on the strength of Harare (Cycle-Licencing) By-laws 2016. The regulations stipulate that any person who fails to comply shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or one year imprisonment or both. According to the by-law, on January 1 of each year, the owner of a cycle which is ordinarily kept and used on any road within the council area shall obtain a licence for the cycle, with the licence expiring on December 31 in the year of issue. In the event of change of owners, the person selling or disposing of the cycle shall deliver the relative licence to the new owner and the new owner shall within 14 days of his or her becoming an owner, register the change of ownership at the office of the licencing official and shall be accompanied by the transfer fees prescribed by council from time to time. Elsewhere, the local authority said it also plans to conduct a door-to-door exercise to check on dog registration in accordance with council by-laws and animal management control measures. We are saying all those with dogs should licence their dogs. There is going to be a door to door exercise to check on the licencing of dogs and all stray dogs will be impounded, Chideme said. Chideme added that residents who built perimeter walls without approved plans will not be spared. Homeowners who built perimeter walls around their properties without approved plans are advised to regularise the construction of the security walls, he said. The city spokesperson said the council is mindful of the general hardship among residents and has chosen not to hike rates and charges notwithstanding the economic volatility currently obtaining. Kukurigo Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been left with egg on his face after the general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) Reverend Kenneth Mtata snubbed an invitation to be a member of his Presidential Advisory Council (Pac). In a letter dated January 30, the clergyman said although he was flattered by Mnangagwas invite, he was limited by the demands of his current position. It has (been) brought to my attention today (Wednesday) that my name has been included on the list of individuals appointed to serve as members of the Presidential Advisory Council. The same has been announced on national television. I feel really flattered to be invited to serve the nation and president in such a role in a moment as this, wrote Mtata. My current position will however, limit effective functioning in such a huge role. I have therefore humbly withdrawn my name. The president will be fully briefed of my commitment to the nation building agenda and I will support his efforts in other ways within my capabilities. This comes after Mnangagwa announced the formation of a Pac to advise him in formulating key economic policies and strategies that advance his so-called Vision 2030. He did not announce who will chair the 26-member council comprising entrepreneurs, business executives, intellectuals and church leaders or how frequently they would meet. Mtatas letter suggests that the president did not call any of the appointees prior to their appointment to ask for their help in joining the council. Its members include Divine Ndhlukula; newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube; development banker Thomas Zondo Sakala; Sibusiso Moyo; Joe Mtizwa; Lewis Maxwell Musasike; Nobert Mugwagwa; Godfrey Sikipa; Remigius Makumbe; Simbarashe Mangwengwende; Lindiwe Sibanda; Aenias Chuma; Edwin Manikai; Sam Malaba; Professor Kuzvinetsa Nzvimbo; Natalie Jabangwe; Janah Ncube; Shingi Munyeza; Simon Hammond; Richard Wilde; Kudakwashe Tagwirei; Professor Robson Mafoti; Mfaro Moyo; Elisa Ravengai and Herbert Nkala. The chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda said the advisory council will advise Mnangagwa and the government on a wide range of sectoral issues. He said the Pac will serve as the presidents sounding board on key economic reforms, issues and initiatives in line with the presidents Zimbabwe is Open for Business and Dialogue mantra and also within the policy framework of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. Sibanda said Mnangagwa selected the members based on experience, expertise, leadership, contacts and standing in society. DailyNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News British MPs say they regret that their government took a quick stance to cosy up to the Zimbabwean administration soon after President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over power from former president Robert Mugabe in the November 2017 coup. Kate Hoey, a Labour Party MP, moved a motion in Parliament for the MPs to debate on the situation in Zimbabwe and the countrys efforts to reengage and be readmitted into the Commonwealth. Hoey was part of the British politicians that visited Zimbabwe before last years elections to assess the situation in the country and to report back to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Their assessment was based on the countrys possibility to conduct a free and fair election in the post Mugabe era. Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe, Hoey, bemoaned the British stance of sending back some Zimbabweans who had been staying in that country running away from political persecution from Mugabes regime, claiming nothing had significantly changed. Will the minister confirm that to Her Majestys government, and particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, have learnt a lesson from what I would call the ill-advised cosying-up to the Zimbabwean leadership, which owed its position, power and loyalty to the military and political machine that manoeuvred to install it and not to the people of Zimbabwe through a free and fair electoral process? I will not go into more detail; the minister knows what I am talking about. There is no doubt that our embassy in Zimbabwe had become too identified, rightly or wrongly I think wrongly with Zanu PF, Hoey said. She further said many Zimbabweans who suffered at the hands of Zanu PFs brutality were shocked at Britain embassys positive stance on Zimbabwe, following Mugabes departure. I want to make sure that the minister realises that those of us who urged caution, particularly Zimbabweans who have long had to cope with the machinations of Zanu PF brutality and the manipulation of international opinion, were rebuffed by some officials in our embassy who thought that they knew better. I hope that we have learnt that lesson. I pay tribute to all the people in Zimbabwe who have continued to work for democracy, and all the members of the all-party group and everyone in this House who will not let Zimbabwe be forgotten, she said. Hoey also spoke about the deteriorating economic situation in the country, as the security forces continue to arbitrarily attack civilians. Of course, since the election, the economy has got even worse. Mnangagwa made a great issue of the fact that Zimbabwe was open for business the world could come and invest again; there was going to be this absolute change. That did not actually happen. There are huge shortages of food and other important goods. More recently, on 12 January this year, Mnangagwa announced a huge 200 percent increase in the price of fuel. That was in a country in which very few people could afford the fuel price as it was, and it led to Zimbabwe, of all countries in the world, having the highest fuel prices. It was just not tenable, and people reacted. The trade unions, which have shown great courage throughout all of this, called for a countrywide stay away in protest, and there were demonstrations. There is no doubt that some of the younger people, unemployed people, were very angry, and probably some looting did go on in parts of Bulawayo and Harare, but what the army and the government did was to respond immediately with huge, excessive force, which left 12 people dead and up to 100 with gunshot wounds, and hundreds of people were lifted in the middle of the night, imprisoned and denied bail, Hoey said. One of the Conservative MPs Nicholas Soames, chipped in, stating South Africa was failing to take the Zimbabwean situation seriously. Another MP John Howell, also spoke about the problems in the country, claiming the judiciary was not independent, an aspect further explained by Hoey, who claimed the countrys rule of law is now broken. We have to be clear that we are calling for the end of the deployment of the military. They have to go back into their barracks. We have to get the United Nations to say that and to make a strong statement on the rule of law, Hoey said. DailyNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News SOUTH Africa yesterday distanced itself from threats by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mr Mmusi Maimane to compile a human rights abuse dossier against President Mnangagwas administration following MDC-Alliance-instigated violent demonstrations that saw lives lost and property worth millions of dollars destroyed. The DA, a white-dominated South African opposition party, is a long-time opponent of Zimbabwe. At home, DA is the biggest rival to the governing ANC, a liberation movement with strong ties to Zanu-PF. It also emerged yesterday that DA had forged an alliance with a clique of former members of Zanu-PF known as G40. The reactionary G40 faction comprised of young, corrupt and power-hungry politicians that rallied around former First Lady, Mrs Grace Mugabe. Self-exiled former Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo was widely seen as the mastermind of the faction. Yesterday, pictures of a meeting of DA and former legislators, Shadreck Mashayamombe and Jappy Jaboon, former chairman of the Children of War Veterans Association Munyaradzi Shoko, among others, circulated on social media. In a Facebook post, Mr Shoko said his delegation had discussed bilateral relations with the DA president. Today as the founding chairman of COZWA, I had the privilege to meet the DA president as we discussed bilateral relations and African youths in leadership, he said. The DA, MDC-Alliance and G40 combination points to the formation of a triad of reactionary forces that could pose a threat to the stability of Zimbabwe, South Africa and beyond. In an interview with The Herald after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday in Harare, South Africas ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mphakama Mbete said they were shocked by Mr Maimanes ICC remarks. Instead, he said, South African Government was focusing on butressing relations with Zimbabwe. We do not agree with what Honourable Maimane has been saying. We are very focused and we are clear about where we want to take the relationship between South Africa and Zimbabwe, he said. Ambassador Mbete said Mr Maimane must stay out of Zimbabwes politics. He does not have the authority to interfere with the politics in other country. We are clear about that, as the ruling party, they do not have. We are actually surprised with such articulations, said Ambassador Mbete. He said South Africa and Zimbabwe were working on further cementing their relations. Our relationship with Zimbabwe is straightforward. It is handled bilaterally between Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is also handled at SADC level. There is a very long standing framework of cooperation between the two countries and nobody can change that overnight, added Ambassador Mbete. Analysts blasted the new axis of opposition. Political analysts Goodwine Mureriwa said the DA represented white colonial interests and was bent on stalling land reform in South Africa. The DA is a remnant of apartheid. They represent white colonial interests. In their naivety they think they can undermine Zimbabwes land reform to stall inevitable land reform in SA, he said. Unfortunately some of our opposition parties are buying into this thinking. However, liberation movements in government in Southern Africa are awake to this. He also slammed the DA for thinking they can subject Zimbabwe to the International Criminal Court. Zim is not part of ICC. We do not subject ourselves to imperialism, neither do accept Western sponsored international law and its dictates. Our land reform is irreversible. Zimbabwes sovereignty is sacrosanct and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, regionally and internationally, is the basis of our foreign policy, Mr Mureriwa said. Another analyst, Mr Gabriel Chaibva echoed similar sentiments saying it was ironic that they were now celebrating fugitives as champions of the fight for democracy. We should just forget about the DA and Mmusi Maimane. Who doesnt know that they represent white interests and are remnants of Apartheid? To them criminals on the wanted list like Munyaradzi, Shoko and Shadreck Mashayamombe are fighters for democracy. That is the absurdity of it all so as Zimbabweans we should not concentrate on them. We can just say they are a nuisance to our democracy, said Mr Chaibva. Chronicle/SABC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Yaras described the man as a friend of Del Barrios, but said he has not given police a complete account of what exactly happened the night Del Barrio was shot. Both men were hanging out outside a vehicle when it is believed the shooting occurred, Yaras said. Pawn shop records and surveillance images led police to a man accused of breaking into a San Antonio home while a family slept inside. Xavier Acosta, 20, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of burglary of a habitation, jail records show. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The family called police on Jan. 21 when they discovered their home had been broken into. The location of the home was not listed in Acosta's arrest affidavit. Video surveillance captured four people entering a trucked parked in the driveway and removing a backpack before breaking into the home to steal more property, the affidavit says. Among the stolen items was an Apple laptop, which was pinged to a location in the 700 block of Northstar Drive, according to the arrest affidavit. On Monday, detectives drove to the area and made contact with Acosta and three others at the home. The homeowner gave police consent to search the residence, but officers were unable to find any stolen items, according to the affidavit. RELATED: SAPD: Venue owner scammed customers out of more than $50,000 On Wednesday, detectives checked pawn shop databases and discovered Acosta had sold at least three pieces of jewelry that were stolen from the home, the affidavit says. With that, police had enough evidence to arrest Acosta on the burglary charge, according to the affidavit. It's unclear whether police have charged the other suspects involved in the case. Acosta has a criminal record of assault, criminal trespassing and failure to identify as a fugitive, Bexar County court records showed. His bail was set at $20,000, according to jail officials. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA Bexar County Jail A neighbor's noise complaint turned into a deadly threat and resulted in the arrest of a San Antonio man on Wednesday, police said. Carlos Fuentes, 39, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident in the 1400 block of Somerset Road on June 19, 2018. A graphic incident report released Friday by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office is shedding new light on what happened when deputies found a mom and her two young daughters dead in an upscale San Antonio-area home. According to the report, deputies responded to the luxury home in the 11300 block of Anaqua Springs at about 9 a.m. on Jan. 10 and found Charles Wheeler, the owner of the house, crying on the ground in the front yard, though the report notes deputies did not notice any tears on his face. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Inside, deputies found Wheeler's girlfriend, 37-year-old Nichol Olsen, and her two young daughters, 16-year-old Alexa Montez and 10-year-old London Bribiescas. All three were found shot to death on the second floor of the home, according to the report, and all three were "cold and rigid to the touch." The names of Olsen's daughters are redacted in the report, so it remains unclear exactly where each was found. Deputies found "a large amount of smeared blood on the floor and some on the walls," according to the report, as well as a "small pool of blood" in a bathroom doorway. Authorities pronounced the three victims dead at the scene. The medical examiner's office later determined Montez and Bribiescas died by homicide and that Olsen had killed herself. The deputy who authored the report, identified only as Dep. G. Colunga, said he left the home and found Wheeler hugging someone outside. Wheeler was then placed in the back of a squad car, and investigators seized his wallet and phone. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: 'Pretty callous' return of victims' belongings stokes tensions between families after Anaqua Springs killings While sitting in the car, Wheeler told deputies that he and Olsen had gotten into an argument the prior evening, causing him to leave and sleep elsewhere. He told investigators he repeatedly tried to contact Olsen throughout the night but was unable to, according to the report. He said he returned home the following morning and discovered the three bodies. According to the report, deputies then took Wheeler in for an interview. Sheriff Javier Salazar later named him a "person of interest" in the case, but emphasized he is not a suspect at this time. Wheeler is represented by three defense attorneys: Therese Huntzinger, Patrick Hancock and Mark Stevens. They have maintained their client's innocence and condemned any accusations against him. ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: Report describes scene at San Antonio area home where mom, daughters were shot "What we would ask is that people not jump to conclusions, that they not demonize this young man who does not deserve it, that they let the professionals do their jobs and complete this investigation," Stevens told the Express-News. "And respect the privacy of presumptively innocent people and of Charlie Wheeler, who did not commit a crime here." Salazar has said he wouldn't allow investigators to be "completely swayed" by the medical examiner's findings, though he has no evidence to contradict their determinations. The FBI is currently assisting the sheriff's office in the investigation, but the Bexar County Sheriff's Office remains the lead agency. READ MORE: Incident report released by BCSO Feb. 1, 2019 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 single hair is at the center of an argument over whether to overturn the capital murder conviction of a Helotes man who was found guilty by a jury of a rape and killing at a small South Texas park in 2012. Seven years ago, a birdwatching couple found Mollie Olgin and Kristene Chapa at the bottom of an overlook in Violet Andrews Park in Portland. The two had been bound, sexually assaulted, and shot in the head. Olgin died of her injuries while Chapa narrowly survived. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Strickland, who was living in Helotes when he was arrested in 2014, was convicted by a San Patricio County jury and handed a life sentence two years later. His lawyers say DNA evidence they recently discovered indicates he did not commit the crime, according to court filings that were unsealed in January. According to the court filings, investigators discovered a single pubic hair on Chapa when they found her in the park. The the hair did not microscopically match Chapa, Olgin or Strickland, but his defense lawyers said a mitochondrial DNA test positively matched a man who was a suspect in the case before Strickland's arrest. "Counsel argued that the new technological advancement of mitochondrial DNA testing would not only prove David Strickland was innocent of these crimes, but that (the initial suspect) was the perpetrator," they wrote in the motion. "Counsel's prediction has come true." READ MORE: Report: Hair that could clear Helotes man convicted of heinous park murder to be tested But the discovery hasn't swayed the prosecutors that put Strickland away. "The State's position has consistently been that the evidence even if the hair came from (the initial suspect) it does not exonerate (Strickland) of the crime," prosecutors wrote in their response. "(Strickland) cannot take the gun, computer or ID evidence away." The prosecutors believe that ballistic evidence proved the gunshots came from Strickland's gun, though that is also a point his lawyers dispute. The prosecutors also pointed to other evidence, including Strickland placing himself at the crime scene and a letter on his laptop that was delivered to a home in Sinton. "It described specific statements and words only the killer would have known," they wrote in the response. The judges overseeing the case in the 13th Court of Appeals have yet to rule on the newly discovered evidence. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA Police are asking for the public's help identifying and finding the people who fatally shot a 35-year-old man on Tuesday. Officers responding to a call for shots fired found John Burton lying on the ground at about 4:20 a.m. in the 7820 block of Woodchase Drive. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The father of Alexa Denice Montez, one of the young victims of a triple shooting in a luxury subdivision near Leon Springs, has been critical on social media of how her personal belongings were returned: in trash bags and boxes with the 16-year-old's name misspelled. "It was very heart-wrenching ... It made me angry that it just felt so cold," said Alexa's father, Carlos Montez of the Jan. 19 delivery to his sister's house on the South Side. Alexa was shot to death Jan. 10 along with her mother, hairstylist Nichol Leila Olsen, 37, and the woman's younger daughter, 10-year-old London Sophia Bribiescas, at a northwest Bexar County residence where they lived with Olsen's 31-year-old boyfriend, Charlie Wheeler. SUBSCRIBERS: Mourners reject suicide ruling in triple shooting at gated San Antonio-area community Attorneys for Wheeler, who has been described by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar as a "person of interest" in the case, said they arranged to ship the mother's and daughters' belongings back to their respective families. The sheriff has also said that Wheeler is not a suspect in the case and that he is not the only person of interest. The Bexar County medical examiner's office ruled Olsen's death a suicide and her daughters' deaths homicides almost three weeks ago. But the sheriff's office and the FBI are still investigating the shootings. Therese Huntzinger, one of three San Antonio criminal defense lawyers representing Wheeler, said she personally supervised the packing and delivery of Alexa's, London's and Olsen's belongings to their families. She said she tried to correct the spelling of Alexa's name when she noticed the movers had written it incorrectly on the boxes. ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: 'Pretty callous' return of victims' belongings stokes tensions between families after Anaqua Springs killings "I am sorry that not everybody knows how to spell Alexa ... What can we do? We weren't going to go get new boxes because Alexa's name was misspelled by one of the movers," Huntzinger said. "I suggest that perhaps their grief and hostility needs to be channeled differently than to continue to demonize and misrepresent how something was handled at the Wheelers' cost and expense in the most professional manner in which it could have been done." Read more about how this has stoked tensions between families involved in the case, and what happened to Alexa's father the moment he opened the first box, on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. Peggy O'Hare 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. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare From the Tower of the Americas to the Southwest School of Art to Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University, architect Mike Lance left his vision expressed in concrete, steel and stone on San Antonio. Lance, 81, a protege of the influential ONeil Ford in the 1960s who later formed his own firm, died Jan. 20 of kidney failure. He was very passionate about architecture and very creative, always designing and trying to think of better ways to do things, said John Larcade, 80, a former partner who met Lance when they were undergraduates at the University of Texas at Austin. RELATED: Country Music Hall of Fame guitarist Harold Bradley dies at 93 Born in Oklahoma, Lance came to San Antonio as an infant. After his mothers death when he was 3, and with his father working out of town, he was placed in a Catholic boarding school in Castroville. He stayed with the nuns until his father remarried six years later. While studying architecture in Austin, he met Jack Peterson, another student, who still recalls his first impression. He had grease under his fingernails and smudges from doing drawings. He was working at a tire shop, changing tires, said Peterson, 86, who also recalls a certain professor trying to discourage Lance from pursuing a career in architecture. That tells you a lot about him. He was overcoming things the rest of us werent even thinking about, Peterson said. William Michael Mike Lance Born: Aug. 23, 1937, Oklahoma City Died: Jan. 20, 2019, San Antonio Survivors: Wife Mary; daughters Kathryn Freeman and Sara Calhoun; sister-in-law Sue Harvison; grandchildren Hillary, Travis, Addison, Grace, Charlie and Henry Services: Memorial at 2 p.m. Sunday at Margarite B. Parker Chapel, Trinity University; the family suggests donations to Interfaith Welcome Coalition, University Presbyterian Church, San Antonio. See More Collapse After receiving their degrees, Peterson and Lance were hired by Ford, then one of the most prominent architects in Texas. ONeil was like a father to him, said Mary Lance, his wife of 56 years. The architects who worked with ONeil Ford called it the golden years. Together, Ford and his young team took on the challenge of creating the Tower of the Americas. Lance, with input from others, designed the 620-foot tower that would have a rotating restaurant on top. Peterson designed the base. Mike developed the shaft, which is very interesting. His engineering intuition was very high. And when the engineers started developing it from his design, they didnt want to change a thing, recalled Peterson. Lance also designed buildings at the new Trinity University campus, and according to his wife, Laurie Auditorium was his favorite project. He also created kinetic sculptures, with moving metal parts. One of them, nicknamed the Red Bird, is installed on the River Walk north of downtown. In 1977, he was co-winner of a prestigious international award for his design of a chair. At home, Lance loved to weld, make ceramics, work with wood and fix equipment while listening to classical music in his workshop near the San Antonio River. He loved his girls, his grandchildren and me, but Id say that was his greatest joy, Mary Lance said. And almost to the end, Lance was designing, building and refining. Its hilarious, his wife said of his last grand project. He had spent a year and a half designing the worlds best smoker, a BBQ pit with rotisserie. He had a 50-gallon drum with a huge wok on top, and his dream was to rotisserie a turkey. We have the drawings. He bought all the parts. He just ran out of time, Mary Lance said. Lance, who lived on the South Side, also served for 10 years as a member of the San Antonio River Authority Mission Reach Committee. Over nearly six decades, Peterson and his wife Carolyn, a prominent preservation architect, enjoyed a rich friendship with the Lances. He was a man who worked with his hands and his mind. A lot of times you dont find those two things together. He could go from an abstract design to putting it together in a creative way, said Carolyn Peterson of Lance. Ive known him for 60 years, and I cant remember ever getting tired of his company, she added. His old partner was among those with Lance shortly before he died. I held his hand, and told him at the end, he was a very good friend and a terrific business partner, Larcade said. John MacCormack 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. | JMacCormack@express-news.net | Twitter: @JohnMacCormack One student was injured Thursday in a shooting at Atascocita High School, authorities said. The injury is not life-threatening, officials reported. Students were on-campus for after-school activities at the time of the shooting. "Things are under control," the Harris County Sheriff's Office tweeted Thursday night. Humble ISD police and Precinct 4 constables also are on the scene. Authorities said they believe the suspect fled the scene in a red Chevy Impala, according to initial reports. 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. Its a simple, straightforward format, but it looks 20 years out. Its important to track that progress, he said. You have to not lose sight that there is a life cycle to that progress. It never stops. You always look 20 years out and see what the village has to look at and consider. Future homebuyers looking for the next best place to settle down in Houston should keep an eye on the MacGregor, South Acres-Crestmont Park and Second Ward neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have been identified by real estate analysis website Redfin as the top three most desirable places to live in the Houston metro area in 2019. The predictions were created using Redfin-user data and "agent insights," according to the report. Based on Nov. 2018 data, neighborhoods were ranked based on median sale price, average sale-to-list price ratio and percent of homes that sold above list price. Although the report ranks the neighborhoods as some of the best up-and-coming spots to buy a home, they are also some of the city's oldest and most historic communities that are being transformed by gentrification. According to Houston Association of Realtors board member and agent Tim Surratt, the MacGregor neighborhood has always been a hot spot in town. SAD REALITY: Maps show the truth about where families living on housing vouchers live "I've been in the business 35 years and the whole time people called it an up-and-coming neighborhood," Surratt said. "It's because the location is phenomenal...it's right next to the world's largest medical center." Surratt said it's more common for homebuyers to flock to MacGregor because nearby neighborhoods like West University are already pretty built out. "You can't get into South Hampton or West U[niversity], or any of those neighborhoods anymore so the younger people and people that are priced out of the other neighborhoods are moving across the 288 freeway and buying those houses and doing significant remodels," Surratt said. Robert Bullard, a distinguished professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University, said gentrification also plays a role in why historic neighborhoods are being redefined as some of the hottest new places to live in the city. Bullard cited the light rail, new restaurants and businesses and community upgrades as factors that are spurring investment and the new influx of homebuyers. PRIME PROPERTY: Where you can own a home in Houston based on your annual salary "All of that combined will have placed tremendous pressures on those close-in neighborhoods like Second Ward and MacGregor," Bullard said. "When residents drive the neighborhood, they see all the new construction, they see all the different people, they see the change. It [the report] puts a bullseye on the map of those neighborhoods and probably will accelerate that transition." Over the last two decades or so, Bullard has written about Houston's historic neighborhoods in several of his books. He said the Second Ward - which was originally known as El Segundo Barrio and one of Houston's original four neighborhoods - was prominently Hispanic and is now being gentrified like similar communities that surround it. "If you look at the last 25 years, you've seen the change in demographics; the change in racial and economic demographics, but also the change in the kinds of development that has taken place in Houston's historic, African American communities and other ethnic communities," Bullard said. Surratt said gentrification of neighborhoods like the Second Ward area is inevitable but argues it's not the worst thing for homebuyers. "The lots are a little bit smaller and it's such a good location," Surratt said of the Second Ward neighborhood. "Everything is gentrified in the areas around it, so it's only natural for it to [spread] to that neighborhood next." NEW REPORT: Houston area suburb ranked No. 1 safest city in Texas for 2019 Surratt, in response to pushback on the gentrification of one of Houston's most culturally significant neighborhoods, said residents living there "do not have to leave." His other point: the businesses and new restaurants flocking to the area help drive up property values for homeowners that bought their houses at significantly lower prices years ago. "A lot of them are able to cash out and take that money to the suburbs and buy a house that is very nice," Surratt said. "It gives them an exit plan, versus their house only being worth $50,000 ten years ago. There are a lot more pluses than negatives." Bullard argued new development in these historical communities should be viewed not just from an economic lens, though. He said when gentrification takes over these neighborhoods and some people are forced out, they lose more than just a home. "People who sell their homes or because of the market are forced to sell their homes, they don't move together, they move as individuals," Bullard said. "So it's loss of community." Bullard also argued more often than not, many of the people being subjected to gentrification are elderly, are on fixed incomes and cannot afford the increasing property taxes being imposed on them. "When people move in with money and compete with people who basically do not have a lot of money, it's predictable who is going to win,' Bullard said. "A lot of it boils down to how public and private funds [can] enhance neighborhoods and create opportunities where people who have been there can get the same benefits by staying, as opposed to getting money to move out." The City of Houston describes the South Acres/Crestmont neighborhood as an area with "post-war single-family style homes in typical suburban street patterns." The neighborhood is also one of the birthplaces of Houston's rap scene. Neither Surratt nor Bullard were very familiar with the area, but said its proximity to the other gentrified neighborhoods probably contributes to why it is being ranked as a desirable spot for future homebuyers. Take a tour of some of the most expensive homes for sale in Houston's top neighborhoods (and most historic) by clicking through the photos above... Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message It's not every day you see a narwhal tusk for sale, but this Saturday the public is invited to bid on one in Houston. Taxidermy King will be hosting an auction Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2800 Fondren Drive in which they will liquidate 10 estates, which include private collections and extremely rare finds. HEADED TO TAXIDERMY: Great-grandmother and Livingston, Texas mayor, Judy B. Cochran, hunts 12-foot, 580-pound alligator The sale is expected to run through most of the day, with roughly 900 items up for bidding. There will also be a silent auction where attendees can cast bids without waiting for the live-auction portion. Although with popular Texas auctioneer Mark Thomas at the podium, you won't want to miss the show. "It's probably the best auction you've seen," Taxidermy King owner John Brommel owner said. HOU LIFESTYLE: Get in the know at HoustonChronicle.com And that's not hyperbole: the items up for auction include mammoth tusks -- Brommel said these span 8 to 9 feet long -- several lions and bears , as well as a handful of bronze statues. "I've been selling taxidermy for 37 years, and this is the first marvel I've ever seen. It's a pretty cool deal," Brommel said, explaining that it could it could fetch $40,000. The public is invited to preview the curious merchandise starting Friday, Feb. 1. Those who can't attend the auction is welcome to place bids online at proxibid.com; here's the absentee form. Live roaches and gnat activity behind bar areas at San Antonio restaurants forced health inspectors to dock points during inspections across the city this week. Both Liberty Bar in Southtown and the Joe's Crab Shack along the River Walk had live gnats, while at least six other restaurants in the Alamo City were cited for pest or rodent-related problems. Other highlights include a food handler at a cafe on Main Avenue who handled fresh strawberries with bare hands, several tubs of raw fish set to thaw at room temperature at a well-known taco house and a bottle of Pepto Bismol was spotted near the microwave at an East Side Mexican restaurant. LAST WEEK'S INSPECTIONS: Jan. 25, 2019 To make the Express-News' list of dirtiest restaurants, an establishment must score 89 or below or anything less than an "A" during a random city health inspection over the past week. Click through the gallery above to see which San Antonio establishments were cited by health inspectors this week. The San Antonio Express-News examines hundreds of restaurant inspections each week conducted by the San Antonio Food and Environment Services division to bring you the eateries with scores of 89 or below. Restaurants are graded on a 100-point system where "100" is a perfect score, and demerits are based upon the number of violations found during a regular food establishment inspection. There are three categories of demerits and each is assigned a demerit score of 3, 2, or 1 points, according to the health division. If you have questions about inspections or complaints about a food establishment, contact the Metropolitan Health District office by calling 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000. Be prepared to provide the name, location, date of incident and details of the incident Monday, Jan. 21 Plainview police arrested a 19-year-old man on Jan. 21 at the 4000 block of Olton Road. Responding officers were dispatched to the location just after 12:20 p.m. and charged the individual with possession of marijuana and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Police arrested a 28-year-old man on Jan. 21 at the 2700 block of SW Third St. Officers were called to the location in reference to a vehicle crash resulting in vehicle damage just after 9 p.m. and arrested the man for driving while intoxicated. Officers responded to the 1600 block of W. Fifth St. on Jan. 21 just before 6:30 p.m. in reference to a violation of a protective order. Credit card/debit abuse was reported on Jan. 21 at the 1100 block of N. Interstate 27 just before 4:45 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Portland St. on Jan. 21 just before 10:30 p.m. for a welfare check. A sexual assault was reported at the 1100 block of W. 31st St. just before 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 21. Criminal mischief was reported at the 800 block of Portland on Jan. 21 just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 Officers responded to the 200 block of Juanita St. on Jan. 22 in reference to a vehicle crash that was reported at 11:49 a.m. Identity theft was reported at the 1400 block of Portland St. just after 3 p.m. on Jan. 22. A burglary was reported at the 800 block of Garland St. just before 1 p.m. on Jan. 22. Forgery was reported at the 1400 block of Jefferson St. around 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 22 Wednesday, Jan. 23 Two people were arrested last Wednesday at the 2000 block of W. 24th St. around 10:45 p.m. Officers arrested a 32-year-old man for driving while license invalid with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution and a 33-year-old woman for multiple misdemeanor warrants. Two 36-year-old men were arrested during a traffic stop at the 2500 block of W. 24th St. last Wednesday. One man was arrested for driving with a license invalid with previous suspension without financial resolution, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and possession/delivery of drug paraphernalia. The other individual was arrested for warrants. Officers were called to the location around 10:45 p.m. Officers were called to the 2400 block of W. 10th St. last Wednesday just after 10 a.m. in reference to a suspicious person. Responding officers arrested a 36-year-old man for five outstanding misdemeanor warrants. A vehicle crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported last Wednesday at the 2600 block of W. 11th St. just before 10:15 a.m. A crime against a person was reported at the 1500 block of N. Interstate 27 last Wednesday at 10:25 a.m. An assault was reported at the 2200 block of Houston St. last Wednesday around 1:15 p.m. A burglary was reported last Wednesday at the 900 block of Denver St. just after 2:30 p.m. Criminal mischief was reported at the 2200 block of Yonkers St. last Wednesday just after 2 p.m. An assault was reported at the 2800 block of W. 20th St. last Wednesday around 4:15 p.m. Officers responded to a call about stolen property at the 900 block of W. 12th St. just before 6 p.m. Police responded to the 600 block of W. 11th St. last Wednesday just after 5 p.m. in reference to criminal mischief. The victims reported an assault and damaged property. An assault was reported last Wednesday around 6:40 p.m. at the 900 block of S. Columbia St. An assault was reported at the 3000 block of W. 11th St. last Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 Plainview police arrested a 41-year-old man during a traffic stop at the 1900 block of W. 11th St. Thursday around 11:15 p.m. The man was charged with driving with an invalid license with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution, for multiple active warrants and for operating an unregistered motor vehicle. A 22-year-old man was arrested Thursday just after 10:45 p.m. at the 1100 block of Yonkers St. for possession of marijuana. Police arrested a 34-year-old man Thursday at the 1800 block of W. 12th St. during a traffic stop just after 6:50 p.m. The individual was arrested for driving with an invalid license with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution and for operating a motor vehicle without financial responsibility. Plainview police arrested an 18-year-old man on Thursday at the 1500 block of Quincy just after noon for criminal trespassing and for an active warrant. Police arrested 38-year-old Shashanna Elizabeth Garcia on Thursday at the 1700 block of W. 15th St. around 1:45 p.m. Garcia was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, and for active municipal warrants. Responding officers found amphetamine during the arrest. Fraud was reported at the 1000 block of W. 11th St. just before 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. Another case of fraud was reported Thursday at the 500 block of Quincy St. just before 3 p.m. A theft was reported Thursday at the 1000 block of N. Interstate 27 at 7:45 p.m. A disturbance was reported at the 1200 block of Utica Thursday just after 9:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 Plainview police arrested a 40-year-old man at the 3600 block of Olton Road Friday during a traffic stop at 8:50 p.m. The man was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle and no motor vehicle liability insurance. Officers arrested 49-year-old Leroy Jr. Harrison on Friday at the 400 block of Joliet St. during a traffic stop just after 10 p.m. Harrison was charged with driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, which is a felony. Police arrested a 32-year-old woman Friday at the 1100 block of Joliet St. The woman was charged with criminal mischief and theft. Responding officers found damaged property at the scene. A theft was reported at the 1400 block of S. Columbia on Friday just after 9 a.m. A vehicle crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported Friday at 18th St. and Galveston St. just after 8 a.m. Officers were called to the 1400 block of W. 34th St. just after 9:30 a.m. in reference to an unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material, or pornography. Criminal mischief and theft were reported Friday at the 900 block of Galveston St. just before 11 a.m. Fraud was reported at the 600 block of Wayland St. just after 3:15 p.m. A vehicle crash with vehicle damage was reported Friday at the 100 block of W. Ninth St. just before 11:40 p.m. A theft was reported Friday at the 1500 block of W. Seventh St. just before 3:50 p.m. An assault was reported at the 1500 block of Yonkers St. Friday at 5:40 p.m. A 22-year-old woman was arrested at the 1200 block of W. 32nd St. Friday just before midnight for active warrants. Saturday, Jan. 26 Plainview police arrested a 21-year-old man Saturday at 24th and Joliet Streets just before 2:30 a.m. The individual was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating motor vehicle without financial responsibility and disorderly conduct. A vehicle crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported Saturday at the 3600 block of Olton Road just after 3 p.m. Criminal mischief was reported at the 900 block of W. 28th St. Saturday at 2:25 p.m. Responding officers found damaged property at the scene. Sunday, Jan. 27 Plainview police arrested an 18-year-old man for an active warrant at the 1500 block of Milwaukee just before 7 p.m. Officers arrested a 24-year-old man Sunday at the 1300 block of Andy Taylor Road. Officers were dispatched to the location just after 2:30 p.m. in reference to someone driving while intoxicated. The man was arrested for active warrants including one for an open container, one for no driver's license and one for failure to appear. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated. Officers arrested a 24-year-old man for disorderly conduct on Sunday at the 2200 block of Joliet St. just after 3 p.m. Officers arrested a 46-year-old woman for active warrants at the 700 block of W. Fifth St. just after 1:20 p.m. Police arrested a 50-year-old individual at 11th and Galveston Streets Sunday around 2:20 a.m. The individual was charged with jaywalking. An aggravated assault was reported at the 3400 block of Olton Road around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. No arrests were indicated on the incident report. A traffic problem was reported at the 1100 block of N. Interstate 27 east frontage road around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The woman was laying face down on the pavement. She didnt have a pulse and she wasnt breathing. No one had seen what happened, but Gernenz said someone had already called 911. Gernenz asked someone to help her turn the woman over and yelled for her husband to bring gloves. It was a soiree fit for a queen, or the Duchess of Sussex, at the "Royal Sparkle with Meghan Markle" reveal party Wednesday, held at The St. Regis Houston and emceed by ABC News correspondent, Lindsey Davis, who files reports for such programs as "Good Morning America" and "Nightline." TV cameras from "Nightline" rolled and the Prosecco flowed as Xochtyl "Xochi" Greer and Renata Williams, who underwent several surgical procedures to look like former "Suits" actress, held court in front of more than 70 guests, who cheered as they entered the room. The surgeries to transform the two women were performed by well-known Houston cosmetic surgeon Dr. Franklin A. Rose, whose high-profile cases include Ashley Horn to make her look more like her famous half-sister Lindsay Lohan, and Houston resident Claudia Sierra, who was transformed to resemble First Lady Melania Trump. Rose also performed surgery on Jenny Stuart and Sarah Schmidt to look like Ivanka Trump. RELATED: "I want to look like Ivanka Trump": Houston woman undergoes nine surgical procedures Did we mention that Rose's daughter, Erica Rose, appeared as a contestant on ABC's reality TV series, "The Bachelor"? The talent for shining in the spotlight runs in the family. Why Meghan Markle? Rose told Chron.com via phone on Thursday: "The Duchess is on the cover of half the tabloids. Hollywood married into British royalty, and she has a look that many admire including her cheeks, nose and breasts, which she's likely had augmented." The request to make someone look like a famous person is familiar territory to Rose, who says, "This has been going on for awhile. When I started to practice, patients would come in with pictures of Jaclyn Smith, wanting to look like her. They want Scarlett Johansson's breasts. Fifteen years ago, people wanted smaller behinds. Now they want J. Lo's butt, but not Kim Kardashian's because it's so big." How A-List celebs tied the knot: 10 biggest celebrity weddings of 2018 To change their physical appearance to resemble Markle, Greer and Williams each underwent extensive surgeries including rhinoplasty, butt lifts, liposuction of the stomach, chin and buttocks, cheek implants, breast implants, and fillers. Rose says Greer underwent six procedures that took about six hours complete. For Williams, underwent eight to nine procedures, it took around 10 hours. Recovery time for both is approximately 10 days, Rose notes. The cost of being made over to look like your favorite celebrity? "Including the hospital and anesthesia, it ranges from around $15,000 to $30,000 depending on what you want done," Rose says. Although the exact date has not yet been set, you can catch the "Royal Sparkle with Meghan Markle" reveal on ABC Nightline in February. Who will be the next celebrity transformation? Rose says, "There's definitely something in the works. Stay tuned!" 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 Theres something very mysterious about the look of a body being covered from head to toe with no openings and the eyes purely white, Ross said. Of course, the spider webs hanging from Spideys body also intrigued Ross, and he still has fun today working on ways to incorporate them into the superheros look. The driver turned right on Johanna Avenue, then north on Calwagner Street. Police said the vehicle was spotted eastbound on Grand Avenue, and, according to a Franklin Park police report, the driver of the Nissan went into oncoming traffic to pass a vehicle in the left lane, then continued on Grand. Police said the car went 80 to 90 mph, at times veering into oncoming traffic and going through red lights. Police said the driver went into River Grove, at which point Franklin Park officers ended their chase. Jacksonville Commission on Disabilities and Human Relations Dec. 6, 2018, 4 p.m. . Present: Alan Bradish (Vice Chairman), Guy Crumley, Joan Engelmann (Secretary), Ralph Hastie, Eddie Lowe, Larry Whewell (Chairman) Absent: Salina Masas, Mary Watts Guests: Mayor Andy Ezard, Cyndy Benton . 1. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER 4:10 PM Recognize Past Member Mayor Andy Ezard presented immediate past member, Cyndy Benton, with a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for 10 years of service to the JCDHR. Members of the Commission thanked Cyndy for her dedication to the Commission. Cyndy is the inaugural member of Friends of JCDHR. Pie was served by Alan Bradish. Both guests left the meeting. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: To approve the minutes of November 1, 2018 Motion by: Alan Bradish Seconded by: Eddie Lowe Discussion: none Carried: Unanimous 3. OLD BUSINESS Brochure Eddie Lowe distributed a second draft of a brochure. There was discussion on information location, paper color, and graphics. Eddie asked for anyone that may have an electronic version of the JCDHR official seal to send it to him. Report from Subcommittee A final letter was sent by the Mayor to the complainant regarding the Jacksonville Police Department. 4. NEW BUSINESS Welcome New Members Ralph Hastie introduced himself to the Commission. Ralph is a Jacksonville native with a passion for doing good. He has been involved in Vision Illinois and JACIL. Chairman Whewell gave Ralph a New Member Packet. Mayor Ezard has several candidates for two openings on the Commission, but is still accepting resumes and letters of interest. Minorities are encouraged to apply. January Meeting Motion: To cancel the January meeting. Motion by: Alan Bradish Seconded by: Ralph Hastie Discussion: none Carried: Unanimous Discussion on Projects Chairman Whewell discussed several issues to be addressed in 2019: (a) Officer nominations will be in February with elections in March. Larry declines an invitation for Chairman again. (b) Consider inviting Mayor Ezard to a meeting to give direction and feedback on possible issues being brought to the City. (c) Discuss JCDHR position on Accessible Parking in Jacksonville 5. HUMAN RELATIONS ISSUES None 6. MISCELLANEOUS Next meeting date: February 7, 2019 7. PUBLIC COMMENT None 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION None 9. ADJOURNMENT 4:58 PM Motion: To adjourn Motion by: Alan Bradish Seconded by: Guy Crumley Carried: Unanimous Memorial Health System, which includes Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, is putting into place temporary visitor restrictions at its four hospitals to curb the spread of the flu. The restrictions are in response to a recommendation from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Although flu activity remains low at all four hospitals Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Passavant and Taylorville Memorial Hospital the state is seeing an increase of flu activity, which led to the Illinois Department of Public Health recommending hospitals implement visitor restrictions. Even with temperatures at minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, firefighters in Jacksonville and Roodhouse were out fighting fires and keeping people safe. Jacksonville firefighters were called out around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to a fire at 815 W. College Ave. When they arrived, firefighters found several people standing outside with police and one room in one of the buildings apartments fully engulfed in flames. Despite the job of fighting fires typically being a hot one, firefighters had to take extra precautions to prevent frostbite and other dangers in the extreme cold. In fighting that blaze, fire crews rotated out around four times, Jacksonville Fire Chief Doug Sills said. We do a recall, so we can give the people responding time to rehab and get warmed up, maybe change out their gloves or hood, Sills said. The structure fire last night we did rotate four back and four on of a fresh crew, just because of the conditions. Fire trucks and other equipment also must be watched closely so that nothing freezes. As long as water is flowing through an apparatus, its unlikely to freeze, Sill said. With that in mind, drivers often keep a pump running when responding to non-fire related calls, such as a gas leak, when temperatures plummet. When we hit weather like this we have to make sure we keep up on the maintenance of it, Sills said. Little precautions to make sure something doesnt end up freezing on it, so the valves dont freeze. Once all occupants were removed from the burning room, firefighters began extinguishing the fire, which had progressed from the room in which it started to the rest of the house. Jacksonville and South Jacksonville firefighters worked until around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to extinguish the fire. Four occupants of the home were transported to Passavant Area Hospital for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered a minor knee injury after slipping. The trucks carry plenty of ice melt in cold weather to keep the work area from icing over, but its impossible to keep an area totally free of ice and such falls happen, Sills said. Damage from the fire to the building owned by Dave Hauser was estimated around $75,000. Sills said the house would be unlivable for the time being, because the interior suffered heavy smoke damage in addition to the burned sections. No suspicious activity is suspected, but the Illinois State Fire Marshall is investigating to determine the cause of the blaze. While fire crews didnt have far to travel on Wednesday nights call, firefighters do consider their route during cold weather to avoid icy roads as much as possible, Sills said. They then work with the citys street and utilities departments to make sure that roads around the scene of a fire are ice-free and that the fire hydrants dont freeze. Roodhouse Fire Protection District also dealt with a fire in freezing temperatures Wednesday. Although the Roodhouse fire chief couldnt be reached on Thursday, the Roodhouse Fire Protection Districts Facebook page indicated that a structure fire in Roodhouse resulted in a total loss of the home; there were no injuries reported. Carrollton Fire Department, Greene County Sheriffs Department, Greene County EMS, Roodhouse Police Department, White Hall Fire Department and White Hall Police Department all responded to the fire, according to the post. Tuesday mornings frigid weather saw QEM Fire Protection District responding to a fire at a wood-frame house in the 15200 block of Newbern Road in Dow. QEM Chief Gerald New said the fire, which appeared to have been an electrical fire, caused extensive damage to the house but no injuries were reported. Godfrey and Jerseyville departments assisted QEM on the call. Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223. Stop criticizing prez: I just am calling in about the Democrats that run down the best president we have ever had. President Trump has done more than any president ever has. Theres a few Republicans who have to get on the ball too. The Democrats dont care about the people. They care about their own pockets. I hope the president does the emergency thing because they dont like him. They are doing anything to make it miserable. Karma comes around Democrats so it will come for you. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31) Frost-covered vegetable patches greeted some farmers and residents in Atok, Benguet as temperature in the area continued to drop the past week, an agriculture officer said Thursday. LOOK: Vegetables froze in Atok, Benguet on Monday as temperatures dropped https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt pic.twitter.com/30zalpYgBb CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 31, 2019 Frost, known locally as "andap," is a yearly occurrence in the municipality, Atok Municipal Agricultural Officer Cherry Sano told CNN Philippines. Sano said farmers already know how to cope up with the annual frost episode. "Yung mga areas na alam nilang frost-prone areas, hindi na nila tinatamnan. Kung magtanim sila, yung mga medyo tolerable po sa frost, yung kaya po nila ng lamig, gaya ng repolyo at carrots. Mas tolerable po sila as compared to potatoes," she added. [Translation: They avoid planting around areas they know are frost-prone. When they plant, they do it on places which can tolerate the frost. They plant cabbage and carrots as they are more tolerable to the cold as compared to potatoes.] "Alam na po ng farmers ang gagawin," Sano said. [Translation: The farmers know what to do.] The agriculture officer said frost mostly hits low areas of Atok. The province has experienced a drop in temperature for the past week, with Baguio City even posting a new record low of 9 degress Celsius (C) for the year on Wednesday. SFU researchers find new clues to controlling HIV The immune system is the body's best defense in fighting diseases like HIV and cancer. Now, an international team of researchers is harnessing the immune system to reveal new clues that may help in efforts to produce an HIV vaccine. SFU professor Mark Brockman and co-authors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa have identified a connection between infection control and how well antiviral T cells respond to diverse HIV sequences. Brockman explains that HIV adapts to the human immune system by altering its sequence to evade helpful antiviral T cells. "So to develop an effective HIV vaccine, we need to generate host immune responses that the virus cannot easily evade," he says. Brockman's team has developed new laboratory-based methods for identifying antiviral T cells and assessing their ability to recognize diverse HIV sequences. "T cells are white blood cells that can recognize foreign particles called peptide antigens," says Brockman. "There are two major types of T cells--those that 'help' other cells of the immune system, and those that kill infected cells and tumours." Identifying the T cells that attack HIV antigens sounds simple, but Brockman says three biological factors are critical to a T cell-mediated immune response. And in HIV infection, all three are highly genetically diverse. He explains that for a T cell to recognize a peptide antigen, the antigen must first be presented on the cell surface by human leukocyte antigen proteins (HLA), which are are inherited. And since many thousands of possible HLA variants exist in the human population, every person responds differently to infection. In addition, since HIV is highly diverse and evolves constantly during untreated infection, the peptide antigen sequence also changes. Matching T cells against the HLA variants and HIV peptide antigens expressed in an individual is a critical step in the routine research process. But, says Brockman, "our understanding of T cell responses will be incomplete until we know more about the antiviral activity of individual T cells that contribute to this response." It is estimated that a person's T cell "repertoire" is made up of a possible 20-100 million unique lineages of cells that can be distinguished by their T cell receptors (TCR), of which only a few will be important in responding to a specific antigen. So to reduce the study's complexity, the team examined two highly related HLA variants (B81 and B42) that recognize the same HIV peptide antigen (TL9) but are associated with different clinical outcomes following infection. By looking at how well individual T cells recognized TL9 and diverse TL9 sequence variants that occur in circulating HIV strains, the researchers found that T cells from people who expressed HLA B81 recognized more TL9 variants compared to T cells from people who expressed HLA B42. Notably, a group of T cells in some B42-expressing individuals displayed a greater ability to recognize TL9 sequence variants. The presence of these T cells was associated with better control of HIV infection. This study demonstrates that individual T cells differ widely in their ability to recognize peptide variants and suggests that these differences may be clinically significant in the context of a diverse or rapidly evolving pathogen such as HIV. Much work needs to be done to create an effective vaccine. However, says Brockman, "Comprehensive methods to assess the ability of T cells to recognize diverse HIV sequences, such as those reported in this study, provide critical information to help design and test new vaccine strategies." ### The full study can be read in Nature Communications. About Simon Fraser University: As Canada's engaged university, SFU is defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement. SFU was founded more than 50 years ago with a mission to be a different kind of university--to bring an interdisciplinary approach to learning, embrace bold initiatives, and engage with communities near and far. Today, SFU is Canada's leading comprehensive research university and is ranked one of the top universities in the world. With campuses in British Columbia's three largest cities - Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey - SFU has eight faculties, delivers almost 150 programs to over 35,000 students, and boasts more than 150,000 alumni in 130 countries around the world. This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. During a speech to U.S. Air Force personnel station in the United Kingdom recently, President Joe Biden warned that global warming is the greatest physical theat to the nations security. Biden has suggested that climate change poses a threat to U.S. military security on multiple occasions. In February, he noted that he had directed the Pentagon to reimagine the countrys strategy for dealing with the impact of climate change. Do you agree with the President that climate change is the great physical threat to the United States? Choices are: You voted: Muskogee, OK (74401) Today Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to steady rain this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. For parents, its important to know that their kids are safe at school, said Tom Ross, an administrator of the College of DuPage Homeland Security Training Institute and Law Enforcement Academy. The institute is partnering with the new group, and Ross is one of the members of the association. Ross said the group of directors is meeting monthly at its homeland security center. Intercontinental Exchange launched its Permian WTI crude oil futures contract just three months ago, but the company is already offering enhancements to the contract. One of the new enhancements is the addition of more delivery terminals. Along with Magellan Midstream Partners' East Houston terminal (MEH), delivery could be taken at Magellan's Galena Park terminal and the Seabrook Logistics terminal, which is jointly owned by Magellan and LBC Tank Terminals. "These new terminals give market flexibilities in how they can take delivery against the contract, and they offer greater access to the water and export markets," Jeff Barbuto, ICE's global head of sales and business development, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. OIL REPORT: CO2 emissions forecast to fall in 2019, 2020 Other terminals are also being considered as delivery points for the contract. Barbuto said the changes are subject to relevant regulatory processes. Another enhancement ICE plans to launch, pending regulatory approval, is the ICE Permian WTI Crude Oil Storage Futures, deliverable at Magellan's East Houston terminal. Once approval is received, these futures would be listed on ICE Futures Europe and represent the right to store 1,000 barrels of Permian WTI crude at the terminal. "The storage futures are a new type of risk management tool for the Permian WTI market in Houston. It will allow customers to acquire short term storage at MEH, and long term storage holders will now have a marketplace to monetize their unutilized positions," said Barbuto. The third enhancement ICE is planning for the Permian WTI crude oil futures contract is the addition of new data showing the levels of metals, such as nickel, vanadium and iron, contained in Permian WTI. OIL REPORT: Hatch Resources, Ridgemont Equity Partners eye Permian asset acquisitions "We're providing an unprecedented level of transparency by publishing this new metals data," Barbuto said. "Buyers of U.S. crude have consistently asked for better visibility into metals data of barrels coming out of the Gulf Coast." He said that the new futures have continued to gain traction in the North American market since their launch in October. "Designed to serve the hedging and trading opportunities in the growing Houston crude market, this contract launched in October and open interest has already reached a high of 2,625 lots on January 18. We've also seen more crude oil deliveries through the exchange at each expiry, so the feedback has been good," Barbuto said. It was three-eighths (0.375) off for purchase and a quarter off for refi, he said. Now its three-eighths off for both purchase and refi, and an additional quarter (0.25) off for loan amounts over $1 million. Fisher said that CSC is able to offer great pricing because of the work the company has done to bring non-QM products into the mainstream. Were fortunate to not only be the market maker for the product, but we are also the price leader in the space, he said. I think were in a very lucky position because of what weve accomplished over the last eight years building the space out. Our account executives are highly-trained experts at guiding brokers through the process of structuring their loans. That work has also led to rapid growth for the company and significant expansion from its California headquarters, Fisher said. We have expanded our operations in Atlanta and Tampa, and we have an office in Utah as well, Fisher said. Were firing on all cylinders. It couldnt be a better time for brokers; if they havent already, its time to jump into this space. We have more than enough capacity to help them market, structure and fund their loans. We believe this is a perfect time to gain market share, and we have the capacity and the ability to do it. MOULTRIE [mdash] Gary Ray Riggins, age 67 of Colquitt County died Monday June 14, 2021 at his home surrounded by family Celebrations of Life Services are being planned and will be announced later Gary was born September 17, 1953 in Moultrie Ga. to the late Curtis R. and Martha Latrail Holmes A massive data breach involving U.S. banks sheds light on the need for encrypted servers in the real estate and mortgage industries. On January 23, more than 24 million mortgage and banking documents, encompassing everything from social security numbers and birth dates to private addresses, were exposed. Documentation was stolen from banks including Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Capital One, and the source of the breach is a Texas-based data and analytics firm called Ascension. According to Trustifis CEO Idan Udi Edry, the causes of data breaches are disturbingly commonplace and liable to happen in Canada, too. The source of 69% of attacks today start from simple email, said Edry. It can be malware, phishing; it takes a lot of different forms. Its more important today than ever to encrypt emails because when an individual consumer applies for a mortgage, theyre beginning the process with a realtor and delivering over email proof of income, information like social security, their address, and a lot of realtors happen to use Gmail, which is open source. Then, theyre recommended to a loan officer who uses open source emails, like Gmail again, and they hand over more information than they gave to the realtor. Most consumers do not realize that, even though theyre handing over sensitive personal information to trusted realtors and loan officers, theyre sending the information worldwide if using unencrypted serves, which exposes them to being defrauded, having their identities stolen, or even having money stolen directly from their bank accounts. Firstly, consumers need software to encrypt their emails completely, said Edry. Secondly, as a consumer, you should only send sensitive information to an organization that youve ensured is using tools to protect data. If I send my information to a realtor, I want to make sure they protect themselves. If youre scanning documents and then emailing them, hitting send is akin to opening your wallet on the street and letting anybody passing by see whats inside your wallet. There are, of course, other ways that sensitive consumer information falls into the hands of unscrupulous actors. Robert Capps, vice president and authentication strategist for NuData Security, has seen his fair share of scams over a 25-year career, and says breaches are becoming increasingly sophisticated. But prevention is easier than most people think. What traditional organizations are doing day-to-day to protect against business email compromise is multifaceted: Theres consumer education, and employees are basically taught what business email compromise and phishing looks like, he said. Theyre taught not to click on attachments, dont take emails from unknown addresses that ask for really short emergency calls to action. A project to replace the pedestrian sidewalk on the bridge between East River Road and James Day park is underway. James Day Park also connects to French Creek Reservation. CHARLOTTE U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced Friday that Marcus Lenard Armstrong, 35, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release on drug trafficking conspiracy charges, for buying the deadly synthetic opioid U-47700 on the dark web using cryptocurrency. According to filed court documents, from November 2016 to January 2018, Armstrong engaged in a conspiracy to traffic the lethal synthetic opioid. Court records show that in June 2017, Armstrong arranged for a package containing the deadly opioid to be mailed to a residential address in Charlotte. Over the course of the investigation, police determined that Armstrong was using cryptocurrency to purchase U-47700 on multiple dark web markets that sell and purchase illegal drugs. On June 30, 2017, police visited the residence in Charlotte to which the parcel was addressed and spoke with an individual who admitted to accepting packages for a family friend, later identified as Armstrong. Police seized the package and confirmed that it contained 1,003.38 grams of the U-47700 drug. Court records show that two more packages were scheduled for delivery to the same residential address. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Lysa TerKeurst is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She has written many books and is a New York Times best-selling author, according to her biography. She has served as the keynote speaker at many events including Women of Joy and Catalyst Leadership Conferences. She recently received the Champions of Faith Author award. She shares her experiences and encourages women to share their stories all for the glory of God. Levi Lusko is the lead pastor of Fresh Life Church. He is married to Jennie Lusko and they have five children. He has written several bestselling books and travels around the world telling others about Jesus, according to his biography. Shelene Bryan is the founder of Skip1.org, a charity that provides food and clean water to children around the world. She also is a speaker and the author of Love, Skip, Jump: Start Living the Adventure of Yes as well as the Ridiculous Faith series, according to her biography. Mack Brock has been a worship leader for more than 15 years, according to his biography. He is a song writer. Three of his songs made the top 50 on Christian Copyright Licensing International, and four songs made the top 100. He has traveled across the U.S. with Elevation Worship, serving as producer and worship leader. Ticket prices for the event range from $25-$65: Friday Blood drive The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Patton High School. Coffee and Conversation with Rutherford College Mayor/Manager The Burke County Chamber Commerce will host a Coffee and Conversation with the Mayor and Manager of Rutherford College event from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Rutherford College town hall at 980 Malcolm Blvd. in Rutherford College. Cost is $10 each for chamber members and $15 each for non-chamber members. State park program Lake James State Park will partner with the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club to offer an evening of stargazing starting at 6 p.m. in the upper parking lot of the Paddys Creek Area. Those interested in attending should RSVP by contacting the park office at 828-584-7728. People may bring their own telescopes or binoculars, but some will be set up at the event for viewing. Saturday Breakfast/Bake Sale February 01, 2019 Venezuela - Coup Propaganda Claims Gang Violence Is Coup Supporting Protest To demonize the President of Venzuela, Nicolas Maduro, and Venezuelan government forces, a concerted effort is made to falsely depict gang violence, and the police reaction to it, as a confrontation between coup supporting protesters and the Maduro government. Gang violence in the various slums in Caracas and elsewhere has been a problem for decades. The phenomenon is by far not exclusive to Venezuela. The gangs mostly fight each other over territory, but sometimes collide with the police that tries to keep the violence level down. This violence has nothing to do with the recently attempted coup or the anti-government protest by the mostly well-off people who support it. On January 29 the Washington Post, the CIA's favored outlet, launched the campaign. As detailed yesterday an incident of gang violence and the police's reaction to it was manipulated into a story of anti-government protest. The first three paragraph of the story told of an alleged anti-government protests in a slum in Caracas which included the arson of a culture center. The next day the police arrested some culprits which led to more violence. Some twenty propaganda filled paragraphs about the coup attempt follow. Only at the end of the Washington Post piece was revealed what really happened. The arson incident took place a January 22, a day before the coup attempt. It was a gang attack: Around midnight, neighbors say, a group of hooded boys threw molotov cocktails at the culture center. The following day the police arrested some of the arsonists. More rioting followed: A group set fire to barricades, threw stones and attacked an outpost of the National Guard. ... Neighbors said that criminal gangs were among the crowd and created havoc by violently confronting the police. The whole tit for tat incident was typical gang vs. police violence. It likely had nothing to do with the coup attempt. On January 30 the New York Times added to the propaganda theme: The agents barged into the home of Yonaiker Ordonez, 18, on Sunday morning as he slept. Dressed in helmets and carrying rifles, the men grabbed the teenager and forced him to another room without explaining why they came, his family said. ... The operation resembled one of the many police raids against the gangs that terrorize Venezuelas poor neighborhoods. But Mr. Ordonezs only crime, his family said, was that he attended a protest against the government days before. The Times goes on to claim that a special police force, the FAES, has replaced the National Guard as anti-protester force. It quotes an 'opposition lawmaker', a 'human rights organization', a 'former military general who broke ranks with Mr. Maduro', a 'criminologist in Caracas who teaches at the Central University of Venezuela' and an 'opposition activist' in support of that claim. No attempt is made to quote someone from the police or government side. How the FAES, a special police force with some 1,000 officers in Caracas, could ever replace the 70,000 strong militarized National Guard is left unexplained. On January 31 an op-ed by the dude the U.S. wants to make president of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, was published in the NYT. He mentioned (not by chance) the same incident describe in the Washington Post. He also claimed that it was motivated by anti-Maduro sentiment: Last week in Caracas, citizens from the poorest neighborhoods that had been Chavista strongholds in the past took to the streets in unprecedented protests. They went out again on Jan. 23 with the full knowledge that they might be brutally repressed, and they continue to attend town hall meetings. The phrase 'they went out again on Jan. 23' confirms that the incident happened before the coup-attempt on January 23 and the demonstrations related to the coup. Today Bloomberg reports of the same incident as WaPo and NYT before. It also falsely claims that the FAES police raids against gangs are part of a government reaction to an alleged anti-Maduro sentiment: Since protests against Maduro began last week, the socialist regime has regularly sent the polices elite Special Action Force racing into Caracas slums on personnel carriers and motorcycles. Its masked members, all in black, attack demonstrators with weapons including tear gas, guns and even grenades. They settle long-standing scores and rob residents homes, eyewitnesses say. At least 35 people have died amid the demonstrations, adding to scores of deaths in two years of unrest. The government sent the FAES to arrest gang criminals in Caracas' slums ever since that force was founded for exactly that purpose. To say that it does so "since protests against Maduro began last week" makes absolutely no sense. The unhinged National Security Advisor John Bolton highlighted the alleged anti-government protest in a radio interview today: [W]hat weve seen, the violence youve referred to already, which interestingly has been largely in the poorest parts of Caracas, that is to say directed against the poorest residents of the city, the former supporters of Chavez by basically armed gangs called collectivos [sic!] in Spanish trained and equipped by Cuba. These are the thugs and killers that have been sent out in the past days, were sent out against earlier expressions of opposition to Maduro. And its these people, they are absolutely ruthless. This is as cold-blooded, theyre capable of cold-blooded murder, and theyve engaged in it already. "The slums are rising up!" "They get brutally repressed!" It is the same story repeated again and again. It is also false. Gang violence is a huge problem in Venezuela. Like in other countries it is a side-effect of rapid urbanization and the uncontrolled growth of new city quarters or slums. Other factors are drugs and the availability of weapons. Some six million guns are believed to be in civilian hands and drug dealing is rampant. Youth unemployment exacerbates the problem. The same gang problem exists in Brazil, Honduras, Colombia, Mexico and elsewhere. In Los Angeles 60% of all homicides are gang related. The problem is not new. In March 2011 the Guardian reported on Drugs, murder and redemption: the gangs of Caracas. In October 2012 Time Magazine published a photo essay about the The Street Gangs of Caracas. In June 2015 the government created a joint military and police force to get a grip on the problem. It was not successful: Controversy Continues over Venezuelas New Security Operation. The Daily Mail ran a typically sensational piece about gang violence in Caracas in June 2016: Boss of brutal kidnap gang boasts of murdering HUNDREDS - and police admit they're powerless to stop him. In August 2016 Reuters chimed in: Ultra-violent gangs thrive in chaotic Venezuela despite crackdown. In May 2017 the LA Times headlined Venezuela's raging homicide epidemic is going unrecorded. Since the late 1980s the homicide rate in Venezuela (and elsewhere) has constantly risen. The gang violence existed in Venezuela way before 2002 when the socialists under Hugo Chavez came to power. Several large programs were created to calm it down with more or less success. Special anti-gang forces were created and abandoned. The problem still does not go away. There are many ideas of how to fight gang violence. Some may work, some may not. They all require lots of money and time. In 2017 the Venezuelan government created the Bolivarian National Police Special Forces (FAES in Spanish). It replaced a joint military and police force, the Operation Liberate the People, that was criticized after some bloody incidents. The FAES are equipped like typical SWAT teams and have a similar function. Here are pictures of them in a recent raid against criminal groups. There are only 1,000 FAES officers in Caracas, a city with 3 million people. Their job is to react to violent gang crime. The force is too small to be tasked with controlling anti-government demonstrations. That is the job of the regular police and national guard. Criminal gang activity in the slums and the police reaction to it that has been going on for decades. To now claim that it is somehow related to the recent coup attempt and anti-Maduro activities is nonsensical. It is typical demonization propaganda. As soon as the U.S. government declares some head of state an 'enemy', U.S. media start to villainize that person. The same stories that were written about alleged cruelty of Saddam Hussein, Muhammad Ghaddafi, Kim Jong-Il and Bashar al-Assad will now be recycled with regards to Nicolas Maduro. In Syria the shabiha, youth groups supporting the Baath party, were claimed to be a secret killer force for the government. The same claim is now made about colectivos in Venezuela. These are civil neighborhood groups doing social work in support of the United Socialist Party. It is lather, rinse, repeat 'reporting' in the service of war mongering. The people who live in the slums of Caracas have profited most from the socialist policies of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. They are the most avid chavistas. It were those people who took to the streets and came to Chavez' help during the failed coup in 2002. If they would really rise up against the government, the streets would be full and Maduro would be finished. To claim that these people now engage in the anti-government protests is at best wishful thinking of the coup-attempt supporters. More likely it is war drums propaganda. Posted by b on February 1, 2019 at 20:08 UTC | Permalink Comments next page I did indeed have seasoned veterans in politics and law look over my petitions, Bruni said. No one caught my mistake. Its not just about getting the appropriate number of signatures. The devil is in the detail. Oak Hill, WV (25901) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Today, interim finance minister (FM) Piyush Goyal presented the interim Union Budget for the financial year 2019-2020 at the Parliament House, New Delhi. Contrary to expectations during an election year, the minister announced a full-fledged Budget instead of only a vote-on-account. A vote-on-account contains only a demand to pass the expenses that the government would incur for two months, for the functioning of the current government until the new government takes place. Here are some key highlights announced in the Budget today: Income tax relief for individual taxpayers: Full tax rebate of Rs12,500 allowed on net taxable income of up to Rs5 lakh in a financial year. Those with net taxable income above Rs5 lakh will not enjoy the benefits of tax rebate. Standard deduction on taxable income for salaried class increased to Rs50,000 from Rs40,000 per financial year. Limit of exemption on gratuity amount has been increased to Rs30 lakh from Rs10 lakh. TDS deduction threshold of interest on bank deposits and post-office deposits raised to Rs40,000 from Rs10,000 per year. Investment in up to two houses allowed on sale of old property for rolling-over long-term capital gains under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act. The long-term capital gains on the sale of property should not exceed Rs2 crore and the benefit can be used only once in a lifetime. No tax shall be payable on notional rent on second self-occupied house. TDS threshold on house rent raised to Rs2,40,000 from Rs1,80,000. Farmers owning up to two hectares of land will get Rs6,000 per year as income support under new scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. The amount will be transferred in three tranches directly to the accounts of farmers. New pension scheme Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan to provide monthly pension of Rs3,000 after 60 years of age, with contribution of only Rs100 per month. Allocation to MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) increased to Rs60,000 crore for the FY 2019-2020 from Rs55,000 crore in the financial year. Businesses with annual turnover of less than Rs5 crore will be allowed to file their returns quarterly. Anti-camcording provision to be introduced to Cinematography Act to combat film piracy. Indian film-makers will benefit from single-window clearance for their films. Two per cent interest relief for farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries. Emphasizing the need to create a safe electronic banking environment, the Kerala high Court has ruled that a bank cannot be exonerated from the liability for the loss caused to its customer on account of the unauthorised withdrawals made from his account merely on the ground that the customer has not responded promptly to the SMS alerts given by the bank, according to a report in LiveLaw.in Justice PB Suresh Kumar, while dismissing the second appeal filed by State Bank of India, observed that, if a customer suffers loss on account of the transactions not authorised by him, the bank is liable to the customer for the said loss, says the website. The case of PV George was that a total sum of Rs2, 40,910.36 was withdrawn from his SBI NRE account between 22.03.2012 and 26.03.2012 through the ATMs at different places in Brazil. He filed a suit against the bank seeking refund of the amount along with interest. Though, the trial court dismissed the suit, the First Appellate Court held that that, since the disputed withdrawals were unauthorized and made by third parties without using the debit card issued to the plaintiff, through the ATMs in a foreign country, the bank was liable for the loss caused to the plaintiff. Justice Suresh Kumar considered the following substantial questions of law: Are not the banks permitting withdrawal of cash from the accounts of their customers making use of ATM-cum- debit cards liable for the loss caused to the customers in connection with the transactions made without their junction by fraudsters? Could a bank be exonerated from the liability for the loss caused to its customer on account of the unauthorised withdrawals made from his account merely on the ground that the customer has not responded promptly to the SMS alerts given by the bank? The court said that if a customer suffers loss on account of the transactions not authorised by him, the bank is liable to the customer for the said loss. "Where a bank is providing service to its customer, it owes a duty to exercise reasonable care to protect the interests of the customer. Needless to say that a bank owes a duty to its customers to take necessary steps to prevent unauthorised withdrawals from their accounts", the court said. The court also said that it is the obligation of the banks providing such services, to create a safe electronic banking environment to combat all forms of malicious conducts resulting in loss to their customers. The court also referred to the statutes which are put in place in countries like USA and Canada to protect the interests of the customers of the bank by defining the liabilities and providing enforcement mechanism. Referring to a RBI Circular, the court said that if a customer suffers loss in connection with the transactions made without his junction by fraudsters, it has to be presumed that it is on account of the failure on the part of the bank to put in place a system which prevents such withdrawals, and the banks are, therefore, liable for the loss caused to their customers. The court also rejected bank's contention that it had no liability in connection with the unauthorised transactions as the customer did not respond to the SMS alerts it had sent to him. Dismissing the appeal, the judge said: "SMS alerts is a facility extended by most of the banks to their customers in connection with the savings bank accounts having electronic banking facilities including ATM cum-Debit Card facilities. Such facilities are provided not only to those who specifically request for the same, but also to those who do not ask for such facilities. Could such a facility voluntarily given by banks to their customers determine the rights of parties, is the question. According to me, only if there exists a specific term in the contract between a bank and its customer to the effect that the bank would be exonerated from the liability in connection with the unauthorised transactions if the customer does not respond to the SMS alerts, SMS alerts cannot be the basis for determining the liability of the customer, for, there would be account holders who may not be in the habit of checking SMS alerts at regular intervals and account holders like the plaintiff in the instant case who is working in an offshore oil rig, who may not be able to access their mobile phones for several days having regard to the peculiarity of their avocation." The court added that, in this case, there was no such contract between the bank and the customer, and thus the bank would be liable to refund the amount as ordered by the First Appellate court. The detailed order is available at the LiveLaw link above. Singapore: FILE - In this June. 12, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island, in Singapore. North Korea has warned on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, it could revive a state policy aimed at strengthening its nuclear arsenal if the United States does not lift economic sanctions against the country. AP/PTI(AP11_3_2018_000046B) The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang in late February, according to a media report. The White House last month announced the second meeting between the two leaders will be held in late February following discussions with Kim Yong Chol, North Korea's lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting between the two leaders happened in June in Singapore. A senior Trump administration official and a source with knowledge of the meeting told CNN that the current plan is for the second summit between President Trump and the North Korean leader Un to be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. The plan is being finalised. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location. The source said there are no discussions right now for Trump to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit, but the source says Xi is very supportive of the summit. Trump's agenda during the summit is still not clear. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the next summit between the two leaders to be held somewhere in Asia. On Thursday, the State Department's top envoy on North Korea said the US is not looking to invade the reclusive nation and seemed to strongly signal that the US would be willing to formally end the Korean War. Trump and Kim's first summit in Singapore ended with a commitment from the North Korean leader to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," but negotiations appear to have stalled since then. Many critics accuse the Trump administration of failing to get Kim to agree to specifics at their first summit. On Wednesday, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence officials after they had contradicted several of his foreign policy claims -- including on North Korea -- during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said during the hearing that North Korea "is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons." CIA Director Gina Haspel said Pyongyang "is committed to developing a long-range nuclear-armed missile that would pose a direct threat to the United States." Trump said on Thursday that those same intelligence chiefs told him their comments had been taken out of context and the had been "totally misquoted" and that the administration was all on the same page. Representative Image Thousands of pounds of meat from sick cows who were slaughtered illegally in Poland were exported to 10 other European Union countries, the country's top veterinary official said on January 31. Pawel Niemczuk said about 2,500 kilograms of the meat was exported to Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Romania, Sweden, France, Spain, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovakia. Meat from sick cows also went to 20 sales locations in Poland but has since been recalled, he said. The announcement follows the recent airing of an undercover report by private broadcaster TVN that documented sick cows being slaughtered in violation of the law in the northeastern Polish town of Ostrow Mazowiecka. No veterinarians were present for the slaughter although the meat was marked as having followed that required legal procedure. Louise Nyholm of Sweden's National Food Agency said small quantities of the meat had been sold to four companies in Sweden, and called it "a serious violation of food law and totally unacceptable." The agency said authorities in EU countries to which the meat was exported were alerted. Officials in Finland said some 250 kilograms of Polish meat suspected to be from sick cows ended up in the country. Food safety officials were investigating whether any of that meat has been sold in local stores. Meanwhile, Estonia got about 350 kilograms of the meat but none ended up in stores, officials there said. The Polish veterinary inspectorate stripped the slaughterhouse of permission to operate earlier this week. Facebook Lite Facebook Lite is another Lite app on the list. The lighter version of the main app is just 1.4MB in size and has over 500 million downloads. It has a rating of 4.3 stars on the store. Facebook said on February 1 it took down hundreds of accounts from Iran that were part of a vast manipulation campaign operating in more than 20 countries. The world's biggest social network said it removed 783 pages, groups and accounts "for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour tied to Iran." The pages were part of a campaign to promote Iranian interests in various countries by creating fake Facebook or Instagram identities as residents of those nations, according to a statement by Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cyber security policy at Facebook. "We can prove that this is content emanating from Iran; controlled by actors in Iran, and most of the content is reposted from Iran state media," Gleicher said during a press briefing. "But, we are not in position to directly assert who the actor is in this case." The announcement was the latest by Facebook as it seeks to stamp out efforts by state actors and others to manipulate the social network using fraudulent accounts. "We are constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we don't want our services to be used to manipulate people," Gleicher said. "In this case, the people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts to misrepresent themselves, and that was the basis for our action." The operators "typically represented themselves as locals, often using fake accounts, and posted news stories on current events," including "commentary that repurposed Iranian state media's reporting on topics like Israel-Palestine relations and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen," Gleicher said. Facebook's team looked for additional activity related to a large taken-down of Iran-linked content in August of last year, and collaborated with Twitter which provided insights from the one-to-many messaging platform, according to Gleicher. "This is an encouraging example of the kind of collaboration we are working to build across the industry," Gleicher said. The operation dating back to as early as 2010 had 262 pages, 356 accounts, and three groups on Facebook, as well as 162 accounts on Instagram and were followed by about two million users. About two million users followed at least one of these pages, about 1,600 accounts joined at least one of these groups. More than 254,000 accounts followed at least one of these Instagram accounts. Less than USD 30,000 was spent in total by the accounts on Facebook or Instagram ads, paid for mostly in US dollars, British pounds, and euros, according to the social network. Facebook said the fake accounts were part of an influence campaign that operated in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, US, and Yemen. Facebook began looking into these kinds of activities after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election, aimed at sowing discord. Twitter meanwhile released a report on its efforts to curb manipulation during the 2018 US elections, noting that it blocked accounts originating in Russia, Iran and Venezuela. Representative Image: Reuters The United States has made "tremendous progress" in trade talks with China but much works needs to be done, the White House said on January 31 as negotiations with the visiting Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He concluded with a meeting with President Donald Trump in his Oval Office. While progress has been made, much work remains to be done, White House said after the conclusion of two-days of intense talks. The meeting is part of the decision that Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had taken during their dinner meeting at Buenos Aires in Argentina on December 1, 2018 to pause their trade war and negotiate an agreement in 90 days. Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made "tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling." Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agreed to reforms by March 1 deadline. Trump said that a substantial progress has been made in trade talks and exuded confidence that the countries could reach the biggest ever deal. The Chinese delegation read out a letter from their president in which Xi said China-US relations were at a critical stage. "I hope that our two sides will continue to have mutual respect, Xi was quoted as saying in the letter. Both counties should meet each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works in the best interest of both sides .such an agreement will send a positive message to our two people and the broader international community, the letter said. Trump described it as a beautiful letter. The leaders are expected to meet soon. "We haven't set up a meeting yet...we're working on seeing where everybody is. Both countries would like to see a positive result, he added. Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling and we've made tremendous progress, he said. He also said China has agreed to purchase five million tons of US soybeans. That's going to make our farmers happy, that's a lot of soybeans". Later, the White House said, the talks covered a wide range of issues, including the ways in which the US companies are pressured to transfer technology to Chinese companies; the need for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; and the numerous tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US companies in China. They also discussed the harm resulting from China's cyber-theft of the US commercial property; how market-distorting forces, including subsidies and state-owned enterprises, can lead to excess capacity; and the need to remove market barriers and tariffs that limit the US sales of manufactured goods, services, and agriculture to China. Among other things the American and Chinese delegation discussed are the role of currencies in the USChina trading relationship. The two sides also discussed the need to reduce the enormous and growing trade deficit that the United States has with China. The purchase of United States products by China from our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and businesses is a critical part of the negotiations, the White House said. The two sides showed a helpful willingness to engage on all major issues, and the negotiating sessions featured productive and technical discussions on how to resolve our differences. The United States is particularly focused on reaching meaningful commitments on structural issues and deficit reduction. Both parties have agreed that any resolution will be fully enforceable, the White House said. After the talks, Senator Jerry Moran said he is encouraged by the continued dialogue between the two countries on resolving the ongoing trade war and China's commitment to purchase more US soybeans. "I hope progress made in meetings this week will lay groundwork for a final agreement between our countries, he said. This progress must include China changing its bad behaviour on trade, while also removing the tariffs that have been so damaging to Kansas farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, Moran said. "With China, our overarching strategy has to be to respect them when they compete, but also to stop them when they cheat, said Congressman Joaquin Castro. MG Motor British car manufacturer MG Motors is set to make its entry in India and has collaborated with Indian car-rental service, Myles cars. This collaboration will help customers hire MG Motors' first entry in India and their latest SUV, the Hector. This collaboration is an effort by MG Motors to cater to the evolving requirements of the new age customers, as per Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India. The company also plans to extend the subscription model to its second launch, a full-fledged electric vehicle, by the end of this year. As per a report in NDTV Auto, MG says that this partnership will allow the company to leverage the existing network of Myles across 21 cities, once the company launches its first model in Q2, 2019. This will be in addition to MG's own network of 110 sales and service touchpoints at the start of sales. Though the MG Hector is slated to compete in the compact SUV segment, it has a large body. Measuring 4655mm, 1835 mm and 1760 mm in length, width and height respectively, the Hector is going to be the largest SUV in the segment, even surpassing the Tata Harrier. The Hector is set to receive both, a petrol and a diesel option. The petrol variant is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit, while the diesel variant is expected to be a 2-litre four-cylinder motor. There is also word out that the Hector will receive a panoramic sunroof that will be largest in its segment, and a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that will be the 'largest in India'. The MG Hector is expected to be priced around the Rs 16 lakh mark, and will compete against Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster and Tata Harrier among others. The first time I saw slime I didnt realize what all the hype was about, she said. I saw that everyone at school was making it. I thought that if I made it too, maybe I would fit in better. I convinced my parents that I needed extra glue for school, technically it wasnt a lie. I watched an Instagram video on how exactly to make slime and I thought for sure it would fail the first time. It didnt and from that moment, I knew I was destined to be a slimer. Sachin Pilot_Ashok Gehlot_Rahul Gandhi Rajasthans ruling political party, the Indian National Congress, took its seat tally to three digits in the states Legislative Assembly after its candidate Shafia Zubair won the Ramgarh seat on January 31. The Congress, which formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018 after winning 99 seats in the 200-member assembly, has now reached the halfway mark. However, it one short of attaining single-party majority. It now has 100 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the House. Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), which have provided support to the government, have two seats each. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has also lent its support, has one seat in the House. On December 7, 2018. Assembly election was only held in 199 out of the 200 constituencies. Election in Ramgarh could not be held due to the death of the BSP candidate. The elections were held on January 28 with 20 candidates in fray, the result of which was announced on January 31. Zubair defeated her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rival by a margin of over 12,000 votes. She secured 44.77 percent votes against the BJP candidate Sukhwant Singh's 38.20 percent. The remaining 18 candidates, including BSPs Jagat Singh, ended up losing their deposit. Jagat Singh is the son of former union minister Natwar Singh. The BJP, who was defeated by the Congress in the 2018 state elections, has 73 members in the assembly. Rajasthan Congress unit President and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot thanked the people for restoring their faith and confidence by making the party win the seat. "It was the first election after the government's formation and the result is an indication that BJP has lost the support they had, Pilot told PTI. BJP The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on January 31 threatened to separate from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if its demands were not met. Senior SAD leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Naresh Gujral told The Indian Express that the BJP had not done anything about its partys warning to not meddle in management of religious places. Gujral also said the BJP had failed to rein in its leaders who make provocative statements against minorities, and ignored its demands for a package for farmers. Our party has told the BJP to keep off gurdwara management affairs and not interfere in our religious matters. But the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) keeps meddling with the Sikhs religious affairs. We cannot allow that, Gujral told the newspaper. The SAD boycotted an NDA meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of the Budget Session. Of course we will take this (boycotting the meeting in protest) forward. If the BJP does not take any steps on our demands, logically, we will separate, Gujral added. Retaining the SAD, one of its oldest allies, is key for the BJP. The saffron party has lost multiple key allies in the last year, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The party has also been facing threats of separation from the Shiv Sena. Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un walk after lunch at the Capella Hotel. (Photo: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on January 31 said the details of his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will be announced next week -- and that a date and place had been settled. "We're going to announce it very soon. We'll be announcing early next week and they very much want the meeting," Trump told reporters in the White House. "I think most of you know where the location is. I don't think it's a great secret," he added, touting what he called the "tremendous progress" made with Pyongyang. Trump held a historic first summit with Kim in Singapore last June to try to persuade the reclusive North Korean strongman to give up the country's nuclear weapons. The American president has come under fire at home from critics who say that Kim has not taken enough concrete steps toward denuclearization to be given a second summit. The US special representative on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, was to say in a speech Thursday that the United States remains "clear-eyed" and wants a firm accounting of Pyongyang's weapons programs as part of any deal. "Before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean WMD and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration," Biegun was to say in a speech at Stanford University, according to excerpts. "We must reach agreement on expert access and monitoring mechanisms of key sites to international standards, and ultimately ensure the removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction." If North Korea follows through, "the United States, will, in return, exceed anything previously thought possible," Biegun was to say. US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Tuesday that North Korea would resist pressure because its leaders see nuclear weapons capability as "critical to regime survival." Trump on Thursday pushed back against intelligence leaders who publicly disagree with his foreign policy positions on North Korea, Iran and Syria. "I disagree with certain things that they said, I think I'm right," he said. "Time will prove me right probably." 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) US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will travel to Seoul on February 3, where he will meet with his North Korean counterpart, the State Department said on January 31. They will discuss steps to advance the denuclearisation of North Korea and ways to make progress on the commitments made by President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during their summit in Singapore last June, the State Department said. Jharkhand Assembly election, voting, dates, election result date evm Representative image Opposition parties met here and decided to approach the Election Commission on February 4 for redressal of their concerns over the use of EVMs in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, addressing the media after the meeting on Friday, said the issue of EVMs was discussed at length by the opposition leaders. "We have had a good meeting. All parties have agreed to discuss in detail three issues -- two central and one structural -- jobs, agriculture and attack on institutions. We are going to meet and find solutions to these problems," he said. "The election will be about jobs, agriculture, attack on institutions, and corruption by the prime minister in the Rafale deal," the Congress chief said. Asked about the budget being hailed as a "surgical strike", Gandhi said "surgical strike" will happen on the prime minister and his government on issues such as Rafale, jobs and demonetisation. He said opposition parties will meet election commission officials on Monday over concerns about EVM tampering. Apart from Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, Derek O'Brien of Trinamool Congress, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, Manoj Jha of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary among others, attended the meeting. Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and A K Antony, Danish Ali of JDS and Sharad Yadav were also present in the meeting. Several opposition parties have been claiming that only two-three countries are using EVMs and the rest have reverted to the ballot paper system following complaints of malfunctioning of these machines. The Congress, while supporting the demand, has maintained that since the Lok Sabha election is just around the corner, the EC should ensure counting of paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on January 31 accused the Kerala government of oppressing devotees of Lord Ayyappa by exceeding the judicial mandate on the Sabarimala temple. This has led the Hindu society deeply disturbed and agitated, he said at the Vishva Hindu Parishad's 'dharm sansad' (religious council). "We support this agitation of the Hindu society as the petitioners to the judiciary were not Lord Ayyappa's devotees," he said at the meeting, presided by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Sarswati. "There are many moves afoot to divide the Hindu society. Accordingly, it's the need of the hour to reunite the segmented Hindus through a religious renaissance," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said. The meet, which began on January 31, was also addressed by Yoga guru Ramdev, who called for a common civil code. The VHP's religious council was also addressed by Swami Parmanand, who likened the ongoing Sabarimala agitation in Kerala to that over building a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He alleged that for the last few years a "mischievous effort" is consistently being made to undermine and destroy the Hindu traditions and faith. The seer said the agitation to secure entry of women of any age in the Sabarimala temple is a fresh example of that "mischievous effort". He said the temple has also been made a centre of stir in the past either on the pretext of environmental degradation or in the name of modernity and gender empowerment. "The Sabarimala temple was subjected to arson in 1950 by Christians, who installed a cross in its precincts in 1982," he alleged. "Nowadays, thousands of Muslim women are engaged in forming human chains to undermine the agitation against the faith and tradition of Sabarimala temple. All these examples expose the conspiracy of mischievous efforts against the Hindus," he claimed. He said the country's seers welcome the struggle of Lord Ayyappa's devotees, specially the Hindu women, Arya Samaj, Peoples for Dharma and other Hindu organisations which are spearheading it. Another seer, Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj listed the Dalit Maratha dispute at Bhima-Koregaon or the Pathalgadhi agitation in Jharkhand to seclude the scheduled tribes there as parts of the "conspiracy" to disintegrate the Hindu society. The VHP religious meet was attended by over 200 seers including Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Narendracharya Ji Maharaj, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya Hansdevacharya Ji Maharaj, Nirmal Peethadhishwar Shrimahanth Gyandev, Swami Jitendranath, Satpal Maharaj, Swami Viyoganand Ji Maharaj and Swami Nrityagopaldas Ji Maharaj. Naypyitaw : Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi smiles as she delivers a speech during the Advisory Forum On National Reconciliation and Peace in Myanmar at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. AP/PTI(AP11_21_2018_000019B) Myanmar's government under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has used repressive laws to prosecute peaceful critics, dashing hopes that its first democratic leader in decades would safeguard free speech, Human Rights Watch said on February 1. Freedom of expression has been deteriorating since her administration came to power in 2016, with prosecutions creating a "climate of fear" among journalists, the rights group said in its report, "Dashed Hopes: The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar". "Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy promised a new Myanmar but the government still prosecutes peaceful speech and protests and has failed to revise old oppressive laws," Linda Lakhdhir, Asia legal adviser at Human Rights Watch and the report's author, said in a statement. A government spokesman could not be reached for comment. The military governments that ruled Myanmar for decades placed severe restrictions on free speech. Reforms undertaken by the quasi-civilian administration that came to power in 2010, including the abolition of censorship, had "positive implications for speech and assembly", HRW said. However, the Suu Kyi-led government had made "only marginal changes" to oppressive legislation and continued to use "overly broad, vague, and abusive laws" to prosecute peaceful speech and assembly, it said. Myanmar free speech group Athan, whose report was quoted by HRW, said some 140 cases had been filed since 2016 under the Telecommunications Act, at least half of which involved prosecution for peaceful speech. Parliament made some amendments to section 66(d) of the act, which punishes anyone who "defames" someone using a telecommunications network with up to two years in prison, but rejected calls to repeal the provision. Reporters were especially vulnerable to prosecution and attacks, HRW said, with threats coming from authorities as well as nationalists and militant supporters of the government or army. "The result has been a climate of fear among local journalists," the HRW report said. Laws criminalising defamation, the Official Secrets Act, the Unlawful Associations Act, the 1934 Aircraft Act, and section 131 of the Myanmar Penal Code have all been used against journalists in recent years. Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in prison in September 2018 under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. They had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in Rakhine state. "Aung San Suu Kyi's government has had a real opportunity to abolish the tools of oppression used by the military juntas, but has instead used them against peaceful critics and protesters," Lakhdhir said. "It's not too late to reverse course and take steps to fully protect speech and assembly in Myanmar," she said. Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced the budget for 2019-2020 in Parliament on February 1, rolling out a multitude of schemes, particularly for the farmers and the middle class. The Budget expands spending while pragmatically sticking to fiscal prudence. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 While the interim budget was lauded by ailing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who called it "unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor", the Opposition targeted the ruling government, calling the Budget yet another "election jumla". The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 Former finance minister with the UPA government P Chidambaram slammed Goyal for "copying Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country". He was referring to Rahul Gandhi's recent announcement of providing basic minimum income to the country's poor. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that all sections of the society "including farmers, middle class, poor and women have been mentioned in this budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of a New India". Whereas Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor told media persons " The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour and dignity?" Neeru Ahuja, Partner, Deloitte told media persons, "We all were expecting it, If we add up all the things then people with an annual income around Rs 7.5 lakh wont have to pay tax. It wasnt the full budget, it was interim budget, so I would give it an 8/8.5 out of 10." Former prime minister Manmohan Singh termed the interim budget announced by Piyush Goyal as "election budget". The former finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government, told NDTV, "In these circumstances of the case, concessions to farmers and concessions to the middle class will obviously have implications in the election." All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) satrap Mamata Banerjee also criticized the budget saying it only highlights the desperation of the saffron party. "This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless," Banerjee told ANI. Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2019 Congress President Rahul Gandhi castigated the ruling BJP government for offering "Rs 17 per day" to farmers calling it an "insult". He tweeted: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy told news agency ANI, "I want to ask if this budget was prepared by officials of Finance dept or RSS? In this budget, Narendra Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop. Friends of BJP have prepared this budget." Final jumla of Modi govt : it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 1, 2019 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the Budget BJP's "final jumla", saying that the ruling government didn't earmark anything for Delhi. Enforcement Directorate The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to widen its probe as it is looking into at least a dozen of Swiss bank accounts allegedly linked to Rajeev Saxena and suspected kick backs paid in deals linked to national carrier Air India where Deepak Talwar is a suspect, official sources said on January 31. They said the ED will now confront 61-year-old Saxena, a Dubai-based businessman, with Gautam Khaitan to unravel the trail of alleged slush funds and kick backs paid in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers purchase case. While Delhi-based lawyer Khaitan has been arrested in this case earlier and he later obtained bail, he was last week again arrested by the central probe agency in a new criminal case of possession of alleged black money. The agency, in the past, has charged Saxena of being "in collusion" with Khaitan. Sources said that Saxena, a resident of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, will also be confronted with Christian Michel, the alleged British-origin middleman extradited by India recently in the same case. A dozen bank accounts located in Switzerland are under the scanner of the agency and it is suspected that Saxena operated them and that a good amount of kick backs of the helicopters deal could have been parked there, they said. The agency, sources said, has got a "prize catch" in the form of Talwar (60), whom it suspects to have laundered about Rs 100 crore kick backs that were sent to bank accounts of an NGO linked to him in India, in connection with sale of Airbus planes to erstwhile Indian Airlines, which was later merged with Air India. The CBI and the ED are already probing the case, under criminal sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), for alleged irregularities in over Rs 8,000-crore deal for supplying 43 aircrafts of the French company to erstwhile Indian Airlines in 2005. He is also under the scanner for his alleged role in lobbying for certain foreign airlines in a deal related to sharing of profit-making routes of Air India. "Suspected funds to the tune of Rs 212 crore are under the scanner as this money reportedly was paid as kick backs to Talwar for the routes sharing deal and money was sent to bank accounts in Singapore," the sources claimed. While Saxena was sent to a four-day ED custody, Talwar was similarly sent to a seven-day custody of the agency by a court here. Talwar, said to be a corporate lobbyist in the aviation sector, was also wanted by the ED and the CBI in a case of allegedly misusing over Rs 90 crore taken through the foreign funding route. In a major boost to agencies probing the high-profile corruption cases, the duo were flown in on a special plane that landed in the technical area of the Delhi airport at about 1.30 am on January 31. Officials said they were picked by Dubai authorities on January 30 "in assistance" to a request made by Indian agencies. The ED had also arrested Saxena's wife Shivani Saxena in this case from the Chennai airport in July, 2017. She is now out on bail. It had alleged that Rajeev, his wife and their two Dubai-based firms -- Ms UHY Saxena, Dubai and Ms Matrix Holdings -- routed "the proceeds of crime and further layered and integrated in buying the immovable properties/shares among others". The ED had said its probe found that Agusta Westland International Ltd, UK paid an amount of euro 58 million as kickbacks through Gordian Services Sarl, Tunisia and IDS Sarl, Tunisia. "These companies further siphoned off the said money/ proceeds of crime in the name of consultancy contracts to Interstellar Technologies Ltd, Mauritius, and others which were further transferred to UHY Saxena, Dubai and Matrix Holdings Ltd. Dubai and others," the ED had charged. The ED had said Rajeev is "beneficial owner" of Interstellar Technologies Ltd and both his companies received proceeds of crime in their respective Dubai bank accounts from this firm. It had said that Rajeev Saxena and his wife allegedly remitted/ transferred a "huge amount of money" through their Dubai-based companies to various other accounts. The ED had named Rajeev Saxena and Shivani Saxena in its charge sheet filed in this case and had got issued a non-bailable warrant against the former. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore paid by the firm for securing the deal. Districts had to apply for the grants by Jan. 7, and in order to be eligible they would have to file tax abatement resolutions with the county by March 30, according to the board, which said it expects to pay out the grants later in May. Angel Commodities' report on Gold On Thursday, spot gold prices rose marginally by 0.08 percent to close at $1320.6 per tonne. Prices continue their uptrend after the U.S. Federal Reserve paused their rate hike cycle. The Federal Reserve further stated that it might slowdown the rate hike cycle in 2019 considering the rising uncertainty about the global economic outlook. However, gains were restricted after optimism showed by Trump over reaching a trade deal with China, the two day meeting between the delegates witnessed substantial progress in the trade talks. Trump further added that he plans to meet President Xi Jinping soon which improved the risk appetite amongst investors, in turn decreasing the demand for the safe haven asset. Outlook A halt in the rate hikes by FED and increasing worries over US - China trade tension might increase demand for the safe haven asset. On the MCX, gold prices are expected to trade higher today; international markets are trading marginally higher by 0. 67 percent at $ 1318.65 per ounce. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More The Interim Budget 2019 presented on February 1 saw the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry outlay touch over Rs 48,000 crore, a nearly 12 percent increase from Rs 42,965 crore last year. The Metro project received the biggest share of the pie - an allocation of Rs 19,152 crore, a 23 percent increase from Rs 15,600 crore last year. It is expected that the Metro network would be expanded to over 15 cities in 2019-2020. The outlay for the flagship scheme of the government the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (universal housing by 2022) or PMAY has received an allocation of Rs 25,853 crore compared to Rs 26,405 crore in 2018, an almost 2 percent decrease over last year. As many as 1.53 crore houses have been constructed under the flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in his Budget speech on February 1. "During the period 2014-18, a total number of 1.53 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)," he said. The number includes houses under rural and urban schemes. PMAY (U) is a mission to provide housing to all by 2022 and is being implemented since 2015. It provides central assistance to urban local bodies and other implementing agencies through states/union territories for in-situ rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation, credit-linked subsidy, affordable housing in partnership and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement. Sanjay Chatrath, executive director (NCR), Colliers International India, says that a 2 percent decrease in allocation compared to last year may not have a large impact on this ongoing programme. Dedicated affordable housing fund announced by the government today will further help housing finance segment and the PMAY programme implementation. The government has allocated Rs 6,600 crore for the Smart Cities Mission, which is about 7 percent more than the amount set aside last year. The government last year had proposed over 50 percent increase in the allocation for smart cities in Budget 2018 from Rs 4,000 crore for 2017-2018 to Rs 6,169 crore for 2018-2019. Under the programme, 100 Smart Cities have been selected in four rounds based on an all India competition. All 100 cities have incorporated Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Since the launch of the mission, a total of 5,151 projects have been identified and are in various stages of implementation in 100 cities. The government has set aside Rs 7,300 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme that is targeted at upgrading urban infrastructure across 500 towns and cities. This is an increase of almost 14.06 percent over last year's allocation. The AMRUT scheme was allocated Rs 6,400 crore (revised) in last year's Budget. The allocation under the scheme was cut to Rs 6,000 crore in 2018-19 from Rs 9,000 crore in 2017-18. AMRUT scheme is aimed at ensuring robust sewage networks, water supply and other civic amenities to improve the quality of life of people in urban areas. affordable housing As many as 1.53 crore houses have been constructed under the flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in his Budget speech on February 1. "During the period 2014-18, a total number of 1.53 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)," he said. The number includes houses under the rural and urban schemes. Prime Minister Narendra Modis flagship scheme the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or PMAY has received an allocation of Rs 25,853 crore compared to Rs 26,405 crore in 2018, an almost 2 percent decrease over last year. In the FY2019 budget, the Government had also announced a dedicated affordable housing fund, which was expected to benefit banks and housing finance companies raise financing to increase their exposure to the affordable housing loan segment and thus support the PMAY programme implementation. Here is the breakup: Andhra Pradesh - 1.05 lakh houses West Bengal - 1.02 lakh houses. Uttar Pradesh - 91,689 Tamil Nadu - 68,110, Madhya Pradesh - 35,377, Kerala - 25,059 Maharashtra - 17,817, Odisha - 12,290, Bihar - 10,269 Uttarakhand - 9,208 houses The government earlier this week had approved over 4 lakh houses under its Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), taking the total number of houses sanctioned under the scheme to over 72.5 lakh. The approval was given at the 42nd meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee held on January 30. A total of 940 projects with a project cost of Rs 22,492 crore with central assistance of Rs 7,180 crore was approved in the meeting held under the chairmanship of Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, last week. As much as Rs 6,500 crore had been allocated for the scheme in Budget 2018. This allocation was to take care of the interest subsidy until 2022. In Budget 2018, the government had also announced a dedicated affordable housing fund, which was expected to benefit banks and housing finance companies raise financing to increase their exposure to the affordable housing loan segment and thus support the PMAY programme implementation. Early last year, the Union Cabinet had approved the creation of Rs 60,000-crore National Urban Housing Fund to finance the government's Housing for All programme in the urban areas. The said funds, proposed to be raised through non-budgetary sources, were to be used for the next four years. The Housing for All by 2022 initiative was launched by the Modi government within five months of assuming office. Affordable housing has also been accorded infrastructure status, ensuring developers in this segment have access to cheaper loans. The Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for the Middle Income Group (CLSS for MIG) was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31, 2016 and was earlier extended twice till March 2019. The government in the last week of December 2018 extended the interest subsidy scheme till March 2020 for first time urban home buyers who have annual income between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 18 lakh. Till now over 93,000 people from this income group (MIG) have availed the Rs 1,960 crore interest subsidy from the Centre, which has been disbursed through banks. Overall, until December 30 this year, around 3.39 lakh beneficiaries have availed the CLSS under the PMAY (Urban) and the total subsidy released was Rs 7543 crore. For the MIG I category, which consists of individuals with an annual income of Rs 6-12 lakh, an interest subsidy of 4 percent is provided on a loan of up to Rs 9 lakh. For the MIG II category, which is made up of individuals with an annual income of Rs 12-18 lakh, an interest subsidy of 3 percent is given on a loan of up to Rs 12 lakh. The benefits are typically up to Rs 2.67 lakh on home loans. The carpet area of a housing unit was initially revised to up to 120 sq m and up to 150 sq m for MIG I and MIG II respectively in November, 2017 and further enhanced to up to 160 sq m and up to 200 sq m for MIG I and MIG II, respectively in June, 2018. Land is the biggest challenge for implementing this scheme. Its current shortage in major city-centric areas prevents the development of affordable housing in areas where it is most direly needed. The cost of land currently accounts for as much as 30-50 percent of the cost of a project within city limits. However, RBI regulations do not allow banks to fund land purchase. On the demand side, securing financing for eligible buyers from banks and housing finance agencies is not an easy task. As the scheme targets EWS and LIG households who work in the informal sector, documentation required to avail of finance under the scheme is a challenge. Besides, delinquencies on repayment of loans taken for purchase of affordable houses has already started to rise and could deter lenders from sanctioning fresh loans if the trend persists. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also cautioned against loan sanctions for affordable houses. vandana.ramnani@nw18.com Tax changes: Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on February 1 announced tax sops for the middle class. One of the biggest announcement was the doubling of income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. (Image: PTI) Union Budget 2019 announced a direct annual income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to farmers with land holding below two hectares under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan). The welfare package is likely to benefit around 12 crore farmers and would cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore. We still dont have clarity if the cost would be split between the Centre and state governments. All governments in the past have announced different welfare and support schemes to farmers. Examples include increasing minimum support price (MSP), enhancing agricultural credit, increasing public spending in rural areas and announcing a farm loan waiver. Of the various schemes, a farm loan waiver is the worst way to address the agrarian distress. The data indicates that delinquencies in the period after the debt waiver increases significantly. In the past, we have seen an increase in the number of new borrowers after the waiver, indicating a moral hazard associated with debt waivers. We welcome the move as unlike loan waivers, direct income support doesnt adversely impact the banking system already saddled with huge non-performing assets. At the same time, PM Kisan will boost rural consumption and hence is a better alternative. That said, roll out of the scheme is not easy as it will depend on proper land records. The announced PM Kisan is in line with Rythu Bandhu scheme of Telangana, the first direct farmer welfare support scheme in India, where cash is paid directly. Rythu Bandhu scheme (also Farmers Investment Support Scheme) is a welfare programme to support farmers investment for two crops a year by the Telangana government. The latter provides 58.33 lakh farmers Rs 4,000 per acre per season to support farm investment, twice a year, for the rabi and kharif seasons. Overall, we see PM Kisan as a relatively better populist measure, which may yield electoral gains. But as we know that the agricultural sector employs more than 50 percent of the total workforce in India, while its contribution to GDP is declining and stands around 17-18 percent of GDP, any measures aimed at enhancing rural employment is the best way to address agrarian distress. Follow @nehadave01 A bird flies by the Vedanta office building in Mumbai August 16, 2010. India-focused miner Vedanta Resources said it will buy 51-60 percent of Cairn India for about $8.5-9.6 billion in cash to be funded via debt and cash resources, a move that would represent Vedanta's first foray into oil and gas, and help Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy fund an expensive drilling programme in Greenland. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS ENERGY) - RTXSAAV live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Vedanta fell around 18 percent on Friday morning as investors turned wary of the stock after financial results. The touched a 52-week low of Rs 162.05. It touched an intraday high of Rs 180.50 and an intraday low of Rs 162.05. Vedanta has reported a 21 percent on year decline in third quarter consolidated profit to Rs 1,574 crore due to lower commodity prices and shutdown of copper smelter at Tuticorin. Revenue from operations during the quarter dropped 2.8 percent to Rs 23,669 crore compared to year-ago. The sequential profit was up 17 percent and revenue up 4 percent. "Revenue was lower mainly on account of shutdown of copper smelter at Tuticorin and lower commodity prices, partially offset by currency depreciation and higher volumes at Electrosteel and aluminium business," Vedanta said. At operating level, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) declined 11 percent year-on-year to Rs 5,953 crore, but sequentially EBITDA increased 13 percent and margin expanded 300 bps QoQ to 29 percent. Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Downgrade to Sell | Target: Cut to Rs 170 from Rs 250 CLSA has downgraded the stock to sell, with a target cut to Rs 170 from Rs 250. The brokerage is worried about use of its cash to fund investments for promoter holding company. It is also concerned over related party transaction and potential use of cash in the future. The brokerage cut FY19-21 EPS by 5-10% post Q3 results. Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Cut to Rs 223 from Rs 260 The brokerage said that December quarters Ebitda was below expectation led by loss at aluminium division. Purchase in economic interest in Anglo American from parent should raise capital allocation risks. The company has also cut 2018-19 volume guidance for oil and zinc international division. Brokerage: Morgan Stanley | Rating: Equalweight | Target: Rs 235 The global research firm believes that core EBITDA was in line with estimates. Growth projects seeing some delays in FY19, it observed. It sees downside risk to earnings estimates. Medium-term focus remains on rampup of current expansion, growth in oil & zinc, & cost efficiency in aluminum. Brokerage: Motilal Oswal | Rating: Downgrade to sell | Target: Cut to Rs 170 from Rs 230 The brokerage believes Ebitda was in line, but mark to market gains lead to net profit beat. Related-party transaction will de-rate the stock, it said, adding that transaction appears at arms length, but the counter party risk is high because parent drives its value from Vedanta and (parent) is highly leveraged. At 09:17 hrs Vedanta was quoting at Rs 165.80, down Rs 31.70, or 16.05 percent, on the BSE. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are the stocks which are in news today: Results on February 1: State Bank of India, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Titan Company, Monsanto India, Balaxi Ventures, BSE Limited, Astron Paper & Board Mill, Galaxy Surfactants, Sequent Scientific, The Investment Trust Of India, Equitas Holdings, Capri Global Capital, Sarla Performance Fibers, Rajesh Exports, Berger Paints, Unichem Laboratories, Sundram Fasteners, GIC Housing Finance, FCS Software Solutions, Excel Industries, EID Parry India, Akzo Nobel India, Hikal, Deepak Nitrite, Shanthi Gears, Dredging Corporation of India, Vardhman Special Steels, Quintegra Solutions, Voltamp Transformers, Kalpataru Power Transmission, Paramount Communications, NOCIL, Jagran Prakashan, Taj GVK Hotels & Resorts, National Fertilizers, Smartlink Holdings, Carborundum Universal, Elgi Equipments Dena Bank: The company posted a net loss of Rs 178.5 crore. Power Grid: The net profit rose 14 percent at Rs 2,331.2 crore. Petronet LNG: The net profit has been reported at Rs 565.3 crore. Vedanta: The net profit has fallen 21 percent at Rs 1,574 crore. Yes Bank: Ajai Kumar has been appointed as interim MD & CEO. Bharti Airtel: Net profit falls 27 percent at Rs 86.2 crore. Hero MotoCorp: Net profit has fallen 4 percent at Rs 769.1 crore. Bulk Deals on January 31 AKG Exim: Ace Stonecraft Limited sold 1,40,000 shares at Rs 34.76 per share on the NSE Geojit Financial Services: HSBC Global Investment Funds-Asia Ex Japan Equity Smaller Companies sold 24,75,971 shares at Rs 35.59 per share on the NSE Trident Limited: Madhuraj Foundation bought 32,00,000 shares at Rs 66.30 per share. (For more bulk deals, click here) Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings Himatsingka Seide: The company will hold a conference call on February 6, 2019 to discuss financial results. TCS: Oppenheimer Funds will meet the company on February 7, 2019. Star Cement: The company will hold a con call to discuss financials on February 5, 2019. Kaya: The firm will hold a conference call on February 6, 2019 to discuss financial results. Matrimony.com: A conference call has been organized to discuss financial results on February 12, 2019. CG Consumer: The company has organized multiple meetings with investors between February 11 and 18, 2019. The Interim Budget 2019 had something for everyone focus on rural spending, bonanza for middle-class, incentives for real estate & MSME segments, and was fiscally balanced with fiscal deficit target at 3.4% for FY19. The Central government bias appeared to be clearly tilted towards populism ahead of the general elections due in April-May 2019 post the weak performance in recent state elections and concerns about farmer distress. It is an election budget aimed at winning back its core constituency of the urban middle class, VK Sharma, Head PCG & Capital Markets Strategy, HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol. We have seen political parties promising the moon to the electorate ahead of the elections. At least these schemes appear to be grounded in reality. I believe that the steps taken in the Budget apart from catalysing growth in the economy will also touch the lives of crores of people in a meaningfully positive way, he said. One big factor which supported the market sentiment was the fiscal deficit number which got breached by only 10 bps and was revised upwards to 3.4 percent of GDP, but the disappointment could come for FY20 estimates which was also kept at 3.4 percent compared to expectations of 3.1-3.2 percent which in other words mean more fiscal stress. The S&P BSE Sensex reclaimed 36,000 while Nifty50 closed a tad below 10,900 on the Budget day. Infra, realty, auto are some of the sectors which put up a strong show on Friday. The government increased the FY19 fiscal deficit target by 10 bps to 3.4 percent of GDP, which was largely in line with market expectation. However, the government estimates that FY20 fiscal deficit will remain at elevated level of 3.4 percent of GDP, which was a deviation from the 3.1 percent of GDP projected in the medium-term fiscal policy statement last year, Tanvee Gupta Jain, Economist, UBS Securities India Pvt. Ltd and Gautam Chhaochharia, Analyst, UBS Securities India Pvt. Ltd. The government pursued expansionary fiscal policy, seemingly prioritising populism over prudence. While this should help support consumption growth in FY20, it could further delay the recovery in capex cycle, which is seen as key to sustainable growth, they say. The journey looks slightly volatile for benchmark indices and investors should place their bets around individual stocks or sectors which are likely to benefit the most from the Budget, suggest experts. Jayant Manglik, President, Religare Broking, said that Budget proposals are a positive for sectors related to consumption, which include FMCG, auto, consumer durables, banks and fertilizer/agri. Moreover, with several announcements pertaining specific to the Real Estate sector in the Budget, this sector will stand to be a beneficiary over the medium-to-long-term. Thus, sectors related to and dependent on Real Estate will also stand to gain and these include Paints, Cement, Ceramics, etc., he said. Key proposals in the Budget to impact the BFSI segment are: a) boost to consumption spends, rural spends & measures for the real estate segment to support retail financing demand (including housing finance). Rural and lower end consumption will be the prime beneficiary given income transfers and tax cuts Consumer Staples, 2-Wheelers, consumer durables and micro finance to benefit; 2) Real Estate, given Capital gains exemption under Sec 54 to be available on 2 residential houses instead of 1 i.e. No tax on notional rent of 2nd self-occupied house, Shiv Diwan, Heads-Sales, Institutional Equities at Edelweiss Securities Ltd told Moneycontrol. February 01, 2019 / 03:34 PM IST Market at close: Benchmark indices ended higher but off day's high with Nifty ended near 10,900 level post Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. The Sensex was up 212.74 points at 36469.43, while Nifty was up 62.70 points at 10893.70. About 1189 shares have advanced, 1323 shares declined, and 137 shares are unchanged. Major gainers are from auto, energy, FMCG, pharma, IT and infra space, while metal and banking stocks were remained under pressure during the day. Hero Motocorp, Maruti Suzuki, HCL Tech, Asian Paints and Bajaj Finance are the top gainers on the Sensex, while losers are Vedanta, Yes Bank, Coal India, SBI and ICICI Bank. Reis, 57, made her most recent trip to the viaduct near Archer Avenue and Canal Street on Monday, where she found two dozen people trying to stay warm in tents they had managed to erect. She not only provided items to help the group stay warm but also 200 White Castles and jugs of juice, she said. Citizens with income lesser than Rs 5 lakh were to get full tax rebate which meant that they dont have to pay taxes. Rebate under section 87A was hiked to Rs 12,500 from Rs 2,500. The amount under standard deduction was also hiked by Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000. VK Sharma If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it has to be a duck. So, let us not be pretentious about the fact that this not an election Budget. It is an election budget aimed at winning back its core constituency of the urban middle class. Full tax rebate up to Rs 5 lakh annual income after all deductions is mulled in the budget. This is a clever ploy to only help the real middle class, as the tax slabs remain in place. Retired persons will find the higher thresh hold limit for TDS at Rs 40,000 as compared to current Rs 10,000. Very helpful as they will not have to file their returns to claim the refund of TDS. Small farmers will now get assistance to the extent of Rs 6,000 per annum in three tranches. This will silence some critiques who were saying that the government was not doing enough for the farmers. The Finance Minister has addressed the hitherto unrecognised segment of unorganised workers with a monthly income of Rs 15,000 or less through the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan. It will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 with a contribution of Rs 100 per month for workers in the unorganised sector after 60 years of age. This is going to attract more than 10 crore workers in the next five years, which will make it the largest pension scheme in the world. What is important is that the government has been able to curtail its fiscal deficit to 3.4 percent for the current year and has also assumed the same for next year. While the economists may want a pinch of salt to digest the maths behind the numbers, but coming in an election year, it was likely to be expected. Another important point we need to remember is this that government spending has a cascading impact on the economy. The amount set aside for farmer assistance of Rs 75,000 crore has the potential to add 100 basis points to the economy, which can further reduce the fiscal deficit percentage. We have seen political parties promising the moon to the electorate ahead of the elections. At least these schemes appear to be grounded in reality. I believe that the steps taken in the Budget apart from catalysing growth in the economy will also touch the lives of crores of people in a meaningfully positive way. What this means for us in the market place is that the psephologists will have to take notice of this budget and revise their odds for the current dispensation to come back with strong numbers in 2019. The budget is out of the way. The external environment is good. The US Federal Reserve is now in a dovish mood. Since the US has put sanctions on Venezuelan crude, making the commodity head northwards, it will be under pressure to allow the countries importing crude from Iran some more time beyond May, which augurs well for India. The combination of the dovish Fed and a pliant US makes us believe the markets will make a new high before the elections. The author is Head PCG & Capital Markets Strategy at HDFC Securities. 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. Market held on to its gains after the interim Finance minister Piyush Goyal on February 1 said that the government has revised upwards the 2018-19 fiscal deficit target to 3.4 percent from the Budgeted 3.3 percent. Even after the announcement, S&P BSE Sensex was trading 110 points higher at 36,367, while the Nifty held on to its crucial support level of 10,850. The finance minister in his Budget speech also said that the current account deficit will be contained at 2.5 percent. Analysts were penciling in a fiscal deficit number of 3.5 percent of GDP for FY19. The fiscal deficit target for the FY20 has been set at 3.4 percent of the GDP. Any slippage on fiscal deficit target for FY20 would get reflected in higher G-sec yields, thus negatively impacting the sentiment for NBFCs. Fiscal Deficit as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) is the key number which is watched out by analysts not just in India but also across the globe and rating agencies. It is one of the main stimuli for the sovereign rating. Global rating agency, Moodys Investor Service sounded a note of caution ahead of the Interim Budget. A report by Moody's Investor Service earlier said it expects fiscal deficit to reach 3.4 percent of GDP in the year ending March 2019 as compared to the government's budgeted target of 3.3 percent of GDP. Over the past month, India's government has announced a range of policies to support the incomes of small enterprises and low-income households. It is also considering additional steps to support farmers facing financial distress, the report added. In the absence of new revenue-boosting measures, the policies will collectively make it harder for the government to achieve its fiscal consolidation objectives. GST collections are averaging Rs 96,780 crore/month which indicate a shortfall in excess of Rs 1 90,000 crore at the current rate and Rs 1,75,000 crore assuming a good pickup towards year-end. Fiscal deficit is referred to the gap between the government's total spending and the sum of its revenue receipts and non-debt capital receipts. It represents the total amount of borrowed funds required by the government to completely meet its expenditure. When the government's receipts fall short of its expenditures, it borrows money to bridge the gap. The excess of total expenditure over (non-borrowed) receipts is called fiscal deficit. Piyush Goyal Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, while speaking to news agency ANI, responded to criticism levied against the interim budget presented by him in Parliament on February 1. "When we created toilets and provided electricity to every village and every house, there was no election. When we implemented 6 crore cooking gas free of cost for people, to bring development to every single person of this country, there was no election then," Goyal said. "This is the work of the past four years. We have delivered and walked the talk," Goyal told the news agency. Goyal also spoke about the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and said the scheme is "respect" given to the farming community by the government for their work. "This is respect we are giving to the farming community... has anybody bothered about farmers as much as Prime Minister Narendra Modi?" Goyal asked. The Finance Minister also took a jibe at Congress, stating that the grand old party had failed to do anything in the 10 years it was in power. "They (Congress) did nothing other than a loan waiver which was announced without any budgetary provision... the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) reports speak for themselves, wrong people were given farm loan waivers," Goyal said, adding that apart from making "noise and tall promises", Congress had done nothing. Talking about the proposed offer on tax rebate for individuals earning up to Rs 5,00,000 under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, Goyal said the government has not disturbed the tax rates. Also Read: Budget 2019 vision for New India, takes care of every section of society: PM Modi "Over three crore people will benefit from this scheme, but we'll get a final data when the final tax returns of next year come... we have just made the change that those with an annual income of less than Rs 5 lakh will have to pay zero tax," Goyal said. Goyal also responded to a report that pegged the unemployment rate at 6.1 percent in 2017-18 in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) done by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). He slammed the report, which put unemployment at the highest in 45 years, and stated that jobs were being created. "The kind of jobs have changed. When infrastructure like a highway is being built, they are built by workers, can they be built without the work force? In the next two years, around 2.5 lakh people are going to get jobs in Railways. Organised sector jobs have their limits. When we calculate everything, I don't think any person exists where he or she doesn't have any work to do," the Finance Minister said. Goyal added that the formalisation of economy after demonetisation has benefited the citizens of this country. The Finance Minister also said without demonetisation and GST, economy would not have grown as it is today. "GST is a successful experiment and has prepared the nation for future. There's no other nation where it was even dared to make such a big change, it is obvious that some complications might occur during such a big change," Goyal said. Talking about the government's plan for the future, Goyal said according to the Prime Minister, an India "connected to the world digitally... and an honest India with basic amenities, will lead to development". "PM Modi has worked for every part of the country, from north to south and east to west, and every section of society," Goyal said. Citizens with income lesser than Rs 5 lakh were to get full tax rebate which meant that they dont have to pay taxes. Rebate under section 87A was hiked to Rs 12,500 from Rs 2,500. The amount under standard deduction was also hiked by Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000. The Law Ministry has been allocated an additional sum of over Rs 666 crore for conduct of Lok Sabha elections due this summer. According to Vote on Account 2019-2020, an additional provision has been made for the Law Ministry of Rs 666.66 crore (voted) in revenue section for conduct of the polls. The Law Ministry is the administrative ministry for the Election Commission. Certain funds are also allocated to the Home Ministry for elections which is largely used for transportation and logistics related to security personnel. Some of the amount spent by the Home Ministry is later reimbursed by the Law Ministry. Separately, the Election Commission has been allocated an additional Rs 12.14 crore (voted) in revenue section and Rs 16.67 crore (voted) in capital section for voters' awareness campaign under and for acquisition of land from DDA for construction of office building. The Lok Sabha elections are a mega exercise involving thousands of polling personnel and security forces. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3 and the next House to be formed before that. There is a possibility that the EC may go by precedent and hold assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha polls. Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was prematurely dissolved, the EC is bound to hold fresh polls there within six months. It was dissolved in November 2018 and the upper limit ends in May. The poll panel may hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha polls as well. But it can be held before that also as much depends on the security situation there. While the term of the Sikkim Assembly ends on May 27, the terms of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh assemblies end on June 18, June 11 and June 1 respectively. In 2004, the Election Commission had announced four-phase Lok Sabha polls on February 29. While the first date of poll was April 20, the last date was May 10 In 2009, the EC had announced Lok Sabha poll scheduled on March 2. The five-phase polls began on April 16 and ended on May 13. In 2014, the EC had announced the election schedule on March 5 and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May. While the first phase polling was on April 7, the last phase was on May 12. 2008-09 || The last full budget of the UPA 2 government was famous for an unprecedented bailout move that cost the government Rs 60,000 crore. What was the measure? Ans: The government announced a loan waiver cum relief programme under which it waived off outstanding loans of thousands of farmers worth more than Rs 60,000 crore. (Image source: Reuters) 2009-10 || The first budget of the UPA 2 government announced the setting up of a new organisation that has evolved into a defining institution for delivery of most services. Which is this institution? Ans: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) that launched the Aadhaar project to give a unique identification number/card to each Indian containing biometric and other personal details. (Image source: Reuters) 2010-11 || This budget announced a plan that eventually made India enter an elite group comprising the US, the UK, Japan and the European Union (EU). What was the plan? Ans: The government announced plans to formalise a symbol for the Indian Rupee, joining the select club of currencies such as the US Dollar, British Pound Sterling, Euro and Japanese Yen that have a clear distinguishing identity. 2011-12 || Pranab Mukherjee invoked the name of two Hindu deities in budget speech seeking their blessings for two unknown events that could affect the economy. Whose name did he invoke? Ans: Lord Indra, praying for timely and plentiful monsoon rains, and Goddess Lakshmi for a bountiful harvest. (Image source: Reuters) 2012-13 || Pranab Mukherjees last budget had a one-off peculiarity in presentation and also lasting fiscal legacy that roiled the investor community? Which are these? Ans: The budget was presented on March 16, 2012, and not in the last week of February. It was delayed because of the UP Assembly elections. The 2012-13 budget is also known for the controversial Retrospective Tax that allowed made companies pay taxes even on previous merger and acquisitions (M&A) affecting deals like the Vodafones purchase of Hutchison Whampoas telecom assets in India. (Image source: Reuters) 2013-14 || Finance minister P Chidambarams last full budget introduced a new taxation concept for individuals on the higher income scale? What was the measure? Ans: For the first time he introduced a so-called super-rich tax in India. Relatively prosperous" persons with a taxable income of more than Rs 1 crore and there are supposedly only 42,800 of them in India in 2013 were made to pay an additional surcharge of 10 percent. 2014-15 || Finance minister Arun Jaitleys first budget, among other things, also stood out for two unique characteristics. What are these? Ans: It was the longest budget speech that lasted two and a half hours long and included a ten-minute break. It also came to be known as the Rs 100-crore budget speech because it included 12 schemes for which Rs 100 crore each were allocated. (Image source: Reuters) 2015-16 || What exception did the stock markets make for this budget speech? Ans: The budget was presented on a Saturday. Markets made a budget-day exception to remain open on Saturday. 2016-17 || This budget launched a programme to revitalize Indias public sector bank through a massive capital infusion programme. The programme is named after a Hindu mythological weapon. What is the name of the programme? Ans: Project Indradhanush (Image source: Reuters) Arun Jaitley Union Minister Arun Jaitley, responding to the criticism levied by the Opposition against the interim budget presented on February 1, said while "budgets are an essential part of democracy, so are elections". "What did the UPA do in their 10 years in power? A one-time loan waiver of Rs 70,000 crore," Jaitley told in an interview to news agency ANI. "Only Rs 52,000 crore were waived off (during the UPA regime) and, according to the CAG report, out of that Rs 52,000 crore, a significant part of the money went to traders and businessmen and not to farmers," Jaitley added. The minister said the Congress "should not shed crocodile tears... for farmers". Jaitley was responding to Congress' criticism of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, which was announced during the budget earlier in the day. "This is a huge amount that we are doing. We are now against the one-time loan waiver of Rs 52,000 crore. This is Rs 75,000 crore in the first year itself. I'm sure it will expand in future years," he said. The Union Minister also slammed a report that pegged the unemployment rate at 6.1 percent in 2017-18 in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) done by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). Calling it an "economic absurdity" that "large nominal growth" would not lead to the creation of jobs, Jaitley said if jobs were not being created, "there would be social unrest". "(But) no major social agitation has been witnessed in the last five years", Jaitley said. "How did the GDP improve even after demonetisation? What did demonetisation eventually involve? People were earlier transacting substantially in cash... this went unrecorded. Now you have to give your credit card, have more recordable kind of transactions," he added. Talking about the proposed offer on tax rebate for individuals earning up to Rs 5,00,000 under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, Jaitley said the middle class has been strengthened and it will "make up close to 44 percent of the population by 2024". Centre on February 1 allocated a budgetary support of Rs 480 crore to its regional connectivity scheme, UDAN, during the interim budget of 2019-20. Because of UDAN, today an ordinary citizen is also travelling by air. The number of operational airports has crossed 100 with the commissioning of the Pakyong airport in Sikkim, Piyush Goyal, interim finance minister, said while presenting the governments interim budget. The allocation is up by only 8.84 percent from the previous years allocation of Rs 441 crore (revised estimate) during FY18. The amount was Rs 1014.09 crore (budgeted estimate FY19) and Rs 200 crore in 2017-18. UDAN, acronym for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, is a regional connectivity scheme launched in 2016-17. The scheme aims to make travel by hawai jahaaz affordable for people wearing hawai chappal by capping fares at Rs 2,500 for every one-hour flight. The government provides funds to the airlines to compensate for the subsidised price. Centre aims to connect tier-II and tier-III cities with metro cities to improve regional connectivity. Routes have been bid in three phases with each phase focusing on special features. For example, 128 routes were awarded under UDAN-I of which 76 routes are operational as of today. This phase focused on connecting intra-state and inter-state connectivity. Under UDAN-II, 312 routes were awarded, of which close to 60 are operational. This phase focused on improving connectivity in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, north eastern states and helipads. Close to 31 new helipads have been approved under UDAN-II. Routes under UDAN-III were announced in the last week of January 2019 that focused more on waterdromes and awarding those routes that were cancelled under the previous two phases. 235 routes have been awarded to 11 airlines under this phase. Overall, the ministry of civil aviation was allocated Rs 4,500 crore for 2019-20, down by 54 percent, from Rs 9,700 crore (revised estimate) allocated during 2018-19. A lower fiscal support to the ministry could be due to reduced support being extended to Air India. The family has dreams of doing better. With an insurance policy check of $10,000 coming to them, they all have different opinions on what theyre going to do with the money when it gets to them. It takes us through the travails of those particular wants the good and the bad of it. India may have to wait before it sees its first Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) taking concrete steps as the government didnt announce any major fiscal incentive for them during the interim budget of 2019-20. Even as Piyush Goyal, interim finance minister presenting the budget on February 1, praised Indias blue economy, no measures were announced. Indias long coastline has the potential of becoming the strength of the economy, particularly through exploitation of the Blue Economy, to ensure better standards and quality of life for a large number of people living in the coastal areas, Goyal said. Sector players were hoping for tax exemption to CEZs on the lines of exemptions given to industries set under Special Economic Zones (SEZ). According to section 10AA of the Income Tax Act, as incorporated by SEZ Act, 2005, units in SEZ will be eligible for a deduction of 100 percent of export profits for the first five years, 50 percent of the export profits for the next five years and deduction up to 50 percent of profits as is debited to the profit and loss account and credited to the Special Economic Zone Reinvestment Reserve Account will be allowed for the next five years. The exemption, however, is allowed to units that start working after 2005. Sector players were waiting for announcement to boost CEZ as the government had, during the last fiscal, pitched them as coastal employment zones. For CEZs, we are in the process of finalising a policy on how these zones should come up, a senior government official from Shipping Ministry told Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. He had said that the government was renaming coastal economic zones to coastal employment zones in order to show its intent to create jobs in the economy. As part of Sagarmala Programme, more than 400 projects have been identified for implementation, during 2015-2035, across the areas of port modernisation and new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialisation and coastal community development. Out of these, 199 focus projects are phased out up to 2019. According to government data, 415 projects will be undertaken of which 189 will be for port modernisation, 170 will be for connectivity enhancement, 33 will be for port-linked industrialisation and 23 will be for coastal community development. While CEZs would be spatial economic regions comprising of a group of coastal districts or districts with a strong linkage to the ports in that region, CEUs would be specific industrial estate projects with a demarcated boundary similar to the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) nodes. The CEUs will house the industrial clusters and projects proposed within the CEZ. According to the government, each CEZ will consist of multiple CEUs and more than one industrial cluster can be housed within a CEU. Within each industrial cluster, there can be several manufacturing units. To accelerate the CEU development process, it is proposed that CEUs be prioritised in locations where land parcels are available in areas close to a deep draught port and with strong potential for manufacturing. As part of the National Perspective Plan, 14 CEZs have been proposed across all coastal states that are Kachchh, Suryapur and Saurashtra in Gujarat; North and South Konkan in Maharashtra; Dakshin Kanara in Karnataka; Malabar in Kerala; Mannar, VCIC South and Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu; VCIC Central and North in Andhra Pradesh; Kalinga in Odisha; and Gaud in West Bengal. Our efforts in the Sagarmala programme will be scaled up and we will develop other inland waterways faster. Our coastline and our ocean waters powering Indias development, Goyal said. Centre has proposed to allocate a total budgetary support of Rs 550 crore towards Sagarmala for 2019-20. This is up by 44.32 percent against last years budgetary support of Rs 381.08 crore. The Sagarmala Programme envisages reducing logistics cost and time for domestic as well as exports and import transactions. The government has planned CEZs, Coastal Economic Units (CEUs) and Port-Linked Industrial Clusters under its umbrella Sagarmala Programme. Overall, the government has proposed to allocate Rs 1,902.56 crore for the shipping ministry for 2019-20, down by 2 percent, from Rs 1,938.76 crore. economy Budget 2019: Make or break for Modi government? Sakshi Batra and Gaurav Choudhury discuss what is likely to come out of the finance minister's briefcase and how important this budget is for the Modi government Farmers | Farmers with less than two hectares of land will be offered Rs 6,000 per year, as direct transfer, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The benefit will be transferred directly into the bank account of beneficiary farmers in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The scheme will cover more than 12 crore farmers across the country and will cost the government around Rs 75,000 crore. Farmers | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programs allocation increased by Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore for FY20. Farmers | Farmers plagued by natural calamities will now receive 2-5 percent interest subvention under the insurance scheme. Farmers | Two percent interest subsidy will be given to farmers involved in animal husbandry activities via kisan credit card scheme. An additional three percent subsidy will be paid on timely payment of loans. Farmers | The government also announced Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, a scheme to enhance the productivity of cows. Workers | The unorganised sector will receive a monthly payment of Rs 3,000 as pension following retirement. The scheme will benefit more than 10 crore workers. Those who join at 18 years of age will have to contribute Rs 55 per month. The government will contribute equal matching share in the pension account. This scheme will cost the government Rs 500 crore. Workers | Employees' State Insurance eligibility cover limit is being raised to Rs 21,000 per month from Rs 15,000 per month Workers | Gratuity limit was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh Finance minister Piyush Goyal expects all the banks that are under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to come out of these restrictions "soon." In his speech during the Interim Budget 2019-20, Goyal said that this will enable them to take part in full-fledged banking operations. Yesterday, we received the good news that Bank of India (BOI), Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) have been taken out of the PCA framework. At the rate at which there have been an improvement in the banking sector, I am confident that the others will exit PCA soon, he said. On January 31, RBI removed these three banks under PCA framework. The banking regulator said that a few banks are not in breach of the PCA framework as per their December quarter results, except return on assets. Currently, there are nine banks under PCA framework. These include Allahabad, Central Bank, Corporation Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Dena Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank and United Bank of India. Banks that have non-performing assets above 6 percent, have a capital adequacy ratio below 9 percent or have been loss-making for two consecutive years are put under PCA. Those under PCA face several restrictions including restrictions on non-core activities and lending. RBI said that BOI and BOM had been taken out of PCA because their net NPA is less than 6 percent in Q3. In the case of OBC, RBI had said that though the net NPA was 7.15 percent in Q3, the government has since infused sufficient capital and bank has brought the Net NPA to less than 6 percent. Former RBI governor Urjit Patel had faced criticism from the government on the tightening of PCA rules. The government and RBI were unable to arrive at a consensus on relaxing these PCA rules for loss-making banks. RBI was asked to make the rules flexible so as to ensure easier availability of credit for these banks. In the RBI board meeting in November 2018, it was decided that the issue of banks under PCA will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the central bank. Former governor Urjit Patel is believed to have said that a wrong message should not be sent by watering down rules. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China. (Image: Reuters) China's state energy giants are set to raise spending on domestic drilling this year to the highest levels since 2016, focusing on adding natural gas reserves in a concerted drive to boost local supplies. Responding to President Xi Jinping's call last August to boost domestic energy security, China's trio of oil majors - PetroChina, Sinopec Corp and CNOOC Ltd - are adding thousands of wells at oil basins in the remote deserts of the northwest region of Xinjiang, shale rocks in southwest Sichuan province and deepwater fields of the South China Sea. Firms are showing greater risk appetite, expanding investments faster in exploration than production, emboldened by Beijing's political push and oil near $60 a barrel, said state oil executives and analysts at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. "We shall carry through resolutely the State Council's call on stepping up domestic exploration and development and launch an offensive war," PetroChina Chairman Wang Yilin was cited as saying in an inhouse newspaper in December. Offshore specialist CNOOC Ltd said last week it was confident of achieving its spending target this year, the highest since 2014. It pledged to spend twice as much this year in domestic exploratory drilling as in 2016. "With oil prices at $50, $60 and $70...we're making decent profits," Yuan Guangyu, CNOOC's Chief Executive Officer, said last week. CNPC, Asia's largest oil and gas producer and parent of PetroChina, is boosting risk exploration investment five-fold to 5 billion yuan ($741 million) this year from 1 billion yuan last year. But with oil reservoirs maturing and new discoveries tending to be smaller and more costly, even more drilling is unlikely to reverse China's declining oil outlook, analysts say. China, set to remain the world's top oil buyer for years to come, is forecast to slip to the 10th largest global oil producer in 2020, down from No.5 for most of last decade, said Wood Mackenzie. "China will likely continue on the same path as it has in recent years - an overwhelming focus on new gas production, leading to continued decline in its oil output," said Angus Rodger, research director of Asia-Pacific upstream at Wood Mackenzie. PETROCHINA LEADS PUSH With Beijing pushing to reduce energy import dependence and hit environmental targets, gas output is forecast by analysts to rise at 6-8 percent a year through 2020. China, the world's No. 3 gas consumer, overtook Japan as the world's top gas importer in October. PetroChina, which produces some 70 percent of the country's gas output, will lead the drive, adding thousands of wells in southwestern Sichuan, northern Ordos and northwest Tarim basin, CNPC says on its website. The major is also ramping up shale development in Sichuan, seeking to catch up with Sinopec Corp which has pioneered China's nascent shale push. Despite almost a decade of drilling, shale makes up just 6 percent of China's total gas output because of complex geology and high costs of development. PetroChina raised its shale gas output 40 percent last year to 4.3 billion cubic metres, while Sinopec's production was largely flat at 6 bcm. "Controlling the largest and best acreage, CNPC has been ramping up aggressively capital and human resource deployment over the past 3-4 months in Sichuan shale," said Woodmac analyst Max Petrov who tracks Chinese majors' investment. Sinopec declined comment. CNPC did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. DEEPWATER Beyond 2020, deepwater discoveries in the South China Sea, such as Linghui 17-2, some 150km (90 miles) off China's southernmost province of Hainan, will lend growth to China's gas portfolio. With estimated proven recoverable reserves of 2.5 trillion cubic feet, Lingshui is CNOOC's single-largest fully owned deepwater gas discovery. BG Group walked away with little success after exploratory drilling at the nearby Lingshui 22-1-1 well in 2010. Aiming to add 50 percent to gas reserves by 2025, CNOOC is expected to step up drilling in the deepwater acreage of the Pearl River Mouth basin and expand earlier major discoveries including Yacheng and Dongfang, both near Hainan province. "Natural gas is becoming increasingly popular under the government's green push. And its relatively less risky than oil under long-term off-take deals," said a state oil executive. Companies, however, will hold off drilling in disputed territorial waters of the South China Sea due to technological challenges and the lack of experienced global partners willing to risk exploring those areas, analysts said. Beijing claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, whose estimated energy potential varies widely, although geologists believe it holds more gas than oil. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim parts of the key waterway. SHORT RESERVE LIFE Sinopec, traditionally a refiner rather than a driller, has the smallest resource base and may lag its peers, analysts say. Sinopec's proven oil reserves by end-2017 could last less than six years of production, versus CNOOC's 10 years, while Sinopec's gas reserve life of 8 years is dwarfed by PetroChina's 24 years, according to calculations based on company filings. Sinopec is expected to boost spending this year, including in developing its second shale gas target, Weirong block, in Sichuan. But the momentum of making new finds is waning, said company officials. "Sinopec is well aware of its problems, but the will to change that seems to have a bottleneck at the top as the company sees itself more of a downstream, petrochemical player," said Woodmac's Petrov. ($1 = 6.7437 Chinese yuan renminbi) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Reliance Communications will file for voluntary bankruptcy in a bid to resolve matters related to its debt. The company that has over Rs 40,000 crore debt said this decision has been taken as their board has been unable to get a 100 percent approval of all 40 lenders on any matter. "Despite the passage of over 18 months, lenders have received zero proceeds from the proposed asset monetisation plans, and the overall debt resolution process is yet to make any headway," said RCom in a statement. The company told exchanges that it will seek fast-track resolution through National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Mumbai. They will implement the debt resolution plan through NCLT. RCom said it has been "impossible" to achieve an approval on the debt resolution matter despite having over 45 meetings with the lenders for over 12 months. "Recurring legal challenges by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for spectrum monetisation and continuing litigation by other parties support the decision to opt for the NCLT resolution track," the company said. The company also pointed to the pendency of numerous legal issues at high courts, Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the Supreme Court impeding progress at various stages, as a reason for going to NCLT. RCom said this course of action will be in the best interest of all stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive debt resolution in a final, transparent and time-bound manner within the prescribed 270 days. RCOM and only two of its subsidiaries, Reliance Telecom Ltd. and Reliance Infratel Ltd., will take appropriate steps shortly to implement this board decision. However, the company clarified that there will be no impact on the business and operations of its other subsidiaries, including GCX, Reliance IDC among others. Rank 3 | Amazon | E-commerce company (Image: Amazon) E-commerce rules that went into effect in India on February 1 caused widespread disruption for Amazon.com, forcing it to take down an array of items from its India website including Echo speakers, batteries and floor cleaners. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the products began to disappear from the Amazon India site late on January 31 as it began complying with the revised norms before a midnight deadline. "The company has no choice, they are fulfilling a compliance requirement ... customers will suffer," said one of the sources. In December, India modified foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector, which has drawn major bets from not only Amazon.com but also the likes of Walmart Inc, which last year bought a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce player Flipkart. India's new e-commerce investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest, and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. By Thursday, numerous items sold by vendors such as Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds an indirect equity stake, were no longer available on the Amazon India site. Clothing from Indian department store chain Shopper's Stop was also no longer available, as Amazon owns 5 percent of the company. Amazon's own range of Echo speakers, its Presto-branded home cleaning goods and other Amazon Basics products such as chargers and batteries had also vanished from the website. Both Amazon and Walmart had lobbied against the latest rules and pushed for a delay in their implementation, but India late on February 31 said the deadline stood. The situation in India is "a bit fluid right now," but the country remains a good long-term opportunity, Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said on a conference call with reporters following its fourth-quarter earnings announcement. The company's main goal is to minimize the impact of the new e-commerce rules on customers and sellers, he added. GROWTH DRIVER The US government has also urged India to protect the investments of the two American retailers, Reuters reported last week. Both companies have bet heavily on India being a big growth driver: Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration is seen as keen to appease small traders in the run-up to a general election due by May. Many small traders say the e-commerce giants use their buying power and control over inventory from affiliated vendors to create an unfair marketplace where they can offer deep discounts on some products. Such arrangements will be barred under the new policy. Industry sources have said the new rules will force the big e-sellers to change their business structures, and will raise compliance costs. Amazon India told Reuters it was "committed to remaining compliant to all the laws of the land", adding that all sellers make their own independent decisions of what to list and when. Exclusive deals with sellers will be discontinued, the two sources said. It is unclear how long the disruption will last. Would-be buyers of Echo speakers on Amazon India saw a message reading: "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." The impact of the changes on Flipkart was not clear. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a letter to India's industries department in January, Chief Executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy said the rules required Flipkart to assess "all elements" of its business operations and risked causing "significant customer disruption". Budget 2019_Piyush Goyal Siraj Hussain In the run up to the Budget, it was widely believed that the Interim Budget will have a rural focus and there may be a package for farmers. The richer classes, mostly urban, have however received an unexpected bonanza. In the budget speech, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal credited demonetisation for growth of 18 percent in direct tax collection in 2017-18. The tax base also increased by 1.06 crore people who filed income tax return for the first time in 2017-18. Ironically, these are the people who have benefited most from the Interim Budget for FY 2020 as individual tax payers earning up to Rs 5 lakh will get full tax rebate and will not be required to pay any income tax. Does it mean the gains of demonetisation have been surrendered? Also, this is not all. Income tax on notional rent on a second self-occupied house is also proposed to be waived. These people have every reason to be happy with the FM. This is not to deny that rural and agriculture sectors have been completely ignored. The announcement of direct income support to farmers was widely anticipated. The government has done well to provide a uniform grant of Rs 6000 per year to 12 crore small and marginal landholding farmer families. The revised estimates provide Rs 20,000 crore in this years budget itself. Though this is to be paid in three instalments, the government would like the first instalment to be paid into farmers accounts by March, before the parliament elections. According to the All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17, conducted by Nabard, average monthly income of an agricultural household was Rs 6,668 in Uttar Pradesh and Rs 7,175 in Bihar. The direct income support of Rs 500 per month will not even raise their income by 10 percent. As for farmers in Punjab, their average monthly income in 2016-17 was Rs 23,133. Assistance of another Rs 500 per month would be too low and it will not compensate for deepening of tube-wells, which many of them undertake almost every third year due to the falling water table. Since land records are not updated in most states and the state governments will have to collect their bank details and link it to their land holding details, it is likely that only a few states may actually deliver the money into bank accounts of landholders. In an election year, no one expected the government to undertake major reforms of subsidies on fertiliser, irrigation or electricity. These reforms will involve unpopular decisions, at least in the short term and they would be easy to undertake in the first two years of a new government. So, it is no surprise that the government has not touched the reforms of agricultural subsidies. It is good news that a government, seen to be obsessed with vegetarianism, has declared that a new department of fisheries will be set up. The sector employs about 1.45 crore people and it earned about $7 billion in exports in 2017-18. Inland fishery now produces about 68 percent of Indias fish and it can be a source of employment and income to rural people across India. The government has done well to recognise its potential to contribute to increasing farmers income. Interest subvention to fishermen at par with farmers on Kisan credit card should be helpful too. To sum up, the budget acknowledges that the agriculture sector needs more aggressive support of the government. The new government would do well to understand that farm sector faces peculiar challenges in different regions of India and they need to be understood and tackled differently. For example, the farmers in Bihar do not face scarcity of water but there are no mandis in Bihar. Punjab farmers, on the other hand, have to invest every other year in deepening their tube wells though they have well developed mandi infrastructure. The government invested huge amount of time in conceiving and implementing GST by consulting and negotiating with the states. In fact, the Centre and the states surrendered their right to change the rates of GST. Not only that, the government acknowledged the need to continuously fine tune and modify GST rules and rates as the situation demanded. Similar engagement with state governments on agriculture was, however, not seriously attempted by the government. Similar effort for agriculture should be the first priority for the new government. Siraj Hussain, a former Union agriculture secretary, is visiting senior fellow, ICRIER, New Delhi. Views are personal. For more Opinion pieces, click here live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The government has proposed a new model to collect stamp duty from equity traders through the Union Budget presented on February 1. The government has authorized the exchanges to collect stamp duty and distribute it to the states as per the domicile of the investors. While brokers were hoping for the abolishment of the securities transaction tax, the government has added a stamp duty on equity transactions instead. Uttam Bagri, Chairman of the countrys largest brokers forum, the Bombay Stock Exchange Brokers forum, told Moneycontrol, "With 100 percent demat, why should stamp duty be applicable in the first place? Currently, there is practically no difference between Stamp Duty and STT. The two levies will simply increase cost of transaction for the investors, creating scope for future friction. Stamp Duty on securities transactions should be abolished and states can simply be given a share of the STT." However, the exchanges have welcomed the move. Metropolitan Stock Exchange Chief Financial officer Kunal Sanghavi told Moneycontrol, The decision to levy Stamp Duty on financial securities transactions only on one instrument relating to one transaction is a very welcome step for rationalising the transaction costs for investors. The duty will now be collected at one place through the exchanges and will be shared seamlessly between the states on the basis of the domicile of the buyer. "This brings in a lot of comfort, not only in terms of bringing down the cascading effect of the duty but also in terms of ease of compliance. This will end the ambiguity among the broking community where clarity was missing on the states in which stamp duty has to be deposited and which states rates to be applied. While we await details, it will also ease things operationally for member brokers and the process will become seamless, similar to STT. Another exchange official, on conditions of anonymity, told Moneycontrol, The government has given a welcome direction through the budget speech. Currently, brokers voluntarily collect stamp duty from investors. In this scenario, investors skip these payments for a longer period. With the exchanges having their customer's details, they can easily credit the Duty to the states as per domicile. Certainly compliance will increase, and leaks will be stopped." Most of the states collect stamp duty, with Maharashtra being the highest stamp duty collector. However, in some states, the stamp duty on equity trading is exempted, but with this move, the collection of the stamp duty by the exchanges may see uniform compliance. The Brokers had called for a uniform stamp duty across all states. President of the Association of National Exchange Member of India Rajesh Baheti told Moneycontrol Rather than abolish stamp duty as the STT is already levied on all transactions, the government has defacto imposed a state STT in the guise of stamp duty. ANMI wants the abolition of the stamp duty as states are already a recipient of their share from the STT pool. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is facing a possible suit in a U.S. court over the multimillion-dollar Bangladesh central bank heist three years ago. In a statement attached to its disclosure to the stock exchange, the RCBC said while it has yet to be officially notified of the case by the Bank of Bangladesh, it has hired U.S.-based law firm Quinn Emanuel for its defense. Its lead counsel, U.S.-based attorney Tai-Heng Cheng, said that the complaint was completely baseless. "If the Bank of Bangladesh was serious about recovering the money, they would have pursued their claims three years ago and not wait until days before the statute of limitations," the lawyer was quoted as saying in the statement, adding that the case was nothing but a "political stunt." The lawyer also said the Bank of Bangladesh has no right to file the case in the U.S. since none of the defendants from RCBC are based in that country. "RCBC had nothing to do with the theft of the funds and has cooperated fully with every instigation into the matter. This suit is nothing more than a blatant attempt by Bangladesh Bank to shift blame and cover up their own liability," RCBC's lawyer said. READ: Bangladesh bank heist: Makati court finds ex-RCBC manager guilty of money laundering On January 10, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 149 found former RCBC manager Maia Deguito guilty of money laundering. RCBC's Jupiter Makati branch, where Deguito served as a manager, allegedly processed the money stolen by Chinese hackers from the Bangladesh government through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In February 2016, hackers breached the Bangladesh Bank systems to steal the credentials. A total of $101 million was stolen--$21 million of which went to Sri Lankan accounts while $81 million ended up in the Philippines. The $81 million involved in the bank heist was later withdrawn, converted to pesos, then gambled in a number of casinos in the Philippines before authorities could track it. Deguito, who was sentenced to four to seven years imprisonment for each of the eight counts of money laundering and a fine of $103 million, has a pending appeal for her conviction. READ: Ex-RCBC manager Maia Deguito appeals conviction But perhaps its a good thing the scheduled release by Universal Pictures is now April 5. Although well all be focused more on tulip bulbs than snow shovels, this nasty cold spell we just survived will still be fresh in our minds. And remembering what your exposed skin felt like just for those few minutes you were taking the dog out cant help but make the images we will see on the screen that much more compelling. The Jeep was traveling at high speeds when it left the roadway, went airborne and crashed into a group of trees, officials said. Peruzza got out of the car as it began to burn, leaving Hanson behind, officials said. One of the original members of the Runoff Rangers, Linda Cole, an executive committee member of the Sierra Club Valley of the Fox, remembers checking construction of the Sullivan Avenue Bridge in Aurora weekly to ensure barriers were in place and the construction silt did not run into the river. Classes at East Aurora and several other schools in the area were canceled Wednesday and Thursday because of very low temperatures and wind chills. East Aurora also canceled classes Monday due to a snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow on the city. Twitter has announced that it took down about 2,000 accounts in Venezuela, most of which it claimed were engaged in a state-backed influence campaign. This comes amid accusations of a US-led coup attempt. The San Francisco-based social media giant released a blog post on Thursday saying that it removed 1,196 accounts located in Venezuela which it deemed to appear to be engaged in a state-backed influence campaign targeting domestic audiences. It also removed another 764 accounts, however, noted: We are unable to definitively tie the accounts located in Venezuela to information operations of a foreign government against another country. The Twitter purge of accounts was met with criticism and accusations of censorship. Host of the Empire Files, a documentary & interview series, Abby Martin lamented that amid Twitter censorship of pro-government supporters, pro-coup Venezuelans & right-wing exiles dominate the media sphere. Independent journalist Ben Norton accused social media corporations of acting as an extension of US government interests. The Twitter purge comes more than a week after US President Donald Trump recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president in a provocative move against the elected government of Nicolas Maduro. Guaido, who is the president of the National Assembly, swore an oath standing on the streets of Caracas and declared himself interim president on January 23. A vocal supporter of regime change in the Latin American country Florida senator Marco Rubio seemed to welcome the news of the Twitter purge on his own account on Thursday. Its not the first time social media has cracked down on Venezuela based accounts. In September Twitter suspended the official account of the Venezuelan governments press team, reportedly without giving any explanation. Earlier, Telesur English, a multi-state-funded Latin American news network based in Venezuela, was targeted by Facebook. Along with the take down of Venezuela-linked accounts, Twitter removed ones linked to Iran, Russia and Bangladesh for what it deemed malicious activity. Simultaneously Facebook announced a purge on inauthentic behavior tied to Iran. It deleted multiple pages, groups and accounts which repurposed Iranian state medias reporting on topics like Israel-Palestine relations and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, including the role of the US, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you. US President Donald Trump has confirmed Washingtons withdrawal from the INF Treaty with Russia, a centerpiece of nuclear arms control since the Cold War. He also said that NATO allies fully support his decision. Tomorrow, the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months, Trump said in a written statement. He accused Russia of non-compliance, and said the US would return to the agreement only if Moscow destroys what Washington considers to be violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment. Also on rt.com US seeks to protect hegemony by leaving INF Treaty but will only put itself in peril experts DETAILS TO FOLLOW Taliban says Trump is serious about Afghan withdrawal Taliban says Trump is serious about Afghan withdrawal US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban said on Friday, outlining the Islamic system comprising all Afghans that the group hopes to establish under any peace deal. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day after the US said talks with the militants are on the right path. The statements have fueled speculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict. An agreement was reached on a principle framework we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation of Afghanistan, Mujahid said. Trumps apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on the negotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatar last week.Source : RT - Daily news A German sausage museum found itself in hot water after its plans to relocate to a site used by the infamous Nazi concentration camp, Buchenwald, were discovered. It now says it will do a complete reassessment of the move. Unable to handle the volume of visitors at its current spot, millions of euro had been set aside for the planned relocation of the German Bratwurst Museum to a larger site on the outskirts of the city of Muhlhausen. Plans for the revamped attraction which features the nations favorite food boasted several restaurants, accommodation and even a sausage theatre for visitors to enjoy. However, that dream came to an embarrassing halt on Wednesday when it was revealed that the site, donated to the museum by private investors, was in fact an annex camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Also on rt.com Rename Sausage Street: PETA demands ancient French village becomes more vegan friendly Buchenwald was one of the largest Nazi labor camps on the German soil some 250,000 victims of the Holocaust passed through its gates. Forced to work in nearby factories with little food and summary executions commonplace, some 56,000 are believed to have perished there before it was liberated in 1945. Up to 700 Jewish women from Poland and Hungary were housed in the annex camp where the museum was planning to establish its new premises. They were forced to work as slaves in a nearby munitions factory. Its no wonder outrage arose within the local Jewish community, and holocaust-memorial groups and politicians promptly condemned the plan. READ MORE: Police probe Auschwitz far-right protest calling to free Poland from Jews Rikola-Gunnar Luttgenau of the Buchenwald Memorials Foundation told German news agency DPA that the plan lacked sensitivity and historical awareness. The head of the Jewish Community of Thuringia, meanwhile, labeled the move unacceptable. Replying to a request for comment from RT, the association that runs the museum, Friends of the Thuringian Bratwurst, said the sites pre-1945 history was completely unknown to us before Wednesdays revelation. Due to the facts that have come to light, it continued, we will clarify the historical background within the next few days, and, with the involvement of officials and public opinion, make a complete reassessment [of the move]. While the citys council unanimously approved the plan for the new site with little regard for its sordid history on Thursday, for its part, the museum said it always adheres to the principles of human rights. Also on rt.com Never heard of it: Third of Europeans know little or nothing about Holocaust, survey says If you like this story, share it with a friend! Russias Supreme Court rejects Telegrams appeal over blocked messaging app Russias Supreme Court rejects Telegrams appeal over blocked messaging app The Russian Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Telegrams cassation appeal over a decision by consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor to block the messaging app in the country. The watchdog began blocking Telegram in April 2018 based on a lower courts decision after the company refused to fulfill the requirement to transfer keys to the Federal Security Service (FSB) to decrypt user messages. Rospotrebnadzor head, Aleksandr Zharov, had dismissed the companys claims that passing encryption keys was technically impossible. In August last year, the Supreme Court also rejected Telegram appeal against the FSB order, which requires access to the apps encryption keys.Source : RT - Daily news A new mechanism to allow legitimate trade with Iran, which was set up by France, Germany, and the UK this week, doesnt change anything for European companies, according to independent journalist Luc Rivet. He told RT that European companies and others cannot feel confident that they could do business with Iran without being subject to US sanctions. I dont know what companies will make use of that mechanism to sell to Iran, he said, adding that its very dangerous for the companies if they are caught working in Iran. Also on rt.com EU countries move to evade US Iran sanctions by setting up payment channel for humanitarian trade Europe mentions that medical equipment could be sold through this way, says Rivet. Who produces this equipment? You think that Siemens will sell to Iran? Never, because they sell to America many other things as well And Siemens is afraid of losing the American market. He explained that an incredible number of companies wont have anything to do with Iran, including the banking sector, the oil and gas sector, and others. Even small companies will hesitate to sell anything to Iran at risk of being caught, according to Rivet. They can do that through other channels, like via Turkey, he said. Also on rt.com Switzerland & Iran developing payment channel to bypass US sanctions The journalist added: Its much easier for Chinese and Russian companies to make deals with Iran. The Europeans are scared in an incredible way. The companies are afraid by ricochet of being in the eye of the storm with the Americans. Thats very dangerous for European companies," he repeated, adding: I dont know anybody who will dare to go with this Instex system. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The EU visa ruling has ruled Gibraltar a Colony of the British Crown. The UK hit back calling the language completely inappropriate. The UK has broadly welcomed the news that the EU has granted visa-free travel to British citizens, but have been riled by certain language contained within the EU plans. A new regulation within the proposed legislation refers to Gibraltar as a colony. Also on rt.com EU agrees visa-free travel for UK citizens even after a no-deal Brexit Commenting on the ruling the UK Government spokesperson said: Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltar's democratic wish to be British, he added. READ MORE: No break from Brexit: RT takes a look at latest developments, as MPs told no holiday for you The Brexit process revived the more than 300-year row over Gibraltar a British territory surrounded by Spain and sea, which Madrid lays claim to. 96 percent of Gibraltarians voted to stay in the European Union during the 2016 referendum, unequivocally demonstrating their support for staying within the bloc. Last November the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country would revive calls for shared sovereignty of the peninsula once Britain leaves the EU. Before Fridays ruling there were reports that Spanish officials called on the EU to exclude Gibraltar from any agreements between Britain and the European Union in case of a no-deal Brexit. Gibraltar is a small territory located in a strategically important choke point at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea. It consists of the Rock of Gibraltar and an urban area home to 30,000 people. READ MORE: Jeremy Hunt hints at delay to Brexit, UK to formulate Irish backstop alternatives in a few days Ceded to the Brits in the early 18th century, it has remained in their possession despite Spain's later attempts to recapture it. In modern days, Madrid sees it as a source of unfair competition due to lower taxes which lead to Spanish businesses being registered there one of the issues that is addressed in the Gibraltar protocol. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you. US members of Congress freeze, fumble and deliver bewildering answers to award-winning journalist Max Blumenthal as he asks Capitol Hill politicians what they think of the US open support for Venezuelas opposition. Many members of the US Congress are greatly concerned by supposed Russian meddling in American affairs. But what do they think about Washington openly getting behind the opposition in Venezuela? In a video, published on his website, the Grayzone Project, Blumenthal asked lawmakers just that. The politicians were visibly caught off guard by pretty simple and straightforward questions. Several lawmakers couldnt provide a definitive answer to whether the US public support for opposition leader Juan Guaido could be considered meddling in a foreign nations affairs. Havent thought about that, a baffled lawmaker was heard saying when asked how he would react if Russia recognized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as president of the US. Washington did something similar to that last week, when President Donald Trump recognized the speaker of Venezuelas opposition-controlled parliament, Guaido, as the legitimate leader of the country. Some, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outright refused to answer questions on Venezuela, saying she is working on a response. Others denied that the wholesale US support for Guaido against President Nicolas Maduro constitutes meddling, albeit failing to coherently explain why. Also on rt.com Trump backs big protests against ex-dictator Maduro as he talks with Venezuela oppositions Guaido I think were just supporting the people and supporting what they are deciding needs to happen, and so I think its good of us since we are the bastion of freedom, Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri, stated. Her Democratic colleague, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, was passionate about protecting Robert Muellers probe into the so-called Trump-Russia collusion. When asked about meddling in Venezuela, she mumbled: I dont know. Theres been a lot against Maduro, whos awful. Only Missouri Democrat Lacy Clay said that the US policy in South America and the Caribbean is something we should not be proud of. He opposed the embargo on Caracas because its people will suffer more. However, even he wasnt sure whether it was good meddling or not, saying that Venezuela wasnt his issue. Alongside the US, Juan Guaido was recognized as the interim president of Venezuela by a majority of South American countries, including neighboring Colombia and Brazil. France, Spain and Germany vowed to follow suit unless Nicolas Maduro calls a snap election. Their ultimatum was firmly rejected by Maduro. States including Russia, China, Iran and Turkey continue to recognize Maduro as the democratically elected leader of Venezuela. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Here you can see partly why the Polar Vortex gets its name. The Polar Vortex is a nearly stationary, fairly consistent upper-air circulation. Its typically centered around the polar region. But occasionally it gets shoved off the North Pole or even split into a few pieces and shoved south toward the eastern U.S. and Asia. On Wednesday, January 30, 2019 the brunt of the Polar Vortex shifted south and was centered just north of Michigan. The animation is from Wednesday, when this flirt with the Polar Vortex was at its farthest south position. Just stare at the circulation. The center of the vortex is the blue area north of Michigan. The Polar Vortex comes with very cold air, as we just experienced. The Polar Vortex also comes with something real special for the Great Lakes - small upper air disturbances. Why is this important? Lake effect snow thrives on these small disturbances. So we have the cold air blowing over the warmer Great Lakes, thanks to the Polar Vortex. As these small disturbances rotate over the Great Lakes, they help the lake effect process. Sometimes its too cold to snow, but not with these upper-air disturbances. So the Polar Vortex really does bring a stormy situation for the Great Lakes, as opposed to a very dry, sunny cold situation that happens in the Plains. JACKSON, MI On a wintry night in early 1992, an incident inside a West Side Bay City home left a U.S. Army soldier dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Months later, the 19-year-old gunman was convicted of murder and sent to prison. Incarcerated for more than a quarter-century, the man convicted in the case once again has the chance to go free. Clay D. Hayward, now 46, is scheduled to appear for a public parole hearing at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11. Hayward is currently locked up at the Saginaw Correctional Facility in Freeland. A Bay County jury in December 1992 found Hayward guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm in the death of 19-year-old Mark R. Schafer. The following April, a judge sentenced Hayward to life imprisonment, plus a consecutive two years on the firearm conviction. Haywards last parole hearing happened in May 2014. As a lifer who committed his crime before Oct. 1, 1992, hes entitled to a parole board review every five years. Bay County Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko on Jan. 25 wrote a letter to the parole board objecting to Haywards release The night of the murder, Mr. Hayward first took his anger out on his girlfriend by physically assaulting her, and then turned his anger towards a young soldier home on leave who had accompanied friends to the defendant's home, Borushko wrote. He shot the victim, Mark Schafer once in the face. When the victim fell to the floor, Mr. Hayward continued to fire the weapon at the victim as he lay helpless on the floor. After unloading the gun into the victim, Mr. Hayward threw the gun on the floor and then kicked the victim. AII because of uncontrolled anger. Given the cold, violent nature of this offense, parole should not be granted in this case. Cindy A. Howell, the victims rights coordinator for the Bay County Prosecutors Office, said she plans to attend the hearing and oppose Haywards release. Mark R. Schafer, an Essexville man shot and killed by Clay D. Hayward in 1992 when both men were 19. The killing According to testimony in the trial, Schafer in the early morning of Jan. 25, 1992, accompanied Haywards ex-girlfriend and another couple to Haywards home in the 600 block of South Wenona Street to return some clothing his ex still had. Hayward and his ex had argued over the telephone earlier in the night and he demanded the return of his apparel, witnesses testified. Witnesses testified that Hayward wanted Schafer and the others to leave and began counting to three. Schafer counted with him and also made statements to Hayward, asking why he assaulted women and felt the need to be a tough guy, witnesses said. On the third count, Hayward pulled a 6.35 mm Browning pistol from his pocket and shot Schafer point-blank in the forehead. The bullet entered Schafers head and killed him. After Schafer fell to the ground, Hayward fired several more bullets into his body, compressing the trigger until the firearm was empty of rounds. Hayward also kicked Schafer and threw the gun at his body. Police officers arrested Hayward at the scene, where they recovered six spent bullet casings. During the trial, Haywards attorney Patrick Brady now deceased argued that Schafer was a larger and more formidable opponent, putting his client in fear. Schafer was an Essexville native who was home on leave from the U.S. Army at the time of his killing. The parole process According to Michigan statute, incarcerated lifers who committed their crime before Oct. 1, 1992, are entitled to review after serving 10 years. The parole board opted not to release Hayward at that time and thereafter had to review his file every five years. For those lifers whose crime was committed after Oct. 1, 1992, their first review isnt until 15 years after they started serving their sentence. Non-lifers parole hearings consist of a three-panel board, but lifers require a 10-member board. One member interviews the prisoner and makes notes, which are then sent to the other nine members. All 10 members cast a vote in favor of or in opposition to the prisoner being paroled. If five or more are against it, the process ends and the prisoner is not paroled. If six or more vote in favor of parole, though, the case advances to the next step. That entails the board sending a letter to the sentencing judge or their successor asking for permission for jurisdiction to parole. The judge has 30 days to respond, and if the judge does so and does not grant permission, the prisoner is not paroled. If the judge does grant permission, or does not respond at all in the 30-day window, the process advances to the public hearing stage. In Haywards case, Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill received the boards letter and wrote a response. I left it to their discretion, which is generally what I do, particularly if I didnt have the case, Gill told MLive. I told them I took no position. In the public hearing stage, victims, prosecutors and associated persons can address the board advocating for the prisoners release or continued imprisonment. The testimony is then typed up and reviewed by the entire panel and a second vote is cast. If six or more remain in favor of parole, the defendant is released. If five or more now oppose parole, the defendant stays incarcerated and his case is reviewed again in five years. Lifers who are granted parole are placed on it for a mandatory four years. Haywards last parole board hearing in May 2014 saw 15 people testifynine in favor of keeping Hayward incarcerated, five supporting his release, and one parole agent. Of those opposed were Schafers younger sister, Lesley S. LeBrun, and his daughter, born 13 days before he was killed. Among those who spoke in favor of release was Isabelle Hayward, whom Hayward married while incarcerated in 2009 when she relocated to the U.S. from her native Belgium. She described her husband as a sensitive and caring man. Hayward himself testified, saying he was remorseful for the killing and that, at the time, he was committed to maintaining a macho, fearless persona which compelled him to not be able to walk away from his confrontation with Schafer. He said he was ready to be a contributing member of society. In November 2014, a 10-member parole board voted to parole Hayward. Thereafter, the Bay County Prosecutors Office filed a motion opposing the decision on several grounds, one of which was that the board didn't follow the required guidelines. Due to the prosecutions motion and public response, the board in February 2015 went back on its prior decision and voted to keep Hayward imprisoned. After placing him under arrest, he became physical with officers as they put him in the back of a squad car, according to police. At one point, Grayson-Greene tried to headbutt one of the officers and spat on him, police said. MUSKEGON, MI Kristel Jones was face down on the hardwood floor, the man who had hustled her upstairs at gunpoint standing over her, when the boom of a gunshot broke through the chaos surrounding her. There, in her friends home in the city of Muskegon with three men lying next to her, Jones thought this is it. This is how my life ends. It all had happened so quickly: The two armed men bursting through the front door, the second pushing her upstairs, yelling questions about who else was staying in that house on Terrace Street. They had demanded money. Made her open the door to the bedroom where four children were sleeping. Barged into another room where the men had been playing a game. Who else is here? they screamed. Whos in the house? When a police dispatcher announced a breaking and entering in progress in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 27, two Muskegon police officers immediately headed to Terrace Street. They had no idea that someone inside the house had been shot. Events unfolded quickly for the officers too, with one being shot at and firing back, wounding a suspect in the leg. Now the two officers are on leave and two suspects are facing a combined 14 felonies, including attempted murder and armed robbery. Jan. 27, 2019. 1:32 a.m. Dispatcher: B and E to a residence Terrace Street. Female whispering someone breaking into her home. Line disconnected. Officer: 10-4. In route. When she heard Jones scream as the front door was busted, Elelce Penrose started down the stairs from her bedroom. It was 1:30 in the morning. A snowy, sleepy Sunday. Coming up the stairs was a stranger she recognized. The man she had dated nearly a decade earlier was holding a gun and coming up fast. Their eyes locked before she turned on her heels and ran. Into her bedroom she fled, wildly gesturing to her fiance to get in the closet. Hide, she thought. Dont let them know. With her nephew asleep on her bed, Penrose dialed 911. Someone is breaking into my house, she whispered. 1:34 a.m. Officer: Are they still trying get inside the house? Dispatcher: The line disconnected. We attempted to TX back and sent text with no answer. Two Muskegon Police officers, one a veteran command sergeant and the other a young officer, headed to the 1500 block of Terrace Street on the report of a breaking and entering in progress. Jones had been sitting by herself downstairs when the door burst open. When they came in, I thought it was a joke, she said. It didnt take long for her to realize this is for real. The first man had raced up the stairs and the second pointed a gun at Jones and forced her to follow. He kept asking me who all upstairs. She repeatedly staggered and fell, her legs suddenly unable to support her. Thats how scared I was, Jones said. He kept saying Bitch get up. She opened the door where Penroses children were sleeping, and a baby started crying. The intruders, clearly looking for something, burst in the room where the men three of Penroses cousins were and announced they were there for money. Wheres the money? Wheres the money? A gun was used to beat one of the cousins who was forced to enter Penroses room and search for cash as the boy slept on the bed and the two adults cowered in the closet. Wheres the money? Then the order was made to lay on the floor. Jones and the three men complied. A shot rang out the bullet slamming into the lower back of one of the men on the floor, exiting his thigh and penetrating the wood floor beneath him. I thought Oh God, Penrose said. I thought they were going to kill everybody that was outside of the closet. 1:36 a.m. Dispatcher: We just got a hang-up call from her number but nothing heard. Officer: 10-4 Muskegon Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis describes the gunshot as emotional terrorism. The victim, who also was robbed, was not seriously wounded physically anyway. It was emotional terror that these two individuals were placing in these people being armed and shooting one of the victims for no apparent reason, Lewis said. There was no one resisting there. No one who was not complying. Its not clear what happened next. Lewis believes someone announced the police were coming. Victims ran out the front door, as did the second gunman who tried at first to blend in before fleeing through snowy yards. The first gunman, the one Penrose recognized coming up the stairs, went out the back. 1:37 a.m. Officer: Shots fired 107 shots fired! One of the responding police officers took the front. The other took the back, and immediately encountered the fleeing suspect, Lewis said. He had a firearm and he fired that firearm at the officer and the officer returned fire, Lewis said. The suspect kept running and the officer gave chase. An emergency tone crackled over police radios throughout the city, and all available cars headed for Terrace Street. These people, these offenders, theyre desperate people, Lewis said. Desperate people do desperate things. Penrose emerged from her hiding spot. I just knew when I didnt hear his gun no more I knew it was over, she said. The officer chased the wounded suspect west on Terrace and then north on Hoyt Street, breathlessly calling out his location on his radio. 1:38 a.m. Officer: Suspect woundedSuspect down at gunpoint. The wounded suspect was taken to the hospital and then, after treatment, the Muskegon County Jail. The Muskegon County Prosecutors Office identified him as 32-year-old Deondra Brown, who was out on bond at the time of the Terrace Street home invasion. He has been charged with seven felonies, including two counts of attempted murder one for the man shot inside the house and one for the shot fired at the police officer. The second suspect was located two blocks away by Michigan State Police and Muskegon Heights Police officers, Lewis said. Prosecutors allege that hes 31-year-old Dominique Sharps. He also has been lodged and charged with seven felonies, including one for attempted murder for the man shot inside the home and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has a long criminal record, and had been released from prison less than two months earlier. Penrose said she grew up with Sharps, but didnt think he lived in Muskegon anymore. He had been residing in prison for the last nine years, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections website. The two officers remain on paid administrative leave as the Muskegon Police Department conducts an internal investigation into the shooting. This is the last thing we ever want to do is discharge a weapon at a citizen, Lewis said. But I cant see any other way out of this. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI A man suspected of breeding dogs for fighting left them outside in sub-zero temperatures, with minimal shelter and frozen food and water, police say. The dogs were barking and appeared distressed when a Calhoun County sheriffs deputy responded Thursday, Jan. 31, to a complaint in the 10000 block of I Drive North in Emmett Township, just south of Battle Creek. The deputy was unable to contact the homeowner. Police sought a search warrant around 5:15 p.m. and seized 17 dogs from the backyard. The dogs were taken to the Calhoun County Animal Shelter where they were examined by a local veterinarian, sheriffs Sgt. Katrina Herrington said. She said the dogs appeared to be in distress. The 65-year-old owner of the dogs is suspected of breeding them for fighting, police said. Police found the dogs after a call asking police to conduct a welfare check. Police are seeking animal-cruelty and other charges. The investigation is ongoing. Police asked anyone with information to call the sheriffs Detective Bureau at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-781-9700. Sheriffs deputies were assisted by Battle Creek Police Department Animal Control, Michigan Humane Society, Huron Valley Humane Society, Calhoun County Animal Shelter, Emmett Township Department of Public Safety, Calhoun County Special Response Team and the veterinarian. JACKSON, MI Attorneys representing an LGBTQ rights activist accused of burning his house down and killing his pets claim police violated his Sixth Amendment rights while collecting evidence. Defense attorney Daniel Barnett requested a motion hearing to be scheduled before Circuit Judge John McBain Friday, Feb. 1, in the arson case against Nikki Joly. Joly, 53, is accused of intentionally starting the Aug. 10, 2017 fire that destroyed his home in the 1800 block of Pringle Avenue and killed his two German Shepherd dogs and three cats. He was bound over for trial, Dec. 11, on one felony count of first-degree arson and two counts of killing or torturing an animal. During his preliminary examination, it was discovered that investigators executing a search warrant on Jolys computer had obtained an email between Joly and his attorneys discussing the case. Barnett argues police violated Jolys Sixth Amendment rights by using information in the email to build a case against Joly when investigators lacked physical evidence, he said. The motion hearing is scheduled for March 8. It will determine if the email was collected in violation of the law and evidence obtained through it should be thrown out. A Michigan State Police fire investigator determined the fire was started intentionally after traces of gasoline were detected in five places in the home. Jackson Police Detective Arron Grove and Sgt. Holly Rose, who was lead detective at the time of the fire, both testified they investigated the fire and collected evidence suggesting Joly started the blaze. Based on a timeline of events leading up to the fire, cellphone records, physical evidence collected by police and witness statements, Joly had the means and opportunity to start the fire, according to a Jackson Police Department arson investigation report obtained by MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot through a Freedom of Information Act request. The motive behind the arson is unclear. Joly did not stand to gain any insurance money from the home being destroyed. Joly has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights in Jackson, leading the push to establish the citys non-discrimination ordinance, which was approved in 2017. He was director of the Jackson Pride Center, which opened in February 2017, and an organizer of the Jackson Pride Festival and Parade in 2017 and 2018. Jolys case has been assigned to Circuit Judge John McBain. He remains free on a $25,000 bond. First-degree arson is punishable by up to life in prison and a fine of $20,000, or three times the value of the property destroyed. Killing or torturing an animal is punishable by up to four years in prison. JACKSON, MI With nothing more than his bright smile and a silly laugh, Joey Duane Ramirez could lighten anyones mood, his family said. Being a goofy kid growing up in Jackson, he loved to make those around him laugh almost as much as he loved being a mamas boy, his sister Mariah Ramirez said. I feel bad for the people who never got to know him before all this happened," she said. Ramirez, 29, of Jackson was killed Jan. 28 by Jackson police officers investigating a domestic disturbance at Southridge Park on Warwick Court, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. I want people to know he was not a monster and his life was his family, his sister said. Police were called by a woman who said a male acquaintance was banging on her door at 2:42 a.m. and wouldnt leave, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt previously said in a statement. Arriving officers saw Ramirez, who was armed with a handgun, running through the complex, Hitt said. They pursued him and shots were exchanged, he said. Ramirez was hit and died at the scene. When he wasnt spending time with his 11-year-old daughter, Ramirez was helping his sister take care of her son with cerebral palsy while she attended college classes to pursue a career in criminal justice, she said. I could always count on him to take care of my boy, Mariah Ramirez said. Ramirez was not afraid to work with his hands and would do odd jobs and handyman work for his family and others, his godmother Amy Cooper said. He had a great sense of figuring out how things worked so he could fix whatever wasnt working right, she said. He was an amazing young man who was the first person you would call if something was broken or you just couldnt sleep and wanted to talk to someone. Though he loved his family and made them his highest priority, Ramirez had mental issues and was in therapy trying to make himself better, Cooper said. The domestic dispute charges he had were hardly that, Cooper said. They were issues within the family that got out of hand. Ramirez was charged twice in 2010 for domestic violence and again for the third time in 2012, making it a felony offense. He openly admitted to his actions and pleaded guilty with each case, court records show. Ramirez was sent to prison in 2013 on the felony domestic violence charge and released in 2017, Michigan Department of Corrections records show. When Joey is off his medications and high, he does these types of things, Ramirezs attorney Cory McCord said, according to a transcript of his 2013 sentencing before Circuit Judge John McBain. He needs treatment. Ramirez got outpatient treatment through the mental health court, but it wasnt working and he would self-medicate with a variety of drugs, McCord said. I realize I have a lot of problems that I need help with, Ramirez said, according to the 2013 court transcript. When Im not high Im a good guy. Ramirez admitted to abusing alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, Xanax and heroin to treat himself, records show. Before he pleaded guilty, he was seen by the states Center for Forensic Psychiatry which only concluded he was fit to stand trial, records show. Then Jackson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Walker called Ramirez unpredictable and explosive, according to the court transcript. I can only imagine what he will be doing in the future if hes doing such assaultive acts now at age 23, she said then. Ramirezs family is still making funeral arrangements. Two officers and a sergeant involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which is being headed by the Jackson County Major Crimes Task Force. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- With the worst of the winter storm behind it, Grand Rapids is focused on clearing its city streets and sidewalks. City officials are urging their residents to assist in that mission. Police, fire and public works staff were out Friday, Feb. 1, going door to door urging residents to move their parked cars off the street, especially if the vehicles havent been moved in days, to allow plows to clear the roads of snow. Vehicles that prevent plow crews from clearing the road of snow could be towed at their owners expense if theyre in violation of the citys parking restrictions. City staff were notifying residents that they had 20 minutes to move their vehicles Friday to avoid towing. Additionally, the city is extending the 24-hour grace period that normally comes after a snowfall or ice event, during which residents are required to clear their sidewalks. Residents have until Monday, Feb. 4, to remove the more than 14 inches of ice and snow. "We need to make sure sidewalks are safe for students when they return to school Monday, said Grand Rapids Fire Chief John Lehman. Grand Rapids Public Schools, the largest school district in West Michigan, was closed for the entire week because of the snowstorm and blistering wind chills. Most school districts in the region, including universities, were closed for multiple days this week. Cleanup efforts from this weeks dumping of snow are essential to limit or avoid further issues during the upcoming thaw and subsequent re-freeze, according to James Hurt, the citys public services director. During a presentation to the city commission earlier this week, Hurt said its crucial that plow crews clear to the curb. Melting snow and ice can accumulate if the water cant drain properly and freezes or floods. Residents are being asked by the city to help clear catch basins in their neighborhoods, and to help neighbors, friends and family members who arent able to shovel their sidewalks. This is a public safety issue," Lehman said in a press release. "If we dont get these vehicles moved and neighborhood streets cleared of snow, we will have even more dangerous conditions when the snow melts. We could see flooding on our neighborhood streets. City officials are reminding residents to follow the odd-even and one-side parking rules in place for winter to avoid parking tickets and having their vehicles towed. Crews are creating tow lists for cars that are parked on the wrong side of the street. Those vehicles will be towed if they are not moved by 1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. Grand Rapids Public Schools is offering all of its parking lots for residents to park on Friday and Saturday to keep their vehicles off the roads and out of the way of the plows. The city also is reminding residents and private snow plow operators that its against city ordinance to put snow in streets, alleys and sidewalks. Blocking fire hydrants and mailboxes is also prohibited. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Three Lansing men accused of trying to join ISIS will await trial in federal custody after a judge ruled they could pose a potential danger to the community. Muse Abdikadir Muse, Mohamed Salat Haji and Mohamud Abdikadir Muse all were ordered to remain in custody Thursday, Jan. 31 following a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. They express not only an interest in fighting for ISIS but a willingness to die, Magistrate Judge Phillip Green said. Attorneys for the three men claimed they were set up and encouraged by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to get deeper and deeper into ISIS ideology. Evidence against the three men largely surrounds Facebook posts and private messaging obtained through search warrants. They were arrested Jan. 21 at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport after Muse Muse, 20, prepared to board a flight headed to Somalia. FBI agents said he planned to join the Islamic State militant group there. Richard Zambon, attorney for Mohamud Muse, argued that most of the evidence against the three men involved Facebook messaging between themselves, except for the $1,200 they took from an FBI undercover agent to help cover the plane ticket. This is a case of all talk and no action, Zambon said. But Green disagreed with the characterization that FBI agents set up the men and that its about free speech. People can express what they want but when they express an interest in killing people, thats an interest to the court," he said. All three men were born in Kenya but became U.S. citizens. Muse Muse and Mohamud Muse are brothers and Haji is their brother-in-law. Evidence outlined at the detention center showed that Muse Muse and Haji talked about joining ISIS and, if they could not, possibly staging some type of vehicle attack in the U.S. against non-believers. Mohamud Muse worked at Walmart and Home Depot before that, while Haji worked at a Meijer distribution center for the last five years. All three men had family or friends in the courtroom Thursday. The Muse brothers are among 11 children in the family. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A Spring Lake area woman was seriously injured when her SUV collided with an Ottawa County Road Commission plow truck Thursday, Jan. 31. Robin Smith, 47, was taken to North Ottawa Community Hospital following the 2:05 p.m crash on 148th Avenue in Spring Lake Township. Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said the plow truck driver, 59-year-old Terry Svoboda, was going south on 148th Avenue near Michael Lane when a Federal Express semi-truck was slowed or stopped in the same lane ahead. Police said the trailers lights were obscured by snow. Svoboba swerved into the northbound lanes to avoid hitting the trailer. The plow truck struck Smiths northbound 2017 Jeep Wrangler in the drivers side door. The Jeep then left the road and hit fencing near a bike path. Police plan to submit a report to the Ottawa County prosecutors office for review. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Gerald R. Ford International Airports former CEO resigned after employees gave his leadership team failing grades during an annual survey, records show. Before then-Ford Airport CEO James Gill resigned on Nov. 30, airport employees in the 2018 survey scored questions related to leadership the lowest of any category, according to an executive summary of the survey results obtained by MLive/The Grand Rapids Press through the Freedom of Information Act. Only 50 percent of all responses to questions about executive leadership were favorable. A quarter were neutral, and the remaining quarter was unfavorable. The next lowest category from the employee survey was the airport authority, which had 63 percent favorability, then my job with 70 percent, my supervisor with 74 percent and my department with 80 percent. Airport leadership contended at the time that Gill resigned to pursue jobs in the private sector. It is unclear if the survey results factored into his resignation. Gill could not be reached for comment. Ford Airport officials declined to comment. We have answered your FOIA request and have nothing else to add, Ford Airport Interim CEO Brian Picardat said in an email. The lowest scores on the survey related to questions about leadership, specifically that the organization was responsive to ideas about improvement, that leadership understands whats going on in the organization, that leadership is visible and accessible, that the organization values employee input and that the organization effectively communicates with employees about what is going on. Only 43 to 49 percent of employees agreed or strongly agreed to those statements. The remaining half was roughly split evenly into two quarters neutral and disagree. The lowest scores on the 2018 employee survey. Blue stands for strongly agree/agree, grey is neutral and red is disagree/strongly disagree. Statements about leadership accessibility and understanding of whats going on fell from the previous years survey, as did responses about leadership treating people with fairness and respect and leadership team leading the company to future success. The strongest scores on the survey -- those in the mid-to-high 80 percent favorability -- were related to coworkers, training, safety and pride in their work. About 75 of the airports approximately 100 employees participated in the survey. The survey was conducted online through a third party. Ford Airport officials say they do not have a full copy of the survey. The undertaking cost the airport $4,000. Employee survey scores that fell the most from the previous year's survey. Gill worked in the airport industry for years. Before coming to Grand Rapids, he served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer at the Pittsburgh airport authority. When he was hired in November 2016, Ford Airport Authority Board officials said Gill had a track record of strong leadership. He was given a $255,000 starting salary. Under Gills tenure the airport increased direct flights, passenger numbers, parking spaces and non-airline revenue during his tenure. He also oversaw the investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS contaminants on airport property. The investigation found contamination in the soil and groundwater where PFAS-laden firefighting foam was used. In the summer 2018, the airport selected 29 wells in a nearby neighborhood to test for the chemicals. They found little PFAS contamination and claimed drinking water in the area was safe. Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced they would test more than 50 wells in that neighborhood to determine if drinking water is safe. FLINT, MI -- A free Cold Day Lunch is once again before offered to Flint Community Schools students and their families as classes has been called off for the fifth day in a row this week. The lunch is being held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at Southwestern Classical Academy, 1420 W. 12th St., in partnership with SodexoMAGIC. Derrick Lopez, superintendent of Flint Community Schools, recently said approximately 87 percent of students in the district are on free or reduced lunch. We have a moral obligation to ensure that we figure out how to meet the nutritional needs of our children, even when they are not in school, he noted, adding all the districts schools are Title I schools. Feeding our children breakfast and lunch, as well as an evening snack at after school programming, is a huge deal and a big part of meeting the needs of our children so that they are available to learn, said Lopez. Those hoping to attend the lunch are required to register each child and adult here by no later than 9 a.m. Feb. 1. Anyone seeking transportation may text 810-337-0858. ANN ARBOR, MI As Ann Arbor considers calling on the state and federal governments to better prepare for nuclear disaster, county officials note there already are some emergency plans in place. Washtenaw County does not stockpile potassium iodide as some city officials are calling for in a proposed resolution, said Dave Halteman, the countys emergency services director. But in the event of an incident such as a meltdown at the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant in southeast Michigan, the county would reach out to the states Emergency Operations Center to initiate access to a national pharmaceutical stockpile through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This plan has been in place for many years and the CDC stockpiles these pharmaceuticals in strategic locations all over the country, Halteman said. However, given the potential time lapse in getting access to the national stockpile, I will continue to monitor Ann Arbors initiative to see how it might work on a county level. City Council will consider a resolution Monday, Feb. 4 calling for strengthening local emergency planning by stockpiling nonprescription potassium iodide in communities within 50 miles of the Fermi 2 plant, which is roughly 30 miles from Ann Arbor along Lake Erie. The resolution would direct the citys lobbying team to advocate to the state and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide the same level of KI protection to residents here as Canadian authorities provide to Ontario residents within 50 miles of the Fermi 2 plant. The American Thyroid Association has called for pre-distribution of potassium iodide, also known as KI, to households within a 10-mile radius of nuclear power plants such as Fermi 2, and stockpiling it in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, clinics, post offices and police and fire stations in up to a 50-mile radius. Timely ingestion of KI can reduce the effects of radiation and help prevent thyroid cancer in the event of a nuclear fallout, notes the resolution sponsored by Council Members Anne Bannister, D-1st Ward, and Chip Smith, D-5th Ward. A map presented by anti-nuclear group Beyond Nuclear at the Ann Arbor Energy Commission meeting in December 2018, showing Ann Arbor within the 50-mile radius from the Fermi nuclear complex. Without a local stockpile, it could take eight to 12 hours for CDC supplies to arrive, depending on the event, said Cindra James, the countys public health preparedness administrator. In some cases, it could be sooner based on local supplies, James said, noting the federal government has caches stockpiled at various unknown locations that we aren't privy to, but those supplies can be accessed depending on need. As far as potential evacuation of the county if there was a nuclear disaster, theres no specific plan, but the county would coordinate with the state police and local law enforcement to close roads leading toward any hazard and redirect traffic away from the affected area, Halteman said. The countys outdoor warning sirens also would be activated followed by an emergency alert system message to inform the public via the media of the hazard and what actions to take, he said. We would also reach out to our transportation partners here in Washtenaw County to assist moving those without transportation, he said, noting that could include the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and local school bus systems. Certainly the response would be scaled up or down to accommodate the size of the evacuation area, Halteman said. The Fermi 2 plant has been in operation since the 1980s and supplies about 20 percent of the power generated by DTE Energy. DTE considers the nuclear plant an important part of its energy portfolio, stating on its website: its our only source of carbon-free baseload (always on) power in Michigan and will continue to play an important role in building a cleaner energy future. The health and safety of the community is DTEs top priority and the primary focus at Fermi 2, said DTE spokesman Stephen Tait. We are confident that our plant equipment, highly trained employees and emergency response practices ensure safety is maintained, he said, adding KI is available at no cost to people living or working within 10 miles of the plant and distributed through local pharmacies. Fermi 2 sends vouchers for KI to all businesses and residents within its 10-mile radius, Tait said. The mailings are sent annually. Those vouchers can also be found at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website. The regulations for the voucher program are developed by the federal government, specifically the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Tait said. If the federal government decides to modify regulations, we will comply with all requirements, he said. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has answers to questions about KI on its website, saying its only being pre-distributed to people within 10 miles of nuclear power plants because theyre the ones at greatest risk of exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. Beyond Nuclear, a Maryland-based group that advocates for abandoning nuclear power and nuclear weapons, is lobbying Ann Arbor to join its advocacy for more emergency preparedness by stockpiling KI pills in up to a 50-mile radius of nuclear power plants such as Fermi 2, following the Canadian governments lead. There also needs to be more public education, said Paul Gunter, director of Beyond Nuclears reactor oversight project. At last count, only about 16 percent of residents in the 10-mile radius of Fermi 2 had taken advantage of the KI voucher program, he said. Beyond Nuclear has objected to DTEs license to build a Fermi 3 nuclear plant on the same complex, but the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the groups petition last year. DTE maintains it has no immediate plans to build a new nuclear plant, even though it spent more than $300 million for a license. DTE is keeping it as a long-term planning option, Tait said. DTE has a license to operate the Fermi 2 plant until 2045. At 1.1 million kilowatts, the plant represents 30 percent of Michigans total nuclear generation capacity, enough electricity to serve a city of about 1 million people, according to DTE. Fermi 2 represents an important part of DTEs balanced approach to providing energy to southeast Michigan, which includes a strong commitment to renewables such as wind and solar, Tait said. Through the years, people from every part of the city have shared their stories with me meaning with you, the Tribunes reader, writes Mary Schmich in her farewell column. I learned from all of them, was changed by them all. UPDATE: Wendys Director of Corporate Communications Heidi Schauer confirmed the franchisee owner and operator of the Wendys located in the Michigan Union made the decision to not pursue a new lease when the Union closed in April 2018. The efforts of that group were not a factor in the franchisees decision to not renew the lease, Schauer said. This was a business decision. ANN ARBOR, MI - When the Michigan Union reopens to the public in 2020, a group of local activists doesnt want Wendys to be one of the dining options inside. Washtenaw Solidarity With Farmworkers, a group of students and community activists, have circulated an online petition urging UM to deny Wendys bid for a spot in the buildings basement, and to endorse the Fair Food Program. The Fair Food Program, organized by Coalition of Immokalee Workers, is a partnership among farmers, farmworkers and retail food companies that ensures humane wages and working conditions for workers who pick fruits and vegetables on participating farms. Participating fast food chain buyers from the Fair Food Program include McDonalds, Burger King, Subway and Chipotle, as well as grocery distributors like Walmart and Whole Foods. Wendys has been met with protests for not participating in the Fair Food Program, but has defended the relationships it has with food growers and suppliers. Wendys Chief Communication Officer Liliana Esposito previously noted the Coalition of Immokalee Workers requires participants to pay an additional fee directly to tomato harvesters that work for the growers, on top of the price it already pays for the product. We support the goals of any organization that seeks to improve human rights, but we dont believe we should pay another companys employees just as we do not pay factory workers, truck drivers or maintenance personnel that work for our other suppliers, Esposito said in a 2016 on Wendys blog. Wendys could not be reached for additional comment Friday. Beyond denying the bid from Wendys, Washtenaw Solidarity With Farmworkers want UM to update its code of conduct requiring all restaurants provide full public transparency regarding labor justice within supply chains. Students and community members have been working with the University of Michigan since 2015 to ask for support of farmworker justice through preventing Wendys, a holdout among major fast food restaurants in its refusal to sign on to the Fair Food Campaign, from having a presence on campus, the groups petition states. UM currently is in the process of a competitive bid process for three fast food-casual restaurant spots in the Michigan Union, UM Spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen said. Responses were due at the close of 2018. A team comprised of UM students as well as employees from the universitys Procurement Services, University Unions and Auxiliary Services currently are evaluating the bids and will likely make selections for the three spots in the next few months," Broekhuizen said. UM President Mark Schlissel has shared the groups concerns with his Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights for review, Broekhuizen said. Local frustration over PFAS prompted Cathy Wusterbarth into activism, a role that shell next take to the national stage. Wusterbarth, president of Need Our Water in Oscoda, will be sitting in the audience on Tuesday, February 5, as President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union Address. She was invited as the guest of U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, who joins many in the MIchigan delegation in championing efforts to protect the public from the chemical contamination. I believe this is the honor of a lifetime, Wusterbarth said. With the trip to Washington, DC., Wusterbarth hopes to elevate recognition of the risk per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals bring to drinking water and the environment. The chemicals are linked to cancer, immune system disorders and developmental delays, among other adverse health effects. Wusterbarth has spent the last year championing her cause in Oscoda, the northeastern MIchigan community on the shore of Lake Huron that once was home to Wurtsmith Air Force Base. The base closed in the 1990s, but the Air Force and the state continue to weigh cleanup options - even as a plume of PFAS is spreading from the former base, where it was used in fire-fighting foam, to waterways that reach Lake Huron. Along its path, the plume is seeping into water supplies, leaving many in Oscoda wondering how much of the toxic chemicals theyve ingested over years. The Department of Defense did some PFAS testing over many and pointed to the lack of federal guidelines for wide-spread cleanup action. It opened a carbon filter system in 2018 to capture PFOS and PFOA at one of its groundwater filtration sites, and promised more filters. More recently, the Air Force told Michigan officials that it "will not be taking any new remedial actions at this time, and that it does not need to comply with state surface water limits of 12 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS, one type of the chemical family. Its the latest blow to a community that once was proud of its base. That was an amazing thing that we had this investment in our community, Wusterbarth said. Now theyre gone and just not cleaning up what they left ... Its tainted my view of some things. Shes joined in NOW by several core members who spent the last year rallying the community. Among their efforts have been tying their concerns to other groups fighting for PFAS cleanup in Michigan, and pressing lawmakers for action. Because of Cathys advocacy, the state and federal government have started to act to protect public health from dangerous PFAS chemicals, Kildee said in a statement. I am proud to recognize Cathys tireless advocacy and will work alongside her to make sure that Congress more urgently acts to clean-up contamination in Oscoda and other sites across the country. Wusterbarths presence at the SOTU speech will come after recent reports that the Environmental Protection Agency may not propose a national maximum contaminant level in drinking water for any of the PFAS chemicals as part of its behind-schedule PFAS management plan. And the Presidents speech is the same day that former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler may face his confirmation vote as director of the EPA. Yet momentum to prioritize PFAS is building in other areas, including Kildees recent announcement of a bi-partisan PFAS task force forming in Congress to elevate the issue among elected officials charged with setting policy. Kildee also later said that Congress could enact a national MCL if the EPA doesnt. Wusterbarth watches the changes on behalf of her community and the NOW group, but each development also feels personal. Shes a former lifeguard on a contaminated Oscoda lake who wonders if past bouts with breast cancer and rheumatoid arthritis are linked to the PFAS thats been spreading through the local groundwater for decades. And she lived for a while on the shore of Lake Huron, which communities use for drinking water even as the contamination moves into it. Her efforts with NOW sometimes feel like a part-time job, she said, but shes pushing for immediate goals: Municipal water supply for all of the affected areas where people still use wells, and access to someone in health care policy who could address questions about health and risks from PFAS. I would consider that a success, she said. Im seeing glimmers of hope regarding both of those. She continued: I want people to be confident that the water theyre drinking would be safe. Wusterbarth will be joined on her trip to Washington, DC, by Chris Coulon, her sister and the communications chair of NOW. The pair also traveled with others from Michigan in September when U.S. Sen. Gary Peters set up a PFAS hearing. With this trip, theyre once again setting up meetings to maximize their time in the national power center, trying to get an audience with the Department of Defense, the EPA, and legislators who may benefit from their message. Wusterbarth wont be the only PFAS activist in Trumps audience. Other representatives invited Andrea Amico of Testing for Pease in New Hampshire and Michael Hickey of Hoosick Falls, NY. Those two communities are part of the growing list of US sites where PFAS contaminated drinking water and cleanups remain in flux. Wusterbarth hopes the rest of the US gains an understanding of what places like Oscoda, Pease and Hoosick Falls face. Theyre next if they havent had it happen to them yet, Wusterbarth said. (The PFAS) is just yet to be discovered. I dont want to be negative, but it will be a nationwide problem and will have to be addressed in one way or another. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is seeking to intervene in a federal lawsuit to protect the Affordable Care Act with the support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the officials announced in press releases Thursday night. Nessel and three other attorneys general are seeking to intervene in a case in which a Texas judge ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional based on a tax change that eliminated the penalty for not carrying insurance. Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a group of 20 states brought the suit, arguing that without the penalty the law becomes unenforceable. Nessel and attorneys general from Colorado, Nevada and Iowa would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia in defending the Affordable Care Act, which Trump instructed the U.S. Department of Justice not to do. In the motion to intervene, the four attorneys general seeking to join the case argue their health care systems would be thrown into disarray if the law were repealed. The Affordable Care Act provides important protections including protecting people with pre-existing conditions and access to health care for hundreds of thousands of residents in Michigan, said Nessel in a press release. We have a strong interest in ensuring that the strongest possible arguments are presented in support of the ACA. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer supports the move. Health care for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders is on the line, Whitmer said in a press release. If this decision is upheld, it will make it harder for families across the state to get the care they need. Thats why Attorney General Nessel and I are stepping up to defend the ACA on behalf of the State of Michigan. As governor, I will never stop fighting to ensure everyone in Michigan has access to quality, affordable health care. Nessels move runs counter to how previous Michigan attorneys general have treated the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to colloquially as Obamacare. Former Attorney General Bill Schuette and former Attorney General Mike Cox argued against the Affordable Care Act in other court cases, though Michigan was not previously involved in this particular case. Nessel has also recently reversed course on several national lawsuits Schuette had joined, including some on abortion; separation of church and state; and environmental regulations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The 36th District Court in Downtown Detroit remains closed Friday, Feb. 1 due to flooding caused by a burst pipe and dangerously cold temperatures. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office says in an email that the flooding caused extensive damage the entire main floor, which includes both the public and private entrances. Metal detectors, security devices and even courtrooms were affected by the flooding. Officials point to the record-breaking cold temperatures as the culprit behind the burst pipe at the courthouse. In a Thursday night email, the prosecutors office said that if the courthouse opened Friday that security staff would have to manually wand and search all members of the public, the staff and their belongings. Related: How the cold closed Michigan We had to consider the anticipated morning temperature, the manual security screening process, and the safety and welfare of our bench, staff and litigants, Judge Larry D. Williams Jr. said in a news release from the prosecutors office. We decided that it was in the best interest of all to close the court. As for the repairs at the 36th District Court, crews will work around the clock and through the weekend in making sure the building returns to regular operation on Monday, Feb. 4. In-custody arraignments are scheduled to be conducted at the Detroit Detention Center at noon on Friday. All other cases scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled. Notices to appear will be mailed and more information can be found on the courts website. Related: Watch Polar Vortex swirl over Great Lakes region EAST LANSING, MI Another Michigan resident has died in the states extreme cold weather. East Lansing Police say a 60-year-old man was found dead outdoors on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. An autopsy will determine the cause of death, although foul play is not suspected. The deaths of at least two other Michigan residents have been connected to the extreme cold weather in the state. Among the victims is 70-year-old victim as Gary Sammons, a former city council member and teacher, who was found Tuesday outside his home in Ecorse. Former Ecorse city councilor found dead in the cold outside home DETROIT -- The Wayne County Prosecutors Office charged a 24-year-old Detroit man for his alleged role in the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy last week on the Southfield Freeway, according to the Detroit News. Derrick Devon Durham, 24, has been charged with open murder, discharge from a vehicle causing death, felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of felony firearm. Durham turned himself into police earlier this week while accompanied by family who convinced him he needed to go to police. The Detroit News also cited a police source who said Durham allegedly shot into a vehicle being driven by Christian Millers godmother because he was cut off on the highway. The two vehicles were traveling northbound on the freeway last Thursday night, when Durham allegedly shot into the car. Christian, 3, was struck by the bullet between the shoulder blades. He was taken to Sinai Grace Hospital before being transferred to Childrens Hospital where he died Friday morning. Police have said the godmother was not aware that there was any issue between her and the other driver before the shot was fired. According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Durham is currently on probation for a pair of convictions in 2016. DETROIT -- A Detroit police officer has been reassigned and stripped of his title of Corporal after racially insensitive Snapchat videos he posted Monday night have gone public. The video features the officer filming a young woman he stopped for a traffic violation as she walks home in the bitter cold. In the videos, the officer -- identified by police to WXYZ Detroit as Gary Steele -- mocks the young woman by saying bye Felicia and captioning the videos with the phrases what black girl magic looks like and Celebrate Black History Month. Detroit Police Chief James Craig says he launched an investigation into the incident and says the entire ordeal made him angry. Im angry because this was a racially insensitive post, Craig said. Steele has been with force for 18 years and has a checkered past. In 2008, he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend and pleaded to a misdemeanor, according to WXYZ. Although that case happened before he arrived in Detroit, Craig says he is concerned about Steeles past and will consider it in is review of Steele. He has a troubled history," Craig said. There is a pattern and Im concerned about that pattern. And so thats something Ill be looking at addressing as well. Steele made his Snapchat posts after stopping a young woman Tuesday night in Detroit who had an expired license plate on her car. The officer then informed the woman she could not drive the car home as the car would be towed. Craig says body cam footage shows Steele offered to give the woman a ride to her house more than a block away, but she refused. Craig also said he had no issue with how Steele handled the traffic stop until the social media posts were made. Where it goes bad was when the officer makes the bad decision to make a Snapchat post, Craig said. This marks the second time in recent months that a Snapchat post from an officer has caused problems for DPD. In September an officer was fired for a post referring to Detroit citizens as zoo animals. JACKSON, MI Michiganders who turned down their thermostats to 65 are welcome to raise them to normal levels again after midnight on Friday, Feb. 1, Consumers Energy executives said Thursday afternoon. A Wednesday morning fire at a Consumers Energy facility and record cold temperatures caused a shortage of available natural gas, leading to statewide pleas for residents to turn down their thermostats. Residential and commercial customers are clear to resume normal usage again at midnight. Despite extraordinarily cold weather, customer response led to a 10 percent decrease in natural gas usage. This was a game changer in addressing the shortage and avoiding heat interruptions, Consumers CEO Patti Poppe said Thursday. "People took action and it really helped us," Poppe said. "Because we could then pack the system with the gas that we were bringing in from other sources." The fire occurred at the Ray Compressor Station in Macomb County, which holds a majority of Consumers' natural gas. All three plants at the station were shut down during the fire, but one is back up and running and the other will be back on soon, officials said. In addition to help from residents, 79 companies worked with Consumers to reduce natural gas usage, Poppe said. We could see by mid-afternoon (Wednesday) that we were going to have to exercise the curtailment portion of our agreements with our large business customers to curtail their demand, Poppe said. The load just was not dropping. Ultimately, the businesses voluntarily shut down production and Consumers didnt have to cut any companys supply, Poppe said. There wasnt a shortage of natural gas, just a shortage how much could be pulled out of the ground in a short period of time, Consumers executives said. The Jackson-based utility has 300 billion cubic feet of natural gas in storage across Michigan. On Wednesday, the company broke a record, needing 3.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas. DTE Energy also asked customers to reduce energy usage on Wednesday, but has since lifted that request. Earlier Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tasked the Michigan Public Service Commission with conducting a statewide review of supply and deliverability of natural gas, electricity and propane after Wednesdays incident put Michiganders in danger of losing heat during extreme weather. Consumers fully supports the review, Poppe said Thursday. Every person who turned down their thermostat even if they turned it down a degree made a difference, Poppe said. We could not have done it without the heroic efforts of the entire state of Michigan. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Firefighters extinguish hot spots and collect frozen equipment on a house fire in the 2900 block of North Luna Avenue on Jan. 31, 2019, in Chicago. No residents were injured in the fire, according to fire officials. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) The U.S. Navy is revisiting whether its 355-ship plan is sustainable, and whether today's national security environment calls for an even larger naval presence, the Navy's top officer said Friday. "We're on a path to grow the Navy," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, adding that the goal is to achieve "the most capable naval force." Given the current threat environment and the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy, "we're doing a new force-structure assessment, and we'll see where that goes," he told reporters Friday at the Pentagon. Prior studies by both the Navy and external sources have found that the service's optimal fleet size ranges from the upper 300s to 400s, Richardson said. Related content: But "going forward, we'll take a look at it. I can tell you the security environment has only gotten more sporty, so we'll take that into account," he said. "Technology has started to come into play, and so what counts as a 'naval platform' is going to be an interesting discussion in this new assessment." If the 355 number no longer makes sense, "we'll get a new number," Richardson said. "We might hold to it, we may not, [but] the analysis is in progress." The Navy announced its buildup strategy in late 2016, calling for a fleet of 355 ships by the 2030s. On Thursday, Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a known Pentagon budget guru, said the plan needs to be more realistic given the uncertainty surrounding future Defense Department budgets, including the fiscal 2020 request. "Fully implementing the National Defense Strategy means you'll need trade-offs," he said during a CSIS event in Washington, D.C. "Things have to go. The 355-ship Navy is out the window if you want to implement the plan," Harrison said, adding the service will need to review or cancel programs -- carrier, frigate or amphibious ship purchases -- to better align with the NDS while staying pragmatic about costs. As of January, the service had 287 battle-force ships that were deployable, or capable of conducting operations. Richardson, who recently came back from visiting ships in the Pacific, Europe and Middle East, said conversations with partners, allies and even rivals such as China need to remain consistent to maintain safety and security. Last month, the guided-missile destroyer McCampbell sailed within 12 nautical miles of disputed islands in the South China Sea as part of the Navy's freedom of navigation operations, or FONOPS. As China continues to build up contested islands, FONOPS have continued in the region, especially after a Chinese warship nearly ran into the guided-missile destroyer Decatur last fall. Richardson on Friday said the Chinese did not provide an explanation for that near mishap. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. President Donald Trump said he asked Jim Mattis to hand in his resignation after growing unhappy with the former defense secretary's performance, according to a new wide-ranging interview with The New York Times. The president said he told Mattis to "give me a letter" of resignation because he "didn't like the job he was doing" overseeing the Defense Department. Mattis, a decorated and revered retired Marine four-star general, resigned Dec. 20, just after Trump announced plans to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. "He didn't just give me that letter. I told him," Trump told the Times on Thursday, despite initially announcing that Mattis was retiring in February. Trump just didn't like the job Mattis was doing, he said. "I got him more money than the military has ever seen before," Trump said. "And I wasn't happy with the job that he was doing at all. And I said it's time." In that resignation letter, Mattis bluntly outlined areas in which he and Trump had differing opinions. That included "treating allies with respect," Mattis wrote, and "being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors," such as China and Russia. Trump, Mattis added, had "the right to have a secretary of defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects." The reason Mattis wrote that, Trump told the Times, is because the commander in chief had requested he step down. "That's why in the letter he wrote, 'You have to have your own choice,' " Trump said. "The reason he said that was because I said, 'You're just not my choice.' " Trump did not state why he'd been unhappy with Mattis' performance as defense secretary. Mattis originally planned to leave his post at the end of this month, but Trump announced in December that the deputy defense secretary at the time, former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan, would take over Jan. 1. Now Shanahan, who Trump called a "solid guy" who's "doing a great job" could stay in the post permanently, the president added. Shanahan's business background could serve the department well, he added. "You know it's interesting. Historically, you just never -- you rarely put a military person in, which surprises me," Trump said about the defense secretary position. "... Normally, a business person goes in and, I mean you have one exception or two exceptions, but historically a business person goes in to the secretary of defense." There are still "a tremendous number of people would like that position," though, Trump added, denying that Mattis' departure and other events have led to chaos in the White House. Trump also told the Times he'd spend a second term focused on national security after spending the first rebuilding the military, "which was truly depleted," he said. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. ABOARD USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- There's a new boss in town for the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group: Capt. Steve Shepard, the first board-selected information warfare commander (IWC) assigned to a strike group as it prepares to deploy. As IWC, Shepard is the equivalent of the carrier air wing commander; the destroyer squadron commander; and Abraham Lincoln's commanding officer on the staff of Carrier Strike Group 12 commander Rear Adm. John Wade. His role is to oversee and coalesce all information available to the ship, including intelligence; information operations and electronic warfare; communications; weather data and, "in some cases, space," Shepard told reporters Jan. 28 during the strike group's pre-deployment training off the coast of the Carolinas. "When I entered the Navy in 1990 -- I was an intelligence officer for an A-6 squadron -- there'd be 18 message boards. If you read them, you read every piece of intelligence on the ship. People would read that, and they'd be good to go. Today, there's much more information out there," he said. "We need someone to oversee that." While information warfare commanders have deployed with carrier strike groups previously, Shepard is among the first cadre to be selected by an IW command screening board and to test the new staff construct. During the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group's current deployment for its composite training exercise, or COMPTUEX, and subsequent deployment with 2nd Fleet this year, he will help "write the book" on how the position should be developed and utilized for future carrier strike groups. His first mission in the new role was to pull together all strike group personnel involved in information warfare, without adding any new staff. While on COMPTUEX, he will figure out how to best support the strike group commander, providing battlefield awareness, command and control, weather data and more to "put us in a position of tactical advantage." Shepard, a 1990 graduate of the University of Virginia, said he looks to the example set by then-Capt. Arleigh Burke at the Battle of Cape St. George in November 1943. Having lost 1,400 sailors and six ships during a night battle against the Japanese not far from the same location the previous year, the Navy analyzed what went wrong in that battle and trained for the scenario, to include understanding the full capability of radar, reading the weather, executing night operations and protecting communications. At the Battle of Cape St. George, in almost identical conditions to the November 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Burke, leading Destroyer Squadron 23, sank three Japanese destroyers and damaged another without losing any U.S. ships. Drawing from lessons learned and training were the keys to success then and still are today, Shepard said. "After the Soviet Union fell, our national security interests changed ... our focus went to things on the ground. Now, we need to get back to our skill set as a maritime nation. There are new kids out there. They've been there, but now they are great powers. They are our competitors, Russia and China, and they are technologically advanced and evolved. We have a peer competitor out there, and we need to be operating in the maritime domain," he said. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is spending a month at sea for COMPTUEX, the training exercises required for certification to deploy. The Lincoln and Destroyer Squadron 2 -- consisting of the guided-missile destroyers Bainbridge, Nitze, Mason and Gonzalez; the guided-missile cruiser Leyte Gulf; and the Spanish navy frigate Mendez Nunez -- will deploy this year for the Navy's newest command, the 2nd Fleet. The 2nd Fleet was reactivated Aug. 24, 2018, to oversee operations and administration for naval assets and attached Marine Corps units to the East Coast and North Atlantic. Its missions include homeland defense and natural disaster response, as well as countering Russian and Chinese regional presence. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet still does not have an adequate aircraft availability rate, according to the Defense Department's testing office. The fifth-generation fighter has had a "flat" trend in capacity rates over the past three years, according to a recent Director of Operational, Test and Evaluation report. Even as the services focus on improvement initiatives, they're "still not translating into improved availability," it stated. "Fleet-wide average availability is below program target value of 60 percent and well below planned 80 percent needed for efficient conduct of [Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, or IOTE]," the 2018 DOT&E report said. Bloomberg was first to report the news. Only the Air Force and Marine Corps versions have achieved combat-ready status. The Navy is expected to declare initial operating capability this month. The earliest lots of the Corps' F-35B variant have proven to have a shorter-than-expected service life. Related content: The "early-production F-35B aircraft [are] well under the expected service life of 8,000 flight hours, and may be as low as 2,100 flight hours," the report states. If the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing jets are not appropriately upgraded, it could mean their flight hours will hit the limit by 2026, officials said. In a statement sent to Military.com Friday afternoon, Lockheed said the company is committed to achieving the 8,000-hour mark. "Planned modifications and fleet management of the early contract F-35B aircraft will ensure that they meet the 8,000-hour service life requirement, and aircraft delivering today incorporate these design changes in the build process to ensure they'll meet 8,000 hours or more," the company said in a statement. The DOT&E office said it will monitor progress through the Joint Program Office. "The F-35 Joint Program Office will continue to use Individual Aircraft Tracking (IAT) of actual usage to help the services project changes in timing for required repairs and modifications, and aid in Fleet Life Management," DOT&E said. Meanwhile, the Air Force's F-35A variant has not met the office's standards for its internal GAU-22/A cannon, assessors said. "Based on F-35A gun testing through September 2018, DOT&E currently considers the accuracy of the gun, as installed in the F-35A, to be unacceptable," the report states. The gun has suffered from issues that "result in muzzle alignment errors" as well as "unsafe gun" cockpit alerts. Asked about the report Friday, Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the service's military deputy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition at the Pentagon, said that top leadership is putting more emphasis on the program as they continue to work with the Joint Program Office and manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. Bunch, who has been nominated to pin on his fourth star and take over Air Force Materiel Command, said the goal is to reach the "80 percent mission-capable rate" set by then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in October, at least for combat-coded aircraft. "We are working a lot of different initiatives," he said at an Air Force Association breakfast in Washington, D.C. "We are working a lifecycle support plan right now" with JPO and Lockheed, he said, adding that the plan differs greatly from earlier ones but refusing to elaborate because it's "still in review." "We're setting timelines and calendars for when we're going to get to timelines, dates, milestones to get things done, so that we're seeing that we're getting the performance improvements that we are anticipating," Bunch said. Mattis wanted the services to increase mission-capable rates for the F-35 fleet and other premier fighter jets to more than 80 percent in a single year, requiring the Air Force and Navy to boost maintenance and sustainment for dozens of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. Bunch said the Air Force and DoD as a whole are "pushing for" that 80 percent rate. "It's a challenge, but that's the goal we're at," he said. In a statement, a spokesman for Lockheed said said the company has been communicating with the services to achieve a better fleet-wide mission-ready status. "With enhanced reliability, newer aircraft are now averaging greater than 60 percent mission-capable rates with some operational squadrons near 70 percent," the statement said. "While we await the full details of the ongoing Operational Test phase, we are actively enhancing all aspects of the F-35 to ensure it exceeds warfighter demands and outpaces evolving threats. Items identified in the Annual DOT&E report are well understood and have been resolved in partnership with the F-35 Joint Program Office or have an agreed path forward to resolution," it added. The JSF program, expected to cost $1 trillion over its lifetime, is continuing its formal operational test phase, which it entered in December. The JPO and Lockheed announced Dec. 6 that all three F-35 variants belonging to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps will be field-tested "for the purposes of determining the weapons systems' operational effectiveness and operational suitability for combat." The IOT&E testing is expected to be complete late this summer, the JPO said. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with comments from Lockheed Martin about the DOT&E report. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. VICENZA, Italy -- He was a penniless, traumatized Vietnamese teenager with a fifth-grade education when in 1980 he arrived in the U.S. He knew how to survive in the jungle, evade checkpoints and control the terror he often felt. But he couldn't speak more than a few words of English and had little practice in how to live a regular life. Yet within seven years after his American arrival, Lap The Chau had a new name, a degree from the Virginia Military Institute and a career as "an officer in the greatest Army on Earth," as he put it. Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, as he's now known, is deputy commander of U.S. Army Africa and assistant adjutant general of the Virginia National Guard. He is thought to be the only Vietnamese "boat person" to become a general officer in the U.S. military. "After what I went through, practically death, and then somebody gives you that opportunity to live again, I can only say from my own perspective that I'm very grateful for what this country has done for me," Flora said in an interview with Stars and Stripes. Flora, who in civilian life is an engineer holding several patents on night-vision goggles, has recounted his unlikely story many times. "The possibility in this great nation is boundless; the American Dream is real, only if you dare to pursue it with laser-focused hard work and perseverance," Flora said in speech when he was promoted to brigadier general more than two years ago. He has also showed appreciation for those who helped upon his arrival in America. "There's no one who can get to where they are on their own. You need help," he said in a 2017 talk at the Raleigh Court United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Va. The church had sponsored him and several family members in 1980. "We had a house for them. They came with nothing," said Sharon Alexi, a former kindergarten teacher active in the church, who helped settle the 11-member Chau family. She helped teach Flora and his brother English and how to drive. "They caught on very quickly," she said. "It was fun. It was a joy." A couple in the congregation were so taken with Flora that they adopted him when they were in their 60s and he was either 21 or 23; his birthdate is uncertain. "People thought they were crazy," Flora said. "But they took me in." Postwar exodus Flora is among 800,000 people who fled Vietnam by sea starting in 1975 in an international humanitarian crisis that took years to resolve. The exodus reached its height in 1978, when some 5,800 refugees a month were landing in Asian countries increasingly unwilling to accept them and an untold number were dying at sea. President Jimmy Carter responded by ordering U.S. ships to the rescue, then doubled the number of refugees accepted into the U.S. from 7,000 to 14,000 a month, despite polls showing a majority of Americans disapproved. "I benefited greatly from the U.S.'s decision to accept me into this country," Flora said. "I'm extremely grateful for the circumstances that led to my citizenship." Flora declined to imagine what might have become of him had the Carter administration decided not to accept Vietnamese refugees. In the end, nearly all of his family arrived in the U.S., including his future wife, his mother and a long-lost sister who'd been given up for adoption in Vietnam. "I don't like to think about hypothetical paths my life could've taken," Flora said. "Instead, I focus on the future and my ability to give back whenever possible and sharing my story to inspire others." That story includes many early hardships and eventual triumphs. When he was 2, his merchant marine father was killed in a mortar attack, Flora said. The death plunged the ethnic Chinese family into poverty so severe that his mother gave her infant daughter to another couple. At 11, as the Vietnam War raged throughout the countryside, Flora worked as a live-in servant at a factory. That ended on April 30, 1975, when the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong captured Saigon, South Vietnam's capital, ending the war and turning all of Vietnam into a socialist, one-party state. The new communist government instituted "re-education camps" and other repressive measures against political opponents and those who had collaborated with the Americans. Flight to freedom Flora and two brothers fled the fallen capital, renamed Ho Chi Minh City, where they were at risk for military conscription. Hiding in the countryside for three years, he said, they survived on crops they planted and animals they hunted, including lizards and porcupines. The brothers were sometimes frightened and often hungry, but they were also free. "We sang in the middle of the night," Flora said. "It was kind of fun." His escape came after a sister and brother-in-law in 1979 secured 11 spots for the family on a cramped, fetid fishing boat. The terrifying voyage lasted five horrible days and nights, he said, with little food or water, vulnerable to storms, shipwreck and pirates. A toddler on board died before they landed in Indonesia. "We knew there was less than a 50 percent chance of survival," Flora said. "Desperation, destitution will drive people to do anything." Much of his family settled in California, which along with Texas, accepted the most Vietnamese refugees. But he preferred Roanoke and life with his adoptive family, Jack and Audrey Flora. He graduated from high school in three years, while working part-time bagging groceries, and was accepted to VMI. He took to the spartan school, his adoptive father's alma mater, saying it reminded him of his early schooling in Vietnam. He's encountered little discrimination since coming to the U.S., he said, and any slights are easily ignored. "You feel sorry for their narrow-mindedness," Flora said. From the start of his military career, Lapthe Flora made an impression. As a young lieutenant with the 116th Infantry Regiment in 1991, when Capt. Eric Barr met him, it was clear it wasn't just his backstory that made him unique. "It just jumped out at me that Lapthe was one of the most professional, squared-away officers," Barr said. "It was just obvious he knew his business." On a 2007 deployment to Kosovo, "whenever something really tough came up, Lapthe was known as the go-to person," said Barr, now a retired colonel. "Where it really stood out, he had so much credibility with the Serbs and the Albanians because they knew he had lived their lives," Barr said. "He had been through the same hell they had been through." The Air Force Knew It Had an Ejection Seat Problem, But Didn't Speed Up a Fix. Then a Pilot Died And his widow fears that another pilot may suffer the same fate. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee sent a sharply worded letter to the acting defense secretary Wednesday, slamming what he sees as a lack of transparency regarding the number of U.S. troops operating on the U.S.-Mexico border. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan that he is "deeply troubled" by the testimony Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood gave during a hearing Tuesday on the Defense Department's support along the southwest border. Thousands of troops are operating there after the Department of Homeland Security requested assistance with the mission, and that number is set to increase by thousands. But Rood, Smith wrote, failed to share information with the committee about the DoD's decision to increase the number of troops along the border by several thousand. The plan was announced by Shanahan the same day. "I am deeply troubled that the witnesses did not disclose the upcoming increase in Guard, reserve and active-duty personnel, even though we asked them multiple times during a two-and-a-half-hour hearing what would happen next on the border," Smith said in a statement about the letter. "They never mentioned it, despite the fact that the secretary of defense was revealing an increase in personnel that same day. This was at best an error in judgment and, at worst, flat-out dishonesty." A Pentagon official declined to address several questions about the letter from Military.com -- including one about Shanahan's view of transparency when it comes to providing Congress and the public with the number of troops involved in military missions around the world -- stating only that they "don't comment on privileged communications between the acting secretary and members of Congress." Rood was given "ample opportunity" to comment on the border mission, Smith argued. While he testified about enacting barriers and additional surveillance methods, Rood made no reference to plans to increase the number of military personnel involved in the mission. Smith said Shanahan has since provided more details about what the additional 3,500 troops will be doing on the border when they get there. And though Smith said he appreciated the acting secretary's willingness to discuss the issue, the phone call "is not a substitute for transparency before Congress and public candor." "Does their refusal to publicly discuss what they are doing indicate that this is a policy they believe they cannot defend in an open public hearing before the full Armed Services Committee, where all 57 members have the opportunity to ask questions?" he asked Since the border mission started in October, the Pentagon has been "consistently slow to respond" to questions about the number of personnel involved and, at times, even unresponsive, Smith told Shanahan in the letter. "This is a violation of the executive branch's obligation to be transparent with Congress, which oversees, authorizes, and funds its operations," the congressman said. "It also raises questions about whether the Department thinks the policy of sending additional troops to the border is so unjustified that they cannot defend an increase in public." The decision to dispatch thousands of U.S. troops to the southern border has been a contentious issue. Some called the move a political stunt by President Donald Trump ahead of the November elections. Trump has argued that the additional personnel, along with a border wall, are necessary to keep out illegal migrants "pouring into the country." According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of people apprehended at the border -- a commonly used metric to measure how many people are illegally crossing into the U.S., according to The New York Times -- has been on the decline over the past two decades. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Nine female pilots at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, say they feel privileged to be selected as volunteers to perform the "missing woman" formation this Saturday for an aviator who paved the way for their success: U.S. Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, who died last week at 65. "We're fortunate to be chosen," said Cmdr. Leslie "Meat" Mintz, executive officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213). Mintz, a career weapons system officer on the Super Hornet, spoke to Military.com on Thursday ahead of the flyover. The tribute, announced by the Navy this week, will take place as Mariner receives a full military graveside service at New Loyston Cemetery in Maynardville, Tennessee. The pilots have performed other flyovers, Mintz said. But "it's certainly the first time I've done this for a female aviator. Everyone is truly humbled to be a part of it." Mariner was one of the first eight women selected to fly military aircraft in 1973, according to her obituary. A year later, she became the Navy's first female jet pilot, flying the A-4E/L Skyhawk and the A-7E Corsair II. She died Jan. 24 after a years-long battle with cancer, the service said. She was also the first female military aviator to command an operational air squadron, and during Operation Desert Storm, commanded Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 (VAQ-34), the Navy said. Among other achievements, she executed 17 arrested carrier landings in her career, and, as an advocate for the pilot community, helped pave the way for those who came after. Mariner retired in 1997. "She shaped generations of people with that confidence in them and helping them find their path," said Katherine Sharp Landdeck. Landdeck, an expert on the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II (WASPs) and a professor at Texas Woman's University, told NBC News on Thursday she saw her friend Mariner as a brave "and badass" pilot. "Landing on carriers? That's pretty badass. You're not just landing a jet. You're landing a jet on a runway that's rising up and down in the seas, and I think, as a woman doing it, you've got everybody on deck watching. Very cool under pressure," Landdeck said in the NBC News interview. Mintz will be flying alongside Cmdr. Stacy Uttecht, commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 32 (VFA-32); Lt. Cmdr. Paige Blok, VFA-32; Lt. Cmdr. Danielle Thiriot, VFA-106; Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Hesling, NAS Oceana; Lt. Christy Talisse, VFA-211; Lt. Amanda Lee, VFA-81; Lt. Kelly Harris, VFA-213; and Lt. Emily Rixey, Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic. On Saturday, like any mission, the women will brief the plan before four F/A-18F Super Hornets and a single F/A-18 E-model launch from Oceana, roughly 400 miles from Mariner's burial site. One of the jets will act as a backup in case something in the flight plan gets reshuffled, Mintz said. The jets will hold until the signal is given for the missing formation "so that the timing is perfect," she said. Uttecht will lead the formation. Mintz will be backseat in a jet on the flank as Thiriot pulls up thousands of feet into the sky. The crew appreciates "the outpouring support, the text messages, the Facebook messages, for what we're doing," Mintz said. "It's truly an honor to do this for Capt. Mariner. I've been in this business for 19 years. I really haven't thought about male vs. female gender issues because it's strictly merit-based. 'Can you fly? Can you perform?' [but] really I owe that to her," she said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. To the Editor: Let us acknowledge all citizens should have access to good medical care. Let us further acknowledge not everyone feels they have access to good medical care. Some politicians assert the fix to our health care system is to convert commercial (private) health insurance options (that have been the prime source of insurance coverage for the vast majority of Americans for generations) to a one-size-fits-all government run plan: Medicare. Right away, voters should run the other way, away from these ill-informed politicians with their do-gooder catch phrases which have no basis in reality. It is clear these agenda-driven politicos have never talked with medical professionals about their opinion of Medicare. Every doctor Ive ever talked with over many decades has said his/her medical practice limits the number of patients they will take into their practice, because the reimbursement from Medicare for their professional medical services is a fraction of what they can get for patients with non-government insurance. The inevitable result of Medicare for all will be fewer doctors staying in the profession, and the best and brightest college students will not choose the medical profession to make a living that will give them the income to pay off huge college debt and live a comfortable lifestyle. Since their income potential would be slashed by government regulation, the worlds most innovative medical profession will deteriorate rapidly to third-world country levels. Thats what socialism does. The cost of government will skyrocket because now the taxpayer has to pay for all those government workers hired in the Medicare department. Voters, dont be hoodwinked by politicians who play on your emotions, but have only one cure (more government controlling your lives.) There are other solutions for the uninsured than dismantling an insurance industry that has supported the incredible growth of our first-rate medical system in this country. Joan Liska, Middletown State lawmakers who drafted legislation to block breweries from selling beer in competition with restaurants sound like they may have imbibed too much of the product. Only in Connecticut would a business success story inspire an effort to thwart it. Separate legislation proposed by state Rep. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, and Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, Bloomfield, Windsor, aimed to force breweries to choose between operating as a tap room or sticking to distribution. The beneficiaries of the bills would be national beer distributers such as Anheuser-Busch and Heineken. You know, the kinds of companies that have lobbyists and donate to political campaigns. There are now some 80 craft breweries in Connecticut. You dont need to like beer to recognize its a growing industry of small businesses in a state thirsting for more of them. Equally novel is the speed with which McGee recognized the error of his ways. His HB No. 6658 (To encourage fairness and accountability in excise tax collection and eliminate the ability of breweries to sell beer in competition with restaurants) was proposed Tuesday, drew media attention Wednesday, and was gone in about the time it takes to drain a pint. McGee, who filed paperwork Monday to run for mayor of Hartford, said the proposal was in response to a constituent who owned a package story citing a dip in beer sales. After doing more (some) research, he realized craft breweries are a growing business in Connecticut. Potential consequences included a flurry of lost jobs in Connecticut. McGee withdrew his bill just in time for Happy Hour. In a contender for quote of the week, he concluded I didnt realize so many people were so passionate about beer. McCrorys bill, S.B. No. 742 (An act concerning brewery sales for on-premise and off-premise consumption), is still on tap. Connecticut has a history of meddling in alcohol pricing. By history were not referring to saloons of the 1800s or Prohibition 90 years ago, but in recent attempts to artificially give the business a little kick. These breweries are doing fine by themselves. If anything, the state should craft legislation that supports the industry. Its not that were anxious to promote imbibing, but, among other things, many breweries have given second lives to long-abandoned factory spaces. Other states are exploring legislation to promote the industry. McCrory isnt wrong to imply Connecticut should ensure it has the correct regulations in place to keep pace. In doing so, lawmakers must also weigh the concept of the fledgling home-grown business vs. corporate breweries. It makes sense to support them, as communities should promote the corner hardware store struggling to survive in the era of the big box store. Clamping down on them is akin to restricting local restaurants because chains are suffering. For distributors feeling the heat of competition during the likes of Super Bowl Sunday, there is an alternative: Make better beer. "Ones education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization, wrote Justice Tom Clark for an 8-1 majority. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) The Cagayan Valley police on Friday released the facial composites of two suspects in the killing of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randy Malayao. The suspect believed to be 20-25 years old is supposedly the gunman, while the man with the covered mouth is believed to be the driver of the getaway motorcycle. Malayao was on board a passenger bus in Nueva Vizcaya on Wednesday when the suspect got on board and fired two shots at him before riding the motorcycle. The NDFP is the umbrella group that represents communist rebels in peace talks with the government. Meanwhile, SSupt Jeremias Aglugub, Nueva Vizcaya police chief, and Inspector Geovanni Cejes, Aritao municipal police station chief, were sacked by Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde for "apparent lapses in the investigation of the slay, particularly the mishandling of evidence at the crime scene." Regarding the discrimination of transgender people as it relates to the military: As a country that relies on volunteers to join the armed forces, it is beyond folly to discriminate against patriots who seek to defend their country. Banning transgender people from joining the military lessens the available pool of personnel for purely hateful and ignorant reasons. It is blatant and despicable discrimination. The idea that transgender people disrupt unit cohesion was the same argument made against desegregating the military and is purely a red herring. The argument that their care costs more because of hormones and gender reassignment surgery is false. Much more money is spent on erectile dysfunction medicine. There is no reasonable basis for banning these patriots. Coats and the other officials said many things: North Korea is unlikely to halt its nuclear weapons program; ISIS still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria, and it maintains eight branches, more than a dozen networks, and thousands of dispersed supporters around the world; Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device; Russia will continue hack-and-leak operations and disinformation campaigns to influence US policy, actions, and elections; and climate change will pose an increasing threat as extreme weather, higher temperatures, droughts, floods, wildfires, storms, sea level rise, soil degradation, and acidifying oceans are intensifying, threatening infrastructure, health, and water and food security. But as weve said before: Overseeing DCFS is an exercise in daily crisis management. In addition to Semajs death, Walker dealt with the case of a young mother who allegedly left her 2-year-old in a playpen for an entire weekend. The little boy died of starvation and dehydration. She dealt with a 6-year-old boy whose parents starved him as punishment. She dealt with a 3-year-old foster child who died in a house fire, alone. An adult with him in the home escaped but didnt know the 3-year-old was trapped inside. MILLE LACS COUNTY LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Mille Lacs County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday October 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Courthouse in Milaca, Minnesota. The following items will appear on the agenda: I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: August 13, 2018 IV. ADDITIONS: V. SUB-COMMITTEE OR OTHER UPDATES: VI. OLD BUSINESS: Request by Mille Lacs County to rescind and re-adopt Article 12 of the Development Ordinance to add provisions regarding the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. VII. NEW BUSINESS: None. VIII. OTHER BUSINESS: None. IX. ADJOURNMENT. Published in the Mille Lacs Messenger October 3, 2018 861919 Ad details MILLE LACS COUNTY LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Mille Lacs County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday October 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Courthouse in Milaca, Minnesota. The following items will appear on the agenda: I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: August 13, 2018 IV. ADDITIONS: V. SUB-COMMITTEE OR OTHER UPDATES: VI. OLD BUSINESS: Request by Mille Lacs County to rescind and re-adopt Article 12 of the Development Ordinance to add provisions regarding the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. VII. NEW BUSINESS: None. VIII. OTHER BUSINESS: None. IX. ADJOURNMENT. Published in the Mille Lacs Messenger October 3, 2018 861919 Costs continue to grow for the decaying Lauderdale County Courthouse, with no fixed timeline or estimated total cost yet determined to replace or rebuild it. Lauderdale County taxpayers have spent more than $148,000 for preliminary construction costs since the summer of 2017, but the bulk of that work hasnt addressed the peeling paint, black mold, exposed wires, leaking water or cramped working conditions that have been called unsafe and dangerous in grand jury reports. Money, paid through LPK Architects, has gone to companies for 3D scans, consulting fees and asbestos investigations while supervisors wait to hear decisions from the United States Postal Service and Mississippi Department of Archives. Both agencies yield control over large portions of the project: renovations to the historic courthouse, built in 1905, must be approved by MDAH and the Postal Service owns the old federal courthouse on 9th Street, which the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors would like to buy as part of the solution. Meanwhile, dozens of courthouse workers report daily to the courthouse, maintenance workers check the main courtroom every morning for fallen plaster and 10th Circuit Court grand juries complain about foul odors and unsafe conditions almost monthly. Since the summer of 2017, the $148,000 has gone primarily to LPK Architects and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction, with nearly $100,000 spent within the first 10 months. Before that, supervisors spent $85,000 on a courthouse study from architect Belinda Stewart. The remaining $48,000 spent by LPK in August 2018 and October 2018 went to the following companies, according to documents obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request: $18,671 to Thomas H. Walker Consultants with a $3,500 per month retainer for five months and $1,100 in travel expenses. $10,700 to Pickering Firm for asbestos, lead-based paint and indoor air quality/ mold investigation as well as sample collection and roof repair. $17,700 to Clearpoint Consulting Engineers, PA for 3D scanning and modeling the Lauderdale County Courthouse. Taking action For Bob Luke, of LPK Architects, the current board of supervisors has already taken a big step by recognizing and acting on the project. "They finally made the decision that we need to do something," Luke said. While progress seems slow, Luke pointed out that many behind-the-scenes planning sessions had cemented a path forward, eliminating previous options such as temporarily relocating to the newly vacated JC Penney store at Bonita Lakes Mall. In late 2017 and early 2018, the board seemed committed to moving courthouse workers out of unsafe working conditions to the mall for up to three years during courthouse construction. Preliminary estimates suggested it cost about $5,000 per month or $60,000 per year less than half the approximate $124,000 the county spent on utilities for the courthouse in 2017, County Administrator Chris Lafferty said in January 2018. Previously, the board had discussed relocating to the old Village Fair Mall site, but nixed the idea because of environmental concerns. "Numerous people offered different sorts of buildings," Luke said, naming the Bonita Lakes mall as one vacant space. "But they (the supervisors) made a commitment that they needed to be in downtown." Luke, who also leads the City of Meridian's Master Plan for the city's downtown, emphasized the importance of having government offices anchor the area. "A government center in downtown keeps downtown thriving," Luke said. The Federal Courthouse Supervisors have expressed interest in the federal courthouse since as early as 2012, when the U.S. court system closed the courtroom. Then-board president Joe Norwood told The Meridian Star the board would travel to Washington D.C. to stress its desire for the space to congressional representatives. "We are out of space with all the records we have to keep," Norwood, the representative for District 4, said in 2012. "We also are going to be renovating the county court house so it would be nice to have a place for the circuit and chancery courts and staff to go." One difficulty that frustrates supervisors is the lethargic communication from the United States Postal Service, which requests that all communication come via email. In the fall, a Postal Service spokesperson confirmed discussions were taking place, but said no other comment could be made. Jonathan Wells, finishing his first term as the supervisor for District 1, has named the courthouse as one of the board's priorities during his tenure as board president in 2019. "I don't know if anyone has gone as far as we have with (USPS)," Wells said. "We may have been entertaining it for eight years but we've been asking and pushing for it for three years." When asked about how long supervisors would wait to secure the federal courthouse, Wells said they would have to consider it as a group. "But if it's not done in eight, 10 months, let's look at what we're doing," Wells said. While supervisors hope to save money by moving to the federal courthouse, Luke said more analysis is needed. "We've looked at the federal courthouse on a preliminary basis (but) we need to look at it on a much deeper level," Luke said. "That's one of the best options we've got. The courtroom is in great shape. So many of those offices will work for the legal system. And it will be much cheaper to renovate than build a new courthouse." Walker's role as consultant was to help secure the federal courthouse by connecting supervisors with the appropriate parties. Walker previously worked with the General Services Administration in Atlanta. "He was facilitating getting us in front of the right people," Luke said. Removing the jail Another roadblock to the project is the jail that sits atop the courthouse. The first three courthouse stories, built in 1905, are still open to the public and provide office space for the Circuit Court, the Chancery Court, the District Attorney's Office and others. The fourth, fifth and sixth stories, inaccessible to the public, were added in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration Project and held defendants until 1998, when a Department of Justice lawsuit forced the county to build a new jail. Supervisors attribute much of the water sealing problems to the WPA addition and want to remove it. But the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which must approve those changes, has been reluctant to grant permission. "My professional recommendation: get it off," Luke said. "It was poorly constructed and will continue to destroy the building below." MDAH pushed the supervisors to use grant money from their department to put out a Request for Proposals for a Comprehensive Exterior Condition Assessment, which supervisors approved advertising for in November. "It's art deco, even if it's ugly art deco, so they would like to see it stay," Wells said. "And when we said that we think that's where we think the water comes from they said we should use our grant money (from them) for a study." The county received only one proposal, from Waggoner Engineering, for the assessment, which would include a recommendation for removing the jail. MDAH told the county they needed more proposals and made the county reject Waggoner's proposal and start over. "I do not think Waggoner will submit another bid," Chris Lafferty, the county administrator, said during a Thursday work session. "The bids are based on the hourly rate and experience. And that's what (MDAH) said Waggoner was lacking." Wayman Newell, the supervisor for District 2, expressed a concern that the county would receive no bids for the project, to which Lafferty said MDAH had promised to notify companies they've used in the past for courthouse assessments, some of which are based outside of Mississippi. "And we could be using that grant money and moving forward already," Wells said Thursday. Last week, during an interview about the courthouse, Wells acknowledged the costs of working on such an historic building and coordinating with MDAH. "It's going to be expensive to satisfy their requests," Wells said. Luke said work was ongoing. "We're working with (MDAH) to see what they'll allow us to do to the building," Luke said. Other county-owned properties The overall plan for the Lauderdale County courthouse includes charting a future path for the Lauderdale County Annex Building as well as the attached jail. About half of the Annex Building, as well as the jailhouse floors of the courthouse, are home to millions of files related to county business and the courthouse. While supervisors haven't publicly committed to plans for the Annex Building, Luke said that private developers had expressed interest in purchasing and renovating the building, similar to plans for the Threefoot Building, the high-rise downtown building being converted into a Courtyard by Marriott. For now, the Annex Building houses the Board of Supervisors, the Justice Court and county's Archives and History department. Supervisors moved the Tax Assessor's Office into the building and out of the courthouse but moved the Drug Court offices into the vacant courthouse space. "We have not changed direction; we have not slowed down," Luke said about finding space for various county offices outside of the courthouse. "In the meantime, we've broken parts of it down." Mississippi State University's Extension Service takes up one floor of the Annex Building and supervisors have decided to free up the space by moving the department to the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. The county also decided to move the Tax Collector's Office into the vacant Hooper's Building, also owned by the county, one block from the courthouse. "Those are two examples of ways we're able to chip away at the problem," Luke said. "We hope to advertise for bids in the next few weeks." On Thursday, Wells pushed Lafferty to include advertising for bids on those two projects, which Luke said had already been designed, at the supervisors' board meeting on Monday. "There's been a lot of behind-the-scenes phone calls and negotiations about moving departments," Well said last week. "I think the plan is to try to stay in downtown so it's within a few blocks of each other... we've looked at a handful of (other) buildings and frankly didn't think it was cost effective." Plans for the space in 2019 Luke and Wells said that both the Tax Collector and Extension Service offices would relocate, moving one office out of the courthouse and creating space for another department to move into the Annex Building. "In the process, it's cost us time and money but I honestly believe that time and money will pay out in the end when it's done right," Wells said. "I know I say this a lot, but we've really been focusing on being able to eat the elephant one bite at a time." Luke said the process is slow because supervisors want to be as efficient as possible with taxpayer money. "It's beginning to come together. It's just painfully slow," Luke said. "We've always got to get the answer to this before we can get the answer for that." Luke said that a full cost for the project couldn't be estimated until the county gets answers from Archives and History and the Postal Service. In May 2016, supervisors paid Eupora architect Belinda Stewart $85,000 to develop various plans for the courthouse, resulting in a 66-page study. One of Stewart's proposals envisioned using the federal courthouse and putting the Annex Building back in the private sector. She estimated it would cost $44.87 million, with the county investing $28.37 million and private developers investing $16.5 million into the Annex Building. "This board has decided, 'We're going to take the neglect of the last 30 years and find a solution,' " Wells said. "I know people really wonder if we're sincere because it's taking so long and that's one of the frustrating things of government: we're slow. It's just an arduous process." Wells acknowledged the frustrating lack of visible progress, not only for the supervisors but also the county's residents. "I hope that within the next year people can see the whole picture," Wells said. (T)he Court is under no illusion that this will be an easy process. It took a long time to get to this place, and it may take a long time to get out of it. With that said, there are good reasons to think that the conditions and incentives may be in place to start making progress right away. ... Let us begin. Funeral services for Mrs. Deloris Broadhead will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, with Bro. Randall Sims and Bro. Lane Busbee officiating. Burial will be held at Graham Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted wi Amazon has started removing a wide array of products from its website in India after the country's new e-commerce policy kicks in from today. A lot of exclusive products and brands have disappeared from the marketplace since the company has no option, but to comply with the new norms. In December, the Indian Government modified foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for the e-commerce sector, and this has highly disrupted the sales model of Amazon and Flipkart. To start with, marketplaces can no longer sell products exclusively on their platform. So, every brand that was earlier closely associated with the company, has been removed from the platform. Reuters The new investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest. Numerous products from sellers like Cloudtail are no longer available on the website since Amazon has an equity stake in the seller. Even products from Shopper's Stop have been removed because Amazon owns five per cent stake in the retail label. Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart have tried to lobby against the new rules, but to no avail. In fact, Amazon's own line of Echo speakers has been taken off the shelf. Amazon had written to the Indian Government asking for a four-month extension to comply with the new rules, a company spokesperson said. But, there has no update on the proposal's consideration from the authorities. Reuters Amazon has warned of widespread disruption due to the new policy and according to Reuters, the policy could "have undesirable impacts on the continued growth of e-commerce in India." Flipkart said that it was "disappointed that the government has decided to implement the regulation changes at such haste," but said it was committed to complying with the new rules. Nikkei Asian Review The new policy comes amid intense lobbying by India's small and medium scale enterprises who have been most hit due to the marketplaces. They accuse the platforms of stockpiling goods at wholesale rates and then offering deep discounts to grow sales. The Confederation of All India Traders, which says it represents more than 70 million local retailers, warned the government against granting an extension on the enforcement of the new policy. Direct changes on Flipkart's website remain unclear right now, but we're sure a lot of exclusive apparel labels are going to disappear soon. The policy has received a mixed response since smaller traders are happy with the speed bump. Nationalists believe foreign marketplaces were playing around FDI rules to get a foothold, and in return damaging the country's existing merchants. Update: Amazon has reached out to confirm that Echo speakers and a few other products are now back on the website, and available for purchase. Two new research studies show that the chance of experiencing a stroke are significantly higher after flu or flu-like illness. Share on Pinterest Researchers are looking for a link between flu-like illness and the risk of stroke. Each year, nearly 800,000 people in the United States experience a stroke. The risk factors include weight, smoking status, age, and family history of stroke. However, flu and flu-like illnesses could join this list, according to research due to be presented at the International Stroke Conference in Honolulu, HI, next week. In fact, the theory that flu or flu-like infections may raise the risk of stroke is not new. In 2015, Medical News Today reported that children are six times more likely to experience a stroke if they had an infection mostly upper respiratory infections during the previous week. In 2018, a study that appeared in the European Respiratory Journal looked at the medical records of 762 people living in Scotland who had experienced a stroke. The researchers found an increased risk of stroke in the 28 days after infection with respiratory viruses. While these studies have been relatively small, new research by a team from Colombia University in New York City, NY, is the biggest of its kind to date. Risk of stroke higher for up to 1 year The scientists looked at the medical records of 30,912 individuals from the 20122014 inpatient and outpatient New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System who had been admitted to the hospital with ischemic stroke in 2014. They then searched for any incidences of hospitalization as a result of flu-like illness in the 2 years before the stroke. What they found was a nearly 40 percent increase in the odds of having a stroke within 15 days of being admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. Overall, the risk of experiencing a stroke was, in fact, increased for up to 1 year. Interestingly, people living in rural areas were just as likely to be affected, which came as a surprise to the research team. We were expecting, explains lead study author Amelia K. Boehme, Ph.D., an assistant professor of epidemiology in neurology for Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, to see differences in the flu-stroke association between rural and urban areas. Instead we found the association between flu-like illness and stroke was similar between people living in rural and urban areas, as well as for men and women, and among racial groups. Amelia K. Boehme, Ph.D. The reason for the link between flu-like illness and stroke is still unclear. Yet inflammation caused by the culprit responsible for the flu-like infection might be to blame, according to the authors. While other MediaPost newsletters and articles remain free to all ... our new Research Intelligencer service is reserved for paid subscribers ... Subscribe today to gain access to every Research Intelligencer article we publish as well as the exclusive daily newsletter, full access to The MediaPost Cases, first-look research and daily insights from Joe Mandese, Editor in Chief. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 1, 2019 The major ad industry associations are reiterating concerns that California's new privacy law is too broad and could restrict loyalty programs that offer discounts to consumers. We have notable concerns around the likely negative impact on California consumers and businesses from some of the specific language in the law, the Association of National Advertisers, American Advertising Federation, Interactive Advertising Bureau, American Association of Advertising Agencies and Network Advertising Initiative say in a letter sent Thursday to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. They add that ambiguities in the law could result in reduced choice and privacy for consumers. California's law, passed last year and slated for enforcement in 2020, allows consumers to learn what personal information about them is held by businesses, and to opt out of the sale of that information. advertisement advertisement State Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is tasked with developing regulations, is currently holding forums about the law. The measure defines personal information as including data that could be linked to particular consumers or households. The ad organizations express concerns in their new letter that the definition is too broad. The ANA has previously argued that any data can theoretically be connected to particular consumers. The groups add they are also concerned the law could affect loyalty programs. That concern stems from a provision of the measure that prohibits companies from charging higher prices to consumers who opt out of data collection and selling. But in an apparent ambiguity, the measure allows businesses to offer "financial incentives" -- including cheaper prices -- to consumers who allow their data to be collected and sold. The industry groups also say Becerra should refine the law's opt-out provisions to allow consumers to opt out of data sharing on a more granular level. The CCPA allow consumers entirely to opt out of the sale of their data or delete their data; but the law does not explicitly permit a business to offer a consumer the choice to delete or opt out regarding some, but not all, of their data, the groups write. We request that the AG clarify that businesses may offer reasonable options to consumers to choose the types of 'sales' they want to opt out of, the types of data they want deleted, or to completely opt out -- and not have to just provide an all-or-nothing option. T-Mobile and Sprint jointly announced post-merger plans to build five so-called customer experience centers, each with an average of 1,000 employees. With some other service expansions, they say these new centers could add 5,600 new jobs by 2021. They also say that by 2024, the merged company will have 7,500 more customer care professionals than the stand-alone companies would have without a merger. The announcement of the customer centers comes shortly before the chief executives of T-Mobile and Sprint are scheduled to appear before Congressional committees to defend the merger. The marketing going on now is mainly centered on selling Washington lawmakers, opinion-makers and regulators. With these five new centers, were going to give even more customers across the U.S. the rock star treatment they deserve! said T-Mobile CEO John Legere in a statement. If the merger is approved, he will lead the merged companies. advertisement advertisement The new centers are designed to provide better customer service, which might explain why each one is planned to have so many employees. T-Mobile announced its new Team of Experts (TEX) customer service plan last summer, emphasizing personal assistance to solve consumer problems, There are no robots or automated phone menus. No getting bounced around from department to department, it promised. No shouting representative. You now have your own entourage at T-Mobile dedicated to you and your happiness. The $26 billion merger, first announced last April, has already won the approval of a national security panel. It awaits approvals from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. T-Mobile and Sprint executives are scheduled to appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Judiciary Committee in February. The companies need to plead their case a little harder now that Democrats control the House of Representatives. Though Congress has no say in merger approvals, the hearings, proposed shortly after the Democrats took power, could sway public opinion. Previously, the Energy and Commerce Committee hadnt held a hearing on a merger in eight years. T-Mobile and Sprint say the new customer center will be built in Overland, Kansas, currently Sprints headquarters city that will become a secondary hub if the merger is approved. Four other sites will be announced later. The estimates of job gains might need some explaining. According to CNBC, last June, Legere told a Congressional committee that the merger would add jobs overall but said that 3,295 retail jobs would be lost by 2024. The Communication Workers of America last year said the merger will cost 28,000 employees. It urged attorneys general in all 50 states to investigate. A report from NERA Economic Consulting, done for T-Mobile, says over three years, the merger would add 24,000 jobs over three years. In its service center announcement, the company seems to be emphasizing its worthiness as an employer at least as much as its devotion to service. It said, in a press release, that the new employees will be able to experience the things that have earned T-Mobile recognition as a best place to work on numerous lists year over year. They will be eligible to receive benefits and opportunities such as significant management preparation experience, career development paths and college tuition reimbursement. Otherwise, T-Mobile has pledged to spend to expand service into rural areas and says its 5G service coming next year will be better than the rollouts just beginning from Verizon and AT&T. But detractors say allowing the T-Mobile and Sprint hook-up will take away two hungry competitors to Verizon and AT&T and create a company almost just as big, and with no reason to aggressively keep its prices low. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, January 31, 2019 Omaha-based ad agency SKAR Advertising, has been purchased by Terry Kroeger, the former CEO of Berkshire Hathaways BH Media Group and former publisher of BHMG-owned Omaha World-Herald. Kroeger will serve as president and CEO of SKAR. When I left BH Media Group, I was looking for my next adventure, Kroeger stated. With SKAR, I see a solid business foundation, a long history and tradition with true growth potential, and talented people already in place to drive that growth. Ive found the adventure. The sellers were the Smith family and the SKAR Partner Group. The Smiths had ownership in the firm since 1962, when Wayne Smith founded the agency as Smith Kaplan. The agency said all current partners will remain with the company, including Joleen (Smith) David, president of SKAR since 2000, who has agreed to stay on as vice chair for at least two years. advertisement advertisement Kroeger said one focus will be to expand SKARs offering. Areas like strategic planning, business consulting, public relations and crisis management are all natural extensions of our primary lines of business, he said. As we explore these opportunities, we will seek additional acquisitions and partnerships, and look to attract talent as we grow. Kroeger is a past chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as chairman of the Aksarben Foundation, which is focused on workforce development. He is a member of the board of directors of the Associated Press, and is chairman of the News Media Alliance, the trade and lobbying association for the newspaper industry, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Publishers need to be aware of what their editorial teams are posting on social media, especially since tweets, snaps and stories generally fall outside more rigorous in-house reviews. Reckless behavior on social media can damage a publishers brand and doesnt deserve any special journalistic privilege. Farhad Manjoo, an opinion columnist for The New York Times, went so far as to implore journalists to never tweet because Twitter is ruining American journalism. He was writing in response to the news medias rush to judgment after a video clip purporting to show a standoff between white high-school kids and an elderly Native American man at a protest march went viral. At first, the Twitter mob went after the kids from Covington Catholic High School. Then, as more details of the incident emerged, a mob went after the people whod gone after the kids, Manjoo wrote. No one won; in the end the whole thing was little more than a divisive, partisan mess. I agree that the incident was embarrassing for the news media, but that doesnt mean Twitter is ruining journalism. Im a big fan of Twitter. The platform provides unfiltered access to many news makers, and its a good resource to monitor current trends. I first turn to Twitter to see what people are saying about news. If Twitter didnt exist, it would have to be invented. Even the NYTs Manjoo acknowledges quitting the platform is impossible in todays news business. Thats not to say Twitter is without its flaws. Disinformation, anonymous trolls and automated bots proliferate on Twitter despite the companys efforts to curb such activity. Twitter wants to be a brand-safe platform thats free of hate speech, terrorist propaganda and child porn. Speaking of objectionable content, its amazing how many journalists betray their personal biases about events and people in the news. In many cases, those tweets undermine standards of journalistic objectivity and lead readers to doubt a publications claims of editorial fairness. That dynamic harms a publishers brand. Twitter isnt as damaging to journalism as journalists are. More than ever, social-media users need to find sources they can trust for reliable information. Like a loaded gun, Twitter needs to be handled with care and proper respect. It has tremendous power to weaponize information, but also to provide a public good. by Melynda Fuller , January 31, 2019 NewsGuard, the news rating platform founded in 2018, reports its method of examining and grading websites based on nine journalistic criteria resulted in more than 500 websites improving their journalism trust practices. Those that have changed practices include Newsweek, Yahoo News, Fortune, NBCNews, Fast Company, Forbes and hundreds of sites owned by GateHouse Media. The ratings caught attention after NewsGuard gave The Daily Mail one of the largest news providers in the world a failing grade that was publicly mocked by rival Guardian this week in an online story. Through a just-signed deal with Microsoft, NewsGuard is now available as an optional extension on its Microsofts Edge browser. A report by Slate offers a thorough overview of NewsGuards road to influence, as well as some of the potential controversy surrounding news rating startups. The ratings are composed through a series of nine weighted criteria that includes whether a website clearly labels advertising and gathers and presents information responsibly. An outlets inclination to avoid deceptive headlines and its handling of the difference between news and opinion also affect the final grade. A team of 35 journalists and editors perform the assessments. Sites are given a green trustworthy rating if they pass enough of the criteria and a red if they fail too many. Before publishing a rating in which an outlet has failed one of its nine criteria, NewsGuard contacts the outlet to inform it of the areas in which it failed, providing the outlet with a chance to explain its practices to NewsGuard. NewsGuard updates labels depending on how an outlet has rectified the failed area. In the case of news conglomerate GateHouse Media, the company changed the way it labeled sponsored content, providing clarity to users. It also updated information about its ownership across hundreds of its local news websites. Jeff Moriarty, GateHouse senior vice president, digital, stated: Working with NewsGuard analysts, who have an understanding of best practices across the web, we made our standards and practices more prominent and consistent across our digital 460 news brands across the country." NewsGuard was founded by media entrepreneur Steven Brill and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz. Regarding the need for a service like NewsGuard, particularly in the age of fake news and social media gone wild, Crovitz stated: NewsGuard is the opposite of an algorithm that determines which news is served to people on search and social media platforms today. We reveal exactly how our process works, how our criteria are applied, and whos responsible for each rating something opaque algorithms dont do. We call for comment algorithms dont call for comment. The companys ratings are available through a NewsGuard browser extension for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox and displayed next to links in users search-engine results and social-media feeds. The ratings can also be accessed through Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android devices. Out of dedication to our students, faculty and teaching assistants have quietly shouldered the burden of being overworked and underappreciated by university administrators in recent years, particularly during the state budget impasse between 2015 and 2017. But as UIC now invests a billion dollars in new buildings, we are questioning why there is no similar plan to invest in us, the educators who will do the teaching inside those buildings. by Sara Guaglione , January 31, 2019 A new study published in the Journal of Communication reveals communities without local newspapers correlate with more polarized voting behavior. The study, Newspaper Closures Polarize Voting Behavior, was conducted by Texas A&M Universitys Johanna Dunaway, Louisiana State Universitys Joshua Darr and Colorado State Universitys Matthew Hitt. Counties without local news sources, the study found, rely more heavily on national media outlets, which tend to report political news as a two-party political conflict, according to a post in Texas A&M Today. Those counties also lack coverage of local representatives and their stance on a variety of issues. Residents of cities without sources of local news are losing their ability to hold their political representatives accountable in ways that encourage ethical and effective representation, stated Dunaway, professor of communication in the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M. The more obvious implications of newspaper closures are that residents are becoming less informed about the issues that affect them most and less engaged with local government, she added. As a result, local newspaper closures contribute to increases in straight-ticket, party-line voting. With the increasing dominance of national media, legislators have more incentive to respond to the needs and preferences of their political parties than to those of their districts, leaving their constituents to pay the price when those interests are in opposition, according to Texas A&M Today. The study analyzed split-ticket voting in statistically similar counties to see whether or not it matched up with political party ideology. They found a 1.9% drop in split-ticket voting in presidential and senatorial elections in counties where local newspapers closed. In elections research, where fluctuations of 1% are considered substantial, this difference is dramatic, according to Texas A&M Today. This means voters without local news options are more likely than usual to vote on the basis of party identification alone. In October, Publishers Daily reported more than 1,300 U.S. communities have lost news coverage, according to The Expanding News Desert, a University of North Carolinas School of Media and Journalism study. About 20% of metro and community newspapers (1,800) have closed or merged since 2004, when 9,000 were published. Since then, about 70% of the newspapers shuttered were in suburban areas of cities. Communities without coverage tend to be rural. As of 2018, the South is the hardest hit region, with 91 counties lacking newspapers, according to the UNC database. Global urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period (2018-2023). A UTI treatment is an infection caused by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can occur in any urinary system such as kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Global UTI treatment market is significantly emerging due to various factors such as the growing geriatric population. The increasing prevalence of obesity & diabetes and rising incidences of immune suppression accompanied by urologic abnormality due to consumption of unhealthy food, alcohol, and smoking also drive the market growth. Availability of generic drugs helps the expansion of the segment. Factors such as emerging economies, modernization of healthcare across the globe, and innovative technologies which lead to the introduction of new treatments and drugs create a future opportunity for market growth. However, there are certain factors which hinder the growth of the market such as the lack of awareness among people and strict government regulations. Geographically, the global UTI treatment market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the world. North America is estimated to hold a significant share in the global market due to a high prevalence rate of urinary tract infection. In addition, the region has a well-developed healthcare infrastructure that also contributes to the growth of the market in the region. Europe has considerable market share with better reimbursement policies and the introduction of new drugs in the market. The major players operating in the market that are bringing innovation and improvement in the treatment and drugs of the disease include Siemens Healthineers, Beckman Coulter Inc., Sysmex Corporation, Arkray Inc., Acon Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Company, and Biomerieux SA. These players are adopting various strategies to enhance their market value and strengthen their presence globally. Research Methodology The market study of UTI treatment market is incorporated by extensive primary and secondary research conducted by the research team. Secondary research has been conducted to refine the available data to break down the market in various segments, derive total market size, market forecast, and growth rate. Different approaches have been worked on to derive the market value and market growth rate. Our team collects facts and data related to the market from different geography to provide a better regional outlook. In the report, a country-level analysis is provided by analyzing various regional players, regional tax laws and policies, consumer behavior and macroeconomic factors. Numbers extracted from secondary research have been authenticated by conducting proper primary research. It includes tracking down key people from the industry and interviewing them to validate the data. This enables our analyst to derive the closest possible figures without any major deviations in the actual number. Our analysts try to contact as many executives, managers, key opinion leaders, and industry experts. Primary research brings the authenticity of our reports. Request Sample Report at https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3672002-global-urinary-tract-infection-market-research-and-forecast-2018-2023 Secondary Sources Include: Financial reports of companies involved in the market Authentic Public Databases such WHO. Whitepapers, research-papers and news blogs Company websites and their product catalog. The report is intended for healthcare providers, investing companies, emerging companies, government organizations for overall market analysis and competitive analysis. The report provides an in-depth analysis of market size and will serve as a source for 360-degree analysis of the market thoroughly delivering insights into the market for better business decisions. Market Segmentation: Global UTI treatment market is segmented on the basis of regional outlook and following segments: Global UTI treatment Market Research and Analysis, By Test Type Global UTI treatment Market Research and Analysis, By Indication Global UTI treatment Market Research and Analysis, By End-User Global UTI Market Research and Analysis, By Region The Report Covers: Comprehensive research methodology of global UTI treatment This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights. An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations. Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global UTI treatment market. Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global UTI treatment Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues. Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players.Companies Mentioned Acon Laboratories, Inc. Actavis Generics Arkray Inc. AstraZeneca PLC Bayers AG Beckman Coulter Inc. Becton, Dickinson And Company Biomerieux S.A. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. Biotronik Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. GlaxoSmithKline PLC Novartis International AG Pfizer Inc. Sanofi S.A. Siemens AG Synergy Health PLC Sysmex Corp. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Table of Content Report Summary Market Overview and Insights Market Determinants Market Segmentation Competitive Landscape Regional Analysis Company Profiles About Us: 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. Contact Us: NORAH TRENT sales@wiseguyreports.com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Nanopharmaceuticals are colloidal particles of 10 to 1,000 nanometers (1 micron) in size. They are widely used in drug delivery. Nanopharmaceuticals are diverse both in their shape and composition and often offer an advantage as compared to their bulk counterparts primarily because of size. There are two types of nanopharmaceuticals: (1) those where the therapeutic molecules are themselves the drug (i.e.,the therapeutic compound itself also functions as its own carrier); and (2) those where the therapeutic molecules are directly coupled (functionalized, entrapped, or coated) to a nanoparticle carrier. USA is a huge market, and the total sum of the industry is more than 8756.7 million USD in 2015. At the same time, this industry continuously increases, with the development of global economy. USA is the largest market of nanopharmaceuticals, which occupies 60.69 percent of global nanopharmaceuticals market share in 2014. It is followed by Europe, which has around 33.37 percent of the global total industry. Other main regions which take important part in this industry include Japan and China. The relatively-mature technology is NanoCrystalsTM, DissCubes and Nanopure. The carrier includes nanospheres, nanocapsules, solid lipid nanoparticles, microemulsion, nanoliposome, magnetic nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, and inorganic nanometer carrier. The global Nanopharmaceuticals market is valued to grow higher during 2019-2025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Nanopharmaceuticals market based on company, product type, end user and key regions. This report studies the global market size of Nanopharmaceuticals in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Nanopharmaceuticals in these regions. This research report categorizes the global Nanopharmaceuticals market by top players/brands, region, type and end user. This report also studies the global Nanopharmaceuticals market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels and distributors. The following manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, market share for each company: Merck Pfizer Novartis Abbott GlaxoSmithKline Roche Sanofi Eli Lilly Astrazeneca Johnson & Johnson Celgene Novavax Stryker Gilead Sciences OSI Pharmaceuticals Kadmon Pharmaceuticals Samyang Biopharm Mitsubishi Pharma Kaken Pharmaceutical Selecta Biosciences Par Pharmaceutical Cerulean Pharma Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Lummy Request Sample Report at https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3349220-global-nanopharmaceuticals-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 Market size by Product Liposomes Polymeric Micelles Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Microemulsion and Nnanoemulsion Nanosuspension Market size by End User Cancer and Tumor Autoimmune Disorders Inflammation Others Market size by Region North America United States Canada Mexico Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Indonesia Singapore Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Russia Central & South America Brazil Rest of Central & South America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries Turkey Egypt South Africa The study objectives of this report are: To study and analyze the global Nanopharmaceuticals market size (value & volume) by company, key regions, products and end user, breakdown data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of Nanopharmaceuticals market by identifying its various subsegments. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). Focuses on the key global Nanopharmaceuticals companies, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape and recent development. To project the value and sales volume of Nanopharmaceuticals submarkets, with respect to key regions. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Nanopharmaceuticals are as follows: History Year: 2014-2018 Base Year: 2018 Estimated Year: 2019 Forecast Year 2019 to 2025 This report includes the estimation of market size for value (million US$) and volume (K MT). Both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of Nanopharmaceuticals market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market. Key players in the market have been identified through secondary research, and their market shares have been determined through primary and secondary research. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified primary sources. Table of Contents 1 Study Coverage 2 Executive Summary 3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers 4 Breakdown Data by Product 5 Breakdown Data by End User 6 North America 7 Europe 8 Asia Pacific 9 Central & South America 10 Middle East and Africa 11 Company Profiles 12 Future Forecast 13 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis 14 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis 15 Research Findings and Conclusion About Us: 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. Contact Us: NORAH TRENT sales@wiseguyreports.com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Meadville, PA (16335) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 51F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. 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. Did you see a photo in today's print edition that you'd like to order? Would you like to order a reprint of today's front page? Order Reprints And oh, by the way, it is not just elements of conservative media that are arriving at a new place regarding Trump. When asked in a recent Post-ABC News poll, 56 percent of registered voters said they will "definitely" not vote for Trump in his re-election bid. The same conclusion was reached in a recent NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll as well, with 57 percent saying they would "definitely" not vote for Trump. While this polling is far from determinative this far out from the 2020 election, it suggests deep trouble for and disappointment in the Trump presidency. Even pro-Trump pundits and analysts cannot pretend that these numbers are not valid. The wall fiasco has provided an opportunity for a reset. Hiram, GA (30141) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 83F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Atlanta, GA (30342) Today Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Marietta, GA (30060) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Though the road to real reform will not be short, the record of police reform in other cities shows that the time it takes to improve policing depends largely on the willingness of the city and the police department to resource and adopt the policies and practices detailed in consent decrees. The hardest work starts now. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent Eddie Johnson must meet deadlines in the upcoming weeks and months to lead the Chicago Police Department into a new era. SPRINGFIELD Davon Kelly-Griffin took the witness stand in his own defense Thursday, telling jurors he shot his gun five times at Rakishon Pedraza because he thought Pedraza was going to pull a gun on him. Kelly-Griffin, 29, of Springfield, is charged with murder in the shooting of Pedraza, 27, in a walkway between Union and Monroe streets on Sept. 8. 2017, shortly after 6 p.m. Both men are from Springfield. Kelly-Griffin, a licensed gun owner, is also charged with improper storage of a firearm for a gun found under the floor mat of his cars front seat when he was arrested about two months after the shooting. He is not charged with improper storage for a gun he had on his lap at the time of his arrest. Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday in the trial before Hampden Superior Court Judge J. Gavin Reardon Jr. Defense lawyer Blake Rubin had told jurors in his opening statement they would hear Kelly-Griffin testify he shot Pedraza in self-defense. The defendant testified Thursday that another man, whom he knew from years back but whose name he didnt know, was driving Kelly-Griffins car around with Kelly-Griffin as passenger. The man, whom he said he knew as J.T., was checking out a problem with the car and Kelly-Griffin was looking to get marijuana to smoke with J.T. Kelly-Griffin said he had last bought marijuana from Pedraza about five months before and there was no problem. He said he grew up with Pedraza in his neighborhood and knew him as Rak. On the day of the shooting, he said, he saw Pedraza go down the alley beside William DeBerry School and told J.T. to stop the car. Questioned by one of his lawyers, Michael Cashman, Kelly-Griffin said he started to get out of the car before it stopped because he was in a hurry to get to Pedraza for marijuana. He said he was about 10 feet from Pedraza when Pedraza said threatening words and he (Pedraza) goes to grab his gun and steps forward. And as he steps forward I retrieve my gun and I shoot rapidly, Kelly-Griffin said. He said he shot the five bullets that were loaded in his gun and Pedraza started running away. Kelly-Griffin said he had seen Pedraza with a gun prior to that day. He said he took gun safety courses when he became licensed to carry a firearm in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He worked for an armored car company for three to four years beginning in 2012, he testified. Kelly-Griffin said in the gun courses he was taught to shoot at central mass to neutralize someone. He said he always carried his gun wherever he went for protection. Under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Eduardo Velazquez, Kelly-Griffin said he saw a gun handle and thought Pedraza was going to pull a gun on him. He said he ran away after shooting Pedraza because I was still scared for my life. Kelly-Griffin said when he was running home his gun fell out of his waistband. He said he didnt have any way to contact J.T. since he didnt know his name, and J.T. said he was just visiting from the South. After the shooting he looked for J.T., but J.T. had driven away in Kelly-Griffins car. Kelly-Griffin said he had to run home across State Street. J.T. dropped the car off later, Kelly-Griffin said. Although lawmakers have taken little action to address Americas infrastructure spending since the White House unveiled its $1.5 trillion investment plan last year, that is expected to soon change, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said this week. The Springfield Democrat, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, told The Republican Thursday that congressional leaders and the Trump administration both seem to be on board with tackling infrastructure spending in the coming months. I had breakfast with Secretary (of the Treasury Steven) Mnuchin, I think theyre in, he said in an interview with the editorial board. Our leadership on the Democratic side, we are preparing for an infrastructure bill. Unlike the White Houses January 2018 infrastructure plan rollout, however, Neal said he intends to make sure that both sides agree on the legislation -- particularly on how to fund such spending -- before jointly announcing the bipartisan package. My strategy is, whatever we agree to, were going to do it together, he said. "You cant have one person standing at the microphone and the others denying what was said in a room. Youve got to have everybody saying this what we agreed to, this is what were going to do. You have to have everyone standing together. Thats the whole idea. And, I think (the administration would) like to move on it, the congressman continued. On our side, theres a pent-up desire to do something on infrastructure. Neal offered that while congressional Democrats and the administration have yet to decide how to fund infrastructure spending -- an issue which largely halted progress on the presidents initial infrastructure plan -- an agreement will be reached before lawmakers step to the microphone. The congressman said he would like to get something up by spring, at least the formula," adding that he believes transportation and American infrastructure is a public responsibility. He noted that the Ways and Means Committee will convene a hearing on infrastructure spending in February or March, with testimony expected from the AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce, American Trucking Association and other stakeholders. If you get the Chamber of Commerce of the United States willing to step up on infrastructure, that tells you something. And the AFL-CIO, they want to build it. (Infrastructure spending) creates greater efficiency, it increases productivity, and I think that whether youre on the turnpike or youre on some of our streets now, what you have to go through for delays, its pretty telling," he said. Neal further offered that any infrastructure package should include investments in rail. Pointing to the success of new North-South rail connecting Western Massachusetts to New York City, the congressman argued that hed like to see such legislation include funding to improve East-West rail service between Boston and Pittsfield -- a proposal state officials are currently studying. I think that if theres going to be a major infrastructure plan, that our price tag out here ought to be East-West rail," he said, noting that he hopes to convene a meeting this spring between representatives from Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield on the issue. President Donald Trump, who announced his infrastructure plan in his first State of the Union Address, called on Congress to produce legislation that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new investment -- money which he argued would be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment. The president added that his proposal would also speed up the permit approval process from 10 years to two years, as well as provide $50 billion for rural infrastructure projects, like ensuring broadband access -- an issue state officials have worked to address in Western Massachusetts. Although Massachusetts Democrats praised the president for focusing on infrastructure, they raised concerns that the White Houses plan -- which called for $200 billion in federal investments -- could force state and local governments to pick up the rest of the tab for such projects. Neal urged the White House last February to maintain the 80/20 federal/state model for infrastructure spending. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has apologized to the Cherokee nation for her decision to take a DNA test to prove her Native American ancestry, the New York Times reports. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, who is running for president apologized as shes set to formally kick of her bid for the White House with trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina in February, the Times reports. Warren called Bill John Baker, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, on Thursday to apologize for the DNA test, Julie Hubbard, a spokeswoman for the tribe told the Times. Hubbard said the conversation was brief and private. I understand that she apologized for causing confusion on tribal sovereignty and tribal citizenship and the harm that has resulted, Hubbard told the Times. The chief and secretary of state appreciate that she has reaffirmed that she is not a Cherokee Nation citizen or a citizen of any tribal nation. Hubbard did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MassLive. Warren shared the results of a DNA test conducted by geneticist and Stanford University professor Carlos D. Bustamante in October. It showed she had five segments with Native American ancestry. "We find strong evidence that a DNA sample of primarily European descent also contains Native American ancestry from an ancestor in the sample's pedigree 6-10 generations ago," Bustamante wrote in his report. The DNA test was an attempt by Warrens team to put to rest questions and attacks from her opponents that have dogged her since her first run for the US Senate. Skeptics have asked why Warren told employers in the 80s and 90s, during the peak of her law career, that she was Native American. But the test angered members of the Cherokee Nation who said Warren was undermining their interests. In a statement at the time Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said DNA tests cannot determine whether a persons ancestors were indigenous to North or South America. Sovereign tribal nations set their own legal requirements for citizenship, and while DNA tests can be used to determine lineage, such as paternity to an individual, it is not evidence for tribal affiliation, Hoskin said in the statement. Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong. It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven. Since the release of her test, Warren has been more candid about her heritage, The Intercept reports. "Im not a person of color. And I havent lived your life or experienced anything like the subtle prejudice, or more overt harm, that you may have experienced just because of the color of your skin, she said at a commencement address at Morgan State University, according to The Intercept. Warrens team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the apology. A bill that would require U.S. presidents and vice presidents to publicly disclose their tax returns will go before a U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee early next month, officials announced Thursday. The tax-writing panels Oversight Subcommittee will consider the so-called Presidential Tax Transparency Act, as it meets on Feb. 7. The House Ways and Means Committee announced the hearing as Chairman U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, told The Republicans editorial board that hes looking into using existing power to formally request the release of President Donald Trumps tax returns. The proposal -- which comes in response to Trumps refusal to make his tax returns public -- would mandate that presidents, vice presidents and major party candidates running for either of the two executive offices release their 10 most recent federal income tax returns. If a president, vice president or candidate failed to disclose such documents, the bill would require the Internal Revenue Service to provide redacted copies of their tax returns to the Federal Election Commission. Bill sponsors, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-New Jersey, and Anna G. Eshoo, D-California, said the hearing will highlight the 116th Congress' commitment to transparency, particularly as questions remain over Trumps tax returns. We look forward to using this first hearing to discussing the critical importance of full tax disclosure for any man or woman seeking the presidency and how our Presidential Tax Transparency Act would create permanent sunlight for our nation, they said in a statement. Neal, who has said he will use his power as the Ways and Means chairman to request the presidents tax returns, meanwhile, said Thursday that any such move must be done methodically and judiciously" as it will likely draw legal challenges. House counsel and the attorneys at the Ways and Means Committee are preparing the case, he said. Im not going to flub it. Three progressive groups -- Tax March, Stand Up America and Indivisible -- recently called on Neal to stop slow-walking and formally seek the release of the presidents tax information. The unveiling of a new storage space for the Massachusetts State Archives brings up an old question: in the fast-changing age of digital communication, is anybody saving the records and files of today? In 2009, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that every two days, as much information was being produced as humanity had created from the dawn of civilization until 2003. That observation is so sobering and far-reaching, its hard to absorb - and Schmidt said it 10 years ago, when digital information was far less expansive and all-encompassing than it is now. Its comforting to know the state archives have a new, safe home in Boston. Archivists note that old records can disintegrate and become worthless if not cared for, and when that happens, eyewitness accounts of history are lost forever. The new vault was unveiled in the past week. Its environmental and security facets are state-of-the-art. As Suffolk University history professor Robert Allison said, the archives give voice to important individuals of the long-ago past and make them relevant today. With Massachusetts approaching the 400th anniversary of the 1620 landing of the Pilgrims. the value of maintaining the states historical heritage is not just a scholars activity but a current event. Over the past week, files from two legendary Massachusetts events, the 1770 Boston Massacre and the 1892 Lizzie Borden trial, were available for public viewing. The archives are managed through the office of Secretary of State Bill Galvin, who has long maintained his duties as the states chief record keeper represent an important part of his job. But what about the history that is happening now, not just in Massachusetts but everywhere? Preserving history is important if future generations are to understand what came before them. Technology is making many tasks easier than ever - but its causing complications in this case that, in recorded history, have never been faced before. For example, the insights of famous people have been discovered and examined for centuries by the personal letters they left behind, but who writes personal letters now? And come on, do we really expect their legacy will be maintained by the preservation of emails, social media and texts? Its impossible to file and save all information being passed along the globally connected digital information highway today. Its also unnecessary. Some data is much more important and more worth preserving than others. But who is making that decision? Are decisions made with the need for hard-copy or microfilm preservation in mind, or is much being lost as paper documents are replaced by digital record-keeping at just about every turn? Some digital sources keep track of past data. Others discard it to make room for new data. Scholars do not dismiss that it will be harder for people in the year 2100 (or sooner) to track the important events and lives of early 21st Century society than it is for us to piece together the nature of life in the 1700s. Its good to know that Massachusetts is safeguarding access to its past. Less certain is how well the records of the present are being maintained. There could be some bitter irony attached to how our ultra-rapid advancement in technology will leave future generations confused about 21st Century society, leaving us with a knowledge gap that stands in contrast to the better-kept records of simpler centuries, long gone by. LONGMEADOW -- Susan Bell, a former superintendent of schools in Connecticut, on Thursday night was appointed to a temporary term on the Longmeadow School Committee. In a joint session of the School Committee and Select Board, members expressed the urgent need to appoint a fourth member to the School Committee so it will have a quorum and can put together the school budget, which is due to the town manager by March 8. Four of the seven School Committee members resigned last week, less than a week after voters approved a Town Meeting amendment allowing for the recall of elected officials. Bell told the joint session she's had 17 years of experience in education and previously served as superintendent in Windsor Locks. She currently serves as an elected member of the school council at Blueberry Hill Elementary School and is on the board of directors at the Longmeadow Montessori School. "I want to provide some stability within this transition," she said of applying for the term. The appointment was made contingent on her submitting a letter of resignation effective Feb. 22. Board members previously discussed making the appointment only a five-week term to allow the committee to resume operating while also allowing time to properly advertise and interview interested applicants for the four open seats. Applicants who are appointed to those seats will serve until the June 11 annual town elections. Feb. 22 was chosen as the date for resignation so that if the appointee also wanted to apply for the term beginning in March, the appointee wouldn't be on the committee during interviews. Bell was one of eight to apply for the short-term appointment. A motion was made to appoint former committee member Janet Robinson, but Robinson told the boards she was not interested in being appointed to a five-week term and then have to reapply for the March to June term. The boards will jointly interview candidates for the four seats on Feb. 25. Bell told board members she's also interested in a March through June term and has already applied. Remaining School Committee members Bronwyn Monahan and Ryan Kelly attended Thursday night's meeting alongside the full Select Board. Armand Way was out of town and not in attendance. "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has made his first public comments since he was allegedly attacked by two men in what Chicago police are investigating as a possible hate crime. "Let me start by saying that I'm OK," Smollett told Essence on Friday. "My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words." Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told WLS-TV, abc7 News, on Friday morning that Smollett "has been very cooperative and we have no reason, at this point, to think that he's not being genuine with us." "I will say this. The crime that he reported is horrendous. It's horrible. It was cowardly. We'll do everything we can," Johnson said. Smollett, who is black and openly gay, told police he was attacked early Tuesday by two people, who shouted racial and homophobic slurs and poured an unknown chemical substance on him, according to The Chicago Tribune. One of the alleged attackers reportedly put a rope around his neck. The FBI is assisting in the investigation after it was confirmed that an earlier threat was made against the actor in the form of a letter before the Tuesday morning incident. A security video has revealed two "potential persons of interest" who Chicago police want to question. Police released stills from surveillance video of two shadowy figures. Brandon Z. Moore, Smollett's music manager, has revealed he was on the phone with the actor when he heard some of the attack. Smollett has reportedly declined to hand over his phone to police, but is willing to provide phone records, according to TMZ. Even as Purdue Pharma was publicly brushing off concerns about opioid addiction, the company was secretly planning to profit off the epidemic, according to a newly unredacted court filing by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. But the company never followed through on the plan, called Project Tango, says an amended complaint and jury demand filed in connection with Healeys lawsuit against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma and its board members. Healey filed the suit in Suffolk Superior Court in June. The suit alleges that former Purdue Chairman and President Richard Sackler and other Sackler family members and Purdue board members knew how addictive opioids were, yet marketed them aggressively anyway. She said the company misled doctors and consumers about the addiction and health risks of opioids, including OxyContin. Her filing details Purdues aggressive marketing, which aimed to get doctors to keep more people on higher doses of opioids for longer periods of time. More details about the lawsuit have become available as the redactions have been removed from Healeys brief under court order. The order was in response to a motion filed by The Boston Globe and STAT that was later joined by Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and WBUR. Purdue Pharma said in a statement released earlier this month that Healey's complaint "irresponsibly and counterproductively casts every prescription of OxyContin as dangerous and illegitimate, substituting its lawyers' sensational allegations for the expert scientific determinations of the Food and Drug Administration and completely ignoring the millions of patients who are prescribed Purdue Pharma's medicines for the management of their severe chronic pain." The complaint is littered with biased and inaccurate characterizations of these documents and individual defendants, often highlighting potential courses of action that were ultimately rejected by the company, Purdue Pharma wrote in its statement. The latest copy of the filing, released Thursday evening, reveals for the first time the existence of the Project Tango proposal, which board member Kathe Sackler pitched to the Purdue Pharma board in 2014. Publicly, the company had been telling doctors that opioid addiction was the fault of addicts, and their drugs would not cause addiction if taken by a trustworthy person and used correctly. However, the new documents say Purdue Pharma knew opioids would cause addiction and considered getting into the business of selling drugs to treat addiction. Sackler wrote in internal documents that opioids and addiction are naturally linked and Purdue Pharma should consider becoming an end-to-end pain provider, providing opioids to treat pain, and then offering suboxone to treat addiction. The documents noted the large increase in opioid addiction over the prior five years and said opioid addiction can happen to any-one. Sackler wrote that the market for addiction treatment was attractive due to large unmet need for vulnerable, underserved and stigmatized patient population suffering from substance abuse, dependence and addiction. Healey wrote in her brief, The Tango team mapped how patients could get addicted to opioids through prescription opioid analgesics such as Purdues OxyContin or heroin, and then become consumers of the new companys suboxone. Although that proposal was dropped, company officials again discussed profiting off addiction in June 2016, this time by selling the drug Narcan, which can revive someone after an overdose. They considered marketing Narcan to the same doctors who were prescribing large amounts of opioids. Purdues analysis of the market for NARCAN confirmed that they saw the opioid epidemic as a money-making opportunity, and that the Sacklers understood in private, when no one was watching how Purdues opioids put patients at risk, Healey wrote. As the public became more concerned about opioid addiction, long-time employee Craig Landau, applying for the job of CEO that he eventually got, proposed that Purdue take advantage of other companies backing away from the market by becoming the countrys dominant opioid seller. The court filing also says Purdue Pharma knew its drugs were being abused. At a 2010 board meeting, Purdue staff gave the board a list of doctors who were suspected of allowing opioids they prescribed to be diverted and abused, along with the amount of sales each doctor generated. The list included 12 doctors in Massachusetts. Staff reported that Dr. Michael Taylor of New Bedford wrote more than 500 prescriptions for OxyContin over two years, providing Purdue with nearly $400,000. They told the board that Dr. Alan Chua of Brookfield prescribed OxyContin more than 1,000 times, providing more than $430,000 to Purdue. A year later, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Medicine took away Chuas medical license for improper prescribing. Three years later, the Board of Registration of Medicine took away Taylors license, and he was convicted in court of prescribing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose. Four patients died after overdosing on opioids prescribed by those two doctors. There were eight members of the Sackler family on Purdues board of directors. Between 2007 and 2016, the Sacklers voted to pay themselves a total of $4.2 billion from the companys profits, according to the court filing. SPRINGFIELD The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission met with local legislators and community leaders Friday to discuss the importance of making air pollution a focus of this legislative session. According to the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Hampden County has high levels of air pollution due in part to traffic on Interstate 91, emissions from factories and power plants, and the fact that the county is in a valley. The pollution has been linked to higher than average rates of asthma and other ailments in parts of the county. As planners I think we have learned that there is an intimate connection between the work we do and public health. And in terms of problems that affects all of us, its climate change, said Timothy Brennan, executive director of PVPC. When it comes to air pollution, the villain is transportation. As a state we have made a lot of progress in terms of reducing emissions from the electric sector by nearly 60 percent, but with transportation we are not making a lot of progress. Jessica Collins, the executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, said the organizations goal is that everyone in Western Massachusetts has what they need to live a healthy life. We talk a lot about homes and food and living-wage jobs, but one thing that is obvious, but no so obvious, is that we need clean air. Its not a luxury, its a necessity, she said. Collins said traffic is a major contributor to air pollution, which is a major contributor to poor health outcomes including asthma, lung cancer, premature death, low birth weight, heart disease and stroke. In Hampden County there are almost 10,000 children and close to 38,000 adults that live with asthma and 30,000 people with cardiovascular disease, she said. People of color and those in low-income areas are often disproportionately affected by air pollution. Collins was joined by Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in stating that in Hampden County air quality is an equity issue. If you look at these statistics, with more than twice the national average asthma rates in Chicopee, Springfield and Holyoke think about the cost that is to our families and our health care system and think about the immorality that someones zip code is a determinant of their asthma and their health rates, Lesser said. I think as a developed country we should be ashamed of these statistics and the disparities that they illuminate. Morse said the statistics are not surprising. When I look at this data and see that kids born in Holyoke automatically, inherently are three or four times more likely to get asthma throughout their lifetime, its really an issue of equity and its an injustice, he said. Although the asthma rates in the region are grim, there are solutions. A major one is getting cars off the road, Lesser said. We need to reduce emissions, and doing that will actually grow our economy if we do it in the right way, he said. East-west rail has the potential to take tens of thousands of cars off the road. Its probably the single greatest green new deal project that the state could undertake. It would dramatically reduce the states greenhouse gas emissions footprint and through that would dramatically reduce asthma rates. Springfield and Holyoke have taken steps to improve air quality in individual buildings and through citywide efforts. Springfield invested $30 million into its schools and municipal buildings by replacing old boilers, installing new energy systems, improving air quality in classrooms and more. The energy savings total $2.5 million a year, with guaranteed savings of $40 million to $50 million over the next 20 years. In one year we removed 2.41 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the air, 2,049 of nitrogen oxide from the air and 6,074 of sulfur dioxide from the air, said Patrick Sullivan, Springfields executive director of parks, buildings and recreation management. Over a 10-year period thats equivalent to 80 forests being preserved, 2,010 cars being taken off the road and removing 25,554 barrels of oil being burned. Sullivan said the energy savings have made it possible to use the money to invest in parks and critical infrastructure. He said the better air quality in schools has led to a 4 percent reduction in asthma rates. We have been recognized by the commonwealth as a green community and most importantly we have completed a climate action plan for the city which has allowed us to identify vulnerable areas such as dams. We are seeing winters with subzero temperatures now and 50 degree weather next week, so we are not seeing the slow melt we are used to, said Sullivan, who shared a video of the culverts at Forest Park overflowing into walking paths two weeks ago. Morse said Holyoke has worked to make public transportation accessible to residents and invested in its older schools, providing new carpeting and window replacements to improve air quality. We have a number of initiatives in the city of Holyoke, but we cant do these projects alone. We really need state intervention and state support to make these impacts on a much larger scale, he said. Investments like ValleyBike Share and east-west rail are critically important to making sure we decrease our carbon emissions, decrease air pollution and decrease asthma rates. Morse cited the transformation of the Mount Tom Power Station coal-fired plant into a solar farm as an example of local organizations like Neighbor to Neighbor and Toxics Action Center, city government and state government working together. We are now closer to our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral community in Western Massachusetts, he said. Vega said he believes Massachusetts can set the standard for renewable energy. If we figure out a way to set those standards and encourage businesses and individuals to develop clean energy standards that everyone benefits from, we will have a great impact on healthy communities here, he said. The American Girl store at the Natick Mall is set to close March 20. The MetroWest Daily News reported that the 22,000-square-foot store, which opened in 2008, is being shuttered as part of a cost-saving effort by the company. While decisions that impact our associates, our customers and the community are always difficult, the closures are a necessary step to improve the overall health of our business and reinvest in key areas of growth, Wade Opland, vice president of retail, told the newspaper in the statement. The brand is known for its 18-inch dolls that portray girls of a variety of ethnicities from different time periods. The dolls are sold with accompanying books and clothing. American Girl is owned by Mattel Inc. and has 17 store across the country. A second store, at the Mall of America in Minnesota, is also closing. The closures will affect 120 full- and part-time employees, according to The Boston Globe, including 73 at the Natick store. Civil was born in 1926 in Sabadell, Spain, near Barcelona. He studied at the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey before the Spanish Civil War and returned there after the war, his daughter said. It was there where he was first exposed to cuneiform writing on clay tablets, and thats when I think he fell in love with that, she said. In Terry Vecchios first month as dean of students at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, a student told Vecchio she was living with her husband and children in a car. The student was not unique. A 2017 survey by the organization HOPE Lab found that 13 percent of Massachusetts community college students and 10 percent of state university students became homeless in the last year. A number of them were students transitioning out of foster care. Linn Torto, executive director of the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness and chairwoman of a state commission on unaccompanied homeless youth, said students who do not have enough money for housing in many cases are unable to finish school. Those kids are going to drop out, Torto said. Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday announced a pilot program in which the state will pay for housing for 20 homeless students who attend community colleges or state universities, including five students in Worcester. We are hopeful this housing pilot will provide a stable place for students to live so they can thrive academically, obtain their degrees, and change their lives, Education Secretary James Peyser said in a statement. The pilot program targets full-time degree students under age 25 who are going to school in Bridgewater, Lowell, Framingham and Worcester. Each area has a partnership between a community college, a public university and a social service agency. In Worcester, the program involves Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College, working with L.U.K. Crisis Center. Five students in each city who attend either the community college or the university will receive free university housing, paid for by the state at a total cost of $120,000. The schools will pay for students meals. The Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth will give grants to the social service agency to provide services such as counseling, transportation vouchers and job hunting before graduation. Torto said the goal is to help these students graduate and ultimately find jobs and stable housing. Were losing a group of young people who but for a stable housing situation, they would continue with their education and graduate, Torto said. Torto said one recent survey identified 738 unaccompanied homeless youth in Massachusetts, but she believes there are actually between 1,800 and 3,000 homeless young people. She said it is hard to count homeless youth because many do not think of themselves as homeless. They may be couch surfing with friends or relatives and moving between housing situations. Vecchio said one participant from Quinsigamond Community College is studying biology and chemistry, with plans to get a nursing degree. He was going to drop out this semester because he did not have money to pay for both housing and school. Another student had been living in a house while her father fixed it up, but when he died, the house was condemned. Its a population we dont assume are homeless because theyre college students, Vecchio said. The state is applying for federal money to expand the program to more students. SPRINGFIELD City officials on Thursday announced a $400,000 state grant to help fund a major renovation project at Emily Bill Park on Franklin Street in Lower Liberty Heights. The $400,000 was awarded by the state under the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant program, said officials including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. The project will enhance the park with improvements including accessible walkways, inclusive playground and swings, picnic pavilion, site amenities, and field and landscaping improvements, officials said. The total project cost is estimated at $650,000. The city will use $250,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to cover the rest of the cost. This park grant will allow the city to rebuild the infrastructure of Emily Bill Park, Sarno said. This grant will address the drainage issues and provide the resources to improve the overall park infrastructure. It has been thirty-five years since its last major renovation. Construction is expected to begin July 1, 2019, with completion by June 1, 2020. Park Commission Chairman Brian Santaniello said the commission is proud to once again be selected for the state grant program. He added that residents will be assured their park will once again be the highlight of their neighborhood. Patrick Sullivan, the citys director of parks, buildings and recreation management, said the project answers the concerns of neighborhood residents in ensuring the restoration of the park land. This project will ensure that all drainage issues are addressed, planting new trees, new site amenities and overall providing new quality recreational resources, Sullivan said. This project will ensure the neighborhood can once again host community events and utilize the playing field. We look forward to reopening this park in June 2020. SPRINGFIELD A Hampden Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced Gilka Rolon-Arroyo and Daryn Sampson to two to three years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter. Sampson, 35, and Rolon-Arroyo, 24, were charged in a joint venture case with supplying the heroin, which contained fentanyl, that resulted in 31-year-old Rebekah Swotchaks death in her Westfield apartment on Feb. 10, 2016. Sampson and Rolon-Arroyo lived in an apartment upstairs from Swotchak. A jury found the two guilty of manslaughter on Jan. 23. Judge J. Gavin Reardon Jr. also sentenced each of the defendants to three years probation after the prison terms. Sampson and Rolon-Arroyo were also found guilty of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. They were acquitted of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. Assistant District Attorney Robert Schmidt asked for state prison sentences of five to seven years for Sampson and six to eight years for Rolon-Arroyo. Defense lawyer Jared Olanoff, representing Rolon-Arroyo, asked for a sentence of two and one half years to the Western Massachusetts Correctional Center in Chicopee with a year to be served and the rest suspended with three years probation. Defense lawyer Andrew Klyman, representing Sampson, asked for a sentence of four years to the Hampden County Correctional Center plus three years probation. Reardon said a state prison sentence was warranted in this case. Sampson has 22 days credit on his sentence for days spent in jail awaiting trial. Rolon-Arroyo has 75 days credit on her sentence. Linda Swotchak, Rebekahs mother, told the judge, Death changes everything. ... Time changes nothing. ... I just miss her. Many people might know Chicopee as the location of the Chicopee Kielbasa Festival, a nod to the Polish heritage of the city, but Irish pride is not to be overlooked. "Irish pride is alive and well in Chicopee through the various activities of our (Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade) Committee," said Joshua T. Clark, committee member and press secretary. The first bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Patrick T. O'Reilly, was born in Cavan, Ireland, and the mother church of the diocese, Holy Name of Jesus Church, was in Chicopee. "This church was integral to the Irish population here and in the surrounding areas until more Catholic churches were built in Holyoke and Springfield," said Clark, chairman of the Chicopee Historical Commission. He acknowledged the commitment of Elms College in Chicopee to helping preserve the Irish culture. "Our committee works with the Holyoke St. Patrick's Committee, Elms College and other organizations to celebrate Irish culture," he said, through the colleen contest and the contestants' tea, by highlighting the work of local Irish dancing schools at committee events and other activities. One of those activities is The Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee's 2019 President's Dinner to honor Mary O'Brien Rodowicz, 2019 president, and its various award honorees. It will take place at the Munich Haus, 13 Center St., Chicopee, on Feb. 2, with a social hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., and a program at 7:30 p.m. Rodowicz has served on a number of subcommittees, including those that organize the colleen ball, candidates' tea, annual committee Mass and scholarships. She has coordinated publicity since 2011 and was elected vice president in 2018 and president this year. Others who will be recognized at the President's Dinner include: * Jack and Eileen Kelly, parade marshals, who will lead the contingent in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade on March 17; * Michelle Liswell-Zimmek, recipient of the 2019 Jack Woods Award, given to a Chicopee Parade Committee member who has actively served 10 or more years on the committee. * Daniel Mashia, recipient of the 2019 George and Buddy Atkinson Award, given each year to a person or persons who are non-committee members and who have supported the committee through hard work, sponsorship or other contributions. * Matthew Turgeon and Michael Croteau, recipients of the Bill Meara Award, presented to a member or members of the community who performed an act of selfless courage, bravery or heroism. New committee members will be introduced: Meghan Balakier, Mark Galarneau, Krystenlee Pepin, Kate Rodowicz and Jennifer Welsh. The President's Dinner is an annual event at which the committee president, marshal, award recipients and new members are officially installed. The Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee strives to promote Irish pride and culture through its events. For 65 years, the committee has organized the annual Colleen Contest and Coronation Ball, constructed the colleen's award-winning float for the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade and awarded scholarships to young women who plan to further their education at a college or university. "Irish heritage is important to our city's history. Irish immigrants in the 1800's helped staff the various factories in our city, which had a transformative impact on our economy," Clark said. "Through Elms College and the work of Damien Murray and Laura McNeil, students at Chicopee's only college are exposed to the history of Irish immigration in the U.S., Irish government and its relationship with Great Britain." Clark encourages all Chicopee residents to participate in Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee events, "including cheering us on as we march the parade route on St. Patrick's Day in Holyoke." However, tickets for the President's Dinner are sold out. For more information on the committee, go to chicopeespc.com. SPRINGFIELD Expanded passenger rail service north of Springfield to Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield is still on track for this summer. The estimated start date is June, said Timothy W. Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, following a meeting this week with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Construction work on the Knowledge Corridor along the Connecticut River including replacing ties and repairing bridges might push that start date back to July, but no later, Brennan said he was assured in meetings this week. That timing matches up with a separate $8.2 million Massachusetts-funded project to renovate and make handicapped accessible Platform C at Union Station. That work is expected to be completed this spring. MassDOT plans to use Amtrak trains and personnel to offer two new round trips a day from Union Station to Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield. One will be in the morning and one in the evening. The trains will be continuations of Amtrak shuttles run from New Haven, Connecticut, as part of the CTrail Hartford Line, Brennan said. The trains would connect with Metro-North trains to New York and Connecticuts Shoreline East. The trips, announced in June by Gov. Charlie Baker, will be in addition to Amtraks Vermonter Service. The Vermonter is the only passenger train on the line north of Springfield right now, but it is also used for freight. The reassurance this week came as a relief, Brennan said, because hes already started his speaking tour of civic groups and chambers of commerce touting the new service, a commuter link that will work in concert with the new Hartford Line. "I came away pleased," he said. " I wanted to feel like we were on solid ground to say this is coming this summer." One piece of bad news, Brennan said, was that MassDOT told him that the state is not planning to subsidize ticket prices as Connecticut does on the Hartford Line trains south of Springfield. MassDOT spokesman Patrick Marvin said the fare structure has not been finalized. But Brennan said he's been told that the fares for the new service will be the same as Amtrak's current fare structure on the Vermonter. That means they won't be discounted with state money making up the difference like Connecticut does for trips on the Hartford Line. That also means, Brennan said, that fares on the new trains from Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke will fluctuate according to demand and how early the passenger orders. Buying tickets way ahead of time usually gets a passenger a cheaper price on Amtrak. For example, a trip from Northampton to New York Citys Penn Station and can vary between $68 and $47 over the next few months depending on discounts or promotions. In December, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Student Government Association took the public position that fares should at least be stable so students can plan their expenses. Brennan said MassDOT told him changing the pricing would be too complicated with the start of service coming up quickly. Massachusetts bought the tracks in 2015 for $17 million from Pan Am Railways. They were rebuilt with $73 million in federal stimulus money. But in order to move The Vermonter to the rails by an early 2015 deadline, MassDOT pushed off a few building projects. That work, the bridges and ties, is being completed now, Brennan said. The north-south trains will cost Massachusetts $1 million a year to operate and are expected to draw 24,000 passengers a year. MassDOT is committing to run the trains only for a two-year pilot project. If it doesnt get enough riders, the service will go away. Use it or lose it, Brennan said, echoing the message hell continue to deliver to chambers of commerce and civic groups. AMHERST One of Hampshire Colleges most famous alumni author and adventurer Jon Krakauer expects the college to announce plans this afternoon to merge with another institution. And, in a New York Times column, he laments the potential impact on his alma mater. Hampshires iconoclastic educational model is widely admired and deservedly praised. Given what lies ahead, however, it is not at all clear how much of the Hampshire philosophy to say nothing of the Hampshire soul will survive, Krakauer wrote in a New York Times opinion piece published Thursday. Krakauer graduated from Hampshire College in 1976 with a degree in environmental studies. His senior project at the freewheeling school, where students design their own courses of study, was a mountain climbing trip to Alaska. He put the training to good use, becoming the author of Into Thin Air about climbing Mount Everest and Into the Wild about a young mans ill-fated Alaska adventure, among other books. Faced with an uncertain future, Hampshire College announced earlier this month that it was seeking a strategic partner which could be a college or some other entity to work with it in the future. The college is expected to announce this afternoon whether it will admit a freshman class for 2019-2020. Please see our updates and information on the #HampshireCollege Visioning Project and our intent to find a long-term partner. Community announcements, FAQs, contact information, media coverage, accreditation info, and more may be found here: https://t.co/sgdhtfGycW pic.twitter.com/p94yAvXbUQ Hampshire College (@hampshirecolg) January 24, 2019 Hampshire College also promised earlier this month that the 800-acre campus where would not close. But President Miriam E. Nelson did raise the possibility that Hampshire wont admit a freshman class for the 2019-20 school year, explaining that Hampshires unique self-directed structure might change over the next four years if a partner is found. That decision is expected to be announced this afternoon. In his piece, Krakauer goes into some detail on how Nelson reached her decision to seek a partner and why he thinks the college has already made its decision. Krakauer said her predecessor, Jonathan Lash, warned her even before she took over last summer that the class of first-year students was smaller than the college needed to make ends meet. Tuition and student fees are 87 percent of Hampshires budget. So the college made the decision to enroll a much larger class for the fall of 2019. But, Krakauer wrote, while the number of students interested in attending Hampshire grew, there werent going to be enough to make the impact Nelson needs. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education is also coming out with new consumer protection rules that might require Hampshire to keep enough money in reserve to operate for four years so a freshman class is guaranteed that the school will be operating when they reach their graduation year. A $42 million annual budget means the reserve would need to be $168 million. The average cost of attendance is more than $65,000 a year, according to Hampshires website. That includes $50,030 in tuition, $13,606 in room and board and books and supplies totaling $1,900. The average financial aid is $47,673, counting both funds from Hampshire and from the federal government and other sources. Hampshire has 108 full-time faculty, an administrative staff of 115 and a total enrollment of 1,321 as of the 2016-17 school year, according to federally mandated data reporting forms found on the colleges website. Total enrollment has been around 1,300 to 1,400 for at least the last decade, according to the website. Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire in Revere Thursday night in the freezing cold conditions. Crews arrived to a house at 81 Temple Street around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday to battle a heavy fire ripping through the top of the three-story home. Revere Deputy Fire Chief Sean Manion told WHDH that there was no issue with frozen hydrants despite the frigid cold. Apparent temperatures were around -7 degrees in the Boston area Thursday night. It is unclear if anyone was injured by the fire. Videos and photos shared by reporters and witnesses on social media show crews battling the heavy fire in the cold. Hey @WCVB there is a huge fire in Revere right now. @reverescanner pic.twitter.com/ASB85Tl3wY Briana Giovannucci (@briegev) February 1, 2019 Firefighters battling a house fire on Temple St in Revere. With the wind chill it feels like -4 degrees tonight. pic.twitter.com/eXZ3ssob9s WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) February 1, 2019 An Everett man was sentenced to two years in prison in connection a scheme to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance of $1,763,418, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Federal investigators determined Everett man Edison Delarosa, 53, engaged in a nearly year-long scheme in which he took advantage of the DUAs online system to rob unemployment benefits. The investigation found that Dealrosa submitted fake online repayments," which triggered the DUA to send him refund checks, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Delarosa submitted a total of 136 fake repayments that amounted to $1,763,418, the U.S. Attorneys office reported. In turn, the DUA issued Delarosa 15 paper refund checks that totaled $1,251,283. After six of those checks, totaling $27,227, were mailed to Delarosa and deposited into his account, the DUA uncovered the scheme, prosecutors said. The scheme occurred for more than nine months, between Jan. 5 and Nov. 24 in 2016. Delarosa was arrested in February 2017, and pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud in October 2018. Delarosa was ordered to serve two years in prison and three years of supervised release. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. OToole Jr. also ordered Delarosa to pay restitution in the amount of $27,227. A Cambridge man wasnt looking for one-day delivery when he hopped into a FedEx truck Thursday. Police say instead he was looking for a place to hide. A 42-year-old man who authorities say ran from police opted to jump into the back of a FedEx truck in an attempt to hide. The man was later busted on a drug charge, according to Massachusetts State Police. State police said a man, later identified as Raymond Clair, was driving a BMW without an inspection sticker in Quincy at about 11:55 a.m. when Trooper Feras Irqsusi activated his cruisers lights and tried to pull him over. Clair sped up and crossed over the yellow line into oncoming traffic, state police allege. Oncoming vehicles had to come to a stop or turn over the center line themselves to avoid being struck by the suspect, David Procopio, a spokesman for the State Police, said in a statement. Irqsusi followed Clairs car to Safford Street in Quincy. Clair jumped out of the BMW and started running. Trooper Peter Towle, who was in his cruiser nearby, spotted Clair run out of a backyard and hop into a FedEx truck with the driver inside. Further investigation revealed that the suspect entered the truck without the drivers consent and asked to be hidden, Procopio wrote in the news release. Clair was arrested and taken to the State Polices South Boston barracks. When troopers performed a drivers history check, they found Clairs license was suspended for several reasons, including reckless driving, being a habitual traffic offender, and multiple narcotics violations. When troopers searched the BMW they found multiple pieces of a hard, white, rock-like white substance, believed to be crack cocaine, on the drivers seat and drivers side floorboard, State Police said. Clair was charged with possession of a Class B narcotic, driving after suspension, and failure to stop for police. Following a trial, the judge or jury rules whether or not the money or property is or is not connected to the drug trade, Nester wrote and added that in his experience has been that the vast majority of civil asset forfeiture cases never end up in a contested trial. Most cases are resolved without any contest to the allegation at all, he said. The few that do contest the allegations are most often resolved by some form of a settlement. And those that cannot be settled out of court are tried. Nevertheless, these are still labor-intensive efforts on behalf of our office and the law enforcement agency. However, there is much benefit that can come from the fruits of this labor. Once the money or property is deemed connected to the drug trade and forfeited by the court, it is owned by the locality, Nester wrote. Money is split between the law enforcement agency and the Commonwealths Attorneys Office. The Henry County Sheriff Office gets 75 percent, and the Commonwealths Attorneys Office gets 25 percent. If its a state law enforcement agency, the split is 80/20. If real or personal property is seized, the property is sold at auction and the proceeds are split as mentioned above. Trump's 2020 rivals need to tell us why he's unfit as commander in chief A bundled-up commuter makes their way through the loop early Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Chicago. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures triggering widespread closures of schools and businesses. The varsity girls basketball coach at New Haven High School was charged Monday with four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for a featured MOUNT CLEMENS Murder suspect's ex-girlfriend says he accused her of having affair Murder suspect's ex-girlfriend says he accused her of having affair 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!) Local News, Crime, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: February 01 2019 Over 300 Attendees Registered for First-of-its-Kind Forum on Long Island. Suffolk County, NY - February 1, 2019 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and the Rockefeller Institute of Government today announced a number of new panelists will be participating in the first-of-its-kind opioid forum next month on Long Island. The event, which is currently at maximum capacity with over 300 registered attendees, is bringing together leading experts in the field on substance use disorders and opioids to assess the next steps that should be taken to combat the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic on Long Island has ripped families apart, but in Suffolk County we are combating this epidemic through better outreach, more trainings, and smart law enforcement strategies, said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. This forum will bring together all stakeholders to ensure Suffolk has a comprehensive plan in place to end this crisis on Long Island once and for all. Researchers at the Rockefeller Institute have been talking to people on the frontlines of New Yorks opioid crisis for more than a year, and two things are clear: they want their leaders to listen, and they want solutions that work, said Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras. I commend Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for his leadership in gathering so many stakeholders together to answer the hard questions and outline a path forward. The forum will be held on February 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, in Southampton, New York and is modeled off of Stories from Sullivan , which highlights how rural upstate New York communities are addressing the opioid crisis. Panelists will include medical providers, academic scholars, community advocates, faith leaders, state officials, local law enforcement and criminal justice advocates from across New York State. The latest addition of speakers and panelists who will participate in two separate panels that focus on prevention, as well as treatment and recovery strategies, include: Robert Kent, Chief Counsel, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Pamela Mizzi, Director, Long Island Prevention Resource Center Dr. Ronald Masera, Superintendent of Schools, Remsenburg-Speonk Union Free School District Lars Clemensen, Superintendent of Schools, Hampton Bays Union Free School District Hon. Peter Harckham, Chair, NYS Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee Dr. Tomrul Tuzel, Medical Director, Behavioral Enhancement and Substance Abuse Medicine Treatment Hon. Derrick Robinson, Suffolk County District Court Judge, Drug Court and Mental Health Court Dr. Kristie Golden, Associate Director of Operations, Stony Brook University Hospital Krystle Stoddard, SHERPA Program Manager, THRIVE Recovery Center Dr. Gregson Pigott, Director, Suffolk County Office of Minority Health Earlier this month, County Executive Bellone and the Rockefeller Institute of Government announced a diverse group of individuals to serve as speakers and panelists, including: Dr. Jim Malatras, President, Rockefeller Institute of Government Patricia Strach, Director for Policy and Research, Rockefeller Institute of Government Hon. Timothy D. Sini, Suffolk County District Attorney Dr. Leslie Marino, Assistant Professor, Columbia University Stuart Cameron, Chief of Department, Suffolk County Police Department Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, CEO, Family and Childrens Association John Venza, Vice President of Residential Services, Outreach Development Corporation Anthony Ferrandino, Counselor, Northport East Northport Community Drug & Alcohol Task Force Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) Two top police officials in Nueva Vizcaya were administratively relieved on Friday for their failure in handling the slay case of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randy Malayao. Provincial Director of Nueva Vizcaya PSSupt Jeremias Aglugub and the Chief of Police of Aritao Municipal Police Station Police Chief Inspector Geovanni Cejes were sacked by Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde for "apparent lapses in the investigation of the slay, particularly the mishandling of evidence at the crime scene." NDFP consultant Randy Malayao was on board a passenger bus in Nueva Vizcaya on Wednesday when the suspect got on board and fired two shots at him. The NDFP is the umbrella group that represents communist rebels in peace talks with the government. Related: Palace condemns killings of NDFP consultant, Quezon City village chief Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 01 2019 "Each time the alarm sounds, the individuals here today put their lives at risk for strangers they may never know." Mineola, NY - February 1, 2019 - During the Monday, Jan. 28 meeting of the Nassau County Legislature, Legislators Joshua Lafazan ( During the Monday, Jan. 28 meeting of the Nassau County Legislature, Legislators Joshua Lafazan ( Woodbury ) and Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview ) saluted four Syosset Fire Department volunteers for their life-saving actions in response to a recent fire at senior living complex. Josh Kerr, acting officer of Engine 584, ex-chief Robert Kaplan, officer of Ladder 5855, Capt. William Sauberman, officer of Engine Company 5 and Second Assistant Chief Kenneth OBrien first responded to an automatic carbon monoxide detector alarm at the Woodbury apartment complex at 3:53 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6 and quickly determined the apartment was on fire. Battling heavy smoke, firefighters discovered the victim after hearing a groan from the kitchen, according to published reports. After being evacuated and treated by Syosset Fire Department EMS members, the victim regained consciousness while being transported to Nassau University Medical Center Each time the alarm sounds, the individuals here today put their lives at risk for strangers they may never know and people they may never meet, Legislator Lafazan said. No matter the conditions, they perform with professionalism. Im honored to call you heroes in my community. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases 8.4m will be invested in Longford's regional and local roads in 2019, including an allocation of 1.8m for routes associated with the 233m Center Parcs Longford Forest holiday village resort at Newcastle Wood in Ballymahon. Also read: 'Farmers will eventually get sense' if beef prices don't rise, says Longford councillor Transport Minister Shane Ross announced the funding allocation this morning. The 2018 allocation to Longford was over 7m. Longford/Westmeath TD, and Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran, expressed his delight with the increased allocation. This is excellent news for Longford and I am delighted that a number of key projects that I have strongly argued for, have been included in the 2019 allocation. Also read: Over-strict drink driving laws are damaging pubs in rural Longford, council hears He added, The development at Center Parcs Longford Forest has also necessitated in the spending of extra funding in the South Longford and Ballymahon area and I am delighted to see that an extra 1.8m has been allocated to the area. The Government has not been found wanting in supporting major investment in the county and will continue to do so. Todays announcement is also in addition to the 6.6m announced for Longford by Transport Infrastructure Ireland earlier this month for other road safety projects. A midlands man, facing a total of 394 charges, including 177 counts of rape and 210 counts of sexual assaul, is likely to find out today (Friday) if he is to be flown home from the US to stand trial. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is wanted by gardai in connection with a lengthy investigation into crimes allegedly committed in the Midlands between 2004 and 2009. Court documents show he is accused of abusing one male victim between the age of 11 and 16 and a second from the age of 13 onwards. Homeland Security officials arrested the Irishman in New York and an extradition hearing on Friday heard he was accused of protracted sexual abuse. The two victims came forward in 2012 and 2013. The man then fled Ireland and moved to the US where, it is understood, a close associate lives. It is believed he was traced with gardai requesting the assistance of the FBI last September. Authorities used utility bills and postal records to track the man to his new address. He was found living in an apartment in a small town in upstate New York and all utility services were registered in his name. At an extradition hearing last week it was determined after a discussion in camera that the case would be adjourned to Friday, February 1. WATCH | New York extradition hearing for midlands man facing 394 sex offence charges adjourned Logan, WV (25601) Today Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Lockport, NY (14094) Today Windy with showers and thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 80F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. The San Antonio State Hospital is in critical condition. Its buildings are dilapidated and crumbling. Its design is cramped and outdated. Some of the buildings at the hospital campus on the far South Side date back to 1892. Foundations have sunk. Floors have sloped. The age and decrepit shape of many of the buildings have jammed up treatment for people in crisis. Conditions at the state hospital have limited crucial bed spaces, which were already in short supply. Its led to long waiting lists for people in need of crisis care, known as civil commitments, or others who need to be restored to competency in order to stand trial, known as forensic commitments. They instead are sent to emergency rooms or wait in jails, which are not equipped to provide meaningful mental health care. All that could change if state lawmakers fund a $320 million renovation for the San Antonio State Hospital. That cost estimate could change, but this should be a priority for the entire Bexar County delegation. Texas has long neglected its state hospitals and corresponding mental health care. But that changed last legislative session, during which lawmakers approved $300 million to address state hospital needs. Portions of that funding were dedicated to redesign work at the San Antonio State Hospital, developing the plan recently unveiled; other funds were used to update part of the campus, which should boost bed capacity. This is an opportunity to build on that good work. A 2014 structural analysis found that 80 percent of the hospitals buildings were in critical condition. Many observers have described the campus as archaic, with many buildings designed to simply warehouse, but not meaningfully treat, people with mental illness. Buildings in the 250-acre campus are too far apart, making it difficult for patients to move from one area to the other. It also lacks the appropriate security to better ensure patients dont wander off the campus. An updated San Antonio State Hospital calls for a V-shaped building that would include plenty of space for occupational therapy and exercise. Patients would be housed in smaller units, allowing for greater flexibility for hospital staff to meet demand for its 296 beds. Housing would provide natural light and allow patients to step outside. Similar stories abound at other state hospitals, and failing to address these issues is tantamount to a cost shift. Instead of providing treatment in hospitals and providing enough bed space to meet demand, people instead wait in jail or flood emergency rooms. Its a tremendous drain on resources, compounded by a lack of effectiveness. Updating the San Antonio State Hospital represents a better way. The San Antonio delegation must flex some collective muscle and make this happen. Plans by the South San Antonio Independent School District board of trustees to fast-track the reopening of three shuttered schools by the start of the fall semester is ill-advised. The board is going against the recommendations of its new superintendent. That could spell big trouble for this beleaguered school district and its taxpayers. South San does not have the students or money to support the move. The districts administration moving quickly on what amounts to campaign promises made by some of the recently elected board majority means less attention to the districts academic problems. A tax-supported school district cannot afford to operate on the assumption that if it opens the schools, the students will suddenly materialize. This is an expensive undertaking. South San ISD can ill-afford the diversion pursuing this newly hatched idea would create. The districts poor performance under the states accountability system earned it a D grade. It has five campuses rated Improvement Required. There are higher priorities in this district. Failing to heed the advice of the superintendent is never good, especially in this school district where many decisions are based on political agendas. Alexandro Flores was recruited from Palacios ISD near Victoria in the fall to replace Abe Saavedra, who had served in that capacity for five years. Flores has not been given a chance to formulate his own plan of action for the district. When Saavedera came to South San in 2014, the district was in turmoil and facing takeover by the Texas Education Agency. He was the fifth superintendent hired in less than three years. TEA installed a conservator to oversee the boards operations and, through Saavedras tenure, the district stabilized to the point where the conservator was no longer needed. Things were moving along well. The dysfunction on the board, the governance issues and the micromanaging by the board appeared a thing of the past. Then the November election saw the ouster of three incumbents who had supported a tax rate increase earlier in the year. The new board quickly installed longtime South San board member Connie Prado as its president. Micromanagement by Prado during a previous stint as president was a major factor in the states previous intervention in the district operations. We are beginning to see some of the old problems resurfacing. South San ISD cannot afford to develop another revolving door at the entrance to the administration building. Flores needs to be given an opportunity to do the work he was hired to perform. He has advised the board of the need to conduct a full facilities assessment and feasibility study, and develop committees to garner public input before establishing a plan to reopen Karen Middle School, Athens Elementary and West Campus High School. This is a property-poor school district with millions of deferred maintenance projects that should be addressed before pursuing new projects. Reopening three schools will stretch existing dollars even thinner and might necessitate dipping into the districts reserve fund. The districts monthly operations run $6 million to $7 million a month. The district has sufficient funds in the bank to operate for three months but not much more than that. Dipping below a three-month reserve could have an adverse impact on the districts financial health. South San appears to once again have a board gone wild. A board that ignores the recommendations of the superintendent and bends to the very vocal wishes of a small minority of community members who attend their meetings does not bode well for the district. TEA needs to keep close tabs on this district again. South San ISD was moving forward, but it looks like it just took a gigantic step backward. South Plains College Plainview Center will offer another Certified Nurse Aide course that starts next week and the course needs 10 students to participate. It starts Monday. The course runs eight weeks from Feb. 4 through March 24. Those interested in participating must complete an SPC CE application at www.southplains.edu/community/continuinged.php and register for the class, according to a news release from the college. Existing students should be able to just log in while new students have to create an account. Classes will meet Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Room PC125. Clinicals are scheduled to begin in March. Clinicals will be from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from March 9 through March 24. The cost to take the course is $500 - $300 of that goes for the class and $200 goes toward clinicals. Participants will learn skills to be able to work in long-term care, home health and hospital environments, according to the news release. Those interested in participating must bring these items to participate in the class: A valid driver's license or ID Social Security card All shot records with proof of immunization for the following: oMMR two-shot series or TITTER oTB test not older than 1 year prior to the first day of class oTetanus not older than 10 years prior to the first day of class oHepatitis B (Number one, two and three) or TITTER oVaricella or proof of chicken pox oA flu shot Background checks will be conducted on those who enroll in the class. Call (806) 716-4302 for additional information. "Right now, I believe we will be able to seat an unbiased jury," Jackson said. But "the upshot" of Stone's statements and coverage of them could be that "we end up with an even larger percentage the of jury pool tainted by publicity than we have now." Washington President Donald Trump said Thursday he will announce next week the site and date for the second summit he plans with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un around the end of February. "They very much want the meeting," Trump told reporters, and he asserted that his administration has made "tremendous progress" toward reining in the North's nuclear ambitions. The president said that before he took office in January 2017, "it looked like we were going to war with North Korea. Now, there's no missile testing. There's no rocket testing, there's no nuclear testing. We got back our prisoners, our hostages. We're getting back our remains." Trump long has contended that his outreach to Kim and their initial summit last June in Singapore have put the U.S. and North Korea on the path to peace. But his list of concrete achievements has not grown in the months since that meeting, and his own intelligence chiefs believe there is little likelihood Kim will voluntarily give up his nuclear weapons or missiles capable of carrying them. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress on Tuesday that the government's spy assessment does not support the idea that Kim will eliminate his nuclear weapons or the capacity for building more. A skeptical Trump tweeted in response: "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Private analysts, in several reports in the past four months, have drawn on commercial satellite imagery to determine that the North is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile technology despite the test suspension. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has led the diplomatic effort with North Korea, is sending a team to Asia to make preparations for the second Trump-Kim summit. He did not identify a venue for the meeting. Vietnam has been considered, along with Thailand, Hawaii and Singapore. Pompeo's point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, planned to travel to South Korea this weekend. He also was expected to see North Korean officials "to discuss next steps to advance our objective of the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," according to the State Department, which did not say where those talks would be. Northam told WTOP that late-term abortions are "done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus that's not viable. So in this particular example, if a mother's in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother." Washington President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday hardened their positions about a border wall, casting doubt on the prospects of Capitol Hill negotiations intended to reach a compromise and avoid a second government shutdown. "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation," Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters. Her remarks came after Democrats had signaled at least some flexibility in the talks on border security funding that began only Wednesday. Pelosi's stance came as Trump used Twitter to reiterate his demands on the wall and appeared to sour on the congressional talks aimed at striking a deal with Democrats. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Pelosi is "just playing games" and repeated his threat to declare a national emergency and transfer billions of dollars in previously allocated funds to build the wall. In a barrage of morning tweets, Trump sent mixed messages in which he alternately hardened his wall demand and also suggested that repairing existing fencing is a big part of his plan. "Lets just call them WALLS from now on and stop playing political games! A WALL is a WALL!," Trump tweeted. He tamped down expectations, telling GOP negotiators they were "wasting their time." Democrats offered further details of their border security plan on Thursday, unveiling a measure that would not provide a penny for his wall, ignoring Trump's warnings that they'd be wasting their time if they don't come up with wall money. The Democratic measure, totaling almost $22 billion for the customs service, border patrol and immigration agents, would significantly increase spending for scanners at ports of entry, humanitarian aid for apprehended migrants, and new aircraft to police the U.S.-Mexico border. It would freeze the number of border patrol agents and block any wall construction in wildlife refuges along the border. Pelosi suggested she would be open to vehicle barriers called "Normandy fencing." "If the president wants to call that a wall, he can call that a wall. ... Is there a place for enhanced fencing? Normandy fencing would work," Pelosi said. Trump's threat to unilaterally build the wall through an unprecedented use of emergency powers could upset congressional Republicans. Pelosi's hard-line move could push the president further in that direction. The high-stakes talks are taking place against the backdrop of another possible shutdown in mid-February an outcome Trump's GOP allies in the Senate are especially eager to avoid. It increases the chances that the only way to avert another shutdown would be to put a host of federal agencies on autopilot for weeks or months. Trump and the White House have proven to be an unpredictable force in the shutdown debate, mixing softer rhetoric about a multi-faceted approach to border security with campaign-style bluster about the wall. Lawmakers negotiating the bill are well aware that he could quash an agreement at any time, plunging them back into crisis. "Democrats, despite all of the evidence, proof and Caravans coming, are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Trump tweeted. Barriers already in place have not kept out other caravans that have arrived at the border. Of nearly 6,000 people who arrived to Tijuana, Mexico in November, where a barrier between San Diego stretches into the ocean, 2,600 crossed into the U.S. illegally, according to Border Patrol statistics. In 2017, Trump won funding for 40 miles of replacement fencing. Last year, he obtained $1.6 billion for fencing, including 33 miles of levee wall and pedestrian fencing in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Pelosi's declaration promises to put a nail in Trump's request for $5.7 billion to build about 234 miles of barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico. Trump's GOP allies acknowledge he might have settled for just a fraction of it. The Democratic plan includes new money for customs agents, scanners, aircraft and boats to police the border, and to provide humanitarian assistance for migrants. The Democratic offer was a starting point in House-Senate talks on border security funding that kicked off in the Capitol. Then, a top Democrat, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., acknowledged that "everything is on the table," including the border barriers demanded by Trump. Lawmakers on both sides in the talks signaled flexibility in hopes of resolving the standoff with Trump that sparked the 35-day partial government shutdown. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Thursday proposed bringing transparency to one of the most secretive aspects of drug pricing by ending the widespread practice of rebates to middlemen - an effort to reduce what consumers pay for prescription medicine. Under draft rules announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, drug manufacturers would be allowed to offer discounted prices directly to consumers but would no longer be able to give rebates to the middlemen, known as pharmacy benefit managers. The rules, if they become final next year, would apply directly to older Americans who buy medicine under Medicare drug plans and low-income people with Medicaid managed-care plans. Some drug policy experts praised the proposal as a strong first step, even though the changes would pertain just to the government's two largest health insurance programs. As with many other health policies that began with those public programs and filtered into the private sector, they predicted that the government insurance plans would set a strong example for private insurers. "It's a cockamamie system that's never made any sense,'' said David Balto, who was a policy chief for the Federal Trade Commission under the Clinton administration. "When it comes to the PBM claims of saving money through their rebate schemes, everyone's going to realize the emperor wears no clothes.'' President Donald Trump and Azar have made constraining drug prices a central piece of their health-care agenda. Since issuing a blueprint last spring, they have insisted that rebates - which they portray as "hidden kickbacks" - are a big problem in controlling what people pay for medicine. Most of the health-care rules the administration has sought to change have gone through. HHS officials said that drug prices after rebates tend to be one-quarter to 30 percent lower than the list price but that many consumers pay the list amount as part of their insurance deductibles and other co-payments. And they contend that the rebate system discourages the use of lower-cost generic drugs. The health-care industry is split on the validity of those arguments. Matt Eyles, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, said insurers and the pharmacy benefit managers with whom they work "are not middlemen - we are your bargaining power. . . . We cannot achieve those savings if our leverage and negotiating power is weakened through harmful actions like this proposed rule." "The focus on rebates has been a distraction from the real issue - the problem is the price," Eyles said in a statement. "Manufacturers have complete control over how drug prices are set. Already this year, more than three dozen drug makers have raised their prices on hundreds of medications." The main trade group that represents pharmacy benefit managers, which negotiate rebates on drugs for employers and health insurance companies, also predicted the administration's proposal would be counterproductive. The change "would increase drug costs and force Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, unless there is a viable alternative for PBMs to negotiate on behalf of beneficiaries," J.C. Scott, president of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said in a statement. For the drug manufacturers, PhRMA President Stephen Ubl applauded the administration's proposal, saying it would lower patients' out-of-pocket costs and "fix the misaligned incentives in the system that currently result in insurers and pharmacy benefit managers favoring medicine with high list prices." Independent analysts praised the proposal for helping to end distortions in the market. "It's about time," said Sam Richardson, a professor of health economics at Boston College. . . . We know that rebates have been increasing substantially over the past few years. There's little business or economic justification for that.'' Consumer advocates, who are among the drug industry's fiercest critics, also lauded the move, with some caveats. "If enacted, the proposed rule should lower prescription drug prices for patients in government programs and help those with the highest prescription drug costs most of all,'' said David Mitchell, president of Patients for Affordable Drugs. Thursday's proposed rule change will undergo 60 days of public comment. The rules that allow existing rebates would be eliminated at the start of next year, and the new discounts provided directly to consumers would become available 60 days after the rule became final. A right-of-center Washington think tank has a novel recommendation for how the Trump administration can push back on Russian and Chinese hacking and disinformation campaigns: Strike back with its own information warfare operations. The United States could hack and release embarrassing information about Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal wealth, for example, as a bargaining chip to convince him to halt digital attacks against the United States, David Maxwell and Annie Fixler with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told me. U.S. officials could also release information about corrupt business practices by Chinese Communist Party officials or Iran's theocratic rulers with similar goals, Maxwell and Fixler said. "This generated from our thinking about where our adversaries are weak and we're strong," Fixler told me. The idea, which comes from the think tank's "Midterm Assessment" of the Trump administration's foreign and national security policies, is aimed at giving the United States more leverage in cyberspace where it is routinely pummeled by adversaries that are highly aggressive and don't fear U.S. retaliation. The report may also may hold sway with the Trump administration. The Midterm Analysis includes a foreword by Trump's former national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who says the report "transcended the vitriolic and shallow partisan discourse that dominates much of what passes for commentary on foreign policy and national security." Yet the United States has not previously used hacking and information operations as a tool to shame adversaries -- or at least, it hasn't publicly acknowledged releasing hacked information about other leaders in the way the researchers describe. Doing so would mark a major escalation from typical U.S. responses to hacking campaigns, which have focused on escalating sanctions, indictments and calling out foreign government-backed hackers on the world stage. Those diplomatic and law enforcement responses have the benefit of giving the United States a clear moral high ground about what is and isn't acceptable in cyberspace. But they haven't actually deterred U.S. adversaries from playing dirtier, the researchers note. With Russian, Chinese, Iranian and North Korean hackers unbowed two years after Russian hacking upended the 2016 elections, it's time for a bolder response, Fixler and Maxwell told me. The non-profit think tank is known for its focus on robust American engagement abroad. Funded by conservative luminaries including casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, it employs numerous former Republican officials including John Hannah, who advised former vice president Dick Cheney on the Middle East. McMaster is now chairman of its board of advisers at their center on military and political power. Hacking and releasing compromising information about adversary nations' leaders plays into U.S. adversaries' weaknesses, Fixler and Maxwell told me. Unlike U.S. citizens, Russians, Chinese and Iranians aren't used to a free press that publishes lots of detailed and often embarrassing information about their leaders, they said. "We can use that to our advantage by providing more information to their public about corruption, about where their leaders have money, things that can be very damaging for authoritarian countries," Fixler told me. That idea carries its own set of dangers, cautions Chris Painter, the former State Department cyber coordinator under former president Obama who's now a fellow at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation- especially if the United States falls into a tit-for-tat exchange releasing hacked information with a far more unscrupulous adversary. "The worry is you have this escalating cycle with false and manipulated information that Russia has shown a great proclivity and ability to use," Painter said. "But, on the other hand, they're using it anyway, so we need to counter that." U.S. officials should make clear that the ultimate goal of any information operation is to make cyberspace more peaceful rather than simply to punch back in anger, Painter said. "You need to communicate very clearly that we're using these tools and we'll stop using them when you stop what you're doing," he told me. Still, the idea of using information operations against adversaries is not a novel concept. U.S. intelligence officials considered but rejected such a plan to release damaging information about Russian officials, including bank account data, in response to Russia's release of Democratic political emails before the 2016 election, according to a New Yorker report. And similar plans were widelydiscussed by analysts outside government after the election. Fixler and Maxwell aren't advocating releasing false or misleading information like Kremlin operatives did before the 2016 elections, they were quick to note. They also don't want the United States to abandon other methods of punishing adversaries that hack U.S. targets and launch disinformation campaigns, such as sanctions and indictments targeting companies and individuals that benefit from those operations. But, so far, those methods have done little to change the willingness of Russia, China and Iran to hack U.S. targets or to engage in disinformation operations. Just Thursday, in fact, Facebook and Twitter removed thousands of malicious accounts originating from Russia, Iran and Venezuela that spread false information about the 2018 U.S. election. On Wednesday, special counsel Robert Mueller's team revealed a Russian disinformation effort using documents the team shared with a Russian company that it had indicted on a charge of 2016 disinformation operations. "What we're saying is that, to date, [U.S. adversaries] haven't felt the pain and we need to demonstrate that there's a real cost to these actions that will change their calculations," Fixler told me. EDWARDSVILLE The transfer of prisoners at the Madison County Jail to accommodate renovations to the structure are expected to start in May, according to information provided at Fridays meeting of the Madison County Boards Judiciary Committee. Deputy Sheriff Maj. Jeff Connor said the moves are expected to start about May 1. Facilities Director Rob Schmidt confirmed that; however, he cautioned that is still a tentative date. The jail is undergoing a $14 million, three-year renovation. Work is already underway and ahead of schedule, but so far they have not had to transfer any prisoners to accommodate the construction. Connor said they recently met with the Alton Police Department to work out arrangements to handle some of the prisoners. The county jail is certified for 312 prisoners, but routinely holds more. The latest figures from Jan. 31 show 307 prisoners. Each cell block holds about 32 people, and all have to be moved out when work starts in those areas. In a related matter, committee member Jamie Goggin, who chaired the meeting, said the Edwardsville Police Department had approached him about concerns with prisoners who are released and then stay in the neighborhoods. Connor noted that each released prisoner gets a telephone call, and some will wait for hours until somebody picks them up. This has been going on for decades, he said. Inmates have to find their way home. Representatives of the Public Defenders and Probation offices said they have given out bus tokens or passes in the past. Goggin said he would approach Madison County Transit about restarting such a program. There was also discussion about upcoming changes in court fees. The changes will take effect on July 1 as a result of a law passed last year. There has been a great deal of uncertainty about exactly how it will impact Madison County. One issue is that it eliminates some county fees that go directly to agencies like the Child Advocacy Center, forcing the County Board to appropriate additional money from its general fund. Circuit Clerk Mark Von Nida said he is going to a training session with other Illinois circuit clerks, and will have more information at the next meeting. The committee also approved a resolution to give Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski a raise. Rekowski will receive an additional $3,334 annually. The reason for the raise is that the state gave Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons a cost-of-living increase, and by state law the public defender must be paid at least 90 percent of the states attorneys salary. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Administration officials have dismissed concerns that the treaty's demise could trigger a race to develop and deploy more intermediate-range missiles. U.S. officials have emphasized their fear that China, which is not party to the treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Whether the U.S. will now respond by deploying INF noncompliant missiles in Asia is unclear. In any case, it seems unlikely Beijing would agree to any negotiated limits on its weaponry. UPPER THUMB In light of the frigid temperatures in the Thumb and across the state, the Michigan Agency for Energy is alerting utility customers that major gas and electric providers will not shut off services to customers this week. DTE Energy Co., Consumers Energy Co., and SEMCO said they have temporarily suspended shutoffs due to inclement weather. Utilities are required to file with the Michigan Public Service Commission their policies on extreme weather shutoffs. For DTE, temperature forecasts must be below 15 degrees and/or wind chills below zero for two or more consecutive days. For Consumers, its actual temperatures below 15 degrees and/or wind chills below zero degrees. With the extreme weather its vitally important that Michiganders stay safe and warm, said Madhu Anderson, deputy director of the Michigan Agency for Energy. If anyone has trouble paying their utility bills, there are a number of options available to them, from community service agencies to low-income assistance by utilities. We urge those in need to access these critical services by calling either 211 or your local utility provider. Nine community agencies throughout Michigan have been designated to help distribute emergency funding through the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. They are: Barry County United Way, Michigan Community Action, Salvation Army, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Superior Watershed Partnership, The Heat and Warmth Fund, TrueNorth Community Services, United Way of Jackson County, and United Way of Southeastern Michigan. Individuals can call the statewide helpline at 211 to be connected to any of the providers or other social services. Anyone having difficulties paying utility bills should call their local electric or natural gas provider and enroll in available help programs. Customers of Consumers should call 800-477-5050; DTE, 800-477-4747; Upper Peninsula Power Co., 800-562-7680; and Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp., 800-242-9137. Check utility websites for more information. At a local level, Huron County residents with need for assistance can contact Michigan Department of Health and Human Services area director Irene Bazan Waller at 989-269-9201. For issues with utilities, customers can call the MPSC Customer Assistance at 800-292-9555. In a related utility issue, an explosion and fire Wednesday at a Consumers Energy compressor station in Macomb County led to officials asking customers across Michigan to be mindful of their natural gas and electricity use and lower their heat to 65 degrees or less through Friday. The University of Farmington in Farmington Hills, Mich., billed itself as a nationally accredited business and STEM institution, with an innovative curriculum, flexible class schedules and a diverse student body. But it had no curriculum, no classes and no real students, authorities said this week. The university in the suburbs of Detroit was part of an undercover operation by the Department of Homeland Security designed to expose immigration fraud, according to federal prosecutors who announced charges in the case. In what authorities called a pay to stay scheme, foreign students knowingly enrolled in the fake school to falsely maintain their student visa status and remain in the United States, according to prosecutors. Authorities charged eight recruiters in the case. They are accused of enlisting at least 600 people to enroll in the school. Prosecutors said the recruiters collected money from the fake university for bringing in students and made more than $250,000 in profit. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also detained people who had enrolled at the university, according to immigration lawyers working on the case. I have received calls from Georgia, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, said Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer based in Atlanta. It seems to be a nationwide ICE action as we speak. The students swept up in the scheme were largely from India, lawyers said. We are all aware that international students can be a valuable asset to our country, Matthew Schneider, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a news release Wednesday. But as this case shows, the well-intended international student visa program can also be exploited and abused. ICE did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Undercover agents from Homeland Security Investigations had posed as the owners and employees of the University of Farmington since February 2017, the indictments said. The university had a real website with program details, tuition pricing and contact information. The phone number for the university went to a voice-mail box for the office of admissions. But the university was not staffed with instructors and had no actual classes, according to the indictments. Prosecutors said that everyone involved with the school knew that. Each of the foreign citizens who enrolled and made tuition payments to the University knew that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits, or make academic progress toward an actual degree in a particular field of study, the indictments said, adding that the students knew that discretion should be used when discussing the program with others. But Mannam, the immigration lawyer, criticized the undercover operation as misleading and said some students had believed they were enrolling in a legitimate program. He said some students had come from India to the United States to enroll elsewhere, only to find that their intended program had lost accreditation. So they enrolled at the University of Farmington, believing that they could apply their prior credits to the new program, which seemed to emphasize work experience, he said. Other students had completed legitimate masters programs in the United States but were waiting to be approved for a specialty work visa, so they enrolled as a stopgap measure, he said. The government utilized very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution, Mannam said. Sarah Mervosh is a New York Times writer. A man from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, used a fake Social Security card to try to obtain a background check, according to Laredo police. Arturo Ruiz Duarte, 63, was arrested Wednesday and charged with fraudulent use, possession of identifying information. "No one told me if it was canceled or why," she said, holding her baby daughter in her right arm as her toddler son pulled on her left. "All these people were scheduled on the same day for nine o'clock in the morning. I don't understand." Catholic leaders in Texas on Thursday identified 286 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children, a number that represents one of the largest collections of names to be released since an explosive grand jury report last year in Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Laredo released no names after its bishop, James Tamayo, said staff had examined its records for the 19 years since it was created, shortly before new stricter standards for handling abuse allegations were instituted across the church, and found no credible allegations. However, one of the accused priests Domingo De Llano was ordained in Laredo in 1966 for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He retired in 1999 and died in 2013. Another two of the accused priests Frank Gomez and Armando Escobedo had assignments in Laredo through the Diocese of Brownsville. Both of their assignments were at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church. They each had various other assignments at churches in South Texas. Escobedo was ordained in 1964. He was removed from ministry in 2002. His assignments included Christ the King Church, Brownsville; St. Luke Church, Brownsville; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church, Laredo; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Lyford; Our Lady of Mercy Church, Mercedes; Our Lady of St. John of the Fields Church, Mission; and St. Anthony Church, Raymondville. Gomez was ordained in 1964 in Corpus Christi. He was excardinated from the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1965. He died in 2014. His assignments included St. Joseph Church, Alamo; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville; St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church, Laredo; St. Frances Xavier Church, La Feria; Sacred Heart Church, Mercedes; St. Theresa Church, San Benito; St. Mary Church, Santa Rosa; and San Martin de Porres Church, Weslaco. The Diocese of Laredo said it reviewed clergy files from 2000 the year it was created to the present. "After having reviewed the files of all clergy who have received permission to minister in the Diocese of Laredo since its inception, there have been no credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy," the diocese said in a letter Thursday. "The Diocese of Laredo is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse and works diligently with Church personnel, volunteers and parents to foster a safe environment for minors. "Our Safe Environment Program provides education and training on the prevention of sexual abuse and requires criminal background checks of clergy, volunteers and church personnel. If anyone knows of any sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy or any Church personnel in the Diocese of Laredo, please contact Melinda Sepulveda, Diocesan Interim Victim Assistance Coordinator, at 956-764-7868." Fourteen dioceses in Texas named those credibly accused of abuse. The only diocese not to provide names, Fort Worth, did so more than a decade ago and then provided an updated accounting in October. There are only a handful of states where every diocese has released names and most of them have only one or two Catholic districts. Arkansas, for instance, is covered by the Diocese of Little Rock, which in September provided a preliminary list of 12 former priests, deacons and others. Oklahoma has two districts: The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is scheduled to publicly identify accused priests on Feb. 28 and the Diocese of Tulsa previously named two former priests accused of predatory behavior. The move by Texas church leaders follows a shocking Pennsylvania report in August detailing seven decades of child sexual abuse by more than 300 predator priests. Furthermore, the Illinois attorney general reported last month that at least 500 Catholic clergy in that state had sexually abused children. In the months after that report, about 50 dioceses and religious provinces have released the names of nearly 1,250 priests and others accused of abuse. Approximately 60 percent of them have died. About 30 other dioceses are investigating or have promised to release names of credibly accused priests in the coming months. In Texas, the Diocese of Dallas and some others relied on retired police and federal investigators to review church files and other material to substantiate claims of abuse. It's not clear whether any of the names released Thursday could result in local prosecutors bringing criminal charges. The majority of those identified have since died. Some investigations dated back to 1950 while other reviews, as in the case of the Diocese of Laredo, only went to 2000 because that's when that diocese was established. Of the 286 men named in Texas, 172 have died, a percentage comparable with the national tally. "Our office stands ready to assist local law enforcement and any district attorney's office that asks for our help in dismantling this form of evil and removing the threat of those who threaten Texas children," said Marc Rylander, spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office. "To date, we have not received any such requests, but we are ready to provide assistance to local prosecutors in accordance with state law and original criminal jurisdiction." The head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, also is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is expected to attend a February summit called by Pope Francis to sensitize church leaders around the globe to the pain of victims, instruct them how to investigate cases and develop general protocols for church hierarchy to use. DiNardo said in a statement Thursday that, "The Bishops of Texas have decided to release the names of these priests at this time because it is right and just and to offer healing and hope to those who have suffered. On behalf of all who have failed in this regard, I offer my sincerest apology. Our church has been lacerated by this wound and we must take action to heal it." In a statement released with the report of the San Antonio archdiocese, which had the longest list of names among Texas dioceses with 56 dating to 1940, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said the abuse allegations and the mishandling of some by bishops "are tearing the church apart Although the release of the report "brings tension and pain," the archbishop said he was "filled with serenity and peace" by the disclosures. Victim advocates and those who have been tracking clergy abuse for decades have said the church has a bad record of policing itself and law enforcement investigations into church records of allegations are the only way to ensure real transparency. They argue that there is no uniform definition of credibly accused priests and dioceses use different standards when deciding what names to release. For example, the San Antonio archdiocese examined decades of allegations made against clergy and religious order priests dating back decades. Cast the colorful spectacle of Cirque du Soleil with a 35,000-gallon water stage and you have Cirque Italia, the worlds first traveling Italian water circus. The show splashes back into San Antonio, featuring a vibrant array of acrobats, aerialists and other dynamic performers amid swirling lights and choreographed fountains that would do the Bellagio proud. Rene A. Guzman Celebrity Fan Fest has announced that Amber Heard, co-star of "Aquaman" will be joining the Aquaman himself as one of the major celebrities at the festival. Though Heard has previously appeared with Momoa, she has never before been available for photos or autographs with her co-star at a comic con, organizers said. Learning to See A Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America By Elise Hooper William Morrow Paperbacks. 384 pp. $15.99. --- When you think of photographer Dorothea Lange, you inevitably visualize "Migrant Mother," the 1936 portrait of a woman and children that has come to represent the pitiless poverty of the Great Depression. In "Learning to See," we encounter the photographer as a whole person - and notably a woman - who struggled with her own family traumas and heartbreaking decisions during her climb to the top. For photo buffs and others familiar with her vast body of work, reading the book will be like discovering the secret backstory of someone they thought they knew. Elise Hooper is the biographer, seamlessly weaving together the time, places and people in Lange's life. But make no mistake: This is a novel, its story told in the first person by Lange, who died of cancer in 1965. The technique works as a way of amplifying and romanticizing the story, but it presents a problem for the reader: What is fact, and what is fiction? "Even a life as remarkable as Dorothea Lange's needed some reworking to create a clear emotional journey," the author writes in her afterword. "In the end, I stayed true to the basic contours of the historical record." In other words, it's like a movie "inspired by actual events," which is not a bad thing when the character's journey is so compelling. Did her first husband really woo her by kissing her foot, a withered and twisted reminder of a childhood bout of polio? Does it matter? But she did, in fact, contribute the photos for a series of articles by John Steinbeck, which matters because those stories about migrant workers eventually became his novel "The Grapes of Wrath." Those photos became the mirror of the Depression. Also fascinating is how Lange was able to achieve mythic heights of success professionally while struggling with marriage and family. Labeled difficult in her time, Lange would almost certainly be a proud "nasty woman" if she were alive today. The book follows the real-life trajectory of Lange from her first challenging days in San Francisco, where she starts out flat-broke after losing her money to a pickpocket.Before too long, she is running a photography studio. Her stock in trade is the high-society portrait, and she's celebrated for it. Her client list is as dazzling as the posh space where she creates images of the perfect world populated by the fortunate. In those early days, Lange is intent on growing her business, but she falls fast and hard for painter Maynard Dixon, whom she marries and with whom she has two sons.The creation of a family also leads Lange to work through the pain of her childhood. (Lange's father left the family when she was 12.) A wife, a mother, a professional artist and a social activist: This is the early 20th-century equivalent of "having it all." But it is she who faces the daily drudgery of diapers and laundry and dinner, not her husband. A successful painter, he is free to pursue his art and romantic dalliances. Lange's career makes a sharp turn when historical events intervene. The market crashes in 1929. The river of money on which her studio floats dries up. Out of desperation, she puts her two sons in foster care, afraid that she cannot feed them - though some might say she chooses photography over motherhood. She and her husband separate. Amid this tumult, an opportunity arises for her to explore photography as she never has before - and to stretch herself emotionally. Lange takes the craft she has honed in her luxury studio to the streets and trains her lens on the impoverished people of San Francisco. Her break comes after a Berkeley economist, Paul Taylor, who has seen her street photography, recruits her to capture images of sawmill workers. Thus begins a career of bearing witness to the Dust Bowl migration of millions. (She later married Taylor.) The federal government funds Lange's work and distributes her photos free to newspapers. Perhaps that's one reason "Migrant Mother" became iconic - millions saw it at their breakfast tables. But Hooper also takes note of restrictions the government put on Lange's work - for example, by the War Relocation Authority, which sent her to photograph internment camps housing Japanese-Americans during World War II. "While you're on this site, you're under my jurisdiction," a camp official tells Lange in the novel. "That means my rules. The rules are: no photos of guns, barbed wire, and fences." Hooper excels at humanizing giants. Her Dorothea Lange is at her most poignant in her interactions with her elder son, Daniel, a skittish, troubled boy, scarred by his abandonment. He runs away and pawns his mother's equipment. He steals his father's paintings off the walls and, at one point, has a skirmish with his stepfather which ends with the boy sprawled at the bottom of a staircase, humiliated. Near the end of the book, Lange collaborates with the Museum of Modern Art in New York on a major retrospective of her photographs. It is an enormous amount of work. She asks Daniel to help her. Over the years, she has feared that she would one day lose her boy for good. But she does not. The work that initially separates them is what ultimately brings them together. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase an affordable subscription to continue accessing our content. The librarian hadn't fallen under a magical spell, but he still felt enchanted when he unexpectedly discovered seven handwritten parchments detailing the legendary adventures of Merlin and King Arthur. For years, the documents had lain hidden at the University of Bristol in England. The parchments were discovered in a book dating to the 16th century, Michael Richardson, the Bristol special collections librarian, said in a statement. He happened across the parchments while seeking materials for students who needed historical documents from medieval times. Specifically, the parchments were found bound inside a four-volume edition of the writings of French scholar and reformer Jean Gerson (1363-1429). When Richardson recognized several Arthurian names, he contacted his colleagues to help decipher the text. [Image Gallery: Medieval Art Tells a Tale] The team hopes to learn how the fragments came to be bound in the Gerson volumes. They also plan to fully translate the text from Old French to modern English in a new publication, which will explain the writing's history. "These fragments of the story of Merlin are a wonderfully exciting find, which may have implications for the study not just of this text but also of other related and later texts that have shaped our modern understanding of the Arthurian legend," Leah Tether, president of the British branch of the International Arthurian Society and a reader in medieval literature at the University of Bristol, said in the statement. She noted that these seven fragments are part of an Old French sequence of texts called the "Vulgate Cycle" or the "Lancelot-Grail Cycle," which date back to the 13th century. Sir Thomas Malory (1415-1471) likely used parts of this story cycle as a source for his "Le Morte d'Arthur," first published in 1485. Malory's text is the source for many of the modern retellings of the English Arthurian legend. However, the stories in the Bristol fragments aren't exactly the same as traditional tellings of the King Arthur story. The fragments, which were printed in Strasbourg, France, between 1494 and 1502, contain subtle but significant differences, Tether said. "Time and research will reveal what further secrets about the legends of Arthur, Merlin and the Holy Grail these fragments might hold," she said. From left to right: Leah Tether, Laura Chuhan Campbell, Michael Richardson and Benjamin Pohl show books in Bristol Central Library's Rare Books Room. (Image credit: University of Bristol) What's in the fragments The surviving section is known as the "Estoire de Merlin" narrative. In this part of the story, Arthur, Merlin, Gawain and other knights, including King Ban and King Bohors, prepare for battle in Trebes, France, against the fictional Frankish King Claudas and his followers. Merlin carefully plans the attack. But the battle is rough, according to a long description in the story, and Arthur's forces falter until Merlin urges them to avoid cowardice and leads them back into the foray. Merlin even leads the charge with a fire-breathing dragon. Finally, Arthur's forces prevail, and kings Arthur, Ban and Bohors, along with the other knights, take the Castle of Trebes. The tale then follows their subsequent trials and escapades. So far, the researchers have found only a few details in the newly discovered text that differ from the traditional tellings. For instance, King Claudas was wounded through the thighs in the traditional version, but the fragments don't say where he was wounded. This could lead to different interpretations of the overall text, as some scholars view a thigh wound as a metaphor for impotence or castration. "There are many more differences, too, but because of the damage to the fragments, it will take time to decipher their contents properly, perhaps even requiring the use of infrared technology," Tether said. "We are all very excited to discover more about the fragments and what new information they might hold." Originally published on Live Science. The "dark" side of the moon isn't really darker than the "light" side of the moon. But that far side does appear to get colder at night. Earth's moon is tidally locked to the planet, meaning that the same side of the moon faces us at all times. But the moon is still spinning in order to constantly point one face at us, so it experiences days and nights from the varying sunlight. These periods are about two Earth-weeks long. Data from the Apollo missions had already revealed that the moon's sunlit surface can climb to 260 degrees Fahrenheit (127 degrees Celsius) during the day, and drop to minus 280 F (minus 173 C) at night. But all of that data comes from the side of the moon that faces Earth. The new Chinese mission that landed on the "dark" (read: far) side of the moon on Jan. 3 has recorded even colder temperatures during the long lunar night. The Chinese lander Chang'e 4 and its rover, Yutu 2 (Jade Rabbit 2), woke from dormant, power-saving modes at the end of January and beamed back data suggesting that temperatures there had plummeted to minus 310 F (minus 190 C), according to an Agence France-Presse report. [Photos from the Moon's Far Side] The difference between Chang'e 4's reading and the Apollo missions' is "probably due to the difference in lunar soil composition between the two sides of the moon. We still need more careful analysis," Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e 4 probe project, told Xinhua. In other words, something about the lunar dirt where Chang'e 4 sits is probably causing the soil to retain less heat overnight than the Apollo landing sites did. But researchers still aren't sure what that something is. Chang'e 4 and Yutu 2 are the first probes to explore the far side of our nearest neighbor, so the data they return will be one of a kind. It may be a long time before researchers have a firm answer to the temperature-difference question. Originally published on Live Science. I think its a benefit to anyone in this race who has not been tied to the sort of s--- that has been going on. Im tied because my name is Daley, and Ive lived in this city forever and therefore everyone thinks anything bad that happened in this city, a Daley must have done it, Daley said of the federal probes impact on the race. I dont pretend that whatever negatives people have about Rich or my dad or the political system, that those arent real. But I dont get named for giving back $100,000 from Ed Burke or $100,000 from Danny Solis and some company. Everyone is going to have to defend their own records. Genetic modification is the process of altering the genetic makeup of an organism. This has been done indirectly for thousands of years by controlled, or selective, breeding of plants and animals. Modern biotechnology has made it easier and faster to target a specific gene for more-precise alteration of the organism through genetic engineering. The terms "modified" and "engineered" are often used interchangeably in the context of labeling genetically modified, or "GMO," foods. In the field of biotechnology, GMO stands for genetically modified organism, while in the food industry, the term refers exclusively to food that has been purposefully engineered and not selectively bred organisms. This discrepancy leads to confusion among consumers, and so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prefers the term genetically engineered (GE) for food. A brief history of genetic modification Genetic modification dates back to ancient times, when humans influenced genetics by selectively breeding organisms, according to an article by Gabriel Rangel, a public health scientist at Harvard University. When repeated over several generations, this process leads to dramatic changes in the species. Dogs were likely the first animals to be purposefully genetically modified, with the beginnings of that effort dating back about 32,000 years, according to Rangel. Wild wolves joined our hunter-gatherer ancestors in East Asia, where the canines were domesticated and bred to have increased docility. Over thousands of years, people bred dogs with different desired personality and physical traits, eventually leading to the wide variety of dogs we see today. The earliest known genetically modified plant is wheat. This valuable crop is thought to have originated in the Middle East and northern Africa in the area known as the Fertile Crescent, according to a 2015 article published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Ancient farmers selectively bred wheat grasses beginning around 9000 B.C. to create domesticated varieties with larger grains and hardier seeds. By 8000 B.C., the cultivation of domesticated wheat had spread across Europe and Asia. The continued selective breeding of wheat resulted in the thousands of varieties that are grown today. Corn has also experienced some of the most dramatic genetic changes over the past few thousand years. The staple crop was derived from a plant known as teosinte, a wild grass with tiny ears that bore only a few kernels. Over time, farmers selectively bred the teosinte grasses to create corn with large ears bursting with kernels. Beyond those crops, much of the produce we eat today including bananas, apples and tomatoes has undergone several generations of selective breeding, according to Rangel. The technology that specifically cuts and transfers a piece of recombinant DNA (rDNA) from one organism to another was developed in 1973 by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, and Stanford University, respectively. The pair transferred a piece of DNA from one strain of bacteria to another, enabling antibiotic resistance in the modified bacteria. The following year, two American molecular biologists, Beatrice Mintz and Rudolf Jaenisch, introduced foreign genetic material into mouse embryos in the first experiment to genetically modify animals using genetic engineering techniques. Researchers were also modifying bacteria to be used as medications. In 1982, human insulin was synthesized from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, becoming the first genetically engineered human medication approved by the FDA, according to Rangel. Corn as we know it today was derived from teosinte, a wild grass with small ears and just a few kernels. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Genetically modified food There are four primary methods of genetically modifying crops, according to The Ohio State University: Selective breeding: Two strains of plants are introduced and bred to produce offspring with specific features. Between 10,000 and 300,000 genes can be affected. This is the oldest method of genetic modification, and is typically not included in the GMO food category. Mutagenesis: Plant seeds are purposely exposed to chemicals or radiation in order to mutate the organisms. The offspring with the desired traits are kept and further bred. Mutagenesis is also not typically included in the GMO food category. RNA interference: Individual undesirable genes in plants are inactivated in order to remove any undesired traits. Transgenics: A gene is taken from one species and implanted in another in order to introduce a desirable trait. The last two methods listed are considered types of genetic engineering. Today, certain crops have undergone genetic engineering to improve crop yield, resistance to insect damage and immunity to plant diseases, as well as to introduce increased nutritional value, according to the FDA. In the market, these are called genetically modified, or GMO crops. "GMO crops presented a lot of promise in solving agricultural issues," said Nitya Jacob, crop scientist at Oxford College of Emory University in Georgia. The first genetically engineered crop approved for cultivation in the U.S. was the Flavr Savr tomato in 1994. (In order to be grown in the U.S., genetically modified foods must be accepted by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the FDA.) The new tomato had a longer shelf-life thanks to the deactivation of the gene that causes tomatoes to start becoming squishy as soon as they're picked. The tomato was also promised to have enhanced flavor, according to the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Today, cotton, corn and soybeans are the most common crops grown in the U.S. Nearly 93 percent of soybeans and 88 percent of corn crops are genetically modified, according to the FDA. Many GMO crops, such as modified cotton, have been engineered to be resistant to insects, significantly reducing the need for pesticides that could contaminate groundwater and the surrounding environment, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In recent years, the widespread cultivation of GMO crops has become increasingly controversial. "One concern is the impact of GMOs on the environment," Jacob said. "For example, pollen from GMO crops can drift to fields of non-GMO crops as well as into weed populations, which can lead to non-GMOs acquiring GMO characteristics due to cross-pollination." A handful of large biotechnology companies have monopolized the GMO crop industry, Jacob said, making it difficult for individual, small-scale farmers to make a living. However, while some farmers may be driven out of business, those that work with the biotech companies may reap the economical benefits of increased crop yields and reduced pesticide costs, the USDA has said. Labeling of GMO food is important to a majority of people in the U.S., according to polls conducted by Consumer Reports, The New York Times and The Mellman Group. People strongly in favor of GMO labeling believe that consumers should be able to decide whether they wish to purchase genetically modified foods. However, Jacob said, there is no clear scientific evidence that GMOs are dangerous for human health. Genetically modifying animals and humans Today, livestock are often selectively bred to improve growth rate and muscle mass and encourage disease resistance. For example, certain lines of chickens raised for meat have been bred to grow 300 percent faster today than they did in the 1960s, according to a 2010 article published in the Journal of Anatomy. Currently, no animal products on the market in the U.S., including chicken or beef, are genetically engineered, and, therefore, none are classified as GMO or GE food products. For the past several decades, researchers have been genetically modifying lab animals to determine ways the biotechnology could one day help in treating human disease and repairing tissue damage in people, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. One of the newest forms of this technology is called CRISPR (pronounced "crisper"). The technology is based on the ability of the bacterial immune system to use CRISPR regions and Cas9 enzymes to inactivate foreign DNA that enters a bacterial cell. The same technique makes it possible for scientists to target a specific gene or group of genes for modification, said Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, associate professor of biology at Scripps College in California. Researchers are using CRISPR technology to search for cures for cancer and to find and edit single pieces of DNA that may lead to future diseases in an individual. Stem cell therapy could also make use of genetic engineering, in the regeneration of damaged tissue, such as from a stroke or heart attack, Edwalds-Gilbert said. In a highly controversial study, at least one researcher claims to have tested the CRISPR technology on human embryos with the goal of eliminating the potential for certain diseases. That scientist has faced harsh scrutiny and was placed under house arrest in their home country of China for some time. The moral dilemma The technology may be available, but should scientists pursue genetic modification studies in humans? It depends, said Rivka Weinberg, a professor of philosophy at Scripps College. "When it comes to something like a [new] technology, you have to think about the intention and different uses of it," Weinberg said. The majority of medical trials for treatments that make use of genetic engineering are performed on consenting patients. However, genetic engineering on a fetus is another story. "Experimentation on human subjects without their consent is inherently problematic," Weinberg said. "There are not only risks, [but also] the risks are not mapped out. We don't even know what we are risking." If the next-generation technology were available and shown to be safe, the objections to testing it in humans would be minimal, Weinberg said. But that's not the case. "The big problem with all of these experimental technologies is that they are experimental," Weinberg said. "One of the main reasons why people were so horrified by the Chinese scientist who used CRISPR technology on embryos is because it is such an early stage of experimentation. It is not genetic engineering. You are just experimenting on them." The vast majority of the proponents for genetic engineering realize that the technology isn't ready to be tested on humans yet, and state that the process will be used for good. The goal of genetic modification, Jacob said, "has always been to tackle problems currently facing human society." Further reading: A new computer model captures the twisting lines of plasma jets that stream out from the edges of a black hole. Here, a simulation of so-called collisionless relativistic plasma shows the density of positrons, or antimatter partners to electrons, near a rotating black hole. Stunning new images show how black holes produce tremendously bright jets millions of light-years long that can be seen across vast cosmic distances. The images were produced by a computer simulation and could help resolve an enduring mystery about how the jets form, the researchers behind the images said. Despite their moniker, black holes aren't always black. As a black hole consumes an object, gas and dust spins around the maw of the gravitational behemoth, and friction can heat the material on the edges to searing temperatures. This violent process creates lighthouse-like beams of charged particles that travel outward at near light speed, emitting radiation that can shine brighter than an entire galaxy. [11 Fascinating Facts About Our Milky Way Galaxy] "They are like laser beams piercing the universe and allowing us to see black holes whose emission would otherwise be too dim to be detectable," Alexander Tchekhovskoy, a computational astrophysicist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, told Live Science. But the complex mechanisms behind these jets remain poorly understood. A potential insight into the problem comes from the fact that material around a black hole is transformed into plasma, a blisteringly hot, but diffuse magnetized state of matter. Physicists have long suspected that twisting magnetic fields somehow interact with the curved fabric of space-time around a spinning black hole to give rise to the jets. Using highly detailed computer models, Kyle Parfrey of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and his colleagues were able to simulate how charged particles near a black hole's edge give rise to twisting and rotating magnetic fields, as the researchers reported Jan. 23 in the journal Physical Review Letters. The scientists also incorporated information from Albert Einstein's theory of relativity to model pairs of these particles flying on special orbits. These orbits are tuned in just the right way so that if one of the particles from a duo falls into the black hole, its partner will zoom out at ultrafast speed, propelling itself using energy stolen from the black hole itself. [8 Ways You Can See Einstein's Theory of Relativity in Real Life] Any object, even a bag of trash, could be shot out of a spacecraft onto on one of these orbits, and it would give the ship a powerful boost of energy, said Tchekhovskoy, who was not involved in the work. The new computational methods will help researchers better study regions of intense electric current near a black hole's edge, which could be related to the X-rays and gamma-rays seen in the jets, Parfrey told Live Science. Next, the team wants to more realistically model the process of generating the charged particle pairs. That will allow astronomers to make better predictions about a jet's properties, Parfrey said. The findings will also help scientists interpret the results from two endeavors, the Event Horizon Telescope and GRAVITY, currently aiming to photograph the shadow cast on surrounding material by the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way, Parfrey said. Originally published on Live Science. An 18-year-old man experienced life-threatening symptoms after he swallowed a toothpick. The image on the left shows the toothpick in the man's large intestine. The image on the right shows the toothpick after it was removed. He was a young and fit pro athlete, but he came dangerously close to death when he accidentally swallowed a rather commonplace item: a toothpick. The seemingly mundane toothpick wreaked havoc inside the 18-year-old man's body, where the object punctured the wall of his lower intestine and poked into an artery, according to a new report of the case, published Wednesday (Jan. 30) in The New England Journal of Medicine. The injuries would eventually lead to life-threatening bleeding along with a bloodstream infection. However, the man didn't remember swallowing the toothpick, and it took weeks and visits to three hospitals before doctors figured out what was behind his mysterious symptoms, the report said. [11 Weird Things People Have Swallowed] Worsening symptoms The young man, whose identity was not released by the case-report authors, had been healthy when he left on a trip to the southeastern U.S. While on the trip, however, he developed abdominal pain, fever, nausea and diarrhea that sent him to the emergency room. Doctors performed blood tests and a CT scan but didn't spot anything unusual, so they sent him back to his hotel after 5 hours. During the next two weeks, the man's symptoms abated, but then the abdominal pain returned when he went on a trip to the western U.S. In addition, the man had back pain and bloody stools, and he again went to the ER. This time, an imaging scan revealed air and fluid in his large intestine. The ER doctors still weren't sure what was causing the man's symptoms, however, so they suggested he go to the doctor when he got back to his home in New England. There, doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said the man should have a colonoscopy, but during the preparation for the procedure, the man experience fever and chills, along with profuse bleeding in his stools. Tests also revealed he had a bacterial infection in his blood. Doctors were still able to perform the colonoscopy, and that's when they found it: a 2-inch (5 centimeters) toothpick poking into the wall of the man's large intestine. The doctors were "stunned" to find the toothpick, since they hadn't seen it on imaging scans and the man hadn't reported thinking that he swallowed anything unusual, Dr. Fabian J. Scheid, an internist at Mass General who treated the patient, told The New York Times. Doctors removed the toothpick with the help of an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a camera attached. But the toothpick had also injured an artery, and once the object was removed, the man experienced "life-threatening" bleeding, the report said. He was rushed to the operating room, where he needed extensive surgery to repair the damage and stop the bleeding. [10 Strangest Medical Cases of 2018] Dangerous if swallowed Toothpicks are known to pose a serious risk of injury when swallowed. Indeed, in 2014, doctors from Germany published a review of 136 cases of people who swallowed toothpicks, finding that 80 percent of those patients experienced a puncture in their gut from the toothpick and nearly 10 percent died from their injuries. Still, such serious injuries from toothpicks are uncommon. "It is rare for someone to get this kind of complication, to this degree, with toothpick ingestion," said Dr. Jefry Biehler, chairman of pediatrics at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, who was not involved in the New England case. Often, toothpicks can be removed without surgery, but it's still important for adults, or parents of children, to seek medical care if they or their children have swallowed a toothpick, Biehler said. But if a person doesn't realize they've swallowed a toothpick, the problem can be difficult to diagnose. Wood toothpicks are often very difficult to see on imaging tests like X-rays or even ultrasounds, Biehler told Live Science. The current case highlights the need for doctors "to keep an open mind" and to consider a broad range of diagnoses for someone who has abdominal pain without a clear cause, Biehler told Live Science. It also shows that "anything that can go into a mouth, somebody's going to swallow," he said. Small children in particular will swallow pretty much anything, and they should not be allowed to have toothpicks in their mouths, he said. After being told about the toothpick, the New England man did recall eating a "sandwich that did not go down so well" before he became sick, The New York Times reported. The man stayed in the hospital for 10 days and needed to take antibiotics for a month to treat his blood infection. He also underwent a long-term rehab program to be able to get back in shape for his sport, and seven months after his injury, he played in his first professional game, the report said. Originally published on Live Science. "Moon of Israel" is an epic 1924 film from the golden era of silent movies, and helped launch the directing career of Michael Curtiz, of "Casablanca" fame. Sequels seldom live up to the original. But if Israel's plans to put a robotic lander on the moon in February 2019 can be considered a sequel, this new "Moon of Israel" mission, led by the nonprofit company SpaceIL, will be a blockbuster in its own right. Lunar landings date back to the 1960s. The United States landed 12 people on six separate occasions as part of the Apollo program, along with robotic spacecraft such as Surveyor, which served as a precursor to human missions. The Soviet Union preformed robotic Luna missions and landed Lunokhod automated rovers in the 1970s. Most recently China landed the Chang'e 4 robotic probe on the back side of the moon. These missions are all amazing technical accomplishments, and marvels of human know-how, sponsored and built by large government space agencies. China's Yutu 2 rover explores the far side of the moon shortly after its Jan. 2, 2019, touchdown. (Image credit: CNSA) New moon, new mode of exploration The moon's next visitor is different. SpaceIL's Beresheet Hebrew for "In the Beginning" will become the first privately funded mission to launch from Earth and land on the moon, and the first spacecraft to propel itself over the lunar surface after landing by "hopping" on its rocket engine to a second landing spot. The mission marks yet another milestone, not only in the history and technical arc of space exploration, but also in how humankind goes about space exploration. SpaceIL was founded in 2011 to compete in the Google Lunar XPrize, a program that planned to award US$30 million to the first privately funded team who could build a spacecraft and land it successfully on the moon. Beyond landing, the spacecraft, or a rover, had to travel a distance of 500 meters or more and beam high-definition imagery of the landing environment to Earth. The Google Lunar XPrize contest deadline ended in 2018 without a winner. Undaunted, SpaceIL forged ahead with the development and construction of the spacecraft, and is now ready to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Beresheet lander is about the size and shape of a family dinner table, roughly 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, weighing (on Earth) about 350 pounds. This doesn't include the nearly 1,000 pounds of fuel needed to land the spacecraft on the moon. Carrying instrumentation to measure the magnetic field of the moon, a laser-reflector provided by NASA and a time-capsule of cultural and historical Israeli artifacts, the mission will ride into space as a secondary payload like a rideshare passenger aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Going to the moon, without a rocket The primary cargo on the SpaceX launch is not the SpaceIL lander, but instead a communications satellite for delivery a very high Earth-centered, geostationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth's equator. This effectively parks the communications satellite above a fixed point on the Earth, its orbit synchronized precisely with our planet's daily rotation. The Beresheet spacecraft will accompany the primary satellite on its journey. But in order to reach the moon, it needs to travel more than 10 times farther. In spaceflight, the primary constraint in traveling from place to place is not distance, but the quantity of energy required. The Falcon 9 rocket only carries Beresheet about 10 percent of the total distance to the moon. But it provides nearly 90 percent of the total energy required to get there. Consequently, once lifted from the surface of the Earth, and with a small amount of additional energy from its own propulsion system, Beresheet can boost its own orbit by positioning itself so that it's captured by the moon's gravitational pull. This process will take several weeks. Once landed on the moon, however, the mission may only last a few more days. The lander is not designed for the long haul, but instead will demonstrate advances in technology as well as the business model for a privately funded spacecraft landing on another body in the solar system. In this sense, Beresheet will create a second and even more memorable "Moon of Israel." There is no air on the moon and therefore also no sound. So, like the original 1924 film, this sequel will also be silent. But the participants are not actors, and the view will be in high-definition color. The technical know-how developed by the engineering team, the scientific and technical data from the spacecraft's instruments, learning how spaceflight missions can be executed outside of a government program, and the inspiration provided for an entire generation of young people especially in Israel and the Middle East region will all bring valuable insights and inspiration for decades to come. John Horack, Neil Armstrong Chair and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates and become part of the discussion on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science. A TIPPERARY murder trial witness whose boyfriend went missing after leaving her house has said she felt as though people were saying she had something to do with his disappearance. Mary Lowry, 52, also denied becoming intimate with the accused following the disappearance and said she couldn't remember staying with him in a "plush" hotel three months after she last saw her boyfriend. Ms Lowry has finished giving evidence after four days in the stand at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52-year-old Bobby Ryan - a DJ known as Mr Moonlight - on a date between June 3, 2011 and April 2013. Mr Ryan went missing in June 2011 and his body was found in a run-off tank on a farm owned by Ms Lowry and leased by the accused at Fawnagown, Tipperary in April 2013. Ms Lowry told defence counsel Bernard Condon SC that she went to gardai in June 2012 to complain about Bobby Ryan missing person posters that had been put up around her home. She said that she had no problem with posters but that these were put up around her home and nowhere else. She said she found them intimidating and they were upsetting for her children who were fond of Bobby Ryan. The witness added: It was like they were trying to say I had something to do with this man who was missing. She said she wanted to find Mr Ryan as much as anybody else and had herself put up posters in other areas. Ms Lowry has also confirmed to Mr Condon that she spent a night in a hotel in Killiney, south Dublin with the accused following Mr Ryans disappearance. She denied that she became intimate with Pat Quirke after Mr Ryans disappearance and said that when she stayed with him in Dublin she felt a bit scared and didn't want to be there. She said she got drunk and nothing happened. We did not rekindle our relationship, she said. She could not remember staying at the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Waterford with Mr Quirke in September 2011 and could not say if she had ever been there. Mr Condon suggested to her that she would remember staying at such a "plush hotel with a beautiful view overlooking the sea." The witness repeated that she does not remember staying there. When shown a print-out from her bank account showing a payment to the Cliff Hotel dated September 8, 2011 she said she couldn't explain it and added that Mr Quirke had a key to her home and access to her computer. Counsel further suggested that the witness was saying she couldn't remember staying at the Cliff House because she does not want to accept that she got back with Mr Quirke and was intimate with him following Mr Ryan's death. She said this was, "totally ridiculous. I did no such thing". Mr Condon also questioned her about a phone call she made to Mr Quirke while she was on a skiing holiday in Austria with her three sons in 2012. She said that she made the call because Mr Quirke was "in my head" and she would "face his wrath" when she returned if she did not call while she was away. She again denied being intimate with Mr Quirke and said she thought about the missing Bobby Ryan every day during that time. The trial continues on Monday in front of Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six men and six women. A MAN jailed for his role in a military-style burglary gang which operated with almost military precision was well advised to drop his sentence appeal, according to a senior judge. Lithuanian national Aurimas Petraska, of Church Street, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries which involved the theft of 150,000 worth of womens clothes and Chanel beauty products in counties Tipperary, Cork and Limerick in 2016. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Tom ODonnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on May 5, 2017. Judge ODonnell said the gang with which Petraska was linked were professional. He said Petraskas raids were premeditated and planned down to the last detail and executed with military precision. Petraska was due to appeal against the severity of his sentence this Friday. However, his barrister, John Moher BL, told the Court of Appeal this morning that Petraska wished to withdraw his appeal. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said Petraska had done extraordinarily well in the Circuit Court to receive the sentence that he did. There was a risk that his sentence was going to be increased, if he proceeded with his appeal, the judge said. Its clear he (Petraska) has received sensible, responsible and shrewd advice, Mr Justice Birmingham said. The court permitted the appeal to be withdrawn. Last year, the Court of Appeal delivered a landmark judgment on sentencing for burglary offences. The court set sentencing guidelines for judges on how to deal with the offence of burglary, arising out of the serious social problem they were causing, particularly in isolated rural areas. CRISTINA Bueno Ribeiro, Orchard Heights, Charleville was fined 300 at Newcastle West court when she was convicted of driving without insurance at Ballynoe, Castlemahon on December 31, 2017. I wont, reluctantly, under the circumstances disqualify her, Judge Mary Larkin said. Earlier, Inspector Andrew Lacey told the court the accused had been involved in a traffic accident at Ballynoe on that date when she crossed over a broken centre line and collided with a patrol car driven by Garda Moriarty. The garda had to take evasive action, he said. Pleading for his client, solicitor John Lynch said she was an Italian national with an Italian passport and licence. She was a named driver on a policy taken out in October 2017, payable through ten monthly instalments, he explained. One months instalment had been paid, he said but the policy holder left the country and returned to Brazil and the second instalment was not made. His client was not aware the insurance policy had been cancelled, Mr Lynch said. Speed was not an issue in the accident, he said but there was an issue of tyres needing to be analysed. The steering wheel had started to wobble in her hands, he explained, and the car came across the line three or four times. As far as his client was concerned, she was driving a roadworthy vehicle and was insured. And he pleaded that a disqualification would cause extreme hardship to a very genuine case. THERE was no direct response this week from Aughinish Alumina as confirmation came through that the US administration had lifted sanctions against its parent company, Rusal. Instead, it was Greg Barker, former Tory MP and minister, and now Lord Barker of Battle, who took to the national airwaves to express relief at the development. He also indicated that the EN+ group which controls Rusal, would invest in Aughinish. We will continue to invest in the plant now that we can be confident about its future, he said. It has been a very long march to get here, he added. But, he said, it was great news for Aughinish Closer to home, Minister of State Patrick ODonovan voiced the relief felt by a great many people throughout Limerick, particularly the plants 450 workers and contract suppliers and their families. There is a collective sigh of relief and the company can be left to get on with its business, he said. There is a sense of relief locally and within the government that this has been moved on, he continued. Aughinish had been left in virtual limbo, he outlined. From now on, they can talk about future investment and the future expansion plans they have. They couldnt do that when they were in a virtual limbo. The sanctions were originally imposed by the US last April in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the US elections and targeted Russian oligarchs including Mr Deripaska. But after Mr Deripaska agreed to reduce his shareholding, it was agreed in December to lift the sanctions within 30 days. The US Democratic Party objected to the deal as being too soft and the House of Representatives opposed it. But they failed to get the support of the Senate to stop it. According Minister ODonovan, the decision, in the end, was an administration one. His party colleague, Tom Neville, also welcomed this weeks development saying: This announcement is the culmination of a significant cross-Government effort over 10 months. We will continue building awareness in the United States of Aughinishs long history in Ireland and its importance to the Mid-West and our wider economy. Fianna Fails Deputy Niall Collins said it very welcome news for the workers and contractors in Limerick. Throughout that past number of months whilst under the imposition of the US imposed sanctions the company found it very difficult to trade, he said. MAYOR of Limerick James Collins has suggested the empty Dunnes Stores building in Sarsfield Street be demolished to open up the riverside. While many parties have suggested the controversial site be re-opened and used as a convention centre, or a civic space, Limericks first citizen believes the city should see an opportunity in razing the facility. However, he acknowledged the issues which may surround this, given the fact the building remains in the ownership of the supermarket giant and the council has issues with compulsorily acquiring it. The mayor, who has just returned from a trade mission in Austin, Texas, wrote in a blog post: Imagine that empty Dunnes building being re-used, being developed or demolished to open up the riverside. Austin would view this as an opportunity and so should we. It's complicated because Dunnes don't accept the site is vacant - and are thus resisting the penalty payments that come with a 'vacant designation'. Despite it emerging last week that Dunnes had rejected an offer of 3m from council to acquire the site, Mayor Collins pledged that the local authority will continue to fight to ensure the supermarket giant acts on the building, which has lain largely idle since it closed in August 2008. It is about encouraging development of the site, either by Dunnes or someone else, he wrote Austin's experience shows us that culture and commerce don't have to clash. The music business has given Austin an international reputation and generated hundreds of millions in revenue for the city's traders and hotels. The Live Music Capital of the World is Austin because they said so. What is our slogan on the city bounds? Last week, Dunnes Stores won a High Court order halting moves to to place a closed shopping centre building in Limerick city centre on an official register for vacant sites. Dunnes Stores was granted a stay on Bord Pleanala's determination of an appeal of the council's decision to place the property on the Vacant Sites Register under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015. A GOVERNMENT senator has said that it would be highly ambitious to have the crucial 60-bed block built and ready by the end of 2019 at University Hospital Limerick. This is despite widespread hope that the 19m UHL project would be open by the end of this year. Before the project got the complete green light, a Dooradoyle resident had appealed a local authority decision to An Bord Pleanala. This objection was later withdrawn. The hospital has since appointed a developer for the 300-day 14m contract, but construction has yet to commence. Fine Gael senator Kieran ODonnell said that on January 9, he spoke to the UL Hospitals Groups CEO, Prof Colette Cowan, who informed him that excavation works could commence in the coming weeks. It was always a one-year build. Obviously the delays in planning would have contributed somewhat, said the senator. If the excavation works proceed in early February, it wont be obviously completed - it would be highly ambitious to have it completed - in 2019. It would be completed shortly thereafter. For me, its about delivery, that we have no further time lost, he said. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group told The Leader: A steering group has been established to begin the internal planning process for this significant build. The group is tasked with planning for the opening of the beds, which includes staffing levels and bed usage. Contractors have been secured through normal tendering process for the enabling works and construction. Longtime powerful Ald. Edward Burke has been charged with attempted extortion after allegedly holding up permits needed for a Burger King in his 14th Ward in exchange for property tax appeals business at his law firm from a company that owns that restaurant and hundreds of others across the country. Burke also was accused of illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from the fast food company that the Chicago Tribune has reported was intended for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, a candidate for mayor. A PRIEST has been found not guilty of indecently assaulting an altar boy at the parochial house in the Limerick parish where he worked. The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty to eight charges relating to offences which the State had alleged occurred over a three year period in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following just under two hours of deliberations this Friday afternoon, the jury returned to Limerick Circuit Court to return unanimous not guilty verdicts. The defendant, who was sitting directly across from the jurors, placed his head in his hands and cried as the registrar read out each verdict one-by-one. The complainant, who is now aged in his 40s, had given evidence that he was indecently assaulted at the parochial house where the then curate lived. The man, who was in primary school at the time, said he used to do menial jobs for the priest such as washing his car and cutting his grass and that the abuse had happened when he went to get paid. He described how on one occasion while in the sitting room of the house the priest lifted him onto his lap and began arousing himself. He used his hands to touch and feel me, he said adding that he placed his hand inside his pants. In his evidence, the accused man insisted the allegations were not true. In my heart and soul I know I did nothing wrong, he said adding he was shocked when the allegations were first put to him by gardai in 2016. That did not happen, that did not happen, he said. Earlier his barrister Mark Nicholas, SC, put it to the complainant that aspects of his evidence were vague and lacked in detail. There is a looseness with the detail in your evidence, said Mr Nicholas who submitted his version of events was highly improbable and could not have happened. Mr Nicholas said their was uncertainty relating to dates and times and he asked why he had waited so long to make a complaint to gardai? He also put it to the witness that there were significant differences between his evidence in court and what he told gardai in his statement of complaint. You changed your story, its a moving of the goal posts, he said. After the jury returned its verdict, Judge Tom ODonnell thanked the jurors for their attention during the four-day trial. He said it was a very very difficult case and he excused them from further jury service for five years. The Special EU Programmes Body has announced additional funding for a large cross-border environment project. The Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) project is to receive an additional 1.1 million to carry out important conservation work at Cuilcagh Mountain and Cuilcagh-Anierin Uplands Special Areas of Conservation in counties Fermanagh, Leitrim and Cavan, which are recognised for their environmental significance both nationally and internationally. The CANN project, a 9.4 million project led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in partnership with 10 other organisations from the public and charity sectors, aims to preserve endangered species and restore natural habitats found at 25 selected designated sites within Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland. CANN is due to run until 2021 and the project team hopes that by working alongside local communities an overall aim of improving the conservation status of these EU designated sites can be achieved, thus ensuring the sustainability of these iconic landscapes, habitats and species for future generations. The project is funded by the EUs INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. Congratulating the project Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB said: This new site will prove a welcome addition to the essential conservation activity that will be undertaken throughout the lifetime of the project. Drop-in information events If you want to find out more about the CANN project and the work that the CANN project team will be carrying out locally, you are invited attend one of the following drop-in information events, where you will have a chance to learn more about the project and to ask the CANN project team any questions you may have. All sessions will be open between 11am and 7pm. - Tuesday, February 12 St. Patricks Hall, Glangevlin, Co. Cavan - Friday, February 15 Trivia House, Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan - Tuesday, February 19 Tully Mill Complex, Florencecourt, Co. Fermanagh - Tuesday, February 26 Mayflower Hall, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim All are welcome to attend these free of charge sessions, and tea and coffee will be provided. Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland. A new initiative to promote local artists in Kildare is being spearheaded at the Moat Theatre in Naas by manager Celine Garvey and artist Sharon Fidgeon. Celine is excited to be offering the foyer space to local artists, designers and crafters. We had our first art event in The Moat Theatre foyer at Christmas, with a Paint and Sip with Sharon and it was a great success. Having trained as an art teacher myself, I know that absolutely everyone can draw, paint and create, they just need to be facilitated and encouraged. Its a great form of relaxation, that can be enjoyed in our space with all the materials provided. We will also hold regular exhibitions, showing work from local and national artists and hanging new art every six weeks. Running a project like this means the space will be in use all day, every day, offering a forum not only for the performing arts but the visual arts as well. Naas artist Sharon Fidgeon, will be curating the exhibitions and running classes. I have been looking for a space for up and coming artists to exhibit and sell their work. The Moat Theatre already has a diverse audience, and we wanted to offer future visitors a wider artistic experience. Its a unique space in the foyer, with great lighting and high ceilings; its basically a blank canvas. The first exhibition in The Moats Art Hub is a collaboration between married couple, Marta and Michal Golubowscy and it runs until February. Originally from Poland, they arrived in Ireland 13 years ago and settled down in Kildare town. Kildare and Imbolc The next Sip and Paint with Sharon event is on Saturday, February 2. The theme will be tied in with the celebration of St Brigid of Kildare and Imbolc, the ancient Irish start of spring. Tickets are 30, includes a couple of glasses of wine, tuition and all materials. Visit www.moattheatre.com or call 045 288 30 30 for tickets A man detained in Naas last night appeared before a special sitting of the District Court in the town yesterday in connection with possessing drugs. Its thought that the drug haul has a street value of 80,000 Gui Lin 39, for whom no address is immediately available, but who is believed to have been residing in Dublin 12, faces allegations of possessing cannabis herb and possessing the drug for the purpose of sale or supply on January 31 at Poplar Square. It is further alleged that the defendant failed to produce valid documents which would establish his identity when requested by Garda Kevin Williamson. Gda. Williamson gave evidence of arresting him and conveying him to Naas garda station. He also told the court that the defendant replied: I do not deal in drugs and I do not know when charged and the man was provided with true copies of the charges. Sgt. Jim Kelly told the court that it's believed the defendant entered Ireland in 2011. Sgt. Kelly also said the State had no objection to the defendant having free legal aid. Solicitor David Powderly said the defendant has no English whatsoever. The proceedings were interpreted through Mandarin Chinese for the defendant by a interpreter who was present in court. Mr. Powderly said that in light of ongoing efforts to confirm the mans identity and address he was not seeking bail. He added he had been working on and off in a restaurant but has no PPS number and means of income currently. The case was adjourned until Wednesday next, February 6 at Naas District Court. The events of a night out in Athy were heard during a trial of a man who was charged with an assault another man and fracturing his jaw. Sean Clare, 23, with an address listed as The Turrett, Castlerheban, Athy was charged with assaulting Simon Bowden on February 28, 2016 at the Crom A Boo Bridge in Athy. Mr Bowden gave evidence before Judge Bernadette Owens on Wednesday, January 30 that he was walking home from the pub at about 12.30am when he was approached by a man from the side who struck him in the face. He fell outwards onto the street, he told the court and saw a man walking over the bridge. He said he followed the man into a local chipper where he confronted him and a row broke out again. That ended after a while and the man went home. The next morning he had significant pain in his jaw, and subsequently sought treatment for it. It was confirmed in hospital that it was fractured. Representing the defendant, barrister Willie Hughes clarified for the court that his client was only being charged over the punch on the bridge and not what happened in the takeaway. Mr Bowden gave evidence that in the weeks that followed he became aware of the identity of his assailant, the defendant, and the two families met in the Clonard Court, where he sought assistance with the medical bill. Mr Bowden said that the defendant told him that if he went to the Gardai he would say that Mr Bowden sexually harassed his girlfriend. An apology was discussed, Mr Bowden said, and was not given. Your jaw will heal, take it to court if you want to, and well fight again after, he claimed the defendant said. In cross examination by Willie Hughes, Mr Bowden denied he had spoken to the defendant prior to the assault on the bridge. He admitted that he had gone to Andersons pub at 2pm that day to watch a rugby international. He said he didnt know how much he had drank but assured the court that he had his wits about him as he was leaving. Counsel asked him if he had spoken to anyone in the pub, and he said that being from the town, he knew and had spoken to many. Counsel asked if he had spoken any females, in particular, a young blond Polish girl. Mr Bowden said that she was there with her friends, as was he. I put it to you that you did approach her and did have a conversation with her, counsel said, adding that the witness had made very inappropriate comments and suggestions to her. Mr Hughes said that his client would say that he had left Andersons bar that night because he was upset that his girlfriend was upset at what Mr Bowden had said to her. Mr Bowden denied making inappropriate comments to the woman, although he did admit saying, in the meeting with the parents in the hotel If I wasnt so drunk you wouldnt have knocked me down. Youre saying you were assaulted for no good reason? Mr Hughes put to him. Mr Bowden agreed. The court heard that Mr Bowden is 61 tall. Lilly Bowden, his mother, gave evidence of discovering her son the following morning in pain. She recounted efforts that were made to get x-rays and the treatment of his injury. Garda Niall OLoughlin gave evidence of investigating the matter and in particular taking a statement from the defendant, in which Mr Clare claimed that Mr Bowden asked the defendants girlfriend for oral sex, and that the couple left Andersons and went to the CI bar afterwards because Mr Clare didnt want any trouble. Later, having left the CI bar to go to a chipper, they encountered Mr Bowden once again on the bridge who, according to the statement, made a further comment about the defendants girlfriend. Mr Clare says he remarked: Would you ever f**k off and leave us alone. He said that Mr Bowden responded what are you going to do about it? and alleged that Mr Bowden struck him a glancing blow. Mr Clares statement said that he was scared for his life at that point, given that Mr Bowden was much taller than him. He struck back, an action he said in his statement that he regretted, saying that it was not in his nature to be violent or aggressive. In the witness box Mr Clare confirmed the details of his statement - that he and his girlfiend had left Andersons to avoid trouble and that later than night they met with Mr Bowden again, who made a comment to Mr Clares girlfriend and he challenged him over it, which lead to Mr Bowden striking out at Mr Clare, who retaliated. Mr Clare emphasised that this was a matter of self-defence. He feared that Mr Bowden would beat him up and he was scared. Hes a big lad. I was afraid, he told Judge Bernadette Owens. I was afraid hed hit me again. Mr Clare's then girlfriend, and now fiance, Julia, gave evidence of Mr Bowden approaching her and was speaking inappropriately to her. She confirmed that the couple left the bar to avoid trouble and how later they had encountered Mr Bowden again on the bridge. At that point, she told the court, Mr Bowden said Ill hit you up tonight, which she took to mean that he wanted to meet her again that night. She backed up Mr Clares evidence that he remonstrated with Mr Bowden who responded by hitting him followed by Mr Clare punching him back. Mr Hughes emphasised the nature of the interaction to Judge Owens, and characterised it as a man being in fear as he was confronted with a larger man. Are you suggesting that small men cant fight, Judge Owens asked him, Oh they certainly can, he responded, saying hed seen plenty of it on a hurling pitch, but he added that his life experience was that small men tended not to start a fight with bigger men. Judge Owens considered the matter over lunch and when she returned she said that she noted that the issue of self-defence was not raised in the meeting between the parents. She also noted that the defendant had taken nine months to make a statement to Gardai. I thought he would be very anxious to attend to the garda station to set the matter straight. She said that she had no reason to disbelieve the evidence of the girlfriend, and believed the defendant became angry and took matters into his own hands. And on that basis she found him guilty. Mr Clare has no previous convictions. Mr Hughes said that his client was of previous good character and never engaged in substance abuse. Judge Owens adjourned the matter back to April 4 and suggested that the defendant seriously apply his mind to the matter of compensation. She suggested he start with 2,500. The 2 billion bill for the National Children's Hospital will mean there will be no money to make the 140 million changes to facilitate what the HSE said would allow a safe downgrade of Portlaoise hospital, a Laois TD has claimed. As a result, Sean Fleming TD called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to cancel and withdraw the proposals on his desk for the total downgrade of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The Minister has a report on his desk since September 2017 which recommends the closure of the emergency, maternity, paediatrics and intensive care departments and all in-patient surgery in the hospital. In a statement, the Fianna Fail TD said the plan involved the expenditure of 140 million to upgrade Tallaght, The Coombe Maternity and Tullamore Hospitals to take over the workload currently being carried out in Portlaoise. "It is now absolutely clear that no money will ever be available for these specific upgrades as a result of the Ministers incompetence in blowing the budget for the New National Childrens Hospital in Dublin by over 1billion. "Clearly, the plan on the Ministers desk can now never be implemented. In any event, it should never have been contemplated in the first place. "The ongoing uncertainty in respect of the hospital in Portlaoise must be brought to an immediate end by the Minister publically saying he rejects the plan on his desk and calls on regional management to bring forward proposals to improve the services in the hospital in Portlaoise," said the TD. Apart from HSE management, senior doctors who oversee national medical and surgical specialities had input into the downgrade plan. Dep Fleming warned that these experts could overrule all views. "The Minister promised consultation on this plan over a year ago and this has not yet commenced. More worryingly, I understand the people who helped prepare the report will have a veto after the consultation process," he said. The consultation process was promised by Minister Harris in December 2017 but has not commenced. An independent facilitator is due to be appointed to chair the consultation with doctors and others with a stake in the future of Portlaoise hospital. Sherrell S. Taylor, 39, is wanted on a charge of providing false information to law enforcement under a warrant dated Jan. 29, 2019, according to the Warren County Prosecutors Office. Taylor, whose last known address was in the 200 block of West End Road in Hanover, Pennsylvania, is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. The prosecutors office asks anyone with information about Taylor to contact investigators via a tip line at 908-475-6643, the fugitive unit at 908-475-6272 or via fugitive@co.warren.nj.us. Dunkin' is celebrating its grand opening Saturday at 398 N. Delaware Drive (Route 611) in Portland. Starting at 9 a.m., the local franchise will reward the first 100 guests with a free-coffee-for-a-year coupon book, redeemable for one free coffee a week for 52 weeks, according to a news release. "The celebration will include a live DJ, appearances from Dunkins mascots, Cuppy and Sprinkles, and more," the release continues. "Guests will also have the chance to spin the Dunkin'-branded prize wheel and win fun prizes such as winter gloves, hats, koozies and keychains. "Guests can also score a 99-cent Medium Hot or Iced Coffee throughout the duration of the event. To give back to the Portland community, Dunkin franchisee Dhruv Acharya will be donating 50 percent of all coffee sales during the event to the local Bangor Area School District." The grand opening runs 9 a.m. to noon, with a ribbon-cutting set for 10 a.m. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Slate Belt woman struck by a truck five months ago while she was attending her sons' wrestling practice has died. Nicole Ramsay, 42, of Plainfield Township, was struck and seriously injured while she walked in the parking lot of the Red Hawk Wrestling Club in Bethlehem Township on Aug. 14, 2018, police said. She was attending her sons' practice, according to a gofundme.com page set up to help her family. She died Sunday, her obituary says. Bethlehem Township police Chief Dan Pancoast said an investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges against the truck driver, 34-year-old Kurtis Koehler, of Bethlehem Township. The chief said the lack of evidence is partly attributed to the accident happening on private property. Our investigation has concluded, Pancoast said. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said the cause of death was delayed complications from blunt force head trauma. The manner of death was accidental, he said. Ramsay left behind her husband of 11 years, David, and her sons, Colin and Mason, according to the obituary. Wedding announcement photo for Nicole and David Ramsay in 2007. (Submitted photo)Express-Times The gofundme.com campaign raised $38,500 over the past five months. The page encouraged prayers for Ramsay as she fought life threatening injuries. The page called Ramsay an amazing wife, an extraordinary mother and someone always eager to help others. Well-wishers offered condolences on the page. To Dave and their boys, no words can express the sadness of losing a wife and mother, wrote Chad Williams. May our Lord grant you strength, comfort and peace. Nicole Ramsay (Submitted photo) Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. WASHINGTON Cory Booker is running for president. The Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey made the announcement at 7 a.m. Friday in a tweet, email and video. Together, America, we will rise," Booker said in the video, reprising the theme of his 2016 Democratic National Convention address in Philadelphia that brought the delegates to their feet. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame, he said in the video. It is not a matter of can we, its a matter of do we have the collective will, the American will? I believe we do. Together, we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose. Im running for president. Join me on this journey. https://t.co/fEDqOVIfwh pic.twitter.com/h1FTPUYRzo Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 1, 2019 Speaking Friday on the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show radio program after announcing his candidacy, Booker also sounded themes of unity. We live in a nation where people are beginning to lose faith in what we can do together, Booker said. Weve always overcome. Weve got a better future ahead of us if we come together. Booker now joins a growing field of Democrats eyeing the 2020 nomination for the right to take on President Donald Trump, a Republican. He announced a team of eight senior staff members, led by campaign manager Addisu Demissie, who ran Bookers 2013 Senate campaign and most recently California Gov. Gavin Newsoms 2018 race; Mo Butler, a veteran of Bookers previous Senate races and his former chief of staff; members of Bookers Senate staff; and veterans of other Democratic campaigns, including Barack Obamas and Hillary Clintons runs for president. Cory signs paperwork declaring his candidacy for president, his mom Carolyn by his side. pic.twitter.com/2KUXn4nUfN Matt Klapper (@mattklapper) February 1, 2019 Booker, 49, has gained national attention with soaring speeches, a large social media following and near-constant opposition to Trump, including a high-profile role in the controversial hearings on the nomination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In a buildup to his candidacy, he spent the 2018 midterms traveling around the country on behalf of fellow Democrats, including in the early 2020 primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Jaime Harrison, who has known Booker from their days at Yale University together, welcomed him to the race. Congratulations to @CoryBooker in his announcement for President! The diversity and sheer talent @TheDemocrats have in this field is unprecedented! Proud of our party and Im positive this contest will illustrate what public service truly means! Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) February 1, 2019 Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens offered a different take, calling Booker a political opportunist. Even the liberal base thinks hes a disingenuous self-promoter, and his embrace of policies like higher taxes, single payer health care, and government-guaranteed jobs make him totally out-of-touch with most Americans, Ahrens said. He has begun assembling a fundraising list of small-dollar donors, who accounted for more than one-third of the money he raised during the last three months of 2018, Federal Election Commission records show. That helped him build a Senate bank account balance of $4.1 million at the end of the year, funds that can be used to immediately jump-start his presidential campaign. Booker already has rejected donations from corporate political action committees, but they rarely give to candidates in presidential primaries. He plans to eschew donations from registered lobbyists for his presidential run and disavowed an effort by a former college classmate to put together a super PAC to support his candidacy. Adam Green, the Edison native who co-founded the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said Booker should go even further. Senator Booker can send an important signal to voters about the strength of his values by publicly calling on his supporters to shut down their multimillion dollar super PAC on his behalf and either return the checks or donate them to voter registration organizations, Green said. The former Newark mayor has won plaudits for his speeches calling Democrats to action. He was on Hillary Clintons short list of potential vice-presidential nominees. Booker also has captured the national spotlight in a way that many other potential candidates have not, making frequent appearances on late-night talk shows and on Comedy Central, attracting 4 million followers to his Twitter feed, and going on Oprah Winfreys show to receive a $100 million grant from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg check to improve Newarks schools. Booker has alternated between being fiercely partisan and willing to work with Republicans. He used his seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee to strenuously oppose the nomination of Kavanaugh and voted against Trump more often than all but four other U.S. senators, all of them running for president in 2020 or considering it. At the same time, he has reached across party lines to work with such unlikely allies as U.S. Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, on criminal justice issues. His top legislative priority, offering alternatives to incarceration and shorter prison sentences to nonviolent drug offenders, was part of a criminal justice overhaul that Trump signed into law in December. At time of deep partisan divisions, Booker often has talked of unity, offering a different vision than other candidates. This is the moral moment we are called to put the united into the United States of America, Booker said in October at the University of New Hampshire. Then-Newark Mayor Booker won his seat in a 2013 special election following the death of Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, becoming New Jerseys first African-American senator. He won a full six-year term in 2014. Thanks to a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in November, there is no doubt about Bookers ability to both run for re-election and for president next year. Booker now joins U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California; former U.S. Rep. John Delaney of Maryland; and former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro among the entrants in the 2020 Democratic presidential contest. Numerous other Democrats also have been talked about as possible candidates for the White House, most notably former Vice President Joe Biden; former Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas; former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; and U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. He is one of the longer shots, according to US-Bookies.com, which aggregates data from major bookmakers. While Harris was at 3 to 1, Biden 5 to 1 and Warren 12 to 1 to win the Democratic nomination, Booker was listed as 20 to 1 along with Hillary Clinton and Gabbard. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The future of this city is dependent on us to get this election right, Rush, a Chicago Democrat, said by phone. I believe that Bill Daley has the national and international connections to drive economic development from the central city to the outlying communities and neighborhoods. We are suffering, and have been suffering, from decadeslong disinvestment in our neighborhoods. A dump truck driver who hit ice on Weaversville Road in Allen Township struck a car traveling in the opposite direction, and then crashed into the car again, according to state police. Both drivers suffered only minor injuries in the Jan. 25 crash that closed the road for more than three hours, troopers said in a news release. Christopher Douglas, 50, of Dundalk, Maryland, was driving the dump truck north on Weaversville Road, near Barkley Drive, when he hit ice and lost control of the truck, troopers said. Douglas drove over the center line and struck the passenger side of a Toyota Corolla traveling south, driven by Jessica Contreras, 32, of Lansford, Pennsylvania. After the collision, the truck continued to spin, then overturned on its passenger side and landed on the Corollas trunk, troopers said. The vehicles then slid five to seven feet before coming to a stop. Douglas will be cited for speeding. A dump truck driver lost control of the truck Jan. 25, 2019, after hitting ice on Weaversville Road in Allen Township. (Photos courtesy Steve Csencsits | For lehighvalleylive.com)Photos courtesy Steve Csencsits | For lehighvalleylive.com Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter@SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Few weeks to the general election, Bala Bello Tinka who is the director general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Gombe state has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This, according to Premium Times, was disclosed by the presidency in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina. READ ALSO: Onnoghen reveals source of foreign currencies in bank account Adesina claimed that Tinka (alias Tinka Point) met with President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, on Thursday night. He added that Tinka pledged allegiance to the APC. Coming exactly a fortnight to the presidential election, the defection of Alhaji Tinka deals a massive blow to the PDP in Gombe. PDP currently governs the state, and has done so since 2003. President Muhammadu Buhari campaigns in Gombe and Alhaji Tinka is expected to formally join the APC, alongside others, during the event. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had also reported that Mainasara Sajo, a former government house permanent secretary 10 local government chairmen with 3,510 other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Suru local government in Kebbi state have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Sajo who was once a permanent secretary for the state government during Saidu Dakingari term publicly made his defection known at a PDP campaign rally for the partys governorship candidate, Isa Galaudu, on Thursday, January 31. Nigerians rip Buhari, Atiku apart over absence at presidential debate | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, says his country wants Nigeria to have a prosperous democracy - Symington notes that the US is aware of the security challenges confronting Nigeria and the efforts of the Nigeria police to tackle them - The US envoy states that he is optimistic that the right things are being done to ensure that peace and security reigns in the country The US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, on Friday, February 1, said his country had concern for a peaceful and prosperous democratic Nigeria. Symington stated this when he visited the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Adamu, in Abuja, The News Agencu of Nigeria (NAN) reports. He said that the US was aware of the security challenges confronting Nigeria and the efforts of the police to tackle them. READ ALSO: Onnoghen reveals source of foreign currencies in bank account The envoy, however, said he was optimistic that the right things were being done to ensure that peace and security reigned in the country. I am here to give my support to the Nigeria Police Force, he said. Responding, the I-G said that the police, under his watch, was tackling the security challenges in parts of the country. He, however, pointed out that the challenges could not be tackled without the support of citizens. We are also seeking the support of the diplomatic community. We need your support in the area of training for our personnel which you have done several times, he said. Adamu called for further assistance from the US in the area of technology to further enhance operational capacity of the force. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The US and the United Kingdom recently announced repercussions, including visa restrictions, for election interference and election-related violence in the forthcoming polls in Nigeria. Both nations stated the elections were important not only for Nigeria, but for Africa. Meanwhile, Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faulted the statements issued by the governments of the US, UK and the European Union observers on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen. Channel TV reports that Oshiomhole on Monday, January 28, condemned the statements at the presidential villa after the APC Senate caucus and the partys senatorial candidates met with President Muhammadu Buhari. He argued that judges get dismissed in Europe and the United States without interference. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! 2019 Election: New IGP Speaks Tough | Legit TV Source: Legit - INEC has taken campaign against violence and vote buying to campuses of higher institutions in Lagos state - The students were urged to take part in deepening democracy - Femi Akinbiyi, the INECs public relations officer told the students to be of good conduct and vote for candidates that would secure their future peacefully The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)s head of department, voter education, publicity, gender and civil society in Lagos state, Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe, on Friday, February 1, addressed some students at the Federal College of Education, Technical, Akoka ahead of the general elections. Legit.ng reports that the commission led its team to the institution to sensitise students of the institutions on the forthcoming general elections. In her address, Okey-Igbokwe, urged the students to take part in deepening democracy by getting actively involved in the forthcoming elections, adding that they students should not leave the elections for old people. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda She said: I encourage you to come out and vote for the candidates of your choice. I want you to steer clear of vote-buying and selling as well as electoral violence. You young people know what you need for your generation, that is why it is important that all of you take part in democracy positively. It is very unfortunate that young people have themselves to be used as tools for violence with politicians given you just N5,000. It pains me when somebody feels that your worth in life is N5,000. These politicians that buy you for N5,000, have their children abroad." According to her, the politicians children would come back five or 10 years after to rule over those who have sold their future and that of their children. She said that none should get maimed or killed during the elections as a result of electoral violence. The INECs public relations officer in his comment, Femi Akinbiyi, told the students to be of good conduct and vote for candidates that would secure their future peacefully. Akinbiyi urged the students to spread the awareness against electoral violence, vote-buying and vote-selling to their friends and family members. The future of these youths is bright. You should not be used as scaffolders for bad politicians to rise. Be of good conduct," he advised. READ ALSO: 2019: Why we endorsed Atiku - Ohanaeze Akinbiyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that another team of the commission had moved to markets for the same sensitisation, saying that peaceful conduct during the polls was non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that INEC assured citizens that it would investigate the federal government's TraderMoni micro-credit scheme. The electoral body said the commission was alerted on concerns over vote buying by some politicians. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Election-2019: (Don't) mark your calendar - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Normally, call girls in Nigeria usually know their boundaries of operation. They are seen at places like bars, clubs and hotels. But it would appear that some of these ladies do not mind calling out to men who are in the religious sector as well. Recently, a Nigerian man took to lamenting about an issue of great concern to him. According to him, his community in Surulere, Lagos, have been facing a problem which is making them extremely unhappy. According to him, some call girls who trade their bodies for money have always been spotted pitching their tents near a mosque. These ladies who are blatantly defying an unspoken rule of engagement have been reported to be found at the same mosque every night. These ladies do not just stay there for the fun of it. They reach out to men who have come to pray at the mosque. This action has discontented so many people in the environment. READ ALSO: Nigerian man who was a call girl in Italy marries one of her clients Knowing that Legit.ng is one news platform passionate about voicing out about the concerns of communities, the particular man who shared this story exclusively reported the matter to us. Not only that, he also shared a picture which was meant to prove his statement right. In expressing his discontentment at the issue, the man whose name on Facebook is Harun Bakare had this to say: READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda "There are some prostitute at the front of our mosque that are always disturbing us in the night with their music playing bad dressing and the way they are always calling our people that want to come and pray at no 1 babashola street opposite oseni street lawanson road. Pls sir we have reported to the security around us they did not do anything pls help us." PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group See the photo he also sent: Call girls pitching their tents near mosque Source: Harun Bakare/Facebook Source: Facebook PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Indeed, this story is one of a kind. Recently, a Nigerian lady took to Twitter to say that call girls have more dignity than African wives. This statement has attracted the fury of many tweeps who have taken to engaging in a vehement discussion about this. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Busted: Over 300 suspected hoodlums, criminals and prostitutes paraded in Lagos | Legit TV Source: Legit - Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa said it noted a significant increase of $382 million from non-oil exports - The group said agriculture accounted for the 13% of the earning, while 59% of the earning was from minerals export - The centre also called for the immediate establishment of the proposed Solid Minerals Development Fund to improve the performance of the sector In its report on Nigerian economy, which was published on Thursday, January 31, the Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa (SCEA) said it noted a significant increase of $382 million in the earnings from non-oil exports, Leadership reports. The SCEA report said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recorded non-oil export earnings at $382.24 million in October 2018, which means there was a rise of 46% compared to the previous months earning of N262.35 million and October 2017's N225.78 million. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng gathers from the report that improvements in proceeds from agricultural products as well as mineral exports contributed grossly to the total export earnings It was also noted that agriculture accounted for the 13% of the earning, while 59% of the earning was from minerals export. Part of the report read: The improved mineral exports followed important traction in the sector: at the state level, Ebonyi state launched the combined lead, steel and copper processing plant; and at the federal level, the government renewed commitments to incentivise non-oil exporters via the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme. With recent strides made in the mining sector such as issuing the first gold refining license, mineral exports and by extension non-oil exports, are expected to continue rising. The report, however, called for the immediate establishment of the proposed Solid Minerals Development Fund. According to the report, the establishment will help improve the performance of the sector. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government on Wednesday, January 23, introduced the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative to generate more revenues to finance national development. The minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed, at the official inauguration of the initiative in Abuja, said that the aim was to harmonise efforts of all the revenue generating agencies in increasing governments coffers. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Yes from Buhari: Tobacco and alcoholic drinks to cost more (New excise duty rates) - on Legit TV Source: Legit - The Commonwealth has deployed a 20-member observer group to Nigeria for the forthcoming presidential election - The group led by Tanzanias ex-president Jakaya Kikwete will monitor the election from different parts of the country - The observer group would, after the election, submit its final report to the Commonwealth secretary-general who will, in turn, share it with the Nigerian government, INEC and political parties The Commonwealth has deployed a 20-member observer group, led by former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, for the February 16 Nigerian presidential election. The Commonwealth secretary-general, Patricia Scotland, constituted the observer group following an invitation from Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to Commonwealth Secretariat, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Ms Josephine Latu-Sanft, Commonwealth Secretariats senior communications officer, said members of the group included politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender and election administration from across the Commonwealth. READ ALSO: Court rejects Shekarau's request to attend Buhari's rally in Kano She quoted Scotland as saying that an advance group of observers was deployed to Nigeria on January 28, while other members of the team were expected to arrive in Abuja on February 8. Scotland said: The Commonwealth has a long history of observing elections in member countries, in solidarity with electors as they choose their leaders, and in support of efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in accordance with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. The Commonwealth has observed the previous five elections in Nigeria, and I am pleased to be deploying so distinguished a group to again support the nation in its continuing journey of democratic development. The Commonwealth Observer Groups mandate was to observe and consider factors affecting the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. It would assess whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself, with reference to national legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and international commitments. Where appropriate, the group could also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework. The Commonwealth Observer Group would consider the pre-election environment and election preparations. Members would be deployed to various regions of the country where they will observe the voting, vote-counting and results procedures. The group would submit its final report for consideration by the Commonwealth secretary-general, and she will, in turn, share it with the Nigerian government, INEC and political parties. The secretary-general would also convey the report to all Commonwealth governments after which the report would then be made public. The group would be supported by Commonwealth Secretariat staff led by Ms Katalaina Sapolu, senior director of the governance and peace directorate. Other members of the Commonwealth Observer Group are Dr Lesley Clark of Australia; Gary Dunn, former Commonwealth deputy secretary-general from Australia; and Omar Jallow from The Gambia. Members of the group also comprised Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Prosper Bani and Hon. Emmanuel Bombande, all from Ghana. Dr Shahabuddin Quraishi from India, Orrette Fisher from Jamaica and Ms Jedidah Waruhiu from Kenya are also members of the group. Also in the group are Notemba Tjipueja from Namibia, Dr Eric Kwa from Papua New Guinea, Ernest Sagaga from Rwanda and Marcella Samba-Sesay from Sierra Leone. Others are Crystal Orderson from South Africa, Joy Napier from St Kitts & Nevis, Elizabeth Donnelly from United Kingdom, Linda Duffield, also from the United Kingdom, and Musa Mwenye from Zambia. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app In a related development, forty European Union (EU) observers have arrived the country ahead of the forthcoming general elections. David Dahmen who is the head of the EU observers in Oyo and Osun states made this known on Tuesday, January 29, while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. Dahmen also disclosed that all the observers will be grouped into 20 different teams to oversee elections in all the states in the country. He said the observers would partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other significant organisations in the country. INEC bans smartphones at elections - on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - Ibrahim Shekarau's hope to attend President Muhammadu Buhari's campaign rally in Kano has been dashed by a Federal High Court in Kano - Shekarau, a former Kano state governor who is being tried for alleged N950m campaign fraud had applied to attend the rally, but his application was rejected - The former governor is being tried alongside Aminu Wali and Mansur Ahmed An application by ex-minister of education and former governor of Kano state Ibrahim Shekarau to attend President Muhammadu Buhari's campaign rally in Kano has been declined by a Federal High Court in the state. Daily Trust reports that Shekarau, Aminu Wali and Mansur Ahmed are being tried over alleged N950m campaign fraud. Legit.ng gathers that the application was rejected on Thursday, January 31, by Justice Lewis Allogoa, who adjourned sitting till Friday, February 1, for continuation of the trial. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda An evidence of receipt of payment, identity documents and letters of statement from the accused persons and bank where the transaction took place were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Mahmud Tukur. The EFCC witness was thereafter examined by the prosecution counsel, Samuel Chime. According to Tukur, N950 million was given to Kano Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the fund was part of the N23 billion embezzlement case against a former minister of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke. The witness said: The N950m was directed to be given to Kano PDP and the said sum was received by the 2nd and 3rd accused at the Murtala Muhammad way branch of Fidelity Bank in Kano on 26/3/2015, 2 days to the presidential election." Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that former governor of Kano, Ibrahim Shekarau, was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano for alleged money laundering. Shekarau, who is also a former governor of Kano state, was arraigned alongside a former foreign affairs minister, Aminu Wali and a former commissioner in the state, Mansur Ahmed. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The ant-graft agency charged the accused persons on a six count charge of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950,000,000. One of the charge sheets read: That Ibrahim Shekarau, Aminu Wali and Ahmed Mansur on or about the 25th of March 2015, within the Kano Division of the Federal High Court retain, took possession and control of the cash sum of N950 million which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of an unlawful act of Deizani Allison-Madueke to wit: gratification , commits an offense contrary to Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering Provision Act 2011(As Amended ) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Source: Legit - INEC has released the final list of candidates for the forthcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections - The commission recognised Senator Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate and Reuben Abati as his running mate for the PDP in Ogun state - INEC, however, did not include the All Progressives Congress (APC) for state elections in Rivers and Zamfara The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the forthcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. The governorship and House of Assembly polls are scheduled for March 2, NAN reports. READ ALSO: DSS wants to arrest me - CUPP spokesman raises alarm Legit.ng gathers that the lists, published on Thursday, January 31, on INECs website, www.inecnigeria.org was signed by the secretary to the commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The lists showed that 32 political parties were contesting for governorship election in Abia, Adamawa 29 parties, Akwa Ibom 45, Bauchi 31, Benue 33, Borno 34, Lagos 45, ogun 4, Rivers 64, Kano 55, Sokoto 51 and Zamfara 41. The commission recognised Senator Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate and Reuben Abati as his running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun. The commission did not include the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the candidates for governorship election in Zamfara and Rivers. The commission did not also clear the APC for House of Assembly elections in Rivers and Zamafara. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) again maintained its stand that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara is not eligible to field candidates. The decision was reached after reviewing two conflicting judgments on the issue from the courts. INEC disclosed this in a statement by Festus Okoye, the national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! INEC bans smartphones at elections - on Legit TV: Source: Legit - Two federal lawmakers were assaulted by irate youths in Ondo during Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's visit to the state - The lawmakers were at different occasions assaulted by angry youths of their constituencies - Senator Yele Omogunwa was said to have been assaulted on Thursday, January 31, while Rep Bamidele Baderinwa was allegedly beaten on Wednesday, January 30 Some residents of Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state, allegedly assaulted the senator representing the Ondo south senatorial district, Yele Omogunwa, on Thursday, January 31. Punch reports that the lawmaker was assaulted during a visit by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the palace of the traditional ruler of Idepe town, Oba Michael Adetoye. Legit.ng gathers Omogunwa is the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general elections. The senator was said to be in Osinbajo's entourage when the incident happened. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda One of the youths, who craved anonymity, said: He (senator) was beaten because he neglected us in the senatorial district; he carried out no constituency projects for the over three years we have elected him. He does not have any constituency office in this town; he was not accessible, we couldnt reach him for over three years; so what does he want here? Election is coming now, so he wants to cajole us again, that will not be possible. Another lawmaker, a member of the House of Representatives representing Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency, Bamidele Baderinwa, was allegedly beaten by irate youths in his constituency on Wednesday, January 31. Baderinwa, who was also said to have been beaten during Osinbajo's visit to the traditional ruler of Idanre town, was saved by the VP's security details. Th incident was confirmed by Baderinwa, who condemned the act and called on the inspector general of police to bring the perpetrators to book. He said: I call on the Inspector General of Police to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book to serve as deterrent to others. The media aide to Senator Omogunwa, however, denied that his principal was assaulted. He said: What happened was just a normal thing in politics; at the event the youths came to ask for money. As he was trying to get them money, they thought he was trying to escape; some of the youths were protecting him while some were pushing themselves. It doesnt have any political undertone; it is a normal thing that can happen to politicians. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a group, Coalition for Peaceful Election, on Wednesday, January 9, cautioned politicians against casting aspersions on the integrity and patriotic strides of the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Sylvester Ayodele, the executive director of the group, made the plea in a statement issued in Lagos. Ayodele spoke against the backdrop of some allegations aimed at smearing the character of Osinbajo in the build up to the 2019 general elections. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) Four more establishments, including one owned by the Social Security System (SSS), got sanctioned Friday as part of government efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay. The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) issued a cease and desist order to HK Sun Plaza, a financial center area managed and owned by the SSS along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. With the order, the establishment will still be allowed to operate but it is now prohibited from discharging wastewater directly to Manila Bay. Despite having a sewage treatment facility, tests showed that the wastewater discharged by HK Sun Plaza contained a high concentration of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). It is at 1,994 mg/L, when the acceptable level is only 30mg/L. The LLDA said high BOD levels may degrade water quality, making it impossible for aquatic plants and animals to survive. The SSS said it has been working closely with the LLDA to comply with standards, committing to upgrade its sewage treatment plant within the year. "As immediate solutions, bio-cleaners will be installed in the existing sewage treatment plant of HK Sun Plaza this week. At the same time, the tenants of the building that directly discharge to the Libertad channel will also install portable sewage treatment plants to sanitize water from their establishments," the SSS said in a statement. The LLDA on Friday also served cease and desist orders (CDOs) to Tramway Bayview Buffet Restaurant and Billion Building or Philippine Billion Real Estate Development Corp. at Roxas Boulevard, and D Circle Hotel in Malate, Manila - for lacking proper sewage treatment plant. Their water discharge points have been sealed off pending construction of treatment facilities. "Purpose ng CDO is ( to) stop (the) release ng waste water nila na hindi pumapasa sa standards," said Emil Hernandez, Manager of LLDA's Environmental Regulations Department. [Translation: The purpose of the CDO is to stop their release of waste water that do not pass standards.] Three other establishments along Manila Bay received CDOs last January 27, when the rehabilitation of Manila Bay kicked off on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte. READ: Three establishments face sanctions as Manila Bay rehab kicks off In a speech on January 9, Duterte threatened to close down restaurants near the Manila Bay without proper water treatment systems, following his order to rehabilitate the polluted body of water. On January 22, the Manila Zoo - another Manila landmark - was ordered temporarily closed by city authorities pending improvements in line with the Manila Bay rehabilitation. CNN Philippines' Carolyn Bonquin and Eimor Santos contributed to this report. - Some Nigerian soldiers have killed four Boko Haram members including one Adamu Rugu Rugu from Gwoza - The soldiers and men of the civilian JTF were on a patrol when they came across the Boko Haram members - The death of Adamu Rugu Rugu reportedly caused jubilation in Gwoza as many of the residents tasked the soldiers further Troops of the 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army taking part in the Operation Lafiya Dole have recorded a major success in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in Gwoza, Borno state. This feat was achieved in conjunction with officials of the Civilian JTF. According to a statement by Colonel Ado Isa, the deputy director of Army public relations, 7 Division/Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, the soldiers while on patrol along Gwoza-Yamteke on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, came across some Boko Haram terrorists attempting to infiltrate the general area. On sighting the troops, the terrorists opened fire on them, which lead to a heavy exchange of fire. The gallant troops applied superior fighting skills and overpowered the terrorists and neutralised four Boko Haram terrorists including Adamu Rugu Rugu a very notorious terrorist, an indegene of Gwoza town, who had been troubling the law abiding citizens of Gwoza and its environment for many years. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda A suspect that was arrested by the soldiers of the Operation Lafiya Dole Credit: Nigerian Army Source: Facebook The gallant troops also recovered two machine guns and two AK-47 rifles, the statement said. It was learnt that when the news of the death of Rugu Rugu filtered into the town, the residents of Gwoza trooped out jubilating and commending the military. They also urged the security operatives to clear more of such terrorists wherever they might be. Impressed by their performance, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, who is also Commamder Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, commended the troops for the gallant efforts. Some of the materials recovered from the Boko Haram members Credit: Nigerian Army Source: Facebook In a related development, troops of 152 Battalion, Operation Lafiya Dole, on Thursday, January 31, while on patrol and based on credible information, ambushed suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Kumshe-Usmanari road. During the ambush they neutralised one Boko Haram terrorist, while two of his accomplices escaped with gunshot wounds. Similarly, troops of 195 Battalion, Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with police mobile force and Civilian JTF, while on cordon and search operation today at Umalari general area, arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, named Mohammed Maina. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news updates He was found to be in possession of military kits and Mobile Police Force uniform. He has since been handed over to 7 Military Intelligence Brigade for further interrogation, the statement said. Legit.ng earlier reported that troops of Operation Sharan Daji (OPSD) conducting operations in Zamfara and Katsina states killed 21 bandits and captured 17 alive between January 22 and 29, Daily Trust reports. It was gathered that eleven civilians and one vigilante were also said to have been killed by bandits. The acting Force information officer Operation Sharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, on Tuesday, January 29, while giving an update on OPSDs activities within the period, said that the troops also destroyed bandits camps and rescued 89 kidnapped victims. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Zaria Massacre: IMN Commemorates 3rd Year Anniversary | Legit TV Source: Legit Newspaper - The apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, accuses its secretary general, Uche Okwukwu, of allegedly misrepresenting the organisation - Uche Achi-Okpaga, the national publicity secretary of the organisation, says Okwukwu has been found wanting in his conducts - The organization accuses Okwukwu of arrogating to himself the power of the organs of Ohanaeze by altering positions taken by these organs The apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has suspended its secretary general, Uche Okwukwu for allegedly misrepresenting the organisation. A statement by the national publicity secretary of the organisation, Uche Achi-Okpaga, made available to newsmen on Thursday, January 31, in Enugu said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Achi-Okpaga said that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the organisation had evaluated the conducts of its scribe and found him wanting. READ ALSO: 2019: Governors from Niger Republic join Buharis campaign rally in Kano In the last three days, the secretary general has at various fora engaged in false representation of decisions of meetings of NEC and the Imeobi of Ohanaeze . He has also arrogated to himself the power of the organs of Ohanaeze by altering positions taken by these organs. These deliberate actions were discussed at todays emergency meeting of the NEC, he said. The national publicity secretary said that the unfortunate actions of the suspended scribe were in the public domain and not in the best interest of the organisation. Achi-Okpaga said that Okwukwu had by the suspension ceased to be part of any organ of Ohaneze. Having personally attended the emergency meeting and denied some of the allegations against him, he is, hereby, given seven days to publicly retract and publish same in the media. Failure to do this will make us refer the matter to a disciplinary committee for further inquiries and appropriate action and subsequent referral to the Imeobi for final decision, he said. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He said that every member or affiliate of the organisation was advised to desist from dealing with Okwukwu as secretary general. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspended scribe was said to have endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari during his campaign visit to Aba in Abia. NAN reports that the President General of the pan Igbo cultural organisation, Chief Nnia Nwodo had earlier announced the endorsement of the Presidential candidate, Alhaji atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the Feb. 16 election. Meanwhile, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised to revive all the sea ports in Delta state and complete the second Niger Bridge if he emerges as president. Atiku made the promise on Thursday, January 31 during the presidential campaign rally of the party in Asaba as thousands of Deltans took over all available space at the Stephen Keshi Stadium and spilled through miles on all access roads to the venue, in solidarity with the PDP. Excited with the huge turnout of people, Atiku commended Governor Okowa for improving on the fortunes of the PDP in the state. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit - The APC has lost some of its members to the PDP in Akwa Ibom state - One of the defectors, Dan-Abia, said he decided to return to the PDP because the APC has nothing to offer Akwa Ibom people in particular and Nigerians as a whole - The defectors assured Governor Udom Emmanuel of their total support towards his re-election bid The Akwa Ibom state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered a setback, following the defection of prominent chieftains of the party in Esit Eket local government area, Bassey Dan-Abia and Emem Edoho, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with their numerous supporters. Vanguard reports that Dan Abia jnr, a former House of Representatives member for Eket federal constituency, is a brother to a former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Bassey Dan Abia (Snr). Legit.ng gathered that the defectors dumped their former party, the APC, alongside hundreds of their supporters, when the PDP took its campaign rally to the area on Wednesday,January 30. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Dan-Abia, who apologised for making a mistake in joining the APC, added that he decided to return to the PDP after his political sojourn in the broom party, maintaining that the APC has nothing to offer Akwa Ibom people in particular and Nigerians as a whole. He said: PDP is a religion, not only in Akwa Ibom, but here in Esit-Eket and we are back to the fold (PDP). I am happy to work for the victory of the PDP. APC is an 'atomistic' society perpetually at war with itself. Example abounds in Rivers state. We are sorry we made a mistake, we faltered and we have returned home. We will work for the success of our party. In view of the fact that the APC is only pretending and is really not visible in most parts of the country, I believe I am not too big to say I am sorry, I am coming back home to work for the overall success of our great party, the PDP in all the elections. The PDP political leader in the area, elder Benji Udobia, who spoke on their behalf, assured Governor Udom Emmanuel of their total support towards his re-election bid. Similarly, Ini Adiakpan, who spoke on behalf of the women, said Esit Eket women were not ready to be tricked into slavery through the broom party and assured to give PDP 100 percent support. Governor Emmanuel, who promised to do more in the area if re-elected into office, announced his intention to construct the Stadium road, adding that modalities were at advanced stage for the reactivation of the Akwa Palm project. In three years, I have done 19.75km in Esit Eket. Those who promised 20 kilometres in eight years did none. We have started making some moves with the support of the PDP and the incoming President Atiku Abubakar, to ensure that Esit Eket, Mbo and Ibeno become the new Nigeria through the actualization of Ibom deep sea port project. All I need is the cooperation of all and sundry to actualize the vision," he said. READ ALSO: 2019: Governors from Niger Republic join Buharis campaign rally in Kano He, however, warned the people not to allow opposition elements to trick them into parting with their PVCs, saying that their voters cards remain their only power to support PDPs candidates in the forthcoming elections. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, January 30, received the former national financial secretary of the PDP, Bolaji Anani, and his supporters into the APC. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Buhari respects APC defectors - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng News - Stakeholders have been called upon to provide adequate security for members of the National Youth Service Corps - The call was made on Thursday, January 31, by the coordinator of the scheme in Niger state, Theresa Arokoyo - According to her, corps members have been educated on being non-partisan and to maintain the highest level of diligence during the elections Theresa Arokoyo, coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger state, has called on stakeholders to provide adequate security for corps members in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. A statement by Favour Albert, head of public relations of NYSC in the state, said that Arokoyo made the call at a forum with stakeholders in Minna on Thursday, January 31, News Agency of Nigeria reports. Legit.ng gathers that Arokoyo called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of the State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to prioritise the security of corps members during and after the elections. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda She added that corps members have been educated on being non-partisan and to maintain the highest level of diligence during the exercise. She said: It is, however, imperative to ensure as much as possible the safety of these corps members while carrying out this important national assignment." Responding, Daura Abubakar, director of DSS in Niger, gave the assurance that the service would provide security for corps members as well as ensure a peaceful electoral process in the state. He, however, advised the corps members to be security conscious and avoid unnecessary movements away from their statutory locations. Paul Yakadi, commissioner of police in Niger, said that arrangement had been put in place for the deployment of adequate personnel across polling centres and the state generally for the elections. He added that corps members participating in the elections as well as electoral officers would be properly protected at their various polling units as well as their lodges. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major General Suleman Kazaure, urged corps members to be security conscious. During his advocacy and sensitisation visit to Oyo state on Monday, January 22, Kazaure also called on the security agencies to protect corps members that would participate in the conduct of the elections. He said: Your ID cards must be on you, ensure your phones are recharged with enough airtime, be armed with pocket notes, have the phone numbers of your local government inspectors, DPO." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better NYSC members doing little wonders | Legit TV Source: Legit Front-page Cold temps: The worst is over Staff photo by Dan Reiland Larry Griffin braved the sub-zero temperatures as he volunteered to jump start vehicles at Bolton Refuge House in Eau Claire on Thursday. View more photos at LeaderTelegramPhotos.com. Staff photo by Dan Reiland Steven Shipman, who is homeless, bundled up as he walked in downtown Eau Claire on Thursday. Shipman said he slept with four layers of clothes and two sleeping bags in a downtown garage Wednesday night in temperatures that dropped to minus 30 degrees. View more photos at LeaderTelegramPhotos.com. The worst is behind us. For cold temperatures, that was the good news delivered Thursday by meteorologist Joe Calderone of the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, Minn. Were coming out of it now, he said. But area children may not agree that the worst is behind them. At least some school districts are looking at a makeup day or two because of the four days that were called off this week due to Mondays snow and the frigid temperatures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Eau Claire school district, however, is not one of them. The state Department of Public Instruction requires a set number of hours of instruction over the course of the school year, said Kim Koller, the Eau Claire school districts executive director of administration. We have built in enough so that those four days wont have to be made up, she said. We planned for a level of excess. But any more lost days because of the weather will have to be made up. April 22 is a professional development day for district staff with no classes scheduled. If there is another day lost because of snow or cold, it will be made up that day in Eau Claire, Koller said. If there are two more days canceled because of weather, it is unclear when the second makeup day would occur, she said. If it comes at the end of the school year, the last day of classes in Eau Claire is now Thursday, June 6. Altoona students wont be as lucky. We do have a makeup day, Altoonas interim superintendent Ron Walsh said. Three canceled days are built into the school districts calendar. But because Thursday was the fourth canceled day of the week and school year, the makeup day will be Monday, April 22, he said. If a second makeup day is needed yet this year because of snow or cold, that will come on Monday, June 10, Walsh said. The Chippewa Falls school district normally builds two days into its yearly calendar for canceled school days. That means two of the four days canceled this week wont have to be made up, said Michelle Golden, the districts director of human resources and public relations. But its still unclear whether the other two days have to be made up, she said. Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin this week because of the snowstorm on Monday and the frigid temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. The Chippewa Falls school district is trying to determine whether the state of emergency means the makeup days will be waived by the Department of Public Instruction, Golden said. Everybody wants to know, she said. But if the two days have to be made up, they will come at the end of the school year, which currently ends on June 6, Golden said. We keep our spring break open, she said. Regardless, Golden warns students that additional makeup days could be on the table because today is only Feb. 1. Most of our snow days usually come in late February and March, she said. The deep freeze endured this week by west-central Wisconsin residents was indeed historically nasty. In Eau Claire, the mercury hit minus 30 degrees shortly before noon Wednesday, making it the coldest recorded temperature at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in 23 years, according to records from the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. The office indicated Wednesdays temperature was the lowest in Eau Claire since readings of minus 35 and minus 33 on Feb. 2 and 3, 1996. It was only the 12th day in the last 50 years the temperature has hit 30 or more below zero in Eau Claire. Of course, it felt even colder, as the lowest recorded wind chill in Eau Claire this week was minus 54 at about 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Preliminary data from the Weather Service show the temperature in Eau Claire reached nearly the same level Thursday, dropping as low as minus 29 in the morning hours. It was even more frigid Thursday morning in other regional communities, Calderone said, noting that temperatures plunged as low as minus 36 in River Falls, minus 35 in Menomonie and minus 34 in Augusta. The agency also indicated Wednesdays high of minus 15 was a record low maximum temperature for Jan. 30 in Eau Claire, breaking the mark of minus 14 set in 1899. On the bright side, the big chill was expected to end, with temperatures finally rising into positive numbers today after about three days of subzero readings. The Weather Services forecast as of late Thursday afternoon called for highs of 17 today, 37 on Saturday and 43 on Sunday. We work in an industry where new revenue is not generated, Khan said. You cannot keep increasing the cost of doing business, knowing there is no increase in revenue to the business. The more something costs, the more things have to be cut, and obviously we dont want to cut services to our schools. Beijing, Jan 26: After being reportedly blocked by the Chinese government, access to Microsoft's search engine Bing has been restored by the Chinese telecom providers, the media reported. Bing is the only global search platform that is open for use in China. Late on Wednesday, the Microsoft search engine was blocked, reportedly at the behest of the Chinese government for reasons unknown. Microsoft Bing: China Blocks the Only Search Engine in the Country. According to a report in Financial Times on Wednesday, mainland Chinese users wrote on social media that attempts to access Bing's China site -- cn.bing.com -- failed. "We can confirm that Bing was inaccessible in China, but service is now restored," said Microsoft in a statement given to theinquirer.net on Friday. "Two sources familiar with the government order confirmed that Bing had been blocked. One of the sources said that China Unicom, one of China's major state-owned telecom companies, had confirmed the government had ordered a block on Bing," said the report. Microsoft waiting to Find Out Why Bing Went Offline in China. In a statement given to The New York Times, Microsoft had said: "We've confirmed that Bing is currently inaccessible in China and are engaged to determine next steps." The outage led to speculation that China was in the middle of a significant crackdown of potentially dissident sites in a year of significant anniversaries. While neither Microsoft nor Chinese authorities have explained the reason behind the extended outage, GreatFire, a group that tracks what sites are blocked in China, said it is likely not to have been a government dictum after all, the theinquirer.net said. Bing is one of the few Western search engines available behind the Great Firewall, thanks to an agreement to host its servers in China, and therefore be subject to the government's censorship policies which are designed to keep dissent to a minimum. Facebook Likely Merge WhatsApp, Instagram & Messenger Chats Soon. Google Search is already inaccessible in China while Facebook-owned WhatsApp was blocked in 2017. Google had earlier launched a search engine in China in 2006 but pulled the plug in 2010, citing Chinese government efforts to limit free speech and block websites. Facebook Integration: WhatsApps End-to-End Encryption Might Go For Toss - Report. Google has also shelved its plan to re-enter China through a censored search application code-named "Project Dragonfly", after massive protests. In 2018, Chinese authorities also launched a renewed attack on VPN providers, whose services can be used to circumvent censored sites and services. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 26, 2019 01:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Michael Short is a freelance writer in Delaware. He can be reached at michaelshort1@verizon.net or 302-382-3547. Paul Post is a freelance writer in eastern New York. He can be reached at paulpost@nycap.rr.com. Jennifer Fitzgerald has been fighting more than $100,000 in parking tickets on her junk car after she says it had been abandoned by her former boyfriend for three years in an employee parking lot at O'Hare International Airport. A Cook County judge hearing her lawsuit against the city and her ex-boyfriend even wondered aloud Wednesday in court how all those tickets sometimes as many as four in a day could have been stashed on the windshield. "I don't even know where the room for all the tickets were. Where'd you put them all?" Judge Thomas Allen asked rhetorically in his Daley Center courtroom. The judge ended up dismissing the lawsuit after concluding that Fitzgerald's attorney hadn't done all he could do to first fight the tickets with the city's Administrative Hearings Department, but he gave the attorney about another month to refile the suit while urging all the parties in the meantime to try to reach a settlement. Roderick Drew, a spokesman for the city's Law Department, said he believes the $105,000 in parking tickets and penalties racked up by Fitzgerald mark the most in city history against a single car owner. Fitzgerald said her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Preveau, bought the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo from a relative for $600, but she conceded the car's title was in her name. She said Preveau paid the car's liability insurance and drove the vehicle to work every day. When he lost his keys to the car, she said, she gave him her spare set. Fitzgerald's lawyer, Robin Omahana, complained in court Wednesday that the city should have taken other measures than hitting the car with hundreds of tickets such as towing the Monte Carlo. The judge said he sympathized with the "human elements" of the story. "As I read the complaint, it tells a very not uncommon story of people getting caught up in the Department of Administrative Hearings," said Allen, a former Chicago alderman. "And then deadlines pass, and then they come to court trying to turn back the hands of time. "The other thing I see in the complaint is a ridiculous, robotic march to write tickets on a $600 junk car," he said. But why, asked Preveau's attorney, Matt Prengaman, didn't Fitzgerald ever move the car herself during the time it sat in the O'Hare lot from November 2009 to October 2012? "She's trying to pass the buck onto (Preveau) for her inaction," Prengaman said. Fitzgerald later told reporters that she couldn't access the car because it was parked in an employee lot. Her ex-boyfriend worked for United Airlines. "I have no clearance," Fitzgerald said. "My father works security at O'Hare. He couldn't get in that lot. What am I supposed to do? I'm just an ordinary citizen. It was impossible for me to get it." While the judge has implored all sides to reach a settlement, the city said it previously offered to resolve the matter for just $4,460, including $2,000 for parking tickets and penalties Fitzgerald had incurred on another vehicle. The rest of the payout would resolve the more than $100,000 in tickets that piled up at O'Hare. Fitzgerald said she rejected the offer because Preveau refused to pay his share. "I think it's just a big misunderstanding," Fitzgerald told reporters later. "I could not get into that lot to move the car. He had the car keys; he had everything." ehirst@tribune.com Catania, February 1 - The Coast Guard said Friday they had found "irregularities" on the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch3 whose 47 migrants landed in Catania Thursday after a deal with the EU. The "non-compliant" elements were said to involve "both the safety of navigation" and "the respect for norms on safeguarding the marine environment," sources said. The ship will not be allowed to leave Catania until these matters have been cleared up, sources said. Chiomonte, February 1 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on arrival at the Turin-Lyon TAV high-speed rail line at the Chiomonte tunnel worksite Friday "if going back costs as much as going forward, I'm for going forward". He said "there are many tunnels" involved in the project, and "we would be the only ones who would be stopping". He said it was preferable to move goods and people by rail than by road and said a revision of the project could save one billion euros. There was tension between protesters against the TAV line being built between Turin and Lyon and police guarding the tunnel site at Chiomonte north of Turin. League leader Salvini is in favour of completing the TAV while cutting some "excessive expenditure" while his government partner, 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio, is against completing the project. Di Maio said Friday he would not visit the Chiomonte site "because not even a centimeter of tunnel has been dug there". The M5S, and its transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, have insisted on carrying out a cost/benefit analysis which, according to M5S sources, is set to come out against completing the project. Salvini has done his own sums and says the failure to complete it will mean losing billions of euros. At the same time as Salvini's visit to Chiomonte, French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne is visiting the TAV work site across the border in France, at Saint-Martin-La-Porte. Turin, February 1 - There was tension Friday between protesters against a high-speed rail (TAV) line being built between Turin and Lyon and police guarding the tunnel site at Chiomonte north of Turin ahead of a visit by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. League leader Salvini is in favour of completing the TAV while cutting some "excessive expenditure" while his government partner, 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio, is against completing the project. Di Maio said Friday he would not visit the Chiomonte site "because not even a centimeter of tunnel has been dug there". The M5S, and its transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, have insisted on carrying out a cost/benefit analysis which, according to M5S sources, is set to come out against completing the project. Salvini has done his own sums and says the failure to complete it will mean losing billions of euros. At the same time as Salvini's visit to Chiomonte, French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne will visit the TAV work site across the border in France, at Saint-Martin-La-Porte. "Let me start by saying that I'm OK," Smollett said in a statement to Essence. "My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. This beer is credited to Campanology Brewing, but like most brands here, thats a front. Who makes all of these beers can be found with a bit of digging and intuition, and in this case, the answer is Octopi Brewing, a well-regarded contract brewery outside of Madison, Wis., that just snagged Goose Islands brewmaster. It is little wonder that Octopis private brands for Trader Joes would be among the best on this list. Euphony shows expert balance: crisp hop bite, deft softness and vague grainlike sweetness in the finish. Hand this to Bud drinkers, and theyll be happy. Hand it to craft beer drinkers, and theyll be happy. It is also the rare, if not only, supermarket brand to feature the Brewers Associations independent craft brewer seal, should you care about that sort of thing. $5.99 When it comes to cocktail culture, some do it well, and some take it too seriously, Vincent said. Were going to be the former. We want to have something for everybody, no judgment. You want an appletini? Go at it. While I definitely have some full-proof cocktails that are a little boozier, a lot of these cocktails are based on the reversal of the traditional cocktail structure, she added. To break it down less technically, they tend to be a little bit lighter in alcohol and pleasant to drink while being complex. But Judge Stanley Sacks unexpectedly was not in court that morning and the case was postponed. Cook County courts were closed for the most part on Wednesday and Thursday due to the dangerously cold temperature. Attorneys returned Friday to learn that, again, the judge would not be taking the bench. It was not immediately clear why Sacks was not in court. In Bozeman, the classic tale of The Little Mermaid is getting a rewrite with a message for a new generation. Its essentially completely original, apart from being inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale, says Montana Ballet Company Artistic Director Elizabeth DeFanti. Also the director of MBCs educational facility, DeFanti rewrote the story after rediscovering it while searching for a new ballet for the company. To make the story more empowering for both performers and audience members, the professional dancer included messages of self-acceptance and self-truth in her version. For generations, The Little Mermaid, the classic tale of a mermaid who gives up her voice and tail to gain the affection of a land-dwelling prince, is one of the first stories many children hear or see. And for DeFanti, it was a great source of inspiration. The reinterpretation means brand new sets, costumes, design, and even an original orchestral score, something few productions of this size can boast. Everything is an original, coming together in a true artistic collaboration, she notes. For DeFanti, it was also a chance to send a profound message in a world that all too often seems to be telling us were not good enough. She hopes what was originally the story of a girl who gives up her identity in the pursuit of love can instead become a story of growth and strength. Our mermaid disavows her true gifts, because she thinks that by doing that, shell find happiness outside of herself, DeFanti explains. Through her own powers, through her own empowerment, she is going to reclaim her true nature and her true self. As a professional dancer and choreographer, DeFanti is fully aware of ballets reputation as a sport that values perfection and sacrifice above all else. She admits that dancers have a tendency to aspire, to be constantly critical of their work, and to strive for perfection. But, she says of her young students, I think its nice to reflect on, often theres nothing that needs changing, you know, in terms of who they are as young men and women. The world premiere of Montana Ballet Companys The Little Mermaid will take place at the Willson Auditorium in Bozeman on February 23rd and 24th. More information and tickets are available on their website. Health officials in Washington have declared a state of emergency over the measles. Now the CDC is speaking out about the scope of the outbreak- and what can be done to stop it in its tracks. Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director, CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases: "It's those that are unvaccinated that put us all at risk." Measles cases are continuing to spike in Washington state, with the highest number of infections there in over two decades. And, more cases are popping up in states across the US. So, how is it that a disease that's been declared eradicated in the US become such a problem? Dr. Messonnier said, "Americans who travel abroad might be surprised to find out that a number of the countries where measles is being transmitted are countries that would be surprising to them." Health officials traced the outbreak in Washington to an unvaccinated international traveler. They say they're seeing about five new cases each day. In New York, they've had more than 200 cases since October, mostly within observant Jewish communities linked to travel to Israel. Health officials say groups with low vaccination rates are the most at risk. Dr. Messonnier said, "Americans who are unvaccinated put themselves, their families and their communities at risk for measles." And in the US, 18 states allow parents to opt-out of vaccinations for personal beliefs. So what does the CDC recommend you do to keep yourself, your family and your community safe? Dr. Messonnier said, "There aren't any other alternatives to vaccination... The best way to stop this outbreak in its tracks is to make sure that everybody gets vaccinated." GREAT FALLS Havre resident Charly McLain Rosette was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison and three years of supervised for conspiring to distribute prescription pain pills on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said today. Rosette, 26, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Oxycodone. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Prosecutors presented evidence that Rosette, and two co-defendants, Isaiah Starr Standingrock and Devon Draper, conspired to sell Oxycodone pills on the Rocky Boys Reservation in 2017 and 2018. During the investigation, law enforcement used confidential sources to buy pills from Rosette. A task force agent pulled over Standingrocks and Rosettes vehicle in December 2017 in Havre. The agent had information that the two were selling Oxycodone on the reservation. The agent found pills and currency in the vehicle. Standingrocks and Rosettes phones were seized during the search and a search warrant was obtained for the phones. Rosettes phone contained drug-related messages between her, Standingrock and Draper. In an August text message to Draper, Rosette asked for a half pack, which agents believed referred to a pre-set amount of Oxycodone. In another text message to Draper, Rosette stated she would sell the pills on the reservation for $45 a pill. Rosette also asked Draper to fly to Great Falls, where she would pick him up and take him to the reservation. Draper messaged Rosette and Standingrock that he would bring 120 pills to Montana. Rosette and Standingrock said they would be able to sell the pills for $60 to $65 each on the reservation within a couple of hours. Standingrock and Draper pleaded guilty to charges in the case and awaiting sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McCarthy prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tri-Agency Task Force. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is pushing kids meal bills in 20 more states and cities and is in early discussions with Chicago lawmakers, though it does not have local bill sponsors. The issue got put aside in Chicago as election season got underway because some alderman were concerned the public would associate the regulation with the wildly unpopular Cook County soda tax, Becker said, and whether it is resurrected depends in part on the priorities of whoever is elected mayor. After Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed a House bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday, CNN's John Avlon looks at how the proposal would affect voter turnout. A great deal Somewhat Not very much Not at all Vote View Results Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. "We are going to be running at just about full capacity again this year after the pandemic last year," said Director of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation PJ Holm. Read more Manchester United announced on Friday that midfielder Marouane Fellaini has left the club to join Chinese Super League team Shandong Luneng. The Belgium international, 31, arrived at Old Trafford from Everton in September 2013 and went on to make 177 appearances in five-and-a-half seasons at United, scoring 22 goals. "Manchester United can confirm that Marouane Fellaini has left the club on a permanent transfer," United said in a statement on their website. "Everybody at United thanks Marouane for his service and wishes him well for the future as he completes his move to Shandong Luneng Taishan FC in China," the statement added. Fellaini joins fellow Belgian international midfielder Mousa Dembele in swapping the Premier League for the Chinese Super League (CSL) after the 31-year-old signed for Guangzhou R&F from Tottenham Hotspur last month. Former Everton player Fellaini, who last year signed a new and improved deal until 2020, was a key figure at Old Trafford under previous manager Jose Mourinho. But he has featured only once, as a late substitute, in United's seven Premier League games since Mourinho was sacked and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought in as caretaker manager. Fellaini, who also under Solskjaer came on as a substitute in the 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Reading on January 5, has been ruled out of recent matches by a calf injury. The player had posted an Instagram photo of himself at an airport on Thursday, with the phrase "let's go" written across it. He was the first major signing of United's post-Alex Ferguson era when his former Everton manager David Moyes paid 27.5 million ($36 million) for him. The player, who divided opinion among fans, went on to win the FA Cup in 2016 under Moyes' successor Louis van Gaal, and the League Cup and Europa League the following season under Mourinho. Shandong finished third in the CSL last season, 10 points behind champions Shanghai SIPG, and were runners-up in the Chinese FA Cup. Graziano Pelle, the 33-year-old Italian striker, signed for Shandong from Southampton in July 2016 for about 13 million ($17 million). Bayern Munich back-up striker Sandro Wagner on Wednesday joined Tianjin Teda after the 31-year-old former Germany international received what Bayern called a "very attractive offer". Brazilians Hulk and Oscar, the latter purchased from Chelsea two years ago for an Asian-record 60 million euros ($69 million), are among those playing in China and were central to SIPG's maiden CSL title last season. The new season in China begins on March 1. Belgian forward Eden Hazard was introduced by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Thursday, June 13 as the club's newest player in front of nearly 50,000 supporters gathered at Santiago Bernabeu stadium to welcome the former Chelsea star. The transfer fee has not been revealed but reports indicate the move to cost $163.5 million including escalators, a number that would represent the most expensive acquisition in Real Madrid history. (Jose Luis Sanchez Pando) (Jose Luis Sanchez Pando) City warns of email scam that claims to be from Vancouver Public Works Marijuana possession cases, regardless of quantity or a person's criminal record, will no longer be prosecuted in Baltimore, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced Tuesday. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. By Jung Min-ho Korea and Latvia will open a direct air route between the two countries in May. According to the Latvian Embassy in Seoul Monday, Korean Air, the country's largest airline, will operate charter flights between Incheon and Riga on May 24 and 31 and June 7 to promote tourism between the countries. Hanjin Travel, one of the largest Korean tour agencies, will organize the special events with support from Latvian government agencies. "These will be the first direct commercial flight between the capital city of Latvia and the Republic of Korea," the embassy said in a statement. "Koreans are active travelers and are open to exploring new destinations. Since the Latvian Embassy in the Republic of Korea was opened in the late 2015, it has been cooperating with the LIAA Tourism Department, LIVE RIGA and other partners to attract tourists from Korea." Kokomo, IN (46901) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 72F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low 48F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. MOUNT VERNON For the last nine years, Pat Catans has served as Knox Countys lone major arts and crafts retailer. On Tuesday, employees of the Coshocton Avenue store were informed that their location will be one of 36 across the midwest to close in the near future. Krista Gaumer, assistant manager, said Thursday that a Michaels representative came to the store two days prior to share the news. The Michaels Companies, Inc. has owned all 36 Pat Catans stores since 2016. The company announced publicly Wednesday that it will soon be shutting down all but 12, which will be rebranded as Michaels stores. Michaels has yet to announce which stores it will keep open. While the majority of the stores are located in Ohio, there are several in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan. Gaumer said they will know more about the store's future within the next 60 days. Closures could happen as soon as September or October, Gaumer speculated. Its still up in the air, she said. Michaels Companies CEO Chuck Rubin said in a statement that Pat Catans storefronts have struggled in the face of industry headwinds during recent years. Michaels plans to continue its growing wholesale business and keep open the Strongsville, OH distribution center heading forward. We believe these changes will provide more value for customers and shareholders by enabling us to leverage a more consistent merchandise assortment and eliminate duplicative retail operating expenses, Rubin stated. This was not an easy decision, and I am grateful for the contributions of our Pat Catans Team Members. As we work through the closing process, we intend to provide employment opportunities or transition support for all Team Members. Michaels representatives told Mount Vernon store employees that they would help them through the closing transition. Gaumer said the company has established a communication line with her store, but its still too early to tell if they will be absorbed or shuttered. Its still the early days, said Gaumer, who could not confirm how many employees work at the store. Its going to be a while before we get anything definite. Were, of course, hoping that were the ones that get to stay. Local residents are hoping the store stays, too. Gaumer said every other phone call the store has received since Wednesday has been about whether or not they would be closing for good. Right now, she doesnt have an answer. We get a lot of customers wanting to know when things are going to be going on sale or (on clearance) or whatever, Gaumer said. But unfortunately, we dont even know that yet. Several customers voiced concerns about the closure at the store on Thursday afternoon. Deb Beach, of Fredericktown, said she shops at Pat Catans quite a bit and heard about the news Wednesday night. She said she comes to the Mount Vernon store for its extensive selection shelves upon shelves of fabric, crafting supplies, home decor and more. Its sad, said Beach, clutching a spool of grey yarn. Everything you want, you can get at Pat Catans. Gaumer believes that Pat Catans fills a need in the Knox County community, as it is the only retail craft store of its size. Wal-Mart has a limited supply of crafting items, while The Makery, located in downtown Mount Vernon, sells yarn and other goods. Gaumer said the Mount Vernon store has attracted a loyal customer base over the years. Youve got a big Amish community, youve got a lot of retired people, youve got a lot of people that just love crafting, Gaumer said of the community. Youve got the Knox County Fair, cross-stitching, stuff like that. There are a lot of do-it-yourself-ers here. Pat Catans routinely attracts customers from outside Knox County because of its affordability and selection, Gaumer said. That proved to be true on Thursday afternoon, when two different customers from the Bellville area perused the stores aisles at the same time. One was Tommie Moore, who caters for weddings and other local events. Standing in the tinsel aisle with a full cart, Moore was asked how she felt when she heard the news on Wednesday. Broken-hearted, she responded. Moore said that if Pat Catans closes, she will have to go to the Mansfield Hobby Lobby as a last resort. But it wont be the same, she said. Theyre just always so friendly, and almost always have what you want, she said of Pat Catans. If they dont, theyll get it in for you within a couple days. Lisa Smith, who perused the signage aisle on Thursday, said she also regularly makes the 30-minute trip to the Mount Vernon store. She heard the news for the first time that afternoon and was shocked. We have nothing around locally, anywhere, but this, she said. Smith has long been a Pat Catans die-hard; before the Mount Vernon location opened, she used to travel an hour to the Strongsville store for decorating supplies. Dont let it close down, she pleaded. Interestingly, Gaumer was a part of the staff that opened the Mount Vernon Pat Catans in 2010. She has worked at all three central Ohio locations over the last nine years (there are stores in Delaware and Wooster as well). Gaumer said she and her staff were surprised to hear the chain would be closing soon. We were all surprised I think, Gaumer said. I think something like this kind of store, especially in Mount Vernon, theres really nobody else in town like this. Despite the local demand for a place like Pat Catans, Gaumer admitted that no retail business is safe now with the rise e-commerce giants like Amazon. You hear about Kmart, Sears and stuff going down, she said. And unfortunately, things like Amazon even though its great that you can shop at home, its really tough for brick-and-mortar stores. Michaels, which is based in Irving, Texas, noted in its press release that Pat Catans brought in $111 million in fiscal year 2018. Michaels expects it will cost $44 million to $48 million after taxes to close the chain. That will include costs associated with the termination of remaining lease obligations, the write-off of fixed assets, costs associated with liquidation, and employee-related expenses. According to its website, The Michaels Companies, Inc. is North America's largest specialty provider of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall decor, and seasonal merchandise. The company owns and operates more than 1,200 stores in 49 states and Canada under the brands Michaels, Aaron Brothers and Pat Catans. Cleveland.com reported earlier this week that The Michaels Companies, Inc. bought Pat Catans, a locally funded, family-run crafts and decor retailer, for $150 million in 2016. After the merger, Pat Catans stores across the midwest continued to operate independently under Michaels. A spokesperson told Cleveland.com that Pat Catans employees were all able to keep their jobs during the transition. ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden is expected to hold a press conference Thursday in the wake of the fatal shooting of an off-duty officer by a co-worker last week. Timeline established for 2 on-duty officers in the hours before Katlyn Alix was killed Through a public information request, News 4 gathered the list of approximately 120 calls the two officers responded to in the last 30 days. Last Thursday, off-duty Officer Katlyn Alix was shot and killed by fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren, who was on duty at the time, while playing a Russian roulette-style game, according to police. Chief Haydens press conference at 2 p.m. will be his first since he addressed the media outside of the hospital the morning of the fatal shooting. News 4 will stream the press conference on the KMOV News app, KMOV.com and the KMOV Facebook page. This story will be updated with the developments that are released during the press conference. ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- The St. Louis Police Officers Association and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner are publicly sparring Friday after the police union posted on Facebook attacking Gardner for prosecuting cops. The original post, made Thursday, was accompanied by a photo of an individual who exchanged gunfire with two police officers outside of a bar in April. The man was not charged in the shooting, and two officers, William Olsten and Joseph Schmitt, were charged this week with assault and armed criminal action. The photo of the man is not blurred, and the post says, in parts: This is the "man" that tried to murder two of our police officers. Shot one and would have killed him and a second officer if not for the bravery and quick thinking of a very heroic rookie policeman. Kim Gardner sees this gang-banging POS and thinks "VICTIM?" She takes his word over the word of four cops and all the other witnesses there that night and ignores the video and forensic evidence. Schmitt and Olsten, along with other officers, approached the 22-year-old mans van in the parking lot of Bomber OBriens Bar & Grill around 1 a.m. on April 27. Court documents said all the officers were in street clothes and none identified themselves as police. Olsten reportedly entered the back of the van without warning, and the man got out of the vehicle with a gun to defend himself. St. Louis officers charged in off-duty shooting outside bar Two St. Louis police officers were charged Monday months after an off-duty incident outside of a bar. After a brief exchange, the man tried to get back into his van, and Olsten reportedly grabbed him and slammed him to the pavement. The mans gun reportedly went off and hit Olsten in the wrist and shoulder. Schmitt then reportedly shot the driver from behind, hitting him in the arms and legs. Gardners office did not file any charges against the man but charged both Schmitt and Olsten. The unions Facebook post goes on to say because of Gardners decision, the streets are no longer safe. Cops are not safe! And as long as they're not safe, neither are you. If you were a cop, would you risk your life and your freedom defending someone from a thug like this knowing that Kim Gardner will charge you with murder or attempted murder. If you think cops in St. Louis are in a position to protect you, you are DEAD wrong. They are under siege by a prosecutor who is herself, accused of very serious crimes like suborning perjury and misusing campaign funds. The criminals are in charge now. They own the streets. Who will be their next victim and who can stop them? Right now, nobody. Hayden blasts Circuit Attorney over letter questioning investigation, calls it 'Absolutely irresponsible' In a press conference Thursday afternoon, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden blasted Circuit Attorney Kim Gardners statements in a letter about the ongoing investigation of officer Katlyn Alixs shooting death at the hands of fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren. Gardner issued a response to the post Friday, saying: ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- In an internal police misconduct report obtained by News 4, a police lieutenant alleges both Officer Nathaniel Hendren and his partner "consumed alcoholic beverages" while on duty the night Officer Katlyn Alix was shot and killed by Hendren. Lieutenant William Brown filed the complaint at 1:30 a.m. on January 24, alleging "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer," and suggesting both men also violated Administrative Regulation 201(b) VI (A) which reads, "No employee shall report for duty or remain on duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. Moreover, no employee shall consume alcohol while on duty and/or engaged in City business." In a press conference Thursday, Police Chief John Hayden said, "The circumstances around the shooting were much more reckless and dangerous than what I had originally understood. The attorney for Hendren's partner says his client had a few sips of beer at Hendren's home but poured out the rest down the sink. Police say Alix, Hendren and his partner met at Hendren's apartment while Alix was off-duty and Hendren and his partner were on-duty. Hendren and his partner were assigned to District 2, but his apartment in Carondolet is three miles outside of the district. Hendren reportedly produced a revolver, emptied the cylinder and then put one bullet cartridge back in the cylinder. Hayden blasts Circuit Attorney over letter questioning investigation, calls it 'Absolutely irresponsible' In a press conference Thursday afternoon, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden blasted Circuit Attorney Kim Gardners statements in a letter about the ongoing investigation of officer Katlyn Alixs shooting death at the hands of fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren. Hendren then spun the cylinder, pointed the gun away and pulled the trigger but it did not fire. Alix then took the gun and pointed it at Hendren and pulled the trigger but the gun again did not fire. Hendren then took the gun back from Alix and pulled the trigger, shooting Alix in the chest, police say. She later died at the hospital. Timeline established for 2 on-duty officers in the hours before Katlyn Alix was killed Through a public information request, News 4 gathered the list of approximately 120 calls the two officers responded to in the last 30 days. Hendren, charged with manslaughter, made bail Thursday after a judge raised his bond from $50,000 to $100,000. Only 10 percent of that amount was needed to make bail. Hendren is under house arrest and can't have access to firearms but it is unclear if he is confined to his home in South City, with his relatives in South City or somewhere else. Hayden said effective immediately, supervisors and commanders will be present at all roll calls to reinforce with officers that they must stay in their assigned district. Watch commanders will also confirm the location of their officers every hour using the radio and GPS tracking information. Babysitter sentenced to 4 years after toddler mauled to death by dog in Missouri Jasper, TX (75951) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 88F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low near 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Stuff reports: The lawyer for a group of Indian students deported from New Zealand over fake visas has slammed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her silence after she promised to help them should Labour win the 2017 election. In February 2017, 150 Indian students were issued deportation notices after an Indian immigration agency used fraudulent supporting documents in their visas, unbeknownst to the students. Immigration New Zealand said the students were responsible for the fake documents and issued deportation notices due to adverse character. The Ombudsman upheld the decision in 2018. Ardern and then-Labour leader Andrew Little posed for photos with the students during a visit to the Auckland Unitarian Church, where the students were staying. Oh oh oh. The poor students. They thought Jacinda and Andrew doing a photo op with them, meant they actually cared about them and would do something to help them. No, no, no. It was about the publicity. Ardern slammed the National-led government for its decision and promised to help the students should Labour gain power, Alastair McClymont, a specialist immigration lawyer for a group of the students, said. 18 months in and what has been done? Despite winning the election and being sworn in as Prime Minister, McClymont said Ardern then went silent on her promise. He sounds surprised. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr * Quotas set at 2015-2017 average imports, plus 5 pct* Tariffs of 25 pct apply if quotas are filled* Steel group welcomes move, carmakers don't (Adds EU steel body, Swiss inclusion) By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The European Union will impose limits on steel coming into the bloc from Saturday in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's metals tariffs, a filing in the European Union's official journal said on Friday. Steel imports will be subject to quotas to counter the concerns of EU producers who say Europe could be flooded with steel that is no longer being imported into the United States. There will be specific limits for major exporting countries and the quotas will apply for three-month periods in order to limit stockpiling. The main exporters of steel to the EU are China, India, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Ukraine. The measures concern 26 steel product categories, with quotas set at the average of imports over the period 2015-2017, plus 5 percent. Once these quotas are filled, 25 percent tariffs apply. They will replace provisional measures imposed in July. The new measures should remain in place for up to three years, but can be reviewed in case of changed circumstances. The quotas should also rise by 5 percent from July 1, 2019, and again by the same amount a year later, subject to reviews, the Commission said. Steel group Eurofer, whose members include world number one ArcelorMittal and Germany's ThyssenKrupp , said safeguards were completely justified given the diversion of steel to the EU market. However, it questioned why the quota was set at 5 percent above 2015-2017 levels, saying 2016 and 2017 had been record years for imports, with a further 12 percent year-on-year rise in imports in 2018. The Commission should take account of actual market conditions during the first review, it said. European auto manufacturers association ACEA has called the measures protectionist. The Commission, which conducted an investigation, said import volumes into the EU increased significantly from March 2018, when the United States imposed tariffs of 25 percent on imports of steel and 10 percent on aluminium. It extended these measures to the European Union in June. The EU will exclude some developing nations, South Africa and the countries of the European Economic Area, notably Norway, from its quotas. However, Switzerland, which is home to steel company Schmolz & Bickenbach , will be included despite its close ties to the bloc. Switzerland said country-specific quotas should at least prevent a repeat of the situation in December, when global quotas were filled, forcing some Swiss firms to halt deliveries to Europe. But it is still pushing for an exemption. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by John Miller in Zurich, editing by Robin Emmott and Elaine Hardcastle) Messaging: philip.blenkinsop.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal as Trump and his top trade negotiator both cited substantial progress in two days of high-level talks. Trump, speaking at the White House during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, said he was optimistic that the worlds two largest economies could reach the biggest deal ever made. The Chinese trade delegation said in a statement that the talks made important progress, Chinas official Xinhua news agency reported. No specific plans for a meeting with Xi were announced, but Trump said there could be more than one. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were invited to bring a U.S. negotiating team to Beijing around mid-February, with dates still pending. The White House also said in a statement that its scheduled March 2 tariff increase on $200 billion of Chinese goods was a hard deadline if no deal was reached by March 1. At the end of the talks next door to the White House, Liu told Trump that China would make a new, immediate commitment to buy more U.S. soybeans. An administration official later clarified the amount as a total of 5 million tonnes, effectively doubling the amount bought by China since resuming limited purchases in December. U.S. soybean sales to China, which totaled 31.7 million tonnes in 2017, were largely cut off in the second half of last year by Chinas retaliatory tariffs and the announcement drew a positive reaction from Trump, who said it would make our farmers very happy. The Chinese delegation said China will expand imports of U.S. agricultural, energy, service and industrial products, according to Xinhua. While China has previously offered increased purchases of U.S. farm, energy and other goods to try to resolve the trade disputes, negotiators also dug into thornier issues, including U.S. demands that China take steps to protect American intellectual property and end policies that Washington says force U.S. companies to turn over technology to Chinese firms. Lighthizer said there was substantial progress on these issues, including verification mechanisms to enforce Chinas follow-through on any reform commitments it makes. At this point, its impossible for me to predict success. But were in a place that if things work out, it could happen, Lighthizer said at the Oval Office meeting. Later, he told reporters that the U.S. objective was to make Chinas commitments more specific, all-encompassing and enforceable with a mechanism for taking action if China fails to follow through, but declined to provide details. Reuters previously reported that such an enforcement mechanism could carry the threat of U.S. tariffs. Asked whether the two sides discussed lifting U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Lighthizer said they were not part of the talks. The two sides established a consensus in principle for an implementation mechanism framework, Xinhua said, adding without elaborating that the United States had agreed to earnestly respond to Chinas concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang declined during a regular news briefing in Beijing to give any details on a possible Xi-Trump meeting. TARIFFS NOT PART OF TALKS A person familiar with the discussions said a broad range of concerns about access to Chinese agricultural markets were raised in the talks but little progress was made. Washington has warned it will more than double tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent if significant headway on a trade deal was not made by March 1. Trump said he did not think he would need to extend the deadline. I think when President Xi and I meet, every point will be agreed to, Trump added. But Trump has vetoed multiple proposed trade deals with China, choosing to push ahead with tariffs on Chinese goods to gain leverage. Analysts mostly remain deeply skeptical that a genuine trade deal can be done on this time frame, economists from Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a note. We are less pessimistic since these negotiations are being conducted by senior politicians, not by trade bureaucrats, they added. Both sides also have an incentive, and arguably a growing incentive, to get a meaningful deal done. Earlier, Trump said on Twitter he was looking for China to open its markets not only to Financial Services, which they are now doing, but also to our Manufacturing, Farmers and other U.S. businesses and industries. Without this a deal would be unacceptable! The U.S. complaints on technology transfers, and intellectual property protections, along with accusations of Chinese cyber theft of American trade secrets and a systematic campaign to acquire U.S. technology firms, were used by Trumps administration to justify punitive tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports. China has retaliated with tariffs of its own, but has suspended some and is allowing some purchases of U.S. soybeans during the talks. Chinese officials have said their policies do not coerce technology transfers. The Chinese delegation said China will actively respond to U.S. concerns on intellectual property and creating a fair market environment, Xinhua reported. The U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are just one front in Trumps efforts to upend the global trading order with his America First strategy. He has also imposed global tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, washing machines and solar panels and has threatened to raise tariffs on imported cars unless Japan and the European Union offer trade concessions. * At 0700 GMT the rand was 0.47 percent weaker at 13.3100 per dollar, slipping back from an overnight close of 13.2475. * China's factory activity shrank by the most in almost three years in January as new orders slumped further and output fell, a private survey showed, reinforcing fears a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy is deepening. * Once the rand broke through resistance at 13.25 some technical selling was triggered, with a close below 13.30 now seen as the next mark needed to trigger further gains, traders said. * With U.S. employment data due later in the session, and only factory activity due in local data, the rand is set to remain in range for most of the local trade session. * Bonds were flat, with the yield of the benchmark 10-year bond trading at 8.59 percent. * Stocks opened weaker, with the Johannesburg Top-40 index down 0.13 percent at 47,893 points. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana Editing by Robin Pomeroy) BEIJING, Feb 1 (Reuters) - * Xinfa Group, one of China's top aluminium producers, has reduced output at its alumina plant in southern China's Guangxi region due to tight bauxite supply, according to a company official and a consultancy. * Production has been reduced by 500,000 tonnes on an annual basis, said the Xinfa official, who put the plant's total capacity at 3 million tonnes per year. * Consultancy Baiinfo said the daily production rate at the Xinfa plant had gone down from 7,600 tonnes to 6,100 tonnes. * The production cut would be in place for at least one month, said the official from Xinfa, a privately held company with aluminium smelters in Shandong and Xinjiang. * Bauxite is a rock refined to produce alumina, which is then used to make aluminium metal. (Reporting by Tom Daly) 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. WINONA COUNTY, Minn. - Leigh Meska was found safe in Rockford, Illinois, and has been reunited with her family, according to Winona County Emergency Management. The search for Meska began after Mayo Clinic called her fiance and told him she did not show up for work Wednesday morning. Leigh has been located safe last night in Rockford, IL and is now with family. The Goodview Police Department will provide any further updates if and when they are available, emergency management posted on Facebook. Thank you to everyone who assisted with finding Leigh!! The Olmsted County Sheriffs Office used many resources in its search for Meska. Beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, they had 15 people searching throughout the day and the State Patrol helicopter was used. On Thursday, the Sheriffs Office obtained surveillance video from a business along Highway 14 E Wednesday from (7:37 a.m.) where Meska was seen driving toward Rochester. At 8:12, a.m., she is seen on video driving eastbound toward Winona. Law enforcement said it called off search efforts Thursday for Meska after information she was seen in La Crosse, Wisconsin. At a Thursday afternoon press conference, authorities said they still wanted to locate Meska to be sure she was safe. Law enforcement says multiple sources confirmed Meska was seen and unharmed in La Crosse on Wednesday and also seen in Rushford. CLARION, Iowa A Wright County teen is charged with sexual misconduct with children. Carter Ryan Goodell, 17 of Goldfield, is accused of 2nd degree sex abuse, and two counts of lascivious acts with a child. Charges were filed on January 25 and Goodell was arrested that same day. According to court documents, Goodell is alleged to have exposed his penis to a three-year-old child on June 4, 2018, in Goldfield and asked the child to touch it. Goodell is also accused of touching the genitals of a five-year-old female on December 8, 2018, in Clarion. ROCHESTER, Minn. - A call where a person said they were going to blow up Lourdes High School has canceled classes at the school today. In an alert sent to parents via text, the school said Police have been notified and a bomb dog will be searching the building. Due to the uncertainty of student and staff safety, school has been cancelled for LHS today. No students or staff are to report to school. Police told KIMT on Friday that the threat was received Thursday night via phone and bomb dogs went through the school and didnt find anything. The dispatcher said the caller may have been using a voice-changing device. All after-school activities will resume as scheduled, beginning at 3 p.m., the school announced late Friday morning. Police added there is no reason to believe it is related to the bomb threat directed at a Rochester bank on Thursday. We will have more information soon on this developing story. A refugee currently held in a detention camp in Papua New Guinea has won two of Australia's richest literary prizes, netting him 125,000 Australian dollars (approximately $90,000). Winner Behrouz Boochani could not attend Thursday's ceremony for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, where he took the Victorian Prize for Literature -- the country's most lucrative prize -- and the Non-Fiction Prize. Australia detained the Kurdish-Iranian journalist on the island of Manus in 2013 for attempting to enter Australia without a valid visa. Boochani is among 600 refugees who remain in camps on the island despite Australia having closed its "regional processing center" there in 2017. While in detention, Boochani used his cell phone to write the book titled "No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison." Publisher Picador Australia received the transcript from him piecemeal, via text message. The award committee referred to the book as a "voice of witness, an act of survival. A lyric first-hand account. A cry of resistance. A vivid portrait through five years of incarceration and exile." "Boochani has produced a stunning work of art and critical theory which evades simple description," the judges' report read. "At its heart, though, it is a detailed critical study and description of what Boochani terms 'Manus Prison Theory'... (He) provides a new understanding both of Australia's actions and of Australia itself." "Distinctive narrative formations are used, from critical analysis to thick description to poetry to dystopian surrealism. The writing is beautiful and precise, blending literary traditions emanating from across the world, but particularly from within Kurdish practices," it added. Writing for CNN last year, Boochani described his detention as "state-sanctioned hostage-taking" by the Australian government. "We are forgotten people, discarded on forgotten islands," he added. The Australian government maintains that its tough border protection policies are necessary to avoid deaths at sea at the hands of people smugglers. Under the policy, people who arrive in Australian waters by boat are sent to offshore processing centers and told they will never be settled on the mainland. Melanie Mynhardt, a 4th Year marketing student at Institute of Technology Carlow, recently awarded a six-week internship with international animal feeds exporter Connollys Red Mills, following a collaboration between the company and the Institutes Faculty of Business and Humanities. Global animal feed manufacturer Connollys Red Mills invited the Institutes 4th Year marketing students, as part of their international marketing module, to research and assess the future market potential of Australia, Indonesia, Greece, Argentina, and Mexico for their high performance equine nutrition product range. Five student groups who achieved the highest academic marks for the project, were chosen to present this week to Connollys Red Mills executives for the chance of winning the six-week internship. As part of the collaboration, Global Business Development Director for Connollys Red Mills, Michael Connolly this week invited the Institutes 4th year marketing group and faculty staff to an in-depth tour of its factory in Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny. They later convened at the companys head office and retail store at Cillin Hill where the students presented their projects. Melanie Mynhardt, from Carlow, who is also an ambassador for the Institutes CAO 2019 campaign, was awarded the internship with the global company following an assessment of her marketing project and presentation to a panel of senior executives from Connollys Red Mills and Institute of Technology Carlows Bachelor of Business in Marketing lecturer, Rita Kelly. Speaking to the group, Michael Connolly said, The presentations today represented some of the highest standards weve seen from college students on this kind of initiative. As a global company and one of the largest employers in the area, Connollys Red Mills is delighted to be collaborating with the marketing students and staff at IT Carlow and look forward to many such opportunities in the future. To conclude the day, Rita Kelly had this to say, We would like to thank Connollys Red Mills for having us here today, it is fantastic for the students to experience this kind of collaborative opportunity with industry. FERNDALE, WA - Meet Logan! He is an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy that will always be a p Chatham, VA (24531) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 94F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. EUGENE, Ore. -- Students of color in Lane County will benefit from a new grant. A three-year $184,980 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust will go to the Rites of Passage Program at Lane Community College. The Rites of Passage program serves high school and middle school students of color. The grant will be used to expand summer and after-school programs. According to Lane Community College, over the last decade 1,000 students of color have participated in the programs. The grant is one of many issued by the Meyer Memorial Trust to support college and career readiness opportunities across Oregon. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified via DNA as the person who killed a 20-year-old woman in Portland nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka was slain in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said Thursday her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the "Golden State Killer" case. Hlavka was found sexually assaulted and strangled with an electric cord. The Portland Police Bureau said at a news conference retired detectives submitted evidence to the state crime lab in 2009 for forensic testing. Authorities said that evidence eventually showed McFaddden, who was executed in Texas for the rape and killing of an 18-year-old high school cheerleader, was Hlavka's killer. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Three Oregon lawmakers are looking to give renters a break by eliminating the special fees landlord charge for pets. KOIN reports that House Bill 2683 would wipe out the monthly fees and with the exception of a deposit, it would prohibit landlords that allow pets in their units from charging tenants additional rent or fees simply based on possession of pets. The lawmakers who sponsor the bill said it would also prevent rent prices from going up further than they already are in a tight housing market. Ron Garcia with the Rental Housing Alliance said he feels the bill is misguided and will hurt the people it's trying to help. He said because those fees are needed to compensate for pet wear and tear and he feels landlords will end up charging more for deposits. EUGENE, Ore. -- The Food and Drug Administration has said the escalation of students using e-cigarettes in the past year has been alarming and are even calling it an "epidemic." Juul is one of the most popular e-cigarette companies, and many University of Oregon students said that it's almost impossible to escape the Juul epidemic on campus because they see them everywhere. RELATED: American Lung Association blasts FDA over e-cigs However, with an ingredient list that leads with nicotine, Juul pods are often seen as more addictive than typical e-cigarettes and approach the level of addiction cigarettes cause. In just one year Juul sales have spiked from 2 million to 16 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Students said that they are using the device for all sorts of reasons, ranging from quitting smoking to a leisure activity, but the one thing that students agree on is that no matter their reason for trying it, getting hooked is very easy. 8K Shares Share I recently received a scathing email criticizing an article I wrote about the care of patients in underserved areas. Should you really even get to write articles about poor, underserved populations when you run a concierge practice? the author wrote. This is called hypocrisy. You are what is wrong with the medical field. What the author of this email didnt know was that I spent six years working for the underserved as an employee of a federally qualified health center in a poor, rural area. But more importantly, she missed a very important distinction about my current practice. You see, I am not a concierge doctor. I am a direct primary care (DPC) doctor. Across this country, DPC practices are filling an important niche by providing care for underserved patients. But rather than indenturing themselves to a government or corporate entity, physician-owners of DPC practices are providing care on their own terms, without bureaucratic headaches and red-tape frustrations. Direct care cuts out third-party payers like Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies. Instead, patients pay the doctor directly, usually through a monthly fee, which averages $77 for DPC practices. Because direct care doctors are not beholden to the insurance company, they spend less time on unnecessary documentation and more time on patients. And because doctors dont have to spend a fortune trying to get paid by an insurer, they can often keep their overhead remarkably low, passing savings along to patients. Affordable health care is critical especially to those paying for medical care out-of-pocket like the 28.5 million without insurance, and the increasing number of Americans with high-deductible plans. At my practice, 75 percent of patients are uninsured or underinsured. Most of these patients tell me that they cannot afford insurance because they are self-employed or work for small businesses that are not required to provide insurance for employees. Insurance premiums on the health exchange are simply not affordable for these patients, but they can afford our average monthly charge of $64 to ensure adequate primary care. Paul Thomas MD, physician-owner of Plum Health, a DPC practice in inner-city Detroit understands the needs of economically disadvantaged patients. I intentionally selected a health professional shortage area as a place to start and grow my medical practice, he says. I believe that the DPC model gets us closer to the goal of truly affordable health care for our patients and communities. But DPC practices dont just serve patients in inner-cities and suburbia. Donna Givens, MD, is the physician-owner of Grants Pass Family Medicine in rural Oregon. Most of my patients are in the gap between qualifying for Medicaid and being able to afford insurance, she says. DPC practices can also provide a safety net for minority patients. Belen Amat, MD, the owner of Direct Primary Care of West Michigan, estimates that 70 percent of her patients are primarily Spanish-speaking. And although my area is only 14 percent Hispanic/ Latino, because I speak Spanish and Portuguese my practice attracts many non-English speakers comprising 27 percent of my practice. Some of these patients lack health insurance because their legal status is in limbo and with the Trump administration now considering public assistance as a factor in determining legal status for immigrants requesting green cards, many are wary of utilizing community health centers or emergency rooms and look to DPC as an alternative. Other DPC doctors specialize in vulnerable populations, like Elizabeth Eaman, MD, with Oodle Family Medicine in Renton, Washington. My biggest underserved population are transgender and LGBT patients 40 percent of my patients are transgender, and 50 percent of my panel is LGBT. It is easy to criticize a new model if you dont really understand what DPC doctors do. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) argued that DPC is structurally flawed, in that it incentivizes physicians to accept healthier patients. But this argument does not match with the reality that many DPC practices experience. In my practice, most patients have multiple chronic illnesses the very reason they see the benefit in paying a monthly membership for care. New patients have sometimes been without health care and off medicines for months to years, and require frequent visits to get stabilized. And many times, rather than being cherry-picked, patients come to DPC practices because they have been dismissed from conventional practices. For example, Tiffany Blythe, DO, the owner of Blue Lotus Family Medicine in Kansas City, will accept unvaccinated children who are often unwelcomed into other doctors offices. Ive found that many anti-vax parents really are trying to do the best they can for their child. They just need education, patience, and support to find their way. And with the additional time that DPC offers, Blythe has been able to convince some parents to vaccinate their children ultimately. It takes time to overcome fear with facts, she notes. In my practice, I have several patients who were dismissed from their regular doctors. One 80-year-old Medicare patient came to me tearfully with a dismissal letter from her previous doctor in hand. She was fired from the practice, she said because she refused to talk to a chronic care coordinator. I was just tired of them bugging me all the time, she told me. They kept calling me, and a nurse would come to my house and tell me the same things my doctor did. If you talk to DPC doctors, you will hear many stories like these. Inspirational stories not only of patients accessing affordable, quality health care but also of physicians who are happy to practice medicine again. DPC offers an alternative practice model for doctors to regain the joy in practicing medicine. When medical students and residents hear DPC doctors talk, they get inspired to practice primary care. And studies are clear: more primary care docs equal better health care across populations. Affordable care, better patient experiences, better patient outcomes, and physician well-being: the quadruple aim. And this is exactly what direct primary care provides. Rebekah Bernard is a family physician and the author of How to Be a Rock Star Doctor: The Complete Guide to Taking Back Control of Your Life and Your Profession. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Rebekah Bernard, MD. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 7 Shares Share For Apple iPhone users, the release of iOS 12 included a new feature called Screen Time. Although a number of productivity apps that offered a similar snapshot of phone usage were available before this update, I was never interested in quantifying my usage. Now, on a weekly basis, I get a reminder of the exact percentage breakdown of how Im using my phone. In true millennial fashion, a review of my report shows that the majority of my time has been on social media apps. I wasnt surprised by this. What did surprise me was when I posted to Instagram as part of a campaign and somehow spent four hours on the app that day. Each time I picked up my phone to open the app, it was just a few minutes to reply to comments or interact with others. But add up each of those pickups, and suddenly I spent a quarter of my waking hours on Instagram. Ive been active on social media since 2011 when I started my blog to chronicle my journey as part of the charter class at a brand new medical school. Throughout medical school, I researched social media policies at medical schools as a follow-up to a 2010 study that showed that only 10% of schools had a policy despite having active social media channels. In 2011, a search for the term social media on PubMed yielded 762 results; today, that number is 2,595. While I was a medical student, one of my mentors cautioned against my social media use; today, that individual has numerous social media profiles and channels. In the last seven years, social media for professional and personal advancement among health care professionals has grown tremendously. Despite the positive attributes of social media, there are potential downsides. A 2018 paper found an association between digital media use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and numerous studies have delved into addiction behavior surrounding the compulsive use of social media sites. In recent years, social media policies have proliferated among health systems and medical societies. Breaches in these policies can lead to serious consequences. HIPAA still applies to health care professionals online; providing just enough patient detail without a name has led to termination. Since starting my blog, Ive adhered to a personal policy similar to Dr. John Ms post on ten simple rules that summarizes how physicians should behave online. But Ive never set up boundaries for time spent on social media. In the last year, the compulsion to pick up my phone and click through my three most-used apps (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) has continued to grow. Even when I know Ive already seen most of the content on each of these sites, each time I pick up my phone, my thumb seems to gravitate toward social media apps. Ive ignored my partners remarks about how frequently Im on my phone for the sole purpose of scrolling through filtered photos of exciting destinations or upscale tasting menus. But perhaps nows the time to take his words to heart and admit to my addiction to social media. The new year brings new opportunities to reflect on how Id like to use social media. Writing blog entries and keeping up with friends across the country are essential to me. Scrolling through Instagram and Facebook mindlessly looking for new content is a waste of time. Now that I have a quantitative way to measure my app usage, Id like to kick off the new year by cutting down my total social media screen time by 50 percent. I hope that by being more mindful of my actions each time I pick up my phone, that Ill be able to curb the urge to open Instagram and instead read a chapter of the Kindle book Im currently reading. Are you addicted to social media? If yes, will you be cutting back this year? If not, do you know people who are? Amanda Xi is an anesthesiology resident who blogs at her self-titled site, Amanda Xi, and can be reached on Twitter @amandasxi. This article originally appeared in Doximitys Op-Med. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, Feburary 1) Two Indonesian suicide bombers were behind the twin explosions that left 22 dead in Jolo, Sulu, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said Friday. "There are two foreigners involved in the bombing and they were aided by local Abu Sayyaf who acted as guide, and probably conducted preliminary surveillance prior to the bombing," Ano told CNN Philippines' News Night. He said the suicide bombers-- a couple-- were sometimes mistaken as Malaysians but "I'm certain they are Indonesians." Ano identified the man as a certain Abu Huda, who has been in Sulu province "for a long time already." He said the wife, whom he did not name, just arrived days before the January 27 bombings that rocked Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral. About 100 people were wounded. Ano said local terrorists who helped in carrying out the attack included "Alias Kamah," a member of the Ajang Ajang that is a sub-group of Abu Sayyaf, and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who supposedly succeeded slain Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Ano said these groups which have pledged allegiance to the international terrorist network ISIS are generally called Dawlah. Foreign terrorists in PH Ano explained that the Indonesian couple aimed to set an example for other Filipino terrorists who do not usually conduct suicide attacks since these are "against our tradition and customs." He warned that there are remaining foreign terrorists in the country capable of suicide bombings, but assured that government forces are "doing everything" to thwart any attack. He said among the foreign terrorists in the country is "an Arab-looking guy married to a Tausug woman." He described the man as either a Yemeni or Egyptian, who is in the camp of Sawadjaan. "So yan ang ating babantayan ngayon kasi isang suicide bomber din yan eh, yang foreigner na yan," added Ano, a former head of the armed forces. [Translation: That's what we're monitoring now, because that foreigner is also a suicide bomber.] He said the extremists' "ideal targets" would be progressive cities like Zamboanga, Davao or Cagayan de Oro and they would like to launch attacks in mainland Mindanao, Visayas or Luzon. But he said the martial law in Mindanao has helped prevent the movement of the terrorists. The island region of Mindanao has been placed under martial law since May 2017 when ISIS-linked terrorists attacked Marawi City and engaged in a five-month war with government forces. Ano said the terrorists could not leave Jolo, except for Abu Kathir Al-Maghribi, a Morrocan who was able to slip to Basilan, escorted by local militants from the Abu Sayyaf. The Moroccan was behind the car bombing in July last year in Lamitan, Basilan that left at least 11 people dead, including Al-Maghribi. Suicide bombing angle Like Ano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is convinced that suicide bombers were to blame, citing overwhelming evidence. "The church was heavily guarded 24 hours daily since August when threats to bomb it surfaced. Those entering were screened. All bags and belongings were checked. The bombs could have been strapped in the body of the bomber and escaped the attention of the soldiers doing the screening," he said in a text message on Friday. Lorenzana added, "The presence of body parts strewn all over. According to the forensic investigators of the PNP these body parts could belong to two persons - one inside the church and one outside." SSupt. Pablo Labra II, Sulu provincial police director, said witness accounts and unclaimed body parts found in the blast site point to the possibility that a woman brought a homemade bomb inside the church to carry out the attack. With state marijuana tax revenue projected to be at least 40 percent lower than what was first expected this fiscal year, Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, has proposed helping the legal marijuana industry in California by temporarily reducing the 15 percent tax on recreational marijuana purchases to 11 percent and temporarily ending the $148 per pound cultivation tax that farmers pay. Both breaks would end in June 2021. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board welcomes Bontas understanding that high taxes can hurt business and wishes he and other lawmakers who are sympathetic to the legal cannabis industry had similar empathy for all the other industries that struggle with the states heavy taxes and regulations. But its hard to fathom why Bonta and others dont grasp that the states first order of business in trying to help the legal marijuana industry thrive should be targeting those who grow and sell marijuana illegally. Far from being hurt by the Jan. 1, 2018, onset of legal recreational marijuana use in California, the black market is thriving. According to marijuana industry analyst GreenEdge, legal state sales dropped from $3 billion in 2017 when medical marijuana was all that could be legally purchased to $2.5 billion in 2018. Thats stunning. "Sometimes now, when I reflect on it, I think that if this didn't happen, I'd be four years from retirement. I could have stayed in and made that my career," said one of the Marines who was falsely accused and left the military voluntarily in 2008, when his contract expired. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing lingering concerns about retaliation. "This devastated my life - my family, my legal expenses, being separated from the Marine Corps, not knowing if one day someone was going to knock on my door and take me to Fort Leavenworth," he added, referring to the Army post in northeastern Kansas that is home to the military's only supermax prison. The stress and the shame have burdened all of them, Galvin said, leading to substance abuse, divorce and thoughts of suicide in some cases. As their former commanding officer, Galvin has continued to press Marine Corps headquarters to do more to set the record straight. Beginning in 2015, with support from five members of Congress, entreaties have been made to the service's most senior officer: first, to Gen. Joseph Dunford, who became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff later that year, and then to Dunford's successor, Gen. Robert Neller. Its been an exciting month for Erin Shae Swanson and the excitement isnt going to end anytime soon. The 2018 Norfolk Catholic graduate was crowned Miss Nebraska Teen USA earlier this month during the competition at the Rose Theatre in Omaha. It means she now will be preparing to compete for the national Miss Teen USA title later this year. Now a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she was involved in a variety of activities while attending Norfolk Catholic, including cheerleading, Key Club, FBLA and track. At UNL, the daughter of Andy and Celise Swanson is studying business management with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. She is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority on campus and has become involved with its philanthropic focus to help support the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) organization. CASA provides support for youths in the foster care system or who are living in conditions that are under the supervision of the Nebraska Health and Human Services Department. KEARNEY Both fifth-graders and kindergartners at Northeast Elementary were learning the same lesson this week: how to be kind. Kindness can come in the form of a smile, said third-grade teacher Mary Stuart. It can come in the form of a helping hand. This past week, Northeast students joined with other schools in Kearney, like Meadowlark, and schools around the world to participate in Kindness Week and The Great Kindness Challenge. Last year, according to The Great Kindness Challenges website, more than 10 million students in almost 20,000 schools in more than 100 countries accepted the challenge. Thats when Northeast teachers first learned about the week. Though it was too late for Northeast to put anything together for 2018, Stuart and other teachers started to plan for Kindness Week 2019. With help from The Great Kindness Challenges newsletter and website, they created a week full of compliments, cards and service. These activities both filled the school with kindness and reached beyond the elementarys walls into Kearney. Our goal is obviously to spread kindness throughout our whole community, so the more people we can reach outside our school, the better, Stuart said. KEARNEY The man who traveled to all seven continents, but always kept one foot in Kearney, has died. Fred Hammer was diagnosed in October with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. He died Tuesday in Lone Tree, Colo., at the age of 79. One month before the diagnosis, Hammer was in Kearney deeding land near the Yanney Water Trail to the city of Kearney for future use by the Park and Recreation Department. His family had a legacy in Kearney with the Hammer Motel, and he wanted to contribute to that, said Kearney Realtor Tom McCarty, who assisted Hammer with the September land donation. He absolutely loved Kearney, the history of it. He was very attached to it emotionally, said Kevin Hammer, his son from Dallas. He is one of three sons born to Fred and Joan (Likens) Hammer, who were married from 1961 to 1976. Son, Stephen, is from New York City, and son, Michael, died at age 19. Hammer was married for 27 years to his second wife, Marie-Claire Hammer, a Belgian whom he met while on a three-year presidential assignment as chief of information systems at the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Marie-Claire said that Fred treated her son, Jean-Philippe Failyau, as his own. be the father of the child in ques- tion, you must contact Lee E. Greenwald at the above address. If you wish to object to the adoption and seek custody of the child, you must seek legal counsel from your own attorney immediately. You may file a Notice of Objection to Adoption and Intent to Obtain Cus- tody at any time during the preg- nancy and up to as last as five business days after the child's ac- tual date of birth or receipt of this notice, whichever is later. If you fail to do so, your right to object to the adoption will be extinguished. If MEDFORD, Ore. -- About 250 people filled Inn at the Commons Thursday to learn how to better grow their businesses, and improve economic growth in Jackson and Josephine counties. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) hosted it's 16th Annual Southern Oregon Business Conference. The event featured several speakers, including: -Tim Duy, the senior director of the Oregon Economic Forum and the author of the University of Oregon Statewide Economic indicators. -Mary Hebert, WAVTEQ's senior vice president for North America -John Darrow, the senior principle engineer at Amazon -Rob O'Neill, CPA and partner at Moss Adams Portland Hebert spoke to NewsWatch 12 and focused her speech on how our area could attract companies based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. She said it takes several things to bring those type of companies here. "There is labor, there's infrastructure, but a lot of it is also just the feel of the cities, and each one has a different personality," Hebert said. The president of SOREDI's board of directors said this is also a great opportunity to learn from other business owners. "Every year we have this amazing roster of speakers but we also have a lot of people with the opportunity to network together for us to kind of compare notes," Steve Vincent, president of the SOREDI board, said. "What's your organization doing this year or this week versus mine?" To read more about SOREDI's event, CLICK HERE. ROSEBURG, Ore. Douglas County's "Text to 9-1-1" feature, intended to save lives, fell prey to a woman making alarming false reports on Wednesday, according to the Sheriff's Office. The texts started coming in to dispatchers on Wednesday, at first reporting a "possible hostage situation" on Orchard Lane in Roseburg. More texts came in later that said a "mass murder" had occurred. Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) responded after narrowing down a location for the person sending the messages. That's where deputies said they found 34-year-old Nicole Rene Hall. Investigators determined that there was no truth to the reports and that Hall had misused the county's text 9-1-1 capabilities. "This false incident tied up multiple resources from citizens who legitimately required services and is completely unacceptable, said Sgt. Brad ODell. The Sheriff's Office will always hold accountable those who misuse our 9-1-1 system, whether that is by voice call or text messaging services." Deputies took Hall into custody and lodged her in the Douglas County Jail on charges of Improper Use of 9-1-1 and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified via DNA as the person who killed a 20-year-old woman in Portland, Oregon, nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka was slain in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said Thursday her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the "Golden State Killer" case. Hlavka was found sexually assaulted and strangled with an electric cord. The Portland Police Bureau said at a news conference retired detectives submitted evidence to the state crime lab in 2009 for forensic testing. Authorities said that evidence eventually showed McFaddden, who was executed in Texas for the rape and killing of an 18-year-old high school cheerleader, was Hlavka's killer. SALEM, Ore. A controversial "assault weapons ban" initiative that petitioners hoped to get on the 2018 ballot is back or at least its spiritual successor. The 2018 ballot initiative was championed by an alliance of Portland-area religious leaders, but got tangled up in litigation that led all the way to the state Supreme Court. Although the measure survived legal challenges with the mandate that they change some of the wording, state laws prevent petitioners from getting signatures on an initiative while it is tied up in court. With so much of their vital signature-gathering time spent defending their initiative in court, the original petitioners eventually admitted defeat. Enter Greg Wasson, an activist and former lawyer from Salem. After giving the original initiative a legal once-over, he's filed it as Initiative 16 for the 2020 ballot under the moniker "The Common Sense Gun Regulation Act of 2020." "The people of the State of Oregon find and declare that a reduction in the availability of assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines will promote the public health and safety of Oregon residents," the initiative reads. In a statement from the Committee for Petition Rights (CPR) a group for which Wasson is Executive Secretary Wasson explained his reasoning for filing the initiative. "First, it gives me legal standing to try and rescue the people's initiative power from an over-reaching state government. Second, it gives the supporters of reasonable gun control a way to remind the legislature of what waits if the lawmakers continue to avoid the issue," Wasson said. The substance of Wasson's filing is much the same as the 2018 initiative. "Assault weapons," which describes a range of modifiable semi-automatic gun platforms that accept detachable magazines in addition to other apparatus (forward grips, folding and telescoping stocks, flash suppressors and the like), must be registered with law enforcement and owners submitted to a criminal background check. "Large capacity magazines" of more than 10 rounds are similarly regulated in the text of Initiative 16. Failing successful registration, owners of these weapons are supposed to sell them to an approved firearms dealer or have them destroyed under penalty of the law. The initiative will have to get 112,020 signatures in order to make the 2020 ballot. Once it gets 1,000 verified signatures, the Secretary of State's office will begin drafting a "ballot title," or summary of the measure. The full text of Wasson's initiative may be read or downloaded below. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota is sending an emergency response team to assist in an escalating measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest. The Bismarck Tribune reported the North Dakota Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response will deploy a five-member unit to relieve existing members of the Washington state response group. The state submitted a request for the specialized team through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Jan. 25. SALEM, Ore. (AP) Several members of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club have been indicted by a federal grand jury on murder, kidnapping and racketeering conspiracy charges. The U.S. Department of Justice says the gang has ties in Washington and Oregon. The Statesman Journal reports that among those charged Thursday was the club's national president, 61-year-old Kenneth Hause, of Aumsville, Oregon. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney. Members are accused of trafficking methamphetamine throughout the Northwest, assaulting rival club members, attacking their own members and forcibly tattooing over the tattoos of ousted members. Hause and five others were charged with conspiring to conduct and participate in a racketeering enterprise. Five others, but not Hause, were also charged with murder in the 2015 slaying of a former Gypsy Joker member. CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. Firefighters responded to a flaming car on Rockydale Road near Cave Junction on Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD). Crews were dispatch just after 8:30 a.m. to the 1500-block of Rockydale Road. When firefighters arrived, they found it "totally involved in flames." The fire was extinguished quickly, IVFD said. Rockydale was closed while firefighters fought the flames and until crews could hose down the road of debris before packing up. The road remained only partially open for a half hour longer so that the IVFD Fire Marshal could investigate the fire's cause along with Josephine County Sheriff's deputies. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A convicted murderer called the "Animal," who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified by DNA as the person who killed a 20-year-old woman in Portland, Oregon, nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka was slain in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said Thursday her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the "Golden State Killer" case. On a recent Saturday morning, while my wife and infant slept in their peaceful, newly uncluttered rooms, I opened my laptop, clicked "select all," and looked at the frightening total. I knew it would be bad. I didn't realize "bad" meant there would be 27,897 files on my computer. Almost immediately, my resolve to get my digital life in order weakened. Then I heard Marie Kondo's voice in my head -- or more accurately, in my inbox. "The biggest mistake with digital tidying is focusing too much on what to discard," Kondo wrote me in an e-mail earlier that week, by way of a translator, by way of a publicist, by way of a naive hope that a Netflix star could rescue an overtired new parent from being buried alive in his own digital clutter. The focus, she told me, should be on "what's valuable to you and on what you want to keep in your life." With that soothing advice in mind, I resumed my digital tidying. Like many people looking to regain control of their lives by watching other people on television regain control of theirs, my wife and I binged Kondo's new Netflix show, "Tidying Up." In one uplifting episode after another, Kondo, a bestselling author and decluttering expert, helps untangle families from their excess belongings. Clothes and books are piled high. Papers and tchotchkes are laid out on tables and garage floors. Owners are asked to assess whether each item does, or does not, "spark joy." Those that do are organized and displayed more thoughtfully in the home; those that don't are thanked for their service and promptly banished. With this deceptively simple rubric, lives are unburdened. A husband and wife bicker less. A mother watches her children take more responsibility for their stuff. A widow is able to move on with the next chapter of her life. Floors and walls and kitchen cabinets breathe free. But only after we excavated all the clothes from our apartment, arranged them in a three-foot heap on the bed and dragged the joyless castoffs to the nearest Goodwill, did it really dawn on me: This clutter isn't the main source of my stress. The clutter that weighs down my life most is online, not offline. It is in my pocket, and on my mind, every hour of the day. A personal email account that fluctuates between five and 500 unread emails on any given day. A work email account with 1908 unread emails as of this writing -- and another 17,921 unread emails in a separate folder that Outlook has fittingly called "Clutter." An iPhone with 134 videos and 5,336 photos. Enough text messages to take up 8.2 GB on my phone. A Twitter account with 22,400 tweets. And this laptop, with its tens of thousands of files, accumulated over six years. The tally of my digital clutter is both extraordinary, and entirely commonplace. On the internet, we are all hoarders. To avoid getting overwhelmed with my first tidying task -- organizing the laptop -- Kondo recommended creating two folders: one called "Important Documents," and another called "Spark Joy," for all my "spark joy items." "Then delete the rest! Stop keeping komono 'just because,'" she said by email, using a Japanese term for miscellaneous items. Kondo personally moves what matters -- mostly her favorite photos -- to external hard drives, which she then organizes "by date and client." Nothing stays on her laptop. "If you haven't opened that document in three years -- and reading the title doesn't spark joy -- then let it go with gratitude." On her show, the "spark joy" moments can be visceral. Family members touch, smell, practically inhale their forgotten possessions and feel a buzz in their bones. But I wondered if that same process could really apply to bits and bytes locked behind screens. Can an email or a PDF file truly spark joy? Has a tweet ever sparked anything other than outrage? "Certainly emails and texts can spark joy -- think of a message from a loved one or friend that made you smile or laugh," Kondo said. "However, I think their spark joy impact is probably less than that of tangible items." I waded through old travel itineraries, install files, and half-finished cover letters. Duplicate and triplicate photos were deleted. Tax documents and interview notes were moved to the Important folder. A forgotten picture of my mom smiling while laying on a couch, in her final months, was gingerly placed in the Spark Joy folder. After what felt like an hour, but was probably barely 20 minutes, I paused to check my progress. I'd deleted less than 350 files and moved a few dozen more items to the two new folders. Some 27,000 files still stood between me and the promise of Kondo bliss. Outside my window, a park full of trees that had Kondo'd away their leaves looked on smugly. As I contemplated next steps, a notification popped up on my laptop screen: My Dropbox account was almost full. My resolve weakened again. Tidying your digital life may actually be harder than tidying your home. There is at least some certainty that if you search long and hard enough in your closets, cabinets and couch cushions, you will be able to find and parse through all your clutter. But the inventory of digital clutter knows no limit. Take photos as one example: In addition to the hundreds of images on my laptop, I also have uploaded pictures to external hard drives, older computers, my iPhone, Google Photos, Facebook and Twitter, Dropbox, Flickr, WordPress websites, Webshots (RIP) and likely numerous flash-in-the-pan apps I've long since forgotten. There's more at stake here than simply achieving some tidiness threshold. Left untended, these old accounts and the data on them can be hacked. Just look at the massive security breaches that hit Yahoo and MySpace, years after they faded from peak relevance. There's also the problem of rapid accumulation. Chances are you don't bring hundreds or thousands of new items into your household each week -- if you do, stop reading this and seek help -- but it's entirely possible your digital mess stockpiles by this much or more. My unread work email alone has increased by several hundred items since I began writing this story. Kondo tries to confront the siege of emails in her own life by organizing new messages into two categories: save and unprocessed. The latter, which includes any emails she wants to read and reply to, are left in her inbox. "When I notice that my inbox is piled up, I try to make time to process them all at once," she says. Her smartphone habits are even more enviable. "I do a digital purge once a week from my iPhone," she says. It sounded like a pipe dream. A fable of a different digital world that could be tamed. I thought about closing my laptop and leaving the files to multiply at will. Then I remembered the picture of my mom, newly uncovered beneath the clutter and safely tucked away in a new folder. So I pressed on. Tim and Beverly Nyden stopped in Kansas City on Tuesday to get some much needed rest after leaving Lynchburg, Virginia the night before. Christopher Wayne Cleary, 27, has been charged with terrorism threats after he allegedly wrote on Facebook that he planned to kill "as many girls as I see" as payback for his virginity. About 100 people responded to public pleas to attend the funeral of a 63-year-old Junction City veteran. Army soldiers and members of the public braved frigid weather Wednesday to attend services for Servando "Kiko" Silva-Jimenez, who served as a medic in the U.S. Army. He died Jan. 15 at Ge The International Criminal Court finally freed former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on Friday after his shock acquittal last month of crimes against humanity. Judges agreed to release the 73-year-old ex-strongman and his aide Charles Ble Goude on condition that he lives an as-yet unspecified country pending an appeal by the prosecution. The first former head of state to stand trial in The Hague, Gbagbo was found not guilty on January 15 over a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010. More than 3,000 people died on both sides after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his internationally backed-rival, and now-president, Alassane Ouattara. ICC appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release them to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set by the court. Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, but the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland, given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbos wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Lawyers have previously cited the arrangement reached with former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. The court ordered officials to make appropriate interim arrangements to find somewhere for Gbagbo to stay until a final country is found. Gbagbos lawyers had argued that he should be released without any conditions and free to return to Ivory Coast. It is impossible to limit the freedom of an innocent person, where there are no exceptional circumstances, chief defence lawyer Emmanuel Altit told the court earlier Friday. Disputed election Gbagbo and Ble Goude went on trial in January 2016 accused of playing a role in murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts during the post-electoral violence. Former academic Gbagbo had been in power since 2000, after two decades in opposition, but found his rival Ouattara backed by western powers and the African Union after the election result was disputed. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 by Ouattaras troops, aided by UN and French forces, and sent to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. Despite hearing from 80 witnesses, ICC judges stopped the trial midway on January 15 citing an exceptionally weak prosecution case. They also ordered the immediate release of Gbagbo and Ble Goude but prosecutors successfully applied to have Gbagbo kept in detention. They argued at the time that he was unlikely to return to face justice if the ICC later overturned his acquittal and carried on with the trial. However earlier on Friday, the prosecution said it would accept his conditional release. The Gbagbo acquittal was a severe blow for ICC prosecutors after similar failures with Bemba last year and Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014. ICC prosecutors had also cited the case of Simone Gbagbo as an example of why he is a flight risk. The delay in Gbagbos release at least puts off, for now, the political uncertainty over his possible return to a country where he still faces a possible jail term for economic crimes. His acquittal comes at a sensitive time with Ivory Coast facing fresh elections in 2020. Boko Haram killed at least 60 civilians in an attack on the remote town of Rann in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. The human rights groups Nigeria director Osai Ojigho said at least 60 people were killed while satellite imagery showed mass burning of structures used by displaced people. Eleven bodies were found within Rann town, and 49 were found outside, the group said in an emailed statement, adding that some 50 people were still missing. It quoted one of 10 civilian militia members who travelled to Rann to bury the dead as saying the bodies found outside the town all had gunshot wounds. This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime, and those responsible must be brought to justice, said Ojigho. The death toll made it the deadliest by Boko Haram on Rann, she added. In January 2017, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadists killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food. Burning buildings Rann, which is some 175 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, has now been hit four times since March last year. The first attack killed three aid workers and saw three others kidnapped. Two of the three were later executed. The second attack happened in early December. On January 14, fighters loyal to the Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau attacked a military position. Some 9,000 people fled across the border into Cameroon but were sent back, as troops from Nigerias eastern neighbour were deployed to Rann as reinforcements. Cameroonian forces were withdrawn last Sunday, which the United Nations said forced more than 30,000 people to flee in fear of another attack. AFP has been told the remaining Nigerian soldiers also withdrew because there were not enough of them to fight off Boko Haram if they came in greater numbers. Amnestys Ojigho said environmental sensors detected fires in and around Rann on Monday and Tuesday, indicating the jihadists returned after the troops pulled out. Analysis of satellite images indicated the two attacks had left most of the town heavily damaged or destroyed, and well over 100 structures had been burned down. Many of the structures destroyed date back to 2017, indicating they had been constructed for those who had fled to Rann in search of refuge from the fighting. Call to investigate Rann had been home to some 35,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), according to the International Organization for Migration. Amnesty International said it wanted Nigeria to investigate the withdrawal of troops, as it may have left tens of thousands of civilians exposed to attack. On Wednesday, the Norwegian Refugee Council called on Cameroon to keep open its borders to those fleeing Boko Haram attacks. More than 27,000 people have been killed in nearly 10 years of fighting, while some 1.8 million others remain homeless and reliant on aid for food, shelter, healthcare and water. The UN this week said it needed $848 million (741 million euros) to fund projects for affected civilians in Borno state and two other northeast states over the next three years. An additional $135 million was required to help the 228,500 Nigerian refugees who have fled to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, it added. South Africas new chief prosecutor vowed Friday to fight political interference and corruption as she took office after years of scandal that have dogged the countrys legal system. Respected lawyer Shamila Batohi was appointed as head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) by President Cyril Ramaphosa after her predecessor was accused of improperly protecting former president Jacob Zuma. Batohi told reporters that she took over the NPA at a time of crisis, not only for the organisation, but for the rule of law in South Africa. Perpetrators of crime and corruption within the state and private sector your days of acting with impunity are numbered, she said. Batohi said she had received assurances from Ramaphosa that there would be no political interference in the state prosecutors work. Batohis predecessor Shaun Abrahams was dubbed Shaun the sheep for his apparent loyalty to Zuma. An ongoing enquiry into corruption under Zumas rule has heard evidence of systematic corruption, including monthly bribes paid to government and ruling ANC party figures by contracting companies to secure lucrative deals. The allegations are unprecedented in terms of the scope, nature and complexity of corruption, Batohi said. Batohi, the first female to occupy the role, is a former prosecutions chief in KwaZulu-Natal province and served as senior adviser to the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2009. The Dutch attorney general on Friday urged the countrys top court to dismiss a ruling blaming the Netherlands for the deaths of hundreds of Muslim men in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. The failure of lightly armed Dutch UN troops to protect the safe haven from Bosnian Serb forces under General Ratko Mladic from Europes worst atrocity since World War II remains a scar on the conscience of the Netherlands. A lower court ruled in 2014 that the Dutch state was liable for the deaths of some 350 Muslim men who were ordered to leave a base run by Dutch blue helmets in July 1995, one of the darkest periods in Bosnias bloody civil war. But in the latest twist in an ongoing saga, Dutch Attorney-General Paul Vlas said on Friday that the previous court ruling cannot be maintained. The Dutch troops were operating in a war situation and had to make a decision under supreme pressure and the threat of armed conflict, Vlas said. It would only have been different if (they troops) knew or should have known that the men were facing death with certainty. This was not the case, he added. In the Dutch legal system the attorney generals advice is non-binding but usually adhered to by the Supreme Court. Victims relatives dragged the Dutch state to court saying that the troops even though under a UN flag should have protected all the men. The relatives, represented by the Mothers of Srebrenica victims organisation, sued for compensation. Years of ongoing litigation followed in the case, seen as a source of national shame for the Netherlands and a major failure on the part of the United Nations. In 2017 a Dutch appeals court upheld the 2014 decision which was then referred to the Dutch Supreme Court. The Supreme Courts final verdict is set for April 19. In all, almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed at Srebrenica. Both Mladic, dubbed the Butcher of Bosnia, and Bosnian Serb wartime political leader Radovan Karadzic have been convicted for genocide for their roles in the Srebrenica massacre. Both convictions are currently under appeal. VANCOUVER, Feb. 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Orca Gold Inc. (TSX.V:ORG) ("Orca" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the progress of development at its Block 14 Gold Project in the Republic of the Sudan. HIGHLIGHTS Government of Sudan approves Block 14 Feasibility Study approves Block 14 Feasibility Study Extension of Block 14 Exploration Licence Approved Mining Lease Applications Submitted EIA approval expected by end of Q1 Water production permit in place Country Manager appointed for Sudan DETAILS Permitting for the Block 14 Gold Project is well-advanced: The Block 14 Feasibility Study (News Release November 7, 2018 ) was presented to the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals in November 2018 . The Company has recently been advised by the Ministry that the Study has been approved. ) was presented to the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals in . The Company has recently been advised by the Ministry that the Study has been approved. The application for a formal Mining Lease covering 38sq km of Block 14 has been made. An exploration licence extension has been approved over an area of 1,000km 2 surrounding the Mining Lease coordinates, covering the most prospective parts of Block 14 (Figure 1). surrounding the Mining Lease coordinates, covering the most prospective parts of Block 14 (Figure 1). The Block 14 Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") has been submitted to the Higher Council of the Government of Sudan and comments have been received and addressed. Environmental approval is expected by the end of Q1. and comments have been received and addressed. Environmental approval is expected by the end of Q1. A Water Extraction permit necessary for the 6Mtpa process plant throughput was granted to the Company in February 2018 (see News Release February 7, 2018 ). In anticipation of the project being fully permitted by the end of Q1 2019, early development works and financing discussions are underway: Airstrip design and permitting in process Lycopodium has commenced detailed engineering works on long lead items Project financing options are being assessed and considered Orca is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Chris Reardon as Country Manager for the Sudan. Mr. Reardon is responsible for the development of the Block 14 project and is based at the Company's offices in Khartoum. Chris Reardon is a geologist with over 20 years experience in operations and consultancy. Prior to joining Orca, Chris was the European Regional Manager for Deswik Mining Consultants and managed the significant growth of the company in Europe and Russia. Chris was the Deswik manager responsible for the feasibility mine design at Block 14. Prior to his position with Deswik, Chris held the role of General Manager - Technical Services at the Tonkolili iron ore mine in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Commenting on the continuing progress at Block 14, Richard Clark, CEO and Director said: "The Block 14 Project has reached a key stage. With permitting well-advanced and strong support from the Government of the Sudan, we expect to have all approvals in place by the end of Q1 2019. With Chris Reardon now based in Sudan and Lycopodium starting work on the detailed engineering of the long lead items, Orca is in a strong position to move forward with its development plans. Financing discussions are ongoing and positive. We are optimistic in securing funding in accordance with our projected timeline." Figure 1: Block 14 Permitting About Orca Gold Inc. Orca Gold Inc. (TSX-V: ORG) is a Canadian resource company focused on exploration and development opportunities in Africa, where it is currently focused on the development of its 70%-owned Block 14 Gold project in the Republic of the Sudan. The Company has an experienced board of directors and management team and a strong balance sheet. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding Orca's (the "Company", the "Corporation", "we" or "our") plans and expectations relating to the Block 14 Gold Project ("Block 14") in northern Sudan and the Feasibility Study ("FS") currently being conducted by the Corporation. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute "forward-looking statements" to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralisation that will be encountered if the property is developed. The assumptions, risk and uncertainties outlined below are non-exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation, or industry results, may vary materially from those described in this presentation. 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", "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 historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are not guarantees of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including without limitation, assumptions about the following (the "Forward-Looking Factors"): future prices of gold and other metals; successful exploration, development, and production of Block 14; the timing and completion of the FS; performance of contractual obligations by counterparties; operating conditions; political stability; obtaining governmental approvals and financing on time; financial projections and budgets; obtaining licenses and permits; government regulation of the Corporation's mining activities; environmental risks and expenses; market conditions; the securities market; price volatility of the Corporation's securities; currency exchange rates; foreign mining tax regimes; insurance and uninsured risks; financial projections and results; competition; availability of sufficient capital, infrastructure, equipment and labour; dependence on key personnel; dependence on outside parties; conflicts of interest; litigation; land title issues; local community issues; estimation of mineral resources; realization of mineral resources; timing and amount of estimated future production; the life of Block 14; reclamation obligations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; and anticipated costs and expenditures and our ability to achieve the Corporation's goals. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable, the assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies, many of which are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Corporation and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the Forward-Looking Factors above, and those factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the provinces of Canada. In addition, a number of other factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and there is no assurance that the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation will be consistent with them. For further details, reference is made to the risk factors discussed or referred to in the Corporation's annual and interim management's discussion and analyses on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available electronically on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements and information are made or given as at the date of this presentation and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Mostly sunny. High 92F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Today Some sunshine with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. High 91F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Tonight Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tomorrow Thunderstorms in the morning will give way to cloudy skies late. High around 75F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Waste, fraud and abuse Put us in charge and well eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. Thats the promise of the tea party and the Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House. Can we even calculate the waste caused by closing the government for 35 days? Would anyone deny that having 800,000 employees out of work for that period is enormously wasteful, not to mention the impact on government contractors and others doing business with the government? Is there any doubt about the fraud being perpetrated in the claims of invasions of criminals and terrorists streaming across our border? All objective reports of conditions at the border contradict the hysterical exaggeration coming from the president. Few contend that a wall is a practical response to real challenges of immigration. Abuse: from the treatment of children at the border to the suffering endured by paycheck-to-paycheck government employees and loss of work and income by government contractors, would anyone doubt that constitutes abuse? Have we heard from the tea party and the Freedom Caucus about these blatant examples of waste, fraud and abuse? Do we expect to hear from our Republican friends that this is totally and absolutely unacceptable? What say Sens. Richard Burr, Thom Tillis and Rep. Virginia Foxx? Earlier this month, a fungus-like disease known as swamp cancer, exacerbated by warmer winters along the coast, claimed the lives of seven wild ponies on a Virginia island, The Associated Press reported. The Corolla horses are being monitored for signs of a similar outbreak. They also face threats from overzealous tourists who try to feed them foods that can actually be deadly for them. A local law requires people to stay 50 feet away from the horses, but not everyone pays attention. A nonprofit organization, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, tries to protect the horses while maintaining a healthy distance, but their resources are limited. Tillis bill could help institute protections. Its supported by the Humane Society and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Of course, the introduction of this bill is only the first of many steps, but its one thats necessary. We hope the Senate will take it up. On a related note, Rep. Walter Jones, who represents North Carolinas 3rd District, passed similar legislation in the U.S. House in 2013 to protect the Corolla wild horses, but the Senate never considered it. Yes, it is a sign that Stone has created another circus. He was caricatured by Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live. Others go silent when indicted; Stone went on CNN, ABC and Fox News (both Hannity and Tucker Carlson) to tout his website and his next book (Woodward and Bernstein: The Godfathers of Fake News) and to raise $2 million for his legal defense (so what if his lawyers arent certified to practice in Washington?). Sure, the 66-year-old is facing up to 45 years behind bars. But now everybody gets to see his natty outfits. His pocket squares! His felt homburg! The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about, he told reporters after his arrest. In this sense, Stones clown act of the past few days simultaneously self-promoting and self-defeating has been the Trump presidency in microcosm. Like his outrageous friend and adviser, Trump loves attention, even the bad kind. The woman said Bennett raped her several times and told her not to go to law-enforcement, the search warrants say. He also threatened to kill her family if she told anyone, according to the documents. Bennett also took her cellphone and erased all the calls she had made to him and any text messages she had sent him, investigators said. On Oct. 21, 2012, deputies received another report of rape from a Greensboro woman. The site of the alleged rape was at the same Rural Hall house. The woman also identified Bennett as her rapist and told deputies that Bennett raped her several times, according to the search warrants. He also threatened to shoot her and gut her, according to warrants. Bennett also walked to a dresser, pretending to retrieve a weapon, several times, the search warrants said. The search warrants said the woman told deputies that Bennett gagged her with a handkerchief. The Greensboro woman told deputies that Bennett forced her into a bathroom and made her take a shower. He took the womans cellphone and deleted information, removing a battery from one of her phones and keeping it, warrants said. Bennett also went through the womans purse, removed mail from it and made the statement that he now knew where she lived, she told investigators. He threatened to harm her family if she told police. The city is trying to protect the public against any unrest at the statue, Carmon said. Mayor Allen Joines said the judges ruling validates the point that we had, that we are within our legal rights, and the property owners are within their legal rights, to ask that the monument be removed from the property. We recognize the strong feelings on both sides, and continue to work toward a solution that hopefully everyone can eventually feel comfortable with, Joines said. About 11:30 p.m. Thursday, three members of a group called Heirs to the Confederacy gathered in the cold in front of the statue, saying they were there to show support for keeping the statue in place. "This means something to me," said Howard Snow, of East Bend. "It has always had value to me." James A. Davis of Winston-Salem, an attorney for the UDC, declined to comment on Allens ruling. Outside of the courtroom, Carmon told Davis that the city was trying to find a respectful way to put it (the statue) into storage. If we dont move it, somebody else will move it. 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... Answer: The book The Battle of Chatillon: A Graphic History of the Second Corps Aeronautical School, American Expeditionary Forces, France was published in 1919, after the end of World War I. If you have provenance to prove your copy of the book and the diaries are original, they would sell at an auction of historical documents. The book has been reproduced, and reproductions sell online for about $20. Q: How can I get an artifact from the 1906 San Francisco fire appraised? I have some coins that melted in the fire following the San Francisco earthquake. My grandfather found them on Geary Street near Taylor Street. Is it something a museum might be interested in? Answer: The first shocks from the San Francisco earthquake were at 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906. After the quake, fires broke out. The fires burned for four days and caused more damage than the earthquake. Some people set fire to their homes, so they could collect the insurance, since insurance didnt cover damage from earthquakes. Over 80 percent of the citys buildings were destroyed by the quake and the fire that followed it. The California Historical Society is in San Francisco and might be interested in the coins. You can get contact information from its website: www.california historicalsociety.org. The provenance seems to be just family, so the museum may not be interested, but it might be able to tell you someone to contact. Former West Virginia State Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Menis E. Ketchum II, left, swears in 23rd Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Lorensen, second from right, for his third term as Judge in December of 2016. He is replacing Judge Wilkes, right, as Chairman of the Business Court Division. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) Former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino withdrew his poll protest against opposition Senator Leila de Lima due to his 2019 senatorial bid. Tolentino, who placed 13th in the 2016 senatorial race, said it is best for him to withdraw the protest, "in view of an impending rigorous national campaign for which his undivided attention for the same is indispensable." However, Tolentino, who lost to De Lima in 2016 by a million votes, said his withdrawal does not mean that he backed down from his claim that the detained opposition senator cheated him in the polls. Former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino withdraws poll protest against Senator Leila de Lima due to 2019 Senate bid https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt pic.twitter.com/M2CqHRGEVg CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) February 1, 2019 "He is withdrawing with his head held up high, and pride and honor intact not only for himself, but also to all those who aspire for free and honest elections," Tolentino's camp said in a motion to the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). Tolentino earlier moved to suspend the SET proceedings on his protest after he filed his candidacy for senator under ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan, but the tribunal dismissed this motion in November. The former presidential political adviser first ran for a Senate seat under the Liberal Party - the same ticket with De Lima - but later left the slate after drawing flak for alleged inviting scantily clad female dancers to an event of the then-ruling party. Tolentino then joined the Senate ticket endorsed by then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, but failed to clinch a seat. CNN Philippines Digital Producer Luchi de Guzman contributed to this report. Badgerhound Studio and Gallery owners Michael T. Davis, left, and Emily Vaughn show off some of their art pieces, "Modern Day Presidential II" and "Merdach," respectively, inside of their business at 110 West German Street. David Abel, 72, died June 18th, 2021, at his home in El Dorado, AR, surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer. David was born November 26, 1948, in Sacramento, CA, to Earnest "Bood" Abel and Peggy Downing Abel. David attended school in Miami, OK, and graduated in 1967. He joi 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 It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Page Content Fallen Zimbabwean music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi will be honoured with song and dance at the Joburg Theatre on Tuesday, 5 February. The memorial service will run between 12pm to 5pm inside the Mandela theatre in Braamfontein. Affectionately known as Tuku, the renowned musician succumbed to a long battle with Cancer on Wednesday, 23 January; he was 66. Mtukudzi was laid to rest in his rural hometown of Madziva, Harare, in Zimbabwe on Sunday, 27 January. A multiple award winner, the late Zimbabwean cultural icon fused a local music style known as jiti, a combination of the traditional drum of his clan, the Katekwe, South African mbaqanga, the marimba and Afro-Pop styles to conjured-up an mbira sound with his acoustic guitar. Mtukudzi began his musical career in 1977 with the Wagon Wheels, which featured Thomas Mapfumo and legendary Zimbabwean guitarist James Chimombe. Their first single Dzandimomotera was successful and precipitated the release of Tukus successful debut album, Shoko. A collaborative soul, Mtukudzi became an integral member of the original incarnation of Southern African supergroup Mahube, which featured the likes of Louis Mhlanga, Steve Dyer, and the late Phinda Mtya. With 67 albums under his belt, Mtukudzi pioneered his own signature sound popularly known as Tuku Music. He has bagged numerous accolades and awards, including a 1992 M-Net award for Best Soundtrack for Neria, a movie in which he also starred. In 2003, the afro-soul legend received a pair of KORA awards, including a Lifetime Achievement and the Best Southern African Male Artist. He was also a recipient of a Channel O Reel Music Video Award for Best African Language and an Honorary Arts Degree from the University Of Zimbabwe. A dedicated and inspiring African artist, he received the 2004 National Arts Merit Award for Best Group/Male vocalist, a 2006 Zimbabwe Music Award Ambassador, and a 2008 award for being an Outstanding Musician. In 2009, Tuku was a recipient of an Honorary M.Sc. Degree in Fine Arts from the Womens University of Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe. In the year, 2003 he featured on the cover of the influential Times Magazine as the champion of the plight of Zimbabweans and their cultural music. Later on in 2011, Mtukudzi released Abiangu (Duets of My Time) featuring amongst others Cesaria Evora, Ringo Madlingozi, Eric Wainaina, and The Jaziel Brothers; he later collaborated with his late mate and music giant, Hugh Masekela on Tapera. His music was known, listened to and loved worldwide, including in Southern Africa, the African continent and the diaspora as well as Europe. Page Content A Social Worker based in Orange Grove has been hailed for his extraordinary service in rescuing a baby in distress and having her registered and immunised. A member of the community has penned a heart-warming email to the Executive Mayor, commending Anele Gxotelwa for extraordinary service with pride. In the email, Ronelle Orji describes the service she received from Gxotelwa as excellent and pleads with Mayor Herman Mashaba to acknowledge him. The girlfriend of Orjis son abandoned their six weeks old baby with Gxotelwa at the Social Development Offices in December. The City employee reported the matter to the Norwood police who helped reunite the baby with Orji, its grandmother living in Lyndhurst. It turned out the baby was due for immunisation and Orji wasnt permitted to take it to her local clinic because she was not yet recognised as its legal guardian. Thats when Gxotelwa stepped in to ensure a smooth process by writing a social workers referral letter and obtaining a testimonial from a constable from the local police station. The City employee went as far as helping Orji get the little one registered with Home Affairs, through drafting all relevant legal documentation since its mother had absconded. Ive never been in need of a social worker in my life, and I assumed that this would be a tedious process. To my surprise, Anele was always ready to share information, give advice, guide, and direct me on what to do next. Always professional and very respectful, Orji explains. The baby is said to be doing well, thanks to Gxotelwas dedication to his work. A social worker in region E, Gxotelwa joined the City of Joburg in 2016. He is passionate about clinical work as part of the Social Work practice and is currently enrolled for a Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Pretoria. I am so proud to be a professional Social Worker and to do everything to the best of my ability to change peoples lives, he says. Gxotelwa loves rendering psychosocial interventions to patients and enjoys making an effort to change peoples lives, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, persons living with disabilities and the elderly. NursingEducation analyzed 2021 data from the Health Resources and Services Administration to determine the 15 U.S. counties with the largest shortages of health care workers. Click for more. Today Mainly sunny. Very hot. High 111F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 108F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. SPONSORED NEWS. Corinium Intelligence welcomes its Chief Data & Analytics Officer Sydney into its 5th year! The 2019 event boasts an inspiring speaker line-up with a really comprehensive agenda covering the biggest strategic concerns for leaders in the data and analytics space. Chief Data & Analytics Officer Sydney (2-4 April 2019) will gather Australia's senior executives responsible for championing the data agenda, to share insights on the infrastructure, governance, privacy, innovation, culture and leadership required to effectively harness data as a strategic asset. With over 50+ speakers ranging from companies such as ANZ, FoxCo, Bureau of Meterology, Honeywell Aerospace USA, RT Health, The Iconic, CDAO Sydney boats a wealth of knowledge. Additionally, youll bump shoulders and network with over 300 like-minded attendees all eager to advance their data & analytics strategies for 2019. Focusing on the biggest challenges faced by data and analytics leaders today, CDAO Sydney tackles how to lead and drive data and analytics strategies to improve operations and services. Discover how Chief Data and Analytics Officers are driving change and shaping their organisations to become analytically mature, business-driven enterprises that outperform their competitors. What to Expect from CDAO Sydney 2019 BE INSPIRED: Hear how data and analytics professionals are leading change, impacting the business and deriving value through a data centric culture. A unique opportunity to benchmark, ask questions and share your story. GET INFORMED: Corinium's approach of visionary keynotes, strategy based panels & discussion groups fosters a discursive, inclusive environment. This is the platform to discover the latest from your industry both locally and internationally. NEW FOR 2019: Brand new, interactive formats including the Data Talent Gap, Aussie Innovators, Lets Talk meet ups, round tables, live poll analysis, meet the speakers lounge, and expanded speaker tracks for maximum learning. Themes that will shape your 2019 Data & Analytics Strategy: AUSTRALIA'S DATA AGENDA - Building a powerful economy underpinned by data, analytics, AI and machine learning. Bridging industry, academia and government to drive innovation. THE DATA DRIVEN C-SUITE - Evaluating data analytics investment, prominence and acceptance in the boardroom. DATA FRAMEWORK: MANAGED AND GOVERNED - Data governance, quality, privacy and ethics. Supporting data driven decision making across the enterprise with robust and evolved data strategies that support the current and future needs of the enterprise. DATA SCIENCE AND INTELLIGENCE - Adopting and evaluating data-driven approaches and tools to support the move from data insight to execution. Practical experiences on the future of analytics: open source and advanced, predictive and experimental analytics. CULTURE & LEADERSHIP - Defining, fostering and embedding a culture of data analytics and insight based decision making. Democratising analytics to foster insight and co-operation throughout the organisation. THE SMART ENTERPRISE - Driving innovation, agility and business value. Monetising data to deliver strategic worth to the business. FUTURE DATA TALENT - Understanding innovative approaches to data staff training, increasing expertise and building effective teams. CDAO Sydney is the best event on the calendar to get inspired and make new contacts with the people that can help you drive your data analytics projects forward. It's also a lot of fun so don't miss out. To learn more about the event and to secure your place, please visit the conference website now! CDAO Sydney turns 5 in 2019 With 50+ Speakers, 300+ senior data and analytics executives, over 3 exciting days you will indulge in all things data and analytics before leaving with strategic takeaways that will catapult you ahead on your journey. Coriniums CDAO events have become THE go-to for senior leaders in the data and analytics space to connect, discover, brainstorm and share their advances in this field. CDAO Sydney is designed to bring together senior executives in data and analytics from progressive organisations who want to hear the latest learnings on leading and driving data and analytics strategies, improving operations and services and future proofing in this rapidly changing technological landscape. Dont miss out! Register Today! CDAO Sydney 2-4 April 2019 Want to find out more? Download the agenda Register here. SPONSORED NEWS. Corinium Intelligence is bringing its successful CDAO Series to Brisbane on the 5-6 March 2019! Chief Data and Analytics Officer Brisbane is designed specifically for the Queensland market,with content tailored around the most pressing industry issues to demonstrate how the best in the state, across sectors including finance, government, transport, utilities and healthcare are achieving their strategic goals through analytics. Not only this, there is also a dedicated track specifically for heavy industry, mining, andenergy around operational analytics, alongside our data governance and quality track, and a full day focused on talent, culture, embedding data across the organisation and actioning insights. They have immersed themselves in the Queensland market and created an agenda specifically for you! Gathering 30+ speakers from companies such as Westpac, Big W, Queensland Health, Bupa and Tabcorp, just to name a few, along with 120+ attendees, you are guaranteed to meet new contacts! What to Expect from CDAO Brisbane Over the 2-day conference, you will hear from over 30 data & analytics executives across Australias leading organisations in healthcare, finance, government, mining and energy and hear how they are embracing technology, talent and process to enhance their data capabilities. Rather than sit through PowerPoint after PowerPoint, they have developed an authenticand immersive experience which includes a variety of interactive sessions, such as discussion groups, speed networking, debates, lightning talks, audience Q&As and the list goes on. Leverage the expert speaker panel to hear exactly how they have achieved solid results, but also their aspirations and the future roadmaps they have developed to keep evolving their data initiatives. Themes that will shape your 2019 Data & Analytics Strategy: Governance & Quality: Developing and embedding the right systems to enrich data and ensure quality to derive the most accurate insights Developing and embedding the right systems to enrich data and ensure quality to derive the most accurate insights Privacy: Ensuring your customers data is fully protected Ensuring your customers data is fully protected ROI: Actioning insights and focusing on the most profitable data, while designing the right KPIs and pinpointing metrics to drive business value Actioning insights and focusing on the most profitable data, while designing the right KPIs and pinpointing metrics to drive business value Operational Analytics: Increasing the efficiency and return on physical assets and infrastructure Increasing the efficiency and return on physical assets and infrastructure Talent: Securing talent in the smaller Brisbane market, aligning skills and experience with your strategy and identifying what roles are needed to build the most effective team Securing talent in the smaller Brisbane market, aligning skills and experience with your strategy and identifying what roles are needed to build the most effective team Predictive & Advanced Analytics: Becoming proactive rather than reactive by harnessing advanced & predictive analytics, Machine Learning, and AI CDAO Brisbane is the best event on the calendar to get inspired and make new contacts with the people that can help you drive your data analytics projects forward. Its also a lot of fun so dont miss out - book your place now! Coriniums CDAO Conference Touches down in Brisbane With 40 Speakers, 150+ senior data and analytics executives over 2 days, you will indulge in all the most important, relevant, and timely discussions! Join Brisbanes only dedicated event for senior data and analytics executives, developed to lay out the How To and How to Not around furthering your strategy and execution, mapping out the key elements to a successful organisation-wide drive and uptake to achieve the best ROI, while keeping an eye on the future and always remaining one step ahead as an intelligent enterprise. Dont miss out! Register Today! CDAO Brisbane 5-6 March 2019 Want to find out more? Download the Agenda Former Labor Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, is stepping down from his role as a director of giant Chinese telco Huaweis Australian business after eight years in the role. Brumby's decision to leave the Huawei board comes just days after the US Government outlined a criminal case against the Chinese telecommunications equipment provider, but Brumby said when announcing his decision to leave the board that "the timing of my retirement from the Board is completely unrelated to any recent commentary regarding China and Huawei". Brumby was one of the original independent directors appointed to the board of Huawei Australia, the first local board established by the company in 2011. Huawei Australian chairman John Lord thanked Brumby for his tremendous contribution over the past eight years and Huawei has said it has already started the process to fill the board vacancy. John was instrumental in establishing the processes and operation of Huaweis first ever local Board. He brought to the role a deep understanding of management processes and public policy in Australia, Lord said. John stayed on the board longer than he first intended and wish him all the best for the future, especially with his upcoming role as chancellor of La Trobe University. Brumby said it was pleasure to serve on the board with colleagues from Australia and China, admirably led by Lord. Huaweis Australian business has grown strongly over the last eight years with employee numbers doubling during my time on the Board from 300 to around 700," he said. Since we established the board in 2011, our revenue has increased from $229 million in 2011 to $623 million in 2017, a cumulative annual growth rate of 18% per annum. Today, we have a large, diverse and multicultural workforce which is fully committed to the companys future in Australia. I have particularly enjoyed being part of a global company leading the world in innovation and technology advancement. While we have had some challenging times over the years, Huawei Australia has continued to go from strength to strength, becoming Australias largest provider of wireless technology and serving more than half the Australian population. Our world leading equipment has supported Optus and Vodafone to drive improvements in service performance and reduced costs for Australian businesses and consumers. The timing of my retirement from the board is completely unrelated to any recent commentary regarding China and Huawei. More than a year ago, I advised the board and Huawei HQ of my intention to retire to make time for new commitments I was taking on in early 2019. I remain a strong supporter of closer ties between Australia and China, particularly in the fields of investment, trade, education and R&D. Finally, in addition to helping build a more innovative, connected and competitive Australia, I am proud of the significant contribution Huawei has made to cancer research, sporting development, Indigenous education and childrens health. Brumby also served on the Huawei Australias Risk & Compliance committee. Development and preparation for 5G networks across the Asia Pacific region continues apace, with one telco, KT, South Korea's largest telecommunications company, announcing it has introduced new and innovative 5G services ahead of fully launching its next-generation wireless network in March. KT opened what it says is the world's first robot cafe using its 5G mobile network in Seoul last month, with the 5G-powered cafe opened after the company introduced an AI-equipped guide robot named Lota in December, its first 5G subscriber, at the landmark Lotte World Tower in the capital city. The Korean telecom leader says it is expanding into new businesses using intelligent machines with various business-to-business operators and, to lead the so-called Fourth-Industrial Revolution, KT chairman Hwang Chang-Gyu is transforming the company into an intelligent platform for innovation in the new 5G era. "South Korea is leading the new 5G world," Hwang said at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland last week. The new 5G network's ultra-connectivity and ultra-low latency will greatly contribute to human welfare not only in Korea, but also around the world." According to KT, the 5G network's ultra-connectivity will be a milestone in distributing the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the network's ultra-low latency promising new conveniences, such as autonomous driving, telemedicine and more. Earlier this month, KT unveiled a world-first 5G bus in downtown Seoul during a promotional event. In the 5G-connected limousine bus, passengers experienced various augmented reality and virtual reality services available from the company's GiGA Live TV. GiGA Live TV is a wireless network-based, next-generation service that does not require separate terminals such as a smartphone. Bus passengers could experience high-quality immersive media services from GiGA Live TV, which are available through a 5G mobile hotspot (MHS) catching signals from nearby base stations. And on 27 January, KT says it successfully live-broadcasted K-pop group Wanna One's last concert, attended by more than 25,000 fans, on its HD IPTV service, Olleh TV. The broadcast was delivered through set-top boxes and mobile devices, using the 5G network. At the recent Davos forum, Hwang also announced an innovative way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases throughout the globe, which KT says would involve the transportation of medical supplies or vaccines to developing countries through its next-generation platform for disaster and safety management, SKYSHIP. KT deployed the first phase of its 5G network in November last year and the telco says the new service has begun in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, in the country's most populated, major metropolitan cities outside Seoul and in isolated areas including Jeju, Ulleung and Dok islands. According to KT, it plans to expand its nationwide 5G network to 24 major cities, key transport routes such as expressways, subways, high-speed railways, large universities and neighbourhood shopping areas, with the new network providing 5G coverage through its cutting edge network technology. KT says it will focus on the development of five key areas: smart cities, smart factories, connected cars, 5G media and the 5G cloud and, to provide innovative services for its mobile users, it is working with partners in South Korea and around the world, such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Mobis, Posco, Intel, Ericsson, Nvidia and Qualcomm. On Friday, officials with the Walker County Hospital District board announced that they have finalized a $7.8 million purchase of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Do you feel like this is a good use of tax dollars, and is this the right direction for the struggling health care facility? You voted: I attended the closing arguments for the FTC anti-competitive case against Qualcomm, and I was deeply disturbed by what I saw (a lot of us are having issues with this case). The FTCs closing arguments seemed to be a collection of poorly applied anecdotes, questionable testimony, and a dramatically disproven theory, all thrown out in an unorganized, rapid fire delivery, interspersed with name calling. It felt like Apple had somehow employed the FTC to act against Qualcomm and the FTC was showcasing a rebellion to being directed by a company that should, itself, have been on trial. The judge hasnt ruled yet, but she likes to rule quickly and seemed to side with the FTC early on. That now seems far less certain. (Judge Koh, the federal trial judge, seemed very engaged in the case and seemed to pivot toward allowing Qualcomm to provide a more robust defense than she initially signaled she would allow.) Let me walk you through my concern. First, a Correction Last week, I also wrote about the FTC trial as well, given that I was observing it in person. I gave a representation of how much Apple wanted discounted on its license from Qualcomm. I said the company should be paying around $13, it was discounted to $7.50, and wanted $6. I can see my mistake was in thinking that Apple was being somewhat reasonable. But, in fact, now that Ive reread the testimony, the company wanted to initially drop its cost to $1, which was revised upward to $1.50. So instead of wanting a $1.50 additional discount, which is how I initially read this, Apple actually wanted a $1.50 price on a license that sold for $13. If that doesnt demonstrate the potential for excessive market power, but by Apple, not Qualcomm, I dont know what does. Lets say you were selling something for $13 and you offered a discount of about half off for volume and got agreement. Then the buyer came back later, after they got the product, and said, you know what, I only want to pay $1.50 and Im not going to give you any of your money until you agree. I can think of a lot of responses, none of which would be gosh, thatd be great! If you had to agree, that should indicate that the other party had excessive power. Apples position is that Qualcomm had to agree and didnt. Why wasnt Apple on trial instead of Qualcomm? Who Has Excessive Market Power? In the close, one FTC presentation had me almost yelling. They argued that one of their proof points that Qualcomm was abusing monopoly power was that every time Apple asked for a concession, Qualcomm wanted one back. In short, Apple would ask for a deeper discount and Qualcomm had the nerve to ask for more volume or some other Apple concession. It seemed like the FTC was saying Qualcomms ability to counter-offer the massively powerful Apple indicated that Qualcomm had excessive market power. But, if you think about it, any firm that can dictate prices to a supplier unilaterally would by definition have excessive market power. That would be Apple, not Qualcomm. It looked like the FTC, which is staffed by capable attorneys, was intentionally highlighting bad Apple behavior but, instead of flagging Apple, was showing Qualcomm as the bad actor. The FTC Case Was a Mess I should add to this that the FTC case largely pivoted on the testimony of one expert who presented a theory that, if accurate, clearly showed Qualcomms guilt. The issue with this expert and theory was that in a prior case between the DOJ and AT&T just a year earlier, the judge in that case threw the same experts testimony out because it was pure BS (what the judge said, and it was a lengthy comment, went far beyond BS, implying the guy was a complete whack job). Now, the FTC had to know about this, as the case, an attempt to stop the merger between AT&T and Time Warner, was very high profile and should have been part of their due diligence when selecting him as their expert. I should add that I watched this expert testify and he was one of those guys who is a legend in his own mind. You know the type, a self-described genius who isnt understood by peers whom he thinks are idiots, along with anyone who disagrees with him. The guy must be a huge pleasure to work with but clearly not a reliable expert witness because his brain and his mouth have only a distant relationship. If they used the expert and his failed approach, he would certainly be impeached based on that prior trial, yet they used him anyway. One other observation: While there were some very strong litigators on the FTCs side, the attorney who did the close was arguably the weakest presenter they had, once again suggesting they were intentionally throwing the case. This felt like they were rebelling against directions they didnt agree with. Now, it could have just been inexperience, but this was a large team that appeared to have experienced litigators on it, but they stayed away from the podium on the final day. Wrapping Up: A Troubling Trial A lot of things really troubled me about the trial. All the anti-trust cases Ive covered had the defendant as a large dominant company easily eclipsing the smaller companies that were allegedly damaged, making the monopoly claim relatively easy to establish. In this case, Intel is three to four times larger than Qualcomm, and Apple is over 10x larger (and had reserves larger than Qualcomms entire worth), and both firms have a history of bad competitive behavior. Apple, in particular, is known for abusive supplier behavior, excessive margins, and lock-in (anti-competitive) behavior suggesting that it, not Qualcomm, should have been the defendant. Yet Apple was constantly shown as the poor damaged party that couldnt compete. Intel has been a massive thorn in AMDs side and crossed anti-competitive lines so much that there is a book on its behavior, yet it too were presented as if it were a small company, unable to compete. This was even after substantial testimony that its problems were caused by its own especially horrid execution. I left feeling that something was seriously wrong with the FTC. That doesnt bode well for competition in the United States. Rob Enderle is President and Principal Analyst of the Enderle Group, a forward-looking emerging technology advisory firm. With over 30 years experience in emerging technologies, he has provided regional and global companies with guidance in how to better target customer needs; create new business opportunities; anticipate technology changes; select vendors and products; and present their products in the best possible light. Rob covers the technology industry broadly. Before founding the Enderle Group, Rob was the Senior Research Fellow for Forrester Research and the Giga Information Group, and held senior positions at IBM and ROLM. Follow Rob on Twitter @enderle, on Facebook and on Google+ Friday, February 1st, 2019 (12:16 pm) - Score 5,454 A new Portsmouth (Hampshire) based ISP called toob has surfaced that claims to have secured enough investment to deploy a Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband network at scale across parts of the UK, which aims to serve businesses and homes. But theres a strong Vodafone connection. The provider, which has already applied for Code Powers from Ofcom (i.e. helps to speed up deployment by reducing the number of licenses needed for street works), doesnt yet appear to have a website but they did setup a LinkedIn page with a few details and are hiring. At this stage the details weve been able to dig up are wafer thin, although by the sounds of it they intend to build and operate a full fibre network in towns and cities across the UK (urban focus). The operator also expects to make some use of Openreachs existing cable ducts and poles to help deploy their own optical fibres (i.e. Physical Infrastructure Access) and says theyd be willing to share their own infrastructure once built (so long as doing so doesnt jeopardise the commercial viability of its own business case). toobs Mission Statement toob is one of the new generation of gigabit fibre broadband businesses that are driving the deployment of full fibre networks in the UK. toob will be providing consumers, businesses and public service organisations with access to gigabit broadband enabling everyone to benefit from superior connectivity. The business has secured investment and we are now looking to grow the team at our offices in Portsmouth. The exact roll-out plan is currently unclear but their aspiration is to build a new network that covers 100,000 premises within the first 2 years of operation, with consumers being offered access to symmetrical broadband speeds of up to 900Mbps (going faster in the future as demand requires). Now this is where things start to get very interesting. The company founder and CEO, Nick Parbutt, was previously Vodafones Director of Strategy and Wholesale (plus various other senior roles) and indeed theres a strong overall connection to that operator. toobs other Founder and CFO, Michael Banwell, currently still seems to be listed as an active Director of Wholesale at Vodafone. Meanwhile the companys Technical Director, Sean Teggart, is similarly listed as being Vodafones present Head of Fixed Networks for the UK and Ireland. Most likely they merely forgot to update their profiles but if not.. We should remind readers that Vodafone are currently making use of Cityfibres 2.5bn FTTP broadband network, which aims to cover 5 million UK premises by the end of 2024 (details). Vodafone separately also harnesses Openreachs (BT) wholesale FTTC products for their mainstream superfast broadband packages. We will update again once more information is known. UPDATE 2:02pm Weve spoken to Vodafone and the operator has confirmed that all of the three toob bosses mentioned above no longer work for them. Specials Timeline: 70 Years of Ethnic Armed Resistance Movements in Myanmar A silhouetted solider from one of Myanmar's ethnic armed group. / The Irrawaddy Beginning with the Karen National Unions revolutionary movement, which started 70 years ago on Jan. 31, Myanmars ethnic armed groups struggle for self-determination, autonomy and equal rights continues to this day. From 1949, the year after Myanmar gained independence from the British, to 1989 the countrys numerous ethnic groups rose up in armed resistance, mainly fighting for greater autonomy. At least 53 ethnic armies and parties formed out of Karen, Kachin, Pa-Oh, Shan, Mon, Karenni, Akha, Kokang, Palaung, Wa, Mongla, Lahu, Arakan, Chin, Kayan and Naga ethnic groups who claimed their rights were not fully delivered by the majority-Bamar government. There were also some 20 communist rebel groups led by members of the majority Bamar, and non-indigenous Muslim and Rohingya groups during the same 40-year period. Despite decided efforts to end fighting between the various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the central government forces in 1958, 1963, 1980, 1989, the 1990s and since 2011, peace talks are dawdling and civil war continues to thrive in northern, northeastern and western Myanmar. More than 200,000 people, both from government- and EAO-controlled areas, are currently taking shelter in camps for the internally displaced, having fled clashes between the Myanmar Army and EAOs which have been breaking out since 2011. This figure excludes the refugees on the Thai side of the Thailand-Myanmar border where some 100,000 are currently taking shelter in refugee camps. In the eyes of the Myanmar Army, the term civil war is no longer applicable here. The Militarys True News Information Team gave strong words of advice to reporters and members of the public on the use of the term at a press conference on Jan. 18. Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi, the vice chair of the True News Information Team, advised against using the term, insisting that civil war ended together with the end of the famous Insein Battle north of Yangon 70 years ago. He said today it should be referred to as counter-insurgency operations or regional armed conflict. The battle he refers to was that of May 1949 in which the Myanmar Army regained control of Insein after 112 days of fighting with the Karen National Defense Organization which had occupied the town, demanding equality between the Bamar and Karen. Despite the militarys denial of the occurrence of civil war in Myanmar, the Karen ethnic armed resistance gained traction after that event and the group maintained high spirits and fervor in their continued fight for independence and freedom from Bamar chauvinism. The 1990s saw a partial ceasefire period in Kachin, Kayah, Mon and Shan states. But during that time too, and up to 2010, some 20 new ethnic armed groups appeared. Though many of them started out with small numbers, EAOs based in the northeast have been increasing in strength and power, particularly since 2011. The biggest armed group, the United Wa State Army had some 30,000 troops in 2016. When the EAOS began taking part in peace negotiations which were initiated by then-president U Thein Sein in August 2011, the ethnic leaders expressed their desire to work together in building a federal state if it would guarantee their basic rights, equality and self-determination. According to data released by Myanmar Peace Monitor in 2013, Myanmar remains home to some 50 ethnic armed forces, which include both revolutionary armed groups, government-backed militia of various ethnicities and smaller insurgent groups. Of these, the government is currently holding peace talks with 18 groups10 signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement and eight other non-signatories. The armed resistances of Myanmars ethnic groups and the current peace negotiations can be viewed in the timeline below. Please click right below to see the timeline. Visualization by Nan Lwin Ref: A General Introduction to six active EAOs based in northeast Myanmar by U Maung Maung Soe (2016); Deciphering Myanmars Peace Process by Burma News International (2016); Burma in Revolt: Opium and Insurgency since 1948 by Bertil Lintner (1999). Guest Column Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Has Seized the Prime Moment to Amend the Constitution Daw Aung San Suu Kyi waves at supporters at Kachin National Manu Park in Kachin State on Feb. 24, 2012. / Reuters State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), swept power in the 2015 general elections. Amending the Constitution was one of her campaign promises. At a forum in Singapore in August, the state counselor said amendment of the Constitution was one of the goals of our government, reaffirming her commitment to the cause. But why is she forging ahead with amendments at this moment? The answer is twofold. First, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wants to push for amendments while China can influence the Myanmar military. There is a saying in Myanmar, An island relies on reeds just as reeds rely on the island, meaning that a person offers help when the other is in need and vice versa. In a recent column, I wrote that the state counselor was using China to influence the military in order to achieve her political goals amending the Constitution in particular by helping China fulfill its own interests in Myanmar. In November Daw Aung San Suu Kyi formed a steering committee to oversee work in Myanmar relating to Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. Since then, China has once again started pushing Myanmar to restart the Myitsone dam projects in Kachin State. Though most of the country opposes the dam, the government recently hinted at a compromise. At an investment summit in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, U Thaung Tun, the minister for investment and foreign economic relations, said the government wants to find a solution because it values its relationship with China. As I recently wrote, Once the faltering peace process embarks on the right track, Aung San Suu Kyi will then be able to push for the amendment of the Constitution. She is now seizing the prime moment to amend the Constitution. When asked by reporters for his views on the move on Thursday, military chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said he had always been in favor of amending the charter. Moreover, after the military announced a unilateral ceasefire in late December, negotiations between the governments National Reconciliation and Peace Center and some ethnic armed groups have started to improve. It appears Daw Aung San Suu Kyis bargaining chip with China has worked. As a quid pro quo, she appears to have allowed China to restart the Myitsone dam project. The government may be trying to draw attention to the Constitution to distract from the dam. Second, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party want to push the amendment because the next general elections are approaching. In by-elections held in November, the NLD won only seven of the 13 races it contested, far below its expectations. It was a wakeup call for the NLD to start preparing for 2020, and to push for constitutional amendments as soon as possible. But only time will tell whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party can amend all the articles of the Constitution they want to before the next general elections arrive. Joe Kumbun is the pseudonym of an analyst based in Kachin State. News Verdict in U Ko Ni Murder Case Due Feb. 15 Aung Win Zaw (center) and Zeya Phyo (behind him to the left) attend a hearing at the Yangon Northern District Court on Friday. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGON The Yangon Northern District Court will deliver its final ruling in the murder trial of U Ko Ni, a prominent lawyer and legal adviser to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), on Feb. 15. Prosecution and defense lawyers presented their closing argument on Friday, the 102nd hearing of a closely watched trial that has dragged on for some two years. U Ko Ni was shot dead in broad daylight outside Yangon International Airport on Jan. 29, 2017. Police apprehended the alleged gunman, Kyi Lin, moments later and afterwards arrested three of his alleged co-conspirators Aung Win Zaw, Aung Win Tun, and Zeya Phyo, all ex-military officers. The alleged mastermind of the murder, former Lt. Col. Aung Win Khaing, remains at large. Kyi Lin was charged under Section 302 (1) (b) of the Penal Code for killing both U Ko Ni and taxi driver U Ne Win, who chased him after he shot the lawyer, and faces execution if convicted. He was also charged under Section 19 of the Arms Act for illegally importing and possessing a weapon. Aung Win Zaw was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and Zeya Phyo with aiding and abetting an offender, both under Section 302 (1) (b) of the Penal Code. Aung Win Tun was charged under the Penal Codes Section 212 for harboring one of the other suspects. The court released him on a 50 million kyats ($37,300) bail in March. Kyi Lins lawyer, U Kyaw Kyaw Htike, argued that the murder charge against his client should be changed to 302 (2), which excludes premeditation and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He said Kyi Lin should also be charged with homicide in the case of U Ne Win, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Defense lawyers argued that Aung Win Zaw, Aung Win Tun and Zeya Phyo had nothing to do with U Ko Nis murder and should be acquitted. The prosecution insisted they were guilty as charged. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. News Myanmar Policeman Who Detailed Reuters Reporters' Entrapment Freed from Jail After serving nine months of his sentence, Moe Yan Naing is released from Insein Prison on February 1, 2019. / Aung Kyat Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGONA Myanmar policeman who told a court last year how officers planted secret documents on two Reuters reporters in order to entrap them was released from prison on Friday, after being sentenced to a year in jail for violating police discipline. In widely covered testimony at the trial of journalists Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, Police Captain Moe Yan Naing gave details of the hours leading up to the Dec. 12, 2017 arrest of the Reuters reporters and said police had arranged a set up. Shortly after that court appearance in April, Moe Yan Naing was sentenced to prison for violating the Police Disciplinary Act by having previously spoken to Wa Lone. His family was also evicted from their police housing in the capital Naypyitaw. Moe Yan Naing criticized the law under which he was punished. This police disciplinary law is one of the laws we must amend while we are marching on the path towards democracy, he told reporters outside Insein Prison, on the outskirts of the commercial capital Yangon, after his release. This law can cause police much suffering because it is outdated, he said. Police spokesman Col. Myo Thu Soe told Reuters at the time of the sentencing Moe Yan Naing had been punished according to the police disciplinary act and that his case has been processed by a police court, without elaborating. Police also said at the time the eviction order was not related to Moe Yan Naings testimony at the trial of the Reuters journalists. Asked how he felt about the people who ordered his arrest, Moe Yan Naing said he would console himself through religion. I am a Buddhist, I can find peace with that through our Buddhist way, he said, and that he felt sorry for the two reporters still behind bars. A police spokesman could not be reached for comment. Moe Yan Naing was released after serving around nine months of his one-year sentence. It is customary for prisoners in Myanmar to have their jail time reduced for good behavior. In September, the Yangon court found Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo guilty of breaking the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and sentenced them to seven years in jail. The reporters had been working at the time of their arrest on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in western Myanmars Rakhine state. The killings happened during an army crackdown that sent some 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh. Moe Yan Naing testified in court that a senior officer had ordered a subordinate to meet Wa Lone at a restaurant in Yangon and plant secret documents on him. An appellate court rejected appeals by Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo last month, saying the defense had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent. News Cracks in Bago Region Reservoir Panic Locals A man stands on the bank of the Taung Na Win reservoir in Pauk Khaung Township, Bago Region. / Kaung Myat Min / The Irrawaddy PROME, Bago Region Residents of Pauk Khaung Township in western Bago Region are in a state of panic after cracks appeared in a local reservoir and authorities began releasing water. Cracks stretching 35 feet long and 3 feet wide appeared in the embankment of the Taung Na Win reservoir after four earthquakes struck near the township since November or December. The embankment has also lost about 100 feet of its height. The reservoir lies about 3.2 km east of the township. Geologists and officials with the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Ministrys Irrigation Department are examining the reservoir. Before they can draw any conclusion, water will have to be released daily to reduce the water level, said U Zaw Oo, assistant director of the Pyay District Irrigation and Water Utilization Department. The conduit of the reservoir can release 960 cubic feet of water per second, and currently we are releasing only 50 percent of its capacity, he told The Irrawaddy. The Irrigation Department has been monitoring the condition of the reservoir since Jan. 13 and found no further risk, the departments deputy staff officer, U Zaw Wunna, said. Technicians have also been conducting a geological survey to test the strength of the earth, he added. Only after we have the results of the geological survey will we know what to do next in response, U Zaw Oo said. Lawmakers representing the township, the General Administration Department and the Irrigation Department informed villages downstream of the reservoir about its condition earlier this week. Local residents called for reducing the water in the reservoir and repairing it promptly, said township administrator U Kyaw Htay. Villagers have also been evacuating their homes for fear of a possible flood. People are in fear and some are evacuating. Some are sleeping on nearby hills. We feel safer with less water in the reservoir, U Thein Win, a resident of Watt Toe Village, told The Irrawaddy. The reservoir was built in 1985 at a cost of 1.4 billion kyats under the Burma Socialist Program Party regime with development loans from Japan and put into service in 1995. With a storage capacity of 287,000 acre-feet of water, it can irrigate about 10,000 acres, but currently holds only about 220,000 acre-feet. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Military a Possible No Show For Parliament Debate on Amending Constitution Military lawmakers leave Parliament in Naypyitaw. / Reuters NAYPYITAW It remains unclear whether military lawmakers in the Union Parliament will join a legislative debate on a proposal to form a special committee to discuss amendments to the military-drafted Constitution. U Aung Kyi Nyunt, a lawmaker for the ruling National League for Democracy, proposed forming a committee of fellow legislators to draft possible amendments on Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Maung Maung, who heads the militarys constitutionally mandated 25-percent bloc in Parliament, immediately objected to the idea and said it would be in breach of the rules. Despite a boycott by the military lawmakers and some of their allies, Parliament voted to discuss the proposal at a later date. Lawmakers wishing to join the debate were to register with Parliament by 4 p.m. Thursday. Following Thursdays Parliament session, Brig. Gen. Maung Maung told reporters that the military had yet to decide whether to participate. When The Irrawaddy called Parliament at about 4 p.m. that afternoon to find out if any military lawmakers had registered, officials declined to comment. About an hour after the deadline, one military lawmaker, speaking to The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity, suggested they would not join the discussion. We boycotted the vote because the proposal was not submitted in line with procedures. If we participate in the debate, it would be interpreted that we approve the proposal, the military lawmaker said. Military lawmakers also sent a formal letter of complaint to the Union Parliament speaker. U Aung Kyi Nyunt encouraged the military to take part in the discussion. Brig. Gen. Maung Maung said that they do not oppose amending the Constitution. So they should participate. And we dont even need to invite them, he said. Lawmakers said more than 60 of them have registered, including those from the NLD, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party and some ethnic-based parties. USDP lawmaker U Thaung Aye said he would join the debate to voice his objections to the proposal. Lawmakers said the debate might be scheduled for next week. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Household Search Operations to Be Carried Out in N Rakhine Security forces on patrol in Maungdaw, northern Rakhine State in September 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGON The Rakhine State government has granted permission to state police and military to carry out a household check operation in seven townships of northern Rakhine State, in an attempt to find members of the Arakan Army (AA) who may be hiding in the villages. The Irrawaddy has seen an instruction letter written by the Rakhine state government, dated Jan. 25 and signed by the states finance and planning minister U Kyaw Aye Thein on behalf of the Rakhine State chief minister, and addressed to the states General Administration Department (GAD), the Rakhine State Police Force, the Population and Immigration Department as well as the Fire Services Department. It stated that the Rakhine State government received reports earlier this month stating that AA members are mingling in villages in the seven listed townships, in northern Rakhine. The Union government has opened a case against the AA under the Counter Terrorism Act for attacking four border outposts in northern Rakhine in which 13 policemen were killed and dozens of firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were seized on Jan. 4. Following this, several government departments asked for permission to carry out joint household and population status examination operations, in which they intend to carry out checks on all household registration documents and to photograph all family members on the list, as well as searching suspicious homes in the townships of Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and the ancient city of Mrauk-U in Myebon Township which is one of Rakhines most popular tourist attractions. After holding a state cabinet meeting on Jan. 23, the National League for Democracy (NLD)-appointed ministers decided to allow the operation to be carried out in these seven townships in line with the procedure. The letter mentioned the four departments to be responsible for implementing the operation and ordered them to report back to the state government when completed. The Rakhine State parliament deputy house speaker U Mya Than confirmed the authenticity of the letter, saying that the signature matched that of Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein. We have to wait and see their actions in the seven townships. We have already informed our lawmakers to monitor whether their actions go beyond the [stipulated] procedure or not. In conversation over the phone with The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein said they had previously allowed such inspections in that area, but when questioned on the most recent inspection operation approved on Jan. 25, he said he could not remember signing it. I cannot remember well because Ive had to sign many letters, he said. Rakhine State police chief Col. Kyi Linn said he was not aware of the letter. When The Irrawaddy contacted township administrative officials from Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Maungdaw, they all said they hadnt received the letter as of Thursday. They speculated that this is because it is addressed to the security forces and higher departments rather than township level administration and they believe its authenticity. The Irrawaddy asked them whether the state government gave the same order to the military following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)s attacks on government border outposts in 2017. In that case, the operation resulted in a crackdown on the Rohingya community which drove more than 700,000 people to flee across the Bangladesh border. The UN has been calling for army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing to be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court for his role in committing the crimes against the Rohingya community. In response to the question, the officials said they never heard of a headcount instruction letter during the 2017 Rohingya crisis. Despite the letter specifying townships in northern Rakhine, it has been reported on the ground that teams of fully-equipped soldiers, police and immigration officials are carrying out checks in at least three village tracts in southern Rakhines Kyaukphyu Township this week where several Chinese mega projects are located. The day after the AAs Jan. 4 attacks, Myanmars de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi organized a rare high-level meeting in Naypyidaw and the Presidents Office later gave the green light for the army to retaliate against the AA rebels. In a Jan. 18 press conference held by the army in Naypyidaw, Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi revealed that She, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, instructed us to effectively crush the AA. If we dont, there will be finger-pointing over why [the army] has not crushed [members of a recognized] ethnic group, but has crushed ARSA (who practice a different religion). Burma 20 Activists Arrested for Protesting Gen. Aung San Statue in Loikaw Ethnic rights activists protesting a statue of Gen. Aung San sit outside the entrance of a park in Loikaw, the capital of Karenni State, on Thursday. / Progressive Karenni People Force / Facebook Police detained 20 ethnic rights activists on Friday morning for protesting against the state governments placement of a statue of independence hero General Aung San in Loikaw, the capital of Karenni State, according to one of those arrested. They were released on bail later in the day. The police first asked seven rights activists who led the protest to accompany them to the police station. As they were arriving at the station, police broke up a protest camp set up by the activists on Thursday and made more arrests, the sources said. After being detained upstairs at a police station due to a lack of space in the local jail, the detainees were released on bail after promising to pay a 1-million-kyat deposit each, according to Khun Thomas, a youth leader who was among those arrested. They are scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 14, he said. Earlier in the day, prior to being released on bail, Khun Thomas told The Irrawaddy that police took [statements] from us at the station and they charged all of us under Article 19. He explained that the detainees were required to put their names on pre-written forms accusing them of the crime. Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits people from protesting without first obtaining permission from police. He confirmed that police had shut down the protest camp. Before closing the protest camp, a group of police and township officials arrived at the site and read out an order informing the activists that they were illegally present in a restricted area. Claiming the site was a public space, not a restricted area, the activists refused to leave. About 50 police arrested the remaining activists at the camp. The activists said those behind the project were staining the history of Karenni State. They singled out for blame Karenni State Chief Minister L Phaung Sho, National League for Democracy youth members, their cronies and certain volunteer associations involved in the project. Their revolution was not yet over, they said, adding that they had just begun to fight, despite the NLD governments decision to put up the statue. We dare to challenge the chief minister of the state. You can put up a statue. But unless you recognize our request, the statue will have no meaning, Khun Thomas said. There were many youths in Karenni State, so Fridays arrests wouldnt end the struggle, Khun Thomas said, adding that further action would be taken, though he declined to provide details. Khun Be Du, chairman of the Loikaw-based Kayan National Party, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that arresting activists would not resolve the issue, and predicted there would be more problems soon. A group of local residents who support the decision to put up a statue of Gen. Aung San said they would stage a pro-statue rally in Loikaw on Saturday. However, rights activists said they planned to hold another protest against the statue in the town on Feb. 4. They asked the government to negotiate with them, according to Khun Be Du. We cannot accept injustice. We must fight it, Khun Be Du said. He added that right activists were prepared to confront the governments supporters on the issue. It is unfortunate, but we have no option as the state government has created this problem. We asked the chief minister to resign from his position as he could not say how much his government had spent on putting up the statue. We also asked the government to release all 20 rights activists soon. We even asked them to remove the statue from the park and place it in front of the NLDs office in the town, he said. Asia Indonesia to Challenge 'Discriminative' EU Directive on Palm Oil An aerial photo of a palm oil plantation in Batanghari, Jambi Province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia, on Nov. 28, 2018. / Reuters JAKARTA Indonesia intends to challenge an EU directive on renewable energy at the World Trade Organization, arguing the plan to curb the use of crops that cause deforestation will unfairly target palm oil, a senior Indonesian official told Reuters. The worlds top producer of the oil is also reviewing its relations with the European Union over the issue and urging other Southeast Asian nations to defer plans to upgrade EU ties, said Mahendra Siregar, special staff at the Foreign Ministry. The EU directive, known as RED II, aims to stop the use of crops that cause deforestation in transportation fuel by 2030. Environmentalists blame a rapid expansion of Indonesian palm plantations for a massive clearance of forests that were home to endangered tigers, orangutans and elephants. A challenge from Indonesia on the policy would escalate its efforts to safeguard sales to its second-biggest palm oil market. The EU accounted for around 15 percent of Indonesias total palm exports of more than $15 billion last year. Siregar said palm oil will be labeled a high risk crop indicating its potential to result in deforestation in an act attached to RED II due to be issued in early February. Indonesia will challenge both RED II and the act at the WTOs dispute settlement body after it is issued, he said. The WTO body can order members to remove any trade barriers if it finds that the policies breach free trade rules. A government document outlining Indonesias stance on the EU policy and reviewed by Reuters said the method used to assess Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), which aims to measure the risk of unintended carbon emissions, was not internationally recognized and not applicable in a tropical region. The criteria listed in ILUC gives advantages to local European Union commodities such as rapeseed oil, it said. Indonesia letter to ASEAN Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a letter to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that developments in the EU hurting the interests of ASEAN palm oil-producing states have caused it to defer elevation of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations to a strategic level. The Jan. 14 letter, also reviewed by Reuters, urged other members of ASEAN to follow suit. All Indonesia-EU relationships will be overviewed related to that discriminative policy by the EU, Siregar said. Asked about the letter, a spokesman at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta said: It is up to the member states to decide. Rafael de Bustamante Tello, first counselor at the EU Embassy in Jakarta, said: The EU considers the RED II to be in line with the EUs international commitments, including its WTO obligations. The European Commission will make sure achievement of the EUs renewable energy goals goes hand in hand with the fair and rules-based international trade regime that we so strongly defend, he said. De Bustamante also said that during an EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in Brussels last week the two blocs decided to form a new joint working group to address issues related to palm oil. In January last year, the WTO ruled in favor of Indonesia on several challenges to anti-dumping duties that the EU had imposed on its biodiesel exports. The duties had effectively stopped the trade, but exporters were able to resume shipments to Europe around April. Palm oil, mainly produced in Indonesia and Malaysia, is used as feedstock for biofuels as well as being used in a wide variety of goods, ranging from food to soap. Asia China Offered to Nearly Halve Cost of Malaysia's $20B Rail Project: Sources Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (second from left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Aug. 20. / Reuters KUALA LUMPUR China offered to nearly halve the cost of a $20-billion rail project to save the centerpiece of its infrastructure push in Southeast Asia, two sources said on Thursday, but contradictory remarks by Malaysian ministers leave the outcome uncertain. The conflicting statements made over the past week on the status of the East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) underscore the political and diplomatic challenges facing the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in renegotiating the contract. If it was just about the cost, China has offered a big reduction on the cost, as much as around half, said one of the sources privy to the talks. Contractor China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) had offered to cut construction costs of 67 billion ringgit ($16.39 billion) for the 688-km project by as much as half, the sources said. Expenses on interest and land acquisition help make up the rest of the total cost. Despite the proposed discount, Mahathirs government decided to cancel the contract this month, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic. After coming to power in May, Mahathir, a critic of Chinas investments in Malaysia, vowed to renegotiate or cancel what he calls unfair Chinese projects authorized by his predecessor, Najib Razak, and suspended the ECRL in July. However, on Wednesday Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Malaysia was pursuing more talks with China. That news came days after another minister said the cabinet had decided to terminate the contract and a day after Mahathir sought Chinas understanding over the planned cancellation. Negotiations have continued since the July suspension, with Malaysia indicating that it was looking for cheaper proposals on what would have been Chinas biggest Belt and Road venture in Southeast Asia. Too many officials The sources also said negotiations had been complicated by the involvement of too many Malaysian officials. Apart from the Finance Ministry, CCCC and its domestic partner Malaysia Rail Line (MRL) have also had to present their proposals to Mahathirs long-time adviser, Daim Zainuddin, among other government officials. Each has their own agenda and looks at the project differentlyits a very peculiar situation, one of the sources said. Daim led the now-disbanded advisory council formed soon after Mahathir came to power. His office declined to comment. The Malaysian Finance Ministry directed queries to the prime ministers office, which did not immediately respond to questions. MRL and CCCC declined to comment. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said this week he had seen the reports of the cancellation but was unaware of the specifics. As far as I know, this project was agreed upon by companies from both sides in accordance with market principles based on equality, mutual benefit and consensus-building, he said. The Chinese and Malaysian sides have been in communication on the relevant matters. He did not elaborate. On Wednesday, the Malaysian cabinet said it had decided to stop making comments on the project, save for those by Mahathir. Ties with China deteriorated after Mahathir led a coalition of unlikely partners to election victory over Najibs Barisan Nasional alliance, which had governed the country for 60 years. It is not an easy task for a coalition of diverse parties with almost no experience in the federal government, said Adib Zalkapli, Malaysia director of public policy consultancy Bower Group Asia. And each of the parties may have different ideas about foreign policy in the new Malaysia.' The rail project was launched in 2017 in a push for Chinese investment during the administration of Najib, whose near-decade-long rule ended in electoral defeat amid a massive financial scandal. Hit by ballooning costs, lack of transparency and the risk it could saddle Malaysia with uncomfortably large debt, the project has come to symbolize Najibs scandal-ridden administration. At the time, the opposition, which included Mahathir, accused Najib of selling out Malaysias sovereignty to China. Interview Constitutional Reforms Its Time to Take a Step Forward U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Upper House lawmaker and NLD central executive committee member. / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) on Tuesday made its first official attempt to change the military-drafted 2008 Constitution since it took power in 2016. A member of the partys central executive committee, Upper House lawmaker U Aung Kyi Nyunt, submitted an urgent proposal to the Union Parliament to form a joint parliament committee to work on amending the charter as soon as possible. The constitution, drafted by the then-ruling military junta, has been widely criticized as undemocratic. It reserves 25 percent of parliament seatsboth regionally and nationallyfor the military and gives the armys chief the power to appoint three important ministers: defense, home affairs and border affairs. The army can also select one of the countrys three vice-presidents. U Aung Kyi Nyunt on Tuesday told all lawmakers sitting in Parliament, including the military appointees, that the Constitution needs to be amended as it includes articles which are not in accordance with democratic standards, which contradict one another and prevent the establishment of a democratic federal union and a genuine multi-party democratic system. He added that some articles also fail to ensure mutual checks and balances between the three pillars of democracy and to ensure equal rights for citizen as well as free and fair elections. His comments drew loud applause from supportive lawmakers, yet, as expected, the militarywhich sees safeguarding the Constitution as one of its main dutiesboycotted U Aung Kyi Nyunts proposal. All military appointees in the Parliament stood up in an apparent sign of protest against his proposal. This is not the first time a proposal by U Aung Kyi Nyunt caused uproar with the military. In April 2016, soon after the NLD took power, he submitted the bill that created the key new post of state counselor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is barred from becoming president under the Constitution. As before, the militarys disagreement on Tuesday was defeated by a majority of votes in approval of discussing the proposal in upcoming parliamentary sessions. The Irrawaddy spoke to U Aung Kyi Nyunt about why the party is working on constitutional amendments now, how likely they are to be amended and what articles in the Constitution will be amended. In your proposal on Tuesday, you mentioned that the purpose of the committee will be to facilitate attempts to amend the Constitution as soon as possible. How soon can the Constitution be amended? I couldnt guess the exact date or time of when the Constitution will be amended. Reforms have come of age to some extent now. We need changes [to the Constitution] to make it suitable for the current situation as well as for the ongoing peace process [in which some agreements have been reached on the basic principles for establishing a democratic federal union]. Thats why I submitted the proposal. Some have criticized the NLDs decision to work on constitutional amendments only now after three years in office. It is easy to criticize, but the administration has been working on the Panglong Conference (a series of peace conferences), eternal peace, ceasefires, ending civil war as well as other administrative jobs. As for the legislative sector, I think if we can facilitate the constitutional amendments in a short time under the current circumstances, it would help smooth some [other ongoing processes]. In some cities, campaigns calling for constitutional reforms are also taking place. Therefore, I am proposing to start with the formation of the committee that can work systematically and transparentlyto work not by a single party nor an organization, but with an all-inclusive approach for the future of our country. Thats it. It is time to carry out constitutional reforms. If you ask why we didnt attempt it in the past, we actually did attempt to amend the Constitution in the Parliament before [under the previous governments term] but only few minor articles were amended [at that time] and it wasnt effective. With the political reforms that have taken place in the country [since the NLD came to power], it is time to take a step forward. So this is the first time an attempt to amend the Constitution has the potential to be successful? What I can say is we are trying for that. You made seven points in your proposal that said the existing Constitution includes articles that are not in accordance with democratic standards, which prevent peace and the establishment of a genuine democratic federal union, and so on. Considering those points, how many of the Constitutions articles would need to be amended? Under those points, there are many articles. But there could be different opinions on that. Those different opinions will be debated among the committee members which will be inclusive. I believe some of the articles contradict one another but there could be those who disagree with me on that. I cant be dogmatic and believe that only what I say is right and other opinions are wrong. We will negotiate. Thats the first step we need to take now with all, including political parties and lawmakers, as well as military representatives. The NLDs central executive committee in early 2014 recommended 168 points for constitutional amendment. Will there be more than 100 articles that need to be amended under your points? We have done a study, but that is our [NLD] view. We will also need to negotiate with others. It could be more than 100 clauses to be amended or less than that. What I would like to say is that rather than trying to win and lose over that, I wish to discuss them with the future of our country in mind, and how we would like to grow and what kind of nation we would like to leave for future generations. Democratic forces want to amend the clause that reserves 25 percent of seats for the military in all parliaments; Article 436, which requires proposed changes to the charter to be supported by more than 75 percent of lawmakers; and Article 59 (f), which bars NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming Union president. Will those be included? [Those] could be included. But the committee will decide on the amendments according to the different opinions of the military, other political parties, the public and experts. The public wishes for the Constitution to be amended as soon as possible. Is it possible before the 2020 general election? We have the will, and are working towards that, but will and reality are different things. The answer will depend on the circumstances and conditions that we will encounter, and I cant much predict the future. The military said it never has opposed amending the Constitution, but all military representatives stood up against your proposal and boycotted the vote. What do you think about their objections? Yes, they said we cant amend the constitution like thisthat any move to amend the Constitution requires a draft bill signed by at least 20 [percent of] lawmakers. I think they objected as they wrongly thought that I am proposing constitutional reforms. The proposal is not for that stepI am urging for a committee to be formed which will work towards that step. What would you like to say to those who are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of the NLDs election promises of amending the Constitution? There have been no incidents within our capacity where we neglected the promises we made during the election. If the public knows the NLD is always trying to implement its promises, I am pleased. Iran on Friday began celebrating the 40th anniversary of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, which toppled the US-backed shah, overturned 2,500 years of monarchical rule and brought hardline Shiite clerics to power. The climactic events that year in Iran, when images of revolutionaries in the streets gave way to black-and-white images of blindfolded American hostages in the US Embassy crisis months later, not only changed Iran's history but also helped shape today's Middle East. The anniversary starts every year on February 1, the day Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned home from France, after 14 years in exile, to become the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Across Iran, sirens rang out from trains and boats and church bells chimed at 9.33 am on Friday, the exact time Khomeini's chartered Air France Boeing 747 touched down 40 years ago at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. The 10-day anniversary festivities, known as the Ten Days of Dawn, end on February 11, the date Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's government collapsed after brief clashes between some units of the army and revolutionary gunmen and following nationwide protests. As part of the celebrations, many buildings in Tehran, mostly government institutions and offices, were draped in the colours of Iran's green-white-and-red flag while multi-coloured lights decorated the main streets. In memory of those events, car drivers turned on their headlights and honked in celebration as helicopters dropped clusters of flowers along the 21-mile route from the airport to the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran, where Khomeini made his first speech and where his tomb stands today. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (C), and Khomeini's grandson Hassan Khomeini (R), visiting the shrine of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, ahead of 40th anniversary of Khomeini's return from his exile in Paris to Iran, in southern Tehran, Iran, 30 January 2019. (EPA/PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE) Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, on Wednesday paid homage to Khomeini's tomb "to renew allegiance" to the late leader. Iranian state TV broadcast archive footage of Khomeini's return and the daily mass demonstrations across Iran in support to his revolution. Khomeini was accompanied on the flight home by dozens of journalists, a few of his associates and only one family member, his younger son Ahmad. The plane was only half full, to keep room for extra fuel in case of immediate return to Paris if the plane could not land in Tehran. Supporters of the shah's regime had closed the airport the week before and Khomeini's allies in Tehran feared possible threats against his life. PA With the UKs departure, Europeans will lose an economic and military powerhouse, a move symptomatic of our wider loss of influence and relevance, says Sigmar Gabriel. The clock is ticking toward March 29 and the UKs exit from the European Union. Whether Brexit turns out to be soft or hard, the UK will endure severe economic turbulence. But Britain has survived much larger crises and will overcome this one. The real question is what Brexit means for the future of Europe. The European idea will survive. The EU will not shatter in the wake of Brexit, and it will overcome the economic fallout from the UKs departure. But Brexit will damage Europes role in the world, in a way that we Europeans seem unable to grasp. The recent decision by US president, Donald Trumps administration to downgrade the diplomatic status of the EU mission in Washington was perhaps a taste of things to come. The geopolitical background against which Brexit is taking place cannot be discounted and may play a big part in determining its impact on the EU. The most salient fact is that the worlds political and economic balance of power is shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a trend that cannot be blamed only on populists such as Trump. It was, after all, former US president Barack Obama who spoke of the US as a Pacific rather than an Atlantic country, whereas his predecessors had always spoken of the US as a transatlantic actor. While we may live today in a G-Zero world, with no single power assuming global responsibility, tomorrow may bring a G-2 world, in which the US and China compete for global dominance. Europeans and here I include the British face the question of whether (and how) we will maintain our sovereignty between these new, rival power centres. With the possible exception of climate policies, Europe is already a spectator on most global conflicts and issues. These include the looming resumption of the nuclear-arms race that Trump and Russian president, Vladimir Putin, appear hellbent on pursuing, as well as the violent turmoil in the Middle East. Rather than turning to Europe in the face of Trumps announced withdrawal of US forces from Syria, the rebel groups fighting Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, apparently for the values of freedom and democracy, are looking instead to Russia and Turkey. After Brexit, we may find ourselves in a more perilous state, because the world will look at Europeans as even greater weaklings. Unable to get our own act together and frame our interests, our efforts to convince others of our worldview appear quixotic. Whats more, with Brexit, the EU will lose a member with centuries-old diplomatic networks, an economic powerhouse, and a nuclear power with a first-class military. All this should be reason enough to use the remaining weeks until March 29 (and perhaps beyond) to seek compromises that may limit the damage from Brexit. Clearly, the odds are stacked against success. For most of the Labour opposition, Europe is far less important than toppling the British prime minister, Theresa May. Many of the ruling Tories, meanwhile (and some within Labour, too, unfortunately), will reach their Brexit objective by doing nothing. And a parliamentary majority for a negotiated soft Brexit looks unlikely, because this would leave the UKs future fully in the EUs hands when negotiating the terms of remaining in the single market. What, then, should Europeans do? It may be factually correct to point out, with a shrug of our shoulders, that the UK put itself into this position, owing to the feckless behaviour of its political elite. But this stance helps no-one. Not only the British population, but Europe as a whole, will suffer the consequences of Brexit. To reach a solution that keeps the UK as close as possible to the EU, all Europeans must recognise that what happens on March 29 matters to all of us. More specifically, European social democratic parties should reach out to Labour and its eurosceptic leader, Jeremy Corbyn. German conservatives and liberals, together with French president, Emmanuel Macron, must reach out to the Irish government regarding the possible consequences of a hard Brexit, namely a hard border and a resurgence of violence on the island. Preventing this was the aim of the backstop in Ms Mays withdrawal agreement with the EU, which the British parliament emphatically rejected on January 15. Europeans also must ask themselves whether we can agree on a better treaty between the EU and the UK than we have so far. Perhaps there are other ways to reassure Britain that there will be a follow-up treaty acceptable to both sides, under which no-one is held hostage permanently. And perhaps there is room for manoeuvre on freedom of movement within the EU. After all, not only the British government, but also German mayors and town councils want more and better instruments to mitigate the impact of migration on our social-security systems. Freedom of movement does not exclude management of this freedom. As the March 29 deadline approaches, the EU should make clear that the clock will stop if the UK needs more time. This would be nothing new in international negotiations. Even the date for this years European Parliament election should not be an insurmountable obstacle. It is time for political creativity. Any chance of success, however long the odds, must be seized. The price of a chaotic Brexit is too high for anyone in Europe to accept blithely. Sigmar Gabriel, a former German minister of foreign affairs, is a member of the Bundestag. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019. The INTO continues to fight for equal pay and pension rights for all teachers and never colluded with Government to cut new entrants pay, says Sheila Nunan. Pay and investment go hand in hand in creating efficient and well-run public services. They arent mutually exclusive. Teachers are entitled to equal pay and to work in a school which receives adequate financial investment to enable them to get on with their primary role as educators. Irish primary schools receive significantly less funding than second and third-level institutions. Funding in primary schools amounts to less than 1 per pupil per day to cover their running costs. Second-level schools get almost double that amount. Overall, for every 8 spent on primary schools, 11 is spent at second level, and 15 at third level. The standard capitation grant per pupil has dropped from 200 in 2010 to 178 at present in contrast to the current figure of 311 at post-primary level. Annual expenditure per student in Ireland is lower than the OECD average for pre-primary and primary education. Such underinvestment leads to mass fundraising campaigns in schools to deliver some 40m a year to cover basic needs. And by basic, I dont mean those things which are nice to have but not critical, I mean things like projector light bulbs. Those opposed to organised labour will have you believe its a choice one or the other. Thats a cop-out which most people see through. The notion that the trade union movement, and my own, the Irish National Teachers Organisation in particular, somehow colluded with the Government to cut pay for newer entrants to the teaching profession from 2011. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Government, as part of the financial bailout, unilaterally imposed an across-the-board cut of 10% at each point on the scale and new teachers were further reverted to the start of the scale having previously started on the second point. Unions werent consulted. We didnt support this draconian move then and we dont support it now. Indeed, over the last decade we have committed ourselves to reversing these cuts and have made tangible progress for our younger members in doing so. Back in 2011, these cuts amounted to a career loss of over 300,000, which stripped those teachers affected of financial security. In the intervening years, the INTO fought back. Despite newer entrants being a minority of our membership, it was and remains a priority for our whole union. Thats solidarity, members standing together to support one another. Its the very basis on which the trade union movement began. But you wont hear that from the right, from those who buy into a philosophy that views organised labour as the enemy, standing in the way of unchecked free market economics. Over the last decade, INTO has fought a campaign on all fronts to deliver equal pay for equal work. We secured moderate restorations from a series of public sector agreements including the Haddington Road Agreement and the Lansdowne Agreement. Throughout the course of the current Public Sector Stability Agreement, we continued to fight for pay restoration. Following our last tranche of negotiations late last year, we put the final offer from Government to a ballot of our members. While it might have been easy to pocket the short-term restorations, our members, acting in solidarity with one another patently refused the offer. Our engagement with Government continues. Indeed, the Education Minister Joe McHugh, himself a teacher by profession, has acknowledged that this is unfinished business for new entrants. Although, given a 2011 entrant will have worked in the profession for almost a decade, the term new hardly seems appropriate. In his Irish Examiner column this week, Gerard Howlin suggests that we have somehow misappropriated the term equal pay for equal work. How? The fact is teachers in this country, perhaps even teaching in neighbouring classrooms are being paid less for doing the same job. Surely that meets the very definition of inequality. Mr Howlin charges unions, such as the INTO, with collusion on changes to pension schemes for new entrants, introduced by the government. Teachers, for their part, pay into their pension schemes. Debating whether these schemes are better than private sector offerings misses this point completely. Every worker, whether in the public or private sector is entitled to security in retirement. As a society, we risk pushing the buck down the line and all the problems imaginable as a result. The INTO, for our part, will continue to advocate that our members, teachers in classrooms right across the country, deserve and will pay into a pension scheme which offers them some security in retirement. To be clear, all members of the INTO, regardless of which pension scheme they are subscribed to, have rejected the race to the bottom on pension provision. Indeed our 2017 Congress condemned attempts to play off private sector and public sector workers in the area of pensions. And while the public service pension terms introduced for entrants since 2013 are not as good as those of previous schemes, INTO campaigned against the reduced terms from the outset. As part of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, we have ensured that pension contributions are now less than those paid for pre-2013 schemes. Thats genuine intergenerational solidarity, typical of our union membership. Our primary school teachers have been highly regarded by top international commentators, including Pasi Sahlberg who noted the high calibre of entrants to initial teacher education in Ireland and concluded that the academic standard of applicants is amongst the highest, if not the highest, in the world. In the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which measures the reading achievement of primary pupils near the end of fourth class, Irelands score was significantly higher than most other participating countries. Only two countries (the Russian Federation and Singapore) achieved mean scores that were significantly higher than Irelands. Primary school teachers are delivering for Irelands future. Sheila Nunan is INTO general secretary. After the UK leaves, Ireland could be the gateway to Europe for the US, writes Liam Kennedy As the drama of Brexit unfolds and the UKs land border with the Republic of Ireland becomes its defining issue, relatively little international attention has been paid to Irelands post-Brexit future. Even as it responds daily to the manifold challenges Brexit poses, the Irish government has also been seeking fresh opportunities and building alliances both in the EU and the US. For nearly half a century, Ireland has had to carefully manage its relationships with the UK, the EU and the US. Brexit has raised the stakes in this complex diplomatic and economic positioning. It is a challenging scenario for a small state, as these more powerful entities are also in the midst of reconfiguring their relations with each other. Boston or Berlin Ireland and the UK joined the European Economic Community (ECC) at the same time, in January 1973, but their relations with what would come to be the EU have significantly differed. The UK entered truculently and remained sceptical and begrudging of membership, generally resistant to further integration of the union. While the Leave vote in 2016 was a shock to many, the British distaste for Europe was a deep and abiding undercurrent. Ireland entered more gratefully, in sore need of the economic benefits membership would bring. It has not always been a smooth relationship but it has brought wealth and trade. Paradoxically, it also helped to naturalise relations with the UK and to set it on a trajectory away from dependency on the former colonial masters. In many ways, joining the EU was a moment of psychological liberation for the young state. Even as it took advantage of EU membership though, Ireland had a strategic gaze on foreign direct investment from the US as key to its economic future. The strategy proved remarkably successful, fuelling the Celtic Tiger economic growth of the 1990s and early 2000s. Varadkar visited Trump in early 2018. EPA That booming economy led to fresh considerations about EU and US influences on Ireland. In 2000, the then Tanaiste Mary Harney remarked on Irelands position between Europe, representing social inclusion and government regulation, and the US, which promoted the free market and minimal government involvement. She concluded that spiritually we are probably a lot closer to Boston than Berlin. It was a conclusion that reflected the optimism of the time. Ireland was the new poster child of globalisation. Whether thats still true is unclear. The pushback against globalisation is growing in force and, in any case, Boston and Berlin no longer symbolise what they did in 2000. As Ireland seeks to maintain and market itself as a nimble open economy it must redefine its relations on both sides of the Atlantic. Life after Brexit Brexit is viewed by the Irish government and its diplomats as an opportunity for Ireland to expand its relevance both within the EU and in US-EU relations. There is an expectation that its role in the EU will grow with the UK leaving, but precisely how that role will change remains vague and uncertain. Ireland entered the EEC as an agrarian backwater in need of aid it now more confidently maintains EU membership as a modern hi-tech, open economy. In 2014, it went from being a net beneficiary to a net contributor to the EU budget. With such growth comes responsibilities and, with the EU demonstrating strong support for Ireland during Brexit, there may have to be payback or at least some tough decisions to be made regarding such issues as corporate taxation and contributions to European defence. Irelands globalised economy is highly dependent on investment by US multinationals. At present, approximately 700 US companies have investment in Ireland, employing around 150,000 people. In 2017 they paid 4.25bn into the Irish exchequer. In 2016 Ireland accounted for 1% of the European economy yet attracted 12% of US foreign direct investment. It must be added that it has benefited more than any European country from profit-shifting by US companies a point of some tension with EU partner countries. For over 30 years, Ireland has promoted itself to American companies as a gateway to Europe a pitch that has even greater resonance sinc ethe EU referendum. The government and its agencies have been seeking to capitalise on this messaging as Brexit nears, promoting the country as even more attractive for investment, and also positing an enhanced presence in Washington as a close EU partner. But that may also mean that a greater economic challenge for Ireland than Brexit will be the slowdown in growth in the US, and pending trade wars between the US and China and/or between the US and the EU. During his visit to Washington in March 2018, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated: We see ourselves as a global country, not so much an island behind an island at the edge of a continent, but rather an island at the centre of the world. This shifting of the axis of Irelands economic and political worldview is ambitious and yet requires careful diplomatic engagement and leverage to secure the vision. For Ireland, Brexit may prove to be another important moment of psychological liberation, but is also a precarious moment portending an uncertain future. This article was written by Liam Kennedy of University College Dublin and was originally published on The Conversation This article is republished from theconversation.com under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here. Ive started dating a really gorgeous, passionate woman. We havent had sex yet and she jokes about how buttoned-up I am. To be honest, I am worried she is right. I really fancy her I cant believe my luck. But Im feeling so intimidated that I have been putting off sex with her. A woman who knows her own mind, as your passionate new partner appears to, would not be with you if she did not fancy you. Opposites attract, and for a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, your buttoned-up demeanour is probably the thing that she finds most attractive about you. Thats not particularly surprising, nor is it unusual. From James Bond to Mr Darcy, the restrained exterior masking a deeply passionate interior has been a standard hook in literature and film for centuries. Although you obviously really like her, you seem to be afraid to let her know quite how much. While I can understand why you feel intimidated by your feelings for your girlfriend, hold on to the fact that it is the very differences between you that create this chemistry. When two assertive individuals have sex with each other, there is often a battle for dominance, and when two very shy people have sex, neither one is willing to take the lead. In contrast, when one partner is a passionate extrovert and the other is more buttoned up, it gives the sexual relationship momentum and creates an exciting push you, pull me dynamic. One of the mistakes people make in new sexual relationships is that they try to be the person they think their partner wants them to be. It never works. When it comes to evaluating new sexual partners, most humans are highly skilled. Research by Professor Frank Bernieri of Oregon State University in the US suggests that we form an initial impression of someone in the first 15 seconds of meeting them. Because romantic relationships tend to be more meaningful than, for example, professional ones, in the first few hours of meeting a potential partner we will assess their personality, their sense of humour, their interests, their passions, their commitments, their background, their education and their social network. We are alert to inconsistencies and warning signs. And if we are very attracted to them, we will be doing all this while blindsided by feelings of sexual desire. However insecure you feel, reassure yourself that you have passed this test. Your girlfriend has deemed you to be a suitable partner for her, so dont go changing. Be your authentic self, and if you can, try to tell her how you feel about her. She will not be turned off by the fact that you really fancy her and feel incredibly lucky to be with her. If you feel anxious, be honest about that too. She probably knows that you find her intimidating, so you wont be telling her anything new. You will, however, be demonstrating that you are not afraid to be open, and that sets a good example for her too. Although introverts often envy how confident extroverts appear to be, many extroverts wish they could rein themselves in and are acutely self-conscious of their need to fill silence at any cost. It is true also that extroverts only tend to share the upbeat stuff, so your vulnerability will give her permission to access the parts of herself that dont get to the surface. Most of all, believe in yourself. You are what she isnt; the yin to her yang. And she needs what you can give her, just as much as you want what she is offering you. Send your queries to suzigodson@mac.com SAMANTHA Mumbas Twitter handle reads like a cryptic story of her life: Mama; wife; Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling recording artist; actress; TV presenter. The talented multitasker could also add transatlantic frequent flyer. The 36-year-old chart-topper is based in Los Angeles but thanks to the game-changer direct flight to Dublin run by Aer Lingus, shes over and back a lot. Its only a plane ride away its grand, she says of the nine-and-a-half-hour journey. There was no sign of jetlag when she landed in her native Dublin recently. She joined Just Eat to celebrate National Takeaway Tuesday which supports homeless charities and was a guest presenter on Virgin Medias Expose. She has also appeared on the ITV chat show Loose Women. They are gorgeous ladies and really, really fun. I would love to do more work with them down the line, absolutely. Everyone has totally their own opinion and I love that they can disagree. Though constantly busy, when it comes to a career plan, Mumba believes in going with the flow. I enjoy doing the presenting thing. I enjoy doing the acting thing once its something thats a good fit for me. But this year her main focus is on music. Ill be releasing a new album this year, with a single in April and one in summer. When in Dublin her mum is delighted to get the chance to indulge her three-year-old granddaughter, Sage. Shes being spoilt rotten and being given way too much chocolate. Back in LA, they love to go to Disneyland. Thats our happy place. Its about an hours drive [from where we live] depending on traffic. We have an annual pass. Mumba also has an annual pass for Dublin Zoo: I love a good annual pass, she jokes. What shape are you in? My weight fluctuates a little bit. Im laid back about all of that. But for the most part, I feel better when Im more active. Im a bit more focused on that recently. I would go to the gym about four days a week. It depends on what mood Im in. Recently, because I was trying to lose a little weight Ive been starting with cardio but for the most part, I prefer doing the weights. I try to switch it up a little bit. What are your healthiest eating habits? I usually start my day with a green juice. At least I feel like no matter how the rest of the day goes, I know Ive gotten some goodness. I use kale, spinach, watercress, turmeric, ginger, apple, banana, whatever berries or fruit I have in the fridge. Its delicious and a really nice start to the day. What are your guiltiest pleasures? I never had a particularly sweet tooth but my daughter is a total chocoholic shes got me on the bandwagon. Now, I like a dessert if Im out, rather than an appetiser. I do nibble on chocolate at home its one for her and one for me. What would keep you awake at night? Laying in bed and being on my phone or staying up late watching TV. Its my unwind time. Id be a bit of a night owl. Its a terrible habit. How do you relax? I love a deep-tissue Thai massage. And I love it when [the masseuse] walks on my back. Other than that and I dont do it very often its a bath. Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? For fun, Chrissie Teigen shes such a foodie and a friend on my head. Cher would be really fun too. Also, Michael Jackson and drag queen RuPaul. Whats your favourite smell? The sea or freshly-cut grass. My perfume changes a lot at the moment Im wearing The Tragedy of Lord George by Penhaligon. What would you like to change about your appearance? A tonne of things. Definitely, at the moment, Id like to tone up overall. When is the last time you cried? Im just obsessed with my child it would have been looking at old videos. Or an old voice note from when she was younger. Otherwise, I wouldnt be a crying person. Thats not my thing. What traits do you least like in others? Meanness in spirit and with money. What traits do you least like about yourself? I can be a little bossy. And Im a Capricorn I like things a certain way. I could probably relax on that a little bit. Do you pray? I do. Absolutely. What would cheer up your day? Anything pertaining to my daughter. An impressive line up of women in the STEM field will share their experiences at this years iWish conference, writes Ciara McDonnell. When RTEs Joanna Donnelly was sitting her Leaving Certificate, she only cared about a handful of the subjects she was sitting exams for. As far as I was concerned, anything that was not science-related, was a total waste of my time, she says. As a youngster, Donnelly lived and breathed maths and science, and while she didnt leave school intending to study weather, finding the science behind weather patterns at the end of her degree was one of her happiest career-related discoveries. I knew that I only loved maths and science. Everything else was a total waste of my time, as far as I was concerned. I knew that whatever it was I would do would have to be related to science. As a Mum to a teenage girl, and a wide-ranging and varied career path to draw on, Joanna will be one of the most popular draws at iWish as it takes over Cork City Hall on 7 and 8 February. Now in its fifth year, iWish seeks to motivate and inspire young women, by opening their eyes to the unending possibilities of a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Over two days in Cork, and then another two days in Dublin, iWish will host panels and talks from the likes of Brenda Romero, an award-winning game designer, artist and Fulbright scholar who is considered to be one of the female pioneers of the tech industry as we know it and Captain Sinead Reen, who was Irelands first master mariner. Reen plans to use her time on stage to show school-going girls that even though an industry may seem to be male-dominated, things are never as they seem. I think the most amazing things with careers in STEM is that you cant judge a book by its cover, she tells me from her current post as head of department of Maritime Studies at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy. You wouldnt pick the women who work with STEM in a line up! We had all the new female students into the boardroom to reassure everyone about going away to sea. When you looked around the room, it could have been any meeting in any industry you certainly wouldnt have thought that these women were working on different kinds of ships all over the world. Reen fell in love with seafaring aboard The Asgard II, a national sail training vessel. As a reward for doing the Leaving Cert I got to go onboard this ship for 10 days and we did the Tall Ship races. It was such fun and I found my love of the sea. I loved being out there, looking out at the everchanging scenery. As the first female elected to become president of the Irish Institute of Master Mariners, the professional body for Shipmasters, in 2015 and the first female cadet to train as a Master Mariner in the National Maritime College of Ireland, Sinead broke the mould for female sailors and its a mantle she was highly aware of at the time. Before I was fully qualified, I definitely felt pressure to finish, she admits. I felt that I would be letting myself and others down if I didnt make it. I like to promote it as a career path, because it is a wonderful one. I feel that while we are starting to break the stereotyping, we still have a way to go. Its still not a career that is promoted for women; only about 2-3% of seafarers are female, which is very low. Sinead is looking forward to meeting the young women who attend iWish this February. I want them to know that even though as a woman there are challenges in my industry, nothing is insurmountable, and there are supports there from both men and women. The women who go to sea are not hairy bottomed sailors, they are exactly like you and me. Joanna Donnelly. Above all, Sinead hopes to share her belief that there are many twists and turns and opportunities in life, that may not be glaringly obvious. Conferences like this are a fantastic way for them to realise that there is something else out there. There might be something beyond the horizon of what they might have seen in university prospectus. "A description of a course doesnt always read like the job, and Ill have an opportunity to maybe show them that theres another star in the sky, if you just look up. This is a sentiment that Ruth Buckley, head of ICT and Business Services in Cork City Council and co-founder of iWish, agrees with wholeheartedly. A lot of our audience are young girls and they might not get a perspective like this elsewhere. For the first time, they get to see how much creativity and design is involved in STEM and its like a lightbulb moment. Its such a privilege to witness it. Along with Gillian Keating and Caroline ODriscoll, Ruth founded iWish in response to the fact that women make up 50% of the workforce, and yet only 25% work in jobs that use STEM skills. The thing is, she enthuses. STEM is everywhere. I think the girls are getting to see role models and future employers as well as the huge variety of career paths in STEM. The hope is that all girls who wish to engage in a career involving STEM will leave the conference feeling that they can, says Buckley. We will get to hear the stories of how some of these dynamic women got to where they are today. People often dont start out where they end up, and the story of how they got there is incredible. Girls in the audience may not be aware of some of the alternative ways into where they want to go. They will see that not only are there all of these amazing careers open to them, but there are lots of different ways into them Joanna Donnelly found her career track while writing her thesis on air pollution and weather. While researching, she found herself at Met Eireann, and instantly knew it was the place for her. Weather is not to do with geography, its all science based, she explains. I love how obsessed we all get about snow here in Ireland. The truth is, I find it kind of boring, because scientifically, its just rain and a bit of cold weather. Donnelly says young people ask the best questions. I get caught up with the enthusiasm of how they see the world and their hopes for the future. I always find myself enlightened by them, and any day where I get the opportunity to talk about science with young people is a good one! Ruth Buckley says that each year, the young women who attend iWish show her that the future is bright. I am full of hope for the next generation. I desperately want them to stretch and to believe in themselves. "I look at the girls who come to iWish and I hear that Louis Armstrong song What A Wonderful World in my head, because thats how they make me feel. iWish 2019 takes place at Cork City Hall on February 7 and 8 and in RDS, Dublin on February 11 and 12. www.iwish.ie The ten Oscar nominations for The Favourite is just the latest highpoint on the long road to success for Irelands top film producers, writes Esther McCarthy. A friendship and professional relationship, first forged on the set of Irish drama Sweety Barrett, prompted producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe to set up their own company with the ambition of making movies. Its a connection that has brought Element Pictures all the way to the Oscars and some of the biggest stages in cinema. The Irish duos co- produced The Favourite, a wickedly funny drama set in the court of Queen Anne, has been nominated for ten Oscars and 12 BAFTAs. But from the early days, the two men who founded the company have always dared to dream big. Our paths had crossed as kids growing up in Dublin, said Lowe. I had a first cousin who was in school with Ed so we would have met as teenagers in Dublin. "Ed would have been ahead of me in college and then Ed went straight into producing and I took a slightly circuitous route, became an accountant and started working as a film production accountant. A conversation started on the set of the 1998 film starring Brendan Gleeson culminated in the setting up of Element. By this point, Guiney, who had long harboured a desire to produce, was gaining valuable experience in an indigenous film industry that was beginning to gain momentum. There was a sense of anticipation in the air. I absolutely, since the age of 16 or 17, wanted to be a film producer so I was totally committed to that, says Guiney. Also I was in college with Lenny (Abrahamson), hes one of my oldest friends, Paddy Breathnachs a very old friend of mine. The people I was in college with were in drama soc, involved in film and had ambitions around that. That was around the late 1980s and a new generation of Irish talent were turning out some very good short films. John Moore did Jacks Bicycle, and Damien ODonnell did some fantastic shorts around then. There were interesting people, and we all worked on each others shorts. Paddy Breathnach, Lenny, Stephen Rennicks (who now composes film scores), all these people started making films and then they tried to get a bit of success internationally. That coincided with the re-establishment of the Film Board (now Screen Ireland) in 1993. So there was a pool of people who had an ambition to make film before the Film Board came along, then that just catapulted it. PRODUCER ROLE Guiney has been Oscar nominated for his role as producer on The Favourite, the clever and offbeat movie from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos. Lowe is executive producer on the film. So what exactly does a producer do? The role of producing in its broadest term, its all encompassing in a sense. Often its about finding the original material, explains Lowe. Occasionally Its responding to something people pitch in or else its finding a book, or a newspaper article, a magazine article. "Finding a writer, commissioning them to write a screenplay and then finding a director. Once you have a director on board the producers role really becomes about supporting the director and the writer. As we get into production, its supporting the director and the casting process, raising the finance, hiring the crew, overseeing the entire physical production through to post-production and then working closely with the distributor to see the film out into the world and oversee its initial large festival launch awards campaigns, if youre so lucky to have one. Managing the talent is part of that whole process. Thats an all- encompassing role and so often youll find there are many producers involved. Producers are often described as the money people when it comes to films, but Guiney said there are greater challenges than raising finance. You know, people often say: Youre the people who get the money. Thats what producers do, they find the money. And Im always quick to say that moneys not the issue. Its not the problem. Its never the problem. Talent is the scarce resource. Money is not the scarce resource. I jokingly say it but I think its true if anything were talent prospectors like there were gold prospectors in the old days, trying to find little nuggets of gold. Its parallel to that. We spend a lot of time trying to find books, writers and directors who we think are really special and have something really unique to say and then we try and help them do what they do best. "And give them the environment to do it in. But that is the scarce resource. Really gifted people are very, very hard to come by. As well as production, Element has a successful distribution arm and produces TV series such as Red Rock and Quirke. They founded that company in 2001. Did they have any sense then of the international success they could achieve? I think you just set out to do good things, says Guiney. You set out to make good films with good people. And in a way you cant control anything else, you can just control an ambition to find excellent people to work with and do the very best job you can, and then success may follow. "I think we were always very ambitious, no doubt about that. And I think when we set up the company together we always expected that we would work in an international context. But until youve actually made things that are internationally recognised and make an impact, you can never claim that. FORWARD THINKING After What Richard Did in 2012, the Element duo sat with director Lenny Abrahamson, and hatched plans which eventually led to the success of Room. It was: Well lets try and find something international. Because if you look at films like Adam and Paul or Garage or What Richard Did, if those films were made in America, by an American filmmaker, they would have been much more impactful around the world. I think theres still a thing offilms made here are harder to get out into the world, even very special ones. If you think of something like Michael Inside which is a terrific film, if that equivalent was made in America, it would probably win Sundance. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Both men feel there is a massive global opportunity for film and TV at the moment, and that Ireland is well-positioned to take advantage. Theres just an insatiable appetite for screen drama whether its film or television and animation. And I think that its great, says Guiney. He lauds Screen Irelands reorientation towards the screen industries generally, with planned support for not only cinema, but also television and animation. Wed like some more money going into development. Wed like to see money going towards company development, in other words that companies can make the development decisions themselves. Lowe points out that key moments for Element in terms of growing the company have been two company slate funding schemes that Screen Ireland ran, and another initiative run by Enterprise Ireland. It was very much encouraging companies to think about the global market rather than the domestic market. "And I think those kind of interventions at different points of time in the growth of the company were really important. It forced us to consider where we were going and to reflect a bit on what our priorities were. Both men have experienced the dazzle and mayhem of Oscar night and will be returning to the red carpet this spring. Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe attend 56th New York Film Festival - Opening Night Premiere Of The Favourite on September 28, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images. Its quite nice for us because no ones really interested in us, smiles Guiney. But yet youre on the red carpet standing behind whoever and beside whoever. Theyre all a lot of fun and they are very glamorous and there are very high-end parties and lots of overwhelming numbers of famous people in very small spaces. "That is enjoyable and its actually such a small part of our lives and what we do that its nice to savour it when it happens occasionally. Lowe adds: And in response to intense speculation well be wearing black and white. The Favourite is out now. The Oscars take place on Feb 24. Sally Rooney and other projects in the pipeline A buoyant production period for Element Pictures means there are several new film and TV projects on the way, and several others in the early stages of development: Major eight-hour TV series, Dublin Murders , based on Tana Frenchs novels, is currently filming and stars Cork actress Sarah Greene and Killian Scott. Thats shooting right now, says Guiney. I think going forward itll be a mixture of TV, well do a lot more television. We are committed to doing films here. And hopefully therell be other films here this year. , based on Tana Frenchs novels, is currently filming and stars Cork actress Sarah Greene and Killian Scott. Thats shooting right now, says Guiney. I think going forward itll be a mixture of TV, well do a lot more television. We are committed to doing films here. And hopefully therell be other films here this year. Preparation is also underway to turn Sally Rooneys (pictured) best-seller, Normal People , into a TV series, to be directed by Lenny Abrahamson. , into a TV series, to be directed by Lenny Abrahamson. There are also plans to shoot a sequel to The Souvenir , Joanna Hoggs drama starring Tilda Swinton which debuted to positive reviews at Sundance. , Joanna Hoggs drama starring Tilda Swinton which debuted to positive reviews at Sundance. Element has acquired the rights to Irish books, including Oh My God What a Complete Aisling and Ruth Fitzmaurices memoir, I Found My Tribe. It explores her life with filmmaker Simon Fitzmaurice, who died last year from motor neurone disease and Ruth Fitzmaurices memoir, I Found My Tribe. It explores her life with filmmaker Simon Fitzmaurice, who died last year from motor neurone disease Post-production is currently underway in Calm With Horses , starring Barry Keoghan and Cosmo Jarvis, filmed in the west of Ireland last summer. It tells the story of an ex-boxer who has become an enforcer for a feared crime family, while also trying to be a good parent to his autistic son Ten of the best of Element Adam & Paul: Lenny Abrahamsons terrific feature debut centres on two pals and heroin addicts (Mark OHalloran and the late Tom Murphy) as they navigate their way through Dublin. The Lobster: Yorgos Lanthimoss excellent English-language debut, shot in Co Kerry, tells of a dystopia where single people must find a mate or be turned into an animal of their choosing. Garage: Pat Shortt is perfect as Josie, who mans a garage in small-town Ireland, in Abrahamsons moving film. Rosie: Sarah Greene is fantastic as the title character in Paddy Breathnachs note-perfect tale of a familys efforts to maintain a sense of normality when they become homeless. A Date For Mad Mary: Seana Kerslake shines as a troubled woman looking for a date for her friends wedding in this funny and poignant drama from Darren Thornton. Room: Abrahamson films in Canada, and gets four Oscar nominations (and a win for Brie Larson), pictured, in this powerful dramatisation of Emma Donoghues award-winning novel. Frank: Abrahamson goes quirky in this inventive and touching tale of an aspiring musician (Domhnall Gleeson) who befriends an enigmatic rock star (Michael Fassbender) who wears a giant fake head. The Wind that Shakes the Barley: Ken Loachs Palme DOr-winning film, shot in West Cork, is set against the backdrop of the War of Independence and subsequent Civil War. Glassland: Gerard Barretts fine drama, set in the suburbs, tells of a young mans struggles to support his alcoholic mother. The Guard: Brendan Gleeson is fantastic as an unhinged guard in John Michael McDonaghs mischievous comedy. Northern Ireland Conservatives have questioned why Jacob Rees-Mogg addressed a DUP fundraiser, despite having never attended any of their own events. The outspoken Brexiteer and European Research Group chairman appeared at a Democratic Unionist dinner at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena on Thursday night. The guest list also included prominent Brexiteer and co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign, Arron Banks. Mr Banks praised the DUP as "fundamental" to Brexit, claiming if it was delivered, it would be "because of the DUP". But the only elected Tory in Northern Ireland said he would expect Mr Rees-Mogg to have supported his own party, rather than another. Councillor David Harding said he understood that the chairman of the Northern Ireland Conservatives "will be having a word" with Mr Rees-Mogg about the matter. Mr Rees-Mogg was welcomed to the venue by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, and defended his attendance as "supporting the Conservatives' coalition partners". But Mr Harding questioned why he was not supporting his own party. "Obviously, as a Conservative, I would expect members of Parliament for the Conservative Party would support their own party," Mr Harding told the Press Association. "But that's maybe a reflection on the individual. "He made the choice and that's up to him. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if the chairman of the party in Northern Ireland wasn't going to have a word with Jacob Rees-Mogg." The Democratic Unionists and the Conservatives have been involved in a confidence and supply deal since the 2017 General Election. Mr Rees-Mogg told media representatives in Ballymena that he does speak to the Northern Ireland Conservatives. A Northern Ireland Conservatives' spokesman confirmed they do talk to Mr Rees Mogg regularly, adding "as we do with many Conservative MPs". "I believe he has been invited by one of our Associations in the past but has not yet addressed an event in NI," he said. "It is also fair to say that it is only in recent times that he became the sort of well-known MP that would be asked to address meetings." A number of other high profile Conservative MPs, including David Lidington and Sajid Javid, have spoken at NI Conservative events. Chairman of the NI Conservatives, Alan Dunlop, said on Thursday that Mr Rees-Mogg risked making himself look foolish. "Sadly on occasions, often in an honest defence of their principal political views, politicians find themselves making odd alliances and standing elements of their own political logic on its head," he said. "They make themselves look foolish when they do so." Mr Rees Mogg is not the first Conservative MP to headline a DUP event, and is following in the footsteps of several high-profile representatives. Last November, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson addressed the DUP's conference. Almost 400 workers in two of Corks Pfizer plants are to go on strike in little over a fortnight in a row over pensions. Last week it emerged that Siptu members at Pfizers two pharmaceutical plants in Ringinskiddy and Little Island had voted overwhelmingly to reject Labour Court recommendations on the companys plans to discontinue their defined benefit (DB) pension scheme. Pfizer had first proposed the introduction of a direct contribution (DC) pension scheme to replace non-contributory DB schemes in 2014. It said that would be for future accrual only, and it would continue to fund the existing DB schemes in accordance with its obligations. However, after rejecting the courts recommendation, the unions announced they would be balloting for industrial action up to strike. Siptu confirmed it has just under 400 members in the two plants and that there will be a 24-hour work stoppage in the Ringaskiddy facility on February 15 followed by a 24-hour work stoppage in both plants on February 18. There will also be an indefinite overtime ban from February 16 in both plants. Further work stoppages will take place over the coming weeks, the union warned. Siptu organiser, Ray Mitchell, said: Since 2014, Siptu members have continually sought to reach agreement with the company on this issue. "However, they now feel they are left with no other option but to take industrial action in order to persuade the company to reach an agreement with them on their defined benefit pension scheme. He said his unions members could not understand why Pfizer Ireland management had sought to change their existing pension benefits while at the same time allowing its employees in other EU countries to stay in a DB scheme. In Belgium, for example, Pfizer senior management has allowed its employees the option to voluntarily stay in the DB pension scheme or to voluntarily migrate to a defined contribution scheme, he said. The company is also aware that the current joint union/management collective agreement remains in place until a new one is negotiated and agreed with union members. Until then, there can be no alteration or amendment to the existing DB pension scheme. The company has argued that DB schemes which remain open to accrual are increasingly rare, and that the cost of funding them schemes has risen 1000% since 2009. It says that increase in cost is not sustainable and the volatility of the schemes poses a challenge for the company. Pfizer said the industrial action was disproportionate. Pfizer has accepted the Labour Court recommendation which includes enhanced terms and transitional arrangements, a spokeswoman said. Pfizers defined benefit pension schemes provide benefit values at the upper end of the pension benefit range and the defined contribution scheme recommended by the Labour Court also provides pension benefits at the upper end of the scale. The company has allowed significant time over five years to work with colleagues on the changes to the defined benefit pension schemes. "The Labour Court recommendations proposals are very generous including lump sums of up to 35,000, company contributions of up to 15% of pensionable pay, early transition incentives of up to an extra 14% of pensionable pay per annum on top of company contributions, or for those who do not transition early, three to seven extra years of accrual in the defined benefit schemes based on a colleagues age at June 30, 2018 and the opportunity for colleagues over 50 on 30 June 2018 to stay in the defined benefit scheme until such time as they retire or leave the company. Some private landlords and firms are making millions of euro from the taxpayer every year through the housing assistance payment scheme including one landlord who has 241 properties linked to the system. The Department of Housing confirmed the figures just days after it emerged that the amount of money taxpayers are giving private landlords under the scheme has soared from just 390,000 in 2014 to 276m last year. In a letter to the Dail Public Accounts Committee published yesterday, the Department of Housings secretary general, John McCarthy, said the number of landlords using the HAP scheme has rocketed since the official end of the recession. Outlining the latest figures from September last year, Mr McCarthy said while fewer than 500 properties were on the HAP scheme in 2014, the number now stands at 40,835, including: One landlord with 241 HAP properties; 300 landlords with more than 10; 308 landlords with between six and 10; 3,402 landlords with between two and five; 4,010 landlords with more than one; And 20,456 landlords with one. The HAP scheme involves a local authority making monthly payments to a landlord to help tenants at risk of homelessness in return for a small tenant contribution. Mr McCarthy defended the surge in properties on the HAP scheme by saying the properties are needed. However, the significant number of landlords who have dozens and even hundreds of HAP properties is likely to spark fresh questions over whether the system is ensuring existing resources are being appropriately used. This is, in part, because of the fact that, while the department was unable to provide a breakdown of which landlords listed are private individuals and which are property companies, it is accepted that a large number of property firms are signing up to the service in return for significant payments from the State. The Department of Housing last night said while the average HAP payment is 786 a month, it varies depending on the local authority involved, with the average monthly rate at 442 in Cavan and 1,339 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in Dublin. meaning the largest HAP landlords are making millions of euro from the system every year.The details emerged after reports earlier this week found that the amount of taxpayers money being spent on the HAP scheme has soared from 390,000 in 2014 to 276.6m last year. The figures, obtained by Fianna Fails housing spokesman, Darragh OBrien, follow recent Government plans to ramp up HAP spending to 422m this year, a situation Mr OBrien claims is a short-term approach that will ultimately cost the State billions of euro. Meanwhile, the Department of Housing has confirmed to the PAC that it is currently unable to provide a complete national breakdown of which HAP properties are undergoing State inspections to ensure they are meeting minimum living standards. Responding to a PAC question on the issue, Mr McCarthy said while all 31 local authorities are inspecting properties, a national inspection map is unavailable as authorities are using different recording systems. It is important to clarify that the issue arising is not that HAP inspections being undertaken are not being recorded, but that the inspection details were being recorded on a number of different systems rather than on one single database. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has described as pub talk speculation that he was about to be dropped from Cabinet due to his inability to overcome the housing crisis. Over Christmas, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made clear his intention to reshuffle his Cabinet come this summer and Mr Murphy has been widely linked with a move out of the Department of Housing. But the minister insists such talk is without any foundation and not based on fact: My only concern in this job is to make sure we are doing everything we can to fix the housing crisis. "I saw a number of reports over Christmas which I can only put down to pub talk, and people looking to write stories to fill columns that are not based on facts whatsoever, he said. Mr Murphy was at one stage extremely close to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, having managed his leadership campaign, but several sources within Fine Gael reveal that relations have chilled in recent months. Mr Murphys perceived failure in the department came to the fore when the Irish Examiner reported about growing unease within the party about him and his posh boy image. Then it was reported that the relations between Mr Murphy and his leader had soured significantly. It was revealed that Mr Varadkar has become increasingly concerned that Mr Murphys poor performance is reflecting directly on him. Mr Varadkar was asked about the possibility of a ministerial shake-up at a round-table interview with journalists. He said: Ive always said that would be the logical time to reshuffle the Cabinet... after the local and European elections. That was done on the last occasion by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. Id be minded to do the same. Therell be a chance to reshuffle the team then, perhaps in June or July. That would give them a chance over the summer to read into new briefs if they get them. But we need to get there first. There is also mounting talk that Health Minister Simon Harris will be moved on from his current portfolio, having served there since June 2016. Despite the success of the abortion referendum last year, Mr Harris finds himself under severe pressure on foot of the fresh cervical check scandal and the controversy over the cost escalation at the National Childrens Hospital. Meanwhile, Mr Murphy has appointed Irish Independent environment editor, Paul Melia, as his new policy adviser. Mr Melia, a respected commentator on Irish Water and transport issues, replaces Jennifer Carroll MacNeil, who has taken up a role in the private sector. Mr Melia follows a number of journalists who have taken up roles in this Government. Ministers have cautioned against punishing striking nurses with a stick approach by docking pay and instead suggested alternative ways to end work stoppages. Redirecting over 100m in nursing agency payments and an examination of the current deal with unions could help end the impasse, ministers suggested to the Irish Examiner. The ideas come as nurses, 35,000 held stoppages this week, plan two more strikes next week as well as three more later in the month after 35,000 stopped work this week. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said punitive measures being considered by the Government would not work to resolve the protest. The Department of Finance has confirmed that officials will legally consider if the strikes breach the current pay deal. Putting in a pay claim is also considered a breach. Nurses could potentially see future, scheduled pay rises and pension increases blocked. Nonetheless, Mr Doherty, who pointed to support for nurses in her own constituency of Meath East, said she disagreed with such an approach. That isnt a solution. Youll never solve a problem, whether it is a strike, a problem with your kid, a fight with your husband, with a stick, she said. You sit around the table and with rational discussions, you solve the problems. We are all grown-ups here, we know what the problems are. Any commitment on recruitment and retention needed to be done within the parameters of the current public pay sector agreement, said Ms Doherty, attending the Walk Real Ability launch at the Airfield Estate in Dublin. The minister said the difficulty with pay parity was that it was not brought up in discussions over the public sector pay agreement which nurses had signed up to. What we are really talking about is recruitment and retention which is the section in the agreement where they feel there is wriggle room, she said. Well then, we need to concentrate on that section to see what we can do within the public sector agreement, really. And if we are going to talk about the future, which is 2021 and is not far away, lets talk about the future. Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath, also attending the community work programme launch, also disagreed with blocking nurses pay. I dont think we should engage in issues like that, to be honest. He said he totally backed the government line and the need for a solution within the agreement, adding that savings could be made by cutting back on agency hire: I do some potential in the resolution. If we look at some of the spending at the moment, in relation to health, he said. I think we should look more closely along the two million a week we are spending on agency nurses, which brings us to an annual figure of 100m. So maybe be creative and look at that. Latest: The review of the rising costs of the National Children's Hospital has been told not to find any individuals to blame. The terms of reference for the investigation were told to find accountability without blaming any individuals. Sean Fleming, Chairman of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee No individual involved in the new National Children's Hospital will be blamed by a review into the spiralling costs of the project. Terms of reference seen by Newstalk instruct the investigation to stop short of individual blame. Chairman of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee Sean Fleming says that is not good enough. You can blame the system but you're not to blame anyone. While Labour TD Alan Kelly says the terms of reference need to change: "That is not acceptable to the taxpayers of Ireland. "The government are not going to pull the wool over our eyes. These terms of reference are not what was expected." In PAC this morning it was confirmed to me that there is a Gov study underway in parallel with the PWC review to get to the final projected cost of the National Childrens Hospital & I could not get a guarantee total figure for the project will come in under 2bn. @labour Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) January 31, 2019 Health Minister Simon Harris has signed off on the terms of reference. The review will seek to find out the sequence of events that has led to the overspend. The hospital was meant to cost 650 million but the current price tag is 1.7 billion. It also aims to establish who knew what and when about the rising costs. The report is due on March 22. Howlin: Children's hospital 'a runaway train' By Vivienne Clarke Update 11.15am: Labour party leader Brendan Howlin has described the escalating costs of the national childrens hospital as a runaway train that no one has control over He said it had been a mistake to amalgamate the position of Minister for Public Expenditure. There is a need to have a specific line Minister to ensure good value for public expenditure, he told RTEs Today with Sean ORourke show. Brendan Howlin Where was the political oversight? This wouldnt have happened if there was weekly and monthly examination of what was being spent. This is not a bottomless pit. He said questions have to be answered about when the increase in costs occurred, who knew, who signed off and did the Government say to proceed? A fundamental mistake was made and it should be rectified before it costs any more, he said. Who was aware of this escalation of cost? Was it withheld from the Minister and the Government? Was it felt that someone would just sign a cheque and they could carry on? When asked if he thought Minister for Health Simon Harris bore some responsibility, Mr Howlin said the Minister is an extraordinarily capable person, but that if it transpired that he was aware of what was happening then he has questions to answer. Dr Brian Turner, health economist in UCC, told the same programme that the increase in the projected cost of the hospital between 2017 and 2018 was 70% while over the same period the Society of Quantity Surveyors had observed an increase in the tender cost index of 11%. Something is gone seriously awry here. We need to know what went wrong. He said there are two problems the longer the hospital is delayed, the greater the need for services and any delays are going to incur greater costs. It is a Catch 22 situation. Dr Turner pointed out that in most public tender cases the most economical advantageous bid is accepted, however, he said that doesnt always mean the best value for money. 'No one can explain why it went up': SF's Jonathan OBrien says answers needed on children's hospital cost Update 8.45am: The buck stops with the Department of Health and they have to answer questions about cost overruns for the National Childrens Hospital, is the position of Sinn Feins Junior Spokesperson on Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform, Jonathan OBrien. The Department of Health was the lead department on the hospital which is a health project he told RTE's Morning Ireland. Mr OBrien said that the key question that had to be answered was how the cost of the hospital increased by 450m between June 2018 and November 2018. No one can explain why it went up. He hopes that the PWC report commissioned by the Department of Health can identify why it went up so drastically. Until that is done no one can explain how it went up so significantly. He also expressed concern about governance issues and asked about the role of a government official appointed to the Development Board to look out for the public interest. Id like to know when that official found out about the spiralling costs, what his role is, being a member of the Development Board. "Why the department was not made aware (of the increased costs) until August 2018. Mr OBrien also acknowledged that some capital projects will have to be put on hold because of the increased cost of the childrens hospital. We dont know what is going to be put on hold. There is no doubt that some will go on the long finger. Latest: The INMO Executive Council is meeting tomorrow to discuss further industrial action on top of the five days already announced. 37,000 nurses staged their first 24-hour strike on Wednesday leading to thousands of appointments being cancelled. The union says the government has not made any "serious proposals" to avert more strikes and say they have been forced into this position. Nurses and midwives do not want to be on strike for one minute, let alone several days. But sadly we have been forced into this position by a government which refuses to listen. We are immensely grateful for all the public messages of support. Thank you! (2/2) Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) February 1, 2019 Meanwhile, 6,000 members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) staging an overtime ban. This is the second day of action and the union is set to hold further action next week and three days of strike action from February 12. The PNA has today said that the gap between Psychiatric Nurses and the HSE "remains as wide as ever". General Secretary of the PNA Peter Hughes says talks with HSE have failed to produce results. "We had engagement over three days last week under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission and there was no realistic proposal that came from the employers," said Mr Hughes. 'The making of this is not ours': Psychiatric nurses hold second day of industrial action Earlier: Psychiatric nurses hold a second day of industrial action today as part of their dispute with the HSE over pay and staffing. Thousands of members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are staging an overtime ban. Picture: RollingNews The union says nurses will refuse to do additional hours at a significant number of locations nationwide. They are due to join nurses and midwives in three days of strike action from February 12. "The making of this is not ours, the HSE have not recruited and retained sufficient nurses to provide a safe, comprehensive service for patients," said Peter Hughes, General Secretary of the PNA. The PNA says its members have been left with no option but to engage in industrial action. While the Public Service Pay Commission has said it does not believe that pay has anything to do with the retention of staff, Mr Hughes disputed this, adding that vacancy rates have increased by 40% over the past year. He said that any proposal would be brought to members for consideration, but as yet they have not received any despite spending three days at the Workplace Relations Commission last week without any negotiations taking place. Mr Hughes said that overtime is voluntary and therefore cannot be construed as industrial action. The issue can be resolved and there should be no penalty on staff who take part in the ban. Irish Water could be forced to fully open its books to the public. The States financial watchdog confirmed he has held talks with Government officials about bringing the utility under his control. Comptroller and auditor general, Seamus McCarthy, revealed the development to TDs, saying changes to Irish Water mean it may no longer be beyond his investigative reach. When Irish Water was set up, at the start of the decade, it was classed as a semi-State organisation, a label that allowed it to remain off the States exchequer books. Although the utility has provided details on its finances, Irish Water has been outside the scope of the C&AG. However, asked by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, at the latest meeting of the Dail Public Accounts Committee, if the recent changes to Irish Water mean it can now be investigated, Mr McCarthy confirmed that this was under consideration. While it is not his decision, the C&AG said he has held talks with officials from the Department of Housing and Local Government about the potential move. Yes, there has been contact from the Department of Housing and Local Government, but there hasnt been any change yet. I understand it [the C&AGs access to Irish Water] may change, but I dont have a decision-making power in relation to it. We have been consulted and given our views on the matter, but I am not aware of what decisions have happened since. It would be the department which would have to bring forward legislation in that regard. The C&AG was responding to questions from Social Democrats TD, Ms Murphy, who had asked if, given the nature of that organisation has changed, Irish Water can now be examined more thoroughly by State financial officials. Noting that a lot of money flows through it, Ms Murphy told the Public Accounts Committee it is in the public interest to ensure there is full transparency on the exact internal financial matters relating to the utility. The Irish Examiner has sent queries to the Department of Housing and Local Government to clarify if it has decided to draw up new laws to allow Irish Water to be examined by the C&AG in the future. In addition, the department has also been asked when these new laws will be tabled and when they are likely to be introduced. However, at the time of going to press, the department had yet to respond to the questions raised by the C&AGs comments. The European Affairs Minister has said Ireland would "absolutely not" accept the reopening of the UK's Withdrawal Agreement. Despite the Commons voting for an "alternative arrangement" to replace the backstop, Ms McEntee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are 72 hours on and not only do we not have any proposals, but your own secretaries have admitted that they don't have any and that there is no solution here." She said proposed technological methods for keeping the border open were "not the answer", telling Today: "This is about protecting a peace process ... No amount of technology can address that." Ms McEntee said: "This was a deal that was negotiated with the UK, by the UK. They weren't bystanders in a separate room, there were discussions, negotiations, there were compromises on both sides. The fact that we now have a deal that took that long to be negotiated and that deal has now been voted against by the very Prime Minister that negotiated it is extremely difficult. Minister McEntee says there is no point delaying Brexit unless the UK has a clear plan to get a deal agreed. Ms McEntee says the EU would most likely support the March 29 deadline being pushed back but said it would be pointless unless Britain sets out a plan for getting a deal through the House of Commons. "I think there would be a very clear ask from the other member states as to what exactly it is we are trying to achieve," said Minister McEntee. "There is no point in looking for an extension if we end up back to the same place in three months' time. "We need to have a clear direction from the UK Government as to what it is we want to achieve." Ms McEntee said Tanaiste Simon Coveney is expected to discuss Brexit's impact on the Good Friday Agreement with the US Government during a visit to Washington next week. PA & Digital Desk A drug-support group has called for family co-ordinators to be appointed as new figures reveal more than 700 drug-related deaths in 2016. The National Family Support Network also urged the State to take meaningful action on drug-related intimidation, which it said was a horror haunting families and communities. The network has over 70 affiliated local groups in Ireland. It is holding its 20th Annual Service of Commemoration and Hope in Dublin tonight. Over 700 people died from a drug-related death in 2016, leaving 700 broken-hearted families left to grieve, said network chief executive Sadie Grace. The figure, gathered by the National Drug Related Deaths Index, continues a trend of relatively high numbers of deaths over the last four years, with 695 fatalities in 2015, 719 in 2014, and 703 in 2013. Those yearly tolls mark a considerable increase on the previous eight years, when the number rose steadily from 431 in 2014 to 660 in 2012. Irelands drug mortality rate has been consistently third or fourth highest in Europe, partly because our data is considered robust. The service, being held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott St, in the north-east inner city at 7.30pm is due to be attended by drugs strategy minister Catherine Byrne, Taoiseach aide-de-camp commandant Caroline Burke and Catholic archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Also expected to attend are Garda assistant commissioners Pat Leahy, in charge of the Dublin region, and John ODriscoll, in charge of Special Crime Operations, as well as local divisional officer, chief superintendent Sean Ward. We are here to offer families hope. We are here to tell the government that these families deserve services in their own right and that their loved ones need person-centred, accessible and early intervention, Ms Grace said. In the short term, we need to ensure that family support is accessible in every corner of Ireland, family support co-ordinators need to be based in taskforce areas with the help of the HSE. She said families also needed a break and that respite was a crucial lifeline for them. Ms Grace said meaningful action needed to be taken on drug-related intimidation, which was a horror which we know haunts families all over Ireland. Last September, the network set up the countrys first specialist bereavement service for families. Ms Grace said it only covered the north inner city and was needed nationwide. Praising the network, Ms Byrne said it was crucial that the country achieve better outcomes for addiction, to highlight drug-related deaths and work to reduce these deaths. Health Minister Simon Harris has ordered an investigation into allegations that the personal information of a woman who had an abortion earlier this week was leaked. Mr Harris is said to be concerned about the social media allegation, which claims a woman was contacted by a third party to whom she did not provide details, following a termination at a Dublin hospital. The allegation claims a woman who had an abortion this week was sent home following a scan and told no further scans were needed. It alleges the woman received a call from a mobile number from a man who knew her name and address, and said she would need to undergo a follow-up scan. This call was allegedly followed by a text giving directions to a premises on the northside of Dublin. The woman claims that following a call to the hospital, which knew nothing of the appointment, she called the number again and was subjected to verbal abuse for having an abortion. The woman says she does not know how those behind the call obtained her personal details and said she was sharing the allegation as a warning to other women. The Irish Examiner has unsuccessfully attempted to make contact with the author of the allegation. This newspaper called the number listed in the social media allegation. A man who answered directed all media queries to a provided email address. No response to our queries was received at the time of going to press. The Irish Examiner phoned the number listed in the allegation and was directed to submit our queries in writing to an email address. Both the phone number and provided email address are listed on a website proffering unplanned pregnancy support. We send directions to many people who ask to meet us. Perhaps that is where it came from. The allegations are calumny, read the response. A spokeswoman for Mr Harris said he is concerned by the allegations raised on social media. She said: He has asked the HSE to investigate the alleged breach of patient information. The minister has been quite clear abortion services should be viewed as a normalised part of the health service, and women accessing that service should not be subjected to any intimidation or harassment. The HSE said it was not in a position to comment on the case at this time, but warned that unreliable agencies with hidden agendas may be posing as impartial HSE sources of advice, some using variations of Myoptions the HSEs own name for its unplanned pregnancy support services. There are a number of unplanned pregnancy agencies that may have a hidden agenda. Some unreliable agencies may not be upfront about their intentions and may try to influence a persons decision. The HSE recommends that people should only visit a recognised or HSE-funded unplanned pregnancy counselling agency. "If people are looking at information online, look for the HSE logo, the HSE said. The HSE urged anyone experiencing an unplanned pregnancy to refer to myoptions.ie, which is part of the HSE website,or the official Myoptions helpline on 1800 828 010 for information and support. The head of communications at the Data Protection Commissioners office said it is aware of the story and is making enquiries. [rating]4[/rating] The Specials groundbreaking early records were released against a backdrop of social strife, racial tensions, upheaval in Northern Ireland, and bickering about Britains place in the world. But while things have come full circle outside of the studio, the bands first original collection in 20 years isnt quite a return to the motherlode in large part because their spiritual leader Jerry Dammers remains absent (along with Neville Staple and Roddy Radiation Byers and the drummer John Bradbury, who passed away in 2015). So its very much Specials lite as hinted at by the derivative single Vote For Us, which sounds like facsimile of Ghost Town, their great lament from 1981 for Britains blighted industrial heartland. Still in the driving seat are vocalist Terry Hall and bass-player Horace Panter, and, on Vote For Us, and elsewhere on the LP, they walk a careful line between harking back to the groups take no prisoner prime and forging a new path. They arent always successful and Dammerss mixing desk wizardry is conspicuous by its absence. And yet, as evocation of their truth-speaking glory days it is largely effective. Theres a bracing opener in dance-floor primed Blacked Skinned Blue Eyed Boys, a cover of a 1973 track by The Equals. "It's a celebration of what The Specials is, and what it's about. That's why I still do it." Terry Hall. Our new album, Encore, is out now. We're delighted to be able to share it with you all, and we hope you enjoy it. Get it here: https://t.co/U9Vm0CMffV pic.twitter.com/5I1G8VWjue The Specials (@thespecials) February 1, 2019 Social issues later raise their head in a more explicit fashion. Against a sheets of funk guitar, B.L.M. features a spoken word tribute by guitarist Lynval Golding to his father, who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean as part of the Windrush Generation. He tried to find a room to rent this was becoming a nightmare for him..hed knock on door after door after door and a sign on the window kept saying the same thing ..no dogs, no Irish, no blacks.. welcome to England. Encore waxes personal as well as political. Terry Hall delves into his private angst on the no-more-explanation required Life and Times (of a a Man Called Depression). And on 10 Commandments theres a pummelling guest-turn from Saffiyah Khan, the Birmingham model and activist who became an internet meme when an image of her facing down a far-right thug at a protest went viral. Pseudo-intellectuals on the internet/They tell me I'm unhappy because I'm not feminine/Failing to consider that I may be unhappy/Because it's 3 AM and I'm in the depths of YouTube/Watching them... whining, she raps. Its not Ghost Town but it is something and Specials fans will be cheered that these old ska agitproppers are still manning the barricades Swedens H&M disappointed investors with a 10% tumble in quarterly profit. The worlds second-largest fashion retailer blamed investment aimed at boosting its online business for the decline. Profit fell for the third straight year in 2018, because of competition from the likes of Zara, Primark, and Asos, and as the shift to online shopping hit trading at its core budget stores. It has been a challenging year for H&M group and the industry, but after a difficult first half, there are signs the companys transformation efforts are beginning to take effect, chief executive, Karl-Johan Persson, said. H&M has invested heavily in logistics and digital technology and is reviewing its mix of stores and brands, while also working on a new H&M store concept. H&M spent around 450m Swedish crowns (43.4m) on logistics and technology in the last three months of its financial year, including resolving problems it flagged earlier in 2018 and switching to a new online platform in its biggest market, Germany. H&Ms investments in its offer are more than the market anticipated and may disappoint those looking for signs of margin normalisation. - said RBC Europe analyst, Richard Chamberlain. Shares in the Swedish company eased, but are up by over 5% in the past year. Pre-tax profit for September-November shrank for the sixth straight quarter to 4.4bn crowns. That was down from 4.9bn crowns a year earlier and well below analysts mean forecast in a poll for an increase to 5.1bn crowns. Mr Persson said improved collections generated better full-price sales and lower markdowns towards the end of 2018, predicting markdowns should be down around one percentage point in the first quarter, while inventories should also fall. The company said it planned to add a net 175 stores in 2019, with almost half of them to be newer fashion brands, like Cos, Arket, and Weekday, as part of its drive to mimic the success of Inditex by targeting multiple sub-sections of the market. H&M hopes that recent heavy investment will eventually drive a recovery in profitability and said that it will trim capital spending in 2019. - Reuters Cork needs absolute clarity and transparency on delivery timelines for all projects in the capital plan and Ireland 2040 as a matter of urgency. That was the message from Cork Chamber president Bill OConnell at the business organisations annual dinner in City Hall, which saw 1,000 business and political figures in attendance, including President Michael D Higgins. Mr OConnell said: Todays best isnt good enough for tomorrow. The plans that are set out in Ireland 2040 offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to change Cork over the next 20 years but if they stay in print alone they are nothing but aspirations. Reflecting on our history, it is clear that we must display both the vision of those who came before us, but most critically their ability to deliver. Mr OConnell invoked former Cork Chamber president, Charles Stuart Parnell as he reflected on past infrastructural campaigns by the body over its 200 years in existence. Our past president Parnell said No man has the right to say to his country thus far shalt thou go and no further. Today I say clearly that the state must equally not say to the business community thus far shalt thou go and no further, Mr OConnell said. Category Winners of the prestigious Cork Company of the Year Awards are Sean Sheehan, Wisetek (Large Company Winner),Brendan O'Regan, Zenith Technologies (Corporate Winner and over all Cork Company of the Year Winner) Frank Fleming, Verifish (Emerging Company Winner) and Tadgh O'Flynn, O'Flynn Medical (SME Company Winner) with Debbie Power, Vodafone Ireland sponsors of the awards, Cork Chamber President Bill O'Connell and CEO Conor Healy Mr OConnell pointed to Chamber campaigns such as the opening of Passage-Cork railway line in 1850, access to international mail routes in the late 1800s, and economic destination marketing in the 1960s as examples to be replicated today. Technologies have changed yet the key business needs that enable a successful and prosperous Cork region remain the same, he said. From Blackrock trains to transatlantic planes, the changes in Irish life, business and society over 200 years are immeasurable. "But their significance will be measured in the fullness of time relative to events that have yet to unfold. Relative to how we shape our city region physically, culturally, economically, environmentally and socially, Mr OConnell said. To mark its 200th anniversary, Cork Chamber has launched a six-month community funding drive to raise 200,000, in partnership with Social Innovation Fund Ireland. The Cork Chamber 1819 Fund will benefit Cork community initiatives with a social, environmental or economic impact, it said. [gallery]59[/gallery] Here's your lunchtime bulletin. GET INFORMED ... IRELAND: One landlord has 241 properties linked to rent benefit scheme IRELAND:Details allegedly leaked of woman who had abortion IRELAND: Mourners clamped as they pay respects to priest killed in freak accident slam 'despicable behaviour' WORLD: Vatican magazine denounces sexual abuse of nuns by priests BREXIT: Helen McEntee tells UK 'your own secretaries have admitted' there is no solution to backstop View: We must do everything to avert chaotic Brexit SPORT:'He spent most of his career carrying a hurl rather than a rifle': Defence Forces responds to Colin Fennelly ... SOME DISTRACTION HEALTH: Stress solution: How to beat burnout SHOWBIZ: Long road to success for Irish film producers with ten Oscar nominations under their belt VIRAL: Having trouble sleeping in this freezing weather? Here are 7 tips that might help So thats nearly Friday wrapped up. Here are some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening. TO INFORM National Children's Hospital: Minister for Health Simon Harris has said there will be personnel changes and accountability in relation to the overspend of the new National Childrens Hospital. Louth search: Gardai have seized "a substantial quantity of ammunition" and a mortar tube in an operation investigating dissident Republican groups in Co Louth. Cold War: The Trump administration says it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centrepiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War, in a move some analysts claim could fuel a new arms race. Challenging year: Danske Bank has again apologised over its failure to monitor around 200bn in suspicious transactions that went through its Estonia branch over many years. Bored soldier: A security and defence analyst has responded to Colin Fennelly's negative comments about the Defence Forces. TO ENGAGE Brexit opportunity: As the drama of Brexit unfolds and the UKs land border with the Republic of Ireland becomes its defining issue, relatively little international attention has been paid to Irelands post-Brexit future. Mental health: We need to respond to the mental health crisis in a more appropriate and holistic manner for the sake of our children. TO ENTERTAIN Medium rare: Darina Allens reveals her recipe for the perfect steak 'Fake fall': A man has been charged with insurance fraud after he was caught on video appearing to fake a workplace fall. MOST READ SO FAR TODAY Rent benefit profits: Some private landlords and firms are making millions of euro from the taxpayer every year through the housing assistance payment scheme including one landlord who has 241 properties linked to the system. Atlanta, GA, February 1, 2019 Breckenridge Insurance Services will hold a webinar for agents who are working with insureds that have real estate investment portfolios such as property investors, property managers and REITs. This time-saving BreckInvest technology helps to simplify agent management of investor property portfolios utilizing competitive coverage options. The free webinar will be held Tuesday, February 5 from 11:30 AM to Noon EST. It will be hosted by Breckenridge senior brokers Tom Elder and Alex Rinehart and will include time for questions from participants. Additional details and registration information can be found here. About Breckenridge Insurance Services: Breckenridge Insurance Services is a national wholesale insurance brokerage/MGA delivering top-rated, competitive commercial coverage solutions. With more than three decades of providing responsive counsel and risk management insights, Breckenridge has become a recognized leader and trusted partner to valued agents and coveted carrier partners internationally. With significant in-house contract binding authority and expert, award-winning brokers spanning nearly all property and casualty risk types from workers compensation to professional liability, we offer collaborative, comprehensive solutions. As part of Breckenridge Insurance Group, the team has access to additional resources and expertise to help clients go further. For more information, please visit www.breckis.com About Breckenridge Insurance Group: Breckenridge Insurance Group, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is an international specialty wholesale insurance broker, program manager, managing general agent (MGA) and insurance services provider. The company offers access to diverse range of commercial insurance and financial services products to businesses and professional services firms in a variety of industries. The company serves independent insurance agents, brokers, and financial institutions throughout North America by way of Blue River Underwriters, OSC, Breckenridge Insurance Services, Breckenridge Elevation Authorities contract binding group and Southeastern Underwriters, Inc. For more information, please visit www.breckgrp.com or call 855.728.8822. CA Insurance License #0G13592. Media Contact Caren Henry chenry@breckgrp.com 267.961.8252 Topics Agencies Property Training Development Insurance Wholesale For Nicole Dennis, Oct. 20 started out as a fun night. The Greenville resident and University of South Carolina junior was on fall break and visiting friends in Clemson. She decided to join them at a party for Clemsons Homecoming weekend. The next morning, that party had become national news. The floor at the clubhouse of the Woodlands condo complex, where the party was hosted, fell in, leaving at least 30 people with physical injuries and sending more than two dozen to the hospital. The occupancy for the upstairs of the clubhouse was 135 people. Videos posted to social media showed a packed room. Dennis was one of the students who fell. She said the floor felt like a trampoline or waterbed before it happened. She remembers looking up and seeing all of her friends, still on the second floor. The whole thing was scary, Dennis said. For the students who were injured or present that night, the rest of the semester brought challenges, but also moments of resilience. A few months out, some students have also retained lawyers. At the end of November, one student filed a complaint seeking damages from the property, the builder and the fraternity that hosted the party. The night left Dennis thighs bruised and purple, and she could not move the fingers on one of her hands. She was one of the last to see an emergency responder that night. Her hand felt better after a couple of days, but she did not know she had also bruised a rib. She started feeling pain later that week while lifting her arm. Dennis said officials from the University of South Carolina reached out to her and said she could take time off if she needed. She decided to power through the semester. I probably should have taken a break, the broadcast journalism major said. I failed a couple of exams. Dennis attended a few on-campus counseling sessions, which she found helpful. She also learned later that there was another South Carolina student who was there that night. She appreciated having someone on her campus she could talk to about the night. Resilience Clemson student Raven Guerra was also at the party, although she did not fall through the floor. The week after the collapse, Clemsons Counseling and Psychological Services held a session for students who were at the party. Guerra attended, and although she did not go back to counseling afterward, she knew of others who did. Guerra said you could see some of the injured students on campus after the collapse. In particular, she remembered seeing a fellow student walking out of the student health center the week after the collapse with her leg wrapped up. Im sitting here looking at this girl who I know fell through the floor, but anyone not truly in touch with the situation probably thought she just broke her leg or something, Guerra said. Since the collapse, Guerra said fraternities and sororities have continued to have parties, but hosts have sent out lists of regulations before events, advising students, for example, not to be on the second floor of a space unless they are entering or leaving. Its not ruining future events, but people are learning from it, she said. Following the incident, the city also sent a letter to all rental property managers in town with advice for residents. We encourage you to remind your tenants that overcrowding a room and/or jumping up and down on a suspended floor may lead to disaster, the letter from planning and codes director Todd Steadman read. In some cases, the disaster may be a structural breach. In other cases, overcrowding may impede egress should a fire occur. One moment that resonated with Guerra since the collapse was a video of Na-Dya Gamble, a student left with significant injuries from the night. The video from November was of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. probate, where new members of the organization are presented. In it, Gamble steps to the front of the stage on crutches and gives a speech to resounding cheers of support. These past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest weeks of my life. Period, Gamble said. Because of my loving family and supportive friends and these phenomenal women behind me, I am not only standing, but I am thriving. While there have been positive moments for Guerra, like seeing the video of Gamble, there have also been moments of frustration. On the first day of the spring semester, her roommate had a physics professor make a joke about the collapse. It is not funny to joke about even though its been a couple months, Guerra said. Legal Action On Nov. 30, Gambles attorney, Stephen Wukela, filed a civil suit in Williamsburg County, where Gamble is from. The complaint asks for actual, consequential, and punitive damages and says that the floor collapse caused Gamble, severe personal injuries and damages. The suit names the Woodlands of Clemson Condominium Association, Inc., Woodlands Management of Clemson Inc., The Monaghan Company LLC and Tal Slann, who is president of Woodlands Management of Clemson, Inc., which manages about half of the apartments in the complex. The lawsuit says all engaged in the management of the clubhouse. The suit says that they failed to supervise the use of the clubhouse to ensure that it was not put to a use which might create danger to the Plaintiff or other invitees. Neil Monaghan, the broker in charge for Monaghan Co., said his company was wrongly named. It does not manage or control the clubhouse in any such manner, Monaghan said in an email. On Jan. 22, Tal Slanns attorney, James Walsh, filed a response denying the allegations and asking for the complaint to be dismissed. Walsh did not respond to a request for further comment. The suit also names the fraternity that hosted the party, the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and student Jamison J. Douglas, who reserved the clubhouse space. We are evaluating the situation following this very unfortunate accident and will be filing an answer, said Bobby Hood, the attorney for Douglas and the national and local fraternity. Dovetail Builders Inc. and Dovetail Development LLC, which developed and built the clubhouse, were also named. Dovetail Builders Inc. was dissolved in 2014, according to the Georgia Secretary of States office. The number listed for Dovetail Development LLC was not active. At the beginning of November, the city of Clemson received a report back from EFI Global, a firm that conducted a forensic investigation of the clubhouse floor. The EFI report concluded that the collapse was initiated by the rhythmic jumping up and down of the closely spaced crowd attending the party, overloading the trusses. The report said that there were no obvious deficiencies in the installation of the truss floor system. For Guerra and Dennis, it can be hard to avoid conversations and thoughts about what happened. Its not like a daily thought anymore, but its something that comes up every now and then like, `Hey, a floor collapsed. Crazy, right? Guerra said. Its definitely a lingering feeling. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits South Carolina The South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) assisted insurance consumers in the state in receiving more than $4.18 million in insurance-related payments in 2018. The recovered funds are in addition to the original amounts offered to policyholders by insurance companies, according to a statement from SCDOI. The funds were recovered through the investigation and resolution of nearly 3,400 consumer complaints. The Departments Office of Consumer Services team responds to questions and provide assistance to South Carolinians regarding their insurance related concerns, SCDOI Director Ray Farmer said. Our dedicated team members work hard each day to regulate the insurance industry and to ensure consumers receive the full protection of the law. Farmer noted that the staff assisted over 9,400 South Carolinians with general insurance-related inquiries in 2018, bringing the total number of consumers assisted to more than 12,800. The SCDOI Office of Consumer Services is responsible for ensuring effective customer service for the states insurance consumers. The office assists the public with their insurance questions or complaints and can assist with any type of insurance that is within the SCDOIs regulatory authority. For example, SCDOI staff can assist consumers with an insurance inquiry or complaint involving homeowners, automobile, health, life, dental, or disability insurance or annuities. They also provide consumers with market assistance when shopping the insurance market and offering aid to consumers following a catastrophic event. Source: South Carolina Department of Insurance Topics South Carolina Its been four weeks since a van carrying children from a Louisiana church to Disney World in Florida collided with a swerving tractor-trailer, igniting diesel fuel and killing seven people in a fiery crash. Now, federal crash investigators sidelined during the longest government shutdown in history are finally headed to the scene to study how to prevent such accidents in the future. It was one of 97 transportation accidents that occurred during the shutdown that kept the NTSB from performing preliminary examinations. In 21 of the cases so far, including 15 aviation accidents that killed a total of 21 people, the safety board is opening belated inquiries. The Florida Highway Patrol has done a good job of preserving physical evidence from the Jan. 3 crash, according to Rob Molloy, director of the National Transportation Safety Boards Office of Highway Safety. At the same time, he said, investigators worry that witnesses wont be as reliable and the passage of time may limit the probe in other ways. Its not ideal, Molloy said. It is not how we would normally would like to do things. Molloy was the only employee in NTSBs highway safety division who worked during the partial shutdown that began Dec. 22, which cut funding to more than a dozen departments and agencies in a political dispute over whether to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. Lawmakers and the White House have until Feb. 15 to reach a compromise to ensure the government stays open. While some agencies declared their workers to be essential for safety or security reasons, less than 10 percent of NTSBs 367 employees remained on the job. The shutdown forced the agency to suspend nearly 2,000 other accident investigations, including probes of fatal crashes involving automated vehicles and the deadly pipeline blasts that rocked three Massachusetts towns last year. The agencys investigations provide vital recommendations for safety improvements to prevent accidents and save lives. Any delay in the NTSBs work jeopardizes the safety and security of our nations transportation network and the traveling public, Democratic Senators Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut wrote in a letter Thursday to NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. Investigators arriving 27 days after a crash will almost certainly have limited evidence compared to whats available in the immediate aftermath, said Peter Goelz, former managing director at the NTSB and now senior vice president at ONeill & Associates, a Washington lobbying and public relations firm. Key evidence can disappear or deteriorate, Goelz said. Witnesses may no longer be available, and their memories become less reliable. Probable Cause It makes it far more difficult to discern an accurate probable cause, Goelz said. If you want to have an accurate eyewitness statement, you really want to get it during the first 24 hours before other influences weigh in on the memory, because the memory is not a videotape. The NTSB only opens 20 to 30 highway accident probes a year and its focus is very different from that of local police, Molloy said. The safety board is interested in examining broader safety issues that could prevent deaths and injuries in the future, while police are trying to document information for possible criminal cases. The Florida accident caught the NTSBs interest because it may involve safety issues theyve long been concerned with, including the flammability of fuel tanks on tractor-trailers, how passenger vans perform in collisions, and the use of seat belts, he said. The tractor-trailer was traveling northbound on Interstate 75 near Gainesville, Florida, when it veered left, collided with another vehicle and barreled through a highway divider into the southbound lanes. It then slammed into the church van and another truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. United Pentecostal The van, which was carrying 12 people, overturned multiple times, ejecting some passengers. Another car couldnt stop and hit at least one of those thrown from the van, according to the Highway Patrol. In addition to the seven people killed, nine others were injured. The van was carrying three adults and nine children from the United Pentecostal Church in Marksville, Louisiana, a church superintendent wrote in a Facebook post. They were headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, the Associated Press reported. The Highway Patrol will work and share information with NTSB investigators so that they have the most complete understanding of how this incident occurred, Lieutenant Patrick Riordan, a public affairs officer, said in an email. Molloy said his team of investigators should still be able to find what caused the Florida crash, but the toll of the shutdown means that it will likely be delayed along with the other open cases they were working on. Lost Time Even though its great that we are can go out there and get the data, theres still going to be effects as we try to catch up from the time we lost, he said. The Highway Patrol had used a drone to photograph and document the accident scene and has preserved the vehicles so NTSBs team can examine them, Molloy said. More problematic will be contacting witnesses. The biggest thing is trying to talk to people and have their stories be reflective of what they would have been right after the crash, he said. And, its also difficult for those involved in the crash to have to go through the process of telling everyone their story again later. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Auto Florida Church Transportation The Trump administration proposed ending a complex system of drug rebates that influence tens of billions of dollars in U.S. pharmaceutical spending, a move that could upend the relationship between drugmakers and pharmacy benefits middlemen. The proposal, a long-awaited part of the administrations plan to target high list prices of drugs, would ban rebates paid by drugmakers to pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, in government programs like Medicare. Those rebates have been called anticompetitive by critics, who blame them for forcing many patients to pay more out of pocket. Under the administration proposal, rebates would instead be passed along directly to customers. The proposal comes ahead of President Donald Trumps State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday, handing him a potential win on drug pricing a major issue for both parties. The measure, released by the Department of Health and Human Services Thursday, would roll back so-called safe-harbor protections for such rebates, which kept them from running afoul of federal anti-kickback laws. The plan isnt final and will be subject to a 60-day period for public comment. The changes are potentially devastating to the current pharma ecosystem, said Eric Coldwell, an analyst with Baird Equity Research. The U.S. health-care system is a sandcastle and the tide is coming in. Shares of major drug-plan providers fell. CVS Health Corp., which oversees drug benefits for more than 90 million Americans, fell 2.4 percent in late trading in New York, and Cigna Corp., which last year bought PBM giant Express Scripts, declined 1.4 percent. Drugmakers pay rebates to insurers and PBMs in exchange for preferred status with those plans customers. Some of those rebates go toward insurance premiums, while the middlemen keep some for themselves. The pharmaceutical industry has said PBMs prefer higher-priced drugs so they can negotiate bigger rebates and pocket more of the money. In a statement announcing the proposal, HHS Secretary Alex Azar blasted PBM rebates as a hidden system of kickbacks to middlemen that increases drug costs for Americans every day. This proposal has the potential to be the most significant change in how Americans drugs are priced at the pharmacy counter, ever, and finally ease the burden of the sticker shock that millions of Americans experience every month for the drugs they need, Azar said in a statement. Reporting by Bloomberg News over the past three years has examined a variety of pricing practices at PBMs that have been criticized by politicians and others for making it hard to tell where the money is going. In addition to the debate over rebates, PBMs also are under scrutiny over a practice known as spread pricing, a contractual arrangement that allows PBMs to pay pharmacies one price for a generic drug while charging higher prices to their health plan customers. CVS said drugmakers were to blame for drug costs. While PBMs have become a convenient target in the fight against skyrocketing drug costs, in reality they serve as a last line of defense for the consumer, the company said in a statement. Brian Henry, a spokesman for Cigna, said that rebates had helped keep premiums down overall. It is short-sighted to look at one component of our offering as having a disproportionate impact on our business model, Henry said in an email. Under the proposal, safe-harbor protection would be eliminated for rebates drugmakers pay to pharmacy-benefit managers, Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid managed-care organizations. A new safe harbor would be created for rebates on drug discounts offered directly to patients, as well as fixed-fee service arrangements between drugmakers and PBMs. Without safe-harbor protections, rebate money pocketed by PBMs could be considered an illegal kickback. Congress While the out-of-pocket cost for many people picking up drugs at the pharmacy would decline, the premiums they pay for coverage would rise. Premiums for Medicare drug plans under the proposal could increase anywhere from 8 percent to 22 percent while average costs patients pay out of pocket would fall 9 percent to 14 percent, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. It would be up to Congress to write new laws banning rebates in commercial plans that cover most working-age Americans, and the reception on Capitol Hill was mixed. In the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, the chairmen of two key committees overseeing health care criticized the proposal. The majority of Medicare beneficiaries will see their premiums and total out-of-pocket costs increase if this proposal is finalized, Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal of Massachusetts and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey said in a joint statement. We are concerned that this is not the right approach. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi likewise urged Trump to work with lawmakers on drug costs. President Trump must work with Congress to deliver the real, tough legislation needed to actually drive down the price of prescription drugs for seniors and families across America. she said in a statement criticizing the plan. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, an industry group for PBMs, said it was reviewing the proposed rule. We stand ready to work with the administration to achieve our shared goal to reduce high drug costs, PCMA Chief Executive Officer JC Scott said in a statement. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the main drug industry trade group, applauded the move. The proposal would fix the misaligned incentives in the system that now result in insurers and PBMs favoring medicines with high list prices, PhRMA CEO Stephen Ubl said in a statement. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation Drugs It may seem a simple solution to the brewing U.S. retirement crisis: Get people to work until 70 before retiring and 85 percent will have the money they need for retirement. They will save more during additional years in jobs and leave existing savings untouched while getting paychecks; plus they have fewer years in retirement to cover living expenses with their savings, noted Alicia Munnell, director of Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. But despite the math that attracts economists and lawmakers worried about funding Social Security and Medicare, it turns out that it is not so easy. James Poterba, an MIT economics professor, pointed to the problem at a Brookings Institution forum on the topic last week. Not everybody can work longer, said Poterba, who is also president of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He contrasted workers in physically demanding or unpleasant jobs to economists in academic offices comfortably churning out studies on Social Security fixes. While many professors cling to their jobs well into their 70s, research shows many people do not have that option. The Urban Institute noted in a new study that about 10 percent of those over 50 had to leave their jobs because of health. But Urban Institute economist Richard W. Johnson, who studied work records of people over 50 in the federally funded Health and Retirement Study, said ageism is driving far more older workers away from their jobs, regardless of education, race or gender. Older workers also had trouble finding new jobs. Half had their income fall more than 42 percent, and only one in 10 ever earned as much as they had been making before losing their job. A third of those over 50 who lost jobs also had it happen again. Even now, when the labor market is tight, ageism is still there, Johnson said. ALTERNATIVES While people may not make it to 70, economists recommended trying to work as long as possible. Stanford economist John Shoven has found that retiring at 66, instead of 62, can lift the standard of living by a third. One suggestion from Munnell to convince employers to keep older workers on the job longer: declare 70 the new full retirement age for Social Security instead of the 66-1/2 to 67 it is now. Munnell explained that employers are sometimes afraid to hire people in their 50s because they fear that person will stay indefinitely to build up meager 401(k) savings. If the retirement age were 70, the employer would perhaps hire an older person, knowing the employee eventually would leave. But raising the retirement age is a political hot potato, mostly because people in lower-income and physically demanding jobs would receive less money if they claimed Social Security earlier than 70. President Donald Trump has promised not to alter Social Security. Another idea proposed by Stanford economics professor John Shoven and Robert Clark, a North Carolina State University economics professor, is to relieve employers and employees of paying payroll tax toward Social Security for workers over 62. Currently, both employees and employers face a payroll tax of 6.2 percent of earnings up to $132,900. As more older people work, Shoven and Clark argue higher income tax receipts could offset Social Securitys lost revenue. Yet, Steve Goss, the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, does not think those savings would be passed along to workers in higher wages or to increase the labor supply of older people. Also, if Social Security suffers a loss in revenue, younger workers might have to pay higher taxes, leaving them less able to save for their own retirement and perpetuating the cycle of the retirement readiness crisis. (Editing by Beth Pinsker and David Gregorio) A new report outlines the numerous risks insurers face from climate change. The report from Sustainalytics, a provider of ESG (environmental, social and governance) and corporate governance products and services, shows that property/casualty insurers face two key points of exposure to climate risks in 2019 and beyond: escalating cost of payouts for climate change-driven catastrophes; carbon-related risks from underwriting and investment activities. The report draws on a study from Aon Benfield that shows 2017 was the costliest year on record for weather related damages, with $344 billion in total economic losses globally and insured losses reaching $132 billion, three times the 2000-2016 average. On top of the physical risks, P&C insurers underwriting and investment activities expose them to indirect carbon risks, the report states. By underwriting coverage for fossil fuel projects, the insurance industry enables projects that worsen climate change, which increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather. As large investors, insurers can direct funding to companies and assets geared towards the transition to a low-carbon economy currently only 1 percent of assets invested by 80 major global insurers were allocated to low-carbon investments, according to the report. The report also notes that some European insurers like AXA, Allianz, Zurich and Generali have announced restrictions on insuring and investing in coal. Suncorp leads European insurers by ranking in the report as having the lowest level of unmanaged risk and the highest scores in integration management and responsible asset management, and as an insurer that has steered clear of fossil fuel controversies. In August 2017, Suncorp adopted a responsible investment policy, which also applies to its external investment managers, the report states. The policy includes commitments to increase climate-related investments, such as green bonds, renewable energy infrastructure and climate change adaptation and mitigation innovations. Suncorps reported key action items for 2019 and 2020 include identifying and assessing risks and opportunities linked to climate change, carbon transition issues and physical climate impacts, according to the report. Climate Change and the Economy How broadly will climate change run through the world economy? A new report shows climate change disrupting supply chains, disabling operations and driving away customers. The report is based on disclosures collected by CDP, a U.K.-based nonprofit that asks companies to report their environmental impact, including the risks and opportunities they believe climate change presents for their businesses. More than 7,000 companies worldwide filed reports for 2018, including more than 1,800 from the U.S. CDP, formerly called the Carbon Disclosure Project, earlier this month released letter grades for those companies. Thirty U.S.-based companies got an A grade, the most of any country. Next on the list were Japan, with 25 top-scoring companies, and France with 22. The annual A List names international businesses leading on environmental performance, and this year more than 140 corporations were recognized as the pioneers acting on climate change, water security and deforestation, and building a future economy that works for both people and planet. Accenture, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. were on the list. A double-check of the list yielded only one insurer, MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc., a Japanese insurer with businesses including Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance. The company is listed on the Nikkei 225. Polar Vortex If you are reading about the Polar vortex, or experiencing it, you may, like the U.S. president, be asking What happened to global warming? BBC News tackled that question in an article titled Is polar vortex linked to climate change? The article quoted President Donald Trump when he tweeted recently: In the beautiful Midwest, wind chill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People cant last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Warming? Please come back fast, we need you! It also bears a Tweet from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Winter storms dont prove that global warming isnt happening. The article explains that the polar vortex is a great gyre of air that forms each winter and circulates above the North Pole in the stratosphere, and that whats occurring is a breakdown of the polar vortex. There is debate whether this breakdown of the polar vortex is becoming more common, while some researchers say they suspect climate change is behind it. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Centre, is quoted in the article. She argues that melting sea ice in the Arctic may be linked to changes in the polar vortex, as the dark, open ocean absorbs more heat than reflective ice, causing a hot spot that, along with changes in the jet stream driven by climate change, could cause the polar vortex to break down. Other experts say there is no convincing evidence that these events are happening more often. The article does offer readers a good rule of thumb: weather is what is happening outside your house now, while climate is what happens over many years. In other words, it can be frigid where you live, but the world as a whole could still be getting warmer. Just their thoughts on it. You Can Win with Climate Change A Forbes article, which focuses on Winning At Climate Change Investing, says many people simply do not perceive the effects of climate change as exerting a significantly negative impact on the economy or on their daily lives, but that this perception will change over the next five to 10 years. One big issue for investors is that its impossible to know what event or tipping point will cause a change in attitudes sufficient enough to create an investing catalyst. This timing issue has already created problems for some very smart capital allocators, the article states. The author, Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, is founder and managing director Of Framework Investing. The article states that intelligent climate change investors must take steps to limit economic exposure to expensive failures while, at the same time, preserving exposure to the enormous upside potential brought about by the upcoming paradigm shift. He splits technologies into three categories: Evolutionary application of current technology (such as improvements to Lithium ion batteries and development of a powerwall) Novel adaptation of current technology (applying sensors and pattern recognition algorithms, IoT, robots, LEDs, and crop sciences to grow food in indoor vertical farms) Revolutionary development of new science (clean meat, algal biofuels) Structuring a portfolio that contains a combination of low- to high-leverage positions in a way that insulates an investor from downside risks while still maintaining that enviable quality of convexity (i.e., positions become more profitable the more profitable they are) is something I have thought a great deal about and which I have, in fact, written an entire book about! Kobayashi-Solomon writes. My next step is to apply the theory to these types of investments. Stay tuned. Past columns: Topics Carriers USA Pollution Climate Change The Minnesota Department of Human Services says a data breach potentially exposed personal information on up to 3,000 people. Commissioner Tony Lourey tells legislative leaders it happened Sept. 28 when an employee fell for a phishing scam and clicked on a malicious link that caused the employees email account to send spam. Lourey says technicians could not identify what, if any personal information might have been accessed. But the compromised account contained data on DHS employees and clients, including names, dates of birth, phone numbers, emails and information on child protection cases. It also held Social Security and drivers license numbers and financial data on about 30 people. Letters started going out to the affected individuals Wednesday. Around 21,000 Minnesotans were affected by a breach at the department last year. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cyber Minnesota Ford Motor Co. and other manufacturers want to help their workers take a load off. Or at least make it easier to lift a load up. Ford is among several companies providing wearable technology to elevate and support their workers arms. Nicholas Gotts wears an EksoVest during his shifts building Mustangs at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit, Mich. He says the exoskeleton makes his job a whole lot easier and a lot less strenuous. Ford piloted the EksoVest at two U.S. plants before deciding last year to expand its use to 15 factories and seven countries. The vest provides lift assistance for 5 to 15 pounds per arm. Aerospace giant Boeing Co. is among other companies that provide their workers with exoskeletons. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Tech Michigan The deadly collapse of a Vale SA tailings dam in Brazil is serving as a wake-up call for an industry that regularly cuts costs by storing mining waste in the cheapest possible way. The slurry of ground rock and effluents left over after companies extract marketable minerals from the ground has been stored for decades in massive ponds held back by embankments or dams. Their safety, though, depends very much on the design of the ponds, and on the cost of building them. The Vale SA dam that collapsed in Brazil last week, and a previous dam that failed there three years earlier, were both built on the go using the upstream method, typically the cheapest by far. Under that technique, the wall containing the pond is primarily constructed of tailings, and its designed to grow as more effluents are pumped in. A costlier method pre-builds the walls and insulates them. There are a lot of calculations people can use for the cost of a failure, said Dirk van Zyl, a professor of mining engineering at the University of British Columbia. You not only have the real cash cost to the company, but you also open the whole discussion of what a human life is worth? This week, the mining sector is coming face-to-face with the math. On top of the 99 dead and the 259 missing, Vale, the worlds largest iron ore producer, could face damages as high as $7 billion for the current disaster, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Thats more than twice the $3.3 billion liability at the Samarco joint venture following the failure of another upstream dam in Brazil in 2015. Although its not yet clear what caused last weeks dam failure, Vale said on Tuesday it will decommission 10 upstream dams in the next three years. In the case of Samarco, Brazils worst environmental disaster, the miner allegedly ignored warnings of potential risk and altered the dams structure improperly as it sought to keep production levels high. At least one legislator, Joao Vitor Xavier, in Brazils mineral-rich Minas Gerais state, has previously tried to pass legislation banning upstream dams. In July, his measure was defeated without mining companies bothering to join the debate, he said. Some countries have already moved to abandon the upstream pond method. For instance, in Chile, where mining is a pillar of the economy, no large tailings dams have ever collapsed. In 1970, upstream ponds were banned by that country, which has suffered some of the strongest earthquakes ever registered. Submissions Required Companies in Chile are required to submit their designs for new tailings ponds to authorities for approval. Once built, the installations are closely monitored with companies mandated to submit data regularly to government agencies. Antofagasta Plc monitors its largest tailings deposits using 76 instruments installed on the wall that constantly send information on stability and safety metrics, the company said in an emailed response to questions. Meanwhile, Brazils system of monitoring how mining waste is safely stored involves the miners themselves paying independent consultants to inspect their dams. The companies then present these reports to local officials. The fluidity of the waste is also key, experts have said. A third option to ensure that the waste is safely stored is by drying the tailings out and stacking them, instead of directly storing the slurry of materials. Dry-stack tailings are more stable and allow miners to recycle some of the water, which can be used in mining processes. At the same time, that method can be as much as ten times more expensive, according to van Zyl, the University of British Columbia professor. He declined to speculate on the cause of the Vale disaster, which is under investigation. Governance is key: 2016 recommendations by The International Council on Mining and Metals, as well as the Mount Polley panel, call for independent monitoring of tailings. The panel was set up after a design fault in the foundation of a dam at Imperial Metals Corp.s Mount Polley mine in central British Columbia led to a breach in the wall. The accident released billions of gallons of water into local rivers and lakes and sparked debate across Canada about safety and environmental rules governing resource projects. With assistance from David Stringer and R.T. Watson. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Mining Mathias Sommer has been named head of Operations for Zurich Canada. Sommer had been leading the Operations team as vice president of Operations for Commercial Insurance Canada since September 2017. He will remain based in Toronto and report to Zurich Canada CEO Saad Mered with a reporting relationship to Zurich North America Chief Operations Officer Mark Knipfer. In his expanded role, he will lead the teams responsible for underwriting support and services; information technology, including data management; operations and project management, including application development/design, onboarding new projects, business architecture and business transformation; facilities management; and procurement. Sommer previously served as head of Business Services and Solutions for North America. Prior to moving to North America, he was a senior manager in Zurichs internal consulting team supporting strategy and transformation efforts across multiple geographies including UK, Switzerland and Russia. Sommer has a masters degree and a doctorate in economics having studied at the University of Mannheim in Germany, as well as University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Mathias experience in business transformation, technology enablement, organizational development and project leadership will greatly enhance the development and execution of the operating model we are creating for Zurich Canada, Mered said. Source: Zurich Canada Topics Canada All Assam Students' Union (AASU) held a massive candlelight protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, here on Thursday. "We are not in favour of this bill. Thousands of students from AASU have gathered here to tell the government that we don't want this bill as it will create problems for us. Assam's peace will be at stake if this bill is passed," a protester said. The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. The bill will facilitate citizenship of six identified minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to India before 31 December 2014.The proposed amendment in the Bill will make these persecuted migrants eligible to apply for citizenship. Under the proposed amendment, the minimum residency period for citizenship is being reduced from the existing 12 years under the present law to seven years. However, citizenship will be given to them only after due scrutiny and recommendation of district authorities and the state government.Six student bodies including Meira Paibis protested against the bill in New Delhi on January 30, and also boycotted the 70th Republic Day celebration in Manipur. -ANI Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) The widow of slain AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe on Friday announced she is taking her husband's place in the Daraga, Albay mayoralty race on the advice of President Rodrigo Duterte. "I am running for Mayor of Daraga," Gertrudes "Gertie" Duran-Batocabe said in a press conference amid applause from supporters. "I am heeding the advice of the President, after much consultation with my family," Duran-Batocabe added. Her announcement comes after meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on Thursday. Photos she posted on Facebook showed the President raising her hand. "He has assured me of full support. I presented him my plans, and dreams, you know it was a very very casual conversation with the President," Duran-Batocaberecalled. Rep. Batocabe and his security aide SPO2 Orlino Diaz were shot dead in broad daylight on December 23 during a gift-giving activity. All six suspects have pointed to Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the brains behind the crime. The mayor, who was supposed to be Batocabe's rival in the 2019 mayoral race, has repeatedly denied the allegations. Legazpi-based stringer Rosas Olarte contributed to this report. BGC Partners, Inc., a global brokerage and financial technology company, announced it has completed the acquisition of Ed Broking Group Ltd., the London-based independent Lloyds broker. BGC acquired 100 percent of Ed, which includes broking operations under the Ed brand in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Miami and China as well as Eds German marine broking arm Junge & Co. Versicherungsmakler GmbH. The deal also includes Eds UK-based managing general agent Globe Underwriting Ltd., Epsilon Insurance Broking Services Pty Ltd in Australia, and Paris-based Cooper Gay (France) SAS. Financial details of the transaction, which was first announced in October 2018, were not disclosed. Ed will become part of BGCs insurance division, which was established in 2017 with the acquisition of Besso Insurance Group Ltd. Steve Hearn, currently group CEO of Ed, will become head of BGCs insurance division. Hearn will report directly into Shaun D. Lynn, president of New York City-headquartered BGC Partners. We are delighted to complete the purchase of Ed, a company with a great reputation, a global footprint and an excellent management team that will continue to build on BGCs success in growing the insurance brokerage business, commented Lynn. Ed specializes in various product areas, including accident and health, aerospace, cargo, energy, financial and political risks, marine, professional and executive risk, property and casualty, specialty and reinsurance. Source: BGC Partners Related: UKs Ed Broking to Be Acquired by BGC Partners Topics Mergers A U-Haul subsidiary and the former general manager of one of its Philadelphia stores have pleaded guilty after a food truck explosion that killed a woman and her teenage daughter. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the U-Haul Company of Pennsylvania and Miguel Rivera entered their pleas Tuesday to violating federal hazardous materials regulations. Prosecutors say they used untrained workers to fill propane tanks at the Philadelphia facility in June and July 2014. Investigators have said food truck owner Olga Galdamez took her propane tanks to U-Haul where they were filled despite being old and damaged. Galdamez and her daughter, Jaylin, died from burn-related injuries after the July 2014 blast. Riveras attorney says his clients plea has no connection to the explosion. U-Haul previously paid a $160 million settlement in the case. Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Pennsylvania The Maryland Insurance Administration has settled a lawsuit over gender-based pay discrimination. News outlets report the agency will pay nearly $37,000 to three female fraud investigators who say they were paid less than their male counterparts. The settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission bars the agency from violating the Equal Pay Act of 1963 in the future, and requires officials to create non-gender-based wage policies. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in April 2015. The EEOC appealed when a judge ruled the male investigators were paid more based on their experience. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found there was a factual dispute as to whether the pay disparity was based on a factor other than gender, and remanded the case down. Attorneys for both sides declined to comment. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Maryland Texas Mutual is deeply committed to the independent agent community, said Rich Gergasko, president and CEO of Texas Mutual. This commitment is shared with IIAT, and by aligning our organizations, were working together to help ensure the success of independent agents and agencies across the state. Texas Mutual currently has 43% of the Texas workers compensation market, covering more than 70,000 businesses and 1.5 million workers. Business owners covered by Texas Mutual have received more than $2.5 billion in dividends over the last 20 years. IIAT and Texas Mutual share a vision of a strong, local independent agent distribution channel, said Marit Peters, IIAT executive director and president. Through this partnership, we can empower agents to deliver the best in service and workers compensation to their clients. IIAT looks forward to working with Texas Mutual as we strengthen our commitment to helping independent agents. The average hidden agency fee charged by the defendants was $5,471, or 47% of the insurance policy premium, with some fees reaching as high as 462% of the premium. Standard compensation for insurance agents selling these policies is around 10%. According to a statement from Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, an investigation found that the company hid extra fees from clients in a variety of ways, including by whiting out the actual premium figure on insurance policies and typing in an inflated figure that included the undisclosed agency fee. The company also withheld from clients the last page of premium finance agreements, where the true premium, as set by the insurer, is typically disclosed. Nearly 100 clients were negatively impacted by the Kilgore agencys schemes. Kilgore Insurance and its owners orchestrated a scheme to charge consumers millions in undisclosed, excessive, and illegal agency fees, said Healy. We are pleased that with this action, overcharged consumers will receive restitution. Maybe youve already seen this quote from serial entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Lori Greiner. If not, I bet youve heard a version of it. Startup founders are infamous for busy-bragging. Sometimes it even feels like a competition: Who can work the longest? Who can sacrifice the most? Who will sleep at the office and go a full week without natural light? Yes, starting a business is hard work, and Greiners dedication has clearly paid off (shes created over 700 products and holds 120 patents). But the willingness she describes is really about freedom. Whether theyre chasing a big idea or solving a real problem, most founders also want to call the shots, to make their own money, set their own hours and to create something they care about. So why are we all trying to outwork each other? I dont believe in the 24/7 hustle and grind. Its not productive. And its starting to kill us. I also know first-hand that starting a business is not easy. Ive been on a 12-year entrepreneurial journey, slowly building JotForm into a global company with 3.7 million users and 110 employees. So where is the balance? How can you fulfill your vision without sacrificing yourself? Instead of logging more hours, the answer is to make the most of the hours you work. If youre smart about time management, you might be amazed by how much you can achieve in a sane, focused week. Here are five strategies that help me to avoid overworking even when theres always more to do. 1. Minimize your active projects Time management is attention management. Controlling your work is a matter of focus, not creating a crazy-strict schedule. When you focus your attention, you maximize your time, which increases your motivation. Its a productive cycle that feels really, really good. At any given time, I have no more than three core goals or active projects. Thats it. I say no to everything else. I delegate or save any outside tasks for later. You can also try a more sophisticated approach. In a Fast Company article, Google for Work director Thomas Davies described the problem with most time management strategies: Managing time starts from the premise that your workload is going to be what its going to be, and the best you can do is keep it manageable. But what if you could design your work day instead? Davies decided to create a new strategy. He divided his work responsibilities into four quadrants: people development, business operations, transactional tasks and representative tasks. Then he slotted every task into one of the four quadrants. Once he had a high-level view of what actually occupied his time, he could decide what mattered most and what made him feel most energized. Now he tries to maximize his work in those high-value quadrants. If this method speaks to you, give it a try. As Davies explains, youll soon realize that not all tasks are created equal. Armed with that knowledge, you can be mindful of where to dedicate your attention. 2. Mono-task, dont multi-task Establishing core priorities will narrow your focus. You also need to perform just one task at a time. Thats because, as Phyllis Korkki wrote in The New York Times, multi-tasking is a biological impossibility: Your brain may delude itself into thinking that it has more capacity than it really does, but its really working extra hard to handle multiple thoughts at once when you are switching back and forth between tasks. Your ability to get things done depends on how well you can focus on one task at a time, whether its for five minutes or an hour. To create a mono-tasking environment, Korkki suggests that you remove all temptations even if that means installing anti-distraction programs like Freedom or FocusMe. Also, use just one screen. Work in set chunks of time, and if you lose focus, get up and walk around. You can also try the popular Pomodoro technique, which breaks the day into 25-minute, highly focused intervals, followed by a five-minute break. After four intervals, you take a 15-minute break ideally away from all screens and mobile devices. 3. Cut back on meetings Meetings have become a contentious topic in entrepreneurial circles. Tesla founder Elon Musk told his staff to walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as its obvious you arent adding value. And Basecamps Jason Fried says its hard to come up with a bigger waste of money, time or attention than status meetings. Some meetings are critical, but many are not. Unless the meeting can remove a roadblock or its essential for team cohesion, find another way. Send an email and follow up later. Say no and protect your time. Youll be helping colleagues and co-workers to regain their focus, too. Im honoured to receive a lot of requests for coffee and casual get-to-know-you meetings. I mentor some young entrepreneurs, but I politely decline everything from speaking invitations to networking events as well. I wish I had time to accommodate everyone, but I just dont. I have to draw a firm boundary and you should as well. 4. Make quick decisions Hording decisions creates stress. When your mind is buzzing with many different choices from what to eat for lunch to which job candidate to hire its almost impossible to have a productive workday. Now, imagine your brain is a whiteboard. Every time you make a decision, youre wiping off more scribbles. Soon, its clear and ready for creative thought. When it comes to decision-making, speed is the goal here. There are very few decisions that cant be made quickly. I know that goes against conventional wisdom, but give it a try. If youve already gathered enough information, combine that data with your personal instincts and make a choice now. Dont have enough data? Then forget the decision and gather what you need. Once you have the right information, make your choice and move on. Repeat as needed. 5. Make the most of your work time then step away Vacations and downtime are essential for success. Theres just no way around it. You can hustle with the best of them, but at some point, your body is going to say no. The mind will rebel, too. Youll be less analytical, way less creative, and your emotions will eventually overrule all logical thoughts. Im currently spending the summer in Izmir, Turkey. We have a small office here. Its also a beautiful city by the sparkling Aegean Sea. So Im going to work four-day weeks and explore the nearby beach towns with my family. I realize this is a great privilege and I know you might have a few more questions. Dont you feel pressure to show your face in the office? Do you worry that your team will lose morale and slack off if youre not there? Honestly, Im just not concerned about it. I guess some employees might slip into 'relaxation' mode if Im not in the office, but I also know that our teams love their work. Theyre knee-deep in meaningful projects, and I have great respect for what they contribute to JotForm. I encourage our employees to take time off, too. If you dont take vacations, youll burn out and eventually produce less. As the CEO, my job is to ensure our teams are motivated and they dont hit roadblocks. Our employees wont function well if they dont take care of themselves. How on earth can I ease up when Im just launching or growing my business? I promise its not impossible. Even during the early days of my company, my wife and I took three months off to travel across Europe. Its a matter of planning and sticking to your priorities. For example, if youre working in your business, it doesnt function without you. When you work on your business, you can develop systems and processes that let you step away. You build a company that doesnt break if youre not answering every email or performing every single task. Even as a solopreneur, you can plan to hit pause if it matters to you. I know the details can be tricky, and this is a far easier proposition with an online business. But ultimately, life isnt all about work. I dont know about you, but I dont to want to work, work, work and then retire for a couple years before I die. I want to enjoy my life and my freedom. So, be strategic. Ask for help. Develop systems and safety nets that allow you to step away, even for a short time. You and your business will be so much better for it. Soon, you wont even dream about using the word 'hustle.' Aytekin Tank is founder and CEO of JotForm, an online form creation software with 4 million users worldwide and more than 100 employees. A developer by trade but writer by heart, Aytekin shares stories about how he exponentially grew his company without receiving any outside funding. Representatives from the DFKI and the major reinsurer have signed the stakeholder agreement. Artificial intelligence is one of the most important technologies of our time, commented Torsten Jeworrek, member of Munich Res management board. AI makes it possible to create totally new products even today, such as insurance covers for connected factories or for losses caused by cybercrime. But it also comes with a host of new challenges. By collaborating with the DFKI, we are living out our aspiration to play a leading role in AI in the insurance sector. Not only will the partnership help us develop the most modern, effective, and best processes for our clients, it will also make the latest research available to our employees and further advance research in this field. The institute employs nearly 1,000 people who conduct research in fields like robotics, smart factories, and immersive quantified learning. The DFKI has 18 research departments and research groups, eight living labs, and eight competence centres. Munich Re joining the circle of DFKI shareholders offers enormous potential for innovation in terms of the AI methods we develop, said Professor Wolfgang Wahlster, chief executive and technical and scientific managing director at the DFKI. The real-time demands of Munich Res big data analytics open up fantastic opportunities for application, particularly for our deep learning competence centre, our speech perception and machine vision technology, the interpretability of deep learning results, and sensor fusion. Pending formal approval by all of DFKIs existing shareholders, the transaction is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2019. Wahlster added: The results of our previous work together evaluating storm damage using aerial images while taking socio-economic parameters into account were very positive. It was clear to me even when presenting the DFKI to Munich Res board of management last July that it would be a win-win situation if Munich Re were to join our circle of shareholders. But due to a lack of public liability insurance, the wheelchairs remain locked in a storage shed and have only been used for a few events, leaving a section of the community still feeling excluded and without access to the beach, ABC reported. Rachel Barlow, Whyalla Access Group member, said the chairs were in demand and that it was an issue of dignity and access. "To be able to be included and to do at least one activity that everyone else can do and to be with your family [is important]," Barlow told the news agency. It is life-changing to people to just be able to do regular things We all know how much the beach means but we dont know what its like to have that taken away and not have a choice to be able to get near the beach. The Whyalla Access Group said it was working closely with the Whyalla City Council to solve the insurance problem and that the council has covered event insurance for the chairs to be used on special days. Barlow is hoping the insurance dilemma will be resolved within the next six months, ABC reported. I would like to thank Michael for his enormous contribution to Aviva over the past nine years, commented Aviva executive chair Sir Adrian Montague. He has brought to the board a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over a long career in the banking and insurance industries in both executive and non-executive roles in Europe, Asia, and Australia, and has been a distinguished chairman of the risk committee. Hawkers replacement for the risk committee is now being identified, in what Aviva described as a well-advanced succession planning process. Meanwhile at Bupa where his non-executive director appointment takes effect on April 01, Hawker will also be joining the boards of the companys key subsidiaries in Australia. We are delighted to welcome Michael to the board and look forward to working with him, commented Bupa chairman Roger Davis. He brings valuable experience of financial services from across the world, particularly in Australia, Bupas largest market. Currently Hawker holds the same position at Macquarie Group Ltd, Macquarie Bank Ltd, and Washington H Soul Pattinson Pty and Company Ltd. Birkett brings a quarter-century of experience in reinsurance, insurance, superannuation, and consulting to his new roles, most recently as managing director at Willis Re, where he worked for 13 years after previous senior roles at Swiss Re and Aon Re. Birketts experience also includes working with a number of mutuals in Australia and New Zealand, including Unimutual. Ty brings both a broad and deep knowledge from his career so far, particularly in successfully addressing the opportunities and challenges that various organisations face, said Martin Griffith, chairman of Unimutual. We look forward to working with him to take Unimutual from strength to strength. Birkett succeeds Gerald Ewing, who has been CEO of Regis Australia and Unimutual for more than a decade and was one of the founding directors of both Regis Australia and the parent Regis Mutual Management. Going forward, Ewing will focus on assisting the strategic growth of Regis in his capacity as director of Regis in Australia and the UK. Photo: The Canadian Press Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce UPDATE: 10 a.m. Ron Joyce, the co-founder of the Tim Hortons doughnut chain, has died at the age of 88. The cause of death was not immediately clear. The Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, Ont., and its namesake foundation say in a statement that Joyce's generosity "has been felt across the country". Joyce donated $7.5 million to support the hospital's redevelopment and expansion. Joyce invested in the first Tim Hortons shop in Hamilton in 1964. According to the Joyce Family Foundation website, he was born in Tatamagouche, N.S., in 1930. ORIGINAL: 9:45 a.m. Ron Joyce, the co-founder of the Tim Hortons doughnut chain, has died at age 88. More coming The signing of Manulifes sponsorship deal with MDRT provides an exciting opportunity for our company to grow and advance, said Coburn. Through our investment in career-long training, our agents will help us to continue our transformation journey into a digital, customer-centric market leader. MDRT is honoured to be partnering with Manulife Asia, said Vanderwolf. MDRT and Manulife have a shared commitment to help to improve the skills, ethical knowledge and customer service abilities of those who provide valuable financial services every day, MDRT has over 66,000 insurance and financial services professionals worldwide in its member roll, and is widely known as a standard of excellence in insurance. As of end-December 2017, Manulife had 2,897 MDRT members in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is encouraging more of its almost 80,000-strong roster of agents to qualify for MDRT status. Even if Tucsons residential real estate market wasnt booming, the sale of a 10,000+ square foot estate in the Catalina Foothills would still be newsworthy in the real estate world. But a strong sellers market in Tucson and throughout the nation means the estate of Tucson land developer Do Photo: The Canadian Press A hiker makes her way through blowing and drifting snow as she sprints back to her car Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at Tiscornia Park in St. Joseph, Mich. The bitter cold that gripped the Midwest forced commuters to bundle up like polar explorers. By early next week, many of those same people might get by with a light jacket. Just days after the arctic conditions, forecasts say, the region will seemingly swing into another season, with temperatures climbing by as much as 80 degrees. Experts say the rapid thaw is unprecedented, and it could create problems of its own bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads. "I don't think there's ever been a case where we've seen (such a big) shift in temperatures" in the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. "Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. ... Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures." Although many places remained painfully cold Thursday, the deep freeze eased somewhat, and the system marched east. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow (51 centimetres) gave way to subzero temperatures and face-stinging wind chills. On Friday, the wind chill in some areas was expected to be as low as minus 20 degrees (negative 28.9 Celsius). A ban on trucks and commercial buses on the western section of the Thruway was lifted Thursday night. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had vowed to crack down on violators a day after a semitrailer crash near Rochester caused a pileup that injured a state trooper. In New York City, about 200 firefighters battling a blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses. Schools remained closed in Buffalo, New York, but students headed back to school in other parts of the Midwest. Educators in Fargo, North Dakota, were busy Thursday after two days of cancelled classes. For Superintendent Rupak Gandhi, who came to Fargo last summer from Colorado, this week has been "a personal new." "I've had experience with cold and snow days, but negative 50? Absolutely not," he said. The dangerously cold weather is suspected in at least 17 deaths, including a man found frozen in his backyard in a Milwaukee suburb and a homeless man whose frozen body was found in a western New York bus shelter. Both men were found Thursday, the same day temperatures plunged to record lows in several Midwestern cities. But relief from the bitter Midwestern cold is as close as the weekend. Rockford, Illinois, was at a record-breaking minus 31 degrees (minus 35 Celsius) on Thursday morning but should be around 50 degrees (10 Celsius) on Monday. Other previously frozen areas could see temperatures of 55 degrees (13 Celsius) or higher. The dramatic warm-up will offer a respite from the bone-chilling cold that cancelled school, closed businesses and halted trains. But potholes will appear on roads and bridges weakened by the freeze-thaw cycle. The same cycle can crack water mains and homeowners' pipes. Scores of vehicles will be left with flat tires and bent rims. Woodbridge, VA (22192) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Hot. High near 95F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight An isolated thunderstorm possible this evening, then occasional showers overnight. Low near 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. 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. The 8th edition of G-Shock Bangalore Open Air brings American death metal giants Suffocation, Norwegian black metal band Abbath, Hyderabad-based Godless, Nepali band Krur and more. We speak to some of the artistes about metal, its sub-genres and what one can expect from the festival this year. Mass Damnation Hailing from Colombo, groove metal band Mass Damnation, sing about environmental, religious and socio-political issues. Their 2013 EP, Catalyst of Hate, created waves in the Sri Lankan metal circuit. Guitarist Thishan Wijesinghe tells us more about the band. What is the metal scene like in Sri Lanka? The metal scene in Sri Lanka has a good mix of genres from groove to depressive black metal. The scene, although relatively small, is the most supportive atmosphere we have experienced. Which international metal bands do you look up to? We are collectively inspired by bands like Gojira, Meshuggah, Lamb of God, Opeth, Death, The Faceless and Decapitated, to name a few. What can we expect from your set? Pure destruction! To be able to play at G-Shock Bangalore Open Air is a true honour that we never even imagined would happen. TrainWreck TrainWreck Based-out of Dhaka in Bangladesh, TrainWreck started out small with garage jams and local gigs. They are known for their hardcore and thrash metal sound. We chat with vocalist Abir Ahmed Shuvo about the metal scene in Bangladesh and the bands journey so far. Is there a thriving metal culture in Bangladesh? The metal scene in our country is growing at a rapid pace. It is at a stage now where we can host open air metal shows, which was not possible even two years ago. New bands are emerging every other month from different parts of the country. The outskirts of Dhaka have a stronger cult metal following these days. Who are your inspirations? Some of the big names that we look up to would be Gojira, Pantera, Slipknot and Meshuggah. But the one band that has always pushed us in our music career is Lamb of God. Among Indian bands, Demonic Resurrection, Bhayanak Maut and Kryptos are our most favourite bands. What are you expecting from your time in Bengaluru? Being the biggest metal festival in South East Asia, we have always followed Bangalore Open Air, and it is like a dream to play here. Well be performing our originals and well make sure you go home all wrecked. Rs. 2,600 upwards. February 9, 2 pm. At Aadya Farms, Yelahanka anagha@newindianexpress.com @anaghzzz iStock Vietnams 2,560km-long, mainly flat coastline is host to many large alluvial silica sand deposits. The countrys central coast region from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa which skirts the western side of the South China Sea is particularly rich in silica sand resources. To date, eight coastal deposits have been identified, with total reserves of 95.1 million tonnes of silica sand. Of these, three Van Hai in Quang Ninh, Nam O near Da Nang City, and Thuy Trieu in Khanh Hoa are being mined to supply silica sand for Vietnams rapidly growing domestic glass industry. The output of Vietnams silica sand mining industry is about 500,000 tonnes per year, most of which comes from its three main deposits. The largest of the countrys silica sand deposits is the 36.5 million tonne Thuy Trieu deposit in Khanh Hoa province. Thuy Trieu consists of a combination of 'special grade and grade I sand, which have high silicon dioxide (SiO2) content, making Thuy Trieu the most valuable silica sand deposit in Vietnam. The countrys other deposits contain mostly grade I (Van Hai, Quang Ninh province) and grade II sand (Thon Bung, Bac Giang province and Nam O in Da Nang City). Partly as a consequence of its abundant raw material supply, Vietnam is self-sufficient in glass and a significant exporter of glass products. A summary of the reserves and quality of Vietnams silica sand deposits is shown in Table 1. Floor of the CFG Chu Lai factory. Vietnams glass industry Vietnamese glass production began in the early 20th century at the Dap Cau Viglacera Plant in Bac Ninh province, northeast of Hanoi. Today, Vietnam has seven producers of smooth glass for construction and around 100 glass treatment companies, producing a wide range of glass materials from basic products (such as float glass and laminating glass) to treated products (such as heat tempering glass, sticking glass, box glass and mirrors). Demand for glass bottles for water and alcohol (including for Vietnams famous Saigon beer) have also led to the construction of large bottle-making factories. Viglacera Float Glass Co, a division of Viglacera Corp, is the leading producer of construction glass in Vietnam. Founded in 2001, the company has a capacity 420 tonnes per day of international standard float glass which is used to make many high-tech glass products such as fiber optic glass and high-grade sticking glass, which has been used in many buildings around the world. Chu Lai Float Glass Joint Stock Co (CFG) is the largest modern glass producer in Vietnam, with a capacity of 900 tpd. It produces 25mm-thick smooth glass plates, mainly for export to Japan, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Brazil. Building on the strength of its existing glass sector, the Vietnamese government has outlined a development plan for its ceramics and glass industry from 2020-2030, which will boost the countrys glass output. As part of this initiative, one of the major new projects began in August 2018 when Phu My Ultra-White Float Glass Ltd started building a major new production plant in the Phu My 2 Industrial Park in Tan Thanh district near Ho Chi Minh City. The plant will have a phase one capacity of 600 tpd and is due for completion in the third quarter of 2019, rising to 900 tpd by 2022. Several other projects are also under construction or in the process of expanding capacity. By the start of the its development plan in 2020, the Vietnamese government is aiming to achieve glass exports worth $20-40 million per year. It hopes the value of its glass exports will continue to grow over the following decade, driven by rising demand for glass bottles, solar panels and construction glass. Underpinning this expansion will be the further development of Vietnams silica sand deposits, which produce some of the highest quality glass sand in the world. The sand sorting system at Van Hai Viglacera. Van Hai Viglacera Vietnams silica sand deposits The Van Hai silica sand deposit The Van Hai silica sand deposit is located in Quan Lan island in Ha Long bay, Quang Ninh province, 110km northeast of the port of Hai Phong. It was discovered in 1931 and exploited for silica sand exports to Japan between 1931 and 1944. Mining at Van Hai paused between 1944 and 1956 due to the Vietnam War. After operations recommenced, in-depth exploration was carried out between 1959 and 1960. The Van Hai deposit is mined by Van Hai Viglacera Co and supplies around 200,000 tonnes per year of silica sand to the domestic glass market. Van Hai silica sand meets the strict needs of glassmakers in terms of grain size, color, chemical content and moisture. Consequently, Van Hai Viglacera has long-term sales agreements with a number of major glass companies, including Vietnam Float Glass Ltd (VFG), San Miguel Yamamura, Haiphong Glass Limited and Rang Dong Lamp Shades. The Nam O silica sand deposit The Nam O silica sand deposit is located 16km north of Da Nang City and covers an area of 12km2. From 1977-1981, Nam O was explored in three areas: Xuan Thieu beach I (0.65 km2); Xuan Thieu beach II (0.5 km2); and Khanh Vinh beach (0.73 km2). These exploration phases discovered that the deposit consisted of a two-meter layer of white fine-grained sand above sea level and a 15-meter layer of whitish coarse-grained sand below sea level. The Nam O deposit is mined by Vico Silica Ltd to produce sand suitable for making molds for applications such as metal casting and glassmaking. Vico produces around 120,000 tpy of mold-grade sand. The chemical composition of this material is shown below (Table 2). Sand processing plant supplied by the Nam O sand deposit, Da Nang City. Vico Silica Ltd The sand washing processing facility for Thuy Trieu sand, Khanh Hoa province. Catraco Co Quang Nam deposits In Quang Nam province in Vietnams central belt, silica sand reserves are grouped into six deposits: Huong An (Que Son), Binh Tu, Tan An, Khuong Dai, Lieu Tri (Thang Binh) and Tam Anh (Nui Thanh). Between them, these deposits contain total estimated reserves of over 160 million tonnes. The silica sand in Quang Nam is mined to supply the Chu Lai float glass plant the largest of its kind in Vietnam. Thuy Trieu The Thuy Trieu silica sand deposit, located about 18km south of Nha Trang City and 19km north of Cam Ranh harbor, in Khanh Hoa province, is perhaps the most commercially important in Vietnam. The coastal relief around the deposit is in the form of sand dunes, with elevation of 3.7-37.6 meters. In 1959, the Catraco Co began exploiting Thuy Trieu sand for export to Japan. Between 1970 and 1974, a total of 563 000 tonnes was exported from Thuy Trieu. Further exploration of the deposit took place between 1978 and 1982. Analysis of these studies found that Thuy Trieu contained a fine white sand layer 2-11.5 meters thick. The grain color is white to greyish-white due to organic remains and contaminants but can be made whiter after washing. The deposits reserves are estimated at 36.5 million tonnes, of which 14.5 million tonnes is special grade sand and grade I sand is 22.1 million tonnes. Thuy Trieu sand is classified on the basis of Fe2O3-content into two grades (Table 3). The silica sand covers an area of about 30km2 and is between five and 10 metres above sea level, permitting dry mining. Thuy Trieu sand may be compared with the some of the worlds best-known silica sand brands, such as Fontainebleau, Ottawa, Moll, Aylesbury all of which have high economic value due to their quality. Today, the deposit is mined by Cam Ranh Sand Co (FICO), at a rate of around 150,000 tpy. Thuy Trieu white sand is washed using a modern production chain and its SiO2 content reaches over 99.95%, making it ideal for making construction glass and other kinds of high strength industrial glass. Cam Ranh currently supplies sand to Vietnams Binh Duong Viglacera float glass plant and other domestic industrial glass producers. Acknowledgements Bien Xuan Thanh, 2005. Potential of industrial minerals phosphorite, peat, feldspar and glass sand in the areas of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue. Geology, Mineral resources, Environment of North Central Vietnam. Proceeding of science reports for memory of 30 years founding the Geological Division of North Central, p.79-83, Vinh city, Nghe An. Hoang Sao,1995. Pegmatite and relative minerals in Red river area, Geology, Mineral resources and Petroleum of Vietnam, Tom 2, pp 225-229. Select reports of Science Conference on the occasion of memory of 50 years founding Branch of Vietnam Geology (1945-1995), The Geology Department of Vietnam, Ha Noi. Tran Dinh Chan, 1962. Van Hai sand deposit, Bulletin of Geology, No 7 (3) 1962, p. 20-23, General Department of Geology, Ha Noi. *Dr Tran Kim Phuong is a senior researcher at the Vietnam Union of Geological Sciences in Hanoi. Email: phuongicf@gmail.com. Producers, consumers, and traders of titanium dioxide (TiO2) report that markets are reaching a balance after two years of strong demand and constrained supply. But some fear this new-found stability could be disrupted if feedstock markets continue to tighten. TiO2 buyers in Europe and China have reported slightly easier markets since July 2018, concurrent with inventories recovering from a prolonged period of very tight supply. Prices have been on a long-term uptrend since early 2017, driven by two chief factors: reduced output in China and increased global demand. Environmental inspections in China hit production and forced the closure of a large number of smaller local producers that were using outdated and highly polluting technology, while global demand rose due to increased consumer spending in key markets. The market is once again finding a balance, buyers said, with new production capacity in China replacing the older and outdated facilities that were closed, while the growth in spending slows. A large number of pricing contacts have confirmed these expectations to Industrial Minerals, which have also been expressed publicly by a number of the largest TiO2 producers. Long-term TiO2 demand is closely linked to economic activity, which drives consumption in the manufacturing and construction sectors. So far in 2018, economic activity has been accelerating in the US, but the pace of GDP growth has been lower year on year in China and the EU. Inventory levels are rising in China due to slow local demand, despite rising exports to Europe, a buyer of Chinese material reported to Industrial Minerals. Industrial Minerals assessed prices for titanium dioxide pigment, high quality, bulk volume, cfr Asia, at $2,600-3,000 per tonne on August 9, compared to a yearly high of $2,800-3,100 per tonne last assessed on June 7. "[Chinese producers] are aggressively marketing [their material] to European buyers," one trader told Industrial Minerals in July. Multiple participants in the European markets have reported heavy stocks all along the supply chain, swollen by the rising imports. "Nobody is desperate, nobody is fighting to buy," a seller said. Industrial Minerals assessed the price of titanium dioxide pigment, bulk volume, cif Northern Europe, at 2,650-3,100 ($3,031-3,540) per tonne on August 9, down from 2,800-3,200 per tonne in June 2018. Feedstock threat looms Yet, buyers and sellers of titanium-dioxide feedstock mantain that the mineral end of the market is still experiencing significant supply-side constraints. Integrated producer Tronox's shift away from external sales and a series of shutdowns and industrial problems at Richards Bay minerals in South Africa have lowered the global availability of rutile, chloride and sulphite slag. This problem is likely accelerate due to miner Iluka's easing output and a shortage of new projects coming online to replace old and retiring capacity. Industrial Minerals assessed prices for rutile concentrate min 95% TiO2 bulk cif China at $950-1,100 per tonne on August 9, compared to $800-840 per tonne a year ago. "I can see a scenario where feedstock prices will escalate due to a looming supply crunch," one player in the feedstock market told Industrial Minerals. "Feedstock and pigment prices might even end up having to increase regardless of pigment demand due to feedstock pricing." Speaking about the US TiO2 market, one trader said that Tronox, Rio Tinto and Illuka's production of high-end feedstock would be key world supply for the rest of the year. Photo: The Canadian Press A haze hangs around spectators on the Chena River as teams left Fairbanks, Alaska, during the start of the Yukon Quest sled dog race Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. An event considered to be the toughest dog sled race on the planet begins Saturday in Whitehorse. Thirty teams from Canada, the United States and as far away as the Czech Republic and New Zealand will vie to win the 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest, which begins this year in Whitehorse and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska. For the first time since 2003, mushers must truck their teams between Braeburn, the first checkpoint north of Whitehorse, and Carmacks, about 75 kilometres further along the route. Race Marshall Doug Harris says a lack of snow made the Braeburn to Carmacks stretch of the route too rough for the teams. In all, mushers must pass through nine checkpoints, four dog checks, and four mountain peaks, including the 1,200-metre King Solomon's Dome. The gruelling race was won last year by Two Rivers, Alaska musher Allen Moore in nine days, 18 hours and 53 minutes. The route follows the Yukon River and the historic winter "highway" travelled by prospectors, mail and supply carriers between the gold fields of the Klondike and the Alaska interior. Mushers and race organizers are concerned about the lack of snow and warmer weather along the trail, but Sgt. John Mitchell with the Canadian Rangers says a 32-member squad has been working on the Yukon side of the trail and conditions have improved in the last week. This year's prize purse is $115,000, down slightly from the $125,000 awarded last year, and the first 15 finishers will share a percentage of the pot. The first musher to reach the Dawson City checkpoint also receives two ounces of gold nuggets, worth about $3,400. Moore took home just over $23,000 as the 2018 winner and also kept the gold nuggets as he led almost from start to finish. Four past champions, including multiple winners Moore and Whitehorse resident Hans Gatt, as well as 12 rookies are among the 2019 field. Mahant Dharam Das, one of the litigants in the Ayodhya temple dispute case, speaks with the media outside the Indian Supreme Court in New Delhi. The court is hearing pleas over petitioners demand to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya where a medieval mosque was demolished by Hindu hardliners decades ago, claiming it was built over an ancient temple dedicated to the birthplace of the deity Ram. It is a deeply polarizing project, one that has aggravated deadly fissures between India's Hindu majority and its sizeable Muslim minority. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images) The City of Los Angeles will honor Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah for his contributions to the citys history, specifically the Sikh community of Southern California. Marwah (left) is seen here being honored by the Indian Dental Association USA in 2015. (India-West file photo courtesy of Chad Gehani) Photo of the Swaminarayan Tempe in Louisville, Kentucky. The recent vandalism of the temple has been called a hate crime. "Our main concern is just making sure that we feel safe when we come back to this temple to pray," Indian American Raj Patel told the Courier-Journal. (baps.org photo) President Donald Trump signs an executive order to try to bring jobs back to American workers and revamp the H-1B visa guest worker program during a visit to the headquarters of tool manufacturer Snap-On on April 18, 2017 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The reversal of the programs eligibility requirements violates the statute under which it was created, Indian American immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta told India-West in December. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Priyanka Chopras "Isn't It Romantic" will release on all Netflix territories outside of the U.S. and Canada where it will open in theaters. (IANS photo) Last December, India introduced guidelines to legalize the use of flying drones across various sectors. And already there's an innovative application for drone technology. Students of Lovely Professional University have designed 'Flying Farmer', a drone that can be exclusively deployed in farming and field survey. Flying Farmer Drone ALSO READ: From Today You Can Fly Drones Legally, Here Is What You Should Keep In Mind The 'Flying Farmer' is a wireless, sensor device that can be used in mapping and survey of yields and biomass. It estimates the nutrient content of the soil to aid production growth and reduce crop damage. Each drone can fly for 25 minutes on full charge and the entire apparatus costs between Rs. 10,000-15,000. The Flying Farmer drone project required the contribution of 45 students and 5 faculty members from the Electronics, Mechanical and Agricultural Engineering department of the university. REUTERS / representational image What can the Flying Farmer drone do? The 'Flying Farmer' is designed to solve two major agricultural issues faced by farmers - pesticide treatment and weed detection. With rising labour costs and shortage of labour, drone technology is hypothesized to replace human intervention in delivering pesticide treatment. Pre-programmed drones can target specific farm areas and crops to deliver pesticides, avoiding wastage and over use of pesticides. ALSO READ: Govt Directs Drone Makers To Install Kill Switch To Control Rogue Drones But Here Are Other Ways Which Can Help Too REUTERS / representational image Secondly, human weed detection is inefficient and prone to error, leading to lower produce. Drones, programmed with computer vision algorithms and infrared sensors can detect the exact position and nature of weeds and transmit information to the farmer for timely action. The field trials conducted at LPU led to an improvement of 15-20% in produce quantity. The University claims that it will not file for a patent but instead open source the technology so that it can be inexpensively available to any farmer, anywhere. ALSO READ: Flying Drones Will Soon Bring Your Lunch Order To Your Office And Home In India Naga Sadhus are known for their strict resilience and denouncement towards the worldly pleasures and they can only be seen at selective places with three things they are most attached to-firstly the holy bead known as rudraksha, second garlands and thirdly the chillum or clay pipes through which they smoke. The Kumbha Mela at Prayagraj is at its peaks now and many Naga sadhus have decided to give up one more thing dear to them- the chillums. They have done it on the call of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and have taken a pledge to quit smoking. Reuters The sadhus who are also the warriors took the decision after the yoga guru gave them examples of many Hindu Gods who stayed away from vices when they appeared in human form on earth which included the chillum. Naga sadhus are hard to sight as they gathered around only on big occasions like Kumbh Mela and here they can be seen sitting in biting cold with their chillums around the holy fire called dhuni. The yoga guru has been conducting yoga classes in Kumbh Mela and he asked these Sadhus for their chillums in Guru Dakshina. The Sadhus were attending an ordination ceremony organised by Shree Panchayati Akhada Niranjani and the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP), Swami Narendragiri was also present there. Swami Narendragiri is also the secretary of Niranjani Akhada. Ramdev called this a step towards Nashamukt Bharat (addiction free India) and praised their pledge taken by these Sadhus. Several sadhus also took a pledge to quit the chillum when I asked them if they had ever seen or read in any scripture or holy book that Hindu deities indulged in any of these unhealthy habits, Ramdev was quoted by HT. They were very amused but also tried to understand what I was telling them. They also understood the fact that smoking chillum was harming their health immensely, he added. Shreemahant Rajendradas Ji Maharaj of Nirmohi Akhada was one of the first Sadhus to hand over his chillum to yoga guru. The yoga guru said the sadhus sacrificed their materialistic life to attain salvation. Yet, they were hooked on to the habit of smoking chillum, which is not good. Its also a kind of weakness. We also realised the fact and took the pledge to stop smoking, Rajendradas Ji Maharaj said. UPDATE 11:20 a.m. Castanet has now been in touch with the City of Kelowna's parking facilities manager, Dave Duncan, who says the pigeon poop issue has more to do with winter weather than anything else. "In the summertime, we have a monthly sweeping that happens in the parkade, it's kind of like a Zamboni for concrete. They do some pressure washing too, but in the winter it's a little more difficult when we can't add water that can turn into ice," says Duncan. Duncan also points out the building has bird spikes in some other trouble spots but because of its design, the parkade is full of nook and crannies where the pigeons can roost. "There are a number of ledges inside this facility that offer great roosting locations. Over the years, we have experimented with a number of different prevention measures including the installation of bird spikes and the trapping/relocation of birds but, unfortunately, they always seem to return eventually," says Duncan. "I have sent a request today to our cleaning contractor, requesting a sweep in areas where cleaning is required." Duncan couldn't put a financial number on the cost of dealing with the issue, but says so far it isn't a big enough deal to warrant keeping track of. "It costs more for cleaning but the biggest expense is probably the trapping we have to do once or twice a year of paying someone with that expertise. In recent years, we haven't spent a whole bunch on it other than an extra load on our cleaning staff." Duncan says they have looked at other options including nets but because of the design, it makes it very difficult, and the pigeons are "crafty." ORIGINAL 7:44 a.m. It's a strange problem, even funny if it doesn't happen to you or your vehicle. But pigeon poop is becoming an issue in some areas of Kelowna. We're nowhere near Victoria and its infamous seagull guano problem. However, if you've ever looked for a parking spot in the Chapman parkade, you might notice there's a spot right by the stairwell and elevator door on the fourth floor that is often oddly available. Why? Well it's a prime spot, and the lot is typically at full capacity during business hours. "I was looking for a spot and thought I got lucky one afternoon until I realized that the pigeons seem to really like that spot too, and the front of my vehicle was covered with pigeon poo at the end of my work day," says one parker who wanted to remain anonymous. The security squad in the parkade have their hands full with drug users and homeless people camping out, now it's pigeons. One security person told Castanet on condition of anonymity, "Ya, it's pretty bad there on the fourth floor." I ventured up to the spot in question to see for myself, and as I was taking a picture for this piece, lo and behold the culprit flew right at me! Now, I don't believe the pigeon's behaviour was "aggressive," however I was startled, and the bird made no real secret of the fact I was in its territory. It only moved a few feet away and began to stare me down, as if to say "what are you doing on my turf?" After snapping a few photos, I left the bird in peace. But it was clear the pigeon poop was piling up and was definitely splashing on any vehicle unlucky enough to be parked in that spot. There are bigger issues facing City Hall, but we reached out and asked a few questions. Tom Wilson with the city's communications team indicated they would "look into who's in charge of pigeon poop." Security at the parkade is handled by Paladin Security. We reached out to ask them how to handle the poopy problem but have yet to receive a response. In everyone's defence, it's clear precautions have been taken to keep the pigeons away, special pigeon deterrents can be seen around the parkade but clearly, the pigeons are stealthy enough to bypass them. In cities like Victoria, one of the only measures that has shown any long-term success is bringing in natural predators, like eagles or hawks. Unfortunately, pigeon protection can be costly as well as difficult. The government of Canada indicates, "controlling pigeons permanently is hard because these birds have adapted to stress, and there are many sources of food available in urban areas. The best way to control them is to change their environment." Bird-scaring devices can also be used to frighten birds away . Loud noises, flashing lights, windmills, and recordings of bird distress calls can be effective ways of controlling pigeons, but may not be practical in urban settings. The government website also indicates that if pigeons are a nuisance on a balcony, fine netting can be hung to deter them. Until then, at least there's a good chance that one parking spot in the Chapman Parkade will be available. Park there if you dare! Indiana, PA (15701) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low near 55F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 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. The Spanish Language Immersion program also has a small number of slots available for rising first graders. Magnet selection process Students who apply for magnet programs will be accepted as long as there is enough room in the programs. If KCS receives more magnet applications than it has space available, the district will hold a lottery to select students at random to fill the available magnet slots. Students that are not selected will be placed onto a waiting list in the order that their names are drawn in the lottery. All students who are accepted into KCS magnet programs will be able to receive bus transportation from Kannapolis City Schools. Students who are not accepted into magnet programs will attend the KCS elementary school in their assigned attendance zone unless they are later admitted into a magnet program from the waiting list. Kannapolis City Schools will send letters to all families that apply for magnet programs to let them know if their children have been selected for magnet programs or have been put onto a waiting list. KCS will admit students from the waiting list in the order that they were selected in the lottery as magnet program slots become available. KCS will fill open magnet program slots through the tenth day of school in the 2019-2020 school year. The American Red Cross is reissuing its emergency call for blood and platelet donors to give now after multiple snow storms, frigid temperatures and the government shutdown further reduced lifesaving donations. Disruptions to blood and platelet donations jeopardize the availability of blood for patients who depend on transfusions for survival, said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. Were grateful for all those who have come out to give since we issued our emergency call earlier this month and now urge others to come out and give to prevent delays in essential medical care. Right now, Red Cross blood donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in, and there is less than a three-day supply of most blood types on hand. The Red Cross strives to maintain a five-day supply of blood to meet the needs of patients and to be prepared for emergencies that require significant volumes of donated blood products. The Venezuelan opposition leader has warned security officers to stay away from his family after he challenged Nicolas Maduros claim to the presidency. Juan Guaido told a crowd that members of a special police unit known for its brutal tactics had gone to his high-rise apartment in a middle-class neighbourhood of Caracas while his 20-month-old daughter was inside. I hold you responsible for anything that might happen to my baby, the 35-year-old politician said as his wife stood beside him. They're not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family He rushed home and emerged an hour later holding his smiling daughter, named after Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan patriot who paved the way for Venezuelas independence. He described how four agents from the polices Special Action Force had arrived at the building and asked security guards stationed there for his wife. Children are sacred, he admonished the agents as a crowd of supporters applauded. Wives are sacred. So dont cross that red line. Expand Close People holding signs with a message that reads in Spanish: No more dictatorship (Ariana Cubillos/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People holding signs with a message that reads in Spanish: No more dictatorship (Ariana Cubillos/AP) In a statement on Twitter, Venezuelas police denied that special agents had gone to Mr Guaidos home, dismissing the claim as totally FALSE. Mr Guaido is at the centre of Venezuelas political upheaval as he presses forward with establishing a transitional government after swearing himself in as the nations rightful president in a move denounced by Mr Maduro as a US-backed coup. In a country where the socialist leaders foes often end up behind bars, Mr Guaido has thus far managed to avoid arrest, but in recent days authorities have let it be known that even as his powerful international support grows Mr Guaido is not untouchable. Expand Close Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro march in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro march in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP) On Tuesday, the government-stacked Supreme Court barred Mr Guaido from leaving the country and froze his bank accounts while chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab, a ally of Mr Maduro, conducts an investigation into his anti-government activities. Once more they are playing the intimidation game, Mr Guaido said. Theyre not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family. Even while denouncing the special police force, Mr Guaido appealed to them and the military to abandon Mr Maduro and abide by the constitution, which he contends instructs him as leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to take the presidency. The opposition and a large segment of the international community consider Mr Maduros reelection fraudulent, in part because the presidents most popular adversaries were barred from running. You have time to put yourselves on the right side of history, he said. Police tape cordons off the site of a walkway collapse at the Driehoek High School in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. At least 3 students were killed and scores injured at the school near Johannesburg, a South African official said. (AP Photo) At least three pupils are dead and 23 injured after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, South African officials have said. Panyaza Lesufi, head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark. Two boys and a girl were killed, he said. It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state, Mr Lesufi said. He reported scores trapped but an Associated Press witness later said no one remained in the rubble. When we arrived we found that there are still children underneath, said Kay Makhubela, spokesman for Gauteng police. He said about nine people were seriously injured. The students at the school are aged 13 to 18, local broadcaster eNCA reported. It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Police said engineering reports would form part of the investigation. Local media posted photos of a large slab and scattered bricks with the scene blocked off by emergency tape. The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed. Young boys from a neighbouring school came by to lay flowers. Expand Close A pastor leads prayers at the school (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A pastor leads prayers at the school (AP) My heart goes out for the school because a lot of my friends were (there), said one of the boys, Herco Lintvelt. I hope they can build the school up again. And I hope everyone who is here must be fine. A statement by AfriForum, a civil society group that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders. Photo: The Canadian Press In this Jan. 30, 2019, photo, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at the State Department in Washington. The Trump administration said Friday it is freeing itself from the constraints of a nuclear arms control treaty with Russia and will begin withdrawing from the pact on Saturday. President Donald Trump blamed the Russians for the demise of the Cold War-era pact, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty. "For too long," Trump said in a written statement issued by the White House, Russia has violated the treaty "with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad." The INF treaty, signed in 1987, has been a centerpiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War. Some analysts worry its demise could fuel a new arms race. Trump said that on Saturday, the U.S. will "suspend its obligations" under the treaty, meaning it will be freed from its constraints, including the testing and deployment of missiles banned by the pact. At the same time, the U.S. will begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty, which will be effective in six months, he said. He said the U.S. "has fully adhered" to the treaty for more than 30 years, "but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other." NATO said that if Moscow failed to destroy all new missile systems that Washington insists violate the treaty, "Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty." Trump said his administration "will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct." An American withdrawal had been expected for months, after years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the pact. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometres (310 miles) and 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles). Russia denies that it has been in violation. U.S. officials also have expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it's unclear how it would do that. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with actual withdrawal taking place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday, and the administration is expected to say as early as Friday that efforts to work out a compliance deal have failed and that it would suspend its compliance with the treaty's terms. Technically, a U.S. withdrawal would take effect six months after this week's notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty. However, in talks this week in Beijing, the U.S. and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance on whether a Russian cruise missile violates the pact. War photographer Paul Conroy has said he feels "emotional and vindicated" after a US court found the Syrian government liable for the death of Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin. The award-winning war correspondent, 56, was killed alongside French photographer Remi Ochlik in a rocket attack on a media centre in the Baba Amr neighbourhood of Homs in February 2012. It happened while the American journalist was on assignment with Mr Conroy and Syrian translator Wael al-Omar. In the wake of her death, Ms Colvin's sister Cathleen and her three children launched legal action in the US against the Syrian government, filed through the Centre for Justice and Accountability, charging it with arranging her death. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, has ruled Colvin was deliberately targeted by the Syrian government and ordered it to pay 302 million US dollars (230 million) in damages. Mr Conroy, a former soldier with the Royal Artillery who worked closely with Ms Colvin, escaped with a leg wound in the attack. He told the Press Association: "Since we came out of Syria and I spoke with everyone and I said 'in my opinion these attacks weren't random'. "I sat for a long time listening to the shelling and it was random, up and down, and on the day of the attack there was a distinct pattern of bracketing and that has stuck with me. "A lot of people were like 'oh you got caught up in crossfire, you were in a war zone', and granted we were, but as an artilleryman I knew the fire patterns, I detected that." Mr Conroy said he told Ms Colvin's sister Cathleen, who contacted the Centre for Justice and Accountability. He added: "It's been in the courts for what seems like an age now but to actually see the verdict come out, it vindicates everything I was saying, all the people who were there, and the world must know. "This regime has done this to its own people. We are using this case to highlight what he has done to his people, we are lucky that we can bring the case when in reality it is to refocus the prism back on the regime and the way they approach the lockdown of their own people, their own press. "Syrian journalists are being murdered daily for seven years and this is a really good day, it sounds a bit corny, for justice. "We can now use this case to point at our own politicians and world leaders who are thinking that the Assad regime can be rehabilitated back into the international democratic fold, as it were. "Rehabilitation by degree shouldn't be allowed, we can now go 'look a court has found them guilty of this' - and guilty they are." Mr Conroy said he felt "really emotional" after hearing that verdict but asked if he thinks it will make a difference, he said: "I think it's too late for the people of Syria, they have been through the worst hell anyone can imagine. "It's also important that we keep this going, the case against the regime is now proven, this should now go into the higher courts and these people should be held to account. It's a great building block. "The evidence that the UN has about atrocities and massacres is undoubtable but it needs will, political will, to bring these people to account. But hopefully this is the start." Ms Colvin's sister Cathleen said in a statement: "It's been almost seven years since my sister was killed by the Assad regime and not a day goes by when I don't think of her. "My heart goes out to the families of the many thousands of victims of the Syrian conflict. "It is my greatest hope that the court's ruling will lead to other criminal prosecutions and serve as a deterrent against future attacks on the press and on civilians. "Marie dedicated her life to fighting for justice on behalf of the victims of war and ensuring that their stories were heard. "This case is an extension of her legacy and I think she'd be proud of what we achieved." In her ruling, Judge Jackson determined the attack was part of "Syria's long-standing policy of violence" against media personnel, who were "labelled enemies of the state". She added: "By perpetrating a directed attack against the media centre, Syria intended to intimidate journalists, inhibit news gathering and the dissemination of information, and suppress dissent. "A targeted murder of an American citizen, whose courageous work was not only important but vital to our understanding of war zones and of wars generally, is outrageous." A film about Ms Colvin starring Rosamund Pike, A Private War, will be released in UK cinemas on February 15. People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) People tend to the wounded outside the festival ground after an apparent shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) A gunman killed at least 50 people and wounded 406 at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip overnight, raining down rapid fire from the 32nd floor of a hotel for several minutes before he was shot dead by police. The death toll, which police emphasized was preliminary and tentative, would make the attack the deadliest mass shooting in US history, eclipsing last year's massacre of 49 people at an Orlando night club. Thousands of panicked people fled the scene, in some cases trampling one another as law enforcement officers scrambled to locate and kill the gunman. Shocked concertgoers, some with blood on their clothes, wandered the streets after the attack. A police spokesman confirmed that a lone gunman, named by police as Stephen Paddock (64), opened fire while country music artist Jason Aldean was playing a concert at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Police said they had no information about Paddock's motive, and that he had no criminal record and was not believed to be connected to any militant group. Paddock killed himself before police entered the hotel room he was firing from, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters. "We have no idea what his belief system was," Lombardo said. Expand Close People hug and cry outside the Thomas & Mack Center after a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People hug and cry outside the Thomas & Mack Center after a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) "We believe the individual killed himself prior to our entry," Lombardo told a news conference. Earlier reports indicated Paddock had been shot by police. #BREAKING: Las Vegas police investigating reports of an active shooter near Mandalay Bay Casino pic.twitter.com/TQlHnTABM7 Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 2, 2017 Lombardo said there were more than 10 rifles in the room where Paddock killed himself after checking into the hotel on Thursday. Paddock was not known to law enforcement, Lombardo said. The dead included one off-duty police officer, Lombardo said. Two on-duty officers were injured, including one who was in stable condition after surgery and one who sustained minor injuries, Lombardo said. Police warned the death toll may rise. Police are still finding people who had taken cover during the attack, Lombardo said. "It's going to take time for us to get through the evacuation phase," Lombardo said. Authorities believed they had located Paddock's roommate, who they identified as Marilou Danley. He gave no details of whether she was suspected of involvement in the attack but described her as an "associate." Expand Close Marilou Danley was being sought by police after a gunman opened fire on the Las Vegas strip / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marilou Danley was being sought by police after a gunman opened fire on the Las Vegas strip Expand Close People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was hear on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was hear on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) Police had located two cars that belonged to the suspect and also believed they had located the woman. Lombardo said rumours of other shootings or explosives such as car bombs in the area were false. Video taken of the attack showed panicked crowds fleeing as sustained rapid gunfire ripped through the area. "It sounded like fireworks. People were just dropping to the ground. It just kept going on," said Steve Smith, a 45-year-old visitor from Phoenix, Arizona, who had flown in for the concert. He said the gunfire went on for an extended period of time. "Probably 100 shots at a time. It would sound like it was reloading and then it would go again," Smith said. "People were shot and trying to get out. A lot of people were shot." The suspected shooter's brother, Eric Paddock, said the family was stunned by the news. "We have no idea. We're horrified. We're bewildered and our condolences go out to the victims," Eric Paddock said in a brief telephone interview, his voice trembling. "We have no idea in the world." US President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims via a post on Twitter early Monday. "My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!" Trump said. Las Vegas's casinos, nightclubs and shopping draw some 3.5 million visitors from around the world each year and the area was packed with visitors when the shooting broke out shortly after 4am Irish time. Mike McGarry, a 53-year-old financial adviser from Philadelphia, said he was at the concert when he heard hundreds of shots ring out. "It was crazy - I laid on top of the kids. They're 20. I'm 53. I lived a good life," McGarry said. The back of his shirt bore footmarks, after people ran over him in the panicked crowd. The suspect, who police say is a local man, was apprehended on the 32nd floor of the hotel where he died. Giving an update on the situation, Joseph Lombardo, the sheriff said: There was a shooter on the 32nd floor. Officers responded and engaged a suspect at that location. He is dead currently. He is a local resident." Witnesses heard numerous gunshots at the casino hotel, where police tactical teams were searching for the attacker. Kodiak Yazzie (36) said he and his girlfriend were watching country star Jason Aldean's performance when he heard what sounded like fireworks. The music stopped temporarily and then started up again before another round of pops sent the performers ducking for cover and fleeing the stage. Thousands fled as bursts of gunfire could be heard for more than five minutes, Mr Yazzie said. A video posted online shows a concert taking place before machine gun fire can be heard. Separate videos show panicked concert-goers fleeing the scene. Video courtesy of Drew Akioshi. He was attending the concert at mandalay bay when shooting started. pic.twitter.com/mbyh9Y387q David Sakach (@davidsakach) October 2, 2017 One man told reporters that the area they had set aside for medics was "completely flooded". Concert-goers reported seeing muzzle flashes from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino across Las Vegas Boulevard from the country music festival and the sound of what they described as automatic gunfire. Many casinos in the area locked their doors during the incident to keep out any potential attackers, some using handcuffs to do so, according to witnesses. "Caesar's Palace had locked their doors. They wouldn't let you in," said Adam Mitchell, a 31-year-old tourist visiting from Britain. The shooting broke out on the last night of the three-day Route 91 Harvest festival, a sold-out event attended by thousands and featuring top acts such as Eric Church, Sam Hunt and Jason Aldean. "Tonight has been beyond horrific," Aldean said in a statement on Instagram. "It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night." The rampage was reminiscent of a mass shooting at a Paris rock concert in November 2015 that killed 89 people, part of a coordinated attack by Islamist militants that left 130 dead. The concert venue was in an outdoor area known as Las Vegas Village, across the Strip from the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor hotels. "Our thoughts & prayers are with the victims of last night's tragic events," the Mandalay Bay said on Twitter. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney condemned the attack. "This was a savage and brutal attack targeting innocent festival-goers. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and those of the Irish people to the families of the victims, those who were injured and to the people and the authorities of the United States on this tragic day. As of now, we have no indications to suggest that any Irish citizens have been affected. I am conscious, however, that it will take time before all of the casualties are identified. My Department, through our Consulate General in San Francisco and the Honorary Consulate in Las Vegas, is continuing to monitor the situation." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has extended condolences and sympathies to the people affected by the Las Vegas shooting. He said: I think everyone is horrified by the attacks. As things stand we are not aware of any Irish casualties or injuries. But obviously the Irish consulate in Las Vegas and also in San Francisco is keeping in touch and is available to assist if needed. Four people from Northern Ireland were among those caught up in the terror. It's understood Omagh woman Kathy Ewing and her three friends were attending the concert when the gunfire began. She tweeted Downtown Country to say it was a terrifying experience, but they were able to run and made it back to their hotel safely. Any families in Ireland who have concerns about relatives can contact the Departments Consular Assistance Unit on 01 4082527. The Mandalay Bay Resort has issued a statement in the wake of the shooting thanking emergency responders. Our thoughts & prayers are with the victims of last night's tragic events. Weare grateful for the immediate actions of our first responders. pic.twitter.com/Arf8edj1iZ Mandalay Bay Resort (@MandalayBay) October 2, 2017 The United States has seen a series of deadly mass shootings in recent years. Prior to Orlando, the deadliest occurred in April 2007 when a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech university and in December 2012 a man killed 26 young children and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office has revealed that hackers in Russia stole evidence in an attempt to tarnish its investigation of a firm charged with funding a Russian propaganda campaign to interfere in the 2016 US election. Prosecutors said in a court filing in Washington that a Twitter handle called @HackingRedstone came online last October 22 to brag it had hacked some of the evidence in the case. "We've got access to the Special Counsel Mueller's probe database as we hacked Russian server with info from the Russian troll case," the court document quoted the Twitter post as saying. In February 2018, Mr Mueller indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies with allegations of tampering in 2016 to support Donald Trump. In all, 34 people have pleaded guilty, been indicted or otherwise swept up in the broader inquiry. The companies named in the indictment included the Internet Research Agency (IRA), known for its "trolling" on social media, Concord Management and Consulting LLC, which is said to have provided financial backing for the operation, and Concord Catering. The Twitter account linked to an online file sharing portal which it said contained Mr Mueller's documents about the "IRA and Russian collusion". "Enjoy the reading!" it added. The data that appeared online was "altered and disseminated as part of a disinformation campaign aimed (apparently) at discrediting ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the US political system," prosecutors wrote. On the same day, a journalist contacted Mr Mueller's office to report receiving a Twitter message from someone who said they had hacked a Russian legal firm that had received the evidence from Concord's US-based law firm Reed Smith LLP. The illicit activity outlined by prosecutors illustrates the concerns of US intelligence officials about continuing efforts by Russia to interfere in US politics. The FBI has found no evidence that US servers were compromised, and the IP address of the account used to publish the materials originated in Russia, prosecutors said. Concord Management is being prosecuted in Mr Mueller's investigation of US allegations that Moscow meddled in the American democratic process to help Mr Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Mr Mueller is also investigating whether there was any co-ordination between members of the Trump campaign and Moscow officials. The Kremlin denies election interference and Mr Trump denies there was any collusion, calling the inquiry a witch hunt. Wednesday's filing in the US District Court for the District of Columbia is the latest in a dispute between prosecutors and Concord's American attorneys over how the defence team may share highly sensitive evidence with Concord's Russian corporate officers. One of those officers is businessman Evgeny Prigozhin, an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and known in Russia as "Putin's cook". In the indictment, prosecutors said Russian defendants adopted false online personas to push divisive messages, travelled to the US to collect intelligence and orchestrated political rallies while posing as Americans. Mr Prigozhin was one of the 13 people indicted. TalkTalk has reported its eighth consecutive quarter of rising customer numbers, but the telecoms group warned it will take a hit of up to 15 million due to an accounting change and increased investment. The company booked a 2.9% rise in headline revenue to 386 million in the third quarter as its customer base grew by 44,000, with double-digit growth in both consumer and business to business. The firm has seen 148,000 net broadband customers join it in the year to date, putting it on track to beat its full-year target of 150,000. Fibre customer additions on a net basis those joining minus those leaving rose to a record 146,000, up from 125,000 in the previous three months. However, a change its accounting standard and investment in growth will cost it up to 15 million, meaning earnings will miss City expectations of 259 million. Headline earnings are now expected to come in between 245 million and 250 million, compared with 197 million last year. In addition, TalkTalks average revenue per user dipped in the quarter to 24.70 versus 25.18 last year. Investors reacted badly to the news, with shares falling over 7% at the market open to 103.6p. We continue to see strong trading momentum in the business, with customer growth ahead of expectationsTristia Harrison, TalkTalk CEO Boss Tristia Harrison said: We continue to see strong trading momentum in the business, with customer growth ahead of expectations. Quarter three was the eighth consecutive quarter of rising customer numbers and we saw record demand for fibre. TalkTalks rate of churn customers quitting the group came in at 1.16%, up slightly from the 1.1% seen in the second quarter. The group is trying to move on from the major cyber attack in 2015, which saw the personal data of nearly 160,000 people accessed by hackers. TalkTalk said its full-year results will reflect a bigger customer base and meaningful cost reduction exercises. Last year TalkTalk announced that it is shifting its headquarters from London to Salford in a move affecting hundreds of staff. The firm said it would relocate several hundred employees from its existing HQ to the new office in Manchester next year, while also creating new roles, including graduate and apprentice positions. It comes after TalkTalk opened a large, state-of-the-art office in Salford in 2017 to house its technology and business teams, which had previously been based in Warrington and Irlam. A US judge has warned Donald Trumps aide Roger Stone not to treat the charges against him like a public relations campaign or book tour. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she had already noticed a significant amount of publicity in the case, including television appearances by Stone himself. This is a criminal proceeding, not a public relations campaign, Judge Jackson said. She said that while she understood Stones desire to defend himself, he risks tainting a pool of jurors who may ultimately decide his case. Jackson did not immediately issue an order barring Stone or prosecutors from discussing the case, giving both sides until next week to make their case. Stone, 66, who was arrested last week in a pre-dawn raid at his Florida home, is the sixth Trump aide charged in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Mr Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Expand Close Roger Stone was warned he may face a gag order in the case (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Roger Stone was warned he may face a gag order in the case (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) He has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of witness tampering, obstruction and false statements. Wearing a double-breasted pinstripe suit, Stone emerged from the courthouse after Fridays hearing and struck his two-handed victory pose in homage to former president Richard Nixon. He was then whisked away into a waiting vehicle amid supporters holding Roger Stone did nothing wrong signs. Stone made the rounds on television last weekend and held a news conference on Thursday at a Washington hotel, where he said he was prepared to tell the truth to Mr Mueller but he had no derogatory information about Mr Trump, his long-time friend. I have great affection and remain a strong and loyal supporter of the president, Stone said. He also said he was prepared to adhere to a gag order if the judge issued one but that he would probably appeal against it. Among his lawyers is a noted First Amendment attorney who successfully represented the rap group 2 Live Crew in an obscenity court case nearly 30 years ago. A seven-count indictment accuses Stone of misleading Congress about interactions with friends in which he discussed emails that were stolen from Democratic groups and in the possession of WikiLeaks. The anti-secrecy website released the communications in the weeks before the presidential election in an effort to harm Hillary Clintons campaign. But the indictment does not accuse Stone or anyone close to the campaign of coordinating directly with WikiLeaks or having advanced knowledge of its plans. I am not accused of Russian collusion, I am not accused of collaboration with WikiLeaks, I am not accused of conspiracy, Stone said on Thursday. There is no evidence or accusation that I knew in advance about the source or content of the WikiLeaks material. In a court filing on Thursday, prosecutors with Mr Muellers office said the FBI seized physical devices from his home, apartment and office. They said multiple hard drives containing several terabytes of information have been recovered, including bank and financial records and the contents of numerous phones and computers. Spectators cool themselves down with a water mist fan during the Australian Open tennis championships (Andy Brownbill/AP) Australia sweltered through its hottest month on record in January and the summer of extremes continued with wildfires razing the drought-parched south and flooding in expanses of the tropical north. Australias Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the January record on Friday as parts of the northern hemisphere experienced record cold temperatures. Australias scorching start to 2019 in which the mean temperature across the country for the first time exceeded 30C (86F) followed Australias third-hottest year on record. Only 2005 and 2013 were warmer than 2018, which ended with the hottest December on record. Heat-stressed bats dropped dead from trees by the thousands in Victoria state and roads melted in New South Wales during heatwaves last month. New South Wales officials say drought-breaking rains are needed to improve the water quality in a stretch of a major river system where hundreds of thousands of fish died in two mass deaths during January linked to excessive heat. A South Australia state government report on Thursday found that too much water had been drained from the river system for farming under a management plan that did not take into account the impact of climate change on the rivers health. On January 24, the South Australian capital, Adelaide, recorded the hottest day ever for a major Australian city a searing 46.6CC (115.9F). On the same day, the South Australian town of Port Augusta, population 15,000, recorded 49.5 C (121.1 F) the highest maximum anywhere in Australia last month. National #Climate summary for January 2019 now online at https://t.co/twVivzMfp0. Australia as a whole had its warmest January on recordain terms of mean, max. and min. temperatures. Overall rainfall was 38% below average for January; Tasmania had its driest Jan. on record. pic.twitter.com/oolK7XzIDq Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) February 1, 2019 Bureau senior climatologist Andrew Watkins described Januarys heat as unprecedented. We saw heatwave conditions affect large parts of the country through most of the month, with records broken for both duration and also individual daily extremes, he said. The main contributor to the heat was a persistent high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand that blocked cold fronts from reaching southern Australia. Rainfall was below average for most of the country, but the monsoonal trough has brought flooding rains to northern Queensland state in the past week, leading to a disaster declaration around the city of Townsville. MEDIA RELEASE: Further heavy falls ai and flooding forecast as the monsoon trough continues to influence weather in the tropics. Focus is on the #Townsville area where Upper Bluewater has recorded 1230mm in the 7-days to 9am this morning. Read more: https://t.co/LEYQ4FMUjj pic.twitter.com/HaK7Qwgd8v Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 1, 2019 Queenslands flooded Daintree River reached a 118-year high this week. Emergency services reported rescuing 28 people from floodwaters in the past week. The vast bulk of the population will not have experienced this type of event in their lifetime, State Disaster Co-ordinator Bob Gee told reporters, referring to the extraordinary flooding. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill described the torrential rain as a one-in-100-year event that had forced authorities to release water from the city dam. The water release would worsen flooding in low-lying suburbs, but would prevent the Ross River from breaking its banks. In the southern island state of Tasmania, authorities are hoping rain will douse more than 40 fires that have razed more than 720 square miles (187,000 hectares) of forest and farmland by Friday. Dozens of houses have been destroyed by fires and flooding in recent weeks. Milder weather since Thursday has reduced the fire danger but it was forecast to escalate again from Sunday. The Climate Council, an independent organisation formed to provide authoritative climate change information to the public, said the January heat record showed the government needed to curb Australias greenhouse gas emissions which have increased during each of the past four years. Climate change is cranking up the intensity of extreme heat, and Januarys record-breaking month is part of a sharp, long-term upswing in temperatures driven primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, the councils acting chief executive, Martin Rice, said. SPANISH police have arrested the fugitive former partner of reality star and Dublin socialite, Virginia Macari. Cops held businessman Kaste Dahl on foot of a European Arrest Warrant on Costa del Sol resort Marbellas famous Golden Mile. It was not immediately clear today if the 48-year-old had appeared before an extradition judge - and whether he had tried to oppose his forced return to Norway and delay being put on a flight back home. Police did not formally name Macaris partner - but referred to him by his initials TKD - Thor Kaste Dahl - and described him as a 48-year-old who had been convicted over a 4m bank fraud. The arrest took place on Monday but was only made public today. A National Police spokesman said in a statement: National Police have detained a 48-year-old Norwegian fugitive on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the authorities in his homeland in relation to a crime of fraud. The fugitive had been convicted over the fraudulent obtention of four million euros in bank loans using false documentation. The money obtained was used mainly to build cabins and homes in the south of Norway. The fugitive was arrested for a crime of fraud in 2015. After being handed over to the courts, he was freed on conditional bail, a situation he took advantage of to evade justice. The force added in a press release: Inquiries showed the Norwegian fugitive adopted stringent security measures to avoid being tracked down. He used false documentation to go under different identities and changed addresses frequently. An investigation lasting more than two years resulted in the arrest of T.K.D in a street in Marbella called Avenida Bulevar Alfonso de Hohenlohe. He was intercepted in a vehicle. The order he was subject to, deriving from the European Arrest Warrant issued by the Norwegian authorities, included a requirement he be remanded in prison which had been made by the Madrid-based Audiencia Nacional court. Virginia Macaris former partner, who she has said she split with several years ago, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for bank fraud in March 2015. Thor Kaste Dahl, formerly known as Bard Kaste, pleaded guilty in Oslo District Court. He is understood to have been fined 281,000 in addition to the jail term. The reports at the time said he was convicted on 17 counts of loan fraud amounting to just over 4m in total. He is believed to have been granted a one-third reduction on a proposed four-year term because he pleaded guilty. Ms Macari, who starred alongside her partner on TV3 reality show Dublin Wives, has insisted in interviews he had just given the bank the wrong information and 100 per cent wont be going to prison. Kaste Dahl is believed to have gone to ground after being released on bail ahead of his expected extradition following a previous December 4 2015 arrest in Spain. He opposed extradition following that detention. Officials were unable to confirm today whether he had been released on bail after signalling his intention to fight extradition - or fully explain how he had managed to stay on the run for so long. A study of dolphins, seals and whales washed up on British shores found plastic in the digestive system of every one (stock photo) A study of dolphins, seals and whales washed up on British shores found plastic in the digestive system of every one. Scientists examined 50 animals from 10 different species that had died from a variety of causes. All of them had "microplastic" particles, less than five millimetres across, in their stomachs and intestines. The vast majority of the particles were synthetic fibres that may have been shed by clothes or fishing nets. Others were fragments of originally larger pieces that could have come from food packaging or plastic bottles. Lead researcher Sarah Nelms, from the University of Exeter, said: "It's shocking - but not surprising - that every animal had ingested microplastics. "The number of particles in each animal was relatively low, an average of 5.5 per animal, suggesting they eventually pass through the digestive system, or are regurgitated. "We don't yet know what effects the microplastics, or the chemicals on and in them, might have on marine mammals." Animals that died as a result of infectious disease had slightly higher numbers of particles than those killed by injury or other causes. Professor Brendan Godley, from the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said it was not possible to draw any firm conclusions on the significance of the link. But he added: "We are at the very early stages of understanding this ubiquitous pollutant. "Marine mammals are ideal sentinels of our impact on the marine environment, as they are generally long-lived and many feed high up in the food chain. Our findings are not good news." Species studied included the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, the common dolphin, the grey seal, the harbour porpoise, the harbour seal, the pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, the striped dolphin, and the white-beaked dolphin. The research was supported by the environmental group Greenpeace. A podgy pug who weighs the same as a toddler is going on a diet. Sugar may be sweet but her huge size is having a big impact on her life. The 12-year-old dog was rescued eight months ago by her current owner Steve Jones when she was already massively overweight. She has managed to shed some pounds but still tips the scales at a whopping 1st 12lb (11.9kg) around double the size she should be. Mr Jones, 62, from Caerphilly, south Wales, said Sugar had piled on weight because her previous owner did not exercise her. Sugars owner was partially sighted and her limited vision meant she couldnt cope with her. She never used to go out for walks at all, he said. She has poor vision herself and is also deaf, which presents quite a few challenges. In the last couple of weeks shes also had to have all her teeth taken out so shes not enjoyed the best of health. Sugar suffers from a host of health problems, many of which are related to her age, breed or lack of exercise, and could have been made worse by her weight. For example, giving her an anaesthetic for recent dental work was a much higher risk because of her size. Mr Jones said that since adopting Sugar he has helped her lose around a kilogram and has sought help from vet staff at Cardiff PDSA Pet Hospital in battling the bulge. He said his other dog Winston, a Bichon Frise, is a healthy weight and has up to four walks a day. I take Sugar out as well but we have to go at her pace and it takes a lot longer so she is walked once a day at the moment, said Mr Jones. Since shes had her bad teeth removed she seems healthier and happier, so were going to try and increase her exercise. Sugar has enrolled in the annual PDSA Pet Fit Club competition. PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan said: Obesity has been a huge problem among UK pets for a number of years and sadly there is no sign of improvement. It is one of the biggest long-term health concerns for our pet population, because it is so commonly seen by vets and nurses. Animals who are overweight have a much greater risk of developing health problems such as arthritis and diabetes which can have drastic consequences. Excess weight can also seriously aggravate other medical problems, for example making it even more difficult for flat-faced breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs to breathe. Research has also shown that carrying too much weight can even reduce a dogs life expectancy by up to two years and six months. Owners can enter their pets in Pet Fit Club at pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub. The son of US writer JD Salinger has revealed that previously unseen work by his late father will be published. In comments to The Guardian, Matt Salinger confirmed reports that the author of The Catcher In The Rye continued to write decades after he stopped publishing books. He said that he and Salingers widow, Colleen, are going as fast as we freaking can to prepare the material for release. He wanted me to pull it together, and because of the scope of the job, he knew it would take a long time, Salinger said of his father, who died in 2010 and had not published work since the mid-1960s. This was somebody who was writing for 50 years without publishing, so thats a lot of material. So theres not a reluctance or a protectiveness when its ready, were going to share it. I'm thrilled that Salinger fans around the world will finally get to see this important work from one of America's finest writers.Shane Salerno Salinger says any new work might be years away and did not cite any specific titles or plots. He did indicate that the Glass family, made famous in such fiction as Franny And Zooey would be seen again. I feel the pressure to get this done, more than he did, he said. He added that the unseen work will definitely disappoint people that he wouldnt care about, but for real readers, I think it will be tremendously well received by those people and they will be affected in the way every reader hopes to be affected when they open a book. Not changed, necessarily, but something rubs off that can lead to change. JD Salinger published just four books in his lifetime Nine Stories The Catcher In The Rye, Franny And Zooey and a volume with the two novellas Raise High The Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. T The last work to come out in his lifetime was the story Hapworth 16, 1924, which appeared in The New Yorker in 1965. Over the past half century, rumours and speculation intensified, from whether any work existed to whether it was of publishable quality. A former lover, Joyce Maynard, and Salingers daughter, Margaret, have both written that the author continued to work on books, allegedly stored in a vault in the authors home in Cornish, New Hampshire. A 2013 documentary and book by Shane Salerno and David Shields cited two independent and separate sources in predicting several new works, starting between 2015 and 2020. One of the Salinger books would centre on Catcher protagonist Holden Caulfield and his family. Others would draw on Salingers Second World War years and his immersion in Eastern religion. Mr Salerno said that it was always his (J.D. Salingers) intention (and specific direction) to have his work published after his death. Im thrilled that Salinger fans around the world will finally get to see this important work from one of Americas finest writers, Mr Salerno added. Photo: Storyhive A Cawston man is being recognized by Storyhive in the first-ever indigenous storyteller grant. Damien Buddy Eagle Bear received $20,000 from Storyhive to produce a short film. He is a storyteller originally from Kainai of the Blackfoot Confederacy in southern Alberta currently living in B.C. r He is one of 30 grant recipients chosen from Alberta and B.C. and will receive support, mentorship and training along with the funding. Eagle Bear is part of a $600,000 investment in the careers of indigenous creators. Eagle Bear opened the 37th American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco in 2012. His first short film, experimental short documentary Napi explores storytelling through the hijinks of the Blackfoot trickster, states his bio on Storyhive. As an Irish citizen who voted to remove Articles 2 and 3 from the Irish Constitution as required for the approval of the Good Friday Agreement, I feel a great sense of betrayal when I hear Brexiteers, especially DUP politicians, maintain that Brexit has no relevance to the agreement, when this is patently not the case. In contesting their point of view, one has only to consider if the Irish people would have voted to remove the above articles from our Constitution had Ireland and the UK not been members of the EU in 1998 - the answer is most definitely no. And no Irish government would consider for a moment putting such a proposition to the people by way of referendum. That being the case, does anybody seriously believe that the Unionist population of Northern Ireland would have voted for an agreement that did not deal with these articles? Again, the answer again is no. The DUP, by the very fact it promoted Brexit, did untold damage to the Good Friday Agreement as the trust on which the agreement depended was destroyed. Notwithstanding this, the DUP continues to advocate for a hard Brexit, despite the fact that all reasonable projections show that Northern Ireland would suffer greatly from any type of Brexit and in particular from a hard Brexit. The DUP continuously criticises the Irish Government's approach to Brexit and maintains that the previous Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, would have been far more accommodating to its views. However, it showed scant regard for Mr Kenny's generous invitation to join in some type of all-Ireland forum with a view to arriving at a common approach towards mitigating the problems created by Brexit. When all of the above is taken into account, together with the DUP's refusal to agree to an Irish Language Act (and I am no Sinn Fein supporter) I can only conclude that the DUP, under its current leadership, would do whatever it takes to distance itself from anything 'Irish' - even if in so doing it destroys the Good Friday Agreement and all which that implies, and severely damages the livelihoods and quality of life of all of the people in this island. John O'Sullivan Co Kilkenny Tories will betray Foster and Co too as need arises A number of recent letters remind us that lessons from history show that the powers in London do what is in their interests regardless of the consequences for others. That is particularly true for those into whose affairs they forcibly intruded. Remarkably, as Theresa May reneges and betrays in pursuit of her sole quests - retain power and prevent a Tory party split - Arlene Foster and the DUP consort with her, seemingly oblivious to such lessons. May and her party are not loyal to the DUP, they are loyal only to their present need of them. When that changes, so too will their loyalties. Jim O'Sullivan, Rathedmond, Co Sligo Sinn Fein has obligation to stand up for Ireland If ever proof was needed that the seven Sinn Fein MPs elected to Westminster should take their seats, it is there in the excellent letters of Hugh Duffy ('We have been warned about 'deceitful promises' and history repeating itself') and Michael McSweeney ('UK once again lives up to Perfidious Albion moniker', Letters, January 31). In regards to the taking of an oath, they can resolve this situation, morally, by saying, "I am taking this oath under duress". As leopards don't change their spots, the 'Perfidious Albion' section in the Tory party keeps alive an abhorrence of anything that hints at a united Ireland. All the more reason then why the seven should speak on behalf of Ireland. The people of the UK are fortunate to have the impartial John Bercow as Speaker, a man who truly represents the people. Sinn Fein, Ireland demands you take your legal and moral place. Declan Foley, Berwick, Australia Government needs to help our nurses and midwives Following the breakdown of talks at the Labour Court, minimal staffing is now in place in some of our busiest hospitals in the country - due to the intransigence of this Government. As a result, nurses and midwives went on their first strike since 1999 and only their second in 100 years. With many of the 65,000 nurses on picket lines looking for better pay and conditions, it comes at the cost of the cancellation of surgeries and outpatient appointments. They will make sure the most vulnerable patients are taken care of. They are prepared to go again five more times if necessary and they have the support of the general public. Irish nurses and midwives have emigrated in their droves across the globe, to where there is better pay and conditions and safety. This Government needs to get their heads out of the sand and look after our nurses and midwives . Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co Cork Here's how we can butter up Brits for Brexit result Our English neighbours may have invented the sandwich (the Earl of, and all that) but it is the Irish who are responsible for filling it. This is where we have leverage in the Brexit negotiations. Leo Varadkar should bang the table at Theresa May and threaten to leave the English sandwich cheddarless. Yes, folks, we supply Britain with 78,000 tonnes of the stuff annually. So, forget the backstop agreement, Leo, and hit them with the threat of cheddarless sandwiches - they'll soon fold. The English may have invented the sandwich but it took the poetic Irish to fill it with delicious creamy Irish butter and tasty cheddar. Do our neighbours wish to be left with dry bread after Brexit? Billy O'Riordan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Gatsby at The Gate truly lives up to the title Great I am writing to highly commend The Gate's production of 'The Great Gatsby'. It is a wonderful experience of immersive theatre which brings you back to those hazy days of The Charleston. The set is amazing and the costumes beautifully reflect the era. I wish too to laud the highly emotive acting. Well done to all on the magnificent glitzy Gatsby party! It is certainly an invitation I would not turn down. Niall Moonan, Begrath, Co Louth Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe prides himself as being prudent. It is an admirable thing for the Government to bend the knee at the altar of frugality. Yet the evidence of its adoption of a policy of "do as I say, not as I do" is mounting. The mantra of "a penny saved is a penny earned" seems only to be applied in selective circumstances, judging by what we heard at the Public Accounts Committee yesterday. For it now appears the final cost of the new National Children's Hospital - already deemed the most expensive in history - could exceed 2bn. It was not just Labour's health spokesperson Alan Kelly's mind which was "boggled" at the spiralling costs; or the deafening silence in getting a satisfactory explanation. As recently as September last year, the cost of the project was expected to be 983m. The latest figures make for very sober reading in a week when tens of thousands of patients had their procedures cancelled because of a nurses' strike in pursuit of better income and conditions. As of now there is no mediation and matters are certain to escalate and the public will suffer. The Government's case for holding the line on public pay is only as strong as the example it sets. If budgets can soar to stratospheric levels without anyone being held responsible, if the only consequence is a poorer service to patients, small wonder morale is through the floor among front-line health workers. In any other organisation there would be ruthless cost benefit analysis on the budget blow-out at the hospital. The Health Department in classic "Sir Humphrey-style" prefers to call their study "a scenario sensitivity analysis". This, we learned from its secretary general Jim Breslin, would eventually identify potential further cost increases. Fianna Fail TD Shane Cassells asked Mr Breslin whether Health Minister Simon Harris had misled the Dail on September 18 when quizzed by Barry Cowen on the cost of the project. He was assured it was coming in on target. Or as Mr Breslin put it: "They were on profile." He further explained he did not at the time have an agreed guaranteed maximum price. But in layman's terms if being "on profile" is sufficiently elastic to accommodate an 1bn over-run, one fears to think what being "off-profile" might lead to. Philosophers can argue the toss about it being beyond finite minds to validate infinite things. Senior civil servants, auditors and ministers have no such luxury. They are obliged to be keenly aware resources are far from unlimited. It ought not require a "scenario sensitivity analysis" to recognise that if you spend more than you have, someone down the line feels severe pain. The next few weeks seem depressingly predictable, but the leader of the UK opposition could deliver hope by looking ahead to a true democratic future. Britain's prime minister has been remarkable in resolutely following a ruinous path that she keeps insisting remains the least perilous road to Brexit. Theresa May's first crime against logic was to trigger Article 50 without a plan of what to do on March 29, 2019, if no deal had been struck with Brussels. Her second was to forfeit any bargaining power she had by accepting Michel Barnier's two-phase negotiation (first London delivers all that Brussels demands, then Brussels considers what London wants). May's two colossal errors combined to allow a gloating European Commission to dictate to her a withdrawal agreement that, independently of whether one is pro-Leave or pro-Remain, resembles the kind of treaty imposed upon a nation defeated at war. Unsurprisingly, Brexit has turned into a process tearing Britain apart while revealing its constitutional inadequacies. Corbyn and May's fantasist double act is driving MPs to a Final Say. The prime minister will continue to run down the clock, putting all the pressure on Remainers, both Tory and Labour, to avert a no-deal Brexit by accepting hers. That was the point of backing the Brady amendment on Tuesday: to take Brexit revocation off the table, gain two weeks during which to pretend to negotiate with a European Commission that does not have the mandate to negotiate and then take a version of the same withdrawal agreement, possibly with some pointless addenda, to parliament. If her blackmail fails yet again, she will apply for an extension of Article 50 until July 1 and start the same war of attrition anew. It is imperative that May is prevented from following this path. Those who can stop her and fail to do so will not be forgiven by at least one generation of Britons - which brings me to my friend and comrade Jeremy Corbyn and his team. Labour's leadership understands that with weeks to go before the cliff's edge, Niccolo Machiavelli's counsel in 'The Prince' applies just as much to them too: "Irresolute princes, to avoid present dangers, generally follow the neutral path, and are generally ruined." Until now, it was right and proper for Labour to avoid distracting a Tory government while it was making a mess of things. Jeremy Corbyn's critics were wrong to chastise him for delaying to call a vote of no confidence or for not backing a second referendum. Labour just did not have the numbers to win such votes. The time has come for Jeremy Corbyn to give a 'Speech of Hope for Britain' that contains a clear vision of a country that heals itself after two years of wanton destruction by a short-sighted, clueless prime minister thinking only of the unity of her divided government and party. Jeremy's speech must build hope upon a foundation of realism, stating clearly what the Labour leader would do if he were to move into 10 Downing Street tomorrow morning. In such a speech, I would like to hear him announce that, in view of the current damaging impasse, only a people's debate can turn a disaster into an opportunity for national renewal. This debate should be modelled on the Irish Citizens' Assembly that produced a remarkable convergence of public opinion on the nation's abortion legislation before a referendum could be held profitably. The UK assembly's remit would extend beyond Brexit to engulf the British constitution (eg the creation of one or more English parliaments, the reform of the electoral system) that Brexit proved to be in serious need of revision. Once the assembly has formulated the options to be put to a referendum by 2021 (including an application to rejoin the EU, a hard Brexit, Norway Plus and so on), voters will have at least another year to debate them. To allow for this celebration of democracy, prime minister Corbyn would conclude the Article 50 process on March 29 with a withdrawal agreement foreshadowing a three-year steady-as-she-goes transition period and replacing May's backstop with a permanent customs union for Northern Ireland. In essence, a Labour government accepts the possibility of customs checks across the Irish Sea in the interest of preserving the Good Friday Agreement and without pre-empting the findings of the citizens' assembly that will decide the final UK-EU arrangements. Jeremy Corbyn's 'Speech of Hope' must, of course, end with forward guidance on what he will do from the opposition benches in the next decisive weeks. I would like to hear him say that he will not support any short-term extension of Article 50 that merely allows May more rope to hang herself and the country. And that he will support any amendment that prevents Britain crashing out - or back in to the EU - without that utterly crucial democratic agent of a people's debate, and an honest referendum on the available options within the next two years. Donald Trump is already pulling US troops out of Syria, and is likely to pull them out of Afghanistan, too, assuming a tentative peace deal with the Taliban is finalised. Although Trump initially claimed the United States had won in Syria, the real impetus for both moves is a widespread sense, shared by the US president's supporters and critics alike, that not only aren't we winning, but we can't possibly win these "forever wars," no matter how long we stay. "There is virtually no possibility of a military victory over the Taliban and little chance of leaving behind a self-sustaining democracy," wrote strategist and travel writer Robert D Kaplan in 'The New York Times'. Veteran diplomats Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky, meanwhile, wrote for NPR (National Public Radio) that Isil "isn't Germany or Japan, where the US and its allies broke those regimes' will to fight, destroyed all their war-making capacity, eradicated their fascist state ideologies and helped reshape a new environment for two democratic countries. For the US to achieve that goal in Syria is mission impossible." I have enormous respect for these writers, but their observations, while true, are also irrelevant. James Dobbins, a former US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and his colleagues at the Rand think tank are closer to the mark when they write: "Winning may not be an available option, but losing certainly is. A precipitous departure, no matter how rationalised, will mean choosing to lose. The result would be a blow to American credibility, the weakening of deterrence and the value of US reassurance elsewhere, an increased terrorist threat emanating from the Afghan region, and the distinct possibility of a necessary return there under worse conditions." The Rand report is about Afghanistan, but the same analysis applies to Syria. Neither the Islamic State nor the Taliban is remotely defeated. Isil has lost virtually all its "caliphate", but US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats just warned that it "still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria, and it maintains eight branches, more than a dozen networks, and thousands of dispersed supporters around the world". The Taliban is doing even better: It controls or contests 44pc of Afghanistan's districts, and inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan security forces. An Afghan general says there are more than 77,000 militants fighting the government - far higher than the official figure of 25,000 to 35,000. If the United States pulls out of Afghanistan, the Taliban is likely to seize most of the country, and if we pull out of Syria, Islamic State is likely to revive. In fighting these insurgents, the United States needs to eschew its big war mindset. Yes, there will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of the USS Missouri. But even victory in WWII would have been squandered as readily as victory in WWI if the United States hadn't kept troops in Europe and Asia for 73 years and counting. The longer American troops stay anywhere, the greater their chances of achieving our objectives. When US troops pull out, the consequences are usually costly, whether it's the communist takeover of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam in 1975, or the rise of the Islamic State after 2011. And while the Viet Cong weren't trying to attack the American homeland, the Islamic State and al-Qa'ida are. 'The New York Times' reports US intelligence has warned "a complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan would lead to an attack on the United States within two years". Advocates of retreat will argue an open-ended deployment is not sustainable. But that's not true. US troops are volunteers. As long as they aren't taking many casualties, the public isn't opposed to their deployment. US forces have suffered six fatalities in Syria and 66 in Afghanistan since 2015 - an average of 18 a year. Those losses are tragic, but in 2017 the US military lost 80 service personnel in training accidents. Training is now four times deadlier for American forces than combat. Washington Post Syndication THE Hyundai Tucson starts the year where it left off in 2018 the countrys best-selling car. But overall new-car registrations slumped badly in January, latest figures show. They reveal how the Tucson held the Number One spot ahead of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris and Skoda Octavia. The South Korean brand also took prime position in the brand league with Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota and Nissan filling the other Top 5 places, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). However, it has been a gloomy start on the forecourts for most makes. Sales are down 12.6pc (32,374 v 37,023 for January 2018). And it is predicted in the SIMI report that the number of registrations for the full year will dip as low as 111,000 from 125,422 in 2018 (which represented a 4.4pc drop on 2017). With used imports likely to nudge the 100,000 mark again, that means there would only be a gap of 10,000/12,000 between new motors and UK-sourced vehicles. Of concern too is the drop in Light Commercial (van) buying. They are down 16.3pc (5,650) compared with the corresponding month last year. Van sales are regarded as far more accurate indicators of economic activity and confidence. As with new cars, the uncertainty around Brexit is manifesting itself in peoples decision to defer major outlay until the dust settles. Used imports hit their highest levels in history last year (100,755) which accounted for 44.5pc of the total car market in 2018, the SIMI report says but there was a slight dip in imports last month to 9,006. Meantime electric vehicle (EV) registrations jumped noticeably to 811 last month. Thats more than for all of 2017 and 60pc of last years sales. Diesel remains the market leader so far this year with a 49pc share but that is down 8pc on January 2018. Petrol buying is up to 40pc of sales with hybrids accounting for 7pc. Economist Jim Power, author of the SIMI report, says: In overall terms, the coming months are likely to be characterised by deep uncertainty. Brian Cooke, director general designate SIMI, comments: With Brexit fast approaching adding to business uncertainty, the weakness of sterling is continuing to drive down used car values which is increasing the cost to change. Mick Dunne, from Portarlington, and Sue-Ellen Gambarelli of Dun Laoghaire at the Killakee viewing point in the Dublin Mountains yesterday. Photo: Dave Meehan While there may be some sunshine today, don't let it fool you as temperatures will continue to plummet. Met Eireann has extended its status yellow snow-ice warning until Sunday. Yesterday's rain and snow have made way to clear skies and icy roads in most parts of the country. Up to three or four inches of snow fell across the north-west on Wednesday night and conditions remain hazardous, even on treated roads. A nationwide 'yellow' weather warning for snow and ice was updated yesterday and now remains in place until midday Sunday. According to the national forecaster, the country will be "feeling raw" for the rest of the week, with extremely cold nights and widespread frost. "[Today] will be a bright, cold and crisp day," said Met Eireann forecaster Vincent O'Shea. "Temperatures won't rise above 3C during the day, but at night it'll get very cold to about -6C in inland areas. "We will have to contend with very severe frost and icy roads throughout the rest of the week and running into the weekend. "There may be some wintry showers for north Ulster, but for the bulk of the country it will remain dry." It will be bitterly cold tonight and tomorrow with a spell of severe frost and freezing fog. On Sunday, the weather will become drier and mildly warmer, with afternoon highs of 5C to 9C. The Department of Education told the Irish Independent a number of schools closed this week, but that it was up to each school to decide whether they needed to close due to the severity of the weather. "The decision to close a school is to be taken at a local level by the individual school principal or board of management in the interests of child safety, having assessed the local risks and having consulted, as appropriate, with school transport operators," said a spokesperson. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is warning all motorists to "monitor the national and local weather forecasts and traffic reports before making any journey." The body is asking drivers to slow down, use controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the car in front. Meanwhile, Met Eireann has confirmed they are looking to work with the UK Met office to incorporate weather warnings, after the Irish forecaster faced criticism for not including Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein senator Niall O Donnghaile said it was a cause of "great frustration" that the Irish office does not include Northern Ireland in its weather warnings, but does cover their forecast on the website. The Sinn Fein senator accused Met Eireann of "amputating" the north. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing on behalf of Met Eireann said it was looking to team up with the UK Met in the future, but that the office was currently responsible for warnings in Northern Ireland. EUROPEAN election hopeful Conor Lenihan has said he has nothing to hide about his career in Russia and rejected any comparison between himself and US President Donald Trump. Former Fianna Fail junior minister Mr Lenihan officially launched his bid to get on the partys ticket to compete for a European Parliament seat for Dublin in the upcoming election in May. His competitors are former ministers Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews and gay rights campaigner Tiernan Brady and Mr Lenihan said hes not opposed to having a running mate if he is selected as the candidate. Mr Lenihan worked in Russia up until 2015 after he lost his Dail seat in Fianna Fails disastrous post-crash election in 2011. He worked as vice-president of the Skolkovo Foundation, a $10bn project designed to replicate Silicone Valley in Russia and was involved in raising funds for research and development investments. At his campaign launch it was put to Mr Lenihan that some in the European Parliament view Russian President Vladimir Putin as someone who wants to undermine the EU. He was asked if he shared this view. Mr Lenihan said he doesnt like to offer opinions on Russian politics because his job there didnt involve anything to do with politics or what the government of Russia was doing good, bad or indifferent. He said hes not a spokesman or apologist for whatever the Russian regime gets up to. He said he understands hostility towards Russia in the European Parliament. Mr Lenihan said he had a more analytical or nuanced view that Russia is an important country and cant be ignored. Im not saying we must be really nice to them or we should stop criticising them. "Im just saying that real politick and global geopolitics demand that you have to engage with Russia and thats all Im saying. Im not making a political point on that in any way. He said alarm had been caused by Russian involvement in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea and also mentioned the poisoning of an ex-spy in Salisbury England which Russia has been blamed for. He said: These things are of great concern and we can see that in terms of the response that s happened within the European Union and elsewhere. He said he never met Mr Putin. Asked about allegations that Russia interfered with the US presidential election and Brexit referendum he said it doesnt surprise him. He said: Unfortunately big countries tend to see themselves as having that particular mandate. Im not by the way saying its justified in any sense but it tends to happen," he said, giving the example of US involvement in elections in Latin American countries. He said that if elected the threat of cyber disruption and hybrid warfare would be an area he intends to very forceful on as Europe is very vulnerable here. He was asked if it would be legitimate for political opponents to compare him to Donald Trump, who has been plagued with questions about alleged links to Russia. Mr Lenihan replied: Im not going to answer that Ill avoid any analogy or comparison with Trump because Trump I am not. First of all I dont have his money and secondly I think Im a bit more polite with people than he is. He said: The larger point - do I have anything to hide or worry about in terms of my work in Russia? Absolutely not. I worked in a professional capacity there. I raised the investment and Im very proud of the work that I did there. I in no way depend or owe any due obligation or otherwise to the Russian State other than a nice thank you to the people who hired me and it was a very interesting time in my life. I dont do any business currently in Russia. He said hes not shy about speaking about his former job because he believes the skill-sets he picked up are of benefit and could be deployed if he is elected to raise investment for Dublin. He warned: Our whole investment pattern is going to be disrupted by the British leaving the European Union. He said the key challenge is to maintain the level of business Ireland currently has with the UK while diversifying and reducing dependence on the British market. Bishops have warned Massgoers to co-operate with "the life-saving work" of gardai amid heated political debate over drink-driving checkpoints near churches. The issue of gardai ramping up checkpoints at Mass times has been raised on several occasions in the Dail. This week, Independent Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said people were "outraged" about gardai stopping people to breathalyse them while they are en route to Mass or to school or work. "What we do have is plenty of Garda checks. It is not gardai who are to blame because direction is coming from on high," he said. "This is happening across every county and every Garda division. People are being checked going to and coming from Mass. Last week, an elderly man was stopped coming home from Mass with his invalided wife. "What is going on is absolutely ridiculous," he claimed. "People taking their children to school in the morning and women who never drank are being stopped. They are outraged at what is happening," he added. But the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference told the Irish Independent: "As bishops are pro-life, and indeed individual bishops such as Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe regularly promote safety on our roads for pedestrians, pedal and motorcyclists and for motorists, we all have a civic duty to co-operate with the life-saving work of the Garda Traffic Corps." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also hit out at the idea that people should not be tested for alcohol. He said that "people who abide by the laws passed by this Oireachtas have nothing at all to fear from the Garda". "People who take alcohol or drugs and then drive are a threat to themselves and others. "People who drink several drinks, get a few hours' sleep, and then drive in the morning are impaired," he said. "They do cause accidents, they do kill people and they do cause injuries." Mr Varadkar said it must be remembered that road safety laws are in place to combat road deaths. In a separate debate during Dail proceedings yesterday, another member of the Rural Independents technical group criticised the Government for putting too much emphasis on road safety initiatives. Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath said he did not want any road deaths and referenced recent traffic accidents where people had lost their lives. However, discussing the fact that more people die by suicide than on our roads, he said: "We are putting significant energy and effort into road safety at the moment. I think it is over the top, OTT". The Garda Press Office did not respond to queries about whether the perceived spike in checkpoints was borne out and if specific events such as Mass were targeted. Transport Minister Shane Ross said: "For once Danny is correct. The direction of the Garda is coming from Commissioner Drew Harris. He is completely independently Government." Kilkenny hurler Colin Fennelly has described how the Irish Army gave him "zero job satisfaction". Fennelly changed careers last year, joining project management company Virtus after returning home from his first tour of duty in Lebanon. Speaking at an AIB Bank event ahead of his club Ballyhale Shamrocks' All-Ireland club hurling semi-final against Ballygunner next week, Fennelly said his six-month tour was "a waste of time to a certain extent". "We were up on a hill, just stuck in a camp, doing nothing. I'm sure in the larger scale of things, our presence there is great but [we] just trained, slept, watched Netflix. "It's just boredom," he said. "When I hear the nurses coming out and asking for more pay, I can see exactly why. The work they do [compared to] the work the Army does... The higher up is the problem." Fennelly did acknowledge the role the Army had in facilitating his career. The Defence Forces responded: "We are surprised and disappointed to hear these comments... Oglaigh na hEireann takes pride in our members who achieve at the highest levels in sport. However, whilst sport is an integral aspect of our culture, it is not the only aspect." Photo: natasha18033 Photo taken at Cactus Restaurants in Vancouver. The future of Kelowna's old Roses Waterfront Pub is becoming more clear with details obtained by Castanet. Christy Murphy, vice-president of communications at Cactus Club Cafe, says the space at 1352 Water St. has been acquired by Cactus Restaurants. At this point in time, we dont have any plans for this location to announce, said Murphy. After 25 years in Kelowna, the business closed its doors in August. Founder Rose Sexsmith says it has been an emotional experience. Its like having your kids move away, she said. That is our baby! Sexsmith says regulars and staff miss the pub and restaurant, but it was the right time to walk away. It needed a lot of work, needed to be totally renovated, she said. With the news of Cactus acquiring the space, she said she looks forward to what will come. I am really excited to see what it is going to be like, she said. Murphy wouldnt provide any confirmation of what will be going into the space, but said the company looks forward to sharing details in the future. Currently, the Cactus Club location at the Kelowna Yacht Club is less than 100 metres from the Rose's location. Patients suffered disruption in a number of community mental health clinics and in other services as 6,000 psychiatric nurses imposed an overtime ban. The ban, which is related to the current pay claim by nurses, led to problems in staffing nine mental health facilities as efforts were made to secure enough staff to provide a safe level of cover for vulnerable patients. The stoppage by the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), which resumes today, forced some managers to do frontline duties. In other cases, nurses were moved from community service duties into in-patient care. HSE official Bernard Gloster said problems relating to the changeover in staff were experienced from morning until lunchtime yesterday. The overtime ban was lifted for the overnight shift. Peter Hughes, general secretary of the PNA, said the service was heavily reliant on overtime because of the recruitment and retention crisis. He said vacancy rates escalated by 40pc over the past year. The 'Bring Them Home' campaign last year, aimed at wooing Irish nurses back from the UK, only attracted six new staff. The union will go on all-out strike on February 12, 13 and 14. In a separate dispute, the National Ambulance Service Representation Association (NASRA), which is part of the PNA, is due to announce more strike dates today. The paramedics staged a national strike on January 22, forcing the Army to be drafted in. The row is about union recognition. The HSE said that Siptu was recognised for negotiating rights for front-line ambulance grades. As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of that union. However, the NASRA is not recognised by the HSE and therefore does not have negotiating rights. Hundreds of nursing graduates move abroad to pursue their career in healthcare every year. While up to 40,000 nursing staff undergo industrial action in the row over their demand for pay parity, we spoke to three Irish nurses about the reality of working abroad and what their pay, working conditions and lifestyles are like in comparison to their counterparts at home. Suzie Jackson, Melbourne: 'I cant help but feel eaten up with guilt for leaving my parents, I feel the heartbreak with every goodbye, it doesnt get easier' My name is Suzie Jackson. I'm 27 and I'm from Carrigaline, Co. Cork. I have been working as a nurse in Australia for nearly four years. The main reason I moved to Australia was to pursue my nursing career. I worked in Cork for six months after graduating, before I realised the grass is really greener on the other side. To tell the truth, those first six months were probably the most difficult and challenging months of my whole nursing career. It really tests you mentally, physically and emotionally. As a new graduate, with a whole new level of responsibility, you are really thrown into the deep end with little support around you due to staff shortages, lack of resources, long waiting lists and patients on trolleys. You have no control over the situation. It really is a case of sink or swim. I felt helpless and frustrated that I couldnt give the best care I was capable of because it was simply not possible due to time constraints. The reality of nursing in Ireland is being paid under minimum wage, not peeing for hours because you simply dont have a minute, skipping lunch break until your tummy rumbles embarrassingly, staying in work over an hour late unpaid just to get your documentation done to cover yourself in case anything happened (this would equal 13 hours), sleepless nights due to fear and worry of what you have/havent done. Expand Close Suzie Jackson: 'I felt helpless and frustrated that I couldnt give the best care I was capable of because it was simply not possible due to time constraints' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Suzie Jackson: 'I felt helpless and frustrated that I couldnt give the best care I was capable of because it was simply not possible due to time constraints' In comparison, in Australia, I am earning over double what I would be at home and the patient to staff ratio is halved. It's 4:1 during the day, compared to 7:1 in Ireland. I actually have time to build a rapport with my patients and give them the emotional support they need instead of barely knowing their name and rushing off to another million jobs. There is a great work/life balance. I am much happier now, I can sleep contently knowing that I have had a good day. I leave my shift satisfied that I have done the best job that I could possibly do. I work in the Alfred Hospital, the number one trauma centre in Victoria, and the experience I have gained is invaluable. It is a fantastic teaching hospital and the education opportunities and courses are endless. All the nurses abroad uniting together saying "give us a reason to come home" should really hit home for Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar. Its important for them to take notice how its tearing our families apart. Think of all the mothers and fathers who are missing their daughters and sons at family events and Christmas year after year. Think of the awful dreaded airport goodbyes where parents and children are sobbing uncontrollably not knowing when they will see each other next. As an only child this is a really tough one for me and my parents, and I cant help but feel eaten up with guilt for leaving them, I feel the heartbreak with every goodbye, it doesnt get easier. Think of the future, if this is not rectified we will have no new graduates staying in Ireland and have all the other nurses burnt out. There will be nobody to blame but ourselves. Listen to nurses to allow us give the patient the care they deserve. Darren Carroll, Abu Dhabi: 'I earn double what I would in Ireland, and it's tax-free' I am a trained emergency room nurse with a BSc in nursing and MSc in science. I joined nursing in 2013 because I always wanted a career in caring for others and to be able to work in a job where I felt like I really made a difference at the end of the day. However, after surviving 2 years as a newly graduate nurse in a busy inner city ER, I decided that my mental health was more important than 1. I was trying to fool myself that I could make a difference when, truth to be told, it is impossible to give a high standard of patient care in todays Irish healthcare setting due to staff shortages. Also, if I realistically ever wanted to own my own house, staying in Ireland on a current nurses' salary was not a realistic option. It was burn-out time, and that was just after two years. So, I decided to move to the Middle East, Abu Dhabi, where I have resided and worked as a nurse for the last four years. The Middle East, like the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, really appreciate and place high value on Irish nurses. The hospital booked and paid for my flights to Abu Dhabi, drove me to my brand new one-bedroom apartment when I arrived and had bags of groceries waiting for me so I did not have to worry about food shopping on my first few days. I was stunned... I am just a nurse after all! Expand Close Darren Carroll, Abu Dhabi: 'I earn double what I would in Ireland, and it's tax-free' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Darren Carroll, Abu Dhabi: 'I earn double what I would in Ireland, and it's tax-free' Since then I have been promoted in less than two years, I have moved to an even nicer one-bedroom apartment with a swimming pool and a gym. It's all paid for by the hospital. I earn double what I would in Ireland, and it's tax-free. I have been sent to the USA for specialised training, the flights and all the course fees and hotel expenses were paid for. I have saved in four years in the UAE what it would take 23 years to save in Dublin as a nurse paying extortionate rents. I have no plans to return to Ireland. I think the working conditions for nurses at home are 'third world' in my opinion. I am reading on social media about Ireland's nurses who are at their breaking point and wanted to share with them, and others, how unjust they are being treated when compared to other healthcare facilities around the world. I don't want to rub salt in the wounds of my fellow nursing colleagues in Ireland but to highlight the unjust by the way in which they are being treated, It saddens me to read and listen to the stories of Ireland's nurses who are at their breaking point due to staff shortages and burn out. Ireland's healthcare system is a sham. They should be paying Irish nurses what they truly deserve to be paid and thus preventing this mass migration of highly qualified Irish nurses. The country spends thousands on training us, only to allow us to be shipped off to the Middle East and beyond. I really hope Irish nurses get what they are asking for. Laura Phillips, Sydney: 'I know of so many nurses wishing to go home but fear returning to work in the current health system' I'm 28 years old from Knocklyon in Dublin and went to Trinity College to study general nursing. I live in Sydney, Australia and work as an anaesthetic and recovery nurse in one of the major teaching hospitals here. I have been living here for three and a half years and the main the reason I left was because I could not work as a nurse in Ireland anymore. I was left defeated, exhausted and frustrated at the end of every shift. The pay I received at the end of the month for an extremely challenging job, both mentally and physically, was about 2,000. I felt this wage was not an adequate representation of our skills and the working conditions were shocking. Patient safety was put at risk on a daily basis due to a lack of staff on the floor. Expand Close Laura Phillips, Sydney: 'I know of so many nurses wishing to go home but fear returning to work in the current health system' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Laura Phillips, Sydney: 'I know of so many nurses wishing to go home but fear returning to work in the current health system' Looking after sick patients on trolleys and an average patient load of six-eight on a day shift was something I just wasn't prepared to do anymore. I don't intend to compare health systems, but working as a nurse in Sydney I feel respected and I feel that my skills are recognised. I get paid equally to allied health professionals who also work at the patient bedside, this has a domino effect improving all other working conditions. The hospitals here are heavily staffed by Irish nurses and we are praised for our work ethic and high standard of skills almost daily. Our training is extensive in Ireland and it shows the sad reality that another health system reaps the rewards of this. I hope to move home to work as a nurse sooner rather than later. I do love my life here but I miss my family. I'm aware that working conditions in the health system in Ireland will not be as good as those in Australia, but, at the very least, I expect that respect and recognition of our skills will be reflected by equal pay. I organised a solidarity protest with my colleagues here because we wanted to show support to all Irish nurses. I know of so many nurses wishing to go home but fear returning to work in the current health system. The response was amazing on the day and over 250 nurses turned up. This speaks for itself. The 25,000 patients who will have their appointments cancelled on Tuesday as nurses stage another 24-hour strike are being notified. The three children's hospitals in Dublin will cancel planned surgeries and outpatient clinics. This will also apply on Thursday, another day of industrial action. Some children with appointments before and after the days of action may also have their treatment postponed. Tanaiste Simon Coveney confirmed yesterday that legal advice was being sought about imposing financial penalties on nurses who walked out of hospitals and health services in the row over pay. Health officials warned if more strikes go ahead, the patients whose surgery and outpatient appointments are cancelled will face long delays before being rescheduled. HSE official Bernard Gloster said it was wrong to describe the services for people as "routine" as the cancellations had significant impact on them. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) met with health officials yesterday to work on contingency plans for next week which will see them on strike on Tuesday and Thursday, affecting 50,000 people. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that the union remained available for talks. It is expected some bid to resume negotiations will be made before Tuesday, although the Government has ruled out any pay increase and warned of knock-on claims. Mary Lowry arrives at court for the trial of Pat Quirke. Picture: Collins A murder trial witness has told of a "secret" conversation on the day her partner disappeared in which she asked his son whether he had "searched the lakes" for his father. Mary Lowry denied being "coy" about a visit she had from Robert Ryan, the son of Bobby Ryan, in her statements to gardai. Put to her under cross-examination that she had said to Mr Ryan Jnr "I don't know where he is, we didn't have a fight," Ms Lowry replied that she could not remember. It was her third day on the stand at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Pat Quirke (50), of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52-year-old Mr Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, on a date between June 3, 2011 and April 2013. Ms Lowry denied attempting to mislead the jury at times, saying: "I think the jury knows I'm telling the truth. "I have bared my soul in my statement, my absolute soul. "I have told everything in my whole life. "Some of it I am ashamed of, but I have put everything in to try solve this case." Asked by defence lawyer Bernard Condon whether, for "a bit of colour", she had inserted a claim that Mr Ryan had taken a long time to get dressed that morning, Ms Lowry said she was "sticking to the facts". "This is a murder trial," she added. "It's pretty serious, and what I'm saying is the truth, the whole truth. I want justice for Bobby Ryan." Ms Lowry was then reprimanded by Mr Condon, who told her to "conduct herself as she would expect a witness should". Later, Mr Condon put it to Ms Lowry that she kept referring to her relationship with Mr Quirke as "the sordid affair, the seedy affair". He asked her whether this was "directed to the local papers." Ms Lowry denied this, saying it was directed at herself because she felt ashamed of it. Mr Condon put it to her that it was "her theme" to do everything she could to present herself in the best possible light and claimed she was attempting to "rehabilitate her reputation in the local papers". "I don't agree," replied Ms Lowry. "I have nothing to do with the local papers. "I just want my reputation to be as it is. I am a kind person." Mr Condon accused her of wanting to "rewrite history". Ms Lowry answered: "I want to solve this murder mystery the best I can." Under cross-examination, Mr Condon put it to her that she had not revealed the details of a conversation with Mr Ryan's son, Robert, on the day of his disappearance. Ms Lowry said that she "wanted to keep Bobby's dignity" as much as she could. "I felt it was a secret, really," she said. "Bobby had told me when his marriage finished, things were pretty bad for him. "He suffered from depression and had considered ending his life and throwing himself in a lake," she said. "So I said to Robert when he came, had he searched lakes and things like that." Asked whether she had been shaking during this conversation, Ms Lowry said she could not remember but that she was very worried and it was "a very traumatic time". Mr Condon asked whether Robert Ryan had accused her of telling lies. Ms Lowry said she could not recall. Earlier, she had told the court how she met with Mr Ryan's daughter, Michelle, on the day of his disappearance. Ms Lowry said she went looking for Michelle Ryan after she told her that her father was missing and found her near the house of Mary Glasheen, a friend of Bobby's, in Tipperary town. She continued that Michelle got into Ms Lowry's car while Michelle's aunt and uncle followed in their car behind. Ms Lowry said she was driving to her own house but was "so alarmed" she forgot to drive into her own driveway and continued on towards Kilshane Wood. Michelle kept saying: "I think my dad is in a wood somewhere," Ms Lowry claimed. "I suppose, subconsciously, I thought of a wood and kept driving," she added. Ms Lowry and Michelle drove around for a time and found Mr Ryan's car at Kilshane Woods, about 5km from Ms Lowry's home Ms Lowry explained to the court that Mr Ryan's disappearance had come as a bolt from the blue to her. She said he had left her house at 6.30am, and all of a sudden, he was missing. "I was alarmed and frightened and 'Oh my God'," she said. "I thought my bad luck had finished, but it seemed to be starting, really." Ms Lowry denied a suggestion that there had been a difficulty between her second son, Jack, and Bobby Ryan. Mr Condon said that Mary Glasheen told gardai that Bobby had "made a run for the child because he was giving guff". Ms Lowry said that didn't happen, adding: "My children loved Bobby. He was fun-loving, happy-go-lucky and just a lovely man, and my children loved him." Later, she said her children loved her "to bits" and were delighted to have her in a loving relationship after coming out of a "seedy affair". Mr Condon said that by not telling the jury there were difficulties, she had failed to tell "the whole truth". Mr Condon pointed to "differences" in the account she had given of a disagreement she had had with Mr Ryan on a trip to Bundoran the weekend before his disappearance. Ms Lowry had told the court the argument happened because he had spent time talking to another woman. Mr Condon said she had told gardai she was "raging" because he had danced with another woman. The lawyer asked Ms Lowry whether she had tried to "pull them apart". Ms Lowry said she had not. Asked whether she recalled Mr Ryan having to apologise to people, Ms Lowry again answered: "No." Later, Mr Condon asked Ms Lowry whether she was aware Bobby Ryan had had a relationship with his friend, Mary Glasheen. Ms Lowry said she did not know and Mr Ryan had not told her. Mr Condon then put it to her that Mr Ryan had spent a night with Ms Glasheen when she and Mr Ryan were together and asked whether it had not come up. "No, it did not," said Ms Lowry. The trial continues. A former solicitor has been found guilty of professional misconduct after charging excessive fees for administering a woman's estate. Thomas O'Donoghue also failed to refund 33,880 in fees he took out of the estate of the late Joan Niland - despite being ordered to do so by a Law Society committee. The Solicitor's Disciplinary Tribunal was told that after being challenged, he produced letters setting out the basis for the fees. But Law Society solicitor David Irwin said the tribunal had heard the letters were "manufactured after the event", were "not genuine", and were an attempt to try to justify the deducted fees. In total, the tribunal found Mr O'Donoghue guilty of five counts of professional misconduct. Tribunal chairperson Helen Doyle said he was "not a fit person to be a member of the solicitors' profession". The findings came less than two months after he was struck off by the President of the High Court due to professional misconduct over his failure to comply with undertakings concerning charges over properties. The former solicitor did not attend the tribunal hearing in Dublin yesterday and is thought to be living in the US. He was previously the principal at O'Donoghue & Company, Egans Lane, Tuam, Co Galway, but closed the firm in 2011 and has not taken out a practising certificate since. Yesterday's tribunal hearing arose out of complaints made by or on behalf of the late Mrs Niland's two daughters Yvonne and Geraldine. Ms Niland died in 2007 and it later fell to Mr O'Donoghue to extract a grant of probate, sell her former home in Monkstown, Co Dublin and administer her estate. The tribunal was told that Ms Niland's daughters became concerned after Mr O'Donoghue did not produce a final account or a breakdown of his fees. Yvonne Niland's solicitor Aileen Hughes Courtney sent four separate letters to him in 2012 seeking answers. Ms Hughes Courtney told the tribunal there were amounts deducted from the accounts but no explanation what these were for. She also thought fees charged were excessive for a probate that was "not unduly complicated". After investigating the issue, a Law Society committee agreed the fees were excessive and directed Mr O'Donoghue to refund 33,880. However, he never did and Geraldine Niland had to make a claim against the Law Society's Compensation Fund, which made a grant in her favour last year. The hottest TV show of the season is a reincarnation mystery starring former Hollywood bad-girl Natasha Lyonne as a sweary New Yorker who keeps dying and coming back to life at her 36th birthday party. Does that sound weird? It should because it is weird. Just a few years ago, the premise of Russian Doll would have surely been far too bonkers to pass muster - with critics, but especially viewers. Yet the hype is very real as it debuts on Netflix today. Somehow weird TV has become the hot new thing in binge-watching. Strange television obviously has a long lineage. The original 1990 Twin Peaks was craziness on a stick. Remember the dancing dwarf, Kyle MacLachlan and the cherry-pie, the finger-clicking jazz soundtrack? But Twin Peaks was cancelled after just two seasons - roughly the length of time it took audiences to cop to the fact that it was completely barking and that creator David Lynch had about as much interest in conventional television as the British parliament has in a sensible solution to Brexit. Today 'completely barking' is just what we are looking for. Russian Doll, produced by Parks And Recreations' Amy Poehler, looks set to prove that point with a storyline so complicated it would take all night and several sheaves of flow-charts to begin to explain it. Expand Close The viewer chooses what way the story will go in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The viewer chooses what way the story will go in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch The basic premise might be described as Groundhog Day for cynical millennials. Nadia - Lyonne playing a version of her cynical Orange Is The New Black character Nicky Nichols - is celebrating her birthday with her irritatingly hip, druggy friends in New York's East Village (imagine a trendy part of Dublin with the self-satisfaction dialled all the way up). Or at least she is until she is knocked down by a taxi. Goodnight Nadia! Actually, no. It turns out the party - by which we mean the phantasmagorical fever dream - is just getting started. Despite having just died, Nadia wakes up back in the toilet of her best pal's apartment. Soft-rocker Harry Nilsson blares from the stereo and her best pal is waiting outside with a joint. She's gone back in time and nobody else has an inkling what has befallen her. So it goes over and over. Nadia falls to her death off a roof, Nadia is killed walking over a basement entrance and so forth. Gradually, she realises that, as per Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the universe has plans for her and she is being brought back for a reason. We're a long way from The Crown or Big Bang Theory. But this is very much part of a wider trend. Consider that one of the big TV talking points last Christmas was a new 'interactive' episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror. As with Russian Doll, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was out to lunch, and also out to breakfast, supper and dinner. The backdrop was the early 80s British video game industry - an oeuvre which, it is safe to say, has never featured highly among the historical settings audiences have been keen to delve into. Weirder yet - and you better believe it gets weirder - Bandersnatch places the viewer in control. At key moments, you decide the course of action Stefan should take. Sugar Puffs or Frosties for breakfast? Ought he take drugs with a work colleague or visit his therapist? When his dad becomes very annoying, you can chose whether Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) politely asks him to go away or batter his pater with an ashtray. You are unlikely to stop and wonder if you've put on Emmerdale by mistake . Such is the popularity of cray-cray telly that even David Lynch has had a second bite. Last year, he brought back Twin Peaks and made sure it was twice as unhinged as the original. Even fans of the show admitted it made less than no sense. Indeed, the entire point of Twin Peaks: The Return, it felt, was that it made less than no sense. How to explain all of this? The lazy hypothesis would be that it has something to do with the internet and how it is frying our brains. Or perhaps it's a backlash against our increasingly regimented existences. With our lives increasingly feeling as if they are on guided rails - our bosses are always in touch via email, our commutes are getting longer, our mortgages stretching towards infinity - could it be that a pinch of curated wackiness is what we need? Maybe it is simply because television, as an art form, is only now coming of age. It is no coincidence that both Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Russian Doll are on Netflix. Both shows work best with full immersion. It takes 90 minutes or so to play all the way through Bandersnatch - assuming you don't rewind to chose among the various options presented to you. And Russian Doll really needs to be binged. Dip in week by week and the convolutions of the storyline are likely to become a deal-breaker. Only by diving in at the deep end will it make any sort of sense. And that's just for starters. Soon returning to Netflix is series two of The OA - a completely unhinged science fiction mystery that makes Russian Doll feel like a Zig and Zag boxset. Amazon is bringing us an adaptation of the Terry Pratchett-Neil Gaiman show, Good Omens, about an angel and a demon trying to prevent the world from ending. A second series of the deeply idiosyncratic spy caper Killing Eve is incoming too. Television may be zanier than ever but it's clear that the real weirdness has yet to arrive. Buckle up - the rollercoaster is about to get a lot crazier. Photo: Grown Here Farms A public trust established by the provincial government more than a decade ago to assist businesses in the Southern Interior is again under fire by those it was designed to help. Krystine McInnes, CEO of Grown Here Farms, an organic farm and goods company in Cawston, says the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust reneged on financial assurances that nearly resulted in the demise of the company. SIDIT was formed by the provincial government in 2006. It was provided one-time funding of $50 million for strategic investments in sustainable economic development initiatives. McInnes reached out to Castanet after hearing about a Kelowna tech startup, Mazu that had not been paid since the end of the year because SIDIT was withholding a signature that would allow it to acquire funding to stay afloat. McInnis purchased her organic farm three years ago and had a fairly substantial vendor mortgage with the original owner. She says she had an agreement, in writing with SIDIT for a $1 million loan to pay off the mortgage and expand the business. Issues arose, which McInnis said necessitated protracted negotiations for a reduction on the mortgage owed the original owner. "We needed SIDIT's agreement to advance the funds and pay out this vendor mortgage, then once we were certain we had those funds in place, we could go in and negotiate with the vendor for a reduction in the buyout," said McInnis. "We had SIDIT's assurances in writing from their CEO saying I'm waiting for the buyout amount for the vendor mortgage. We went into heavy and intense legal negotiations." The negotiations were successful, however, McInnis says in the meantime the SIDIT CEO was let go and the trust refused to honour the original agreement. "We would have to reapply with the board of directors and go through a due diligence process. They stalled it for three months." She says the delay cost her company about $250,000 in extension and legal fees. "We ended up in default and almost lost our farm, " she said. Eventually, McInnis said, the Bank of Montreal came in at the last minute to bail them out. "This is a government-backed fund. It's connected to the regional leaders of the province ... We reached out to all of the board of governors. We got no response, no one got back to us." Irish actor Chris ODowd will be honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Irish actor Chris ODowd will be honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards. ODowd, known for his comedy roles in shows such as The IT Crowd and films including Bridesmaids, joins previously announced honourees Glenn Close and Aidan Gillen. The Wife star Close, 71, will be handed her award by actress Melissa McCarthy while Irish band Vinci is set to perform. Expand Close Chris ODowd is to be honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chris ODowd is to be honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Ian West/PA) JJ Abrams is on hosting duties. ODowd, 39, who was born in Co Roscommon, is currently starring in TV series Get Shorty. He earned a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in Of Mice And Men in 2014. The Oscar Wilde Awards, held by the US-Ireland Alliance, recognise the contributions of Irish people in film, television and music, as well as those with a connection to Ireland. Trina Vargo, founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance, said: Chris well-deserved reputation as a great comedic actor belies his versatility, evident across a range of roles in television, theatre and film, including a Tony Award nomination. The ceremony will take place at Abrams Bad Robot offices in Santa Monica on February 21. EIGHT banks are being targeted in a European Union probe that alleges traders colluded to acquire and trade euro government bonds, a month after the EU regulators implicated lenders in a sovereign-bond trading case. The European Commission didn't identify the banks being investigated for "a collusive scheme that aimed at distorting competition" for trading sovereign bonds issued by eurozone governments from 2007 to 2012. "Traders employed by the banks exchanged commercially sensitive information and coordinated on trading strategies" mainly via online chatrooms, the EU said. The EU's competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, is moving her attention to possible collusion between banks in the estimated $9.4trn (8.2trn) market for European government debt. While the European Union's powerful antitrust arm often lags far behind financial authorities in the US and the UK in punishing collusion between traders, its fines can be hefty. The euro government bond probe is the third EU investigation that may see large fines for banks. The EU last month sent objections to Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and Credit Agricole over alleged dealing in secondary trading of supranational, sub-sovereign and agency bonds denominated in dollars. Credit Suisse was also targeted over an alleged foreign-exchange cartel last year that other banks are seeking to settle, which can reduce potential penalties. Traders swapping information on trading positions and future Libor submissions led to banks racking up 1.49bn in antitrust fines in 2013. EU probes don't always lead to fines. More than a dozen banks including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase escaped penalties in 2015 when the EU dropped a four-year investigation into suspicions they conspired to shut exchanges out of the credit-default swaps market. Bloomberg AGRICULTURE Minister Michael Creed warned one slip could be calamitous for the important live export trade. The Cork minister said the Government was clear in its encouragement of live exports of cattle but the very highest standards of animal welfare must be maintained. Mr Creed told farmers at the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers (ICSA) AGM in Portlaoise that he had been accosted at international level by people who have bought Irish calves that did not match to the expected level of breeding. The ICSAs former beef chairman Edmond Phelan called for the breed of the dam to be made mandatory on the animals card at the mart. However, Mr Creed said there was a big problem ringside with the breed of cow at calf sales. Without full knowledge people are buying a bit of a pig in a poke, he said, adding they were looking at the possibility of DNA testing the calves to assure buyers. However, he pointed out there was a 14-day turnaround for the results while calves could be sold on off farms after 10 days. We are looking to find out how to turn that around as swiftly as possible, he said. ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch said it was the elephant in the room and the impact of dairy expansion was being felt by beef farmers with the move toward Jersey/Kiwi crosses to deliver better fats and protein in their milk. The elephant in the room is that no one wants those bobby calves, he said, adding it was being looked at in a one-dimensional way over the production of fat and protein levels for milk producers. Mr Creed insisted the dairy industry was aware as the welfare issue could spill over. He said part of it would involve giving more information to calf-to-beef producers when they were buying the calves. We will have capacity from mid-march to export 80,000 calves a month. But we are running flat out to standstill because of the growth in the dairy herd, he said. In 2018, live exports totalled 246,226 head of cattle, up 31pc on 2017. Exports to third countries decreased in 2018, mainly relating to currency fluctuations in Turkey. Mr Creed said he had no control over a row between US President Donald Trump and Turkey that causes a collapse in the local currency. He said they continued to work on overseas markets for Irish produce, with the Chinese market now open to Irish beef. Mr Creed said the level of consumption of beef in China stood at around 3-4kg per head which was far lower than Irish consumption. A marginal increase in consumption of beef per capita is more beef than we would ever dream of producing, he said. Farm incomes across Northern Ireland are expected to fall by almost a quarter this financial year, according to the latest government estimates. The news comes as industry figures warn a no-deal Brexit could have a "catastrophic" impact on agriculture in Northern Ireland. Estimates from the Department from Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) predict incomes across all farms will drop from an average of 33,870 in the 2017/2018 financial year to 26,030 in 2018/2019 - or 23% per farm. Provisional figures also show that farm incomes fell from 467m in 2017 to 360m in 2018 - a decrease of 23%. Rising labour and animal feed costs have been cited as factors driving the downturn. According to the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), agri-food exports to the EU could face tariffs of 27% on chicken, 46% on lamb and 65% on beef in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The union has also said the government could face pressure to adopt a "cheap food policy", undercutting domestic food production and leaving farms struggling to remain in business. Due to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), much of the income from farming in Northern Ireland comes from EU subsidies which will stop when the UK exits the European Union. The UFU's president, Ivor Ferguson, said that with weeks to go until Brexit, the figures underline the continuing dependence of direct support for agriculture. "Despite the lack of firm decisions on future support arrangements these figures must be a wake up call that these cannot be indefinitely delayed," he added. "Even with all the changes we have seen in rural areas their financial fortunes still ebb and flow with the success or otherwise of agriculture." Mr Ferguson said the industry is being squeezed by static returns and rising costs, with an uncertain future. "Look behind these and of the 360 million total income, 286 million was made up of direct support from Brussels through the CAP. That is why decisions on how this will be replaced after Brexit cannot be allowed to drift even further, warned Mr Ferguson. Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said it was "ridiculous" farmers in Northern Ireland still don't know how they will be supported post-Brexit. "As a result of the continuing Stormont impasse, Northern Ireland is the only region with a blank page in terms of what future agri support may look like," he said. "That, combined with the fact that Northern Ireland farmers have the most to lose from a no deal Brexit, means that the industry here is in an incredibly precarious situation. "The revelation that real time farm incomes fell by 24% in 2018 a year when beef and milk prices were strong and weather conditions were very favourable shows that the industry has the potential to be decimated if it were suddenly forced to compete against cheap, lower quality food imported from other less reputable countries. "Decisions taken over the next two months will have a huge impact on the future of entire generations of farming families. We are rapidly running out of time and all sides urgently need to see the impact of what a bungled Brexit outcome would be." In the Commons earlier this week, a majority of MPs voted in favour of a non-binding amendment that rejected a no-deal Brexit. An amendment that called for the Irish backstop to be replaced with "alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border" was also passed. Now, Prime Minister Theresa May has to go back to the EU to convince them to agree to the changes to her deal that MPs have backed. An Bord Pleanala has given the green light for a new 40m hotel at Portobello in Dublin in spite of its own inspector strongly recommending that planning should be refused. The plan for the 178-bedroom six-storey hotel by MKN Property Group and Tifco Ltd was opposed by locals who appealed a decision last year by Dublin City Council granting planning permission for the proposal. Just under 60 objections were lodged against the proposal. One of the objectors to the plan was David McSavage, best known for his RTE show 'The Savage Eye'. Four appeals were lodged by locals and in disregarding the inspector's recommendation, the appeals board said it concurred with the Council as to the acceptability of a hotel at the site. The appeals board said the hotel is acceptable in terms of the area's visual and residential amenities. In a double win for the developers, the board has reversed the Council requirement that one of the floors of the hotel be omitted. Irish mushroom producers have no choice but to focus on the UK despite Brexit, according to Monaghan Mushrooms vice chairman Paul Wilson. Mr Wilson said the UK is the only realistic choice for Irish producers because of mushrooms' short shelf life. "The UK is going to remain a very important market for Irish mushrooms in particular, we simply can't ship them anywhere else," Mr Wilson said. "The perishable product will not allow you to bring them anywhere else, maybe northern France, but realistically we have to focus on the UK," he said at an event organised by DCU's Brexit Institute. He added that "60pc of our revenues today come from the UK, so it's a very significant part of our business. That's a figure that's down from 90pc in 2012, thank God." Monaghan, run by the Wilson family, keeps a low media profile but is a giant of the European mushroom industry, supplying 50pc of retail mushrooms in the UK. An unlimited business, it does not have to file public, detailed, financial accounts. The low-margin, export-heavy mushroom industry has been battered since the Brexit vote, with the fall in the value of sterling making Irish mushrooms more expensive and putting some operators out of business. Because fresh mushrooms have a shelf life measured in days, diversifying further afield is very difficult. That makes it one of the Irish industries most exposed to Brexit. "The closer it gets the more nervous we become, but the UK does import 50pc of its product, and therefore if they wish to continue to consume the product, they'll simply have to find some kind of solution." Mr Wilson said that as part of his company's strategy to cope with Brexit, it is looking to add value to its mushrooms using biotechnology. It has recently launched mushrooms with enhanced vitamin D and vitamin B12 in them. It is also helped by the fact that it has substantial farms across the UK, in Scotland, Yorkshire, East Anglia and Somerset. "I think we are reasonably well positioned, actually, if you look at the medium term... we're 50pc of the UK market and in a very real sense it's very difficult for someone to come along and take that quickly," Mr Wilson said. "Now we shouldn't underestimate the fact that are customers are very dominant, they're very big, they're very forceful. So [Monaghan's position] is not something we can take for granted but it is something that gives us some level of protection in the UK." He said the company had invested to expand its facilities in the UK over the last two years, to make sure it has the capacity to grow more products there in the event of a hard Brexit. Mr Wilson said the biggest challenge for Irish producers in the long term is to remain competitive against British and Polish rivals. Support mission: Tanaiste Simon Coveney is travelling to the US next week where he will seek the backing of senior political figures. Photo: Reuters A wave of diplomatic efforts is under way to get senior figures in American politics to weigh in behind Ireland's position in the Brexit negotiations. Having so far kept European capitals on board with the backstop, the Government is now hoping the US and Canada will pressure Theresa May into "protecting the Good Friday Agreement". Tanaiste Simon Coveney will travel to Washington next week where his itinerary will include holding meetings with senior figures in the White House and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. A source said: "The US is hesitant to get in the middle but it's a sleeping giant in terms of preventing a hard border. The Good Friday Agreement and peace in Ireland is one of the cornerstone achievements of US foreign policy, they're watching every move." Irish-American congressman Brendan Boyle will also table a motion in the House of Representatives opposing any re-establishment of a hard border. The Democrat representative described the 1998 peace treaty as "one of the great foreign policy achievement of the 20th Century". Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has already secured the support of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his battle with the UK government. It has emerged that the two leaders discussed the situation on Wednesday evening. While Mr Varadkar did not publicly reveal details of the call, the prime minister's office issued a brief note indicating that Mr Trudeau was siding with Ireland in the dispute. "The two leaders discussed the implications for Ireland of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union," a statement read. "They agreed on the fundamental importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement for the peace process in Northern Ireland, and recalled Canada's role in achieving the agreement." Diplomatic sources told the Irish Independent that any intervention from North America would be carefully monitored in London. The US and Canada are both high on the list of countries which the UK wants to strike trade deals with after Brexit. US president Donald Trump's aides are in the process of laying the groundwork for trade talks. However, any discussions on future deals between the two countries are unlikely to start in earnest before the EU and UK resolve their own future relationship. Another source said the US State Department took great pride in its work on the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Boyle has already appeared on British media to highlight his resolution, which is expected to gain cross-party support. He has claimed that preserving an open border in Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement has bipartisan support even in what has become a highly partisan Washington. In a statement, Mr Boyle recalled how US special envoy George Mitchell was heavily involved in ensuring the Border came down. The congressman also issued a warning that if the UK reneges on its Good Friday Agreement commitments, "it will have an impact on any future negotiations between the US and UK". "It would be naive to think otherwise,'' Mr Boyle added. The Irish Embassy in Washington is currently finalising a programme of appointments for Mr Coveney's visit to the US capital next week. It is understood to include a series of meetings with senior congressional and administration representatives as well as key figures in the Irish-American community. The remembrance wall project and how Harford County was the first county government in the U.S. to contribute funds to it, was also touched on by Glassman to the chamber. As the 2019 president of the Maryland Association of Counties, he has been encouraging leaders of other jurisdictions to do the same and make sure every one of the fallen from the Korean conflict is listed on that wall. I wouldnt know a participle from a hole in the ground, but I know what a dangling participle is; or, at least, I recognise one when I see one, having had them pointed out to me so often. Its when you start a sentence referring to a person or thing, but before you get to that person or thing you mention someone or something else and the reader loses the thread. It is a particular danger in obituaries, where the temptation is to pack a lot of biographical information into long sentences. We had a right bobby dangler in an early version of our account of the life of John Pedler: Too young to fight in the Second World War, his mother Anne Isabel Stafford, an academic and author of Silver Street and The Great Mrs Pennington, sent him to America. Thank you to Beryl Wall for prompting us to sort it out. All we had to do was insert He was at the start and so before his mother. Desire line: A comment article about the decision by Dyson, the vacuum cleaner company, to move its HQ to Singapore concluded thus: We need to examine why, exactly, Dyson is moving and ensure Britain becomes equally desirous. Thanks to Gavin Turner for prompting us to change it. We meant desirable. The convention is that desirous means having desire, as in Dyson was desirous of the low-tax joys of Singapore (although the company insists that neither tax nor Brexit was the reason for the move); whereas desirable means to be desired. The hills are alive: In a travel article about Salzburg in Austria, we mentioned the museum in the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which takes a closer look at the design of the fortress and the canons used to defend it. The idea of clergy defending the castle sounds like a long lost deleted scene from The Sound of Music. We meant cannon, as Philip Nalpanis pointed out. The difference in spelling is etymological: canon comes from Greek kanon, rule (a cathedral cleric is someone subject to an ecclesiastical rule), whereas the big gun comes from the Italian cannone, large tube, from canna, cane, reed. Even more arbitrarily, the usual plural of the artillery is cannon with no s. I dont know why. Mixed metaphor of the week: Minister takes veiled swipe at Trumps trade policy in major speech. This headline conjured up the alarming vision of Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, draped in diaphanous fabric and trying to punch a lever-arch file on a pedestal. Its encouraging to hear that Agnes Callamard, the UNs execution expert, is at last in Istanbul to lead the independent international inquiry into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Better late than never, perhaps, but the old UN donkey clip-clops upon the world stage according to the politics and courage of the panjandrums beside the East River in New York. Thus Callamard arrived all of four months after Khashoggi was butchered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. And she is now politely asking the Saudis themselves respectfully, she tells us to give her access to the murder scene at some stage. As we all know, Khashoggi wrote the truth about Saudi Arabia, was lured to his countrys consulate in Istanbul, got strangled, chopped up and secretly buried. And if were going to come down hard on those who kill members of our journalistic profession alas, well have to put aside for the moment all those Turkish journos banged up in their own country Callamard has made a start. As opposed to all those like the boss of the Morgan Stanley investment bank, James Gorman, and the president of Switzerland, Ueli Maurer, who are keen to get back to business with Saudi Arabia. We have long since dealt with the Khashoggi case, Maurer has announced. Common sense, I suppose. But then theres very little chance that Gorman or Maurer will be lured to a Saudi embassy, strangled, sawed into bits and dumped in an unknown grave. But thats not quite my point. What Im really asking is why the killing of one Arab journalist is more equal than the killing of other Arab journalists? Why, for example, is the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, a friend and colleague of many of us, of infinitely more pressing importance than the fate of Yaser Murtaja? Recommended UN investigator fails to access consulate where Jamal Khashoggi killed The first clue is that Yaser Murtaja was killed in Gaza. The second is that he is one of 15 reporters or camera crew, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, killed by Israeli fire since 1992, two of them last year. Shooting at reporters in Gaza has become so routine four more were wounded by Israeli bullets between May and September 2018 that western newspapers and television scarcely bother to record their suffering. Just as the Saudis talked of Khashoggis links with terrorism they meant the Muslim Brotherhood so Israel talked of the dead Gaza journalists imaginary links with terrorism. In Yaser Murtajas case, this was supposed to be Hamas which is close to the Muslim Brotherhood for whom Khashoggi worked in the never-never land of Saudi imagination. Forget for a moment that there is no more proof that Murtaja was ever a Hamas agent than there is that Khashoggi was in the Brotherhood; the formers production company, according to the Associated Press, had recently won a grant from USAID after vetting by the US government. Murtaja was wearing a flak jacket marked Press when he was shot on 6 April 2018, 300 feet from the Gaza/Israel border during the weekly Palestinian Great March of Return. Nine other Palestinians were killed the same day and 491 wounded by live rounds, steel-coated rubber bullets and tear gas grenades. Murtaja was filming among many Palestinians, with black smoke swirling in the air. But a sniper hit him below the arm where there is a fatal gap in all flak jackets and he fell as he shouted to a colleague: Im wounded. Im wounded. My stomach. Flak jackets are regularly worn by many western correspondents in the Middle East far too often, critics say, when they are far from the scene of battle. But Murtaja was no poseur. Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Show all 7 1 /7 Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi Washington Post journalist who was critical of the Saudi regime and the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he was murdered on 2 October in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul AFP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammed bin Salman has been implicated in the murder, with US officials claiming that he must have known of the plot AFP/Getty Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures 15 man hit squad Turkish police suspect these 15 men of being involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, issued 10 October, 8 days after the journalist disappeared EPA Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saud al-Qahtani Aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saud al-Qahtani is claimed to have ordered Khashoggi's murder Saud Al-Qahtani/Twitter Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb A former diplomat who often travelled with the Crown Prince, Mutreb was initially claimed to be the leader of the hit squad and is pictured here entering the Saudi consulate on the day of the murder AP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Mustafa al-Madani First implicated in the 15 CCTV photos released by the Turkish police, al-Madani was later found to have been used as a body double for Khashoggi, leaving the Saudi consulate dressed in his clothes on the day the journalist was killed CNN Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi (L) Son of the murdered journalist met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 23 October EPA Khashoggi was writing a regular column for The Washington Post. Murtaja, who uniquely used a drone during his reporting for the Ain Media Production Company, contributed reports to the BBC and Al Jazeera. The Hamas leader turned up for Murtajas funeral, but Murtaja was one of Gazas best-known journalists and Ismail Haniyeh should have been there. And at least Murtaja got a funeral which is more than we can say for Khashoggi. Four years earlier, Murtaja was beaten by Hamas thugs for refusing to surrender news film to them, and there was no evidence he ever worked for or with Hamas. Even if these lies were true, its well known that for many years before he sought exile in the US, Khashoggi had been a supporter of the head-chopping Saudi regime a fact we didnt worry much about when we condemned his killing. But a UN enquiry in Turkey to enquire about the nefarious deeds of its current antagonist, Saudi Arabia, is a far cry from a full UN investigation in Gaza into the killing of Palestinian journalists already slandered by Israel and its propaganda folk as terrorist supporters. After the report and recantation of UN envoy Richard Goldstone into the 2008-2009 Gaza war for which read, slaughter and his trashing by Israel and its friends as an antisemitic, evil and quisling enemy of truth (even though he was Jewish), I doubt if Agnes Callamard would fancy a trip to enquire into Yaser Murtajas demise. And nor, after the Goldstone fiasco, would the UN folk beside the East River have much appetite for taking on Israel yet again. In fairness, the UN did note Murtajas death, and its human rights staff keep a sharp tally of the deaths of civilians, medical workers and journalists in the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip. But theres a habit of all governments to promise investigations after each outrage committed by its servants and its a question of whether these pledges count for anything more than a time-and-forget drug. According to Hagai El-Ad, executive director of the Israeli human rights organisation BTselem, Israel deploys a very aggressive silencing campaign against any criticism of the occupation of Palestinian land. First, it announces that enquiries will take place. But 97 per cent of the time, no investigation will be opened or an investigation will be opened but no one will be charged. International opinion is then mollified by news of the investigation. Its an effort to make any criticism of the occupation go away. There are zero international consequences. The Palestinian Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights in Gaza which is respected, as journalists like to say of NGOs they can trust has gone to the Israeli High Court over the deaths of civilians, aid workers and journalists. Killing journalists is a violation of human rights and international law, Al-Mezans communications director Mahmoud Abu Rahma repeated again and again when I spoke to him. Yaser Murtaja was a person whom everyone knew. He didnt have a Hamas connection. There was an outcry, if not as much as for Khashoggi. And there was a strong reaction by international bodies. But and heres the rub Abu Rahma, like many others, regards these investigations as rubbish, albeit promoted in a sophisticated way. Israeli investigations are no better than Saudi investigations, he says. Action is necessary for Khashoggi but also for Murtaja and others who were clearly marked as journalists, who could be clearly seen by [Israeli] snipers. And the Israelis announced that they would investigate. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events And after Murtaja was shot, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) wrote to Benjamin Netanyahu to demand that the Israeli prime minister ensure that the shooting of journalists covering demonstrations in the Gaza Strip is quickly and thoroughly investigated. The Israelis, the CPJs executive director Joel Simon wrote, appointed a brigadier general to investigate the armys reaction to Palestinian protestors and in particular the killing of Yaser Murtaja so the investigation must be made public. The world awaits Netanyahus reply. We all wait for the results of that investigation once the Israeli brigadier general has reached his onerous conclusions. Just as we wait with utter confidence for the results of the extraordinarily fair and thorough investigation by the Saudis into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, an enquiry ordered by the same Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman whom the CIA believes ordered his murder in the first place. Unfortunately, investigation in the Middle East means obfuscation. Its like the sign they leave on your hotel room handle when you wish to sleep. Do not disturb. Silence. And when you wake up, with luck, the nightmares will all have been forgotten. So little good news emerges from the Brexit fiasco that even the smallest hope that what we once took for granted will be preserved in future is seized upon as though it were the biggest diplomatic breakthrough since Nixon went to China. So it is, then, with the British tradition of an impromptu weekend romantic break in Paris. The European Union has graciously agreed that UK citizens will be free to travel throughout the EU, and indeed the wider Schengen area and its associates. That means that British tourists will be free to visit the usual EU destinations, plus Switzerland, San Marino, Monaco, Iceland or Norway all fine spots for holidaymakers. Reciprocal privileges have been offered by the UK to European Union citizens. Of course the end of free movement of labour means that the British will no longer be able to work in the EU, and vice versa, without permission; and British residents in the EU may not enjoy the same protections as they do today (for example on property taxes). Still, at least it is something. That, however, is the limit of the glad tidings. Perhaps ominously, perhaps just clumsily, that same European Council declaration also referred to Gibraltar by the archaic term colony, and repeated the fact that the sovereignty of this UK overseas territory is disputed with Spain. If nothing else, that reference should remind bullish Leavers that the prime ministers mission to renegotiate her own UK-EU withdrawal treaty might well invite other EU member states to reopen some issues of their own. Indeed, Theresa May, before her most recent U-turn, indicated to the Commons that if the UK wished to renegotiate the treaty, other member states, such as Spain, might equally want to take the opportunity to revisit their previous commitments. The Gibraltar issue was only settled by a last-minute diplomatic scramble and exchange of letters at the end of the last set of talks. So even if Ms May succeeded in dissolving the Irish border issue, she might inadvertently reignite the controversy about Gibraltars future relationship with the EU. Usually neglected, but always arousing passionate feelings, Gibraltar has the potential to seriously delay and disrupt the Brexit talks. It means, in fact, that a postponement of Brexit and an extension of Article 50 is inevitable. The news that Nigel Farage is setting up a new political party is almost a footnote in such circumstances. Mr Farage was once, it is fair to say, a power in the land. But even fielding 200 candidates and with 1m behind him, his future success looks far from secure. Since his resignation as leader of Ukip, and then from Ukip altogether, he and his successor Gerard Batten have grown increasingly apart. To his credit, Mr Farage dislikes Mr Battens burgeoning relationship with Tommy Robinson, and the drift of Ukip away from being a neo-Thatcherite crusade to being a more crudely nativist grouping. If, as would seem likely, Mr Farage runs candidates against Ukip, and against pro-May Conservatives, the results could be chaotic, but would probably split the Leave vote, and take more votes from the Conservatives than Labour, with the obvious consequence of making a Corbyn government more likely. Such is the Westminster systems capricious habit of delivering the law of unintended consequences to those who seek to challenge it. That, though, is to posit a general election that may not come before Brexit is over. At that point, such political differences about what kind of Brexit the nation prefers or indeed if it prefers one at all will have been overtaken by events. There will be political casualties; but, if Brexit does go ahead in any form, the economic damage will be unprecedented in peace time. Assuming Brexit does happen, in the 2020s it will be the economic consequences of Brexit protracted recession or depression that will frame political argument and choices, rather than Brexit itself. I did not spend half my youth marching against homophobia just to sit back now when I see it, shrug my shoulders and write a column about the snow. As I am sat at my kitchen table tapping at my keyboard, my heart is marching around my kitchen, holding a placard and chanting: Were here! Were queer! Get used to it! This week Andrew Moffat, a primary teacher in a Birmingham school, is receiving a backlash from parents who object to his very sensible No Outsiders programme which promotes tolerance and understanding of LGBT+ people, and which hes written about for The Independent. Shockingly, today some people still seem to think that being tolerant of LGBT+ people is all about sex. You can almost hear them: Gay sex? You wanna teach primary school children about gay sex? As though children are sat down around a TV set to watch porn for a lesson. Sex is all that seems to be on the minds of those who stress they dont want it rammed down their throat. Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is so important for primary aged children, and education around LGBT+ issues under this umbrella is vital. Inclusion of LGBT+ rights as part of SRE teaches children that there are families which differ from the mummy and daddy norm. Children ask questions from the moment they learn to string a sentence together. My son was four when he asked me: Can boys marry boys? Yes, I told him. Good, he said. Cos Im gonna marry Spider-Man Thats it. Children dont need details. They are the most naturally accepting and non-judgemental group of humans on the planet, and we teach them intolerance only when we lead by example; when, say, we yank them out of school when they are learning that not all people are the same. The law established equal rights to LGBT+ people, but it can only do so much. Culturally, we still have a long way to go. One mother, Fatima Shah, initially took her 10-year-old daughter out of the school because of Moffats No Outsiders programme and said: We dont send our children to school to learn about LGBT+, we send them to school to learn maths, science and English. She then gift-wrapped her protest for Islamophobes by adding: Children are being told its OK to be gay yet 98 per cent of children at this school are Muslim. Its a Muslim community. The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Show all 16 1 /16 The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Bora Bora is textbook honeymoon territory Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations The stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Santorini sunsets are among the best in the world Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Team Sri Lanka with the Maldives Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations There's more to Mykonos than its party reputation Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Honolulu's the place for top notch hotels Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Rotorua in New Zealand - perfect for a different kind of honeymoon Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Pick South Africa for a properly wild honeymoon MHVILJOEN/Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations And relax, at Le Meridien Bora Bora Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Bora Bora's your typical honeymoon destination Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Iceland's magnificent landscape is a pretty impressive start to a marriage Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Some beaches are better for same-sex couples than others Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Iguazu Falls straddle Brazil and Argentina Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations A honeymoon in Iceland might turn up the Northern Lights Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Rio embraces LGBT travellers Out of Office The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Queenstown New Zealand Out of Office Actually, a quick glance on Twitter will tell you that those most ghastly Islamophobes seem to be rabidly homophobic too. In that case Shah must be blowing their minds as they find themselves agreeing with a Muslim. Every cloud, I suppose. I wonder if Shah would have understood if I had taken my children out of school on similar grounds the day their class visited a mosque? We are an atheist family! I could have declared. They go to school to do PE, geography and learn to swear. They do not go to school to have the five pillars of Islam rammed down their throat. What would she have thought of me if I had said that? We need to take homophobia as seriously as other kinds of bigotry. We are still not doing so and people suffer because of it. Ill be honest, I have been known to grumble to the other mums at the school gate when the children are being taken to yet another jaunt around a place of worship. They are not my beliefs, they are not the beliefs Im raising them with. I would rather they were learning some good poetry or how to pick a lock, but that doesnt put me in the right. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Their school is not terribly diverse, it is mostly middle class and white and for the few Muslim kids in the school, its a good thing that their way of life is being talked about and valued by godless children like mine. (Ill leave moaning about the lack of Humanist education at schools for another time.) Things were different in the 1980s. I remember a Jewish friend who was very quiet about her religion at school. Antisemetism went largely unchallenged back then in education. One boy called us the Paki and the Jew in front of a teacher who tutted and just told him to pipe down. The Sikh kid in the topknot at primary school had to endure rambunctious boys pulling at it in the playground and teachers merely regarding that as playground rough-and-tumble. Whether Shah likes it or not, within her childrens school, there will be some who will come out later as LGBT+. Her attitude makes life harder for those kids and is exactly what teachers like Moffat are protecting them from. When tolerance is not taught at home, its the schools duty to promote it. All the children will be out and about in society when they are adults, and it causes all sorts of bother for all of us when people have been taught not to accept others who are different to them. Children learning in school that LGBT+ folk exist and have the same rights, is no different than learning about Diwali, Eid or Darwin. In the days immediately before the EU referendum in 2016, it was said several times that Brexit had become rather like being pregnant, and the vote itself would be like giving birth. We were bored and irritated, we wanted it over and done with. But then, it happened, and we realised all of a sudden that the real, life-consuming struggle hadnt even begun. We are reaching one of those moments again. People yearn for the closure of 29 March. In fact, that date, if Brexit even happens then, will mark a new and far more toxic beginning. And when it happens, the people who are blameless for the ongoing disaster that is Brexit, namely those who did not vote to leave the European Union, should be ready for the fight that is already starting. Immediately after the Brexit vote, and in the years since, Brexiteers have consistently tried to shift the blame for the failure of their project on to other people. Not long after the referendum, the City broker, Brexiteer and regular TV news channel botherer, David Buik, was happy to declare: Call me naive, but Im strongly of the opinion that if those who voted to remain had made an effort to embrace the democratic decision to leave we might not be looking at such negative GDP forecasts for the next five years. I cant ever remember a section of the country wanting the UK to fail. To call Buik naive would be polite. To me, he is a straightforward coward, fully in keeping with the new brand of right-wing politics. Once upon a time, the core value of the right was personal responsibility. It was why prison sentences should be lengthy, the personal circumstances of the person in question all but irrelevant. Now, those on the right blame others for their problems immigrants, the establishment, and so on and are completely alien to the basic dignity required to shoulder the blame for their mistakes. In the past two years, Remainers, being in the main more likely to be wealthy, and more likely to be educated, have been less likely to seriously engage with the scapegoating tactics of the people who are solely responsible for what is coming. A tidal wave of lies and cowardice is coming and those who are blameless should be ready for it. It can already be seen, gathering on the horizon. On Tuesday, when Theresa May was sent back to Brussels with a clear mandate to achieve the impossible, various newspapers and others instantly described it as a triumph, and made clear that the ball is now in the EUs court. No such thing. They are stalling for time. It is a play by the hard Brexiteers to shift the blame on to the EU, by making impossible demands, which are then not met. It will not be the blocs fault. The European Union, it does not need to be pointed out, did not vote for Brexit. All of the worst tropes of the referendum campaign are alive and well in this next phase. Vote Leaves strategy, to lie and scare the country out of the EU, knowing it would be too late when the lies were proven to be so, is replicated today. The no-deal Brexit campaign has simply replaced the Brexit campaign. On Friday morning, Richard Tice, the businessman behind the Leave Means Leave campaign, posted a video of a supermarket shopping basket, full of fruit and vegetables from Africa and South America, as proof that we import food easily from all over the world so ... Lets go WTO. Its been retweeted three thousand times. All the food shown, from Mexico, from Kenya, from Egypt and everywhere else, comes into the UK via trade arrangements negotiated by the EU on the UKs behalf, and negotiated from the position of immense advantage as a bloc of 500m people. If the UK gets Tices longed-for no-deal Brexit, all those arrangements disintegrate too. They will have to be renegotiated, and on less favourable terms, because the UK is, and this is a fact, smaller and a less powerful negotiating bloc than the EU itself. Tice also doesnt mention how this food enters the UK. A lettuce at Dover is subject to the same delay, wherever it has come from. It is now a firmly established fact of the referendum that millions of people did indeed vote to be poorer. They chose political arguments, about sovereignty and democracy, over the economic ones. Nigel Farage openly admits that, and he is right to do so. But for now, those arguments exist in the abstract. When that choice comes home and is made real, in the supermarket shortages and rising prices that Brexit leaders still spread brazen misinformation about, then will come the real test of whether people will stick by that decision. It will be too late then, to switch back to the economic arguments. The Brexit baby will have been born, again. The question will be whether those who are responsible will take responsibility for the choices they made. Already the overwhelming evidence suggests otherwise. Brexiteers, most of them proud Tories, do not believe in personal responsibility. They walked out on shame long ago. The fight to ensure the blame stays where it belongs will be grotesquely undignified. But it will also be a fight for the truth over a biblical thunder of lies. It will be a noble cause. This is a big week for anyone seeking to gauge the health of high-tech America. On Tuesday we had Apple report its quarterly results. Microsoft and Facebook report later today, and Amazon tomorrow. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reports next week. It is obviously a huge financial story, for a lot of people are making and losing millions of dollars on their investments. These are the most valuable companies in the world, with Microsoft now top of the league, closely followed by Amazon. Apple, which last autumn pipped them all to become the first trillion dollar company, has now slipped back and is now worth only $742bn (568bn). It is also an economic story, for if growth slows in high-tech America that is both a signal of a wider slowdown and one of the causes of it. Temperatures have plummeted as low as -40C in parts of America, making some states colder than Antarctica. In Chicago, the average temperature is hovering around -17C, making it the second coldest day in 150 years. Locals have been warned "not to breathe deeply" outside amid the "deadly polar vortex". The freezing temperatures have led to Lake Michigan freezing over to mesmerising effect. People have been sharing pictures on social media. One traveller en route to Chicago OHare International Airport, which cancelled more than 1,500 flights over the past day due to extreme weather, took this photo while flying in. Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Show all 29 1 /29 Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Kalamazoo Gazette/AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Ice covers the Lake Michigan shoreline Getty Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over A harbor light is covered by snow and ice AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Temperatures dropped to -20 degrees F (-29C) AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Steam rising off the frozen lake Rex Features Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Marius Radoi keeps his balance as he walks on the edge of Lake Michigan's shore line AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Ice forms along the shore AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Ducks rest in Lake Michigan AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over A young boy tosses a chunck of snow into Lake Michigan AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over REUTERS Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over EPA Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Frank Lettiere's eyebrows and eye lashes are frozen after walking along Lake Michigan's ice covered shoreline AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over EPA Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over A man tosses hot water into the freezing cold air EPA Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over A man tosses hot water into the freezing cold air EPA Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over EPA Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AFP/Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over Getty Images Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP Spectacular photos of Lake Michigan frozen over AP One user likened the scene to the science-fiction disaster film The Day After Tomorrow. In some footage, steam fog can be seen rising from the lake, which is created as the water temperature is higher than the air temperature, causing a "boiling cauldron" effect. Meanwhile over the border into Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls is also in the midst of a deep freeze, with parts of the iconic waterfall freezing over. On the last day of 2018, Airbus made a state-of-the-market announcement. It was headlined: Airbus achieves new commercial aircraft delivery record in 2018. In a coincidental nod to its rivals biggest aircraft, the European planemaker said: Net orders total 747. But the biggest Airbus aircraft, the A380, may not live up even to the much-reduced potential of 87 outstanding orders. Last year only a dozen SuperJumbo planes were delivered. Building these monsters at a rate of one a month might sound a reasonable pace until you compare it with the other Airbus jets. Even the classic A330, which entered service over a decade earlier than the A380, was coming off the production line at rate of four every month, while the Airbus bestseller, the A320, was managing 52 a month. And production of the double-decker is set to dwindle to only six a year. Jet cemetery: Where do aircraft go when airlines go to the wall? Show all 3 1 /3 Jet cemetery: Where do aircraft go when airlines go to the wall? Jet cemetery: Where do aircraft go when airlines go to the wall? 273484.bin JOHN LAWRENCE Jet cemetery: Where do aircraft go when airlines go to the wall? 273485.bin JOHN LAWRENCE Jet cemetery: Where do aircraft go when airlines go to the wall? 273486.bin JOHN LAWRENCE The A380 is extremely popular with passengers. When I conducted a Twitter poll in December 2018 about the plane people prefer for a 10-hour overnight flight in economy class, the response was overwhelmingly for the SuperJumbo (the next three, a long way behind, were all Boeings: the 787, 777 and 747). But it has not proved anything like so popular with airlines. The operating costs of this four-engined giant are huge, and so it needs to be deployed on routes where seats can be filled at healthy fares. Heathrow, the most slot-constrained airport in the world, is the A380s natural home: the plane can extract the maximum number of passengers from each of those precious permissions to land and take off. Yet the double-deck jet hardly has a commanding position. If you take a daydream about flying on Monday to Australia for a fortnight one stage further, few of the sub-1,000 return flights from Heathrow to Sydney use an A380 for any part of the journey. (The cheapest options, by the way, involve going west via the US and the Pacific a reflection of the wide open spaces on transatlantic jets.) The one hub where you cant move for A380s is, of course, Dubai another constrained airport, and the base of Emirates. The hometown airline has singlehandedly kept the production line open: accounting for almost half the deliveries so far, and 61 per cent of the outstanding orders. But Emirates may be losing its appetite for the massive people-carriers. On the last day of January Airbus issued an opaque statement saying it is in discussions with Emirates Airline in relation to its A380 contract. The additional remark that details of Airbus commercial discussions with customers remain confidential has not stopped people speculating. And I would like to add to that. A year ago Emirates saved the A380 from extinction with an order for 20 more of the jets and options on a further 16. Since then, the chances of a meaningful secondhand market for the plane have dwindled. Singapore Airlines retired four of its planes, and two of them are being taken apart for parts after just 10 years service. While the Portuguese charter carrier Hi-Fly has an adventurous plan to use the A380 to fill gaps in other airlines schedules, there is no sign of a Russian, Indian or Chinese operator picking up some of these planes cheaply and using them for high-density domestic or regional routes. Airbus CEO urges UK decision makers to avoid no-deal Brexit Add a row between Emirates and Rolls-Royce over engines for the A380, and it seems a fair bet that the airline is talking to the planemaker about converting A380 orders to the smaller A350. That would make perfect sense: the A350 is a proper 21st-century aircraft which does not have quite the capacity of its older sister. Airbus has not re-engined the A380 to make it a more attractive financial proposition, and nor has it stretched the original -800 series, which would also reduce costs per passenger. Meanwhile other buyers are thin on the ground. On Friday, Willie Walsh, boss of BAs parent company, IAG, said that he is open to buying some more A380s which could conceivably even go to its low-cost unit, Level if the price is right. The pricing of that aircraft has not been as attractive as we believe it needs to be, he said. Closing the A380 programme would cost Airbus a fortune, but the alternative is to keep a loss-making production line going in the forlorn hope that its appeal to airlines might improve within the next decade. Where does that leave those many passengers who love the plane? While British Airways, Emirates and others will continue to fly it for a decade or more, the number of options will start to decline. And it is probably our fault: there is no significant evidence that people will pay a premium to fly the A380 compared with other jets. Atlanta may be about to host the US's biggest sporting event of the year in its Mercedes-Benz stadium, but there's much more to it than the Superbowl. In summer, Georgia's state capital comes alive with numerous festivals, for everything from design and architecture (ma-designishuman.com; 1 to 9 June) to beer (atlantasummerbeerfest.com; 16 June). As the hometown of Martin Luther King Jnr, Atlanta is a must for history buffs, and getting to the heart of Sweet Auburn, the civil rights leader's old neighbourhood, is easy thanks to the streetcar (tram), which connects the area to downtown. Touch down A wide range of airlines fly direct to Atlanta, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Iberia, Finnair, American and Delta. Downtown Atlanta is 10 miles north of the airport. The quickest and cheapest way to get into town is by using the Marta public transport system (itsmarta.com). Pick up a stored-value Breeze card, on which single train fares are $2.50. From the airport take the 10-minute shuttle to the Marta station, from where the train (Red or Gold line) will get you to central Five Points station (1) in around 20 minutes. The Marta system is also a great way to get around the city for various Superbowl events. The streetcar operates a circular route in central Atlanta. Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show Show all 4 1 /4 Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show madonna2-getty.jpg Getty Images Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show madonna-minaj-getty.jpg Getty Images Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show madonna-lmfao-getty.jpg Getty Images Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show madonna1-getty.jpg Getty Get your bearings Encircled by the I-285 motorway, Atlanta is undoubtedly a city of drivers. There are only four train lines, running roughly north to south and east to west, so coverage can be patchy, but if you're happy to walk a little or take the bus you can usually fill in the gaps. Five Points (1), where all the train lines converge, is downtown, in the skyscraper-lined commercial district where many of the city's tourist attractions are located. To the north is Midtown, where you'll find universities and museums such as the High Museum of Art (2) at 1280 Peachtree Street NE (high.org). Further north still is Buckhead, an area of dual-carriageways, luxury hotels and high-end shopping malls. The east of the city is home to a number of artsy neighbourhoods, from chi-chi Virginia-Highlands to hip Little Five Points and East Atlanta Village. The main visitor centre (3) is at 65 Alabama Street SW (atlanta.net). Check in Aloft Atlanta Downtown (4) at 300 Spring Street (aloftatlantadowntown.com) has spacious, modern rooms, free wi-fi, a bar and a splash pool. Doubles from $224. Loews Atlanta (5) at 1065 Peachtree Street (loewshotels.com), has doubles from $299, room only. Some rooms offer views over Piedmont Park, and there's a free car service within three miles of the hotel. If proximity to headline attractions is your priority, check into the Omni Hotel at CNN Center (6), 190 Marietta Street NW (001 404 659 0000; omnihotels.com). In the heart of downtown, more than 1,000 rooms are spread between its two towers. Doubles from $259, room only. Click here to see a bigger image of the map Day one Take a hike Most of Atlanta's top attractions are squeezed into a relatively small area, connected by Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Games. Start at CNN Center (6) (cnn.com/tour) where you can take a tour of the news organisation's global headquarters and studio, and learn how programmes are put together. Walk north through the park (maps and signposts will keep you on track), stopping at the World of Coca-Cola (7) (worldofcoca-cola.com). Its interactive exhibits, retro ads and of course samples will keep children entertained, but if you're not a fan of the fizzy brown stuff, head for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (8) at the northern end of the park (civilandhuman rights.org). The striking contemporary building, which opened in 2014, offers a fascinating insight into the civil rights movement. Lunch on the run Head over to Little Five Points to fuel up. Cosy beer bar The Porter (9) at 1156 Euclid Avenue NE (theporterbeerbar.com) has an eclectic menu think duck confit ruben sandwiches, kale caesar salad and huge hotdogs and more than 400 brews with which to wash it down. Window shopping Little Five Points has a great selection of one-off shops. Vinyl-lovers should visit Criminal Records, next door to The Porter at No 1154-A (criminalatl.com). For vintage threads, try Rag-O-Rama at No 1111 (ragorama.com) or Clothing Warehouse (10) at 420 Moreland Avenue NE (theclothingwarehouse.com). Dining with the locals It's impossible to miss The Vortex, a few doors down from Clothing Warehouse, at No 438 (thevortexbarandgrill.com). Walk through the giant skull doorway for what are billed as "the best burgers in Atlanta", including the deliciously spicy Hell's Fury. Poor Calvin's (11) at 510 Piedmont Avenue NE (poorcalvins.com) serves light, tasty Thai fusion. Order mains or pick a selection of "bites" I loved the basil rolls and chicken coconut soup. A nightcap Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium (12) at 466 Edgewood Ave SE (sisterlouisaschurch.com) thankfully abbreviates to Church. Irreligious paintings and neon signs cover the walls, and on Wednesdays there's organ karaoke. Drink up: World of Coca-Cola (Kevin C Rose/ Atlantaphotos.com) Day two Out to brunch Arrive early at popular West Egg Cafe (13) at 1100 Howell Mill Road (westeggcafe.com). The decor is all concrete floors and subway tiles, while the menu features southern specialities and the usual brunch items. For a mix of the two, try the fried green tomato BLT. A walk in the park Piedmont Park may be the city's best known, but for a modern take on green space, cross the street from Piedmont's south-east corner, by the Park Tavern (14), and join the BeltLine (downloadable maps at beltline.org). The repurposed railway track is Atlanta's equivalent to New York's Highline though locals will tell you Georgia's capital had the idea first. The BeltLine's East Trail takes you south through the city; it's still a little rough and ready in places, but between the wild grass and city views are some lovely little stop-off points, such as Paris on Ponce and Pop Marche (15) (parisonponce.com), a warehouse filled with quirky antiques and flea-market finds. In the autumn Art on the BeltLine (art.beltline.org) is due to return, with artworks lining the route. Cultural afternoon From the southern end of the trail head west to the Martin Luther King National Historic Site (nps.gov/malu). Orientate yourself at the visitor centre (16) at 450 Auburn Avenue NE, then head to the civil rights leader's home. Tours of the house are free, but first-come-first-served, so if you don't get a ticket, explore the site's other landmarks, including King's tomb, and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he and his father preached. Take a view The Jackson Street Bridge (17), between Highland Avenue NE and Cain Street NE, offers one of the best views in the city. Watch the sun set behind the skyscrapers as cars rush along the multi-lane highway below. Residents of Yemeni port city of Hodeidah are so hungry they are eating from rubbish tips, while others are bleeding to death trapped in their bombed-out houses, as fighting has flared in the strategic port town after a UN-brokered truce collapsed. Describing life caught in the cross-fire, Ashwaq Moharram, a Yemeni doctor from the area, said families were starving to death or dying trying to secure medical help as the conflict continues to cut off parts of the city. Speaking to The Independent during a brief trip to Egypt to see sick family members, the trained gynaecologist said she has watched injured civilians perish in ambulances trying to navigate treacherous mountain roads to safety. Despite assurances that a ceasefire deal between the Houthi rebels and the recognised government would allow aid to flow into the port city, she said the truce failed before it even started. Hodeidah, the main entry point for Yemens food and medical supplies, is still under sporadic fire. Recommended UN admits key Yemen truce failing as aid groups warn of food crisis Areas suffering strikes and battles between both parties cant be reached, even by military forces. A place like Dremy is still being targeted. When people are shot there, ambulances cant reach them, she told The Independent. In one area along the coast an entire family was injured in a strike and all of them died. Imagine a whole family bleeding to death, she added. She said supplies were drying up and food prices were soaring, meaning families were left digging through rubbish tips to find food. For the last four years Ms Moharram has run a mobile clinic providing aid and medical treatment to people in remote villages and towns but many locations are now out of reach. Along the coast there are areas I used to visit to bring food. But some I have been unable to get to since April. I dont know anything about them, she said. We have people scrabbling through garbage tips to eat. They cant even look for food in their neighbours waste, as all of them are poor and have no supplies, she added. Her comments come as the UAE, which is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, said that their forces had struck ten Houthi training camps around Hodeidah and were prepared to use more calibrated force despite a peace deal supposedly in place. Earlier this week the UN admitted that a 7 January deadline for warring factions to withdraw from Yemens main port city had passed unheeded. According to a December deal signed in Sweden, a local administration was supposed to take control and be monitored by a special UN mission. But so far both sides have failed to back down and have instead traded accusations of violations. Martin Griffiths, the UNs special envoy for Yemen, said on he was deeply concerned about the renewed hostilities. He urged speedy redeployments in accordance with the peace deal. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launched a bombing campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in March 2015, after the rebels swept control of the country ousting recognised president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Ashwaq Moharram describes life in Hodeidah during a brief visit to Cairo (Mohamed Ezz/ The Independent) But four years on the war shows no signs of ending. An estimated 60,000 people have been killed in the fighting which has created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Anwar Gargash, the UAEs foreign minister, on Wednesday accused the Houthis of committing over 1,000 violations of the Stockholm agreement. He warned the coalition would respond with greater force. Still no Houthi withdrawal from Hodeidah city ports. Militia blocking aid convoys from leaving Hodeidah and barring ships from entering ports. A real impediment to the peace process, he wrote. Coalition prepared to use more calibrated force to prod Houthi compliance with Stockholm agreement, he added. Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Show all 17 1 /17 Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Doctors take some blood of Yemeni Yousef Abdullah Bakhit Ali, 13, suffering from severe acute malnutrition. With ongoing and unending conflict in Yemen, humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate across the country Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor weighs Yemeni baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef, 9 months suffering from malnutrition Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal,12 years old and suffering from severe acute malnutrition. He arrives with his family at a Unicef supported treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of Yemeni Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal, 12, who is suffering from malnutrition at a treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen There are over 400,000 severely malnourished children in need urgent lifesaving assistance in Yemen Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is weighed Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to reach 275,000 malnourished children with critical life-saving supplies and care for over 5 million people with safe and clean water to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef with his family in his house in the outskirts of the capital Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen The country is on the brink of famine and children's chances of survival are becoming slimmer by the day Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal has his arm measured Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide nearly 1 million children with vaccines and healthcare Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are working with partners around-the clock to save children suffering from malnutrition and disease Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide 9 million people with emergency cash assistance to help families buy basic commodities so they can survive Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is suffering from malnutrition Unicef Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef/Abdulhaleem Ms Moharram said desperate residents were fed up with promises of a truce and called the Stockholm agreement worthless. She described pregnant women trying to give birth, although their stomachs are swollen from starvation while new mothers were unable to breastfeed as they are so malnourished. One eight-year-old child, she said, weighed little more than his own skeleton. Aid agencies warned on that over the last six months alone more than half a million children from their homes. Save the Children said on that thousands of families were still streaming out of Hodeidah fearing renewed conflict and many were struggling to afford basic items like food, fuel and medicine. Ms Moharram said that those who had stayed were seeking desperate measures to feed their families. She said she had seen several adverts for the organ trafficking, and people were travelling to countries like Egypt to sell their kidneys. Some people have even started selling their organs, like kidneys Ashwaq Moharram, Yemeni doctor in Hodeidah Added to that there has been an uptick in child marriages. She said parents were so desperate they were marrying off daughters as young as 12 just to secure the dowries so that the family could eat. Marriages have become a trade. If someone is in debt due to poverty, hunger, and illness; they repay the debt by offering the 12 or 13 years old daughters. Their husbands are sometimes 70 years old, she said. Some people have even started selling their organs, like kidneys. You can now see adverts. They travel to Jordan, Cairo, or India to undergo the surgeries, she added. Ms Moharram attends to patients during one of the rounds of her mobile clinics (Ashwaq Moharram) She said that it was near impossible to find basic goods including baby formula, meaning many have to take a four-hour journey to the capital Sanaa for supplies They claim there is a ceasefire, but we see air strikes and shelling every day. Victims fall every single day, she said. The agreement is worthless. War must come to an end. The siege must be ended. People must be paid. Politics can be resolved later, she added The neighborhood program is in response to a house fire that occurred this week in the 3900 block of Ridge Road, according to a news release from the fire company. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31) The Quezon City police on Thursday released the cartographic sketch of one of six suspects in the killing of a barangay chairman running in the 2019 elections. LOOK: QCPD releases the facial composite illustration of one of the suspects in the killing of Brgy. Chairwoman Beltran | @xianneangel pic.twitter.com/AmJhwMyWj5 CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 31, 2019 Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Quezon City police chief, said the suspect is believed to be the man who gunned down Crisell "Beng" Beltran, Barangay Bagong Silangan chairman, and her driver Melchor Salita on Wednesday. Esquivel said a witness described one of the suspects who took of his helmet for a split second before firing at Beltran's vehicle in broad daylight. "Noong maubusan ng mga bala yung baril niya, nag-change mat, di niya siguro masyadong makita yung baril, madilim, inangat yung helmet kaya nagkaroon tayo ng lead," Esquivel said. He said Beltran's death is considered a case of election-related violence since she was seeking to represent the second legislative district of Quezon City in the May polls. But Esquivel added the police cannot say just yet that it was politically motivated as they are also considering it may be related to her personal life. "Baka sa paghabi niya ng desisyon, somebody must have been affected by her decision And the last we're looking is yung love angle ni kapitana. Pag-ibig," Esquivel said. The Quezon City police head gave a thinly-veiled threat for the six suspects to surrender immediately. "If I give you a fair warning, you better surrender to me within 24 hours. Otherwise 'pag may nakauna sa inyo, we'll see what happens," Esquievel said. The city council has approved a reward of P5 million for information leading to the arrest of Beltran's killers. While Acting Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemns Beltran's slay, she said it would be "premature" to declare the city as an election hotspot - as proposed by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy. "That will only cause panic. That will only cause our people to doubt the integrity of the local government," Belmonte said. She said the city government is working closely with the police to prevent more cases of election-related violence ahead of the May 13 midterm elections CNN Philippines' Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report. The US has ended all financial aid for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, government officials have said. The decision to cease is linked to new American legislation under which foreign aid recipients would be more exposed to anti-terrorism lawsuits, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said after the new laws came into effect earlier this week. It will end of about $60m (45m) in US aid for the Palestinian security forces, whose cooperation with Israeli forces has helped maintain relative quiet in the West Bank. The US Congresss Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (Atca) empowers Americans to sue foreign aid recipients in US courts over alleged complicity in acts of war. The Palestinian Authority declined further US funding over worries about its potential legal exposure, although it denies Israeli accusations it encourages militant attacks. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty At the request of the Palestinian Authority, we have wound down certain projects and programmes funded with assistance under the authorities specified in Atca in the West Bank and Gaza, a US official said. All USAID assistance in the West Bank and Gaza has ceased. It was unclear how long the cessation would be in effect. The official said no steps were currently being taken to close the USAID mission in the Palestinian territories, and no decision had been made about future staffing at the USAID mission in the US Embassy in Jerusalem. USAID is the main agency administering US foreign assistance in the Palestinian territories. The agency spent $268m (203m) on public projects in the West Bank and Gaza as well as Palestinian private sector debt repayment in 2017, but there were significant cuts to all new funding through the end of June last year, according to its website. The suspension of aid to our people, which included critical sectors such as health and education, will have a negative impact on all, create a negative atmosphere, and increase instability," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian Authority is an interim self-government body set up following the 1993 Oslo peace accords. The peace process, aimed at finding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has been stalled since 2014. In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Ismail Rudwan condemned the stopping of aid, deploring what he called politicised money. The USAID announcement comes after humanitarian officials in the West Bank and Gaza said they were facing a general cutback in funding from donors worldwide. Last year Washington cut hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the Palestinians, which included funding for humanitarian groups supported by USAID. The US cuts were widely seen as a means of pressuring the Palestinian leadership to resume the peace talks with Israel and to engage with the Trump administration ahead of its long-awaited Middle East peace plan. As a result, dozens of none governmental employees have been laid off, health and unemployment programmes have been shut down, and infrastructure projects halted. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In August, Washington announced an end to all US funding for the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees. The agency received $364m from the United States in 2017. In January the World Food Programme cut food aid to about 190,000 Palestinians due to a shortage of funds. Diplomatic sources told the Reuters news agency that Palestinian, US and Israeli officials were trying to find ways to keep the money flowing to Mr Abbass security forces. We will find a solution to these things. I wont get into details, Israeli security cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio on Thursday. USAID will continue to implement conflict management and mitigation grants in Israel, with Jewish and Arab participants, the official said. Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds Additional reporting by Reuters A teenager has been jailed in France after putting a PlayStation 4 through a supermarket self-checkout as fruit and paying just 8 for it. The 19-year-old, from Nice, weighed the machine on scales provided in the stores fruit and veg section. He then stuck the resulting price sticker on the console and paid the amount stated - 9.24 (8.10). The PlayStation 4 generally retails at almost 300. The youngster, named in the French media only as Adel, got away with the scam the first time around and it was only when he returned to the store, in the city of Montbeliard, to try it again that he was caught. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty He was arrested by police and charged with theft, but did not appear in court for the hearing, reports L'est Republicain newspaper. He told officers he had sold the first console to pay for a train ticket home. He was sentenced to four months in prison. Earlier this month in Alabama, the attempted theft of a playstation led to four people being arrested when the crime went wrong. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The quartet tried to steal the console from a man who advertised it social media but when they grabbed the item and started to drive off, the seller kept hold of it and was dragged down the road. Two French police officers have been convicted of gang raping a Canadian tourist in Paris police headquarters, in a case that has caused uproar in the country. Emily Spanton said she met a group of officers in an Irish pub in 2014, while visiting the French capital. The men offered to give her a night-time tour of 36 Quai des Orfevres, a famous address that has appeared in numerous French films and novels. Ms Spanton said she was raped several times in the building and was also forced to drink whisky and perform sex acts. During her testimony she said three officers were involved. Only two were brought to court. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Both men are members of the elite BRI force that specialises in serious crimes, such as armed robbery. They denied wrongdoing and alleged Ms Spanton had consented to sexual acts. The officers have been sentenced to seven years in prison each. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Judges initially threw out the case but the Paris prosecutor and Ms Spanton won their appeal to have it brought before a jury. Ms Spanton waived her right to anonymity in interviews before the trial. Additional reporting by agencies The EU has provocatively described Gibraltar as a "colony of the British crown" whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain. In a move branded "completely inappropriate" by the UK government, a proposed EU regulation granting Britons visa-free access to the bloc in the case of a no-deal Brexit made a distinction beween those living in Britain and those who are citizens of the British Overseas Territory. The row highlights strains over the territory as Britain leaves the bloc and EU states swing its policies behind Spain, which British officials believe Madrid is seeking to exploit to ramp up its claim to "The Rock". A UK government spokesperson said: "The EUs provisions for visa-free travel into and out of the Schengen area cover Gibraltar, and mean that in any scenario, British Nationals from Gibraltar will be able to travel for short stays in and out of Spain and other countries in the Schengen area. "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltars democratic wish to be British." Diplomats said the British ambassador to the EU raised London's objections about Gibraltar's designation in a meeting of EU envoys. Ireland's health minister has ordered an investigation after a woman's personal details were reportedly obtained by anti-abortion activists, before the information was used in a deceitful attempt to lure her to a location in north Dublin. Simon Harris, who requested the inquiry, described the allegations as "extraordinarily concerning". The woman at the centre of the controversy had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin on 28 January, according to her anonymous Facebook post. Following the procedure she had an internal scan and was sent home, only to be contacted by a man asking her to book another scan. "He gave me my name, my address and told me to come in on Monday," she said. Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Show all 20 1 /20 Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Women in Dublin celebrate the result of yesterday's referendum on abortion law Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman in Dublin celebrates the result of yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Co-Director of Together For Yes Ailbhe Smyth speaking to the media at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters react, as the results of the votes begin to come in PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Long time campaigner Annette Forde, from Drumcondra, at the count centre in Dublin's RDS as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris (centre) with Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy (left) speaks to the media on arrival at the count centre PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters celebrate at the count centre in Dublin as official results for constituencies are announced PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman writes a message on a mural to Savita Halappanava, a woman who died of pregnancy complications AFP/Getty Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reacts with a member of the Yes campaign PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Senator David Norris at the count centre in Dublin as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman sits in front of the Dublin mural of Savita Halappanavar, a woman who died of pregnancy complications PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Repeal supporters at Dublin's RDS await the start of the count last night PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris is greeted by retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in AP Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A Yes voter poses with a badge as votes are counted AFP/Getty The man contacted her by phone and text message but the woman became suspicious and called the hospital. Staff at the National Maternity Hospital told her they "didn't [know] anything" about a second scan. When the woman contacted the man again, demanding to know who he was, he initially claimed to be from the health executive's unplanned pregnancy hotline, My Options. He then allegedly began shouting abuse at the woman, telling her that she was "disgusting" for having an abortion. The location of the second scan was on the northside of Dublin The Irish Examiner reported. It remains unclear how the woman's personal details, including her phone number, were obtained by the caller. "It scared me," she wrote on Facebook, in a post widely shared online. The allegation prompted Simon Harris to order Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) to open an investigation into the alleged data breach. It's extraordinarily concerning and disturbing to think that any patients details could be leaked," the minister said. "We have worked extremely hard as a health service and I think as a country, to try and firstly legalise the provision of termination of pregnancy in our own country. "The idea that anybody might leake a woman's confidential information is reprehensible, it's grotesque, it's disgusting. "And that's why I asked the HSE yesterday to investigate the matter and to report back." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The anti-abortion group, known as the Good Counsel Network, is said to have reported the details of another abortion to the Irish police at Drogheda garda station, according to The Times of Ireland. But the Irish Guards disputed the report. "We're not aware of any incident or complaint at Drogheda station," a spokesperson for the Irish Guards told The Independent. The people of Ireland voted to overturn a longstanding ban on abortion in May 2018. European Union leaders are "making the Mediterranean a watery graveyard as a matter of deliberate policy" with a deal that makes Libya responsible for migrants trying to cross the sea into the continent, a group of more than 50 organisations has claimed. Oxfam, Human Rights Watch and Medecins Sans Frontieres were among the signatories to a letter which claimed they had "allowed themselves to become complicit in the tragedy unfolding before their eyes. Under the deal, Italy and the EU agreed to provide the Libyan coastguard with money and technical support, in exchange for them stopping migrants trying to reach Europe from Libya. The organisations urged leaders to end the return of migrants to Libya, support search and rescue operations and adopt timely and regular disembarking arrangements. At least 5,300 migrants have died since the deal described as inhuman by the United Nations was agreed in February 2017, with thousands more currently suffering in Libyan detention camps, Oxfam said. EU countries are making the Mediterranean a watery graveyard as a matter of deliberate policy, said Oxfams EU migration policy advisor, Raphael Shilhav. The joint letter states: For over six months, European governments have tried and failed to agree on a system that would allow survivors to be disembarked safely when they reach a European shore. It accuses EU governments of engaging in painful, drawn-out debates about where ships can disembark and which countries should host those onboard, while people are left stranded at sea, often for weeks on end. They must allow search and rescue ships to dock in their ports, disembark rescued people, and return to sea to save peoples lives, in line with international law, said Mr Shilhav. All attempts to prevent their work will inevitably lead to more deaths and run counter to Europes humanitarian values, it says. Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Italy on MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie DeardenI Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing health checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing security checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily A man being taken to hospital from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden The groups also stressed the danger faced by the thousands of people detained in Libya. It says those who are forcibly returned are not only likely to be detained arbitrarily, but abused, tortured or sold into slavery. It is thought that almost 6,500 migrants are currently being held in official detention sites, which the United Nations has warned can be run by human traffickers, despite the EUs commitment to take a hard line on people smuggling. Unofficial centres, some of which are run by armed groups, are home to many more people. Moussa, a 17-year-old boy from Mali told Oxfam that he was intercepted by the Libyan coastguard and brought to a detention centre in Tripoli. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events He said: There were many people in the prison. They asked me for more money, but I didnt have any left. They beat me on the soles of my feet, my calves and my knees, but I kept saying that I couldnt contact anyone because I had no family left in Mali. I saw a young Gambian boy beaten to death before my eyes because he dared to rebel and answer back to them. In 2002 the Taliban had been defeated in the field. There was a general mood of celebration in Afghanistan after decades of harsh, primitive theocratic rule; many women were throwing off their burqas, some even in Kandahar, the birthplace of hardline Islam. Standing beside George W Bush, Tony Blair declared this time we will not walk away, as the west had done after using the Mujaheddin to drive out Soviet forces in the battles of the Cold War, and then abandoning Afghanistan to poverty and becoming an incubator for terrorism, including the 9/11 attacks on America. A year later Britain and America did precisely what Mr Blair vowed would not happen they walked away from Afghanistan to an Iraq invasion based on the concocted justification of Saddam Husseins non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Precious civil and military resources were moved away from Afghanistan, just at the time when there was a desperate need for stability and reconstruction to be poured into the bloody quagmire of Iraq. The Taliban, fed and watered by their sponsors, elements of the Pakistani armed forces and secret police, the ISI, came back across the border in this security vacuum and began the long war which continues now. Now Donald Trump, if he is to be taken at face value, is proposing pulling out the vast majority of US forces, itself a fraction of the size of Isaf (International Security and Assistance Force) which ended operations six years ago. Talks are being held with the Taliban the latest in a long series apparently for them to come into a power-sharing process. The more likely scenario is a power struggle between the various shades of Islamists now in the country, including the Haqqani Network and Isis with those not agreeing with them, including those currently engaged in politics, getting a violent short shrift . That is certainly the view of the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani who invoked the memory of his predecessor Mohammad Najibullah who was dragged away from the UN compound, tortured, murdered and left hanging from a lamp post by the Taliban when they took Kabul in 1996. The victims of the war are Afghans, so the initiative for peace should be in the hands of the Afghans, said Mr Ghani. We insist on [safety] measures because we are aware of the experience of Dr Najib. We all know he was deceived. The UN guaranteed him peace, but it ended up with a disaster. The lamp post is still there, quite near the presidential residence, we used to pass it on the way to and from the airport. Mr Ghani had himself made mistakes which has led to deterioration of security in his country. After winning the presidential election with a bitterly disputed result he went to Pakistan not to see members of the government in Islamabad but the military and ISI leadership in Rawalpindi. The idea was to go directly to those who supposedly control the Taliban and the Haqqani Network to try and persuade them to stop the bombings and shootings. Blackwater founder's plan to privatise Americas $76bn, 17-year war in Afghanistan Mr Ghanis trip sidelining the Pakistani government was not only a breach of diplomatic protocol, it proved to be ineffective. At the behest of the Pakistani army and ISI he removed, it was reported, a number of people from the hierarchy of the Afghan military and the intelligence service, NDS (National Directorate of Security). The bombings did not stop, but became, in fact, more intense with Kabul getting repeatedly hit ever since. But the west, too, has made repeated mistakes. In December 2003 returning to Afghanistan from covering Iraq, I heard Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of the Iraq war, on a flying visit to Afghanistan, tell us the Taliban would never be allowed to return to power. After meeting warlords in the north of the country he told us in Mazar-e-Sharif: Those who have been defeated would like to come back, but they would never have that opportunity. Two hours after he stated the Talibs were finished, rockets exploded a couple of hundred yards from the US embassy in Kabul. It was also around that time some in the Taliban leadership wanted to hold talks over Afghanistan with the Americans and the British. The Americans were not interested and the Pakistani ISI, who wanted to control the negotiation process, soon put a stop to the initiative. There is now genuine trepidation among Afghans that Mr Trump will sell them out, doing a secret deal with the Taliban and their backers. Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Show all 16 1 /16 Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2001 Afghans at the Killi Faizo refugee camp desperately reach for bags of rice being handed out to the thousands who escaped the bombardment in southern Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. (Chaman, Pakistan, December 4, 2001) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2002 Mahbooba stands against a bullet-ridden wall, waiting to be seen at a medical clinic. The seven-year-old girl suffers from leishmaniasis, a parasitical infection. (Kabul, March 1, 2002) All photos Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2003 A mother and her two children look out from their cave dwelling. Many families who, fleeing the Taliban, took refuge inside caves adjacent to Bamiyans destroyed ancient Buddha statues now have nowhere else to live. (Bamiyan, November 19, 2003) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Students recite prayers in a makeshift outdoor classroom in the Wakhan Corridor, a mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from India and Pakistan. (Northeastern Afghanistan, September 2, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Bodybuilders in the 55-60 kg category square off during a regional bodybuilding competition. Many Afghan men, like others around the world, feel that a macho image of physical strength is important. (Kabul, August 6, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2008 A woman in a white burqa enjoys an afternoon with her family feeding the white pigeons at the Blue Mosque. (Mazar-e-Sharif, March 8, 2008) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Addicts inject heroin while trying to keep warm inside the abandoned Russian Cultural Center, which the capital citys addicts use as a common gathering point. Heroin is readily available, costing about one dollar a hit. (Kabul, February 9, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 An elderly man holds his granddaughter in their tent at a refugee camp after they were forced to flee their village, which US and NATO forces had bombed because, they claimed, it was a Taliban hideout. (Surobi, Nangarhar Province, February 7, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Seven-year-old Attiullah, a patient at Mirwais Hospital, stands alongside an X ray showing the bullet that entered his back, nearly killing him. Attiullah was shot by US forces when he was caught in a crossfire as he was herding sheep. (Kandahar, October 13, 2009). Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 US Army Sargeant Jay Kenney (right), with Task Force Destiny, helps wounded Afghan National Army soldiers exit a Blackhawk helicopter after they have been rescued in an air mission. (Kandahar, December 12, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 An Afghan National Army battalion marches back to barracks at the Kabul Military Training Center. (Kabul, October 4, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Eid Muhammad, seventy, lives in a house with a view overlooking the hills of Kabul. He and millions of other Afghans occupy land and housing without possessing formal deeds to them. (Kabul, November 21, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Razima holds her two-year-old son, Malik, while waiting for medical attention at the Boost Hospital emergency room. (Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, June 23, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Young women cheer as they attend a rally for the Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. (Kabul, April 1, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Burqa-clad women wait to vote after a polling station runs out of ballots. (Kabul, April 5, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2015 Relatives, friends, and womens rights activists grieve at the home of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was killed by a mob in the center of Kabul. Farkhunda was violently beaten and set on fire after a local cleric accused her of burning a Quran. (Kabul, March 22, 2015) Paula Bronstein But it is worth bearing in mind that there is no clear and logical direction in foreign and defence policy under the current US administration. On coming to power Mr Trump had berated Pakistani support for the Taliban and cut aid to the countrys military. Now he is basically following the Pakistani line on talks with the insurgents. Many issues remain unresolved. There is no clarity from the White House, for instance, on how the stated aim of keeping behind a counter-terrorism force in the country will work with troop withdrawl and the Taliban in the government. There are other examples of contradictory policies. Mr Trump is doing his best to sabotage the nuclear deal with Iran, one which the other signatories to the agreement Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China plus the UN and US intelligence agencies are confident was working. Yet he has announced the pulling out of American troops from Syria which would help preserve and spread Iranian influence in the country. It may well be that Mr Trump will not get his way. His demand that American troops leave Syria within a month has been quietly shelved by the Pentagon. The Senate majority leader, the Republican Mitch McConnell, wants congress to have a say in pull-outs from both Syria and Afghanistan, with a thorough accounting of the risks of withdrawing too hastily. But President Trump, who has just had to climb down humiliatingly over the government shutdown, has to cope with a Democrat-majority House of Representatives blocking his programme, faces possible impeachment and record unfavourable ratings in the polls, and appears to be falling out even with his right-wing media mentors, may well be tempted to carry out an Afghan withdrawl and declare it a victory. In 2005 I interviewed five independent women in Afghanistan who were supposed to be the brave new face of the country. Four of them were murdered as the Taliban extended their reach across swathes of the country. They were among the many victims of their vengeance. The future looks uncertain for the country, and, as President Ghani points out, his people know only too well they are by far the largest victims of the decades of vicious strife, the ones who suffer the most. That will continue to be the case as the west dips in and out of Afghan wars. A security firm co-founded by former navy Seal and US military services contractor Erik Prince has been awarded a contract by the Chinese authorities to build a training centre in Xinjiang, a region where Uighur Muslims have experienced a severe state crackdown. The Hong Kong-listed Frontier Services Group (FSG), which provides security and logistics for companies in challenging environments, said it had signed a deal to run a training centre in the city of Kashgar, according to a statement posted on its Chinese website. Mr Prince, the brother of US education secretary Betsy DeVos, is also the founder of Blackwater USA, a military contractor set up in the late 1990s and whose mercenaries made headlines in 2007 over the killing of 17 unarmed civilians in Iraq when they opened fire in a crowded square in Baghdad. Since Blackwaters creation, the company has been awarded billions of dollars in US government security contracts, as well as hundreds of millions in classified contracts awarded by the CIA. Mr Prince sold Blackwater to a group of investors in 2010 and focused on FSG. FSGs involvement in the planned Xinjiang facility comes amid international outcry over the incarceration of more than a million Muslims in internment camps in the region. China cancels Christmas Show all 7 1 /7 China cancels Christmas China cancels Christmas A man sells Christmas decorations on a street of Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas a promoter dressed as a teddy bear rest along a retail street in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas A family walk past images of Santa Claus in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas A worker guards the entrance of a shop decorated with images of Santa Claus in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas Sales staff from an apparel shop dance wearing Christmas themed costumes to promote a year end sales in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas Sales staff from an apparel shop dance wearing Christmas themed costumes to promote a year end sales in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas a sales person waits for customers near a Christmas tree decoration in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) The companys statement did not say what kind of training would take place. The Independent has contacted FSG for comment. FSGs website shows it has previously trained overseas security specialists for several Chinese companies including car manufacturers, and it has also helped train Chinese military and police personnel. The Agence France-Press news agency reported that Mr Prince, who is a minority shareholder in the company, was unaware of the deal. The firm said the plans were preliminary and would need to be signed off by all board members before final approval. He had no knowledge or involvement whatsoever with this preliminary memorandum regarding the companys activity in Xinjiang, a spokesperson said. According to Reuters, FSG attended a signing ceremony in Beijing on 11 January alongside officials from Xinjiangs Tumxuk city and from Citic Guoan Construction, owned by Chinese state-run conglomerate Citic Group. FSG will invest 4 million yuan (450,000) in the centre, which will have the capacity to train 8,000 people a year, the companys statement said. Recommended China claims Uighur Muslims grateful to be held in internment camps International focus on Chinas treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang has grown in recent months amid reports of malnourishment, numerous deaths particularly among the elderly and infirm and in some cases the forced administration of psychiatric drugs. Former detainees in camps in the region have alleged torture and said they were forced to learn Chinese Communist Party propaganda. Amnesty International recently described the facilities as being like wartime concentration camps. The UN is seeking access to verify the worrying reports. Until October 2018, the Chinese government officially denied the existence of any such camps. Since then it has maintained it is detaining people guilty of minor crimes, that it has sent them to vocational centres and that inmates are grateful to be there. The number of people detained in the camps is widely recognised as being over a million, but Uighur activists have claimed that as many as 3 million people are being held. Beijing has rejected criticism of its actions in Xinjiang, saying it protects the religion and culture of minorities, and that its security measures are required to combat the influence of extremist groups it says have been inciting violence there. Xinjiang, a semi-autonomous region in western China, has in recent years become of critical importance to Beijings ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure plan. The huge road, rail, power and sea network aims to create a massive trade corridor opening China further to Europe, the Middle East and central Asia. Almost all imports and exports to and from central Asia pass through Xinjiang and the government wants to further develop it as a major transport hub and cultural centre in its own right. The majority of the regions population were Uighurs rather than Han Chinese, until recently. It has emerged that more than a million Han Chinese people have reportedly moved into the homes of Uighur Muslim families to report on whether they display Islamic or unpatriotic beliefs. American anthropologist Darren Byler said they were tasked with watching for signs that their hosts attachment to Islam might be extreme. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events There are also signs Beijings crackdown could spread to other regions. The Chinese government announced last month it was planning to make Islam more compatible with socialism within four years, and said Islamic organisations in eight provinces had agreed to guide Islam to be compatible with socialism and implement measures to sinicise [make Chinese in character or form] the religion. Additional reporting by agencies Cory Booker wants to be president, and the New Jersey senator has launched a markedly optimistic bid to challenge Donald Trump in what is one of the most politically divided moments in modern US history. Mr Booker launched his bid for the presidency on Friday, placing his African American heritage at the centre of a campaign built on a message of unity. The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it, Mr Booker says in a video released to announce his campaign, which launched on the first day of black history month. In the video, Mr Booker is seen walking through his Newark neighborhood, where he served as mayor for seven years before winning his senate seat in 2013. I'm Cory Booker and I'm running for president of the United States of America, he continues. 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 Booker has joined what is expected to become a massive field of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for president. He is the second African American candidate to join the race, after California senator Kamala Harris joined last month. Other candidates include former housing and urban development secretary Julian Castro, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, among others. Some of the biggest names that have been talked about in the past year have so far refrained from officially joining the race, or from indicating concrete plans to run. Recommended Cory Booker says Jeff Sessions is unqualified for Attorney Genera Those candidates include former vice-president Joe Biden and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Both men would enter the race with significant backing and name recognition, and would likely be seen as immediate frontrunners. Mr Booker said in his announcement video he is the only senator who goes home to a low-income, inner city community, and that Newark was the first community that took a chance on me. The 49-year-old has pledged to refuse support from Super PACs during his campaign, which are independent political spending organisations that are allowed to raise unlimited amount of cash from donors, but cannot explicitly coordinate with campaigns. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Booker has supported Medicare-for-all as a senator and has been lauded for his progressive positions on race and immigration. Last year, he took the rare step of openly opposing former senator Jeff Sessions' nomination as atttorney general based on his alleged history of racial discrimination. He has also received praise for his role in the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh, who had been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct when he was a teenager and in college. During those proceedings, a column Mr Booker wrote while a student at Stanford was surfaced by conservative outlets in which he admitted to groping a woman at a party. While those outlets attempted to smear the senator for the revelation, the documents resulted in highlighting Mr Bookers past comments about recognising female autonomy, and his stances against sexual harassment. He is likely to face questions for some of his more contentious votes in the US Senate, including a 2017 vote in which he sided with Republicans to kill a bill aimed at reducing prescription drug prices by allowing Americans to buy them from Canada. The pharmaceutical industry is one of Mr Bookers top donors, having given his campaigns $431,937 (330,792) between 2013 and 2018, according to campaign finance data compiled by The Centre for Responsive Politics. A Donald Trump supporter reportedly armed with a gun barged into a Texas library in an attempt to stop a drag queen reading books to children. James Greene was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after refusing to leave Houstons Freed-Montrose Library, but claimed he was detained for being a "white Christian" and accused staff of satanism. He had entered the building to protest against Drag Queen Storytime, a programme of events in which performers read childrens stories to families. The conservative radio host has previously been banned from the library for filming children during similar demonstrations. Footage filmed by Mr Greene and posted on YouTube shows him remonstrating with police officers as they ask him to leave the building. Another clip shows him being handcuffed in the libarys car park. 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 have a bunch of homosexuals that are molesting children, he is heard telling officers. They are doing it with your help. Outsmart, a Houston LGBTQ magazine, reported that officers took a concealed firearm off Mr Greene as they detained him. Under Texas law, licensed gun owners can carry firearms in most public places, including libraries. There is no suggestion he was planning to use the gun. A manager asked us for assistance because he was banned from the library, and would not leave when he was asked, a Houston Police Department (HPD) spokeswoman told the magazine. He added: He was previously banned for filming children at the library, and has been known to cause disturbances. Several officers had to escort him out. Recommended LGBT groups take to court to block transgender military ban Police called an ambulance for Mr Greene after he began complaining of chest pains during his arrest. He was later released from hospital. Prosecutors have not filed any charges against him. Mr Greene later recounted the incident in a Facebook video, wearing a Make America Great Again hat in front of a cardboard cut-out of Mr Trump. He claimed he was arrested for being a white Christian" and accused a librarian at Freed-Montrose of being a "satanist" This cannot stand, we must fight back," added Mr Green, who hosts a programme on Raging Elephants Radio, a conservative online station in Texas. Police are to step up security at the next Drag Queen Storytime, which is held at the library each month. The event has attracted protesters from anti-LGBTQ conservatives, as well counter-demonstrations from supporters. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Earlier this month a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from a group of conservative Christian men who claimed Drag Queen Storytime violated their religious rights. In a court filing in defence, Houston Public Library said it was "committed to celebrating the diverse and culturally rich communities" in the city. Regina Blake-DuBois, who was the drag queen reading at the library on the day of Mr Greenes arrest, said: While his intention might have been to ruin the day for everyone involved, it completely failed. Library management and HPD kept him away from the kids, and we had no knowledge it even happened until we were done. Local author Dennis Arrowsmith was also involved in the reading of his book The Armadillos Dream. As the Catholic Church moves from one season to the other, the Gospel readings during this time are a blend of those that describe the start of Christ's ministry and those that celebrate the earliest moments of his life. Taken together, they represent how he was made known to the world, and they serve to remind us how we come to know him in our own lives. At the same time, the Church includes readings from St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians on the nature of discipleship and how we serve God as one people. A well-connected businessman in Brazil conceived the idea of a luxurious getaway in Rio de Janeiro bearing a world-famous name: Trump. After work began on the Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro, the businessman, Paulo Figueiredo Filho, boasted about his access to Donald Trump, who was then a candidate for president. Mr Figueiredo, grandson of the last military dictator in the authoritarian government that ran Brazil from 1964 to 1985, displayed a picture of himself with Mr Trump at the Trump Tower in New York, both men flashing a thumbs-up sign. Hes one of the most recognised businessmen in the world, and if anything, were getting more exposure, Mr Figueiredo told The New York Times in an interview in 2015, in which he expressed admiration for Mr Trumps policy positions. But at the end of 2016, the Trump Organization pulled out of the project, and the golden letters with the Trump name were removed from the seaside building. And now, the Brazilian investors who backed the project are engulfed in a growing bribery scandal, and an international arrest warrant is expected to be issued for Mr Figueiredo. Federal police in Brazil this week arrested 13 entrepreneurs and bank executives charged with diverting public pension funds into two commercial projects, including the former Trump hotel, in exchange for bribes and illegal commissions. The other project was a sprawling office building in Brasilia. Investigators did not implicate the Trump Organisation in the scheme. Authorities in Brazil said they are going to ask Interpol to issue an alert seeking the arrest of Mr Figueiredo, who is now living in the United States. Brazil dam collapse: Rescue helicopter helps men from sludge as hundreds 'missing and trapped' Trump Hotels withdrew from the project in December 2016, just weeks after federal prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into the funding scheme. Prosecutors in the capital, Brasilia, began the probe in October 2016, after identifying large investments in the hotel made by two small public pension funds. At the time, the Trump Organisation said it had pulled out because of delays in completing the 13-story, 171-room luxury property. The hotel opened in August 2016, in time for the Olympic Games, but before several floors and facilities had been finished, including a 4,000-square-foot nightclub. The hotel was using the Trump name, and the Trump Organisation had been managing the property. But the Trump Organisation did not have an equity stake in the project, which was owned by LSH Barra, a Brazilian company based in Rio de Janeiro. Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Show all 16 1 /16 Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Gleyse Kelly da Silva embraces her daughter Maria Giovanna, who has microcephaly, in 2016. She has help from her husband and mother in caring for "Gigi". But the burden is still great, and she was forced to leave her job as a toll attendant Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil "She does not sit alone, she does not roll, she does not do anything alone," Gleyse said. Gigi needs an orthopedist, but there are not enough to go around, and she's perpetually on waiting lists Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Gleyse holds her now two-year-old daughter Maria Giovanna, at their house in Recife. She struggles with navigating her daughter's wheelchair on public transportation. Few buses have working lifts, and some drivers have refused to help her. Such struggles prompted Gleyse to help create the Union of Mothers of Angels, which provides advice and logistical support for mothers of children with microcephaly. The group now serves more than 250 families in Pernambuco Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil A few years ago Jackeline Vieira de Souza fought to overcome a very rare complication from an earlier pregnancy, and then survived cancer. "My dream was to be a mother again," she says. In 2015, she got her wish. But during her pregnancy, she learned that her son had microcephaly. "When he was born, I fell in love with him because I knew he would be a good thing in my life, even with the difficulties I would have to face." In this picture Jackeline uses a green bottle to stimulate her then four-month-old son Daniel Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Jackeline stands by as Daniel, who is now two years old, during an evaluation session with a physiotherapist at the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional in Recife Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Jackeline holds up Daniel, then just four months old. Daniel's father separated from Jackeline shortly after learning that his son had microcephaly. He pays a small amount of family support every month, in addition to a monthly check that Jackeline gets from the government Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Daniel with his brother at their house. It takes several hours to travel by bus between their home in Olinda and Recife, where Daniel goes for treatments. Lately, those trips are somewhat less frequent, and Jackeline believes Daniel's health is more stable. She has no illusions that her son will ever walk, eat on his own or live a normal life. Yet in many ways she is grateful for her "miracle" baby, who she says makes her feel "happy and more accomplished." Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Rosana Vieira Alves and her then five-month-old daughter Luana Vieira, who was born with microcephaly, in the sea of Porto de Galinhas. She has three daughters. "It's hard to manage the girls. Some of them are jealous, but Luana needs more care. In time, they'll understand." Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Rosana holds up Luana at their house in 2016. She does not have any family support and is overwhelmed by the cost of housing and Luana's medicines. She counts it a victory that she has managed to get a wheelchair for Luana, and worries about the four surgeries her daughter needs to correct problems with her eyes, her gut and the position of her hips and feet Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Rosana, 28, washes her now two-year-old daughter Luana. The demands have taken Rosana to some dark places, and she confesses that she has considered suicide. But she still dreams of a better future, and hopes to get a degree in accounting or civil engineering Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Luana reacts to stimulus during an evaluation session with a physiotherapist at the Altino Ventura rehabilitation center in Recife Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Rosana carries Luana (then four months old), while taking her daughters Laiane Sophia (left) and Vitoria Evillen to their school Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Gabriela Alves de Azevedo, holds her then four-month-old daughter Ana Sophia, who was born with microcephaly, at their house in 2016. Gabriela had planned to finish high school and study physical therapy. Now, she spends her days caring for her child Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Ana Sophia, now three-years-old, being held by Gabriela. Her husband left shortly after the birth. He could not accept their child's condition, Gabriela says, and does not pay child support Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Gabriela bathing her Ana Sophia, in 2016. After he husband left she said: "I went into depression and my family helped me. If it was not for them, I would have gone crazy." Reuters Mothers of babies afflicted by Zika fight poverty in Brazil Silvina da Silva poses with her two-year-old granddaughter Ana Sophia Reuters When the Trump Organisation withdrew, the propertys name was changed to LSH Lifestyle, and all the floors and other work were eventually completed. Mr Figueiredo was one of three partners in LSH Barra. The other two have been arrested. Mr Figueiredo, a young real estate mogul from Rio de Janeiro, was also on friendly terms with Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Flavio Bolsonaro, who has recently become the focus of a corruption investigation, shared a picture on social media calling Mr Figueiredo a successful businessman with good sense and a highly qualified political vision. The developers behind LSH Barra are now being charged with corruption, money laundering and crimes against the financial system. Current and former directors of the state-owned Banco de Brasilia and intermediaries who facilitated fake receipts are also facing charges. Brazilian advertising agency partners with Schweppes to create touch sensor dress to prove women get groped at clubs Efforts to reach LSH Barra and Mr Figueiredo for comment on Thursday were not successful. Investigators overseeing the probe, which they called Operation Circus Maximus, said more than 40 million reais ($11m or 8.4m) in bribes were paid. The investments stood to affect hundreds of thousands of pension fund contributors. The contempt those involved had for the consequences of their actions is undeniable, Frederico Siqueira, a federal prosecutor, said in a statement, adding that the losses incurred as a result of the scheme totaled about $110m (84m). Prosecutors said the bribes were frequently paid in cash but some were in kind, including VIP tickets to the Rock in Rio mega-concert and free catering for a wedding party. The New York Times The Trump administrations plan to overhaul the way universities handle sexual assault allegations has sparked a ferocious backlash. The education department has been bombarded with tens of thousands of comments responding to education secretary Betsy Devos proposed rules. Universities, womens rights groups, sexual assault survivors, and angry parents were among those to hit out at the plans which would roll back Obama era policies that give accusers rights against the school and their accused assaulters. The proposed rule, published in November, creates a more limited definition of sexual harassment which allows and some say pressures schools to create a higher legal standard in considering evidence. The plans also narrow the cases that schools are required to investigate with leaders at the University of California arguing it is too limited and requires harassment to be both pervasive and severe. Womens March bread and roses rally in London Show all 70 1 /70 Womens March bread and roses rally in London Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London A protester with a banner chants slogans as she takes part in the Women's March calling for equality, justice and an end to austerity in London Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London A girl holds a rose as protesters take part in the Women's March calling for equality, justice and an end to austerity Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Womens March bread and roses rally in London Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London A woman dressed as suffragette gestures Reuters Womens March bread and roses rally in London Reuters They also argued the government should not require schools to offer parties the chance to carry out cross-examination during live hearings. Critics also hit out a provision allowing colleges to avoid responsibility for investigating complaints if they are not lodged with the correct person. The deadline for submitting comments to the education department was Wednesday, and as of midnight Tuesday, nearly 97,000 had been received. This is the most controversial regulatory undertaking in the history of the Department of Education, Terry Hartle of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, said. Many comments on the controversial proposed changes came from survivors of sexual assault who chose to outline their own experiences arguing Ms DeVos proposal would make it harder for others like them to gain justice. Betsy Devos seems intent on supporting Trump's ideas of womens [sic] place in society: we are to be harassed, molested, and abused, all without reasonable protections from the law, wrote one. DeVos is a traitor to women everywhere, added another. Ms Devos plans change the way universities must handle sexual assault cases under Title IX. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that gives the government the ability to pull funding from schools if they discriminate on the basis of sex. It has become a powerful tool for prosecuting rape cases and de-stigmatizing sexual assault on campus in recent years. The change requires a 60 day public comment period. Under the Administrative Procedures Act, the education department is obligated to review every comment on the proposal and respond to those that warrant a reply. The proposal follows years of mounting pressure on universities to better respond to allegations of sexual assault and also comes in the wake of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault. Organisations said the government website faced problems on the final day for comments raising alarm bells that this weeks glitch, previous site outages and messages about suspended operations during the government shutdown could have potentially confused and ultimately deterred members of the public from weighing in on the proposals. The fundamental focus from my perspective is ensuring that we are being fair and balanced for all students, Ms Betsos said on Wednesday at a forum sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Ms Betsos's proposed changes could be overturned by congress. Supporters argue the proposal rightly protects those who could have been falsely accused. The Trump administration has plugged its Title IX plans as a historic move that will for the first time create formal regulations for schools responding to sexual harassment claims. Ms DeVos, one of Donald Trumps few remaining original cabinet members, has said her focus is on ensuring that every student can learn in a safe and nurturing environment. Jailed MP Fiona Onasanya is to have her three-month prison sentence reviewed following a complaint that is unduly lenient. It comes after the Peterborough MP was convicted at the Old Bailey last year for perverting the course of justice after lying to police over a speeding ticket. The 35-year-old, who was jailed earlier this week, has since been disowned by the Labour Party, who she represented during the 2017 snap general election. She has remained as an Independent MP in the marginal seat and has so far resisted calls to resign from the taxpayer-funded role. In a statement, a spokesman for the attorney general's office said: "We have received a request for the case of Fiona Onasanya to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme." "The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case," they added. If it is found to be unduly lenient, the case will then be referred to the Court of Appeal which will decide whether or not to increase Onasanya's sentence. Under parliamentary rules, Onasanya does not have to automatically resign her seat and can continue to receive an MPs' salary while in prison. But a recall petition can force a by-election in her constituency if it is singed by more than 10 per cent of the electorate in the Cambridgeshire seat. Only if an MP is jailed for 12 months or more would they be forced to resign. Earlier this week, a Labour Party spokesperson urged the MP to "act honourably" and leave the Commons, adding: "When she was found guilty she should have immediately done the decent thing and resigned. However, todays sentence gives Fiona one last opportunity to act honourably and resign from parliament. She should do this without delay and not take another penny in salary from the public purse. If Fiona does not resign, Labour will support local residents in their efforts to trigger a by-election through a recall petition. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard that Onasanya colluded with her brother Festus after her car was clocked doing 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017. Her brother received 10 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including over the July 24 incident. The EUs provocative description of Gibraltar as a colony is the result of Theresa Mays attempt to appease her own MPs over Brexit, it has been claimed. A Labour MP said the row after Brussels adopted Spains term in legislation to cope with a no-deal Brexit was the inevitable consequence of the prime ministers bid to reopen her divorce deal. Downing Street, which has condemned the move, nevertheless admitted Ms May had previously warned that Spain could exploit any attempt to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement. The prime minister has previously cited, in the Commons that, if the withdrawal agreement is reopened, others may seek to raise these issues, her spokesman told The Independent. The 300-year Anglo-Spanish dispute over Gibraltar has blown up again after the EU agreed to a footnote to a proposed EU law to provide visa-free access to UK nationals if the UK leaves without a deal. Gibraltar is a colony of the British crown, said the text, approved by the European Council of the 27 EU members. There is a controversy between Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the general assembly of the United Nations. It comes after an ally of Angela Merkel warned that several controversies also including fishing rights and the UKs divorce bill would also be reignited by a reopening of the withdrawal treaty. Ben Bradshaw MP, a Labour supporter of the Peoples Vote campaign, said: This latest row over the sovereignty of Gibraltar is an inevitable consequence of Theresa Mays attempts to reopen the withdrawal agreement simply to appease Brexiters. The people of Gibraltar overwhelmingly rejected Brexit in 2016 but are having every aspect of their future threatened by it. Mr Bradshaw said the episode strengthened the case for a Final Say referendum, rather than the prime minister embarking on a further round of fantasy Brexit. No 10 hit out fiercely at the text adopted in Brussels, the spokesman saying: It is completely unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. However, the spat underlined how the dispute over the territory could still pose a serious obstacle to an orderly Brexit. Spain, which pressed its demands on Gibraltars status in the run-up to the agreement being signed in December, will expect the new footnote to be used in all future EU legislation regarding the UK after its departure. The UK and Gibraltar governments argue that the territory has a right to self-determination. In a 2002 referendum on sharing sovereignty with Spain, 98.9 per cent of Gibraltar voters rejected the proposal. Local councils in England should step up preparations for a no-deal Brexit, the communities secretary has said. In letter James Brokenshire said it was essential they were all undertaking the necessary local planning and preparations in case Britain left the European Union (EU) without a deal. He also urged county councils to ensure they mitigate any short-term adverse impacts. Mr Brokenshire said Brexit had created significant tensions as well as misinformation and/or expectations in communities. Council members may have an important role in providing timely updates to local businesses on the UKs settled status scheme and clarity of information in response to any risks of potential heightened community tensions, he said. 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 His letter emerged after it was revealed that contingency plans drawn up by the European Commission said the UK would keep paying into the EU budget for years after a no-deal Brexit. The proposals laid out plans for the Britain to keep up its payments for the 2019 EU budget and beyond. It comes as MPs faced the prospect of having their February break cancelled as the government struggles to make progress on Brexit. Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said the House may need to continue to sit to make progress on the key business before it, adding constituents would expect this to happen at this important time. Downing Street later said parliamentary staff who had to cancel planned holidays or faced other additional expenses as a result of the decision would be compensated, but MPs would not be covered. The Commons was expected to rise at the end of business on 14 February and return on 25 February. But with time running out for politicians to approve all necessary legislation ahead of Brexit on 29 March, it was suggested they stay on to work on the deal. The most senior Conservative backbencher has said he could accept a short delay to Britain's departure from the EU to get key Brexit legislation through parliament. Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the influential 1922 Committee, became latest top Tory to acknowledge Britain may not be ready to leave the bloc on March 29, after Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, admitted the government could need "extra time". MPs have tasked Theresa May to return to Brussels to renegotiate a critical part of her Brexit deal after her plan was overwhelmingly defeated in the Commons last month. But the prime minister faces an uphill battle to win over the EU, as Ireland's Europe minister Helen McEntee insisted that the bloc would "absolutely not" reopen the withdrawal agreement. Recommended Hunt slapped down by Downing Street for suggesting Brexit delay "I would only countenance a delay if we already had a deal agreed, it's just a matter of doing the necessary work to implement it," Sir Graham told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast. "Once we've reached an agreement and we know the terms on which we're leaving, if we decide that we need another two weeks in order to finish the necessary legislation through parliament, I don't think anybody's going to be too worked up about that, because we will have made a decision." It comes amid reports that a third of cabinet ministers believe that the two-year article 50 process will need to be extended, despite opposition from hardline Brexiteers. Sajid Javid, the home secretary, raised concerns with cabinet colleagues that Ms May could run out of time and questioned her decision to publicly state that the UK is leaving the EU on March 29, The Telegraph reported. Mr Hunt admitted on Thursday that a technical delay could be necessary if a deal is agreed, telling the Today programme: I think that depends on how long this process takes. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events I think it is true that if we ended up approving a deal in the days before 29 March then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation. But if we are able to make progress sooner, then that might not be necessary." He was slapped down by Downing Street shortly afterwards, with Ms May's spokesman reiterating her commitment to leaving on 29 March. Ms McEntee said the EU was likely to approve a request to delay Brexit but she insisted that the prime minister would have to be clear on her goals. But she added: "At the same time, I think there would be a very clear ask from the other member states as to what exactly it is we are trying to achieve. "There is no point in looking for an extension if we end up back to the same place in three months' time. 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 "We need to have a clear direction from the UK government as to what it is we want to achieve." Dublin would "absolutely not" accept the reopening of the withdrawal agreement, Ms McEntee added. Close UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast Ice and snow has disrupted travel on Friday after the UK braced through the coldest night in seven years. Southern England woke up to ongoing sleet and snow and the Scottish Highlands recorded a low overnight temperature of -15.4C. More than 100 people were stranded overnight in the Jamaica Inn pub on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, due to snow blanketing the A30. The Met Offices amber warning for snow and ice its second-highest level was issued for London until 11am, with yellow warnings still in place across much of the rest of the UK. Flights were cancelled at Heathrow and Bristol airports while Southeastern and Transport for Wales warned of timetable alterations. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to miss out on wintry showers that will persist into the evening for the rest of the country. Follow how events unfolded throughout the day Please allow a moment for the live blog to load One is an English county town with an eighth-century castle, pleasant high street and national park right on its doorstep. The other is a Syrian city left in almost complete ruins after eight years of brutal civil war. But these distinctions appear to have failed to register with the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, who chose to liken Taunton to Aleppo during a House of Commons debate on Thursday. Ian Liddell-Grainger, whose own constituency neighbours the town, was attempting to draw attention to its boarded-up shops during a discussion about the high street. The Tory said: Exeter city has just brought out an excellent report looking 20 years ahead for the security and the growth of their city centre. Across the border, my county town Taunton is more like Aleppo than anything else. It is understood Mr Liddell-Grainger has never visited Syrias second city but a quick perusal of pictures could have shown him it bears very little resemblance to the ancient Somerset town. Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance Show all 3 1 /3 Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance IA11-4-Syria-main.jpg EPA Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance IA11-4-Syria.jpg AP Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance IA11-4-syria-3.jpg AP The former has been virtually razed to the ground since 2011, while the latter having not been repeatedly bombed, nor seen thousands of its residents killed in such attacks is still very much standing. Recommended A murder in Aleppo shows the Syrian war is not over yet I will leave your readers to think up the choice words for someone who would ally the suffering and devastation of Aleppo with the beauty and safety of Taunton, said John Williams, conservative leader of Taunton Deane Council, when contacted by The Independent. It is shameful and disgraceful. I have no idea why he would make the comparison. He added that Taunton had taken in between 20 and 30 Syrian refugees, who would almost certainly find the remarks offensive. Mr Liddell-Grainger himself has not responded to The Independents request for comment. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events But asked if he had ever been to Syria, a member of his office said: Its not for me to say. For some, it is just a case of making sure they have ample supplies of their favourite marmalade, or at least the basics like baked beans and bog roll. Other so-called Brexit preppers, however, seem ready to summon up images of no-deal ushering in something akin to the Apocalypse. Allow at least three litres of water per adult per day, says one online prepper guide published last June. You can line your toilet with plastic bags in the event of water being switched off and dispose of the contents away from your house. [For warmth] gather in one room and use extra blankets to line windows and doorways Theresa May, of course, has said members of the public do not need to stockpile and should take reassurance and comfort from her governments official preparations for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. Recommended The boundless idiocy of our politicians has made me a Brexit prepper The dont panic instruction, however, does have a certain Dads Army feel, given the governments seeming inability to organise a traffic jam near Dover, and its apparent willingness to rely on a ferry company with no ferries to ship in extra supplies. So how much of this Brexit prepping is sensible, and how much is alarmist overreaction? Should we be stockpiling food? The short answer is no, says the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This is despite the pretty chilling letter it sent to MPs on Monday warning with the backing of supermarket chief executives of the potential consequences of no-deal Brexit. And despite the fact that nearly one third of food consumed in the UK comes over what, for now, is a frictionless border with other EU states. For non-perishables like tins of beans, explained Andrew Opie, the consortiums director of food and sustainability, There is no need for consumers to buy more than normal, because stores have been increasing their supplies a little, just to make sure they are ready for the initial period after March 29. And for perishable goods like fresh fruit and vegetables, stockpiling by anybody is futile. Its not practical or particularly safe for anyone to store them, said Mr Opie. If there was any obvious way in which governments or businesses could solve the fresh produce problem in a no-deal Brexit, we would do. The reality is, the solution is to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit supporters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a peoples vote Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz AP Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament EPA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An Avaaz campaigner holds a Peoples Vote life float Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament Reuters With retailers typically storing no more than two weeks worth of stock, others have suggested further reasons why personal stockpiling might be unwise. One food supply expert, speaking anonymously because of how sensitive Brexit has become, explained: Its like the fears of petrol shortages caused by the fuel protests a few years ago. People think there is a petrol shortage, so they all rush off and buy petrol, and thats the only reason you end up with a shortage. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. By everyone keeping calm, you can prevent the very situation you are worried about from occurring. Should we be stockpiling medicines? The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) says no, but not in a very reassuring way. Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the RCGPs issued her guidance to The Independent with some pretty striking caveats. It is not within our realm of expertise, she said, To prepare autonomously for a situation [no-deal Brexit] with so many unknowns, and we should not be expected to as there are over 7,000 GP surgeries in England alone. The governing Council of the RCGP recently passed a motion to oppose Brexit and to call for a Peoples Vote on the grounds that Brexit in any form could potentially damage the NHS and patient care in a number of ways that were not made clear at the time of the initial referendum. But having said that, she advised: We do support the guidance that GPs should not stockpile medicines and devices at a practice-level as this has the potential to create or exacerbate shortages on a wider-scale. We understand that patients may be concerned about their access to medicines and devices, she concluded, But would ask them not to take it upon themselves to stockpile - or put their prescribing healthcare professional in a difficult position by asking them to help them to do so. Instead, said Professor Stokes-Lampard, patients should look to the government to reassure the public that these measures are unnecessary. As for how that government reassurance is going, in October Englands most senior department of health official, permanent secretary Sir Chris Wormald announced publicly that maintaining supplies of essential medicines would be very complex in the event of no-deal. A few hours later, Theresa May insisted the department of health was working to ensure we have plans in place to keep medicines flowing, even in the absence of a deal. Will there be food shortages and price rises in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Almost certainly, according to the letter warning MPs about the consequences of no-deal that was sent by the BRC and the UK chief executives of: Sainsburys, Asda, Marks & Spencer, the Co-Op, Waitrose, Costcutter, Lidl, Pret A Manger, KFC and McDonalds. The letter sought to explain to MPs the disruption no-deal Brexit would cause to Britains just-in-time food system, where fresh, perishable produce pulled out of the ground in Spain can be on UK supermarket shelves the following day. Nearly a third of all food eaten in the UK is EU-produced, and having a no-deal Brexit in March might be particularly bad timing because in spring a huge proportion of some perishables 90 per cent of lettuces, 80 per cent of tomatoes, 70 per cent of soft fruit comes from mainland Europe. In this, Dover as former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab belatedly realised - is particularly important: 38 per cent of all EU goods imports come through Dover and Folkestone. And it has been estimated that if you delay lorries at Dover for just two extra minutes, it can eventually cause tailbacks of around 30 miles. (Hence the governments attempt, in January, to simulate a 6,000-vehicle backlog at the Port of Dover with 150 lorries, which became 89 lorries after nearly half the drivers didnt bother to show up.) The letter stated that such delays can be expected in the event of no-deal. MPs were warned: Even if the UK government does not undertake checks on products at the border, there will still be major disruption at Calais as the French government has said it will enforce sanitary and customs checks on exports from the EU. Government data suggest freight trade between Calais and Dover may reduce by 87 per cent against current levels as a result. For consumers, this will reduce the availability and shelf life of many products in our stores. As for the supermarkets as opposed to the customers being able to further stockpile non-perishable items: All frozen and chilled storage is already being used and there is very little general warehousing space available in the UK. The letter also warned that as well as there being supply difficulties, prices may be pushed up by the new WTO rules tariff regime that would follow a no-deal Brexit. Currently, the letter explained, tariffs are paid on only around 10 per cent of food imports to the UK. MPs were told that proportion would go up if the UK reverted to WTO rules, which would greatly increase import costs, which could in turn put upward pressure on food prices. And so, the letter from one retail consortium, seven major grocers, and three big food chains concluded: We are extremely concerned that our customers will be among the first to experience the realities of a no-deal Brexit. We anticipate significant risks to maintaining the choice, quality and durability of food, and there will be inevitable pressure on prices. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Although when it comes to the more extreme prepper predictions, there seems to be no need to worry about the suggestion that the UK would survive no longer than five days on internal resources in a no-deal situation. The Independent was told it was remarkably unlikely that Britain would ever have to rely completely on its own internal resources: trade would not cease altogether, it would just get more complicated. We have been told that once we free ourselves from the shackles of Brussels, we will become a truly global Britain. Cant we simply airlift in the necessary food from our many new trading partners around the world? Not, it seems, without the risk of significant increases in food prices. If you have to airlift in a whole range of products, said Mr Opie of the BRC, It adds massively to costs. The risk is that retailers whose margins are already incredibly squeezed cant absorb those costs. Either they go out of business or they pass the costs on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. There was, he added, another problem with ending reliance on lorry loads of EU food by air freighting everything in from all over the world. It might not be possible. We simply dont have the capacity to air freight everything, said Mr Opie. At periods of peak demand, like just before Christmas, we had 130 lorry loads of citrus imports alone coming through our ports every day. Thats just for one type of product. We cant just switch everything to air freight. But no-deal Brexit wont happen, so surely no harm will have come from all this worrying about it? Just the contingency planning for no-deal is racking up massive costs, said Mr Opie. The costs are increasing by the day, he said. Every day, we are having to pump money into planning, in terms of peoples time, in terms of trying to find alternative supply routes and alternative supplies. All that money could have been better spent on cutting prices. The fact that the government or parliament is taking until the very last moment to determine what the outcome [of Brexit] will be, is really not helpful. After a comet encounter at the end of 2018 and a total lunar eclipse to kick off 2019, February continues to entice in a subtle way all its own as the best month in 2019 to see the planet Mercury, closest planet to the sun, in the evening sky at a somewhat normal time of day. That is because in late February Mercury will reach what is known among astronomers as its point of greatest western elongation. In other words, the gap between Mercury and the sun is at its largest during an evening apparition. Mercury will be standing at its highest above the horizon in the evening twilight than at any other time this year. Something crashed into the blood moon during the lunar eclipse and now scientists think they know what it is. As the world looked up to watch the spectacle of the lunar eclipse, some noticed that something pecular appeared to collide with the moon. A small flash was observed in its side, though it wasn't clear what happened. Normally, such a collision would have been invisible, because of the light from the Sun on the Moon's surface. But it was darker, because of the eclipse, meaning that the bright collision was still visible. And it was seen by a huge number of people, either watching themselves or viewing the spectacle through livestreams. Because of the eclipse, the event is probably the most documented collision ever by some distance. Scientists were intrigued to solve the mystery of the collision. Though such impacts are relatively common roughly every hour a small piece of space rock hits it, and without an atmosphere that will collide with the surface but the fact it was seen by millions of people made it a useful opportunity. 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 Now analysis of the images has shed some light on the origin and details of the object that collided with the Moon. According to the Colombian and Dominican astronomers who have published a paper on the collision, the falsh came when a meteoroid roughly the size of a beachball and with a mass of 20kg to 100kg crashed into the moon at a speed of roughly 47,000 km/h. Recommended Something smashed into the blood moon during the lunar eclipse The impact set off a cloud of hot, bright material that expanded quickly and then disappeared in less than a second. The collision would have left a crater more than 10 metres wide at the site of the impact. That could in the future be observed by a probe that could shed further light on the impact. Karls Pena, member of the Dominican Astronomical Society and coauthor of the work, said in a statement that social networks and easy access to technology, have brought humanity closer than ever to science (especially to non-experts) and he adds efforts like this, in which professionals and amateurs from different places work together for the advancement of human knowledge, are a very effective way to awaken interest in scientific research in our youngsters. Scientists have accidentally found a tiny, ancient "living fossil" galaxy and it was hiding surprisingly close to us. The compact collection of stars is almost as old as the universe itself, according to the astronomers who found it. And it could offer an opportunity to look back into the beginning of the cosmos. The tiny galaxy is only 30 million light-years away but is so dark and distant that it was only found while astronomers were looking for something else entirely. Scientists made the discovery while they were using the Hubble Space Telescope to look at the white dwarf stars in a globular cluster known as NGC 672. They had hoped to use those stars to measure the age of the cluster. But as they did so they spotted the small set of stars on the edge of the area they were observing. After analysis, they found the stars did not belong to the cluster they were looking at a part of the Milky Way but were in fact millions of light-years away from it. 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 The new discovery has been nicknamed Bedin 1 and is a small but long galaxy. It measures only 3000 light-years across even at its longest point, making it just a fraction of the size of our own Milky Way. It is dark as it is feint. Together, those porperties led astronomers to classify it as what is called a dwarf spheroidal galaxy. Such galaxies are defined by their small size and dim light, as well as their lack of dust and old stellar populations. Reserchers have found 36 galaxies of this kind in our nearby area, 22 of which are satellite galaxies around our own Milky Way. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are not uncommon, but the newly discovered one is strange in a number of ways. It is extremely isolated, about 30 million light-years from the Milky Way and two million light-years from its nearest possible host making it the most isolated of any small dwarf galaxy ever found. From studying its stars, scientists found that the galaxy is around 13 billion years old, making it nearly as old as the entire universe. Because it is so distant from any other galaxies and so has been left largely undisturbed as well as its old age, the astronomers refer to Bedin 1 as a fossil from the beginning of th ecosmos. News of the death of the Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi, who was 66, emerged as bloody clashes were taking place between anti-government demonstrators and security forces on the streets of Harare. The bitter irony is that Mtukudzi, who was known to his adoring public as Tuku, was regarded as a unifying, healing figure. Tens of thousands attended his funeral procession at the national stadium in Harare on Sunday. His popularity which stretched from the days of Rhodesias white minority government in the 1970s to an independent Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabes majority-rule regime and beyond cut across the political and generational divides. The husky vocals and fluid guitar playing that defined his music were described variously as simply Tuku music, as Afro-jazz or as a fusion of the Zimbabwean dance-music style jit and South African township pop. What was beyond doubt was its appeal, which also saw him make international tours, taking in the UK and North America. Mtukudzi performing in the US in 2003 (Getty) Mtukudzi eschewed overtly political lyrics, preferring to focus on themes about everyday problems, from alcohol abuse and womens rights to Aids, which claimed the life of his brother Robert and several band members. When, in 2001, his track Wasakara was banned. It was widely interpreted as a coded call to Robert Mugabe to relinquish his repressive grip. Yet he played at events staged by Zanu-PF, the party of Mugabe and his successor as president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as at the wedding and funeral of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Preaching to the converted was not his style. Where I come from you dont get to sing a song if you have nothing to say, he told CNN in 2013. Every song has something to do with the man in the street, who must be able to use it in his life. Born in the Highfield ghetto of Harare, Mtukudzi was inspired by his music-loving father. In the mid-1970s he began playing and recording with bands such as the Wagon Wheels and Black Spirits, collaborating in the former with Thomas Mapfumo, who would become known for anti-Mugabe protest songs before going into exile for 14 years. Moving into solo work Tuku went on to release more than 60 albums and in 2003 featured on the cover of Time magazine billed as The Peoples Voice. In 2010 his 21-year-old son Samson died in a car accident. Grief-stricken, Mtukudzi began playing more shows than ever before, explaining: Its the only therapy Ive got. The 2013 album Sarawoga (Left Alone) was dedicated to Sam. His final collection of songs, last Februarys HanyaGa (Concern), dealt with issues such as child marriage and economic collapse. He also recorded with South African artists such as Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The night before his death Mtukudzi was due to collect an award at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Coca-Cola Awards. Among the myriad honours conferred on him were the title of Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa and an honorary doctorate from the Great Zimbabwe University. Zimbabwes president Mnangagwa declared him a national hero after his death. Tuku is survived by his wife, Daisy, and five children. Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, born 22 September 1952, died 23 January 2019 A no-deal Brexit poses the biggest threat in a generation to the Northern Irish economy, according to the boss of Danske Bank UK. Small businesses are most at risk from a hard Brexit, while consumers will also be affected, said Kevin Kingston, the groups chief executive. Danske is one of the main banks in Northern Ireland, having taken over Northern Bank in 2004. A hard Brexit would undoubtedly have an impact on a whole range of sectors and individual businesses right across Northern Ireland, he told reporters in Belfast. That converts into lower economic growth and businesses making tough decisions about the number of people they employ and their investment. That, inevitably, will have an impact on consumers in Northern Ireland and the financial affairs of people on the street. Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An abandoned shop is seen in Mullan, Co Monaghan. The building was home to four families who left during the Troubles. The town was largely abandoned after the hard border was put in place during the conflict. Mullan has seen some regeneration in recent years, but faces an uncertain future with Brexit on the horizon Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A defaced Welcome to Northern Ireland sign stands on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Mervyn Johnson owns a garage in the border town of Pettigo, which straddles the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. Ive been here since 1956, it was a bit of a problem for a few years. My premises has been blown up about six or seven times, we just kept building and starting again, Johnson said laughing. We just got used to it [the hard border] really but now that its gone, we wouldn't like it back again Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Farmer Gordon Crocketts Coshquin farm straddles both Derry/Londonderry in the North and Donegal in the Republic. At the minute there is no real problem, you can cross the border as free as you want. We could cross it six or eight times a day, said Crockett. If there was any sort of obstruction it would slow down our work every day Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures John Murphy flies the European flag outside his home near the border village of Forkhill, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Potter Brenda McGinn stands outside her Mullan, Co Monaghan, studio the former Jas Boylan shoe factory which was the main employer in the area until it shut down due to the Troubles. When I came back, this would have been somewhere you would have driven through and have been quite sad. It was a decrepit looking village, said McGinn, whose Busy Bee Ceramics is one of a handful of enterprises restoring life to the community. Now this is a revitalised, old hidden village Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Union Flag colours painted on kerbstones and bus-stops along the border village of Newbuildings, Co Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Grass reflected in Lattone Lough, which is split by the border between Cavan and Fermanagh, seen from near Ballinacor, Northern Ireland Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Donegalman David McClintock sits in the Border Cafe in the village of Muff, which straddles Donegal and Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An old Irish phone box stands alongside a bus stop in the border town of Glaslough, Co Monaghan Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Billboards are viewed from inside a disused customs hut in Carrickcarnon, Co Down, on the border with Co Louth in the Republic Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Seamus McQuaid takes packages that locals on the Irish side of the border have delivered to his business, McQuaid Auto-Parts, to save money on postal fees, near the Co Fermanagh village of Newtownbutler. I live in the south but the business is in the North, said McQaid. "I wholesale into the Republic of Ireland so if theres duty, Ill have to set up a company 200 yards up the road to sell to my customers. Ill have to bring the same product in through Dublin instead of Belfast Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A disused Great Northern Railway line and station that was for customs and excise on the border town of Glenfarne, Co Leitrim Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Alice Mullen, from Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland, does her shopping at a former customs post on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh. Id be very worried if it was a hard border, I remember when people were divided. I would be very afraid of the threat to the peace process, it was a dreadful time to live through. Even to go to mass on a Sunday, youd have to go through checkpoints. It is terribly stressful, said Mullen. All those barricades and boundaries were pulled down. I see it as a huge big exercise of trust and I do believe everyone breathed a sigh of relief Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A bus stop and red post box stand in the border town of Jonesborough, Co Armagh Reuters Mr Kingston said: What we have seen is that larger businesses have been taking decisions to try to safeguard their operations, but the smaller businesses are far less prepared, making them the most vulnerable. It is these businesses that are of course the lifeblood of the economy in Northern Ireland. At this point I am gravely concerned about the challenges ahead should a hard Brexit become a reality. He added: There will be businesses which wont survive a hard Brexit. Mr Kingston made the remarks after Danske posted a 28 per cent drop in group profit in 2018, while profit in Northern Ireland dropped 40 per cent to 744m. The bank was rocked last year by a money-laundering scandal and has now pledged to spend $307m (235m) on tightening up its safeguards against financial crime. Earlier this week, Northern Irish businesses said they urgently required more clarity on Brexit from the British government after MPs voted to remove the Irish backstop from Theresa Mays withdrawal deal. A fifth of large UK firms have moved operations overseas due to Brexit, while a further 12 per cent are planning or considering it, according a new survey by the Institute of Directors (IoD). The findings support multiple warnings that many businesses are now well past the point of no return when it comes to taking contingency action, as MPs fail to agree on how to leave the European Union and a no-deal rupture on 29 March rushes closes. The IoD surveyed 1,200 company directors and found that 21 per cent of large firms had already set up operations outside the UK due to Brexit, while 5 per cent plan to do so and 7 per cent are actively considering it. For medium-size firms 15 per cent have aready moved operations overseas and 8 per cent of small companies have done so. The survey, conducted between 17 and 19 January, also found that 69 per cent of movers were shifting, or considering shifting, operations to within the European Union. About 18 per cent of firms have now activated their contingency plans, while a similar proportion had drawn them up but had not yet pushed the button. The sector that has done the most shifting of assets and resources overseas is finance, with 17 per cent of firms already having done so. Next comes manufacturing with 14 per cent and professional, scientific and technical firms next. Recommended UK car industry pleads for Brexit deal as investment collapses by half A tenth of information firms and 8 per cent of construction firms have also already taken action. It brings no pleasure to reveal these worrying signs, but we can no more ignore the real consequences of delay and confusion than business leaders can ignore the hard choices that they face in protecting their companies, said Edwin Morgan, the interim director general of the IoD. The UKs hard-won reputation as a stable, predictable environment for enterprise is being chipped away. Our political leaders must keep this in the front of their minds as we enter this critical phase of negotiations. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed this week that investment by the UK car industry halved in 2018 due to Brexit-related uncertainty. And Barclays was given the all clear by the High Court on Wednesday to shift 190bn (160bn) of its clients assets to Ireland as it ramps up preparations for Brexit. Earlier this month, Airbus repeated a warning that it could have to close its plants if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal. In response to the IoD report a government spokesperson said: Germanys Economy Minister, Peter Altmaier, this week unveiled a rather brutal downgrade in his countrys official growth forecast for 2019, from 1.8 per cent to just 1 per cent. This came on the back of the worst year of GDP growth for Germany (1.5 per cent in 2018) in five years. And one of the reasons Mr Altmaier cited for the downgrade was the negative impact of Brexit. This has led to some speculation that the alarming weakening of Germany economy it only seems to have narrowly avoided slipping into recession in the second half of 2018 could influence Angela Merkels stance on Brexit, perhaps inducing Berlin to be amenable to Theresa Mays proposals to revisit the Irish backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement. If German politicians like Mr Altmaier appreciate that their own countrys economic self-interest is tightly related to avoiding a no-deal Brexit that could change the terms of trade of the EU-UK Brexit negotiations, goes the thinking. But does the logic here stand up? How much is Germanys slowdown actually due to Brexit? And how damaging would a no-deal scenario even be for Europes largest economy? Recommended Germany slumps to worst growth in five years in 2018 Germany exported around $95bn of goods and services to the UK in 2017, making us the countrys fourth largest export market, after the US, France and China. But Andrew Kenningham, a Europe specialist at Capital Economics, is sceptical that a weakening UK economy ahead of Brexit was the primary reason for slowing German growth last year, noting that industrial disruption due to new automotive emissions regulations was influential in the third quarter contraction. I dont think most people would see Brexit see as the main reason for it, he said. Its true that exports from Germany to the UK have been declining. Theyve probably been the weakest of its major export destinations. But theyve also slowed a lot in China, theyve slowed to other emerging economies, including Turkey and Russia. Its not just exports to the UK have collapsed while everyone else is doing fine. Narrowly dodging a recession Oliver Rakau, a Frankfurt-based economist for Oxford Economics, says Mr Altmaier was simply listing the long menu of reasons for the slowdown, rather than singling out Brexit. Its quite common to mention Brexit. And the document [from the economy ministry outlining the downgrade] was more balanced it was much more boring! He suspects, based on data released previously in Beijing, that the big drag in terms of German exports in the final quarter of 2018 will turn out to be due to waning demand in China rather than the UK. But Mr Kenningham suggests that Mr Altmaier might have mentioned Brexit for political reasons, rather than economic ones. The economy minister has been vocal for some time about the importance of avoiding a no-deal Brexit and has suggested that the UK should be allowed to extend the Article 50 process to avoid the 29 March cliff edge. We might take that kind of statement [from Altmaier] with a pinch of salt because often they have their own incentives to exaggerate the impact of these things because theyre trying to influence the policy debate, he says. But what about the hugely important German car industry? Here the bigger hit to business has been Donald Trumps trade wars, rather than Brexit, according to analysts. German firms produce a lot of cars in America, in the UK, in China. Those car companies have all been struggling. Exports of German cars to the US have been collapsing. But thats not a factor which will have been driving the German GDP figures. That would be part of GDP in the countries where the cars are produced. The flow of those profits [back to Germany] would show up in gross national product (GNP), not domestic product. Nevertheless, concerns about Brexit could be dampening corporate business investment in Germany, which has been relatively weak. Exports falling but not just to the UK But what about a no-deal Brexit in March? How damaging would that be for Germany? Could that rising threat galvanise politicians in Berlin? In the long-term the IMF estimates that the UK being forced to trade on bare World Trade Organisation terms would cost the UK almost 4 per cent of GDP, versus less than 0.5 per cent for Germany. But what about the immediate impact, the disruption in 2019? Mr Kenningham notes that Germanys exports of goods and services to the UK account for around 3 per cent of its GDP. Even if they were hit hard say a 10 per cent fall for a few months it wouldnt have a huge impact if you look at it arithmetically, he says. But he concedes thats a narrow way of looking at it. If youre the CEO of BMW and you couldnt get your car parts to Cowley [in Oxford] that could have a big impact on business sentiment. It would be a major headache. And Mr Rakau thinks that a no-deal would certainly increase the chances of Germany tipping into recession. More pain for UK than Germany from no-deal Brexit So could car companies, and German industry more broadly, come to the rescue of the UK government and put pressure on Ms Merkel to accommodate the British, perhaps at the expense of Ireland, which wants the backstop to be entirely untouched? Analysts are not expecting that. I know its often cited in the UK that Germany industry will put on pressure but I dont foresee that, says Mr Rakau. Even the German industrial associations have put out press releases saying this is for the British side to sort out. Manchester Pride has come under fire from festivalgoers after more than doubling the price of tickets to the weekend festival. On Thursday, the annual LGBT+ pride festival released tickets to access Pride festivities, including a new music festival (called Manchester Pride Live) and events in the Gay Village. However, disgruntled Pride fans are criticising event organisers for increasing the price of a weekend ticket to the festival, dubbed the Rainbow Pass, by 105 per cent from 34.50 to 70.95 in one year. According to organisers, the Rainbow Pass provides unlimited weekend access to The Gay Village which runs from 23 to 26 August, as well as access to each of Manchester Pride Lives performance areas, pop up performances and a fairground. The inflated ticket prices come almost a year after the festival announced it was forced to relocate the 2019 festival, previously known as The Big Weekend, to Mayfield in the City Centre. London Pride 2018: in pictures Show all 47 1 /47 London Pride 2018: in pictures London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures EPA London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Angela Christofilou London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures AFP/Getty London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London London Pride 2018: in pictures PA London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Barefoot Wine London Pride 2018: in pictures Getty Images for Pride In London As a result, wishful attendees have taken to Twitter to express their outrage at the ticket price increase. Even with those black and brown stripes, at this new price point manchester pride is going to be whiter than ever dont @ me, wrote one user, referring to the two colours added to the eight stripe flag design originally flown outside Philadelphias City Hall in 2017. Another wrote that the festivals ticket prices were disgusting. It's losing meaning and is inaccessible to those who need it most. #Prideisaprotest not a gig at the O2 arena!, they added. 70 for #manchesterpride tickets!! And I thought the ridiculous flag and the move away from the village was the final nail in its coffin, wrote another. According to a breakdown of prices, supplied to The Independent from Manchester Pride organisers, a standard Rainbow Pass ticket costs 64.50. The 70.95 price advertised on Ticketmaster includes a booking fee. A single Saturday session ticket to the festival's Manchester Pride Live event is priced at 34.50, while a Sunday ticket will set you back 38.50. While Manchester Pride Live and the Gay Village Gathering are ticketed at the event, festivalgoers can still attend the city centre parade on 24 August for free. Manchester Pride will also be hosting free events such as the Superbia Weekend, described as a "weekend of cultural events from film screenings to yoga and booking readings". Recommended Andrew Garfield gives impassioned speech for LGBTQ community at Tonys Manchester Pride Live is yet to announce its musical line up this year. Last year, acts at festival's The Big Weekend included Rita Ora, Sigala, and Alexandra Burke. Explaining the reason behind the increase in ticket prices, Mark Fletcher, Chief Exec for Manchester Pride, said: At Manchester Pride Live, a whole new ticketed event for the festival, were presenting the biggest line up of artists weve ever had, for less than the price of a single concert ticket. The new format for the festival and the ticket options are proving popular. Weve seen record figures for our pre-registered ticket buyers already and tickets only went on sale this morning! For a full breakdown of ticket prices at Manchester Pride festival, click here. Hundreds of women experience painful sex, new research has found. According to a study of more than 1,200 UK adults carried out by Durex, sexual discomfort of varying degrees affects 73 per cent of women. One third say the pain is hindering their libido and one in 10 say its having an adverse effect on their relationship with their sexual partner. The findings also reveal that nine per cent of women have faked an orgasm with a partner and a further 15 per cent have purposefully hurried their partner towards climax due to feeling uncomfortable. Despite these figures, just 57 per cent of men surveyed said theyve noticed a female partner feeling uncomfortable during sex. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners Show all 23 1 /23 The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 1. The Office of Gardens and Ponds by Didier Decoin Katsuro moaned as a bulge formed beneath the material of his kimono, a bulge that Miyuki seized, kneaded, massaged, squashed and crushed. With the fondling, Katsuros penis and testicles became one single mound that rolled around beneath the grip of her hand. Miyuki felt as though she was manipulating a small monkey that was curling up its paws. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 2. Pax by John Harvey She was burning hot and the heat was in him. He looked down on her perfect black slenderness. Her eyes were ravenous. Like his own they were fire and desire. More than torrid, more than tropical: they too were riding the Equator. They embraced as if with violent holding they could weld the two of them one The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 3. Katerina by James Frey Im hard and deep inside her fucking her on the bathroom sink her tight little black dress still on her thong on the floor my pants at my knees our eyes locked, our hearts and souls and bodies locked.Cum inside me. Cum inside me. Cum inside me. Blinding breathless shaking overwhelming exploding white God I cum inside her my cock throbbing were both moaning eyes hearts souls bodies one. One. White. God. Cum. Cum. Cum. I close my eyes let out my breath. Cum. I lean against her both breathing hard Im still inside her smiling. She takes my hands lifts them and places them around her body, she puts her arms around me, we stay still and breathe, hard inside her, tight and warm and wet around me, we breathe. She gently pushes me away, we look into each others eyes, she smiles. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 4. The Destroyers by Christopher Bollen (2017) She covers her breasts with her swimsuit. The rest of her remains so delectably exposed. The skin along her arms and shoulders are different shades of tan like water stains in a bathtub. Her face and vagina are competing for my attention, so I glance down at the billiard rack of my penis and testicles. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 5. Men Like Air by Tom Connolly (2016) The walkway to the terminal was all carpet, no oxygen. Dilly bundled Finn into the first restroom on offer, locked the cubicle door and pulled at his leather belt. Youre beautiful, she told him, going down on to her haunches and unzipping him. He watched her passport rise gradually out of the back pocket of her jeans in time with the rhythmic bobbing of her buttocks as she sucked him. He arched over her back and took hold of the passport before it landed on the pimpled floor. Despite the immediate circumstances, human nature obliged him to take a look at her passport photo. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 6. The Day Before Happiness by Erri De Luca (2016) She pushed on my hips, an order that thrust me in. I entered her. Not only my prick, but the whole of me entered her, into her guts, into her darkness, eyes wide open, seeing nothing. My whole body had gone inside her. I went in with her thrusts and stayed still. While I got used to the quiet and the pulsing of my blood in my ears and nose, she pushed me out a little, then in again. She did it again and again, holding me with force and moving me to the rhythm of the surf. She wiggled her breasts beneath my hands and intensified the pushing. I went in up to my groin and came out almost entirely. My body was her gearstick. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 7. List of the Lost by Morrissey (2015) At this, Eliza and Ezra rolled together into the one giggling snowball of full-figured copulation, screaming and shouting as they playfully bit and pulled at each other in a dangerous and clamorous rollercoaster coil of sexually violent rotation with Elizas breasts barrel-rolled across Ezras howling mouth and the pained frenzy of his bulbous salutation extenuating his excitement as it whacked and smacked its way into every muscle of Elizas body except for the otherwise central zone. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 8. Infrared by Nancy Huston (2012) In a delirium of restrained desire, I weigh, stroke and lick Kamal's balls, then take his penis in my hands, between my breasts, into my mouth. He sits up, reaches for me and I allow him to explore me in turn. He runs his tongue and lips over my breasts, the back of my neck, my toes, my stomach, the countless treasures between my legs, oh the sheer ecstasy of lips and tongues on genitals, either simultaneously or in alternation, never will I tire of that silvery fluidity, my sex swimming in joy like a fish in water, my self freed of both self and other, the quivering sensation, the carnal pink palpitation that detaches you from all colour and all flesh, making you see only stars, constellations, milky ways, propelling you bodiless and soulless into undulating space where the undulating skies make your non-body undulate. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 9. Ed King by David Guterson (2011) He freed himself from her nipple after a long attachment so as to kiss her on the mouth at length as if seeking to set the world record for kiss duration and she smelled her breast on his breath, which was otherwise piquant with saliva, a little tart, a little bitter, and humid with the churning underworld the raw metabolism and generative heat beneath the flawless exterior. Jim Long's odor had been a little like Naugahyde, and his mouth, lips, and tongue had often tasted metallic (or, just as often, steeped in vermouth), whereas Ed smelled vulnerably digestive, warm-blooded, moist, and, just now, breast-fed. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 10. 11.22.63 by Stephen King (2011) She said, Don't make me wait, I've had enough of that, and so I kissed the sweaty hollow of her temple and moved my hips forward ... She gasped, retreated a little, then raised her hips to meet me. Sadie? All right? Ohmygodyes, she said and I laughed. She opened her eyes and looked up at me with curiosity and hopefulness. Is it over, or is there more? A little more, I said. I don't know how much. I haven't been with a woman in a long time. It turned out there was quite a bit more At the end she began to gasp. Oh dear, oh my dear, oh my dear dear God, oh sugar! The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 11. The Shape of Her by Rowan Somerville (2010) The triangle of pubic hair, blond, a thin line bunched darkly, like desert vegetation following an underground stream. He placed his hand on the concave stretch that was her belly, letting two fingers rest in the yawn of her navel. He slipped downwards, grazing the tight skin of her waist with his fingertips. He reached her hair line and the muscles of her belly hardened as she raised herself up onto her elbows. She stayed his hand and drew him, yanked him, into a smothering kiss. She released his hair from her fingers and twisted onto her belly like a fish flipping itself, her movement so brusque his chin bounced off her head... The wet friction of her, tight around him, the sight of her open, stretched around him, the cleft of her body, it tore a climax out of him with a final lunge. Like a lepidopterist mounting a tough-skinned insect with a too blunt pin he screwed himself into her. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 12. The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave (2009) He slips his hands under her cotton vest and her body spasms and slackens and he cups her small, cold breasts in his hands and feels the hard pearls of her nipples, like tiny secrets, against the barked palms of his hands. He feels the gradual winding down of her dying heart and can see a bluish tinge blossoming on the skin of her skull through her thin, ironed hair. 'Oh, my dear Avril,' he says. He puts his hands under her knees and manoeuvres her carefully so that her bottom rests on the edge of the settee. He slips his fingers underneath the worn elastic of her panties that are strung across the points of her hips, slips them to her ankles and softly draws apart her knees and feels again a watery ardour in his eyes as he negotiates a button and a zipper. It is exactly as he imagined it the hair, the lips, the hole and he slips his hands under her wasted buttocks and enters her like a fucking pile driver. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 13. The Humbling by Philip Roth (2009) First Pegeen stepped into the contraption, adjusted and secured the leather straps, and affixed the dildo so that it jutted straight out. Then she crouched above Tracy, brushing Tracy's lips and nipples with her mouth and fondling her breasts, and then she slid down a ways and gently penetrated Tracy with the dildo. Pegeen did not have to force her open... The green cock plunged in and out of the abundant naked body sprawled beneath it, slow at first, then faster and harder, then harder still, and all of Tracy's curves and hollows moved in unison with it. This was not soft porn. This was no longer two unclothed women caressing and kissing on a bed. There was something primitive about it now, this woman-on-woman violence, as though, in the room filled with shadows, Pegeen were a magical composite of shaman, acrobat, and animal. It was as if she were wearing a mask on her genitals, a weird totem mask, that made her into what she was not and was not supposed to be. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 14. Will by Christopher Rush (2007) O glorious pubes! The ultimate triangle, whose angles delve to hell but point to paradise. Let me sing the black banner, the blackbird's wing, the chink, the cleft, the keyhole in the door. The fig, the fanny, the cranny, the quim - I'd come close to it now, this sudden blush, this ancient avenue, the end of all odysseys and epic aim of life, pulling at my prick now, pulling like a lodestone. Anne Hathaway's cow-milking fingers, cradling my balls in her almond palm, now took pity on the poor anguished erection, and in the infinite agony of her desire, guided it to the quick of the wound. At the same time I searched wildly with the fingers of my left hand, groping blind as Cyclops, found the pulpy furred wetness, parted the old lips of time and slipped my middle finger into the sancta sanctorum. It welcomed me with soft sucking sounds, syllables older than language, solace lovelier than words. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 15. The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer (2007) Klara turned head to foot, and put her most unmentionable part down on his hard-breathing nose and mouth, and took his old battering ram into her lips. Uncle was now as soft as a coil of excrement. She sucked on him nonetheless with an avidity that could come only from the Evil One - that she knew. From there, the impulse had come. So now they both had their heads at the wrong end, and the Evil One was there. He had never been so close before. The Hound began to come to life. Right in her mouth. It surprised her. Alois had been so limp. But now he was a man again! His mouth lathered with her sap, he turned around and embraced her face with all the passion of his own lips and face, ready at last to grind into her with the Hound, drive it into her piety. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 16. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell (2006) If Dawn Madden's breasts were a pair of Danishes, Debby Crombie's got two Space Hoppers. Each armed with a gribbly nipple. Tom Yew kissed them in turn and his saliva glistened in the April sun. I know watching was wrong but I couldn't not. Tom Yew slipped off her red panties and stroked the cressy hair there... Tom Yew got on her and sort of jiggled there and she gasped like he was giving her a Chinese burn and wrapped her legs round him, froggily. Now he moved up and down, Man-from Atlantisly. His silver chain jiggled on his neck. Now her grubby soles met like they were praying. Now his skin was glazed in roast pork sweat. Now she made a noise like a tortured Moomintroll. Now Tom Yew's body jerkjerked judderily jackknifed and a noise like a ripping cable tore out of him. Once more, like he'd been booted in the balls. Her fingernails'd sunk salmony welts into his arse. Debby Crombie's mouth made a perfect O. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 17. Winkler by Giles Coren (2005) And he came hard in her mouth and his dick jumped around and rattled on her teeth and he blacked out and she took his dick out of her mouth and lifted herself from his face and whipped the pillow away and he gasped and glugged at the air, and he came again so hard that his dick wrenched out of her hand and a shot of it hit him straight in the eye and stung like nothing he'd ever had in there, and he yelled with the pain, but the yell could have been anything, and as she grabbed at his dick, which was leaping around like a shower dropped in an empty bath, she scratched his back deeply with the nails of both hands and he shot three more times, in thick stripes on her chest. Like Zorro. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 18. Young Turk by Moris Farhi (2004) I am stretched out on a sofa. My beloved is determined to assess my age. She has an infallible method for doing so: the way they ascertain a tree's age: by counting the rings in its trunk. Consequently, she has my member in her mouth. Her lips are thick with lipstick. Starting from the base of my penis, her mouth ambles upwards. At each half-centimetre, her lips imprint a red ring around the shaft. She continues until she runs out of length. She counts the rings. On this occasion they add up to thirty-six. (An hour ago, the number had been forty-one.) She cuddles up to me. She coos. Thirty-odd rings. What a mature oak in one so young! The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 19. I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe (2004) Slither slither slither slither went the tongue, but the hand that was what she tried to concentrate on, the hand, since it has the entire terrain of her torso to explore and not just the otorhinolaryngological caverns - oh God, it was not just at the border where the flesh of the breast joins the pectoral sheath of the chest - no, the hand was cupping her entire right - Now! She must say No, Hoyt and talk to him like a dog. The fingers went under the elastic of the panties moan moan moan moan moan went Hoyt as he slithered slithered slithered slithered and caress caress caress caress went the fingers until they must be only eighths of inches from the border of her public hair - what's that! - Her panties were so wet down. There - the fingers had definitely reached the outer stand of the field of pubic hair and would soon plunge into the wet mess that was waiting right. There-there- The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 20. The Crime Tsar by Nichola McAuliffe (2003) 'It's all right, I won't break,' she whispered. She felt him aware of his size and weight. His care not to hurt her. She moved to accommodate him and felt the blind probings before he slipped inside her. He was bigger than she had remembered. She tilted her hips and felt the weight of his balls on her... what? Small expanse of skin between vagina and anus. Perineum - was that it? Her mind screamed: Shut up, Lucy! You're not doing the Cosmopolitan crossword now. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 21. The Stranger at the Palazzo d'Oro by Paul Theroux (2003) The softness of her skin in the dark, far softer-seeming because of the dark, was irresistible. And the aroma of her lily-fragrant perfume mingled with the cat smell of her steaming cunt made me salivate and pant like a lion, my nose tormented by damp fur and hot blood. Still I could not tell where her soft skin ended and her silk began, and the complexity of her vaginal lips was like another elaborate silken garment she had put on for me to stroke. I adored the gleam of her body in the light from the streetlamps and the blistered moon... She knelt and worshipped my cock with her mouth and her gloved hands and she cried out louder than I did when I came, spattering her face as she licked. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 22. Bunker 13 by Aniruddha Bahal (2003) She's taking off her blouse. It's on the floor. Her breasts are placards for the endomorphically endowed. In spite of yourself a soft whistle of air escapes you. She's taking off her trousers now. They are a heap on the floor. Her panties are white and translucent. You can see the dark hair sticking to them inside. There's a design as well. You gasp. 'What's that?' you ask. You see a designer pussy. Hair razored and ordered in the shape of a swastika. The Aryan denominator. As your hands roam her back, her breasts, and trace the swastika on her mound you start feeling like an ancient Aryan warlord yourself. The 23 best / worst Bad Sex in Fiction award winners 23. Starcrossed by AA Gill (1999) His tongue is long and hard and tastes of mint. We don't say anything, but he pushes me to my knees in the middle of the shop. It's difficult to undo his flies. I put my hand in. It's hot and damp, and then, Christ; it's amazing, huge. It just goes on and on, as thick as... "As a magnum? A jeroboam? A methuselah? A bitter pump?" "A fucking salami. Shut up, John." One of the primary causes of sexual discomfort for women is vaginal dryness, which Dr Moses Batwala, consultant gynaecologist at The Evewell Clinic in London, says affects 20 to 40 per cent of women aged 17 to 50. Speaking to The Independent, Batwala explains dryness occurs when there are decreased levels of oestrogen in a woman's body and can lead to itchiness, irritation and decreased elasticity, all of which can render sex uncomfortable. "Many women are embarrassed to talk about vaginal dryness, even with their partners," he says. "Nor do they seek help about vaginal dryness yet it is a very common symptom and cause of morbidity and there is a lot of help and options at hand." Consultant gynaecologist Amanda Tozer adds that this is condition most commonly experienced by menopausal women. "This is because oestrogen is no longer produced by the ovaries of women when they reach the menopause," she tells The Independent. Recommended This is why STIs are on the rise Younger women may also experience dryness due to hormonal reasons, says Mr Narendra Pisal, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology. He explaine these may include hormonal changes due to breastfeeding or a progesterone-only contraception. But the study found that most women experiencing dryness (42 per cent) thought it meant they weren't "turned on enough". As for treatments, Tozer says one of the simplest solutions is to use either water or oil-based lubricants during sex. According to Durex's research, just one third of women would use lubricants with a partner despite the fact that nine in 10 said that sex felt better when they used them. Other reasons for painful sex cited by female respondents in Durex's survey include the sex position (42 per cent) and blaming their partner for "not knowing how to pleasure them". Sex and relationships vlogger and writer Hannah Witton explains that the research sheds a light on the need for women to be honest about what is and isn't enjoyable during sex. "Sex can be uncomfortable, and thats totally normal, but its just about being confident enough to find solutions that work for you as an individual," she tells The Independent. "If I experience any discomfort or pain during sex, I would certainly pause and use lube." But Chidera Eggerue, blogger and founder of the #SaggyBoobsMatter movement, tells The Independent that Durex's findings are reflective of a systemic societal problem about gender dynamics. When it comes to intimacy between men and women, the goal for the latter is to be as exciting as possible in order to impress your partner. But the sad and ironic thing is the guy is doing nothing to impress you because hes been socialised to put himself first," she says. So it completely makes sense that in a situation where a woman and a man have sex, there is a strong likelihood that she will compromise her needs. The 24-year-old added that this may explain why a large number of men said they havent noticed a female partner experiencing discomfort during sex. In terms of what can be done to combat the issue, Eggerue explains that improving sex education in schools is vital, but that its not enough to really change the behavioural attitudes between men and women with regards to sex. We need to extend beyond the conversation regarding sex and involve autonomy, she said. Women need to feel comfortable taking control of their bodies and putting their wellbeing first. Huawei is set to join other smartphone makers by unveiling a foldable phone later this month, amid a series of controversies for the Chinese company. Huawei's mobile division took to Twitter to announce an event called 'Connecting the Future', taking place on 24 February at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. An image of what appears to be a folding screen accompanied the tweet. The announcement comes just a week after Huawei CEO Richard Yu confirmed the imminent arrival of a foldable phone. "We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona in February, where we will launch the world's first 5G smartphone with foldable screen," he said at an investor meeting in Beijing. The Huawei event will come just a few days after Samsung's Unpacked event, where it could potentially unveil its highly-anticipated Galaxy X foldable phone. The image shared in Huawei's tweet suggests the screen could be on the outside of the device, in contrast to Samsung's inward-facing main display. No word has been given on the name of the folding phone, though Huawei has previously trademarked a number of model names that could fit the 5G smartphone. They include the Mate Flex, the Mate Flexi, the Mate Fold and the Mate F. Presuming the phone will be released shortly after its MWC 2019 unveiling, it is unlikely it will be available in all markets straight away. Several western governments have joined the US in raising concerns about Huawei in relation to the company's alleged ties with the Chinese government. Huawei has gone from copycat to competitor in recent years thanks to a succession of impressive flagship smartphones (Getty Images) (Getty) In 2018 Huawei became the second most popular smartphone maker in the world, yet some have accused Huawei of using its phones as spy tools. As a result of these concerns, the US government has banned officials from using Huawei devices, with FBI Director Christopher Wray alleging the phones can be used to "maliciously modify or steal information." No evidence of this practice, or any other surveillance practices, is yet to be made public. Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts it accused of being linked to "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" coming from Iran. The company claims the 783 pages, accounts and groups were being used to disrupt politics and elections and have now been shut down. The latest purge is the latest in a run of removals that have also seen thousands of accounts linked to Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia taken off the site. The accounts on Facebook and Instagram typically misrepresented themselves as locals in more than two dozen countries ranging from Afghanistan, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Facebook said Thursday the accounts spent about $30,000 on advertisements, paid for in U.S. dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars and euros. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Show all 9 1 /9 How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Lock your profile down If you havent done this already, do it now. In Settings, hit the Privacy tab. From here, you can control who gets to see your future posts and friends list. Choose from Public, Friends, Only Me and Custom in the dropdown menu. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Limit old posts Annoyingly, changing this has no effect on whos able to see your past Facebook posts. Instead, on the Privacy page, you have to click on Limit Past Posts, then select Limit Old Posts and finally hit Confirm on the pop-up. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Make yourself harder to find You can stop completely random people from adding you by selecting Friends of Friends from the dropdown menu in the Who can send you friend requests? section of the Privacy page. Its also worth limiting who can find your Facebook profile with your number and email address. At the bottom of the page is the option to prevent search engines outside of Facebook from linking to your profile. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Control access to your Timeline You can limit who gets to post things on your Timeline and who gets to see posts on your Timeline too. In Settings, go to Timeline and Tagging and edit the sections you want to lock down. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Block people When you block someone, they wont be able to see things you post on your Timeline, tag you, invite you to events or groups, start conversations with you or add you as a friend. To do it, go to Settings and Blocking. Annoyingly, you have to block people on Messenger separately. You can also add friends to your Restricted list here, which means theyll still be friends with you but will only be able to see your public posts and things you share on a mutual friend's Timeline. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Review tags One of Facebooks handiest privacy features is the ability to review posts youre tagged in before they appear on your Timeline. Theyll still be visible on the News Feed while theyre fresh, but wont be tied to your profile forever. In Timeline and Tagging, enable Timeline review controls. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Clean up your apps You can view a list of all of the apps youve connected to your Facebook account by going to Settings and Apps. The list might be longer than you expected it to be. Its worth tidying this up to ensure things you no longer use lose access to your personal information. If you dont want to log into websites and apps with your facebook account, scroll down and turn Platform off. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Change your ad preferences You can view a list of everything Facebook thinks youre into and tinker with your ad preferences by going to Settings and Adverts. A lot more information is displayed on the desktop site than the app, so wed recommend doing this on a computer. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Download your data Facebook lets you download all of the data it has on you, including the posts youve shared, your messages and photos, ads youve clicked on and even the IP addresses that are logged when you log in or out of the site. Its a hell of a lot of information, which you should download to ensure you never over-share on the social network again. The company said Twitter helped its investigation by sharing information about suspicious activity it found on its own service. The companies, along with others in the tech industry, have been cooperating more when it comes to such account takedowns by sharing information. Such cooperation can help the companies avoid regulatory scrutiny by showing critics and lawmakers that they can set aside differences when it comes to battling outside threats that affect their users. The latest removed accounts, Facebook said, typically represented themselves as locals in various countries, often using fake accounts and posting news stories on current events. This included using stories from Iranian state media about conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Additional reporting by agencies We make decisions based on whats in the best interest of the public, he said, and the fact that were moving forward on these reforms I think speaks volumes that were going to make the right decisions in the interest of the county and its residents, no matter where a campaign contribution comes from. Evan Rachel Wood has opened up about checking herself into a psychiatric hospital when she was 22. In an open essay, the 31-year-old recalled how a suicide attempt prompted her to ask for help. The Westworld actor now says it was the worst, best thing that ever happened to her, because it led to her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the letter, written for Nylon, Wood begins by saying: "Mental health famously has a stigma around it. We are more likely to call in sick with a cold, than to say were depressed. We are more likely to get sympathy for a broken arm, than we are for a bout of debilitating sadness. "But we know these things are real and they affect all of us in some form or another. Yet, because we cant see depression, its easier to write off. Its easier for people to put a negative stereotype on you. This is one of the biggest lies in society today." She goes on to say: It was morning; I felt as though I had been hit by a truck. Then with an almost hysterical acceptance, without thinking, I picked up the phone. It was one of those moments when you have a choice that goes beyond the initial choice you make by calling out for help: You can not die, or you can come back to life." Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Show all 18 1 /18 Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Wood recalls telling her mother: 'Mom? Its me I just tried to kill myself I need to go to a hospital. But, the actor did not have any physical injuries, and instead said she needed treatment for her state of mind. When she was questioned by her mother about why she attempted suicide, Wood revealed she just wanted some space from the scars and shadows that were filling her mind. Recommended Simon Webbe discusses breaking down taboos around suicide She was eventually diagnosed with PTSD, which was caused by multiple rapes and a severely abusive relationship that went on for years. In the essay, the actor also spoke about how seeking help felt more difficult because she was in the public eye. Getting help for mental illness is not something I can broadcast, Wood explains. So when it came time to find a psychiatric hospital, my first concern which most people wont have to worry about was figuring out a way to get help without anyone finding out, because if they did, any chance I had at rebuilding myself would be severely impaired by the cruelty of strangers. The actor found a place at a private psychiatric hospital where her name was changed to protect her identity and she was prescribed medication for her anxiety. Since her stay, Wood says shes continued going to therapy and has managed to wean herself off medication. Wood concluded the essay by reminding people that depression isnt a weakness. There is no economic class, race, sexuality, or gender that is safe from their own mind. We know success doesnt cure depression, we know that people telling you they love you doesnt cure depression, we know that just thinking positively doesnt cure depression, she writes. Depression isnt weakness, its a sickness. Sometimes a deadly one. And sometimes all people need is to know that they are loved and that others are there for them. They may not take your hand right away, but knowing its there could save their life one day. The actor first went public about the sexual abuse she experienced in 2016 when she revealed she had been raped by two people - a significant other and the owner of a bar. Wood also gave emotional testimony in front of a House Judiciary Subcommittee in Washington to advocate for Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights Acts in all 50 states. Detailing the abuse in March last year, the actor said: I struggled with self-harm to the point of two suicide attempts, which landed me in a psychiatric hospital for a short period of time. This was, however, a turning point in my life when I started seeking professional help to deal with my trauma and mental stress. But others are not so fortunate, and because of this rape is often more than a few minutes of trauma, but slow death. For confidential support with mental health or suicidal feelings, you can contact The Samaritans on their free, 24-hour phone support by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org. Rape Crisis - a national organisation offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse - is also available on 0808 802 9999. An enormous cavity has opened up beneath a remote glacier in Antarctica, spelling bad news for future sea levels. The space, which is big enough to contain 14 billion tons of ice and covers an area two-thirds the size of Manhattan, was spotted by Nasa on a mission to measure the regions disintegrating ice. Scientists made several disturbing discoveries while examining Thwaites glacier, and while they expected to find gaps between the ice and bedrock they were surprised by the scale. The cavity also appears to have grown very rapidly, with most of the ice melting within the past three years. Understanding the pace of glacier melting in Antarctica is vital to estimate how fast sea levels around the world will rise due to climate change. Glacier collapse shows climate impact Show all 20 1 /20 Glacier collapse shows climate impact Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Meltwater pools on top of the Helheim glacier near Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Safety officer Brian Rougeux works with student Febin Magar to assemble a radar dome while working in a science camp on the side of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Airplane Mechanic, David Fuller, left, works with a local worker to move a Nasa Gulfstream III during a pre-flight inspection before a flight to support the Oceans Melting Greenland research mission Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Meltwater pools on top of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Earth Science Flight Programs Director at Nasa, Eric Ianson, looks out at the Greenland ice sheet Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Glacial ice is seen from the window during the Nasa flight Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Oceanographer David Holland's science camp on the side of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact A large crevasse forms near the calving front of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Safety officer Brian Rougeux uses a drill to install antennas for scientific instruments that will be left on top of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Tabular icebergs float in the Sermilik Fjord after a large calving event at the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Radar Engineer, Ron Muellerschoen, monitors data collection inside a NASA Gulfstream III flying above Greenland to measure loss to the country's ice sheet Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact GPS tracking equipment is left on top of the Helheim glacier REUTERS Glacier collapse shows climate impact Sunshine lights up the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact A glacial terminus above the east coast of Greenland REUTERS Glacier collapse shows climate impact Student Febin Magar watches as leftover wood burns in a research camp Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Tabular icebergs float in the Sermilik Fjord after a large calving event Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Oceanographer David Holland repairs a broken GPS module at his research camp Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters Cavities underneath glaciers can exacerbate ice loss as they allow relatively warm seawater to lap against the underside, driving further melting. Thwaites glacier, which is roughly the size of Florida, is thought to be responsible for around 4 per cent of global sea level rises, but the new results gathered by the researchers suggest this is an underestimate. If the entire glacier were to melt, the worlds oceans would rise by around 65cm Owing to the difficulty in accessing and monitoring glaciers, Nasa uses ice-penetrating radar from planes flying over the region to build up a picture of what is going on below. We have suspected for years that Thwaites was not tightly attached to the bedrock beneath it, said Dr Eric Rignot of Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Thanks to a new generation of satellites, we can finally see the detail. Sir David Attenborough at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice: Climate change 'our greatest threat' The scientists are also concerned about the grounding line where the glacier connects with the landmass underneath. As ice on top of the glacier melts, it makes the overall mass lighter, meaning it floats higher on the water, pushing the grounding line further back and exposing more of the ice to warm water. On the eastern side of the glacier, the grounding-line retreat proceeds through small channels, maybe a kilometre wide, like fingers reaching beneath the glacier to melt it from below, said Dr Pietro Milillo, also from Nasa, who led the study. The results are published in the journal Science Advances. When we launched our AIDSfree campaign just nine weeks ago, I pledged that we would help those at risk of infection, offer a voice to the forgotten sufferers and fight to make governments listen. At the close of our most successful Christmas campaign ever, I can confirm to you that we have met these aims. Our achievement is not only the 3.26m raised with the help of you, our readers, who responded to make ours the most successful appeal launched this Christmas by any British newspaper. It is also our success in shaping government policy, as seen in the commitment of Secretaries of State Matt Hancock and Penny Mordaunt at our Global Forum to end new cases of HIV in Britain by 2030. It is equally a victory to have united civic leaders across the world. Our campaign has touched lives in countries as far apart as India and Mozambique. Nairobis governor will improve medical care, and an Atlanta commissioner has now committed to reaching the UNs HIV treatment targets. Yet ultimately, I am most proud that our appeal has given us a platform to challenge the stigma that continues to surround those with the virus. We have told the stories of those living with HIV, and we have shown the fulfilling, joyful and varied lives they lead, not least with the help and support of the programmes that you have helped finance. Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Show all 10 1 /10 Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Sir Elton John and Evgeny Lebedev The Independent has launched it's Christmas charity appeal for essential HIV testing around the world with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Funds raised will pay for those at risk to be able to get tested, and will make sure they have access to the treatment they need. Sir Elton John and Evgeny Lebedev with their HIV test swabs at the Ponce Centre in Atlanta Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Elton John and Andrew Williams Andrew Williams had never heard of the word HIV when he tested positive. It was his mother who had forced him to go to the doctor where he got the diagnosis that he thought was a death sentence. At that time he was in a wheelchair. It was the unbearable itching of his back that finally got him to get medical help but, he discovered, he not only had HIV but diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. That was two years ago. This week, as the 31-year-old joined Sir Elton John and Evening Standard and The Independent owner Evgeny Lebedev in Atlanta to witness the revolutionary new breakthroughs against the disease at the citys Grady Ponce De Leon Centre, there was no need for a wheelchair. Nor, he now knew, was there any need for fear Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Evgeny Lebedev and Andrew Williams Within two months of starting the latest antiretroviral drugs, the virus in his body had become undetectable in his blood. Not only is he now healthy, partly due to the drugs and partly due to the healthy lifestyle adopted for his other illnesses, but he can virtually not pass the infection to other people. He feels, he says, reborn. I have a reason to live, he explained, and that is to help people who were like me and to show youre going to be OK. Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation It was a message so stark in its optimism that it reduced Sir Elton to tears. He knows first-hand the realities of what, in the past, an HIV diagnosis can mean. When he started his Elton John AIDS Foundation in the US in 1992, it was because his friends were dying and he wanted to do what he could, anything that he could, to help. When we set up the Elton John AIDS Foundation we were delivering meals to peoples doors, he said. [The stigma meant] they would not go outside. We have come a long way. Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation But part of the reason for his tears was not only happiness at Andrews story. It was also the knowledge that, despite all the advances that have been made, the fight is far from won indeed, in some parts of the world, things are getting worse. Sir Elton John with everyone at the Ponce Centre in Atlanta Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation It is why he and Mr Lebedev had come to Atlanta to mark the first day of our Christmas Appeal, for that city, sadly, is one place where the situation is not only getting worse but, as those at the centre made clear, dramatically so. Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Sir Elton John with Vic Mensa at the Ponce Centre Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Sir Elton John with his HIV test swab In Atlanta, one of Americas richest cities and the home of such international corporate giants as Coca-Cola and CNN, if you are a gay black man in 2018 then, unbelievably, you still have a one in two chance of being diagnosed as HIV positive during your lifetime. Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Elton John with the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms Jeremy Selwyn Independent campaign with the Elton John AIDS Foundation Elton John talks at the Ponce Centre Jeremy Selwyn Newspapers are a force for good in the world, and the unprecedented success of our charity campaign serves as evidence. The generosity of our readers and the work of our journalists have made an AIDS-free future truly possible. To every one of you who has supported this appeal, I thank you. Regardless of whether they're blue or red or somewhere in polka dot land, politicians aren't always known for saying the most intelligent or unifying things. But on Tuesday, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin (Rep.) took the latest cake and smeared it all over my ruffled feathers. As reported by Pam Wright, in an interview with 840 WHAS in Louisville, the governor, while acknowledging a need for safety, found fault with schools across several states canceling classes due to the dangerous cold. "There's no ice going with it or any snow," Bevin told host Terry Meiners. What happens to America? We're getting soft, Terry, we're getting soft." (Ice and snow actually were concerning in different regions affected. The governor's apparent assumption that what he saw outside mirrored everyone else's experience also shows a disconnect.) "It's better to err on the side of being safe," the governor added, "and I'm being only slightly facetious, but it does concern me a bit that in America on this, and on any number of other fronts, we're sending messages to our young people that, if life is hard, you can curl up in the fetal position in a warm place and just wait until it stops being hard." Um, no. Now, I'm not going to claim to be even close to military tough. But even so, my entire mantra of life is "do or do not, there is no try." I know what it's like to run for two and a half hours. I put myself through college with an average of more than 21 credits every semester. And growing up, because we had zero money, I watched my parents Macgyver over and over again just to make ends meet. I distinctly remember one frigid morning in particular where, after doing chores out in the barn, my father came inside, finished with work but broken to tears with the chill in his hands. We never once expected anyone to come to our rescue, and we never once assumed we wouldn't have to be the ones to step up. And if we dared to stop, you can bet your behind we had a dang good reason. Governor Bevin's comments reflect the increasing internalization of a toxic work ideology, the concept that there's no reason to stop, that if you're really tough, if you're really serious, you'll work through anything. So what if it's so cold your car engine won't turn over? Call an Uber or take a train or walk! (Except... Uber cars aren't starting either, and it's so cold that stations in Chicago had to set fire to railway lines. The average commute is about 26 minutes, and since frostbite can happen in less than 15 minutes at wind chill of less than -18 degrees Fahrenheit, no walking.) So what if the grid is taxed and there's no power or heat in your store or office? That's why laptops have batteries, for goodness sake! (OK, sure, but that doesn't mean the company's service provider is going to be up and able to give you the internet you need to access servers, make calls, or send your emails.) The governor's comments are also an example of just how early the concepts of "no excuses" and "tough means 24/7" get handed down and ingrained. Many of the kids kept home still aren't even old enough to pack their own lunches for the day, yet there Bevin is, essentially already communicating that they need a stronger backbone. Closing school or work when it's cold enough to cause death isn't "soft." It's not sending the message that you can just wait until it's easier. It's simply acknowledging that sometimes, even when you've prepared well, there can be something bigger than you. Something powerful you need to respect. And it's acknowledging the fact that, for all of our ideals, our children still live in socioeconomic classes where not everyone can afford a cozy coat. It's sending the message that, if you want to fight and work and learn another day, you have to be intelligent and willing enough to protect yourself when a real risk shows its face. Even the most cutthroat soldier will hunker down and save their shot for when they know they can hit the target, and a powerful bear that hibernates doesn't lose its understanding of how to fight as it sleeps in the den. I don't coddle my kids. I let them struggle. In fact, I insist they do. There are no participation trophies in this house. They hardly like me for it, and I'm perfectly fine with that. But I also teach them how to be realistic. I teach them how to be compassionate. I teach them that no one can go full steam 100 percent of the time, that it's OK to recharge. I teach them to watch out for dangers that ultimately could hold them back. Like Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, I want them to understand that you learn how to fight so you don't have to fight, and that you don't always win with brute force. As if the world isn't nasty enough, there might be nothing more frustrating than dealing with an endless stream of bickering at the office. It might be two members of your team who seemingly despise each other. It might be a few colleagues who've found themselves in a competitive showdown for a promotion. Or, it may be something worse like a cultural issue that somehow seems to be contagious--infecting even the most mild-mannered and well-intentioned professionals. We've all witnessed it. We all know what inter-office bickering looks like. And I can assume if you're reading this, you're either living and working in the midst of a vicious squabble, or you're the one person who feels responsible, because you understand that all that toxic bickering will eventually destroy productivity. At first, this might all sound like I'm being melodramatic or oversensitive.As a leader, you might be questioning whether or not you should even get involved--making the assumption that eventually the dust will settle. However, a study commissioned by CPP Inc. on workplace conflict found that on average, employees in the United State spent 2.8 hours per week dealing with conflict. That might not seem like a big deal until you break it down. The study also revealed: "For the U.S. alone, that translates to 385 million working days spent every year as a result of conflict in the workplace. In Germany and Ireland, where the average time spent managing conflict rises to 3.3 hours per week, that figure is an even higher proportion of available working time." Even without the data, you're ready to end the bickering, and might be at a loss as to where to start. The good news is, you're not the first person or company to experience this problem. Here are six ways to mitigate the bickering in your office, and hopefully bring back the peace, as well as improved performance: 1. Promote opportunities to end assumptions. While a team lunch, a day at the waterpark, or a picnic might not actively increase teamwork, or end an actual feud, these types of gatherings do allow employees to see each other in a different light. Many times office squabbles are simple misunderstandings based on assumptions--we think someone doesn't like us, or is trying to undermine us. Allow opportunities to really know someone. Most likely, they're not that bad. 2. Spotlight shared values. Repeat. Corporate or team values often get sent to the breakroom or boardroom walls to slowly, sadly, and silently die miserable deaths. Good leaders and influential employees know how to positively rally people by consistently talking about, and demonstrating shared values. This might sound like corporate chatter. But companies and teams are typically comprised of people who are passionate about making a similar impact on the world. When you see employees bickering, be subtle and remind them of the bigger commonality you all share. 3. Expose the real "enemy." I've been told by numerous leaders that their teams are tightest when competing companies or challenges are clearly threatening. Even if your team is crushing it, be sure to remind them consistently about what the real competitors are doing. Tell them about their new products or services. Share your competitor's awards and successes. Talk about market challenges and hurdles you'll have to overcome as a unified group. Often, when the real dangers in life present themselves, you can finally overlook the petty conflicts. 4. Create dispassionate disagreements. Nothing is more potent than an employee who is passionate about their work. Nothing is more dangerous and destructive than an employee who is passionately negative about another person at work. Look for ways to create dispassionate disagreements. You could even have your team take a DISC assessment to show people have different personality styles and communication styles. These types of training can quickly turn former foes into fast friends who can laugh at their differences. 5. Build a culture of appreciation. It's a win when company leaders understand the impact of employee appreciation. It's even more powerful when the employees are encouraged to appreciate their team members as well. Design programs that encourage recognition moments between team members. My company has literally studied this, and the numbers we found show that smiles and impact are contagious. 6. Have the tough conversation. If all of the above fail, it's time to have a tough conversation. It's time to tell the bickering employees that their negativity is impacting the rest of the team and the company's productivity. Try to come to the conversation with examples of time spent, others complaining, and communication breakdowns. It's not going to be pretty. But it's time. Employee bickering impacts organizational performance. It does. But, maybe at this point, it's the least of your concerns--simply because you're about to lose your mind. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D., N.J.) is joining the race for president, bringing with him strong ties to Silicon Valley. Despite being a career politician, Booker briefly held the title of co-founder of the web video startup Waywire, attracting investments from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner in 2012. A graduate of Stanford University, Booker has also raised money for his political campaigns from prominent Silicon Valley figures including Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Booker joins an increasingly crowded race for the Democratic nomination alongside fellow senators Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand. While primary race observers will be eager for more about his ideas on business and the economy, he told Inc. in 2013 that his parents had started a restaurant that failed when he was in grade school, and it had been a formative experience for him. Meantime, here are three ways he has advocated for business as a senator. Increasing startup funding Two years ago, Booker introduced the Startup Opportunity Accelerator Act of 2017, a bill to create a program that gives up to $50,000 in funding to startups. The legislation calls for supporting accelerator programs located in underserved communities and minority founders. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in 2017. Simplifying business taxes Booker is co-sponsor of a bill that aims to standardize how states tax nonresident workers and simplify the task of compliance for both employers and employees. Currently, employees who work across state lines need to file taxes according to each entity's tax law. Under the proposed legislation, nonresident employees would not be required to pay taxes in states where they worked fewer than 30 days per year. It would also exempt employers from state income tax withholding and reporting requirements for employees who meet these conditions. A similar bill has already passed the House, but the bill has not been taken up in the Senate. Supporting innovation in tech During a keynote speech at the South by Southwest conference in Austin in 2017, Booker called for scaling back regulations in the tech sector. "We have a government that is not moving at the speed of innovation," he said, calling certain tech regulations "burdensome." Booker also expressed concern about companies leaving the U.S. and establishing operations in countries with more lenient rules, citing drone businesses flocking to Europe as an example. "We have to be a country that has a government poised to be a catalytic agent for innovation," he said. Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. There's only one thing McDonald's staff want to do at one o'clock in the morning. Go home. In this case, however, they were presented with a painful dilemma. Last Monday, a man had just been arrested in a McDonald's parking lot in Sarasota, Florida. The charge, an alleged DUI. Police say they found the man asleep at the wheel. Worse, in the back seat of the car were his two kids, aged 4 and 8. Sarasota Police Department told what happened next on Facebook. The two girls told the police officers that they hadn't eaten nor even been able to use a restroom. This, though, was 1 a.m. The McDonald's was now closed. There were, however, two employees inside still cleaning the restaurant. Said the police: The two employees stopped what they were doing, started up all the machines and gave the two young girls anything they wanted to eat, allowed them to use the restroom and stuffed their Happy Meals with toys. Yes, the police had asked the employees if they could help. How many, though, would have uttered the words company policy and been on their way? Instead, here was a little decency, a touch of compassion. There was even a tinge of generosity. The police revealed: The employees would not allow Officers to foot the bill. The McDonald's staff had nothing to gain here. Perhaps their bosses might have even scolded them the next day. Giving away free food after hours? What was this? Instead, they chose to do the human thing, something that's becoming quite rare. The police were good enough to acknowledge that: To the two McDonald's employees, who went above and beyond, you are two of the many reasons it's an honor to continue to serve and protect such an incredible city. THANK YOU! President Donald J. Trump to Withdraw the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty Washington, DC - "Russia has not, unfortunately, honored the agreement, so were going to terminate the agreement. Were going to pull out." ~ President Donald J. Trump RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO ARMS CONTROL: President Donald J. Trump is taking decisive action to hold Russia accountable for its violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Violations must have consequences. Nearly 6 years of diplomacy and more than 30 meetings have failed to convince Russia to return to compliance with the INF Treaty. Enough is enough. At President Trumps direction, the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty effective February 2, 2019. The United States will also deliver formal notice on February 2, 2019, to Russia and other Treaty Parties, that the United States will withdraw from the INF Treaty in 6 months. Only Russias complete and verifiable destruction of its INF-violating missiles, their launchers, and associated equipment can save the INF Treaty. LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR MILITARY: President Trump is ensuring that our military is no longer disadvantaged by a treaty thatwhile once greatis now broken. The United States has complied with the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not be held back while Russia cheats. Russia has produced and fielded multiple battalions of its INF-violating, nuclear-capable missile, which threaten our allies and troops in Europe and Asia. The United States will move forward with developing its own intermediate-range, conventionally-armed, ground-launched missile system. In addition, China and Iran, which are not parties to the Treaty, each possess more than 1,000 INF Treaty-range missiles. WORKING IN CONCERT WITH NATO AND OTHER ALLIES: President Trump is working with allies to confront Russias violation and support effective arms control. Imperial Valley News Center President Donald J. Trump is Fighting to Prevent Human Trafficking at the Southern Border Washington, DC - "This is an urgent humanitarian issue. My Administration is committed to leveraging every resource we have to confront this threat, to support the victims and survivors, and to hold traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes." ~ President Donald J. Trump HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT THE BORDER: There is a humanitarian crisis at the southern border as human traffickers victimize countless women and children. Transnational criminal organizations from Mexico and Central America engage in human trafficking in staggering numbers across our southern border. Human traffickers use loopholes in our immigration laws to exploit women and children. More than 30% of women are sexually assaulted on the journey to our southern border. Nearly 70% of migrants traveling north to the United States are victims of violence. In FY 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made 1,588 Human Trafficking arrests and identified 308 victims. Of the 1,588 arrests, 1,543 were for sex trafficking violations. Without a wall, our southern border is wide open to human trafficking. MORAL OBLIGATION: Democrats and Republicans have a moral obligation to build a wall to protect children and women from human trafficking. Congress has a moral responsibility to pass legislation that strengthens border security and includes funding for a wall to prevent human trafficking in all forms. We need a wall to provide an effective barrier to entry to help decrease kidnapping and human trafficking along the border. Despite Democrats objections, there is proof that walls deter illegal entry. Areas with walls have seen a decline in apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border. In San Diego, illegal traffic dropped 92% over the past 23 years. In the El Paso sector, illegal traffic dropped 72% in one year and 95% over 22 years. In the Tucson sector, illegal traffic dropped 90% over 15 years. In the Yuma sector, illegal traffic dropped 95% over 9 years. ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY: President Trump has made stopping human trafficking an Administration priority. Imperial Valley News Center President Trump in Meeting with Vice Premier Liu He of the Peoples Republic of China Washington, DC - Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Vice Premier Liu He of the Peoples Republic of China: THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Its a great honor to have the Vice Premier of China with us, and also the Vice Minister of Trade of China. We have had long discussions. This has been going on for quite some time. It will be, by far, if it happens, the biggest deal ever made not only the biggest trade deal ever made. It will be the biggest trade deal by far, but itll also be the biggest deal ever made. The two largest countries doing a trade deal. There wont be anything that will match that. And well see what happens. Weve done very well. Weve had a very, very strong relationship, as my relationship is with President Xi. I think well start by reading the letter that President Xi sent to me and to us. It puts us off to a good foot. And then well also repeat a couple of the remarks that the Vice Premier stated. And then we are going to have Mr. Lighthizer speak for a couple of seconds. And were then going to get back to business, and you can go and have fun and write your stories. So thank you very much for being here. We appreciate it. And if you could start by reading the letter from President Xi, and maybe you could speak louder. INTERPRETER: Message from President Xi to President Trump: Mr. President, I send you my best wishes as a new round of high-level consultations is being held between our two countries on economic and trade issues. I ask Mr. Liu He to bring to you sincere greetings and best wishes from me. Right now, China-U.S. relations are at a critically important stage. Last month, we had a successful meeting in Argentina, in which we agreed to work together to build a bilateral relationship based on coordination, cooperation, and stability. That was followed by the good conversation we had through a phone call and the letters of congratulations we sent each other on the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Guided by the agreement we reached, our economic teams have engaged in intensive consultations and made good progress. I hope our two sides will continue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and step up consultations by meeting each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works for the interests of both sides. Such an agreement will send a positive signal to our two peoples and the broader international community. It will serve to ensure healthy development of China-U.S. relations and contribute to steady growth of the world economy. Mr. President, in our last phone call, you said you wanted for China to buy more agricultural products. I have made some arrangements about which, I believe, you might have been briefed. As I often say, I feel we have known each other for a long time, ever since we first met. I cherish the good working relations and personal friendship with you. I enjoy our meetings and phone calls in which we could talk about anything. It falls to us to work together and accomplish things meaningful for the people of our two countries and the world at large. Mr. President, if there is anything, you could always approach me through various means. I hope well keep close contact in various ways. As the Chinese Lunar New Year draws near, my wife and I wish to send our New Year greetings to you, to Melania, and to your family. May you enjoy a happy and prosperous New Year. THE PRESIDENT: Thats a beautiful letter and we appreciate it. You may go with the Vice Premiers statements, and then Im going to ask for you to say a few words, Bob, if you dont mind. Please. INTERPRETER: The Vice Premier said that President Xi attaches tremendous importance to the personal friendship with you, and he hopes to you to see your continued success. And over the past two years, since you took office, you have made tremendous accomplishment on both the domestic and diplomatic front. Thanks to your policies of tax reduction and deregulation, your U.S. economy, as I heard from my American colleagues over there, has now been enjoying high growth and low employment with unprecedented prosperity. And it is because of your decisive decision that has directly facilitated the major breakthrough the relationship between the U.S. and the DPRK. And under the strategic guidance of you and of President Xi and you, Mr. President, it is possible that China and the U.S. will have the possibility of striking a successful deal on trade. And my trip to the U.S. this time is to follow through on the important agreement reached between you and President Xi to accelerate the 90-day consultation between China and the United States in the hope of striking a comprehensive deal. And weve been working conscientiously with Ambassador Lighthizer and Secretary Mnuchin over the past couple of days, and our discussions are going well. We have achieved a lot of important consensus towards the direction of striking a comprehensive deal, which is to be ultimately reached between you and President Xi. THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. Bob, maybe you could say just a few words as to where we are, how were doing, what were discussing. And then maybe Ill ask the Vice Premier to say a few words, and well get on with our negotiations. AMBASSADOR LIGHTHIZER: Great. Thank you, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: Perhaps, go ahead, if you want to say that. (Interpreter speaks.) THE PRESIDENT: Got it? He speaks very good English. AMBASSADOR LIGHTHIZER: Based on many months of negotiations, we had two very intense, very long days of discussions. Your team was all of your team was involved. I think weve made progress. We have much work to do if were going to have an agreement, but we made substantial progress. We focused on the most important issues, which are the structural issues and the protection of U.S. intellectual property, stopping forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, agriculture and services issues, and enforcement, enforcement, enforcement. Both sides agree this agreement is worth nothing if we can get an agreement, its worth nothing without enforcement. Thats been your instruction from the beginning. So were focusing we have a lot more issues to cover, but we focused on the structural issues the ones that youve been so focused on and we talked about enforcement, enforcement, enforcement. THE PRESIDENT: And youll be going in early February, with your group, to China to continue negotiations. AMBASSADOR LIGHTHIZER: We are more or less Mr. President, we are more or less in continuous negotiations. There will be a brief pause for the Chinese New Year briefer than the Chinese want but our people will be in contact. Were going back and forth with papers and with discussions. The Secretary and I will be going over there shortly, and then well see where we are. At this point, its impossible for me to predict success, but we are in a place that, if things work, it could happen. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. And we look forward to that, and we look forward to the results of your trip. But youre really discussing it anyway, whether youre in China or here. We have a thing called the telephone and other means of talking. So I know youre spending a lot of time, and its moving along well. So I just want to say the Vice Premier is a friend of mine. He has become he is truly one of the most respected men in Asia, one of the most respected men in all of China, and, frankly, one of the most respected men anywhere in the world. And its a great honor to have you with us. VICE PREMIER LIU: Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: And if youd like to say a few words please, Liu. VICE PREMIER LIU: Its an honor to meet you, Mr. President. I dont think you can hear me. And I fully agree with the report that satisfies Ambassador Lighthizer, and we actually have to establish three key themes. First about (inaudible). And secondly, about drugs coming through. And thirdly, about enforcement or implementation. But, at the same time, well also discuss something from China: the need to do something where (inaudible) U.S. some problem with (inaudible). So I thank you so much to be with you, and Im waiting for (inaudible) in Beijing (inaudible), and I hope we will make a deal. THE PRESIDENT: Well be going. And we look forward to that. And then a little back-and-forth, and ultimately, I know that Ill be meeting with President Xi, maybe once and maybe twice, and itll all seem it seems to be coming together. I do appreciate the fact that you said so much about our farmers and that youll be doing purchases quickly about the farmers. Thats really wonderful. VICE PREMIER LIU: Five five million. THE PRESIDENT: Five million INTERPRETER: Five million tons of soybeans. THE PRESIDENT: Five million tons of soybeans. Wow. VICE PREMIER LIU: Per day. THE PRESIDENT: Per day. Thats going to make our farmers very happy. Thats a lot of soybeans. Thats really nice. And I know they said some other things, and well put out a release for the press. But the relationship is very, very good between China and the United States. And the personal relationships are very good, with the Vice Premier, with myself and President Xi, and with our representatives. Its been very, very good. And, you know, you read a lot of things. Sometimes you hear good, sometimes you dont hear good. But I will say that I think that the relationship that we have right now with China has never been so advanced. I dont think its ever been better. But I can you tell you for a fact, its never been so advanced. And certainly a deal has never been so advanced. Because, essentially, we dont have a deal. We never had a trade deal. Were going to have a great trade deal. But we never really had a trade deal with China, and now were going to have a great trade deal with China, if it all works out. And we look forward to it. Its going to be great for both countries not just us, not just them. This is going to be great for both countries. And I know youve already done a lot of opening up China to the financial services industry. Its been happening very much, very rapidly. And hopefully we can get that done for our farmers, our manufacturers, and likewise, the United States. So its just an honor to be with you. And I will see you today, but Ill see you a lot over the next month, that I can tell you. Okay? Thank you very much. Its a great honor. Thank you. Q Mr. President, when do you want to meet with President Xi? THE PRESIDENT: We havent set up a meeting yet. I think were working on seeing where everybody is, and then well meet to discuss some final issues. It may be a lot, it may be a small amount. But I have a feeling it will be agreed to pretty quickly by both countries. Both countries would like to see a positive result. Q And have you seen enough progress, based on what youve heard from your team so far, on IP and technology transfers? THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Yeah, very much. Technology transfer, IT. I think that we have made tremendous progress. That doesnt mean youre going to have a deal, but I can say that there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling, and weve made tremendous progress. Q Mr. President, did you talk to your intelligence chiefs today about the displeasure you had with their (inaudible)? THE PRESIDENT: I did. And they said that they were totally misquoted and they were totally it was taken out of context. So what Id do is Id suggest that you call them. They said it was fake news, so which, frankly, didnt surprise me. Q We just ran exactly what they said to Congress. THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me. Excuse me. It didnt surprise me at all. But were here to talk right now about China. Q Did the fact they didnt bring up the border as the world threat assessment, did that undermine or undercut what you have said that theres a crisis at the border? THE PRESIDENT: It didnt undermine anything. We need a wall. And if we dont have a wall, were never going to have security for our country. Q But they didnt bring it up as part of the national security assessment. THE PRESIDENT: Next. Q Does that undercut THE PRESIDENT: Please. Q Is there any more detail about the soybean offer and deal? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think its so nice that you said soybeans? Q Yes, sir. THE PRESIDENT: Thats a tremendous purchase, which will take place now. And our farmers are going to be very happy. Q When does that start? THE PRESIDENT: When is the soybean taking place? VICE PREMIER LIU: They have already (inaudible). THE PRESIDENT: Theyve already started. VICE PREMIER LIU: And they will start another (inaudible). THE PRESIDENT: So theyve started on a smaller scale, and today theyre starting very big. And I very much appreciate that. Please tell President Xi. And on behalf of the agricultural industry, and on behalf of our farmers, frankly, we appreciate it very much. Its a very big order. VICE PREMIER LIU: Chinese people like U.S. farmers very much. THE PRESIDENT: They like the U.S. farmers. Well, we have good product. And you can use it, and its VICE PREMIER LIU: (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: No, but I really appreciated that. That was really fantastic to say. And thats before we make a deal. Its a fantastic sign of faith. Q Mr. President, was the Huawei case discussed during negotiations? THE PRESIDENT: No, we havent discussed that yet. It will be, but it hasnt been discussed yet. Q In what aspect? How will it be discussed? THE PRESIDENT: Well, it will be discussed. Im sure at some point thatll be that, actually, as big as it might seem, is very small compared to the overall deal, but that will be discussed. Anything else? Q Mr. President, is the plan (inaudible) the trips to see Xi and to meet Chairman Kim again? THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me? Q Would you combine the trips to see Chairman Kim for your meeting again? THE PRESIDENT: Its possible. Well see how it is. We havent discussed it yet. When President Xi and I meet, we want to have it down so that we have certain points that we can discuss and, I would say, agree to. But were not quite at that stage yet. But all of these representatives and these representatives are coming to a conclusion, except for certain very important points. And we want to make it comprehensive. We want to make a deal that we can look at and be proud of for many years not where we have to go back and renegotiate, or we left things out. So whether its intellectual property or whether its any of the other things that we discuss all the time, we want to try would you say? have everything included. We want to have it very comprehensive. Q What are the specific points that you feel like you need to negotiate one on one with him personally? THE PRESIDENT: Well, we really we really have discussed many of those points today. But I would say, probably more than any other thing, every single point that you discuss in the newspapers and on television. Those are the points that were discussing. I dont think Ive ever heard of any point that was discussed by the folks that really represent you, and represent you well. Its every single one of those points have been discussed in our transactions and our trade deal in this trade deal. Q Mr. President, you said earlier you would be willing to postpone this. What did you mean by that? Do you want to extend the deadline? Or what did you mean by that? THE PRESIDENT: We havent talked about extending the deadline. The deadline is March 1st. That deadline has stayed, and we really havent talked about it. Maybe we dont I dont think we have to extend. Now, at a certain point, youre going to have this is a very complex, and a very large its the largest transaction ever made, to be perfectly straight. We have to get this put on paper at some point if we agree. There are some points that we dont agree to yet, but I think we will agree. I think, when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to. One of the things that we discussed in Argentina was fentanyl. This is not a trade deal, this is a fact that President Xi was extremely good when he said that they would criminalize fentanyl, because fentanyl is killing a lot of our great American people. And if they did what they are going to do, it would very much halt or at least I think it would stop fentanyl from coming into this country, which would be a tremendous thing. And so thats a separate than a trade deal, but its a very important thing. Q Mr. Lighthizer mentioned enforcement. How do you envision an enforcement mechanism working? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think were going to have strong enforcement language both ways. They want enforcement, too. And I think were going to have it both ways, and well have strong enforcement language. This is a serious deal that were doing. This could be done very quickly, very easily, but it wouldnt be comprehensive; it would be small. And I just want to end by saying it really is a sign of good faith for China to buy that much of our soybeans and other product that theyve just committed to us prior to the signing of the deal is something that makes us very proud to be dealing with them. I think that the farmers who have already been notified of this by me and my representatives and by Sonny. Sonny Perdue is here, the Secretary of Agriculture. I think that was music to your ears, Sonny. SECRETARY PERDUE: Absolutely. Good news. THE PRESIDENT: And thats a big number. Thats a big number even for you to hear. Right? SECRETARY PERDUE: Good news. Our folks will be happy. THE PRESIDENT: Will you let the farmers know right away? SECRETARY PERDUE: Theyll know before I (inaudible). (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: And that was more than even soybeans that was the other things that we discussed before the press came in. They discussed other things that they are buying also. So, Sonny, if you let everybody know, that would be great. SECRETARY PERDUE: Wed be happy to do that. THE PRESIDENT: Were you surprised to hear that? SECRETARY PERDUE: Pleased to hear that. THE PRESIDENT: Ah, thats going to keep the farmers busy. Thats going to keep them busy. Thats a big order. So lets keep going. Lets start our discussions and well ask the media to leave. Thank you all very much. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Q Is Secretary Mnuchin going over with Ambassador Lighthizer? THE PRESIDENT: I think so. Steve, youre going? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Yes, Ill go with Ambassador Lighthizer. THE PRESIDENT: Are you going? Are you going, too? Ask Mnuchin. She wanted to know about Mnuchin. Q Is there a date for that? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: We have a tentative date we need to confirm in the next couple of days. Q What about the summit with North Korean leaders? THE PRESIDENT: Its moving along well. The end of the month. The end of February. Q Any other details you can provide? THE PRESIDENT: Early next week, probably State of the Union. Okay? Q (Inaudible) President Xi? THE PRESIDENT: One way or the other. Imperial Valley News Center President Donald J. Trump is Following Through on His Promise to Revitalize American Manufacturing Washington, DC - "Together, were going to do everything in our power to make sure that more products are stamped with those wonderful words: 'Made in the USA.'" ~ President Donald J. Trump BUY AMERICAN: President Trump is fulfilling his promise to Buy American, supporting American businesses and workers. Today, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Strengthening Buy-American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects. This Executive Order will strengthen Buy American preferences for Federal financial assistance for infrastructure projects. This action follows President Trumps Executive Order 13788 of 2017 that required a more judicious use of waivers to purchase foreign-made goods under Buy-American programs. In 2018, waivers on Federal contracts declined by 16% Government-wide. Government spending on foreign goods has fallen to its lowest point in 10 years thanks to President Trumps efforts. Government spending on United States-made products has increased by $24 billion during the first two years of the Administration over the previous two-year average. Buy American programs create good paying jobs that help lift more workers into prosperity. Buying American strengthens our manufacturing and defense industrial base, including pillar industries like steel and aluminum that are vital to national security. MANUFACTURING BOOM: American manufacturers are more optimistic than ever and hiring has skyrocketed thanks to the Presidents policies. President Trumps deregulation policies, tax cuts, and tough trade actions have resulted in a resurgence in the American manufacturing industry. The Presidents policies are working, with manufacturer optimism reaching an all-time high. Since President Trumps election 503,000 manufacturing jobs have been created, compared to 78,000 in the last two years of the Obama Administration. In 2018, manufacturing added more jobs than any year since 1997. An average of 20,000 manufacturing jobs have been created per month since President Trumps election, compared to 8,000 per month in the previous four years. The unemployment rate for the manufacturing sector stands at 2.8 percent and reached a record low of 2.6 percent last year. Wage growth among the lowest wage earners is outpacing median wage growth. INVESTING IN MANUFACTURING WORKERS: President Trump is investing in workforce development that will help prepare American workers to join our thriving manufacturing sector. (The Center Square) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents keen on recreating in the water to look out for cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, in Illinois waters, which can be toxic to humans and pets. IFJ Strategic Union Building Workshop Declaration Leaders of African journalists trade unions affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) met in Dakar, Senegal, from 30th-31th January 2019, Senegal, at a workshop under the theme; the Digital Economy and African Journalists Unions: Developing Strategies for Survival and Sustainability with the support of Union to Union. Following the deliberations at the workshop and the sharing of national experiences and regional challenges, the unions observed that: As digital economy continues to develop rapidly throughout Africa, the media industry in particular is being impacted by new powerful economic and technological forces that are shaping the global economy, and will transform journalists working lives, journalism and journalists unions. The growth in a wide range of digital media digitized content, graphics, video, audio that can be transmitted over internet or computer and mobile from small publishers, digital TV and radio networks have given African audiences the opportunity to move beyond the largely passive experiences of traditional media to become active users of digital media, often in combination with older forms of media. Digital media has been providing new channels for marginalised citizens who find it difficult to engage effectively with political institutions in ways that affect policy-making. Whenever repression of mainstream media has an effect in any African country, social media has been providing alternative spaces for political information, discussion, satire, and activism, giving citizens the ability to create their own media to challenge dominant mainstream media narratives. Journalists trade unions are not immune from the changes the digital media is wreaking as they strive to increase their reach to those working in digital media and be able to exert political pressure on employers and government to improve the working lives of journalists. Such a rapid and profound change has also inevitably had a massive impact on unions which have seen their membership decline in recent years as jobs have been lost in print and broadcast, and their traditional strength replaced by low paid insecure jobs on line. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) under the Union to Union Project held a two day workshop from 30 31 January in Dakar, Senegal on Strategic Union Building under the theme, The Digital Economy and African Journalists Unions; Developing strategies for Survival and Sustainability. The workshop brought together 14 participants from the Youth Working Group, union leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Angola and Somalia as well as members of the FAJ Steering Committee. The workshop deliberated on pertinent issues concerning African journalists unions noting with concern that membership in the unions has dropped sharply in the past few years mainly because of the continuous loss of jobs in the media sector, particularly in the newspapers. The Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Omar Faruk Osman, noted that the unions lack an organizing strategy and must put in place measures and strategies that will enhance recruitment and retention especially among the young journalists entering the profession as well as digital journalists. The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Christopher Ikechukwu Isiguzo, expressed that as union leaders We must begin to look at the commitment of our members critically. As journalists and trade unionist we must demonstrate an unflinching commitment to our unions particular in the payment of our dues. While deliberating on the roles of the Youth Working Group which comprise of members from Botswana, Ghana, The Gambia, Kenya, Angola and Uganda the young journalists at the workshop opined that there is need to involve youths in the decision making the process at all levels. They called on the unions to ensure that young journalists in the unions are involved in the designing of policies and programmes. The unions they said must create platforms to ensure that young people in the media come together to play a more effective role in the unions most particularly in the recruitment of young journalists working online. The Youth Working Group called on the leadership of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) to ensure that all its affiliates across the continent develop a youth policy. In a declaration issued at the end of the workshop, union leaders and members of the Youth Working Group expressed the need to modernize union tactics, structures, and organizing methods and to develop effective negotiation strategies to win collective bargaining rights as well as to address the issue of contracts and long working hours in the digital media industry. The Declaration also called for the commitment of the unions to translate principles into actions. 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. Community Information If you would like to submit an upcoming event or community announcement, please contact our staff at 208-232-4161 or send an email to cjohnson@journalnet.com. We will also accept news from local clubs and engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements. You can post your community or club events on our calendar. Obituaries Submit an obituary/notice All obituaries must be placed by your mortuary or onlineDeadline is 3 p.m. for publication the next day. The ISJ is not responsible for spelling, grammar, or basic mistakes. 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. CTU Secretary, Sam Huggard said its good to see that at least some parts of the business sector are recognising that low wages are a problem. Employers have the power to improve wages, said Huggard. Paying a Living Wage alongside other important initiatives like Fair Pay Agreements, equal pay and ensuring that working Kiwis have healthy and safe workplaces, are all elements of what will make work future proofed in New Zealand. Westpac NZ General Manager of Consumer Banking and Wealth, Simon Power, added that the organisation was committed to helping improve New Zealanders financial position. We want to lead by example. We already pay our staff a living wage and we now we want to extend that to contractors and suppliers, said Power. The property on the southwest side of the Daniel E. Taylor Memorial Bridge over Salters Creek near Sea Level will be used as game land. (Dylan Ray photo) 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. Hogans address also hit the right notes for other reasons as well, including a plan to use money from the states so-called education lockbox for a $1.9 billion increase in school construction projects and a message of support for Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who recently announced he has prostate cancer. 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. Houston, MO (65483) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Cooler. High 73F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. AUSTIN Last Friday afternoon, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton took to Twitter to blast out alarming news. VOTER FRAUD ALERT, the tweet said. The @TXsecofstate discovered approx 95,000 individuals identified by DPS as non-U.S. citizens have a matching voter registration record in TX, approx 58,000 of whom have voted in TX elections. The tweet ricocheted across the internet for two hours before the state sent notice of the explosive number of suspected non-citizen voters to county election officials, who are charged with verifying the initial findings and purging any ineligible voters. The state had been working on the analysis since March 2018, but it took the elections officials less than a day to spot glaring errors. By Tuesday, the original list of 95,000 had been cut to roughly 75,000 names. I cant speculate as to why the original list had mistakes, said Williamson County Elections Administrator Chris Davis, who is President of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators and was among the first to notify the state of inaccuracies. We werent, my county, wasnt consulted on search parameters or methodology. The sequence of events spotlights a rocky rollout that put far more emphasis on splashy numbers than accuracy. All 366 registered voters on the list sent to McLennan County election officials, for example, were incorrectly flagged and had already proven citizenship, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. Allegations of widespread voter fraud have become a rallying cry for Republicans, though evidence hasnt borne it out. During his own election and afterward, President Donald Trump made repeated, unsubstantiated claims of illegal votes. On HoustonChronicle.com: State hedges on claim that 100,000 Texas voters arent citizens, faces federal lawsuit Florida sought to purge noncitizens from the voter rolls in 2012 and initially flagged 180,000 people. The number soon shrank to 2,600 and ultimately just 85 voters were taken off the rolls, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The roughly 20,000 names cleared so far are only across a handful of the 254 Texas counties, and include voters who had already proven citizenship at naturalization ceremonies or when getting a driver license. Election officials in some counties, including Bexar and Webb, have yet to begin vetting their lists. I am not putting pressure on my staff to drop everything, said Jose Salvador Tellez, interim elections administrator for Webb County. I have a limited staff. Still, Texas Republican leaders arent backing off, though some are walking back the strong rhetoric. Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday urged state and local election officials to work swiftly together to make sure our voter rolls are accurate to ensure integrity in the election process. He said Secretary of State David Whitley, whom he appointed, had made clear the list of suspected non voters contained weak matches that needed further vetting. The nuance didnt come through in a tweet Abbott had sent Friday, thanking Paxton and Whitley for uncovering and investigating this illegal vote registration. I support prosecution where appropriate. The Secretary of States office sent the initial list of registered voters to Paxtons office for possible criminal investigation. Its not clear whether Paxton will begin work on those names, even after counties have already found tens of thousands of voters were wrongly flagged. To protect the privacy of the voters and witnesses involved in these cases and preserve the integrity of these investigations, we are not able to give play-by-plays of our progress, said Marc Rylander, Director of Communications at the attorney generals office, in a statement. However, our office will spare no expense or effort in investigating each of these referrals. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Voting rights groups and members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus say the whole operation was a political stunt that left legitimate voters at risk of having their registration stripped. A federal lawsuit filed this week by the League of United Latin American Citizens seeks to block the states attempted purge of voter rolls. Abbott, Paxton and Whitley need to apologize to those on the list and to the people of Texas whose money they wasted," Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay said in a statement Thursday. "Our lawmakers, rather than make voting harder, should get to the bottom of this sorry episode to make sure it never happens again." This is not the first time Texas has attempted a voter purge armed with erroneous information. In 2012, state election officials mistakenly matched living voters to the names of deceased people in their effort to purge dead voters from the rolls before the presidential election. We had a guy in our office, who worked with the voter registrar, and he got one of these notices that he was dead, said Harris County special assistant attorney Douglas Ray. So, Ray said, when Harris County received the initial list earlier this week, he was already very skeptical those people were actually non-citizens. Harris County, a Democratic stronghold, leads the state in wrongly flagged voters, with about 18,000 already cleared from the list. We are going to proceed very carefully to check the voter registration files of each of the people who remain. We are going to complete that investigation before we go further, Ray said. It might take quite some time. The state analysis compared voter registration data some going back as far as 1996 to driver license records in which applicants had indicated they weren't U.S. citizens. Critics contend the approach would also wrongly capture those who were naturalized after obtaining a driver license. Some 50,000 people are naturalized each year in Texas, according to voter advocacy groups. "Everybody wants clean and accurate rolls," said Myrna Perez, Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Project at The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School. "But there are ways to do it that arent sloppy and that use better methods of assessing information." The Secretary of States office is planning to conduct smaller-scale checks on voter citizenship on a monthly basis, and is working with the Department of Public Safety to get additional information that will help us going forward with these monthly checks, making sure they are efficient and accurate, spokesman Sam Taylor said. amorris@express-news.net The largest county in Texas is pushing back against the states effort to purge from the voter rolls nearly 100,000 people that state officials suspect are not U.S. citizens. Harris County elections officials say they will do their own research on the affected voters before sending out notices that would give them 30 days to present documents to prove their citizenship, as recommended by the Secretary of States Office. We are going to proceed very carefully, said Douglas Ray, a special assistant county attorney in Harris who specializes in election issues. Were going to make sure we dont improperly disenfranchise anyone. In addition, a coalition of voting rights advocacy groups including the ACLU Foundation of Texas are putting pressure on the state to reverse course, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is warning counties they could face lawsuits if they comply with the states recommendation. State elections officials do not have the authority to remove people from the voter rolls. That power resides with county elections officials. The reactions come three days after the Texas Secretary of State David Whitley announced that an analysis of state records found about 95,000 people who are on the voter registration rolls who may not be U.S. citizens including 58,000 who have voted at least once in past elections as far back as 1996. Whitley said the state used Department of Public Safety records to identify drivers who submitted documents that proved they were not legal U.S. citizens at that time, but were eligible to drive. Then the state compared those names and Social Security numbers with the state voter rolls. Its those matches that the state is now sending to county voting officials statewide to start the process of purging any non-citizens. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The effort was met gleefully by President Donald Trump, who saw it as confirmation of the voter fraud hes long insisted is a national problem. These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg, Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday morning. All over the country, especially in California, voter fraud is rampant. State officials said they are not releasing the names of the voters who have been flagged, but confirmed Harris County has the most. Harris officials had not received the list Monday, but Ray said hes already skeptical of the use of DPS records that he described as notoriously not up-to-date on peoples citizenship status. They say many of the people who were not citizens when they got their drivers licenses may be citizens now given that Texas naturalizes nearly 50,000 people annually. Harris County Voter Registrar Ann Harris Bennett routinely sends members of her staff to naturalization ceremonies in the county to sign up new citizens to vote. Ray said the county is going to compare the list of names from the state with a list of people who have gone through those ceremonies. Once county elections officials send out a Notice of Examination to voters identified as potential non-citizens, as the state is recommending, the voters have 30 days to provide documentation such as a birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization. Otherwise, they are removed from the rolls. Whitley, who has been Secretary of State for just over a month, indicated he has no problem with Harris Countys response. The Texas Secretary of States office takes no issue with county voter registrars lawfully using additional information at their disposal to conduct the list maintenance activity we initiated last week, said Sam Taylor, communications director for the Secretary of States Office. Democrats continued to criticize the states action on Monday. State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, said he feels the state is unfairly putting pressure on Latino voters. Voting rights of Latino and naturalized citizens continue to be under attack in Texas, said Menendez, who is the chairman of the Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus. The claim of 95,000 non-U.S. Citizens registered to vote is based on a system of incomplete data and assumptions. A coalition of voter advocacy groups including the ACLU and Texas Civil Rights Project have sent a letter to Whitley and the 254 counties to demand the state withdraw its letters to counties asking them to take steps to potentially remove the voters from the rolls. In the letter, the groups argue the state is using data that looks deeply flawed. As a result, we demand that you immediately rescind the Advisory before counties take action on it, says the letter, signed by 13 different organizations. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund was more pointed, warning counties could face lawsuits if they challenge the eligibility of voters simply because they were not U.S. citizens in the past runs. Targeting naturalized citizens for voter purges is unconstitutional and will do lasting damage to the Texas electorate, said Nina Perales, vice president of litigation at MALDEF. But for Republicans, the Secretary of States efforts are being met with an I-told-you-so-fervor. For years, Texas Republicans have insisted that voter fraud is rampant, though a total of 130 people have been prosecuted on charges of voter or election fraud in Texas since 2005. The new list gives the state up to 58,000 potentially illegal voters that have already been forwarded to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican. It is a felony to vote in Texas when you know you are not eligible. State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, said part of the problem in Texas is that penalties for voter fraud werent tough enough, so there are few people taking the time to prosecute offenders and few tracking how many cases there are. He said with the Legislature increasing penalties for things like absentee ballot fraud, he thinks there will be more effort to go after people who vote illegally or commit other acts of voter fraud. jeremy.wallace@chron.com The task force report found the average annual income for military retirees exceeds that of all Maryland taxpayers by over 43 percent. This again reflects retirees finding second careers resulting from their military training, leadership and management experience; their technical skills; and security clearances. Clearly, they are higher wage earners who represent exactly the type of individuals the state should be trying to attract and retain. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) After weeks of speculation, Visprint, the publishing house behind many cult-favorite titles, confirmed via a statement posted Jan. 13 on Facebook that it would be closing up shop by 2021, adding that its founders, brothers Efren and Nido Gatus, would be retiring after. It will be releasing its last four upcoming titles within the year, after which it will no longer be publishing new material and will be focusing on finishing off remaining stocks. Fans and creators expressed their grief and gratitude; illustrator Rob Cham, creator of the comics Light and Lost, took to Twitter, saying he owes a lot to Visprint in terms of his career and becoming his gateway to discovering local comics. I was shocked, says Eliza Victoria, who published a number of works with Visprint including the novels Dwellers and Wounded Little Gods. My newest book [Nightfall] was just released in December. I never thought Visprint would ever close, as the publishing house continues to reach greater heights. Just three years ago, she points out, it had been named Publisher of the Year at the National Book Awards. Screenwriter Jerry Gracio, who published his memoir Bagay Tayo and its accompanying poetry collection Hindi Bagay under Visprint, wrote a lengthy Facebook post, where he posits that the publisher took a gamble on authors it believed in, beginning as a David facing off against the Goliath that is a lack of faith in contemporary Filipino literature. Maaaring hindi nito nagapi si Goliath, he wrote, pero ipinakita sa atin ng Visprint ang mga posibilidad kung paanong mababago, kahit paano, ang publishing landscape sa bansa, kapag tinayaan nito ang ating mga manunulat at manlilikha. How it began Visprint started out as a print and photocopy shop which opened along Recto in 1984, and it wasnt until 2001 that they ventured into trade publishing. The owners wanted a continuous job for the offset machines so they were initially looking at publishing a magazine-type material, says publishing manager Nida Ramirez. The peg was Readers Digest but very local. Knowing how massive work a monthly magazine entails, I suggested we try books first. It was around this time that the author known as Bob Ong announced his intentions to write a book. I emailed him an offer, fully disclosing that it would be our first time to try out publishing. He took the risk. And the rest is history. The resulting book ABNKKBSNPLAko?!, the debut of both Ong and Visprint Publishing, became a bestseller and was eventually adapted into a feature film starring Jericho Rosales in 2014. It launched a long partnership between the author and the company. Many of its titles have garnered worldwide acclaim, with some becoming iconic pieces of Filipino pop culture, including comics like Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimos supernatural crime series Trese, which is being adapted for Netflix, Manix Abreras collected Kikomachine Komix strips, Carlo Vergaras LGBT superhero Zsazsa Zaturnnah, which has been adapted for both stage and film, and Mervin Malonzos mythological horror series Tabi Po, which was adapted into a series by Cignal TV in 2017. One thing its books all have in common is that they push boundaries and challenge perspectives, whether its the form they take, the stories they tell, or the conventions they shake up in our way of life. It also helps that according to Victorias observation, they tend to market their titles with good-natured humor, coming off as approachable, accessible, and down-to-earth. Primarily, the material should be very Filipino [in] theme, settings, or characters, Ramirez says of their selection process. We wanted Filipinos to read about Filipinos. And now, for something completely different Ang vision nina Ms. Nida at Ms. Kyra [Ballesteros, former managing editor] para sa mas de kalidad na popular literature ang nagdala sa Visprint for so long at ang nagbukod-tangi sa publisher na to mula sa iba na hindi naman talaga mahirap gawin, sa totoo lang, says author Adam David, who worked with them primarily as a book designer, editor, and blurb writer. Ang tunay na innovation ng Visprint ay ang umangat nang kaunti mula sa bare minimum effort ng mainstream publishing practice. The publisher also treats its authors with care and respect, which Ramirez describes as very open and cordial relationships. This includes non-restrictive contracts that dont require them to sign away their authors rights and allow them to keep their copyrights intact. My experience with Visprint has always been positive, Victoria says. I appreciate their transparency and their attention. Their contracts are author-friendly and royalty statements are clear. It doesnt hurt, she adds, that she is a fan of other Visprint authors, who are great company during book-signing events. Bilang designer at editor, sila ang isa sa napakakaunting professional publisher na nakatrabaho ko dito sa Pilipinas, says David. Laging malinaw ang usapan, may espasyo para sa diskusyon kung may isyu, may lakas rin ng loob para pumatol sa mga counter-intuitive na desisyon tulad ng paglimbag ng libro na walang pamagat sa front cover. At nagbabayad sila nang maayos. On its website, Visprint declares, We endeavor to offer Filipino authors the writing space they deserve, and to provide the Filipino readers with more books which touch the Pinoy in them. It made good on this promise, giving new voices and renowned creators an alternative platform with more room for experimentation and out-of-the-box concepts, while readers got more options to choose from and got to discover what Filipino creators are capable of. While the once-independent Visprint is now a traditional publisher, it nonetheless shows the importance of smaller presses, which value creativity and expression over market value and pave the way for anyone and everyone to publish and engage with all kinds of material about anything and everything. It also highlights how it pays to root for the underdog. We have a vibrant self-publishing and small press scene that provides a platform for a plurality of voices, Victoria says. But Visprint as a traditional publisher provides the services that authors like myself may not have the time or expertise to do themselves editing, printing, distribution, marketing, and accounting. Ramirez also views small presses as necessary. Because of their accessibility and openness to newbies and indies, she says, untested materials or unknown authors are discovered and exposed to the public. The end of an era When David first heard of the possibility that Visprint would be closing, he says, Hindi rin naman sumama ang loob ko sa balita dahil nangyayari naman ang mga ganung bagay. When people associated with the company were told of the reason behind the closure, however, David says that nakumpirma lang muli na ang lagay ng mainstream press ay nasa dikta talaga ng mga kapitalistang nagpapatakbo nito, hindi sa mga may-akda, hindi sa mga mambabasa. As has happened too many times before, Visprint became another testament to the fact that even in publishing, a companys integrity and genuine passion for its work and the fervent support of the people who believe in it arent deemed as important as profitability. And ultimately, sometimes the best option is to end on its own terms and stay true to its ideals. It is [accessibility and humor that] made Visprint popular among young readers, that introduced teenagers to local lore that hopefully will turn into a life-long love for stories written by Filipinos, Victoria says. And that will be the legacy Visprint will leave behind, a generation of young readers who will remember our culture and our myths, who will protect who we are, especially in these difficult times. According to Ramirez, Visprint has made a mark with the stories that a whole generation of readers grew up with. And upon its closure, she says, we hope that more publishers will be less hesitant to try out new stories or new ways of telling them. There is a need for bookstores to champion Filipino authors and publishers by expanding their selections and making it easier to discover local titles, so that they can fulfill the demands of readers because, according to Victoria, there is a demand. Visprint ended its statement by imploring readers to appreciate, support, and foster a new generation of writers and comic creators, not only in seeking them out to buy and read their work, but also in helping them get the recognition they deserve. Pag-usapan, punahin, kilalanin ang ibat ibang uri ng akdang nababasa ninyo, the post said. Nasa kamay ninyo, mga mambabasa, ang kinabukasan at pagpapatuloy ng mga akdang Filipino. Hong Kong: Panama, Armenia to be visa-free Panama and Armenia, which are along the Belt & Road, will grant visa-free access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders, the Immigration Department announced today. From February 10, HKSAR passport holders will not need a visa to stay in Panama for up to 30 days. Meanwhile, from March 3, HKSAR passport holders may visit Armenia visa-free for up to 180 days. Under the Belt & Road Initiative, the mutual visa-free arrangements will bring greater travel convenience to the travellers of Hong Kong, Panama and Armenia, and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the places, the department said. Together with Panama and Armenia, 165 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. AUSTIN The three most powerful players in state government declared their unified support Thursday for an aggressive plan to place a 2.5-percent limit on property tax hikes enacted by school districts, cities and counties. While Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen have generally declared a unified front on reforming property taxes before, this announcement was different in that they all threw their support behind identical bills in the house and senate a rare accord on such a major issue so early in the legislative session. The early solidarity is far from a guarantee in a legislative process that makes it easier to kill bills than pass them. But the trio made it clear they believe they have already made progress on an issue that has vexed lawmakers for years despite a litany of unkept promises to help homeowners who have seen dramatic tax increases over the last decade. The voters demanded this, and this demonstrates that the Texas Legislature is responding to the needs of our voters, Abbott said. Immediately after Thursdays announcement, Democrats joined advocates for public schools and public safety in raising alarms about the impact on those services. The plan is a non-starter, arbitrary, not responsible and not productive, say a pair of Democratic lawmakers who sit on the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the House. We need to be very mindful of where we are, how hard this is and how much work we have to do to even be in a place where were in the same solar system, said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. For subscribers: $5,000 raises for teachers proposed as lawmakers take up school funding The legislation has three pillars. First, it limits cities, counties and school districts from raising property taxes more than 2.5 percent unless they get approval from voters in a November election. Second, it revamps the tax notification system to make it clearer to homeowners who is responsible for raising their taxes and where to fight it. Third, it reforms the process for challenging a homes appraised value in the name of more transparency and consistency. If this passes, its probably the most significant property tax legislation weve seen in Texas since 1979, said Dale Craymer, president of the nonpartisan Texas Taxpayers & Research Association. But that is a big if. A major stumbling block is how the 2.5-percent caps would affect schools. State leaders have said they will increase the states education funding to make up for the lost tax revenues schools would collect from property owners, but where that funding would come from is still a mystery. The states contribution to public education has dwindled in recent years, which is one of the reasons that school districts have turned to property tax revenue as their main source of funding. Property taxes are too high because the state of Texas has relied on rising school property taxes to balance the state budget, said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus. The state must reform public school finance first, because its critically important to the success of 5.4 million Texas school children and second, because it is the only real way to relieve property taxes. Another issue has been the response from cities and counties that are already warning that the 2.5 percent cap is essentially a salary cap for police and fire fighters. The Texas Municipal League called the 2.5 percent radical and a threat to public safety funding. Patrick, who has championed property tax relief since 2009, said homeowners have been suffering under the pressure of rising taxes for far too long. This is a great day for homeowners and business owners who are sick and tired of seeing their property taxes go up 7, 8, 9, 10 percent or more every year, he said. Not all local governments would be subject to the 2.5 percent cap. State lawmakers have carved out exemptions for local governments that collect less than $15 million in tax revenues annually. That exempts all but about 100 of the states more than 1,200 municipalities, while the others would still be able to raise property taxes 8 percent a year without a public vote. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The legislation would require voters to approve school property tax increases higher than 2.5 percent, effectively tamping down escalating property tax growth. Thats different from a proposal Abbott made early last year that would have created a hard cap of 2.5 percent property tax revenue growth for schools, with the state contributing more education funding to make up the difference. Lawmakers said they plan to propose property appraisal reforms in a separate proposal. While the early agreement between Bonnen and Patrick to support identical bills puts them far ahead of where the Legislature has been on the issue over the last four years, there is still a long way to go. Now, both leaders have to rally enough support in their respective chambers. Thats a bigger task for Bonnen in the House, which two years ago rejected a bill that imposed a 4-percent limit on just cities, counties and other local governments but didnt include any limit on school districts. Now the House will be starting work on a bill that includes stricter caps and fewer exemptions than was before them in 2017. Catholic dioceses across Texas on Thursday identified nearly 300 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing untold numbers of children over the last 80 years, a long-anticipated revelation that survivors said failed to capture the full scope of clergy abuse within the church. The disclosure a coordinated release by the Catholic dioceses in Texas is one of the largest since an investigation last year by a Pennsylvania grand jury identified more than 300 priests who abused more than 1,000 children. Advocates for abuse victims said they believed the numbers released Thursday were a fraction of the total number of abusive priests in Texas. The reports lay out a devastating, decades-long trail of sexual abuse with allegations of predatory grooming, sexual assault and rape and a lack of response by church leaders when the victims spoke up. Many of the priests moved from church to church and diocese to diocese before they were finally defrocked. The Archdiocese of San Antonio led the state with 54 predatory priests, followed by Houston with 42. Dallas had 31 priests identified as credibly accused. Tim Lennon, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called for an independent investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and local district attorneys. Civil society needs to take responsibility for protecting its community, for protecting children and the vulnerable, he said. We cant rely on the church to investigate. Fourteen of the states 15 Catholic dioceses issued information about the hundreds of individual clergy members credibly accused. The exception was Fort Worth, which has posted the names of credibly accused priests on its website for more than a decade. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, acknowledged in an op-ed column published in the Houston Chronicle Thursday the great and lasting harm priests had done to children they were supposed to teach and serve. The genuine shame, embarrassment and outrage that accompany this weeks announcements across Texas are superseded only by the determination we collectively feel to assist victims of these acts of evil to begin or continue the healing process, he wrote. True numbers will appear Abuse victims said they believed the true number of abusers who lived and worked in Texas is likely far higher. A sweeping grand jury report released in Pennsylvania in August that found more than 300 Catholic priests sexually abused at least 1,000 children over seven decades in that state while being protected by church leaders. the Pennsylvania investigation is believed to be the largest into priest sexual abuse ever in the United States. After the Pennsylvania report was released, more than 70 dioceses nationwide announced similar plans to compile lists of pedophile priests, including the Catholic dioceses in Texas. The states bishops in San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Laredo, Lubbock, San Angelo, Tyler and Victoria agreed to independently release their lists Thursday. Grand jury probes following official investigations by local dioceses elsewhere have found far more victims, Lennon said, citing disclosures by Catholic dioceses in Illinois of 190 abusers and a subsequent grand jury report in December that found an additional 500 predators. The true numbers will appear as time unfolds, Lennon said. But we can see that its under-disclosed. Each of the Texas dioceses compiled their lists independently, many using teams of former law enforcement officials or outside attorneys, and releasing the information Thursday afternoon on diocesan websites. An independent commission in the Archdiocese of San Antonio identified 54 predatory priests. Even as he acknowledged the disclosures of sexual assault and misconduct were likely to bring tension and pain, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio said the reports release was truly right and just, and said he hoped it would help ease the abuse victims pain. I pray that this report will help survivors who have [been] ignored or even rejected by their family or by the church, he wrote, in a letter accompanying the reports release. I pray that they will find peace. Hours after San Antonios archbishop spoke, an independent lay commission invited to monitor the archdiocese work issued its own report, saying the files revealed a heartbreaking path of human destruction caused by men who violated sacred vows, human decency, and criminal laws. There are no words that fully recount the shock we felt when reading of cases where clerics were moved from one parish to another or returned to ministry after periods of treatment, only to continue their acts of sexual abuse, the commissions report stated. A terrible wound The reports identified some priests as having been accused of one case of sexual assault but others note some were credibly accused of having abused as many as 16 victims. In many cases, church officials ignored warnings and allowed priests to return to work after victims came forward. In the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, more than 40 priests were identified. Its a terrible thing to have to see the shepherds who hurt the young, DiNardo said. But this establishment in the dioceses of Texas, which we all agreed on to publish these lists, are an important movement forward even as they are a terrible wound that we have to speak out and say. Elsewhere around the state, dozens of other priests were also accused, from Amarillo to Beaumont, Dallas to El Paso, where church officials named 30 credibly accused of sexual abuse since 1950between 2 and 3 percent of clergymen who served in the far West Texas region, according to a letter from Bishop Mark J. Seitz. Only Laredo and the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter reported not finding any credible allegations of abuse. The Archdiocese of San Antonio released detailed allegations stretching back to the 1940s, including one priest with 16 allegations against him. In San Angelo, church leaders released the names of 13 clerics with credible allegations. While trust has been compromised by the serious misconduct of a few, I publicly affirm the goodness and the fidelity of the many, San Angelo Bishop Michael Sis wrote. The Diocese of Beaumont also found 13 credibly accused. Nine of the named are dead. The Diocese of Amarillo found 30 clergymen credibly accused since 1961, and published their names along with an apology. Twenty of the accused are dead. The Diocese of Victoria released three names, noting that there had been instances where allegations have been made against a member of the clergy have been determined not credible, not involving a minor, or not committed in the Diocese of Victoria. In Corpus Christi, the Diocese released 26 names and urged anyone with knowledge of abuse to come forward. In Dallas, 31 priests were named. Our failure to protect our most vulnerable from abuse, and hold accountable those who preyed on them, fills me with both sorrow and shame, Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns wrote. To those of you who have experienced family or friends who have walked away from the faith because of this scandal in the Church, please remind them that we must never separate ourselves from Jesus because of Judas. Brick walls in every corner Not quite an hour after archdioceses released the names, a small group of people victimized by priests gathered in the rain on a street corner in Houston to say it was not enough. It was a sad day, said Michael Norris, leader of SNAPs Houston chapter and a survivor or priest abuse. Dozens of clergy identified, he noted, meant so many more victims. Amber Perez, of Victoria, said she looked for the name of a priest in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, who she believes physically abused her 10-year-old daughter in November. She hadnt expected to see it, but the result was still emotional. Today was really disappointing, she said. There are brick walls put up at every corner when you go and try to report this stuff. Dug Begley, Keri Blakinger, Emily Foxhall, Nicole Hensley, Samantha Ketterer, Jordan Rubio and Sarah Smith contributed to this report. st.john.smith@chron.com The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston released the names of 42 priests Thursday who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children over the past decades. Here is the list with the latest information provided by the archdiocese and additional information, where available, based on court records, historical information and Houston Chronicle archives. Galveston-Houston Diocesan priests Nicholas Cornelius Antle Born: 1934 Died: 2016 Status: Retired 1990, removed from ministry 2011 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Patricks, Galveston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Rose of Lima, Houston (in residence); St. Vincent de Paul, Houston (in residence); Tribunal History: Born in 1934 and raised in Baytown, Antle was ordained in 1959. Thirteen years later, he caught a drunken driving charge in Harris County, according to state records. He was convicted and sentenced to a year of probation. Twenty years after that, he was arrested for public lewdness. Its not clear what led to the arrest, but he again netted a year of probation, and was also ordered to continue counseling. He started his work with the church in Galveston, spending six years at St. Patricks Catholic Church, where he founded the St. Patricks Boys Choir, according to his obituary. After a few years at St. Pius V Church in Pasadena, he moved to the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and later served as the late Bishop Wendelin Nolds chaplain and secretary. He had a total of seven assignments before retiring in 1990. He was removed from ministry in 2011. Now Playing: Several members of the Houston chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, hold a press conference responding to the list of names of accused clerics released by the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston. Video: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Reaction pours in to report released by Archdiocese Robert Ralph Barzyk Born: 1932 Died: 2007 Status: Retired, 1993; removed from ministry, 1994 Assignments: Holy Family, Wharton; Holy Name, Houston; Holy Rosary, Rosenberg; Newman Center, Wharton Junior College; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Joseph, Baytown; St. Jude, Highlands History: Barzyk was born in Pennsylvania in 1932 and spent his entire career in what is now the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston. He was ordained in 1958 and had seven different assignments in Rosenberg, Houston, Wharton, Baytown, Galveston and Highlands before he retired in 1993. He was removed from ministry the following year and died in 2007. David Emmett Burns Born: 1935 Died: 2003 Status: Retired, 1992; removed from ministry, 1992 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Annunciation, Houston; Christ the King, Houston (in residence); Our Mother of Mercy, Port Bolivar; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. James, Port Arthur History: Burns was born in Massachusetts in 1935 and came to Texas later, where he was ordained in 1961 He was arrested in June 1976 for driving under the influence in Houston, then fined and put on probation for 18 months, according to state records. He had nine assignments from Port Arthur to La Porte, and retired in 1992. He was removed from ministry the same year and died in 2003. Allen Ray Doga Born: 1925 Died: 1999 Assignments: Prince of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Edward, Spring; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena History: Born in 1925, Doga was ordained in 1949 and had five assignments in Houston, Galveston, Spring, Houston and Pasadena. He died in 1999. George Patrick Dougherty Born: 1925 Died: 2002 Status: Removed from ministry, 1996 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Notre Dame, Houston; Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Navasota; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Palestine; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Jerome, Houston; St. Patrick, Navasota History: Born in Houston in 1925, Dougherty graduated from Lamar High School in 1942, where he was the head cheerleader, according to his obituary. He joined the Navy and transferred to the Marines, where he was wounded in Okinawa and received a Purple Heart. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, then worked for Conoco in Houston before switching careers to become ordained in 1967. He had eight assignments, from Houston to Navasota, and was removed from the ministry in 1996. He died in 2002. Richard Edelin Born: 1953 Status: Removed from public ministry, 2013 Assignments: Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Conroe; Sacred Heart, Pattison; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. John Vianney, Houston; St. Thomas More, Houston; transferred to Diocese of Baker in Oregon in 2005 History: Ordained in 1979, Edelin was accused of groping a 17-year-old girl while working as a young priest from at least 1980 to 1984 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston. The woman filed a complaint with then-Bishop Joseph Fiorenza in 1996, and said she was given a $5,000 check and assurances that Edelin would no longer work as a priest. In 2004, she stepped forward again when she learned he was set to return to priestly duties at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land. Church officials said at the time they were unable to confirm the allegations, however, and Edelin was approved to return to work in 2005 outside the Houston area. He was transferred to the Diocese of Baker in Oregon to serve at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in the town of John Day, and was reported officiating at a funeral in The Dalles, Oregon in January 2011. He also worked briefly as an auditor for the Galveston-Houston diocese. Carlos (Charles) Guerra Born: 1953 Status: Removed from ministry, 1984; left priesthood, 1987 Assignments: Epiphany of the Lord, Katy; St. Benedict the Abbott, Houston; St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston History: Ordained in 1981, Guerra was the first known priest arrested in the Houston area. He was charged in 1984 with sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy who said he was molested after visiting St. Cyril of Alexandria Church in west Houston in 1981 to learn about converting to Catholicism. At the time of the arrest, Guerra, 30, was assigned to Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community in Katy. The boy said the alleged abuse began as massages and escalated over a period of three to four weeks. Charges against Guerra were dropped after a new state law required corroboration of the accusers testimony after a delay of six months. He left the priesthood in 1987. Stephen R. Horn Born: 1944 Status: Removed from ministry, 2008 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; St. Luke the Evangelist, Houston; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal, Texas City; St. Theresa, Houston History: Horn was ordained in 1973. He was removed as pastor at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Houston in 2008about two months after being accused of abusing a boy from 1989 to 1993 while assigned to Christ the King Catholic Church in Houston. Horn was treated at the Shalom Center rehabilitation facility for priests in Splendora after his removal, court records show. He was assigned to Christ the King from 1981 to 1994, when he was transferred to St. Luke the Evangelist. William Jimenez Born: 1927 Status: Removed from ministry, 1959 Assignments: Resurrection, Houston; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston History: Ordained in 1953, Jimenez was removed from the ministry six years later. He served at one church in Houston and one in Galveston. Joseph Giles Leduc Born: 1929 Died: 1981 Assignments: Annunciation, Houston; Assumption, Houston; Christ the King, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Dominic, Houston; St. Joseph, Baytown; St. Mary, Port Arthur; St. Philip Neri, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Ordained in 1955, Leduc had 10 different assignments with the Catholic Church in the Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur areas. Jesse S. Linam Born: 1935 Status: Retired 1998 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Holy Rosary, Rosenberg; Newman Center, Galveston; Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Ambrose, Houston; St. Andrew, Channelview; St. Henry, Freeport; St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Freeport; Sts. Peter and Paul, Bellville History: Linam was ordained in 1961. He was accused of sexually abusing a minor in 2002 after a California man filed a federal lawsuit in Galveston against the diocese, accusing Linam of sexually molesting him in 1973 and 1974 while he was a young parishioner at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Channelview. Linam served at St. Andrew until 1985, then served as a celebrant and officiant at weddings and funerals from 1985 to 1991 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Anderson; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Houston; and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bellville in Austin County. Donald A. Neumann Born: 1946 Status: Removed from ministry, 2013 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston (in residence); St. Gregory the Great, Houston (in residence); St. Paul the Apostle, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Thomas More, Houston History: Ordained in 1972, Neumann was removed from the ministry in 2013 after seven assignments. Details of the allegations that led to his removal were not available. Lawrence O. Peguero Born: 1921 Died: 2000 Status: Retired 1993 Assignments: Holy Name, Houston; Our Lady of Sorrows, Houston; Our Lady of St. John, Houston; Resurrection, Houston; St. Anne, Beaumont; St. Gregory the Great, Houston; St. Joseph, Beaumont; St. Patrick, Galveston History: Peguero was accused posthumously in a 2010 federal lawsuit by four siblings three sisters and a brother of molesting them at their home in the 1970s while he was assigned to Our Lady of St. John Catholic Church in Houston. Peguero, ordained in 1947, had been dead 10 years at the time. Before filing the lawsuit, the family members said they had reached out to the archdiocese in 2007 but rejected officials offer to fund counseling sessions. Peguero served at eight churches in Houston, Galveston and Beaumont before retiring in 1993. Dennis L. Peterson Born: 1947 Died: 2007 Status: Laicized 2005 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Special Youth Services; St. Benedict the Abbott, Houston; St. Francis Cabrini, Houston; St. Jerome, Houston; St. John Neumann, Houston; St. Michael, Houston; St. Theresa, Houston History: Dennis Peterson fashioned himself as an advocate for troubled youth in the Houston area, where he founded the Houston Community Youth Center and served as the Harris County Juvenile Detention Centers chaplain. Ordained in 1973, he was on medical leave from St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Houston in 1999 when a lawsuit accused him of molesting one of the at-risk youths he was tasked with counseling. The victim, then in his 20s, claimed that Peterson, while assigned to St. Annes and St. Francis Cabrini Catholic churches in Houston, plied him with drugs and alcohol and abused him from 1987 to 1997, according to court papers. A grand jury in 1999 declined to indict Peterson for an alleged sexual assault in March 1997. Three more adults all siblings came forward in a 2000 lawsuit to accuse Peterson of molesting them as teens in the mid-1970s. The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. He died in July 2007 from a sudden illness, according to his obituary. Services were held at St. Theresas in Houston. Robert C. Ramon Born: 1949 Died: 2014 Status: Removed from ministry, resigned from priesthood, 2002 Assignments: Annunciation, Houston; Prince of Peace, Houston; Resurrection, Houston; Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson; St. Charles Borromeo, Houston; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. John of the Cross, New Caney; Tribunal History: Ordained in 1982, Ramon was assigned to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston when he was accused of molesting a girl in 1991, according to a lawsuit her parents filed in 1993. The suit was settled in 1995, according to the Bishop Accountability website. Ramon died in Pasadena at age 64. Charles Kevin Schoppe Born: 1925 Died: 2014 Status: Removed from ministry and retired, 1992 Assignments: Resurrection, Houston; St. Dominic Center; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Piux X, Beaumont; St. Thomas More, Houston History: Ordained in 1949, Schoppe was overseeing the St. Dominic Center in Houston in 1992 when he was forced to resign from the ministry amid an allegation of child molestation. He was also accused of molesting four children while serving as pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston from 1967 until 1974. The diocese revealed the complaints of three victims about a week after the U.S. Conference of Bishops approved the Dallas Charter, which was created to dictate how dioceses react to child sex abuse claims. Ivan Turic Born: 1940 Status: Faculties removed, 1977 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park (in residence); Port Ministry; St. Francis of Assisi, Houston; St. Michael, Lake Jackson; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Turic was ordained in 1968 and charged with indecency with a child fondling in 1977. He was removed from his duties as a priest the same year. The case was dismissed in 1980 without explanation. He had five assignments during his career as a priest. Other Diocesan priests Moises Cabrera Born: 1946 Diocesan: Tuguegarao, Philippines; incardinated, Galveston-Houston 1985, and Manila 1994 Status: Removed from ministry, 1988 Assignments: Prince of Peace, Houston; St. Ambrose, Houston; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Michael, Houston; St. Rose of Lima, Houston; St. Thomas the Apostle, Huntsville History: Ordained in 1969, Cabrera had six church assignments in Texas, all in Houston and Huntsville. Rodrigo J. Guillermo Diocesan: Manila, Philippines; incardinated, Galveston-Houston 1979 Born: 1928 Died: 2015 Status: Retired and removed from ministry, 1994 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park (in residence); Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Charles Borromeo, Houston; St. Jerome, Clute; St. Mathias the Apostle, Magnolia; St. Thomas More, Houston (in residence) History: Guillermo was ordained in 1965 and eight assignments in Houston, Clute, Magnolia and Galena Park. He retired in 1994, the same year he was removed from ministry. Alphonse Rodrigue Hemond Religious: La Salette Fathers; incardinated Galveston-Houston, 1986 Born: 1916 Died: 1990 Status: Retired 1990 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Most Holy Trinity, Trinity; Our Lady of Lourdes, Hitchcock; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Dominic, Houston; St. Francis of the Tejas, Crockett; St. John, Hungerford; St. Joseph, Brazoria; St. Mary, Cleveland History: Hemond was ordained in 1949. He had pastoral assignments in Rhode Island, Canada, and Louisiana, where a stint in Baton Rouge led to at least three reports of abuse. The incidents in the 1960s and 1970s were reported between 1992 and 2002, according to the diocese there. He was incardinated in 1978 in Louisiana and in 1986 in Galveston-Houston. In the Lone Star State, he had nine assignments, including Houston, Crockett, Hungerford, Brazoria and Cleveland. He retired in 1990 and died the same year. Denis O. Lynch Religious: Discalced Carmelite; incardinated, Galveston-Houston, 1972 Born: 1930 Died: 2015 Status: Removed from Ministry 1993 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Alphonsus, Houston; St. Mary, Humble; St. Theresa, Houston History: Ordained in 1957, Lynch was removed from the ministry in 1993 after five assignments. Through the 1960s, according to Chronicle archives, he spoke at various events around Houston and served as an instructor at Sacred Heart Dominican College and the Jesuit Preparatory School. A 1986 article cites him as a spokesman for the diocese. Christopher J. Martin Diocesan: Galveston-Houston, Victoria Born: 1900 Died: 1989 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Annunciation, Houston; Assumption, Houston; Blessed Sacrament, Houston; Holy Cross, Bay City; Holy Name, Houston; St. Anthony Cathedral, Beaumont; St. Joseph, Bryan; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Patrick, Galveston History: Martin was ordained in 1924 and had 10 assignments in Houston, Bay City, Beaumont, Bryan and Galveston. Anthony G. Stredny Diocesan: Nashville; incardinated Galveston-Houston, 1971 Born: 1929 Died: 2018 Status: Removed from ministry, 1993 Assignments: Not available from the archdiocese. History: Stredny was ordained in 1957. According to Chronicle archives, he served at St. Josephs Catholic Church from 1985 to 1992, shortly before he was removed from the ministry. A native of Cleveland, he was reportedly active in youth and adult groups. A 2009 article by the Huntsville Record cited him as paying off the churchs $250,000 restoration debt and expanding the churchs programs during his tenure. Religious Order Priests Antonio Gonzalez, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1927 Status: Left the priesthood, 1985 Assignments: Immaculate Conception, Houston; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Galveston; St. Patrick, Houston; St. Thomas the Apostle, Houston History: Gonzales, ordained in 1957, was accused of impregnating a 17-year-old parishioner in 1983 while he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Houston, according to a lawsuit filed in 2005. The priest promised her he was going to the Vatican to seek permission to marry her but never returned to their Harrisburg Boulevard parish; instead, he was shipped off to Canada. He was removed from the priesthood in 1985 after serving in parishes throughout Texas. The woman, believing he had died, learned in 2003 that he was living in Taylor with a family of his own. She sued the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of Texas. The religious order agreed to pay her $1.35 million a week before trial was set to begin in 2008. Jack Hanna, CSB Religious: Basilian Fathers Born: 1944 Status: Faculties Removed 2013 (Galveston-Houston) Assignment: St. Thomas High School, Houston History: Hanna graduated from Houstons St. Thomas High School and was ordained in 1974 as part of the Basilian Fathers religious order. He went back to his alma mater, joining the faculty in 1981 to teach Spanish and art history. He resigned in 2013 after an unspecified misconduct complaint from an adult who did not work at the school. The school sent out an apology letter and Hanna entered treatment at a therapeutic center for priests. Additional details were not available. Anthony Keil (Kyles), SSJ Religious: Josephite Fathers Born: 1894 Died: 1969 Ordained: Not available. Assignments: Our Mother of Mercy, St. Francis Xavier, both in Houston History: Its not clear when Keil was ordained into the Josephite Fathers religious order, or when the accusations were made against him. Dennis Laroche, MM Religious: Maryknoll Born: 1946 Status: Left priesthood 1987 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston History: Laroche was ordained in 1974 as a member of the Maryknoll movement, known for its missionary work. He left the priesthood in 1987 but further details are not available. He served in the Philippines, according to a Maryknoll website, and then went to Ethiopia. Pius Lawe, SVD Religious: Divine Word Fathers Born: 1976 Ordained: 2005 Status: Removed from ministry, 2009 Assignment: St. Mary of the Purification, Houston History: Lawe was ordained in the Divine Word Fathers in 2005. He was removed from the ministry in 2009 after one assignment in Houston. He was reported officiating two funerals in Mississippi in 2012. Raphael OLoughlin, CSB Religious: Basilian Fathers Born: 1916 Died: 1998 Ordained: 1942 Assignments: Holy Family, Missouri City; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rosenberg; St. Basil (Most Holy Trinity), Angleton; St. Thomas High School in Houston History: OLoughlin was ordained in 1942 had four assignments in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties and Houston. In 1991, he authored a book, Basilian Leaders from Texas. Details were not available of the allegations against him. Vincent Orlando, SJ Religious: Jesuit Born: 1941 Status: Removed from ministry, 2002 History: Ordained in 1974, Orlando was a teacher and principal at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston when he was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1985 while working at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. The Houston school sent out a notice to parents in 2002 detailing the allegation. Orlando left Strake in 2000. A 2002 letter to parents described a another complaint, saying Orlando was accused of inappropriately touching a Strake student in 1984 during a school-sponsored ski trip. Walter Dayton Salisbury, SSJ Religious: Josephite Fathers Birth date: Unavailable Status: Removed from ministry and retired, 1993 Assignments: Prairie View Newman Center; St. Nicholas, Houston; Texas Southern Univeristy Newman Center History: Ordained in 1959, Salisbury was arrested in April 1978 on allegations he molested a 13-year-old boy he met while serving as a chaplain at Texas Southern Universitys Newman Center. He later pleaded no contest to the charge and received three years of probation. Salisbury was convicted of molesting another child in 1993 while assigned to St. Luke Parish in Washington, D.C. He is now believed to be living in Maine, where he was removed from a housing board for elderly residents after his two convictions were discovered in 2010. The Archdiocese of Washington D.C. identified Salisbury as credibly accused in October 2018. Christopher Joseph Springer, CSSR Religious: Redemptorist Fathers Born:1925 Ordained: 1952 Status: Laicized, 1990 Assignment: Holy Ghost, Houston History: Springer, a member of the congregation known as the Redemptorist Fathers, was ordained in 1952. He was laicized that is, he lost his clerical status in 1990. He had one assignment in Houston. An Arkansas man filed a civil suit against Springer, the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Vatican and other Catholic organizations in 2011, accusing Springer of sexually abusing him as a child. The suit alleged that he abused children from 1952 to 1972 in New Orleans and was transferred to Baton Rouge, where he continued the abuse. The suit was dismissed in 2012. Two lawsuits against him in Corpus Christi were settled in 2007. Donald Stavinoha, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1943 Died: 2007 Status: Removed from ministry, 1986; Assignments: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston; St. Patrick, Houston History: Stavinoha was arrested in 1986 after a Houston patrol officer found him sexually assaulting an aspiring 9-year-old altar boy in the back of a van belonging to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in east Houston. The officer was a parishioner at the church and recognized Stavinoha as a co-pastor. Stavinoha pleaded guilty in 1990 and was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison, but was released in March 1991 after serving only about one year. He joined the church in 1983 after graduating from St. Anthony Seminary in San Antonio. He was ordained in 1970. Gerard Martin Weber, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1936 Status: Removed from ministry, 2011 Assignments: Blessed Sacrament, Houston; Christian Renewal Center, Dickinson; Our Lady of Sorrows, Houston History: Weber was ordained in 2011 into the Oblate of Mary Immaculate order. He was removed from the ministry the same year after serving assignments in Houston and Dickinson. Details are not available on the allegations raised against him. John Benedict Weber, O.Carm. Religious: Carmelite Status: Removed from Ministry 2011 Assignments: Mount Carmel High School; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Houston History: Details are not available about his removal from the ministry in 2011. He grew up in New York and was ordained in 1977. Andrew Willemsen, CM Religious: Vincentian, later incardinated, Austin Born: 1928 Died: 2012 Assignments: St. Jerome, Houston; St. Mary Seminary, Houston History: Ordained in 1954, Willemsen was a Vincentian priest. A San Antonio-area man accused him of abusing him when he was 12 to 14 years old, but was told Willemsen had already been sent out of the country. Additional details were not available. Extern priests from other dioceses Luis (Eugenio) Eugene DeFrancisco Diocesan: Cali, Colombia Born: 1908 Status: Removed from ministry, 1960 Assignments: Methodist Hospital; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston (in residence) History: DeFrancisco was ordained in 1931 in the Cali, Colombia diocese. He was ordained in 1931. Its not clear when he spent time in Houston. Fernando Noe Guzman Diocesan: Morelia, Mexico Born: 1951 Died: 2006 Status: Removed from ministry, 1987 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Navasota; St. Patrick, Navasota History: In one of the most notorious cases in the Houston area, Guzman was accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl at her grandfathers home. He then blamed the girl, saying she was a rather precocious child who came on to him, a church leader later testified. The allegations surfaced two years at Guzman, ordained in 1979, came to the U.S. in 1982 from Morelia, Mexico for an assignment at the predominantly Spanish-speaking Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Navasota. He was later transferred to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Galena Park. the following year. The allegations against him surfaced after a church secretary in Galena Park file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit accusing him of forcing her into a sexual relationship. The lawsuit was dismissed, but Guzman was charged with sexual assault in Grimes County. He pleaded guilty, was granted shock probation and served 90 days in jail. He registered as a sex offender in Galena Park and was arrested at least twice for drunken driving in Waller County in 1994 and Harris County in 1997. Francisco Ordonez Diocesan: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico Born: 1930 Status: Removed from ministry, 2003 Assignments: Immaculate Conception, Houston; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Helen, Pearland (assisted with Spanish Masses); Notre Dame, Houston; St. Benedict, Houston; St. John Vianney, Houston; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Ordained in 1995 in the Nuevo Laredo, Mexico diocese, he had seven assignments in Texas in eight years. Joseph Tully Diocesan: Rockford Born: Unknown Died: 1982 Status: Retired, 1971 Assignments: St. Anne, Beaumont; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Theresa, Houston History: Tully, of the Rockford Diocese, was ordained in 1925. He had three assignments in the Galveston-Houston diocese before retiring in 1971 for undisclosed reasons. Recent allegations currently under investigation John T. Keller Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Born: 1948 Status: Removed from ministry, 2019 Assignments: Christ the Good Shepherd, Spring; Prince of Peace, Houston; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. Justin Martyr, Houston History: Ordained in 1974, Keller was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a 9th grade boy while assigned to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston. The allegations surfaced after a woman sent a letter on behalf of her now-adult son to a former diocese chancellor in July 2001 detailing the allegations. A diocese review board considered the complaint and Keller underwent a psychological assessment, according to church officials. Former Bishop Joseph Fiorenza dismissed the complaint, saying there were obvious differences between what the accuser and Keller said of the incident. The bishop concluded that Keller should remain in ministry. Details are not available about his recent removal from the ministry. Facing criminal charges Manuel La Rosa Lopez Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Born: 1957 Status: Removed from ministry 2001 and 2018, per archdiocese Assignments: Sacred Heart, Conroe; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. John Fisher, Richmond; Tribunal History: La Rosa-Lopez, the latest priest to face criminal charges, is accused of abusing an altar boy in 1992 while he was a seminarian. The childs family confronted church leaders at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston about alleged inappropriate touching and La Rosa-Lopez was moved out of the parish. The Peruvian clergyman was nonetheless ordained in 1996 and assigned to the Sacred Heart in Conroe in 1997, where he was accused of molesting two more youths. He was confronted again about the alleged abuse in Conroe in 2001 and was treated at the Shalom Center in Splendora. He was later reassigned to St. John the Fisher Church in Richmond, where he remained until the month before his Sept. 11 arrest. He is facing charges of four counts of indecency with a child in Montgomery County. Seeing the priests name in black and white made little difference to Kevin Johnson. The name, Walter Dayton Salisbury, was among the 42 priests listed by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on Thursday as facing credible claims of child sex abuse. He allegedly molested Johnson in the 1970s while serving as the chaplain of Texas Southern Universitys Newman Center. Im not impressed, Johnson said. At least they put it on there, but it doesnt tell me anything I didnt already know. Johnson said he fended off Salisburys attempts to fondle him at the movies as a child. As a 16-year-old, the priest groped him in a swimming pool. He stuck his hands down my trunks, Johnson recounted. I was trying to breathe and not drown. I realized this was an attack. Salisbury, ordained in 1959, left the Newman Center soon after his arrest in April 1978 for molesting another boy, whom he also took to the movies. He later pleaded no contest to the charge and received three years probation, court records show. Hes reportedly living in Maine. Nearly four dozen priests in the region were listed as faced allegations of child molestation over seven decades, a revelation that brought little comfort Thursday to the survivors and weighed on the shoulders of Houston church leaders who say they must continue to increase oversight to keep children safe. RELATED: Priest abuse report tells of devastating, decades-long trail of sexual abuse by Texas clergy Im the shepherd. When youre the shepherd and the leader, you have to take responsibility for that, said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who heads the archdiocese. The cardinal said he saw the finalized list in mid-January and said the extent of those identified was not a surprise to him. He knew some names from news headlines and others personally. A number of these names and shepherds who have harmed the young have been around. Its been in the paper, its been in the news, DiNardo said. It wasnt, in all that sense, shocking to me. The number of accused nearly doubled from the 22 priests and four deacons that former Bishop Joseph Fiorenza accounted for in a 2004 study. At that time, the diocese had approved $3.6 million in settlements to victims. DiNardo was unable to give the total amount of settlements the church has handed out, but recounted approving a settlement for victims of Lawrence Peguero, who was named on the list. Allegations against two dozen or so named Thursday were not previously publicized. About 20 of the priests listed have since died. Michael Norris, who leads Houstons Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the numbers seemed to be off by an order of magnitude. He noted that in Illinois, the attorney general found that more than 600 clergy members had been accused of sexual abuse a much larger number in a much smaller state. He points out that there is at least one victim for each priest named. There are more perps in this town, said Norris, himself a survivor of priest abuse. Two priests included on the list are the subject of current investigations: Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, who faces criminal charges in Montgomery County, and John Keller, the pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Tomball, who is under internal investigation. Keller was removed from ministry in January. DiNardo declined to speak on the allegations surrounding La Rosa-Lopez, other than to say a review board under his predecessor, Fiorenza, cleared La Rosa-Lopez to return to his priestly duties in the Richmond parish before DiNardo joined the Houston diocese from Iowa. La Rosa-Lopez was arrested on Sept. 11 and charged with four counts of indecency with a child. The charges stemmed from the complaints of two young parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, where the priest is alleged to have abused them from 1998 to 2001. I have to be very careful what I say about Manuel. This is under active investigation, DiNardo told the Houston Chronicle. The allegation against Keller was made public in 2003. He was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a ninth-grade boy while assigned to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston. The complaint came from a woman who sent a letter on behalf of her now-adult son to a former diocese chancellor in July 2001. A diocese review board considered the complaint and Keller underwent a psychological assessment, according to church officials at the time. Fiorenza dismissed the complaint, saying there were obvious differences between what the accuser and Keller said of the incident. The bishop concluded that Keller should remain in ministry. Details are not available about his recent removal from the ministry. The brunt of the abuse detailed in records and the archdioceses list happened before DiNardos tenure. Even so, the cardinal believes the church and its leaders, including himself, must be held accountable. DiNardo contends the Dallas Charter established in 2002 in the wake of the alarming Boston Globe report on the pervasiveness of priest sex abuse made a difference in stopping some of the abuse. He said was aware of at least one case of sexual abuse that took place after the charters guidelines were established. He identified the religious order priest behind the abuse as Pius Lawe, who was assigned to St. Mary of the Purification in Houston. Lawe was removed from ministry in 2009. Robert Scamardo, who served as the Diocese of Galveston-Houstons legal counsel from 1997 to 2002, said he has no reason to believe Thursdays list was incomplete. The archdioceses tasked unidentified reviewers to examine clergy files to identify those credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Its sad to read the list and recall that victims and survivors, said Scamardo, who resigned from his position at the diocese after coming forward as a victim of priest sex abuse. I just hope that its a new beginning, a fresh start, that no child ever again that has to suffer. REACTION: Accused priests 'should definitely pay for their sins' The Diocese of Austin identified Scamardos abusive priest in their own list. He was Daniel Delaney, who died in 2008 in Houston. Additionally, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has worked with law enforcement, psychological and other experts, DiNardo wrote. About 30 minutes after the release of the names, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston livestreamed a rosary for the healing of the Catholic Church. Parishioners across the region were invited to recite the rosary along with Director of Vocations Father Richard McNeillie. The rosary is a series of prayers reflecting on the life of Jesus, taking place over several decades of rosary beads. Each decade a set of prayers reflecting on one biblical event was offered for the intentions of healing in the Church. The first mystery was offered for victims and survivors of sexual abuse, That God the merciful father will bring comfort and healing to victims and survivors of sexual abuse within the Church. May those who have been abused experience Christs profound love for them and Gods healing grace, McNeillie said. Norris believes change will come only when perpetrators are sent to jail. His group is calling for independent investigations. This issue has been going on for eons in the Catholic church and nothing has changed, he said. They change their tactics. The strategy is still the same. Everything is all about protecting the priests and protecting the church. They got it wrong. The victims are who should be protected. Amber Perez, of Victoria, said she looked for the name of a priest who she believes physically abused her 10-year-old daughter in November. She hadnt expected to see it, but the result was still emotional. Today was really disappointing, she said. There are brick walls put up at every corner when you go and try to report this stuff. Emily Foxhall and Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report. Nicole Hensley is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She joined the Chronicle in 2018 after covering breaking news at the New York Daily News and The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington. A native of Seattle, Nicole is a graduate of Washington State University. Follow her on Twitter @nkhensley. Email her at nicole.hensley@chron.com. Photos by Houston Chronicle photo staff Design by Jordan Rubio and Jasmine Goldband *** WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court once again will take up unresolved constitutional questions about partisan gerrymandering, agreeing Friday to consider rulings from two lower courts that found congressional maps in North Carolina and Maryland so extreme that they violated the rights of voters. The North Carolina map was drawn by Republicans, the Maryland districts by the state's dominant Democrats. While the Supreme Court regularly scrutinizes electoral districts for racial gerrymandering, the justices have never found a state's redistricting map so infected with politics that it violates the Constitution. Such a decision would mark a dramatic change for how the nation's political maps are drawn. The court passed up the chance last term to settle the issue of whether courts have a role in policing partisan gerrymandering, sending back on technical rulings challenges to a Republican-drawn plan in Wisconsin and the challenged Maryland map. In oral arguments last term, conservative justices generally seemed uncomfortable with judges getting involved in what some consider a political matter between voters and their representatives. Liberal justices seemed to think that partisan redistricting was thwarting the will of voters and that the situation will get worse as technology provides lawmakers with pinpoint accuracy in identifying which party voters support. But a reconfigured court will consider the issue in March. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had held out the belief that some gerrymandering could be so political as to be unconstitutional, has been replaced with Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The new justice is generally more conservative but has not ruled on the issue in the past. The Supreme Court had little choice but to accept the cases, as it is required to either affirm or reverse lower-court decisions on such political matters. While last term's outcomes did not favor them, opponents of partisan gerrymandering said they hoped the Supreme Court could be persuaded to find a role for the judiciary in the matter. "Voters nationwide are ready for a ruling from the Supreme Court that finally declares that they come first, not self-interested politicians," said Paul Smith, vice president of the Campaign Legal Center. Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, said that "maps that follow traditional redistricting criteria should be free from challenges in federal court." In June, the justices said the Maryland case was not ready for them and sent it back. In November, a unanimous three-judge panel found that Democrats had unconstitutionally targeted Republican voters in the 6th Congressional District because of their political affiliation. The legislature had redrawn the district, which previously stretched across the top of the state, to dip down into Democratic strongholds in the Washington suburbs. After the 2011 redistricting, a Democrat won the seat previously held by a Republican. There was an open election in the district in November, when Democrat David Trone defeated Republican Amie Hoeber by a wide margin. "The massive and unnecessary reshuffling of the Sixth District, involving one-half of its population and dictated by party affiliation and voting history, had no other cause than the intended actions of the controlling Democratic officials to burden Republican voters by converting the district" into a Democratic one wrote Judge Paul Niemeyer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. He was joined by U.S. District Judge George Russell III. Chief U.S. District Judge James Bredar wrote a separate opinion agreeing with the overall judgment and declaring partisan gerrymandering "a cancer on our democracy." Rather than redraw the map, as the federal judges had ordered, Democratic Attorney General Brian Frosh decided to appeal to the Supreme Court. That put him at odds with the state's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who also won reelection in November and has pushed three times for a constitutional amendment that would have an independent commission redraw boundaries. "It's outrageous that the attorney general and legislative leaders are continuing to fight against free and fair elections, even in the wake of a unanimous federal court ruling," said Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse. The Supreme Court had also sent back the North Carolina case last term, telling a special panel of three federal judges to decide whether challengers in that state had the legal standing to bring the challenge. The judges said they did, and also found that the legislature's efforts violated constitutional protections of equal protection and free speech. The North Carolina legislature "drew a plan designed to subordinate the interests of non-Republican voters not because they believe doing so advances any democratic, constitutional, or public interest, but because, as the chief legislative mapdrawer openly acknowledged, the General Assembly's Republican majority 'think[s] electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats,' " wrote Judge James Wynn Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. "But that is not a choice the Constitution allows legislative mapdrawers to make." Wynn was referring to comments from a legislative leader after a previous map was struck down as an example of racial gerrymandering that made clear politics was at the heart of the new map. "I think electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats," said Rep. David Lewis, a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, addressing fellow legislators when they passed the plan in 2016. "So I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country." He added: "I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe it's possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats." When voters went to the polls that fall, the 10-3 outcome was exactly as Lewis had predicted, even though Republican candidates won just 53 percent of the statewide vote. The trend continued in November's elections, although one of those district results is being challenged because of allegations of ballot fraud. The three-judge panel in its August decision had considered ordering new congressional districts for the 2018 elections. But even challengers agreed there would not be enough time to draw new maps, and the panel put its ruling on hold to await Supreme Court review. WASHINGTON - For more than a year, congressional Democrats have pushed to unlock a mystery they said could reveal whether Donald Trump had advance knowledge of a meeting his eldest son had in the summer of 2016 with a Russian lawyer promising damaging material about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The key, they said, was to determine who was using blocked telephone numbers to speak to Donald Trump Jr. before and after the meeting in Trump Tower, suggesting he may have communicated with his father on a private line. But Senate investigators have concluded that the blocked calls were conversations between Trump Jr. and two longtime business associates: Howard Lorber, a real estate investor who has done business in Russia, and Brian France, the chief executive of NASCAR, according to two people familiar with the determination. The findings were first reported by CNN and ABC News. France did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Lorber said Friday that the real estate magnate "does not recall conversations with Donald Trump Jr. in the summer of 2016," adding that Lorber never discussed "any Russian matters" with the president's son. Lorber is a longtime friend of the elder Trump, and the two went to Moscow in 1996 to scout for a real estate deal that never materialized, according to people familiar with the visit. The trip helped spur Trump's interest in seeking other ways over the years to build a tower in Moscow. President Donald Trump has long denied that he knew about the Trump Tower gathering in 2016, which was attended by Trump Jr., his brother-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. At the meeting, Trump Jr. was expecting a Russian lawyer linked to the Kremlin to share dirt on Clinton, he later told Congress, but she instead pressed him on a U.S. law levying sanctions on Russia for human rights abuses. The president and his allies seized on the conclusions by congressional investigators, saying the findings undercut Democratic efforts to raise questions about links between Trump and Russia's interference in the 2016 campaign. "The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me. . . . Really sad," the president tweeted late Thursday. "This Witch Hunt must end!" he added. In his own tweet, Trump Jr. wrote: "More of the Democrat's #fakenews narrative disappearing before their eyes. I wonder how many more false leaks will pop now to keep their dreams alive???" Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 that his father had no knowledge of the June 2016 meeting with the Russians. "My father knew nothing of the meeting or of these events," he said in a statement at the time of his testimony. Democrats, led by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who now chairs the House Intelligence Committee, were openly skeptical of Trump Jr.'s account, noting that his first explanations of the meetings were misleading. In a July 8, 2017, statement to The New York Times, Trump Jr., said meeting participants "primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children." The statement did not mention that he was promised damaging information about Clinton - or that Trump Jr. had responded enthusiastically to the offer. "If it's what you say I love it," he wrote in an email to an associate who offered to set up the meeting. Democrats raised questions about phone calls made by Trump Jr. on June 6, 2016, that they thought might show that Trump's son informed his father about the meeting in advance. At 4:04 p.m. that day, phone records show, Emin Agalarov, a wealthy Russian who helped arrange the meeting, called Trump Jr. Phone records show that Trump Jr. called back Agalarov at 4:31 p.m. Between those two calls, phone records show that Trump Jr. was connected with a phone number that was blocked in records. Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he did not remember whom he spoke with at that time, but others testified at the time that his father uses a blocked line. Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee pushed for information on the blocked numbers for more than a year. But House Republicans rebuffed efforts to subpoena the phone records, according to Schiff. "They didn't want to know whether he had informed his father and sought his permission to take that meeting with the Russians," Schiff said in a 2018 interview with The Washington Post. On Thursday night, Schiff told MSNBC that he would continue his efforts to "find out who Don Jr. was talking to about that meeting at Trump Tower." "Those conversations could have taken place over the phone, or they could have taken place by Don Jr. walking down the hall to talk to his dad,'' he added. - - - The Washington Post's Michael Kranish and Rosalind S. Helderman contributed to this report. It goes without saying that the American Petroleum Institute (API), the D.C.-based trade association that aims to "influence a strong, viable U.S. oil and gas industry," would weigh in against steel tariffs. U.S. drillers spend over $8 billion a year on hundreds of tons of steel pipes (though only a tiny proportion of steel used by the American oil patch comes from China). What might be more surprising is that the API recently tweeted its opinion that uncertainty whether the trade war will get resolved "is nearly as damaging to trade and the overall economy as the actual tariffs." In fact, the oil industry needs to worry about a deterioration of U.S.-Chinese relations. While tariffs might come and go, there are a larger set of problems for the oil industry, as the U.S. considers its posture towards what prominent conservatives Derek Scissors and Daniel Blumenthal termed an increasingly "dangerous rival." Scissors and Blumenthal, among others, are suggesting the U.S. needs to untie its economy from China's. Their commentary, while considered controversial, resonates with some louder voices inside the Trump administration who argue that the U.S. should shrink dependence on China for U.S. and global supply chains. China is actively expanding its global presence across ports and other kinds of transportation networks. Almost 70 percent of global container traffic flows through Chinese-owned or Chinese-invested ports, according to a survey by the Financial Times, and China's investment in logistics businesses also covers energy infrastructure and pipelines, trucking, railways, airports and shipbuilding. The U.S. has already responded with an infrastructure fund of its own, despite President Trump's previous distaste for foreign aid programs. Reliable international supply chains are important for the U.S. economy, jobs and competitiveness for U.S. companies this became apparent for businesses that relied on components produced in Fukushima, Japan, when the city was hit by a tsunami in 2011. But the U.S. response to the challenges posed by intertwined supply chains needs to be managed carefully. The idea that China is a force needing to be reckoned with is gaining momentum across the political spectrum in Washington. Bruce Jones of Brookings argued in a recent paper that U.S.-China relations have reached the "closing of an era of expanding cooperation." President Xi Jinping's more assertive global strategies, combined with his authoritarian crackdown on domestic dissent and internment of Xiajiang Muslims, is prompting a reevaluation of China, not only by the Trump administration but by a larger cross section of American political leaders, academia and business leaders. The Trump administration has already taken some direct actions to address U.S. national security concerns related to Beijing's willingness to gain sensitive U.S. advanced telecommunications and information technology by a variety of means, including outright intellectual property theft. Last year, the Trump administration blocked Broadcom, the Singapore-based chipmaker, from taking over American firm Qualcomm, citing Broadcom's relationship with foreign entities such as Huawei, China's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, whose chief financial officer was recently arrested in Canada at the request of the U.S. due to a U.S. investigation for alleged violations of American trade control laws. If the U.S. moves to untether distinct linkages to Chinese supply chains, it is safe to assume that Chinese strategists will want to do the same. That is not just bad news for American technology firms with plants and businesses in China. It could be a problem for U.S. oil and gas firms that were counting on China as a steady customer for rising exports. A temporary hiatus in the trade war might allow for a few U.S. spot sales of oil and gas cargoes in China, but in the context of the wider strategic U.S.-China tensions, lengthier contractual commitments are now going to be a tougher sell. American oil and gas may have to shift to other markets. Already, U.S.-China trade issues are making it harder for American LNG export promoters to push forward credible deals to beat out Qatari and Russian gas sales ahead of looming multiyear contract renewals. China's national oil company CNPC's internal think tank is already suggesting so in its annual report, which concluded that ongoing trade disputes could force China to move away from U.S. LNG to other sources. All China-bound imports of U.S. oil and gas by Chinese entities have been on hold since September 2018. That is a big change from the heady days when U.S. and Canadian energy was viewed by Chinese firms to be as among the most secure and desirable in the world. As the API alluded to, a loss of access to the Chinese market is not the only potentially bad news for U.S. oil and gas. A deepening rift between the U.S. and China could spell difficulty ahead for the global economy. Chinese oil demand, which represents over 12 percent of total world demand, is a linchpin to global oil prices. With these larger geopolitical issues looming, it is unclear whether signs that China's economy will remain resilient. Any faltering in Chinese economic growth will spill over to the rest of Asia and potentially undermine demand for oil more generally. And that would be even worse news for the U.S. oil and gas industry, which has already seen oil prices slip dramatically on the back of a meltdown in Asian financial markets twice in the last two decades. Amy Myers Jaffe (@amyjaffeenergy) is the David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment and director of the program on energy security and climate change at the Council on Foreign Relations. Want to write for Gray Matters? Email Allyn West. Get the Gray Matters newsletter. It's among the most secure and desirable in the world. I often look back at that last morning with my husband, Chamblee said. He stayed up really late the last few nights of the newspaper because the primaries were coming up and he wanted the section of the newspaper to be complete and helpful to all the voters out there. Fariha Dhanani and her cousin Amir werent kidding when they called their little semi-serve spot on Highway 6 the Twisted Turban. Twisted it is: in a quintessentially Houston fashion that braids together Indo-Pakistani and Tex-Mex ideas into a frisky and slightly improbable whole. Which is us, when you think about it. Dhanani says that as students a decade ago, she and her friends who ate halal which calls for meat butchered according to Muslim law pined for some of the Texas staples they couldnt eat in restaurants, snack bars or the food trucks that were then becoming popular. She remembers, with wry nostalgia, one particular greasy chimichanga with queso on it that she and her cohort pined for, and figured they might be able to create at home. Lo, a decade later, she presides over a menu full of such previously unobtainable restaurant treats, all of them meticulously halal. (Yes, theres a chicken chimichanga on the roster.) The grass-fed beef burgers, sandwiches and paratha-wrapped tacos cater to those who eat vegetarian, too: her meat dishes can be prepared with lively aloo tikki patties of spiced potato. Dhananis signature Turban Burger will give you an idea of what the Culinary Institute LeNotre grad (and former Kirans intern) is trying to do here in a far-west suburban strip mall, sandwiched between a payday cambio and a beauty salon that will give you a henna tattoo. Its a wild ride, so hop on board. Twisted Turban 2838 S. Texas 6, Suite B 281-372-8194 twistedturban.com See More Collapse PRICE: Turban Burger with slow-roasted braised brisket, Muenster cheese, mango slaw and house-made Turban hot sauce, $9.99. You can add an order of tots or seasoned fries for $2.99; and a mango ice-cream shake for $4.99, which will bring your total to just under 20 bucks. On HoustonChronicle.com: The $5 taqueria cheeseburger Alison Cook loves ORDERING: Step up to the counter to order from a wall menu, then find a seat in the bright, tidy dining room anchored by a street-art-style murals that place-checks both Houston and the subcontinent. Enjoy the Bollywood soundtrack while you wait for your food to be brought to you. ARCHITECTURE: Salad stuff (i.e. the mango slaw) on top. On a shiny toasted bun goes a swipe of tart yogurt, a half-pound patty of grass-fed ground beef, and a mantle of melted Muenster cheese. Then comes a heap of shredded, braised brisket, a crown of mango-and-red-cabbage slaw, and swizzles of bright, hot Turban sauce thats made in-house. A toothpick holds the tall, tilty creation together. Or tries to, anyway. The look is slightly outrageous and infinitely Instagrammable, like many of the millennial-friendly dishes here. QUALITY: I loved the tart heat and bounce that the mango slaw, Turban sauce and yogurt combo gave this complex burger. It was like a burger given a contrapuntal chaat treatment, and it rocked accordingly. The tall-straight-sided beef patty had good, direct beef flavor, and it stayed moist despite its medium-well doneness. Yeah, the juicy braised brisket complicated things, but the traces of fennel, fenugreek, mace and nutmeg I detected added another facet of Subcontinental personality to the sandwich. Personally, I dont think adding brisket or other meats on top of a burger patty generally improves matters some of the focus of a really superior burger inevitably is lost but I had to admit this particular combo was tons of fun. OOZE RATING: Fair, and condiment-based. LETTER GRADE: B-plus. A slight overworking of the house-made beef patty gave it a denser texture than seemed optimal, but it wasnt a deal-breaker by any means. The bumptious flavors trumped all. On HoustonChronicle.com: The best soups in Houston BONUS POINTS: The gentle, tropical quality of the mango ice-cream shake was a perfect complement to the riotous flavors of the Turban burger. And while the tots were well, tots, they can be had with that spirited Turban sauce, a raita dip or a sweet-and-sour mint and cilantro chutney. Thats my idea of fun. So was the aloo tikki burger, Chickni style, that I took home. With its chutney and red onion and cheese, it reminded me of a riff on vada pav, the potato-patty sandwich thats an Indian street-food staple. MINUS POINTS: Curiously, the tamarind chutney was pulpy and bland, altogether unworthy of its superior sidekicks. LOCAL COLOR: I came in mid-afternoon, when I was the sole customer, so I have no evidence of who hangs out here. But Twisted Turbans Facebook and Instagram accounts are full of photos of young people enthusiastically tackling sky-scraping towers of food, loaded-to-the max fries and tots even that contemporary must-have, a lobster mac-and-cheese. The colorful wall mural adds even more of a street-food vibe. Its full of local references to such totems as the Texans, the Rockets and the University of Houston, from which Dhanani graduated with a business degree. She was supposed to go into her familys auto audio business. (She still works there part-time, as does her cousin and business partner. Her husband, an engineer by day, helps out, too.) But Dhananis face lights up when she talks about her food, and its impossible not to conclude that when she found a space that had been vacated by a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant, she ended up here on Highway 6 in exactly the right place. Alison Cook is the Chronicle's James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter, and keep up with Houston's latest dining and drinking news and reviews by subscribing to our free Flavor newsletter. It's a good thing most of us don't live by Vanderpump Rules. Nobody needs that kind of immature, drunken, back-stabbing, cheating, sex-filled depravity in their lives. At least not on a daily basis. But there are a good many Houstonians who live for "Vanderpump Rules." If you're a fan of the Bravo reality show centered around Lisa Vanderpump, mark your calendar. According to a post on Vanderpump's Instagram page, the British restaurateur and Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, will be in Houston on Feb. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. to sign bottles of her Vanderpump Rose. PARK CITY, Utah Tim Tsai wasnt even born when tensions between Vietnamese refugees and longtime commercial crab fisherman on the South Texas coast erupted into violence, catapulting the small town of Seadrift into the national news in 1979. But the Austin-based filmmaker became obsessed with telling the story after reading about it in a book called Asian Texans, with a chapter on Vietnamese Texans detailed by sociologist Thao Ha, a Houston native. The result is Seadrift, a riveting documentary that premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, a showcase for independent filmmakers that takes place at the same time as the larger Sundance Film Festival. When you think about Texas history and civil rights history, you dont think about Asian-Americans, but this story really is a significant part of American history, the 38-year-old filmmaker told an appreciative audience after the screening. Tsai had been working on the project for more than seven years but needed additional funds when he learned in late November of last year that the film was accepted to Slamdance. The films co-producer Andrew Lee launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $50,000 in 31 days to finish the film in time for the festival, which began Jan. 25. Says Lee, a Sugar Land native, Ive done five funding campaigns (for other films), and its the quickest one Ive done. Tense and timely The project was started long before Donald Trump was elected president, but Tsai believes it remains timely because its themes of the debate over immigration and fears stoked by white nationalists remain a focal point of todays news. What has struck me working on the film, the archival footage of what (Texas Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon) Louis Beam was saying back in the early 80s is almost word for word what people are saying now, Tsai says in an interview. As a nation, we havent progressed as much as maybe a lot of us thought we had. After the fall of Vietnam in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees were resettled in the United States. Many made their way to Houston and South Texas, where the humid weather and proximity to the coast resembled their homeland. Seadrift, a small town with a population of a little over 1,000 located about a two-and-a-half-hour drive southwest of Houston, became home to a growing number of refugees when a Maryland businessman brought them in to work in low-wage jobs at a factory processing crabmeat. A clash of cultures developed when local fisherman feared that the new immigrants were overfishing the waters and the Vietnamese believed their livelihood in their new homeland was being threatened. The tensions came to a head on Aug. 3, 1979, when a local crabber, Billy Joe Aplin, was shot and killed by Sau Van Nguyen in a dispute over fishing territory. Nguyen and his brother were charged with murder, but a jury acquitted them on the grounds of self-defense. The KKK zeroed in on the dispute with rallies that escalated tensions. Several houses and boats were burned, and a number of Vietnamese residents fled Seadrift for Louisiana. Nobody wanted to talk When Tsai set out to film the documentary, no one wanted to talk to him. Their first question to me was, Why? Theyve gotten past the shootings, but they werent willing to talk about what happened, he recalls. But with help of Diane Wilson, a lifelong Seadrift resident, author and activist who made her living crabbing and shrimping on the Gulf Coast, Tsai gained the trust of the local white fishermen as well as the daughter of the slain man. Tsai, whose family emigrated to the United States from Taiwan, doesnt speak Vietnamese, found it even harder to gain the trust of the Vietnamese fishermen. Has father, who lives in the Houston area, came to the rescue, serving as a translator and helping to persuade some to talk. Tsai sought to present an even-handed account, unlike some previous efforts, including the 1985 film Alamo Bay, a fictionalized version that displeased residents who thought it portrayed everyone in Seadrift as bigots and rednecks. Tsais documentary notes how residents rallied at a local city council meeting to demand that the KKK stay out of their town. A landmark federal lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Vietnamese Fishermans Association eventually halted the Klans activities. Wilson says many of the misconceptions could have been cleared up if only there had been more communication. When the Vietnamese came, I dont recall any compensation, any town meetings, any get-togethers, she says, noting there were white fishermen who could have explained the established rules of fishing the seas around Seadrift. But that wasnt done, and it just escalated, she says. Seadrift today Seadrift retains few traces of that turbulent time. Vietnamese-American residents, which make up about 10 percent of the towns population, have assimilated into the community. The crab-packing plant is now owned by a Vietnamese-American family, and Vietnamese-American fishermen coexist alongside their non-Vietnamese counterparts. People didnt know how to control the situation, and they acted sometimes in the worst manner. But, basically, the bottom line is Seadrift is a town of good people, says Wilson, who continues to live there. And with the Vietnamese, were better for it. With the successful Slamdance premiere behind him, Tsai is hoping to present the film in Seadrift and in Houston later this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting and its aftermath. He wants to foster dialogue about what was learned and how it relates to todays world. Ha, who now teaches sociology at Miracosta College in Oceanside, Calif., says its important for Asian-Americans like Tsai, Lee and others to tell their stories on film and in books. If we dont do it, who will? she says. Clifford Pugh is a Houston-based writer. True to its origins as a hedge advisory business, ARM Energy looks for opportunities amid wildly fluctuating prices and sees 2019 as good time to invest in the oil sector. Zach Lee, CEO of ARM Energy, discussed his firm and the oil industry with Texas Inc. Q: What does ARM Energy do? A: ARM Energy consists of three core businesses rooted in the marketing and trading of oil and gas. First, our physical marketing business buys and sells natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil. We buy about 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas and about 150,000 barrels of oil per day. After taking title to the product at the wellhead, we move it downstream to refiners and end-users using pipelines we own or own capacity on. Second, our midstream business develops, builds and operates midstream assets. The midstream space includes transportation and logistics, although some parts of transportation and logistics are on the downstream side, i.e., the refinery or utility-like center point. Were currently working on a large asset located in the Delaware Basin called Salt Creek Midstream. Third, we run ARM Financial, one of the largest hedge advisory businesses in the country. We design, implement and manage the hedge portfolios of small to midsize oil and gas companies. Q: How quickly is your company growing? More Information Facts on Zack Education: Bachelor's, business administration, specializing in finance, Texas A&M University Residence: Houston Family: Kathy, wife of 16 years; two children, 12-year-old Dylan and 10-year-old Addison Favorite book and recent Christmas presents for employees:Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life ... And Maybe the World, by retired Navy SEAL Adm. William McRaven Favorite quotes: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 "Time kills deals." - Conventional wisdom. See More Collapse A: From a personnel standpoint, we had 90 corporate employees last year and about 160 today. Well add 50 to 60 people in the next three months. From a revenue standpoint, weve been growing 20 percent to 30 percent per year. Our three business lines have grown dramatically. Our physical trading business has doubled, and we expect it to grow exponentially next year as well. Q: Can you maintain strong growth even with declining oil prices? A: Because our background is on the trading side, we use our view on the market to mitigate risk. Our trading business helps dictate what we do on the asset side. When we see dips in prices and were bullish on the market, well be more aggressive in growing our asset base. Many other trading companies are fairly light on assets they like volatility, but during periods of low volatility, they dont own the assets. We dabble on both sides. We mitigated low prices by investing in the Delaware Basin through our Salt Creek Midstream asset. The Delaware Basin was the lowest cost basin in the country, and we wanted exposure to the transportation segment and the global export market. Thats where demand is growing. Being exposed to the lowest cost basin helps us withstand periods of low prices. While we cant control price, we can decrease risk by controlling where we make our investments. And price volatility is good for the trading business, which helps smooth out our earnings. Q: How is the energy sectors performance affecting Houston? A: I dont think we have seen much of an impact yet because the move was so vicious and so quick. Mid-October oil was $75, and (it fell to around $45 before recovering to around $53) today. Well see a slowdown. Its unfortunate that every time the industry gears up to making a true investment in people, housing and R&D, the oil market pulls back. This yo-yo game hampers the industrys ability to make investments. You know, the old adage, low prices cure low prices. When the price curve comes down 35 percent in one month, its hard to invest looking out one, two or five years. This is why oil and gas companies have to generate the rate of returns they do for the amount of risk that they take. Q: What caused such as fast drop in oil prices? A: A couple things. U.S. production grew faster than anyone expected. The market was counting on Iran sanctions, Nov. 1, and so the market started putting additional supply into the market. When the Trump administration granted waivers on Iran sanctions, that put excess barrels in the market which were not expected. This led to an oversupply. I think the market is starting to see demand growth slow down and a risk of a recession. This is similar to Q1 of 2016 when the market was convinced we were going into a recession. So, we are seeing an oversupply and a demand retreat. Some hedge funds also had the wrong trades on. They were long oil and had to liquidate. Q: Do you see this volatility ending soon? A: The market may have gotten oversold, but I think volatility will continue in 2019 due to geopolitical risk. Longer term, volatility should lead to higher prices, but it makes it tougher for oil and gas companies to make long-lead item investments. Q: Do you think were heading into a recession? A: No, I dont think that. Companies are making earnings. I just think the market is fearful that we may see an oil demand slowdown from a global recession. Thats how they are pricing it. I think its more fear than anything. We see this period as one of the better buying opportunities for assets exposed to oil. Were not looking at buying upstream assets, but at this low price today, well continue to be aggressive in garnering more market share and trying to buy more midstream assets next year. Regardless of slowdown, global demand growth for oil will continue over the next ten years. Were going to need exploration companies. These are very bizarre times today. Companies that are not over-levered and have strong balance sheets are going to benefit. Theyll be able to pick off some premium assets. Q: What challenges have you faced while developing Salt Creek Midstream? A: Its a competitive environment, and we were a new entrant trying to do something broad and large-scale. Salt Creek is one of the largest private pure-play midstream companies in the Delaware Basin. We took a different tactic than other companies because we want to be a fully integrated midstream business. One of the toughest things for us was that the market didnt believe wed pull this off. It took a while for the market to believe this was really happening. Q: What new opportunities are you considering? A: Were focused on the export market and lining up producers at the wellhead all the way to an international buyer. Were focused on becoming more exposed to the export market and, starting at the export market, working our way back to multiple basins. Our trading business is exposed to different basins, and we will continue to tie those basins to the coast. Global demand growth is primarily coming from outside the U.S. for oil and even natural gas. LNG exports will double in 2019. The fact that we have the ability to export is bringing a new wave of buyers in. I think export is the new normal. Q: What are your goals and priorities for your company? A: Specifically in the next two or three years, to continue to build out Salt Creek and then look to diversify ourselves into other basins that can feed our downstream assets. Were going to look to grow our trading business quite a bit next year. Well look for another midstream asset in another basin next year and continue to build out a more sustained midstream business. Q: Do you have any specific advice for other CEOs? A: I would just say dont get focused on what the next quarters, or two quarters, earnings will look like. Think about where you want the business to be in five years. That might mean you have to take some short-term pain for long-term gain. Thats one. The second is to remember that when youre at a high, you need to remember the low, and when youre at a low, you need to remember the high. This helps to give you perspective. And third, hire great talent. We just have really smart people, and they are coming up with new ideas every day. With the partial federal government shutdown now ended, two rival projects to build offshore crude oil export terminals near Houston are moving forward. Enterprise Products Partners LP filed a permit application with the Maritime Administration on Thursday morning seeking federal approval to build Sea Port Oil Terminal, or SPOT, offshore from Brazoria County. Located about 31 miles from shore and in water about 115 feet deep, SPOT will be able to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs. The supertankers can carry up to 2 million barrels of crude in a single shipment but are too large to be fully loaded in any U.S. port making building an offshore terminal attractive to exporters. "We were ready to go with that application a couple of weeks ago and couldn't," Enterprise CEO Jim Teague told investors during a Thursday morning earnings call. "So the minute they opened, we got on the docket and submitted it this morning." Financial Performance: Enterprise Products Partners closes 2018 with $4.1 billion profit Enterprise is not alone. A joint venture between Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge, Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan and German terminal operator Oiltanking is also seeking to build a similar offshore crude oil export terminal in an area of the south of Freeport. Known as the Texas Crude Offshore Loading Terminal, or Texas COLT, the project will also accommodate VLCC tankers. Enbridge had been leading the efforts for the joint venture project. The company's vice president of business development Perry Schuldhaus told the Houston Chronicle that their application would be filed "within a week" of the federal government shutdown ending. Texas COLT: Joint venture proposes offshore oil terminal south of Freeport A political disagreement between Republicans and Democrat shutdown MARAD's port licensing office and dozens of federal agencies for 35 days. The dispute ended over the weekend with agency staff returning to work on Monday. Enbridge officials told the Houston Chronicle that the company is filing Texas COLT application with MARAD on Thursday afternoon. Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy maintained its position as the No. 3 university-affiliated think tank in the world, while its Center for Energy Studies again earned the No. 1 ranking among energy- and resource-based think tanks, according to a new report. The University of Pennsylvania Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program gauged the performance of thousands of domestic and international public policy centers in its 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. Only Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the IDEAS/Public Policy Group at the London School of Economics and Political Science ranked higher among university-affiliated think tanks. RELATED: Obama to help Baker Institute celebrate 25 years Other top-ranked energy- and resource-based think tanks include the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (No. 2), and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, U.K. (No. 3). The Baker Institute is ranked No. 17 out of 89 of the top think tanks in the U.S. overall. It was also recognized as one of the best think tanks for "Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedures." "These rankings recognize the quality of the Institute's research and programs as a nonpartisan, data-driven public policy forum addressing some of the most important domestic and foreign policy issues our country faces," Baker Institute Director Edward Djerejian said in an announcement. "We could not have achieved what we have built over the last 25 years without the dedicated work of our fellows, scholars and staff, our board of advisers, as well as our loyal supporters." "Such recognition is a testament to the dedicated team of fellows and scholars we have engaged in interdisciplinary research across the energy-environment spectrum," said Kenneth Medlock, CES senior director and the James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics. "Teamwork is a hallmark of any successful organization, and we are fortunate to have some of the best in the field working together to provide unbiased analysis of the various factors that shape the energy sector." The World Health Organization is looking to make up for lost time, as far as Mary Jane is concerned. And while that majority of buddha-lovers are probably in unison when they "WHO CARES!," the organization "re-organization" is still a pretty big W for the weed advocates who fought long and hard for decades on end. What this all means on a more profound level is this: the WHO will change all the official writing or regulations regarding Marijuana - that includes the removal of whole-plant marijuana and cannabis resins from the "extremely restrictive" list of substances logged under the heading Schedule IV in their official database. All THC-contaminated substances or isomers as they're called in the scientific community will also switch over to a less restrictive category - to match the U.S. Government's Schedule I categorization. As the original report goes on to explain, the pro-Marijuana turn comes vetted by UN reps. So when the WHO recommodifies their database, UN reps will then engage with World leaders to coerce (not enforce) rule changes across the board. To the casual smoker who lights up without provocation, all these regulatory changes might seem redundant on the surface, but as I said before, this is a big WIN for the activist community, several years too late. Tekashi 6ix9ine has been in federal prison since November after getting indicted on firearms and racketeering charges. Earlier this week, one of his associates was also indicted in connection to the Chief Keef shooting in Manhattan last year. According to reports, the rapper struck a deal with the feds in the case. Bob Levey/Getty Images According to TMZ, Tekashi 6ix9ine pleaded guilty to 9 counts in his federal case. The rapper reportedly struck a deal with prosecutors on Jan. 23rd. The rapper pleaded guilty to counts of conspiracy, racketeering, firearms offenses, drug offenses, and drug trafficking. Newly unsealed federal documents revealed that he was involved with trafficking heroin, fentanyl, ecstasy, amphetamines, and weed. As for the conspiracy counts, officials said those consisted of acts of murder, robbery, and extortion. The video of 6ix9ine offering $30K for someone to shoot at Chief Keef's cousin Tadoe was referenced by the feds in legal documents. They said that 6ix9ine "aided and abetted the shooting at rivals of Nine Trey [Bloods gang] at a hotel in Times Square." The shooting occurred in June of 2018 at Time Square a few days after 6ix9ine made the offer. 6ix9ine was initially speculated to have some sort of involvement in Chief Keef's shooting after someone opened fire on the Chicago rapper and his cousin Tadoe. 6ix9ine is reportedly scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 24, 2020. Based on his research, Malone said the Eastern Shore counties have not exercised that power since it was given to them in the late 1970s. His bill would give Anne Arundel County consent power over roads and bridges built across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Boston-based brewery Samuel Adams is gearing up for Super Bowl LIII with the release of a Tom Brady-inspired IPA dubbed, "Too Old, Too Slow, Still Here." According to Boston.com, the all-new farmhouse double New England IPA (7.8% ABV) will be available during a release party at the Boston Brewery & Tap Room today, January 31, from 4:30-7:30 pm. In honor of Brady being selected 199th overall by the Pats in the 2000 draft, the first 1999 people in attendance will be eligible to purchase one limited-edition crowler of the "Too Old, Too Slow, Still Here" IPA. Additionally, the beer will be available on draft in the tap room, located at 30 Germania St Boston, Massachusetts 02130. Were behind [the] New England Patriots 100% as they head to the big game, said Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch in a press release (H/T Boston.com). The best way we could think to honor the team was to brew a beer for fans that cant make it to Atlanta and a New England style Double IPA with as much spirit as the players felt like the perfect beer. We havent doubted them all season and cant wait to watch them on Sunday with a beer in hand that honors their hard work. Every year Nike releases a new Air Max model and this time around, it is called the 720 and features a large air max unit that wraps all the way around the shoe. It's a pretty futuristic looking sneaker with some interesting tooling on the upper that adds to its aesthetic. As shoe companies tend to do when they release a new silhouette for the first time, they are testing the waters with some brand new colorways. This is no different with the Nike Air Max 720 which will see five new colorways release as part of its Nature Pack. Sea Forest, Pink Sea, Desert, and Total Eclipse are just four of the names we have seen so far, while there is a gradient grey version which currently doesn't have an official name yet. What is interesting about these is that they start with a light color at the front and then transition to a darker color in the back, giving way to a cool looking gradient effect. Image via Sneaker News Image via Sneaker News Image via Sneaker News Image via Sneaker News Each sneaker will cost $180 USD and will be released on February 28th in a global capacity, according to Sneaker News. Which colorway is your favorite? Will you be looking to cop? Zoe Kravitz and her father Lenny teamed up with popular luggage company Tumi to film a campaign that allowed them to head home to the Bahamas and explore their roots and ancestry. The video below shows the beautiful landscape of the island as Zoe and Lenny drive through the plush country and end up at a vacant beach house that was where Zoe's great-grandfather lived. I thought itd be nice to go down to the end of the island and show you a bit of our family history, pay a little respect to our elders and the people who came before us. I think well get a lot out of it. Lenny says in the video. Overall, the trip brought the father and daughter even closer where Lenny reflected on his daughter's accomplishments explaining how he could have never expected her to be such a hard worker. "But I think thats how you raised me and thats how grandma raised you and I think thats how grandpa raised her, Zoe responds. But everyone has taken it to the next level in their own way, allowing the next person to take it even further. That was grandpas dream, Lenny adds. Watch the full clip below. Actor Alejandro Edda describes the experience of facing his real-life doppelganger in court in an Op-Ed with the New York Times. For those who don't know, Alejandro Edda plays a fictionalized version of Mexican kingpin El Chapo. Nevertheless, the showrunners for Narcos: Mexico venture far beyond El Chapo's dealings as the head of the Sinaloa Carter - the series traces the roots of the Narco trade all the way back to the shores of Colombia. But Edda wasn't the first member of the Narcos crew to set foot in the "El Chapo" trial, as it was showrunner Eric Newman who first sat in the gallery section for the opening statements back in November. This past Monday, Alejandro Edda was granted the same wish - to attend in the gallows, but unlike his producer-friend Newman, the actor was far too public a figure to go unnoticed, and as you might be aware, El Chapo is a big fan of his own Narcofiction. Of course, there have been several where the novelization of the drug trade has led to attempted murder and even death, Narcos-included. If you'll recall, a Narcos location scout in Mexican was found dead under back in 2017. All the parties involved, including Netflix, were quick to sweep the issue under the rug, through no fault of their own: it was either go silent or face the same fate. As for Edda and his cursory exchange with the drug lord he portrays onscreen, he described the experience as nothing less than bone-chilling. According to the actor, it was El Chapo who made the first move, smiling and waving in his direction as he entered the courtroom. "I didnt smile back. I was just paying respect to him," Mr Edda told the NYT. "I was shocked in a way. He has a very intense look. His eyes say a lot. Hes a bit intimidating." Highlights include re-branding Oregons premier hotel management company, an annual conference with 125 leaders from across the Northwest, and a local service project. After 25 years in business, InnSight Hotel Management Group has changed its name to Merete Hotel Management. Pronounced mahr-a-tay, the new name and logo were announced by President Richard Boyles at the annual company meeting held at the Holiday Inn Springfield. The change to Merete is a reflection of the companys growth over the last 25 years and our future as we continue to open new hotel properties throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Boyles told the 125 conference attendees. Merete reflects our core values as hotel operators and our culture within the organization. Merete Associates Attend the Company's Annual Leadership Conference in Springfield, OR The name Merete comes from the blending of two Greek words: Meraki (may-rah-kee) and Arete (ahr-i-tey). Meraki means to do something with passion, love, creativity to put something of yourself into what you are creating. Arete describes the pursuit of excellence and has always been the cornerstone of the company. Combining these two concepts into the word Merete is a statement about who the company is and what it aspires to be. We are passionate about what we do at Merete, remarked Liz Dahlager, Vice President of Sales. We also strive for excellence in the way we serve our guests, manage our associates, and demonstrate results for our owners. The name Merete reflects our passion for the work we do and our ongoing commitment to the pursuit of excellence. Merete Associates Attend a Workshop led by Morgan Munro Over 25 years ago the company was established as Exeter Hospitality Associates by founders Richard Boyles and Patrick McShane. At the time, the company had two hotels under management. The company has since grown to 17 hotels and was re-branded as InnSight Hotel Management Group in 2004. The current change from InnSight to Merete aligns the company name with its mission and values in a way that InnSight did not fully capture. Every January, the company brings together the management teams from all properties and the corporate staff from its Springfield, OR headquarters, for an annual leadership conference. This years conference included a celebration of the companys 25-year history and was used as an opportunity to reveal the new name and logo to company associates. The theme of this years conference was Evolve and speakers included Morgan Munro, CEO of Hathaway Munro in Eugene, OR, and Randy Harrington, PhD and CEO of Strategic Arts and Sciences in Eugene, who covered topics including Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, Effective Management through Change, and Time Management. An annual awards dinner was also held to celebrate top performers in the company. Conference attendees participated in a community service project with Friends of Trees in Eugene. Merete associates pulled weeds and laid mulch around native tree pods previously planted by Friends of Trees on the east embankment of Interstate 105 in Eugenes Whiteaker neighborhood. Over sixty volunteer hours were logged, supporting Meretes commitment to the community where it does business. Merete Associates Volunteer with Friends of Trees in Eugene, OR Merete Hotel Management, previously InnSight Hotel Management Group, is an award-winning hotel management company based in the Northwest, with hotels located throughout Oregon and Washington. Merete operates hotels under licensing agreements with Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Choice Hotels International. For additional information, please contact Liz Dahlager, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at (541) 746-8444. Merete Associates Volunteer with Friends of Trees in Eugene, OR Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Embraer and SkyWest, Inc. have signed a firm order for nine E175 jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2019. The order has a value of USD 422 million, based on current list prices, and was already included in Embraer's 2018 fourth-quarter backlog. SkyWest Airlines will operate all nine E175s, featuring a 76-seat configuration. Embraer and SkyWest, Inc. have signed a firm order for nine E175 jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2019. The order has a value of USD 422 million, based on current list prices, and was already included in Embraer's 2018 fourth-quarter backlog. SkyWest Airlines will operate all nine E175s, featuring a 76-seat configuration. "Since 2013, SkyWest has purchased a total of 158 E175s, including these nine, in order to expand their large existing fleet of Embraer aircraft," said Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation. "We are extremely proud of their ongoing support for the E-Jets program and the fact that the E175 continues to outperform in North America. Without a doubt, the E175 has become the backbone of the regional aviation market in the U.S." "We're pleased to continue adding new E175 aircraft under long-term contract to our increasingly efficient, agile and flexible fleet," said SkyWest Chief Executive Officer and President Chip Childs. "We appreciate Embraer's strong partnership and remain impressed with the Embraer product." Including this new contract, Embraer has sold more than 565 E175s to airlines in North America, since January 2013, earning more than 80% of all orders in this 70-76-seat jet segment. SkyWest, Inc. is a premier regional airline company and the holding company of SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest holds a long history with Embraer as early customers for the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft. Since entering revenue service, the E-Jets family has received more than 1,800 orders and over 1,500 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleet of 70 customers in 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline carriers. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Opinion Article 1 February 2019 Examining the challenges and opportunities facing hoteliers in 2019, it might be easy to say, "New year, same old story." In attempts to drive revenue and increase profitability, hotelierslike they have for seemingly the past decadecontinue to focus on less costly ways to acquire guests. On one hand, OTAs continue to grow share, release new features to better connect with your guest and, in general, innovate faster than the large hotel brands. This is a problem because part of the allure of a hotel brand is the giant distribution system that comes with it, supposedly bringing guests at a much lower cost. Therefore, upcoming negotiations between Marriott and Expedia are expected to be tense and the results could have a wide-ranging impact on industrywide commissions. On the other hand, most independent hotels today better understand the relationship and the value that third-party distribution channels bring and are finding ways to only use them in need periods and to target specific markets. "Optimizing one's distribution mix is probably a lot more productive than fighting OTAs," says hospitality marketing consultant Martin Soler. When it's all said and done, we expect hoteliers in 2019 to have better insights into the cost of each of their distribution channels and the relevant information to make educated decisions on how to acquire guests. OTAs Facing New Competition The days of fearing that Expedia and Booking.com will dominate distribution and bankrupt your business are over. After gobbling up most of the other third-party distribution sites and building what appeared to be a duopoly, Expedia and Booking suddenly find themselves facing new competition in Google, Airbnb and eventually Amazon. For hoteliers, this new competition is good and drives down costs. For example, according to a Skift report, in 2008 Expedia and Booking Holdings were capturing $19 of travel sales for every $1 they spent in marketing. Today, each dollar spent on marketing earns them closer to $16 in bookings, a 15% decline in efficiency. While Expedia enters 2019 calling itself, "The World's Travel Platform," Skift is quick to point out that in 2018 Expedia had only 12% of overall travel market share in the U.S. and Canada, its biggest market. Don't forget about global sites like Booking.com, Ctrip, TripAdvisor, andperhaps most importantlyGoogle. Book Direct Campaigns Working Earlier this year, Soler opined that the "Direct vs OTA" debate had lost a lot of steam. Hotels weren't ignoring their efforts to drive business direct, he said, but better understood the complexity of competing with OTAs. Then out came a report by Kalibri Labs saying "Book Direct" campaigns launched by many of the big brands last year have in fact been successful in "either stabilizing or strengthening the growth rate of bookings via proprietary hotel company websites." Kalibri has been examining hotels' efforts to drive direct business through their loyalty programs, which often offer a 10% discount or similar to entice travelers to join their loyalty programs and book directly with the brand or the hotel. "Bookings growth for online travel agencies during this period either held steady or decelerated, signaling a shift for the hotel industry," Kalibri said. Undoubtedly the results of this report, coupled with the internal findings from brands who initiated Book Direct campaigns, will provide a momentum boost to hotels looking to take back share through personalization and loyalty membership bookings. 'Book on Google' Could be a Game Changer In 2018, Google made significant strides toward improving its hotel booking offerings. Not only is Google's hotel search and map functionality better, but a Book on Google feature was introduced allowing travelers to reserve a room without leaving the search engine. Allowing guests to book hotels in Google's environment helps hoteliers reach guests on the channels they prefer. Along with many independents, Choice Hotels was one of the early Book on Google adopters, and leadership recently told Hotels Magazine that early results are extremely positive. "It's still early given how (Google) rolled it out and in how consumers are adopting it, but we continue to be very pleased in terms of the revenue, the percentage of our clicks coming through as well as the higher-than-average conversion rate we're seeing through the channel," said Choice Hotels' Chief Commercial Officer Robert McDowell. Resolving Rate Parity Issues One growing point of contention between hotels and OTAs is rate parity, or the idea that publicly available room rates should be the same across all channels. Many consumers have become aware of rate parity and understand that they're not going to find a substantial deal by searching dozens of different websites. This hurts OTAs because if deals are less likely to be found, travelers may as well book direct and reap the benefits that come with doing so. However, one OTA in particular has resorted to a new tactic of scouring the Internet and listing any lower rates that can be found, even if the inventory was not sold directly to them. Booking.Basic, a feature of Booking.com currently in operation in Asia and Europe, is often undercutting hotel rates by finding inventory that has been sold to wholesalers at a rate that is not meant for public consumption. The rates it offers are nonrefundable and made via a third party that is only revealed to guests after they have paid to book a room, according to Phocuswire. Out of parity rates hurt hoteliers in that they drive business away from the hotel, and as Triptease notes in this report, non-parity rates also have a domino effect in that they increase costs spent with meta channels like Google and Kayak. In the end, we think all the fighting hoteliers and hotel brands have done to remain relevant in the new world of online booking is paying off. Hoteliers continue to learn more and more about their guests and how to connect with them directly. Hotel demand and occupancy are both strong, meaning hoteliers have to rely less on filling their hotels through the costliest channels. Hoteliers in 2019 should continue to shift their concentration away from battling the OTAs to instead using the troves of data they have about their guests to make more profitable pricing and distribution decisions. Press Release 1 February 2019 HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee The Canadian hotel industry recorded mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 20-26 January 2019, according to data from STR. Advertisements In comparison with the week of 21-27 January 2018, the industry reported the following: Occupancy: -1.0% to 55.9% Average daily rate (ADR): +0.9% to CAD145.46 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -0.2% to CAD81.27 Among the provinces and territories, Alberta experienced the highest rise in occupancy (+4.9% to 49.6%), which resulted in the largest increase in RevPAR (+4.7% to CAD65.42). Manitoba posted the largest lift in ADR (+3.6% to CAD127.41). Prince Edward Island saw the largest declines in occupancy (-49.4% to 24.3%) and RevPAR (-52.3% to CAD26.54). Newfoundland and Labrador registered the steepest drop in ADR (-8.3% to CAD118.87) and the third-largest decline in occupancy (-6.7% to 35.2%), which resulted in the third-largest decrease in RevPAR (-14.4% to CAD41.78). Press Release 1 February 2019 HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee The U.S. hotel industry reported negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 20-26 January 2019, according to data from STR. Advertisements In comparison with the week of 21-27 January 2018, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -0.6% to 58.0% Average daily rate (ADR): -0.3% to US$124.05 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -0.9% to US$71.93 STR analysts note that the weekly decline among markets was not surprising given the Martin Luther King Jr. Day calendar shift, which had lifted the prior week's results. As expected, Monday's RevPAR percentage change was poor (-14.9%). Among the Top 25 Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, reported the largest increase in RevPAR (+12.8% to US$103.66), driven by the only double-digit rise in occupancy (+13.2% to 72.8%). San Francisco/San Mateo, California, posted the only double-digit lift in ADR (+14.0% to US$253.29), but the third-largest drop in occupancy (-8.3% to 73.6%). San Diego, California, saw the only other double-digit jump in RevPAR (+10.7% to US$114.79). Chicago, Illinois, registered the steepest declines in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-16.1% to 50.5%), ADR (-15.6% to US$105.74) and RevPAR (-29.2% to US$53.37). Houston, Texas, experienced the second-largest decrease in occupancy (-15.1% to 59.8%), which resulted in the second-largest drop in RevPAR (-20.0% to US$62.24). Denver, Colorado, posted the only other double-digit decline in ADR (-13.4% to US$117.78). Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia, saw declines across the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-6.6% to 50.0%), ADR (-4.3% to US$133.17) and RevPAR (-10.6% to US$66.58). STR analysts note that while performance was negative, D.C. did not stand out significantly among the other markets. Nine of the Top 25 Markets reported double-digit decreases in RevPAR. That said, RevPAR was negative for each day of the week in D.C., which was partially attributed to the government shutdown. Download STR's U.S. hotel review for the week ending 26 January. Supplier News 1 February 2019 Bibium, the brand-independent industry leading provider of coffee solutions to the hospitality industry has today launched an online review site where commercial buyers can share experiences, browse, learn, review, compare and purchase coffee machines. Run by husband and wife team Wyatt Cavalier and Grace Carter-Cavalier, the new offering is based on a review-centric model and will allow customers to sort, search and filter over 600 different commercial coffee machines to find the one that's right for them. They'll then be matched with up to four handpicked vendors who will provide easy to understand quotes. Thousands of independent reviews, of both coffee machines and vendors will support buyers with precise information to make the right decision with confidence. The new service will cut out the need of searching multiple commercial coffee machine providers to find the best coffee machine suppliers and, ultimately, save time by having all the highest-quality products in one place. Wyatt said: "We're really excited about this new service for commercial consumers in the hospitality industry. Essentially, the new website will be the first port of call for all those wanting to seek the right coffee machine for their business." "Visitors to the website will only be a few clicks away from finding the best solutions for the field they work in. In that sense, we cut out the middle man of having to search for what could be hours spent online trying to find the right machines." Once a purchase is made, customers are encouraged to revisit the website and leave an honest review of the product to ensure a trustworthy and transparent service is offered based on experience. Grace said: "I'm confident that user reviews for coffee machines will be helpful to all types of businesses. Whether it's a cafe in Cornwall or a restaurant in London, it's important to hear what people actually think about the coffee machine they bought, not just what you get told by the sales rep" As well as being the industry experts in commercial coffee machines, the six-year-old company, based in Plymouth, also produces its own ethically-sourced Fairtrade coffee. All the beans in its Underdog Coffee brand are sourced ethically, roasted locally and priced fairly, so both suppliers and clients receive a fair deal. For advice or the right coffee solution for you, visit the new site at: www.bibium.com or email [email protected] About Bibium: Founded in 2012 by Wyatt and Grace, Bibium's mission is to democratise the coffee industry and supply both coffee and top rate commercial coffee machines to professional and domestic clients alike. The lawsuit also claims that the officers who pulled him over on the Bay Bridge were aware of the discrepancies, but were told by Annapolis police dispatcher Britney Lane to continue to serve the warrant and arrest Bailey. He was released from jail once the arresting officers were able to contact Kintop, the lawsuit claims. Event For you as a hotelier, a Hospitality Industry Club HotelCamp means a morning full of workshops where you can exchange ideas with colleagues from your city and experts from the hotel tech industry. You will create the morning together with your colleagues and the topics that interest you. We offer you the right setting: cool location, tasty snacks and plenty of drinks. Who we are The Hospitality Industry Club is a community of service providers in the hotel branch. We got together to present hoteliers with innovative solutions, technologies and ideas in a relaxed atmosphere yet inspiring. Should you expect a classic sales event with product presentations our events are the wrong place. What we do Our community of selected providers will meet you at twelve cities in Central Europe. Most times in a slightly different setup than the week before. During the evening camp our experts exchange know-how and deliver new insights on topics defined together with you, the hoteliers. Sounds great and is a lot of fun. How does it work out We start at 6:30 PM planning with 4-5 hours for a short innovation talk by one of the partners, a quick introduction round, networking, exchanging ideas and, most important, defining the topics which shall be covered together for the workshops. To make sure you don't sit there all evening starving, there are, of course, delicious local specialities - in every city created by a local hero in loving handwork - and of course beer, wine, coffee and soft drinks. You are invited. HotelCamp | Zurich is organized by Hospitality Industry Club Industry Update Appointment 1 February 2019 bahjat Hanania Appointed Finance and Business Manager At Intercontinental Jordan in Amman Bahjat Hanania has assumed the position of finance and business manager at Intercontinental Jordan. With a total of 14 years of experience in the finance departments of major five-star hotels, such as Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, Hanania's skills focus on his ability to define the benefits and assess the progress towards achieving the intended business operations results. IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global organization with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Resort, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. more information Recent Appointments at IHG Shuvendu Banerjee - General Manager 17 June 2021 Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla is pleased to announce the appointment of Shuvendu Banerjee as the new General Manager. With an illustrious experience of more than two decades, Shuvendu Banerjee has held leadership positions and worked with renowned domestic and international hospitality brands across the country. read more Ben Hislop - Director of Sales & Marketing 19 May 2021 Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific has appointed Ben Hislop as Director of Sales & Marketing, joining the team in Terrigal in April 2021. Hislop's return to his native Central Coast follows more than a decade of work for parent company IHG Hotels & Resorts across a number of Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Australia. read more Appointment 1 February 2019 Saint Kate, Milwaukee's first-of-its kind independent arts hotel, announced today the appointment of luxury hospitality veteran Scott Sloan as general manager. Preparing for a spring opening, Sloan will be the mastermind behind all daily operations of the 219-room arts destination. This includes managing all pre-opening and opening activities, overseeing the creation of three new restaurants, leading over 170 passionate team members, collaborating with community influencers and artists, and shaping experiential moments for all those who visit Saint Kate. Leveraging a career dedicated to crafting unforgettable memories for guests at various luxury and independent boutique hotels across the U.S., Sloan's passion for the arts runs deep, dating back to his childhood and his great love for music. Prior to joining the Saint Kate family, Sloan previously worked at Sage Hospitality Resources where he spent the past 13 years leading premier properties in key travel destinations across the U.S. Most recently, he served as general manager of The Elizabeth Hotel, an Autograph Collection, in Fort Collins, Colo. Sloan was responsible for overseeing all opening operations of the new-build, 164-room boutique hotel, which opened in December 2017. Sloan's extensive hospitality background includes serving as general manager of distinctive boutique hotels nationwide including The Napa Valley Marriott and Spa in Napa, Calif. and The Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colo. His career also includes serving in general manager and operational roles at Marriott Minneapolis Southwest in Minnetonka, Minn., Hilton San Diego in Del Mar, Calif., Marriott Ogden in Ogden, Utah, and Hilton College Station and Conference Center in College Station, Texas. Sloan attended Texas A&M University and served on the board of directors of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association. Now Open 1 February 2019 MAXX by Steigenberger launches on the Austrian market on 1 February 2019. The first MAXX by Steigenberger in the country is located on Margaretengurtel in Vienna's fifth district within easy walking distance of the shopping facilities of Mariahilferstrae. Vienna will thus become the first city in which Deutsche Hospitality has a four-brand presence. The Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof and the IntercityHotel Wien already boast prime positions and are set to be joined by Jaz in the City Vienna in the early summer of 2020. "Establishing one of the first MAXX Hotels in Vienna was something that was very close to our hearts from the very outset," said Deutsche Hospitality's CEO Thomas Willms. "Vienna is one of Europe's top locations when it comes to quality of life, internationality and tourism. All of this is reflected in the young and design-conscious appearance of MAXX by Steigenberger, which is a very good match for the city." The hotel dates back to 2013. Originally opened in the Margareten district by the Falkensteiner Hotel Group, it was operated under the Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences brand until the company decided to divest itself of the property as part of plans to focus more closely on leisure and pursue new expansion projects in Italy. The new MAXX by Steigenberger Hotel is run by the Feuring Group. Matthias Lowin, Managing Director of Feuring Hotelconsulting GmbH, very much welcomes this commitment to Vienna and is delighted to be resuming cooperation with Deutsche Hospitality. "We are very pleased that we have been able to implement a further successful project in the form of the new MAXX by Steigenberger Vienna as part of our long standing collaboration with Steigenberger. We are excited about what the future holds for both companies and are sure that we will continue to work together in a spirit of partnership. Vienna is an extremely interesting location for us, and we believe that there is considerable potential here for such a great product as MAXX by Steigenberger." The MAXX by Steigenberger Vienna is located at Margaretengurtel 142 in the city's fifth district within the direct vicinity of Margaretengurtel underground station and the Raimund Theatre. The hotel offers 195 rooms including 21 suites. There is also a restaurant complete with bar, a conference area and a health and beauty spa and gym facility. The MAXX Vienna makes it easy to enjoy taking exercise. The spa on the seventh floor opens out onto a roof terrace that provides fabulous views out over the whole of Vienna. The building is the work of the British architect David Chipperfield. Fixtures and fittings are by the South Tyrol-based architect and designer Matteo Thun, who is also responsible for the entire interior. Deutsche Hospitality will operate the hotel under an international management agreement. 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! The back of St. Michaels head holds a small maple and ebony harp crafted into the shape of two seahorses that you can remove and play. The seahorses are curved into the shape of the brains hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. The word translates to seahorse in Greek, and is also part of Lavins second piece. Spencer, IN (47460) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Those who predicted post-election politics-as-usual on the water quality front have been largely silent since Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn into office last month. The newly elected Republican whose election victory had drawn gasps from the that-means-another-nail-in-the-environmental-coffin-contingent has already gone further quicker than even his supporters thought likely. First Gov. DeSantis called for the resignation of the entire South Florida Water Management District Board after the state appointees refused to delay a key land-lease vote at his request. It took him until Wednesday, but he got those resignations from most of the members with the terms of the remaining three expiring next month. Then, on Tuesday, Gov. DeSantis presented his proposed environmental budget, calling for more than $625 million for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources annually for the next four years. That could mean $2.5 billion budgeted during his first term, $1 billion more than was allocated for such projects during the last four. In an unrelated but equally game-changing move Gov. DeSantis said Thursday at a press conference here in Cape Coral that he will sign an executive order to pull Florida from Common Core educational mandates, replacing the federal program with a state plan. Whew! Its been a busy three weeks or so since his Jan. 8 inauguration but a strong foundation for change has been laid. Hes also begun work on the details. Gov. DeSantis first appointments to the South Florida Water Management District Board which oversees the states largest such district, encompassing the southern half of the state- are indicative of his professed change philosophy. Saying Its time for a fresh start and new leadership to ensure the protection of our water resources, Gov. DeSantis tapped Sanibel Councilmember Chauncey Goss, now waiting Senate confirmation. Councilmember Goss, who saw first-hand last summer the devastating impact of state and federal water management priorities gone awry, has more to offer than memories of the massive fish kills that lined literally lined area shorelines for weeks, Before starting his island-based budget forecasting and geopolitical analysis firm on Sanibel, Councilmember Goss served as deputy staff director and director of Budget Review for the House Budget Committee under Congressman Paul Ryan. On the environmental side, he serves now as treasurer for Captains for Clean Water and is a member of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. Practical in approach, knowledgeable on the issues, Councilmember Goss is a good choice. We urge him to serve as a strong voice for Floridas coastal communities which, for too long, have had but a whisper. We also ask Gov. DeSantis to go a step further. We urge him to appoint another coastal-community based member. Someone who has a strong understanding of how the decisions made by the board that manages water resources for a massive 16-county area ripple from coast to coast. Someone whose scientific knowledge of the issues runs deep. Someone who is a proven decision-maker who can work with, but remain independent of, staff and the varied and various stakeholders to render decisions that are best for the 8.1 million residents the South district serves. It is too easy by far for those elected or appointed to become enmeshed in a culture that is resistant to change. We need appointees who can winnow the facts from the chaff and stand against the political tide when the storm kicks up. As it will. Former Lee County commissioner Ray Judah comes easily to mind. Yes, hes a strong and outspoken environmental proponent. His knowledge on the vast scope of interrelated and interconnected issues districtwide, though, would be hard to match. He also has a long and proven record of public service and his reputation for independence is one few would question, like him or not. John Cassani, a Caloosa Waterkeeper, who served on the Southwest Florida Watershed Advisory Council, is a similar good choice. As is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann, who has served in both the state House and Senate as well as, years ago, on the South Florida Water Management District Board. His varied roles related to environmental issues and management is as long-tenured as his public service career. Hes also as stalwart as an old Florida oak when it comes to fact-based, independent decision-making. Two appointees from our part of a district that ranges from Orlando to the Florida Keys has historical precedent. And, given the fact that Southwest Florida was at the epicenter of last summers catastrophic double whammy of nutrient glutted red tide which killed sealife buy the ton and bluegreen algae which slimed our river and our canals, killing fish and manatees alike it reinforces the message sent: Its time for a change. Please dont misunderstand us. We are apologetically pro-business. We are not saying Big Ag has no place at the table. We are simply saying its acolytes have dined alone for far too long. We agree with our new governor that its time for a change a sea change, if you will. We look forward to following Gov. DeSantis efforts to make it happen. -Breeze editorial Lima, OH (45805) Today Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms around noon. High 78F. Winds SW becoming NW in the afternoon at 15 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clouds begin to clear late. A chance of a shower early. Low around 49F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Copyright 2019 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. Sentencings by the Wright County Court For the Week of January 28, 2019 Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute H ouse prices have ground to a halt across the country amid looming signs that the prospect of a chaotic no-deal Brexit is already wreaking enormous damage on the economy. The average cost of a home this month was just 0.1 per cent higher than a year ago, the slowest annual rate of growth for six years, according to latest figures from the Nationwide building society. Robert Gardner, Nationwides chief economist, said: It is likely that the recent slowdown is attributable to the impact of the uncertain economic outlook on buyer sentiment, given that it has occurred against a backdrop of solid employment growth, stronger wage growth, and low borrowing costs. Buyers have been holding back from making offers on homes during the turbulent run-in to the March 29 Brexit date, particularly in London and the south east. Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to forecasters the EY ITEM Club, said: If the UK leaves the EU at the end of March without an approved Brexit deal, house prices could fall by around 5 per cent in 2019. It also emerged today that the near paralysis in the London property market has savaged the bottom line at its biggest chain of estate agents, Foxtons, which warned that profits from last year would be down 80 per cent to 3 million. The Nationwide figures came amid a flurry of evidence that the real economy is increasingly being hit by the massive uncertainty surrounding Britains imminent split from Brussels. In the starkest warning, Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: With fewer than 60 days before we leave the EU and the risk of crashing out without a deal looking increasingly real, UK Automotive is on red alert. "Brexit uncertainty has already done enormous damage to output, investment and jobs. T aking pride of place in Pariss bohemian-luxe Saint Germain neighbourhood, the historic Lutetia has reopened following a four-year renovation. Priding itself as the only luxury grand hotel on the Left Bank, the Lutetia features a spa, a hype restaurant and bar and a premium location for a visit to the Paris of Hemingway, De Beauvoir and, more recently, Macron. Its the perfect spot for a blow out weekend in the city of light. Style With its archetypal Belle Epoque facade and polished contemporary interiors, embellished with Art Deco flourishes, the hotel successfully marries historic grandeur and modern comfort. Marble abounds, from the discreet polish of the entrance lobby to the monolithic bathtubs and generous showers in the rooms. The upstairs corridors have a sultry finish, with shiny dark eucalyptus wood, inky blues and lighting so dim you almost need to feel your way to your room, creating an illicit atmosphere. A glass lift, with views opening up over the rooftops of Paris, adds a certain Surrealist charm to the otherwise sleek decor of the common parts. Be sure to look up so as not to miss gorgeous ceiling frescoes, which were uncovered under ten layers of paint and painstakingly restored; also the historic glass ceiling in the Saint Germain dining room decorated by the artist Fabrice Hyber. Local design gem The Lutetia was originally built in 1910 by the Boucicaut family, proprietors of Le Bon Marche, the first modern department store, which still operates just across the road and remains an unmissable shopping experience. Dont miss the food hall or the homewares departments. Theres also a branch of the Conran shop on the same block, as well as numerous antiques and interiors stores in the surrounding neighbourhood. Good to know The flagship restaurant, the Lutetia Brasserie is not yet open but will be run by the three-Michelin star chef, Gerald Passedat, owner of Le Petit Nice restaurant in Marseille. Le Saint Germain: the restaurant has a specially commissioned painting adding drama to the glass ceiling Until then, guests and Parisiens alike flock to Benjamin Brial's Le Saint Germain, for high end French fusion cooking featuring such dishes as 63C egg with shimeji mushroom, truffled coullis, hazlenut emulsion and star anise powder and hay-roasted beef with smoked onions and Phu Quoc pepper. The queues for tables at Bar Josephine, where there is live jazz at weekends, suggests the hotels historic popularity with locals from General de Gaulle to Jacques Derrida is being upheld post-refit. Breakfast is in the Orangerie, next to an Art Deco patio, which offers outdoor dining in good weather. A lavish buffet of juices, perfect mini-viennoiseries, organic yoghurt, an array of cheeses, smoked salmon and accompaniments, is complemented by a hot food menu which manages to cater for an international crowd while remaining unmistakably French. The Akasha spas design is nothing less than cinematic, with white columns, circular windows and upwards lighting adding drama to the 17m swimming pool. There are also six treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and plunge pool, as well as day beds for winding down after a hard days shopping. Which room? Each of the hotels rooms features seductive decor, on the chic side of neutral with cool marble-clad bathrooms, accented by emerald green Hermes toiletries a calming retreat from the busy Saturday shoppers of Saint Germain thronging the streets and brasseries below. On the chic side of neutral: the hotel bedrooms have seductive decor Despite the central location, rooms are miraculously quiet, so any of the rooms on the upper floors overlooking Boulevard Saint Germain are a top choice for watching the world go by. Alternatively, rooms at the back of the hotel offer Amelie-style glimpses of real Parisien life, albeit the rarefied variety. The ultimate treat would be one of the signature suites: the Eiffel Writers suite and Josephine Baker suite both offer views over the Eiffel Tower, should you be in danger of forgetting where you are. How to book Stays cost from 850 a night including breakfast. Open all year round, the hotel is a beautiful design destination. Perfect for a luxurious stop-off or weekend city break. An advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a United Nations human rights expert will listen to the audio recordings of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as part of an investigation. Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard and her team of experts met Tuesday with advisor Yasin Aktay, a friend of Khashoggis. He told reporters the team would have access to the audio, according to Turkish media. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who wrote critically about the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. His remains have not been found. The team on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings will leave on Feb. 3. It has met with Turkeys foreign and justice ministers and the prosecutor leading the case. US President Donald Trump will not get to pick his Democratic challenger for the presidency in 2020, but his money appears to be on Kamala Harris, who has indeed captured the top slot with a big launch in an expanding field of hopefuls. And the president did not seem impressed by Harris in the same sham-way that he had when he welcomed the entry of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, which was an open acknowledgment that the latter would help the president retain the White House by splitting Democratic voters. I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris, President Trump told The New York Times in an interview Thursday. He pronounced the name as Kameela. Harris is working on getting the country to get the right pronouncement in a campaign video but the President does not seem to have seen yet. I would say in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her, he added. A better crowd, better crowd, better enthusiasm. Some of the others were very flat, the president told NYT. Harris, who is of Indian descent on her mothers side, had had the best opening act yet, indeed. Her official announcement was on January 21, Martin Luther King Day, in memory of the legendary civil rights movement leader Harris is African-American on her fathers side. And her campaign kickoff past Monday in Oakland, California, where she was born and where she started out as a government lawyer, was grand, covered live by most TV news channels. It was called presidential by observers, who saw similarities to the presidential campaign of another first-time senator over 10 years ago, Barack Obama. Harris, who is of Indian and African American heritage, has become the leading Democrat running for the partys presidential nomination to take on President Trump in 2020. And that has also turned her into a leading target of attacks from Republicans, specially supporters of President Trump who have tried sullying her candidacy with the same attack line that they had tried with Obama questioning his eligibility for president. Trump has been dismissive of the others in the fray such as Elizabeth Warren, the fire-brand progressive Democratic senator from Massachusetts. He has attacked her relentlessly over her claims of Native American ancestry. I do think Elizabeth Warrens been hurt very badly with the Pocahontas trap, he said to The New York Times, reprising his long-running slur for her. I think shes been hurt badly. I may be wrong, but I think that was a big part of her credibility and now all of a sudden its gone. In contrast, Trump welcomed Schultz, a lifelong Democrat who is exploring his chances as an independent. Howard Schultz doesnt have the guts to run for President! Trump wrote in a Tweet, daring, and baiting, the former Starbuck CEO to run. Schultzs candidacy, it is feared by Democrats, will split the anti-Tump votes in 2020 and help the president win a second term. An Indian national will be deported from Australia after serving two months in jail for possessing child pornography and other abhorrent material, the media reported on Thursday. The nine videos which included bestiality and other severely offensive content were found on two mobile phones owned by 32-year-old Manpreet Singh during a baggage search at Perth Airport after he flew in to the city from Kuala Lumpur earlier this week. His phones were seized and tourist visa cancelled. Later, Singh pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to two Commonwealth charges and was sentenced on Thursday, the Daily Mail reported. Australian Border Force (ABF) Regional Commander for Western Australia Rod ODonnell expressed concern over the number of individuals found in possession of illegal materials, according to Perth Now. Visitors need to be aware that possession of objectionable material is viewed very seriously under Australian law. The maximum penalty for the importation of child exploitation material is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,25,000, ODonnell said. Tackling child exploitation is an operational priority for the ABF and our officers are highly skilled at identifying people at our airports who are attempting to carry this abhorrent material across the border, he added. The incident came after a total of 223 passengers at Australian airports had child exploitation material seized in 2018, as authorities work to crack down on paedophiles. A Michigan doctor convicted of illegally distributing Insys Therapeutics Inc.s opioid painkiller Subsys said the companys beautiful sales reps and easy money helped persuade him to write unnecessary prescriptions for the highly addictive drug. Gavin Awerbuch told a Boston jury Wednesday he made more than $130,000 over 18 months just for showing up to sham educational sessions. Earlier this week, the jury heard that a former sales manager at Insys had been a stripper who once wooed a Chicago doctor with a lap dance. They had beautiful sales reps and I liked the attention I was getting, Awerbuch said. I felt like I was becoming friends with these Insys employees. Awerbuch testified in a racketeering case against Insys founder John Kapoor, 75, and other executives who prosecutors say conspired to bribe doctors with phony speakers fees and then duped insurers into covering the subsequent wave of Subsys prescriptions. Insys officials set up the speaking engagements but often couldnt get any doctors to attend, Awerbuch said. So, he said, hed have his neighbors and friends show up. And, sometimes, it was just him and a sales rep at the dinner table, he recalled. They were a farce really, said Awerbuch, 60, who had been sentenced to more than two years in prison for illegally prescribing the drug to patients who didnt need it. It was just easy money for me. I got paid $1,600 to show up, have a nice meal and go home. Kapoors is the first prosecution of a pharmaceutical company chief executive tied to the national opioid epidemic, which claims more than 100 lives in the US daily, according to government research. Drug companies can legally pay doctors to tout opioid painkillers to their colleagues at educational dinners, but prosecutors say Insys executives used the fees illegally to get physicians to write more prescriptions for Subsys. Then, the executives lied to insurance companies about what kinds of patients were receiving the painkiller, the government argues. During his four hours of testimony, Awerbuch said he and Insys sales representative Brett Szymanski would order extra dinners for their wives to make it look like more people showed up at the events. Szymanski promised to take care of getting signatures on the events attendance sheets, Awerbuch told jurors. Immunity Agreement Szymanski, who testified under an immunity agreement with the government, told jurors Tuesday he would either fake names on the attendance sheet or get doctors who hadnt attended to sign them. The sales rep said he knew what he was doing was wrong, but continued the practice to rake in about $2 million in salary and bonuses over his four years at Insys. Szymanski testified Alec Burlakoff, the companys former head of sales, told him he didnt care if other doctors attended the dinners or signed the attendance ledger. Szymanski said Burlakoff told him to stop at the playground and get signatures to make it look like the speaker events were well attended. Burlakoff, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and racketeering charges, and Michael Babich, Insyss former CEO, will be the governments star witnesses. Burlakoff is credited with coming up with the idea of using a speakers program to boost Subsys sales. Awebuch admitted he repeatedly violated U.S. law by prescribing Subsys to patients simply to protect his ability to earn speaker fees. The drug was only approved for cancer patients suffering from so-called breakthrough pain and specifically banned for those dealing with migraines. Despite that, Awebuch said he prescribed Subsys to migraine patients, along with those suffering from Fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, arthritis, depression and anxiety. He wrote those prescriptions solely to keep my speakers programs, the physician said. I hate to admit it but thats the reason why, Awebuch said at another point in his testimony. He said prosecutors put off the start of his prison term until March so he could testify. Hes hoping a judge will reduce his sentence because of his cooperation with the government. I know Im going to jail, he said. Prosecutors noted in opening statements that Kapoor didnt personally use email. He had aides receive messages and type out his responses. Nellie Oquendo, one of the health-care entrepreneurs assistants, testified Thursday she sometimes typed as many as 50 email responses for Kapoor in a day. She worked for Kapoors investment firm that was run out of his Phoenix home. Kapoor didnt even have an Insys email until he stepped in as CEO in 2015, after Babich was ousted as the companys top executive, Maury Rice, a technology manager at Insys, testified Tuesday. Babich later pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail-fraud charges in connection with the investigation of the companys handling of Subsys. The case is U.S. v. Kapoor, 16-cr-10343, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston). Donald Trump appears set to end more than three decades of efforts with Russia to cut nuclear arsenals. The US president intends to suspend US obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty before withdrawing fully in six months, Nick Wadhams and Margaret Talev report. That would leave the New START treaty as the only accord between the worlds two largest nuclear powers and its due to expire in 2021. The US accuses Russia of violating the 1987 treatys ban on land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (300-3,500 miles). Russia denies the claim and President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of a nuclear catastrophe if the global system of deterrence collapses. While Putin has threatened confrontation by parading new weapons he says make U.S. defenses ineffective, Russias ailing economy can ill afford an arms race. The loss of nuclear treaties also dents Kremlin illusions that it remains a superpower on a par with its former Cold War foe. Russias eager to save the INF treaty, even as the Trump administration shows no sign it wants to. Nuclear diplomacy is entering an uncertain new era. Global Headlines Nearing deadline | China and the U.S. promised to continue high-level trade talks, with just a month to go until their truce expires. China vowed to substantially expand its purchases of US goods as the latest round concluded in Washington, while Trump said he would dispatch senior negotiators to Beijing. The US president also raised the tantalizing prospect of another face-to-face meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping. Unintended consequences | Trumps America First policy is creating an unexpected diplomatic beneficiary: China. As the U.S. turns inwards, David Wainer reports, Beijing is stepping into the vacuum at the United Nations its now the world bodys second-biggest donor a move that may help it quell criticism of its more controversial domestic policies. Kindred spirits | From Europe, a fellow populist is offering a rare embrace to Trump. Italys Matteo Salvini is hoping to meet the US president in late February and potentially fill a void in transatlantic ties left by the U.K.s planned departure from the European Union and prickly relations with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron. Its time for a new special relationship, says Guglielmo Picchi, a Salvini adviser. Best of friends? | Iran and Venezuela are partners in revolution, oil and, now, U.S. sanctions. Yet as Golnar Motevalli and Ladane Nasseri report, the ties that bind the Islamic and Bolivarian republics are not as strong as they once were. Iran has harshly condemned the Trump administration for its pressure on Caracas, but some may be relieved that U.S. attention is diverted from Tehran. Rabbit hole | Televised hearings and investigations revealing a pattern of bribes and sweetheart deals between businessmen and officials of South Africas ruling African National Congress show graft is far more widespread than most people thought. Its systemic, says David Lewis, the executive director of South Africas Corruption Watch. Were down there right now with the worst. What to Watch And finally ...The latest product to get entangled by US sanctions is a bit of an eye popper: false eyelashes allegedly made with North Korean materials. California makeup company Elf Beauty agreed to pay $996,800 after the Treasury Department found it had run afoul of sanctions on Pyongyang. The firm voluntarily disclosed the apparent violations stemming from eyelash kits imported from China and deemed them non-egregious. A refugee held in a remote Pacific detention centre has won Australias top literature prize with his debut book, which he wrote on his mobile phone and delivered one chapter at a time via WhatsApp. Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian held in an Australian-run camp on a Papua New Guinea island, won the A$100,000 ($72,390) Victorian Prize for literature on Thursday with his book No Friends but the Mountains. Boochani, who has been held in the Manus Island camp since shortly after he was plucked off a refugee boat on its way to Australia six years ago, said he hoped the prize would focus attention on the plight of more than 1,000 people in Australias off-shore camps. I dont want to celebrate this achievement while I still see many innocent people suffering around me, Boochani told Reuters in an exchange of text messages. Boochani has been a prominent critic of the treatment of people under Australias hardline immigration policy. Asylum seekers intercepted at sea are sent for processing to three camps in PNG and one on the South Pacific island of Nauru, where many have languished for years. They are not allowed to set foot in Australia. Boochani said one of his biggest fears when he was writing the book was that his telephone would be confiscated by camp guards. I was worried that if they attacked my room they would take my property, he said. He wrote the book in his native Farsi and sent it via the WhatsApp messaging service to a translator in Australia. The award was announced on Thursday at a ceremony in Australia, a country Boochani has been banned from ever visiting. It brings enormous shame to the Australian government, Boochani said of the policy responsible for his plight. Many areas of the United Kingdom were on Friday gridlocked by snow, sleet and slush, but amidst the chill, a question reminiscent of crises such as wars and drought is increasingly being asked: Are you stockpiling? From medicines, vegetables and ice-cream bars to emergency trauma packs and car parts, everything is being stockpiled across the country to deal with the crisis situation if the UK leaves the European Union on March 29 without an agreement an increasingly likely prospect, given the impasse in Westminster. The stockpiling is because a symbiotic relationship has developed between the UK and EU over 45 years. Every aspect of life quality of air, water, packaging, nappies, you name it is overseen by rules and standards set in Brussels. A no-deal Brexit will disrupt this close relationship. Over the decades, EU rules set in Brussels have permeated in every sector and everyday life in the UK, which has been obliged to implement them as a member-state. Brussels has thus been seen by many as increasingly taking ever more powers from London, which was one of the key reasons for the Leave vote in the 2016 referendum. Besides, the UK is dependent on frictionless movement as an EU member-state for import of a large number of goods from the EU. No agreement by March 29 means there will be no regulatory mechanism in place, which will affect all aspects of life, besides imposing tariffs and border checks. The Theresa May government has released hundreds of sector-wise advice, detailing measures in case of a no-deal Brexit. Large amounts of money have been allocated to stockpile medicines, among other essential commodities, that are produced in the EU. Simon Stevens, head of National Health Service, acknowledged the dangers posed by Brexit: What we are doing is reviewing the tens of thousands of individual medicines, medical devices and other products that the health service uses, making sure that the manufacturers of those products have got extra buffer stockpiles. We do obviously have a reliance on the way the transport infrastructure works in order to continue uninterrupted supply. Getting those transport logistics right is absolutely crucial for the continuous flow of medical supplies; that is a statement of the obvious, he added. The Department of Education issued a no-deal advice, explaining that the government would not be able to guarantee the supply chain of any food and told them they would have significant flexibilities within the school food standards. Pharmacy major Johnson & Johnson said it is stockpiling trauma packs used during terror attacks. A spokesman said: Our priority throughout has been to patients, consumers, healthcare providers and our employees. We are doing everything we can to prepare for all potential Brexit scenarios including increasing our level of stockholding, increasing warehouse capacity, reviewing and where necessary changing transport/distribution routes, he said. Consumer goods major Unilever is also stockpiling toiletries and extra supplies of ice-cream produced in Europe. It is among several companies to reveal it is stockpiling products before the Brexit deadline. All major retailers, including Tesco and Marks & Spencer, are stockpiling packet and tinned foods, although they have warned it is not possible to build up supplies of fresh produce. The 130 students arrested so far in a pay-to-stay sting operation using a fake university face only civil immigration charges, according to media reports. We have arrested 130 foreign nationals on civil immigration charges, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Carissa Cutrell was quoted as telling the Detroit Free Press on Thursday. She added that more of them could be arrested. Those students who knowingly participated in scam knowing it was not a genuine academic programme face deportation. Eight people who allegedly ran the scam as recruiters of the students face criminal charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit and face maximum sentences of five years, according to the ICE service. Documents filed in court by federal prosecutors said as many as 600 students were enrolled at the fake institution, University of Farmington, set up by immigration officials for the sting operation to catch student visa fraud. Prosecutors called it a pay-to-stay scam because the students paid the recruiters to get documents from from the fake university to enable them to stay on in a student visa without attending classes. Court documents show that the recruiters were paid between $5,000 and $20,000 at meetings with Homeland Security Investigations agents involved in the university for recruiting the students. Shiva Kumar, the chairperson of SEVA, the American Telugu Associations legal assistance programme, told IANS that they were working with the affected students to provide them help. He said that he had met Indias Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla to ask for help for the students. The Detroit News said that six alleged recruiters, who were arrested locally, were produced in a local federal court on Thursday wearing ankle chains and handcuffs. Federal Magistrate Judge David Grand ordered them held without bail. On Monday the court will hear lawyers arguments on whether they should be jailed pending their trial. The two others arrested elsewhere are expected to brought to Detroit. The Free Press said the students were arrested in early morning raids in New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, Michigan, California, Louisiana, North Carolina and Missouri states. The federal prosecutor in Detroit, Matthew Schneider, said in a statement: We are all aware that international students can be a valuable asset to our country, but as this case shows, the well-intended international student visa program can also be exploited and abused. The students had come to the US on legitimte student visas, but did not fulfill the condition of attending universities for the required classes making their continued stay illegal, which would be compounded if they worked. Many of the students enrolled in the university were students who had transferred from other universities, according to media reports. ICE, which carried out the operation, admitted in a press release that it had set up the private university run by undercover agents. Farmington University had a web site as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts - but did not have a campus or faculty. ICE said that the alleged recruiters facilitated hundreds of foreigners to illegally remain and work in the US by enrolling in the fake university without the intention of attending classes. All participants in the scheme knew that the school had no instructors or actual classes, ICE said. Sting operations are used quite frequently by US law enforcement officials, who sometimes create fake institutions to create a sense of credibility. University of Farmington is the second fake institution of higher learning created by law enforcement to catch student immigration scams. Although the latest arrests came during a period of heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, Farmington University was set up in 2015 by Democratic President Barack Obamas administration. Obama administration officials had also set up the other fake institution, the University of North Jersey, and ensnared over 1,000 students, most of them from India and China, in 2016. Twenty-one people who acted as student visa brokers were arrested in that sting. The Detroit News reported that Michigan state allowed Farmington University in 2015 to conduct business after confirming it had demonstrated plans to provide housing space, administration facilities, labs, a library and other teaching facilities. But the News said it had none of the facilities and operated out of a single office suite in the basement of an office building. Its president was a fictional character named Dr. Ali Milani, the News reported. The Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library in Cape Coral will host a Breakfast at the Museum Saturday, Feb. 2, from 8-11 a.m., to celebrate the anniversary of G.I. Joe. Hasbros G.I. Joe action figure was introduced on Feb. 2, 1964. Scheduled to be on hand for the event is Robert G. LaChance, the original model for the action figure. The cost is $8 per person and breakfast will include scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. Tickets are available at the museum or EventBrite. The Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library, 4820 Leonard St., Cape Coral. Call 239-541-8704 for more information about the breakfast or the other programs and features of the Military Museum &?Library. US authorities had arrested 129 Indians enrolled at a fake university ran by undercover agents in Detroit, Michigan to expose a pay-to-stay immigration fraud till Thursday and officials have said more apprehensions are expected. The arrested Indians have been placed in removal proceedings marked for deportation, in other words and will remain in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until the conclusion of their case by immigration courts. US prosecutors announced Thursday the arrest of eight men of Indian descent for using the fake university, University of Farmington, to run a pay-to-stay for foreigners stay on a student visa and work. The institute, which touted itself as a nationally accredited business and STEM institution, had no instructors and ran no classes or educational activities. It has since been shut down and its website has been taken down. It enrolled at least 600 students, officials have said. As of yesterday morning, ICE had administratively arrested 130 foreign nationals enrolled at the University of Farmington for civil immigration violations, Carissa Cutrell, a spokesperson for ICE, wrote in an email. Of the 130, she added, 129 were Indian nationals. These individuals have been placed in removal proceedings, and ICE will seek to maintain them in its custody pending the outcome of those proceedings. Cutrell also said more arrests were expected. Indian embassy in Washington DC has been in touch with US officials and has sought consular access to the arrested students and officials have said they are doing all then can to help. Most of the affected are from Telengana and Andhra Pradesh and are also receiving help from community associations. One of them, the American Telugu Association has launched a webpage to help the students and organized a webinar with immigration lawyers to guide them to be watchful with fake agents who promise illegal ways to stay in USA with admissions in unaccredited colleges. Lawyers have argued many of the students enrolled believing the university was legal. Some of them were studying elsewhere and switched to Farmington when their course lost accreditation. Other were doing second masters as looked for speciality work under the B-1B programme, which grants 20,000 visas every year to holders of advanced degrees from US educational institutions. The government utilized very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution, Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, told The New York Times. Prosecutors, however, have argued the students knew what they were getting into. The indictments unsealed Thursday said the students knew the universitys programme was not approved by the government. Each of the foreign citizens who enrolled and made tuition payments to the University knew that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits, or make academic progress toward an actual degree in a particular field of study- a pay to stay scheme. Rather, their intent was to fraudulently maintain their student visa status and to obtain work authorization under the CPT (a course-related curricular training programme that allows off-campus work authorization for foreign students). Finance minister Piyush Goyal announced cash assistance for farmers and tax exemption for the middle class in his budget speech on Friday. The Congress was quick to attack Goyals first budget as a desperate attempt to woo voters. The finance minister did hit back with a veiled dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Piyush Goyal announced Rs 6,000 per year assistance for farmers owning less than two hectares of land. Never before has small farmers received such government assistance. People belonging to dynasties and living in AC rooms dont understand the suffering of a farmer who owns a small piece of land, he said. Around 12 crore farmers will receive the cash benefit under the PM Kisaan scheme. The money will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers in three equal instalments. Leading the Congress attack on the BJPs budget announcement was former finance minister P Chidambaram. He said the NDA government acted desperately and recklessly and violated the Constitution by pushing its electoral agenda in the interim Budget. Also read: Budget 2019 highlights: Tax relief, mega pension plan for unorganised workers in poll year Chidambaram pointed out that the government made the announcements in the interim Budget with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Congress had announced farm loan waivers within hours of coming to power in Madhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in December last year putting pressure on the NDA dispensation at the Centre. Goyal, who also announced a tax relief ffor individuals earning up to Rs 5 lakh per annum, said his budget will benefit all sections of the society. On the income tax exemption front, the FM also proposed to increase the standard deduction from the existing Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. He also said that TDS threshold on rental income from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. Goyal said the schemes for the farmers and labourers of the unorganized sector are historic announcements. A mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector workers with an aim to benefit 10 crore people was unveiled at the budget. The beneficiaries will get assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after reaching the age of 60 years. Goyal said 42 crore workers of the unorganized sector will benefit from the pension scheme. Domestic workers can also avail it. Shah Faesal, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Jammu and Kashmir who recently announced plans to form his own political party and contest elections, blamed the Centre for the escalation of violence in the Valley. Speaking at a Meet the Press programme organised by Pune Union of Working Journalists on Thursday, Faesal said that there was definitely an escalation of violence in Kashmir and if somebody was responsible for it, it was the Centre. In 2009, Faesal became the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam and joined the IAS in the Jammu and Kashmir cadre. Recently, he resigned from the civil service and decided to join politics. The former bureaucrat said that when India and Pakistan were engaged in talks over the years, the overall situation in the Valley was better. Whenever the two nations spoke, lives of people on both sides became easy. So both countries should resume talks. He stressed that the people in India have to realise that the problem in Jammu and Kashmir is political and the only way to solve it is through dialogue. Faesal said that he was as yet undecided about contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls although plans are on to float a new party. When I quit the IAS, I had no plans to start a new political outfit. However, given the response I have received from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I have decided to form a party for which I have received thousands of suggestions from the people. On abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, a contentious issue for decades, Faesal said, India cannot afford to do that if it expects better relationship with Jammu and Kashmir. There is a need to address violence first rather than talking about bringing changes in the Constitution. Mumbai Polices crime branch on Friday confirmed gangster Ravi Pujari had been detained by authorities in Dakar, Senegal, against a red corner notice (RCN) issued by Interpol almost 17 years ago. Pujari, who had christened himself the Hindu Don of Mumbai, is wanted in over 50 cases of murder, kidnapping, shootouts and extortion across the country. He has been on the run for several years and has travelled through numerous countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Morocco. The police are working towards having him repatriated to India over the next few weeks. A crime branch official, who is coordinating with the Interpol wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), said Pujari had been intercepted in Dakar, on Thursday evening following a tip-off by Indian agencies. His calls were being monitored by the police of three to four states. However, as those were infrequent and made through the internet, he managed to dodge surveillance, said the official. Pujari was travelling on a fake Indian passport to Burkina Faso at the time of his detention. Authorities estimate it will take at least a month to complete the formalities to bring Pujari back home. We are sending the biometric proof, including the DNA samples collected from his family members living in Mumbai to stake our claims, said the crime branch official. Pujari, born in Udupi, came to Mumbai as a teenager and became gangster Chhota Rajans right hand man in the 1990s. He was arrested by Mumbai Police in 1994, for the murder of builder Om Prakash Kukreja. Pujari came out on bail and allegedly fled first to South Africa, then Dubai and later, Australia. By 2000, he had parted ways with Rajan, worked with gangster Dawood Ibrahim for a while and eventually, set up his own gang. The Interpol issued an RCN against Pujari in 2002. Pujaris extortion and mafia syndicate saw a surge in its Mumbai activities in the mid-2000s. In 2009 alone, over 100 extortion calls were allegedly made by Pujari to several celebrities, hoteliers and industrialists. His gang suffered a setback when the Mumbai crime branch rounded up over two dozen of his front-line shooters and operatives by 2012. This forced Pujari to shift his operations base to Karnataka. In October 2017, the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) rounded up his aide Dasrath Shinde and the RCN against Pujari was renewed. The most recent blow to Pujaris Mumbai operation came on January 22 this year, when his new Mumbai head Akash Shetty was arrested in a dramatic operation in Mangalore. Claiming to quote Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday warned against a Dalit-Muslim alliance in politics. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was well aware of the nefarious designs of Muslims. He always warned against any kind of association (political) with the Muslims, Bhagwat said at the two-day Dharam Sansad that began here. Now, efforts are being made for a Dalit-Muslim alliance. Babasaheb had himself termed these jihadis untrustworthy. We need to make aware people about this, the RSS chief said. Bhagwats comment came even as talk of a Dalit-Muslim alliance to defeat the BJP has gained prominence in Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll. Dr NKS More, associate professor, Ambedkar University, Lucknow, said: If Bhagwatji has said this, then he is misquoting and misappropriating Ambedkar. It is a clear deviation from the perception of Dr Ambedkar on minority and minorityism. Dr More said he was from Pune and closely associated with Ambedkars family. Bahujan Samaj Party spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria said Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was the architect of the Constitution, adding that he promoted peace, harmony and equality among all the communities. Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat is following a divisive agenda which is leading to conflict in the society. The attacks on Dalits and Muslims have increased under the BJP rule. The suppressed communities are uniting under the leadership of BSP chief Mayawati and SP national president Akhilesh Yadav. Fearing defeat in the poll, the BJP and RSS leaders are jittery, he said. Several saints at the Dharam Sansad also warned against the Dalit-Muslim alliance. They cited the Saharanpur incident, alleging that Muslims attacked a procession taken out by the BJP on Ambedkar Jayanti in April 2017. They also referred to several incidents across the country in which Dalits were attacked. The public flogging of Dalits in Una, Gujarat on the issue of skinning cows was also raised at the Dharma Sansad. In all these incidents, Dalits were targeted in a planned manner to divide the Hindu community. Members of a particular community and some political parties are behind these attacks on Dalits, said Govindadev Giri, a prominent saint while addressing the gathering. Meanwhile, the RSS chief also asserted that 70% of the converts from the Hindu fold want to reconvert to Hinduism. Most of the converts want to come back to the Hindu religion. Our doors are open for them. We just have to assure them that they will be given all due respect when they reconvert to Hinduism, said Bhagwat. A 12-year-old girl in Lucknow put her fathers pistol to her head while playing with it and accidentally pulled the trigger. She died during treatment in a hospital. Inspector Raj Kumar Verma said the incident happened at Thakurganj locality. Narendra Singh returned home on Thursday evening and placed his pistol on the dining table while changing his clothes. Unaware of the consequences, Singhs daughter Ayushi Singh picked up the pistol and started toying with it. She placed the barrel of the pistol on her right temple and was enacting the suicide attempt when the trigger was accidentally pulled, the inspector explained. Her family rushed her to the trauma centre of King George Medical University where she succumbed during treatment. He said Singhs pistol has been seized and the body has been sent for the post-mortem. With an eye on the upcoming general elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is working on a plan to offer a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to unorganised workers such as household help and migrant labour above the age of 60 that will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries creating a social security net in a country which doesnt have one for unorganised sector workers. As per the result of the labour force survey on employment and unemployment conducted in 2011-12 by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), ministry of statistics and programme implementation, the number of estimated employed persons in 2011-12 on usual status basis was 474.1 million, of which 82.7% (391.4 million persons) was in the unorganised sector. The money transfers will be effected through an unorganised worker identification number (UWIN) that could be linked with the beneficaries Aadhaar IDs, four government officials aware of the plan said on condition of anonymity. The scheme is expected to be named after Deendayal Upadhyay, the late ideologue of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is expected to be launched ahead of the summer general elections. With elections likely to be announced in early March, that gives the government just about a month to do this. Officials said the proposed welfare scheme could prove to be a game-changer in the coming general election if it is seen by poor voters as a concrete and sincere effort to address the problems of those at the bottom of the pyramid. It would help the NDA counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhis promise of a guaranteed minimum income for the poor. The plan comes amid concerns over lack of sufficient jobs to absorb new entrants to the workforce. In 2017-18, Indias unemployment rate was a 45-year-high of 6.1%, the Business Standard reported on Thursday, citing the NSSOs periodic labour force survey report, which has not been released officially yet. This is a step in the right direction as the unorganised sector has no social security and the state must take care of them. Ideally, it should be a universal pension scheme, said Alakh N Sharma, a labour economist and director of the Institute for Human Development. The officials cited above said the government is working on granular details of the scheme, such as eligibility criteria, the required resources and percentage share of the Centre and the states in funding the pension payments. It is targeting the launch of a scheme before the model code of conduct kicks in with the announcement of dates for the general election. Experts said the scheme could require an additional Rs 1.2 lakh crore to implement, after subsuming related, ongoing schemes in various states. Unorganised workers were among the sections worst affected by the November 2016 invalidation of high-value banknotes, and also took a hit from the July 2017 implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) that many small businesses were unprepared for. The legal framework of the scheme is already in place and the UWIN platform, which is capable of capturing data on the countrys almost 420 million unorganised workers, is also ready to go live, one of the officials, with direct knowledge of the matter, said. The UWIN platform has been created at a cost of about Rs 400 crore. Unorganised workers will be eligible for the pension after they turn 60 years old. PTI reported in January 2018 about a planned drive by the labour ministry to register unorganised sector workers and provide them UWIN cards to bring them under the social security net, citing an official it didnt name. The UWIN Card will have a unique number that will be seeded with Aadhaar to provide all benefits of social security schemes at one stop, the report cited the official as saying. The government can launch any welfare scheme or give a direct subsidy to unorganised workers through the UWIN platform, which will be ready in a couple of days, the first official added. The platform will also help the government maintain details on unorganised workers in a central database . So far, the government has had to rely on state governments to gather numbers and other data, the official said. A labour ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the plan. Operationalisation of the UWIN platform is facing a minor glitch related to the Aadhaar unique identity number, a second official, who is aware of technical details, said. In September 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could mandate the unique ID for citizens to access state subsidies and welfare programmes but said it could not make the possession of an Aadhaar number a condition for operating bank accounts, mobile phones and enrolling in schools or college admissions.. Because of the Supreme Courts verdict, concerns have arisen that some activists may try to stall the project by challenging the linkage of unorganised workers data with the Aadhaar ID. According to officials, while Aadhaar can be used for identifying beneficiaries, the linkage between UWIN and Aadhaar data could be open to challenge in the courts. In that case, we will make the programme independent of Aadhaar, the official with technical details of the project said. The scheme is likely to be enforced through the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008, (UWSS Act) which has already put in place a legal framework for providing social security benefits to workers in the unorganised sector, officials said. The Act provides for the registration and issuance of identity cards to unorganised workers. Gradually, other welfare schemes and direct subsidies will be provided to unorganised workers, including life and disability insurance cover, health facilities and maternity benefits. It is likely that all existing schemes will be reclassified and disbursed through UWIN to stop leakage s of subsidies to the poor and bring transparency, the officials cited above said. Existing schemes for the urorganised worker include the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), the Financial Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances (Pension to Mastercrafts Artisans) Scheme, the Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar are likely to share the dais at a rally in Mumbai or Vidarbha later this month, as both parties have all but finalised their pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While efforts are still on to rope in at least eight to nine smaller allies for the grand alliance, Congress and NCP have arrived at a consensus on 44 off the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Both parties plan to share three to four seats from their quota with the smaller allies. Our alliance is almost finalised only four seats are left. We are hopeful the issues over these seats will be sorted out soon, said Nawab Malik, chief spokesperson, NCP. The four seats that remain contentious are Raver, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and Nandurbar. Congress wants Raver and Ahmednagar from NCP, while the latter has staked claim on Aurangabad and Nandurbar seats. Both parties are expecting a few sitting MPs from BJP and Shiv Sena to join them. While the Congress is expecting a senior BJP leader to join the party, for which it has staked claim on the Raver seat, NCP wants Nandurbar as it is also expecting another senior BJP leader to join it. Congress is firm on Ahmednagar from where Dr Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, leader of opposition in the state assembly, is determined to contest. If the NCP does not concede Ahmednagar, Sujay is expected to contest as an independent. The decision over both seats will be stretched until the respective leaders join the parties, said a former NCP minister, who did not wish to be named. At least three sitting MPs are in touch with either of the parties and the exchange and sharing will depend on when and which party they join. In some cases, the announcement will be done only after the decision over the BJP-Sena alliance and their candidates. The formal announcement of seat sharing and constituencies may take longer, said a Congress leader, on condition of anonymity. Another Congress leader said they had informally agreed to a seat sharing of 25-23, with one seat each going to Swabhiman Paksha chief Raju Shetti and Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) chief Prakash Ambedkar from their respective quota. Congress will allot the Palghar seat to Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) if they decide to join grand alliance, the leader said. While Ambedkar has been pressing for 12 seats, Shetti has been demanding six seats from Congress-NCP. Samajwadi Party, too, wants to contest on one seat. Congress, meanwhile, is hopeful about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) joining hands with them in Maharashtra and the partys central leadership is likely to be in touch with Mayawati. In such a case, the Congress can gain at least eight seats in Vidarbha. The dispute over exchange of seats, however, may continue till the elections are declared or the ruling parties Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena declare names of their candidates. Alliance between two parties has almost been sealed and the formal announcement is expected in the next 8-10 days. We have differences, and not a dispute, on four seats and it will be sorted out amicably. One of the reasons for the delay is for clarity on the aspirants joining us from other parties. If needed, party chiefs of both parties will meet soon, Praful Patel, NCP leader, said. All small parties we are talking to are with us. We hope even Ambedkar joins us as talks are on. We are flexible about valid demands by the allies, said Manikrao Thakre, Congress leader. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Thursday took exception to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)- affiliate Rashtriya Sikh Sangats remark that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is controlling all the gurdwaras, saying the saffron outfit always tries to create confusion among Sikhs. The apex gurdwara body chief said they wont let the government and the RSS meddle in Sikh affairs. The statement came a day after the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat snubbed SAD over remarks by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa who asked the BJP not to meddle in gurdwara affairs. We condemn the statement of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat national secretary Avtar Singh Shastri. The management of gurdwaras is run only by SGPC which is the elected body of Sikhs, said Longowal in a press release. Avtar Singh had said on Wednesday, Sikh matters are not the dominion of the Akali Dal. They exploit religious institutions for their political motives. Sirsa has no moral right to criticise the party he represents as an MLA. If Sirsa is opposed to any of the BJPs decision, he should first resign from the party. Sirsa, who belongs to the Akali Dal became an MLA on a BJP ticket as an agreement between the two parties. Singh reacted hours after Sirsa issued a statement lashing out at the BJP for installing its own men at Takht Hazoor Sahib in Nanded (Maharashtra). If the BJP doesnt stop interfering in gurdwara matters, we will not hesitate in sacrificing our alliance, Sirsa had said. Longowal said, The Maharashtra government wants to make its own president of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board by amending Section 11 of the boards 1956 Act, which is not right, and Sikh Sangat has been opposing this move. He said, The RSS should never forget that Sikhs have a history of bravery and we are living in an independent country for them. Sikhs respect all religions but they will not tolerate interference of anyone in their affairs. On the arrest of former Moga senior superintendent of police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sharma, one of the accused in the Behbal Kalan firing case, the SGPC chief said they were satisfied with the development and all the culprits should be behind bars. He said this at Mastuana Sahib where he had gone to pay obeisance to Sant Attar Singh on his 92th death anniversary. But the matter should not be politicised and the special investigation team (SIT) should work without any pressure, he said. Lee BIA Builders Care, the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association, recently received a $12,000 donation from Aubuchon Team of Companies in support of its mission to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. The donation is a result of funds raised through Aubuchon Team of Companies annual Helping Hands for the Holidays event. To date, Aubuchon Team of Companies has donated more than $116,000 to Lee BIA Builders Care through this annual fundraiser, fueling Lee BIA Builder Cares efforts to make a difference within the lives of local homeowners and families. Aubuchon Team of Companies annual event has generously supported Lee BIA Builders Care for 11 years, an invaluable commitment that has provided critical funding and support, helping us to continually strengthen our impact within the community, said Becky Swift, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care. We are grateful for Aubuchons continued partnership as we work together to provide life-changing services to homeowners in need. About Lee BIA Builders Care Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA). The mission of Lee BIA Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.5 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County. Builders Care and the Lee BIA are headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. The Lee Building Industry Association (www.BIA.net) is a 64-year-old association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and Florida Home Builders Association that serves to promote, protect and preserve homeownership, private property rights and affordable housing by advocating for balanced laws, regulation and fees through member education and outreach. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056. Follow Builders Care at Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare or on Twitter @LeeBuildersCare. A 24-year-old woman software engineer was Thursday booked by police here on charge of kidnapping a man, who had allegedly been stalking her, police said. The man, a carpenter, had allegedly been harassing the woman by sending messages and calling her on her mobile phone for the past several days after being warned not do so, they said. The carpenter had seen the woman at her friends house where he used to do carpentry work and somehow got her number, and since then he has been allegedly harassing her, a police official attached to the Gopalpuram Police station said. The woman, decided to teach him a lesson herself without lodging a police complaint, and she along with her five friends, as part of a plan, asked him to come near a college in Secunderabad to meet him and accordingly the man went there, police said. But he was initially allegedly beaten up by the woman and her friends and later taken on a bike to an isolated area in Malkajgiri area, they said. He was again allegedly thrashed, from where he somehow managed to escape and got himself admitted in a state-run hospital with injuries, police said. The doctors informed police, who recorded the carpenters statement and registered a case on charges of kidnap and attempt to murder against the woman techie and five of her friends, and during the course of investigation took them into custody. Controversial businessman Vijay Mallya took to social media again on Friday to question the narrative that he ran away with Rs 9,000 crore from banks, asking if it is justified when his assets worth Rs 13,000 crore had been reportedly seized. Facing extradition to India, Mallya is awaiting a final decision from home secretary Sajid Javid after the Westminster magistrates court recommended it on December 10. Javid has 60 days to decide from the date of judgement, and Mallya will have 14 days from the date of his decision to apply for leave to appeal. Mallya has been presenting his version of the charges on Twitter and before television cameras outside the court to counter the narrative that he ran away with banks money. In June 2018, he released on Twitter letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley dated 2016, seeking fair play and justice. In four tweets on Friday, Mallya said: The DRT (debt recovery tribunal) Recovery Officer recently attaches my Group assets worth over 13,000 crores in India on behalf of the Consortium of Banks. Also read: Vijay Mallya faces bankruptcy proceedings in UK High Court Yet the narrative is that I ran away with the claimed amount of 9000 crores causing loss to Public Sector Banks. Where is Justice and fair play? Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT recovery officer. Value already crosses 13,000 crores. Banks claim dues including all interest of 9,000 crores which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond? Justified?? Mallya also referred to bankruptcy and debt recovery proceedings brought by the State Bank of India and 12 other lenders in the UK. The lenders had won in the high court in May 2018 when it dismissed Mallyas applications to set aside a ruling of Indias debt recovery tribunal and an associated worldwide freezing order. He said: And despite all the attachments in India, Banks have given an open licence to their Lawyers in England to pursue multiple frivolous litigations against me. Who is accountable for spending Public money on Legal fees in such a brazen manner? Also read: Mallya didnt flee India with 300 bags, went to Europe to attend sports meet: Lawyer And finally, the Banks lawyers in England have objected in writing to my paying my legitimate tax dues to HMRC (revenue and customs) which I requested. Irony is Indian State Banks want my money in England to settle an Indian debt already secured and deny payment to the UK tax exchequer. Disgraceful. Besides recovery proceedings, Mallya is now facing legal action by lawyers acting on the banks behalf to declare him bankrupt. Paul Gair, partner of law firm TLT said: We can confirm that we presented a bankruptcy petition against Dr Mallya on behalf of the banks on 11 September 2018. This was issued in Dr Mallyas local court, Northampton county court, and has now been transferred to the insolvency list in the High Court of Justice in London for the hearing. The hearing is expected to take place in the Spring. Mallya, 63, who in his flamboyant heydays was known as the king of good times, flew out of India to the UK in March 2016 around the same time, the government says, agencies closed in on him for bank fraud. The businessman is also sought by the ED, which investigates foreign exchange rule violations and money laundering. On January 5, Vijay Mallya became the first Indian businessman to be declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court in Mumbai. The tag came weeks after the Westminster Magistrates Court in London ordered his extradition to India on an application by the Indian Government. A fugitive economic offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for committing an offence and who has left India to avoid criminal prosecution. The ED has also submitted applications to have jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi declared fugitives under the same law after they left India, where they are accused in a Rs.14,000 scam at state-run Punjab National Bank . These applications will be heard by the same special court. The ruling Congress in Rajasthan termed the partys victory in the Ramgarh poll a vote of confidence by the people who have supported its president Rahul Gandhis agenda for farmers. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the people in Ramgarh took the right decision at the right time and the party will now focus on winning all 25 seats in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Just three days ago, Gandhi spoke about minimum income for the poor, which is a revolutionary idea. The public has endorsed it, Gehlot told reporters in Jaipur. The party on Thursday touched the halfway mark in the 200-member state assembly with its candidate Shafia Zubair Khan defeating her BJP rival Sukhwant Singh by 12,228 votes in Ramgarh (part of Alwar parliamentary constituency), polling for which was held on January 28. Zubair secured 44.77% votes against Singhs 38.20%, according to the state election department. Bahujan Samaj Partys Jagat Singh secured 13.36% votes. There were a total of 20 candidates in the fray, 18 of whom lost their security deposit. With Thursdays result, the Congress now has 100 MLAs in the House and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has one MLA. The BJP has 73 members in the assembly. The winning MLA said that the people had grown tired of the communal politics. This verdict is against casteism and communal forces, Shafia Zubair Khan said. She also said the women had been facing problems due to the lack of water in the constituency. The previous (BJP) government took away the powers from the hands of the panchayats to allow borings (tunneling or drilling holes in search of water). Schools were closed in the area, she said. In a meeting held in Alwar, Khan, former Union minister Jitendra Singh, Congress MLA Johari Lal Meena, and former MLA Krishan Murari Gangawat thanked the people, and urged party workers to ensure Congress victory in the coming general elections, due likely in April-May. Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot alleged the BJP had tried to polarise the communities along religious and caste lines before the elections, but failed. This is a vote of confidence yet again by the people of Rajasthan towards the Congress party. It was the first election after the governments formation and the result is an indication that the BJP has lost the support they had, Pilot said. I thank the people of Ramgarh who have restored their faith and confidence by making the party win the seat, he added. He also said that the party has started its preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and exuded confidence that the Congress will win all 25 seats in the state. The BJP has already lost support. People have showed faith in the Congress and the party will form government at the Centre, he said. He further noted that the party has won 23 of the 24 bypolls held across the country in the last five years. The BJPs vote base is continuously shrinking and the result of Ramgarh poll is an indication for the upcoming elections, he said. BJPs losing candidate Sukhwant Singh accepted the verdict, saying he honours the peoples mandate. Former MLA from Ramgarh, Gyan Dev Ahuja, said, We thank the party workers for their efforts. Our candidate got a good number of votes. (With inputs from PTI) Underworld don Ravi Pujari has been arrested by Senegal police following a tip off by Indian investigative agencies, according to media reports. Pujari was arrested on January 22 from Dakar and the Indian embassy was informed on Januray 26, media reports said quoting officials in Senegal. Pujari, who was mentored by gangster Chotta Rajan, is wanted in India for a number of cases including extortion, kidnapping and murder. He started off as a petty criminal and graduated to big crime with the killing of Bala Zalte, a rival and went on to join Chotta Rajan. Dalit leader from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani had last year filed a police complaint alleging that Ravi Pujari had threatened to kill him. Earlier, Pujari had allegedly threatened several Bollywood personalities including Mahesh Bhatt and Farah Khan, this was revealed by Mumbai police following the arrest of his alleged henchmen in June last. The Mumbai police last week arrested Akash Shetty, an aide of Pujari who took over the Mumbai operations, amid high drama in a village in Mangalore in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. An officer from AEC said Pujaris extortion cartel, which had suffered a blow after the arrest of top aide Dasrath Shinde in July 2017, had resumed operations in the past seven-eight months. Pujari had stopped calling Mumbai developers for the past one-and-a-half years, the officer said. A day after it had mauled a 60-year-old man to death near the Nagarhole national park spanning Karnatakas Kodagu and Mysuru districts, state forest department officials captured the tiger that is suspected to have attacked him. The animal had also fatally attacked another man in the same region a day earlier. The animal seems to be about five to six years old and is injured in its right hind leg. This is probably the reason why it was preying on humans, KM Narayanaswamy, Conservator of Forests told Hindustan Times. We had spotted the animal in one of our camera traps and successfully tranquilised it. Even though there was commotion in the region, we managed to move the tiger and it is on its way to Mysuru zoo, he added. On December 23, the tiger had claimed its first victim, Madhu, 28, a tribal youth from the village of Manimoole Haadi, that is adjacent to the Nagarhole national park. Following that, D Chinnappa, of Hullumtlu village, in the same region was mauled to death by the animal. On January 31, Thursday, the animal claimed the life of 60-year-old Mara, belonging to Thimanna Hosahalli village, again near the Nagarhole national park. We decided to act immediately and got our team together along with the elephants. After narrowing down on the tigers location, we tranquilised it and have begun relocating the animal, C Jayaram, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Karnataka, who led the operation, said. J Manjunatha, Secretary of the Wilderness Club, a Bengaluru-based wildlife conservation organisation, who was following the operation said, It is commendable how swiftly the forest department acted under such immense pressure. They have not only caught the tiger within two days but have also managed to tranquilise it. The 643 sq.km Nagarhole national park is part of the Nilgiris biosphere reserve and is considered to be house to more than 80 tigers. The park is also one of the last few with indigenous people residing inside or extremely close to the core area of the national park. HC Kantharaju, retired forest official familiar with Nagarhole says, There are still about 1,600 people living inside or close to the national park. We have been asking them to relocate but only a few hundred have come out so far. This creates a real issue because the tiger population is also thriving here and each animal now has an effective range of only about nine sq.km, while ideally, they need a range of at least 20 sq.km. This creates a lot of territorial conflicts and also results in affecting the human population. Unless the people here are all relocated, unfortunately, such adverse incidents might reoccur, he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi dismissed the big ticket announcement of assured income support to farmers in the Narendra Modi governments last budget before Lok Sabha polls as an insult to them. Rahul Gandhi said the Modi government has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Responding to the Budget 2019-20 presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter, Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. Earlier, Goyal announced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman (PM Kisan) scheme to provide cash assistance to about 12 crore farmers in the country. He said the farmers would be given an assured income support of Rs 6,000 a year. The finance minister announced setting up of a fund, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi with an allocation of Rs 75,000 crore for 2019-20. The scheme has been implemented with retrospective effect from December 2018. Goyal said an additional Rs 20,000 crore would be earmarked for the current fiscal year under PM Kisan scheme. He said the assistance to the farmers would be given in three instalments in a year. He said assistance of Rs 2,000 would be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the farmers in the remaining four months (since December 2018) of the fiscal year. Later addressing a press conference, the finance minister said the data about eligible farmers would be sought from the state governments. Goyal also took a dig at opposition leaders who accuse the government of not delivering on the promises made to farmers. He said, Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand the plight of the small farmers. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This is a historic decision. PM Modi has actually seen the problems of the farmers, said Goyal. The PM Kisan scheme is aimed at providing cash assistance to small and marginal farmers having land holding of less than two acres. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led committee to select the next CBI director will meet on Friday, a week after the last attempt to choose a name from the 79 candidates failed. The high-powered panel with the leader of Congress, the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as its members had met on January 24. That meeting to decide on the next chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remained inconclusive even though the panel discussed the 79 names put up before it in two lists one with 19 names and the other with 60. Kharge insisted on getting detailed background information of the officers, people familiar with the development said on the condition of anonymity. The next meeting of the panel on selection of the CBI chief will take place on February 1 at around 6 pm, Kharge said while speaking to reporters on Wednesday. Also read: Delay in CBI selection panel meet may rule out senior officer The federal agency has been working under interim director M Nageswara Rao after Alok Verma was removed as its chief on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty by the committee headed by Prime Minister Modi. Raos appointment has also been challenged in the top court. The meeting of the panel comes after three Supreme Court judges, including CJI Gogoi, top courts number 2 Justice AK Sikri and Justice NV Ramana recused themselves from hearing the petition challenging Raos appointment as the CBI interim director. Also read: Went to his daughters wedding: Judge Ramana recuses from hearing interim CBI chief case NGO Common Cause has claimed that Raos appointment was not based on the recommendation of the selection panel and, thus, in complete contravention of the law. The petitioners have sought appointment of a regular chief of the agency. They also want all records of deliberations and rational criteria related to short-listing and selection of the CBI director to be made available under the transparency law. They have also asked for the entire process of selection, including the composition of the panel, its mandate and minutes of the meeting of the search committee to be made public. Alok Verma and his deputy, CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, were engaged in a feud that affected the agencys functioning. Asthana levelled charges of corruption against Verma in a letter to the cabinet secretary in August last year. CBI filed a first information report (FIR) against Asthana in October last year. On the intervening night of October 23 and 24, the government divested both of their powers. Rao took charge as the interim director for the first time on the intervening night of October 23 and 24. Verma challenged the government order in the top court and it conditionally reinstated him as the CBI chief on January 8, saying that only the selection panel could remove him. The panel decided by a majority decision of 2-1 to remove Verma on January 10. Officers from the four oldest serving batches of the Indian Police Service, from 1982 to 1985, are in contention for the post of CBI director as per the guidelines set by the Supreme Court. Their suitability for the job will depend on criteria such as seniority, integrity and experience in the investigation of anti-corruption cases. Sources have told the Hindustan Time that the name of the agencys former special director Rakesh Asthana was in the list of 60. He is now serving as the head of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Also read: Will ensure no officer with BJP link makes the cut: Congress on CBI chiefs selection HT further learned that details of the names on the shortlist, including their past experience, postings, etc, were not provided and that when Kharge pointed this out, Prime Minister Modi, the head of the panel, agreed that this should be made available. The Opposition leaders met today at the Constitution Club in New Delhi to discuss the matter of EVM tampering. The Save the Nation, Save the Democracy meeting was called by the Congress to discuss a joint strategy on the issue of EVMs. Questioning the efficacy of the Electronic Voting Machines, the opposition parties have demanded that the Election Commissiosn revert to paper ballots to hold the Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission has rejected the Opposition demand. Among those present at the meeting were Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav, and senior Congress leder AK Antony. Earlier, various opposition parties had claimed that only two or three countries in the world were using EVMs and that the rest had reverted to ballot paper system. The Congress has maintained that as there is very less time left for Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission should ensure counting of paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters. A non-resident Indian (NRI) industrialist from Florida in US Jayaram Chigurupati was found dead in his car in suspicious circumstances off the highway near Ithavaram early Friday, police said. He was on his way to Vijayawada from Hyderabad. The car of the 65-year old Jayaram who headed Coastal Bank, a pharmaceutical company and was a promoter of the now defunct Express TV, was spotted by a highway patrol team. He was found in the back seat of the car with blood oozing from his nose, said Subhash Chandra Bose, deputy superintendent of police of Nandigama. Police suspect he was murdered. The assailants tried to fabricate an accident by leaving the car in a roadside pit with minor damages in the window panes. The driver was not seen at the accident site and the victim was found lying in back seats. All these give rise to the suspicion that it is a case of murder, the DSP said. We have started an investigation from all angles, Bose said. CCTV footage at all the three toll plazas through which the NRIs car passed from Hyderabad showed a person in a white shirt at the wheels paying the toll and the police have zeroed in on him as the main suspect, the DSP said. Jayaram, a native of Vijayawada, left Hyderabad on January 30 noon without his personal car driver and his vehicle was first tracked at the first toll plaza at Panthangi at 8pm on January 31. He was expected to reach Vijayawada within five hours after his departure from Hyderabad. It is not known where he spent all this time and in whose company, the DSP said. The police are examining the call date from the victims mobile phone in pursuit of clues. The victims wife and children are in Florida and he had come to Viajaywada on a vacation a month ago. Jayaram was in the news when his Express TV staffers cooked outside his head office in Hyderabad in April, 2017 as a token of protest against non-payment of salaries. The Cyberabad police had arrested Jayaram, who was Managing director of the media house, following a complaint by striking employees. Many Naga sadhus at the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj have decided to give up one of their most prized possessions -- chillums (clay pipes used for smoking). On a call given by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, they have in fact taken a pledge to quit smoking. The warrior ascetics took the decision after Ramdev gave the example of many Hindu deities who stayed away from all vices, including smoking the chillum, when they took the human form on earth Otherwise recluses, the Naga sadhus possess only holy beads (rudraksha), garlands and chillums. They smoke to keep themselves warm in the biting cold in the mela area. Sitting around the holy fire called dhuni, the Naga Sadhus sometimes stay awake all night smoking chillums. Ramdev, whos also conducting yoga classes at the Kumbh Mela, met these sadhus and asked aspiring Naga sadhus for their chillums as Guru Dakshina. They were attending the ordination ceremony of Shree Panchayati Akhada Niranjani in the presence of Swami Narendragiri, secretary of Niranjani Akhada and president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP). Ramdev said he was happy to get a positive response from many Naga sadhus and holy men for a Nashamukt Bharat (addiction-free India). Several sadhus also took a pledge to quit the chillum when I asked them if they had ever seen or read in any scripture or holy book that Hindu deities indulged in any of these unhealthy habits, he said. They were very amused but also tried to understand what I was telling them. They also understood the fact that smoking chillum was harming their health immensely, he added. Shreemahant Rajendradas Ji Maharaj of Nirmohi Akhada was among the first few sadhus who decided to hand over their chillums to Ramdev. The yoga guru said the sadhus sacrificed their materialistic life to attain salvation. Yet, they were hooked on to the habit of smoking chillum, which is not good. Its also a kind of weakness. We also realised the fact and took the pledge to stop smoking, Rajendradas Ji Maharaj said. Friday, February 1, 2019 at 10:08AM Earlier this week, Nintendos president said there werent any immediate plans to release a new version of the Nintendo Switch console. But that isnt stopping the rumour mill from going on. A report from Japanese publication Nikkei claims there is a more compact version of the Switch in the works and that it might come out early this year. A translation of the story says, Theyre taking measures as for what is to comeone of those being a smaller version of the Switch. The company said that couldnt comment on their plans for the product, but has informed multiple suppliers and game development companies that they intend to release them as early as 2019. According to their affiliates, they are miniaturizing the console with portability and playing outdoors in mind, as well as cutting features to reduce the price and expand the userbase.' Aside from that, there are rumours that Nintendo Switch Online is getting an update, too. But there werent any specifics on what that update is going to be. But it should be expected to come this year as well. At this point, this report still has to be taken with a grain of salt. But we will keep you posted for any updates. Source: Nintendo Everything A BJP legislator in Meghalaya on Thursday threatened to quit the party if the Centre did not exempt Meghalaya and other Northeast states from the purview of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The saffron party is a part of the ruling dispensation in the hill state, led by the National Peoples Party (NPP). Sanbor Shullai, one of the two BJP MLAs in the state, said, I will submit a one-month ultimatum to the NDA government to exempt Meghalaya and other states in the northeast from the purview of the Citizenship Bill. The state cabinet had last year adopted a resolution to oppose the Bill, while BJP Minister A L Hek had said he wouldnt go against the interests of the people. Addressing a rally in Shillong, the BJP MLA also said that he has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter, but was yet to get a response. Shullais rally, which witnessed a huge turnout Thursday, was sponsored by 14 pressure groups and attended by several political leaders in the state. The public meeting came two days after ten political parties of the northeast, most of which are members of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), along with the saffron partys key ally in Bihar, the JD(U), met in Guwahati to jointly oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who had taken the initiative to arrange the meeting, assured to take every measure to protect the interests of indigenous people. Most political parties in the region are protesting against the bill in their respective states and so, we decided to come together and discuss measures to protect our people and the region, he had said. Sangma is currently camping in Delhi and is likely to call on the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Friday on the issue, according to official sources. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. Maharashtra government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay high courts refusal to grant further time to complete its probe in the Bhima-Koregaon violence. The state wanted extension of the custody of five alleged Maoist sympathizers who were arrested in connection with the incident in June this year. One of the arrested also includes the lawyer of an alleged Maoist. The state mentioned its appeal before a bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which agreed to take it up for an urgent hearing on Monday. Advocate Nishant Katneshwar said early hearing was urgent as the five accused would become eligible for bail. The Pune police had arrested the five on June 6, 2018, five months after an FIR was registered in the case. In August the police made five more arrests after nationwide raids were conducted at the house of human rights activists. Under the law, police had to file its final report before the court within 90 days, failing which the accused are entitled to bail. For the June arrests, the time ended on October 3. But as the law permits extension of this period another 90 days, provided the prosecuting agency gives a satisfactory report about the investigation, the police had moved court asking for more time. Four large states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, which together produce over a third of the countrys total output of select commodities critical to farm incomes , and send 127 representatives to the 543-member Lok Sabha, making them critical to election outcomes as well, are battling serious drought in many pockets, prompting the Centre to review the situation. Many districts in each of these states are witnessing a continuing drought since last year due to regional deficiencies in the countrys main southwest monsoon (June-September) and the relatively smaller winter monsoon season (October-December) which brings rain to south Indian states. These pain pockets, as an analyst called them, are going to further impact the already shrinking farm incomes and have contributed to lower rabi or winter-sown acreages of key crops. They are also a big concern to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Agrarian distress is believed to be one reason why the BJP lost assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in December. With general elections due in the summer, the drought is a matter of concern to the government. Voting outcomes depend on many factors but farmers are surely angry, especially small farmers. The water situation in Maharashtra is quite serious in some areas. Farm packages announced by the government has benefited large farmers. Thats another problem, said Amruta Anil Suryawanshi, a faculty member at the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. The Maharashtra government has declared drought in 151 talukas (a revenue zone within a district) spread over 26 districts. Karnataka has officially notified drought in 24 of its 30 districts. Andhra Pradesh has declared the districts of Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor, Prakasam, and Anantapuramu as drought-hit. Maharashtras situation is by far the most serious. For the first time since 1972, it has seen back-to-back winter and summer droughts. Nashik and Marathwada are facing serious water crises. A central team, including officials from the agriculture ministry, travelled to many of the impacted areas to assess damage to crops last month. On Tuesday, finance minister Piyush Goyal and agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh met to discuss relief measures. The Centre has decided to release ~6,691.47 crore to these four states to mitigate the impact. The 2018 winter monsoon, a short but critical rainy season for the peninsular states, has been substantially below normal at 56% of the long-period average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the countrys national weather bureau. This was 6th lowest since 1901, the IMDs annual weather review said. This means the winter monsoon was deficient by more than half of what the average rainfall should have been, said Mahesh Palawat, the chief meteorologist of Skymet, a weather forecasting firm. Winter rainfall over the core region of the south peninsula (comprising coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south interior Karnataka and Kerala) was below average, the IMD review states. According to the agriculture ministrys January 18 sowing report, the latest period for which data are available, lower-than-normal rains have brought down the total winter-sown area by 5%, while there is a significant dip in states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat. Area under gram (a pulses variety) is down by nearly 10%, while winter rice is down 22%, the data show. Wheat, the biggest winter crop, is down 2.5%. This is of concern because the rabi crop accounts for 40% of Indias agricultural produce [based on 14 key crops which account for 97% of total agricultural produce, except sugarcane and horticulture crops] in both volume and value terms, said Hetal Gandhi, director of CRISIL Ltd, a ratings firm. The rabi season showing clear signs of weakness means there could be a trickle-down effect on the [non-farm] sectors being driven by rural India, according to Gandhi. The four-month summer monsoon in 2018, the lifeblood of the countrys rural economy, though normal overall, was deficient in these pockets. Back-to-back rainfall deficiency meant the conditions worsened. For instance, Maharashtra Marathwada recorded a 20% rainfall deficiency. Likewise, eastern Madhya Pradesh was 12% deficient. The rains in Rayalseema region in Andhra Pradesh were 36% below average. Deficiency in eastern Rajasthan was 23%, while in northern Karnataka, it was 30%. The cumulative effect is that acreage for crops such as jowar and bajra (coarse cereals), jute, pulses and groundnut, among others, has seen a dip. All dead cows in Madhya Pradesh will have to be buried and those who will leave them in open for carrion will be punished, the Madhya Pradesh government said on Friday. Not burying dead cows to be a punishable offence now in Madhya Pradesh The punishment will include discontinuation of grant and cancellation of registration of cow shelters and If the municipal corporation employees fail to discharge their duties, disciplinary action will be taken against them. The government plans to come up with a Samadhi scheme for cows under which all the cow shelters and municipal corporations will be directed to bury cows with respect. The corpse will be buried with salt and chemicals so that it could be converted into fertilizer quickly, official sources said. Principal secretary, animal husbandry, Manoj Shrivastava said: We are soon going to release the directions to all the authorities. Samadhi scheme will be the first of its kind. At present, people talk about respect for live cows but nobody talks about dead cows. The fertilizer from the carcasses is very beneficial for crop so the people can also use it in their agriculture lands, he said. Recently, the carcasses of cows had become a center of controversy when bodies of 18 cows were left in open in the cow sanctuary in Agar Malwa for scavengers. In most of the cases, the bodies of cows are left in the open for carrion and natural decomposition instead of skinning, and later the bones of the cows are sold. To end this, the government decided to introduce this scheme, said an officer requesting anonymity. Last week, Bhopal municipal corporation had announced the construction of Indias first Gau Muktidham (crematorium) on a 5 acre land in Bhopal for a respectful disposal of cow carcasses. The opposition BJP termed the step as a political stunt. Its a political stunt, nothing else. If they are really concerned about cows, they should save the lives of cows first, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced an assured income scheme for farmers in the Budget 2019. He announced a new scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman (PM Kisan) for the assured income support to the farmers. The scheme would be implemented with retrospective effect from December 2018. Under this schemes, vulnerable farmers having less than two hectare of land will be eligible for the benefit under the scheme. Goyal announced that the government will provide a direct income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to the farmers. This income support will be transferred directly to beneficiary farmers in three equal instalments, Goyal said. Around 12 crore farming families will be directly benefitted from this scheme. The finance minister also announced setting up of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi for disbursement of money to the farmers. He announced a fund of Rs 75,000 crore for the PM Kisan scheme for 2019-20 and Rs 20,000 crore for the current, 2018-19 financial year. The idea of a guaranteed basic income for the poor was mooted in the Economic Survey 2016-17 when Arvind Subramanian was the chief economic adviser to the Narendra Modi government. However, the idea did not get support from other stakeholders in the government with the Niti Aayog declaring it unfeasible. The Economic Survey 2016-17 talked about a Quasi-Universal Basic Income Scheme (QUBI). The survey outlined a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme as move to replace existing subsidies. But the idea of a guaranteed income scheme gained political currency after Congress president Rahul Gandhi made it a poll plank at a public rally in Chhattisgarh. Gandhi said if the Congress is voted to power in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the new government would implement a minimum income guarantee scheme for the poor in order to eradicate poverty and hunger. However, even before Rahul Gandhi raised the pitch for minimum income guarantee scheme, there were reports suggesting that the Modi government was pondering over such a scheme ahead of the Lok Sabha election. There was speculation that the government would target nearly 40 per cent of the below poverty line (BPL) population for the direct cash transfer scheme A final year engineering student of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) died instantly when he accidentally fell down from the terrace of his seven-storied hostel building while talking on his mobile early on Friday. M Anirudhya (22) was in the fourth year of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the IIT located at Kandi village of Telanganas Sangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Sangareddy (rural) sub-inspector of police, Srikanth said Anirudhya, whose parents originally belonged to Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district but were staying at Bowenpally in Hyderabad, went to the terrace at around 12.45 am to attend to a mobile call from his friend and fell down from there. Initially, it was suspected to be a case of suicide, but visuals from the closed circuit television cameras showed that he slipped and fell down from the terrace while speaking on his phone. He died instantly due to multiple injuries, the SI said. Enquiries with his hostel mates revealed that Anirudhya regularly used to go to the terrace to read books on his tab and speak on phone. His father M Rajan, a businessman, is in a state of depression because Anirudhya was his only son. The boys elder sister got married to a doctor only recently, the police officer said. Anirudhyas body was handed over to the family in the evening, after conducting post-mortem at Sangareddy government hospital. When Indias National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met his UAE counterpart in January, he had a request: that the two countries cooperate in acting on those accused of economic offences in India and were living in the West Asian country. Dovals request was significant India has had little luck in getting its hands on economic and other offenders living in UAE. At last count, 257 letters rogatory from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) were pending with UAE authorities. These are letters written by agencies in Country A for investigative and judicial help to another Country B with which the fist country doesnt have a treaty to facilitate such cooperation. That marked the beginning of a process that ended with the arrival in New Delhi, at 11.25pm on January 30, of an Aviation Research Centre Gulfstream jet from Dubai carrying Rajiv Saxena, a co-accused in the AgustaWestland case. Also on the flight was Deepak Talwar, a lobbyist accused of other economic offences in India. On Thursday, ED was given Saxena and Talwars custody for four and seven days respectively. Things moved rapidly after Dovals meeting. Diplomats based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi said on condition of anonymity that the names of Saxena, a close associate of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland deal, and Talwar, who is believed to be close to several Indian politicians, was first mentioned by Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Anil Dhasmana in a meeting with his UAE counterpart on January 24 in Abu Dhabi. UAE authorities were shown papers linking the two to economic offences worth thousands of crores in India, the first in the case of the purchase of VVIP choppers and the second in an investigation over the purchase of civilian aircraft. Discreet surveillance launched the same day by UAE agencies revealed that Saxena was living in the upscale Palm Jumeirah area while Talwar was taking a plane to Muscat that day on a one-way ticket. Fearing that the corporate lobbyist was fleeing the country, an alert was sounded and UAE authorities ensured that Talwar did not board the flight to Oman. Discussions on how to hand over the two to Indian authorities followed, and UAE authorities feared an onslaught from high-profile lawyers if the two, both with resources and influence, were detained and then handed over to Indian officials. It was decided that the best way to deport them was for Indian authorities to cancel their passports, which were renewed in Dubai. The Indian government moved fast, and within a day, on January 25, the passports were cancelled on the basis of accusations against the two. UAE authorities were intimated and the ARC plane was put on standby. ARC is the aviation arm of R&AW. On Tuesday, UAE authorities gave a green signal to Doval and Dhasmana to pick up the two ready parcels. However, the plane could only take off a day later due to a delay in receiving flight permission. The diplomats put the operation as another sign of growing security cooperation between the two countries. They added that the ARC aircraft left New Delhi airport at 1130am on Wednesday and returned with the two prize catches 12 hours later. By the time the plane landed, the duos lawyers were already issuing statements over the illegality of their effective extradition. The speed at which authorities at both ends functioned is evident from the fact that Talwar was given a jacket by officials on landing to ward off the Delhi cold (he was wearing a half-sleeved shirt). At 2.34am, the two were handed over to ED officials. Strange are the ways of Haryana government. On Thursday it first granted extension to director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu, only to retire him again late in the night. Sandhus tenure as DGP had ended on Thursday with his retirement. As per the extension order, which was later revoked, the ad-hoc arrangement was to be in place till a new state police chief was appointed or for a month, whichever is earlier. The decision was questionable as the state government does not have the powers to grant service extension to IPS officers. Sandhu, who was scheduled to retire in September 2018, was earlier granted a three-month extension in service by central governments Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in relaxation of rules. The Supreme Court had in December 2018 asked the Haryana government to continue the existing arrangement till January 31, 2019 after the state government moved an application before the apex court, seeking modification of its directions with regards to appointment of the DGP. Since the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) could not finalise the panel of three IPS officers shortlisted for the post of the DGP, the state government granted extension to Sandhu after seeking legal advice from the advocate general. The apex court had on January 16 dismissed a bunch of interlocutory applications filed by Haryana, Punjab and three other states seeking exemption for their respective Police Acts from the operation of SCs July 3, 2018 order and permission to appoint DGPs in accordance with their respective police laws. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that after an in-depth consideration, they are left with no doubt that the July 3 directions are wholesome and if the same are implemented, it will subserve public interest till the matter is heard finally. The SC had on July 3, 2018 directed that the DGP shall be selected by the state government from amon three seniormost officers who have been empanelled for promotion by the UPSC. Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday called the legislative cure his government has sought to resume mining in the state the fastest and amicable remedy to the issue. The state government requests all the members of the House to stand with it in its endeavour for an early resumption of mining activities in the state in the interest of people and economy, Parrikar, who is also the states mining minister, said in a written reply tabled in the Goa assembly. He did not specify the nature of the solution but assured they were leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the final outcome or solution should withstand the test of judicial review. The Supreme Court had in February last year cancelled 88 mining leases the state government had renewed. The Supreme Court called the renewals illegal as they violated its earlier directions on granting fresh leases instead of renewing the pre-existing ones. The Goa government is seeking an amendment to retrospectively extend the validity of Goas mining leases instead of granting fresh ones as per the Supreme Court directions, according to people aware of the developments. The state government is reluctant to grant fresh leases as the process mandates an auction, which the state government says will further delay the restart of mining. The Mines and Minerals Development (Amendment) Act, 2015, which the Centre brought in initially as an ordinance, made an auction mandatory for the grant of fresh leases. Parrikar said it gave existing leaseholders a window period of five years so that there was no immediate displacement of a large number of people employed directly or indirectly because of the mining activities. In a separate reply, Parrikar said there is ongoing communication between the state and Central governments to start mining early in public interest. Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar accused the government of doing nothing to restart mining over the last year since the courts order left the 75,000 odd families dependent on the industry in the lurch. Your leaders and MPs cannot even secure an audience with the Prime Minister to explain the plight of those affected by the closure of mining, Kavlekar said. Modi had, in an address to BJP workers this month, said his government was committed to a legal solution to the issue. Modi referred to the court order and said they will keep trying to see how a way can be found out. Gangster Ravi Pujari, on the run for the last 15 years, has been arrested in Senegal in West Africa, a source in the security establishment said Friday. Pujari, who allegedly ran an extortion syndicate, was held from a hotel in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on January 22, a senior official told PTI on the condition of anonymity. The Mumbai Police did not comment on whether the report was true. The Indian Embassy got information about the arrest on January 25, the official said. Pujari is facing dozens of cases of extortion and murder in various parts of India. His trusted lieutenants, William Rodricks and Akash Shetty, were recently arrested by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police in an extortion case. The Indian authorities will now initiate the extradition process to bring Pujari back to the country, the official said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Friday, February 1, 2019 at 10:32AM Looks like Huawei is all set to launch its newest innovations at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company just announced on Twitter that its holding an event at MWC on February 24 at 2 p.m. Barcelona time. The company will be introducing its take on the 5G foldable phone. Huawei CEO Richard Yu confirmed this at an investor meeting in Beijing last week. He said, We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona in February, where we will launch the world's first 5G smartphone with foldable screen. Source: Engadget Union minister Arun Jaitley on Friday hit out at the opposition Congress over its criticism on the budget and asked it not to shed crocodile tears for farmers. Please dont shed crocodile tears today for farmers. If opposition also has several governments, let them announce similar schemes. Im sure other governments will also consider this, Jaitley told news agency ANI in an interview in New York. He was asked about the oppositions criticism on budget announcement of Rs 6,000 per year for farmers having up to 2 hectares of land. The scheme aims to support around 12 crore farmers in the country. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had earlier dubbed the announcement an insult to farmers. Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for, Rahul wrote on Twitter. Jaitley pointed out that the Congress-led UPA had announced Rs 70,000 crores as farm loan waiver but had spent only Rs 52,000 crores. He also noted that out of this Rs 52,000 crores, the CAG had found that a significant part of money went to traders and businessmen and not to farmers. Now look at what weve been doing. Rural roads 91% completed. Rural housing, by 2022, everyone will have a roof. 98.7% people in rural areas now have sanitation. Every willing home is having electricity. Every man has switched over cooking methods, he said. Finance minister Piyush Goyal did hit back with a veiled dig at Rahul. Never before has small farmers received such government assistance. People belonging to dynasties and living in AC rooms dont understand the suffering of a farmer who owns a small piece of land, he said. On criticism on demonetization, Jaitley said there are more digital and recordable transactions. The Delhi high court on Thursday struck down the provisions which fixed 57 years as the age of retirement for officers below the rank of commandants of three of the Central and Allied Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, ITBP and BSF and held that it is discriminatory and violative of the Indian Constitution. A bench of Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Sanjeev Narula said that no justification is given by the Centre in discriminating among the CAPFs and noted that there is no rationale to the classification in the retirement age of the officers of the various paramilitary forces. It directed the ministry of home affairs to take all consequential steps for implementing the courts judgment within four months. This court is of the view that the petitioners have made out a case of discrimination, that is violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, based on empirical data, that the fixing of the age of superannuation of members of the ranks of commandant and below in the ITBP, CRPF, BSF and SSB different from those in the ranks above that of the commandant is not based on a rational criteria and that such differentiation has no nexus to the object sought to be achieved, it said in a 70-page judgment. The courts decision came while deciding a bunch of pleas where officers below the rank of commandant in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) had challenged their retirement age. They had sought that their superannuation age should be enhanced from 57 years to 60 years in line with the commandants. Stating that such discrimination would lower the morale of the forces, the court said, The classification has no rational nexus to the object sought to be achieved, which is keeping high the morale of the CAPFs, who are performing yeoman service and supplementing the efforts of the armed forces and the police throughout the country. The CAPFs have become an indispensable part of the security apparatus in the country. It is difficult to think that the government, whether at the Centre or at the states, would be able to combat the serious challenges of safety and security and of its people without the participation and the sacrifices made by members of the CAPFs. Their morale definitely needs to be preserved. Discrimination in the matter of the age of retirement amongst members of two wings of the CAPFs will contribute to lowering the morale rather than bolstering it, the bench said. The bench said its decision would also be applicable to all the other CAPFs, including Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) if they have the same rules on the superannuation age as in the ITBP, CRPF and BSF. Traffic in Delhi and Noida was thrown out of gear due to a shutdown of key roads connecting the national capital in view of a farmers protest on Friday. The Delhi-Noida (DND) flyway was shut while the NH 24, Kalindi Kunj, Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road and other major roads were affected due to the protest, the Delhi traffic police said in a tweet. Traffic Alert Due to proposed rally by farmers traffic coming from Noida via DND is likely to be affected after 2 pm today. Pl follow traffic alerts on Delhi traffic social media platforms. Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) February 1, 2019 Those coming from Ghazipur and wishing to go to Mayur Vihar were asked to use the NH9. Traffic moved at snails pace and commuters took to social media to complain about the situation. While some claimed that they were stuck on roads for more than two hours, others advised to take the Metro to avoid the mess. One user wondered why the Noida authority did not stop the farmers from entering Noida itself to avoid the chaos. The Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) expressway, has been shut due to a rally by a farmers' group, resulting in massive traffic gridlock. pic.twitter.com/tuSc3EjWRa Sohini Guharoy (@sohinigr) February 1, 2019 Coming back to Delhi from Noida? Avoid roads. Take the metro. The traffic is insane. 2 hours for a 35 min route. And I have still not reached. Saumya Kulshreshtha (@Saumyakul) February 1, 2019 Massive jam as vehicles stopped on DND flyway from #Noida to #Delhi due to farmers' protest. Traffic diverted from chilla/Noida gate @htTweets @HTNoidaGzb pic.twitter.com/meFJhTHpDo Snehil Sinha (@snehilsinha27) February 1, 2019 @DelhiPolice has stopped the demonstrators and not letting them enter #delhi Wondering why couldn't @noida_authority stop them from entering #Noida and help prevent the chaos ? Jaspreet Singh (@jaspreet20) February 1, 2019 The defence ministry on Thursday approved a project worth Rs 40,000 crore for building six advanced submarines in the country under the governments strategic partnership (SP) model to bolster the Indian Navys underwater force levels, a defence ministry spokesperson said. This will be the second project to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the SP model, which seeks to provide fillip to the governments Make in India programme. The DAC, headed by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, cleared the first project last August for building 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) to replace the navys outdated fleet of French-designed Chetak choppers. The NUH project is worth Rs 21,738 crore. Construction of six submarines under Project-75I will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing ecosystem in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as necessary skill sets, the spokesperson said. The strategic partnership model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian strategic partner who will collaborate with a foreign original equipment manufacturer to set up production facilities in the country, he added. Apart from choppers and next-generation submarines, fighter planes and armoured vehicles are also covered under the SP model. Several foreign manufacturers are eyeing alliances with domestic shipyards to compete for the submarine project. Those interested in the project including shipbuilders from Russia, France, Germany and Sweden. P-75I will help the navy counter the swift expansion of Chinas submarine fleet. The US, European and Russian rivals are expected to compete for the NUH programme by stitching up alliances with Indian partners under the SP model which lays down the template for cooperation between Indian and foreign firms to build high-tech weapons in the country through transfer of niche technologies. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday wore a black shirt to protest against the Centres step motherly treatment to the state and for not fulfilling its promises including granting special category status. Naidu, also the President of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), reached the Assembly wearing the black shirt and white pants. His cabinet colleagues including his son and Information Minister Nara Lokesh and all other party legislators also wore black. The Chief Minister wore black to the Assembly as a sign of protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modis step-motherly treatment meted out to Andhra Pradesh and for breaking all promises made including #SpecialStatus, tweeted Lokesh. According to TDP sources, this was the first time Naidu wore a black shirt. He is usually seen wearing white, cream or yellow coloured clothes. Even when he was in the opposition, he confined to wearing a black badge in protest. The TDP leaders also expressed solidarity with a day-long shutdown called in the state by Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi (PHSS), which is fighting for the special status to the state. Earlier, during a teleconference with TDP leaders, Naidu said that demonstrations would be held in the state till February 10. The next day he will head to New Delhi where he would lead a protest. The protests in the national capital would continue till February 14. Tax sops for the middle class, mega pension plan for the unorganised sector and assured income scheme for farmers were the highlights of the interim budget 2019, the last budget before the Lok Sabha elections, presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha on Friday. Read: Click here for Live updates In a big relief for taxpayers, the Finance Minister proposed that individual taxpayers having annual income upto Rs 5 lakh will get full tax rebate. Also, individuals with gross income up to Rs 6.5 lakh will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities. Among the other big announcements are the mega pension plan for workers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age and an assured income for small and medium farmers. Here are the highlights from the speech: TAX PROPOSALS: * Income up to Rs 5 lakh to get full tax rebate, says Piyush Goyal while reading out tax proposals. *Individuals with gross income up to Rs 6.5 lakh will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities. * TDS threshold on rental income raised from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. *TDS slab on interest on bank, post office deposits raised to Rs 40,000. *Exemption on levy of income tax on notional rent on a second self-occupied house is also now proposed. Currently, income tax on notional rent is payable if one has more than one self-occupied house.. * Within two years all scrutiny of tax returns will be done electronically, without any interface between the officer and the taxpayer. Computer will anonymise the link. *Gratuity limit increased from 10 lakh to 30 lakh rupees, says minister Piyush Goyal. UNORGANISED WORKERS: *Minister announces a pension scheme called Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan, to provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3000 per month, with the contribution of Rs 100 per month, for workers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age. *A sum of Rs.500 crore has been allocated for the scheme. Additional funds will be provided as needed, Goyal added. The scheme will also be implemented from the current year, he said. FARMERS: *To provide assured income support for small and marginal farmers, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has been approved. This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs. 75,000 crore. *For the welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision was taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops, the minister says. *The Finance Minister announced 2% interest subvention to the farmers pursuing the activities of animal husbandry and fisheries, who avail loan through Kisan Credit Card. Further, in case of timely repayment of loan, they will also get an additional 3% interest subvention. DEFENCE FORCES: * For securing our borders and maintaining preparedness, defence Budget crosses Rs 3 lakh crore mark in FY20. *We have already disbursed Rs 35,000 crore for our soldiers under One Rank One Pension, substantial hike in military service pay has been announced, minister says. FILM INDUSTRY: *In sops for the Indian film industry, Finance minister proposes single window clearance for ease of shooting films. A facility so far available only to foreign film makers. *Anti-camcording provision to also to be introduced to Cinematography Act to fight piracy. RURAL PUSH: *Government plans one lakh digital villages, says Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. * The Finance Minister announces higher allocation for MNREGA for rural job creation. HOMEBUYERS: *GST on homebuyers must come down. Government has set up a Group of Ministers to bring down this burden. Government will act on the proposals they submit. SCHEDULED CASTES/TRIBES: *An increase in budget is proposed in the allocation for welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. FISHERIES: To provide sustained and focused attention towards development of Fisheries, the Government has decided to create a separate Department of Fisheries. Finance Minister said that through the measure, the Government wants to promote further growth over 7% to promote livelihood of about 1.45 crore people dependent on the sector. ALLOCATIONS FOR SCHEMES: *Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is being allocated Rs.19,000 crore in 2019-20 as against Rs.15,500 crore in 2018-19. *By March, 2019, all households will be provided with electricity connection. Till now, 143 crore LED bulbs have been provided in a mission mode which has resulted in saving of Rs.50,000 crore for the poor and middle class. HEALTHCARE: *Goyal said through the worlds largest healthcare programme, Ayushman Bharat, to provide medical treatment to nearly 50 crore people in the country, around 10 lakh patients have already benefited through free treatment for medical treatment which would have otherwise cost them Rs. 3,000 crore. RAILWAYS: Capital support from the budget for Indian Railways is proposed at Rs.64,587 crore in 2019-20. The Railways overall capital expenditure programme is of Rs. 1,58,658 crore. The Finance Minister, who is also holding the portfolio of Railway Ministry, announced that the Operating Ratio is expected to improve from 98.4% in 2017-18 to 96.2% in 2018-19 (RE) and further to 95% in 2019-20 (BE). The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) skipped a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday in protest against interference of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Sikhs religious matters The SAD, an important constituent of the NDA, is also upset with the Centre for not announcing a debt-waiver package for the farmers. The NDA meeting was convened by the BJP to decide the strategy for the forthcoming parliamentary polls. The allys absence is being seen as a sign of more trouble in the alliance. The party is not happy with RSS interference in Sikh affairs. We have also been requesting the Centre to announce a package for the farmers, but nothing has been done, said Rajya Sabha member Naresh Gujral, who coordinates with the BJP on alliance matters. While the partys absence from the crucial meeting has become a talking point in political circles, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife, Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Badal sent confusing signals by hosting a lunch at which several cabinet ministers and senior BJP leaders were present. They included Union home minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Lok Sabha speaker Smitra Mahajan, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and his MP-daughter Supriya Sule were also there. Asked about the presence of BJP leaders at the Badals lunch, Gujral called it social event. We have not broken up with the NDA. We are registering our protest, he said. There was also a change in the SADs position as it targeted the RSS instead of the BJP. On Wednesday, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa had asked the BJP not to meddle in Sikh affairs. He was reacting to change in legal procedure for appointment of the head of Nanded gurdwara board by amending Takht Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Board Nanded Act, 1956. 2 JeM militants killed in Kashmirs Pulwama At least two militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama on Friday, news agency ANI reported. A delegation of 11 political parties from BJP-ruled Manipur has urged Union home minister Rajnath Singh to incorporate a safeguard clause in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to protect the indigenous people of the northeast in general and of Manipur in particular before it comes up for voting in the Rajya Sabha, a member of the delegation said on Friday. Led by Manipurs BJP chief minister N Biren and BJPs state unit president and Rajya Sabha member K Bhabananda, the delegation submitted a memorandum to Rajnath Singh. The Centre and the BJP claim that the controversial Bill has enough safeguards for local communities and their cultures. The Citizenship Bill has sparked protests across the northeast and underlined fault lines in BJP units in the region. The decision to submit a memorandum to the Centre was taken at an all political parties meeting in Imphal on January 28. The meeting had also resolved to urge the Centre for withdrawal of the said bill or incorporating a safeguarding clause in the bill before it is placed in the Rajya Sabha, so that when the bill become an Act, there is adequate safeguard for the protection of the indigenous people of the North East region in general and Manipur in particular. If the above clause is not incorporated in the existing Bill in the form of an amendment, the people of Manipur and North East India fear that the demographic balance as existing now will be seriously affected, the memorandum said. We therefore urge to incorporate a safeguarding clause for the protection of the indigenous people of northeast region in general and state of Manipur in particular in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill before its passage in Rajya Sabha. Welcoming the clarification by the Union home ministry that a final decision to grant citizenship to the migrants would rest with the state government concerned, the memorandum signed by 13 representatives of 11 political parties including the ruling BJP, said, it would be only appropriate and add strength to the clarification if a separate safeguard clause is incorporated in the Bill. The opposition Congress party did not attend the all political parties meeting in Imphal. Leaders of nine political parties including the state units of the CPI, RSP, CPI(M), NCP, Forward Bloc, BSP, JD(S) and Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance who attended the meeting, refused to join the delegation to Delhi. They had demanded the withdrawal of the Bill and summoning a special session of the assembly on the issue. Earlier this week, ten political parties from the region, including the BJPs current and former allies came together on a joint platform in Guwahati to oppose the Bill. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who separated in 2016, were spotted together for the first time since then recently. The former couple met on multiple occasions last week to iron out custody details around their children. Pictures of Brad and Angelina were snapped by the paparazzi, and have since been shared online. A source told US Weekly about the meeting, Theyve had other meetings in person; this is not the first. This is part of their ongoing process to work through things regarding the kids and the divorce. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in September 2016 after two years of marriage and a total of 12 years together. The separation was widely publicised for its animosity, which saw Pitt being investigated and subsequently cleared of child abuse. They have been involved in a custody dispute over their six children - Maddox, 17, Pax, 15, Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 12, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 10 - since then. It was recently reported that the two had arrived at mutually agreeable terms. A detailed custody plan was obtained by several outlets, which specified the conditions of the agreement, including the number of hours the children would have with Pitt. A source told People.com that Pitt is hopeful that at the conclusion, hell have joint custody of the children. All Brad wants is to be a present dad and coparent with Angelina. Also read: Two years on, heres why the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie divorce isnt final yet In August 2018, Jolie claimed in court that Pitt had neglected to provide sufficient child support, a claim which his representatives denied, adding that he had loaned her $8 million. Pitt is currently filming Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with Leonardo DiCaprio. He will next be seen in the science-fiction film, Ad Astra. Jolie, meanwhile, will reprise her role as Maleficent in a sequel to the hit first film. Follow @htshowbiz for more Fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB wants to get a better sense of what makes its customers tick. To help it, the Swedish company just hired a man best known for revealing a data privacy scandal that rocked Facebook Inc. and raised serious questions around how some corners of technology are shaping human existence. At H&M, 29-year-old Christopher Wylie will help the company use big data and artificial intelligence to make sure it actually designs things shoppers want. If successful, the Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower might be able to help fix some of H&Ms most pressing issues, including getting its inventory under control and ultimately making the company more profitable. If you better understand what people like to wear, and how they like to wear it, and how they want to feel when theyre wearing it, youll naturally start to create insights as to modernizing and updating your collection, Wylie said in an interview at H&Ms Stockholm headquarters on Thursday. Wylie says Cambridge Analytica -- a political consulting firm used in Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign -- was one of the worst examples of how data can be misused. The firm ceased its operations last year. Compliance But with H&M, everything that it does when it comes to data goes through a compliance process and lawyers review everything, he said. Beyond that, there is an ethos within the company that really does boil down to are we doing good and the right thing for our customers? Before he was at Cambridge Analytica, Wylie worked as a fashion-trends forecaster. When H&M learned of his former life, it started talking to the Canadian about a potential collaboration. Roasted Cauliflower The meetings between Wylie and H&M representatives went on for several months. He even sat down with H&M Chief Executive Karl-Johan Persson, who joined the devout vegan for a roasted cauliflower lunch to discuss hiring him. The self-proclaimed poster-boy of data protection agreed, and started working at H&M in December. Wylies job includes analyzing data from the 30 million members of H&M Club to get a better sense of how to cater to their demands. H&M hopes the process will help it avoid the kind of waste that builds when clothes dont get sold, and old stocks get unmanageable. Wylie says it was H&Ms focus on reducing waste and what he described as the companys aim to do good that finally convinced him to join. The Critics Critics of artificial intelligence have questioned its effectiveness. Investments are usually high up front and benefits can take long to realize, eating into profit margins. But according to H&Ms CEO, spending on AI is already paying off and the company is having to resort less often to discounts. Last quarter, H&M managed to reduce its inventory. Its stock-in-trade fell to 17.9 percent from 18.9 percent in the third quarter, marking the first decline in inventory levels over a three-month period since the spring of 2017. H&M also said it expects markdowns in relation to sales to drop by about 1 percentage point in the first quarter from a year earlier. Weve invested a lot in AI, and were still in the beginning of the journey, Persson said. Now we need to go from the test phase to scaling it out to different parts of our operation. To contact the reporters on this story: Anna Molin in Stockholm at amolin3@bloomberg.net;Niklas Magnusson in Stockholm at nmagnusson1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tasneem Hanfi Brogger at tbrogger@bloomberg.net;Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The latest celebrity accused of cultural appropriation is Shraddha Kapoor. As soon as the actor posted a picture of herself from her shoot for photographer Dabboo Ratnanis calendar, users called it cultural appropriation, commanding her to educate herself, apologise and take the picture off. The aesthetically shot picture shows a fierce looking Shraddha giving those warrior princess vibes, wearing a beautiful faux Native American headdress. The traditional feathered headdresses are worn by leaders of the Native American tribes, awarded to those who have dedicated their lives to the cause of their tribes. The Native Americans tribes are a marginalized community in the US that have been victim of hatred and discrimination. They have suffered genocide and land displacement, and therefore reducing their symbol of courage to a fashion accessory reeks of ignorance and apathy, users reasoned. Historian Pushpesh Pant believes Shraddha has been legitimately charged of cultural appropriation. She is trivializing the struggle of the indigenous people. The problem of indigenous people across the world is so acute. These communities have been systematically annihilated. This isnt a calendar dedicated to celebrating the Native American tribal culture. She has only exhibited her illiteracy and indifference with this shoot, he says. Photographer Dabboo Ratnani didnt imagine this sort of reaction when he shot this piece. My intention wasnt to hurt anyone. This is not a commercial calendar. Its an art piece. We are not making money by commercialising it. We loved the piece. We didnt make fun of it or disrespect it. We did it in good faith, says Ratnani. Admaker Prahlad Kakkar agrees. Attention seekers are always in the lookout for such things to stir controversy. Tomorrow, if I wear a kimono, am I disrespecting Japanese culture? Isnt this world one big family? Why cant I adopt and applaud an element of a culture that many not be my own?, he asks. Designer Rina Dhaka, too, believes that we should rise above such barriers. Fashion is a great unifier. Fashion has always picked inspiration from world history. For ages, we have enriched ourselves by exchanging art, music, clothes, food, and knowledge from myriad cultures. Such exchanges add vibrancy to life. Lets look at it as a celebration of another culture, she says. Canadian psychologist Jordan B. Peterson once shared similar views in a talk show, calling the idea of cultural appropriation an absolute nonsense. Theres no difference between cultural appropriation and learning from one another. They are the same thing. Its one of the basis of peace. One of the things that human beings have to offer each other is the tremendous value of their culture, he said. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Designers Sukriti & Aakriti specialise in designing for the modern bride who nurtures her Bohemian side too. Showcasing their latest collection at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2019, the designer duo has taken inspiration from the rustic Boutonniere of weddings. The onset of Spring rings bells for floral patterns but this time around, Sukriti & Aakriti has opted for the earthy florals like the rustic shades of oranges and browns instead of the chirpy ones. Their collection is an ethnic take on the current botanical trend. We spoke with the designer duo as they introduce their designs to the world at LFW SR19. Read on to know what makes this designer duo a hit in the traditional wear space, their favourite celebrities and more. Your favourite wedding styles for the modern bride. Are they a part of your collections over the years? Sukriti & Aakriti are known for their shararas and thats our aim in bridal wear - to ditch lehengas and go for shararas. Theyre modern and a lot more comfortable! Which Bollywood actresses do you love dressing up the most? Kriti Sanon is our brand muse as she is the epitome of the modern girl of today - independent with great wit and a fashionista. Sara Ali Khan recently wore a churidaar set designed by you. We want to know how you chose white for her and if you could explain the details on her dupatta that she carried with the suit No one rocks desi like Sara! Anarkalis with slimmer bottoms would be back this year bringing a refreshing change from the palazzos and pyjamas. Sara wore her anarkali with a churidar. However. the highlight of the outfit was her dupatta. As a brand we believe in beautiful dupattas - it uplifts a simple outfit. Saras love for desi wear and the way she carries it makes the outfit an ideal piece for her to wear. Are ghararas and shararas different, if yes, then how? Do you think this comeback trend is here to stay for good? A sharara is a pair of loose, flared and wide-legged trousers mostly worn with a straight kurti. Although these days, its even worn with anarkali kurtis. On the other hand, a gharara is pair of trousers or pants that are fitted from the waist to the knees. Theyre a rage at the moment and its definitely here to stay! Your all-time favourite colour from the pallette and why We do Ivory beautifully Tell us more about your latest collection - what is it about, your inspiration, and if its most suitable for a beach wedding or is evergreen The latest collection is called Rustic Boutonniere and will focus on earthy florals instead of the chirpy ones. Colours like a rustic shade of orange prints or a shade of brown comprise earthy shades. In Sukriti and Aakritis world, fashion has always been inspired by elements from our surroundings that artists love to experiment with. Botanical prints are one such trend that can trickle down through motifs like flora, fauna, birds, etc. to induce a tropical feeling of spring break. This season our label has taken the botanical trend for an ethnic spin and used Mogul prints to express its influence through their collection. Not only is this a beautiful culmination have feminine and exotic vibes, but it also possesses the energy to teleport the beholder to a world of balmy weddings. Whether you have plans to attend festivities by day or destination weddings by night, the pieces from the collection ensure you make a statement at every occasion. These mysterious yet rustic and playful textures are curated using botanical prints and gota embroidery to ensure utmost day to night fun and frolic. The techniques used are colourful gota embroideries, prints on mul fabric staying true to our signature Sharara & Ghararas that make it perfect for the bride and her girls to swirl, twirl and dance all night long! The one piece of jewellery on a bridal trousseau that is your go-to and why Jhumkis, it adds character to your outfits and is a perfect statement piece for festive wear. For a show stopping entry, Bollywood actress Kriti Kharbanda wore a brown voluminous skirt with foil prints of lotuses and stripes, and sequinned tube teamed with an exquisite ruffled dupatta.Heres a look: Speaking about the collection and her entry, Kriti said, Walking for Sukriti & Aakriti was an absolutely amazing feeling. Their collection is organic and nature-friendly and so light and beautiful. I cannot wait to add all their clothes to my wardrobe. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Gauri Khan attended Lakme Fashion Week summer/resort 2019 on Thursday, wearing what most would define as business attire. Keeping to her signature sultry-but-classy look, Gauri added interest to her black and white dress by styling it with a statement belt by designer label, YSL, which pulled the entire look together. The interior designer, and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khans wife, was spotted wearing a Sachin & Babi dress, priced at Rs 42,315. Gauris dress featured a plunging V neck, a relaxed dolman sleeve bodice in satin and a knit trumpet skirt that hit above the knee. Take a look at Gauri Khans LFW 2019 dress, which she paired with Christian Louboutin pumps, in the photos ahead: Gauri Khan wears the sleek look confidently. Now, is this dress something that is office appropriate for the average working woman? Maybe not, unless you love to push the envelope. But like Gauri, a look like this could be worn to a classy night out with friends, or could be fashioned to attend a date after work. And like Gauri Khan, youre guaranteed to turn heads. Along with her, many other celebrities, including, actor Neha Dhupia, attended day 1 and day 2 of LFW 2019 and they didnt skimp on their outfits in the least bit. They all had one thing in common: An effortlessly chic sense of style with their fashion week-worthy designer bags, statement heels, and covetable shades. From It prints to cool layering techniques, keep scrolling to see the best-dressed celebrities from Lakme Fashion Week summer/resort 2019, whose sartorially savvy looks you could try to emulate: Yami Gautam walked the ramp for designer label, Gauri & Nainika at Lakme Fashion Week 2019 Neha Dhupia wore a Chola By Sohaya Misra ensemble at Lakme Fashion Week 2019 Yami Gautam wore an Anita Dongre ensemble for the designers show at Lakme Fashion Week 2019, while Aahana Kumra was spotted at the Pero show. (Lakme Fashion Week 2019) Pooja Hegde and Saiyami Kher at designer Anita Dongres fashion show at Lakme Fashion Week 2019. (Lakme Fashion Week 2019) Ankita Lokhande and Kim Sharma at designer Varun Bahls fashion show at Lakme Fashion Week 2019. (Lakme Fashion Week 2019) Lakme Fashion Week summer/resort 2019 began on Wednesday in Mumbai, and concludes on Sunday, February 3. Bollywood actor Tabu and filmmaker Karan Johar were the showstoppers for fashion designer Gaurav Guptas opening show at the iconic Royal Opera House. While Tabu looked ethereal in a grey off-shoulder gown, Karan Johar was dressed in black and red. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), Kerala on FRiday declared the result of second year higher secondary equivalency examination 2018 on its result website keralaresults.nic.in. The examination was held in November 2018. DHSE Kerala second year higher secondary equivalency exam November 2018 result: How to check 1) Visit result website of Kerala examination results at keralaresults.nic.in 2) Click on the link DHSE Second Year Equivalency Exam - November 2018 3) Enter your roll number and date of birth on the login page that opens 4) Click on submit 5) DHSE Kerala second year higher secondary equivalency exam November 2018 result will be displayed on screen 6) Download it on your computer and take a printout too. Board exams are round the corner but government schools in Delhi are struggling because of the absence of adequate number of counsellors. Most private schools have at least one counsellor available for students every day during school time. But there are only 213 of them for over 1,100 government schools that cater to over 15.5 lakh students. Officials of the Educational and Vocational Guidance Counselling (EVGC) bureau, in charge of advising students in government schools, said they were facing problems due to the low counsellor-school ratio. Presently, we have only 213 counsellors for over 1,100 government schools. One counsellor is covering at least 5-6 schools. Its difficult to give personal attention to each and every student. We generally need counsellors from class 6. We will soon hire more counsellors to bridge this gap, said a member of the bureau. Principals of a few government schools said they were managing without counsellors. They mostly visit after December every year. In the absence of an adequate number of counsellors, its impossible for them to interact with each and every student during their few visits. We keep on speaking to children preparing for boards throughout the year. However, there are some government helpline numbers on which students can call and take their queries, said AK Jha, principal of Sarvodaya Co-ed Vidyalaya in Rohini. The principal of a government school in Jahagirpuri said they have not got any counsellor this academic session yet. Only a few days are left for the board exams to begin but we have not got any counsellor this year. Last year, there were a few visits, the principal said. According to CBSE affiliation norms, every school is advised to have at least one counsellor on a full-time basis. Sanjay Goel, director of the governments Directorate of Education (DoE), admitted the crises. One counsellor is covering five schools. The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSB) has almost completed the recruitment process of hiring more counsellors and they may join soon. We will soon bridge the gap, he said. Officials at the EVGC bureau said they had launched multiple helpline numbers and put up boards in every school to inform the students about them. We will launch a 24*7 helpline called yuva, specifically for the boards, from next week. The helpline is normally active in the morning hours but it will now work round-the-clock ahead of the boards, said an EVGC bureau official. Most private schools, including Springdales School Pusa Road and Mount Abu School in Rohini, have full-time counsellors. We have three full-time counsellors to take student issues throughout the year. They interact with students in groups and take their queries individually, said Amita Wattal principal of Springdales. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday formed eight different labour organisations with an aim to strengthen its party cadre at the grassroot level ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said Thursdays announcement was part of the partys ongoing organisational restructuring. The party opened labour wings in eight sectors which included Delhi state labour development organisation at the top and smaller units in fields such as construction workers, Delhi Jal Baord, wholesale markets, Delhi Transport Corporation, electricity, health and the railways. Representatives of these newly formed organizations will work as an important joint between the laborers and the Delhi government. They will inform the government about the problems being faced by the labourers of the city, Rai said. The Delhi unit convener said that the office bearers of these units will also communicate the efforts of the government, such as increasing minimum wages, to the economically weaker sections. We are the only government which has increased minimum wages of contractual workers from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,00 per month. This is the highest in the country, he said. The much-awaited expansion of Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport is expected to begin by March-end as the airport operator has received three bids for the R 9,000-crore project, two officials familiar with the matter said. Two bids are from foreign companies while one is from an Indian firm. The airport operator, the GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), is expected to finalise the bidder this week. After the announcement, the successful bidder is expected to take around two months to mobilise the workforce and begin expansion work. The bid document says the selected company has to complete work in 42 months. All the three bidders are reported to have quoted 39 months, the sources said. The expansion is aimed to meet the rapid traffic growth that has already made IGI Asias seventh busiest airport. The selected company will work on the expansion of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 and the construction of a new runway and taxiways. Roads leading to the airport will be widened and new approach roads will be built. The operator expects the expansion, which will start with Terminal 1, to be completed by 2021 taking the overall handling capacity of the airport to 85 million passengers per year from the current 70 million. It will be followed by Phase 2 of the expansion, which includes construction of another brand new terminal. Data released last year by Airports Council International, the trade grouping of world airports, showed that Delhi, the countrys busiest airport by passenger traffic, grew 14.1% year on year to 63.45 million in 2017. It was the first time it breached the 60-million passenger mark. In 2018, it was just below 70-million mark. The new air traffic control (ATC) tower, which will open in 2019, and the fourth runway, to be launched in 2021, would help it reduce air congestion and handle more flights. DIAL hadnt responded as of press time Thursday to an email sent to it on January 21 seeking comment. The master plan will be implemented in three modular phases phase 3A (2018-21), 3 B (2021-25) and Phase 4 (2026 onwards). Terminal 1 handles domestic traffic for low-cost carriers. These have registered a phenomenal growth in the last few years, calling for an expansion of the terminal. Delhi Metro under its Phase 3 programme is connecting this terminal to catchment areas of central and south Delhi. Since T1 is operating beyond its capacity, the expansion will begin from there and cover the airside, terminal building and city side, said a DIAL official, quoting the tender documents, who asked not to be identified. Departure Terminal T1D and arrival Terminal T1C will be merged and expanded to accommodate 40 million passengers per year. According to the Master Plan, T1s capacity will increase from 20 million to 40 million and that of Terminal 3 from 34 million to 45 million. Inter-terminal connectivity through the Airport Metro between T1 and T3 is also part of the expansion plan. The expansion work will be carried out alongside flight operations at T1. Certain areas of T1 and city side will operate at a lower capacity due to shifting of traffic to Terminal 2 to ease operational pressure and facilitate construction work, the DIAL official added. DIAL has appointed AECOM, a design and development consultant for infrastructure projects, to complete the preliminary design for the expansion work. Delhi police on Wednesday registered a case of alleged misappropriation of around Rs 1.29 crore from the Lok Nayak Hospital salary account to 10 resident doctors between 2012 and 2014. A 2015 special audit report of the hospital allegedly confirmed that 10 people five junior residents and five senior residents siphoned off the money with the help of a person posted in the accounts branch. Following this, the FIR says, a complaint was made with the police in September 2015. The case was registered on Wednesday following verification of facts, said police. While the FIR names YK Sarin, who was the medical superintendent from 2015 to 2016, as complainant, he did not confirm or deny that he had, in fact, complained to the police. This happened almost a year before my time. When I joined as the Medical Superintendent, only some departmental enquiries in the case were going on, he said. In the complaint, a copy of which is with HT, the complainant has alleged that the hospital was audited for a period from April 1, 2012 to August 31, 2014. The complaint reads, It has been pointed out in the audit report that a substantial amount of money was being transferred through ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) from the salary head account of the LN hospital to various banks accounts. It further lists names of five junior residents and five senior residents in whose accounts the money was allegedly transferred. The FIR further reads, As per the audit report it has been also established that the above ten persons were used as proxy for siphoning of the said salary funds amounting Rs 1,29,47,603 into their bank accounts by one Rajesh Dahiya, LDC (now under suspension) of this hospital who was posted in accounts branch at that time and was looking after the work of preparation of salary bills of junior resident/senior resident in accounts branch. Incidentally, he has also acknowledges and taken full responsibilities in the matter ... as is evident by his letters dated December 31, 2014 and January 30, 2015. However, role of the 1 0 persons in the matter can also not be ruled out. Deputy commissioner of police (central) Mandeep Singh Randhava said a case of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy has been registered and alleged misappropriation is being verified. Baljeet Singh Malik, an accused in the murder case of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008, has moved the Delhi high court, seeking a speedy trial and a compensation of Rs1 crore for the delay. Malik - who had been convicted and awarded life imprisonment by a trial court for the murder of IT executive Jigisha Ghosh in 2009 and is in judicial custody argued that the trial in the Vishwanathan case stretched for nine-and-a-half years. Justice Mukta Gupta asked Delhi Police to file a status report, wanting to know their stand on Maliks plea, who sought directions to the authorities to complete the trial in a fixed time and if possible, hear it on a day-to-day basis. Issuing notice to the Delhi Police, the court said, The trial court will also send the latest report as to why despite almost nine-and-a half years after the charge sheet was filed, the trial has not concluded. List the matter for further hearing on February 26. The court was hearing a petition filed by Malik alias Poppy, who alleged he had been languishing in prison due to the inadvertent delay in the trial in the Vishwanathan case. According to the plea, filed through advocate Amit Kumar, Malik contended that he was falsely arrested in the case by the police because there was huge pressure on them to solve the murder. He said he was just 20 years old when he was arrested and since then he has been lodged in jail. The petition said the prosecution cited 88 witnesses in their charge sheet and supplementary chargesheet, and to date, less than 60 per cent of these witnesses had been examined. It said even after nine-and-half-years, the trial is moving at snails pace. Kumar, while appearing for Malik, said considering the pace at which the trial is going, it would take another four-five years for it to conclude. He said his client has not got bail as he has been charged with the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA Act). The unreasonable delay in investigation and trial of the case is not only prejudiced the right of the petitioner (accused) but also the right of family of deceased (Soumya), the plea read. According to Maliks counsel, his client wants to use the compensation for the welfare of the undertrial prisoners lodged in Tihar jail. Stating that a speedy trial is a constitutional right, the plea said Malik had suffered immense mental, physical, social and emotional agony on the account of the long incarceration. | BY Lynchy | Reprise Digital Malaysia has released a special festive video for Malaysia Airlines this Chinese New Year. The two-and-a-half minute video titled The Spirit of Hospitality tells the story of a Malaysia Airlines cabin crew who has returned from his duty, and awaits his sister at the airport. The film follows him as he goes around the terminal making other travellers feel welcome in the true spirit of Malaysian Hospitality. Stanley Clement, Managing Director of Reprise said, The video truly highlights the importance of family values, duty and Malaysian hospitality, and the team looked at various ways to incorporate all these concepts along with the sense of reunion. The inspiration here was that it is very much a real life story, and our insights show us that lots of people can relate to this sense of difficulty in returning home for festive seasons due to their commitments. The central characters of the film are played by actual Malaysia Airlines crew, with flight attendant Adrian showing little gestures of kindness as he waits for his sister at the airport. His sibling, played by second officer Vivian, finally arrives to meet him, and the film ends with the tagline May the journey to your loved ones be filled with the spirit of Chinese New Year. Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Captain Izham Ismail said We take immense pride in ensuring our guests receive the very best of Malaysian Hospitality. All 13,000 of our employees including our cabin crew work very hard to ensure that every festive travels, be it going home or discovering new adventures, is done as seamlessly as possible, the MH way. This is perfectly captured in our Chinese New Year video which is centered around reunions, and gestures of kindness (Malaysian Hospitality) in making every travellers journey to their destination, a great one. It is a truly heart-warming story, and this is where the Malaysia Airlines brand shines, added Clement. The film was produced by Think Tank, and directed by Sling Ng. The film which currently has over 5 million views, was released on the 25th of January, with the social campaign running across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube through the 15 days of Chinese New Year. Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc. suffered a blow in India, the next frontier of e-commerce, when the government rejected requests to defer a deadline requiring online retailers to comply with tighter new rules starting on Friday. That means Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart, Indias two largest online retailers who dominate the market, wont be able to sell the products of companies in which they have business interests, drastically reducing the categories and goods offered to shoppers. The regulations unveiled at the end of December also ban online retailers from allowing companies to sell products exclusively on either platform. This prevents them from cutting deals to tout items like new smartphones or affordable televisions that couldnt be sold offline or through competitors. The stringent rules also forbid online retailers from influencing prices, a step that could mean the end of heavy discounts offered to lure new buyers online. Such strategies by global companies have been controversial in a country where organized retail accounts for only about 10 percent of a market dominated by small sellers and mom-and-pop stores. The governments decision on the e-commerce rules comes months ahead of a crucial general election. Small traders have traditionally been part of a support base for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Amazon and Walmart have huge stakes in India. Amazon has already pledged to invest more than $5.5 billion in the country, and Walmart spent $16 billion last year to acquire homegrown startup, Flipkart Online Services Pvt. The two online retailers have amassed vast inventories in companies in which they have business interests and had sought a four- to six-month extension to help offload those products. The decision to go forward with the new rules on schedule was announced Thursday evening in a statement from Indias Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion. Now, the products will have to be taken off the e-commerce platforms overnight. While we remain committed to complying with all laws and regulations, we will continue to look to engage with the government to seek clarifications that help us decide out future course of action as well as minimize the impact on our customers and sellers, Amazon said in a statement Thursday evening. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate that Amazon will have $6.5 billion in sales in India in 2019, representing 2.3 percent of the companys total revenue. Even if Amazons India business stopped growing in 2019, which Morgan Stanley says would be an extreme result, it would only slow Amazons overall revenue growth by about half a percent for the year. Flipkart didnt respond to calls seeking comment. It had earlier warned in a letter of significant customer disruption and is also said to have told the government that such a move would stunt the growth of e-commerce in India. Finance minister Piyush Goyals maiden budget where announced schemes for farmers and the middle class drew applause from NDA leaders with some calling it a second surgical strike on the opposition. Congress president Rahul Gandhi though had a different take. The Congress chief refused to believe that the Budget was a surgical strike. There will be surgical strikes on Modi government in a few months in the elections, he said. Rahul Gandhi also asked Piyush Goyal why he didnt speak about rising unemployment during his Budget speech. A National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report, leaked to the media, recently suggested that unemployment in the country was at a 45-year high during 2017-18. Also Read: Just a trailer, says PM Narendra Modi after interim budgets poll push Piyush Goyal rolled out the NDA governments last budget ahead of the 2019 elections, announcing no tax on income up to Rs 5 lakh, a Rs 6,000 per year cash benefit for small farmers and a mega pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector. The initiatives are designed to woo the middle class, address farm distress and boost private investment in an effort to shore up the political base of the BJP-led coalition. Watch | Budget 2019 tax proposals: Heres who gains and how Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi said the Rs 6,000 cash scheme for farmers will be beneficial for a state like Bihar where average land holdings is less than one hectare. The budget has made the opposition, which was involved in baseless attacks, speechless, he said. Also Read: Advani reminds Piyush Goyal of Uri... during Budget presentation NDA ally and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan said nobody has ever thought of a cash transfer scheme for farmers. This is surgical strike 2 from Prime Minister Modi. The first surgical strike occurred on the border. Jawans fought it with bullets. Here, we will fight with ballots. We will win over 400 seats and the NDA government will be formed again. Narendra Modi will again become the Prime Minister of India. This budget has brought a huge relief for farmers of the country, Paswan told ANI. The Narendra Modi-led government is pushing self-employment and entrepreneurship through its programmes, chairperson of Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Bibek Debroy has said, amid a row over a leaked report that showed unemployment had surged to the highest in four decades. Debroy spoke about the steps taken by the government for employment and jobs creation in a video posted by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on her Facebook page. The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has said according to its first Periodic Labour Force Survey that unemployment rate in India touched 6.1%, the worst since 1972-73, in July 2017-June 2018 period, as reported by the Business Standard. Click here for live updates Two members of the National Statistical Commission resigned this week, claiming, among other things, that the government had sat on the report although the commission had approved the data. It was the first jobs survey conducted after the November 2016 invalidation of high-value banknotes, which led to job losses and curbed job creation, especially in the unorganised sector. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had estimated that 1.5 million jobs were lost just in the first four months of 2017. Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a jibe on Twitter at Prime Minister Modi, whose government is also battling agrarian distress in the countryside as it prepares to head into the next general elections. Also read: As job debate rages, many questions still unanswered NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go, he tweeted with the hashtag HowsTheJobs. The governments policy think tank NITI Aayog, in an attempt to defuse the row, said the assessment was still being processed. And Debroy also highlighted the Centres contribution towards enabling jobs creation as he seemed to back the dispensation as the opposition attacked the Modi government over the damning report months ahead of the Lok Sabha election. For full coverage, click here One of the things, we sometimes do not realise, is that we do not have robust statistical data on job creation for 2011-2012. So, much of the discussion happens on basis of data which is dated. 2011 was last year when NSS had large scale surveys on the state of employment generation. That does not prevent people from discussing them, he said. We will have a new round of the NSS which will be soon be announced and I am sure that that particular survey which will show that there has been substantial employment and substantiated job creation, he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government has been under pressure to step up job creation efforts to absorb job hunters who enter the workforce every year. Instead, the unemployment rate has more than doubled from 2.2% in 2011-2012, according to figures quoted in the newspaper report. Also read: How can a country grow without employment?: P Chidambarams dig at Modi govt Joblessness is higher in urban areas (7.8%) than rural areas (5.3%), it said. The labour force participation rate the proportion of the population working or seeking jobs declined to 36.9% in 2017/18 from 39.5% in 2011/12. The comparable rate for the United States was 63.1% in December. The first point we need to realise that India is still an informal and unorganised country and therefore the kind of surveys that are based on enterprises. The Enterprise surveys provide an imperfect understanding of what is happening to employment in India. In India a large part of employment is still self-employment, it is still in the unorganised sector in the informal sector, Debroy said. Therefore, the enterprise surveys dont tell us anything significant. The only sensible way we can data on jobs or employment are through household surveys, which is what the NSS is, he said. Debroy also enumerated the ways in which the Centre is working to bring about jobs as he pointed out that states have a lot to contribute to the issue of employment. For detailed budget coverage, click here: https://www.livemint.com/ The first thing to realise is what is the role of the Modi government. A large part of what happens to jobs employment business environment is in the province of the states. Having said that, the most important thing the government can do is to facilitate an enabling environment for enterprises to function, for entrepreneurship to flourish and this doesnt mean only the corporate business sector, he said. And this is precisely what which is what the Modi government is doing by pushing self-employment, by pushing entrepreneurship. This is what the PM means when he says Stand-up India, Startup India. The real issue is the quality of jobs, wage rates. A lot of people who have spent money on education are not happy with the kind of jobs available. I want to flag that the Modi government is creating portals for people to seek appropriate jobs, he said. This is the exactly the intention when one talks about the possible job creation, which is difficult to quantify on the basis of the Mudra loans. So, this is the first thing that needs to be done. The second thing, he said, was the creation of physical infrastructure, health and education necessary for growth and generation of jobs. And again what is inadequately appreciated is what the Modi government has done in terms of enabling people, enabling growth, enabling employment generation to the provision of physical infrastructures like transportation, electricity, gas connections, and other kinds of health and education interactions, he said. Debroy also said there is a lack of correlation between education and skills and one, therefore, needs to flag what has happened in the area of skill formation, not just in urban but also in rural areas. A combination of all of these things enable that means the economy does well, growth rates are higher, which means there is employment generation, which also means that people will be able to find jobs and these jobs increasingly cannot be and should not be jobs that are only in the government sector. Because the government per se can only provide a limited number of jobs, he added. The jobs have to be created in other sectors like manufacturing and service and in case of the rural sector, he said, apart from the farmer activities employment can be generated in relation to the processing of agriculture such as refrigeration and transport. I welcome tax benefits for middle and lower income groups: Naveen Patnaik Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik: I welcome tax benefits for middle and lower income groups. I welcome direct benefit transfer to both small&marginal farmers on lines of our KALIA Scheme. However, it wouldve benefitted farmers more if quantum of assistance is equal or more than KALIA Scheme. This budget strikes a fine balance between financial prudence and welfare of the citizenry: Amit Shah This budget strikes a fine balance between financial prudence and welfare of the citizenry. Budget has provisioned a 75,000 crore outlay for farmers while holding the fiscal deficit at just 3.4%, which had ballooned to 6% during UPA era, says BJP chief Amit Shah. Govt should have thought about farmers: Captain Amarinder Singh Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh:I want to know what have they done for the problems of the farmers who are in debt about whom every minister including PM talks about. What have they done for unemployed youth? Theyre our future. Govt should have thought about them. Todays budget is a gift to farmers: Devendra Fadnavis Todays budget is a gift to farmers,labourers, women and middle class of India...The defence budget was enhanced beyond Rs 3 lakh crore, a first in history of India. Statesmen dont talk about only 1 year. The budget has created a blueprint of India of 2030, says Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Surgical strike will happen on Prime Minister and his government: Rahul Surgical strike will happen on Prime Minister and his government on issues like Rafale, jobs and demonetisation: Rahul Gandhi after opposition meet. You can waive off Rs 3.5 Lakh crore loan of 15 people but give only Rs 17 per day to farmers: Rahul You can waive off Rs 3.5 Lakh crore loan of 15 people but give only Rs 17 per day to farmers! What else is this, if not an insult? Election will be fought keeping in mind issue of farmers, unemployment & attacks on institutions, itll also be on the issue of Rafale, says Rahul Gandhi. Surgical strike on Modi govt in few months: Rahul Gandhi Surgical strike on Modi governmentt in few months, says Rahul Gandhi. On Monday at 5.30 pm we will go to the election commission over EVMs: Rahul On Monday at 5.30 pm we(Opposition leaders) will go to the election commission over EVMs, says Rahul Gandhi. Many people doubt EVMs in India: Rahul Gandhi Many people doubt EVMs in India, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi Budget shows govts dedication to aspirations of poor, youth, farmers: Shah BJP president Amit Shah Friday hailed the interim budget for benefiting all sections of the society and asserted that it has underscored the Modi governments dedication to the aspirations of the countrys youth, farmers and the poor. The budget touches everybody, will spur growth and generate employment, he told reporters and also praised the government for maintaining fiscal discipline. Reforms unshackled economy making India global leader in growth: Jaitley Reforms unshackled economy making India global leader in growth, says Arun Jaitley. 3-3.5 cr people will be benefitted: Piyush Goyal Finance Minister Piyush Goyal to ANI on new tax slab: 3-3.5 cr people (will be benefitted). Well get a final data when the final tax returns of the next yr come...We have not disturbed the tax rates. We just made the change that those with an annual income less than Rs 5 Lakh will have to pay zero tax Historic interim Budget will accelerate creation of New India: Rajnath Singh Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday termed the interim Budget historic and said it will accelerate the process of creating a New India which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous. Interim Budgets are an opportunity for the government to introspect their performance: Jaitley Interim Budgets are also an opportunity for the Government of the day to introspect their performance of the last five years and place its facts before the people, says Arun Jaitley Budget marks a high point in policy directions: Jaitley Union minister Arun Jaitley writes in his blog: The Interim Budget presented by Shri Piyush Goyal today marks a high point in the policy directions that the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given to this nation. Rahul Gandhi dismisses the scheme Taking to Twitter, Congress president Rahul Gandhi dismissed the scheme. Dear NoMo (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) five years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for, tweeted Gandhi ending the post with #AakhriJumlaBudget. Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2019 Farmers income scheme an insult: Rahul Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Modi governments scheme to provide direct income support of Rs 6,000 each to poor and marginal farmers, was an insult to everything the farmers stand and work for. Final jumla of Modi govt: Arvind Kejriwal on interim budget Final jumla of Modi govt : it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 1, 2019 Would like to congratulate Piyush Goyal, Arun Jaitley for this budget: Modi I would like to congratulate Piyush Goyal and Arun Jaitley and everyone else involved in forming this budget. It will empower the people of the country, Modi said. Earlier today, Piyush Goyal presented the interim budget 2019 in Parliament. The unorganized labour force, about 40 crore people, havent ever received any help from previous governments. The beneficiaries will get assured monthly pension after reaching the age of 60 years now, the prime minister added. This budget will reward honest taxpayers: PM Modi Our government is trying to bring major development in the country. There are still a lot of areas where we need to bring development. We are also thinking of creating a new department for traders, said PM Modi. This is a budget for new India and for all Indians, says PM Modi This is a budget for new India and for all Indians, PM Modi said. Different governments came up with different schemes for farmers but they were never implemented. But this scheme is going to benefit those farmers the most who have less than 5 acres of land, he added. He also said that 12 crore farmers, 3 crore taxpayers, 30 crore labourers will benefit from the Budget. Couldnt have afforded to wait for main budget: FM on tax returns This decision was announced in Budget 2019, since we could not have afforded to wait for the main budget, as taxes would have otherwise been deducted at source, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said on tax rebate. Goyal was speaking on the decision of individual taxpayers having annual income upto Rs 5 lakhs will get full tax rebate. What about the urban poor, asks Chidambaram By recklessly breaching fiscal discipline, the government will fund the scheme this year entirely out of borrowed money of 20,000 cr. Next year too, the Scheme will be funded entirely out of borrowed money of 75,000Cr. What about the urban poor? Chidambaram asked. Tested our patience, longest interim budget speech in recent memory The interim finance minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech, P Chidambaram said. Tax relief is an attempt to recognize the efforts of the honest taxpayer 42 crore workers of the unorganized sector will benefit from the pension scheme. Domestic workers can also avail it. The income tax refund process is going to get even smoother. Assesment will be done in 24 hours and those who arent under scrutiny will get refunds within the day, Piyush Goyal said. Tax relief to those earning up to Rs 5 lakh is an attempt to recognize the efforts of the honest taxpayer, he added. We dont do votebank politics, we do development politics: Dharmendra Pradhan Opposition has no issues to talk about, they are scared of Modi Jis welfare schemes. We dont do votebank politics, we do development politics. We are dedicated to take Indian farmers to new heights, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on budget 2019, according to ANI. Centre put forth a proposal to launch a mega pension scheme The Centre put forth a proposal to launch a mega pension scheme, Pradhan Mantri ShramYogi Maandhan, for unorganised sector workers with a monthly income of up to Rs. 15,000, Goyal said. Going to take initiatives for welfare of nomadic communities: Goyal The directive principle of the constitution which called for the protection of cows, the Rashtriya Kamdenu aayog is going to make sure it is followed and has alloted money for it. The denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic community will be classified. We are also going t start new programmes for their welfare. This government has made sure that each and every person benefitted from our initiatives, Piyush Goyal said while addressing a press conference. Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand plight of farmers: Goyal Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand the plight of the small farmers. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This is a historic decision, Piyush Goyal said. Budget touched lives of people from every section Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that the budget touched lives of people from every section. He also said that the previous governments have only taken such major steps to better the lives of farmers in words but never implemented them. Budget has met expectations of farmers & middle class: Amit Shah BJP Chief Amit Shah on #Budget2019 : The budget has met the expectations of farmers, labourers & middle class. By bearing a cost of Rs 75,000 crore,the govt will implement Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This scheme will also benefit those farmers who do not take loans. pic.twitter.com/Tk5l60UU4U ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Also issued guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme We have also issued guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. In 2018-19 financial year, for months before March, Rs 2000 will be transferred to farmers accounts, and in the financial year 2019-20 farmers will get Rs 6000, said Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh. It is a historic budget: Rajnath Singh It is a historic budget. This will enable the common man to stand on his feet and all the sections of the society will benefit from it, said Rajnath Singh. Budget presented in Parliament is BJPs election manifesto: Kharge The Budget presented in Parliament is BJPs election manifesto. The money being doled out by govt is for elections. I say directly that they are paying bribe to voters, alleged Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, minutes after finance minister Piyush Goyal concluded his budget speech. Country has been betrayed once, not again, tweets Tej Pratap 2019- ... ... Tej Pratap Singh Yadav (@yadavteju) February 1, 2019 Sensex, Nifty shoots up The 30-share Sensex is trading 506.21 points, or 1.40 per cent, higher at 36,762.90; and the 50-share Nifty inched near the 11,000 mark rallying 143.30 points, or 1.32 per cent, to 10,974.25. Budget will help achieve dream of New India: Yogi Adityanath All sections of society including farmers, middle class, poor and women have been mentioned in this budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of a New India: Yogi Adityanath tells ANI. Whole exercise a damp squib: Shashi Tharoor The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. Weve seen one good thing, that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6,000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour and dignity: Shashi Tharoor of Congress tells ANI. Compliments to Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget: Jaitley My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. The Budget expands spending while pragmatically sticking to fiscal prudence. The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class, Arun Jaitley tweeted. My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. @PiyushGoyal Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 Budget 2019 shows Modi govts commitment towards peoples welfare From small and marginal farmers to nomadic communities, and from unorganized laborers to the middle class, Budget 2019 has shown the commitment of PM Narendra Modis govt to the welfare of every section of the society, Rajyavardhan Rathore said on Twitter. Interim budget 2019: Key announcements so far NDAs economic reforms unshackled Indian economy, tweets Jaitley As Piyush Goyal concluded the interim budget speech, Arun Jaitley said that the interim budget is also an opportunity for the Government of the day to introspect their performance of the last five years and place its facts before the people. Jaitley said this in a series of mail on Twitter. The economic reforms undertaken by the NDA Government have unshackled Indian economy, unleashed its potential and made us a global leader in growth. The future vision is to make India a Five Trillion Dollar economy. By the middle of the next decade we will achieve this and thereafter, target doubling that size of the economy. GST has already brought down most taxes on goods from 31% tax to the 18%, 12% and the 5% bracket. Never in the history of India during the five year tenure of a Government we have witnessed tax reduction and a Middle Class relief of this magnitude, he said. GST has already brought down most taxes on goods from 31% tax to the 18%, 12% and the 5% bracket. Never in the history of India during the five year tenure of a Government we have witnessed tax reduction and a Middle Class relief of this magnitude. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 Development became a Jan Andolan: Piyush Goyal ends budget speech Development became a Jan Andolan (peoples movement) under the present Government, Piyush Goyal said. He also said the Interim Budget 2019 is a vehicle for the developmental transformation of the nation. Piyush Goyal cites couplet at Budget speech Finance Minister recited a couple while presenting the budget speech. India became one common market with implementation of GST: Goyal Benefit of rollover of capital tax gains to be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains up to 2 crore rupees; can be exercised once in a lifetime. India became one common market with implementation of GST, finance minister Goyal said. TDS threshold on rental income raised from 1.8 lakh to 2.4 lakh rupees TDS threshold on interest on bank and post office deposits raised from 10,000 to 40,000 rupees. TDS threshold on rental income raised from 1.8 lakh to 2.4 lakh rupees, said Piyush Goyal at interim budget 2019. Around 3 cr middle class taxpayers will get tax exemption So people earning up to Rs 6.5 lakh may not have to pay tax if they make investments in specified savings. This will provide tax benefit of Rs 18,500 crore to 3 crore people, he added. Around 3 crore middle class taxpayers will get tax exemption due to this measure, the finance minster said. Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get full tax rebate Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get full tax rebate, finance minister Piyush Goyal announed during budget 2019, Piyush Goyal said in a major announcement as people in Parliament cheered. We have moved to a moderate tax regime: Goyal Both tax collection and tax base have shown significant increase due to government initiatives in recent years, and we have moved to a moderate tax regime, with high collection, said Goyal. We maintained the path to establish 3% fiscal deficit by 2020 Total expenditure rose by 13%. We maintained the path to establish 3% fiscal deficit by 2020, said Piyush Goyal. I thank our taxpayers for their valuable contribution to nation-building On behalf of all the people of India and our Government, thank all our taxpayers for their valuable contribution to nation-building and for providing a better quality of life to poor and marginalized, Piyush Gopyal said. Will place an Indian astronaut in space through our own Gaganyaan We are going to place an Indian astronaut in space through our own Gaganyaan. By 2030, we will work towards a comprehensive healthcare system. Our vision cab be realised by Team India by making our nation a minimum government and maximum governance one, Goyal said. Minimum Govt Maximum Governance is 10th dimension of our vision Healthy India, with distress-free and comprehensive wellness system for all is the ninth dimension of our vision for 2030. Our vision can be delivered by team India, our emplloyees working together. Minimum Government Maximum Governance, with proactive, responsible and friendly bureaucracy, electronic governance is the 10th dimension of our vision for India for 2030: FM Piyush Goyal. India will lead the world in energy efficiency The finance minister said that making India pollution-free is the governments vision. This India will drive on electric vehicles, India will lead the world in energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. Increasing employment opportunities in rural areas, Piyush Goyal said. Youth needs to lead to build Digital India: Goyal To build a DigitalIndia that reaches every citizen, our youth will lead us in this, by creating innumerable startups and jobs. Build a quality science-based education sector. We are poised to become 5 trillion dollar economy in next 5 years: FM We are poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years, we aspire to become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years. 18% increase in direct tax collections in 2017-18, 1.06 crore people included in tax base; more than 1 crore citizens filed IT returns for the first time, after demonetization Anti-black money measures brought undisclosed income of 1.30 lakh cr Committed to eliminating the ills of black money; anti-blackmoney measures taken have brought undisclosed income of about 1.30 lakh crore rupees to the surface; 3.38 lakh shell companies deregistered:Infrastructure Development, said Piyush Goyal. GST has been continuously reduced Group of Ministers examining how prospective house buyers can benefit under GST. GST has been continuously reduced, resulting in relief of 80,000 crore rupees to consumers; most items of daily use for poor and middle class are now in the 0%-5% tax bracket, Goyal said. We implemented biggest taxation reform since Independence - GST We implemented GST, The biggest taxation reform since Independence. GST has resulted in increase tax base and ease of trade. Interstate movement of goods has become smooth, said Goyal. Key announcements made during the interim budget speech till now Almost all verification of IT returns be done electronically in 2 years Within almost two years, almost all assessment and verification of IT returns will be done electronically by an anonymized tax system without any intervention by tax officials, said Goyal. 99.54% returns have been accepted without any scrutiny In the last 5 years under all categories of workers, minimum wages increased by 42% which is the highest ever. Simplification of direct tax system will benefit taxpayers; direct tax reduced and tax interface made simpler and faceless to make life easier; resulting in increase in tax collections and return filings. 99.54% returns have been accepted without any scrutiny, Finance minister Piyush Goyal said. Piyush Goyal praises film Uri during budget speech You must have watched the film Uri recently. What fun it was! said Goyal as leaders cheered for the Vicky Kaushal starrer film. Single window clearance for shooting films for Indian movie makers. Bollywood provides employment to a large sector. Saw Uri movie, there was such josh in the theatre, he said. Mobile data have increased 50 times in the last five years Cost of data and voice calls in India is now possibly the lowest in the world; mobile and mobile part manufacturing companies have increased from 2 to 268. SCs are creating digital infra in villages, to convert them into digital villages, the finance minister said. Installed solar generation capacity increased 10 times in last 5 years Our commitment to promote renewable energy is reflected in our initiative to set up International Solar Alliance; installed solar generation capacity has increased 10 times in last five years; lakhs of new jobs being created by the sector, Piyush Goyal said. India is now the fastest highway developer in the world India is now the fastest highway developer in the world.Infrastructure projects like Eastern Peripheral Expressway and the Bogibeel bridge which were stuck for years were inaugurated by our government, Goyal said. Defence budget enhanced beyond 3 lakh crore rupees Defence budget enhanced beyond 3 lakh crore rupees. Gone beyond incremental growth in infra, to attain transformative achievements.I ndia is the fastest highway developer in the whole world, 27 kms of highways built each day, projects stuck for decades completed; Sagar Mala will help faster handling of import and export cars, the finance minister said. Previous governments only made promises, we implemented it: Goyal We kept our promise of implementing one-rank-one pension for our soldiers. Previous governments only made promises, we implemented it. Defence budget Rs 3 lakh crore, Piyush Goyal said while presenting interim Budget 2019. Piyush Goyal: The job-seeker has now become a job creator We have harnessed youth energy through schemes like Make in India and Mudra yojana. The job-seeker has now become a job creator. India is now the second-biggest hub of start-ups, said Piyush Goyal. Rs 1 crore loan can now be obtained under 59 minutes Piyush Goyal said that the nine priority areas have been identified by the goverment. He also said that the National Artificial Intelligence Portal will be developed soon. He also said transactions of more than 17,500 crore rupees on GeM India, has resulted in savings of 25%-28%. NDA govt announced assured income to small and marginal farmers #BudgetWithHT | The NDA government announced assured income to small and marginal farmers under PM Kisan prgramme in the interim budget 2019-20. Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/Ntwv77HJ1D Watch live at https://t.co/o0DfqOYtUN#BudgetSession2019#Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/ZZ6xqp1ePe Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 1, 2019 8 cr free LPG connections to be given out under Ujjwala scheme 8 crore free LPG connections to be given out under Ujjwala scheme. Over 70% beneficiaries of the Mudra yojana are women who are getting loans at low interest rates, said Piyush Goyal at interim budget 2019. Pension scheme for workers of Rs 3,000 after the age of 60 years. The government announced a pension scheme for workers of Rs 3,000 after they achieve the age of 60 years. Gratuity limit increased from 10 lakh to 30 lakh rupees 50% of the GDP comes from sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in unorganized sector. 1 crore 53 lakh houses have been constructed,143 crore LED bulbs distributed which will save 50,000 crores of rupees, Goyal said. All farmers severely affected by severe calamities to get 2% interest subvention In place of rescheduling of crop loans, all farmers severely affected by severe natural calamities will get 2% interest subvention and additional 3% interest subvention upon timely repayment, Goyal said. Increased allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission to 750 cr Increased allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission to 750 crore in current year. 2% interest subvention to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries: FM Shri Piyush Goyal #Budget2019 Will provide Rs 6,000 per year as income support to farmers We increased minimum support price (MSP) of 22 crops. To provide assured income to small and marginal farmers, PM Kisan prgramme has been approved under which we will provide Rs 6,000 per year as income support, said Piyush Goyal. 4R approach implemented to ensure clean banking: Goyal For welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops. The 4R approach and a number of measures have been implemented to ensure clean banking, Piyush Goyal said. He expanded them as: 1.Recognition 2.Resolution 3.Recapitalization 4.Reforms 21 AIIMSs operating or being established: Piyush Goyal 21 AIIMSs operating or being established, 14 of these have been announced since 2014. Ayushman Bharat, the worlds largest healthcare programme, launched to provide medical care to nearly 50 crore people, resulting in 3,000 crore savings by families of poor sections, Goyal said at interim budget 2019. Our govt started the worlds largest behavioural change programme #BudgetWithHT | Our government started the world's largest behavioural change programme with 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan'. I thank the public form making Swachh mission a success: @PiyushGoyal Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/Ntwv77HJ1D #BudgetSession2019#Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/xsAGw9gGOo Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 1, 2019 We made sure electricity reached each and every one: Goyal We have made sure the poor are the first beneficiaries of government schemes. The construction of rural roads has tripled. We made sure electricity reached each and every one. We made LED bulbs available to the poor on mission mode to bring down their power bills. During 2014-18, 1.53 lakh houses have been constructed under PM Awas Yojana. Pace of construction of rural roads has been tripled under our tenure, said Goyal while presenting Budget 2019, the finance minister said. We have walked the talk, says Piyush Goyal at budget speech RERA, benami act, fugitive offenders act will ensure transparency and curb corruption. We have walked the talk. Our government started the worlds largest behavioural change programme with Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. I thank the public form making Swachh mission a success. The government has approved 10% quota for the economically poor, without affecting existing reservation, said Goyal. Efforts taken to bring full representation for economically weak backward classes 1,70,000 crore spent for bringing food at affordable rates to poor people. Efforts taken to bring full representation for economically weak backward classes, by giving them reservation in jobs and education, says Piyush Goyal Our government has broken the backbone of the back-breaking inflation We are the fastest growing major economy in the world. From 11th largest economy in 2013 we are now the 6th largest largest economy in the world. Inflation is a hidden tax on the common man, we have been able to control it. Our government has broken the backbone of the back-breaking inflation, said Piyush Goyal. GST, banking reforms, insolvency code are path-breaking moves The fiscal deficit has been brought down. Massive surge in Foreign Direct Investment. The last five years have witnessed a wave of structural reforms. The GST, banking reforms, insolvency code are path-breaking moves, said Piyush Goyal while presenting interim budget 2019. Our govt has broken backbone of the bone breaking inflation: Goyal We are the fastest growing major economy in the world. From 11th largest economy in 2013 we are now the 6th largest largest economy in the world. Inflation is a hidden tax on the common man, we have been able to control it. Our government has broken the backbone of the bone breaking inflation, said Piyush Goyal. Deeply concerned by Arun Jaitleys absence Deeply concerned by Arun Jaitleys absence , we wish him a speedy recovery. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have given the most stable and clean government. We have moved ahead of the policy paralysis that had engulfed the nation under the previous government: Piyush Goyal Piyush Goyal presents interim budget 2019 Piyush Gpyal presented the interim budget 2019 in Parliament today. We are the fasted growing major economy in the world today, said Goyal. Presentation of interim budget 2019 starts The presentation of interim budget 2019 started in the parliament. Piyush Goyal will be presenting the budget today. Govt sources sending budget pointers to media houses: Manish Tiwari Since morning, government sources have been sending budget pointers to media houses, now if these pointers are there in FMs speech then it tantamounts to a leak. It would be a serious issue of breach of secrecy, said CongressManish Tiwari. Cabinet clears interim budget 2019 The Union Cabinet has cleared the interim budget 2019. The cabinet met earlier today to get clearance on the interim budget. How your taxes and investments could be affected by the budget Budget 2019, the last for the NDA government, will be announced soon. Though no big ticket announcements are expected experts are divided on whether sops will be given since its an election year. Will the government stick to the norm of presenting an interim budget in an elelction year or will they make big ticket announcements? Well have to wait and watch .From a personal finance standpoint, tax relief is a major hope from the budget. But some analysts feel is better to not set the hopes too high.Housing is another area that is expected to see some announcements. In an effort to achieve the target of Housing for all by 2022 the budget may introduce or increase some benefit for home buyers. Reports have also suggetsed the budget may introduce debt-oriented new schemes that will offer tax deduction to investors. Read full report here. TDP MPs dress in black to protest against govt ahead of Budget 2019 TDP MPs dressed in black gathered to protest against the central government ahead of the presentation of the interim #Budget2019. They are protesting in Parliament premises demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh, reports ANI. Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs dress in black to protest against the central government ahead of the presentation of the interim #Budget2019. They are protesting in Parliament premises demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/ANy29nazko ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Cabinet meets to clear interim Budget Cabinet meets ahead of budget presentation in Parliament. Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at Parliament Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at the Parliament. Delhi: Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at the Parliament. Following the Cabinet meeting, Piyush Goyal will present the interim Budget 2019-20 at 11 am #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/aVBOgDXKVK ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Only jumlas will come out today: Mallikarjun Kharge Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government will try to introduce populist schemes in the Budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls. Budgets theyve presented so far havent really benefitted general public. Only Jumlas will come out today. Theyve only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?, he asked ahead of Budget 2019, reports news agency ANI. 6th budget will also be for the farmers: Radha Mohan Singh The last five budgets have been dedicated to the farmers, the governments sixth budget will also be for the farmers, it will empower them, says Radha Mohan Singh told ANI. This time lets demonetise 100 rupee notes: Chidambaram The demonetisation year was the best year of growth (8.2%) under Mr Modi. So, let's have another round of demonetisation. This time let's demonetise 100 rupee notes. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 Modi govt popular, its natural we will take care of everything Modi government is a popular govt, its natural that we will take care of everything. We will do whatever is possible for the people. We have always presented a good budget, Shiv Pratap Shukla, MoS, finance, told ANI. What economists expect from todays budget Mint spoke to economists about their expectation from the budget. Arvind Virmani, former chief economic advisor, said, There are two aspects of the budget, one is the finance ministers speech and the other is actual numbers of budget allocation. Indira Rajaraman, economist and former finance commission member, said, Even if govt gets tax proposals passed, it will be a statement of intent. Read full story here. Investment in railways will be increased: Manoj Sinha The way the government has increased the investment in railways, from installing CCTV cameras to WiFi, I believe further investment in railways will certainly be increased, said Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Railways, ahead of Interim Budget 2019, reports ANI. What is vote-on-account, when is it presented? Understandard practice, a vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget is presented by the new government. If the budget date falls few months ahead of polls, then an Interim Budget is presented. Read here to know what it exactly is. Rupee slips 9 paise to 71.17/USD in early trade; focus on interim budget The rupee Friday depreciated by 9 paise to 71.17 in early trade on the forex market amid strengthening of the American currency and caution ahead of interim budget. Forex traders said strengthening of the US dollar against some currencies overseas, focus on interim budget and rising crude oil prices weighed on the local unit. The current government is set to present its last Budget Friday, which is expected to have major announcements to support the farm sector and spur consumption. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the rupee opened at 71.08 then fell further to 71.17 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 9 paise over its previous closing, reports PTI. On Thursday, the rupee had settled 4 paise higher at 71.08 against the US dollar. What is the point of this Budget, says Akhilesh Yadav ... Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 1, 2019 Piyush Goyal calls on President Kovind ahead of Budget 2019 Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/QZUnE01gqU ANI (@ANI) 1 February 2019 PM Modi looks to budget to shore up political base Prime Minister Narendra Modis government is expected to try and shore up its political support with big ticket farm giveaways and tax cuts for the middle class in its final budget on Friday, months before elections. Piyush Goyal meets president Kovind Piyush Goyal meets President Ramnath Kovind. ( PresidentofIndia/Twitter ) Sensex gains 100 points, Nifty at 10,860 points Sensex today gained 100 points while Nifty at stood at 10,860 points in early trade. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas our governments mantra: Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar said Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas has been our governments mantra and it will reflect in the Budget, ahead of Interim Budget 2019. Know your budget: Terms to know about B-Day The Budget is the most comprehensive report of the governments finances in which revenues from all sources and outlays for all activities are consolidated. It also contains estimates of the governments accounts for the next fiscal year. Read here for the terms you should know before Goyal presents the interim Budget. Change in date, time of Budget presentation: All you need to know The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government will present its last budget in February before the general election to be held in March-April this year. Union minister Piyush Goyal, who has been temporarily been given the charge of the finance ministry with Arun Jaitley in the US for medical treatment, will present the Bharatiya Janata Party governments fifth budget before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Read here for all you need to know about Interim Budget 2019. Union Cabinet to meet ahead of Budget presentation The Union Cabinet will be meeting ahead of the Budget 2019 presentation in the Parliament today, reports news agency ANI. Piyush Goyal arrives at Ministry of Finance Delhi: Piyush Goyal arrives at the Ministry of Finance. He will present interim Budget 2019-20 in the Parliament today. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/fHQMwkSXc1 ANI (@ANI) 1 February 2019 Govt may have to race against time to push key bills The budget session will have just 10 working days, and the government may have to race against time to push key bills. In the Rajya Sabha, the National Democratic Alliance government has failed to pass key bills, including the Triple Talaq bill and the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Centre likely to present vote-on-account The Centre is likely to present a vote-on-account with an interim budget. A vote-on-account for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget is presented by the new government. If the budget date falls few months ahead of polls, then an Interim Budget is presented. Piyush Goyal to present budget Union minister Piyush Goyal, who has been temporarily been given the charge of the finance ministry with Arun Jaitley in the US for medical treatment, will present the Bharatiya Janata Party governments fifth budget before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Last budget before Lok Sabha polls The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government will present its last budget in February before the general election to be held in March-April this year. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the interim budget for 2019-20 and has described it as a budget by a government that will be past its expiry date within a month. The budget is a budget of desperation. It wont be implemented. The new government will decide and pass the new budget. This government will expire in a month. In a month this budget cant be implemented. The government has no moral authority to place a budget, she said addressing a press conference soon after finance minister Piyush Goyal presented the interim budget. Taking a dig at the assistance proposed for farmers in the budget, she remarked that the scheme that is a copy of a scheme that is already running in her state. I started Krishak bandhu. We have already announced an assistance of Rs 5,000 for every acre of land holding. This scheme has already been launched, the Trinamool Congress chief said, adding that the Centre has announced Rs 6,000 for 2 acres. Also read: Budget 2019 highlights: Tax relief, mega pension plan for unorganised workers in poll year In the name of farmers they are cheating the farmers. They have not given any extra money for the MNREGA programme. There is no increase in rural development, she remarked. The Bharatiya Janata Party shot back saying that she should not worry about the future of the Centre government. She does not have to worry about the expiry date of the government at the Centre. She should focus on what will happen to her government after the 2019 elections, remarked BJP Bengal unit general secretary Sayantan Basu. Reacting to the tax concessions proposed for the middle class, Mamata Banerjee said, Where will the money come from? This government will soon be gone. They are so desperate politically. Why didnt they propose it for the past few years? she asked. Mamata Banerjee also gave reasons for why she walked out of the Ayushman Bharat programme. We have our scheme for Rs 5 lakh insurance called Swasthya Sathi, she said. They are acting as if the Centre is doing everything and the states are not doing anything. Let him become the prime minister and chief ministers of the states at the same time, Mamata Banerjee said. She also crticised the reduction of allocations in some sectors. They have decreased allocation to Swachh Bharat Mission by 25 per cent. There is a decrease of 13.4 per cent in funds for skill development programmes, a 29.09 per cent decrease in allocation for SC/ST and 20.8 per cent reduction in allocation for other vulnerable groups, said Mamata. Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, who was present in the press conference, said, The loan to MSME companies in 59 minutes is one of the biggest scams that this government has done. A company founded by two young people from Gujarat in 2015 will have all the data. All information - from GST details, bank statement, information on directors - everything goes to them, Mitra claimed. He also alleged continuous data manipulation and questioned the 8.1 per cent growth data in the year of demonetisation. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge Friday termed the Union Budget as BJPs election manifesto and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere poll sops and jumlas, which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year. General elections are slated to be held in April-May. I would term todays budget as BJPs election manifesto, Kharge said. Also read: Budget 2019| Damp squib, rip off to high point: Who said what on interim budget 2019 This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters, he alleged. Kharge said the BJP has not told the people on what they have achieved during their rule and how many promises it has fulfilled in its five years of government. It also did not talk about its jumla of providing Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of people, he said, adding that it also did not fulfil the promise of providing 10 crore jobs in five years. These are only election sops and jumlas, as they had been speaking about jumlas in the past. There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes, Kharge said, adding people understand that they will not be befooled any more. Also read: Budget 2019: Piyush Goyals 100-minute speech peppered with Hindi The senior Congress leader said no progress has taken place in their government and what they are going to do in future are mere jumlas (gimmicks), from which people will not benefit. The BJP are thinking that they will get votes, but people understand that as in the past they had deceived and befooled the people, youth and farmers and they are doing so again, he said. Kharge also alleged that the budget for Dalits is also very less, as there is very less provision for them and alleged that the BJP is trying to befool the farmers. He alleged that the government did not provide 10 crore jobs and the money kept for 1.2 crore houses is very less. Farmers with less than 2.5 hectares land, he said, will get only Rs 6,000 per year, which is Rs 500 per month. They are distributing money in elections to please farmers, but the reality is that in the first three months they would give only Rs 2,000 in first instalment, he said. Also read: FM Piyush Goyal lays down 10 dimensional vision for Indias future On the announcement of Income Tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh to tax-payers, he alleged the BJP parliamentarians are creating a tamasha in Parliament. You have a mandate up to May and instead they have presented a full years budget and are trying to befool the people of the country, keeping elections in mind. Who will fulfil these promises made. If they do not come to power, who will fulfil these promises. The next government will come and only it can deliver. These are only election sops and jumlas, as they had been speaking about jumlas in the past, he said. Also read: 6 Income tax changes announced in budget 2019 With finance minister Piyush Goyal doublin g the income tax exemption limit and reaching out to farmers in his interim Budget 2019, the Sensex held on to the gains it had made early in the morning and was trading more than 350 points higher, while Nifty was trading around 10,950. In his budget speech, Goyal said the fiscal deficit for the current financial year is expected to be 3.4 per cent of GDP. The fiscal deficit for the financial year 2018-19 was pegged at 3.3 per cent. In a huge relief to salaried tax payers, Piyush Goyal raised the tax exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Follow live updates here As per the Budget estimate, the fiscal deficit for 2018-19 was pegged at 3.3 per cent. During his speech, the finance minister reached out to the farmers with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi for small and marginal farmers and providing Rs 6,000 per year for the farmers. This Rs 6,000 will be transferred directly into the farmers bank accounts. For detailed budget coverage, click here: https://www.livemint.com/ Acting Union finance minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced new funds in support of farmers, jobs in the rural sector and tax relief for the middle class among other sops as he presented the interim Budget. Goyal, standing in for Arun Jaitley who is in the US for medical treatment, received a thumbs up from the finance minister and the BJP as he presented the last budget of the NDA government before the Lok Sabha election this year. The Congress and other opposition parties accused Goyal of copying its policies and ideas. Here is how political leaders reacted to the interim Budget 2019: - Its easy to take credit for completing something, once 97% of the work is done by someone else, tweeted Congress. - The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We have seen one good thing that is a tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6,000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour and dignity? asked Congress Shashi Tharoor. - Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country, Former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes, the senior Congress leader also said. Also read: FM Piyush Goyal lays down 10 dimensional vision for Indias future - The Budget presented in Parliament is BJPs election manifesto. The money being doled out by the government is for elections. I say directly that they are paying a bribe to voters, alleged Congress leader Kharge. - Another jumla by jumla sarkar. Why didnt they do anything in the past four years? This is an election-centric budget. People have understood this government. They will teach this government a lesson in upcoming elections, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said. -There were lies once again in the Union Budget 2019. This government is once again trying to mislead the people by forgetting its promises made in the past with false promises to capture power, Samajwadi Party leader Tej Pratap Singh Yadav tweeted in Hindi. - The Interim Budget presented by Shri Piyush Goyal today marks a high point in the policy directions that the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given to this nation, Arun Jaitley tweeted. The economic reforms undertaken by the NDA Government have unshackled Indian economy, unleashed its potential and made us a global leader in growth, he said. Also read: Middle class gets tax relief, farmers assured income in election budget - This is a revolutionary budget for the middle class and farmers. It is the governments right to decide whom to provide benefits to. Congress calling it a political budget is just a case of sour grapes. We dont take them seriously, you should also not, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said. - All sections of the society including the farmers, middle class, poor and women have been mentioned in this Budget. This Budget will help achieve the dream of a New India, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said. Also read: Thank you for copying Congress: P Chidambaram attacks interim Budget Jayant Kaikinis No Presents Please, a collection of stories won the DSC prize for South Asian literature 2019. Kaikinis engaging and insightful storytelling looks at the many corners of the city of Mumbai and the many voices that are embedded in those corners. The original work was written in the Kannada language and it has been beautifully translated by the award-winning translator Tejaswini Niranjana who has maintained the soul and the magic of narrative in the translated edition. The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature encourages fiction writing on the South Asian region and the trajectories of untold stories and the social, political and cultural collision that each of these landscapes share. The DSC Prize has always supported and encouraged works in regional languages and translations, and this is the first time ever when a translated work has won this prize. Kaikinis storyline gives us characters that are unpredictable, strong yet full of disagreements and denial. The spirit of the city and its people, the lingering loneliness, the existential anxiety and the distant dreams all come together in this powerful holdall. Some excerpts from an exclusive interview You look at relationships, voices, the anxious mind and the unsaid emotions in terms of your characters? What drives you to focus on these elements? We have to dive deep in to the sea to realise that islands are basically connected. We must get drenched and lost in this absorbing absurd human world where face is a window for a story. Ongoing life is non-literary and doesnt have structure. We try to create our own structures only to make sense of it for ourselves. Its a journey where a said evokes the unsayable along with the unsaid. You have to get lost to see something new. What are you passionate about the most as a writer? I dont write what I know. I write to know, says fine Kannada writer Yashwant Chittal about himself. I belong to the same school. Literature and medical science are similar. Both are trying to understand plights and pains of man and trying to heal and reduce it. The essential purpose of any art or literature is to become anonymous! It has nothing to do with name or fame. For me, the unknown next line or the image, the metaphor or the scene is the most exciting thing about the writing process. What are you currently reading? I am reading Ruskin Bonds autobiography which I got autographed by him in Kolkata recently. You favourite writers and why? Thankfully there are countless. Even if I like one poem or a story or any bit of any writer, he is my favorite forever. It stays with me. Its very difficult and unfair to pick few. But I must tell the ones who nurtured my sensibility deeply. They are senior Kannada writers Kuvempu, K. Shivaram Karanth, Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre, Yashwant Chittal, A. K. Ramanujan , Shantinath Desai, Poornachandra Tejaswi, U. R. Ananthamurthy, P. Lankesh, Khaasnis, and K. V. Tirumalesh. Are you working on something right now? I am working towards my next collection of poetry in Kannada. And along with Tejaswini, my translator, I want to plan my next book of translated stories in English. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are now getting into work mode. The celebrity couple attended the second annual Learning Lab Ventures Winter Gala in Los Angeles and, needless to say, looked great together. Additionally, Nick also shared a video clip, showing Priyanka speaking at the event. However, the sum and substance of their speech isnt very clear. Also read: Priyanka Chopra on Ellens show says her mother was upset she could not invite her hairdresser to the wedding In additional pictures, which are now online, Priyanka and Nick are seen sharing a tender moment together; in one, Priyanka rests her chin on Nicks shoulder in another picture. Elizabeth Chambers Hammer, TV host and journalist, who won an award at the function, shared Instagram stories, showing Priyanka giving an award. In other stories, we see her with Priyanka while Nick is with another man, having dinner. For the uninitiated, Learning Lab Ventures is an organisation involved in tackling generational poverty using intensive after-school education and enrichment programming. For those who have missed out, Priyanka and Nick got married in December last year as per Christian and Hindu rituals in Jodhpurs spectacular Umaid Bhawan. The two hosted the wedding receptions, two in Mumbai and one in Delhi. They moved to London to celebrate Christmas and then to Switzerland to ring in the New Year. After that, they were in Caribbeans for their honeymoon. Couple of weeks back, they returned to Los Angeles. On work front, Priyanka has begun with the promotion of her next Hollywood film, Isnt It Romantic and was on Ellen DeGeneres The Ellen Show. She will resume work on her Bollywood film, The Sky Is Pink, being directed by Shonali Bose and co-starring Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. Follow @htshowbiz for more | BY Ricki Green | WPP AUNZ has announced Nick Foley, Landors president for Southeast Asia Pacific and Japan, is leaving Singapore to return to Australia effective immediately. Whilst his remit will remain the same, he will now be based in WPP AUNZs headquarters at Kent Street with the Landor Sydney team. Says Foley on his impending return to Australia: It has been a privilege to work with the team in Singapore and be recognised as one of the most progressive agencies in the region. During my time in Southeast Asia, Landor broadened its offer and grown its client base accordingly. I am now excited to be returning to Australia where we have made some recent changes in conjunction with WPP AUNZ to move the business forward into its next phase of growth. The most exciting recent change is Cornwell in Melbourne is now part of the Landor group and we see significant upside in 2019 as we start to work more closely with our team there. Jessica Murphy has been promoted to the role of General Manager Cornwell and Im looking forward to spending more time working with Jess, the Cornwell and Landor teams and all our clients across Australia. Foley commenced working with Landor in 2008 and was promoted later that year to run the Sydney office. In 2012, he moved his family to Singapore to build Landors offer across the Asia Pacific. In Singapore Evonne Chung has been elevated to the role of managing director. The battle between director Krish and actress Kangana Ranaut on who has directed more of the film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi continues. While the actor is holidaying in Germany, her sister Rangoli has taken off on Krish accusing him of trying to take mileage from the film after its a hit. I could also say the same thing about Rangoli, shot back Krish. Isnt she trying to make mileage of the film? I dont need this kind of publicity. Nor do I need an endorsement of my abilities from either Kangana or her sister. Manikarnika... is my ninth film. Ive made lavish costume dramas in the past. I will make them again. But I am curious to know who will work with Kangana after the kind of reputation she has acquired for undermining the director and taking over a project. Krish said he is done with claims on how much of the film he has shot. Kanganas sister decided Kangana has shot 70 per cent of Manikarnika.... Just how she came to that percentage I dont know. She simply picked 70 and took off from there. The entire team knows how much of the film Ive shot. If she continues making these claims Ill have to send her copies of my earlier films. I am not a novice to filmmaking. The N.T.R: Kathanayakudu director compared his experience of working with Kangana and actor Vidya Balan. Both are very talented Bollywood actresses. But while one brings positivity and sunshine on the sets, the other brings gloom and anxiety on the sets whenever she appears. Krish recently shared a few screenshots of his chats with the crew of Manikarnika to prove that Kangana did not shoot a majority of the film. These r the future film makers I came out n spoke for, so that they wont face these humiliations.. pic.twitter.com/YV4YoAmrYm Krish Jagarlamudi (@DirKrish) January 30, 2019 This is from the editor who edited n later replaced.. the question is not about who shot how much., but its about proceess which everything has been done with ulterior motive n with a poor taste. Pls realise ur lies r making things worse pic.twitter.com/QeA5aCDWtS Krish Jagarlamudi (@DirKrish) January 30, 2019 The person who saw both d versions mentioned that Ive done 85% n now the techinican who worked on ground told this. pic.twitter.com/vkM6mOiHSM Krish Jagarlamudi (@DirKrish) January 30, 2019 (With HT inputs) Also read: Malaika Arora attends sister Amrita Aroras birthday party with son Arhaan. See pics, video Follow @htshowbiz for more Bollywood is heaping praises on actor Sonam Kapoors latest movie, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. The film, which also stars Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Rajkummar Rao, was screened for celebrities in Mumbai on Thursday and many have showered it with big compliments. Actor Akshay Kumar, who attended the screening with his wife and author Twinkle Khanna, called the film brilliant. We just watched #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga and in one word, its BRILLIANT! @AnilKapoor, @sonamakapoor & @iam_juhi great performances and aptly cast and @RajkummarRao what a role! Guys do watch it, I loved it!, he wrote in a tweet. Still thinking about this beautiful film, #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga - hats off to this woman! @sonamakapoor take a bow for making this film, deals with an important subject so wonderfully, he wrote in another tweet. Still thinking about this beautiful film, #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga - hats off to this woman! @sonamakapoor take a bow for making this film, deals with an important subject so wonderfully. pic.twitter.com/JWCnUffUmX Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 31, 2019 A wonderful movie that stays with you #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga is both relevant and funny. @sonamakapoor is absolutely lovely and @iam_juhi you cracked me up-we have a cousin who speaks exactly like you do in the movie! Folks go watch it ! pic.twitter.com/RVYgWBTz1a Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) February 1, 2019 Twinkle thought the film was funny and relevant at the same time. A wonderful movie that stays with you #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga is both relevant and funny. @sonamakapoor is absolutely lovely and @iam_juhi you cracked me up-we have a cousin who speaks exactly like you do in the movie! Folks go watch it !, she wrote on Twitter. Also read: Ekta Kapoor turns mom, welcomes baby boy via surrogacy Fashion designer Masaba Gupta also tweeted praise for the film, calling it an intimate, familiar and comforting watch. Watched Ek Ladki ko dekha toh also laga,last night. Very rarely do you have a film that sends you a very tender message without once being intrusive or harsh in any way.I came away feeling free to love,live & be exactly who I want to be,but never once lose my ability to see relationships & people with compassion. Such an intimate,familiar & comforting watch... Sonam,you are so wonderfully calm & awkward being who you are in the film. The innate sadness of Sweety comes tearing through,albeit with a deeply painful kindness that you never let go off on screen. Rajkumar , I dont think theres a shadow of anything menacing in your heart when you portray all these wonderful characters & even when you dont . You have a dizzying sense of honesty & Im convinced thats why people love you so much as an actor. Softness has literally never looked better on a man. And Anil uncle youre amazing.You are just the warmest hug through the whole experience, she wrote in her tweet. Sonam shared more reactions to her film on her Instagram stories. People called the film important and powerful and praised the performance of actors. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga is set to be released Friday and is directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar. Sonam is said to be playing a homosexual character in the film. The trailer of the movie showed her character rejecting several marriage proposals. She eventually shares her secret with Rajkummar Rao, which is implied to be about her sexual preference. Follow @htshowbiz for more To celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, an exhibition of rare thangka paintings, sculptures and photographs associated with Guru Padmasambhava, an iconic Buddhist figure, opened in Delhi on Tuesday. The exhibition that celebrates his life and legacy, brings to visitors traditional art created in the Himalayan regions, focussing on the sage, who was born to the royal family of Uddiyana in Swat (in present-day Pakistan) in the 8th century. Many exhibits of visual depictions of the leaders eight manifestations, which come from various artists in India, Bhutan and Nepal, are a testimony of the iconography that he still inspires. Photographs of monasteries related to him -- Lo Gekar (Nepal), Taktsang (Bhutan), and Hemis (Ladakh) -- also feature in the show, including an image of his footprint on a rock in Sikkims Chungthang. The carefully-curated show displays rare thangkas, paintings, sculptures and photographs contributed by the ruler of Bhutan, Tsurphu Labrang, Office of H.H. Gyalwang Karmapa (Dharamshala), Palpung Sherabling Monastic seat of H.E. 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, Delhis Tibet House, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (Dharamshala), Deb Mukharji and Tashi Lhendup. Catch it live What: Padmasambhava exhibition Where: Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex On Till: February 3 Timing: 11am to 7pm Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh on Yellow Line Credited with having spread Buddhas message to the Himalayan belt -- Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, and Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet -- the Buddhist leader left his imprint in these regions as monuments, relics and folklore associated with his spiritual and religious activities. India and Bhutan have had a relationship at least from the 8th century, when Guru Padmasambhava travelled to Bhutan. This 50-year bubble of diplomatic relations must be seen in the larger context of these 12 centuries which bind us together, Arun Kapur, the director of one of the organisers of Centre for Escalation of Peace, said. The exhibition of rare artefacts is accompanying a two-day conference on the sages life and legacy, often called Second Buddha, and brought together distinguished scholars from India, Nepal and Bhutan, who traced the contemporary relevance of his teachings and a rich, diverse tradition associated with the 8th century Rinpoche. Calling him a timeless guru, President of Centre for Bhutan Studies Dasho Karma Ura highlighted the inclusive and cosmopolitan approach the revered figure had towards his disciples, who came from all racial backgrounds and ethnicities. Conference sessions range from local contexts associated with Guru Padmasambhava, texts and commentaries, ritual practices, mandalas and iconography central to Vajrayana Buddhism. The conference concludes Wednesday, and the exhibition on February 3. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter 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! A Hickory teenager was sentenced Tuesday to prison on several robbery charges. Ahmad Shakim Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of common law robbery and accessory after the fact to robbery with a dangerous weapon in Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, according to a press release from 36th District Attorney Scott Reillys office. Superior Court Judge Nathaniel J. Poovey of Catawba County sentenced him to four to six years in prison. Smith is one of two teens who were charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon after a string of armed robberies in Granite Falls and Hickory on May 12, 2016. Co-defendant Trystan Lee McClain, 19, of Hickory, was sentenced to three to five years in prison in November after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of common law robbery. The Granite Falls robbery occurred in the early morning hours at Murphy Express on Hickory Boulevard, according to a previous HDR article. The Hickory robbery happened at Walgreens on N. Center Street. | BY Ricki Green | Furphy has dropped a massive 20-foot billboard in the middle of Federation Square that pours beers to celebrate the launch of the newest Furphy campaign What The Furphy. The billboard was a collaboration between VMLY&R UM and oOh! Media with PPR handling the PR. The What The Furphy campaign is centred around telling furphies a word that has become part of the Australian vernacular. It all started with WW1 troops spinning a yarn or two around the Furphy water cart. This is where their stories became tall tales or furphies as theyre affectionately known. Fast forward to 2019 and Furphy Refreshing Ale will begin telling its own stories stories which begin with a truth and are embellished by walking a thin line between the believable and unbelievable. Says Malcolm Eadie, brand director, Furphy: The What the Furphy activation is designed to surprise and wow the crowds at Federation Square, and make people ask themselves, is that really true or going to happen? To get their hands on a refreshing Furphy Ale, Melbournians invited to pull on the novelty sized tap handle, triggering the billboard to pour an icy cold Furphy Refreshing Ale. After collecting their Furphy, people can head into a separate, designated area in front of the billboard to mingle and enjoy their Furphy. (JNS)Opponents of an academic boycott of Israel owe John Cheney-Lippold and Daniel Segal a debt of gratitude. Cheney-Lippold is the University of Michigan professor who agreed to write a letter of recommendation for one of his students last fall and then reneged after realizing it was for study in Israel. Segal, a professor at Pitzer College and a major proponent of the academic boycott of Israel, convinced his fellow Pitzer faculty members to shut down the schools study-abroad program at the University of Haifa only months later. These professors reprehensible behavior has brought much-needed attention to how implementation of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israellong-advertised as aimed at academic institutions in Israelin reality directly threatens the academic freedom and rights of students on North American campuses. Alarmingly, Cheney-Lippold and Segal are just the tip of the iceberg. First, their behavior is not unique. They are just two of a growing number of faculty who choose to privilege their own personal politics above the academic welfare of their students. In fact, shortly after the Cheney-Lippold incident became public, another Michigan student reported that his graduate student instructor had similarly refused a letter of recommendation for a study-abroad program in Israel. Ten U.S. professorsall outspoken advocates of PACBIs campus agendahave also pledged their willingness to refuse letters of recommendation for students wanting to study in Israel and encouraged others to do the same. And a petition titled Stand With John Cheney-Lippold that states, We, too, are supporters of the BDS Movement, and would not provide a letter of support for a student seeking to study in an Israeli University, has been signed by 1,000 individuals. Second, following the PACBI guidelines to a tee, attempts have also been made to sabotage student-organized programs and faculty collaborations related to Israel, thereby directly suppressing student and faculty free speech and freedom of assembly. For example, faculty boycotters at the University of California Santa Cruz tried to cancel a student-organized event titled Queer in Israel that was to take place at the schools LGBTQ Center. And faculty boycotters at Cornell University attempted to block a partnership between Cornell and Israels Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to create a joint institute of applied sciences that would benefit Cornell faculty and students. Third, some academic disciplines, particularly in the social sciences and humanities departments, have become dominated by academic boycotters, creating a professional climate that condones if not encourages faculty associated with those disciplines to support the boycott, despite its harmful effects on students. A recent study found that departments of Middle East, and ethnic and gender studies with affiliated faculty who support academic BDS are five to 12 times more likely to sponsor Israel-related events with BDS-promoting speakers than similar departments with no academic boycotters. As blatantly antithetical to the mission and values of academia as an academic boycott of Israel may be, individual faculty members do have the right to express their public support for it. But when faculty like Cheney-Lippold and Segal go beyond merely expressing support for an academic boycott and actually threaten a students right to participate in university-approved educational programs, they are not only trampling on the academic rights of their students, they are undermining the academic integrity of the entire university. It is a serious and growing problem that university leaders must face before it spirals out of control. While hundreds of university presidents have condemned academic boycotts, including the heads of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Brown and Dartmouth, thus far only a handful of university leaders have recognized the importance of opposing attempts to implement an academic boycott on their own campuses: Following an enormous public outcry over Cheney-Lippolds refusal to write a letter of recommendation, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel issued a strong statement acknowledging that such actions interfere with our students opportunities, violate their academic freedom and betray our universitys educational mission. In a speech addressing the faculty vote to shut down his schools study-abroad program in Israel, Pitzer College President Melvin Oliver forthrightly stated: To deny Pitzer students who want to study at Haifa University the opportunity to study abroad and to enter into dialogue and promote intercultural understanding at the altar of political considerations is anathema to Pitzers core values. Last month, all 10 University of California Chancellors issued a statement declaring that the academic boycott of Israel poses a direct and serious threat to the academic freedom of our students and faculty, as well as the unfettered exchange of ideas and perspectives on our campuses, including debate and discourse regarding conflicts in the Middle East. University leaders across the country must follow suit by loudly condemning faculty at their own schools who would implement an academic boycott of Israel that deprives students of educational opportunities and academic rights in the name of personal politics. State and federal legislators should also consider withholding taxpayer monies from schools that allow faculty to implement a boycott that directly hurts students, undermines their schools academic mission and erodes public trust in our nations institutions of higher education. Rossman-Benjamin is the founder and director of AMCHA Initiative, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism at colleges and universities in the United States. She was a faculty member at the University of California for 20 years. Where are our friends protesting anti-Semitism? Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we marked this last week, spoke powerfully about the danger and potential damage of silence. He once said, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. On another occasion he said, In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Both of these insights, separately and the combination of the two together, resonate deeply for me these days, days in which the silence from too many is growing increasingly worrisome. The 3rd Annual Womens March was recently held in cities across the country. Many of its most prominent founders and leaders have associated with outspoken anti-Semites and have been accused of expressing anti-Jewish sentiments themselves. On a major talk show, womens march founder Tamika Mallory, who called her hero Louis Farrakhan the greatest of all time, refused to condemn his statements, among them his calling Jews termites, Satan and the great enemy. In another interview, she refused to recognize Israels existence, while calling Palestinians native to the Land of Israel. To their credit, some refuse to be silent and have disassociated from the movement. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz wrote an op-ed in USA Today this week explaining why she cannot continue to participate. I cannot associate with the national marchs leaders and principles, which refuse to completely repudiate anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry. The Democratic National Committee removed itself from the list of sponsors and should be commended for doing so. But aside from the few who have spoken out, there is deafening silence from too many groups, among them those who supposedly stand against bigotry and discrimination like the ACLU and others. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has announced her intention to run for president, is attending this mornings womens march in Iowa, but while she spoke out against anti-Semitism in general, she has refused to condemn the march specifically or its organizers for their associations and comments. Would she ever participate in a march whose founders identify with leading racists and who themselves have been accused of racists comments and policies? Can you imagine the backlash she, or others, would face? Rep. Steven King of Iowa made deeply disturbing remarks about white supremacists and his colleagues acted swiftly, and correctly, stripping him of his committee assignments. But what about Rep. Ilhan Omar who supports BDS, a hypocritical anti-Semitic policy against Israel, a woman who once tweeted Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. Instead of being held accountable for her offensive, discriminatory remarks, she was placed on the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday. A woman who holds anti-Semitic views and who described the evil doings of Israel has been placed on the most important committee for foreign policy. In response, there was no uproar or outrage, only absolute silence. Indeed, those who spoke about her appointment, havent done so in opposition to her appointment, but in opposition to anyone who dared to oppose her appointment. Last week, a Palestinian activist who has praised Hezbollah, said Israel did not have the right to exist, and has called for Israeli Zionist terrorist Jews to return to Poland, posted a picture of himself with Freshman Congresswoman Rep. Rashida Tlaib after she posed for a picture with him at a private, invitation only dinner following her swearing in. What do you think the reaction has been from her colleagues? Deafening silence. Can you imagine a member of Congress posing for a picture with David Duke or a KKK member at a private reception? It would correctly elicit outrage. Where is the outrage when it is hatred against Jews? Martin Luther King was absolutely correct: If we are silent in moments like these, our lives have literally begun to end. Outrageous comments, views and associations deserve to be greeted with outrage. Intolerable comments, pictures and attitudes must not be tolerated. And he was also right when he said most disturbing is the silence of our friends. Where is the outrage and condemnation from Jewish elected officials about their colleagues anti-Israel remarks and aspersions, paralleling their reaction to Rep. King? Whether our forefather Abraham speaking truth to the ultimate Power when he protested the impending destruction of Sodom, Moses challenging God about why bad things happen to good people, Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh, Esther and Mordechai taking on Haman, the Chashmonaim standing up to the Syrian Greeks against all odds, or countless other examples, we come from a tradition of not being silent when injustice is being perpetrated against anyone, and certainly not when it is directed against our people. These are moments that demand we not remain silent. God has blessed us with voices, with influence and with access. We must speak up and speak out and hold those that are silent accountable. We must generate outrage, the most powerful commodity these days and the only one that draws attention and demands action and reaction. When it comes to anti-Semitism against our people and injustice against others, lets vow to never be silent, to stand up and speak out. Lets hold our elected officials accountable. Not the ones in the other party, thats easy. But calling up and calling out those in our party, the ones we identify with and voted for. Object to the elected officials saying the wrong things and call up those who are remaining silent while their colleagues cross important boundaries. We are blessed with voices; we have the capacity to express outrage. True wisdom, says King Solomon, is knowing when to use it. Choose carefully and wisely for there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Now is the time to speak. From Aish Hatorah Resources. Aish is the place for everything you want to know about Judaism. Adapted from a sermon delivered at Boca Raton Synagogue January 19, 2019. Rabbi Efrem Goldberg is the rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue. (JNS)What the Jewish world needs most these days is inclusion. Yet the only sensible course of action open to Jewish community relations councils and other outreach groups is to set firm limits on who can or cannot enter the proverbial big Jewish tent. That sounds like a contradiction in terms, and in many ways it is. But the fact remains that at the very moment when institutions need to keep the gates wide open to attract as many Jews as possible, its just as important to send a loud message that there are some lines that cannot be crossed. While inclusion is vital, its not the only value that Jewish groups should venerate. Thats why the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council was correct when it voted last week to start the process by which one of their constituent organizations might be booted out of an organization that seeks the widest possible membership. The issue at stake was whether those who claim to be part of the big Jewish tent can reasonably maintain that claim while joining forces with anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic groups bent on destroying the State of Israel. The action that precipitated the vote was a decision made by the Boston chapter of the Workmens Circle, an organization dedicated to both social-justice advocacy and preserving Yiddish culture. While its cultural work has dwarfed its political clout for decades, it can also claim the mantle of the Jewish Labor Bund, the Socialist and anti-Zionist party that was a dominant force in Jewish life in the decades before the Second World War. Since 1948, it has reluctantly made its peace with the Jewish state while struggling to remain relevant. But the revival of interest in Yiddish and the popularity of left-wing politics among Jews have ensured that the group hasnt died out. But when its Boston branch signed a petition organized by the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace group defending the BDS movement, it started a controversy whose implications transcend local Jewish politics. The petition asserted that criticism of Israel should not be equated with anti-Semitism. Of course, mere criticism of Israels government is neither anti-Israel nor anti-Semitic. But the groups that signed that document dont merely engage in critiques of the administration led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jewish Voice for Peace is an avowedly anti-Zionist organization opposing Israels existence as a Jewish state and supporting the so-called Palestinian right of return. It doesnt merely support BDS efforts to isolate the Jewish state and attack Israeli measures of self-defense against terrorists; its claims that exchange programs that bring U.S. law-enforcement officers to Israel for training are responsible for the deaths of African-Americans are nothing short of a blood libel lodged against supporters of the Jewish state. Like other signatories to that petition, JVP engages in advocacy that is indistinguishable from anti-Semitism. Seen from that perspective, the decision by Workmens Circle to sign the petition merited pushback from other members of the Boston JCRC. But doing so also goes against the prevailing philosophy most in the organized Jewish world have adopted that holds that drawing such lines in the sand is suicidal. Inclusion has become the watchword in Jewish life because of the way traditional institutions like synagogues and umbrella philanthropies like federations have been in rapid decline. As surveys have shown, a population that is increasingly assimilated and intermarried has no use for the old paradigms of Jewish life. The 90 percent of North American Jews who are non-Orthodox are increasingly disinterested in expressions of Jewish identity that are tied to concepts of Jewish peoplehood like Zionism. Just as important, young Jews are also turned off by groups operating under the assumptions of past generations, as well as by the false perception that support for Israel is incompatible with being a modern progressive. Add to that a popular culture in which all expressions of parochial identity (except those identified with minority groups)let alone an ideology like Zionism that is demonized by the far-leftare presumed to be racist. Under these circumstances, finding ways to include Jews who are on the margins is a must. Drawing lines that will exclude or alienate people is not unreasonably seen as exacerbating a problem that stems from a demographic implosion among the non-Orthodox. And yet, drawing some lines isnt so much an option as a necessity for Jews. Consensus is an impossible goal for Jewish groups these days, which need to work harder to agree to disagree about many contentious issues. But the notion that Israels right to exist is debatable is not such an issue. Nor should it be a matter of opinion as to whether Jews should engage in activities that aid the efforts of anti-Semites like those promoting the BDS movement or others bent on waging war on Israel. Its crucial to draw a distinction between anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic groups, and Jewish organizations that are merely critical of Israels government. Groups like J Street adopt positions that I believe are profoundly wrong, as well as utterly irrelevant to the realities of the Middle East, and have little support among Israels people. But as long as it and other like-minded groups are truly pro-Israel and pro-peace, and consistently oppose BDS, then they deserve a place at the table. But there should be no such seat for JVP, IfNotNow and other anti-Zionists that dabble in anti-Semitic agitation while falsely posing as repositories of Jewish ethics. The same goes for those, like Bostons Workmens Circle, that join with them. A Jewish community that prizes inclusion above all other values may have a big tent, but one that treats allies of anti-Semites as accepted members is one that will ultimately stand for nothing. And a community that stands for nothing cannot survive. It might turn off those who have no interest in Jewish peoplehood, but its high time for all Jewish organizations to make it clear that those who are bent on aiding Israels enemies have no place inside our big tents. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNSJewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at: @jonathans_tobin. Israel takes 5th place in Bloomberg ranking of worlds most innovative nations By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel moved up to fifth place in the 2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index, an annual ranking of the worlds 60 most innovative countries. The index, unveiled Tuesday, reviews dozens of criteria using seven metrics, including research and development spending, manufacturing capability and concentration of high-tech public companies. Israel was ranked 10th in 2018. The United States finished eighth after being 11th last year. South Korea led the index, followed by Germany, Finland and Switzerland. Israel was ranked first in the R&D intensity category and fell to second place from first last year in research concentration. Etgar Keret wins Israels most prestigious literary prize By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)Etgar Keret is the winner of the Sapir Prize, Israels most prestigious literary award. The award for 2018, presented on Tuesday, is for Kerets collection of 24 short stories titled A Glitch at the Edge of the Galaxy. Keret said he was very surprised, according to a statement from Ben-Gurion University, where he is a lecturer. Its the happiest thing in the world, but like love or gifts, its not something you can strive for. It just happens, he also said, according to the statement. The prize includes a more than $40,000 cash prize and support for the books translation into two languages: Arabic and a language of the authors choice. Keret, who won the 2016 Charles Bronfman Prize for humanitarians under 50, has written several collections of short stories, as well as movie scripts, poetry, plays and comics. His work has been translated into English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Norwegian and Swedish. Israels prime minister: We are determined to prevent Iran in Syria (JNS)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qasem Soleimani on Wednesday about the activities of his army and proxies in Syria. Instead of interfering in the elections, Soleimani would do well to check the state of the Iranian bases that he is trying to establish in Syria, said Netanyahu. Our policy is clear, and it will not change: We are determined to prevent Iran from militarily entrenching itself in Syria against the State of Israel. Netanyahu was apparently replying to an unverified Kuwaiti news report that Soleimani told Iranian leaders that attacks against Israel could lead to his defeat in the April 9 elections. This development comes just days after Israeli warplanes launched a massive attack on numerous Iranian targets in Syria in response to Iranian fighter jets firing a surface-to-surface missile towards the Golan Heights on Sunday. Syrias ambassador warns of bombing Ben-Gurion Airport if Israeli airstrikes continue (JNS)Syrias ambassador to the United Nations said on Tuesday that if Israel does not stop attacking military sites in his country, Syria would target Ben-Gurion International Airport. Syria would practice its legitimate right of self-defense and respond to the Israeli aggression on Damascus International Airport in the same way on Tel Aviv airport, warned Bashar Jaafari at the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. The comments came after Israel officially acknowledged air-bombing several Iranian military targets in Syria, including one just outside the Damascus International Airport that caused significant damage. At least 21 people were killed in the operation, primarily Iranian and Syrian military operatives. The Israeli airstrike came after a medium-range missile was launched from Syrian soil over the Hermon mountains and into the airspace above the Golan Heights before being neutralized by the Iron Dome missile-defense system. Jaafari called on the United Nations to stop the Israeli repeated aggressions on the Syrian Arab republic territories, and said Israel would be unable to attack Syria without the support of the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the Security Council. Israeli doctor saved Abbass life this summer, says report (JNS)A report in Israeli news revealed that when Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas was close to death this summer, Israel sent a specialist to Ramallah who helped save his life. According to Ynet, doctors feared Abbas would suffer complete systems failure when he was admitted to Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah with pneumonia on May 20, 2018, his second hospitalization in just 24 hours. When Israel learned of Abbass condition, it offered to admit him to an Israeli hospital, a gesture that was declined. When it became clear that Abbas was on the brink of death, Israel sent a top specialist to Ramallah, who joined a team of doctors from around the world who were treating the P.A. leader. Just two days later, Abbass condition began to improve, and he was discharged from the hospital a week later. Since then, Abbas has returned to work, though he has reportedly quit smoking. He has also reportedly suffered a severe reduction in energy and developed problems with memory loss. The Times of Israel reported that it questioned P.A. officials as to the veracity of the information, and they denied the involvement of any Israeli medical professionals in Abbass recovery. Pompeo: Peace plan to be released after Israeli elections (JNS)U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Tuesday that the highly anticipated Trump administrations peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinianscommonly referred to as the deal of the centuryis expected to be released after the April 9 Israeli elections. Addressing via video conference the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pompeo assured that there is a way forward for Israelis and Palestinians to finally make amends. This is in spite of a collapse in relations between the United States and the Palestinian Authority since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital a year ago, in addition to making moves such as relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and closing the Palestine Liberation Organization mission in Washington. Pompeo said peace talks will not be driven by the United States, but by Israelis and Palestinians themselves. Nonetheless, he referenced a U.S.-led timeline after Israelis vote. Israeli media speculated recently what the peace plan would look like, though they were refuted by White House special envoy Jason Greenblatt, who called the reporting inaccurate, saying that speculation about the content of the plan is not helpful. Very few people on the planet know what is in it. Additionally, Pompeo reiterated his claim that the Islamic State is defeated in Iraq and Syria, despite attacks from ISIS against American forces last week and on Monday. Georgia State University student government rejects campus demands for BDS (JNS)The student government association at Georgia State University (SGA) has rejected demands from student groups to enact BDS on campus, including issuing an apology for participation in an organized free trip to Israel over winter break. Protesters, some representing chartered groups such as Faces for Feminism and Panthers for Black Feminism, gave a wish list allaying their opposition to four SGA members for going on a complimentary trip organized by Maccabee Task Force, which combats BDS efforts on college campuses. Other demands included the passage of a pro-BDS bill that works to end international support for Israels oppression of Palestinians, in addition to the resignation of the SGA executive board. Rejecting these requests, the SGA cited Georgia Senate Bill 327 as a reason why a BDS bill cannot be passed. The law, which took effect in July 2016, prohibits the state from entering into contracts with firms that boycott or plan to boycott Israel. As a state school, the university is subject to the measure. The decision in regard to actionable BDS legislation either supporting or disagreeing will be determined by to the Board of Regents and our state legislators, stated a press release from office of the SGA president. T-shirt with At Least Im Not Jewish taken off website (JNS)A shirt reading At Least Im Not Jewish has been pulled from the personalized online gift company Zazzle.com in response to complaints. Zazzle provides an open marketplace where designers can create and upload wide variety of products, said the company. When a product is brought to our attention that violates our terms of service, we take swift action to have the product removed. The shirt was designed by a third-party seller named The Slesk Bazaar. As of Monday, the user no longer had any items for sale on Zazzle. A cached Google search showed that the designer had also been selling a shirt with the words At least Im not Christian. Twitter users, including the accounts @No2BDS and writer Ashlee Marie Preston, complained on Sunday about the product. Zazzle promptly responded and removed the controversial shirt. A search on Zazzle for The Slesk Bazaar did not show any items from that user. Reversing course, Israel approves $15 million transfer from Qatar to Hamas (JNS)Israels Security Cabinet reversed its decision earlier this week not to allow a $15 million transfer from Qatar to Gaza to help struggling Palestinians there. On Tuesday, Israel halted a previously approved $15 million transfer to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip from Qatar amid renewed Palestinian rioting and violence along the Gaza-Israel border. An Israeli officer was hurt by sniper fire, with a Hamas terrorist killed in a counterattack by Israel. The Israeli military shut down areas near the border to civilian traffic, fearing more an escalation. Qatari envoy Mohammed El-Amadi was in Jerusalem on Wednesday to resolve the dilemma and convince Israel to permit the transfer. El-Amadi then traveled to Gaza to hold discussions with Hamas leaders. One of his assistants refused to provide further details to Israeli media. The $15 million from Qatar is the third installment approved by Israels government in what officials see as a way to ease tensions and avoid a potential humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Pew study shows Israelis prefer skilled immigrants eligible for citizenship (JNS)In a survey of economically advanced countries conducted by the Pew Research Center, Israel was one of just three countries in which the majority of respondents did not support the immigration of highly trained foreigners who would not be entitled to citizenship. According to the study, 51 percent of Israelis oppose the immigration of highly skilled or highly educated foreigners who would not be eligible to live in Israel according to the Law of Return, meaning that they have at least one Jewish grandparent. Italy and the Netherlands were the only other countries that gave similar results. In contrast, 78 percent of Americans and 85 percent of British citizens supported skilled immigration, as did more than three-quarters of adults in Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia. Among the surveyed countries, Israel has the highest percentage of immigrants with higher educationalmost half of foreign-born adults making aliyah to Israel have a graduate degree. Israels immigration package also provides large subsidies for bachelors, masters and technical degrees for those eligible for aliyah under the law of return. Israel reopens Hermon ski resort after Iranian missile soars over Golan Heights (JNS)The popular Hermon ski resort in the northern Golan Heights will open again for visitors after being closed due to the launch of an Iranian rocket over the area and Israels subsequent military response. The Israel Defense Forces shuttered the snowy site amid concerns for public safety in case of a possible military escalation. Given the situation, it has been decided that the Hermon site will not open to visitors Monday, the army said in a statement early on Monday morning, which was publicized on the Hermon ski website. On Sunday, a medium-range Iranian surface-to-surface missile was launched over the Hermon mountain area before it was intercepted by an Iron Dome missile-defense system. Reports on Monday indicated that the Iranian-made missile carried a 440 pound to half-ton warhead and had a range of 155 miles. Israel responded by hitting numerous Iranian targets in Syria, including a site just outside the Damascus International Airport. At 6,500 feet, Mount Hermon is Israels largest mountain, and is an attraction for skiers and families who come to play in the rare snow. Nature group attempts to halt JNF building plan to save desert mammals and reptiles (JNS) The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) has submitted an official objection to a plan by the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael) to turn 200 acres of natural land into farmland and greenhouses in a bid to protect endangered small mammals and reptiles. SPNI filed its objection to the local district planning and building committee against a plan to allow the changes to be made on the sand dunes of Netiv HaAsara in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, according to Ynet. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is also in favor of stopping the plan. SPNI is asking local officials to relocate the plans to empty greenhouses west and north of Netiv HaAsara in order to protect small mammals such as the Greater Egyptian gerbil, Greater Egyptian jerboa and the Andersons gerbil, as well as reptiles such as the Desert monitor and Wedge-snouted skink, two indigenous lizards. The coastal plains ecosystem is in a serious extinction danger. Most of the areas sand dunes have already been used for housing and agriculture or are threatened by illegal mining, the SPNI said. Only 12.5 percent of the coastal plains sand dunes are recognized as a nature reserve or a national park. The plan in question suggests transforming 40 percent of this habitat into agricultural land. According to Ynet, JNF responded that the plan was formulated in coordination with local authorities, the Agriculture Ministry, the Israel Land Administration and all the relevant planning establishments and only after the JNF had conducted a comprehensive ecological survey in the area. Pompeo: Peace plan to be released after Israeli elections (JNS)U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Tuesday that the highly anticipated Trump administrations peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinianscommonly referred to as the deal of the centuryis expected to be released after the April 9 Israeli elections. Addressing via video conference the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pompeo assured that there is a way forward for Israelis and Palestinians to finally make amends. This is in spite of a collapse in relations between the United States and the Palestinian Authority since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital a year ago, in addition to making moves such as relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and closing the Palestine Liberation Organization mission in Washington. Pompeo said peace talks will not be driven by the United States, but by Israelis and Palestinians themselves. Nonetheless, he referenced a U.S.-led timeline after Israelis vote. Israeli media speculated recently what the peace plan would look like, though they were refuted by White House special envoy Jason Greenblatt, who called the reporting inaccurate, saying that speculation about the content of the plan is not helpful. Very few people on the planet know what is in it. Additionally, Pompeo reiterated his claim that the Islamic State is defeated in Iraq and Syria, despite attacks from ISIS against American forces last week and on Monday. PA releases Palestinian American sentenced to life for selling land to Jews By Jackson Richman (JNS) A Palestinian-American who was sentenced to life last month by the Palestinian Authority for selling land to Israelis was released to U.S. authorities, two senior Palestinian officials told Reuters. Issam Akel holds an American passport, and he was handed over to the U.S. authorities upon their request, one senior security official, who asked not to be named, told the outlet on Sunday. A U.S. State Department official told JNS, The Department of State takes its obligation to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously. Akel, 55, was prosecuted for selling an Arab-owned home in Jerusalem to the Ateret Cohanim organization, a yeshivah group that has bought properties in the Muslim quarter of the Old City and in strategic places around the Holy Basin area of Jerusalem. The Jewish Pavilion, in association with Join Orlando were pleased to present Libby (l) and Joan (r) at Brookdale Dr. Phillips with Shabbat Boxes to celebrate the Sabbath. With help from her mother, Aileen Mand Schaked, Sophie (center), Miss Florida Jr. High School and volunteer for the Pavilion, had a wonderful time visiting the community and looks forward to her next visit. Are the Jews in Israel white European colonialists? Are Israels settlements in the West Bank illegal? Isnt a Jewish state, by definition, racist and undemocratic? These are just a few of the questions StandWithUs addresses to educate middle and high school students about Israel in an effort to dash all the mistruths about Israel and perhaps tear down some walls of anti-Israel sentiment. Tuesday evening, Jan. 22, Dr. Daniel and Staci Layish opened their home to introduce the community to StandWithUs, an international, nonprofit Israel education organization that educates students from middle school through high school how to effectively respond to hate. Education is the road to peace, stated Rayna Exelbierd, SWU southeast high school director. Exuberant and passionate, Exelbierd shared the purpose of SWU and its effectiveness among high school students. When students enter college, they are coming into a battleground of hate toward the Jewish state. They need to be armed with historical truth to shatter the lies those who oppose Israels existence stand on. Sami Kuperberg, a senior at Oviedo High School, shared with the group her experiences with anti-Semitism during her freshman year. She was teased, physically abused and threatened because she is Jewish. To further frustrate her situation, the schools principal refused to help her when she went to him. His excuse? There was no anti-Semitism in the community that he was aware of. She went to the school board and received the same disinterest. This was only four years ago. Kuperberg is now a senior and is a SWU high school intern, along with Noa Lotringer, a senior at Lake Brantley High School. Kuperberg learned about SWU after posting on Facebook her discouragement about trying to do something about the anti-Semitism in her school. A friend passed the post on to Exelbierd who immediately took action and contacted Kuperberg. Since then Exelbierd has been Kuperbergs mentor, guide and even speech writer. Last year, Kuperberg, with the help of SWU and the Jewish Student Union, an after-school club founded by JOIN Orlando, planned a program titled One Day Starts Today. SWU provided the Holocaust survivor speakers, Genia Kutner and Gerald Biegel. More than 600 people came to the event. Exelbierd said that more than 90 percent of those present had never heard of the Holocaust. Also speaking at the meeting was Ron Krudo, SWU executive director of campus affairs. He explained the 3Dsabout those who seek Israels destruction through demonization, double standard and delegitimization. He stated that the Boycott, Divest and Sanction movements purpose is ultimately to wipe out Israel. Not only is the Students for Justice for Palestine anti-Israel, Krudo also shared about Jewish movements opposed to IsraelIfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace are two examples. Krudo also explained that there are three types of Jewish people: Those indigenous (have always lived in the land of Israel); those in the Diaspora (not living in Israel, including those in the room); and those of the liberation (those who have returned to the land). Are we upstanders or bystanders? asked Excelbierd, We have to stand up and react now. We cant just let this slide, said Kuperberg, who also shared that the Jewish Student Union is a good place to start to learn about Judaism. Its a safe space where there is respect for one another. StandWithUs also has a legal system now available for students who are struggling with anti-Semitic attacks in their schools. It isnt easy to get school permission to have programs like the one Kuperberg planned. Now students can have legal backing to promote these programs that help educate the students. Exelbierd addressed specific things that SWU educates student interns about: Challenges in Israelsecurity, false media; how to organize events; and speak to school administrations. There is a war on college campuses. Its a war of the mind, ideals, freedom. Those who love Israel must be informed with the truth to combat the lies. This is what SWU is doing. So far, more than 132,000 students have been reached through SWU. What about the answers to the three questions at the start of this article? Are Jews in Israel white European colonialists? No. They did not represent a foreign power and rejected any identification with European nations. Are Israels settlements in the West Bank illegal? Israel has legal, historic, and security claims to the West Bank, the cradle of Jewish history. The settlements do not violate UN Resolution 242 or Palestinian-Israeli agreements signed in the Oslo Accords. Isnt a Jewish state, by definition, racist and undemocratic? Jews, both secular and religious, are a people who have the right to self-determination. Israel grants people of Jewish heritage a fast track to citizenship, just like Poland, Finland, Greece and other nations grant citizenship based on ethnic ancestry. Non-Jewish Israelis, who make up 24 percent of the population, have equal rights under the law. To learn more about StandWithUs and its many programs, including the high school internships, visit http://www.standwithus.com In a full-scale ceremony on Jan. 16, Rescuers Without Borders founder and president Arie Levy received the Global Impact Award in Tel Aviv, presented by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Levi, one of eight recipients, was given this honor for his international work in the developing world and Tikkun Olam. Since 2016 Rescuers Without Borders has taken their Israeli knowhow, training local people to be medics, and established 16 first response emergency teams throughout the world in the Philippines, Mali, Zambia, Nepal, Guadeloupe and more. Last November, Rescuers Without Borders spokeswoman, Natalie Sopinsky, came to Orlando and shared, along with terrorist attack survivor Michal Salomon, about the work RWB has been doing in Judea and Samaria, and now throughout the world. The following is an update of what RWB has accomplished: Medical aid mission in Gondar, Ethiopia At the beginning of January 2019 RWB launched a medical aid mission in Gondar, Ethiopia. A group of 10 medical professionals flew to this community of 8,000 where 600+ people were treated by doctors, 800+ had their eyes tested, 60 young people were given first aid training and equipment. This is a community that had no emergency first aid nearby. Now, they do. Life-saving defibrillators in the Shomron On Jan 10, 2019, Rescuers Without Borders installed new life-saving defibrillators at the Barkan Industrial Park, scene of a serious terror attack in October 2018. The defibrillators are part of a package of 10 donated by the Robinson Family Foundation of Chicago. Many recall the recent attack that occurred on Oct. 7 by an Arab employee at the Industrial Park who shot three people and killed two: Kim Levengond Yehezkel, 29, mother of a baby from Rosh Ha'ayin and Ziv Hajbi, 35, father of three, from Rishon Letzion. The Barkan Industrial Park has 8,000 workers, half Jewish and half Arab. This was considered the model of co-existence. "This is a very difficult incident. Until now there have not been any security incidents here. For decades, industrial zones have served as a bridge of coexistence," Samaria Regional Council chairman Yossi Dagan said at the time (TimesOfIsrael). And today, to the team delivering the defibrillator and medical equipment "You have proven professional and long-term work for years and we are happy about this partnership. In October the Samaria police officer said that immediately after the attack, the need arose for medical equipment to be available at the industrial zone and Rescuers Without Borders, as usual, came though." In Samaria, there are over 320 volunteers with CPR kits, on call 24/7. Since 2001, Rescuers Without Borders (aka Hatzalah Y"osh) has been the primary supporter of volunteer medics, paramedics and ambulance drivers throughout Judea and Samaria, working in full coordination with Magen David Adom in supplying defibrillators, medical equipment, ambulances and training. Today the organization has over 1,000 volunteers also in the areas around Jerusalem and the Old City. Rescuers Without Borders is funded completely by private donations and is a registered 501 c 3 charitable organization. To donate to Rescuers Without Borders, checks may be made out to Hatzalah Yehuda and Shomrom and mailed to 492 Cedar Lane #184, Teaneck, NJ 07666 or in Israel: Givon 108/3 P.B. 10053, Givat-Zeev, Israel 90917 or visit http://www.hatzalah.org.il/en/donate. (JNS)It didnt take long for Jewish and Israel-related groups to react to the appointment of anti-Israel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Along with several other new members of Congress, Omar has gained considerable attention as part of a new generation of leadership. Yet the Jewish community has grown concerned over her stances, particularly on Israel. Omar has tweeted that Israel has hypnotized the world, and has posted that Israel is an apartheid state, in addition to voicing her support for the BDS movement. As such, her appointment to the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over bills and investigations related to the foreign affairs of the United States, has raised alarm bells in the Jewish community. The Zionist Organization of America condemned the move in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), calling it a deeply mistaken, unwarranted, unjustifiable and dangerous development. Your appointment of Representative Omar sends a frightening message that vicious anti-Israel actions and anti-Semitism is acceptable, and thus serves to mainstream and legitimize anti-Semitism and Israel-bashingsomething we would have thought would be anathema to the Democratic Party or any respected American political party, said the ZOA. It would appear that her appalling anti-Israel record is not only being entirely ignored by the Democratic Party but, what is far worse, is being richly rewarded. What other conclusion is possible when the Democratic Speaker of the House appoints her to a coveted seat on the House Foreign Relations Committee? The organization warned: Your actions will add to the mainstreaming of anti-Semitism and Israel-bashing that is dangerously on the rise in the world and in America. Indeed, there is concern that appointing Omar to a committee that deals directly with U.S. policy on Israel may erode bipartisan support for the Jewish state. At the same time, her support for the BDS movement comes as emerging evidence links to BDS organization and Palestinian terror groups. NORPAC national president Ben Chouake told JNS that the appointment of someone who is pro-BDS could pose a serious risk not only to the U.S.-Israel relationship, but to the safety of Israel. Probably the worst assignment for someone with a pro-BDS agenda against Israel, Americas most steadfast ally in the Middle East, he said. Similarly, the Orthodox Union feels that her appointment, coming amid growing anti-Semitism in the United States, is also offensive. The Orthodox Union was deeply offended by Rep. Omars past comments, particularly her 2012 assertion that Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel, OU executive director for public policy Nathan Diament told JNS. Rep. Omar seemed to double down on this statement when she told CNN last week, I dont know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans. In light of these offensive statements, the OU was alarmed that Rep. Omar was appointed last week to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he added. We expressed concern about this privately to Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and other key congressional leaders. On Tuesday, Omar appeared to regret her hypnotized tweet: Its now apparent to me that I spent lots of energy putting my 2012 tweet in context and little energy in disavowing the anti-Semitic trope I unknowingly used, which is unfortunate and offensive. Diament responded to Omar, expressing hope that her realization is the beginning of a process of engagement and dialogue that will lead to greater understanding. Confident in bipartisan support Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs, said it was distressing regarding her appointment, but she remains confident in the other pro-Israel lawmakers on the committee. It is distressing that someone who has previously used anti-Semitic rhetoric was offered this prestigious seat, she told JNS. That said, we are encouraged by the overall makeup of the committee, which looks to have a strong bipartisan majority in support of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The Jewish Democratic Council of America has clearly and repeatedly stated its concerns with the views of Representative Ilhan Omar as it relates to Israel, the organization told JNS. We have also expressed strong support for bipartisanship when it comes to Israel, and we are confident that bipartisan support of the U.S.-Israel relationship will continue in the 116th Congress under Democratic leadership. In this regard, we welcome the recent appointment of pro-Israel stalwarts Rep. Eliot Engel, Rep. Nita Lowey and Rep. Ted Deutch as the chairs of the relevant committees and subcommittees in the House, they added. Engel, from New York, is the chairman of the committee. Attacks on Omar are bigoted and deeply wrong However, J Street, which says it opposes the BDS movement, says the attacks on Omar are unfair, especially considering that she is one of the first Muslim women to be elected to congress. At a time when the global population of displaced people is near historic highs and the Trump administration has turned its back on the problem, its a positive development that Rep. Ilhan Omar, who herself emigrated to this country as a refugee, will have a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, its president and founder, Jeremy Ben-Ami, told JNS. While its fair to disagree with and criticize her views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the BDS movement or any other issue, smearing Rep. Omar as an anti-Semiteor suggesting that she is somehow not fit to serve on an important committee like Foreign Affairsis bigoted and deeply wrong. On the other side of the debate, Republican Jewish Coalition spokesperson Neil Strauss previously told JNS, Democratic leadership just chose to put an anti-Semite on the all-important committee, rather than take a stand against her abhorrent views. It is despicable that Democrats are so afraid to upset their far-left base that they no longer are willing to oppose anti-Semitism. (Palestinian Media Watch via JNS)Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbass adviser on religious affairs has accused Israel and Hamas of planning an attack against Abbas. Mahmoud Al-Habbash: There is suspicious and dangerous coordination between the statements of the occupation states leaders and the statements of the Hamas movements leaders on all that is connected to an attack on President Mahmoud Abbas. [Official P.A. daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 14, 2019] Al-Habbash claimed Israel and Hamas share a desire to assassinate Abbas. He alleged that Israeli cabinet members have talked about ways of getting rid of Abbas, and said this was done in parallel with Hamas urging foreign parliaments to revoke Abbass legitimacy as president: [Al-Habbash] emphasized that this coordination of statements [between Israel and Hamas] and the attack on the Palestinian leadership headed by the president is not coincidental, because both Israel and Hamas incite against the president morning and night, challenge his legitimacy and want to assassinate him. The attacks against Abbas refer to remarks by Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan, who suggested barring Abbas from returning to the Palestinian territories the next time he travels abroad, and to a campaign by an Israeli private right-wing organization that on posters with Abbass face seen through a rifle sight has called on the Israeli government to eliminate those who fund murder! Fatahs Revolutionary Council Secretary Majed Al-Fatiani claimed this campaign is coming from the Israeli government: If not for the political cover from the highest echelons in the settler government, they would not be threatening the president through posters that they have glued to the occupation armys checkpoints. This is direct incitement by the occupation government, exactly like they incited against President martyr leader Yasser Arafat before and during the siege on him. [Official P.A. daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 14, 2018] Abbas himself reacted to the alleged attacks against him and compared his situation to that of former P.A. leader Arafat, repeating the P.A. libel that Israel poisoned and killed him. Abbas: They can kill me in my home with bullets or with a missile at any given moment. They can also kill me with poison, as they poisoned the late President Yasser Arafat (sic., scientific teams have debunked this conspiracy; see note below) and killed [Palestine Liberation] Organization leaders in the past, but I will not surrender. Life is in Allahs hands, and even if they kill me, it will not solve their problems. [Official P.A. daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 15, 2019] Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. (JTA)Linda Sarsour defended the legality of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel during her speech on stage in Washington D.C. at the third Womens March. Her critique of anti-BDS laws came hours after rejecting the anti-Semitic statements of Louis Farrakhan. Sarsour, a leader of the Womens March movement, called herself a proud Palestinian-American woman and said that there are no perfect leaders in her remarks in Saturday. She said that the media can talk about any controversy they wanta reference to claims of anti-Semitism among the movements leadershipbut the real controversy is in the White House. We will protect our constitutional right to boycott, divest and sanctions in this country, Sarsour also said, a reference to pending legislation in the Senate to allow state and local governments to refuse to use the services of companies that boycott Israel. Prior to attending the march, Sarsour on Saturday morning told CNNs New Day Weekend with Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul that the Womens March rejects anti-Semitic and homophobic statements by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. We unequivocally have rejected the comments made by Minister Farrakhan on LGBTQ communities and on Jewish communities. We have said multiple times on our statements at womensmarch.com, we unequivocally denounce transphobia and ask people to ask us directly and to read our statements and understand we have been doing this work before there was a Womens March, she said. And our track records are very clear: That we have stood up for all communities. We are the first people on the front lines when there is a fight for justice in this country. She noted her meeting earlier in the week with 13 rabbis from the New York area, after which nine of the rabbis endorsed her and the Womens March. What that proves is that we have been doing the work. We have been learning and evolving as a movement and people have to understand that we are trying to create a big tent of women of all religious backgrounds, people of colorpeople of different sexual orientations, even people across the different ideology, Sarsour said. We are a polarized nation so we went to the rabbis. We had a meeting and talked about issues of pain and trauma and historical trauma and trauma of black people in America. Muslims, refugees. So we will continue those conversations, Sarsour said. For the third year in a row, the main Womens March was held in Washington D.C. and hundreds of sister marches were held across the country. According to reports there were fewer participants than in previous years, in part due to the accusations of anti-Semitism against the leadership of the March. Three of the speakers on the main stage on Saturday were the three Jewish women named last week to the Womens March steering committee: transgender rights activist Abby Stein; former Union for Reform Judaism staffer April Baskin; and Jewish diversity activist Yavilah McCoy. Marches not affiliated with the national march also were held on Saturday in cities throughout the country. It is well known, that the hardest demographic to involve in Jewish life are teens. After bar/bat mitzvah many feel they have completed their Jewish education, not to mention the many after school programs and extra curricular activities making it increasingly difficult for high school students to join for classes and Jewish social events. With this in mind, Chabad and CTeen of North Orlando are bringing local teens a new innovation free of charge, called JText. Here's how it works: Every Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m, a Jewish Trivia multiple-choice question is sent out. Each participant responds with the number they believe is correct. The 7th person to answer correctly wins a $20 gift card. There is a 2-hour window, providing all participants with adequate time to answer. JText has featured a range of questions from "Which country had the earliest settlement of Jews?" to "Who were the first set of twins in the Torah?" to "Which location celebrates the longest Shabbat?" Following the question, the text includes 4 multiple-choice answers. Teens receiving the text can respond "1," "2," "3," or "4." Once they submit an answer, the teens immediately receive a response telling them if they are correct or not. With teens being on their phones approximately 1,440 minutes a day, JText is a great way to meet them where they are. As one JText player, put it, "Teens can put their time on their phones to good use by learning important Jewish facts with JText." "Chabad has always been on the cutting edge of technology and using it to make Torah and Judaism more accessible to all," said Rabbi Yanky Majesky of Chabad North Orlando. "Our goal is to engage the teens Jewishly on a fun creative way, where they are, this project does just that." "JText is a simple concept, rich with Jewish values and thought. It's a real win-win-win," said Chanshy Majesky of Chabad North Orlando "We were looking for a program that could attract the broad spectrum of teens that we engage with, and this one fit the bill perfectly." JText is open to all Jewish teens from bar/bat mitzvah through high school. To sign up, simply text the word "JoinJText" to 407-612-2552. For any questions, please contact Rabbi Yanky Majesky 407-636-5994 or Rabbi@JewishNorthOrlandocom. On a brisk early January morning, Randi Cunningham entered the graciously appointed lobby of Oakmonte Village's Cordova building and greeted the desk attendant with a wave and a smile. As a volunteer for the Jewish Pavilion, making visits to the rooms of Jewish residents a few times a month for the past few years, Cunningham is a familiar sight at this Lake Mary assisted living facility. Consulting her list of current Jewish residents, Cunningham planned a route for making her visits. The first resident wasn't home when she knocked on her door; the next wasn't feeling well, so Cunningham wished her well and left her with a chocolate and a Jewish Pavilion greeting card. When she reached the next door, Elaine Hendelson welcomed her in with a big smile, wishing her a happy new year. Hendelson was getting ready to go to an activity, so they chatted briefly about Hendelson's grandkids and shared small bits of news since the last time they had met. Asked how she was doing, Hendelson said, "Very well, no complaints. I'll bet you don't hear that very often!" Cunningham knows that even a short visit from a member of the Jewish community can mean a lot to a Jewish resident in assisted, memory, or skilled-nursing care, because it meant a lot to her father. Before she became a volunteer, her father was a resident in this building, eventually moving to the memory-care building next door before he passed away. "I moved my dad up here from South Florida," said Cunningham. With his health failing, she needed him to be near her Longwood home so she could see him frequently and monitor his care, but she was concerned because he had always lived in communities with predominantly Jewish populations. She knew that Oakmonte had a large number of Jewish residents by Orlando standards but wasn't sure how comfortable he'd feel there. "I was just thrilled to see what Pavilion was doing," Cunningham said. "It was very nice on the holidays and to have the Shabbats. Whatever they did was wonderful. It was something he really appreciated." Especially appreciated were the one-on-one visits from Pavilion staff and volunteers, a time to chat and share a laugh or a smile. "When I'd go see him, I'd find little notes that someone had visited," Cunningham said. Eventually, she began doing some volunteering of her own, both leading Jewish Pavilion Shabbat services at Oakmonte's Siena memory-care building and making the room visits. She encourages others to volunteer with the Pavilion's visiting program because it is both flexible and rewarding. "It's a really good volunteer opportunity because it is lower commitment, more on my schedule," Cunningham said. "There's enough people that there's always someone happy to see you, so it's an easy thing to sign on to." When she visits, she doesn't go empty handed. "I usually bring some sort of little food item," said Cunningham: delicacies such as halvah, rugelach or chocolates, as at her recent visit. Some are donated to the Pavilion, and others she brings on her own. More important are her friendly presence and willingness to listen and to talk. "I try to just sit down and visit the same way I would visit if it was a relative or family friend," she said. After leaving Hendelson's room, Cunningham went to visit with Harry Starr, an inveterate kibitzer whose company she always enjoys. Starr had been dozing a bit in his lounger chair, but his face lit up when he saw who had come to see him. Cunningham settled in for a nice long visit as Starr began an extended joke about a man who went to his rabbi because he wanted to have a bar mitzvah for his pet monkey. Then, remembering that he was a host, Starr offered Cunningham some bagels and lox he had in his refrigerator. "They're fresh!" he assured her when she begged off. The conversation soon turned to their Jewish backgrounds and their former rabbis and congregations. Starr talked of his parents, who were born in Poland, describing how they made wine by stomping on grapes and kept kosher and were involved in their Midwestern synagogue. As with any two friends who enjoy each other's company, they ranged from topic to topic: personal details about their families, the places they'd lived over the years, and how they met their spouses, and more topical subjects such as intermarriage and the current president. The next day was a Friday, and Starr was looking forward to the Jewish Pavilion Shabbat services, where he makes the kiddush and enjoys joining in the prayers as Susan Bernstein, a Pavilion program director, leads the service. "She's wonderful," he said. When it was time to leave, Starr's smile lit up. "I love talking to you-it's a nice visit," he told Cunningham. Then he left her with a Yiddish blessing: "Gay gezunt un kum gezunt"-go in good health, and return in good health. JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel struck Iranian targets in Syria, hours after an Iranian-made ground-to-ground missile was fired by an Iranian force in Syria at northern Israel. The targets struck by Israel Defense Forces warplanes late on Sunday night include munitions storage sites, an Iranian intelligence site, an Iranian military training camp, and a military site located in the Damascus International Airport, the IDF said. Russias defense control center in Syria said that four Syrian soldiers were killed and six wounded in the attacks. Syrian military air defenses destroyed more than 30 cruise missiles and guided bombs during the air strikes, according to Russia. The IDF warned Syria ahead of the strikes on the Iranian targets, and warned the Syrians not to fire anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli planes during the attack. However, dozens of Syrian surface-to-air missiles were launched during the attack, causing the Israeli warplanes to target several of the Syrian Armed Forces aerial defense batteries, according to the IDF. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, reported that 11 people were killed, of which two were Syrian nationals. It said that the death toll is expected to rise. IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said the missile attack Sunday afternoon on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights in northern Israel was pre-planned. By firing towards Israeli civilians, Iran once again proved that it is attempting to entrench itself in Syria, endangering the State of Israel and regional stability, according to the IDF. The IDF will continue to act decisively and firmly against the Iranian establishment in Syria. The missile attack came after Israel on Sunday morning targeted a munitions depot at the Damascus International Airport. The daylight attack was a departure from previous airstrikes. Israel has been more direct in recent weeks about acknowledging airstrikes on Syria. Outgoing Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot told the New York Times earlier this month that Israel launched thousands of attacks on Syria during his four years in the position. The Mount Hermon ski slopes and winter activities site was closed on Monday due to security concerns. The commander of the Iranian Air Force on Monday said that his country was prepared for a decisive war with Israel, which will bring an end to the IDFs attacks on Syria. Our armed forces are prepared for a war that will bring the destruction of Israel, he said, according to reports. We are ready for the day when we will see the end of Israel. (JNS)Israel will revoke permits issued to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency due to accusations that the organization incites terror against Israel. According to a Hadashot television news report on Saturday, Israels National Security Council will revoke UNRWAs permits to operate schools for Arab residents in eastern Jerusalem. Currently, UNRWA operates seven schools with an estimated 3,000 students in the city. UNRWA will reportedly be allowed to continue running the schools for the remainder of the current school year. Starting with the upcoming school year, the schools will fall under the jurisdiction of Israels Education Ministry and will be run by the Jerusalem municipality. UNRWA was initially established in 1949 to assist tens of thousands of Arab refugees following Israels War of Independence. Palestinians are the only refugee population in the world supported by their own U.N. body. The decision was reportedly reached last month after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would cease funding the agency. The United States had been providing UNRWA with nearly $300 million, about 30 percent of the organizations annual budget. Former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has called for UNRWA to be expelled from Israels capital city due to accusations that it perpetuates conflict with Israel by inciting violence and perpetuating a refugee crisis, as opposed to improving life for the Arab residents living in Jerusalem for the past several decades. UNRWAs treatment of residents as refugees is a barrier to their advancement and has no place, Barkat said in September. The time has come to transform them from refugees to residents and to rehabilitate them. It is possible. The removal of UNRWA will reduce incitement and terrorism, improve service to the residents, increase Israelization in east[ern] Jerusalem and contribute to [Israeli] unity and sovereignty in Jerusalem. Distrust in UNRWA crosses Israels political spectrum. Also in September, Yesh Atid opposition party leader Yair Lapid said that UNRWA is guilty of providing cover to terror, and has lost sight of its purpose by servicing 5.5 million fake refugees. UNRWA, Lapid added, perpetuates the big Palestinian lie, as if there are 5 million Palestinian refugees who have a right of return. There arent 5 million refugees, and they dont have a right of return. By Christine DeSouza Many people in the Central Florida Jewish community know Idit Lotringer very well. She is the type of person who is liked immediately because of her energy, openness, friendliness and kindness. She is also a real go-getter and is the Orlando regional manager of the Israeli American Council, which opened a chapter here last August. "There are 20 offices in the United States and we are the 18th office to open!" Lotringer proclaimed with a big smile. She wasn't always involved with the Council, which was founded in 2007 in Los Angeles. Lotringer, who has a passion for teaching, was part of a program in Israel that sent her here 10 years ago to be a Hebrew-Judaic Studies teacher at the Jewish Academy of Orlando. The job was to be for only three years. She and her family were to return to Israel. But that didn't happen. "There are truly quality people here. It is a welcoming community," she said, and she didn't want to leave. The Jewish Academy said they still needed her here, so arrangements were made for the Lotringers to get their green cards and stay. In fact, three months ago, the family became American citizens and hold dual citizenship. Lotringer no longer teaches Hebrew and Judaic Studies, but she still holds the position of Hebrew and Judaic Studies coordinator for the school. Now she has opened the door to a larger dream. "I have a dream to bring this community to a different level, combining Israeli-Americans with Jewish-Americans." In the words of Israeli-American Council CEO Shoham Nicolet and the chairman of the board, Adam Milstein, "[IAC is] bringing bold ideas and game-changing solutions to engage Israeli-Americans as a living bridge between the Jewish American community and the Israeli people." It's the perfect niche for Lotringer, who continues to follow her passion through the several programs already initiated to teach entire families Israeli culture. "We are the only new chapter with all the programs," Lotringer stated. The programs for young people include Keshet (ages 0-12); Eitanim (teens ages 13-18); and Mishelanu (college age 18-24). In Keshet, children connect through Hebrew, Israeli culture, and Jewish heritage. The group meets once a month. Eitanim provides challenges through innovative, project-based learning experiences-all within the framework of building their connection to Israel. The program promotes a mindset of entrepreneurship, critical thinking and problem solving. This class meets twice a month. Lotringer has 17 children in this program and it meets on Monday evenings from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Jewish Academy. The children enjoy a pizza dinner, then spend two hours working on their project. With Lotringer are two mentors who teach the class-Lora Parahovnik and Ronen Shor. The cost for these classes is $180 for the year, and both will begin new sessions this month. The Mishelanu program is active on the UCF campus. The program provides a feeling of home for Israeli-American students, allowing them to express their "Israeliness." In addition to these classes, IAC offers Tzofim-Israeli Scouts. IAC provided more than $500,000 in grants for the Tzofim to increase the number of local chapters. Here in Central Florida, there are almost 40 scouts from third grade up. Recently, IAC hosted-with the support of JNF, Chabad and the Roth Family JCC-a Tu B'Shevat festival. More than 150 people attended the event. There was dancing, Israeli food, lots of green (for the trees) and laughter. Lotringer questioned why America doesn't have an Israeli celebration like other cultures do-the Irish brought St. Patrick's Day, the Germans gave us Octoberfest, the Mexicans share Cinco de Mayo, just to mention a few. She hopes to bring many more Israeli celebrations like Tu B'Shevat to the community. And there are already several celebrations planned: On Feb. 20, IAC, the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, JNF and Tzofim have joined together to bring the community Yom Israel-Israel Day at the Roth Family JCC from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. There will be outdoor family activities, Israeli food and Ben Gurion Cafe and Convo with JNF emissary, Zohar Vloski (from 3 p.m.-3:45 p.m.). In March, Lotringer has plans for a Purim Carnival; in April she will introduce Mimouna, a Morrocan Jewish celebration, held the day after Passover; and in May there is Yom Ha'atzmaut-Israel Independence day. On the wall in her office, Lotringer has a saying that says, "Be the change you want to see in the world." This is her motto and she is dynamically living it. For more information about IAC, or if you'd like to make a donation or support in any way, contact Idit Lotringer at ilotringer@israeliamerican.org or visit the website at israeliamerican.org. NEW YORK (JTA)-A decade ago, the publisher of the Jewish Daily Forward asked his board to believe in miracles. "We are supposed to believe in miracles; we are forbidden to rely on them, " Sam Norich wrote in an email to the board of the Forward Association on Dec. 25, 2008. "That means that miracles only happen if we do our part to help them along." And according to the attached minutes of a November 2008 board meeting, the venerable Jewish newspaper could have used a little divine intervention in the thick of the financial crisis. Just five years removed from selling its radio signal for $73 million, the Forward began that September with $63 million in invested assets. By the end of the month, as the stock market plummeted, that number had dropped even further, to $54 million-a $9 million loss within 30 days. A couple months later, the board would discover that it lost $355,000 in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. But Norich had good news: Months earlier, the Forward had appointed a new editor, Jane Eisner. Norich called Eisner, an alumna of the Philadelphia Inquirer, a "phenomenal professional with very high aspirations." Her appointment, he said, "augurs well for the future of the Forward." Ten years later, the picture looks grimmer: On Wednesday, news broke that after 121 years, the Forward would be ceasing its print edition and laying off 10 people-20 percent of its staff-including Jane Eisner. "Today was a tough day," Rachel Fishman Feddersen, the Forward's publisher since 2016, wrote to the newsroom in an email on Thursday that did not mention Eisner or any of the other laid-off staff by name. For years, the Forward has been running a loss of about $5 million per year, financial documents show. In 2015, the Forward transferred the vast majority of its assets to a new, separate nonprofit called the Forward Fund, which allowed the publication to protect its assets in case of a debilitating libel suit. The Forward Fund's records show a 2016 drop in net assets from $44.3 million to $38.5 million. In 2017, the Forward's annual report shows that it broke even by virtue of $4.9 million in "Funds drawn from investment accounts." Neither the Forward Association nor the Fund made its 2017 financial records available to JTA. But Feddersen told JTA that at the end of 2017 the Forward Fund had $37,728,140 in the bank. (Norich, who was the Forward's publisher from 1997 to 2016, directed JTA to Feddersen, as did Jacob Morowitz, the chair of the Forward's board. Mark Mlotek and Ron Sernau, the current and past board treasurers, did not return calls seeking comment.) "We are making many changes at the company, and that comes with saying goodbye to some treasured colleagues," Fedderson wrote. "And that hurts." The death of the Forward's print edition, and the slashes to its masthead, cap off decades of financial bleeding at one of the country's most storied Jewish newspapers. And they usher in an era of uncertainty at a publication that has helped define the American Jewish experience-and hold its institutions accountable-since the beginning of the 20th century. "The mood was tense and the remaining management didn't seem to have a clear plan for what happens next," a staff member who wished to remain anonymous wrote to JTA of the atmosphere in the office Thursday. Feddersen told JTA that the changes were a necessary pivot toward the way people consume news now, enabling the publication to maintain its reporting standards while staying financially stable. She said that the organization had been losing money since the middle of the last century. "Running a media business is really expensive," she told JTA in a phone interview Thursday. "The Forward has been running at a loss since 1945 and it has supported itself by selling off assets... There was always a commitment to a quality of journalism that fulfilled our mission." One cost the publication has paid recently is Norich's retirement package, which cost the Forward a total of nearly $700,000 dollars paid out in three lump sums, according to Norich. Those payments ended in 2017, Feddersen told JTA, and Norich now receives no compensation as a Forward Association board member. Feddersen and another board member who asked not to be identified said that the organization should now be financially sustainable. Feddersen wrote in an email to JTA that with print costs gone and the staff significantly reduced, there will be "substantial savings" in 2019. Adam Langer and Helen Chernikoff, the publication's culture and news editors, respectively, will run the newsroom during the search for a new editor in chief. Feddersen told JTA that Eisner was let go because the publication needs an editor with more digital experience. But it was not long ago that the Forward was putting Eisner front and center. Last month, Eisner was an honoree at a Forward gala that highlighted "#FearlessWomen in Journalism." In 2017, the Forward launched a weekly email newsletter by Eisner called "Jane Looking Forward" that featured her perspective on recent events. In 2016, the Forward hired an external public relations firm to pitch her to other publications as an expert. In 2015 she interviewed then president Barack Obama. "We are extremely proud of our association with her and of everything she's done here," Feddersen said of Eisner. The Forward Association board member who wished to remain anonymous told JTA that "there's such affection for Jane." But a former board member, Tom Freudenheim, said that firing Eisner and other senior staff does not track with the goal of maintaining strong reporting. "I'm an admirer of Jane Eisner and Dan Friedman," said Freudenheim, a retired museum director, referring to the laid-off executive editor. "I don't know how you can run a newspaper, whether it's online or in print, if you don't have seasoned, senior, professional journalists running it." Eisner declined to comment to JTA, pointing to a statement she gave to The New York Times in which she said she had "embraced visionary, fearless and impactful journalism that served our community with distinction." She added that she has "cherished my time at The Forward." While she was still at the Forward, Eisner oversaw the shift away from print. In 2017, the Forward switched from being a weekly newspaper to a monthly magazine with a glossy cover. The Forward has 2 million monthly visitors online, and had 16,000 print subscribers, according to Feddersen. "Over the last couple of years this was a preordained process," the anonymous board member said. "People even a couple years ago knew we'd go from weekly to monthly and probably not have a print publication." A new new era That move marks a new era for a publication that has had a variety of lives. Under the leadership of Belarusian immigrant Abraham Kahan as a Yiddish daily with socialist leanings who took over in 1897, the Forward became a circulation powerhouse with more than 275,000 subscribers nationally at its peak in the early 1930s. It also owned a radio station, WEVD. The call letters of the station stood for Eugene V. Debs, the repeat socialist presidential candidate. The Forward headquarters on the Lower East Side were a local landmark. In 1974, a Chinese-American real estate family bought the Forward Building, and the newspaper moved to Midtown Manhattan, sharing space with the Workmen's Circle, a Jewish socialist organization. In 1990, the newspaper launched a weekly edition in English under the leadership of Seth Lipsky, a veteran of The Wall Street Journal. Lipsky put the reinvigorated weekly back on the map, mixing his own neoconservative leanings, knack for hiring young talent and a penchant for scoops with a formidable culture section headed by Jonathan Rosen, the critic and novelist. Forward alumni from that era include Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic; Philip Gourevitch, a New Yorker staff writer and former editor of The Paris Review; and Lucette Lagnado, a memoirist and reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Lipsky and the board parted ways in 2000, and his successor was J.J. Goldberg, a veteran Jewish journalist whose politics were more in line with the newspaper's left-wing roots. The Forward's financial prospects looked substantially brighter in 2003, when Disney bought WEVD for a reported $73-plus million; previously, a Spanish broadcasting network had paid the Forward $32.5 million for its coveted spot on the FM dial, according to the New York Daily News. At the time, The Forward Association said "proceeds from the sale would serve as an endowment, ensuring that English, Yiddish and Russian-language editions would carry on regardless of the advertising market." In 2010, the Forward and Workmen's Circle split the proceeds from the 18.5 million sale of their midtown building to a developer who resold it the same day for $20 million. Enviable revenues from those sales did not, however, ensure the newspaper's long-term financial health. "Part of the goal of a responsible board of any organization is to make sure the assets don't get pissed away, which is what they're trying to deal with now," Freudenheim said. "Those assets were used to prop up the print Forward, and we're living in a different age." Ken Doctor, a news industry expert at the Nieman Lab, said the decision to fire the most senior staff suggested a news operation in tough straits. "Usually it's among organizations that have hit the panic button," Doctor said. "When you have such a sudden lurch and you take out the top positions, that tells me this is not well planned. It sends a note of desperation." Fedderson said it was responsible for the Forward to act as it did when it did. "The company was slow to evolve when all the changes hit the media landscape for a bunch of reasons," Feddersen said in her email. "I was brought on to ensure the Forward continues to survive and thrive, and that includes curbing our expenses. This is by far the most responsible, best move we can make to fulfill our mission." The Yiddish edition, which has continued printing alongside the English paper, will also cease printing and maintain its digital presence. In addition to retaining its left-wing leanings, the Forward has a tradition of investigative reporting on Jewish institutions. In the past year, its reporters uncovered funders of Canary Mission, a shadowy blacklist of pro-Palestinian activists, as well as the history and misdeeds of Stanley Rosenfeld, a Jewish educator who assaulted underage boys for decades at Jewish schools. In 2017 it reported on former Trump White House aide Sebastian Gorka's connections to a Hungarian nationalist group with roots in the Nazi era. "I'm sad because I've enjoyed having it but it wasn't supported by the public," the board member said of the print edition. "It's a difficult time for all of us." Rabbi Yehiel Kalish attending the swearing-in of Dafna Michaelson Jenet, his sister, at the Colorado House of Representatives in Denver, Jan. 11, 2017. (JTA)-Only days after being sworn into the Illinois House of Representatives on Sunday, Rabbi Yehiel Kalish paid a visit to Israel. The father of six said he needed guidance from rabbis in the Jewish state to serve in his new role. "The immediate reaction of the Chicago political world was 'Orthodox rabbi chosen for seat in state legislature,'" he told JTA on Wednesday in a phone interview from Jerusalem. "So that immediately put a microscope on me, and I felt pressure taking the position to begin with, and with that added to it, I felt I needed a little bit of help, so I jumped on a plane [to] give a little bit of strength to my prayer by being in Israel." The 43-year-old rabbi, who was appointed to serve in the position after Rep. Lou Lang announced his resignation earlier this month, also has a source of guidance a bit closer to home. Just a few state lines over he can consult fellow local lawmaker Dafna Michaelson Jenet, who has been serving in the Colorado House of Representatives since 2017. Michaelson Jenet also happens to be Kalish's older sister, and he says they have been talking every day since he took office. "She can be helpful because she's two years ahead of me, that's one thing," Kalish said. "The other thing is that I have someone that I can talk to about stuff. That's awesome." Jeffrey Wice, the executive director of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, told JTA that he believes the pair are the first Jewish siblings to concurrently serve in different state legislatures since his organization's founding in 1977. The siblings, who grew up in Cincinnati, are Democrats. Jewishly, Kalish is deeply involved in the Orthodox world and Michaelson Jenet attends two Conservative synagogues. They are united by their commitment to serving their communities and the inspiration they draw from Judaism. Kalish wakes up at 4 a.m. each day and spends two hours studying Jewish texts before doing the morning prayers. "It keeps you focused on what's important," he said. "To try to keep values important, try to remember that you're not alone in this world and you have to care for others." After receiving his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, in 1999, Kalish spent three years studying Jewish texts at the Cincinnati Community Kollel and then took a job at Agudath Israel of America, an organization that lobbies on behalf of the haredi Orthodox community. He worked there for 12 years, serving as Midwest Regional director and vice president for development and state relations. In 2014, he left the organization to co-found a consulting firm, but he remains a member of its board of trustees. Kalish also is involved in Achiezer, a group that provides aid to struggling members of the Orthodox community, and coordinated its hurricane relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy. He also serves as the cantor of Congregation Shaarei Tzedek Mishkan Yair in Chicago. His district is about 30 percent Orthodox Jewish, he told JTA, and includes Skokie and Rogers Park. As a lawmaker, he is passionate about issues that matter to the Orthodox community, including support for private religious schools and community nonprofits. But he's also eager to learn more about other communities in his district-it has large Asian, Assyrian Christian and Muslim populations-and said he is "starting a listening tour" to hear about their concerns. Kalish says he met recently with representatives from the Chicago Teachers Union and Planned Parenthood. Like her brother, Michaelson Jenet, 46, took an unconventional path to politics. In 2008, she quit her job at a hospital to embark on a yearlong journey in which she visited each of the 50 states to meet with people making a difference in their communities. She kept a blog documenting her experience, which caught the attention of writer Maya Angelou, who interviewed her about the initiative on Oprah Radio. In 2015, while working on a book about her trip, Michaelson Jenet ran into a local politician who suggested she run for office. A year later she defeated the Republican incumbent, JoAnn Windholz, by an 8 percent margin. She was re-elected last year, both times earning the endorsement of President Barack Obama. Michaelson Jenet draws inspiration from Judaism. She recalls that as a 14-year-old, her parents and their friends would have passionate discussions around the Shabbat table about the challenges in Cincinnati. She was troubled, however, that they didn't take action when the day of rest had come to an end. "I truly believed that they had the answer to the problems that I cared strongly about, that were plaguing our community, and they didn't fix them," Michaelson Jenet told JTA in a phone interview last year. She pledged to never complain about problems unless she was willing to solve them. It's a promise she called "a driving factor" in her life. Her legislative focus-helping struggling children-stems from the difficulties of her now teenage son, Eytan. He has a severe learning disability, and Michaelson Jenet believes the fact that he could not get an individualized education plan in school contributed to his attempted suicide at age 9. She has introduced bills to help children obtain mental health services, expand free school lunches and provide sexual abuse prevention training to early childhood providers. Though her family was Orthodox, Michaelson Jenet remembers struggling with her faith since she was young. Another challenge came when she met her now-husband, who is not Jewish. "Why do you put this man in my life who isn't Jewish and is the best thing that ever happened to me? Clearly he's my bashert," she remembers asking God on a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, using the Yiddish word for soulmate. Their marriage led to several family members cutting ties with her. Michaelson Jenet calls her husband, Michael, "the greatest enabler of my faith." Michaelson Jenet said her younger brother's run for office came as no surprise. "My run for public office surprised my family, but my brother's selection was a long time coming," she told JTA in an email. "I always knew he'd enter public service when the time was right and Illinois is so lucky to have him. I look forward to mentoring him and learning from him as he grows in his legislative work." (JNS)Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday about Irans terror network in the Middle East, spending $7 billion annually to threaten Israel. Iran is exploiting the regime to conduct military operations against Israel, but we will respond with force and remove any threat to our people, he said at a special session on the latest developments in the Middle East. The Iranian regimes obsession with Israel is not just well-known. It is expensive. Seven billion dollars annually are directed toward the never-ending attempts to destroy Israel, the ambassador told the chambers members as he displayed a map showing the extent of Irans financial terror network in the Middle East. Follow the bloody trail of money starting in Tehran, and you will arrive at the terror tunnels in Lebanon and Gaza and the weapons warehouses in Syria. It is now trying to infiltrate Judea and Samaria. Danon also drew attention to Irans attempts to infiltrate and attack the West Bank: With the help of Saleh Al-Arouri, Hamass Deputy Political Chief, and Saeed Izadi, the head of the Palestinian branch of the Iranian Quds Force, Iran is trying to turn Judea and Samaria into a fourth military front against Israel. The worlds silence allows Iran to continue with its operations and aggression to undermine stability in the Middle East. Irans Financial Terror Network in the Middle EastSyria: 4$ billionHezbollah (Lebanon): 1$ billionShiite proxies (Iraq): Hundreds of millions of dollarsHouthi rebels (Yemen): Tens of millions of dollarsIslamic Jihad and Hamas (Gaza): 120$ million. Chabad of North Orlando is launching a new initiative with the Aleph Institute, a Tikun Olam focused organization that works in the critical field of criminal justice and advocates for those incarcerated. We are initiating a program where volunteers can visit inmates one and one in the visiting room, said Rabbi Yanky Majesky. There are many Jewish inmates incarcerated in Coleman that have very few if any visitors. These Jewish men and women are looking to connect with someone to receive moral support, encouragement and spiritual guidance. This is an amazing opportunity to spread light to those who are in the darkest of places. To learn more about this program or to sign up, those interested can contact Sarah Schmukler at 310-598-2142, ext. 231 or sara@aleph-institute.org. This is part 1 of a four-part series. Just after Christmas it was announced that Israel will be holding early elections on April 9. In the coming months there will be heavy campaigning, countless polls, stunts, pundits predictions, and endless projections. Many friends have asked, what will be with Prime Minister Netanyahu, politically and legally, and what should they pray for? Before sharing some of the things to watch and pray for, let me make one projection that is not unique and that all polls are projecting: that the Likud party under Prime Minister Netanyahu will win again, and he will become Israels longest serving prime minister. Further, its likely that albeit with some modifications, the coalition that forms the next government will be comprised more or less the of the same parties that are in the government now. Why should you even care? As the only stable and truly thriving democracy in the Middle Eastan island in a sea of terrorists, tyrants and dictatorsIsraels survival and well-being is essential. Israel is on the frontline of combating these extremist Islamic and Arab ideologies and in doing so, helps keep them in check. Through Israels sophisticated intelligence gathering, threats to the rest of the world are shared and Israel cooperates with many to ensure safety and the elimination of threats globally. No foreign troops have ever been deployed in or to defend Israel. Israel defends itself. There is an abundance of military hardware from the U.S. and other countries that is provided, providing jobs in these countries as well. This is important in Israel and appreciated. But the even greater significance is that in most cases, Israel is the laboratory for testing these and many other domestically developed defense systems. Doing so makes Israel stronger but also lets the world know and learn from how these systems can be best used to keep others safe in their countries. Finally, Israel is the home of and embodies the Judeo-Christian ethic. This phrase is tossed around freely but its important. Common values, based on the recognition of God as the Creator of the world, the same and only God that Jews and Christians revere and worship, are critical. These values underscore a strong foundation that people of faith understand together. Israels very existence reflects Gods promise to restore His people to their Land. His fingerprints are all over that and when we recognize and celebrate this, we honor and revere God, and highlight Him to the rest of the world that does not recognize Him yet. Odds are that even with all the observations and factors below, and any number of things that can change and influence the elections until then, you will wake up on April 10 and this will be the outcome. However, often things in Israel are not so clean cut. Three months is a long time in Israeli politics. Many factors can change and influence the outcome. In short, you never know. Israels Electoral System Before going into a closer look at the issues that face Israel, and which will determine the outcome of the election, its necessary to understand a little bit about Israels electoral system. Israel is a parliamentary democracy. This means that voters do not vote for a candidate to become prime minister, but rather for a political party whose views and leaders the voter finds most aligned with his or her own. The parliament is called the Knesset and is made up of 120 members. Parties compete to get the highest percent of the vote, and the number of seats is allocated based on the relative percent each party gets. In order to have any seats, a party must pass a threshold of 3.25 percent of the vote. Parties that do not meet this threshold do not get represented in the Knesset. Political parties run the gamut from far left to far right, ultra-orthodox religious parties to secular. There are both Jewish and Arab nationalist parties as well. Based on their representation as a percent of Israeli society, both the Arab parties and ultra-orthodox Jewish parties typically maintain the same overall number of seats in the Knesset. Nevertheless, there are Arabs who are members of many of the Jewish and national parties and orthodox Jews who are members of parties that are not particularly religious. There is no representative element of Israels Knesset in the sense that people are not elected from specific geographic districts. An upside of that is that theres no political redistricting. A down side of that is that, once elected to Knesset, most members do not behave as if they have a constituency to represent. Their votes are often in line with party protocol rather than a particular demographic. This is the exception for the Arab and religious parties, and to a lesser degree among parties that will designate a particular place on their respective lists for a representative of someone under 40, an immigrant, a woman, etc. For a short period some years ago, there was a pensioners party representing the interests of Israelis over retirement age. In order to form a government, one needs a majority of members to be part of the government. In a simpler world, if one party were to achieve 61 seats, that party would presumably head the government and it would be straightforward. In seven decades of hyper democracy, this has never been the case. Therefore, in order to form a government, the head of one party, usually the one that receives the most seats, is designated to form the government by forming a coalition with other parties. After the election, based on the number of seats each party wins, its the job of the president (today thats Reuven Rivlin) to meet with the heads of the respective parties and ascertain who has the best chance to form a coalition. This is certainly influenced by the total number of seats a party secures, but also based on personalities of which parties, and their leaders, would agree to serve in a coalition with another person or party. As the head of State, Israels president is largely a figure head. Yet the president does have significant roles in Israeli society. Designating who will get to form the government, while often obvious, is one of those significant roles. A look at the political parties While the polls will change many times between now and April, in order to have an overview of the elections first we will explore the parties running. The order presented is based on recent projections of the number of seats that each party will receive from top down, though each poll projects slightly different outcomes. These are 14 parties that will likely succeed in having from three to as many as 30 seats. However, there are several other parties that will be included in the campaign that are not listed as they are not projected to win any seats in the next Knesset. These small parties typically focus on specific issues such as security, religion, extreme left or right positions, legalization of marijuana, and more. LikudIsraels major national center-right party headed by Benjamin Netanyahu Hosen LYisrael (Israel Resilience)a new political party headed by former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, presumed to be centrist but may lean more to the left Joint Arab List *a network of Arab parties that came together to run as a block Yesh Atid (There is a Future)a centrist party headed by former TV personality Yair Lapid Hayamin Hachadash (The New Right)*a break away new right-wing party striving to unite secular and religious Israelis Labor *the left-wing party that dominated Israeli politics for the first three decades of Israels independence. In recent years this party ran in a coalition with another but separated recently. United Torah Judaisman ultra-orthodox Jewish religious party Kulanu (All of Us)a centrist party predominantly focused on economic issues Shasan ultra-orthodox Jewish religious party oriented to Jews whose families are from Arab and middle-eastern countries MeretzIsraels dominant most left-wing party Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) *a nationalist religious right-wing party Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is our Home)a right wing political party oriented to Jewish immigrants from the former USSR Gesher (Bridge)a new political party believed to be centrist headed by a woman who broke away from Yisrael Beiteinu Telema new party headed by veteran politician, general former Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. In the next article we will explore unique legal issues regarding investigations and a possible indictment against Prime Minister Netanyahu, and what that means for the election itself, political jockeying by different parties and their leaders, and how it might be possible for Netanyahu to form a coalition. Footnote: If you have thoughts or questions about things raised here, or things not mentioned at all, or wish to have updates as the campaign goes along, please feel free to reach out directly. If youd like a list of relevant articles to add depth to your understanding, please let me know. I may not be able to answer all the questions in real time but will be glad to do so where I can and incorporate these into updates in the future. Thanks for your interest. firstpersonisrael@gmail.com Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six and became a grandfather in 2018. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and serve as a bridge between Jews and Christians. He shares insights and experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, writing for prominent Christian and conservative web sites and appearing on many Christian TV and radio programs. He is the president of Run for Zion and the Genesis 123 Foundation. He can be reached at firstpersonisrael@gmail.com and via http://www.runforzion.com. Last weekend, 10 representatives from Orlando joined more than 3,000 women leaders from all 50 U.S. states and 100 countries, hailing from as far away as Laos and Angola, Ghana and Uzbekistan, at the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries (Kinus Hashluchos) in Brooklyn, N.Y. The annual event was aimed at reviving Jewish awareness and practice around the world. Preconceived notions about the insular role of women in Hasidism were shattered as thousands of women from around the world, each serving in crucial leadership positions, gathered for five days of brainstorming about the future of world Jewry and their roles as representatives of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The leaders-who embrace multiple roles and responsibilities-explored relevant issues, and learned from professionals and colleagues with years of experience. The topics covered ran the gamut of their concerns: understanding troubled relationships; adult education, inclusion; responding to tragedy; fundraising; the opioid epidemic; mental health; and a conference within the conference for Hebrew school and preschool directors, as well as one for those who serve students on college campuses, ensuring a lasting impact on the next generation of communal leaders. The conference also included a parallel track for lay leaders. "The power in the room is surreal," said Shlucha Devorah Leah Dubov, co-director at Chabad of Greater Orlando. "There are thousands of women in the room each representing another community around the world," said Shlucha Chanshy Majesky, who co-directs Chabad of North Orlando. Additional highlights of the five-day conference were a visit to the gravesite of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, in the New York City borough of Queens; the "class picture," where the women posed for a group photo; as well as the gala banquet, where they were joined by admirers, supporters and influential women leaders for a sit-down dinner. The conference is a tribute to the legacy of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the esteemed wife of the Rebbe, and is timed to the anniversary of her passing. "This is especially meaningful to me, as the Rebbetzin is my namesake," said Mussie Bronstein, co-director at Chabad of Altamonte Springs. "Rebbetzin Schneerson's deep care for and insight into our work remains a source of inspiration to us women emissaries," added Bronstein. The conference also serves another vital purpose: It represents an opportunity to connect with colleagues, and recharge their personal energy. This gives the participants, especially those going back to far and isolated outposts, an exhilarating send-off, coupled with the sense that they are not alone. Another dimension to the conference was networking. "This weekend fills me with the inspiration I need for the rest of the year to lead my community in the best way possible," said Shlucha Chani Konikov, co-director at Chabad of South Orlando. Orlando representatives who attended were: Chabad of Greater Orlando: Devorah Leah Dubov, Bracha Leibowitz, Esther Hoffer; Chabad of South Orlando: Chani Konikov, Shaina Zibell; Chabad at UCF: Rivkie Lipskier; Chabad of North Orlando: Chanshy Majesky; Chabad Student Center at Rollins College: Chayala Sasonkin; Chabad of Altamonte Springs: Mussie Bronstein; Chabad of Downtown Orlando: Slava Dubov. Another great loss to our Jewish community... I'm referring to Max Mogul, a longtime member of our Jewish community... for more than half a century at least. I wrote recently about the unfortunate passing of his beloved wife, Ruth. People who knew Max, knew how generous a man he was, especially to orphaned children. At his memorial service, people spoke so highly of him (which didn't surprise me) with much admiration, love and respect. Many also spoke of how he made them laugh! His daughter, Lynda, dedicated and sang his favorite song, "The Wind Beneath My Wings," which brought many to tears. They told Lynda that was a "beautiful tribute to her dad. His daughter, Janet, was also filled with love and grief for the passing of her dad. Max Mogul will surely be missed! On my bucket list... Eastern Canada, especially Montreal, is on my bucket list. It is where my mom was born and probably where I have some relatives I don't even know about. I have been to western Canada. I performed at the Calgary Stampede as vocalist with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and visited some surrounding towns. But... bucket list, here I come! On the subject of Canada... I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along: WJC President Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder praised the Canadian government for the recent issuance of a formal apology over its 1939 decision to turn away the M.S. St. Louis ship carrying Jewish refugees fleeing from Europe. "The WJC welcomes the Canadian government's apology for turning away a ship filled with Jews in 1939 and for its 'one is too many' policy regarding these refugees, which returned them to Europe where many of them ended up murdered by the Nazis and their accomplices," he said. "We are grateful to our Canadian affiliate, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, for its role in bringing about this important apology and public recognition of the ills of this fateful decision." He continued, "Today, xenophobia and anti-Semitism have made a frightening recurrence across the globe, an indisputable reality which bears the potential for horrendous and deadly consequences, as the history of the Holocaust teaches us. "We must always remember the dangers that can arise when we stand idly by as hatred rears its ugly head. Let the lesson of the M.S. St. Louis ring loudly and clearly in the disquieting political climate of today and let us remind ourselves of the importance of protecting and defending those in need, including strangers in our midst. Together we must remember our past and protect our future." (We must care about all races and religions! What happened to our people must never happen again...not to anyone.) Remembering Jewish history... On Jan. 28,1986, 11:38 a.m., millions watched on television as Jewish astronaut Dr. Judith A. Resnik boarded the Challenger at the Kennedy Space Center, smiling and waving. Seventy-three seconds after takeoff, the Challenger's fuel tank exploded at 46,000 feet, causing the shuttle cabin to careen 65,000 feet into the sky before descending to the ocean, killing all seven crew members. Resnik was the second American female astronaut to travel in space, serving as a mission specialist on the 1984 maiden voyage of the space shuttle Discovery. She was also a classical pianist and a gourmet cook. What a great loss! (Back some years, I was invited to Apollo 12 because my husband was an engineer who worked on it. I sat in the bleachers next to President Nixon, who tried his best to ignore me...thinking of me as too unimportant to converse with. His Secret Service detail was very friendly though. Oh well... who cares!) A Reminder... On Sunday, Feb. 3rd, beginning at 2 p.m., the COS Senior's will hold their entertaining monthly meeting at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway, South in Maitland. The featured performer will be ANDY COSTANTINI, lead vocalist, guitar & keyboard player for the "Rollabels." As always, there will be a complimentary "nosh" of cakes, cookies, drinks, etc. Everyone is welcome. The admission charge is $5,COS Seniors members; $8, nonmembers. For info, contact COS Seniors president, JERRY LEIBMAN at 407-694-0546. Roth Family JCC, Maitland... Come join The Tribe for another great happy hour! Meet new friends and connect with old ones at The Tribe Happy Hour at Dexter's of Winter Park, 558 W. New England Ave. Suite 100, on Thursday, Feb. 7th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Get a free drink if this is your first Tribe event or if you bring someone new to this event! Contact CHELSEA QUEREAU st 407-645-5933, extension 288. Admission is free. JCC39ers Cinema Sundays... At 2 p.m. in the JCC Seniors Lounge, the movie "Lion" will be featured on Feb. 3rd. Refreshments will be available. JCC39ers Meet & Mingle Mondays... On Feb. 4th, at 1 p.m. "Senior Living at Allegro" will be presented by BRIANA. Complimentary refreshments will be served after the presentation. Dr. Judith A. Resnick Shout-Out... Wow, what great service I had today at TooJays Deli in Altamonte Springs. My waitress was DEBBIE KLAUCK. She went above and beyond serving me... helping me with personal things as well. She's as cute as a button, sharp and hard working. In fact, I would love her as a daughter. (Well Debbie, what do you say????) One for the road... Two Jewish cannibals are stewing a pot of food over a fire. "Oy veh," says the first cannibal, "I really do hate my mother-in-law." The second cannibal replies, "Nu? So leave her over and just drink the chicken soup." (That's a sick joke if I ever heard one. My mother-in-law was delicious!) Uniontown, PA (15401) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. UB Libraries builds 24-foot exhibit wall to remember history of civil rights activism on campus This section of the "Revolution" exhibit in the Silverman Library features a timeline of events occurring throughout Buffalo and across the nation during the civil rights movement. Photo: Douglas Levere Exhibit to feature Martin Luther King Jr., Angela Davis, Cesar Chavez and other prominent speakers who visited Buffalo It is important that we both learn from and be inspired by our history. We have a responsibility to our legacy and to the people who spoke up to create a better environment for all of us. BUFFALO, N.Y. Long before the Distinguished Speaker Series, the University at Buffalo was a destination for powerful figures in the civil rights and political movements of the 1960s-70s, hosting influential guests that ranged from Malcolm X to Muhammad Ali. The university will revisit this era through a new exhibit, Revolution: Civil Rights at UB, 1960-75, an array of visual displays that document the social transformation that occurred on campus and across Buffalo. The exhibit will feature a 24 feet by 4 feet structure in the Silverman Library on the North Campus that showcases five transcendent leaders who visited UB: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Angela Davis, Shirley Chisholm and Cesar Chavez. The wall will also feature audio recordings of speakers and a timeline of events occurring throughout Buffalo and across the nation during the civil rights movement. Portraits of prominent figures of the era will be on display in Abbott Hall on South Campus. A civil rights-themed book display will be exhibited in Lockwood Memorial Library on North Campus. A series of oral histories collected from faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Buffalo community who were engaged in activism during the period will become available online following the spring semester. The project is a collaboration between the UB Office of Inclusive Excellence, UB Libraries and UB Honors College. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m. in Silverman Library in Capen Hall on North Campus. The reception will occur three weeks prior to human rights activist and author Angela Davis third return to UB, this time as the 43rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Keynote Speaker of the Distinguished Speakers Series on Feb. 27. As a historian, I am struck by UBs incredibly rich and important history of students, faculty and staff who have fought for justice and civil rights. The 1960-70s for UB was this period of incredible engagement around issues of social justice. UB was known as the Berkeley of the East because of that engagement, said Despina Stratigakos, PhD, UB vice provost for inclusive excellence. Part of the campus knows this history, but there is so much that has been forgotten. It is important that we both learn from and be inspired by our history. We have a responsibility to our legacy and to the people who spoke up to create a better environment for all of us. UB during the 1960-70s frequently made national headlines for the protests held by students and faculty. Then a single campus along Main Street in Buffalo, the university was a hotbed of activism and demonstrations regarding civil rights, womens rights, politics and the Vietnam War. One powerful myth that this exhibit can help challenge is that the civil rights movement was something that happened somewhere else, and that Buffalonians were simply observers, said Victoria Wolcott, PhD, UB professor of history and an expert on race and civil rights in the U.S. Buffalo had its own ongoing racial struggles that directly interacted with the national civil rights and Black Power movements. It was likely these struggles that spurred student groups to invite major movement figures to campus. Staff reports The Herald-Mail Groups have promoted literacy in Washington County To the editor: In response to the recent article by Dave McMillion highlighting the Washington County Literacy Chapter (New Washington County Literacy Chapter lays out plans, Jan. 28), a quote by Ms. Anders was used referring to the lack of literacy organizations in the county, As a result, Washington County was one of the few counties in the state that did not have a literacy organization . That notion is not quite accurate. Washington County has a number of organizations that are focused on and support literacy at all levels in the county. The Literacy Council of Washington County has served thousands of county citizens over the past 25 years, reducing adult illiteracy in the county and enabling individuals to get jobs, read to their children and grandchildren, and pass their citizenship tests. The Rotary organizations in Washington County have been heavily involved in childhood literacy for a number of years helping to make sure children are prepared to enter school and establish a lifelong love of reading. Organizations such as OnTrack Washington County, Hagerstown Community College, and others have supported and promoted the eradication of illiteracy in our county for many years. It is wonderful to see another organization in Washington County focused on literacy and we welcome the chapter to the community. Kevin Fox Boonsboro Newspapers, small dairy farms face similar challenges To the editor: Reading the columns by Andy Bruns and Todd Schurz in Tuesdays paper (Somebody bought The Herald-Mail. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?, A letter to our readers from Schurz Communications Inc. President Todd Schurz) made me think of the dairy industrys present situation. Mr. Schurz stated, The business model that has sustained community newspapers for literally generations is under severe stress. The small dairy farm has been under severe stress for 10 of the last 12 years. He also said, There are times when you know in your head what the right decision is, but your heart finds it almost too difficult to imagine. That really hits home to dairy farmers. Farming is not just a job that we do to earn money to pay our families bills. It is a way of life, a part of our being that we have done since we were able to walk. Its very hard to walk away from that, even when the bank account says you should. Mr. Bruns said the Schurz family realized it needed to be a big player with ability to scale resources to survive. The 20,000-cow dairies have many advantages of scale that have put the small family farm at a disadvantage. Our family decided to do on-farm processing as a means to keep the farm viable. I would like to sincerely thank our loyal customers who have and are supporting us you are keeping us going. Our products are more expensive than whats found in big box stores, so it does take a commitment on your part to support us. We find it interesting when we go to D.C. farmers markets, that people down there are very grateful to be able to get our products and care about keeping small farms viable in the region. Mr. Bruns columns title read Somebody bought The Herald-Mail. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? His answer was, its more of a nothing. Well, I think 30 years from now, when Washington County looks like Fairfax County, Va., our grandchildren will look back and think it was more than a nothing to have lost our farms. David Herbst Misty Meadow Farm Creamery Smithsburg Another solution to the W.Va. 9 traffic congestion To the editor: If youre going to study upgrading W.Va. 9 (Resolution requesting W.Va. 9 work advances, Jan. 29), why not give thought to extending Interstate 68 from its end at Hancock, into West Virginia, bypass Berkeley Springs, bypass Hedgesville, and connect with Interstate 81 in an area north of exit 16, such as exit 17 or 18. Two traffic-mess towns bypassed, W.Va. 9 replaced, and I-68 terminates at 81. There is an unused railroad grade from Cumbo Road to I-81 already graded that could speed the construction at that end. Jeff Hollis Martinsburg, W.Va. Staff reports The Herald-Mail About impeachment: If Congress can impeach a duly elected president, can the commander-in-chief arrest a member of Congress for impeding the presidents commitment to the Constitution, which he swore to uphold? Ben Haldeman, Greencastle, Pa. Name the Raleigh Street bridge as a memorial: Lets name the Raleigh Street extension bridge in Martinsburg after the late Donald Anderson. He was a very good educator, public servant and a very good man. Peter Miller, Martinsburg, W.Va. About Congress: Im so disgusted with this American Congress that we have. Id like to know why the employee, which is Congress, gets paid when the employer, all of the people in the United States, dont get a thing. ... I am so angry. Ed Kendall, Hagerstown March for Life participants taunted: Here you have a group from a high school looking forward to taking a trip to Washington, D.C. for participation in the March for Life. This group was taunted and called names Action needs to be taken. Elaine Smith, Frederick, Md. On Trump cancelling Pelosis trip: Im very upset with President Trump cancelling Speaker Pelosis trip to Afghanistan with the Democratic Congressman. Mr. President, what you should have done was let her go over there and then cancel the flight for her to come back. That way you wouldnt have to put up with this woman. Well, maybe next time Mr. President. Kirk Blenard, Hagerstown Get rid of them and find someone new: Victory! For takeover of the government in 2020, the Democrats wont even have to campaign. The Republicans are taking care of that for them. Trump and his buddies in the Senate are doing a fine job of letting the people know how much they care about them. If the board of directors were destroying the company, what are the stockholders going to do? Get rid of them and find someone new. Don Degraw, Hagerstown A speeding driver killed the neighbors cat: This is to the male who was speeding on Pondsville Road on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at noon while on your cellphone. You know you hit a cat and killed the poor thing and never stopped. You killed my neighbors family pet. ... Put your cellphone away and slow down. Judy Watkins, Smithsburg Something should be done about coyotes in Pa.: In early January, when the weather was still somewhat reasonable, I lost two wonderful friends due to the ruthlessness and violence of coyotes. They were two peaceful, loving and gentle cats. It happened right here in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. The public badly needs to be better informed about this horrible situation that threatens our pets and livestock. Government at every level needs to take action to eradicate these murderous miscreants from our area. Thomas E. Halligan, Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Susie Hoffmans column is refreshing: I love reading Susie Hoffmans (column) every Tuesday morning. Its very refreshing. I think the Herald-Mail should hire her and pay her to do commentary every week. I love reading her. Shes good. Linda Moser, Hagerstown About the Democrats of today: My husband was a Democrat for years. Im glad he was not like the Democrats of today. If he would have been, we would never have made 62 years of marriage before he passed away. Louise Dawson, Hagerstown In response to Brian Federline: Using Brian Federlines logic that our prisons prove walls work, if that were true, then we would not need correctional officers. I disagree. Thomas Clemens, Keedysville How did Pelosi get control?: How can it happen? One person, Pelosi, has control over the whole country and gets away with it. People better wake up. Joe Saunders, Hagerstown Mr. Pitts doesnt always check his sources: As I had long suspected, Mr. Pitts doesnt always check his sources. If he had, he would have known that Nathan Phillips had never been to Vietnam. Had he taken time to research, he would have realized the young boys were not the trouble makers that day. But then again, research would not have fit his agenda. John Hess, Martinsburg, W.Va. The Associated Press The Herald-Mail By The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. West Virginia senators on Thursday advanced education legislation viewed by teachers as retaliation for last years statewide strike. As teachers in red shirts watched from the upstairs gallery, the Senate voted 18-16 as a committee to advance the overhaul package to the full Senate, where it later underwent a first reading. Republicans Bill Hamilton and Kenny Mann joined Democrats in voting against it. A full Senate vote could come early next week on whether to send the bill to the House of Delegates. Scott High School librarian Heather Ritter took advantage of a day off from school due to frigid weather to monitor the bills movement with other teachers at the Capitol. Other than a proposed raise for teachers that would provide an extra $30 per paycheck, everything else is negative about the bill, she said. Its horrible. I dont want it. I dont want any of it. Just take it away, she said. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said he would veto the bill in its current form. Teachers who received a 5 percent pay raise after last years nine-day strike would get an additional 5 percent raise in the bill. But the bill also would create public charter schools, establish savings accounts for families to pay for private school and require teachers to sign off annually on union dues, among other things. It also has a clause that would invalidate the entire bill if any part is struck down. Teachers and parents planned to rally against the bill Thursday night. Senate President Mitch Carmichael said the bill would improve outcomes for West Virginia students. He noted that Justice ran as governor in 2016 on the notion that West Virginians were tired of being ranked at the bottom among states in many areas. The Senate approved a rare motion Monday to have the entire chamber consider the bill as a committee rather than send it to the finance committee, where there might not have been enough votes to pass it. Senators spent several hours asking questions about the bill Wednesday and heard witness testimony. Senate Democrats offered no amendments to the bill before Thursdays vote. I wouldve thought there would be more discussion, said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, the states largest teachers union. Minority Democrats said it would have been fruitless to further discuss the bill due to support mostly along party lines. There will be time to debate it later. It would have been an exercise in futility, said state Sen. Ron Stollings, D-Boone. It now is back where it started. Union leaders have said a strike is an option. Unionized teachers in one county have voted to authorize a one-day walkout if necessary. The Herald-Mail ANNAPOLIS Del. William Wivell on Wednesday continued his effort to spur development at the former Fort Ritchie in Cascade, telling a legislative committee that exempting the sales and use tax on building materials in this target redevelopment area would help. Its the third year hes sought the waiver; the last two bills failed in committee. In addition to Fort Ritchie, site of the proposed Cascade Town Centre, the bill includes four other county business parks: Mount Aetna Technology Park near Meritus Medical Center and Hagerstown Community College; Friendship Business Park south of Hagerstown; and Vista and Showalter business parks near Hagerstown Regional Airport. Once again, the bill would add these five development areas to a measure that already exempts construction and warehousing materials from the states 6 percent sales-and-use tax at the former Bethlehem Steel property in Baltimore County. Wivell, R-Washington, told the House Ways and Means Committee that since Fort Ritchie closed in 1998, the 591-acre site has seen no development activity outside of building demolition. The committee also heard from Joe Lee, director of operations for JG Business Link International, the firm Washington County hired to develop the site, and former Washington County Administrator Greg Murray. Lee told the committee that his firm had several memoranda of understanding and letters of intent from investors for the Cascade Town Centre, but they are not actual contracts. Were looking for incentives to be able to work with our partners to attract them to Maryland but the biggest challenge that were running into is now that were coming into terms of contracts, we dont have many incentives that would make it completely attractive for them. Committee Vice Chairman Jay Walker, D-Prince Georges, raised concerns about loss of revenue from the exemption, which Murray estimated would total about $36 million. For the last 20 years, Murray said, weve been unable to develop this. At this point, youre exempting sales tax on nothing. Because nothings being built, nor has it been for 20 years. Adding the incentive could lead to development which would generate property and income tax revenue, he said. The committee will review the legislation and vote on whether to take it to the full House for consideration. A companion bill filed in the Senate by Sen. Andrew Serafini, R-Washington, also was heard this week. Don Aines daines@herald-mail.com A Hagerstown man with a job at a legal marijuana growing business pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge stemming from an investigation into his growing marijuana. Michael Steven Goulding, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana and was given a suspended sentence of six months in jail and a year on probation. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Mark K. Boyer also ordered him to pay $750 in fines and costs and to perform 40 hours of community service. Pleading guilty to possession in the same case was Nicholas Mancebo, 30, who owns the Oak Hill Avenue house where Goulding was growing 24 plants in the basement. Boyer gave Mancebo probation before judgment, a year of unsupervised probation and ordered him to pay $500 in fines and costs. The guilty finding is stricken from Mancebos record as long as he successfully completes probation. More serious charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing marijuana and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. The firearm was a .22-caliber rifle. Assistant States Attorney Michele Hansen said the weapon was old and had no ammunition. It was Mr. Gouldings operation, defense attorney John Salvatore told Boyer. Mancebo tried to discourage Goulding from growing the marijuana, Salvatore said. The county Narcotics Task Force search of the house in the 1100 block of Oak Hill Avenue on Oct. 5, 2018, was prompted, in part, by thermal imaging of the property that showed there was a lot of heat coming off the house, Salvatore said. The charging document said the plants, ranging in size from 1 to 3 feet, were found in two grow tents, along with less than an ounce of processed marijuana, a small amount of marijuana hashish, six grow lights, and equipment and supplies for growing marijuana. I take full responsibility for this, Goulding told Boyer. He told the judge he is prescribed marijuana for anxiety and depression, has a medical marijuana access card, and smokes one or two ounces a month. Im going to bite my lip today on what I think of that card you carry, Boyer told Goulding. Goulding agreed to forfeit two cars registered in his name, Hansen told Boyer. Salvatore said the cars are worth a total of about $12,000. Gouldings wife, Adina Mancebo, also was charged in the case. That case is pending, according to online court records. Mr. Goulding, dont bring your work home with you, Boyer said at the end of the hearing. Dan Dearth ddearth@herald-mail.com Tri-State area residents should expect to see another 2 to 3 inches of snow by the end of Friday afternoon, followed by springlike temperatures over the weekend and into early next week. Cody Ledbetter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Hagerstown and the surrounding areas will get up to 3 inches of snow until 5 to 6 p.m. Friday. Although the high temperature will only reach the low 20s, Saturday's forecast calls for the mercury to climb into the mid-40s. High temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will reach the mid- to high-50s. "It definitely will be a refreshing change," Ledbetter said. The Maryland State Highway Administration said in a news release that it is preparing for a statewide snow storm that could impact the Friday morning commute and linger throughout the day and early evening. The heaviest accumulations are expected in the mountains of far Western Maryland. The central region of the State is expected to pick up a few inches before the storm exits Friday evening. SHA crews will be staffed overnight and prepared to treat the roads. Residual salt remains on state-maintained roadways from Tuesdays storm, acting as a first defense against the winter precipitation. With pavement temperatures below freezing, drivers should use caution especially on ramps, bridges and overpasses. With this snow, coupled with biting temperatures down into the 20s, motorists are advised to take extra precautions while traveling. SHA advises motorists to leave additional travel time for their Friday morning commute. Also, throughout winter, keep a winter survival kit in vehicles stocked with blankets, bottles of water and flares just in case of a breakdown. For real-time information about changing weather conditions and lane closures, please visit md511.maryland.gov. For a list of delays and closures in the Tri-State area, visit our website. Whether we have two of them on the field, all three of them on the field, well get creative and have some fun with it," defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. Mike Lewis mlewis@herald-mail.com Its been a month since WDVM-TV was last available on Antietam Broadbands cable system. That might not change soon, as the sides remain divided over terms of a contract. We havent heard from Nexstar (parent company of WDVM) since the last time we talked to them on Dec. 31, Brian Lynch, president of Antietam Broadband, said Thursday. We just want them to negotiate with us, Andy Wyatt, WDVM vice president and general manager, said Thursday. Wyatt said its Antietams turn to come to the table. Lynch has said Antietam has been negotiating with Nexstar, based in Irving, Texas, not WDVM, based in Hagerstown. Calls from Herald-Mail Media to Nexstar have not been returned. At the heart of the dispute is the retransmission fee, which a cable company pays for the right to retransmit a stations programs. The previous agreement for Antietam to carry WDVM expired at the end of 2018. The station has not been on Antietams system since early on Jan. 1. Referring to contract negotiation, WDVM has characterized its fee proposal as very fair. Antietam has called it an unreasonable increase. Neither will specify the terms it is seeking. On Thursday, Lynch reiterated points he has made throughout the month. He said the vast majority of Antietam customers agree with the companys stance. Antietam continues to give free antennas to those who want them, so viewers can pick up the WDVM signal on free broadcast TV. Weve distributed about 457 antennas to date, and we still have a few left, Lynch said. Wyatt said WDVM representatives hear a different message. I think the community is still very much behind WDVM, Wyatt said. Our people hear it every day. People ask me every day, When are you getting back on? During the public comments section of Tuesdays Hagerstown City Council meeting, Wyatt, WDVM News Director Mark Kraham and weatherman Lou Scally asked city officials to contact Antietam leaders and ask them to resume negotiations. In the citys video of the meeting, Wyatt talks about the stations future. WDVM is not for sale. Were not going to be for sale, and Nexstar Media will continue to own and operate the TV station here in Hagerstown, he told the council. He referred to Mondays announcement that Schurz Communications Inc., parent company of Antietam, was selling all of its newspapers, including The Herald-Mail. Effective Friday, The Herald-Mail and the other Schurz newspapers become part of GateHouse Media. Lynch said Schurzs decision to sell its newspapers is not related to Antietams status in the company. He referred to a published letter from Todd Schurz, the companys CEO, stating that the family-owned company will now focus more on the technology side as we manage our businesses in the broadband and cloud communications industries. According to the video, Councilwoman Emily Keller said WDVMs effort to involve city officials and repeatedly tell the public to call the council has put us in a very difficult position. ... This has been a very frustrating experience for us. She added, I think all parties should come to the table, if thats what you want. Staff reports The Herald-Mail FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. Educators in Franklin County are encouraged to put their imagination and creativity to work and compete for up to $2,000 in Innovative Technology Challenge grants to utilize in the classroom for grades kindergarten to 12. The Greater Chambersburg (Pa.) Chamber Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, offers the grants each year to public school teachers in Franklin County thanks to educational improvement tax credits through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The grants are available as a result of contributions from area businesses, including Waste Management. Applicants will be evaluated based on three key criteria: innovation, value added to curriculum and advanced academics. Applications are available at www.cham bersburg.org/chamber foundation and due by Sunday, March 31. Last year, we awarded nearly $7,000 in grants to projects that have taken our students learning to the next level, Virginia Harriger, executive director of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation, said in a news release. This is one of our most important initiatives because it enables us to boost the learning experiences of our local students through innovative technology in the classroom. The foundation has awarded more than $410,000 in innovative technology grants to local teachers since 1999. Its mission is advancing the free enterprise system through education and by promoting citizenship and leadership. For more information about the grants or the foundation, go to www.chambersburg.org/chamberfoundation; or contact Harriger at 717-264-7101, ext. 205, or gharriger@chambers burg.org. Grant recipients will be recognized at an event later in the year. Staff reports The Herald-Mail Here are the weather-related delays, closings and cancellations from around the Tri-State area: Maryland Friday nights performance of The Potomac Playmakers Wait Until Dark has been canceled due to weather and road conditions. Tickets for Friday nights show will be honored at any of our four remaining performances. Humane Society of Washington County For the safety of staff, volunteers and friends in the community, the shelter is closed to the public Friday due to the weather. It is planned to reopen Saturday at 10 a.m. Anyone experiencing an animal emergency regarding a stray or unowned animal when the shelter is closed may call the emergency number at 301-790-7577. West Virginia Blue Ridge Community Technical College BRCTC - All classes and activities are canceled Saturday. "Come I to speak in Caesars funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man." Shakespeare, Julius Caesar The scholarly journey of Hortense Spillers Hortense J. Spillers, PhD'74, professor of English at Vanderbilt University, reflects on her academic journey as she receives the Alumni Achievement Award Hortense J. Spillers, PhD'74 Hortense J. Spillers PhD'74 is an American literary critic, black feminist scholar and the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English at Vanderbilt University, and on Feb. 9 will receive Brandeis' Alumni Achievement Award during the African and African American studies 50th Anniversary events on Feb. 8 and 9. But before she began accumulating awards as a leader in her field, she was a newly-minted PhD candidate driving a Buick Skylark from Memphis to Brandeis in the tumultuous summer of 1968. In answer to questions posed by Faith Lois Smith, associate professor of African and African American Studies and English, Spillers discussed her evolution as a scholar and what black feminist theory can teach us in the present moment. You completed your doctorate at Brandeis in 1974 how did your studies here influence your development as a scholar? Did your focus change appreciably from when you arrived to when you defended your thesis? Spillers: I think it is fair to say that when I arrived at Brandeis late summer, 1968, I was in for a powerful awakening, if not a rude one, although the latter is also not inappropriate to the way I read the situation at the time. I was coming from my parents in Memphis and following two years, on my very first professional gig, as a young green instructor of composition at what was at the time Kentucky State College in Frankfort, the state capital. KSC was then an [Historically Black College or University]-United Negro College Fund institution of considerable standing and had been for a number of years; our campus was hit hard by MLKs murder that spring, followed by Robert Kennedys, so that 68, to say the least, was brimming over with confusion, heartache and heart break. There was nowhere to rest internally because it seemed that revolution in the United States was imminent. Chaos reigned in and out, it seemed! So here I come, driving my first car, a Buick Skylark, from Memphis, Tennessee, fresh out the driveway of the house Id been born in, to Waltham, Mass, trailing my homey, Rev. Skeet Sanders, driving his car, enroute, I think, to Yale Divinity School at the time! Well, you my plans between the time of entering Brandeis and leaving it not only changed! They did somersaults and boomerangs!can imagine how that works: two young black southerners, both going north to school. Ive forgotten now how I found out that Rev. Sanders (whose beloved Aunt Delora Thompson had taught me in the third grade) and I were going in the same general direction, but I learned a helluva lot about North American geography that year! Id never spent very much time at all outside the southern United States so that to my deepest mind Massachusetts and Connecticut might as well have been next door to each other! Well...hours later as I drove and drove beyond the cut-off point where I was separating off from my companion driver, I came to the realization that New England had not been named in vain! I had come a long way from the Mississippi Delta and a tad more than a hop, skip, and a jump from Connecticut! And then the learning started in earnest! When I entered Brandeis, I knew I wanted to study literature, but I thought I was headed for the English Romantics or I should say, William Blake, an early Romantic, but none of that even remotely happened. Exactly how things unfolded that first crucial year remains to my mind a massive bright obscurity, but the road I consequently took very much had to do with what we didnt know at the time was a veritable intellectual movement that would shift the curricula of the human sciences toward the dimensions of diversity that characterize the study of Higher Education in the U.S today, and that is to say, the Black Studies movement. Never officially called that, it occurred to me years later thats exactly what we were having a movement among black students on predominantly white campuses in the country to put on the ground right now! a curricular object based on the life-worlds of Africans in the global African Diaspora. Well, that dramatic and abrupt and radical emergence of difference changed every imaginable thing! I forgot all about the English Romantics and turned my wide-eyed, big-eared attention to the sermon rhetoric of black preachers and quite specifically that of Martin Luther King that had actually changed the country, or had most certainly been a critical factor in changing it. To make a long story short, my plans between the time of entering Brandeis and leaving it not only changed! They did somersaults and boomerangs! Your analyses of gender and diaspora use psychoanalytical and other canonical discourses; "All the Things You Could Be by Now if Sigmund Freud's Wife Was Your Mother: Psychoanalysis and Race." is one example. What might this tell us about the canon, the university, and the production of knowledge? My use of certain canonical forms and figures in my work is for me proof positive of what some thinkers, Ralph Ellison was among them, have in mind when they speak of the mysteries attendant on American culture; Ellisons Little Man At Cheehaw Station powerfully defines this notion as an elaborate conceptual thematic and a serviceable metaphorical/heuristic device: Ellison bases his argument on a fabulistic invention, the little man at Chehaw Station. The latter was the name of a train stop many years ago when students, among other passengers, traveling to school at Tuskegee Institute got off at the site, enroute to campus. Chehaw, then, was a terminus through which passengers traveled in and out of the state of Alabama; I think I vaguely remember having heard the name Chehaw as a child because my elder sibling, my sister, went off to college atthe producers of knowledge turn out to be, at least in theory, anybody, as the canon is ripe for employment in the service of ones own needs and desires; from that angle, it belongs to human invention and not a particular groups. Tuskegee, my first trauma, when I was three years old, and it may be that I first heard the name then. Anyway, as Ellison tells the story, one of the big furnaces at the station sprouted a little man who was, so to speak, the keeper of the flame; this seems to me a kind of folkloric invention that grows out of the collective creative imagination as a way to explain certain aspects of human existence. The little man seems to belong to a repertoire of otherworldly figures that come to us out of the invisible world, but keep us company with their wisdom; with their mystery. Among the resources that make the little man timeless is his knowledge of the culture and the details that constitute it. In that regard, the little man knows things that no one would believe he knows, and thats why he is most useful to Ellison insofar as he stands in for knowledge in unexpected places; in short, because American culture in its fluidity and porousness, as Ellison reads it, is not confined to a particular class or station in life, any audience of Americans, at any given time, will have knowledgeable people in it because knowledge goes where it is least expected. What this is saying, in effect, is that the United States produces a climate that wants to assign place and status and knowledge accordingly, but thats not what happens. In that way, the canon, the university, knowledge production should all, by convention and according to who has and who has not, who is ordained to speak and who is not, all belong to the advantaged. But the beauty of the cultural order, as Ellison is reading it, is that there is no law or necessity or mandate that confines or constricts those eventualities to a specified class of persons; they are open to the one who knows, who finds out, who has the greatest curiosity, the deepest feeling. If that is so, then the producers of knowledge turn out to be, at least in theory, anybody, as the canon is ripe for employment in the service of ones own needs and desires; from that angle, it belongs to human invention and not a particular groups. Freud, for instance, made significant contributions to our understanding of the mental theatre and the operations of consciousness and the unconscious. But the European provenance of Freuds ideas, say, does not foreclose the usefulness of the latter as a window onto the psychic formations of other cultural and historical subjects, though Freudianism will have to be revised and corrected for those radical swerves and divergences of situation specificity. As an investigator, I simply assume that I am an inventor, a bricoleur, and that the entire world is my tool box. What do you think our present political moment can learn from black feminism(s)? What black feminisms might teach the current social order begins with concernful care for other human beings; not that black women do this, or anything else, perfectly, but it seems to me that they are aware of it as a good goal, as an ideal toward which to strive. Black feminism also seeks a degree of critical independence in relationship to the social order so that its posture is the critical posture. But I need to make a distinction between black women, black women as the subject of feminism, and black feminism as a critical disposition; all three of these distinctions might well overlap and show relationship to each other, but they also define distinct positionalities that we tend to occlude; for example, not all black women are feminists, or the subjects of feminism, not even black feminism, and insisting onWe are also being summoned to look at another truth that stares us in the face every day, and that is the extent to which women in power do not always look and behave very differently from the males who preceded them in power. the difference allows us to capture nuance, and enough nuance spells the difference between night and day, hot and cold, etc. I can, for example, think of a couple of black women, public figures and empowered, by virtue of their proximity to powerful white Republican males, who would not be in agreement, I suspect, with any aspects of black feminism, and least of all, black feminisms positions on race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. There are more black women with whom we have very little in common than we are comfortable thinking about so that a subject of black feminism might at times and this is rather shocking, I admit! find greater common cause on some issue with other women than with those women whom she regards as members of her own community. One of the tasks of black feminism in the years to come is to acknowledge these very uncomfortable truths and not anticipated differences and explain how they work. We are also being summoned to look at another truth that stares us in the face every day, and that is the extent to which women in power do not always look and behave very differently from the males who preceded them in power. I am of the opinion that women who reach certain levels of management and privilege often forget something along the way, and that is, the necessity to forge a different image of power; in that regard, male leadership is not exemplary, and I see no need to repeat it or imitate it; in short, we dont need women who really want to be either like men or men themselves, whatever we decide that is, and as hard as it is to say these days, I think we know it when we see it. I should like to think that black feminisms, as a repertoire of concepts, practices, and alignments, is progressive in outlook and dedicated to the view that sustainable life systems must be available to everyone; it also stands up for the survival of this planet, which pits it against the kleptocratic darkness that now engulfs us. If were going to reach a different place and it is difficult these days to be hopeful, I would acknowledge then black feminist ideas and ideals might be one of the lights leading us there. BRISTOL, Tenn. Two people face an assortment of charges after police stopped their vehicle Wednesday night and said they found drugs and a counterfeit bill. Amber Walker, 31, of Bristol, Tennessee, was charged with possession of Schedule I, III and VI drugs, as well as unlawful drug paraphernalia. Josh Kinnard, 40, of Bluff City, Tennessee, was charged with driving while license is suspended and lights required on a motor vehicle. Reports at the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office state that officers stopped a vehicle with an inoperable headlight along U.S. Highway 11E near Bristol Motor Speedway. Deputies said Kinnard, who had a suspended license, told officers there was nothing illegal in the vehicle and did not give consent to search. A K9 unit conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle and showed a change of behavior on the drivers side, a report states. Deputies said they found syringes, a glass pipe, a container with unknown wax, drugs believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana, baggies and pills. Officers also said they found a counterfeit $100 bill, but could not determine who it belonged to. Kinnard has since been released from jail and Walker remains incarcerated on $3,000 bail. 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. BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. A tentative trial date of Oct. 28 was set on Thursday for a Bristol, Virginia, teenager charged with first-degree murder in the March 2018 shooting death of a man at Hog Wild Saloon in Kingsport. William Newkirk Jr., 17, was also indicted by a Sullivan County grand jury on charges of attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. He pleaded not guilty in October. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} He is accused of killing 20-year-old Brett Rodgers II on March 2. The attempted murder charge is related to the shooting of a second man who survived. Newkirk is being held at the Blount County jail on $850,000 bail. His attorney, Kyle Vaughan, filed a motion for Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge Jim Goodwin to reconsider the bail amount because Newkirk has no prior criminal record. Goodwin denied the motion on Thursday. Newkirk will be back in court on March 22 for a status hearing. If the case goes to trial, it will be at least a week long, according to Sullivan County Deputy District Attorney General Gene Perrin. 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. GLADE SPRING, Va. Three people were arrested and charged with possessing illegal drugs after a federal search warrant was served at a home in Glade Spring. Officers with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Smyth County Sheriff's Office, Glade Spring Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed the warrant during late night hours Wednesday, according to a news release. Information was obtained to drug activity at a home on Grace Street. The investigation led police to obtain a search warrant. During the search, authorities found a quantity of methamphetamine, ammunition and a wanted subject, police said. Jason Monroe Galliher, 35, of Glade Spring was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant for possession of ammunition by convicted felon. He received two new charges of felony possession of ammunition by convicted felon and felony possession of methamphetamine. Timothy Dee Abrams, 60, of Meadowview, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. Brandee Jonette Wilson, 34, of Bristol, Tennessee, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. Both Galliher and Abrams were transported to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority in Abingdon and are being held without bond. Wilson was transported to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority in Abingdon and is being held on a $3,000 secure bond. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Some things I like and some things I dont like, Setzer said. I dont like where the Exxon is losing a lot of his land. I feel sorry for the owner of the Exxon. Main thing I was worried about was my and my dads business. During construction, they say theyre starting in August, youre getting into my busy time of year. I hope they will push it back to spring. The entrance to the Exxon convenience store will be relocated as part of the project. McCulloch said the aggressive schedule will begin work in August, but he predicted the phase affecting Setzer could largely be done before the holidays. Daniel Smith, of Bristol, Virginia, owns land off Island Road and wanted to see how the design would impact that route. I worry about the access, Smith said. I dont like the median where, if you come off Island, you cant get into the service station, but he explained that was for safety. Its not a big deal. The hilltop property off Island Road is part of The Falls commercial project but thus far remains undeveloped. John Bechtold is an engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation office in Marion and came to see the latest iteration of the plans. A lot of the projects theyve been doing along Lee Highway have helped a lot with the traffic. Its really made a big improvement, Bechtold said. I look forward to seeing this one completed as well. After dropping the kids off at school, I get on at Exit 5 about every day, so I wanted to see the plans. I think it will be a good project. 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. After years of dedicated effort from local leaders, including the late Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin, a state park winding the length of the Clinch River finally opened on Wednesday. Among the 100 guests in attendance was Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who praised the hard work from a delegation of Southwest Virginia officials and local residents that made the Clinch River State Park possible. HURLEY, Va. Violations may be issued against a mining company after a mine blowout damaged some property Wednesday near Hurley in Buchanan County. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy continues to investigate the blowout that occurred in the Upper Elk Creek area at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The DMME said its investigators determined the incident occurred in an underground mine owned by CM Mining. The company has been ordered to stabilize the site. According to Tarah Kesterson, public relations manager for DMME, the mine stopped producing coal in 1994 and was reclaimed. But it still has a permit with DMME because the agency still monitors water at the site to ensure it is clean, she said. Companies are required to keep a certificate of liability insurance when they apply to the commonwealth to mine coal. The insurance should cover costs for any of the damage that occurred during the blowout, Kesterson said. CM Mining reports that one home had water damage and another propertys driveway will have to be replaced as a result of the blowout. The company is also working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to make any road repairs and to clean up debris. Engineers are working on answering why the blowout happened. Kesterson said the DMME will evaluate any violations and issue them no later than today. Anderson, IN (46016) Today Thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 49F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Greenville, TX (75401) Today Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 85F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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. A tent at the site of Liam Cosgraves former home in Templeogue where an archaeological dig is being carried out The remains of an estimated 60 people from the Bronze Age have been found during an archaeological dig on land in Templeogue where the former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave lived. The land, which is earmarked for housing development, is also believed to have evidence of Iron Age occupation and a ring fort. Last week the Herald reported how locals were mystified by the excavation which began last October. South Dublin County Council would not comment on the dig, and local councillors could not get answers to their questions about the project. But sources have now revealed that the site, on Scholarstown Road, near Knocklyon, is of major significance. "It is believed this was a Bronze Age burial site, and that people from the Iron Age used the site as a shrine or a place of gathering," one source said. The Bronze Age in Ireland lasted from about 2000BC to 500BC. The Iron Age followed, lasting until around AD400. Former Fine Gael leader Mr Cosgrave lived in a humble bungalow on the 16 acres of prime residential zoned land until his death in 2017 at the age of 97. Last year it was reported that property developer Ardstone Capital was understood to have entered into exclusive talks with property agent JLL with a view to buying the potentially lucrative site for around 32m. Industry sources estimate that the grounds of Mr Cosgrave's former home could accommodate about 200 houses. Reacting to the news that the plot is believed to be a large Bronze Age burial site, local Independent councillor Deirdre O'Donovan said it was an exciting development. "This is so exciting, and my main thoughts now are how do we preserve this," she said. "As a community, this is very important and is something the people of Knocklyon will really value. It has a massive educational and heritage importance." While locals knew that Mr Cosgrave's death was likely to lead to the land being developed, work on one particular patch behind the bungalow had left them asking questions but getting no answers. Secrecy "It looks like an archaeological dig, but why all the secrecy?" one local asked. Residents described the situation as "bizarre", saying that even the workers on the ground wouldn't answer questions about it. "It started around last October, and at that stage it was men in diggers working on the ground," another local said. "The workers are now carrying out painstaking work on their hands and knees with trowels." An eight-year-old boy has been left in limbo with a life-threatening illness for months while waiting for a life-saving miracle drug to be approved by the HSE. Sam Bailey, from Rathcoole, Co Dublin, was diagnosed with degenerative condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at just 14 months and requires round-the-clock care. The condition means his muscles will continue to degenerate over time, as well as giving him a weakened immune system that leads to a life or death situation when Sam falls ill. "There's always a chance we will come home from hospital without him, because these children have no reserve when they get sick - they have nothing in the reserve tank to fight it," mum Fiona said. "So every time we go into hospital, there is a chance we will leave without him - that's the reality." A new drug, Spinraza, which has been approved at EU level and is administered in a number of European countries, has been under consideration by the HSE for several months now. Torturous It would slow the pace of deterioration and drastically change the standard of life for SMA sufferers. In October, the HSE told the Herald that the drug was in its "final stages" of review and a decision was expected shortly, yet the 26 families of children with SMA are still waiting for an answer, nearly four months on. "It's even more torturous for us knowing it's recommended by the Rare Drugs Committee," said Fiona. "The impact on Sam not having access to Spinraza means one single chest infection could be fatal, and every moment we don't have it is a moment we lose with Sam." As the flu season gets under way, fears are only heightened for children who have SMA. In October, Sam landed in the intensive care unit of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. "The ongoing concern is pneumonia, and he has had it so much in his life, it's such a dire situation to be in when we know there is a drug available," added Fiona. "If a child had cancer and needed chemo, they wouldn't be told you can't give your child chemo because it is too dear. "This process of them reviewing the drug is taking 14 months to date and to us, as parents, is absolutely unacceptable." An HSE spokesperson said: "The application is currently going through the final stages of assessment, and the various reports are due to be discussed at the February HSE leadership meeting, following which the final decision will be notified." A prisoner caught with a mobile phone in his cell had been holding it for people who had made threats against him, a court heard. Derek Cooling (25), who was serving a sentence in Mountjoy, had come "under pressure" before prison officers caught him with the phone. Judge Mary Cashin spared him further jail time, suspending a one-month sentence. Cooling, a father-of-two of Old Church Crescent, Clondalkin, had denied unlawful possession of a phone in prison. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened on January 28 last year when a prison officer entered Cooling's cell and saw him using the phone. Search He was asked to hand it over but refused so was taken for a search. A black GT Star phone was found on him. When questioned, Cooling said: "I shouldn't have been in possession of a phone and I'm sorry for that." His defence contested the case on a technical legal point. Barrister Conor Burke said there was no suggestion Cooling had the phone as part of any "criminal enterprise". "Threats had been made against him, and certain pressure was put on him," Mr Burke said. Cooling had already been punished by the prison, having lost privileges for 40 days. A young man who subjected a heavily pregnant driver to a tirade of abuse after staggering out in front of her car has been ordered to give her 300 to buy Pampers nappies. David Kerley (26) banged on the woman's bonnet and left her "visibly shaken" in the drink-fuelled episode in Dublin city centre. Ordering him to give her the money to buy nappies, Judge John Lindsay struck out the case, leaving Kerley without a conviction. Kerley, of Betaghstown Wood, Bettystown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Dublin District Court heard that he was standing on the footpath with friends at a pedestrian crossing at Ormond Quay just after 2am. He staggered out in front of an oncoming car that had started to move from a stationary position, the court was told. The driver was able to stop in time and beeped her horn. But Kerley broke into a tirade of abuse at the woman and began banging his fists on the bonnet of her car. Shaken The driver was heavily pregnant at the time and was "visibly shaken" when she spoke to gardai. Kerley, who had no previous convictions, was arrested for his behaviour. The accused had been drinking throughout the evening and accepted he was lucky not to have been run over, his solicitor Stephen O'Mahony said. Kerley did not really remember what had happened but his friends had "filled in the blanks". He had 200 in court to offer the driver of the car and the case was briefly adjourned when Judge Lindsay asked if gardai could identify the woman involved. When the case resumed, a garda told the judge that the woman had been identified. Judge Lindsay said the money offered by the defendant should go towards buying Pampers, but 300 "would buy more". This was agreed by the defence and Judge Lindsay struck out the case after the money was paid. The accused did not address the court during the hearing. The charge against him was brought under Section 6 of the Public Order Act. A taxi driver who stole 75,000 from the bank account of an elderly customer with dementia has been jailed for two years. Trevor Walsh (53) used Pamela O'Brien's bank card and forged her signature on documents to steal the money. She had used Walsh to take her to the shops and later run errands for her, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. The court was told that the 83-year-old victim was now in a nursing home. The thefts came to light when two friends of Mrs O'Brien helped her to look at her bank statements and noticed a number of unusual transactions. Walsh, of Rochdale, Honey Park, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, went with Mrs O'Brien to PTSB bank to set up a second bank account. He then forged documents to authorise the transfer of monies from her old EBS account to the new one. He used the account to pay utility bills and used Mrs O'Brien's bank cards to make cash withdrawals of up to 500. Walsh also forged a letter to direct the bank not to send bank statements to Mrs O'Brien's home. Judge Pauline Codd said this showed a level of deviousness and calculation. Walsh admitted five sample counts, from a total of 21 charges that spanned a 21-month period up to September 2015. Detective Garda Richard Redden told the court that the total taken was 75,000. Judge Codd said the elderly and vulnerable had to be protected. Walsh knew Mrs O'Brien relied on him and his crimes were a significant breach of trust, she said. She suspended the last year of a three-year prison term on condition that Walsh attends alcohol addiction programmes. Det Gda Redden said Walsh ran errands for Mrs O'Brien and these included using her bank card to buy groceries. Sobbed When arrested, Walsh admitted the thefts and said he had a drinking problem. He said he had used the bank account to make small day-to-day purchases and was shocked at the total amount taken. Kieran Kelly BL, defending, said his client was a married father whose wife and children were in court to support him. Walsh took 4,000 to court to give to the victim, who was not present. Walsh and members of his family sobbed in court as the jail term was handed down. An Bord Pleanala has given the green light for a controversial 40m hotel in Portobello, Dublin, despite a recommendation that planning permission be refused. Residents opposed to the six-storey hotel were appealing last year's decision by the city council to grant planning permission. In total, nearly 60 objections were lodged against the 178-room hotel, proposed by MKN Property Group and Tifco. These included an objection from David McSavage, best known for his RTE show, The Savage Eye. In a comprehensive recommendation to refuse planning permission, an appeals board inspector said the height, scale, form and design of the building was out of character with the area, and would be visually obtrusive when viewed along the Grand Canal. Echoing the views of objectors, he said the hotel would detract from the visual quality of the area, detract from the setting of Portobello House and set an undesirable precedent for further development. Restricted He also said the hotel would lead to an intensification of activity in a predominantly residential area and would represent significant overdevelopment of a restricted site. Despite the inspector's objections, the appeals board agreed with the council that the hotel should go ahead. It said the height, scale and nature of the hotel was acceptable in terms of the visual and residential amenities of the area. It also said the proposed development integrated successfully into the urban setting and did not injure the character of Portobello House. The planning board also stated that the hotel did not represent overdevelopment or intensification of the site and would not set an undesirable precedent for future development in the area. In a double win for the developers, the appeals board reversed the requirement by the city council that one of the floors of the hotel be omitted from the development. In 2016, MKN Property Group bought Portobello House and the adjoining land for 10m. Planning consultant for the applicants, John Spain and Associates, has said the plan would "contribute significantly to the further development and regeneration of Portobello Harbour". Considered Mr Spain said the hotel would provide "the catalyst for future development and provide facilities and services". He said the scale and massing of the proposal had been carefully considered. Members of the INMO during their 24-hour stoppage at Crumlin Childrens Hospital. Photo: Mark Condren The next round of 25,000 patients who will have their health service withdrawn next Tuesday as nurses stage another 24-strike are now being notified of the cancellations. The three children's hospitals in Dublin will cancel planned surgeries and outpatient clinics on Tuesday. This will also apply on Thursday, another day of action. Some children with appointments before and after the days of action may also have deferred treatment. It comes as Tanaiste Simon Coveney confirmed that legal advice is being sought about imposing financial penalties on nurses who walked out of hospitals and health services in the row over pay. Health officials warned if more days' action go ahead, patients whose surgery and outpatient appointments arecancelled will face long delays before being rescheduled. HSE official Bernard Gloster said it was wrong to describe the services for people as "routine" as the cancellations had significant impact on them. Secure The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) met with health officials yesterday to work on contingency plans for next week which will affect 50,000 people in total. INMO general secretary Phil Phil Ni Sheaghdh said the union remained available for talks . It is expected some bid to resume talks will be made before Tuesday although the Government has ruled out any pay increase and warned of knock-on claims. Meanwhile, patients suffered disruption in a number of community mental health clinics and in other services as 6,000 psychiatric nurses imposed an overtime ban. The ban, which is related to the current pay claim by nurses, led to problems in nine mental health facilities as efforts were made to secure enough staff to provide a safe level of cover for vulnerable patients. The stoppage by the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) which resumes today, forced some managers to take on frontline duties. In other cases, nurses were deployed from community service in inpatient care. Mr Gloster said problems relating to the changeover in staff were experienced from morning until lunchtime yesterday. The overtime ban was lifted for the overnight shift. Peter Hughes, general secretary of the PNA, said the service is heavily reliant on overtime because of the recruitment and retention crisis. He said vacancy rates escalated by 40pc over the past year. The 'Bring Them Home' campaign last year, aimed at wooing Irish nurses back from the UK, only attracted six new staff. The union will go on all-out strike on February 12, 13 and 14. In a separate dispute, the National Ambulance Service Representation Association (NASRA), which is part of the PNA, is due to announce more strike dates today. The paramedics staged a national strike on January 22, forcing the army to be drafted in. The row is about union recognition. The HSE said that SIPTU is recognised for negotiating rights for front-line ambulance grades. As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of that union. However, NASRA is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Prominent real estate agent charged with misdemeanor sexual battery A prominent Hendersonville real estate agent has been charged with a misdemeanor sexual battery after an alleged incident that took place on New Years Eve or early New Years Day in the city. Noah C. George, who touts his real estate team as one of the top producers in Henderson County, was charged on Thursday with one count of engaging in sexual contact by touching the victims vagina and buttocks, an arrest warrant said. The alleged victim was physically helpless at the time, the warrant said, and the defendant knew and should reasonably have known that she was helpless. Reached on Friday afternoon, George, 37, said he could not comment on the arrest, referring questions to defense attorney Roy Neill. Neills office said he was out of town taking some time off and unavailable for an interview. George was booked at the Henderson County jail and released on a $4,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Henderson County District Court on Feb. 26. I dont wish to say anything, the 31-year-old victim said in a telephone interview. Im in law enforcement and its already bad enough for me that Ive had to file this. I dont think that I should make any statements. Were not supposed to talk to any media even if its something personal that happened to us. It was unclear why 30 days passed from the time of the alleged incident to the arrest. Sometimes these investigations take time because you want to be thorough, said Chief Herbert Blake, emphasizing that he had no specific knowledge of the George arrest. If theres no immediate or imminent threat to someones bodily harm then the detectives are certainly going to be as thorough as they can and sometimes it just takes a while to talk to people and get what you need to move forward and to have a warrant. But I dont know, Im speaking in general terms. I just dont know about this specific case. George, who is married with children, is perhaps the most visible real estate agent in town through regular media appearances and advertising pitches. He broadcasts weekly radio shows on both WTZQ and WHKP, promoting his real estate business. He says he and other agents on the Noah George Team at Keller Williams sold 154 homes in 2018. A Harvard Health article When a Loved One is Terminally Ill Talking About Death and Making End-of-Life Decisions When a loved one develops a serious illness, its normal to go through an emotional experience akin to grieving. If the illness is terminal, its important to talk about death and plan for the end of life. These conversations can be difficult and very painful, but there are ways to make them easier for both you and your loved one. Facing terminal illness Time seems to freeze when you learn that someone you love has a life-threatening illness. Maybe you instinctively pushed the news away. Or perhaps you cried, or swung into action. No matter what happened that day, time and life go on after the diagnosis is maderegardless of whether you feel ready to cope. You and your loved one may have pursued promising treatments and perhaps enjoyed a respite from encroaching illness. At some point, however, the illness may become terminal, and gradually the end draws closer. Once further treatments are unlikely to be successful, there is a great deal you can do to muster support for both of you. Some of the support you need is emotional. The fears and feelings that surface now are better aired than ignored. Some of the support you need concerns practical details. End-of-life care needs to be arranged and funeral plans need to be considered. Legal and financial matters must be addressed now or in the days after the death. This article can help guide you through some of these steps and suggest additional sources of support for you to draw on. Dealing with anticipatory grief Often, people feel anticipatory grief when they know someone they care about is seriously ill. Anticipatory grief means grappling with and grieving a loss before it completely unfolds. When someone has a serious illness, there are many losses to grieve long before the person becomes terminally illfor the person who is dying as well as for their family and friends. Blows to independence and security, impaired abilities, and truncated visions of the future are just a few examples of the devastating losses many experience. Just as with grief after a death, family and friends may feel a multitude of different emotions as they adjust to the new landscape of their lives. Typical emotions at this time include: sorrow anxiety anger acceptance depression denial Depending on the type of illness and the relationship you share, you may feel closer and determined to make the time you have left count. Perhaps you are terribly anxious about whats to come or so firmly focused on last-resort treatments that you continue to push away any thoughts of the end. Possibly you long for release or feel guilty and conflicted. Although not everyone experiences anticipatory grief, all of these feelings are normal for those who do. You may find the following steps comforting: Talk with sympathetic friends or family members, especially those who have weathered similar situations. Join a support group online or in person. Read books or listen to tapes designed for caregivers. Making Time to Say Goodbye Although painful in so many ways, a terminal illness offers you time to say I love you, to share your appreciation, and to make amends when necessary. When death occurs unexpectedly, people often regret not having had a chance to do these things. Ira Byock, author of Dying Well and a longtime hospice advocate, suggests that dying people and their families exchange these words with each other: I love you I forgive you Forgive me Thank you Goodbye Sometimes, dying people hold on to life because they sense that others arent ready to let them go. Tell your loved one its all right to let go when theyre ready to do so. The assurance that you will be able to carry onperhaps to help children grow or to fulfill another shared dreammay offer enormous relief. How to talk about death Talking about death is often difficult. Possibly you worry that youll undercut your spouses will to continue or swamp your friend in fear. Speaking about death may seem like a form of abandonment because it suggests youve given up on the lingering promise of a cure. Your own anxiety, sadness, and discomfort may make the words choke in your throat. But clinicians who work with people with a terminal illness point out the following: Some crave reassurance. Some people at the end of life are comforted by the thought that they will be embraced, not abandoned, no matter what happens. Some people at the end of life are comforted by the thought that they will be embraced, not abandoned, no matter what happens. Some want to talk. They may tire of keeping up a good front or talking around a topic that looms so large that every other conversation strikes false notes. They may tire of keeping up a good front or talking around a topic that looms so large that every other conversation strikes false notes. Some are afraidand want empathy. They may be stifling their own numerous fears: leaving loved ones, losing control, becoming a burden, and leaving tasks and plans unfinished. Many people dread a painful death or the reflected fears of others. Sharing such fears and expressing beliefs about death can help people feel less overwhelmed and alone. It can also diminish physical pain, which is aggravated by fear. Approaching this difficult conversation Clearly, not everyone who is terminally ill is ready to talk about death. So how will you know when to talk and what to say? Below are some words that may help you. Your task in this difficult time is merely to open the door to this conversation and promise to stay for it if the person you care for wishes to talk. Look for openings. A sermon or song you heard, a book you read, or the way someone elses illness and death unfolded can be an opportunity for remarks that open the door. By commenting, you signal that youre ready to talk and neednt be protected. Broach the topic gently. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, psychiatrist and author of the book On Death and Dying, describes conversations that start with the simplest question: How sick are you? While you may be too close to reasonably make that inquiry, there are other questions you can ask: What do you worry about? How can I help? Is there anything you want to talk about? Try not to rebuff tentatively expressed fears with hearty assurances, such as: Thats a long way off. Of course youre not a burden. It might help instead to ask specific questions. Depending on your loved ones comfort level and receptiveness to the topics, questions you could ask include: What are you thinking about? What would be a good death? Sharing your own thoughts on the nature of a good death may help. Seek spiritual counsel. Talk with your religious leader or counselor. Priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders can offer real comfort to believers. Even people who do not regularly attend religious services may turn toward their faith as an illness progresses. Ask advice about hospice. Hospice workers and hospital social workers can also help you and the person who is ill grapple with the issues surrounding death. Even if you have chosen not to use a full range of hospice services, some resources are often available. Ask a doctor to help. A doctors reassurance about how physical symptoms might unfold and how pain will be handled can be invaluable. Some doctors can ask gently about fears, as well. Realize, though, that its not unusual for doctors (and nurses) to shy away from talking about death. Some feel determined to try everything and view death as a failure. Being human, they have their own fears and discomfort to deal with, too. Let it go. Kubler-Ross noted that people slip into and out of denial during the course of illness and even during a single conversation. Sometimes its too hard to think or talk about death. Let your loved one end conversations that feel too difficult. Allow them to hold on to comforting thoughts and fantasies. How Medical Staff can Help Families When families of terminally ill patients have an opportunity to speak at length with medical staff about their fears, concerns, and questions, they may be better able to cope with their loved ones death. A 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study reported that longer, more empathetic end-of-life conferences eased stress, anxiety, and depression in family members of people who died in intensive care units (ICUs). Conducted in 22 ICUs in France, this randomized trial divided families of 126 patients into two groups; those in one group had short, standard conferences, and those in the other engaged in longer sessions and received a brochure on bereavement. During the longer sessions, staff focused on listening, acknowledging and valuing feelings, encouraging and responding to questions, and gaining an understanding of the patient as a person. When the researchers contacted a representative in each family 90 days later, they found that those who attended longer end-of-life conferences had significantly lower scores on measures of stress, anxiety, and depression than did family representatives from the control group. The practical aspect of end-of-life planning Few of us wish to think about practical matters at difficult times. But its easier, although not always possible, to consider many of these issues before they become pressing. The sections below address the topics of advance care directives (which set forth how a person hopes to be treated medically toward the end of life), hospice services, and organ donation. Advance care directives An advance care directive helps ensure that a persons health care wishes and end-of-life concerns are known and respected. These documents address how aggressively doctors should pursue life-sustaining measures and whether quality of life or comfort should be paramount concerns. Two common advance directives are: Living will. This sets forth medical wishes that will guide health care if a person becomes mentally or physically unable to make decisions This sets forth medical wishes that will guide health care if a person becomes mentally or physically unable to make decisions Health care power of attorney or health care proxy. These forms designate a person to act on an ill persons behalf when necessary. State laws vary, so it is important to make sure any advance directive complies with local regulations. A local hospital, hospice, or seniors organization may have staff members who can help prepare an advance directive. Or have your loved one discuss this with a lawyer qualified in elder law. (Its wise for everyone to have advance directives, so you should also consider preparing them for yourself as well.) One flaw of advance directives is the impossibility of knowing the exact circumstances under which they will be invoked, what medical options will be available, and how a persons feelings might change. Rather than sidestepping this difficult issue, though, consider that mulling over wishes for end-of-life care can help people sort out values and feelings about medical measures often taken at the end of life. A frank talk with a doctor about possible medical scenarios can provide guidance. It may help to know that if the person who wrote the advance directive has a change of heart at any time while under medical care, their spoken wishes override any written ones. These wishes should be communicated fully with everyone involved. Make sure you or your loved one takes the following steps: Make a copy. Anyone named as proxy in a durable power of attorney for health care should have a copy of the document and know the goals for medical care. The proxy, a family member, and a lawyer, if any, should know where additional copies of the form are kept. Anyone named as proxy in a durable power of attorney for health care should have a copy of the document and know the goals for medical care. The proxy, a family member, and a lawyer, if any, should know where additional copies of the form are kept. Talk with medical staff. Talk with the doctors to be sure the wishes are understood and can be followed. Ask them to place a copy of the advance directive in the persons permanent medical record. Talk with the doctors to be sure the wishes are understood and can be followed. Ask them to place a copy of the advance directive in the persons permanent medical record. Inform family members. Discuss wishes for end-of-life medical care with family members. Acknowledge that this is a difficult topic. It may help to begin by talking about a recent case in the news or the treatment of someone you know. Discuss wishes for end-of-life medical care with family members. Acknowledge that this is a difficult topic. It may help to begin by talking about a recent case in the news or the treatment of someone you know. Repeat periodically. Have discussions with family and medical staff more than once to be sure wishes are understood. This is especially important as circumstances change. Do-not-resuscitate orders A do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) tells health care professionals not to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation if the persons heart stops beating. This document is written only when these measures are unlikely to revive a dying person or to prolong meaningful life. Generally, during the last stage of a terminal illness, CPR is not very likely to result in successful resuscitation. Here is some advice about making the best use of DNR documents: Decide when a DNR is needed. Discuss the need for a DNR with your loved one and the doctors. There are different types of DNR orders, and forms and laws vary from state to state, so its important to discuss this issue with your loved ones physician. Discuss the need for a DNR with your loved one and the doctors. There are different types of DNR orders, and forms and laws vary from state to state, so its important to discuss this issue with your loved ones physician. Understand that medical care will still be available. It may be reassuring to know that even with a DNR, the patient will continue to receive appropriate medical care to treat short-term illnesses or injuries and relieve pain or other troubling symptoms. Emergency service personnel called to a persons home can still give oxygen, medications, and fluids and transport the patient to a hospital, if necessary. It may be reassuring to know that even with a DNR, the patient will continue to receive appropriate medical care to treat short-term illnesses or injuries and relieve pain or other troubling symptoms. Emergency service personnel called to a persons home can still give oxygen, medications, and fluids and transport the patient to a hospital, if necessary. Know why putting it in writing matters. Its worth noting that health care and emergency personnel are required to attempt CPR if there is no DNR, even if the patient has asked family members to request that they forgo this measure. Its worth noting that health care and emergency personnel are required to attempt CPR if there is no DNR, even if the patient has asked family members to request that they forgo this measure. Keep the originals handy. Generally, only originals are valid, so its wise to have several originals of a DNR form. Always keep one original handy in the persons home; the other should be carried by the patient or a caregiver at all times. Generally, only originals are valid, so its wise to have several originals of a DNR form. Always keep one original handy in the persons home; the other should be carried by the patient or a caregiver at all times. Have some on file. In hospitals and nursing homes, the DNR is kept on file and noted in a patients chart. Mistakes do occur, so ask if this has been done. Other decisions to make It is difficult to predict these things in advance, but its worth considering whether you will or wont want the following life support options: Mechanical ventilation: A machine called a ventilator or respirator forces air into the lungs for people who are unable to breathe under their own power. A machine called a ventilator or respirator forces air into the lungs for people who are unable to breathe under their own power. Intravenous hydration: A tube inserted into a vein supplies a solution of water, sugar, and minerals for people who are unable to swallow. A tube inserted into a vein supplies a solution of water, sugar, and minerals for people who are unable to swallow. Artificial nutrition (tube feeding): A tube inserted through the nose into the stomach supplies nutrients and fluids for people who are unable to swallow. A tube inserted through the nose into the stomach supplies nutrients and fluids for people who are unable to swallow. Hemodialysis: Blood is circulated through a machine to maintain the balance of fluids and essential minerals and clear waste from the bloodstream for people whose kidneys are unable to perform this function. Hospice comfort and care Once a word that evoked shelter for tired and ill religious pilgrims, the term hospice has come to describe a concept of end-of-life care centered on quality of life. Hospice carewhich encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual needsmay take place at home or at a nursing home, assisted living center, or hospice residence. When a cure is not possible and aggressive treatment isnt desired, hospice care offers symptom relief, pain control, and a great deal of support. The hospice team works with the patient to develop a personal plan of care. Family, partners, and close friends may be invited to help in many ways, such as by assisting with daily tasks like feeding and bathing and offering comfort by reading, sharing music, holding hands, and simply being present. Hospice programs vary greatly but generally share certain characteristics: Range of services. Hospice staff can administer pain medications, provide nursing care, and offer emotional support. Before and after a death, emotional support is extended to caregivers, too. Many programs offer bereavement counseling for a year after a death. Hospice staff can administer pain medications, provide nursing care, and offer emotional support. Before and after a death, emotional support is extended to caregivers, too. Many programs offer bereavement counseling for a year after a death. A multidisciplinary team. The hospice team typically includes specially trained doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, counselors, therapists, people who offer spiritual care, and volunteers, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. The hospice team typically includes specially trained doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, counselors, therapists, people who offer spiritual care, and volunteers, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. Licensing, certification, and accreditation. Hospices must be licensed in most states. Those providing services covered by Medicare or Medicaid must be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospice programs may also be accredited by the Joint Commission or the Community Health Accreditation Program, but there is no national requirement for this. Hospices must be licensed in most states. Those providing services covered by Medicare or Medicaid must be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospice programs may also be accredited by the Joint Commission or the Community Health Accreditation Program, but there is no national requirement for this. Insurance coverage. Hospice services are covered nationwide under Medicare and in at least 45 states and the District of Columbia under Medicaid for anyone who has a prognosis of six months or less to live. Many private insurers and health maintenance organizations also offer coverage. As you consider hospice programs, the Hospice Foundation of America suggests you ask whether each is licensed and Medicare- or Medicaid-certified, or certified by other organizations. Find out what services are available, whether insurance or Medicare or Medicaid covers these costs, and what out-of-pocket expenses are typical. Sometimes a sliding-scale payment plan is available for services that insurance will not cover. It is wise to investigate hospice programs well in advance, as there may be a waiting list for some facilities. Consider what will be expected of you and whether the hospices philosophy of careincluding use of antibiotics, resuscitation, and hydrationmatches that of your loved one and other family members. And ask about support programs for caregivers and availability of inpatient services. Recerca Researchers of the University of Barcelona (UB) have analysed, with massive sequencing techniques for the first time, the evolution of the Hepatitis A virus with samples from patients. The results, published in the journal EBioMedicine, show the presence of variants of the virus that could escape the effects of the vaccine. The study, led by the Research Group on Enteric Viruses of the UB, in collaboration with Vall dHebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), can have implications in the vaccination policies against the disease. The article counts on the participation of the lecturers Aurora Sabria, Albert Bosch, Susana Guix and Rosa Maria Pinto, from the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics of the Faculty of Biology of the UB. Hepatitis A virus antigenic variants Hepatitis A is a liver inflammation caused by a virus. Its symptomatology is quite light and can disappear after the first weeks, but in some cases the disease can last for months. Among the most affected groups are men who have risky sexual behaviours with other men (MSM). This study analysed samples from MSM patients, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated, who caught the virus during an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Barcelona (2016-2018). The objective was to study the evolution of the virus and check whether there are emerging variants that can escape the effects of the vaccine. We identified antigenic variants in vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients, but only the former increase in number, which suggests the positive selection, says Rosa Maria Pinto. The appearance of the Hepatitis A virus antigenic variants could become a threat to public health and could have consequences in the future uses of the current available vaccines. If we select a variant which escapes the vaccine, this one would stop being effective. The study shows that, in cases such as the occurred one due the lack of vaccines, this can happen, notes the researcher. Reviewing vaccination practice In some countries, controlling recent outbreaks of Hepatitis A has been blocked by the low coverage of vaccination and lack of vaccines, which made administrations apply restrictions in the doses. During the outbreak, these restrictions affected especially people in the MSM group. If a few doses of vaccination are given, or if the common doses were given long ago, or the vaccine is given to patients who caught the virus weeks ago, those variants of the virus that avoid the effects of the vaccine can be selected. This is especially relevant in the MSM group, since the virus dose through risky sexual practises is very high, and circulating antibodies are not enough to neutralize the inoculum or the first produced viruses, says Rosa Maria Pinto. In this sense, researchers recommend giving two doses of the vaccine and, in some situations stated in the publication, they suggest giving additional booster doses. Apart from specifying the vaccination protocol, the expert states they should work in order to have easier-to-get vaccines so there are no vaccine shortages and doses do not have to be reduced. Reference article: Sabria, A.; Gregori, J.; Garcia-Cehic, D.; Guix, S.; Pumarola, T.; Manzanares-Laya, S.; Cayla, J. A.; Bosch, A.; Quer, J., y Pinto, R.M. Evidence for positive selection of hepatitis A virus antigenic variants in vaccinated men-having-sex-with men patients: implications for immunization policies. EBioMedicine, November 2018. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.11.023 Universitat de Barcelona Research carried out in collaboration with the University of Birmingham has found that genetic testing improves the diagnoses of abnormalities in developing babies that are picked up during ultrasound scans. The research, published today in The Lancet, was carried out by the University of Birminghams Institute of Metabolism and Systems, Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and their collaborators. The scientists used genome sequencing to improve the diagnoses of abnormalities detected by ultrasound by around 10 per cent. Without genomic information, these abnormalities may not have been diagnosed until after pregnancy, if at all. The findings suggest that if the results from genome sequencing can be delivered in the timeframe of a pregnancy, then the additional diagnosis can support the care, counselling and the familys decision-making during pregnancy. Approximately three per cent of pregnancies will have an abnormality in the structure of the developing baby, which is detected by a routine prenatal ultrasound scan. These can include problems with the babys heart, brain, skeleton or in some cases, multiple organs. Having detected a problem with the babys development using prenatal ultrasound, parents will want to know the likely outcome for their child, however there can be many different possible causes of the abnormality. In the largest study of its kind, researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators provided a genetic diagnosis for around 10 per cent of pregnancies with detected abnormalities. Without genetic testing, the genetic changes causing the developmental problem would not have been detected by standard diagnostic testing. The research supports the mainstream use of more detailed genetic testing alongside other tests in order to provide better information to parents about how their child is likely to be affected. Professor Mark Kilby, of the University of Birminghams Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research and Clinical Lead in Fetal Medicine at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, said: We hope that our research will aid NHS Englands ambition to roll out by next summer the use of invasive, and then later non-invasive technology, to perform exome sequencing in the generic or targeted screening of babies for congenital abnormalities during pregnancy. Dr Matthew Hurles, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: Genetic testing gets to the root cause of some of the problems seen in ultrasound scans and can give families much clearer answers about a babys condition. For example, a structural heart defect seen on an ultrasound scan could be caused by a disease that just affects the heart and may be relatively easily corrected, or it could be linked to something more complicated, such as neurological development, which could impact on the childs schooling in the future. The research fell under the Prenatal Assessment of Genomes and Exomes (PAGE) study, which strives to gain a better understanding of genetic alterations, or variants, that cause developmental problems during pregnancy. The PAGE study aims to improve prenatal diagnostics, allow better genetics-derived prognoses and more informed parental counselling in the future. Scientists worked with a national network of fetal medicine and genetics clinics around the UK to recruit pregnant mothers with an ultrasound scan anomaly that had been detected, for participation in the study. The team completed whole-exome sequencing* on 610 developing babies with detected abnormalities and 1,206 biological parents. DNA samples from the pregnancies were taken during routine checks for other conditions, such as Down syndrome, through procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villous sampling. Researchers identified new diagnoses of known genetic disorders for 52 of the 610 pregnancies, or 8.5 per cent. The team found that genetic diagnoses were considerably more common in fetuses with heart defects, skeletal abnormalities or multi-organ problems, which could lead to some ultrasound findings being prioritised for genetic testing. Professor Eamonn Maher, from the University of Cambridge, said: More genetic diagnoses were made for developing babies with problems surrounding the heart, skeleton or multiple organs, indicating that in the future genetic testing to make diagnoses may be tailored according to the type of problem. Lyn Chitty, Professor of Genetics and Fetal Medicine at GOSH and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), said: The study shows that genome sequencing improves the diagnosis of genetic conditions in developing babies who have been found to have structural abnormalities during a routine ultrasound. Making these results available during pregnancy means we can offer better counselling to parents and enable access to appropriate care. The next step is to work on implementing this approach nationally so more families can benefit. The results from this study were fed back to the families via their genetic counsellors to help them decide on treatment or management for the condition. Most of the diagnoses made were of conditions that have a low risk of recurrence in future pregnancies. Jane Fisher, Director of the Antenatal Results and Choices charity, said: When expectant parents are told from a scan that their baby is not developing as expected, it most often comes as a huge shock and they are anxious to know as much as possible about what is ahead. A genetic diagnosis can help provide them with important information about the outlook for their baby and whether they might face a similar situation in future pregnancies. Ends For more information please contact Emma McKinney, Communications Manager (Health Sciences), University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0) 121 414 6681, or contact the press office out of hours on +44 (0) 7789 921 165. Notes to Editors: *The genome is made up of genes that code for proteins (exons) and genes that do not code for proteins (introns). Together, all of the genes that code for proteins is known as the exome. Whole-exome sequencing is the process of reading the genetic code of the exome all of the protein-coding genes, whereas whole-genome sequencing is the process of reading the genetic code of all genes in the genome. Jenny Lord et al. (2018) Prenatal exome sequencing analysis in foetal structural anomalies detected by ultrasonography: the PAGE study. The Lancet. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31940-8 The PAGE study is supported by a Health Innovation Challenge Fund from Wellcome (HICF-R7-396). The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the worlds top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries. Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) brings together the very best in paediatric and womens care in the region and is proud to have many UK and world-leading surgeons, doctors, nurses, midwives and other allied healthcare professionals on its team. Birmingham Womens Hospital is a centre of excellence, providing a range of specialist health care services to more than 50,000 women and their families every year from Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. As well as delivering over 8,200 babies a year, it offers a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care, as well as a comprehensive genetics service, which serves men and women. Its Fertility Centre is one of the best in the country, while the fetal medicine centre receives regional and national referrals. The hospital is also an international centre for education, research and development with a research budget of over 3 million per year and is proud to be home to a national miscarriage research centre the first of its kind in the UK in partnership with Tommys baby charity. Birmingham Childrens Hospital is the UKs leading specialist paediatric centre, caring for sick children and young people between 0 and 16 years of age. Based in the heart of Birmingham city centre, the hospital is a world leader in some of the most advanced treatments, complex surgical procedures and cutting edge research and development. The hospital is a nationally designated specialist centre for epilepsy surgery and also boasts a paediatric major trauma centre for the West Midlands, a national liver and small bowel transplant centre and a centre of excellence for complex heart conditions, the treatment of burns, cancer and liver and kidney disease. Our Trust is also home to one of the largest Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the country, comprising of a dedicated inpatient Eating Disorder Unit and Acute Assessment Unit for regional referrals of children and young people with the most serious of problems (Tier 4) and the unique Forward Thinking Birmingham community mental health service for 0 to 25 year olds. Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) is the only UK charity providing independent non-directive information and specialised support to women and couples through prenatal testing and its consequences. ARC also works closely and collaboratively with clinicians in the field and runs a well-established training programme for health care professionals. The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. To date, 107 affiliates of the University have won the Nobel Prize. Founded in 1209, the University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges, which admit undergraduates and provide small-group tuition, and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Cambridge is a global university. Its 19,000 student body includes 3,700 international students from 120 countries. Cambridge researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and the University has established larger-scale partnerships in Asia, Africa and America. The University sits at the heart of the Cambridge cluster, which employs 60,000 people and has in excess of 12 billion in turnover generated annually by the 4,700 knowledge-intensive firms in and around the city. The city publishes 341 patents per 100,000 residents. Founded in 1852, Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the worlds leading childrens hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, childrens healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. With more than 252,000 outpatient and 43,000 inpatient visits every year, the hospitals pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. As an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, our patients and families are central to everything we do from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us. The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) is part of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences within the School of Life and Medical Sciences at University College London. Together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), it forms the UKs only paediatric National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and has the largest concentration of childrens health research in Europe. The Wellcome Sanger Institute is one of the worlds leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. To celebrate its 25th year in 2018, the Institute is sequencing 25 new genomes of species in the UK. Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. Were a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. University of Birmingham If a customer asks about Schultzs potential candidacy, employees are advised to tell them that the former CEOs future plans are up to him. If a customer asks whether Schultzs new book is being sold at the coffee shop, employees are to clarify that it is available at bookstores and online. While copies have been sent to Starbucks stores in the US, they cannot be purchased at coffee shops. Starbucks uses the weekly memo to update employees across branches. Store managers disseminate the information to staff, essentially agreeing to deploy whatever instructions the update holds, according to a Starbucks shift supervisor who spoke to Huffington Post. Another employee alleged the management at her branch changed the wording of the recent memo. She claimed she was bothered by the rephrasing, interpreting it as a way to stifle workers opinions. We were told not to talk to customers about it, the employee said. If we are asked about his political goals or our opinions on it [then] were to say he was a great CEO to work for but thats where our opinions end. Perhaps more importantly, we find that while the rate of male and female CEO dismissal is similar when the firm is performing poorly, female CEOs are significantly more likely to be dismissed than male CEOs when the firm is performing well. Glass cliff theory The study contradicts the glass cliff theory, which suggests women are more likely to assume leadership roles in business and politics compared to men during moments of crisis. In fact, women are more likely to be fired even when they are doing well in their post. Minorities such as female CEOs often experience enhanced visibility and attention, exaggerated stereotypes, and heightened monitoring and scrutiny, the researchers wrote. Cultural stereotypes associating leadership with masculinity can undermine evaluations of womens competence and ability to lead. By Emily Mayer As soldiers returned from the war or from training camps, our nation, state and community were making accommodations for returning warriors as well as moving forward to the future. The local Rotary Club was making sure those returning were getting a big welcome, as well as making provisions for returning soldiers and sailors to have jobs and meet their other needs. Every train with a returning soldier or sailor would be greeted heartily by the Rotarians, employment services and the Red Cross were at the ready to assist disabled military men into suitable jobs, and a special service flag was being proposed to employers who put returning soldiers and sailors back to work. Similar to the Blue Star Service flag, a blue star on a field of white bordered by red one star for each family member serving during war time and the Gold Star Service flag, a gold star on a field of white bordered by red one star for every family service member who died in the war this design of this flag would be: A blue field on which is shown a large white sixpointed star, inside of the white star are smaller red stars with a figure indicating the number of returned soldiers or sailors employed, and below the white star the wording Returned Soldiers Employed here. This would symbolize a matter of pride to give a soldier or sailor a job now as it was to display the fact that an employee had gone off to war. The Service Star flags roots are squarely and firmly from World War I and were designed by U. S. Army Capt. Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry in 1917, who had two sons serving in World War I. Government officials and the public quickly adopted the flag, and it would make a return during World War II and the Korean War but waned during the Vietnam War. It surged again in popularity during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the first Gulf War. A Silver Star flag is also gaining popularity as of late, symbolizing people injured or wounded in a war zone. Not so much for employers whose employees are deployed in service to our country or the number of veterans that are employed in their establishments; perhaps this should also make a comeback. The Havre Plaindealer published in its January 25, 1919, edition that: O. C. Hauge, the junior member of the firm of Norris, Hurd & Hauge, has returned from a trip east. Mr. Hauge left last week in response to a message from his mother announcing the death of Mr. Hauges brother with the American forces in France from an attack of pneumonia. The Plaindealers February 1, 1919 issue had these short announcements: Lieutenant Charles Emery was in the city Monday on his way to his home at Burnham. Mr. Emery is the son of Grant Emery of Burnham. E. P. Patton who has bee in the aviation service returned to Havre Monday from Texas. Mr. Patton was formerly connected with the Havre Abstract company and been away for over a year. In the same issue, it was reported Rev. E. J. Huston, in addition to him being sued, was at home with the Spanish flu, and that his three children had also contracted the disease. Of course, war almost always results in a surplus of something, and tanks were one of them. First used during The Great War, tanks proved themselves extremely valuable on the European front, going places men, horses and other mechanized vehicles could not. Innovative people finding opportunity saw a use for tanks after the war, and local farm implement dealer H. D. Shephard brought in some of these modified tanks to show area farmers what they could do. He explained it as a fight tank with its coat off and it cut circles and figures familiar to all ice skaters, climbing with ease, obstacles commonly considered insurmountable for farm tractors and displaying a flexibility that has commanded the attention even of those not interested in such machines. This new caterpillar tractor has been performing upon the streets of Havre the past week, and attracting crowds of interested observers by its remarkable achievements. Another sign the war was over was the closure of all state Food Administration offices, but hunger in Europe was still present and newspapers across the nation were encouraging Americans to continue to be frugal and donate surplus goods to organizations who, in turn, would send food overseas. The Havre Chamber launched a membership drive, and the local Red Cross reorganized in light of the end of the war. The Havre Womens Club was also meeting again, this time with a strong emphasis on child welfare, in particular childhood diseases and health inspections in schools. The Havre Elks were hosting dances again, and the members of the Eastern Star were busy making preparations for a masquerade ball. A newly formed Jazz Band performed at the Elks gathering, which prompted this announcement in the February 1, 1919 Plaindealer: A young mens dancing club sponsored by the Jazz Band has been organized and will hold the first of its subscription dances next Monday evening and at regular intervals thereafter. All kinds of gatherings were making a comeback, just in time for Prohibition to be passed into law. Montana had gone dry as of Dec. 31, 1918, and the Jan. 25, 1919 Plaindealer announced Nebraska was the 36th state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, making Prohibition legal throughout the entire country. Some in Havre couldnt have been more pleased, with the Plaindealer printing in its Feb. 1, 1919, edition: January was a quiet month in the local police court. No drunks are reported in the report for that period being prepared by Judge W. B. Pyper and the receipts were only slightly in excess of $90. Judge Pyper says that this amount is far less than one-half of any previous month during the 15 years that he has filled the office of police magistrate here. Distressing news for all beer lovers: D. J. Desmond deputy internal revenue officer, from Helena, at the request of the local brewery, was in the city Tuesday of this week and dumped into the Milk River 15 vats of beer, totaling 928 barrels. This was the entire supply left on the hands of the brewery at the close of the day, December 30, 1918, when prohibition became effective. The Plaindealer also reported two men were arrested in connection with the disappearance of over 100 quarts of whiskey being transported on the Great Northern. W. E. Belknap, express messenger on the Great Northern, and J. B. Stuart, a brakeman, had a hearing before U. S. Commissioner Elwell. The owner of the whiskey was none too happy, as the shipment arrived for delivery in Great Falls past the official implementation of Montanas Prohibition law. The investigation was on for others who may have been involved. The Roaring Twenties was getting an early start in Havre, Montana! Editor: The decline of American culture can be seen clearly in the self-absorbed c We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Published on 2019/02/01 | Source Actor Choi Min-soo is to go on trial for causing a road-rage accident. Advertisement The Seoul Nambu District Prosecutors' Office indicted Choi on charges of destruction of property and verbal assault, a spokesman said Thursday. According to prosecutors, Choi picked a quarrel with another driver on a five-lane road in the financial district of Yeouido around 1 p.m. on Sept. 17 last year. He said that the other driver, who was running ahead of his car, had blocked his way by straddling two lanes. Choi overtook the car and stopped abruptly, which resulted in a fender-bender. The other driver filed a criminal complaint against Choi, saying the actor deliberately caused the accident and the repairs cost him a lot of money. Choi is being charged with verbal assault during the ensuing argument. "Several witnesses testify that Choi swore at the other driver", a prosecutor said. Police sent the case to the prosecutors' office last October. Choi claims he was provoked. "The driver recklessly cut into my lane without signaling, and I got angry as he threatened to make me quit showbusiness", he said. Choi is no stranger to bouts of fury. In 2008, he was arrested for assaulting a man in his 70s in Itaewon, Seoul but was acquitted. In 2015 he had to quit a TV program after assaulting the producer. Haiti - News : Zapping... FLASH : Denial of the BRH "The Central Bank (bank of the Republic of Haiti - BRH) formally denies the information suggesting that accounts denominated in dollars will be converted into gourdes." Godson Orelus appeal rejected Tuesday, the Court of Appeal of Gonaives heard the appeal of the lawyers of the former head of the Haitian National Police (PNH) Godson Orelus, incarcerated since late October, in the case of the seizure of weapons at the Saint-Marc customs in 2016 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18569-haiti-flash-worrying-seizure-of-weapons-from-the-usa.html who are challenging the judge's order of Saint-Marc Dieunel Lumerant https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26393-icihaiti-justice-the-lawyers-of-godson-orelus-appeal-the-decision-of-judge-lumerant.html . Chief Public Prosecutor Yves Martial said Gordson Orelus' request for release was premature and dismissed the motion and sent the case back to eight days in order to have time to interview the other defendants https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26314-haiti-justice-seizure-of-weapons-in-st-marc-9-indicted-2-in-prison-and-7-fugitives.html The resignation of President Moise on the agenda of the dialogue ? The resignation of President Jovenel Moise must be one of the points on the table of dialogue, requires the Fusion to dialogue with the power, informs Edmonde S. Beauzile who shunned the Forum organized by Ceant and said in favor of a dialogue in which all options are possible. The American Ambassador to Parliament Thursday, US Ambassador to Haiti Michele J. Sison, went to the Haitian Parliament to congratulate the newly elected Senate Speaker, Carl Murat Cantave and the re-elected Speaker of the House of Deputies, Gary Bodeau. Together, they reviewed Parliament's priorities for 2019, including the draft budget, the electoral law and the legislative program. Donation of adapted materials for disabled people Several disabled people, in Ouanaminthe, Fort Liberte and Cap-Haitien, benefited from adapted materials during the visit of a team of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Disabled People in North and NorthEast. These materials, including wheelchairs, will provide beneficiaries with greater autonomy in their movements and movements. 3rd Assembly canceled due to lack of quorum Thursday, in the House of Deputies for lack of a quorum, the meeting had to be canceled for the 3rd time in a row this week... HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : Inauguration of a juvenile court in Les Cayes Thursday, January 31 in the morning, Jean Roudy Aly, the Minister of Justice in the presence of the Commissioner of the Government of the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Les Cayes, the representative of UNICEF in Haiti, the Dean of the TPI, the President of the Court of Appeal of Les Cayes and the coordinator of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) has inaugurated a children's court located at the Court of Appeal of the city, street Chateaudin. This juvenile court of Les Cayes responds to a need within the zone to deal with juvenile cases in conflict with the law. It will cover the 6 jurisdictions of the departments of the South, Grand'Anse and Nippes. It is an essential link in the chain of protection of the child. Subsequently, Minister Aly took the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for the construction of future premises to house the Prosecutor's Office near the TPI of Les Cayes, which should be completed in November 2019. During his visit to the South, the Minister also took the opportunity to organize a working session with the Government Commissioner and the Commissioner's substitutes. Prosecutors have been instructed to adopt a set of measures to combat more effectively prolonged pretrial detention. The Minister warned "all the prosecutors will be evaluated and those who do not want or can not work will simply be removed from the system." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : The Court of Auditors delivers its first report on the management of PetroCaribe funds Thursday in the late afternoon, in the presence of 15 Senators, Senate Speaker Carl Murat Cantave, received Pierre Volmar Demesyeux, the President of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes (CSC/CA) came to hand him the Report 1 (partial) on the management of projects financed by the PetroCaribe fund. "It's a new page, and I think posterity will enjoy this new page of history. The Senate will accompany and take all the necessary measures so that this file can lead without delay," declared the Senator Cantave. As part of its audit mission, the Court analyzed various documents as well as data from various information systems of the institutions involved in the management of Petrocaribe funds including: Of disbursement Resolutions Authorized by the Board of the Office for the Monetization of Development Assistance Programs (BMPAD) Of transfers from the PetroCaribe Fund's bank accounts domiciled in the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) and the National Bank of Credit (BNC). Of development projects developed by sectoral ministries and autonomous organizations as well as contracts for these projects. Of disbursements authorized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to sectoral ministries as well as autonomous agencies to implement projects. Finally, the commissions compared the project management of the audited institutions with the recognized good practices in project management. In addition to the projects authorized by the 14 resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers under several governments, the Court also decided to analyze investment projects and contracts related to the Petrocaribe fund, but not authorized by a resolution. Thus, as early as 20 April 2018, it requested information from the Government. Without result. Letters had been sent to the institutions that had benefited from Petrocaribe funds and to the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) and Auditing Commissions had been deployed in most of these institutions. But very little information had been provided to the Court for both types of projects https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26449-haiti-flash-csc-ca-unable-to-continue-investigation-on-petrocaribe-funds.html Given the slowness and difficulty of obtaining the majority of the documents related to these projects, the Court chose to audit and produce a report systematically concerning all the projects for which the complete files were submitted to it by the institutions concerned. The other documents and data that were sent to the Court after January 15, 2019 are currently being processed. The CSCCA, by means of stimulus letters and other means, continues relentlessly to request the institutions concerned by these projects to communicate all the relevant files in order to be able to analyze them all and to submit a second report in April so that the audit covers the entire period from September 2008 to September 2016. CSCCA in its report grouped the irregularities into 3 categories : The administrative irregularities. The regulatory irregularities and good management practices. The irregularities that have caused harm to the project and the community. Similarly, the Court's task is to produce, by June 2015 at the latest, a report on the governance of the Petrocaribe Fund and the debt of the Republic of Haiti to Venezuela on 30 September 2016 to promote greater transparency in public management. Carl Murat Cantave forwarded this report to Senator Youri Latortue, President of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, who said, "We will analyze the report before submitting it to the Assembly of Senators [...] who will send the 236-page report of the Court to the prosecution for the necessary follow-up action." However, it should be noted that, according to several legal opinions, this audit report does not constitute a decisive act (can not be appealed), but should instead be considered as a document provide leads for a possible trial on the management of PetroCaribe funds. Download Report 1 on the management of the Petrocaribe Fund : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/PETROCARIBE-31-01-2019.pdf See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26121-haiti-flash-everything-you-need-to-know-about-using-the-petrocaribe-fund.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26449-haiti-flash-csc-ca-unable-to-continue-investigation-on-petrocaribe-funds.html HL/ HaitiLibre Have any questions? Please give us a call at 520-625-5511 The vivo V15 Pro teaser posters tend to focus on its 32MP pop-up selfie camera, but a new report shows that the triple camera on the rear shouldnt be underestimated. The rear camera will feature a 48MP main module (a Samsung GM1), which supports a 12MP pixel binning mode for night shots. The other two modules will have 8MP and 5MP sensors, though their purpose is unclear. This is only vivos second triple camera phone after the NEX Dual Display (which had a depth sensor and a 3D ToF camera). Anyway, the vivo V15 Pro will be among the first to use a Snapdragon 675 chipset. This means its direct competitors are the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Motorola P40, which will also have 48MP cameras. The phone will have a Super AMOLED display (size and resolution TBD) and an in-display fingerprint reader (visible in the poster). There's no notch or punch hole camera, obviously. vivo V15 Pro The V15 Pro will be unveiled on February 20 and is expected to cost INR 25,000 ($350/305) for a unit with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Source 1 | Source 2 Samsung is announcing the Galaxy S10 smartphones at the Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 20, but we've learned a little something about their pricing in advance. At the end of 2018 some pricing for the UK market was leaked, and now we get intel on the costs of the flagships for Continental Europe. The most affordable of the bunch - Galaxy S10 E (or just Galaxy S10 5.8) will be 749, while the regular Galaxy S10 is going to start from 899. Samsung Galaxy S10 pricing in Europe The Galaxy S10 E (previously rumored as Galaxy S10 Lite) will come in at least four colors, with Canary Yellow being an exclusive option. There will be only one memory option - 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, but we expect microSD slot to enable expansion. Samsung will launch the phone also in Prism Black, Green, and White, while Blue is expected to arrive later. Samsung is preparing the Galaxy S10 in two variations. The 899 base version has 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, while 1,149 get you a 8/512 GB unit. Official-looking Samsung Galaxy S10+ renders Upgrading to the Galaxy S10+ with its five cameras will cost you an extra 100 for a total of 999. For the big spenders, there is the Galaxy S10+ with 12 GB RAM and 1 TB storage for 1,499. It will come exclusively with Ceramic Black or Ceramic White back panel. All these prices are for the Netherlands, but they should also apply to other EU countries. And if the typical conversion rate is applied slapping a US dollar sign in front of the numbers would give a pretty accurate prediction of what Samsung fans in the United States have to shell for the latest Galaxy S10 phones. Source Huawei shows teaser image of its 5G foldable phone as it announces MWC event Huawei promised a foldable 5G phone for the MWC and is now backing that up with a teaser image, which sets the unveil date as February 24 at 14:00 CET. The phone will feature Huaweis new Balong 5000 5G modem, which will be hooked up to a Kirin 980 chipset. It looks like the phone folds down the middle and keeps the screen outside. Technically, the company promised 5G phones, plural, so we might see a non-foldable phone as well. Huawei's event invite for the MWC teases its 5G-enabled foldable phone Anyway, the event announcement mentions Internet of Everything, so its likely that the companys new 5G home router will attend too. It uses the same modem and supports HiLink, Huaweis smart home protocol. The router features Wi-Fi 6 as the 802.11ac isnt fast enough for 5G speeds. However, no current phone supports the new Wi-Fi standard, so we expect Huaweis new handsets to be among the first. Sub-brand Honor is planning a 5G phone as well. Samsung will unveil its own foldable phone on February 20 and Xiaomi has one in the works, but its reveal date is unclear. Source (in Chinese) | Via Looking for family-friendly places to visit in France outside of Paris? Carcassonne, France should be on your list! Its a quaint little city walled inside a medieval castle and fortress. Click through to see the five reasons why you should visit Carcassonne, France! 1. Its Been Around Since the Neolithic Ages Located in the south of France on a hilltop, Carcassonne has been pretty much continuously occupied since Neolithic times. The Romans used it as a defensive point during the height of the Roman Empire, as did the Visigoths. Todays Cite de Carcassonne has been around since medieval times, and walking through the pedestrian-only, cobblestone streets feels like stepping back in time. The citys deep historical roots were acknowledged in 1997, when Carcassonne was added to the list of UNESCOs world heritage sites. 2. Its Charmingly French If your ideal vacation in France has you pedaling around a small French town while wearing a beret with baguettes in your wicker basket, then Carcassonne is it. You can rent electric bikes, which make conquering the hilly region much easier, through Evadeo (starting at 17 euros for 2 hours) or book a tour with a guide to explore Carcassonne and the Languedoc region, which is known for its gorgeous wine. This is the French vacation dreams are made of. 3. Theres So Much to Do Inside the City Besides the Cite de Carcassonne, which is the main fortress inside Carcassonne, carve out time to take a boat cruise along the Canal du Midi, a picturesque series of canals along the River Aude. Inside the city, prepare yourself for lots of medieval-themed souvenir shops, some of which can be a little repetitive. Still, kids will love popping in and out of shops for handmade wooden swords and shields and princess costumes. For adults, French spice shops, lavender soaps and beautiful French linens for both the tabletop and bedroom abound. 4. Glorious French Food Carcasssonne has no shortage of Michelin guide recommended restaurants serving traditional southern French cuisine. Dont miss the cassoulet, a hearty casserole of beans with duck confit and/or sausage topped with crusty bread crumbs. We had ours at Table dAlais, a cozy little bistro featuring cassoulet as its signature dish. We especially loved Table dAlais for its petits gourmands menu, which allows younger diners to sample French cuisine in smaller portions. Our Meimei had the guinea hen with a whipped carrot mousseline, which she loved so much she commented on it in the guest book at the end of the meal: During the day, you can dine among the castle ramparts at Restaurant Adelaide. Dont miss the foie gras, which comes in a thick slab accompanied by a crunchy salad dressed in a zesty vinaigrette. 5. Theres Something for Everyone Because the entire city is contained within fortress walls, Carcassonne is a very accessible city from young to old. The Cite de Carcassonne regularly runs kid-friendly games and activities that are included in the ticket cost. For the truly adventurous, check out the O2 Adventure Park and its high-ropes courses. For those who like to keep their feet on the ground, Cocoa and Grapes offers English-language chocolate and wine tastings from the Languedoc region. Alternatively, Hotel du Chateau offers cassoulet cooking classes so that you can bring the magic home with you. Getting There Carcassonne has an international airport, with flights from major European cities. Alternatively, you can travel by train from Paris or Toulouse. We rented a car from the Toulouse airport and drove, which took about an hour. Where to Stay Carcassonne has no shortage of hotels in all price ranges, but we loved our stay at the Doubletree by Hilton Carcassonne, with rates around 175 euros/night. Looking for other travel tips in Europe? Check out these posts: Like this post? Pin the image below to save it for later! Police in Florida have arrested a woman who they said starved her husbands parents to the point of malnourishment and then stabbed her mother-in-law when they tried to get something to eat. Umme Ferdousy, 38, of Melbourne, is charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years old or older, battery on a person 65 years old or older and two counts of aggravated abuse of an elderly person. 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. The center against violence served 11 sex trafficking victims, two labor trafficking victims, and a victim of both instances of trafficking in the following fiscal year. In the six-month period between July and December of last year, the non-profit provided advocacy for eight victims a total that makes up for nearly 29 percent of victims advocated for since numbers were first tallied in 2016. All victims served by Help Incorporated have been female. As an organization we are continuing to build partnerships with organizations in the county, Stultz said. We do have a multi-disciplinary team that gets together quarterly and we are starting to raise that to a monthly meeting so that we can grow on how we support these victims and the services that we can bring to them. Stultz said that while advocacy for victims is very important, just as crucial in the fight against trafficking is raising the awareness of risk factors. A total of 126 human trafficking cases in North Carolina were reported to the Human Trafficking Hotline in the first six months of 2018. The hotline reported 297 calls to the hotline in that timeframe, 31 of which came from victims and survivors. Tom Kirby-Smith wonders (letter, Jan. 20) how I feel about Donald Trump, given my letter about putting war-dead stories on the back of Section A. Neither of us knows the facts about Trump allegedly avoiding military service, so we cannot intelligently comment thereon. As a veteran, Trump sickens me, exhibiting reprehensible behavior involving John McCain; Marines John Kelly and James Mattis; and his comments about our soldier killed in Africa. Kirby-Smith also confuses serving religion with serving country. Allegiance to religion over country 1939-1945 would have meant a world speaking German and Japanese. And he slips into irrelevance, noting that I am on record as a strong advocate of the NRA, whose activities make possible schoolhouse murders with military weapons. If Kirby-Smith knew about weapons he would know school shooters use civilian weapons (I know the difference). Are any shooters NRA members? Please advise if yes. Finally, my NRA affiliation makes me a despised soldier? Thats an insulting inference made by someone who does not know the quality of my military service. Col. Charles A. Jones, retired Greensboro GREENSBORO High Point business owner Zaki Khalifa is the 2019 winner of N.C. A&Ts Human Rights Medal. A native of Pakistan, Khalifa immigrated to United States at age 30 and eventually established a business, Zaki Oriental Rugs in High Point, that's reportedly the nation's largest dealer of handmade rugs. Khalifa has supported a free health care clinic in Burlington and donated former business locations to High Point civic groups. In 2018, Khalifa said he would give his remaining business to a Pakistani charity that builds orphanages and educates underprivileged children. The charity plans to sell the building and its inventory. "His passionate and commitment to making a difference is evident," Chancellor Harold Martin said during the presentation ceremony Friday at A&Ts annual Sit-In Anniversary Breakfast Celebration. In remarks at the ceremony, Khalifa said: "What I have been taught by my teachers along the way is that ignorance is dangerous (and) prejudice is dangerous ... If we cannot make sure that we eliminate all of it from our lives entirely, we should at least work to reduce each one of those characteristics from our lives every single day." GREENSBORO On the anniversary of the nations most famous sit-in, a national civil rights leader called for more action to tackle several pressing national issues. The Rev. William Barber on Friday urged an audience at N.C. A&T to fight for health care, the right to vote and a living wage and other concerns crucial not just to African-Americans but to poor people of all races and colors. There is a national emergency, and its time for you and I to sound the alarm, Barber said. Anything less is to dishonor those who we claim are our heroes of the past. Barber spoke at the Sit-In Anniversary Breakfast Celebration, the annual event that commemorates the four A&T freshmen who took seats at the whites-only Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on Feb. 1, 1960. Their persistent and nonviolent action at the discount store, now the site of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, launched a sit-in movement that swept the South and led ultimately to national civil rights laws that struck down racial segregation. Two of the surviving A&T Four Jibreel Khazan (then known as Ezell Blair Jr.) and Joseph McNeil attended Fridays breakfast. Neither spoke at the early-morning ceremony. Colleges must be accredited to accept federal Pell Grants and student loans as payment for tuition, fees and other expenses. Non-accredited colleges often close. Bennett has appealed the commissions ruling and remains accredited for now. Bennett had been on probation for the two prior years the most allowed under the commissions rules after sharp declines in enrollment led to budget deficits. In 2017-18, Dawkins first full year as permanent president, enrollment rose and the college posted its first annual surplus in six years. Bennett expects to have another budget surplus this year. The college has about 410 students enrolled in the spring semester down about 60 students from the fall. (Colleges typically lose students from one semester to the next.) But Bennett officials have said it has received about 4,000 applications for a spot in next falls freshwoman class. Thats almost double what the college got a year ago. GREENSBORO Some saw big shoes to fill when a behind-the-scenes Greensboro pastor was elected about a year ago to follow the Rev. William Barber as president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, the country's oldest civil rights group. Barber had been the face of the NAACP-led "Moral Monday" protests that drew tens of thousands of people to the state Legislative Building. He was also adept at relaying his message not only to the readers of The New York Times, but viewers of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." Barber has drawn comparisons to the Rev. Martin Luther King because of his high-profile approach in uniting people throughout the state and beyond around issues as varied as environmental justice, racism and poverty, and in successfully challenging communities to work across lines of division. In doing so, he launched a movement that spread across the country. "I don't envy anybody who had to follow Rev. Dr. William Barber," said Bishop Tonyia Rawls, a social justice activist from Charlotte. "He's a national treasure at this point, at least for some of us." The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman smiles because he's heard it before. "I have my own shoes," he said. Leading the way The preacher shares the biblical story of King Saul offering his servant David his armor before he sets off to fight Goliath. "David knows that Saul's armor is too big for him and he couldn't do it with Saul's armor or personality, if you will," Spearman said. "I know I couldn't do what I need to do with Dr. Barber's personality." With the expressive Barber out front, the soft-spoken but direct Spearman had been a faithful lieutenant in the state NAACP. Over the years, he's honed his own reputation as a social-justice warrior. "He helped to make the footprint," Barber said. "If you look back, Dr. Spearman was right there." More introvert to Barber's extreme extrovert, Spearman was one of the original 17 protesters at the "Moral Monday" demonstrations starting in 2013 against Republican-led legislative policies they felt were attacks on the poor, with both Barber and Spearman being arrested. Years earlier, the men led protests in Raleigh during Gov. Beverly Perdue's fight with Republicans over the state budget, making accusations that it was being balanced on the backs of the poor. In 2012, Spearman had been among the few black pastors in the state to speak out against Amendment One, a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Local religious leaders of a variety of denominations were split on their feelings. A stumbling block for some Christians is the interpretation of biblical scriptures condemning homosexuality. "There were those who ran from it because it was just hard," Rawls said. "He ran to it. Dr. Spearman's voice was one of those that stood and rang out for justice for all. That was so powerful to me." More recently, Spearman sought out votes against Todd Farr, one of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench representing the Eastern District of North Carolina. Farr had been accused by Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus of voter intimidation while working on the campaigns of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. Spearman and the group he traveled with carried a letter from Harvey Gantt, who ran against Helms in a particularly brutal battle, and got it into the hands of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. He did so as Scott, the Senate's only black Republican who, like Gantt, had attended Clemson University made up his mind. "We were grasping at everything we could grasp at to get their attention," Spearman said. Scott eventually voted no and the nomination failed. And he continues to see battles. On Feb. 9, Spearman will lead the Historic K (for thousands) on J (for Jones Street) demonstration in Raleigh, the precursor to the "Moral Monday" protests. "He was texting me before I get out of bed, and I get out of bed early," said Mark Jewell, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, one of the partnering groups. "He truly understands the urgency of the issues." Reliving Emmett Till In his work with the NAACP, Spearman recalls his father's almost prophetic words. "You will spend a lifetime fighting for justice," he once said after signing up his children for NAACP membership. Spearman's parents had been part of an exodus of black people both trying to get out of the Jim Crow South and looking for job opportunities. Before Spearman was born, they fled the small North Carolina town of Eastover at the urging of family members after Spearman's father, a World War II veteran, got into a fight with a white man. In Rye, N.Y., his father found work and raised a family. Soon, they were able to move from public housing to a small house in a mostly white neighborhood. It was on a visit "down home" as his parents called it, when a young Anthony Spearman said he "could have been an Emmett Till." He was 9 or 10, not much younger than the Chicago teenager whose interaction with a white woman in Mississippi years earlier lead to his lynching. Born in 1951 in Port Chester, N.Y., Spearman had yet to feel the weight of segregation and injustice as he hopped out of the bed of his grandfather's truck with his other cousins to get chicken sandwiches during a trip "uptown," where black people people were expected to know their place. Until then, he had either been too young or insulated by adults to understand the seriousness of a child's error in the South. Especially when that child happened to be black. He hadn't seen the white man in his path that day until he bumped into him as he made the wrong turn toward the "whites only" entrance. The man turned with a scowl and braced himself just as Spearman's grandfather grabbed the boy by the back collar of his shirt with a fierceness that nearly lifted him off the ground. The look on his gentile grandfather's face was one he had never seen. "When he got home he sort of explained it to me," Spearman recalled. His grandfather hadn't been mad at him. He was pulling him out of a harm his grandson didn't recognize. "I carried that in my bones," Spearman said. "I was always in fear for the lives of my cousins." The enormity of that moment helps guide his work today as he travels the state rallying people against policies aimed at the poor, people of color and members of the gay community. Spearman, the former pastor of Phillips A.M.E. Zion Church in Greensboro, had also served as a third vice president of the NAACP over a heavily-minority district that had some of the worst poverty in North Carolina including the part of the state where Farr, the failed Trump nominee, would have been in position to rule on discrimination cases. "This individual is the one they come up with?" Spearman said. "It's like, no. No." Spearman is described as a thinker and bridge-builder. "He has a very gracious spirit about him, which makes him very approachable and which paves the path for building relationships across various barriers," said the Rev. Julie Peeples of Congregational United Church of Christ, who got to know him during the debate over Amendment One and was later arrested alongside him during protests. "He is someone I've turned to many times for his perspective and wise counsel." Spearman's own son watched his father sacrifice time working for the dignity of others. "When he was tired and had not slept for days," recalled Dr. Anthony D. Spearman, an internist. The world may see a sharply dressed and passionate orator, he said. "In most settings he's serious and focused," the younger Spearman son said. "But he's also hilarious." The public might never see that side of him. But the former substance abuse counselor and president of the N.C. Council of Churches, speaks in detail to them about the treatment of the state's educators and funding for public schools, affordable housing and what he sees as a lack of reasonable immigration policies. They will encounter his patience, said state Rep. Amos Quick, a Democrat representing Guilford County. "Sometimes leaders look for quick victories," Quick said. "He's not afraid of tackling big issues, knowing there has to be a long-range strategy." Years ago, Spearman joined lawsuits aimed at polices that discouraged the poor and minorities from voting. There are cases winding through the system today. He never takes his eyes off any of that, Quick said. Name on the office While the name on the NAACP office door has changed, the work this past year is the same, said Mickey Michaux, a Martin Luther King Jr. ally from the 1960s who was the longest-serving member of the N.C. House when he retired in 2018. He has watched Spearman carry on the mission of the NAACP, especially in coalition building. "It's persistence and his wanting to maintain a sense of conscience," Michaux said. "He wants to keep people aware of situations as they are and as they have existed and what they should be in the future." Often, that means traveling the state, talking to whoever shows up at churches and town hall meetings. "Educating people," Spearman said," is empowering them." Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter. 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. The Rev. Jesse Jackson didnt want Feb. 1 to pass without sharing his thoughts about the significance of that day in 1960 and the activism of his former classmates at N.C. A&T. That was the day four black freshman from A&T sat down at Woolworths whites only lunch counter in downtown Greensboro, were refused service and stayed until the store closed, beginning a sit-in that played a seminal role in the civil rights movement. When the four students sat, the nation responded by standing up, and they have been standing and marching ever since, said Jackson, who called the News & Record from Chicago. He said that later marches would not have been possible without the Greensboro Four. Though Jackson didnt participate in the Greensboro sit-ins, he transferred to N.C. A&T from University of Illinois the next fall and befriended the students who started the effort. Im blessed to have them as my classmates, he said. Jackson got involved in the next phase of the struggle, what I call part two, a few years later. He became a spokesman for later civil rights demonstrations. The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, located in the former Woolworths where the 1960 sit-ins took place, honored Jackson in 2018 with its Lifetime Civil and Human Rights Award. Alexis Wray is the editor of the A&T Register newspaper. City officials plan eventually to convert the authoritys entire fleet that currently includes 53 full-size buses. Voters approved $4.5 million in a 2016 bond referendum to provide sufficient matching funds to buy the first 30 electric buses. The federal government covers most of the cost for buses used in public transportation, with city and state governments each contributing smaller percentages. GTA recharges the all-electric bus overnight at its maintenance garage, emerging with enough power to travel somewhere between 170 and 200 miles. Fischer said the city soon will activate a quick charger at the Depot on East Washington Street to give the growing electric fleet occasional, eight-minute reboots so the battery powered buses can remain in service throughout the day. Electric buses also get occasional boosts in power from their regenerative brakes that tap into the energy created by the stopping process and redirect it to the battery. Among transit agencies statewide, Asheville also is incorporating all-electric buses into its fleet, GTA officials said Thursday. But it has not put any into regular, daily rotation yet, they said. There were few dry eyes in the courtroom when the verdict was read a verdict that caused his mother to get up, walk out of the courtroom, slam the door and not return for her sons sentencing. Slades eyes filled with tears as he shook and tapped his finger repeatedly on the desk the first emotions he showed in the eight-day trial. Hall told Slade he was sentencing him to two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Jurors also convicted Slade on one count of shooting into a motor vehicle and five counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Hall consolidated three of the latter convictions and sentenced Slade to a combined minimum of 13 years in prison concurrently. He received credit for time served. This is a solemn time for all of us, me included, Hall told Slade. I did not have to give you the opportunity for parole if I thought youre utterly incapable of being reformed, and I dont have reason to believe that Mr. Slade. Hall put his head in his hands before wiping his forehead, which, with the rest of his face, had turned red. He asked that safety precautions be put in place in the prison because of Slades 5-foot-1 height and that he be granted every educational opportunity available. Nearly 50 models from 11 area high schools modeled the hair-raising fashions at seventh Big Hair Ball Aqua: Muses of the Sea at UNC-Greensboro on Jan. 26. Each ensemble was inspired by a sponsor, corporate or individual, as well as the event theme. Proceeds from the Big Hair Ball support local programs of Family Service of the Piedmont in Greensboro, the largest private nonprofit of its kind in Guilford County. His intention is to keep that record unblemished; there's one small detail that remains unfinished. . A pledge is needed from the Gingerbread Man; Doughboy's take for the party is one cool grand. To insure that those funds end up in his bank, he needs to get the Gingerbread Man tanked. . Once he is besotted and in a state of oblivion, his cooperation in this venture will be a given. He'll woozily sign his name for part of the take, unaware the contract calls for him to be baked. . So the next time you partake of such a treat, it's possible that he also once sat on this seat. The tangled web that this baker deftly wove led to his untimely demise in a red-hot stove. Student Leaders, Social Justice Organization and Women's Health Clinics Outraged by Governor Northam's Support of Violence Against Children and Infanticide Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /Christian Newswire/ -- Groups to seek face to face meeting with Virginia Governor Northam and hold news conference announcing public campaign against recently proposed abortion legislation. The news conference will be held on Friday, February 1, at 1:00 p.m. at the entrance to the Patrick Henry Building located at 1111 East Broad St. in Richmond, Virginia where the Governor's office is located. (The South side of the building.) Participants will be sharing their concerns about recently proposed legislation which allows abortion for the full nine months of pregnancy and, according to the Governor's recent comments, supports infanticide. Organizers will also be talking about public events and a grassroots campaign against the legislation that will begin over the next week. Rev. Patrick J Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense, states; "It is stunning and troubling to see members of the Virginia Legislature and Governor Northam support legislation that embraces violence against children and allows for infanticide. This is not a partisan political issue but rather an issue of human rights and justice. We call upon Virginia to stand against violence and protect her children, which is, our state's greatest natural treasure. "The pro-life and human rights community, as well as all people of justice, will not sit silently by on this issue, but will be a loud and public voice for equal justice and an end to the violence of abortion. The mobilization begins today!" Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, comments: "As the founder of women's clinics across the country, it is stunning that Governor Northam would show a complete disregard for women's health issues and the children of his state. By pushing this new abortion legislation, it undermines common sense and compassionate policies which help and support women with unexpected pregnancies. The women of Virginia deserve much better than this." For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 Researchers from Japans NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science), the University of Tokyo and Hiroshima University have jointly conducted a techno-economic analysis for hydrogen production from photovoltaic power generation (PV) utilizing a battery-assisted electrolyzer. The results from this study suggested a cost of hydrogen as low as 17 to 27/Nm3 (US$0.16 - $0.25) using a combination of technologies and the achievement of ambitious individual cost targets for batteries, PV, and electrolyzers. This approximately converts to US$1.92 to US$3.00/kg of hydrogen, with 1 kg H 2 equal to about 12 Nm3 of hydrogen. For comparison, the US DOEs 2020 target for the levelized cost of hydrogen (production only) is $2.30/kg. The findings are published in a paper in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. The joint research team designed an integrated system capable of adjusting the amount of battery charge/discharge and the amount of electrolysis hydrogen production in relation to the amount of solar power generated. The team then evaluated the economic feasibility of the system. System capable of adjusting the amount of battery charge/discharge and the amount of electrolysis hydrogen production in relation to the amount of solar power generated. Comprehensive analysis of various factors, including rechargeable battery and electrolyzer capacities, enables the estimation of technology levels required for low-cost hydrogen production. Credit: NIMS The team identified technology levels necessary for the system to produce hydrogen at low cost through a comprehensive analysis of various factors such as rechargeable battery and electrolyzer capacities, considering the future technological advancements. For the study, the researchers optimized the installed capacity of each component technology for the wide range of unit costs of electricity from the PV, battery, and proton-exchange membrane electrolyzer. For example, rechargeable batteries that can discharge only at a low rate but can be produced economically are expected to become available by around 2030. Broadly, they found that with the leveling of PV electricity output through the use of the battery, the required capacity of electrolyzer is lowered and the operating ratio of electrolyzer increases. The battery-assist will result in a lower hydrogen production cost when the benefit associated with the smaller capacity and higher operation ratio of the electrolyzer exceeds the necessary investment for battery installation. In future studies, the team plans to determine component technology levels required for proposed systems and set R&D target values to achieve these levels. The team will also investigate the system feasibility of renewable power generation systems even under output suppression control or restriction to electricity power grid connection in order to demonstrate a proto-type system of the proposed system. Resources Jiangnan Shipyard, owned by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), has ordered an LPG (liquefied propane gas)-burning MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP engine in connection with the building of an 86,000-m3 VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier) for Tianjin Southwest Maritime (TSM), the Chinese shipping company. Vessel delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2021 and includes an option for a second vessel. The new ME-LGIP (-Liquid Gas Injection Propane) engine, revealed in September 2018, builds on the success the company has had with its ME-GI and ME-LGI dual-fuel engines, which have won more than 250 orders since their introduction to the market. LGIP engine. With a new injection concept, initially developed for methanol, the ME-LGI concept greatly expands the companys dual-fuel portfolio and enables the exploitation of more low-flash-point fuels such as ethanol, dimethyl ether and, now, LPG. Employing essentially the same proven technology, LPG has now been added to the expanding list of non-HFO (heavy fuel oil) and alternative fuels that MAN Energy Solutions two-stroke technology can exploit. The engines ME- prefix indicates that the new engine benefits from well-proven electronic controls that also encompass the fuel being injected by the Fuel Booster Injection Valve (FBIV). This innovative fuel booster, specially developed for the ME-LGI engine, ensures that a low-pressure fuel-gas supply system can be employed, significantly reducing first-time costs and increasing reliability. LPG unit. The diesel principle provides the ME-LGIP engine with high operational stability and efficiency, including during load changes and fuel change-over, while defining properties such as a stable change-over from one fuel type to another with no fuel-penalties are maintained. The negligible gas slip of the ME-LGIP engine makes it the most environmentally friendly, two-stroke technology available, MAN said. The ME-LGIP engines feature a low-pressure supply system and an injection pressure of 500-600 bar. MAN B&W ME-LGIP engines are designed to be dual-fueled with diesel fuels and LPG as equal alternatives for operation. Furthermore, the ME-LGIP engine is flexible with regard to LPG composition and finds even LPG qualities containing significant amounts of ethane acceptable. LGIP research engine. MAN Energy Solutions reports that the ME-LGIP engine has experienced an up to 18% reduction in CO 2 and circa 90% reduction in particulate matter when running on LPG, compared with HFO. The ME-LGI came about due to interest from the shipping world in operating on alternatives to HFO. Methanol and LPG carriers have already operated at sea for many years and many more LPG tankers are currently being built as the global LPG infrastructure grows. With a viable, convenient and comparatively cheap fuel already onboard, it makes sense to use a fraction of the cargo to power the vessel with an important, side-benefit being its positive, environmental performance. MAN Energy Solutions expects strong demand for the ME-LGIP engine from VLGCs and coastal vessels. The development of the ME-LGIP engine to burn LPG is part of the Maritime Energy Transition, an umbrella term that covers all MAN Energy Solutions activities in regard to supporting a climate-neutral shipping industry. The term stems from the German expression Energiewende and encapsulates MAN Energy Solutions call to action to reduce emissions and establish natural gases as the fuels of choice in global shipping. It promotes a global turn to gas, driven by the IMO, and a common approach by the shipping industry and politics to invest in infrastructure development and retrofits. With 2020 and the new IMO emissions fast approaching, interest in using LPG as a fuelwithin and outside of the LPG carrier segmentis growing due to its sulfur-free character, widespread availability, price competitivity, and ease of bunkering. At MAN Energy Solutions, we feel that the introduction of the ME-LGIP is proving timely. Bjarne Foldager Senior Vice President, Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions MAN Energy Solutions won the first orders for the new engine earlier in 2018 when Hanjin Heavy Industries announced that it would construct 2 VLGCs (Very Large Gas Carriers) in their Philippines Facilities for Exmar, the Belgian integrated gas-shipping company. The 86,000 m3 newbuildings will each be powered by an individual MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP Mk9.5 engine. The company also announced the first retrofit orders for the ME-LGIP in September 2018 when it signed a contract with Oslo-listed BW LPG for the worlds first retrofitting of four MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 HFO-burning engines to 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP LPG-propelled dual-fuel engines. The order includes options for further retrofits in the future with work expected to begin during 2020. 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 814-368-3173 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. 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. TOPEKA [mdash] Edna E. Yoder, 75, of Topeka, died at 1 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2021, at her residence. She was born Oct. 3, 1945, in LaGrange, to Emmery and Mary (Chupp) Miller. On Oct. 15, 1964, in Topeka, she married Raymond M. Yoder. He survives. Survivors in addition to her husband are t THUNDER BAY, Feb. 1, 2019 - Premier Gold Mines Ltd. (PG: TSX) ("Premier" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced US$50 million secured revolving term credit facility with Investec Bank plc ("Investec"), as administrative agent for the lenders thereunder (the "Investec Credit Facility") and the previously announced financing arrangements with OMF Fund II SO Ltd. and Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP (collectively, "Orion") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$18.3 million. Investec Credit Facility The Investec Credit Facility matures in four years and will be used for working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. Amounts borrowed under the Investec Credit Facility will bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus an applicable rate as determined by the Company's debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter ranging from 3.00% to 4.30%. The Investec Credit Facility is secured by the assets relating to the South Arturo mine in Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A. ("South Arturo Mine"), and the Mercedes mine in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico ("Mercedes Mine"). Premier has not drawn-down under the Investec Credit Facility. Orion Financing Arrangements In connection with the closing of the Orion financing arrangements: Orion subscribed for seven (7) million common shares of Premier (the "Private Placement") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$8.3 million or approximately C$1.58 per common share. Premier issued two (2) million common share purchase warrants to Orion ("Orion Warrants"). Each Orion Warrant is exercisable into one common share for a period of three (3) years with an exercise price of C$2.05. an amended and restated silver stream agreement (the "A&R Silver Stream Agreement"), amending and restating the original agreement that was entered into on September 30, 2016, was entered into pursuant to which: Orion paid an additional deposit of US$10 million to a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier which will deliver to Orion 100% of the silver production from the Mercedes Mine and 100% of the silver production from the South Arturo Mine attributable to Premier until the delivery of 3.75 million ounces of silver (including deliveries previously made to Orion), after which the delivery will be reduced to 30% of the silver production from the Mercedes Mine and the South Arturo Mine; Premier is required to deliver at least 300,000 ounces of refined silver in each calendar year to Orion until 2.1 million ounces of refined silver in aggregate have been delivered to Orion after the date hereof; Orion will continue to pay an ongoing cash purchase price equal to 20% of the prevailing silver price; and Orion has security over the assets relating to the South Arturo Mine in addition to the Mercedes Mine. an amended and restated offtake agreement, amending and restating Premier's existing offtake agreement with Orion, was entered into to increase the annual gold sale quantity to 60,000 ounces of gold, subject to an annual aggregate maximum of 40,000 ounces of gold from each of (i) all of Premier's producing projects (other than the Mercedes Mine) and (ii) the Mercedes Mine; and an amended and restated gold prepay credit agreement, amending and restating the original agreement that was entered into on September 30, 2016, was entered into providing security to Orion over the assets relating to the South Arturo Mine and providing Orion's consent to security changes at the Mercedes Mine to facilitate the Investec Credit Facility. The proceeds of the Private Placement and the additional deposit paid pursuant to the A&R Silver Stream Agreement will be used for the development, construction and working capital requirements for the South Arturo Mine. Premier Gold Mines Limited is a gold-producer with a respected exploration and development pipeline of precious metal projects in proven, accessible and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Investec Bank plc is an international specialist bank and asset manager providing a diverse range of financial products and services. Investec's Global Resources team offers a full service, tailored offering and is active in precious and base metals, minerals, oil and gas in both emerging and developed markets. Investec has extensive experience in arranging and providing financing for resource companies throughout North America and globally, supporting growth, acquisitions and working capital. For further details about Investec refer to: https://www.investec.com/en_gb/corporate-finance/specialist-lending/resources.html Orion Mine Finance is a mining-focused investment business specializing in providing flexible capital investment solutions to mining companies in the base and precious metals sectors. Orion has demonstrated capability in debt, equity, convertibles, offtake, streaming, and royalty investments. In addition, the Orion team has experience in the physical metals markets, such as facilitating the purchase, metal financing, transporting, processing and selling of a mine's output to end customers. This Press Release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, uses of proceeds, strategic plans, including future operations at South Arturo Mine, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks inherent to the mining industry, adverse economic and market developments and the risks identified in Premier's annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors". There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Premier 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 law. SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Christian America, it's time to unite To the editor: My life has been so blessed, even in the hard times. I am very proud of my Christian, rural upbringing. I am proud to call myself a Christian, a Virginian, an American and a veteran of the Vietnam War. I am so concerned about the division and the politics in our country. The lack of leadership from both of the parties is absolutely crazy. Im right, you are wrong, no compromise, lie, cheat, do whatever to get their way and be re-elected. The last presidential election, what a choice we had between those two. Are they the best we can do? I myself wrote in two names. It is time to stand up and demand we go back and live under the Constitution of the United States the way the Founding Fathers meant it to be. Stop misinterpreting and making it so complicated, so unlike it was written and meant to be. If you want to hear the true story of impoverished, starving Venezuela and what is behind the dramatic and hopeful events of the last week come along with me. It is 1992. In the lush mountains outside Caracas, the distinguished defense minister, Gen. Fernando Ochoa, is telling me soberly how the Venezuelan military misread the recent attempted coup by a small group of dissident officers led by an odd guy nobody had heard of. They had no clear organization; they had no plan of government, the general said that day. Yet he also admitted, Either Venezuela changes in peace, or it changes in violence. Now it is 1998. It is the day of new presidential elections, and I find myself in the beautiful apartment of that same odd guy, the flashy comandante Hugo Chavez, who by then had become a pop celebrity, with his smart red beret and jaunty bearing. Chavez and I talked for several hours before he went off to become president. Strangely, he seemed to have nothing special to do. Who was he? I am not a communist, not a fascist, he said at one point, emphatically. I am a democrat. We dont copy other models; we invent them! Botswana has been ranked 34 out of 180 countries and placed among countries to watch in this years Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Tuesday by Transparency International. The country comes second at a score 61 out of 100 after Seychelles which tops the Sub-Saharan region at score 66 out of 100. Cabo Verde follows Botswana closely at 57 out of 100. The report presents a largely gloomy picture for Africa with only eight out of 49 countries scoring more than 43 out of 100 on the index, despite commitments from African leaders in declaring 2018 as the African Year of Anti-Corruption. According to the report, countries like Seychelles and Botswana, which score higher on the CPI than other countries in the region, have a few attributes in common. Both have relatively well-functioning democratic and governance systems, which help contribute to their scores. The report underscores that these countries are the exception rather than the norm in a region where most democratic principles are at risk and corruption is high. Botswana alongside Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya are countries to watch, given some promising political developments. However, Transparency International pins hope on whether these new administrations will follow through on their anti-corruption commitments moving forward. At the very bottom of the index for the seventh year in a row, Somalia scores 10 points, followed by South Sudan at 13 to round out the lowest scores in the region. With an average score of just 32, Sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest scoring region on the index, followed closely by Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with an average score of 35. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a region of stark political and socio-economic contrasts and many longstanding challenges. While a large number of countries have adopted democratic principles of governance, several are still governed by authoritarian and semi-authoritarian leaders. Autocratic regimes, civil strife, weak institutions and unresponsive political systems continue to undermine anti-corruption efforts. Notwithstanding Sub-Saharan Africas overall poor performance, there are a few countries that push back against corruption, and with notable progress.Two countries Cote dIvoire and Senegal are, for the second year in a row, among the significant improvers on the CPI. In the last six years, Cote dIvoire moved from 27 points in 2013 to 35 points in 2018, while Senegal moved from 36 points in 2012 to 45 points in 2018. These gains may be attributed to the positive consequences of legal, policy and institutional reforms undertaken in both countries as well as political will in the fight against corruption demonstrated by their respective leaders. The sheriffs office responded to a call reporting a number of individuals trespassing on private property at 10:30 a.m., authorities reported. In the area surrounding Howell were banners reading No MVP and Anticapitalist solidarity worldwide. According to a news release from Appalachians Against Pipelines, an environmental advocacy group, Howell said her protest was in honor of all life on earth. We do this for all life on earth, for the ones not yet brave enough to take a stand against the injustices of this world, stated Howell in the release. We do this for each other, for every living being on this planet, because we all need clean water and clean air to live. As law enforcement officials worked to remove Howell, the other eight protesters stood on the edge of the property cheering her on at times. One protester jeered at the construction site workers through a megaphone, calling out phrases. One, two, three, f--- MVP, she called out, among other statements. Another protester out of Southwestern Virginia who would only identify herself as Lauren said she traveled about one-and-a-half to two hours to reach the construction site Friday morning. Capt. Jerry Pace, of the Danville Police Department, said his truck was discovered near the North Carolina border on Dec. 12. The involved agencies have interviewed friends, Hurts family and neighbors, but none has pointed them to the missing man, Taylor said. Two searches near Goodyear Boulevard involving dogs, multiple law enforcement officers and even drones failed to locate Hurt. While every case is different, Taylor said, when investigators learned of Hurts periodic departures from home and how it broke with his pattern of returning within 24 or 36 hours, flags went up. Hurt was in a stressed state of mind before he left the house. Taylor would not elaborate further on his mental state. Authorities also are unsure if Hurt intentionally left home and does not want to be found. From what the family has told us, of course Robert has some challenges, but he is a family person His routine involves him working and coming home, Taylor said. On one hand you are looking for someone who is missing, but he may want to be missing. According to figures from the National Education Association, Virginia ranked 33rd in the nation for teacher salaries in 2017. The average annual salary for Virginia teachers was $51,049. The projected average teacher salary in Danville for 2018-19 is $51,051 per year, Cassada said. However, a bigger issue is the state only funds some of the teachers positions in Danville, Jones said. The school division has 543 teachers, with 403 funded by the state under Virginias Standards of Quality. The raises do not address the overall problem in the states funding structure for public education, he said. It funds school divisions based on enrollment instead of students needs. The state has created a funding model that doesnt meet all of our needs, Jones said. Since the Great Recession of 2008, the state has cut $1.6 billion in funding for public education across the state and about $3 million in Danville, he pointed out. A 5-percent raise for the states teachers will be included in the proposed budget that is expected to be released by the General Assemblys House Appropriations Committee. That committee and the state Senates Finance Committee will release their budget proposals Sunday. Were anxiously waiting to see what they have in them, Cassada said. John Crane reports for the Danville Register & Bee. Contact him at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987. 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. 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 'No First Use': Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restrain US Nuclear Capabilities Sputnik News 02:41 31.01.2019 Previous US administrations were reluctant to adopt legislation that would legally bind Washington to only use its nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack. The new bill is likely to meet opposition as well. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) have presented legislation called "The No First Use Act," which aims to prevent the US from using its nuclear arsenal first in case of an armed conflict. According to the language of the bill, the US would only be allowed to use its nuclear arsenal if attacked with nuclear weapons by an adversary. Under the current administration's Nuclear Posture Review, the US reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of a "significant" non-nuclear attack on the US itself, its allies or its nuclear infrastructure. "Our current nuclear strategy is not just outdated it is dangerous," Smith and Warren said in a joint statement. "By making clear that deterrence is the sole purpose of our arsenal, this bill would reduce the chances of a nuclear miscalculation and help us maintain our moral and diplomatic leadership in the world." Previous US administrations have been unwilling to accept such legislation, and Defense News speculates that the current Republican-controlled Senate is also unlikely to accept it. However, Smith, being the Armed Services Committee chair, might use his position to elevate the language into the annual defense policy bill, the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act; doing so might spark resistance from key Republicans, who have been supportive of Trump's current nuclear stance, Defense News says. Former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, was also reluctant to adopt such a policy, saying it could "embolden" nations such as Russia, China or North Korea to attack US allies. This, according to Obama, would undermine US allies' confidence in American commitment to their defence, which, in turn, would encourage them to seek their own nuclear deterrence. The Union of Concerned Scientists, however, welcomed the new bill in a Wednesday statement. The organization said that passing the bill would "reduce the risk of miscalculation during a crisis with Russia, China or North Korea; strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty by demonstrating the United States is serious about reducing the role of nuclear weapons in its security policy, and reduce risks associated with the president's sole authority to order the use of nuclear weapons by removing the option of using them first." Stephen Young, Washington representative for the UCS Global Security Program, also hailed the idea, according to Defense News. "The purpose of US nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack on the United States and its allies. Any other purpose simply makes nuclear war more likely," he said. Presented on January 17, the Pentagon Missile Defense Review explicitly singled out Russia and China as primary possible adversaries of Washington that might launch a nuclear offensive at American soil. Iran and North Korea, which were in the spotlight in earlier versions of the report, have now been pushed to second place, according to a review by Foreign Policy. Sputnik US Gov't SECRETLY Shipped Deadly Plutonium to Nevada Despite State's Protests Sputnik News 09:12 31.01.2019(updated 09:13 31.01.2019) The shocking revelation has drawn the ire of US politicians from the state of Nevada, who said that the federal government had long sought to store nuclear waste there. The US government revealed on Wednesday that it had secretly shipped deadly plutonium from the K-Reactor at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina that manufactured the radioactive metal for Cold War-era nuclear bombs to the Device Facility at the Nevada Nuclear Security Site before November 2018. On behalf of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, the Justice Department stated in a notice filed with a Nevada court that it could disclose the transfer of half a metric tonne (1,100 pounds) because enough time had passed after the shipment to ensure national security. The state of Nevada had previously attempted to prevent the envisaged shipment of the weapons-grade plutonium, and the revelation has sparked fury from politicians there. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said that he was "beyond outraged by this completely unacceptable deception" and announced that the state is seeking another court order to stop further transfers. "They lied to the state of Nevada, misled a federal court, and jeopardised the safety of Nevada's families and environment", he said. Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, for his part, criticised the government's decision as "deceitful and unethical", while Democratic Rep. Dina Titus claimed that the current administration had on multiple occasions attempted to turn Nevada into a dumping ground for nuclear waste. In the meantime, Justice Department lawyers said in new court filings that no more shipments are planned to Nevada. US District Judge Miranda Du in Reno is considering the state's earlier filing to block the Energy Department's plans to ship plutonium to Nevada from South Carolina, where a federal judge had previously ordered that the radioactive metal be removed from the Savannah River site by 2020. Sputnik 'No Progress' In Talks On Saving Russia-U.S. Missile Pact As Deadline Looms By RFE/RL January 31, 2019 Russia and Washington have failed to bridge their differences over a key Cold War-era arms control treaty at last-ditch talks in Beijing, Russian and U.S. officials say. The impasse sets the stage for the United States to formally pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty later this week, and suspend its obligations. "Unfortunately, there is no progress," Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on January 31 following talks with U.S. Undersecretary of State Andrea Thompson on the sidelines of a meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. In an interview with Reuters, Thompson said, "The Russians still aren't in acknowledgment that they are in violation of the treaty." However, she said that "diplomacy is never done" and she anticipated more discussions. The fate of the 1987 INF Treaty, widely seen as a cornerstone of arms-control stability in Europe and elsewhere, has been a source of raging tensions between Moscow and Washington. Washington and NATO now accuse Russia of breaching the treaty by developing the 9M729 cruise missile, also known as the SSC-8. Moscow denies that the missile is violating the INF Treaty and accuses the United States in turn that it wants to abandon the pact so it can start a new arms race. Washington has said that if Russia does not return to compliance, it will start the six-month process of leaving the pact from February 2. U.S. and Russian officials have had several meetings about the dispute. "As far as we understand, the next step is coming, the next phase begins, namely the phase of the United States stopping its obligations under the INF, which will evidently happen this coming weekend," Ryabkov was quoted as saying. He also called the U.S. position "rather tough, ultimatum-like" and "destructive." The INF Treaty was the first of its kind to eliminate an entire class of missiles, banning production, testing, and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/no-progress-in -talks-on-saving-russia-u-s-missile-pact-as- deadline-looms/29743651.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. US secretly shipped plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 06:38PM The US government secretly shipped a large amount of weapons-grade plutonium from the East Coast state of South Carolina to the Western state of Nevada months ago despite the state's protests. The US Department of Energy revealed on Wednesday that 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of plutonium was shipped from the K-Reactor at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, which had produced the radioactive metal for nuclear bombs during the Cold War. The radioactive material was sent to the Device Assembly Facility at the Nevada Nuclear Security Site, about 70 miles (113 km) north of Las Vegas. The United States built the Savannah River Site during the 1950s to produce basic materials for nuclear weapons, mostly tritium and plutonium-239. The Energy Department did not reveal when the shipment was made, other than it occurred before November 2018, before Nevada had sued to stop the proposed shipments. It said due to security reasons no public notice was given ahead of the shipment and the highway route was not revealed. The US Justice Department, on behalf of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, said in a notice filed with a US court in Reno, Nevada, that it could reveal the shipment because sufficient time had elapsed after the transfer to protect national security. The US court in Nevada has been considering an effort by the state of Nevada to stop planned shipments of Plutonium that the Energy Department announced last August. The revelation angered politicians from Nevada, a sparsely populated state where the federal government has long wanted to store nuclear waste. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said he's "beyond outraged by this completely unacceptable deception." He announced at a hastily called news conference in Carson City late Wednesday the state is now seeking another court order to block any more shipments of plutonium as it pursues "any and all legal remedies," including contempt of court orders against the federal government. US Senator Jack Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, said the Energy Department misled a federal court "in a deceitful and unethical move, jeopardizing the health and safety of thousands of Nevadans and Americans who live in close proximity to shipment routes." She said she and other state politicians were prepared to take action against the department. Dina Titus, another Nevada Democrat and a member of the US House of Representatives, said the administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to use Nevada as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. Trump revived a decades-old proposal to store the nation's nuclear waste at Nevada's Yucca Mountain after the project was essentially halted by former President Barack Obama. Botswana National Front Youth League is said to have collapsed following resignations that marred the organisation since 2017.First to resign from the youth wing was the then President Khumoekae Richard. Richard has since joined the opposition Alliance for Progressives (AP). The resignations were said to have been caused by the hostile relationship between the BNYL and the partys central committee. Sources within the BNF have indicated that the once vibrant structure of the BNF has collapsed. It is clear that they are not there because even when issues of national importance are discussed, we never hear their voice. This used to be one structure that was vocal. Other structures within the party and other youth movements in political parties and civil society used to follow in the footsteps of the BNFYL when it comes to issues that affect the country. They never meet, nor hold press conferences, let alone issue press releases. They do not contribute during the public discourse and have become irrelevant, said an insider. Sources have revealed that majority of the people elected in Mahalapye in 2016 have resigned and others have joined other political parties. BNF insiders argue that the youth league is even failing internally to defend the party or its leadership. Internal fights among the young people of the Puophaa movement started during the 2016 Mahalapye congress which pitted Richard against Kago Mokotedi. It was at this congress that the party leadership was accused of dividing the youth by aligning themselves with one of the camps. After assuming office the Richard-led executive got into a tussle with their predecessors led by Kemmonye Makatane regarding the office handover. The previous committee was also accused of maladministration and misappropriation of funds. This was after about P65 000.00 went missing from the BNYL coffers. The funds have allegedly not been located up todate. Despite this shortcoming the Makatane led youth league was praised for taking its leadership head-on when the BNF central committee prohibited Duma Boko to stand for president in 2010. Boko was then allowed to contest for the first time and has since then been at the helm of the BNF. The current BNFYL is also said to be broke. There are allegations that the previous youth league has up-to-date failed to hand over to the current committee.Youth League President Velem Heii rubbished claims that his committee is inactive. Heii told this publication in an interview that his committee is alive. He accused his detractors of expecting his committee to always take head-on the leadership to show they are active. According to Heii he wants to build independent thinkers among the BNF youth. He confirmed that the failure of handing over of the previous committee has affected the performance of his committee. The issue of the P65 000 has of course affected us. But we did not just sit and fold our arms we sought assistance from fellow comrades so that we could have the office functional. The issue of handing over was sending us back and forth. So, we decided to leave the issue for the sake of our movement pending the finalisation by the BNFYL congress, said the youth league president. He said the youth this year will be hosting unemployment youth conference where all stakeholders would take part. The conference will go a long way in assisting the Umbrella for Democratic Change to well craft its 2019 manifesto on issues of unemployment. Previous committee Secretary General Arafat Khan declined to be drawn into discussing the matter. I have played my part and have handed over to others to continue serving the BNF and the nation. If we also failed during our times as you say is alleged, let history judge us, said Khan. Energy Department Statement on Plutonium Shipments to Nevada January 31, 2019 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is committed to protecting the health, safety, and security of the public at all of our sites as we conduct our important national security missions. The recent plutonium shipments to the Nevada National Security Site were undertaken to comply with an order issued by the U.S. District Court in South Carolina. It is inaccurate to state that the Members of the Nevada delegation were not informed of this movement. The Department of Energy was as transparent as operational security would permit. Efforts were made to ensure that Members of Congress representing the states involved were notified of the planned movement ahead of time, as early as August 2018 when NNSA publicly released the plan in a Supplement Analysis. Since then, NNSA confirmed that it was "actively engaged" in removing one metric ton of plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico.** It is also inaccurate to characterize this material as "waste". This material is essential for maintenance of the U.S. weapons stockpile, and is handled with the highest standards for safety and security. NNSA routinely ships this type of material between its sites as part of our national security missions and has done so safely and securely for decades. ### **Aiken Standard, "NNSA: Weapons-grade plutonium will be moved out of SC this year, next year," Lie-Detector Loyalty Tests Proposed For Ukrainians In Separatist-Controlled East By Ron Synovitz January 31, 2019 Ukraine's chief military prosecutor has called for lie-detector tests to determine the loyalty of residents in the parts of eastern Ukraine that are under the control of Russia-backed separatists. The timing of the proposal has raised questions about whether lie-detector tests could be used to restrict the voting rights of those from separatist-controlled territory when they try to register and cast ballots in Ukraine's upcoming presidential election. That's because voters who live in separatist-controlled areas must cross into government-held territory to take part in the March 31 vote. But Oleksandr Kluzhev, an analyst at the Civil Network OPORA, says he thinks it will be impossible for authorities in Kyiv to implement the policy because it would violate the Ukrainian Constitution. "If this policy is established, of course we will see the misuse of it in the context not only of elections but also in the context of human rights," Kluzhev told RFE/RL. "It's obvious the proposal is discriminatory because it is based on the registration of the place of a person's residence and not an individual's activities," Kluzhev said. "It's important for officials to crack down on provocations by the Russia state, but I personally see this as an unrealistic proposal made by a public official," he said. "It's an attempt to make popular claims about a conflict zone at the time of elections." Military Prosecutor-General Anatoly Matios proposed the lie-detector tests during a January 29 interview with the private 112 Ukraine TV channel. Although Matios didn't specify details of his plan, his remarks suggest lie-detector tests are being considered for an estimated 7,000 people who cross the "line of contact" in eastern Ukraine every day from the parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions held by separatists pitted against Ukrainian government forces. Matios said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had called for ideas to determine whether residents in separatist-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine are loyal to the government in Kyiv or support the Russia-backed separatists. "Now, many [government employees] are working on how to separate the people who are forced to live under the occupation regime from those who willingly organize fake elections and collect taxes" on behalf of the self-declared separatist governments in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, he said. Matios said he can now reveal that "top secret" lie-detector software has been developed in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa on the basis of work by "a powerful intellectual and scientific center." He said new polygraph software uses algorithms that allow computers to quickly test the reactions of people to a series of questions. "The reactions to the questions make clear if a person is answering sincerely or not," Matios said. Election Bureaucracy In 2014, when Ukraine's last presidential and parliamentary elections were held, internally displaced Ukrainian were required to prove they'd moved to government-controlled territory in order to register and vote there. There were no voter-registration centers or polling stations in separatist-held territory during Ukraine's 2014 national elections. Those who stayed in their homes in separatist-held areas simply could not vote. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the east and wanted to cast ballots in 2014 faced a long bureaucratic process to register. Voter registration was denied to many who couldn't provide legal residency documents from their new homes in government-held territory because their landlords didn't report them as tenants. Responding to a groundswell of complaints about those rules, Ukraine in 2018 changed its election laws so that proof of residency in separatist-controlled territory is now valid. But residents in separatist-held territory still must cross the line of contact into government-controlled areas in order to register and vote there. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lie-detector-loyalty -tests-proposed-for-ukrainians-in-separatist- controlled-east/29744360.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. Putin Blasts Kyiv For 'Blatant Interference' In Orthodox Church By RFE/RL's Russian Service January 31, 2019 Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine's government of "blatant interference" in the Orthodox Church in Ukraine after a new national institution split from Moscow's patronage. Speaking at a Russian Orthodox Church event attended by Patriarch Kirill in Moscow, Putin said on January 31 that the push for the new church was rooted in "the struggle for power" and provoked "animosity and intolerance." "Russian authorities believe that any interference in the affairs of the church is absolutely unacceptable," Putin said. In early January, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was granted independence, or autocephaly, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine. Russia long opposed such efforts by the Ukrainians for an independent church, which intensified after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and began supporting separatists shortly thereafter in parts of Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. "We have always respected the independence of church life, particularly in a sovereign neighboring state. Nevertheless, we reserve the right to respond and do everything possible to protect human rights, including freedom of religion," Putin said. "It is a blatant interference in church life and those who initiated it seem to have learned from the godless people of the last century, who expelled believers from churches and prosecuted the clergy," he added. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-blasts- kyiv-for-blatant-interference-in -orthodox-church/29744338.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. Volker: Russia May Face More Action Over Detention Of Ukrainian Sailors By Rikard Jozwiak January 31, 2019 BRUSSELS -- The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine says Washington and Europe are considering measures against Russia for its detention of 24 Ukrainian crew members captured in the Kerch Strait. Speaking in a telephone briefing on January 31, Kurt Volker said Russia continues to "illegally" hold the sailors and appears to intend to hold them until after Ukraine's March 31 presidential election. "This creates the impression that this is more of a political move to use the held sailors to put pressure on Ukraine than that there are legitimate grounds for their detention," he said. "I can say that the U.S. and Europe are looking for what additional measures need to be taken if Russia does not return sailors. The United States will revise the 'Crimean sanctions' in February. EU discusses additional sanctions, though not yet agreed, but they in February will also be a meeting of foreign Ministers," he added. Russia seized three Ukrainian Navy ships and 24 crewmen in the Kerch Strait that links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov. The November 25 incident escalated tensions in the region and prompted international calls for the sailors' release. Russia has alleged that the vessels had illegally entered Russian territorial waters near the Crimea region. 'Basket Of Options' Kyiv has accused Moscow of stepping up "aggression" against Ukraine. Volker said that both the United States and the European Union had looked into the possibility of measures targeting Russian ships that are servicing Russian ports on the Sea of Azov. "I know this is among the basket of options that is being reviewed in the United States as well. We don't have any decisions on these things yet, but it is exactly in that space that I think we need to be thinking," he said. The EU, the United States, and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia over Moscow's seizure of Crimea and its support for separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. As a result of the seizure of the Ukrainian ships and sailors, NATO has pledged support for Ukraine's navy to improve its marine capabilities. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-volker-russia-sailors- further-measures-azov/29744573.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. Banks, Businesses React With Mounting Alarm Over Brexit By Jamie Dettmer January 31, 2019 British banking giant Barclays has drawn up plans to shift more than $200 billion worth of assets from London to Dublin amid mounting business alarm that Britain is more likely now to leave the European Union without an exit deal. With Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservative government now backing away from a contentious withdrawal agreement negotiated in November and locked in a standoff with Brussels, Britain is heading for a scheduled March 29 departure without any kind of negotiated exit agreement. That means tariffs would have to be imposed on goods moving back and forth across the English Channel. It would also block market access to the EU for banks based in Britain. British and international firms with European headquarters in London have become increasingly angry with the Brexit crisis. Earlier in January, in at times a testy conference call, 331 business leaders, including from U.S. banking giants and major companies like Amazon and Apple, were assured by senior government ministers that a no-deal exit would be taken off the table and that Britain wouldn't part company with its largest trading bloc until a deal had been struck. Since then, though, there has been no resolution to the major differences between Britain and the other 27 EU member states - if anything, frustrations have deepened with EU officials maintaining Monday that they are not prepared to reopen negotiations on the withdrawal agreement, which a deeply divided British House of Commons refused to endorse in January. The transfer by Barclays of assets belonging to 5,000 clients emerged Monday, when the bank won the court approval required. The judge, Richard Snowden, noted that the transfer was "huge" as it represents nearly a quarter of the assets Barclays holds. "The design of the scheme has been based upon an assumption that there will be no favorable outcome of the current political negotiations between the UK and the EU," he said. The bank said in a statement, "Barclays will use our existing licensed EU-based bank subsidiary to continue to serve our clients within the EU beyond 29 March 2019, regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Our preparations are well-advanced and we expect to be fully operational by 29 March 2019." Without a deal, British banks and international financial service institutions based in London would have no access to the EU market. Some market analysts estimate that London will lose at least a trillion dollars, and possibly much more, to financial rivals in Europe, including Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris by the end of March as banks flee ahead of Brexit. Spreading operations At least 30 banks and financial firms are planning to move their EU headquarters to Germany. Other banks are set to spread their operations across different European cities. At least 10,000 banking jobs are likely to move to Frankfurt, Germany's fifth biggest city, over the next eight years, industry observers say. Paris is angling for business, too, offering tax incentives for banks to relocate to the French capital, a determined rival to London. Lloyds, Standard Chartered and Credit Suisse are among the banks that are planning to open offices in Frankfurt because of Brexit. While mainstream banks voice their frustration, hedge funds, many of which donated to anti-EU campaigns during the 2016 Brexit referendum, welcome a no-deal departure, hoping it will open the way for the dismantling of a swathe of regulations on financial services. Aside from banks, other British businesses are becoming increasingly alarmed at what they might face in the event of a no-deal Brexit. On Monday, British officials acknowledged that businesses will face higher trade tariffs and barriers in dozens of countries because there's not enough time between now and March 29 to replicate 40 EU trade deals with non-EU countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Leading British Brexiters, including International Trade Minister Liam Fox, have been saying for months that trade deal replications would be easy. Fox once vowed that the agreements would be all complete "one second after midnight" on Brexit day. On Monday, a British official acknowledged to a parliamentary panel that will not be the case and that hundreds of British firms will lose preferential access, reducing the price competitiveness of their goods. The official declined to provide an "absolute figure" on how many trade deals would lapse because of technical, legal or political problems. As business fears mount, Prime Minister May has announced a change in her negotiating team with her de facto deputy, David Lidington, a former long-serving Europe minister, taking the lead position in British efforts to persuade Brussels to open up the withdrawal agreement, itself the product of ill-tempered haggling between the EU and London. But EU leaders have firmly shut the door, so far, to amending or changing the agreement, which would see Britain locked in a customs union with the bloc for several years while it negotiates a vaguely defined free trade settlement. In the temporary customs union, Britain would be unable to influence EU laws, regulations and product standards it would have to observe. The transition was reached to avoid customs checks on the border separating Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, but British lawmakers fear Britain could be trapped indefinitely in the transition. Leading Brexiters say if May can get a sunset clause written into the deal to allow Britain to escape the transition agreement, if it wished later, or if the transition were time limited, they might reverse their opposition and back the deal. But that still might not give May the majority she needs to secure parliamentary approval. The leaders of the 27 other EU member states made clear Monday that they are not prepared to revisit the deal. "A renegotiation is not on the table," said Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar. "There's no plan to discuss any changes. The withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation and is not going to be reopened," he added. Both the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, echoed the Irish leader. EU Opposes UK's Brexit Deal Revision Despite Theresa May's Readiness for Talks Sputnik News 07:34 31.01.2019 BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The reached draft agreement on the conditions for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union remains the only possible deal on this issue and will not be revised, even despite Tuesday's vote in the UK parliament, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday. "The withdrawal agreement remains the best and only deal possible the debates and votes in the House of Commons yesterday do not change that. The withdrawal agreement will not be renegotiated," he said in the European Parliament. The chances of a "hard" withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the bloc, that is, without a ratified agreement on the conditions of this process, increased after the Tuesday vote in the UK parliament, Juncker added. The British parliament voted Tuesday on amendments that rejected a no-deal Brexit and authorized UK Prime Minister Theresa May to return to Brussels for more talks on a legally binding change to the Irish border proposal contained in the draft Brexit deal agreed by Brussels and London at the end of 2018. On Wednesday, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney also stressed that the withdrawal agreement between London and Brussels was not open for renegotiation. With less than two months before the United Kingdom has to leave the bloc, the UK House of Commons has not approved the draft withdrawal deal yet, citing concerns over the Irish border backstop. The Irish border issue has been the stumbling block in the EU-UK Brexit talks. Both sides have been seeking to avoid the hard border on the island of Ireland, expressing concerns that it may shatter the hard-won peace in the region. In November, Brussels and London agreed on the Brexit deal, including the so-called backstop that would be put into practice if the sides failed to agree on all the terms of their relationship by the end of the Brexit transition period. The backstop would keep the United Kingdom in single customs territory with the bloc, while Northern Ireland would be aligned to some of the EU single market rules. The UK parliament however rejected the draft Brexit deal mainly due to the backstop earlier in January. Sputnik War Games, Redeployment, Return of EU-Based Troops: UK MoD on High No-Deal Alert Sputnik News 13:30 31.01.2019(updated 14:08 31.01.2019) UK Ministry of Defence is scraping for 3000 soldiers to assemble the required number of personnel in preparation for a no-deal Brexit, with contingency plans including use of military to assist at ports and airports. According to media reports, British Defence HQ set such preparation as a mission of "highest priority," with only two months left before the 29 March 2019 deadline. If negotiators on both sides of the Channel fail to reach an agreement, UK military chiefs may also recruit civil servants from the MoD and its other agencies to assist the government with potential disruption. A member of the army joins police officers in Westminster, London, Wednesday, May 24, 2017. In a letter reportedly written by Stephen Lovegrove, the permanent secretary at the MoD, he has instructed the personnel on the measures required in case of a no-deal Brexit. "However, moving into the New Year we will not only have to continue this hard work but treat it as our highest priority. If necessary, this will need to include delaying or deprioritising areas of work or reallocating internal resources to better meet no deal demands," he reportedly said back in December 2018. As part of the cross-government no-deal contingency planning, codenamed Operation Yellowhammer, Westminster could call on soldiers set to respond to a military crisis overseas and redeploy them in Britain instead if the need arises. Members of the British military's 4th Mechanised Brigade parade through central London to attend a reception at the Houses of Parliament, Monday, April 22, 2013. In relation to the UK defence personnel working overseas, Westminster has previously called on the EU "to uphold their commitments to citizens and to protect the rights of UK nationals in the event of a 'no deal' scenario." In December 2018, the government issued an update for Service Personnel, their families and Defence based in the EU: "The MOD understands that ongoing uncertainty causes concerns for some staff and their families overseas. The MOD, with the support of your chain of command and supporting organisations, is actively monitoring the situation and will keep you updated on the key developments likely to affect you and your family members. We are already looking at a range of matters that may affect our people when the UK leaves the EU. These include issues around travel, immigration, employment status of dependants, and education." Training for the military staff in preparation for a no-deal strategy is set to start next month. Sputnik Russia Slams US 60-Day Ultimatum on INF Treaty as 'Game' Sputnik News 07:46 31.01.2019(updated 09:23 31.01.2019) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday that Moscow would continue working toward a settlement on the disputed INF Treaty, adding that the issue would be more difficult because the 60-day deadline set by Washington is a "game aimed at covering up the decision to quit the agreement". The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister has stated that the United States had not really expected an answer from Russia when it delivered a 60-day ultimatum calling for Moscow's compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. "The United States imposed a 60-day period during which we had to fulfil their ultimatum. I conclude that the United States was not expecting any decision and all this was a game made to cover their domestic decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty", Ryabkov told reporters after talks with US Deputy State Secretary Andrea Thompson on the sidelines of the summit of the five nuclear powers in Beijing. The United States does not react to Russia's demands to settle the issue of MK-41 launching systems, which Russia believes contradict the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said after talks with US Under Secretary Andrea Thompson. "There is no reaction whatsoever to our demands on US MK-41 universal launching systems already deployed in Romania and set to be deployed in Poland as part of Aegis Ashore complexes", the diplomat told reporters. Ryabkov also said after meeting in Beijing with US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson that Washington has taken an absolutely destructive position on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, saying that the apparent suspension of US obligations under the agreement would take place this weekend. The representatives of five major nuclear powers China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States met in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss problems related to nuclear weapons control and proliferation. On 4 December, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Russia had 60 days to start to comply with the agreement, or, otherwise, the United States could leave the treaty on February 2. In October, US President Donald Trump announced his country's intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty with Russia. The accord prohibits the development of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (from 311 to 3,317 miles). The withdrawal means that the United States can now deploy ground-based missile systems in Asia, in close proximity to China. The Russian authorities, for their part, have many times stressed that the country is in strict compliance with the obligations outlined in the treaty. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 by then-leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and then US President Ronald Reagan. The leaders agreed to destroy all cruise or ground-launched ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (310 and 3,400 miles). Sputnik Russia, US make 'no progress' in nuclear treaty talks Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:03AM The United States and Russia have failed to make any progress in negotiations on a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty, with Washington expected to go ahead with a unilateral withdrawal from the key pact this weekend, a senior Russian diplomat says. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency on Thursday that Washington and Moscow had made "no progress" in crunch talks on resolving their differences over the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). "Unfortunately, there is no progress," Ryabkov said. "As far as we understand, the next step is coming, the next phase begins, namely the phase of the United States stopping its obligations under the INF, which will evidently happen this coming weekend." The Russian diplomat made the comments after he met US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson to discuss the fate of the INF in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Ryabkov had earlier stated that it depended on Washington whether the two sides would be able to establish constructive dialog on the issue. Washington plans to withdraw from the treaty on February 2. US's setting of deadline 'a game' In a separate report, Russia's TASS news agency cited Ryabkov as saying also on Thursday that Moscow would continue working toward a settlement on the disputed INF treaty despite a 60-day deadline set by Washington coming to an end. He denounced the setting of that deadline as a "game" aimed at distracting attention away from America's unilateral decision to quit the agreement. "The United States imposed a 60-day period during which we had to fulfill their ultimatum. I conclude that the United States was not expecting any decision and all this was a game made to cover their domestic decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty," Ryabkov said. Washington said last month it would withdraw from the INF within 60 days if Russia did not dismantle missiles that the US claims breach the deal. Russia rejects that allegation, and earlier offered US investigators access to examine the missiles for themselves. The INF bans all land-based missiles with ranges of 310 to 3,420 miles and included missiles carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. Tensions have boiled over the fate of the INF, with Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening a new arms race if the agreement collapses. In December last year, President Putin said his country could easily develop and deploy land-based intermediate-range missiles if the US carried out its threat to withdraw from the landmark treaty. Okinawa Governor Urges Tokyo to Stop Land Reclamation for US Airfield - Reports Sputnik News 17:21 31.01.2019 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The governor of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, Denny Tamaki, has called for the immediate suspension of Tokyo-managed land reclamation that is needed to relocate a US military airbase, the NHK broadcaster reported. According to the NHK broadcaster, Okinawa's governor told reporters that Japan's central authorities should immediately halt the land reclamation in the area and consult with the prefecture on the matter. Changes to the project's original plan are needed to properly carry out work on soil solidification, and these changes must be approved by local authorities, Denny Tamaki said. The plans to relocate the US air base sparked protests among tens of thousands of local residents demanding that the facility is removed from Okinawa completely, and not just moved to another location. Okinawa, which accounts for a small fraction of Japan's territory, hosts 74 percent of US military facilities and more than half of all US forces deployed in Japan. The relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is currently situated in Okinawa's densely populated city of Ginowan, to the Henoko district was launched in 2017. In August 2018, the prefecture's authorities revoked the land reclamation permit for the new site, citing concerns over a soft ground in the area. In early November, however, the relocation process resumed as Tokyo reversed the local authorities' ban. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated the need to solidify ground in a section where reclamation had not yet begun. Sputnik Europe Starts New Finance Mechanism to Bypass US Trade Sanctions on Iran By Ken Bredemeier January 31, 2019 Britain, France and Germany are launching a mechanism Thursday to ease non-dollar business deals with Iran, an effort aimed at circumventing U.S. trade sanctions against Tehran after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 international pact to curtail Iran's nuclear weapons program. The entity is registered in France with German governance and funding from all three countries. It will allow European Union companies to trade with Iran despite Washington's sanctions. U.S. officials said they were monitoring the development, but rejected the idea that the special payment mechanism would undercut U.S. efforts to use the sanctions to undermine Tehran's economy. A spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Germany said Trump "has made clear entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran risk severe consequences that could include losing access to the U.S. financial system and the ability to do business with the United States or U.S. companies." The finance mechanism, called INSTEX - short for Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges - has the support of all 28 EU members. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, "This step... the establishment of the special purpose vehicle, is I believe the mechanism that will allow legitimate trade with Iran to continue as foreseen in the nuclear agreement. So full support from our side." The European announcement comes as Trump on Wednesday assailed U.S. intelligence chiefs for what he says is their "extremely passive and naive" views of Iran's nuclear ambitions. Central Intelligence Agency Director Gina Haspel told a congressional panel this week that Iran was "technically" in compliance with the 2015 deal between it and world powers to curtail its nuclear weapons development and at least a year away from developing such a weapon. Trump said, "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Haspel's conclusion is in line with the United Nations atomic watchdog agency, which 13 times has certified Iran's compliance with its obligations. On Thursday, Trump attacked Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, saying he and other Democrats "are big fans of being weak and passive with Iran. They have no clue as to the danger they would be inflicting on our Country. Iran is in financial chaos now because of the sanctions and Iran Deal termination. Dems put us in a bad place - but now good!" The effect of the European financing mechanism to bypass U.S. sanctions is uncertain. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state television, "It is a first step taken by the European side ... We hope it will cover all goods and items." Some diplomats, however, said the trade mechanism might not cover the biggest commercial transactions Tehran wants. Germany's BDI industry group said, "Central questions ... are still open. The clearing office is still reliant on sanctioned Iranian oil and gas business, so that substantial risks remain for a longer-term trade relations." Germany, France, UK Create EU Tool for Trade With Iran Despite US Sanctions Sputnik News 09:28 31.01.2019(updated 21:32 31.01.2019) On 24 September 2018 the foreign ministers of the remaining signatories to the JCPOA agreed to create a SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to enable European companies to continue legitimate transactions with Iran in accordance with EU law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on Thursday that France has, with the participation of the United Kingdom and Germany, registered a special tool for trade with Iran called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges). "INSTEX will support legitimate European trade with Iran, focusing initially on the sectors most essential to the Iranian population such as pharmaceutical, medical devices and agri-food goods", the foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany said in a joint statement. According to the official statement, the trade vehicle is set to cover third countries seeking to trade with Tehran. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the vehicle as "the first step within the set of commitments the Europeans have made to Iran", but said that to be of any value, it must allow trading of sanctioned goods. Commenting on the news, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that Moscow will actively cooperate with European countries to ensure the successful implementation of the trade mechanism with Iran. He went on to note that by creating this tool, the EU states had confirmed their intent to counter US actions aimed at derailing the Iran nuclear deal. The revelation comes as the German broadcaster NDR, Germany, the UK, and France are ready to establish the European Channel for transactions with Iran. Prior to that, spokeswoman for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Maja Kocijancic announced that the work aimed at the creation of the special purpose vehicle (SPV) had already entered its final stage. On 28 January, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the mechanism had not been registered yet. The second package of US sanctions targeting, in particular, Iran's oil sector took effect on 5 November. In May, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, and re-impose sanctions against Iran that had been lifted under the agreement. The first round of restrictions came into force in August and the second on 5 November. Despite Washington's unilateral move, the other parties to the deal China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union have expressed their commitment to the JCPOA. Sputnik US Spy Chiefs Must 'Educate' Trump on Iran, Senate Minority Leader Claims Sputnik News 20:20 31.01.2019 Earlier, the US president condemned reports by top intelligence officials, which said that Iran was not pursuing its alleged nuclear weapons programme. Trump slammed the intelligence chiefs as "extremely passive and naive when it comes to Iran", suggesting that they should "go back to school". Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, has in a letter called on Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel, and FBI Director Christopher Wray to "educate" President Donald Trump on the situation in Iran by presenting him with "facts and raw intelligence". According to Schumer, it is crucial for the US that the intelligence community and the American president speak with a "unified voice". "He is putting you and your colleagues in an untenable position and hurting the national interest in the process. You must find a way to make that clear to him", the Democratic leader wrote in his letter to the top intelligence officials. The US president and intelligence community have previously been divided in their views on Iran's ambitions for its nuclear programme. Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee that US intelligence had not found evidence that Iran was working on improving their nuclear capabilities or developing nuclear weapons. Trump slammed Coats' statements, saying that the intelligence community is "extremely passive and naive when it comes to Iran" and suggested that the "intelligence should go back to school". Trump withdrew the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, which had lifted sanctions from Iran in exchange for it ensuring the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. The US subsequently imposed several rounds of sanctions on the country's energy, banking and shipping sectors. Iran and other parties to the JCPOA slammed Washington's actions and agreed to continue adhering to the provisions of the accord. Sputnik Europe Launches Financial Mechanism To Conduct Business In Iran By RFE/RL January 31, 2019 Germany, France, and Britain have launched a mechanism to allow financial flows to be sent to Iran that would not violate U.S. sanctions in an attempt to keep alive the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The so-called special-purpose vehicle (known as INSTEX) will help European firms with legitimate business interests to use barter techniques to conduct business in Iran. The plan, which had long been in the development stages, focuses on areas not targeted by U.S. sanctions and will in the beginning focus "on the sectors most essential to the Iranian population -- such as pharmaceutical, medical devices and agrifood goods" foreign ministers from the three countries said on January 31. Germany, France, and Britain -- which signed the nuclear deal along with the United States, Russia, and China -- have been working hard to keep the accord alive after U.S. President Donald Trump announced in May he would withdraw from the deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran. The EU is backing INSTEX, which stands for the Instrument In Support of Trade Exchanges, but it is not directly involved, officials said. The measures involved are designed to protect European firms from U.S. court action and allow them to recover any financial damages related to the sanctions. "It is a political act," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters after a meeting of his European Union counterparts in Bucharest. "It is a gesture to protect European companies." After negotiations with Iran, the three countries had planned to put INSTEX in place in November, but they struggled to find ways to minimize the risk of the U.S. sanctions for firms involved. 'A Big Step' The goal is to ensure that the economic benefits provided to Iran under the 2015 deal remain sufficient for Tehran to keep abiding by the curbs placed on its nuclear program. "Registration is a big step, but there is still more work to be done," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said. INSTEX has starting capital of 3,000 euros (3,447 dollars) and will be headquartered at the French Finance Ministry and headed by Per Fischer, a former manager at Germany's Commerzbank. The company's formal objectives are to "support legitimate trade with Iran," according to the entry in Petites Affiches, a French journal for official corporate announcements. The U.S. Embassy in Berlin said on January 31 that the United States did not expect the mechanism to affect its effort to apply maximum economic pressure on Tehran. "Entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran risk severe consequences that could include losing access to the U.S. financial system and the ability to do business with the United States or U.S. companies," a spokesman for the mission said. According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has so far abided by the terms of the deal in regard to nuclear development despite the U.S. withdrawal. However, it has continued to test its ballistic missiles, which Washington and many in Europe say could eventually be fitted with nuclear weapons. Tehran insists the program is purely defensive. Still, Europe is maintaining a tough line on Iran regarding the ballistic-missile program. "It's essential we show our American colleagues that we are going in the same direction as them on a series of issues such as ballistic missiles and Iran's regional activities," Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said as he arrived for the EU meeting in Bucharest. On January 25, France said it was ready to impose new sanctions on Tehran if talks on its missile program make no progress. With reporting by dpa, AP, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/europe-special -financial-instrument-business-iran -sanctions/29743162.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. European states set up direct payment channel with Iran: German media Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 08:14AM The European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal have finalized a much-awaited transactions channel with Iran aimed at protecting trade ties with Tehran against American sanctions, German media say. German public broadcaster NDR reported on Thursday that Germany, France and Britain had registered the mechanism, which will be named the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX). The payment channel, the report said, would be based in the French capital, Paris, and managed by a German banking expert. INSTEX is initially intended to be used for selling food, medicine and medical devices to Iran, but it could also be expanded in the future. "It (the payment channel) won't change things dramatically, but it's an important political message to Iran to show that we are determined to save the JCPOA and also the United States to show we defend our interests despite their extraterritorial sanctions," a European diplomat was quoted as saying by Reuters. The diplomat was using an acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the nuclear accord. The three countries are set to issue a joint communique launching the project, which will later be endorsed by all 28 European Union member states. The announcement may come on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, later on Thursday. In a move criticized by much of the international community, US President Donald Trump withdrew America from the JCPOA last year and re-imposed the anti-Iran economic sanctions, which it had lifted as part of the agreement. The remaining signatories -- China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK vowed, however, to defend the JCPOA and keep Iran in the deal by providing it with the sanctions relief it has been promised. After leaving the deal, the White House warned its European allies in the Iran deal against seeking to circumvent US sanctions against Tehran. It threatened sanctions against the European firms that fail to respect the bans. The EU maintains that Iran should be allowed to trade because it remained fully committed to its side of the bargain despite Washington's withdrawal as repeatedly confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which oversees the JCPOA's implementation. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been designed by the Europeans to shield the firms doing business with Iran and protect, at the same time, their sovereignty in the face of US unilateralism. Over the past months, Iran has repeatedly criticized Europe for a delay in the launch of the payment system. Iran said earlier this week that it is waiting to see how the EU will make up for its delays to establish the mechanism. Dem leader Schumer asks US spy chiefs to 'educate' Trump on Iran Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:17AM US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on the country's spy chiefs to "educate" President Donald Trump after his recent attack against the American intelligence community. On Wednesday, Trump went on a twitter rant to attack his intelligence chiefs' assessments on Iran's growing power despite Washington's pressure campaign. In a letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Schumer asked the former senator, CIA Director Gina Haspel and FBI chief Christopher Wray hold a meeting with the Republican president. "You cannot allow the President's ill-advised and unwarranted comments today to stand. He is putting you and your colleagues in an untenable position and hurting the national interest in the process. You must find a way to make that clear to him," Schumer wrote in the letter. Trump's tweets came in response to Tuesday statements by Haspel and Coats before the US Senate Intelligence Committee. Haspel told the panel that, despite Trump's decision last May to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic has been "making some preparations that would increase their ability to take a step back." Coats also acknowledged that Tehran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons capabilities. Upon announcing his decision to leave the deal between Iran and six world powers the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and GermanyTrump was under the impression that other signatories would follow his suit. But that never happened. Trump hoped that re-imposing sanctions against Iran would force Tehran to halt its missile program and roll back regional influence. However, a lack of international support for the sanctions has cast doubt over the effectiveness of his plan. The American head of state scolded Haspel and Coats for their testimony, calling them "extremely passive and naive." "When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different," Trump said. "But source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There [sic] economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Schumer asked Coats to make Trump understand "the facts and raw intelligence underlying the Intelligence Community assessments." "Impress upon him how critically important it is for him to join you and the leadership of our intelligence community in speaking with a unified and accurate voice about national security threats," he added. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took the opportunity to highlight the confusion within the US political system under Trump, asserting that even the American intelligence agencies "contradicted" the US commander-in-chief. Iran Air Force unveils first domestically-built wide-body drone Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 02:05PM The Iranian Air Force has unveiled its first wide-body unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is fully designed and manufactured at home, as the country prepares for celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The drone, dubbed Khodkar (Automatic), was showcased at an air defense exhibition in Tehran on Thursday. The UAV -- an upgraded version of T-33 training aircraft -- is equipped with two cameras; one located beneath the fuselage to contribute to the take-off and landing phases and another on the front side to provide an alternative cockpit view. The drone also features receiver GPS and GLONASS antennas, data transmitter antennas besides phased array ones. Khodkar, which uses a turbojet J85 engine, is also capable of recording data and could be employed in surveillance and combat missions. It was among a number of other fighter jets put on display at the exhibition. The exhibition will be open to public until February 11, which marks the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which toppled the former US-backed Pahlavi regime. Speaking at the exhibition's opening ceremony, Iranian Army Commander General Abdolrahim Mousavi hailed the country's achievements in the air defense sector over the past four decades. "The Iranian nation put up 40 years of resistance and successfully moved on from sanctions," he said. The senior military official also said Iran's defense equipment serves not only combat missions, but also rescue and search operations when natural disasters hit. The Iranian Armed Forces also unveiled new military hardware, including drones and missiles, on Wednesday during another exhibition called Eqtedar 40, held at Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds in Tehran. Defying US, European parties to JCPOA launch payment channel with Iran Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 06:12PM The European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal formally announce the launch of a long-awaited direct payment mechanism meant to safeguard their trade ties with Tehran in the face of the "toughest ever" American sanctions. Following months-long preparations, foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain finally unveiled the mechanism -- officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) -- on Thursday following a summit in Bucharest. "France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in accordance with their resolute commitment and continued efforts to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) endorsed by United Nations Security Council resolution 2231, announce the creation of INSTEX SAS (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between European economic operators and Iran," the three foreign ministers said in a joint statement," they said in a joint statement. They also underlined their commitment "to pursue the further development of INSTEX with interested European countries to make this instrument in support of trade exchanges with Iran operational by following the steps set out above." Iran will also need "to create an effective and transparent corresponding entity that is required to be able to operationalise" the mechanism," it added. France, Germany and the UK are the initial shareholders of the INSTEX mechanism for trade with Iran, which has been registered in the French capital, Paris, with a capital of 3,000 euros, and will be governed by a German banking expert, according to AFP and German media. INSTEX is designed to pave the way for European firms to do business with Iran while evading the strict sanctions the US re-imposed against Iran last year after leaving the 2015 multinational nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The mechanism will initially facilitate trade of humanitarian goods such as medicine, food and medical devices. "It is a political act," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters, adding, "It is a gesture to protect European companies." For his turn, Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the three countries were working closely with Tehran to finalize arrangements. "Registration is a big step, but there is still more work to be done," Hunt said. 'A long overdue first step taken' Iranian Foreign Mohammad Javad Zarif was quick to welcome the trio's announcement, saying Tehran's European partners in the deal finally took a "long overdue first step." "We remain ready for constructive engagement with Europe on equal footing & with mutual respect," the top Iranian diplomat tweeted. Earlier in the day, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi described the launch as "the first of a set of commitments to Iran that the Europeans must fulfill," expressing hope that mechanism will not be left incomplete. The payment system, he said, could "fully meet our interests only when it is accessible to non-European firms and countries...so it could cover our entire international purchases," adding that this feature "is apparently slated to be realized in the next phase." Details about how the mechanism functions will be put to talks in the future expert-level meetings between Iran and Europe, Araqchi added. INSTEX has 'full EU support' Shortly after the announcement, the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, who has been leading the bloc's efforts to keep the Iran deal alive, issued a statement in support of INSTEX, saying, "The instrument launched today will provide economic operators with the necessary framework to pursue legitimate trade with Iran." "We will continue to accompany the work of the Member States involved to make this vehicle operational as soon as possible in close coordination with the Iranian counterparts. We support their commitment to further develop INSTEX with interested European countries and open it, at a later stage, to economic operators from third countries," the statement added. US irked Unhappy with efforts by allied EU countries to blunt the impact of American bans, Washington sought to play down the newly-launched mechanism. Joseph Giordono-Scholz, the spokesman for the US embassy in Berlin, said Thursday that Washington was "closely following" the developments regarding the EU's financial channel with Iran. "As the President (Donald Trump) has made clear, entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran risk severe consequences that could include losing access to the US financial system and the ability to do business with the United States or US companies," he said. The diplomat further claimed, "We do not expect the SPV (special purpose vehicle) will in any way impact our maximum economic pressure campaign." Following its withdrawal from the Iran deal, Washington warned its European allies against any attempt to evade its anti-Iran sanctions, threatening those refusing to abide by the bans with "terrible consequences." The Europeans, however, said they were intent on trying to salvage the deal and find ways to compensate for Washington's absence in an effort to keep Tehran in the deal. Iran has said the JCPOA without the US should meet its economic interests or it will leave the nuclear deal. Amano: Iran implementing nuclear-related commitments under JCPOA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA -- Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said on Wednesday that Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. In a statement on the New Year Reception, he added, "As I have said many times, it is essential that Iran continues to fully implement those commitments." "We continue to verify and monitor the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," he said. The nuclear programs of Iran and the DPRK remain among the top items on the Agency's agenda, Amano said. "2018 was another productive year for the Agency. We faced challenges in many areas of our work. But thanks to the steadfast support of our Member States, we can take pride in many concrete achievements," he said. "The credibility of the Agency as a whole is our biggest asset. Independent, impartial and factual safeguards implementation is essential to maintain that credibility. If our credibility is thrown into question, and, in particular, if attempts are made to micro-manage or put pressure on the Agency in nuclear verification, that is counter-productive and extremely harmful," Amano said. Amano has so far released 13 reports on Iran's nuclear program, verifying its adhering to its side under the JCPOA. However, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in May 2018 and reinstated the sanctions that had been lifted under the international pact. 8072**1771 Iran unveils wide body jet drone IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA -- The first homegrown Iranian wide-body jet drone was unveiled in an exhibition in the Iranian capital on Thursday. The unmanned jet, showcased in the Eqtedar 40 Exhibition, is named 'Khodkar' (automatic) and is the pilotless version of T-33 training aircraft suitable for conducting reconnaissance and combat operations. The drone has been equipped with two cameras, one on the front of the fuselage for cockpit view, and one beneath the fuselage for landing and takeoff. Iran's the Eqtedar (authority) 40 Exhibition opened in southwestern Tehran on Thursday. The exhibition will be open to the public until February 11 (the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran). The items put on display in the exhibition include cargo and reconnaissance planes, fighters, and helicopters of the Iranian Army Air Force, Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, Iran Navy Aviation, and Police Aviation, also different kinds of radars, command and control system, air defense and missiles systems. 9417**2044 Brussels hails INSTEX to help Iran trade IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency London, Jan 31, IRNA -- EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has welcomed the Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges, or INSTEX, that is set up by France, Germany and Britain to facilitate Iran global trade. Speaking prior to the session of the EU foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday, Mogherini said Germany, France and Britain will in the next few hours announce official inauguration of the INSTEX and that she will in a statement announce strong support for the mechanism. She said the idea of setting up the INSTEX was raised on the sidelines of the UN session in September to fully implement the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). She noted that the EU fully supports the JCPOA implementation. Mogherini said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has in 13 reports confirmed that Iran has been adhering to all its JCPOA commitments and that's a key document for security in the region. She believed that the Iran-Europe financial mechanisms will ensure continuation of the legal trade with Iran as is envisioned in the JCPOA. Mogherini said no danger poses to Iran-Europe financial mechanism. 1420**2044 Iran parliament to mull EU financial mechanism, INSTEX IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA -- The National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iranian Majlis (Parliament) will examine registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) between Iran and Europe. Member of the Committee Mohammad-Javad Jamali told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Thursday that the Committee members will along with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials study the economic and political aspects of INSTEX. He said Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and related officials will be invited to attend the session. 'INSTEX is a forward-looking but insufficient move; we expected Europe to act on the issue sooner,' Jamali said. Iran's Ambassador to London Hamid Baeedinejad said on Thursday that registration of INSTEX between Germany, Britain and France and Iran has been finalized and will be announced in the coming hours. Germany's NDR TV channel also said INSTEX has been officially registered. 1420**2044 INSTEX 1st step of EU commitment towards Iran: Tehran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) with Iran will serve as the first step in the series of Europeans' commitments towards Iran. 'We hope they will be fully implemented and will not be incomplete,' Araqchi, who is in Bulgaria, told the Islamic Republic of Iran's Broadcasting (IRIB) Channel One on Thursday. He said INSTEX is a special financial mechanism that Europeans have been trying to set up in the past few months to facilitate Iran's global trade. He added that the mechanism tries to include collection of payments and receipts between Iran and Europe, i.e. the exports and imports by Iran and all of them, thus making bilateral exchanges possible. A similar mechanism is to be set up in Iran for the purpose to make it possible for the Iranian parties to have exchanges in rials. According to the official, the mechanism will be fully of benefit to Iran when accessible for all countries and non-European companies, as well. This seems to be the next phase, said Araqchi, adding that in that case, collection of our international purchases can fall under such a mechanism. 'But how such a mechanism will precisely work will depend on the expert sessions that we will have with the European parties; our Central Bank should engage with the mechanism and specify the form of works to be done.' He noted, 'As far as we know, Europeans have designed the mechanism in a way that the companies willing to work with Iran will not be subject to the US sanctions'. 'The US pressures will be in place, of course,' he added. 'Americans have threatened that they will confront such a mechanism; the prolongation of the process to decide about the mechanism by the Europeans was because of their efforts to introduce strategies that will prevent the sanctions going into effect.' 'The mechanisms have been designed principally for the goods subject to sanctions; . Principally, the mechanism will be helpful for the sanctioned goods and the mechanism targets the sanctioned goods.' 'In our opinion, that's the first step in the collection of the commitments of Europeans towards Iran; Based on the May 2017 statement, signed by foreign ministers of Iran and three European countries (Germany, Britain and France), Europeans have undertaken a series of commitments and that's the first step towards remaining activities following establishment of a channel.' Araqchi hoped that the financial channel will be fully implemented and will not be incomplete, while covering all goods. He said the mechanism aims at supporting the companies engaged in trade with Iran. He noted that expert sessions will be held to that end and the interested companies will be informed to work in the field. Meantime the Iranian foreign ministry official said the three European states will officially announce the issue Thursday afternoon in a statement. 'Within perhaps the next one or two months, related works will be done but we hope Europeans will speed up the work and not to enter delayed games so that we will witness the mechanism becoming operational,' Araqchi said. 1391**1420**2044 Iran: INSTEX registration proves EU resistance against US unilateralism IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA -- Registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) between Iran and Europe proved resistance of the block against the US unilateralism, said an Iranian foreign ministry official on Thursday. INSTEX registration is a positive move by the European Union, Director General of the Peace and International Security Department at Foreign Ministry Reza Najafi told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Najafi said the INSTEX registration should be regarded as the first step on Europe part in support of the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is hoped to be operational. 'We should wait and see how much the instrument will be used in the phase of execution and to what extent companies can use it.' INSTEX, set up by France, Germany and Britain, aims to facilitate Iran's global trade. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has also welcomed the INSTEX. Mogherini said Germany, France and Britain will in the next few hours announce official inauguration of the INSTEX and that she will in a statement announce strong support for the mechanism. 1420**2044 Registration of INSTEX indicates EU's commitment to JCPOA: UK FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency London, Jan 31, IRNA -- UK Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt described commissioning of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) as a practical symbol of EU commitment to Iran nuclear deal. After the end of EU foreign ministers' meeting in Bucharest late on Thursday, he added that today a remarkable step was taken in line with fulfilling commitments under the JCPOA to maintain removal of sanctions. Three countries of Germany, UK and France registered INSTEX today to ease trade exchanges with Iran, Hunt said. The mechanism will mainly focus on the goods that the Iranian nation may need such as foodstuff and medicine. Describing commissioning of the mechanism as a big step, he said that there are still more to do. Three European states are trying to focus on all the necessary technical and legal aspects for activating the mechanism, Hunt said. He further noted that Iran nuclear deal was a main element in the international efforts and significant for the region. German, British and French foreign ministers in a news meeting in Bucharest officially announced the commissioning of the European special financial mechanism known as the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) late on Thursday. 8072**2050 War on drugs no more a priority: Mexican president Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 07:50AM Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has declared the end of his country's war on drugs, saying that his government no longer considers the fight against narcotics a priority. Obrador said during a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on Wednesday that Mexico would no longer prioritize using the army to capture cartel kingpins and would instead concentrate on ensuring public safety and reducing the number of murders. "There is no war; officially there is no more war," the Mexican president said in response to a question from a reporter who said there had been no kingpin arrests since he took office in December last year. "We want peace; we are going to get peace. We haven't detained capos because that is not our principal mission. The principal mission of the government is to guarantee public security What we want is security, to reduce the daily number of homicides," he added. The 65-year-old leftist leader assumed office early last month, vowing to tackle corruption, high murder rates, and chronic poverty in the Latin American country. Mexico began the fight against its powerful drug mafia in 2006 under then-President Felipe Calderon, who summoned army units to counter cartel kingpins and announced a hunt for the most notorious leaders of the Mexican criminal networks. Enrique Pena Nieto, the successor to Calderon, continued the policy of his predecessor and ordered the arrest of a number of famous drug lords, including the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquin Guzman, nicknamed El Chapo, who has been extradited to the United States and is on trial there. Mexico has registered more than 200,000 murders since the military was sent into the streets 13 years ago as part of anti-drug operations, and some of its states have homicide rates on par with the most violent countries in the world. According to the Mexican Civil Protection Ministry, a record 33,341 people were murdered in Mexico in 2018, making it the bloodiest year in over two decades. The bulk of the deaths have been recorded in states that drug cartels traditionally use as their bastions, such as Guerrero in the south and Veracruz in the east. Experts say most of the murders in Mexico are related to drug trafficking and say the government crackdown that began more than a decade ago is to blame for the increasing homicide rate. Some also say that the increase in the number of drug-related murders is also due to a surge in the number of autonomous cells that have been created across Mexico after heads of major drug cartels were captured and prosecuted. Mexico is said to be a key source and transit country for heroin, marijuana, and synthetic drugs that arrive in North America, as well as a primary transit route for South America's cocaine. UN Chief Responds to Guaido's Letter, Offers Assistance to Venezuela - Spokesman Sputnik News 01:09 01.02.2019(updated 01:20 01.02.2019) UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to the letter sent by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido for assistance and said the United Nations stands ready to increase humanitarian aid to Venezuela, United Nations Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Thursday. "The Secretary-General did respond to the letter sent via Twitter by President of the National Assembly Juan Guaido which he sent earlier this week," Dujarric told reporters. "The Secretary-General is concerned regarding the crisis in the country and the impact that it is having on the Venezuelan people. He said the United Nations is ready to increase its activities in Venezuela in the areas of humanitarian assistance and development." Guterres explained in the letter that the United Nations needs consent and cooperation from the government of Venezuela in order to assist the country, Dujarric said. The spokesman also said the United Nations is aware of the initiative by Mexico and Uruguay and supported by Bolivia to hold an international conference on the peaceful settlement of the current political crisis in Venezuela. The United Nations is awaiting more details on the proposed conference, Dujarric said. On Saturday, Guaido uploaded on Twitter a copy of the letter that he sent to Guterres requesting the United Nations undertake an emergency humanitarian action in Venezuela to supply urgently needed food and address what he termed were high levels of violence in the country. Stephane Dujarric also noticed that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization have increased their humanitarian assistance to Venezuela. "We have already scaled up in terms of health, nutrition, protection, and we continue increasing them as much as possible," Dujarric said. On Saturday, President of the National Assembly Juan Guaido uploaded on Twitter a copy of a letter he sent to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asking the United Nations undertake an emergency humanitarian action in Venezuela to supply urgently needed food and address what he called high levels of violence in the country. Venezuela is currently going through a political crisis, with Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly, having proclaimed himself the country's interim president on January 23. The United States and several allies have instantly recognized Guaido. Some of the EU countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain declared on Saturday their intention to recognise Juan Guaido as the Venezuela's interim president if Caracas does not announce snap presidential elections within eight days. Constitutionally elected Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro urged European countries to withdraw their demand, accussing Washington of orchestrating a coup in the country.In particular, Maduro called Venezuela "the victim of a US conspiracy", referring to US Vice President Mike Pence promising Guaido "full American support" the day before he declared himself Venezuela's new head of state. Russia, China, Mexico, Uruguay, Iran and Turkey among other countries, have voiced support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Sputnik EU to Set Up Intl Contact Group on Venezuela Crisis - Mogherini Sputnik News 02:37 01.02.2019 MOSCOW (Sputnik) The EU countries have decided to set up an international contact group on Venezuela crisis, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said Thursday. "We have decided the establishment of an international contact group that has been agreed among our member states and with some Latin American countries that will participate in that", Mogherini told reporters. Mogherini added that the group will be coordinated by the European Union and will be operating for a limited time frame of 90 days. After this period, the results of the group's work would be assessed and it would be terminated in the absence of sufficient progress, the official explained. "The group will help to build trust and create the conditions that are necessary for a credible process to emerge in line with relevant provisions of the constitution of Venezuela, enabling Venezuelans to determine their own future through the holding of new elections [] The objective is not to open a formal mediation process, not to open a formal dialogue but to support a political dynamic that the group can further accompany and consolidate", she stressed. The contact group's work will be aimed at creating a common understanding of the situation Venezuela by key international players and will seek peaceful resolution of the current crisis in the South American country, the diplomat continued. "The first meeting of the group shall take place at the ministerial level in Latin America. Hopefully, we will manage to convene it already next week and we'll then have meetings both at the ministerial and technical level," Mogherini. At the EU side, the group will include the bloc itself and some of its member states France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, according to the EU top diplomat. At the Latin American side, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Bolivia have confirmed they will participate in the group, while some other regional countries have not yet provided they confirmations on the issue. The European Parliament passed Thursday a resolution recognizing Venezuelan self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate acting head and urging the EU member states to take the same step. On 23 January, Juan Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, proclaimed himself as the country's interim leader and was supported by Brazil, Canada, the United States and a number of other countries. Some of the EU countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain declared on Saturday their intention to recognise Juan Guaido as the Venezuela's interim president if Caracas does not announce snap presidential elections within eight days. Constitutionally elected Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro urged European countries to withdraw their demand, accussing Washington of orchestrating a coup in the country. Russia, China, Mexico, Uruguay, Iran and Turkey among other countries, have voiced support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Sputnik Trump: I'd Pull Troops if US, Afghan Taliban Reached Peace Deal By VOA News January 31, 2019 President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would bring all American troops home from Afghanistan if there was a peace deal with the Taliban. Trump's comments at the White House came days after it emerged the U.S. and the insurgent group had agreed on a draft framework of a peace deal aimed at ending the 17-year Afghan conflict. Following several days of talks with the Taliban in Doha, Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, said the two sides had agreed "in principle" on a framework that would bind the insurgents to prevent transnational terrorist outfits, including al-Qaida and Islamic State, from using Afghan soil for attacks against America and its allies, as well as neighbors of Afghanistan. In exchange, the U.S. would withdraw its troops from the country but would require the Taliban to observe a cease-fire and open dialogue with the Afghan government. The Taliban said the two sides were set to continue talks next month. While the insurgent group has been holding talks with U.S. officials, it so far has refused to meet with representatives of the government in Kabul. Airlift unit tests mettle in joint Patriot Palm exercise By 1st Lt. Marquel Coaxum, 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published January 31, 2019 MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -- A 315th Airlift Wing unit finished its most recent joint-service training exercise Jan. 29, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Teaming up with Federal Emergency Management Agency, the FBI, Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, the 315th Contingency Response Flight completed Exercise Patriot Palm, a joint-service emergency and natural disaster response exercise, coordinated by the Air Force Reserve. The event is designed to integrate first responders from federal, state and local agencies, and the military by providing rapid response training. "We're here at Patriot Palm exercising our capability to rapidly deploy and set up mobility operations in austere locations," said Maj. Michael McDonald, 315th CRF contingency response exercise commander. "We are also training our government brother agencies such as the FBI, Coast Guard and Army to be able to prepare their cargo and fly on military airlift aircraft." Where it all starts A number of key things needed to occur at mission start to ensure the success of operations, including communications. "For exercises like Patriot Palm, where we are simulating providing support during an emergency or natural disaster, we need to establish air-to-air communications so we can communicate with aircraft, as well as air-to-ground communications with other event players at the different ground locations," said Tech. Sgt. Gregory McClain, 315th CRF radio frequency transmission journeyman. "When we set up communications, we give our command and control the ability to talk to all the mission resources, maximizing the span of mission control." To simulate real-world events, the teams set up command and control within minutes of arriving at the three separate exercise locations across the Hawaiian Islands. From there, airfield management stood up and mission operations began. Teams provided air transportation ground support, moved cargo and vehicles and flew aeromedical training missions, simulating real-world emergency and disaster response. Key mission players Between the planning and operational phases of the exercise, the CRF worked with key federal agencies and military branches to make the mission a success. At play were FEMA, the FBI, Army military intelligence personnel and a Coast Guard maritime safety and security team. Soldiers were able to refresh critical skills for the rapid movement of equipment and personnel. For the Coast Guard, the exercise provided an opportunity to interface and integrate rapid response sea operations with airlift capability in a way never attempted before. "The asset we brought to the mission is a 29-foot RB-S II response boat, which is new to our unit and hasn't travelled via military airlift yet," said Lt. j.g. Eric Juback, Coast Guard's maritime safety and security team operations officer. "This is the first time in the history of the (Defense Department) we are moving this model boat on a C-17 aircraft, which is an amazing accomplishment we are extremely proud of pioneering." Responsible for maritime protection and security throughout the U.S., the Honolulu-based team previously had to use smaller boats and make multiple trips via a C-130 Hercules to get their gear and vehicles to a response. With the C-17 Globemaster III's rapid mobility, large payload and length, the MSST can now move it all in one fell swoop to respond to national disasters like what was needed for Hurricane Katrina and other emergencies like it, Juback said. "We sometimes are notified to mobilize in an eight-hour window, so this capability allows us to grow our capability to be able to get anywhere in the nation quickly," he said. The final outcome Outside of the joint-service partners at play, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, and March Air Reserve Base, California, Aerospace Evacuation Squadron teams worked in concert on the medical side of the exercise, exchanging knowledge and building important partnerships, according to Capt. Lacie Jacobs, a 315th AES medical corps officer on the mission. Air transportation teams with the 81st Aerial Port Squadron at JB Charleston completed a number of training objectives. Teams got the chance to load personnel, cargo, sea and land vehicles. "This training was very important because I've seen firsthand the impact it can have on human lives," McDonald said. "I grew up in Florida, I've survived hurricanes. I've seen the FEMA trucks rolling in with water bottles and food. Being on this side of it, it feels very good that I know that I'm being a part of bringing in those supplies, so this is a very fulfilling mission we are training for here." Hawaii guardsmen deliver airlift for exercise Southern Strike 19 By Senior Airman John Linzmeier, 154th Wing Public Affairs / Published January 31, 2019 GULFPORT, Miss. (AFNS) -- Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard held airlift operations Jan. 13 through 25 during a large-scale joint and multinational exercise in Gulfport. Exercise Southern Strike 19 is hosted by the Mississippi Air National Guard at Gulfport's Combat Readiness Training Center Battlefield Airmen Center. It provides participants the opportunity to build partnerships and maintain combat readiness for future missions. "It's nice to bring other units in, such as the Hawaii Air National Guard, and have their perspective on what we're doing here," said Col. Joseph E. Reid, CRTC base commander. "It's a value added to them and a value added to us. We can also expose them to different units which come from different parts of the country." Approximately 2,000 service members from both the active and reserve components in every branch of the military participated in the combat exercise. The Hawaii participants are from the 204th Airlift Squadron, 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and a team of active-duty Airmen from the 15th Wing. Capt. Evan Kurosu, 204th AS pilot and mission planner, said the exercise exposes his unit to challenges which are not easy to come by while stationed in Oahu. Southern Strike tested the Airmen's readiness through a variety of obstacles, such as shorter runways, larger variations of cargo, low-level flying and staged threats to work around. Over the two weeks of training, the Hawaii guardsmen airlifted members from several units on a C-17 Globemaster III to complete a series of wartime tasks, to include Army special forces and a team of distinguished visitors from the Chilean Army. Other activities entailed multiple cross-country flights to transport personnel and equipment from Fargo, N.D., air-refueling operations in the dark, high-altitude low-opening jumps, airdrop coordination and more. After a year of planning and coordination, Kurosu said it was rewarding to watch his crew members complete the back-to-back training objectives. Exercise Southern Strike also served to help improve the Hawaii ANG's ability to respond to natural disasters. "Ultimately, one of the things that makes me proud to be a Hawaii Air National Guardsmen is that we do have specific mission sets. For example, humanitarian relief. So, when we execute our assault landings and other wartime scenarios, these proficiencies are still relevant when we get to do things like hurricane evacs or relief missions, like when we responded to Hurricane Maria (in 2017)." The 204th AS's emergency-response capabilities can be called upon at any time, and their mission set is growing. The squadron is now extending its search and rescue skills with NASA and postured to rescue astronauts from downed spacecraft virtually anywhere in the Pacific. Regardless of the call-to-duty, aircrew and maintenance personnel will always rely on their ongoing training to fight battles and save lives - especially when it comes to working with their joint and international partners. "Today's military is all about working together in a joint environment, and that's what we're all about whether it's here or back at home," said Brig. Gen. Barry Blanchard, Mississippi Air National Guard chief of staff. "The more exposure you get to it, the better off we're all prepared for the next event." Guaido's Envoy Vecchio Asks US Congress Support to End Maduro's Power Sputnik News 04:23 31.01.2019(updated 07:26 31.01.2019) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Guaido's representative Carlos Vecchio on Wednesday visited US Congress and requested support from lawmakers to end President Nicolas Maduro's power in order to "recover democracy" in Venezuela. "We just wanted to explain to them our agenda, that we need the support of the US Congress in order to recover our democracy," Vecchio said on Wednesday. "Mainly we said that we need support in order to end this power of Maduro, we need to finish the dictatorship in Venezuela." Vecchio explained that his delegation expressed to US lawmakers the need for congressional support to establish a transitional government in Venezuela and to hold free and fair elections in order to elect a new president. Vecchio called on all Latin American countries and the European Union to support Guaido, who earlier proclaimed himself the country's interim president and head of opposition-dominated National Assembly Juan Guaido. Earlier in the day the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said that the African Union had expressed its support for President Nicolas Maduro amid the escalating political crisis in the country. Uruguay, in turn, announced that the international conference on the current political crisis in Venezuela is to take place in Montevideo on 7 February. More than 10 countries are planning to attend the event so far. "The goal of the conference is to lay the groundwork for the creation of a new dialogue mechanism, with the inclusion of all Venezuelan [political] forces that would contribute to the return of stability and peace in the country", Uruguay's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Previously Donald Trump reiterated his support for the self-proclaimed interim president Guaido during Wednesday's phone call. On January 23, the speaker of the opposition-led Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself interim head of state amid ongoing anti-government protests. The United States and a number of other countries, which disputed last year's re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, have recognized the opposition leader. Maduro slammed Guaido as a US "puppet" and accused Washington, which has stated that it has all options on the table to respond to the crisis, of organizing a coup in Venezuela. Russia, China, Mexico, and Uruguay, were among those that voiced their support for Maduro as the country's only legitimate president and expressed readiness to act as mediators in the conflict between the government and the opposition. Sputnik Guaido Had 'Clandestine Meetings' With Venezuela's Military, Security - Reports Sputnik News 04:49 31.01.2019(updated 06:25 31.01.2019) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido in an opinion article published by The New York Times on Wednesday said that the country's opposition has held secret talks with members of Venezuela's security forces and offered them amnesty in exchange for abandoning President Nicolas Maduro. "The transition will require support from key military contingents. We have had clandestine meetings with members of the armed forces and the security forces. We have offered amnesty to all those who are found not guilty of crimes against humanity", Guaido said. "The military's withdrawal of support from Mr. Maduro is crucial to enabling a change in government, and the majority of those in service agree that the country's recent travails are untenable". Last week, Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela with US encouragement. He was instantly recognized by Washington and several US allies. Russia, China, among other countries, continue to recognize Maduro as the country's legitimate elected president. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of launching a coup in the country. However, Venezuela's opposition does not support the military option to solve the country'spolitical crisis, self-declared interim president Juan Guaido's representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Gustavo Tarre, told Sputnik on Wednesday. "No", Tarre said on Wednesday when asked whether he would support a US military option. "The problem is going to be solved by Venezuelans". The opposition has been also in contact with Venezuelan diplomats in the United States who no longer recognize Nicolas Maduro as the country's head of state, Gustavo Tarre told Sputnik. "Yes", Tarre said on Wednesday when asked if they remain in contact with US-based Venezuelan officials who have recognized Guaido. Tarre said Guaido's appointed Envoy to the United States Carlos Vecchio has been in contact with them. Last week, the military attache at the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, Col. Jose Luis Silva, told a Spanish-language news outlet that he recognized Guaido as interim president. The Venezuelan Defense Ministry, the following day, accused Silva of treason. US National Security Bolton in a Twitter post on Monday said the United States would take action if Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government harmed Guaido or US diplomatic staff. During a press briefing, Bolton also said that "all options are on the table", with respect to addressing the crisis. The Colombian Defense Ministry, however, told Sputnik that the country's government did not plan to provide the United States with military bases to invade Venezuela. The United States also announced this week that it has seized billions in Venezuelan oil assets. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said sanctions relief was possible if Maduro stepped down. Sputnik Bolivia Says Joins Mexico, Uruguay's Int'l Conference on Venezuela Initiative Sputnik News 05:32 31.01.2019(updated 05:33 31.01.2019) MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) Bolivia hails and joins the initiative of Mexico and Uruguay to hold an international conference on the peaceful settlement of the current political crisis in Venezuela, Bolivia's President Evo Morales said. "Bolivia welcomes and joins the initiative of brotherly Mexico and Uruguay, who have reacted to the call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the pope and those calling for an international conference in order to make the peaceful settlement of the Venezuelan crisis possible," Morales wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Mexico and Uruguay said they planned to hold the conference in Montevideo on 7 February, bringing together officials from over 10 countries and international organizations. "The goal of the conference is to lay the groundwork for the creation of a new dialogue mechanism, with the inclusion of all Venezuelan [political] forces that would contribute to the return of stability and peace in the country", the statement of Uruguay's Foreign Ministry said. Venezuela is currently facing a political crisis and large anti-government protests. Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declared himself as the country's interim president, drawing support from the United States and a number of its allies and prompting harsh criticism on the part of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who called Guaido a "US puppet". The UK, Germany, France, and Spain declared on Saturday their intention to recognise Juan Guaido as the country's interim president if Caracas does not announce snap presidential elections within eight days. In turn, Russia, Cuba, China, Turkey and Iran have given Maduro's government full support, with Maduro himself calling Venezuela "the victim of a US conspiracy", referring to US Vice President Mike Pence promising Guaido "full American support" the day before he declared himself Venezuela's new head of state. Maduro also stressed that Venezuela had held legitimate elections and urged European countries to withdraw their demand. Sputnik Britain Calls for EU Sanctions on Venezuelan President Maduro - Reports Sputnik News 13:26 31.01.2019(updated 18:20 31.01.2019) Earlier in the day, the European Parliament announced it is planning to consider a draft resolution on recognising self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido as head of the Latin American country. "Targeted sanctions against the kleptocrats who have enriched themselves on the back of the rest of the population who are very poor, that is something I think can be effective", UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt stated Thursday during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Romania, according to Guardian. This comes as Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said in an op-ed in The New York Times that he had had secret talks with members of the nation's military whose support he sees as a key to power. The situation in Venezuela has deteriorated since the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president of the country last week. The US and some other countries immediately recognised Guaido as the head of Venezuela, freezing some of the state's assets and sanctioning its oil industry. Meanwhile, the UK, Germany, France, and Spain declared on Saturday their intention to recognise Guaido as the country's interim president if Caracas does not announce snap presidential elections within eight days. Sputnik Guaido: Venezuelan Opposition Refuses to Hold Dialogue With Government Sputnik News 20:13 31.01.2019(updated 21:06 31.01.2019) Previously, Carlos Vecchio, the envoy to the United States appointed by Guaido, stated that opposition forces would not engage "in any dialogue of the type that Maduro is interested in", urging Venezuelan President to stand down. The self-proclaimed president of Venezuela has rejected the possibility of dialogue with the government. He has also accused security forces of threatening his family and visiting his home in order to find his wife. "At the moment, there are police special forces in my house, they want to see [my wife] Fabiana The dictatorship thinks it will intimidate us. I am holding them accountable for everything that could happen to my 20-month-old baby. From here, I am heading home to protect my family, and I am also inviting diplomatic representatives to go with me to find out the true intentions of the special forces", Guaido said while giving a speech at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. "This very moment FAES [police special forces] is in my home, my family's house. Citizen Nicolas Maduro is responsible for the [physical] integrity of my daughter who is there", he tweeted later. In the meantime, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the bloc's readiness to consider new sanctions over the crisis in Venezuela. Her statement comes just a few hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging member states to recognise Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela. Guaido, who is the president of the disempowered National Assembly, declared himself head of the Venezuelan state on 23 January and was immediately recognised by the US and several other countries. Maduro, for his part, has slammed Guaido as a US "puppet" and accused Washington of organising a coup in the country. Russia, China, Turkey, and other countries, meanwhile, have vowed to back the legal government of President Maduro. Sputnik Trump Vows to Return US Troops From Afghanistan if Peace Deal Signed Sputnik News 20:25 31.01.2019(updated 21:35 31.01.2019) The US and the Taliban have reportedly finalised a deal that will end the 17-year-long war in Afghanistan. The deal will reportedly ensure that terrorist groups are not allowed to use the country as a base of operations and that the US and other foreign countries will withdraw their troops. US President Donald Trump said on 31 January that US troops would withdraw from Afghanistan after 17 years of military operations there if a peace deal is reached with the Taliban. His statement comes in wake of an announcement by US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who said that the US and the militants had reached a framework deal on ending the conflict in Afghanistan. The deal will include the full withdrawal of foreign troops within 18 months, with the Taliban reportedly providing guarantees that the country will not be used as a base for the al-Qaeda* or Daesh* terrorist groups. The deal has still not been signed and its other details remain unclear. At the same time, the militants have not reached a deal with Kabul, as the latter is urging the Taliban to participate in peace talks, promising to reduce the foreign military presence "to zero". The Taliban, an Islamic insurgent group, seized power in Afghanistan in 1996, but were overthrown after the US invaded the country in 2001 to fight al-Qaeda in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks. Washington said that the country had become a safe haven for the terrorist network while the Taliban was in power. Most US troops had been withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but a small contingent has continued to support the Afghan Armed Forces in combating terrorism. *Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) and al-Qaeda are terrorist organisations banned in Russia Sputnik US Rejects Mexico, Uruguay, Vatican Mediation Efforts to Keep Maduro in Power Sputnik News 23:06 31.01.2019(updated 23:49 31.01.2019) A senior US official told Reuters on Thursday that Washington believes other countries will ultimately see that it is in their interests to recognize Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido and his government. Moreover, the US government on Thursday warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro there would be consequences for what it called "egregious" acts of intimidation against Guaido, the senior US official said, according to Reuters. According to Reuters, the US wants Venezuela's oil company PDVSA and its subsidiary Citgo to remain viable in wake of new sanctions that were imposed earlier this week. However, Washington has also warned other international players against deals for Venezuelan commodities like gold and oil, the senior US official said, claiming, "We have seen some last-minute looting", as quoted by Reuters. Meanwhile, Mexico and Uruguay have said they plan to convene a conference on Venezuela's political crisis in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 7 February, bringing together officials from over 10 countries and international organizations. Russian Envoy to Uruguay Nikolai Sofinsky told Sputnik Thursday that Russia, like the United States, is unlikely to be invited to the venue. According to Mexican and Uruguayan officials, the conference's purpose is to lay the foundation for the creation of a new dialogue mechanism, with the inclusion of all Venezuelan political forces that would contribute to the return of stability and peace in the country. On Wednesday, Maduro told Sputnik in an interview that the United States, which he holds responsible for sparking the conflict, had two primary goals in Venezuela: getting the county's oil and also "killing the spirit" of Bolivarian history and culture. Maduro also stressed that Venezuela was not willing to be a US "backyard". Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly, declared himself the country's interim president on 23 January. Since then, the United States and several allies have recognized Guaido as the country's leader, and Maduro has accused Washington of orchestrating a coup in Venezuela. Russia, Mexico, Iran, Turkey, China and Uruguay are among the states that have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Sputnik EU Stance on Caracas Too Biased for Comprehensive Talks - Venezuelan Envoy Sputnik News 23:18 31.01.2019(updated 00:05 01.02.2019) BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - Positions expressed by EU officials regarding the events in Venezuela were not neutral enough to allow the European Union to participate as a full-fledged mediator in political dialogue, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Claudia Salerno Caldera, told Sputnik on Thursday. "After the attempted coup in Venezuela, and taking into account the fact that the EU countries are now divided between those who support it and those who do not recognize this attempt, still considering Maduro as the only president, and also taking into account some radical positions, which were voiced by a number of these countries, I do not think that they are now neutral enough to be involved [in the mediation process]", the ambassador said. From the very beginning, EU officials clearly stated that they do not want to act as a mediator, but wanted to help dialogue, she added. "It has been their position since last year," Caldera said, recalling EU initiative to create a contact group. Fortunately, there are European countries supporting peace efforts, she said. "There are those who follow Trump's position, and there are those countries that are taking the position of peace. Currently, the EU as a whole does not have a unified position on Venezuela. They are still conducting consultations, in particular, they are discussing this at the ministerial meeting today", the ambassador said. Caldera noted that she had conducted a number of meetings to discuss the Venezuelan crisis in Brussels. "We worked intensively with various EU countries, but also with colleagues in the region who expressed their interest in promoting various decisions regarding our country", she said, answering whether Venezuelan diplomats had succeeded in conveying to EU officials the position on the unacceptability of an ultimatum previously put forward by a number of countries. According to the ambassador, the whole world is now clearly divided between those joining the US position favoring military intervention and support of the current coup and those who oppose this approach and call for creating the conditions for resuming dialogue. "Diplomacy and dialogue are the only ways to resolve the current situation in Venezuela", she said. She expressed hope that, given the recent events, the EU countries would change their positions and move toward supporting peace. Earlier in the day, the European Parliament voted 439-104 for a non-binding resolution that recognized the self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido and urged the EU external action service to follow suit. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told Sputnik Tuesday that he was ready to sit at the negotiating table with the opposition with the participation of international mediators. On Wednesday, an EU source told Sputnik that Brussels was ready to support the political process in Venezuela by creating an international contact group, and is now consulting with partners on this issue. At the same time, the European Commissioner for Crisis Response Christos Stylianides told the European Parliament that such a contact group was not intended to conduct a direct dialogue between the conflicting parties in Venezuela. Venezuela is currently going through a severe political crisis, with Juan Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly, having proclaimed himself the country's interim president on 23 January. The United States and its several allies have instantly recognized Guaido. Some of the EU countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain declared on Saturday their intention to recognise Juan Guaido as the country's interim president if Caracas does not announce snap presidential elections within eight days. President Maduro himself called Venezuela "the victim of a US conspiracy", referring to US Vice President Mike Pence promising Guaido "full American support" the day before he declared himself Venezuela's new head of state. Maduro also stressed that Venezuela had held legitimate elections and urged European countries to withdraw their demand. Constitutionally elected Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of orchestrating a coup in the country. Russia, China, Mexico, Uruguay, Iran and Turkey among other countries, have voiced support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Sputnik UK calls for economic pressure against Maduro, refuses to return Venezuelan gold Iran Press TV Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:54AM Britain has expressed support for economic sanctions against Venezuela amid an ongoing political row in the South American country. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Thursday that tightening economic pressure against Venezuelan "kleptocrats" could force President Nicolas Maduro to accept opposition calls for early elections. "Targeted sanctions against the kleptocrats who have enriched themselves on the back of the rest of the population who are very poor, that is something I think can be effective," Hunt said ahead of Brexit meeting with counterparts in the European Union (EU). Earlier this week, the White House announced new economic sanctions against Venezuela's oil industry, days after the country's opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself president and urged Maduro to resign. Washington, London and their allies in the EU have already expressed support for Guaido, who served as the president of the national assembly of Venezuela before proclaiming himself "interim president" of the country. Hunt spoke to Guaido on Wednesday, telling him "that there are many people in the UK who admire his courage and support what he is doing under the Venezuelan constitution." During the call Guaido asked Hunt to convince the EU to support him as Venezuela's "constitutional" interim president. Venezuelan gold reserves in UK The Bank of England holds around $1.2 billion worth of Venezuelan gold for Venezuela, a significant share of the $8 billion reserves held by the country's central bank. Maduro's attempts to return the gold to Venezuela have been blocked upon a request by US officials, who say it should be given to Guaido instead. Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan told Parliament Monday that it was up to the Bank of England to decide the fate of the Venezuelan gold. "It is they who have to make a decision on this, but no doubt they will take into account when they do so, that a large number of countries across the world are now questioning the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro," he told lawmakers during an emergency question on Venezuela. USS Porter Arrives in Copenhagen, Denmark Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190131-08 Release Date: 1/31/2019 10:22:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Turner, NPASE-DET EUROPE Public Affairs COPENHAGEN, Denmark (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark for a regularly scheduled port visit Jan. 30. The port visit serves to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's continued commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships in the European and African region. "The crew has been working very hard this patrol," said Cmdr. Craig Trent, commanding officer of Porter. "This is a great opportunity for them to enjoy some down time while visiting the city of Copenhagen. This is the largest port we have visited this patrol and we look forward to everything the capital of Denmark has to offer." Porter, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S national security interests in Europe and Africa. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. January 30: CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Jan. 13 - 26, 2019 U.S. Central Command Release No: 19-008 Jan. 31, 2019 January 30, 2019 Release # 20190130-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of ISIS. CJTF-OIR and its partner forces' operations are exerting pressure on ISIS senior leaders and associates, as well as degrading, disrupting and dismantling ISIS organizational structures throughout Iraq and Syria. CJTF-OIR remains committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS to improve conditions for peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from ISIS's terrorist threat. Strike Summary Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 645 strikes consisting of 1,360 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Iraq. In Syria, 645 strikes engaged 394 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 244 fighting positions, 172 supply routes, 85 staging areas, 21 vehicles, 17 buildings, 15 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 14 mortar launching sites, 13 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 12 command and control nodes, nine tunnels, eight weapons catches, seven pieces of engineering equipment, five launching sites for unmanned aircraft systems, two weapons storage facilities, two mortar tubes, two improvised explosive devices, one unmanned aircraft system, one machine gun, one logistic node and one check point. In Iraq, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 4 caves, one manufacturing facility for improvised explosive devices, one building and one vehicle. Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR detected 533 strikes from other actors that crossed the Euphrates River Valley. CJTF-OIR is committed to avoiding and in every case minimizing civilian casualties; CJTF-OIR calls on all other actors in the area to observe the same precautions. This Coalition strike release contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing, or remotely piloted aircraft, rocket propelled artillery and ground-based tactical artillery. A strike, as defined in the Coalition release, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect in that location. For example, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined. CJTF-OIR does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. The information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on 'Z' or Greenwich Mean Time. The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday. A woman who lost a relative is comforted by a volunteer during a Mass for the victims of a mine dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. [Photo: AP/Andre Penner] Of the 110 killed, 71 have been identified, according to the civil defense. Another 108 individuals have been evacuated from their homes due to the sludge and residue slide. The number is lower than the 175 reported on Wednesday. "The number of evacuees is lower because some services were restored and some people returned to their homes," said Flavio Godinho, deputy coordinator of Civil Defense of the Minas Gerais, at a press conference. Rescue efforts came to a halt Thursday afternoon due to fears of heavy rainfall in the region. However, the rainfall never materialized and rescue efforts resumed. Authorities said that 192 people were rescued alive from the disaster area, while some 60 animals have also been rescued, including cats, dogs, horses and cattle, among others. Friends and relatives hold candles during a Mass for the victims of a mine dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. [Photo: AP/Andre Penner] Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday thanked Israeli rescurers who arrived in Brazil on Sunday and left the site after four days working with local teams. They reportedly helped retrieve 15 bodies. In the Sao Joaquim das Bicas community near the freight train tracks used to transport minerals extracted from the area in the state of Minas Gerais, a group of workers staged a protest against mining giant Vale, owner of the mining complex where the collapsed dam was located. Around 100 protesters gathered to express their anger over the disaster and were dispersed before police arrived. The catastrophe, considered one of the worst in Brazil's history, happened on Friday when the tailings dam owned by Vale collapsed and sent 13 million cubic meters of sludge and mud down the hill. A nearby community, Vale's administrative center and its cafeteria where there were hundreds of people eating, were buried by the mudslide. Aerial view taken after the collapse of a dam, which belonged to Brazil's giant mining company Vale, near the town of Brumadinho in southeastern Brazil, on January 25, 2019. [Photo: AFP] In addition, the muddy iron ore waste which escaped from the dam continues to flow slowly down the Paraopeba River. Vale installed some containment barriers in the river to block the material's advance, but the effectiveness of this measure remains to be seen. Authorities recommend that the population keep a distance of 100 meters from the rive banks. The general concern is that if the waste reaches the Sao Francisco River, environmental and economic damage will be unmeasurable. The Paraopeba River disembogues into the Sao Francisco River, the longest river that runs in entire Brazil, flowing through five states. Thu Thursday 89 /63 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the low 60s. How to get a Jio GigaFiber connection now: Plans, price, installation process and more News oi-Karan Sharma Here's how you can get the Jio GigaFiber connection now. All you need to know. Jio GigaFiber is been in news headline since the company made the announcement about its existence. The company introduced the idea of GigaFiber back in August 2018, which raised a lot of question among the consumers, including when Jio will start the services, what will be the start rolling out the connection distribution. In the last few months, there are many reports which claimed that the testing phase is about to over and soon the company will start the services in the country. Reliance Jio is not calling it a commercial rollout and the consumers are getting the services under preview offer. There are many reports which claimed to reveal the details about the Reliance Jio GigaFiber services, but the company choose to keep quiet on this matter. The company has published some frequently asked questions (FAQS) on its website, which gives answers to some common question like security deposit and a prepaid plan. How to get a Jio GigaFiber connection now As per our sources, a lot of societies in Mumbai and in Delhi are using this service, but it is still in the testing phase. Here is how you can also get the connection. Currently, Jio representatives are making rounds in the areas where consumers are already using the services. You can meet them and ask for a new connection. The company executives are the only way to get a GigaFiber connection until the company roll out the services commercially. You need to deposit Rs 4,500 to get the connection which is refundable. You can pay via debit card, credit card, Jio Money, or Paytm. You also need to submit your address documentation along with a passport-size photograph. As soon as you make payment of deposit amount you will receive a text message for the new connection. In a couple of days, you will receive hardware installation details. You can choose your convenient time for installation executive to visit your place. The company technicians will visit your home and set up the connection including wiring as well as Gigahub Home Gateway. Your service will be activated in few hours and you are all set to use it. Installation process Unlike other Internet service providers, you will not get the Jio GigaFiber connection by just submitting an application for a new connection. Jio is asking consumer about their interest in the service on its official website via MyJio app. The moment the service will be available for commercial rollout in your area, the company will get back to you with the connection details. According to Gadgets 360, Jio executives have started making rounds of areas where the fibre infrastructure is already placed, to find potential consumers. If you manage to spot them or you get a promotional pamphlet then you can directly call them to get a new Jio GigaFiber connection. All the connection are provided by the company comes under the preview offer as the company has not disclosed anything about the GigaFiber plans. It has been expected that the company will roll out the services commercially likely in the mid of next month. Jio GigaFiber plan For the installation of the Jio GigaFiber services, the company is asking for Rs 4,500 as the security deposit. The company claims that the security deposit is for the optical network terminal. Reliance Jio is not charging anything for the activation, deactivation, or installation of the service. The user will get the deposit back if they want to disconnect the service. The company will process the refund in 45 days. Do note that the service is free for the first three months under the preview offer. Under this offer, the customer will get 100GB of data every month with the speed of 100Mbps. If you manage to complete the 100GB data limit then you can also get a free 40GB top-ups on Jio website. Source Best Mobiles in India 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. Along the border between the United States and Mexico, there are nine U.S. House districts. The nine U.S. Representatives were elected by and speak for the U.S. citizens who live along that border. Lets listen to what these people say about the border wall that President Trump insists is vital. Rep. Vela (Texas, 34th District) and Grijalva (Arizona, 3rd ): The proposed wall will not enhance security, but instead pollute fragile ecosystems, harm international economic opportunities, damage tribal sovereignty and stomp on landowners rights. Rep. Escobar (Texas, 16th) after touring the border lands and communities: Everything we saw demonstrated why President Trumps call for a wall is simplistic and misguided. Rep. Hurd (Texas, 23rd): The wall is a third century solution to a 21st century problem. Rep. Gonzalez (Texas, 15th): My opposition is an understatement. The wall is a waste of taxpayers dollars. Rep. Torres (New Mexico, 2nd) urged: people who live on the border [should] have a voice for what we want our border to look like. Rep. Kirkpatrick (Arizona, 2nd District): Southern Arizonans know the crisis at the border isnt because of a lack of a wall. BENTON COUNTY SHERIFF Reckless endangering 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, 4000 block Northwest Palestine Avenue, Albany. A man reported finding a bullet hole in his house, in a seldom-used room, and estimated that it could have happened anytime in the previous month. CORVALLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Hit and run 12:49 p.m. Wednesday, Southwest Fourth Street and Jefferson Avenue. A woman reported being rear-ended by a red Ford Ranger with an unknown plate at an intersection. Burglary 1:56 p.m. Wednesday, 700 block Northwest Third Street. A property owner reported that an unknown person broke into a warehouses shed and had been living there, leaving behind used needles and a plugged-in space heater with a blanket on it. IRS scam 5:26 p.m. Wednesday, 100 block Northwest Seventh Street. A man reported that he was contacted by someone claiming to represent the Internal Revenue Service and saying he owed thousands of dollars in back taxes. He paid the person $2,000 in iTunes gift cards and later learned he was scammed. A professor and expert on Islam will speak next Thursday at Oregon State University on ""The Spread of Islam: New Ways of Understanding Conquest and Confessional Change in Iraq, Iran and Central Asia." Choksy is distinguished professor and chair of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. His writings and lectures explore why human existence is often viewed as a struggle between good and evil, and how beliefs and religious practices shape our actions. A leading academic authority on the Arab conquest of Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and Central Asia, as well as the spread of Islam, Choksy will discuss the impact of faith on politics, international relations and security. One of the topics of the next-generation console war will be the backwards compatibility feature, something Xbox One has fixed this gen and PS5 is set to introduce. According to Digital Foundrys John Linneman, theres no reason to doubt about the introduction of the bc on the next-gen platform by Sony. It will absolutely have this. Zero question, he commented, when asked about the matter by a follower on Twitter. He recalled that this is on of the main reasons, together with costs, why Sony decided to go for the x86 architecture on PS4. Its become a key selling point once again. PS3 BC was never going to happen but x86 PS4 will be a piece of cake, Linneman added. It is worth noting that PS4 is the sole console by Sony thus far not supporting backwards compatibility, even though this feature has become something Microsofts famous for. Most of their consoles have backwards compatibility and the market has changed since 2013. It was impossible last gen, he said, indeed. Now itll be simple to implement in comparison. So, theres apparently a good chance that the next-gen console by PlayStation could be implementing this much requested feature. If you want to learn more about the incoming platform, please give our PS5 rumors roundup a look here. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Windy early...variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. High around 90F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Thunderstorms. Low 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Gainesville, TX (76240) Today Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. SSW winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low 56F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Fort Wayne, IN (46808) Today A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 72F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Have any questions? Please give us a call at 907-352-2250 IT WAS late afternoon on October 7, 1777, the final phase of the Battle of Saratoga. After hours of fierce fighting to keep British forces from seizing Albany and then New York state, Benedict Arnold discovered an opening in the British line and led a furious charge at it. In the melee, he and his horse were shot. As he fell, Captain Henry Dearborn called out, asking Arnold where he had been hit. In the leg, Arnold answered, adding, I wish it had been my heart. Rush on, my brave boys, rush on, Arnold then shouted to his men. On they rushed. The day would be theirs, the battle won. Commander Horatio Gates, who had stripped Arnold of command and confined him to his tent, had spent the day in his own tent and never set foot on the field. Yet Gates was hailed by Congress as the victor when the British surrendered, while the real hero was carried to Albany grievously wounded. Had Arnolds wish been granted at Saratogahad he been hit in the heart instead of his leghe would have died one of Americas greatest heroes. Indeed, Arnold has been reckoned by some as the most brilliant officer on either side of the Revolutionary War. There has been only one time in U.S. political history that more than one woman was a candidate for the same party's presidential nomination. It was during the 1972 campaign: Rep. Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink, D-Hawaii, the first woman of color elected to Congress, ran against Shirley Chisholm in the Oregon primary as an anti-war candidate. She dropped out after receiving only 2 percent of the vote. Supervisor Chris Yakabouski agreed, saying the county needs to stop delaying action on the issue. Supervisor Kevin Marshall praised the plan and said it should be implemented countywide as a way to keep staff from leaving for more money. According to the report, the Sheriffs Office ended 2018 with 14 vacancies in a department of 240 deputies. Six of those who left took a similar job for more pay elsewhere, according to the report. Training deputies is time consuming and costly, according to the report. It takes between a year and 18 months to prepare a deputy for full duty. Training includes a 22-week academy and more than 450 hours of field training, all at a cost of $75,000 for each new recruit. The most recent round of hiring by the Sheriffs Office ended with six new deputies out of 208 applicants. Harris told the board he will not lower standards just to fill vacancies. The sheriff said in an interview that his office has focused on recruiting from the military and state colleges, but its a tough sell. Young people dont want to have a job with a gun and bulletproof vest for $40,000, Harris said in an interview. The Virginia General Assembly has passed a joint resolution that notes with great sadness the loss of Josiah Pollard Rowe III, an esteemed newspaper publisher, former Fredericksburg mayor, and environmental advocate. Rowe, former owner and publisher of The Free LanceStar, died Nov. 3 at age 90. The resolutions patrons were Sen. Richard H. Stuart, RStafford; Sen. Bryce Reeves, RSpotsylvania County; Del. Mark Cole, RSpotsylvania; and Del. Bob Thomas, R-Stafford. Rowe and his brother, Charles Rowe, took over management of The Free LanceStar after their father died in 1949. Under their leadership, the newspapers circulation rose from about 6,000 subscribers to a high of 50,000 subscribers as a seven-day newspaper, and the business was expanded to include WFLS, WYSK, WWUZ, Print Innovators and fredericksburg.com. The newspaper and its printing plant are now owned by BH Media, and the radio stations have been sold. The resolution said that the Rowe brothers were not afraid to take bold, even unpopular stances in the newspaper when they believed those positions were ethical, just, and correct; and paid their journalists enough to make their careers and raise their families in Fredericksburg. Allen said now is the time to pass this reform. He said if it is not passed in this session, lines will be drawn again after the 2020 Census by legislators rather than an independent commission, and we will be stuck with districts that... look like spaghetti thrown on the map of Virginia. The Republican experienced first-hand the woes of redistricting when the lines of the 7th Congressional District, which he represented were redrawn in the early 1990s, two weeks after he took office. I live in a log house on a gravel road at the foot of the Blue Ridge, he said about his district being redrawn to include parts of Richmond. I didnt want to move, it wasnt right. He ceded the seat to the other representative who lived in the redrawn district and went on to run in the next gubernatorial election, which he won. In his first State of the Commonwealth address, he said he would have been happy to be in the House but the move prompted him to run for higher office. It was during that same redistricting that Fredericksburg was made a part of the 1st Congressional District and removed from the 7th. During the town hall, Allen took a question from Marcia Keener of Fredericksburg. Eighteen months after his arrest for allegedly holding a woman and two children hostage in his Spotsylvania County home for at least two years, it appears Kariem Moore is ready to stand trial. A two-day trial for the 45-year-old man is set to start Thursday in Spotsylvania Circuit Court. Attorneys wrapped up a series of pretrial motions this week, one of which will allow the juvenile victims to testify via closed-circuit television so they won't have to face Moore. Moore is charged with three counts of abduction, two counts of child cruelty and object sexual penetration. He had been additionally charged with rape and other offenses, but prosecutor Amanda Sweeney dropped those charges after the alleged victim made it clear she would not return to Virginia to testify against Moore. Moore's case attracted widespread attention after Spotsylvania deputies went to his home in the 3600 block of Mine Road on July 29, 2017, in response to calls from out-of-town relatives who reported not hearing from family members for an extended period of time. While deputies were talking to Moore in the front yard, a woman and two childrenthen ages 8 and 11ran out a side door and told police that Moore hadn't let them out of the house for two years. A police officer who lives in the Fredericksburg area and works in the Washington area is in jail after being arrested for soliciting sex from a minor online, police said. Dustin Ryan Moore, 28, is charged with two counts of using a communication system to facilitate sex with a child, according to a release by the Fairfax County Police Department. Fairfax County police said the child Moore was trying to solicit is actually a detective with the department's Child Exploitation Unit. Moore initiated contact online with a person he thought was a child in early December. During the investigation, Fairfax police learned that Moore is employed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as a police officer. Moore was being held in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center as of Thursday night. Court records show that he was arrested on Wednesday, the day after his birthday. 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. A free workshop on how to start your own small business and one-on-one business counseling sessions will be held Feb. 20 in the Board of Supervisors meeting room in the Gordon Building, 112 W. Main St. in Orange. The classes are being offered by the Orange County Economic Development Office in collaboration with the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center, Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Orange Downtown Alliance. The workshop, which will be held from 24 p.m., is designed for people thinking about starting a business or those who have already started one and have realized they may have missed a few things. It will review the steps to a successful start, the registrations and regulations and the components of sound business planning, including financial projections and how to choose the right marketing. Space is limited, so people should register online at bit.ly/2Wv2714 or by phone calling the CVSBDC at 434/295-8198. The free one-on-one business counseling sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are for people seeking feedback and advice from an experienced business advisor. Counseling sessions are available by appointment only, and can be scheduled for Feb. 20 in Orange or another date in Charlottesville by calling the CVSBDC. Staff report We welcome your letters and columns! Use the button below to send us your thoughts. Remember: Letters must include your real name, town of residence and daytime phone number, which we use for verification. We do not accept anonymous letters or letters written under a pseudonym. Letters should be no more than about 400 words. Those of no more than 200 to 300 words are more likely to be published. Submit Pancheros Mexican Grill Selects Supply as New Media Agency Fast Casual Burrito Chain Announces New Partnership to Advance 2019 Media Strategy February 01, 2019 // Franchising.com // CORALVILLE, Iowa - Pancheros Mexican Grill, the fast-casual Mexican chain known for its fresh-pressed tortillas, perfectly mixed burritos, and fan favorite queso, has announced that it has hired Supply, out of Boulder, Colorado, to be its media agency of record after an agency review in late 2018. As Pancheros media agency, Supply will lead the strategic planning of its innovative media campaigns and will oversee implementation of the brands paid advertising strategy across television, radio, print, social and digital channels. As Pancheros continues to find new and innovative ways to reach our customer base and fuel our growth, we believe that having strong partners such as Supply is a critical piece of the puzzle, said Ryan Murrin, vice president of marketing at Pancheros. Were excited to partner with the talented team at Supply and look forward to growing sales together through smart media strategies and integrated marketing plans." Based in Boulder, Colorado, Supply is a leading media agency that specializes in using advertising technology, marketing services, and advanced analytics to create innovative media buying and advertising strategies for its clients based on customer interaction. Dedicated to planning, placing, optimizing and monitoring paid media, Supplys clientele impressive background spans the retail, restaurant and franchise industries, suiting it as the top contender among the 14 media agencies reviewed by Pancheros. We are thrilled to have the chance to partner with an iconic brand like Pancheros, said Matt Nisbet, CEO of Supply. Using our data-driven approach, we cant wait to execute a robust media strategy tailored to their markets and restaurant brand that drives higher sales and increased audience engagement with both new and existing customer bases." With its new partnership with Supply in place, Pancheros will continue on its pursuit to deliver the perfect burrito experience, which dates back to 1992 when founder Rodney Anderson opened the doors to his first restaurant in downtown Iowa City, Iowa. Since then, the brand has grown into 13 states with nearly 70 locations and counting. For more information about Pancheros and its menu, visit https://www.pancheros.com. For more information about Supply, visit https://supp.ly. About Pancheros The beginning of Pancheros dates back to 1992 when Rodney Anderson opened the brands first restaurant in Iowa City, Iowa. Originally modeled after the Chicago taquerias that Anderson had visited often with his friends during his teenage years, the brands pursuit of constructing a better built burrito launched Pancheros into an evolution based on simplicity and fresh-pressed tortillas. Since its humble beginnings, Pancheros has earned a loyal following for redefining the standards of modern burritos by using fresh-pressed tortillas and perfectly-mixed ingredients with the help of BOB the Tool, a unique plastic spatula used to carefully mix ingredients together to create the perfect taste in every bite. Amid its popularity, the brand has successfully grown from its roots and today a robust franchising program has led to approximately 70 locations across 13 states. For information about the company, visit https://www.pancheros.com/menu. To learn about franchising opportunities with Pancheros, visit https://franchise.pancheros.com/. About Supply Supply is a leading media technology company that delivers results by activating customer data through advertising technology, marketing services, and advanced analytics across all consumer touch points to drive sales and maximize ROI. The company philosophy was cultivated early on from a challenger ethos: The belief that it is always possible to find a better path for our clients. Supply brings innovative ideas, unparalleled collaboration and unbeatable marketplace access to its clients to help them to reach new markets, unlock new revenue lines, and differentiate themselves through data driven innovation. With a connection planning focus and 360 view of the market, Supply designs media-neutral consumer experiences spanning Digital, TV, Print, Mobile, Radio, OOH and all forms of video that drive real business results for clients. To learn more about Supply, visit https://supp.ly. Media Contact: Mackenzie Coopman All Points PR Public Relations Account Lead Office: 847-897-7486 SOURCE Pancheros ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The Sacklers and members of their company Purdue Pharma have been named in a lawsuit that accuses them of profiting from the opioid crisis by aggressively marketing OxyContin, claims denied by attorneys for the family and Purdue. Officials are recommending that one-time Charles Manson devotee Leslie Van Houten receive parole in her conviction for a pair of 1969 murders and conspiracy to kill five others. ANDERSON, SC (FOX CAROLINA) -The Anderson County Sheriff's Office says a man threw about 80 grams of meth out of the window while he was trying to flee from deputies during a traffic stop. GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina)- The Greenville City Police Department says they arrested a suspect after one person was killed during a fatal shooting on Saturday on Jenkins Street. North Las Vegas police said Charles Finley, 69, was last seen on the 2500 block of Belmont Street on Jan. 30, 2019. Please either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. Apple's iPhone business is in decline -- and there appears to be no end in sight. TILLMAN'S CORNER (WALA) - An arrest has been made in a homicide which took place at a hotel in Tillman's Corner on Thursday, January 31. Investigators were called to the Days Inn on Inn Road the afternoon of the crime. According to police, 36-year-old John Betancourt was shot and killed. Police arrested 41-year-old Frederick Alexander for his involvement in the shooting. Alexander was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile man said he was a victim of a truck driver who knocked vehicles off the road and was then involved in a standoff for five hours. Anthony Mosley said he was driving to New Orleans on Interstate 10 when his Infinity SUV was struck by an 18-wheeler driven by Michael Troy Mack. "Once he clipped me, he spins me back on to the interstate so at that point I'm just praying," Mosley said. "Then he hits me again, and then that's when you see my vehicle skid off the road and into the grassy area that I posted on Facebook." Mosley said he had to go to the hospital for the pain he's suffering in his neck and leg. He also can't get the terrifying moments out of his head. "Man, I'm going to die, I'm going to die," he said. "I mean the only thing I could think about was my kids." A video shows Mack's truck running other vehicles, including an ambulance, off of Interstate 10 near Grand Bay. Investigators said he eventually stopped the truck just over the Mississippi state line. He then armed himself with a machete and held officers at bay for five hours. He was eventually captured and charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, and one count of felony pursuit. In Mobile County, Mack will be charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said Mack drove for Paschall Truck Lines out of Kentucky. The company told FOX10 News it would not comment on Mack's work history, but said it is working with investigators on the case. BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. -- Alabama State Troopers responded to the scene of a fatal, one-vehicle crash in Baldwin County Thursday. It happened just before 5:30 p.m. on Baldwin 112 near Thunder Road in western Baldwin County. Terry Lynn Skinner, 51, of Molino, Fla., was traveling west in a 1998 Chevrolet 2500 truck when his truck left the roadway and struck a tree, according to Lt. Byron "Joe" Piggott of ALEA's Department of Public Safety. Despite using a seat belt, Skinner suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, Piggott said in an email to news media Friday morning. Troopers continue to investigate the crash. ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WALA) - The widening of Canal Rd. is one of several projects coming to Orange Beach, funded by penalties associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (BP oil spill). Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon secured $40 million of around $275 million in Restore Act funds, which is divided among areas in Mobile and Baldwin County. Canal Road, which is one of two ways into Orange Beach, will be widened and improved in Fall 2019, using a portion of that $40 million. If it hadnt been for the RESTORE Act the widening of Canal Road wouldnt be happening," Kennon said. "We've got to have it, I mean summer down here has become a nightmare with people coming and going so this is really going to help." Kennon is part of a 10-member Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council, which determines where the Restore Act money should be spent. Gov. Kay Ivey serves as chair. "We were very pleased with $40 million, with $275 million on the table, I've seen knifing's and shootings for a whole lot less but it was fairly distributed and very equitable," Kennon said. "Jo Bonner, Jimmy Lyons and the governor had a lot do with making that happen so I want to thank them." Some of the other projects coming to Orange Beach are the environmental restoration of Cotton Bayou and Terry Cove, the creation of the $9 million Gulf Coast Environment Research Station for Auburn University and the expansion of the Orange Beach Wildlife Center. But its the widening of Canal Road that was towards the top of the wish list for many Orange Beach residents. "[I'm} pleased its being widened, sometimes we get the traffic so heavy down the road its backed up so much coming onto 161, you might sit there 15-20 minutes before you can even get out in the highway," resident Paul Thomspon said. This was the first round of funding for the RESTORE Act. You can read more about it here: https://www.obawebsite.com/oba-news/2019/orange-beach-in-line-for-40-million-in-restore-act-funds-covering-8-projects Honda Motor Company Ltd. (NYSE:HMC) says that its operating profit in the quarter that ended on Dec. 31 fell 40.2% from a year ago, to 170.1 billion yen ($1.55 billion), on a shift toward less-profitable models and higher recall-related costs. But despite the decline in quarterly profit, Honda slightly boosted its revenue and per-share earnings guidance for the full fiscal year. Honda earnings: The raw numbers Like many Japanese companies, Honda uses a fiscal year that runs from April 1 through March 31. The quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 2018, was the third quarter of Honda's 2019 fiscal year. Honda reports its financial results in yen; as of Dec. 31, $1 equaled about 109.6 yen. Metric Q3 FY2019 Q3 FY2018 Change Revenue 3.974 trillion yen 3.957 trillion yen 0.4% Automobiles sold 1.408 million 1.344 million 4.8% Operating profit 170.1 billion yen 284.5 billion yen (40.2%) Operating profit margin 4.3% 7.2% 2.9 ppts Net profit 168.2 billion yen 570.2 billion yen 70.5% Yen per U.S. dollar, average during period 113 113 No change How Honda's business lines performed during the quarter Honda has four business units: automobiles, motorcycles, "power products" (including tractors, generators, and lawn equipment), and financial services. Honda attributed its decline in operating profit to four key factors: An unfavorable year-over-year shift in "model mix": While Honda's overall automobile sales were up, it sold a less profitable mix of vehicles than it did in the year-ago quarter. While Honda's overall automobile sales were up, it sold a less profitable mix of vehicles than it did in the year-ago quarter. Higher incentives: Honda boosted discounts to sell down leftover CR-V crossovers, company officials said. The company also changed its accounting method for incentives, which led to an on-paper increase in spending. Honda boosted discounts to sell down leftover CR-V crossovers, company officials said. The company also changed its accounting method for incentives, which led to an on-paper increase in spending. Higher recall-related costs: These were due in part to the ongoing global recall of airbag inflators made by now-defunct supplier Takata. Honda added nearly 1.4 million vehicles to its Takata-related recall list in late September. These were due in part to the ongoing global recall of airbag inflators made by now-defunct supplier Takata. Honda added nearly 1.4 million vehicles to its Takata-related recall list in late September. Unfavorable exchange-rate effects: These notably included the devaluation of the Argentine peso versus the U.S. dollar. Honda's auto sales rose 4.8% from the year-ago period, on strong gains in China and Japan and continued good results in North America. But automotive revenue fell 1.4% to 2.86 trillion yen ($26.1 billion), due to a weaker mix of products sold. The mix effects had a more drastic effect on the bottom line, as automotive operating profit fell 75.4% to 41.2 billion yen ($380 million). Honda's automotive operating margin was just 1.4% for the quarter, down from 5.8% in the year-ago period. Global sales of Honda motorcycles rose 2.9% from a year ago, as higher sales in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil more than offset a modest sales decline in North America. Operating profit rose 7.3% to 69.5 billion yen ($630 million), with a margin of 13.5% (up 0.5 percentage points from a year ago). Revenue in Honda's power products business rose 6.3% from a year ago on a 13% increase in sales, but the unit swung to an operating loss of about 900 million yen ($8.2 million) from a profit of 1.5 billion yen a year ago, on increased expenses and unfavorable currency effects. Honda's financial-services revenue rose 7% to 564 billion yen ($5.15 billion), on an increase in leasing contracts. Operating income rose 19% to 60.3 billion yen ($550 million), for an operating margin of 10.7%. Looking ahead: Honda increased its full-year guidance Honda boosted its revenue and net income forecasts for the fiscal year that will end on March 31. It now expects: Revenue of 15.850 trillion yen, an increase of 50 billion yen from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 15.361 trillion yen.) Operating profit of 790 billion yen, unchanged from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 833.5 billion yen.) Operating margin of 5%, unchanged from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 5.4%.) Net income of 695 billion yen, up 20 billion yen from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 1.059 trillion yen.) Honda's updated forecast anticipates slightly lower motorcycle and power-product sales versus its previous guidance, but expects a modest improvement in automotive mix to drive slightly higher revenue for the full year. Check out the latest earnings call transcripts for companies we cover. Aflac (NYSE:AFL) is an insurance giant, but it's not your typical insurance company. Rather than concentrating on traditional health insurance products, Aflac concentrates on supplemental coverage options that are more specifically tailored to particular health needs of its customers. Moreover, the business isn't U.S.-centric, as Aflac does more business in Japan than it does domestically. Coming into Thursday's fourth-quarter financial report, Aflac investors hoped that the company would be able to sustain its track record of earnings growth, but they were prepared for a bit of pressure on revenue. Sales did indeed drop from year-earlier levels, yet that didn't keep Aflac's bottom-line performance from being strong. What Aflac's quacking about The company's fourth-quarter results were mixed in most investors' eyes. Revenue of $5.13 billion was down 5.5% from year-ago levels, which was far worse than the roughly 1% drop that most of those following the stock were expecting. However, adjusted net income climbed 23% to $779 million, and that produced adjusted earnings of $1.02 per share, topping the consensus forecast among investors for $0.94 per share. Once again, stability in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen led to minimal currency impact across the two main parts of Aflac's business. A difference of just 0.1% in exchange rates between now and the year-earlier period led to no significant effect on revenue or earnings. Aflac Japan had mixed performance as a segment. In U.S. dollar terms, premium income was down 0.7%, but net investment income jumped nearly 8% to lift total revenue by 0.5%. Adjusted earnings were higher by nearly 7% on a pre-tax basis, as sales of third-sector products in the cancer, medical, and income-support areas were higher by 1%. Aflac's U.S. unit had more-consistent sales gains but struggled on the earnings front. Premium income was higher by 2.7%, and a slight rise in net investment income led to a total gain of 2.4% on the revenue front. However, pre-tax adjusted earnings were down 5%, as higher expenses sent profit margin levels lower. What's ahead for Aflac? CEO Daniel Amos explained why he was particularly pleased with the way Aflac performed despite the mixed results. "Improved profitability is particularly impressive," Amos said, "when considering we have stepped up investment in our core technology platforms and growth initiatives." Amos went on to explain that further investments in growth and innovation will be crucial to Aflac's success in 2019 and beyond. Check out the latest Aflac earnings call transcript. Aflac's outlook had good points and bad. In Japan, it expects a slight decline in total earned premiums during 2019 because of the run-off of its limited-pay policies. After such a strong 2018, third-sector sales are likely to fall by low- to mid-single-digit percentages during 2019. In the U.S., though, earned premium growth of 2% to 3% and stable sales growth are likely, as investments made during 2018 start to pay off in greater efficiency. Overall, Aflac expects adjusted earnings of $4.10 to $4.30 per share, and that perfectly surrounds the consensus view among those following the stock for $4.20 per share. Capital return remains a priority for Aflac as well. The company expects buybacks of $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion during 2019, and it raised its dividend by 4% to $0.27 per share on a quarterly basis. Aflac investors seemed generally satisfied with the report, and the stock opened higher by 1% after having traded down in the pre-market session following the announcement. With so many opportunities for growth in its unique niche, Aflac is in a great position to continue to achieve the success it's enjoyed within the insurance industry. 28 Apr 2021 --- Symrise Group has hailed a dynamic start to the business year and saw an organic increase of sales by 10.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021.... Read More Yes, it's the right time No, the state should have waited a while longer The economy should have been reopened a long time ago Vote View Results Huawei has finally sent out invites for its Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona on February 24th where it will introduce its foldable smartphone to take on Samsungs foldable smartphone that is set to arrive few days earlier. Last week at its pre-MWC and 5G event, Huawei confirmed that it will its 5G smartphones powered by Balong 5000 will be released at the MWC, so the foldable phone will likely come with 5G. Last year Huawei trademarked Mate F, Mate Flex, Mate Flexi and Mate Fold names at the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). Earlier rumors said that it will feature an 8-inch flexible display when unfolded and will have a 5-inch display when folded. Huawei has been working on its foldable smartphone since 2017. Last year a patent surfaced on WIPO revealing a hinge design with a small gap, but with a single display, unlike the ZTE Axon M. The Huawei MWC 2019 event on February 24th starts at 2PM CET (6:30 PM IST). We should know more details in the coming weeks. Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 74F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 53F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. HMD Global launched Nokia 8.1, successor of Nokia 7 Plus in India in 4GB RAM with 64GB storage version in India for Rs. 26,999 last month. Now it has launched the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage version in the country finally. Other specifications are similar, including the 6.18-inch Full HD+ 18.7:9 aspect ratio Puredisplay, Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform, Android 9.0 (Pie), 12-megapixel rear camera rear camera with ZEISS optics, Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS along with a 13-megapixel secondary camera for portrait shots and zoom. The camera has AI scene detection to automatically detect 18 scenes. There is a 20-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture and pixel binding that can combine four pixels to form 1.8m large pixel. It also has AI beauty and AI portrait Mode, 6 AI studio lights, AI expressions and new dual-view mode. It has a 6 series aluminum-magnesium alloy frame, glass back, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and packs a 3500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Nokia 8.1 specifications 6.18-inch (2246 1080 pixels) Full HD+ Puredisplay with 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color gamut, DCI-P3, 1500:1 Contrast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU 4GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 64GB (eMMC 5.1) storage / 6GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 128GB (eMMC 5.1) storage, expandable memory up to 400GB with microSD Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD) Android 9.0 (Pie) 12MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, 1/2.55 Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 1.4m pixels, OIS, 13MP secondary rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, ZEISS optics 20MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor Dimensions: 154.8 x 75.76 x 7.97 mm; Weight: 180g 3.5mm audio jack, Nokia OZO Stereo Audio recording Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C 3500mAh (typical) / 3400mAh (minimum) battery with fast charging The Nokia 8.1 6GB RAM, 128GB storage version comes in Blue/Silver and Iron/Steel colors, is priced at Rs. 29,999 and is available from Nokia.com/phones and Amazon.in online as well as offline stores. Check out our Nokia 8.1 review, if you are planning to get the phone. worth paying multiplex prices for worth a look, but wait for DVD, unless your favorite actor is in it give it a miss my reaction under consideration my reaction under gag order for now not yet seen by me The Venezuelan Opposition leader challenging Nicolas Maduros claim to the presidency, Juan Guaido, warned officers from a feared state security unit on Thursday to stay away from his family after he accused them of showing up at his apartment in a tense brush with the very force he is trying to persuade to switch allegiance and back him. Caracas: The Venezuelan Opposition leader challenging Nicolas Maduros claim to the presidency, Juan Guaido, warned officers from a feared state security unit on Thursday to stay away from his family after he accused them of showing up at his apartment in a tense brush with the very force he is trying to persuade to switch allegiance and back him. A visibly flustered but determined Juan Guaido told a crowd gathered at a university that members of a special police unit known for its brutal tactics had gone to his high-rise apartment in a middle-class neighbourhood of Caracas while his 20-month-old daughter was inside.I hold you responsible for anything that might happen to my baby, the 35-year-old lawmaker said as his wife stood beside him. He rushed home and emerged an hour later holding his smiling daughter, named for Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan patriot who paved the way for Venezuelas independence, and described how four agents from the polices Special Action Force had arrived at the building and asked security guards stationed there for his wife. Children are sacred, he admonished the agents as a crowd of supporters applauded. Wives are sacred. So dont cross that red line. In a statement on Twitter, Venezuelas police denied that special agents had gone to Guaidos home, dismissing the claim as totally FALSE. Guaido is at the centre of Venezuelas political upheaval as he presses forward with establishing a transitional government after swearing himself in as the nations rightful president in a move denounced by Maduro as an US-backed coup. In a country where the socialist leaders foes often end up behind bars, Guaido has thus far managed to avoid arrest, but in recent days authorities have let it be known that even as his powerful international support grows, Guaido isnt untouchable. On Tuesday, the government-stacked Supreme Court barred Guaido from leaving the country and froze his bank accounts while chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab, a Maduro ally, conducts an investigation into his anti-government activities. Once more they are playing the intimidation game, Guaido said. Theyre not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family. Even while denouncing the special police force, Guaido appealed to them and the military to abandon Maduro and abide by the constitution, which he contends instructs him as leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to take the presidency. The opposition and a large segment of the international community consider Maduros reelection fraudulent, in part because the presidents most popular adversaries were barred from running. You have time to put yourselves on the right side of history, Guaido said. US officials who have warned Maduro will face serious consequences if he harms Guaido denounced the incident as a disgraceful intimidation tactic. Regime resorts to targeting a 20-month-old baby, Kimberly Breier, the current US assistant secretary of state for the region, wrote on Twitter. Shame on you, Maduro. A swift end to the tumult appears unlikely as both Guaido and Maduro dig in for a protracted conflict with geopolitical dimensions. Maduro has been crisscrossing Venezuela overseeing military exercises and vowing to defend his socialist government no matter the cost. The militarys top leadership is backing Maduro, though analysts warn that rank-and-file troops frustrated by their countrys economic and humanitarian crisis may not share their unwavering loyalty. Venezuelan officials said on Thursday that authorities had taken down a terrorist group backed by political opponents plotting to assassinate Maduro. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said retired National Guard Cololnel Oswaldo Garcia Palomo was among those detained. Garcia Palomo has been an outspoken critic of Maduro for months and had openly declared his intentions to amass a military force in exile to remove Maduro from power. Reverol said security forces seized two rifles and 500 armbands bearing the letters OC, which he said stands for Operation Constitution. He accused Colombian intelligence, the CIA and exiled Venezuelan lawmaker Julio Borges of being behind the alleged plot. We are continuing the investigation and dont discount future arrests, he added. The government called for a mass rally Thursday to denounce US sanctions against Venezuelas state-owned oil company that could starve Maduros government of billions in export revenue but turnout was no more than a few hundred people. Maduro has retained the support of powerful allies, including Russia and China, but he is growing increasingly isolated as more nations back Guaido. The European Parliament called on the European Unions 28 member states Thursday to recognize Guaido. The regional bloc has not yet defined its position on the crisis amid differing opinions among members, though several nations have said they will recognize Guaido if Maduro doesnt announce a new election by weeks end. The bloc did not come out in support of Guaido after a meeting of foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania, to discuss the crisis, but EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced the establishment of a 90-day international conduct group with EU and Latin American states to promote common understanding aiming at a peaceful and democratic outcome. The EU legislature also approved a resolution that condemned the continued violence and the detention of journalists who sought to cover events there. In recent days journalists from at least three foreign publications have been detained. Spains state-run EFE news agency said three of its journalists were freed Thursday after being detained overnight in Venezuelas capital. Two French journalists were also freed from detention, and two Chilean journalists were ordered deported. Guaido reappeared on Thursday night to address dozens of neighbours and thank them for not letting state security forces intimidate the community. He also called on them to support the plan he is putting forward to lift up Venezuelas economy by reactivating the oil industry and opening up private investment to public businesses, among other measures. He is urging Venezuelans to take to the streets again Saturday for a mass protest demanding that humanitarian aid enter the country, something the Maduro government has regularly refused, denying that a crisis is underway. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rebuke of President Donald Trump, the Republican-led U.S. Senate advanced largely symbolic legislation on Thursday opposing plans for any abrupt withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 68-23 in favour of a non-binding amendment, drafted by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying it was the sense of the Senate that Islamic militant groups in both countries continue to pose a 'serious threat' to the United States. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rebuke of President Donald Trump, the Republican-led U.S. Senate advanced largely symbolic legislation on Thursday opposing plans for any abrupt withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 68-23 in favour of a non-binding amendment, drafted by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying it was the sense of the Senate that Islamic militant groups in both countries continue to pose a "serious threat" to the United States. The procedural vote to cut off debate meant that the amendment would be added to a broader Middle East security bill likely to come up for a final Senate vote next week. The amendment acknowledges progress against Islamic State and al Qaeda in Syria and Afghanistan but warns that "a precipitous withdrawal" without effective efforts to secure gains could destabilise the region and create a vacuum that could be filled by Iran or Russia. It calls upon the Trump administration to certify conditions have been met for the groups' "enduring defeat" before any significant withdrawal from Syria or Afghanistan. Thursday's Senate action marked the second time in two months that the Republican-led Senate has supported a measure going against Trump's foreign policy, although legislation to change his policies has yet to become law. In December, over Trump's objections, the Senate voted to end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition in the war in Yemen and blame Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. However, the December measure went no further, since it never came up for a vote in the House of Representatives, then led by Trump's fellow Republicans. The potential impact of Thursday's vote was similarly uncertain, since the amendment McConnell offered was non-binding and there has been no indication of when, if ever, the broader Middle East security bill would come up for a House vote. Trump has decided to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria on the grounds that Islamic State militants no longer pose a threat, saying on Twitter on Wednesday, "We have beaten them" as he disputed Senate testimony by his director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, on Tuesday that the group still posed a threat. Trump said earlier on Thursday he would bring American troops home if a peace deal were reached to end 17 years of war in Afghanistan. The United States and the Taliban have sketched the outlines for an eventual peace accord, a U.S. special envoy said on Monday, but there was no sign the insurgent group had accepted key U.S. demands. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by James Dalgleish and Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Afghanistan was once dependent on Pakistan, it no longer is. Between 2012 and 2016, Afghan imports from Iran totalled $1.3 billion against $1.2 billion from Pakistan and $1.1 billion from China Piles of second-hand motorcycles headed to the bowels of Afghanistan, serpentine queues of brightly painted trucks, petrol-filled jerrycans piled up by the roadside: theres nothing to show that this is among the worlds most dangerous roads. But, the India-built Delaram-Zaranj highway in Afghanistan has the potential to change the strategic map of the region and the fight to develop it is at the heart of a geo-strategic struggle for influence between India and Pakistan. The 215km-road, also known as Route 606, links Zaranj, the capital of Afghanistans Nimruz province that borders Iran, to Delaram, a transport hub that connects to the KandaharHerat Highway. I recently visited Zaranj and travelled the road built by India. I wanted to assess the infrastructural capacity and traffic through this border crossing. The border town integral to the highways success already strains from the shipments coming from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. While Chabahar, a deep-sea port India is building in southeast Iran, offers the prospect to transform Zaranj, there is much work to be done. On Route 606 What I found in Zaranj surprised my interlocutors in Kabul, many of whom were under the impression that the crossing is under-utilised. Far from it. This dusty town was a busy hub and at full capacity even though little traffic is coming in from Chabahar -- most of the vehicles are from Bandar Abbas. If India hopes the road to be an alternative to Pakistans warm water routes, New Delhi should consider helping Afghanistan augment the infrastructure. For one thing, the bridge that links the two countries is too narrow for two-way traffic. It takes interminably long for a single truck to make the crossing. Trucks are stacked up along the Zaranj-Delaram highway, making it difficult for regular traffic. Trucks may have to queue up for up to two months, clogging the narrow road. The customs and border facilities struggle with the operational tempo as do the counter-narcotics forces. Large amounts of precursor materials that convert opium to lucrative narcotics such as heroin pass through Zaranj but police lack detection devices. As I spent two days in Zaranj speaking to drivers, businessmen and an array of officials, I could not imagine how this crossing could bear more traffic. Once in Iran, Afghan truckers report a bevy of woes, beginning with usurious visa charges, extortion, and inadequate quotas of petrol to make the journey. Truckers told me that they feel as if they have no advocates. Everyone said they wish the border could be open all day, every day. They, however, claim the Iranians demure for various reasons. Truckers entering Afghanistan must countenance the Taliban as well as corrupt police officials. The big picture In 2003, India and Iran signed the so-called Road Map to Strategic Cooperation. The centrepiece was the collaboration on the Chabahar port. India is also a stakeholder in the so-called North-South Corridor on which goods will move from India to Chabahar, pass through Iran via rail or road then onward to the Caspian and northern Europe. Because Pakistan has denied India access to its soil, for New Delhi, Chabahar is a needed byway to Iran, Afghanistan and beyond. Moreover, it is 171km from Gwadar, the port China is building on Pakistans Makran coast as a part of the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor. In 2005, India also began work on the ambitious Route 606. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs 600 crore, it was a constant irritant for Pakistan for various reasons. First, is the nature of BRO itself, whose website explains it is committed to meeting the strategic need of (Indias) armed forces. Second, Islamabad understood that the route would reduce Afghanistans dependence on Pakistan for access to warm waters. Islamabad has used Kabuls reliance on Pakistan as a tool of economic arbitrage and to preclude India from having ground access to Afghanistan. Third, Nimruz borders Balochistan, where Pakistan accuses India of interfering in collusion with Afghanistan. Fourth, it is yet another visible symbol of Indias presence in a country that Pakistan seeks to render into a vassal of Rawalpindi, the home of Pakistans opprobrious army. Given Pakistans control over the Taliban and other murderous organisations such as the Haqqani network, the road came under constant attack during construction and after it was handed over to Afghans in January 2009, by which time six Indians, including a BRO driver and four Indo-Tibetan Border Police men, and 129 Afghans were murdered. This road was to be the shortest route to move products between Afghanistan and Iranian ports. India retrenched from the project after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran in 2006, ceding space to China. In 2015, under President Barack Obama, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US along with the European Union forged a historic deal with Tehran to limit its ability to develop nuclear weapons, bringing Iran back into the comity of nations. The so-called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) cleared the path for India to re-engage in Chabahar. India resumed work on the port with alacrity. The shadow of Trump Late 2018, the fate of Zaranj and Chabahar was in a limbo again, contingent upon the whims of the maladroit US President Donald Trump. When he assumed the presidency in January 2017, he began eviscerating the accomplishments of Obama. In May 2018, Trump withdrew from JCPOA and threatened sanctions against anyone dealing with Iran. This disquieted India for several reasons. First, India imports more than 80% of its crude, of which about 10% comes from Iran. Indian refiners prefer Iranian crude due to better pricing and terms. Second, Chabahar, where India is developing three berths, would also have come under the sanctions. India is also building a rail link from Chabahar to the Afghan border. Not only would the snap-back sanctions restrained Indias strategic goals, they would have also undermined the viability of the port. Under the US law, Washington could exempt sanctions for activities that provide reconstruction assistance for or further the economic development of Afghanistan. Many analysts, including this author, strenuously argued that India should stand its ground and push for relief. India prevailed. The Trump administration offered New Delhi a waiver on both oil imports and Chabahar, including the planned rail link. It was a huge relief not only for India but also for Afghanistan. If Afghanistan is to get the most from this border crossing, it will have to dedicate more resources to clean up corruption, enhance security and work with Iran to make life easier for the truckers. While the twin problems of corruption and insecurity perdure throughout Afghanistan, Kabul should prioritise the Zaranj crossing, which has the potential to transform this dusty little outpost with few opportunities other than trucking and hocking smuggled fuel. India, which enjoys good relations with Iran and Afghanistan, is well positioned to help. In doing so, India will advance its strategic interests in the region while continuing to provide the value-added projects that have endeared Indians to Afghans. A new way forward? In September 2018, the Trump administration foisted upon the region yet another special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, with the hope that he could secure a negotiated settlement with the Taliban and conclude the 17-year war in Afghanistan. Scholars of South Asia were sceptical: few people are as loathed and distrusted by all sides as Khalilzad, who was in India as part of a two-week tour of the region early January 2019. Khalilzads mission seemed pointless given Trumps announcement in December that he would withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Why would the Taliban negotiate an end when they need not defeat the Americans and their Afghan allies? The Taliban only need to keep fighting to demonstrate that the Americans and Afghans cannot defeat them. This is the definition of an insurgents victory. Why would Pakistan allow the Taliban to sue for peace unless that peace means Afghanistans capitulation to Pakistan? Would Afghans who loathe Pakistan for the decades of devastation it has wrought ever agree to such peace terms? And, why would the Taliban or their backers in Rawalpindi care about Khalilzads efforts when Trump is talking withdrawal? Whether or not the American Tweet State and Deep State agree on Afghanistan, it should be clear to all that Afghanistan needs a new way forward and I contend Chabaharand Indian investment thereis central to this new future. Contemporary Afghanistan is not the Afghanistan of 2001. Today, Afghanistan is connected to railheads with Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. These rail heads are key to helping Afghanistan get its valuable resources out of the ground and to the markets. Afghanistan was once dependent on Pakistan, it no longer is. Between 2012 and 2016, Afghan imports from Iran totalled $1.3 billion against $1.2 billion from Pakistan and $1.1 billion from China. During the period, Pakistan was the largest destination for Afghan exports with $283 million of goods, India was right behind with $230 million, a figure that is expected to rise as Chabahar comes online. Over the last year, India has shipped about 110,000 metric tons of wheat and 2,000 tons of pulses to Afghanistan through Chabahar. If Afghanistan can improve political and trade ties with its neighbours, it can cut down dependence on Pakistan. Once independent of its murderous neighbour, Afghanistan will be in a greater position to extract political concessions. This does not mean that Afghanistan will be peaceful. Far from it. Pakistan will work assiduously to undermine these efforts. But it does allow Afghanistan to move forward, while strategically isolating Pakistan that is not terribly dissimilar from the decisions that India has made. New Delhi has understood that Pakistan will continue to kill Indians. However, every Indian leader since the 1999 Kargil war has known that the country has much to gain by avoiding a war with Pakistan. The strategic restraint has paid off: Indias economic growth has enabled it to invest in defence modernisation, to diminish the immiseration of its masses, and diversify its portfolio of strategic alliances. This has not been cost free: every year, Pakistans proxies murder dozens of Indians. In contrast, three Indians die every 10 minutes in road accidents. In 2017 alone, 147,913 persons died, many times more than the lives lost in all of Indias wars with Pakistan, including Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir. Even in Afghanistan, a war zone, 5,000 civilians were killed in road accidents in 2017 against 3,438 left dead by anti-government forces or in friendly fire. My intention is not to trivialise either kind of death rather to put them into perspective and to argue that progress can continue on some fronts even though Pakistan remains committed to murdering citizens of both countries. (The writer has authored the books Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Armys Way of War and In Their Own Words: Understanding Lashkar-e-Tayyaba) Introducing the asylum resolution in the US House of Representatives, Congressman Ken Calvert said that Asia Bibi has been persecuted, jailed and threatened for doing nothing more than being a Christian in Pakistan. Washington: A US lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to grant asylum to Pakistani woman Asia Bibi, who was acquitted by the Pakistani Supreme Court in a blasphemy case, claiming she was "persecuted" in the Muslim-majority country for being a Christian. A three-member Supreme Court bench threw out a petition seeking to review the apex court's decision to acquit 47-year-old Bibi on Tuesday. Bibi, a mother of four, was arrested in 2009 for allegedly using derogatory words during a quarrel with Muslim women while working on a farm in Punjab province. She was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. The apex court overturned her conviction last year, sparking days of violent demonstrations led by hardline Islamist parties. "Asia Bibi has been persecuted, jailed and threatened for doing nothing more than being a Christian in Pakistan," Congressman Ken Calvert said. The recent decision by Pakistan's top court to overturn Bibi's death sentence and free her from jail is obviously welcome news, the lawmaker said. "However, Asia continues to be in danger and is the subject of incendiary rhetoric by radical Islamist leaders. That's why it's essential for Congress and other defenders of religious freedom to stand up and protect her," Calvert said. Recognising the importance of granting asylum to those with legitimate claims of persecution for their religion, race, nationality, membership in a social group, or political belief; the resolution supports granting asylum in the United States to Asia Bibi and her immediate family. Pakistani media reports on Thursday said Bibi may leave the country shortly as there are threats to her life. Her two daughters had already shifted to Canada. Pakistan said on Thursday that Bibi was a free citizen and has the right to travel anywhere inside the country or abroad. Bibi's case gained prominence when the former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad. The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given a death sentence. Australia sweltered through its hottest month on record in January and the summer of extremes continued with wildfires razing the drought-parched south Canberra: Australia sweltered through its hottest month on record in January and the summer of extremes continued with wildfires razing the drought-parched south and flooding in expanses of the tropical north. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the January record on Friday as parts of the northern hemisphere had record cold. Australia's scorching start to 2019 in which the mean temperature across the country for the first time exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) followed Australia's third-hottest year on record. Only 2005 and 2013 were warmer than 2018, which ended with the hottest December on record. Heat-stressed bats dropped dead from trees by the thousands in Victoria state and bitumen roads melted in New South Wales during heatwaves last month. New South Wales officials say drought-breaking rains are needed to improve the water quality in a stretch of a major river system where hundreds of thousands of fish died in two mass deaths during January linked to excessive heat. A South Australia state government report on Thursday found that too much water had been drained from the river system for farming under a management plan that did not take into account the impact of climate change on the river's health. The South Australian capital Adelaide on January 24 recorded the hottest day ever for a major Australian city a searing 46.6 C (115.9 F). On the same day, the South Australian town of Port Augusta, population 15,000, recorded 49.5 C (121.1 F) the highest maximum anywhere in Australia last month. Bureau senior climatologist Andrew Watkins described January's heat as unprecedented. "We saw heatwave conditions affect large parts of the country through most of the month, with records broken for both duration and also individual daily extremes," Watkins said in a statement. The main contributor to the heat was a persistent high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand that blocked cold fronts from reaching southern Australia. Rainfall was below-average for most of the country, but the monsoonal trough has brought flooding rains to northern Queensland state in the past week, leading to a disaster declaration around the city of Townsville. Queensland's flooded Daintree River reached a 118-year high this week. Emergency services reported rescuing 28 people from floodwaters in the past week. "The vast bulk of the population will not have experienced this type of event in their lifetime," State Disaster Coordinator Bob Gee told reporters, referring to the extraordinary flooding. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill described the torrential rain as a "one-in-100-year event" that had forced authorities to release water from the city dam. The water release would worsen flooding in low-lying suburbs, but would prevent the Ross River from breaking its banks. In the southern island state of Tasmania, authorities are hoping rain will douse more than 40 fires that have razed more than 1187,000 hectares (720 square miles) of forest and farmland by Friday. Dozens of houses have been destroyed by fires and flooding in recent weeks. Milder weather since Thursday has lowered the fire danger but it was forecast to escalate again from Sunday. The Climate Council, an Australian independent organisation formed to provide authoritative climate change information to the public, said the January heat record showed the government needed to curb Australia's greenhouse gas emissions which have increased during each of the past four years. "Climate change is cranking up the intensity of extreme heat, and January's record-breaking month is part of a sharp, long-term upswing in temperatures driven primarily from the burning of fossil fuels," the council's acting chief executive Martin Rice said in a statement. Indians in the US and in India still coming to grips with the news of more than a hundred people arrested - mostly students - across US cities this week are increasingly using a one word reaction to a carefully laid fake University trap by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to round up visa fraudsters: entrapment. New York: Indians in the US and in India still coming to grips with the news of more than 100 people arrested - mostly students - across US cities this week are increasingly using a one word reaction to a carefully laid fake University trap by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to round up visa fraudsters: entrapment. Indian officials in the US say they are taking a completely "hands on" approach to dealing with the situation. "We are on top of this. All our Consulates are in touch with ICE. In many places, we have been given consular access and where we don't have it, we are going directly during the visiting times and meeting with those in custody. Our main focus is that no injustice should be done", Sandeep Chakravarty, Consul General in New York told Firstpost. "We have already spoken over the phone to some of those in custody. Our Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla is driving the entire strategy. We are actively working with community organizations, especially Telugu-Led ones since most of those arrested are Telugu speakers. Our first priority is to get them out of custody", Chakravarty said. Eight lynchpins of a student visa scam and at least 130 students (according to latest ICE information) have been arrested in sweeping raids by US law enforcement officers this week. Only one of the students is Palestinian and the rest are all from India, according to latest reporting in local Detroit newspapers. The indictment that's been making the headlines makes it fairly clear what the charges against the 'agents' are. The questions that continue to swirl go something like this. We have reached out to US law enforcement for clarification on this and will update basis a reply: - Are there any first time students? - If yes, how many of those arrested are first time students? - If there are indeed first time students, on what basis was their US visa stamped (since we now know that Farmington University was fake) - Are some or all of the arrested students visa overstays? To fix a few fraudsters, they (ICE) used students as cannon fodder. How can students be manipulated like this, Indians dealing with the immediate fallout of the arrests said on background. 114 Indians arrested in 20 US cities Indian authorities in the US know of at least 114 Indian students arrested across 20 cities in the U.S. in connection with visa fraud charges. The maximum number of arrests have happened in Detroit (23) followed by 16 in Newark, New Jersey, 9 in Dallas, 7 each in Atlanta and Philadelphia and 5 or less in all of the other cities. The following eight have been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and to harbour aliens (non-U.S. citizens) for profit, according to charges brought by the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division: Barath Kakireddy, 29, of Lake Mary; Suresh Kandala, 31, of Culpeper; Phanideep Karnati, 35, of Louisville, Kentucky; Prem Rampeesa, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Santosh Sama, 28, of Fremont, California; Avinash Thakkallapally, 28, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Aswanth Nune, 26, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Naveen Prathipati, 26, of Dallas, Texas. The eight defendants were charged criminally for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harboring aliens for profit; the students have been arrested on civil immigration charges. @SushmaSwaraj, @IndianEmbassyUS Hi madam, This is regarding fake university(university of Farmington Michigan)issue,My husband has been taken into custody today morning and I dont have any update on his status till now.Could you please help me on this. madhuri (@madhuri82348545) January 31, 2019 The Telugu Association of North America (TANA) is in talks with lawyers in the US East Coast to file a class action lawsuit, Jayashekar Talluri told Firstpost on Friday. The charges against 8 defendants This is the general allegation: That a group of six foreign citizens ensnared at least 600 other foreign citizens to illegally remain, re-enter and work in the United States and actively recruited them to enroll in a fraudulent school as part of a pay and stay scheme and because of this, the alliance profited in excess of a quarter million dollars. "All participants in the scheme knew that the school had no instructors or actual classes. The defendants intended to help shield and hide their customers/"students" from United States immigration authorities for money and collectively profited in excess of a quarter of a million dollars as a result of their scheme", says ICE. What are attorneys saying? Lawyers following the latest developments are suggesting that students may have fallen for the look-alike nature of the course - which makes it seem very similar to other bonafide courses offered in the US. "There are specific universities who have advanced degree programs that primarily involved practical training from day one that allows them to enroll and the bulk of the time is spent working," Sofo said. The courses "can be done at a remote location. It doesn't have to be where they attend the university. ... Programs like this exist and they are legal, Michael Sofo, an attorney in Atlanta with Mannan and Associates, told Detroit Free Press. The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be held in Vietnam Washington: The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang in late February, according to a media report. The White House last month announced the second meeting between the two leaders will be held in late February following discussions with Kim Yong Chol, North Korea's lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting between the two leaders happened in June in Singapore. A senior Trump administration official and a source with knowledge of the meeting told CNN that the current plan is for the second summit between President Trump and the North Korean leader Un to be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. The plan is being finalised. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location. The source said there are no discussions right now for Trump to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit, but the source says Xi is very supportive of the summit. Trump's agenda during the summit is still not clear. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the next summit between the two leaders to be held somewhere in Asia. On Thursday, the State Department's top envoy on North Korea said the US is not looking to invade the reclusive nation and seemed to strongly signal that the US would be willing to formally end the Korean War. Trump and Kim's first summit in Singapore ended with a commitment from the North Korean leader to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," but negotiations appear to have stalled since then. Many critics accuse the Trump administration of failing to get Kim to agree to specifics at their first summit. On Wednesday, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence officials after they had contradicted several of his foreign policy claims - including on North Korea - during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said during the hearing that North Korea "is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons." CIA Director Gina Haspel said Pyongyang "is committed to developing a long-range nuclear-armed missile that would pose a direct threat to the United States." Trump said on Thursday that those same intelligence chiefs told him their comments had been taken out of context and the had been "totally misquoted" and that the administration was all on the same page. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's navy has recovered the bodies of 12 African migrants, including seven children, who died in a shipwreck in the Caribbean, a source from the country's migration agency said on Thursday. The shipwreck took place early on Sunday, the source said, and its cause is unknown. The migrants were travelling without visas and were being transported by traffickers to Panama. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's navy has recovered the bodies of 12 African migrants, including seven children, who died in a shipwreck in the Caribbean, a source from the country's migration agency said on Thursday. The shipwreck took place early on Sunday, the source said, and its cause is unknown. The migrants were travelling without visas and were being transported by traffickers to Panama. Survivors told the agency the boat was carrying about 30 people, some of whom remain missing, the source said. The source could not confirm the migrants' nationalities. A spokesman from the migration agency said it was waiting on information from the navy and did not have a comment at this time. The jungle region in northern Colombia, bordered by Panama and the Caribbean, is often used for illegal migrant trafficking. Many of the people who use routes through the area are Cuban or African and are attempting to reach the United States eventually. At least 57,000 people have been detected attempting to use the route in the past five years, according to official Colombian figures. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Peter Cooney) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load tech2 News Staff Sixteen years ago on this day, India lost one of its most talented children, Kalpana Chawla. She was one of seven crew members in NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated minutes after launching from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The shuttle was 73 seconds into its flight when it blew up, silently, in a cloud of red, orange and white. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-born woman in space, and a role model for not just women around the world, but anyone that dreamt of being an astronaut. She went to space on two missions as a NASA astronaut both on space shuttle Columbia. Chawla was an aeronautical engineer graduate from Punjab Engineering College before she immigrated to America and got her US citizenship in the 1980s. She went to do her doctoral studies in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in 1988, and began working at NASA's Ames Research Center the very year. NASA picked Chawla as an astronaut candidate in 1994. In just a year, she was chosen as a representative for NASA's Astronaut Office. She worked with robotic displays and software testing for spacecrafts during her time there. The first change to fly in space came to Chawla in 1997 on NASA's space shuttle Columbia. The mission was a success after the shuttle and crew made 252 orbits of the Earth in two weeks. Columbia carried many experiments onboard, including a satellite, Spartan, which Chawla deployed into orbit from the spacecraft. Chawla's second call for a space voyage came in 2000, also on space shuttle Columbia, where she was picked as the mission specialist. The mission saw delay after delay before eventually lifting off in 2003. The mission lasted 16 days, during which the crew completed over 80 different experiments. On 1 February, 2003, the crew and space shuttle Columbia returned to Earth, with every intention of landing at the Kennedy Space Center. However, the crew had missed some damage to the shuttle's wing. A piece of insulation had fallen off from the shuttle's heat shield, damaging the thermal protection system. The heat shield is a crucial piece of technology in spacecrafts and rockets protection from the scorching heat it faces when re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. As the shuttle flew back towards the ground, the damaged wing broke apart. The spacecraft spun for a minute before the entire shuttle depressurized, killing the crew in seconds. Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in the sky before falling towards Earth in bits. The accident was NASA's second major disaster under the space shuttle program, since the explosion of the Challenger shuttle in 1986. Chawla logged 30 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes in space through her two missions as an astronaut. "On one of the night passes, I dimmed the lights in the flight deck and saw the stars. When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system, she had said after her first flight. She sent India a message from space from the space shuttle. NASA awarded Chawla with a Congressional Space Medal of Honor, a NASA Space Flight Medal and a NASA Distinguished Service Medal for her contributions to space and science. Reuters Twitter Inc took down nearly 6,000 tweets during last Novembers US congressional elections, most of which were attempting to suppress the vote through intimidation or sharing false information, the company said on Thursday. Most disinformation around the elections originated inside the United States, the company said, though it also identified limited operations to influence voters potentially connected to sources in Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia ran an interference operation of hacking political party computers and using social media during the 2016 US presidential election campaign to undermine the American democratic process. Moscow denies any meddling. Since then Twitter, Facebook Inc and other social media companies have been under pressure globally to remove propaganda, bots and illegal content. The companies have stepped up controls, but are still criticized by lawmakers and others for being too slow to close rogue accounts. Twitter said it identified fewer foreign influence attempts than in 2016 and suspended a majority of the abusive accounts before the elections for the US Senate and the House of Representatives. An additional 418 accounts possibly affiliated with Russias Internet Research Agency (IRA), which US prosecutors said spearheaded the 2016 influence operation, were identified by Twitter. It previously disclosed 3,843 accounts in that category. Most appear to originate in Russia, and much of the behavior mimics the activity of prior accounts tied to the IRA, the company said, but noted that it could not confirm a definitive link. The company also said it had removed 1,196 accounts in Venezuela that appear to be engaged in a state-backed influence campaign targeting domestic audiences, and suspended 2,617 malicious accounts believed to originate in Iran. The Venezuelan accounts were taken down in December 2018, Twitter said. The company examines 8 million accounts per week for abusive or inauthentic behavior and ultimately removes about three-quarters of them from the service, company representatives said. tech2 News Staff As Samsungs flagship series Galaxy S10 nears its official debut, leaks about the phone are spreading on the internet like wildfire. While previous leaks shared a glimpse of the Galaxy S10s front-fascia, new renders now give a good look of the back panel as well. The leak comes from 91Mobiles, which claims these renders to be official press images. The leaked renders are in line with the previous CAD renders and images that showed a capsule-shaped dual-lens hole punch camera at the top left corner of the display. The report pointed out that one of the lens could be a wide-angle selfie camera. At the back, the renders show triple camera setup aligned horizontally at the centre with a flash module and heart rate monitor alongside. Besides the triple camera arrangement, the renders shed another interesting factor of the Galaxy S10. While the previous iteration, Galaxy S9 series, had a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, the newly leaked renders show the purported Galaxy S10 lineup having a plain back panel. That indicates that the S10 might feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. If the render is to be believed, then Galaxy S10 will be the first from the company to offer this feature. Previous reports noted that Samsung might entirely drop the iris scanner in favour of an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. Notably, the Galaxy S9 series was the worlds first to offer variable aperture lens. The render gives a fine outline of Samsungs Infinity O display and interestingly the calendar date on the phone shows 8 March. As Samsung is gearing for its next Galaxy Unpacked event this month, GSMArena suggests that the Galaxy S10 series might be released on 8 March following its debut on 20 February. The companys upcoming major event will take place in San Francisco. Coming back to the renders, the alleged Galaxy S10 images reveal that the devices will have bezel-less fun-fare. The volume keys and the Bixby button could be seen on the left side while the power button is drilled on the right side. The 91Mobiles report also said that the new colour option on the render will be named Prism White. Another, AndroidPolice report notes that the tech giant might also release a Blue variant of its new flagship series after the initial release. The phones are expected to have glass casing and metal frame surrounding the perimeters. As for the specs, the Galaxy S10 Plus is rumoured to sport a tall 6.4-inch QHD+ display, while the smaller variant Galaxy S10 is said to have a 5.8-inch screen. The new Galaxy S series is expected to carry the latest high-end chipset from Qualcomm, Snapdragon 855 or the proprietary Exynos 9820 processor depending on the region. The Galaxy S10 series is expected to include 6 GB RAM and a humongous 1 TB storage onboard. Tech2 News Staff HMD Global, Nokias licensing partner for manufacturing Nokia devices has extended its partnership with Pixelworks to bring high-quality display to future Nokia phones. As per a report from the US-based website globenewswire.com, the Finnish smartphone company announced the partnership on Tuesday and promised to bring high-quality display and video performance to Nokias upcoming smartphones. Notably, HMD Globals first collaboration with Pixelworks brought in the Nokia 7.1 with PureDisplay branding. For those unware, Pixelworks a California-based company is known for developing high-efficiency visual display processing semiconductors and software for the highest quality display. The screen panel of the Nokia 7.1 that incorporates the PureDisplay technology of Pixelworks left a remarkable impression as per many reviews on the internet and managed to stand out in the over flooded mid-range segment, courtesy of the amazing dynamic contrast of 10,00,000:1 and HDR10 compatibility. The PureDisplay technology offers an array of features on a display panel for instance high adaptiveness to ambient light, HDR experience, enriched colours, sharp images and better clarity when scaling. Apparently, Nokia 7.1 is the first phone to accommodate Pixelworks fourth gen Iris processor. The report quoting HMD Globals Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas said, As mobile becomes the go-to destination for content viewing, consumers worldwide seek a premium display and video performance. Weve been delighted by the response to Nokia 7.1 from our fans. The PureDisplay with Pixelworks technology was a significant part of our promise. Superior HDR tone mapping enables cinematic viewing experience when viewing HDR 10 videos or pictures, real-time SDR to HDR conversion technology for an Always HDR experience and local contrast and sharpness enhancement for better viewing experience in all lighting conditions elevates the viewing experience on the Nokia 7.1. We are pleased to continue working with Pixelworks and look forward to bringing this experience to future Nokia smartphones. But while the PureDisplay technology will now be implemented on other Nokia-branded smartphones, HMD Global hasnt confirmed as to which future Nokia phones will feature Pixelworks technology. However, reports suggest that the companys upcoming flagship, the supposed Nokia 9 PureView could be one of them. The company is hosting an event on 24 February at MWC 2019 and it widely anticipated that HMD Global might unveil the upcoming penta-camera smartphone. tech2 News Staff There is really no stopping irresponsible use of Aadhaar data. In the latest incident, Aadhaar details of thousands of govt of Jharkhand employees have been exposed thanks to a lapse in security. Employees using the Aadhaar biometric attendance system to mark their attendance, have their details exposed as the servers holding this information have been without a password since 2014. The details available, for anyone looking in the right place, include Aadhaar numbers, names, job titles, email IDs and partial phone numbers. Around 166,000 employees' data has been left exposed according to the report in TechCrunch. Representational image. The photos that have been uploaded on this attendance system use the person's Aadhaar number as the file name. The central biometric database seems to be secure according to the report. This is yet another case of government agencies using Aadhaar as a verification system, and not taking enough measures to secure the database online. According to TechCrunch, the site was found on a subdomain on the Jharkhand government's website. It looks like not enough security has been put in place, as the site has not only been indexed by Google but also the attendance record pages which have the Aadhaar numbers of the employees are visible. Robert Baptiste, who goes by the handle @ElliotAlderson, claimed that with less than hundred lines of Python code, one could easily scrape the entire data from the site in batches and match employee photos with their Aadhaar numbers. Neither UIDAI or the Jharkhand govt have commented on the matter. The UIDAI which uses its Twitter handle to 'debunk' allegations hasn't seen any update since the last 24 hours. According to the report, the website which has these details has been taken offline. In the past, we have seen how the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has not taken any criticism of lapses in Aadhaar security in the right spirit. We all know how UIDAI went after the journalist from The Tribune who exposed an Aadhaar racket which involved getting complete access to Aadhaar database for Rs 500. There have also been ridiculous claims by UIDAI on how the biometric database is protected by 5-foot-thick walls. Here's a whole list of Aadhaar-related data breaches that have happened over the years. Whether it's the Aadhaar app, government websites (as was the case with the above story), third party leaks, duplication of Aadhaar cards, and so on, no clear measures have come forthwith. Thankfully, after the massive 38-day hearing on Aadhaar, the Supreme Court bench ruled that using Aadhaar card for verification would not be compulsory for things such getting a mobile SIM card, bank enrollment, registering for exams such as NEET, JEE and while enrolling for admissions in universities, among other things. An Aadhaar number or proof of enrolment is however compulsory for individuals to avail certain government benefits, services, or subsidies being given by either the Centre or any of the states. tech2 News Staff Visitors at the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC) might be up for a treat as a number of smartphone brands have lined up to debut their foldable smartphones at the show. Samsung's foldable smartphone, also known as Galaxy F or Galaxy Fold has been in the rumour mill for quite a while now, but there's still no confirmation on whether it would take the stage at MWC. On the other hand, Huawei, through a tweet has hinted about the coming of the folding smartphone at MWC 2019 on 24 February. Looking at the image in the tweet it seems as if the smartphone might come with an outward fold as the light from the screen, in the image, is shown to spread outwards. As per The Verge, the company had reportedly planned to release the device before Samsung. Also in a separate tweet by Huawei which is about the pre-MWC 2019 briefing in Beijing, the company claims to unveil the device as the world's first high-end 5G foldable smartphone at MWC. The name of the phone, specs or even how the smartphone would fold has not been mentioned by the company yet. As for the story of the foldable phones, Xiaomi has shown an interesting prototype that it showed through a video and it seems that even LG is working on a phone with many form factors one of them being a detachable screen. tech2 News Staff After yet another jolt to Facebook's privacy and data monitoring policies, it appears as though peace has been restored between the social media giant and Apple. For the uninitiated, a VPN app called 'Facebook Research' was being used by the Menlo Park-based company to get root access to iPhones of users aged between 13-35 years to monitor their mobile and internet activity, in exchange for $20 per month. In retaliation, Apple invalidated Facebook's Enterprise Certificate as punishment which not only made the research app invalid but also deactivated other iOS apps by Facebook for workplace collaboration. Now after two days of hassle, which caused a lot of chaos among Facebook employees, the enterprise certificate has been restored. In a statement to TechCrunch, a Facebook spokesperson said "We have had our Enterprise Certification, which enables our internal employee applications, restored. We are in the process of getting our internal apps up and running. To be clear, this didnt have an impact on our consumer-facing services." Facebook is, however, not the only one that is snooping around user data by paying the user. Google had also been exposed by TechCrunch yesterday for doing the exact same thing in the name of 'market research' by using an app called Screenwise Meter. As of right now, Apple has also invalidated Googles Enterprise Certificate which bans the internal iOS apps used by Google employees. Fortunately for Google, most of its employees are on Android which made the situation a bit more calm than the pandemonium at Menlo Park. Several Delhi residents have reported receiving phone calls from so-called AAP workers informing them that their names had been removed from voter lists Ankita Chaturvedi (name changed), a resident of North East Delhi, recently received a call from an unknown person who claimed to be an Aam Admi Party member and told her that her name has been deleted from the electoral rolls. She was also told that the party is trying to restore it. But when she checked the electoral roll online for her name, Ankita was relieved to know that the phone call was a hoax. Her name was intact on the rolls. Anuj Kumar, a resident of Shakurpur recently received similar call saying that the names of his family members have been deleted from the voters list. "I received the call three days ago. I was told by the person on the other end of the line, who claimed to be an AAP member, that the party would restore our names," he said. Interestingly, Anuj Kumar who is a computer teacher in a non-descript colony in Shakurpur, has not yet checked his name on the voter list. Being among the first to receive a service under the 'Doorstep Delivery of Services' scheme launched a few months ago by the Delhi government, he did not find any reason to disbelieve a call ostensibly made by AAP. When he was told that the call he received could be a hoax, Anuj said, "Since I had already received services under the 'Doorstep Delivery of Services' scheme over the phone, I did not bother to check the veracity of the claims made by the caller. But I will now check if it was true." Anuj was the first person in Delhi to receive a driving licence over the phone under the 'Door Step Delivery of Services' over a phone call. Although numerous persons like Ankita and Anuj have received such calls 'from AAP', the party has denied making any such calls. AAP leader and Delhi labour minister Gopal Rai told The Times of India that he has no clue about who is making such calls. Rather he suspected they were made by the BJP to defame AAP. The phone calls are in tandem with the AAP electoral narrative that the BJP, in connivance with the Election Commission of India, has deleted the names of 30 lakh voters from the voter list. No wonder then that the BJP is unwilling to take AAP's claims of innocence at face value. "If AAP did not make the phone calls, why did it not complain to the police about such calls made in its name?" asks BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, saying that many in his constituency received similar calls that turned out to be hoax. "AAP is calling up people from humble means to tell them that the BJP has deleted their names and that Arvind Kejriwal is struggling to restore them. This is totally a lie. Neither can anyone delete anyone's name from the voter list, nor can anyone restore it without following due procedure to do so," he added. He went on to say that this is nothing but an AAP tactic to provoke voters against the BJP over a false claim that names of voters have been deleted without following due process. "After discovering that it was a hoax call, many voters called back. But no one picked up the phone," he said. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a BJP MLA in Delhi has already lodged a complaint against Kejriwal in this connection for allegedly misleading the voters. Towing the party line, Somnath Bharti, an AAP MLA, claimed that the phone calls made to voters were a part of conspiracy against the AAP. But when asked whether his party had made any police complaint against these unknown callers, he said, "I am not aware of it. But we have raised it in the appropriate forum." In November last year, the AAP claimed mass scale deletion of voter names from electoral rolls without adhering to any due process, following which the ECI ordered a door-to-door survey in presence of AAP representatives. "Nothing erroneous was found in the process of deletion of names of voters in the survey. Deletion of voters is done in case of transfer or death of voters only after following due process which was done," a source in the Chief Electoral Office in Delhi said. Despite this, AAP continues to claim that the BJP in connivance with ECI deleted the names of 30 lakh voters without following due process. The Jind bypoll result has come as a shot in the arm for the BJP and put the INLD and Congress, on the edge, but the JJP has emerged a strong rival. Jind, Haryana: After losing Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to the Congress in the December 2018 Assembly elections, the result of the Jind bypoll in Haryana on Thursday came as a shot in the arm for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). With the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on the block, the Jind result has surely put other strong parties. including the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Congress, on the edge. With the BJP's Krishan Middha defeating his closest rival Digvijay Singh Chautala of the Jannanyak Janta Party (JPP) by a margin of 12,935 votes, the saffron party has claimed its first every victory in the INLD stronghold. The results proved disastrous for the Congress, as the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala could manage to get just 22,470 votes less than half of Middha's 50,566 and over 15,000 short of Chautala's 37,631. Moreover, the by-election result turned out to be a nightmare for INLD a party that had previously won the Jind Assembly constituency two consecutive times with its candidate Umed Redhu securing a meagre 3,454 votes. Even though it was Krishan Middha's political debut, he took down influential Jat names like Digvijay Chautala and Randeep Surjewala. But the real winner in this contest was Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Although he gave the credit of this victory to "corruption-free governance, fair recruitment and a clean political image", his masterstroke of bringing an INLD loyalist into the saffron fold cannot go unnoticed. It all started with the ticket allotment, when Khattar gave preference to a newcomer rebel outsider over many of his old party colleagues, keeping the caste equation and Middha loyalists in mind. After the demise of sitting MLA Harish Chand Middha in August last year, which necessitated the by-election, fielding his son for the seat was the best move to gain sympathy votes. Khattar and his ministers also managed to get some local powerful Khap/Jat leaders in BJP's favour, which helped them get an unexpectedly high number of votes from rural Jind for the first time. The Jind bypoll result, which follow a massive victory for the BJP in the recently-held elections to five municipal corporations, are going to elevate Khattar's stature in the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Late Harish Chand Middha won the Jind constituency twice on an INLD ticket. But the party's abysmal performance once of its worst ever comes as a surprise as it was in the elections right after his death. Jind, which has been an INLD and Congress bastion for years, is looking at a close contest between four parties in the next Assembly elections. Another reason behind the humiliating defeat of both INLD and Congress is the feud in the Chautala family that gave birth to the Jannanyak Janta Party (JJP), a breakaway faction of the INLD. When the INLD chief suspended his grandsons Dushyant and Digvijay from the party in October last year, he didn't realise the kind of politicians he had raised in his family. Within days, Dushyant launched the JJP and decided to field his younger brother Digvijay to take on INLD from the Jind constituency. In Jind, there are 1.72 lakh voters, of which 1.30 lakh exercised their right in this by-election. There are about 48,000 Jat voters in this constituency and between 14,000 and 15,000 Brahmins, Punjabis and Vaishyas. JJP, even after coming second in the final tally, gave a tough fight to the saffron brigade, especially in rural areas. After the third round of counting, Dushyant was leading the race in all rural areas, but the urban voters backed the BJP in the later rounds. A considerable difference of votes was expected between the BJP and JJP from urban areas, but JJP managed over 12,000 votes from seven rounds of counting in urban areas. JJP even stole the show from the main Opposition party in the Haryana Assembly, giving the debutant a win-win position. The INLD's youth wing was already dented with Digvijay's departure, but with this by-election, the JJP also drew the INLD's traditional voters. The young Chautala brothers, who allied with the Aam Admi Party, also proved that their JJP will not be a force to be reckoned with for just one seat. INLD and Congress can expect a tough competition in many constituencies in the next elections. With a respected defeat and extraordinary performance in their very first election on the Assembly level, Dushyant and Digvijay have proved themselves as strong leaders and politicians who can lead the party and gather votes in absence their father, Anil Chautala. Even BJP leaders have started believing that in the coming elections, the JJP will be their main competitor in many constituencies. The author is a Chandigarh-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com Rejecting Amit Shah's claim that her paintings were bought by chit fund owners for crores of rupees, Mamata Banerjee said her only source of income was the royalty she received from her published books. Kolkata: In an apparent attack on the BJP, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that painting was her passion and she does not "eke out a living by selling her artwork". The chief minister's reaction comes after BJP national president Amit Shah alleged on Tuesday that Banerjee's paintings were bought by chit fund owners for crores of rupees. In a counter attack, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, on Wednesday, dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah to prove the allegation against her. Launching a calendar featuring some of her sketches at the inauguration of International Kolkata Book Fair in Kolkata, Banerjee said, "A friend told me that some people in Delhi may make adverse comments on the calendar. I said I would send copies to them anyway." The chief minister said her only source of income was the royalty she received from her published books. "I have been a Parliamentarian seven times, but I don't take a single anna of MP's pension. I don't even take MLA allowance. I paint because I am passionate about it, not because I want to make a living out of it. "My only source of income comes from the royalty I get from my published books," she stated. The chief minister also came down heavily on 'jealous people' saying they don't have an idea about Bengal's rich tradition of celebrating all important festivals. "It does not matter to the people of Bengal whatever these jealous people might say. Do they (jealous people) have an idea how from Durga Puja, Christmas to Boi Mela (book fair) every festival has been celebrated enthusiastically for ages by people of Bengal? Do they know Lakshmi and Saraswati pujas are being held in crores of households all over the state?" Banerjee said she wants to "foil" the designs of "jealous people" who cannot appreciate Bengal's secular spirit. Seven books penned by the chief minister, including one on the current political scenario, was published at the fair on Thursday, taking the total number of her published works to 87. Talking about the book fair, which entered its 43rd year, Banerjee said the event has no parallel in the world. "The book fair is a ground for people to meet and share thoughts and opinions. It is an integral part of Kolkata's culture," she said. Asserting that printed matter will never cease to attract people across all ages, she said, "Though these days stories and poems are posted on social network sites including Facebook, the very charm of reading literature will never yield place to the virtual text. Book fair unites minds, dispelling ignorance and superstition." The book fair is the place to browse through titles, to physically feel titles, to know about the world, she said. She asked the people to ensure no "mischief maker" spoils the atmosphere of the book fair till the last day. Mexico Cruise Passenger Numbers Highest in a Decade The number of visitors who arrived in Mexico on cruise ships hit a 10-year high in 2018, the majority of them stopping at Cozumel in Quintana Roo. Data from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marines showed that more than 7.84 million passengers arrived at Mexican ports on 2,603 cruise ships last year. Cozumel was the most popular cruise destination, with more than 4.2 million passengers - 54% of the total - disembarking on the island, located off the coast of Playa del Carmen. "With these results, the leadership of Cozumel in the cruise ship industry in Mexico and Latin America is once again confirmed," Alicia Ricalde, head of the Quintana Roo Port Administration authority, told El Financiero. "[As a result] the residents of Quintana Roo have more and better opportunities for economic development," she added. Mahahual, Quintana Roo, and Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, joined Cozumel to make up the top three most visited destinations by cruise ship passengers. Together they account for 79.1% of all tourists in the sector. Data from the federal Secretary of Tourism (Sectur) shows that up to November last year, passengers arriving on cruise ships made up 19% of all visitors to Mexico. While in the country, they spent US $498.5 million, or an average of US $67 per passenger, a figure well below the US $909 spent by tourists who arrive by air. Francisco Ceballos, a manager at the travel website Despegar, attributed the strong cruise ship arrival numbers to lower prices and the ease with which cruises can be booked online. "This way of traveling is no longer seen as something exclusive for a high socio-economic segment [of the market], now it's an accessible option for travel..." he said. "Cozumel has positioned itself at a worldwide level as one of the most important ports for cruise ship tourism ahead of international destinations like Nassau [Bahamas] and San Juan [Puerto Rico]," Ceballos added. While the sector recorded its best figures in a decade, growth in the number of cruise ship visitors actually declined compared to 2017 from 13% to 8%. Tour operators attributed the weaker growth to insecurity, saying that it continues to dissuade people from visiting Mexico and that United States government travel warnings are particularly harmful to the tourism industry. But Pablo Azcarraga, president of the National Tourism Business Council (CNET), said that efforts are being made to change perceptions. "Insecurity is an issue that continues to concern us, but we're working with tour operators and the United States government so that they realize that [the violence] is focused [on certain parts of the country]," he said. Nevertheless, overall international tourism numbers are expected to remain strong in 2019, with the federal government predicting that almost 45 million visitors will arrive. Tourism contributes to 8.7% of GDP, Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marques said last month, and Mexico is the sixth most visited country in the world. Deve Gowda, who is Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's father, made it known that the six months of running the coalition government with the Congress was not a pleasant experience for the JD(S) but he had 'not opened his mouth.' Bengaluru: JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda on Thursday publicly voiced his unhappiness with ally Congress, saying he was in "pain" and would not remain "quiet anymore." Gowda, who is Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's father, made it known that the six months of running the coalition government with the Congress was not a pleasant experience for the JD(S) but he had "not opened his mouth." "Is this a way to run the coalition government, where we have to request our partner not to use foul (unparliamentary) language? Six months have passed since Kumaraswamy became the chief minister and all kinds of things have happened in six months. Till now I haven't opened my mouth, but now I can't keep quiet," he said. His comment comes days after several state Congress leaders demanded that former chief minister Siddaramaiah be made chief minister again. Gowda also lashed out at former Siddaramaiah, who misbehaved with a woman a few days ago, where he snatched her mic. "How can anyone touch anybody's clothes? He is a kind of person who does not even meet MLAs," Gowda said. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday night met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal amid ongoing efforts to cobble up a grand alliance of Opposition parties in the coming Lok Sabha polls. New Delhi: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday night met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal amid ongoing efforts to cobble up a grand alliance of Opposition parties in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, met his Delhi counterpart at the latter's official residence in New Delhi and discussed a host of issues. AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was also present there. "It was great meeting @ncbn ji today. We will all fight together against Modi government," Kejriwal tweeted. He shared a picture of him and Naidu that the Andhra chief minister had tweeted. Earlier in the day, Naidu had met opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in an attempt to bring together opposition parties on a platform to take on BJP in the polls. Naidu said there is a "democratic compulsion" for all the opposition parties to come together. However, the political compulsion of each party at the state-level will be taken into account while forming a united force to fight the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls, he said. His statement assumes significance in view of speculation over the possibility of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress which is yet to materialise even as both sides are attacking one another and asserting that they are going solo for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. Sources claimed backroom parleys between the two parties were still on over a "seat sharing" formula for Delhi where seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake. Terming the Union Budget the 'final jumla' of the Narendra Modi government, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it has disappointed the city. New Delhi: Terming the Union Budget the "final jumla" of the Narendra Modi government, AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it has disappointed the city. The Centre Friday allocated Rs 1,112 crore for Delhi in the Union Budget, while keeping its share in central taxes and duties unchanged. Kejriwal rued the "stagnant" share of Delhi in central taxes and his party too alleged "step-motherly treatment" by the BJP government at the Centre. "Final jumla of Modi govt: it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially (sic)," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. He also tweeted, "1. Invest heavily in education and health 2. Increase minimum wages and enforce it 3. Give crop prices 1.5 times cost 4. One time farm loan waiver. This would put money in the pocket of poorest, create demand, give a boost to the economy and create jobs. None of it done in the budget." The ruling party in Delhi termed Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's budget speech an "election speech" of a government hardly four months away from its "departure". "The BJP government at the Centre has given step-motherly treatment to the people of Delhi. From 2001, the Centre is giving only Rs 325 crore to the Delhi government despite getting lakhs of crores of rupees collected as taxes. As per the Finance Commission recommendation, it should be around Rs 70,000 crore," AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said. The Delhi government has been given Rs 472 crore as central assistance in the interim Budget for 2019-20 presented by Goyal in Parliament. In the previous budget, the Centre had allotted a total of Rs 790 crore. The central assistance to the city government was Rs 499.99 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who heads the finance department of the Delhi government, complained of "nominal increase" in central assistance. In the interim Budget, the share in central taxes of Delhi has not been increased from Rs 325 crore which is stagnant since 2001-02, he said in a statement. "The Delhi government deserves its legitimate share in central taxes to finance various developmental projects. We had requested the Government of India a number of times to enhance the allocation to at least Rs 6,000 crore as share in central taxes as against Rs 325 crore being released to Delhi," Sisodia said. The budget of Delhi has increased from Rs 8,739 crore in the year 2001-02 to Rs 53,000 crore in 2018-19, whereas the share in central taxes has remained frozen at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02, he said. The Delhi deputy chief minister also claimed the Centre has not allocated any funds to the local bodies in Delhi though it was requested for by the Kejriwal government. "No funds have been earmarked to local bodies in Delhi although we had requested for allocation of at least Rs 1,000 crore as basic and performance grants to them in 2018-19 (revised estimates) and Rs 1150 crore in 2019-20 (budget estimates)." Sisodia said, the Delhi government had requested the Centre to enhance the normal central assistance to Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20, but it has declined by two percentage points, although the expenditure of the government on its schemes has increased to Rs 22,000 crore. "We had requested (the Centre) to increase the normal central assistance to at least Rs 1,300 crore in the current year revised estimate and Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20 budgetary estimates. However, an amount of Rs 472 crore as additional central assistance has been proposed in 2019-20 as against Rs 450 crore in the current year," he said. An amount of Rs 10 crore each has been proposed under 2018-19 (RE) and 2019-20 (BE) as reimbursement of compensation to 1984 riot victims to Delhi government, the deputy chief minister said. The Rs 5 crore proposed for the Delhi government as an assistance for the Delhi Disaster Response Fund is "negligible", he said. The figure of Rs 1,112 crore shown in 2019-20 (Budget Estimates) is mainly due to a loan taken from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the externally aided project for a water treatment plant at Chandrawal. However, on all other parameters, it is more or less at the same level, Sisodia added. Chidambaram's remark came ahead of the interim Budget on Friday. The government on Thursday said it has not finalised the survey on labour force which reportedly showed that the unemployment rate in the country hit a 45-year high of 6.1 percent in 2017-18 New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday raised doubts over the GDP figures, wondering how the economy is growing at 7 percent when the unemployment rate was the highest in 45 years. Taking a dig at the Centre, he claimed that when the government revised the GDP figures it did not realise that the unemployment figures also got revised. Chidambaram's remark came ahead of the interim Budget on Friday. The government on Thursday said it has not finalised the survey on labour force which reportedly showed that the unemployment rate in the country hit a 45-year high of 6.1 percent in 2017-18. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force survey (PLFS), according to the Business Standard newspaper, states that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 percent in 2011-12, it said. "NITI Aayog vice-chairman asked 'How can a country grow at an average of 7% without employment?' That is exactly our question. With unemployment at a 45-year high, how can we believe that the economy is growing at 7 per cent," Chidambaram said on Twitter. "Modi Government revises GDP growth figures upward. What government did not realise was that unemployment figure was also revised upwards," he tweeted. On Thursday, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, who had previously mounted a defence of lowering of UPA-era GDP growth rates, at a hurriedly called press conference said the report cited by the newspaper "is not finalised. It is a draft report". The report generated a lot of controversy, with Congress President Rahul Gandhi saying the Modi government had promised two crore jobs, but five years later a "leaked job creation report card" has revealed a "national disaster". Chidambaram also took a swipe at the government over claims of high growth despite demonetisation and asked if this time Rs 100 notes would be demonetised. "The demonetisation year was the best year of growth (8.2%) under Mr Modi. So, let's have another round of demonetisation. This time let's demonetise 100 rupee notes," he said. Hindus feel victimised in a Hindu-majority country and in turn, some demonise Muslims, most of whom are descendants of victims of the conquerors and forced converts. Editor's note: In this debate, we ask the question 'Can we eject Islam from our history?' Arguing against the motion is Makarand Paranjape, director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla. Read the counterpoint to this debate by Ira Mukhoty here. Defining the issue we are debating may itself be part of the problem, the symptom of the malaise. Let us consider the first question posed: is Islam part of Indian heritage? A commonsensical response would be what kind of a dumb question is that. Muslims have been hereabouts from the very inception of the religion. What is more, much of India was under Muslim rule for more than 600 years. Today, India is home to one of the worlds largest Muslim populations. If you add Bangladesh and Pakistan, there are more Muslims in the subcontinent than anywhere in the world. This situation makes the answer to the question obvious. Yes, Islam is very much a part of Indian history and heritage. The second question should Islam be a part of the modern Indian identity is more complicated. One could respond with a counter-question: can anyone fix or define what "the modern Indian identity" is, let alone impose it on others? We could ask a similar question about Islam. What do we mean by an Islamic identity? Who's Islam? The Jihadi kind, the liberal kind, or something-in-between? Moreover, the word "should" indicates what is desirable, even obligatory. Should, in that sense, any religion be a necessary or required part of the Indian identity? If such questions are open-ended, so would the answers be. Now to the third question: what is the legitimacy of the claim that Muslims should be a part of the Indian milieu? This query, one would imagine, is subsumed in the previous two. There is only one added angle, that of legitimacy. But who will determine legitimacy? If we go by the Constitution, then all religions must be treated equally, despite faith-specific personal laws. Our experience, however, is that all religions are not equal. Some are more equal than others. Majorities do matter, especially when they are effectively mobilised, sending their representatives to power. On the other hand, the so-called minorities also have all kinds of protections, if not privileges and advantages. Of course, Muslims should bearea part of the Indian milieu. Who can doubt it, especially these days when every other Muslim asserts identity with a skullcap, a burqa or a headscarf? That is why the questions obscure rather than uncover what the real problem is: Hindu-Muslim relations in India and the subcontinent. This is the elephant in the room. Why dont we want to talk about it? Why is the "secular" and "Left-Liberal" intelligentsia and media obscuring it? Why must we not speak of the Islamic conquest of the subcontinent, often violent and savagely destructive? Why must we downplay, if not deny, this history? It is this "denialism" that has resulted in a backlash, bordering on rage or worse, counter-narratives of "victimology" or "demonology." Hindus, to put it bluntly, feel victimised in a Hindu-majority country. Some even want to turn India into a "Hindu Rashtra." In turn, some demonise Muslims, most of whom are descendants of victims of the conquerors and forced converts. But history cannot be undone or set right by revenge narratives. Then what is the way out? How can Hindus and Muslims live in peace? To my mind, that is the question. That is what we should be discussing. The Left-Libs believe Hindus should take responsibility for this amity by papering-over the past or pampering Muslim sentiments today. However, such efforts do not work. They may even lead to Partition as an endless rather than a one-off event. There are, some would point out, many "mini- Pakistans" cropping up in India, no-go zones for others. When the percentage of Muslims in any area exceeds 30%, it is argued, a definite and discernable process of Islamisation ensues, with a covert or overt imposition of Sharia. Such claims may be exaggerated but cant be totally dismissed. That is why a realistic understanding of Islamic history, polity and society is essential for a lasting covenant between the two communities. The old contract, following the Partition, failed. Soon after the Partition, Pakistan tried to take over Kashmir, a conflict that rages on. But, it is also true is that both, the state and idea of Pakistan, have failed. That is the opening for us in India to propose a new bond between the two communities. Indian Muslims may well happily agree to be a part of the Indian, Hindu-dominated story rather than the subcontinental or global Islamic one. For this, they need to be guaranteed safety, security and respect. We need an Indian, perhaps subcontinental, truth and reconciliation process. Muslims would acknowledge and disassociate themselves from the bloody and horrific history of the conquest of India. Hindus, in turn, would let go of their hurt and pain that can turn into retaliatory rage. So, is Hinduism a part of heritage and identity of contemporary Indian Muslims? Why is the question never framed in this manner? Why is the onus only on Hindus to accept Muslims and not the other way round? (The writer is the Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla) Under the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land in three equal instalments. New Delhi: The government on Friday announced cash support of Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginal farmers, that will cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually, in a bid to provide relief to distressed farm sector. Under the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land in three equal instalments. Announcing the scheme during the Budget speech in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said it will benefit 12 crore farmers and will be implemented from this fiscal itself. He said Rs 20,000 crore have been provided for current fiscal and also announced allocation of Rs 75,000 crore for the next fiscal. Follow LIVE updates on Budget 2019 Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced in his Interim Budget speech that the government will now increase its contribution to employees' provident fund to 14% from the earlier 10% while keeping the contribution of workers intact at 10%. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced in his Interim Budget speech that the government will now increase its contribution to employees' provident fund to 14 percent from the earlier 10 percent while keeping the contribution of workers intact at 10 percent. "High growth and formalistation of the economy has led to the expansion of employment opportunities as shown in EPFO membership, which has increased by nearly two crore in two years reflecting formalisation of the economy and job creations," Goyal said in his speech. The EPFO is the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation which assists the government administering a compulsory contributory Provident Fund Scheme. The move is expected to delight both government and private sector employees who benefit from it. Minimum pension for every labourer has been fixed at Rs 1,000 per month. Calculate your income tax with the income tax calculator In addition, the maximum ceiling of the bonus given to labourers has been increased from Rs 3,500 a month to Rs 7,000 a month and the maximum ceiling of their pay has been increased from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000, in keeping with the liberalisation of the New Pension Scheme after the submission of the Seventh Central Pay Commission report, said Goyal. "During the last five years the minimum wages of labourers of all categories have been increased by 42 percent, which is the highest ever," he said. The ceiling of payment of gratuity has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The ceiling of eligibility cover under the Employees' State Insurance has been increased from Rs 15,000 a month to Rs 21,000 a month. In the event of the death of a labourer during service, the amount to be paid by EPFO has been enhanced from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. Under Anganwadi and Asha Yojana, honorarium has been enhanced by about 50 percent for all categories of workers. "Our government firmly believes that workmen and all the people working in government services should get the benefit of the fast-growing economy. During the last five years India has witnessed industrial peace," Goyal said in his speech. Follow LIVE UPDATES on BUDGET 2019 Ahead of the Budget Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government is eager to debate on all important issues and hoped for a meaningful discussion by all MPs. A day before the Interim Budget for 2019 is presented in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all lawmakers to utilise the Budget Session to have debates with an open mind. "Today, the country is observing the proceedings of the Parliament. The MPs should hold a meaningful debate in this session of Parliament. We are eager to hold a debate on all important issues," he told the reporters outside Parliament before the start of the session on Thursday. The prime minister hoped that all lawmakers will keep these public sentiments in mind to utilise the Budget Session by taking part in discussions, put forward their views, benefit Parliament, and benefit the government. "All small incidents reach the common man...due to this, those who do not have interest in discussions, resentment is generated against them," Modi said. He urged lawmakers to make full use of the work that has to be transacted in the session. "I also know that now when all lawmakers have to go to their respective constituencies, so whatever positive behaviour they show will give them positive benefit in the field as well and it also reflects on how people look at lawmakers," Modi said. He said his government's mantra is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and the same spirit will be seen in Parliament. "We are looking forward to discussing all issues," the prime minister said. "I will welcome discussions with an open mind. I will welcome smooth functioning of Parliament. I will welcome that all lawmakers work together for the construction of future India," Modi said. He also took a jibe at the Opposition, stating that it is obvious that people will not be happy with those who are "not in discussion". The session commenced on Thursday with the customary address by President Ram Nath Kovind to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The session, which will continue till 13 February, will have 10 sittings. This will be the last session of the Lok Sabha before the general election. Ravi Pujari, a known protege of Chhota Rajan, has been absconding for decades, and is wanted in India in a number of cases, including extortion, threat calls to Bollywood stars and other prominent personalities. Underworld don Ravi Pujari, known for his operations in Mumbai in the 1990s, was reportedly arrested in western Africa's Senegal on Thursday. The arresting agencies acted on a tip-off by the Indian agencies, who were given information about the gangster by Karnataka police, Times Now reported. The report cited local sources as saying that Pujari was in possession of a fake passport in the name of Anthony Fernandez when he was arrested. He was reportedly nabbed in Dakar by the Interpol Central Bureau in a joint operation with the local Criminal Investigations Division. Pujari is likely to be brought to India on a special flight, the report stated. The development comes after, the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against two alleged members of Pujari's gang, India Today reported. William Rodricks and Akash Shetty were arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell for threatening a builder. Pujari has been absconding for decades, and is wanted in India in a number of cases, including extortion, threat calls to Bollywood stars and other prominent personalities. He has a Red Corner Notice issued against him by Interpol, Times of India reported. He has been in hiding in Australia until 2016, following which he bounced around between various cities including to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Morocco, the report said. As per an NDTV report, Pujari was also mentored by gangster Chhota Rajan, who is currently serving a life sentence in a jail in Navi Mumbai. The two parted ways sometime around 2001. Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. Srinagar: Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pulwama following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said a gun battle ensued as the militants opened fire at the security forces. Two militants were gunned down, the official said, adding that their identities and group affiliation were being ascertained. Mexico to Celebrate Constitution Day on February 4th Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - February 5th is Mexican Constitution Day, commemorating the day the Constitucion Politica de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos was signed in 1917. Nowadays, the official observance is on the first Monday in February, which in 2019 is February 4th, so that Mexican citizens can enjoy a long weekend of festivities. Dia de la Constitucion Quick Facts Drafted in the State of Queretaro by a constitutional convention during the Mexican Revolution, the Mexican Constitution is a product of the culture and the time in which it was written. The government envisaged in the Mexican Constitution is an activist state, dedicated to bringing about social justice among its citizens. And though it has been amended hundreds of times, it continues to govern Mexico today. The Mexican Constitution spells out the same basic rights as the U.S. Constitution freedom of speech, religion, petition, legal rights yet it goes farther, guaranteeing Mexicans the right to a good job (Article 123), decent housing, and health protection and care. And the aforementioned Article 123 spells out workers rights in detail. But it also clearly spells out the duties of Mexican citizens, as well as non-Mexicans living in Mexico. Mexican Constitution Day 2019 Celebration Since the celebration of Constitution Day is a public holiday in Mexico, most businesses, schools, banks, and government offices will be closed on Monday. Parades are held throughout the country, often featuring marching bands, colorful costumes - and there's no shortage of banners and flags of green, white and red adorning buildings and streets. As one of the most important festivals in the country, this is also a time when many Mexicans make the most of the long weekend, celebrating the holiday with friends and family and enjoying the festivities with traditional food, live music, dancing, and plenty of pride and honor. Happy Mexican Constitution Day 2019! In downtown Srinagars Mazar-e-Shuhada, or the martyrs graveyard, assassinated Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Farooq Shah lies buried close to Hizbul Mujahideens Abdullah Bangroo. Mirwaiz Farooq Shah lies in downtown Srinagars Mazar-e-Shuhada, the graveyard reserved for those who gave their lives for the long jihad in Kashmir. The cleric, a leading figure in the anti-India movement, was assassinated in 1990, after hardliners suspected he was working to secure a peace deal with the Government. Buried nearby is the Hizb-ul-Mujahideens Abdullah Bangroo, the man believed to have plotted his murder. The killing of Shah at the hands of his own is an open secret most in the Valley dare not talk aboutnot even his son and the current Mirwaiz, Umar Farooq, who inherited his fathers title as well as his politics. In their death, both killer and killed are remembered as martyrsmartyrs, moreover, for the same cause. All of 17 when his father was killed, Farooq, was mature enough to bring together disparate separatist leaders under the banner of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993 and was elected its first chairperson. He was 19 and the new hope of the separatist movement. Ten years ago, he was central to the dialogue between India and Pakistan. Former Indian spy chief and a Kashmir expert Amarjit Singh Dulat, in his book Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years, says the Mirwaiz was rated very high by everybodythe Pakistanis, the Americans, the British, other foreigners, and by us. Cut to 2019, a lot has changed for the Hurriyat as well as the Mirwaiz, who turns 46 on March 23. The Mirwaizs bastion in old-city Srinagar is besieged by a new generation of Islamists who threaten not just his political future, but his life. The soft separatist Late last year, young Islamists stormed Srinagars Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaizs ancestral mosque, and waved Islamic State flagsa direct challenge both to his politics, and the ethnic-nationalist strain of religion he represents. It wasnt a black-swan event. The global jihadist narrative has struck roots among the young, stone-throwing protesters of downtown Srinagar, who have repeatedly denounced the Hurriyat in the Mirwaizs bastion. He has been unable to do much, other than urge the youth to come forward with their grievances instead of playing into the hands of the enemy. Since its inception, the Hurriyat has battled internal rifts over the methods and direction the separatist movement should take. In 2006, he dramatically announced that our fight on the political, diplomatic and military fronts [ has] not achieved anything other than creating more graveyards. As former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf engaged in a secret dialogue on Kashmir, the Mirwaiz positioned himself at its fulcrum. He often faced criticism from hardliners led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. In 2007, Masarat Alam, a leading member of the Geelani faction, described the Mirwaiz as a political novice backed by India and the innocent and ignorant rulers of Pakistan. For a while, it looked like the Mirwaizs plan might pay off. In early 2007, he told an interviewer that the agenda is pretty much set. It is in Septemer, 2007, he confidently announced, that India and Pakistan are looking at in terms of announcing something on Kashmir. That deal never went through, but the Hurriyats representative character helped it tide over the crisis and stay relevant. The following year when Kashmir erupted over an order to transfer forestland to the Amarnath Shrine Board, New Delhis only hope was the Hurriyat. Chants of Kaun karega tarjumani? Syed Ali Shah Geelani. (Who will plead our case? Syed Ali Shah Geelani) were met with: Choice! Choice! Mirwaiz! Behind the scenes, they again began talking to New Delhi. In 2009, The Hindu revealed that the Hurriyat and former Home Minister P Chidambaram were holding secret meetings. The backlash was swift. A member of the moderate Hurriyat was injured in an attack and the talks derailed. Today, the Hurriyat makes careful calls for dialogue terming Pakistan an important party to the conflict. But the hardliners have kept at it. In April 2014, Geelani alleged that the Mirwaiz had met emissaries of Narendra Modi, the BJPs prime ministerial candidate accused of inaction in the Gujarat riots. The Mirwaiz called out Geelanis supporters for their holier than thou approach. In free fall Shifting goalposts and acrimony among its constituents, compounded by the Hurriyats failure to come up with a concrete roadmap or secure any concessions from New Delhi, or even Islamabad, has disillusioned many. Six years after the 2010 unrest, the Hurriyat was nowhere in the picture when the streets were again taken over by angry youths. Not just the boys on the streets but also those wielding guns were moving awayfrom both the United Jihad Council (UJC) and the Hurriyat. The reality hit home hard when in 2015 a north Kashmir module of the Hizb led by Abdul Qayoom Najar rebelled against the leadership. The group rechristened itself the Lashkar-e-Islam and targeted cell phone towers and service providers, killing at least six people, including Hurriyat activists. The Hurriyat took the easy way out and blamed intelligence services. The UJC claimed Najar was expelled from the Hizb and in 2017, the Hurriyat paid tributes after he was killed in a gunfight. Najar was claimed by a self-avowed al-Qaeda affiliate headed by another Hizb rebel Zakir Musa. Najar was also claimed by a self-styled Islamic State chapter. The police believe these are largely modules of outfits such as the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen. Others see it as an intelligence ploy to further fracture the separatist movement. The Hurriyats track record, however, indicates it is repulsive to the idea of accommodation, says Aijaz Ashraf Wani, associate professor, Kashmir University. They seem to go with the flow rather than being able to create and direct the flow decisively. At a 2010 memorial for a colleague, moderate Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Butt accepted that prominent separatists were killed by our own people. If you want to free the people of Kashmir from sentimentalism bordering on insanity, you have to speak the truth, he said. But the Mirwaiz, who was at the event, again chose silence. On 25 December, 2016, at least 80 vehicles engaged in transporting iron from Surajgarh mines, in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli, were torched by Naxals. A senior official said Rao and Gadling were arrested from Pune on Wednesday and produced in Aheri court in Gadchiroli on Thursday Nagpur: Telugu poet Varavara Rao, accused of having Maoist links, and advocate Surendra Gadling were arrested in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron or mine arson case, Gadchiroli police said on Friday. On 25 December, 2016, at least 80 vehicles engaged in transporting iron from Surajgarh mines, in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli, were torched by Naxals. A senior official said Rao and Gadling were arrested from Pune on Wednesday and produced in Aheri court in Gadchiroli on Thursday. The two have been remanded in police custody till 11 February, he added. "We have evidence of the involvement of the two in this case," the official claimed. Rao and Gadling were earlier arrested in 2018 in connection with the Elgar Parishad that took place in Pune on 31 December, 2017. Caste violence erupted the day after the event and police have charged the organisers with having Maoist links. The RSS leader, who spoke in Hindi, also hit out at the Kerala government over the Sabarimala row and blamed it for 'facilitating the entry of women through the back door.' Prayagraj: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the Supreme Court had not considered the emotions of crores of the country's Hindus when it allowed, in September 2018, for all women to worship at the Sabrimala Temple. Addressing the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Dharma Sansad that began in Prayagraj on Thursday, Bhagwat said," Uski apni parampara rehti hai, lekin desh bhar ke croron Hinduon ki bhawanao ka samman isse aahaat hoga, yeh vichar court ne kiya nahi (It has its own tradition, but the court did not think about the hurt it has caused to the sentiments of crores of Hindus)." The RSS leader, who spoke in Hindi, also hit out at the Kerala government and blamed it for "facilitating the entry of women through the back door." "Court had stated that if a woman demands entry they must be allowed to do so and if they are stopped they must be provided protection to enter from the route from where all others devotees enter to worship. But now when no woman wants to go, they brought women from Sri Lanka and facilitated their entry through the back door. If you had to do it legally do it from the front door, but they aren't even doing that," Bhagwat said. The RSS has been a staunch opponent of the Supreme Court September 2018 ruling, which had overturned a decades-long ban on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years into the Sabarimala temple, citing that the ruling violated the customs and traditions of the temple. Bhagwat alleged that the Supreme Court ruling was a hurried one without considering God as a legal entity. "Women are saying that they are ready to wait. This is a question of traditions of a particular temple and is protected by our constitution. But why has such a decision taken in a hurry?" he said. "Upon reading the verdict we find that it also says 'God is not a legal entity and that since the temple is a public place, all decisions can be implemented there.' It is right that religious places belonging to all religions can be open to all for worship but you cannot say that is a public place, but rather a place of a particular community which has its own traditions and discipline," Bhagwat said. RSS chief also opined that the decision by the apex court failed to yield the desired result and instead resulted in a conflict. "The court did not ponder over the fact that emotions of crores of Hindu's will be hurt by this decision. We believe that the court gives thought to make all things right in the country but when they tried to do the same there (in Sabrimala) it instead started a conflict. This shows that the expected result did not come by this decision," Bhagwat said in his speech. The statement by the RSS chief comes hours after Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac described the violence over the entry into Sabarimala Temple as the second disaster following the devastating floods in the state, during his presentation of the state budget in the Assembly. Why is the Centre hesitant to release the NSSO report officially when it has maintained that there is job growth in the country, and schemes such as 'Skill India' and 'Make in India' were working to this end? "Such a large number of unemployed young people in the country. There is bound to be instability. There is bound to be a crisis situation and a future government will take years to repair the damage that this government has done." Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma summed up the current employment scenario in India with this statement. Not only does it highlight the jobs crisis in the country, it also points to the difficulty future governments will face in turning the situation around. That the government will create two crore jobs a year was one of the BJP's foremost poll promises, one that the Opposition does not let the party forget. The cry for the government to release data on the state of employment in the country has only become louder over the past few months, when the election season officially began. This very data, procured by the Business Standard and published in a report on Thursday, triggered a fresh controversy that soon developed into another political slugfest, like every other issue that needs deeper analysis. According to the report, the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) found that unemployment rate in India touched 6.1 percent in 2017-18, a 45-year high. This couldn't be any further from the NDA government's claim that its job creation is unmatched. The BJP-led NDA administration at the Centre has been in denial over the creation of employment opportunities despite various studies pointed to the crisis in the country. Research by Azim Premji University found that India's seven percent growth rate was leading to less than one percent gain in employment, whereas in the 1970s and 1980s, growth of three to four percent was being converted to a two percent improvement in jobs. The consequence an unemployment rate of 5 percent in 2015, the highest in at least 20 years. The study found that unemployment was the highest among young and educated Indians. Care Ratings , too, had pointed out that employment growth in corporate India had moderated to 3.8 percent in the 2017-18 financial year, and that jobs in smaller firms had been affected the most. The agency had said this slowdown in job growth is "reflective of the proposition that higher economic growth is weakly translating into higher job creation". So much so that in 2018, former labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had conceded that economic growth was not translating into more employment. "The current growth is a jobless growth. Many European and Asian countries, including India, are facing it... Growth is being reported, but it is not reflecting in employment generation," he had said, though he had tried to highlight government initiatives such as 'Skill India' to address this shortfall. Sticking to denial, BJP president Amit Shah though not formally part of the government claimed that Dattatreya did not have details of the job created in the tourism and aviation sector when he had made the statement. Let's highlight the absurdity of his statement here Shah, the party chief, really implied that had more information on the labour force in the country than Dattatreya, the labour minister then. The NSSO controversy "#HowsTheJobs" was Congress president Rahul Gandhi's question to the government after the Business Standard article on the NSSO report was published. NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go. #HowsTheJobs pic.twitter.com/nbX4iYmsiZ Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 31, 2019 Never one to admit defeat, the BJP echoed US president Donald Trump to cry "FakeNews!" It's clear that he has inherited Mussolini's shortsightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. EPFO's real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. Only a man who hasn't ever held a proper job & is totally jobless can peddle such #FakeNews! https://t.co/T0DHUs7IdZ BJP (@BJP4India) January 31, 2019 This brings us to the government's latest defence. To counter allegation of slow to no job growth, the Centre is now clinging to payroll data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, even though the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy had clarified that EPFO data was not a metric of the state of employment in India. It never has been. Surveys by the NSSO have always been considered the benchmark by which the employment situation in the country can be gauged, definitely not the number of subscriptions to provident funds. So why is the government focussing on these figures instead of coming up with ways to deal with the jobs crisis? That the Centre was trying to stop the NSSO report from becoming public made even bigger headlines after the only two non-government members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC), PC Mohanan and JV Meenakshi, resigned from the panel over the Centre's unwillingness to release the NSSO report on employment. Even though figures may say other otherwise, the government has maintained that there is job growth in the country, and schemes such as 'Skill India' and 'Make in India' were working to this end. Why, then, is the Centre this hesitant to release the report officially? What does it have to hide? Strangely enough, the government deployed NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar to defend the State with regard to the "leaked jobs data" on Thursday. He said the government had not released the data year "as it is still being processed". "When the data is ready we will release it," he claimed. Instead of being tight-lipped about figures related to creation of jobs, the government should show more transparency and release the report. If there, indeed, has been an improvement in employment opportunities, then the Centre has even more reason to make the NSSO report public and put all arguments to rest. If there hasn't, well, that's a different story. Furthermore, one cannot ignore the negative impact demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had on jobs in India, especially the informal sector. It's been over two years since the note ban was implemented and about a year and a half since the GST was brought into force and yet, it's still unclear how the government did not realise the devastating effects these measures would have on the informal sector. Or maybe it did, and this was a conscious push for the formal sector at the expense of the informal? We may never know. This political bickering between the BJP and Congress is taking away from the real crisis that needs all this attention. What Rahul has to say about Modi and what comeback the BJP conjures should not be the focus. Instead, what measures can be taken to ensure that India's economic growth translates to employment generation should be deliberated on and implemented. As he presented the Interim Budget 2019 of the NDA government, Union minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced a 10-point 'vision for the next decade'. As Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the Interim Budget 2019 the last of the NDA government on Friday, he announced a 10-point "vision for the next decade". "We are poised to become a $5-trillion economy in the next five, years and we aspire to become a $10-trillion economy in the next eight years," he said in Parliament. These are the "dimensions" on which the government plans to focus: 1. Building physical and social infrastructure for a $10-trillion economy. 2. Building a 'Digital India' that reaches every citizen. "Our youth will lead us in this by creating innumerable startups and jobs," Goyal said. 3. 'Clean and Green India': An India that drives electric vehicles, with renewables becoming a major source of energy, bringing down import dependence and increasing energy security for our people. 4. Expanding rural industrialisation using modern industrial technologies, based on a 'Make in India' approach, using grassroot Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups across the country. 5. Clean Rivers: Safe drinking water to all Indians, sustaining and nourishing life, using micro-irrigation techniques. 6. Oceans and coastlines: "India's long coastline can be pivotal for the economy, using the strength of the blue economy and the Sagarmala programme. Efforts in Sagarmala have been scaled up to develop other inland waterways faster," Goyal said. 7. 'India is becoming the launchpad of the world': The Union minister said there will be "an Indian astronaut in space by 2022". 8. Self-sufficiency in food and improving agricultural productivity with emphasis on organic food. 9. 'Healthy India', with a distress-free and comprehensive wellness system for all another dimension of 'vision for 2030' 10. 'Minimum government, maximum governance' with proactive, responsible and friendly bureaucracy as well as electronic governance. Income tax calculator Follow LIVE updates on Budget 2019 here A Vote on Account is a formal request for approval of funds for essential government spending for a limited period. This is sought in an election year, while a full-fledged Budget is presented by the new government. There are only hours left for Finance Minister Piyush Goyal to announce the Interim Budget for 2019-20, which will seek Parliament's approval for spending for four months till a new government is sworn-in. The new government, which will take office after the general elections due by May, is expected to present a full Budget in July along with the Economic Survey. As per practice, an election year has a Vote on Account approval for essential government spending for a limited period and a full-fledged Budget is presented by the new government. While P Chidambaram, the finance minister during the UPA term, had presented the previous government's Vote on Account in February 2014, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented a full Budget in July that year. In 2018, the Modi government scrapped a colonial-era tradition of presenting the Budget at the end of February. It is now presented on 1 February so parliamentary approvals can be completed before the next financial year starts. What is a Vote on Account? A Vote on Account is a formal request by the government to Parliament to allow it to utilise the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting its expenses till the elections. The Consolidated Fund of India refers to the earnings of the government, as per the Constitution. Before each election, Parliament votes to allow the outgoing government to meet regular administrative expenses, including the salaries of government employees, loan interest payments, subsidies and pensions. As the government will be in transition soon after the Vote on Account is sought, such a Budget does not present a full picture of the expected income and expenditure for the whole financial year. It only lists expenditures. Follow LIVE updates on the Union Budget 2019-20 here. Vote on Account versus a full Budget A key point of difference between a Vote on Account and a full-fledged Union Budget is that the former is only valid for two months (or until the new government presents its Budget), while the latter is for a whole year. A Vote on Account traditionally does not include announcements on new schemes, sops or taxes as the new government's stance on these financial issues could differ from that of the outgoing one. A pre-poll projection of income and expenses for an entire year is traditionally considered improper as it imposes policy changes or budgetary constraints on a government that may not be open to them. To the average citizen, a Vote on Account means no significant shift in the existing tax structure, as that would require amendments to the Appropriation Bill. There will, therefore, be no decrease or increase in the income tax you pay but only minor changes to indirect taxes. The second meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel on CBI chief's selection remained inconclusive, officials said on Friday New Delhi: The second meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel on CBI chief's selection remained inconclusive, officials said on Friday. The panel had earlier met on 24 January but could not decide on the CBI chief. Friday's meeting was attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since 10 January after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges. Both Verma and Asthana had accused each other of corruption. Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director by the PM-led panel, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards a less significant portfolio. Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he has completed 60 years age of superannuation on 31 July, 2017. He had taken over as the CBI chief on 1 February, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure that ended Thursday. M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief since Verma's ouster. Piyush Goyal stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Narendra Modi-led government had the decisive mandate to continue structured reforms and it was moving towards realising a "New India by 2022". Presenting the Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said, "We are moving towards realising New India by 2022." "We have got decisive mandate to continue structured reforms. We have reversed policy paralysis," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'. Goyal stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. Goyal began the interim budget speech by wishing Union Minister Arun Jaitley speedy recovery and good health. Earlier, the Cabinet had approved the Interim Budget for 2019-20. 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 Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 is fermenting alienation and mistrust in the North East and might infuse a fresh lease of life to insurgency in Manipur The insurgency in the North East might get a fresh lease of life with Centre's determination to go ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 fermenting alienation and mistrust among the native population in the region. The Coalition for Indigenous Rights Campaign (CIRCA), a citizen's organisation, has gone to the extent of describing the passing of CAB 2019 in the Lok Sabha on 8 January as an act of declaring war on the indigenous people of (the) North East. Reiterating its stand for a mass movement to restore the pre-merger status of Manipur, (the erstwhile Asiatic Kingdom of Manipur merged into the Union of India in 1949), CIRCA appealed to the people of the region to socially "boycott" all the MPs, MLAs and ministers of the seven states who stood for the CAB 2019. The Manipur-based citizen's organisation advocated boycotting the forthcoming Lok Sabha Election if the Bill becomes an act. Articulating the shared concerns of the region, Somorendro Thokchom, president of CIRCA, said CAB 2019 is a policy to crush the Mongoloid population of the North East by opening up a demographic floodgate. Thokchom alleged that the "agenda is to completely annihilate and wipe out the indigenous people of the North East by orchestrating a demographic invasion from across the border". Resonating the same sentiment, the seven northeastern states Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have unitedly opposed the Bill, which seeks to legalise illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries through parliamentary legislation. The conditions mandated for foreign nationals seeking Indian citizenship are provided under sections 3-7 of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Even as the Act itself is quite accommodating, the privileges and options are not extended to illegal migrants. However, the 2004 amendment in the Act relaxed the rules to accommodate minority groups who fled Pakistan due to religious persecution. Now, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 proposes to accommodate Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have faced religious persecution, as Indian citizens. The Amendment Bill seeks to radically change citizenship and immigration laws in favour of non-Muslim minorities. In short, Hindus and other non-Muslim minority groups from any of these countries are eligible for Indian Citizenship on the plea that they are being persecuted for their religion. While the national discourse is on how CAB 2019 is a blot in the secular character of India by discriminating against the Muslim and favouring the non-Muslim in matters of citizenship, the concerns of the North East is that the region is poised to be affected the most. With states like Tripura and Assam already reeling under chronic illegal migration from Bangladesh, it isnt surprising that these two states have reached flash-points, erupting in violent street protests, opposing the Bill. Collectively, the region fears that the sad fortune of Tripura where its natives are now reduced to a minority by unabated influx from Bangladesh will be repeated in other states if CAB 2019 becomes an act. In the BJP-ruled state of Arunachal Pradesh, the natives are anxious about the influx of Chakmas and Tibetans. In Meghalaya, the Khasis and Garos, as well as the Nagas of Nagaland, are wary of the Bengali migrants. On the other hand, the Mizos of Mizoram fear an influx of Buddhists Chakmas. Addressing an anti-Modi rally in West Bengal, Lalduhawma of the Zoram Nationalist Party of Mizoram said, "India will no longer remain a suitable place to live for people in the North East if this bill is enacted." In the state of Manipur, where there has been a sustained demand for a legislature to check the influx of illegal immigration and to protect the indigenous population, protests against the Bill are escalating as Manipuris see the Bill as a way of legalising migrant entries. In a move to quell the growing anti-CAB 2019 sentiments in the state, the BJP-led Manipur government appealed to the people not to panic saying it is applying pressure on the Central Government to insert a clause in the Bill to exempt Manipur from its purview. A joint committee of several political parties has been constituted and representatives have been sent to Delhi to lobby with the Central Government not to pass the CAB 2019 in the Rajya Sabha. The state cabinet argued that the states population is less than 0.2 percent of Indias population with a large number of ethnic groups, each with unique dialects, customary laws and practices. Adequate constitutional protection is therefore merited to protect these small indigenous populations. Congress, MPP and JD-U, however, are staying away from these joint efforts saying that the state cabinets refusal to call a special Assembly session on the matter is a glaring testimony of its insincerity on the issue. Further, the main opposition in the state asserted that the State Cabinets resolve to urge the Centre to give assent to the Protection of Manipur People Bill, passed by the state Assembly in 2018 to regulate the influx of migrants and to protect the interest of the indigenous people of the state, is a farce in the wake of the Lok Sabha passing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019. Ex-chief minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Okram Ibobi has categorically asked the BJP-led state government whether a Bill passed by the state Assembly can supersede or neutralise CAB 2019. The Congress, as well as many intellectuals, argued that the Manipur Peoples Bill is not a shield against CAB 2019. Manipur Peoples Bill cannot stop anyone with valid Indian ID cards from coming into Manipur. The Bill would only empower the state authorities to register non-Manipuris visiting the state and issue passes to regulate their entry and exit. Supporters of CAB 2019, however, dismissed the growing sentiment in the North East as misplaced apprehensions and are instead hailing the Bill as legislation that would prevent illegal migrants decimating the local populations. Sceptics, on the other hand, argue that the apprehension is quite real. While there may be ample space and resources in mainland India to accommodate and adjust to an influx of minority groups, the same is not the case for the resource-crunched North East region, inhabited by the small indigenous population, already facing the threat of being swallowed by the mainstream culture. Significantly, since it's closest to their place of origin, the region would naturally be the choice of migrants from, say Bangladesh. Given the fact that the North East is already grappling with communal tension, insurgency, social unrest, migration and corruption, regularising the influx of more migrants would once again fuel insurgency to bounce back stronger. Even as Manipuri students and women protestors have reached Delhi demonstrating against CAB 2019 by burning copies of the Bill outside the Parliament House, the border state is totally paralysed by the 24 hours shutdown strike called to oppose CAB 2019 by the recently-formed body called the Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MPACAB), a conglomerate of 64 civil society organisations, representing both the hills and plains districts of the hilly state. NSSO's periodic labour force survey (PLFS), according to the Business Standard, states that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 percent in 2011-12, it said. The report generated a lot of controversy, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying the Modi government had promised two crore jobs, but five years later a 'leaked job creation report card' has revealed a 'national disaster'. New Delhi: Amid a raging controversy, the government Thursday said it has not finalised the survey on labour force which reportedly showed that unemployment rate in the country hit a 45-year high of 6.1 percent in 2017-18. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force survey (PLFS), according to the Business Standard, states that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 percent in 2011-12, it said. The report generated a lot of controversy, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying the Modi government had promised two crore jobs, but five years later a "leaked job creation report card" has revealed a "national disaster". Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, who had previously mounted a defence of lowering of UPA-era GDP growth rates, at a hurriedly called press conference Thursday said the report cited by the newspaper "is not finalised. It is a draft report". Refusing to comment on the content of the news report, he said the government will release its employment report by March after collating quarter-on-quarter data. He also debunked claims of jobless growth, saying how can a country grow at an average of 7 percent without generating employment. Kumar also said it was incorrect to compare the PLFS data with earlier reports of the NSSO as their methodologies are different. To a question on why Niti Aayog was holding a press conference on NSSO data, Kumar said Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava is out of Delhi and could not be present. He further said earlier the Central Statistics Office (CSO) was part of the erstwhile Planning Commission, and so "Niti Aayog and NSSO are not completely distinct". Kumar also said as of now he could not conclusively say what was the unemployment rate in 2017-18. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who too was present at the conference, said India is creating adequate number of jobs for new entrants, but "probably we are not creating high quality jobs". Kant further said that Niti Aayog's estimate shows that the country is creating 7-7.8 million jobs every year and the nature of jobs is also changing. Citing a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, Kant said a combination of increased government spending, additional IT hiring, and increase in entrepreneurship created gainful employment for 20-26 million people between 2014 and 2017. The Niti Aayog CEO also said that according to a study based on data collected by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), over 14 million jobs have been created in the transport sector between 2014-2018. Two members -- including the acting chairman -- of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) resigned this week, saying the government had not released the job numbers despite the commission's approval. When asked what was the reason behind the resignation, Kumar said: "People resigning may have their own reasons. They have not contacted me, neither have I contacted them". The NSSO report was based on data collected between July 2017 and June 2018 and is the first official survey post-demonetisation. The news report further said that unemployment was higher in urban areas (7.8 percent) as compared to 5.3 percent in rural areas of the country. Earlier, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had stated that 1.5 million jobs were lost just in the first four months of 2017 immediately after demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The NSSO job report was previously planned to be released in December 2018. 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. Some day, hopefully far away, my dad will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, based on his heroic service during World War II. He was liberated by Soviet troops from a German POW camp at the end of the war and, to this day, likes to point out that very few, if any, of the serviceman buried at Arlington were put there by hostile Soviet and Russian actions. Yet, somehow, those terrible Russians have been our sworn enemies for 75 years and continue to be solely driven by a desire to destroy the American way of life (whatever that is these days).These "adversaries" clearly get up to mischievousness and like to pull our chains, just as we do to them. The crackdown on illegal business of sand and its resulting scarcity has largely affected construction work, rendering hundreds of daily wage workers jobless. Editor's note: The issue of illegal sand mining has affected many states in terms of revenue, law and order and environmental hazards. Despite promises by parties and government alike, none of them has succeeded in uprooting the menace. Further, even the media hasn't been spared when covering the matter. In this four-part series, the impact of illegal sand mining in the four states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar and Karnataka will be examined. This, part three, deals with Bihar. Patna: In Bihar, sand is being sold like the precious yellow metal. While gold has almost had a fixed market price since the 2008 global economic meltdown, sand in Bihar is being sold at a premium, which has reached as high as Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per truck load after the state government attempted to crackdown on illegal traders over the past two years. This illegal trade is lucrative for the mafia, who operate in connivance with politicians, police and officials of mines and geology department. A syndicate of sand smugglers is active in at least a dozen districts of Bihar, including Patna, Saran, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Banka, Lakhisarai, Gaya, Arwal and West Champaran, among the worst hit. Illegal sand mining across rivers of Bihar has led the state government to incur losses running up to Rs 600 to Rs 700 crore every year, according to officials of the department. The mines and geology department in Bihar has, since July 2017, had 11 employees dismissed from service and 22 others put under suspension for their purported involvement in illegal sand mining. In addition, pension of three retired employees has been stopped for their alleged nexus with sand mafia. Transfers of sincere administrative officers cracking down on the sand mining mafia has been a regular affair across districts. Sky-high price, but state sees loss While the mines and geology department levies a meager Rs 400 as tax per 100 cubic feet of sand, apart from the Rs 100 per 100 cubic feet levied as loading charge (which goes to contractors) and Rs 20 per 100 cubic feet as Value Added Tax (VAT), private dealers said sand is being sold between Rs 6,000 to 8,000 for 100 cubic feet. Which makes a truckload (which amounts to 200 cubic feet in case of a tractor trolley and 400 cubic feet in a truck, which are both used for transporting the minor mineral, worth between Rs 12,000 and Rs 24,000. Even if a truck carries 400 cubic feet, a truck load of sand would cost the contractor not more than Rs 2,080, including Rs 1,600 as tax to the department, Rs 400 as loading charge and Rs 80 for VAT. The market price varies according to the distance sand is ferried. The loading contractors never sell the consignment at the riverbed, rather they prefer a stockyard. Bihar has, over the past three years, failed to meet its target in terms of revenue collected from the sale of sand. Against a target of Rs 1,000 crore as revenue from sale of sand set in 2015-16, the state government collected Rs 971 crore (97.10 percent of target). In 2016-17, they collected Rs 994 crore against target of Rs 1,100 crore (90.37 percent) and while the target in 2017-18 went up to Rs 1,350 crore, the department could fetch only Rs 1,082 crore (80.20 percent). The rising gap between the target and collected revenue is attributed to the ban on sand mining in the wake of instructions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to issue mining leases of minor minerals only after getting environmental clearances by ministry of environment and forests. The crackdown on illegal business of sand and its resulting scarcity has largely affected construction work, rendering hundreds of daily wage workers jobless. Private sand dealers said that before July 2017, sand was available in the market for Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per 100 cubic feet. The rates have fallen after the state government launched crackdown on illegal mining ghats and those involved in the lucrative business. The department officials are monitoring the prices, claimed Bihar minister for mines and geology Vinod Kumar Singh. Officials face axe IAS officer KK Pathak, a 'no nonsense' administrator appointed in 2016 to check illegal mining as principal secretary, mining and geology department, had a short stint as the government allegedly removed him under pressure. Minister Singh, however, believes the government is serious about illegal mining of sand and strict rules are on the cards to curb activities of sand smugglers. Another case where an official acting against sand mafia had to face the axe was that of Deepak Anand, who during his tenure as Saran district magistrate sent a detailed report to the Bihar government on the alleged involvement of some bigwigs, including then Saran superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Raj, in the illegal trade of sand. A couple of months later, Bihar polices anti-corruption wing raided Anand's official residence in Patna and native place in Sitamarhi, and lodged a disproportionate assets case against the young IAS officer. However, no action was initiated against the IPS officer in question, Raj, who was said to be close to Muneshwar Choudhary, the then mining and geology minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. If an IAS officer is not spared, then who will dare to take action against the syndicate of sand smugglers? asked an official with the mines and geology department, speaking on the case of anonymity. Anand, a 2007- batch IAS officer, unearthed a sand smuggling racket, and in 2017, impounded over 200 sand-laden trucks on Doriganj-Chhapra road under the jurisdiction of Mufassil Police Station in Saran district. The sand was being transported from Chirand stockyard. In his report submitted to the government, Anand claimed that most truck drivers alleged that the money collected from truck operators went to the district police chief Raj, a charge the latter denied. Anand also recommended a high-level probe into the sand mafia-police nexus in the district. "The government knows everything," Anand said. Environmental impact In Saran district, Chirand village, situated on the confluence of Ganga and Saryu rivers, is the favourite of smugglers, because it also connects to the National Highway-19. Sand mined from the nearby Sone river in Patna and Bhojpur districts is shipped to Chirand in boats to be smuggled to north Bihar and neighbouring districts of Uttar Pradesh. According to locals, around 90 percent of population in Chirand village are engaged in sand smuggling. Noted environmentalist Ashok Ghosh said illegal sand mining also causes erosion, leading to shifting of villages on river banks. There have been instances where rivers changed their course due to illegal sand mining. The government should ensure that guidelines issued by the NGT are implemented in toto. An example of such ecological imbalance was witnessed in West Champaran district, when several villages were washed away due to flash floods, an unnatural phenomena in the region bordering Nepal, caused by illegal mining in Kataiya river. Sone river has been completely ruined with heavy machines digging up its banks right from Koelwar in Bhojpur to Arwal, Aurangabad and Rohtas in south central Bihar. On 30 December, 2018, Patna district authorities issued a show cause notice to Broadson Commodities Pvt. Ltd for damaging the Sone canal under Paliganj subdivision to pave way for transportation of sand from the ghat. Sand mined from the Sone in Rohtas, Aurangabad and Bhojpur is smuggled to Uttar Pradesh. Assistant manager at an integrated check post at Mohania in Kaimur district, Nishant Singh, said that on an average 1,475 overloaded trucks carrying sand cross the check post everyday. However, only 15 to 20 such vehicles were impounded, he added. The state government deployed five officials of transport and mines and geology department to check overloaded trucks on the 70-kilometre long stretch of the NH-2. Their negligence is causing a huge loss to the exchequer every day, Singh said. An e-challan process to check irregularities in issuance of fake receipts to truck drivers has also been planned. While the state government, after a previous NGT ruling suspending mining activities ended on 30 September, introduced new Bihar Minor Mineral Rules through which it wanted to clear mining activity across 10 districts, the Patna High Court in November 2018 stayed any amendment to mining laws. The author is a freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com Read part 1 of the series here Read part 2 of the series here Five people have been arrested for allegedly burning an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi, in an enactment of his assassination on his death anniversary, officials said on Thursday. The suspects, allegedly belonging to the right-wing All India Hindu Mahasabha, fired at the effigy before setting it ablaze on Wednesday, police said. Aligarh: Five people have been arrested for allegedly burning an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi, in an enactment of his assassination on his death anniversary, officials said on Thursday. The suspects, allegedly belonging to the right-wing All India Hindu Mahasabha, fired at the effigy before setting it ablaze on Wednesday, police said. They shouted slogans against Gandhi and in praise of his killer Nathu Ram Godse during the act, a video which surfaced later suggested. The charges against the men include promoting hatred and disrupting harmony, police said. A purported video of the enactment of Gandhi's assassination was circulated on social media, with the right wing-group drawing massive condemnation. Police on Wednesday registered a case against 13 people, including the group's national general secretary Puja Shakun Pandey, who was seen firing at the effigy in the video, the officials said. "We are taking this matter seriously and action will be taken against all those found guilty," Aligarh's Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Kulhary said. Two of the accused, Manoj, who had set the effigy on fire, and Abhishek were arrested on Wednesday, another officer said. "This morning, we arrested Gajendra, who is locally called 'Vakil saheb'. He had also opened fire at the effigy along with Pandey," Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Jadaun told PTI. "Two more accused were arrested later this evening. They have been identified as Harishankar Sharma and Rajeev, the tall man with a beard and black jacket, as seen in the footage," he said. They have been booked under the Indian Penal Code Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 147, 148, 149 (related to rioting), Jadaun said. SSP Kulhary said a police post in-charge has been suspended and the episode appears to be a "failure" of the local intelligence unit. "The officials concerned have been asked for a response over this," he told a private news channel. The SSP said the group had carried out the act in their private premise and not in a public case and had itself circulated the video on social media. Meanwhile, the website of the All India Hindu Mahasabha was reportedly hacked Thursday evening by a group calling itself 'Kerala Cyber Warriors'. "Gandhiji always remained an inspiration for people globally to follow right path, the path of non-violence in all their actions. Nobody can hurt me with my permission. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. (sic)," read messages on website. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has given strong indication that he would like to present a full budget instead of a vote-on-account which is traditionally called for in an election year, by an outgoing government, triggering outrage by the Congress. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present interim budget for 2019-2020 on 1 February. Goyal has additional charge of the finance ministry since Arun Jaitley is in the US for medical treatment. The country, though, will go to elections shortly afterwards. Yet on 17 January, Jaitley gave strong indication that his budget will not be an interim one but will instead aim to handle the whole financial year's plans. Traditionally, in situations where a government may not be in power for the full duration of the budget period, a full Union Budget is not presented. Instead, the finance minister announces what is called a vote-on-account a much simpler plan with no major tax or scheme announcements in it. Should BJP-led government indeed decide to announce a full-fledged budget, the idea would be implicit that the NDA government is confident of making a return. The Congress, therefore, has been thoroughly critical of the possibility and has said that the move would only "hoodwink" people. "Centre's move to present a regular budget few months before the elections is against all norms, rules and established parliamentary practices. The term of the government is five years, which ends in May 2019. The government presented five full budgets and can only present a vote-on-account," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told PTI. Difference between full and interim budget A key point of difference between a vote-on-account and a full-fledged Union budget is that the former is only valid for two months (until the new government presents its budget) while the latter is for a whole year. The Economic Times reports that the vote-on-account traditionally avoids announcing new schemes, sops or taxes as the new government's stance on these financial issues could differ from that of the outgoing government. A pre-poll projection of income and expenses for a whole year is traditionally considered improper as it imposes policy changes or budgetary constraints on a government which may not be open to them. To the average citizen, a vote-on-account means no significant shift in the existing tax structure, as that would require amendments to the Appropriation Bill. There will, therefore, be no decrease or increase in the income tax you pay. There may be minor changes to indirect taxes. What is a vote-on-account? A vote-on-account is a formal request by the government to the Parliament, to allow it to utilise the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting its expenses till the time of the elections, says Business Line. According to the Constitution, the earnings of the government are the Consolidated Fund of India. Before each election, the Parliament votes to allow the outgoing government to meet regular government expenses, including the salaries of government employees, loan interest payments, subsidies and pensions. Because the government would be in transition soon after a vote-on-account is sought, such a budget announcement does not present a full picture of expected income and expenditure for the whole financial year, but only a list of expenditures. What will Jaitley be flouting if he presents a full budget on 1 February? It is not mandatory for an outgoing government to present a vote-on-account, so technically, Jaitley would be well within his rights to present the government's fiscal plans for the next 12 months. He had said such a departure from custom might be necessitated to address the "worries confronting the economy". The Economic Times quoted him as having said, "Convention has always been that election year budget is an interim budget. However, the larger interest of the nation dictates what will be a part of the interim budget." Amidst clamours for financial policies that will make the lives of farmers easier, including a farm loan waiver, the government may be looking to extend its poll plank by announcing sops for farmers. In a full budget announcement, the finance minister may also seek to push the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme and announce tax discounts for those in the middle class. Livemint quoted a source as saying that the government would also be publishing an Economic Survey, essentially the economic report card for 2018-2019, though normally, this task is left to the next government. Earlier, the government had advanced the presentation of the Union budget to 1 February so as to let government departments undertake spending from the beginning of the fiscal. Why does the Congress have a problem with a full budget? The Congress has pointed out that a Finance Bill following a budget must be adopted within 75 days. The government, said All India Congress Committee spokeman Manish Tewari, would have very few days to get its decisions vetted by the various parliamentary standing committees, reported The Times of India. The deadline would put pressure on the Parliament and cut short discussions on the budget, argued the Congress. "If the NDA-BJP government presents a full-fledged budget, then it will be a flagrant violation of parliamentary conventions and norms followed over seven decades. The Modi government has neither the electoral mandate nor electoral legitimacy to present its sixth full budget in five years," Tewari said. With inputs from PTI Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said that the IAF's efforts to support HAL have affected the force's fighting abilities Ever since the Narendra Modi-led BJP government decided to buy 36 twin-engine Rafale fighter jets, a murky political slugfest alleging non-transparency over their purchase has followed these aircraft every step of the way. So sweeping has this offensive been that it took nearly two years for the government to wake up to the depleting Indian Air Force (IAF) squadrons. Compounding the problem is Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) continuously missing critical deadlines for delivery of single-engine fighter jets Tejas even as the Centre has vehemently insisted on its promotion as part of its 'Make in India' initiative. Questions arise, then, if India's attempt to resurrect its public sector defence undertakings have come at the cost of national security? Addressing the 10th Jumbo Majumdar International Conference at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi', the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Friday said that IAF's efforts to support HAL have affected the force's fighting abilities. He goes to the extent of asking, "Will the enemy make any concession for us when we face them in battle?" Dhanoa's strong retort comes after IAF's repeated warnings to the government over the past few months that a slow HAL is impacting its air combat strength. Dhanoa's statement came on a day when a deadly crash of an IAF Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft crashed at the HAL airport in Bengaluru, leaving two pilots dead. According to reports, the trainer aircraft was upgraded by HAL and was going through acceptance trials. The IAF said that an investigation has been launched. According to reports, the IAF is not too keen on inducting Tejas into its fleet since it has an "endurance" limit of only an hour and its radius of action is up to 400 kilometres. While Tejas has a weapon-carrying capacity of three tonnes, other single-engine fighter jets like the Swedish Gripen-E and the American F-16 have two times its capacity and triple the endurance. A report in The Economic Times states that efforts to develop a basic trainer under the HTT 40 programme are running five years behind schedule with the HAL trainer aircraft unlikely to be certified for flight even by 2021. The force currently relies on the Pilatus PC 7 turbo trainers for the first stage of training. In 2012, 75 of these aircraft were bought on an emergency basis but attempts to purchase 38 more has been on hold as the Swiss manufacturer is facing corruption charges in the deal. It also reveals that another indigenous programme to develop an intermediate jet trainer (IJT) is delayed by over 14 years. More so, all efforts to prove the aircraft fit for service has failed and HAL is believed to have consulted a US-based firm to rectify the aircraft at a cost of Rs 90 crore. It has been estimated that the IAF will be left with an alarmingly low 26 squadrons of fighter aircraft by 2022, reported The Indian Express. Also, by that time six squadrons of the Soviet-era MIG aircraft will be decommissioned and only one squadron of the French Rafale and another of Tejas will be inducted. But before the recent rhetoric about HAL delays and a serious need for government intervention into it, former IAF chief NAK Browne had pulled up HAL in 2013 for its inability to deliver the IJT. Authorities at HAL, on the other hand, have blamed unpaid bills of around Rs 14,000 crore by the IAF and raised doubts if it can carry-on servicing the defence force's aircraft after a month or two. Speaking to The Hindu, chairman and managing director (CMD) R Madhavan had earlier said that their main worry was the 'liquidity position'. In the challenges hiding between political rows and counter arguments between IAF and HAL, India might be undermining its lack of effective defence mechanism. The process of demolition of fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi's illegal bungalow at Alibag has started, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court Friday Mumbai: The process of demolition of fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi's illegal bungalow at Alibag has started, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court Friday. The high court had ordered action against unauthorised constructions in Alibag in Raigad district, a popular getaway near Mumbai. Advocate PP Kakade, who appeared for the government, told a division bench headed by Chief Justice NH Patil that the district collector has initiated action. "The process of demolition of Nirav Modi's bungalow has also begun. However, since it is a huge bungalow, structural engineer's opinion is being taken. The demolition will have to be done by way of controlled blasts," he said. At the last hearing, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has charged Modi with money laundering, had moved the HC, saying it had attached the bungalow, so it should be heard in the matter. ED's lawyer Neha Bhide told the court Friday that the central agency has handed over the property to the collector but it is yet to shift some movable articles lying inside. "We have removed some of the movable properties. However, there are some more inside the bungalow for which the agency requires more time," Bhide said. The court said it cannot interfere as the demolition process is being carried out following its orders. "You (ED) can approach the collector and sort it out," Chief Justice Patil said. The bench was hearing a petition filed by activist Surendra Dhavale seeking demolition of unauthorised constructions along the coast in the Alibag area. Bungalows and other structures have mushroomed in the area in violation of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority rules and the state's land laws, the petition said. The high court had last year ordered the collector to demolish unauthorised structures. Nirav Modi, wanted in a Rs 14,000-crore scam at Punjab National Bank, has fled the country. Daily bulletin: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will announce the interim Budget today; Selection Committee, led by Narendra Modi, will meet to discuss the appoinment of a CBI chief; day's top stories Interim Budget 2019 to be presented today Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the NDA government's Interim Budget 2019 on Friday, which will be the last Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. According to reports, it is expected to be 'pro-people' and farmer-centric. Income tax concessions for individuals, a farm relief package, support for small businesses and possible populist spending measures may also be part of the Interim Budget. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's final Budget, which is being seen as the "last ditch attempt" to appeal to voters before the polls due by May, is likely to be an Interim budget or a Vote on Account. But it is widely expected that Goyal may go beyond seeking Parliament nod for government expenditure for four months of next fiscal and announce sops to woo rural and urban middle-class voters, industry sources and experts said. As per convention, the outgoing government only seeks parliamentary approval for limited period spending, leaving the full Budget presentation for the new regime in July. Under pressure from a resurgent Congress which is going all out to lure voters with the promise of debt waiver for farmers and a minimum income for the poor if voted to power, Goyal may announce some form of a direct transfer of cash to farmers. Goyal will be announcing the Budget in the absence of former finance minister Arun Jaitley, who has gone to the US for medical treatment. Selection Committee to meet for appointment of CBI chief Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Selection Committee will meet on Friday to decide on the post of director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is working without its regular chief. This will be the second meeting of the panel as its 24 January sitting had remained inconclusive. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge are also members of the committee. The panel is expected to meet at 6.30 pm. The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since 10 January after the Alok Verma was ousted by the Committee, and is being led by interim director M Nageshwara Rao. Verma was sparring with his second-in-command Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges. Opposition meeting over EVMs Top leaders of various opposition parties will meet on Friday to discuss their future course of action on the issue of alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and might also move the Election Commission thereafter, according to a PTI report. The Congress has convened a meeting of opposition leaders to discuss a joint strategy on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs as some parties have questioned their efficacy and demanded that the EC revert to the old system of ballot paper. The sources add that the opposition parties may petition the Election Commission (EC) to demand that some percentage of VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) be compulsorily counted to match the EVMs. "The opposition parties are meeting seriously to raise the issue of EVMs. We are trying to discuss the issue in a meeting of all opposition parties. We are demanding that the EC compulsorily count some percentage of VVPAT (paper trail of votes) with the EVMs," said TMC leader Derek O'Brien. E-commerce rules effective from today The government ban on e-commerce companies from selling products from entities in which they have an equity interest will be effective from Friday. In a statement, the government had said that the companies will be prevented from entering into exclusive agreements with sellers. An entity having equity participation by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, or having control on its inventory by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, will not be permitted to sell its products on the platform run by such marketplace entity, the commerce ministry had said in a statement earlier. The new rules are expected to impact e-commerce majors like Flipkart and Amazon. Walmart invested $16 billion in Flipkart in 2018, touted as the biggest-ever deal, and Amazon, which has committed $5.5 billion in investments in India. India take on Italy in the Davis Cup Qualifier The last and only time India has beaten Italy in Davis Cup was in Calcutta in 1985. As they host the European powerhouse in the 2019 Davis Cup Qualifier, they will hope to use the grasscourts of Kolkata's South Club to their advantage. India is completely outmatched on paper. Even with Italys top singles player, Fabio Fognini, opting out, the team has two players in the top-50 and another couple in the top-100. The Indian challenge, on the other hand, will be spearhead by World No 102 Prajnesh Gunneswaran. As per the draw made on Thursday, Andreas Seppi (ranked 37) will take on Indias Ramkumar Ramanathan (133) in the opening rubber. Seppi is an experienced hand and a former top-20 player who has scored wins over the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev. In the second match on Friday, India No 1 Gunneswaran will face Matteo Berrettini (53). Asian Games gold medallists Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan are up against Simone Bolelli and Cecchinato in the doubles contest. James Gunn in talks to direct Suicide Squad sequel Director James Gunn, who was fired from helming the third instalment in his Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, was already writing the script for the sequel which Warner Bros. has slotted for an August 2021 release, reports hollywoodreporter.com. Disney fired Gunn from his Marvel franchise in July after old tweets from 2008 and 2009 resurfaced in which he had made insensitive and controversial jokes. Google Chrome 72 Rolls Out The updated mobile and web browser has brought in a host of security improvements, along with new features for developers. It also lists out the improvements made for Windows, Mac, Linux and for Android, iOS Users. Goyal said that the Centre would request the state governments to give list of farmers with less than 2 hectares of land holding, so that small and marginal farmers can enjoy these benefits Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that Rs 6,000 per year for each farmer will be given under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi for those who have less than two hectares of land holding and termed it as a big relief for those farmers who are left out, for any reason, from the crop insurance scheme of the government. Addressing a press conference after presenting the interim Budget on Friday, Goyal said that the Centre would request the state governments to give a list of farmers with less than 2 hectares of land holding, so that small and marginal farmers can enjoy these benefits. He said that tax deduction at source (TDS) threshold on rental income has been raised from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. Goyal also said that the TDS threshold on interest from bank and post office deposits would be raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. Among other measures, he said benefits under Section 80(i)BA were being extended for one more year for all housing projects approved till the end of 2019-2020. 6000 rupees per year for each farmer to given for farmers with less than 2 hectares land holding; request state governments to give list of these holdings, so that small & marginal farmers can enjoy these benefits: FM Shri Piyush Goyal https://t.co/Y9RyuVGrHR #Budget2019 https://t.co/qwgdYomPyx PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2019 The finance minister said that benefit of rollover of capital tax gains would be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains up to Rs 2 crore; can be exercised once in a lifetime. "Our government has initiated the world's largest behavioral change movement with the Swachh Bharat Mission. India has achieved 98% rural sanitation coverage and as many as 5.45 lakh villages have been declared open defecation free (ODF)," said the finance minister. A holistic approach has been taken by the government for the welfare of all sections of citizens, said Goyal. He said that for the protection and increasing productivity of cow, Kamadhenu Aayog would be set up and additional Rs 500 crore would be allocated for it in the Budget. Income tax calculator 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. Piyush Goyal, also serving as the railway minister, examined the final copy of the document on Thursday evening in New Delhi. He will present the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. He is also expected to address the media around 3.30 pm. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal reached the Ministry of Finance in the North Block on Friday morning, ahead of the presentation of the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha. He will proceed towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan from the North Block. As per the standard practice, a vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget is presented in the Lok Sabha by the new government. If the budget date falls a few months ahead of General Elections, then an interim budget is presented. Goyal, also serving as the railway minister, examined the final copy of the document on Thursday evening in New Delhi. He will present the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. He is also expected to address the media around 3.30 pm. The interim budget will seek Parliaments nod for spending till a new Central government is not sworn-in. The new government, elected after the General Elections due by May, is expected to present the full-fledged budget in July to be preceded by the tabling of Economic Survey. The Law Ministry has been allocated an additional sum of over Rs 666 crore for conducting Lok Sabha elections due this summer. New Delhi: The Law Ministry has been allocated an additional sum of over Rs 666 crore for conducting Lok Sabha elections due this summer. According to Vote on Account 2019-2020, an additional provision has been made for the Law Ministry of Rs 666.66 crore (voted) in revenue section for conducting the polls. The Law Ministry is the administrative ministry for the Election Commission. Certain funds are also allocated to the Home Ministry for elections which are largely used for transportation and logistics related to security personnel. Some of the amount spent by the Home Ministry is later reimbursed by the Law Ministry. Separately, the Election Commission has been allocated an additional Rs 12.14 crore (voted) in revenue section and Rs 16.67 crore (voted) in the capital section for voters' awareness campaign under and for the acquisition of land from DDA for construction of office building. The Lok Sabha elections are a mega exercise involving thousands of polling personnel and security forces. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3 and the next House to be formed before that. There is a possibility that the EC may go by precedent and hold assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha polls. Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was prematurely dissolved, the EC is bound to hold fresh polls there within six months. It was dissolved in November 2018 and the upper limit ends in May. The poll panel may hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha polls as well. But it can be held before that also as much depends on the security situation there. While the term of the Sikkim Assembly ends on 27 May, the terms of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh assemblies end on 18 June, 11 June and 1 June respectively. In 2004, the Election Commission had announced four-phase Lok Sabha polls on 29 February. While the first date of the poll was 20 April, the last date was 10 May In 2009, the EC had announced Lok Sabha poll scheduled on 2 March. The five-phase polls began on 16 April and ended on 13 May. In 2014, the EC had announced the election schedule on 5 March and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May. While the first phase polling was on 7 April, the last phase was on 12 May. Besides, pension scheme for unorganised workers, Goyal also announced hiking of tax free gratuity to Rs 30 lakh from existing Rs 20 lakh for employees having service of more than five years. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced launch of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) scheme to provide unorganised workers an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after 60 years of age. The scheme will attract matching contribution of Rs 100 per month from government as well as from workers. Besides, pension scheme for unorganised workers, Goyal also announced hiking of tax-free gratuity to Rs 30 lakh from existing Rs 20 lakh for employees having service of more than five years. "We are launching Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan today. The scheme will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000, with contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganised sector after 60 years of age," Goyal said while presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20. The minister informed the House that the government will also provide a matching contribution of Rs 100 for every unorganised workers covered under the scheme, which is expected to benefit 10 crore workers in next five years. He said,"The scheme will benefit 10 crore workers in unorganised sector, may become the world's biggest pension scheme for unorganised sector in five years". He said that there are around 42 crore unorganised sector workers, which contribute toward the growth of national economy. The minister also informed the Lok Sabha that the government is providing Rs 500 crore initially for the scheme in the Budget. The workers under the scheme will have to contribute Rs 100 per month and equal contribution would be paid by the government. The scheme will cover all those unorganised sector workers like autorikshaw driver, whose income is up to Rs 15,000 per month. Goyal also announced hiking limit of tax free gratuity to Rs 30 lakh in his maiden budget speech. The government had doubled the tax free gratuity to Rs 20 lakh in March last year. Hiking gratuity limit will enable employers to pay higher tax free gratuity to their employees who have worked for them for more five years. 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. He thinks globally and acts locally, and reasoned that his executive order (Maryland man sues Hogan, Frosh for executive order forbidding contracts with those who boycott Israel, Jan. 10) is an appropriate action to counter the ill-conceived Boycott, Divesture and Sanctions Movement (Hogan executive order regarding Israel only applies to business with the state, Jan. 24). He fully understands the highly charged geopolitical issue that is Palestinian question. They have been the political pawns in the human and power struggle between Israelis and Arabs since 1948. The Arab leaders of the refugees as well as the numerous Arab nations have subjugated and ill-advised them for 72 years. Had this been such a humanitarian crisis, then instead of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees developing programs to maintain their refugee status; they would have worked closely with their Arab brethren to absorb and save them for resettlement in any number of host Arab nations much like Israel has done with Jews worldwide. In Union Budget 2019, the government is expected to project economic growth of around 7.5% for the next financial year, while expanding capital spending on railways, roads and ports by 7-8% Mumbai: Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Budget in Parliament today. The government will unveil its budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year at 11 am on Friday, with investors expecting increased investment in areas such as agriculture, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to woo voters ahead of general elections to be held by May. The government is set to step up rural welfare spending by 16 percent for the fiscal year beginning April to 1.3 trillion rupees ($18.25 billion), two government sources said, aiming to boost support in the countryside where more than two-thirds of Indias 1.3 billion people live. The Budget, which is interim and is likely to be followed by a full one in July, is expected to project economic growth of around 7.5 percent for the next financial year, while expanding capital spending on railways, roads, ports by 7-8 percent, and estimating an increase in revenue of about 15 percent, officials said. After a string of recent setbacks in key state elections for Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the government is expected to woo rural and urban middle-class voters via farm relief measures and tax cuts. The government is expected to project economic growth of around 7.5 percent for the next financial year, while expanding capital spending on railways, roads and ports by 7-8 percent. Below is a list of some of the items expected in the Budget, based on published media reports. Agriculture Farm relief package itself could run to at least 1 trillion rupees ($14.04 billion) Set to earmark about 1.8 trillion rupees for food subsidies in the fiscal year Expected to waive premium for taking insurance policy for food crops Proposal for waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time Divestment Target of about $11 billion from state asset sales in FY 2019-20 Potential stake sales via IPOs include Telecommunications Consultants India, Indian Railways subsidiaries IRCTC, RailTel Corp India and National Seeds Corp Metals Gold: Speculation around a duty cut Health Budget allocation for health is likely to increase by 5 percent from a year ago Taxes An anticipated corporate tax rate cut to 25 percent from 30 percent may be put on hold until after the elections Higher tax exemptions for the middle class and for small businesses anticipated Banks Discount of 2 percentage points on loans for businesses with annual sales of less than 50 million rupees; government to compensate banks for the costs Rs 40 billion capital infusion for public-sector general insurers Autos Reduction of goods and services tax (GST) on electric vehicles and batteries IT/Telecom Better digital infrastructure in rural areas Abolition of the angel tax to boost start-ups Exemption from GST for spectrum and licence fee payouts, reduction in spectrum fees and cuts in import duty on telecom equipment (currently at 20 percent). 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. Beyond the political messaging and counter messaging, a few takeaways of the budget are evident. The pictures that have gone viral on cyberspace said it all. An animated Narendra Modi thumping the table as interim finance minister Piyush Goyal rattled out sops for middle class, unorganised sector and farmers in his budget speech, while a downcast Mallikarjun Kharge and a seemingly dejected Rahul Gandhi look on in the Opposition benches. There is no empirical data yet to prove that budgetary allocations purchase votes, that too so close to the election date. After all, welfare measures depend overwhelmingly on implementation, and so-called big bang populist measures such as assured income support to small and marginal farmers announced by the NDA government in its interim Union budget 2019-2020 are more of a political messaging before its impact can be felt on the ground. But perception is a powerful political tool. The full tax rebate for middle class with income up to Rs 5 lakh per annum, raising of the standard deduction limit for salaried taxpayers from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per year, assured income support of Rs 6,000 per year in the form of direct cash transfers for small and marginal farmers who own up to two hectares of land, mega pension scheme that assures monthly pension of Rs 3,000 from the age of 60 years for workers in the organised sector, interest subvention to the tune of 2-5 percent on loans taken by farmers affected by natural disasters, a new retail trade policy department to revamp the rules and assist the trading community facing increased competition from online retails giants all these measures cater to specific segments of the electorate bearing a specific message. The budget here becomes more of a political statement ahead of elections instead of an account of the governments income and expenditure. It is the fear that NDA has turned the budgetary exercise into an election manifesto that prompted former Union finance minister in UPA cabinet P Chidambaram to term it an account for votes, betraying an anxiety that the sops may have a positive impact on voters. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 His party colleague Shashi Tharoor has called it a damp squib, claiming that the outlay for farmers at Rs 500 per month is too low and Congress government, if in power, would have given a similar relief to the middle class. The official Congress Twitter handle has called the budgetary announcements jumla (rhetoric)". Budgetary warning: Budget announcements are subject to jumla risks, please read the Budget document carefully before believing. #Budget2019 #AakhriJumlaBudget pic.twitter.com/UtpmItaBIf Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2019 The apparent despondency in initial Congress reaction suggests that it perceives the government to have succeeded in its political messaging and expects a vituperative give-and-take campaign in the lead up to the elections. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, for instance, broke down the annual outlay of Rs 6,000 for farmers into a daily figure, and suggested that it is an insult to the farmers. Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2019 Beyond the political messaging and counter messaging, a few takeaways of the budget are evident. To the extent that this is an interim budget, there is always scope for caveats and nuances. But Goyals speech pointed inexorably to a larger trend towards which the Indian economy is moving. One, for the first time in India, we see the structure of a welfare system that may actually work. The assured income support for small and marginal farmers called the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) will involve direct cash transfer of Rs 6,000 in three installments directly into the bank accounts of farmers. This has two important fallouts. One, corruption and leakages will be less. Two, there will be less distortion of the markets. Up until now, governments have transferred income to farmers through price interventions (such as subsidies or MSP) that distorted the markets by encouraging farmers to produce more of the stuff that had little takers and also resulted in corruption along the way. Direct cash transfer addresses both the anomalies. Economists such as Niranjan Rajadhyaksha have pointed out that by benefiting around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families through the scheme, India has reached halfway to universal income support if we consider the total number of households to be around 25 crore. There are other benefits as well. Though the PM Kisan scheme puts pressure on the governments pockets and has resulted in the NDA missing the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of the GDP (it is estimated at 3.4 percent now), an increased fiscal outlay is expected to boost the rural economy. The second key takeaway involves the middle class. For far too long the vast, amorphous tax-paying group that consists of a large section of the aspirational populace including lower, middle, and upper-working classes, independent professionals, trading and business communities, has been expected to pay its taxes for nation-building and expect very little in return. The Narendra Modi government which enjoyed huge backing from this group has been guilty of the same tactic, treating the segment as a cash cow and taking them for granted. It is not just the hike in annual standard deduction, or income tax exemption for those earning below Rs 5 lakh per year, or raising of tax exemption on bank deposit interests to Rs 40,000 from Rs 10,000, or exemption of tax deducted at source on house rent upto Rs 2.4 lakh per year, or raising of capital gains exemption on houses to Rs 2 crore these measures are meant for and will ease the tax burden on the middle class. The more important and heartening thing to note was that instead of bullying the middle class, telling it that it was its sacred duty to pay for nation-building or adopting a hectoring tone (refer to then Finance Minister P Chidambarams comment in 2012 when he asked urban middle class: When you can buy ice cream for Rs 20, why complain about price rise?), the government spent a few words appreciating the contribution of this group. On behalf of all the people of India and our Government, I would first like to thank all our taxpayers for their valuable contribution to nation-building and for providing a better life to the poor and marginalised sections of society. Your tax helps provide dignity to our sisters and mothers with toilets and cooking gas connections. Your tax pays for the electricity connections to the poor who lived in darkness for generations. The tax you pay will provide health care to 50 crore brothers and sisters, and children. It is you who is ensuring respect, dignity, and a secure future to our retired jawans through One Rank One Pension. Thank you, taxpayers. Goyals words, acknowledging the contribution made by taxpayers, may assuage hurt sentiments that caused a part of this section to move away from backing the BJP. It could be an astute move, but thats not a crime in politics. Click here to calculate your income tax. Shah told reporters that the budget will spur growth, generate employment and also provide relief to the middle class, farmers and poor workers among others. New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah Friday hailed the Centre's interim Budget for "benefiting" all sections of society and said it has proved that the Modi government is dedicated to the aspirations of the country's youths, farmers and poor. Shah told reporters that the budget will spur growth, generate employment and also provide relief to the middle class, farmers and poor workers among others. The BJP chief described the hike in income tax exemption announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as "historic" and said it will not only provide tax relief to the middle class but also deepen their participation in the country's development. He highlighted various measures announced in the budget for different sections of society and said those for farmers will prove to be a "milestone" in doubling their income. Congratulating the government for announcing a Rs 3 lakh crore outlay for the defence sector, Shah said it is the highest so far. The country's security has always been a top priority for the BJP-led NDA dispensation, he said. Shah also praised measures like monthly pension of Rs 3000 for the over 10 crore poor workers after 60 years of age, the creation of a separate fishery department and schemes for women. Relaxing interests on farm loans and more for those who pay their debt in time is a big step for their welfare, he said. Follow LIVE updates on the Union Budget 2019-20 announcement here Union minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said no power in the world can stop the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said Lord Ram's identity is linked to the country and those viewing him with a religious lens are doing injustice to the nation. New Delhi: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said no power in the world can stop the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said Lord Ram's identity is linked to the country and those viewing him with a religious lens are doing injustice to the nation. "Lord Ram's identity is linked to our country. Therefore, the temple will be built 200 percent, whether they (saints) march on 21 February or on another date. No power in the world can stop construction of Ram temple," Singh, who is Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, told PTI. Religious leader Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati on Wednesday said a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya will take place on 21 February, even if those gathering there have to "face bullets". The date for the planned ceremony, akin to a 'shilanyas', was announced at the end of a three-day congregation of seers at the Kumbh Mela. The announcement came a day after the Centre filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to transfer "surplus" land adjacent to the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site to its original owners. The Shankaracharya said the sadhus will begin their march to Ayodhya from Allahabad after Basant Panchami, which falls on 10 February. Witch-hunting is rampant across 17 districts of the state, with Kokrajhar leading the tally with 45 deaths, followed by Chirang with 24 deaths and Goalpara with 17 deaths Guwahati: At least 161 people were killed in "witch-hunting" and other superstitious practices over the past 18 years in Assam, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma told the Assembly on Friday. Cutting across party lines, the members of the House urged the government to take urgent steps to generate awareness and support the victims of the social menace, which is still rampant in the state. A total of 133 cases of witch-hunting have been registered across the state since 2001, Brahma said. Witch-hunting is rampant across 17 districts of the state, with Kokrajhar leading the tally with 45 deaths, followed by Chirang with 24 deaths and Goalpara with 17 deaths, she stated. Tinsukia and Udalguri have seen 15 deaths each during this period, while Nagaon witnessed 10 killings, Sonitpur eight and Karbi Anglong six, Brahma said. Stressing the need for government support to the victims and their families, Congress MLA Durga Bhumij said that inhuman tortures are meted out to people as part of superstitious practices. "The existing laws are not stringent as one can get bail in 15-20 days. Besides, the ongoing awareness campaigns are not sufficient and there should be budgetary provisions in this regard," the opposition party MLA said during the Question Hour. Bhumij also alleged that the social welfare and home departments are not taking their responsibilities seriously. BJP MLA Prasanta Phukan suggested that a mechanism should be developed to support the survivors and their immediate relatives, as most of them belong to the 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) categories. Sharing his views, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said the witch-hunting killings are nothing but a form of mob lynching, but there is no act to deal with such crimes in the state. "After the Dokmoka incident of Karbi Anglong, the chief minister had talked about introducing a law to tackle mob lynching, but that has not been done as yet. So, I request the government to bring in a stringent law against mob lynching," he added. Two men were lynched allegedly by local villagers in Dokmoka police station area of Karbi Anglong district in June 2018 on the suspicion of being "child lifters". The Assam Police, on 1 September, filed an 844-page chargesheet against as many as 48 accused in the case. Bodoland People's Front legislator Thaneswar Basumatary and Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha appealed to the members of the House to take initiatives in their respective constituencies to create awareness groups and launch campaigns to stop the menace. Responding to the suggestions, Brahma said the government is considering the option of doling out financial assistance to the families of victims, urging the MLAs to back the NGOs that have been fighting the social evil. "The social welfare department is working with the Assam State Women's Commission to create awareness among common people. It is primarily a law and order issue. So, the police needs to take action. We are taking steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," she added. Budget 2019 LIVE: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot termed the budget as another 'jumla' of the Narendra Modi government. The Opposition has been targeting the interim budget calling it an exhibition of hollow dreams. Gehlot said that Narendra Modi was showing people dreams for the next 10 years when in reality, his term is going to end soon. Auto refresh feeds The Budget documents will contain revenue and expenditure projections for the entire 2019-20 fiscal year beginning 1 April, but a 'Vote on Account' will seek Parliament nod for the expenditure side. While it is widely expected that the interim budget may contain tax sops and a certain package for the farm sector, there will be no Economic Survey detailing the state of the economy. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Narendra Modi government's sixth and final Budget today. The budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, will be an interim one, keeping up with established tradition as Lok Sabha elections are due later this year. The Budget will, therefore, seek Parliament's nod for spending for four months till a new government is sworn-in. A lot will be expected from Piyush Goyal who will present the Narendra Modi-led NDA government's sixth and last budget before the Lok Sabha elections due in a couple of months. Income tax concessions for individuals, a farm relief package, support for small businesses and possible populist spending measures may be part of Goyal's budget on 1 February, as the government makes a last-ditch attempt to attract voters ahead of the general elections. Fitch Ratings warned of a second consecutive year of fiscal slippage in the event of Goyal resorting to populist spending to win over lost vote base. "Higher pre-election spending could risk a second consecutive year of fiscal slippage relative to the government's targets and would further delay plans to reduce the high general government fiscal deficit and debt burden," it said. This budget is supposed to be an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'. But it is widely expected that Goyal might go beyond seeking Parliament nod for government expenditure for four months of next fiscal and announce sops to woo rural and urban middle-class voters, industry sources and experts said. As per convention, the outgoing government only seeks parliamentary approval for limited period spending, leaving the full Budget presentation for the new regime in July. The government is expected to doll out sops in the interim Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the market sentiment remains slightly cautious ahead of the Budget. While Primary and Secondary sectors are expected to take off with the word going that the government will increase spending for sectors like agriculture and fisheries not much is expected to boost the retail industry. However, a UBI for the entire population (and even for the BPL population) will entail a prohibitively high fiscal outgo. In fact, without a commensurate reduction in various transfers (subsidies and social programmes), it might not be feasible to implement a UBI for the entire population. However, the government could target the poorest of the poor (possibly 40 per cent of the BPL population) based on the 2011 census. Some say a hypothetical Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 per month can be provided to the poorest of the population (around 12 crore people). This will entail an outgo of Rs 1 lakh crore or 0.5 percent of the GDP. Sources say that there is talk of the government looking at the idea of a Quasi-Universal Basic Income Scheme (QUBI). The concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the context of India was outlined in the Economic Survey 2016-17. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge vowed to oppose the move in the Lok Sabha when the Budget is presented on 1 February. Kharge argued that the government should stick to a Vote-on-Account since its term ends in May. This time, Goyal will present the Budget in the absence of Arun Jaitley, who is in the US for treatment. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal declared at an all-party meeting Wednesday that a Budget is a Budget and not an Interim Budget or a Vote-on-Account, which is the norm with just a few months to go for the general elections, sending alarm bells in the Opposition camp, The Indian Express reported. That's because the Union government requires parliamentary approval to draw money from the Consolidated Fund of India to cover its expenditure as per the Constitution. But the budget approved by the Parliament sanctions government spending only till the end of a financial year. Hence, the purpose of a Vote-on-Account or an Interim Budget is simply to allow the government of the day to continue running till India votes. A Full Budget typically includes the passage of a finance bill while a vote on account is sought for proposed expenditure to be incurred in the next few months till the new government takes over. It is widely expected that the government will come up with a populist measure in the interim budget such as a minimum income guarantee or universal basic income. Whatever the plan, and no matter how specifically it is targeted at the poorest section of the populace, the scheme will set the the government back by a few lakh crores. The figure may vary in accordance with the plan but it won't be anything less than 1.6 percent to even 4 percent of the GDP. It is difficult to understand how the government will fund the scheme. Where is the money? The only way perhaps it can do so without completely throwing fiscal prudence to the wind is by reducing further the defence Budget, which at 1.6 percent of the GDP is lowest since 1962. Shiv Pratap Shukla, MoS (Finance), on Friday, hinted that the NDA government will present a Budget laden with goodies for all sections of the voting population. He said, "Modi government is a popular government and it's natural that we take care of everything. We will do whatever is possible for the people. We have always presented a good budget." Expect stocks like Reliance, Kotak, Tata Motors, Infosys to be in the limelight today. A sustained move should be seen in Axis bank, Titan and GAIL as well as government presents the last Budget for its term. A positive move in Energy, Banking, and Finance to lead the short term move.Expect more activity around the blue-chip funds and a volatile atmosphere with bullish undertones, say reports . Finance minister Piyush Goyal has arrived at the Finance Ministry ahead of the Budget presentation. His speech is expected to start at 11 am and will last roughly two hours, as the minister covers key highlight points of the Interim Budget. Since the Budget presented by Piyush Goyal today is an interim budget, it'll be followed by a full budget by June-July by whichever government comes to power. That gives the NDA right now a little bit of a leeway in going into a populist mode, though the Centre has claimed that it won't abandon its path of fiscal prudence. Nevertheless, we may expect electoral measures such as farm loan waivers, minimum income support and tax cuts for middle class. This, coupled with lack of major economic reforms such as tax cuts for big companies and efforts to bring down deficit means there will be higher government spending, and a shortfall in revenue. This may push up fiscal deficit to at least 3.5 percent of the GDP. There is an urgent need to reduce the complexity of the GST and rationalize rates if the tax is to deliver on its promise of ensuring ease of business. Bringing the tax slabs down to two will simplify the system, improve tax compliance and benefit all stakeholders, says Kiran Majumdar Shaw. The Budget is expected to project economic growth of around 7.5 percent for the next financial year, while expanding capital spending on railways, roads, ports by 7-8 percent, and estimating an increase in revenue of about 15 percent, officials said . The government is set to step up rural welfare spending by 16 percent for the fiscal year beginning April to 1.3 trillion rupees ($18.25 billion), two government sources said, aiming to boost support in the countryside where more than two-thirds of Indias 1.3 billion people live. The Union Cabinet will meet ahead of the Budget 2019 presentation in the Parliament today. The Budget speech is expected to start at 11 am and will last roughly two hours, as the minister covers key highlight points of the Interim Budget. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has left the North Block and is now heading for the Parliament. In the meantime, copies of the interim budget has been brought to the Parliament complex, ANI reported. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar said, "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas has been our government's mantra and it will reflect in the Budget 2019 as well." His comments come as experts say that the government is expected to bring in a populist Budget focussed on sops to boost farm economy, while granting tax concessions to the middle class. Arun Kejriwal (Independent Market Analyst, Founder of KRIS and promoter of AK57.in) says, "This is an interim Vote on Account but it has all the makings and trappings of a general Budget. Timed just before elections, the Interim Budget announcements are crucial for all stakeholders and everyone including voters, corporates and political parties will watch with keen interest to see the broad directional stance taken by the current Government. Considering the fact that this will be a no-holds barred elections, all out efforts will be made to woo voters of different categories. Expect relief to farmers, middle class and also M/SME segment.The impact on the market would be positive even though it may not be sustained till election results are announced." The total Gross GST Revenue collected in the month of January 2019 has today crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. This has been a significant improvement over collection of 94,725 crore during last month and Rs 89,825 crore during the same month last year, the finance ministry said. The BSE benchmark Sensex Friday jumped over 100 points ahead of the Budget presentation amid heavy buying by foreign portfolio investors. The 30-share index was trading 119.01 points, or 0.33 per cent, higher at 36,375.70. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 34.15, or 0.32 per cent, to 10,865.10. On Thursday, the 30-share Sensex rallied 665.44 points, or 1.87 per cent, to close at 36,256.69; and the broader Nifty soared 179.15 points, or 1.68 percent, to 10,830.95. Vedanta was the biggest loser on Sensex, cracking over 18 per cent after the metals and mining giant Thursday reported a 25.54 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,574 crore for the December 2018 quarter, on the back of higher expenses and drop in commodity prices. Other losers include PowerGrid, ONGC, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank and Sun Pharma, shedding up to 1.14 percent. PTI Finance Minister Piyush Goyal arrives at the Parliament with the Budget briefcase after briefing President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will present the interim Budget 2019-20 at 11 am. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the rupee opened at 71.08 then fell further to 71.17 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 9 paise over its previous closing. Forex traders said strengthening of the US dollar against some currencies overseas, focus on interim budget and rising crude oil prices weighed on the local unit. The current government is set to present its last Budget Friday, which is expected to have major announcements to support the farm sector and spur consumption. The rupee on Friday depreciated by 9 paise to 71.17 in early trade on the forex market amid strengthening of the American currency and caution ahead of interim budget. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Narendra Modi government's sixth and final Budget, which will be an interim in less than an hour. Take this quiz to check how well aware you are of the terms and traditions associated with the budget. Despite what some analysts would have you believe, there is absolutely no empirical data to suggest that budgetary measures impact voting patterns, that too so close to the general election. What may happen is that we will get some red hot issues that will keep the talking heads on TV and the commentariat at large busy till the votes are cast. Even if the government goes for populist measures such as universal basic income or minimum income support, it'll be more of a political messaging at such a short term than actual impact on ground, because these steps are overwhelmingly dependent on implementation. That being the case, none of the things that Piyush Goyal says on Friday will change the minds of of those who are opposed to the government, or those willing to give it another chance. Mallikarjun Kharge says, "They'll try to introduce populist schemes in the Budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls. Budgets they've presented so far havent really benefitted general public. Only Jumlas will come out today. They've only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?" Abhishek Rastogi, a partner at Khaitan & Co, said: "Currently, there is a steep jump from 5 percent to 20 percent for income between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Some rationalisation is expected here. A decision may also be taken to lower the highest personal income tax rate from existing 30 percent to 25 percent. No major change is expected in income tax before the release of Direct Tax Code Report on 28 February. The limit of Rs.1.5 lakh under Section 80C was last revised in Budget 2014-15. We can expect the government to consider revising this limit, with the due passage of time, this limit no longer holds good." Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at the Parliament. Following the Cabinet meeting, Piyush Goyal will present the interim Budget 2019 at 11 am. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs, dressed in all black, are protesting against Centre ahead of the presentation of the interim Budget 2019. They are protesting in Parliament premises demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The Congress party has raked up a fresh controversy barely minutes before Finance Minister Piyush Goyal commences his speech. The party has asked Goyal whether he has stepped down as the BJPs national treasurer, a party post he held since before 2014 elections. However, the party has not disclosed the name of its treasurer since August 2014, when it released a list of BJP office bearers. The party's website does not have any details on the same, and no announcements have been made in the media regarding this when the names of new office-bearers were announced. Sample some: To appease middle class it proposed to reduce excise duty on motor vehicles all of kinds, custom duty on mobile handsets and several industrial items, several exemptions in service tax. Then there were announcements of major expenditure with financial implications, one rank one pension, moratorium period on all educational loans. In 2009 Pranab Mukherjee presented interim budget, his budget speech contained several important announcements. Though it will called "interim" budget allowing next government to present full budget in July but todays budget speech by Piyush Goyal will have contours of regular budget. The Congress is already crying foul, conveniently forgetting that the interim Budget presented by P Chidambaram, then finance minister in Manmohan Singh government in February 2014, just ahead of elections contained major announcements. Piyush Goyal lead his interim Budget speech with a promise of new India by 2022. He said that the government has worked tirelessly towards building a new India free of terrorism, casteism, nepotism and corruption. He also promised doubling farmers income by 2022. "Humne kamar tod mehngayi ki kamar hi tod di," Goyal said. He claimed that the government has managed to contain double digit inflation in the Modi government's tenure. He reminded the House that the inflation figures were close to 10 percent between 2009 to 2014, whereas it has come down to a little over 2 percent under NDA rule. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that the fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4 percent in the revised estimate of 2018-19. "Fiscal deficit has been brought down to three percent from a high of 6 percent. We have reduced a family's expenditure by 40-45 percent. 2018-19 revised fiscal deficit target at 3.4%. Due to a stable regulatory regime we have attracted foreign investments. This has also been an era of liberalisation, where we majorly relaxed FDI norms," says Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's remark that farmer incomes have doubled, greeted with boos from the Opposition benches. The finance minister sought a timeline till 2022, which is well outside his government's tenure and banks on the hope that the BJP will return to power with a clear majority. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal increased the budgetary allocation for India's flagship rural employment scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The scheme will get Rs 60,000 crore as against Rs 55,000 crore rupees promised in the last Budget. The tone of the speech up until now suggests that some 1960s Bollywood dialogue writer has been gotten out of oblivion, to give final touches to the finance minister's budget speech, Kaul added. The government had set a fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of GDP in February 2018. It has been unable to meet it and fiscal deficit has come in at 3.4 percent of the GDP. This has primarily happened because central GST collections have been nowhere near target, says Vivek Kaul. NPA zoomed from Rs 18 lac crore in 2008 to Rs 52 lakh crore in 2014 thanks to phone banking. Now this huge leakage has been stopped and clean banking is the norm. The finance minister said that recapitalisation of banks amounting to rupees 2.6 lakh crore has been done. He also announced a steady income support to help farmers in view of depleting income from agriculture. "Farmers earlier did not get full cost for their produce. Farmers income has reduced over the years. Income support to farmers small and marginal farmers Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (KISAN) has been approved. Famers owning 2 hectares and less will be provided with Rs 6,000 per annum directly into their accounts. There are nearly 12 crore such farmers." "For welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops," Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. Extending further relief to farmers ahead of Lok Sabha election, Piyush Goyal says, "Annual income support of RS 6000 will be transferred directly to bank accounts of farmers in three equal installments. This programme will be funded 100 percent by the Central government. 12 crore farmer families will be directly impacted. Rs 75,000 crore will be borne by the Centre every year. The first installment will be issued soon after preparing a list. Rs 20,000 crore will be spent this financial year." " After brutalizing the farmers for 5 years, a cosmetic support of just Rs 75,000 crores allocation for farmers. This is peanuts. The Congress party will cover farmers and all poor people at a much higher level," Congress leader Sanjay Jha tweeted . Amid loud thumps and cheers from Treasury benches, Piyush Goyal announced annual income support and an increase in MSP for farmers. However, the Congress party was unimpressed. The workers of the unorganised sector will be able to avail this scheme simply by contributing Rs100 per month. Megan Pension scheme for the unorganised sector will see equal contribution from the government. Pension of Rs 3,000 to be paid out after retirement age. The government has set aside at least Rs 500 crore for this purpose, with a promise to release more funds if the need arises. He, however, said that urgent action was needed to increase hydrocarbon production to decrease imports and India's dependence on foreign countries for its energy needs. He said that change in bidding procedure and exploration procedure being implemented. Our commitment to promote renewable energy is reflected in our initiative to set up International Solar Alliance, Piyush Goyal said. India's installed solar generation capacity has increased 10 times in last five years and lakhs of new jobs are being created by the sector," Goyal said. Tax collections increased from Rs 6 lakh crore to 12 lakh crore, return filings have also gone up. All returns will now be processed in 24 hours and refunds issued simultaneously. Within next 2 years, returns chosen for scrutiny will also be done digitally with anonymity. From a boost in defence budget to tall claims on rural development, here are some of the highlights of interim Budget listed out. GST has been continuously reduced, resulting in relief of 80,000 crore rupees to consumers, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. He claimed that most items of daily use for poor and middle class are now in the 0%-5% tax bracket. "Cost of data and voice calls in India is now possibly the lowest in the world; mobile and mobile part manufacturing companies have increased from 2 to 268. SCs are creating digital infra in villages, to convert them into digital villages," Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. Rs 750 crore have been allocated in the interim Budget under Rashtriya Gokul Yojana for protection of cows. The government will create a separate department for fisheries. With sops for farmers, traders, youths and even gau mata, finance minister Piyush Goyal's interim Budget seems lacking only on the front of giving relief to salaried class honest tax payers. Apart from a 'big thanks' to tax payers and a minimal increase in cap for gratuity along with raising the minimum tax free income, Piyush Goyal's Budget speech hasn't mentioned anything for direct tax payers. Piyush Goyal announced that individual tax payers with annual income under Rs 5 lakh, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. He claimed that with the current provision for rebates and exemptions, people with salaries up to 6.2 lakhs will be effectively exempted from tax. "Benefit of rollover of capital tax gains to be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains up to 2 crore rupees. This can be exercised once in a lifetime," Piyush Goyal said. This is not just an Interim Budget, this is a vehicle for the developmental transformation of the nation: Piyush Goyal The new income support scheme is tepid in terms of actual numbers. It should not lead to a blowout in the fiscal deficit if it indeed is part of the Budget when it is finally announced in full form, says Abheek Barua, chief economist, HDFC bank told Reuters. Dangling a pre-poll carrot for the middle class, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal says the government proposes to raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, but left the implementation to the next government in the full-fledged budget. It has also proposed to raise the standard deduction to Rs 50,000. Among the major sops, Piyush Goyal has announced Rs 6,000 per annum direct cash transfer to farmers owning less than 2 hectares of land. Presenting the budget for 2019-20, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the fiscal deficit for the current financial year is expected to be 3.4 per cent of GDP. As per the Budget estimate, the fiscal deficit for 2018-19 was pegged at 3.3 percent. Benchmark equity indices held on to gains Friday morning even as the Budget overshot the fiscal deficit target for the current financial year. The 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 456 higher at 36,713. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 138 points at 1.28 percent to 10,969 at 1.10 PM. Last year, out of total allocation of Rs295,511 crore for defence budget, only Rs99,947 crore was set aside for capital outlay to purchase of new weapons, aircraft, warships and other military hardware. The allocation has been estimated at around 1.58 percent of the GDP and 12.10 percent of the total budget of Rs2,442,213 crore for 2018-19. The defence budget, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced, was increased for the first time to three lakh crore in 2019-20 for securing our borders and to maintain preparedness of highest order and if necessary additional funds will be provided." He also claimed that the pension scheme for labourers in unorganised sector will help these people who are otherwise not protected under any state funded scheme. Piyush Goyal said that the government's hands were tied since this was an Interim Budget. However, the government still tried to reach out to the two poorest sections of society, ie small farmers and labourers in unorganised sector. He said that the Rs 6000 annual income support will really help the small farmers who are cash strapped for smallest of their needs. "A holistic approach has been taken by the Government for the welfare of all sections of citizenry" Piyush Goyal says that the PM Kisan Scheme is the biggest one ever for farmers. "Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand the plight of the small farmers. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This is a historic decision," he said at a post-budget press conference. "Earlier, the tax deducted at source (TDS) was imposed for income of over Rs 10,000. Now that limit has been pushed to Rs 40,000," Goyal said at a post-budget press conference. The Budget has also proposed to increase the TDS limit on rent income to Rs 2.4 lakh from the current Rs 1.80 lakh. Paresh Parekh, Tax Partner, EY India: Digitisation and automation is the new mantra online income tax compliances, online tax assessments, automated return processing, single-point approval for carrying out manufacturing activities and processes in warehouses, Full and comprehensive digitisation export/import transactions by leveraging RFID technology, etc are highly impactful on how businesses interact with government authorities At a press conference, former finance minister P Chidambaram said, "The impression one got was that the government believed it own fake statistics. Every report (on its performance) has exposed the false claims. None of the numbers put out by the government is true. The government is not able to see that thousands of villages and millions of homes that do not get electricity. He added that interim finance minister Piyush Goyal "tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory." "It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech," he said. "My one line comment on the budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes," said ex-finance minister P Chidambaram at a press conference. He spoke on the NSSO report that had been reportedly led to the resignation of two members of the National Statistical Commission. "On Thursday, the NSSO revealed a document on unemployment. The NSSO data is never approved by the Centre. But the NITI Aayog vice-chairman had suddenly come up with this theory that the government should approve the data of the NSSO report. This is completely unacceptable. The data showed that the unemployment reached the highest in 45 years. The government has cheated the children and the youth of this country," he said. "In the 10-point vision document there's not about the education or jobs. Because if they say anything about jobs, the young people of the country will dismiss it as 'pakodanomics'." senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. In a tweet, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for." The government announced cash support of Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginal farmers, that will cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually, in a bid to provide relief to distressed farm sector. "Additionally, as energy efficient product and solutions are seeing increased adoption, we are pleased with the government providing 143 crore LED bulbs to rural areas. This resonates with our mission of providing energy efficient LED lighting solutions that are Made in India to every Indian household." Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group: "As India is poised to become a $5 trillion economy in next five years, there is an immense opportunity for Indian organisations to develop and flourish. With the rapid proliferation of new age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and others, we welcome the governments keen focus on building a digitally vibrant India in the next few years. This will provide an opportunity for companies such as Syska to introduce IoT (Internet of things) enabled products that are affordable in the Indian market and help in developing smart cities. "The finance minister made a far-reaching and significant announcement that, in the next two years, tax returns will be selected and assessed anonymously without any interaction with the tax officer. If implemented well, this will a radical transformation to a fully digital tax administration. Finally, with more money made available to large sections of the population, a consumption-led economic buoyancy is on the cards." Sudhir Kapadia, National Tax Leader, EY India: "Most commentators had predicted fairly generous reliefs for farmers and lower income earners in the Interim Budget before the general election and the interim finance minister certainly did not disappoint. He seems to have managed the fiscal deficit both for 2019 as well as the next year pretty well at 3.4 percent of GDP despite a significant increase in expenditure of 75,000 crores for the farmers income support, pension scheme for unorganised workers and a 100 percent jump in the personal tax exemption threshold from 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakh. It is quite possible, though, that 2020s actual fiscal deficit may end up slightly higher at 3.5 percent of GDP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation after his government presented its final budget and highlighted its salient features. Modi said that under his government's proposed schemes, 12 crore farmers, 3 crore middle-class income taxpayers and 30-40 crore labourers will be benefitted Modi said that poverty falling at a record rate due to efforts of his government. "The PM Kisan Nidhi scheme is a historic step for farmer welfare," he added. Modi said that the Interim budget was only a trailer for what plans his government has to take India towards prosperity after Lok Sabha polls. "Additionally, as energy efficient product and solutions are seeing increased adoption, we are pleased with the government providing 143 crore LED bulbs to rural areas. This resonates with our mission of providing energy efficient LED lighting solutions that are Made in India to every Indian household." Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group: "As India is poised to become a $5 trillion economy in next five years, there is an immense opportunity for Indian organisations to develop and flourish. With the rapid proliferation of new age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and others, we welcome the governments keen focus on building a digitally vibrant India in the next few years. This will provide an opportunity for companies such as Syska to introduce IoT (Internet of things) enabled products that are affordable in the Indian market and help in developing smart cities. "The finance minister made a far-reaching and significant announcement that, in the next two years, tax returns will be selected and assessed anonymously without any interaction with the tax officer. If implemented well, this will a radical transformation to a fully digital tax administration. Finally, with more money made available to large sections of the population, a consumption-led economic buoyancy is on the cards." Sudhir Kapadia, National Tax Leader, EY India: "Most commentators had predicted fairly generous reliefs for farmers and lower income earners in the Interim Budget before the general election and the interim finance minister certainly did not disappoint. He seems to have managed the fiscal deficit both for 2019 as well as the next year pretty well at 3.4 percent of GDP despite a significant increase in expenditure of 75,000 crores for the farmers income support, pension scheme for unorganised workers and a 100 percent jump in the personal tax exemption threshold from 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakh. It is quite possible, though, that 2020s actual fiscal deficit may end up slightly higher at 3.5 percent of GDP. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker: This budget is for everyone and is a good one. Work will go on like this. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/wthHEsOqjX Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that BJP government's last and interim budget is for everyone and that the party is expected to continue working like this. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation after his government presented its final budget and highlighted its salient features. Modi said that under his government's proposed schemes, 12 crore farmers, 3 crore middle-class income taxpayers and 30-40 crore labourers will be benefitted "The farmers never got the benefits of PM Kisan Yojna. However, now nearly 12 crore farmers will reap the benefits of the scheme, which is one of the largest schemes," he said. Calling it an important step towards "strengthening the nation", Modi reiterated the significance of the Ayushman Bharat scheme which, he said, is set to benefit nearly 50 crore people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi: From middle class to labourers, from farmers growth to the development of businessmen, from manufacturing to MSME sector, from growth of the economy to development of New India, everyone has been taken care of in this interim budget. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/y7a62TuEWg Modi said that poverty falling at a record rate due to efforts of his government. "The PM Kisan Nidhi scheme is a historic step for farmer welfare," he added. Modi said that the Interim budget was only a trailer for what plans his government has to take India towards prosperity after Lok Sabha polls. For working professionals, the budget provided relief with the government raising the gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. The standard deduction has been increased and the TDS threshold on interest earned on bank and post office deposits is up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. All these measures, when put together, can have an impact on the total amount the average Indian manages to save in a year. This will boost spending in the economy, driving growth further, Shetty said. Bankbazaar's Co-Founder and CEO Adhil Shetty said that this budget has come as a bounty to the people of India. On one hand, the government has introduced the concept of the minimum income guarantee scheme of Rs 6,000 for farmers with small holdings of 2 hectares or less. On the other hand, it has increased the income tax rebate for people with income up to Rs 5 lakh, bringing in relief in the form of higher savings. #Budget2019 is an election document of BJP with more supply of Jumlas rather focusing on demands of people. This #Budget has proved to be only a jugglery of words. The FM gave a vision of 10 years when governments tenure is about to end! Gehlot said that Narendra Modi was showing people dreams for the next 10 years when in reality, his term is going to end soon. Delhi: Meeting of opposition leaders is underway at the Constitution club. Visuals of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/xYP5LLmvKC A meeting of top Opposition leaders is underway in New Delhi under the aegis of Congress President Rahul Gandhi at the Constitution Club. It is quite possible, though, that next years actual fiscal deficit may end up slightly higher at 3.5 percent of GDP. There are numerous other proposals like an increase in the TDS exemption limit from 10,000 to 40,000 for bank interest, on rent from 1.8 lakhs to 2.4 lakhs, extending housing income exemption from one to two self- occupied houses etc which reveals a keen desire to significantly ease the compliance burden for small and medium taxpayers. Sudhir Kapadia, National Tax Leader, EY India said: Most commentators had predicted fairly generous reliefs for farmers and lower income earners in the Interim Budget before the general elections and the Interim Finance Minister certainly did not disappoint. He seems to have managed the fiscal deficit both for 2019 as well as the next year pretty well at 3.4 percent of GDP despite a significant increase in expenditure of 75,000 crores for the farmers income support, pension scheme for unorganised workers and a 100 percent jump in the personal tax exemption threshold from 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakhs. Budget 2019 LATEST Updates: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot termed the budget as another 'jumla' of the Narendra Modi government. The Opposition has been targeting the interim budget calling it an exhibition of hollow dreams. Gehlot said that Narendra Modi was showing people dreams for the next 10 years when in reality, his term is going to end soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation after his government presented its final budget and highlighted its salient features. Modi said that under his government's proposed schemes, 12 crore farmers, 3 crore middle-class income taxpayers and 30-40 crore labourers will be benefitted. At a press conference, former finance minister P Chidambaram said, "My one line comment on the budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes." Every report (on its performance) has exposed the false claims. None of the numbers put out by the government is true. The government is not able to see that thousands of villages and millions of homes that do not get electricity. Piyush Goyal said that the government's hands were tied since this was an Interim Budget. However, the government still tried to reach out to the two poorest sections of society, ie small farmers and labourers in unorganised sector. He said that the Rs 6000 annual income support will really help the small farmers who are cash strapped for smallest of their needs. Piyush Goyal said that the government's hands were tied since this was an Interim Budget. However, the government still tried to reach out to the two poorest sections of society, ie small farmers and labourers in unorganised sector BJP president Amit Shah weighed in on the Budget stating that it was a big move to offer relief to poor and farmers. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and interim finance minister Piyush Goyal. Union Minister Arun Jaitley Friday complimented Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent pro-farmer, pro-poor budget which will also strengthen the purchasing power of middle class. However, Congress alleged that the Budget was more like an election manifesto read out from the floor of the House. Benchmark equity indices held on to gains Friday morning even as the Budget overshot the fiscal deficit target for the current financial year. The 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 456 higher at 36,713. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 138 points at 1.28 percent to 10,969 at 1.10 PM. Dangling a pre-poll carrot for the middle class, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal says the government proposes to raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, but left the implementation to the next government in the full-fledged budget. It has also proposed to raise the standard deduction to Rs 50,000. Among the major sops, Piyush Goyal has announced Rs 6,000 per annum direct cash transfer to farmers owning less than 2 hectares of land. At the end of his address, Piyush Goyal puts forth BJP's election pitch. Exalting the government's job and congratulating the Indian electorate, Goyal said, "We have only build the foundation. The plan is to build a grand India on this strong foundation. Intention is clear, policies are transparent and dedication is unwavering." Noting that middle class tax payers should be exempted from income tax, Finance minister Piyush Goyal says, "Full tax rebate on income up to 5,00,000 rupees per annum." Exemption on tax deducted at source on interest earned from bank, post office savings raised to 40,000 rupees from 10,000 rupees. Standard deduction for salaried class raised to 50,000 rupees from 40,000 rupees, says Goyal. Goyal says he is confident that disinvestment proceeds will cross 800 billion rupees this year. "Capital expenditure for 2019-20 seen around Rs 3.36 trillion on centrally sponsored schemes. Fiscal deficit would have been less than 3.1 percent in 2019-20 without farm income benefit scheme," says Goyal. While there is no cheer for the middle class in income tax slabs, the government has made filing returns easier, said finance minister Piyush Goyal, and claimed that it will be processed within 24 hours. Within nearly two years, almost all assessment and verification of IT returns will be done electronically by an anonymised tax system without any intervention by officials, he promises. India poised to become $5 trillion economy in next five years, says finance minister Piyush Goyal. Speaking of northeastern states, Goyal said, "Allocation to India's northeast region proposed to be increased by 21 percent over previous fiscal year." India's fiscal deficit this financial year would be 3.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), slightly higher than the targeted 3.3 percent, the countrys acting finance minister said on Friday while presenting an interim budget. All income tax returns to be processed within 24 hours, says Goyal. "Tax collection is at 12 trillion rupees," claimed Goyal. Piyush Goyal highlights Modi government's rural outreach programme: Centre to allocate Rs 75,000 crore per year to support farmers' incomes; Impact of Rs 20,000 crore in current fiscal year; Vulnerable farmers to receive Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments; Government to allocate Rs 60,000 crore for UPA's flagship MNREGA in 2019/20; Allocation of Rs 19,000 crore for construction of rural roads in 2019-20. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal says more than 70 percent of the beneficiaries of the PM Mudra Yojana are women and it additionally helps them set up businesses and other entrepreneurship related activities. our soldiers are our pride and honour. "One Rank One Pension', which was pending for the last 40 years, was implemented by us. We have already disbursed Rs 35,000 crore for our soldiers under 'One Rank One Pension', substantial hike in military service pay has been announced." Government will set up a national centre for artificial intelligence to look into AI programmes. It will also provide two percent loan relaxation for businesses registered as SMEs, says Piyush Goyal. Goyal says that the 'job seeker is now a job creater'. "India is among the youngest nations of the world. PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana is training over 1 crore youths. More than 70 percent of the beneficiaries of the PM Mudra Yojana are women to help them set up businesses and other entrepreneurship related activities. Job seeker is now a job creator. Now, government offices and factories are not the only employers. The definition of employment and self employment is changing now. India is the hub of second largest start up," he says. The Modi government has decided to set up 'Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog' for implementation of policies and schemes for welfare of cows. "We are committed to the cause of gaumata," says finance minister. "Increase in allocation for fisheries and husbandary sector for GOKUL scheme. Government has decided to create a separate department for fisheries. Two percent relaxation in credit for will be given to farmers who are in animal husbandary," says Piyush Goyal. "Farmers earlier did not get full cost for their produce. Farmers income has reduced over the years. Income support to farmers small and marginal faers Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (KISAN) has been approved. Farmers owning 2 hectares and less will be provided with Rs 6,000 per annum directly into their accounts. There are nearly 12 crore such farmers,' says Piyush Goyal in a major incentive for farmers in Budget 2019. Exalting Modi government's contribution to "farmers' welfare", finance minister Piyush Goyal says. "For the welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision was taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops." Among the first major announcements in budget speech 2019, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal says Rs 60,000 crore has been set aside for MGNREGA, the rural employment scheme, adding that the allocation can be increased further. Expectations are running high across demographics from the Narendra Modi government's Budget 2019, with the finance exercise expected to be a little more robust than the traditional election-year vote-on-account. Amid Opposition ruckus, Piyush Goyal says, "Rs 3 lakh crore has been recovered in favour of banks, creditors and big defaulters have also not been spared." "From from 10.1 percent in the period 2009-14, we have brought it down to 2.12 percent. We have broken the back of back-breaking inflation," says finance minister. File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters "We are moving to realising a new India by 2022. In the last 5 years India has emerged a major economy in the last year. Our GDP numbers are higher than any developing economy," says Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. Inflation is a hidden and unfair tax, says Goyal. Finance minister Piyush Goyal starts presenting the interim budget. Goyal began with wishing early recovery to Arun Jaitley. People of India gave a strong mandate to our government. Under Narendra Modi, we have given more decisive, stable and clean government," says Goyal. Mallikarjun Kharge says, "They'll try to introduce populist schemes in the Budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls. Budgets they've presented so far havent really benefitted general public. Only Jumlas will come out today. They've only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?" Meanwhile, the Narendra Modi Cabinet has approved the Budget 2019. Piyush Goyal, who is filling in for Arun Jaitley, will present the Budget at 11 am. Ministers in the Modi government dropped ample hints to suggest that the interim Budget 2019 will be a populist one. Union minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar said that it will be in line with the government's motto of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas,while MoS Railways Manoj Sinha said that the focus will be on youth and farmers, MoS Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said that a policy response to the unemployment crisis is likely in this Budget. The BSE benchmark Sensex Friday jumped over 100 points ahead of the Budget presentation amid heavy buying by foreign portfolio investors. The 30-share index was trading 119.01 points, or 0.33 per cent, higher at 36,375.70. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 34.15, or 0.32 per cent, to 10,865.10. The electoral compulsions mean that major economic reforms, such as tax cuts for bigger companies and plans to bring down the Budget deficit, could be put on hold at least until after the election, government sources said. However, there is a chance that the government could take corrective action in March, with an expectation that the election schedule will be settled by that time and that public focus will shift to campaigning. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has arrived at the Finance Ministry ahead of the Budget presentation. His speech is expected to start at 11 am and will last roughly two hours, as the minister covers key highlight points of the Interim Budget. Goyal is expected to come up with a populist measure in the Interim Budget such as a minimum income guarantee or universal basic income. The figure may vary in accordance with the plan but it won't be anything less than 1.6 percent to even 4 percent of the GDP. It is difficult to understand how the government will fund the scheme. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal declared at an all-party meeting Wednesday that a Budget is a Budget and not an Interim Budget or a Vote-on-Account, which is the norm with just a few months to go for the general elections, sending alarm bells in the Opposition camp. Meanwhile, Congress has declared that it will oppose the move in the Lok Sabha when the Budget is presented. A lot will be expected from Finance Minister Piyush Goyal who will present the Narendra Modi-led NDA government's sixth and last budget before the Lok Sabha elections due in a couple of months. Income tax concessions for individuals, a farm relief package, support for small businesses and possible populist spending measures may be part of Goyal's budget on 1 February, as the government makes a last-ditch attempt to woo voters ahead of the general elections. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings on Thursday warned of a second consecutive year of fiscal slippage in the event of Goyal resorting to populist spending to win over lost vote base. "Higher pre-election spending could risk a second consecutive year of fiscal slippage relative to the government's targets and would further delay plans to reduce the high general government fiscal deficit and debt burden," it said. This budget is supposed to be an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'. But it is widely expected that Goyal may go beyond seeking Parliament nod for government expenditure for four months of next fiscal and announce sops to woo rural and urban middle-class voters, industry sources and experts said. As per convention, the outgoing government only seeks parliamentary approval for limited period spending, leaving the full Budget presentation for the new regime in July. Under pressure from a resurgent Congress which is going all out to lure voters with the promise of debt waiver for farmers and a minimum income for the poor if voted to power, Goyal may announce some form of a direct transfer of cash to farmers. This may or may not replace subsidies that farmers get but will certainly be aimed at addressing rural distress, which was primarily blamed for BJP's defeat in recent Assembly elections in three states Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The farm relief package may cost anywhere between Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore, according to sources. Goyal, who was given the additional charge of the finance ministry after former finance minister Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment, is widely expected to raise income tax exemption thresholds. Basic exemption limit may be raised from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for individuals of less than 60 years of age and from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh for those aged 60 years or more but less than 80. Women taxpayers may get a higher basic exemption of Rs 3.25 lakh or even at par with senior citizens, as per sources. An alternative to raising the exemption limit is to raise the 80C deduction to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh to encourage taxpayers to save more for their future. Considering delay in housing projects and also rising interest rates, deduction of interest amount on housing loan for a self-occupied house property may be enhanced to Rs 2.5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh. The set-off cap of adjusting loss from house property against other heads of income may also be accordingly raised to Rs 2.5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh, according to sources. The increase in personal income tax exemption limit is unlikely to meaningfully reduce collections unless the successive tax slabs are also changed. Also, being speculated are cheap loans for small businesses and increased rural spending. For the farm sector, the possible options include the direct transfer of money to farmers like in the Telangana model of Rythu Bandhu, interest-free crop loan for those farmers who pay on time and zero premium for insurance of food grain crops. The measures, industry and informed sources say, could include those to create employment as the government faces a tag of giving a jobless high GDP growth. For investors, these sops may translate into another breach in the budget deficit target of 3.3 percent of GDP for the current fiscal and a possible record borrowing in the coming financial year. In 2018-19, the largest downside to revenues has been from the GST collections with the shortfall likely at around Rs 1.4 lakh crore. Goyal may also look at higher interim dividend from RBI and deferring subsidy payouts on fertiliser as well as LPG and kerosene to provide funds for the populist schemes. Credit rating agencies have warned that without bringing down another spending, a higher farm subsidy bill will increase future fiscal deficits. Sources said the interim budget would provide an opportunity for the government to outline its medium-term economic priorities, specifically with regards to improving farm/rural incomes. It would be important to continue its focus on overall infrastructure expansion, especially as private sector investments remain tepid and a nascent recovery hinges on government spending. There is also a talk of the government looking at the idea of a Quasi-Universal Basic Income Scheme (QUBI). The concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the context of India was outlined in the Economic Survey 2016-17. However, a UBI for the entire population (and even for the BPL population) will entail a prohibitively high fiscal outgo. In fact, without a commensurate reduction in various transfers (subsidies and social programmes), it might not be feasible to implement a UBI for the entire population. However, the government could target the poorest of the poor (possibly 40 percent of the BPL population) based on the 2011 census. Some say a hypothetical Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 per month can be provided to the poorest of the population (around 12 crore people). This will entail an outgo of Rs 1 lakh crore or 0.5 percent of the GDP. The interim budget to be presented could give some indication of the government's commitment to fiscal consolidation, which is one of the main sensitivities in the sovereign ratings, Fitch said. "Pressure for new expenditure to attract votes, particularly among rural and small-business owner voters, has increased as polls have shown the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is becoming less assured of victory in the general elections. "The BJP has reportedly lost votes in some recent state elections due to rural distress and public concerns over job creation. Targeted cash programmes appear the most likely form of support, as they would avoid downside risks of alternatives, such as the farm loan waivers that undermined the loan repayment culture in the past," it said. Populist spending, it said, would aggravate fiscal pressures, which are already building due to revenue shortfalls. "Higher pre-election spending could risk a second consecutive year of fiscal slippage relative to the government's targets and would further delay plans to reduce the high general government fiscal deficit and debt burden," it said. Fitch said longer-term trends are more important to the sovereign rating profile. "We believe the Central Government may still be able to meet its fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of GDP for FY19, which would help support its fiscal credibility, although this may be achieved by deferring capital expenditure and postponing bill payments until after March," it said. The final budget for the fiscal year ending in March 2020 (FY20) will be presented soon after the next government takes office following general elections, which are due by May 2019. Revenue from the new GST is well below target, Fitch said citing it as a reason for revenue falling short of the target so far in the current fiscal year that ends on 31 March, 2019. "Officially, the government still aims to adhere to a debt ceiling of 60 percent of GDP by March 2025, as adopted under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. However, this would require significant and politically difficult fiscal consolidation. The newly elected government's final budget, likely to be presented around July, should provide more meaningful guidance on the medium-term fiscal outlook," it said. Fitch's base-case scenario is that general government debt will remain close to 70 per cent of GDP in the next few years and will constrain India's sovereign rating (BBB-/Stable). Indian budgets normally offer guidance on plans for structural reforms and tax changes. "The current government could choose in its interim budget to signal the reform direction it would adopt in a possible second term, but we believe it is more likely to include such plans in the final budget...," it said. The government's reform efforts have led to a strong improvement in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking in recent years, but FDI inflows have remained roughly stable as a percentage of GDP over the past five years, as there are lingering difficulties, such as in enforcing contracts and the functioning of the labour market. With inputs from PTI The interim budget proposes full tax rebate for middle income people earning up to Rs 5 lakh Mumbai: The realty industry has welcomed the interim budget saying the many tax proposals will give the needed fillip to the sector that has reeling since the past two years with severe liquidity crisis and demand slowdown. The budget seeks to extend tax sops for affordable home developers and to remove the tax on notional rent for a second housing unit as well as unsold units. It also seeks to extend the benefits under Section 80-IBA of the Income Tax Act for one more year--to housing projects approved till March 2020, which will boost supply of affordable housing. According to property consultants, there are about 6-7 lakh of unsold units with developers in seven-eight major cities alone. The benefit of rollover of capital gains up to Rs 2 crore under section 54 of the IT Act will now be available for investment in two houses from the present only one unit. It also proposes to enhance the TDS deduction threshold for rent to Rs 2,40,000 from Rs 1,80,000 now. Credai's Getamber Anand said the proposal to lower GST on homebuyers is extremely encouraging. He also welcomes the two-year exemption from notional rent on unsold inventory. The general exemption of income tax up to Rs 5 lakh will benefit 3 crore taxpayers is likely to increase the demand for affordable and mid-income housing segments, JLL India's Ramesh Nair said. Credai-MCHI's Nayan Shah said overall the brings a lot of relief for the mid income taxpayers and some long awaited cheer to the real estate industry. Credai's Jaxay Shah said higher tax exemption will increase the purchasing power, while CBRE India's Anshuman Magazine said the budget lays equal emphasis on key aspects such as ease of living, infrastructure, public health, technology and better living. Though implementation will be the key here, it is definitely a step in the right direction. Surendra Hiranandani of House of Hiranandani said the move to eliminate tax on notional rent on second self-occupied house will prep up overall demand substantially. Terming the budget as a balanced one for the real estate, Anarock Property Consultant's Anuj Puri said the budget has tried to cater to all the three categories including the developers, the tax payers and the investors. The interim budget proposes full tax rebate for middle income people earning up to Rs 5 lakh. Also, if one invests in specified government saving schemes then the tax exemption goes up to Rs 6.5 lakh. Knight Frank's Shishir Baijal sees a fair amount of savings from the tax giveaways being channelised towards the real estate. Also, increasing the number of self-occupied properties to two will augment homes sales. PropTiger's Ankur Dhawan said the extension of Section 80IBA for one year, no interest on notional rent till two years of project completion, reinvestment of capital gains in two houses rather than one and no tax on notional rent for two self-occupied houses, will have much stronger impact on sales especially for affordable housing buyers. The government is not only giving credit linked subsidy scheme to home buyers but also leaving more money in the hands of the owner to pay EMIs through increased tax savings, he said. Paradigm Realty's Parth Mehta said the sector has been going through a turmoil for many years now but the interim budget has given no clarity on any of the issues except a proposal to lower GST and clarity on input-output credit. Poddar Housing's Rohit Poddar said the budget is extremely positive for the affordable housing sector as it reinforces government's continuing the commitment to this important sector. Piramal Capital's Khushru Jijina said the budget is expected to stimulate demand and help attain the targeted economic growth. Omkar Realtors' Gaurav Gupta said the tax proposals in the budget will ensure investment in the real estate sector. Tata Realty's Sanjay Dutt said the budget could have extended SEZ benefits till 2020, which would have boosted the commercial realty space in general and those for the startups in particular. The focus on next-generation infrastructure to provide ease of living shows the modernisation that the country has well adapted to and thereby will boost the real estate sector too, he added. Bombay Realty's Ramesh Ranganathan said the huge tax give-aways will help may to have roof over their head now. Echoing similar views, Ekta World's Ashok Mohanani said the budget proposals will leave more disposable income with the people, increasing their purchasing power. Click here to calculate your income tax. Eight public sector banksAllahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Dena Bankstill remain under PCA framework, Mumbai: In a significant move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday lifted lending curbs on three out of 11 weak public sector banks (PSBs) as the central bank under new Governor Shaktikanta Das met one of the key demands of the government for boosting credit growth. Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) are now out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework, a move that will help expand loan growth to prop up economy. "It has been decided that BoI and BoM which meet the regulatory norms including Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) and have Net NPAs (non-performing assets) of less than 6 percent as per third quarter results, are taken out of the PCA framework subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring," the RBI said in a statement. In case of OBC, the net NPA has come down to less than 6 percent as the government has infused sufficient capital, it said. Hence, it has been decided to remove the restrictions placed on OBC under PCA framework, subject to certain conditions and close monitoring, the apex bank said, adding the RBI will continuously monitor the performance of these banks under various parameters. Eight public sector banksAllahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Dena Bankstill remain under PCA framework, which imposes lending restrictions and prevents them from expanding, among other curbs. Commenting on on the RBI's decision, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar said: "Government's sustained 4R's (Recognition, Recapitalization, Resolution, and Reform) strategy for banking transformation delivers again. 3 better-performing PSBs (BoM, BoI & OBC) exit PCA. Banks need to be more responsible, adopt high underwriting & risk management standards to avoid recurrence". Kumar, who has been credited with undertaking multiple reforms in the banking sector, has been able to provide record amount of capital infusion in the public sector banks (PSBs). Since commencement of clean-up in 2015-16, the recapitalisation has crossed over Rs 3 lakh crore through mix of budgetary support and market raising helping banks to make adequate provisions for the bad loans. As a result, there has been reversal in the deteriorating bad loan situation and there has been record loan recovery during the current fiscal. Various initiatives taken by the government have yielded results, with the bad loans of public sector banks declining by over Rs 23,860 crore in the first half of the current fiscal. At the same time, PSBs have also made a record recovery of Rs 60,726 crore in the first half of the current financial year, which is more than double the amount recovered in the corresponding period last year. The secretary has recently said capital infusion of over Rs 83,000 crore in the coming few months in PSBs will cement India's position as fastest growing economy in the world. Last month, the government announced infusion of Rs 28,615 crore into seven public sector banks (PSBs) through recapitalisation bonds. Out of the seven state-owned banks, Bank of India got the highest amount of Rs 10,086 crore, followed by Oriental Bank of Commerce Rs 5,500 crore and Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 4,498 crore). Both the government and banks are fully committed to the reform process and other lenders are also working towards faster recovery, Kumar had said. As part of the reform process, there have been slew of decisions taken to boost MSME sector and boost flow of credit to agriculture sector and retail. The PCA framework was one of the contentious issue between the government and the RBI. The government wanted the central bank to align the PCA framework to the global norms. The PCA framework kicks in when banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points -- namely capital to risk weighted assets ratio, net non-performing assets (NPA) and return on assets (RoA). Globally, PCA kicks in only when banks slip on a single parameter of capital adequacy ratio, and the government and some of the independent directors of the RBI board, like S Gurumurthy, are in favour of this practice being adopted for the domestic banking sector as well. It seems that the RBI has taken into consideration some of the concern raised by the government in the review of performance of PCA banks. On a review of the performance of PSBs currently under the PCA framework, it was noted that a few banks are not in breach of the PCA parameters as per their published results for the quarter ending December 2018, except Return on Assets (RoA), according to the RBI. "However, though the RoA continues to be negative, the same is reflected in the capital adequacy indicator. These banks have provided a written commitment that they would comply with the norms of minimum regulatory capital, Net NPA and leverage ratio on an ongoing basis and have apprised the RBI of the structural and systemic improvements...," it said. Further, it said, the government has also assured that the capital requirements of these banks will be duly factored in while making bank-wise allocations during the current financial year. As per the latest quarterly numbers, BoI posted a loss of Rs 4,737.56 crore, BoM Rs 3,764.26 crore, while OBC made a profit of Rs 145 crore in the third quarter. 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. New Delhi: Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Friday claimed his group's properties worth over Rs 13,000 crore have been attached, more than the 'claimed' Rs 9,000 crore that he "ran away with" asking where is justice and how far will it go. In a series of tweets, Mallya, who intends to appeal against a UK court's extradition verdict, also claimed that the banks to which he owes money "have given an open licence to their lawyers in England to pursue multiple frivolous litigations against" him questioning the "brazen" spending of "public money on legal fees". "Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT (Debt Recovery Tribunal) recovery officer. Value already crossed (Rs) 13,000 crore. Banks claim dues including all interest of (Rs) 9,000 crore which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond? Justified??", Mallya tweeted. He further said the DRT recovery officer recently attached his group's assets worth over Rs 13,000 crore in India on behalf of the consortium of banks. The DRT Recovery Officer recently attaches my Group assets worth over 13,000 crores in India on behalf of the Consortium of Banks. Yet the narrative is that I ran away with the claimed amount of 9000 crores causing loss to the Public Sector Banks. Where is Justice or fair play ? Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 1, 2019 "Yet the narrative is that I ran away with the claimed amount of (Rs) 9000 crore causing loss to the public sector banks. Where is Justice or fair play?," he asked. The embattled liquor baron further said "despite all the attachments in India, banks have given an open licence to their lawyers in England to pursue multiple frivolous litigations against me. Who is accountable for spending public money on legal fees in such a brazen manner?" Mallya also claimed that the banks' lawyers in England have objected in writing to his paying "my legitimate tax dues to HMRC which I requested". Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT recovery officer. Value already crossed 13,000 crores. Banks claim dues including all interest of 9,000 crores which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond ? Justified ?? Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 1, 2019 "Irony is, Indian state banks want my money in England to settle an Indian debt already secured and deny payment to the UK. tax exchequer. Disgraceful," he added. Last year in December Westminster Magistrates' Court Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot had ruled in favour of extradition of Mallya, who is wanted in India for alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore. Later on, he had stated that he intended to file an application to appeal against a British court's verdict. 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. Jet Airways has reportedly agreed to most of the conditions set by its partner Etihad for offering a lifeline to the debt-laden domestic carrier Jet Airways has reportedly agreed to most of the conditions set by its partner Etihad for offering a lifeline to the debt-laden domestic carrier, Business Standard reported on Friday, citing sources. Both the airlines are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) within days, which would result into stepping down of Jet Airways founder chairman Naresh Goyal from the board of directors, Reuters reported. Jet Airways shares were up over 12 percent to Rs 266 in early morning trade on BSE. Jet Airways and Etihad were not immediately available for comment. On January 17, Naresh Goyal had said that he was ready to invest up to Rs 700 crore in Jet Airways on the condition that his stake did not fall below 25 percent, said a PTI report. Goyals offer came against the backdrop of strategic partner Etihad reportedly putting forward strict conditions, including that Goyal should give up control, for infusing funds into the crisis-hit carrier. In a letter to SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar, Goyal said he was writing with reference to the resolution plan under discussion and in view of Etihads position, despite the significant cash crunch and imminent grounding, which the airline is facing". Naresh Goyal said he was committed to an infusion of funds into the company to the extent of 700 crore" and pledging all his shares. This is subject to the condition that his shareholding post such infusion remained at least 25 percent, he said in the letter, which was seen by PTI. Should this not be possible, then I would not be able to infuse any funds or pledge my shares, unless Sebi accords me an exemption permitting me to increase my reduced stake (if it is to be below 25 percent) without triggering the Takeover Code," according to the letter. Meanwhile, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube told its employees on Thursday that the situation of the crisis-ridden airline might get tougher and asked them to be patient. In an email to the employees, Dube said, "It might get tougher before it gets better, and our ascendancy will be gradual, but collectively, with your unstinted support and commitment, we will come out of this a stronger airline." On Wednesday, Jet Airways had decided to cancel 15 flights following grounding of six Boeing 737 planes due to non-payment of lease rentals. Dube said that the company's chairman, board of directors and the management team are working hard on a balance sheet transaction that will help in eliminating its "current challenges". "In fact, the airline's key stakeholders are actively engaged towards finalisation of the resolution plan. We are very close, and I ask for your continued patience. Given our ongoing challenges, this is a very tall ask," Dube wrote in his message. Dube added "While flight cancellations, regardless of reasons, have an immense impact on guests, frontline colleagues as well as our operational and commercial teams across the network, I want to highlight to you that it has been your hard work and dedication that has put us on top of Indian aviation's reliability chart." He added that despite some challenges faced by the airlines he was confident that it will once again be at the top of the class in terms of key operational parameters for the month of January. With inputs from agencies 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 National Security Agency is 31.2 miles from the front door of the White House. When President Donald Trump first came into office, I invited him to tour the agency (located in my district at Fort Meade, Md.) at his convenience. I often take new members of Congress to NSA Im taking a group of freshmen next week, in fact and it would make sense for our new commander in chief to want to see our countrys signals intelligence headquarters and meet some of its people. Economists, therefore, feel Isaac's 10th budget will remain as a castle in the air unless he shows the political will to cut down the growing revenue expenditure and raise resources from non-tax sources. Finance Minister of Kerala TM Thomas Isaac on Thursday said that while formulating the state budget for 2019-20, he had to address two disasters the August 2018 floods that devastated nearly the entire state as well as the violence triggered by the Supreme Court's September verdict on Sabarimala lifting the ban on the entry women of child-bearing age in the Sabarimala temple. Critics of the budget that Isaac presented in the state Assembly on 31 January feel that he has given more priority to Sabarimala than mitigating the hardships of thousands of people who have been rendered homeless and deprived of their livelihood by the flood. They have questioned the motive of the minister on the basis of his decision to allocate Rs 739 crore for creating facilities at the hill shrine and another Rs 100 crore to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) that administers the temple. The decision has come as a surprise to even the TDB, which had sought assistance of only Rs 250 crore to rebuild the pilgrim centre that suffered a loss of Rs 100 crore in the flood. TDB chairman A Padma Kumar pointed out that this was the largest assistance that Sabarimala has received from any government in its history. Economists are also surprised by the largesse given to Sabarimala at a time when the government is struggling hard to raise resources for rehabilitating the flood victims and rebuilding the lost assets. BA Prakash, former professor and head of the department of economics in Kerala University, views it as a political move influenced by external pressures. Political analysts believe that the special treatment that finance minister has given to Sabarimala in his budget could be part of the governments strategy to retrieve the political ground it has lost to right-wing outfits, which accused the government of trying to destroy Sabarimala as per the atheistic agenda of the ruling Communist parties. Isaac has sought to counter the allegation by funding an ambitious project to develop the hill shrine on the Tirupathi model. The government had tried to contain the damage by rallying women against the conservatives. It had hoped that the progressive stand that it took on Sabarimala will act as a bulwark against the BJP's attempt to consolidate the Hindu votes by opposing the entry of women in the hill shrine. However, couple of recent opinion poll surveys predicting electoral gains to the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front and the BJP have upset its calculations. Political analysts, therefore, see the largesse to Sabarimala as a damage control measure. Opposition leaders say this will backfire since the budget has no concrete proposal to provide relief to the flood-hit people. VD Satheeshan, Congress legislator from Paravur in Ernakulam district, one of the worst flood-hit areas, said that budget had no clear proposal to help people who lost their houses, properties and livelihoods or to the trade and commerce, which suffered huge losses in the devastating floods. Over 13,000 houses were fully damaged and about 1.1 lakh houses partially damaged in the flood, according to the government estimates. The MLA said that the actual number of fully damaged houses would be more than 20,000 according to the information his gathered. A few months ago the government had put the number of fully damaged houses at 16,000. "Even five months after the flood, the government has not been able to complete construction of even one house. The people who have lost their houses are living in rented houses or in the houses of their friends and relatives. How long they will continue like this?" asks Satheesan. He said that the condition of people already rehabilitated was pathetic as most of them have not been able to regain their lost livelihood. "Shops in most affected places are lying closed. There is absolutely no economic activity in such areas. We were expecting a stimulus package in the budget to revive the economy of the affected areas. The budget is totally silent on this," he added. On the contrary, the flood cess of one percent imposed by the finance minister on the basic price of goods in the GST tax brackets of 12 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent may push prices and add additional burden to the flood hit people and the businesses struggling hard to survive the crisis. The income loss from the flood is estimated to be about Rs 25,000 crore. None of the projects proposed by the finance minister under the Rebuild Kerala initiative are expected to bring immediate relief to the flood victims. Most of the 25 projects he has unveiled under the initiative are extensions of older projects that will not even indirectly help the flood victims and require huge funds for implementation while others will take a long time to yield results. Interestingly, he relies on the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), which many consider as an unreliable source of funds, to execute these projects. Economists consider KIIFB unreliable as it is highly dependent on market, petrol cess, government grants and pravasi chit funds. There is no mention in the budget on the total amount that KIIFB has garnered from market and Pravasi Chitty so far. However, sources said that the government could net only Rs five crore from the Pravasi Chitty while the masala bond proposed for raising resources from the market is yet to take off. Although KIIFB has cleared projects worth Rs 40,000 crore since its inception in 2016, none of these projects have taken off the ground. With the Rebuild Kerala initiative projects imposing an additional burden of another Rs 11,000 crore on the KIIFB, how it will implement them remains to be seen. Economists are also doubtful about the fate of the new projects announced by Isaac with budgetary allocation since its implementation hinges on the achievement of the minister's estimate that GST collections in the next fiscal will rise to 30 percent from the current 10 percent. VK Vijayakumar, an investment strategist, feels this is unrealistic considering the post-flood gloomy economic and business scenario in the state and the dip in flow of foreign remittances from non-resident Keralites due to the worsening economic environment in West Asia. State finances are already in bad shape with the gap between revenue receipts and expenditure rising continuously. While the tax revenue grew by around 10 percent, the expenditure is estimated to grow by 13.9 percent. The state has been meeting the deficit by borrowing funds from the market. However, the scope for further market borrowing is very limited with the state having already reached the maximum limit and the Centre refusing to increase the borrowing limit. Economists, therefore, feel Isaac's 10th budget will remain as a castle in the air unless he shows the political will to cut down the growing revenue expenditure and raise resources from non-tax sources. Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. New Delhi/Mumbai: E-commerce rules has come into effect from today. It has caused widespread disruption for Amazon.com, forcing it to take down an array of items from its India website including Echo speakers, batteries and floor cleaners. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the products began to disappear from the Amazon India site late on Thursday as it began complying with the revised norms before a midnight deadline. The company has no choice, they are fulfilling a compliance requirement ... customers will suffer, said one of the sources. In December, the government modified foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector, which has drawn major bets from not only Amazon.com but also the likes of Walmart Inc, which last year bought a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce player Flipkart. The new e-commerce investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest, and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. By Thursday, numerous items sold by vendors such as Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds an indirect equity stake, were no longer available on the Amazon India site. Clothing from Shoppers Stop was also no longer available, as Amazon owns 5 percent of the company. Amazons own range of Echo speakers, its Presto-branded home cleaning goods and other Amazon Basics products such as chargers and batteries had also vanished from the website. Both Amazon and Walmart had lobbied against the latest rules and pushed for a delay in their implementation, but the government late on Thursday said the deadline stood. The situation in India is a bit fluid right now, but the country remains a good long-term opportunity, Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said on a conference call with reporters following its fourth-quarter earnings announcement. The companys main goal is to minimize the impact of the new e-commerce rules on customers and sellers, he added. Growth driver The US government has also urged India to protect the investments of the two American retailers, Reuters reported last week. Both companies have bet heavily on India being a big growth driver: Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. But Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration is seen as keen to appease small traders in the run-up to a general election due by May. Many small traders say the e-commerce giants use their buying power and control over inventory from affiliated vendors to create an unfair marketplace where they can offer deep discounts on some products. Such arrangements will be barred under the new policy. Industry sources have said the new rules will force the big e-sellers to change their business structures, and will raise compliance costs. Amazon India told Reuters it was committed to remaining compliant to all the laws of the land, adding that all sellers make their own independent decisions of what to list and when. Exclusive deals with sellers will be discontinued, the two sources said. It is unclear how long the disruption will last. Would-be buyers of Echo speakers on Amazon India saw a message reading: We dont know when or if this item will be back in stock. The impact of the changes on Flipkart was not clear. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a letter to Indias industries department in January, Chief Executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy said the rules required Flipkart to assess all elements of its business operations and risked causing significant customer disruption. 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. Revenues from India grew by 10 percent to Rs 670 crore driven by volume traction and new products. Europe sales was up by one per cent to Rs 200 crore, the official said. Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd registered a 45 percent increase in its profit after tax for the quarter ended 31 December at Rs 485 crore against Rs 334 crore in the third quarter of FY18, a senior official of the city-based drug maker said Friday. President, CFO and global head of HR of Dr Reddy's, Saumen Chakraborty told reporters here, consolidated revenues for the quarter under review was up by one percent to Rs 3,850 crore. It was Rs 3,806 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. The growth was based on improved performance in emerging markets, improved cost efficiencies and also party due to the profit booked on the sale of one of their plants here, he said. "It has been a good quarter. On profit the year on year growth is 45 percent. There was also profit we made out of the sale of our Jeedimetla plant," Chakraborty said in a press conference. Though the company was able to book a health profit during the quarter, revenues from North America declined by eight percent despite new product launches. Revenues from North America declined by eight percent to Rs 1,480 crore against Rs 1,607 crore in Q3 FY18. "In North America, the total revenue was 1,483 crore so there is a year on year decline of 8 percent, but quarter on quarter there is a 4 percent growth. Year-on-Year decline is due to the new launches we had last year. They were very good launches, that's why the base was very high. We have been able to launch 10 new products in Q3 of FY 19 in North America," he said. Replying to query, he said the company bets big on the proposed launches of three products- Copaxone, Suboxone and birth control device Nuvaring. Revenues from global generics segment in Q3 was reported at Rs 3,135 crore, a year-on-year growth of four per cent over the same quarter last year, primarily driven by contributions from emerging markets and India. Revenues from emerging markets was at Rs 770 crore registering 31 percent growth on year-on-year basis primarily on account of new launches, traction in new markets and improved volume off take in the existing markets. Revenues from India grew by 10 percent to Rs 670 crore driven by volume traction and new products. Europe sales was up by one per cent to Rs 200 crore, the official said. Revenues from pharmaceutical services and active ingredients stood at Rs 594 crore in the third quarter with nine percent growth over the Q2 of FY18. The pharma company may spend lesser amount on capex this year owing to the availability of sufficient capacities. "We continued to improve our performance in the third quarter of FY 19, supported by significant growth in emerging markets and India, pickup in new product launches, and improvements in cost structure. We are on track towards delivering sustainable and profitable growth," company CEO and co-chairman G V Prasad said in a press release. 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. As Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presents he Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the Lok Sabha polls, here are the highlights of his speech. Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday presented the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the Lok Sabha polls with a firm eye on income tax reductions and the effect they would have on middle-class voters. Traditionally, in situations where a government may not be in power for the full duration of the budget period, a full Union Budget is not presented. Instead, the finance minister announces what is called a vote-on-account a much simpler plan with no major tax or scheme announcements in it. Goyal, however, went beyond seeking just a formal Parliament nod for government expenditure for the months remaining of the next fiscal and instead went on to point out the government's notable achievements, fiscal reforms and quite a few tax exemptions, a move no doubt aimed to woo rural and urban middle-class voters. He called the budget not an "interim" one but a "roadmap for development". Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, speculations are rife in the media on whats likely to be the trump card of the Narendra Modi government in this final Budget. Goyal, notably, announced that Rs 60,000 crore has been allocated for MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) to fight the unemployment crisis in the country. Here are the highlights of the Budget 2019 speech announced by Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal: The standard deduction for the salaried is raised to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000. Exemption of tax deducted at source on interest earned from bank or post office savings is raised to Rs 40,000 from Rs 10,000. Once in a lifetime, the benefit of rollover of capital tax gains can be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer with capital gains of up to Rs 2 crore rupees. No income tax for an individual earning up to Rs 5 lakh per year. No tax for individuals with gross income of upto Rs 6.5 lakh if they make investments. Customs duty will be lowered to 10-15 percent on import of parts and components of vehicles, to promote domestic assembling of electric vehicles. Tax collection has increased to Rs 12 lakh crore this year. As much as Rs 6.85 crore of income tax returns have been collected. Rs 1,30,000 crore of black money has been returned thanks to demonetisation. Businesses with less than Rs 5 crore of total turnover will need to file income tax returns every three months. Monthly consumption of mobile data increased by over 50 times. Cost of data and voice calls is perhaps the lowest in the world in India. International Solar Alliance was set up, the first treaty-based international organisation, headquartered in India. India's solar energy output has seen 10 percent increase. But there is an urgent need to increase hydrocarbon production. Indian Railways has experienced the safest year in its history. No unmanned level-crossing exists on the broad gauge network any longer. India is the fastest highway developer in the world. Defence budget has increased to Rs three lakh crore for the first time. More than 100 airports are operational in the country and domestic passenger traffic has doubled in last five years. "One Rank One Pension", a promise that has been pending for the last forty years, has been brought by the government which has announced Rs 35,000 crore for the purpose. A substantial hike for military personnel deployed in high risk areas has been affected. The government has set aside at least Rs 500 crore for a mega pension scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3000 per month for workers in the unorganized sector after 60 years of age. A national programme on artificial intelligence will be set up. Over 1 crore youth are being trained. Mudra, StartUp India, and StandUp India will lead the country into a path of employment. Allocation to the North East is to be increased by 21 percent over the previous fiscal year. The government will earmark Rs 75,000 crore for income support for distressed farmers who have seen their earnings stagnate because of plunging prices which have proven insufficient to pay for loans and input costs. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Ayog to look after effective implementation of policies and schemes for the welfare of cows. Rs 60,000 crore has been allocated for MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). The current account deficit is likely to be only 2.5 percent of the GDP this year. Income tax calculator Follow LIVE updates on Budget 2019 The Atal Pension Yojana levies heavy penalties for delay in paying monthly contributions, or inability to pay contributions for certain months. The Narendra Modi led NDA-government, in its last budget for its term, has announced a mammoth pension plan for the unorganised sector, called the Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan Mega Pension Yojana (PMSYM), which Finance Minister Piyush Goyal dubbed it as the mega pension yojana in his Budget speech on Friday. At the moment, only sketchy and bare minimum details have been made available, and while we wait for further clarification on the scheme, it will be instructive to do a quick recap of the erstwhile, and the still continuing pension scheme for the unorganised sector, the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and what to look out for in the PMSYM. Age restriction: The APY was largely criticised for its restrictive age requirements of 18 to 40 years, for contributing to the scheme. So far, it seems like the age bracket has been revised to 18-60 yrs in the PMSYM, but there is no clarity on how long the co-contribution by the government will be for. In the APY, the governments co-contribution was limited to five years (2015-16 to 2019-20). In the PMSYM, the government has announced co-contribution, and it will be interesting to see if this is made perpetual. Mandatory bank account: Another criticism of the APY was its mandatory requirement of having a bank account. In the PMSYM, the government has decided to roll out pensions to the unorganised sector, through the Jan Dhan Yojana. A fundamental issue then, and even now, remains the cost of entry into this scheme, namely, a mandatory bank account. However, it is heartening to see that the focus of the Jan Dhan has finally been shifted from the household, to the individual. This is a much-needed reform for making financial inclusion more gendered. Aadhaar: The APY form made Aadhaar compulsory in 2017. Not only was Aadhaar made compulsory for the subscriber, but also for the spouse of the subscriber, if married. In spite of the Supreme Court judgment on Aadhaar in 2018, which made Aadhaar non-mandatory for services such as banking and telephony, the pensions regulator specifically requested UIDAI to allow Aadhaar seeding, despite clear evidence on the exclusionary features of compulsory Aadhaar linkage to social benefit schemes like ration, and pensions. Harmonisation of schemes: The PMSYM is supposed to run concurrently with the APY. There has been no clarity provided as to why there are two national level pension schemes running simultaneously for the same target audience, with a waste of regulatory resources, and coordination problems, not to mention confusion amongst subscribers. India already has a plethora of various social security legislations, schemes, both at the Union, and the state level, causing a colossal waste of resources, and resulting regulatory arbitrage. In 2018, sixty economists had written to the government urging it to universalise social security pensions for the elderly, single women and persons with disabilities with the Union contribution pegged at Rs 500 per person per month. It will be interesting to see if the PMSYM can be eventually converted into a larger, all-encompassing social security programme. NALSA: The APY is also violative of the NALSA judgment for providing a gender binary form, that is, options of only male and female. It is hoped that the PMSYM will allow for a third gender category in the form. NALSA expands to National Legal Services Authority. Penalty: Lastly, while details on penalties for the exit, delay in paying monthly contributions, or inability to pay contributions for certain months is awaited, it is hoped, that unlike the APY which levied heavy penalties for all of these, the PMSYM takes a more empathetic route to nudge savings. The author is a Delhi-based policy lawyer Follow full coverage of Union Budget 2019-20 here Income tax calculator Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2019) - Tower Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TWR) (OTCQB: TWRFF) ("Tower" or the "Company") announces that Garett Macdonald has tendered his resignation as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. Mr. Macdonald's departure will be effective as of February 28, 2019 in order to assist in facilitating a smooth transition to new management. The Board of Directors is actively seeking a new President and CEO, and has identified a number of qualified candidates. Gerald Shields, Chairman of Tower, stated: "On behalf of the Board I wish to thank Mr. Macdonald for his service to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavours." About Tower Resources Tower is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in the Americas. The Company's key exploration assets are the Rabbit North copper-gold porphyry project located between the New Afton and Highland Valley Copper mines, the Nechako gold project near New Gold's Blackwater project and the More Creek and Voigtberg gold projects in the Golden Triangle area of Northern British Columbia. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tower Resources Ltd. Gerald Shields - Chairman (604) 558-2565 www.towerresources.ca Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42610 NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Dinosaur Financial Group, LLC (Dinosaur), a New York-based institutional brokerage firm, today announced its partnership with tZERO Group, Inc., a global leader in blockchain innovations for the capital markets. Dinosaur is the broker-dealer to provide brokerage accounts for investors seeking to trade tZERO's digital security tokens, which is one of the first offerings on a decentralized network intending to be fully-compliant with the U.S. securities laws. Dinosaur Managing Director of Equity Trading Elliot Grossman commented: "Becoming the provider of brokerage accounts for tZERO security token holders is a significant milestone for Dinosaur. Blockchain is changing how securities are traded and settled, and I am particularly proud that Dinosaur has joined with tZERO, tZERO's broker-dealer subsidiary, PRO Securities (and the PRO ATS), PRO's other partners and Electronic Transaction Clearing to pioneer disruptive changes for issuance, trading, and settlement in the capital markets." He added: "tZERO's security token is a digital security tracked via a blockchain protocol. It's an evolutionary change that will reduce operational risk and drastically improve the process of clearance and settlement." Dinosaur Founder and Chairman Glenn Grossman said: "We are very pleased to have partnered with tZERO and PRO Securities and to offer our services to accredited investors interested in trading digital securities. Dinosaur is an agile business, and our clients expect us to use leading-edge technology, so today's announcement should be no surprise. Working with blockchain technology is a natural step for me because of my previous work pioneering electronic trading in US Treasury markets." tZERO CEO Saum Noursalehi noted: "We're very excited to be joining forces with Dinosaur as the broker-dealer for our new security token platform. With Dinosaur, we have found a firm that understands our vision to bring transparency and efficiency to global markets and accelerate the adoption of security tokens." tZERO, a subsidiary of the digital retailer Overstock.com and a Medici Ventures portfolio company, is one of the first companies to issue security tokens. The launch of trading will be a pivotal moment for the company and its founder, Patrick Byrne, who has championed blockchain technology since he learned about it in 2014. Mr. Byrne founded tZERO soon after in 2014 with the purpose of bringing innovation and transparency to financial markets through blockchain. Dinosaur is a New York-based brokerage firm and investment bank with extensive experience in capital markets and a global reach. The team behind Dinosaur, led by father-son pair, Glenn and Elliot Grossman, has decades of experience in electronic markets globally. Its institutional brokerage provides clients with a comprehensive investment service and is now making its services available for tZERO's security tokens. In 2016, tZERO's parent, Overstock.com, was the issuer of the world's first public crypto security, and PRO Securities, the broker-dealer subsidiary of tZERO, introduced the concept of real-time trade settlement. Almost three years later, PRO Securities is now using tZERO technology, making its first steps toward a blockchain-powered market alongside its newest partner, Dinosaur. Using the tZERO technology, the digital securities trading platform is designed to enable private resale transactions to accredited investors, consistent with U.S. securities law. Dinosaur was advised by Seward & Kissel LLP and tZERO was represented by Jones Day on this transaction. About Dinosaur Group Holdings, LLC: Founded in 2001, the Group's operating subsidiaries bring together capital markets and investment banking with leading-edge technology, international networks, and personal relationships. With offices in London, New York, Madrid, and Milan, the Group has a focus on the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Dinosaur Merchant Bank Ltd. (DMBL), an independent challenger bank, fully regulated by the FCA, Dinosaur Financial Group, regulated by FINRA and the SEC and DCM Advisors, a registered investment advisor regulated by the SEC, are all subsidiaries of Dinosaur Group Holdings LLC. For more information, please visit http://dinogroup.com/, https://dinogroup.eu/, and www.dcmadvisors.com. About tZERO tZERO Group, Inc. ("tZERO") is a majority-owned subsidiary of Overstock.com, focusing on the development and commercialization of financial technology (FinTech) based on cryptographically-secured, decentralized ledgers - more commonly known as blockchain technologies. Since its inception, tZERO has pioneered the effort to bring greater efficiency and transparency to capital markets through the integration of blockchain technology. tZERO is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal, investment adviser or investment manager and does not provide any brokerage services. tZERO takes no part in the negotiation or execution of secondary market transactions for the purchase or sale of securities and at no time has possession of investor funds or securities in connection with such transactions. Secondary market trades will be executed by PRO Securities, LLC, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC, through the PRO ATS. More information about PRO Securities may be found at www.finra.org. About Overstock.com Overstock.com, Inc. Common Shares OSTK, +3.73% / Series A Preferred (Medici ventures' tZERO platform:OSTKP) / Series B Preferred (otcqx:OSTBP) is an online retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells a broad range of products at low prices, including furniture, decor, rugs, bedding, and home improvement. In addition to home goods, Overstock.com offers a variety of products including jewelry, electronics, apparel, and more, as well as a marketplace providing customers access to hundreds of thousands of products from third-party sellers. Additional stores include Pet Adoptions and Worldstock.com dedicated to selling artisan-crafted products from around the world. Forbes ranked Overstock in its list of the Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in 2014. Overstock regularly posts information about the company and other related matters under Investor Relations on its website, http://www.overstock.com. O, Overstock.com, O.com, Club O, Main Street Revolution, and Worldstock are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. O.biz and Space Shift are also trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks, and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners. This press release contains certain 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 include all statements other than statements of historical fact. Additional information regarding factors that could materially affect results and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein may be found in Overstock's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and any subsequent filings with the SEC. Media contacts: John Norris / Alice Jiga Moonlight Media Email: dinosaur@moonlightmedia.co.uk Tel: +44(0)20-7250-4770 Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2019) - Beauce Gold Fields Inc. (TSXV: BGF) (BGF) is pleased to inform shareholders that the new listing the common shares of Beauce Gold Fields Inc. will commence trading on TSX Venture Exchange Monday February 4, 2019 under the stock symbol BGF. Mr. Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO of Beauce Gold Fields stated: "The listing of Beauce Gold Fields on the TSX Venture Exchange will provide visibility to showcase the Beauce Gold project, a fantastic but overlooked historical placer gold district. The Beauce is Canada's last underexplored historical placer mining camp. It's similar to the White Gold projects in the Yukon or the Cariboo district in B.C. in that they are both placer gold mining camps as well, but recently had major gold discoveries as placer to hard rock exploration projects." Mr. Levasseur further stated, "Combining our large claims holding in the Beauce together with our increased knowledge of the geology, we believe we have narrowed the search in exploring for a hard rock gold deposit." For further information regarding the new listing of Beauce Gold Fields, please refer to the Listing Application (Form 2B) dated January 30, 2019 of the Company, which is available on SEDAR. Please also refer to the Management Information Circular dated July 11, 2018 of HPQ (HPQ Silicon Resources), which is also available on SEDAR. About Beauce Gold Fields Beauce Gold Fields is a gold exploration company focused on placer to hard rock exploration in the Beauce region of Southern Quebec. The Company's flagship property is the Beauce Gold project, a unique, historically significant gold property located in the municipality of Saint-Simon-les-Mines. Comprising of a block of 152 claims as well as 7 real estate lots, the project area hosts a six kilometre long unconsolidated gold-bearing sedimentary unit (a lower saprolite and an upper brown diamictite). Textural observations (angularity) of gold nuggets suggest a relatively proximal source and therefore a short transport distance. The gold in saprolite indicates a close proximity to a bedrock source of gold, providing possible further exploration discoveries. The property was host to Canada's first gold rush before the 1890s Klondike gold rush also hosts numerous historical gold mines that were active from 1860s to the 1960s (see HPQ SEDAR-filed July 4 2018 43-101 report). Beauce Gold Fields website www.beaucegold.com Disclaimers: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding mineral exploration. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information contact Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO Tel: (514) 262-9239 Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and COO Tel (514) 907-1011 www.beaucegold.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42609 CHENNAI, India and SUNNYVALE, California, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Indium Software, a global end-to-end software services provider, announced that it has enhanced its digital services capability by becoming a Microsoft Partner Network member with the Silver Analytics Competency. This will give Indium greater access to Microsoft tools, technologies and training that will in turn benefit its customers in their digital transformation journey. Microsoft Azure is an open, flexible and enterprise-grade cloud computing platform trusted by 95% of Fortune 500 businesses, governments and startups. It offers a wide portfolio of tools in Data Management, Advanced Analytics, IOT, Machine Learning & AI, to meet customers' evolving needs in today's mobile-first, cloud-first world. Indium Software has a growing team of certified experts working on various Microsoft platforms. By signing up with the Microsoft Partner Network, the company is taking this relationship to its logical extension. This will not only help Indium Software gain a deeper understanding of the business goals of its customers, but also assist them along the way in technology selection, tool advisory, data migration, system continuity, center of excellence establishment etc., thereby laying the foundation for sustainable success. Indium Software has the required infrastructure, a strong team, cross-domain experience, analytical capabilities, and expertise in holistic solution development to be able to leverage this partnership. The company has 50+ Microsoft-ready members in-house, and can immediately deliver on the Microsoft tech stack, ranging across Big Data & Data Management, Data Visualization and Advanced Analytics. "We believe that the Microsoft Silver Analytics Competency is a step forward in increasing our ability to delight our customers with a wider range of Data Analytics capabilities and technology choices," says Ram Sukumar, Co-Founder and CEO. "By achieving the Silver Analytics Competency, Indium Software has proven its commitment and expertise in specific technology areas, which places them among a small percentage of Microsoft partners worldwide," said Rajiv Sodhi, General Manager Partner Ecosystem at Microsoft India. "For customers looking for a partner to help meet their unique business needs, choosing a company like Indium Software, that has attained Microsoft competencies is a smart move. They have highly qualified experts with access to Microsoft technical support and product teams." Indium Software has successfully implemented solutions on both Microsoft Azure & Power BI platforms. It recently helped a customer ingest data from various data sources to improve visibility, accessibility and provide business insights of its sales performance globally. The process involved setting up Azure Data Factory pipeline to extract the required data sets and then visualize using Power BI dashboards which were integrated within an enterprise web UI. In another instance, Indium Software leveraged Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio to help a leading ecommerce aggregator by delivering a product categorization solution. This solution was achieved by "name matching" various product categories across websites to ensure that their customers had access to faster free-text searches and better user experience overall. The Microsoft Partner Network helps partners strengthen their capabilities to showcase leadership in the marketplace on latest technologies, to better serve customers and to easily connect with one of the most active, diverse networks in the world. About Indium Software Indium Software is a rapidly growing technology solutions company with deep expertise in Big Data solutions, Analytics services, Independent QA, Blockchain and Gaming. It has over 19 years of experience, serving 350+ customers ranging from Fortune 100 to Global 5000 with a growing team of 700 associates. Indium Software has been serving customers in North America, India, APAC, Europe and South Africa. They operate through their registered offices in the Bay Area, New Jersey, Atlanta and Kuala Lumpur. Their Global Delivery Centers are located in Chennai and Bangalore, India. Indium Software has spearheaded and supported many technology-led business transformation programs for its customers. Thanks to a ringside view to the world of technology across the globe, Indium Software had the unique opportunity to constantly evolve and learn from their customers. This unique world-view, coupled with a forward-looking mindset, has been helping Indium continuously scale up existing solution areas, while building and nurturing new services. 1 February 2019 Clear Leisure Plc ("Clear Leisure" or "the Company") Mediapolis Update The Board of Clear Leisure (AIM: CLP) advises that it has been informed by its legal advisors that the terms for filing the Mediapolis appeal to the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court) is now 6 months, rather than the 60 days as announced on 3 December 2018. This is as a result of the notification procedure adopted by the Ivrea Court, which allows for a longer term to appeal for the Company. Notwithstanding the extended deadline, the Company has already instructed its legal advisors to draft and file the appeal. In addition, the Board has been notified that at the creditors hearing held at the Ivrea Court on 25 January 2019, the creditors list of Mediapolis has been updated to include late admission requests. Further to the announcement of 12 June 2018, the Court has admitted further unsecured creditors to the amount of 104,719 and other creditors ranked above unsecured creditors, but below the first charge, for 100,067. Clear Leisure 2017 Ltd ("CL2017"), the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, is the beneficiary of a first charge on the Mediapolis land up to an amount of approximately 2.68 million, whilst the Company and CL2017 also hold an unsecured creditor position of approximately 8.21 million on Mediapolis. -ends- For further information please contact: Clear Leisure Plc +39 335 296573 Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive Chairman SP Angel Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser & Broker) +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Jeff Keating / John Mackay Leander (Financial PR) +44 (0) 7795 168 157 Christian Taylor-Wilkinson About Clear Leisure Plc Clear Leisure plc (AIM: CLP) is an AIM listed investment company with a portfolio of companies primarily encompassing the leisure and real estate sectors mainly in Italy. The focus of management is to pursue the monetisation of all of the Company's existing assets, through selected realisations, court-led recoveries of misappropriated assets and substantial debt-recovery processes. The Company has recently realigned its strategic focus to technology related investments, with special regard to interactive media, blockchain and AI sectors. For further information, please visit, www.clearleisure.co.uk Talking about race may be one of the most difficult conversations we can have in this country, and certainly in our city. It will take a sustained educational effort to open minds and hearts to the reality of what many see as our countrys original sin, followed by specific actions to change this reality. But it is my hope and prayer that by owning and taking action to address the issue of racism today, the church can help bring light for all, in Baltimore City and beyond, as we move forward on the journey to racial justice. SpendEdge, a global procurement market intelligence firm, has announced the release of their Global SaaS Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005232/en/ Global SaaS Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report (Graphic: Business Wire) According to procurement experts, the SaaS market is headed for an accelerating spend momentum because of the extensive usage of vertical SaaS applications along with the growth of micro SaaS businesses, and the emergence of mobile-based SaaS applications. However, increasing data security concerns and limited internet connectivity will impede the SaaS market growth and fluctuate the SaaS pricing dynamics in some of the major economies. Read the Free Sample copy of this SaaS procurement market intelligence report to know more about this market. Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning by the top SaaS companies in their service delivery models is attracting a large portion of the customer base in the US. This is significantly contributing to the SaaS market growth in the region. End-user industries in North America are accounting for increased usage of SaaS-based applications such as HCM, office suites, e-mails, and web conferencing which is propelling the SaaS market growth in the region. The current SaaS market in APAC is expected to grow at the fastest rate because of the increasing adoption of cloud computing software and rising demand for subcategories such as CRM from end-user industries. This SaaS procurement market intelligence report offers a comprehensive analysis of the primary cost drivers and its subsequent impact on the overall SaaS pricing. Current supply market forecasts and the spend opportunities for the suppliers are also offered in this market intelligence report. In this report, the category spend is analyzed from the perspective of the buyers and the suppliers. Want personalized information? Request a free customization of the market intelligence report on SaaS here! "Buyers should also assess the customization capabilities of the SaaS applications which are crucial to determine the feasibility of these applications in their existing business infrastructure," says SpendEdge procurement expert Tridib Bora. This procurement research report has estimated that the following cost drivers will influence the SaaS pricing dynamics and the overall SaaS market growth in the following years: Rising advertising and promotional costs will result in the category price growth Increasing cyberattacks will contribute to the category risk Buy the full market intelligence report on SaaS 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 information technology category provide detailed supply market forecasts and information on 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: SaaS US market insights Supplier cost structure in the US Margins of suppliers in the US Overall SaaS pricing outlook Interested to know more about the scope of our market intelligence reports?Download a FREE sample Best practices Procurement excellence best practices Procurement best practices Sustainability practices Want customized information from the SaaS 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 various 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 Enterprise Application Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report Global Data Center Services 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/20190201005232/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us DIDCOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 1, 2019 / Altus Strategies Plc ('Altus' or the 'Company') (AIM: ALS; TSX-V: ALTS), the Africa focused exploration project generator, announces that the Letter of Intent ('LOI') with Raptor Resources Ltd ('Raptor'), as announced by the Company on 4th September 2018, has been terminated by mutual consent. The LOI envisaged Raptor earning a 100% interest in Atlantic Resources Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of Aterian Resources Ltd, the Company's wholly owned Moroccan focused exploration subsidiary. The Company will now advance discussions with other third parties who have expressed interest in Aterian. In the meantime the Company's exploration programmes in Morocco are unaffected. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement. For further information you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact: Altus Strategies Plc Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0) 1235 511 767 E: info@altus-strategies.com SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) Richard Morrison / Soltan Tagiev Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 SP Angel (Broker) Richard Parlons / Jonathan Williams Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471 Blytheweigh (Financial PR) Tim Blythe / Camilla Horsfall / James Husband Tel: +44 (0) 20 7138 3204 About Altus Strategies Plc Altus is a London (AIM: ALS) and Toronto (TSX-V: ALTS) listed, diversified and Africa focused mineral exploration project generator. Through our subsidiaries we discover new projects and attract third party capital to fund their growth, development and ultimately exit optionality. This strategy enables Altus to remain focused on the acquisition of new opportunities to be fed into the project generation cycle and aims to minimise shareholder dilution. Our business model is designed to create a growing portfolio of well managed and high growth potential projects and royalties, diversified by commodity and by country. Altus currently has eighteen projects in six commodities across six countries. We aim to position our shareholders at the vanguard of value creation, but with significantly reduced risks traditionally associated with investments in the mineral exploration sector. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include without limitation the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programmes on schedule and the success of exploration programmes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Altus Strategies PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/534182/Termination-of-Letter-of-Intent-with-Raptor-Resources-for-Morocco-Subsidiary SpendEdge, a global procurement market intelligence firm, has announced the release of their Global Plastic Pails Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005137/en/ Global Plastic Pails Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report. Concerns over environmental footprints have caused a significant shift to the usage of recyclable and post-consumer plastics in the manufacturing of plastic pails. This is increasing the global acceptability of plastic pails among different end-user sectors such as the packaging industry, thereby; accelerating the category spend momentum. High customization ability of plastic pails in accordance to size, shape, moldability, the material used in its manufacturing process is further supplementing the category demand for packaging a wide range of products such as food and beverages, chemicals, paints and adhesives, pharmaceutical products, and lubricants. However, the unstable raw material prices and the spiraling logistics costs will require major changes in the purchasing strategies that are currently being followed to procure plastic pails. Get the Free Sample copy of this market intelligence report that contains multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, cost drivers, challenges, critical purchasing strategies, and more. The presence of a strong economy with an incremental federal spend on public infrastructure projects will augment construction activities in the US. This will create demand for products such as paints and construction chemicals, that will require plastic pails to fulfill their packaging requirements. Plastic pails have witnessed extensive application in the manufacturing process in Europe following the implementation of a new directive in the EU that requires all the member countries to minimize packaging waste. In the recent times, APAC is witnessing exponential growth in the construction industry which is creating a huge demand for construction materials such as chemicals, paints, and adhesives, that in turn will require sustainable materials like plastic pails for packaging. This procurement research report offers a detailed overview of the critical cost drivers, primary purchasing strategies, and category management insights that can aid in devising a sustainable procurement strategy for plastic pails. This plastic pails procurement market intelligence report also highlights the current supply market developments to help the buyers choose the appropriate vendors who can promise a steady supply assurance. Not what you are looking for? Request for free customization "Category managers must ensure that the products delivered by the suppliers must exhibit the specified tensile strength, should be airtight and leak-proof, and be non-reactive to buyers' products," says SpendEdge procurement expert Tridib Bora. "Such properties help preserve the content inside the package during the storage and transportation stages," added Tridib. This plastic pails market intelligence report has highlighted the cost drivers that will play critical roles in adjusting the purchasing strategies in the current market: Assessing product bundling opportunities can help buyers maximize cost savings Rise in logistics costs will be a key concern for buyers during the forecast period Get the full market intelligence reportto know more about the complete scope of this report 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 packaging and labeling category offer information on critical cost drivers and critical purchasing strategies to help the buyers achieve significant cost-savings. The supply market forecasts provide information on supplier performance benchmarking criteria to help buyers reduce spend and establish better SLAs. Additionally, SpendEdge's reports offer category management insights and procurement best practices for the category. Report scope snapshot: Plastic pails Category ecosystem Market favorability index for suppliers Competitiveness index for suppliers Threat of new entrants Interested to know more about the scope of our market intelligence reports? Download a FREE sample Category management enablers Procurement organization Category enablers Want customized information from our plastic pails procurement research report? Get in touch Category definition Category hierarchy Category scope Category map To view this the complete table of contents for the 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 Tinplate Packaging Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report Global Cosmetics and Perfume Packaging 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/20190201005137/en/ Contacts: Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us St. John's, Newfoundland--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2019) -Sokoman Iron Corp. (TSXV: SIC) (OTCQB: SICNF) (the "Company" or "Sokoman") is pleased to announce that it now owns a 100% interest in the Moosehead Gold Property, subject to a 2% NSR, having spent a required minimum of $500,000 in exploration expenditures as operator within the first year as per its option agreement (the "Option") with Altius Resources Inc. Under the terms of an agreement announced on November 9, 2017 and approved by TSX Venture Exchange on March 23, 2018, Sokoman had the exclusive right to acquire a 100% interest in Altius' high-grade Moosehead Gold Project in central Newfoundland, in part by committing to $500,000.00 in exploration expenditures within the first year of agreement. Tim Froude, President and CEO commented: "This is a significant milestone for Sokoman and its shareholders. Altius has notified us of the transfer of ownership, and the transfer of License was approved by the Minister of Natural Resources. The Moosehead project consists of 98 claims encompassing 24.5 square kilometres. Our exploration activities to date include some 50 diamond drill holes (~9,500 m) that are being incorporated, along with historic assays, into a 3D software program to view and model the mineralized zones. Recently completed Phase 2 drilling has returned multiple high-grade intersections including 24.90 m grading 33.56 grams per tonne gold from the newly discovered Eastern Trend Shear Zone. The recent preliminary report on the structure of the Eastern Trend has greatly improved our understanding of the high-grade shear zone at the Eastern Trend and will guide exploration on that front. Phase 3 diamond drilling has begun and will focus on the Eastern Trend high grade shear zone as well as selected high priority targets elsewhere on the property." Altius, and a private, arms-length third party, will retain a combined 2.0% NSR royalty (1.5% to Altius) and certain preferential rights on any future royalties or streams granted on the Moosehead property, and will be granted a pro rata right to participate in future equity financings of Sokoman for three years. Altius and Sokoman will have the right to include as part of the property any additional claims acquired by them within a two kilometre area of interest. QP This news release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Froude, P. Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of Sokoman Iron Corp. About Sokoman Iron Corp. Sokoman Iron Corp. (TSXV: SIC) is a discovery-oriented company with projects in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects in Central Newfoundland on the structural corridor hosting the 4.2 million ounce Valentine Lake gold project 150 km southwest of the Company's high-grade Moosehead gold project. The Company also has a 100% interest in an early-stage antimony project in Newfoundland recently optioned to White Metal Resources, as well as a 100% interest in the Iron Horse (Fe/U/REE) project in Western Labrador. To learn more, please contact: Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President & CEO 709-765-1726 tfroude@sokomaniron.com Cathy Hume, Director, Investor Relations 416-868-1079 cathy@chfir.com Website: www.sokomaniron.com Twitter: @SokomanIron Facebook: @SokomanIron Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Sokoman Iron Corp. will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Sokoman Iron Corp. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42607 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. GUIYANG, China, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- From December 19, 2018 to January 12, 2019, MoutaiBellAroundWorld, an interactive marketing campaign launched one week before the Christmas Day, drew the attention of Moutai fans across the world. The marketing campaign was on Moutai's Twitter and Facebook pages. Moutai presented an excellent marketing campaign in a unique way to enhance the image of the Chinese brand overseas, promoting cultural exchanges across the world, and popularizing Chinese culture. A Moutai Tasting Party at the Christmas Market in Dompierre-Sur-Yon, France, was held on December 8, 2018, where the mayor and citizens of Dompierre-Sur-Yon were present, tasting Moutai and feeling the charm of China. It successfully aroused the expectation of fans of Moutai from all corners of the world. Moutai made a customized "Christmas Bell" and imbedded beads with Moutai liquor in it, so as to express its appreciation for an "aromatic world". Moutai launched an online warming-up event MoutaiBell to show the ingenious design of the bell and a 360 interactive game to attract fans to attend the event. The creative UGC event with distinctive Chinese characteristics drew in more than 500 fans from 12 countries and regions such as the United States, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. The event combined creative marketing strategies with Western festive customs to build Moutai into a symbol of China and acquaint the rest of the world with Moutai. Moutai has achieved remarkable results by refining its own cultural values and exploring overseas markets. It will continue to promote traditional Chinese culture and introduce the Chinese brand to the world. BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (the "Company") LEI: UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151 Voting Rights and Capital (Article 15 Transparency Directive, DTR 5.6) In conformity with the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rule 5.6.1R, the Company would like to notify the market of the following: As at 31 January 2019, BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc's capital consists of 39,259,620 Ordinary Shares of 10 cents each, carrying one vote each, excluding 2,181,662 ordinary shares held in treasury. As at 31 January 2019, the total number of voting rights for Ordinary shareholders in BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc is 39,259,620. Shareholders should use 39,259,620 as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company. All enquiries: Sarah Beynsberger for and on behalf of BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited Company Secretary Tel: 0207 743 2639 Date: 1 February 2019 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2019) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime") announced that effective January 31, 2019 the following board and management changes have occurred to reflect the continued evolution and development of Maritime as it works to further advance the high-grade Hammerdown gold project and its Whisker and Orion exploration projects in Newfoundland: Mr. Douglas Fulcher will no longer serve as Maritime's President and Chief Executive Officer and has resigned as a member of the board; Mr. Andrew Pooler will no longer serve as Maritime's Chief Operating Officer and has resigned as a member of the board; and Mr. Garett Macdonald, currently a member of the board, will serve as Maritime's President and Chief Executive Officer. Maritime's Chairman, Mr. John Hayes, stated, "I would like to thank Doug and Andrew, on behalf of Maritime and Maritime's board, for their service as Maritime's President and Chief Executive Officer and as Maritime's Chief Operating Officer, respectively. The company has benefited from Doug's efforts in guiding Maritime's operations and has also benefitted from Andrew's technical expertise as reflected in the progress the company has made to date on its projects." Mr. Hayes continued, "On behalf of Maritime and Maritime's board, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Garett as Maritime's President and Chief Executive Officer. With his diverse and extensive engineering experience in project development and mine operations, including both open pit and narrow vein underground settings, the board believes that Garrett will provide the necessary technical and corporate leadership to Maritime as the company examines and advances development opportunities at Hammerdown. His innovation and commercial focus have earned him the reputation for producing results which will benefit Maritime at this important stage in its history and in the development of the company's projects." About Maritime Resources Corp: Maritime Resources holds a 100% interest in the Green Bay Property, located near Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors, John Hayes Chairman For further information, please call: John Hayes Telephone: 1-866-991-7004 info@maritimeresourcescorp.co The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding copper, gold and silver forecasts, the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, copper concentrate, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per pound sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable security law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42598 OTTAWA, Ontario, February 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- All $ are CAD After four decades of innovation and commercial success, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to launch a special 40th anniversary edition of the Gold Maple Leaf, celebrating the bullion coin that the global precious metal industry has come to accept as the standard against which all other gold bullion coins are measured. When it began in 1979 as a trial project to transform Canadian gold into pure gold investment coins, few could have predicted the runaway success and staying power of the highly-acclaimed Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin, with nearly 30 million ounces sold to date. Forty years later, it is the world's favourite gold bullion coin, with multiple benchmarks to its credit, such as unsurpassed purity, laser micro-engraving and Bullion DNA anti-counterfeiting technology. The Mint will start shipping this limited edition, 1 oz., 99.99% pure gold coin to official bullion distributors this month. "The Royal Canadian Mint is extremely proud to have distinguished itself as a global market leader by consistently raising the bar on the purity and security of its Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin", said Jennifer Camelon, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Our 40th anniversary Gold Maple Leaf is also a tribute to the talent and ingenuity of our people, who made it possible for the Mint to offer world's best gold bullion coin to our customers." In celebration of a truly Canadian success story, the special 40th anniversary Gold Maple Leaf coin is entirely crafted from gold responsibly sourced from Canadian mines. Its reverse features an intricate engraving of the signature Walter Ott-designed sugar maple leaf intertwined with the number 40, highlighted by contrasting finishes. The familiar obverse, distinguished by the Susanna Blunt effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is double-dated 1979-2019. Like the 99.99% pure Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin that it honours, the anniversary coin has a distinct finish consisting of an array of precisely machined radial lines and its reverse features a micro-engraved maple leaf-shaped security containing the number 19, to denote its year of issue. Limited to a world-wide mintage of 15,000, this coin bears a $50 face value and will be sold as singles, in 25-coin tubes, or in a 500-coin monster box. Images of this new coin are available here. In keeping with a distribution model common to the world's major issuers of bullion coins, the Mint does not sell bullion directly to the public. Interested buyers are encouraged to contact a reputable bullion dealer to order these new gold and silver bullion coins. About the Royal Canadian Mint The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit http://www.mint.ca . Alex Reeves, Senior Advisor, External Communications, Royal Canadian Mint, +1-(613)-949-5777, reeves@mint.ca Kushal was also the Founder and CEO of Kanhatech Solutions Limited for five years, a subsidiary of Reliance Jio responsible for digital payments & commerce for customers, telecom agents and retail merchants To drive the blockchain-based enterprise business solutions in banking & financial services, mobile governance and enable blockchain start-ups in India . Belfrics Group has a current market valuation of over 400 million USD now and targets revenue growth of 10X in the next two years. MUMBAI, India, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Belfrics, a Malaysia-based global blockchain infrastructure & technology solution provider and a crypto asset exchange appoints Kumar Kushal as the Chief Technology Officer at the company. Mr. Kushal presently is also the Global CTO for Tiller Capital, a New York-based multibillion-dollar investment house with a diversified portfolio in technology, financial services, telecommunications and infrastructure. His role at Tiller Capital the last two years is that of a digital transformation business architect focused on delivering trusted computing technology, blockchain enabled financial services, e-retail, e-travel, e-commerce, supply chain management, logistics and supply chain financing. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816085/Kumar_Kushal___CTO___Belfrics_Group.jpg Kushal is an expert in building focused, result oriented technology teams and business development teams for global businesses by attracting and incentivizing the best global talent; driving business outcomes and revenue realizations through innovative technology solutions with differentiated product and service portfolios. With his in-depth knowledge of technology, expertise in implementing digital transformation and global network and more than 15 years of experience in the banking and financial services domain, Kushal mission is to grow Belfrics into a global market leader in blockchain technology driven business solutions. Mr. Kushal plans to hire hundreds hands on Java resources in Bangalore to deliver the current business pipeline Belfrics have from USA, Africa and Middle East. He is focused on creating next generation blockchain enabled digital FinTech revolution. Belfrics is offering their BelriumTM branded social media KYC and identity driven enterprise public blockchain infrastructure for systems integrators and the developer community globally. Making the announcement, Mr. Praveen Kumar, CEO, Belfrics said, "We are delighted to have Mr. Kushal as the CTO at Belfrics. A skilled and reputed leader with extensive experience in successfully leading and managing multiple programs and large teams simultaneously, Mr. Kushal brings with him a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge and global experience, which will help strengthen Belfrics' presence in the market as the leading player of Blockchain solution provider. His vast global experience spanning close to two decades will help take Belfrics to new heights by adding deeper research, latest technology and knowledge and newer business ideas. We at Belfrics are confident that Mr. Kushal will have great success in driving our technology vision forward." Expressing thoughts on joining Belfrics, Mr. Kumar C. Kushal said, "I am extremely excited to be a key stakeholder in such a dynamic company and scalable disruptive technology and hope to build great synergies together. Belfrics is known for its innovations in the sector and I wish to continue that distinction while scaling up the business. Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all and I am enthused to lead Belfrics' technology vertical to mark the company as the undisputed leader in the blockchain segment in the near future. I am thrilled with the immense possibilities and look forward to drive business values and deepen our relationships with the customers." Kumar Kushal has MS in Robotics from West Virginia University, USA and has done his B Tech in Engineering from IIT, Madras. About Belfrics: Belfrics Group is one of the leading blockchain technology firms and cryptocurrency exchanges with close of the world. Established in 2014, Belfrics is dedicated to disrupt global markets by making blockchain technology easily accessible to one and all. Headed by Founder & CEO - Praveen Kumar and his team have envisioned the opportunities and benefits of cryptocurrencies as the future of the digital currency market. Globally headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Belfrics Group has already expanded its operations across countries like Singapore, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Tanzania and Bahrain. Belfrics has already structured a team of skilled trading industry professionals who aim at maximizing the benefits of an individual investor through the company's reliable, simplified and secured trading platform. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816703/Belfrics_logo.jpg The European Investment Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares The European Investment Trust plc ("the Company") The Company announces that on 31 January 2019 it purchased the following number of its ordinary shares of 25 pence each on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Ordinary Shares: Date of purchase: 31 January 2019 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 26,000 Lowest price per share 791p Highest price per share 791p The Company intends to cancel the purchased shares. Following the above transaction, the Company has 40,930,269 ordinary shares in issue. Each of the Company's shares carries one vote. Accordingly, the total number of voting rights of the Company is 40,930,269. 1 February 2019 LEI: 213800QNN9EHZ4SC1R12 Enquiries: Kenneth J Greig Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited Tel: 0131 270 3800 The Company's registered office address is: Beaufort House 51 New North Road Exeter EX4 4EP And its not a matter thats yet settled. The consequences continued into that school year when days were shaved off of spring break to make up for inclement weather closures, leading to absences by students and teachers whod made irreversible plans for that period. And this school year, the Presidents Day holiday is on the chopping block in Baltimore City to make up for a January snow day, and next up is again spring break. Thats too much uncertainty for families to grapple with. LONDON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HH Global, the world's fastest-growing and most innovative marketing execution partner, today announced that its support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been recognised by the Support the Goals initiative. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a plan to end poverty, extreme inequality, and climate change by 2030 through the contribution of actions to elicit change. Support the Goals, has awarded a three-star rating to HH Global. Stars are awarded based on the public demonstration of plans, commitments, actions, and progress towards the achievement of the SDGs. In 2018 HH Global launched its "Innovation with Purpose" strategy - a triad approach to support the UN SDGs, develop innovative solutions, and foster the involvement of its employees, clients, and suppliers. This strategy has been implemented with the signing of the UN Global Compact, association with NGOs including Canopy, and the commitment to measure and achieve sustainability targets for the 2019 fiscal year. "We are pleased with the recognition. We built our "Innovation with Purpose" strategy to include support of the goals," stated Kevin Dunckley, Chief Digital and Innovation officer. "The promotion of innovative approaches to making more responsible choices for our clients is at the heart of what we do for our clients every day. Our clients have taken notice of our position as the leader in sustainable marketing execution. We are included as a partner with the opportunity to showcase our innovative approach." This recognition follows HH Global's achievement of the Green Supply Chain award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive as well as a short-list for the 2019 edie Sustainability awards. In a practical demonstration of commitment, HH Global recently celebrated the milestone of 1,000 employees in the business with the donation of the planting of 1,000 trees. Working with non-profit organization One Tree Planted, the trees will be planted in California as part of a major project to reforest after the devastating wildfires, which destroyed more than 1.3 million acres of forests. About HH Global HH Global Ltd., founded in 1991, is a leading, independent marketing execution partner to prominent brands in 44 countries. The company offers innovative and tailored solutions for the outsourced procurement of all types of printed marketing materials and creative production services, that drive down cost, speed time to market, improve quality, and increase sustainability. Every HH Global solution utilizes HHub, a best-in-class marketing execution application, an expansive list of suppliers, proprietary processes, and the deep expertise of over 1000 employees. The company also operates HH Labs, the center of its innovation program, that brings fresh, new ideas to clients. With more than $500M in spend under management, HH Global maintains a razor-sharp focus on cost and quality, combined with an industry-leading sustainability program, offering improvements that provide both fiscal and environmental value. For more information, visit www.hhglobal.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/471140/hh_global_Logo.jpg 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. LONDON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The partial US government shutdown which began on 22 December 2018 lasted 35 days and is the longest shutdown in US history. President Trump decided to re-open the government until 15 February to allow time for additional negotiations regarding the border security issues. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the recent shutdown will ultimately cost $3 billion as a direct result of the lack of provision of government services. Indirect effects are difficult to quantify and could be larger. Why was there a US government shut down? The partial US government shutdown was the 21st in US history and the longest running at 35 days. Shutdowns began in 1976 but the withholding of money for government services (the "funding gap") did not emerge until the seventh shutdown in 1981. Up until the 21-day shutdown that took place in 1995/1996 (the second longest on record), government shutdowns typically lasted between two and four days. The federal budget for FY 2019, which began on 1 October 2018, has already been agreed. However, Congress is required to pass "appropriations bills" designating how the funds will be divided among the various government agencies. The most recent shutdown arose because the President and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives could not agree on how to allocate the final 25% of the federal budget. President Trump vowed to veto any bill which did not provide money for "the wall" between the US and Mexico, which he believes is necessary to discourage illegal immigration. The Democrats oppose "the wall" and refused to draft a funding bill which includes this. As a result of the shutdown, around 420,000 federal employees worked without pay (e.g. airport security, border agents, etc.) and another 380,000 were furloughed without pay (they kept their jobs, did not report to work and were not paid). On 26 January, President Trump announced the federal government would re-open until 15th February, leaving about three weeks for a new deal to be agreed. One silver lining in the shutdown is that there is now broad, bipartisan support to change the appropriations process so that the federal government keeps running at its current spending level until a final funding allocation is agreed (i.e. the "funding gap' would be eliminated). Read the full story: https://www.crugroup.com/knowledge-and-insights/insights/2019/us-government-shutdown-implications-for-growth-and-policy/ Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU About CRU CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events. Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China. CRU employs over 260 experts and has more than 10 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia - our office in Beijing opened in 2004. When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response. CRU - big enough to deliver a high-quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers. TORONTO, February 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada-based firm expands to 5,000 professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries; combination establishes Avison Young as the global, disruptive challenger brand Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing, private and Principal-owned, global commercial real estate services firm, announced today that it has closed the acquisition of U.K.-based GVA, one of the U.K.'s leading and most diverse real estate advisory businesses. Effective immediately, the two companies will combine under one unified brand: Avison Young. The acquisition establishes Avison Young as the only privately held, Principal-led, global, full-service commercial real estate services firm. The combination also establishes Avison Young among the top five commercial real estate advisory businesses in the U.K. To further promote the firm's culture of partnership, Avison Young also announced today the post-acquisition leadership team: Avison Young Principal and U.K Managing Director Jason Sibthorpe becomes Principal and President, U.K.; GVA CEO Gerry Hughesbecomes Principal and Managing Director, U.K. and Managing Director, Global Consultancy; and GVA Chair Andy Mottram becomes Principal and Managing Director, Europe. As a result of the transaction, Avison Young now has approximately 5,000 real estate professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries. Avison Young adds offices in: the United Kingdom (London, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Maidenhead, Manchester, Newcastle); Austria (Vienna); Bulgaria (Sofia); China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai); Croatia (Zagreb); France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Paris); Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki); Italy (Milan, Rome); Norway (Oslo); Poland (Warsaw); Republic of Ireland (Dublin); Romania (Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara); Russia (Moscow); Spain (Madrid); and United Arab Emirates (Dubai). "This acquisition represents another milestone in our global expansion strategy, and the combination will better position Avison Young to serve our clients across the world," comments Rose. "Furthermore, the acquisition establishes Avison Young as the global, disruptive challenger brand. We are now 5,000 strong, having nearly doubled our size and ability to provide clients with whatever they need, wherever in the world they need it. In GVA, Avison Young has added a like-minded U.K. real estate leader - a company that brings a partnership culture formed during more than 200 years in business." Rose continues: "The acquisition increases our scale and presence, expands our global talent pool and reach, and enhances the breadth and balance of our services. Most importantly, the combination increases the resources that we can invest in innovation to keep our clients ahead of the curve." Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. As a result of the merger, Avison Young increases its revenue to 25 times its 2008 level to approximately C$1 billion. GVA brings to Avison Young a broad portfolio of national and international clients, including U.K. public institutions, multinational corporations, major space users, developers, owners, lenders and investors. The acquisition includes GVA Worldwide Ltd. - an international organization of licensed affiliate commercial real estate advisory companies with offices in 20 countries. GVA has 1,500 employees in 15 offices in the U.K., Ireland and Poland alone, and is a founding member and majority shareholder of GVA Worldwide. The scale and depth of GVA's offering is evidenced by the firm's services organized around a client's lifecycle of real estate: planning and development; project management and building consultancy; transactions; property management services; valuation and business rates. "Overnight, the ambitious growth strategy that I set out for our business three years ago has been achieved, and we can now serve our clients as a global full-service business, with an enviably strong consultancy and transactional offer," states Hughes. "The opportunities for our combined platform are vast, and I see one of the biggest growth areas stemming from the increasing trend for clients to seek strategic multi-consultancy real estate advice, which demands market intelligence, expertise and connections. The ability to provide such advice on a global scale is extraordinary and I look forward to helping to deliver that potential." He adds: "To say I'm delighted would be an understatement. Our merger with Avison Young is the perfect outcome for our business and our clients, and is the biggest opportunity that we have had since Grimley & Son and JR Eve merged in 1988." In the U.K. alone, Avison Young will now have 18 offices and 1,600 employees working with clients on the transaction and consultancy sides of the business. "Since Avison Young entered the U.K. in 2014, we have had the intent and ambition to build a market-leading real estate advisory business by leveraging our unique Principal-owned business model," adds Sibthorpe. "We have made significant progress and now, through this transaction, our two complementary businesses have combined to become a leading player in the U.K. market whilst also significantly strengthening the international capability and coverage. The exciting thing is that this is still the start of our journey with our new Principals and colleagues from GVA. Our ambition to build further and add market-leading talent that marries with our clients' strategies and expectations is absolute." In connection with the transaction, Avison Young has optimized its capital structure through a recapitalization. The acquisition and the refinancing have been funded through a combination of cash on hand, committed financing from Credit Suisse, CIBC and BofA Merrill Lynch, and additional common equity, including participation by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ). Avison Young has ample capital to invest further in its global growth strategy. Also in conjunction with the transaction, GVA senior directors who will become Avison Young Principals, and certain other GVA employees, will receive Avison Young shares. Today's announcement follows Avison Young's announcement on July 16, 2018 that CDPQ, one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, had made a C$250-million preferred equity investment to accelerate Avison Young's strategic growth plan. Avison Young made its first investment under its strategic partnership with CDPQ by acquiring leading U.K. firm Wilkinson Williams LLP and opening a new office in London's West End on August 1, 2018. On October 10, 2018, Avison Young opened its first office in Asia, in Seoul, South Korea, with 63 members joining from Mate Plus Advisors Co. Ltd. Credit Suisse and KPMG LLP acted as Avison Young's financial advisors in the acquisition of GVA; and Gowling WLG (UK), DLA Piper LLP (US and UK) and Stikeman Elliott LLP (Canada) served as Avison Young's legal advisors. Rose concludes: "This is a very exciting and memorable day in the history of Avison Young. As a result of the acquisition, our combination fortifies the pillars of our culture - honesty and integrity, investment in people, a Principal-owned model, a lack of service-line silos, and best-in-class internal and external resources to provide exemplary service to clients. We look forward to working with our new clients, colleagues and partners around the world." Over the past 10 years, Avison Young has grown from 300 real estate professionals in 11 offices in Canada to, now, approximately 5,000 real estate professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries. Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its Principals. Founded in 1978, with legacies dating back more than 200 years, the company comprises approximately 5,000 real estate professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries. The firm's experts provide value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management and financing services to clients across the office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality sectors. For further information/comment/photos: Sherry Quan , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: +1-604-647-5098; cell: +1-604-726-0959 sherry.quan@avisonyoung.com , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: cell: sherry.quan@avisonyoung.com Elizabeth Bartlett , Head of Communications, U.K.: +44(0)7769-741516 elizabeth.bartlett@gva.co.uk , Head of Communications, U.K.: elizabeth.bartlett@gva.co.uk Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young: +1-416-673-4028 , Chair and CEO, Jason Sibthorpe , Principal and President, U.K., Avison Young: + 44(0)7786-337-016 , Principal and President, U.K., Avison Young: + Gerry Hughes , Principal & Managing Director, U.K. and Managing Director, Global Consultancy, Avison Young: +44-207-911-2653 Avison Young is a 2018 winner of the Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years. Follow Avison Young on Twitter: For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE Follow Avison Young on Instagram: www.instagram.com/avison_young_global Editors/Reporters Please click on links to view and download photos: 1) Photo caption for Group photo: Members of Avison Young and GVA celebrate the completion of Avison Young's acquisition of U.K.-based GVA. The two companies will combine under the Avison Young name and brand, expand to 5,000 professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries. Gerry Hughes, Principal andManaging Director, U.K. and Managing Director, Global Consultancy, Avison Young (11th from left); Jason Sibthorpe, Principal and President, U.K., Avison Young (front centre); Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young (11th from right); Andy Mottram, Principal and Managing Director, Europe, Avison Young (back row centre right). https://www.avisonyoung.com/documents/20342/2631393/AY_GVA_GroupPhotoLondonUKJan2019.jpg 2) Photo caption for Outdoor photo: Avison Young completes acquisition of U.K.-based GVA; the two companies will combine under the Avison Young name and brand, expand to 5,000 professionals in 120 offices in 20 countries. L to R: Gerry Hughes, Principal andManaging Director, U.K. and Managing Director, Global Consultancy, Avison Young; Jason Sibthorpe, Principal and President, U.K., Avison Young; Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young; Andy Mottram, Principal and Managing Director, Europe, Avison Young. https://www.avisonyoung.com/documents/20342/2631393/GerryHughes%2CJasonSibthorpe%2CMarkRose%2CAndyMottram.jpg Media Contact: Sherry Quan +1-604-647-5098 or +1-604-726-0959 email: sherry.quan@avisonyoung.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2019) - Spearmint Resources Inc. (CSE: SPMT) (OTC Pink: SPMTF) (FSE: A2AHL5) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated December 5 & 13, 2018, the Company has received the remainder of the airborne data gathered over the Chibougamau Vanadium Prospect comprising of 13,985 contiguous acres located approximately 12 km east of Chibougamau, Quebec. The airborne data shows the presence of multiple sharply defined areas of northeast trending magnetic susceptibility. (See figure 1) Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4360/42602_909d5549347028c7_002full.jpg During November and December 2018, the Company commissioned Calgary, Alberta based Earth Scan Technologies Ltd. to complete drone and heli-borne airborne magnetic geophysical surveys totaling 932 line-km over an area totalling approximately 3,400 hectares at 100 metre line-spacing. The claims in part overlie rocks of the prospective Lac Dore layered anorthosite-gabbro intrusive complex (LCD), which hosts the Black Rock Metals Inc. (Blackrock) development-stage Southwest and Armitage iron-titanium-vanadium (Fe-Ti-V) deposits; in addition to the exploration-stage Vanadiumcorp Resource Inc. (Vanadiumcorp.) and Vanadium One Energy Corp. Lac Dore and Mont Sorcier Fe-Ti-V projects, respectively. Magnetite Fe-Ti-V deposits of the LCD are coincident with a strong positive northeast trending linear magnetic geophysical anomalies within both the northern and southern fold limbs of the Chibougamau Anticline. Mineralization within the adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization present with the Company's Chibougamau Vanadium Prospects. The results of the Company's airborne magnetic geophysical survey define an approximately 9 km northeast trending linear magnetic anomaly coincident with the southern margin of the Lac Dore anorthosite on the north arm of the Chibougamau Anticline. A second parallel linear magnetic anomaly occurs in the easternmost area of the claims along the southern limb of the Chibougamau Anticline within rocks regionally mapped as Lac Dore anorthosite. These and other linear positive linear magnetic anomalies defined by the Company's airborne geophysical survey warrant ground follow-up to establish the nature of the anomalies, and if they host layered magnetite-bearing anorthosite-gabbro rocks similar to those that within the adjacent Blackrock and Vanadiumcorp Fe-Ti-V deposits. James Nelson, President of Spearmint, stated "Having already uncovered one potential high priority target to date, we are very encouraged that the remainder of the airborne data shows the existence of further high priority magnetic anomalies, including one that measures 9km in length, throughout our near 14 thousand contiguous acre Chibougamau Vanadium prospect in Quebec bordering BlackRock Metals. A follow up work program is being planned and management is expecting to have crews on the ground shortly to further investigate these magnetic anomalies discovered from the data produced by this inaugural airborne magnetic survey. We are very excited to determine whether our anomalies will be vanadium bearing like that of our neighbour BlackRock metals." Spearmint's Vanadium prospect borders the vanadium deposit of BlackRock Metal's (private) Ilmenite vanadium project and Vanadium One Energy Corp.'s Mont Sorcier vanadium project. Vanadium has garnered significant market attention recently as the use of vanadium in battery storage is gaining momentum and Spearmint is very pleased to maintain a significant footprint in one of Canada's best-known vanadium districts. Vanadium has been one of the best performing battery metal over the past two years going from under $5 USD per pound to reaching an all-time high of over $33 USD per pound. On August 21, 2018, the Government of Quebec announced a $248-million investment in the BlackRock Metals Vanadium Project and the development of the Grande-Anse sector with the total project representing investments valued at nearly $1.3 billion and will create more than 800 jobs during the construction of the mine and mill. (Source: News Release from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Agenda, August 21, 2018, 09:30 EST.) Qualified Persons Kristopher Raffle P.Geo., Principal, of APEX Geoscience Ltd., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 reviewed, verified, and compiled the data reported herein specific to the Chibougamau Vanadium Prospects. Mr. Raffle has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. About Spearmint Resources Spearmint's current projects include the 'Chibougamau Vanadium Prospect' comprising of 13,985 contiguous acres bordering the vanadium deposit of BlackRock Metal's (private) Ilmenite vanadium project and Vanadium One Energy Corp. and Spearmint's 'Clayton Valley Lithium Prospects' in Nevada comprising of two claim blocks totaling 800 acres bordering Pure Energy Minerals & Cypress Development Corp. Spearmint's current projects also include a portfolio of prospects in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia; the 'Golden Triangle Gold Prospects' comprising of six separate claims blocks totalling 9,157 acres bordering GT Gold Corp, the 920 acre 'NEBA West' & 6,803 acre 'NEBA' Gold-Copper Prospects bordering Aben Resources Ltd, the 'Henry' Gold-Copper Prospect consisting of two contiguous claim blocks totalling 1,989 acres in the direct vicinity of Golden Ridge Resources Ltd., and the 21,587 acre 'EL North' Nickel-Copper Prospect is a contiguous land package of six claims in the Eskay Creek Camp bordering Garibaldi Resources Corp. Spearmint's other projects in British Columbia include the 'Gold Mountain Prospects' comprising of three separate claim blocks totalling 1,245 acres bordering Barkerville Gold Mines, the 'Safari' Copper-Gold Prospect consisting of 9,007 contiguous acres located in the northern Quesnel Trough in North-Central BC directly bordering Serengeti Resources Inc., and the 'Hammernose' Gold Prospect consisting of 5,140 acres directly bordering the strategic alliance between Westhaven Ventures Inc. & Sable Resources Ltd. in the Spences Bridge gold belt located in Southern British Columbia, Canada. If you would like to be added to Spearmint's news distribution list, please send your email address to info@spearmintresources.ca. Contact Information Tel: 1604646-6903 www.spearmintresources.ca "James Nelson" President Spearmint Resources Inc. The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42602 LONDON, Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- British American Tobacco, (BAT) is proud to announce it has been certified as a Top Employer in Latin America following its certification in seven different countries - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. This is the second year running that BAT has been named as a Top Employer in the region after it became the first tobacco company to be recognised as a Top Employer in Latin America in 2018. This year, BAT Argentina and BAT Chile were also ranked as the number one certified company in their respective countries by the Top Employers Institute, while BAT Colombia was ranked as the second highest certified company, reflecting the high standards of BAT's employment practices and positioning the company as a leading employer in the region. The Top Employer certification process is conducted annually by the Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that studies the employee offerings of major employers around the world. Certification recognises employers that provide best-in-class employment practices that allow employees to develop themselves personally and professionally, while driving business results. Certified companies are those that meet high standards in providing excellent employee conditions; which nurture and develop talent at all levels of the organisation; and strive to continuously optimise employment practices for their staff. BAT's HR Director, Southern Cone, Patricio Zapata, said: "At BAT Southern Cone Area, we keep our constant focus on building a robust and sustainable talent pipeline as a standard. This has enabled us over time to be a key provider of high calibre cadres for British American Tobacco, globally. We do this through excellent attraction, retention and development practices. We are very proud about this renewed recognition by the Top Employer Institute in 2019." BAT's HR Director, South America North and Caribbean (SANCAR), Sergio Berlanga, said: "We always seek to benchmark best practice and innovate in the way we attract, develop and retain talent. Achieving Top Employer certification for both Venezuela and Colombia is an important milestone on our Transforming Tobacco journey and achieving our ambition of becoming the No.1 company to work for in SANCAR. BAT's HR Director for Brazil, Harry Vargas, said: "This certification once again reinforces why Souza Cruz continues to be a leading organisation, made of passionate, highly capable and energised talent. This passion extends to the way we do things, face challenges and make talent and culture development an everyday priority." David Plink, CEO of the Top Employers Institute, said: "British American Tobacco keeps growing every year as an outstanding company, always up with the latest trends, technology and this means that employees are happier. Continuous development has always been a focal point for the company but also supporting work life balance for employees throughout their careers. BAT has been recognised for the second time in a row as a Global Top Employer in 5 continents, an achievement that only a few selected companies around the world can enjoy" Participating companies undergo a very rigorous assessment process which includes an extensive review of employer practices across nine broad topics: Talent Strategy; Performance Management; Learning & Development; Leadership Development; Career & Succession Management; Workforce planning; On-boarding; Culture; and Compensation and Benefit. Several validation sessions are held where evidence of these practices is provided, and an independent audit of the findings is also carried out. NOTES TO EDITORS About British American Tobacco British American Tobacco is one of the world's leading, multi-category consumer goods companies, that provides tobacco and nicotine products to millions of consumers around the world. It employs over 55,000 people, with market leadership in over 55 countries and factories in 42. Its Strategic Portfolio is made up of its global cigarette brands and an increasing range of potentially reduced-risk products, comprising vapour and tobacco heating products, as well as oral tobacco and nicotine products such as moist snuff and snus. In 2017 the Group generated reported revenue of 20 billion and profit from operations of 6.5 billion. In July 2017, British American Tobacco p.l.c. acquired the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds American Inc. that BAT did not already own, creating a stronger, global tobacco and nicotine company. About the Top Employers Institute The Top Employers Institute is the global authority on certifying excellence in employee conditions. We are dedicated to accelerating the impact of people strategies to enrich the world of work through certification, benchmarking and connecting Top Employers around the world. Through our certification programme, we enable organisations to assess and improve their workplace environment. Established more than 25 years ago, the Top Employers Institute has certified over 1 500 organisations in 118 countries. These Certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 5 000 000 employees globally. Interested in becoming a Certified Top Employer or want to learn more? Visit the Top Employers Institute website https://www.top-employers.com/en/ . ESI Group (FR0004110310 ESI), pioneer and leading innovator in Virtual Prototyping solutions, announces the appointment of Cristel de Rouvray as Chief Executive Officer, effective the 1st February 2019. Cristel de Rouvray, age 42 and previously Board Leader of the Group and an Executive at an American Non-Profit Organization, succeeds Alain de Rouvray, founder of the company who remains Chairman. Cristel de Rouvray has a long track record with ESI Group and has been an ESI Board member since 1999. Appointed Board Leader, she served as Chairwoman of the Compensation, Nomination Governance Committee, as project leader for succession planning, and as head of an operational committee for critical Human Resources related topics. She has been a key driver in building and supporting ESI's talent development and management decisions. Through this experience, Cristel has gained both a deep understanding of ESI's expertise, market, people and culture, and has successfully established a productive working relationship with the industrial ecosystem, the Board, the Group Executive Committee and key managers. Alain de Rouvray, Founder and Chairman, comments: "Reaching the conclusion of a multi-year process of managing my succession as CEO of the company, the Board has decided that Cristel is the best candidate to take the CEO position. Her deep knowledge of our company, her commitment over the past 18 years, her remarkable management and business intelligence skills, and her successful relationship with the leadership team are major and decisive assets as we move the company forward and capitalize on the huge opportunities in front of us. I will actively support Cristel to ensure that our culture of innovation, as well as our business and social ethics, are preserved in this challenging period. I am committed to aiding our new leadership team to navigate the accelerated and changing landscape in which we find ourselves and our business." Cristel added: "I am fully energized to take on this CEO role in the midst our transformation as we position our company as the essential partner for industrialists aiming for zero real tests, zero real prototypes. ESI Group, over decades, has built a solid foundation of amazing talent, customer credibility and inspiring solutions, with consequent and wide recognition from our peers, partners and customers. My job, and that of our next-generation leadership, is to unleash, with the active support of the Board and its Chairman, this legacy on the strategic and socially responsible mission of enabling industry to innovate in the face of mounting expectations of the safety, sustainability and relevance of the products they develop, manufacture and support." Over the past 14 years, Cristel has successfully held Executive roles at College Track, an American non-profit organization. Founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, this organization is recognized for its excellence in helping, to date, more than 3000 youth from low income neighborhoods to enter and graduate from college. She has partnered closely with the College Track CEO and Board of Directors on the organization's strategy and execution, acting as a catalyst for tenfold growth over the past decade. Cristel has dual French and US American nationality. She holds a BA in Economics and a Master in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Cristel received a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE) where she earned the prize for the best thesis in her field. Find out here: Cristel de Rouvray complete biography. Next events: Full year 2018 Sales March 7, 2019 2018 full-year results April 15, 2019 About ESI Group ESI Group is a leading innovator in Virtual Prototyping software and services. Specialist in material physics, ESI has developed a unique proficiency in helping industrial manufacturers replace physical prototypes by virtual prototypes, allowing them to virtually manufacture, assemble, test and pre-certify their future products. Coupled with the latest technologies, Virtual Prototyping is now anchored in the wider concept of the Product Performance LifecycleTM, which addresses the operational performance of a product during its entire lifecycle, from launch to disposal. The creation of Hybrid TwinTM, leveraging simulation, physics and data analysis, enables manufacturers to deliver smarter and connected products, to predict product performance and to anticipate maintenance needs. ESI is a French company listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris. Present in more than 40 countries, and addressing every major industrial sector, ESI Group employs about 1200 high-level specialists around the world and reported annual sales of 135 million in 2017. For further information, go to www.esi-group.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190131005990/en/ Contacts: Investors Relation Corinne Romefort-Regnier investors@esi-group.com +33 1 53 65 14 41 Corporate Communication Florence Barre press@esi-group.com + 33 1 53 65 14 51 Rahul Hailed From Jaipur The police revealed that Rahul was a native of Jaipur, where his family has a business of electrical wires. After living in Mumbai for three years, he had been to his home last year and joined family business, but returned to Mumbai three months ago. What Exactly Happened That Night? According to Mumbai Mirror report, at the time of the incident, five people, including Rahul, were present in the flat. At 1.30 am, the party was interrupted by complaints from the neighbours about loud music. Rahul went to bedroom between 3.30 and 4 am, where his partner was sleeping. When she woke up after sometime, she saw Rahul hanging from a bed sheet. She raised an alarm, alerting their friends who rushed him to the hospital. The police were informed at around 6 am. Rahul Dixits Family Wanted Him To Get Married Rahul's uncle was shocked with his suicide. He was quoted by the leading daily as saying, "It is extremely shocking. His family wanted him to get married. It was to happen in December but at last minute, he told them that he did not want to get married to the girl they had chosen. The family called off the wedding. He was happy with his life and had no problems with his family." Apparently, he ran away from his home! Rahuls Social Media Account Has A Video In Which 2 Women Were Seen Dancing! As per the report, Rahul's friends who rushed him to the hospital did not wish to talk about the incident. Those who were present in the Oshiwara flat at the time of the incident were questioned by the police. Sources added, "While scanning Dixit's social media accounts, it was found that a video of two women dancing was uploaded to his Facebook account at 2 am on Wednesday with the caption, "Our favorite song." The Actor Was Married! But according to Mid-Day report, Rahul was living with his wife Priya and not live-in partner! According to the leading daily's report, Rahul had been uploading videos of Priya on Facebook, before allegedly committing suicide. His Father Suspect Foul Play The report also suggests that Rahul's father suspects foul play and has blamed Priya. The police have not ruled out foul play, they believe he might have committed suicide due to personal issues. The police revealed that Rahul got married to Rupali (Priya) last year in November. He was addicted to alcohol, because of which both used to fight frequently. Rahul Fathers Blame Priya/Rupali Rahul's father posted on Facebook, "My son will never commit suicide. The girl Rupa / Priya is behind his death. There were a lot of marks all over his body. Police is also trying to hide the fact by declaring it as suicide which is incorrect. God will punish that girl one day." He has been posting a few more posts in which he says that he wants justice! Rahuls Relatives Say On the other hand, Rahul's uncle Manish told the leading daily, "We don't want to blame anybody but we have certain questions about what exactly happened." Rahul's brother-in-law told the leading daily, "Last night till 2am or 3 am he was sharing photos and videos on his social media accounts. Within an hour he committed suicide which is unbelievable." 2-Page Diary Note Found In Rahuls Bedroom As per the leading daily's report, the police have recovered a two-page diary note from Rahul's bedroom, in which he has written about his drinking habit, which was troubling everyone close to him. Manikarnika's Team Was Split On Kangana's Handling Of The Film-Making Proccess Manikarnika's co-director Krish had accused Kangana of hijacking the film-making process and taking away all the credits in the end. Actor Mishti Chakraborty claimed that many of her scenes were cut by Kangana. Writer Apurva Asrani also spoke up against Kangana, recalling the tussle that happened between them when they were shooting for Simran. But the rest of Manikarnika's team, including Prasoon Joshi, Ankita Lokhande and others backed Kangana. Today, Kangana finally made a statement about the whole controversy. Kangana Finally Spoke Up About The Controversy Kangana returned home from a holiday in Geneva and spoke to a few reporters on the way to her car at the airport. Talking about the controversy, As reported by Pinkvilla, Kangana said, "It is wrong of Krish to attack me like that. If he is right, then he can go ahead and prove it. Talking to the media, won't help him. Manikarnika is out and fortunately or unfortunately, I have directed the film. The film is out there and nothing can be done about it. To all those people who are saying that my role has been cut or I have edited a scene, I would like to say that whatever place I have achieved, whether as an actor or 3 times National award winner or filmmaker, I have got it myself and my father hasn't given it to me. Get this position on your own and by crying, it won't help anyone." Kangana Defended The Decisions She Took As A Director She further defended the decisions she had to take while directing the film which had not gone down well with co-director Krish. "I have taken all the final decisions. If Krish left the film in my hands, then it is my prerogative as a director to take the final calls. And to all those who are struggling in life, they should take inspiration from me. They won't get anything by feeling jealous or by attacking me," she said. She Suggest's Krish To Make A Film And Teach Her A Lesson "I would suggest Krish to take Sonu Sood, Mishti Chakraborty & Apurva Asrani and make a film to teach me a lesson," she added lightly in the end. Whats worth noting here is not simply that these are both great ideas (although the devil can be in the still-unresolved details) but that these measures are finally going to get serious consideration in Baltimore County. Thats not to suggest that the county is wallowing in more Dallas Dance cases (or even more like Robert Barrett, the other high-ranking school and former county official convicted last year of wrongdoing), its more that too many major decisions coming out of Towson have been tainted by the appearance of impropriety. Whether its a land sale, a rezoning or public financing for Towson Row redevelopment, there always seem to be public doubts and uncertainty. Was this decision done for the personal benefit of an elected or appointed official? Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Oak Hill, WV (25901) Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. 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. Three men have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty offences after they were filmed kicking pigs in the face and head in over 100 incidents. The footage was taken in April 2018 via a number of secret cameras left on Fir Tree pig farm in Goxhill, Lincolnshire, following an anonymous tip-off to animal welfare charity Animal Equality. The farm is owned by Elsham Linc one of Britains largest pig producers. Gavin Hardy, 39, of Greengate Lane, South Killingholme, pleaded guilty at Grimsby Magistrates' Court to causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Troy Wagstaff, 30, of Chantry Lane, Grimsby, and Artirs Grogprkevs, 32, of Goxhill, both pleaded guilty last month. The men were released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced in March. Judge Daniel Curtis said the three men were at serious risk of losing their liberty. The National Pig Association (NPA) has reacted to the footage, said that as an organisation it does not tolerate or condone violence towards animals in any way. We are clear that the actions of the individuals depicted in the footage are indefensible and should be treated accordingly, the NPA said. Such behaviour is abhorrent to all pig farmers and the business involved, which has acted responsibly and immediately by terminating employment of the members of staff following a thorough investigation and is cooperating fully with the authorities. The NPA will take the lead in investigating what further measures can be put in place to prevent any similar incidents from occurring on British pig farms. Over 100 farm contractors have helped grit the roads in North Yorkshire during the current spell of wintry conditions. The county has been at the ready as temperatures have plummeted to as low as -14 degrees Celsius in some areas of the UK. Highway gritting teams have been geared up for the challenge of wintry weather on the countys 5,800 miles of roads since October. North Yorkshire County Council's 7m winter maintenance budget sees 54% of the roads gritted on one of Englands largest, and in places, most remote road networks. Eight new replacement gritters have been added to the fleet, making a total of 86, and there are 111 farm contractors, five road snowblowers and seven footpath snowblowers. Gritters are on call 24 hours a day, with farmer contractors, duty managers and overnight patrols on standby and overnight patrols in operation. Our farmer contractors have already been clearing snowfall in upper parts of #Swaledale and #Wensleydale and the #NorthYorkMoors over Blakey Ridge this week. Read more about how we keep #NorthYorkshire moving. https://t.co/EupcXTb0v6 #gritting #snow pic.twitter.com/EayR2AXTdh North Yorkshire CC (@northyorkscc) January 31, 2019 Farmer contractors have already been out to clear snowfall in upper parts of Swaledale and Wensleydale and the North York Moors over Blakey Ridge this week. It follows NFU Mutual urging drivers on rural roads to take extra care as temperatures plummet. Figure show that 59% of all road fatalities occur on country roads, and in 2015, some 10,307 people were killed or seriously injured on country roads in Britain. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in his State of the State address that he's cut taxes, but experts say the claim stretches the meaning of a tax break. For instance, businesses and residents saved $240 million because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Other cuts came from Democratic bills Hogan signed. Northern Irish farmers saw a drastic reduction in farm incomes in 2018, underlining the 'continued dependence' of direct support for agriculture. Provisional figures indicate that the Total Income from Farming (TIFF) in Northern Ireland fell by 24% from 467m in 2017 to 360m in 2018. TIFF represents the return on own labour, management input and own capital invested for all those with an entrepreneurial involvement in farming. It represents farm income measured at the sector level. Responding to the figures, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said the drop in farm incomes in 2018 is 'disappointing', but 'does not come as surprise'. UFU president, Ivor Ferguson said: Despite the lack of firm decisions on future support arrangements these figures must be a wake up call that these cannot be indefinitely delayed. The union said it needs to be seen in the context of there being less money available for farmers to invest or spend in their local community. Even with all the changes we have seen in rural areas their financial fortunes still ebb and flow with the success or otherwise of agriculture, he added. Rising costs The figures confirm that despite continuing general growth in both quantity and price of outputs, farmers are being hit by rising costs for all inputs. Feed makes up 55 per cent of the bill as costs there rose by 13 per cent, the data shows. Mr Ferguson said: This is the other side of the coin of price gains from the weakening of sterling. Most inputs such as feed, chemicals, fuel and fertilisers link back to euro or US dollar prices. These increases and higher labour costs are putting a squeeze on margins when incomes are just about static. Farm Business Income measured across all farm types is also expected to decrease from an average 33,870 in 2017/18 to 26,030 in 2018/19, i.e. a decrease of 7,840 or 23% per farm. Farm Business Income is also expected to fall for dairy, cattle and sheep (LFA), cattle and sheep (Lowland), pigs and mixed farm types between 2017/18 and 2018/19. For all these farm types with the exception of pigs, the downturn in their incomes is mainly attributed to higher feed costs in the 2018/19 accounting year. 'Threat to backbone of agriculture' The UFU said it is particularly concerned about the plunge in incomes in both hill and lowland beef and sheep production. Mr Ferguson said: This is a threat to the very backbone of agriculture. If farmers are unable to cover rising input costs its future is in doubt. That would be a massive blow to the industry. Tacking this issue must be central to whatever new farm support structures are put in place after Brexit, said the UFU president. The farming union said the 'harsh reality' of the figures is an industry 'squeezed by static returns and rising costs', with its future uncertain. Look behind these and of the 360 million total income, 286 million was made up of direct support from Brussels through the CAP. That is why decisions on how this will be replaced after Brexit cannot be allowed to drift even further, warned Mr Ferguson. New statistics released this week also show that total income from farming in Scotland is estimated to have fallen by 57 million in 2018. Farmers are using the whole of February to celebrate all things dairy and the work that goes behind the humble glass of milk. The initiative launched on today (1 February) and sees the hashtag #FebruDairy as the main focal point. Farmers are encouraged to share tweets using the hashtag to help promote the dairy industry to a wider audience. The brainchild behind the initiative, livestock sustainability consultant Dr Jude Capper, said she's proud to work with "many wonderful people" who care for their cows and produce milk and dairy products. Morning all happy #Februdairy to you all. Im a firm believer that Milk should come from a cow ?? pic.twitter.com/OcaeBDBRTS charles anyan ?? (@CharlesAnyan) February 1, 2019 Dr Capper, who was awarded Dairy Industry Woman of the Year 2017, said on social media: "Let's make #Februdairy happen this year. 28 days, 28 positive dairy posts. "From cute calves and cheese on crumpets, to belligerent bulls and juicy beef burgers - who's in?" Twitter user Fimalone1 responded: "Supporting the #Februdairy! Im from a dairy farm, and proud to work in the dairy industry both in Ire & overseas. "Daily I see farmers caring for their animals and see first hand the highest possible standards in dairy processing." Another user, Hailey explained: "As a dairy farmer, I have no problem with people who chose a vegan lifestyle. What I do have problems with is those who try to slander the dairy industry when they know nothing about livestock or farming." 'Tell it like it is' Farmers have also been urged to 'Tell it Like it is' in an initiative to help communicate the positives of milk. The Agri-Linc team putting their weight behind #februdairy with our favourite dairy products! ?? ?? We are proud to support our British #dairyfarmers - we raise a glass to you! Share your #februdairy video and tag us in & a farming mate! ??#bovine #dairy #buybritish #milk pic.twitter.com/6kscp99xih Agri-Linc Farm Machinery (@Agri_Linc) February 1, 2019 Dairy UK, AHDB and The Dairy Council have launched the joint initiative, which hopes to battle image negativity and the nutritional benefits of dairy to consumers. And last year, farmers celebrated the dairy industry using the hashtag #ProudToProduce Twitter campaign. NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire County Chairman Jeff Evans said: As a dairy farmer I am extremely #ProudToProduce for Wales. While we have World Milk Day every year, I dont think we do enough throughout the rest of the year to shout about the numerous health benefits of drinking milk." Eleven lambs have died following a livestock worrying incident in Aberdeenshire. The incident happened at the Philorth Estate near Fraserburgh between 12pm on Friday and 9.30am on Saturday (25/26 January). Eleven lambs died after being attacked by a dog, described as a large black and tan German Shepherd-type. The dog was chased away and ran into a wooded area known as Kirktown Wood. PC Michael Stone said: Dog owners are reminded that allowing dogs to chase livestock or be at large among livestock is an offence. Dogs are naturally curious and have an instinct to attack so it is recommended that they are always kept on a lead under close control. Livestock owners are legally entitled to protect their animals as necessary, which can result in the destruction of the dog if necessary to protect the lives of other animals. Livestock worrying is a serious crime, with 2019 already witnessing numerous cases with sentences successfully handed out. John Coughlan, 55, from Hertfordshire, was given a 12 month community order and ordered to pay out nearly 1,000 last week after his dog killed at least 13 sheep. Steve Young, 43, from West Yorkshire, was ordered to pay more than 800 in compensation after his puppy attacked a flock of sheep, killing four lambs. And last year, a man was ordered to pay over 2100 after being found guilty of worrying livestock with his out-of-control dogs. Anyone with any information are being asked to get in touch with Police Scotland on 101 or at Fraserburgh Police Station using reference number CF0023760119. ST. LOUIS The Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF), the charitable arm of the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA), has released its scholarship application and guidelines for the 2019-2020 academic year. The deadline to submit all application materials is 6 p.m. (ET) on April 30. Scholarship details EDFs scholarship program supports the training, retraining or advancement of current and potential employees of equipment dealerships. Candidates must be sponsored and recommended by a dealership to be eligible to participate. This program is part of EDFs broader workforce development initiative and aims to provide an incentive for qualified employees to begin or continue their professional growth within the agriculture industry. Scholarships from EDF are $1,000 and are matched by the sponsoring dealership for a total of $2,000. These funds can be used for any educational program; associate, bachelors and post-graduate degrees in any field as well as technical training in the ag equipment industry. EDF awarded 10 students a total of $20,000 for the 18-19 academic year. More information about EDFs scholarship program, including the guidelines and application, is available here. Please, direct questions to scholarships@equipmentdealer. org. EDF funds its scholarship program through the support of equipment dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation can do so online here. About the EDF The EDA Equipment Dealers Foundation was established in 1988, as a separate entity from the association to provide funding for scholarships and disaster relief. The foundation is the publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization of the Equipment Dealers Association. More scholarships Farm and Dairys Ag College Guide is updated frequently to include information about scholarships and internships that may be of interest to students pursuing an education in agriculture and natural resource programs or programs related to these fields. Bookmark the scholarship page and check back weekly, so you dont miss out on an opportunity to help pay for your education. CINCINNATI Cory L. Gillette, 31, of Albany, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to having a medicated calf slaughtered with the intention of selling it as beef for human consumption. The calf was contaminated with Gentamicin, which is not approved for use in cattle. Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office, announced the plea Jan. 30, before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. According to the statement of facts in this case, since 2009, Gillette has operated as a livestock dealer and hauler as the owner of Cory Gillette Farm in Athens County. Gillette transported a calf from southern Ohio to a slaughter facility in Addison, Ilinois., where it was intended to be sold as beef for human consumption. Random inspection The calf was slaughtered and subject to random inspection. During that inspection, the calf tested positive for Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic. When an investigator from the FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations interviewed Gillette about the contaminated calf, Gillette lied and said he purchased the calf at a livestock auction in Zanesville. In fact, he had not purchased the calf there, and misled investigators in an attempt to impede their ability to trace the contamination back to its source. As part of his plea, Gillette admitted he often bought injured, ill and potentially medicated animals at a discounted price with the intention of selling the animals to slaughter facilities and maximizing his profit, said U.S. Attorney Glassman. The FDA, in partnership with the USDA, is vigilant in keeping antibiotics and other residual animal drugs out of the human food supply in the United States by carefully monitoring food-producing animals, said Special Agent in Charge McCormack. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who put public health at risk by selling food-producing animals that do not meet federal standards. Gillette was charged by a bill of information in September 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, a crime punishable by up to one year in prison, and one count of making false statements to federal agents, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations and Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo, who is representing the United States in this case. In December, a federal judge in Texas ruled the health care law is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor held that the law could not legally stand once Congress eliminated the tax penalty for people without health insurance. But the decision has been stayed pending an appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The following companies are subsidiares of Xerox: A B S Digital Limited, Acorn Business Machines (Holmfirth) Limited, Alloy Acquisitions Corp. LLC, Altodigital Networks, Altodigital Networks Limited, American Photocopy Equipment Company of Pittsburgh LLC, Amici, Arena Group, Arena Group Holdings Limited, Arena Group Limited, Arizona Office Technologies Inc., B 2 Business Systems Limited, Back2Business Limited, Bessemer Insurance Limited, Bessemer Trust Limited, Boise Office Equipment Inc., Bright Ceramic Technologies Inc., Bunch CareSolutions, Business Systems (North Wales) Limited, CPAS Systems, CREDITEX - Aluguer de Equipamentos S.A., CTX Business Solutions Inc., Capitol Office Solutions LLC, CareAR Holdings LLC, CareAR Inc., Carolina Office Systems Inc., Carr Business Systems Inc., Chicago Office Technology Group Inc., ComDoc Inc., Concept Group, Concept Group Limited, Connecticut Business Systems LLC, Consilience Software, Continua Limited, Continua Sanctum Limited, Conway Technology Group LLC, Copyrite Business Solutions (Holdings) Limited, Copyrite Business Solutions Limited, Copytrend Limited, Criterion IT Limited, Customer Value Group, Dahill Office Technology Corporation, Digitex, Digitex Canada Inc., Docucentric Holdings Limited, Eastern Managed Print Network LLC, Elan Marketing Inc., Electronic Systems Inc., Fovia (Innovation) Limited, G-Five Inc., GDP Technologies Inc., Global Imaging Systems, Global PR Corporation, Gyricon LLC, Healthy Communities Institute, Heritage Business Systems Inc., ITEC Group, Image Technology Specialists Inc., ImageQuest Inc., Imagetek Office Systems, Impika, Impika SAS, Inland Business Machines Inc., Institute for Research on Learning, Integrity One Technologies Inc., Intrepid Learning, Invoco Group, Irish Business Systems, LRI LLC, LaserNetworks, LaserNetworks Inc., Lateral Data, Learn Something, Lewan & Associates Inc., Limited Liability Company Xerox (C.I.S.), M & S Reprographics Limited, MRC Smart Technology Solutions Inc., MT Business Holdings Inc., MT Business Technologies Inc., MWB Copy Products Inc., Mail A Doc Limited, Merizon Group Incorporated, Michigan Office Solutions Inc., Minnesota Office Technology Group Inc., Mitral Systems Limited, Mr. Copy Inc., Nemo (AKS) Limited, NewField IT, NewField Information Technology LLC, NewField Information Technology Limited, Northeast Office Systems LLC, Osprey Business Systems Limited, PARC China Holdings Inc., Pacific Services and Development Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Platinum Digital Print Solutions Limited, Precision Copier Service Inc., Quality Business Systems Inc., Quilver Business Services Limited, R. K. Dixon Company, RRXH Limited, RRXIL Limited, RRXO Limited, RSA Medical, Rabbit Copiers Inc., Reflex Digital Solutions (UK) Limited, Reprographics Egypt Limited, Saxon Business Systems Inc., Smart Data Consulting, SoCal Office Technologies Inc., Stem Networks Limited, Stewart Business Systems LLC, Stewart of Alabama Inc., StrataCare, Talegen Holdings Inc., Tektronix - color printing, Text Comm Limited (in receivership), The Xerox (UK) Trust, The Xerox Foundation, Time Business Systems Limited, Triton Business Finance Limited, Una-Stem Limited, Veenman B.V., Veenman Financial Services B.V., WDS, WaterWare Internet Services, XC Asia LLC, XC Global Trading B.V., XC Trading Hong Kong Limited, XC Trading Japan G.K., XC Trading Korea YH, XC Trading Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., XC Trading Shenzhen Co. Ltd., XC Trading Singapore Pte Ltd., XEROX CZECH REPUBLIC s r.o., XESystems Foreign Sales Corporation, XFS Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, XHC Acquisition Corp., XMPie, XMPie Inc., XMPie Ltd., XRI Limited, XRO Limited, Xerox (Europe) Limited, Xerox (Ireland) Limited, Xerox (Nederland) BV, Xerox (Romania) Echipmante Si Servici S.A., Xerox (UK) Limited, Xerox (Ukraine) Ltd LLC, Xerox A/S, Xerox AG, Xerox AS, Xerox Argentina Industrial y Comercial S.A., Xerox Austria GmbH, Xerox Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Equipment Limited, Xerox Business Services Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Solutions Inc., Xerox Business Solutions Southeast LLC, Xerox Buro Araclari Servis ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti, Xerox Canada Inc., Xerox Canada Ltd., Xerox Canada N.S. ULC, Xerox Capital (Europe) Limited, Xerox Capital LLC, Xerox Computer Services Limited, Xerox Comercio e Industria Ltda, Xerox Corporation, Xerox DNHC LLC, Xerox Dienstleistungsgesellschaft GmbH, Xerox Distributor Operations Limited, Xerox Egypt S.A.E., Xerox Equipment Limited, Xerox Equipment UK Limited, Xerox Espana S.A.U., Xerox Exports Limited, Xerox Finance AG, Xerox Finance Leasing S.A.E., Xerox Finance Limited, Xerox Financial Services B.V., Xerox Financial Services Belux NV, Xerox Financial Services Canada Ltd., Xerox Financial Services Danmark A/S, Xerox Financial Services Finland Oy, Xerox Financial Services LLC, Xerox Financial Services Norway AS, Xerox Financial Services SAS, Xerox Financial Services Sverige AB, Xerox Foreign Holdings LLC, Xerox Foreign Sales Corporation, Xerox GmbH, Xerox Health Care LLC, Xerox Hellas AEE, Xerox Holding Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Holdings (Ireland) Limited, Xerox Holdings Inc., Xerox Hungary Trading Limited, Xerox IBS Limited, Xerox IBS NI Limited, Xerox India Limited, Xerox International Joint Marketing Inc., Xerox Investments Europe B.V., Xerox Israel Ltd., Xerox Italia Rental Services Srl, Xerox Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Xerox Latinamerican Holdings Inc., Xerox Leasing Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Leasing GmbH, Xerox Limited, Xerox Luxembourg SA, Xerox Mailing Systems Limited, Xerox Manufacturing (Nederland) B.V., Xerox Maroc S.A., Xerox Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Xerox Middle East Investments (Bermuda) Limited, Xerox N.V., Xerox Overseas Holdings Limited, Xerox Overseas Inc., Xerox Oy, Xerox Pensions Limited, Xerox Polska Sp. z o. o, Xerox Portugal Equipamentos de Escritorio Limitada, Xerox Products Limited, Xerox Products UK Limited, Xerox Professional Services Limited, Xerox Realty Corporation, Xerox Renting S.A.U., Xerox Reprographische Services GmbH, Xerox S.A.S., Xerox S.p.A., Xerox Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, Xerox Servicios Compartidos Guatemala y Compani Limitada, Xerox Servicos e Participacoes Ltda, Xerox Shared Services Romania SRL, Xerox Sverige AB, Xerox Technology Services India LLP, Xerox Technology Services SAS, Xerox Telebusiness GmbH, Xerox Trading Enterprises Limited, Xerox Trinidad Limited, Xerox UK Holdings Limited, Xerox XHB Limited, Xerox XIB Limited, Xerox Xf Holdings (Ireland) DAC, Xerox de Chile S.A., Xerox del Ecuador S.A., Xerox del Peru S.A., Zeno Office Solutions, Zeno Office Solutions Inc., Zoom Imaging Solutions Inc., and inVentiv Patient Access Solutions. Quotient Technology Inc. operates as a digital media and promotions technology company that offers power integrated digital media and promotions programs for brands and retailers. The company offers Quotient Promotions Platform offers digital paperless and print promotions, including Coupons.com website and mobile applications; brand and retailer websites and mobile applications; and third-party publishing websites and mobile applications. It also provides Quotient Retailer Promotions Platform that uses consumer data and insights to distribute personalized and targeted media and promotions for retailers of grocery, drug, mass merchant, dollar, club and convenience merchandise; and Quotient Media Platform, which provides targeted advertising solutions that enables brands to reach shoppers before, during, and after their shopping cycles with digital media campaigns. It also provides Quotient Retailer Performance Media Platform that uses retailer's consumer data to drive sales and enhances the shopper experience; Quotient Analytics provides campaign analytics and measured sales results to brands and retailers; Quotient Consumer Properties; and Quotient Retailer Media Services. It serves approximately 800 consumer packed goods, representing approximately 2,000 brands, including various food, beverage, personal care, and household product manufacturers; retail partners representing various classes of trade, such as grocery retailers, drug, mass merchant, dollar, club, and convenience merchandise channels; and consumers visiting its websites, mobile properties, and social channels. The company was formerly known as Coupons.com Incorporated and changed its name to Quotient Technology Inc. in October 2015. Quotient Technology Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California. Read More Mayer has also worked for the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Ports Authority. She will start Feb. 13 in the governors office. Mayer is married to Hogans former communications director and deputy campaign manager, Doug Mayer. Hes now a partner at Strategic Partners & Media, a consulting firm in Annapolis. Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of The AES: 25 Ashdown Road Solar LLC, AES (India) Private Limited, AES (NI) Limited, AES Abigail S.a.r.l., AES Accabonac Solar LLC, AES Africa Power Company B.V., AES AgriVerde Holdings B.V., AES AgriVerde Services (Ukraine) Limited Liability Company, AES Alamitos Development Inc., AES Alamitos Energy LLC, AES Alamitos L.L.C., AES Alicura Holdings S.C.A., AES Americas International Holdings Limited, AES Andres (BVI) Ltd., AES Andres BV, AES Andres DR S.A., AES Andres Holdings I Ltd, AES Aramtermelo Holdings B.V., AES Argentina Generation S.A. (1), AES Argentina Holdings S.C.A., AES Argentina Investments Ltd., AES Argentina Operations Ltd., AES Arlington Services LLC, AES Armenia Mountain Holdings LLC, AES Armenia Mountain Wind 2 LLC, AES Aurora Holdings Inc., AES Aurora Inc., AES BES Jordan B.V., AES Bainbridge Holdings LLC, AES Bainbridge LLC, AES Ballylumford Holdings Limited, AES Baltic Holdings BV, AES Barka Services Inc., AES Barry Limited, AES Barry Operations Ltd., AES Beaver Valley L.L.C., AES Belfast West Power Limited, AES Belleville Solar LLC, AES Big Sky L.L.C., AES Botswana Holdings B.V., AES Brasil Ltda, AES Brazil Inc., AES Brazil International Holdings Limited, AES Broadalbin Solar LLC, AES Bulgaria B.V., AES Bulgaria Energy Solutions EOOD, AES Bulgaria Holdings BV, AES Bussum Holdings BV, AES CC&T International Ltd., AES CLESA Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita de Capital Variable, AES Calaca Pte. Ltd., AES Calgary Inc., AES California Management Co. Inc., AES Caracoles SRL, AES Carbon Exchange Ltd., AES Carbon Holdings LLC, AES Caribbean Finance Holdings Inc., AES Caribbean Investment Holdings Ltd., AES Cartegena Holdings BV, AES Cayman Guaiba Ltd., AES Cayman Pampas Ltd., AES Central America Electric Light LLC, AES Central American Holdings Inc., AES Central American Investment Holdings Ltd., AES Central Asia Holdings BV, AES Ceprano Energia SRL, AES Changuinola S.R.L., AES Chhattisgarh Energy Private Limited, AES Chigen Holdings Ltd., AES China Generating Co. Ltd., AES Chivor & Cia S.C.A. 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Vietnam Rep Office, AES Holdings Brasil Ltda., AES Honduras Generation Ventures Ltd., AES Honduras Holdings Ltd., AES Horizons Holdings BV, AES Horizons Investments Limited, AES Hungary Energiaszolgaltato Kft., AES Huntington Beach Development L.L.C., AES Huntington Beach Energy LLC, AES Huntington Beach L.L.C., AES IB Valley Corporation, AES Ilumina Holdings LLC, AES Ilumina LLC, AES Ilumina Member LLC, AES India Holdings (Mauritius), AES India L.L.C., AES Indiana Holdings L.L.C., AES Integrated Energy LLC, AES Intercon II Ltd., AES Interenergy Ltd., AES International Holdings II Ltd., AES International Holdings III Ltd., AES International Holdings Ltd., AES Investment Chile SpA, AES Italia S.r.l, AES James Baird Solar LLC, AES Johnsville Solar LLC, AES Jordan Holdco Cayman Limited, AES Jordan PSC, AES Jordan Solar B.V., AES Juniper Point Holdings LLC, AES K2 Limited, AES Kalaeloa Venture L.L.C., AES Kekaha Solar LLC, AES Keystone L.L.C., AES Keystone Wind L.L.C., AES King Harbor Inc., AES Kuihelani Solar LLC, AES LA FIT Dedeaux LLC, AES LA FIT Francisco LLC, AES LA FIT Sun Valley LLC, AES LATAM Energy Development Ltd., AES Landfill Carbon LLC, AES Latin America S. de R.L., AES Latin American Development Ltd., AES Laurel Mountain LLC, AES Lawai Solar LLC, AES Levant Holdings B.V., AES Levant Holdings B.V/ Jordan PSC, AES Lion Telecom Investments B.V., AES Lumos Holdings LLC, AES Maritza East 1 Ltd., AES Maritza East 1 Services Ltd., AES Mayan Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., AES Merida B.V., AES Merida III S. de R.L. de C.V., AES Merida Management Services S. de R.L. de C.V., AES Merida Operaciones SRL de CV, AES Mexican Holdings Ltd., AES Mexico Farms L.L.C., AES Mexico Generation Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., AES MicroPlanet Ltd., AES Mid East Holdings 2 Ltd., AES Mong Duong Holdings B.V., AES Mong Duong Project Holdings B.V., AES Monroe Holdings B.V., AES Mount Vernon B.V., AES NA Central L.L.C., AES NEXT Ltda. de C.V., AES Nejapa Gas Ltda. de C.V., AES Nejapa Services Ltda. de C.V., AES Next LLC, AES Nile Power Holdings Ltd., AES North America Development LLC, AES OPGC Holding, AES Oahu LLC, AES Oahu Wind Holdings LLC, AES Oasis Holdco Inc., AES Oasis Ltd., AES Oasis Mauritius Inc, AES Ocean Springs Trust Deed, AES Odyssey L.L.C., AES Ohio Generation LLC, AES Operaciones Laguna del Rey S. de R.L. de C.V., AES Operadora S.A, AES Orissa Distribution Private Limited, AES Overseas Holdings (Cayman) Ltd., AES Overseas Holdings Limited, AES Pacific Inc., AES Pacific L.L.C., AES Pacific Ocean Holdings B.V., AES Pak Holdings Ltd., AES Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., AES Pakistan Operations Ltd., AES Panama S.R.L., AES Parana Gas S.A., AES Parana Holdings Ltd., AES Parana IHC Ltd., AES Parana II Limited Partnership, AES Parana Operations S.R.L., AES Parana Propiedades S.A, AES Parana Uruguay S.R.L, AES Pardo Holdings Ltd., AES Pasadena Inc., AES Peru S.R.L., AES Phil Investment Pte. 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Jordan Co., APR Walden Solar 1 LLC, ARNIKA Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, AZ Solar I LLC, AZ Solar II LLC, AZ Solar Phase Zero LLC, AgCert Canada Co., AgCert Canada Holding Limited, AgCert Chile Servicios Ambientales Limitada, AgCert International Limited, AgCert Servicios Ambientales S.R.L., Agilion Energy Private Limited, Allis Medina Solar LLC, Altai Power Limited Liability Partnership, Alto Maipo SpA, Amaterasu LLC, Andes Solar SpA, Arizona B&GC Solar LLC, Assonet Solar 1 LLC, Atlantic Basin Services Ltd., B.A. Services S.R.L., Bakersfield Industrial PV 1 LLC, Bakersfield PV I LLC, Beals Medina Solar LLC, Boa Hora 1 Geradora De Energia Solar S.A., Boa Hora 2 Geradora de Energia Solar S.A., Boa Hora 3 Geradora De Energia Solar S.A., Bolton Solar I LLC, Brasiliana Participacoes S.A., Bridgeport Solar LLC, Buffalo Gap Holdings 2 LLC, Buffalo Gap Holdings 3 L.L.C., Buffalo Gap Holdings LLC, Buffalo Gap Wind Farm 2 LLC, Buffalo Gap Wind Farm 3 L.L.C., Buffalo Gap Wind Farm 4 L.L.C., Buffalo Gap Wind Farm LLC, Bullock Freetown Solar 1 LLC, Bosforo de Responsabilidad Limitada de Capital Variable, CCS Telecarrier, CDEC-SING Ltda, CIA.TRANSMISORA DEL NORTE CHICO S.A., CO-CA Wholly Owned LLC, Camille Ltd., Camille Trust, Cavanal Minerals LLC, Cayman Energy Traders, Cemig II C.V., Centrais Eolicas Ametista S.A., Centrais Eolicas Borgo S.A., Centrais Eolicas Caetite S.A., Centrais Eolicas Dourados S.A., Centrais Eolicas Espigao S.A., Centrais Eolicas Maron S.A., Centrais Eolicas Morrao S.A., Centrais Eolicas Pelourinho S.A., Centrais Eolicas Piloes S.A., Centrais Eolicas Seraima S.A., Centrais Eolicas Serra do Espinhaco S.A., Centrais Eolicas Tanque S.A., Centrais Eolicas Ventos do Nordeste S.A., Centrais Eolicas da Prata S.A., Centrais Eolicas dos Aracas S.A., Central Electricity Supply Company of Orissa Limited, Central Termoelectrica Guillermo Brown S.A., Cerulean Properties LLC, Clean Wind Energy Ltd., Coastal Itabo Ltd., Colon LNG Marketing S. De R.L., Compania de Alumbrado Eletrico de San Salvador S.A. DE C.V., Compass Circle Solar LLC, Compania Transmisora Angamos SpA, Compania Transmisora La Cebada S.A., Compania Transmisora del Norte Grande SpA, Costa Norte LNG Terminal S. de R.L., Cronin Road Solar 1 LLC, DPL Capital Trust II, DPL Inc., Daggett Ridge Wind Farm LLC, Delano PV1 LLC, Diamond Development Inc., Distribuidora Electrica de Usulutan Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Domi Trading S.L., Dominican Power Partners, Dublin Solar I LLC, Dunstable Solar 1 LLC, EMLP Controladora S. de R.L. de C.V., ENERAB S. de R.L. de C.V., ENERGEN S.A., Eloy ESD Solar Holdings LLC, Empresa Electrica Angamos S.A., Empresa Electrica Campiche S.A., Empresa Electrica Cochrane II SpA, Empresa Electrica Cochrane S.A., Empresa Electrica Guacolda S.A., Empresa Electrica Ventanas S.A., Empresa Electrica de Oriente S.A. de C.V., Empresa Generadora De Electricidad Itabo S.A., EnerAB Cogeneracion I Laguna del Rey S. de R.L. de C.V., EnerAB Suministro Calificado S. de R.L. de C.V., EnerAB Tenedora S. de R.L., Energetica Argentina S.A., Energia Eolica Los Olmos SpA, Energia Eolica Mesamavida SpA, Energia Verde S.A., Energy Trade and Finance Corporation, Energia Eolica Curauma SpA, Energia Eolica Paposo SpA, Energia Natural del Este Enadom, Eolica Mesa La Paz S. de R.L. de C.V., FTP Power LLC, Finchville Solar LLC, Fluence Energy LLC, Founder's Homestead Farm Solar LLC, Fundacion AES Dominicana Inc., Fundacion AES Gener, GENERGIA S.A., GNRY Holdings & Investments Limited, Gas Natural Atlantico II S. de R.L., Gas Natural Atlantico S. De R.L., Gasoducto GasAndes Argentina S.A., Gasoducto GasAndes S.A., Gener Argentina S.A., Gener Blue Water Ltd., Genergia Power Ltd., Georgia Solar Holdings LLC, Georgia Solar Parent LLC, Global Energy Holdings C.V., Goller Enerji Uretim Ltd. Sti., Gray Springs Vista Solar LLC, Greenwich Solar 1 LLC, Guacolda Energy S.A., Guaimbe I Parque Solar S.A., Guaimbe II Parque Solar S.A., Guaimbe III Parque Solar S.A., Guaimbe IV Parque Solar S.A., Guaimbe Solar Holding S.A., Guaimbe V Parque Solar S.A., Health and Welfare Benefit Plans LLC, Hipotecaria San Miguel Limitada de Capital Variable, Hipotecaria Santa Ana Limitada de Capital Variable, INVERSIONES NUEVA VENTANAS S.A., IPALCO Enterprises Inc., Indianapolis Power & Light Company, Indimento Inversiones S.L., Instituto AES Brasil, InterAndes S.A., Inversiones Cachagua SpA, Inversiones Energia Renovable Limitada, Inversiones LK SpA, Inversiones Termoenergia de Chile Ltda., Inversiones Zapallar Limitada, Inversora de San Nicolas S.A., Itabo III S.R.L., Jemeiwaa KaI S.A.S., Johnstown Solar 1 LLC, KA Energy OOD, KMR Power Company, Kazincbarcikai Iparteruletfejleszt Kft., Kings Rooftop PV LLC, La Plata I Empreendimentos Ltda., La Plata II Ltd., La Plata III C.V., Lane Ave Solar LLC, Lemoore PV 1 LLC, MFP CO Holdings II LLC, MFP CO Holdings LLC, MFP CO I LLC, MFP CO II LLC, MFP CO III LLC, MFP CO Parent LLC, MM Solar Holdings I LLC, MM Solar Parent LLC, MSP Master Tenant I LLC, MSP Master Tenant II LLC, MacGregor Park Inc., Manteca PV 1 LLC, Maple Solar LLC, Maui 17-2 LLC, Mauka FIT Twenty LLC, Mercury Cayman Co II Ltda Agencia en Chile, Mercury Chile Co. II Ltd., Mercury Chile Holdco Ltd., Mercury Chile I Limitada, Mercury Chile II Limitada, Miami Valley Insurance Company, Miami Valley Lighting LLC, Mid-America Capital Resources Inc., Middletown Solar 1 LLC, Mong Duong Finance Holdings B.V., Motor EV LLC, Mountain Minerals LLC, Mountain View Power Partners IV LLC, Mountain View Power Partners LLC, Murcia Generation Holdings B.V., NY RNM Project1 LLC, NY RNM Project1A LLC, NY RNM Project2 LLC, NY RNM Project3 LLC, NY RNM Project4 LLC, Na Pua Makani Power Partners LLC, New Caribbean Investments SRL, Norgener Inversiones SpA, Norgener Renovables SpA, Norgener S.A., Nova Energia Holding S.A., Novus Barre Town Solar LLC, Nurenergoservice LLP, Oahu SPE 101-14 LLC, Oahu SPE 101-19 LLC, Oahu SPE 101-2 LLC, Oahu SPE 101-33 LLC, Oahu SPE 101-4 LLC, Oahu SPE 101-9 LLC, Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited, Omega SpA, PARQUE EOLICO NOLANA SpA, PARQUE EOLICO TOPOLOA SpA, Parque Eolico Beata SRL, Parque Eolico Litueche SpA, Parque Eolico Campo Lindo SpA, Parque Eolico Los Cururos SpA, Parque Eolico Victoria SpA, Punta del Sol SpA, Quebrada Seca SpA, RMR Solar LLC, RT52 Walden Solar 1 LLC, Ransomville Solar 1 LLC, Remittance Processing Services LLC, Rep Office of AES Silk Road in Almaty, Rep Office of AES Silk Road in Tajikstan Republic, Richmond Solar Power 1 LLC, River Street Solar 1 LLC, Riverside Canal Power Company, Rosamond Solar LLC, Ryan Road Solar LLC, SD Solar I LLC, SEPV Imperial LLC, San Bernardino Solar LLC, Scituate Solar I LLC, Scottsdale Solar Holdings LLC, SeaWest Asset Management Services LLC, SeaWest Energy Project Associates LLC, SeaWest Properties LLC, SeaWest Wyoming LLC, Shazia S.R.L., Simple Energy Inc., Solar Access America LLC, Solar Access CA LLC, Solar Access California LLC, Southern Electric Brazil Participacoes Ltda., Store Heat and Produce Energy Inc., Stow Solar I LLC, Sudbury Ervin GMC Solar LLC, SunE Solar XVII Project5 LLC, SunE SunHoldings4 LLC, T&T Power Holdings I SRL, T&T Power Holdings II Ltd., TEG Business Trust, TEG/TEP Management LLC, TEP Business Trust, Tau Power BV, Tecnoma Energia Solar S.L., TermoAndes S.A., Termoelectrica Penoles S. de R.L. de C.V., Termoelectrica del Golfo S. de R.L. de C.V., Terneuzen Cogen B.V., The AES Barry Foundation, The Dayton Power and Light Company, Thermo Fuels Company Inc., Tozer Road Solar LLC, USVI Solar I LLC, University Solar LLC, Vientos Neuquinos I S.A., Village of Waterbury Solar I LLC, W. Orange RD Solar LLC, West Brookfield Boston Post Road Solar LLC, West Street Solar 1 LLC, Western Solar Parent LLC, Wilbur Woods Solar LLC, Wildwood Trust, Williamsburg East Street Solar LLC, Winchendon Ash Street Solar 1 LLC, Winchendon Lincoln Avenue Solar 1 LLC, Winchendon Lincoln Avenue Solar 2 LLC, Your Energy Holdings Limited, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-001 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-003 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-006 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-007 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-008 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-011 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-014 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-017 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-023 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-024 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-038 LLC, ZPD-PT Solar Project 2017-044 LLC, sPower, and sPower OpCo A Blocker LLC. WASHINGTON Roger Stone and Paul Manafort share a love of fine clothes, both cut their teeth in Connecticut politics and together broke with conventional norms as GOP consultants. Now their meteoric careers in Republican politics are crashing and burning because of one man Donald Trump. Manafort has pleaded guilty to a long list of federal crimes and faces serious jail time, while Stone has been indicted on felony counts that may also bring him time behind bars. Their close personal and professional relationship began at a young age, born of their shared love of GOP politics. Over the decades, their fates continue to be entwined. They now share the notoriety of being at the center of special counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian interference in U.S. elections. Some say the Connecticut natives could take down the president. Stone, now 66, was a high school student when he met Manafort in 1970 at the Connecticut state convention of young Republicans. Born in Norwalk and the son of a well-drilling company owner, he had shown up at the event without a hotel room. Manafort, the son of the mayor of New Britain and a leader of the Young Republicans, stepped in to help. That began their special relationship. A few years later, Manafort managed Stones candidacy for national chairman of the Young Republicans. Besides sharing a home state and love for fine tailoring, together, they campaigned with gleeful ruthlessness, says the Atlantic. Although he eventually became Donald Trumps campaign chairman, Manafort was better known as a lobbyist, sometimes representing dubious clients, including Filipino kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos and Ukrainian strongman Viktor Yanukovych, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Stone also lobbied, but seemed to prefer his work in political campaigns that earned him the reputation of a dirty trickster or in his words provocateur. An on-and-off adviser to Trump for more than 30 years, Stone pulled some of his latest tricks during the 2016 campaign. They included promoting the story that Hillary Clinton suffered from serious illnesses, including perhaps brain damage from a concussion she suffered in 2012, and pushing another falsehood, that a young Arkansas man named Danney Williams was the illegitimate son of former President Bill Clinton and a black prostitute. Stone also promoted T-shirts with the word RAPE under Bill Clintons visage. In a January 2017 interview with the Connecticut Mirror, Stone said he became interested in politics at an early age, after a neighbor in New Canaan gave him a book, The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater. I suppose thats what galvanized me, Stone said. I knew immediately this was the business I wanted to be in. I was 12 years old. Previously I wanted to be an actor. Thats what they say, Politics is show business for ugly people. Stone told the Mirror he perpetrated the stunts aimed at hurting Clintons candidacy independently of Trumps campaign. But he also said was in contact with Trump during the campaign after Trump became president. From time to time, I can reach him, but I dont abuse it, Stone said in 2017. Hes upbeat and friendly. Hes very optimistic. A Nixon tattoo Stones first national campaign took place in 1972, when he was appointed chairman of Youth for Nixon for Connecticut by Gov. John Davis Lodge who would become Stones mentor. At 19, Stone was the youngest member of the staff in President Richard Nixons notorious CREEP Committee for the Re-Election of the President where he learned tactics and the art of negative campaign advertising. Stone gave the notorious Nixon V for victory sign after he was released on bail last month in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., following his indictment on seven federal counts ranging from witness tampering to obstruction of justice. He continues to be a fervid supporter of the late president, evidenced by the large image of Nixons face tattooed between his shoulder blades. Richard Foley, a former Connecticut GOP party chairman, said he first met Stone at Pennys Diner in Fairfield with other Young Republicans, including John T. Terry Dolan a Norwalk native who would later create the National Conservative Political Action Committee. At this stage we were all pretty green, Foley said. Roger was sort of on the fast track and the rest of us were sort of slogging along. Roger got involved with Nixon and [Pat] Buchanan and got sucked up in the stratosphere. Foley also knew Manafort. Over the years, we worked on and off together, he said. Their collaborations included the 1992 campaign of Republican candidate Brook Johnson, who failed to unseat former Sen. Chris Dodd, Foley said. Manafort, 69, has a name thats well known in central Connecticut. Besides being a three-term Republican mayor of New Britain, his father Paul Manafort Sr. belonged to a long list of civic organizations and was once the head of the states public works department. The construction company founded by Paul Manaforts Italian immigrant grandfather has built train stations, roadways and other projects all over the region. The younger Manafort inherited his fathers political ambitions. As a teenager he joined a mock city council and campaigned for Connecticut GOP gubernatorial candidate Thomas Meskill. Manafort was a very likable fellow -, said Foley, the type of guy that other guys wanted to hang out with. Paul Manafort Drive, which is named after Manaforts father, curves through the campus of Central Connecticut State University and was the subject of a fierce debate in New Britain last year after Trumps former campaign chief was convicted of financial fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Despite an online petition demanding the street be renamed, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart held fast, making only a slight alteration in the streets name, changing it to Paul Manafort Sr. Drive and saying the name of the elder Manafort shouldnt be tarnished by his sons actions. Very intense guys By the late 70s, both Manafort and Stone could foresee Ronald Reagans ascendance, and they both became players in his 1980 campaign. That year, Manafort convinced a skeptical Stone and two other associates, Charlie Black and Peter Stone, to open a small lobbying shop called Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly. Only Black, a Texan, did not hail from Connecticut, although Kelly differed from his other three partners in that he was a Democrat. A bipartisan firm was something new in Washington D.C., helping elect politicians, sometimes by playing both sides of a race, and then lobbying the winner. It also took global lobbying to new heights. Kelly said he did was introduced to Manafort and Stone by former Bridgeport Mayor Nick Panuzio, who was working as the lobbying firms manager. Kelly said he was finance chairman of the National Democratic Party and knew people who wanted advice about the new Reagan administration, so he referred them to Manafort and Stone. After several years, he was asked to join the firm. Kelly said he was intrigued to join one of the first bipartisan lobbying firms and one with so many international clients. So I said sure, that would be great' Kelly said. Although their political careers were entwined, Kelly said each man was very different. Manafort was a brilliant, young, energetic guy, who was keen on analytics, Kelly said. Then he gradually transformed to what you see now. Stone, meanwhile, was always a trickster, Kelly said. He was always a whack job, he said. Manafort and Stone left the firm after it was sold to Burson-Marsteller, an international public relations company, in 1991. Kelly eventually returned to Connecticut, where he became a noted lobbyist in Hartford. Foley said he has the same impression of Manafort and Stone as he did when they were all young men decades ago. They are very intense, he said. That intensity may have led to their legal problems today. Poking the tiger Stone persuaded Trump to hire Manafort as a campaign chairman. Nobody seemed to think that Manaforts old clients would pose a problem. Then the Trump campaign dropped Manafort after the New York Times broke a story that said a ledger in a Yanukovych party clubhouse showed the lobbyist received a payment of $12.5 million. Muellers team prosecuted Manafort on federal financial charges related to his lobbying work for Yanukovych, but a plea deal has fallen apart after prosecutors say Manafort broke his plea agreement by lying to them and the FBI. He is scheduled to appear in federal court Monday regarding the matter. Meanwhile, Stone is accused by Muellers team of lying to Congress about his quest for information about WikiLeaks plans to release information damaging to Clinton. At about 4 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2016, the Washington Post wrote about a recording of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. Less than an hour later, Julian Assanges WikiLeaks, began releasing hacked emails from the account of John Podesta, the chairman of Clintons campaign. In a tweet the day before the WikiLeaks dump, Stone previewed the coming threat to Clintons campaign. Julian Assange will deliver a devastating expose on Hillary at a time of his choosing, he tweeted on Oct. 6, 2016. I stand by my prediction. #handcuffs4hillary. Stone has also been charged with witness tampering (besides threatening him with physical harm, Stone warned he would take a therapy dog away from a former associate who was cooperating with the investigation.) He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Speaking to reporters in a Washington hotel ballroom this week, Stone said I did not coordinate anything with the Trump campaign or with WikiLeaks about their disclosures. My purpose was to hype the disclosures to bring voters and media attention to them. Thats called politics, Stone said. Instead of lying low while Mueller investigated whether there were any Trump campaign ties to Russia, Stone increased his 24/7 media campaign and blistering attacks on Mueller, that among other things, aim to raise money for his legal fees. That strategy included allowing a documentary film crew to follow him for more than five years surrounding Trumps rise to the pinnacle of political power. The documentary is available on Netflix. Do I feel bad for Paul? Yes, I do, Foley said. But Roger has spent the last 18 months poking the tiger and acts surprised when the tiger reacts. GREENWICH French cinema aficionado Renee Amory Ketcham saw 160 movies this year and is picking a handful to transport viewers through the diverse reaches of the French-speaking world. Residents and visitors will be the first to see the films and meet up-and-coming actors and directors as they explore the diversity of Francophone cinema at the 15th Focus on French Cinema film festival. The event, with films selected based on the theme Vive le Cinema Francophone, will be held April 26 to April 29. Narrative films, documentaries and short films will be screened in Greenwich and Stamford as well as in New York City as part of the festival. The films will cover genres from edge-of-your-seat capers to laugh-out-loud comedies. Programming will be announced mid-March. Organizers hope the theme, a first for the festival, will show attendees that French culture flourishes wherever the language is spoken in countries such as Belgium, Quebec and Lebanon. Ketcham, president of the Alliance Francaise, the organization putting on the festival, is halfway through the film selection and is excited by the diversity. We strongly believe that French cinema needs the opportunity to be diverse in stories, in characters, in directors and young actors, she said. Some of the best French films are made in cultures outside France, said Joe Meyers, the programming director. The 2019 theme recognizes the festivals support of French-language filmmaking from global cultures in addition to France, he said. Ketcham hopes to have something for everyone, since the festival attracts people from Greenwich and across the tri-state area, Americans and internationals, Ketcham said. The focus on diversity extends to gender and age, Ketcham said. She has selected films directed by women and with formidable women actors, including one who could win a Cesar Award later this month, Ketcham said. The group has also invited a 19-year-old director Ketcham wont give the name until March who burst onto the cinema scene this year, directing a film with the wisdom of someone who is much older than he is, Ketcham said. Film critics are comparing the young director to Canadian director Xavier Dolan, a 29-year-old who most recently directed Boy Erased. The four-day event will be a palette-cleanser for film fans tired of generic action movies. I struggle going to movies, because its all the same, Ketcham said. Thats the antithesis of what we are doing. We think outside of the box. Jean-Louis Gerin, who operated Jean-Louis on Lewis Street in Greenwich until 2012, will return to cater the festivals gala on opening night at the Greenwich Arts Council on April 26. The weekend in Greenwich will feature films premiering in the U.S., and will host actors and directors from around the Francophone world, as well as workshops and other events. The Avon Theatre Film Center will host the festival on April 29 and the French Institute Alliance Francaise in Manhattan will close the festival with two films premiering in the U.S. and a closing night party. For more information and tickets visit www.focusonfrenchcinema.com or call the Alliance Francaise office at 203-629-1340. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com Its not something Ive been focused on at all. Im flattered that all these people are talking about that, Hogan said Monday on WBAL radio after several national media outlets ran pieces speculating about him possibly challenging Trump. Its a little bit surprising to me that so many people are making such noise about this. Im intrigued and listening to it, but its not something Ive been involved in at all. STAMFORD A Norwalk man wanted for two months by police for harassing and stalking a city woman has been extradited from New York City and arraigned at the Stamford courthouse. Peter Diaz, Jr., 50, of Martin Luther King Drive, was charged with six counts each of violating a judges restraining order and second-degree harassment and three counts of first-degree stalking, and is being held in lieu of a $100,000 court appearance bond. Police have been looking for Diaz for about two months, but were unable to bring him in. Lt. TomScanlon said officers reached out to the Bronx Borough Warrant Squad and they were able to apprehend Diaz earlier this month. On Nov. 22, 2018 police were contacted by a woman who said that Diaz had been contacting her in violation of a protective order. He was arraigned in Stamford Wednesday. According to his four-page arrest affidavit, the woman showed police numerous texts that Diaz sent to her. One text from Nov. 20 said, Wow you went and file a restraining order on me at my job than lie to my face. The woman explained that she recently terminated her six-year relationship with Diaz. She said she had been granted a restraining order and had it served on Diaz on Nov. 20, the affidavit said. The woman also said that Diaz went to the restaurant where her daughter worked and talked to her about the relationship he had with her mother. The woman told police that she is fearful for her life because Diaz is acting irrationally. A few days later he texted her saying, I see you and everybody. Two days later another text from Diaz came in saying, You took off the rings, the affidavit said. The woman explained that she is no longer wearing the ring he gave her and she does not know how he knows she is no longer wearing it. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com STAMFORD The behavior of a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for traffic violations Wednesday led police to find a loaded gun under the passenger seat, police said Thursday. Renoy Jason McFarlane, 32, was charged with possession of a firearm without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of a high capacity magazine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $25,000. Howard Reid, 39, the driver of the vehicle, faces motor vehicle charges. Police said he was released from the scene with a motor vehicle summons. A third person in the vehicle was not charged. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, a Stamford police office on routine patrol on Seaton Road when he spotted a car double parked. The officer pulled up behind the vehicle, and its driver took off and conducted another motor vehicle violation, according to Capt. Diedrich Hohn. The driver stopped the car on Standish Road and the officer reported that he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle as he approached it, Hohn said. The officer, who called in backup, noticed that the front seat passenger later identified as McFarlane was acting fidgety. The additional officers said they noticed the same. Everyone was taken out of the vehicle and one officer saw a handgun partially sticking out from under the passenger seat, Hohn said. All three people were detained. The officer seized a loaded 10mm handgun with a 14-round high-capacity magazine and one round in the chamber, Hohn said. They also found a small amount of marijuana. Hohn said McFarlane said the gun and drugs were his. Hohn said McFarlane did not have a permit for the gun. Hohn praised the officers involved in the arrest, adding that it, possibly prevented more needless gun violence. With the start of the year facing a marked increase in police officer deaths around the country, this incident is another example of the risks the Stamford Police Officers are up against every day to keep our city safe, Hohn said. We are all lucky that these officers were vigilant in quickly recognizing a dangerous situation and rectifying it in a safe manner. GREENWICH Anthony Ray Hinton had taken a sip of lemonade and started to mow his mothers lawn under the hot Alabama summer sun when two detectives arrested him for a crime he did not commit. What are those handcuffs doing on my baby? his mother cried out when she saw his shackled wrists. Two restaurant managers had been robbed, shot and killed, but a third survived. The detectives told Hinton his innocence did not matter, and that they would make sure he was found guilty. Their task was easy in Alabama in the 1980s. Hinton, a black man, faced an all-white opposition: the man who identified him, the prosecutor, the judge and the jury. Despite an ironclad alibi and an exonerating polygraph test, forged evidence cemented his conviction. Hinton spent 28 years in a 5-foot by 7-foot cell, waiting to be executed, before he was exonerated and released in 2015. Today, he tours the country, sharing his story which he turned into a best-selling book, The Sun Does Shine and advocating for criminal justice reform as part of the Equity Justice Initiative. The nonprofit group, which helped him gain his freedom, provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in jails and prisons. More than 700 upper school students of Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School gathered Thursday morning in the GA gym to hear Hinton tell his story. He was so inspiring, said senior Kristina Kendall, who introduced Hinton to the audience. He is so hopeful. Kendall, head of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board of the GA student government, said that Hintons story put their lives in perspective. We have no reason to pout because we have too much homework or something, our problems are so small compared to what he went through, she said. The assembly was a testament to the two schools openness to welcome change and support the fight against injustice, said senior Brandon Morales, president of the Brunswick Diversity in Action club, in a statement. I feel blessed to have been able to hear Mr. Hinton speak, and especially for the opportunity to share such an intimate and thought-provoking time with my peers, Morales said. Hinton challenged his audience to think about the criminal justice system, the ethics of the death penalty and the fact that no one has made reparations on behalf of the state of Alabama. How is it that we have a system that can put a man in a cage like an animal and no one has the decency to say Were sorry? he asked. How many more before we say, We do not need the death penalty in this country? Aisha Gawad, who teaches English and social justice, assigned excerpts of his story to her class because he is a compelling example of how Americas criminal justice system falls short of its ideals. It makes it unavoidable to face that we have problems in our criminal justice system, Gawad said. It gives them a feeling of urgency that something should be done. Still, Hinton said forgave the man who accused him as well as the jury and judge who convicted him. Youre looking at a man who forgave not because they asked, not because they deserve it, he said. I forgave so I could see good. Kyna Shine, director of diversity and inclusion at Brunswick, was moved by Hintons path to forgiveness. Mr. Hinton used his voice to share a portion of the pain he suffered for 30 years while on Death Row for crimes he didnt commit, she said in a statement. And, more important, he taught us about the power of forgiveness and compassion. Connie Blunden, director of the Center for Public Purpose at Greenwich Academy, has heard Hinton speak before. Every year, she takes GA students through the Deep South to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Between Hintons story and the annual trip, she hopes her students will be informed, share their knowledge with others and work together to identify problems in their communities. I think the students and the faculty are working very hard to be open to having the conversations around what it means to be a part of this community, and are open to address concerns, Blunden said. Theres a lot of commitment throughout the community for being an inclusive and equitable space. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com GREENWICH The Board of Estimate and Taxations Budget Committee began its work on the 2019-20 municipal budget on Thursday with a deep dive into the Greenwich Public Schools that went beyond just the upcoming year. The committee also wanted to focus on the long-term, calling for improvements in how the school district handles capital projects. Last summer, the town had to scramble to approve emergency funds to replace the roof at Julian Curtiss School after work began without full funding in place. That was one of many school capital projects that sparked debates over the Board of Educations process and how it works with the BET and Representative Town Meeting. A joint BET/Board of Education study is reviewing the processes for capital and how projects are managed. The results are likely to be in within a few weeks and may impact the budget if there are resources that are missing or needed, Budget Committee Chair Leslie Moriarty said. That also impacts the timing of the capital plan as well as potentially operating budget. Those issues are out there. Various factors, including staff turnover in the facilities department, have been blamed for the problems. The school districts Chief Operating Officer Lorianne ODonnell, who started in the summer of 2017 shortly after Facilities Director Dan Watson, told the Budget Committee it was important to take time to learn so any changes made would be an improvement. Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein echoed that, saying for too long the system had been person dependent and not process driven. Budget committee member Jeff Ramer said it created problems when there was a transition to another employee, and Bernstein agreed. You really need to have people who understand, Bernstein said. You need to have processes behind it. And you have to have accountability behind it The next step in the evolution is stepping in and putting processes and systems in place. We lack that. We understand that. We want to fix that going forward. The school boards budget includes $26 million for capital projects, including improvements for Cardinal Stadium at Greenwich High. I also includes $13.8 million for school maintenance, most of which is focused on completing the GHS locker room, its cooling tower and exterior work at Eastern Middle School. Those are the kinds of projects that have prompted questions about process and communication. Budget Committee member Michael Mason has been calling for a look at the process for years and said Thursdays meeting was a positive step in improving communication. Its really good to sit down from (the report being completed) and decide forms of management for our projects, Mason said, noting there was everything from cracked windows and painting to major projects. This is all positive. Moriarty agreed but stressed it was only a start. Its definitely a work in progress because we are awaiting the results of the study on how we can improve and what other resources may be needed, Moriarty said. There are a lot of issues to deal with. The look ahead at capital projects was only part of the all-day discussion as the budget committee examined many aspects of the school budget. It looked at both the capital budget and the operating budget, and received updates on the progress of the digital learning program as well as other future projects. The overall $163.3 million proposed school budget for 2019-20 is a $3.1 million increase, or 1.95 percent, over the current budget year. An earlier version of the budget plan was cut nearly $2 million to keep the increase under the 2 percent guideline recommended by the BET. This is not a level services budget, interim school superintendent Ralph Mayo said. We have cut this budget. The choices are not easy and they are not permanent choices, Bernstein said. There are staff reductions. There are changes in the staffing ratio at the middle school and the high school and cuts to professional development and curriculum development, two things that affect what goes on with teaching and learning, he said. Those are things were going to be watching carefully. Bernstein said the members of the Board of Education felt it was their responsibility to make the cuts, not leave them for the BET to do. Moriarty credited the Board of Education and district staff for trimming the budget to meet BET guidelines. But she but wanted to know whether long-term efficiencies could be found. This is an issue for the town and for the Board of Ed, said Moriarty, a former school board chair. We want to be able to deliver the services that our residents want, but weve got to do it in a cost-effective manner. Were now at the point where the easier changes probably have been implemented, and now were looking at the more challenging ones. Bernstein agreed, saying they had focused on the low-hanging fruit and it moves the needle but not enough. He said changing to digital resources, including textbooks, could also help. Bigger cuts would have to be examined for their impact on the classrooms. We really want to see whats working for the kids in this district, Mayo said. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com After seeing news articles about the Catholic schoolboys accused of mocking the American Indian man beating on a drum, the only impression I got was a group of kids acting like kids. The MAGA hats were probably part of their fun. I did not, however, agree with taking teenage boys out of class to participate in an anti-abortion march. From what I have seen, most protests have little success in changing anyones opinion and often result in confrontations with unwanted, sometimes tragic results. I believe these boys (and others) would receive much more benefit from mandatory sex education where they learn the cause of many abortions (unwanted pregnancy) and that men have responsibility as well as women. The Creator meant re-creation, not recreation, even though the president basks in his escapades and is revered by many religious people. Audrey Dlugosz Rhetorical question Exactly how do many people left of center argue that Dreamers, here through no fault of their own, deserve citizenship, free education, etc., while simultaneously arguing that an almost full-term fetus here through no fault of its own deserves whatever the mother says it deserves, including being terminated? At what point does one lose his or her compassion to ideology so that lives are nothing more than pawns in a chess game where only winning matters? Are we evolving or devolving? Does life only matter when this person or that person says it matters, or is ones right to life inalienable? Its a rhetorical question, unfortunately, that begs an honest answer in a world where such answers increasingly diverge from truth. David Saenz Very real crisis Re: Wait who was the adult in the room? Monday, Other Views: O. Ricardo Pimentel is pretty much wrong in his entire column, but I will focus on his comment pertaining to the border wall. He says it would address a crisis that doesnt exist. Really? Please ask the mothers and families who have lost loved ones to those illegally here in the U.S. What about rampant drug use and deaths as a result of drugs streaming into the U.S. from Mexico? These are just two of many things in this very real crisis. Walls work, plain and simple. Ask yourself, why do prisons have walls? I am so tired of the left and their endless drivel. Pat Conway Child in the room Re: Wait who was the adult in the room? Monday, Other Views: O. Ricardo Pimentel asks the correct question who was the adult in the shutdown? It is obvious who the child is. Unfortunately, this child is the president of this country. When most spoiled brats pitch a fit and go beyond yelling and screaming to destroying dishes, furniture, threatening more i.e., a government shutdown that does cruel damage to thousands it is past time to constrain the child to prevent more damage. Will that ever happen? Will it be too late? The Rev. Bert Clayton, retired United Methodist minister Our river, our water If we build a wall on our side of the Rio Grande, is there a possibility that Mexico will claim our river our water? If we want water from the river, Mexico could require compensation. This would be a direct hit on all border towns that depend on the river for livelihoods and border farmers who need it for irrigation. Is anyone looking at the possibility of those consequences? Anthony R. Bernal The push for bail reform is a moral cause, grounded in principles that should speak to our hearts and minds. Bail reform is rooted in the ideal of fairness. That people should not be held pretrial simply because they are too poor to pay for a cash bond. People should not plead guilty to crimes they may not have committed simply so they can be released from jail. All people are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty that is a hallmark of the American justice system but detaining people solely because they are poor undercuts that constitutional right. We strongly urge Bexar Countys court-at-law judges to remember these moral underpinnings as they discuss enacting bail reform for people accused of nonviolent misdemeanors. The judges, at the urging of Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and County Court-at-Law Judge John Longoria, are holding a special meeting to begin considering replicating Harris Countys recent decision to end cash bail for most misdemeanors. This is a moment to be bold and to see the vast potential of sweeping reform. Done right, ending cash bail will touch thousands and thousands of lives, relieve jail crowding and embody what numerous legal experts from across the political spectrum view as best practice. Harris Countys plan will eliminate cash bail for about 85 percent of people arrested on misdemeanors. These are people accused of nonviolent crimes, but have found themselves locked up pretrial simply because they cannot afford to pay for a cash bond. What this means in real terms is they are separated from their families and their jobs, if employed. It means they may plead guilty, regardless of innocence, simply to secure their release. It means two defendants charged with the same crimes, but of different financial means, could very well end up with different outcomes. A wealthy defendant who can make bond is less likely to plead guilty, but a poor defendant, languishing in jail, may plead guilty simply to get home to family and back to work. Wolff and Longoria, the administrative judge for the criminal misdemeanor courts, allude to these disturbing dynamics in their letter. We are concerned that some people may be detained only because of cash bond requirements in Bexar County, they write. Some may lose their jobs, get expelled from school, or lose parental rights. We are also concerned that some may plead guilty just to get out of jail. Remember, this is about pretrial detention. We are talking about defendants who have been accused of nonviolent crimes, but have not been found guilty. Pretrial release does not change the offense, possible punishment, requirements to make court appearances, or the consequences that come from missing those appointments. What about public safety? No doubt, the cash bail industry will raise this question again and again. But what proponents of the cash bail system conveniently ignore is that cash bail has nothing to do with risk. It is solely connected to a persons ability to pay for release. Its a system that kept Janice Dotson-Stephens, a grandmother with mental illness, in the Bexar County jail on a $300 bond for a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge. She languished for five months until she died in jail this December. And on the other end of the spectrum, its a system that allows people accused of violent crimes to be released if they have the money. This summer, Gov. Greg Abbott brought attention to the killing of Texas State Trooper Damon Allen during a traffic stop in Fairfield. The suspect, Dabrett Black, was released from jail on a $15,500 bond for allegedly assaulting a county deputy. And importantly, Harris Countys plan has exceptions to ensure public safety. It excludes those arrested for bond violations, repeat drunk driving and family violence. Bexar County has instituted a number of reforms leading to this moment. It has expanded the Public Defenders Office to provide representation to all defendants at bail hearings, when bonds are set and pretrial decisions are made. But lets also acknowledge the obvious. Sticking with cash bail is a losing fight. Harris County spent $9 million fighting a lawsuit over its cash bail practices to no avail. How would Bexar Countys system fare under a similar lawsuit? Other reforms will be needed. The county should consider a risk assessment tool developed by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Numerous experts have praised this tool. Reform should be coupled with expanded pretrial diversion and other services to help change lives. There are better ways to administer justice than locking up poor people accused of nonviolent crimes simply because they lack the funds for a cash bond. This editorial is part of the Unequal Justice series, which explores the inequities in Bexar Countys criminal justice system and how they can be fixed. John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News The spring semester at Alamo Colleges is officially rolling, thanks to VIA Metropolitan Transit. Almost all students with Alamo Colleges can take unlimited rides on VIA buses through Aug. 10, the end of the summer semester. They simply have to present their school IDs to bus drivers. The ID doubles as a U-pass and is paid for through a campus fee. Just what we need, another ego-crazed billionaire with zero experience in government who thinks he is destined to be president. What could go wrong? Howard Schultz, the man who put a Starbucks on every corner, said in a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday that he is mulling a run for the White House as an independent. Schultz admits hes not the smartest person in the room, but he must be smart enough to know he cant possibly win. He is quite capable of re-electing President Trump, though. At present, the specter of a second Trump term looks comfortably remote. The blue wave in the midterm election and Trumps cellar-dwelling approval numbers show what the country thinks of him and his corrupt, chaotic, kooky administration. A recent poll shows him trailing any of his likely Democratic opponents. If the election were held next week, Im pretty confident that Trump would lose to a ham sandwich. He does have a chance in 2020, however, if the anti-Trump vote is split between two or more candidates. Imagine Schultz, a lifelong Democrat, siphoning off even 5 percent of the Democratic candidates vote in, say, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. The horror of 2016 threatens to become a recurring nightmare. Schultz seems to be an honorable and decent guy, and I have nothing against him. But I most certainly will if he saddles the nation with four more years of Trumps racism, xenophobia, misogyny, ignorance, dishonesty and incompetence. As I said, Schultz cant actually win as an independent. Even Trump was smart enough to figure that out. Remember how coy Trump was early in the Republican primary campaign, reserving the option of an independent candidacy if the GOP did not treat him fairly? Trump used the threat as leverage to get his way on debate logistics and ballot access. But then he suddenly reversed course, signing a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee. Trump understood that the most likely outcome, if he ran on his own, would be to guarantee Hillary Clintons election by taking votes away from the GOP candidate. In his wildest dreams, he might hope to win enough electoral votes to keep either major-party candidate from reaching a majority. But in that case, the election would be thrown to the House of Representatives which would surely choose the Republican or the Democrat, not Trump. Leave aside the fact that Trump, a proven cheapskate, would never seriously consider spending the money it would take to run a nationwide independent campaign. His reasoning about the inevitable outcome was sound and remains so today. Schultz may follow through on his pledge to spend whatever it takes to compete in all 50 states. But he cant win. I know that we live in tumultuous times. I know that if Donald Trump can become president, the boundaries of the possible have been greatly expanded, if not obliterated. I know that party affiliation has been steadily weakening and that a plurality of voters now consider themselves independents. Despite all of this, the Democratic Party and the GOP remain deeply entrenched and highly adaptable institutions. Either might be susceptible to a hostile takeover, as Trump proved. But only a supreme narcissist would think himself capable of singlehandedly vanquishing both. Enter Schultz, potentially. I have to wonder if he, like Trump, might be using the threat of an independent candidacy as leverage. The Democratic Party has moved leftward. Schultz has views that he describes as centrist hes more pro-business than the major Democratic contenders, worries vocally about the mounting national debt, claims that Democrats are proposing ... free health care for all, which the country cannot afford, and blames extremes on both sides for bringing the nation to its parlous state. The inference is that Schultz might be more likely to run, and persist in running, if it looks as if an ideological progressive such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders or Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is likely to win the Democratic nomination. Schultz may be hoping to shift the intraparty debate in a more moderate direction. Or and I fear this is more likely he may just be surfing a great big wave of pure ego. The anti-Trump majority of Democrats, independents and sensible Republicans must let Schultz know, in no uncertain terms, that this is no time for such foolishness. Instead, perhaps, he should angle for a Cabinet post. Or just have a decaf latte and chill. eugenerobinson@washpost.com Re: Affordable housing advocates see flaws in Castros S.A. legacy, Front Page, Jan. 27: Former Mayor Julian Castro deserves full credit for one of the most innovative city policies adopted in the last 25 years. In his SA2020 plan, he declared the, decade of downtown that included the near north, south, east and west edges of the central city. The truly brilliant part of that strategy was to focus on housing first. The city set up an incentive fund to encourage housing in the inner city. We will likely surpass the SA2020 goal of 7,500 new housing units. Our central city has dramatically changed, now offering our citizens a choice of urban or suburban living. We now have citizens living in the inner city with a mix of incomes, and that is a good thing. Lower income citizens should not be segregated but rather living in a revived neighborhood. The success of Castros housing first policy laid the foundation for numerous office buildings built and planned along Broadway and throughout downtown, creating thousands of new jobs for the central city. Businesses are coming to the city center because they are very interested in securing access to the type and quantity of talent they need, and that talent is often drawn to an urban lifestyle more than a suburban one. This growing and talented downtown workforce, made possible by a range of available housing options, is attractive to companies. In a recent article, Mayor Castro was criticized for the overgenerous city funding of $10 million given to the Houston-based DC partners for a hotel and high-priced condos, and for another $3.7 million given to the Cellars development at the Pearl. Those decisions were made long after Castro left office, and were made by city staff without a council vote. (Mayor Nirenberg has since required a council vote for similar incentives.) Mayor Castro was also criticized for not doing enough for affordable housing, for people earning 60 percent of median income, or for workforce housing, for those making 80 percent or less of median income. Again, an unfair criticism. Out of the 6,500 new units built in the central city so far, 1,500 are affordable or workforce housing. As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Castro secured even more funding for affordable housing. In 2016, he established a $174 million dollar National Housing Trust Fund. Locally, he secured $30 million in federal grants to completely transform the Wheatley Courts and its 414 affordable housing units. While we need to continue to encourage workforce and affordable housing, we do not have a crisis. In fact, we still have one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation. Previous studies have found San Antonio, when it comes to housing, to be among the top ten most affordable cities to live in the U.S. An article released on January 23, 2019 shows that the housing costs in San Antonio are more than 20 percent below the national average. Existing homes here have a median price approximately $230,000. That means one half of the homes are below $230,000. My youngest son bought a home a year ago just a few blocks from MacArthur High School for $170,000. Apartment rents are as low as $1.15 a square foot. My former Chief of Staff T.J. Mayes rents an apartment downtown for $1.20 a square foot. We can best hold down housing costs by lowering the cost of city and utility regulations and permitting, helping to increase the number of new affordable lots, and providing proper incentives for lower income housing. What appears to be an affordable housing crisis is driven more by our low per capita income, and by the tremendous burden of student loans carried by many young people. We are partnering with schools and colleges to foster training programs for high skill jobs to broaden the number of people who can raise themselves up into the middle class and beyond. Our economic strategy now is to recruit and retain higher paying jobs, which in turn should help our residents afford an appropriate housing solution that works for them. Let us be thankful for Mayor Castros leadership in diversifying and expanding housing and economic opportunities downtown and throughout the city, and then work to build on his accomplishments. Nelson Wolff is the Bexar County Judge. To fully understand the voter-purge effort rolled out last week by the Texas secretary of states office, it helps to know a little about the 1993 motor voter law. The SoS office sent an advisory last Friday to county election officials, alerting them that a 10-month review had flagged the names of 95,000 registered voters who might not meet the citizenship requirement for voting, adding that 58,000 of those individuals had voted at least once since 1996. The people on the list had indicated, when receiving their drivers licenses from the Texas Department of Public Safety, that they were legal residents but not citizens. They subsequently registered to vote. Since we dont know how many of them became naturalized citizens between their DPS visit and their registration to vote, the list told us nothing. It did, however, induce Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to prematurely gin up some scandal hysteria, with a tweet whose excessive use of caps suggested that our lives might be in danger: VOTER FRAUD ALERT: The @TXsecofstate discovered approx 95,000 individuals identified by DPS as non-U.S. citizens have a matching registration record in TX. Either an example of confirmation bias gone berserk or a willful attempt to deceive, Paxtons tweet nonetheless reached some influential eyeballs. Gov. Greg Abbott thanked Paxton and Secretary of State David Whitley for uncovering and investigating this illegal vote registration. (In fact, they had uncovered no such thing.) On Sunday morning, President Donald Trump, demonstrating his patented forensic rigor, tweeted: 58,000 non-citizens voted in Texas, with 95,000 non-citizens registered to vote. The numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. All over the country, especially in California, voter fraud is rampant. Must be stopped. Strong Voter ID! Of course, Texas already has a strong voter ID law, so Trumps fact-challenged message actually undermined his own point. OnExpressNews.com: In San Antonio area and the state, long waits required for a driver license Since then, the Texas voter fraud story has crumbled under its own weight. The secretary of states office informed Harris County officials that about 18,000 of the countys flagged 29,822 voters were flagged by mistake. The same went for all 366 registered McLennan County voters on the list. Putting aside the question of why the SoS office couldnt have taken a few more days before sending out bungled lists to Texas counties, whats clear is that this whole operation is the latest salvo in a battle that can be traced back to the 26-year-old motor voter law. Its not a coincidence that the SoS office went back to 1996 when conducting its analysis. That year marked the first statewide election with motor voter in effect. Motor voter simplified the voter registration process by allowing people to register while receiving drivers licenses or applying for social services at various government agencies. It also enabled mail-in registration and prevented states from dropping voters from the rolls if they didnt vote for an extended time. Motor voter also created a uniform federal registration form asking applicants to simply check a box affirming their citizenship, without providing any documentary evidence to back it up. Like every subsequent American debate on the question of voting rights, motor voter broke down along partisan lines. Congressional Democrats passed an early version of the bill in 1992, only to have it vetoed by Republican President George H.W. Bush. A year later, newly elected Democratic President Bill Clinton signed it into law. Then-Rep. Robert Livingston, R-Louisiana, dubbed the law auto-fraudo. Future Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted that the law would lead to fraud and coercion. In Texas, 71,000 new voters registered within the first three months of the laws implementation. But Republican Secretary of State Tony Garza chafed under motor voters stipulations and encouraged Texas Attorney General Dan Morales to sue the Clinton Justice Department over it. RELATED: State hedges on claim that 100,000 Texas voters aren't citizens, faces federal lawsuit Over the years, Republican leaders across the country have claimed widespread voter fraud, at least in part because of motor voters registration system. People close to the secretary of states office insist that flagging suspect voters is simply a routine, and necessary, part of list maintenance. They privately gripe that Paxton turned this episode into a farce with his extravagant claims of voter fraud. Regardless of your political affiliation, you want (or should want) to ensure that ineligible voters stay off the registration rolls. The problem with the approach taken here is that it puts the onus on voters to prove their eligibility, not on the state to prove their ineligibility. It gives flagged voters only 30 days to verify their citizenship, or theyre purged. This process likely will ensnare at least a few noncitizens who shouldnt be registered. But its just as likely that it also will scrub some legitimate voters from the rolls. How comfortable you are with that prospect might say something about your party allegiance. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 If the requirement became law, Pennak said, the state could carry it out by expanding its program for checking the backgrounds of handgun buyers. Pennak questioned the need for such an expansion, noting that most violent crimes are committed by people using handguns. He said a very small number, relatively of murders are committed with long guns. Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Two years ago, a man was convicted of murder in San Antonio and was sentenced to life in prison for killing a 24-year-old jogger as she ran at O.P. Schnabel park on the Northwest Side on New Years Eve in 2013. In this episode of The Docket, we revisit the trial of Christian Bautista in the death of Lauren Bump. This notable trial lasted about a week, and it is memorable not just because of how random or heinous the crime was, but because of the strange behavior exhibited by the defendant while on trial. Authorities raided four locations in San Antonio on Thursday, seizing dozens of high-end cars and arresting two auto dealers as part of a lengthy money-laundering investigation. The raids targeted MGM Auto near Rittiman Road and Interstate 35 and Odida Auto off of Stahl Road, both of which sell used cars. Law enforcement officers also raided a rental home in the 4000 block of Barrington and a large home worth $460,000 in the gated Champions Run subdivision in the Stone Oak area, where a man named Karen Mgerian, 40, who owns MGM, was arrested. Jose Luis Magallon Jr., 28, also was arrested. Authorities have accused him of laundering money for a drug trafficking organization in Michoacan, Mexico. He was caught in a secret sting allegedly laundering money for undercover agents. Magallon appeared in federal court Thursday on a money-laundering conspiracy charge and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Hes due in federal court again Tuesday for a bond hearing. Magallon is the owner of Magallon Enterprises LLC, an exotic and luxury used auto dealership in San Antonio, according to a 10-page court affidavit filed against him. The business was not among those raided Thursday. Magallon allegedly dealt with an undercover agent who posed as a transporter of large amounts of drug cash, and flashed several high-end cars that were part of Magallons money laundering operation, the affidavit said. The affidavit also alleges that other people helped Magallon disguise his money laundering under layers of fronts. None have been charged. Law enforcement sources said Magallon also used photos of himself with a whos who of current or former public officials, posted to his Facebook page, to present a facade of legitimacy and significance. Among them are former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary Henry Cisneros ; Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar; state Sen. Jose Menendez; and former Bexar County Democratic Party chairman (and San Antonio mayoral candidate) Manuel Medina. None of the officials knew about nor were involved in Magallons alleged scheme, according to the law enforcement sources. He used them (the photos) to make himself look important, one of the sources said. Find out first: Get San Antonio Express-News breaking news directly to your inbox About 100 vehicles were seized in the early-morning raids, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, a Bentley and other luxury brands, officials said. Several were towed away from MGM Auto. All told, it was about $3 million to $4 million in assets, Salazar said Thursday morning outside MGM Auto. The sheriffs office provided an undercover deputy during the investigation and also helped with SWAT teams that simultaneously swarmed the four locations Thursday, Salazar said. The case was developed by the Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which used an undercover business in the sting operation, according to the affidavit. Related: Items seized from San Antonio oil and gas businessman Brian Alfaros home The affidavit said that Magallon laundered $204,000 in a series of undercover sting transactions involving federal agents. The operation began in June 2017. According to the affidavit, Magallon told one of the undercover agents that he could invest in Magallons car business. Magallon would take the undercover agents bulk U.S. currency and purchase high-end vehicles of the agents choice from an auto auction using Magallons auto dealer license. That would help the agent avoid having the agents undercover name and other identifying information on official U.S. government documents, and dodge having transactions of more than $10,000 be reported to the IRS, the affidavit said. Magallon stated he could even ship luxury automobiles to the UCA (undercover agent) outside the U.S., the affidavit said. Magallon does this for members of the DTO he works with in Michoacan. Another arrangement Magallon does with DTO members in Michoacan and offered to the UCA is laundering bulk U.S. currency through a financial institution Magallon does business with. Magallon and the agent made a series of deals; the first involved $20,000 that the feds provided and Magallon gave the undercover agent the title to a luxury vehicle as collateral, the affidavit said. He then converted the $20,000 into two $8,500 checks he later gave back to the agent, and took a 15 percent cut as his money-laundering fee, the affidavit said. At least two other operations were conducted in similar fashion. Some of the deals were cut at San Antonio resorts, the affidavit said. During negotiations with the agent, Magallon allegedly said he would have his accountant provide him with false sale invoices to make it seem the drug money the agent was providing was for something legitimate, like auto parts. Magallon also said his accountant could create a false lien for the agent if the agent chose to buy a luxury vehicle in cash, the affidavit said. The accountant is not identified. The affidavit also said Magallon sold a 2011 Maserati Gran Turismo to undercover agents for $54,000 in cash and prepared the sales documents in the name of a straw person to hide the buyers identity and did not prepare documents showing the receipt of more than $10,000 for the sale. Magallon also told the agent that he had a Russian friend who sells high-end vehicles and takes large cash payments and wont report the large transactions to the IRS. Magallon introduced them to Mgerian because he was able to launder larger amounts of money than Magallon could handle, according to the affidavit. The affidavit said Mgerian laundered $575,000 for the agents in four separate sting transactions. He is expected in federal court Friday for an initial hearing on a money laundering conspiracy charge. gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland 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 Visibly distressed, his voice cracking at times, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller on Thursday delivered the most comprehensive report ever produced on the sexual abuse of minors by priests in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The report named 54 priests in cases that date back to 1941, noting where they worked, the parishes in which the alleged abuse occurred and basic details about 150 allegations. It said the archdiocese is investigating two other priests, one retired and the other deceased. The revelations were part of a string of announcements made Thursday by Texas bishops who agreed last fall to produce reports of clergy credibly accused of abuse. Fourteen of Texas 15 Catholic dioceses did so the exception being the Fort Worth diocese, which has identified accused priests on its website for more than a decade. The 54 named here were the most in the state, out of a total of nearly 300. Read the Lay Commission's Report. The archdiocese is profoundly aware that this report may well cause some further grief to survivors, Garcia-Siller said in an address carried live on television and streamed on the archdioceses social media pages. We pray that this report will indeed assist survivors who have not felt attended to or who even (feel) ignored by family or the church. It is our hope that they will find peace. As he spoke to reporters and about 100 archdiocesan employees, a few clutching rosaries in their hands, the 25-page report was posted online. Later on Thursday, a separate, independent Lay Commission on Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors headed by former appellate court judge Catherine Stone delivered its own written report, a review of how the archdiocese handled sexual abuse allegations against clergy. Its executive summary said the case files revealed a heartbreaking path of human destruction caused by men who violated sacred vows, human decency, and criminal laws. There are no words that fully recount the shock we felt when reading of cases where clerics were moved from one parish to another or returned to ministry after periods of treatment, only to continue their acts of sexual abuse, the lay commission report said. We feel the pain of the survivors and the anger of the families and larger community at this betrayal of trust. We offer them our prayers for healing. The archbishop said most of the alleged abuse occurred in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The bulk of those incidents happened during the tenures of Archbishop Francis Furey (1969 to 1979) and Archbishop Patrick Flores (1979 to 2004). Of the 54 priests named, 30 are dead, 20 are alive and four are described as unable to be located or otherwise unknown. Twenty-seven were diocesan priests, 24 from various religious orders and six from other dioceses working in archdiocesan parishes when the abuse allegedly took place. Five are listed as members of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate; four as members of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; three Jesuits; and two each are Marianists, Claretians, Franciscans and Carmelites. All the priests in the report have been permanently removed from ministry, Garcia-Siller said. Many of the accusations were the subject of news reports starting in the 1980s. Among the most prominent named in the report are the noted religious scholar Father Virgilio Elizondo, who died in 2016 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being named in a lawsuit, though the report states the archdiocese has not substantiated the allegation against him. . The report lists 16 allegations against Father Javier Ortiz-Dietz, who was assigned to various parishes. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child and deported to Mexico upon his release in 2014. In 1998, the archdiocese settled a lawsuit with his victims for $4 million. The report states that the archdiocese removed Father Michael Kenny from ministry in 2000 after receiving a survivors credible allegation that he had sexually abused her when she was a minor teenager in the 1970s. The public learned considerably more about Kenny as the archdiocese fought two lawsuits, settled in 2003. Kenny admitted to relationships with those women and others, claiming the youngest was 17, and to fathering a child with one of them in 1982. He was suspended as a priest but the archdiocese said its review this fall prompted it to begin the process of asking the Vatican to defrock him. In a long entry, the report said 10 allegations were made against Father Michael J. OSullivan over several decades and described a history of transfers and psychiatric treatment. On ExpressNews.com: Archbishop vows to release names of credibly accused priests In a question-and-answer session with news media after his announcement, the archbishop said that the archdiocese is safer now from such abuses than in the past. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established in 2002 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops mandates zero tolerance for the sexual abuse of minors, the archbishop said. I cant promise it wont happen again, but were doing all that is available to us and were taking seriously all cases, he said. Garcia-Siller acknowledged crimes by priests have been tearing the church apart and that Thursdays report doesnt bring an end to the process the archdiocese has started. It will continue, the archbishop said. We know there is still significant work to be done. But he noted his gratitude for other Catholic leaders throughout the years who did the right thing and were courageous in making decisions that were difficult and unpopular. The lay commission report found a significant change within the Archdiocese during the last 15 years that puts into practice a dedication to the safety of children and a commitment to holding offending clerics fully accountable for their actions. Because of its track record handling more recent reports against priests, the lay commission said, Our recommendations, therefore, are limited to further improving the Archdioceses sound practices, giving particular attention to detailing and documenting procedures and policies, enlarging collaboration with other dioceses and religious orders, and ensuring that communications and procedures are transparent. Since 1940, the archdiocese has had more than 3,000 priests in ministry, both diocesan and from various religious orders. The archdiocese currently has 365 priests on duty. The lay commission acknowledged the number of clerics whove sexually abused minors is small compared to those in ministry. The archbishop, who took questions in English and Spanish, also addressed the Catholic Churchs meaningful progress since the 2002 charter. Our research shows that during the past 10 years, since 2010, there have been no reported allegations, Garcia-Siller said, adding that only two allegations were made against clergy between 2000 to 2009 and they were removed from ministry and prosecuted by law enforcement. He noted the bitter wind that has been sweeping through the church, causing turmoil, confusion and anger. Garcia-Siller referred to the Mass, when bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ, when a priest says, It is truly right and just. What we are doing here is also, truly right and just, most especially for the survivors of sexual abuse by clergy, the archbishop said. As he has other times, Garcia-Siller encouraged survivors of clergy abuse to call both police and the archdiocese. The oldest case in the archdioceses report was made by a survivor 60 years after the alleged incident occurred, he said. There are truly not enough times that we, and I, can express contrition, regret, and remorse to this person, who carried this unbearable pain and burden for many decades, he said. We must bear this burden going forward. In an interview, Stone, who chaired the lay commission, said she hopes the document the panel produced offers solace to survivors who can read it and think, somebody has heard me, somebody has validated the horror of my experience, and that it unlocks a door for people to heal. Stone said the commission found a marked difference in the archdioceses handling of allegations in the past 15 years with greatly improved responses and caring. But she said her commission recommends that the archdiocese develop standardized, written procedures. There are some written procedures. We suggest that there needs to be more, Stone said. The archbishop said Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for the sins of priests and the coverups that followed. Garcia-Siller quoted the pope in saying that an awareness of sin helps us to acknowledge the errors. He also, as I do, begged forgiveness for the pain suffered by victims, and lamented that a clerical culture greatly contributed to this crisis, with leaders in the Church more concerned about reputation and taboos than the safety of children, the archbishop said, growing emotional as he spoke. One 70-year old victim of sexual abuse by a priest felt a sense of relief that his perpetrator, Father Galeb Mokarzel, was named in the archdioceses report Thursday. It says the priests religious order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, considered the allegation against Mokarzel to be credible and that hes now living under supervision with a safety plan at an Oblate retirement facility in San Antonio. The man, retired from law enforcement and living in Colorado, said, however, that its not enough. Im a little bit skeptical, he said. All the bishops seem to have a different way of judging whats credibly accused. Why cant they all have the same apparatus or means for making a determination of what they will report? Archdioceses and religious orders need to better communicate when allegations are made, he said. The man, made available for an interview by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, criticized the archbishops comments about feeling a sense of serenity and peace now that the report has been made public. He needs to be concerned that the reporting should and can be better, he said. Staff Writers Bruce Selcraig and Liz Teitz contributed to this report. | Elaine Ayala covers religion and minority affairs in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala Experts from across the country gathered at The Childrens Hospital of San Antonio to kick off an effort to better address one cause of death for women during and after pregnancy. Investigators with Baylor College of Medicine are working with Christus Health and the hospital to develop the National Pregnancy Resuscitation Program, a standardized curriculum for treating pregnant and postpartum mothers who go into cardiac arrest. The work is being funded by a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Andrea Shields, a member of the grant team and chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department with Baylor College of Medicine at The Childrens Hospital, said the training will be geared toward first responders and hospital health-care providers. Guidelines exist on the modifications that are necessary to resuscitate pregnant and postpartum women, but Shields said they did not seem to be followed widely. There was lots of research that had been done that suggested that both in-hospital personnel and pre-hospital personnel were not prepared to respond to this specific type of emergency, Shields said Thursday. Although the effort is still in the early stages, it could include resources such as simulation-based training and peer-to-peer teaching, she said. The goal is to produce a program that can be customized for different institutions. There is established national curriculum for pediatric cardiac arrest, yet that does not exist for mothers who are having the same medical crisis, Shields said. We have nothing, she said. We have just siloed attempts at institutions but theres not really anything where people have come together and collaboratively suggested a national curriculum. Just a huge gap, a black hole in our profession. As women have children later in life, cardiovascular and other problems related to maternity have become more common, she added. Cris Daskevich, the CEO of The Childrens Hospital, said the fact that such protocol does not already exist highlights how womens health care across the country has lagged behind, sadly. On ExpressNews.com: Reasons for high maternal mortality rate in Texas remain a mystery The training effort comes on the heels of confusion over the severity of maternal mortality in Texas. After data was released showing a dramatic spike in maternal deaths between 2010 and 2012, Texas created a statewide task force to combat what was believed to be a crisis. However, further research has identified flaws in the underlying data, throwing the magnitude of the problem into question. In January 2018, a study comparing the states maternal mortality rates found that maternal deaths had increased 87 percent from 2011 to 2015, as compared to rates from 2006 to 2010. Researchers concluded that the increase was likely a result of both a true increase in rates and increased overreporting of maternal deaths, as indicated by implausibly high and increasing rates for women over the age of 40 and those who may have died of unrelated causes. Additional research released several months later by the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force found that the states 2012 maternal mortality data was flawed and had misreported the number of deaths. A detailed analysis of maternal deaths that year found that 56 women had died during pregnancy or the postpartum period, as opposed to the 147 deaths previously reported. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County to look at increase in women dying from pregnancy-related causes Bexar County formed its own task force to look into the problem in 2017. Shields, who is also a co-chair of the task force, said the group is still figuring out a future direction. But there is a clear need for better, more standardized data collection, she said. Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba Catholic parishioner Melanie Tawil supported the public release Thursday of a report by the Archdiocese of San Antonio detailing child sex abuse by members of the clergy, even though it elicited painful memories. She had suffered sexual abuse herself, she said, though not by a clergyman. Its very hard. Its been 19 years and I still remember it. Thats why I continue to pray for all sexual-abuse survivors, Tawil, a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church, said as she picked up her two children from an after-school club. Several Catholics approached at their churches Thursday said the history of abuse detailed in the report was difficult to confront, but added it was important to expose the decades of wrongdoing by priests. RELATED: Commission says San Antonio archdiocese's files on accused priests 'heartbreaking' Its good theyre trying to acknowledge that its a problem, said Annabelle Camera, whose children and grandchildren attended St. Matthew. The large North Side church near Interstate 10, which counts 5,200 families in its congregation, holds four Masses on weekdays. It has prayer groups in English and Spanish, multiple adult and youth groups, a music ministry and the St. Matthew Catholic School. Camera said there are a lot of people like her, whose family put down roots in the Catholic community. She said seeing Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller tackle the topic head-on was encouraging. Garcia-Siller presented the report and apologized to the victims of abuse on live television. The St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, a North Side parish on Thousands Oaks, made a concerted effort to be transparent about the release of the report. Weve been prepping the congregation to be ready for this day and have said the allegations would be investigated thoroughly. As for healing, we offer prayers for the victims and the perpetrators, and prayers also for mercy and justice, said Mary Anne Votion, St. Marks director of development. Votion said she hadnt sensed dissatisfaction or frustration with how the archdiocese had handled accusations through the years. Monsignor Kevin Ryan vowed in a pulpit talk to the congregation a year ago that he would investigate any allegations within the parish, but none has been made, she said. Read the Lay Commission's Report. At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on the Southwest Side, parishioners were reluctant to comment. Four of the 54 accused priests listed in the report had been assigned to that church at one time. The names of those priests would be included in the upcoming Sunday bulletin, church officials said. Antonian High School, where two of the priests named in the report worked, sent a private notice to parents Wednesday afternoon. Requests for comment were referred to the principal, who did not respond. Garcia-Siller sent individualized inserts in English and Spanish to each parish where priests mentioned in the report had served. At the entrance to San Fernando Cathedral, Charles Gamez said he was both sad to hear the news about the accused priests but also glad that Garcia-Siller had delivered what he considered a full accounting. I think hes to be commended for doing that, Gamez said. Thats a powerful example of the love that God has for us. A San Antonio woman who would give her name only as Dawn said such news is all too common across various religions, and transparency is a must. On ExpressNews.com: Archbishop vows to release names of 'credibly accused' priests I dont think it should be hidden. Thats just wrong, Dawn said. This is a full-disclosure society. As the cathedral bells for Mass echoed outside, Brian Martinez, 19, recalled how a close friend of his is still scarred from her own experience with a priest and wont go back to church. Shes questioned her thoughts about everything, Martinez said. I dont think thats something that you can forgive, honestly. Now that the word is out, Tawil said its time to focus on those who need support. As a community, we do need to continue to pray for our priests, and for our leaders, and also for the sexual-abuse survivors, Tawil said. We will continue to be a community, and a body of one. Were here for them, and we pray for them. We love them, and we hope they know that. Silvia Foster-Frau 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. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF This registry would create an easily searchable database where those who have been convicted of murder and those who have been convicted of multiple violent crimes will be placed on a registry for ten years. This information is already publicly available, but the problem is that it is not easily accessible. One of the risks of aging is losing friends. A lack of personal connections is not only hard emotionally, it can be hazardous to your health, too. According to researchers at Harvard University, for example, loneliness can be as deadly as smoking. Jeannie Ralston may have found the cure for the disease at least for women. And shes bringing it to San Antonio. Ralston is co-founder of Next Tribe, a loosely organized group of women ranging in age from 45 to the upper 70s who take to heart Dylan Thomas admonition, Do not go gentle into that good night. Instead, they follow the Next Tribe motto and age boldly. Im 58 on the outside, but I feel like Im 29 on the inside said Ralston, a journalist who has written for National Geographic, the New York Times, Texas Monthly and the Express-News. I laugh, I curse, I still love having a great time. And I think there are a lot of women out there who feel the same way I do. Were just getting started. Launched in Austin in February 2017, Next Tribe members have gathered for happy hours at bars and restaurants throughout the city, to attend a Bohemian Rhapsody singalong and to host a tea and conversation between author Sarah Bird and musician Sara Hickman. Theyve traveled to San Miguel de Allende and attended a yoga, writing and photography retreat in Troncones, Mexico. There are 630 women in the Austin Facebook group (172 in the recently set up San Antonio page) and about 1,400 who receive a twice weekly newsletter. Becky Nolan is one of the most active members. The retired pre-school teacher is going through a divorce, which means losing some old friends and connections. Next Tribe, she said has helped her find new ones. I still want to go out and listen to live music, try new restaurants, said Nolan, 63. With this group there are women I can do those things with. Its let me reinvent myself. After declaring the Austin test market a success, Ralston recently launched the group in San Antonio with an informal meet and greet cocktail hour in the Sternewirth bar at Hotel Emma in the Pearl. On ExpressNews.com: Heres how decluttering expert Marie Kondo might organize a puro San Antonio home Almost 20 women, some invited by friends, others who learned of the get-together on Facebook, showed up to sip cocktails (first one free) nibble on complimentary hors d'oeuvres and get to know one another. The unspoken agenda item was whether what happened in Austin can be replicated in San Antonio. Although most of the women had little idea what to expect from the evening, the newness of the experience tended to bring out the philosopher in more than a few. Susan Clements Negley said that although shes generally an introvert, she liked the idea of meeting like-minded women. Although Ive been in a relationship for 10 years, Im not married, and I think a lot about what it takes to negotiate being a single woman and a professional, said Negley, a 64-year-old psychoanalyst, as she sipped a cocktail on one of the bars overstuffed sofas. Thats not something our mothers had to do. Several married women were also in attendance. Laura Bond, 52, has four children two out of the house and two high schoolers who soon will be. While the family moved to San Antonio eight years ago, she said still hasnt made the kind of tight friendships she has back in upstate New York. Ive got a lot more freedom these days, and I dont see myself going back to work because I want to maintain that freedom to do things like travel with my husband, said the self-described stay-at-home-mom several days after the Sternewirth event. But Im also looking for opportunities to do other things, and the women I met seemed to all be interesting people. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio military veterans learn songwriting, make connections at free workshop Not everyone was as taken by the initial event however. One woman, who requested anonymity said it didnt live up to her expectations. Compared to what they billed it as, it seemed like a nonevent. There wasnt a lot of there, there, she said, adding that shes nonetheless eager to see how the group develops. That responsibility will initially fall mostly on the shoulders of Yolanda Santoyo, 62, who is the volunteer coordinator for the San Antonio chapter of Next Tribe. I have friends who are in the Austin group, and theyre always telling me stories about the things they do, said Santoyo, who has already arranged the groups next event: Feb. 7 at The Cove restaurant starting at 6 p.m. for a happy hour and snacks. Those who want can stay for the Beatles cover band the Blue Note Ringos who go on at 7:30 p.m. And on Feb. 25 fine art photographer Nine Francois will show and discuss her work at the Hotel Havana beginning at 6 p.m. Like many Next Tribe events, the evening is free, although everyone pays for their own food and drinks. For more information, visit the chapters Facebook group, San Antonio NextTribe Group. In addition to the live events, Next Tribe also lives on the web in the form of a surprisingly serious and weighty online magazine funded by Ralstons business partner Lori Seekatz. The general interest publication features stories about politics, health, travel and more by writers such as Nina Burleigh, the national politics correspondent at Newsweek Magazine and Sheila Weller, author of Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and the Journey of a Generation. The publication has sparked interest in Next Tribe from women in Atlanta, Portland and Santa Fe, according to Ralston, although she said her next target likely will be Dallas. Its hard to expand right now to cities far afield, she said. Lots of logistics to figure out. Karen Furey joined the Austin group at the invitation of a friend, and the semi-retired psychotherapists story likely sounds familiar to many women whove reached the age of Next Tribe eligibility. For years she practiced out of a five-person office, she had a built-in group of colleagues who also became friends. But as retirement approached and the group decided to close the office, most went their own way. A divorce three years ago further restricted her social group. As a psychotherapist, I know that having friendship and a sense of connection is really important at this stage of life, said Furey, who is 63. Im healthy, curious and still involved. But it can be hard to make new friends. So Next Tribe has been a gift. And its a free gift at that. Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini Air Canada and low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines together are pulling more than a dozen flights from San Antonio International Airport two weeks after city officials announced the facility had reached a passenger record. Air Canada will end its nonstop route from Toronto to San Antonio on April 28, nearly two years after first launching the flight, officials said Thursday. Frontier which has rapidly expanded its service at San Antonio International in the past three years will eliminate 16 of its 25 nonstop routes it currently flies out of the city but will keep nine. We wish we still had them, but they just didnt perform to the level the airlines needed them to continue, Aviation Director Russ Handy said Thursday. If a major carrier like American Airlines or Southwest Airlines pulled three or four gates, that would be very, very bad, said John Dickson, head of Mayor Ron Nirenbergs 21-member Airport System Development Committee. But hes not worried about whether Air Canada and Frontier reducing their service to San Antonio International bodes ill for the airport. Id be lying if I said it was good news, but Im not jumping off a bridge because of this, Dickson said. I think were going to have others that take bets on us. San Antonio officials have aggressively sought more nonstop flights in recent years. The airport currently has nonstop routes to 54 destinations. When Air Canada and Frontier pull their routes later this year, that number will fall to 41. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio airport saw record passenger traffic in 2018 more than 10 million Officials lamented the route losses but said such losses are common in the competitive airline industry. A representative for Frontier did not provide comment. The Air Canada route began as a daily nonstop route, but the carrier later reduced its frequency to five times a week, Handy said. The route performed well during the peak travel periods, but did not meet Air Canadas expectations during the off-peak months, he said. The citys air service division is working to obtain nonstop service to Canada through other carriers, Handy said. Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline will continue to operate routes to Houston, Dallas and Austin. Unfortunately, despite the collaborative efforts of Air Canada and the (San Antonio) airport, the route did not meet our projections, Fitzpatrick said. Frontier will cut routes to 16 markets from the San Antonio airport by the end of the year, Handy said. The low-cost carrier has ratcheted up its presence at San Antonio International within the past two years. In May, Frontier announced it was launching nine nonstop routes to the airport, all of which have now been canceled. On ExpressNews.com: Frontier Airlines adds 9 nonstop flights to San Antonio airport The move is part of a larger pullback by Frontier across the country following an aggressive increase in its offerings, Handy said. Frontier also is decreasing its nonstop options out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Antonio airport officials said. Of the 16 canceled routes, 12 were seasonal. Most of the routes were operated two to three days a week, Handy said. Travelers still can fly from San Antonio to Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C. markets served by Frontier on other airlines, Handy said. The low-cost carrier still will fly out of San Antonio to Denver; Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta; San Diego, Calif.; New Orleans; and Colorado Springs, Colo., as well as the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., areas, Handy said. Frontier has told airport officials they likely will increase flight capacity on those routes, he said. Air Canada received more than $729,000 in incentives to operate the nonstop route through the citys Air Service Incentive Program, which subsidizes routes through a mixture of marketing incentives, rebates and fee waivers. Its not immediately clear how much incentives the city has given Frontier to operate its routes. City officials wont ask Air Canada to repay any portion of those incentives because the airline fulfilled the terms of the agreement, Handy said. But the city is negotiating with Frontier about repaying some of its incentives, he said. The carriers decision to scale back or cancel service to San Antonio International comes weeks after the city declared record passenger traffic to the airfield in 2018. More than 10 million travelers boarded flights or landed at the airport last year, up almost 11 percent from more than 9 million that did so in 2017. Demand for travel in and out of San Antonio is getting brighter and brighter despite the Air Canada and Frontier news, Dickson said. San Antonio International has seen 30 consecutive months of passenger growth. The number of travelers who will use the airport is expected to grow 2 percent annually in the next two decades, and 2.4 percent annually in the 30 years after that. And, Handy said, the flights lost only represent 1.5 percent of airline seat capacity serving the airport. The airports overall seat capacity is expected to increase by 6.5 percent this year. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio airport gets new low-cost airline, 2 nonstop routes Alaska Airlines announced in January it would launch a twice-daily nonstop flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in July. The next week, Minnesota low-cost carrier Sun Country Airlines entered the market with news that it would launch two nonstop routes to Portland, Ore., and the Minneapolis area. It hurts to lose these nonstop destinations for sure, but were encouraged by what we see in growth already and continue to be encouraged for the future, Handy said. Joshua Fechter is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering real estate, economic development and philanthropy. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Friday, February 1, 2019 In fast moving events on Monday, January 28, the US Treasury imposed sanctions against the Venezuela national oil company, PDVSA, which blocks $7 billion in assets and $11 billion in revenue, a maneuver that could accelerate regime change. By severely reducing hard-currency revenue to the Venezuelan government it will be unable to provide its lucrative patronage to its military and potentially lose its support. The question now is, Has Caracas fallen?." Friday, February 1, 2019 How Not to Furlough or Shutdown Your Personal & Financial Success 6.5 ways Government Employees and Contractors can to equip against a Government Shutdown It is massively relieving seeing the end of the shutdown. An unprecedented shutdown, the longest America had ever seen ended when Trump and Democrats managed to reach a deal with mounting pressure from the increasing penury of furloughed Federal employees and contractors. This is not new. For several administrations, the Congress and the White House have not been the best of lovers. Anytime such a crisis occurs, the concomitant catastrophe is a regrettable government shutdown. Inevitably, when two elephants fight, it is grass that suffers. Here, the human grass always happens to be the federal government employees and contractors caught between the political crossfire and furloughed as the prisoners of war. Of course, Donald Trump wasn't too bored with the shutdown; after all, he has Twitter. The recent government shutdown was not an enjoyable ride for government employees and contractors. As the days coagulated into weeks, the bills have mounted into a little Everest for many families in the face of piling debts. Also, as they looked in the news, they were further dismayed to see an unbending Trump adorned with his trademark scowl ready to stretch the shutdown into months to get his historic Wall seated majestically on the Mexican border. Now they can finally heave a huge sigh of relief seeing government reopen again. Most of the time, those who suffer a furlough are those who have furloughed their plan Bs; "patriotically" holding on to Uncle Sam as their one and only means of survival. Well, the good news is that shutdown has ended. The accompanying bad news is that another shutdown will definitely come sometime in the future even in another administration. For those affected, how long will be you on the casualty list anytime Congress and the White House go to war? How willing are you to be always listed among the collateral damages when a shutdown sets in? Therefore, it would be the prime of financial recklessness to be caught napping again when the next shutdown is unleashed on Americans. In view of this, let us examine 6.5 ways to equip yourself against the next government shutdown. 1. Start building your brand You can argue that entrepreneurship is not for everyone, but no bouncers are at the gate preventing you from entering the private sector. Great, you are a federal employee or contractor. There is some federal swagger to that, but sorry you are not that safe and impregnable. No one is actually safe until they are their own boss. Fact. If you have your personal brand built already on gleaming excellence, when the political storms come rampaging, you would have a port of your own for security. It is crucial as a federal contractor to consider diversifying into the private sector. Stake a target, a substantial percentage of growth from your business should be sourced from the private sector. This is more of an economic hedge as in this instance of a government shutdown, a couple of non-government clients would keep you rolling on healthily. Even if such non-government clients are going to sustain your business on a subsistent level, it is much better than closing shop entirely and hoping for a divine intervention to end the shutdown. Now the private sector is admittedly not as romantic or comradely as the public sector. Here in the private sector, it is war; competition is ferocious as brands gladiatorially battle for customers making carcasses of their rivals. While genericness is relatively forgivable in the public sector, in the private sector, it is abominable --a cardinal sin-- for which you are inevitably getting punished. Step out of the crowd; no one sees you in the crowd in a capitalist setting. If you think the competition is too blazing for you, kindly go back to the public sector and wait for some generous federal contracts. 2. Strive for exponential results To become successful in the private sector, you must build a brand of transcending excellence. It is more than just delivering results; it is more about delivering exponential results and exceeding expectations. Your clients ask for two, you give them three, and when they get accustomed to three, you prop it up to four. It is an endless evolution of superiority. This is the modern personal branding that would allow you to keep your neck on your head in the private sector. You must always deliver fresh solutions. Your customers should confidently recognise you for extraordinariness. It is only through this way that you illuminate your industry with radiant excellence getting customers trooping in in hordes like Obama, and Oprah Winfrey worked as salespeople for you. 3. Also, make sure you stack your emergency fund Even in the most overwhelming abundance, you are not eternally guaranteed lack will never come marauding again. This is why it is paramount to build an emergency fund. Anything can happen, and that is the flavor of tomorrow: uncertainty! Therefore, always prepare emergency exit points which in this case is a financial leeway from a political crisis like this. Branded individuals have the distinction of anticipation. Empty a magazine unexpectedly on them, sorry they have got their bulletproof vest on, and they even wear it to the restroom. What this symbolically means is that people with a personal brand (renowned for exceeding results) are never caught unawares. They are sober even in the wildest parties, envisaging all possibilities: positive and negative. They are never economically myopic, always keeping a keen eye for tomorrow. Therefore they have got their emergency funds well prepared when disaster invades without announcement. 4. Improve immediate cash flow One nice way to expand your emergency funds is to build up your cash flow. At least have enough circulating cash that could keep your family and business up and running for say three months before the White House and Capitol come to an armistice, sheathing their ideological swords calling off a shutdown. If your emergency fund isn't hefty enough, there is the option of converting some of your portfolios into liquid assets. Therefore you can consider converting some stocks or securities. That is if you have not saved enough of your salary for the rainy glooming days. 5. Avoid binge spending habits For some persons, they have spending disorders; they blow money flamboyantly like some oil-rich Arabian prince. Six figures for emergency shopping, six figures for a night out drinking adventure, and they wouldn't mind booking a private jet to take them to the next street just for breakfast. Disaster lurks around you if you have an excessive spending disorder. One particular emblem of branded individuals is their characteristic frugality -- they are always double checking the bill and never spending out of budget nor spending impulsively. Meticulous is when you review the spending habits of branded individuals; the millionaire yet energetically keeping a keen eye on the number of cents in his account. For many persons, when it comes to money, emotions impeach their rationality and take the driving seat. This is when their eyes lead them not their head and when they walk past that Rolex store, they must walk in if they dare look. Spending disproportionally, blowing your budget wouldn't do you any good especially when a shutdown sets in and you are struggling to downsize your budget in a personal recession. Review your budget and shave off some excessive spendings which are typically unnecessary. We know you want to ball high, diamond plated toothbrush and all that costly eminence. Yet, you don't really NEED that, do you? Pay down your short-term credit card, chop off cable and phone services and consider eating at home. 6. You may need a loan from your bank Well, if you are severely short of liquid assets and substantial cash flow, you could have to fall back to your bank and the financial services you work with. You could inform your bank official and let them accurately know your financial situation in the face of a government shutdown precisely the effects these could have on your cash flow. Possibly you could come to a resolution, exploring low-interest credit facility to push you through. This also applies to your mortgage provider as well as your credit card providers. There could be a variety of soothing loans to cushion the full-scale monetary impact of the shutdown. 6.5 Lastly you need focus The place of focus is very crucial. Basically, individuals with a great personal brand never lack focus. They have their eyes fixated on their targets. Of course, fears of an impending shut down can really be discomfiting, but you definitely need to keep your eyes on your goals, be positive and calm developing the right proactive attitude to keep off panic mode. You will also need a sizable chunk of discipline to make the right sacrifices in preparation for any eventuality. Be focused enough to avoid making devastating short term moves that could be drastic in the long term. Keep your eyes on the big picture and your hands composedly on the steering wheel. Branded individuals are equipped to the core with laser focus. This gives you the mental and fiscal navigation to do things right. Always remember as a federal employee: never furlough your plan B. Never risk monopolizing your income source. Thus, it is wise never to keep all your eggs in one basket. Expect the worst and pray for the best. Always be prepared and stand out. That is the secret of personal branding. Chinese-Proxy Aussie Dollar Slumps on Weak Chinese PMI Fridays session saw the Australian Dollar (AUD) caught in the cross-fire of external developments. On the one hand, the Aussie-Dollar, considered a proxy for Chinese risk depreciated sharply against the US Dollar in the wake of the overnight Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers release while on the other, the AUD was lifted later in the session as risk-sentiment improved in response to reports of US-China trade talk progress with the AUD/USD cross further capitalising on below-forecast US labour market data. Discounting the early January Flash Crash which saw Asian equities and commodity-coupled currencies plummet, overall the Australian Dollar appreciated versus its US counterpart throughout January with the USD/AUD cross hitting a fresh seven-week low of 1.3704 during Thursdays session. The overnight Chinese PMI release however prompted a sharp rebound for the Greenback with the USD/AUD x-rate rallying sharply to a Friday session high of 1.3816 with the latest IHS Markit data pointing to subdued overall operating conditions in the Chinese manufacturing sector at the start of 2019. The PMI declined further into contraction territory, down from 49.7 to 48.3, the lowest reading since February of 2016. Above: Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI Source: Markit, Caixin Commenting on the Chinese manufacturing PMI, Dr. Zhengsheng Zhong, director of economic analysis at CEBM group said, The subindex for new orders dipped further into contractionary territory, pointing to a moderate contraction in demand across the manufacturing sector. Dr. Zhong went on to comment on the impact of improving US-China trade sentiment, On the whole, countercyclical economic policy hasnt had a significant effect. While domestic manufacturing demand shrank, external demand turned positive and became a bright spot amid positive progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks. Looking ahead, Dr. Zhong added, China is likely to launch more fiscal and monetary measures and speed up their implementation. Yet the stance of stabilizing leverage and strict regulation hasnt changed, which means the weakening trend of Chinas economy will continue. Commenting on the data release and subsequent implications for financial markets, Societe Generale strategist, Kit Juckes, commented, February is starting with a slew of weak manufacturing data across China-sensitive parts of Asia... its a reminder that the risk rally in emerging market currencies, and generally, is built on wobbly foundations, adding, I expect a risk averse morning and a data-driven afternoon. Meanwhile, ING economist, Robert Carnell wrote, The terrible decline in the Caixin PMI index from 49.7 in December to only 48.3 in January shows just how important it is for China and the US to secure a trade deal. If nothing else, a deal should prevent the near-term imposition of higher tariffs. Australian Dollar Reverses Losses Amid Growing Trade-Talk Optimism & Disappoint US Labour Stats The Australian Dollar (AUD) recovered later in the session buoyed by robust risk sentiment in response to reports of progress following two days of US-China trade talks in Washington. Addressing reporters following the high-stakes trade talks, U.S President, Donald Trump said that he hoped an overarching trade deal between the two nations could be achieved before the end of the 90 day ceasefire in March. Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc. Their testimony was distorted press.... pic.twitter.com/Zl5aqBmpjF Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019 According to reports from CNBC, U.S and Chinese officials are now in discussions regarding a potential meeting between President Trump and the Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the month in a bid to secure a deal as soon as possible. The Australian Dollars rebounded accelerated in the wake of underwhelming US labour statistics. The red hot labour market has thus far been a stable source of US economic optimism amid other mixed economic statistic suggestive of a slackening in the pace of growth. Fridays Bureau of Labour Statistics releases saw average hourly earnings miss forecasts expecting a monthly rise of 0.3%, printing just 0.1% growth. Non-farm employment change (NFP) exceeded expectations, printing 304k but was largely foreshadowed by Thursdays ADP report and the unemployment rate ticked unexpectedly higher, rising from 3.9% to 4.0%. The market response saw the USD/AUD cross dip sharply to a fresh session low of 1.3727 and was last seen trading at 1.3743 - The Pound to Euro exchange rate today: -0.51% at 1.13921 today. - The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate today: -0.35% at $1.30627 today. - UK Manufacturing PMI prints 52.8 (3-month low). - Stockpiling surges to record high. - Employment dips for 2nd time in 30 months. As Fridays European session got underway, the Pound Sterling took a nosedive against peer currencies in the wake of the latest IHS Markit purchasing managers index (PMI). Sterling-euro plunged through local resistance at 1.14 to a fresh weekly low 1.1369 and was last seen trading at 1.1382. Sterling-dollar cross also slumped to a fresh weekly low of $1.30456 and was last seen trading at $1.30567. While the PMI printed in positive territory at 52.8 it was markedly below the forecasted 53.5 and down from last months 54.2 reading. Above: IHS Markit UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) #UK #manufacturing #PMI not only at 3-month low in January but also at second lowest level after October since July 2016. Output growth weakest since July 2016 & new orders growth muted with export orders stagnant. Employment fell. Confidence at 30-month low. https://t.co/ixHUCkXsDV Howard Archer (@HowardArcherUK) February 1, 2019 Director at IHS Markit, Rob Dobson provided supplementary commentary, stating, The start of 2019 saw UK manufacturers continue their preparations for Brexit. Stocks of inputs increased at the sharpest pace in the 27-year history, as buying activity was stepped up to mitigate against potential supply-chain disruptions in coming months. Mr Dobson added, Growth of new order inflows slowed sharply, and new export orders were near-stagnant, contributing to the weakest trend in output since the month following the EU referendum (July 2016). Commentary from group director, Duncan Brock, of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) also highlighted the negative impact of Brexit, Brexit blight strikes again with the weakest performance in manufacturing production since July 2016 and optimism withers away under the weight of uncertainty as the UK teeters on the edge of departure from the EU. Mr Brock added, Without a strong upturn in new orders and underlying growth there may be further hesitation to hire next month and with a general slowdown in the global economy and the Eurozone, were likely to continue to see significant challenges ahead. Interesting to see the huge difference between the rate of component stockpiling by U.K. and Eurozone manufacturers. Perhaps they're too complacent in the EZ. But for now, contingency planning for Brexit is only boosting demand for non-UK goods. pic.twitter.com/Uw0g9XLbgJ Samuel Tombs (@samueltombs) February 1, 2019 Post PMI Analysis - Lloyds In response to the UK manufacturing PMI for January 2019, Nikesh Sawjani, UK economist at Lloyds, said: - "According to the IHS Markit / CIPS Manufacturing PMI for January, sentiment across the sector eased back last month. The headline measure of the survey dropped to a three-month low of 52.8 from Decembers 54.2 reading, disappointing both our and market expectations (consensus 53.5, Lloyds 54.5) to register its second weakest reading since July 2016." - "That the headline measure did not fall back further last month, was due to a further solid rise in firms input inventories. However, rather than being attributed to expectations of stronger final demand, the increase in stocks of purchases mainly reflected ongoing Brexit preparations by manufacturers and their clients." - "The sub-index showing firms stocks of inputs jumped to a record high (Chart 1). The stocks of purchases sub-component also held at an elevated level (Chart 2), albeit a little less than seen in December. With higher stocks of both inputs and outputs, firms are likely to feel better prepared for a wider range of scenarios for Brexit." - "It does therefore seem that most of the support to the headline Manufacturing PMI is attributable to activity specifically related to managing the uncertainty related to the terms of the UKs withdrawal from the EU, rather than being an indicator of increased underlying output or demand growth. This is partcularly notable given that the future output index fell even further in January. It is worth keeping in mind the potential for similar anomalies in other incoming data in the near term." this news is not available New research could help to identify and develop new therapies for motor neurone disease and other neurodegenerative conditions Newly identified messenger molecules could help protect survival of neurones New research could help to identify and develop new therapies for motor neurone disease (MND) and other neurodegenerative conditions MND affects 5,000 adults in the UK - there is currently no cure for the degenerative condition Scientists from the University of Sheffield have identified new messenger molecules shuttled between cells which could help to protect the survival of neurones - potentially leading to new treatments for MND. The pioneering research has discovered the role of a small molecule which can regulate large signalling cascades and significantly improve the survival of neurones - something which will help pave the way to identify and develop new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. MND, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a devastating neurogenerative disorder that affects the nerves - motor neurones - in the brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. The messages from these nerves gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and eventually waste. The progressive disease affects a patient's ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe. MND affects 5,000 adults in the UK and there is currently no cure. Approximately 10 per cent of MND cases are inherited but the remaining 90 per cent of MND cases are caused by complex genetic and environmental interactions which are currently not well understood - this is known as sporadic MND. The most common known genetic cause of MND is a mutation of the C9orf72 gene. Although MND affects the survival of neurones, other supporting cell types such as astrocytes - star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord - play an important role in the progression of the disease. Normally responsible for keeping the neurones protected and nourished, astrocytes can become toxic in MND. In a healthy organism, these cells release pockets of vesicles containing messages to communicate with other cells. In MND, these extracellular vesicles (EVs) can contain toxic factors - no longer supporting the neurones but instead contributing to their death. The new research, led by Dr Laura Ferraiuolo from the University of Sheffield's Insitute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) found that when the micro-RNA molecule - which can regulate large signalling cascades - is introduced to an astrocyte-motor neurone culture, the survival of neurones was significantly improved. The micro-RNA identified in the study, called miR-494-3p, regulates genes involved in maintaining the health and strength of neurones axons. Researchers also found miR-494-3p was significantly depleted in cells derived from patitents with sporadic MND. Dr Ferraiuolo from SITraN and lead author of the study said: "When an artificial form of miR-494-3 was introduced to the astrocyte-motor neuron culture, the survival of neurons was significantly improved. "The study shows that restoring depleted micro-RNAs can improve cell survival. The results not only shed more light on the mechanisms of this complex disease, but they hold massive potential for the identification and development of new therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases." The research, in collaboration with Dr Guillaume Hautbergue's team at SITraN and Dr Stuart Hunt's lab in the University of Sheffield's Dental School, is published in the Journal EBioMedicine (published by The Lancet), https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1016/ j. ebiom. 2018. 11. 067 . ### The study was funded by the Thierry Latran Fondation and The Academy of Medical Sciences. For more information about SITraN please visit: http://sitran. org/ For further information please contact: Amy Huxtable, Media Relations Officer, University of Sheffield, 0114 222 9859, a.l.huxtable@sheffield.ac.uk Notes to editors The University of Sheffield With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities. A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in. Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education. Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields. Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations. The majority of people who die by suicide deny having suicidal thoughts when asked by doctors in the weeks and months leading up to their death, a ground-breaking UNSW Sydney study has found. The research questions a widely held belief that suicide can be accurately predicted by psychiatrists and clinicians by assessing a patient's risk, especially in the short-term. The meta-analysis, co-authored by clinical psychiatrist and Conjoint Professor Matthew Large from UNSW's School of Psychiatry, is published today in the journal BJPsych Open. The review of data from 70 major studies of suicidal thoughts shows that, as a stand-alone test, only 1.7% of people with suicidal ideas died by suicide. About 60% of people who died by suicide had denied having suicidal thoughts when asked by a psychiatrist or GP. "We know that suicide ideas are pretty common and that suicide is actually a rare event, even among people with severe mental illness," said Professor Large, an international expert on suicide risk assessment who also works in the emergency department of a major Sydney hospital. "But what we didn't know was how frequently people who go on to suicide have denied having suicidal thoughts when asked directly," he said. The study showed that 80% of patients who were not undergoing psychiatric treatment and who died of suicide reported not to have suicidal thoughts when asked by a GP. "This study proves we can no longer ration psychiatric care based on the presence of suicidal thoughts alone. Hospital and community care teams in Australia are extremely under-resourced, and this needs to change. We need to provide high-quality, patient-centred care for everyone experiencing mental illness, whether or not they reveal they are experiencing suicidal thoughts." Professor Large said that clinicians should not assume that patients experiencing mental distress without reporting suicidal ideas were not at elevated risk of suicide. Asking about suicidal thoughts was a central skill for health professionals, he said, but clinicians should be not be persuaded into false confidence generated by a lack of ideation. "Doctors sometimes rely on what is known as suicidal ideation - being preoccupied with thoughts and planning suicide - as a crucial test for short-term suicide risk, and it has been argued it could form part of a screening test for suicide," said the study's lead author, Dr Catherine McHugh, a registrar psychiatrist. "Our results show that this is not in the best interests of patients. "Some people will try to hide their suicidal feelings from their doctor, either out of shame or because they don't want to be stopped. We also know that suicidal feelings can fluctuate rapidly, and people may suicide very impulsively after only a short period of suicidal thoughts." The main message, said Professor Large, was that clinicians should give less weight to suicidal ideation than had been the case. "It means trying to better understand the patient's distress and not making patients wait weeks for treatment or denying treatment in the absence of suicidal thoughts." There was also an important message for people bereaved of a loved one after a suicide, said Professor Large. "Even if they knew their relative was suicidal, the risk of death was low. And it was not their fault if they did not know someone was suicidal." ### In a comprehensive analysis, SSRIs found to be most effective in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorder Researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) examined common medications prescribed for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, to determine which are the most effective and best-tolerated. This study revealed that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) performed best overall compared to other types of medications. The results, available online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, include the largest amount of data to date for analyses of pediatric anxiety disorder treatments. The study examined more than a dozen medications from 22 randomized controlled trials. "Clinicians have limited data to help them select among evidence-based medication treatments for their patients with anxiety. This meta-analysis provides guidance in terms of medication-specific differences in efficacy and tolerability among medications that are commonly used to treat pediatric patients with anxiety disorders," says Jeffrey Strawn, MD, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the UC College of Medicine and lead author on the study. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health disorder in children. Anxiety affects approximately 8 percent of all children and adolescents. Symptoms of anxiety can include having recurring fears, aversions to social situations or being unable to control worries and can manifest as serious medical conditions: trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, even heart and digestive problems. "Our study synthesizes evidence from multiple individual trials to guide clinicians and patients in deciding which medication to use when treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders," said Eric Dobson, MD, a psychiatry resident at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, who conducted the study while a medical student at UC. The authors identified trials published between 1971 and 2018, comparing 13 commonly used medications with placebo or with other medications--including antidepressants--for the acute treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. A total of 2,623 patients (average age: 11 years) had been randomly assigned to receive a medication or receive placebo, and the patients had generalized, separation or social anxiety disorders that was of at least moderate severity. The researchers looked at the number of patients who responded to treatment as well as the proportion of patients who discontinued the study as a result of adverse events, i.e. side effects. In anxious youth, treatment response was more effective with SSRIs than with serotonin-norepineprhine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs prolong the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, while SSRIs act predominantly to prolong the effects of serotonin. In terms of discontinuation and tolerability, SSRIs were the most tolerable class of medication, while tricyclic antidepressants were the least tolerable. Tricyclic antidepressants increase levels of norepinephrine and serotonin, and block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which may give rise to some of their side effects. "This comprehensive evaluation comparing efficacy and tolerability of treatments in pediatric anxiety disorders suggests that SSRIs are superior to SNRIs and all other classes of medications," says Dobson. "These findings confirm the recommendations from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry that SSRIs be considered as the first-line medication treatment for anxiety in youth," adds Strawn. ### This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH106037-Strawn). Strawn has received research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as Edgemont, Forest, Shire, Lundbeck and Neuronetics. He has received material support from and provided consultation to Myriad. All authors cite no conflicts of interest. In January 2018, he was indicted on four counts of perjury for failing to disclose nearly $147,000 in pay he received for private consulting with several companies and school districts beginning in 2012. He pleaded guilty to the perjury counts in March 2018 and was sentenced in April to six months in jail. He was released in August after serving four months. Latest, the paper--Carbon Emissions induced by Farmland Expansion in China during the Past 300 Years--firstly have mining and reconstructed the historical farmland from historical records and documents about population changes, taxes, and fields; then, use the potential natural vegetation of agricultural vegetation and the secondary vegetation in the modern natural vegetation context to reconstruct the potential landscape of historical natural vegetation without human disturbances; estimate the land use change rate and the carbon density based on the coefficients for disturbance response curves in different ecosystem scenarios in subtropical and temperate regions; and finally employ a Bookkeeping model to calculate the total terrestrial ecosystem carbon emissions induced by reclaiming farmland in China during the past 300 years. The first author Dr. Xuhong Yang and corresponding author Prof. Xiaobin Jin all come from Nanjing university. Carbon emissions related to human LUCC activities have been the most complex source of terrestrial ecosystem carbon stocks and lead to great uncertainty. The impact of LUCC on terrestrial ecosystem carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions has been a hot topic of current research on land-use changes. An accurate assessment of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon accounting related to human LUCC changes will help reduce the uncertainty in estimating terrestrial ecosystem carbon stocks. During the past 300 years, population and land cover in China have changed significantly. Meanwhile, a rich bundle of records about population changes, taxes, and fields have been accumulated, which can function as a credible and fundamental data sources for studies related to historical LUCC. This also renders China as a good experimental site to conduct research on the relationship between LUCC and global carbon cycle effects. Conforming to the principle of "similar habitat, similar distribution", this research creatively use the potential natural vegetation of agricultural vegetation and the secondary vegetation in the modern natural vegetation context to reconstruct the potential landscape of historical natural vegetation without human disturbances; then, estimate the historical farmland area change rate and the carbon density based on the coefficients for disturbance response curves in different ecosystem scenarios in subtropical and temperate regions; and finally employ a Bookkeeping model to calculate the total terrestrial ecosystem carbon emissions induced by reclaiming farmland in China during the past 300 years at low scenarios, moderate scenarios and high scenarios. By using the similar method, Houghton and Hackler (2003) believes that land uses in China had motivated the land ecosystem to release 17.1~31.90 Pg to the atmosphere in the past 300 years, and Ge et al. (2008) estimated the value should be between 4.50 and 9.54 Pg while the best estimate was 6.18 Pg. However, in this research the total amount of carbon emissions from farmland expansion in China had been between 2.94 and 5.61 Pg with the median 3.78 Pg during the past 300 years; specifically, carbon emissions of vegetation were 1.58 Pg while those of soil ranged from 1.35 Pg to 4.03 Pg with the median 2.20 Pg. The amount of farmland in China had continuously increased from 555,000 km2 in 1661 to 1,348,000 km2 in 1980, a net gain of 793,000 km2 in the past 300 years; about 65% of reclaimed farmland had been forest land and 26% of that had been grass land previously; carbon emissions vary greatly across various ecosystems: the emissions were most from forest land, and then grass land and swamps, and the least from shrubs; deserts functioned more likely to be carbon stock in the process of land reclamation; Carbon emission induced by farmland reclamation is of the distribution of "U", i.e., great in both ends while low in the middle, and had been released least in the first half of 19th century while most in the middle of 20th century. Spatially, the carbon emissions were most in Northeast China and Southwest China; Northwest China was of the least carbon emissions; and North China was of the least carbon emissions, which is probably due to its long history of agricultural production and effective practice of farming. ### This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41671082). See the article: Yang X H, Jin X B, Xiang X M, Fan Y T, Liu J, Shan W, Zhou Y K. 2018. Carbon emissions induced by farmland expansion in China during the past 300 years. Science China Earth Sciences, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1007/ s11430-017-9221-7 Rice University engineers have figured out how soil contaminated by heavy oil can not only be cleaned but made fertile again. How do they know it works? They grew lettuce. Rice engineers Kyriacos Zygourakis and Pedro Alvarez and their colleagues have fine-tuned their method to remove petroleum contaminants from soil through the age-old process of pyrolysis. The technique gently heats soil while keeping oxygen out, which avoids the damage usually done to fertile soil when burning hydrocarbons cause temperature spikes. While large-volume marine spills get most of the attention, 98 percent of oil spills occur on land, Alvarez points out, with more than 25,000 spills a year reported to the Environmental Protection Agency. That makes the need for cost-effective remediation clear, he said. "We saw an opportunity to convert a liability, contaminated soil, into a commodity, fertile soil," Alvarez said. The key to retaining fertility is to preserve the soil's essential clays, Zygourakis said. "Clays retain water, and if you raise the temperature too high, you basically destroy them," he said. "If you exceed 500 degrees Celsius (900 degrees Fahrenheit), dehydration is irreversible." The researchers put soil samples from Hearne, Texas, contaminated in the lab with heavy crude, into a kiln to see what temperature best eliminated the most oil, and how long it took. Their results showed heating samples in the rotating drum at 420 C (788 F) for 15 minutes eliminated 99.9 percent of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and 94.5 percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), leaving the treated soils with roughly the same pollutant levels found in natural, uncontaminated soil. The paper appears in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology. It follows several papers by the same group that detailed the mechanism by which pyrolysis removes contaminants and turns some of the unwanted hydrocarbons into char, while leaving behind soil almost as fertile as the original. "While heating soil to clean it isn't a new process," Zygourakis said, "we've proved we can do it quickly in a continuous reactor to remove TPH, and we've learned how to optimize the pyrolysis conditions to maximize contaminant removal while minimizing soil damage and loss of fertility. "We also learned we can do it with less energy than other methods, and we have detoxified the soil so that we can safely put it back," he said. Heating the soil to about 420 C represents the sweet spot for treatment, Zygourakis said. Heating it to 470 C (878 F) did a marginally better job in removing contaminants, but used more energy and, more importantly, decreased the soil's fertility to the degree that it could not be reused. "Between 200 and 300 C (392-572 F), the light volatile compounds evaporate," he said. "When you get to 350 to 400 C (662-752 F), you start breaking first the heteroatom bonds, and then carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds triggering a sequence of radical reactions that convert heavier hydrocarbons to stable, low-reactivity char." The true test of the pilot program came when the researchers grew Simpson black-seeded lettuce, a variety for which petroleum is highly toxic, on the original clean soil, some contaminated soil and several pyrolyzed soils. While plants in the treated soils were a bit slower to start, they found that after 21 days, plants grown in pyrolyzed soil with fertilizer or simply water showed the same germination rates and had the same weight as those grown in clean soil. "We knew we had a process that effectively cleans up oil-contaminated soil and restores its fertility," Zygourakis said. "But, had we truly detoxified the soil?" To answer this final question, the Rice team turned to Bhagavatula Moorthy, a professor of neonatology at Baylor College of Medicine, who studies the effects of airborne contaminants on neonatal development. Moorthy and his lab found that extracts taken from oil-contaminated soils were toxic to human lung cells, while exposing the same cell lines to extracts from treated soils had no adverse effects. The study eased concerns that pyrolyzed soil could release airborne dust particles laced with highly toxic pollutants like PAHs. ''One important lesson we learned is that different treatment objectives for regulatory compliance, detoxification and soil-fertility restoration need not be mutually exclusive and can be simultaneously achieved," Alvarez said. ### Wen Song, a visiting scholar at Rice and a student at the University of Jinan and Shandong University, China, is lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Rice alumna Julia Vidonish of Arcadis U.S., Seattle; Rice postdoctoral researcher Pingfeng Yu; Roopa Kamath, an environmental adviser at Chevron; Chun Chu, a research associate at Baylor College of Medicine; and Baoyu Gao, a professor of environmental engineering at Shandong University. Alvarez is the George R. Brown Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice. Zygourakis is the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a professor of bioengineering. The research was supported by Chevron U.S.A., the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Shanghai Tongji Gao Tingyao Environmental Science and Technology Development Foundation, the Taishan Scholar Program and the National Institutes of Health. Read the abstract at https:/ / pubs. acs. org/ doi/ 10. 1021/ acs. est. 8b05825 . This news release can be found online at https:/ / news. rice. edu/ 2019/ 02/ 01/ lettuce-show-you-how-to-restore-oil-soaked-soil/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Alvarez Lab: http://alvarez. rice. edu/ alvarez-lab/ Zygourakis Lab: http://ithaca. rice. edu George R. Brown School of Engineering: https:/ / engineering. rice. edu With X-ray microscopes, researchers at PSI look inside computer chips, catalysts, small pieces of bone, or brain tissue. The short wavelength of the X-rays makes details visible that are a million times smaller than a grain of sand - structures in the nanometer range (millionths of a millimeter). As in a normal microscope, a lens is used to gather the light scattered by the sample and forms an enlarged image on the camera. Tiny structures, however, scatter light at very large angles. To obtain high resolution in the image, a correspondingly large lens is needed. "It remains extremely challenging to produce such large lenses," says PSI physicist Klaus Wakonig: "When working with visible light, there are lenses that can capture very large scattering angles. With X-rays, however, this is more complicated because of the weak interaction with the material of the lens. As a consequence, usually only very small angles can be captured, or the lenses are rather inefficient." The new method developed by Wakonig and his colleagues circumvents this problem. "The final image is as if we had measured with a large lens," the researcher explains. The PSI team uses a small but efficient lens, such as is commonly applied in X-ray microscopy, and shifts it over an area that an ideal lens would cover. This virtually creates a large lens. "In practice, we go to different points with the lens and take a picture in each place," Wakonig explains. "Then we use computer algorithms to combine all the pictures to generate one high-resolution image." From visible light to X-rays Normally, researchers avoid moving lenses in instruments away from the optical axis, since this can cause image distortions. However, since the scientists in this case know the exact position of the lens and illuminate many nearby points, they can reconstruct how the light was scattered and what the sample looked like. The method, known as Fourier ptychography, has been used for microscopy in the visible region since 2013. In their experiments at PSI, the researchers were able to apply this principle to X-ray microscopy for the first time ever. "To the best of our knowledge no successful implementation of X-ray Fourier ptychography has been reported thus far," the researchers write in Science Advances. The new method delivers not only higher resolution, but also two complementary kinds of imaging information. Firstly, there is the measurement of how much light is absorbed by the object to be imaged, just as with any normal camera. Yet additionally, the way in which the light is refracted is recorded as well. Experts speak of absorption contrast and phase contrast. "Our method provides the phase contrast, which is otherwise hard to obtain, practically for free," says Ana Diaz, beamline scientist at PSI: "This makes the quality of the images much better." The phase contrast even makes it possible to draw conclusions about the material properties of the sample being examined, which usually is not possible with normal imaging techniques. Particularly interesting for biological samples In their experiments, the sample the researchers examined was a detector chip. In the future, the new method could be used to reveal, for example, how a catalyst works when a gas is added, or when and how metal breaks under pressure. But also tissues and cell aggregates could be investigated better with this method. The researchers hope this will yield new insights into the development of diseases such as Alzheimer's or hepatitis. Diaz explains the advantages of the new method: "Biological samples normally do not have good absorption contrast. Here the phase contrast allows for a significantly improved image quality." In addition, the researchers suspect that Fourier ptychography is gentler than previous methods. "A comparison with normal X-ray microscopy indicates that the new method requires a lower dose of radiation, because it is more efficient", Wakonig says. "This could be particularly interesting for studies of biological samples." The researchers set up their demonstration equipment at the cSAXS beamline of the Swiss Light Source SLS. "At present, the experiments are still quite complex and require a lot of time," Diaz says. For the new method to work, the employed X-rays need to be in a kind of unison: As researchers put it, they must be coherent. Such experiments currently require large-scale research facilities such as SLS. But Wakonig is also investigating whether the method could be realized with less coherence. If the technique could be used to examine samples at usual laboratory X-ray sources, many additional application areas would open up. ### Images are available to download at http://psi. ch/ cXUn . About PSI The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute's own key research priorities are in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 2100 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 390 million. PSI is part of the ETH Domain, with the other members being the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, as well as Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research). Further information First-time 3-D imaging of internal magnetic structures - media release from 20 July 2017: http://psi. ch/ dFoh Contact Klaus Wakonig, Coherent X-ray Scattering Group, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland Telephone: +41 56 310 39 69, E-mail: klaus.wakonig@psi.ch [German, English] Dr. Ana Diaz, Coherent X-ray Scattering Group, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland Telephone: +41 56 310 56 26, E-mail: ana.diaz@psi.ch [German, English, Spanish] Dr. Andreas Menzel, Group Leader, Coherent X-ray Scattering Group, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland Telephone: +41 56 310 37 11, E-mail: andreas.menzel@psi.ch [German, English] Original publication X-ray Fourier ptychography K. Wakonig, A. Diaz, A. Bonnin, M. Stampanoni, A. Bergamaschi, J. Ihli, M. Guizar-Sicairos and A. Menzel Science Advances 1 February 2019 (online) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav0282 The Greenland ice sheet melted a little more easily in the past than it does today because of geological changes, and most of Greenland's ice can be saved from melting if warming is controlled, says a team of Penn State researchers. "There is geologic data that suggests the ice sheet was more sensitive to warming and temperature variations in the past million years, and not so much in the more recent past," said David Pollard, research professor in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State. Too much warming will cause Greenland to lose most or all of its ice over the coming centuries, but most research indicates that the threshold warmth for complete ice loss has not been reached yet. Paleoclimatic records indicate that most of Greenland was ice-free within the last 1.1 million years even though temperatures then were not much warmer than conditions today. To explain this, the researchers point to there being more heat beneath the ice sheet in the past than today. Data show that when the Iceland hot spot -- the heat source that feeds volcanoes on Iceland -- passed under north-central Greenland 80 to 35 million years ago, it left molten rock deep underground but did not break through the upper mantle and crust to form volcanoes as it had in the west and east. The Earth's climate then was too warm for Greenland to have an ice sheet, but once it cooled the ice sheet formed, growing and shrinking successive with ice ages. "The idea is that the loading and unloading, flexing and unflexing from ice ages tapped into slightly melted rock that was left deep under Greenland by the Iceland hot spot and brought that melt up," said Richard Alley, Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences at Penn State. Changes to the ice sheet allowed the molten rock to move closer to the Earth's surface, even to the base of the ice. The hotter bed melted more ice from below, lubricating the ice sheet so it was thinner and easier to melt from above. The melted rock wants to come up, according to Alley. As the ice sheet grows and shrinks, it essentially shakes the melt, drawing it up in pulses. "The first shakes usually do the most moving," Alley said. The effect would have been largest when the first big ice sheet grew and then shrank, he added. More recent changes to the ice sheet also affect geothermal fluxes, but not as much as they had in the past. "The hypothesis does not change the reality that if we make it hot, Greenland's ice melts, and no one will like that," Alley said. "It does not even really tell us whether geology just at this moment is making it harder or easier for the ice to melt. The ability of the ice to melt got easier in the past and is sort of bumpily getting harder, and we do not know where on the bumps we are." Pollard tested the team's hypothesis using a numerical, three-dimensional ice-sheet model. The researchers report their results in the Journal of Geophysical Research in January. "The Greenland ice sheet is very likely to melt a lot and retreat, and contribute to sea level in the next few centuries," Pollard said. "This study is part of the puzzle of figuring out how much it will melt and retreat. We are using past geologic data to validate the models that are being used for the future." If Greenland's ice sheet were to completely melt today, global sea levels would rise nearly 23 feet and flood coastal areas. Parts of cities like New York would be underwater. The team says future studies should integrate geologic and geophysical data as well as glaciological, atmospheric, oceanic and paleoclimatic information to better project how much and how fast the ice sheet will melt and its effect on sea-level rise. "If you had a better idea of how much and how fast sea level rises from warming, you could make wiser decisions," Alley said. "This research is a piece of the effort to provide policymakers and planners with the background information that will allow them to make good decisions." ### Other researchers on the project include Byron Parizek, professor of geosciences, Penn State Dubois and EESI affiliate, Penn State; Sridhar Anandakrishnan, professor of geosciences and EESI associate, Penn State; and former Penn State researchers Maeva Pourpoint, postdoctoral research associate, Washington University in St. Louis; Nathan Stevens, doctoral candidate, University of Wisconsin; Joseph MacGregor, research assistant, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Knut Christianson, assistant professor of earth and space sciences, University of Washington; Atsuhiro Muto, assistant professor of polar geophysics and glaciology, Temple University; and Nick Holschuh, postdoctoral scholar, University of Washington. The National Science Foundation partially funded this research. NASA instrument scientist Bryan Blair had just finished writing the flight software for the agency's Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, or MOLA, when he was invited in 1991 to fly a lidar instrument aboard a P-3 research aircraft to test new lidar techniques over the ice sheets in Greenland. En route, he gathered measurements of forested areas in New York state. What he discovered in the data stunned him, resulting in a 27-year quest to build a spaceborne lidar for measuring forests. That instrument -- the Global Ecosystems Dynamics Investigation, or GEDI -- is now collecting data as a payload attached to the Japanese Experiment Module, the largest science facility on the International Space Station. It is expected to collect data for at least two years. "We were shooting lasers over forests and what we saw were crazy, complicated results in the signals that came back possibly indicating the structure of the forests below," recalled Blair, the GEDI deputy principal investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The aircraft flight and discovery got him thinking: could light detection and ranging, or lidar -- the technique that scientists used to map the barren Martian topography with MOLA -- be equally effective at mapping forests? Using research-and-development funds he cobbled together from various NASA R&D programs, he advanced an innovative idea into the first-ever mission dedicated to providing three-dimensional views of forests and details about the role of forests in the carbon cycle. "GEDI's nearly three decades of development is a testament to the value of research and development, which often matures 'crazy ideas' into instruments. It also underscores the importance of conceiving an idea, building a prototype, testing the instrument, and, as in GEDI's case, building an aircraft instrument first to finalize the measurement technique and needed technologies," said Goddard Chief Technologist Peter Hughes. "GEDI is a poster child for what can happen when NASA invests in good ideas." Innovative Technologies Enable GEDI Led by University of Maryland professor Ralph Dubayah, GEDI, pronounced Jedi, as in the Star Wars fame, carries out its job with several innovative technologies. Central to GEDI's capabilities is its trio of specialized lasers that send laser beams toward Earth where they penetrate forests and ricochet off everything they hit, which can be leaves atop a dense canopy, protruding branches, and, eventually, the ground from which the forest emerges. Its onboard telescope then receives the reflected signals tagging the time they take to return. However, GEDI, which NASA's Earth Venture program selected for development four years ago, does more. Unlike many other lidar instruments flown in space, GEDI employs the so-called waveform-based measurement technique that analyzes the shape of the returned light signal, not just the time it took to return. The waveform reveals the distribution of surfaces above the terrain, making it especially useful for measuring the density and structure of trees and vegetation, and even the structure of leaves and branches within a forest's canopy. Therefore, it allows scientists to obtain the three-dimensional structure of vegetation from space. This information is useful for mapping wildlife habitat, biodiversity, as well as the amount of biomass and carbon stored in vegetation. The 1,160-pound GEDI also sits on a gimbal, and therefore, is actively pointed to specific ground tracks on the Earth below. To give it an even wider view of the surface, GEDI uses sophisticated optics that divide the three laser beams into eight ground tracks - two of the lasers generate two ground tracks each, and the third generates four. Together, these technologies allow GEDI to sample all land between 51.6 degrees north latitude and 51.6 degrees south latitude covering temperate and tropical forests. "Without the pointing system, it would have taken three times as long to complete the coverage we need," Blair explained. LVIS: The Essential Pathfinder Blair stresses that GEDI wouldn't have been possible without its predecessor, an aircraft-based instrument called Land, Vegetation and Ice Sensor, or LVIS, which Blair began flying in the late 1990s, just a few years after he conceived the instrument concept. Since then, LVIS has become something of a mainstay for more localized measurements. In addition to mapping forests, LVIS has measured ice sheets. LVIS not only provided never-before-obtained data about forest canopies, it created a community of data users familiar with the measurement technique and its usefulness -- a community that will make use of GEDI's more global measurements over the coming months, Blair said. "Without this already-established community of users, it would have been harder to get the mission funded," he said. "We pioneered this mission at Goddard," Blair added. "We couldn't have accomplished this without support from Goddard and NASA Headquarter's Earth Science Division over the years. This is a homegrown instrument based on a homegrown measurement technique." For more information about GEDI, visit: https:/ / www. nasa. gov/ mission_pages/ station/ research/ experiments/ 2905. html ### The pharmaceutical Merck, through the Merck Family Foundation (MFF), will support the Science for Development program of the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC) with a donation of about 350 thousand euros. This is the largest donation ever from the Merck Family Foundation and will be used to implement a new approach that promotes scientific teaching and life sciences research in the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (PALOP). This amount will support two initiatives related to the creation of scientific kits, "Lab-in-a-Box" and "Lab-in-a-Suitcase", which will be distributed by secondary schools and universities in African countries. The main objective of these kits is to stimulate the experimental component, both in education and research. The Lab-in-a-Box kit consists of a box containing the materials needed to make about 60 experiments in the areas of biology, physics and chemistry. It is accompanied by a manual of protocols developed by a group of volunteers from the IGC, the Instituto Superior Tecnico - UL, and the Simple Tasks Great Concepts project in India. These protocols will facilitate the implementation of experiments into the classroom, and are aligned with the curriculum of the secondary school. The Lab-in-a-Suitcase kit is a plug and play kit consisting of a low-cost, portable lab that can be customized. Its existence in university laboratories will eliminate the lack of equipment and laboratory infrastructure, enabling advanced experimental teaching and the development of scientific research, especially in life sciences. This is a differentiating project that seeks to foster scientific research and the experimental teaching of science in the PALOP, surpassing the traditional teaching model. The Merck Family Foundation will support most of the operational costs of this program in Africa, including the creation of 5 Lab-in-a-Suitcase prototypes. This support follows a Lab-in-a-Box pilot taking place in Cape Verde, supported by the IGC, the Instituto Camoes and UNESCO, and funds from the Municipality of Oeiras, in Portugal, with the overall objective of supporting scientific and technological development. "It is with great pleasure that the Gulbenkian Institute of Science together with the Merck Family Foundation carry out this innovative project with a more practical offer in the training of future scientists and researchers. The Science for Development program is an example of how we seek to provide quality education across borders, in this case to African countries where often lack of infrastructure becomes an obstacle to teaching and research," says Monica Bettencourt Dias, Director of IGC. "From the first moment I was introduced to this project I realized how it perfectly fits into the Merck mission. By promoting research, we are responding to our commitment to advance human progress, and for this reason, the Merck Family Foundation is proud to join this commitment to promote and deliver excellence in teaching to students in African countries. We are very proud of this collaboration with the IGC that comes from believing that brilliant ideas are born out of curiosity. The same curiosity that has led us to innovate for 350 years", says Pedro Moura, Managing Director of Merck Portugal. This donation succeeds the support given by Merck to the Postgraduate Science for Development Program (PGCD), an IGC initiative that, since 2014, has enabled dozens of PALOP students to develop a PhD thesis in Portuguese and Brazilian institutions. Joana Goncalves Sa, Director of PGCD, who also coordinates the project that has now been awarded, comments: "Now that the first scientists trained by the PGCD begin to return to their countries of origin, it becomes clear that the creation of scientific infrastructure did not accompany the development of human resources. Lab-in-a-Suitcase emerges as a direct response to the need to reduce brain drain and to enable these scientists to continue their research in their countries. Our long-term goal is to reduce the costs of science by facilitating its effective democratization. " The cooperation between the Merck Family Foundation and the IGC, now announced, exemplifies how partnerships between the academic world and the business world can be carried out with great success at international level in the promotion of scientific research and education, for the benefit of society. ### The MYCN oncogene has long been known to be a key cause of a number of deadly solid tumour cancers, including neuroblastoma, which claims more lives of children under the age of 5 than any other cancer. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour found in young children. In up to 25% of cases, the tumours contain an increased number of copies of MYCN, and children with these 'high-risk' neuroblastomas have a particularly poor prognosis. To date, no drugs have been able to directly target MYCN, so scientists have looked at other ways to halt the progress of neuroblastoma. One group of target molecules, known as polyamines, are known to be critical for cell growth and survival and are present in high concentrations in cancer cells. However, clinical trials of agents that target the polyamine pathway have proven disappointing. In new research published this week in the international journal, Science Translational Medicine, a team jointly led by Professor Michelle Haber AM, Executive Director, and Professor Murray Norris AM, Deputy Director, Children's Cancer Institute, Australia, has uncovered a previously unknown and crucial link between polyamines and MYCN, revealing that the polyamine pathway is entirely regulated by the MYCN oncogene. Discovering this link - by which MYCN controls polyamine levels in cancer cells, driving the growth and proliferation of the neuroblastoma cells - means that scientists for the first time have a potential therapeutic "way in" to disrupting cancer cell growth. Previously, the Children's Cancer Institute research team has shown that a drug called DFMO targets a gene involved in the synthesis of polyamines. There is currently a clinical trial underway at the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, and in 14 leading US children's cancer centres, to study the use of DFMO when given with existing anti-cancer drugs, to treat children with relapsed neuroblastoma. In the current study, researchers have identified the gene responsible for the uptake of polyamines by neuroblastoma cells and have shown that this gene can be inhibited using a drug called AMXT-1501. By combining these two drugs, DFMO and AMXT-1501, with conventional chemotherapy, the research team was able to significantly increase survival in mice with established neuroblastoma tumours, as well as prevent tumour formation in mice who were tumour-free but genetically prone to developing the disease. The newly discovered combination therapy is now being tested in the US in adult patients with a broad range of cancers, in Phase 1 clinical trials run by pharmaceutical company Aminex Therapeutics. The trial is listed on the NIH clinical trial registry at http://www. clinicaltrials. gov (Identifier NCT03536728). "This exciting new treatment approach warrants clinical investigation in children with MYCN-driven high-risk neuroblastoma, and potentially other cancers as well," said Haber. "While other treatment approaches in clinical evaluation are designed to inhibit polyamine synthesis, they do not impact polyamine uptake from the microenvironment. Our study suggests that both polyamine synthesis and polyamine uptake need to be inhibited for therapy to be effective." Mark Burns PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Aminex and an author on the paper, described the study's results as "impressive" and said they further bolster the company's excitement about the potential for polyamine depletion therapy as a new treatment approach. "These findings demonstrate the benefit of combining inhibition of polyamine synthesis with blockade of polyamine transport and suggest that combining AMXT 1501 and DFMO with standard chemotherapy may be a potent treatment strategy for high-risk neuroblastoma patients," he said. Working with Aminex Therapeutics to lead the introduction of this new combination treatment for neuroblastoma into clinical trials is Associate Professor David Ziegler, paediatric oncologist at the Sydney Children's Hospital and a research Group Leader at the Children's Cancer Institute. "These results are very exciting and offer a new and potent way to target childhood cancers," said Ziegler. "We have already shown in our current clinical trial that targeting polyamines with one drug (DFMO) can be safely achieved in combination with chemotherapy. By combining two drugs targeting the same pathway we have the potential to further improve the anti-cancer effect for these children. We are now working with Aminex to develop a children's formulation of AMXT1501 and once the initial adult trial is complete, we plan to open a clinical trial for children with the most aggressive cancers." ### Joining Haber, Norris and Burns as a senior co-author on the study is Professor Giovanni Perini from the University of Bologna, Italy. Media Contacts: Children's Cancer Institute: Tania Ewing taniaewing@taniaewing.com Phone: +61 408 378 422 Aminex: Julie Rathbun Rathbun Communications Julie@rathbuncomm.com Phone: 206-769-9219 Foot note This collaborative study includes contributions from research institutions in a number of countries : Italy (University of Bologna), Germany (University of Cologne), USA (University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Medical School), and Australia (Children's Cancer Institute, Sydney Children's Hospital). About Children's Cancer Institute Originally founded by two fathers of children with cancer in 1976, Children's Cancer Institute is the only independent medical research institute in Australia wholly dedicated to research into the causes, prevention and cure of childhood cancer. Forty years on, our vision remains unchanged - to save the lives of all children with cancer and to eliminate their suffering. The Institute has grown to now employ nearly 300 researchers, operational staff and students, and has established a national and international reputation for scientific excellence. Our focus is on translational research, and we have an integrated team of laboratory researchers and clinician scientists who work together in partnership to discover new treatments which can be progressed from the lab bench to the beds of children on wards in our hospitals as quickly as possible. These new treatments are specifically targeting childhood cancers, so we can develop safer and more effective drugs and drug combinations that will minimize side-effects and ultimately give children with cancer the best chance of a cure with the highest possible quality of life. More at http://www. ccia. org. au About Aminex Therapeutics Aminex Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of a novel small molecule combination therapies for the treatment of cancer. Aminex has advanced AMXT 1501 + DFMO through target discovery, patenting, pre-clinical research and now into clinical development for the potential benefit of cancer patients. To date, the company has received backing of approximately $19 million from private investors. For more information, please visit http://www. aminextx. com About Kids Cancer Centre The Kids Cancer Centre (KCC) at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick has been treating children with cancer and blood diseases in NSW, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for nearly 50 years. Almost two thirds of children treated for cancer or leukaemia at the Centre are enrolled on clinical trials, in a unique model where research and clinical care are one, aimed at ensuring the best possible care for children and their families. During that time the survival rates for children with cancer have gone from 10 per cent to nearly 80 per cent. Clinical and research staff from the Centre have made major international and national contributions to the expansion of knowledge in the area: from important discoveries around bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy for relapsed solid tumours and leukaemia, to the invention of novel anti-cancer drug combinations and minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in ALL. Centre staff have been leaders in devising new methods of outreach and home nursing, and in developing modern approaches to the bereaved family. These achievements have been founded on academic excellence and clinical expertise. In the past five years alone, Centre staff have published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals and have been awarded more than $60 million in competitive grant funding. Over the past 20 years a total of eight clinical staff have received Order of Australia honours for their work http://www. kids-cancer. org/ About Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick Scientists from Russia and Uzbekistan found a unified fortification system that on the northern border of ancient Bactria. This country existed in the III century BC. The fortress found blocked the border and protected the oases of Bactria from the nomads raids. During the excavations, scientists revealed the fortress citadel, drew up a detailed architectural plan and collected rich archaeological material indicating the construction, life and death of the fortress as a result of the assault. In the IV century BC, significant part of Central Asia territory belonged to Bactria, which, as a separate satrapy, was part of the Achaemenid Empire. In 329 BC Bactria became part of the Alexander empire and after his death joined the kingdom of Seleucid: the largest Hellenistic state in the East, created by the commander Alexander Seleucius I Nicator and his son Antiochus I Soter. Gradually, the state became weakened by numerous military campaigns and the struggle for power. As a result, once flourishing Bactria ceased to exist in the II century BC when Iranian-speaking nomads from the northern territories, the Saki and Yuadzhi, broke into the country. Recently, Russian scientists completed excavations in this area and determined the fortress construction time: about 95-90 years of the III century BC, the time of Antiochus I reign and the very beginning of the formation of the Seleucid state. The fortress was inhabited for about 150 years. It consisted of a diamond-shaped main quadrangle, a triangular citadel (phylacterion), surrounded by powerful double walls with an internal gallery about nine meters wide, and extension walls, which were fortified with 13 rectangular bastions-towers, three of which were also outboards. Outside the fortress there was a marketplace where local residents brought goods needed by the garrison soldiers. The archaeologists recorded the location of each item using a total station or GPS, and then made it into a single plan tied to the terrain. As a result, the scientists managed to establish where the marketplace was, ran the road to the entrance to the fortress, and determined the place of the assault: there were more than 200 shooting arrowheads, combat darts and troops. It is curious that the proposed battlefield is located to the east of the fortress, which suggests a possible environment or the breakthrough of the enemy through a system of border fortifications. The warriors who defended Uzundar wore armor: in the inside-wall room of the south-western fortified wall, archaeologists discovered armor-clad plates and two right-handed iron heads from helmets. So far, scientists can not exactly determine what type of helmets these patches were -- a pseudoattical or Melos group, so it is still possible that these are the same helmets that Alexander wore during Antiochus I Soter period. "This findings are sensational: direct analogies are known from the Takhti-Sanga temple, but there they were bronze, and we found iron fragments in Uzundar. To date, there are only a few specimens and sculptures with which to compare these cheeks and determine their type. We also found fastening details, which gives important information on manufacturing technology, according to tradition, but to answer these questions requires lengthy research," says Nigora Dvurechenskaya, researcher at the Department of Classical Archeology, Head of the Bactrian detachment of the Central Asian Archaeological Expedition. In addition to weapons, archaeologists have collected a large number of ceramics, as well as a rich numismatic collection: today around the fortress found about 200 coins of very good preservation from the coins of Antiochus I and all the rulers of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom from Diodot to Heliocles of very different denominations: from silver drachmas to copper mites. Such a variety proves that Bactria at the very beginning of Seleucid kingdom formation of the was part of developed monetary circulation system. Thus, the materials of Uzundara allow to study and reconstruct all spheres of life of the Seleucidian and Greco-Bactrian fortresses. ### Link to report: http://www. archaeolog. ru/ index. php?id= 522&fbclid= IwAR1ufM5R0Z4WMzm9WzOfkisl5OHUVizJMWuU8eAMcqSg4WTzSKY7igaPfhk Joint Uzbek-Russian research on Uzundar's fortress was carried out by the Bactrian department of the Central Asian archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and members of the Tokharistan archaeological expedition of the Institute of Art Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan under the general supervision of Academician Edward V. Rtveladze. Bethesda, MD (Feb. 1, 2019) -- The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has announced the 2019 recipients of the annual recognition awards, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology. "AGA members honor their colleagues and peers for outstanding contributions to the field of gastroenterology by nominating them for the AGA Recognition Awards," said David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF, president of the AGA Institute. "We are proud to announce the 2019 AGA Recognition Prize winners, who are just a few of the distinguished and talented members who help make AGA such an accomplished organization. We are honored that such esteemed individuals are representative of AGA." The AGA Recognition Awards will be presented during Digestive Disease Week 2019, May 18-21, 2019, in San Diego. Julius Friedenwald Medal AGA bequeaths its highest honor, the Julius Friedenwald Medal, to John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF, for his incredible contributions to the field of gastroenterology and AGA over several decades. The Julius Friedenwald Medal, presented annually since 1941, recognizes a physician for lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology. Dr. Allen is internationally-renowned for bringing unique and critical knowledge about health care delivery and health care economics to the field of gastroenterology, as well as for his decades of AGA leadership. His experience is unique within the national gastroenterology community, encompassing private practice, non-academic health systems and leadership within two academic medical centers. As AGA Institute President, he led the development of AGA's five-year strategic plan and made AGA a national player at the federal, state and local levels during a time of massive health care delivery transformation. Dr. Allen is a clinical professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and chief clinical officer of the University of Michigan Medical Group at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor. Distinguished Achievement Award in Basic Science AGA honors Harry B. Greenberg, MD, with the AGA Distinguished Achievement Award in Basic Science, for his major accomplishments in basic science research, which have significantly advanced the science and practice of gastroenterology. Throughout his career, Dr. Greenberg's incredible contributions over several decades contributed to the development of rotavirus vaccines and increased physicians' understanding of viral pathogenesis, particularly rotavirus, norovirus and hepatitis. Dr. Greenberg is an associate dean for research at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California. William Beaumont Prize AGA honors Timothy C. Wang, MD, AGAF, with the William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology, which recognizes an individual who has made a unique, outstanding contribution of major importance to the field of gastroenterology. Dr. Wang's extraordinary contribution to the understanding and practice of modern gastroenterology and digestive science are exemplified through his work, which includes defining the mechanisms and cellular origins of Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal cancer. Dr. Wang, who has served AGA in numerous positions, including as president of the AGA Institute, is currently chief of the division of digestive and liver diseases at Columbia University Medical Center and the Dorothy L. and Daniel H. Silberberg Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Distinguished Educator Award AGA recognizes and honors Deborah D. Proctor, MD, AGAF, with the Distinguished Educator Award, which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions as an educator in gastroenterology on both local and national levels, over a lifelong career. Dr. Proctor is a national expert in gastroenterology training and education who has taught and inspired generations of future gastroenterologists, nurses and physician assistants. Currently serving as the AGA Institute Education & Training Councillor, Dr. Proctor is a professor of medicine, and the medical director of the inflammatory bowel disease program, at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Distinguished Clinician Awards The AGA Distinguished Clinician Award recognizes members of the practicing community who, by example, combine the art of medicine with the skills demanded by the scientific body of knowledge in service to their patients. AGA presents the Distinguished Clinician Award, Private Practice, to Naresh T. Gunaratnam, MD, AGAF. Dr. Gunaratnam has made a huge impact on patient care in his community and improved gastroenterology-oncology care by starting the endoscopic ultrasound & interventional GI program at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Dr. Gunaratnam is a director of research and obesity management at Huron Gastro. AGA is honored to present the Distinguished Clinician Award, Clinical Academic Practice, to Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, AGAF. Dr. Loftus is an outstanding role model in practice, an effective researcher and a recognized leader who is devoted to treating patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease with quality clinical care, including understanding the predictors of treatment response. Dr. Loftus is a practicing gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic and a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota. Distinguished Mentor Award AGA bestows the Distinguished Mentor Award to Fred S. Gorelick, MD, which recognizes an individual who has made a lifelong effort dedicated to the mentoring of trainees in the field of gastroenterology and for achievements as outstanding mentors throughout their careers. Dr. Gorelick has been an inspiration to generations of trainees, many of whom have gone on to successful academic careers as faculty members, section chiefs, program directors, department chairs, and institute directors. Dr. Gorelick is a professor of medicine and cell biology at Yale School of Medicine, and deputy director of the Yale MD - PhD Program, New Haven, Connecticut. Research Service Award AGA honors Ann G. Zauber, PhD, with the Research Service Award, which recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced gastroenterogical science and research. Dr. Zauber's accomplishments have changed and advanced the practice of gastroenterology. Her work involving colorectal cancer screening and surveillance studies has had far-reaching effects on public policy. She is well-known for her leadership role in the development of colorectal cancer screening guidelines in the U.S., which has significantly reduced mortality and incidence rates. Dr. Zauber is a member and an attending biostatistician in the department of epidemiology & biostatistics at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Young Investigator Awards The AGA Young Investigator Award recognizes two young investigators, one in basic science and one in clinical science, for outstanding research achievements. AGA honors Sonia S. Kupfer, MD, with the Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science. Dr. Kupfer is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in colorectal cancer in high risk populations including individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes and African-Americans. During her clinical and translational research to better understand factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer, Dr. Kupfer identified distinctions in the African-American population compared with Caucasians. Dr. Kupfer is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, and director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic, Illinois. AGA honors Costas A. Lyssiotis, PhD, with the Young Investigator Award in Basic Science. His research, work ethic and innovative approaches have made Dr. Lyssiotis a distinguished leader in pancreatic cancer. His work has broad implications for harnessing the power of the immune system to treat the disease and his laboratory is working to develop new drug therapies that target a pancreatic cancer metabolism-specific enzyme. Dr. Lyssiotis is an assistant professor in the department of molecular and integrative physiology in the division of gastroenterology at University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor. ### About the AGA Institute The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. http://www. gastro. org . Like AGA on Facebook. Join AGA on LinkedIn. Follow us on Twitter @AmerGastroAssn. Check out our videos on YouTube. About Digestive Disease Week (DDW) Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW takes place May 18-21, 2019, at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. The meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. More information can be found at http://www. ddw. org . Follow us on Twitter @DDWMeeting; hashtag #DDW19. Become a fan of DDW on Facebook. Genetic testing improves the diagnoses of abnormalities in developing babies that are picked up during ultrasound scans, scientists report today (31 January) in The Lancet. Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge, University of Birmingham, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and their collaborators used genome sequencing to improve the diagnoses of abnormalities detected by ultrasound by around 10 per cent. Without genomic information, these abnormalities may not have been diagnosed until after pregnancy, if at all. The findings suggest that if the results from genome sequencing can be delivered in the timeframe of a pregnancy, then the additional diagnosis can support the care, counselling and the family's decision-making during pregnancy. Approximately 3 per cent of pregnancies will have an abnormality in the structure of the developing baby, which is detected by a routine prenatal ultrasound scan. These can include problems with the baby's heart, brain, skeleton or in some cases, multiple organs. Having detected a problem with the baby's development using prenatal ultrasound, parents will want to know the likely outcome for their child, however there can be many different possible causes of the abnormality. In the largest study of its kind, researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators provided a genetic diagnosis for around 10 per cent of pregnancies with detected abnormalities. Without genetic testing, the genetic changes causing the developmental problem would not have been detected by standard diagnostic testing. The research supports the mainstream use of more detailed genetic testing alongside other tests in order to provide better information to parents about how their child is likely to be affected. Dr Matthew Hurles, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Genetic testing gets to the root cause of some of the problems seen in ultrasound scans and can give families much clearer answers about a baby's condition. For example, a structural heart defect seen on an ultrasound scan could be caused by a disease that just affects the heart and may be relatively easily corrected, or it could be linked to something more complicated, such as neurological development, which could impact on the child's schooling in the future." The research fell under the Prenatal Assessment of Genomes and Exomes (PAGE) study, which strives to gain a better understanding of genetic alterations, or variants, that cause developmental problems during pregnancy. The PAGE study aims to improve prenatal diagnostics, allow better genetics-derived prognoses and more informed parental counselling in the future. Scientists worked with a national network of fetal medicine and genetics clinics around the UK to recruit pregnant mothers with an ultrasound scan anomaly that had been detected, for participation in the study. The team completed whole-exome sequencing* on 610 developing babies with detected abnormalities and 1206 biological parents. DNA samples from the pregnancies were taken during routine checks for other conditions, such as Down syndrome, through procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villous sampling. Researchers identified new diagnoses of known genetic disorders for 52 of the 610 pregnancies, or 8.5 per cent. The team found that genetic diagnoses were considerably more common in fetuses with heart defects, skeletal abnormalities or multi-organ problems, which could lead to some ultrasound findings being prioritised for genetic testing. Professor Eamonn Maher, from the University of Cambridge, said: "More genetic diagnoses were made for developing babies with problems surrounding the heart, skeleton or multiple organs, indicating that in the future genetic testing to make diagnoses may be tailored according to the type of problem." Lyn Chitty, Professor of Genetics and Fetal Medicine at GOSH and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), said: "The study shows that genome sequencing improves the diagnosis of genetic conditions in developing babies who have been found to have structural abnormalities during a routine ultrasound. Making these results available during pregnancy means we can offer better counselling to parents and enable access to appropriate care. The next step is to work on implementing this approach nationally so more families can benefit." Professor Mark Kilby, of the University of Birmingham's Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research and Clinical Lead in Fetal Medicine at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We hope that our research will aid NHS England's ambition to roll out by next summer the use of invasive and then later non-invasive technology to perform exome sequencing in the generic or targeted screening of babies for congenital abnormalities during pregnancy." The results from this study were fed back to the families via their genetic counsellors to help them decide on treatment or management for the condition. Most of the diagnoses made were of conditions that have a low risk of recurrence in future pregnancies. Jane Fisher, Director of the Antenatal Results and Choices charity, said: "When expectant parents are told from a scan that their baby is not developing as expected, it most often comes as a huge shock and they are anxious to know as much as possible about what is ahead. A genetic diagnosis can help provide them with important information about the outlook for their baby and whether they might face a similar situation in future pregnancies." ### Notes to Editors: *The genome is made up of genes that code for proteins (exons) and genes that do not code for proteins (introns). Together, all of the genes that code for proteins is known as the exome. Whole-exome sequencing is the process of reading the genetic code of the exome - all of the protein-coding genes, whereas whole-genome sequencing is the process of reading the genetic code of all genes in the genome. Selected websites: PAGE study https:/ / www. sanger. ac. uk/ science/ collaboration/ prenatal-assessment-genomes-and-exomes-page University of Birmingham's Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research https:/ / www. birmingham. ac. uk/ research/ activity/ metabolism-systems/ index. aspx The University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries. About Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) brings together the very best in paediatric and women's care in the region and is proud to have many UK and world-leading surgeons, doctors, nurses, midwives and other allied healthcare professionals on its team. Birmingham Women's Hospital is a centre of excellence, providing a range of specialist health care services to more than 50,000 women and their families every year from Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. As well as delivering over 8,200 babies a year, it offers a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care, as well as a comprehensive genetics service, which serves men and women. Its Fertility Centre is one of the best in the country, while the fetal medicine centre receives regional and national referrals. The hospital is also an international centre for education, research and development with a research budget of over 3 million per year and is proud to be home to a national miscarriage research centre - the first of its kind in the UK - in partnership with Tommy's baby charity. Birmingham Children's Hospital is the UK's leading specialist paediatric centre, caring for sick children and young people between 0 and 16 years of age. Based in the heart of Birmingham city centre, the hospital is a world leader in some of the most advanced treatments, complex surgical procedures and cutting edge research and development. The hospital is a nationally designated specialist centre for epilepsy surgery and also boasts a paediatric major trauma centre for the West Midlands, a national liver and small bowel transplant centre and a centre of excellence for complex heart conditions, the treatment of burns, cancer and liver and kidney disease. Our Trust is also home to one of the largest Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the country, comprising of a dedicated inpatient Eating Disorder Unit and Acute Assessment Unit for regional referrals of children and young people with the most serious of problems (Tier 4) and the unique Forward Thinking Birmingham community mental health service for 0 to 25 year olds. Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) ARC is the only UK charity providing independent non-directive information and specialised support to women and couples through prenatal testing and its consequences. ARC also works closely and collaboratively with clinicians in the field and runs a well-established training programme for health care professionals. Find out more about ARC at http://www. arc-uk. org or follow us on Twitter: @ARCantenatal About the University of Cambridge The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. To date, 107 affiliates of the University have won the Nobel Prize. Founded in 1209, the University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges, which admit undergraduates and provide small-group tuition, and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Cambridge is a global university. Its 19,000 student body includes 3,700 international students from 120 countries. Cambridge researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and the University has established larger-scale partnerships in Asia, Africa and America. The University sits at the heart of the 'Cambridge cluster', which employs 60,000 people and has in excess of 12 billion in turnover generated annually by the 4,700 knowledge-intensive firms in and around the city. The city publishes 341 patents per 100,000 residents. http://www. cam. ac. uk About Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Founded in 1852, Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world's leading children's hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children's healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. With more than 252,000 outpatient and 43,000 inpatient visits every year, the hospital's pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. As an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, our patients and families are central to everything we do - from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us. About the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) is part of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences within the School of Life and Medical Sciences at University College London. Together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), it forms the UK's only paediatric National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and has the largest concentration of children's health research in Europe. For more information visit http://www. ucl. ac. uk/ ich The Wellcome Sanger Institute The Wellcome Sanger Institute is one of the world's leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. To celebrate its 25th year in 2018, the Institute is sequencing 25 new genomes of species in the UK. Find out more at http://www. sanger. ac. uk or follow @sangerinstitute About Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health by helping great ideas to thrive. We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. We are a politically and financially independent foundation. The lives of those 300 people are important, he said. There is a point to be made: We are talking about people who are buying beer at the end of Prohibition. Why on earth would we prosecute people for buying beer at the end of Prohibition? The study assessed the effects of statins in nearly 187,000 people who had taken part in 28 large clinical trials. Participants were divided into six age groups (under 55 years, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, and over 75 years) in order to assess the effects of statins on major vascular events (heart attacks/strokes/coronary revascularisations), cancer incidence and deaths. Lead investigator, Professor Anthony Keech, Professor of Medicine, Cardiology and Epidemiology at the University of Sydney, said: 'Statin therapy has been shown to prevent cardiovascular disease in a wide range of people, but there has been uncertainty about its efficacy and safety among older people. Our study summarised all the available evidence from major trials to help clarify this issue. We found that there were significant reductions in major vascular events in each of the six age groups considered, including patients aged over 75 at the start of treatment.' Statins help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood and are prescribed to millions of people globally. Having a high level of LDL cholesterol can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries and cardiovascular disease. The researchers found that, overall, statin treatment reduced the risk of a major vascular event by about a quarter for each millimole per litre reduction in LDL cholesterol, even in older people. In addition, the new study found that statin therapy did not increase the risk of deaths from non-cardiovascular disease, or the risk of cancer, at any age. Cardiovascular risk reductions were observed, irrespective of age, in people with or without known vascular disease at the start of the trials. The evidence was less extensive in people aged over 75 who did not already have evidence of vascular disease (those who were prescribed statin therapy for the 'primary prevention' of heart attacks and strokes). New randomised trials are now studying the effects of statins in more depth in apparently healthy older people. Co-investigator, Dr Jordan Fulcher from the University of Sydney, explained: 'Statin therapy appears to be just as effective in people aged over 75 years as it is in younger people. We have definitive evidence that statins benefit older people who have suffered a heart attack or stroke. Fewer healthy older people were represented in these trials, so more information in this group of people would help confirm the same benefits that we see in our overall trials population. A new randomised trial in Australia, called STAREE1, is specifically exploring whether statin treatment can prolong survival free of disability in a healthy elderly population.' Co-investigator Professor Colin Baigent, Director of the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oxford, added: 'The risk of heart attacks and strokes increases markedly with age, and yet statins are not utilised as widely in older people as they should be. Since the risk of heart attack and stroke increases with age, the potential benefits are likely to be even greater for older people. 'Therefore, there is a need to ensure that patients at risk of cardiovascular disease due to their age are offered statin therapy where there is good reason to believe that it will be beneficial. Anyone with concerns about whether statin therapy is suitable for them should discuss this with their GP.' ### The study was conducted by the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration, a joint initiative coordinated between the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Australia and the Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, on behalf of academic researchers representing major statin trials worldwide. The work was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Treating male infertility using a new IVF technique called PICSI, which is already offered in some private clinics, does not increase the likelihood of having a baby, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial. During the PICSI treatment, sperm were selected to fertilise eggs based on whether they could bind to hyaluronan, a substance normally found surrounding the surface of eggs. In a trial involving over 2,700 couples across the UK, researchers looked at the difference that hyaluronan made to the success rate of treatment for male infertility following injection of PICSI-selected sperm into the egg. Led by the University of Leeds, the study found no meaningful difference in full-term live births using the new PICSI technique, with a success rate of around one in four couples for both the PICSI and the standard ICSI treatment. Published in The Lancet, the study was the largest randomised controlled trial assessing whether or not PICSI would lead to more live births than current techniques, providing vital evidence to help guide both clinics and couples who are making decisions about treatment for male infertility. Although PICSI treatment did not significantly increase the number of live births, the researchers found that it significantly reduced the number of miscarriages by 39% overall (4.3% of couples on PICSI experienced miscarriage compared with 7.0% on ICSI). The couples involved in the trial were randomly assigned to either the standard ICSI treatment, or the new PICSI treatment, which costs more and is already offered in some fertility clinics, despite the lack of evidence that it increases success rates. Lead author Dr David Miller, Andrologist at the University of Leeds, said: "ICSI treatment is currently used by millions of couples around the world and is becoming the dominant treatment for infertility in many places, so any improvements that can be made to the technique have the potential to create a widespread positive impact. "Our findings, however, suggest that more work is needed to refine and improve PICSI before it can be more widely recommended to treat infertility. "This trial has paved the way for further research to focus on miscarriage and look into exactly how and why hyaluronan-selected sperm can reduce the incidence of this devastating outcome." The study was funded by the EME Programme - a Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership - and supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Yorkshire and Humber. Co-author Professor Yakoub Khalaf, Medical Director and Consultant Gynaecologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Couples can be put under pressure to consider add-ons and other techniques that give them added hope and expectations of successful treatment, but it is important that there is good evidence to support their use. "We hope these new findings can help couples who are considering IVF to decide which treatments to choose. "IVF success rates have remained at roughly 25% of all treatment cycles for the past decade, so it is vital that we keep developing new effective techniques aimed at improving success rates." Led by the University of Leeds, the clinical trial was coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, and involved sixteen fertility centres in England and Scotland, as well as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Examen Limited. Professor David Crossman, Chair of the EME Funding Committee, said: "We are very pleased to be supporting great research like this, looking at critical medical interventions. "This study adds authority to decision making in the field of IVF because of the careful way it was conducted, and the authors have shown there is little benefit to the new treatment. Whilst helping patients with their decisions these investigators have also highlighted the pressing need for further work in this important area." PICSI treatment is different to the commonly offered IVF treatment add-on 'embryo glue', as PICSI involves pre-selecting sperm based on whether or not they bind to hyaluronan. 'Embryo glue' involves the fertilised embryos being coated in hyaluronan to increase their chances of implanting in the womb. IVF is used to treat both female and male infertility, which each account for around half of referrals to IVF clinics for assisted conception. In treating male infertility, embryologists manually choose the best sperm with which to fertilise an egg, by sight for ICSI and by hyaluronan binding for PICSI, as the sperm would be less able to cause pregnancy naturally. ### Notes to editors For interview requests please contact Simon Moore, Press Officer at the University of Leeds, on 0113 34 38059 or s.i.moore@leeds.ac.uk. The Lancet paper is titled 'A Randomised Clinical Trial of Physiological, hyaluronan-selected Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) for Infertility Treatment (HABSelect)' and will be available online here: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32989-1/fulltext University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2019. The University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www. leeds. ac. uk Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram MRC and NIHR The study was funded by an MRC and NIHR partnership created to support the evaluation of interventions with potential to make a step-change in the promotion of health, treatment of disease and improvement of rehabilitation or long-term care. 1. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research. Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, NIHR: Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR commissions applied health research to benefit the poorest people in low- and middle-income countries, using Official Development Assistance funding. 2. The Medical Research Council is at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers' money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. Thirty-three MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms. The Medical Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation. https:/ / mrc. ukri. org/ The combination of ocean warming and an infectious wasting disease has devastated populations of large sunflower sea stars once abundant along the West Coast of North America in just a few years, according to research co-led by the University of California, Davis, and Cornell University published Jan. 30 in the journal Science Advances. "At one time plentiful in nearshore waters, the sunflower sea stars right now cannot be found off the California coast and are rare into Alaska," said Drew Harvell, Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, a co-lead author. "Numbers of the sea stars have stayed so low in the past three years, we consider them endangered in the southern part of their range, and we don't have data for northern Alaska." Since 2013, sea star wasting disease has brought about massive mortality in multiple sea star species from Mexico to Alaska. The East Coast has not been immune, as the disease has affected the shores from New Jersey to New England. CLIMATE CHANGE A LIKELY FACTOR Diego Montecino-Latorre, a wildlife epidemiologist with the UC Davis One Health Institute and a co-lead author, said the sunflower sea star continues to decline even in the deepest ocean and it is not recovering in the same way as the intertidal Ochre star. "This is likely because this disease has many hosts, and other species that tolerate the pathogen better may spread it to the sunflower star," he said. Global warming due to a changing atmosphere is likely a major factor. "The heat wave in the oceans - a product of increasing atmospheric temperatures - is exacerbating the sea star wasting disease," said Harvell, a fellow at Cornell's Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. "It's a lethal disease, and when you add a higher temperature to that, it kills faster, causing a bigger impact." CASCADING EFFECTS Fisheries depend on nearshore kelp forests to form a healthy environment for fish and the broader oceanic ecosystem. With the demise of sunflower sea stars, sea urchin populations in some areas have exploded, substantially reducing the kelp, Harvell said. The sunflower sea star is large, about the size of a manhole cover, and possesses an enormous appetite. It crawls over the seafloor like a robotic vacuum cleaner, munching on everything in its path. "In California, Washington and parts of British Columbia, sunflower sea stars keep urchins under control," said Joseph Gaydos, senior author on the paper and director of UC Davis' SeaDoc Society program. "Without sunflower stars, urchin populations expand and threaten kelp forests and biodiversity. This cascading effect has a really big impact." COUNTING STARS Between 2006 and 2017, scientists and trained citizen scientists with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) conducted 10,956 roving-diver surveys from Southern California to Alaska. Before 2013, divers reported an abundance of sea stars, but between 2013 to 2017 the population collapsed. Scientists from Simon Fraser University and the Hakai Institute confirmed the loss from remote Calvert Island in British Columbia. The ocean warming recorded at REEF locations corresponds to an increase in water temperature by up to 4 degrees Celsius that started in 2014. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration surveyed sunflower sea stars in thousands of deep trawls from Mexico to the Canadian border and recorded 100 percent decline in all states in deep water down to 1,000 meters. ### Stanford University also contributed to this research. The study was supported by the National Science Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, NOAA and the Department of Commerce. In mid-April, the University of California Press will release Harvell's book, "Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease." It regards the oceanic epidemics impacting the food chain and proposes solutions to slow a looming global environmental disaster. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 31-- The Harvard Museum of Natural History announces the new Climate Change exhibit that draws on the latest scientific information about our warming climate, the global and local consequences, and how to both reduce the fossil fuel emissions that cause it and prepare for its effects. This multimedia exhibit includes engaging video and storm simulations, a "check your knowledge" interactive station, and a dramatic inside look at a high-tech Argo float from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-one of more than 4,000 deployed worldwide to monitor global oceans and climate. Developed in collaboration with the Harvard University Center for the Environment and informed by new Harvard research, the exhibit offers visitors the hard facts--the knowns and unknowns--about one of the greatest challenges the world faces. "Climate change is one of the most complicated and challenging problems the world has ever faced" said Professor Dan Schrag, Director of the Harvard Center for the Environment and lead curator of the exhibit. "It is a global problem, and one that requires global action to manage the impacts and minimize the risks. Here at Harvard, we have many researchers who contribute to understanding climate change and working towards solutions. This exhibit is a manifestation of that knowledge, and through our partnership with HMNH, we are able to present some of that to the broader community." For more perspectives on climate change across economics, public policy, the arts, and more see the videos at https:/ / climatechange. environment. harvard. edu/ home#section2 . Harvard Museums of Science & Culture Executive Director Jane Pickering said the museums aim to provide a meeting point for scholars and the public. "The Harvard Museum of Natural History has had an exhibit on climate change since 2004," said Pickering, "but we felt it was imperative at this time to rethink our display. We wanted to connect visitors to the cutting-edge research going on at the university as they consider their own responses to this unprecedented global challenge." ### Climate Change is an ongoing exhibit. This new exhibit was made possible with generous financial support from Clark Bernard MBA '68 and Susana Bernard, together with Jonathan Goldstein MBA '90, and Kaia, Annika and Skylar Goldstein in honor of Professor James J. McCarthy and Sue McCarthy Image caption: Satellite Image of California's Camp Fire Extreme drought and record heat have laid the groundwork for hugely destructive and deadly wildfires, including the now infamous "Camp Fire," seen here a few hours after it ignited on November 8, 2018. NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens. About the Harvard Museum of Natural History With a mission to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it, the Harvard Museum of Natural History draws on the University's collections and research to present a historic and interdisciplinary exploration of science and nature. More than 250,000 visitors annually make it the University's most-visited museum. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is located at 26 Oxford Street, an 8-minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square T station. For general information on exhibits, public events, parking, and times for free visitation for Massachusetts residents, visit the website at http://www. hmnh. harvard. edu , or call 617-495-3045. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is one of the four Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Media contact: Bethany Carland-Adams Public Relations Specialist HARVARD MUSEUMS OF SCIENCE & CULTURE 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 617 496 6064 office bcarlandadams@hmsc.harvard.edu hmsc.harvard.edu High resolution images are available on request. 2019-02-01 Maeci 1 February 2019 Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the TIPH contributing Countries We regret the unilateral decision by the Israeli government not to renew the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) after 31 January 2019. The current TIPH was established on 1 February 1997, in accordance with an agreement of 21 January 1997 pursuant to a provision in the Interim Agreement (Oslo II Accord) signed by Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1995 (Annex I, Article VII, Paragraph 10), witnessed by the US, the EU, the Russian Federation, Egypt and Jordan. The Israeli decision to withdraw from the agreement with the PLO and thereby terminate the TIPH constitutes a departure from the Oslo II Accord of 1995. We took note that the PLO signed the agreement to renew the TIPH mandate. We are prepared to continuing the Mission if requested by both parties. Since the UN Security Council adopted resolution 904 in 1994, calling for a temporary international presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, the situation in Hebron remains tense and fragile. We are concerned that the Israeli governments decision undermines one of the few established mechanisms for conflict resolution between Israelis and Palestinians and may therefore have a negative impact on the situation. In this regard, we stress Israels obligations under international law to protect the people in Hebron and in other parts of the occupied Palestinian territory, and its duty to ensure accountability for violations thereof. The TIPH has diligently fulfilled its mandate as requested by both parties, and thus contributed to preventing violence and promoting a feeling of security for the population in Hebron. For the past 22 years, both parties have renewed the TIPHs mandate every sixth months. The contributing countries have supported the Mission to fulfill its mandate at the parties request, and in the parties interest. We therefore strongly object to any claim that the TIPH has acted against Israel. Such claims are unacceptable and ungrounded. From 1 February 2019, the TIPH lacks a mandate to perform its duties as previously requested by both parties. The TIPH will therefore close down in an orderly, safe and dignified manner within a realistic timeframe. We call on both parties to assist and facilitate the TIPH through this process and remind them of their responsibilities for the security and inviolability of the TIPH. We are deeply grateful to all the men and women who have served in the TIPH during the past 22 years, often under challenging circumstances. In particular, we honour the memory of Catherine Berruex and Turgut Cengiz Toytunc, who lost their lives while carrying out their duties in the TIPH. We urge the parties to make progress towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict and to resolve all outstanding issues. Only a negotiated two-state solution can create a durable peace between the parties, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized borders. We will remain seized of the matter and will be at the parties disposal to assist them in their search for peace. Ine Eriksen Sreide Minister of Foreign Affairs Norway Enzo Moavero Milanesi Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Italy Margot Wallstrom Minister for Foreign Affairs Sweden Ignazio Cassis Minister of Foreign Affairs Switzerland Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister of Foreign Affairs Turkey US to deploy more troops to the Mexico border The US military is set to deploy 3.500 troops to its mission at the border with Mexico, US officials said on Thursday. Another 3.500 active-duty troops will deploy to the US-Mexico border, House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith revealed Thursday in a news release blasting Pentagon officials unwillingness to discuss openly in Congress the militarys involvement along the southern border. NEARLY 6.000 TROOPS This was at best an error in judgment, and at worst flat-out dishonesty, Smith said, adding he had spoken with acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan about it. Shanahan told reporters the same day as the hearing that thousands of more troops were headed to the border but the 3,500 figure was only disclosed on Thursday. There are currently about 2,350 troops involved in the border mission. The Pentagon says the US military will operate mobile surveillance cameras in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, a mission that is scheduled to run through Sept. 30. Some of the additional troops will also string up 150 more miles of concertina wire by March 31. The Pentagon first approved the high-profile deployment of active-duty US troops to the Mexico border in October, ahead of US midterm congressional elections. It was embraced by Trumps supporters, including Republicans in Congress. However, critics have assailed the deployment as a political stunt and scoffed at Trumps comparisons of caravans of Central American migrants, including women and children, to an invasion. UN concerned over US sanctions against Venezuela Special rapporteur is particularly worried over reports that the sanctions are aimed at changing the government. A UN human rights expert expressed grave concern Thursday after the US imposed sanctions on Venezuelas state-owned oil company. HE CALLED FOR COMPASSION FOR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE "I am especially concerned to hear reports that these sanctions are aimed at changing the government of Venezuela," Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy said in a written statement. Jazairy said the sanctions could trigger a health crisis. "Sanctions which can lead to starvation and medical shortages are not the answer to the crisis in Venezuela," he said. He noted that the crisis in Venezuela won't be solved by sanctions. He also called on the international community to engage in constructive dialogue with Venezuela to resolve the problem. On Monday, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA and its US subsidiary Citgo to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to step down. UAE's minister rejects establishment of safe zone in Syria Anwar Gargash expressed his countrys objection to the creation of a buffer zone in Syria, while he refused to express his opinion on the US withdrawal from Syria. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gargash said in an interview with the American channel Alhurra that his country refuses that Turkey establishes a buffer zone in Syria and allowing a non-Arab presence in any Arab country, pointing out that the UAE supports protecting the Kurds in Syria from the consequences of the American withdrawal. UAE'S YPG SUPPORT The United Arab Emirates has great sympathy with the Kurds and is in the favor of the Kurds protection within the frame of a united Syria, he said. My country is concerned about the statements from Turkey regarding the Syrian Kurdish forces, and we believe the Turkish threats is a real hazard, Gargash added. Over the last eight years, Turkey has had to deal with massive refugee flows and cross-border terrorism of Daesh and the YPG/PKK along with many other complex issues caused by the war in Syria. Turkey has long warned its international allies about the danger of arming and supplying the YPG/PKK, but its warnings have so far fallen on deaf ears. To reiterate, the establishment of a safe zone has been a Turkish demand since the earliest days of the crisis. Turkeys objectives in the establishment of the discussed safe zone have to be accommodated, or Turkey will be obliged to take unilateral actions in order to secure its borders from terrorism and enable Syrian refugees to return to their homeland. Over 200 migrants drown in the Mediterranean in January Nearly 6.000 refugees arrive in Europe in the first month of 2019, says UN migration agency. Some 5,989 irregular migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea while 208 of others perished in the first four weeks of the new year, the UN migration agency said on Friday. In the same period last year, 6.550 refugees and migrants entered Europe and 243 of others drowned in the Mediterranean, according to a report published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM also stated nearly 308 people have died or went missing around the world in the new year, making Mediterranean deaths two-thirds of the worldwide total. Some 30,510 migrants died between 2014 and 2018 while making the treacherous journey to Europe, the UN agency reported in early January. Police said Jackson, 46, was shot in the head Sept. 29 in the 3300 block of W. Baltimore St. in Saint Josephs. He was taken to Shock Trauma, where he remained in grave condition for several days before dying. Enid, OK (73701) Today Rain showers, with winds diminishing during the afternoon hours. Cooler. High 74F. Winds NNE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Senate bill 152 clarifies and expedites the legal process to determine what happens with animals when they are seized in cruelty cases and ensures that animal owners, not taxpayers, not the county agencies, cover the cost of caring for lawfully seized animals for those individuals who wish to maintain their ownership rights (until the court case is resolved), said Emily Hovermale, the Maryland and Delaware Director of the Humane Society of the United States. Athens, AL (35611) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Nigel Farage to speak on Island tonight The man synonymous with Brexit is to host an evening in the Isle of Man later. Nigel Farage MEP will appear at the Palace Hotel tonight (Friday). The politician and broadcaster co-founded UKIP in 1993 and was leader of the party from 2006 to 2016 when the UK made the historic vote to leave the European Union. Still a Member of the European Parliament, Farage hosts a phone-in show on LBC radio, pens regular newspaper columns and had written several books. He is known in the USA as Mr Brexit and famously appeared on stage at an election rally in Mississippi with Donald Trump. More details about the event are available HERE Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls since 1922. The week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, a tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. Manchester Fire Department organizes a program every year. Direkt an der Elbe mit Blick auf die Altstadt liegt das moderne Congress Center Dresden. Next May, connect-ec will take place in Dresden. Connect-ec is a new trade fair for the latest trends in the world of telecommunications. With topics such as 5G, car connectivity and smart home, the four-day event is aimed at both end consumers and trade visitors. According to the organizers WEKA Media Publishing and WEKA Fachmedien, Germany's first telecommunications trade fair connect-ec will take place in Dresden from May 2nd to 5th 2019. Whether foldable smartphones, 5G smartphones, connected cars, or flying taxis: connect-ec will present the most important trends around the mobile topics of the future. We want to make the latest telecommunications products and technologies tangible to a broad audience of trade visitors and interested end users at Germany's first telecommunications trade fair and congress, explains Dirk Waasen, Publishing Director of WEKA Media Publishing GmbH. Specifically, the focus will be on the four subject areas of mobile, home, mobility and specialist trade, which in turn will cover areas such as 5G, smartphones, smart home, gaming, autonomous driving, and car connectivity. connect-ec is aimed at both end consumers and trade visitors and combines an exhibition and conference program. On the first two days, experts from industry will speak about the present and future times of the telecommunications industry, especially in the areas of mobile networks, car connectivity, security and electromobility. The congress offers companies the opportunity to present their products in Europe's high-tech environment and reach dealers, industry, and consumers at the same time, said Waasen. On Saturday and Sunday, the fair will also be open to end consumers and will attract visitors with its experience areas and specialist information, for example on electromobility. Workshops on various topics will also be on the agenda at connect-ec. Connect Dirk Waasen, Publishing Director of Weka Media Publishing.We want to make the latest telecommunications products and technologies tangible to a broad audience of trade visitors and interested end users at Germany's first telecommunications trade fair and congress. State-of-the-Art Conference Center The event is supported among others by the city of Dresden, which should offer numerous advantages as a venue. According to Waasen, the Saxon state capital is characterized by both an excellent infrastructure and a highly modern conference center. The Congress Center Dresden has a total area of 3,600 square meters and can accommodate up to 6,800 visitors. Tickets for the two pure exhibition days on Saturday and Sunday cost five euros, but the first 1,000 tickets are free. Tickets for the conference start at 50 euros. Further information can be found on the connect-ec 2019 website. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Das konnte Sie auch interessieren Verwandte Artikel WEKA FACHMEDIEN GmbH, WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING GmbH Mexico City, Feb 1 (efe-epa).- President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced Friday the start of a program to revive Mexico's rural economy and protect the environment with an initial investment of 240 billion pesos ($12.55 billion) in 2019. The plan, he said, "means rescuing the countryside, it means creating jobs, many jobs - more than 200,000 jobs in the countryside this year - and it means reforestation," he said. The goal of "Sembrando Vida" (sowing life) is to plant 1 million hectares (2.46 million acres) with fruit-bearing and timber-yielding trees. "And this action has already begun. This year, we will plant on more than 500,000 hectares, and there will be 200,000 permanent jobs, paying wages to peasants. We will strengthen production in communities, in ejidos (communal land holdings). We will strengthen small farms," Lopez Obrador said. "The aim is to give Mexicans roots in their places of origin so migration is optional, not forced. And today we begin on the ground. We will be in Tabasco (the president's home state) tomorrow, and the day after in Veracruz, to propel this action," he said. He pointed to the existence of 100 million hectares of publicly owned land in Mexico that had been allowed to lie unproductive "during the neoliberal period," a reference to his predecessors going back to the 1980s, who followed policies recommended by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. "The countryside is Mexico's most important factory, yet it was paralyzed, shut down, abandoned. Now we are going to bolster the countryside, and the benefits are many," Lopez Obrador said. Besides creating employment, the project will benefit the environment, "because there are resources destined for reforestation, for re-establishing the ecosystem, to produce water, to produce oxygen, to avoid soil degradation," he said. Revitalizing rural Mexico will aid economic growth, the president said. "With all due respect, the technocrats don't know this, because they didn't learn this in the schools. They learned the formulas that say if you maintain macroeconomic equilibrium, you don't need to do anything, since the market does everything," he said. "And we have seen that that formula doesn't work," the president added. "It only produces economic stagnation, unemployment, migration, poverty, insecurity and violence. We are going for the promotion of development." 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: St Anthony's Hospital Grades are used to make a number of significant decisions about students, including promotion, retention, college admissions, and scholarships. But parents, teachers, and school administrators concerned about providing equitable opportunities for every child are frequently stunned to learn that many common grading practices are outdated, inaccurate, and harmful to student success. In fact, grading policieswhich appear to be an objective, fair, and accurate method to describe a students academic performanceoften increase achievement gaps by infusing grades with teachers implicit biases or by rewarding or punishing students based on their families resources. Because grading is often not addressed in teacher preparation or in ongoing professional development, most teachers choose their own way to grade, guided by their best sense but uninformed by either research or best practices. As a result, traditional grading practices result in grades that provide unclear and often misleading information to parents, students, and postsecondary institutions. Teachers often combine a range of unrelated student information into a grade, compressing a bucket of information into a thimble-sized container. When teachers collapse academic proficiency, soft skills, behavior, attendance, and effort into a single letter, it is impossible for anyone to discern the students particular strengths and weaknesses in each of these aspects, rendering the grade vague, confusing, and even invalid. Traditional grading practices are often also corrupted by implicit racial, class, and gender biases. It is well documented that schools disciplinary actions often disproportionately punish African-American, Latino, low-income, and special education students. These same biases affect grading. When teachers grade students on subjectively interpreted behaviors in categories of participation or effort, their perceptions and judgments of those behaviors are influenced by that teachers race, class, and gender. For example, in classrooms taught by white teachers, African-American students are typically rated as poorer classroom citizens than their white peers, and thereby are more likely to have a lower grade for those behaviors because of the teachers biased perceptions. Traditional grading practices are often also corrupted by implicit racial, class, and gender biases." Grades based on performance outside the classroom can also reproduce cycles of disparities, by rewarding or punishing students based on their income and resources. Students are more likely to complete homework if they have more resources (such as higher educated and English-speaking parents, internet access, and a safe, quiet space at home). Yet teachers often award points to students for their homework performance, which rewards or punishes students based on environmental factors outside of the students control. Finally, most teachers use grading practices based on calculations that depress student achievement and progress. Current practices conflict with contemporary understandings of growth mindset and how to encourage students to learn through practice and experimentation. An F early in a students learning and an A at the end average out to a C, regardless of progress over time and final achievement. This mathematically unsound approach punishes students with early struggles, often those who enter the class with fewer resources and less prior academic success and have the most potential growth ahead of them. Many teachers entered the profession to provide every student an opportunity to succeed, to minimize the achievement and opportunity gaps. Yet when we continue to use traditional grading practices, we inadvertently reproduce those gaps. In partnering with urban, rural, and suburban public schools and districts, as well as elite private academies, we at the Equitable Grading Projecta research initiative of the equity-focused education consulting group I leadhave found that once teachers learn about the harms caused by our century-old grading practices, they are motivated to try alternative, more equitable grading practices. In our review of academic research and observations of teachers implementation, we have identified key aspects of what we call equitable grading, which is accurate, bias-resistant, and motivational: Reflect growth and learning. Teachers should use a more proportionately structured 0-4 scale instead of a 0-100 point scale that is mathematically oriented toward failure, stop assigning a zero for missing work, and weight recent performance and growth instead of averaging performance over time. By allowing students to retake tests and projects (with the chance to replace previous scores), teachers can reward learning, support a growth mindset, and not disadvantage students who enter classrooms with weaker academic backgrounds. Value knowledge, not environment or behavior. Instead of grading subjectively interpreted behaviors such as a students effort or participation, teachers should focus grades on required content or standards. Grades should not be used to reward compliance or homework completion, both of which invite implicit and institutional biases. Lift the veil on how to succeed. Standards-aligned rubrics, simplified grade calculations, and standards-based scales and gradebooks make teachers expectations explicit and facilitate students understanding, ownership, and power over their grades. Build soft skillswithout including them in the grade. Teachers should employ a more expansive range of feedback strategies to incorporate peer and self-evaluation and build self-regulation instead of relying solely on grades as feedback. These grading practices have a proven record of success. Last year, the Equitable Grading Project partnered with two independent evaluators to study what happens when teachers adopt these practices . In an analysis of 60 teachers in seven high schools in northern California, we found that the rate of students receiving Ds and Fs frequently decreases with these practicesand decreases more dramatically for vulnerable and underserved student populations. For example, among the teachers who worked with the Equitable Grading Project to implement equitable grading, the rate at which students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch received Ds and Fs decreased a statistically significant greater amount than students who were not eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Our analysis also found that equitable grading practices dont just reduce D and F rates, they are also more accurate. When teachers use equitable grading practices, they assign final grades that are more strongly correlated with students standardized assessment scores on that content, and the effect is stronger for students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. Finally, we found that equitable grading improves the learning environment for teachers. In surveys and independent case studies, teachers and students reported that classrooms are less stressful, teacher-student relationships are stronger and more trusting, and students are more motivated to learn after these interventions. When we talk about equity, grading is rarely mentioned. By overlooking it, we unwittingly perpetuate the very disparities we dedicate ourselves as educators to correct. It is incumbent upon educators at every levelteachers, principals, district administrators, school boards, and state policymakersto improve grading policies to ensure that they reinforce, not work against, our commitment to equity. The trooper attempted to stand in front of Dolly as he approached the other man and told him to stop and return upstairs. Dolly refused and pushed the trooper out of the way to continue forward. Another trooper then grabbed Dolly and forced him to the ground, according to the statement. By Miranda Fox The impacts of the government shutdown on the nation's national parks have been widely reported: overflowing bathrooms, decimated habitat and widespread litter resulted in parks that remained open without staff oversight and management. In response, individuals, organizations and corporations have volunteered to help out with the clean-up. One of these is Nestle Waters North America, which released this statement last week: "At Nestle Waters North America, we believe that even one bottle or can that is not recycled properly is one too many. When we heard about the need in our national parks, we wanted to help." What Nestle's press statement doesn't address is that this company's commitment to creating single-use products like bottled water makes it one of the largest contributors to the problem. In fact, clean-up audits organized by #breakfreefromplastic found that Nestle's packaging was among the most frequently littered brands in nearly 200,000 pieces of plastic gathered around the world last year. Parks report that plastic bottles make up to a fifth of their entire waste stream. The bottled water industry has been trying to stop national parks from going bottled-water-free for nearly a decade. In fact, a Nestle-backed lobby group, the International Bottled Water Association, spent years lobbying Congress and the Department of Interior to rescind the National Park Service's bottled-water-free policy. And, in 2017, the Trump administration finally didjust weeks after Trump's Deputy Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, who has ties to Nestle, was confirmed. To make matters worse, Nestle has single-handedly depleted water supplies around the country to profit from selling bottled water, causing damage to environmental ecosystemsincluding national forest land in Southern California. We've been working to stop Nestle's dewatering of the San Bernardino National Forest for four years, where it bottles water that it pays nothing for from public land. Last year, we forced Nestle to renew its 30-year expired permit to operate legally within the forest, but we continue to fight for greater environmental protections and to end this egregious use of public water. Nestle's marketing scheme is clever but transparent. It continues to obstruct policies and laws that would eliminate plastic waste and protect public, natural spaces. Nestle is trying to present itself as the solution to the very problem that it profits from. Herein lies the danger of corporate-driven solutions: they never address the broken systems that they claim to fix because corporations are invested in safeguarding what benefits their own economic intereststhe broken systems themselves. Charles Edward Miller / CC BY-SA 2.0 The feud between President Trump and Congress created a 35-day government shutdownthe longest in U.S. historyand reports continue to surface detailing the wide-reaching effects of a government in crisis. Most disturbingly, around 800,000 federal employees missed a second paycheck and turned to food banks, despite expectations that they continued to work. Small businesses couldn't get loans, private companies didn't go public, federal courts were running out of money, and economic losses reached at least 6 billion dollars. Needless to say, these are just a few reasons why a functional government matters. AFGE / CC BY 2.0 Functional government also matters because, in its absence, already minimal checks on corporate power become nonexistent. Moreover, broken and dysfunctional government systems open the door to corporations like Nestle whose interests inherently intertwine with an ulterior motive: increasing their own profits. They offer false solutions to profit from problems much larger than overflowing trash bins in national parks, like taking over crumbling water infrastructure systems in major cities like Pittsburgh. Corporations leap at the opportunity to perform services for positive PR, inspiring positive brand affiliation, or to participate in a public-private partnership. These allow corporations to build relationships with public institutions that pay them for contractual work or eventually sell their public services to the most well-connected private entity, or highest bidder, when debts become too high to reconcile. When the government shuts down, it creates opportunities for corporations to step in. And once they're in, good luck getting them back out. However, ordinary folks have also been stepping up to volunteer their time to keep things running. These selfless acts should be celebrated and demonstrate what's great in America: people coming together for the common good, working to help others and build community. When services are performed for the public good and not for profit, whether by volunteers during emergencies, or (ideally) by functional, democratic governments, real solutions that tackle some of our greatest problems truly begin to take root. Watch our animation The Story of Solutions to learn more about real solutions and how to change systems so that they work better for us, and not corporations like Nestle. Reposted with permission from our media associate The Story of Stuff. The widespread genocide of Native Americans by European colonizers between the 16th and 17th century killed so many that it helped cool the globe, according to new research. A study published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews calculates that the 56 million indigenous deaths across the Americas caused by disease and European-led massacres led to the overgrowth and reforesting of large tracts of agricultural land, contributing to a 0.15C degree drop in the early 1600s known as the Little Ice Age. "For once, we've been able to balance all the boxes and realize that the only way the Little Ice Age was so intense is ... because of the genocide of millions of people," coauthor Mark Maslin told CNN. As reported by the BBC: "The [research] team reviewed all the population data it could find on how many people were living in the Americas prior to first contact with Europeans in 1492. It then assessed how the numbers changed in following decades as the continents were ravaged by introduced disease (smallpox, measles, etc), warfare, slavery and societal collapse. It's the UCL group's estimate that 60 million people were living across the Americas at the end of the 15th Century (about 10% of the world's total population), and that this was reduced to just five or six million within a hundred years. The scientists calculated how much land previously cultivated by indigenous civilisations would have fallen into disuse, and what the impact would be if this ground was then repossessed by forest and savannah. The area is in the order of 56 million hectares, close in size to a modern country like France. This scale of regrowth is figured to have drawn down sufficient CO that the concentration of the gas in the atmosphere eventually fell by 7-10ppm (that is 7-10 molecules of CO in every one million molecules in the air). 'To put that in the modern context - we basically burn (fossil fuels) and produce about 3ppm per year. So, we're talking a large amount of carbon that's being sucked out of the atmosphere,' explained co-author Prof Mark Maslin." For a deeper dive: CNN, The Guardian, BBC, Miami Herald, NY Daily News For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Timothy Egan is a columnist for the New York Times and the author of eight books. Stay up to date and informed on everything that is happening at Eastern Kentucky University! Subscribe to the Eastern Progress newsletter for free today and support student media at EKU! The Friends group, Newill said, will coordinate further planning and finding funding for amenities for example bike racks, benches and shade trees. The group also will be involved with continued maintenance of the park, organizing trash and safety patrols as well as community activities, Newill said. KEENE - Francis (Frank) Gitschier, age 49 of Lowell and Keene, NH, passed away June 4, 2021. He was born on July 29, 1971 in Lowell to the late Patricia Saunders and Francis Marcotte. Frank cared for everyone and everything with a huge heart and best intentions. He was an avid Bruins fan, lo It has set aside a separate area to board those pets, in case the animals have contagious diseases, Fioramonti said. If an animal that comes in needs basic veterinary care, Fioramonti said his practice is likely to provide it at no charge. Claremont, NH (03743) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. 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 Media Release Hootsuite, the leader in social media management, in collaboration with We Are Social, the global socially-led creative agency, today released Digital 2019. The eighth annual report, which examines digital trends and social media use across 230 countries and territories, uncovered that more than one million new people go online every day, and that 45 percent of the world nearly 3.5 billion people annuallyare logging in to their favourite social platforms. Thats a near 9 percent increase year-over-year despite growing concerns of fake news, fake followers and data privacy in 2018. In Australia, social media use is on the rise with 18 million people or 72 percent of the population actively using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter, up from 66 percent in 2017. Taking top spot is Facebook, which retains its position as the most popular social media network Down Under with a total advertising audience of 16 million monthly active users, which remains unchanged despite the social networks issue-laden year. Twitter and Snapchat, however, are falling behind in the social media race, seeing their active advertising audiences decline by 2.3% and 14% respectively. All up, however, Australians spend just over 90 minutes per day scrolling through their social feeds. Although social media came under increased scrutiny and saw diminished trust among users in 2018, people around the world are spending more time on socialthe global daily average is now 2 hours and 16 minutes, or one seventh of their waking lives. noted Penny Wilson, CMO of Hootsuite. But to capture the attention of customers, brands need to rethink how they engage on social. Businesses must be respectful of their customers privacy, while still creating personal 1:1 connections via content thats important, interesting and timely to the audience while being genuine and authentic to their brands. Going mobile More Australians use smartphones than laptops or desktop computers (87 percent versus 84 percent), with mobile social media usage seeing the largest growth in 2018 (+6.7%). One reason for the increased usage of mobile devices is due to the immense amount of apps available. In 2018, Australians downloaded almost 750 million apps, and spent AU$1.776 billion in the process (Tinder brought in the highest app revenue). Facebook develops the top four most used mobile apps (Facebook Messenger, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp). Australians are branching out and using their mobiles for more than just social media or streaming, said Heather Cook, ANZ Managing Director of Hootsuite. The Digital 2019 report found that more Australians have CommBanks app downloaded than Netflix or Uber. This signals a shift to make more of our daily lives digitised. Our world is getting more digital by the day, and consumers want to be able to do more with their smartphones. Another potential reason that we may be seeing Australians take to their phones rather than computers and laptops is internet speed. Fixed connectivity is a continued issue for all Australians. The average speeds for fixed connectivity, when compared with mobile connectivity pale in comparison (fixed: 33.04mbps; mobile: 56.5mbps). However, the rollout of the nbn and other initiatives are helping to narrow the gap and were seeing higher growth, year on year, in fixed speeds than mobile speeds (fixed: +28%; mobile: +16%). Retail revolution One Australian industry that had success in using social channels to connect with customers in new ways was ecommerce. Last year, Australians spent more money online, on consumer goods, than ever before (AU$25.89 billion, which was 22 percent more than the year prior). Fashion and beauty products took a lot of Australias hard-earned cash, with AU$9.163 billion spent online (26 percent more than the year prior) thats double the growth seen in the US over the same period. Australians are prepared to spend online across desktop, mobile and increasingly, social and marketers should not overlook the huge revenue opportunity that comes from social commerce said Suzie Shaw, We Are Socials local Managing Director. Brands need to develop creative, socially-led strategies to make the most of the ever changing users habits, to ensure they engage their target audience in a way that seamlessly aligns to their behaviour, adds value to their lives and drives positive business impact. The popularity of online shopping is also demonstrated through Aussies most popular websites and their search history. Ebay (7th), Gumtree (12th) and Amazon (18th) all feature in the most visited websites, while Australians googled a lot of retail brands in 2018, including Bunnings (7th), Kmart (8th), Gumtree (10th), Coles (12th), Ebay (13th) and Woolies (17th) featuring in the list of top search queries. But what Australians are googling most sets us apart from the majority of the rest of the world. Aussies are googling themselves Down Under, the most searched word in Google was Australia the UKs most searched term was BBC, while the US was googling you more than anything else. After Australia, Australians have been googling weather and Facebook. Its an interesting quirk that were only seeing in a couple of countries, Cook said. While it may seem like were being somewhat self-absorbed and googling ourselves, the reality is that a lot of our major organisations have the word Australia within them and its in fact just part of a broader search. For more in-depth data, you can view the Australian report here. The full global report is available here. Ricoh, a leading provider of smart workplace technology, yesterday announced the findings of its Workplace Innovation Index, a new look into the challenges Australian organisations face with driving innovation and adapting to change. In a survey of business leaders conducted on behalf of Ricoh by StollzNow Research, only one-quarter (25%) believe innovation is core to their business, however, a solid 40 per cent believe they must innovate for survival. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of business leaders believe they have the capability to drive innovation programs. Australian organisations have the talent to innovate, but lack a strategic focus or sense of urgency to bring new ideas to life. While slightly more than one in four business leaders (26%) say innovation is important, they concede the organisation is tied down with a need to focus on current operations. In todays rapidly changing economy, innovation is a must and should not be seen as a nice to have or a department, Ricoh Australia, CEO, Andy Berry says. The research reveals significant disparities between what Australian organisations are pursuing and what is seen as important. We know innovation can deliver operational improvements and new business opportunities, but were not elevating its strategy value, from the boardroom to front-line staff, Berry says. Leadership from the CEO and unit managers is vital for creating an innovative workplace and the study found an overwhelming 82 per cent of business leaders believe innovation starts with senior management. The research highlighted how Australian organisations are managing innovation: There is a skills perception with the disconnect between opportunity and capability innovation is not core for 75 per cent of Australian businesses, yet nearly two-thirds of business leaders believe they have the capability to drive innovation programs. In the fast-paced digital economy, innovation is required to fend off competition. Nearly half (40%) of Australian business leaders believe they must innovate for survival. The two biggest threats to innovation are budgets and available resources (24%) and risk aversion by staff and management (22%). To develop and innovation culture, there needs to be more focus on people and processes, and how technology can support this change. Fewer than one third of organisations always involve staff in reviewing innovation outcomes. Hiding the benefits (or challenges) with innovation does not help foster the culture required for ongoing change. Keeping up with global change How innovative is Australia as a nation? According to the 2018 Global Innovation Index (1), Australia ranks down at number 20 in the list, behind much smaller economies such as Ireland and Luxembourg. We are also the first in the list to be rated with an income group weakness, with an overall score of 52.00 (68.40 is highest, 15.00 is lowest). Despite our stable, medium-sized economy (Australia is ranked 13 for GDP) and good ideas, we still have a lot of work to do to lift our innovation prowess to stay ahead of the fast-paced global economy. Global research by IDC found 86 per cent of organisations are still laggards or followers when it comes to innovation. And only 14 per cent are above average or leaders. In Australia, Ricohs Workplace Innovation Index scores Australian companies 68 out of 100, which is less than ideal and shows we have a long way to go to develop the digital workplace an essential building block for innovation. The index is an average of key workplace efficiency and innovation attitudes. Factors include attitudes towards innovation; processes for evaluating needs of staff; internal processes; the value of collaboration; and senior managements vision for introducing innovation programs. While the Australian business climate is faring well, we are not exploiting innovation to its full potential. Innovation means productivity Innovation is often associated with big ideas but Australian organisations have a lot to gain by exploiting innovation for productivity. Innovation is a goal but is often stifled by the immediate requirement for day-to-day productivity. To uncover where innovation-productivity gaps lie, the Workplace Innovation Index looked at how Australian organisations are managing their internal systems and processes. The findings show that most (60%) Australian organisations do not have a required level of clarity around systems and processes and this is holding back increases in efficiency. Nearly twice the rate of senior executives are more likely to feel internal policies and processes are clear and consistent compared with their line of business manager colleagues, indicating a clear disconnect between the C-suite and those who are closer to the coalface. Worryingly, nearly two-thirds (61%) of business leaders report productivity loss when new systems and processes are introduced. This is a clear indicator that better implementation and change management is needed when new systems are deployed. Most (65%) Australian organisations are in the middle of, or planning to, reorganise internal systems and processes, indicating the appetite for transformation is alive and well, which can easily lead to more innovative practices. A collaboration culture is calling Australian organisations looking to bridge the gap between innovation skills and outcomes must look towards a new future of collaboration and cultural change. The research showed how better collaboration can result in real change: A little more than half (51%) of the respondents reported their organisation involves staff in the introduction of new technology sometimes, with 12 per cent saying staff are rarely involved. When staff are always involved in new technology introduction, the productivity loss rate reduces to 57 per cent. A high 43 per cent reported having slightly fragmented systems and processes, with 14 per cent having a patchwork of tools. Organisations need better ways of collaborating and communicating. And there remains a considerable lack of consultation with staff when it comes to having the right tools to work together. Australian organisations have collaboration technology available, however, more than one-third (36%) of business leaders say the organisation does not use collaboration tools in an integrated or systematic way. A culture of innovation and change will be developed with the right people and collaboration technology. Even with the best ideas, innovation can easily get caught up with legacy business models or a sheer reluctance to change. According to Ricohs Andy Berry, the culture of any large organisation cannot be shifted unless your people are willing to change, no matter how solid your business case or how stark the threat of disruption. The best thing we can do as leaders is to answer the big inevitable question: Why? The clearer we can explain why we are changing, where we are heading, or how we will get there, the more our people will trust us to lead them there, Berry says. Methodology StollzNow Research conducted a survey of business leaders on a range of topics, from attitudes to innovation, to hurdles and barriers to change. The sample consisted of an even spread of C-suite executives, business unit managers and middle managers in companies with 100 or more staff. All differences in responses were assessed for statistical significance at the 95% confidence level. The findings provided insight into what business leaders need to change to drive innovation and transform their organisations. Ricoh is a registered trademark of the Ricoh Group. All other marks are those of respective owners. ADA [ndash] Wanda Lee Brewer, 91, of Ada, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Ada. Services for Wanda will be held Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 10 a.m. at the Estes-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Roger Arter officiating. Interment will follow at New Bethel Cemetery. For up As area farmers make plans to attend the annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show on Thursday, losses from last season are fresh on their minds. Ken Barton, executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association, said farmers are in recovery mode from the damage caused by Hurricane Michael and a tremendous amount of rain. Damage categories in the more than $300 million in total agricultural losses caused by Michael in southeast Alabama included corn, cotton, farm infrastructure, horticulture, irrigation infrastructure, livestock, peanut, pecan, pine straw, poultry, soybean and timber. Some field work has already begun as farmers are concerned about the price theyll receive for their upcoming crop. Barton said peanut contract offers have been limited so far and what contracts have been offered are not that attractive as far as pricing goes. Farmers in the tri-states area usually rotate peanuts with cotton and corn and normally plant about the same number of acres of peanuts every year because of the rotational requirements, Barton said. Part of the problem is the rising cost of fertilizer and other inputs it takes to produce the crop. In a phone interview, University of Baltimore law professor David Jaros said Thursday that it is not yet clear whether Mosby's decisions might Sheriff Gahler: I wanted to be sure the citizens of Harford County understand, this latest disappointing action of the City State's Attorney has no impact here. We will continue to enforce the State's laws in regards to marijuana possession because that is what we are sworn to dochange Maryland's conversation about marijuana and criminal justice in a productive way. Call it a brutal double-whammy for Wiregrass area farmers. Farmers find themselves in a precarious position financially after heavy winter rains have followed the devastating blow Hurricane Michael dealt in October, said Brandon Dillard, a regional agronomist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Well above-average rainfalls from October until now have delayed farmers from salvaging any of 2018s crops and caused soil damage like runoff that has to be repaired. We had 30 inches of rain from Oct. 11 to the end of the year, and usually in October through December, we have 10 to 12 inches of rain, Dillard said. It never cut us a break. The (crop) grades dropped, and farmers couldnt get as much (money) for the crops. The pattern persisted into January, according to a report from the Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority. Of the 22 rain gauges the system monitors, nine recorded five inches of rain or more and another five recorded 4.84 inches or better. Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The Barbour County Chapter of the NWTF is proud to announce the winner of our local Chip Williams Memorial Scholarship. Our 2019 winner is Macee Wortz of Eufaula High School. This young lady embodies the principles that the National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship was founded on. She is a top-notch student, leader among her peers and has proven her commitment to preserving our hunting heritage, conserving our natural resources, and making her community a better place. Wortz will go on to compete at the state level and possibly the national level. The NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting tradition. The NWTF has awarded scholarships totaling over $4.6 million dollars since the programs inception to students who demonstrate a commitment to conservation, academic excellence, and the leadership skills to make a difference. If you would like to support this and other educational and conservation projects, our local auction and banquet is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22, at the Eufaula Community Center. For more information or tickets please contact Craig Harris at 334-616-4402. The number of new car registrations in the first month of the year has fallen by 11% in Donegal compared to last year. New registration fell from 863 in January 2018 to 764 last month, a 11.47% fall. Nationally new registrations are down 12.6% (32,374) when compared to January 2018 (37,023). The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today issued the official 191 new vehicle registration figures for January along with their final SIMI Quarterly Motor Industry Review of 2018. Sterling weakness and Brexit related uncertainty are blamed for the continued fall in new registrations. Light commercial vehicles which are down 16.3% (5,650) compared to January last year (6,753), and HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are also down 11.4% (356) in comparison to January 2018 (402). The SIMI Report highlights Irelands strong economic performance last year but despite the steady levels of growth, the Motor Industry faced a significant and uncertain year with monthly declines in new car registrations figures, reflecting the substantial impact of Brexit. Used car imports in 2018 reached the highest level on record at 100,755 accounting for 44.5% of the total car market in 2018. Used car imports for January 2019 (9,006) have seen a very slight decrease 0.6% on January 2018 (9,061). Brexit Sterling weakness and Brexit related uncertainty were the key drivers in 2018 and have continued to be a characteristic of January 2019, SIMI said. The dampening of new sales volumes has affected both the car and commercial sectors and until the March 29 this deep uncertainty will continue. Electric vehicle registrations Electric vehicle registrations have increased significantly with 811 registrations in January 2019, which is more than for the whole of 2017 and over 60% of the total for the whole of last year. While Electric vehicle numbers are still relatively low, they are showing strong growth having increased from less than 1% of the market last year to 2.6% market share in January this year which is an encouraging increase in the right direction.Diesel continues to be the market leader in 2019 with a 49% share despite an 8% decline on the previous January 2018. Petrol has grown to 40% and Hybrids currently account for 7% of the new car market. Jim Power, Economist and author of the SIMI Report said: Based on what we know at the moment, the new car market could decline from around 125,422 to around 110,000, a decline of 12.3%. Used imports look set to reduce marginally to around 98,000. However, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, sales would be weaker, and in the event of a deal and the removal of uncertainty, sales could match 2018. In overall terms, the coming months are likely to be characterised by deep uncertainty. Brian Cooke, Director General Designate, SIMI said:New Vehicle Registrations in January are clearly disappointing but not surprising. With Brexit fast approaching adding to business uncertainty, the weakness of Sterling is continuing to drive down used car values which is increasing the cost to change. While we hope the EU and UKs negotiations result in agreement that allows for free trade, the likelihood of no deal is increasing by the day. While the Industry is ramping up its preparations for a no deal BREXIT, in the context of the potential impact on a sector whose activity will be in the region of 5billion between now and the end of the year, it is crucial that the State fully clarifies the trading conditions in the event of no agreement being reached. This is an immediate issue as we may be only eight weeks away from a no deal outcome. More positively the increase in EV sales in the second half of last year has further accelerated into January, with the total EV registrations of 811 representing nearly two-thirds of EV sales for the whole of last year. Youre out on the town, youve hit it off, paid the bill, and just before you head outside she smiles at you and asks if youd mind holding her handbag for a sec. Not a big deal, right? Wrong. Little do you know it, but as Rebel Wilson revealed this morning on the Today Show, this is a clutch moment for your date. A test. A trial by portmanteau. The Australian actress and producer appeared on channel 9s Today Show this morning to discuss her upcoming movie roles and projects. But not before letting slip one of her favourite dating moves: the handbag test. According to the Bridesmaids star, this is a subtle way for women to discover whether Tinder bae really is as woke as they claim in their bio. Theres an amazing trick when youre on a date, you might ask the guy like: can you just hold my bag for a second, or can you just hold my jacket for a second? Then of course, normally they say yes. If they say no then that means get rid of that dude. It also, when she finds a man who is willing to hold the bag, creates a moment of extra connection in the date, she says, claiming: It makes them feel more wanted. Interviewer Richard Wilkins is left wondering why this is necessary: Youre a Hollywood movie star. I wouldve thought youd have blokes queuing up. Yeah but its really difficult normally the people that approach you are the really confident cocky ones, the regular dudes dont normally come up, before slipping back into her trademark humour: I just want a guy whos nice, you know, maybe talented or, yeah, not got a criminal record something like that. While this move has clearly helped Rebel: Ive been using my tricks and its been working. Its been totally working in LA, on Twitter, opinion is divided. Ladies please stop making your men hold your handbags,its yours! It makes him look stupid too! TheB (@BerniceB_M) 18 May 2014 Understand that making a man hold your handbag makes him feel degraded. No, it doesnt help if its your favourite Chanel. Pri (@PriMenoe) 19 January 2012 Despite this, some saw it as a positive sign. A man who is strong and kind, Ambitious and content, A man that is confident and humble. A man that doesnt think holding a womans handbag will make his dick fall off. GigaChic (@gigachic) 2 December 2018 all my life I awwwd couples whos men held their ladies handbags and Ive never felt so good when a group of ladies awwwd my man for holding my handbag #blessed #CapeTown #Care Nikita Swan (@kitaa_swaan) 10 December 2018 And others took a different tack altogether. Look, not holding a handbag is not toxic prima facie. A man has a choice to or not. Your unpacking of that choice should be done only as a function of your relationship to said man. Youre assuming a lot inferring that a no = toxicity. T. Rankin (@AfroVII) 12 July 2018 RELATED: How To Tell If Shes Flirting With You Or Just Being Nice Rosalyn Vera, owner of Cocina Luchadoras in the 200 block of Broadway, said the man called her business twice Thursday threatening to harm her if she did not remove the poster. The poster in question depicts an image of the president with a message in Spanish that roughly translates to Donald, you are stupid. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The new Bertona Steps apartments, at 3406 15th Ave. W., have sold for almost $3.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was Bertona Lofts LLC, associated with the related family companies Lev vel and Kamin Built, which acquired the land in 2016 for $310,000, then developed it. . . . Havasupai Tribe now manages all tourist visits to its famed falls in Grand Canyon By FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press AP Photo/Bob Daugherty [enlarge] This year the tribe wont allow outfitters to take visitors to the five towering waterfalls on their reservation. Visitors must either reserve a room at the tribes lodge or get a camping permit today. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. The thousands of tourists who travel to a remote Native American reservation deep in the Grand Canyon each year to camp near a series of picturesque, blue-green waterfalls will have to do so without the benefit of professional guides. The Havasupai Tribe has decided not to allow outfitters to escort visitors this year down the long, winding path that leads to its small, roadless reservation and on to its main tourist draw: towering waterfalls that cascade into swimming holes that are warm year-round. Tourists can visit the waterfalls, either by reserving a room at the tribe's only lodge or by snapping up a coveted permit for one of its hundreds of camping spots scattered amid a creek. But starting in February, they'll have to find their own way to the reservation's waterfalls and caves, and carry their own food and gear. Abbie Fink, a spokeswoman for the Havasupai Tribe, said the Tribal Council's decision isn't a reflection on the outfitters. Rather, she said the tribe wanted to manage all tourist traffic itself. It's not solving a problem. It's returning the enterprise to the control of the tribe, she told The Associated Press. For years, the tribe has set aside spots for tour companies, which often bought permits in bulk. The outfitters paid a licensing fee of several thousand dollars, and some had elaborate setups with gourmet meals, inflatable couches and massage therapists. Most brought just the essentials. Fink couldn't say exactly how much tour guides paid or how many licenses have been issued in the past. She said the Tribal Council would re-evaluate outfitter licenses for 2020. The tribe relies heavily on tourism and estimates that between February and November, it gets 30,000 to 40,000 visitors per year to its reservation deep in a gorge west of Grand Canyon National Park that's accessible only by foot or helicopter, or by riding a horse or mule. The tribe does maintenance in the campground and on the trails in December and January. The tribe doesn't allow day hikes, so visitors wanting to take in its waterfalls and other sights must reserve overnight trips in the campground or at the sole lodge. Rooms in the lodge, which can be booked only by phone, are sold out for the rest of this year. Reservations for 2020 start June 1. Permits for 2019 camping spots become available online Feb. 1 and are expected to sell out in minutes. People on social media have been strategizing for months about how to boost their chances, including by setting up an account early, recruiting friends and family to try to book a trip and repeatedly refreshing multiple internet browsers. The permits are $100 per person per night Monday through Thursday, and $125 a night Friday through Sunday, slight increases over last year. The tribe grants about 300 camping permits a day, Fink has said. Adam Henry, co-owner of Discovery Treks, books between 100 and 200 people on the Havasupai trip each year but has had to stick to offering trips in other spots of the Grand Canyon. He says that's not always welcome news for tourists intent on venturing to the waterfalls. The hike takes tourists 8 miles down a winding trail through desert landscape before they reach the first waterfall. Then comes the village of Supai, where 600 tribal members live year-round. Another 2 miles down the trail is the campground with waterfalls on both ends. The blue-green water is what people want to see, Henry said. It's certainly a significant bummer for people who aren't going to be able to get out there on their own. Christine Miller, who works with the tour guide company Wildland Trekking, said tourists can find packing lists online and videos on Havasupai to help plan their trip. The advantage to having a tour guide is knowing how to reach the sights off the main trail, including other waterfalls, caves and swimming pools. There are not really any good maps out there to tell you when to cross, when not to cross the creek, she said. The tribe temporarily suspended licenses for outfitters in 2016 in part to review the impact that supplies loaded onto pack animals had on the animals and the trail. Fink did not respond to questions about what came out of that review. Subscriber content preview Rendering by CollinsWoerman [enlarge] Architect CollinsWoerman says the preferred option is 15 stories with 154 units. The Fat City garage property, at 508 Denny Way, sold two years ago to a Chinese-related LLC for $8 million. Early project notes have described the planned new residential tower at different heights. . . . 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. 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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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Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Wroblewski had stopped for a snack at the Royal Farms at Lawrence Street and Key Highway just as he did many nights. He often walked home after work at the Rowhouse Grille in Federal Hill. Police said he was buying milk and cookies before he was killed. At the Royal Farms, Atkins said, friendly workers were keeping an eye on him. ICL Group Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty minerals and chemicals company worldwide. It operates in four segments: Industrial Products, Potash, Phosphate Solutions, and Innovative Ag Solutions (IAS). The Industrial Products segment produces bromine out of a solution that is a by-product of the potash production process, as well as bromine-based compounds; produces various grades of potash, salt, magnesium chloride, and magnesia products; and produces and markets phosphorous-based flame retardants and other phosphorus-based products. The Potash segment extracts potash from the Dead Sea; mines and produces potash and salt; produces Polysulphate; produces, markets, and sells magnesium and magnesium alloys, as well as related by-products, including chlorine and sylvinite; and sells salt. The Phosphate Solutions segment uses phosphate commodity products to produce specialty products; produces and markets phosphate-based fertilizers, as well as sulphuric acid, green phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers; and manufactures thermal phosphoric acid for various industrial end markets, such as oral care, cleaning products, paints and coatings, water treatment, asphalt modification, construction, and metal treatment. It also develops and produces functional food ingredients and phosphate additives for use in the processed meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, beverage, and baked goods markets; and produces milk and whey proteins for the food ingredients industry. The IAS segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells fertilizers based primarily on nitrogen, potash, and phosphate, including water soluble specialty, liquid, soluble, and controlled-release fertilizers. It sells its products through marketing companies, agents, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Israel Chemicals Ltd. and changed its name to ICL Group Ltd in May 2020. ICL Group Ltd was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. Read More Baltimore also has struggled to bill accurately for water use for years. In 2012, the city had to refund about $9 million after overcharging residential and business customers. It switched to a new billing system, but some problems continued. Earlier this year, for example, hundreds of customers received bills of more than $50,000, which city officials attributed to a software upgrade. Highlights: Huawei hints at a foldable phone launch during MWC 2019. The company will be hosting an event on February 24 in Barcelona The upcoming foldable device is also speculated to also come with 5G support. Alongside Samsung, Huawei was among the first smartphone makers gunning to launch a foldable smartphone. Very little was known about the company's plans or its foldable device but Huawei has now officially announced an event in Barcelona that will be held ahead of MWC 2019. where it is expected to launch a foldable smartphone. The foldable smartphone is also speculated to come with 5G support. The development comes recently after a Dutch website released the 3D renders of Huaweis alleged foldable phone. As per the renders, the phone could sport a large display, which could be bigger than the Galaxy Fold. Unlike the Galaxy Fold that folds inwards, hiding the large display, Huaweis phone is touted to fold like a clamshell. This means that it could have just one foldable display. The Huawei foldable phone could be equipped with a Balong 5000 chipset, and if this turns out to be true, it will have 5G capabilities. It is also assumed that the foldable phone will be powered by the Kirin 980 chipset with Dual NPU. Last year, Walter Ji, President, Huawei Western Europe Consumer Business Group talked about companys plan for 2019. The executive spoke to a German publication and shared the roadmap of what the Chinese smartphone maker plans to do in 2019. At that time, the executive said that Huawei would launch a foldable smartphone, 5G-enabled phones, a smartphone with a quad-camera setup on the back with 10x lossless zoom, and AI on Kirin processor. Ji said that the company wants to innovate. Next year we will definitely see more innovation in the camera, and now we have three, imagine four for next year. Even more zoom will come. Three or five times the zoom is not enough, ten times the zoom in consistent quality with the smartphone, this is unique! In these areas, we research, and there we could have one or the other surprise for you." Related Read: Huawei P30, P30 Pro to have OLED displays: Report Highlights: Government to establish National Artificial Intelligence Portal soon Data consumption in India has risen by 50 times in last five years: FM Placing an Indian astronaut in a space shuttle from India by 2022 is priority While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal identified nine priority areas for the tech-driven development in the country. The announcements made during the budget showed that the government has been banking on digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence to boost research, development and production. To actualise this ambition, Goyal announced that the government will develop a National Artificial Intelligence Portal soon. The portal is aimed to pass on the benefits of the technology to citizens. India has become the second largest startup hub of the world. We are proud of the hard work and innovative ideas of our youth in this sector. A national programme on AI has been envisaged by the Govt. This should be catalysed by the national centre for Artificial Intelligence as a hub, along with other centres of excellence, Goyal said. Apart from talking about AI, the minister also said that India was leading the world in mobile data consumption and the consumption has risen by 50 times in last five years. According to Ciscos 13th annual Visual Networking Index (VNI), smartphone and internet usage in India is set to massively swell in the next three years and by 2022, it is claimed that there will be 829 million smartphone users in India, accounting for 60% of the population. The increase in smartphone users will fuel an uptick in internet traffic in the country estimating that by 2022 in India 646 petabytes (1,000 terabytes or 1 million gigabytes) of data per day will be consumed. This is over 490 percent higher than the 108 petabytes consumed in 2017. Goyal also said that the cost of data, voice calls in India is now possibly lowest in world. He also noted that the mobile and mobile part manufacturing companies have increased from 2 to 268, though there is no clarity on the time frame of this increase. Mobile and its parts manufacturing companies have grown from 2 to 268 now, creating thousands of jobs in both urban and rural areas of the country, Goyal said, adding that the government aims to have one lakh digital villages in the next five years. He also touched on the importance of introducing electric vehicles. India will drive on electric-vehicles with clean sources of energy production and lead world in use of renewable sources to cut oil imports, said the Minister. Goyal also said that India had become the second largest hub of start-ups. With job seekers becoming job creators. We are proud of the hard work and innovative ideas of our youth, he added. The startup ecosystem saw over $10.5 billion worth of venture capital investments in 2018 in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Startup India initiative on August 15, 2015 while delivering his speech from Red Fort. Highlighting the importance of space programmes, Goyal talked about the Gaganyaan project, which aims at sending Indian astronauts to space. Our seventh dimension is the aim to become launchpad of the world, placing an Indian astronaut in space by 2022: FM, Goyal said. The minister also touched upon renewable energy and said that the government was committed to promoting renewable energy, and that it is determined in its initiative to set up the International Solar Alliance. Goyal claimed that the existing installed solar generation capacity had increased tenfold in last five years. Industry speaks: The budget presented today by Piyush Goyal was on expected lines and an attempt to drive much needed growth in the economy by providing special provisions for the less served communities including farmers, SMEs, women and senior citizens. In line with the vision for a digital India, budget 2019 focused on giving an impetus to technology integration and penetration. With the plan to convert 1 lakh villages into Digital Villages over next five years, introduce electronic tax return assessment in the next 2 years, comprehensive digitization for customs transactions and support for 3 lakh CSCs to render digital services. The highlight of the budget was the announcement of the a National Center for Artificial Intelligence and the AI portal. This will play a key role for India to accelerate AI development and adoption to the last mile. We look forward to partner with the government for this key initiative. While, the finance minister focused on education, jobs, and start-ups, the industrys key ask towards abolition of Angel tax, and various GST clarifications did not a find mention. We hope that these will be resolved through a due consultative process. Additionally, in line with the 10 dimensions of the Govts 2030 vision, we also believe that there must be a national initiative on reskilling to create future ready talent. - NASSCOM We welcome the budget's impetus on revolutionizing the transportation and energy sectors with a holistic industry-wide focus on electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy. This clean and green India initiative will secure and strengthen the economy by reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. We commend the government for its vision to make India a world leader in sustainable mobility. With such government support, 2019 could be the start of an era that witnesses rapid electrification of high utilization vehicles, i.e. shared mobility solutions such as public transit, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers, delivery services, etc. - Ola Mobility Institute This Union Budget reflects the Government's commitment to digitalisation as a right step to help India gain a rightful place on the global technology map. Being one of the leading manufacturers of storage & memory solutions, we believe this initiative of extending a strong digital infrastructure to villages will facilitate significant penetration of computing-capable devices, hence further fuelling the growth of Data centres, internet-of-things and profitability of businesses. The Government has also envisaged a national programme on 'Artificial Intelligence' which is a progressive step towards leveraging technologies in every sector of economy impacting the life of all citizens. As Kingston has already contributed towards enhancing the productivity of businesses, we are also looking forward to encouraging the Governments vision of building an exceptional digital infrastructure for our nation till 2030. We see a great potential in the aim of achieving countrys growth by leveraging digital technologies as it will further encourage innumerable initiatives to promote digital literacy in the country, and millions of opportunities in this eco-system. - Vishal Parekh Marketing Director, Kingston Technology "Todays Budget clearly showcases the importance of a digital-first India and the governments commitment to drive innovation and technology advancement in the country. With the government setting a target to become a $5 Trillion economy in the next 5 years, Intel believes that emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 5G will play a crucial part in this vision. Firstly, the governments focus on the rapid adoption of AI in India by announcing initiatives like the National Center for AI and a National AI Portal, is a step in the right direction to drive technology adoption in the country. At Intel, we have been working on various AI-led initiatives with the government and will continue to collaborate with the country in its digital transformation mission. Secondly, the Budget also pointed out the growth in the telecom sector; this definitely provides impetus towards building a strong 5G ready ecosystem in the country. Additionally, the government has set a goal to create 1 lakh digital villages in the next 5 years taking technology penetration to a new level, that can help build a truly digital India. - Prakash Mallya, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group, Intel "The Budget acknowledges the pivotal role of digital technology in Indias evolution to a five-trillion dollar economy over the next five years. Budget proposals such as those on artificial intelligence, one lakh digital villages and the thrust on RFID usage will not only fuel entrepreneurship, but also unleash enormous job opportunities. In addition, with the continued momentum on digitizing transactions using Aadhaar and the need for real-time monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness and efficiency of various government schemes, the critical role of cyber security resilience and data protection towards fostering and inculcating trust cannot be over-emphasized. It would be desirable that the forthcoming full budget later this year mandates setting aside 10 percent of the technology layout of every government project exclusively towards cyber security, as per the recommendations of the NASSCOM Task Force. The ensuing consultations on data protection legislation should result in a comprehensive, forward-looking, world-class enactment that enables and empowers people and businesses to use technology with confidence." - Deepak Maheshwari, Director - Government Affairs, India, Symantec "The interim budget 2019 carries strong markers of the success of the digital revolution in India, further paving the way for India to emerge as the digital economy in times to come. As announced by the interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, India presently leads the world in the consumption of mobile data, which has grown 50X in the last 5 years. Owing to Make in India, the number of mobile and parts manufacturing companies have also grown from a mere 2 to 268, creating enough jobs in the economy. The government further aims to support leading technologies like AI by developing a National Artificial Intelligence portal and has set its eyes on achieving one lakh digital villages in the next 5 years. This serves as a strong growth impetus, with the next wave of digitalization belonging to the hinterlands of India. Driven to transform mobile communication, we at UNISOC look forward to supporting manufacturing products that will enable this next wave of digital revolution in India." - Neeraj Sharma, Country Head UNISOC India (formerly Spreadtrum Communications) With India poised to become a $5 trillion economy in the next five years, we welcome the Governments proposal of ensuring the growth of SMEs & rural India through initiatives such as promotion of digital villages. Additionally, through steps such as the establishment of a national centre of artificial intelligence, the Government plans to skill Indias youth, through the adoption of new technologies such as AI, so that they can reach their full potential. As the technology landscape evolves rapidly, along with the infinite opportunities that it provides us, there are also a myriad of new challenges especially in terms of IT security and data protection. Even though Indian businesses (67%) were the highest hit by ransomware with an average impact cost of approximately USD 1.17mn and 2018 being the year of serious data breaches, there was very limited focus on IT security in the budget. That said, while we welcome the Governments proposed steps in strengthening the MSME & SME sectors that provide employment to millions of people, there still remains a pressing need for further investment in technology for data protection and IT Security, both from the Government and organizations standpoint." - Sunil Sharma, Managing Director Sales, India & SAARC, Sophos (Cybersecurity) "As India is poised to become a USD 5 trillion economy in next five years, there is an immense opportunity for Indian organizations to develop and flourish. With the rapid proliferation of new age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and others, we welcome the Governments keen focus on building a digitally vibrant India in the next few years. This will provide an opportunity for companies such as Syska to introduce IoT enabled products that are affordable in the Indian market and help in developing smart cities. Additionally, as energy efficient product & solutions are seeing increased adoption, we are pleased with the Government providing 143 crore LED bulbs to rural areas. This resonates with our mission of providing energy efficient LED lighting solutions that are Made in India to every Indian household. - Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group (FMEG) The interim budget 2019 with its focus on the futuristic technology-- Artificial Intelligence is a heartening news. We are at the cusp of technological disruption, a national program with the portal on Artificial Intelligence will bring India on the global map and help build an ecosystem to fuel its ambition to become a world leader in AI in the coming years. We at The IET are particularly happy as we are aligned with governments focus on new technologies and will extend our full support through continuous efforts from The IET IoT Panel. - Shekhar Sanyal, Director and Country Head of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The focus on leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to enable a positive impact on the lives of people is an encouraging step. Further, the expansion of rural industrialization using digital technologies, development of clusters encompassing the MSMEs, village industries and start-ups, will boost rural manufacturing, job creation and strengthen the overall economy." - Sumeer Chandra, Managing Director, HP Inc. India The finance Minister today once again underscored the Digital India impacting lives of every Indian. The investment proposed by the government in the field of Artificial intelligence and allied technologies will pave a strong foundation for making revolutionary transformation in the scope of governance and the opportunity to provide seamless and improved citizen services experience. We welcome the governments decision to establish National Centre for Artificial Intelligence. - Souma Das, Managing Director, Teradata India The announcement of National Artificial Intelligence portal is expected to propel India on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive technologies for growth and economic prosperity and growth. IAMAI also welcomes the focus on clean energy and electric vehicles. - Dr. Subho Ray, President, Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) According to IAMAI, Road transport significantly drives Indias climate change impact. It is a major fossil fuel consumer: consuming 70 percent of Indias diesel and 99.6 percent of Indias petrol in 2013. It is a significant GHG emitter: generating 8.7 percent of Indias total emissions 64,317 gigagrams CO2e in 2015. While Indias overall mitigation efforts are well underway, they would be undermined by inaction on transportation emissions, which estimates indicate would nearly quadruple between 2010 and the Paris Agreements 2030 deadline. This make Indias transportation sector a vital arena for climate change mitigation. Sri Goyals announcement is recognition of this and is in line with the plan of Honble Minister for Power when he announced plans to shift India to an all-electric fleet by 2030. According to IAMAI, the Governments vision to make 1 lakh villages into Digital Villages over next five years with the help of Common Service Centres (CSCs) is ambitious and will usher in the much needed digital revolution under the Digital India initiative, and will help in the last mile connectivity. This will also bridge the Rural-Urban digital divide, and will open avenues to jobs and employment creation. Related Read: Demystifying smartphone AI From: Sunday 07 April 2019 To: Tuesday 09 April 2019 Location : Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Organiser : Informa 5G MENA is back for 2019 as the only event in the region to focus on advancing and commercialising 5G networks! Join 500+ senior telecom professionals, solution providers, regulators, OTT players and IoT specialists from across the MENA region to define clear 5G use cases, new business models, and drive the connected revolution. The speaker line-up this year is unmissable. Boasting CTOs, CMOs, CIOs, COOs and more from the region's leading operators, you will have the opportunity to gain unprecedented access to the decision makers who make things happen. Key speakers include: Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat International Paul Doany, CEO, Turk Telekom Hisham Siblini, CTO, Orange Egypt Zarrar Khan, Chief Technology Officer, Viva Kuwait Kamal Sameer Shehadi, Chief Legal & Regulatory officer, Etisalat International Amr Abu-Suleiman, CMO B2B, Orange Jordan Yves Dubuisson, Chief Strategy Officer, Ooredoo Milan Jovancic, Chief Technical Officer, Telecom Oman Whats on for 2019: 5G test and trials focus, with presentations from leading operators who have started evaluating their transition to 5G A brand new Blockchain and IoT conference, focusing on how 5G interacts with IoT and blockchain to develop go-to markers models in new industry verticals Telco Analytics and AI focus day, diving into how carriers can utilise advanced analytics and AI to deliver on commercial and business objectives The 5G MENA Industry Awards, presenting an unmissable opportunity to celebrate your innovations Covering the hottest industry topics, including network evolution and innovations, standards, spectrum and regulations, monetising 5G and enabling smart cities and IoT As a Developing Telecoms reader, we are offering you an exclusive 25% discount on your delegate pass to the show. Book your pass now and enter code DEVELOPINGTELECOMS25 at the checkout: https://bit.ly/2RUqN4t Telco operators, regulators, and enterprises can attend the show for FREE! If you fit these criteria, click here to register for you free pass: https://bit.ly/2sTN4k3 Manikarnika Actor Daniel OKane EXCLUSIVELY Speaks TO Sandip Pal About Ektas Balaji Telefilms And Their Non-Payment Of Dues Daniel O'Kane revealed all about payment inconsistencies in a tell-all conversation with Desimartini's Sandip Pal. The serials and television dramas that the Indian audiences so eagerly binge watch are shot in conditions one cant imagine and the worst part is, it is almost always that the character actors who are not in continuity and mostly shoot for 2 to 3 days for a short role dont get paid at all in a timely manner. This time the production house that is under scrutiny is Ekta Kapoors Balaji Telefilms. Actor Daniel OKane who played the prominent role of Lieutenant Nicholas in the Kangana Ranaut directed Manikarnika is an Australian actor/model and works in Mumbai. Besides playing the supporting role in Manikarnika, he has also played a supporting character in the Sunny Leone Biopic titled Karenjit Kaur. The actor will also be seen in the webseries Ikihgai, Udan Patolas and also in a small role in Hum: I am Because of Us . He has also bagged small yet prominent role in feature films Badla and Mission Mangal. The Melbourne artist shot for Balaji Telefilms Dil Hi To Haithat aires on Sony TV. He was part of season 1s episode 13 and 14. They were telecast on the 5th and 6th of July 2018. Unfortunately the actor hasnt yet been paid fully for his work! In an exclusive conversation with Hindustan Times Desimartini, he spoke about his ordeal. Quipped he, In the hit Hindi TV serial Dil Hi Toh Hai, which aires on Sony TV and ALTBalaji, I was involved in the wedding story between Rishabh (Akshay Dogra) and Reeva (Gurpreet Bedi). I played Andrew, Reevas friend from college, who was helping to give her wedding a European touch like she wanted. This annoyed her father, Vijaypath (Bijay Anand), who wanted a more traditional wedding. I was originally told Id be only needed for 2 days on set, however after we started shooting they told me they wanted me to come back for more episodes. The writers had wanted to include me more in the wedding story. Unfortunately, I had other commitments and was not able to return. It was my hope that perhaps Andrew would be needed again in the future. I was promised by production that I would receive payment on my last day on set. However, we didnt wrap on that last day until 2 AM and all the producers had gone home by then. The actor stressed on the fact that he got along pretty well with the actors Karan Kundrra, Gurpreet Bedi and Bijay Anand, further mentioning that they were like family to him which is why he doesnt have any grudges against the creative team. However, he does have issues with the production team because of the laxity they display in their daily chores. The actor further disclosed, After shooting, I texted my producer asking when I could get payment. He said he would let me know. I understand that many production houses cant process payments immediately and sometimes you have to wait up to 1 month for payment. Actors are used to doing this, so I respectfully waited. In August, I got tired of waiting. I went to the Balaji Head Office to speak with them, as at this point my producer had stopped responding to my calls and messages and I had no one else to talk to. I gave my invoice in person to an accountant who works there. They told me the payment would be processed within a week and gave me a landline phone number to contact. For the next month, I called this number at different times of the day, but no one ever picked up the phone to speak to me. I can only assume my invoice was either lost in a sea of other invoices or just thrown in the bin. This was around the time when I learned that Alex Salnikov and Rick Maclane also hadnt received payments for work done at the same time. These are also foreign actors, based in Mumbai, who work in many different productions. In September, I worked 10 days on the film Manikarnika with Kangana as my director, I have a supporting role in this movie. There I met an Indian actor who managed to call my producer of DHTH on my behalf and asked him to help me. For the next 3 months, I would periodically contact the same producer and he kept telling me to wait. He would send messages that said "Maybe 10th October u get ur payment", "Last week of October confirm", "U get ur cheque in November", "Between 7-10th December". Each time I gave him the benefit of the doubt, each time he gave me false hope. Finally in December he once again stopped responding to my texts and calls. In this time I was given numbers of other people who worked at the company. People either ignored me or told me that they couldnt help me. At the beginning of this year, I went back to the Balaji head office again to try speak to someone. Security wouldnt even let me through the gate. I spoke to someone from accounting on the phone outside from the security desk. They refused to let me in the building. All I wanted to do was give my invoice again in person. They wanted me to post my invoice in the mail. Eventually after pleading with them to help me, they told me I needed to go to Killick Nixon Studios in Powai, as the accountants who process invoices for DHTH were there. (I found it interesting that they didnt tell me that immediately) and wanted me to go away and post my invoice to them at head office instead. But alas, by this point, I was not surprised by this behaviour. In Powai, I met a new producer at Killick Nixon Studios. He gave me excuses as to why my payment hadnt yet been processed. He said that dozens of actors at Balaji who worked in June-July 2018 had yet to be paid, due to several key people leaving Balaji and none of them bothered to leave these actors contact details behind. The production team was waiting for these actors of that time to come to the studio in Powai, so that they could learn of the work they had done and to process their payments. This new producer assured me I would get money by Monday 14th January. I wanted to speak to the head of production of Dil Hi Toh Hai to tell them about my experience so far. But the producer insisted that it wasnt necessary and assured me I wouldnt have to wait another week. As I file this story, Daniel who has already given up all hopes of getting his rightful payment of Rs 24,000 wishes that his ordeal comes out in public because, the amount in question is a significant amount to be chased but not so much that the production house cannot afford to pay. This story indeed sheds light on a very pertinent aspect of the television industry. Given the fact that many actors depend on this money to survive, denying it is nothing less than a sacrilege! Daniel further asserted, For every big superstar there are thousands more actors working in Mumbai, both Indian and foreigners alike. Some actors are struggling to make ends meet, while they wait for that big break which may never come. Some of them are under financial stress while they wait for producers and accountants at Balaji Telefilms to do their jobs and make payments. Theyre afraid to speak up, in fear theyll either never get their payment or worse, wont be given any more work. After all, no one wants to work with a difficult actor. We really hope the concerned people at Balaji Telefilms read this story and understand the plight of these actors. Just like Daniel, there are several other actors who have shared their stories with us. We hope justice prevails and their dues are cleared at the earliest. Everyone wants a good work atmosphere, an unbiased working environment, a place that doesnt suppress the voices of the weak and we expect dignities will be maintained and reality will not be eschewed! Nate Galbreath, deputy director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, said the three military services understand that high alcohol use is a key factor, and they are trying to come up with better ways to educate the students, encourage bystanders to step in, and deter the assaults. He said it is difficult because many of the encounters happen after hours and off campus. Dreaming of perfect island adventure? Why not come to Hawaii, world famous for its beaches, volcanoes, and spectacular nature. In the capital city of Honolulu, youll be able to enjoy the best of the city life as well as the stunning natural surroundings. Honolulu is a gateway to the rest of the island chain, so no matter where youre wanting to explore youll be able to find accommodation and transportation options in the city. Honolulu also presents a great opportunity to get some excellent pictures of the special island charm. From volcano calderas to picturesque sunny beaches, the setting is perfect for any occasion you want to have photographed. Its always a good idea to plan ahead while traveling, and here are some of the top places you can visit to make your trip to Honolulu fun and memorable. Read more after the jump: Diamond Head The islands of Hawaii were formed by volcanic activity, and you can view the impressive Diamond Head volcano in person when traveling to Honolulu. Located right next to the city, this dormant volcano has become an iconic landmark of the area and is definitely worth some time to include in a photo shoot when visiting Honolulu. Up close you can appreciate the vast size of the formation, while from a distance there are great views of the enormous crater-like shape next to the picturesque Pacific Ocean waters. Its a good place to snap some pictures with your family, or as a stunning background setting for an anniversary photo shoot. Hanauma Bay All of Hawaii is surrounded by beautiful beaches, but the Hanauma Bay of Honolulu is definitely a special place. As a protected natural area, youre certain to come across all sorts of amazing wildlife, and the beach is particularly known or having sea turtles. Enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the turquoise waters, and dont forget to get some pictures of the beach and bay area. Maybe youre looking for a romantic spot to shoot some wedding photographs, or perhaps its a family vacation to connect and spend time together. Whatever the situation, you can certainly make use of Hanauma Bays exquisite natural beauty to add a special touch to your photo shoot with local photographers in Honolulu. Pearl Harbor and Memorial Besides being a popular beach destination, Honolulu has an interesting historic aspect as well. The site of Pearl Harbor and the tragic bombing that took place during World War II is an important spot to visit in the city. Whether youre a history fan or not, you can appreciate the impressive USS Arizona Memorial and information about the significance of the site. Being such a critical spot for the city and the islands of Hawaii, any trip and photo shoot in Honolulu would benefit by including Pearl Harbor in the itinerary. It can be a more somber spot, but with so much incredible culture and history, it will certainly add deeper meaning to your trip and vacation photographs. Sought after by travelers around the world, Hawaii is guaranteed to be a fantastic vacation destination. From excellent beach resorts to mountain hiking adventure, you can find something for everyone on the island. By coming to the capital of Honolulu, youll have easy access to all the wonders of the island as well as the contemporary comfort and style of the city. Its a perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy a true retreat and get some excellent photographs to remember this special time. SALT LAKE CITY Because Arizona and California failed to craft sufficient drought contingency plans for the Colorado River by a Thursday deadline, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced it is moving forward with its own plan to address shortages on the Southwest's most critical river. "Close isn't done," said U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman during a teleconference Friday. "I am highly concerned that delays inappropriately increase these risks" of shortages on the Colorado River, she said. Utah and other states in the Upper Colorado River Basin submitted required drought contingency plans at the end of 2018, but California and Arizona did not finish the work. That misstep means Washington, D.C., could end up being the final arbiter of how Colorado River water is divvied up to keep Lake Mead from shrinking even more. On Friday, Burman requested the governors of all seven states submit recommendations on what actions to take amid dwindling water supplies due to prolonged drought. Those recommendations are due no later than March 19. An earlier report by the bureau predicts that Lake Mead may drop to an elevation of 1,075 feet by May this year the threshold that would trigger a shortage declaration and mandatory federal cuts to water allocations. "The basin is teetering on the brink of shortage," Burman said. "In 2007 we were in a seven-year drought. Today we are in a 19-year drought." Burman said Friday the rushed drought contingency plan passed by Arizona lawmakers Thursday was a "tremendous step forward," but was incomplete. Nevada, California and Arizona were supposed to have come up with a Colorado River reduction plan aimed at preserving Lake Mead and safeguarding hydropower production from Hoover Dam. But the largest user on the entire length of the Colorado River, the Imperial Irrigation District in California, did not sign off on the drought agreement because it wants $200 million for the restoration of the saline Salton Sea. The Colorado River irrigates 5.5 million acres of farmland, provides water for 40 million people and is the most managed and diverted river in the country. Nearly 20 years of drought is forcing state and federal water managers to rethink how the river's resources are used and may force a historic reform of water allocations. A 1922 compact gives Utah 23 percent of Colorado River water. The upper basin states, where the water originates, are required to deliver 7.5 million acre feet to the downstream lower basin states. Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico are the upper basin states while California, Arizona and Nevada are the lower basin states. Burman did not detail what federal cuts to water sharing among states may look like, but warned the outlook isn't rosy. "We are at the point where two roads are diverging in the woods and we need to decide what path to follow," she said. "There are questions that a lot of people don't want to answer." SALT LAKE CITY Abbas Hamad, known as Bas, is an international artist in more ways than one. His style of music is a mix of hip-hop and Afropop. Hes currently on a tour which stops in Salt Lake City with a show at The Complex on Friday that has already seen him hit South Africa and Kenya. There are plans for Australia and Asia, too. But even his upbringing is international. Born in Paris, Hamad was born to two Sudanese parents. He spent time in Qatar. Then he moved to Queens, New York. And hes learned some key lessons with seeing the entire world: each of us should indulge in our own unique experiences, spread love and embrace who we are. Bas released his latest album, Milky Way, back in August 2018. The album comes from the Dreamville Records label of rap superstar J. Cole. Working with such a talented and popular artist like J. Cole inspired Bas. I think the best part of working with Cole is working with an executive whos still an artist, he said. Hes not far removed from how we feel and how any artist wants to operate, which is to have complete creative freedom and be able to express yourself to the fullest. He said Cole has always encouraged artists on the Dreamville label to be creative and to take ownership of their work. Cole will also weigh in with ideas about bridges, hooks and lyrics. The association with Cole has brought the Queens rapper to the forefront of popular hip-hop music, leading him to sell 11,000 records for his first album, Last Winter, in 2014. In 2018, he had so many streams for his album "Milky Way" that it equaled 13,000 in its first week of sales. Bas was featured on Revenge of the Dreamers II a collaboration album of all of Coles artists and has collaborated with J. Cole for songs such as New York Times and more recently Tribe. Hes been across the world again and again, and traveled through the United States, notably for the 2014 Forest Hills Drive Tour with Cole. But hes not one to sit inside his hotel and chill. He makes a point to see the cities he visits. Just traveling and cultures was always big with my family, he said. My father was a career diplomat so we were moving around a lot. Its funny, sometimes I talk to my peers and we talk about cities weve both been to and Im like, Oh did you do X or did you do Y? And theyre like, Honestly, I just stayed in the hotel and ordered some food and didnt go out. That sort of stuff blows my mind. To me, the coolest part about what we do is this. People want to travel and go to all these places. And we were blessed enough to get paid to do it. So, how could you not take advantage? He doesnt stop working, though. Bas said hes always writing. Hes gearing up for Revenge of the Dreamer III, another collab album with J. Cole. Family, friends, significant others, fans you know all those things you can take for granted when youre just trying to really level up. Bas For Bas, he has to write about the experiences he feels in the moment; otherwise, those moments are lost. I write all the time, he said. Theres a lot of inspiration you get while on the tour. I got a lot of stories you hear from people. I feel like if you dont try to capture those ideas at the moment, oftentimes, youll lose them. So I try to do some writing on a thing that inspires me like as soon as they happen. Moments are the key to his music, he said. He enjoys spreading love through his album, and giving listeners a chance to feel different emotions. Theres just so much going on. So many external pressures, so many goals like things you set for yourself, or others set for you," he said. "Certain levels of success you want to achieve (a) certain size venue you want to play and all these things. I think when you kind of get caught in that rat race aspect, its hard to miss a lot of progress you make, a lot of lessons and a lot of love in your life. Family, friends, significant others, fans you know all those things you can take for granted when youre just trying to really level up, he said. That was the message to myself: Stop and smell the roses and appreciate all the progress and energy around (me). And Bas has more on the way. He said he will be on Revenge of the Dreamer III, and he appears in April at the Dreamville Festival, which boasts a lineup of J. Cole, SZA, Big Sean, Young Thug and Nelly. Im just working on more music or working on some follow-ups like awesome collaborations. Stay tuned. Theres going to be a lot of music from the camp. At the end of our interview, Bas told me he was searching for some food, and that he and his crew were planning to visit Main Street in Salt Lake City. Once again, he is embracing a new city. Content advisory: Bas music contains strong language and themes. If you go What: Bas "Milky Way Tour" Where: The Complex, 536 W. 100 South When: Friday, Feb. 1, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. How much: $22 Web: www.thecomplexslc.com SPANISH FORK Greg Sherwood says he has a "very good memory of everything that happened the night he was shot in the head. But talking about it publicly is something the shy and reserved Utah County sheriff's deputy doesn't typically do. On Thursday, the day after the five-year anniversary of when Sherwood was shot and his colleague, Sgt. Cory Wride, was killed, Sherwood sat down with the Deseret News for his first in-depth interview since the incident. The reason he is now opening up now? He wants other officers involved in traumatic situations to know that making a full recovery both physically and mentally is possible with proper treatment and by allowing others to help. "My message to them is dont give up. Never give up. Once youre hit, hurt, even if you cannot fight back, theres still a battle that has to go on," Sherwood said. On Jan. 30, 2014, Wride was shot and killed after stopping to check on a truck that was pulled off to the side of the road in Eagle Mountain. He was shot without warning while sitting in his patrol car. Based on traffic on his police radio, and a call he got on his cellphone from a friend with additional information, Sherwood knew Wride had been shot and killed and that police were searching for a white pickup truck. He positioned his patrol car in an area near Santaquin where he thought the suspects might try to escape. Moments later, he spotted that truck. As he followed, Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui, 27, fired two shots at Sherwood. One struck him on the right side of his forehead. At that point, Sherwood said his training kicked in. He was able to pull over and put his patrol car in park completely on muscle memory. He said he doesn't remember going through the actual actions. Garcia-Juaregui was eventually killed in a shootout with officers following a long and dangerous high-speed chase in a snowstorm that ended near Nephi. The woman driving the truck when both Wride and Sherwood were shot, Meagan Dakota Grunwald, who was 17 at the time, is currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life at the Utah State Prison for aggravated murder and five years to life for a carjacking conviction. A judge ordered the sentences to run consecutively. Sherwood underwent several surgeries after the shooting. "After the injury I had balance problems, memory problems. I had a hard time concentrating, hypersensitivity to sound noises, people. I had a hard time being in groups of people. (It was) overwhelming with hypersensitivity, couldnt filter out all the noise with the brain injury, he said. Sherwood had to wear ear plugs "all the time" immediately following the incident because of his hypersensitivity to noise. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to return to work as a police officer. "In the beginning I had no idea what was going to happen. I had no idea how I was going to recover. I had no idea what I would be capable of doing, he said. It wasn't just the physical injuries that needed healing. Sherwood said psychologically and emotionally he was also dealing with the loss of a friend whom he had worked side by side with when both he and Wride were members of the SWAT team. "I actually had survivors guilt. I thought to myself, Why Cory? Why did he die? Why did I survive? We dont know the answer to that. Thats Gods plan. His picture is much greater than ours to understand. "But I was able to work through that and realize that, Hey, if I had gotten killed and Cory had survived, I wouldnt want him to be sad and depressed and feeling guilty. Id want him to live the best life that he could with his family. So thats what Im trying to do, he said. Six months after he was shot, Sherwood went back to work part time with the K-9 unit. He worked just a few hours at a time, gradually building up the number of hours he worked each day. He had three therapists in the beginning, some of whom would make house calls to help. He also was surrounded by a close-knit K-9 squad that gave him a lot of support, he said, not to mention his wife and son, who were also traumatized by the shooting. It was that support and Sherwood's willingness to be open about his struggles and face them head-on rather than avoid or go around them that helped him get back on his feet. "As cops, we are thick-skinned. We kind of push the emotions back and not deal with them, he said while encouraging other officers involved in traumatic situations to openly talk about what they're feeling. There was also personal motivation for Sherwood to get back to full-time duty. "My biggest motivating factor was this person had already taken so much from the sheriffs office, from the law enforcement community, from myself and my family, I wasnt going to let him take any more from me, he said. "Im going to do my best to get back to doing what I love and the job I enjoy doing, helping people. Putting yourself at risk is just part of the job. Unfortunately its the reality we all face." Today, a fresh wound on Sherwood's lip that he received while training his police dog is more visible than the scar on his forehead. He began working full time about 3 years after he was shot. His balance, memory, hypersensitivity and cognitive fatigue are all much better today than five years ago, he said. As for speaking publicly about what happened, Sherwood said he was inspired by the story of Utah State Park ranger Brody Young, who was shot nine times in 2010 during a traffic stop west of Moab. Some of those bullets are still in his body as they were too close to vital organs to safely remove. Young recounted in interviews following the event that he told himself that day he could either lay down and die, or get up and fight. He was in a coma for a month. But he eventually returned to his job as a park ranger. "I saw his story (and) how much fire he took and how he was able to make it back. And that was an inspiring theme for me," Sherwood said. "If Brody can do that, then I can come back." Sherwood and Young eventually met and exchanged stories and talked about the challenges they each faced during recovery. "I told him I was glad I didnt get shot as bad as he did. He told me he was grateful he didnt get shot in the head, Sherwood said with a smile. Now by telling his story, Sherwood hopes he can inspire other officers to never give up. "Every situation is different. But get the help that you can," he said. "Theres a lot the body can do, as long as you have that determination to do it." Correction: In an earlier version, photo captions stated incorrectly that Utah County sheriff's deputy Greg Sherwood was revisiting the site in Spanish Fork where he was shot. The shooting actually occurred in Santaquin. SALT LAKE CITY Spouses and family members shed tears of joy as they reunited with their camo-clad loved ones who returned from an overseas military tour of duty Thursday. More than 100 soldiers from the Utah Army National Guard's 65th Field Artillery Brigade landed at the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City after a long Middle East deployment. The unit deployed to the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Spartan Shield, assisting Central Command in maintaining its military presence in southwest Asia. The unit served on the deployment for more than 10 months after departing from Utah last March. For those left behind, like Maddie Allen wife of deployed Staff Sgt. Shay Allen reconnecting with their soldiers was a long-awaited delight. She recalled the time last year when her husband had to leave her and their newborn as the unit went on its assignment. "(Our son) was five weeks when he left," she said. "It's been kind of a blur just knowing that you had to get through each day, which was one day closer to when he gets home." Fortunately, extended family was nearby to help when the new mother needed a hand or comfort during the more challenging times. The deployed father said having that family support was a relief, especially when he had concerns about their day-to-day well-being which was among the biggest difficulties about being away on his first extended deployment. "Just trying to make sure my family is safe and taken care of back home," he said. "It was easy doing the work over there. The hard part was missing (my wife and 11-month old son, Kyrie)." He lamented missing some of his son's early milestones, like taking his first steps and getting his first teeth. Fortunately, the couple was able to video chat almost every day, which helped relieve some of the stress of being so far apart for nearly a year, he said. Though he was separated from his family for an extended period, Allen said he is still grateful to be able to serve the country. The reunited family will now take some time to get reacquainted and spend some much-needed quality time together, he said. "I'm gonna take some leave and we're going to Disneyland," he said. Similar to the Allens, Sgt. Jullienne Labrum struggled to be apart from her husband Jake and their 2-year old son Kolton on her first long deployment. "It was hard to be away from home in a (foreign) land I didn't know," she said. "It was tough." Jake Labrum said they spent some time beforehand preparing for the deployment, trying to do what they could to make the separation less stressful on their son. "It was tough," he said. "This is our first kid and luckily we've got a lot of good family support to get us through it." They said maintaining constant communication was the major reason they were able to bridge the long physical disconnect. "We had to talk through every little bit of (the separation)," she said. "From the moment I found out I was deploying to the moment I got home, you have to talk about everything." "Communication is huge just trying to set everything up for success," Jake Labrum agreed. "Do the best you can. That's all you can really do." While many members of the 65th Field Artillery Brigade were experiencing an extended deployment for the first time, others like Sgt. Maj. Greg Hansen had already done multiple stints away from their families. He said being able to acclimate to that kind of prolonged separation is what make those who hold down the homefront as noble as any of the soldiers. "It's easy for us as soldiers to go do what we do," he explained. "We train for this day in and day out. Right now is the hard part for us to come and face reality and step back into (their lives)." Hansen said families that are used to being apart have learned to adapt their lifestyles and behaviors to move ahead with their lives when their soldiers are away. "They are so apt to do things on their own without me that I kind of have to ease into (their routine) when I get back," he explained. "They make it easy for us to come home and transition back." Upon their return, the unit's work was lauded by their commanding officer. "The soldiers of this unit have completed, with honor, the mission assigned them in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility," said Col. Adam Robinson, commander of the 65th Field Artillery Brigade. "Their efforts are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army and the Utah National Guard. They represented well the citizens of the great state of Utah." SALT LAKE CITY Gov. Gary Herbert's plan to slash the state sales tax rate to just 1.75 percent was shot down Thursday by the lawmaker working on what's expected to be the GOP legislative leadership's tax package. "That 1.75 percent you heard is not a reality. The math does not add up," Rep. Tim Quinn, R-Heber City, told members of the House Republican caucus Thursday during an update on his efforts. "That 1.75 percent is not going to happen." House Majority Leader Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, told the supermajority Republicans that it's the governor's "job to paint a portrait. It's our job to fund the reality. Bless his heart." The governor offered new specifics in his State of the State speech Wednesday evening about the plan outlined in his proposed budget to broaden the shrinking sales tax base by imposing new taxes on some services while reducing the rate. In his budget, Herbert said only that the rate could go from what will be 4.85 percent after April 1 to below 3.9 percent with the help of $200 million set aside for a tax cut. But in his annual address, the governor agreed to the higher, $225 million tax cut number proposed at the start of the session by House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville. Herbert said combining that tax cut with new taxes on services could drop the sales tax rate 64 percent, "to a mere 1.75 percent" and mean nine out of 10 taxpayers would pay less in taxes than they do today. Just how much additional money would have to be collected in new taxes on services to make that happen remains to be seen, although it's been estimated it could be as much as $800 million just to get below 3.9 percent. Quinn, the vice chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, told the Deseret News later that he was "shocked" when the governor referred to a 1.75 percent tax cut in his speech. "I don't know where the number came from." Both House and Senate Republican leaders have said the bulk of the tax cut should be in income taxes, not sales taxes. But Quinn said there could be some reduction in the sales tax rate as the base is broadened. "There could be a signficant cut. It just won't be 1.75," he said. You would almost have to tax every economic activity in the state" to bring in enough money to drop the rate that far. "Let's manage expectations." And while there is interest in dropping the income tax rate from the current 4.95 percent, Quinn said there could be another $50 million to $60 million in tax credits for specific groups, including teachers and those suffering from intergenerational poverty. Quinn is expected to carry the GOP tax package and has been working with Republican and Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate, including Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, to identify what services should be taxed. "There's more in than out," he said of the list being put together, including Uber and other ride-sharing services. Health care and real estate transactions are off the table for him, Quinn said, although architectural services could be taxed. Republican senators also talked about what's being called tax modernization in their closed-door caucus Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, said the focus was on the process of coming up with a plan, rather than numbers including the governor's latest proposal. "It's a big undertaking. It's huge. Tax discussions in the past have taken a lengthy amount of time," Vickers said. He said there was some talk of the difficulty of broadening the sales tax base and whether it can get done this session. "That's up in the air," the majority leader said. Fillmore, the chairman of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, said he was "happy to see the governor leading out on this issue. I haven't seen definitive enough calculations to know where the sales tax rate will land." While Fillmore said he feels confident "it will be a significant cut in the sales tax rate. I'm hopeful that we could get to 1.75, but that probably includes taxing some services that will be pretty difficult to pass." He said he appreciated having a goal, but without what he termed "unlikely, to say nothing of whether or not it is advisable, that there would be a tax on health care services, I doubt 1.75 is a realistic number we could hit." Contributing: Katie McKellar SALT LAKE CITY The Utah State Board of Education voted Thursday to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate elections for the body. HJR13, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard, R-North Salt Lake, would eliminate any references in the Utah Constitution to "electing" the state board. The joint resolution would have to pass each legislative house by a two-thirds margin to be placed on a statewide ballot. Constitutional amendments then require the majority approval of voters. The proposed resolution then calls on the lieutenant governor to place the issue on the next general election ballot. If voters approve it, the change would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. "I very much oppose this bill. I very much believe that state board members should be elected and I think the constitution said that for a reason and should continue to say that for a reason," said State School Board member Carol Lear. "Theres nothing more near and dear to peoples hearts than how their children spend their days. The board that oversees that work, the curriculum, various services that are provided in schools, I believe, should be an elected board that represents the people through election." A similar resolution was considered by the Utah Legislature in 2018, but it would have taken the additional step of vesting the board's powers in a governor-appointed state superintendent. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, passed overwhelmingly in the Utah Senate but was defeated by the House of Representatives in the waning hours of the session. A majority of board members voted to oppose the legislation, although some members, such as Laura Belnap, said they wanted to hold off on a vote until "an accompanying" bill is released to the public. Lear disagreed, urging board members to take a position of opposition to HJR13, which was introduced in the House earlier this week. "Anything in my mind that takes the protection of election out of the constitution I cannot support," Lear said. Meanwhile, the board, lawmakers and others await a Utah Supreme Court's decision whether a statute passed by the Utah Legislature in 2016 that calls for partisan State School Board elections is constitutional. A lower court ruled that the law conflicts with the Utah Constitution. That decision was appealed by state attorneys on behalf of Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, the lone defendant in the case. Free tours of the building, which was completed in 1916, begin on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of state holidays. Groups of under 10 people are welcome to drop in without a reservation, but scheduled groups, which are often school groups, have first priority. According to utahstatecapitol.utah.gov, the tour curriculum is designed for audiences 10 and older. According to the website, the rotunda was left unfinished for nearly 20 years until the Public Works of Art Project funded art commissions for the building. Utah artist Lee Greene Richards planned and sketched each of the paintings, but the massive project included the work of other Utah artists. Completed in 1934, the paintings were installed in the Capitol the following year to mark the opening of the Utah Arts Institute annual exhibition. 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. FARMINGTON A Bountiful gynecologist has again admitted to sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. Nathan Clark Ward pleaded guilty Thursday to the same charge he briefly admitted to last year. In August, the 57-year-old Ward quickly withdrew the plea when he learned the judge planned to stack a prison sentence of 15 years on top of time he is already serving in the federal system. Then on Thursday, just a few days before his trial was set to begin, Clark entered the new guilty plea to aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, in Farmington's 2nd District Court. He did not indicate why he decided to change his plea at the last minute. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, four other felonies he faced were dismissed. Earlier this month, prosecutors had dropped another five felony charges he originally faced, court documents show. It was unclear Thursday whether Ward is again expected to face a consecutive sentence. Susan Hunt, a deputy Davis County attorney, said the victim in the case approved the deal. Ward had "a position of special trust" to the girl, prosecutors allege. The Deseret News generally does not identify victims of sexual assault. A different judge in July ordered Ward to nearly 22 years in a federal prison in Colorado for streaming video of the same girl as he removed her clothing. Ward is appealing the sentence. Police began investigating in November 2016 when uploads of possible sexually exploitative images of children were detected at Bountiful's Lakeview Hospital, court documents show. Sentencing is set for Feb. 14. Correction: An earlier version incorrectly said prosecutors dismissed five felonies as part of the plea deal. Four felonies were actually dismissed. Vincent Clark, 27, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, suspending all but 20 years of active incarceration after he entered an Alford plea to charges of supervising a criminal gang and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. An Alford plea allows a defendant to effectively plead guilty while not admitting actual guilt. State of the State speeches, like their more boisterous State of the Union big brothers, often stray onto a tiresome, pothole-strewn path filled with applause lines and political posturing. Give Utah Gov. Gary Herbert credit for avoiding that Wednesday night. Herberts assessment was a frank discussion about the difficult political agenda he and Republican legislative leaders have set for the state despite what must be described as extraordinarily prosperous times. He even used history, the upcoming 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in Utah, for an effective rhetorical flourish. The rail line was completed by the precision teamwork of thousands of former slaves, Irish immigrants and forgotten Chinese, Mexican and Native American laborers, along with transplants from across Europe, he said. And the application for today? First, we can and we should do more to protect the nameless, the outcast and the vulnerable, he said. Then, although we come from diverse backgrounds and experience, we can work side-by-side, sunup-to-sundown, with the spirit of cooperation to lay a foundation for our future prosperity. That image hit the right note. It may be hard to sustain, however, as lawmakers seek ways to limit the scope of a voter-approved initiative to expand Medicaid to people who earn 138 percent or less of the federal poverty level. Legislative leaders believe the initiative cant pay for itself with its 0.15 percent sales tax increase. In his speech, the governor said the much needed initiative should be implemented in a fiscally sustainable way with some commonsense adjustments. But if those dont happen in a way that extends full coverage to the nameless, outcast and vulnerable in the way voters said they wanted, it will be a breech of trust with the people. Lawmakers and the governor should find a way to make this happen. The governor also was honest about the political courage that will be required to reform the states sales tax system, another priority for him and legislative leaders. This, he correctly said, is not for the faint of heart. He embraced House Speaker Brad Wilsons challenge to give Utahns a $225 million tax cut as part of this process, up from the $200 million Herbert initially proposed. But this carrot is surrounded by plenty of things ordinary Utahns might consider sticks. The governor and legislative leaders want to extend the sales tax to many services, ranging perhaps from haircuts to landscaping to doctors visits, that currently are not subject to it. Attaching even a reduced tax rate to these could feel like a tax hike to many people, and proposals to do so may be met with stiff lobbying resistance. And yet the governor effectively laid out the reasons for extending the tax, citing a changing economy and a dwindling array of transactions that are subject to the tax, which ultimately funds core governmental functions. Prosperous times are the best times to reform tax structures, provide more money for education and put programs in place to help people with the most needs. Unfortunately, they also tend to be the worst times in which to gather political will. Herbert deserves credit for pushing a challenging agenda amid a state surplus of more than $1 billion, as well as for not dwelling on the credit he is due for prosperity. His agenda should serve the state well when the inevitable economic slowdown comes. MIKE WALLACE IS HERE 4 stars probable PG-13 (profanity, intense footage connected to war coverage and periodic adult subject matter); running time: 94 minutes; Sundance Film Festival PARK CITY Its hard to imagine anyone making a bad documentary about the life of Mike Wallace. Simply connecting the dots of his 60+ years in journalism would yield a fascinating journey. Yet with Mike Wallace is Here, director Avi Belkin has gone beyond the easy route and constructed a complex, insightful and creative portrait of a man widely considered to be the most feared interviewer in his class. According to Belkin who was in Park City this week while his film has been featured at the Sundance Film Festival the plan was to tell the story of modern broadcast journalism by telling the story of one of its most central figures. The concept was, in effect, to give Wallace a taste of his own unflinching medicine. Belkin throws down the gauntlet immediately with footage of an interview with former Fox News pundit Bill OReilly, who suggests he is the natural outgrowth of the confrontational foundation Wallace laid years before. Wallace is Here doesnt confirm or deny OReillys assertion, but from here it launches decades into the past to examine the rise and effect of Wallaces storied career. There are no narrators and no talking heads, at least in the traditional sense. Belkin has assembled the film exclusively from archival footage, and the documentary generally follows a chronological trajectory while at times leaping forward to sample more recent clips to help guide the narrative. The background content starts with only a brief mention of Wallace's childhood, suggesting a bout with acne initially made him insecure about his looks. It was perhaps for this reason Wallace started his career in radio before eventually making his way into television and working in a variety of capacities including cigarette pitchman before winding up in serious journalism. A program called The Mike Wallace Interview marked the first appearance of Wallaces tough line of questioning, but it wasnt until after his sons death in 1962 that he officially committed to serious journalism. From here, Wallace is Here stakes out a number of landmark moments from Wallaces arrival at CBS to his correspondent coverage of the Nixon campaign in 68 to his high-risk interview with Irans Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 (which the film strongly suggests led directly to the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat). Belkins documentary also spends considerable time on Wallaces landmark tenure on CBSs famed 60 Minutes, which creator Don Hewitt claims to have based on an idea stolen from LIFE Magazine. An interview with longtime colleague Morley Safer guides much of Wallace is Here, even leading Wallace to open up about his experience with serious depression. The content alone is worth the price of admission, and sharp-eyed viewers will note greatest hits clips of interviews with the likes of Salvador Dali, Eleanor Roosevelt and a particularly enlightening bit with former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson. Theres also the requisite clip with current U.S. President Donald Trump, recorded back in the 1980s, but fortunately Belkin doesnt allow pro or anti-Trump commentary to take over his film. But as good as the content is, Belkin elevates it with a spot-on production and creative storytelling that remains dynamic and engaging, often employing a split-screen technique drawn from the time that Wallace filmed his interviews with two different simultaneous camera shots. (Belkin suggested after the screening that this imagery supported the feeling that Wallaces interviews were Old West-style duels.) As you might expect, there is some sobering material that probes into the current state of broadcast news, and its interesting to hear voices from the past accuse Wallace of confusing journalism with show business. But regardless of your own sentiments, Mike Wallace is Here maintains a thoughtful tone that never feels overbearing or biased; whether youre interested in a history of the man or the field he pioneered, Belkins film should be required viewing. Rating explained: Mike Wallace is Here is not rated, but would likely draw a PG-13 for some fleeting profanity (including a single use of the F-word), as well as some intense footage connected to war coverage and periodic adult subject matter. SALT LAKE CITY A U.S. Department of Interior's inspector general report released Thursday said it found no evidence former Utah legislator Mike Noel influenced the shrinking of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to benefit financially. Noel, who owned 40 acres inside the monument's boundaries when President Donald Trump ordered the acreage reduction in December 2017, was accused of exerting influence during the monument review process by the public lands advocacy organization, Western Values Project. "I knew it was false from the get go," Noel said Thursday in reaction. "I never had any doubt I would be exonerated." Noel said he met with the senior investigator with the inspector general's office for several hours during the probe. "I answered everything truthfully," he said. "I have never, ever brought up to the Department of Interior or the Bureau of Land Management my personal property holdings." Chris Saeger, Western Values Project's executive director, called the report flawed. "This report is incomplete and raises more questions than it provides answers," Saeger said. "It really highlights the haphazard process this administration used to slash protections for some of our most treasured public lands, a process that failed to adequately listen to all public and stakeholder voices." A synopsis of the report disputes Saeger's characterization of the monument review process. "We found that although the (Department of Interior) had no formal processes in place for modifying national monument boundaries, DOI staff developed a process and followed it when reviewing the (Grand Staircase) monument and other DOI-controlled national monuments under consideration for boundary modifications," it noted. The report said it found no evidence Noel influenced the agency's proposed revisions to the monument or that then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke or other staff were aware of Noel's financial interest in the revised boundaries. Investigators interviewed Zinke, Noel, a Kane County official, and eight Interior Department and BLM employees in support of the probe. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Bears Ears National Monument were reduced in size in a Trump proclamation now under litigation in the federal courts. Native American tribes and a coalition of environmental and conservation organizations are challenging the reductions, arguing the U.S. president lacks the legal authority to modify previous monument designations. Noel retired from the Utah Legislature last year after 16 years. SALT LAKE CITY Children and teens facing criminal charges often navigate Utah's juvenile court system without help from an attorney, especially in rural parts of the state, a new report has found. "There is a serious equal protection issue," said Anna Thomas with Voices for Utah Children. "Things are so different outside the Wasatch Front. Outside of Utah County and Salt Lake County, kids and attorneys really face more barriers." The report comes as state lawmakers consider a possible mandate that would assign public defenders for each minor, a move Thomas says would help address the issues identified in the Thursday report. The evaluation from her group and law students at the University of Utah found that more than 1 in 4 young defendants across the state 29 percent had no attorney present during nearly 200 hearings they observed last year. The gap in representation is troubling because a person's experience in the juvenile system can predict whether they face criminal charges as an adult, Thomas said. "When juveniles have an attorney with them, ideally from start to finish, they have a better outcome," she added. Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, is sponsoring SB32, which would strengthen public defense for Utah's children and teens. "We have some areas of the state that they've done a very good job with that, and we have other areas of the state where, quite frankly, it appears we just kind of looked the other way and pretended maybe like the Sixth Amendment didn't apply to minors," he said in a Wednesday hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Utah law already requires judges to appoint a lawyer to youths facing felonies in juvenile court, regardless of their ability to pay or whether they've formally asked for one. But those charged with misdemeanors in the state's rural courtrooms often appear alone at key hearings, even if a judge has already assigned an attorney, the report found. Public defenders often lack time and resources to drive for hours to attend each court date, and they sometimes get the case after several early court dates have already passed. It means they miss out on detention hearings, which determine whether a youth will remain in custody ahead of trial, and at arraignments, a formal reading of charges against their clients, the report states. Other young people charged with misdemeanors choose to forgo an attorney in order to speed the case along, take accountability or because their parents urged them to, the report found. The review also considered interviews with judges and attorneys. "They have the same right to be represented by an attorney. But what does that mean when invoking that right is going to get you another three-hour trip, asking your parents to take time off work, having to get out of school?" Thomas said. "It's a huge extra burden." The observers noted that minors sometimes sign a form waiving their right to representation before a judge can explain an attorney's job. Other times, a judge or prosecutor will caution that requesting a lawyer would prolong the case because juvenile court happens just once a month in some areas. What's more, even the lesser misdemeanor charges can significantly affect a person's adult life, possibly hurting their chances of getting into college, being hired for a job or renting an apartment, Thomas said. Juvenile records aren't made private or expunged when a person turns 18. The report's authors declined to call out specific counties and courthouses because the issues are systemic, Thomas said. They observed 196 proceedings in all but two Utah counties Daggett, which refers juvenile cases to neighboring Uintah, and Garfield, which had few hearings in 2018. If Utah passes the legislative measure, Thomas said it would join Delaware, North Carolina and Pennsylvania in automatically appointing a public defenders for juveniles (a cost that can later be recouped if a youth is found to actually have the means for an attorney). The bill would also bar children and teens from waiving their right to an attorney until after they have consulted a lawyer, require public defenders to be present at all proceedings and make technical help available for them. Joanna Landau, director of the Utah Indigent Defense Commission, said the number of misdemeanor juvenile cases has dropped to 1,500 following prior juvenile justice reforms. She estimates the price tag of Weiler's measure at $775,000, a cost her agency can help absorb through grants to individual counties. Todd Utzinger, Davis County legal defender coordinator, said he largely supports the bill but is concerned it would require attorneys to be present at hearings that are largely ministerial, possibly pulling them away from other young clients who need more guidance that day. The proposal awaits a vote in the full Senate. SALT LAKE CITY More than 40 Utah faith leaders have signed on to a letter released Thursday urging Gov. Gary Herbert and Republican legislative leaders to oppose efforts "to delay or limit" the full Medicaid expansion approved by voters. A bill backed by House and Senate GOP leadership, SB96, has already received initial approval in the Senate, but a final vote that had been expected as soon as Thursday has been delayed. Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, the sponsor of SB96, said he has issues with the fiscal note detailing how much the bill will cost taxpayers. That note has not yet been made public and Christensen declined to specify the bottom line. "I said, 'I can't approve that,'" Christensen said. "The fiscal note is still in a state of flux. Hopefully, tomorrow (Friday) it will be finished." Senate rules require bills to have a fiscal note before a final vote. The bill that would replace Proposition 3's full Medicaid expansion with a more limited plan has been fast-tracked by the Legislature's Republican supermajority despite growing public opposition. Christensen said nobody is suggesting he put the brakes on the bill, which House leaders have said they hope to have passed with a veto-proof majority by the end of next week. "Slow it down? I'm getting pressure to speed it up," he said. The governor has not endorsed the bill and talked only in general terms about Medicaid expansion in his State of the State speech Wednesday night, saying "with some common sense adjustments" it could be implemented without delay. "I take that as good, with all the pressure we're getting from the outside, if he's not saying, 'No go,'" Christensen said. The faith leaders' letter urges Herbert, along with House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, "to oppose any legislation that would delay or limit the implementation" of Proposition 3. Some of the tens of thousands of Utahns who are poor and uninsured "are currently sick and looking forward to receiving treatment with the voter approved Medicaid expansion begins on April 1," the letter states, calling any delay unfair. Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski called Medicaid expansion an issue of "moral consequence" at the Coalition of Religious Communities' late morning news conference on Capitol Hill. "I believe the voters in my city and the thousands of others who voted for Prop. 3 understood what they were doing," the mayor said to applause from about 100 coalition members assembled for Faith and Poverty Day at the Legislature. But Biskupski said many Utahns "didn't understand, and what many still can't comprehend, is that in this nation the will of voters can be overturned. Today, I am proud to stand with faith leaders and community activists." The Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, one of the sponsors of Proposition 3, said the issue shouldn't be about money but about understanding those who struggle because they do not have health care. That is "simply the definition of compassion," the Rev. Hayashi said, pledging to "continue to hold the feet to the fire of those who said they would expand this and make this begin on April 1. The people are watching." Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, praised those at the news conference for coming to the Capitol "in faith asking for good faith from our Legislature." She said Democrats have asked why there is such urgency to get the bill passed. Later, the Senate president said a law needs to be passed so there is enough time to get the federal waivers needed for a so-called bridge program in SB96 to take effect on April 1, as called for in Proposition 3. Adams said if the waiver does not come through in time, lawmakers will come back in special session if necessary to come up with an alternative plan. "I don't know that we have an exact answer," he said. The full Medicaid expansion approved by voters last November does not need federal waivers to take effect and would be funded by a 0.15 percent sales tax increase expected to raise around $91 million. Backers of SB96, however, say that's not enough money. The bill would limit coverage to Utahns earning below 100 percent of the federal poverty rate, about $12,000. The bill leaves out the 41,000 making between 100 percent and 138 percent of that rate covered under the full expansion available under the Affordable Care Act, but they are eligible to buy federally subsidized insurance. The state would pay 30 percent of the cost of the bridge program while seeking additional waivers for the full 90 percent to 10 percent federal-to-state funding match offered for full expansion. Previous attempts to secure similar waivers by Utah and other states have not been successful. SALT LAKE CITY The Salt Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Friday, March 15, to review applications for the vacancy in the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The successful candidate will replace Judge L.G. Cutler, who will retire effective Feb. 28. The commission will meet at 2 p.m. in the Judicial Council Room on the third floor of the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse, 450 S. State. The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Following the public comment period, the meeting will be closed to allow commission members to review applications for the vacancy. Individuals interested in appearing before the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Amy Hernandez at 801-578-3809 or amymh@utcourts.gov to request an appointment. SALT LAKE CITY White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that God wanted President Donald Trump to win the election. I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times, and I think that he wanted Donald Trump to become president, Sanders said. "That's why he's there and I think he has done a tremendous job in supporting a lot of the things that people of faith really care about." Sanders said this whole speaking on the Christian Broadcasting Network, according to The Daily Beast. Flashback: Sanders said last summer that the Trump administration's plan on child separation is very biblical, according to RawStory. CBN asked Sanders about freshman Democratic representatives who some have accused of having anti-Semitic views, according to The Hill. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) and Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) "have drawn criticism for their support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which is critical of the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians," The Hill reported. Sanders called the representatives' comments "outrageous." CBN also asked her about the issues Christians face in Syria. SALT LAKE CITY Thousands of people are calling for Nike to recall its Air Max 270 shoe because they feel the logo is offensive to Muslims, according to multiple reports. The Change.org petition, which received 10,000 signatures in two weeks, says the logo looks rather similar to the word Allah written in Arabic script. Allah is Arabic for God. Saiqa Noreen, who launched the petition, wrote that the logo will surely be trampled, kicked and become soiled with mud or even filth. Ms Noreen said: Nike has produced the Nike Air Max 270 shoe with the script logo on the sole resembling the word Allah in Arabic, which will surely be trampled, kicked and become soiled with mud or even filth.https://t.co/FruUt8OxEe Metro (@MetroUK) January 29, 2019 It is outrageous and appalling of Nike to allow the name of God on a shoe, Noreen wrote. This is disrespectful and extremely offensive to Muslims and insulting to Islam. She also called on Nike to recall this blasphemous and offensive shoe and all products with the design logo resembling the word Allah from worldwide sales immediately. A Nike spokesman told Today the logo is a stylized version of the Air Max trademark and it isnt meant to be offensive. Nike respects all religions and we take concerns of this nature seriously, a Nike spokesman said in a statement to the Today style vertical. The AIR MAX logo was designed to be a stylized representation of Nikes AIR MAX trademark. It is intended to reflect the AIR MAX brand only. Any other perceived meaning or representation is unintentional. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which is a Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, said it has received a number of complaints about the Nike logo, too. A number of community members have reached out to us about the design, Ibrahim Hooper, CAIRs communications director, told Today. Flashback: In 1997, Nike stopped selling a line of shoes because of a flame-shaped logo that critics said looked like the word Allah, too, according to The New York Times. Similar: Last week, Amazon removed more than a dozen products that referenced the Prophet Muhammad, according to The Hill. I was sure of only one thing: high tail it as quick as possible to a big city hospital like Northwestern that had laid its miracle hands on me. Somehow, between his ex-wifes counsel (who is still a friend for which I am truly grateful) and I guess some divine intervention, Jay was provided a second ambulance ride this time to Johns Hopkins where our new hero, Dr. Adam Levin, orthopedic oncology surgeon, took over and saved the day despite Jays continued habit of addressing him as Dr. Levine and asking, Wheres your band? Denton, TX (76205) Today Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. S winds shifting to N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 60F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. He said, Well, its atomic weight should be about this, because I can average from the elements around it and guess it. And hes like, I know what its crystal structure should be. And I know something about what kinds of acids it would form, because it has those properties of the elements above and below it. The accident forced the airport to close one of its two runways for an hour (Representational Image) Tokyo: A Japan Airlines plane from New Delhi skidded off a snow-bound runway at Narita Airport on Friday, officials told AFP, briefly closing part of Tokyo's main hub. Spokespeople from the airport and the carrier said the 201 passengers and crew had all been escorted off the Boeing 787 jet with no serious injuries. The accident forced the airport to close one of its two runways for an hour from 7 am (2200 GMT Thursday), Narita spokesman Kazuhiko Morio told AFP. The runway was then closed again as the plane was moved out of a safety zone, Morio added. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear but public broadcaster NHK said one of the plane's tyres may have slipped on a rare patch of snow on the runway. The country's weather agency has forecasted light snow in part of the Kanto region in eastern Japan, including the area around Narita. Television footage showed some snow lingering on the ground at the airport although runways and taxiways were clear. Judging by the footage, the plane seemed to have sustained no damage in the accident. Chinas two-child policy implemented in 2016 has failed to make an impact on the country's low birth rate. Beijing: A single Chinese woman has asked the law makers to legalise children of unmarried women to tide over the problem of low fertility rate haunting China, the worlds most populous nation, after the number of new-borns dropped by two million last year despite the government permitting two children since 2016. Chinas two-child policy implemented in 2016 has failed to make an impact on the countrys low birth rate as the number of new-borns dropped by two million last year in the world's most populous nation, recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed. After China implemented the comprehensive two-child policy that allows all couples to have two children - abandoning its decades-long one-child policy - in 2016, the countrys health authority predicted that the fertility rate in 2017 and 2018 would be 1.97 and 2.09. Zhang Ahlan (pseudonym), 27, from Beijing has proposed that children of unmarried women be legitimised which was strongly opposed by some experts, state-run Global Times reported on Thursday. Zhang said that she sent letters to 64 deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) saying they cannot freeze their eggs nor apply for a sperm from the sperm bank or use artificially assisted reproductive technology to get pregnant. The letters sent by Zhang early this month to NPC Deputies were mostly from China's Jilin Province as Jilin is the only province in the country that officially allows unmarried women above legal age to get pregnant. However, it is allowed under certain conditions, including having a Jilin household registration and remaining single for life. She is yet to receive a response, the report said. The NPC, which is China's Parliament is due to hold its annual session from March 5. Currently single Chinese women's right to give birth to children falls under the grey area of the law, the report said. In China, single women are deridingly called leftover women. According to unofficial figures, China has about 200 million single adults. Zhang's proposal was opposed by experts, saying it is not responsible to their babies, the paper reported. Washington: The talks in the Congress about wall funding the issue behind the recent government shutdown were a waste of time, according to US President Donald Trump. He also dismissed the federal investigation into alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 election. His lawyers had been reassured he was not a target in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, he told the New York Times in an interview. The interview covered a wide range of topics: The border wall: Ill continue to build the wall, and well get the wall finished, he said, dismissing the talks between congressional Republicans and Democrats over the impasse and implying he could declare a national emergency to ensure the barrier is built. Tapping into emergency presidential powers could enable Trump to bypass Congress and access the money and resources needed to complete the project. Critics have said the situation at the border does not constitute a true emergency and invoking one would be an abuse of power. Trump has sought $5.7 billion for a wall on the southern border. The Democrats refuse to provide it, arguing it is immoral and ineffective. Trump slammed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the border wall. "I've actually always gotten along with her, but now I don't think I will any more," he said. "I think she's doing a tremendous disservice to the country. Ms Pelosi told reporters on Thursday there would be no money for a wall in the planned border security legislation. The Russia inquiry: The president said he had received assurances from Deputy Attorney-General Rod Rosenstein. Rod told me Im not a target of the investigation, Trump said. He then suggested that he may not have spoken to him in person, adding: The lawyers ask him. They say: He's not a target of investigation. It is not clear when Rosenstein made the comments attributed to him by Trump. Rosenstein oversaw Mueller's investigation until last November, when the president transferred control to acting attorney-general Matthew Whitaker. Rosenstein and Mueller have not said whether Trump is a target in the investigation. Some reports have suggested that the term "target" would not be used for Trump because sitting presidents are immune from prosecution. Mueller's investigation is still ongoing and it is unclear when he will submit his findings to the attorney general. His political future: "I love this job," Trump insisted, dismissing talk he might not run for re-election in 2020. He told the paper he had lost massive amounts of money working as president. The grafitti sprayed on the walls of the temple in Kentucky. (Photo: Via web) Washington: In a hate crime, a Hindu temple has been vandalised in the US state of Kentucky by miscreants who sprayed black paint on the deity and wrote repugnant messages on the walls. The incident happened between Sunday night and Tuesday morning at the Swaminarayan Temple in the Louisville city, authorities said. There are no suspects but an investigation is ongoing, police said. Temple officials said no video of the incident is available. According to local media reports, vandalism resulted in deity image sprayed with black paint, broken windows, walls spray-painted with inappropriate messages and graffiti. A knife was stabbed in the chair and cabinets were emptied. The incident has sent shock waves through the Indian-American community in Louisville Kentucky. Authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime. Condemning the incident of vandalism, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer called upon the city residents to stand up against this hatred. Washington: Federal immigration officials are force-feeding six immigrants through plastic nasal tubes during a hunger strike that's gone on for a month inside a Texas detention facility, The Associated Press has learned. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says 11 detainees at the El Paso Processing Center have been refusing food, some for more than 30 days. Detainees who reached the AP, along with a relative and an attorney representing hunger strikers, said nearly 30 detainees from India and Cuba have been refusing to eat, and some are now so weak they cannot stand up or talk. Another four detainees are on hunger strikes in the agency's Miami, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco areas of responsibility, said ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa. The men say they stopped eating to protest verbal abuse and threats of deportation from guards. They are also upset about lengthy lock ups while awaiting legal proceedings. According to the criminal complaint against him, he was arrested a day before he was supposed to fly to China. Apples closely guarded self-driving technology was again vulnerable at the hands of its own employee. The company employee in question, Jizhong Chen, allegedly tried to pass on the information to a Chinese competitor. It was after an employee saw him taking photos in a sensitive work area that Apple conducted an investigation which led to the discovery of thousands of sensitive documents on his personal computer, leading to his arrest by the FBI, Engadget reported. According to the criminal complaint against him, he was arrested a day before he was supposed to fly to China. It is the second time an Apple employee has been arrested in information theft from the companys ambitious autonomous technology project. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. This part of the East End, a stones throw from the City, the financial capital of Britain, had been down-at-heel for centuries. (Photo: AP) When others were saying me-too! You persisted in saying me-ow You invaded theneighbors catflaps And left them wondering how. To lay your claim to places You marked them out with piss Your feline airs and graces Veiled the hypothesis That cats are dormant tigers Red in tooth and claw Domestication covers Obeisance to jungle law From Obituary for a Dead Cat Tr. By Bachchoo On your visit to London, if youve stood before the Houses of Parliament; sorry that Big Ben is, for repairs, in purdah; if youve seen the Tower of London and snaked in queue to the inner sanctum for a glance at the Kohinoor; if youve been to the British Museum and marvelled at stolen art; if youve booked an Uber and the cab has gone to the wrong address ummm what is more youll be a man my (sorry, wrong poem!) What I meant to say was when youve done all these things you would be well advised to visit Londons Chinatown to savour the dim sum. London also has a Little Venice, so named because a canal with boats runs through it and there is a Petty France, so named because of something you can, gentle reader, look up on Google. But those two are names of antiquity. Chinatown is a recent christening. Changing names for political reasons is always questionable. From Bombay to Mumbai can be seen as a reclamation. Changing Allahabad to something else may not be. And now some special community representatives of a special and notable part of the East End of London have initiated a movement to have a part of it called Banglatown. The local government is virtually run by councilors of immigrant Bangladeshi origin who have the power to name new streets and public buildings, but christening whole sectors of streets may exceed their remit. Chinatown, the closest parallel, still has streets with names like Wardour Street and Gerrard Street. The latter is a pedestrianised stretch with several Chinese restaurants and supermarkets and banners stretched over the street when the Chinese New Year comes around. What has been granted to this community of four streets is the accolade of signs saying Chinatown at its entrances. This lends some precedent and justification for calling the street named Brick Lane and adjoining streets Banglatown. I know it well, having in the latter years of the 1970s taken upon myself with others to be a political agitator and pamphleteer on behalf of the immigrant community of the East End, almost exclusively workers from Sylhet in Bangladesh. We were there as a political force to encourage the self-defence of the community against what were random racial assaults and abuse. These workers and their families sustained Londons clothing and leather sweatshops; the sort of industry, conditions and poverty you now find in Dhaka. The young Bangladeshis of the time, living in poor council housing or four or six to a room in the dilapidated buildings of Brick Lane and adjoining streets, formed vigilante groups. Their watch over, and instant retaliation against, the Paki-bashing gangs of racist hooligans, wiped out these vile attacks. I was also a part of the Bengali Housing Action group (BHAG Geddit?) which squatted several hundred families in the empty houses and flats which were government-owned and kept vacant for profitable property development. This part of the East End, a stones throw from the City, the financial capital of Britain, had been down-at-heel for centuries. It was a traditionally immigrant area with first Huguenots, religious refugees from the continent, then Jews who fled Eastern Europes persecution and then the post-colonial Bengalis from East Pakistan. Just as Santa Sophia in Constantinople started as an Eastern Orthodox church, converted to a Catholic cathedral, an Ottoman mosque and now a museum, the place of worship in Brick Lane, though not in any sense an architectural rival to Hagia Sophia, has a similar history. It was built as Huguenot church, then as the community changed, it became a synagogue and is today the Brick Lane mosque. The area my friends want to call Banglatown has suffered or enjoyed a historical irony. In the 1980s the Margaret Thatcher government allowed British manufacturing industries to be destroyed by global competition. In its place it championed London as an international financial and banking hub. The Isle of Dogs, a peninsular projection into the Thames south of Londons East End, was converted though spectacular development into a very prosperous extension of the City. The facilitated import of textiles and leather from the east destroyed the sweatshop industries which the Brick Lane workers depended on for a living, while at the same time encouraging the refurbishment and gentrification of the property of the area whose price then increased twenty to a hundred-fold. Some of my friends who in the 1970s lived four to a room and later perhaps bought a building for 10,000, were now millionaires. Brick Lane became a tourist spot with as many Bangladeshi restaurants and supermarkets as Chinatown has Chinese ones. The tourists flood in with chic bars, restaurants and shops reflecting the new prosperity. So why not support the demand for Brick Lane and environs, still the home to the Bangladeshi community to acquire that identity? I would, on one condition. You see, gentle reader, the restaurants of Chinatown sell authentic versions of Chinese cuisine. Anyone who has been to Bangladesh knows that its native cuisine, especially the dishes of river and ocean seafood compete with the best in the world for taste and distinction. The restaurants of Brick Lane and environs dont serve it. They serve a mish-mash of inauthentic Indian dishes calling themselves balti, jolfrezi and even some outrageous muck labelled dhan sakh. My condition would be that until Banglatown begins to serve authentic Bangladeshi food in its eateries, no name change should be countenanced. After all Naklidesi Town doesnt have a compelling ring about it. The expectation that interim finance minister Piyush Goyal would present a farmers budget after the drubbing his party got in the recent Assembly polls was somewhat disappointing, particularly to farmers. Yes, small and marginal farmers were mentioned, but 12 crore farm households will get income support of just Rs 6,000 annually, or just Rs 500 a month. This too will be in instalments. Interestingly farmers scoffed at this proposal when asked what they thought of the governments announcement. This so-called bonanza for farmers is nowhere close to what Telangana and Odisha gave their farmers. In Telangana, for instance, farmers got Rs 8,000 per year per acre of landholding in Telangana, while in Odishas Kalia, farmers receive rs 10,000 per year. It would have made sense if this bonanza was provided on a per acre basis. It is difficult to see how 12 crore farm households will benefit by this as Mr Modi claimed in his press conference after the Budget. Landowning farmers are still better off than the 10 crore landless labourers, who got nothing in the Budget. As they are also voters, it is surprising that there was nothing for them. Something like the much-needed and welcome pension scheme for the unorganised sector could have been designed for the landless too. Even the much-touted free LPG connections given to rural women to improve their quality of life was a non-starter as most cant afford to buy a second cylinder. Mr Goyal must have been aware of this and should have redesigned the scheme in the Budget. The finance minister must be commended over a Budget that will spur consumption though generous tax sops as beneficiaries are expected to go on a spending spree with the Rs 18,500 crores that was put in their collective pockets. This will also give a push to the manufacturing and services sector. Interestingly, while Mr Goyal began his nearly two-hour speech tick-marking the achievements of the Narendra Modi government, he failed to make any mention of the governments failure on the jobs front, specially after the government reneged on its promise to create 20 million jobs annually. In fact, there was nothing to create confidence that this was a job-creating Budget. A recent survey by a rating agency estimated 11 million jobs were lost last year. It was also ironic that Mr Goyal spoke of his governments transparency, when only on Thursday it sought to prevent the release of the National Sample Survey Office report on employment as it was not a positive one. Interestingly, while this was meant to be an interim budget, with just over two months to go before the general election begins, some of the proposals will be implemented with retrospective effect from January 2018. This is something that has never been done before. New Delhi: Soon after the interim budget was presented in the Parliament on Friday by the Railways Minister and the additional in-charge of Finance Ministry, Piyush Goyal, standing in for Arun Jaitley who was undergoing medical treatment in the US reactions from the Congress have started coming in swiftly. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed the Union Budget as BJP's "election manifesto" and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. I would term today's budget as BJP's election manifesto. This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters, said Mallikarjun Kharge. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere of poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year. General elections are slated to be held in April-May. Kharge said the BJP has not told the people on what they have achieved during their rule and how many promises it has fulfilled in its five years of government. It also did not talk about its "jumla" of providing Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of people, he said, adding that it also did not fulfil the promise of providing 10 crore jobs in five years. "These are only election sops and 'jumlas', as they had been speaking about 'jumlas' in the past. There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes," Kharge said, adding people understand that they will not be befooled any more. The senior Congress leader said no progress has taken place in their government and what they are going to do in future are 'mere jumlas (gimmicks)', from which people will not benefit. "The BJP are thinking that they will get votes, but people understand that as in the past they had deceived and befooled the people, youth and farmers and they are doing so again," he said. Kharge also alleged that the budget for Dalits is also very less, as there is very less provision for them and alleged that the BJP is trying to befool the farmers. He alleged that the government did not provide 10 crore jobs and the money kept for 1.2 crore houses is very less. Farmers with less than 2.5 hectares land, he said, will get only Rs 6,000 per year, which is Rs 500 per month. "They are distributing money in elections to please farmers, but the reality is that in the first three months they would give only Rs 2,000 in first instalment," he said. On the announcement of Income Tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh to tax-payers, he alleged the BJP parliamentarians are creating a 'tamasha' in Parliament. "You have a mandate up to May and instead they have presented a full year's budget and are trying to befool the people of the country, keeping elections in mind. Who will fulfil these promises made? If they do not come to power, who will fulfil these promises? The next government will come and only it can deliver. These are only election sops and 'jumlas', as they had been speaking about 'jumlas' in the past," he said. Shashi Tharoor also hit out at the BJP soon after the presentation of the interim budget ended. S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Former finance minister P Chidambaram also criticised the interim Budget presented by finance minister Piyush Goyal, saying it was just rip off of the Congress partys ideas for the poor. Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country, the senior Congress leader tweeted. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes, he also said. P Chidambaram, Congress on #Budget2019: The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. https://t.co/AlY8uxmQpD ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 "It's an election budget," Manmohan Singh also told NDTV. WB CM Mamata Banerjee: This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless. pic.twitter.com/rK4CBge5Sw ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Another jumla by jumla sarkar. Why didnt they do anything in the past four years? This is an election-centric budget. People have understood this government. They will teach this government a lesson in upcoming elections, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said. -There were lies once again in the Union Budget 2019. This government is once again trying to mislead the people by forgetting its promises made in the past with false promises to capture power, Samajwadi Party leader Tej Pratap Singh Yadav tweeted in Hindi. Karnataka CM: I want to ask if this budget was prepared by officials of Finance dept or RSS? In this budget, Narendra Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop. Friends of BJP have prepared this budget. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/brlzIzHqaU ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 BSP president Mayawati called the Budget presented Friday by the BJP-led government `jumlebazi', or empty rhetoric, that did not address the ground realties. She claimed that economic disparities had grown during the last five years with only a handful of capitalists benefiting, instead of farmers and the poor. "This is wrong and against the interest of the country," she said in a statement. "The last Budget of the BJP government before the elections is far from the ground reality and the bitter truth, and is mostly jumlebazi,' the Bahujan Samaj Party chief said. "Jumlebazi cannot change the destiny of the country and end longstanding problems like poverty, unemployment and inflation, she said. It needs a firm resolve to solve them, which has been absent in the governments at the helm so far at the Centre," she said. She claimed the Budget was unsettling for the common people, and compared it to "unfulfilled electoral promises and decisions like demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mayawati claimed the benefit of Central schemes meant for labourers, farmers and the poor had not reached the needy, but the capitalists had gained. Referring to the coming Lok Sabha elections, the BSP president urged people to evaluate the wrong policies and the arrogance of the BJP government. She asked them not fall prey to its efforts to divert attention from its failures by inciting religious sentiments. Its hard to be a playwright, she said. We dont get paid very much, and its not easy to get shows produced. Sometimes I feel as though Im just writing into the void. This is a reminder that works of art can touch people. I can honestly say that even if Everything is Wonderful never gets another production, it wont matter because it has already done its work in the world. A Mirage-2000 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force goes up in flames after crashing at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru on Friday KPN Bengaluru: Two ace test pilots were killed when an upgraded Mirage 2000 combat jet crashed and burst into an inferno seconds after takeoff at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport Friday morning. Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi and Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol, both test pilots at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bengaluru, died in the crash. According to official sources, the jet climbed a mere five to ten metres when it lost control, prang on the runway and broke through the barrier as it turned into a ball of fire. Sqn Ldr Sameer Abrol, in the rear seat of the two-seater, managed to eject but fell into the blaze. He was rushed to the IAF's Command Hospital but succumbed to burn injuries. The other pilot, Sqn Ldr Siddartha Negi, perished with the jet, and his body was charred beyond recognition. Sources said the fighter aircraft was on an acceptance test sortie after an upgrade by HAL. The Flight Data Recorder or the black box has been recovered from the crash site. While Sqn Ldr Negi hails from Dehradun and was commissioned into the IAF in June 2009, Sqn Ldr Abrol from Ghaziabad was commissioned in June 2008. In a statement released here, HAL said, "The Company has initiated an inquiry into the accident in co-ordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF)." The Mirage 2000 fighters joined the IAF fleet in 1985 with the air strike wing currently operating about 50 Mirage 2000 combat jets. he police identified her as Ishrat Muneer Bhat, a resident of Dangerpora village of militancy-infested Pulwama district. (Representational Image) SRINAGAR: A Kashmiri woman was killed by unknown assailants after shooting her twice from point blank range somewhere in the Valleys Shopian district. A video of the incident, blamed on separatist militants by the police, has gone viral on social media. In the video clip, the woman can be seen pleading for mercy with folded hands before a man shoots her twice. The police identified her as Ishrat Muneer Bhat, a resident of Dangerpora village of militancy-infested Pulwama district. Hyderabad: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (Kisan) has come like a double bonanza for small farmers of Telangana state who will get an additional Rs 6,000 per year on top of the state governments Rythu Bandhu scheme. The state government, which had given Rs 4,000 financial assistance per acre per season across the board to all farmers irrespective of their land holdings during the last Kharif, has now decided to increase the assistance to Rs 5,000 per acre per season. The Centre provides funds for housing, public distribution system and others through the state governments. Many state governments utilise funds from the Centre to implement their own schemes, like double-bedroom houses in both the Telugu states. Maintaining that financial assistance under the new scheme will be credited directly into the beneficiary account, state government officials said on condition of anonymity that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao instructed them not to meddle with the Centres scheme, to let poor farmers receive the additional benefit without reference to the assistance under Rythu Bandhu. Hyderabad: Interim finance minister Piyush Goyal played Santa vis-a-vis renting of two homes in this Budget. His exemption of income-tax on notional rent on a second self-occupied house is going to benefit techies and people who shift locations for work. Income tax on notional rent is payable if one has more than one self-occupied house, Mr Goyal said in his Budget speech. Considering the difficulty of the middle class in maintaining families at two locations on account of job, childrens education, care of parents etc. I am proposing to exempt levy of income tax on notional rent on a second self-occupied house. At present, if one has a second home, a notional rental income has to be declared if the owner is unable to find a tenant or wants to keep the house vacant. As a result, the individual has to pay tax even if the second house is not fetching any money. Experts note that tax deduction at source on paid rent benefits landlords, who depend on rental income. Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry senior vice-president Karunendra S. Jasti said, It is a welcome move for a majority of Indians who stay away from home. Exemption of notional rent on second house is helpful for people who have houses in villages and reside in towns and cities. Hyderabad sees a lot of techies and people coming from different parts of the country. If the second self-occupied house is not to be notionally taxed, it will come as a big relief for the migrant populace. Mr Harish Thota, a techie working at Hitec City, said, The notional rent exemption is a welcome change, as it helps middle class people like us, as we have our families in two locations because of job constraints. But implementation needs to be done more carefully. Not only notion rent, but even the proposal to increase TDS threshold for deduction of tax from Rs 1,80,000 to Rs 2,40,000 is being seen as a welcome move. Rentals in the city have increased tremendously and landlords will benefit from this. We rely on rents and avoid taking money from our kids who are stationed elsewhere, said Mr G. Krishna, a retired government employee. Even though rents in Hyderabad have increased, all these days, this move will reduce the tax burden on us. Landlords are sometimes senior citizens who have made rents a retirement plan. Another techie, Divya Samhitha, said: This move will benefit many landlords who are often senior citizens and completely dependent on rent. My parents completely rely on rent from home. So, increasing this limit certainly helps. Hyderabad: Entrepreneurs have welcomed the establishment of the National Centre on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a hub along with Centres of Excellence announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the Budget 2019-20 presentation on Friday. The government focusing on AI in two consecutive budgets shows the importance with which this government views this key technology, Mr Goyal said, In order to take the benefits of Artificial Intelligence and related technologies to the people, a National Programme on Artificial Intelligence has been envisaged by our Government. This would be catalysed by the establishment of the National Centre on Artificial Intelligence as a hub along with Centres of Excellence. Nine priority areas have been identified. A National Artificial Intelligence portal will also be developed soon. Suman Reddy Eadunuri, MD, Pegasystems India in a statement said, The industry is looking to understand how these institutions are creating a favourable environment to foster entrepreneurship or AI research, and how the investment is creating on-ground impact, helping enterprises and deep-tech start-ups to create market value. The national AI portal is a good move to facilitate the vision of Minimum Government, Maximum Governance as part of Vision 2030, being a catalyst for emerging technologies, and a platform to unite the efforts of a massive institution like the central government. While the Finance Ministers announcement will give a thrust to digital solutions and new age technologies, there is a need for re-skilling, says Nasscoms president, Debjani Ghosh. It is great to see governments continued support for new technologies like AI with the announcement of national centre and for AI. Equally important is the commitment to re-skill Indias youth for the new jobs that AAI will create, Mr Ghosh said. According to Nasscom, AI has potential to add $957 billion to Indias economy by 2035. Such initiatives are likely to help achieve the goal faster. Aakrit Vaish, CEO and co-founder of Haptik said that with the announcement of the National Artificial Intelligence portal, we expect India to be propelled on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive technologies for economic prosperity and growth. We congratulate the government for this forward-looking budget. This announcement will significantly boost research and development in the field of Artificial Intelligence, said Atul Rai, CEO and co-founder of Staqu. The government has been banking on digital technologies such as AI, machine learning, big data and more. Thus, in the interim budget we had expected a significant boost by the government. We are glad of the governments plan to develop a National Artificial Intelligence portal, which will significantly boost research and development measures in the field of AI, Mr Rai said. Bengaluru: The divisions in the Congress-JD (S) coalition government which could come to a head before the assembly meets for the key budget session in the first week of February will see several rebel Congress legislators who are being wooed by the BJP, readying to quit their membership of the Legislative Assembly rather than voting against the budget, which would invite disqualification for six years. Unless of course, the JD(S) which has threatened to quit the coalition rather than face the Congress' daily attacks, brings the government down before the BJP makes its move. High level sources in Congress said the coalition, with a composite strength of 118 MLAs, has five legislators more than the magic number of 113 required to remain in office. But with exactly five MLAs ready to resign, and " "the BJP trying hard to get some more (MLAs)," sources said that the coalition was on precarious ground. Two independents withdrew support to the coalition earlier this month. Originally, the five legislators, who have kept in constant touch with the top brass of BJP, were planning to stay away during voting on a no confidence motion of the BJP. They reportedly changed tack in the light of suggestions by legal and experts on the Constitution that they could face the prospect of disqualification for six years. The advice by leading constitutional experts is that legislators should quit, preferably before the budget session and thus reduce the government to a minority. The JD(S)-Congress feud lies in the long-standing rivalry between leaders of the coalition partners, in particular in Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan and Tumakuru, which strikes at the very heart of the inherent weakness of the eight month-old government, even though, in public, leaders of both parties continue to harp on a seat-sharing pact ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Congress leaders, are determined to deny JD (S) leaders from gaining the upper hand in securing seats in the Old Mysore region and have been issuing statements laced with acerbic remarks against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his father and JD (S) president H D Deve Gowda. Leaders of JD (S), too have another axe to grind with Mr Siddaramaiah for not announcing the common minimum programme (CMP) of the coalition in his capacity as chairman of the coordination committee. Sources said while some leaders including KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao and deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar are trying to stop their party colleagues from rocking the government, others are using every opportunity to needle JD (S) leaders to provoke the party into walking out of the coalition. As JD (S) leaders have already wrecked two coalition governments-the earlier one was headed by late Mr N Dharam Singh followed by another with Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister, the third would not be out of character, the source said. The second strategy is to force JD (S) hand into to joining hands with BJP for the rest of tenure and escape anti-incumbency during next Assembly polls, sources said. Mr Gowda, who took potshots at his bete noire and chairman of the coordination committee, Mr Siddaramaiah while addressing party workers on Thursday, reportedly told Mr Gandhi that his party was forced into pleading with Congress legislators not to criticize the style of functioning of the government headed Mr Kumaraswamy. The warnings by Mr Gowda and his son are seen as a reaction to Congress MLA S.T. Somasekhars recent remark that Karnataka would have witnessed "real development" if former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had received another term. His party colleague, C Puttarangashetty, went a step further by saying that Mr Siddaramaiah is the only chief minister in his book. Jaitley said the governmetnhas introduced a culture of honesty in governance and no one who cheats India can hide anywhere in the world and escape. (Photo: ANI | File) New Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday hailed the Modi government for the extradition of AgustaWestland chopper deal case co-accused Rajiv Saxena and corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar. Jaitley said the governmetnhas introduced a culture of honesty in governance and no one who cheats India can hide anywhere in the world and escape. Jaitley, who is undergoing medical treatment in US, in a series of tweets said, The UPA skeletons are tumbling out by the day. Why did all defence purchases need middlemen? No one who cheats India can hide anywhere in the world and escape. India's diplomatic strength and more civilized international procedures will get better of him, he added. If the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is honest, if he imposes a culture of honesty in governance, no person who cheats India will escape," he tweeted. Jaitley's remarks came in the backdrop of the extradition of Rajiv Saxena and Deepak Talwar from the UAE early on Thursday morning. The extradition comes as a major boost to the Indian agencies investigating corruption angles in two separate cases involving the two. Deepak Talwar is accused of brokering aviation sector deals, getting government approval for foreign companies, securing favours for clients and having ties with UPA functionaries. Rajiv Saxena is wanted in the Rs. 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper money laundering case. A Delhi court has sent Rajiv Saxena and Deepak Talwar to four-day and seven-day ED custody respectively. Usually, Naidu wears white, cream or yellow coloured clothes but this was the first time he wore a black shirt. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday wore a black shirt to protest against the Centres step motherly treatment to the state and for not fulfilling its promises including granting special category status. Naidus cabinet colleagues including his son and all other party legislators also wore black. .@ncbn wore black to the assembly today as a sign to protest against @narendramodi's step-motherly treatment meted out to Andhra Pradesh and for breaking all promises made including #SpecialStatus #ModiBetrayedAP #APDemandsSpecialStatus pic.twitter.com/Uh46dgxxbd Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) February 1, 2019 Usually, Naidu wears white, cream or yellow coloured clothes but this was the first time he wore a black shirt. Earlier, during a teleconference with TDP leaders, Naidu said that demonstrations would be held in the state till February 10. The next day he will head to New Delhi where he would lead a protest. The protests in the national capital would continue till February 14. Gowda demanded that the Congress prevent its legislators from uttering remarks that could hurt their working relationship. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Bengaluru: Pointing towards the cracks widening in Karnatakas coalition government, Janata Dal (Secular) chief Deve Gowda on Thursday condemned the frequency with which Congress legislators were taking potshots at his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and said that he cannot remain silent on the matter anymore. Gowda demanded that the Congress prevent its legislators from uttering remarks that could hurt their working relationship. "Is this any way to run a coalition government? Every day, we have to request our coalition partner to not utter unparliamentary remarks," he said. JD(S) chief said he has been in pain ever since his son became the chief minister. "All kinds of things have happened in these six months. I have not opened my mouth till now, but I can't keep quiet anymore," he added. A few days ago, a visibly offended Kumaraswamy had even offered to quit his post. These warnings issued by Gowda and Kumaraswamy are seen as a reaction to Congress legislator ST Somasekhar's recent remark that Karnataka would have witnessed "real development" if former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had received another term. His party colleague, C Puttarangashetty, went a step further by saying that Siddaramaiah is the only chief minister in his book. On Monday, Kumaraswamy asked its alliance partner to control its lawmakers because they were "crossing the alliance line". "If they want to continue with the same thing, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line," he told reporters, adding that such wayward behaviour will only hurt the alliance partner. The Congress tried to make amends in the hours that followed, with state unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao saying that "statements crossing the lakshmanrekha of coalition politics" will not be tolerated. He also said that Somasekhar has apologised for his remarks. However, Kumaraswamy seems to have calmed down since then. "I'm telling you all as well as the people of the state to have faith in me. Yes, I did say yesterday that I will resign due to certain developments. I said that because a few people were talking against me," he said on Thursday. Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) joined hands to keep BJP out of power after the Karnataka elections. The master mind of the fraud, Akela, is now building a mansion in Nigeria as the details of this construction was found in this bank. Thrissur: Crime Branch on Friday sleuths arrested four online fraudsters from Nigeria from Bangalore for diverting more than Rs 21.8 lakh from the NRI account of a businessman at Bank of Baroda Branch in Guruvayur. The arrested persons are Christian Obeji, Paskal Ahiyad, Samson and Akela Filibi. They reached Bangalore by arranging Indian visa citing educational and medical purposes and were found over staying in India, by CB. The master mind of the fraud, Akela, is now building a mansion in Nigeria as the details of this construction was found in this bank. The delays in processing H-1Bs paired with the backlog of green card applications from Indian and Chinese citizens also make it incredibly risky to try to switch jobs. Because of the delays in processing applications, theres little guarantee that the petition to transfer an H-1B visa will be approved or approved in time. Even if it is approved, workers from those countries have to restart the green card application process, which puts them at the back of the decades-long line again. As a result, workers often feel stuck at their current company, sometimes in a situation where they are being underpaid or mistreated. Anirudhya died from multiple injuries incurred in the fall. Sub-inspector Srikanth of the Sangareddy (Rural) police said that initially there was some confusion about whether the boy had slipped from the fourth floor or had ended life. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: A 21-year-old engineering student from IIT Hyderabad at Kandi in Sangareddy district reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of the college building during the early hours of Friday. The student had sent an email to his friend informing him that he was feeling depression and is taking his own life. M. Anirudhya, who lived in Trimulgherry and was a native of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, was in the final year of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering course at IIT-Hyderabad, which is located in Kandi about 60 km from the city. At about 12.45 am on Friday, Anirudhya allegedly jumped from the fourth floor of a campus building. His friends alerted the administrative heads of the college following which the police was called in. Anirudhya died from multiple injuries incurred in the fall. Sub-inspector Srikanth of the Sangareddy (Rural) police said that initially there was some confusion about whether the boy had slipped from the fourth floor or had ended life. Footage from the CCTV cameras shows that he had slipped from the building, but later it was found that the boy committed suicide. Responding to a query, the SI said, Late on Friday it was found that Anirudhya committed suicide. He sent an email to one of his friends, informing that he is undergoing depression and is taking his own life. The boy did not mention any other details in the email. No information is available yet if he was poor in studies or any other reason drove him to take the extreme step. The investigation is still under way. A case of suspicious death is registered based on the complaint from the boys father M. Rajan. After the autopsy at Sangareddy government hospital, the body was handed over to family. The tomb of Egypt's boy king Tutankhamun was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor in 1922. (Photo: AFP) Luxor: After almost a decade, a team of international experts on Thursday revealed the results of their painstaking work to preserve the tomb of Egypt's legendary Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Nearly a victim of his own fame, long years of mass tourism had left their mark on the boy king's burial place near Luxor on the east bank of the Nile River. "A hundred years of visits, after being sealed for 3,000 years... can you imagine the impact on the grave?" said Neville Agnew, head of the project led by the Los Angeles-based Getty Conservation Institute. "Visitors, humidity, dust..." lamented the scientist during the unveiling ceremony at the tomb, discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. Called to the rescue in 2009, Agnew has led a 25-member team that included archaeologists, architects, engineers and microbiologists, to preserve the tomb and fend off the ravages of time and tourism. Interrupted during Egypt's 2011 uprising and the political instability that followed, the project later resumed its work and finished up this month. The preservation work began with a comprehensive study of the funeral chamber, including its ornate golden-yellow murals, which had been blanketed over the decades by a grey veil of dust. Lori Wong, a curator specialising in murals, specifically looked into the "material composition of the paintings and how it was applied". The goal in doing so was "to understand the current state of the paintings, to determine if they were in danger and to establish a plan to safeguard them for the future", she told AFP. Many years of mass tourism had left their mark on the boy king's burial place near Luxor on the east bank of the Nile River. (Photo: AFP) Famed Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass, who initiated the project, said that the project has "saved the tomb of Tutankhamun". "Still I really think after this great work that has been done, we need to limit the number of tourists who enter inside," he added. "If we let mass tourism enter this tomb, it will not last more than 500 years," he warned, advocating for a complete halt of visits to site. He said that the tourists could instead visit a replica built nearby. "We have to think of the future from now. In 500 or 1000 years if we leave the tourist situation like this, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings will be completely finished," he concluded. New Delhi: In a major decision, the Defence Ministry on Thursday approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 40,000 crore, officials said. This was decided at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement, they said. The DAC, presided over by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, also approved acquisition of approximately 5,000 Milan anti-tank guided missiles for the Army. The project to construct the six submarines will be implemented under the strategic partnership model which provides for roping in private firm to build select military platforms in India in partnership with foreign defence manufacturers, the officials said. It will be the second project to be implemented under the strategic partnership model. The first project to get government''s nod for implementation under the new model was acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore. "The DAC in a landmark decision on Thursday approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 40,000 crore," said a senior defence ministry official. "Construction of six submarines under Project 75 (I) will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing eco-system in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as a necessary skill sets," he said. New Delhi: Seeking to address distress in farm sector, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced a 2 per cent interest subvention for farmers hit by natural calamities, while offering 3 per cent more to them for timely loan payment. Goyal, who stepped in to present the budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha in place of indisposed Arun Jaitley, also said also announced 2 per cent interest subvention for farmers involved in animal husbandry and fishery. Farmers hit by natural calamities will get 2 per cent interest subvention and 3 per cent more on timely repayment of loans, he said. Further, the finance minister said the government will provide Rs 750 crore to support animal husbandry and fishing. He also said the government has fixed MSP for 22 notified crops at 50 per cent higher than cost of production. There is need for structured income support for poor, landless farmers to meet input cost, the FM said, adding that the government will also implement special strategy for uplift of nomadic tribes. He said pension scheme for unorganised sector workers will be implemented from this fiscal. High growth, formalisation of the economy has resulted in increased EPFO membership by 2 crore in last two years, he noted. 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. February 1st. 1978: Tom of Finland has his first U.S. exhibit at Robert Opels Fey Way Gallery in San Francisco. Robert Opel was not only famous for being the man who streaked the 1974 Academy Awards. He also opened the first erotic art gallery in San Francisco called Fey-Way Studios (1978- 1979) While Tom of Finlands work went on to become famous worldwide. Tragically things did not turn out the same way for Robert Opel. On the night of July 7, 1979, a crazed gunman by the name of Maurice Keenan killed Robert Opel in his own gallery shortly after putting on a stage performance entitled The Mock-Execution of Dan White (Harvey Milks murderer). Keenan made off with $5 dollars and a camera. ***************** 1979: A gang of teenage boys stands outside Tennessee Williamss home in Key West, Florida, and begins throwing beer cans and firecrackers at the house while chanting Come on out, faggot! The incident is just the latest in a string of bizarre homophobic attacks aimed at the openly gay playwright. Via The Washington Post: Tennessee Williams life now on Key West in a way resembles the plot of one of his plays: an injured innocent in a honky-tonk town pitted against uprovoked malice, deliberate cruelty. Since January, his gardener has been murdered, his house ransacked twice. He has been mugged twice on the street, once reported, once not. His dog has disappeared. One winter evening some kids stood outside his house and threw beer cans on the porch, yelling at Americas greatest playwright, Come on out, faggot. The only person home at the time was a house-guest, writer Dotson Rader, and when the kids set off some fire-crackers, Rader remembers thinging: This is it. Theyve resorted to guns. Yet Williams has reacted with the resiliency of one of his heroines, dismissing it all as ridiculous. He uses the same cliche to explain it away as does the Key West Police Department: There is voilence everywhere. What has happened is enough to shatter faith in essential human goodness, as Williams himself once put it, but he has insisted on a brave front, as if through enduring the devil, he will earn, if nothing else, its respect. We all go through "dark moments" in which things seem to lose meaning, but it is then that Christians must "persevere" to "reach the promise" of the Lord, without "letting oneself fall" or "going backwards". And even "when the devil attacks us with temptations", "with our miseries", we must "always look to the Lord". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The memory of our first encounter with Jesus gives hope to many Christians who even today "suffer for the faith", such as those to whom the Letter to the Jews addressed the exhortation to "persevere", Pope Francis said at Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the first reading (Heb 10: 32-39), "a catechesis on perseverance: persevering on the path of faith, persevering in the service of the Lord" . It is when desolation and dark moments make one lose the meaning of things that Christians must persevere in order to reach the promise of the Lord without falling down or retreating. He was referring to the Letter to the Hebrews, whose author addressed Christians passing through a dark moment of persecution, just as every individual goes through, including Jesus who experienced moments of desolation. The Pope said Christian life is not a carnival or a continuous feast and joy. It has good times as well as ugly ones, moments of warmth and of detachment, where not everything has meaning... moments of desolation. It is during a moment of internal persecution and inner state of the soul that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews urges Christians to perseverance". You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised. One needs perseverance to reach the promise. Pope Francis then focused on two things, or a recipe, that help us fight desolation: memory and hope. Like the apostle, he pointed out that one must first of all recall the beautiful moments, the happy days of our encounter with the Lord, the time of love. And, secondly, we must have hope for what has been promised us. With life consisting of good and bad times, the Pontiff said it is important not to "allow oneself to fall" and "go back" in moments of difficulty. The Pope urged Christians not to give in to bad times, urging them to endure in memory and hope - an endurance of the heart which, he said, recalls good times and "breathes when looking up to hope". Finding the consolation of the promise of the Lord is what we must do in moments of desolation. Speaking about perseverance, the Holy Father recalled his apostolic visit to Lithuania, in September 2018, where he said he was moved by the courage of so many Christians and martyrs who persevered in faith. The Pope noted that even today, many men and women suffer for their faith but remember the first encounter with Jesus and gain hope and go ahead. Perseverance, the Pope said, is the advice of the author of the Letter to the Hebrews to Christians in times of persecution and attacks. Finally he urged Christians to always look to the Lord when the devil attacks us with temptations. With our miseries, he said, we must always look to the Lord, have "the perseverance of the Cross recalling the first beautiful moments of love, of our encounter with the Lord and the hope that awaits us. The clergyman heads the Joosarang church, where in addition to babies, mothers leave letters with heart-breaking stories. Since it was opened, the baby hatch has been controversial. After new adoption legislation was passed in 2012, the number of foundlings has shot up. In a proposal to the government, the clergyman wants women with unwanted pregnancies to be protected. Seoul (AsiaNews) In 2009, the Joosarang Community Church, in south Seoul, installed a baby box for abandoned children. Since then, a total of 1,526 newborns have been left in it. The small hatch, equipped to allow unwanted children to be placed inside, was the first of its kind in South Korea, which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. Most mothers who leave babies are unwed or victims of sexual violence. More than half of them are 20-year-olds or younger. "Moms usually leave a letter that carries heart-breaking stories and resolute pledges to return someday. They are mostly in desperate circumstances, having nowhere to go and nobody to turn to," said Rev Lee Jong-rak, 64, quoted in South Koreas Yonhap news agency. In such cases, police investigate the case. Following some administrative procedures, the babies are then placed in an orphanage or a foster home. Since its opened, the baby box has been controversial. Critics argue that it encourages people to take the easy way out of their parental responsibilities. For years, the government has called for its removal, telling Lee that he could face criminal charges for aiding and abetting child abandonment. The pastor has refused to install security cameras and regularly wipes away fingerprints from the box to prevent the parents from being identified and prosecuted. When the hatch door is opened it triggers a bell inside the church. The pastor, or a staff member, go after the parents to dissuade them from leaving their child behind. "Some 95 per cent of those had at least brief talks with me, and 17 parents ended up changing their minds," he said. The church takes care of children for up to six months. Single moms who decide to raise their child receive various forms of support, including some money and counselling. Since a Special Adoption Law was adopted in 2012, the Joosarang church has seen a surge in the number of abandoned babies: 22 in 2011, 79 in 2012, 220 in 2013, and 248 in 2014. Under this law, parents are required to register their children with their names if they want to have them adopted. Last year, in order to protect mothers and children in case of unwanted pregnancies, Rev Lee presented a bill to the parliament that allows women to give birth in secret. Under the proposal, mothers who wish to give birth anonymously can hand over their newborn to the state whilst keeping their identity in sealed documents at a state agency. Children will have the right to know the identity of their biological parents when they reach the age of 16 and after the approval of a court. More than 30 Orange County citizens participated in a recent community workshop geared toward refining local conservation efforts. The workshop was part of the Healthy Watershed project, a Virginia Department of Forestry program examining ways to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay through encouraging forest conservation. Orange County is one of two Virginia communities chosen as a pilot locality for the Healthy Watersheds project, allowing consultants to evaluate the countys current conservation policies and interview local land owners. The project is an effort by partners to quantify the value of forested land for achieving Chesapeake Bay water quality and healthy watersheds goals. Orange County Administrator Bryan David said he is delighted the county was chosen as a pilot community and is displaying a leadership role with this initiative. One of the things were looking at is how do we build off of what we already have in place and how do we align that with what the Virginia Department of Forestry is trying to achieve? he said. Consultants from the Berkley Group attended the Orange County Planning Commissions December meeting to present their objectives for the project, which will be conducted in three phases. Under questioning from Republicans, Tran said her bill would change that standard in Virginia in a similar way. Expressing horror at the celebratory response to the law in New York, Republicans have warned Democrats would do the same thing if they take control in Virginia. "The shameful cheering that occurred in Albany last week may be coming to Richmond next year folks," said Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell. Cox said he was proud of the questions put to Tran during the hearing. The speaker said he felt it was Republicans duty to draw attention to the things Tran said about her own bill. "This debate needs to be had nationally, Cox said. "And we're ready to have this debate." Even as they accuse Democrats of refusing to draw a clear line on late-term abortions, Cox refused to say Thursday whether he believes third-trimester abortions should be banned entirely, with no exceptions for the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Northam also refused to discuss Tran's bill directly after being asked to respond to Republicans' claims the legislation would allow third-trimester abortions in cases where a woman said she was feeling anxiety about becoming a mother. Former Virginia Gov. George Allen will stop in Charlottesville on Saturday as part of a five-city town hall tour to discuss nonpartisan redistricting reform during this years General Assembly session. Allen will share his personal experience with gerrymandering during his time in Congress and solicit ideas from voters. The tour is part of the Reform Virginia legislative campaign of OneVirginia2021, a nonpartisan redistricting advocacy organization. Saturdays town hall will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott at 638 Hillsdale Drive beginning at 8 a.m. Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here. 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. Beiruts skies lit up with fireworks yesterday to celebrate the formation of a new government. For the third time, Saad Hariri will lead. The 30-member cabinet includes four women. Cautious optimism informs local and regional media. The "internal" problems reflect regional and international conflicts. Reforms are needed to unlock billions in pledges. Beirut (AsiaNews) After nine months of political stalemate and tensions among lawmakers, Lebanon finally has a new government. To mark the occasion, fireworks illuminated the sky in Beirut and some Lebanese stocks rose to their highest level since last August. With the creation of a cabinet of national unity, something that Maronite Patriarch Card Beshara al-Rahi has strongly advocated, all the parties and factions in parliament were able to save face, analysis and experts say. For Saad al-Hariri, on his third term as prime minister, the bold move was necessary to cope with chronic problems, first of all the huge national debt. Hariri, speaking in Lebanese vernacular rather standard literary Arabic, apologised to his fellow citizens for the delays in forming a new government. In and of itself, this is unusual in country where politicians rarely apologise or acknowledge their mistakes. The new cabinet has 30 members, including four women, one at the Interior Minister, a first. The country had been waiting for a strong and united government since May, to deal with the many threats and challenges it faces, from the economy (the national debt represents 150 per cent of GDP) and immigration to growing poverty and unemployment, especially among young people. On several occasions, the Lebanese Church spoke out to highlight the critical situation, which has been aggravated by the civil war in neighbouring Syria and its unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The new cabinet includes Gebran Bassil, a political ally of Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian Shia movement, who is also the son-in-law of President Michel Aoun. He keeps the Foreign Ministry. The Defence Ministry, which relies on US funding, goes to Elias Bou Saab, another Aoun loyalist. Rayya Hassan, one of the four women cabinet members, moves from Finance to Interior, whilst, another woman, Nada Bustani, takes over Energy. Ali Hassan Khalil remains at Finance. The local and regional media have welcomed the new government, albeit following their separate Sunni, Shia or Christian inclination, noting that it is the product of delicate compromises and will face a serious economic crisis. Analysts and observers note that internal problems that have hindered its creation for so long are in fact a reflection of regional and international conflicts that end up impacting Lebanon. Whilst enjoying extensive credit and support in the West, the government remains under observation in government circles in Washington due to the presence of pro-Hezbollah members. The United States is concerned about the possible influence of a "terrorist organisation" that does Tehran's bidding. After losing more than a third of his seats in the last election, Hariri had to turn to external support and make compromises in a country of 18 religious communities where power-sharing is as much an art as it is fragile. Hariri now has to implement the necessary reforms to unblock US$ 11 billion in loans and aid promised by the international community and find a solution to the presence of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, almost 1.5 million in a country of 4 million people. Public finances, a crumbling infrastructure and development projects stuck in the planning stage are some of the issues the new government has to tackle. For Hariri, "We must turn the page and start working," because The solution is with a clear program and bold reforms . . . and developing laws that cannot be delayed. Admissions season is year-round for many colleges, with some top colleges filling nearly half of their freshman classes through early admissions processes that start at the beginning of fall. UVa is no exception; on Jan. 25, the school announced its Class of 2023 is so far more selective and more diverse than the previous year. A record 25,126 students applied early, according to the school. UVa awarded 6,550 acceptances, for an offer rate of 26 percent. Early-action admissions processes mean a student can still apply to and decide to go to other schools. Many selective institutions use a process called early decision, where a student must commit to attend if they are awarded admission. Applying [to UVa] felt more like a pipe dream to me rather than something realistic, said Sara Dunklee, who lives in Newport News. I was sitting in the living room with my family and was taken by surprise when I received the email notification that decisions were out. Dunklee said she hopes to study biology and eventually attend medical school. Shes almost certain shell attend UVa, but she wants to hear back from all of the other 10 schools to which she applied. A Dillwyn woman died Thursday after crashing head-on into an Albemarle County school bus in Buckingham County, according to state police. Nicole E. Palmer, 32, was driving her 2008 Acura southward on Route 20, just south of Route 651 (Muddy Creek Road), at about 4:30 p.m. Her car crossed the center line and struck the bus head-on. According to state police, the bus driver swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid the oncoming Acura. Palmer died at the scene of the crash. The bus driver was not injured. There were no students on the bus at the time of the crash, which is still being investigated by police. Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here. 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. However, the SCOVA petition was rendered largely moot following three days of hearings last month, when Moore denied the motion to reconsider. Moore wrote a letter clarifying his decision on Jan. 22, and on Jan. 24 the SCOVA denied the defenses petition. The other defendants in the suit former Councilor Bob Fenwick, the city of Charlottesville and the City Council were not part of the motion to reconsider or the SCOVA petition. Still under consideration is a request from the defense for a jury trial. Motions hearings in January discussed which issues would be appropriate for a jury to determine. The defense has requested a jury to decide several major issues: whether the statues constitute war memorials; whether councilors were grossly negligent with their votes; and what monetary damages would be appropriate if the defendants are found guilty. On Feb. 19, the parties will attend a judicial settlement conference with retired Judge Daniel R. Bouton to discuss a settlement. This fairly common practice is closed to the public. If the parties do not reach an agreement to settle, the case likely will proceed to either a bench trial in March or a jury trial in September. Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here. 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. Mountainside Senior Living in Crozet is being sold from the nonprofit Jefferson Area Board for Aging to a for-profit company. As of Friday, the facility is managed by English Meadows Senior Living, a company that, according to its website, has eight facilities across Virginia. Mountainside staff and residents will be able to stay at the facility. Marta Keane, CEO of JABA, said English Meadows ultimately will buy Mountainside once state licensure has changed over. She said JABA has struggled to keep the facility financially sustainable without the infusion of additional funds over the last 18 months. We realized that we wanted to find a solution that would allow everyone to remain where they were and would allow us to continue to be fiscally responsible to JABA, she said. Part of the sale guarantees that current residents would stay and that there is a continued commitment to a percentage of low-income spaces, Keane said. Mountainside has been managed by JABA for about 17 years, Keane said. A memory care unit opened in 2017. Community Night of Worship (Madison) will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 in the auditorium of Madison County High School. The event is sponsored by several local churches representing different denominations. (540) 717-2434. Operation Esther Prayer Circle meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Christian Study Prayer Room, 128 Chancellor St. (434) 227-0811. Peace Lutheran Church celebrates its 35th anniversary with guest speaker Pastor John Wertz, Virginia Synod director of evangelical mission and assistant to the bishop, at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck luncheon at 11 a.m. Feb. 10. 1510 Broad Crossing Road. (434) 978-4357. The Roadshow Tour features performances by Michael W. Smith, Leanna Crawford, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Tenth Avenue North and more, 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the John Paul Jones Arena. ticketmaster.com. (434) 243-4960. Unity Church hosts seven Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehradun, India, presenting Meditation, Visualization, Chanting and Tantra at 7 p.m. Thursday and A Course in Happiness: An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism at 7 p.m. Friday. unitycharlottesville.org. 2825 Hydraulic Road. (434) 978-1062. This calendar, published every Saturday, lists special events of a religious nature. Because of space constraints, notices about regular worship services cannot be included. Items intended for publication, including an address and phone number, should be faxed to (434) 978-7252; mailed to Worship Calendar, The Daily Progress, P.O. Box 9030, Charlottesville, VA 22906; or emailed to ewood@dailyprogress.com. Material must be received by 4 p.m. the Wednesday prior to publication. Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here. 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. Sixty years is grossly inappropriate in this case, Zander said. [Garrison] contacted minors, masturbated to images of child pornography and sought out minors. Garrison spoke to the court, saying he was going to speak from the heart. Garrison began by apologizing to the court and his girlfriend. Three times throughout the statement, Garrison said that he was a good person. After Garrison said he wished he had more time to prepare a statement, Durrer asked him if hed like a recess to write down his thoughts. Following the brief recess, the statement was not read aloud and instead was handed to Durrer. Before imposing the sentence, which had no time suspended, Durrer spoke about the importance of juries and their recommendations. In the courts view, jury recommendations are important for a number of reasons, but most importantly it shows the community opinion ... no one is suggesting that youre a bad person, but the court thinks you have a dark side, Durrer said. The jury in this case was the moral conscious of Greene County, and they spoke, Durrer added. Maus filed a notice of appeal immediately following Durrers ruling. Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here. 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. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation provides technology-based equipment, systems, and services for the freight rail and passenger transit vehicle industries worldwide. It operates through two segments, Freight and Transit. The Freight segment manufactures and services components for new and existing freight cars and locomotives; builds new commuter locomotives; rebuilds freight locomotives; supplies railway electronics, positive train control equipment, signal design, and engineering services; and provides related heat exchange and cooling systems. It serves publicly traded railroads; leasing companies; manufacturers of original equipment, including locomotives and freight cars; and utilities. The Transit segment manufactures and services components for new and existing passenger transit vehicles, such as regional trains, high speed trains, subway cars, light-rail vehicles, and buses; refurbishes subway cars; and provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, as well as doors for buses and subways. It serves public transit authorities and municipalities, leasing companies, and manufacturers of subway cars and buses. The company also provides electronically controlled pneumatic braking products; railway electronics; freight car trucks; draft gears, couplers, and slack adjusters; air compressors and dryers; heat exchangers and cooling products; and track and switch products. In addition, it offers railway braking equipment and related components; friction products; new commuter and switcher locomotives; transit locomotive and car overhaul services; and freight locomotive overhaul and refurbishment services. Further, the company provides doors for buses and subway cars; platform screen doors; pantographs; window assemblies; couplers; accessibility lifts and ramps for buses and subway cars; and traction motors. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read More The mosque attack is unrelated to the Jolo cathedral blasts. Jihadi bomb maker Kamah might be behind the blast at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Muslim religious leaders in Zamboanga warn against letting violence turn into a religious conflict. Zamboanga (AsiaNews/Agencies) The police and the military on Thursday announced that Abu Sayyafs Ajang-Ajang group was the prime suspect in Sundays deadly bombing at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu province, which was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.. The authorities have ruled out any connection between the bombing in Jolo, which killed 21 people, and the grenade thrown three days later against a mosque in Zamboanga City, which killed two Muslim preachers. According to investigators, the motive for the mosque attack was not revenge by Christians, but a family feud between Islamic clans, called rido. To avoid fresh sectarian tensions, local Muslim religious leaders (ulama) called for calm and unity among people of every faith. Meanwhile, the investigation and military operations continue against the terrorist network behind the attack against the Catholic community in Jolo. Oscar Albayalde, director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that Kamah, a Jihadi and a notorious bomb maker, might be behind the blasts. According to reports from the security forces, Kamah has threatened to attack the cathedral since his return from Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). Kamah, noted Albayalde, is one of the brothers of a slain Abu Sayyaf commander. Chief Inspector Shellamie Chang, a Zamboanga City police spokesperson, said that the investigation into the attack on the Kamahaldikaan mosque in the Talon-Talon ward (barangay) has focused on two possible reasons: rido, one of the main causes of violence among families in the area, and politics, since one of the victims was a village councillor in Basilan. Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), noted that two persons of interest were under investigation. Yesterday evening, the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula condemned the attack and reiterated its call for "vigilance and sobriety, in these turbulent and volatile times". We call on everyone, Muslims and Christians alike, to maintain our solidarity and harmony as advocates of peace and to exert our utmost to prevent the situation from escalating into a religious conflict, said the ulama in a statement. Both victims of the mosque attack were members of Jamaah Tableegh, a Sunni-inspired Islamic missionary movement. Haji Ridwan Julpali, an elder with the group, said that Muslims and Christians should remain united against any threats to freely practising faith. We should not hold on to hate. Muslims and Christians should be united and broaden the love among us and increase of worship of God, Julpali explained. Wall Street analysts have given Schwab International Equity ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Schwab International Equity ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs and produces containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems; syringe and cartridge components, including custom solutions for the needs of injectable drug applications, as well as administration systems that enhance the safe delivery of drugs through advanced reconstitution, mixing, and transfer technologies; and films, coatings, washing, and vision inspection and sterilization processes and services to enhance the quality of packaging components. It also provides drug containment solutions, including Crystal Zenith, a cyclic olefin polymer in the form of vials, syringes, and cartridges; and self-injection devices, as well as a range of integrated solutions, including analytical lab services, pre-approval primary packaging support and engineering development, regulatory expertise, and after-sales technical support. This segment serves biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug companies. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment is involved in the design, manufacture, and automated assembly of devices used in surgical, diagnostic, ophthalmic, injectable, and other drug delivery systems, as well as consumer products. It serves pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device companies. The company distributes its products through its sales force and distribution network, as well as contract sales agents and regional distributors. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1923 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania. Read More Iranian deputy foreign minister says it is part of "the commitments made" by Europe to save trade with the Islamic Republic. Instex will be applied to the food, pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. Teheran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Teheran has welcomed the launch of a new payment channel promoted by the European Union, to circumvent the US sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Quoted by the official Irna agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasizes that the special scheme of trade is part of "the list of commitments made by Europeans" and that "I hope they will be applied in full". The payment scheme was announced yesterday by the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and allows businessmen to trade with the Islamic Republic without incurring US sanctions. The three countries are among the most ferocious critics of the bellicose policy implemented by Washington. The JCPOA deal was signed in 2015, but the United States pulled out in May 2018 despite the opposition of the international community. US President Donald Trump followed the withdrawal by imposing the toughest sanctions in history against Iran. The decision has negatively impacted the Iranian economy as noted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Oil exports have dropped considerably, which was the goal of the second round of sanctions that came into effect on 4 November. Some of the US sanctions make it difficult for banks in the Old Continent to make direct payments to Iran. On several occasions the White House has threatened "very serious consequences" for those who promote activities with the ayatollahs that may be subject to sanctions. With the creation of a new payment channel - based in Paris and run by a German banker - the three European states are hoping to allow companies to continue trading. Current payment systems in operation have ties - more or less tight - with the United States and this makes it difficult, if not impossible, to use them in relations with the Islamic Republic. The British Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the payment channel renamed Instex represents "a new mechanism to facilitate legitimate businesses between European entities and Iran". At first it will be applied to the food, pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors, which are not subject to penalties. Excluding, however, the oil sector that is the main source of wealth for Tehran and is the number one target of US sanctions. In a note, the US embassy in Berlin remembers President Trump's policy that he intends to strike anyone who "executes activities with Iran that come under the category of sanctions". However, the statement continues, the new payment system "should in no way affect the White House's economic pressure campaign against Tehran. L3 Technologies, Inc. provides aircraft sustainment, simulation and training, night vision and image intensification equipment, and security and detection systems used on military, homeland security, and commercial platforms in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems; Communications and Networked Systems (C&NS); and Electronic Systems. The company offers engineering, modernization and sustainment, space avionics and imaging payload, counter unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) mission, cyber and electronic warfare, special mission command and control, modeling and simulation, and life cycle support services for ISR, airborne sensor, warrior sensor, space and sensor, aircraft, and intelligence and mission systems, as well as for military aviation services and advanced programs. It also provides network and communication systems, secure communications products, radio frequency components, satellite communication terminals and space, microwave and telemetry products, and secure data links in various business areas, such as broadband communication, naval power, space and power, and maritime sensor systems, as well as in advanced communications. In addition, the company offers components, products, subsystems, and systems, as well as related services to military and commercial customers in various business areas, including commercial aviation solutions, precision engagement systems, link training and simulation, and security and detection systems. It serves the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense and its prime contractors, the U.S. Government intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, foreign governments, and commercial customers. The company was formerly known as L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to L3 Technologies, Inc. in December 2016. L3 Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Read More 3D Systems Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers 3D printers, such as stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal printing, multi jet printing, and color jet printers that transform digital data input generated by 3D design software, computer aided design (CAD) software, or other 3D design tools into printed parts under the Accura, DuraForm, LaserForm, CastForm, and VisiJet brand names. It also develops, blends, and markets various print materials, such as plastic, nylon, metal, composite, elastomeric, wax, polymeric dental, and Class IV bio-compatible materials. In addition, the company provides digital design tools, including software, scanners, and haptic devices, as well as solutions for product design, mold and die design, 3D scan-to-print, reverse engineering, production machining, metrology, and inspection under the Geomagic brand. Further, it offers 3D Sprint and 3DXpert, a proprietary software to prepare and optimize CAD data and manage the additive manufacturing processes, which provides automated support building and placement, build platform management, and print queue management; and 3D virtual reality simulators and simulator modules for medical applications under the Simbionix brand, and digitizing scanners for medical and mechanical applications. Additionally, the company provides warranty, maintenance, and training services; on-demand manufacturing solutions; and software and precision healthcare services. It primarily serves companies and small and midsize businesses in medical, dental, automotive, aerospace, durable good, government, defense, technology, jewelry, electronic, education, consumer good, energy, and other industries through direct sales force, as well as partner channels and distributors. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc.. Both sides issue statements expressing satisfaction. The two delegations are set to meet in Beijing in mid-February to find a solution before the truce in the trade war ends on 1st March. Beijing decides to import five million tonnes of soybeans. Washington (AsiaNews) China and the United States wrapped up two days of trade talks last night against the backdrop of a trade war that has already lasted more than six months. Upon leaving the meeting, both delegations expressed optimism. The White House described the talks as intense and productive whilst US President Donald Trump hailed the tremendous progress achieved. Frank, concrete and constructive discussions have made important progress, said the Chinese delegation headed by Chinas Vice Premier Liu in a statement, published by Xinhua. The two sides will meet in Beijing in mid-February, after the lunar New Year holidays. The high-level talks between Liu He and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are the latest attempt to solve the trade dispute after President Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, agreed to a truce until 1st March 2019 in their trade war. Both delegations want a solution before this deadline. Without it, Trump said he would impose tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on US$ 200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Both sides have already imposed tariffs on each others products in the recent past. In a statement, the White House said that the talks covered a wide range of issues, including forced technology transfer, the lack of protection for intellectual property rights in China, cybertheft and tariffs. Washington wants to end the trade imbalance with China. Beijing has promised to increase US import in the agricultural, manufacturing, energy and services sectors. As proof of this, China has agreed to purchase an additional five million tonnes of soybeans. For a while, something got lost in translation as the Americans thought China was going to import five million tonnes "a day". Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., an early-stage contract research company, provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Support (Manufacturing). The RMS segment produces and sells research model strains and purpose-bred rats and mice for use by researchers. It also provides a range of services to assist its clients in supporting the use of research models in research and screening non-clinical drug candidates, including research models, genetically engineered models and services, insourcing solutions, and research animal diagnostic services. The DSA segment offers early and in vivo discovery services for the identification and validation of novel targets and chemical compounds through delivery of non-clinical drug and therapeutic candidates ready for safety assessment; and safety assessment services, such as toxicology, pathology, safety pharmacology, bioanalysis, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics services. The Manufacturing segment provides in vitro methods for conventional and rapid quality control testing of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals and consumer products. It also offers specialized testing of biologics that are outsourced by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and avian vaccine services that provide specific-pathogen-free (SPF) fertile chicken eggs, SPF chickens, and diagnostic products used to manufacture vaccines. The company was founded in 1947 and is based in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. provides home and security products for residential home repair, remodeling, new construction, and security applications. It operates in three segments: Plumbing, Outdoors & Security, and Cabinets. The Plumbing segment manufactures, assembles, and sells faucets, accessories, kitchen sinks, and waste disposals in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America directly through its own sales force, as well as through independent manufacturers' representatives to wholesalers, home centers, mass merchandisers, and industrial distributors. The Outdoors & Security segment offers fiberglass and steel entry door systems under the Therma-Tru brand; storm, screen, and security doors under the Larson brand; composite decking and railing under the Fiberon brand; and urethane millwork under the Fypon brand. This segment also manufactures, sources, and distributes locks, safety and security devices, and electronic security products under the Master Lock and American Lock brands; and fire resistant safes, security containers, and commercial cabinets under the SentrySafe brand. It serves home centers, hardware and other retailers, millwork building products and wholesale distributors, specialty dealers, and remodeling and renovation markets, as well as locksmiths, industrial and institutional users, and original equipment manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Japan, and Australia. The Cabinets segment manufactures custom, semi-custom, and stock cabinetry, as well as vanities for the kitchen, bath, and other parts of the home directly to kitchen and bath dealers, home centers, wholesalers, and builders in North America under the Aristokraft, Diamond Now, Mid-Continent, Homecrest, Kitchen Craft, Omega, EVE, Diamond Reflections, Diamond, Kemper, Schrock, Starmark, Ultracraft, and Mantra brands. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BP: 200 PS Overseas Holdings Inc., 563916 Alberta Ltd., ACP (Malaysia) Inc., AE Cedar Creek Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Wind Farm LLC, AE Power Services LLC, AE Wind PartsCo LLC, AM/PM International Inc., ARCO, ARCO British International, ARCO British Limited, ARCO Coal Australia Inc., ARCO El-Djazair Holdings Inc., ARCO Environmental Remediation L.L.C., ARCO Exploration Inc., ARCO Gaviota Company, ARCO International Investments Inc., ARCO International Services Inc., ARCO Midcon LLC, ARCO Oil Company Nigeria Unlimited, ARCO Oman Inc, ARCO Resources Limited, ARCO Trinidad Exploration and Production Company Limited, ARCO Unimar Holdings LLC, Actomat B.V., Advance Petroleum Holdings Pty Ltd, Advance Petroleum Pty Ltd, Air BP Albania SHA, Air BP Brasil Ltda., Air BP Canada LLC, Air BP Croatia d.o.o., Air BP Finland Oy, Air BP Iceland, Air BP Limited, Air BP Norway AS, Air BP Sales Romania S.R.L., Air BP Sweden AB, Air Refuel Pty Ltd, Allgreen Pty Ltd, AmProp Finance Company, American Oil Company, Amoco (Fiddich) Limited, Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company LLC., Amoco Bolivia Petroleum Company, Amoco Bolivia Services Company Inc., Amoco Canada International Holdings B.V., Amoco Capline Pipeline Company, Amoco Chemical (Europe) S.A., Amoco Chemicals (FSC) B.V., Amoco Cypress Pipeline Company, Amoco Destin Pipeline Company, Amoco Environmental Services Company, Amoco Exploration Holdings B.V., Amoco Guatemala Petroleum Company, Amoco International Finance Corporation, Amoco International Petroleum Company, Amoco Leasing Corporation, Amoco Louisiana Fractionator Company, Amoco MB Fractionation Company, Amoco MBF Company, Amoco Main Pass Gathering Company, Amoco Marketing Environmental Services Company, Amoco Netherlands Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Exploration Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Oil Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company Limited, Amoco Norway Oil Company, Amoco Oil Holding Company, Amoco Olefins Corporation, Amoco Overseas Exploration Company, Amoco Pipeline Asset Company, Amoco Pipeline Holding Company, Amoco Properties Incorporated, Amoco Remediation Management Services Corporation, Amoco Research Operating Company, Amoco Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Amoco Somalia Petroleum Company, Amoco Sulfur Recovery Company, Amoco Tri-States NGL Pipeline Company, Amoco Trinidad Gas B.V., Amoco U.K. Petroleum Limited, Amprop Illinois I Limited, Amprop Inc., Anaconda Arizona Inc., Arabian Production And Marketing Lubricants, Aral Aktiengesellschaft, Aral Luxembourg S.A., Aral Services Luxembourg Sarl, Aral Tankstellen Services Sarl, Arco Mediterraneo Inversiones S.L., Areas Noriega S.L., Areas Singulares Reyes S.L., Aspac Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Atlantic 2/3 UK Holdings Limited, Atlantic Richfield Company, Atlantic Richfield Companyd, Autino Holdings Limited, Autino Limited, Auwahi Wind Energy Holdings LLC, B2Mobility GmbH, BASS Management Pty Ltd, BP (Abu Dhabi) Limited, BP (Barbados) Holding SRL, BP (Barbican) Limited, BP (China) Holdings Limited, BP (China) Industrial Lubricants Limited, BP (GTA Mauritania) Finance Limited, BP (GTA Senegal) Finance Limited, BP (Gibraltar) Limited, BP (Guangzhou) Advanced Mobility Limited, BP (Hunan) Petroleum Company Limited, BP (Indian Agencies) Limited, BP (Shandong) Petroleum Co. Ltd, BP (Shanghai) Trading Limited, BP - Castrol (Thailand) Limited, BP AMI Leasing Inc., BP Absheron Limited, BP Advanced Mobility Limited, BP Africa Limited, BP Africa Oil Limited, BP Akaryakit Ortakligi, BP Alaska LNG LLC, BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, BP Alternative Energy Investments Limited, BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., BP Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago Limited, BP America Chembel Holding LLC, BP America Chemicals Company, BP America Foreign Investments Inc., BP America Inc, BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP America Production Company, BP Amoco Chemical Company, BP Amoco Chemical Holding Company, BP Amoco Chemical Indonesia Limited, BP Amoco Chemical Malaysia Holding Company, BP Amoco Exploration (Faroes) Limited, BP Amoco Exploration (In Amenas) Limited, BP Andaman II Ltd, BP Angola (Block 18) B.V., BP Argentina Exploration Company, BP Argentina Holdings LLC, BP Aromatics Holdings Limited, BP Aromatics Limited, BP Asia Limited, BP Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP Australia Employee Share Plan Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Group Pty Ltde, BP Australia Investments Pty Ltd, BP Australia Nominees Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Pty Ltd, BP Australia Shipping Pty Ltd, BP Australia Swaps Management Limited, BP Aviation A/S, BP Benevolent Fund Trustees Limited, BP Berau Ltd., BP Biocombustiveis S.A., BP Bioenergia Campina Verde Ltda., BP Bioenergia Ituiutaba Ltda., BP Bioenergia Itumbiara S.A., BP Bioenergia Tropical S.A., BP Biofuels Advanced Technology Inc., BP Biofuels Brazil Investments Limited, BP Biofuels Louisiana LLC, BP Biofuels North America LLC, BP Biofuels Trading Comercio Exportacao Ltda., BP Bomberai Ltd., BP Brasil Ltda., BP Brazil Tracking L.L.C., BP Bulwer Island Pty Ltd, BP Business Service Centre Asia Sdn Bhd, BP Business Service Centre KFT, BP CIV Pty Ltd, BP Canada Energy Development Company, BP Canada Energy Group ULC, BP Canada Energy Marketing Corp., BP Canada International Holdings B.V., BP Canada Investments Inc., BP Capellen Sarl, BP Capital Markets, BP Capital Markets America, BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Car Fleet Limited, BP Caribbean Company, BP Castrol KK, BP Castrol Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Central Pipelines LLC, BP Chembel, BP Chemicals (Korea) Limited, BP Chemicals East China Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Limited, BP China Exploration and Production Company, BP Comercializadora de Energia Ltda., BP Commodities Trading Limited, BP Commodity Supply B.V., BP Company North America, BP Company North America Inc., BP Containment Response Limited, BP Containment Response System Holdings LLC, BP Continental Holdings Limited, BP Corporate Holdings, BP Corporate Holdings Limited, BP Corporation North America, BP Corporation North America Inc., BP D-B Pipeline Company LLC, BP D230 Limited, BP Danmark A/S, BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., BP Dogal Gaz Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, BP East Kalimantan CBM Limited, BP Eastern Mediterranean Limited, BP Egypt Company, BP Egypt East Delta Marine Corporation, BP Egypt East Tanka B.V., BP Egypt Production B.V., BP Egypt Ras El Barr B.V., BP Egypt West Mediterranean (Block B) B.V., BP Energy Asia Pte. Limited, BP Energy Colombia Limited, BP Energy Company, BP Energy Europe Limited, BP Energy Solutions B.V., BP Energy do Brasil Ltda., BP Energia Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., BP Espana S.A. Unipersonal, BP Estaciones y Servicios Energeticos Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, BP Europa SE, BP Exploracion de Venezuela S.A., BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP Exploration (Absheron) Limited, BP Exploration (Alaska), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., BP Exploration (Algeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Alpha), BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited, BP Exploration (Angola), BP Exploration (Angola) Limited, BP Exploration (Azerbaijan), BP Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited, BP Exploration (Canada) Limited, BP Exploration (Caspian Sea), BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, BP Exploration (D230) Limited, BP Exploration (Delta), BP Exploration (Delta) Limited, BP Exploration (El Djazair) Limited, BP Exploration (Epsilon) Limited, BP Exploration (Gambia) Limited, BP Exploration (Greenland) Limited, BP Exploration (Madagascar) Limited, BP Exploration (Morocco) Limited, BP Exploration (Namibia) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria Finance) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Psi) Limited, BP Exploration (STP) Limited, BP Exploration (Shafag-Asiman) Limited, BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Limited, BP Exploration (South Atlantic) Limited, BP Exploration (Xazar) Pte. Ltd., BP Exploration Angola (Kwanza Benguela) Limited, BP Exploration Argentina Limited, BP Exploration Australia Pty Ltd Level 15, BP Exploration Beta Limited, BP Exploration China Limited, BP Exploration Company (Middle East) Limited, BP Exploration Company Limited, BP Exploration Indonesia Limited, BP Exploration Libya Limited, BP Exploration Mexico Limited, BP Exploration Mexico S.A. De C.V., BP Exploration North Africa Limited, BP Exploration Operating Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP Exploration Orinoco Limited, BP Exploration Personnel Company Limited, BP Exploration Peru Limited, BP Express Shopping Limited, BP Finance Australia Pty Ltd, BP Finance p.l.c., BP Foundation Incorporated, BP France, BP Fuels & Lubricants AS, BP Fuels Deutschland GmbH, BP GOM Logistics LLC, BP Gas & Power Investments Limited, BP Gas Europe S.A.U., BP Gas Marketing Limited, BP Gas Supply (Angola) LLC, BP Ghana Limited, BP Global Investments, BP Global Investments Limited, BP Global Investments Salalah & Co LLC, BP Global West Africa Limited, BP Greece Limited, BP Guangdong Limited, BP High Density Polyethylene - France, BP Holdings (Thailand) Limited, BP Holdings B.V., BP Holdings Canada, BP Holdings Canada Limited, BP Holdings International B.V., BP Holdings North America, BP Holdings North America Limited, BP Hong Kong Limited, BP India Private Limited, BP Indonesia Investment Limited, BP International, BP International Limited, BP International Services Company, BP Investment Management Limited, BP Investments Asia Limited, BP Iran Limited, BP Iraq N.V., BP Italia SpA, BP Japan K.K., BP Korea Limited, BP Kuwait Limited, BP LNG Shipping Limited, BP Latin America LLC, BP Latin America Upstream Services Inc., BP Lubricants KK, BP Lubricants USA Inc., BP Luxembourg S.A., BP Malaysia Holdings Sdn. Bhd., BP Management International B.V., BP Management Netherlands B.V., BP Marine Limited, BP Mariner Holding Company LLC, BP Maritime Services (Singapore) Pte. Limited, BP Marketing Egypt LLC, BP Mauritania Investments Limited, BP Mauritius Limited (in liquidation), BP Middle East Enterprises Corporation, BP Middle East LLC, BP Middle East Limited, BP Midstream Partners GP LLC, BP Midstream Partners Holdings LLC, BP Midstream Partners LP, BP Midwest Product Pipelines Holdings LLC, BP Mocambique Limitada, BP Mocambique Limited, BP Muturi Holdings B.V., BP Nederland Holdings BV, BP Netherlands Upstream B.V., BP New Ventures Middle East Limited, BP New Zealand Holdings Limited, BP New Zealand Share Scheme Limited, BP Nutrition Inc., BP Offshore Gathering Systems Inc., BP Offshore Pipelines Company LLC, BP Offshore Response Company LLC, BP Oil (Thailand) Limited, BP Oil Australia Pty Ltd, BP Oil Espana S.A., BP Oil Hellenic S.A., BP Oil International, BP Oil International Limited, BP Oil Kent Refinery Limited (in liquidation), BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Limited, BP Oil Logistics UK Limited, BP Oil New Zealand Limited, BP Oil Pipeline Company, BP Oil Senegal S.A., BP Oil Shipping Company, BP Oil UK Limited, BP Oil Venezuela Limited, BP Oil Vietnam Limited, BP Oil Yemen Limited, BP Olex Fanal Mineralol GmbH, BP One Pipeline Company LLC, BP Pacific Investments Ltd, BP Pakistan (Badin) Inc., BP Pakistan Exploration and Production Inc., BP Pension Escrow Limited, BP Pension Trustees Limited, BP Pensions (Overseas) Limited, BP Pensions Limited, BP Petrochemicals India Investments Limited, BP Petroleo y Gas S.A., BP Petrolleri Anonim Sirketi, BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., BP Pipelines (BTC) Limited, BP Pipelines (North America) Inc., BP Pipelines (SCP) Limited, BP Pipelines (TANAP) Limited, BP Pipelines TAP Limited, BP Polska Services Sp. z o.o. Ul., BP Portugal -Comercio de Combustiveis e Lubrificantes SA, BP Poseidon Limited, BP Products North America, BP Products North America Inc., BP Properties Limited, BP Raffinaderij Rotterdam B.V., BP Refinery (Kwinana) Proprietary Limited, BP Regional Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd, BP River Rouge Pipeline Company LLC, BP Russian Investments Limited, BP Russian Ventures Limited, BP SC Holdings LLC, BP Scale Up Factory Limited, BP Senegal Investments Limited, BP Services International Limited, BP Servicios de Combustibles S.A. de C.V., BP Servicios territoriales S.A., BP Shafag-Asiman Limited, BP Shipping Limited, BP Singapore Pte. Limited, BP Solar Energy North America LLC, BP Solar Espana S.A., BP Solar International Inc., BP Solar Pty Ltd, BP South America Holdings Ltd, BP Southern Africa Proprietary Limited, BP Southern Cone Company, BP Subsea Well Response (Brazil) Limited, BP Subsea Well Response Limited, BP Taiwan Marketing Limited, BP Technology Ventures Inc., BP Technology Ventures Limited, BP Train 2/3 Holding SRL, BP Transportation (Alaska) Inc., BP Trinidad Processing Limited, BP Trinidad and Tobago, BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC, BP Turkey Refining Limited, BP Two Pipeline Company LLC, BP UK Retained Holdings Limited, BP Venezuela Investments B.V., BP West Aru I Limited, BP West Aru II Limited, BP West Papua I Limited, BP West Papua III Limited, BP Wind Energy North America Inc., BP Wiriagar Ltd., BP World-Wide Technical Services Limited, BP Zhuhai Chemical Company Limited, BP+Amoco International Limited, BP-AIOC Exploration (TISA) LLC, BPA Investment Holding Company, BPNE International B.V., BPRY Caribbean Ventures LLC, BPX (Eagle Ford) Gathering LLC, BPX (KCS Resources) LLC, BPX (Karnes) Gathering LLC, BPX (Permian) Gathering LLC, BPX (WSF Operating) Inc., BPX Energy Inc., BPX Midstream LLC, BPX Operating Company, BPX Production Company, BPX Properties (GP) LLC, BPX Properties (LP) LLC, BPX Properties (NA) LP, BTC Pipeline Holding Company Limited, BXL Plastics Limitedv, Bahia de Bizkaia Electridad S.L., Baltimore Ennis Land Company Inc., Black Lake Pipe Line Company, Brian Jasper Nominees Pty Ltd, Britannic Energy Trading Limited, Britannic Investments Iraq Limited, Britannic Marketing Limited, Britannic Strategies Limited, Britannic Trading Limited, Britoil Limited, Burmah Castrol, Burmah Castrol Australia Pty Ltd, Burmah Castrol Holdings Inc., Burmah Castrol PLC, Burmah Castrol South Africa (Pty) Limited, Burmah Chile SpA, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, CASTROL Austria GmbHb, CH-Twenty Inc., CNAA, Cadman DBP Limited, Casitas Pipeline Company, Castrol (China) Limited, Castrol (Ireland) Limited, Castrol (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Castrol (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Castrol (Tianjin) Lubricants Co. Ltd., Castrol (U.K.) Limited, Castrol Australia Pty. Limited, Castrol B.V., Castrol BP Petco Limited Liability Company, Castrol Brasil Ltda., Castrol Caribbean & Central America Inc., Castrol Colombia Ltda., Castrol Del Peru S.A., Castrol Egypt Lubricants S.A.E., Castrol India Limited, Castrol Industrie und Service GmbH, Castrol KK, Castrol Limited, Castrol Lubricants RO S.R.L, Castrol Mexico S.A., Castrol Namibia (Pty) Limited, Castrol Offshore Limited, Castrol Pakistan (Private) Limited, Castrol Philippines Inc., Castrol Servicos Ltda., Castrol Ukraine LLC, Castrol Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Centrel Pty Ltd, Charge Your Car Limitedc, Chargemaster, Chargemaster (Europe) GmbH, Chargemaster Limited, Charging Solutions Limited, Clarisse Holdings Pty Ltd, Coastwise Trading Company Inc., Consolidada de Energia y Lubricantes (CENERLUB) C.A., Conti Cross Keys Inn Inc., Coro Trading NZ Limited, Cuyama Pipeline Company, DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH, Dermody Developments Pty Ltd, Dermody Holdings Pty Ltd, Dermody Investments Pty Ltd, Dermody Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Dome Beaufort Petroleum Limited, Dome Wallis (1980) Limited Partnership, ECM Markets SA (Pty) Ltd, Elektromotive Limited, Elite Customer Solutions Pty Ltd, Elm Holdings Inc., Energy Global Investments (USA) Inc., Enstar LLC, Estacion de Servicio Alto Campoo S.L., Estacion de Servicio Ganzo 10 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Reocin 9 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Santillana II S.L., Estacion de Servicio Sardinero S.L., Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services, Europa Oil NZ Limited, Exomet Inc., Expandite Contract Services Limited, Exploration (Luderitz Basin) Limited, Exploration Service Company Limited, FWK (2017) Limited, FWK Holdings (2017) LTD, Finite Carbon, Flat Ridge 2 Holdings LLC, Flat Ridge Wind Energy LLC, Foseco Holding Inc., Foseco Holding International B.V., Foseco Inc., Fosroc Expandite Limited, Fotech Solutions Ltd, Fowler Ridge Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge I Land Investments LLC, Fowler Ridge II Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge III Wind Farm LLC, FreeBees B.V., Fuel & Retail Aviat ion Sweden AB, Fuelplane- Sociedade Abastecedora De Aeronaves Unipessoal Lda, GOAM 1 C.I S. A .S, Gardena Holdings Inc., Gelsenkirchen Raffinerie Netz GmbH, Grampian Aviation Fuelling Services Limited, Guangdong Investments Limited, Highlands Ethanol LLC, Hosteleria Noriega S.L., IGI Resources Inc., Insight Analytics Solutions Holdings Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions USA Inc., International Bunker Supplies Pty Ltd, Iraq Petroleum Company Limited, Jupiter Insurance Limited, Ken-Chas Reserve Company, Kenilworth Oil Company Limited, Kingbook Inversiones Socimi S.A., Latin Energy Argentina S.A., Lebanese Aviation Technical Services S.A.L., Limited Liability Company BP Toplivnaya Kompania, Limited liability company Setra Lubricants, Lubricants UK Limited, Lytt Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 1) Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 2) Limited, Manormaker GP Limited (99.90%) 11 Black Horse Lane, Mardi Gras Transportation System Company LLC, Markoil S.A., Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development, Mehoopany Holdings LLC, Mes Tecnologia En Servicios Y Energia S.A., Minza Pty. Ltd., Mountain City Remediation LLC, No. 1 Riverside Quay Proprietary Limited, Nordic Lubricants A/S, Nordic Lubricants AB, North America Funding Company, OMD87 Inc., OOO BP STL, Omega Oil Company, OnSight Analytics Solutions India Private Ltd., Orion Delaware Mountain Wind Farm LP, Orion Energy Holdings LLC, Orion Energy L.L.C.b, Orion Post Land Investments LLC, Oyambre 1 S.L., PRODUITS METALLURGIE DOITTAU, PT BP Petrochemicals, PT Castrol Indonesia, PT Castrol Manufacturing Indonesia, PT Jasatama Petroindo, Pacroy (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Peaks America Inc., Pearl River Delta Investments Limited, Petrocorner Retail S.L.U., Phoenix Petroleum Services Limited, Pozuelo 4 S.L., Prospect International C.A. (In liquidation), Puente Arce 4 S.L., Remediation Management Services Company, Richfield Oil Corporation, Rio Corvo 2 S.L., Rolling Thunder I Power Partners LLC, Romax Insight Korea Ltd., Ropemaker Deansgate Limited, Ropemaker Properties Limited, Ruhr Oel GmbH, Rusdene GSS Limited, SOFAST Limited, SRHP, Saturn Insurance Inc., Sherbino I Holdings LLC, Sherbino Mesa I Land Investments LLC, Sociedade de Promocao Imobiliaria Quinta do Loureiro SA, Societe de Gestion de Depots d'Hydrocarbures - GDH, South Texas Shale LLC, Southeast Texas Biofuels LLC, Southern Ridge Pipeline Holding Company, Southern Ridge Pipeline LP LLC, Sp/f Decision3 (GreenSteam) Company, Standard Oil Company, Standard Oil Company Inc., Standard Oil of Ohio, Stryde Limited, Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership, TISA Education Complex LLC, TJKK, Taradadis Pty. Ltd., Telcom General Corporation, Terre de Grace Partnership, The Anaconda Company, The BP Share Plans Trustees Limited, The Burmah Oil Company (Pakistan Trading) Limited, The Standard Oil Company, Toledo Refinery Holding Company LLC, Torrelavega 7 S.L., Union Texas International Corporation, Vastar Pipeline LLC, Veba Oel AG Veba Oel, Verenium, Viceroy Investments Limited, Villacarriedo 8 S.L., Warrenville Development Limited, Water Way Trading and Petroleum Services LLC, Welchem Inc., West Kimberley Fuels Pty Ltd, Westlake Houston Development LLC, Whiting Clean Energy Inc., Windpark Energy Nederland B.V., and Winwell Resources L.L.C. Markel Corporation, a diverse financial holding company, markets and underwrites specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Canada, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Its Insurance segment offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind. This segment also offers credit and surety products, and collateral protection insurance. The company's Reinsurance segment offers general liability, professional liability, medical malpractice, and environmental impairment liability; property treaty products for catastrophe, per risk, and retrocessional exposures; and specialty treaty reinsurance products comprising structured and whole turnover credit, political risk, mortgage and contract, and commercial surety reinsurance programs. Its Markel Ventures segment provides equipment used in baking systems and food processing; portable dredges; over-the-road car haulers and transportation equipment; and laminated oak and composite wood flooring, as well as ornamental plants and residential homes. This segment also provides distribution, consulting, and others types of services to businesses and consumers, including distribution of exterior building products, fire protection and life safety services, management and technology consulting, and retail intelligence services. The company's Other segment operates as an insurance and investment fund manager offering a range of investment products, including insurance-linked securities, catastrophe bonds, insurance swaps, and weather derivatives; and program services. Markel Corporation was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia. Read More A US lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to grant asylum to Pakistani woman Aasia Bibi. The recent decision by Pakistan's top court to overturn Bibi's death sentence and free her from jail is a welcome news (File Photo) Washington: A US lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to grant asylum to Pakistani woman Aasia Bibi, claiming she was "persecuted" in that country for being a Christian. Aasia Bibi has been persecuted, jailed and threatened for doing nothing more than being a Christian in Pakistan, Congressman Ken Calvert said. The recent decision by Pakistan's top court to overturn Bibi's death sentence and free her from jail is obviously welcome news, the lawmaker said. However, Asia continues to be in danger and is the subject of incendiary rhetoric by radical Islamist leaders. That's why it's essential for Congress and other defenders of religious freedom to stand up and protect her, Calvert said. Recognizing the importance of granting asylum to those with legitimate claims of persecution for their religion, race, nationality, membership in a social group, or political belief; the resolution supports granting asylum in the United States to Aasia Bibi and her immediate family. Bibi, a mother of four, may leave Pakistan shortly as there are threats to her life. Her two daughter had already shifted to Canada. Pakistan said on Thursday that Bibi, who was recently acquitted by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case, was a free citizen and has the right to travel anywhere inside the country or abroad. A three-member Supreme Court bench on Tuesday threw out a petition seeking to review the apex court's decision to acquit 47-year-old Bibi. She was arrested in 2009 for allegedly using derogatory words during a quarrel with Muslim women while working on a farm in Nankana Sahib area of Punjab province. The case was filed by a local prayer leader on the complaint of the Muslim women. Bibi was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. The apex court overturned her conviction last year, sparking days of violent demonstrations led by hardline Islamist parties. Her case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws. Bibi's case gained prominence when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad. The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. Matson, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides ocean transportation and logistics services. The company's Ocean Transportation segment offers ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, as well as to other island economies in Micronesia. It primarily transports dry containers of mixed commodities, refrigerated commodities, packaged foods and beverages, building materials, automobiles, and household goods; livestock; seafood; general sustenance cargo; and garments, footwear, e-commerce, and other retail merchandise. This segment also operates an expedited service from China to Long Beach, California, and various islands in the South Pacific, as well as Okinawa, Japan; and provides container stevedoring, refrigerated cargo services, inland transportation, container equipment maintenance, and other terminal services to ocean carriers on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, as well as in the Alaska locations of Anchorage, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor. In addition, the company offers vessel management and container transshipment services. Its Logistics segment provides multimodal transportation brokerage services, including domestic and international rail intermodal, long-haul and regional highway trucking, specialized hauling, flat-bed and project, less-than-truckload, and expedited freight services; less-than-container load consolidation and freight forwarding services; warehousing and distribution services; supply chain management services, and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) freight forwarding services. The company serves the U.S. military, freight forwarders, retailers, consumer goods, automobile manufacturers, and other customers. The company was formerly known as Alexander & Baldwin Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Matson, Inc. in June 2012. The company was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Read More Chubb Limited provides insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. The company's North America Commercial P&C Insurance segment offers commercial property, casualty, workers' compensation, package policies, risk management, financial lines, marine, construction, environmental, medical, cyber risk, surety, and excess casualty; and group accident and health insurance to large, middle market, and small commercial businesses. Its North America Personal P&C Insurance segment provides affluent and high net worth individuals and families with homeowners, automobile and collector cars, valuable articles, personal and excess liability, travel insurance, and recreational marine insurance and services. The company's North America Agricultural Insurance segment offers multiple peril crop and crop-hail insurance; and coverage for farm and ranch property, and commercial agriculture products. Its Overseas General Insurance segment provides coverage for traditional commercial property and casualty; specialty categories, such as financial lines, marine, energy, aviation, political risk, and construction risk; and group accident and health, and traditional and specialty personal lines for corporations, middle markets, and small customers through retail brokers, agents, and other channels. The company's Global Reinsurance segment offers traditional and specialty reinsurance under the Chubb Tempest Re brand to property and casualty companies. Its Life Insurance segment provides protection and savings products comprising whole life, endowment plans, individual term life, group term life, medical and health, personal accident, credit life, universal life, and unit linked contracts. Chubb has collaboration with Marsh to secure insurance coverage for the COVAX no-fault compensation program. The company was formerly known as ACE Limited and changed its name to Chubb Limited in January 2016. Chubb Limited was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Read More Vector Group Ltd., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarettes in the United States. It operates in two segments, Tobacco and Real Estate. The company produces cigarettes in 100 combinations under the EAGLE 20's, Pyramid, Montego, Grand Prix, Liggett Select, Eve, and USA brand names, as well as various partner and private label brands. In addition, it provides residential real estate brokerage, relocation, real estate sales and marketing, and title insurance services to real estate buyers and financial institutions; manages cooperative apartment buildings, condominium apartment buildings, and rental apartment buildings; and invests in, acquires, and owns real estate properties or projects, as well as develops land. Further, the company operates elliman.com, a website that enables consumers to search properties and access current market information, as well as offers building and neighborhood guides, and other interactive content. It markets and sells its cigarettes to wholesalers and distributors of tobacco and convenience products, as well as grocery, drug, and convenience store chains. The company was formerly known as Brooke Group Ltd. and changed its name to Vector Group Ltd. in May 2000. Vector Group Ltd. was founded in 1873 and is based in Miami, Florida. Read More Software Aktiengesellschaft provides software development, licensing, and maintenance; and information technology (IT) services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Digital Business Platform, Adabas & Natural, and Professional Services. The company offers Adabas & Natural, a transaction processing platform; Alfabet for use in IT planning and portfolio management, as well as enterprise architecture management; Apama, a platform for streaming analytics and automated actions on big data; and Architecture for Integrated Information Systems, a platform that makes processes transparent, controlled, manageable, and agile. It also provides cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service suite, such as CONNX that offers real-time read/write SQL data access and integration; Cumulocity, which provides Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for networked digital devices and sensors through a cloud-hosted IoT device management and application enablement platform; Terracotta, a platform that enables digital enterprises to access and store data in-memory; TRENDMINER, an industrial analytics for time-series data for plant managers and process engineers to analyze, monitor, and predict process and asset performance; webMethods, which enables customers to integrate systems, partners, data, devices, and Software as a Service applications; and Zementis that enables predictive analytics with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Further, the company provides digital transformation and platform consulting, performance ready content, platform rapid innovation methodology, training, and support services. It offers its products and services for customers in banking, energy and natural resources, government, insurance, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and utilities, as well as communication, media, and services industries. Software AG has a partnership with Tech Mahindra. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. Read More Resolute Forest Products Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates in the forest products industry in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Market Pulp, Tissue, Wood Products, and Paper. The Market Pulp segment offers virgin and recycled bleached kraft pulp, which is used to make a range of consumer products, including tissue, packaging, specialty paper products, diapers, and other absorbent products. The Tissue segment provides various tissue products, such as recycled and virgin paper products for the away-from-home and retail markets; and sells parent rolls. The Wood Products segment produces construction-grade and spruce-pine-fir lumber products, wood chips, bed frame components, finger joints, and furring strips for pulp and paper mills, as well as I-joists for the construction industry. The Paper segment offers newsprint to newspaper publishers, as well as to commercial printers for a range of uses comprising inserts and flyers. This segment also provides various uncoated mechanical papers, including supercalendered and white papers, as well as uncoated freesheet papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. Its specialty papers are used in books, retail inserts, direct mail, coupons, magazines, catalogs, bags, and other commercial printing applications. This segment sells specialty papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. The company also produces electricity at six cogeneration facilities and seven hydroelectric dams. Resolute Forest Products Inc. is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made The United States has made 'tremendous progress' in trade talks with China but much works needs to be done (File Photo) Washington: The United States has made "tremendous progress" in trade talks with China but much works needs to be done, the White House said Thursday as negotiations with the visiting Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He concluded with a meeting with President Donald Trump in his Oval Office. While progress has been made, much work remains to be done, White House said after the conclusion of two-days of intense talks. The meeting is part of the decision that Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had taken during their dinner meeting at Buenos Aires in Argentina on December 1, 2018 to pause their trade war and negotiate an agreement in 90 days. Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made "tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling." Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agreed to reforms by March 1 deadline. Trump said that a substantial progress has been made in trade talks and exuded confidence that the countries could reach the biggest ever deal. The Chinese delegation read out a letter from their president in which Xi said China-US relations were at a critical stage. "I hope that our two sides will continue to have mutual respect, Xi was quoted as saying in the letter. Both counties should meet each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works in the best interest of both sides .such an agreement will send a positive message to our two people and the broader international community, the letter said. Trump described it as a beautiful letter. The leaders are expected to meet soon. "We haven't set up a meeting yet...we're working on seeing where everybody is. Both countries would like to see a positive result, he added. Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling and we've made tremendous progress, he said. He also said China has agreed to purchase five million tons of US soybeans. That's going to make our farmers happy, that's a lot of soybeans". Later, the White House said, the talks covered a wide range of issues, including the ways in which the US companies are pressured to transfer technology to Chinese companies; the need for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; and the numerous tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US companies in China. They also discussed the harm resulting from China's cyber-theft of the US commercial property; how market-distorting forces, including subsidies and state-owned enterprises, can lead to excess capacity; and the need to remove market barriers and tariffs that limit the US sales of manufactured goods, services, and agriculture to China. Among other things the American and Chinese delegation discussed are the role of currencies in the USChina trading relationship. The two sides also discussed the need to reduce the enormous and growing trade deficit that the United States has with China. The purchase of United States products by China from our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and businesses is a critical part of the negotiations, the White House said. The two sides showed a helpful willingness to engage on all major issues, and the negotiating sessions featured productive and technical discussions on how to resolve our differences. The United States is particularly focused on reaching meaningful commitments on structural issues and deficit reduction. Both parties have agreed that any resolution will be fully enforceable, the White House said. After the talks, Senator Jerry Moran said he is encouraged by the continued dialogue between the two countries on resolving the ongoing trade war and China's commitment to purchase more US soybeans. "I hope progress made in meetings this week will lay groundwork for a final agreement between our countries, he said. This progress must include China changing its bad behaviour on trade, while also removing the tariffs that have been so damaging to Kansas farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, Moran said. "With China, our overarching strategy has to be to respect them when they compete, but also to stop them when they cheat, said Congressman Joaquin Castro. Ad All Marijuana Stocks New this week - 133 interested Fed Decriminalization of Cannabis Could Spark New Pot Stock Boom With Democrats now controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch, cannabis decriminalization on the federal level could be months away. This could result in established Washington State weed companies being able to market across state lines -- setting off a bidding war for quality stocks at reasonable prices. The US is very supportive of the discouraging the purchase of any Chinese digital products. Huawei is the worlds largest supplier of telecommunications network equipment and second-biggest maker of smartphones. (Photo: AP) The United States wants to steer people away from Huawei towards Western products because of its concerns over the security of the Chinese companys technology, the US envoy to the European Union said on Thursday. Huawei faces international scrutiny over its ties with the Chinese government and allegations that Beijing could use Huaweis technology for spying, which the company denies However, Gordon Sondland said that there was classified evidence on security breaches by the Chinese firm, saying he had raised the US concerns with EU officials. The US is very supportive of the discouraging the purchase of any Chinese digital products that involve potential national security implications and steering people away from Huawei into Western products is our desired outcome, Sondland told Reuters before an event in Brussels. Huawei is the worlds largest supplier of telecommunications network equipment and second-biggest maker of smartphones. It derives nearly half of its total revenue outside China and its global reach has come under attack from the United States, which is trying to prevent US companies from buying Huawei equipment and is pressing allies to do the same. US security experts are worried the gear could be used by China for espionage, a concern Huawei says is unfounded Asked about security issues with Huaweis products, Sondland said: There is a lot of evidence, most of it classified. Responding to Sondlands comments, a spokesman for Huawei said it had a proven reputation on cybersecurity and does not buy all of its materials from China. Only one-third of materials used to make Huawei products are sourced in China, the spokesman said in an email. The rest are from other parts of the world. In todays globalised world, all major ICT companies have global supply chains. Huawei has a clean track record on cybersecurity. The EU is considering proposals that would amount to a de-facto ban on Huawei kit for next-generation mobile networks, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The United States and Australia are among Western nations that have already restricted Huawei from the 5G mobile networks. As Huawei comes under increasing pressure in Europe, Czech President Milos Zeman met representatives of the company to discuss cybersecurity and other topics, his spokesman said. Huawei has been excluded from a Czech tender to build a tax portal after the countrys cyber watchdog warned of possible security threats, documents showed on Wednesday. Huawei representatives informed the President about the current state of investment activities and plans for the future. The debate also touched upon cybersecurity. Huawei representatives declared that they complied with relevant standards, spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said on Twitter. Zeman, who has long promoted close cooperation with Beijing and has publicly backed Huawei, also plans to meet its chief executive when he visits China in April, Ovcacek said. Greenhill & Co., Inc., an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, and other strategic transactions, as well as various stages of a transaction's life cycle ranging from initial structuring and negotiation to final execution. It also advises clients on strategic matters, including activist shareholder defense, special committee projects, licensing deals, and joint ventures; and valuation, negotiation tactics, industry dynamics, structuring alternatives, and timing and pricing of transactions, as well as financing alternatives. In addition, the company provides debt restructuring advisory services to debtors, creditors, governments, pension funds and other stakeholders, and acquirers of distressed companies and assets; and advice on restructuring alternatives, capital structures, and sales or recapitalizations. Further, it assists clients in identifying and capitalizing on incremental sources of value; and on court-assisted reorganizations by developing and seeking approval for plans of reorganization, as well as the implementation of such plans. Additionally, the company advises on other financing matters, including debt issuances, equity financings, and exchange offers; and initial public offerings and other equity capital market transactions. It also offers financial advisory services to pension funds, endowments, and other institutional investors on transactions involving alternative assets; and advice to alternative asset fund sponsors for capital raising, financing, liquidity options, and related services. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Read More Coeur Mining, Inc. explores for, develops, produces, and sells precious metals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, and lead properties. It holds 100% interests in the Palmarejo gold and silver mine covering an area of approximately 67,296 net acres located in the State of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico; the Rochester silver and gold mine that covers an area of approximately 17,044 net acres situated in northwestern Nevada; the Kensington gold mine comprising 12,336 net acres located to the north of Juneau, Alaska; the Wharf gold mine covering an area of approximately 7,852 net acres situated in the northern Black Hills of western South Dakota; and the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead mine comprising 98,834 net acres located in northern British Columbia, Canada. The company also owns interests in the Crown and Sterling projects located in southern Nevada; and the La Preciosa project located in Mexico. It markets and sells its concentrates to third-party refiners, smelters, and off-take customers. The company was formerly known as Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation and changed its name to Coeur Mining, Inc. in May 2013. Coeur Mining, Inc. was incorporated in 1928 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Read More Facebook Billionaire Investing in a Shocking New Industry (Ad) Peter Thiel, the billionaire investor behind Facebook, PayPal, and eBay, has a new darling industry in his sights. And he's betting a massive $210 million on its success. That's not pocket change. And today, you could get in on the ground floor AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally. Its Pharmaceutical Distribution segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, outsourced compounded sterile preparations, and related services to various healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. It also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; and packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics; and offers data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company's Other segment provides integrated manufacturer services, such as clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support; offers specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry; and sells pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and various other products to customers in both the companion animal and production animal markets, as well as provides demand-creating sales force services to manufacturers. AmerisourceBergen Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania. Read More These accounts and pages were actively working to conceal what they were doing. The take-down was due to coordinated deceptive behaviour ... not due to the content they had shared." Facebook Inc has removed hundreds of Indonesian accounts, pages and groups from its social network that the company has found were linked to an online group accused of spreading hate speech and fake news. Indonesian police uncovered the existence of the group, called Saracen, in 2016 and arrested three of its members on suspicion of being part of a syndicate being paid to spread incendiary material online through social media. These accounts and pages were actively working to conceal what they were doing and were linked to the Saracen Group, an online syndicate in Indonesia, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of Cybersecurity Policy, said on Friday. Gleicher said the pages and accounts deleted had reached 170,000 people on Facebook and more than 65,000 on Instagram. The take-down was due to coordinated deceptive behaviour ... not due to the content they had shared, he said. Indonesias police cyber crime unit has previously told Reuters that Saracen was posting material involving religious and ethnic issues, as well as fake news and posts that defamed government officials. Indonesian police investigators said they had uncovered money transfers of up to USD 5,000 to pay those spreading the material, but the suspects arrested have never confirmed the groups existence. Their lawyers were not immediately reachable for comment. Indonesia has an ethnically diverse population of 260 million people, with a big majority of Muslims but with significant religious minorities, and ensuring unity across the archipelago has been a priority of governments. The country is currently in the run-up to a presidential election set to take place in April. India will launch its latest communication satellite onboard European launch services provider Arianespaces launch vehicle on February 6 from French Guiana, Indian Space Research Organisation said Friday. According to Arianespace, the launch of Ariane-5 (VA 247) is scheduled for 2:31 am India time on Wednesday. Weighing about 2,535 kg, the Indian satellite, GSAT-31, will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites, ISRO said. The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, the space agency said, adding that it provides Indian mainland and island coverage. GSAT-31 is the country's 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO's enhanced 'I-2K Bus', utilising the maximum "bus capabilities" of this type. This satellite will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit, ISRO said. With a mission life of around 15 years, GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH-television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications. It also provides wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over large oceanic region, comprising large parts of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, using a wide band transponder. According to ISRO, two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted for ground tracking purpose. Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 will be the co-passenger of GSAT-31 during the launch, Arianespace said. Comprising two payloads, Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4, also called HS- 4/SGS-1, is a geostationary condosat for KACST (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Saudi Arabia) and Hellas Sat (Greece Cyprus). It will provide telecommunication capabilities, including television, Internet, telephone and secure communications in the Middle East, South Africa and Europe, Arianespace said on its website. GSAT-30 is another geostationary satellite to be lofted soon by Arianespace. Since the launch of Indias APPLE experimental satellite on Ariane Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 22 satellites and signed 24 launch contracts with the Indian space agency, it said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has hailed the Union Budget 2019-20, presented by Interim Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, as a growth oriented Budget that takes care of all sections of the society. He said that the budget is pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-common man and would give new trajectory of growth to the country. Reacting to the Budget proposals presented in Parliament on Friday, the Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for his announcement to set up an All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Haryana. This would be 22nd AIIMS which will be set up in the country. Hailing the renewed commitment of the NDA Government to double the income of farmers, the Chief Minister said that the new scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi as announced in the budget clearly reflect the pro-farmer vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would help in realising his vision of doubling the income of the farmers by 2022. Manohar Lal said that decision of two per cent interest subvention to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries would definitely give a big boost to the farming sector. He also thanked the Union Government for increased allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission to Rs 750 crore in current year. The Budget has also given a big relief to the individual tax payers as those earning annual income up to Rs 5 lakh rupees would get full tax rebate, he added. The Chief Minister also said that the Budget also provides much needed relief to the traders besides providing measures for safeguarding the interest of workers engaged in unorganised sector with the mega Pension Yojana, namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan. Meanwhile, Haryana Finance Minister has also hailed the Union budget saying that this budget would prove to be a milestone towards developing new India. He said that major relief has been given in this budget to middle class, farmers, labourers and salaried class. Capt. Abhimanyu said that the defence Budget has been kept more than Rs 3 lakh crore for the financial year 2019-20, which is so far the highest in any year. He also expressed gratitude on increasing the gratuity limit, giving Rs 6 lakh on the death of workers and announcing a pension of Rs 3,000 per month for labourers above 60 years. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a grant of Rs 3 crore for the war memorial being set up by the Haryana Government in Kala Amb, district Panipat, in the memory of Maratha warriors of the third battle of Panipat. Fadnavis made the announcement during the inaugural ceremony of the 33rd Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2019 in Faridabad. On the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal announced to develop a special memorial to show the history of bravery of Marathas through the medium of light and sound on four acres area on GT Road, Panipat, so as to bring both these State Maharashtra and host State Haryana more closer in historical and cultural terms. Manohar Lal also announced to expand the Maratha war memorial site of eight acres located on Kala Amb to 20 acres. During his address, Fadnavis said that Haryana and Maharashtra have a soil and blood relationship. More than one lakh brave Marathas of Maharashtra have sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country in the third battle of Panipat. At present, lakhs of Marathas are living in Haryana, he said. He said that the Maharashtra Government would give its all possible contribution for stronger cultural ties between both the States. Fadnavis also expressed gratitude to his Haryana counterpart and Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma for choosing Maharashtra as the theme State in the 33rd Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2019. As a memorial, the replica of the fort of Raigarh, the Capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been set up by the theme State. Fadnavis also invited the tourists of the country and also of abroad, for tourism in Maharashtra. We are also going to start Ramayana Festival in Maharashtra, he added. Earlier, Chief Minister, Manohar Lal, welcomed the visitors of all the countries in the 33rd Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2019 and said that since the present Government took over the reins, this is the fifth Surajkund Mela and we are moving forward in realising the dream of Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat, of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that such fests strengthen the unity and integrity of the country. In this Mela, over 31 countries are participating and other countries are also being invited. Manohar Lal said that the Haryana Government has signed an agreement with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi, under which, the artists of Haryana would take forward the cultural heritage of the State in other countries. He said that in the Krishna Circuit, we have joined 48 Kos areas near Kurukshetra. Apart from this, Mahendergarh Fort and Madhogarh Fort have also been linked to the Krishna Circuit. Even today, the youth of Haryana have great feeling of patriotism and whenever recruitment is conducted for Army, the youth come forward in a large numbers. Despite the two per cent representation in the country's population and 1.6 per cent in geographical representation, there is 10 per cent representation of Haryana in the Indian Army, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that the Surajkund Mela is being made the centre of attraction across the world. Last year, 25 countries had participated, 600 stalls were installed and 16 lakh visitors had visited. This year, 31 countries are participating and the number of stalls has also been increased to over 1,400. He has made available 10 acres land adjoining Surajkund for parking, by freeing it from encroachment, Sharma said. Sleuths of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Friday reached the office of State Civil Supplies Corporation here to commence probe on Rs 36,000 crore PDS scam afresh. The team sought all files and documents related to the scam from the officials present. Superintendent of Police (SP) EOW I.K. Elesela later informed that The scam was unearthed between year 2011 to 2014 and the EOW since then was trying to locate the missing documents. If necessary, all the documents in the office would be taken for examination, he added. Notably, a SIT has been formed by the State government headed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) S.R.P. Kalluri to probe into the PDS scam. SP, EOW, Elesela is also a member of the SIT. Union Government on Friday allocated Rs 1,112 crore for Delhi while keeping its share in Central Taxes and duties unchanged in Budget 2019- 20 (Interim) presented by the Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in Parliament. Notably, in previous budget, Centre had allotted a total of 790 crore while Central assistance to city Government was Rs 499.99 crore. Like every year, this year too, Rs 10 crore has been given to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government for paying enhanced compensation to the 1984 riot victims, the Central Government also grants allocation of Rs 5 crore for the Delhi Disaster Response Fund. Reacting on the amount given to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it has disappointed the city. Terming the Budget as "Jumla" of Narendra modi led BJP Government, Kejriwal tweeted, "Final jumla of Modi Govt: it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially (sic)." In his series of reactions on tweeter, he said, "1. Invest heavily in edu n health 2. Increase min wages n enforce it 3. Give crop prices 1.5 times cost 4. One time farm loan waiver. This wud put money in pocket of poorest, create demand, give boost to economy n create jobs. None of it done in budget (sic)." "The BJP Government at the Centre has given step-motherly treatment to the people of Delhi. From 2001, the Centre is giving only Rs 325 crore to the Delhi Government despite getting lakhs of crores of rupees collected as taxes. As per the Finance Commission recommendation, it should be around Rs 70,000 crore," AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said. The Delhi Government has been given Rs 472 crore as central assistance in the interim Budget for 2019-20 presented by Goyal in Parliament. In the previous budget, the Centre had allotted a total of Rs 790 crore. The central assistance to the city government was Rs 499.99 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who heads the finance department of the Delhi Government, complained of nominal increase in central assistance. In the interim Budget, the share in central taxes of Delhi has not been increased from Rs 325 crore which is stagnant since 2001-02, he said in a statement. "The Delhi Government deserves its legitimate share in central taxes to finance various developmental projects. We had requested the Government of India a number of times to enhance the allocation to at least Rs 6,000 crore as share in central taxes as against Rs 325 crore being released to Delhi," Sisodia said. The budget of Delhi has increased from Rs 8,739 crore in the year 2001-02 to Rs 53,000 crore in 2018-19, whereas the share in central taxes has remained frozen at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02, he said. The Delhi deputy chief minister also claimed the Centre has not allocated any funds to the local bodies in Delhi though it was requested for by the Kejriwal Government. "No funds have been earmarked to local bodies in Delhi although we had requested for allocation of at least Rs 1,000 crore as basic and performance grants to them in 2018-19 (revised estimates) and Rs 1150 crore in 2019-20 (budget estimates)." Sisodia said, the Delhi Government had requested the Centre to enhance the normal central assistance to Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20, but it has declined by two percent points, although the expenditure of the government on its schemes has increased to Rs 22,000 crore. "We had requested (the Centre) to increase the normal central assistance to at least Rs 1,300 crore in the current year revised estimate and Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20 budgetary estimates. However, an amount of Rs 472 crore as an additional central assistance has been proposed in 2019-20 as against Rs 450 crore in the current year," he said. An amount of Rs 10 crore each has been proposed under 2018-19 (RE) and 2019-20 (BE) as reimbursement of compensation to 1984 riot victims to Delhi government, the deputy chief minister said. The Rs 5 crore proposed for the Delhi government as an assistance for the Delhi Disaster Response Fund is negligible, he said. The figure of Rs 1,112 crore shown in 2019-20 (Budget Estimates) is mainly due to loan taken from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the externally aided project for a water treatment plant at Chandrawal. However, on all other parameters, it is more or less at the same level, Sisodia said in a statement. One of the two bike-bornes miscreants, who used to target elderly women and their valuables, has been nabbed by Baghsewania police from Indore. The miscreants used to commit robbery in the state capital and would return to Indore and have confessed five robberies were committed by on January 24 said SP South Bhopal Sampat Updhyay while speaking with media persons at press conference on Friday. On January 24 the miscreants targeted women in Saket Nagar, Alkapuri and Shahpura and escaped with four gold chains. During the investigation two teams were send to Indore on January 31 and managed to nab Shashank Saxena (26) while Kabeer Saxena went absconding. A motorbike bearing registration number MP09VD6416 was recovered from his possession and in the later investigation four gold chains were also recovered. The accused confessed five robberies. Four in areas under Baghsewania police station area and one in area which is under Shahpura police station area. Providing the modus operandi SP Sampat said that the two accused used to visit the state capital on their brothers bike and would target elderly women. They would ask for address from the victims and when victim would provide details they would snatch gold chain and escape the spot. Search for the absconding accused has been intensified. In a move to provide an assured income to the small and marginal farmers, the Modi Government on Friday announced a slew of measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20, acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Rs 6,000 annual support will be provided to farmers with land holding of two hectare or five acre. The new scheme will be implemented from December 1, 2018 and the amount will be paid in three installments of Rs 2000 (every four months) through direct benefit transfer. As many as 12 crore small and marginal farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme. Farmers who are sowing rabi crops during the ongoing rabi season will be benefitted from the scheme. About Rs 20,000 crore extra has been provided for the scheme in the revised estimate for the current fiscal. The Finance Minister said, This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs 75,000 crore. The Finance Minister said, This programme will be funded by the Government of India. The programme would be made effective from December 1, 2018 and the first installment for the period up to March 31, 2019 would be paid during this year itself. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh hailed the Budget and termed its historic one for farmers. The assured income support is seen as an attempt to assuage the farming communitys discontent ahead of the general elections. The direct cash transfer was one of the highly anticipated and talked about schemes in the interim Budget 2019. The move is aimed at addressing rural distress, which was primarily blamed for the BJPs defeat in recent Assembly elections in key States. Having borne the brunt of a number of farmer agitations and agrarian distress in the past years in its tenure, appeasing this vast community is crucial for the BJP. The loss in three States in Hindi heartland States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for the BJP may also be largely attributed to the farmers anger against the BJP. The move was widely expected due to rising agrarian distress in the country, with the Opposition repeatedly attacking the Government for failing to improve the situation of farmers who are doubly burdened by debt as well as low prices for their produce. The Congresss promise of farm loan waivers won them Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. PM-KISAN Yojna would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season. PM-KISAN would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living. Apart from direct income support to farmers, Goyal, in the Interim Budget for the 2019-20, also announced extended interest subsidy on loans availed for animal husbandry and fishery as well as those farmers affected by severe natural calamities. The Union Budget also announced 2.5 per cent interest subventions for farmers struck by natural calamities. Adding to it, he announced 2 per cent interest subvention for animal husbandry and fisheries sector. The Finance Minister said, Presently, the crop loans are rescheduled for such affected farmers and they get benefit of interest subvention of 2 per cent only for the first year of the rescheduled loan. Our Government has now decided that all farmers affected by severe natural calamities, where assistance is provided from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), will be provided the benefit of interest subvention of 2 per cent and prompt repayment incentive of 3 per cent for the entire period of reschedulement of their loans. Presently, the crop loans are rescheduled for such affected farmers and they get benefit of interest subvention of 2 per cent only for the first year of the rescheduled loan, he added. The limit for farm loan waiver has been doubled to 8 per cent. For the welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, the historic decision was taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops... All farmers hit by natural calamity to get interest subvention of 5 per cent, said Goyal. Consequently, the total Budget allocation for agriculture and allied activities is projected higher at Rs 1,49,981 crore for the 2019-20 fiscal, when compared to the revised estimate of Rs 86,602 crore for this fiscal. The fertiliser subsidy is pegged at 74,986 crore for the next fiscal as against Rs 70,075 crore. Goyal, however, did not raise the farm credit target for the next fiscal. In the 2018-19, the farm credit has exceeded the target of Rs 11 lakh crore and reached Rs 11.68 lakh crore. A few other steps were announced by Goyal in a move to divert farmers from crops to fisheries and animal husbandry. A Rashtriya Gokul Yojana for cow protection with an allocation of Rs 750 crore was announced in the Interim Budget 2019. In addition, the Government will create a separate department for fisheries. In Budget 2018, Arun Jaitley had proposed to raise the minimum support price for kharif season crops to 1.5 times of agri production cost-that is cost plus 50 per cent. Following the announcement, the Centre had hiked the MSP of 14 kharif crops in July. Entrusting effective control of academic institutions to the bureaucracy is a folly that must be corrected. We need to revisit changes in recruitment policy parameters One often comes across laments in the media and during discussions on educational issues that Indian universities do not figure prominently in global institutional rankings. This is followed by an expression of serious anxiety regarding a decline in the overall quality of education across the board. The shrinking of learner attainment in sarkari schools is regularly highlighted through credible surveys; and this includes Prathams Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). Everyone seems to be concerned about how to reform the education system to overcome the increasing problem of unemployment among educated young people. To what extent can steps like the creation of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship help? What needs to be done to restore credibility and public acceptance of the present education system? India has reached a stage when every parent wants to educate children both boys and girls in a good school, which in the current context means a private school. If around 60 per cent of the students still go to Government schools, it is only because parents are not in a position to afford the luxury of a private school, or its non- availability in the vicinity. In higher education, competition is too tough to get entry into reputed public-funded professional institutions. Private ones charge huge fees. Those who can manage and afford look for good quality education beyond the shores. As demand increased, the Indian State quietly withdrew from its commitment, paving the way for private entrepreneurs, both in schools and the higher education sectors. There are assured increasing returns and takers are many. India had just around 50 universities in 1950. Today, it is set to touch the four-figure mark. Further, there are around 40,000 colleges across the country. All of this could be seen as a great achievement expansion was necessary and one should be happy about it. However, the dilution of quality is not the only concern; the problem surrounding Indian education is much more complex. The emphasis on practised values in our institutions stands hopelessly diluted. To recall a somewhat similar situation and its analysis, one could refer to John W Gardners Essay titled, Excellence: Can We be Equal and Excellent Too? Referring to over emphasis on attending colleges and universities, Gardner summarised: The crowding in our colleges is less regrettable than the confusion in our values. Human dignity and worth should be assessed only in terms of those qualities of mind and spirit that are within the reach of every human being. If we make the assumption that college is the sole cradle of human dignity, need we be surprised that everyone wants to be rocked in that cradle? Gardner went on to elaborate that the intention is not to undervalue attainments and importance of higher education but to remember that they alone need not become the sole criterion for assessing human worth. We could get a much better comprehension of the missing elements in the Indian education if we were to reflect on how the decline/change 1960 onwards has altered our emphasis on the total worth of an individual. There are occasions when personal experiences reflect the prevalent institutional ethos; and that could lead to tangible reforms without the need for illusive fiscal inputs. In 1962, obtaining a MSc degree in physics with electronics as a special paper was one of the most sought after courses offered by the University of Allahabad. Just before the start of the preparation leave for the final examination, Professor Krishnaji took stock of how far the prescribed course was covered. He was a highly respected academic, known internationally for having established the microwave laboratory, which at that stage was a pioneering effort. One of the chapters on Detectors was not taken up in the regular class teaching and students were sure that it would not feature in the exam paper. When the learned professor came to know of it, he asked the group to assemble the next day. Detectors were taught for four hours that day, followed by another three hours the very next day. Every student was convinced that at least one question would certainly appear in the exam paper on Detectors. On the crucial electronics exam paper day, once the question paper appeared before each one of them, examinees received a big jolt as there were no questions on Detectors. One could say not a big deal as it does happen in exams when expected questions escape the attention of paper setters. But this was a special instance. After over three years, in a regular 3.30 pm tea gathering, someone hesitatingly recalled how Detectors could not be detected in the exam paper. Some five of that group of 15 became research scholars, and like all others, were eagerly waiting how the professor would react to this recollection. He did and said: I was the paper setter. I knew there were no questions on Detectors that year. But tell me, how could anyone get a degree of MSc in physics with specialisation in electronics from the University of Allahabad, and not learn sufficient enough about Detectors? He went on to elaborate how the university gained its reputation and credibility; how the department of physics should maintain its name and fame; and how the professors and even the laboratories of the department have professional, moral and ethical obligations to discharge. He wasnt preaching but narrating a tradition and there were oceans of learning that afternoon. He also recalled how he was advised by his favourite teacher: Never enter a classroom if you have are not dutifully prepared for it; never use old notes; prepare afresh each time even if you have to teach the same topic in two different sections. Then Krishnaji gently pulled out two sheets of paper from his pocket and said, these are my notes for the first year undergraduate class that I took in the morning. It was so revealing. He had been teaching for around 30 years and could teach the post-graduate students continuously for three to four hours without any notes or books. He was also scrupulously following the advice of his teacher even at this stage. This was teacher education for the prospective teachers, this was value education for the educated young and old and this was the measure of university teaching quality in higher education. It was also a lesson in how to sustain and enhance credibility of the university. Reflecting over it after about six decades, it is not tough to visualise why India is worried about its educational quality, practically in every aspect and at every stage. The department of physics of the University of Allahabad was reputed to be one working 24X7; visit it at any time in the night and you will find a couple of youngsters working in the laboratory. Unbelievable, even for the present-day students of the same university. There were no instructions to do so and no biometric attendance for anyone. Values were learnt because these were being practised in the department by all seniors. It may sound utopian but quality of education will improve only when the situation is analysed and inferences drawn independent of ideological constraints. It must also be mentioned that the university system did not face the challenge of vacant academic posts in universities at that stage. Whenever a vacancy arose because of someone going abroad; or on deputation; or retirement, the head of the department was authorised to make ad hoc arrangements. He would trace out the topper of the last batch, or the next one and just ask him to begin work. In due course, his appointment letter would follow from the Registrars office, with all the pay and allowances as admissible to others. There was no system of guest lecturers or lecture-basis payments. Every senior academic of the department was available to provide necessary inspiration, motivation and guidance to the new entrant to their family. He could take his chance along with others whenever the regular selection committee would meet next. Today, in the University of Allahabad, several reputed departments may not be having even one-third of the sanctioned posts filled. Such situation is not new it has developed over the decades and there are no signs of application of brain power to overcome it. It is common knowledge that at most universities, Vice Chancellors have to take permission of the Government to make appointments even against regularly sanctioned academic posts. And that in effect implies Vice Chancellors running to under secretaries and deputy secretaries in the State sachivalalya. How does it impact the morale of the institutional leadership will not be too tough to visualise. But that is a reality which must be acknowledged to envision how to bring about some positive changes. The role of academic leadership just cannot be ignored. And entrusting effective control of academic institutions to bureaucracy is certainly a folly that must be corrected at the earliest. Any serious effort to restore the right ambience of learning and also of teaching in the university system will require a serious study of how changes in recruitment policy parameters have impacted the quality decline and how it has resulted in the gradual erosion of the much-needed empathetic bond between the teacher and the taught. (The writer is the Indian Representative on the Executive Board of UNESCO) Piyush Goyal delivered his first Budget in the Lok Sabha, and while it was an Interim Budget, it was that in all but name. With sops and allocations increasing, Prime Minister Narendra Modis hand was all over this Budget. Even with recalculated figures that display some growth, evidence of that growth is hard to come by. While the Government might have disowned the joblessness statistics, it is difficult for all but those wearing saffron-tinted glasses to see jobs being created. While there is some historical evidence to show that consumer demand plateaus or even declines in pre-election years, Narendra Modis failure to deliver on his promise of 2014 is mind-boggling. While there are some positives, particularly with aggressive infrastructure building of roadways, railways and ports, growth in manufacturing and services have been non-existent and this has ironically exacerbated the agricultural crisis with farmers finding other options closed to them. The terrific self-goal that Modi scored with demonetisation is still taking its toll on the Indian economy but was a result of the anti-intellectualism that this Government seems to pride itself on. But Narendra Modi was elected on the promise of changing India, delivering growth and jobs that the allegedly corrupt UPA had failed to deliver. He came to power promising to break the hold of Delhis power-brokers and middlemen and but only now, months before elections are these networks being attacked. But most importantly, Modi had promised to modernise India, and on that front he failed, possibly because he was taken aback at the suit-boot jibe that Rahul Gandhi attacked him with, but after that suit, much of India began to wonder what sort of man they had elected. Sure, Modi does not deserve some of the flak he has faced from malcontent socialists and the award-wapisi brigade are a group of people who fail to recognise irony. But Modi has failed on the economic front, and even though he did finally deliver a Goods and Services Tax (GST) he allowed the tax bureaucracy to kill efficiency gains with paperwork. The tax officers of this Government have been economic terrorists happily attacking promoters and stifling jobs growth no matter what the PR spin from the Government. On top of that, this government might have doled out to voters but has been abysmal in paying its dues. Delayed refunds from GST and even advertising bills left hanging for months have ruined the economy, the government of India becoming like a person in credit-card debt. The sops announced in this budget might not still win Modi reelection with another majority but whoever gets the hot seat next will have massive bills to pay, and following this budget that will likely still be Narendra Modi albeit with a reduced majority. The price of the gaming series starts from Rs 79,990 and goes up to Rs 399,990. MSI has launched its new gaming laptop line-up with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU in India, including the brand new GS65 Stealth laptop. Recently unveiled at CES 2019, the laptops have been made available starting at MSIs exclusive stores across New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune. The products will also be available on leading e-commerce websites Flipkart and Amazon. The price of the Gaming Series starts from Rs 79,990 and goes up to Rs 399,990 while the price of the Prestige Series starts from Rs 77,990 and goes up to Rs 159,990. With real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced gaming experience, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics pushes the boundaries of laptop graphics. This powerful graphics takes the gaming out the frame, enabling experience of realism. Aside from the performance boost, the new GeForce RTX goes beyond the traditional rendering techniques to present better in-game lighting with detailed reflections, shadows, and shaders. To take full advantage of the new graphics, MSI has also enhanced its exclusive Cooler Boost design, effectively reducing operating temperatures. The New India Lineup includes the GT, GS, GE, GL Series which are Ready For GeForce RTX Gaming The GT Titian, the epic-class flagship gaming laptop, is able to develop the greatest potential for gamers through the latest RTX GPU and overclockable i9 CPU. This uncaged monster is not just powerful, but also faster than ever. To ensure ultimate power, Cooler Boost Titan greatly reduces the operating temperature for taking performance to the extreme. With 4K UHD display, the GT Titan delivers stunning, lifelike details on game screen. The GT Titan and its top-notch performance is the perfect choice for desktop replacements. The GS series breaks the stereotype of bulky and heavy gaming laptops, and it offers exceptional on-the-go gaming experience. If you prefer this series, the award-winning classic 15.6-inch is the GS65 Stealth Thin which is a great choice, weighing less than 2 kg and featuring the latest GPU and CPU. Powered by Intel Core i7 Processors, the GE75 Raider is the first 17-inch laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU. Aggressively crafted for the enthusiasts, the reflective diamond-cut trims form a one-of-a-kind 3D Dragon Spine design, made from a three-dimensional surface with a red anodized finish, showing a unique yet aggressive aesthetic that's guaranteed to stand out from the crowd. In addition, the GE75 features the exclusive MSI Cooler Boost 5 technology with two dedicated fans and seven copper heat pipes, a per-key RGB gaming keyboard by SteelSeries, MSIs App Player for seamless gaming experience between mobile and PC, and 5X bigger Giant Speakers and sound by Dynaudio. The GL series, now upgraded with new power from GeForce RTX graphics, is more powerful and faster than ever. The Giant Speakers by Dynaudio allow gamers to further immerse in sound. The 17.3-inch model is available with a 120Hz display, offering clear and sharp gameplay. The GL series features all the essentials and offers the best bang for your buck. Prestige Series Essence of Elite The PS63, on the other hand, takes mobility to the next level. It enriches the series with mature reflection and exploratory spirit. This 15.6-inch IPS-level display is crafted in a compact thin bezel chassis and features a featherweight design; at 1.65 kg and 15.9 mm, it fits perfectly into a briefcase. Nowadays, all-day productivity becomes a must for mobile users; with up to 16 hours battery life and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, this laptop not only provides day-long productivity but is also able to support your phone charge unrestrainedly. Even when charging is required, the slim power adapter only takes up a fraction of the space and weight. In addition, it is Quiet Mark certified, ensuring a silent working environment by diminishing noise distractions. With mobile design in mind, the PS63 is easily carried wherever the inspiration goes. The modern laptop turns creative ideas into realities with selected features. With up to the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics, the creation shows its powerful performance on multitasking and graphics rendering. MSI exclusive Cooler Boost 3 can efficiently reduce operating temperature, making the laptop perform at its best without overheating. With the thin bezel display and drop-down hinge design, the PS63 is able to provide more screen real estate to maximize the visual experience. The extra-large touchpad offers responsive and accurate input with its silky smooth glass texture, while also supporting multi-finger gestures. A fingerprint sensor can also be found for added biometric security, keeping your work safe and secure. The carbon grey with unique blue diamond cut makes the laptop elegant and eye-catching. -- Press Release Tesco has confirmed that up to 9,000 jobs are at risk across its head office and stores as part of efforts to simplify the business. The supermarket said it expected around half of the affected employees could be redeployed to new roles. Sweeping changes across the business will include a reduction in deli counters, with 90 stores set to lose the service altogether. In addition to those directly employed by Tesco, the changes will also impact third-party caterers as the company replaces the hot food service in its staff rooms with self-service kitchens. Jason Tarry, CEO of Tesco UK and Ireland, said: In our four years of turnaround weve made good progress, but the market is challenging and we need to continually adapt to remain competitive and respond to how customers want to shop. Were making changes to our UK stores and head office to simplify what we do and how we do it, so were better able to meet the needs of our customers. This will impact some of our colleagues and our commitment is to minimise this as much as possible and support our colleagues throughout. Tesco has unveiled changes to its structure which put 9,000 jobs at risk (PA) Additional changes include reduced hours dedicated to both stock control and merchandising. Head office workers are also facing cuts as the company moves to a simpler and leaner structure. However, Tesco denied reports that it will overhaul its in-store bakeries, saying that no significant changes are planned this year. Responding to the news, trade union Usdaws national officer Pauline Foulkes said: This is devastating news for staff, who have played a crucial role in Tescos turnaround project, contributing to 12 successive quarters of growth, solid Christmas trading and over a billion pounds of profit. We will enter into consultation talks with Tesco, where we will examine the business case for their proposed changes. Britain will be less safe if it leaves the EU without a deal with Brussels, a former head of MI5 has warned. Baroness Manningham-Buller said the country faced a range of security issues from terrorism to threats from Russia which were best dealt with in a European context. She said a no-deal Brexit should be avoided at all costs and that she was more than sympathetic to attempts by backbench MPs to take control of Commons business to prevent it happening. I, as a former member of MI5, am very concerned about the loss of things like the European Arrest Warrant, the loss of access to Europol data and so on, she told BBC Radio 4s World At One. If we leave without a deal we are going to be less safe. We have a very serious terrorist problem in this country, very serious other security issues the rise of Russia, its interference in our elections. Former director-general of MI5 Baroness Manningham-Buller (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) I am pretty queasy that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is so in favour of Brexit I think that should give us all pause. There is a range of other security issues we all face the same one which are dealt with better in a European context than not. Following recent attacks by dissident republicans, Lady Manningham-Buller voiced particular concern about the impact on the security situation on the island of Ireland. I am desperately worried. Much of my career was spent working on Provisional IRA, the loyalist terrorist groups in Northern Ireland, she said. I can remember when it was thoroughly unpleasant to go through the border and now, if we go back to that, it cuts off the increasing links between Northern Ireland and the Republic which are an important part of the message of the peace process. It will alter dramatically the whole sentiment and politics of Northern Ireland. She added: Throughout the time there has been those who dont agree with the peace process, who are continuing to mount attacks generally small-scale. But I dont think it is over in Northern Ireland. The danger is that it gets much worse again. Patients are missing out on safe and compassionate care due to a shortage of NHS staff, according to a new poll. Almost half (45%) of more than 15,000 frontline NHS surveyed by the Unison union said there were not enough workers on their shift to ensure a safe, dignified and compassionate service. A breakdown showed that acute inpatient wards were hardest hit, with 59% of more than 2,300 employees surveyed in these units saying staffing levels were insufficient. Some 45% of people working in mental health thought the same, as did 36% in community health. The poll was carried out over a 24-hour period last September to give a snapshot of the NHS on a single day. Almost half of those surveyed (47%) said their service relied on bank or agency staff to help plug the gaps, mainly to fill nursing roles. NHS workers say there are not enough people on their shift to guarantee safety. One in seven (14%) respondents rated the quality of care as compromised and one in six (15%) said patient safety was put at risk. Other findings showed that 38% of NHS staff worked longer than their scheduled hours, in many cases for no extra money. Almost one in six (16%) were subjected to violence, aggression and/or verbal abuse during their shift and 26% reported extremely high stress levels. NHS figures published in November showed thousands of NHS jobs are vacant. The service is short of almost 41,000 nurses, with the total number of vacancies for all jobs close to 103,000. Unison is calling for more Government funding to fill the gaps, alongside mandatory safe staffing levels to ensure patient safety. Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: This survey shows the extent to which crisis-level staffing has become normal across the whole NHS. These are long-term, systemic factors not being properly addressed. The Government must give the system the funding needed to tackle these issues. But, hearteningly, it also shows the dedication and compassion these hard-working committed staff continue to show at the most trying times. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We want the NHS to be the safest healthcare system in the world and record numbers of dedicated NHS staff make sure that patients receive excellent care. We are supporting them by opening 25% more training places for doctors, nurses and midwives, giving a significant pay rise to over a million staff, and listening to the issues that matter to them. As part of our Long-Term Plan for the NHS, backed by an extra 20.5 billion a year, we will launch a Workforce Implementation Plan later this year, to ensure the NHS has the staff it needs both now and in the future. The DUP have been urged to see the benefits of the Prime Ministers Brexit deal for Northern Ireland by a delegation from the countrys business, farming, trade union, community and voluntary sectors. Twenty representatives held meetings in Westminster to stress the need for MPs to unite and protect Northern Irelands jobs, consumers and economy and they say the need for a Brexit deal is critical to avoid the UK crashing out of the EU in 60 days. Labours shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, spent an hour talking to the group, which is also planning to meet Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay. They have also invited Northern Irelands 18 MPs to meet them. Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, who helped organise the event, said the group wanted to impress on the opposition parties the need to protect Northern Ireland. He told the Press Association that the group supported Theresa Mays Brexit deal, and said: Business in Northern Ireland and farming directly engaged with the negotiators to ensure that whatever came out of the Withdrawal Agreement was workable, and it is. So because we have been engaged and employed in the middle of that negotiation what we need is in that agreement, is in that backstop. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer meets representatives of Northern Irelands business, farming, trade union, community and voluntary sectors at the House of Commons (Stefan Rousseau/PA) If Parliament cant agree that, then whatever it agrees next needs to deliver exactly the same solutions, exactly the same outcomes as whats already been negotiated and agreed. Asked what he would say to the DUP, who prop up Mrs Mays Government, he said: The DUP only partly represent whats going on in Northern Ireland. Business, farming and jobs all depend on a good agreement and weve been clear to the DUP and to others that we support this Withdrawal Agreement and we would encourage them to see the benefits of it for our community and our economy. Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said: It is not acceptable for Parliament to continue to create uncertainty. This is having consequences, as is apparent in our businesses and in our high streets. The actions of parliamentarians from across the House (of Commons) is not acceptable and I will be pleading with the leadership of the opposition parties that they need to reach across the chamber and avoid a calamitous crashing out of the EU which will have a dire impact on consumers and jobs. A childcare boss has told an abuse inquiry that too much emphasis was placed on preventing harm from strangers, rather than those youngsters knew. Charles Coggrave told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry that children are more at risk from people who have regular contact with them, particularly when it comes to sexual abuse. The head of safeguarding and aftercare for Quarriers also agreed the charitys former village model created an environment which made it easier for them to be preyed upon. Mr Coggrave said: When I was a child, my mum and dad would warn me about strangers. There was even some public safety awareness campaign and stranger danger was a thing. The evidence is that particularly talking about sexual abuse thats much more common with people you know, by people known to the child. Lady Smith is chairing the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Nick Mailer/PA) Witnesses have told the inquiry of emotional, physical and sexual abuse from staff during their time at Quarriers Village in Inverclyde. It provided residential care for youngsters in cottages up until the 1980s and would usually have just one or two adults in each home, acting as house parents. Mr Coggrave told how the type of care and staffing levels for such organisations has evolved since the 1980s, particularly when it came to oversight and complaints procedures. Having admitted the village model would have made it easier for abuse to happen, he added it would have been a difficult environment for anyone to care for such high numbers of children. He said: As a father of two, I hasten to think what its like to have 20 children in a house. If I add to that, one assumes they came from difficult circumstances. That seems an enormous challenge to me. The inquiry before judge Lady Smith in Edinburgh continues. Northern Irelands top police officer has announced he will retire in June after five years in the job. Chief Constable George Hamilton announced the move on social media, after rejecting a three-year extension to his contract last week, and said he had informed the Northern Ireland Policing Board of his intentions. I have today informed @NIPolicingBoard of my intention to retire at the end of June. Its been a huge honour to have served the public through policing for almost 34 years & undoubtedly the greatest privilege of my career has been to serve as Chief Constable of @PoliceServiceNI Sir George Hamilton (@SirGHamilton) January 28, 2019 The tweet read: I have today informed @NIPolicingBoard of my intention to retire at the end of June. Its been a huge honour to have served the public through policing for almost 34 years & undoubtedly the greatest privilege of my career has been to serve as Chief Constable of @PoliceServiceNI Mr Hamilton said in a statement: Our society today is a much more peaceful and progressive society than it was when I joined policing over 33 years ago. The PSNI has been part of that transformation. It has been a huge honour to have served the public through policing and without doubt, the greatest privilege of my career has been to serve as Chief Constable of the PSNI for the last five years. Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland George Hamilton (PA) Mr Hamilton will retire around three months after Brexit is to be implemented, a time which Mr Hamilton himself says will impact heavily on PSNI operations. The Chief Constable previously told a government committee he felt in the dark as he attempted to prepare his service for the UK leaving the EU. He also accused the British government of failing to understand the impact of Brexit and the dangers of terrorism in the region. Mr Hamilton warned that government officials have failed to prepare for the impact of Britain leaving the European Union on issues surrounding peace and security. He said that he has made a number of urgent pleas for resources, but he was not getting the information or clarity from Westminster. The Chair of Policing Board, Anne Connolly, expressed her regret at the retirement of the Chief Constable. It is with regret that the Chief Constable has today informed me of his intention to resign at the end of June 2019, she said. The Policing Board last week offered the Chief Constable a three-year extension to his contract which he has decided not to take up, and the Board respects that decision. Sorry to hear that George Hamilton has decided to step down after 34 years of distinguished service to the people of NI. I wish him and his family every blessing for the future. https://t.co/Rp6FNwq3Mu Arlene Foster #WellMeetAgain (@DUPleader) January 28, 2019 The Board now needs to put in place a process for the appointment of a Chief Constable and will consider this at its Board meeting on 6th February. Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Robin Swann MLA said: I want to sincerely wish George Hamilton all the best for the future. Ive always found George to be a completely honest and straight forward individual to deal with. And I always appreciated his forthrightness. The 51-year-old from Co Down began his career in 1985 when he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), he went on to spend three years in England working on a range of training and organisational development projects. In 2009 he was appointed assistant chief constable in Strathclyde Police in Glasgow, with responsibility for serious and organised crime, public protection and counter-terrorism investigations. He was selected to succeed Matt Baggott as the Chief Constable of the PSNI in May 2014, and took up the post in June that year. He received the Queens Police Medal in the 2015 Birthday Honours List. Coded religious documents have been read for the first time in centuries after a divinity student cracked the code. Baptist leader Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) left hundreds of pages of shorthand notes which have baffled academics for centuries. The University of St Andrews said third-year divinity undergraduate Jonny Woods has now become the first person in the world to read some of the pages after using a longhand version as a kind of Rosetta stone. Fuller, the son of a poor tenant farmer in Cambridgeshire, became a leader of the British Baptist denomination and, despite minimal schooling, published a hugely influential text, The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, which is said to have changed the history of the Baptists. Mr Woods, from Coleraine, Co Londonderry, said it was exciting to crack the code enabling people to finally read documents Fuller left in shorthand. The 21-year-old said: To be able to read something that no-one else has read in more than 200 years, its not something I thought I would ever be able to do and it was an incredible moment. It was quite a few weeks of tough and not very successful work, but eventually it paid off. He added: It is such an honour to be the first person to read Andrew Fullers sermons and to allow people to get an insight into this incredible man and the amazing stories he has to share. Im excited to continue working on the vast collection of work that he has left to us, in the hope that we can understand more about his thinking and how this developed throughout his ministry. The breakthrough came after Dr Steve Holmes, head of the School of Divinity at the university, found a shorthand document with the heading in longhand in the archive of Bristol Baptist College, which holds hundreds of pages of Fullers sermons. Andrew Fuller left hundreds of pages of notes in shorthand (University of St Andrews/PA) Dr Holmes found one headed in longhand Confessions of Faith, Oct. 7 1783 with the rest of the document in shorthand. Knowing this was the date of Fullers induction into the pastorate of a church in Kettering and that he would have been required to give a confession of faith as part of that service, Dr Holmes wondered if a copy of the confession printed in a biography might help him crack the code. After discovering the two texts were the same, Dr Holmes recruited Mr Woods through the universitys undergraduate research assistant scheme to help. After a few weeks, the student was able to translate the shorthand using the longhand version as a kind of Rosetta stone, allowing him to read two of the most historically significant sermons from the collection. It is hoped that being able to finally read the documents will offer insight into Fullers meteoric rise within the Baptist denomination, by revealing the early development of his thought. Dr Holmes said: When Jonny told me he could read these documents, it was an astonishing moment. Andrew Fuller stands as the figurehead, the patron saint almost, of the church tradition of which I am a part. To be reading words of his that no-one had read since he preached them in 1782 its one of those moments you live for as an academic. The translations of two sermons are now with the Baptist Quarterly under consideration for publication while Dr Holmes is continuing to edit Fullers wider collection of sermons for a major new critical edition of his works. Various factions of MPs are jostling to stamp their mark on the EU withdrawal agenda in what is shaping up to be Brexits Super Tuesday showdown in the Commons. It will be down to Speaker John Bercow which proposals are selected for a vote. Any successful amendments will not have the force of law, but will carry heavy political weight as a signal to Downing Street and Brussels of what kind of Brexit MPs are likely to approve. (PA Graphics) Here are some of the most prominent amendments tabled: Grieve amendment In a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, the cross-party backed proposal from Dominic Grieve would effectively wrest control of Commons business from the Government for six individual days in the run-up to the UKs scheduled withdrawal date of March 29 with the intention of getting MPs to reach a consensus on how to handle it. Taking control The bill has limited effect - it doesnt change constitution/stop Brexit/revoke Article 50/determine what happens next. It just gives Govt & Parliament the chance to ask for a bit more time if country is facing No Deal https://t.co/ib4rE6BTTj Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) January 23, 2019 In a similar vein, a move by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper, supported by Tories such as Nick Boles, calls for a vote on a Bill that would give Parliament control over the Brexit process if Theresa May fails to secure a deal by February 26. MPs would get a vote on extending Article 50 to the end of the year and preventing a no-deal exit under the terms of the Bill. The Labour frontbench has been publicly flirting with throwing its weight behind the amendment. Brake on the backstop Tory grandees including 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and former minister Andrew Murrison want a deadline of the end of December 2021 put on the backstop proposal intended to avoid a hard border in Ireland. The amendment is believed to be viewed favourably by Downing Street as a way of showing Brussels that the Withdrawal Agreement could get through the Commons if concessions are made regarding Northern Ireland. Another amendment from Sir Graham and Dr Murrison seeks that the backstop is replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border. No to no deal I am proud to have signed @spelmanc & @JackDromeyMP cross party letter along with 211 other MPs. We urge Theresa May to rule out a no deal Brexit - even if her deal is defeated in the Commons next week. pic.twitter.com/3kZjeqlDy6 Vernon Coaker (@Vernon_Coaker) January 7, 2019 A cross-party effort headed by Tory Dame Caroline Spelman has widespread support and rejects the UK quitting the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement. This would probably be more palatable to the Government than either the Grieve or Cooper bids for MPs to take back control. Labours twin track approach This calls for MPs to be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal exit, such as a customs union with the EU, as well as the possibility of a new Brexit referendum. Jeremy Corbyn has been careful not to commit Labour to officially back such a poll, though. Amendments have been tacked on to the Labour push, with the Liberal Democrats calling for Remain to be on the ballot paper in any referendum, and Labour backbenchers urging Parliament to legislate for a public vote. Indicative votes 1/3 Heres the case for holding a series of indicative votes on Brexit. Parliament is currently deadlocked. MPs voted down the PMs deal but havent yet agreed on an alternative, so why not see if there is a different approach that can command a majority? Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) January 26, 2019 Commons Exiting the European Union Committee chairman Hilary Benn wants a series of votes on various Brexit options to see where the most support lies. Business insolvencies in Scotland have risen by 14% in a year, new figures indicate. Statistics from professional services firm KPMG show insolvency appointments rose from 832 in 2017 to 945 in 2018. A KPMG analyst said the rise is disappointing but by no means alarming and pointed to a fall in insolvencies in the final three months of 2018. During this period, there was an 11% drop in businesses becoming insolvent compared to the final three months of 2017, falling from 251 to 224. The figures show a marked difference in the rates of firms entering administration, which generally affects larger companies, and those going into liquidation, which tend to be smaller businesses. Administrations fell by just under a quarter (24%) between 2017 and 2018, from 83 to 63, while liquidations rose by 18%, up to 882 from 749. In the last quarter of 2018 these trends reversed, with administrations rising 40% compared to October to December 2017, up to 21 from 15, while liquidations fell 16%, to 203 from 236. Blair Nimmo, global head of restructuring for KPMG, said: The latest insolvency figures reflect an annual increase in the number of businesses becoming insolvent in Scotland, which is disappointing but by no means alarming. Indeed, a quarterly comparison reveals a fall in the total insolvencies at the close of the year. That being said, it will be interesting to see how the stats move throughout 2019 as we begin to see the real impact of Brexit take hold. We have undoubtedly seen an increased nervousness across the business community in Scotland, which has only been exacerbated by the current political environment. Whilst it remains difficult to predict what impact the final Brexit outcome will have on businesses, we are encouraging clients across the sector to develop contingency plans, specifically in areas such as funding, working capital, supply chain, contracts and people. He said a sectoral analysis indicates that, irrespective of Brexit, retail is struggling due to pressures including rising costs, falling consumer confidence and increased online shopping. KPMG global head of restructuring Blair Nimmo said businesses have been encouraged to create Brexit contingency plans (BigPartnership/PA) Mr Nimmo said: In 2019 so far, weve seen a number of UK household names enter administration, with the likes of HMV and others citing trading difficulties as a result of poor festive trading. He said the energy sector had also been hit as some smaller independent suppliers become insolvent due to structural issues, energy price caps and wholesale price volatility. He added: However, beyond retail and energy, there is no real pattern in Scotland. Throughout January we have noticed an uplift in general restructuring activity from companies requiring assistance in the generation of additional funding in response to a difficult trading environment. Michael Jacksons family are furious that two men who accuse the pop star of sexually abusing them as boys have received fresh attention because of a new documentary. The family released a statement denouncing Leaving Neverland, a documentary film featuring Jackson accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck that premiered last week at the Sundance Film Festival and is set to air in the spring on HBO and Channel 4 in the UK. Michael always turned the other cheek, and we have always turned the other cheek when people have gone after members of our family that is the Jackson way, the statement said. Jackson supporters hand out leaflets (Danny Moloshok/AP) But we cant just stand by while this public lynching goes on. Michael is not here to defend himself, otherwise these allegations would not have been made. The family points out that Jackson was subjected to a thorough investigation which included a surprise raid of his home, the Neverland Ranch, but was still acquitted at his criminal trial in 2005, in a case involving another young man. Mr Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jacksons room many times, but that Jackson had never molested him. Mr Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy. Jackson died in 2009. Both men filed lawsuits in 2013 saying stress and trauma had forced them to face the truth and admit they were sexually abused. The suits have been thrown out on technical grounds, but are under appeal. The Jackson statement calls the men perjurers because of this reversal, saying the family is furious that media outlets without evidence have chosen to believe the word of two admitted liars over the word of hundreds of families and friends around the world who spent time with Michael. The films director Dan Reed has said he has no doubts about the mens validity. The family insists that truth and evidence are on their side. We are proud of what Michael Jackson stands for, the statement said. Harmful challenges are going viral on the Internet with many youngsters compelled to try them. Netflixs horror flick Bird Box has been the talk of the town ever since it released. Not just because of its macabre storyline, but also because it has become the inspiration of one of social medias newest challenges The Bird Box Challenge. People have been filming themselves blindfolded while going about their day-to-day activities. And when youre blindfolded, things eventually go wrong. This, like many other dangerous challenges that have gone viral, makes one question this need of youngsters to sign up, even at the cost of endangering themselves. Be it Kiki, Cinnamon, Blue Whale or Fire Challenges, the list goes on and on, and safety being a major concern. Pondering on why such challenges are taken up, we explore how they do more harm than good and why they become viral. And how its time to take a step back instead of following others needlessly just to enhance ones entity on social media. The rage of these social media challenges might compel people even though reports of fatalities are all over. The Blue Whale Challenge that became popular had India at the top of the list of countries searching about the challenge. In 2014, 16-year-old Fernando Valencia doused himself in nail polish remover and flicked a lighter, giving himself second and third-degree burns. There was the case of a 16-year-old, Dejah Reed, who was hospitalised for a collapsed lung after trying the Cinnamon Challenge. Kise Odyuo who attempted the Kiki Challenge explains, When the challenge first came out, my Instagram feed was filled with videos of people doing this challenge. One day after work, we decided to do the challenge. I was inspired by these videos. But having said that, I think this challenge becomes dangerous when people try to take it a step further. This can be because they want to increase the number of likes and followers. There have been reports of the Blue Whale Challenge and many youngsters who died in their penchant to follow it. Rachel Cloney, a mother of a young adult is concerned, Kids tend to feel that if they dont do such challenges, they will be considered outsiders. These days children want to be recognised by each other. I think this is mainly because of peer pressure. I know of many children who want to try out a new challenge the moment it becomes viral. They do it to feel among the in crowd and be recognised. Psychologist Anika C avers that this sense of wanting to belong drives many youngsters to take up such challenges. There is a high prevalence of attention-seeking behaviour and a need to belong among teenagers. Such challenges pose as a channel for youngsters to explore their identity. The reason could be due to peer pressure or recognition but the consequences of such challenges are very dangerous.Its important to explore what is healthy or unhealthy, and the consequences of such actions. If the danger factor is what prompts many youngsters, the rage of social media too aid such behaviour. Sociologist Dr Sudeshna Mukerjee advises, Human beings are social by origin. Due to the industrial urban social order, migration, and in the absence of kith and kin, we forget small things that make one happy. Instant gratifications has become so important today. Rather than having real people around, we are finding friends in virtual world. This exemplifies the profound alienation of a capitalist society, a statement that has been professed by none other than Karl Marx. Dare to undare The struggle for control of Venezuela has turned to the military, with supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido handing leaflets to soldiers detailing a proposed amnesty law that would protect them for helping overthrow president Nicolas Maduro. At the same time, Mr Maduro demonstrated his might, wearing tan fatigues as he watched heavy artillery fired into a hillside and boarded an amphibious tank. Addressing soldiers in an appearance on state TV, Mr Maduro asked whether they were plotting with the imperialist United States, which he accused of openly leading a coup against him. No, my commander-in-chief, they shouted in unison, and Mr Maduro responded: Were ready to defend our homeland under any circumstance. The duelling appeals from the two rivals again put the military centre stage in the global debate over who holds a legitimate claim to power in the South American nation. A woman stands next to soldiers in Caracas, Venezuela (Rodrigo Abd/AP) The standoff has plunged troubled Venezuela into a new chapter of political turmoil that has already left more than two dozen dead as thousands took to the streets demanding Mr Maduro step down. His rival Mr Guaido is calling for two new mass protests over the next week. The tumult erupted when Mr Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of Venezuelas opposition-controlled congress, declared before masses of supporters last week that he has temporarily assumed presidential powers, vowing to hold free elections and end Mr Maduros dictatorship. US president Donald Trump and several foreign leaders quickly recognised Mr Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate leader, prompting Mr Maduro to cut ties with the US and order its diplomats from Caracas within 72 hours. The US defied him, saying Mr Maduro is not the legitimate president, and Mr Maduro relented, suspending the deadline for 30 days for the sake of opening a dialogue. Venezuelas crisis came before the UN Security Council on Saturday, which took no formal action because of divisions among members. Russia and China back Mr Maduro, but France and Britain joined Spain and Germany in turning up the pressure on him, saying they would recognise Mr Guaido as president unless Venezuela calls a new presidential election within eight days. Where do you get that you have the power to establish a deadline or an ultimatum to a sovereign people? said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. Its almost childlike. Venezuelas armed forces remain the key to Mr Maduros hold on power, firing tear gas and bullets on protesters, killing more than two dozen since Wednesday. Mr Guaido is urging Venezuelans to leave their homes, offices or wherever they may be on Wednesday for a peaceful, two-hour midday protest. He is also asking followers to take to the streets again Saturday for demonstrations in every corner of the nation and around the globe, to coincide with the European Union deadline for announcing a new election. Were advancing well, Venezuela, Mr Guaido said in his broadcast, streamed live on the internet. Weve restored hope. The Trump administration has maintained that all options remain open if Mr Maduro refuses to cede leadership, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on Fox News Sunday. I dont think any president of any party who is doing his or her job would be doing the job properly if they took anything off the table, he said. So, I think the president of the United States is looking at this extraordinarily closely. The Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte and his security officials are to visit a Catholic cathedral in the southern Philippines where suspected Islamic militants set off bombs that killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 100. Witnesses said the first blast inside the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital sent churchgoers, some of them wounded, to stampede out of the main door. Army troops and police posted outside were rushing in when the second bomb went off about a minute later near the main entrance, causing more deaths and injuries. The attack occurred in the Sulu provincial capital on Jolo island, where Abu Sayyaf militants have carried out years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings and have aligned themselves with the Islamic State group. Mr Duterte is due to meet with some of the survivors and hold a security meeting with military and police officials on Monday. Police have put forces around the country on heightened alert to prevent similar attacks. The attack took place during a Sunday Mass (AP) We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy, the presidents office said. The bombings came nearly a week after minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation endorsed a new autonomous region in the southern Philippines in hopes of ending nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead. Although most Muslim areas approved the autonomy deal, voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected it. A number of Governments have condemned the attack (Nickee Butlangan/AP) The province is home to a rival rebel faction which is opposed to the deal as well as smaller militant cells that are not part of any peace process. The SITE Intelligence monitoring group said an IS communique claimed the attack was carried out by two of its suicide bombers who wore explosive belts, one detonating inside the church and the other in the parking lot. The claim could not be independently verified. The fatalities were 15 civilians and five troops, and the wounded were 17 troops, two police, two coastguard and 90 civilians. The United Nations and others denounced the attack. In a statement attributed to a spokesman, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and reiterated the UNs support for the Philippines efforts to fight terrorism and to carry forward a peace process in the Muslim region. A variety of stories make the headlines on Monday, from the latest on the Brexit debate ahead of this weeks vote to the closure of magistrates courts. The Times leads with suggestions that those who previously supported Theresa Mays Brexit deal may desert her to push for a softer exit if Parliament backs a no-deal exit tomorrow Tomorrow's front page : "Loyalists threaten to desert May in push for soft Brexit" Read more : https://t.co/HQJ5YN7s2v pic.twitter.com/FroDcv4w8Y The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) January 27, 2019 The Daily Telegraph leads with their columnist and former foreign secretary Boris Johnson saying that Mrs May is to return to Brussels to get the Northern Ireland customs backstop renegotiated. Mondays The Daily Telegraph: Boris: May is fighting to scrap backstop #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/V7P2VM9Utx Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) January 27, 2019 The Guardian runs with concerns about the justice system, reporting that more than half of all magistrates courts have closed since 2010 which has meant some witnesses, defendants and lawyers are having to travel further for justice. Guardian front page, Monday 28 January 2019: Half of all magistrates courts axed since 2010 pic.twitter.com/qLeIcrWS5o The Guardian (@guardian) January 27, 2019 The Financial Times leads with comments from Chinas ambassador to the European Union, who said Huawei was facing discrimination following security fears over the companys involvement in 5G mobile projects. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Monday 28 January https://t.co/8r4Xv7vXlD pic.twitter.com/zrzj4eVEa7 Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 27, 2019 The Metro reports that social media firms have been put on notice about showing vulnerable teenagers images which encourage self-harm and suicide. Whats making the headlines today? (PA) The i leads with the countdown to Brexit as there are 60 days until Britain is scheduled to leave the bloc. The Independent reports that student backing for Labour is falling, with the paper citing a poll suggesting the partys stance on a second Brexit referendum may be playing a part. The Daily Mirror also runs with a warning to social media sites over disturbing posts and images. Mondays Daily Mirror: Stop online giants who help kill our kids #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/FatE2h16JM Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) January 27, 2019 The Sun reports that Briton Laura Plummer who was jailed in Egypt after painkillers were found in her luggage has been pardoned. Tomorrow's front page: The Sun saved my life": Egypt jail Brit dramatically freed from prison https://t.co/eCrfcKiq7c pic.twitter.com/uVSFZiUlKK The Sun (@TheSun) January 27, 2019 The Daily Mail carries the latest on their campaign to give the country a spring clean. And the Daily Star leads with claims made by TV comic Russell Howard that he was forced to rewrite a joke in case it offended Islamic State terrorists. Representatives from Northern Irelands business, farming, trade union, community and voluntary sectors are travelling to London to urge political party leaders to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Twenty representatives will speak directly to the leaders of Labour, Liberal Democrats and the SNP in a bid to stress the need for Westminster to unite and protect Northern Irelands jobs, consumers and economy. The group has also invited Northern Irelands 18 MPs to meet them. They say the need for a Brexit deal is critical to avoid the UK crashing out of the EU in 60 days. A spokesman said the Northern Ireland business community stands firm that a no-deal outcome would be an unmitigated disaster for the economy and society. Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said: It is not acceptable for Parliament to continue to create uncertainty. This is having consequences as is apparent in our businesses and in our high streets. The actions of parliamentarians from across the House (of Commons) is not acceptable and I will be pleading with the leadership of the opposition parties that they need to reach across the chamber and avoid a calamitous crashing out of the EU which will have dire impact on consumers and jobs. (PA Graphics) Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said: While Parliament tries to make up its mind, businesses are facing real-life challenges and making decisions. They are fighting to maintain competitiveness and customers so they can pay wages this Friday and every Friday up to and after March 29, the day the UK wishes to leave the EU. Our business community, farming representatives, trade unions and voluntary sectors agree that the Withdrawal Agreement, whilst not perfect, is workable and much better than no deal, and its approval would secure the critical transition period, protect jobs and allow everyone to move to the more positive future relationship negotiations and agreement with the EU. Owen Reidy, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said: The trade union movement represents over 200,000 workers across all areas of economic activity in Northern Ireland. We must have an agreement that safeguards jobs and workers rights and avoids a hard border in the island of Ireland, a border in the Irish Sea and a border between our islands. Workers cannot pay the price of Brexit. Seamus McAleavey, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, said: NICVA and the Northern Ireland community and voluntary sector believe that a no-deal Brexit would be a disaster for Northern Ireland society, threatening our stability, prosperity and well-being, and that it is therefore vital that Parliament reaches agreement to avoid this outcome. A Holyrood committee has said it is unconvinced by a proposed new system to calculate the financial situation of people in debt or facing bankruptcy. Following an inquiry, the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has now urged the Scottish Government to delay the system so a further review can be carried out. The Standard Financial Statement (SFS) would replace the Common Financial Statement (CFS), which helps calculate a payment proposal for those in debt to pay their creditors. It was due to be replaced in March but the committee has recommended the SFS should be delayed for a year in order for further evaluations to be made. It is the second time the committee has not endorsed the system, with the Scottish Government previously withdrawing the regulations in November 2018. It is the second time the committee in Holyrood has not endorsed the system (Jane Barlow/PA) During its inquiry, the committee heard evidence from financial advisers that under the Standard Financial Statement (SFS), the trigger figures, which set the level of repayments to take account of necessary household spending, are less flexible and require more evidence before being approved. It was concluded those in debt would therefore be more likely to struggle with repayments and could result in more workload for frontline advisers. Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee convener Gordon Lindhurst said: Following extensive consideration of the regulations, the Committee is unconvinced of the adoption of the Standard Financial Statement. We have significant reservations around the rationale for moving to the SFS and the impact its introduction will have on the living standards of those who are paying back debt. While a reason for introducing the SFS was for a consistent approach across the UK, the Committee recommends a delay until a more in-depth review by the Scottish Government is carried out. The committee recommended use of the CFS continues for one more year while a review of the options takes place. It was indicated the review should include consideration of a minimum income standard for debtors, reducing the administrative burden on money advisers, providing more scope for the exercise of professional judgement, and take evidence from debtors with lived experience of the current income assessment processes. In what is shaping-up to be Brexits Super Tuesday showdown in the Commons, various factions of MPs are competing to stamp their mark on the EU withdrawal agenda. With parliamentary tradition upended by the battle for control of Brexit, what would normally have been just a bland neutral motion by the Government on the Prime Ministers policy stance now threatens to take on a life of its own. Both sides in the often incendiary debate are hoping for a lightning strike moment to illuminate the way out of the Brexit impasse. As a result of a previous rebellion, MPs are able to table amendments to the motion, with the handful selected by Speaker John Bercow set to get voted on and potentially alter the course of the scheduled EU exit. Mr Bercow is expected to choose up to half a dozen of the myriad of amendments put down using a selection process which is believed to include taking into account the backing each one has amassed and the likelihood of it passing. The fact that Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and Justice Secretary David Gauke have both backed the idea of MPs being given a free vote on some aspects of Brexit adds to the air of unpredictability as the Commons clash approaches. Dominic Grieve, the Tory former attorney general and one of the sharpest pro-European thorns in Theresa Mays side, is the rebel who paved the way for the parliamentary showdown and he has tabled one of the most far reaching amendments. Any successful amendment will not be binding on the Government, but the Prime Minister will find it hard to ignore the declared will of a majority in Parliament. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd wants MPs to be given a free vote (Yui Mok/PA) Here are some of the most prominent amendments tabled: Grieve amendment In a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, the cross-party backed proposal would effectively wrest control of Commons business from the Government for six individual days in the run-up to the UKs scheduled withdrawal date of March 29 with the intention of getting MPs to reach a consensus on how to handle it. Taking control In a similar vein, the move by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper, supported by Tories like Nick Boles, calls for a vote on a Bill that would give Parliament control over the Brexit process if Mrs May fails to secure a deal by February 26. MPs would get a vote on extending Article 50 to the end of the year and preventing a no-deal exit under the terms of the Bill. The Labour front bench has been publicly flirting with throwing its weight behind the amendment. Brake on the backstop Tory MP Andrew Murrison wants a deadline of the end of December 2021 put on the backstop proposal intended to avoid a hard border in Ireland. Backed by Tory grandees like 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, it is believed to be viewed favourably by Downing Street as a way of showing Brussels that the Withdrawal Agreement could get through the Commons if concessions are made regarding Northern Ireland. Another amendment from Dr Murrison seeks the backstop is replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border. No to no deal A cross-party effort headed by Tory Dame Caroline Spelman has widespread support and rejects the UK quitting the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement. This would probably be more palatable to the Government than either the Grieve or Cooper bids for MPs to take back control. Commons Speaker John Bercow will have a vital role to play on `Super Tuesday (Yui Mok/PA) Labours twin track approach This calls for MPs to be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal exit, such as a customs union with the EU, as well as the possibility of a new Brexit referendum. Jeremy Corbyn has been careful not to commit Labour to officially back such a poll, though. Amendments have been tacked on to the Labour push, with the Liberal Democrats calling for Remain to be on the ballot paper in any referendum, and Labour backbenchers urging Parliament to legislate for a public vote. Indicative votes Commons Exiting the European Union Committee chairman Hilary Benn wants a series of votes on various Brexit options to see where the most support lies. (PA Graphics) Free votes Former minister Frank Field is seeking free votes on options including the Irish backstop, a no-deal Brexit, Canadian and Norwegian models for relations with the EU, a customs union relationship and a second referendum, to act as a guide for the Government in future talks. Liberal Democrat pitch Sir Vince Cable is calling on the Government to rule out a no-deal Brexit and make preparations for a second referendum, with Remain on the ballot paper. Satellite antenna development has been given a 1 million boost by the Ministry of Defence. The wrapped rib antenna being produced is lighter and more cost-competitive than those available commercially, according to the MoD. The move will make the UK the first European country with the capability of a flight-proven parabolic deployable antenna. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: I have been clear that we need to accelerate the development of new, innovative capabilities especially those in the space domain. It is vital that we have homegrown affordable technologies like this pioneering deployable satellite antenna to maintain a commanding military advantage over our adversaries and competitors. The new antenna will be used to meet the needs of fine-resolution Low Earth Orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, the MoD said. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson hailed the investment in satellite antennae (Peter Byrne/PA) SAR permits all weather Earth observation, irrespective of time of day or night and provides unique advantages for both civil and defence applications. The technology will enable the UK to deploy a number of antennae in space, providing more accurate and frequent satellite images, the MoD said. The antenna will be developed in the UK by Oxford Space Systems (OSS). The firms senior commercial strategist Shefali Sharma said: This contract represents a considerable stamp of endorsement by the UK Government for OSS on the global stage. Theresa May was under renewed pressure from Brexiteers to secure fresh concessions on the Northern Irish backstop as Dublin warned there was no room for manoeuvre on the issue. As the Prime Minister faced another Commons showdown over her EU withdrawal agenda on Tuesday, Downing Street was battling to keep control of the Brexit timetable. In a pointed intervention, arch-Brexiteer Boris Johnson insisted he had it from senior sources the PM was planning to go to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop and win a freedom clause. However, Irelands deputy prime minister Simon Coveney insisted there would be no changes to the Withdrawal Agreement which states the UK will obey EU customs rules if no wider deal has been struck after a transition period. Mr Coveney said the backstop was crucial in preventing a hard border. He told the Press Association: Peace and the Good Friday Agreement are more important than Brexit. Even in a no-deal Brexit situation every party and every MP in the UK will have a responsibility to ensure there is no return to a hard border and Northern Ireland is protected. That wont be easy and those who misrepresent the backstop dont have an alternative to it. Brexit protests in Westminster (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Coveneys comments were seen as a swipe at Tory Brexiteers hoping to use Commons amendments on Tuesday to try and force a change in direction on the backstop. Attention is focusing on an amendment by Tory grandee Sir Graham Brady which calls for the removal of the backstop and alternative arrangements to be put in its place. Brexiteers say if the non-binding amendment is passed it will give the PM more leeway to win concessions from the EU. Sir Graham, who is chairman of the highly influential 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the amendment would give enormous firepower to the Prime Minister in Brussels. (PA Graphics) Asked if it had Government backing he said: I hope so I dont know so. The amendment was born out of a number of conversations I had with colleagues including members of the Government, including the Prime Minister. I had also spoken to people in the DUP too and Im hoping that the way in which the amendment is crafted can attract that very broad support and if we can win the vote on my amendment then I think it gives the Prime Minister enormous firepower. Meanwhile, pro-Europe amendments pose a threat to Mrs Mays grip on Brexit. The Government is thought to be particularly concerned about a cross-party backed amendment put forward by Labours Yvette Cooper which is aimed at stopping a no-deal exit and paving the way for keeping the UK in the EU until the end of the year. Tory former minister Nick Boles, a leading supporter of Ms Coopers plan, told Today there was a great deal of support among ministers and, indeed, Cabinet ministers and they had been pressing for a free vote on the amendment. This is the last chance for Parliament, this is probably the only opportunity that Parliament is going to have to intervene in this process, to take control, he said. If we dont seize the moment tomorrow afternoon then we are at grave risk of just driving off the edge on March 29 without really wanting to, and when there might be a compromise we could achieve if we just had a few more months. The Daily Telegraph reported that the PM is seeking to see off the threat of a Tory rebellion, and the possibility of ministerial resignations, by considering whether to hold a meaningful vote on Brexit within the next fortnight. (PA Graphics) A dozen pro-European ministers including Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and Justice Secretary David Gauke held a conference call in which they agreed such a move would help defer a potential rebellion, according to the newspaper. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson called on the PM publicly to confirm a change of heart on the withdrawal deal. He said: That backstop is dead, rejected by the biggest ever parliamentary majority; and that is why I hope and pray that I am right about the intentions of Number 10. If we mean it, if we really try, I have no doubt that the EU will give us the Freedom Clause we need. And if the PM secures that change a proper UK-sized perforation in the fabric of the backstop itself I have no doubt that she will have the whole country full-throatedly behind her. Britains biggest e-cigarette retailer has revealed plans to expand its footprint into Europe before making a potential stock market debut as it capitalises on the booming vaping industry. VPZ recently rebranded from Vaporized is already opening one store a week in the UK under a target of nearly trebling its 120-strong shop estate to 300 by 2021. But director Doug Mutter told the Press Association that the Edinburgh-based group is also eyeing international markets to replicate its UK success, with aims to take on Europe in 2020. He said the group recently ranked among the 25 fastest-growing UK companies in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Top 100 is also setting its sights on a possible stock market flotation as soon as 2021. It comes after more than six years of fast-paced growth for the family-run firm, which was founded in 2012 by brothers Callum and Connor Henderson. VPZ, formerly Vaporized, is rolling out its new branding across the chain in the first quarter of 2019 (VPZ/PA) VPZ made annual sales of 22.7 million in 2017 and is expected to see revenues jump 17% in 2018 to around 26.5 million. Mr Mutter said that, while VPZ will be focusing on its ambitious UK growth targets this year, it is laying plans for a move into markets such as Germany, Spain, France and Scandinavia from next year. The group, which employs more than 500 staff, is already running a project with retailers in Spain to test how well its products sell in the country. Mr Mutter said: Germany has a huge smoking population and an up-and-coming vaping industry but not quite where the UK is yet. We have got a tried and tested model in the UK and we know what to do here its getting that understanding in these other countries, he added. Once VPZ has got its teeth into the European market, it plans to look at a possible initial public offering (IPO) to help fund expansion. The founding brothers are still the only shareholders in VPZ, but Mr Mutter said the company is geared up and looking towards an IPO in the next two to two-and-a-half years to help it grow at a faster rate. Until then, VPZ which also manufactures its own vaping liquids under the Absolute E-Juice brand is busy popping up on high streets across the UK. It is taking advantage of empty shop space left by recent retail casualties to gain access to prime locations. The group wants shops to be within easy reach of most towns so that ex-smokers are not tempted back to tobacco. Its all about making sure theres the availability for these people to nip into a VPZ store, said Mr Mutter. There are around 2,500 vape shops in the UK, but VPZ wants to offer a high street alternative to the dark, grungy tattoo parlour look. Mr Mutter said: It could be smokers in their 20s or 80s that are coming in to the shops, so its a fresh high street look to the business that we try to achieve. With Public Health England recently backing e-cigarettes as being 95% less harmful than tobacco, Britain has a very progressive approach to vaping. But not every international market is the same and the threat of tighter regulation looms large for the industry, which is predicted to be worth more than 44 billion US dollars (33.6 billion) globally in five years. Hong Kong is banning vaping, while the US Food and Drug Administration recently launched a crackdown on e-cigarette use among young people. VPZ admits more stringent regulation remains a risk, but is confident the UK Government will not act rashly. The UK market has gone too far for them to bring in draconian regulation measures, said Mr Mutter. A 21-year-old man suspected of killing his parents and three other people was arrested when he drove up with a gun to his grandmothers house in Virginia on Sunday, a sheriff said. Dakota Theriot shot and killed three people the woman believed to be his girlfriend, her brother and father in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, before taking her fathers truck, driving to neighbouring Ascension Parish and shooting his parents, according to authorities. Dakota Theriot (Richmond County Sheriffs Office/AP) At a trailer where the parents lived, drops of blood trailed out to the front steps from the bedroom where Keith and Elizabeth Theriot were shot. In the bedroom, blood soaked pillows were strewn on the bed and patches of what appeared to be dried blood were on the floor. Dozens of stuffed animals decorated the room. Kim Mincks and Jacob Chastant also lived in the trailer and were friends with the Theriots. Ms Mincks was in the house at the opposite end of the trailer when the shooting happened but did not hear anything. Law enforcement officers came into her room on Saturday morning and woke her. Kim Mincks reacts inside her home (Gerald Herbert/AP) They said something terrible happened here, get up, get dressed and walk outside, she recalled them saying. Ms Mincks and Mr Chastant said Theriot had struggled with drugs over the years, had violent outbursts and had recently been kicked out of the trailer. We know he had a drug problem, she said. He got kicked out last Monday because of the drug problem. His dad kicked him out of here. He did have a violent streak. Theriots grandmother in Warsaw, Virginia, had checked into a hotel on Saturday night, fearing he might show up there, Richmond County Sheriff Stephan B Smith said in a phone interview. The woman asked authorities to check her house on Sunday morning to make sure it was safe before she returned. While deputies were there, Mr Smith said, Theriot drove up with a firearm pointed out the window of a pickup truck. A sheriffs statement said deputies sought cover and challenged Theriot, who then dropped the gun and was arrested without incident. He said the pickup Theriot drove to his grandmothers house was apparently the one taken in Louisiana. Investigators at the scene of a shooting in Ascension Parish (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate/AP) Theriot will be brought back to Ascension Parish to be booked on two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion and illegal use of weapons, a statement by Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said. Authorities have identified the victims in Livingston Parish as Billy Ernest, 43; Tanner Ernest, 17, and Summer Ernest, 20. Mr Ard said Summer and Theriot were in a relationship and he had been living with her family for a few weeks. Authorities said earlier that Keith Theriot survived the shooting long enough to let them know who shot him. According to Mr Webre, officials got a dying declaration from him, and only enough information to let us know that it was his son that committed this act. The exhibition was expanded with section devoted to Diors fascination with British royalty. Dozens of handmade gowns in sumptuous silks, feathers and crystals are displayed in a mirrored room, with lighting that simulates and accentuates the apparel. (Photo: AP) London: After the smashing success of its Alexander McQueen show, Londons Victoria & Albert Museum is looking to draw in big crowds with another major fashion exhibition, this time focusing on Christian Dior. Billed as the largest and most comprehensive museum display ever staged in Britain on the revered French fashion house, the V&A exhibit traces the influence of Dior over seven decades and showcases dozens of spectacular couture gowns. First to greet visitors at the exhibit, which opens Saturday, is a sculpted cream-and-black jacket and skirt outfit from 1947 that features a dramatically nipped-in 19-inch waist offset with full, pleated skirts. The romantic, exaggerated hourglass silhouette is now recognised as Diors famous New Look, a redefinition of the feminine shape that defied the boxy styles of the post-war years and immediately made its mark in fashion history. The influence of Christian Diors innovative and experimental design was all-pervasive and helped to define an era, curator Oriole Cullen said. Theres much here to dazzle, especially in the exhibition finale, The Ballroom, which celebrates the designers love for extravagant evening wear with aplomb. Dozens of handmade gowns in sumptuous silks, feathers and crystals are displayed in a mirrored room with lighting that simulates sparkling constellations and showers of gold dust. Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams opens to the public Saturday and runs until July 14.(Photo: AP) A ballgown is your dream, and it must make you a dream, Dior, a fan of lavish 18th-century court dress, once said. The exhibition is based on a 2017 Dior show in Paris, but was expanded with a section devoted to Diors fascination with British royalty and aristocracy. Among the highlights: a voluminous tulle gown designed for Princess Margaret for her 21st birthday celebrations in 1951 and which she wore for her official birthday portrait. The stylish royal remained a Dior client for many years. The designer died in 1957. Visitors get to see over 500 objects, including over 200 couture garments, and follow the House of Dior as it evolved under various artistic directors, from the wildly eccentric designs of John Galliano to the feminist vision of present-day director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman to helm the brand. Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams opens to the public Saturday and runs until July 14. South Africa: New NPA boss takes aim at corruption National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi has taken a firm stance against corruption, saying it is now time for justice to win the fight against the scourge. Justice must win, said the NDPP boss who was appointed to the top post in December 2018 following a gruelling interview process that was a culmination of a Constitutional Court directive in August for the appointment of a new NDPP within 90 days. Addressing media on her first day in office in Pretoria on Friday, Batohi said the country is reeling from corruption and impunity. She said there has been a dark cloud hanging over the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) in recent years. The organisation cannot have a situation where prosecutors are for sale, she said, adding that she was returning to the organisation at a time of crisis. Batohi, who is the countrys first permanently appointed woman NDPP, previously served as the first regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations in KwaZulu-Natal. Prior to her appointment to the top post, she had served as Senior Legal Advisor at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Batohis comments were emphasised by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Advocate Michael Masutha. The Minister said there have been serious difficulties at the organisation and that Advocate Batohi was inheriting many challenges at the organisation. He was, however, delighted with her appointment. It is a celebratory moment, we welcome fresh blood in the organisation, said the Minister. He said he had already held a meeting with Batohi and Police Minister Bheki Cele. High profile cases Quizzed about which pressing cases she will deal with first, Batohi said all the cases on her desk are important. I have not been properly briefed yet since its my first day in office, there have been revelations with regards to several cases in the media, all of those seem very important. There are several cases that appear to be very important, in the NPA, law enforcement agencies, police have got to look at when this specialised capacity is put together, she said. State Capture allegations She also referred to the ongoing Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector, including organs of State, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The Commission, known as the Zondo Commission, has heard testimony from an array of personalities revealing the true level of corruption, including allegations of corruption in the awarding of contracts with Bosasa. It has been alleged that Dyambu Holdings - the parent company of Bosasa - issued millions of rands in bribes to get contracts from the State. She said the allegations were unprecedented in terms of scope, adding that the allegations require a specific response. Batohi and Masutha have held discussions on a multi-disciplinary level on the matter. Minister Masutha said was concerned about perpetual outsourcing at the Department of Correctional Services and had asked the management if it had managed to develop capacity in-house. He was awaiting a report from the National Commissioner of Police Khehla Sitole on the Bosasa contract. We have not been able to develop our own in-house capacity to provide catering for our inmates in the big centres where Bosasa has been providing this service. The National Commissioner has advised me, in light of the revelations, they are working on reviewing the whole arrangement and I look forward to report soon from him on the prospects of us extricating ourselves from this, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Dublin has delivered a thinly veiled warning to Downing Street not to go back on the Brexit deal hammered out with the European Union. And in what is likely to be seen as a swipe at hardline Tory Brexiteers, Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney told the Press Association that those misrepresenting the backstop had failed to produce an alternative to it. Mr Coveney said the British Cabinet had endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement including the backstop aimed at preventing a hard border, as he made clear it would not be changed. He told the Press Association: A hard border cannot return. Peace and the Good Friday Agreement are more important than Brexit. Even in a no-deal Brexit situation every party and every MP in the UK will have a responsibility to ensure there is no return to a hard border and Northern Ireland is protected. That wont be easy and those who misrepresent the backstop dont have an alternative to it. With 60 days (from Monday) to go, the people attacking the backstop need to be asked two questions. Firstly, what is their alternative? Secondly, do they wish to protect the peace process? With Tory Brexiteers putting pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to secure a time limit for the backstop, Mr Coveney made it clear that would not be acceptable. He said: Skilled UK and EU teams have worked to bring about a Withdrawal Agreement that has been endorsed by 27 governments and the British Cabinet. Countryside near Castlederg, Co Tyrone, part of a former smuggling route covering both sides of the Irish border (Michael McHugh/PA) The backstop was negotiated around British red lines. The EU has been clear that the backstop is an integral part of the withdrawal agreement. A backstop is not a backstop if it is time limited. The backstop, which would see the UK obey EU customs rules if no wider trade agreement is sorted out after a transition period, has been attacked by Brexiteers who say it could keep Britain tied to Brussels indefinitely. The issue is likely to feature in a Commons Brexit showdown on Tuesday after Leave backers tabled amendments to a Government motion calling for major changes to the backstop. Mr Coveney, who is also foreign minister, used Mrs Mays own words to insist that guarantees on the border could not just be aspirational. He said: As the Prime Minister said herself in her Andrew Marr interview no border simply doesnt happen simply because people sit around saying, well, we wont have a border. Prime Minister Theresa May (Steve Parsons/PA) The Prime Minister was spot on when she added that this is about practicality and a guarantee, not just aspiration. With some Irish politicians predicting that people would tear down any border infrastructure erected, Mr Coveney insisted there was never an excuse for violence. He said: Whatever the political grievance, there is no justification for violence in Northern Ireland. It is true that there is strong cross-community opposition in border regions to the possibility of any hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Mr Coveney side-stepped questioning about what he believed the consequences would be of any attempt to impose martial law in Northern Ireland after a no-deal Brexit. He said: Ireland accepts Brexit is going to hurt us economically, its a UK policy and there is nothing we can do about the economic damage it will cause. However, we will not accept any going backwards on the 20 years of peace and stability between communities in Northern Ireland and between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Mr Coveney dismissed suggestions Ireland could form a customs union with just the UK, stating: I can rule out any border between Ireland and the rest of the EU. Asked if some Irish people enjoyed having such political influence over the future of Britain, Mr Coveney said: There is nothing enjoyable about Brexit. It is a lose, lose, lose situation. The EU will lose a great member state. Ireland will lose a great partner in the EU. And in my humble opinion, the UK will lose by leaving. The Commons rejected the Brexit deal Mrs May agreed with the EU by a crushing majority of 230 earlier this month. The PM has anchored hopes of re-selling it to MPs with concessions on the backstop. Mountain rescuers working in appalling weather have found an injured climber in the Cairngorms. The teams have been working to get the man off the mountain. He is understood to have back and leg injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening. Braemar, Aberdeen and Cairngorm mountain rescue teams were alerted on Sunday afternoon after the climber was reported to be injured on the Cairngorm Plateau near Ben Macdui. Police Scotland said officers were alerted to the incident at 2.25pm. Braemar mountain rescue team (MRT) tweeted the weather conditions were appalling, while Cairngorm MRT described the weather as challenging. Undated handout photo issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of a Sikorsky S-92 search and rescue helicopter, four of the helicopters operating in Scotland have been grounded due to safety fears, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said today. The teams, aided by a Coastguard rescue helicopter, carried out a search of the area where the climber was thought to be, with visibility described as very poor and high winds hampering the operation. In an update, Cairngorm MRT later tweeted: CMRT groups have located missing person and are arranging evacuation. This will be protracted given the weather conditions. A police spokeswoman said of the teams: They have traced the male and they are evacuating him from the mountain. Pope Francis called for a just and peaceful solution to Venezuelas political crisis as he wrapped up a visit to Panama for a World Youth Day rally that was overshadowed by the upheaval unfolding nearby. He refused to say if the Holy See would recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido in his claim for the presidency, which has been backed by the United States and other regional leaders. The Vatican has been frustrated in the past in its attempts to mediate between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuelas opposition, which has the backing of many Venezuelan bishops. Here in Panama, I have thought a lot about the Venezuelan people, to whom I feel particularly united in these days. In the face of the serious ongoing situation, I ask you to pray that a just and peaceful solution may be reached. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 27, 2019 Speaking off the cuff at his Sunday blessing, Pope Francis said he felt particularly close to Venezuelans while he was in Panama. He asked the Lord to seek and find a just and peaceful solution to overcome the crisis that respects human rights and exclusively seeks the good of all people. The Venezuela crisis has dominated his visit to Panama, both behind the scenes and in public, with the Pope at one point asking out loud if any Venezuelan bishops were on hand at the end of an event. The Vaticans secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was former ambassador to Venezuela so he knows the situation well. Huge crowds gathered to see Pope Francis (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Francis made the Venezuela comments after he closed out World Youth Day with a Mass in a Panama City field before an estimated 700,000 people and presidents from Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Portugal. You dear people are not the future but the now of God, Francis told the pilgrims draped in flags from across the Americas. At the end of the service, the Vatican announced the next edition of World Youth Day would be in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022. Our trip was very long but it was worth it because we came here to Panama City because of our faith, our Christian faith, said pilgrim Sawadogo Kiswensidad, who travelled from Burkina Faso. Pope Francis presents a gift to a child during his visit to the Casa Hogar El Buen Samaritano (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) After Mass, Francis visited a church-run home for people infected with HIV, sending a strong message of acceptance in Panama, where AIDS carries a stigma. Many of the people we help here have been rejected by their families, by people in the street, said the Rev Domingo Escobar, director of the Casa Hogar El Buen Samaritano. But here they receive Christian help, as the Church wants. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, who tended to a stranger in need, Francis called for an end to the indifference that society treats the poor and the sick. For indifference can also wound and kill, he said. Some for a few miserable coins, others for fear of becoming unclean. The Good Samaritan, whether in the parable or in all of your homes, shows us that our neighbour is first of all a person, someone with a real, particular face, not something to avoid or ignore, whatever his or her situation may be. Francis used his visit to the home to issue a string of appeals beyond Venezuela. He appealed for peace in Colombia following a car bombing at a police academy that killed 21 people earlier this month, denounced the bombing of a cathedral in the Philippines earlier on Sunday and added his voice to the chorus of solidarity on Holocaust Remembrance day. After meeting with World Youth Day volunteers, Francis was heading back to the Vatican to prepare for another trip next weekend to Abu Dhabi, the first by a Pope to the Arabian Peninsula. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has joined 200 survivors of the Holocaust and genocides to honour the millions of people who were murdered. Britains Jewish community was assured it was an intrinsic part of what makes Britain great, at a national memorial service in Westminster. Mr Corbyn, whose party has been dogged by allegations of anti-Semitism, arrived 20 minutes before the service began and was seen chatting and taking photos with guests. "Its important that we say resolutely: it must never be allowed to happen again." Lord Alf Dubs shares his powerful story on Holocaust Memorial Day. #HMD2019 #HMD #HolocaustMemorialDay pic.twitter.com/V1bVgPSApZ Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 27, 2019 He earlier posted on Twitter: Let us never allow anti-Semitism or any other form of racism to disfigure our society. Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Laura Marks told guests trustees had been questioned over recent months about whether the guest list was appropriate given the reported prevalence of anti-Semitism within mainstream politics. She told the room: We were asked if it was appropriate to continue to welcome some representatives knowing that this may cause distress to Holocaust survivors and refugees. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves an event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (John Stillwell/PA) But we know through independent studies that people who attend Holocaust Memorial Day events learn more, empathise more deeply and go on to do more to build a better future. The Labour leader said afterwards that he found the ceremony deeply moving, calling it a powerful reminder of why we must stand against racism and oppression everywhere. Speaking to about one thousand guests, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said he was deeply troubled by the prevalence of modern-day prejudice. He said: We still imagine that these barbarities belongs in the history books, and yet today, 74 years since the Nazi death camps were liberated, anti-Semitism is on the rise, here and abroad, and Jewish communities are once again living in fear. Important now as ever to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and ensure that we learn the stark lessons of the past and confront racism, bigotry and hatred. Privileged to take part in the UK Commemorative Ceremony later today. #HolocaustMemorialDay https://t.co/rKDcqN9c7g James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) January 27, 2019 This troubles me deeply and must trouble us all. And I want to reassure our Jewish community that you are an intrinsic part of what makes Britain great, and the Government will always stand by you to challenge bigotry and intolerance and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that future generations never forget where hatred can lead. Ahead of the ceremony, special envoy for post-Holocaust issues Lord Eric Pickles told survivors at a reception that democracy is the best bastion against tyranny. He said: The battle of the Holocaust continues to this day. There are serious numbers of people that want to pretend it didnt exist. There are serious numbers of people that want to lie about the Holocaust. And we are here to counter that with truth. TV actors Nina Sosanya and Sanjeev Bhaskar both gave readings during the service, which was interspersed with poignant short films from survivors and musical tributes. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis were also present. Six candles were lit by survivors, including grandmother Rachel Levy, to represent the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and those who died in more recent genocides. Ms Levy, who survived Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland as a teenager with her brother, said she found the current level of anti-Semitism in Britain frightening. The 87-year-old, who was born in former Czechoslovakia and came to the UK after the war, said: Its worrying and frightening, because I cant believe that things can happen again. And one shouldnt close ones eyes to that, close your hearing for that because it is happening, people are turning nasty again, of all classes. The gates at Auschwitz I camp (Dave Thompson/PA) I dont understand why. People I meet are normal people, I have not suffered from it myself, I havent come across any aggressive people, but its happening to other people and its visible. Its visible by the mere fact that we cant advertise where we are (here today) we cant do things like that, we dont put ourselves forward. Im Jewish, so what? We dont deny it, but we dont boast about it. I love being Jewish and Ill never give it up and Im not religious.but I still believe that miracles have happened to me and there is hope. The ceremony ended with Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by the Fourth Choir. It comes as a survey commissioned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust found that one in 20 UK adults does not believe the Holocaust took place, while one in 12 believes its scale has been exaggerated. Almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) either could not say how many Jews were murdered or grossly under-estimated the number, the survey of more than 2,000 people found. Brazilian officials have resumed the search for hundreds of missing people in the wake of a massive dam collapse, with firefighter crews returning to mud-covered areas after a several-hour suspension over fears that a second dam was at risk of breach. Authorities evacuated several neighbourhoods in the southeastern city of Brumadinho that were within range of the B6 dam owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale. An estimated 24,000 people were told to get to higher ground, but by the afternoon, civil engineers said the second dam was no longer at risk. Areas of water-soaked mud appeared to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. Get out searching! a woman yelled at firefighters near a refuge set up in the centre of Brumadinho. They could be out there in the bush. On Sunday, authorities lowered the confirmed death toll to 37 from 40, giving no explanation, though that number was expected to increase as rescue and recovery teams got to the hardest hit areas. Even before the half-day suspension of rescue efforts, hope that loved ones had survived a tsunami of iron ore mine waste from Fridays dam collapse in the area was turning to anguish and anger over the increasing likelihood that many of the hundreds of people missing had died. There was also mounting anger at Vale and questions about an apparent lack of an alarm system on Friday. A car lies covered in debris (Leo Correa/AP) Caroline Steifeld, who was evacuated, said she heard warning sirens on Sunday, but no such alert came on Friday, when the first dam collapsed. I only heard shouting, people saying to get out. I had to run with my family to get to higher ground, but there was no siren, she said, adding that a cousin was still unaccounted for. Several others made similar complaints. Im angry. There is no way I can stay calm, said Sonia Fatima da Silva, as she tried to get information about her son, who had worked at Vale for 20 years. My hope is that they be honest. I want news, even if its bad. Ms da Silva said she last spoke to her son before he went to work on Friday, when around midday a dam holding back mine waste collapsed, sending waves of mud for miles and burying much in its path. She was one of scores of relatives in Brumadinho who desperately awaited word on their loved ones. Romeu Zema, the governor of Minas Gerais state, said by now most recovery efforts will entail pulling out bodies. A bird that was left behind stands in its cage inside a home two days after a dam collapse (Leo Correa/AP) The flow of waste reached the nearby community of Vila Ferteco and an occupied Vale administrative office. It buried buildings to their rooftops and an extensive field of the mud cut off roads. Some residents barely escaped with their lives. I saw all the mud coming down the hill, snapping the trees as it descended. It was a tremendous noise, said a tearful Simone Pedrosa, from the neighbourhood of Parque Cachoeira, five miles from where the dam collapsed. Ms Pedrosa, 45, and her parents dashed to their car and drove to the highest point in the neighbourhood. If we had gone down the other direction, we would have died, Ms Pedrosa said. I cannot get that noise out of my head, she said. Its a trauma Ill never forget. In addition to the dead, 23 people were taken to hospital, according to the Minas Gerais fire department. There had been some signs of hope earlier Saturday when authorities found 43 more people alive. For many, hope was evaporating. I dont think he is alive, said Joao Bosco, speaking of his cousin, Jorge Luis Ferreira, who worked for Vale. Right now, I can only hope for a miracle. Vanilza Sueli Oliveira described the wait for news of her nephew as distressing, maddening. Time is passing, she said. Its been 24 hours already. I just dont want to think that he is under the mud. The rivers of mining waste also raised fears of widespread environmental contamination and degradation. Police and rescue personnel work at a blocked road (Andre Penner/AP) According to Vales website, the waste is composed mostly of sand and is non-toxic. However, a UN report found that the waste from a similar disaster in 2015 contained high levels of toxic heavy metals. Over the weekend, state courts and the justice ministry in the state of Minas Gerais froze about 1.5 billion US dollars from Vale assets for state emergency services and told the company to report on how they would help the victims. Neither the company nor authorities had reported why the dam failed, but Attorney General Raquel Dodge promised to investigate it, saying someone is definitely at fault. Ms Dodge noted there are 600 mines in the state of Minas Gerais alone that are classified as being at risk of rupture. Another dam administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton collapsed in 2015 in the city of Mariana in the same state of Minas Gerais, resulting in 19 deaths and forcing hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, it left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. A rescue worker holds rope (Andre Penner/AP) An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded nearby rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Sueli de Oliveira Costa, who had not heard from her husband since Friday, had harsh words for the mining company. Vale destroyed Mariana and now theyve destroyed Brumadinho, she said. The Folia de S.Paulo newspaper reported Saturday that the dams mining complex was issued an expedited licence to expand in December due to decreased risk. Conservation groups in the area alleged that the approval was unlawful. On Twitter, new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said his government would do everything it could to prevent more tragedies like Mariana and now Brumadinho. The far-right leader campaigned on promises to jump-start Brazils economy, in part by deregulating mining and other industries. Environmental groups and activists said the latest spill underscored the lack of environmental regulation in Brazil, and many promised to fight any further deregulation. Marina Silva, a former environmental minister and presidential candidate, toured the area on Sunday. She said such tragedies should be deemed heinous crimes, and that Congress should bear part of the blame for not toughening regulations and enforcement. All the warnings have been given. We are repeating history with this tragedy, she said. Brazil cant become a specialist in rescuing victims and consoling widows. Measures need to be taken to avoid prevent this from happening again. Two bombs have torn through a Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are active, killing at least 20 people and wounding 111 others during Sunday mass, officials said. Witnesses said the first blast inside the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital sent churchgoers, some of them wounded, to stampede out of the main door. Army troops and police posted outside were rushing in when the second bomb went off about a minute later near the main entrance, causing more deaths and injuries. The military is checking a report that the second explosive device may have been attached to a parked motorcycle. The initial explosion scattered the wooden pews inside the main hall and blasted out windows, and the second bomb hurled human remains and debris across a town square fronting the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, witnesses said. Police said at least 20 people died and 81 were wounded, correcting an earlier toll due to double counting. The fatalities were 15 civilians and five troops, and the wounded were 17 troops, two police, two coastguard and 90 civilians. Troops in armoured carriers sealed off the main road leading to the church while vehicles transported the dead and wounded to the town hospital. Some casualties were evacuated by air to nearby Zamboanga city. Soldiers and police cordon off the area (WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP) Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said: I have directed our troops to heighten their alert level, secure all places of worships and public places at once, and initiate proactive security measures to thwart hostile plans. The office of President Rodrigo Duterte said: We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy. The statement added: The enemies of the state boldly challenged the governments capability to secure the safety of citizens in that region. The (armed forces of the Philippines) will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals. Bomb victims receive treatment in hospital (WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP) Jolo island has long been troubled by the presence of Abu Sayyaf militants, who are blacklisted by the US and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation because of years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. A Catholic bishop, Benjamin de Jesus, was gunned down by suspected militants outside the cathedral in 1997. Let us pray for the victims of the terrorist attack on the Cathedral of Jolo, in the Philippines. May the Lord, Prince of Peace, convert the hearts of the violent, and grant the inhabitants of that region a peaceful coexistence. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 27, 2019 No one has immediately claimed the latest attack. It came nearly a week after minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation endorsed a new autonomous region in the southern Philippines in hopes of ending nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead. Although most of the Muslim areas approved the autonomy deal, voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected it. The province is home to a rival rebel faction that is opposed to the deal as well as smaller militant cells that are not part of any peace process. NEW YORK (AP) - Fox's live broadcast of the rock musical "Rent" had a chance to show off the flexibility and work ethic of Broadway in the face of a setback - and completely blew it. The musical about people living and dying in poverty with AIDS was unable to overcome a simple foot injury to one of its stars, scrapping the idea of going live and relying on prerecorded footage. Producers promised the show would go on but it really didn't. The majority of the dress rehearsal from the night before was broadcast instead of really live. This is the very opposite of the show's ethic "no day but today." The creators were unable to respond to Brennin Hunt's broken foot, even though examples from Broadway abound, including Andy Karl finishing a preview of "Groundhog Day" with the use of a cane in 2017 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. He was onstage when the show officially opened just 72 hours later. The decision Sunday left the "Rent" cast marooned on Stage 16 on the Fox lot in Los Angeles until the finale, a disastrous idea that rightfully incensed anyone who loves live theater. To be honest, even in rehearsal, the show lacked sustained sparks, despite an overenthusiastic audience. The rock musical, by Jonathan Larson and inspired by the Giacomo Puccini opera "La Boheme," celebrates survival among the artists and homeless of New York's East Village in the early 1990s. Jason Sherwood's sets were messy, scaffolding-heavy spaces with little beauty, except the lovely Christmas tree made of recycled materials. Realistic snow fell, but the musical's gritty language was excised. This image released by Fox shows the cast of "Rent," from top left, Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Valentina as Angel Dumont Schunard, Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, Mario as Benjamin Coffin III, and from bottom left, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, Brennin Hunt as Roger Davis and Tinashe as Mimi Marquez, airing Sunday, Jan. 27 on Fox. (Pamela Littky/FOX via AP) The show shared DNA with the original 1996 Broadway production, including original director Michael Greif and original costume designer Angela Wendt. Original Broadway cast-members - including Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp and Taye Diggs - also showed up for a rollicking reprise of "Seasons of Love," singing beside their successors, a very nice touch. Tinashe nailed an awesome "Out Tonight" and was a great Mimi Marquez, but Jordan Fisher initially seemed overmatched by playing Mark Cohen, though he rose to the occasion by the end. Hunt successfully lit live candles during rehearsal and showed ability to hit his marks despite his bandaged foot while live but otherwise played his Roger with as much honesty as a hunky villain in a Disney Chanel teen show. Brandon Victor Dixon sparkled as Tom Collins, proving again to be a supremely natural live performer. (He was an awesome Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar Live" and should be in every live broadcast show from now on, providing they are truly live.) Valentina from "RuPaul's Drag Race" was a fine Angel Dumott Schunard but often lacked the nuance her doomed role requires. Vanessa Hudgens deserves credit for just considering the role of Maureen Johnson - and doing the insane, manic "Over the Moon" - but did really well, particularly in the duet "Take Me or Leave Me." Menzel, who originated the role, has nothing to fear about her legacy but kudos for Hudgens. And Keala Settle helped make the iconic "Seasons of Love" a highlight. The heartbreaking choral "Will I" was done with understated beauty - with audience members holding candles - and the big "La Vie Boheme" was a complex, if overly long, success. "Without You" movingly reminded us of the horror of AIDS. Creators clearly wanted to make the AIDS crisis more visceral but they took questionable liberties with the text and that's not cool at all. Choreographer Sonya Tayeh's eclectic touches throughout were welcome (Angel's death scene was an awesome foggy fever dream) and Wendt's designs were flashy and grubby at the same time. (A cute touch was reflecting Anthony Rapp's original multicolored scarf with Fisher's striped sweater.) The production is part of broadcast TV's ongoing fascination with theater musicals, which kicked off in 2013 with NBC's "The Sound of Music Live!" and includes such entries like "The Wiz Live!" and Fox's "Grease Live!" Their fate seemed to be in danger following the poorly rated 2017 production of "A Christmas Story Live!" but last Easter's telecast of "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" was critically acclaimed and seemed to stem the ratings slide. But being live is not just important to this endeavor. It is at its very foundation - and "Rent" failed the test. Break a leg, indeed. ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits BERLIN (AP) - Police say three Polish men were killed when their car collided with a truck transporting pigs in western Germany. The crash happened early Monday in Bocholt, near the Dutch border. Police said the truck veered into oncoming traffic, for reasons that remain unclear, and collided head-on with the car. The three Poles - ages 23, 25 and 34 - sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the truck, a 33-year-old local man, was seriously hurt. Police say that the truck was transporting about 180 pigs. It wasn't immediately clear how many of the animals were killed or were so seriously injured that they had to be slaughtered. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - The European Union presidency says it will back Macedonia to open accession talks after it reached a deal to change its name. Romanian European Affairs Minister George Ciamba said Monday he wanted negotiations to start for Macedonia in June at a meeting of EU ministers. Romania, which currently holds the bloc's rotating presidency, also supports Albania opening accession talks. Ciamba said Romania wanted EU's enlargement process to continue, based on merits and reforms carried out by would-be members. Macedonia and Albania are official candidates for joining the 28-member bloc but don't have a date. Ciamba made his remarks after meeting Bujar Osmani, Macedonia's vice prime minister in charge of European affairs, in Bucharest. Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani, left, shakes hands with Romania's Minister Delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Osmani said his country's impending name change is a compromise that will bring stability and prosperity to the Balkans. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani, left, gestures next to Romania's Minister Delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba during a joint press conference in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Osmani said his country's impending name change is a compromise that will bring stability and prosperity to the Balkans. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani gestures during a joint press conference with Romania's Minister Delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Osmani said his country's impending name change is a compromise that will bring stability and prosperity to the Balkans. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland's anti-corruption bureau says it has detained six suspects as part of an investigation into a state-owned arms company, including an ex-lawmaker and former employees from the Defense Ministry. One of those detained is Bartlomiej Misiewicz, a former spokesman at the ministry and close associate of Antoni Macierewicz, who was defense minister from 2015 to early 2018 under the current conservative Law and Justice party. The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau said in a statement Monday said it suspects there was a mismanagement of assets of "substantial value," which threatened to financially damage the Polish Armaments Group, the country's largest defense firm that is more commonly known by its Polish acronym PZU. Among the crimes, it said it is investigating the falsification of documents. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Shashi Tharoor on the interim budget. New Delhi: Soon after the interim budget was presented in the Parliament on Friday by the Railways Minister and the additional in-charge of Finance Ministry, Piyush Goyal, standing in for Arun Jaitley who was undergoing medical treatment in the US reactions from the Congress have started coming in swiftly. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed the Union Budget as BJP's "election manifesto" and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. I would term today's budget as BJP's election manifesto. This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters, said Mallikarjun Kharge. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere of poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year. General elections are slated to be held in April-May. Kharge said the BJP has not told the people on what they have achieved during their rule and how many promises it has fulfilled in its five years of government. It also did not talk about its "jumla" of providing Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of people, he said, adding that it also did not fulfil the promise of providing 10 crore jobs in five years. "These are only election sops and 'jumlas', as they had been speaking about 'jumlas' in the past. There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes," Kharge said, adding people understand that they will not be befooled any more. The senior Congress leader said no progress has taken place in their government and what they are going to do in future are 'mere jumlas (gimmicks)', from which people will not benefit. "The BJP are thinking that they will get votes, but people understand that as in the past they had deceived and befooled the people, youth and farmers and they are doing so again," he said. Kharge also alleged that the budget for Dalits is also very less, as there is very less provision for them and alleged that the BJP is trying to befool the farmers. He alleged that the government did not provide 10 crore jobs and the money kept for 1.2 crore houses is very less. Farmers with less than 2.5 hectares land, he said, will get only Rs 6,000 per year, which is Rs 500 per month. "They are distributing money in elections to please farmers, but the reality is that in the first three months they would give only Rs 2,000 in first instalment," he said. On the announcement of Income Tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh to tax-payers, he alleged the BJP parliamentarians are creating a 'tamasha' in Parliament. "You have a mandate up to May and instead they have presented a full year's budget and are trying to befool the people of the country, keeping elections in mind. Who will fulfil these promises made? If they do not come to power, who will fulfil these promises? The next government will come and only it can deliver. These are only election sops and 'jumlas', as they had been speaking about 'jumlas' in the past," he said. Shashi Tharoor also hit out at the BJP soon after the presentation of the interim budget ended. S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Former finance minister P Chidambaram also criticised the interim Budget presented by finance minister Piyush Goyal, saying it was just rip off of the Congress partys ideas for the poor. Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country, the senior Congress leader tweeted. It was not a Vote on Account. It was an Account for Votes, he also said. P Chidambaram, Congress on #Budget2019: The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. https://t.co/AlY8uxmQpD ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 "It's an election budget," Manmohan Singh also told NDTV. WB CM Mamata Banerjee: This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless. pic.twitter.com/rK4CBge5Sw ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Another jumla by jumla sarkar. Why didnt they do anything in the past four years? This is an election-centric budget. People have understood this government. They will teach this government a lesson in upcoming elections, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said. -There were lies once again in the Union Budget 2019. This government is once again trying to mislead the people by forgetting its promises made in the past with false promises to capture power, Samajwadi Party leader Tej Pratap Singh Yadav tweeted in Hindi. Karnataka CM: I want to ask if this budget was prepared by officials of Finance dept or RSS? In this budget, Narendra Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop. Friends of BJP have prepared this budget. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/brlzIzHqaU ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 BSP president Mayawati called the Budget presented Friday by the BJP-led government `jumlebazi', or empty rhetoric, that did not address the ground realties. She claimed that economic disparities had grown during the last five years with only a handful of capitalists benefiting, instead of farmers and the poor. "This is wrong and against the interest of the country," she said in a statement. "The last Budget of the BJP government before the elections is far from the ground reality and the bitter truth, and is mostly jumlebazi,' the Bahujan Samaj Party chief said. "Jumlebazi cannot change the destiny of the country and end longstanding problems like poverty, unemployment and inflation, she said. It needs a firm resolve to solve them, which has been absent in the governments at the helm so far at the Centre," she said. She claimed the Budget was unsettling for the common people, and compared it to "unfulfilled electoral promises and decisions like demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mayawati claimed the benefit of Central schemes meant for labourers, farmers and the poor had not reached the needy, but the capitalists had gained. Referring to the coming Lok Sabha elections, the BSP president urged people to evaluate the wrong policies and the arrogance of the BJP government. She asked them not fall prey to its efforts to divert attention from its failures by inciting religious sentiments. MILFORD, Del. (AP) - A former textile manufacturing executive is accused of bribing an Amtrak employee to secure contracts worth millions for his Delaware employer. The News Journal reports Scott Crothers is charged with bribing Timothy Miller with more than $20,000 cash and multiple trips to Rehoboth Beach. Miller pleaded guilty last year to his side of what prosecutors called a "kickback scheme" that resulted in First State Manufacturing winning nearly $8 million in contracts for seat cushions and carpeting from the government-owned train company. Crothers' attorney indicated in court documents filed this month that another First State Manufacturing executive will be charged. An attorney for the firm's co-owner says First State Manufacturing is cooperating with authorities. The lawyer, Elizabeth Fenton, called the scheme "an aberration." Crothers' plea hearing is scheduled for February. ___ Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.com SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man is facing first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his parents and brother. In a Facebook post, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said 29-year-old Grant Amato was arrested early Monday and booked into a Sanford jail. The sheriff's office questioned Amato after the bodies of his parents, Chad and Margaret Ann Amato, and brother Chad were found Friday at their Chuluota home. According to the sheriff's office, investigators believe the victims knew their killer and their deaths were not a random act. The bodies were found after a co-worker reported that one victim hadn't shown up for work. Amato's first court appearance was scheduled Monday afternoon. Jail records did not show whether he had an attorney. ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) - Pope Francis says he is "terrified of a bloodbath" in Venezuela but doesn't want to pick sides in the political standoff because it's not his role as a pastor. Francis told reporters travelling home from Panama on Sunday that he supports the entire Venezuelan population. He said: "If I were to enter and say 'Do this' to those countries, or to other countries, I would put myself in a role that I do not know. It would be a pastoral imprudence on my part and would do damage." Francis called for a "just and peaceful" solution to the crisis in Venezuela that respects human rights and avoids suffering. But he didn't say if the Holy See would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido in his claim for the presidency over Socialist President Nicolas Maduro. CAIRO (AP) - Archaeologists have found wine cellars dating back to the Greco-Roman period in Egypt's Nile Delta. The Antiquities Ministry says Monday that the excavations took place in Tel Kom al Trogy, north of Cairo, an area known for producing fine wines in antiquity. There was no wine found in the storage galleries. Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, says the storage rooms were built out of mud-brick with irregularly shaped limestone blocks inside, apparently to control the temperature. The Greco-Roman period in Egypt spans from its fall to Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. to the Islamic conquest in the 7th century. Egypt hopes such discoveries will spur tourism, which suffered a major setback during the unrest that followed the 2011 uprising. ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) - Pope Francis is ruling out any lifting of the celibacy requirement for priests but says there's reason to consider ordaining older, married men in remote communities where priests are in short supply. Francis said he believes priestly celibacy is a gift for the Catholic Church and opposes a blanket change to make it optional. But he said "pastoral necessity" might justify alternative options in certain parts of the world. "I think the problem should be opened in this sense: Where there's a pastoral problem because of a lack of priests," he said. "I'm not saying it should be done, because I haven't reflected or prayed enough about it. But theologians must study it." Francis' comments, to reporters on the way home Sunday from Panama, open the way for discussion about celibacy in the run-up to a big meeting of bishops from the Amazon at the Vatican in October. Brazil's bishops have long pushed for the church to consider ordaining so-called viri probati, older married men of proven virtue, to minister in remote parts of the Amazon where the faithful can go weeks or months without Mass and evangelical and Pentecostal churches are making inroads as a result. Francis was asked about the possibility that the Latin Rite church might follow the Eastern rite Catholic Church, where married men can be ordained. He ruled out an across-the-board opening, repeating a famous phrase by Pope Paul VI, who was also under pressure in the sexual revolution of the 1960s to allow married priests. "I'd rather give my life before changing the law on celibacy," Francis said. The celibacy question has been a mainstay in Catholic debate given it is a discipline, not a doctrine, and therefore can change. The church has had the tradition since the 11th century, imposed part to spare the church the financial burdens of providing for large families and to ensure that any assets of the priest would pass to the church, not his heirs. In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, gestures to describe snobbish, hypocritical Catholics as he answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) Proponents of a relaxation of the rule say more men would consider a vocation to the priesthood if they could marry, a surefire fix to the decline in priests globally. More recently, the issue has made headlines in the context of the sex abuse scandal. While a key 2011 study commissioned by U.S. bishops found no correlation between celibacy and the sexual abuse of minors, abuse experts including A.W. Richard Sipe argued that priests regularly violate the chastity rule, creating a culture of sexual secrecy that allows for abuse to fester and remain hidden. "Personally I think celibacy is a gift to the church," Francis said Sunday. "There could only be a possibility in these far, far-away places, I think about the islands in the Pacific, but it's something to think about, when there's a pastoral need, there the shepherd has to think about the faithful." In such a case, a married man could celebrate Mass, hear confession and perform the anointing of the sick. In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) - Pope Francis has sought to lower expectations from his big sex abuse prevention summit next month. Francis told reporters returning from Panama on Sunday that he wants the Feb. 21-24 meeting to essentially be a catechism class for bishops about sex abuse. He said he wanted to sensitize church leaders around the globe to the pain of victims, instruct them how to investigate cases and develop general protocols for the entire hierarchy to use. "Let me say that I've sensed somewhat inflated expectations," he said. "We have to deflate the expectations to these three points, because the problem of abuse will continue. It's a human problem." Francis' lowering of expectations will likely not go over well in the United States, where rank-and-file Catholics are withholding donations and demanding accountability from their bishops after the hierarchy's repeated failures to protect children were exposed again last year. The crisis began in early 2018 when the Argentine pope strongly defended a Chilean bishop accused of cover-up. It intensified when a prominent U.S. ex-cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, was accused of sexually abusing minors and adults, and then reached crisis point when a grand jury in Pennsylvania detailed allegations of 70 years of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses in the state. Francis himself was implicated in the McCarrick scandal when a former Vatican ambassador accused him of rehabilitating McCarrick from sanctions despite knowing of his penchant to sleep with seminarians. Francis, who removed McCarrick as a cardinal when the allegations of abusing a minor were lodged, is expected to soon decide whether to defrock him. In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) Francis in September summoned the presidents of bishops conferences for the summit after realizing that church leaders in some parts of the world still didn't "get it." In fact, more than 30 years after the scandal first erupted in Ireland and Australia and 20 years after it hit the U.S., bishops in many parts of Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia either deny the problem exists in their regions or downplay it. Just last year, for example, Italian bishops began developing protocols for handling cases and accompanying victims. Expectations for the February summit grew in part because the head of the U.S. bishops' conference, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, claimed that the Vatican had cited the need to wait for the meeting's outcome before adopting U.S. protocols to address the scandal last year. In fact, the Vatican blocked the U.S. vote on the protocols because the U.S. conference had withheld the legally problematic proposals from Vatican review until the last minute. The U.S. bishops had wanted to create a reporting mechanism to hold themselves accountable that would have involved a lay-led commission receiving accusations when bishops themselves were accused of misconduct. An alternate proposal called for the accusations to be fielded by the metropolitan bishops who have regional responsibilities over other bishops. Francis suggested that idea could figure into the general protocols under consideration, saying the protocols would discuss "what bishops, the metropolitans and the president of the conference must do." Francis entertained a wide range of questions during his 45-minute in-flight press conference. In addition to abuse he - ruled out a blanket relaxation of priestly celibacy but expressed a willingness to consider letting older, married men serve as priests in remote communities where priests are in short supply. The proposal for so-called "viri probati" is expected to figure into debate at a big meeting of bishops later this year from the Amazon, where the faithful can go weeks or months without a Mass. - called abortion a "terrible drama" that can only really be understood in the confessional. He said when he is hearing the confession of a woman who has had an abortion, he urges her to speak to her child, "sing him the lullabies you didn't have a chance to sing to him." ''Here you have a path of reconciliation of the mother with the child, and with God. God will forgive." - said schools should by all means provide sex education to children, but without imposing an ideology in the process. Francis has frequently lashed out at what he calls "ideological colonization" of students with school books and programs promoting gender theory, abortion and other teachings about sex that go against Catholic teaching. - said he has refrained from picking sides in Venezuela's political debate because he is pastor to all Venezuelans. Francis said if he followed other countries in endorsing one leader over another - "I would place myself in a role that I don't know. It would be pastorally imprudent and I would do harm." Francis on Sunday called for a "just and peaceful" solution to the crisis that respects human rights and avoids suffering. But he didn't say if the Holy See would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido in his claim for the presidency over Socialist President Nicolas Maduro. In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, gestures to describe snobbish, hypocritical Catholics as he answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) In this picture Taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) LONDON (AP) - The Latest on Britain's plans to leave the European Union (all times local): 1:55 p.m. Food retailers in Britain are warning of higher prices for food as well as shortages in a starkly worded letter to lawmakers urging them to avoid leaving the European Union without a deal. McDonald's, Sainsbury's and Waitrose were among those saying Monday they were "extremely concerned" about disruptions in the food supply chain, given that nearly one-third of the food Britons eat comes from the EU. The industry says that "this complex, 'just in time' supply chain will be significantly disrupted in the event of no deal," and that there will be pressure on food prices from higher transport costs, currency devaluation and tariffs. The intervention comes ahead of a crucial day for May's Brexit deal on Tuesday, with Parliament considering a number of amendments that could prevent Britain from leaving the EU without an agreement on future relations. British Union flags fly in front of The Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. British Prime Minister Theresa May launched a mission to resuscitate her rejected European Union Brexit divorce deal, setting out plans to get it approved by Parliament. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ___ 12:40 p.m. A top European Commission official says it would be 'a stupid thing' for the European Union to make any concessions to Britain that would put the bloc at a disadvantage just to clinch a Brexit agreement. Jyrki Katainen says "there's no reason to give any concessions" to Britain which knew of the consequences of leaving the bloc. He said the EU has negotiated in good faith and had reached a good deal that was rejected by the British parliament. Katainen said he doesn't see "much room for maneuver" on a backstop deal designed to prevent a hard post-Brexit border that would bring back customs and identity checks between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. Katainen was speaking Monday after talks with Cypriot Finance Minister Harris Georgiades. Georgiades said although Cyprus wants to "definitely avoid" a no-deal Brexit and would opt to "pause the process" in order to give negotiators more time to hammer out terms that are "benign and less damaging for all." ___ 9:35 a.m. A leading Brexit supporter says he will back Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit divorce deal with the European Union if she wins concessions on controversial language designed to prevent border checks in Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson, the former U.K. foreign secretary, writes Monday in the Daily Telegraph that it would be "unadulterated good Brexit news" if May negotiated an expiration date for the Irish border backstop plan. Currently, the backstop clause would indefinitely keep Britain in a customs union with the EU if no other way were found to avoid physical border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Tuesday is a crucial day for May's Brexit deal, with Parliament considering a number of amendments that could prevent Britain from leaving the EU without an agreement on future relations. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons for her weekly Prime Minister's Questions in London, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Britain's Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond sit during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (UK Parliament /Jessica Taylor via AP) If you're getting a divorce , it pays to keep quiet on social media, says New York divorce attorney Jacqueline Newman. Trashing a soon-to-be ex or boasting about your great new life can complicate divorce negotiations. One client's husband, for example, insisted he couldn't afford a proposed settlement. Then, he inadvertently gave Newman leverage to get a better deal. "He bragged (on social media) about the great vacation he just took and the big deal he just closed," Newman says. "And I said, 'Thank you very much.'" Oversharing isn't the only mistake people make when their marriages are ending. Here are four more that can have significant financial consequences. NOT GETTING ALL THE PAPERWORK You may not know that you need certain documents until years down the road, when your ex may be unwilling or unable to provide them, says David Stolz, a CPA and personal financial specialist in Tacoma, Wash ington, who is active in the American Institute of CPAs. While you can, gather paperwork that shows: FILE - This April 2017 file photo provided by NerdWallet shows Liz Weston, a columnist for personal finance website NerdWallet.com. (NerdWallet via AP, File) - Account numbers and balances for all of your financial accounts. - Social Security statements showing your spouse's earnings record and expected future benefits. - Amounts paid for major assets, including your house. - Receipts documenting home improvements. These documents may help not only with the divorce settlement but with future retirement and tax planning, Stolz says. For example, someone who was married for at least 10 years may be able to claim spousal or survivor benefits from Social Security based on an ex's earnings record. IGNORING TAX CONSEQUENCES Investments, property, retirement accounts and other assets may have the same face value now, but trigger different tax treatments later - and that can dramatically affect how much they're worth, says Kathy Longo , certified financial planner and certified divorce financial analyst in Edina, Minn. , and author of "Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, and Big Conversations. " A Roth IRA is worth more than a traditional IRA with the same balance, for example, because Roth withdrawals won't be taxed in retirement. Likewise, a stock or other investment that's grown a lot in value could trigger a big tax bill that reduces its ultimate value. Homes can be particularly problematic, especially in high-cost areas. A married couple can exclude up to $500,000 of home sale profit from their taxes, but a single person can avoid tax on only $250,000. Couples need to consider the future, after-tax value of assets during their negotiations, Longo says. Another big change that can affect divorce negotiations is spousal support. Also known as alimony, spousal support used to be taxable to the person receiving it and tax-deductible for the person paying. That's no longer true. Starting with divorce agreements made this year, recipients won't owe taxes on spousal support, and those who pay it can't deduct it - which could make support agreements trickier to negotiate. LEAVING JOINT CREDIT ACCOUNTS OPEN Even if one spouse agrees to take responsibility for a debt, the other spouse can still be held liable if his or her name is on the account. Creditors aren't bound by divorce agreements, since your contract with them predates the split. Ideally, divorcing couples would close joint accounts, remove authorized users from credit cards and transfer the debt to new accounts or loans in the responsible spouse's name only. ASSUMING A COURT FIGHT IS INEVITABLE One survey by Nolo, a self-help legal publisher, found divorce costs among those surveyed averaged $15,500 in 2015. Divorces involving child custody and support issues averaged $19,200, and costs can shoot far higher if cases go to trial. Mediation or collaborative divorce can save people money compared with traditional divorce proceedings, Newman says. Mediation, an alternative dispute resolution process, may not involve lawyers and relies on a neutral third party to help devise an agreement. With a collaborative divorce, each spouse is represented by an attorney trained in the collaborative process of negotiating deals that are fair to both parties. Mediation requires spouses to be cooperative and open, especially about finances. Collaborative divorce can be an option when the relationship is more problematic but both parties want to avoid expensive litigation. With a traditional divorce, people may dig in their heels and have to turn to a judge - sometimes repeatedly - to decide issues as they're negotiating an agreement. Avoiding that adversarial process as much as possible can make a lot of financial sense, Newman says. "I tell my clients, 'You're going to settle eventually anyway. The only question is how long it will take and how much you'll pay me,'" she says. ____________________ This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of "Your Credit Score." Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston. RELATED LINK: NerdWallet: Divorce and Money https://nerd.me/divorce-and-money QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - A U.N. official focusing on refugees from Venezuela is calling on regional governments to reject "extremely worrying," if isolated, acts of xenophobia, hatred and intolerance against people fleeing the country. Eduardo Stein, the joint representative for the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for Venezuela, is denouncing "violent actions, physical and verbal attacks" against Venezuelan citizens in several countries in the region in recent days. He didn't specify the acts. Ecuador took new measures last week to vet incoming Venezuelans after the killing of a 22-year-old pregnant woman by her Venezuelan boyfriend sparked a wave of unrest against migrants. Stein on Monday credited a mostly "exemplary" reaction in the region to the outflow of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in recent years. Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. PRESIDENT SKEPTICAL ABOUT CHANCES FOR BUDGET AGREEMENT Donald Trump says the odds that a bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers will craft a deal to end his border wall standoff with Congress are "less than 50-50." 2. OPIOID SCOURGE'S TOLL ON VICTIMS' RELATIVES Hundreds of thousands of families continue struggling to contain the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Rhey suffer in solitude, balancing sorrow with relief, shame with perseverance, resentment with forgiveness, an AP exclusive shows. 3. POLITICAL CRISIS EXACERBATES MISERY The late afternoon sunlight shines through the window of the room in La Quinta, Calif., Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, where 20-year-old Landon Biggers died of an opioid overdose in 2017. He became one of 70,200 Americans killed by an overdose that year, plus the 64,000 the year before. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The longer the standoff between the U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido and President Nicolas Maduro drags on, the more regular Venezuelans are likely to suffer. 4. WHITE HOUSE DIPLOMACY GETS LOW MARKS A majority of Americans disapprove of the way President Trump is handling U.S. foreign policy, according to new poll conducted by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. 5. TORNADO IN HAVANA KILLS 3 PEOPLE, INJURES 174 The Cuban capital has been battered by powerful winds and heavy rains. A blackout hit many Havana neighborhoods around 9 p.m. 6. CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER PUT BEHIND BARS Wang Quanzhang was sentenced to 4 years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power. Wang was a member of the Fengrui law firm that was well known for its advocacy work. 7. PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT TO VISIT BOMBED CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL Rodrigo Duterte and his top security officials planned the site where suspected Islamic militants set off bombs that killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 100. 8. LOSING HOPE OF FINDING SURVIVORS IN BRAZIL DAM COLLAPSE The confirmed death toll rose to 58, with up to 300 people still missing, and, in an ominous sign, nobody was recovered alive Sunday. 9. STUDENTS COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH RADICAL VIEWS At an Ohio high school, some of America's most extreme political groups are invited into class each semester, with teachers educating pupils to engage respectfully with those of differing beliefs and to ask questions. 10. "BLACK PANTHER" CAST TAKES TOP PRIZE AT SAG AWARDS The win by the superhero movie set in the fictional country of Wakanda could be a preview of its performance at next month's Academy Awards. Opposition National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, prays next to his wife Fabiana Rosales, second from right, during Mass at a church in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Guaido says he is acting in accordance with two articles of the constitution that give the National Assembly president the right to hold power temporarily and call new elections. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Danai Gurira, from left, Isaach de Bankole, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Bassett from the cast of "Black Panther," accept the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Civil firefighter Leoncio Valverdes walks toward a federal police helicopter with cages of birds that were rescued from an flooded area two days after a dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching (AP Photo/Leo Correa) The road from Skardu to Kargil was part of the ancient Silk Route. Thousands of people on Friday marched on the roads of Kargil to demand reopening of traditional cross-LoC Kargil-Skardu route on humanitarian grounds. SRINAGAR: Ahead of Prime Minister, Narendra Modis, visit of Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of people on Friday marched along the streets of Kargil and its neighbourhood to demand reopening of Kargil-Skardu and other cross-LoC routes in the landlocked region of Ladakh on humanitarian grounds. The Kargil-Skardu road connects Jammu and Kashmirs Kargil region with Skardu area in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of undivided Himalayan state presently under Pakistans direct control. The road from Skardu to Kargil was part of the ancient Silk Route. The 1949 UN-called ceasefire which ended the first India-Pakistan war on Kashmir resulted in fragmenting Ladakh and Baltistan. The 126-km stretch of the road on the other side of the Line of Contro (LoC) is part of the provincial highway of Gilgit-Baltistan linking Skardu with Kharmang. The original road continued on to Kargil from Kharmang parallel to the Shingo River but is closed for the past seven decades. Part of the road on the Indian side of the de facto border is now in Indias N1. The divided families of the region have been demanding reopening of the Kargil-Skardu road on the pattern of Uri- Chakoti and Chakan da Bagh Rawlakote cross-LoC routes for trade and travel. LONDON (AP) - Officials say a rare red panda is safe and sound, a day after it escaped from Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland. The animal went missing on Sunday, and Belfast City Council had urged members of the public to report any sightings to the zoo. The council said Monday that the mammal had been found, adding that "it is safe and well and has been returned to the zoo." Two red panda cubs were born at the zoo in June, bringing the population there to four. A small tree-dwelling mammal native to the Himalayas, the red panda is not closely related to the better-known giant panda. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature says the red panda faces a very high risk of extinction due to habitat loss. This undated photo issued by Belfast Zoo, Northern Ireland, shows a red panda on the zoo premises. Officials say a rare red panda has gone missing from Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland on Sunday. Belfast City Council officials said Monday Jan. 28, 2019, the animal is not considered dangerous but warned the public not to approach it if it is spotted. (Belfast Zoo via AP) BAGHDAD (AP) - The leader of one of the most powerful Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq said Monday that he expects a vote in the coming months by Iraq's parliament calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, underscoring the jostling for power between Iran and the U.S. in this key Middle Eastern country. Qais al-Khazali, who rose to prominence as a leader in the Shiite insurgency after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, said there's no longer a justification for thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq now that the Islamic State group has been defeated. He suggested U.S. troops may eventually be driven out by force if they do not yield to the will of the Iraqi people. "I think more than half the members of parliament reject the presence of American military forces as a matter of principle," he said. "If the United States wants to impose its presence by force, and to bypass the Iraqi constitution and parliament, Iraq can treat it the same way and drive it out by force... But the first phase is political," al-Khazali said. The 45-year-old head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, spoke with The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview at one of his group's offices in a highly-fortified area in the Iraqi capital, just across the Tigris River from the U.S. Embassy. Curbing foreign influence has become a hot-button issue in Iraq after parliament elections in May in which Shiite militias backed by Iran made significant gains. The militias fought alongside U.S.-backed Iraqi troops against IS in recent years, gaining outsized influence and power along the way. Now, after defeating IS militants in their last urban bastions, Iraqi politicians and militia leaders are increasingly speaking out against the continued presence of U.S. forces on Iraqi soil. Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the militant Shiite group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Al-Khazali said Monday that he expects a vote by the Iraqi parliament calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country within the next few months. Al-Khazali said there is no longer a justification for thousands of U.S. troops in the country after the Islamic State group has been defeated. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) American forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011, but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the government to help battle IS after it seized vast areas in the north and west of the country, including Iraq's second largest city, Mosul. A U.S.-led coalition provided crucial air support as Iraqi forces regrouped and drove IS out in a costly three-year campaign. Iraqi politicians were angered when U.S. President Donald Trump visited American forces at a base in western Iraq without meeting with any Iraqi officials, a snub that added to calls for U.S. troops to withdraw. Trump has said he has no plans to withdraw the 5,200 troops in the country and that Iraq could be used for U.S. airstrikes inside Syria after the U.S. withdraws its troops from that country. Al-Khazali, whose forces are fighting in Syria alongside President Bashar Assad's troops, said he was "certain and confident" there will be an Iraqi parliament vote calling for the withdrawal and regulation of U.S. forces in the country. "If the main purpose for their presence is to confront the military danger posed by Daesh, then this threat is eliminated," he said, referring to IS. "So what is the justification for keeping this number (of troops) now?" He said a small contingent of advisers and trainers for logistical matters could stay on as determined by a joint committee that would specify their numbers and locations. "Anything other than that will be considered an infringement on sovereignty by the Iraqi parliament, the Iraqi people and political factions, including ours, and we will not allow it," he said. Al-Khazali was jailed by British and U.S. forces from 2007 to 2010 for his role in the Shiite insurgency. His group has fought in major battles against IS in northern Iraq and in neighboring Syria's civil war. Al-Khazali ruffled feathers in late 2017 when he showed up at the Lebanon-Israel border along with members of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, expressing support for the Lebanese and Palestinians against the Jewish state. His visit sparked harsh criticism from Lebanon's prime minister at the time, who ordered him banned from entering the country. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which owns its own TV station, made significant gains in last year's parliament elections, and al-Khazali is now represented by a 15-member bloc in parliament. When asked about the increasingly frequent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian interests in Syria, al-Khazali said the two powers appear to be headed for a confrontation which could turn into a regional war. He said Iraq would only be drawn in if directly attacked by Israel. "If the Israeli entity strikes targets inside Iraq, no matter what the pretext is, then Iraq as a sovereign state will defend itself and our response to the Israeli attack will be unlimited," he said. Al-Khazali also said if Israel were to attack Lebanon and Syria, and "in case they need our help," then "personally, I will be the first to participate." Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the militant Shiite group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Al-Khazali said Monday that he expects a vote by the Iraqi parliament calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country within the next few months. Al-Khazali said there is no longer a justification for thousands of U.S. troops in the country after the Islamic State group has been defeated. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the militant Shiite group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Al-Khazali said Monday that he expects a vote by the Iraqi parliament calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country within the next few months. Al-Khazali said there is no longer a justification for thousands of U.S. troops in the country after the Islamic State group has been defeated. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the militant Shiite group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Al-Khazali said Monday that he expects a vote by the Iraqi parliament calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country within the next few months. Al-Khazali said there is no longer a justification for thousands of U.S. troops in the country after the Islamic State group has been defeated. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Dutch authorities are investigating the cause of a gas explosion that blew the facade off an apartment building, injuring 10 people, including four who were rescued from under the rubble. Firefighters and search-and-rescue teams using sniffer dogs freed the final person early Monday after he had spent some eight hours buried in the wreckage in a neighborhood of The Hague. The Dutch city says that 27 apartments have been evacuated. The powerful blast on Sunday scattered broken glass over streets more than a block away and sent bricks crashing onto a car and a van parked in front of the building. The Hague says eight of the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment. Their conditions were not known. Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Shattered glass lies on the ground after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) PARIS (AP) - A French judicial official says police are investigating the theft of an artwork by the British artist Banksy that was painted as a tribute to the victims of the 2015 terror attacks at the Bataclan music hall in Paris. The artwork, a black image appearing to depict a person mourning , had been made on an emergency door at the Bataclan. It was stolen last week. The judicial official was not authorized to be publicly named because the investigation is ongoing. Bataclan officials said on Twitter: "Banksy's work, a symbol of remembrance and belonging to all: locals, Parisians, citizens of the world, has been taken from us." Ninety people were killed on Nov. 13, 2015, at the Bataclan when Islamic extremists invaded the music hall, one of several targets that night in which 130 people died. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Separatists opened fire on an aircraft carrying military personnel and local government officials in Indonesia's easternmost Papua region, killing one soldier, the military said Monday. The incident, in Nduga district where rebels killed 19 people in an attack last month, happened shortly after the light plane took off from Kenyam airport Monday morning, said Muhammad Aidi, a military spokesman. He said two soldiers on the plane were injured and one later died in a hospital. The chief of Nduga district and two other district chiefs were passengers on the plane, which was transporting supplies to another remote area. The rebels fled into the jungle after soldiers on the ground opened fire and it was unclear if any was killed, Aidi said. An insurgency has simmered in the Papua region since it was annexed by Indonesia in 1963. MADRID (AP) - Spanish police on Monday cleared away taxis that blocked a main avenue in the capital of Madrid, the latest action in a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that cab drivers say threaten their livelihood. The local and national police forces said there were no significant clashes and that nobody was arrested, despite some scenes of tension witnessed by reporters. The striking Spanish taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. They demand similar steps like those announced for Barcelona, where local authorities can now modify regulations to require app-based rides to be hired up to one hour in advance. Uber and Cabify have reacted by threatening to drop their operations in Spain's second-largest city, where they say 3,500 jobs would be at risk. Self-employed drivers working for the two platforms are also occupying parts of Barcelona's main thoroughfares on Monday to urge the regional Catalan government to halt the new regulations. Meanwhile, in Madrid, authorities have rejected any compromises that would wipe out competition for the taxis, which are regulated as a public service. Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Taxi drivers in the capital moved their protest over the weekend from the city outskirts to Castellana Avenue, in Madrid's central north-south axis. Traffic was at a standstill early Monday, when many residents commute to work, until police unblocked the main thoroughfare. The drivers, many of them wearing the yellow vests that have become common in protests in France, moved on foot to protest at the headquarters of the conservative party ruling the Madrid region. Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Police officers remove taxi drivers who were blocking the Castellana avenue, during a strike in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Police are clearing taxis blocking a main avenue in the Spanish capital as part of a weeklong standoff with authorities over the growth of app-based ride-hailing services that they say threaten their livelihood. The striking taxi drivers want the regional government in Madrid to impose tighter regulations for rides hailed through apps like Uber and Cabify. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) MOSCOW (AP) - Russian police on Monday found the painting that was stolen a day earlier from Moscow's famed museum of Russian art in broad daylight before unsuspecting visitors. The painting of mountain ridges by Arkhip Kuindzhi, titled "Ai-Petri. Crimea," was stolen in front of confused visitors on Sunday evening at the Tretyakov Gallery in one of the most brazen Russian art heist in recent memory. CCTV footage released by the police shows a young man calmly walking up to the painting, stopping to take a look and then taking it off the wall with other visitors looking on. He then crosses the hall and walks away. The Interior Ministry said Monday that they have detained a 31-year-old suspect in the theft and recovered the painting, which had been hidden at a construction side outside Moscow. Police said the man was detained last December for drug possession and has been on bail since. The man said in the video of interrogation posted online by the police that he "did not commit any crimes" and that he could not remember where he was on Sunday. The painting had an insurance estimate of $185,000 but some other works by Kuindzhi have fetched more that $3 million at auctions. A group of police officer is seen through a glass door at the Tretyakov State Gallery museum in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Russia's ministry of culture has estimated the insurance value of Arkhip Kuindzhi's Ai Petri. Crimea painting that was stolen from the gallery on Sunday at 12 million rubles (some 181,860 US dollars), director of the ministry's museums department Vladislav Kononov told TASS. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The theft raised questions about security at the Tretyakov Gallery, one of Russia's most renowned museums. The Tretyakov was hit by another brazen crime last May when a man attacked a famous 19th-century painting with a metal stanchion. The man reportedly damaged the painting, which depicts Russia's first czar cradling his dying son after striking him in a fit of rage, because he thought it to be historically inaccurate. Russia's Culture Minister said after Kuindzhi's painting was recovered that it would push for all temporarily exhibitions at state-owned museums to be equipped with motion detectors. Investigators have yet to establish whether the man had an accomplice or not. A police car is parked outside the Tretyakov State Gallery museum in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Russia's ministry of culture has estimated the insurance value of Arkhip Kuindzhi's Ai Petri. Crimea painting that was stolen from the gallery on Sunday at 12 million rubles (some 181,860 US dollars), director of the ministry's museums department Vladislav Kononov told TASS. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) Russian police officers stand at an entrance of the Tretyakov State Gallery museum in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Russia's ministry of culture has estimated the insurance value of Arkhip Kuindzhi's Ai Petri. Crimea painting that was stolen from the gallery on Sunday at 12 million rubles (some 181,860 US dollars), director of the ministry's museums department Vladislav Kononov told TASS. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Bahrain's highest court on Monday upheld life sentences for a prominent Shiite cleric who led the country's now-outlawed opposition party and two of his colleagues after their earlier acquittal, continuing a yearslong crackdown on all dissent in the island nation. Sheikh Ali Salman, a central figure in Bahrain's 2011 Arab Spring protests and the secretary-general of the barred Al-Wefaq political party, is already serving a nine-year prison sentence. The Court of Cassation's ruling Monday ensures he won't be released and continues an imprisonment that United Nations experts have criticized as "a breach of his fundamental human rights." The case against Salman and former Al-Wefaq lawmakers Sheikh Hassan Ali Juma Sultan and Ali Mahdi Ali al-Aswad, both of whom are abroad, involves allegations the men spied for Qatar amid the 2011 protests. The charges came after Bahrain state television aired recorded telephone calls between Salman and Qatar's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani. It remains unclear who gave state television the recordings, though activists suspect the island's intelligence services leaked the call. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and a British naval base, is one of four Arab countries that have been boycotting Qatar since June 2017 as part of a wider diplomatic dispute. FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2014, file photo, Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the main Shiite opposition group Al-Wefaq, speaks in Manama, Bahrain. Bahrain's highest court has upheld life sentences for the prominent Shiite cleric who led a now-shuttered opposition party and two of his colleagues. The ruling on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, targeted Sheikh Ali Salman, who headed the Al-Wefaq political party and was a central figure in Bahrain's 2011 Arab Spring protests. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) The call between Salman and the Qatari official at the time was aimed at peacefully resolving the 2011 protests, which ended when Bahraini, Emirati and Saudi security forces violently put down the demonstrations. A government-sponsored report later noted Bahrain's opposition accepted Qatar's mediation while Bahrain's government rejected it. A lower court initially acquitted the three men. Bahrain's Supreme Court of Appeals later overturned that verdict and found them guilty in November. The Court of Cassation's ruling Monday, reported by the state-run Bahrain News Agency, confirmed the verdict. Activists immediately criticized the ruling. "This is political revenge and an insult to justice," said Sayed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute of Rights and Democracy. "Punishing peaceful dissidents for leading protests against the corrupt ruling family has nothing to do with justice." Amnesty International called for Salman's immediate release. "Today's verdict is yet another nail in the coffin for the right to freedom of expression in Bahrain and exposes the country's justice system as a complete farce," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty's Middle East campaigns director. BERLIN (AP) - France's Alstom says that it and Germany's Siemens have offered new concessions in an effort to overcome European authorities' concerns about the planned merger of their train-building operations. A European Union decision on whether to allow the deal to go ahead is expected soon. The two countries' governments favor what they view as the creation of a European champion, but Brussels has concerns about competition in Europe. Alstom said in a statement Monday that the two companies "have decided to further modify the remedies" to address the concerns raised. It said "this package preserves the industrial and economic value of the deal" but cautioned that there's "no certainty" it will satisfy the EU. Alstom is best-known for France's TGV and Siemens for Germany's ICE high-speed trains. KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - A Bangladeshi airliner was misaligned with the runway and its pilot was disoriented and tried to land in "sheer desperation" when the plane crashed last year in Nepal, an investigation report said. US-Bangla Airlines Flight BS211 from Dhaka crashed on its second landing attempt at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on March 12, 2018. The 51 people killed were 28 Bangladeshi, 22 Nepalese and one Chinese national, and 20 others were injured. The pilot and co-pilot were among the dead. The investigation report compiled by Nepalese officials and made available Monday said the probable cause of the crash was the pilot's disorientation and loss of situation awareness. "Contributing to this, the aircraft was offset to the proper approach path that led to maneuvers in a very dangerous and unsafe altitude to alight with the runway. Landing was completed in a sheer desperation after sighting the runway, at very close proximity and very low altitude," it said. The report also said the pilot had been released from the Bangladesh Air Force in 1993 due to depression and was only allowed to fly civilian planes from 2002 after a detailed medical evaluation. Also, the pilot was under stress and emotionally disturbed and had lack of sleep in the preceding night. FILE - In this March 12, 2018, file photo, Nepalese rescuers stand near a passenger plane from Bangladesh that crashed at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. An investigation report released Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, says the pilot of the Bangladeshi airliner was disoriented and had lost situational awareness before his plane crashed in Nepal last year, killed 51 people and injuring 20. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta, File) The report also cited a lack of assertiveness from controllers at Kathmandu airport in monitoring the flight path and failing to issue clear instructions to carry out a standard missed-approach procedure. The flight crew and the controllers also lacked a clear understanding of each other when they communicated about the landing runway, the report said. The report recommended that assertiveness in such situations become part of the training for air traffic controllers. It also asked the Bangladesh civil aviation authority to reassess the physical and psychological status of grounded pilots before their licenses are renewed and that all airline pilots undergo psychological evaluation during training. Goyal said the government will make a matching contribution to the fund. The workers earning less than Rs 15,000 a month are eligible to join the scheme, which provides an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after 60 years of age. New Delhi: Finance minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced a new pension scheme for unorganised workers. The workers earning less than Rs 15,000 a month are eligible to join the scheme, which provides an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after 60 years of age. The scheme Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM) is expected to provide social security to 10 crore workers in the unorganised sector within next five years making it one of the largest pension schemes in the world. An unorganised sector worker joining pension yojana at the age of 29 years will have to contribute only Rs 100 per month till the age of 60 years. A worker joining the pension yojana at 18 years, will have to contribute as little as Rs 55 per month only, said finance minister Piyush Goyal. Mr Goyal said the government will make a matching contribution to the fund. A sum of Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the scheme. Additional funds will be provided as needed. The scheme will alsobe implemented from the current year, he said. Half of India's GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector working as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, construction workers and in numerous other similar occupations. Domestic workers are also engaged in big numbers. We must provide them comprehensive social security coverage for their old age, he said. Listing other achievement of the government, he said, The New Pension Scheme (NPS) has been liberalised. Keeping the contribution of the employee at 10 per cent, we have increased the government contribution by 4 per cent making it 14 per cent. Maximum ceiling of the bonus given to the labourers has been increased from Rs 3,500 per month to Rs 7,000 per month and the maximum ceiling of the pay has been increased from rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000 per month, the minister said. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of fish died on Monday in the third mass death in recent weeks on a stretch of a major Australian river that local officials blamed on drought but critics said at least partly stemmed from water mismanagement. The latest deaths began overnight in the Darling River near the township of Menindee in western New South Wales state. That's the same area where hundreds of thousands of fish were found floating dead in early January and shortly before Christmas. Hot weather is suspected of causing algae to bloom, then cooler overnight temperatures caused the algae to die, which starved the water of oxygen. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian blamed the poor water quality on an extended drought that is gripping most of the state. Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair said his department knew weather conditions were "terrible" and had deployed two solar-powered aerators in the Menindee region. The government bought 16 aerators to deploy in waterways around the state after the last mass fish death on Jan. 6-7. "Unfortunately, there's nothing that anyone has been able to point to - no scientist, no locals, no one has been able to point to anything else that could prevent something like this other than freshwater coming into the system and we just don't have that," Blair told reporters. Dead fish float in the Darling Rive near Menindee, Australia Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Hundreds of thousands of fish died on Monday in the third mass death in recent weeks on a stretch of a major Australian river that local officials blamed on drought but critics said at least partly stemmed from water mismanagement. (Rob Gregory via AP) Menindee Regional Tourist Association president Rob Gregory, who operates river cruises, said governments had allowed farmers to take too much water from the river to irrigate over the last four years. "Now we've got no reserve to flush the system and we've seen depleted oxygen due to blue-green algal bloom and this is the end result," Gregory said. "This is probably the last fish kill we'll have because there's nothing left to kill," he added. The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia's main river system. It winds across four states and produces a third of the nation's food. Menindee resident Graeme McCrabb said the fish deaths highlighted how the water basin's water management plan "is failing the whole system." "There's been 13 billion (Australian) dollars ($9.3 billion) of taxpayers' money being spent here to end up with ... an absolute mess," McCrabb told Australian Broadcasting Corp. With a federal election to be called before the end of May, opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke called for a scientific explanation for the latest fish deaths. "The last river I was at was the Darling, where you can just see the ecological disaster that's occurring," Burke told reporters. WASHINGTON (AP) - The presidential primary is jolting to life without a traditional mainstay: the big money donor class. More specifically, their contribution checks. With as many as two dozen Democrats potentially running for the White House and no immediate front-runner, the money race in the early days of the primary is largely frozen, according to fundraisers. Though some donors have a preferred candidate, others who are spending are spreading their money across the field to hedge their bets. More often, donors are staying on the sidelines until the contours of the primary take shape. "I'm not aware of anyone who is giving now," said Andy Spahn, a Los Angeles-based fundraiser and conduit to Hollywood wealth who has been courted by multiple contenders. "People first want to know who will actually be in the race." The slow flow of campaign cash from the big money donor class coincides with a seismic shift in Democratic fundraising. Driven by a restive base that turned opposition to President Donald Trump into an unprecedented flood of small-dollar online contributions, some now question whether big money donors will continue to hold the same sway. Take California Sen. Kamala Harris, who announced her presidential candidacy last week. In just 24 hours, her campaign reported raising $1.5 million online from 38,000 people. The average donation was $37. Beto O'Rourke, a potential 2020 contender, wowed Democrats last year by raising a whopping $80 million in his Texas Senate race - much of it online. It's a development, some argue, that has reduced the need to curry favor with well-heeled donors, a group that's accustomed to being wined and dined. A view of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. The presidential primary is jolting to life without a traditional mainstay: the donor class. More specifically, their contribution checks. With as many as two dozen Democrats potentially running for the White House and no immediate front-runner, the money race in the early days of the primary is largely frozen, according to fundraisers. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) "The Park Avenue cocktail parties are being replaced," said Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic National Committeeman and fundraiser from New York, who believes it's a positive development that will shift power to the party's base. "I would advise my donor friends to not take it personally. They can have over-priced lobster salad among themselves." Of course, the Democratic donor class hasn't yet met its demise. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is eyeing a run, traveled to Los Angeles this month to meet with donors. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recently met with several potential supporters in New York City. And the campaign of former Obama housing secretary Julian Castro, who is running, says he has a network in his home state of Texas that has given generously. It is also telling that at a time when online fundraising prowess is being touted as a true measure of grassroots support, many are staying mum about how - and how much - they have raised. That includes the campaigns of Castro and Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. The real tell, however, will be when candidates have to report their first-quarter numbers to the Federal Election Commission, which was closed by the government shutdown. "People are going to have to raise $50- to $60 million in order to be viable. And if you can't raise a great proportion online, you won't be able to raise it at all," said Tom Nides, a prominent fundraiser and Hillary Clinton adviser. "Getting people to bundle a bunch of money is not easy when there's so many people in the race. There are just not that many ... checks sitting out there." One way around that? Super PACs, which allow a relatively small group of supporters to raise and spend unlimited sums of money so long as they do not coordinate with the candidate whose message they are trying to amplify. It's a tactic that could prove problematic, though. Many in the party's base view super PACs as a symptom of what's wrong with politics since the Supreme Court's landmark 2010 Citizens United decision paved the way for more money in elections. Several candidates have already said they do not want super PAC support, including Castro, Harris, Gillibrand and Warren. But others appear to be hedging their bets. Another common source of money that many contenders have sworn off is contributions from corporate political action committees, though the gesture is somewhat hollow because corporate PACs account for a diminishing slice of the fundraising pie. "There is no way to be competitive in the 2020 election cycle for the presidency without the resources that a super PAC will bring," said Michael Wager, who has filed paperwork to launch a super PAC to boost Sen. Sherrod Brown. Wager says he's had discussions with supporters in Brown's native Ohio, as well as Iowa, but wouldn't say how much the group has secured in fundraising commitments. Brown spokesman Justin Barasky said in a statement "neither Sherrod nor his campaign are involved" with the super PAC, though he has heard "from many people urging him to run." New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has not declared his candidacy, but if he does he, too, will likely benefit from a super PAC. Steve Phillips, a former Booker classmate and longtime supporter, said that while many donors may be staying out of the race, he has secured $4 million in commitments from several dozen "professionals of color" for a group called Dream United. Phillips, an African-American civil rights attorney from San Francisco, dismissed critics and predicted most voters won't ultimately care about the fundraising. The super PAC, he said, will be used to turn out black voters to support Booker, who is also African-American. "I would be very surprised if those people who are complaining about super PACs would have a problem with donors of color investing in communities of color to increase voter turnout," Phillips said. "There is a profound racial wealth gap in this country. The starting point and financial basis for a white candidate and a black candidate are different." In a statement, Booker spokesman Jeff Giertz said "any effort to draft him into the race is outside of his control" and there has been "no activity on his part or that of his team to organize or endorse the creation of a super PAC." Regardless of what develops in the coming months, Spahn, the Los Angeles fundraiser, said he expects donors will be more generous once the field narrows. "It's so early," Spahn said. "The most accurate thing I could say today is that no one knows anything yet, including me." ___ Associated Press writers Bill Barrow and Steve Peoples contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone may be accused of lying and tampering with witnesses, but it's equally notable what he's not charged with: colluding with the Kremlin in a grand conspiracy to help Trump win the presidency in 2016. The case is the latest in a series brought by special counsel Robert Mueller that focuses on cover-ups but lays out no underlying crime. It's a familiar pattern in Washington, where scandals from Watergate to Iran-Contra and Whitewater have mushroomed into presidency-imperiling affairs due to efforts to conceal and mislead. In the Russia investigation , one Trump aide after another has been accused of lying to investigators, or encouraging others to do so, about Russia-related contacts during the campaign and transition period. Mueller may well have evidence of criminal coordination between Trump associates and Russia that he has yet to reveal, but so far, he's focused repeatedly on those he believes have tried to throw federal or congressional investigators off the trail. Stone's indictment charges him with seven felonies, including witness tampering, obstruction and false statements, while leaving open the question of whether his or the Trump's campaign's interest in exploiting Russia-hacked emails about Democrat Hillary Clinton crossed a legal line. "There's sort of two possible ways this investigation could end up. One is he finds this big Russian conspiracy or collusion with the Russians to influence the election," said Randall Eliason, a George Washington University white-collar criminal law professor and former federal prosecutor. "The other, I think very real possibility, is he just finds a cover-up." A protester holds up a sign as Roger Stone, right, a confidant of President Donald Trump, speaks outside of the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel's Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Stone case is in some way reminiscent of Mueller prosecutions that have accused former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen of lying to Congress about his role in a Moscow real estate project; former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn of lying about his contacts with the Russia's U.S. ambassador; and ex-campaign aide George Papadopoulos of lying about his knowledge that Russia had "dirt" on Clinton in the form of stolen emails. In none of those cases did prosecutors say the things the defendants lied about were crimes themselves. The absence of a definitive answer to the collusion question, more than 20 months into Mueller's work, has given the president and his allies a wedge to attack the investigation. In the hours after Stone's pre-dawn arrest at his Florida home Friday, Trump returned to his favored refrain of "NO COLLUSION" on Twitter. His lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, mocked the case as "nothing more than another false statement charge" and speculated without evidence that Mueller's inquiry was nearing an end. But with each new charge, Mueller continues to publicly untangle Trump campaign operations and their intersection with Russia's efforts to hurt Clinton and help Trump. The Stone indictment, for instance, reflects an unflattering portrait of a presidential campaign eager to exploit stolen emails about a political opponent. It alleges that Stone informed unidentified senior Trump campaign officials of what Stone was hearing about plans by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks regarding the hacked emails. It says a senior Trump campaign official "was directed" to contact Stone about additional releases and "what other damaging information" WikiLeaks had "regarding the Clinton campaign." Though those allegations don't form the basis of any of the charges against Stone, their inclusion in the 24-page indictment could signal that Mueller isn't done with that prong of the investigation. He already has charged 12 Russian military intelligence officers in the hacking of Democratic email accounts, setting up the potential for prosecutions of any Americans who might be involved in that conspiracy. "This doesn't look to me like an investigation that's about to wrap up," said Stanford law professor David Alan Sklansky. "I would be cautious about reading too much into what's not in the indictment." All told, Mueller has charged six Trump associates and 34 people overall, along with three companies. It is unclear when the investigation might end. A defiant Stone, flashing a Nixonian-style victory sign, emerged from the courthouse on Friday to proclaim his innocence and predict his vindication. He was released on $250,000 bond and will make his first court appearance Tuesday in Washington, where the case was brought. "As I have said previously, there is no circumstance whatsoever under which I will bear false witness against the president, nor will I make up lies to ease the pressure on myself," Stone said. He denied prosecutors' accusation that he repeatedly lied to the House Intelligence Committee, including when he said he had not discussed his pursuit of the stolen emails with any Trump campaign officials. Stone has previously denied that he ever bullied other witnesses to change their testimony, which is another allegation he faces. Jimmy Gurule, a Notre Dame law professor and former Justice Department official, said that so far Mueller's Russian defendants stand accused of one set of crimes and the American ones accused of separate violations, without direct evidence linking the two. But, he said, the repeated allegations of lies and false statement might speak to a "consciousness of guilt" that could pique a prosecutor's interest and suggest more grounds to pursue. "I do think that it's more than just coincidental that there's all of these communications between multiple members of the Trump campaign and Russians, and efforts by members of the Trump campaign to cover up and conceal" those communications, he said. ___ Read Stone's indictment: http://apne.ws/1P23qpR Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone leaves the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel's Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, stands outside of the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel's Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - Days before Honduras' elections in 2017, a former high-ranking official in the national police, Maria Luisa Borjas, held a news conference at which she read from government investigative reports about three high-profile killings. Now, as an opposition lawmaker, she faces the possibility of a fine and, more significantly, the loss of her seat in Congress when she goes on trial Monday charged with defamation. Her alleged crime was essentially naming names - the suspected "intellectual authors" of a slaying contained in one of those reports - in a country where the powerful have long enjoyed impunity. Honduras and other Latin American nations have been criticized by international organizations for years for their criminal defamation statutes, which are seen as powerful tools allowing elites - often lawmakers themselves - to silence critics. Borjas has a long track record of calling out corruption, starting with the police force's own ranks when she ran its internal affairs unit. "It's a political persecution and they want to set a precedent so that nobody dares to denounce absolutely anything here," Borjas said. "People say, 'Well, if they do this to a deputy, what could they do to me?'" In another case earlier this month, the country's Supreme Court rejected a bid for a new trial by journalist David Romero, who has been an outspoken critic of President Juan Orlando Hernandez. The justices upheld a 10-year prison sentence given Romero in 2016 after he was convicted on several counts of defamation for his reporting on the wife of a former attorney general. Maria Luisa Borja speaks during a interview in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday Jan. 26, 2019. Days before Honduras' national elections in 2017, the former national police commissioner held a news conference at which she read from government investigative reports about three high-profile killings. Now, as an opposition lawmaker, she faces the possibility of a fine and, more significantly, the loss of her seat in Congress when she goes on trial Monday, Jan. 28 charged with defamation. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Honduras' constitution guarantees its citizens the right to honor, and defamation is considered a crime against a person's honor. The Honduras-based Committee for Freedom of Expression has counted 41 criminal cases related to crimes against honor since 2003, including 13 targeting journalists. This month, the committee said that "the mere existence of these crimes, and the handing down of sentences with disproportionate penalties, have the effect of intimidation and self-censorship." It called for decriminalizing such acts, especially when a purportedly defamatory comment or report is in the public interest. In Borjas' case, it was Camilo Atala, president of Ficohsa bank, who cried foul. He was one of the 16 people whose names Borjas read from the security ministry's inspector general report as a suspected plotter of the killing of environmental activist Berta Caceres in 2016. The report said the suspects were identified based on collected evidence, including phone taps and recovered emails, but did not go into any detail about Atala's alleged role. In November, a court found seven people guilty of participating in Caceres' murder, but her family continues to demand justice be brought against those behind the killing. Borjas said she read the reports for journalists that day because she knew they had been in prosecutors' possession, but had not been acted on. She filed a complaint with the national human rights commission that same day. Atala's lawsuit contends Borjas' comments "directly affect his commercial relationships with national and foreign partners, as well as with the bank's clients." The lawsuit says the comments "caused irreparable damage to the honor, prestige and dignity" of Atala. Luis Padilla, a lawyer who filed the lawsuit, initially said he would speak to a reporter about the case. But when called at the agreed time, Padilla said he could not talk about the case. He then played a recording of that same statement repeatedly on a loop as the reporter asked different questions. Padilla later agreed to convey a message to Atala asking for him to comment, but there was no response. Last January, Atala's representatives reportedly offered to drop the lawsuit if Borjas publicly retracted her statement. She refused. Her lawyer, Kenia Oliva, said there was still a possibility of a settlement, but Atala's demand for a public retraction remained. Facing just a single count of defamation, Borjas said she does not expect jail time if convicted, but rather a fine. But she also anticipates there will be an attempt to oust her from Congress following a conviction. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has criticized the use of such cases by the powerful. "Considering the consequences of criminal sanctions and the inevitable chilling effect they have on freedom of expression, criminalization of speech can only apply in those exceptional circumstances when there is an obvious and direct threat of lawless violence," it says. At the news conference on Nov. 22, 2017, Borjas told reporters that in Honduras the biggest crime is reporting that a crime has been committed. "Not murdering someone, not trafficking drugs, weapons, not assault," she said. ___ Associated Press writer Freddy Cuevas reported this story in Tegucigalpa and AP writer Christopher Sherman reported from Mexico City. NEW YORK (AP) - One of the stars of the live broadcast of the musical "Rent" on Fox was injured during a rehearsal Saturday, forcing the producers to use pre-recorded material Sunday night. Brennin Hunt, who plays the role of rocker Roger Davis, broke his right foot. The show used Saturday night's pre-taped show, only switching to live for the finale. Hunt competed in "The X-Factor" and appeared in "Nashville." He is playing the part in "Rent" originated by Adam Pascal. The high-energy rock musical by Jonathan Larson celebrates survival among the artists and homeless of New York's East Village. It contains the memorable songs "Seasons of Love" and "Another Day." The cast also includes Broadway veteran Brandon Victor Dixon, recording artists Tinashe and Mario, and Vanessa Hudgens of "High School Musical." In a statement, the playwright's sister, Julie Larson, said the "new cast has embodied the spirit of the show from day one and they embraced Brennin with positive and uplifting love in his moment of need." BEIJING (AP) - Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was sentenced to 4 years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power Monday, more than three years after he was detained in a sweeping crackdown on the legal profession. The No. 2 Intermediate Court in the northeastern city of Tianjin announced the sentence in an online statement, adding that Wang's political rights were also being withheld for five years. Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, told The Associated Press she is worried about her husband's health while he is incarcerated. "Wang Quanzhang has never committed a crime, but they still forcibly charged him with a crime," Li said. "I think this is because he wouldn't compromise with them, wouldn't admit any crime." "So I firmly refuse to recognize or accept this result," Li said. Wang was a member of the Fengrui law firm that was well known for its advocacy work. As such, he pursued land rights cases on behalf of poor villagers and represented members of the banned Falun Gong meditation sect. Li Wenzu, wife of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang wears a sweater with her husband's portrait printed with the words "Release Quanzhang" after Wang's sentencing, at her house in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Wang was sentenced to 4 and half years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power Monday, more than three years after he was detained in a wide-ranging crackdown on the legal profession. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Rights groups condemned the verdict, with Amnesty International China researcher Doriane Lau calling it a "gross injustice." "It's outrageous that Wang Quanzhang is being punished for peacefully standing up for human rights in China. He must be immediately and unconditionally released," Lau said in a statement. Human Rights Watch said the sentence made a "mockery of the 'rule of law'" being championed by the ruling Communist Party under President Xi Jinping. "Authorities' treatment of him ... is the true metric of rule of law in China," the group said in a statement. Wang was tried in a closed hearing last month after being held without access to his lawyers or family since 2015, when he became one of more than 200 legal activists detained during a crackdown. It wasn't clear whether his time in detention would be counted against his sentence. The subversion charge is only hazily defined, and it wasn't clear what specific acts Wang had been accused of committing. The authorities regularly try people accused of such charges behind closed doors on the presumption that opening them to the public might expose state secrets - a practice activists say is a thin excuse for a failure to provide solid evidence. Trials for rights activists in China often draw out over years while the accused are held under harsh conditions that can endanger their health, including frequent accusations of torture, while being routinely denied the right to hire their own legal representation and receive visits from family members. China's best-known prisoner of conscience, Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, was serving an 11-year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power" when he died of liver cancer in 2017. He helped write Charter 08, a manifesto calling for political and economic liberalization. Legal advocacy flourished for a time after China opened up its society and economy in the late 1970s, as lawyers defended the disenfranchised and contributed to a nascent civil society. While these lawyers frequently faced intimidation and harassment from the authorities, the roundup in 2015 marked a severe turning point, displaying Xi's determination to crush any potential challenges to his authority. The crackdown made clear that human rights lawyers would come to face the kinds of charges previously reserved for those they defended. The coordinated sweep left lawyers detained, disbarred, under house arrest or facing vague charges. It's known as the "709 crackdown" for the date, July 9, on which the majority of them were taken. Most of the lawyers have since been released, though they can no longer practice or talk openly with the media. Wang is believed to be one of the last to be tried. Wang's wife was kept from attending his trial by security agents who blocked the exit of her apartment complex. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen contributed to this story. Li Wenzu, wife of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang reacts after Wang's sentencing, at her house in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Wang was sentenced to 4 and half years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power Monday, more than three years after he was detained in a wide-ranging crackdown on the legal profession. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Li Wenzu, wife of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang wearing a sweater with her husband's portrait printed with the words "Release Quanzhang" speaks at her house in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Wang was sentenced to 4 and half years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power Monday, more than three years after he was detained in a wide-ranging crackdown on the legal profession. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Li Wenzu, wife of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang wearing a sweater with her husband's portrait with the words "Release Quanzhang" walks at her house in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Wang was sentenced to 4 years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power Monday, more than three years after he was detained in a wide-ranging crackdown on the legal profession. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Author Kiese Laymon, suspended from college for taking out a library book without permission, can assume he's been forgiven by the library community. Laymon, whose memoir "Heavy" was one of last year's most acclaimed works, has won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence. The award, announced Sunday, comes with a cash prize of $5,000. It is presented by the American Library Association. "I can laugh about it now, but it took me two decades to be able to talk about it," said Laymon, who in "Heavy" writes bluntly of his troubled childhood in Mississippi. "It was the most shameful time of my life, especially if you're a black boy in Mississippi and you're always taught that education is the way out." Laymon received the Carnegie medal for nonfiction, and Rebecca Makkai the medal for fiction for her novel "The Great Believers," which looks back on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Makkai, a National Book Award finalist last fall, recalled spending enough time at Illinois' Lake Bluff Public Library that she could probably find the shelf with Lois Lowry's books "blindfolded." Libraries have shaped her reading, and writing. She based part of her debut novel, "The Borrower," in a library. For "The Great Believers," her research included looking through old periodicals at Chicago's Harold Washington Library Center. "I read every back issue of the Windy City Times (Chicago's biggest gay weekly) from 1985 to 1992, as well as other LGBTQ publications from the late 80s," she wrote in a recent email. "While I was there, I wound up looking through sources like Gourmet Magazine and Chicago Magazine as well, to remind myself, for instance, what people would have eaten for a fancy dinner out in 1986. Sometimes just a single ad could evoke a whole scene." The Carnegie winners were announced during the library association's annual winter meeting, being held in Seattle. On Monday, the association will announce winners of the Newbery and Caldecott prizes, along with other top honors for children's literature. Before getting in trouble at Mississippi's Millsaps College for failing to sign out for Stephen Crane's Civil War novel "The Red Badge of Courage" - "I did what everybody did at the time, dropped it on the floor and kicked it under the scanner," he explained - he had spent many worthwhile hours in libraries. His mother was a professor at Jackson State University and would leave him at the library while she worked. "I've always been very, very thankful for librarians," he said. "I think the country sometimes sees them as low energy and not cutting edge, but it is something that they could look at a book like mine, which is sort of risky, and given it this award." The Carnegie medals were established in 2012. Previous recipients include Jennifer Egan, Colson Whitehead and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Last year's winner for nonfiction, Sherman Alexie, declined the prize amid allegations of sexual harassment. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on negotiations over funding for President Donald Trump's border wall (all times local): 9 p.m. President Donald Trump says the odds that congressional negotiators will craft a deal to end his border wall standoff with Congress are "less than 50-50." Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that he doesn't think the negotiators will strike a deal that he'd accept. He pledged to build a wall anyway using his executive powers to declare a national emergency if necessary. Trump also doubts he'd be willing to accept less than $5.7 billion to build a barrier on the southern border. He also told the newspaper that he probably wouldn't be willing to exchange funds for a wall for broad immigration reform. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Hispanic pastors in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) When asked if he would agree to citizenship for immigrants who were illegally brought into the U.S. as children, he replied, "I doubt it." ___ 10:30 a.m. Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says President Donald Trump is prepared for another government shutdown if Congress won't work with him to secure the southern border. Mulvaney says Trump doesn't want to see federal agencies closed again and doesn't want to declare a national emergency either. But he says Trump is prepared to do either. He says Trump agreed to reopen the government for three weeks to give Democrats a chance to negotiate. Mulvaney says some Democrats agree with Trump's plan to better secure the border, but said they couldn't work with the White House as long as there was a partial government shutdown. Mulvaney spoke Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" and "Fox News Sunday." FILE- In this Jan. 2, 2019, file photo White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington. Mulvaney says Trump is prepared for another government shutdown if Congress won't work with him to secure the southern border. Mulvaney spoke Sunday, Jan. 27, on CBS' "Face the Nation" and "Fox News Sunday." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) A family leaves to apply for asylum in the United States, at the border, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Tijuana, Mexico. The Trump administration on Friday will start forcing some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. courts, an official said, launching what could become one of the more significant changes to the immigration system in years. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) SANTA ROSALIA, Mexico (AP) - Authorities in northern Mexico say they have arrested an alleged drug trafficker in last week's killing of the director of a community radio station. Prosecutors in the state of Baja California Sur identified the suspect Sunday only as Hector "N." They say that on Jan. 19 the suspect and other people abducted 34-year-old Jose Rafael Murua Manriquez, who headed Radio Kashana in the town of Santa Rosalia. His body was found the next day among vegetation in the municipality of Mulege. Prosecutors did not give any information on a possible motive. Mexico's representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists said after the killing that Murua was part of Mexico's journalist protection program and had received threats as recently as November. NEW YORK (AP) - NBC's Tom Brokaw says he feels terrible that his comments on "Meet the Press" Sunday that Hispanics should work harder at assimilation "offended some members of that proud culture." The former "NBC Nightly News" anchor tweeted in response to a social media backlash to what he had said earlier in the day during a discussion of the proposed border wall. On the show, Brokaw said that many Republicans fear the rise of a new constituency in American politics "who will come here and all be Democrats. "Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, (people who say) 'well, I don't know whether I want brown grandbabies,'" he said. "I mean, that's also a part of it. It's the intermarriage that is going on and the cultures that are conflicting with each other." The 78-year-old journalist said he's been saying for a long time that Hispanics need to work harder at assimilation. "They ought not to be just codified in their communities but make sure that all their kids are learning to speak English, and that they feel comfortable in the communities," he said. "And that's going to take outreach on both sides, frankly." FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2018, file photo, journalist Tom Brokaw speaks during the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards ceremony in New York. Brokaw says he feels terrible that he offended some Hispanics with his comments on "Meet the Press" Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, that Hispanics should work harder at assimilation. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) Brokaw received some immediate pushback from another panelist on the political talk show, Yamiche Alcindor of PBS. "I grew up in Miami, where people speak Spanish, but their kids speak English," she said. "And the idea that we think Americans can only speak English, as if Spanish and other languages wasn't always a part of America, is, in some ways, troubling." The web site Latino Rebels and its founder, Julio Ricardo Varela, pointed out online that a 2015 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly two-thirds of Latinos in the United States were born in the U.S. Hispanics make up 18 percent of the nation's population. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists also tweeted that it voiced its concerns about Brokaw's "inaccurate commentary" to NBC. Pew also found, in a 2016 survey of young Latino adults, that 41 percent say that English is their dominant language, 40 percent say they are bilingual and 19 percent speak Spanish primarily. Brokaw's comments are both xenophobic and factually incorrect, Varela said. "We as a community are creating the new America right before your very eyes, Mr. Brokaw," the Latino Rebels web site said. "Sorry if it doesn't fit your perceptions of what America should be like. That future is bilingual, bicultural, at times in English, other times in Spanish. Our community is defining this future. Not you." NBC News had no comment Sunday on Brokaw, who has served in something of an emeritus role at the network since stepping down as lead anchor in 2004. On Twitter, Brokaw said that he's worked hard to knock down false stereotypes and pointed out that all sides need to work harder at finding common ground. He said he believes in "dialogue not division." The PMs Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme only benefits those who have farm land. The relief announced by the interim finance minister Piyush Goyal categorically stated that the scheme is applicable to farmers having land holding of less than five acres. Hyderabad: Tenant farmers and agricultural labourers who are also deeply affected by the agrarian crisis have found themselves left out in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme announced by the NDA government. The relief announced by the interim finance minister Piyush Goyal categorically stated that the scheme is applicable to farmers having land holding of less than five acres However, agricultural labourers outnumber other farmers across the country. As per the 2011 Census, 263 million people are engaged in farming and over half of them are agricultural labourers due to falling size of landholdings. Various studies and enquiry committees constituted by the Centre from time to time have revealed that agricultural labourers are the most neglected section in rural India. They are highly unorganised and with low income and irregular employment. T. Sagar, secretary of the All India Kisan Sangh said that these labourers find it difficult to take up other jobs due to lack of skills and training. Pointing to the 80 lakh agricultural workers and 14 lakh tenant farmers in Telangana alone, he said neither the TS government nor the Centre support them with Rythu Bandhu or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi schemes. It is worth mentioning here that the financial assistance Kalia (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme announced of the Odisha government benefits land owning farmers (up to 5 acres) and tenant farmers including agricultural labourers. Telugu Desam politburo member and AP finance minister Y. Ramakrishnudu said tenant farmers should not be deprived while giving investment support to farmers. AICC Kisan Cell vice chairman M. Kodanda Reddy said the NDA government announced an eye wash scheme for small farmers while depriving the agricultural labourers who are the back bone of the sector. It is the responsibility of the government to provide social security to them and tenant farmers, he said. The Centres way of helping farmers shows they have not understood the big mess in which the community is in, said Pakala Sri Hari Rao, president, Telangana Rythu Rakshana Samiti. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Treasury Department on Sunday announced it was lifting sanctions on three companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The move comes despite an effort in Congress to block the action with many lawmakers concerned that the Trump administration is not being tough enough on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies. Treasury said it was removing Russian aluminum giant Rusal and two other companies from its sanctions list on the grounds that the companies have reduced Derapaska's direct and indirect shareholding stake in the three companies. Congress voted earlier this month to try to block the administration's efforts to remove the sanctions. In the House, 136 Republicans joined Democrats to disapprove the deal while in the Senate 11 Republicans supported the move but fell short of the 60 votes needed. The two votes represented a major break in the solid GOP backing Trump has enjoyed in his first two years as president and sent a strong signal that congressional Republicans are willing to split with the White House on national security matters. In its brief statement, Treasury said that Rusal and the other two companies, En+ Group and EuroSiobEnergo had severed Derapaska's control. "This action ensures that the majority of directors on the En+ and Rusal boards will be independent directors ... who have no business, professional or family ties to Deripaska," Treasury said. The statement also said that the companies had agreed to "unprecedented transparency for Treasury into their operations by undertaking extensive, ongoing auditing, certification and reporting requirements." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had made similar arguments during two appearances before lawmakers urging them not to vote for legislation blocking the removal of the sanctions. Treasury noted while the sanctions are being lifted on the three companies, Deripaska will remain blacklisted as part of a number of sanctions announced last April that targeted tycoons with close ties to the Kremlin. Mnuchin's appearance before House and Senate lawmakers failed to convince critics of the move. House Financial Services Chairman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said that the United States needed to make sure "we don't align ourselves with the people who are undermining this democracy." The sanctions against Rusal had raised worries in global markets about the loss of aluminum production from the company, the world's second largest producer of aluminum. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, standing outside of Oakland's city hall, formally kicked off her campaign for the White House on Sunday, presenting herself as the leader who can best unite an America that is at an "inflection point" and facing a critical question. "We are here because the American Dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before," Harris said. "And we are here at this moment in time because we must answer a fundamental question: Who are we? Who are we as Americans? So, let's answer that question to the world and each other right here and right now. America, we are better than this." Harris, a first-term U.S. senator from California who announced her candidacy last Monday, rallied thousands of supporters at the Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, her hometown and where she served as a prosecutor before becoming the state attorney general. Harris invoked the speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave in 1968 when he announced that he would challenge President Lyndon B. Johnson, noting that Kennedy said "at stake is not simply the leadership of our party and even our country, it is our right to moral leadership of this planet." Harris added, "So today I say to you, my friends: These are not ordinary times, and this will not be an ordinary election, but this is our America." Harris' campaign is filled with historic possibility. If she ultimately wins the White House she would be the first African-American woman and first person of Asian descent to be president. Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, of California, waves to the crowd as she formally launches her presidential campaign at a rally in her hometown of Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, said that as she and her sister, Maya Harris, grew up in the East Bay they were "raised by a community with a deep belief in the promise of our country, and a deep understanding of the parts of that promise that still remain unfulfilled." She has attributed her decision to become a lawyer and a prosecutor to her upbringing, and said Sunday that she and her sister were "raised to believe that public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is everyone's responsibility." She said she is running "with faith in God, with fidelity to country, and with the fighting spirit I got from my mother." Harris's launch has drawn heavily on symbolism. She officially entered the race on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Campaign aides say she has drawn inspiration from Shirley Chisholm, a New York congresswoman who in 1972 became the first black woman to run for president from a major party. Harris' first news conference as a candidate was on the campus of Howard University, the historically black college in the nation's capital that she attended as an undergraduate. On Friday, she was in South Carolina to speak to members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which she is a member. Other members of the group, wearing traditional pink and green, were on hand at Sunday's rally. Her choice of Oakland for her campaign launch was both biographical and symbolic. The state of California has played a leading role in resistance to the presidency of Donald Trump. And Oakland itself, where she was born and spent her formative years, has a history of activism. The plaza outside City Hall where Harris spoke once housed Occupy Oakland's encampment. When Barack Obama ran for president in 2008, he picked the site for his first Bay Area campaign event. Michael Ahrens, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, called it "fitting" that Harris chose "the most liberal district in deep-blue California to launch her campaign." Harris' campaign is expected to highlight her career as a prosecutor as part of her rationale for seeking the presidency. Harris was the first black woman elected district attorney in California, as well as the first woman, first African-American and first Asian-American to hold that job. On Sunday, she said she has long known the criminal justice system to be "deeply flawed" but that she also knew the "profound impact law enforcement has on people's lives and its responsibility to give them safety and dignity." Harris said throughout her life she has "only had one client: the people," echoing the words she has used in courtrooms and has adopted as her campaign's slogan. Harris also did not shy away from taking on Trump directly, saying the U.S. welcomes refugees and calling the wall that Trump wants to build at the southern border a "medieval vanity project" that would not actually stop transnational gangs, which she noted she battled as state attorney general. She also said that, as president, she would "always speak with decency and moral clarity and treat all people with dignity and respect. I will lead with integrity. And I will tell the truth." Harris is among the first major Democrats to jump into what is expected to be a crowded 2020 presidential contest. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York have announced exploratory committees. Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney and Julian Castro, federal housing chief under President Barack Obama and a former San Antonio mayor, already are in the race. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bernie Sanders of Vermont may also run. After the rally, Harris planned to her first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate. In the weeks before last November's elections, she traveled to the leadoff caucus state to campaign on behalf of Democrats, and also visited other early-voting states. Harris's campaign will be based in Baltimore and led by Juan Rodriguez, who managed her 2016 Senate campaign. Aides say the campaign will have a second office in Oakland. Kids listen to Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, of California, as she formally launches her presidential campaign at a rally in her hometown of Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, of California, speaks as she formally launches her presidential campaign at a rally in her hometown of Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, of California, acknowledges the crowd as she formally launches her presidential campaign at a rally in her hometown of Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, presented Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles (all times local): 7 p.m. "Black Panther" is the winner of the Screen Actors Guild Award for drama film cast. It is the second award the Marvel Comics superhero film won on Sunday; it also won the best stunt ensemble award before the SAG Awards ceremony began. Chadwick Boseman thanked his fellow actors and executives who made the film. The actor, who plays the Black Panther in the groundbreaking superhero flick, said many of the cast understood what it meant to be a black actor on the film and creating "a world we wanted to see." Chadwick Boseman arrives at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) ___ 6:47 p.m. Rami Malek has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for drama actor for his role in "Bohemian Rhapsody." It is Malek's first SAG Award win. He is also nominated for the ensemble award for "Bohemian Rhapsody." He said he was taken aback by the honor considering his fellow nominees, which included Viggo Mortensen and Christian Bale. He also thanked Queen and Freddie Mercury, saying he got power from the late rocker. ___ 6:42 p.m. "This Is Us" is the winner of the Screen Actors Guild Award for drama ensemble. It is the second win for the cast of the NBC drama series, which includes Sterling K. Brown, Justin Hartley, Mandy Moore and Chrissy Metz. The cast, including several of the child actors, assembled on the stage at the Shrine Auditorium as Moore and Hartley gave acceptance speeches. ___ 6:26 p.m. Jason Bateman and Sandra Oh have won the Screen Actors Guild awards for best actors in a drama series. Bateman won for his role in Netlix's "Ozark" at Sunday's ceremony at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Oh won for the BBC America Series "Killing Eve." Bateman used the win to encourage actors who are out of work, much like he was for years. He assured them that like him, they're just a job away and to "hang in there." Oh thanked a series of actors, including her mentor. She singled out Alfre Woodard, Lena Waithe and Jamie Foxx for supportive comments they've given Oh over the years. ___ 6:10 p.m. Alan Alda has accepted an award for lifetime achievement at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The actor, best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in "M.A.S.H.," received the honor from Tom Hanks on Sunday at the ceremony in Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Alda says actors can help when people are divided "just by doing what we do," and that he's honored to be a part of the profession. "M.A.S.H." made a household name out of Alda, who became the only person to win acting, directing and writing Emmys for the same series. The show ran from 1972 to 1983. The 83-year-old Alda also is known for his work on other TV series including "The West Wing," ''ER," and "The Blacklist," and in movies including "Aviator" and "Bridge of Spies." He has one Oscar nomination for "Aviator," and has won six Emmys and Golden Globes. He extolled his fellow actors: "Let's stay playful, let's stay fun" ___ 5:40 p.m. Emily Blunt and Mahershala Ali have won Screen Actors Guild awards for their supporting acting roles. Blunt won for her role in "A Quiet Place" at Sunday's ceremony at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Blunt says she was at a loss for words, adding the win "has completely blown my slicked hair back." Ali won for his role in "Green Book," saying he was grateful to be among the actors in the room. ___ 5:20 p.m. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is the winner of the Screen Actors Guild Award for TV comedy series ensemble. The Amazon series took the first three awards at Sunday's ceremony. Tony Shalhoub won for best comedy actor, while series star Rachel Brosnahan won best comedy actress. ___ 5:15 p.m. Rachel Brosnahan has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for TV comedy actress for her role in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." The Amazon series won the first two SAG Awards on Sunday. Tony Shalhoub won best actor in a television series moments before Brosnahan's name was called. Shalhoub plays the father of Brosnahan's character, who is a mother trying to launch a successful comedy career in 1950s Manhattan. Brosnahan thanked not only the top-billed cast members, but the background actors in the series. ___ 5:10 p.m. Tony Shalhoub is the winner of the Screen Actors Guild Award for TV comedy actor for his role in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Shalhoub said the greatest honor of his life was to be nominated alongside Alan Arkin. Arkin was nominated for his role in the Netflix series "The Kominsky Method." ___ 5:05 p.m. Megan Mullally has kicked off the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards with a shout-out to several nominees, including Lady Gaga. Mullally told Gaga, "Honey, you are crushing it." The "Will & Grace" star joked that in addition to her nominated role in "A Star Is Born," and having a successful Las Vegas residency, she also does her eyeliner. The show kicked off with its traditional collection of actors discussing their craft, including Mike Myers, Yara Shahidi and Geoffrey Owens, the "Cosby Show" actor who said his side job working at Trader Joe's has actually worked out pretty well. Mullally is hosting the two-hour show, which airs live on TNT and TBS from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. "Black Panther" and "GLOW" are early winners, taking home the best stunt ensemble awards for film and television, respectively. ___ 3:30 p.m. "Black Panther" and the Netflix series "GLOW" have won Screen Actor Guild awards for their stunt performers. The awards were announced Sunday on the ceremony's silver carpet before the main show begins at 8 p.m. Eastern. The Marvel superhero flick "Black Panther" is also up for the best film ensemble award, the evening's top honor. Similarly, "GLOW" is nominated in the best comedy series category. The Netflix series tells the story of a female wrestling league in the 1980s. The 25th annual SAG Awards will be presented Sunday night at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. The ceremony will be broadcast live on TNT and TBS. Alan Alda will receive the Life Achievement Award during the telecast. ___ 7 a.m. "Black Panther" and "BlacKkKlansman" are among the films vying for the top prize at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards. The SAG Awards are one of the most reliable bellwethers of the Academy Awards, but several of this year's top Oscar contenders failed to land a best ensemble nomination. The two leading Oscar nominees - "Roma" and "The Favourite" - were bypassed by the actors guild for a field that also includes "A Star Is Born," ''Crazy Rich Asians" and "Bohemian Rhapsody." ''The Favourite" has earned nods for its three lead actresses, but "Roma" was shut out entirely. The SAGs also have something the Oscars don't: a host. Megan Mullally will emcee the show from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. TNT and TBS will broadcast the show live beginning at 8 p.m. EST. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California and her bid for president (all times local): 2:15 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is telling supporters that those in power are trying to turn people against each other, which she says is "not our America." The senator from California is speaking at a rally in her hometown of Oakland, the formal kickoff of her campaign for the nomination. She announced her candidacy last Monday. Speaking at Oakland's City Hall, Harris says the American Dream and American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before. She says that racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and transphobia are real in the U.S. and must be recognized and dealt with. Harris also took a swipe at President Donald Trump's border wall proposal, calling it "the president's medieval vanity project" and saying it won't stop transnational gangs. California Sen. Kamala Harris appears at a fundraiser for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., of which she is a member, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. Sen. Kamala Harris returned to South Carolina on Friday, using her first visit to this early-voting state as an official presidential contender to tap into a sorority network that could prove crucial as she develops her campaign. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) ___ 5:35 a.m. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala (KAH'mah-lah) Harris says she's the kind of leader who can unify the country and would fight for the needs of all Americans. The first-term California senator, who announced her candidacy on Monday, plans a speech at a rally in Oakland, her hometown, later Sunday, as she outlines her campaign. Harris says she's running to be "a president by the people. Of the people. For all the people." That's according to prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press. If Harris emerges from a crowded Democratic field in 2020 to become the nominee and then wins the White House, she'd be the first woman to be president, the first African-American woman to be president and the first woman of Asian descent to be president. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Police in the northern Indiana city of Fort Wayne have arrested a second person in the fatal shooting of three people during an apparent home invasion on Thanksgiving night. Police said Sunday that 22-year-old Gerald Pinkston was arrested without incident early Sunday at a home in the city. He's being held on three counts of murder and one count of criminal recklessness. A warrant for Pinkston's arrest was issued Nov. 30 but he remained at large until Sunday, when detectives and other officers surrounded the home where Pinkston was staying and ordered him out. He was taken into custody without incident. Pinkston is the second person arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Jevonn Johnson, 20-year-old Colton D. Messmer and 21-year-old Tracey A. Andrews and the nonfatal shootings of two others. Kameron Joyner awaits trial on three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of criminal recklessness. Prosecutors have said the wounded men told police that one of the men killed was selling marijuana from the house. Online court records don't list an attorney for Pinkston. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis police say they've arrested a man in connection with a bar shooting that wounded five people. Police announced Sunday that they arrested 38-year-old Dejuan Brown. He faces preliminary charges of two counts of aggravated battery and three counts of felony battery. Police say detectives learned that Brown was involved in a disturbance at the Brotherman Tavern and was removed by security but he returned around 2 a.m. Saturday and began firing, wounding three men and two women ranging in age from 35 to 57. Authorities say all of the victims are expected to survive and that two have been released from the hospital. It wasn't immediately clear if Brown has an attorney who might comment on his behalf. THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - About 250 nationalist protesters gathered in Greece's second-largest city Sunday to denounce the ratification of a deal to normalize relations with neighboring Macedonia, jeering at "traitor politicians" as some public officials left a concert hall after an International Holocaust Remembrance Day performance. The protest outside the Thessaloniki Concert Hall was timed to coincide with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos' attendance at the concert. A few were seen making Nazi salutes while singing Greece's national anthem. The protesters are angry at Pavlopoulos for not weighing in on the agreement with Macedonia. Under the deal, the small country is being renamed North Macedonia and Greece is lifting objections to its NATO membership. The president was whisked from the concert venue to a side road, as far as possible from the crowd. Earlier, protesters tried to break through police lines around the building but were pushed back. Some later threw rocks at police officers and attacked a squad on motorcycles with sticks. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to push back the small, but determined crowd. One person was arrested and four were detained, police said. The Macedonia name has been a sore point in Greece's relations with its young northern neighbor since it declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece saw it as a implying territorial rights to the Greek province of Macedonia, as well as a claim to ancient Macedonian king Alexander the Great. A protester holds a religious icon in front of a police officer during a rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. About 250 protesters gathered to protest against the deal which will rename Macedonia, Greece's northern neighbor, "North Macedonia". The protest is being staged on the occasion of the visit of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Thessaloniki to attend a concert commemorating the Jewish Holocaust give a keynote speech. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) During a speech after the concert, Pavlopoulos expressed horror at damage inflicted Friday at a Thessaloniki University campus monument that marks the site of a former Jewish cemetery. He described the smashing of the monument an "inhuman, barbaric defiling" and called for Europe-wide vigilance against a resurgence of Nazism. Pavlopoulos promised a Holocaust museum in the city would be finished by 2020. In June, during a protest of the then newly signed name deal between Greece and Macedonia, a group of protesters threw paint at a Holocaust memorial in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki had a considerable Jewish community until World War II. In 1943, about 55,000 Jews were deported to extermination camps, mostly Auschwitz, and fewer than 5,000 survived. Many of those who returned found their former homes occupied by Greek families and a state doing little to help with property restoration. _______________________________ Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens, Greece. ________________________________ Follow Costas Kantouris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris A protester clashes with a police officer during a rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. About 250 protesters gathered to protest against the deal which will rename Macedonia, Greece's northern neighbor, "North Macedonia". The protest is being staged on the occasion of the visit of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Thessaloniki to attend a concert commemorating the Jewish Holocaust give a keynote speech. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)the Jewish Holocaust give a keynote speech. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Protesters clash with police officers during a rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. About 250 protesters gathered to protest against the deal which will rename Macedonia, Greece's northern neighbor, "North Macedonia". The protest is being staged on the occasion of the visit of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Thessaloniki to attend a concert commemorating the Jewish Holocaust give a keynote speech. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)the Jewish Holocaust give a keynote speech. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Palestinian officials say President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to shake up his government. The move is the latest sign of failure in more than a decade of attempts to reconcile with the rival Hamas movement. The officials say Abbas appointed a four-member committee from his Fatah movement on Sunday to consult with political factions about forming a new government. The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. The official Wafa news agency said Fatah had decided to form a political government to replace the current Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah's Cabinet of technocrats. Hamdallah's government was formed in 2013 following a power sharing agreement with Hamas. But the government couldn't assume its responsibilities in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip ruled due to deep disputes. DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Duke University's medical school has issued an apology and launched a review after an administrator admonished students over speaking Chinese in a school building. Megan Neely, who served as graduate studies director in the biostatistics master's program, wrote an email Friday urging students to "commit to using English" in the building housing the program. She said in the message to an email list for the program's students that two faculty members came to her to complain about students loudly speaking Chinese in a common area. She wrote that both were disappointed the students weren't working to improve their English and "wanted to write down the names so they could remember them if the students ever interviewed for an internship or asked to work with them for a master's project." After screengrabs of the email sparked an outcry on social media, Neely stepped down as the program's director of graduate studies, according to a letter from Dr. Mary Klotman, the medical school dean. A university spokesman verified the screenshots were Neely's email. The university's Chronicle student newspaper was first to report Neely was stepping down. Klotman also apologized to students in the program in the letter , saying there was no restriction on using foreign languages in conversations with one another. She also said the university's Office of Institutional Equity would conduct a review of the biostatistics master's program. Neely, who remains an assistant professor, didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Sunday. SEATTLE (AP) - For a businessman who grew a small coffee roaster into an inescapable global chain, who ensured that even his part-time workers had benefits and who has given about $150,000 to Democratic campaigns, former Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz is generating tepid - or even hostile - responses within the party as he weighs a presidential bid in 2020. That's partly because - as Schultz told "60 Minutes" on Sunday - he's considering running as an independent, a prospect many worry could draw support from the eventual Democratic nominee and hand President Donald Trump another four years in office. Among those urging him not to run as an independent are David Axelrod, the former adviser to President Barack Obama, and Tina Podlodowski, the Democratic Party chairwoman in Washington state, where Schultz has lived for decades. "For somebody who is professing to be a lifelong Democrat, I think to be running as in independent in this particular cycle is not a wise thing to do," Podlodowski said. Julian Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development who announced a bid for the Democratic nomination this month, said Sunday on CNN he is concerned that if Schultz did run an independent campaign "it would provide Donald Trump with his best hope of getting re-elected." The 65-year-old Seattle billionaire launches a tour Monday to promote his latest book, "From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." He has stops this week in New York; Tempe, Arizona; Seattle; and San Francisco - but no dates listed for the early voting states of Iowa or New Hampshire. He's been mentioned as a potential candidate many times before, and he's done little to quell speculation about his presidential ambitions since saying when he retired from Starbucks last June that his future could include "public service." FILE - In this March 22, 2017, file photo, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the Starbucks annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. For someone who has given about $150,000 to Democratic campaigns over the years, Schultz is generating tepid, or even hostile, responses within the party as he weighs a presidential bid in 2020. That's because reports have suggested he's considering running as an independent, a prospect that could draw support away from the eventual Democratic nominee and hand President Donald Trump another four years in office, many fret. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) His office did not respond to an email seeking comment about his intentions. If he were to enter the race he would be the most high-profile candidate without prior elected experience. On paper, Schultz offers a number of qualities that might appeal to voters. He grew up in public housing in Brooklyn, New York, and became the first person in his family to graduate from college. He took over Starbucks when it sold only coffee beans, not cups - it had 11 stores and fewer than 100 employees at the time - and grew it into a global behemoth that now has close to 30,000 stores in 78 countries. Along the way he adopted an ethos of corporate responsibility, making Starbucks one of the earliest U.S. companies to offer stock options and health insurance even to part-time employees, and more recently partnering with Arizona State University to cover tuition for workers who want to earn their bachelor's degree online. He's waded into contentious social issues. In 2013, Starbucks asked customers not to bring guns into stores following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and in 2015, Schultz drew anger and ridicule after he urged baristas to write "Race Together" on cups to spark conversations amid tension over police shootings of black men. Last year, after two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks while waiting for a business meeting, Starbucks closed 8,000 U.S. stores early so employees could take anti-bias training. He's been a longtime Democratic donor, contributing to the campaigns of former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, among others. He has also criticized Trump, telling employees that the president was creating "chaos" and hurting business; calling Trump's tax cuts for corporations unnecessary and reckless; and vowing to hire 10,000 refugees after Trump issued an executive order banning travel from seven mostly Muslim nations. But some of his views might clash with a Democratic Party gearing up to unseat Trump. While some potential nominees, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and California Sen. Kamala Harris, have endorsed single-payer health care, heavily taxing the rich or free tuition at public colleges, Schultz has criticized some such proposals as unrealistic and instead emphasized expanding the economy and curbing entitlements to get the national debt under control. "It concerns me that so many voices within the Democratic Party are going so far to the left," Schultz told CNBC last June. "I ask myself, 'How are we going to pay for all these things?' in terms of things like single-payer or people espousing the fact that the government is going to give everyone a job. I don't think that's realistic." Will Stiles worked at Starbucks for 17 years. The company's culture was laid-back when Schultz arrived, with workers wearing cutoffs and flip-flops, and stores sometimes closing for days at a time so employees could go to a resort, he said. Schultz wore suits. "He's all, 'Clean this! Clean that!' and he's got shiny shoes," Stiles said. "We were like, who is this guy?" But Schultz had vision and drive, and he had the workers undergo training in sales and in the product, Stiles said. By offering stock options and benefits, he involved the employees in Starbucks' success. Stiles said he believes Schultz could similarly inspire Americans to be more invested in the country's future. Still, Stiles, a staunch Democrat, hopes Schultz doesn't run as an independent for fear it could help Trump. "It would be a shame if he somehow assisted this guy to become a two-termer," Stiles said. FILE - In this May 19, 2017, file photo, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, right, shakes hands with a job seeker during the Opportunity Fair and Forum employment event in Dallas. For someone who has given about $150,000 to Democratic campaigns over the years, Schultz is generating tepid, or even hostile, responses within the party as he weighs a presidential bid in 2020. That's because reports have suggested he's considering running as an independent, a prospect that could draw support away from the eventual Democratic nominee and hand President Donald Trump another four years in office, many fret. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) BJP takes a dig at UPA governments inaction over One Rank One Pension. The interim finance minister Piyush Goyal also promised to allocate more funds for the BSF (Border Security Force) to take better care of them. (Representational image) Hyderabad: In a first, allocations to the defence sector crossed the Rs 3 lakh-crore barrier, up by Rs 20,000 crore or 6.87 per cent from the previous Budget. The interim finance minister Piyush Goyal also promised to allocate more funds for the BSF (Border Security Force) to take better care of them. BJP managed to make veterans happy by allocating Rs 35,000 crore towards one rank, one pension. Taking a dig at the previous government, Mr Goyal said the UPA only spoke of OROP in the Budget. While forecasting the defence budget, Goyal slipped into a lighter note and made a mention of Uri attack Surgical strikes, movie. The phrase How the Josh made its debut into the Parliament and Piyush Goyal said that he had watched the movie and liked it much. The phrase How the Josh received the loudest clamor. I had the opportunity to watch the film, Jo Josh tha , Kya Mahaul tha Uss Hall k andhai, he said. He added, soldier protecting Indian borders in tough condition must be taken care of. The BSF may receive additional funds, in case of need, he added. While the BJP led NDA government has managed to keep the Veterans happy by taking a step forward in allocating funds for One rank One pension. Attacking the opposition Mr. Goyal said, The previous government only made a mention of the OROP in their budget but sanctioned Rs 500 crore in 2014-15. Against this ,the NDA has already dispersed Rs 35,000 crores as OROP. In an announcement, Mr Goyal said there will be a substantial hike in the military service pay of all services personnel and special allowance were given to Navy and air personal deployed at high risk areas. BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: more premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more severe derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. The Associated Press analyzed 11 major rules targeted for repeal or relaxation under Trump, using the administration's own estimates to tally how its actions would boost businesses and harm society. The AP identified up to $11.6 billion in potential future savings for companies that extract, burn and transport fossil fuels. Industry windfalls of billions of dollars more could come from a freeze in vehicle efficiency standards that will yield an estimated 79 billion-gallon (300 million-liter) increase in fuel consumption. On the opposite side of the government's ledger, buried in thousands of pages of analyses, are the "social costs" of rolling back the regulations. Among them: - Up to 1,400 additional premature deaths annually due to the pending repeal of a rule to cut coal plant pollution. - An increase in greenhouse gas emissions by about 1 billion tons (907 million metric tons) from vehicles produced over the next decade - a figure equivalent to annual emissions of almost 200 million vehicles. FILE - This Nov. 6, 2013 file photo shows a Whiting Petroleum Co. pump jack pulls crude oil from the Bakken region of the Northern Plains near Bainville, Mont. As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the U.S. energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: increased premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File) - Increased risk of water contamination from a drilling technique known as "fracking." - Fewer safety checks to prevent offshore oil spills. For the Trump administration and its supporters, the rule changes examined by AP mark a much-needed pivot away from heavy regulations that threatened to hold back the Republican president's goal of increasing U.S. energy production. But the AP's findings also underscore the administration's willingness to put company profits ahead of safety considerations and pollution effects. SIDING WITH INDUSTRY The AP found the administration has sought to bolster the changes by emphasizing, and sometimes exaggerating, economic gains while minimizing negative impacts. For example, when calculating future damages from greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants, the Trump administration looked only at U.S. effects, instead of globally. That drastically reduced the benefits of emission restrictions and allowed the administration to conclude the Obama-era rule was no longer justified, given costs to the coal industry. In another instance, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to stop considering secondary benefits of controlling mercury emissions - namely reductions in other pollutants projected to prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths. Last month, the AP revealed that the administration understated the advantages of installing better brakes on trains carrying crude oil and ethanol. Transportation Department officials acknowledged they miscalculated potential benefits by up to $117 million because they failed to include some projected future derailments. In explaining its actions, the Trump administration said in some cases that the previous administration understated the price tag on new industry restrictions. In others, it said President Barack Obama's administration had been overly expansive in how it defined benefits to society. Michael Greenstone, a University of Chicago professor who served as chief economist for Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, said the Trump administration was downplaying the health and environmental impacts of its actions. "When you start fudging the numbers, it's not that the costs just evaporate into thin air. We will pay," Greenstone said. "They are reducing the costs for industries where pollution is a byproduct." The rules being targeted were largely crafted under Obama in response to climate change, the disastrous 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, massive releases from coal ash dumps and fuel train explosions. ADMNISTRATION: NEGLIGIBLE RISKS Trump's administration has stressed that savings for companies were greater than any increased perils to safety or the environment. "We fully recognize every significant policy decision has a consequence and that those consequences can differ," acting U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told the AP. "I think when you look at the track record, holistically, what you see is our deregulatory efforts are still pretty protective." The AP's tally of savings was derived from government projections required under a 1993 executive order. Five of the rule changes are still pending. On rules for toxic coal ash, offshore safety and refinery pollution, the administration said companies would save hundreds of millions of dollars with little or no added risk - an assertion former federal officials and environmental groups have disputed. The potential industry savings were projected largely over the next decade. Sectors of the coal industry see lifting costly rules as a matter of survival because demand has plummeted as utilities switch to cleaner-burning fuels. For the oil and gas industry, with hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenue, the economic impact of the Obama-era rules was comparatively small. But they were vigorously opposed as restrictions on business. "We need to make sure we're putting together rules that are flexible enough to apply the latest, greatest technologies," said Erik Milito, vice president for the American Petroleum institute. He said the group focused on whether rules make sense, rather than cost savings. Critics say the impact on public health and the environment will be even worse than projected. "I don't think it's well understood what the death toll of these policies will be for the American people," said Paul Billings, of the American Lung Association. OBAMA CLIMATE AGENDA ASSAILED Two sweeping changes under Trump - the rollback of the Clean Power Plan that threatened to close many coal power plants and a reversal of plans to increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards - were centerpieces of Obama's climate change actions. Killing the power plan would save companies up to $6.4 billion, the EPA concluded. The trade-off is almost 61 million tons (55 million metric tons) annually of additional carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. The administration calculated that those emissions carry a maximum of $3.2 billion in "social costs," such as flood damage and higher air conditioning costs. Since company savings outweighed pollution costs, the administration said scrapping the power plan was justified. That conclusion was possible largely because the EPA limited social costs to effects in the U.S., instead of globally as under Obama. EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones said the analysis complied with a 2003 directive under President George W. Bush that said such reviews should focus on costs and benefits to people in the U.S. Joe Goffman, a former EPA official who helped create the clean power plan and now at Harvard Law School, said the omission of international impacts "doesn't track with reality" given that climate change is a worldwide problem. The Trump administration also limited pollution cost considerations in its proposal last month on mercury emitted by coal plants. When the mercury rule was finalized in 2012, the EPA projected up to $90 billion in benefits, including avoidance of up to 11,000 premature deaths from other power plant pollutants. Now, the EPA says those benefits could not be considered because they are not directly tied to mercury reductions. The only benefits that should be counted, the agency said, were improvements to IQ scores as a result of less mercury exposure, valued at up to $6 million annually. The National Mining Association had urged the change. Spokesman Conor Bernstein said Obama's EPA misused the concept of secondary pollution benefits to justify its actions. The rollback's impact is unclear since utilities already have spent an estimated $18 billion on new pollution controls. FUEL STANDARDS AND DRILLING SAFETY Some experts outside government take issue with the rationale for relaxing the fuel economy rule. The Trump administration says reducing standards would save as many as 1,000 lives annually and spare consumers and car companies hundreds of billions of dollars on vehicles with higher gas mileage. To reach that conclusion, officials lowered estimates of how many vehicles people would buy. But economists including from the nonpartisan National Bureau of Economic Research say that assumption was fundamentally flawed, since looser standards would make cars cheaper and therefore increase demand. The economists said the government used misleading findings to wipe out at least $112 billion in potential societal benefits while falsely claiming its change would save numerous lives. "Every change they made was made in the direction to make the standards look more expensive and the rollback to look cheaper and better," said Jeff Alson, who worked 40 years at an EPA lab in Michigan. Several rules reworked under Trump tie directly to worker and public safety. The administration rescinded requirements for improved fuel train brakes after determining the costs to industry would be higher than previously calculated. It acknowledged more spills from derailments would likely occur. After AP's story about the agency's $117 million benefits understatement, spokesman Bobby Fraser said the decision to rescind the Obama rule would stand because the costs were still greater. Two safety rules for offshore oil and gas drilling were adopted following the Deepwater Horizon accident, which killed 11 people and spilled 134 million gallons (507 million liters) of oil. The Interior Department now says less rigid inspection and equipment requirements would save drilling companies hundreds of millions of dollars with "negligible" safety and environmental risks. Lynn Scarlett, acting Interior Secretary under George W. Bush, said the changes ignore a government commission's findings on the Gulf spill. "You're removing a tool that was developed intentionally to help reduce the risks," Scarlett said. "The failure to have those protections raises the risk, such that actions can result in accidents like Deepwater Horizon." ___ Follow Matthew Brown at https://twitter.com/matthewbrownap FILE - In this April 21, 2010, file photo, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns in the Gulf of Mexico following an explosion that killed 11 workers and caused the worst offshore oil spill in the nation's history. As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the U.S. energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: increased premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) FILE - In this June 26, 2010 file photo, Plaquemines Parish Coastal Zone Director P.J. Hahn rescues a heavily oiled bird from the waters of Barataria Bay, La. As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the U.S. energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: increased premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) FILE - In this April 30, 2014 file photo, firefighters and rescue workers work along the tracks where several CSX tanker cars carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire along the James River near downtown in Lynchburg, Va. As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the U.S. energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: increased premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File) SEBRING, Fla. (AP) - Residents in a small Florida city gathered Sunday and held a vigil to honor the five women killed in a SunTrust branch mass shooting. People lit flashlights and cell phones instead of candles to honor the victims because heavy rains in Sebring pushed the vigil to an indoor location. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had made earlier plans to attend but canceled, saying the weather had affected his travels. Four SunTrust employees and a customer were killed in the bank's lobby Wednesday. After a standoff, police say, Zephen Xaver, 21, was arrested and is now facing five counts of premeditated murder. State Attorney Brian Haas has said it is likely that he will seek the death penalty. Photos of four of the victims were framed together and stood on an easel among funeral wreaths and next to a banner that read "Sebring Strong." Sebring police said families of two of the women are raising funds for funerals and other expenses. One of the victims was Jessica Montague, 31, a mother of three young children and seven stepchildren. She was to have celebrated her husband's birthday the day of the shooting. Another victim was Ana Pinon-Williams, a mother of three and stepmother of four who had recently begun working at the bank and had been planning a family trip to her native Mexico. Pinon-Williams' brother-in-law, Tim Williams, addressed the crowd at Sunday's vigil. "Let's use this opportunity, as our hearts are truly broken, and allow the light to shine in our lives," said Williams, a pastor. The other two victims identified were Marisol Lopez, described by friends as a dedicated longtime bank teller. The customer who was shot dead was Cynthia Watson, who got married earlier this month. Authorities withheld the name of the fifth victim at the family's request in compliance with a new victims' rights law. Police said the shooting appeared to be a random act, not part of a robbery, and that Xaver had no connection to any of the victims. SunTrust spokesman Michael McCoy told media the bank has decided not to reopen the branch that came under attack after hearing from families. Instead, it is considering a different use for that space. The banks had observed a moment of silence Friday at 12:36 p.m., which was the time on Wednesday when authorities say Xaver called 911 and told dispatchers he had shot everyone inside the bank. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Dutch emergency workers rescued three people from the rubble of a low-rise apartment building in the Hague after a gas explosion Sunday and searched for one more person believed to be trapped. The Hague Fire Brigade said in a tweet that nine people in total were injured by the explosion that blew the facade off part of the three-story building in a residential neighborhood. Seven were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately known. The explosion scattered broken glass more than a block away and left a white van and a car badly damaged. As darkness fell, fire engine lights shined on exposed rooms where a sofa, table and chairs still could be seen on the third floor. Sniffer dogs were brought in to aid the search. Rescue teams worked carefully because the building's extensive structural damage meant more sections might collapse. Fire Brigade spokesman John Kardol said it remained unclear what caused the gas explosion. Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Shattered glass lies on the ground after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Authorities respond after a three-story home collapsed in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Police at the scene said a gas explosion was being explored as a possible cause of what tore off the home's front and demolished the dwelling in a residential neighborhood on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) GONZALES, La. (AP) - The Latest on a shooting in Louisiana that killed five people (all times local): 3:30 p.m. Drops of blood trailed out to the front steps from the trailer where Keith and Elizabeth Theriot were shot in Louisiana. In the bedroom of the home, blood-soaked pillows were strewn on the bed, and patches of what appeared to be dried blood were on the floor. Authorities say 21-year-old Dakota Theriot shot and killed three people in Louisiana's Livingston Parish before driving to neighboring Ascension Parish and shooting his parents, Keith and Elizabeth. Authorities say the man was dating - was arrested Sunday when he showed up with a gun at his grandmother's house in Virginia. Kim Mincks lived in the trailer and was friends with the Theriots. Mincks was in another room at the opposite end of the trailer when the shooting happened but didn't hear anything. She says law enforcement officers came into her room Saturday morning and woke her. She recalls them saying "something terrible happened here" and "get up, get dressed and walk outside." This Nov. 30, 2018, photo provided by Kim Minks shows Elizabeth Theriot. Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot were found dead in Gonzalez, La. yesterday. Their son Dakota Theriot has been apprehended in Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in several deaths. (Kim Minks via AP) ___ 1:30 p.m. The friend of a woman who was one of five people authorities say was killed by a 21-year-old on a violent rampage in Louisiana says she warned her friend about dating him. Sierra Chastant spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday morning, a day after authorities say Dakota Theriot shot and killed five people. Among the dead was 20-year-old Summer Ernest, her brother, and father and Theriot's parents. Authorities have said Summer and Dakota were in a relationship. Chastant says Summer had just recently met Dakota. Chastant's father lived in the trailer where Dakota's parents were killed. She says Summer and Dakota met at a funeral about three weeks ago. Chastant says she warned her friend to be careful with Dakota, saying he was trouble, but she never imagined anything like what authorities say Dakota did Saturday morning. __ 1:20 p.m. A woman who lived in the same house as two people who authorities say were killed by their 21-year-old son says the son had a loving relationship with his mother but argued, sometimes violently, with his father. Kim Mincks says she was asleep in another room in a trailer she shared with Keith and Elizabeth Theriot when law enforcement officials woke her Saturday morning with news of the shootings. She and Jacob Chastant, a friend who also lived in the trailer, returned to their home Sunday morning. Authorities say Dakota Theriot shot and killed his girlfriend, her father and brother and then went to his parents' house and killed them. He was arrested Sunday in Virginia. In an interview with The Associated Press, Chastant and Mincks described one incident in which Chastant had to pull Dakota Theriot off his father during a fight. ___ 11 a.m. A Virginia sheriff says a man suspected of killing five people in Louisiana was arrested when he showed up at his grandmother's house. Authorities say 21-year-old Dakota Theriot shot and killed three people Saturday morning in one Louisiana parish before going to his parents' house in a neighboring parish and killing them before fleeing. Richmond County Sheriff Stephan B. Smith said in a phone interview that Theriot's grandmother had spent the night in a hotel because she feared her grandson might come to her home in Warsaw. He said the woman asked authorities to check her home Sunday morning to make sure it was safe before she went home. While deputies were there, Smith said, Theriot drove up. Smith said Theriot had a gun on him but he dropped it and was taken into custody without incident. ___ 9:15 a.m. Authorities say a man suspected in two shootings that left five people dead in Louisiana has been arrested in Virginia. Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a statement that 21-year-old Dakota Theriot was arrested Sunday by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. The news release says Theriot will be brought back to Ascension Parish and booked on two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion, and illegal use of weapons. Authorities say Theriot shot and killed three people Saturday morning in one parish before going to his parents' house in a neighboring parish and killing them before fleeing.Ard said Saturday that Theriot was believed to have been in a relationship with one of the victims, Summer Ernest. Her brother and father were also killed. EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Kim Mincks walks down a blood stained hallway inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of her housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while she slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) This Aug. 2, 2018 photo provided by Kim Minks shows Elizabeth Theriot celebrating her birthday. Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot were found dead in Gonzalez, la., yesterday, (Kim Minks via AP) Kim Mincks shows an identification card of her housemate Elizabeth Theriot reacts inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while Mincks slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Kim Mincks reacts inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of her housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while she slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Blood and bullet holes are seen in the bedroom where Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot were killed in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Theriot's son Dakota Theriot was apprehended in Virginia on Sunday at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all several deaths, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Blood and bullet holes are seen in the bedroom where Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot were killed in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Theriot's son Dakota Theriot was apprehended in Virginia on Sunday at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all several deaths, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Kim Mincks and Jacob Scott Chastant look into the room inside their home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of their housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were murdered while she slept. Chastant was not home. The Theriot's were two of five people murdered yesterday, and their son Dakota Theriot has been apprehended in Virginia this morning at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all five murders, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that the odds congressional negotiators will craft a deal to end his border wall standoff with Congress are "less than 50-50." As hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers prepared to return to work, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he doesn't think the negotiators will strike a deal that he'd accept. He pledged to build a wall anyway using his executive powers to declare a national emergency if necessary. "I personally think it's less than 50-50, but you have a lot of very good people on that board," Trump said in an interview with the newspaper. The president was referring to a bipartisan committee of House and Senate lawmakers that will consider border spending as part of the legislative process. The president's standoff with Democrats on Capitol Hill is far from over and the clock is ticking. The spending bill Trump signed on Friday to temporarily end the partial government shutdown funds the shuttered agencies only until Feb. 15. It's unclear if the Democrats will budge. Trump seemed girded for battle over the weekend, sending out a series of online messages that foreshadowed the upcoming fight with lawmakers. "BUILD A WALL & CRIME WILL FALL!" he tweeted. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Hispanic pastors in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Is Trump prepared to shut down the government again in three weeks? "Yeah, I think he actually is," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said. "He doesn't want to shut the government down, let's make that very clear. He doesn't want to declare a national emergency." But Mulvaney said that at "the end of the day, the president's commitment is to defend the nation and he will do it with or without Congress." The linchpin in the standoff is Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for his prized wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, a project Democrats consider an ineffective, wasteful monument to a ridiculous Trump campaign promise. Asked if he'd willing to accept less than $5.7 billion to build a barrier on the southern border, Trump replied: "I doubt it." He added: "I have to do it right." He also said he'd be wary of any proposed deal that exchanged funds for a wall for broad immigration reform. And when asked if he would agree to citizenship for immigrants who were illegally brought into the U.S. as children, he again replied, "I doubt it." California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the leading Republican in the House, said Democrats have funded border barriers in the past and are refusing this time simply because Trump is asking for it. "The president is the only one who has been reasonable in these negotiations," he said. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, a member of the Democratic leadership in the House, said his colleagues are looking for "evidence-based" legislation. "Shutdowns are not legitimate negotiating tactics when there's a public policy disagreement between two branches of government," he said. Jeffries said that Democrats are willing to invest in additional infrastructure, especially at legal ports of entry where the majority of drugs come into the country. "We're willing to invest in personnel. We're willing to invest in additional technology. ... In the past, we have supported enhanced fencing and I think that's something that's reasonable that should be on the table," he said. Trump has asserted there is a "crisis" at the southern border requiring a wall, blaming previous presidents and Congress for failing to overhaul an immigration system that has allowed millions of people to live in the U.S. illegally. Last month, he put that number at 35 million, while on Sunday he pegged it at 25.7 million-plus - figures offered without evidence. "I'm not exactly sure where the president got that number this morning," Mulvaney said. Both are higher than government and private estimates. His homeland security chief cited "somewhere" between 11 million and 22 million last month. In November, the nonpartisan Pew Research Center reported 10.7 million in 2016 - the lowest in a decade. The president also tweeted Sunday that the cost of illegal immigration so far this year was nearly $19 billion; he didn't cite a source. Compare that with research in 2017 from a conservative group, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for less immigration: $135 billion a year or about $11.25 billion a month - a figure that included health care and education, plus money spent on immigration enforcement. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. said that he thinks a compromise is possible. "The president went from talking about a wall along the entire southern border at one point during the campaign ... to let's have barriers where they work and let's have something else where barriers wouldn't work as well," Blunt said. The partial federal shutdown ended Friday when Trump gave in to mounting pressure, retreating from his demand that Congress commit to the border wall funding before federal agencies could resume work. The bill he signed did not provide the money Trump wanted for a barrier, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called "immoral" and has insisted Congress will not finance. Mulvaney said Trump agreed to temporarily end the shutdown because some Democrats have stepped forward, publicly and privately, to say they agree with Trump's plan to better secure the border. Mulvaney said they told Trump they couldn't split with Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and work with the White House if the government remained closed. "Everybody wants to look at this and say the president lost," Mulvaney said. "We're still in the middle of negotiations." ___ Mulvaney appeared on "Fox News Sunday" and CBS' "Face the Nation." Jeffries and McCarthy spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press," Blunt was on Fox. FILE- In this Jan. 2, 2019, file photo White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington. Mulvaney says Trump is prepared for another government shutdown if Congress won't work with him to secure the southern border. Mulvaney spoke Sunday, Jan. 27, on CBS' "Face the Nation" and "Fox News Sunday." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) A family leaves to apply for asylum in the United States, at the border, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Tijuana, Mexico. The Trump administration on Friday will start forcing some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. courts, an official said, launching what could become one of the more significant changes to the immigration system in years. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May faces another bruising week in Parliament as lawmakers plan to challenge her minority Conservative government for control of Brexit policy. Amendments designed to change the course of Britain's planned March 29 departure from the European Union escalated the political jockeying. Several would delay the exit or make a Brexit without a divorce deal with the EU impossible. The final lineup to be considered in the House of Commons is not expected to be announced until Tuesday, hours before the next Brexit debate and voting begins. Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said her party would support postponing Brexit day. Sturgeon said the possibility of a second U.K. referendum on leaving the EU was not gaining traction in Parliament because of opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's ambiguous position. Voters supported Britain's withdrawal from the EU during a June 2016 referendum. Brexit opponents and others who have qualms about the process now underway have suggested holding another vote. Demonstrators knock down a 'mock' wall on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) "It's incumbent on Labour to make its position on this clear," she said. "If it does, so then I do think there would possibly be a majority in the House of Commons." May's Brexit divorce plan was soundly rejected by lawmakers two weeks ago. She is scrambling to gain more backing for the plan agreed with the EU, but some legislators are determined to force the government to slow the process and take "no-deal" off the table. The drama in Parliament has galvanized the partisan British press. The Sunday Times used its lead editorial to say it opposed a "no-deal" departure that would do unneeded harm to Britain, but also opposed the amendments that would block the "no-deal" route. It argued the threat of Brexit taking place without agreement on issues that affect people and businesses throughout Europe was Britain's only bargaining chip in getting the EU to soften the withdrawal terms and make May's deal acceptable to lawmakers. That is clearly an uphill battle. EU leaders remain adamant - in public at least - they will not alter the withdrawal treaty reached with Britain's government late last year. One of the key points in dispute is how to prevent a hard post-Brexit border that would bring back customs and identity checks between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. British newspapers have compared the confrontation with the EU to a game of chicken, with pro-Brexit papers predicting the EU will cave in to avoid a crash. "Brexit Deal: EU Will Blink First," the Sunday Express proclaimed in its front-page headline, atop what it billed as an exclusive story. The Express story predicted the EU would back down on the Irish border impasse as long as rebels in Parliament "do not succeed in taking the threat of no deal off the table." Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald, centre, Martina Anderson, left, and Michelle O'Neil, right, knock down a 'mock' wall on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) A demonstrator spray paints on a 'mock' wall on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) A demonstrator knocks down a 'mock' wall on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Demonstrators hold banners on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Demonstrators hold banners on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, near Newry in Northern Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Protesters angered at the prospect of a hard Brexit built a mock wall across part of the Irish border, the theatrical gesture on Saturday was the centrepiece of a County Down demonstration against future border checks. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) ROME (AP) - Italian lawmakers boarded a migrant rescue ship within eyeshot of the island of Sicily on Sunday to inspect conditions for 47 men and boys nine days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship operated by German humanitarian group Sea-Watch picked up the migrants on Jan. 19 in waters off Libya. It was allowed to shelter Italy's territorial waters due to threatening weather Thursday, but the government refuses to let aid groups disembark in Italian ports. Opposition lawmakers who inspected the Sea-Watch 3 said the migrants were suffering mentally after months or years of detention in Libya while waiting for the chance to attempt the dangerous sea crossing to Europe. For many, having to stay on the rescue ship "is a form of continuation of imprisonment" they experienced in Libya, Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker with the tiny More Europe party, said. The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Syracuse prosecutor Fabio Scavone as saying the captain requested psychological assistance for the passengers. Another lawmaker, Stefania Prestigiacomo of the center-right Forza Italia party, said the migrants were exhausted. She noted the boat had only one toilet. An Italian Coast Guard patroller flanks the Sea-Watch rescue ship off the Sicilian coast where it found shelter, about one nautical mile from Siracusa, from gale winds sweeping the Sicilian Channel, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. The Sea-Watch is carrying 47 people saved from the sea. Italian Interior minister Salvini yesterday tweeted that the government is "ready to send food, medicine and whatever may be needed, but Italy's ports are and will remain closed". (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) "OK, we're all in agreement that Europe should do more in taking in migrants" rescued at sea, "but let them off" this boat, Prestigiacomo told reporters. Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's far-right League party, adopted a policy after Italy's current government took office last year of refusing to let aid group ships put the people they rescue on Italian soil. Salvini contends the rescue groups benefit human smugglers that charge migrants to cross the Mediterranean in unseaworthy vessels. He has threatened to send police officers onto the Sea-Watch 3 to investigate if the German aid group was in cahoots with traffickers and said other European countries should let the ship dock. Following Italy's rejection of private rescue boats and a similar refusal by Malta, Sea-Watch 3 is the only humanitarian aid vessel working to rescue migrants in the central Mediterranean. While anchored about a mile from the eastern Sicilian port town of Syracuse, the vessel has been unable to be on the lookout for other endangered migrants near Libya. Italian coast guard brought donated socks, shoes and food Sunday to the 47 boys and men rescued earlier. The number of migrants reaching Italian ports via the central Mediterranean smuggling route dropped sharply last year. During the previous few years, some 600,000 rescued migrants were brought to Italian ports by the Italian coast guard or navy, other European military ships or cargo vessels. __ Frances D'Emilio is on twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio An Italian Coast Guard patroller flanks the Sea-Watch rescue ship off the Sicilian coast where it found shelter, about one nautical mile from Siracusa, from gale winds sweeping the Sicilian Channel, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. The Sea-Watch is carrying 47 people saved from the sea. Italian Interior minister Salvini yesterday tweeted that the government is "ready to send food, medicine and whatever may be needed, but Italy's ports are and will remain closed". (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) Water is unloaded from a coastguard boat to the German humanitarian group's rescue boat Sea Watch 3, as food and blankets for the cold were delivered, off the coast of Syracuse, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Italian coast guard is bringing socks, shoes, bread and fruit to 47 migrants who have been stranded at sea for nine days aboard a German ship. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) Fruit is unloaded from a coastguard boat to the German humanitarian group's rescue boat Sea Watch 3, as food and blankets for the cold were delivered, off the coast of Syracuse, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Italian coast guard is bringing socks, shoes, bread and fruit to 47 migrants who have been stranded at sea for nine days aboard a German ship. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) Migrants wait aboard the German humanitarian group's rescue boat Sea Watch 3, off the coast of Syracuse, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Italian coast guard is bringing socks, shoes, bread and fruit to 47 migrants who have been stranded at sea for nine days aboard a German ship. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) A coastguard boat approaches the German humanitarian group's rescue boat Sea Watch 3, to deliver food and blankets for the cold, off the coast of Syracuse, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Italian coast guard is bringing socks, shoes, bread and fruit to 47 migrants who have been stranded at sea for nine days aboard a German ship. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) GONZALES, La. (AP) - A 21-year-old man suspected of killing his parents and three other people - including a girl he was dating - was arrested Sunday when he drove up with a gun to his grandmother's house in Virginia, a sheriff said. On Saturday, Dakota Theriot shot and killed three people - the woman believed to be his girlfriend, her brother and father - in Louisiana's Livingston Parish before taking her father's pickup truck, driving to neighboring Ascension Parish, and shooting his parents, according to authorities. Theriot's grandmother in Warsaw, Virginia, had checked into a hotel Saturday night, fearing he might show up there, Richmond County Sheriff Stephan B. Smith said in a phone interview. The woman asked authorities to check her house Sunday morning to ensure it was safe before she returned. While deputies were there, Smith said, Theriot drove up with a firearm pointed out the window of a pickup. A sheriff's statement said deputies sought cover and challenged Theriot, who then dropped the gun and was arrested without incident. Smith said the pickup Theriot drove apparently was the one taken in Louisiana. In Louisiana, at a trailer where the suspect's parents lived, drops of blood trailed out to the front steps from the bedroom where Keith and Elizabeth Theriot were shot. In the bedroom, blood-soaked pillows were strewn on a bed, and patches of what appeared to be dried blood were on the floor. Dozens of stuffed animals decorated the room. Kim Mincks and Jacob Chastant also lived in the trailer and were friends with the Theriots. Mincks said she was in the house at the opposite end of the trailer when the shooting happened but added she didn't hear anything. Law enforcement officers came into her room Saturday morning and woke her. EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Blood and bullet holes are seen in the bedroom where Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot were killed in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Theriot's son Dakota Theriot was apprehended in Virginia on Sunday at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all several deaths, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) "They said something terrible happened here. 'Get up, get dressed and walk outside,' " she recalled them saying. Mincks and Chastant said Dakota Theriot had struggled with drugs over the years, had violent outbursts, and had recently been kicked out of the trailer. "We know he had a drug problem. He got kicked out last Monday because of the drug problem. His dad kicked him out of here. He did have a violent streak," Mincks said. Theriot will be brought back to Ascension Parish to be booked on two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion, and illegal use of weapons, said a statement by Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard. Authorities have identified the victims in Livingston Parish as Billy Ernest, 43; Tanner Ernest, 17; and Summer Ernest, 20. Ard said Summer Ernest and Dakota Theriot were in a relationship and that Theriot had been living with her family for a few weeks. Authorities said earlier that Keith Theriot survived the shooting long enough to let them know who shot him. According to Webre, officials got a "dying declaration from him, and only enough information to let us know that it was his son that committed this act." Mincks and Chastant only returned to the trailer Sunday morning, worried Dakota Theriot might come back. Mincks said she'd known Keith and Elizabeth Theriot for about two years and described them as wonderful people. Keith Theriot was a disabled veteran who played a wicked guitar, and Elizabeth Theriot worked at a nearby Dollar General Store, they said. Keith Theriot had four children, all boys, they said. "Give you the shirt off their back. They loved everybody. Never met a stranger. Loved each other. Just a happy couple," she said. But the relationship between Dakota Theriot and his parents, especially his father, was troubled. She and Chastant described an incident in which Chastant had to pull Dakota Theriot off his parents during a physical altercation. Minks said Dakota Theriot and his mother seemed much closer. They'd laugh and joke and tell each other "I love you." But even that relationship had problems. Mincks and Chastant said at one point Dakota Theriot pulled a gun on his mother who called Chastant for help. "I think just the drugs took over," Mincks said. Chastant and Mincks said Dakota Theriot had just met Summer Ernest about three weeks ago at Chastant's sister's funeral. Summer Ernest was there as a friend to Jacob Chastant's 20-year-old daughter, Sierra. Sierra said she warned her friend to stay away from Dakota, calling him "trouble." But she never expected anything like what unfolded Saturday. Summer Ernest had an outgoing personality and was planning to return soon to college, Sierra said. "She was bubbly, always friendly ... She's just a great person," she said. "If you asked me what his motive was.... I don't know what it would be," she said. "It's just unbelievable." ___ Associated Press writers Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report. This photo provided by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office shows Dakota Theriot on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Authorities say a man suspected in two shootings that left five people dead in Louisiana has been arrested in Virginia. Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a statement that Theriot was arrested Sunday by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. (Richmond County Sheriff's Office via AP) This Nov. 30, 2018, photo provided by Kim Minks shows Elizabeth Theriot. Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot were found dead in Gonzalez, La. yesterday. Their son Dakota Theriot has been apprehended in Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in several deaths. (Kim Minks via AP) This Aug. 2, 2018 photo provided by Kim Minks shows Elizabeth Theriot celebrating her birthday. Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot were found dead in Gonzalez, la., yesterday, (Kim Minks via AP) Kim Mincks shows an identification card of her housemate Elizabeth Theriot reacts inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where Elizabeth and her husband Keith Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while Mincks slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Kim Mincks walks down a blood stained hallway inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of her housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while she slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Tina Chastant hugs her daughter Rosalina Chastant, 5, in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, after they arrived to comfort Kim Mincks, left, after two people were found dead inside the home yesterday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Rosalina Chastant, 5, stands next to a blood stained floor next to her father Jacob Scott Chastant, right, near where a double homicide happened inside Jacob's home yesterday, in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Kim Mincks reacts inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of her housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were killed in another room yesterday while she slept. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Blood and bullet holes are seen in the bedroom where Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot were killed in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Theriot's son Dakota Theriot was apprehended in Virginia on Sunday at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all several deaths, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Blood and bullet holes are seen in the bedroom where Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot were killed in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Theriot's son Dakota Theriot was apprehended in Virginia on Sunday at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all several deaths, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Kim Mincks and Jacob Scott Chastant look into the room inside their home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of their housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were murdered while she slept. Chastant was not home. The Theriot's were two of five people murdered yesterday, and their son Dakota Theriot has been apprehended in Virginia this morning at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all five murders, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Kim Mincks reacts inside her home in Gonzalez, La., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where two of her housemates, Keith Theriot and his wife Elizabeth Theriot, were murdered in another room yesterday while she slept. The Theriot's were two of five people murdered yesterday, and their son Dakota Theriot has been apprehended in Virginia this morning at his grandmother's home, as a suspect in all five murders, which spanned two Louisiana Parishes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) This photo provided by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office shows Dakota Theriot on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Authorities say a man suspected in two shootings that left five people dead in Louisiana has been arrested in Virginia. Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a statement that Theriot was arrested Sunday by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. (Richmond County Sheriff's Office via AP) This undated photo provided by Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office shows Dakota Theriot. Authorities say a man suspected in two shootings that left five people dead in Louisiana has been arrested in Virginia. Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a statement that Theriot was arrested Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. (Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office via AP) BRUSSELS (AP) - At least 70,000 people braved cold and rain in Brussels on Sunday to demand the Belgian government and the European Union increase their efforts to fight climate change, the Belgian capital's fourth climate rally in two months to attract at least 10,000 participants. The event was described as Belgium's biggest climate march ever, with police estimating slightly bigger crowds than a similar demonstration last month. Trains from across the nation were so clogged that thousands of people didn't make the march in time. Some 35,000 students in Belgium skipped classes Thursday to take their demands for urgent action to prevent global warming to the streets. "Young people have set a good example," protester Henny Claassen said amid raised banners urging better renewable energy use and improved air quality. "This is for our children, for our grandchildren, and to send a message to politicians." Even though the direct impact on Belgian politics was likely to be small since the country currently is led by a caretaker government, the demonstrations have pushed the issue of climate change up the agenda as parties prepare for national and European Union elections in May. The march ended at the headquarters of the European Union. The 28-nation bloc has been at the vanguard of global efforts to counter climate change but still came in for the protesters' criticism. A protestor holds a placard as he marches during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) "Society as a whole could do a lot more because they're saying 'Yes, we're doing a lot,' but they're doing not that much. They could do a lot more," demonstrator Pieter Van Der Donckt said. Citizen activism on climate change Sunday was not limited to Belgium. Thousands of people made human chains or held other climate events around France. In Paris, there was a debate inspired by a recent petition for legal action to force the government to set more ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions that create global warming. President Emmanuel Macron sees himself as a climate crusader, but suffered a serious setback when fuel tax increases meant to help wean France off fossil fuels backfired dramatically, unleashing the yellow vest protests now in their third month. ___ Associated Press writers Daniela Berretta in Brussels and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report. Protestors march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor marches with a face mask and a message on her forehead during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors hold banners as they march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor wears a fishing net full of garbage during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors hold placards as they march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors hold a banner as they march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor holds a placard as she marches during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor marches with a face mask and a message on her forehead during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor holds a placard as he marches during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors hold banners as they march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Protestors hold banners as they march during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) A protestor wears a fishing net full of garbage during a Rise for the Climate demonstration in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) PANAMA CITY (AP) - The latest on Pope Francis' visit to Panama and World Youth Day (all times local): 6:35 p.m. Pope Francis has left Panama, concluding his visit to the Central American nation for World Youth Day 2019. President Juan Carlos Varela and first lady Lorena Castillo were on hand to bid the pontiff farewell at Tocumen International Airport in a red carpet tarmac ceremony Sunday. As the shadows grew long, a white-uniformed band played Panama's national anthem and the pontiff stood with the first couple underneath a canopy. Onlookers waved Panamanian flags. The Avianca-liveried jet took off Sunday evening bound for Rome, where Francis will prepare for another trip next weekend to Abu Dhabi, the first by a pope to the Arabian Peninsula. Pope Francis waves goodbye as he prepares to depart after a five-day visit to Panama, at Tocumen Airport in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. At right is Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) ___ 5:15 p.m. Pope Francis is urging young volunteers at World Youth Day 2019 to go forth and bear witness of their experience. The pontiff says they should let others know "with simple and ordinary gestures, those that transform and renew each hour of the day." He also has thanked each one for "the service they have performed during these days and in the last months" ahead of the event. He adds, "Now you know how our hearts beat faster when we have a mission." Francis remarks came at Panama City's Rommel Fernandez Stadium on Sunday during his last public event before flying back to Rome. He was greeted at the stadium by shouts of "This is the youth of the pope!" Francis also heard the testimonies of several young volunteers, and young performers put on song and dance numbers on the stage. ___ 2 p.m. It's not all work and no play for Vatican officials on Pope Francis' trip to Panama. Vatican communications coordinator Andrea Tornielli writes that Cardinal Pietro Parolin made a quick trip to the country's interoceanic canal on Saturday. At the invitation of canal authorities, he sat at a control station and opened one of the locks with the click of a mouse to open the way for a cruise ship to enter the Pacific Ocean. Tornielli reports that Parolin smiled and joked: "Let's hope no damage was done!" Parolin is the Vatican's secretary of state. The Panama Canal is the Central American nation's No. 1 tourist draw and a major contributor to the country's economy. It was inaugurated in 1914 and underwent a $5.25 billion expansion that opened in 2016 to accommodate larger cargo vessels. ___ 11:50 a.m. Pope Francis has paid tribute to 21 people killed by a car bombing of a Colombian police academy on Jan. 17. Francis read aloud the names of the cadets at the end of his visit to Panama on Sunday while visiting a home for people suffering HIV. After he spoke each name, the residents of the home intoned "present" in a sign of solidarity. Francis prayed for the cadets to rest in peace and for Colombia as a whole to find peace. He denounced that the cadets had been "assassinated" by "terrorists." The National Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the car bombing, saying that the attack against a military installation was a legitimate response to the armed forces' bombing of a guerrilla camp during a recent unilateral ceasefire. Francis visited Colombia in 2017 in a bid to encourage an end to Latin America's longest-running armed conflict. ___ 9:50 a.m. The Roman Catholic Church's next World Youth Day will take place in Lisbon, Portugal. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican's laity office, announced the venue at the end of the Panamanian edition of the youth festival on Sunday. A dozen young people draped in Portuguese flags jumped in joy on the altar after the announcement. Usually the location of the next World Youth Day is a tightly kept secret. But Lisbon leaked out last month in Catholic media, and the Portuguese president was on hand in Panama for the formal announcement. World Youth Days typically draw hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world, travelling in parish groups or alone. St. John Paul II launched the once-every-three-year festivals as a way to energize the next generation of Catholics in their faith. While Farrell didn't announce the date, the rally is expected in 2022. ___ 9:10 a.m. Pope Francis is urging young Catholics to seize the day and not wait until some far-off future to make their dreams come true. Francis offered a message of hope and opportunity Sunday as he formally closed out World Youth Day in Panama before a crowd the Vatican estimated at 700,000, including presidents from across Central America. History's first Latin American pope has sought to encourage young Catholics to be protagonists in the church, famously telling Argentine pilgrims at his first World Youth Day, in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, to "make a mess" and shake up their sacristies. He continued that message Sunday by telling youths in Panama to not keep quiet and wait to be called to act. He said: "You, dear people, are not the future but the now of God." ___ 8:15 a.m. Pope Francis is celebrating an early morning Mass for several hundred thousand young people who camped out in a Panama City field to be in place for the climax of World Youth Day. The Vatican quoted organizers as saying some 700,000 people were on hand for the Sunday Mass, including the presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Portugal. Most of the pilgrims had attended an evening vigil Saturday and camped out under the stars at the field, which was renamed John Paul II field after the Polish pope who visited Panama in 1983. Pilgrim Sawadogo Kiswensidad came to Panama from Burkina Faso and was on hand to see Francis. Kiswensidad said: "Our trip (from Burkina) was very long but it was worth it because we came here to Panama City because of our faith, our Christian faith." The Mass marks the formal end to World Youth Day, the once-every-three year religious festival that John Paul launched during his quarter-century pontificate. After Mass, Francis was heading to visit with AIDS patients before returning to Rome. ___ 1 a.m. Pope Francis is wrapping up his first trip to Central America with a final World Youth Day Mass and a visit to a church-run home for people living with AIDS. Francis meets Sunday with HIV-positive residents of the Casa Hogar El Buen Samaritano is likely to send a strong message in Panama, where the virus carries a stigma. He'll be heading to the home after celebrating a morning Mass for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at Panama City's Metropark area. It's scheduled early so the pilgrims can escape the searing heat and start making their way home after a weeklong religious festival. Youth greet Pope Francis as he arrives in his popemobile to metro park Campo San Juan Pablo II in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, where he will celebrate an early morning Mass. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Pope Francis presents a gift to a child during his visit to the Casa Hogar del Buen Samaritano in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Francis wraps up his trip to the Central American country on Sunday with a final World Youth Day Mass and a visit to a church-run home for people living with AIDS. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Francis waves from his popemobile as he arrives to celebrate an early morning Mass at the metro park Campo San Juan Pablo II in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Mass marks the formal end to World Youth Day, the once-every-three year religious festival that John Paul launched during his quarter-century pontificate. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Francis spreads incense at the start of an early morning Mass at the metro park Campo San Juan Pablo II in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Mass marks the formal end to World Youth Day, the once-every-three year religious festival that John Paul launched during his quarter-century pontificate. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Youth greet Pope Francis as he arrives in his popemobile in the metro park Campo San Juan Pablo II, in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, to celebrate an early morning Mass. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Youth begin to wake for an early morning Mass after camping out in the metro park Campo San Juan Pablo II, in Panama City, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday before an estimated 700,000 people as he brought World Youth Day to a close in the metro park field. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Under the PSA, a person can be detained up to a period of two years without seeking a formal trial. Srinagar: On Thursday, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that if his party, National Conference (NC), is elected to power with absolute majority in the Assembly, it will repeal the states stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). I assure you and through you I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the day National Conference makes its government on its own, God willing in 2019, within days I will repeal PSA. I am telling you that I will blot it out from the papers forever, Mr Abdullah said while addressing a convention of party workers, functionaries, and delegates at Pulwama in South Kashmir. Under the PSA, a person can be detained up to a period of two years without seeking a formal trial. However, such detentions are subject to periodical reviews by an official screening committee and can be challenged in open courts as well. The law was introduced during the Sheikh Abdullah government in the 1970s, initially to discourage timber smuggling. However, it has often been used by the successive state governments against their political opponents, drawing severe criticism from human rights groups at home and abroad. In 2012, the state legislature amended PSA by relaxing some of its strict provisions. In the case of first-time offenders or individuals, who act against the security of the state for the very first time, the detention period was reduced from two years to six months. However, the option of extending the term of detention to two years was kept open if there was no improvement in the conduct of the detainee. In 2012, my government had mellowed down the PSA by bringing some amendments to it. However, this time I assure you all that if NC comes to power on its own with a strong mandate, we will take no time to revoke the act completely, he said. He also said that he continued to pursue the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) throughout his stint as a chief minister. Ive not given up on the issue. Once in power, I will revive the effort of pursuing the matter with forthcoming Central government as it cant be revoked without its consent, he said. He added that the state has witnessed many handicapped governments in the form of coalitions and it was time to vote to power a single party by the people. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Federal employees are turning on office lights and computers and reopening national parks and museums for the first time in weeks, but others employed by government contractors face still more uncertainty over when they'll resume work or whether they'll ever be paid for time lost to the stalemate over President Donald Trump's border wall. For the hundreds of thousands of people who work for private companies that support government, the future will be decided in part by how quickly federal agencies get running after the record 35-day shutdown, the fine print of contracts and the kindness of strangers. Michelle Oler of St. Louis resorted to online fundraising to pay bills while sidelined from her contracting job processing rural development claims for the Agriculture Department, and she's still unsure when she'll resume work or receive money to compensate for missed paychecks. "The estimate of what I've lost financially due to the shutdown is upwards of $3,500. The anxiety, sleeplessness and depression make it feel like much more," Oler said Sunday in an interview by email. Her GoFundMe page has brought in only $50 so far. Kevin Doyle, a father of three, estimated he's out around $5,000 from his contracting job as an encryption specialist at Laughlin Air Force Base on the Texas-Mexico border. He said he didn't sleep and lost weight during the shutdown as both the stress and the bills piled up. Doyle said he will return to work on Monday, but he starts a new job Friday with another company that he hopes will be more stable if talks fail over Trump's demand for money for a wall and another shutdown begins next month. Park ranger Rhonda Schier, left, welcomes Stanley Gross, 5, his sister Clara Gross, 1, mom Sherri Gross and dad Jared Gross to the Gateway Arch on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in St. Louis, Mo. Sunday was first day the Arch and the Old Courthouse were reopened after the federal government shutdown. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) "We were scraping pennies and nickels together one day to get the baby a Happy Meal," said Doyle, 40. "It's just that bad." The partial government shutdown ended when Trump backed off his demand that Congress commit $5.7 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall before federal agencies could resume work. All or parts of multiple federal agencies were affected, with some employees furloughed and others forced to work without pay. The 800,000 federal workers who were affected will receive back pay, but contractors don't have the same guarantee. Jack Lyons, who was furloughed from his contract job providing technical support at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in north Alabama, didn't miss a paycheck during the shutdown. "I was one of the lucky ones," he said. But Lyons still wonders what will happen when he returns to work Monday in a building near towering stands built to test rockets at the NASA center. "I'll walk in, wipe the dust off the desk and see how management decides to catch up on what we missed," he said Sunday. "Passwords expire and that sort of stuff, so it will just be a matter of making sure you can get in at first." NASA told workers in a message on its website to be patient with laptops, desktop computers and smartphones that haven't been maintained or updated since last month when the shutdown began. Doyle said it could take his family a long time to dig out from under the shutdown's effect. The mortgage and power bills are both two months behind, Doyle said, and he doesn't expect another paycheck before Feb. 28. Doyle's wife can't work because of a back injury, he said, and the family wasn't eligible for food assistance because of past wages. A food bank was out of items by the time they got there, he said. "A worker there gave us a $50 Walmart gift card out of the kindness of her heart," he said. In Missouri, Oler is thankful she moved in with two roommates in early December before the shutdown began. The change dropped her expenses drastically from the $800 a month she was paying for rent, utilities, internet, phone, car insurance and food for her and her cat. Even with smaller bills, though, Oler said she is still looking for a new job because she can't take the stress of working with the government anymore. "While I love being a contractor, I hate the uncertainty that's come with it. This happened to us last year on a smaller scale, but this year's shutdown has me concerned for my future and welfare," she said. SINGAPORE (AP) - A memorial service was held Sunday for a Singaporean actor and soldier who died from injuries at a military exercise, a case that has renewed scrutiny of the tiny Southeast Asian nation's system of mandatory conscription. Reservist Aloysius Pang, 28, was taking part in military training in New Zealand last weekend when he was crushed while repairing an artillery vehicle. He died Thursday after several surgeries. With a population of just 5.6 million people, Singapore sees conscription as a key element of its national security strategy. It requires most men from after the age 18 to serve full-time in its armed forces, police force or civil defense force for two years and after that take part in training obligations for another 10 years. Those who dodge their service are arrested and jailed. Pang is the fourth conscript to die from training since late 2017, leading to calls for more protections for soldiers and greater accountability on the part of the military. Christina Goh was waiting in line to pay her respects Saturday at a memorial that was attended by Pang's family members, politicians and dozens of celebrities before it was opened to thousands of members of the public. She said Pang's case makes her worry about her own 21-year-old son, who is done with his full-time service but will still be called up for the reserves. "A few army boys already have this problem. They will say we will be careful, we will take action," she said of the military. "It's too late." A memorial service for Pang was broadcast online Sunday, with hundreds of thousands of viewers, and a military funeral and cremation were scheduled for later in the day. Pang had completed his full-time service and was an armament technician whose rank was corporal first class. He was known to the public for his roles on Mandarin-language television dramas for which he won several local awards. Pang's death has brought painful memories flooding back for Jasmine Yeo, whose 19-year-old son, Dave Lee, died after collapsing from heat stroke during a march last April. "One by one, this is something that I really did not wish to see. Rest in peace, son of Singapore!" she wrote on Facebook. An independent committee convened by the military found that those who first attended to Lee didn't do enough to cool him down. They were also slow in sending him to the camp's medical center. It also found Lee's platoon had slightly less than the standard seven hours of rest the night before. This was due to unauthorized punishment from higher ups, which included leopard crawls, push-ups and sprints. Lee's captain has been charged with causing death by a rash act. If found guilty, he faces a maximum punishment of five years in jail and a fine. The next hearing is scheduled in February. Six other servicemen also face a military investigation. Yeo said she was still coming to terms with the loss. "I really do not think any of us parents who lost a son would ever have closure," she told The Associated Press. In September 2017, a full-time conscript died after a vehicular accident at a training area in Australia. An inquiry found safety lapses but no negligence or misconduct. The death of another full-time conscript in a vehicle accident during training last November is still being investigated. Singapore's Defense Ministry referred reporters seeking comment on the recent deaths to an armed forces briefing held Thursday. In that briefing, defense forces chief Melvyn Ong said that the armed forces has a "good system" in place and has fully implemented recommendations on improving safety "be it in the areas of heat injuries or be it in the areas of vehicle safety." "I think we don't shirk away from this and we always want to be better," he said, adding that things had improved over "the last couple of incidents." Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said Thursday that the military was "fully assisting" Pang's family. "But I know that no words or deeds can relieve their sorrow or replace their loss. I hope and pray that the passage of time will bring them some comfort," he added, in a post on Facebook. An independent committee was convened by the military to investigate Pang's death. The military will also reduce the length, intensity and frequency of its training programs in the weeks ahead. When he was crushed, Pang was working with two others on the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, a motorized piece of artillery that looks similar to a small tank. Initial findings show that the Howitzer's gun barrel was automatically lowered to let them diagnose a fault. The process takes less than 10 seconds. "It appears from initial findings that Aloysius was unable to get out of the way as the gun barrel was lowered as part of this task," Chief of Army Goh Si Hou told reporters Thursday. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The Latest on International Holocaust Remembrance Day (all times local): 12:05 a.m. Romania's president is giving one of the country's highest honors to eight Romanian Jews who survived the Holocaust and dedicated their lives to keeping the memory of Holocaust victims alive. President Klaus Iohannis said he is awarding the national "Order of Faithful Service" honor to the Holocaust survivors on Monday to "mark their suffering ... and for ... moral attitude they showed during their lives." One of the honorees, 94-year-old Rachel Davidovits was taken from her school in northern Romania and later deported to Auschwitz with her sister and parents. Some 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Roma were deported and killed when the country was run by pro-Nazi dictator Ion Antonescu. A red rose lies on a slab of the Holocaust Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) During the communist era, hundreds of thousands of Romanian Jews emigrated to Israel. ___ 11:25 p.m. A peaceful walk to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in central California was interrupted by a motorist shouting insults against Jews. KSBW-TV reports about 100 people gathered in Salinas on Sunday for the event following a service at the Church of Jesus Christ Temple Philadelphia. The news station reports a man in a black BMW SUV drove by and yelled obscenities and insults against Israel and the Jewish people. The man then circled back and harassed the walkers for a second time before driving off. Nino Macias, who participated in the walk with his son, says days of remembrance are important to teach children about history and the importance of tolerance. Temple Philadelphia says it has been building ties with the Jewish community in Salinas for decades. ___ 5:00 p.m. Italy's right-wing interior minister says it would be "squalor" to compare "serious control of immigration" to the horrors of the Holocaust. League party leader Matteo Salvini tweeted a prayer on International Holocaust Remembrance Day for the "millions of victims of Nazism" so the "murderous folly doesn't repeat itself." Salvini, who refuses to let private aid ships bring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, also used Sunday's observance to defend his government's stance against allowing in more migrants, saying "all civilized countries" were seriously controlling illegal immigration. His "squalor" reference likely was a response to Padua Mayor Sergio Giordani, who said at a remembrance ceremony for local Holocaust victims there was "bone-chilling similarity" between what happened then and the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean. ___ 3:40 p.m. About 50 survivors of Auschwitz have marked the 74th anniversary of the Soviet army's liberation of the notorious Nazi death camp, an event now observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Poland's prime minister and the ambassadors of Israel and Russia attended Sunday's official ceremonies at site of the former camp, where several survivors gave testimony from years of terror at Auschwitz. One recalled the smell of burning flesh upon arrival at the camp. Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, prayed and read out the names of the Nazi German death camps where many of the 6 million Jews - a third of world Jewry - were killed by Adolf Hitler's forces during the Nazi occupation of Europe. Christian and Jewish leaders prayed together near the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria where Auschwitz prisoners were killed. ___ 2 p.m. A new poll has found that one in 20 adults in Britain do not believe the Holocaust took place. The poll of more than 2,000 people released Sunday also found that nearly two-thirds of those polled either did not know how many Jews had been murdered in World War II or greatly underestimated the number killed during the Holocaust. The survey was carried out by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman called the results worrisome. She says "the Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilization and has implications for us all ... such widespread ignorance and even denial is shocking." Sunday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and events are scheduled throughout Britain as well as around the world. Organizers of a ceremony in London say the event also acknowledges the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda and 40 years since the end of genocide in Cambodia. ___ 1:30 p.m. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is warning that the cruelties of the Holocaust shall never be forgotten. Maas writes in an op-ed in weekly Welt am Sonntag that as the last survivors are passing away, the country's youth doesn't have any direct connections to the past and shows an alarming lack of knowledge about the Holocaust. The foreign minister warns that across Europe populists are propagating nationalism and "far-right provocateurs are trying to downplay the Holocaust." Maas writes: "We shall never forget. We shall never be indifferent. We must stand up for our liberal democracy." Germany and many other countries are marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday - 74 years after the Soviet army liberated the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland. Some six million European Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. - This item corrects the anniversary to 74 years, not 75. ___ 12:10 p.m. Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs says 2018 saw a record number of worldwide anti-Semitic attacks in the streets, online and in the political arena. The ministry released its 2018 Global Antisemitism Report on Sunday to coincide with International Holocaust Memorial Day. Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett used the occasion to call on world leaders to "rid your societies of anti-Semitism and take harsh stance against the hatred of Jews." Among the key findings were that 13 Jews were murdered in fatal attacks in 2018, marking the highest number of Jews murdered since the wave of attacks on Argentinian Jews in the 1990s. The report found that around 70 percent of anti-Jewish attacks were anti-Israel in nature and that most of the attacks were led by neo Nazis and white supremacists. ___ 10:30 a.m. A far-right Polish activist is gathering with other nationalists outside the former Auschwitz death camp to protest Poland's government. The man, Piotr Rybak, and about 45 others carrying the national flag hope to enter the Holocaust memorial site to place a wreath on the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp. Rybak accuses the government of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site. That accusation is incorrect. The Auschwitz observances are inclusive and ecumenical, paying homage to all of the camp's victims. The incident comes amid a surge of right-wing extremism in Poland. Most of the 1.1 million people murdered by Nazi German forces at the camp during World War II were Jews. Other victims include Poles, Roma and Soviet prisoners of war. ___ 9 a.m. Former prisoners of Auschwitz have placed flowers at an execution wall at the former Nazi German death camp on the 74th anniversary of the camp's liberation and what is now International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The survivors wore striped scarves that recalled their uniforms, some with the red letter "P," the symbol the Germans used to mark them as Poles. Early in World War II, most prisoners were Poles, rounded up by the occupying German forces. Later, Auschwitz was transformed into a mass killing site for Jews, Roma and others. A ceremony is planned later Sunday near the ruins of the gas chambers to honor the 1.1 million people killed there and all Holocaust victims, one of several worldwide observances. The camp was liberated by Soviet forces on Jan. 27, 1945. A young man stands in front of the Holocaust Memorial after he laid down a red rose on a slab of the memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) A red rose lies on a slab of the Holocaust Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Survivors of Auschwitz gather on the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi German death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. They wore striped scarves that recalled their uniforms, some with the red letter "P," the symbol the Germans used to mark them as Poles. The observances come on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A survivor holds a poster at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, as he attends ceremonies marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A survivor is reflected in the window of a barrack at the site of the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp KL Auschwitz during ceremonies marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners and their guests arrive for the ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners and their guests arrive for the ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners place candles and flowers at the Death Wall marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners place candles and flowers at the Death Wall marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Police stand between anti-fascist protesters and a group of Polish nationalists who want to place a wreath at Auschwitz in honor of Poles murdered by the Germans, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Jan. 27, 2019. The nationalists are led by a far-right activist, Piotr Rybak, who has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of Jew. He calls it an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site. That claim is false. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A Polish far-right activist, Piotr Rybak,right, and other nationalists gather outside the memorial site of Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 27, 2019. Rybak has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of a Jew. He said his gatherings Sunday was an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A Polish far-right activist, Piotr Rybak,right, and other nationalists gather outside the memorial site of Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 27, 2019. Rybak has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of a Jew. He said his gatherings Sunday was an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) In this Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 photo, Holocaust survivor Cipora Feivlovich gives an interview to The Associated Press at her house in Jerusalem. As the world commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, death camp survivor Feivlovich marks her own personal milestone as she turns 92. She's spent her most recent birthdays recounting to audiences in Israel and Germany her harrowing experiences in the infamous camp, where her parents, brother and best friends all perished. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Visitors walk through the cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) An actor of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearse the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Silhouetted against an image of a death camp prisoner, an actress of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearses the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Visitor walks at through the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A cat walks through the cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Silhouetted against an image of a death camp prisoner, an actress of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearses the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) A man walks through the gate of the Sachsenhausen Nazi death camp with the phrase 'Arbeit macht frei' (work sets you free) at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Oranienburg, about 30 kilometers, (18 miles) north of Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AP) - The latest on the deadly mine waste dam collapse in southeastern Brazil (all times local): 9:30 p.m. The Civil Defense office in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has raised the number of confirmed deaths in a dam collapse to 58. More than 300 people are still missing after iron ore waste from a mine that flooded the southeastern city of Brumadinho on Friday. Brazilian officials resumed the search the missing Sunday after briefly suspending it amid fears that a second dam was at risk of breach. Rescue workers say areas of water-soaked mud appear to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. The death toll is expected to rise. Emerson dos Santos stands on the debris of her mother's house in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. Dos Santos' mother was not in the house and survived the tragedy. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) ___ 3:55 p.m. Brazilian officials have resumed the search for hundreds of missing people in the wake of a massive dam collapse, with firefighter crews returning to mud-covered areas after a several-hour suspension over fears that a second dam was at risk of breach. Authorities had evacuated several neighborhoods in the southeastern city of Brumadinho that were within range of the B6 dam owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale. An estimated 24,000 people were told to get to higher ground, but by the afternoon, civil engineers said the second dam was no longer at risk. Authorities on Sunday also lowered the confirmed death toll to 37 from 40, though they did not explain why. And that number is expected to increase as rescue and recovery teams got to the hardest hit areas. ___ 2:05 p.m. Pope Francis is offering prayers and solidarity for the victims of the Brazilian dam collapse. Francis spoke out about the tragedy on Sunday while he was wrapping up a visit to Panama for World Youth Day. In a blessing, Francis appealed for God's mercy for all those who were killed "and at the same time I express my love and spiritual closeness to their relatives and the entire population of Minas Gerais state." Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of the dam collapse that killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. ___ 8:15 a.m. Brazilian officials have suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse amid fears that another dam owned by the same mining company was at risk of breaking as well. Authorities on Sunday are evacuating several neighborhoods in the city of Brumadinho that are within range of the B6 dam. Pedro Ahiara, spokesman for the firefighters in the state of Minas Gerais, says "the risk of a breaking continues." Even before the latest news, hope that loved ones had survived a tsunami of iron ore mine waste from a dam collapse in Brazil was turning to anguish and anger over the increasing likelihood that hundreds of people had died. By Saturday night, when authorities called off rescue efforts until daybreak, the dam collapse toll stood at 40 dead with up to 300 people estimated to be missing. ___ 5:20 a.m. The Israeli military says a search-and-rescue delegation has left for to Brazil to assist the victims of a mining waste dam collapse. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus says a delegation of 130 men and women is on its way Sunday to the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. He says the delegation is expected to stay for a week and will look for survivors after the collapse of a dam holding back mining waste. As of Saturday night, the death toll in the dam collapse stood at 40 dead with up to 300 people estimated to be missing. Conricus says his delegation includes K-9 forces, firefighters and a special underwater unit. The military is responding to an order from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who offered the aid to his close ally, new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. ___ 1 a.m. Hope that loved ones had survived a tsunami of iron ore mine waste from a dam collapse in Brazil was turning to anguish and anger over the increasing likelihood that many of the hundreds of people missing had died. By Saturday night, when authorities called off rescue efforts until day break, the death toll stood at 40 dead with up to 300 people estimated to be missing. Throughout the day, helicopters flew low over areas buried by mud and firefighters worked to get to structures by digging. Sonia Fatima da Silva was among the scores in the city of Brumadinho trying to get information about their relatives. Her son has been a Vale mining company employee for 20 years. She says "I'm angry ... my hope is that they be honest. I want news, even if it's bad." Da Silva said she last spoke to her son before he went to work on Friday, when around midday a dam holding back mine waste collapsed, sending waves of mud for kilometers (miles) and burying much in its path. Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais state, says most recovery efforts now would entail pulling out bodies. A couple with missing relatives look at the flooded area, after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Isamara de Araujo stands inside her partially destroyed house after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) An aerial view shows a partially destroyed house after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) An aerial view shows a partially destroyed house after a dam collapsed, in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Residents Pedro de Jesus Rocha and wife Isamara de Araujo stand outside their partially destroyed house after a dam collapsed, in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Policemen and rescue personnel work at a blocked road after a dam collapsed, in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Searchers flying in helicopters and rescuers laboring in deep mud uncovered more bodies Saturday afternoon near the dam in Brumadinho. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) The mud covers the backyard of a house after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A helicopter takes of carrying a rescued body that was found in the mud, after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A man looks at the mud after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A man looks at the mud next what remains of a market after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A van is seen in half buried in the mud after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Firefighters search tin he mud, after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A destroyed house is seen after a dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) CAIRO (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron aims to speak out stronger than in the past about human rights issues while in Egypt, where France seeks to reinforce strategic ties with a country he considers a key regional partner, he told reporters on Sunday. Heading a large delegation on a three-day trip to the Arab world's most populous country, Macron said he wants to "pursue a truthful dialogue on topics of public freedoms and human rights," an area he feels Egypt has not progressed enough on since he raised it with officials earlier in his mandate. France, which considers itself the birthplace of human rights, has come under pressure by advocates to raise the issue with general-turned-President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, whose human rights record has been widely condemned and is seen as worsening. Macron said that too many people who present no threat to the country were being jailed. "It is on this area of what is happening in Egypt that I will continue to focus things. I will do it more openly during this trip," he said, adding that he considered it in the interest of el-Sissi and Egypt to respect human rights. Macron said he felt the current crackdown on opposition in Egypt, begun after el-Sissi overthrew his elected but divisive Islamist predecessor in 2013, had become worse than under the country's longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. "I think what is happening here sooner or later threatens the stability of Egypt. That's to say, I think that the policies as they are being done are perceived by intellectuals, the Egyptian civil society, as being even stronger than (under) the Mubarak regime," he said. FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, file photo, France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks to military forces as part of his visit to the 11th Brigade of the Paratroopers of the Infantry at Toulouse-Francazal air base, near Toulouse, southern France. Macron aims to speak out stronger than in the past about human rights issues while in Egypt, where France seeks to reinforce strategic ties with a country he considers a key regional partner, he told reporters on Sunday, Jan. 27. (Guillaume Horcajuelo/Pool Photo via AP, File) Macron said he would raise specific names to el-Sissi in a confidential discussion. Aside from heightened public emphasis on human rights, he did not mention raising any new specific levers to try and incentivize el-Sissi. Rights groups and activists have urged France and other Western powers to halt weapons sales to Egypt, a major purchaser, until it shows improvement on the way it treats its own citizenry. But Macron dismissed using such pressure, saying it was important to respect Egypt's sovereignty and not cut it off because that could drive it further into the arms of the West's authoritarian rivals, Russia and China, which el-Sissi has courted. Asked specifically if human rights issues could affect specific arms sales -- such as one under discussion for additional Rafale advanced fighter jets to Egypt, -- Macron said such matters were separate. "I would differentiate between the two subjects, they are not linked for us and they never were." Macron arrived earlier in the day in the country's south, where he visited the famed temple of Abu Simbel and other archaeological sites. He meets el-Sissi on Monday, when he will sign several bilateral accords. His delegation includes government ministers, two dozen representatives from academic, cultural, and scientific fields, and a dozen business leaders -- including the heads of Rafale producer Dassault. Macron will dine with local business leaders and meet the heads of Egypt's Christian and Muslim communities during the trip, his first to Egypt since taking office in 2017. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday amid a revival of hate-inspired violence and signs that younger generations know less and less about the genocide of Jews, Roma and others by Nazi Germany during World War II. As survivors of Auschwitz marked the 74th anniversary of the notorious death camp's liberation, a far-right activist who served time in prison for burning an effigy of a Jew placed a wreath there with about 50 other Polish nationalists to protest the official observances. Piotr Rybak said the group opposes the annual ceremony at Auschwitz to mark the camp's liberation by the Soviet army, the event that gave rise to the international Jan. 27 remembrance. Rybak claimed it glorifies the 1 million Jewish victims killed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death complex and discounts the 70,000 Poles killed there. "It's time to fight against Jewry and free Poland from them!" Rybak said as he marched to the site, according to a report by Polish daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza on its website. Rybak's claim is incorrect. The ceremony at the state-run memorial site paid homage Sunday, as it does every year, to all of the camp's victims, both Jews and gentiles, while Christian and Jewish religious leaders recited a prayer in unison together. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also stressed that the Third Reich targeted Poles as well as Jews. Since last year's observances, an 85-year-old French Holocaust survivor, Mireille Knoll, was fatally stabbed in Paris and 11 Jews were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue during Shabbat services, the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Survivors of Auschwitz gather on the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi German death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. They wore striped scarves that recalled their uniforms, some with the red letter "P," the symbol the Germans used to mark them as Poles. The observances come on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Human Rights First, a U.S. organization, recalled those killings and warned that "today's threats do not come solely from the fringe." "In places such as Hungary and Poland, once proudly democratic nations, government leaders are traveling the road to authoritarianism," said Ira Forman, the group's senior adviser for combating anti-Semitism. "As they do so, they are distorting history to spin a fable about their nations and the Holocaust." Former Auschwitz prisoners placed flowers early Sunday at an execution wall at Auschwitz, paying homage before the arrival of the nationalists at the same spot. They wore striped scarves that recalled their uniforms, some with the red letter "P," the symbol the Germans used to mark them as Poles. Early in World War II, most prisoners were Poles, rounded up by the occupying German forces. Later, Auschwitz was transformed into a mass killing site for Jews, Roma and others, operating until the liberation by Soviet forces on Jan. 27, 1945. In Germany, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned in an op-ed in the weekly Welt am Sonntag that across Europe populists are propagating nationalism and "far-right provocateurs are trying to downplay the Holocaust." "We shall never forget. We shall never be indifferent. We must stand up for our liberal democracy," Maas wrote. Over the past year, Germany has seen a rising number of often violent attacks against Jews carried out by neo-Nazis and Muslims, prompting the government to appoint a commissioner against anti-Semitism and to start funding a national registration office for anti-Semitic hate crimes. The appearance by nationalists at Auschwitz comes amid a surge of right-wing extremism in Poland and elsewhere in the West. It is fed by a broader grievance many Poles have that their suffering during the war at German hands is little known abroad while there is greater knowledge of the Jewish tragedy. However recent surveys show that knowledge of the atrocities during World War II is declining generally. A new study released in recent days by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and the Azrieli Foundation found that 52 percent of millennials in Canada cannot name even one concentration camp or ghetto and 62 percent of millennials did not know that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Its findings were similar to a similar study carried out a year before in the United States. In Britain, a new poll by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust found that one in 20 adults in Britain do not believe the Holocaust took place. The poll of more than 2,000 people released Sunday also found that nearly two-thirds of those polled either did not know how many Jews had been murdered or greatly underestimated the number killed during the Holocaust. "Such widespread ignorance and even denial is shocking," chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said. Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs said in its Global Antisemitism Report released Sunday that 13 Jews were murdered in fatal attacks in 2018, marking the highest number of Jews murdered since a wave of attacks on Argentinian Jews in the 1990s. The report found that around 70 percent of anti-Jewish attacks were anti-Israel in nature and that most of the attacks were led by neo-Nazis and white supremacists. The United Nations recognized Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. ____ Czarek Sokolowski in Oswiecim, Poland, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Gregory Katz in London and Aron Heller in Jerusalem contributed reporting. Polish far-right activists enter the former German Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo) A Polish far-right activist, Piotr Rybak,right, and other nationalists gather outside the memorial site of Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 27, 2019. Rybak has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of a Jew. He said his gatherings Sunday was an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A survivor holds a poster at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, as he attends ceremonies marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners and their guests arrive for the ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki,left, and deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydlo ,right,place candles at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, during on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A Polish far-right activist, Piotr Rybak,right, and other nationalists gather outside the memorial site of Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 27, 2019. Rybak has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of a Jew. He said his gatherings Sunday was an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners place candles and flowers at the Death Wall marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners place candles and flowers at the Death Wall marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Police stand between anti-fascist protesters and a group of Polish nationalists who want to place a wreath at Auschwitz in honor of Poles murdered by the Germans, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Jan. 27, 2019. The nationalists are led by a far-right activist, Piotr Rybak, who has been imprisoned for burning the effigy of Jew. He calls it an act of protest against the Polish government, which he accuses of remembering only Jews and not murdered Poles in yearly observances at the memorial site. That claim is false. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners and their guests arrive for the ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A survivor is reflected in the window of a barrack at the site of the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp KL Auschwitz during ceremonies marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former prisoners place candles and flowers at the Death Wall marking the 74th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Visitor walks at through the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) An unnamed monument at the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A cat walks through the cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A visitor looks at the collection of drawings at the Jewish Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, made by Jewish children who passed through the Terezin Ghetto during WWII. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Visitors walk through the cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The cemetery of the former Nazi concentration camp in Terezin, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Tourists visit the Pinkas synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A unique collection of some 4,500 drawings by children who were interned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust now displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue, still attracts attention even after 75 years since their creation. The drawings depict the everyday life as well hopes and dreams of returning home. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) In this Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 photo, Holocaust survivor Cipora Feivlovich gives an interview to The Associated Press at her house in Jerusalem. As the world commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, death camp survivor Feivlovich marks her own personal milestone as she turns 92. She's spent her most recent birthdays recounting to audiences in Israel and Germany her harrowing experiences in the infamous camp, where her parents, brother and best friends all perished. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Silhouetted against an image of a death camp prisoner, an actress of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearses the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) An actor of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearse the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Actors of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearse the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. Text reads "Sing a song for me - Sing with your soul and from your heart". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Silhouetted against an image of a death camp prisoner, an actress of the Romania's Jewish State Theatre rehearses the musical drama "The Lights of the Ghetto" a mix of music and stories by Holocaust survivors in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, a day before the premiere on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. About 280,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Romanian Roma, or Gypsies, were deported and killed during WWII when Romania was ruled by a pro-nazi regime. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) A young man stands in front of the Holocaust Memorial after he laid down a red rose on a slab of the memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) A red rose lies on a slab of the Holocaust Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) A red rose lies on a slab of the Holocaust Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Nazis in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Survivors of Auschwitz arrive at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp KL Auschwitz II-Birkenau walk to place candles on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors attend a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks at a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AP) - Brazilian rescue crews returned to mud-covered flats Sunday to resume the search for hundreds of people missing in the wake of a dam collapse after the operation was suspended for several hours over fears that a second dam was at risk of breach. The Civil Defense office in Minais Gerais state raised the confirmed death toll to 58, with up to 300 people still missing following the avalanche of iron ore waste from a mine Friday. Earlier Sunday, authorities stopped the search and evacuated several neighborhoods in the southeastern city of Brumadinho that were within range of the second B6 dam owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale. An estimated 24,000 people were told to get to higher ground, but by the afternoon civil engineers said the second dam was no longer at risk. "Get out searching!" a woman yelled at firefighters near a refugee set up in the center of Brumadinho. "They could be out there in the bush." Areas of water-soaked mud appeared to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. Late Sunday, more than 100 Israeli soldiers and other personnel arrived with plans to join rescue and recovery efforts Monday. Even before the brief suspension of rescue efforts, hope that loved ones had survived a tsunami of iron ore mine waste from Friday's dam collapse was turning to anguish and anger over the increasing likelihood that many of the missing had died. Rescue work try to reach a cow that is stuck in a field of mud, two days after a dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) There was also mounting anger at Vale and questions about an apparent lack of an alarm system Friday. Caroline Steifeld, who was evacuated, said she heard warning sirens Sunday, but no such alert on the day the dam collapsed. "I only heard shouting, people saying to get out. I had to run with my family to get to higher ground, but there was no siren," she said, adding that a cousin was still unaccounted for. Several others made similar complaints when interviewed by The Associated Press. In an email, Vale told the AP that the area has eight sirens in the area, but "the speed in which the event happened made sounding an alarm impossible" in the dam that collapsed. "I'm angry. There is no way I can stay calm," Sonia Fatima da Silva said as she tried to get information about her son, who had worked at Vale for 20 years. "My hope is that they be honest. I want news, even if it's bad." Da Silva said she last spoke to her son before he went to work Friday, when around midday a dam holding back mine waste collapsed, sending waves of mud for kilometers (miles) and burying much in its path. She was one of dozens of people in Brumadinho who desperately awaited word on their loved ones. Romeu Zema, the governor of Minas Gerais state, said that by now most recovery efforts will entail pulling out bodies. The flow of waste reached the nearby community of Vila Ferteco and an occupied Vale administrative office. It buried buildings to their rooftops and an extensive field of the mud cut off roads. Some residents barely escaped with their lives. "I saw all the mud coming down the hill, snapping the trees as it descended. It was a tremendous noise," said a tearful Simone Pedrosa, from the neighborhood of Parque Cachoeira, 5 miles (8 kilometers) from where the dam collapsed. Pedrosa, 45, and her parents dashed to their car and drove to the highest point in the neighborhood. "If we had gone down the other direction, we would have died," Pedrosa said. "I cannot get that noise out of my head," she said. "It's a trauma ... I'll never forget." In addition to the dead, 23 people were hospitalized, according to the Minas Gerais fire department. There had been some signs of hope earlier Saturday when authorities found 43 more people alive. For many, hope was evaporating. "I don't think he is alive," said Joao Bosco, speaking of his cousin, Jorge Luis Ferreira, who worked for Vale. "Right now, I can only hope for a miracle." Vanilza Sueli Oliveira described the wait for news of her nephew as "distressing, maddening." "Time is passing," she said. "It's been 24 hours already. ... I just don't want to think that he is under the mud." The rivers of mining waste also raised fears of widespread environmental contamination and degradation. According to Vale's website, the waste is composed mostly of sand and is non-toxic. However, a U.N. report found that the waste from a similar disaster in 2015 "contained high levels of toxic heavy metals." Over the weekend, state courts and the justice ministry in the state of Minas Gerais froze about $3 billion from Vale assets for state emergency services and told the company to report on how they would help the victims. Neither the company nor authorities had reported why the dam failed, but Attorney General Raquel Dodge promised to investigate it, saying "someone is definitely at fault." Dodge noted there are 600 mines in the state of Minas Gerais alone that are classified as being at risk of rupture. Another dam administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton collapsed in 2015 in the city of Mariana in the same state of Minas Gerais, resulting in 19 deaths and forcing hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, it left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded nearby rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Sueli de Oliveira Costa, who hadn't heard from her husband since Friday, had harsh words for the mining company. "Vale destroyed Mariana and now they've destroyed Brumadinho," she said. The Folia de S.Paulo newspaper reported Saturday that the dam's mining complex was issued an expedited license to expand in December due to "decreased risk." Conservation groups in the area alleged that the approval was unlawful. On Twitter, new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said his government would do everything it could to "prevent more tragedies" like Mariana and now Brumadinho. The far-right leader campaigned on promises to jump-start Brazil's economy, in part by deregulating mining and other industries. Environmental groups and activists said the latest spill underscored the lack of environmental regulation in Brazil, and many promised to fight any further deregulation. Marina Silva, a former environmental minister and presidential candidate, said such tragedies should be deemed "heinous crimes," and that Congress should bear part of the blame for not toughening regulations and enforcement. ___ Associated Press writer Marcelo Silva de Sousa reported this story in Brumadinho and AP writer Peter Prengaman reported from Arraial do Cabo, Brazil. AP photographer Leo Correa contributed to this report from Brumadinho. A rescue worker holds rope as he searches for victims after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a Jan. 25 dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Civil firefighter Leoncio Valverdes rescues caged birds and removes them from the area two days after a dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching (AP Photo/Leo Correa) This combo of satellite images provided by DigitalGlobe shows an area northeast of Brumadinho, Brazil on June 2, 2018, top, months before a dam collapsed and covered the area, below, seen on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Brazilian officials suspended the search on Sunday, Jan. 27, for potential survivors of the Jan. 25 dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company, Vale, was also at risk of breaching. (DigitalGlobe, a Maxar company via AP) A volunteer walks next to a partially destroyed home, two days after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Emerson dos Santos stands on the debris of her mother's house in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, with at least nine people dead and up to 300 missing. Dos Santos' mother was not in the house and survived the tragedy. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A rescue worker tries to reach a cow that is stuck in a field of mud, two days after a dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A cow sits stuck after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Brazilian officials on Sunday suspended the search for potential survivors of a Jan. 25 dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) This combo of satellite images provided by DigitalGlobe shows fields and farm homes just northeast of Brumadinho, Brazil on June 2, 2018, top, months before a dam collapsed and covered the area, below, seen on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Brazilian officials suspended the search on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 for potential survivors of the Jan. 25 dam collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another nearby dam owned by the same company, Vale, was also at risk of breaching. (DigitalGlobe, a Maxar company via AP) A couple with missing relatives look at the flooded area, after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Trump sets odds of reaching deal on wall at less than 50-50 WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that the odds congressional negotiators will craft a deal to end his border wall standoff with Congress are "less than 50-50." As hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers prepared to return to work, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he doesn't think the negotiators will strike a deal that he'd accept. He pledged to build a wall anyway using his executive powers to declare a national emergency if necessary. "I personally think it's less than 50-50, but you have a lot of very good people on that board," Trump said in an interview with the newspaper. The president was referring to a bipartisan committee of House and Senate lawmakers that will consider border spending as part of the legislative process. The president's standoff with Democrats on Capitol Hill is far from over and the clock is ticking. The spending bill Trump signed on Friday to temporarily end the partial government shutdown funds the shuttered agencies only until Feb. 15. ___ Search for Brazil dam survivors renews as death toll hits 58 BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AP) - Brazilian rescue crews returned to mud-covered flats Sunday to resume the search for hundreds of people missing in the wake of a dam collapse after the operation was suspended for several hours over fears that a second dam was at risk of breach. The Civil Defense office in Minais Gerais state raised the confirmed death toll to 58, with up to 300 people still missing following the avalanche of iron ore waste from a mine Friday. Earlier Sunday, authorities stopped the search and evacuated several neighborhoods in the southeastern city of Brumadinho that were within range of the second B6 dam owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale. An estimated 24,000 people were told to get to higher ground, but by the afternoon civil engineers said the second dam was no longer at risk. "Get out searching!" a woman yelled at firefighters near a refugee set up in the center of Brumadinho. "They could be out there in the bush." Areas of water-soaked mud appeared to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. Late Sunday, more than 100 Israeli soldiers and other personnel arrived with plans to join rescue and recovery efforts Monday. ___ Trump rollbacks for fossil fuel industries carry steep cost BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - As the Trump administration rolls back environmental and safety rules for the energy sector, government projections show billions of dollars in savings reaped by companies will come at a steep cost: more premature deaths and illnesses from air pollution, a jump in climate-warming emissions and more severe derailments of trains carrying explosive fuels. The Associated Press analyzed 11 major rules targeted for repeal or relaxation under Trump, using the administration's own estimates to tally how its actions would boost businesses and harm society. The AP identified up to $11.6 billion in potential future savings for companies that extract, burn and transport fossil fuels. Industry windfalls of billions of dollars more could come from a freeze in vehicle efficiency standards that will yield an estimated 79 billion-gallon (300 million-liter) increase in fuel consumption. On the opposite side of the government's ledger, buried in thousands of pages of analyses, are the "social costs" of rolling back the regulations. Among them: - Up to 1,400 additional premature deaths annually due to the pending repeal of a rule to cut coal plant pollution. ___ Duterte to visit site of bombings that killed at least 20 JOLO, Philippines (AP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his top security officials are scheduled to visit the southern Philippines where suspected Islamic militants bombed a Catholic cathedral during Sunday Mass, killing at least 20 people. Duterte's office vowed earlier to "pursue to the ends of the earth" the perpetrators of the attack. The president and defense, military and police officials were to visit the scene and meet survivors Monday. The attack occurred in the provincial capital of Jolo island, which has long been troubled by Abu Sayyaf militants, who have carried out years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings and have aligned themselves with the Islamic State group. The SITE Intelligence monitoring group said an IS communique claimed two of its suicide bombers carried out the attack. The claim could not be independently verified. ___ Louisiana murder suspect caught at grandma's Virginia home GONZALES, La. (AP) - A 21-year-old man suspected of killing his parents and three other people - including a girl he was dating - was arrested Sunday when he drove up with a gun to his grandmother's house in Virginia, a sheriff said. On Saturday, Dakota Theriot shot and killed three people - the woman believed to be his girlfriend, her brother and father - in Louisiana's Livingston Parish before taking her father's pickup truck, driving to neighboring Ascension Parish, and shooting his parents, according to authorities. Theriot's grandmother in Warsaw, Virginia, had checked into a hotel Saturday night, fearing he might show up there, Richmond County Sheriff Stephan B. Smith said in a phone interview. The woman asked authorities to check her house Sunday morning to ensure it was safe before she returned. While deputies were there, Smith said, Theriot drove up with a firearm pointed out the window of a pickup. A sheriff's statement said deputies sought cover and challenged Theriot, who then dropped the gun and was arrested without incident. Smith said the pickup Theriot drove apparently was the one taken in Louisiana. In Louisiana, at a trailer where the suspect's parents lived, drops of blood trailed out to the front steps from the bedroom where Keith and Elizabeth Theriot were shot. In the bedroom, blood-soaked pillows were strewn on a bed, and patches of what appeared to be dried blood were on the floor. Dozens of stuffed animals decorated the room. ___ 'Black Panther' wins top honor at SAG Awards, 'Maisel' soars NEW YORK (AP) - "Black Panther" took the top award at Sunday's 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards, giving Ryan Coogler's superhero sensation its most significant awards-season honor yet and potentially setting up Wakanda for a major role at next month's Academy Awards. The two leading Oscar nominees - "Roma" and "The Favourite" - were bypassed by the actors guild for a best ensemble field that also included "BlacKkKlansman," ''Crazy Rich Asians," ''Bohemian Rhapsody" and "A Star Is Born." Although "Black Panther" wasn't nominated for any individual SAG Awards, it took home the final award at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Before a stage full of actors, Chadwick Boseman tried to put into context the moment for the trailblazing "Black Panther," which also won for its stunt performer ensemble. "To be young, gifted and black," he said, quoting the Nina Simone song. "We know what it's like to be told there isn't a screen for you to be featured on, a stage for you to be featured on. ... We know what's like to be beneath and not above. And that is what we went to work with every day," said Boseman. "We knew that we could create a world that exemplified a world we wanted to see. We knew that we had something to give." The win puts "Black Panther" squarely in contention for best picture at the Academy Awards where it's nominated for seven honors including best picture. Actors make up the largest percentage of the academy, so their preferences can have an especially large impact on the Oscar race. In the last decade the SAG ensemble winner has gone on to win best picture at the Academy Awards half of the time. ___ Another week, more UK jockeying over who controls Brexit LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May faces another bruising week in Parliament as lawmakers plan to challenge her minority Conservative government for control of Brexit policy. Amendments designed to change the course of Britain's planned March 29 departure from the European Union escalated the political jockeying. Several would delay the exit or make a Brexit without a divorce deal with the EU impossible. The final lineup to be considered in the House of Commons is not expected to be announced until Tuesday, hours before the next Brexit debate and voting begins. Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said her party would support postponing Brexit day. Sturgeon said the possibility of a second U.K. referendum on leaving the EU was not gaining traction in Parliament because of opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's ambiguous position. ___ Democrats uneasy about potential Howard Schultz bid SEATTLE (AP) - For a businessman who grew a small coffee roaster into an inescapable global chain, who ensured that even his part-time workers had benefits and who has given about $150,000 to Democratic campaigns, former Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz is generating tepid - or even hostile - responses within the party as he weighs a presidential bid in 2020. That's partly because - as Schultz told "60 Minutes" on Sunday - he's considering running as an independent, a prospect many worry could draw support from the eventual Democratic nominee and hand President Donald Trump another four years in office. Among those urging him not to run as an independent are David Axelrod, the former adviser to President Barack Obama, and Tina Podlodowski, the Democratic Party chairwoman in Washington state, where Schultz has lived for decades. "For somebody who is professing to be a lifelong Democrat, I think to be running as in independent in this particular cycle is not a wise thing to do," Podlodowski said. Julian Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development who announced a bid for the Democratic nomination this month, said Sunday on CNN he is concerned that if Schultz did run an independent campaign "it would provide Donald Trump with his best hope of getting re-elected." The 65-year-old Seattle billionaire launches a tour Monday to promote his latest book, "From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." He has stops this week in New York; Tempe, Arizona; Seattle; and San Francisco - but no dates listed for the early voting states of Iowa or New Hampshire. ___ Brokaw says he feels terrible commentary offended Hispanics NEW YORK (AP) - NBC's Tom Brokaw says he feels terrible that his comments on "Meet the Press" Sunday that Hispanics should work harder at assimilation "offended some members of that proud culture." The former "NBC Nightly News" anchor tweeted in response to a social media backlash to what he had said earlier in the day during a discussion of the proposed border wall. On the show, Brokaw said that many Republicans fear the rise of a new constituency in American politics "who will come here and all be Democrats. "Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, (people who say) 'well, I don't know whether I want brown grandbabies,'" he said. "I mean, that's also a part of it. It's the intermarriage that is going on and the cultures that are conflicting with each other." The 78-year-old journalist said he's been saying for a long time that Hispanics need to work harder at assimilation. ___ Rivals Maduro and Guaido vie for Venezuelan military backing CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - The struggle for control of Venezuela turned to the military Sunday, with supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido handing leaflets to soldiers detailing a proposed amnesty law that would protect them for helping overthrow President Nicolas Maduro. At the same time, Maduro demonstrated his might, wearing tan fatigues at military exercises. Flanked by his top brass, Maduro watched heavy artillery fired into a hillside and boarded an amphibious tank. Addressing soldiers in an appearance on state TV, Maduro asked whether they were plotting with the "imperialist" United States, which he accused of openly leading a coup against him. "No, my commander-in-chief," they shouted in unison, and Maduro responded: "We're ready to defend our homeland - under any circumstance." The dueling appeals from the two rivals again put the military center stage in the global debate over who holds a legitimate claim to power in the South American nation. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Prosecutors say they have lodged their first charges against a Brazilian spiritual healer accused by hundreds of sex crimes. The charge brought Thursday in the town of Abadiania accuses Joao Teixeira de Faria of sexual violation through fraud, though a judge has yet to confirm the charge. Hundreds of people have accused the man known as John of God of sexual abuse or rape, and he surrendered to authorities on Sunday. Some of those coming forward say the crimes took place when they were children. They include his daughter De Faria became an international celebrity from his base in rural Brazil. Police say the investigations are complicated by the fact that many of the cases took place years ago. Current law gives victims six months to report cases of abuse. Moroccans attend a vigil for the two murdered Scandinavian women, outside the Danish embassy in Rabat on December 22, 2018 A Spanish-Swiss man suspected of having ties to those accused of murdering two Scandinavian women hiking in Morocco will appear in court on Monday, his lawyer has told AFP. "After the preliminary hearing, there will be a more detailed hearing, which will be longer, with more detailed questions, the suspect's lawyer Saad Sahli said Friday. Other suspects will also be present at the court house in Sale, near the Moroccan capital Rabat, said Sahli who represents the other defendants too. Moroccan authorities have charged more than 20 people over their alleged involvement in the killing of the two hikers whose bodies were found on December 17. Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead south of Marrakesh in a trekking area popular with foreign tourists. The two women were beheaded in what authorities say was a "terrorist" act. A video showing the killing of one of the hikers was circulated online and sparked outrage in Morocco. The Spanish-Swiss suspect, who was arrested in Marrakesh, subscribed to "extremist ideology", the authorities allege. He is accused of having "taught certain people arrested in this affair the communication tools of new technologies and of having trained them to shoot," according to the anti-terror unit of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ). Investigators say the Spanish-Swiss suspect was involved in "recruitment operations and the indoctrination of Moroccan citizens and sub-Saharan Africans to execute terrorist plans in Morocco." Moroccan media have said a Swiss-British man has also been arrested as part of the probe, although the BCIJ has not confirmed the reports. The authorities allege that the four main suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group, but say they were not in direct contact with IS members in Iraq or Syria. Morocco, which relies heavily on tourism income, suffered a jihadist attack in 2011, when a bomb blast at a cafe in Marrakesh's famed Jamaa El Fna Square killed 17 people, mostly European tourists. An attack in the North African state's financial capital Casablanca killed 33 people in 2003. In a series of tweets, he questioned whether the attachment of his assets in the case was fair or not. On January 5, Vijay Mallya became the first Indian businessman to be declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court in Mumbai. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya took to Twitter early on Friday to criticise CBIs action to attach his assets in the fraud and money laundering case. In a series of tweets, he questioned whether the attachment of his assets in the case was fair or not. The DRT Recovery Officer recently attaches my Group assets worth over 13,000 crores in India on behalf of the Consortium of Banks. Yet the narrative is that I ran away with the claimed amount of 9000 crores causing loss to the Public Sector Banks. Where is Justice or fair play?, Vijay Mallya wrote in his first tweet. Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT recovery officer. Value already crossed 13,000 crores. Banks claim dues including all interest of 9,000 crores which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond? Justified??, he questioned in his second tweet. And despite all the attachments in India, Banks have given an open licence to their Lawyers in England to pursue multiple frivolous litigations against me. Who is accountable for spending Public money on Legal fees in such a brazen manner ? Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 1, 2019 And finally, the Banks Lawyers in England have objected in writing to my paying my legitimate tax dues to HMRC which I requested. Irony is Indian State Banks want my money in England to settle an Indian debt already secured and deny payment to the U.K. tax exchequer. Disgraceful. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 1, 2019 On January 5, Vijay Mallya became the first Indian businessman to be declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court in Mumbai. Local media reports said the pilots tried to eject but were caught in flames as the plane exploded Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed Friday when their French-built Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed minutes after take-off. The single-engine jet fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation was on a test flight after an upgrade carried out by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). "Both occupants sustained fatal injuries... Investigation into the cause of accident is being ordered," the defence ministry said in a statement. Local media reports said the pilots tried to eject but were caught in flames as the plane exploded at the HAL airport in the southern city of Bangalore. No one was hurt on the ground. India had signed a $2.4 billion deal with France in 2011 to upgrade 51 Mirage 2000 fighters, which were purchased in the mid-1980s, with new electronic warfare systems and radar. Last week, the Economic Times daily said the upgrade of the multi-role aircraft had been hit by production delays on part of HAL. Crashes involving fighter planes are not uncommon in India which is in the midst of upgrading its Soviet-era military. Most of the accidents involve the MiGs that India bought decades ago from the Soviet Union, earning it the unflattering "flying coffin" tag. Last July, the pilot of an MiG-21 jet died after the fighter jet crashed in northern Himachal Pradesh state. India is investing billions of dollars in modernising its air force as fears grow over increasing cooperation between its arch-rival Pakistan and China. New Delhi has signed a contract to purchase 36 Dassault Rafale fighters from France for $8.8 billion. The jets are expected to be delivered later this year. A US military vehicle drives through the Syrian village of Baghouz in eastern Deir Ezzor province on January 26, 2019 The Islamic State group's once-sprawling "caliphate" has been reduced to a four-square-kilometre pocket of territory in eastern Syria, a senior Kurdish commander said Monday. With support from a US-led military coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are in the final stages of an assault launched more than four months ago against the jihadists' last bastion. A dwindling number of IS fighters, led mostly by Iraqi commanders, are now defending only a handful of hamlets in the Euphrates Valley, SDF commander Heval Roni said. "Geographically speaking, there are only four square kilometres left under IS control, stretching from Baghouz to the Iraqi border," he told AFP in the Baghouz area. "There are some high-ranking IS leaders among them... but we don't know who exactly," said Heval Roni, who heads SDF operations in the area. The SDF is a Kurdish-led force that also includes Arab fighters from the region and which has spearheaded the fight against IS in Syria since it was formed in 2015. The commander said he had no information about IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is believed to still be alive and is the world's most wanted man. In an interview to AFP last week, the top commander of the SDF said that the battle was winding up but that his forces would need about a month to assert full control over the area and declare victory. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,200 jihadists and around half as many SDF fighters have been killed since the start of the offensive on September 10. The Britain-based monitoring group says more than 400 civilians have also perished, many of them killed by coalition air strikes. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (L) meets with Central African Republic's Prime Minister Mathieu Simplice Sarandji in 2017 The prime minister of Central African Republic led a rally of around 3,000 people on Monday calling for a global arms embargo to be lifted ahead of a UN meeting later this week. The mineral-rich country, wracked by ethnic and religious conflict since 2013, has been subject to a UN Security Council arms and ammunition embargo for the past five years. Speaking on a podium in Bangui's central Place des Martyrs, Prime Minister Mathieu Simplice Sarandji said: "This is a lock that deserves to be opened, this is an embargo which strikes our defence and security forces." "The government respects the embargo while armed groups receive weapons! The people of Central African Republic can not understand this law of double standards," he said to cheers from the crowds in the capital. The UN Security Council will on Thursday decide whether to renew the embargo, which bans weapon supplies to the country unless approved by a UN sanctions committee. The authorities in Bangui have repeatedly called on the UN to lift the embargo. The sanctions are aimed at ensuring imported weapons do not end up in the hands of militias in the corruption-prone country. The committee has previously approved shipments of weapons from France and Russia but Chinese weapons deliveries have been blocked. A UN report last year said "the recent acquisition of arms by the government has prompted factions" of militias to rearm. Several protesters on Monday blamed UN Security Council member France for maintaining the embargo. "We have soldiers who no longer work because of the embargo. It's because of France," said demonstrator Pierre. "Only the army can ensure the security of CAR. We want Central African Republic to regain its sovereignty, we want the total lifting of the embargo," said another protester, Fiacre. One of the world's poorest nations, Central African Republic has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organised vigilante units dubbed "anti-Balaka" in reference to the balaka machetes used by Seleka rebels. Thousands of people have died in the violence, 700,000 been internally displaced and another 570,000 have fled abroad. French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the presidential palace in Cairo French President Emmanuel Macron met Monday with his Egyptian counterpart President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo aiming to raise concerns over human rights and boost ties between their countries. The two leaders were to oversee the signing of around 30 deals between Egypt and France worth several hundred million euros (dollars). Shortly after his arrival in Egypt on Sunday, Macron said he would talk "more openly" with Sisi on human rights. "Things have got worse since October 2017" when Sisi visited Paris, said Macron, referring to the human rights situation in the North African country. Sisi's government is seen by Egyptian civil society as "more hardline than the regime of (Hosni) Mubarak", he said, referring to the longtime president who was deposed in 2011. "My line is: Stability and respect for sovereignty. But what is happening here threatens" Egypt's stability, Macron said. Macron had said in 2017 during Sisi's visit to Paris that he would not "lecture" Egypt on human rights. Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was handed the death penalty at a one-day retrial two weeks ago, upping the tension in a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing A Canadian sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking likely appealed the ruling Monday, his lawyer said, in a case that has further strained relations between Ottawa and Beijing. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, was handed the death penalty at a one-day retrial two weeks ago after a high court decided that his previous 15-year sentence was not harsh enough given the severity of his crime. The ruling dramatically raised the stakes in China's diplomatic row with Canada sparked by the arrest in Vancouver of a top Chinese telecom executive. Schellenberg said during a consular visit last week that he planned to submit his appeal to the northeastern Liaoning High Court, his lawyer Zhang Dongshuo told AFP. "Today (Monday) is the deadline... so based on what he previously told us, he's likely to have submitted the appeal," said Zhang, who has to wait to be notified by the court to know if the paperwork was filed. Schellenberg is likely to lose the appeal and the case will go to the Supreme People's Court where it could languish for years, experts say. - 'Too many unknowns' - China says that he was a key member of an international drug trafficking syndicate which in 2014 planned to ship some 222 kilogrammes of methamphetamine to Australia hidden in plastic pellets in rubber tyres. Schellenberg claims that he was visiting China as a tourist and had chosen the industrial port city of Dalian, where he was unwittingly swept up in a drug smuggling ring by a Chinese man recommended as a translator. In the retrial earlier this month, prosecutors painted him as having especially flown in to oversee the drug shipment, visiting warehouses and hardware shops instead of the usual tourist sights. Canada has urged China to grant clemency to Schellenberg. The case comes amid a clash between Ottawa and Beijing over the arrest of Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou, who was detained in Vancouver on request of the United States, which says she violated American sanctions on Iran. In a move observers see as retaliation, Chinese authorities detained two other Canadian citizens -- a former diplomat and a business consultant -- on suspicion of endangering national security. Over the weekend, the row led to Canada's ambassador to China getting sacked after he suggested it would be "great" for Ottawa to release Meng. Even if the upper court in Liaoning upholds the death sentence, it would need to be confirmed by the Supreme People's Court in Beijing, said Margaret Lewis, a law professor at Seton Hall University. There are no time limits for how long this can take, and there are points during which the case can stall, including having the sentence downgraded to a suspended death sentence, she added. "There are simply too many unknowns at this point to assess with any certainty how events will play out from here. "The case is formally in the courts' hands, but it is highly politicised," she said. The Briton was arrested at Hurghada airport when customs officers found almost 300 Tramadol pills in her luggage A British woman convicted in Egypt of smuggling painkillers has been granted early release after spending more than a year in prison, an Egyptian security source said Monday. Laura Plummer, 34, was arrested at Hurghada airport and sentenced in December 2017 to three years in prison after customs officers found almost 300 Tramadol pills in her luggage. She was among a number of prisoners granted a presidential pardon after having served a third of her sentence, said the source at the Egyptian prison authority. "Procedures for her release were completed yesterday (Sunday)," he added. Tramadol, a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain, is tightly controlled in Egypt where it is often abused as a recreational drug. The painkiller is dispensed on prescription in Britain. Since her arrest, Plummer and her relatives maintained that she was unaware of Egypt's restrictions on the drug and that she was bringing the painkillers for her Egyptian partner who suffered from back pain. There was no immediate confirmation from Britain of Plummer's pardon. "Our staff continue to do all they can to support Laura and her family, and our embassy remains in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said. Yazidi woman Ashwaq Haji, allegedly used by the Islamic State group (IS) as a sex slave, holds portraits of jihadists' victims from her village as she visits the Lalish temple, in Lalish, northern Iraq, on August 15, 2018 The longtime head of the world's Yazidis, a minority whose Iraqi community was ferociously targeted by the Islamic State group, has died in Germany after a long illness, officials said Monday. Prince Tahseen Said Ali died in the KRH Siloah hospital in Hanover at the age of 85, according to the head of the Iraqi Kurdish region's head of Yazidi affairs, Khairi Buzani. Born in 1933 in Iraq's northwest Sheikhan district, he was appointed head of the Yazidis at age 11 after the death of his father, who was the previous emir. He later moved to Germany, home of the biggest expatriate Yazidi community. "He will be buried in the coming days in Iraqi Kurdistan," said Iraqi Yazidi parliamentarian Vian Dakhil. Dakhil told AFP that before dying, Prince Tahseen had appointed his son, Hazem, to succeed him. Iraqi officials, including Finance Minister Fuad Hussein and the Kurdistan region's prime minister Nechirvan Barzani, sent condolences to the prince's family on Monday. The Yazidi faith emerged in Iran more than 4,000 years ago and is rooted in Zoroastrianism, over time integrating elements of Islam and Christianity. With no holy book and organised into castes, Yazidis pray to God facing the sun and worship his seven angels -- first and foremost Melek Taus, or Peacock Angel. Of the world's 1.5 million Yazidis, around 550,000 were living in the remote corners of northern Iraq, where their holiest site Lalish lies and where Prince Tahseen was born. In 2014, the Islamic State group rampaged across northern Iraq and seized the Yazidi bastion of Sinjar, near the border with Syria. IS fighters slaughtered thousands of Yazidi men and boys, then abducted women and girls to be abused as "sex slaves". The brutal assault pushed around 360,000 of the Kurdish-speaking Yazidis to flee to other parts of Iraq, including the Kurdish region, in addition to another 100,000 who left the country altogether. The United Nations has said IS's actions could amount to genocide, and is investigating the jihadist group's atrocities across Iraq. The Yazidi cause has found a powerful symbol in Nadia Murad, a former IS abductee from Sinjar who escaped and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against sexual violence. Murad visited Iraq's Yazidi heartland of Sinjar last month, as well as Baghdad and the Kurdish regional capital of Arbil, to draw attention to the plight of thousands of abducted Yazidi girls who are still missing. Comorian President Azali Assoumani inists the March 24 election will be transparent Comoros President Azali Assoumani has denied targeting his opponents in the run-up to March elections, calling the detention of numerous opposition members in the Indian Ocean nation as "unfortunate coincidences". Assoumani, who first came to power in a 1999 coup, insists the March 24 vote will be transparent, putting the impoverished islands on the path to becoming an emerging economy by 2030. That's despite widespread criticism from international monitors over a referendum last year on constitutional changes which could allow him to remain in power until 2029. As for his opponents: "No opposition figure can say they were arrested because they spoke. There are no political arrests in the Comoros," Assoumani told AFP in an interview during a private visit to Paris. Several opposition politicians have been tried and convicted by the former French colony's courts in recent months. Ex-president Ahmed Abdallah Sambi is under house arrest for fraud and corruption, and the head of his Juwa party, Hassane Ahmed el-Barwane, was sentenced in December to seven years in prison for assaulting a soldier. Comorian President Azali Assoumani faces widespread criticism from international monitors over a referendum last year on constitutional changes which could allow him to remain in power until 2029 Four others, including former vice-president Djaffar Said Ahmed Hassane, who has fled to Tanzania, have also been sentenced to hard labour for life for plotting against the state and endangering national security. "Our leaders are being arrested or hounded," a senior member of Juwa told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Assoumani brushed aside the arrests as "unfortunate coincidences". He insisted the judiciary operated independently in the Sunni Muslim nation, which has been undergoing an exodus to the neighbouring French-run island of Mayotte. "I challenge any judge to say that they were acting on a call from President Azali," he said of the opposition arrests. - Ten more years? - This is the second spell in power for 61-year-old Assoumani, who after the coup was elected to a four-year-term in 2002 and then returned in 2016. President Azali Assoumani shakes hands as he arrives to vote during a referendum last July which supposedly gave him 93 percent public backing for changing the constitution to allow Comoros presidents to hold two consecutive terms Last year's referendum supposedly gave him 93 percent public backing for changing the constitution to allow Comoros presidents to hold two consecutive terms. But the vote was boycotted by the opposition, and observers cast serious doubt over the official turnout of nearly 63 percent. The presidency will continue to change hands between the three islands that make up the Comoros -- Grand Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli -- but every 10 years, instead of every five. The changes could potentially allow Assoumani to stay in power for a further decade. That might well worry his opponents, but he insists the changes can only be a good thing for the "unity of the country". Under the new system, all citizens will be able to vote from the first round of presidential elections, rather than this being reserved for residents of the island holding the presidency. Comoros' President Azali Assoumani is inviting observers to monitor the presidential vote in March Anxious to give credibility to the elections after the controversial referendum, Assoumani is inviting observers to monitor the presidential vote. "The campaign starts on February 24 and we must have observers in place to inform us of any errors that need correcting," he said. The Comoros have notably asked the African Union and the world body of French-speaking nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, to send monitors. - 'I won't be beaten' - Assoumani insists that things don't always go his way. "I was elected in 2002 and when I left in 2006, my candidate didn't win," he said. But if he loses in March, would he accept the result? "I won't be beaten," he laughed. "I am confident, the Comorians are not ingrates -- they know what we have been putting in place in any number of sectors," he said. "We are developing infrastructure: the roads; we have a project to build an autonomous deep-water port in Anjouan; there is a contract to make a decent international airport for Moroni," the capital. The sun sets over Moroni, capital of the Comoros archipelago, where President Azali Assoumani says there is a contract to build a new airport His government has signed contracts with the United Arab Emirates to develop solar energy, a sector Assoumani is keen to develop, along with fishing. His objective is to speed up development of the Comoros, notably to put a brake on the wave of departures towards wealthier Mayotte, which chose to remain part of France after Comoros declared independence in 1974. Mayotte sends home 18,000 to 22,000 Comorians every year -- an issue that riles Assoumani, who is pushing for Comorians to be allowed visit the neighbouring island visa-free. "We consider Mayotte as Comorian under international law. It is very difficult for us to see Comorians sent home from Mayotte as if they were illegal immigrants, as if they were foreigners," said Assoumani. The Comoros have had a tumultuous history, marked by 20 attempted or successful coups since independence from France in 1975. And the Mayotte issue has embittered relations with Paris. Assoumani insists he wants to "prioritise dialogue" with France, with a deal to soothe relations currently under negotiation. At a desert outpost held by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near the Iraqi border, trucks stream in carrying men, women and children who have fled the shrinking last bastion of the Islamic State group A hesitation on a simple question or a callus on a trigger finger -- it doesn't always take much for US-backed forces to spot potential jihadists hiding among fleeing civilians. At a desert outpost held by the Syrian Democratic Forces near the Iraqi border, trucks stream in carrying men, women and children from he ever-shrinking last bastion of the Islamic State group. "Men over here, women on the other side," one SDF member calls out, ushering those who have fled into orderly lines near the frontline village of Baghouz. Men queue up in front of an SDF official, who registers each new arrival. He records each man's fingerprints with a small digital reader, takes their photo, and jots down their name and nationality. Opposite him, a man with a thick beard stutters when he is asked his country of origin. He fumbles for words, then answers: "Iraq". He is passed on to a colleague from the SDF special forces, who then ferries him on to a third investigator for even more questions. People who fled battles between Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State group fighters in the Syrian village of Baghouz arrive at an SDF outpost after crossing a desert by truck After they are interrogated, the men are then led to the side, where they sit on the ground in crowded, neat lines, an identical distance between them. "Sometimes you feel you have an IS fighter in front of you from the way he speaks or when he hesitates to reply," an interrogator tells AFP. "Or if you find traces on his hands that show extensive use of a trigger, or on his shoulders from carrying a cartridge pouch," he says, asking to remain anonymous for his security. - 'Scared' - People who have fled the shrinking jihadist last bastion in eastern Syria go through a strict screening process at an outpost of US-backed forces who see to weed out jihadists from civilians Members of the US-led international coalition backing the SDF stroll around the area, but it is not immediately clear what their role is in the screening process. Backed by coalition air strikes, the SDF have since September pressed a battle to expel IS from the last shred of the "caliphate" they proclaimed in 2014. The Kurdish-led alliance has whittled down that pocket to just a few hamlets in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, sending thousands of people fleeing. Some 32,000 people have escaped into SDF-held territory since early December, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They included more than 2,700 IS jihadists, the Britain-based war monitor says. Among the new arrivals in the desert, another bearded man stands in line waiting to be assessed. He says he stayed behind when his family fled a week earlier: "I was scared I'd be detained." But his family encouraged him to leave after they reached a Kurdish-held camp for IS relatives in Syria's northeast. "They told me, 'Come. Nothing will happen to you,'" he says. In their own section, women too are searched and screened. Female SDF fighters lift up the black face veil of each new arrival to see their face and inspect their scant belongings. When they encounter a woman who is neither Syrian nor Iraqi -- an "immigrant", they say -- they also record her fingerprints and take her photo. - 'Slaughter you' - A man covered in dust gestures as people who fled battles between Syrian Democratic Forces and fighters from the Islamic State group in the Syrian village of Baghouz at an SDF post by truck after crossing a desert After being vetted, women, children, and men not suspected of belonging to the extremist group are transported north to the Kurdish-run camp of Al-Hol. "The aim of this security operation is to know who the displaced are," says Mohammed Suleiman Othman, an official in charge of their transfer. "Are they civilians, or fighters hiding" among them? Among the women waiting, several said a baby died during the night from the cold and had to be buried. Two women, they say, gave birth in the open. A truck draws up and they all rush towards it. SDF fighters have arrived to distribute bread. Sitting on the ground, Amina Hajj Hassan, 28, says she fled Baghouz with her five-year-old-son after most of the village came under SDF control. Tens of thousands of people have escaped into territory held by the US-backed SDF forces in Syria from jihadist-held territory since December according to a war monitor Her husband -- a "modest employee" of the jihadist group -- fled five months ago, says the young Syrian woman from the northern province of Aleppo. He made it to Turkey where he now works, she says. "I wanted to leave when the bombardment... started months ago, but they told us: 'The Kurds will slaughter you'." Next to her, Noura al-Ali says she is wracked with worry after her husband was detained, though "not one day" did he join IS. "He worked at a restaurant," says the 18-year-old, also from Aleppo province. "I used to listen to music in secret," she adds, whereas IS forbade it. Her only wish is "to go with my husband to join our family in Turkey". US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has hailed 'significant progress' in finding a solution to end Afghanistan's long-running war Afghanistan said on Monday it has been reassured by Washington that progress in talks with the Taliban remains geared towards facilitating peace negotiations with the government in Kabul. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Afghanistan late Sunday to update officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, on six days of talks with Taliban representatives in Qatar. Both the US and the Taliban have cited "progress" as hopes rise that the unprecedented length of the negotiations could mean a deal paving the way to Afghan peace talks may be in sight, although sticking points remain. But Afghan authorities have previously complained of being excluded from the discussions, and warned that any deal between the US and the Taliban would require Kabul's endorsement. "The US insisted in their talks with the Taliban that the only solution for lasting peace in Afghanistan is intra-Afghan talks," Khalilzad said, according to a statement released by the presidential palace in Kabul. "My role is to facilitate" such talks between the insurgents and Kabul, Khalilzad said according to Ghani, adding that the discussions are ongoing. The Taliban have long refused to negotiate with the Afghan government, branding them as "puppets". The palace said Khalilzad also confirmed that no agreement had been made on the withdrawal of foreign troops, adding that any such decision would be coordinated and discussed in detail with the Afghan government. The Taliban have insisted on the withdrawal of foreign troops, and US President Donald Trump's clear eagerness to end America's longest war has weighed on the negotiations. On Saturday Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that until a withdrawal timetable is decided progress on other issues is "impossible". The palace's statement also said Khalilzad denied reports that the issue of an interim government had been raised, and that the US and the Taliban had agreed on a timetable for a US withdrawal and a ceasefire. "We have discussed a ceasefire with the Taliban, but there is no progress so far," Khalilzad said, according to the statement. Speculation of an interim government is "absolutely wrong", he added, saying there were no discussions about the future government in the talks with the Taliban. Afghans have expressed tentative hopes about the talks tempered by fears about an American exit, with Afghan security forces taking staggering losses, the government facing election upheaval, and civilians paying a disproportionate price after nearly two decades of bloodshed. The Taliban and US officials have agreed to continue negotiations, though no date has been publicly announced. The comments by the President come against the backdrop of the attack on the govt by the Congress and other opposition parties over agrarian distress. New Delhi: Highlighting various achievements of the NDA Government just weeks before the Lok Sabha polls, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that it has worked to build a New India after assuming power in 2014 and infused new hope when the nation was passing through uncertain times. Addressing a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, Mr Kovind said the government is attempting to find permanent solutions for problems faced by farmers, amid speculation over an announcement of a farm relief package in the Interim Budget to be unveiled on Friday. During his over 60-minute address in the Central Hall of Parliament, the President spoke on issues ranging from Rafale jet deal and 10 per cent reservation for the general category poor to the triple talaq legislation, the Citizenship Amendment Bill and the state of economy. Mr Kovind described the 10 per cent quota as historic. Referring to the controversial Rafale jet deal with France over which the Congress has targeted the government, Kovind said the Indian Air Force will welcome the ultra-modern fighter aircraft in the coming months to strengthen its strike capability after a gap of many decades. The mention of Rafale as well as the 2016 surgical strikes carried out on terror launch pads across the border was greeted by thumping of desks by the treasury benches. Through the surgical strike on cross border terror posts, India has shown its new policy and strategy, the President said. Addressing problems faced by farmers, who, the President called are the foundation of the economy, he recounted the governments commitment to doubling their income by 2022 and listed measures taken during its tenure. On behalf of this august House, I compliment our annadata farmers. My government is striving day and night to attain the goal of doubling farmers income. Under-standing the needs of farmers, the government is seeking to find permanent solutions to their problems, he said. The comments by the President come against the backdrop of the attack on the government by the Congress and other opposition parties over agrarian distress. Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Bill that has triggered protests in the Northeast, Kovind said it will give justice to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan through Indian nationality. He said the NDA government was mindful of the prevalence of injustice and deprivation in the society and has been working towards reforming the legal system so as to ensure social and economic justice. Touching upon the state of economy, Kovind said Indias contribution to global economy has increased from 2.6 per cent in 2014 to 3.3 per cent in 2017 on the back of high growth rate during the last four and a half years. He said the countrys GDP has been growing at a rate of 7.3 per cent on an average, making India the sixth largest economy in the world, adding that this is an opportune moment for the country to play a decisive role in the fourth industrial revolution. Describing demonetisation as a defining moment in the NDA governments war on corruption, Kovind said it had struck at the very root of the parallel economy which was thriving on black money. On Jammu and Kashmir, he said the government was committed to equitable development of the three regions of the state -Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - and has created a favourable environment for it. Approvals for works costing over Rs 66,000 crore out of Rs 80,000 crore package have been given by the government for development in the border state, he said, asserting the government to committed to the states growth. On the Rafale issue, the President said the government believes that neglecting the countrys defence needs even for a moment is detrimental to the present as well as future of the country. After a gap of many decades, the Indian Air Force is preparing to welcome, in the coming months, its new generation ultra-modern fighter aircraft Rafale and strengthen its strike capability, he said. Trevor, a mallard, was dubbed the "loneliest duck in the world" after being blown onto isolated Niue island from New Zealand during a Pacific Storm A lone duck named Trevor that lived on the tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has died, officials say, sparking an outpouring of grief from as far away as New Zealand. The celebrity mallard found fame last year after a visiting journalist from New Zealand discovered that his makeshift home, near a puddle, was used for directions. But his 15 seconds of fame were tragically cut short when he was "seen dead in the bush after being attacked by dogs" this weekend, a Facebook page dedicated to Trevor said. The chief executive of the Niue Chamber of Commerce, Rae Findlay, said it was a "sad time for Niue". "He captivated the locals, of which there are only 1,600 in Niue, and the 9,000 visitors to Niue each year," Findlay told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sunday. "He will definitely be missed, he captured many hearts and even the rooster, the chicken and the weka were looking a little forlorn today wandering around the near-dry puddle." Niue, a tiny speck of land, lies around 2,400 kilometres (1,500 miles) northeast of New Zealand. One of the world's biggest coral islands, Niue does not have natural ponds or wetlands, so when Trevor turned up a year ago he was believed to have blown in from New Zealand with a storm. He quickly settled down in a large puddle near a road that the Niue fire service later topped up with water, the ABC reported. He became so famous locally that when the New Zealand Herald's deputy political editor Claire Trevett visited the island nation, she found he had been incorporated into street directions. "Someone said, 'Turn right past the duck' and then the whole story came out, the only duck on Niue," she told the ABC. He was later dubbed the "world's loneliest duck" for his solitary existence. Trevor Mallard, the speaker of New Zealand's House of Representatives after whom the late duck was named, offered his condolences. "Deepest sympathy to the people of Niue from the Parliament of New Zealand," Mallard wrote on the duck's Facebook death notice. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 on a pledge to tackle corruption Nigeria's government has denied suggestions that the suspension of the country's top judge on corruption charges was linked to the upcoming election. President Muhammadu Buhari replaced Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen on Friday, sparking claims he had breached the constitution and was trying to manipulate the judiciary. The European Union, Britain and the United States each issued statements at the weekend expressing concern at the development, as elections are due on February 16. But Buhari's spokesman said late on Sunday that there was no connection. "In Nigerian law there is no such linkage," Garba Shehu said in a statement. "The CJN does not run the election. Nor is he the first arbiter of any electoral complaints. "He and the Supreme Court will only get involved as the final arbiter at the end of the appellate process... "To link the CJN to the elections in this way is illogical unless they assume that election complaints will be filed and go all the way to the Supreme Court." Shehu's statement was his second against the EU, Britain and the United States, which are all scheduled to have election monitors on the ground. His later comments were more conciliatory in tone than the first, in which the government rejected outside "interference" and said the issue was an internal matter. Onnoghen is accused of failing to declare foreign currency bank accounts, in breach of rules governing the declaration of assets by public officials. Shehu maintained Onnoghen's position was "untenable" given the case against him and the president was forced to act because the judge had not stepped down voluntarily. The suspension was temporary until the conclusion of the case, he added. Political opponents of Buhari have questioned the timing of the charges against Onnoghen so close to elections at which Buhari is seeking a second term of office. The 76-year-old Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress, came to power in 2015 on a pledge to tackle corruption. International and domestic observers have already warned that the two main parties may attempt to rig the vote, in what is expected to be a close race. The main opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar said Buhari's suspension of Onnoghen was "a brazen act of dictatorship" in a clear reference to his army past. Buhari headed a military government in the 1980s. Parliament has been recalled on Tuesday to discuss the suspension. A handout picture provided by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra on January 20, 2019 shows Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah addressing a regional economic summit in the Lebanese capital Beirut Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah offered to resign on Monday, as president Mahmud Abbas seeks to form a new government. The moves by Abbas are seen as part of attempts to further isolate his political rivals Hamas as a decade-long split in Palestinian politics deepens. Hamdallah has "put his government at the disposal of President Mahmud Abbas", the prime minister's spokesman Yussef al-Mahmud said in a statement. The premier later confirmed the offer during a visit to the southern West Bank city of Hebron, but denied a new government was an attempt to squeeze Hamas. "We hope that all Palestinian factions will participate in this (new) government and I appeal to the Hamas movement to participate," he said. It came after the central committee of Abbas's Fatah movement recommended late Sunday the formation of a new government that would comprise members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). The Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, is not part of the PLO. Palestinian politics has essentially been paralysed since 2007, when Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas's forces in a near civil war, a year after winning parliamentary elections. Since then Abbas's governments have maintained limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, while Hamas has led a rival government in Gaza. The division between the Palestinian parties is seen as a key issue preventing progress in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and improving the situation in the impoverished Gaza Strip. In June 2014 Hamdallah formed what was labelled a national unity government after a landmark reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas. The deal has since broken down and his government has no control in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Abbas was elected in 2005 for an initial four-year term but no elections have been held since then due to the Fatah-Hamas split. - 'No legitimacy' - Abbas has also pledged to hold new parliamentary elections in the coming six months, but how that would be possible in Gaza is unclear. Hamas won the last parliamentary polls, in 2006, against expectations. Israel, the United States and other Western powers, which all consider Hamas a terrorist organisation, rejected the result. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars in Gaza since then. Rumours of a new government have been swirling in recent weeks, and Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri attacked such a plan. "The formation of any government apart from a national consensus one is a continuation of the unilateral actions taken by Fatah," he tweeted Sunday. "Such a government will enjoy no legitimacy." It remains unclear what form any future government could take, but analysts warned that keeping Hamas out of it would deepen political divisions. "The move has been described as furthering national unity but if anything such a move -- if Hamas is excluded -- may achieve the opposite, compounding current internal divisions, and pushing Gaza further away," said Hugh Lovatt, Israel-Palestine analyst at the European Council of Foreign Relations. Jihad Harb, a West Bank-based political analyst, said if a government were formed from only the PLO it would indicate an end to already stalled attempts at reconciliation. "The formation of this political government means the end of the (2014) agreement (between Hamas and Fatah)," he said. A Bahraini man holds a picture of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite opposition movement Al-Wefaq, during a protest on May 29, 2016 against his arrest Bahrain's supreme court, whose verdicts are final, on Monday upheld a life term for Shiite opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman for spying for Gulf rival Qatar, a judicial source said. Salman, who headed the Shiite Al-Wefaq group, was convicted in November of "communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order", a ruling rights groups have called a travesty. Salman's aides Ali al-Aswad and Hassan Sultan, who had been sentenced to life in absentia, also lost their right to appeal. Both men are former MPs and currently reside outside of Bahrain. Qatar has repeatedly denied accusations of conspiring against Bahrain with Salman. Bahrain and Qatar have been locked in a bitter regional dispute since June 2017, when a Saudi-led boycott of Doha was enforced over allegations it was cosying up to regional arch-rival Iran and supporting radical Islamist groups. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates banned their citizens from travel to Qatar. Ruled for more than two centuries by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, Bahrain has been hit by waves of unrest since 2011, when security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. Bahrain's two main opposition groups -- Al-Wefaq and the secular Waad -- are prohibited from representation in parliament. Bahraini authorities accuse Shiite Iran of provoking unrest in the kingdom. Tehran denies the allegation. Human rights groups have frequently said cases against activists in Bahrain -- men and women, religious and secular -- fail to meet the basic standards of fair trials. John McCallum was sacked after he suggested that it would be 'great' for Ottawa to release a detained Huawei executive Chinese state-run media on Monday decried the sacking of Canada's ambassador to Beijing, who was fired after he suggested it would be "great" for Ottawa to release a detained Huawei executive. The former envoy, John McCallum, had raised eyebrows over a series of remarks regarding the case of Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, whose arrest has sparked a diplomatic row between Beijing and Ottawa. The resignation, at the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "reveals political interference", nationalist tabloid Global Times said in an editorial. Ottawa is now as "sensitive as a frightened bird", the newspaper said, noting the visceral political reactions to McCallum's comments. "The truth is that they knew the geopolitics in the case from the very beginning, but were afraid to point them out," it said. "As a Chinese folk saying goes, 'You cannot live the life of a whore and expect a monument to your chastity'," the Global Times wrote, accusing Ottawa of double standards. Meng was arrested in December at the behest of the United States, where she is wanted for alleged violations of Iranian sanctions. US authorities plan to formally file for her extradition by a January 30 deadline. Beijing has reacted furiously to Meng's detention. In apparent retaliation, two Canadian citizens have been detained on national security grounds and another was sentenced to death for drug trafficking. McCallum, a former senior cabinet minister, said in front of Chinese-language media in Ontario last week that he believed the US extradition request was seriously flawed, comments which he later walked back. But on Friday, he told the Star Vancouver newspaper that it would be "great for Canada" if the US dropped its extradition request, prompting Trudeau to demand McCallum's resignation. Ottawa has repeatedly stressed the case is not politically motivated and the justice system is fair but Chinese media has cast Meng's arrest as part of an assault on the country's high-tech industry. In the past year, a number of Western countries close to the US have barred Huawei products in their telecommunications infrastructure citing security concerns. The China Daily observed: "McCallum was merely stating the truth when he observed that Meng (Wanzhou) has a strong case against extradition, which he rightly said was politically motivated." China's foreign ministry on Monday declined to comment on McCallum's resignation, calling it "Canada's internal affairs". "What I want to point out here is that Meng Wanzhous case is by no means a simple judicial case," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. "There are strong political motives and manipulation behind it," he added, repeating a call for Ottawa to free Meng. Japan PM Shinzo Abe (C) vowed to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and restore diplomatic ties with Pyongyang Japan's prime minister vowed Monday to "break the shell of mutual distrust" with North Korea by meeting leader Kim Jong Un face-to-face and restoring diplomatic relations between the two historic foes. In a major policy speech to mark the opening of parliament, Shinzo Abe also vowed to push Sino-Japan ties "to a new stage" and pledged a record budget to improve crumbling infrastructure in the world's third-biggest economy. "I will act resolutely, never failing to seize every opportunity to break the shell of mutual distrust, and I myself will directly face Chairman Kim Jong Un... to resolve North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, as well as the abductions issue," Abe said. Abe gave no timeframe for a potential meeting with the North Korean leader but the comments came as Kim has ordered preparation for a second summit with US President Donald Trump, likely towards the end of next month. "I will aim at diplomatic normalisation by settling the unfortunate past," Abe said, using a Japanese diplomatic euphemism referring to harm caused by Japan during its brutal colonisation of the Korean peninsula before and during World War II. The conciliatory message contrasted sharply from a year ago, when Abe used the same parliamentary address to set out a hardline approach, pledging to "compel North Korea to change its policies" and describing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes as an "unprecedentedly grave and urgent threat". Abe has long sought to resolve an emotional row related to North Korean agents' abduction of Japanese nationals during the Cold War era to train Pyongyang's spies. Pyongyang released what it said were the five survivors in 2002, and said eight others it admitted kidnapping had all died. North Korean authorities have given no public indication of any willingness to meet Abe, while Pyongyang's state media regularly excoriate Japan over its past history and Abe for ramping up defence spending. A commentary by the official KCNA news agency earlier this month called Japan a "heinous criminal state against humanity" and an "immoral and impudent country". - 'Peace and prosperity' - On China, Abe said ties had "completely returned to a normal path" after he visited President Xi Jinping in Beijing last year. Xi is expected to make his first official visit to Japan in 2019. "I will strongly pursue diplomacy with neighbours for a new era... in order to make northeast Asia truly a land of stable peace and prosperity," he said. Bilateral ties were harmed in 2012 when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands in the East China Sea also claimed by Beijing. Until recently, neither nation had made much effort to repair relations. But Japan's business community has long urged Abe to improve ties with China, Tokyo's largest trade partner as well as the biggest source of foreign tourists, who are collectively becoming a key driver of the country's chronically fragile economy. Tokyo believes a successful Xi visit is key to a productive G20, which Japan hosts this year, and hopes the Chinese leader will attend the 2020 Olympic Games. Abe was cautious about Russia, amid a territorial row over tiny islands to Japan's north that has proved difficult to resolve despite frequent meetings with President Vladimir Putin. Domestically, Abe vowed to press ahead with an upcoming consumption tax hike from the current eight percent to 10 percent from October. He also pledged a whopping seven trillion yen ($64 billion) on infrastructure spending, as the nation's many roads and bridges become dilapidated and Japan routinely faces serious natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes. The deadly church bombing in the southern Philippines killed worshippers and soldiers during Sunday mass Investigators probing the Catholic cathedral bombing that killed 21 people in the Philippines' restive south said Monday a group tied to notorious Islamists Abu Sayyaf is the prime suspect. Two explosions tore through the cathedral on the Muslim-majority island of Jolo, killing worshippers at Sunday mass and security forces in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. Authorities said the so-called Ajang-Ajang faction is a small band of several dozen that most likely carried out the bombing, the Philippines' worst in years, in an act of revenge. "Last year their leader was killed. There have been persistent reports that they will retaliate," regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana told AFP. "Yes, we saw them in the CCTV. It was the brother of the leader who was killed," he said referring to footage from outside the cathedral. "He was seen with two other members of Ajang-Ajang." Security forces say the group is composed of relatives of Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group members who have been killed in clashes with the government. Abu Sayyaf, which is based on the remote Jolo island, has been blamed for the Philippines' deadliest attack, a 2004 ferry bombing in Manila Bay that claimed 116 lives. - 'Revenge group' - "There are high-level law enforcement operations against them (Ajang-Ajang)," said Rommel Banlaoi, chair of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research. "It evolved into a revenge group." Map locating a double bomb attack on the island of Jolo in southern Philippines While Abu Sayyaf have sworn allegiance to Islamic State, that is not necessarily true for the motley members of Ajang-Ajang. "Not all members of Ajang-Ajang group are pro-ISIS, but all of them are Abu Sayyaf group," said Banlaoi using another acronym for IS. "It's not IS-affiliated." The IS claim, in a formal communique, said two suicide bombers had detonated explosive belts, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activities. But a military report said a second bomb that went off at the cathedral was left in the utility box of a motorcycle in the parking area outside. Police said they believe the explosives were likely detonated remotely, but did not elaborate. Despite the contradictions, authorities have not ruled out IS involvement. Regardless of who staged the bombing, concern was growing Monday over the impact it will have on a decades-long push for peace that culminated last week in voters approving expanded Muslim self-rule in the south. Experts have voiced concern over the impact of the Philippines church attack on the decades-long peace process in the Bangsamoro region The vote was the result of negotiations started in the 1990s with the nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and will give it considerable power over the so-called Bangsamoro region. "This is a big challenge for the Bangsamoro government," said Banlaoi. The former rebels need to show they will be able to pull the region toward peace in order to attract much-needed investment to alleviate poverty and counter extremism, he told AFP. "MILF needs to prove it can make a difference... the gravity of the problem faced by MILF is wow, so overwhelming," he added. - 'Squandered opportunities' - The church attack came despite President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited the cathedral Monday, putting the southern Philippines under martial rule after pro-IS militants seized the southern city of Marawi in May 2017. Government officials have argued that martial rule, which gives authorities extra powers, has been effective in taming the perpetually restive region. But families of the dead, who began holding funerals on Monday, have become the latest in the Philippines' south to mourn loved ones killed in a bomb attack. "My 81-year-old mother does not deserve this kind of death," Edward Non told AFP, with a row of victims' coffins behind him. "This has to stop. It's the innocent civilians who suffer." Experts were also worried about how the bombing would impact the hopes for new development in the region, which were spurred by the self-rule vote victory. "It's a terrible human tragedy, it's also a development tragedy," World Bank economist Andrew Mason told broadcaster ABS-CBN. "When we see conflict areas, when we see ups-and-downs and negative impacts due to violence and conflict, what we see is also these are development opportunities that are squandered." The mass fish kill is the third in less than two months in drought-hit New South Wales Thousands more fish have died in a key river system in drought-hit eastern Australia just weeks after up to a million were killed, authorities and locals said Monday, sparking fears an ecological disaster is unfolding. Fisheries officials said they were on their way to Menindee, a small outback town in far-west New South Wales state, after the third mass fish kill in the area in less than two months. The town is near the Darling River, part of the Murray-Darling River system that stretches thousands of kilometres across several states and supplies the country's food bowl. "There's lot of small (dead) fish... a lot of the larger fish have already perished in the last two kills," Menindee tourism operator Rob Gregory told AFP, adding that he counted 380 dead fish in just a six-metre (20-foot) stretch of river. Gregory said Menindee was renowned as having one of the best fisheries in the far-west region. "This is a true environmental disaster that is equivalent to a lot of other things that are occurring like the bleaching of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef," he added. While the federal government blames the deaths on a severe drought, experts and locals say they stem from the systemic depletion and pollution of the river. The NSW Department of Primary Industries said the latest kills were likely linked to rains and a sharp drop in temperature after an extended period of hot weather that contributed to plummeting oxygen levels in the water. The state government has installed aerators in some waterways to keep the levels of oxygen up for fish, but Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said it was fresh water that was ultimately needed for them to survive. "No scientists, no locals, no-one has been able to point to anything else that could prevent something like this other than fresh water coming into the system," Blair told reporters in Sydney Monday. Opposition leader Bill Shorten called on the government to act, saying Monday the Murray-Darling was "facing the makings of an ecological disaster". Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong is due to begin her defence on March 11, having been charged in Malaysia with murdering the North Korean leader's half- brother The trial of two women accused of murdering the North Korean leader's half-brother was adjourned Monday until March, and the case will now drag on until at least mid-2019. Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam have been on trial since October 2017, accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam by smearing the nerve agent VX on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport. The brazen assassination in February 2017 shocked the world, but the women have denied murder, saying they believed they were taking part in a prank and were tricked by North Korean agents. Proceedings in the trial of the women, both in their 20s, have moved slowly due to the large number of witnesses and infrequent hearings. There have been no hearings since August, when the prosecution finished presenting its case. The latest hold-up has been caused by an appeal from the defence, which is urging prosecutors to make key witness statements available. The prosecution argues the statements should not be made public. With the appeal still ongoing, a series of hearings scheduled for this week were cancelled, and the trial will now resume on March 11 with Huong's defence. New information given out by the High Court in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, showed hearings set until July 31, with the final verdict likely to come only after that date. During the first months of the trial, the court saw CCTV footage of the accused attacking the relative of the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, and prosecutors argued it was a well-planned hit. South Korea has accused the North of ordering the assassination, an allegation denied by Pyongyang. Under current laws, the women will be handed a death sentence if convicted of murder. Malaysia's new government has vowed to abolish the death penalty, but parliament still needs to back the change. South Koreans frequently don breathing masks to combat poor air quality An attempt by South Korea to create artificial rain to tackle air pollution many blame on neighbouring China has failed, the government said Monday, as it struggles to address what has become an urgent public concern. Many South Koreans blamed China when pollution surged for three days earlier this month, and on Friday the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) sent an aircraft to seed clouds with silver iodide in the hope of promoting rain. The intention was for the rain to douse airborne particles and pollutants known as "fine dust" in South Korea. However, an initial analysis of the experiment has been disappointing, KMA said in a preliminary report issued Monday. While a weak, misty rain was detected for several minutes, the agency said, "there was no observation of significant precipitation". "Aside from its success or failure, the test was an opportunity to accumulate the necessary technology for a faster commercialisation of cloud seeding," it added. A full report is expected to be released later next month. Air quality in South Korea is generally better than in China, which is more frequently affected by choking bouts of filthy air. South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week advised his officials to handle the issue as a "natural disaster" as he urged cooperation with Beijing, addressing "great public concerns about fine dust coming from China". Beijing is also trying to tackle the scourge, which causes widespread public anger, and a recent study found urban levels of PM2.5 -- the tiny airborne particles considered most harmful to health -- had been cut by almost a third on average over four years. But they remain far above World Health Organization norms, and pollution levels in Korea sometimes spike as the prevailing winds blow PM2.5 particulates across the sea between the two countries. China, which according to the International Energy Agency uses coal to generate around three quarters of its energy, is regarded as the world's biggest polluter. Last year, South Korea shut down five ageing coal-fired power plants in a bid to improve its air quality. Names of 80 IPS officers were discussed by the committee on that day, although it remained inconclusive on a successor to Alok Verma. The three-member committee, with the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the other members, had last met on January 24. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Attorney General KK Venugopal on Friday told the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led high powered Committee for Appointment meeting is likely to take place today to select a new Director for the CBI. The three-member committee, with the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the other members, had last met on January 24. Names of 80 IPS officers were discussed by the committee on that day, although it remained inconclusive on a successor for former Director Alok Verma. The court also set a new date to hear the petition challenging interim Director Nageshwar Raos appointment. The two-judge bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justice Naveen Sinha, said the matter will be heard on February 6. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Common Cause, said today that the Centre has to take permission from the high-powered committee for the appointment of an interim director, which he claimed was not done. Bhushan also pleaded that the appointment process should be transparent. To this, Justice Mishra said that CJI Gogoi had, in his 10-page order, stated about how the transparency was established. Verma was removed as the CBI Director on January 8 following months of conflict with Special Director Rakesh Asthana and was reinstated the following day on the orders of the Supreme Court. However, the committee voted 2:1 and removed Verma from the post on January 11 and appointed M Nageshwar Rao as his interim replacement. On January 31, Justice NV Ramana had refused himself from hearing the case against the appointment of Rao as the interim CBI chief, becoming the third judge who has refused from hearing the case after Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice AK Sikri. The petitioners in the case claim that the lack of transparency in Rao's appointment allows the government to exercise "undue influence in the appointment process" especially at the stage of short-listing of candidates. Jeepneys, which are rolling art galleries adorned with images of everything from Batman to babies, as well as disco lights and chrome wheels, have for decades provided cheap transport for millions of people in the Philippines Bernardo de la Cruz casts his eyes around the nearly silent workshop where he used to toil overtime hand-painting custom decor on jeepneys, the singularly Philippine minibuses facing the scrapheap. These rolling art galleries adorned with images of everything from Batman to babies, as well as disco lights and chrome wheels, have for decades provided cheap transport for millions. But pollution and safety concerns have led to a modernisation programme, with jeepneys 15 years or older to be taken off the streets by 2020. "This is an act of treachery against fellow Filipinos," said de la Cruz. "This is a uniquely Filipino product. We were born with it." Jeepneys were once a common sight during rush hour in Manila but pollution and safety concerns have led to a modernisation programme, with jeepneys 15 years or older to be taken off the streets by 2020 When he began 45 years ago, there were hundreds of artists giving the vehicles their famously boisterous paint jobs. Now there are estimated to be fewer than a dozen left. He has seen orders decline from a high of up to 80 a month in the 1980s to just one or two now. His canvas is being replaced by eco-jeepneys, powered by electricity or lower-polluting diesel motors. Riders of old jeepneys currently have to climb in through a hatch in the rear, cramming into the benches inside with no respite from the heat and roadside pollution. - On borrowed time - The jeepney's successor is being billed as a big improvement. It has doors, individual seats, air-conditioning, and enough height to stand up. But it will be mass-produced and look just like a public bus. Skipping over the jeepney's bespoke production process in small workshops means a loss of the individual style and flair that made them global symbols of the Philippines. "It's one of the most genuine forms of modern folk art that we have," Bernie Sim, a Manila-based graphic designer and co-author of a 2014 book on jeepney art, told AFP. Jeepneys are highly polluting, and the Philippines is desperate to improve air quality in its traffic-clogged cities French fashion designer Christian Louboutin launched a jeepney-themed handbag collection last year, while Swedish furniture giant Ikea painted a jeepney in its signature blue and yellow to announce plans to open a Philippine store. But the vehicles, which were first made from leftover US jeeps after World War II, have been on borrowed time for years. Jeepneys are highly polluting, and the Philippines is desperate to improve air quality in its traffic-clogged cities. Their drivers are also notorious for ignoring traffic rules, and the vehicles have few safety features. On top of that, Manila ushered in internet-based ride-sharing services in 2014, and three years later President Rodrigo Duterte said the jeepney must evolve or disappear. -'I cry quietly'- "They have all but stopped making jeepneys," said 52-year-old jeepney artist Vic Capuno, based in San Pablo town south of Manila. As a result he and a colleague at Armak Motors now paint just three of four jeepneys a month. De la Cruz worked on nine in the last year. He's the only painter left at Manila's Sarao Motors, once the country's biggest producer. Riders of old jeepneys currently have to climb in through a hatch in the rear, cramming into the benches inside with no respite from the heat and roadside pollution Two of his siblings were also jeepney artists, but they died from diseases he believes were caused by years inhaling fumes from the paint. Yet he is still passionate about the vehicle's importance in Philippine history. "When the jeepney disappears a piece of Filipino culture will also die," de la Cruz warned. A self-taught painter, he was inspired by the work of renowned local artists such Carlos Francisco and Fernando Amorsolo. His jeepney designs, still seen on the streets for now, chronicle the rapidly changing landscape of his home -- Las Pinas -- from a farming and salt-making backwater into a highly urbanised area. "It's a pleasing sight. It brings us back to a time and place that is no more," said de la Cruz. After raising four children on the pay earned painting, he now also creates canvases and makes storefront signs as a sideline. He conceded he could have a decent life without the jeepneys, but was heartbroken by the government's decision. "I would like to appeal to the authorities not to outlaw it," de la Cruz said. "At times I cry quietly when I think about what is happening." Rights activists have held protests against Wang Quanzhang's detention, including in Hong Kong Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was sentenced on Monday to four and a half years in prison for state subversion, a northern Chinese court said. Wang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep -- known as the "709" crackdown -- aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities. Charged in January 2016 with alleged state subversion, Wang had been the last of more than 200 lawyers and activists arrested in the 709 crackdown to be tried or released. Wang was "found guilty of subverting state power, sentenced to four years and six months in prison, and deprived of political rights for five years," the Tianjin Second Intermediate People's Court said in a statement. After more than two years of being in legal limbo -- detained without a trial date -- Wang's court hearing took place behind closed doors in Tianjin on December 26. At the time, the court said the trial was closed to the public "due to the state secrets involved". Wang's wife Li Wenzu was placed under de facto house arrest the day before her husband's trial to prevent her from attending. Li has actively protested her husband's detention. Last April, she attempted to march 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the detention facility in Tianjin where her husband had been held. In December, before Wang's court date was announced, Li and three supporters shaved their heads and tried to submit a petition to a Beijing court protesting Wang's detention. Controlling food is a weapon in Yemen's war Gunshots reverberate through a battle-scarred granary in the port city of Hodeida, where a mountain of grain meant for starving Yemenis remains inaccessible as a hard-won ceasefire comes under strain. The Red Sea Mills, one of the last positions seized by Saudi and Emirati-backed forces before last month's UN-brokered truce, holds wheat that could feed nearly four million people for a month in a country on the brink of famine. But the facility, a shrapnel-pocked symbol of how controlling food is a weapon in Yemen's war, has remained off-limits to aid organisations since September as skirmishes shake the fragile ceasefire agreed with Huthi rebels during talks in Sweden. The site, on Hodeida's eastern edges, was rigged heavily with mines when it slipped from Huthi control in November. Last week, during a military embed organised by the Saudi-led coalition, AFP saw government loyalists including Sudanese soldiers scouring the vast complex with metal detectors amid fears rebels were sneaking in to plant new booby traps. Sudan is a member of the Saudi-led coalition. A column of smoke snaked into the sky from Huthi positions less than a mile (1.6 kilometres) away, with loyalists saying the rebels were burning tyres in a provocative move. The Red Sea Mills is one of the last positions seized by Saudi and Emirati-backed forces before last month's UN-brokered truce Then, a volley of close-range gunshots crackled through the complex. It was not possible to tell who was firing. "We are committed to the truce... but the enemy has not committed to anything as you can see and hear," said Yemeni commander Mohammed Salman, standing by a pile of grain. Just after the tour, the UN on Friday reported apparent mortar shelling at the mill had started a fire that left two food silos damaged. "The loss of this wheat comes at a terrible time," said the UN's humanitarian coordinator Lise Grande. "More than 20 million Yemenis, nearly 70 percent of the entire population, are hungry." - 'Red line' - In Hodeida, the entry point for more than two-thirds of Yemen's food imports and international aid, the choices are stark -- either an imperfect truce with violations on both sides or all-out fighting that could unleash famine. The ceasefire came after Western nations pressed Saudi Arabia to end its four-year military campaign in Yemen after journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder intensified international scrutiny. But with recurring breaches, observers warn that its collapse could be just a matter of time. The site, on Hodeida's eastern edges, was rigged heavily with mines when it slipped from Huthi control in November "If it is allowed to break down, there will be no opportunity for a similar deal for a long time," the International Crisis Group said. Inside Hodeida, a city rippling with tension as the war-wounded continue to trickle into hospitals, a common refrain among civilians and military officials is "mafi hudna" -- Arabic for "no truce". Colonel Saeed Salmeen, an Emirati commander on Yemen's west coast, told AFP his men were committed to the ceasefire but were "always ready" for battle. He warned that Yemen's west coast road -- a key supply route linking the south to Hodeida -- was a "red line". UN chief Antonio Guterres said on January 7 that neither side had tried to gain new territory since the ceasefire. But an agreed redeployment of rival forces from the city, a key confidence-building measure, has not happened as distrust runs high. Guterres pointed to allegations from the Huthis that pro-government forces are massing troops near the city, and from the Saudi-led coalition that the rebels are fortifying positions with barricades and trenches. - 'Food is a weapon' - "How long can the international community accept this Huthi game -- ceasefire, regroup, ceasefire, regroup?" a member of the coalition told AFP, requesting anonymity. "Only when you catch them by the neck will they come to the negotiating table." The sentiment was echoed by other pro-government troops who insisted to AFP that military action was the only solution even if it results in bloodshed. In Hodeida, the entry point for more than two-thirds of Yemen's food imports and international aid, the choices are stark -- either an imperfect truce with violations on both sides or all-out fighting that could unleash famine But the truce has given the World Food Programme "some breathing room" to reach districts in southern Hodeida that were previously inaccessible due to fighting, its country director Stephen Anderson told AFP. However, 51,000 metric tonnes of wheat -- one quarter of WFP's flour-milling capacity in Yemen -- remains locked away in the Red Sea Mills. "We have been trying to get access... (But I hear) the Huthis aren't allowing us to get to the mill," WFP chief David Beasley said in an interview in Davos. "So it is four steps forward, two steps back, but I am still cautiously optimistic." The lack of access to the mill, one of the most hotly contested sites in Hodeida, is a collective punishment for starving Yemenis on both sides of the conflict. Salman, the Yemeni commander, alleged the Huthis hoarded grain, creating artificial shortages and exacerbating famine-like conditions. The lack of access to the mill, one of the most hotly contested sites in Hodeida, is a collective punishment for starving Yemenis on both sides of the conflict When the Huthis controlled the mill, they accused the coalition of destroying food with indiscriminate air strikes. "The Red Sea Mills is a leverage point being used in the most Machiavellian ways by all warring parties to achieve political goals," said Wesam Qaid, executive director of Yemeni development organisation SMEPS. "Whoever controls such facilities will have greater say on who gets fed. Food is a weapon." Jefferson Mays plays the role of George Hodel in "I Am the Night" It's a crime mystery that has inspired numerous books, films and even a death metal group: now the sensational and still-unsolved murder of a Los Angeles woman known as "The Black Dahlia" is getting the mini-series treatment from the director behind "Wonder Woman" and "Monster." The gruesome elements have become the stuff of legend: the mutilated corpse of dark-haired 22-year-old Elizabeth Short -- supposedly an aspiring actress -- was found by a passerby at L.A.'s Leimert Park on January 18, 1947, her body severed in half at the waist and her face slashed from the corners of her mouth to her ears. In "I Am the Night," coming to TNT on Monday, director Patty Jenkins tells the otherwise well-worn story in a novel fashion -- through the perspective of her late friend Fauna Hodel (played by doe-eyed actress India Eisley), the granddaughter of George Hodel, one of the main suspects. Given away at birth to an adoptive mother and raised with no ties to her biological parents, Fauna Hodel decides at the age of 16 to look for her genetic family -- a path strewn with pitfalls and dark secrets. The plot is based on real life, even if it was necessary, for dramatic purposes, to flesh out what remains an unproven theory, since the Los Angeles Police Department never solved the Black Dahlia murder. - A #MeToo era vibe - Actress India Eisley plays Fauna Hodel in the mini-series "I Am the Night" about the infamous Black Dahlia murder The story revolves around George Hodel -- portrayed by actor Jefferson Mays -- a precocious child who goes on to become a talented surgeon and a great art lover, something granddaughter Fauna takes after. Fauna eventually crosses paths with Jay Singletary (Chris Pine), a fictional journalist who specializes in pursuing the powerful in Los Angeles, a city where money and influence make everything right, especially with the police. Following the success of 2017's "Wonder Woman," director Patty Jenkins has crafted a mini-series that resonates in the #MeToo era. Jenkins, who directed Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning performance as a hooker-turned-killer in "Monster," ventures into the grim story of the Black Dahlia through the eyes of a vulnerable young woman determined to make a life for herself. Scriptwriter Sam Sheridan, Jenkins's husband, deliberately chose a small cast and simple, stripped-down, almost theatrical staging. "Edward Hopper had a visual style that I was in love with," Sheridan told AFP, referring to the 20th century American artist known for his stark and spare realism. "We were interested in sort of a Hopper-esque feel -- that sense of noir L.A. loneliness." Author of the autobiographical "One Day She'll Darken," Fauna Hodel had planned to make a film adaptation after the book was published in 2008. - 'Space to breathe' - But that was before mini-series were the hot item they are today. "Mini-series have come back into fashion," with shows like "True Detective," "Big Little Lies" and "The People vs. O.J. Simpson," Sheridan said. But Fauna Hodel never saw her project realized. She died in 2017 aged 66, just weeks before filming was to start. In telling her story, Sheridan said, its very richness posed a problem. "There's just way too much story for a feature. And you were going to lose so much of the subtlety and what made the story beautiful, which is Fauna's personal journey, if you got sucked into the pure thriller/true crime aspect." But the mini-series format, with a set and predetermined number of episodes, gives "everything space to breathe," he said. "It doesn't go on forever. You have an ending that you strive for," he said. "The mini-series -- to me as a writer, a creator -- is the absolute perfect length." California Senator Kamala Harris speaks during a rally launching her presidential campaign on January 27, 2019 in Oakland, California Lamenting that the American Dream and its democracy are under attack in Donald Trump's United States, California Senator Kamala Harris formally declared Sunday her candidacy to become the country's first black female president in 2020. Harris, who was California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017, made her announcement to supporters outside city hall in Oakland, San Francisco's grittier neighbor where she was born. Barack Obama introduced himself to Californian voters in 2007 in the same location before he was elected the first African American president of the United States a year later. Harris already announced in a January 21 video that she would run for president. She joins a Democratic field with several other candidates seeking to keep Trump out of the White House for a second term. joins a Democratic field with several other candidates seeking to keep Donald Trump out of the White House for a second term "We are here because the American dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before," she said. "When democratic values are under attack around the globe, when authoritarianism is on the march, when nuclear proliferation is on the rise, when we have foreign powers infecting the White House like malware, let's speak the truth," she added to raucous applause. - 'Not our America' - Harris was California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017 Without naming the president, Harris directly targeted the divisive policies of his unconventional administration. Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and whose mother is a Tamil Indian, said that "in the face of powerful forces trying to sow hate and division among us, the truth is that as Americans, we have so much more in common than what separates us." Trump regularly tries to equate illegal immigrants with crime and gangs, and his standoff with Democrats in Congress over funding for a wall on the Mexican border led to a record nearly five-week shutdown of parts of the government. "The president's medieval vanity project is not going to stop them," Harris said of transnational gangs. She also attacked Trump's failed policy that put migrant children "in cages" after separating them from their parents. "Don't you dare call that border security. That's a human rights abuse!" she said. Referring to racist-inspired deadly violence in the country, Harris said "that's not our America," and neither is it when "we have leaders who bully and attack a free press and undermine our democratic institutions." Harris's father is from Jamaica and her mother is a Tamil Indian Trump regularly dismisses as "fake news" reports that cast him in a critical light, and has called some journalists the "enemy of the people." Harris joins Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former housing secretary Julian Castro, among others, either in the race or exploring a run for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Oleg Deripaska, the billionaire who who heads aluminium producer Rusal, remains the target of personal sanctions The US Treasury Department lifted sanctions Sunday on Russian aluminum giant Rusal and two related companies after blacklisted billionaire Oleg Deripaska took action to sharply cut his stake in them. The tycoon is known to have friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and had business ties with US President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Deripaska is one of several oligarchs sanctioned last year in retaliation for what the US called "the Russian government's ongoing and increasingly brazen pattern of malign activity across the world," citing its interference in Syria and its seizure of Crimea. Rusal, EN+ Group Plc and EuroSibEnergo JSC have "reduced Oleg Deripaska's direct and indirect shareholding stake... and severed his control," the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement. "The companies have also agreed to unprecedented transparency for Treasury into their operations by undertaking extensive, ongoing auditing, certification, and reporting requirements." The delisting -- first announced in December -- came as the companies sought to avoid being locked out of global markets due to their close association with Deripaska. The sanctions banned Americans and organizations with US divisions, such as many global banks, from doing business with the companies and froze Deripaska's personal assets in US jurisdictions. "All sanctions on Deripaska continue in force," the OFAC said. French President Emmauel Macron (L) and his wife Brigitte are pictured during a visit to the temple of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt on January 27, 2019 French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he would talk "more openly" to Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on human rights during his ongoing visit to the country. "Things have got worse since October 2017" when Sisi came to Paris, said Macron, referring to the human rights situation in the North African country. Macron said he would "have a confidential dialogue" with his Egyptian counterpart on "individual cases" of imprisoned opponents. "I will speak in a more forthright manner, including openly... because I think that it is in the interests of President Sisi and Egyptian stability," the French head of state told reporters on the first day of his visit. Egypt's government has "relatively authoritarian characteristics that are presented by leaders as necessary to avoid instability, in particular by the Muslim Brotherhood," Macron said. "I hear that and I respect it," he said. "Today, it is not simply political opponents who are imprisoned but also opponents who are in the traditional democratic camp, who do not threaten the stability of the regime. "These are journalists, homosexuals, women and men who have convictions but who seem to pose absolutely no threat to the regime." This government was perceived by Egyptian civil society as "more hardline than the regime of (former president Hosni) Mubarak," Macron said, referring to the former autocrat who was deposed in 2011. "My line is -- stability and respect for sovereignty. But what is happening here threatens" Egypt's stability, Macron said. But "deciding to end all forms of cooperation for these reasons would drive Egypt even more quickly towards Russia or other powers, who are just waiting for that", he said. Macron is due to meet Sisi at Egypt's presidential palace on Monday morning. Supporters of Felix Tshisekedi celebrated his inauguration as president on Thursday Some Catholic bishops in the Kasai region of DR Congo on Sunday endorsed the election of Felix Tshisekedi as the new president, splitting with bishops in the rest of the country. A statement issued by six of the eight bishops in Kasai, Tshisekedi's home region, acknowledged his disputed win in the December 30 presidential poll. Sunday's statement from the Kasai bishops hailed Tshisekedi's election as a step towards democracy and social progress for all people in Democratic Republic of Congo. But their position distanced them from that taken by the Catholic Church's National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) earlier this month. On January 10, shortly after the provisional results giving Tshisekedi victory were published, CENCO said they did not reflect the data its 40,000 observers had collected from polling stations across the country. However, retired Kasai bishop Gerard Mulumba, an uncle of Tshisekedi, said CENCO had gone too far. And the Kasai bishops, in their statement, said: "In this new Congo, the Church will never be either distracted or partisan." Tshisekedi was sworn in as president on Thursday, days after the Constitutional Court rejected a legal challenge brought by the runner-up Martin Fayulu. Tshisekedi was declared winner with 38.5 percent of the vote, Fayulu second on 34.8 percent, a result Fayulu dismissed as a stitch-up between Tshisekedi and outgoing president Joseph Kabila. Four of the Kasai region's five provinces were the scenes of deadly unrest between September 2016 and October 2017 as government forces clashed with the Kamwina Nsapu (Black Ant) rebel militia. The fighting cost 3,000 lives, according to UN estimates. Around 50 rebel recruiters of this group surrendered to authorities in the Kasai region earlier this month as they too welcomed Tshisekedi's presidential election win. And on Saturday, officials in the Kasai region said another 600 rebel fighters had surrendered their weapons in another sign of support for Tshisekedi. Sudanese protesters gather at a previous rally in the capital Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on January 25, 2019 Sudanese police fired tear gas at protestors in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman on Sunday, witnesses said, after organisers called for further demonstrations against President Omar al-Bashir's three decades of rule. Bashir, on a visit to Cairo to meet his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said the media were exaggerating the size of the problems he faced at home. Deadly protests sparked by a government decision to raise the price of bread have rocked the east African country for weeks. The demonstrations have mushroomed into nationwide rallies against the government of Bashir, who swept to power in 1989 in an Islamist-backed coup. Officials say 30 people have died in the violence since the protests first erupted on December 19 in the farming town of Atbara, before spreading to Khartoum and other regions. Rights groups say more than 40 people have been killed. On Sunday, protesters came onto the streets in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to hold sit-ins in several squares, responding to a call by the Sudanese Professionals Association which is leading the protests. But a massive deployment of riot police and security agents prevented them from gathering at several locations, witnesses said, and the protesters later began rallies in several residential areas of Khartoum and Omdurman. "You're police, you have to protect us," demonstrators shouted as riot police cordoned off several squares in Khartoum and Omdurman, where they had planned to hold sit-ins. - Clampdown on squares - Police surrounded many squares and filled some with muddy water to prevent demonstrators from gathering, witnesses said. The SPA backed by several opposition political parties said in a joint statement that despite the deployment of security forces, protesters managed to gather in 11 squares and also stage six rallies in residental areas of Khartoum and Omdurman during the day. "When we came to the square for a sit-in, we saw security forces had surrounded it," said a female demonstrator, who did not identify herself for security reasons. "We then decided to hold a rally in a nearby neighbourhood, but there too the police hit us with tear gas." Late on Sunday, eight more demonstrations were held in Khartoum and Omdurman but police confronted them with tear gas, witnesses said. The SPA had called for sit-ins on Sunday in more than 20 squares in Khartoum and Omdurman. In a statement issued late on Sunday, the SPA said rallies were also planned on Monday in Darfur, Nuba mountains, Blue Nile, in camps of internally displaced people and some other provinces "to show our people's rejection of the dictator". A handout picture released by the Egyptian presidency on January 27, 2019 shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) receiving his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Cairo Authorities led by the country's National Intelligence and Security Service have cracked down on protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists in a bid to prevent the spread of demonstrations. On Sunday, security forces arrested four journalists, including one from the country's war-torn region of Darfur, the non-government Sudanese Journalists' Network said. Sudan has ranked 174 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom index every year from 2015 to 2018. - Media 'exaggerating' - While bread price hikes sparked the first protests, anger has been mounting for years over growing economic hardship and deteriorating living conditions. That ire has now spilt onto the streets, with protesters chanting their main slogan: "freedom, peace, justice!" Bashir has remained steadfast in rejecting calls to resign. On Sunday, he said the media were exaggerating the size of his problems. "There is a problem (in Sudan), we are not claiming that there is not. But it's not of the size or extent raised in some media," Bashir said standing next to Sisi at a news conference after their meeting in Cairo. The protests were "an attempt to clone the so-called Arab Spring in Sudan", he said, referring to similarities between the slogans and use of social media in uprisings that hit the region in 2010-2011. Angry crowds of Sudanese protesters have been seen in videos posted online chanting "The people want the downfall of the regime," a signature slogan of the Arab Spring. Bashir and other Sudanese officials have blamed the country's overall economic woes on the United States. Washington lifted its trade embargo on Sudan in October 2017 after two decades of bruising economic punishment, but that has failed to fix the country's financial situation. ab-mon-mz-jds/dv Palestinians mourn during the funeral of Hamdi Nassan, 38, in the village of Mughayir in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on January 27, 2019, after he was shot the day before Around 3,000 people attended the funeral Sunday of a Palestinian killed the day before in clashes with Israeli civilians near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. Hamdi Nassan, 38, died after being shot in the back with live ammunition, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli army said clashes had erupted after a "physical confrontation" between residents of Mughayir village near Ramallah and a settler from nearby Adei Ad settlement. The Israeli civilians opened fire with live rounds, wounding several Palestinians and killing Nassan, it said. An Israeli army spokesperson did not respond to AFP's questions about the identity of the civilians who had opened fire, or the circumstances of the confrontation. On Sunday, mourners called for vengeance as they carried Nassan's body, wrapped in the Palestinian flag and the yellow banner of the Fatah party of president Mahmud Abbas. Mughayir, a village with around 4,000 residents, is surrounded by four Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. "About eight settlers, dressed in white and armed with rifles, arrived from the north of the village," said Ali Hassan, who witnessed Saturday's clashes. "We didn't know what they wanted, we went to meet them and they started shooting." He said Nassan was helping evacuate the wounded when he was himself hit, and that Israeli soldiers saw the incident but did not immediately intervene. Tzuriel Amiur, a spokesman for Adei Ad settlement, said a 19-year-old settler had been "attacked by a group of Palestinians who stabbed him and threw stones at him". Palestinians attend the January 27, 2019 funeral of Hamdi Nassan, killed the day before in clashes with Israeli civilians near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank In response, a group of settlers headed for Mughayir, the scene of several clashes in recent months. According to Amiur, the group were then "ambushed" by as many as 200 Palestinians throwing rocks. When the army arrived, "civilians and soldiers were afraid for their lives and opened fire", he said. Amin Abu Alya, head of the Mughayir village council, said Saturday that the settlers had opened fire before the army moved in. "At the beginning it was settlers shooting, then the army came and fired tear gas," he told AFP by phone. Asked who shot Nassan, he said it was settlers. Witnesses said that earlier on Saturday, two settlers had attacked a group of Palestinian farmers who responded by hitting them. Nearly 450,000 Jewish settlers live in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which is also home to more than 2.5 million Palestinians. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov called the killing "shocking and unacceptable!" "Israel must put an end to settler violence and bring those responsible to justice," he wrote on Twitter. New Delhi is also worried that the Afghan conflict has been caught up in the current tensions between Russia and the United States. No wonder then that Russia is seen to have suddenly gone soft on the Afghan Taliban and its main backer Pakistan. (Representational Image | AFP) New Delhi: India on Thursday said it would participate in all formats of talks on discussing a solution for peace in Afghanistan, setting off speculation that New Delhi could formally share the table with the Taliban in talks among all stakeholders in future. New Delhi also said it hoped the Afghan presidential elections would be held as per schedule. We will participate in all formats of talks (on Afghanistan), the MEA spokesperson said. It may be recalled that three months ago, India had participated in a non-official capacity th-rough two distinguished retired Indian diplomats former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha and former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan -at the Moscow peace conference on Afghanistan. That conference was also attended by the Taliban, of which Pakistan is widely seen as the main backer. The failure of the US and the Afghan government back-ed by it to defeat the Tali-ban militarily has ensu-red that Pakistan continues to play a prominent role in the peace process and insist that there can be no military solution. New Delhi is also worried that the Afghan conflict has been caught up in the current tensions between Russia and the United States. The US is a powerful backer of the Afghan government, while the Russians are reportedly feeling left out. No wonder then that Russia is seen to have suddenly gone soft on the Afghan Taliban and its main backer Pakistan. 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. It is one of the deadliest bomb attacks to strike the southern Philippines in years At least 18 people were killed Sunday when a double bomb attack hit a Catholic church on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, the military said, days after voters backed expanded Muslim self-rule in the region. In an attack claimed by the Islamic State group, a powerful first blast shattered pews, broke windows and left bodies strewn inside the cathedral in the Catholic-majority nation's restive south as mass was being celebrated. Moments later a second explosion outside killed troops who were rushing to help the wounded in the smoking and heavily damaged church on Jolo, which is overwhelmingly Muslim. It is one of the deadliest bomb attacks to strike the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines in years, and shows militants in the region are still a threat despite recent steps toward peace, experts said. Manila swiftly vowed to hunt down the attackers, but no group has claimed the bombing The bloodshed came less than a week after voters' decisive approval of giving Muslims in the south more control over their own affairs, which sparked hopes of quelling long-time separatist violence. "Just because the (referendum) has passed does not mean that things are going to get better overnight," said Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy. "There are still militant groups that will continue to be active and pose a security threat," he told AFP. Pope Francis, speaking in Panama, expressed his "strongest reprobation" for the violence. Once again, he said, "the Christian community has been plunged into mourning." Bishop Angelito Lampon, who previously served in Jolo, said Sunday's attack may be the worst, but was certainly not the first on the church. "In my 20 years there from 1998 to last week, there were seven hand grenades lobbed into our cathedral," he told AFP. "Fortunately there was just a little damage and no casualties." - IS group claim - The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, issuing a formal communique saying two suicide bombers had detonated explosive belts, according to the SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist activities. But a military report said the second bomb was left in the utility box of a motorcycle in the parking area outside the church. Manila swiftly vowed to hunt down the attackers. Authorities said the notorious Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group could be behind the blasts "We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. "The law will give them no mercy." Five soldiers, a member of the coast guard and 12 civilians were among the dead while 83 other people were wounded, said regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana. The regional police chief Graciano Mijares put the toll slightly higher at 20 dead, lower than a figure of 27 he gave initially. Pro-IS militants are among multiple armed networks based in the strife-torn region of Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte put the southern Philippines under martial rule after pro-IS militants seized the southern city of Marawi in May 2017. A bombing the previous year that ripped through a bustling night market in Duterte's hometown left 15 dead, and was blamed on the Maute gang of Islamist militants that pledged allegiance to IS. Before the IS jihadists' claim emerged, Besana said the notorious Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group could be behind the blasts, but added officials were "not discounting the possibility that there are other perpetrators". The remote island of Jolo is a base of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for deadly bombings, including an attack on a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 that claimed 116 lives in the country's deadliest terror assault. - 'Peace must prevail' - Neither the hardline factions aligned with IS nor the Abu Sayyaf were part of the decades-long peace process with the nation's largest separatist group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that culminated January 21 with the resounding approval of a new Muslim led-region in the south. The door, pews and glass windows of Mount Carmel Cathedral were blown off, military photos showed Rebels and the government in Manila hope the new so-called Bangsamoro area will finally draw the investment needed to pull the region from the brutal poverty that makes it a hotspot for radical recruitment. Despite Sulu province -- which includes Jolo -- voting against creating the new region, the area will still be part of the Bangsamoro. The timing of Sunday's bombs raised questions on whether the attack was meant to derail the peace process. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said "extremist criminals" plotted the bombings. "We will not allow them to spoil the preference of the people for peace," Esperon said. "Peace must prevail over war." strs-ajm/jm/rox/amz/har Chadwick Boseman (C) accepts the top SAG Award for "Black Panther" flanked by his castmates including Michael B. Jordan (L), Danai Gurira (C), Lupita Nyong'o (2R) and Angela Bassett (R) Groundbreaking superhero blockbuster "Black Panther" on Sunday won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards -- a major boost to its campaign for Oscars glory next month. The film won for best ensemble cast, besting musical romance "A Star Is Born," Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman," Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" and rom-com "Crazy Rich Asians." Chadwick Boseman, who plays the title role in what was the top-grossing film in North America in 2018, explained the film's significance alongside his co-stars, nearly all of them black. "We all know what it's like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured, yet you are young, gifted and black," Boseman told the audience at the Shrine Auditorium. "We knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world -- that we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing, that we could create a world that exemplified a world we wanted to see." "Black Panther" also won for best stunt ensemble. This year, the SAG Awards come at a key point in the race to next month's Academy Awards -- just after the Oscars nominations, and well before voting for the winners begins. Despite four nominations, including individual nods for Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, "A Star Is Born" went home empty-handed The Screen Actors Guild accounts for a major percentage of the 8,000-odd Oscar voters, so the SAG winners will earn a lot of awards season momentum. Despite four nominations, "A Star Is Born" -- the latest iteration of the classic Tinseltown story of an aging star and the ingenue he discovers -- went home empty-handed. One major absentee at the 25th edition of the SAG Awards was Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma" -- the top Oscar nomination getter was left out of SAG contention. - Sure bets and surprises - Glenn Close won the SAG Award (known as the Actor) for best actress for "The Wife" -- she is now the one to beat for the Oscar While SAG-winning casts have only gone on to win a best picture Oscar about half the time, the awards are better at predicting best actor winners (79 percent) and best actress (75 percent). Glenn Close solidified her frontrunner status in the race for the best actress Oscar with a win for her searing work in "The Wife." So far this awards season, she has also won a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award. For best actor, Rami Malek's star-making turn as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody" was rewarded -- over Christian Bale's work in another biopic, as former US vice president Dick Cheney in "Vice." "I just never in my wildest dreams thought I could be in a category with these men," said Malek, who also won a Golden Globe for the role and is nominated for an Oscar. "Green Book" star Mahershala Ali takes home the SAG Award for best supporting actor -- and solidified his position as the man to beat at next month's Oscars Mahershala Ali ("Green Book") continued his march to the Oscars by taking the best supporting actor trophy for his work in civil rights dramedy "Green Book." Ali -- already a Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award winner -- stars as Don Shirley, a black pianist who hires a white Italian-American driver (Viggo Mortensen) to help him on a tour of the segregated American South in the 1960s. "I am just really grateful to be amongst this fraternity of people, amongst this fraternity of artists who have the good fortune of getting to deal and wrestle with the human condition and trying to do that responsibly," he said. Emily Blunt wins the SAG Award for best supporting film actress in "A Quiet Place" -- which was directed by her actor-husband John Krasinski Emily Blunt meanwhile pulled off a major upset, winning the statuette for best supporting actress for "A Quiet Place," an innovative horror film directed by her husband and co-star, John Krasinski. "Thank you for giving me the part -- you would have been in major trouble if you hadn't," she quipped at Krasinski. "You are a stunning filmmaker." On the television side, NBC's popular "This Is Us" won top honors for best drama ensemble cast for the second year in a row, while popular Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel" swept the three prizes in the comedy categories. Jason Bateman won best actor honors for dark Netflix drama "Ozark," while Sandra Oh triumphed for her work on BBC America drama "Killing Eve." And Tom Hanks presented a lifetime achievement award to veteran actor Alan Alda, the star of the long-running TV comedy "M*A*S*H" who revealed last year that he is battling Parkinson's disease. Alan Alda took home the Screen Actors Guild lifetime achievement award -- and earned a standing ovation "It may never have been more urgent to see the world through another person's eyes than when a culture is divided so sharply," Alda said to a rapt audience. "Actors can help, at least a little, just by doing what we do. (...) It can't solve everything, but it wouldn't hurt." Today's Birthday, January 29: Germaine Greer, Australian writer, academic and a prominent second-wave feminist (1939 ) Germaine Greer, the firebrand author and major voice of second-wave feminism, became a household name in the 1970's with her international bestselling book. Now in her 70s, the public polemicist continues to court controversy and divide opinion. Greer recently sparked fervent outrage when she called for more lenient sentences for rapists while promoting her text On Rape, which claims women of the #MeToo movement "spread their legs" to get movie roles. Before this she told an interviewer that transgender women are "not women". Despite the backlash, many women still hold her seminal text The Female Eunuch up with reverence, saying the book completely changed their life. Greer was born in 1939 in Melbourne and attended university in both Sydney and Melbourne. While completing a PhD in English Literature at Newnham College Cambridge, she became a member of their famous dramatic club Footlights. In her book The Female Eunuch (1970), Greer challenged women's traditional role in society and argued against historical female castration. Some of her books include The Obstacle Race: The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work in 1979, Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility in 1984, and Shakespeare's Wife in 2007. In The Change: Women, Ageing and the Menopause in 1992, Greer attacked medical interventions like hormone replacement therapy and argued against the notion that women should fall into the background as they get older. Never fond of biographies, Greer described her own biographer Christine Wallace as a "parasite" and a "brain-dead hack" after publication of Untamed Shrew in 1997. Australian writer Elizabeth Kleinhenz took on the subject of Greer's life in 2018, unpacking what she describes as "one of the most important radical and controversial women of 20th and 21st-century feminism", in her book The Life of Germaine Greer. Greer's marriage to English lecturer Paul du Feu in 1968 lasted three weeks in which she later told Andrew Denton in 2003 she was unfaithful seven times. She sold her archive in 2013 to the University of Melbourne for a reported $3 million, donating the proceeds to her Rainforest charity. In 2016 Greer was recognised as one of the most influential women from the past seven decades by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour Power List. Victoria has retained its position as Australia's top economy for a third straight quarter, although NSW's consistency across the board means the state rivals are now sharing first place. CommSec's quarterly State of the States economic report, released on Tuesday, shows NSW ended Victoria's six-month sole run at the top of the rankings despite not taking first place in any of the eight indicators. Victoria ranked first in terms of economic growth, retail trade, unemployment and construction work done, but NSW was consistently strong across the board and was second-ranked on six indicators. NSW was No.2 for economic growth, retail spending, equipment spending, construction work, dwelling starts and unemployment. "In NSW, the trend unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent hasn't been bettered in monthly records going back to 1978," CommSec chief economist Craig James said. Victoria overtook NSW in retail spending, but it also fell two places in the relative ranking on dwelling starts. The ACT's move from No.6 to No.1 in terms of dwelling starts helped it close the gap on the top two, which face challenges due to their weakening property markets. Tasmania's first place for relative population growth and second place for housing finance growth kept it in fourth place, followed by South Australia (No.5) and Queensland (No.6). The Northern Territory and Western Australia switched places in the only other change to the rankings, the latter slipping to the bottom of the pile due to its worsening jobs market. In fact, the NT lagged all other states and territories on six of eight indicators. COMMSEC'S STATE OF THE STATES RANKINGS 1= (1) VICTORIA 1= (2) NSW Australia's two most populous states benefit from solid population growth and strong job markets, which drive retail spending and business investment. Victoria ranked first on economic growth, retail trade, unemployment and construction work done, but NSW was consistently strong and was second-ranked on six of eight indicators. 3 (3) ACT The ACT remained in the third spot but edged closer to Victoria and NSW thanks to its top ranking on housing finance and dwelling starts, as well as its second place on relative population growth 4 (4) TASMANIA Tasmania ranked first on relative population growth as well as business investment and was second in terms of housing finance growth. 5 (5) SOUTH AUSTRALIA South Australia was third on business investment and overall construction work done, but there was weakness elsewhere with a sixth placing on three indicators 6 (6) QUEENSLAND The Sunshine State's key area of strength was new dwelling starts, but it was sixth on unemployment and seventh on business investment. 7 (8) WESTERN AUSTRALIA WA was seventh or eighth on all indicators except equipment spending, which has now been growing in annual terms for 18 months. WA placed sixth in that category. 8 (7) NORTHERN TERRITORY The NT was third-ranked on economic growth but lagged all other states and territories on six of eight indicators. (* previous quarterly rankings in brackets) The coalition government is promising to create 1.25 million jobs over the next five years through its handling of the economy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to unveil the next stage of the government's economic plan during a speech in Brisbane on Tuesday. In the quasi-election campaign speech Mr Morrison confirms a May election while seeking to make economic management a point of contention between the coalition and Labor. "A weaker economy will not produce a fairer Australia," the prime minister will say. "It will not guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on. "Protecting the strength of our economy and setting Australia up for continued economic success is central to my plan for the welfare of every single Australian and our future." Key pillars of the coalition's economic plan will be on a strong budget, lowering taxes, supporting small business, as well as reliable and affordable energy. Mr Morrison says half of voters at the election will have experienced a recession during their working lives. "Our economy cannot be taken for granted," he will say. "The economy is real, its impacts are real and most importantly, it's all about people." The prime minister will also point to last month's 5.0 per cent unemployment rate, which he says is the lowest level in more than seven years. Tuesday's speech kicks off Mr Morrison's week in Queensland's southeast, where he is set to make various infrastructure project announcements. Australia's defence minister has taken the rare step of welcoming Japan's increased spending on self-defence forces and its $340 billion build-up of military wares over the next five years. Christopher Pyne acknowledged it was probably the first time an Australian defence minister had responded to such spending by Japan in a positive way. "Australia strongly supports Japan's efforts to build and modernise their sovereign capabilities, and to play a strategic role in the Indo-Pacific that is commensurate with their great economic strength," Mr Pyne told a security conference in Singapore on Monday. Defence Minister Christopher Pyne says there is no proof the detention of a Chinese-Australian writer in Beijing is related to the arrest of two Canadians in China. Yang Hengjun is being held in Beijing on suspicion of endangering China's national security, the same charge levelled against two Canadian men late last year. "I don't see any evidence that the detention of Mr Yang is linked to decisions made by the Australian government in recent times," Mr Pyne told a security forum in Singapore on Monday. "Nor do I see it being linked to the detention of the two Canadians." Mr Pyne held talks in Beijing last week aimed at repairing ties with China, which have been strained since 2017, when Canberra accused the nation of meddling in its affairs. The minister said he spoke to Chinese authorities during his trip to ensure Mr Yang had been well cared for and was being treated fairly and transparently. The arrests of two Canadian citizens - a consultant and a diplomat on unpaid leave - have stoked tensions between China and some western countries in recent weeks. Australia joined international condemnation of their arrests, which are widely seen as retaliation for the arrest in Canada of a top Chinese business executive. Mr Yang, a vocal advocate for democracy and rule of law, has been an Australian citizen since 2002. The 53-year-old had been living in New York as a visiting scholar at Columbia University, before leaving for Guangzhou on January 18. He was prevented from boarding his connecting flight to Shanghai with his wife and daughter, and is said to be under residential surveillance in Beijing, which is similar to home detention. Consulate staff from the Australian embassy in Beijing visited Mr Yang on Friday afternoon. The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) has thrown its support behind controversial superstar Sun Yang who has threatened legal action over claims he allegedly clashed with drug testers and smashed a vial of blood with a hammer. The CSA issued a statement dismissing a report by British newspaper The Sunday Times which claimed Sun was involved in a confrontation with doping officials and broke protocols at an out-of-competition test on September 4 at his home in Zhejiang province. Sun was famously called a "drug cheat" by Australia's Mack Horton at the 2016 Olympics after the Chinese star was banned for three months in 2014 for taking a stimulant. Sun's lawyer Zhang Qihuai issued a statement saying that the newspaper report had "severely damaged Sun Yang's reputation and violated his privacy". "We reserve the right to file a lawsuit against the relevant international media which reported the incident," it said on the state-run Xinhua news agency. The lawyer said testers and the attending nurse had failed to produce authorisation and were rejected by the three-time Olympic gold medallist. A FINA doping panel hearing that investigated the incident ruled in world record holder Sun's favour on January 3. The Sunday Times report said after FINA cleared Sun, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was "furious" and are considering launching an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). But the CSA said the FINA doping panel's probe last month had proven that Sun had not broken any rules. "We believe that the (The Sunday Times) report is not true," the statement said. "The decision made by the FINA anti-doping committee on this case clearly states: 'The doping test performed on September 4, 2018 is ineffective'. "The (doping) agent's certificate and the nurse's practice certificate violated the FINA anti-doping rules and relevant international standards. "The athlete considered the inspection to be illegal and invalid, which led to the inability to complete the inspection." The CSA said the controversial star had co-operated fully with the FINA doping panel during their investigation. "The China Swimming Association has consistently adhered to the firm stance of anti-doping and has zero tolerance for doping issues," it said. "The association will continue to strengthen anti-doping work and strictly abide by anti-doping regulations." The Sunday Times report claimed a confrontation took place at Sun's home when testers arrived in September. "A clash with anti-doping testers ended in him and his security guard using a hammer to smash a sealed vial containing the swimmer's blood," it said. The Sunday Times report said WADA "demanded to know more about the extraordinary events" after FINA cleared Sun and were mulling over a CAS appeal. Nearly one million children are heading to Victorian classrooms this week, with nine new schools open for the first time. In 2019, some 992,400 students will go to school in Victoria, with 554,200 in primary, 420,500 at secondary and others undertaking special education. More than 634,000 will attend a government school up from 620,400 last year. Education Minister James Merlino wished students and teachers the best ahead of the new school year. "We're building a world-class education system so that every student can make the most of school and get the best start in life," he said in a statement on Monday. One hundred new schools are due to open across Victoria over the next eight years, with builders already appointed to start construction on 11 schools scheduled to accept students from 2020. More than 1300 schools will also receive upgrades. There are 1541 government schools across the state, including 1127 primary schools, 82 primary-secondary schools, 247 secondary schools, 81 special schools and four English language schools. Disadvantaged students at 1000 public schools are set to receive free breakfasts and lunches after an election promise by Premier Daniel Andrews to expand the scheme. Tuesday is the first official day of the school year, with some students starting back on Wednesday. SCHOOLS OPENING IN VICTORIA IN 2019 - Preston High School - Prahran High School - South Melbourne Park Primary School - Dohertys Creek P-9 College (Truganina) - Saltwater P-9 College (Point Cook) - Pakenham Primary School - Aitken Hill Primary School (Craigieburn) - Burnside Primary School - Ashley Park Primary School (Doreen) A man has been arrested over the alleged indecent assault of a girl at a gaming arcade in Sydney's CBD. The 11-year-old girl was in the arcade on Hay Street at Haymarket about 2pm on Sunday when she was approached by an unknown man who allegedly indecently assaulted her. The girl told family members who alerted police but her alleged attacker had left the scene. Detectives on Sunday night released CCTV images of a man, described as being of Caucasian appearance and with a shaved head, who they thought could assist with inquiries. A 51-year-old man was arrested at a shopping centre in Darling Harbour about 10am on Monday and taken to Day Street police station. The raids are being seen in political circles as an attempt to silence opponents of the ruling BJP-led regime. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches in connection with alleged irregularities of over Rs 111 crore in construction of memorials and statues in Uttar Pradesh during BSP supremo Mayawatis tenure as chief minister between 2007 and 2012. The raids are being seen in political circles as an attempt to silence opponents of the ruling BJP-led regime. The ED raids come days after the Central agency registered a case over money laundering linked to illegal mining during the government of Ms Mayawatis ally and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Ms Mayawati has been one of the biggest critics of the Narendra Modi government. On Wednesday, she hit out at the Centres plea before the Supreme Court to return the land around the disputed Ayodhya site to its original owners. The BSP supremo is being seen as one of the biggest roadblocks in BJPs aspirations to win a bulk of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh due to her dalit vote bank. Sources said the Central probe agency has filed a case in the statue scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a state vigilance department complaint of 2014. The raids were conducted at seven places, including premises of some officials in Uttar Pradesh and other private people, sources added. The vigilance complaint was filed under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act and it pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the construction of memorials, including statues of BSP founder Kanshi Ram and the partys poll symbol elephant. It was alleged that the said act resulted in the loss of over Rs 111.44 crore to the government exchequer and unlawful gain to public servants and private individuals. The state government headed by Ms Mayawati had built memorials, statues and parks at a cost of over `2,600 crore in Lucknow, Noida and few other places in the state. The UP Lokayukta had earlier indicted Ms Mayawatis two cabinet colleagues Nasmeedunin Siddiqui and Babu Singh Kushwaha, besides 12 BSP MLAs and several others for alleged wrong-doings in the purchase of sandstone for the memorials. On Lokayuktas report, the vigilance department lodged an FIR against them in 2014. The other persons against whom the case was registered include more than 100 engineers and officers of the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, Public Works Department and Noida. Earlier this month, the agency had raided several locations in a money laundering case, registered to probe illegal mining in the state. The case has its links to Samajwadi Party chief Mr Yadav. Mr Yadav and Ms Mayawati had recently forged an alliance to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, the BSP-SP alliance is in direct contest with the BJP in the electorally important state of Uttar Pradesh which is expected to hold the key to next governments formation. Adam Scott is failing to make a move on Farmers Insurance Open leader Justin Rose halfway through the final round of the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines in California. World No.1 Rose started Sunday with a three-shot lead over playing partner Scott but carded three bogeys and a birdie to be two-over-par on his first six holes. Scott failed to capitalise, missing a one-foot par putt on the par-4 fifth hole and has made the turn at even par for the day and 15 under in total - to remain three back of Rose. Englishman Rose bounced back from his early troubles with birdies at the par-4 seventh and par-5 ninth to get back to even for the day and 18-under the card as he heads to the back nine. Scott shares second alongside 2017 champion and final group playing partner Jon Rahm. Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy is a shot back at 14 under sharing fourth with Hideki Matsuyama and Talor Gooch. Scott's countryman Jason Day has made a big move and sits at 13 under having picked up four shots through 12 holes, gunning for his third PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines. Day's fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith is also climbing the leaderboard, five under on his round and 10-under overall. Sydney native Matt Jones is a shot futher back at nine under, one shot ahead of eight-time Torrey Pines winner Tiger Woods. Rounding out the Australian contingent are Marc Leishman (three under), Cameron Davis (two under) and John Senden (even par). Australia's Defence Minister Christopher Pyne is set to call on China to act with greater responsibility in the South China Sea and avoid the "might is right" approach to diplomacy used by isolationist regimes like Russia. Mr Pyne will also stress in a keynote address to the 2019 Fullerton Forum in Singapore on Monday that no country wants to stifle China's growth and prosperity in the region, which is playing "host to the defining great power rivalry of our times between the United States and China". But he will call on it to rethink a "might is right" approach in the South China Sea as that has eroded regional confidence and increased anxiety. "On the other hand, resolving disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law would build confidence in China's willingness to support and champion a strategic culture that respects the rights of all states," Mr Pyne will say. "As the exhortation goes, "to those that much is given, much is expected", similarly for nation states, for those with great power comes great responsibility, and so I call on China to act with great responsibility in the South China Sea." While he will not directly name Russia, the minister will make a thinly-veiled swipe at its annexation of the Crimea from the Ukraine in 2014 and refer to Vladimir Putin's government as an "oligarchy" that is threatening the international rule of law. "It is under threat from oligarchies who think it is their birth right to simply annex their neighbour at will," Mr Pyne will say, according to a copy of his speech. "It is under threat from countries who treat all of cyber space like their own personal fiefdom, to do with as they will; to take what is not rightfully theirs." Mr Pyne will pledge Australian support for conducting multilateral activities in the South China Sea to demonstrate to China that they are international waters, if required. "In an age of increasing interdependence, a "might is right" approach serves the long-term interests of no country," the minister will say. "We fall short of our economic potential when parties choose to withdraw behind walls and withdraw from mechanisms designed to make us stronger. "Australia envisages a region that is more closely integrated and where we all collectively reject isolationism." Mr Pyne will also shrug off previous suggestions of a potential "cold war" between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific. "It's a simplistic and unsophisticated characterisation of what is a much more complex and dynamic geostrategic paradigm," he will say. "Any division of the region into Cold War-like blocs is doomed to failure, since it would necessitate false choices between prosperity and security." But Mr Pyne said the ongoing rivalry between the US and China will be a feature of the international outlook "in the foreseeable future". Federal coalition MPs considering stepping down ahead of this year's election are being urged to consider the impact their choices could have on the government's chances of re-election. Former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson made the appeal in The Australian on Monday after three government ministers revealed they will step down at the next poll within the space of a week. "I deeply believe that members of the coalition should consider very carefully what they should do, as well as what they would like to do," Mr Anderson told the paper. She's dodged rumors about her love life for more than a decade. And Kourtney Kardashian's rumored new beau Luka Sabbat confirmed the pair are 'definitely not dating' during an interview with The Cut. The 39-year-old reality television star sported a casual sweater and jeans combo to meet her grandmother in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. Still single: Kourtney Kardashian's rumored new beau Luka Sabbat confirmed the pair are 'definitely not dating' during an interview with The Cut Kourtney stepped out wearing black denim slacks with frayed hems revealing snakeskin heels. Her beige turtleneck top featured long sleeves and was tucked in to reveal her slender waistline. She blocked the bright sun from her face as she made her way across the parking lot carrying just an iPhone in one hand. Out and about: The 39-year-old reality television star sported a casual sweater and jeans combo to meet her grandmother in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon Opting to keep her makeup minimal, the eldest of the Kardashian brood wore her dark brown hair straight to her shoulders. After being spotted out and about with model Luka Sabbat last fall, rumors swirled that the pair were romantically involved. Luca, 21, clarified that while he wanted a girlfriend, he was definitely not dating' the mother-of-three. Slim pins: Kourtney stepped out wearing black denim slacks with frayed hems revealing snakeskin heels Luka joined the Kardashian/Jenner clan in Aspen, Colorado during their family ski vacation earlier this month. While on holiday, Kourtney posted a picture of the handsome Grown-ish actor rocking a hat that said 'Kardashian' in gold letters. She's known for keeping her family close and has a positive co-parenting relationship with her ex, Scott Disick. The two share three children; Mason, nine, Penelope, six, and Reign, four. Neal James - known as Banjo Man - has died at the age of 55 on Friday. The star of The Call Of The Wildman on Animal Planet passed away from natural causes at the Isaiah House in Willisburg, Kentucky, according to the Washington County coroner. Prior to his death, James had been battling heart issues for years. R.I.P: Neal James - known as Banjo Man - has died at the age of 55 on Friday James was working at the Isaiah House helping people battle substance when the death occurred. He became a sensation on the show after it highlighted his friendship with Turtle Man Ernie Brown Jr. A Facebook page dedicated to the musician read: With great sorrow, we announce the passing of a great one today. Neal James passed away peacefully this morning. A while back he said hes seen the other side and 'Its Beautiful'? Cause: The star of The Call Of The Wildman on Animal Planet passed away from natural causes at the Isaiah House in Willisburg, Kentucky, according to the Washington County coroner Today, he was not afraid ... he was ready and he was welcomed. You folks have no idea what you meant to him. Thank you for putting a smile on Neals face, he loved you all.' 'In his spirit, be kind, loving and genuine,' the post added. James had recently suffered a heart attack that prompted him to thank his family and friends for their support on Facebook as well. The Call of the Wildman aired from 2011 to 2014. Matt LeBlanc was down to his last $11 before he got his gig on Friends. The actor, 51, revealed that before he was cast as Joey Tribbiani in the hit 90s sitcom he considered working as a waiter as he was struggling to find an acting job and was running out of money. Appearing on TBS talk show Conan, with Conan O'Brien, on Thursday, he said: 'I was down to $11, that's holding out too long. Down to his last $11 bucks: Matt LeBlanc revealed he was nearly broke when he landed the Friends gig in 1994 when he appeared on TBS talk show Conan, with Conan O'Brien, Thursday 'Because even if I said at that point, "Alright, I'm going to go get a waiter job," ' the $11 would've run out before the first pay cheque arrived he explained. 'I would have starved.' The Episodes star also opened up about the frugal way he fixed his teeth when a photographer taking his headshot suggested he should have dental work. Matt explained: 'He said, "Before we take this, you might want to go get that tooth filed." I go, "What are you talking about?" 'He said, "One tooth is a little longer than the other one. You should go get that filed."' Hard times: The actor, 51, revealed that before he was cast as Joey Tribbiani in the hit 90s sitcom he considered working as a waiter as he was running out of money Matt didn't have dental insurance to cover the procedure, so he did it himself, revealing: 'I go to the drug store and buy a three pack of emery boards. I'm very frugal. [The photographer] goes, "They did a nice job!" ' Matt, who starred on the hit NBC show for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, recently confessed that although he would enjoy a reunion with cast mates Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, he feared he way too old now to reprise his Friends role. 'I understand that people really want to see that reunion,' he told 973FM's Bianca, Terry And Bob Show, based in Brisbane, Australia, last February. 'But that show was about a finite period in these six characters' lives, between 20 and 30.' DIY job: The Episodes star also opened up about the frugal way he fixed his teeth when a photographer taking his headshot suggested he should have dental work Who needs a dentist: 'I'm very frugal,' the star told Conan. 'I go to the drug store and buy a three pack of emery boards' to file the tooth down And he quipped to the co-hosts: 'I don't think anyone wants to see Joey at his colonoscopy! I think it's better for people to just leave it.' While Friends has been off the air for nearly 15 years, it made headlines in December when it was reported that Netflix had shelled out $100 million to keep the sitcom on the streaming service. It had been paying $30 million a year to WarnerMedia since 2015 for the show, but when fans noticed it was set to leave on January 1, Netflix responded. 'The Holiday Armadillo has granted your wish: Friends will still be there for you in the US throughout 2019,' Netflix announced Monday via Twitter. Cast mates: Matt, top left, with co-stars, clockwise David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry in Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004 She recently opened up about her challenging break-up on her new show. But proving she is now back to her best, Vicky Pattison shared an array of sexy selfies before heading out on the town with her pals on Friday night. The 31-year-old TV presenter put on a saucy display for her followers as she posed in a black bra while getting ready for her evening out. Wow! Vicky Pattison shared an array of sexy selfies before heading out on the town with her pals on Friday night Pouting for the camera, Vicky shared a boomerang clip of herself showcasing her more than ample cleavage. Vicky opted for maximum glamour, wearing a signature full coat of make-up and sleeking her hair up into a voluminous ponytail. Before heading out of the door, Vicky changed into a statement yellow power suit, which she had previously given her followers a glimpse of earlier in the week. During a clip she posted on Instagram, Vicky joked that she was 'all dressed up with nowhere to go', due to her friends being delayed because of the snow. Statement suit: Before heading out of the door, Vicky changed into a statement yellow power suit, which she had previously given her followers a glimpse of earlier in the week The night out comes after Vicky recently revealed she has signed up to celebrity dating app Raya, but admitted she's been put on their waiting list. Raya, also known as Tinder for A-listers, is a members' only app which charges a fee for use and access. 'Right, listen to this I tried to get on, have yous heard of Raya? Its like this special one for people in the industry', she said. 'I heard Jeremy Piven was on it and I love Mr. Selfridge so I thought, Im gonna get meself on that, and get meself back out there. And they waitlisted us', a shocked Vicky shared. Disappointment: In November, the TV personality was left heartbroken after the businessman was caught cheating during his Dubai getaway Vicky said: 'I'm not ready for a boyfriend but I am ready to sit with a man and have some interest again. It would be nice if someone told me I'm pretty... 'I'm open to the idea of meeting someone and getting to know someone. My DMs are pretty lit! Mostly very strange d**k pics. I screenshot that and send it to my girls chat so FYI any lads out there sending me dick pics! All my girls see them!' Vicky admitted she has been hitting the town more often, saying: 'When you're single you do go out more. I think that's natural and it was a nice distraction to be out and be around people, When your sad the devil does make idle work... 'I get sent LOTS of d**k pics!' The brunette beauty recently revealed she's received some crass advances from men in an interview with MailOnline Moving on: 'I'm not ready for a boyfriend but I am ready to sit with a man and have some interest again', she shared (pictured with John in June 2017) 'I exhausted myself. I slept better when I was tired and I stood by what I believed in.' As well as her renewed love life, she said of the current state of affairs with her former fiance: 'I don't think about him anymore. I don't know that man. He's rang me a couple of times since. Unfortunately we own a house together... 'He's very keen to get the money out of this house and have his ring back and just wanting to move on with his life. I think the ring is cursed, mate... 'I haven't wanted to see him, it's still very raw and very sore and the thought of sitting down with him to discuss our financials is making me very anxious and very stressed. I don't think I'm ready for that.' Tune in to Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Lucy, weekdays from 6am 9am. Anna Kendrick revealed on Friday that she had been hospitalized for kidney stones. The 33-year-old actress took to Twitter to share her thanks to the Atlanta doctors and nurses that cared for her during her stay. 'So, I need to give a shout out to the Atlanta doctors and nurses who helped me through my first experience with kidney stones when I was at my most vulnerable and terrified,' she began her series of Tweets. Scroll down for video Health battle: Anna Kendrick revealed on Friday that she had been hospitalized for kidney stones in Atlanta, Georgia Giving her thanks: The 33-year-old actress took to Twitter to share her thanks to the Atlanta doctors and nurses that cared for her during her stay 'Especially the truly wonderful ladies: Renee, Sandra, Muriel, Beverly, Ashley, Nina, Callie, and the young woman whose name started with "L"?? I can't remember' She continued: 'In fairness, you were one of the people giving me the heavy s*** right before I went under but you laughed at my tired a** "If I die, clear my search history" joke and I appreciate that.' The Simple Favor star added that she didn't know how severe her illness was and was concerned something that she shouldn't be complaining about. 'I was worried that my pain would turn out to be "nothing serious" or something that I should have been able to fight through,' she continued. 'I'm so grateful to these women. Even if we only interacted for a moment, know that the attention and kindness you give your patients is so appreciated.' Funny lady: Anna still ensured she had a sense of humor during the horrible hospitalization Didn't think it was anything too bad: The Simple Favor star added that she didn't know how severe her illness was and was concerned something that she shouldn't be complaining about And it wasn't long before fans took to the social media to send Anna get well messages and words of support. 'One of the reasons I appreciate you is cause you are so respectful towards the people around you and it's a rare thing for someone to publicly acknowledge such a thing.I hope that you'll get better soon and that you'll always be surrounded by supportive people in a difficult time,' commented one fan. Back in 2015, Anna told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show that before she turned 30, she was trying to make some healthier food choices. 'I've been trying to be more healthy, and oh, it's the worst,' she said jokingly. 'The worst part is I feel so much better. Like, that's the worst part it works! I was really hoping that I would just do it as an experiment and I would feel the same and I could just go back to eating Taco Bell whenever I wanted.' She's currently starring as Fantine in the BBC adaptation of Les Miserables. And Lily Collins was world's away from her on-screen character as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday after a visit to a holistic studio. The British-born star, 29, was in good spirits as she strolled along a rainy California street dressed in a khaki green raincoat and grey jeans. Radiant: Lily Collins was world's away from her Les Miserables character as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday after a visit to a holistic studio She teamed her attire with black combat boots and slung a leather handbag over her shoulder while protecting herself from the downpour with a black umbrella. The brunette beauty showed off a glimpse of her dyed locks under her hood and went make-up free for the low-key outing. Lily's beaming smile may be the result of her successful visit to the holistic practice which is thought to increase the flow of energy in the body allowing emotional, physical and spiritual healing. Style: The British-born star, 29, was in high spirits as she strolled along a rainy California street dressed in a khaki raincoat and grey jeans Wrapped up: She teamed her attire with black combat boots and slung a leather handbag over her shoulder while protecting herself from the downpour with a black umbrella The busy star, who is the daughter of musician Phil Collins, is playing Ted Bundy's longtime girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, aka Liz Kendall in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile alongside Zac Efron. And she told Variety earlier this month what motivated her to take the part in the thriller: 'When I first read the script and realised that the story had so much to do with Elizabeth, his love interest in the film and also partner in life, I was so interested to get behind somebody who was silenced for so long and to be able to tell a story from her perspective and give a voice.' Co-stars: The busy star is set to star alongside Zac Efron in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile - a biopic about serial killer Ted Bundy (pictured January 2019) And that's not all where Lily's portrayal of real-life characters end, she will next be seen in the film Tolkien opposite Nicholas Hoult, a biographical drama of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R Tolkein. Lily portrays Edith Bratt, Tolkein's wife and muse who inspired his characters, Luthien Tinuviel and Arwen Evenstar. The Mirror Mirror actress has also appeared in musician Arty's video for his track Save Me Tonight earlier this month. She kept up her glamorous appearances throughout her time on TOWIE. And Lydia Bright, 29, broke her series of flawless Instagram posts to share a hilarious hangover snap with her fans on social media on Friday. A far cry away from the picture-perfect world of the red carpet, the former TOWIE star posed with a furry blanket around her while sat on the sofa. Not feeling so Bright! Lydia posted a hilarious hangover snap as she wrapped up in a blanket and waits for takeaway on Friday after very boozy night out While she was hungover, Lydia still ensured her make-up was on point as she enhanced her features with defining brush strokes. She captioned the post: 'Just touched down in London Town with a stinking hangover from last nights wrap party. 'Waiting patiently for the curry house to open and my house to warm up.' Recently, the former TV star was a vision in white gown when she tread the red carpet with fellow reality stars for the National Television Awards (NTAs). Nothing she can't do! Recently, the former TV star was a vision in white gown when she tread the red carpet with fellow reality stars for the National Television Awards (NTAs) Lydia's Instagram comes after she announced her split from her boyfriend of three years Lee Cronin despite the pair discussing marriage plans just three months ago. Taking to Instagram just days before, the Essex beauty told fans that her relationship with Lee, just 'didn't work out,' and added that it 'the hardest thing' to call it quits. Accompanying the post with a lovely snap of her posing in front of a gorgeous sun, Lydia wrote: 'Sometimes relationships don't work out but having time away to reflect on how lucky I am in my life, what I have achieved and who I have around me fills my heart with so much love. She's so stylish: The former TV star broke her series of flawless Instagram posts (pictured) which she usually treats her admirers to 'Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. Here is to my next chapter.' In discussion with Hello!, Lydia previously gushed about her man saying that they had already discussed marriage and starting a family. She said: 'We've had talks about marriage and having a family. We want to get in the house first, get settled but they are our future plans, definitely. 'When you know, you know. When me and Lyd met we clicked so well in every way. We're so close. Often things fizzle out, but not with us.' Opposition had asked the government to take up only those bills that were not controversial in Parliament during the Budget Session. PM Narendra Modi shares a lighter moment with Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Narendra Singh Tomar and Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad at an all-party meet in New Delhi. (Photo: Pritam Bandyopadhyay) New Delhi: The Opposition parties have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to not present any controversial bills in Parliament during the Budget session. This was conveyed to the Prime Minister during an all party meeting held on Thursday, a day before the interim budget is presented before Parliament. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the government has assured that it is going to present an interim budget on February 1. Opposition had asked the government to take up only those bills that were not controversial in Parliament during the Budget Session. We should take up only those bills which are not controversial... on which there is total unanimity, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha said. Mr Azad said it would be difficult for Parliament to function if the government pushes for contentious bills. During the all-party meeting, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek OBrien raised six issues. The TMC leaders said that once the Presidents address and budget discussions got over, there would only be a few hours left for discussion. They said that the issue of jobs and famer distress should be discussed during that time. They questioned why the government had listed as many as 48 bills to be discussed in just 240 minutes. Why has Government listed 48 Bills in 240 minutes? Only 5 minutes per Bill!, they said. Echoing Mr Azads sentiments, the two leaders said that the government should refrain from presenting controversial bills. Government will be responsible for disruptions if they list contentious Bills, the TMC leaders said. They also said that the TMC would raise the issue of misuse of the CBI. CBI is being misused against political opponents. This will be raised strongly by us and other Opposition parties, Mr OBrien said. Ellen Page has blasted U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence, accusing them of discriminating against the gay community and stoking homophobia. Speaking in the wake of the attack on actor Jussie Smollett, the openly gay actress said: 'It feels impossible to not feel this way right now with the president and the vice president, Mike Pence, who wishes I coudn't be married,' she said. 'Let's just be clear, the vice president of America wishes I didn't have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in conversion therapy, he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana.' Passionate Ellen Page blasts Trump and Mike Pence for 'promoting homophobia' in wake of Jussie Smollett attack; she spoke on the The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Thursday Target: Vice-President Mike Pence, left, and President Donald Trump were singled out by Ellen for their views on gay rights Ellen, 31, married her wife Emma Porter last year. Speaking on the The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Thursday, Ellen continued her 'fired up' speech by addressing what Smollett told police was a racist and homophobic attack by two masked men in downtown Chicago earlier this week. 'Connect the dots. This is what happens,' she said. 'If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering, what do you think is going to happen? 'Kids are going to be abused and they're going to kill themselves and people are going to be beaten on the street.' Angry: Ellen continued her 'fired up' speech by addressing what Smollett told police was a racist and homophobic attack by two masked men in downtown Chicago earlier this week Empowered: Actress Ellen said she was lucky to have such a powerful platform in which to share her views Actress Ellen said she was lucky to have such a powerful platform in which to share her views. 'I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you can meet,' she told Colbert. 'I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to f*cking stop.' And she also addressed the narrow-mindedness of Hollywood, saying: 'There is some progress, there is some more representation but honestly, I really think we need to hurry up. It's not cutting it.' Heidi Klum can get by with just about any style thanks to her nearly 6ft tall frame and her striking looks. And on Friday the 45-year-old pushed the boundaries with a rocker chic look. The supermodel appeared in a fun video to promote her new season of Germany's Next Top Model. The leggy wonder also spoke to DailyMail.com about how she used her 29-year-old fiance Tom Kaulitz's new song Melancholic Paradise from his band Tokio Hotel for her promo video. The song dropped Friday. Rock on: Heidi Klum can get by with just about any style thanks to her nearly 6ft tall frame and her striking looks. And on Friday the 45-year-old pushed the boundaries with a rocker chic look for a video So global: The supermodel was promoting her show Germany's Top Model They have a bond: The leggy wonder also spoke to DailyMail.com about how she used her fiance Tom Kaulitz's new song Melancholy Paradise for her promo video Heidi is the creator and host of Germanys Next Top Model which will premiere its 14th season on February 7. Heidi told DailyMail.com, 'I see Tom making new music all the time. When I heard Melancholic Paradise, I loved it immediately and asked if I could use the song for my opener for the new season of Germanys Next Top Model. And here it is.' As far as her video, she says she really enjoyed trying on so many new looks. 'It was a lot of fun slipping into all these different outfits and hairdos for the promo video dancing along to my mans song. This video was shot by my dear friend photographer and director Rankin,' said the Vogue model. Fun times: As far as her video, she liked trying on so many new looks. 'It was a lot of fun slipping into all these different outfits and hairdos for the promo video dancing along to my mans song' Back story: Heidi told DailyMail.com, 'I see Tom making new music all the time. When I heard Melancholic Paradise, I loved it immediately and asked if I could use the song for my opener for the new season of Germanys Next Top Model. And here it is' The show this season will be different. 'For the first time, I dont have permanent judges on the show,' she said. 'Instead, there are new guest judges each week who are industry professionals like Gisele Bundchen, Winnie Harlow, fashion designer Christian Cowan, Paris Hilton, famous male model Jordan Barrett, the amazing photographer Ellen von Unwerth, Rankin and many more. New move: The show this season will be different. 'For the first time, I dont have permanent judges on the show,' she said Big names: 'Instead, there are new guest judges each week who are industry professionals like Gisele Bundchen, Winnie Harlow, fashion designer Christian Cowan, Paris Hilton, famous male model Jordan Barrett, the amazing photographer Ellen von Unwerth, Rankin,' she said 'The girls love getting to meet so many incredible people in the industry and take in their advice. Theyre always so excited to see who the next guest judge is going to be! 'Its exciting to be on this journey together with these industry professionals in finding Germanys Next Top Model! We have a lot of fun moments in store for you all to see on season 14.' Several of her her looks were eye-catching but there was one in particular that stood out. New faces: 'The girls love getting to meet so many incredible people in the industry and take in their advice. Theyre always so excited to see who the next guest judge is going to be!' she said The star had on a black bra and black high-waisted undies with a leather motorcycle jacket and over-the-knee boots that laced up the front. There was also a fringe shirt that did little to hide her flesh. And she wore her blonde hair down with heavy black eyeliner. She also modeled several other fun looks that proved she can morph into just about anything, including a white fringe jumper and an all-pleather suit. Villain look: Klum wore a pleather jacket and slacks with pointy boots for this image Keeping Up Appearances star Clive Swift, who famously played Hyacinth Bucket's long-suffering husband Richard, has sadly died aged 82. The classically-trained actor starred in 42 episodes of the cult British sitcom, including two shorts, from 1990-1995. The show, written by Roy Clarke, was a huge hit and told the story of eccentric and snobby middle class social climber, Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge). Keeping Up Appearances star dead aged 82: Fans pay tribute to Clive Swift, (right) who was best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket's long-suffering husband Richard Frustrations: The show follows Hyacinth in her attempts to rise through the social classes, always exasperated by her family, who she considers to be of a much lower social standing Actor James Dreyfus tweeted a tribute to Clive, calling him an 'extremely talented, subtle actor' Clive played Mr Copper in the Voyage of the Damned episode of Doctor Who The show follows Hyacinth in her attempts to rise through the social classes, always exasperated by her family, who she considers to be of a lower social standing. Rover driving Richard would regularly roll his eyes over Hyacinth's irritations whenever her surname was pronounced Bucket instead of Bouquet as she preferred. In 2014, he told The Express: 'I was reluctant to accept the part of Richard until it hit me that Roy Clarke also wrote Last Of The Summer Wine. 'Patricia and I got on very well; shes from Birkenhead not too far from my birthplace. 'Like me shes very musical and plays the piano and she was very loyal to me. That show is the only proper money Ive earned, because it was a global success and its given me a good pension that I might never have had.' Missed: Tributes to Clive to appeared on social media on Friday, when the news was released As well as Keeping Up With Appearances, Clive also starred in Midsomer Murders, as well as a BBC adaptation of The Barchester Chronicles. In December 2007, he appeared in the most watched ever Doctor Who Christmas special as Mr Copper, alongside Kylie Minogue, with around 13million viewers. One stand out moment for Clive was an interview with Doctor Who Magazine in 2007, which drew much attention due to his grumpy demeanour while discussing his character in Voyage of the Damned. Hilarious: The show follows Hyacinth, (Patricia Routledge) in her attempts to rise through the social classes as her exasperated husband, Richard watches on RIP: As well as Keeping Up With Appearances, Clive also starred in Midsomer Murders, as well as a BBC adaptation of The Barchester Chronicles Happier times: Clive was married to novelist Margaret Drabble between 1960 and 1975 and was father to daughter Rebecca, who sadly passed away in April 2017 from cancer Fans of the show were left tickled by the actor, who roasted the journalist by asking: 'Don't you know shorthand? Why should I do this? I'm not getting paid, am I?' When asked about his character, the star countered: 'You don't need me to tell you that. Have you read the script? That's what I perform. You can tell them about my character. What a silly question.' 'One of the saddest things about the passing of the charming old character actor Clive Swift is that, in his absence, there'll be no obvious candidate to play the vicar at his funeral.' Star: In December 2007, he appeared in the most watched ever Doctor Who Christmas special as Mr Copper, alongside Kylie Minogue, with around 13million viewers Former role: In 1989, he starred alongside Helen Mirren and David Suchet in Cause Celebre Clive was married to novelist Margaret Drabble between 1960 and 1975 and was father to daughter Rebecca, who sadly passed away in April 2017 from cancer. She was said to have inherited her passion for theatre and music from her father. His son Joe, 53, is best known for appearing on Gardeners' World and other botanical series. His other son Adam is a political philosopher and sociologist. Clive's brother David - who passed away aged 86 in 2016 - was also an actor, and starred in the likes of Drop the Dead Donkey and War and Peace. Meanwhile, tributes to Clive started to appear on social media on Friday, when the news was released. Fans wrote: 'RIP Clive Swift. And I've only just learned that he was, for a while, married to Margaret Drabble... 'RIP Clive Swift... Oh. Richard. Sorry to hear of the passing of Clive Swift... Sad news about Clive Swift...' 'One of the saddest things about the passing of the charming old character actor Clive Swift is that, in his absence, there'll be no obvious candidate to play the vicar at his funeral.' He starred in many other roles: In 1974, Clive starred as Alfred E. Huggins in TV mini-series South Riding Their husbands founded a billion dollar tequila company. And Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney seemed to be enjoying a night out without the boys in Los Angeles on Thursday. Cindy, 52, rocked a chic white blazer for dinner in Studio City while Amal followed closely behind wearing a gilded coat for an evening of fun with her gal pal. Ladies night: Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney seemed to be enjoying a night out without the boys in Los Angeles on Thursday Cindy looked to be in good spirits wearing a long black blouse underneath her eye-popping white blazer. Her perfectly coiffed brunette hair was worn straight past her shoulders with just a subtle hint of makeu. The supermodel carried a small black clutch in one hand, flashing off her sparkling wedding ring as she hurried to a chauffeur-driven car with Amal. Beautiful: Cindy, 52, rocked a chic white blazer for dinner in Studio City while Amal followed closely behind wearing a gilded coat for an evening of fun with her gal pal Mrs. Clooney, 40, wore a crisp white shirt underneath a gilded leather coat to dine out with her friend. The mother of one-year-old twins Alexander and Ella wore her luscious brown hair in loose waves. Rande Gerber and George Clooney became fast friends in 2013 with their Casamigos Tequila partnership. Ticket to ride: The supermodel carried a small black clutch in one hand, flashing off her sparkling wedding ring as she hurried to a chauffeur-driven car with Amal Love: George and Amal were married in 2014 and welcome twins Alexander and Ella in June 2017; seen together in 2015 George and Rande decided to sell their stake in the firm in 2017 to the alcoholic beverage company Diageo, which agreed to pay $700 million to assume control of the brand, with the potential for another $300 million based on its performance over the next decade. In a statement, George - who founded the firm alongside his partners Rande and Michael Meldman in 2013 - said: 'If you asked us four years ago if we had a billion dollar company, I don't think we would have said yes. 'This reflects Diageo's belief in our company and our belief in Diageo. But we're not going anywhere. We'll still be very much a part of Casamigos.' Rande has been married to Cindy since 1998, and the couple share model children Presley, 19, and Kaia, 17. Curtis Pritchard has returned to Ireland to compete on the Irish edition of Dancing With The Stars. Weeks after undergoing surgery on his knee after he was attacked in a nightclub alongside brother AJ, the star, 22, looked in high spirits as he posed against a gold tasselled backdrop on Friday. Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, brother AJ insists he isnt angry that the police have not appeared to make headway catching the men who jumped the brothers, instead choosing to channel positivity from it. Road to recovery: Curtis Pritchard, 22, has returned to Ireland to compete on the Irish edition of Dancing With The Stars AJ admitted: When it comes down to seeing if someones been arrested I am just letting [the police] do their job. Both the NHS and police were fantastic to us when it happened. There is just no point in me wasting energy channelling this into anger - I would rather channel it into positivity. Anger is not worth it. That would be them winning,' he continued. Happy: Weeks after undergoing surgery on his knee after he was attacked in a nightclub alongside brother AJ, the star, 22, looked in high spirits as he posed against a tasselled backdrop Moving on: In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, brother AJ insists he isnt angry that the police have not appeared to make headway catching the men who jumped the brothers Candid: Strictly star AJ told MailOnline that his brother Curtis will be taking part on Dancing With The Stars in Ireland, having undergone surgery for the injuries he sustained in the brawl A month on from the incident, brother AJ admitted that it affected me more than I thought it would. He went on: Its a sad situation. It was senseless violence. But I feel better now. It affected me more than I thought it would. But its been good to open up about it and highlight a situation that you feel like is never going to happen to you. Its been helpful to talk about it, like when we went on This Morning. AJ is, instead, channelling my energy into my job. Looking good: Curtis certainly looked in his element as he posed away at the dance studio in a snazzy shirt and trousers He said: Its a new year. I dont want to reflect on it. Curtis has had surgery - hes fit and healthy and done a little bit of dancing. Hes had physio to strengthen his muscles. He is going back to Ireland to do Dancing With The Stars. And Curtis certainly looked in his element as he posed away at the dance studio in a snazzy shirt and trousers. Upsetting: Curtis and AJ were attacked in a Cheshire nightclub in the lead up to New Year's Eve Horrible: While the police announced they had arrested a 20-year-old male in connection with the crime, he was 'released under investigation pending further enquiries' Curtis and AJ were attacked in a Cheshire nightclub in the lead up to New Year's Eve. While the police announced they had arrested a 20-year-old male in connection with the crime, he was 'released under investigation pending further enquiries'. A spokeswoman for the Cheshire Constabulary told MailOnline on Monday that the case is still open, no further arrests have been made and that the investigation is ongoing. She has been showing off her slimmed-down frame in recent months. So it is little wonder Tanya Burr was dropping jaws on Thursday as she hit the beach in Miami, where she flaunted her remarkably slim frame. The vlogger and actress looked incredible in the ensemble which was simple in design yet given an edgy feel with her hoop earrings and cat-eye sunglasses. Hot stuff: Tanya Burr was dropping jaws on Thursday as she hit the beach in Miami, where she showed off her remarkably slim frame Tanya was keen to show off her stunning frame in the sexy two-piece which comprised of a cupped top with laser-cut, low-slung bottons. She wore her dirty blonde crop in a messy style while keeping her cosmetics to a minimum to best show off her striking good looks. The online sensation has landed a starring role in in the revival of Judy Upton's nineties play Confidence at the Boundless Theatre at the Southwark Playhouse. Wow! The vlogger and actress looked incredible in the ensemble which was simple in design yet given an edgy feel with her hoop earrings and cateye sunglasses Tanya takes the role of Ella in the play that tells the tale of summer working by the seaside and will be the aspiring actress's debut role. She was propelled into the limelight as a British YouTuber making videos about fashion, style and baking. Tanya has been training in drama for the past three years and has just signed with London based acting agency, Waring and McKenna. Sizzling: She was ensuring all eyes were on her as she walked down the sand Red hot! The stunner looked incredibly chic in the ensemble as she strutted along Wrapping up: Tanya pulled a T-shirt over her svelte frame later in the day She shot a film, Disconnect, earlier this year which is due to be released this year. As well as rubbing shoulders with a number of vlogger stars, she married fellow YouTuber Jim Chapman at Babington House, Somerset in September 2015. Sparks flew when they first started dating in 2007 and the couple decided to take their relationship up a knot in December 2012. Sizzling: The online sensation has landed a starring role in in the revival of Judy Upton's nineties play Confidence at the Boundless Theatre at the Southwark Playhouse Hot stuff: Tanya takes the role of Ella in the play that tells the tale of summer working by the seaside and will be the aspiring actress's debut role She starred in the Australia drama-series Mr Inbetween, which became a huge success in the United States. But Brooke Satchwell, 38, said her priority is finding good roles in Australia, and she's not ready to make a permanent move to Hollywood anytime soon. 'I'd happily go over to the US if it meant that I'd come back here and get better projects here,' she told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday. She's staying local! Brooke Satchwell (pictured) reveals why she isn't ready to give up Australia for Hollywood despite her US success ... as she prepares for new gig And it's her commitment to the Australian film and TV industry that's led her to her next local project Down Under, after announcing she'll appear on Network Ten's game show Show Me The Movie! Starring alongside host Rove McManus and co-star Joel Creasey, Brooke will play the role of team captain on the comedy panel-style show. New celebrity guests will appear each week to take part in a high-energy trivia quiz about films. Staying local: Brooke said her priority is finding good roles in Australia, and she's not ready to make a permanent move to Hollywood anytime soon 'It's an amazing opportunity for me,' she said. The former Neighbours star added: 'It's going to be fun to work alongside some mates and talk about movies.' Last year, FX announced it had ordered a six-episode first season of Mr Inbetween for premiere on FX and Foxtel in Australia. New gig: She'll next appear on Network Ten's game show Show Me The Movie! Pictured: (L) Brooke with Show Me The Movie! co-stars (centre) Rove McManus and (R) Joel Creasey) The series, which debuted in September last year, is a half-hour drama inspired by the 2005 cult film The Magician. The Packed To The Rafters star first rose to fame when she appeared in Australian soap-opera Neighbours in 1996. Show Me The Movie! will air on February 8 on Channel 10 at 7.30pm They've had a well-documented tete-a-tete since she started her stint on the ice. And now Jason Gardiner has taken another swipe at Gemma Collins insisting she 'really is not that good' on Dancing On Ice and her behaviour is overshadowing the better skaters on the show. The judge, 53, has been feuding with Gemma, 37, since their furious bust-up on air earlier this month when the TOWIE star accused the dance expert of 'selling stories' on her. Hitting out: Jason Gardiner has taken another swipe at Gemma Collins insisting she 'really is not that good' on Dancing On Ice and her behaviour is overshadowing the better skaters on the show Their war of words has rumbled on ever since and Jason is sick of The GC dominating the ITV programme because her skating is not up to scratch and he would rather the focus was on the stars who are committed to doing well on the rink. Appearing on Friday's the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5, he said: 'It's annoying. 'We've got an amazing line up this year and have people who are so good on the show, and it seems to be all we ever talk about is one particular contestant who really isn't that good on the show as a competitor in terms of what she is physically able to do on the ice. On thin ice: The judge, 53, has been feuding with Gemma, 37, since their furious bust-up on air earlier this month when the TOWIE star accused the dance expert of 'selling stories' on her When asked by Jeremy if she was overshadowing other contestants, he replied: ' Yes, I think unfairly so. We've got Melody [Thornton], Wes [Nelson], quite a few who are starting to breakaway and commit, and they're brilliant...' Jason also admitted that it was a 'surreal' moment when Gemma made unfounded accusations about him live on-air. Speaking about their on air bust-up, he said: 'It was surreal. I have a bad day at the office and it's in front of millions of people. It was an outrageous allegation. 'It was ridiculous it was even brought up on a family show like that.' Jason likes this: The Australian native has gone on a 'liking spree' on Twitter, giving the thumbs up to social media users who have branded Gemma's fall 'karma' Jason also confirmed that he and Gemma, who fell on the ice during her routine with her partner Matt Evers on last week's show, have been kept apart behind the scenes on the show since their row. Meanwhile, the Australian native has gone on a 'liking spree' on Twitter, giving the thumbs up to social media users who have branded Gemma's fall 'karma'. One catty tweet aimed at Gemma, and supporting Jason read: 'Keep going as you are, the likes of Gemma Collins make me sick. She shouldnt be in the show. Vile. You're a brilliant judge and know what you're taking about.' Catty: Another snide tweeter posted - 'Oh @officialJasonG how we all laughed, that's what ya call karma. Just cannot believe she's still there' Another snide tweeter posted: 'Oh @officialJasonG how we all laughed, that's what ya call karma. Just cannot believe she's still there!' Gemma was mostly surrounded by support from social media users on Sunday, but some hit out at her, claiming she was faking it for publicity - something Arg has since vehemently denied. 'Anyone who thinks Gemma faked the fall and risked life-threatening injures is an idiot. She had a feeling that something was going to go wrong on the night... and she was right!' She admitted she was 'devastated, embarrassed and in absolute agony' after her fall when she emerged on Instagram on Monday morning. In pain: Gemma admitted she is 'devastated, embarrassed and in absolute agony' after her Dancing On Ice fall on Sunday night Ouch: Gemma's boyfriend Arg voiced his concern about her injuries as he showed off her bruising on Instagram She compared herself to Tyson Fury after she managed to get up after face-planting the ice during the final moments of her routine to Celine Dion's All Coming Back To Me. Her concerned boyfriend James Argent she showed off her bruised and swollen legs on Instagram on Monday, while Gemma told fans she is 'heartbroken'. Sharing the moment she took a tumble, she wrote: 'Absolutely devastated and embarrassed, My heart is broken but when I went down I thought of Tyson Fury and knew I had to get back up & carry on. Gemma continued: 'Cant thank you enough for your support on social media and picking up the phone to vote! I'm in a lot of pain but bring on fantasy week!!!' TOWIE's James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou are the latest victims of producers' biggest ever cast cull. Insiders have confirmed to MailOnline the couple are stepping back from the ITVBe show after a year of personal dramas which were detailed in the last series. James and Yazmin being downgraded to minor characters means a total of 10 cast members from The Only Way Is Essex won't feature when the 24th season of the reality show returns later this year. Moving on: TOWIE 's James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou have been downgraded to secondary characters on the ITVBe show as producers have executed a huge cull TOWIE bosses are now on the hunt for new characters to feature in the Essex-based programme. A source tole MailOnline: 'Lockie and Yazs turbulent relationship has been well documented and since taking a break at the end of last series they have been working hard on themselves and their relationship... 'They mutually agree with producers that taking an extended break and a back seat is best for them and the show at this time but as two of the shows most popular characters were sure theyll be back onscreen soon.' The pair have been spending their time in Marrakech launching a new health and fitness venture - adding to their diminished role on the show. Friends of the couple added: 'They are currently in and out of Marrakech building a health, fitness and well-being business. 'While working hard to build their brand that theyre both very passionate about, they are also on a health and fitness drive and taking the time to work on their relationship.' On the up: Insiders tell MailOnline, the couple are stepping back from the show following their personal dramas which were detailed in the last series Happy days: A source revealed: 'Lockie and Yazs turbulent relationship has been well documented and since taking a break at the end of last series they have been working hard on themselves and their relationship' MailOnline has contacted representatives for TOWIE, James and Yazmin for comment. Yazmin's brother Adam, Chris Clark, Dean Ralph and Jordan Wright have all been given the boot, whilst Chloe Lewis and Jon Clark both 'mutually agreed' with producers that they wouldn't return for the next series of the show. An ITVBe spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline that stars have been cut from TOWIE, including Myles Barnett and his girlfriend and former Love Island star Kady McDermott - who has only appeared in the reality show for one series. Taking to Instagram after the news was announced, Chloe, Myles and Kady broke their silence on Thursday evening amid ongoing reports. In a heartfelt statement, Chloe said: 'After a long four years on The Only Way Is Essex, I'm happy to announce I have decided to leave the show. My life isn't in it anymore and I feel as if it's the right time for me to move on to other things... Tough times: The couple have been at loggerheads on the show in recent series AXED: Myles Barnett and Kady McDermott are other stars who have departed End of the line: Yazmin's brother Adam Oukhellou, has aldo been axed, because he was 'overshadowed' by bigger personalities Axed: Chris Clark (pictured, right), Adam Oukhellou, Dean Ralph and Jordan Wright have also been given the boot, whilst Chloe Lewis and Jon Clark (pictured, left) both 'mutually agreed' with producers that they wouldn't return for the next series of the show 'I've had a wonderful time being part of the cast on the show and have made friends for life, I really couldn't of got through the last year without my Courtney and Chloe. Absolute true gems! (sic) 'TOWIE has brought me such amazing opportunities and I wouldn't change it for the world. It's taught me so much and made me who I am today... 'Thank you for everyone's amazing support over the years and truly am very grateful. The best thing I've learnt in this crazy world, is to be strong and to follow your heart. So here we go! Here's to 2019 it's gonna be a good one!' (sic) Tiffany Haddish has ruled out hosting the 2019 Academy Awards, in support of her 'brother' Kevin Hart. The Girls Trip star, 39, told Lorraine Kelly that while it would be 'pretty cool' to land the coveted gig, she doesn't think there would be 'enough preparation time.' It comes after her Night School co-star Kevin, 39, was forced to resign from hosting the Oscars after old homophobic tweets had emerged. No thanks: Tiffany Haddish has ruled out the chance she could host the 2019 Academy Awards, in support of her 'brother' Kevin Hart Tiffany told Lorraine: 'That would be cool. It would be nice to have the ying and yang there, that would be cool, but you need proper preparation time. 'Kevin would have been hosting this year if they hadn't tripped him on things that he apologised for,. I've said things, I think before I speak. Nobody's perfect.' Gushing about co-star Kevin she added: 'He's helped me so much I've known him for so long, he's my little big brother.' Tiffany's words came after Kevin was forced to drop out of hosting the Oscars late last year, after historic homophobic tweets from the star resurfaced. Candid: The Hollywood star, 39, told Lorraine Kelly that while it would be 'pretty cool' to host the show, she doesn't think there would be 'enough preparation time' Gone: Kevin stepped down as host of the Oscars last month after homophobic tweets from the star resurfaced - despite his previously apologising for them His statement of resignation came despite Kevin previously apologising for the tweets, and he explained that he was told by the Academy to either apologise again or step down. This has led many viewers to question whether a replacement for Kevin would be found, along with numerous reports that this year's ceremony would go forward without a host. Tiffany rose to public attention in 2017 after being praised by critics for her performance in comedy Girls Trip, and has since landed numerous roles including the voice of Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi in The Lego Movie 2. Open: Tiffany also chatted about her incredible rise to success following her breakout role in 2017's Girl's Trip Sensational: The American actress was also showcasing her statement style in a voluminous green maxi dress, with stunning rainbow underskirts Speaking about her incredible rise to success, Tiffany explained: 'You have to believe in yourself, is the number one thing. I believed I was going to get out of my car, live my best life, and get all of my dreams. 'You can do whatever you decide you want to do, you just have to put in thew work, and then you find people who believe in you and you'll achieve it.' The acclaimed actress added that she thinks Girls Trip helped to end the stereotype that women can't t be funny. 'People try to say girls aren't funny but we're hilarious. There's some handsome men in it too right. 'From my mistakes and I've made many of them I've become a success, and hopefully people sees my mistakes.' Flawless: Tiffany was a guest on the show to chat about her upcoming role in The Lego Movie 2, where she voices Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi The Janata Dal (Secular) chief claimed that he has been 'in pain' ever since his son became the Chief Minister. Gowda demanded that the Congress prevent its legislators from uttering remarks that could hurt their working relationship. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Bengaluru: Pointing towards the cracks widening in Karnatakas coalition government, Janata Dal (Secular) chief Deve Gowda on Thursday condemned the frequency with which Congress legislators were taking potshots at his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and said that he cannot remain silent on the matter anymore. Gowda demanded that the Congress prevent its legislators from uttering remarks that could hurt their working relationship. "Is this any way to run a coalition government? Every day, we have to request our coalition partner to not utter unparliamentary remarks," he said. JD(S) chief said he has been in pain ever since his son became the chief minister. "All kinds of things have happened in these six months. I have not opened my mouth till now, but I can't keep quiet anymore," he added. A few days ago, a visibly offended Kumaraswamy had even offered to quit his post. These warnings issued by Gowda and Kumaraswamy are seen as a reaction to Congress legislator ST Somasekhar's recent remark that Karnataka would have witnessed "real development" if former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had received another term. His party colleague, C Puttarangashetty, went a step further by saying that Siddaramaiah is the only chief minister in his book. On Monday, Kumaraswamy asked its alliance partner to control its lawmakers because they were "crossing the alliance line". "If they want to continue with the same thing, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line," he told reporters, adding that such wayward behaviour will only hurt the alliance partner. The Congress tried to make amends in the hours that followed, with state unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao saying that "statements crossing the lakshmanrekha of coalition politics" will not be tolerated. He also said that Somasekhar has apologised for his remarks. However, Kumaraswamy seems to have calmed down since then. "I'm telling you all as well as the people of the state to have faith in me. Yes, I did say yesterday that I will resign due to certain developments. I said that because a few people were talking against me," he said on Thursday. Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) joined hands to keep BJP out of power after the Karnataka elections. Peter Andre and wife Emily appeared on Lorraine on Friday, where they discussed their extended family. Their interview comes after his ex wife, Katie Price, 40, admitted that the couple had taken their children, Junior, 13 and Princess, 11 in, while she was 'self-medicating' during a series of personal woes. And Emily, 29, said she feels like she has 'settled into a routine' with the children, looking after them at the same time as her children Amelia, five, and Theo, two. Family first: Emily Andre, 29, told Lorraine on Friday she's settled into a routine with husband Peter Andre's children with Katie Price, after the couple took them in during her drugs battle She said: 'It's a difficult one. I think I've got more of a big sister role. Obviously it's about keeping things fair with the young two as well. 'But I think we've cracked it, we've settled into routine.' Katie recently spoke candidly about her past year, in which she was arrested for drink-driving, entered rehab, was caught on camera talking about taking cocaine and going bankrupt. Honest: Katie Price, 40, admitted that the couple had taken their children, Junior, 13 and Princess, 11 in, while she was 'self-medicating' during a series of personal woes (pic: 2017) Speaking about her drug use, she recently said: 'My family and friends were hurt, they didn't know what to do. All these years in the industry I never have [done drugs] but I purely did it to self-medicate, I went to the doctors and told them the truth... 'Self-medicating on drugs really, it was disgusting, but it was my way of dealing with it. At least I can hold my hands up, if I didn't speak out now, I would still be in a rut'. During her dramas, Peter, 45, took their children - Junior, 13, and Princess, 11 - and she now agrees this was the right choice. Like a big sister: Emily, 29, said she feels like she has 'settled into a routine' with Junior and Princess , looking after them at the same time as her children Amelia, five, and Theo, two She said: 'It's a difficult one. I think I've got more of a big sister role. Obviously it's about keeping things fair with the young two as well' She said: 'I get so angry, I put my side of the story online, the kids are back to normal. I dont blame Pete doing what he did at the beginning, my ex Kieran told him I was self-medicating, there's more drama behind that, but everything is back to normal now.' Peter and Emily, who is a doctor were on the show to discuss a campaign which aims to get children to consume less sugar. And Emily revealed Peter is always cooking for her when she is at work, so she always comes home to a nice meal. What a gent: Emily revealed Peter is always cooking for her when she is at work, so she always comes home to a nice meal Happy to see them: Lorraine Kelly was thrilled to have the couple on her show and looked lovely in an orange ensemble She said: 'He always does it for me when I come home from work.' Peter said: 'We're both busy. Some months are full on for me and then you have to hold the fort for a whole month or two which is a whole lot.' Emily added: ' I don't mind, it's balance out because when I'm at work he always cooks and looks after me.' She said she hasn't seen Peter perform in concert since her children were born and Peter said: 'We do have a great balance at home. 'We're kind of reliving our childhood through them now, they're a lot smarter than I was, even Millie the other day was saying some stuff and I said how does she know how to say that.' And talking about healthy eating, Peter said: 'We're parents and I love children, and it's difficult they see things and the packaging is really good and they want it.' Power couple: Emily and Peter posed backstage as they took part in a campaign to ensure children have less sugar in their diets Activist Jameela Jamil has been criticised for her involvement in the new 'role model' campaign for fashion retailer, Aerie. On Thursday, the British actress, 32, proudly took to her Twitter platform to unveil the brand's new unretouched spring 2019 campaign, which aims to celebrate women being their 'real selves' and strike down unrealistic beauty standards within the lingerie and clothing industry. However, the message fell flat on her followers who questioned Jameela's advocacy of the brand, which failed to cater for inclusive and extended sizes. Coming under fire: Activist Jameela Jamil, 32, has been criticised for her involvement in the new 'role model' campaign for fashion retailer, Aerie Jameela has long been a passionate advocate for body positivity and has hit back at a number of celebrities in the past, including the Kardashian sisters, for using products such as detox teas to lose weight. After hitting out at other brands in recent weeks, such as Avon and Urban Outfitters, Jameela seemed to have finally found her perfect fit as she took to Twitter on Thursday to share her new campaign for Aerie. Jameela tweeted: 'So excited to announce that I am joining @Aerie as an #aerierolemodel and got to stand next to so many women I love and admire at our shoot. No retouching and inclusive of everyone. #aeriepartner. She continued: 'This is a campaign about inclusion of plus size, disability, race, sexuality, and activism, but also check out their sizing which is moving in the right direction that most brands dont care about.' New gig: The star unveiled the brand's spring 2019 campaign, which aims to celebrate 'real' women and strike down unrealistic beauty standards within the lingerie and clothing industry 'Inclusion': After hitting out at brands in recent weeks, such as Avon and Urban Outfitters, Jameela seemed to have finally found her perfect fit as she shared her new campaign for Aerie However, many of her followers didn't agree with the latter statement of her tweet, in which she gushed about Aerie's sizing, and didn't hesitate in letting her know: 'This is a bit disappointing. Maybe you could use this platform to encourage them to offer plus sizes. You cant just use body positivity in your brand but not offers sizes for all bodies.' 'I can't wait til I'm skinny enough to be included in the group "everyone". #aerierolemodel #aeriepartner #everybody.' 'Please provide extended sizes if youre going to advertise plus size. I am literally one cup bigger than the largest size available.' 'Lets not say everyone if its not for everyone.' 'Not inclusive of fat people. 'Curves' that only go to a 38 bra size and clothing where XXL is supposed to cover 18-22 (3 sizes? Really??!) are not inclusive. When the *average* woman is size 16, this is a problem. Hope you continue to advocate for change.' 'It's not for everyone': However, the message fell flat on her followers who questioned Jameela's advocacy of the brand, which failed to cater for inclusive and extended sizes Meanwhile, Jameela continued to gush about the campaign, tweeting: 'Thank you everyone who has been so supportive of our diverse @Aerie campaign, and to anyone who feels left out, I hear you and I am on it! I love it when you speak out. 'I only partner with brands who I believe will work with me towards inclusivity and doing and being better. .' 'A plus size model, a Paralympian, a south Asian, a black woman, a gay woman, a blind woman, activists, game changers, and women who use their platform to fight for others. Ive never seen a campaign like this before that represents so many minorities, and Im proud to be in it. 'Keep speaking up. Keep speaking out. It helps the change happen. ' 'I'm so proud to be in it': Meanwhile, Jameela continued to gush about the campaign as she shared a further snap of all the women involved and their job titles 'Nothing about this is size-inclusive': However, her followers weren't buying it and the outrage continued to pour in from her followers However, the outrage continued to pour in from her followers: 'I once drove 1hr out of my way to go to an Aerie store, thinking they were plus-size-inclusive after seeing some ads, & was promptly humiliated by the dirty looks the salespeople gave me as I entered. I left immediately. Aerie can shove their self-righteous body-posi lip service..' 'I love Jameela but nothing about this campaign is size-inclusive.' 'Don't get me started. If she wants to champion plus size women then how about giving them a platform instead of speaking for them. There have been plenty of plus size women saying this stuff for years and she's speaking like she's bringing something new to the table..' 'The most positive thing about this is almost every reply is from a sassy, beautiful woman saying "this doesn't include me." It's actually rare to see this many plus-size women have the space to be vocal. (That's probably why everyone forgets about us).' 'But they don't actually have all sizes and are representing themselves as if they do. It makes them look inclusive without actually being inclusive. A step in the right direction is nice, but I don't appreciate them stepping on the bodypos movement to sell their stuff.' 'I hear you and I am on it': It wasn't long before Jameela finally noticed the backlash under her tweets 'Without you all there would be no progress': Jameela also took time to respond individually to some of her comments It wasn't long before Jameela finally noticed the backlash under her tweets, prompting her to reply: 'Thank you everyone who has been so supportive of our diverse @Aerie campaign, and to anyone who feels left out, I hear you and I am on it! I love it when you speak out. I only partner with brands who I believe will work with me towards inclusivity and doing and being better. .' 'Just sat down with some of the bosses at @aerie who assured me they are already working on becoming more and more inclusive in sizing. But please dont lose sight of the fact that its also so cool to have blind, disabled, black, Asian, gay and sexual assault survivors repped too.' Jameela also took time to respond individually to some of her comments, with one person tweeting: 'Very sorry we seem to be dogpiling on you but we curvy ladies were excited to see someone speaking out for all body types & were a little deflated that you were advocating a brand that almost half of the women in the US cannot patronize due to size.' Inclusive: Joining Jameela in the campaign are Busy Philipps, Samira Wiley, Aly Raisman, Iskra Lawrence, Brenna Huckaby and Molly Burke Voice: Jameela has long been an advocate for body positivity and has hit back at a number of celebrities in the past, including Kardashians for using products such as detox teas Jameela replied: 'Its not dogpiling! its much needed criticism that Im so down to hear and help push forward. We can all do this together and your noise helps my noise. And noise makes change. So dont stop making noise. Without all of you there would be no progress at all.' Joining Jameela in the campaign are Busy Philipps, Samira Wiley, Aly Raisman, Iskra Lawrence, Brenna Huckaby and Molly Burke. The #AerieREAL campaign first launched in 2014 with the brand's mission for women to love themselves and empower others to do the same. Aerie became one of the first brands to launch the body positive movement with its commitment to stop using models in its campaign, instead highlighting real women from different walks of life that support the mission. Its first ever Aerie Role Model was announced in 2016 as British plus-size model Iskra. She regularly turns heads on the red carpet with her show-stopping looks. And Jennifer Connelly was the picture of elegance at the premiere of Alita: Battle Angel at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square on Thursday night. The actress, 48, donned a white minidress with a crochet detail with matching sleeves and structured shoulders hours before switching ensembles for a navy short dress when she attended an exclusive afterparty at Soho House. Style: Jennifer Connelly looked chic at the premiere of Alita: Battle Angel at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square, before switching outfits for the afterparty, on Thursday Wearing her brunette locks poker straight, she added height to her frame with a pair of black boots and accessorised with a black handbag. Jennifer looked in high spirits at the star-studded event where she signed autographs for dozens of fans and posed alongside her co-star Rosa Salazar, who plays the title character in the film. Alita: Battle Angel transports audiences to the future. Abandoned, the heroine is found in the Iron City by a cyber-doctor who takes her to his clinic. Glamour: The actress, 48, donned a white mini-skirt with a crochet detail with matching sleeves and structured shoulders Ensemble: Wearing her brunette locks poker straight, she added height to her frame with a pair of black boots and accessorised with a black handbag Effortless: Screen star Jennifer turned heads on the red-carpet with her showstopping style In demand: The A Beautiful Mind star also made an appearance on this week's episode of The Graham Norton Show As the story unfolds, the leading cyborg has no memory of herself but when she begins to navigate her life she tries to shield herself from her mysterious past. Although the film was first announced in 2003, it was hampered by delays because filmmaker James Cameron focused on making Avatar and the sequels. Jennifer stars as Dr Chiren, the ex-girlfriend of Christoph Waltz's Dr Dyson, who escaped with him from the false utopia of Zalem/Tiphares, but became disenchanted with real freedom. Premiere: Jennifer looked in high spirits at the star-studded event where she signed autographs for dozens of fans and posed alongside her co-star Rosa Salazar Makeup palette: The American beauty teamed deep pink lipstick with blush and eyeliner Delays: Although the film was first announced in 2003, it was hampered by delays because filmmaker James Cameron focused on making Avatar and the sequels Blackbuster: Discussing Alita, which is estimated to have a budget of between $150-$200 million, Jennifer admitted she was 'blown away' by the special effects The A Beautiful Mind star also made an appearance on this week's episode of The Graham Norton Show. Stylish as ever, she donned a navy mini-dress with large, structured shoulders and light brown heels. The Oscar-winner is set to star in the highly anticipated Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 film starring Tom Cruise. In character: Alita: Battle Angel transports audiences to the future. Abandoned, the heroine is found in the Iron City by a cyber-doctor who takes her to his clinic Outfit: Stylish as ever, she donned a navy minidress with large, structured shoulders and light brown heels when she attended the afterparty at Soho House Covered up: As a blanket of snow swept over the English capital, she covered up with a coat Jennifer promised the sequel will have a 'sexy' theme song to follow the original's Take My Breath Away, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. She said: 'It's still filming and I have a little bit more to do. It's so much fun! There is definitely going to be a sexy theme song, but I can't tell you what.' The mother-of-three starred alongside David Bowie in the cult fantasy film Labyrinth when she was just 14. Just the two of us: Chris Pratt exited holding hands with his fiancee Katherine Schwarzenegger Loved up: The glam couple looked loved up as they laughed and chatted en route to their car Dapper gent: Hunky screen star Chris, 39, cut a dapper figure in a black suit for the outing Favourite: The jovial star smiled and greeted fans as he made his way into the waiting vehicle Ready to roll: The California-based couple settled into the backseat of their chauffeur-driven vehicle ahead of being whisked off into the night All-black: Matching her man, Katherine also donned an all-black ensemble for the big night Making things official: The couple, who started dating last year, recently moved into a Los Angeles home together Not having realised his level of fame at the time, Jennifer told how she became a big fan of his work after they starred together. She said: 'I wasn't cool enough to get what working with him really meant. It was probably a good thing that I wasn't. 'After working with him, he became a real hero of mine because he was so kind to me - I was a 14-year-old kid and knew nothing. He was funny and gracious and made me feel so comfortable. Glam: Rosa looked as glamorous as ever as she she posed for photographers outside the venue Freezing cold: She appeared to be unaffected by the freezing cold temperatures in the capital Stunning: She looked just as impeccable as when her night kicked off as she departed the bash Special gust: Elizabeth Banks was also among the guests seen attending the exclusive bash Elegant: She looked elegant in a white rollneck top, which she teamed with a black fluffy coat 'He was amazing. Subsequently I became a huge fan of his music.' Discussing Alita, which is estimated to have a budget of between $150-$200 million, Jennifer admitted she was 'blown away' by the special effects. She said: 'I only saw the movie a couple of days ago and it is pretty epic. It's really impressive. 'With a movie like that we do the things we have to do and then we leave and a year later you see a film that has had so much work put into it. 'It's extraordinary what they can do with technology and it blew me away.' The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One, Friday February 1 at 10.35pm. Style: Christoph Waltz looked dapper in a grey suit, teamed with a black shit and patterned tie Autographs: While exiting the exclusive afterparty, he signed autographs for gathered fans Stepping out: Director James Cameron was spotted cutting his way through the crowds She has been lauded for her latest performance as Sarah Churchill, the former Duchess of Marlborough, alongside Olivia Colman and Emma Stone in The Favourite. And Rachel Weisz attended a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective in celebration of her movie work at the Robin Williams Center in New York City on Thursday. The actress, 48, looked elegant in a classic high-waisted black pencil skirt, teamed with a baby blue blouse with a print detail and leather boots. Talented: Rachel Weisz attended a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective in celebration at the Robin Williams Center in New York City on Thursday Styling her raven locks into light curls, the Disobedience star looked in high spirits as she discussed her long and varied career in the film industry. Her most recent role was in the critically lauded The Favourite opposite Olivia Colman and Emma Stone. The film focuses on the behind-the-scenes politics between two cousins jockeying to be court favourites during the reign of Queen Anne in the early 18th century. Olivia stars as the monarch while Emma portrays Abigail Hill, a favourite of the Queen. Rachel plays Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. Chic: The actress, 48, looked elegant in a classic high-waisted black pencil skirt, teamed with a baby blue blouse with a print detail and leather boots Style: Styling her raven locks into light curls, the Disobedience star looked in high spirits as she discussed her long and varied career in the film industry Career success: Her most recent role was in the critically lauded The Favourite opposite Olivia Colman and Emma Stone The film has been critically lauded, receiving 10 nominations at this year's Academy Awards. Rachel said: 'At this present time in cinema and storytelling, its sadly quite unusual I think, for all three characters that all three women, are so textured and layered and complex and have such different aspects to their character. 'They are not one thing, they are a million things each,' she added. Rachel also admitted that the quality of scripts nowadays are improving, but still provide a challenge for both sexes. 'Films in the 40s and 50s, they always had very complex strong women who could be vulnerable and villainous and regal and kind and all the adjectives that you could list. Acclaimed: Rachel has been lauded for her latest performance as Sarah Churchill, the former Duchess of Marlborough, alongside Olivia Colman and Emma Stone in The Favourite Work: Rachel admitted that the quality of scripts nowadays are improving, but still provide a challenge for both sexes 'At the moment there is good writing for women, but I think if a man were sitting here he would say its hard to find good, complex writing even for men so I think fiction for humans is maybe not as interesting as it could be in cinema. The actress admitted the cast did not socialise much off set, citing the long filming days. She told Vulture: 'We didnt really hang out at all. I think everyone was just tired. It was a long, really fun shoot. 'Olivia had us over to her house in London for dinner, where her husband cooked a really complicated meal for us, which was delicious. 'That was really sweet, that one really nice dinner. But it was very intense during the day, so it was nice to get home to your real life.' Rachel said: 'Films in the 40s and 50s, they always had very complex strong women who could be vulnerable and villainous and regal and kind and all the adjectives that you could list' TOWIE's Myles Barnett has lashed out at the show while announcing his departure, as he insisted the programme harvests a 'toxic and negative environment'. The 24-year-old star, who joined the show as Courtney Green's boyfriend in 2017's 20th series, took to Instagram to share an impassioned message about his departure, in which he admitted the show brought out a side he 'wasn't proud of'. His outburst comes after he came under fire in April last year for his treatment of women, with viewers demanding he was dismissed from the show for calling Courtney 'a f**king s**g' and acting aggressively. Moving on: TOWIE's Myles Barnett has lashed out at the show while announcing his departure, as he insisted the programme harvests a 'toxic and negative environment' Myles joined a host of stars including his girlfriend Kady McDermott, Chloe Lewis and Jon Clarke in departing the show in a shake-up revealed on Thursday. In the statements, Kady announced she was 'proud' of her beau and Chloe detailed how 'wonderful' her time on the programme had been since she joined in 2015's series 14 alongside her then on-off boyfriend Jake Hall. Myles however had a wholly more acerbic tone to his message, as he penned: 'After an eventful two years at TOWIE with many highs and lows I have taken the decision upon myself to leave TOWIE... 'When something no longer fulfils you, makes your grow as a person or even just makes you happy its best to leave it in the past... Furious: His outburst comes after he came under fire in April last year for his treatment of women, with viewers demanding he was dismissed from the show for calling Courtney 'a f**king s**g' and acting aggressively Leaving: Since Myles' girlfriend Kady joined, he has been at loggerheads with many stars 'This year I am solely focusing on my career and my relationship with Kady as they are the most important things to me right now, and the show wasnt benefiting either of them... 'As most of you will probably know TOWIE brought out a side to me I wasnt always proud of, as much as I enjoyed my time on it I started to find it very toxic and negative environment for myself... 'I am the happiest Ive been in a very long time and I would like to keep it that way by removing any negativity in my life... 'Im going to use my social media so you can all get an insight of my life and the highlights and get to know the real me, and more importantly so I can control how my life is shown instead of it being in the hands of TV editors who are strangers to me... Moving on: He is said to have cheated on Courtney, leading to his many fall-outs 'Thank you for all your support the last two years, I have grown a lot as a person and I will forever be thankful for the experience and the life lessons it taught me.' A TOWIE spokesman told MailOnline: 'Every series we review our cast to ensure we're following the lives of those who are most interesting and willing to share their real lives and relationship highs and lows.' In April, infuriated fans urged producers to take action against Myles for his behaviour towards Courtney, with many users lashing out at the star for 'verbally abusing' and calling for immediate suspension. One memorable scene saw Myles come face-to-face with then-new boy Jordan Wright, who made no secret of his desire to pursue Courtney at the time. As their argument gained momentum, Jordan reveals that Courtney showed him one of Myles' messages while they were away together - leading to Myles throwing his drink at Jordan and then turning on Courtney by branding her 'a s**g'. Johnny Depp has given fans a first look at his new role as celebrated photojournalist W. Eugene Smith in new film Minamata. The Hollywood star features in the Andrew Levitas directed film about the horrific impact of mercury poisoning in coastal Japan and the enduring fight to take those responsible for the environmental catastrophe to account. In a black and white still taken as production gets underway across Japan, Serbia and Montenegro, Depp, 55, bears a striking resemblance to the bearded, bespectacled Smith, his ever present Minolta camera at the ready. In character: Johnny Depp has given fans a first look at his new role as celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith in new film Minamata The film will follow Smith some thirty years after his photographic account of the US offensive against Japan during World War II, notably the Battle of Okinawa, earned him a reputation as one of the most significant photojournalist's of his generation. With the war long since over Smith has become increasingly reclusive, but a commission from Life magazine tempts him back to the far east, where he draws attention to the plight of a humble fishing community decimated by mercury poisoning. Gaining their trust, the photographer endeavours to bring their story to the world's attention, and by doing so begins a lengthy quest for justice against the corporations responsible for causing the disaster. The real deal: W. Eugene Smith photographs a fishing village in Minamata, Japan, 1973 The fallout resulted in victims receiving some of the biggest financial payouts of all time, and director Levitas - who was given the support of victims and their families prior to filming - admits he feels honoured to be bringing their story to the big screen. 'I am thrilled to be working with such a talented and dedicated team on the story behind one of the most devastating and relatively unknown catastrophes of the past 100 years,' he said. 'Told through the eyes of the extraordinary W. Eugene Smith, widely regarded as one of the most passionate, ground-breaking and uncompromising photojournalists of the 20th century. Iconic: The film will follow Smith some thirty years after his photographic account of the US offensive against Japan during World War II earned him a reputation of the one of the most significant photojournalist's of his generation (pictured in 1945) 'In his bid to bring the worlds attention to atrocities including the bloodiest conflict in human history, World War II and the horrors of Minamata he put his own life at risk to bring the truth out in his work and capture some of the most poignant images ever taken. 'Every one of the cast and crew is determined to make the people of Minamatas voices heard as we begin shooting this film.' Bill Nighy, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase and Jun Kunimura have also joined the production, which is being developed by Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil. Set in 1971, the film has been adapted from the book by Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith, with a screenplay by David K. Kessler. Minamata will go on general release in 2020. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes enjoyed a date night with her husband Gregg Leakes - who's battling stage 3 colon cancer - at the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Atlanta on Thursday. The 51-year-old reality star dressed her 5ft10in figure in a garish silver-sequin and houndstooth pencil dress, grey pumps, and a tiny black clutch selected by stylist Troi Anthoni. The New York-born comedian wore a blonde wig parted in the middle and scraped back into a bun for the song-filled sporty celebration at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Looking good! The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes enjoyed a date night with her husband Gregg Leakes - who's battling stage 3 colon cancer - at the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Atlanta on Thursday A heavy-handed make-up artist painted NeNe's comically large brows, smoky eye, and contoured complexion. Leakes (born Linnethia Johnson) later spoke onstage during the event leading up to the Super Bowl LIII at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which airs this Sunday on CBS. The 64-year-old real estate investor - whose cancer battle began in June of last year - famously wed the Bravo-lebrity twice (in 1997 and 2013) after sparking their romance in 1996. 'It's been like a roller coaster. There are days where we have good days and Gregg has good days then we have bad days and, you know, I feel alone, he feels alone,' the former Broadway thespian told Us Weekly in November. Sparkly: The 51-year-old reality star dressed her 5ft10in figure in a garish silver-sequin and houndstooth pencil dress, grey pumps, and a tiny black clutch selected by stylist Troi Anthoni Strike a pose! The New York-born comedian wore a blonde wig parted in the middle and scraped back into a bun for the song-filled sporty celebration at Atlanta Symphony Hall Painted! A heavy-handed make-up artist applied NeNe's comically large brows, smoky eye, and contoured complexion Crowd pleaser: Leakes (born Linnethia Johnson) later spoke onstage during the event leading up to the Super Bowl LIII at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which airs this Sunday on CBS 'Honestly, it's a really tough time. Like, it's really hard, you know? I never knew that cancer could come into our lives and change it the way that it has. It's been really hard for me, it really has.' The on/off couple share 19-year-old son Brentt, and NeNe has a 29-year-old son Bryson from a prior relationship while Gregg is said to have five other children from prior relationships. 'Anybody have an extra Super Bowl ticket thats not to expensive?' Leakes - who boasts 7.6M social media followers - tweeted on Thursday. 'Or know of someone? Purchasing for a teenager booknene@gmail.com.' 'Honestly, it's a really tough time': The 64-year-old real estate investor - whose cancer battle began in June of last year - famously wed the Bravo-lebrity twice in 1997 and 2013 after sparking their romance in 1996 (pictured January 1) 'It's been like a roller coaster': The on/off couple share 19-year-old son Brentt (pictured Thursday), and NeNe has a 29-year-old son Bryson from a prior relationship while Gregg is said to have five other children from prior relationships Leakes tweeted on Thursday: 'Anybody have an extra Super Bowl ticket thats not to expensive? Or know of someone? Purchasing for a teenager booknene@gmail.com' The Morris Brown College alum reportedly earns $2.75M per season of TRHOA, and the 15-episode 11th season resumes February 10 on Bravo. The Uncle Drew actress will next perform live at the Girls Nite Out Comedy Show happening March 9 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Also hitting the stage at the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was The Real co-host Adrienne Eliza Houghton (born Bailon) wearing an unflattering black ruched dress. The 35-year-old Daytime Emmy winner served hosting duties at the event alongside Rickey Smiley. 'Lost in Translation': The Morris Brown College alum reportedly earns $2.75M per season of TRHOA, and the 15-episode 11th season resumes February 10 on Bravo Stand-up sistas: The Uncle Drew actress will next perform live at the Girls Nite Out Comedy Show happening March 9 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark The Cheetah Girls alum rocked massive lashes with her ponytail extension-infused locks. Backstage Smiley posed for a snap with six-time Grammy-nominated songstress Tamia. The Canadian 43-year-old performed a gospel song while glittering in a colorful striped sequin gown selected by stylist J. Bolin. LBD: Also hitting the stage at the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was The Real co-host Adrienne Eliza Houghton (born Bailon) wearing an unflattering black ruched dress Presenters: The 35-year-old Daytime Emmy winner served hosting duties at the event alongside Rickey Smiley Sixties inspired: The Cheetah Girls alum rocked massive lashes with her ponytail extension-infused locks Hey girl! Backstage Smiley posed for a snap with six-time Grammy-nominated songstress Tamia I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here star Justin Lacko, 28, has been tipped as the next Bachelor. But Channel Ten executives have officially ruled him as the next star of the show, on the TV Tonight blog on Friday. 'I think he would be a lovely Bachelor but I don't think so,' Head of Programming Daniel Monaghan told the blog. Scroll down for video He's NOT the next Bachelor! Channel Ten execs officially rule out I'm A Celebrity star Justin Lacko (pictured) for this year's season but admit he's become a 'breakout star' Despite Justin not gaining the starring role, Daniel went on to gush over the handsome Melbourne model. 'Justin is quite a breakout star,' He added. 'What an interesting person. I loved his conversation where he couldn't pronounce "philosophical!"' 'I want women to come to me for once now!' Justin confessed he wanted to star on The Bachelor while in the jungle on I'm A Celebrity Rumours have been floating that Justin could be the next Bachelor, after Channel Ten confirmed he was a 'contender' in a Sunday Telegraph report. The Love Island star has also expressed his interest in the role. 'I want women to come to me for one now! Because I chase them and they treat me like sh*t and they think I'm an a****hole,' the report quoted him as saying. Ready for love! 'I've applied for it,' Justin admitted on a recent episode of the show During a recent episode of I'm A Celebrity, the international model said he wanted to be the leading man on the dating show. In the midst of a conversation with disgraced senator Sam Dastyari, the idea was floated: 'Oh mate, Justin's gonna be the next Bach. Just do it man, would you do it?' A blushing Justin responded saying: 'Yeah, I've already signed [up]... yeah. We'll see what happens anyway.' Questions: In the past, Justin has been forced to face rampant speculation about his sexuality 'I've applied for it,' he added, with the group appearing shocked at the admission. He then confirmed to camp-mate Natasha Exelby that he would not sign up to do The Bachelorette. In the past, Justin has been forced to face rampant speculation about his sexuality, and recently revealed that he won't speak to his own grandmother because she believes he's gay. Justin rose to fame on the inaugural season of Love Island Australia last year, but failed to find love on the show. Friends alum Courteney Cox beamed as she FaceTimed with her 'incredible' on/off fiance Johnny McDaid while catching a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 42-year-old Irishman's bearded face could be seen on the Alabama-born 54-year-old's phone right before she made her way through the TSA security check point. The Golden Globe nominee was most likely en route to England's Heathrow Airport to reunite with the handsome guitarist-keyboard player, who's performing at London's SSE Arena Wembley with his band Snow Patrol this Saturday. See you soon! Friends alum Courteney Cox beamed as she FaceTimed with her on/off fiance Johnny McDaid while catching a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday Red handed: The 42-year-old Irishman's bearded face could be seen on the Alabama-born 54-year-old's phone right before she made her way through the TSA security check point Courteney was certainly dressed for comfort in her cozy beige sweater, matching coat, blue jeans, black boots, and matching purse for the journey. The Shameless guest star wore her shiny L'Oreal Paris raven locks down and her suspiciously smooth complexion was minimally made up. In 2017, Cox claimed to New Beauty she had all her face-plumping fillers 'dissolved,' but she still receives weekly facials from aesthetician Mila Moursi, as well as microneedling and laser treatments like Clear + Brilliant. Across the pond: The Golden Globe nominee was most likely en route to England's Heathrow Airport to reunite with the handsome guitarist-keyboard player, who's performing at London's SSE Arena Wembley with his band Snow Patrol this Saturday Jet setter: Courteney was certainly dressed for comfort in her cozy beige sweater, matching coat, blue jeans, black boots, and matching purse for the journey Brand ambassador: The Shameless guest star wore her shiny L'Oreal Paris raven locks down and her suspiciously smooth complexion was minimally made up Evergreen: In 2017, Cox claimed to New Beauty she had all her face-plumping fillers 'dissolved,' but she still gets microneedling and laser treatments like Clear + Brilliant VIP: The SAG Award winner even had her very own LAX escort to usher her and her luggage through the sparse security line The SAG Award winner even had her very own LAX escort to usher her and her luggage through the sparse security line. On Thursday, Johnny - whom Courtney met through Ed Sheeran in 2013 - was in Scotland with his Grammy-nominated band where they performed at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow. 'It's an expensive relationship. We go back and forth a lot,' the Celebrity Name Game producer told The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday. 'Thank you for another awesome night!' On Thursday, Johnny - whom Courtney met through Ed Sheeran in 2013 - was in Scotland with his Grammy-nominated band where they performed at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow The Celebrity Name Game producer told Ellen on Tuesday: 'It's an expensive relationship. We go back and forth a lot' 'We broke off our engagement [in 2015] and he moved to England, then we got back together, and it's actually better than it was before. Everything's better. 'Not because he's in London, although the distance after that breakup - we were apart for six months - that really showed us a lot, and it's just better.' Cox has already amassed 641K followers since joining Instagram on Tuesday, and she posted two stories on Thursday of the LAX booze section as well as her morning workout with fitness trainer Marc Marco Reed. Social media: Cox has already amassed 641K followers since joining Instagram on Tuesday, and she posted two stories on Thursday of the LAX booze section as well as her morning workout with fitness trainer Marc Marco Reed The Gong Show judge also shared a sweet snap of herself with her daughter Coco Arquette captioned: '#tbt when she used to like me' Coco: The privileged 14-year-old's godmother is Jennifer Aniston and her father is Courteney's ex-husband David Arquette, whom she amicably divorced in 2013 (pictured December 25) The Gong Show judge also shared a sweet snap of herself with her daughter Coco Arquette captioned: '#tbt when she used to like me.' The privileged 14-year-old's godmother is Jennifer Aniston and her father is Courteney's ex-husband David Arquette, whom she amicably divorced in 2013 after a decade-long marriage. The former Bruce Springsteen video vixen currently narrates and produces the 20-part fertility docuseries 9 Months with Courteney Cox, which streams Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Facebook Watch. Streams Tuesdays and Wednesdays! The former Bruce Springsteen video vixen currently narrates and produces the 20-part fertility docuseries 9 Months with Courteney Cox on Facebook Watch Chic: Courteney rocked a cream knit with a matching coat in her hands She's never shy to flaunt her impeccable style. And Sofia Richie proved on trend as she was spotted in a couture ensemble for a night out in Malibu on Thursday. The 20-year-old daughter of famous musician Lionel Richie commanded attention in a sophisticated chic black ensemble during a girls' night out for sushi. Stunner: Sofia Richie, 20, proved on trend as she was spotted in a couture ensemble for a night out in Malibu on Thursday Absent from the outing was her beau Scott Disick. Scott, 35, shares Penelope, and her brothers Mason, nine, and Reign, four, with Kourtney Kardashian. The couple split in the summer of 2015; he has been dating Sofia since mid-2017. 'Sofia is beginning to fight feelings of jealousy as Scott and Kourtney continue to spend more time together,' a source told Hollywood Life. Sophisticated: The daughter of famous musician Lionel Richie commanded attention in a sophisticated chic black ensemble during a girls' night out for sushi 'Sofia did her best to be cool with Scotts relationship with Kourtney for a while She wanted to be the cool girlfriend, which was easier to do when Kourt had a boyfriend,' the insider added. 'But now that Kourtney is single and dating again, Sofia struggles with the time Kourtney spends alone with Scott and the kids.' 'Scott is looking really good lately and it stings when Sofia wants to see her sexy man him but cant because he is busy with Kourtney,' the source dished. During a recent appearance on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Kourtney was asked how she would react if her ex popped the question to the much younger aspiring model. Jealous: The outing comes amid reports that the beauty is 'uncomfortable' and 'jealous' of beau Scott Disick hanging out with his ex Kourtney Kardashian; (pictured November) The 39-year-old replied she would tell him: 'Congratulations!' Her sister Kim Kardashian chimed in: 'Yeah, we vacation together. It's all good!' Kourtney, Scott and Sofia all managed to vacation harmoniously when the three went on a joint vacation to Mexico in December. Sofia and Scott went Instagram official in September of 2017, with her being the first long-term girlfriend for Scott since his split from Kourtney in 2015. PM Modi said that there has always been a demand to exempt those with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh and Modi government fulfilled it. 'But now PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will benefit over 12 crore farmers who own 5 acres or less than 5 acres of land,' Modi added. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: Soon after the Budget was presented in the Parliament by Piyush Goyal, PM Modi addressed media and said that the interim Budget is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development. From middle class to labourers, from farmers growth to the development of businessmen, from manufacturing to MSME sector, from growth of the economy to development of New India, everyone has been taken care of in this interim budget, Modi said. PM Modi added that it is the generosity and honesty of the middle and middle upper class which provides tax to the nation through which schemes are formulated and there is welfare of the poor. Talking about exemption from taxation, PM Modi said that there has always been a demand to exempt those with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh and Modi government fulfilled it. Addressing the issue about farmers, Modi said that there have been several schemes by different governments from time to time but only 2-3 crore farmers were included in those schemes. But now PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will benefit over 12 crore farmers who own 5 acres or less than 5 acres of land, Modi added. They officially tied the knot on December 1 in India and enjoyed yet another wedding celebration, this time in North Carolina, earlier in the week. But on Thursday night, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas turned out for a good cause. The celebrity couple were among the famous faces who supported the Learning Lab Ventures Winter Gala in Beverly Hills. For a good cause: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas were among the famous faces who supported the Learning Lab Ventures Winter Gala in Beverly Hills on Thursday night The former Quantico star, 36, and the musician, 26, had a traditional Hindu ceremony and a traditional Christian wedding as well as several receptions to mark their union. They finally arrived home to Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago after enjoying a Caribbean honeymoon. The stylish couple put on quite a show with Priyanka in a sleeveless striped gown with see-through panels - which she accessorized with David Webb jewels - and Nick in a tuxedo. Newlyweds: The Quantico star, 36, and the musician, 26, officially tied the knot on December 1 in India. They had a traditional Hindu ceremony and a traditional Christian wedding Still celebrating: The couple arrived home to LA a couple of weeks ago after enjoying a Caribbean honeymoon Pretty: Priyanka put on a stylish show in a sleeveless striped gown with see-through panels. She accessorized with jewelry from David Webb Kate Bosworth was also a guest at the fundraiser. She looked simply sensational in a pistachio chiffon gown from her go-to designer Jason Wu. Kate, 36, paired the tiered number with sparkly silver sandal heels and a silver sparkly clutch and accessorized with diamond earrings. Ethereal beauty: Kate Bosworth looked simply sensational in a pistachio chiffon gown from her go-to designer Jason Wu Fashionable: Kate, 36, paired the tiered number with sparkly silver sandal heels and a silver sparkly clutch. She accessorized with diamond earrings Rachel Zoe chose black and silver for the black tie event which she attended with husband Rodger Berman. The designer and TV personality, 47, wore a long-sleeved shimmery black gown with silver trim at the neckline, cuffs and hem. She added platform-soled black heels and a silver clutch purse. Berman looked natty in a three-piece black suit with a tuxedo-style jacket and a straight black tie. Stylish: Rachel Zoe, 47, wore a long-sleeved shimmery black gown with silver trim at the neckline, cuffs and hem and carried and a silver clutch purse Couple: The designer and TV personality was accompanied by husband Rodger Berman who looked natty in a three-piece black suit with a tuxedo-style jacket and a straight black tie On trend: Rosanna Arquette, 59, opted for a double breasted black jacket paired with a full-length black skirt slit on one side. She added a blouse with cowl neck as well as ankle boots Westworld alum Angela Sarafyan, 35, bared skin in a gown with a plunging sleeveless black bodice and silver skirt decorated with white floral motifs. She accessorized with a black clutch Sparkly: Armie Hammer's wife Elizabeth Chambers, 36, also shimmered in a silver dress. Her gown was gathered at the waist and fell open at the front to reveal her black sandal heels Dapper: Actor Armie, 32, wore a black patterned jacket with a black shirt and bow tie and tailored trousers. Rosanna Arquette, 59, opted for a tailored black suit jacket paired with a full-length black skirt slit on one side. She added a black blouse with cowl neck as well as black tights and black ankle boots. Westworld alum Angela Sarafyan, 35, bared skin in a gown with a plunging sleeveless black bodice and silver skirt decorated with white floral motifs. On stage: Priyanka delivered a speech during the gala dinner Lean on me: Priyanka snuggled up to Nick as they watched the show Honeymoon phase: Nick whispered in his new wife's ear Trophy: Armie and his wife got a gong What's on the menu: Australian chef Curtis Stone flashed a huge smile beside his wife Lindsay Price Armie Hammer's wife Elizabeth Chambers, 36, also shimmered in a silver dress. Her gown was gathered at the waist and fell open at the front to reveal her black sandal heels. Actor Armie, 32, wore a black patterned jacket with a black shirt and bow tie and tailored trousers. Upbeat: Priyanka was in high spirits as she attended the event on Friday evening Good times: The actress beamed as she made an exit alongside Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers Farewell: Priyanka offered a cheerful wave as she made her way home with Nick on Thursday Let's go: The group went their separate ways following an eventful night out in Beverly Hills She's one of Australia's hottest modelling exports. So it was no surprise to see Bambi Northwood-Blyth steal the show at the American Australian Arts Awards Dinner in New York on Thursday. The 27-year-old looked the belle of the ball in a chic silk maxi-dress complete with abstract patterning. Belle of the ball! Bambi Northwood-Blyth, 27, stunned in a gold gown as she arrived at the American Australian Awards in New York City on Thursday Keeping things simple but stylish, Bambi carried a baby blue clutch and eschewed heavy jewellery. She opted for thin, delicate bracelets on her wrists and a pair of understated gold earrings. The brunette left her hair out in a tousled bob and a dewy pink lip. Stunner from Down Under! Bambi attended the event with some of the country's hottest exports including Hugh Jackman, Elle Macpherson and Simon Baker Bambi was one of the many Australian born stars who turned out for the event, which celebrates the country's strong relationship with the United States. Hugh Jackman, Elle Macpherson and Simon Baker were also in attendance at the VIP get-together. Since signing on to a top agency almost a decade ago, Bambi has enjoyed an international modelling career. Red hot: Since signing on to a top agency almost a decade ago, Bambi has enjoyed an international modelling career The stunner has walked the catwalk for Chanel, appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein and graced the covers of Elle Italia and Vogue Japan. Bambi was previously married to Dan Single, one of Australia's most famous designers. The founder of denim label Tsubi tragically suffered a fall from his hotel balcony in Paris in 2017, shortly before his split from the brunette model. They are one of Hollywood's most enduring couples, having been happily married for more than two decades. And Hugh Jackman, 50, and his wife Deborra-lee Furness, 63, appeared stronger than ever as they attended the AAA Awards Dinner in New York on Thursday. The Wolverine star looked suave in a tailored navy suit, as he placed his arm around Deborra's back while posing for photos on the red carpet. Date night! Hugh Jackman, 50, looked dapper in a navy suit alongside his wife Deborra-lee Furness, 63, at the AAA awards presentation presented by National Australia Bank, and in partnership with Pratt Foundation and Bird in Hand, in New York City on Thursday Hugh and Deborra were all smiles as they arrived at the Skylight Modern venue, where the event was taking place. Hugh oozed sophistication in a white shirt, shiny dress does and a silk black jacket. The Greatest Showman star also sported a clean-shaven look, and styled his short hair neatly to one side. Suits him! Hugh sported a clean-shaven look, and styled his short hair neatly to one side Meanwhile, Deborra looked effortlessly chic in an all-black ensemble, with a faux fur trim wrapped around her shoulders. She paired a semi-sheer skirt with a longsleeve button-up blouse, which provided the illusion of a gown. Also attending the event were actors Simon Baker and Naomi Watts, as well as models Elle Macpherson, Shanina Shaik and Bambi Northwood-Blyth. Stylish! Deborra looked effortlessly chic in an all-black ensemble, with a faux fur trim wrapped around her shoulders Hugh and Deborra will celebrate 23 years of marriage in April, after tying the knot in Australia back in 1996. They originally met on set of the ABC television series Correlli in 1995. Now residing in New York City, the couple share two adopted children: son Oscar, 18 and daughter Ava, 13. Michael Rapaport's issues with former couple Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson continue. The actor/podcaster, 48, explained his respective beefs with each entertainer on SiriusXM show You Up with Nikki Glaser Wednesday. The Manhattan native said he received massive flack and accusations of sexism last month after for suggesting 'there's hotter women working the counter at Starbucks' than the thank u, next songstress, 25. The latest: Michael Rapaport, 48, explained his respective beefs with former couple Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson, both 25, on SiriusXM show You Up with Nikki Glaser Wednesday He said that he blamed Grande for Davidson's 'suicide attempt note' after the Saturday Night Live star, 25, wrote in a December 15 Instagram post on that he doesn't 'want to be on this earth anymore. ' Said Rapaport: 'This is f****g Ariana Grande's fault. I'm not apologizing for this s*** anyway! I was, like, because in twenty years she's going to be like Mariah Carey, f*****g up the lyrics to her own song, drunk at a New Year's thing.' The outspoken entertainer said he was also irritated with Davidson for keeping mum about the alarming incident six weeks back, which triggered a check-up from authorities and an outpouring of concern from fans. 'I was annoyed with this f*****g guy and his f*****g suicide attempt note, and then not apologizing for it,' said Rapaport, who's been seen in films such as True Romance and Higher Learning. 'That really offended me. The fact that he's come back and didn't acknowledge, "Yo to all my fans, to the New York City police department, to the people I work with and all my fans that were worried - I apologize for saying that."' Outspoken: The entertainer was snapped in LA last month at an event Bold: Rapaport blamed Grande for Davidson's 'suicide attempt note' after the Saturday Night Live star, 25, wrote in a December 15 Instagram post that he doesn't 'want to be on this earth anymore. ' The former couple was snapped last August in NYC Rapaport addressed Davidson in saying, 'We're glad you're good, but you freaked everybody out.' Rapaport recalled a time in which he corresponded with his fans amid a hospitalization. 'I posted a picture of myself in a neck brace,' he said, 'and the first thing I said was, 'I'm fine, I'm good, don't worry.''' Doing better: Davidson was in good spirits at a Sundance Film Festival event Monday in Park City, Utah Candid: Rapaport said of Davidson, 'I was annoyed with this f*****g guy and his f*****g suicide attempt note, and then not apologizing for it' Rapaport caught flak last month after Davidson's post, when he tweeted 'Pete Davidson & KANYE must really not have Homeboys for real. These are 2 whinny [sic] ass b****ing a** social media Babies.' He eventually said sorry after getting more details about the seriousness of the situation with Davidson. He wrote, 'Didnt realize Pete Davidson posted an actual genuinely scary IG note. Had no clue. Was not informed of all of those details. Would never mock someone when theyre truly down. Sincerely. I thought this was all the daily normal gossip of the day & was doing my daily take.' Good genes certainly go a long way, especially if you're related to Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson. Elle, 54, arrived with her son Flynn at the American Australian Arts Awards dinner in New York on Thursday, and the resemblance between the two was extraordinary. Flynn, 20, whose full name is Arpad Flynn Alexander Busson, has the same face as his famous mother, as well as her striking brown eyes. That's one Elle of a resemblance! Macpherson's son Flynn, 20, looked the spitting image of his supermodel mother at the American Australian Arts Awards dinner in New York on Thursday Elle showed off her famous physique in a floor-length black gown featuring a gold patterned embellishment across the midsection. She also styled her long, brunette hair loosely for the event, which was held at the Skylight Modern venue in Manhattan. Elle's eldest son looked delightfully dapper in a blue dinner suit with a white shirt and black bow tie. The apple didn't fall far from the tree! Flynn, 20, whose full name is Arpad Flynn Alexander Busson, has the same face as his famous mother, as well as her striking brown eyes It appeared to be the same suit-and-tie ensemble he wore to The Green Carpet Fashion Awards in Milan in September 2018. The dinner is held each year to raise money for the American-Australian Association Arts Fund, which provides scholarships and grants to artists in both countries. It is presented by National Australia Bank, and in partnership with Pratt Foundation and Bird in Hand Flynn is a student at Boston University in the U.S., and is also training to get his pilot's licence. The Body: Elle showed off her famous physique in a floor-length black gown featuring a gold patterned embellishment across the midsection She's still got it! Elle styled her long, brunette hair loosely for the event, which was held at the Skylight Modern venue in Manhattan At one stage, Elle and Flynn were spotted chatting with Australian actor Simon Baker, 49, at the exclusive soiree. Other guests included Hugh Jackman, 50, and his wife Deborra-lee Furness, 63, as well as actress Naomi Watts, 50, and model Shanina Shaik, 27. Elle shares sons Flynn and Cy, 15, with London-based French financier Arpad Busson, whom she split with in 2005. Two new names have been added to the sophomore season of Netflix's latest hit. Jenna Ortega and James Scully will join Penn Badgley for season 2 of You, TVLine reported Thursday. Their casting follows news that The Haunting of Hill House star Victoria Pedretti has been cast as the female lead in the stalker drama. New faces: Jenna Ortega and James Scully will join Penn Badgley for season 2 of You, TVLine reported Thursday Heathers star James Scully, 25, will play Forty Quinn, 'the brother of Joes new love interest.' Meanwhile Jane The Virgin actress Jenna Ortega, 16, 'will play Ellie, a teenager who grew up fast in the big city' according to the gossip site. And Pedretti, 23, will be joining star Penn Badgley, 32, as a love interest named 'Love' as the series moves to California. You: Victoria Pedretti, of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, has been cast as the female lead in season two of the streaming network's drama You opposite Penn Badgley The actress made a splash last fall in the chilling Netflix series the The Haunting of Hill House as Nell Crain, which was her first acting job. She's now been cast as Love Quinn, 'an aspiring chef working as a produce manager in a high-end grocery store.' In a press release Netflix wrote: 'Love is uninterested in the world of social media, branding and self-promotion, focused instead on leading an interesting life. She is also tending to a deep grief and when she meets Joe Goldberg, she senses a shared knowledge of profound, life-changing loss.' Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley stars in the show as Joe, an obsessive book store manager who does everything in his power to be with the object of his affection. Season two: Pedretti was cast as Love Quinn who will join Badgley's Joe as the series moves from New York City to Los Angeles, California 'It is very f**king cool that Victoria is playing this role,' You showrunner Sera Gamble told EW. 'I binged Hill House, and she was incredible.' She continued: 'And then a couple of days later, [executive producer] Greg [Berlanti] sent an email asking, "Have you seen Hill House? Have you seen Victoria Pedretti, wouldn't she make a perfect Love?" Leave it to Greg to put that together.' You is based on a series of books by author Caroline Kepnes and Love Quinn has been adapted from the second installment of the series. Frightening: The actress made a splash last fall in the chilling Netflix series the The Haunting of Hill House as Nell Crain Newcomer: Hill House was the 23-year-old's very first professional acting job 'Like her name, she's very warm and there is a carefree aspect to her spirit that really comes from the fact that she has constructed a life for herself that's about being in the moment and doing what she loves every day,' Gamble told EW. Adding that she is different than season one's love obsession Beck. 'Beck had been quite aware of her social media presence, and Love is extremely disinterested in all of that,' the showrunner said. The thriller was originally aired on Lifetime for season one but then picked up and streamed on Netflix. There, it gained massive popularity. 'Love is uninterested in the world of social media, branding and self-promotion, focused instead on leading an interesting life.' Season two marks a move in networks and a move in plot as Joe has picked up and traveled from New York to Los Angeles. 'Joe is not moving to LA because he f**king loves the West Coast,' Gamble said of season two. 'He's a New Yorker and he has bought the party line on how terrible LA is and when he gets here, very little dissuades him from his initial opinion.' Adding: 'But I personally have been in LA since I was a teenager and it's this beautiful patchwork city that I truly adore. This show is an opportunity to illuminate an LA that maybe a lot of people haven't seen that goes beyond the Hollywood sign and Love is part of that. She's a Los Angeles native. She has really absorbed the best of the city and she's really artistic with the way that she lives her life.' Cult following: The thriller was originally aired on Lifetime for season one but then picked up and streamed on Netflix. There, it gained massive popularity 'It is very f**king cool that Victoria is playing this role,' You showrunner Sera Gamble told EW . 'I binged Hill House, and she was incredible.' She also added that the second season will differ from season one in how the story is told. 'Season 1 was a particular kind of story that we could tell about the relationship between Joe and Beck and the moment that we did what we did in the finale, that's not repeatable,' Gamble said in her interview with EW. 'I will say that Love is a person he could only have met after what happened between him and Beck. And by the way, Joe is not out there looking for love. He's truly heartbroken by what has happened, and so what Love offers is a different kind of friendship and a different kind of relationship.' A season two premiere date is yet to be announced. Eric Dane is back on the market after ending his marriage with Rebecca Gayheart almost a year ago. But on Thursday, the actor had company. The Grey's Anatomy star, 46, was spotted enjoying a casual coffee date with 31-year-old Dree Hemingway - who is the daughter of Mariel Hemingway and the great granddaughter of legendary novelist Ernest Hemingway - in West Hollywood. Coffee for two: Eric Dane was spotted enjoying a casual coffee date with Dree Hemingway in West Hollywood on Thursday With mom: Dree and her movie star mother Mariel Hemingway in 2009 Ernest was a was an American journalist, novelist, and short-story writer who died in 1961. His best-selling novels include A Farewell To Arms, The Sun Also Rises, For Whom The Bell Tolls and The Old Man And The Sea. Her mother Mariel, 57, has a lengthy film career than includes the hit Woody Allen movie Manhattan from 1979 as well as 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and 1991's Tales from the Crypt. Sitting outside of Verve Coffee Roasters while sipping on a warm cup of Joe, the pair looked totally engrossed in conversation. Dree - who has appeared in the movies In A Relationship and Love After Love - beamed as she rested her head upon her hand, listening closely to the actor. She appeared to be hanging on Eric's every word. The actor sat up straight as he chatted with Dree, momentarily ignoring his cup of coffee. Her great grandfather: Ernest was a was an American journalist, novelist, and short-story writer who died in 1961. His best-selling novels include A Farewell To Arms, The Sun Also Rises, For Whom The Bell Tolls and The Old Man And The Sea. Seen in 1952 All ears: Dree beamed as she rested her head upon her hand, listening closely to the actor Undivided attention: The great granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway appeared to be hanging on Eric's every word Having a chat: Dane momentarily ignored his coffee to chat with Dree The pair kept it casual for their chilly coffee date, braving the grey weather in their winter weather best. Eric wore a windbreaker jacket, grey sweatpants, and trainers, while his friend sported a black sweatshirt and beanie. It has been almost a year since Eric and Rebecca announced they would be ending their marriage of 14 years. Walk and talk: The pair made their way down the sidewalk together Bundle up: Eric wore a windbreaker jacket, grey sweatpants, and trainers, while Dree sported a black sweatshirt and beanie In her divorce filing, Rebecca requested both legal and joint custody of their daughters, Billie, eight, and Georgia, six. Recently, she admitted co-parenting hasn't been easy. 'We're doing our best. It isn't easy. But we are trying and we are committed,' she told Us Weekly. When asked what specifically is difficult about co-parenting, Rebecca simply said: 'There are so many things.' Back on the market: Dane split from Rebecca Gayheart after 14 years of marriage last year She recently got engaged to her on-off boyfriend Gareth Gates. And Faye Brookes oozed confidence as she stepped out solo in a sexy black velvet playsuit and thigh-high boots on Thursday night, to attend the My Ideal Destination Launch Party at Dirty Martini in Manchester. The newly engaged actress, 31, ensured she commanded attention in the lacy ensemble, but kept things demure with semi-opaque black tights. Glam: Faye Brookes, 31, oozed confidence as she stepped out solo in a sexy black velvet playsuit and thigh-high boots on Thursday night, to attend a Launch Party in Manchester The brunette beauty styled her brunette locks into a voluminous top-knot, and adorned her face with an elegant make-up application. Faye posed alongside her former Corrie co-star Victoria Ekanoye, 36, at the event, who looked equally stylish in a grey snakeskin print shirt dress and pointed stiletto ankle boots. Hollyoaks star Daisy Wood-Davis, 28, was also in attendance at the bash with her boyfriend Luke Jerdy. The actress - who plays Kim Butterfield in the Channel 4 soap - kept things casual, in indigo skinny jeans, flat boots and a tiger-print jacket, but added an extra dose of glamour with an oversized Chanel handbag. Chic: Faye posed alongside her former Corrie co-star Victoria Ekanoye, 36, at the event, who looked equally stylish in a grey snakeskin print shirt dress and pointed stiletto ankle boots Date night: Hollyoaks star Daisy Wood-Davis was also in attendance at the bash with her boyfriend Luke Jerdy Meanwhile, speaking of Gareth's proposal, which took place in New York, Faye told OK! Magazine: 'We were both crying the whole way through. 'Once it was finished, Gareth got down on one knee and said: 'Will you spend the rest of your life with me?' And of course I said yes straight away.' She added: 'It's every girl's dream to find the perfect man for her and then have the perfect engagement, so I feel very lucky. 'To have such a beautiful ring and to share the most brilliant life with my best friend is everything I've ever wanted. He could have but any ring on my finger and I would have said yes'. Revealing why he chose to perform for his girlfriend, Gareth explained: 'It was all about the six years we've spent together and I incorporated bits of songs that mean a lot to us as a couple. 'I got a bit carried away though it went on for 17 minutes!' The couple's engagement comes after they split for a month last year, reconciling in October. Discussing the reason behind their break-up, Gareth admitted: 'There was a lot of strain on our relationship because I was always away with work and Faye's schedule was getting even busier so we decided we needed some breathing space' Margaret Josephs after tossing wine on Danielle Staub on Wednesday's episode of RHONJ piled on during a chat show appearance afterward. The 51-year-old reality star was asked by a caller on Watch What Happens Live how surprised she was to hear about Danielle, 56, getting divorced less than four months after marrying Marty Caffrey. Susan from Maine also wanted to know what type of guy Danielle should find. Not surprised: Margaret Josephs during a chat show appearance Wednesday said she wasn't surprised about Danielle Staub's marriage falling apart in less than four months 'On a scale of zero to 10. Zero. I was that surprised,' Margaret said. 'And I don't think she should find any guy. I think she should just be single for a long time. But if she has to find somebody, he should be 90 with one foot on a banana peel,' she added. The witty gibe drew a laugh from fellow guest Wendi McLendon-Covey, 49, and host Andy Cohen, 50. Margaret threw a glass of wine in Danielle's face during a group trip to Mexico on Wednesday's episode of the Bravo show. Happier times: Marty Caffrey and Danielle, shown in January 2017 in New Jersey, got married in May 2018 and he filed for divorce in August 2018 The host: Andy Cohen relayed a question from caller Susan in Maine to Margaret Danielle got drenched after bringing up Margaret's estranged relationship with her children during an argument during dinner. It was the latest incident in a nasty falling out between the former good friends. Margaret was a Matron of Honor in Danielle's wedding when she married Marty in May 2018 on the beach in Bimini. Dinner drama: Margaret and Danielle had a heated argument on Wednesday's episode of RHONJ Wine toss: The fashion designer stood up and tossed a glass of wine at Danielle On target: Margaret hit Danielle in the face with the wine and drenched her dress Their friendship disintergrated after the wedding and Marty in August 2018 filed for divorce from Danielle. Margaret was married to Jan Josephs from 1994 until their divorce in 2013. They had one son together and Jan had three children from a previous marriage and Margaret remains estranged from two of her stepchildren. She married her second husband Joe Benigno in 2013. His spotlight is dimming rapidly as a new crop of Married At First Sight contestants take centre stage. But Sean Thomsen, who was featured on last year's season of the reality show, is determined to make sure he's not old news. On Thursday, the 34-year-old FIFO worker proved he was still young at heart by wearing a Blink 182 T-shirt while on a date with his teenage girlfriend in Melbourne. What's my age again? Married At First Sight's Sean Thomsen, 34, wore a Blink-182 T-shirt while stepping out with his 19-year-old girlfriend in Melbourne on Thursday Married at first swipe! Sean and Sarcia have reportedly been dating since last July, with a source claiming they met on the dating app Tinder Sean and Sarcia Alexandra, 19, have reportedly been dating since last July, with a source claiming they met on the dating app Tinder. Sean's Blink-182 T-shirt may have been an ode to his own youth, but it's likely his girlfriend is too young to know about the band's music. The pop punk group, famous for their hit song What's My Age Again?, peaked in popularity in the early 2000s - when Sean was the exact age Sarcia is now. Generation gap: Sean's Blink-182 T-shirt may have been an ode to his own youth, but it's likely his girlfriend is too young to know about the band's music Fancy that! The pop punk group, famous for their hit song What's My Age Again?, peaked in popularity in the early 2000s - when Sean was the exact age Sarcia is now For the outing, Sean paired his T-shirt with denim jeans and white Converse sneakers. He accessorised with a pair of tinted sunglasses, and spiked up his blond hair with a considerable amount of hair gel. Meanwhile, model Sarcia stunned in a white jumper and a thigh-skimming skirt, which showed off her slender legs. Blonde beauty: Model Sarcia stunned in a white jumper and a thigh-skimming skirt, which showed off her slender legs 'We're just dating': Last August, Sean confirmed he was seeing Sarcia, but it seems things have become more serious since then Unlucky in love: During his stint on Married At First Sight, he was paired with Blair Rachael (right) but later enjoyed a fling with fellow contestant Tracey Jewel The blonde bombshell, who is of Polish descent, completed her glamorous look with a pair of black strappy heels. Last August, Sean confirmed he was seeing Sarcia, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'We're just dating. I'm not rushing into anything as you might understand.' During his stint on Married At First Sight, he was paired with Blair Rachael but later enjoyed a fling with fellow contestant Tracey Jewel. He has previously said that dating Tracey, 36, is his 'one regret' about the show. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Jind for voting for the BJP. Chandigarh/Jaipur: The ruling BJP in Haryana on Thursday won the high-stakes byelection in Jind, which also saw the newly-floated JJP scoring convincingly higher than its parent party INLD and the Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala, the partys spokesman, settling for the third spot. The BJPs Krishan Middha won in Jind by 12,935 votes. Mr Middha got 50,566 votes and Digvijay Chautala of the Jannayak Janata Party got 35,293 votes. Congress Randeep Surjewala was third, with 22,740 votes, and the INLD polled 3,454 votes. In Rajasthan, the ruling Congress won the byelection in Ramgarh and with it touched the halfway mark in the 200-member Assembly, with its candidate Shafia Zubair defeating her BJP rival by a margin of over 12,000 votes. Ms Zubair secured 44.77 per cent of the vote against BJP candidate Sukhwant Singhs 38.20 per cent, the state election department said. With this victory, the Congress now has 100 MLAs in the House and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has one MLA. The BJP has 73 members in the Rajasthan Assembly. In Jind, counting of votes was stopped for a while after a ruckus over missing EVMs at the counting centre at the Arjuna Stadium. The counting resumed after additional CRPF personnel were deployed at the centre. Reacting to the win, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said the BJPs comprehensive victory was a clear signal of the peoples increasing faith in his governments transparent and graft-free governance and policies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Jind for voting for the BJP. This is a seat where the party has never won before, he tweeted. The bypoll was held after the death of Mr Middhas father, INLDs Hari Chand Middha. Krishan Middha is an ayurvedic doctor from the Punjabi community. The Jannayak Janata Party, which broke away from the INLD just weeks ago after a feud in the Chautala family, put up a spirited fight and finished second. In Ramgarh, Rajasthan, a total of 20 candidates were in the fray in the January 28 election. Besides the winner and the BJP candidate, the remaining 18, including the BSPs Jagat Singh, forfeited their security deposits. Mr Jagat Singh is the son of former external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh. Rajasthan Congress chief and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said: This is a vote of confidence yet again by the people of Rajasthan towards the Congress Party. It was the first election after the governments formation and the result is an indication that the BJP has lost the support they had, Mr Pilot told PTI. The election to the Ramgarh seat, which was won by the BJP in 2013, could not be held along with the other constituencies due to the death of the BSP candidate ahead of the December 7 Rajasthan election. He's a three time Oscar nominee. And Russell Crowe showed off his chameleon-like ability again on Thursday, as Showtime released an image of the Australian actor looking every inch like disgraced media mogul Roger Ailes. The photo showed off the 54-year-old's prosthetic belly he had to don for the part. Who's that man? Russell Crowe showed off his chameleon-like ability again on Thursday, as Showtime released an image of the Australian actor looking every inch like disgraced media mogul Roger Ailes The Gladiator thespian also donned a bald cap for the role, and shaved his beard. Production on the project, based on the book The Loudest Voice in the Room, began in New York City in November. The show will also star Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson, Sienna Miller as Ailes' wife Beth, and Simon McBurney as Rupert Murdoch. Disgraced: Showtime's new limited series will mainly focus on the last decade of Ailes' life, including his fall from Fox after a slew of women accused him of sexual harassment. The real life Ailes seen here in 2006 Showtime's new limited series will mainly focus on the last decade of Ailes' life, including his fall from Fox after a slew of women accused him of sexual harassment. It will also include flashbacks to defining events in Ailes' life and will be told through multiple points of view. 'In many ways, the collision between the media and politics has come to define the world we live in today,' Showtime Networks president and CEO David Nevins told Variety. Just a few weeks after Joseph Baena re-created father Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Universe pose, he's captured another of his famous dad's iconic poses. Baena took to Instagram on Wednesday to re-create another one of dad's famous poses, flexing his biceps, stating he, 'Had to take advantage of the lighting.' The pose is a re-creation of a flexing pose Schwarzenegger did in a 1967 ad for a German protein product, while Arnie himself spoke about their bond in a new interview. Famous pose: Joseph Baena re-created another one of his father's famous poses in a new Instagram snap on Wednesday Classic pose: The pose is a re-creation of a fiexing pose Schwarezengger did in 1967 ad for a German protein product Schwarzenegger was at his Arnold Pro Strongman USA event when Extra's Mario Lopez caught up with him, and mentioned that he looks great. 'Yeah, yeah, he is very serious about this whole thing,' Arnold said. 'He wants to compete in one of the classic physique competitions.' 'I don't think he wants to go to the extreme, but he wants to do the classic physique competitions and he's looking forward to that and he's training very hard,' he added. Classic physique: Schwarzenegger was at his Arnold Pro Strongman USA event when Extra 's Mario Lopez caught up with him, and mentioned that he looks great Hitting the gym: Schwarzenegger also shared a story about a recent training session when he was in the gym with his 21-year-old son, and he pushed him to a new personal best Schwarzenegger also shared a story about a recent training session when he was in the gym with his 21-year-old son, and he pushed him to a new personal best. 'We were in the gym and did the shoulder training and the arm training, lets go over there and do a little deadlift,' Schwarzenegger said. 'Because I'm a big believer in training also for strength.' 'I put in 455, which he has never lifted before, and he did two reps,' the action icon continued. 'I saw him doing the first one, it was not too much of a struggle, so I said, "Come on do a second one! Go for the second one! Come on Joseph!"' Father and son: 'We were in the gym and did the shoulder training and the arm training, lets go over there and do a little deadlift,' Schwarzenegger said. 'Because I'm a big believer in training also for strength' While Arnie is very happy about his son following in his bodybuilding footsteps, he also wants Joseph, to study as hard as he trains. 'Take care of your body, train hard if you're passionate about that, but also study hard,' Schwarzenegger said, adding it's a 'key thing' that he 'gets his business degree at Pepperdine.' Last week, Baena took to Instagram to mark the one year anniversary of him deciding to pursue bodybuilding. Bodybuilding origins: Last week, Baena took to Instagram to mark the one year anniversary of him deciding to pursue bodybuilding 'In this pic, a year ago, I was just under 185lbs (83kg). This is the moment I decided I wanted to pursue bodybuilding,' Baena said, with the hashtags #Swimmerbod #SteadyGrowth #RoadTo215. Schwarzenegger also praised his future son-in-law, actor Chris Pratt, in his interview with Mario Lopez, revealing that he's 'such a likable guy.' 'He's a great guy, they both look really great together, they're very happy together, so I wish them the best of luck.' She showcases her typically feminine look when she treads the red carpet. Yet Laura Whitmore broke her style image when she opted for androgynous chic at the Vanity Fair EE Rising Star party hosted at L'Oscar Hotel, in London on Thursday. The former I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! presenter, 33, suited and booted in a navy pinstripe suit for the bash hosted ahead of the 2019 EE BAFTAs. Looking lovely! Laura Whitmore opted for androgynous chic in a sheer blouse and pinstriped suit at the BAFTA Rising Star bash in London on Thursday Beneath a smart blazer, the presenter flashed a glimpse of her bare skin as she went braless in a sheer striped blouse to the event sponsored by Ciroc. For a feminine feel, the blonde who is dating Love Island voice over Iain Stirling added a bow embossed with sequins to the neck of her blouse. Proving her fashion credentials, Laura wore a flash of red with her heels and the coloured bottom of her clutch to bring out the stripes in her suit. Oozing sex appeal: Beneath a smart blazer, the presenter flashed a glimpse of her bare skin as she went braless in a sheer striped blouse to the event sponsored by Ciroc Suits you! Proving her fashion credentials, Laura wore a flash of red with her heels and the coloured bottom of her clutch to bring out the stripes in her suit Dazzling diva: For a feminine feel, the blonde who is dating Love Island voice over Iain Stirling added a bow embossed with sequins to the neck of her blouse Inside the swanky venue, Laura found a friend among the stars as she enjoyed catching up with her beau's Love Island co-star Caroline Flack. Recently, the Irish star claimed she had grown more confident in her good looks over the years as she used to wear a lot more make-up when she was younger. The blonde bombshell put wearing heavy make-up in her youth down to 'insecurities' she suffered with but now she insisted she recognised beauty is about expression. Stunning: Recently, the Irish star claimed she had grown more confident in her good looks over the years as she used to wear a lot more make-up when she was younger Good pals: Inside the swanky venue, Laura found a friend among the stars as she enjoyed catching up with her beau's Love Island co-star Caroline Flack She told The Irish Sun last year: 'I probably wore a lot more make-up when I was younger and it was an insecurity thing. 'But at some stage you go: "Do you know what? F**k it." There are so many other millions of things to worry about. 'Beauty shouldnt be about hiding yourself its about expression, and I think we all need to learn that were highlighting and accentuating what we already have.' Perfect pair: The friends looked fantastic when they hit the party together She's one of Hollywood's brightest stars, with four movies due out this year. But Rebel Wilson's personal life isn't going quite as well, as she admitted on Friday that she's struggling to find a boyfriend. During an interview with Australia's Today show, the 38-year-old said she just wants to meet a 'nice guy' - but frustratingly they won't make the first move. 'Regular guys don't approach me': Rebel Wilson, 38, revealed on Friday's Today show that she finds dating 'difficult' because she's famous The Isn't It Romantic star explained that only 'cocky' men approach her, but she's not interested in dating someone arrogant. 'Normally people that approach you are the really confident, cocky ones,' she said. 'Regular dudes don't normally come up.' Rebel added that they type of man she is looking for is 'someone who is nice, maybe talented, not got a criminal record - something like that'. It's tough out there! 'Normally people that approach you are the really confident, cocky ones,' Rebel said. ' Regular dudes don't normally come up' In the past, the unlucky-in-love Hollywood star has revealed she watches dating shows obsessively. Speaking on The Project last April, she confessed to watching every single episode of the Australian version of The Bachelorette. 'I'm not joking. I watched every episode of Sophie Monk's season. I'm the same age. I have the same problems as her,' she said at the time. What happened? Rebel's last rumoured relationship was with stuntman Aden Stay (pictured) in 2017, but things fizzled out after a few months Rebel's last rumoured relationship was with stuntman Aden Stay in 2017, but things fizzled out after a few months. She split with her last confirmed boyfriend, Mickey Gooch Jr., back in 2015. In February 2016, Rebel told Sydney's Daily Telegraph that she was happy to remain single so she could concentrate on her career. 'A lot of my friends who are married now wish theyd taken the same path - where you really went after your career and your dreams,' she said at the time. Simon Cowell has 'splashed 15million on a new home in Wimbledon because it's close to his son Eric's school'. The music mogul is said to be moving from his Holland Park home to a new six-bedroom property in the south-west London suburb due to the school system and the catchment area. Simon, 59, and partner Lauren Silverman, 41, have their eye not only on a certain primary school for Eric, four, but on secondary schools for him to progress to. On the move: Simon Cowell has 'splashed 15million on a new home in Wimbledon because it's close to his son Eric's school' According to The Sun, a source close to X Factor judge Simon said: 'Its a drastic move, spending 15million on a new house just to ensure your kids go to their chosen school. 'But Simon isnt short of a few bob and Eric is the most important thing in his life. 'He and Lauren sat down and talked about where they wanted him to go to school, and given how much time they spend in England, they decided to be based here in the future more than in the US.' A spokesperson for Simon Cowell told MailOnline: 'Simon and Lauren chose to move because they really like the area - theres been no decision made yet on schools.' Simon's old home is thought to be going on the market - which means he'll leave behind neighbours such as Elton John and The Beckhams. The mogul has owned properties in London, Beverley Hills, Miami and Barbados. Catchment area: Both Simon, 59, and partner Lauren Silverman, 41, have their eye not only on a certain primary school for Eric, four, but on secondary schools for him to progress to Property mogul: The mogul has owned properties in London, Beverley Hills, Miami and Barbados His LA home is 9,335 square foot - designed by the man himself. It is said to feature a spa, gym, pool and a tanning salon. Simon is currently shooting the auditions round for the latest season of Britain's Got Talent - where he had a near-miss with a knife-thrower this week. He described the moment as 'the scariest thing ever' as he risked his life for the daredevil challenge. According to the Daily Star, Simon volunteered to be the target for Belarusian act Andrei Gomonov at the auditions. British soil: 'He and Lauren sat down and talked about where they wanted him to go to school, and given how much time they spend in England, they decided to be based here in the future more than in the US,' a source explained Far from being scared the act could go wrong, Simon reportedly told Andrei: 'I really want to know what it feels like to have an axe thrown at me.' The performance was certainly a close call for the head judge as the knives were said to have missed his body 'by inches'. It was so tense that fellow judge Amanda Holden covered her eyes during the stunt. Simon later admitted: 'OK, so that was the scariest thing ever. I now realise how hard it is.' Fellow judge David Walliams jokingly hit out at the performer for not finishing off Simon while he had the chance. She fell asleep during her husband Justin Timberlake's special birthday dinner date on Wednesday night. And making up for it, Jessica Biel, 36, shared an adorable throwback photo and sweet caption for her man on Thursday. Taking to Instagram, the actress gushed over her 38-year-old man, even blaming him for her smile lines. The look of love: Jessica Biel blamed Justin Timberlake for her smile lines in a hilarious throwback photo for his 38th birthday on Thursday 'Since the days of embarrassing pink ruffled bikinis and underwater photo shoots, you have been infusing my life with so much joy and laughter that I blame YOU for my smile lines,' she captioned. 'But I wouldnt trade them for the world. I wear them with pride knowing that I am the luckiest human around to have the honor of hearing your jokes, your words, your voice, every day of my life.' Jessica continued: 'Happy birthday to the man of my blue ocean dreams. I love you.' Tired? The Sinner star's post comes after she fell asleep during their early birthday date night on Wednesday evening Feeling lonely! Taking to social media, the Justin shared a hilarious video singing Happy Birthday to himself while his wife enjoyed a cat nap The photo saw Jessica stun in a pink ruffle bikini top while cozying up to her main underwater. Justin pulled quite the face in the throwback photo that racked up over 120,000 likes in the first ten minutes. The Sinner star's post comes after she fell asleep during their early birthday date night on Wednesday evening. Taking to social media, the Justin shared a hilarious video singing Happy Birthday to himself while his wife enjoyed a cat nap. Birthday surprise! Justin and Jessica enjoyed a date night out on Broadway to watch, To Kill A Mockingbird on Wednesday evening - where they got to catch up with the cast and crew Fans: At one point, Jessica was seen with actress Celia Keenan-Bolger 'Gotta work tomorrow for my bday so wifey really going all out tonight...' Justin captioned. The clip saw the star softly singing Happy Birthday to himself while in the car on the way to dinner in New York City. Spanning the camera, The Sinner star was seen breathing in some fresh air during a nap. As Justin began to sing louder, he woke up the beauty. 'I'm just preparing for our big night out. Just preparing,' she said. And while many took to the comments section to wish the Mirrors star ahead of his special day, others jumped on to defend Jessica. 'JT! Cut her some slack she's a mommy let her sleep,' wrote one. Another wrote: '@justintimberlake Happy Birthday. @jessicabiel as a mom we need out sleep first - we can't party the way we once did without a snooze.' Justin and Jessica enjoyed a date night out on Broadway to watch, To Kill A Mockingbird. The duo appeared to be matching with similar hats and plaid colored ensembles. The pair were lucky enough to meet the cast including actress Celia Keenan-Bolger backstage following the performance. Justin and Jessica first began dating 12-years-ago in 2007 before getting engaged in 2011. They married the following year at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Fasano, Italy, and welcomed son Silas Randall, three, into the world in 2015. Four-time SAG Award winner Ariel Winter admitted it was a 'difficult process' to dare to bare her minimally made-up, freckled complexion on the unretouched cover of Pulse Spikes' winter 2019 edition. 'It was definitely more of a difficult process for me, not because I have to be in make-up daily. I don't. I'm not looking red carpet standard all the time,' the Modern Family starlet - who turned 21 on Monday - told the mag. 'It is just something you think about like, "Oh, well I am going to be photographed in this setting. Oh no, what if I look weird? I got a pimple today!" But it was nice to be able to do that.' Slide me Dare to bare! Ariel Winter admitted it was a 'difficult process' to show her minimally made-up, freckled complexion on the unretouched cover of Pulse Spikes' winter 2019 edition The Modern Family starlet - who turned 21 on Monday - told the mag: 'It was definitely more of a difficult process for me, not because I have to be in make-up daily. I don't. I'm not looking red carpet standard all the time. It is just something you think about like, "Oh, well I am going to be photographed in this setting. Oh no, what if I look weird? I got a pimple today!"' The LA native discussed the pressures of looking a certain way, and revealed why she stopped caring what others (mostly online) thought about her appearance by age 17. 'Nobody was ever going to be happy with the way I looked. So I realized that it didnt matter the only person that matters is me because I am the only one who has to live with me,' Ariel continued. 'We are always harder on ourselves than we need to be. And I also think that sometimes we think people are criticizing us, but in reality, we are just doing it to ourselves. 'Taking time to think about that and understand what is going on and why you feel that way, instead of brushing it aside, is important. Why live hating yourself when there is no real reason to?' 'The only person that matters is me': The LA native discussed the pressures of looking a certain way, and revealed why she stopped caring what others (mostly online) thought about her appearance by age 17 (pictured January 6) Winter (born Workman) believes everyone should embrace their differences, because 'if we were all supposed to look a certain way then we would have probably evolved that way.' 'When we see Victoria's Secret models, they are beautiful! There is no reason we should hate on them,' the UCLA poli-sci major explained. 'We are not going to look like that person, nor do we need to. There is nothing better than looking like yourself and being unique. Nobody wants to be the same; the same is boring.' The aspiring federal prosecutor has also gained confidence after toning up her 5ft1in figure in the gym with fitness trainer MackFit, and she celebrated her second anniversary with her live-in love Levi Meaden on November 11. 'If we were all supposed to look a certain way then we would have probably evolved that way': Ariel has gained confidence toning up her 5ft1in figure in the gym with fitness trainer MackFit Decade age difference: The aspiring federal prosecutor celebrated her second anniversary with her live-in love Levi Meaden on November 11 (pictured January 6) Ariel currently plays wholesome Caltech student Alex Dunphy in the 10th season of mockumentary series Modern Family, which airs Wednesdays on ABC. Winter and her castmates Sarah Hyland, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould scored a 'significant' pay raise for the final season - according to Variety. It's unclear the exact dollar amount but the adults - Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill, and Sofia Vergara - all earn an eye- popping $500K per episode. December 13 'family' portrait: Winter currently plays wholesome Caltech student Alex Dunphy in the 10th season of mockumentary series Modern Family, which airs Wednesdays on ABC 'I was 11 [when I was cast], and I don't think I fully understood the impact of how big the show could be': The Sherman Oaks homeowner and her castmates Sarah Hyland, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould scored a 'significant' pay raise for the final season (pictured in 2009) 'It's been fantastic. We are so lucky that we got to be a part of [Modern Family] and that we are still a part of the show,' the Sherman Oaks homeowner gushed. 'To have been employed for a season is already a blessing, and for it to have gone on for ten seasons is insane. It's a show that people genuinely like and that we genuinely enjoy making. It is cool growing up on the show because as an actor you get to learn from the other actors... 'I was 11 [when I was cast], and I don't think I fully understood the impact of how big the show could be. I didnt realize there was even an option that it could go that far, so I thought it was really good, but I don't know if I fully saw it.' There may not be a host but there will definitely be music. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced via Twitter Thursday that nominated songs from RBG and Mary Poppins Returns will be performed during the Oscars telecast on February 24. Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar for Dreamgirls at the 2007 awards show and performed on the show in 2013 and 2015, will return to sing I'll Fight from the movie about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fan favorite: Jennifer Hudson, pictured in London on January 4, will perform the Oscar nominated song I'll Fight from the film RBG on the Academy awards telecast on February 24 Confirmation: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences made the announcement via Twitter Thursday And there's more: The Academy also tweeted that the nominated song from Mary Poppins Returns will also be included, and will be performed by 'a surprise special guest!' Will it be her? In the movie, The Place Where Lost Things Go is performed by the movie's star Emily Blunt The Place Where Lost Things Go is performed in Mary Poppins Returns by the film's star Emily Blunt. The Academy, in its tweet, teased that 'It will be performed by a surprise special guest!' It comes after earlier reports suggested that only two of the five Original Song nominees would be showcased - Lady Gaga's Shallow from A Star Is Born and All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA from Black Panther. It comes after earlier reports suggested that only two of the five Original Song nominees would be showcased - Lady Gaga's Shallow from A Star Is Born, pictured, and All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA from Black Panther The Oscars producers had said there wasnt time to perform all five songs in a show they're trying to streamline, Variety reported. It sparked a huge backlash and now, sources are telling Variety that offers have gone out to the performers of all the five nominated songs. The fifth nominated song is When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings by Willie Watson and Tim Blake Nelson from The Ballard of Buster Scruggs. Winner: Jennifer Hudson won a best supporting actress Oscar for Dreamgirls at the 2007 awards show Popular performer: Hudson performed her Dreamgirls song And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going at the 2013 Oscars, left, and performed again in 2015 during the In Memorian segment, right Meanwhile, details about Hollywood's biggest night are still limited including how they plan to deal with the absence of a host after Kevin Hart walked away from the gig amid controversy about homophobic comments he made in the past. It's believed that there will be a string of stars who will take the stage to provide continuity during the telecast in addition to their usual role as presenters of the awards. Officials have also pledged that it will not run longer than three hours. To that end, it's been reportedly decided that several technical awards, such as sound mixing and sound editing, will be handed out during commercial breaks. She is the stunning Australian model who shares two adorable children with husband Gary Clark Jr. And on Wednesday, Nicole Trunfio enjoyed a solo night out at the Dior Men's event in Sydney. The 32-year-old flaunted her fantastic figure in a full-length frock with a sheer top and a deep plunging neckline. Sheer daring! Nicole Trunfio (pictured) goes braless in a see-through lace frock as she leads the celebrity arrivals at a glamorous Dior event in Sydney Her elegant black frock featured a pop of colour with pink floral detailing on the torso. She drew attention to her decolletage by accessorising her look with a few long gold chain necklaces, in addition to her statement earrings and ring. Nicole teamed the look with a Dior handbag and added a touch of edge with a beret and combat boots to her elegant look. Pretty: The 32-year-old's elegant black frock featured a pop of colour with pink floral detailing on the torso A little bit of Paris: She teamed the look with a Dior handbag and added a touch of sophistication with a beret Well booted: A little edge came thanks to combat boots which added to her elegant look Chains of gold: She drew attention to her decolletage by accessorising her look with a few long gold chain necklaces, in addition to her statement earrings and ring Done up! For makeup she kept it simple with bronzed cheeks, nude pink lips and a dramatic winged eyeliner For makeup she kept it simple with bronzed cheeks, nude pink lips and a dramatic winged eyeliner. Joining the brunette beauty at the event was season one Bachelor star Tim Robards. The 36-year-old, who attended the fashion event without his wife Anna Heinrich, cut a suave figure in a tailored suit black suit and slicked-back hair. Suit up! Joining the brunette beauty at the event was season one Bachelor star Tim Robards Dapper: The 36-year-old, who attended the fashion event without his wife Anna Heinrich, cut a suave figure in a tailored suit black suit Sydney socialite Christian Wilkins and his boyfriend Andrew Kelly were also at the luxury brand event. The pair boldly posed for the cameras, showing off their unique outfits in a series of model poses. Christian, who is the son of media personality Richard Wilkins, opted for a one-shouldered top and pinstripe pants with lace detailing along the side. Posing up a storm: Sydney socialite Christian Wilkins (right) and his boyfriend Andrew Kelly (left) were also at the luxury brand event Strike a pose! The pair boldly posed for the cameras, showing off their unique outfits Trendy: Christian, who is the son of media personality Richard Wilkins, opted for a one-shouldered top and pinstripe pants with lace detailing Andrew opted for a stylish jumpsuit that showed off his thigh tattoos, a white singlet, and boots. Actress and social media sensation Sarah Ellen opted for a bohemian-inspired, white lace frock. The 22-year-old accentuated her slender figure with an embellished waist belt and elevated her outfit with a pair of heeled combat boots. Elegant: Actress and social media sensation Sarah Ellen opted for a bohemian-inspired, white lace frock at the event Boho: The 22-year-old accentuated her slender figure with an embellished waist belt Cartia Milan flaunted her white mini-dress, teamed with a pair of black sandals, as she posed alongside Josh Heuston at the event. He opted for a baggy dusty pink suit with a pair of holographic sneakers and a fanny pack with Dior emblazoned across it. Fashion blogger Yan Yan Chan meanwhile opted for a preppy outfit, consisting of a dusty pink checked dress with a baby blue T-shirt underneath and white boots. Unique style: Cartia Milan (left) flaunted her white mini-dress, teamed with a pair of black sandals, as she posed alongside Josh Heuston (right) Think pink: He dressed in baggy dusty pink suit with a pair of holographic sneakers and a fanny pack with Dior emblazoned across A fashionable pair: Yan Yan Chan (left) dressed in a preppy outfit, a dusty pink checked dress with a baby blue T-shirt underneath and white boots. Her boyfriend, model Nathan Jolliffe (right) opted for an athleisure style ensemble with a white shirt, striped pants and sneakers Her boyfriend, model Nathan Jolliffe, opted for an athleisure style ensemble with a white shirt, striped pants and black sneakers. Romanian model Diana Moldovan graced the event in an elegant floral gown with a trendy waist belt. She teamed the look with a handbag and combat boots, her hair slicked back and her glowing visage featuring a nude makeup palette. Blac Chyna is used to a maelstrom of drama. But the 30-year-old reality star was treated to a vortex of actual wind as she posted a hilarious Instagram video on Thursday. The natural stunner grabbed onto her hair as she ran into a hotel while wind whipped around her and captioned the video: 'Ladies, secure the bag and your wig!' Wind in her sail: Blac Chyna, 30, was treated to a vortex of wind as she posted a hilarious Instagram video on Thursday Daring to impress, the mother of two-year-old Dream - whom she shares with Rob Kardashian - flaunted her figure in a skintight orange dress. Her quick reflexes allowed her to grab her hair before any other damage could be done as she scooted towards the door in rainbow boots. She thrust her gorgeous gams on center stage as the form fitting ensemble cut high on her toned and tattooed thighs. Radiating her natural charisma, the budding hip hop artist was all smiles as she fought the inclement weather. Hold on! The natural stunner grabbed onto her hair as she ran into a hotel while wind whipped around her and captioned the video: 'Ladies, secure the bag and your wig!' All smiles: Radiating her natural charisma, the budding hip hop artist was all smiles as she fought the inclement weather Quick reflex: Her quick reflexes allowed her to grab her hair before any other damage could be done as she scooted towards the door in rainbow boots Just the day before, Blac Chyna modeled an extremely tight striped jumpsuit on Instagram, sharing a number of Polaroid shots with her 15 million followers. 'Too blessed to be stressed,' the star captioned one, showcasing her ample cleavage in the blue halterneck piece that plunged right to her navel. She covered one of her bare breasts with one hand while her other hand was placed over her mouth. Impressive: Daring to impress, the mother of two-year-old Dream - whom she shares with Rob Kardashian - flaunted her figure in a skintight orange dress Wow: Blac Chyna modeled an extremely tight striped jumpsuit on Instagram, sharing a number of Polaroid shots with her 15 million followers That shot, which also showcases her new blue hair, she captioned with an ATM emoji. The shots, which were also captioned 'AS IF' and 'Thank you, NEXT!' were geo-tagged in Waikiki, Hawaii. Things have't been going that smoothly on the island state; according to TMZ police had to be called during the week following an alleged altercation there between her and boyfriend Kid Buu. Star: 'Too blessed to be stressed,' the 30-year-old star captioned one, showcasing her ample cleavage in the blue halterneck piece that plunged right to her navel Busty: The shots, which were also captioned 'AS IF' and 'Thank you, NEXT!' Getaway: The images were geo-tagged in Waikiki, Hawaii The site claimed the Lashed founder and rapper, also 30, were in a heated argument that turned violent during their vacation. Law enforcement arrived to their Four Seasons hotel room in Honolulu in the wee hours of Monday morning. TMZ's source said that Chyna had accused Kid Buu of cheating and just before 7AM it became physical. Chyna scratched the rapper and then he slammed her against the wall several times and choked her according to the insider. The police were called and law enforcement and paramedics came shortly thereafter. The make-up mogul was not taken to the hospital as TMZ reports that no one was seriously hurt according to their sources. They also said that Kid Buu left the hotel. Sara even posted pictures of them holidaying in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya on her Instagram. After delivering two back-to-back success, Sara Ali Khan has left on a vacation to Africa to chill with her mother Amrita Singh. The stylish mother-daughter duo was chilling in the wilderness of Kenya. Sara even posted pictures of them holidaying in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya on her Instagram. Sharing two silhouetted frames of them, with the sun setting in the horizon, Sara captioned the photos, "Wilder and Wildest in the Wild ??????????? #motherdaughter #hakunamatata #pinksky. Kylie Jenner's ex-boyfriend Tyga hooked up with Kardashian associate Tammy Hembrow while on tour in Australia earlier this week. But the rapper, 29, wasn't in the mood for talking about it on Tuesday, brushing off questions about his fling with the Instagram model, 24, at Sydney Airport. When asked to comment on his relationship status, the Rack City hitmaker refused to answer and walked off with members off his entourage. Suddenly shy? Kylie Jenner's ex Tyga (left) brushed off his 'fling' with Kardashian associate Tammy Hembrow (right) when questioned by reporters at Sydney Airport on Tuesday Tyga wore dark sunglasses and pulled up the hood of his grey jumper while strolling through the airport terminal. Tammy, who accompanied the musician throughout his tour, was nowhere in sight. News of their secret relationship surfaced after multiple sources confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they hooked up at the Rolling Loud Festival in Sydney on Sunday night. Drama! News of Tammy and Tyga's secret relationship surfaced after multiple sources told Daily Mail Australia they hooked up at the Rolling Loud Festival in Sydney on Sunday Exclusive footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed Tammy dancing wildly in the VIP area next to Tyga, who appeared noticeably less animated An onlooker claimed that Tammy, who shares two children aged four and two with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins, 'was partying so hard she didn't seem to care what anyone thought'. She was later spotted backstage at Tyga's Brisbane concert on Monday night. However, Tammy's sister and spokeswoman Amy Hembrow told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that the model is not dating Tyga and 'everyone is just friends'. He certainly has a type! Tyga split with Kylie Jenner in 2017 after around three years of dating Despite being Australia's most famous 'Instagram model' and the owner of popular activewear brand Saski Collection, Tammy is perhaps best known for an incident involving Tyga's ex-girlfriend Kylie Jenner last year. In August 2018, she was pictured being carried out of Kylie's 21st birthday party in West Hollywood face-down on a stretcher, making headlines across the world. She later claimed she was suffering from exhaustion when she collapsed on the dance floor. Despite the drama, Kylie and her famous family have supported Tammy, and she continues to work as a model for Khloe Kardashian's clothing brand Good American. However, considering Tyga's turbulent history with the Kardashians, it is unclear how they will react to Tammy's fling with the rapper. Becoming an ambassador for a global haircare brand is quite a coup for an actor - just ask Olympia Valance. The Playing For Keeps star was announced as L'Oreal Professionnel's new ambassador on Friday, with the launch of the brand's latest campaign Color Me French. The 26-year-old brunette beauty said the partnership was a good match. Mane attraction! Soap star Olympia Valance (pictured) was announced as the new ambassador for haircare giant L'Oreal on Friday 'My hair has always been important to me,' Olympia said. 'I'm excited to be working with such an iconic French brand!' According to L'Oreal, the brand's Colour Me French campaign 'celebrates the sophisticated yet natural-looking professional colour that defines French hair'. Brunette beauty: The Playing For Keeps star was announced as L'Oreal Professionnel's new ambassador with the launch of the brand's latest campaign Color Me French The new campaign is not the first endorsement gig for Olympia - in 2014 she was announced as the face and body of UK lingerie brand Gossard. Olympia's new ambassador role shows the actress is going from strength to strength in her career, but it hasn't been easy according to the soap star. In November last year, she revealed that she struggled mentally between leaving Neighbours and landing the role as WAG Tahlia Woods on Playing For Keeps. 'My hair has always been important to me,' Olympia said. 'I'm excited to be working with such an iconic French brand!' And after Playing For Keeps finished, the star noticed a bad pattern re-emerge. Speaking to Who magazine, she said: 'I remember calling Laura, my best friend, saying, "Im sad again. This is not good for me. This is not mentally good." 'I saw the pattern. The pattern is, I need to be working and when I'm not filming, I need to have something on the go. I see a psychologist.' Chic roots: According to L'Oreal, the brand's Colour Me French campaign 'celebrates the sophisticated yet natural-looking professional colour that defines French hair' Olympia said that after trying to manage her mental health on her own she realised she wasn't coping. She regularly sees a psychologist and says the stigma around seeking help needs to change. 'It's really important to speak to someone who is impartial, especially in this industry, but in any industry. I see her every second week. I think it's really healthy. There's no shame,' she told the publication. Olympia splits her time between Australia and Los Angeles. Usually it's the younger sibling who goes through their elder sister's closet and takes their clothes. But it appears it's the other way around among the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, with eldest Kourtney Kardashian copying two of her sister's looks this week. The 39-year-old stepped out on Thursday rocking a black workout set - the same look Kim, 38, sported late last year. She likes her style: Kourtney Kardashian was spotted on Thursday rocking the same ensemble younger sister Kim previously wore Kourtney wore a pair of high-waisted leggings that hugged her enviable hour-glass physique. She teamed the look with a cropped zipped up jacket that flashed a hint of her toned mid-section. The eldest daughter of Kris Jenner completed her ensemble with shoes off the same color and had her brunette tresses slicked back off of her face into a low bun. Gorgeous: She teamed the look with a cropped zipped up jacket that flashed a hint of her toned mid-section Stunner: The eldest daughter of Kris Jenner completed her ensemble with shoes off the same color and had her brunette tresses slicked back off of her face into a low bun Kourtney's glam was kept simple to bronzed cheekbones, a subtle smokey eye and a nude lip. Kim was seen rocking the same ensemble late last year while shopping with her sister. The KKW Beauty mogul opted to tuck in the jacket into her tights and added heels boots while keeping her hair out into loose waves. Slide me Loves to raid her sister's closets! And it isn't the first time Kourtney has raided a sister's closet - stepping out on Tuesday night in Kendall Jenner's top And it isn't the first time Kourtney has raided a sister's closet - stepping out on Tuesday night in Kendall Jenner's top. The mom-of-three teamed the see-through multi-colored top with black faded denim during a dinner date with the model and her boyfriend, Ben Simmons. Kendall sported the incredibly similar ensemble while out in New York City back in September 2018. Sister style: Kendall sported the incredibly similar ensemble while out in New York City back in September 2018 Both sisters styled their dark hair back into a low slicked bun and completed their look with boots. And perhaps taking inspo from Kim and Kendall is a way to distance herself from other sisters Khloe and Kylie - whom she recently revealed she's been having tiff's with. Taking to her social media earlier in the week, the ex of Scott Disick captioned: 'Khloe is pissing me off today'. Hitting out at Khloe and Kylie? And perhaps taking inspo from Kim and Kendall is a way to distance herself from other sisters Khloe and Kylie - whom she recently revealed she's been having tiff's with The mom to True Thompson later replied: 'Ok but serously, I didn't look at the photo until now. You actually look pretty perfect. I still mean what I said.' And one post before that saw Kourtney reveal she'd had another tiff with youngest sister Kylie. 'We had a tiny sister fight two days before this. This was our make up cuddle,' she captioned. Country music icon Harold Bradley died 'peacefully in his sleep' at 93, his daughters said on Facebook Thursday. His daughter said, 'Many of you know him as a successful musician and no doubt many stories will be told in the coming week. 'But to us, his greatest accomplishment was being the best dad in the world. We love you, dad.' The Country Music Hall of Famer got his start in music on the banjo, according to the Nashville Tennessean, and was eventually persuaded to play guitar by older brother Owen. Fondly remembered: Country music icon Harold Bradley died 'peacefully in his sleep' at 93, his daughters said on Facebook Thursday, calling him 'the best dad in the world' Bradley went on to contribute his talents to classics such as Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man and Roger Miller's King of the Road. Bradley, who spent seven decades in the recording industry, collaborated with artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, and played on albums from Eddy Arnold, Brenda Lee and Ray Price. Bradley was also involved in the business end of the industry, having led the Nashville's chapter of the American Federation of Musicians as well as the city's chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the outlet reported. The Country Music Hall of Fame, which inducted Bradley in 2006, said that the artist 'lived his life with kindness, gentility, and discretion. The latest: The musician's children announced his death in a Facebook post Thursday Unforgettable: Bradley contributed to classics such as Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man and Roger Miller's King of the Road. He was snapped in Nashville in 2015 Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young said in a statement, 'For decades, Harold Bradley went to work doing something that he called "playing." He surveyed every sonic situation and determined what he could do to make things better, more melodic, and more harmonious. There are lessons in Harold's approach to playing that go far beyond music. 'On hopeful days, I will try to view Harold Bradley as an inspiration and not an aberration.' Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou, 41, candidly admitted to having a boob job and Botox after being body-shamed online last month. And now, the actress has revealed the real reason she admitted to the cosmetic enhancements, following years of speculation. A clearly emotional Ada explained it was important for her to take her 'power back' while appearing on The Morning Show on Thursday. 'It was starting to affect me': Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou reveals the REAL reason she candidly confessed to having a boob job and botox after being 'body shamed' by trolls Sitting across from hosts Larry Emdur and Sally Obermeder, Ada said: 'I let it roll [the trolling] for a really long time until I did realise it was affecting me.' '[I did it because] I'm taking my power back. But I'm taking my power back for other young women out there who can't do that.' Taking a stand: 'I'm taking my power back. But I'm taking my power back for other young women out there who can't do that,' a clearly passionate Ada said on the program The stunning actress went on to say it was equally important for her to spread a body positive message by taking a stand against trolling. 'I think it's completely unacceptable. And we as women have the right to do whatever we want to ourselves to make us feel good about ourselves,' she said. The soap star shared a slew of snaps of herself on Instagram in a skimpy bikini while holidaying with her millionaire boyfriend Adam Rigby in the Maldives last month. 'Think before you post next time': The mother-of-one admitted to have a boob job and Botox while responding to an Instagram troll who implied she was 'fake' However, it was met with criticism from an online troll who called her 'fake', to which the glamorous mother-of-one offered a scolding reply. 'I don't use fillers and I rarely use Botox and the only surgery that I've done [that] is 'fake' is breast augmentation, which I have every right to do,' she wrote. The Sydney-born actress went on to condemn body shaming and cyber bullying in the post. 'I have no judgement': Last year, Ada told Daily Mail Australia that she was not opposed to cosmetic surgery on principle. Pictured on holiday in the Maldives 'I appreciate that [everyone] has a right to an opinion,' she wrote. 'But have you stopped to think what example this gives to other girls and young women about body shaming and tearing down other women? 'This is where cyber bullying begins... Maybe think before you post next time.' No judgments: 'Everyone should do whatever makes them feel good,' Ada has previously said about cosmetic enhancements. (L) In 2001 (R) Last year Last year, Ada told Daily Mail Australia that she was not opposed to cosmetic surgery on principle. 'Everyone should do whatever makes them feel good,' she said when asked about Botox. 'I have no judgement on it whatsoever.' In July last year, Ada underwent a body transformation with Who magazine, losing a total of five kilograms. The actress dropped down to 47kg by following an eight-week exercise plan, which focused on strength training, including push-ups and sit-ups. When Bryce Dallas Howard was honored with the 68th Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award in Cambridge on Thursday, co-hosted by Clase Azul Tequila, she opted against asking her Jurassic World co-star Chris Pratt for advice despite him receiving Man of the Year in 2015. 'No, he didn't warn me about anything,' the 37-year-old Golden Globe nominee revealed onstage Farkas Hall - according to the Boston Herald. 'I texted his fiancee [Katherine Schwarzenegger] and I was like, "[Harvard University is] your family's stomping grounds, apparently." There's like "Kennedy" on every building!' Pudding pot! When Bryce Dallas Howard was honored with the 68th Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award in Cambridge on Thursday, she opted against asking her Jurassic World co-star Chris Pratt for advice despite him receiving Man of the Year in 2015 Honoree: Bryce Dallas Howard was honored at the Harvard Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year celebration, co-hosted by Clase Azul The 37-year-old Golden Globe nominee said: 'No, he didn't warn me about anything. I texted his fiancee [Katherine Schwarzenegger] and I was like, "[Harvard University is] your family's stomping grounds, apparently." There's like "Kennedy" on every building!' (pictured Wednesday) The 29-year-old socialite's great uncle - President John F. Kennedy - did indeed graduate from Harvard cum laude in 1940 while she graduated from the University of Southern California in 2012. His brother Robert F. Kennedy also graduated from the college in 1948, and it went on to honor the late Hyannis Port native by opening the The John F. Kennedy School of Government aka the Harvard Kennedy School in 1970. During the Hasty Pudding Theatricals ceremony, Howard hilariously embraced a student dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume as a tribute to her two Jurassic World movies with Pratt. 'For some of the smartest people on the planet, you're totally bananas,' the Black Mirror actress laughed. Alumnus: The 29-year-old socialite's great uncle - President John F. Kennedy - graduated from Harvard cum laude in 1940 while she graduated from the USC in 2012 (pictured in 1939) Yes! During the Hasty Pudding Theatricals ceremony, Howard embraced a student dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume as a tribute to her two Jurassic World movies with Pratt The Black Mirror actress laughed: 'For some of the smartest people on the planet, you're totally bananas. This has been totally a blast. I'll never forget this as long as I live and please accept my children to Harvard!' 'This has been totally a blast. I'll never forget this as long as I live and please accept my children to Harvard!' Bryce kicked off her morning by braving the 18F-degree Massachusetts winter while riding in a parade through the frozen streets of Cambridge. 'Thank you @harvard @thehastypudding for this incredible honor!' the daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard - who boasts 1.6M social media followers - tweeted. 'I'm thrilled to join the celebration of female empowerment and accomplishments - especially the first year with women in the Hasty Puddings cast! ... high of 18 degrees? Check the temperature again, cause there's about to be a roast. ' 'Thank you for this incredible honor!' Bryce kicked off her morning by braving the 18F-degree Massachusetts winter while riding in a parade through the frozen streets of Cambridge The daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard tweeted: 'I'm thrilled to join the celebration of female empowerment and accomplishments - especially the first year with women in the Hasty Puddings cast!' Can-can! Male and female members of the oldest theatrical organization in the States donned hilarious costumes as they presented the Time's Up activist with the honor previously bestowed on Meryl Streep, Debbie Reynolds, and Katharine Hepburn Male and female members of the oldest theatrical organization in the States donned hilarious costumes as they presented the Time's Up activist with the honor previously bestowed on Meryl Streep, Debbie Reynolds, and Katharine Hepburn. Missing from Bryce's side were her two children - daughter Beatrice, 7; and son Theodore, nearly 12 - with her husband of 12 years Genius star Seth Gabel, whom she met while attending NYU. The SAG Award winner currently provides the voice of a Pitbull mix called Bella (played by Shelby the Dog) in Charles Martin Smith's canine flick A Dog's Way Home alongside Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, and Alexandra Shipp. Met at NYU: Missing from Bryce's side were her two children - daughter Beatrice (R), 7; and son Theodore, nearly 12 - with her husband of 12 years Genius star Seth Gabel (L) She confirmed she's dating Bachelor in Paradise hunk, Apollo Jackson over the weekend. And it seems Love Island bombshell Edyn 'Mac' Mackney, 22, and the hunky magician, 26, don't feel the need to keep their love out of the limelight. The newly minted reality television couple were seen piling on the PDA during an amorous outing on the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland last week. Reality romance! Love Island's Edyn 'Mac' Mackney (left) piles on the PDA with her new boyfriend Bachelor in Paradise hunk Apollo Jackson (right) during amorous outing on the Gold Coast last week The smitten pair were seen putting on an affectionate display for onlookers, complete with kisses, hugs and romantic advances. The couple couldn't get enough of each other as they were seen locking lips multiple times during their loved-up excursion on the glitter strip last Wednesday. Edyn, who rose to fame on the inaugural season of the raunchy reality series appeared to be in the throes of romantic bliss as Apollo wrapped his muscular arms around her. Kiss! The pair seemingly couldn't get enough of each other as they were seen locking lips multiple times during their loved-up excursion on the glitter strip last Wednesday Romantic bliss: Edyn, who rose to fame on the inaugural season of the raunchy reality series appeared to be in the throes of romantic bliss as Apollo wrapped his muscular arms around her Peck on the cheek! Soon after, the well-built hunk was seen affectionately planting a kiss on the cheek of his new lady love, who was dressed in a midriff-baring crop top Charming: Clad in a Jurassic Park T-shirt and a pair of Lonsdale shorts, Apollo showed off his boyish charm as he tenderly touched the scantily-clad starlet Soon after, the well-built hunk was seen affectionately planting a kiss on the cheek of his new lady love, who was dressed in a midriff-baring crop top and a pair of daisy duke denim shorts. Clad in a Jurassic Park T-shirt and a pair of Lonsdale shorts, Apollo showed off his boyish charm as he tenderly touched the scantily-clad starlet. The magician continued to work his magic with the blonde beauty as he was seen wrapping a protective arm around Edyn before they walked across the car park. Protective beau: The magician continued to work his magic with the blonde beauty as he was seen wrapping a protective arm around Edyn before they walked across the car park Warm: Apollo was seen warmly embracing his new lady love as they walked along in slides The look of love? The smitten pair were seen putting on an affectionate display for onlookers, complete with kisses, hugs and romantic advances Happy! As the lovebirds made their way to a nearby restaurant for lunch they looked every inch the happy couple as they enjoyed a laugh and a joke during the journey Apollo, who was a fan favourite on Bachelor in Paradise last year seemingly lapped up the view while he momentarily trailed behind the buxom beauty. As the lovebirds made their way to a nearby restaurant for lunch they looked every inch the happy couple as they enjoyed a laugh and a joke during their journey. Shortly after, the pair were seen treating themselves to a delicious meal at a trendy seaside cafe. Less than 24 hours earlier, Edyn took to Instagram to share a tender photo of the couple saying how lucky she was to find the hunky magician. LOL! The pair continued to savour their laugh-out-loud moment on the glitter strip Affectionate display: The couple continued to walk arm-in-arm looking loved up 'Everyday is magical with you Apollo Jackson,' she captioned a cute snap of the pair drinking a milkshake. She continued: 'May have gone on the wrong show but I found you and Delicious vegan milkshakes eventually.' Edyn was last linked to Bachelor in Paradise star Sam Cochrane in September last year, with the pair putting on an amorous display at a Sea FM party. Spotted! The pair were spotted walking around the Gold Coast together last week Side-by-side: The couple were side-by-side en route to a trendy restaurant Date! Shortly after, they were treating themselves to a delicious meal at a trendy seaside cafe Couple time: The smitten pair were seen reading the menu with drinks on the table All smiles! Edyn was all smiles as she dined with her new boyfriend on the Gold Coast last week Confirmed! Less than 24 hours earlier, Edyn (left) took to Instagram to share a tender photo of the couple saying how lucky she was to find the hunky magician (right) Yum! Edyn and her new boyfriend Apollo enjoyed a meal together chatting as they ate Apollo has been considered a contender for the role of The Bachelor, due to his breakout popularity on the show. He was last in a steamy love triangle with Elora Murger and busty Brit Simone Ormesher on Bachelor In Paradise. Apollo, however, confirmed the pair broke up to the Sydney Morning Herald back in April last year due to distance. Iconic soap star Katherine Kelly Lang has left Hollywood for the jungle, trading her Bold And The Beautiful castmates for Australia's local stars on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this week. And while the South African wilderness is world's away from the glitz of Tinseltown, the 57-year-old says she's happy to make the change. Speaking to TV WEEK magazine on Monday ahead of her I'm A Celebrity Debut, Katherine admitted she isn't going to miss her on-screen soap opera family during her tenure in the jungle, saying: 'That sounds mean, but it's because we spend so much time together!' Trading Hollywood for the jungle: Iconic soap star Katherine Kelly Lang, 57, says she is happy to get away from her Bold And The Beautiful cast-mates while competing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 'Sometimes I feel like I spend more time with the cast than with my own family!' the actress confessed. 'It's good to have breaks from them. It'll be a sort of holiday,' she mused. Katherine is known for playing the glamorous matriarch Brooke Logan for the past 30 years and is one of two remaining original castmembers. All set for the jungle! The 57-year-old celebrity is ready to live in the South African jungle ahead of her I'm a Celebrity debut on Monday night Speaking to Ten Daily on Monday, the star reflected on her long-running role and described going to work as going home. 'Every milestone is amazing. I never thought that I would be there that long, and then 8,000 episodes later it's hard to believe,' she said. Despite spending most of her professional career on the Bold And The Beautiful set, Katherine insisted that she knows how to separate herself from her on-screen persona. 'It's weird, I go to work usually in my sweats or jeans, no hair, no makeup. The minute they start putting on the hair, the makeup and putting me in the Brooke clothes I feel like her, you know?' she said. The blonde bombshell will compete in the jungle this season to raise money for cancer awareness Breakaway From Cancer. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! returns to Channel 10 on Monday night at 7.30. On-screen family: Despite spending most of her professional career on the Bold And The Beautiful set, Katherine says she knows how to separate herself from her on-screen persona As Nine's Today show fights to win back ratings, veteran TV weatherman Steve Jacobs has resumed his old job on the beleaguered breakfast show. The 52-year-old was welcomed back to the panel on Monday morning, joking to his co-hosts: 'Good to be back. I'm just here for the day, for the moment.' Georgie Gardner then quipped back: 'No, you are not actually. Everything old is new again. Everything old is new again. Everything comes back into fashion.' Stevie is back! Veteran TV weatherman Steve Jacobs (pictured) resumed his old job on the Today show on Monday morning Richard Wilkins joined in, saying: 'We can reveal this is not a one-off to bail me out from doing such a dreadful job. You are back on the Today Show.' Steve jokingly replied, saying: 'I figured at my age I have to get up at 4am to take a wee anyway.' 'Good to be back hey. Giddy up,' he added. The bizarre toilet humour set the panel off into a bout of awkward laughter. Awkward return! TV weatherman Steve Jacobs, 52, (left) was welcomed back to the Today show on Monday morning, joking to co-host Richard Wilkins (right): 'I'm just here for the day for the moment' A new line-up: Co-host Georgie Gardner (right) quipped back: 'No, you are not actually. Everything old is new again. Everything old is new again. Everything comes back into fashion' Steve, who was the main weather presenter for Today between 2005 and 2017, will join the show's new line-up permanently and take the reigns from Natalia Cooper, who is currently away on maternity leave. It is unknown whether Natalia will resume her position once she returns, however. Natalia took over the job from Steve back in 2017, after he relocated to Vanuatu in a last-ditch effort to save his marriage to then-wife Rosie. It's likely Nine bosses are hoping charismatic Steve will help to win back viewers for Today following a disastrous start to the ratings period. There's a familiar face! Steve (pictured) was the main weather presenter for Today between 2005 and 2017 and now rejoins the show's new line-up permanently Stepping into her shoes! Steve will take the reigns from Natalia Cooper (pictured), who is currently away on maternity leave The embattled program averaged just 211,000 metro viewers in its first week featuring the new lineup, which was around 61,000 less than Channel Seven's Sunrise. Its first episode at the Australian Open averaged 197,000 viewers across the five capital cities and 311,000 nationally. The outcome was recently described by News Corp as Today's 'lowest in 10 years'. It's official - Uzbekistan has relaxed visa restrictions to British tourists and the destination is tipped to be the next big thing. From this month, British passport holders will be able to enter the former Soviet state for visits of up to 30 days without a visa - an initiative first mooted three years ago. The former stop on the Great Silk Road spins quite a yarn with a narrative tying in trade, the faiths of Islam and Zoroastrianism, war-mongering and astronomy. Here's all you need to know about three of the best areas to visit - Tashkent, Samarkland and Bukhara. Tashkent Tashkent's TV Tower Aerial broadcasts to all that the city is as progressive as it is historical In the leafy capital, Tashkent, the Metro is more than a method of transport, its an encyclopaedic summary of Uzbek history. Why? Because each station in the underground system, opened in 1977, is elaborately decorated to represent a different part of the country, and a ban on taking photos of the network (because of the military sensitivity of its secondary use as a nuclear bomb shelter) has just been lifted, so you can get snap happy. Some of the most impressive stations are royal blue-hued Kosmonavtlar, featuring portraits dedicated to famous cosmonauts; Pakhtakor, thanks to its technicolor tiling; and Alisher Navoi, with its intricate multi-domed ceiling. Royal blue-hued Kosmonavtlar Metro station, Tashkent, immortalises famous cosmonauts Traditional `non bread fresh from the oven at the Chorsu bazaar Back at street level, the bustling Chorsu Bazaar in the centre of the city is one of many locations to grab a large loaf of non. The fluffy flatbread accompanies every meal in Uzbekistan, but at the market, it comes fresh from the scalding tandoor ovens in which it's baked. Tashkent has myriad mosques and madrasahs (religious schools), too notably the Khast Imam complex, less than 10 minutes in a taxi from Chorsu but, they pale in comparison to what you can find beyond the urban sprawl, so a day or two is all you need in the capital. Samarkland The high-speed train to Samarkland - the second-largest Uzbek city - sits at Tashkent The geometric construction of Samarkland - two hours by high-speed train from Tashkent Inside one of three madrasahs at the Registan in Samarkland, built between 1417 and 1660, which is adorned with typical examples of both Islamic and Zoroastrian iconography A two-hour high-speed train journey from Tashkent, Uzbekistans second largest city was once a booming trading stop on the Great Silk Road. First stop for any traveller should be the magnificent Registan, comprising three madrasahs, in the centre of the old town. Completed in different eras between 1417 and 1660, the three buildings have been restored inside and out. The facades show symbols of both Islam and Zoroastrianism (an ancient pre-Islamic religion which is still practised by some Uzbeks today), while inside, the high-domed ceilings gleam with intricate gold leaf and bronze tiles. Even more impressive is the nearby Shah-I Zinda necropolis a series of mausoleums decorated with elaborate mosaics and glazed majolica tiles and the Gur-Emir, the mausoleum of Amir Timur. Also known as Tamerlane, the rather inauspicious Timur the Lame, this 14th century military leader features prominently in Uzbekistans history books and much spoken about in Samarkand. Star-gazing: Uzbek astronomer Ulugh Beg is among those honoured at the Afrosiab Museum, Samarkand (above). Visitors can explore the observatory he built here 600 years ago Another respected figure is astronomer and mathematician Ulugh Beg. At the Afrasiab Museum, a 10-minute drive from Registan, you can dip into star-gazing history and explore the remains of the observatory Beg built nearly 600 years ago. Architecture and science aside, they say Samarkand is the best place to sample plov, the national dish of Uzbekistan. Invented in the 10th century to fuel the army, this hearty blend of lamb, vegetables, spices and rice is usually made outside in big, deep pans. Bukhara Poi Kalan mosque complex in Bukhara. The town is famed for its Kalyan Minaret, 'a tower so breathtaking even Genghis Khan couldn't bring himself to destroy it' in the 13th century A four-hour drive west of Samarkand, Bukhara is most famous for the Kalyan Minaret, a tower so breathtaking even Genghis Khan couldnt bring himself to destroy it when he came marauding in the 13th century. The sand-coloured 47 metre-high structure is referred to as a beautiful lady without make-up (contrasting with the colourful tiled mosques seen all over the country) and is part of the Poi Kalan mosque complex. The other major architectural draw of the region is the Ark of Bukhara, a huge fortress that was home to the ruling emirs from the 5th century until 1920. The interiors of Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace near Bukhara completed in 1918, showcase architecture fit for a king, lavish ceremonial gowns and typical 'suzani' embroidery Ornate tiling within the mosque in Bukhara is as intricate as Uzbekistan's centuries-long history But its outside the town that two of the most interesting sites are found. First, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the emirs summer palace, completed in 1918, features decor fit for a king, lavish ceremonial gowns and suzani embroidery. At the next stop, the Gijduvan Crafts centre, near the town of Gijduvan, you can try your hand at the ancient needlework technique yourself by learning directly from the local women in what forms something of an Uzbek knitting circle. The leaked report further said that unemployment was higher in urban areas (7.8 per cent) as compared to 5.3 per cent in rural areas. The NSSO findings reportedly said that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 per cent in 2011-12. The leaked report further said that unemployment was higher in urban areas (7.8 per cent) as compared to 5.3 per cent in rural areas. New Delhi: The countrys unemployment rate hit a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, the National Sample Survey Offices (NSSO) periodic labour report, which has not been released but was leaked to a newspaper on the eve of the Narendra Modi governments final, interim Budget, claimed, setting off a political slugfest. On Thursday, soon after the damaging report on job creation under the Modi government appeared the first survey since demonetisation was accounced in Novermner 2016 the government fielded Niti Aayog top officials to debunk it as a draft not yet finalised and to counter the Oppositions attacks. While the Congress called the Centres job creation record a national disaster, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti picked up Mr Modis vanakkam remark in Pondicherry and tweeted, Chaliye berozgari ko vanakkam. On a serious note, this is quite worrying. During the bitter duel on Twitter, Congress president Rahul Gandhi threw the fuhrer barb at Prime Minister Modi, while the BJP likened the Congress president to Mussolini, saying he has a myopic understanding of issues, just like the Italian dictator. The NSSO findings reportedly said that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 per cent in 2011-12. The leaked report further said that unemployment was higher in urban areas (7.8 per cent) as compared to 5.3 per cent in rural areas. The fresh controversy, a day before the Budget, and in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections has given the Congress an opportunity to target the government. Comparing the Prime Minister with Hitler, Mr Gandhi tweeted: NoMo Jobs! The fuhrer promised us 2 cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a national disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go. The BJP tweeted back saying that Mr Gandhi had inherited Mussolinis short-sightedness. Its clear that he has inherited Mussolinis short-sightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. EPFOs real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. Only a man who hasnt ever held a proper job and is totally jobless can peddle such #FakeNews! Earlier, Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, who had previously mounted a defence of lowering of UPA-era GDP growth rates, at a hurriedly-called press conference, said the NSSOs periodic labour force survey (PLFS) report cited by a newspaper is not finalised. It is a draft report. Refusing to comment on the content of the news report, he said that the government will release its employment report by March after collating quarter-on-quarter data. He also debunked claims of jobless growth, saying how can a country grow at an average of 7 per cent without generating employment. Mr Kumar also said it was incorrect to compare the PLFS data with earlier reports of the NSSO as their methodologies are different. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who too was present at the conference, said India is creating adequate number of jobs for new entrants, but probably we are not creating high quality jobs. Mr Kant said that Niti Aayogs estimate shows that the country is creating 7-7.8 million jobs every year and the nature of jobs is also changing. Citing a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, Mr Kant said a combination of increased government spending, additional IT hiring, and increase in entrepreneurship created gainful employment for 20-26 million people between 2014 and 2017. The Niti Aayog CEO also said that according to a study based on data collected by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), over 14 million jobs have been created in the transport sector between 2014-2018. Earlier, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had stated that 1.5 million jobs were lost just in the first four months of 2017 immediately after demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The NSSO job report was previously planned to be released in December 2018. Two members including the acting chairman of the National Statistical Commission resigned this week, saying the government had not released the job numbers despite the commissions approval. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala joined his party chief in slamming the government over the allegedly high unemployment rate. Mr Surjewala said India does not want a government that has left the future of the youth in jeopardy. Modi ji, unemployment rate is at a 45-year high. This is why the NSSO report was kept under the wraps. This is why members of NSC resigned. Promise of 2 crore jobs turned out to be a cruel joke. India does not want a Government that has left the future of our youth in jeopardy, he tweeted. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi cited the media report on job creation and tweeted, If figs inconvenient, doctor them; if experts indep, make them lame duck and forced 2resign; if doctoring not possible, change basis of calculation! Vive #bjp #Modi. Gary Lineker has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for posting an ill-timed selfie while on board his private jet on Tuesday evening. The Match of the Day presenter flagged the Juventus star's tweet before saying: 'Not the day for this tweet. It really isn't.' The Portuguese striker's picture comes in the wake of Emiliano Sala's disappearance as he flew from Nantes to Cardiff on Monday night to complete his move to the Premier League side. Gary Lineker has hit out at Cristiano Ronaldo for an ill-timed tweet on Tuesday afternoon The smiling Juventus striker posted a selfie while on board his private plane Sala was on board a small Piper Malibu plane that went missing over the English Channel and the striker is now missing presumed dead. The Argentine star, who cost Cardiff 15million, was one of two people boarding the flight back to Wales from Nantes where he had gone to say goodbye to his former Ligue 1 team-mates. Guernsey Police announced on Tuesday afternoon that the search for the aircraft had been called off for the day at 5pm, but it has now resumed on Wednesday morning. In an update released at 7.30am, police confirmed that two planes were back in the air looking for debris. Cardiff announced the signing of the striker from Nantes in a club record fee of 15million Cardiff chief executive Choo, pictured with Sala, said the club were 'praying for positive news' 'We have resumed searching. Two planes are taking off and will search a targeted area we believe has the highest likelihood of finding anything, based on review of the tides and weather since it went missing,' the update read. 'Coastal areas around Alderney and off-lying rocks and islands will also be searched from the air. Updates will be provided once information is available.' In a final WhatsApp audio message sent to his friends, where the sound of the plane's engine is heard in the background, Sala said: 'I was over in Nantes sorting things out. 'I am now aboard a plan that seems like it is falling to pieces. I'm going to Cardiff now, crazy, and tomorrow we get going. I will train with my new team'. He added: 'If you do not have any more news from in an hour and a half, I don't know if they need to send someone to find me. I am getting scared!' Ronaldo's ill-timed selfie emerged just hours after he attended a court hearing in Madrid, where he avoided jail but will be forced to pay a huge 16.9million fine. The Juventus forward was flying back to Turin, where he is now based, when he uploaded the photo to social media. Ronaldo attended a court hearing in Madrid with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez on Tuesday Ronaldo appeared nonplussed at the news that he will have to pay a huge 16.9million Ronaldo and his girlfriend leave the court after the short hearing on Tuesday morning Ronaldo pleaded guilty at Tuesday's hearing in the Spanish capital, before telling the crowds outside the court that 'everything's perfect!' The 33-year-old, who went to court with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, also received a 23-month prison sentence which was immediately reduced to a further fine, and he will not spend a day in jail. His former Real Madrid team-mate Xabi Alonso is also in court on a separate tax evasion charge, which could lead to a five-year sentence that - unlike Ronaldo - may see him behind bars if he is found guilty. Ronaldo, who left Madrid last summer to join Juventus, wore a black jacket with buttons, white trainers and dark sunglasses as he arrived at court with his girlfriend. Ronaldo holds hands with his girlfriend as they leave the Madrid court on Tuesday morning A smiling Ronaldo accepted a fine and suspended jail sentence at the tax evasion hearing The ex-Real Madrid and United man will not spend any time behind bars for tax fraud Ronaldo's lawyers had asked that he be allowed to enter the building by car to avoid the media spotlight. But the court president refused the request, saying that despite his 'great fame', he would not 'compromise security' at the building. The former Manchester United forward's request to appear via video conference was also denied, so he walked up the court steps today and even signed autographs. The court appearance lasted around 40 minutes as the deal was officially presented to the judge, who confirmed the final sentence later on Tuesday. Cardiff supporters started to leave tributes outside the stadium on Tuesday afternoon Police said in a statement that the aircraft left Nantes at 1915 for Cardiff and was flying at 5,000 feet. Police on Guernsey said the search for the plane resumed on Tuesday morning Meanwhile, back in Cardiff, flowers and messages were being laid in tribute to Sala, as fans mourned their missing player. Despite having never played for the team, Cardiff fans shed tears for the Argentine, while his former club Nantes held a vigil in the town square. Supporters of the French club took to La Place Royale to place yellow tulips, symbolic of Nantes' colours, at the foot of the fountain, clinging to a hope their former idol will be found. Nantes fans gather to lay flowers for Sala who is missing after a plane he was on disappeared The club's supporters were in floods of tears as they paid tribute to the missing Sala A Pentagon report is warning that the U.S. Marine Corps' oldest F-35B Joint Strike Fighters could remain airworthy for just over a quarter of their expected lifespan due to 'serious structural problems'. According to Bloomberg one early version of the jet, known as 'early block F' and bought by the Marine Corps, could fly for just 2,100 flight hours, which the report says is 'well under' the expected service life of 8,000 hours. The plane has been hit by a huge list of issues, and is over a decade late, with final cost estimates for the US military expected to reach $1.5 trillion. It is being tested by military forces around the globe, with the Royal Air Force already having taken delivery of its test planes, known as the Lightning. Although the structural issues are believed to affect only a small number of planes, the Pentagon test office 2018 annual report obtained by Bloomberg also found a huge host of flaws in all versions of the fighter, ranging from cybersecurity issues to 'unacceptable' problems with the accuracy of guns fitted to the Air Force's A version of the plane. Scroll down for video The F35-B. According to Bloomberg one early version of the jet, bought by the Marine Corps, could fly for just 2,100 flight hours, which the report says is 'well under' the expected service life of 8,000 hours. THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING THE F35 The latest Pentagon report uncovered a host of problems with all three versions of the F35 Serious structural problems that cuts the lifespan of the B variant Cybersecurity issues 'Unacceptable' problems with the accuracy of guns fitted to the Air Force's A version of the plane Computerized maintenance tool known as 'ALIS' doesn't 'yet perform as intended' Maintenance personnel, pilots 'must deal w pervasive problems w data integrity, completeness on a daily basis' Advertisement The finding means some jets expected to start hitting service life limit in 2026. Bloomberg claims the report also said maintenance personnel and pilots 'must deal w pervasive problems w data integrity, completeness on a daily basis.' Test office director Robert Behler said in the new assessment improvements 'are still not translating into improved availability'. He also warns there is no 'improving trend in' aircraft availability to fly training or combat missions as it's remained 'flat' over the past 3 years, according to Bloomberg. The details come a day after Defense Sec. Pat Shanahan told reporters the F-35 'has a lot of opportunity for more performance.' Lockheed Martin, who manufactures the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, hit back at the report, claiming 'The F-35s operating today are delivering exceptional capability, lethality and connectivity around the globe. 'Items identified in the Annual DOT&E report are well understood and have been resolved in partnership with the F-35 Joint Program Office or have an agreed path forward to resolution.' It said the 'planned modifications and fleet management' of the early contract F-35B aircraft will ensure that they meet the 8,000 hour service life requirement, and promised 'aircraft delivering today incorporate design changes in the build process to ensure they'll meet 8,000 hours or more.' F-35 FACT SHEET An Israeli Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jet Role: Stealth multirole fighter First flight: December 15, 2006 Unit cost (not including engine): F-35A - $98million F-35B - $104million F-35C - $116million Number built: 115 (as of November 2014) Length: 15.67m Wingspan: 10.7m Height: 4.33m Max speed (F-35A): 1,930kph Advertisement With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft - most destined for the US Air Force - the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion for the US alone. The Marine Corps plans to buy a total of 353 F-35Bs, and 67 F-35Cs, which have tail hooks that allow them to land on aircraft carriers, it has previously been revealed. According to The Drive, 'The appalling low durability of early F-35Bs is also something that DOT&E reports have highlighted in the past, but this is the first time there has been any concrete information on how bad the problem actually is. It says the flaws, which have not been revealed, could be related to a 2004 project where Lockheed Martin tasked a group of engineers, known as STOVL (Short Take Off/Vertical Landing) Weight Attack Team, or SWAT, with cutting 2,700 pounds off the weight of the B model. Proponents tout the F-35's radar-dodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. The unveiling of the first F-35 fighter plane to be delivered to the Netherlands, which is partnering with the United States in the fighter program FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, file photo, an F-35 jet arrives at its new operational base at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. Airbus and Boeing will again hog the spotlight at the Paris Air Show with their battle for ever-larger slices of the lucrative pie in the sky. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) But the program has faced numerous delays, cost overruns and setbacks, including an engine fire in 2014 that led commanders to temporarily ground the planes. Other problems include software bugs, technical glitches and even a faulty eject system that risked killing pilots who weighed less than 136 pounds (62 kilograms). The plane was most recently hit with worries of pilot health. Since May 2 2018, F-35 pilots on five occasions reported symptoms of hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation. The Air Force says the F-35's backup oxygen system worked in each instance, and the pilot was able to land the plane safely. 'It could range to anything from headaches, to nausea, to color-blindness,' he told the AP. After roaring off the Le Bourget airport tarmac into a vertical climb with its afterburner, the F-35 wows with a series of loops and gravity defying moves, showing maneuverability so catlike it can turn corners so sharp that it seems to carve squares in the sky. A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II flies during a flight demonstration on the opening day of the 52nd Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, 19 June 2017. The 2017 International Paris Air Show runs from 23 to 25 June Planes were subsequently grounded at Luke, and only began flying again a few days ago, even though the cause of the fault has not been found. A team of engineers, test pilots, medics and others experts are 'digging into this problem 24 hours a day,' to try to identify the cause, Canterbury said. 'It could be lack of oxygen. It could be too much oxygen, too much carbon dioxide.' There have been similar incidents 'across a number of bases, but not in clusters like we saw at Luke.' The local commander at Luke will decide when the planes can fly again, he said. Canterbury said the pilots will 'start flying as soon as they can. They are ready.' Luke is a training base for F-35 pilots. Operational units have not had such issues, he said. 'It's still too early to tell the root cause,' he said. 'An airplane in development, such as this, will have teething problems.' Apple has ended a multi-day row with Facebook and Google over their controversial spy apps. The Silicon Valley giant restored Google and Facebook's enterprise certificates late Thursday, which brings an end to its ban on the company's internal mobile apps. The ban left many employees unable to test early versions of software, or complete mundane tasks like book a shuttle to get around campus. Many said Google and Facebook's offices were left in a state of disarray after their app permissions were revoked for less than 24 hours. Scroll down for video Apple restored Google and Facebook's enterprise certificates late Thursday, which brings an end to a ban on internal mobile apps. Many said the move caused internal disarray at the firms THE DATA FACEBOOK COLLECTED FROM TEENAGERS AS YOUNG AS 13 Users who 'consented' to take part in the program were instructed to download a 'Research VPN' app. The app was previously referred to as 'Onavo VPN.' After downloading the app, it showed a warning saying downloading the app would 'allow any app from this enterprise developer' to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' But what it didn't explicitly say was that the app would collect all of their phone and website activity. In addition, it would track what apps they downloaded, when they used them and what they do on them. Advertisement Earlier this week, Apple moved to temporarily ban Facebook and Google's developer permissions after both were found to be skirting the App Store's data collection policies. Facebook and Google took advantage of Apple's enterprise certificate, which allows companies to test iPhone apps without going through the company's typical app review process. Both companies claimed they did this to collect research on users' activity through an app sideloaded onto their mobile phone, as well as other devices. However, the 'research' apps weren't supposed to be distributed using Apple's enterprise certificates, so Apple pulled their permissions, saying the apps had broken its rules. Facebook was running a 'Research VPN' app downloaded by volunteers, some of which were teenagers as young as 13, and paying them $20 in exchange for tracking all of their phone and web activity. Among the data collected from teens by the app was all of their phone and web activity, information on apps they installed, when they used them and what they did on them. Google, meanwhile, had been quietly running a data collecting app called Screenwise Meter that pays users if they agree to have their activity tracked by the tech giant. Facebook has admitted to paying young people to install a 'social media research' app which monitors their web activity, according to reports. Apple banned the app, formerly known as Onavo VPN, from the app store because it violated its data collection policies After downloading the app, it showed a warning saying downloading the app would 'allow any app from this enterprise developer' to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' But it didn't explicitly say that it would collect all of their phone and web activity HOW DOES GOOGLE'S SHADY 'RESEARCH APP' WORK? Users sign up on the Opinion Rewards program website. Google will send volunteers easy-to-install meters that track TV and router usage. Accompanying apps are then downloaded onto the users' smartphone to track their browsing and search history. From there, users are expected to 'go about [their] day as they normally would,' while Google collects data from them. Users can pause their meters at any time to stop the firm from tracking their activity. In exchange for participating, users can earn rewards like a $5 credit for Amazon. Advertisement Like Facebook's highly criticized 'research app,' Screenwise Meter shirks Apple's App Store rules by taking advantage of 'Enterprise Certificates' that let it install apps on users' phones. It had recently been renamed to Google Opinion Rewards program and would pay out money to volunteers who participated in the program. Both the Research VPN app and Screenwise Meter app were first discovered by TechCrunch and raised the ire of Apple, which quickly moved to remove them from the App Store and revoke their enterprise certificates. The discovery of these spy apps has since shaken the tech industry, with many questioning whether teens who opted to take part in the 'research' projects, as Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg referred to them, fully consented. For example, after downloading the Research VPN app, users were shown a warning saying that doing so would 'allow any app from this enterprise developer to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' But what it didn't explicitly say was that the app would collect all of their phone and website activity. Google had defended its 'research' app by saying it was 'upfront' about what kinds of data it collected from users. 'This app is completely voluntary and always has been,' the firm said. 'We've been upfront with users about the way we use their data in this app, we have no access to encrypted data in apps and on devices, and users can opt out of the program at any time.' Screenwise Meter (pictured), launched in 2012, allows users to sign up and share their search history with Google in exchange for gift cards, such as a $5 credit on Amazon Screenwise Meter, which has been rebranded to Google Opinion Rewards program, lets users share their search history with Google in exchange for gift cards, such as a $5 Amazon credit But while the debacle raised questions of a 'tech cold war,' ultimately, it didn't take long before Apple reversed its removal of Facebook and Google's app permissions. Google told Bloomberg late Thursday that it expected its app permissions to 'be resolved soon.' That notice came just a few hours after Facebook confirmed that its permissions had been restored. 'We have had our Enterprise Certification, which enables our internal employee applications, restored,' a Facebook spokesperson told New York Times reporter Mike Isaac. 'We are in the process of getting our internal apps up and running. To be clear, this didn't have an impact on our consumer-facing services.' With its body turned to one side, you might not notice anything unusual about the cardinal recently spotted in the backyard of two Pennsylvania bird enthusiasts. But viewed head on, its an entirely different story. The rare bird has the features of both a male and female cardinal, with its bright red coloration abruptly ending in a line that runs right down the middle of its body, where it becomes a much more subdued blondish-brown. The bird's striking appearance is the result of double fertilization, in which a female egg cell that developed with two nuclei is fertilized by two sperm. The result is whats known as a bilateral gynandromorph WHAT IS A GYNANDROMORPH? A cardinal spotted recently in Pennsylvania that appears to be half-male and half-female has shed light on the phenomenon of gynandromorphs. They're not all that uncommon in the wild, though the coloration or markings of some species make the results more striking than others. A gynandromorph is an organism that has both male and female characteristics - or, a male-female chimera. It's often seen in insects, though gynandromorph birds, snakes, and other animals have been observed too. Advertisement Pennsylvania residents Jeffrey and Shirley Caldwell spotted the incredible half-male half-female cardinal in a dawn redwood just outside of their home a few weeks ago, according to National Geographic. Its striking appearance is the result of double fertilization, in which a female egg cell that developed with two nuclei is fertilized by two sperm. The result is whats known as a bilateral gynandromorph, where the bird appears to be a male and female stitched together. This remarkable bird is a genuine male/female chimera, Daniel Hooper, a postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology told National Geographic. Cardinals are best known for their bright red coloring, but this feature is specific to males. Female cardinals, on the other hand, have a much duller appearance. The dramatic differences in the appearance of the two sexes makes gynandromorph cardinals that much more stunning. These birds are typically infertile, though its possible this particular cardinal may not be, since it is female on the left side - where their only functional ovary exists, Hooper told National Geographic. A study on another wild bilateral gynandromorph cardinal published in 2014 has offered some insight on what the lives of these rare birds might be like. Researchers observed the male-female cardinal in northwestern Illinois between December 2008 and March 2010 to see how it interacted with others. Pennsylvania residents Jeffrey and Shirley Caldwell spotted the incredible half-male half-female cardinal in a dawn redwood just outside of their home a few weeks ago The rare bird has the features of both male and female cardinals, with its bright red coloration abruptly ending in a line that runs right down the middle of its body, where it becomes a much more subdued blondish-brown And, it appears these unique cardinals may live somewhat lonely lives. In the study, said to encompass the most detailed observations of one of these birds yet, researchers found they mostly kept to themselves. We never observed the bird singing and never saw it paired with another cardinal, said Western Illinois University biological sciences Professor Brian Peer when the study was published. It was one of the most unusual and striking birds that Ive ever seen. Species could become infertile because of rising temperatures, scientists warn. Researchers are now investigating the impact global warming is having on these animals and which species could be in danger of extinction. Scientists are currently focused on understanding how higher average temperatures kill species rather than how it that stop them from breeding. Experts say understanding fertility is a key step for proper conservation. Scroll down for video The flightless cormorant; pictured here in Hungary covered in ice, is one of the species which are at risk of losing fertility due to climate change. Scientists from the University of Liverpool want to look at the temperature that causes species to become sterile Current analysis is based on temperatures which are deadly, however animals can become sterile at a lower temperatures. 'There is a risk that we are underestimating the impact of climate change on species survival because we have focused on the temperatures that are lethal to organisms, rather than the temperatures at which organisms can no longer breed,' explains evolutionary biologist Dr Tom Price from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Integrative Biology. Bees and mosquitoes are two of the species, which are at risk of losing fertility due to climate change. Scientists from the University of Liverpool want to look at the temperature that causes species to become sterile Cold-blooded animals and aquatic species are thought to be most vulnerable to fertility loss caused by climate change. Dr Price said: 'Currently the information we have suggests this will be a serious issue for many organisms. But which ones are most at risk? 'Are fertility losses going to be enough to wipe out populations, or can just a few fertile individuals keep populations going? At the moment, we just don't know. We need more data.' Carp, and other fish, are some of the species from all around the world to have their fertility affected by increasing temperatures as a result of global warming Coral life is one of the species which is at risk of losing fertility due to climate change. Scientists from the University of Liverpool want to look at the temperature that causes species to become sterile The Scottish Primrose is one of the species which is at risk of losing fertility due to climate change. Scientists from the University of Liverpool want to look at the temperature that causes species to become sterile To gather more data, researchers propose using something they call 'Thermal Fertility Limit' or TFL, to measure what temperatures causes species to become sterile. Dr Price said: 'We think that if biologists study TFLs as well as CTLs then we will be able to work out whether fertility losses due to climate change is something to worry about.' This study was published by the University of Liverpool. Apple has finally found a fix for its FaceTime eavesdropping bug. The iPhone maker on Friday said it has fixed a privacy flaw in its group video chat software that allowed users to hear the audio of a person they were calling before that person answered the call. It also plans to improve how it handles reports of software bugs after a teenager and his mother tried for days to warn Apple of the bug. Scroll down for video Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks about group FaceTime. Apple says it has fixed the internal bug that led to people being able to eavesdrop on others while using its group video chat feature, called Group FaceTime 'We sincerely apologize to our customers who were affected and all who were concerned about this security issue. We appreciate everyones patience as we complete this process,' an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to Dailymail.com. 'We want to assure our customers that as soon as our engineering team became aware of the details necessary to reproduce the bug, they quickly disabled Group FaceTime and began work on the fix. 'We are committed to improving the process by which we receive and escalate these reports, in order to get them to the right people as fast as possible. We take the security of our products extremely seriously and we are committed to continuing to earn the trust Apple customers place in us,' the spokesperson added. The bug was discovered by 14-year-old Grant Thompson, who, along with his mother, Michele, tried to report the bug to Apple but said they struggled to get the company's attention until the problem gained traction on social media. On Monday, Apple said it would fix the eavesdropping bug and disable Group FaceTime as its engineers worked to fix the issue. Apple said it has fixed the Group FaceTime bug on its servers and will turn on the feature for users again next week. The bug was first discovered by a 14-year-old while playing Fortnite The company said it has fixed the bug on its servers and will turn on the feature for users again next week. In the meantime, Apple thanked the Thompson family for reporting the problem. Grant Thompson told Reuters TV he was trying to chat with his friend while playing a video game when he discovered the bug. But it took Grant Thompson and his mother, who is an attorney, nine days of phone calls, emails, online postings and even a letter on Michele Thompson's law firm letterhead before getting a response from Apple, the family said. Many criticized Apple's handling of the critical FaceTime security flaw, particularly in light of CEO Tim Cook's repeated statements around the company's commitment to user privacy. Last month, Apple erected a massive billboard in front of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas touting its user privacy controls that read: 'What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone.' The billboard was largely viewed as Apple taking a shot at rivals like Facebook and Google who have faced privacy scandals. The incident was embarrassing for the technology giant as it was discovered on Data Privacy Day in the US, which Apple's Tim Cook had tweeted about, calling for 'vital privacy protections' The state of New York is now probing Apple's failure to warn consumers about the bug, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday. Additionally, Apple now faces a lawsuit from a Houston lawyer who claims the bug resulted in his phone recording a private deposition with one of his clients. The lawsuit, first spotted by Courthouse News, was filed on Monday by attorney Larry Williams in Harris County, Texas. In it, Williams claims that Apple 'failed to exercise reasonable care' and that the company 'knew, or should have known, that its product would cause unsolicited privacy breaches and eavesdropping.' Williams is now seeking punitive damages against Apple and unknown parties, claiming negligence, product liability, misrepresentation and warranty breach. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance that's long captivated scientists. For several decades experts have believed that the invisible phenomenon makes-up 27 per cent of the universe. However, searches continue to lack results, and now traditional theories are being challenged with increasing rigour. Scientists believe that better understanding the laws of gravity and 'tweaking' them' may mean we don't need to find dark matter at all. Here, in a piece for The Conversation, Juri Smirnov, from the University of Southern Denmark, details his own compelling philosophy. The material is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together. Scientists have now said that by tweaking the laws of gravity on the enormous scales of galaxies, we may not actually need dark matter after all (file photo) Scientists have been searching for 'dark matter' an unknown and invisible substance thought to make up the vast majority of matter in the universe for nearly a century. The reason for this persistence is that dark matter is needed to account for the fact that galaxies dont seem to obey the fundamental laws of physics. However, dark matter searches have remained unsuccessful. But there are other approaches to make sense of why galaxies behave so strangely. Our new study, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, shows that, by tweaking the laws of gravity on the enormous scales of galaxies, we may not actually need dark matter after all. The Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky discovered in the 1930s that velocities in galaxy clusters were too high to account for how much matter we could see. A similar phenomenon was described by several groups of astronomers, such as Vera Rubin and Kent Ford, when they studied the motion of stars at the far edges of the Andromeda Galaxy. The velocities of the stars far from its centre were expected to decrease, as they experience less gravitational force. Thats because, according to Newtons second law of motion, the gravitational pull on orbiting matter can be equated to a product of its mass and acceleration (which is related to velocity). However, the measurements showed that there was no such decrease in velocities with distance. That led scientists to believe there must be some invisible matter there to create a stronger gravitational pull and faster stellar motion. In the past decades, countless other probes of gravitating systems at very large length scales indicated the same problem. Beyond Dark Matter The mystery of what dark matter actually is remains the ultimate challenge of modern fundamental physics. The core question is whether it is indeed a missing mass source, such as a new type of matter, or whether the gravitational law is simply different at gigantic length scales. While the first option seems very tempting, we havent actually found any dark matter yet. Also, while gravity laws are well tested within the solar system, one has to be careful extrapolating this to scales which are at least one billion times larger. One well known attempt to get rid of the need for dark matter is Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), which suggests that Newtons law of gravity becomes irregular when the gravitational pull is very weak as is the case in the outer regions of the galaxy. But this theory, although successful in many respects, hasnt passed the same stringent tests as our standard model of cosmology, which includes dark matter. The main problem is that MOND cannot explain the missing mass problem in galaxies and galaxy clusters at the same time. Another very strong argument against MOND is based on the observation of colliding galaxy clusters, where the stars of each galaxy pass through each other, but the gas clouds stick together and stay behind. A famous example is the Bullet Cluster, which consists of two such colliding clusters. Observations suggest that dark matter follows the stars in these events, which have a lower total mass than the gas cloud. MOND cannot explain why that is. For several decades experts have believed that the invisible phenomenon makes-up 27 per cent of the universe. However, searches continue to lack results, and now traditional theories are being challenged with increasing rigour Space Bubbles We set out to tweak the laws of gravity in a different way. Our approach assumed that a phenomenon known as Vainshtein screening is at work. This suggests that each sufficiently dense, compact object in space generates an invisible sphere around it which determines how the laws of physics behave with growing distance. This sphere is a theoretical concept to help us understand the difference between small and big scales, rather than an actual physical membrane. According to our theory, within this bubble the laws of ordinary Newtonian gravity that we see in our solar system hold for objects interacting with the massive body at the centre. Outside the bubble, the theory suggests that the gravitational pull by the central object can be significantly enhanced even though there is not more mass present. The bubble size would be proportional to the mass of the central object. If, for example, in a galaxy this sphere has a radius of a few thousand light years a typical distance at which signs of dark matter is observed the corresponding sphere of our sun would have a radius of 50.000 astronomical units (one such unit is the distance between the sun and the Earth). Dark matter: The mysterious substance that makes up 85% of the universe that scientists cannot confirm Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 85 per cent of the universe. The enigmatic material is invisible because it does not reflect light, and has never been directly observed by scientists. Astronomers know it to be out there because of its gravitational effects on known matter. The European Space Agency says: 'Shine a torch in a completely dark room, and you will see only what the torch illuminates. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 27 per cent of the universe. It is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together (artist's impression) 'That does not mean that the room around you does not exist. 'Similarly we know dark matter exists but have never observed it directly.' The material is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together. Calculations show that many galaxies would be torn apart instead of rotating if they weren't held together by a large amount of dark matter. Just five per cent the observable universe consists of known matter such as atoms and subatomic particles. Advertisement However, the edge of the solar system is only 50 astronomical units away. In other words, there are no objects we could observe that far from the sun to test whether the sun has a different gravitational pull on them than it has on Earth. Only the observation of entire systems very far away allows us to do that. The surprising effect is that the size of the Newtonian bubble grows with the enclosed mass in a particular way. This means that the law of gravity changes at different length scales in galaxies and clusters of galaxies respectively and therefore it can explain the apparent dark matter in both systems simultaneously. Thats not possible with MOND. Furthermore, it is consistent with the observation of the Bullet Cluster. Thats because the gas clouds left behind in the collision are not compact enough to generate a sphere around them meaning that the apparent dark matter is only notable around the more compact stars. MOND doesnt distinguish between stars and gas clouds. To our big surprise, our theory allowed us to explain the stellar velocities in galaxies a lot better than with Einsteins general relativity, which allows for dark matter to exist. So there may actually be less mysterious dark matter out there than we think and maybe even none at all. We plan to further investigate this interesting phenomenon. It could also be responsible for the high variability of galactic motion, for which we gather more and more evidence. Any massive body warps the space and time around it, according to general relativity. As a result, light rays take an apparent turn around the object rather than travelling in a straight line an effect dubbed gravitational lensing. An extremely interesting test of our finding would be the observation of precise gravitational light deflection by individual galaxies, which is albeit a difficult measurement. Our theory predicts a stronger light deflection for very compact galaxies so, excitingly, it could one day be falsified or confirmed by such a measurement. Wildlife is thriving in Chernobyl, as scientists discover an otter roaming in the Exclusion Zone surrounding the nuclear power plant that exploded in 1986. A month-long study used hidden cameras to find 15 mammal and bird species in the quarantined region. The researchers used fish carcasses to bait wildlife to the shoreline of rivers and canals in the contaminated zone. This study provides further evidence that wildlife is thriving in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Scroll down for video. Scientists used fish carcasses to bail wildlife towards the river bed, snapping pictures. Among the wildlife spotted was eagles, minks and (pictured) river otters Associate professor James Beaseley at the University of Georgia, said: 'These animals were photographed while scavenging fish carcasses placed on the shoreline of rivers and canals in the CEZ. 'We've seen evidence of a diversity of wildlife in the CEZ through our previous research, but this is the first time that we've seen white-tailed eagles, American mink and river otter on our cameras.' In 2015, a study provided the first sightings of wildlife in the 1,600 square mile (2,500 square km) ecological zone, which was abandoned by humans in 1986. Grey wolves were just one of the animals spotted then. This most recent study shows that semi-water based wildlife, like otters and minks, can live in the zone. Researchers placed fish carcasses at the edge of open waters at the Pripyat River and in nearby canals, mirroring the natural activity that occurs when currents transport dead animals to the shore. The results show that 98 per cent of the fish carcasses were consumed within one week. The CEZ is a 1,600 square mile zone, that was abandoned in 1986 after an explosion in a power plant. As the map shows, it sits in between Ukraine and Belarus, and used to be part of the Soviet Union. Wildlife has been spotted on the river in Pripyat, which is the nearest town to the explosion site Professor Beasley said: 'This is a high rate of scavenging, and given that all our carcasses were consumed by terrestrial or semi-aquatic species. 'It verifies that the movement of nutritional resources between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems occurs more frequently than often recognised. 'We tend to think of fish and other aquatic animals as staying in the aquatic ecosystem. 'This research shows us that if a reasonable proportion of dead fish make it to shore, there is an entire group of terrestrial and semi-aquatic species that transfer those aquatic nutrients to the terrestrial landscape.' The team compared scavenger activity at the river with scavenger activity at the canals and found they were more efficient higher in the river because the limited shoreline made the fish easier to find. One of the iconic images from Chernobyl, showing a Ferris wheel which has long stopped turning. The area was abandoned in 1986 after the explosion. Radiation levels are still to high for humans to live in. However, wildlife have moved back and studies show they are thriving The CEZ exists because of a 1986 explosion at a former Soviet Union power plant in Pripyat, that leaked radioactive material into the environment. A fire in one of the nuclear reactors caused an explosion and meant the surrounding area was evacuated. More than 100,000 people (116,000) had to leave permanently, with villages and towns left in ruin. Radiation levels are still too high for humans to return but wildlife have moved back to the zone and are now thriving. The study was published by the Food Webs. Uber has begun trials in Denver, Colorado which will allow users to find bus and train routes to their destinations as well as their ride-sharing option. It offers users the chance to see fares and end-to-end directions via a variety of transport methods. The company plans to roll out Transit across the US and other cities around the world over the course of the next year. But, as yet there is no word on which cities or countries these include. This is the latest step from Uber in its goal of becoming a one-stop shop for transportation around the world. Scroll down video Tapping on Uber's Transit feature will allow users to find bus and train routes to their destinations as well as their ride-sharing option On it's website, Uber said, 'Many times, it can be faster and cheaper to take public transportation than any other form of travel, and we want to give our riders a seamless way to access that option right from our app.' This is the ride hailing app's first partnership with a public transportation service as it works with Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD). 'This is a big shift for Uber,' the company's head of transit, David Reich told USA Today. '[Riders] can see how much walking is involved, how many transfers ... what are the next few buses that are going to come up, or trains, and then even follow themselves on the map to sort of see their progression towards their final destination.' When the app is opened and a destination set, a new 'Transit' icon, which is a picture of a train, will appear. This will then provide the user with familiar options such as Pool and UberX as well as showing possible train and bus routes as well as walking distances to and from the stations and destination. Users can see how far they need to walk, how many transfers each route requires, when the train or bus leaves and how often Transit is the latest step from Uber in its goal of becoming a one-stop shop for transportation around the world Users will also soon be able to purchase and use local transport tickets through the app, Uber claims Users will also soon be able to purchase and use local transport tickets through the app, Uber claims. In cities with trams, ferries subway trains and other forms of public transport, these will all be added to the app as well, Uber says. 'We have a proud history of cannibalising our own rides with cheaper services,' Andrew Salzberg, Ubers head of transportation policy and research says, citing Uber X (cheaper than Uber Black), UberPool, and then bike and scooter rides. 'If there is a cheaper, better way to get you to where you want to go, we want to make that easy for our riders to find and use inside the app.' A history lover could receive 1million after discovering a buried iron Age chariot. Mike Smith, 45, from Pembrokeshire, was stunned to become the first metal detectorist to pick up a Celtic chariot dating back more than 2,000 years. High-ranking chiefs in the Iron Age would be laid to rest with their chariot, horses, tack and weapons. Now, Mr Smith is set to bring in a cash windfall after the ancient find was declared treasure by a coroner. Scroll down for video Mike Smith, 45 was stunned to become the first metal detecorist to pick up a Celtic chariot dating back more than 2,000 years Buried treasure: The chariot boasts red and green enamel pieces, which show how intricately designed the vehicle was - primarily, because it would've been for an Iron Age VIP 'Its guess work but youre definitely talking six or seven figures,' said Mr Smith. 'Its the biggest ever metal detecting find, as in theres never been a chariot ever discovered by a metal detectorist. 'There have been hoards found, but never anything like this.' Mr Smith first found what he thought was a medieval broach but turned out to be part of a Celtic horse harness. He went straight back the following day and found more red enamel pieces - dating to between AD 25 to 75. 'I knew the importance of them straight away,' he added. 'It was just instinct. Id read all about chariot burials and just wished it could have been me, so finding this has been a privilege.' Reconstruction drawing by Jeremy Richards of a horse drawn Celtic chariot and charioteer in Iron Age Britain. The Iron Age was an archaeological era, referring to a period of time approximating 1200 BC to 600 BC, it was not is not an archaeological horizon, but rather a locally diverse cultural phase Pictured is part of the harness complete with its red and green enamel that Mr Smith found WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IRON AGE BRITAIN? The Iron Age in Britain started as the Bronze Age finished. It started around 800BC and finished in 43AD when the Romans invaded. As suggested by the name, this period saw large scale changes thanks to the introduction of iron working technology. During this period the population of Britain probably exceeded one million. This was made possible by new forms of farming, such as the introduction of new varieties of barley and wheat. The invention of the iron-tipped plough made cultivating crops in heavy clay soils possible for the first time. Some of the major advances during included the introduction of the potter's wheel, the lathe (used for woodworking) and rotary quern for grinding grain. There are nearly 3,000 Iron Age hill forts in the UK. Some were used as permanent settlements, others were used as sites for gatherings, trade and religious activities. At the time most people were living in small farmsteads with extended families. The standard house was a roundhouse, made of timber or stone with a thatch or turf roof. Burial practices were varied but it seems most people were disposed of by 'excarnation' - meaning they were left deliberately exposed. There are also some bog bodies preserved from this period, which show evidence of violent deaths in the form of ritual and sacrificial killing. Towards the end of this period there was increasing Roman influence from the western Mediterranean and southern France. It seems that before the Roman conquest of England in 43AD they had already established connections with lots of tribes and could have exerted a degree of political influence. After 43AD all of Wales and England below Hadrian's Wall became part of the Roman empire, while Iron Age life in Scotland and Ireland continued for longer. Advertisement The excavation site: Incredibly, the find was discovered using a simple metal detector Jackpot: Mike Smith (middle, with white cap) was stunned to find the Celtic chariot dating back more than 2,000 years Elements of the chariot are still somewhat preserved and will now be housed in a museum The exact location of his amazing find is being kept secret for a major dig - but is located in south Pembrokeshire. The inquest in Milford Haven, where he's from, heard the site is now legally protected and Mr Smith has to sell the 34 artefacts to a museum by law. The payment must be shared fifty-fifty with the landowner. 'I still cant believe it,' Mr Smith added. 'Obviously Ive read other peoples finds. Ive watched them on telly, and Ive always thought, I wouldnt mind finding that, its still surreal, and life-changing.' Rare property: The chariot is the first of its kind to be found outside of Yorkshire Discreet: The exact location of his amazing find is being kept secret for a major dig - but is located in south Pembrokeshire The chariot is the first of its kind to be found outside of Yorkshire. National Museum Wales said it will now try to buy the treasure. Adam Gwilt is the museums principal curator of prehistoric archaeology. He said: 'These chariot pieces may have been witness to some of the historical events of the time, as Iron Age peoples defended their ways of life and identities, in the face of an expanding Roman empire. 'Something like this takes a lot of organisation and funding as well so weve been working with a number of partners to put together whats needed to do a continuing investigation.' A full-fledged Budget will be presented in Parliament once the new Central government is formed after the General Elections. The Interim Budget, also known as a vote on account, will seek the Parliaments nod for meeting the expenditure for the first six months of new fiscal2019-20. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the interim Budget 2019-20 on Friday. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who given charge of the Finance Ministry owing to Arun Jaitleys illness, will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. In addition to Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh arrived at the Parliament, among others. The Interim Budget, also known as a vote on account, will seek the Parliaments nod for meeting the expenditure for the first six months of new fiscal2019-20. A full-fledged Budget will be presented in Parliament once the new Central government is formed after the General Elections, due in March-April. Planes flying through clouds increase the amount of snowfall by up to ten times, scientists claim. The way the plane and its wings go through the clouds creates a chemical reaction, which makes it rain or snow. This process normally occurs during take-off and landing. Snow has killed 13 people in the USA with the polar vortex and it has gripped the UK this week, causing major transport problems. Scroll down for video Scans in Helsinki showed more precipitation over the flight path of Helsinki airport. The yellow patches are areas of increased rainfall (pictured). The phenomena only occurs in 'supercooled' clouds that are made of extremely cold water droplets 'The interesting thing about this feature is that it is caused by aircraft, but it is not caused by pollution,' said Dimitri Moisseev, a researcher at the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. 'Even if there would be absolutely ecological planes, which don't have any combustion, no fuel or anything, it would still happen.' To find out if the streamers of heightened rain fall could be caused by aircraft, Mr Moisseev and his colleagues reviewed 11 years of the weather radar data. They examined flight paths near the airport to see whether the increased rain fall could be caused by passing aircraft. Scans from Finland revealed more precipitation over Helsinki airport's flight path. Radar scans of the area showed hotspots of rain in or around the airport, even during periods of low rainfall. Mr Moissev discovered the trends in scans over Helsinki-Vantaa airport, where he found straight patches of intense rainfall, during periods of light rain or snow. Several flights were cancelled in America this week due to extreme cold and ice conditions caused by the polar vortex. The study found that planes landing and taking off from airports can cause more rain or snowfall Parts of the Niagara Falls froze this week due to the cold weather conditions, pictured. Plane wings cutting through clouds can create more snow and rainfall The phenomena only occurs in 'supercooled' clouds that are made of extremely cold water droplets. In these clouds the liquid can reach temperatures of -40C (-40F) before turning to ice. This makes the clouds much colder than the typical freezing point. These are supercooled liquid clouds are common in low-to mid-level clouds. When a plane cuts through these supercooled clouds the change in air pressure can freeze the water droplets. The wing and propeller tips cause the air to expand and creates a drop in pressure and temperature. This can drop the water droplets temperature to below -40C (-40F), causing them to freeze. WHAT IS 'SUPERCOOLING'? Supercooling is the term given to water remaining liquid below its freezing point when it is cooled slowly. The freezing point of water is 0C (-32F). This means that water will normally change from a liquid to a solid as it is cooled to 0C. However, if the water is pure enough and if it is cooled slowly enough, the water can stay a liquid even when it is colder than 0C. Supercooled water does not turn into ice because it is too pure for ice crystals to form. Ice crystals require something on which to grow in order to form. Crystals can grow on specks of dust, impurities in the water or on ice itself. Advertisement It was so cold in America that a police officers noddles froze as he tried to eat it. The study found that planes landing and taking-off from airports can cause more rain or snowfall Sunrise along the lake front in Chicago, where temperatures hovered around -20C. This study found change in pressure from planes causes the water droplets to freeze The new ice crystals set off a chain reaction, where other water droplets freeze. When the crystals fall, they create holes of clear air in the cloud. In most cases, the ice crystals evaporate before reaching the ground. Meteorologists have known that passing aircraft can freeze water droplets into ice crystals and previous work had suggested that the process could enhance rain and snow in underlying clouds, but the effect had not been captured in detail. Manchester Airport was temporarily closed on Wednesday due to the snowbomb. Researchers found evidence that there was more rain fall on flight paths. Commuters braved the cold weather this week, as this man cycles through the icy conditions in Bristol. The study found that planes landing and taking-off from airports can cause more rain or snowfall The effect was amplified closer to the airports as planes taking off and landing within 1-6 miles of the airport increased precipitation. 'The intensified precipitation basically follows the track of an aeroplane above the cloud,' Mr Moisseev said. 'It could extend over hundreds of kilometres, but the cross-section would be maybe 100 meters. So it's a very narrow, long feature.' This news comes as large parts of the UK has been hit by heavy snow and the US has come to a standstill because of a polar vortex. On Wednesday, Manchester Airport closed as workers desperately tried to clear the runway of snow, with passengers complaining of 'mayhem' as people were stuck on planes and flights redirected to other airports. Passengers exit Southwest Airlines flight 1643 in America, after the plane slid of the runway. The study found that planes landing and taking-off from airports can cause more rain or snowfall White Wednesday: Road gritters on standby, as planes are grounded at Manchester airport. Yellow warnings for snow and ice hit Lancashire and Greater Manchester today. The weather warning is expected to last until the weekend, with four inches of show expected MailOnline found at least 2,000 schools across Britain serving 800,000-plus children are shut after overnight snowfall caused chaos with some areas getting up to ten inches on the coldest night in Britain for seven years. The Met Office has issued an amber warning that carries a 'potential risk to life' with more extreme snowfall expected in the Home Counties and West Country until lunchtime, cutting off towns and villages. The deadly arctic deep freeze has caused mayhem in the United States, with a reported 13 people dead with record-breaking low temperatures halting postal services in the Midwest and cancelling more than 2,600 flights. The study was published in AGU100. Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute and a member of Facebook's Safety Advisory Board A child safety advisor hired by Facebook has spoken out against the social media giant and slammed its approach to child protection. The comments come just days after Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg defended the app that spied on teenagers. Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute and a member of Facebook's Safety Advisory Board, says the firm's 'rather lax approach' was 'most concerning'. Reports found the only child safeguard in place for the data pillaging app was a tickbox which could be selected by the teen without parental oversight. The 'research' app, referred to in some ads as 'Project Atlas', was banned by Apple after the company said the app violated its privacy and data collection rules but is still operational on Android. Tests conducted by a BBC journalist found youngsters were easily able to sign up without getting permission. The alarming discovery has once again called into question whether Facebook is doing enough to protect its users - especially minors. 'Facebook Atlas is a questionable programme on a number of fronts,' said Mr Balkam, chief executive of the Family Online Safety Institute and a member of 'Facebook's Safety Advisory Board. Facebook has admitted to paying young people to install a 'social media research' app which monitors their web activity, according to reports. Apple banned the app, formerly known as Onavo VPN, from the app store because it violated its data collection policies After downloading the app, it showed a warning saying downloading the app would 'allow any app from this enterprise developer' to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' But what it didn't explicitly say was that the app would collect all of their phone and website activity. In addition, it would track what apps they downloaded, when they used them and what they do on them 'Project Atlas' was the name Facebook began to use in ads on Snapchat and Instagram for the app shortly after Apple forced its removal from their store; it was formerly known as Onavo VPN. 'Most concerning is the rather lax approach to getting verifiable parental consent for the teens who participated,' Mr Balkam said. After the revelations broke, the company defended the platform by saying that it was wrongly represented and that teenagers were asked for parental consent. However, Facebook have now said that the age screening process was created by third party vendors. 'As is common across the industry, we worked with vendors who instituted their own age screening and parental consent mechanisms,' a spokeswoman told Mail Online. THE DATA FACEBOOK COLLECTED FROM TEENAGERS AS YOUNG AS 13 Users who 'consented' to take part in the program were instructed to download a 'Research VPN' app. The app was previously referred to as 'Onavo VPN.' After downloading the app, it showed a warning saying downloading the app would 'allow any app from this enterprise developer' to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' But what it didn't explicitly say was that the app would collect all of their phone and website activity. In addition, it would track what apps they downloaded, when they used them and what they do on them. Advertisement 'We are following up with all our vendors on the implementation of these. 'We reached out to the vendor in this instance, who explained that based on their initial investigation, an error was made in late 2018 that allowed participants under 18, who they normally would have blocked, to participate in the study. 'This error has been corrected.' 'Given the tech backlash in general and the intense focus on Facebook's privacy policies, this is most unfortunate.' The BBC's North America technology reporter Dave Lee registered himself as a fourteen-year-old boy and found that he had been able to sign up without proper parental consent. He wrote on Twitter: 'Another update relating to consent. FB statement said teens had provided parental consent before using the program. I asked FB what exactly that meant - signed form, scanned? - they said the vendors handled it. For at least one of the vendors, consent was basically a checkbox.' James P. Steyer, CEO of Common Sense, a nonprofit organization which promotes safe technology and media for children told Mail Online: 'Once again, Facebook has been exposed for putting profits before people and for the second time in a week, it is kids who are being harmed. 'The company's manipulative tactics and desire to gather every waking thought about its users at any cost is unacceptable. 'Everyone is tired of Facebook saying sorry after being caught. There should be no questions for our leaders from Sacramento to Washington that this company needs to be regulated and held accountable.' The BBC's North America technology reporter Dave Lee registered himself as a fourteen-year-old boy and found that he had been able to sign up without proper parental consent, writing that for 'at least one of the vendors, consent was basically a checkbox' Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was slammed yesterday for 'lying' after she defended the app that was 'preying' on teenagers as young as 13 by paying them to supply data and have all their phone activity monitored. In an interview, Ms Sandberg said the teens who took part in the 'research project' had 'consented' to share the information and therefore knew what they were getting into. Facebook's controversial 'research' app that snooped on the data of teenagers did not need to properly obtain full parental permission. COO Sheryl Sandberg defended the app in an interview with CNBC, saying users 'consented' Facebook has come under fire from all sides for the latest in a series of privacy disasters, with pundits describing their actions as 'shameful' and comparing the firm to a 'criminal enterprise' in light of the latest revelations. The company took advantage of Apple's enterprise developer certificate, which enables companies to distribute apps internally, to create an app that paid users as young as 13 to share their phone activity with Facebook. Among the data collected from teens by the app was all of their phone and web activity, information on apps they installed, when they used them and what they did on them. It raises new questions over how much Sandberg and CEO Mark Zuckerberg knew about the firm's activities. The pair are already facing calls from investors to resign over previous privacy breach scandals and PR disasters that have blighted the social media company since last spring. Ms Sandberg, in particular, has taken hits to her reputation as she continues to be the frontwoman for Facebook's excuses over its privacy shortfalls, with some questioning whether she'd take the fall and lose her job the firm. 'I want to be clear what this is. This is a Facebook research app,' MS Sandberg told CNBC. 'It's completely opt-in. There is a rigorous consent flow and people are compensated... The important thing is that people involved in that research project knew they were involved and consented.' Ms Sandberg claims Facebook pulled the app after it 'realized we weren't in compliance with the rules on [Apple's] platform.' However, Apple says it removed the app because it violated its data collection policies - and also banned Facebook from using any of its internal apps. Some have questioned whether the warnings supplied to users explicitly state what kinds of data the app would collect. After downloading the Research VPN app, users were shown a warning that said: 'Trusting will allow any app from this enterprise developer' to be used on your iPhone and may allow access to your data.' Many are viewing the debacle as the latest example of a growing 'cold war' between tech companies. 'I find this behavior shameful. Taking advantage of people who do not understand the value of the data they generate,' Claudiu Musat, director of research for Data, Analytics and AI at Swisscom, wrote in a tweet. 'Targeting kids of all people! As a parent I'm appalled. I am so happy I stopped using Facebook years ago.' Another expert said Facebook's actions with the 'research' app were 'beyond the pale.' SHERYL SANDBERG TRIES TO SAVE FACE AT FACEBOOK - AGAIN Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg defended the company's creepy 'research' app which paid teens as young as 13 to supply all their phone and web activity. Sandberg claims teens who volunteered to take part consented to have their data used, knowing full well the extent to which they'd be monitored. 'I want to be clear what this is. This is a Facebook research app,' Sandberg told CNBC. 'It's completely opt-in. There is a rigorous consent flow and people are compensated. '...The important thing is that people involved in that research project knew they were involved and consented,' she added. Sandberg has regularly been put up to the task of saving Facebook's reputation, conducting media tours in the wake of the company's string of privacy scandals. However, skeptics continue to question Sandberg's excuses for Facebook's privacy shortfalls, with some of them leaving a negative impact on her own reputation. And, after Mark Zuckerberg blamed Sandberg for Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal, many wondered whether she would keep her job at the company. However, Zuckerberg clarified in a recent CNN interview that he hopes that he and Sandberg can continue to 'work together for decades to come.' Advertisement 'I used to think a reasonable response to Facebook was simple 'break them up',' David Heinemeir Hansson, a Danish programmer and partner of web application company Basecamp, said in a tweet. 'But maybe the real solution here is more akin to 'shut them down.' Their incessant preying on kids and teenagers is beyond pale. From 5-year old 'whales' to bribing 13-year olds for spying rights.' Guardian Mobile Firewall's security expert Will Strafach said the company didn't provide enough information to users about what data they would share by consenting to take part in the research program. 'Facebook provides claims for what data they will collect, and perhaps they are true,' Ms Strafach explained. 'However, they DO NOT inform users of the massive amount of access you hand them when hitting 'Trust' on their Root Certificate. 'I do not think users can reasonably consent without this knowledge,' he added. Ms Strafach went on to say that Ms Sandberg's comments defending the app didn't seem 'credible at all.' Longtime Apple pundit John Gruber said the discovery of Facebook's 'research' app reinforced his belief that the company is akin to a 'criminal enterprise.' 'No regular developer would get away with this,' Mr Gruber wrote on his blog 'Daring Fireball. Facebook is betting that their apps are too popular, that they can do what they want and Apple has to sit back and take it. I keep saying Facebook is a criminal enterprise, and I'm not exaggerating. Sometimes a bully needs to be punched in the face, not just told to knock it off.' Employees quickly became angered after Apple's crackdown on its controversial 'research' app led to it also blocking internal apps used by thousands of staffers. Apple yanked Facebook's app permissions after a TechCrunch report found the company was skirting the iPhone maker's App Store policies to distribute a research app that paid teens in exchange for letting them track their smartphone activity. WHY DID FACEBOOK'S RESEARCH APP GET BANNED BY APPLE? Facebook has been forced to kill off a controversial app after it admitted to paying young people to install the 'social media research' app which monitors their web activity, according to reports. The social media giant, which has been harangued for privacy breaches in recent months, recruited people aged from 13-35 to download the app on their devices. Apple decided to ban the app, formerly known as Onavo VPN, from the app store because it violated its data collection policies. But according to an investigation by TechCrunch, Facebook has sidestepped the App Store and paying users up to $20 a month, plus referral fees. Facebook later told TechCrunch it would shut down the iOS version of its Research app in the wake of the report - but that the Android version will continue. An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch: 'We designed our Enterprise Developer Program solely for the internal distribution of apps within an organization,' said a spokesperson. 'Facebook has been using their membership to distribute a data-collecting app to consumers, which is a clear breach of their agreement with Apple. 'Any developer using their enterprise certificates to distribute apps to consumers will have their certificates revoked, which is what we did in this case to protect our users and their data.' App Store rules stipulate that apps 'should not collect information about which other apps are installed on a user's device,' according to Guardian Mobile Firewall's security expert Will Strafach. Advertisement The move has since caused internal chaos at Facebook, where staffers have taken to internal discussion groups to voice their frustration over being unable to use employee-only iOS apps. Facebook employees were unable to access internal iOS apps, such as beta versions of the Facebook app, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger. They were also unable to use employee apps for 'seeing the day's lunch schedule' or book shuttles to and from work. The move ended up hampering staffers' productivity, as they were blocked from opening internal test versions of core apps. With staffers unable to access restricted versions of these apps, they were forced to download public versions from the App Store instead. 'This is probably one of the worse things that can happen to the company internally,' one Facebook employee told Business Insider. Apple's decision also meant Facebook employees couldn't do basic things like use Ride, the company's app for securing rides on its Menlo, Park campus, as well as Mobile Home, which posts updates for employees. Many Facebook employees began to vent their frustration in internal discussion groups, with some chastising Facebook for the chaos. Others blamed Apple, saying the company was 'out to get' them. 'We can't aspire for good press while continuing to not play by the rules,' one employee said, according to Business Insider. 'Self-inflicted wound. When are we gonna learn?,' another remarked. 'FYI: it's total chaos over inside [Facebook] internal channels right now,' New York Times reporter Mike Isaac tweeted. 'Half the people are like 'uhhhh why do none of my apps work.' Truly amazing.' Facebook said it was 'working closely with Apple' to bring the employee-only iOS apps back online, according to Business Insider. The company confirmed to several outlets on Wednesday that its internal apps were down as a result of the move. Facebook employees are furious after Apple's crackdown on its controversial 'research' app led to it also blocking internal iOS apps used by thousands of staffers It's unclear if the internal apps have been brought back online as of Thursday morning. Many pointed out that, due to the debacle, Facebook may be subject to an extra review process when it submits apps to the App Store in the future. 'We designed our Enterprise Developer Program solely for the internal distribution of apps within an organization,' Apple told the Guardian. 'Facebook has been using their membership to distribute a data-collecting app to consumers, which is a clear breach of their agreement with Apple. 'Any developer using their enterprise certificates to distribute apps to consumers will have their certificates revoked, which is what we did in this case to protect our users and their data.' Scientists have revealed how Earth may have got its crust. Before it split into the continents we know today, it was formed from gigantic pools of molten rock caused by asteroids bombarding the planet, researchers say. It occurred more than 3.8 billion years ago, in a time period called the Hadean eon, and the giant pools were tens of kilometres thick, and thousands of kilometres in diameter. More than 3.8 billion years ago, in a time period called the Hadean eon, and the giant pools were tens of kilometres thick, and thousands of kilometres in diameter. At the time, most of these surface rocks on Earth were basalts, and the asteroid impacts produced large pools of superheated impact melt of such composition. 'If you want to get an idea of what the surface of Earth looked like at that time, you can just look at the surface of the Moon which is covered by a vast amount of large impact craters,' says Professor Rais Latypov from the School of Geosciences of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. However, ressearchers are still baffled by exactly how the ancient, giant melt sheets became the 'protocontinents'. One theory is that, on cooling, they may have crystallized back into a similar type of rock, wiht asteroid playing no part. An alternative model suggests that these sheets may undergo large-scale chemical change to produce layered magmatic intrusions, such as the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. Before it split into the continents we know today, Earth's crust was formed from gigantic pools of molten rock caused by asteroids bombarding the planet, researchers say. In this scenario, asteroid impacts may have played an important role in producing various igneous rocks in the early Earth's crust and therefore they may have contributed to its chemical evolution. By studying the younger impact melt sheet of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) in Canada, researchers found that ancient asteroid impacts were capable of producing various rock types from the earlier Earth's basaltic crust. Most importantly, these impacts may have made the crust compositionally more evolved, i.e. silica-rich in composition. The SIC is the largest, best exposed and accessible asteroid impact melt sheet on Earth, which has resulted from a large asteroid impact 1.85 billion years ago. This impact produced a superheated melt sheet of up to 5 km thick. The SIC now shows a remarkable magmatic stratigraphy, with various layers of igneous rocks. 'Our field and geochemical observations especially the discovery of large discrete bodies of melanorites throughout the entire stratigraphy of the SIC allowed us to reassess current models for the formation of the SIC and firmly conclude that its conspicuous magmatic stratigraphy is the result of large-scale fractional crystallization,' says Latypov. 'If you want to get an idea of what the surface of Earth looked like at that time, you can just look at the surface of the Moon which is covered by a vast amount of large impact craters,' says Professor Rais Latypov from the School of Geosciences of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. 'An important implication is that more ancient and primitive Hadean impact melt sheets on the early Earth and other terrestrial planets would also have undergone near-surface, large-volume differentiation to produce compositionally stratified bodies. 'This would make the crust compositionally layered and increasingly more evolved from its base towards the Earth's surface.' One of the key drivers of the world's climate is an area in the North Atlantic Ocean where warmer and colder water mix and swirl. When scientists went for their first close look at this critical underwater dynamo, they found they were looking in the wrong place. By hundreds of miles. In this September 2018 photo provided by researcher Isabela Le Bras, mooring for measuring equipment is recovered just offshore of Greenland in the early morning with icebergs visible in the background. Scientists were studying the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a circulation of warm and cold waters that stretches from around Greenland south to beyond the tip of Africa and into the Indian Ocean. The consequences are not quite yet understood, but eventually it could change forecasts of one of the worst-case global warming scenarios - still considered unlikely this century - in which the mixing stops and climate chaos ensues. It's called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation , and scientists describe it as a giant ocean conveyor belt that moves water from Greenland south to beyond the tip of Africa and into the Indian Ocean. Warm, salty water near the surface moves north and mixes with cold, fresher water near Greenland. As that water cools and sinks it drives a slow circulation of the oceans that is critical to global climate, affecting the location of droughts and frequency of hurricanes. It also stores heat-trapping carbon dioxide deep in the ocean. The faster it moves, the more warm water gets sent into the depths to cool. The area where warm water turns over in the North Atlantic is considered to be the engine of the conveyor belt. Scientists thought it was in the Labrador Sea west of Greenland. ATLANTIC OCEAN CIRCULATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN REGULATING THE GLOBAL CLIMATE When it comes to regulating global climate, the circulation of the Atlantic Ocean plays a key role. This is due to a constantly moving system of deep-water circulation often referred to as the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt which sends warm, salty Gulf Stream water to the North Atlantic where it releases heat to the atmosphere and warms Western Europe. The cooler water then sinks to great depths and travels all the way to Antarctica and eventually circulates back up to the Gulf Stream. When it comes to regulating global climate, the circulation of the Atlantic Ocean plays a key role This motion is fuelled by thermohaline currents a combination of temperature and salt. It takes thousands of years for water to complete a continuous journey around the world. Researchers believe that as the North Atlantic began to warm near the end of the Little Ice Age, freshwater disrupted the system, called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Arctic sea ice, and ice sheets and glaciers surrounding the Arctic began to melt, forming a huge natural tap of fresh water that gushed into the North Atlantic. This huge influx of freshwater diluted the surface seawater, making it lighter and less able to sink deep, slowing down the AMOC system. Researchers found the AMOC has been weakening more rapidly since 1950 in response to recent global warming. Advertisement But then a new international science team measured temperature, saltiness and the speed of ocean currents throughout the North Atlantic to try to better understand the conveyor belt. The preliminary results after hundreds of measurements in 21 months found that engine was several hundreds of miles east of where they figured, said study lead author Susan Lozier, an ocean sciences professor at Duke University. The study, published in Thursday's journal Science, puts it east of Greenland, closer to Scotland. The computer simulations that predict how the climate could change in coming years didn't factor in exactly where the conveyor belt engine is, and now they may be able to. Lozier and several outside experts said this doesn't change their trust in the models, especially because when the models are checked with what is happening in the real world, they are found to be generally accurate. 'It doesn't mean that the models are all wrong at all,' said Tom Delworth, a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's geophysical lab in Princeton, New Jersey. MIT's Carl Wunsch and other outside experts said the study was helpful, but pointed out that 21 months of study is not enough to know if this different location is temporary or permanent. Scientists have long feared that the conveyor belt could be slowing and, in a worst-case scenario, could even stop and cause abrupt and catastrophic climate change. It is considered a potential climate tipping point that was the premise of the scientifically inaccurate 2004 disaster movie 'The Day After Tomorrow.' In this September 2018 photo provided by researcher Isabela Le Bras, a probe which collects water samples and measures temperature, salinity and pressure is prepared for deployment on the continental shelf of Greenland. Scientists were studying the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a circulation of warm and cold waters that stretches from around Greenland south to beyond the tip of Africa and into the Indian Ocean. Based on computer model studies, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in an earlier study it is 'very unlikely' that the conveyor belt would collapse this century. But the Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel concluded it is likely to get about a third slower if greenhouse gas emissions continue at its current pace. A study last year found that global warming is weakening the system, saying the conveyor belt was moving at its slowest speed in nearly 140 years of records. 'Our basic understanding that the collapse is unlikely still stands,' said Delworth, who wasn't part of the study. 'Our uncertainty about that prediction is high.' NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has successfully taken measurements of gravity on the red planet to study the density of different rock layers on a mountain. On-board accelerometers and gyroscopes were used to measure the force of gravity as the rover ascended a mountain in the Gale Crater. It turns out the density of those rock layers is much lower than expected. The finding also provides a new technique for scientists to use in the future as the rover continues its trek across the 96-mile-wide crater and up Mount Sharp, a three-mile-high mountain in the middle of it. Scroll down for video NASA's Curiosity rover has been scaling Mount Sharp, and three-mile-high mountain in the Gale Crater. It's instruments have detected that the mountain is less dense than originally thought, throwing up more questions about how it was formed As Curiosity ascended Mount Sharp, the gravitational force increased but not as much as scientists expected. 'The lower levels of Mount Sharp are surprisingly porous,' said lead author, Kevin Lewis of Johns Hopkins University. 'We know the bottom layers of the mountain were buried over time. That compacts them, making them denser. But this finding suggests they weren't buried by as much material as we thought.' Researchers used more than 700 measurements taken between October 2012 and June 2017 to take the measurements. These were calibrated to filter out 'noise', such as the effects of temperature and the tilt of the rover during its climb. Calculations were then compared to models of Mars' gravity fields to ensure accuracy. Scientists also also compared the findings to mineral-density estimates from Curiosity's Chemistry and Mineralogy instrument, which looks at the minerals in martian rock samples by using an X-ray beam. That data helped inform how porous the rocks are. 'We estimated a grain density of 2810 kilograms per cubic meter,' said researcher, Travis Gabriel. 'However the bulk density that came out of our study is a lot less - 1680 kilograms per cubic meter.' The lower figure shows that the rocks are likely to be more porous, meaning they have been compressed less than scientists had thought. 'The lower levels of Mount Sharp are surprisingly porous,' said lead author, Kevin Lewis of Johns Hopkins University. 'We know the bottom layers of the mountain were buried over time. That compacts them, making them denser. But this finding suggests they weren't buried by as much material as we thought' This image shows a scene from the far left of the Gale Crater, when viewed from the top of the Vera Rubin Ridge An image of Gale Crater's northern rim, around 1.2 miles above the rover. It shows a scene from around two fifths along the ridge This image shows the view of the far right hand side of the crater, from Curiosity's perspective NASA's Mars rover Curiosity captured this composite image, which looks toward the higher regions of Mount Sharp, in September, 2015 Scientists are still unsure about how Mount Sharp formed and Mars has several craters with central peaks raised by the shock of the impact that created them, but few are this large. Impact from meteorites would account for some of the mound's height, but its upper layers appear to be made of wind-scoured sediments more easily eroded than rock. One theory is that these sediments once filled the entire crater and that millions of years of wind and erosion eventually exposed the mountain. But, if so, the sediment would have heavily compacted the materials at the mountain's base. These new findings suggest Mount Sharp's lower layers have been compacted by only a half-mile to a mile of material - much less than if the crater had been completely filled. 'There are still many questions about how Mount Sharp developed, but this paper adds an important piece to the puzzle,' said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, which manages the mission. 'I'm thrilled that creative scientists and engineers are still finding innovative ways to make new scientific discoveries with the rover.' China's lunar lander has woken up from a freezing two-week-long hibernation to find night-time temperatures on the moon's dark side are colder than previously thought, the national space agency said Thursday. The Chang'e-4 probe -- named after a Chinese moon goddess -- made the first ever soft landing on the far side of the moon on January 3, a major step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower. Temperatures on the moon's surface plummeted to minus 190 degrees celsius (-310 degrees Fahrenheit) during the probe's first lunar night, which 'was colder than scientists expected,' the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said. Scroll down for video The freezing night-time temperatures were recorded by the Chinese Chang'e-4 probe after it became active on Wednesday The night-time temperatures were recorded by the Chinese probe after it became active on Wednesday, following a slumber that lasted for about two earth weeks. They were lower than those recorded by previous US missions to the near side of the moon, Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e-4 mission, told Xinhua news agency. 'That's probably due to the difference in lunar soil composition between the two sides of the moon,' he said. A rover released from the probe -- dubbed Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit) after the moon goddess's pet -- also resumed operations 'as planned' on January 29 and will perform experiments in the Von Karman Crater, CNSA said in a statement. Chang'e-4 is equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China. It is tasked with studying the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface. The probe will now continue with it's experiments, CNSA said. The Yutu-2 rover resumed operations and will perform experiments in the Von Karman Crater, China's space agency said Scientific instruments on board China's previous Chang'e-3 moon mission, sent in late 2013, have withstood over 60 lunar nights and are still in operation, Xinhua said. The Chang'e 4 lander even spent some time at the beginning of its stay growing plants on the moon in a first-ever milestone. The mission started growing plants on the moon shortly after its historic arrival to the previously unexplored area. Cotton seeds could be seen sprouting in a photo released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Just one day after revealing the success, however, China said its lunar cotton seedling were as good as dead. WHAT IS THE LUNAR MINI BIOSPHERE ABOARD THE CHANG'E-4 PROBE? As well as radiation monitoring and mineralogical experiments, China's Chang'e-4 probe contains a 'lunar mini biosphere' to perform biological studies. It holds potato seeds and silkworm eggs, as well as arabidopsis seeds - plants related to cabbage and mustard that are commonly used by biologists as a model for how plants behave in different environments. Researchers hope the seeds will grow to blossom on the Moon, with the process captured on camera and transmitted to Earth. The 6.6lb (three kg) cylindrical tin is made from a specially developed aluminium alloy. It is seven inches (18 cm) tall, with a diameter of six inches (16 cm) and a net volume of 1.4 pints (0.8 litres). As well as seeds, it contains water, a nutrient solution, air and equipment including a small camera and data transmission system. It will use a tube to direct sunlight on the surface of the Moon into the tin to allow the plants to grow. Researchers from 28 Chinese Universities are behind the project, led by southwest China's Chongqing University. Astronauts have previously cultivated plants on the International Space Station. Rice and arabidopsis were also grown on China's Tiangong-2 space lab. Both of these experiments were conducted in low Earth orbit and under very different conditions. Experts hope that the new experiment will help accumulate knowledge for building a lunar base and long-term residence on the Moon. Advertisement The state-run publication Xinhua News said the groundbreaking experiment ended with the onset of a two-week-long lunar night following its short-lived stint inside a specially-designed biosphere habitat. The dying plants will eventually decompose inside the canister, where they will not pose any threats to the lunar environment, according to the China National Space Administration. Chinese scientists involved in the mission have also revealed that the US is planning its own mission to the far side of the moon and theyve asked to borrow a Chinese craft to help get there. According to South China Morning Post, NASA recently asked China to extend the lifespan of the Queqiao relay satellite so it could be used to plan a US lunar landing. We asked the Americans why they wanted our relay satellite to operate longer, chief scientist Wu Weiren told state broadcaster CCTV. They said, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed, that they wanted to make use of our relay satellite when they make their own mission to the far side of the moon. The population of monarch butterflies wintering in central Mexico is up 144 percent over last year, experts said Wednesday. The data presented by Andrew Rhodes, Mexico's national commissioner for protected natural areas, was cheered but scientists quickly warned that it does not mean the butterflies that migrate from Canada and the United States are out of danger. This winter, researchers found the butterflies occupying 14.95 acres (6.05 hectares) of pine and fir forests in the mountains of Michoacan and Mexico states. That's an increase from 6.12 acres (2.48 hectares) a year ago. Scroll down for video FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2015 file photo, an ailing butterfly rests on a plant at the monarch butterfly reserve in Piedra Herrada, Mexico State, Mexico. Millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada each year to pine and fir forests to the west of the Mexican capital. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) They arrive in such numbers that their population is measured by how much surface area they cover. This year's is the biggest measurement since the 2006-2007 period, Rhodes said. A low of just 1.66 acres (0.67 hectares) was recorded in 2013-2014. Jorge Rickards, director of World Wildlife Fund in Mexico which participates in the monitoring, cautioned that the butterflies like other insects see their annual populations rise and fall and the monarchs have had a declining trend. This year's number was positive, but there is no guarantee it will continue. The first monarchs crossed into Mexico more than a week later than usual on Oct. 20 owing to rain and cold along the Texas-Mexico border, Rhodes said. "Once in Mexican territory, the butterflies occupied an area that gives us a lot of hope for the future," Rhodes said. Scientists said the approximately 15-acres (6 hectares) coverage should be seen as a minimum for the viability of the migrating monarchs in the future. Ryan Norris, an ecology professor from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada said it would be dangerous to think the improved coverage in their wintering grounds meant the butterflies were out of the woods. "It buys us time, but that's the best it does," said Norris, who was in Mexico City for scientific meetings about monarchs. Norris saw little connection between this year's increase and the concerted conservation efforts along the butterflies' migration route, especially in Mexico where the government, with the help of local communities, has nearly eliminated illegal logging inside the butterflies' protected area west of Mexico City. "It was a Goldilocks year this year," he said. "Not too hot, not too cold, it was perfect." Chip Taylor, director of Monarch Watch and an ecology professor at the University of Kansas, who runs a monarch tagging program, echoed that caution. "It's not going to be replicated next year, not even close," Taylor said. Above average temperatures in Texas next year will cause problems for the monarch production, Taylor said. Last spring, cold temperatures north of Texas kept the butterflies there to lay their eggs, but when it's warmer they wander farther north too soon and the population does not grow as well, he said. Loss of habitat, especially the milkweed where the monarchs lay their eggs, pesticide and herbicide use, as well climate change will continue to pose threats to the species. Clay tablets found in Modern-day Iraq have revealed key secrets about medicine thousands of years ago. The tablets were discovered decades ago but new research has unearthed the writings of a trainee doctor from the 'cradle of civilisation'. Several tablets, written in the ancient cuneiform script form a timeline of events showing the different aspects of a medical education 2,700 years ago. Researchers believe this could provide an entirely new outlook on how illness was treated in ancient civilisations. Scroll down for video Clay tablets written by a man called Kisir-Ashur were written at the end of the seventh century BCE and were originally found in the ancient remains of the city of Ashur in Northern Iraq. Discoverd decades ago, the region was once known as the 'cradle of civilisation' (file photo) A Danish PhD student analysed clay tablets written by a man called Kisir-Assur in the seventh century BC. The tablets were found in what was once known as the 'cradle of civilisation' in the ancient remains of the city of Assur in Northern Iraq. Written in an ancient language invented by Sumerians called cuneiform script the tablets tell the story of a doctor in training. He records his work and his methods in the ancient scripture. The tablets speak about a combination of medical practices (potentially handed down to the Greeks) and magical rituals. It is thought to be one of the most detailed accounts of ancient medical education and practice ever recorded. Kisir-Assur recorded what he learnt in chronological order, which allowed researchers to unpick the timeline of his training. Dr Troels Pank Arbll from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark studied the text as part of his PhD and told ScienceNordic: 'The sources give a unique insight into how an Assyrian doctor was trained in the art of diagnosing and treating illnesses, and their causes. 'It's an insight into some of the earliest examples of what we can describe as science,' he says. Scientists believe that although magical cures were commonplace at this time, the tablets use a more traditional approach to medicine as well. WHAT WAS ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA? A historical area of the Middle-East that spans most of what is now known as Iraq but also stretched to include parts of Syria and Turkey. The term 'Mesopotamia' comes from Greek, meaning 'between two rivers'. The two rivers that the name refers to are the Tigris river and the Euphrates. Unlike many other empires (such as the Greeks and the Romans) Mesopotamia consisted of several different cultures and groups. Mesopotamia should be more properly understood as a region that produced multiple empires and civilisations rather than any single civilisation. Mesopotamia is known as the 'cradle of civilisation' primarily because of two developments: the invention of the 'city' as we know it today and the invention of writing. Mesopotamia is an ancient region of the Middle-East that is most of modern-day Iraq and parts of other countries. They invented cities, the wheel and farming and gave women almost equal rights Thought to be responsible for many early developments, it is also credited with the invention of the wheel. They also gave the world the first mass domestication of animals, cultivated great swathes of land and invented tools and weaponry. As well as these practical developments, the region saw the birth of wine, beer and demarcation of time into hours, minutes, and seconds. It is thought that the fertile land between the two rivers allowed hunter-gathers a a comfortable existence which led to the agricultural revolution. A common thread throughout the area was the equal treatment of women. Women enjoyed nearly equal rights and could own land, file for divorce, own their own businesses, and make contracts in trade. Advertisement 'He does not work simply with religious rituals, but also with plant-based medical treatments. 'It is possible that he studied the effects of venom from scorpions and snakes on the human body and that he perhaps tried to draw conclusions based on his observations,' says Dr Arbll. After translating the ancient prose, the Scandinavian researcher discovered that Kisir-Assur observed patients with bites or stings. The physician probably did this to find out what affect toxins had on the body and to determine how the venom functioned, he said. Although Kisir-Assur lived hundreds of years before Hippocrates - who is widely regarded as the father of modern medicine - they developed similar ideas. The script carved into the clay tablets speak of the dangers of bile and the risk it poses to humans. The tablets are written in an ancient language which was invented by Sumerians called cuneiform script and is a series of wedge-shaped chunks carved into stone. It is intended to be read using a reed as a stylus (file photo) HOW DID ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIANS TREAT ILLNESS? In an ancient library in the destroyed city of Assur in Northern Iraq, archaeologists discovered clay tablets that document the medical training of a Mesopotamian doctor. A man called Kisir-Assur inscribed the clay tablets in the ancient cuneiform language - formed with wedges cut out of stone. In his writings it was clear that the ancient Mesopotamians did not distinguish between what we today label as 'magic' and 'medicine'. As a result, their methods of healing involved both medical and magical treatments. Medical treatments included bandages, poultices, potions and enemas to treat the physical side of illness. To cure the spiritual side, the texts describe the use of rituals such as incantations and prayers to particular deities. Instructions can be very simple - for example: 'twining specific hairs and string a number of stones onto the string of hairs, (and) tie this 'amulet' to various body parts)' Or the instructions can be quite complex and consist of several steps: 'draw water from a river in a specific manner, perform a concrete ritual action, say a specific incantation seven times and drink the fluid'. Other rituals call for offerings in the form of figurines to the gods. They believed that ghosts or curses caused illness. Among these illnesses is jaundice - called ahhazu or amurriqanu - which was often treated via enema. Illnesses affecting the body's 'strings' (for example, muscles, nerves, tendons, sinews, and perhaps blood vessels in some instances) were called mashkadu, sagallu, or shasshatu illnesses. One direct translation from the work of Kisir-Assur talks about jaundice caused by bile, which was thought to be a primary cause of illness at the time. He writes: 'If a man is ill with bile, ahhazu-jaundice, or amurriqaanu-jaundice, to cure him: kukuru-plant, burashu-juniper, ballukku-plant, suadu-plant, 'sweet reed', urnu-plant, ataishu-plant, 'fox-wine', leek(?), 'stink'-plant, tarmush-plant, 'heals-a-thousand'-plant, 'heals-twenty'-plant, (and) colocynth. 'You weigh out these 14 plants equally (and) boil (them) in premium beer. You leave (the blend) outside overnight by the star(s). You sieve it (and) add plant oil and honey into it. 'You pour (it) into his anus. ' The words in parenthesis are added to improve the readers understanding and many plants cannot be correctly identified and are therefore kept in Akkadian (the extinct Semitic language the cuneiform texts are written in). A treatment for a scorpion bite is as follows: 'Cut off the head of a lizard, you anoint the surface of the sting (with) its blood, and he will live'. Another treatment listed in the ancient tablets: 'If a mans left temple afflicts him and his left eye contains tears: you crush (and) sift sahlu-cress (and) hashu-plant. 'You boil (it) in beer, (and) you decoct (it). You bandage his temple with it, and he will get well.' Advertisement Dr Arbll said: 'It can regulate certain bodily processes and could be the cause or contribution to the cause of an illness. 'This idea is reminiscent of the important Greek physician, Hypocrites' theory of humours, where the imbalance of four fluids in the body [blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile] can be the cause of illness,' he says. 'However, the Mesopotamian conception of bile seems to differ from the Greek. 'It is far from certain that the idea spread from Mesopotamia to the Greeks. But it would be interesting to investigate,' says Dr Arbll. The researcher believes that the aspiring Mesopotamian doctor would have worked on animals before progressing to human babies as he neared the end of his training. It is unlikely that he would have treated an adult human alone before he was fully qualified. The texts ofKisir-Assur are from a famous family library found in a private house in the ancient city of Assur in modern northern Iraq. Located in modern-day Iraq, the city was destroyed in 614 BC when it was burnt to the ground as the Neo-Assyrian Empire was dismantled Kisir-Assur's family library in the ancient city of Assur. Located in modern-day Iraq, the city was destroyed in 614 BCE but the surviving tablets provide a timeline for early-era medicine (file photo) The clay tablets were housed in Kisir-Assur's family library in the ancient city of Ashur. Located in modern-day Iraq, the city was destroyed in 614 BCE when it was burnt to the ground as the Neo-Assyrian Empire was dismantled. It remained untouched until the early-twentieth century when archaeologists excavated the site. The library is one of the most complete and important sources of information from the era. 'It's a snapshot of history that is difficult to generalise and it is possible that Kisir-Assur worked with the material in a slightly different way than other practising healers. 'Kisir-Assur copied and recorded mostly pre-existing treatments and you can see that he catalogues knowledge and collects it with a specific goal,' says Dr Arbll. New details have emerged of the doomed voyage of Royal Navy officer, Sir John Franklin, in 1845. Sir Franklin led two British ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, in search of the last section of the Northwest Passage. When both ships became stuck in ice, Sir Franklin and all 129 crew members tragically died but exactly how they met their end has long been a mystery. Scroll down for video The expedition, consisting of two ships led by British Royal Navy captain Sir John Franklin, aimed to find a sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. But the crew was condemned to an icy death after their two ships got jammed in thick sea ice in the Canadian Arctic in 1846 The latest research into the mysterious deaths raised serious doubt about the popular belief that lead poisoning played a role in the death of members of the famed Franklin Expedition. Previous analyses of bone, hair, and soft tissue samples from the remains of crew members found tissues contained elevated lead levels, suggesting that lead poisoning may have been a major contribution to their demise. However, questions remained regarding the timing and degree of exposure to lead and, ultimately, the extent to which the crew members may have been impacted. For the latest study, Synchrotron-based high-resolution confocal X-ray fluorescence imaging in partnership with scientists at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron at the University of Saskatchewan and the Advanced Photon Source was used to visualise lead distribution within bone and dental structures at the micro scale. Researchers said the skeletal microstructural results 'do not support the conclusion that lead played a pivotal role in the loss of Franklin and his crew'. It remains unclear exactly what killed the crews of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. THE DOOMED FRANKLIN EXPEDITION In command of the doomed was the 59-year-old Sir John Franklin (pictured) who sailed the Arctic three times before The expedition, consisting of two ships led by British Royal Navy captain Sir John Franklin, aimed to find a sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. But the crew was condemned to an icy death after their two ships got jammed in thick sea ice in the Canadian Arctic in 1846. The crew's final message before they were wiped out - sent April 25, 1848 - indicated that the survivors were abandoning their ships. They left the two vessels, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, north of King William Island and set out on a harsh journey south toward a mainland trading post. Judging by the bodies found so far, none of the remaining crew made it even a fifth of the way to safety. HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were sent out in the summer of 1845 to find the Northwest Passage but they took a crucial wrong turn and ended up stranded and surrounded by pack ice Advertisement DNA analysis of the remains of the crew suggests many of the sailors suffered with Addison's disease, a potentially lethal condition that occurs when the adrenal gland is damaged and no longer produces the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Symptoms include loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, increased thirst, lack of energy and muscle weakness. Addison's disease is often associated with tuberculosis (TB), since this causes damage to the adrenal gland, which is found on top of the kidney. Scientists have previously found evidence of crew members suffering TB during the autopsies of three sailors who died and were buried on a nearby island before the ships were marooned. Another likely explanation for the death of the crew is starvation, researchers say. Scientists have taken the DNA from the skeletal remains of several sailors who died after getting stuck in Arctic ice on a doomed 1845 expedition. This image shows the mummified remains of one of the expedition's doomed crew members Franklin and his crew were in the Arctic for some two to three years, and there is evidence that food supplies were dangerously short. Previous studies have found evidence of cannibalism later in the expedition. David Cooper, the Canada Research chair in Synchrotron bone imaging, said: 'It's not a stretch of the imagination to understand how people die after two or three years in the Arctic. This was a desperate situation, food supplies are running low, and there is evidence of cannibalism later on in the expedition. 'I think what's remarkable is that they survived as long as they did.' Researchers took DNA from the skeletal remains of several sailors in April 2017 to identify who the lost souls were. Marc-Andre Bernier setting a marine biology sampling quadrant on the port side hull of the Erebus To their surprise, they discovered that four of the crew were women - a finding that goes against previous reports suggesting an all-male trip. The women were found to have European DNA, meaning they couldn't be the remains of local Inuits. While the results could simply be false identifications due to the age of the DNA, the researchers noted that women sometimes served in disguise in the Royal Navy. 'Some of these women were smuggled onboard [the] ship,' the authors, from the Douglas Stenton of Nunavut's Department of Culture and Heritage, a territory in northern Canada, wrote in their paper. 'Others disguised themselves as men and worked alongside the crew for months or years before being detected or intentionally revealing themselves to be female.' The new study, Franklin expedition lead exposure: New insights from high resolution confocal x-ray fluorescence imaging of skeletal microstructure, was published in PLOS ONE. A previous study found that tuberculosis, which resulted in adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), led to the deaths of some of the crew. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and led by University of Michigan dentistry professor Dr Russell Taichman. He said that for decades, historians and researchers have speculated on several generally accepted causes of death: exposure, scurvy, lead poisoning, botulism, tuberculosis and starvation. During the Franklin expedition, the ships became trapped in ice pack in 1846 near King William Island, which is above the Arctic Circle in what is now northern Canada. Stranded: In 1837 the HMS Terror became trapped by ice (pictured) while under the command of Admiral George Back. The ship remained stuck for 10 months. Eight years later it returned to the Canadian Arctic and this time it failed to escape the icy clutches of the Northwest Passage The ship was well-stocked with canned food, and the crew spent two years on and around the remote island waiting in hard conditions for the ice to melt and free their ships. Some of the clues left behind included Inuit accounts of emaciated crew members with 'hard, dry and black' mouths. With this account in mind, Dr Taichman, also a cancer researcher, decided to look more closely at the various cause-of-death theories and how each condition impacts the mouth. To conduct the research, Dr Taichman and Mark MacEachern, a librarian at U-M's Health Science Library, cross-referenced the crew's physical symptoms with known disease and analyzed 1,718 medical citations. Dr Taichman was surprised when Addison's disease, which wasn't one of the generally accepted causes of death, kept coming up during the analysis. 'In the old days, the most common reason for Addison's in this country was TB,' Dr Taichman said. 'In this country now, it's immune suppression that leads to Addison's.' The sailors died during the disastrous Franklin Expedition in which two vessels vanished along with all 129 people on board. This image released by Parks Canada in September 2014 shows a side-scan sonar image of HMS Erebus shipwreck on the sea floor in northern Canada People with Addison's disease have trouble regulating sodium and can become dehydrated, and they can't maintain their weight even when food is available - two conditions of the crew as observed by the Inuit. Addison's disease also leads to darkening of the skin, which could explain the Inuit accounts of the dark mouths. While the idea of scurvy among the crew falls in line with the fact that sailors of that time had the disease, that alone does not explain the deaths. A stronger clue than this was evidence of tuberculosis that was discovered during autopsies of three sailors who died and were buried on a nearby island before the ships were marooned. Since the 1980s skulls and other remains of more than 20 sailors have been found by scientists after decades of fruitless searching in the Canadian Arctic. This skull, believed to belong to one of the crew members, was found back in 1993 Lead poisoning, which was confirmed to a degree by an analysis of recovered bones, could have come from lead solder used fork the food cans and from lead pipes that distilled water for the crew. 'Scurvy and lead exposure may have contributed to the pathogenesis of Addison's disease, but the hypothesis is not wholly dependent on these conditions,' Dr Taichman said. 'The tuberculosis-Addison's hypothesis results in a deeper understanding of one of the greatest mysteries of Arctic exploration.' Dr Taichman's fascination with the Arctic began as a child in his native Toronto, when his father told him stories about the early explorers. Dr Taichman has visited the Arctic 16 times, where he's led hiking trips and kayaked among the icebergs and proposed to his wife. Advertisement A nervous system that was dissected nearly 100 years ago is now the subject of a stunning display at a museum in Missouri. The organ system was revealed after two med students, L.P. Ramsdell and M.A. Schalck, were handed a cadaver in 1925 and told to dissect it. They began at the brain's base and worked their way down, managing to keep the system in one piece. It took Ramsdell and Schalck 1,500 hours over the course of many months to dissect the body, according to Live Science. Two med students in Missouri dissected a body in 1925 and worked on it for 1,500 hours to keep its nervous system intact. The result (pictured) can be found at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri The result is on display at the Museum of of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, where the body was dissected. The museum is run by the A.T. Still University (ATSU). The identity of the person whose nervous system is on display is unknown. Museum director Jason Haxton told Live Science that the body likely came from a poor house or a prison. These two were the main resources for people seeking medical cadavers in 1925. But the person's remains have turned out to be pricey: Haxton told Live Science that the nervous system exhibit's estimated value was $1 million a decade ago. He said of the exhibit: 'Medical students come into the museum and stare at it in amazement. Sometimes, they'll run in after a test to check their work. People familiar with dissection say this is truly a miracle piece.' The experiment came about when Ramsdell and Schalck's work stood out after each person in their class had to dissect an arm. The identity of the person the nervous system belonged to is unknown. But their remains have been valued at $1 million. According to the experts, only three similar dissections exist 'These two students' dissections were so detailed and so much better than any other students' that they were chosen to dissect an entire body,' Haxton explained. Ramsdell and Schalck started at the brain stem and went down from there, cutting through the skin, protective tissue and muscle to reveal the spinal cord while clearing nerve fibers. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM? The nervous system is different from other organ systems because it does a variety of vital jobs at the same time (file photo) The central nervous system is made up of the spinal cord, optic nerves and brain. The nervous system is different from other organ systems because of the amount of functions it is responsible for. Most systems control only one function while the nervous system is in charge of many vital functions that occur at once. It is responsible for a number of processes, including thought, movement and the registration of sensations within the body. All voluntary movement, including speech and walking, occurs thanks to the nervous system. But it also controls involuntary movements, such as breathing and blinking. In addition to this, the system plays a hand in our emotions. It is also better protected than other organ systems in the body. Spinal column and skull bones protect the system and create a physical barrier around it. The syrnix, which is a space below these bones that is filled with fluid, provides shock absorbance. Advertisement 'After they cleared each nerve, they rolled them in cotton batting soaked in some kind of preservative. So, as they worked their way down, there was just a mass of little rolls of cotton,' Haxton said. The preservative chemicals used during the experiment are unknown. Ramsdell and Schalck mounted the system, which took one year to dissect, on a piece of shellacked wood. They put hundreds of labels on the display, and the finished product made its way to museums and medical conferences around the US. Haxton said that only three similar dissections exist. Eleven years after Ramsdell and Schalck began their now world famous dissection, ATSU researchers duplicated their experiment and donated the nervous system to the Smithsonian Institution. The other two can be found in Philadelphia and Thailand. Flipkart says government executed the FDI policy in haste. Flipkart said it will continue to work with the government to promote fair, pro-growth policies that will continue to develop this nascent sector. New Delhi: US retail giant Walmart-backed Flipkart on Friday said it is disappointed with the Indian government's decision to implement the changes in rules for e-commerce companies with foreign investment in "haste". The Bengaluru-based company added that it remains committed to compliance "despite the significant work that is required to change our supply chains and systems". The new regulations announced in December - under Press Note 2 - would bar online marketplaces with foreign investments from selling products of the companies where they hold stakes as well as ban exclusive marketing arrangements. Effective February 1, online marketplaces - Walmart-backed Flipkart and Amazon - will have to undertake massive restructuring of their operations in India to ensure compliance. We are disappointed that the government has decided to implement the regulation changes at such haste, but we are committed to doing everything we can to be compliant with the new rules," a Flipkart spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that despite the significant work required to change its supply chains and systems, the company remains confident that it will continue to serve its customers and sellers well. Asserting that policy should be created in a consultative, market-driven manner, Flipkart said it will continue to work with the government "to promote fair, pro-growth policies that will continue to develop this nascent sector". Despite intense lobbying by the two giants, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said it had "been decided, with the approval of the competent authority, not to extend the deadline" of February 1. An Amazon spokesperson on Thursday stated that the company will continue to engage with the government to seek clarifications and work towards minimising impact on its customers and sellers. Small traders have, in the past, complained that deep discounts offered by e-commerce firms were hurting their business. Various trade bodies had also alleged that these entities were giving preferential treatment to certain sellers. The new rules would require these online marketplaces to bring in massive changes in their business models. One of the clauses states that the inventory of a vendor will be seen as controlled by a marketplace, if over 25 per cent of the vendor's purchases are from the marketplace entity, including the latter's wholesale unit. Over the last few weeks, both Amazon and Flipkart had been extensively lobbying -- directly as well as through associations and trade bodies -- with government officials seeking an extension in deadline. They had also written to the government stating that they need more time to understand the details of the framework. Batting for the players, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) had dubbed the new e-commerce rules as "regressive" and said these changes would harm consumers, create unpredictability and have a negative impact on the growth of online retail in India. According to a Crisil report, nearly 35-40 per cent of e-retail industry sales - amounting to Rs 35,000-40,000 crore - could be impacted due to the tightened policy. However, smaller players like Snapdeal and ShopClues have welcomed the development, saying it will create a genuine and robust e-commerce sector in India. According to sources, both Flipkart and Amazon were extremely hopeful that the government will soften its stand but given the magnitude of investments at stake, these companies had already started working on their plan B in case the deadline wasn't extended. Amazon had committed an investment of over USD 5 billion, while Walmart made its biggest bet pumping in USD 16 billion for 77 per cent stake in Flipkart. Naive: Sophie fell under the online spell of a known paedophile Sophie Elms had the most reassuring CV for a babysitter. She was taking a course in childcare at Swindon College and, as part of her training, was on work placement at a nursery. What parent wouldnt trust such a person? There was nothing in her background to suggest she was anything but a conscientious, law-abiding young woman. To this day, she can be seen on social media attending happy family gatherings, getting ready to go out (in a polka-dot dress) and cuddling her pet terrier, Chalkie (Sophie chilling with Chalkie is the caption under one photograph). Sophie is from a really nice family, said someone who lives a few doors away from her and her parents in Royal Wootton Bassett, the Wiltshire market town on the outskirts of Swindon. If ever I bump into them in town, they will always stop and chat. Yesterday, however, the door of the red-brick end-of-terrace remained closed and the curtains at every window were drawn. It was as if there had been a bereavement. Indeed, for the teenagers closest relatives especially her mother the recent, utterly shocking revelations about her daughter must truly feel like a death in the family. Sophie, now 18, was jailed this week for molesting two sisters, both infants, when she herself was 17. She is believed to be one of the UKs youngest-ever female paedophiles. There are few taboos left in Britain today, but surely female paedophilia is one of them. Such abuse, when it occurs, seems more abhorrent, more unsettling, because cultural stereotypes reinforce societys view of women as carers and nurturers. They are, after all, our mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers. They are also most likely to be our babysitters. Elms, outwardly at least, seemed sensible and good-natured. She had done safeguarding training at college. She ticked all the boxes for the couple who would hire her to look after their beloved children aged two and three years old. Not in a million years would they have imagined she might harm their little girls, let alone do so sexually. There was nothing in her background to suggest she was anything but a conscientious, law-abiding young woman The extent of her grotesque betrayal was spelled out on the indictment at Swindon Crown Court this week: two charges of sexual assault by penetration, two charges of sexual assault by touching, four charges of taking indecent images, six charges of distributing indecent images, and two charges of possessing extreme pornography. There were 16 charges in all. These are crimes normally associated with men, not women. The father of her victims read a heartbreaking impact statement to the court when Elms was sentenced to seven years and ten months a few days ago. She had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing last year. The damage Sophie Elms caused to our family is unimaginable, he said, his voice conveying both anguish and anger. He said his youngest daughter (now aged three) still had night terrors at bedtime, which were very distressing as we can see her kicking and she says get off me. Elms, sitting a few feet away in the dock, broke down in tears when he relayed what she had put his family through. It was the first time she had shown remorse. The father alluded to a Snapchat selfie that Elms had posted from her bedroom shortly before she arrived in court (last year) to enter her plea. All ready for court, she wrote underneath, as if she was going to a party. Then, as she arrived in the courtroom, the father recalled in his statement how she had looked right at me and smiled, which was beyond words. There are parallels between Sophie Elms and Vanessa George, from Plymouth, perhaps Britains most notorious female paedophile. George, a married mother of two, was a nursery nurse who was locked up in 2009 for an indeterminate period of at least seven years after taking pictures of herself harming babies in her care. She had come under the influence of a stranger whom she had met on the internet, who became her online lover and accomplice. Like George, Elms carried out the attacks after a sex offender contacted her online and incited her to abuse the children and send him unspeakably horrific photographs of what she did on WhatsApp. The paedophile in question, David Geering, was sentenced to 15 years in a separate trial in November last year. Geering, 59, is a former detective with the Metropolitan Polices Homicide and Serious Crime Command. Before the internet age, with its special talent for bringing together the desperate and the deviant, the paths of Sophie Elms and David Geering would never have crossed and two toddlers might never have been abused. Sophie, now 18, was jailed this week for molesting two sisters, both infants, when she herself was 17. The girls' father blasted Elms for a Snapchat selfie that Elms had posted from her bedroom shortly before she arrived in court (pictured last year) to enter her plea. All ready for court, she wrote underneath, as if she was going to a party So this is a very modern horror story one that we can only hope will never be repeated. Yet statistics tells us that female paedophilia is increasing. In 2017 the latest year for which figures are available 108 women were convicted of sexual offences. This was more than treble the number convicted a decade earlier. The numbers are still small, however, and include cases of women sexually assaulting men, and teachers involved in sexual relationships with pupils which have attracted widespread publicity. The kind of abuse of pre-school children committed by the likes of Vanessa George and Sophie Elms, is, thankfully, much less common. So Elms occupies a very dark place on the spectrum of depravity yet there were few outward indications of her deviancy. Then again, there rarely are. Elms lived with her mother and stepfather, who worked for a packaging company. On leaving school, she enrolled at Swindon College, which runs several early years childcare programmes. Neighbours said they occasionally saw her walking her dog. But she was naive, immature for her age (the words of her barrister) and lacking the social skills one might expect from an 18-year-old. These were the very things that made her susceptible to grooming. Prominently displayed on an old Facebook profile, in which Elms says she likes Ice Age movies, Home Alone and EastEnders, is a love heart under the words: In a Relationship. Elms (pictured arriving at Swindon Crown Court) receieved two charges of sexual assault by penetration, two charges of sexual assault by touching, four charges of taking indecent images, six charges of distributing indecent images, and two charges of possessing extreme pornography. There were 16 charges in all With hindsight, this seemingly innocent personal detail might have had more sinister connotations. Sophie Elms was 13 at the time. One of her friends had taken her mobile phone as a joke, the court heard, and set up an online dating profile for her, listing her age as 22. This is revealing in itself an insight into just how much the world has changed. Soon, Elms started receiving messages. She ignored them until she got a message from one person saying Hi sexy, her barrister revealed in mitigation this week. Elms, he said, initially ignored this as well, but the person was persistent and kept contacting her. Eventually she gave in and replied. It would not be unreasonable to assume, then, that the individual with whom she announced she was in a relationship on Facebook was not an innocent boyfriend but a dangerous predator. Elms, at 13, was persuaded to send vile footage of herself to him from her webcam. The abuse continued for the next four years. Police believe she was groomed by four different men online. One of them was Geering. Geering had been a police officer for 27 years when, in 2008, he was convicted for the first time of distributing and taking indecent images of children and jailed for two-and-a-half years. On his release from prison, he moved from St Albans in Hertfordshire, where he had been living with his wife, and started a new life in Shropshire. It is unclear whether his wife went with him. But locals say he shared the four-bedroom townhouse in Shrewsbury, once home to his late mother, with a woman who hosted jewellery parties. Parked on the drive was a BMW. David Geering was the perfect neighbour. Everyone said so. He was one of the nicest people you could ever meet, said one resident in the cul-de-sac this week. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He would offer lifts to our grown-up children. He would do the bins when we were away. He was just so thoughtful. Sophie Elms was 17-years-old at the time of the offences Unbeknown to them, though, nice, thoughtful David was a vile puppetmaster and paedophile who had begun controlling and corrupting a teenage girl more than 100 miles down the M5 in Wootton Bassett. His relationship with Sophie Elms began in 2017. Elms told detectives he must have obtained her details from somewhere online and that she liked talking to him. The timing of their online meeting could not have been more tragic. Elms had just started babysitting. David Geering seized his opportunity. At his behest, she sent him images and video of her sexually abusing the sisters left in her charge. Geering used the messaging service WhatsApp to share this filth with a group of paedophiles. Two mobile phones found during a police raid on his home revealed his involvement with the network and his links with Sophie Elms. The repercussions have been truly devastating. The mother of her victims wept in the public gallery this week as her husband read out the impact statement to the court. All of us sleep in our bedroom now, and what was the girls bedroom is a closed, empty shell, he said. Just having to leave the children at school or pre-school is a challenge to us, as this was the profession in which you were training. You have made such an impact on us and our children that we dont allow them to go round to their friends houses unless we are present. As a result, they are missing out on their own personal development. In time we hope to regain our trust in people, but for now our fears remain. We feel trapped in our own home. It is almost as if we have been given a life sentence. You have completely destroyed our lives. We cannot stay in Swindon for fear of one day bumping into you, and we have come to the conclusion it will be better for us to move. This whole horrific event has damaged our family beyond words. The judge, at least, acknowledged that Elms who was accompanied by her mother had been groomed by David Geering. He bears responsibility, he said, but added: To lay all the responsibility at his door is misleading and, in my judgment, wrong. You were a victim but also a perpetrator. You wanted to appease the man towards whom you felt affection, and for jealous reasons you wanted his attention. You prioritised these things over the welfare of young, vulnerable children in your care. Perhaps more than anything, though, what was done to Sophie Elms, and what she did, is a warning if one were needed to all parents in the internet age. This haul of 24 firearms, seized by police in just over a month, provides a chilling picture of rising gun crime in the UK. The arsenal includes a sawn-off shotgun, Beretta pistols and a Kalashnikov. In one instance, 60 patients and staff at a GP surgery were embroiled in a terrifying gun incident when a patient took a Beretta pistol and a magazine of blank ammunition into an appointment. Astonishingly, the GP kept calm and left the room when the patient took out his gun. This haul of 24 firearms, seized by police in just over a month, provides a chilling picture of rising gun crime in the UK (pictured: What appears to be a self-loading pistol) In one instance, 60 patients and staff at a GP surgery were embroiled in a terrifying gun incident when a patient took a Beretta pistol (pictured) and a magazine of blank ammunition into an appointment Pictured: A Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifle which was handed over to police in Canterbury A Colt.445 calibre revolver made in 1898 was also handed in to officers during Kent Police's firearms surrender A woman reported that she was being held against her will in Stratford by a male in possession of a firearm. Officers entered the premises, secured the female, arrested the male and recovered the firearm Officers in Bromley located found a suspect in possession of two firearms (pictured: What appears to be an MP40 submachine gun) Pictured: A black, gas-powered imitation gun, which was found in Birmingham city centre A loaded handgun was seized by police after a police stopped a car that had jumped two red lights in Birmingham Police raced to the surgery in Greenwich, south-east London and arrested the gunman without any casualties on January 21. A day earlier, Scotland Yard caught a gunman after he threatened to shoot his ex-partner. On December 14, a criminal who threatened a victim with a gun was found in Bromley, south-east London carrying a sawn-off pump action shotgun and a potentially live grenade. Dozens of car keys were also seized. On December 28, a drunken man was found in Westminster holding a loaded pistol. The 24 guns, which were seized, confiscated or handed in to forces between December 15 and January 27, were not confined to London. West Midlands Police seized three guns a loaded pistol, shotgun and handgun in as many days last month. This firearm was taken from a suspect who was 'aggressively waving it around and shouting at people' at a petrol station Hounslow This firearm was discovered after an armed stop was carried out on a male on a motorcycle A suspect was arrested for GBH and officers found this pistol in his vehicle Another imitation firearm recovered 'from an aggressive male' by the Met Police One of the weapons, a .45 self-loading pistol with five bullets, was found after police stopped a drink-driver in Edgbaston. Days later, the force found an X26 police-issue Taser in the hands of a criminal. In Kent, a firearms surrender included a deactivated Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifle. The shocking incidents, revealed on police Twitter feeds, come as the number of firearms on the streets of Wild West Britain is at its highest in a decade. Martin Parker, of the national ballistics intelligence service, said the amount of guns and ammunition sent to its labs for analysis is set for a ten-year high. He said: The highest year for us was 2010-11 just under 1,300. This year, we can expect it to be just as busy, if not more so. Since 2012, the number of firearm possession offences has jumped by 87 per cent to 8,039. President Trump's second State of the Union speech will have the theme 'choosing greatness' and will seek to 'heal old wounds,' the White House says. He will encourage all Americans to 'adopt a spirit of cooperation' in the remarks that the White House says is intended to be 'unifying,' in spite of the hostilities that have erupted between the president and Democratic lawmakers and led to a government shutdown. 'President Trump's a problem solver, and he will offer solutions that have bipartisan appeal, which are doable and practical,' a senior official, who briefed reporters on the remarks on Friday afternoon, said. The president's second State of the Union speech will have the theme 'choosing greatness' and will seek to 'heal old wounds,' the White House says The White House would neither comment on any new proposals the president could make nor shed additional light on Trump's suggestion that he could declare a national emergency on the border. Trump is seen here talking to his Homeland Security Secretary on Friday He will spend time in the address pushing his trade deal with Mexico, highlighting his trade talks with China, promoting democracy in Venezuela, calling for the cessation of 'endless wars' and asking Congress to pass bills to improve America's infrastructure and lower the price of prescription drugs. Notably, in a nod to the administration's pro-life agenda, the official said, 'He will talk about the fund importance of respecting human life.' Asked if the president's speech will address racial tension in America, the official pointedly told reporters, 'I think the president's going to cast an inspiring vision for all Americans.' The White House would neither comment on any new proposals the president could make nor shed additional light on Trump's suggestion that he could declare a national emergency on the border Immigration will be a major topic of the speech, the person indicated. But the White House official refused to go further than that. 'I think afterwards, you'll say, yeah, that's a top priority,' the person said as reporter after reporter pushed for more information on the immigration section. In the lengthy address that the White House says will be in keeping with a traditional State of the Union speeches, the official said that Trump will deliver a unifying, bipartisan, optimistic message. 'People will be reminded through the speech of the broad appeal of the president's agenda,' the official said. It will be, in a word, 'visionary,' the official told reporters on Friday. For instance, Trump is set to say: 'Together we can break decades of political stalemate, we can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds build new coalitions, forge new solutions and unlock the extraordinary promise of Americas future. The decision is ours to make.' President Trump hinted Friday that he could use his State of the Union address to announce a national emergency on the border. The action would be controversial and totally fly in the face of the outline White House provided for speech's goals and content. He told reporters he's 'certainly thinking about' making the declaration. 'I think theres a good chance well have to do that,' he said. Asked if he was suggesting he'll make the announcement on Tuesday night, Trump replied: 'What I'm saying is listen closely to the State of the Union. I think you'll find it very exciting.' President Donald Trump hinted Friday that he's leaning toward announcing a national emergency on the border during his State of the Union address He told reporters on Friday afternoon that he's 'certainly thinking about' making the declaration that would allow him to build his border wall Trump has been saying for weeks that he could declare a national emergency at the border to free up manpower and funds to build the border wall that Democrats' have steadfastly opposed. The order would almost immediately be challenged. Trump said Friday he believes it would be hard for the courts to keep him from exercising the authority, however. 'We have very, very strong legal standing, it would be very hard to do that. But they tend to go to the Ninth Circuit and when they go to the Ninth Circuit, things happen,' he said of the panel that's kept his other executive actions from going into immediate effect. President Trump said that he's already 'building a lot of wall' and will continue to do with 'funds on hand' that appropriators gave him for fencing. 'Were negotiating very tough prices, weve designed a much better looking wall that is also actually a better wall, which is actually an interesting combination - its far more beautiful and its better - its much more protective,' he revealed. He refused to say outright if he's planning to declare a national emergency, cryptically telling a reporter: 'I dont want to say, youll hear the State of the Union, and then youll see what happens right after the State of the Union.' If Trump declares a national emergency, it could scuttle a deal on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan panel of legislators are looking for ways to satisfy his request by Feb. 15 and demands from their own caucus that they withhold $5.7 billion in taxpayer funds that Trump says he needs to finish his border barrier. The president said repeatedly this week that they are 'wasting their time' on talks unless the proposal includes his border wall. 'We will be looking at a national emergency, because I dont think anythings going to happen. I dont think Democrats want border security. And when I hear them talk about the fact that walls are immoral and walls dont work - they know they work,' Trump contended. He introduced the mantra last week that America should 'build a wall' and 'crime will fall' as he tried to sell his border security package. 'The chant now should be "Finish the Wall!" because were building a lot of wall,' he claimed on Friday. 'I could see were getting nowhere with the Democrats, were not going to get anywhere with them, its going to be part of their campaign, but I dont think its good politically.' Trump said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'should be ashamed of herself because shes hurting a lot of people' with her position that a wall is immoral. 'I think the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. In all fairness to the Democrats, many of them want the wall, and I see it.' he insisted. 'Theyre just dying to say what they want to say, but they cant say it as well as they would be able to if they were allowed to do it.' Democrats who worry they're in for a border security lesson on Tuesday night, may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, instead GOP lawmakers have joined their Democratic colleagues in saying that Trump should adhere by the legislative process rather than taking matters into his own hands with a national emergency declaration. Trump suggested Friday that it is his belief that by taking the wall off the table, he could move along immigration reform discussions. 'Actually having a national emergency does help the process. It would certainly help the process. What would help a lot is if the Democrats could actually be honest. Theyre not being honest,' Trump accused on Friday afternoon. 'I like to hear what they talk about in their rooms when they go back.' Democrats who worry they're in for a border security lesson on Tuesday night, may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, as well. Trump is expected to rail against bills in Virginia and New York that would relax legal restrictions on the practice in his State of the Union address, the White House indicated on Friday. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway suggested, in response to a question from DailyMail.com on the theme of Trump's speech, that the president would denounce the measures in the primetime address. 'Im not going to tell you whats in the speech Ive seen it but maybe hell ask Democrats, in view of the new news, why do you object to the Pain-Capable bill that non-partisan scientists say a baby can feel pain after the twentieth week,' Conway said. Politico also reported that White House sources were saying it would be a major topic. Conway said that Trump would be highlighting bipartisan efforts like criminal justice reform and praising the economic gains the nation has seen under his presidency. But she indicated that he'd also tackle the controversial issue of late-term abortion. Trump delivered his State of the Union address on January 30, 2018, speaking to a packed House chamber where every seat was filled and the galleries were at capacity 'Now weve got, weve got governors, and state legislators in many places, but most illustratively, and recently, in New York in Virginia, saying that a baby can have his or her life snuffed out of it, out of him or her... after 20 weeks. I mean this is who we are as Americans?' she asked. Trump said Thursday that a theme of his State of the Union address will be 'unity' and he will praise Republicans for sticking by him over the course of his last year in office. 'I think its unification, I think its industry, I think its about the people that you see right here,' he told reporters from the Oval Office. Trump quickly pivoted to an attack on Democrats for refusing his pleas for a border wall and then back to the topic of unity in the next sentence as he gave reporters their first look at the Tuesday speech. 'The problem is the Democrats, you know when they say, we don't want to build, as an example, we don't want to build a wall, because it doesn't work or because it's immoral,' he charged. Bringing up Pelosi's claim that a wall is 'immoral,' he said that allowing Americans to die at the hand of violent immigrants is also unacceptable. 'Well it's also immoral, the people that come into our country that shouldn't be here and kill people. That's immoral, too. That's a lot more immoral,' he claimed with no build-up. He added, as he got back on topic: 'But I really think it's going to be a speech that is going to cover a lot of territory but part of it is going to be unity.' Asked by DailyMail.com about the assault on the opposing party, seconds after he said he wanted to spark unity, Conway said Friday, 'Well the president, of course, is going to be a unifying figure. He is the leader of the country. 'And he is certainly the leader of the country at the State of the Union. Its his opportunity once a year to look the American people in the eye, cut out the middle man respectfully, until the panels talk afterwards to convey to them, many things they dont hear throughout the year.' She mentioned the January jobs report that dropped earlier on Friday. Companies created more jobs the first month of the year than forecasters expected. 'The record of accomplishment, the facts and figures of his great economy, today with 304,000 new jobs created, well above the line of 70,000 that were projected. So, he will say things like that, showing the economys strong,' she said. As part of his bid to spark 'unity' she said he will talk about criminal justice reform, prescription drug legislation and other issues on which 'Republicans and Democrats have proven they can come together and work toward a common purpose of serving the American people.' 'He believes border security is a non-partisan issue that should have bipartisan solutions,' she added. 'And I dont think that the speaker of the House, respectfully, sounds very unifying, most days she sounds like a cable news pundit ... She doesnt sound like a unifying figure.' Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks to a crowd during a Women's Rights rally at the Capitol in Richmond earlier this month (left); Virginia Del. Kathy Tran presents HB2491, her bill dealing with eliminating some requirements for abortion inside the State Capitol in Richmond this week (right) Conway said that Pelosi, who represents liberal San Francisco in Congress should broaden her own message and 'get a little bit better control of her temper and her chamber.' 'And those who dont show up for the State of the Union, thats on them, not on the president. They need to explain to their constituents why they thought so little of the people they represent that they refused to sit in the hallowed chamber in the Capitol and listen to our president come forward and try to call for bipartisan action on any number of measures. Thats on them,thats not on him.' No Democrats have said so far that they are boycotting the speech, but many refused to sit in the chamber and listen to Trump in 2018 - some over comments he made about immigrants from 's***hole nations' seeking refuge in America. The president and Democrats are still clashing over the issue that looms large ahead of a Feb. 15 deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security and other major agencies. They're also butting heads on Trump's foreign policy. The Senate moved forward with legislation to rebuke his Middle East policy moves this week. They want a review of his troop withdrawal in Syria and an assessment of a possible pullout in Afghanistan. Conway said national security and foreign policy would be major pillars of Trump's address on Tuesday, as well. 'The president spends a good part of everyday thinking about the nations intelligence, security, foreign policy certainly, endless wars as he calls them in places like Syria and Afghanistan, where he thinks that we have spent enormous treasure, most of all, our young men and women who have perished there. And of course he will be addressing that in the State of the Union, as well as domestic issues,' she added. Democrats have selected former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams to give their response to Trump. He said he hopes she does a good job and has 'respect' for her on Thursday, despite referring to her as 'not qualified' to hold office last year as he tried to bring her down. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday Abrams said she was 'delighted' to have been chosen 'I respect her. I don't know her. I haven't met her, but I hope she does a good job,' Trump said of the Democratic politician. He mentioned that he doesn't the Georgian who he worked to to keep out of office on a personal level. 'I campaigned against Stacey Abrams, I know that President Obama campaigned for her. Michelle Obama campaigned for her, and Oprah campaigned for her, and all Brian [Kemp] had was me, and he won fairly easily, you know fairly easily. So, I hope that she does a good job.' Abrams garnered national attention in her bid to become the first female, African-American governor of Georgia in a contest that went down to the wire. Democratic star power flooded the state to support her, including Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama. Abrams lost to Kemp by 1 percent of the vote. She is the first African-American woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union, a speech that has traditionally served as a springboard for higher office. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has apologized to the Cherokee Nation after releasing the results of a DNA test that showed a tiny sliver of her ancestry was Native American. The liberal senator who is exploring a run for president 'reached out to us and has apologized to the tribe, said Cherokee Nation communications director Julie Hubbard. 'We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests,' said Hubbard. 'We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end.' In apologizing, Warren took a course of action that her advisors had counseled after her release of the DNA test results drew criticism and mockery from rivals rather than put to rest her long-running spat with President Trump over her claim of having some Native ancestry. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has apologized for a DNA testing stunt that established the slimmest of Native American blood in her heritage Warren's DNA analysis, conducted by a privately hired scientist who is an expert on Native American genomics, showed that her Native American ancestry was between 0.09 percent and 1.5 percent. The low end of that scale equates to 1/1,024th. In addition to failing to silence Trump, Warren's release of the information drew complaints from some native groups, who stress cultural heritage rather than scientific testing for tribal affiliation. 'We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests,' said Julie Hubbard, Communications Manager at Cherokee Nation At the time of the release, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. blasted the move. 'Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong,' he said at the time, CNN reported. 'It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven.' A Warren spokesperson didn't comment. In December, on the eve of her campaign launch, it was revealed that Warren's advisors were counseling her to issue a forceful apology for the bungled release. Democrats blasted Warren in October for drawing attention to her biggest political liability in the middle of a tense midterm election cycle where Democrats were desperate to retake control of the House and break the GOP's lock on government control an effort that succeded. A landmark study published in 2014 in the American Journal of Human Genetics found that, on average, European-Americans have 0.18 per cent Native American blood twice as much. President Donald Trump has long mocked Warren's claim of being part Cherokee, calling her 'Pocahontas' and licking his chops at the prospect of facing her in 2020 Pocahontas was an Algonqiuan Indian princess who lived from 1595 to 1617 The New York Times reported last month that Warren worries she damaged her standing with Native American groups and other liberal blocs, especially minority constituencies, by willingly releasing her DNA results. She now must compete among a slew of Democrats in an increasingly crowded presidential field. Just this week, Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey launched presidential campaigns, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders who ran in 2016 when Warren took a pass is considering a run. 'I put it out there. It's on the internet for anybody to see,' she told the Times of her DNA test findings. 'People can make of it what they will.' Warren, 69, is a leader on the Democratic Party's left edge and a fierce critic of Wall Street whose potential as a Trump-spearing 2020 White House contender forced the long-simmering issue of her family history to the surface. Warren (top right) is part of a growing field of potential Democratic presidential nominees that also includes (from top left) former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Kamala Harris; and (from bottom left) Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Bernie Sanders, Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg President Donald Trump began calling Warren 'Pocahontas' in the spring of 2016 in order to blunt her attacks as she threatened to become a key surrogate for his presidential rival Hillary Clinton. 'Goofy Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas because she faked the fact she is native American, is a lowlife!' he tweeted as the Republican primary season wrapped up in May 2016. Her ultimate response in October 2018 as Trump continued to taunt her during public rallies made some Democrats raise questions about her political agility. Critics say Warren used a hint of Indian background to justify classifying herself as a minority during her law school teaching career, in order to gain preferential hiring treatment. Law schools at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania have disputed that claim. Warren did, however, listed herself for 10 years as a minority in directories maintained by the Association of American Law Schools, beginning in 1986. That period of time stretched from the year before Penn hired her to the year after Harvard Law School lured her away. Trump said of Warren (left) during an October campaign rally in Montana: 'She has so little Indian blood well, she has none that I cannot call her Pocahontas anymore' She told reporters during her first Senate campaign in 2012 that, 'I listed myself in the directory in the hopes that might mean that I would be invited to a luncheon, a group, something that might happen with people who are like I am.' Still, Trump has mocked her for years, calling her 'Pocahontas' and a 'fake Indian.' The New England Historic Genealogical Society reported in 2012 that it had unearthed a 1894 document suggesting Warren's great-great-great-grandmother, O.C. Sarah Smith, was at least partially Native American. It turned out the society had found a family newsletter that described a marriage license application, but hadn't seen that document. The conservative Breitbart News website later tracked down the marriage license and certificate and found that a column on both marked 'race' was left blank. Warren had de-emphasized her Cherokee lineage since winning her Senate seat in 2012, but the president's use of the issue to marginalize her was always expected to become a flashpoint if the two were to go head-to-head in 2020. While Trump's rally crowds eagerly lap up his snarks about 'Pocahontas,' Trump has used the polarizing nickname in at least one cringe-worthy moment at the White House. In November 2017 he slipped it into a speech during an event honoring Navajo 'Code Talkers' who had used their native language as an unbreakable secret code to protect American military communications during World War II. Asked minutes later during a press briefing why the president would use 'offensive' language at such an event, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders shot back: 'I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career.' She doesnt fall in to the stereotype of a ruddy-faced sergeant major bawling orders at recruits on the parade ground. But then the first woman to oversee the training of the Armys future leaders at Sandhurst is determined to do things a little differently. Warrant officer Kelly Caswell-Treen, the new Company Sergeant Major at the Royal Military Academy, already has plenty of experience in controlling youngsters as the mother of a two-year-old girl. New boss: Sergeant Major Caswell- Treen, the new Company Sergeant Major at the Royal Military Academy The very angry sergeant major seen on TV programmes is not a true reflection of where we are today, she explained. Weve adapted with society and have had to tailor our approaches. You have to jump into all different types of leadership styles. Its only by knowing my soldiers and officers that I know who is going to respond to what method. The warrant officer class 2 starts the coveted job, which opened up applications for women for the first time last year, in the summer. And with 16 years of service behind her including two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan the senior soldier is determined to stress that getting the position has nothing to do with her gender. She said: It is for the hard work, determination and merit not based on the fact I am a female. Its seen as a great accolade to go to Sandhurst and teach and instruct the future leaders of the British Army. I will succeed and I will pave the way. Im not going into this light-hearted. Warrant officer Kelly Caswell-Treen said: The very angry sergeant major seen on TV programmes is not a true reflection of where we are today (pictured: Windsor Davies as Sergeant Major Williams in It Ain't Half Hot Mum WO2 Caswell-Treen, 36, who is originally from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, will be in charge of overseeing the training of up to 120 officer cadets and the work of colour sergeants and staff sergeants, as well as mentoring others and dishing out discipline. She says she will juggle the demands of her high-pressure new role and parenthood with the support of her wife Gemma Caswell-Treen who is also serving, as a captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. WO2 Caswell-Treen, who is a qualified combat medical technician with 4 Armoured Regiment based in Aldershot, Hampshire, said they prioritise and manage looking after daughter Amelia. She added: I believe she is immensely proud and supportive. She knew the level of responsibility this would hold, we both knew. I have amazing support. An Army source said: She is someone who will be both respected and feared by the cadets as she is responsible for discipline. The median house price in a dozen Sydney suburbs has fallen below $1million in another blow to an increasingly shaky property market. Australia's top economists say the crisis is one of the steepest property downturns in decades, and are warning the market is set to fall further. As values plunged up to 15 per cent in some suburbs, there are growing concerns about how damaging the decline could be to the economy. Sydney's increasingly shaky housing market has been dealt another hard blow as a dozen suburbs have dropped out of the million-dollar house price club As values plunged up to 15 per cent in some suburbs, there are growing concerns about how damaging the decline could be to the economy (Revesby pictured) Most areas that fell below the one-million dollar line are located in the city's south and the Canterbury-Bankstown area, including Roselands, Sutherland and Kellyville Ridge. Other suburbs among the twelve booted out of the million-dollar house price club include Glenwood, Padstow, Revesby, Panania, Northmead and Riverwood. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that eonomists remain concerned about how households will react with many predicting a further 7.6 per cent drop this year. Across the 18 economists surveyed, an average prediction for Melbourne is a 7.2 per cent drop in prices. In January alone, Sydney endured a 1.4 per cent fall thoughout the month and a 1.7 per cent drop in Melbourne. The most pessimistic economists are predicting a further 14.5 per cent drop in Sydney's housing prices this financial year, with Melbourne suffering a predicted 9.7 per cent drop. Sydney's 12.3 per cent price fall since the mid-2017 peak was 'the sharpest downturn in more than two decades', with the last being the 1982 recession. Other suburbs among the twelve booted out of the million-dollar house price club include Glenwood, Padstow, Revesby, Panania, Northmead (pictured) and Riverwood The 12 Sydney suburbs where median prices have fallen below $1million Glenwood - $976,000 Padstown - $963,000 Kellyville Ridge - $965,000 Revesby - $980,000 Riverwood - $983,000 Panania - $959,000 Jannali - $980,000 Sutherland - $965,000 Northmead - $940,000 WInston Hills - $982,500 Roselands - $950,500 Engadine - $892,000 Advertisement Melbourne has suffered a 10.6 per cent slump throughout the year. Prices are falling at an alarming rate, with the most rapid plunge occurring over the past few months, as the number of properties on the market climb. Industry Super's top economist Stephen Anthony believes households are going to suffer if prices continue to fall. 'We are likely to see houshold consumption fall to or below two per cent growth rates per year unless households are somehow able to take on even more debt,' Mr Anthony said. 'That seems unlikely given current bank lending practices.' AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver believes the overall economy is going to suffer as people are predicted to offload properties before prices drop further. However, University of Melbourne's Neville Norman remains optimistic, with predictions Sydney will see a 2.5 per cent rise and Melbourne a 1.5 per cent rise this year. One of Australia's most wanted fugitives accused of murdering his brother may be travelling through suburban parks and reserves to avoid detection. Victorian man Jonathan Dick, 40, is wanted over the alleged murder of his brother David Dick in a Doncaster shopping centre, north-east of Melbourne on February 3, 2017 - and a hammer assault on a man in Keilor, north-west of Melbourne six months later. Detectives believe Mr Dick has been 'hiding in plain sight' and is using a bicycle as his main mode of transport. Scroll down for video Jonathan Dick (pictured) has been wanted over the alleged murder of his brother David Dick on February 3, 2017 Police say a cyclist wearing a red hooded jumper and blue jeans is believed to be Mr Dick, seen on the day a man was assaulted with a hammer Sunday marks two years since Mr Dick's brother was murdered and is yet to be found, despite a $100,000 reward on offer since October last year. Detective Inspector Tim Day said despite 300 calls from members of the public the only confirmed sighting of Jonathan Dick has been his August 2017 assault on a male associate. 'Investigators believe that Jonathan is avoiding detection by using parks and reserves as access routes, and he may possibly have access to a bicycle as a mode of transport,' Det Insp Day said in a statement on Saturday. 'Jonathan might also be using abandoned houses and buildings for shelter.' A man believed to be Mr Dick was captured on CCTV entering an elevator at a Westfield shopping centre in Doncaster the day before the murder of his brother David. Carpenter David Dick was 36 at the time he was fatally stabbed in the shopping centre car park at about 6am. A group using the car park for personal training found him dying from his severe head injuries. The 40-year-old was then spotted walking down Wamba Road in Ivanhoe East an hour after his brother was stabbed. A man believed to be Mr Dick was captured on CCTV entering an elevator at a Doncaster Westfield the day before the murder of his brother Police announced they allege the unknown man behind David Dick's murder was Jonathan on February 8. A sword believed to be used in the alleged murder was found in Jonathan's abandoned 1997 Ford Fairmont sedan in Ivanhoe East on February 11. Investigators believe the two brothers may have had a falling out in a disagreement over property. Homicide detectives released CCTV of a cyclist wearing a red hooded jumper and blue jeans with a helmet believed to be Mr Dick on Green Gully Road in Keilor on the same day he allegedly hit his former friend on the head with a hammer. Vision has been released of man believed to be Mr Dick on the same day he allegedly assaulted a man with a hammer The man believed to be Mr Dick was wearing a red hooded jumper and blue jeans running on the streets Police believe a dog walker with a grey hood and track suit pants may have crossed paths with Mr Dick Mr Dick is described as being in his 30s, Caucasian, about 176cm tall with a solid build and mousy brown hair. He has two bright-coloured tattoos, which include one that depicts the Incredible Hulk on his left calf and a Wolverine v Sabre-tooth on his right thigh extending to his knee. Images of Mr Dick's leg tattoos were released with the hopes the public may be able to identify him if he is wearing shorts. Police are urging anyone who sees him to call triple 000 but not to approach him. The son and grandson of notorious Canadian mobsters was shot dead in Ontario this week in what local police are calling a 'targeted' killing. Cece Luppino, 44, whose father is 81-year-old mafia boss Rocco Luppino, was killed at an upscale home owned by his parents on Mountain Brow Boulevard in Hamilton just before 6pm on Wednesday. When paramedics arrived at the scene, the younger Luppino was 'obviously deceased,' having been shot from a close range. His newlywed wife was not home at the time. Detective Sgt. Peter Thom, of the Hamilton Police Service, told reporters that investigators are trying to determine whether the fatal shooting is linked to organized crime in the area, which has long been controlled by three clans - the Violi/Luppinos, Papalias and the Musitanos. Hit: Cece Luppino, 44, the son and grandson of notorious Canadian mobsters, was shot dead in Ontario this week in what local police are calling a 'targeted' killing Police found Luppino fatally shot from a close range inside his father's home in Hamilton, Ontario, Wednesday Newlywed: Cece (left and right) was a businessman and had no criminal record. He had only recently gotten married Video courtesy The Hamilton Spectator However, Thom stressed that Cece Luppino did not have a criminal record and had no history of run-ins with police. Police were reviewing surveillance video from the Luppino home and nearby houses in search of clues. Cece worked for his family's real estate business and cafe in Stoney Creek, reported CBC.ca. He had just gotten married in early June 2018, according to social media posts. The National Post reported, citing police records, that Cece previously rejected an offer to became a 'made' member of the mafia, lamenting that a life of crime comes with 'too many headaches' and not enough money. Cece Luppino's shooting death is Hamilton's third murder apparently related to the mafia in the past two years. In each case, the victim was targeted inside his family home. Angelo Musitano, 39, was gunned down in his driveway in May 2017, and Albert Iavarone, 50, was shot outside his home in September of last year. The two cases remain unsolved to this day. Cece's father and his uncle Natale are both 'made' men with alleged ties to the Todaro crime family operating in Buffalo, New York. Rocco was convicted of crimes related to extortion back in 1979. Cece's other uncle, Paolo Violi, was killed in Montreal in 1978 during a turf war with a rival crime family, reported The Toronto Star. Cece's father, Rocco, was convicted of counts related to extortion in the late 70s (pictured in handcuffs, left). Rocco's nephew Domenico Violi, 52 (right), was recently found guilty of trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine Cece's grandfather, notorious Canadian mafia boss Giacomo Luppino, passed away in 1987, aged 88 (picture from his funeral) Rocco's nephews, Domenico and Giuseppe Violi, were recently found guilty of trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine and sentenced to eight and 16 years in prison, respectively, reported The Hamilton Spectator. Cece's grandfather was the Italian-born Giacomo Luppino, who was a powerful crime boss in Canada during the 1960s and 70s. The patriarch passed away in 1987. According to family lore, Giacomo cut off a rival's ear in his hometown of Castellane, Calabria, and carried the severed organ as a souvenir in his wallet for many years. The Queen's assistant dresser Peggy Hoath It was a moment none of her staff will forget. The sight of the Queen clad in her nightie traipsing down the stairs into the servants quarters in a desperate attempt to get some sleep while two of her favourite aides had a late-night tiff. Royal sources affectionately revealed the story for the first time following the funeral last month of the monarchs beloved assistant dresser, Peggy Hoath. Miss Hoath, who died in December at the age of 89, joined the royal household in 1959 and was one of the few surviving staff to have worked with the young Queen, remaining at her side for 35 years. As friends and former colleagues gathered at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park to say goodbye to the popular servant just a few weeks ago, one recalled an extraordinary story which has been legendary in royal circles for years. Peggy had a friendly rivalry with another dresser called May Prentice and they were always vying for the Queens attention and arguing among themselves, they said. They were trying to be top dog, if you like, and it was mostly on good terms but sometimes it got a bit out of hand. They continued: One night when the Queen was staying at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh [her official residence in Scotland], she suddenly turned up in the Pages Vestibule [an ante-chamber for staff]. No-one could believe their eyes when she arrived in her nightie wrapped in her bedclothes and blanket. She just said, Ive got to get some sleep, and settled down on the sofa. Miss Hoath rose to the position of assistant dresser, affording her direct contact with the Queen each day Apparently Peggy and May had been arguing at the top of their voices in a nearby room and the Queen just couldnt get to sleep. Rather than interrupt them she got up and moved to the Pages room. She was very fond of Peggy and obviously couldnt bring herself to criticise her. Everyone just looked at each other and shuffled out of the room to let the Queen sleep. How Miss Hoath came to hold such a coveted position at the heart of the Queens household is itself a remarkable story. She arrived at Buckingham Palace as a seamstress after being spotted working for royal couturier Norman Hartnell, where she worked on the new sovereigns famous coronation gown. Her brother, Raymond Heyward, 86, recalled how the monarchs legendary gatekeeper, Margaret Bobo McDonald, asked to borrow her to take on the Queens high-profile tour to Canada in 1959 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and needed to regularly adjust her outfits. The monarch was so impressed by Miss Hoath that she poached her when they returned. The Queen was a very glamorous figure and Peggys advice and eye for detail proved invaluable, a royal insider said. Sources said the Queen entered the servants quarters in a desperate attempt to get some sleep while two of her favourite aides had a late-night tiff in Holyroodhouse (pictured) Mr Heyward, from Exeter, said: At the end of the tour the Queen, as a sign of her appreciation, gave my sister a gold bracelet. A few months later Mr Hartnell got the message from Buckingham Palace that the Queen was requesting her presence and told Peggy there was a taxi waiting outside if she wanted to go. And that was it. She had her own room at Buckingham Palace and would invite us there and cook us pheasant that had been shot at Sandringham by the royal family. She was a very discreet and loyal lady. Miss Hoath soon rose to the coveted position of assistant dresser, affording her direct contact with the Queen each day. Miss Hoath never married she is described by friends as having been wedded to the job and worked with the Queen until her retirement. She was among a handful of long-serving staff given a grace-and-favour home on the Windsor estate and continued to see her socially. Bill Cosby is making the most of his time behind bars, according to the disgraced actor's spokesperson. Andrew Wyatt told TMZ that Cosby has become quite the celebrity behind bars, with the actor befriending the prison guards and enjoying his limited time with fellow inmates, who burst into applause when they see the actor in the visitor's room. That is the only place where those men get the chance to see Cosby as he is still not part of the general population at the State Correctional Institute Phoenix in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. There he spends most of the days alone with the guards, save for the two hours he is allowed outside in the morning and two hours afternoon. He is allowed to have frequent visits however, and Wyatt said one female guard has taken a particular liking to Cosby due to her love for his eponymous sitcom. Cosby is behind bars waiting to hear if the court will accept his appeal after he was sentenced to serve at least three years behind bars for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand. Felon fine: Bill Cosby's spokesperson Andrew Wyatt (left in September) is speaking out again about his boss' time at the State Correctional Institute Phoenix in Collegeville, Pennsylvania Wyatt has told these stories multiple times over the past three months, mostly on radio programs or to outlets that he selects based on audience demographics. In fact, the information Wyatt gave to TMZ was almost all mentioned in a far more in depth interview with NNPA Newswire and radio host Frankie Darcell of WDAS that ran on The Washington Informer. 'The pair said they wanted to share their visit with African Americans and on platforms that would allow their comments to air unfettered,' noted Stacey Brown, who landed the first interview with Cosby's team. Much of that interview was devoted to what Wyatt and Cosby publicist Ebonee Benson see as an unjust arrest and conviction that would have never occurred were Cosby not black. 'He has been able to speak with other inmates about their situation and impart advice,' said Wyatt. 'Mr. Cosby loves hearing other stories of the inmates whom he calls residents. Its that psychology part of him that takes them into his laboratory. He tells them, "You dont have to swear or curse, this is what you do." Hes doing what he always have on the lecture circuit.' Wyatt did not explain how Cosby did that however, since he is removed from the population. Northern light: Andrea Constand (above in 2005), settled a defamation suit on Thursday with the former DA who never tried Cosby when she reported the assault back in 2005 'Mr. Cosby said Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela helped him prepare for this chapter of his life,' added Wyatt. 'He said they told him that if he was going to continue to fight for civil rights, something like this was bound to happen and hes been prepared for it and he knows hes in prison not for rape, but for infidelity. He knows hes innocent and hes kept his head up.' What also revealed that Cosby had grown a beard and gave more information about his living conditions. 'He said the bed lies on thick steel or concrete and hes allowed to make phone calls, but hes still being assessed right now so hes not in general population,' revealed Wyatt. 'He follows the rules and respects the guards. Theyve given him a cane and, because hes blind, they have a trustee to help him.' Meanwhile, the woman who put Cosby behind bar scored a big win on Friday in hrcivil suit against the DA who refused to press charges in the case. Andrea Constand settled with Bruce Castor, who had been the Montgomery County District Attorney when she first reported her rape. Schools with the most disadvantaged studentsthose with low average test scores and those serving high percentages of students in poverty and students of colortend to have less experienced and lower-rated principals. And thats true regardless of whether those schools are located in urban, suburban, or rural settings, though the problem is more acute in urban and rural areas. Thats according to a new research brief from the Tennessee Education Research Alliance , which looked at a decade of data on Tennessee principals. We see this pattern consistently for teachers virtually everywhere that anyone has looked at it, said Jason Grissom, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University and the faculty director of the Research Alliance. So, in that sense, it seems sort of obvious that the same would be the case for leaders. But because school districts play a bigger role in making principal assignments than they do with teachers, the inequitable distribution of effective and experienced school leaders should not necessarily replicate the pattern for teachers, Grissom said. Districts Are Hiring Lower-Rated Principals for Disadvantaged Schools There are several factors that may influence why disadvantaged schools end up with less effective and less experienced principals. High poverty schools tend to have higher turnovers. As a result, they are more likely to be hiring newer principals more often, and research does suggest that principal capacity is much lower in the first year on the job, Grissom said. But the research found that districts were hiring lower-rated principals for the jobs in schools serving high percentages of low-income children and students of color. New principals in high-poverty schools and those serving other disadvantaged students had lower ratings the year before they were hired than new principals in more advantaged schools, according to the brief. The research also found that new principals in urban and rural schools have less experience as assistant principals. In short, principals in the schools with the greatest needs are the least positioned to drive improvement, and the patterns of principal sorting we observe likely to contribute to opportunity and performance gaps between schools serving higher and lower concentrations of marginalized student populations, the researchers wrote in a working paper accompanying the brief. Why Does This Matter? Research has shown that principals are second only to teachers among the in-school factors that affect student learning. Principals also set the tone and climate in the schools and are a major reason in determining whether effective teachers stay or leave. Grissoms previous research also showed that under good principals, lower-rated teachers were also more likely to leave the school building. Can the Results Be Extrapolated Beyond Tennessee? In the working paper accompanying the brief, the researchers examined data from the national 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey, which is published by the National Center for Education Statistics, and found that the pattern that they saw in Tennessee was generally true nationally. What Can Districts Do? Districts can take more intentional steps to ensure that the schools most in need of effective and experienced principals get them, Grissom said. They can offer more money to principals to work in those schools. But they must also change the culture to one where a job in a high-poverty school is seen as the capstone to an education career. In many cases, principals who excel in challenging schools are rewarded with new assignments at schools with more resources, and many principals see jobs in high-poverty schools as a stepping stone to a more more-advantaged school, Grissom said. Part of it is shifting the mindset around what it means to be a leader of a challenging school environment, Grissom said. What I would really like to see is that districts reorient the way they think about those positions, so that the thinking when there is an opening for a leader in a low-achieving school...is, how do we get the best possible person into that school? Im not saying that districts arent doing that, but the data at least arent reflecting success at doing that if that is the typical districts intention. States, too, can play a role by offering opportunities for districts to differentiate compensation for principals in those challenging school environments and providing more resources to high-poverty or low-achieving schools that would allow districts to increase supports for principals in those schools. You can read more of the brief and working paper here. Related stories: Under Good Principals, Low-Performing Teachers Head for the Door A Look at How Principals Really Drive School Improvement The Los Angeles City Attorney has declined to file domestic violence charges against Stormy Daniels's lawyer, Michael Avenatti. In a statement released on Friday, the City Attorney's office said prosecutors 'decline to file charges at this time', but are leaving the case open and have scheduled two hearings for Avenatti and his alleged victim, ex-girlfriend Mareli Miniutti, to give further evidence. 'The City Attorney's Office has reviewed all of the reports in this matter and considered all of the evidence,' a spokesman told DailyMail.com. 'This matter has been set for City Attorney Hearings in which both the victim and the suspect will have an opportunity to be heard on different days. The victim will be advised of services available to her. The suspect will be informed that although we decline to file charges at this time, this matter remains open and we may file charges at any time prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations.' Avenatti tweeted a statement in response to the news on Friday. Los Angeles City Attorney's Office announced it will not file domestic abuse charges against Michael Avenatti but 'are leaving the case open' Miniutti, an Estonian-born actress, 24, alleged Avenatti dragged her across his apartment and called her an 'Ungrateful f**king b**ch' during a physical altercation at his LA home 'I am extremely thankful that after three thorough investigations, one by the LAPD, one by the LA Districy Attorney, and one by the LA City Attorney, the truth of my innocence is now established and no charges are being brought,' the attorney wrote. 'Every purported victim should have her or his claims investigated. Here, that is exactly what happened. I wish to thank the LAPD, LADA, and LACA for their professionalism during this difficult process. I will continue to speak truth to power and seek justice for my clients.' Avenatti, who represents porn star Stormy Daniels in her court case over an alleged affair with President Donald Trump, was accused by Miniutti of hitting her with a pillow, shouting insults, dragging her across the floor and pushing her out of his apartment during a fight in November. The attorney was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence and bailed out the same day for $50,000. However, the District Attorney declined to charge him for a felony, and instead passed on the case to the City Attorney to consider misdemeanour domestic violence charges. On Friday the City Attorney announced they would not be filing charges. In court documents filed as part of a temporary restraining order application, the 24-year-old actress claimed that Avenatti called her an 'Ungrateful f***ing b***h,' and hit her in the face with pillows from the bed during an argument about money. She claimed Avenatti told her, 'Do not disrespect me. You don't get to sleep in my house tonight,' grabbed her right wrist and 'attempted to pull me out of bed.' The actress, who had been living with Avenatti since January, said she tried texting a friend for help but the attorney grabbed her phone. Miniutti claims Avenatti dragged her into the apartment block hallway while she was in her underwear, but pulled her back into the apartment when she began ringing a neighbor's doorbell. Miniutti submitted photos of her alleged injuries as evidence. She claims she suffered injuries after Avenatti yanked her by the wrist to pull her out of bed before dragging her across the floor Miniutti also claimed that last February, Avenatti 'had been drinking, and became angry at me', then shoved her out of his apartment causing her to hit her head, and threw her shoes at her. She claimed the attorney was financially controlling, and had 'made promises to 'take care of me' while being 'vehemently opposed to my desire to earn a living outside of Hollywood.' The actress says she is afraid of her ex, and was granted a temporary restraining order against him in November, which was extended until March in a hearing earlier this month. Speaking after he was released from a Los Angeles Police station in November, Avenatti called the claims 'bogus' and said he would be 'fully exonerated'. 'I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts. I have NEVER abused a woman or committed domestic violence against anyone,' the attorney later tweeted. 'Any claim to the contrary is completely bogus and fabricated. I am a target. And I will be exonerated.' The news that no charges will be filed are just one less headache for the embattled attorney. In the past three months, Avenatti has had to give up his private chartered flights, Ferrari and five luxury wristwatches to pay delinquent child and spousal support to his estranged wife, and was ordered by a judge to pay almost $5 million to an attorney at his former law firm in a wage dispute. The domestic violence allegations also put the final nail in the coffin to Avenatti's planned 2020 presidential run, despite his continued strong denials of their veracity. After the allegations emerged, the porn star attorney implied in an angry tweet that conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter Jacob Wohl had set him up. Avenatti, who represents porn star Stormy Daniels (both pictured at the Adult Video News Awards on January 26) in her court case over an alleged affair with President Donald Trump, has been working on behalf of alleged victims of sexual assault by R Kelly. On Friday, the attorney tweeted he is 'extremely thankful' that 'the truth of my innocence is now established and no charges are being brought' Referencing a previous convoluted scheme by Wohl to falsely accuse Special Counsel Robert Mueller of sexual misconduct, the attorney tweeted: 'First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire.' However, the enterprising lawyer is now moving on to another case of alleged sexual misconduct, tweeting on Thursday that he has been working on behalf of alleged victims of sexual assault by R Kelly. 'Since April, I have been working on the R. Kelly matter. The results of that work will soon be known. We are going to blow this wide open for the sake of each of his victims and one less pedophile will be free. Count on it. #Justice,' Avenatti wrote. The rapper has been surrounded for two decades by allegations of sexually abusing minor, detailed in a Lifetime documentary series last year, 'Surviving R. Kelly'. R Kelly denies all the claims. President Donald Trump ridiculed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after she issued a statement denouncing his move to withdraw from a nuclear missile treaty over Russia's non-compliance. Pelosi came out with a strong statement blasting Trump's move hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the U.S. would move Saturday to pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. 'Honestly, I don't think she has a clue. I don't think Nancy has a clue,' Trump said when asked about it.' Then he immediately connected their dispute to their extended clash over a border wall. 'I see that when she says walls are immoral,' Trump said. 'She doesn't know, and I wish she did.' Pelosi, who has assumed the mantle of Democratic leadership although her chamber has no role in approval of treaties, blasted the president's move on the INF. 'I don't think Nancy has a clue,' said President Donald Trump, tearing into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she criticized his move to withdraw from a nuclear missile treaty over Russian non-compliance Scroll down for video 'The Trump Administration is risking an arms race and undermining international security and stability,' she said. 'Russia's brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning, but discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks,' Pelosi continued. 'The Administration should exhaust every diplomatic effort and work closely with NATO allies over the next six months to avoid thrusting the United States into a dangerous arms competition.' 'We must be strong, smart and strategic to keep America safe,' she concluded. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the U.S. will no longer comply with a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia, beginning as soon as Saturday. Pompeo says the U.S. will suspend its obligations to the treaty on Saturday. If Russia doesn't come into compliance, the treaty 'will terminate,' he said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Trump's decision to pull out of a nuclear treaty Speaking at the State Department Friday, Pompeo said: 'For years Russia has violated the terms of the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty without remorse. 'Russia has refused to take any steps to return real and verifiable compliance over these 60 days. The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF treaty effective February 2nd.' In a statement issued on Friday, Trump suggested ties could improve markedly if Russia were willing to compromise on arms control, saying all sides must live up to such agreements. 'We stand ready to engage with Russia on arms control negotiations ... and, importantly, once that is done, develop, perhaps for the first time ever, an outstanding relationship on economic, trade, political, and military levels,' he said. The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, known as INF, bans the U.S. and Russia from having ground-launched missiles with ranges from 315 miles to 3,415 miles. The move could lead to the U.S. developing new nuclear weapons of the type which were stationed in Europe in the 1980s to huge public controversy - and potentially stationing them on the continent again. A senior official cited prior U.S. efforts to negotiate with Russia. 'We have had a series of discussions at the highest levels,' the official said. 'There was even an effort to arrange at highest level, President Putin and President Trump, that President Trump made the decision to cancel because of Russia's absolutely unlawful and flagrant violation of international law with respect to the of seizing 24 Ukrainian sailors,' the official said, referencing the cancelled formal meeting in Buenos Aires. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 'The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF treaty effective February 2nd,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday morning Stumbling block: The Russian Novatar 9M729 ground-based cruise missile system is accused by the U.S. of breaching the INF treaty which Russia denies. The U.S. now says it will pull out of the treaty as soon as this weekend after talks to resolve the standoff failed Pompeo said the U.S. had fully adhered to the treaty for three decades. 'But we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other,' the nation's top diplomat added. Administration officials say the U.S. has made 35 diplomatic engagements with Russia to try to get it to come into compliance with the treaty. In theory it could come back into compliance during the review period, but U.S. officials are not predicting it will. 'Russia will have this chance if they are truly interested in preserving the treaty, this is their final chance,' a senior administration official said during a briefing call with reporters Friday. 'They know what they do. They know what they're doing is a violation,' said a senior administration official, dismissing Russia's denials. The U.S. side called off that formal meeting in protest of Russia's firing on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Straight incident. However, it was revealed this week that Trump and Putin did meet privately in Buenos Aires, speaking for up to 15 minutes, the Financial Times reported, citing a Russian government official. However the report did not state that they spoke about the missile treaty. A few hours before Pompeo's announcement, the NATO Western security alliance issued a statement saying it would 'fully support' the U.S. withdrawal notice. Speaking before Pompeo's announcement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the importance of using the six months window to keep talking. In the U.S. senator Bob Menendez, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused Trump failing to grasp the importance of arms control treaties or of having a wider strategy to control the spread of nuclear weapons. 'Todays withdrawal is yet another geo-strategic gift to Vladimir Putin,' he said. In Russia there was no immediate official response form the Kremin. 'America really wants to develop new weapons systems which are in breach of this treaty,' Konstantin Kosachyov, senior Russian lawmaker, wrote on social media, saying the alleged Russian violation of the treaty had been a convenient pretext. The Trump administration had forecast its withdrawal from the 1987 pact, citing concerns that Russia wasn't honoring it and that it didn't include China, which has engaged in its own missile program. The move is to be communicated to Russia and former states that made up the Soviet Union on Saturday. The formal move kicks in a 60-day period, which will be followed by a six-month period to withdraw from the landmark Cold War agreement. Leaving the treaty would allow the U.S. to develop longer-range conventional land-based missiles than it currently has - but which China is currently developing because it was not part of the banning treaty. The treaty was signed in 1987 as a breakthrough in reducing nuclear tensions. It banned the U.S. and the then Soviet Union from having any medium-range ground-based missiles, whether nuclear or conventional, which led to the U.S. getting rid of its nuclear land-based cruise and Pershing II missiles - although it left long-range missiles intact. The treaty banned such ground-based weapons with a range of 310 to 3,400 miles Public protests greeted the medium-range missiles being stationed in Europe and the Soviets saw them as an escalation of Cold War tensions. Pioneering moment: The INF was signed in 1987 by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan and banned ground-based cruise missiles with ranges from 315 miles to An administration official said President Donald Trump (C) was to have met with with Russia's President Vladimir Putin about the missile treaty, although the formal meeting was called off over Russia's actiosn in the Kerch Straight incident. Here Trump and Putin stand next to US First Lady Melania Trump (L) ahead a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018 Russia claims it is not in breach of the agreement. The pact has stood since then but in 2017 the U.S. accused Russia of flouting the pact by developing and deploying a new nuclear missile with a range of 1,500 miles. Russia denies that its Novator 9M729 is in breach of the treaty and claims that its range is within the pact's limits at 300 miles, but the U.S. says that it has been test fired over the far longer range. THE BALANCE OF POWER: CURRENT NUCLEAR FORCES IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA U.S. FORCES * Estimated 150 warheads, all in the form of bombs which would be dropped by F-15s or German Tornado fighters. Deployed in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands and Belgium * The U.S.'s main nuclear deterrent is based in the U.S. There are 431 Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, an estimated 230 submarine-launched Trident missiles, and the B-2 and B-52 nuclear bomber fleets. In total there are estimated 1,480 air-launched bombs and missiles. * In total the U.S. is estimated to have 1,800 deployed warheads and a stockpile of 4,0000 UK * Estimated 120 warheads, all deployed on Trident missiles carried by four nuclear submarimes FRANCE * Estimated 290 warheads * Four nuclear submarines each carrying 16 nuclear missiles with multiple warheads * 75 nuclear-tipped air to ground missiles fired from fighter-bombers, some of which can be launched from its sole aircraft carrier RUSSIA Russian strength is far more secret than that of the US, UK and France and where it is deployed in Russian territory is broadly unknown * Total estimated deployment of 1,444 warheads * 286 Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles * Estimated 68 strategic bombers carrying gravity bombs and short-range nuclear missiles * Between six and nine nuclear submarines each carrying 16 nuclear missiles * Estimated 140 warheads for use on short-range ballistic missiles. One of the short-range systems is deployed on the border with Poland but it is unknown if it is nuclear-fitted * Also has stockpile of estimated 1,800 warheads designed for short-range use on bombers, cruise missiles or even as anti-submarine depth charges * Putin unveiled a hypersonic missile called Avangard which could be used to deliver nuclear weapons and has said his forces are developing a nuclear-powered ICBM and a drone submarine Source: www.nti.org Advertisement Russia accuses the U.S. of using the claims as a pretext to get out of the treaty and rejected demands to destroy its missile system. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson on Thursday held last-ditch talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Beijing ahead of the expiration of a U.S. 60-day deadline for Moscow to come back into compliance with the treaty. The deadline expires on Saturday February 2. Thompson and Ryabkov, who met on the sidelines of a 'P5' meeting of nuclear powers - the U.S, Russia, China, France and the UK - said afterwards that the two countries had failed to bridge their differences. In an interview, Thompson said she expected Washington to now stop complying with the treaty as soon as this weekend, a move she said would allow the U.S. military to immediately begin developing its own longer-range missiles if it chose to do so, raising the prospect they could be deployed in Europe. 'Well be able to do that (suspend our treaty obligations) on Feb. 2,' Thompson told Reuters. 'We'll have an announcement made, follow all the steps that need to be taken on the treaty to suspend our obligations with the intent to withdraw.' The formal withdrawal process, once announced, takes six months. Stopping compliance with the treaty would untie the U.S. military's hands, she said. 'We are then also able to conduct the R&D and work on the systems we haven't been able to use because we've been in compliance with the treaty,' said Thompson. 'Come February 2, this weekend, if DoD (the U.S. Department of Defense) chooses to do that, theyll be able to do that.' Washington remained open to further talks with Moscow about the treaty regardless, she added. Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement this week that while Russia's violation of the INF treaty is a serious problem, U.S. withdrawal under current circumstances would be counterproductive. 'Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia,' they said. Kingston Reif, director for disarmament at the Arms Control Association, said Thursday the Trump administration has failed to exhaust diplomatic options to save the treaty. What's more, 'it has no strategy to prevent Russia from building and fielding even more intermediate-range missiles in the absence of the agreement.' Reif said the period between now and August, when the U.S. withdrawal would take effect, offers a last chance to save the treaty, but he sees little prospect of that happening. He argues that John Bolton, the national security adviser to President Donald Trump, is 'unlikely to miss the opportunity to kill an agreement he has long despised.' Ryabkov said Moscow would continue working to try to reach agreement despite the failure of the talks, but accused Washington of ignoring Russian complaints about U.S. missiles and of adopting what he called a destructive position. 'Unfortunately, there is no progress,' Rybakov said. Ryabkov called the US position 'rather tough, ultimatum-like' and 'destructive,' state news agency RIA Novosti reported. 'We have not made any progress. We state this not just with sorrow, but with deep concern for the fate of the treaty, for the fate of European and international security,' Ryabkov said. During the conference with the other Security Council nations in Beijing, Ryabkov said bilateral dialogue was stalling on certain topics as one party was 'intentionally' refusing to pursue discussions - a thinly veiled reference to the United States. At odds: Putin's forces are accused by Trump's administration of having a missile system which breaches the INF. Russia says it is a pretext for the U.S. quitting the treaty 'Russia can't be blamed for anything. We are always ready for dialogue on all topics, including the most difficult current issues, and to be fully transparent. We expect our partners to take the same approach,' he said. Last week the Russian military displayed the nuclear-capable 9M729 missile system to the media and foreign military officials in an attempt to prove the weapon does not violate the treaty. Russia says the missile's maximum range is 480 kilometers (300 miles) and within the allowed range. Washington has however said a static display of the cruise missile does not prove its range does not breach the agreement. It ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe but there are fears a similar situation could re-emerge. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had as many as 7,000 warheads deployed in Europe. However the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington D.C. based think tank, now estimates that there are far fewer - 150 nuclear warheads, all of them on air-dropped unguided bombs. They are held in Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands, the NTI reported. The INF did not ban long-range Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The U.S. has an arsenal of Minuteman missiles ready to launch from missile silos in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. But Russian concerns center on the possibility of the U.S. using bases in Poland to deploy short- to medium-range nuclear missiles. Poland has both asked the U.S. for a permanent presence, and allowed the U.S. to build a ground-based missile defense shield using Aegis technology. BreakingDefense.com reported that the Russians have claimed that the Aegis firing mechanism is essentially the same as the one used to launch Tomahawk conventional missiles from shops, and could be adapted to be turned into an offensive rather than defensive system. Russia itself has deployed short-range nuclear-capable rockets on its border with Poland in Kaliningrad. Their range of under 300 miles makes them compatible with the INF. The other source of U.S. concern over the treaty has been that it allowed China to develop the missile systems. HOW U.S. MISSILES LED TO PROTEST IN EUROPE IN THE 1980s - AND TOOK THE WORLD CLOSE TO THE NUCLEAR BRINK Both the U.S. and the Soviets expected that if they went to war, Europe would be their battleground. By the early 1980s, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan was outspending the Soviets and introducing dramatically improved new weapons in the air and on the ground. In particular, the Soviet SS-20 medium-range nuclear missiles, launched from mobile carriers, were seen as the biggest threat to NATO forces if there were to be an exchange of weapons. Nuclear missiles which could match their destructive power were a priority and the Pershing II was developed which could destroy underground bunkers and silos and reach Soviet territory in just six minutes - making them both undetectable and capable of largely killing off the Soviet ability to respond. But moving the missiles into the places where they would be used in battle created a whole new dimension of conflict for the U.S. and its NATO allies - this time with peace protesters who made their deployment the focus of their rage. Target: The land-based nuclear cruise missiles brought to the UK sparked public protests when they were deployed to the USAF base at Greenham Common west of London in 1983 Women's protests: Women formed a peace camp at Greenham Common from the time it was identified as the host for the cruise and Pershing missiles and remained there long afterwards. In December 1982 one of their protests was a human chain around its perimeter Blocking tactic: Anti nuclear protesters from the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp tried to stop cruise missiles arriving by stopping access to its main gates Beginning in 1983, two deployments in particular were to become infamous flashpoints. In the UK, the U.S. Air Force base at Greenham Common, Berkshire, to the west of London, would be used for 160 medium-range nuclear cruise missiles, and a smaller number of Pershing II rockets. RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire would receive 64 cruise missiles. In Germany, three bases - Neu-Ulm, Mutlangen and Neckarsulm - would receive a total of 108 Pershing IIs. But in both countries the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament launched huge and widespread protests. Focus: The Perishing II missile was deployed in 1983 to German bases in the face of huge public anger, with demonstrations of hundreds of thousands who saw it as a threat to West Germany's existence Cold war welcome: In West Germany there were protests regularly against the missiles and their deployment. They entered active duty in 1983 and by 1987 a deal for their destruction was done In Germany, Mutlangen became the focal point, while in Greenham Common, a peace camp of women against nuclear weapons sprang up at the perimeter. Attempts to move munitions were met with sit-down protests on roads outside. In Bonn, then the capital of West Germany, as many as 400,000 people took part in one anti-Pershing protest, part of a day of demonstrations across Europe, while other protests saw a human chain from U.S. headquarters in Stuttgart to the gates of Mutlangen. 1983 also saw one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War when NATO's Able Archer war games, which involved activating troops and giving dummy instructions to fire nuclear weapons, were misunderstood by the Soviets. Soviet threat: An SS-20 preserved in Russia shows the weapon which the Pershing II and cruise missiles were designed to counter. The SS-20 rocket launched multiple warheads and could reach all of Western Europe from Soviet-controlled territory including East Germany They thought the exercise was really preparations for a first strike with the new Pershing arsenal part of the plan. The Soviets ordered its nuclear arsenal to be prepared for action and placed bombers on high alert. If NATO forces under U.S. command had moved to an increased state of readiness, the Soviets could well have launched their own nuclear weapons. Spy Oleg Gordiesky later wrote an account of the tense moments, which ended when Able Archer concluded on November 11 1983. What peace protesters had not realized was that behind the scenes, the U.S. had made an offer in the late 1970s to the Soviets, that if it agreed to get rid of its SS-20s, the U.S, would withdraw the Pershings and the cruise missiles. By 1986, the Soviet Union was lead by Mikhail Gorbachev, and a deal began to take shape. By September 1987, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed by Reagan and Gorbachev in Washington D.C. It eliminated all the weapons being protested against in the space of four years, leaving just a handful of mementos in museums. Now however, its future appears doomed. Advertisement Astonishing moment Russian jet 'pushes' US F-15 by banking across it 'during NATO patrol over Baltic Sea' Russian fighter aggressively forced US-made plane to divert from its flight path The Su-27 cut across the F-15 from the side during the dangerous manoeuvre Pentagon said Russian jet had come close to colliding with one of its fighters over Black Sea on Monday - but it's not known if the two incidents are related A Russian fighter jet has been filmed forcing a US F-15 to turn away and change course by flying dangerously close to the American aircraft. In footage circulating on Russian social media, the Su-27 fighter comes into frame and makes a sharp left to bank across the F-15 from the side. The US-made plane has no choice but to move out of the way as the Russian jet came within feet of hitting it. The Pentagon said that a Russian jet came dangerously close to one of its fighters over the Black Sea on Monday. The Su-27 fighter comes into frame and makes a sharp left to cut in on the F-15 from the side The US-made plane has no choice but to move out of the way as the Russian jet came within feet of hitting it It said the Russian aircraft intercepted a US Navy patrol plane in international airspace, coming within five feet of the American plane, according to CBS. Pentagon spokeswoman Captain Pamela Kunze said the Russian plane flew close to the plane for two hours and 40 minutes before crossing directly into its flight path. It's not known if it was the same incident shown in the footage, or just the latest in a series of close calls between Russian and U.S. aircraft over the Black Sea. The American-made plane (left) was reportedly patrolling the Baltic Sea when the Russian fighter (in blue, right) appeared from nowhere and performed the dangerous manoeuvre The 40-second clip was uploaded to Twitter on Thursday but it's not known where the altercation took place. Commenters on social media claimed the manoeuvre was executed over the Baltic Sea as a part of a Baltic Air-policing mission. Police in Detroit are hunting two men who boarded a school bus and beat the driver unconscious in front of terrified children. Rehbi Mohammed, 65, was dropping off students from the Multicultural Academy in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, at around 3pm on January 25 when the suspected road rage attack happened. CCTV on board the bus captured two men entering the vehicle and repeatedly punching Mohammed in the face in front of about 10 first-to-seventh grade kids as young as six. Intruders: Videos from a surveillance camera on board a school bus shows two men enter and proceed to beat the driver unconscious on January 25 Retaliation: The men were allegedly angry because the school bus had sideswiped their car and damaged their mirror The driver, 65-year-old Rehbi Mohammed (right), was repeatedly punched in the face in front of students from the Multicultural Academy According to a GoFundMe campaign launched to help the victim with his medical expenses, Mohammed, from Ann Arbor, allegedly sideswiped the side of a passing vehicle and accidentally broke a mirror, but did not realize it had happened. Mohammed was back at work on Tuesday, with black bruises still visible around his eyes When Mohammed pulled over near Asbury Park and Diversey to let some students off the bus, the owner of the damaged car and his passenger walked in, lunged at the driver and proceeded to beat him unconscious. The first thing that Rebhi did when he woke up was ask how the kids were and he kissed each one on their foreheads, the GoFundMes description reads. Paramedics who were called to the scene took Mohammed to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and later released. The Detroit Police Department has launched an investigation into the altercation, reported The Detroit News. So far, no arrests have been made. Multicultural Academy is a tuition-free charter school that has about 180 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade, many of them Syrian refugees. Besides driving a school bus, Mohammed, who is a Palestinian national, also tutors students at the academy in English and math between pick-up and drop-off times, reported WXYZ. Detroit police are looking into the incident and working to find the men seen in this image He does not do well financially, however, his passion for helping Syrian Refugees is what keeps him going, according to the campaign page. The victim returned to work on Tuesday, with bruises still visible around his eyes. As of Friday afternoon, the online fundraiser started by Sajjad Shah, the founder of a group called Muslims of the World, has drawn more than $20,000 in donations. A High Court judge has urged a woman missing with her three-year-old son to come home, and delivered his message in a tweet. Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, disappeared with Olly Sheridan six months ago after becoming embroiled in family court litigation with ex-partner Patrick Sheridan. Mr Justice Williams, who is overseeing the case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London, on Friday urged Miss Yarrow-Sanders to bring Olly back. Ellie Yarrow-Sanders with her three-year-old son Olly Sheridan. Ms Yarrow-Sanders disappeared six months ago amid Family Court litigation with her ex partner and Olly's father Patrick Sheridan His plea was delivered in a tweet posted on the Judicial Office Twitter account - https://twitter.com/JudiciaryUK - using the hashtag '#comehomeolly'. Lawyers think it is the first time a judge has made such use of Twitter. The tweet was issued after Mr Justice Williams analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a hearing on Friday. He oversaw a hearing in private, but authorised lawyers to release a statement detailing his message to Miss Yarrow-Sanders. They issued a joint statement after a judge analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London. 'We just want to know that Olly is safe and we plead for Ellie to return home as soon as possible,' they said. 'We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friends.' Mr Justice Williams had initially raised the alarm in December. He said he remained gravely concerned but promised to deal with her case fairly. A Courts Service official said that while Justice Williams has appointed a senior social worker to act in the case and to promote Olly's welfare, it does not mean there is any chance that the child will be placed in foster care. Miss Yarrow-Sanders, who is from Basildon, Essex, disappeared with Olly in July, a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a 'critical' family court hearing, according to lawyers. Mr Justice Williams said he remains 'gravely concerned' about the situation Patrick Sheridan, pictured with Olly, had been involved in litigation with Ms Yarrow-Sanders about their son's future. Today, a High Court Judge and Ms Yarrow-Saunders mother and sister made a direct appeal to the 26-year-old mother-of-one Ms Yarrow-Sanders had previously sent a letter to her mother and sister stressing that Olly was safe with her. She said she wrote the letter to explain why she took such an action Family court hearings had been staged in private and journalists were barred from identifying anyone involved. But Mr Justice Williams has lifted the identity bar in the hope that publicity will help find Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders. He said family members could be named and photographs published. Essex Police are also searching and have urged anyone with information to get in touch. President Donald Trump hinted Friday that he's leaning toward announcing a national emergency on the border and could do it during his State of the Union address. He told reporters he's 'certainly thinking about' making the declaration. 'I think theres a good chance well have to do that,' he said. Asked if he was suggesting he'll make the announcement on Tuesday night, Trump replied: 'What I'm saying is listen closely to the State of the Union. I think you'll find it very exciting.' President Donald Trump hinted Friday that he's leaning toward announcing a national emergency on the border during his State of the Union address Talks: Trump dropped his hint that he's moving toward a national emergency declaration at the border at a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House about 'human trafficking'. Others attending included (rear, right) Ivanka Trump and (second from right) Kellyanne Conway Speaking: Ivanka Trump was called on to speak during a discussion about the southern border Cabinet presence: Trump's Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was beside him at the Cabinet Room table Border officials: Those attending included Ronald Vitiello, Acting Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Carl McClafferty, Associate Chief of United States Border Patrol Intel He told reporters on Friday afternoon that he's 'certainly thinking about' making the declaration that would allow him to build his border wall Trump has been saying for weeks that he could declare a national emergency at the border to free up manpower and funds to build the border wall that Democrats' have steadfastly opposed. The order would almost immediately be challenged. Trump said Friday he believes it would be hard for the courts to keep him from exercising the authority, however. 'We have very, very strong legal standing, it would be very hard to do that. But they tend to go to the Ninth Circuit and when they go to the Ninth Circuit, things happen,' he said of the panel that's kept his other executive actions from going into immediate effect. President Trump said that he's already 'building a lot of wall' and will continue to do with 'funds on hand' that appropriators gave him for fencing. 'Were negotiating very tough prices, weve designed a much better looking wall that is also actually a better wall, which is actually an interesting combination - its far more beautiful and its better - its much more protective,' he revealed. He refused to say outright if he's planning to declare a national emergency, cryptically telling a reporter: 'I dont want to say, youll hear the State of the Union, and then youll see what happens right after the State of the Union.' If Trump declares a national emergency, it could scuttle a deal on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan panel of legislators are looking for ways to satisfy his request by Feb. 15 and demands from their own caucus that they withhold $5.7 billion in taxpayer funds that Trump says he needs to finish his border barrier. The president said repeatedly this week that they are 'wasting their time' on talks unless the proposal includes his border wall. 'We will be looking at a national emergency, because I dont think anythings going to happen. I dont think Democrats want border security. And when I hear them talk about the fact that walls are immoral and walls dont work - they know they work,' Trump contended. He introduced the mantra last week that America should 'build a wall' and 'crime will fall' as he tried to sell his border security package. 'The chant now should be "Finish the Wall!" because were building a lot of wall,' he claimed on Friday. 'I could see were getting nowhere with the Democrats, were not going to get anywhere with them, its going to be part of their campaign, but I dont think its good politically.' Trump said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'should be ashamed of herself because shes hurting a lot of people' with her position that a wall is immoral. 'I think the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. In all fairness to the Democrats, many of them want the wall, and I see it.' he insisted. 'Theyre just dying to say what they want to say, but they cant say it as well as they would be able to if they were allowed to do it.' Democrats who worry they're in for a border security lesson on Tuesday night, may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, instead GOP lawmakers have joined their Democratic colleagues in saying that Trump should adhere by the legislative process rather than taking matters into his own hands with a national emergency declaration. Trump suggested Friday that it is his belief that by taking the wall off the table, he could move along immigration reform discussions. 'Actually having a national emergency does help the process. It would certainly help the process. What would help a lot is if the Democrats could actually be honest. Theyre not being honest,' Trump accused on Friday afternoon. 'I like to hear what they talk about in their rooms when they go back.' Democrats who worry they're in for a border security lesson on Tuesday night, may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, as well. Trump is expected to rail against bills in Virginia and New York that would relax legal restrictions on the practice in his State of the Union address, the White House indicated on Friday. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway suggested, in response to a question from DailyMail.com on the theme of Trump's speech, that the president would denounce the measures in the primetime address. 'Im not going to tell you whats in the speech Ive seen it but maybe hell ask Democrats, in view of the new news, why do you object to the Pain-Capable bill that non-partisan scientists say a baby can feel pain after the twentieth week,' Conway said. Politico also reported that White House sources were saying it would be a major topic. Conway said that Trump would be highlighting bipartisan efforts like criminal justice reform and praising the economic gains the nation has seen under his presidency. But she indicated that he'd also tackle the controversial issue of late-term abortion. 'Now weve got, weve got governors, and state legislators in many places, but most illustratively, and recently, in New York in Virginia, saying that a baby can have his or her life snuffed out of it, out of him or her... after 20 weeks. I mean this is who we are as Americans?' she asked. Trump said Thursday that a theme of his State of the Union address will be 'unity' and he will praise Republicans for sticking by him over the course of his last year in office. 'I think its unification, I think its industry, I think its about the people that you see right here,' he told reporters from the Oval Office. Trump quickly pivoted to an attack on Democrats for refusing his pleas for a border wall and then back to the topic of unity in the next sentence as he gave reporters their first look at the Tuesday speech. 'The problem is the Democrats, you know when they say, we don't want to build, as an example, we don't want to build a wall, because it doesn't work or because it's immoral,' he charged. Bringing up House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's claim that a wall is 'immoral,' he said that allowing Americans to die at the hand of violent immigrants is also unacceptable. 'Well it's also immoral, the people that come into our country that shouldn't be here and kill people. That's immoral, too. That's a lot more immoral,' he claimed with no build-up. He added, as he got back on topic: 'But I really think it's going to be a speech that is going to cover a lot of territory but part of it is going to be unity.' Asked by DailyMail.com about the assault on the opposing party, seconds after he said he wanted to spark unity, Conway said Friday, 'Well the president, of course, is going to be a unifying figure. He is the leader of the country. 'And he is certainly the leader of the country at the State of the Union. Its his opportunity once a year to look the American people in the eye, cut out the middle man respectfully, until the panels talk afterwards to convey to them, many things they dont hear throughout the year.' She mentioned the January jobs report that dropped earlier on Friday. Companies created more jobs the first month of the year than forecasters expected. 'The record of accomplishment, the facts and figures of his great economy, today with 304,000 new jobs created, well above the line of 70,000 that were projected. So, he will say things like that, showing the economys strong,' she said. As part of his bid to spark 'unity' she said he will talk about criminal justice reform, prescription drug legislation and other issues on which 'Republicans and Democrats have proven they can come together and work toward a common purpose of serving the American people.' 'He believes border security is a non-partisan issue that should have bipartisan solutions,' she added. 'And I dont think that the speaker of the House, respectfully, sounds very unifying, most days she sounds like a cable news pundit ... She doesnt sound like a unifying figure.' Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks to a crowd during a Women's Rights rally at the Capitol in Richmond earlier this month (left); Virginia Del. Kathy Tran presents HB2491, her bill dealing with eliminating some requirements for abortion inside the State Capitol in Richmond this week (right) Conway said that Nancy Pelosi, who represents liberal San Francisco in Congress should broaden her own message and 'get a little bit better control of her temper and her chamber.' 'And those who dont show up for the State of the Union, thats on them, not on the president. They need to explain to their constituents why they thought so little of the people they represent that they refused to sit in the hallowed chamber in the Capitol and listen to our president come forward and try to call for bipartisan action on any number of measures. Thats on them,thats not on him.' No Democrats have said so far that they are boycotting the speech, but many refused to sit in the chamber and listen to Trump in 2018 - some over comments he made about immigrants from 's***hole nations' seeking refuge in America. The president and Democrats are still clashing over the issue that looms large ahead of a Feb. 15 deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security and other major agencies. They're also butting heads on Trump's foreign policy. The Senate moved forward with legislation to rebuke his Middle East policy moves this week. They want a review of his troop withdrawal in Syria and an assessment of a possible pullout in Afghanistan. Conway said national security and foreign policy would be major pillars of Trump's address on Tuesday, as well. 'The president spends a good part of everyday thinking about the nations intelligence, security, foreign policy certainly, endless wars as he calls them in places like Syria and Afghanistan, where he thinks that we have spent enormous treasure, most of all, our young men and women who have perished there. And of course he will be addressing that in the State of the Union, as well as domestic issues,' she added. Democrats have selected former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams to give their response to Trump. He said he hopes she does a good job and has 'respect' for her on Thursday, despite referring to her as 'not qualified' to hold office last year as he tried to bring her down. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday Abrams said she was 'delighted' to have been chosen 'I respect her. I don't know her. I haven't met her, but I hope she does a good job,' Trump said of the Democratic politician. He mentioned that he doesn't the Georgian who he worked to to keep out of office on a personal level. 'I campaigned against Stacey Abrams, I know that President Obama campaigned for her. Michelle Obama campaigned for her, and Oprah campaigned for her, and all Brian [Kemp] had was me, and he won fairly easily, you know fairly easily. So, I hope that she does a good job.' Abrams garnered national attention in her bid to become the first female, African American governor of Georgia in a contest that went down to the wire. Democratic star power flooded the state to support her, including Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama. Abrams lost to Kemp by 1 percent of the vote. She is the first African-American woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union, a speech that has traditionally served as a springboard for higher office. Trump delivered his State of the Union address on January 30, 2018, speaking to a packed House chamber where every seat was filled and the galleries were at capacity Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has pleaded guilty to nine federal charges, admitting his participation in a violent gang and pledging to cooperate with prosecutors against others. The plea was entered last week by the 22-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez. Information about it was unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court. During the plea, 6ix9ine said he joined the Nine Trey Blood Gang in fall 2017 and helped gang members try to kill a rival last March. He also admitted involvement in the shooting of rival rapper Chief Keef last June, the transcript reveals, Page Six reported. Scroll down for videos Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, seen here last year, has pleaded guilty to federal charges, admitting his participation in a violent gang and pledged to cooperate with prosecutors Rapper, Daniel Hernandez (left), admitted involvement in June's Chief Keef (right) shooting The artist said that soon after joining the gang he helped others try to kill a rival gang member last March. 'I did this to maintain or increase my own standing in Nine Trey,' he told Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. He said he also 'knew that another member of Nine Trey had a gun and discharged that gun.' The rapper said he also helped other gang members rob people at gunpoint as part of a pledge by new gang members to commit at least two crimes. Last June 2, he said, he 'paid a person to shoot at a rival member of Nine Trey to scare him.' That shooting, he added, occurred in Manhattan. 6ix9ine said he also was paid for participating in the sale of a kilogram of cocaine in 2017. Hernandez admitted being paid for selling a kilo of heroin in 2017, and claimed his actions were a result of a desire to rise higher in the ranks of the gang. The 22-year-old (pictured in a Texas court August 22) faces life in prison in murder, robbery and extortion conspiracy 6ix9ine is being housed in a federal prison, though the location of the institution is undisclosed. He's pictured last month during a visit from his girlfriend Jade With the plea deal, 6ix9ine can gain leniency at sentencing from what otherwise would have been a mandatory minimum 47 years in prison. If he admits all nine crimes and testifies truthfully when summoned he could be partially off the hook. Hernandez was indicted on racketeering charges last November, the same month two men were captured on video firing shots into a Beverly Hills, California estate with Nicki Minaj's dressing room. The property was also hosting Kanye West and Tekashi 6ix9ine. In October he was linked to a shooting in New York. A brawl broke out at a Manhattan restaurant between security for record label 10k Projects and Tekashi's entourage. A third party opened fire and struck the rapper's guard in the torso. Tekashi said sorry to those affected by his actions, according to the court transcript from last week. Hernandez stated: 'I apologize to the Court, to anyone who was hurt, to my family, friends and fans for what I have done and who I have let down.' Attorney Dawn Florio said 6ix9ine's safety was a chief concern. 'In the very beginning of the case when we found out that my client's security was at risk because of threats by his co-defendants, we have done everything to protect himself and his family,' she said, adding that those efforts continue. 6ix9ine is being housed in a federal prison, though the location of the institution is undisclosed. The music artist (pictured with daughter Saraiyah) could have his minimum of 47 years in prison reduced by cooperating with investigators 'He has to be separated from the people who threatened him,' Florio said. She said he is receiving mail from fans. 'All his fans love him and Danny loves all his fans. He loves hearing from his fans,' she said. 'For security reasons, he's not responding to them at this point.' He has 15.5 million followers on Instagram. His album Day69: Graduation Day was among the top-sellers on iTunes following its February release. 6ix9ine had a multiplatinum hit song, Fefe, with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at No. 3 on the pop charts, and Stoopid, featuring the incarcerated rapper Bobby Shmurda. He pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to disorderly conduct in connection with a May traffic stop. In 2015, he was sentenced to probation for appearing in a video in which a 13-year-old girl performed a sex act on another man. A message seeking comment was left for 6ix9ine's lawyers. Mel B is being sued by her ex-nanny for $232,000 in legal costs after the America's Got Talent judge dropped a restraining order against the carer, court documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal. Legal documents show Mel B full name Melanie Brown is facing a court hearing in March if she does not pay Lorraine Gilles for legal fees incurred during an eight-month battle over the restraining order. Gilles, 27, who became embroiled in Mel's bitter divorce from ex husband Stephen Belafonte, was awarded the money - to cover costs and legal fees - by an arbitrator on December 18 last year. The court papers reveal that the money relates to a private settlement between the two women in November 2017 that saw Mel suddenly drop a restraining order application against Gilles after an eight-month legal battle. Mel had taken out restraining orders against Gilles and Belafonte after filing for divorce, alleging that the two had plotted to make embarrassing sex tapes of her. Mel B is being sued by her ex-nanny for $232,000 in legal costs after the America's Got Talent judge dropped a restraining order against the carer, court documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Legal documents show Mel B full name Melanie Brown is facing a court hearing in March if she does not pay Lorraine Gilles (pictured) for legal fees incurred during an eight-month battle over the restraining order After months of nasty court sparring between the America's Got Talent judge, 43, and Belafonte, also 43 - during which lurid tales of threesomes, drug and alcohol abuse and allegations of domestic violence made headlines - the restraining order case was scheduled to go to trial in November 2017. A judge had decided to hear both Belafonte's and Gilles' case together. But at the eleventh hour, Mel dropped her case against Belafonte and the restraining order was dropped as a result. Soon after the star also agreed to drop a civil harassment restraining order against Gilles. Her attorney wrote in court documents: 'On the eve of trial, after six months of litigation by the parties and after the parties had already incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney's fees as a result of Brown's 'shock and awe' approach to litigation, Brown abruptly fired her former counsel and retained new counsel. 'Brown's new counsel immediately recognized that Brown's petition against Gilles (the restraining order) was baseless and that Brown was on the verge of being humiliated, disgraced and potentially on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney's fees should the restraining order trial commence and Gilles prevail. 'Thus, in early November 2017, Brown's counsel and Gilles' counsel brokered a settlement agreement to resolve the pending restraining order petition. In the settlement agreement, Brown agreed to dismiss her petition for a restraining order against Gilles in its entirety. Mel had taken out restraining orders against Gilles and Belafonte (pictured together) after filing for divorce, alleging that the two had plotted to make embarrassing sex tapes of her After months of nasty court sparring between the America's Got Talent judge, 43, and Belafonte, also 43 - during which lurid tales of threesomes, drug and alcohol abuse and allegations of domestic violence made headlines - the restraining order case was scheduled to go to trial in November 2017 'Brown also agreed to pay a confidential sum of money to Gilles directly, in part to help Gilles satisfy her outstanding' attorney's fees.' In January 2018, Gilles' and Mel's lawyers tried - and failed to agree on the sum Gilles should receive. So retired LA judge Richard Stone was appointed as an arbitrator and, according to the new documents he awarded Gilles $232,355 on December 14 last year. But the court papers add: 'Brown has failed to make any payment on the arbitration award and has been largely unresponsive' to efforts Gilles lawyers have made to contact her.' Now, Gilles is going back to court March 5, seeking a judgment against Mel for the $232,000, 'plus ten per cent pre-judgment interest.' In a separate civil case, Gilles - who earned $6,667 a month as nanny to Mel's daughters Madison, now seven and 11-year- old Angel - is suing Mel B for defamation and libel, after she branded her her 'a homewrecker, prostitute, and extortionist.' That case is set for trial in LA in June 2020. It's understood that Mel and Gilles, as part of the terms of the private settlement a year ago, also signed a confidentiality agreement promising not to talk about each other. Mel doesn't once mention Gilles in her recent book Brutally Honest and Gilles hasn't spoken out since the case was dropped. Last November, LA Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that troubled Mel could keep joint custody of Madison with Belafonte. Now, Gilles is going back to court March 5, seeking a judgment against Mel for the $232,000, 'plus ten per cent pre-judgment interest. He also ordered the feuding couple to stay 200 yards away from each other and ruled that Mel must pay Belafonte $350,000 for legal fees and $5,000 month for child support for Madison. The judgment allowing Mel to keep joint custody of Madison with her ex, was issued after Mel submitted records to the court showing that she had undergone - and passed - several weeks of drug and alcohol testing. Judge Juhas mandated the tests after another nanny, Rusty Updegraff's, damning declaration that she was unfit to look after Madison or her sister Angel - Mel's daughter by Eddie Murphy - because her drinking was out of control, she used drugs and often brought home men to satisfy her appetite for sex. Mel denied Updegraff's claims, calling them 'nonsense.' Belafonte and Mel - who split up in March 2017 - were divorced in December 2017. Despite their divorce being final for so long more than a year, attempts to settle disputes over children and money dragged on through 2018, with Mel estimating that she's spent more than $1 million in legal fees and owes another $800,000 to attorneys and accountants. Mel - who also has to pay Belafonte $15,000 a month in spousal support until 2020 - claims the long-drawn-out split with him has ruined her financially, she's more than $3 million in the red and the IRS is garnishing her America's Got Talent salary to pay off hundreds of thousand of dollars in back taxes she owes. The couple were also ordered to set aside $1.1 million - $550,000 each - when they sell their $8 million former marital home, to pay back taxes they owe. Daron Wint showed no remorse as he was sentenced to life in prison for slaying of three members of a family and their housekeepr The Maryland man found guilty of killing three family members and their housekeeper at their mansion in a wealthy Washington DC neighborhood showed no remorse as he was sentenced to life in prison Friday. Daron Wint, 37, was handed four, consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole for the brutal slayings of the Savopoulos family and worker Veralicia Figueroa. The bodies of construction firm owner Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife Amy, 47, their 10-year-old son Phillip and the family's housekeeper, Veralicia, 57, were found on May 14, 2015. Judge Juliet McKenna said Friday: 'The conduct was heinous, atrocious and cruel. Holding them hostage in their home for 24 hours. The conduct is incomprehensible.' Wint showed no remorse and when asked by the judge if he wanted to address the court his only response was: 'No, your honor.' Daughter Katerina Savopoulos said she forgives Wint despite his heinous crime, adding: 'Hate cannot drive out hate.' Her sister Abigail told a judge in an emotional testimony that she still expects to see her mom calling. Family members wept in the packed court room as Abigail, who along with her sister was away at boarding school during the attack, spoke with tears in her eyes on the loss of her family. The girls described their brother as a Harry Potter and Go-Kart racing fan. They said their father always put family first and their mom would write them weekly letters. Paying tribute to Veralicia they said she taught them how to curl their hair for school dances and was more than their housekeeper. Katerina added: 'We toured cemeteries instead of colleges and searched for the perfect coffin instead of prom dresses. 'Hating the people who hurt us will not right any wrongs. That is why I forgive Wint for his trespasses.' The killer stared at the defense table as the victim impact statements were read. The federal jury delivered the guilty verdict after a searing six-week trial, in which Wint argued that he was innocent, and tried to pin the killings on his brother and half-brother. His victims had been tied up, beaten and stabbed before being doused with gasoline and the house was set on fire. The bodies of construction firm owner Savvas Savopoulos and his wife Amy (pictured) as well as their son and their housekeeper were found on May 14, 2015 Ten-year-old Phillip (left) and the family's housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa (right), also died Daron Wint, 37, was handed four, consecutive life-without-release terms for the brutal slaying of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa WINT'S LONG HISTORY OF VIOLENCE Daron Wint's long history of violence was revealed a day before he was sentenced on Friday. Records show family members had numerous restraining orders against him. Newly released records also show how Wint carried out multiple stabbings and made a number of death threats, including one against a child. In the days before the mansion murders he is said to have made multiple threats to kill his family. Wint carried out three stabbings in New York in 2006 and 2007 and even threatened to kill his landlord. Wint also smashed his girlfriend's windshield in 2009 and then threatened to kill her and her daughter. Advertisement Wint, who was born in Guyana, had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping and arson. He had worked for the Savopoulos family business, American Iron Works, as a welder in Maryland before losing his job. Prosecutors argued that Wint acted alone in order to claim a $40,000 ransom, the Washington Post reported. But his defense team claimed he was set up to take the fall by his half-brother Darrell Wint and his stepbrother. Neither of them have been charged in the case. At trial, prosecutors admitted the possibility that Wint had help because four people had been taken hostage for 36 hours before they were killed, ABC 7 reports. During the trial, Wint took the stand, telling the jury that he was lured to the Savopoulos home in Upper Northwest Washington by Darrell. He gave a detailed account explaining how he ended up leaving his DNA on a pizza crust at the house which led to his arrest. He testified that he only went because Darrell had asked him to come for a paint and drywall job and later asked for his help in 'unloading the house' of valuables. Wint told jurors he refused to help steal from the house after Darrell told him to put on a construction hat and green reflective vest to be less conspicuous. He insisted that he had stayed in a room on the main floor of the house and wasn't aware that anyone else was in the house or being hurt. Firefighters discovered the four bodies in the DC home in 2015 when they responded to a blaze at the house Wint, who was born in Guyana, was convicted on multiple counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping and arson. He had claimed his innocence in the slaying of a family in their home According to Wint's testimony, he met Darrell at a construction company on May 13 the day authorities say a killer broke into the Savopoulus' home. Wint claims that during that meeting, Darrell asked to use his minivan which he would pay him at least $300 for and that night, he spent the night at a friend's house. He claims he didn't hear from his brother again until the morning of May 14 when Darrell turned up at the friend's house driving a Porsche. Wint says they drove to the Savopoulos home and Darrell let them inside with a key. He says his brother was wearing construction gloves when he brought him a pizza box after he mentioned that he was hungry which he had thought was odd, according to the Post. Wint said he put an uneaten slice of pepperoni pizza back into the box because it was 'cold and hard.' He claimed that he and his brother argued after his brother asked for help stealing from the house and he left the hard hat and vest there. Authorities found Wint's DNA on the pizza as well as on the hard hat and vest. But Wint couldn't explain how his DNA ended up on a knife in the basement, according to the Post. He said his brother told him to get in the Porsche and he would be driven back to his minivan, but says, his brother took him to a parking lot in Lanham, Maryland. urviving daughters Katerina Marie Savopoulos (C) and Abigal Marie Savopoulos (L) folllow behind the casket of their 10-year old brother Philip Savopoulos in 2015 Pallbearers stand behind three hearses containing the caskets of three family members Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife, Amy, 47, and their 10 year old son, Philip in 2015 Wint claims his brother spoke about getting 'rid' of the minivan and some time after the incident, Wint claimed Darrell gave him $6,000 to 'buy a new car.' He also says he was given two white iPhones which Darrell told him were found in a park, but which authorities say were stolen from the Savopoulos home. Wint also claimed that he only made Google searches after the incident including 'how to beat a lie detector test' because 'I didn't want to go to jail for a crime I didn't commit.' He said he began doing searches online after seeing a story about the fire on the news and was worried that his minivan would be linked to the case. British Airways celebrates its landmark centenary with a love letter to Britain - as told by a star-studded cast of the country's biggest names. The advert brings together stars of the screen, sport and music in a celebration of what makes us British ahead of the airline's anniversary on August 25. Gary Oldman, Olivia Colman, Anthony Joshua, Paloma Faith and Grayson Perry are among a star-studded cast seen aboard the centenary BA100 flight. The group were handpicked by the airline to represent what 'makes Britain the creative, open-minded, pioneering and welcoming place it is today'. Riz Ahmed (left) and Paloma Faith (right) are among a star-studded cast featured in the BA 100 campaign Anthony Joshua said: 'It's an honour to be asked to help British Airways celebrate such a huge anniversary. 'I feel privileged to have been involved in the BA 100 alongside people like Olivia Colman and Gary Oldman.' In the advertisement, those aboard the flight speak out about what makes them proud to be British. Paloma Faith admires the Brits' sense of style, while Olivia Colman and Anthony Joshua comment on the nation's capacity to pick themselves up when things get tough. Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, celebrates the country's ability to 'follow its own path' as The Kingdom Choir perform in the aisle. There are even cameos by David Bowie and Winnie-the-Pooh. The group, which included actress Olivia Colman, were handpicked by the airline to represent what 'makes Britain the creative, open-minded, pioneering and welcoming place it is today' In the advert, Anthony Joshua comments on the nation's ability to pick themselves up when things get tough Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds, rugby union star Harriet Millar-Mills, Anthony Watson, anthropologist Jane Goodall and Gordon Ramsay's youngest daughter Matilda also feature in the BA 100 advert. The advert also shows customers, cabin crew, pilots and engineers from across the airline as they carry out the final touches for the British Airways flight. The airline signs off the advert with the simple message 'We love you Britain. You make us who we are'. 'I'm honoured to be part of the BA100 and to help British Airways celebrate their 100th birthday,' actor Gary Oldman said. The Kingdom Choir perform in the aisle and there are even cameos from David Bowie and Winnie-the-Pooh (pictured, Gary Oldman) 'It's an incredible milestone for the Nation's flag carrier.' Olivia Colman said: 'I fly with British Airways a lot, but this is the first time I've been on board with so many incredible British people and I got to drink tea all day!' The advert will air for the first time at 9.30pm on ITV1 and Channel 4 this evening. It is the biggest campaign the airline has launched since its 'Don't Fly' campaign urged Britons to stay in the country and support the home team ahead of the 2012 Olympics. The television advert, created by Ogilvy, will air for the first time at 9.30pm on ITV1 and Channel 4 this evening It is the biggest campaign the airline has launched since it's 'Don't Fly' campaign urging Britons to stay in the country ahead of the 2012 Olympics Carolina Martinoli, British Airways' Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: 'Celebrating our centenary is a real milestone in aviation and British industrial history. 'This campaign is about thanking the amazing people who fly with us, work with us and partner with us. 'As it's our 100th birthday, we plan to make this year very special for all of them past and present - which is underpinned by our ongoing 6.5bn investment programme to deliver new aircraft, cabins, service and destinations. 'Our airline has been forged over 100 years. As we are inherently made by Britain it's fitting that our campaign captures and celebrates everything great about our home nation.' British Airways' forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, launched the world's first daily international air service between London and Paris on August 25, 1919. Michelle Vanbuskirk, 43, pictured outside Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in October, started drinking before boarding a United Airlines flight to Washington DC An American working at a top US law firm in London was spared jail after getting so drunk on a transatlantic flight the pilot was forced to return to Heathrow. Michelle Vanbuskirk, 43, started drinking before she even boarded the Washington DC bound flight and then swigged from a gin bottle and repeatedly banged on the TV screen in the back of the seat in front. One United Airlines passenger asked 'incoherent and slurring' Vanbuskirk to stop, saying she suffered from anxiety attacks and was anxious about flying but she didn't. When the gin was confiscated by stewardess Porsha Chaplain, the computer forensic manager began swearing and screaming before cabin crew asked her to move. She agreed to be escorted to the rear if she was allowed to inspect the seats but then began banging on the exit door before passing out. As she came to, she kicked a nurse, Emily Menninger, who came to her assistance in the stomach and also hit Ms Chaplain in the shins before she could be restrained. Fearing for the safety of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 209 passengers on board, the captain turned back as it passed over southern Ireland - about an hour into the journey, wasting 4,000 of fuel. The disembarked passengers had to stay overnight in London before flying out the next day. 'Chronic' Valium user Vanbuskirk had a fear of flying after another United Airlines aircraft suffered a double engine blow out and went int free fall 13 years before the incident on Sunday September 23 last year. She pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft and assaulting Ms Chaplain when she appeared at Isleworth Crown Court last November. She denied assaulting Ms Menninger, and causing another alarm or distress, which was accepted by the prosecution. On top of being ordered to pay 3,000 compensation to Ms Chaplain, 1,000 to Ms Menninger and 1,500 costs, Ms Chaplain could face a higher bill if the airliner sues her. Prosecutor Thea Viney today told the court: 'I have also been informed that United Airlines is considering going forward with a civil suit for costs.' Outlining the case she said: 'There was slight delay to the flight. 'Passengers sitting next to Ms Vanbuskirk noticed that she appeared to be in a state of anxiety, she was banging the seat in front of her and eating food very fast. 'She was drinking from a bottle she had brought onto the plane. 'She appeared to be heavily under the influence of alcohol, her speech was slurred and she was incoherent. 'After the plane took off concerns were raised and when Ms Chaplain was doing the inflight service she took the bottle of gin away. 'Ms Vanbuskirk then became aggressive and abusive to passengers and cabin crew. 'She was swearing and shouting in their faces, accusing passengers of having reported her. 'Ms Chaplain relocated the passengers from around where she was sitting. 'She brought her to the galley so she could try to calm her down.' Ms Viney added: 'She continued swearing and shouting at those around her. 'She was unsteady on her feet by this stage and was asked to sit down in the jump seat. 'But she started banging on the exit door while swearing and behaving erratically. 'She then passed out and was caught by Ms Chaplain. Ms Vanbuskirk told the court she was drinking in order to cope with the stress of flying after an earlier bad experience where a flight she was on suffered a double engine failure 'Cabin crew then called for medical assistance and Emily Menninger, a nurse, came to help. 'She asked Ms Vanbuskirk if she had taken anything else, to which she said she had just had alcohol. 'She was swearing at the nurse and as she was flailing she kicked her in the stomach. 'She also hit Ms Chaplain in the shin. 'The decision was made to restrain her, she was coming in and out of consciousness. 'Her arms were restrained behind her back. 'She was then restrained by her legs because she was trying to kick out. 'The pilot was informed and the decision was made to turn the flight around and go back to Heathrow, at the cost of 4,000 in fuel. 'It caused a considerable delay those on board. 'When the flight landed police were called. 'Ms Vanbuskirk was going between anxiety and aggression.' Defending, Mark Kimsey argued his client faced losing her job and being deported if imprisoned and she had a diagnosed panic disorder and a phobia of planes because of the previous incident. Mr Kimsey said: 'It was never her intention to be drunk on that flight, it was never her intention to have the plane turn around. 'She is extremely ashamed of what happened, remorseful and fully aware of the inconvenience caused to cabin crew and passengers. 'She has a phobia of flying. 'She was very anxious she thought if she drank it would relax her. It was a coping mechanism. 'She takes medication for her anxiety and she had forgotten it at home.' He said she had 'glowing' character references from work colleagues. Mr Kimsey said: 'In 2005, she was a passenger on a flight when there was a huge explosion. 'They initially thought it may have been a terrorist attack. 'It turned out to be a double engine blowout and the plane went into free fall and had an emergency landing. 'It was also a United Airlines flight. She has tried to get another flight but couldn't.' Sentencing Judge Curtis Raleigh said: 'A prison sentence is almost inevitable with the sentencing guidelines so that is the starting point. 'But I have to take into account mitigation. 'You take anti-anxiety medication for a diagnosed panic disorder. 'You work colleagues and friends have called you a hard worker, generous, kind and warmhearted. 'The assault on board was reckless rather than deliberate. 'You have a prestigious job... if you are put into prison you will lose your job, be deported and banned from the UK. 'The behaviour is totally out of character for you. 'No one should think that this is a usual sentence for being drunk on a plane, which has the potential to be very dangerous, but I have taken the exceptional decision to suspend your sentence.' Vanbuskirk, of Camden, north London, was sentenced to six months for being drunk on an aircraft suspended for 12 months, and four months for assaulting Ms Chaplain also suspended, both to run concurrent. She was also ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and she wept outside court in the arms of her partner and thanked her lawyer profusely. Kristy Kimber stored videos of abuse on her phones and shared them with other people through an instant messaging app A female paedophile who filmed herself sexually abusing a young child was jailed for nine years after a friend found the sickening videos on her phone. Kristy Kimber, 26, stored videos of sexual abuse on her mobile device and shared them with others through an instant messaging app. She had asked a friend to repair the phone, and laughed after telling him not to look at any of the videos stored on it when she handed it over on July 20. A spokesman for Kent Police said that when the phone was inspected, footage was discovered of Kimber abusing a child and she was arrested shortly afterwards. Maidstone Crown Court heard that the videos featured some of Kimber performing a sex act on herself, but one included a child using a sex toy on a woman, KentOnline reported. Kimber's friend had found the videos after 'curiosity got the better of him' but he was 'mortified about what he saw', the court was told. 'He said he was shaking with shock and anger. He telephoned the police and told them what he had found,' prosecutor Martin Yale said. At her sentencing, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said Kimber had 'committed an extraordinarily wicked catalogue of offences', adding that 'the depravity these offences reveal is frankly breathtaking', it was reported. Officers seized a second mobile phone which when checked was also found to contain videos of Kimber forcing a child to engage in sexual activity. Kimber, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitted six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of taking indecent photographs of a child and three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child. Kimber admitted admitted six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of taking indecent photographs of a child and three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child at Maidstone Crown Court She also admitted further charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and sexual assault of a child. Kimber was sentenced to nine years and four months imprisonment and was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Detective Inspector Rob Chitham of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: 'Kristy Kimber was responsible for the systematic sexual abuse of a very young child. She has made a number of videos which clearly show the child in distress and has then gone on to share images of the abuse. 'It is extremely rare for a woman to be responsible for these type of sexual offences, however the sentence passed by the courts demonstrates just how abhorrent her actions were. 'This conviction is part of a wider ongoing investigation by Kent Police involving other suspects who we are linking to facilitating, inciting or participating in the sexual abuse of children.' This is the shocking moment a brawl breaks out between enraged motorists when Deliveroo riders block traffic on a London street. The clip, filmed in Islington, captures Deliveroo employees as they obstruct frustrated motorists during a demonstration. A group in hi-vis vests stand ahead of waiting vehicles as motorists angrily sound their horns near to a Nando's restaurant. A van driver then pushes into a protester on a moped, causing him to collapse to the ground as onlookers shout around them. The clip, filmed in Islington, captures Deliveroo employees as they obstruct frustrated motorists during a demonstration to demand higher pay At the start of the clip, a van pushes into a protester on a moped, causing him to collapse to the ground as onlookers shout around them The driver then jumps out of his vehicle and approaches the rider - who had been taking part in a protest across the city on February 1. But soon, the motorist retreats to his car as onlookers shout 'stop it' and 'let go of him' at crowds approaching his open window. Before long, the van driver moves his vehicle forward again as another protester stands ahead of the van with her arms raised. He stops and exits his car, but as he does, an onlooker in a black helmet tackles him. The pair shove and push each other into the street, causing another man to fall to the ground, as others in helmets gather around them. A man in a blue jacket then appears to break the van's driver side window. A few minutes later, someone shouts 'he's got a hammer', and a man in a black puffer jacket is seen grasping a bright orange tool. People appear to attempt to reason with him as he stands with a woman near to the white van. Police officers then begin to arrive at the scene. The driver then jumps out of his vehicle and approaches the rider as others crowd around him The pair shove and push each other into the street, causing another man to fall to the ground, as others in helmets gather around them A spokeswoman for Metropolitan Police said: 'Police were called at around 1330hrs on Friday, 1 February, to a report of a disturbance in Upper Street, N1. 'Officers attended the location, where a number of people on mopeds / motorcycles had been staging a protest. 'Some of those in attendance left prior to the arrival of police. Officers spoke with the driver of a van, which had a side window broken. 'The van driver did not wish to make any criminal allegations. There has been no arrest.' A Deliveroo spokesperson said: 'Deliveroo condemns the behaviour of these individuals, which is utterly unrepresentative of hardworking riders who were out on Friday bringing people their meals. 'The activists who organised and stoked this protest must take responsibility for this appalling incident. A few minutes later, someone shouts 'he's got a hammer', and a man in a black puffer jacket is seen grasping the bright orange tool 'We have already identified one rider involved, have ended their contract and have passed the matter onto the police.' The protest, supported by the Industrial Workers of the World, called for an 'end to unfair dismissals' and a minimum pay of 5 per delivery with an extra 1 paid every mile in the protest, IWGB said. Dom, a Deliveroo worker and IWGB official, said: 'Across the country riders are all experiencing the same problems like lower order fees and long waits at restaurants. 'These issues have been repeatedly raised with Deliveroo but our members recognise the only way to get improvements is to act collectively. 'It's been too easy for the company to ignore us individually.' Ben Fogle's nemesis Nihal Arthanayake is pictured today walking his dog who sparked the BBC DJ's explosive row with the adventurer. Nihal and his wife Eesha took their beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Luna out in a park close to their home in Manchester. The 47-year-old DJ had told listeners his wife was once left upset when Fogle warned his child Staffies are a dangerous breed. Fogle denies he said it and is threatening to sue the BBC over his comments. BBC Five Live Nihal Arthanayake shares a joke with his wife Eesha as they took their beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier 'Luna' out in a park close to their home in Manchester The 47-year-old DJ had told listeners his wife Eesha (both pictured today) was once left upset when Fogle warned his child Staffies are a dangerous breed in a London park Fogle (left) whose latest job is hosting Britain's Top 100 Dogs on ITV, angrily denies he said it about Luna (right) and is threatening to sue the BBC over his comments Today Nihal stayed tight-lipped on his feud, but a neighbour told MailOnline: 'That couple and their children love that dog. Its like a part of their family so I'm not surprised they'd be upset if anybody had a go at it. 'Luna's a very friendly dog and never been any problem or danger to people living around here. 'They are always bundling it into their car and taking it out. Everyone loves that dog and cuddling it. ' Nihal opened up his war of words with Fogle on Monday when he told listeners that his wife once had an unpleasant encounter in the park with a man who warned his child not to go near her dog because Staffies are a dangerous breed. At the end of the story, he 'revealed' that the man in question was Fogle - but Fogle insists it is a case of mistaken identity, and that he has never been to the park in question. The claim came at a bad time for Fogle whose latest job is hosting Britain's Top 100 Dogs on ITV. Speaking on Monday's edition of his 5 Live afternoon show, Arthanayake began talking about Staffordshire bull terriers and their image problem, saying owners are treated as if they're walking with 'a sawn-off shotgun on a lead'. He went on: 'There is a very well-known TV presenter who was once quite rude about my Staffie in public. I'm not going to give his name my wife was in Queen's Park [north-west London] with our kids and our Staffie and this fella, he has his kid, goes up to his kid and says, 'Don't go up to that dog, they're nasty dogs, they're dangerous dogs'. Nihal took to Twitter after making the claims to show of pictures of his beloved dog, Luna Nihal claimed Fogle was 'a wrong un' for telling his child that Staffies are dangerous dogs in an incident he claims took place several years ago. Fogle insists it wasn't him who said it Fogle was so incensed by Nihal's (pictured today) comments that he turned up at the BBC's central London studios to speak with the DJ, but he was presenting from Manchester 'My wife is there with our kids with that dog! And he says it so loudly that she can hear him saying it. 'And from that day on I've just been like, nah, that guy's a wrong'un. So I'm not going to tell you it was Ben Fogle but the guy is an absolute wrong'un.' Fogle was so incensed by Nihal's comments that he turned up at the BBC's central London studios to speak with the DJ, but he was presenting from Manchester. His spokeswoman said he was 'absolutely incensed at this uncorroborated, hurtful and false allegation'. She added: 'Apart from the fact that he has never been to Queen's Park in his life, more importantly there is not a breed of dog on this earth that he does not love. 'No-one who knows Ben would believe this absolute rubbish'. On Twitter the TV star promised legal action. Twitter users egged on the fight after hearing the show but Mr Fogle reacted strongly after MailOnline brought it to his attention In a Tweet he wrote: 'I have just been sent a recording from @TherealNihal show on @bbc5live earlier in which a caller made an untrue and libellous accusation about a fictions encounter. I have never even visited Queens Park. I will be seeking legal action. I LOVE all dogs especially Staffies #woof'. He added: 'Dear @bc5live and @TherealNihal why did you broadcast an unsubstantiated, untrue story about me without even asking? I have never even been to Queens Park. I LOVE Staffies and grew up surrounded by them in my fathers veterinary surgery. Not cool.' In a later Tweet he warned the Corporation would be 'hearing from his lawyers'. The row boiled over when Nihal hit back on Twitter accusing Mr Fogle of calling his wife a liar. He added: 'She swears it was you and in fact she came home and told me about it straight away. it was around nine years ago. After MailOnline contacted Mr Fogle's representatives about this story he fired off an angry volley on Twitter - initially believing it was a caller who made the accusation He asked the host and the broadcaster why he had not been contacted for comment prior to broadcast Mr Fogle is already gearing up for a lawsuit tonight - with proceeds headed for Staffie charities During the ill-tempered spat Nihal Arthanayake posted pictures of his beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Luna 'She was incensed at the time as she was with our two very small children. Why would she lie about it being you?' The former Castaway star replied pointed out that time frame would have meant one of his children was just two months old and the other not yet born, adding 'Mistaken identity? I don't know. But it WASN'T ME. I LOVE Staffies mate.' In a later tweet he added: 'I'm saying it's a case of mistaken identity. Not all posh sounding people are me.' Kyle Harris was serving as a Lance Corporal in Germany when he agreed to smuggle migrants into the UK A serving soldier whose life went 'into a downward spiral' when he witnessed his best friend being blown up in Afghanistan has been jailed for three years for smuggling migrants from the Calais Jungle into the UK in his car boot. Kyle Harris was serving as a Lance Corporal in Germany when he agreed to bring 'one every Friday' into the UK through the Channel Tunnel while on weekend leave from his barracks. The 30-year-old, who served two tours of duty Afghanistan's Helmand Province during his six-year army career, smuggled two migrants at a time, making them lie head to toe on top of each other and hiding them beneath his camouflage jacket and Army kit. Harris was paid 5,000 per stowaway and involved in five planned smuggling trips over a five-week period, three of which were successful, a court heard today. The court heard how Harris' life spiralled out of control during his second tour of Afghanistan when he witnessed his best friend, Private Tom Lake, being killed by an improvised explosive device which left three others severely injured in November 2011. He became withdrawn and was said by one officer to be 'fighting demons'. Harris never came to terms with his friend's death and turned to drink, drugs and online gambling, mounting up a debt of 30,000, the court was told. The 30-year-old smuggled two migrants at a time, making them lie head to toe on top of each other and hiding them beneath his camouflage jacket and Army kit. This is the moment border force staff found two illegal immigrants hidden in the boot of the British soldier His desperate money making ploy was eventually foiled when Border Force officers stopped Harris in a random check at Coquelles on May 6, 2016. He was driving a German-registered Hyundai and initially claimed to be driving alone. He told officials he was a serving soldier and produced his army identification card. Harris, who was stationed with 1st Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment at Barker Barracks in Paderborn, said he was on his way to spend a couple of days visiting his mother in Epsom, Surrey. But Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard he began to show signs of 'considerable anxiety' as he was asked standard questions by immigration officials. The soldier, who served two tours of duty Afghanistan's Helmand Province during his six-year army career, was nervous and sweating. Harris (pictured outside Maidstone Crown Court today), was paid 5,000 per stowaway and involved in five planned smuggling trips over a five-week period, three of which were successful He was also described by one officer as 'wide-eyed and scared'. When asked to open the rear of the vehicle he confessed to having human cargo, stating: 'Ok, I'm going to have to own up to this. There's two people in the back.' The Iraqi and Syrian nationals, both men and in their 20s, were discovered in the cramped boot of the hire car. They were later handed over to the French authorities. When he was arrested, Harris told officers it was a one-off trip triggered by his alcohol problems as well as drug and gambling addictions. He told them, 'I am desperate for money', and was handed a suspended sentence. Lance Corporal Harris concealed hid his human cargo under his combat jacket and other items of army kit, hiding them from view But a Home Office investigation revealed the two migrants were not the first to have been picked up by the lance corporal from a McDonald's close to the Jungle encampment. Once through the Channel Tunnel, they would be dropped off at pre-arranged meeting points throughout the UK. Harris, from Epsom, Surrey, admitted conspiracy to assist in the unlawful immigration to a member state, and possessing criminal property. He has since been discharged from the Army and is now manager of a pub and restaurant. Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams said it was a 'personal tragedy' that Harris became embroiled in the conspiracy, having been recruited by others. Ringleader of the operation was Middlesbrough-based carwash owner Zinden Ahmed, who promised the soldier 'lots of people every time when ready'. He was jailed for six years and eight months She told Harris as he wiped tears from his face: 'I take into account all that has been said on your behalf, your previous good character and particular account of the fact you have served your country in the armed forces. 'You suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of your service, witnessing the death of your best friend and other atrocities, which sent you into a downward spiral and led to gambling and therefore debt.' But she said the 'mischief' in the offence was the evasion of border controls. Harris became involved in bringing illegal immigrants from the jungle in Calais (a migrant camp in the jungle, pictured) to pay off debt after turning to alcohol and gambling following the death of his best friend 'This crime undermines the integrity of the UK border and it exploits the desperation of those who wish to enter.' The court heard Harris served with frontline infantry and was highly regarded by his superior officers for his 'courage, discipline, and selfless commitment'. Defending, Isabelle Gillard, told the court his life went into a downward spiral during his second tour of Afghanistan when he witnessed his best friend, Private Tom Lake, killed by an improvised explosive device and three others severely injured in November 2011. He became withdrawn and was said by one officer to be 'fighting demons'. Miss Gillard said Harris never came to terms with his friend's death and turned to drink, drugs and online gambling, mounting up a debt of 30,000. Barker Barracks, Paderborn, where Harris was based with the British Forces in Germany She said: 'It is clear events that day in Helmand led directly into a downward spiral and to him committing these offences. He talks about the guilt he felt about that day, still a very young man in his early 20s.' Organising the operation was Middlesbrough-based carwash owner Zinden Ahmed, who promised the soldier 'lots of people every time when ready'. At one stage Harris even suggested he could ask a friend to drive a second car so as many as four could be brought to the UK in one go. Ahmed also had a contact based in France who arranged the pick-ups from McDonald's. The court was told Hadi Hassan, himself an asylum seeker, assisted in three smuggling trips while acting as an 'unofficial volunteer' for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Ahmed and 35-year-old Hassan, from Manchester, admitted the same charge and were jailed for six years eight months and two years eight months respectively. Ahmed, 36, was jailed for a further three years and four months for possessing cocaine with intent to supply, making a total of 10 years. The high purity drug was found in a dustbin when immigration officers arrested him at his home in January 2017. Sentencing all three, Judge Williams said while the conspiracy had 'some humanitarian and loyalty' motives, it developed into a commercial operation. The court was told that Ahmed first contacted Harris in March 2016 with a text saying 'Hello mate, somebody my friend give me your number. You did bring his brother so can you bring my brother as well if you can.' Harris agreed, asking for 2,500 in advance and 'the rest when it's done'. Three weeks later Harris had smuggled in the Kurdish national's younger brother in his Ford Mondeo. After another migrant was smuggled in by Harris and dropped off of at a Tesco supermarket in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in April 2016, he sent Ahmed a text message asking 'Do you still have lots more?' The married father-of-two, who arrived in the UK hidden inside a lorry in 2004 and was granted asylum, replied: 'Yeah, don't worry, one every week'. Harris responded 'Excellent. Happy doing business with you.' He was paid half the money in advance by Ahmed, and then the remaining amount on delivery of the migrant, making a total of 20,000. As well as the Tesco car park, other rendezvous points for handovers included the village of Yaxley near Peterborough, and an Asda car park in Nottingham. Prosecutor Walton Hornsby said payments to Hassan by Ahmed were 'limited' in comparison to the money paid to Harris who earnt 'a significant amount of money'. He added: 'The prosecution case is that although there may have been some humanitarian aspect, this was a commercial operation. 'The individuals concerned were clearly desperate to come into this country and prepared to pay large sums of money to people who could enable them to come to this country. 'Had Zinden Ahmed's involvement been simply trying to bring his brother into this country as a genuine asylum seeker for humanitarian reasons, there would not have been a prosecution. That is not the policy of the Home Office. 'What this is about is the exploitation of large migrants in this position.' Mark Nellthorp, pictured, was dismissed as deputy director at HM Revenue & Customs in September after the allegations were made A senior civil servant has been sacked after 'five junior female employees claimed he had sexually harassed or assaulted them.' Mark Nellthorp, who is in his 50s, was dismissed as deputy director at HM Revenue & Customs in September, reports the Guardian. The five women who complained are said to be based in locations across the country and met Mr Nellthorp when he visited from the London office. Three of the women alleged that they were sexually assaulted as well as harassed. One of the women has brought an employment tribunal claim of sexual harassment against both Mr Nellthorp and HMRC - which he is fighting. As well as Mr Nellthorp's dismissal, two other female assistant directors have been suspended on full pay since last February. They were accused of facilitating Mr Nellthorp's behaviour and are still said to be being investigated. A junior HMRC employee has also been sacked after being accused of enabling Mr Nellthorp's behaviour. The Guardian reported that HMRC received a complaint about Mr Nellthorp bullying around three years ago but it was not upheld. However the first complaint from an alleged victim about sexual harassment was made on 19 December 2017 - Mr Nellthorp was suspended in February 2018. Three other members of staff at HMRC have also been suspended or fired over the allegations Mr Nellthorp is also interim chair of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust. He held this position from June to the end of October 2017. Last November HMRC launched the Respect At Work report, and findings that were published online today showed that not one 'individual had confidence in the grievance process.' The report, chaired by former HR Director at John Lewis Partnership Laura Whyte, also found that 'People working at HMRC tolerate a significant amount of so-called 'low level' poor behaviours that would not be acceptable in other environments.' These included swearing, breaching confidentiality, mocking colleagues, which 'seemed to be unremarkable.' The report showed that in the civil services People Survey 2018 there was 115 reported cases of bullying, harassment and discrimination in 2017/18. In the same survey 63% of people indicated they did not report bullying or harassment if they had experienced it. Esther Wallington, Chief People Officer at HMRC, said: 'Sexual misconduct and bullying of any kind have absolutely no place in a modern and diverse organisation such as HMRC. 'When serious accusations were made recently which led to gross misconduct being found we didn't hesitate to take firm action resulting in dismissal. 'While we have no evidence of widespread serious misconduct we will not rest until we are satisfied that all our staff work in an environment free from bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. 'Last year, we commissioned an independent, thorough review into how we handle and respond to such accusations across HMRC and are speaking directly to our people about its findings to ensure that all our staff work in a safe and positive environment.' An Oregon police officer told a group of cops to 'kill all the black people' just three days after 17-year-old Quanice Hayes was shot dead on February 9, 2017, it was revealed on Wednesday. Sergeant Gregg Lewis made the comment in a meeting when asked by his team how to approach suspects in the immediate aftermath of fellow officer Andrew Hearst shooting Hayes, who was holding a toy gun. In a letter notifying Lewis he'd been fired, written a year after the meeting, the Bureau of Police shared witness accounts of the cop's shocking reply to being confronted with the idea that white suspects are shot to be injured but black suspects are shot to be killed. Those comments were revealed for the first time on this week, as city officials considered a proposed settlement that would prevent the firing of Lewis from being overturned, but mean he could retire with $100,000 in back pay. Officer Andrew Hearst shot dead Quanice Hayes, 17, while he was holding a toy gun in Portland, Oregon February 9, 2017 Days later Sgt. Gregg Lewis said: 'Go out and shoot black people... what the f**k do I care?' The comments were quoted on the record by City Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty, which delayed the settlement vote until next week and led to the release of the Lewis' full termination letter by the mayor's office, the Oregonian reported. 'Officers began talking about this statement, and then I heard Sergeant Lewis state, "Well, let's just go out and kill all the black people",' one officer of the 16 present along with three sergeants in the meeting complained, according to the letter. The witness' statement added that officers appeared 'shocked and astonished' and although there was some uncomfortable laughter throughout the room, most were quiet. Another person in the meeting provided a similar statement, adding Lewis laughed at someone's reaction of 'Oh my god' then threw his hands up in the air and said, 'F*** it. What do I care?' Accounts taken from February 22-28 detail Lewis as making racist comments in 2017 Cops report that Sergeant Lewis told them: 'Let's just go out and kill all the black people' Lewis' colleagues said he earlier told them to 'be smart' about the way they handled people based on their appearance Other accounts taken from February 22-28 claim Lewis said 'go out and shoot black people' and 'if they're black just shoot them'. Other variations include: 'If you find a homeless black person make sure you shoot him and kill him.' 'I guess if you're black you get shot and if you're white, you don't.' 'If it's a black transient we can just kill them.' 'If they're homeless you go and detox them and if they're black, whatever, you just shoot them.' 'I guess we just have to go out and shoot a black homeless person.' 'If they're black and homeless, shoot them or kill them.' Lewis' colleagues said he earlier told them to 'be smart' about the way they handled people based on their appearance. Discussing the topic of taking intoxicated people away from inside parking garages, he allegedly said: 'If you come across a guy in a suit and tie that came downtown and had a little too much to drinkhe's probably not the guy you want to detox straight out of the garage. He will most likely sue you. 'If it's a homeless guy, you will probably be safe. I doubt he's going to sue you.' He also allegedly said if the intoxicated person is Latino to call Chiers, the name of a van that takes people on the street to detox centers. Lewis admitted he made inappropriate comments that day but insisted he was just joking Quanice Hayes family is pictured. His grandmother told the city council she was ashamed they would pay off Lewis to get rid of him quickly A grand jury declined to indict Officer Hearst on criminal charges the month after the shooting death of Hayes. They concluded Hearst was justified in shooting Hayes three times after police say Hayes reached for his waistband instead of following officer's order to surrender. Hayes was the first African-American to be fatally shot by Portland police since 2010, when two men were killed in separate incidents. City Commissioner JoAnn Hardy delayed Lewis receiving settlement and retirement money from the Portland after reading the witness accounts in a meeting Wednesday The shootings helped prompt a Justice Department investigation that found Portland police too often use excessive force against the mentally ill. The death of Hayes led protesters to repeatedly disrupt Portland City Council meetings during the weeks-long investigation. However the roll call incident that ended with Lewis' firing was kept under wraps for two years until this Wednesday. City Commissioner JoAnn Hardy became aware of the case shortly before the day Lewis was due to possibly be confirmed $100,020.53 in back-pay from the City of Portland and reinstatement to his job so he could be recorded as 'retired'. Lewis - who was employed by Portland Police in April 1991 - initially retired in November 2016 but was rehired a month later. He had been disciplined in July 2009 for unsatisfactory performance due to a vehicular collision that could have been prevented, after receiving Command Counseling in October 2006 following a similar incident. Navy veteran Hardesty, who started her City Commissioner role in November 2018, read the witness statements aloud in this week's council meeting, causing outrage among listeners. Now the vote on whether he should get the funds and status agreed has been delayed until next week. 'It's clear we have a broken system,' Hardesty said at the meeting. 'If it was up to me, I'd say, "Let's go to arbitration. Let's fight the good fight because even if we lose it, we send a very strong message that this is just not acceptable. 'That you don't get to sit in roll call and make racist comments and you don't get a payday on top of your city-paid retirement".' Hayes' grandmother spoke at the council meeting and said she was ashamed they would pay off Lewis just to get rid of him quickly. Family members hold hands beneath a button portraying Quanice Hayes during a press conference in Portland March 22, 2017 as a federal investigation was demanded. Lewis' comments were kept covered up and remained under wraps for two years until Wednesday Police confronted Hayes after he allegedly used a replica gun to rob a homeless man of his state food benefits card. The man had been sleeping in a car outside a northeast Portland motel. Hayes was also a suspect in a reported car prowl shortly after the robbery. Police spokesman Sergeant Pete Simpson said officers found Hayes crouching in the alcove of a home. Hearst shot Hayes twice in the chest and once in the head. The replica gun was found next to Hayes after the shooting as well as the food benefits card, Simpson said. Toxicology results showed numerous drugs in Hayes' blood including cocaine, benzodiazepine and hydrocodone. Venus Hayes said none of the accusations against her son were sufficient grounds for his 'execution'. 'They [initially] told us there were three officers on the scene; there was in fact five officers on the scene,' Hayes said. 'None of the officers felt the need to use deadly force, only Officer Hearst.' Quanice Hayes' mother Venus Hayes wears a button of her son, Quanice Hayes (March 2017) Jussie Smollett, pictured in the hospital hours after the attack on Tuesday, has spoken out for the first time to say he is 'OK' Jussie Smollett has broken his silence to thank fans for the outpouring of support he has received since he was attacked on Tuesday by two racist, homophobic men as he walked home. The Empire star told Essence in a statement: 'Let me start by saying that I'm OK. 'My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. 'The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.' He added that while he was 'frustrated' with 'certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations' about the case, he believes 'justice will be served.' 'I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served. 'As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. 'I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. 'We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process.' 'Photos (pictured) of people of interest who were in area of the alleged assault & battery of Empire cast member,' police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Wednesday evening 'Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It's all I know. And that can't be kicked out of me. 'With Love, respect & honorJussie,' he said. It is the first time he has spoken since being targeted in downtown Chicago by two men who he said shouted 'this is MAGA country!' and attacked him as he walked home. JUSSIE SMOLLETT'S STATEMENT ON RACIST HOMOPHOBIC ATTACK Let me start by saying that Im OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served. As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process. 'Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. Its all I know. And that cant be kicked out of me. With Love, respect & honorJussie. Advertisement The attack was not captured on surveillance footage but Smollett was seen entering his apartment building moments after it happened with a rope around his neck. He was on the phone to his manager, Brandon Z. Moore, when he was jumped and Moore corroborated his story earlier this week. A week before the attack, Smollett reportedly received a homophobic and racist death threat in the mail. It was sent to the studio where he films Empire and is said to have terrified staff. Police are working to find two men they believe may be responsible and are appealing to the public for information. Smollett's neighbor has also described seeing two suspicious 'redneck' types standing outside their luxury apartment building 90 minutes before the attack took place. One had a rope hanging out of his sweatshirt, she said, and they looked out of place. Smollett had not long arrived back in Chicago from New York City when he was attacked. His flight was delayed by several hours leaving and he documented his frustration about the late arrival on Instagram before he got home. He was filmed on surveillance cameras leaving the Subway at around 2am and walking towards the apartment. Police on Thursday confirmed that he was filmed on the same street as the two persons of interest whose images have been released at one point during his journey home. The 36-year-old actor was walking down the street and the two men were sitting on a bench facing opposite him. Smollett and his manager Brandon Z. Moore both told police they were on the phone when the attack happened. Moore said he heard the attackers yell 'this is MAGA country'. It is not clear if he is the person who called 911 or if it was someone else but Smollett refused to hand over his phone when police asked for it to verify that they had been on the phone The attacks are believed to be premeditated as Smollett received a cut out letter, that appears to be dated from January 18, stating that 'You will die black f*g'. Fox Studio received the letter on the 22nd and cops said it was laced with powder Tylenol The photos show two men walking on North New Street (depicted above) near East Illinois Street around 1.45am on Tuesday. Smollett told police that he was walking alone down East North Water Street in the 300-block around 2am when the two men approached him They got up and walked away and all three walked out of the cameras' view. Smollett was picked back up by a different camera 60 seconds later as he entered his apartment building. He had the rope around his neck and there was salt on the front of his sweatshirt from the ground. At 2.35am, an associate of the actor's called 911 and officers arrived at an apartment where he was at 2.42am. It is not clear if it was his apartment that they went to or his friend's. After giving his statement, Smollett took himself to hospital where he was treated for lacerations to the face. The attack took place here, in the street, outside the apartment building where Smollett stays while he is in Chicago filming. It is in between two luxury apartment buildings and two hotels but police say they have not yet recovered surveillance footage of it Smollett, 36, who is also a singer, is due to perform on Saturday night in Los Angeles Police had asked him to turn over his phone for them to verify that he had been on a call with his manager, as both claimed, when the incident happened but he refused, saying he was uncomfortable doing so. Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Gugliemi told DailyMail.com on Thursday that it was not suspicious for him to have refused doing so and that he may have been concerned with privacy. He has been entirely cooperative otherwise, he said. The attack has enraged the country and caught the attention of the president who deemed it 'horrible' on Thursday. 'That's horrible....there is nothing worse, as far as I am concerned,' Trump said on when asked about the incident. Smollett's famous family released a statement abhorring the attack and countless celebrities, including his Empire co-stars, have also spoken out to support him. He is due to perform a show in Los Angeles on Saturday night. A Massachusetts man who was ordered to remove an 'Impeach Trump' banner from his home or face a $300 daily fine has been allowed to keep it after officials backed down. The roughly 12-foot by 2-foot, red, white and blue sign has been hanging from the second floor of Dan Chiasson's home in Wellesley, Norfolk County, for months. But earlier this week, officials told the 47-year-old that the banner violated town bylaws regarding size. Chiasson, a writer who teaches at Wellesley College and writes for The New Yorker, received a certified letter that stated the banner was contrary to the town's bylaws that signs must be no more than six square feet in size and no higher than three feet above the ground. The roughly 12-foot by 2-foot, red, white and blue sign has been hanging from the second floor of 47 year-old Dan Chiasson's home for months He was warned that, if he didn't remove the sign within seven days, he would be fined $300 a day. 'It's cathartic to express yourself in this way,' father of two Chiasson told Boston 25 News. 'Made sure to do a red, white and blue patriotic design. I feel this expression of speech is a profoundly American right.' Dan Chiasson, a writer who teaches at Wellesley College, questioned whether the town's bylaws concerning the sign violated his rights to political expression Referring to the letter, Chiasson said: 'I opened it up, I was quite surprised to find out they were asking me to take the sign down. 'I just knew I wasn't going to take it down.' After he questioned whether the rules violated his right to political expression, the town has had an apparent change of heart and the violation was rescinded. The town has now said it is set to review the language of its bylaws in light of recent federal court decisions based on political signs. He was warned by town officials that if he didn't remove the sign in seven days then he'd be fined $300 a day The violation was originally issued after the town received a complaint from a concerned citizen, according to Boston 25 News. President Donald Trump lost the Boston suburb of Wellesley to Hillary Clinton, a Wellesley College graduate, by a margin of more than 3-to-1. Democrats bracing for a border security lesson on Tuesday night may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, as well. President Trump is expected to rail against bills in Virginia and New York that would relax legal restrictions on the practice in his State of the Union address, the White House indicated on Friday. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway suggested, in response to a question from DailyMail.com on the theme of Trump's speech, that the president would denounce the measures in the primetime address. 'Im not going to tell you whats in the speech Ive seen it but maybe hell ask Democrats, in view of the new news, why do you object to the Pain-Capable bill that non-partisan scientists say a baby can feel pain after the twentieth week,' Conway said. Democrats who worry they're in for a border security lesson on Tuesday night, may want to prepare for a lecture on late-term abortion from the president, instead Politico also reported that White House sources were saying it would be a topic. Conway said that Trump would be highlighting bipartisan efforts like criminal justice reform and praising the economic gains the nation has seen under his presidency. But she indicated that he'd also tackle the controversial issue of late-term abortion. 'Now weve got, weve got governors, and state legislators in many places, but most illustratively, and recently, in New York in Virginia, saying that a baby can have his or her life snuffed out of it, out of him or her ... after 20 weeks. I mean this is who we are as Americans?' she asked. President Trump touched on the issue this week in a tweet but has said little else on the topic. 'Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime!' he said on Thursday morning. He said later on Thursday that a theme of his State of the Union address will be 'unity' and he will praise Republicans for sticking by him over the course of his last year in office. 'I think its unification, I think its industry, I think its about the people that you see right here,' he told reporters from the Oval Office. Trump quickly pivoted to an attack on Democrats for refusing his pleas for a border wall and then back to the topic of unity in the next sentence as he gave reporters their first look at the Tuesday speech. 'The problem is the Democrats, you know when they say, we don't want to build, as an example, we don't want to build a wall, because it doesn't work or because it's immoral,' he charged. Bringing up House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's claim that a wall is 'immoral,' he said that allowing Americans to die at the hand of violent immigrants is also unacceptable. 'Well it's also immoral, the people that come into our country that shouldn't be here and kill people. That's immoral, too. That's a lot more immoral,' he claimed with no build-up. He added, as he got back on topic: 'But I really think it's going to be a speech that is going to cover a lot of territory but part of it is going to be unity.' Asked Friday by DailyMail.com about the assault on the opposing party, seconds after he said he wanted to spark unity, Conway said, 'Well the president, of course, is going to be a unifying figure. He is the leader of the country. 'And he is certainly the leader of the country at the State of the Union. Its his opportunity once a year to look the American people in the eye, cut out the middle man respectfully, until the panels talk afterwards to convey to them, many things they dont hear throughout the year.' She mentioned the January jobs report that dropped earlier on Friday. Companies created more jobs the first month of the year than forecasters expected. 'The record of accomplishment, the facts and figures of his great economy, today with 304,000 new jobs created, well above the line of 70,000 that were projected. So, he will say things like that, showing the economys strong,' she said. As part of his bid to spark 'unity' he will talk about criminal justice reform, prescription drug legislation and other issues on which 'Republicans and Democrats have proven they can come together and work toward a common purpose of serving the American people,' she stated. 'He believes border security is a non-partisan issue that should have bipartisan solutions,' she added. 'And I dont think that the speaker of the House, respectfully, sounds very unifying, most days she sounds like a cable news pundit ... She doesnt sound like a unifying figure.' Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks to a crowd during a Women's Rights rally at the Capitol in Richmond earlier this month (left); Virginia Del. Kathy Tran presents HB2491, her bill dealing with eliminating some requirements for abortion inside the State Capitol in Richmond this week (right) Conway said that Pelosi, who represents liberal San Francisco in Congress should broaden her own message and 'get a little bit better control of her temper and her chamber.' 'And those who dont show up for the State of the Union, thats on them, not on the president. They need to explain to their constituents why they thought so little of the people they represent that they refused to sit in the hallowed chamber in the Capitol and listen to our president come forward and try to call for bipartisan action on any number of measures. Thats on them, thats not on him.' No Democrats have said so far that they are boycotting the speech, but many refused to sit in the chamber and listen to Trump in 2018 some over comments he made about immigrants from 's***hole nations' seeking refuge in America. The president and Democrats are still clashing over the issue that looms large ahead of a Feb. 15 deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security and other major agencies. They're also butting heads on Trump's foreign policy. The Senate moved forward with legislation to rebuke his Middle East policy moves this week. They want a review of his troop withdrawal in Syria and an assessment of a possible pullout in Afghanistan. Conway said national security and foreign policy would be major pillars of Trump's address on Tuesday, as well. 'The president spends a good part of everyday thinking about the nations intelligence, security, foreign policy certainly, endless wars as he calls them in places like Syria and Afghanistan, where he thinks that we have spent enormous treasure, most of all, our young men and women who have perished there. And of course he will be addressing that in the State of the Union, as well as domestic issues,' she added. Democrats have selected former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams to give their response to Trump. He said he hopes she does 'a good job' and has 'respect' for her on Thursday, despite referring to her as 'not qualified' to hold office last year as he tried to bring her down. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday Abrams said she was 'delighted' to have been chosen 'I respect her. I don't know her. I haven't met her, but I hope she does a good job,' Trump said of the Democratic politician. He mentioned that he doesn't the Georgian who he worked to to keep out of office on a personal level. 'I campaigned against Stacey Abrams, I know that President Obama campaigned for her. Michelle Obama campaigned for her, and Oprah campaigned for her, and all Brian [Kemp] had was me, and he won fairly easily, you know fairly easily. So, I hope that she does a good job.' Abrams garnered national attention in her bid to become the first female, African-American governor of Georgia in a contest that went down to the wire. Democratic star power flooded the state to support her, including Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama. Abrams lost to Kemp by 1 percent of the vote. She is the first African-American woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union. The secondary speech has traditionally served as a springboard for higher office. Trump delivered his State of the Union address on January 30, 2018, speaking to a packed House chamber where every seat was filled and the galleries were at capacity Nearly 30 children have died in eastern Syria over the past two months after making their way out of the last area controlled by the Islamic State group, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency said Friday. Andrej Mahecic of UNHCR said in Geneva that malnourishment and hypothermia have been the principal causes of the 29 children's deaths. They are among some 10,000 people who have fled the area near the Iraqi border and reached the al-Hol tent settlement in Hassakeh, raising its population to more than 23,000, Mahecic said. A Syrian child carries a kerosene heater distribute with other aid at the al-Hol refugee camp The evacuations from eastern Syria come during frigid winter weather in the desert region, with mostly women and children fleeing amid the fighting there. The U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have captured wide areas from IS in recent months in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. The extremists are now besieged in a small pocket near Iraq's border. The fighting that began with an SDF offensive on Sept. 10 has left hundreds dead on both sides. The extremists now control only two villages. A man holds his child as he sits next to a new delivery of Kerosene heaters in the al-Hol refugee camp in al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria As IS loses ground, thousands of people, many of them women and children, are fleeing and most of them are being taken to a tent settlement in the northeastern province of Hassakeh. Syria's conflict, which began in March 2011, has impacted children heavily, many of whom have been killed or wounded. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, released a death toll for the conflict in December saying that among the half a million people killed over the past seven years, 20,819 were children or teenagers. A Syrian boy leans on new jerry cans as he watches aid items to cope with the winter weather A child sits next to a new delivery of Kerosene heaters in the al-Hol refugee camp Mahecic said the children who have died since early December - including newborns - have died both during their journey and shortly after their arrival. Medical facilities in Hassakeh, where the most critical cases are referred to from the camp, are overstretched caring for acutely malnourished children. He said UNHCR and partners have set up 24-hour response teams to receive the newly displaced people, quickly identify the most vulnerable cases and provide urgent assistance, especially to unaccompanied or separated children and those who require immediate medical assistance. A Syrian woman carries boxes of aid being distributed at the al-Hol refugee camp Mahecic said UNHCR and humanitarian partners are racing to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable civilians at al-Hol. He said families fleeing the IS-held enclave and surrounding areas have also told UNHCR 'of a harrowing journey to safety.' 'They travel at night with barely any belongings, often having to wade through mine fields and open fighting,' he said. Mahecic added that on reaching SDF positions they describe 'being herded into open trucks and having to endure another arduous journey in winter weather northwards to al-Hol.' 'Little or no assistance is provided en route to the hungry and cold people, the vast majority of whom are women and children,' he said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said many of those in al-Hol are Iraqi citizens. It added that the dead children include eight Iraqis killed by fire caused by 'primitive' methods used for heating. Police in Cape Verde have seized nearly ten tonnes of cocaine and arrested 11 Russians in the largest single drug haul in the island country's history. An Atlantic archipelago of 500,000 people off Africa's west coast, Cape Verde has long tried to tackle gangs trafficking Latin American cocaine to Europe via West Africa. The 9.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized overnight from the ship which was travelling to Morocco from South America. That tonnage of cocaine would have a UK street value of approximately 850million, but in reality would have sold for a total far greater than that after being cut many times in the distribution process. It docked at the island's capital and primary port, Praia, for legal reasons following the death of a crew member, the judiciary police said in a statement. The 9.5 tonne seizure was the biggest in the history of the West African island's police force Eleven people have now been arrested, all of whom were Russian nationals, the police said Photos provided by the police on Friday showed dozens of brick-like packages wrapped in plastic and cloth sacks at the port. The police said they were alerted by the Maritime Analysis and Operation Center - a platform coordinating the anti-drug trafficking actions of seven EU states - who suspected the ship of transporting illicit substances. The 11 arrested were Russian nationals. The use of hard substances like cocaine, heroin and amphetamines is rising in West Africa, where countries that once served primarily as transit points for trade between South America and Europe are now active consumer markets. The ship was travelling from South America to Morocco but docked in Cape Verde following the death of a crew member Despite strict drug laws, the quantity of cocaine seized in Africa doubled in 2016, according to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), making it the second-highest growth in cocaine seizures after Asia. In Cape Verde, authorities intercepted 1.5 tonnes of pure cocaine destined to the European market in 2011, and seized 280 kilograms of the drug from a Brazil-registered fishing vessel in 2016 as it prepared to transfer its load to a U.S.-flagged yacht. Global cocaine production reached 1,125 tonnes in 2015, said the UNODC, of which a record of 864 tonnes were seized that year. (Reporting by Julio Rodriges; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Edward McAllister and Toby Chopra) This is the first picture of the cop who allegedly witnessed the shocking on-duty game of Russian Roulette that cost Officer Katlyn Alix her life. Patrick Riordan insists he tried to prevent his partner Nathaniel Hendren playing the deadly game with Alix as the three met up at Hendren's apartment. But the 29-year-old remains on paid administrative leave as his part in the encounter in St. Louis is probed. Riordan is pictured graduating from the St. Louis Police Academy in April 2017, the same year that both Alix and Hendren also graduated. Alix graduated at a similar ceremony in January and Hendren passed through in November. Local TV personality Dan Gray, who was emcee at the event introduced the graduates, saying they were joining 'one of the most noble and unselfish professions there is.' Patrick Riordan (center) allegedly witnessed partner Nathaniel Hendren and fellow officer Katlyn Alix play the deadly game of Russian roulette that cost Alix her life. He is pictured at his graduation ceremony in April 2017 The 29-year-old has claimed he had told the other two cops they should not be playing with a gun and says he was walking out the door when he heard the gun fire Officer Nathaniel Hendren, 29, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Alix's (right) shooting death. The police officer has a black eye, which he is said to have sustained after headbutting a police vehicle shortly after the shooting Riordan and Hendren, also 29, were on duty early on January 24 when they drove to Hendren's home in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis to meet up with Alix, who married another officer just three months earlier. They were supposed to be patrolling in an area 10 miles from Hendren's home. Within an hour Alix was dead from a gunshot to the chest, allegedly shot by Hendren in a twisted game of Russian roulette. The two male officers rushed her to Saint Louis University Hospital where she died. Hendren is currently under house arrest after posting $10,000 10 percent of his $100,000 bail and is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. His partner has not been charged in the criminal courts but both he and Hendren face internal disciplinary action for allegedly drinking on duty. Riordan's lawyer, James Towey said that his client 'blew all zeroes' after having 'a few sips of a beer' while at Hendren's house. 'He poured the rest out in a kitchen sink, leaving the can by the sink, and that should be confirmed by crime scene photos,' Towey said. Hendren allegedly took out a revolver and placed one bullet in its chamber. He fired at Alix but nothing happened, she pointed the gun at him and again it did not go off. Then Hendren took the gun again and this time it fired, hitting Alix in the chest. Riordan says he had told the other two cops they should not be playing with a gun and says he was walking out the door when he heard the gun fire. Riordan was part of the 2016-03 class of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Hendren graduated in January while Alix passed through in November Riordan has not been charged in the criminal courts but both he and Hendren face internal disciplinary action for allegedly drinking on duty. He is pictured above with his graduating class Office Katlyn Alix graduated in November 2016. She was shot in the chest and the two officers rushed her to Saint Louis University Hospital where she died Hendren appeared in court on Thursday in a tracksuit. He said nothing as he left the court, KMOV4 reported. He stayed silent in a video taken after he was charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of 24-year-old Katlyn Alix, KMOV4 reports. Pictures show the police officer has a black eye, which he is said to have got headbutting a police vehicle shortly after the shooting, according to reports. A TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO KATLYN ALIX'S DEATH Wednesday, January 23, 11pm: Both Nathaniel Hendren and Patrick Riordan are said to have reported for duty for their 11pm to 7am shift Just after 11pm: Responded to first emergency call, an alleged assault at a senior facility 11:48pm: Called to a burglary alarm in Manchester Thursday, January 24, 12:14am: Back on duty after burglary deemed a false alarm 12:56am: Hendren and Riordan call emergency dispatchers from their police radios. They both take Alix to Saint Louis University Hospital after the shooting in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis 1:07am: Alix was pronounced dead 1:30 am: Lt. William Brown files allegations of misconduct The shooting happened in a different district from where the officers were assigned to patrol, KMOV4 reports. Advertisement Hendren and Riordan, were at his home, along with Katlyn, early Thursday when the two men were supposed to be patrolling a neighborhood. There, Hendren and Riordan allegedly 'consumed alcoholic beverages while on-duty', according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. In a disciplinary document Lt. William Brown also alleges Hendren 'recklessly discharged a firearm resulting in the death of another officer'. The circuit attorney's office has already raised serious concerns over the police handling of the case. Prosecutor Kimberly M. Gardner questioned whether cops tried to block the drug and alcohol testing of Hendren and Riordan. In a letter to Chief John Hayden and Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, Gardner also said the fact police labelled the incident an accident so soon after the shooting was 'particularly troublesome'. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden spoke Thursday at a press conference calling Gardner's comments 'absolutely irresponsible'. He refused to comment on speculation surrounding the story and would not confirm why Hendren now has a black eye. Among the questions he refused to answer were whether sex or drugs were factors being investigated. But after originally calling the shooting 'accidental' Chief Hayden said he 'later learned circumstances were much more reckless'. Hendren was seen leaving the courthouse in St. Louis in a track suit on Thursday (left) after he was granted $10,000 bail Hendren, pictured left, and his police partner Patrick Riordan have been accused of 'consuming alcoholic beverages while on-duty' He also confirmed the force is going to put GPS laptops in all cars so officers will be tracked in the future. WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW: There are more questions than answers in the case of the Russian Roulette cop shooting. These are the most pressing: Why were the two on-duty cops at Officer Hendren's home instead of being on patrol? Why was off-duty Officer Alix at the home late at night? Where was her husband? Was there a romantic relationship between the male officers and Officer Alix? Was there a grudge between Officer Alix and Officer Hendren? Who started the game of Russian roulette? Had Officer Alix been drinking? Was Officer Riordan really just a witness to the game? Why weren't blood tests administered to Officer Hendren and Officer Riordan after the shooting? Why did Officer Hendren have a black eye from 'headbutting a police car?' Were the officers wearing body cams? Were any other substances involved? Advertisement A judge had earlier doubled Hendren's bond, from $50,000 to $100,000, and ordered him to turn in any firearms he owns. Judge David Roither added: 'You don't point a muzzle at anything you don't intend to shoot.' Katlyn's parents have hired a legal team to conduct their own investigation and are considering a lawsuit. Attorney Scott Rosenblum says the team will look into 'all avenues,' which potentially includes civil litigation. The parents of 24-year-old Katlyn Alix and her sister joined Rosenblum for a tearful press conference Wednesday, just hours after the newlywed officer's funeral. Aimee Chadwick, Katlyn's mother, said she is still waiting for answers, while the officer's father, Ron Alix, called on the news media to stop repeating 'rumors' about what happened last week between his daughter, Nathaniel Hendren and another officer. 'She doesn't deserve everything that's being said about her it's really hurtful to us every time we hear it on the TV and face to face,' said Mr Alix, choking back tears, Fox 2 Now reported. The family's lawyer chimed in, adding: 'Rumors don't mean anything at the end of the day. Facts do.' Online there is speculation over why Alix was at his home on the night of the shooting, why Hendren and his partner were reportedly not working when they were supposed to be on duty and why they allegedly took Alix to the hospital instead of an ambulance. One person wrote: 'I for one don't believe 'the story'. Not at all.' Alix, 24, was allegedly shot and killed by her colleague during a game of Russian roulette Alix and Meyer are seen above center with her parents in a Facebook photo Another added: 'They pulled the trigger two times and then again. I smell a rat.' Hendren's attorney said Alix's death was a 'tragic accident.' Addressing the defense lawyer's statement characterizing the shooting as accidental, Rosenblum said it will be up to a jury to decide. 'Obviously, I don't think anybody is going to suggest that there was any deliberation or premeditation, at least at this point, but the facts can fit any number of offenses,' he said. Asked to talk about their late daughter, Katlyn's parents said she was loved by all and could light up a room. 'We're gonna miss her so much,' her father said while visibly struggling to put his thoughts into words. 'I'm broken up... I want Katy back, but that's not gonna happen.' The family's attorney expressed confidence that he and his team will get to the bottom of what happened to the newlywed cop with police and military training on the night of the shooting. 'There hasn't been enough answers to this family's questions,' Rosenblum told the assembled reporters. 'I'm 100 per cent confident we'll find the answers.' This is the home of Officer Hendren in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis. Hendren and Alix took turns pulling the trigger of a revolver that eventually killed the 24-year-old officer Both Nathaniel Hendren and Patrick Riordan are said to have reported for duty for their 11pm to 7am shift, but at 12:56am they called emergency dispatchers from their police radios and take Alix to hospital According to a probable cause statement, Alix, who was off duty, went to Hendren's home sometime before 1am last Thursday and the pair began a deadly game of Russian roulette. The charging documents say Hendren and Alix were taking turns pulling the trigger of a gun loaded with one bullet while pointing it at each other when Alix was shot in the chest. Hendren and his police partner, also 29, rushed her to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It is unknown where Alix's husband of four months was at the time. Prosecutor Gardner wrote that urine and breath tests were performed on the male officers, but not a blood test. She argued that the way the testing was performed 'appears to be an obstructionist tactic.' Gardner's letter said there was 'probable cause at the scene that drugs or alcohol may be a contributing factor in a potential crime.' Alix was laid to rest following a funeral service in St Louis Wednesday (pictured) She claimed that a police lieutenant erroneously told her office that a hospital would not honor a search warrant for the officers' blood. The prosecutor also faulted law enforcement officials for initially characterizing the shooting as an 'accident', which she said was an 'inappropriate' 'pre-disposed conclusion about the potential outcome of a case'. Both Hendren and his partner have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure any time an officer is involved in a shooting. Hendren had been on the police force for about a year. He faces three to 10 years in prison if convicted on the felony counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. A Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison after he admitted to killing his wife by tying a concrete block around her neck and throwing her off a bridge into a lake amid a bitter split. Prosecutors in Fort Worth say Rodolfo 'Rudy' Arellano pleaded guilty Wednesday to capital murder. He will serve life behind bars without the possibility of parole. The 36-year-old man could have faced the death penalty if convicted at trial. Rodolfo Arellano, 36 (left), pleaded guilty to capital murder in the April 2016 drowning death of his estranged wife, 28-year-old Elizabeth Arellano (right) Elizabeth's body was tossed from Interstate 820 bridge into Lake Worth with a 119-pound chunk of concrete tied to her neck The body of his 28-year-old wife and the mother of their four children, Elizabeth Pule Arellano, was discovered in April 2016 in Lake Worth after police say fishermen reported hearing screams and seeing someone fall from the Interstate 820 bridge. When the woman's body was discovered, a rope was tied around her neck attached to a 119-pound block of concrete. Her husband was arrested 10 days later. Elizabeth worked full time as a certified medical assistant and was raising her and Rodolfo's three sons and a daughter. Police initially thought the woman's death was a suicide, but the Tarant County medical examiner later ruled her death a homicide resulting from drowning with weight around her neck, reported Dallas News. Elizabeth had been alive when she plunged into the waters of Lake Worth. Rodolfo and Elizabeth had been together for 13 years and had a daughter and three sons (pictured right as a family) Family said Elizabeth had moved out of her family's home a week before killing and planned to divorce Rodolfo The victim's relatives said Elizabeth had planned to divorce her husband of 13 years and had moved out of their family home a week before her death. In the early hours of April 16, 2016, the mom-of-four contacted a friend saying she had arrived at her parents' home after a night out with her colleagues from work, but she never made it inside. Her mother, Juniata, later discovered Elizabeth's car parked nearby, with her purse and phone inside, and reported her missing. Elizabeth was ambushed outside her parents' home after a night out with girlfriends According to investigators, Rodolfo ambushed his estranged wife and kidnapped her. When questioned by police, the man denied any wrongdoing and said he was at home at the time of his estranged wifes disappearance, but phone records and surveillance video had shown him in the area of Juanita Pules home. A subsequent search of Arellanos truck and yard turned up pieces of concrete consistent with the block used to drown his wife. Prosecutor Allenna Bangs told Fort Worth Star-Telegram she had run the plea deal offer by Elizabeths family earlier this week and they appeared comforted by the idea that Arellano will publicly admit to his guilt. The woman's loved ones will be given a chance to deliver their victim impact statements in court during Arellanos sentencing hearing next week. Richard Henderson, Arellanos defense attorney, said the plea deal was the correct resolution to the difficult case. A California school has come under fire after a guest speaker wore blackface to dress up as an African woman during a history lesson on a Christian missionary. The superintendent of the Victory Christian School system in Carmichael was forced to apologize after the chapel speaker was pictured with darkened skin for the elementary class' lesson. John Huffman wrote to parents, apologizing for his 'poor judgment' and said he was wrong to have allowed the woman, who has not been named, to dress in that way. In a statement to Yahoo News he said: 'Last Thursday our elementary chapel speaker dressed up as a Central African native woman in order to tell the life story of missionary David Livingston (sic) and his work in Africa in the late 1800s. 'In an effort to bring authenticity to her role, she wore a typical native dress and headdress. She also used makeup to darken her skin tone on her arms, shoulders and face.' The speaker wore blackface to dress up as an African woman during a history lesson on a Christian missionary. The superintendent of the Victory Christian School in Carmichael apologized after the chapel speaker was pictured with darkened skin WHO WAS DAVID LIVINGSTONE? David Livingstone was posted to southern Africa in 1841 as a missionary doctor. He became convinced of his mission to introduce Christianity to Africa. Livingstone crossed the continent during the mid-19th century and wrote Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa in 1857. An abolitionist, he publicized the horrors of the slave trade. He died in 1873 and is buried in Westminster Abbey. Advertisement Huffman added: 'I was wrong to allow the use of makeup no matter how innocent the intentions as it has offended some of my students and parents. 'I should have anticipated that this could be offensive, and I apologized to my students and parents asking to be forgiven for hurting them.' The woman is said to have been teaching the district's lower school about missionary David Livingstone, who visited Africa in the late 19th century. A former student, who did not want to be identified, said: 'It was very upsetting, especially because the kids in that class are so young. A mother said she would pull her daughter from the school.' After seeing the image on social media one Twitter user wrote: 'Im done. Really it's 2019. How can you think this is a good idea?' Another added: 'Utterly speechless.' The letter sent home to parents from John Huffman after the incident involving a guest speaker John Huffman, left, wrote to parents, apologizing after the 'poor judgment'. A former student at Victory Christian School called it 'very upsetting' especially in front of 'kids so young' Courtesy of Fox40. Huffman is also understood to have spoken about the issue in a school assembly. He added: 'I wanted to assure them that I am planning future open discussions about this in our chapels and Bible classes in order to help students and staff understand each other's sensitivities. 'There will be other opportunities scheduled for staff as well as teachers as we all learn from this together.' DailyMail.com has contacted the school for comment. The first woman to fly a fighter jet has died at the age of 65 following a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. Navy Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner was one of the first eight women chosen to fly military aircraft before going on to become the first woman to command a military aviation squadron in 1990. On Saturday, in its first ever all-female flyover, the Navy will display the 'missing man formation' in honour of the Navy captain's legacy. The flyover will take place during Rosemary Mariner's funeral service in Maynardville, Tennessee. The Navy will perform its first ever all-female flyover on Saturday for Navy Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Rosemary Mariner was one of the first eight women chosen to fly military aircraft in 1973 Rosemary's husband ret. Mariner's husband told NBC News: 'It's wonderful that the Navy can do that and it's good that they have that many women where they can fill out all the cockpits with women. 'But that would not be a requirement for Rosemary.' Despite her small stature, Rosemary was a woman of steel who was able to keep up with her male counterparts upon entry to the Navy. According to the Naval Air Forces Atlantic, the fighter pilot had also logged 17 aircraft carrier landings and completed more than 3,500 flight hours in 15 different aircraft. Former classmate Captain Joellen Drag Oslund described how the eight women, including herself and Rosemary, were sent to a 'women officer school' and very few expected the women to stay for 20 years. As soon as Rosemary was accepted to the 'women officer school' at the Navy she set her sights on becoming a pilot A tweet on the U.S. Naval Air Forces Twitter page read: 'A huge loss for out nation. Rosemary was a remarkable person, an incomparable aviator and a badass' However as soon as she was accepted into the Navy, Rosemary soon set her sights on her next goal- becoming a helicopter pilot. Captain Oslund said: 'She just had this vision and this mission, and nothing was going to deter her from accomplishing that.' Rosemary Mariner was selected for the Navy in 1973 with seven other women and became the first female jet pilot flying the A-4C and the A-7E Corsair II in 1974. The young aviator then reported for duty onboard the U.S. Navy warship the USS Lexington where she qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. In 1990, she commanded a military aviation squadron, VAQ-34, in California and became the first woman to do so. She finally retired in 1997 after her final military assignment. A tweet on the U.S. Naval Air Forces Twitter page read: 'A huge loss for out nation. Rosemary was a remarkable person, an incomparable aviator and a badass. 'RIP Captain. We stand on the shoulders of giants like Rosemary Mariner.' President Donald Trump said Thursday that he didn't intervene to help his son-in-law Jared Kushner maintain a White House security clearance after his was revoked temporarily last year. 'I was never involved with the security. I know that he you know, just from reading I know that there was issues back and forth about security for numerous people, actually. But I dont want to get involved in that stuff,' the president told The New York Times. Presidents have the power to assign top-level security clearances to White House aides. But he seemed unsure about the breadth of his ability to overrule the conclusions of intelligence agencies. 'I dont think I have the authority to do that. Im not sure I do,' Trump said at first. Minutes later he asserted that he could, in fact, instruct personnel security experts to ignore negative conclusions from the CIA and FBI. President Donald Trump seemed unsure on Thursday whether he had the authority to overrule intelligence agencies and award a top security clearance to his son-in-law Jared Kushner, at first saying he didn't and then insisting there would be 'nothing wrong' with doing it Jared Kushner's top-secret clearance was approved by a security supervisor after it was rejected by two career officials; Trump insists he never intervened 'Thered be nothing wrong, I dont think, with me calling them up to the Oval Office and say, Hey give these people, you know, clearances,' Trump said, while insisting he has never met any of them. 'I have the right to do it,' he added, 'but I never thought it was necessary.' A White House security specialist named Carl Kline ultimately green-lighted Kushner's current security clearance after two other security officials declined to approve it. Trump told the Times that he never intervened. Kushner is cleared for 'Top Secret' information but still doesn't have 'sensitive compartmented information' clerance, the highest category available to him. Problems in his initial background check, related to potential foreign influences, stalled his application in 2017. Kushner was forced to amend his financial disclosures on multiple occasions because he omitted information about his family business looking for overseas partners to help finance a $1.4 billion mortgage on a Manhattan skyscraper. The involvement of Kline, an unknown White House employee, became known after one of his subordinates was suspended from her position in his office for 'defiance' of his orders. The White House's embarrassing security clearance saga began with DailyMail.com's reporting about then-Staff Secretary Rob Porter (left), who held a top-secret clearance despite allegations from two ex-wives that he had been physically abusive in their marriages Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump both work as senior advisors to the president without pay. The Washington Post last year reported that officials from multiple countries had been discussing ways to try take advantage of Kushner's potential vulnerabilities Tricia Newbold has filed a complaint against Kline, whom she alleges discriminated against her due to her height. She has a rare form of dwarfism. Kline, she says, relocated security files to a hard-to-reach place. Security specialist Tricia Newbold, has denied there being any 'compromise' of sensitive information. She says her supervisor discriminated against her. The supervisor, Carl Kline, has been revealed to have approved Jared Kushner's security clearance The Washington Post last year reported that officials from multiple countries had been discussing ways to try take advantage of Kushner's 'complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience,' citing officials familiar with intelligence reports. The countries were the United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico. The issue of security clearances became even more fraught after DailyMail.com reported that then-White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter faced allegations of abuse by two ex-wives. Porter had access to all the materials that crossed the president's Oval Office desk. He held a top clearance despite the potential for blackmail over the women's accusations, which DailyMail.com first reported. The FBI had information about the women's complaints and turned it over to the White House, which has never addressed how it was overlooked. A White House spokesperson did not return a request for comment about whether Kline was responsible for clearing Porter. Justice Secretary David Gauke said stopping Jack Shepherd's legal aid could encourage more criminals to flee the UK Stopping speedboat killer Jack Shepherd's legal aid could encourage more criminals to flee the UK and evade justice, an MP has warned. Jack Shepherd, who killed 24-year-old Charlotte Brown, while drunkenly showing off in his speedboat on the Thames, fled the country before standing trial because he was 'too cowardly' to face her family in court. He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to six years. Despite being on the run, he was awarded thousands of pounds in legal aid to appeal. There was public outcry that a convicted killer, who did not attend his court case, was able from his hiding place to take taxpayers money to stage a second hearing. The Justice Secretary last month ordered an investigation into the loophole. But he has now said that denying the convicted killer tens of thousands of pounds in legal aid could lead to other criminals leaving the country ahead of their trial. He claims criminals who flee and are subsequently denied legal aid may not bother to return to the UK if they had no rights to appeal their case. The web designer (pictured in court at an emergency extradition meeting yesterday) has started learning Georgian in his prison cell and claims he hopes he can persuade his estranged wife to join him in the former Soviet state with their child Shepherds wife disowned him after discovering he was on an internet date with Charlotte Brown, 24, (pictured) when he killed her in his speedboat on the Thames Mr Gauke told Christopher Hope's 'Chopper's Brexit Podcast': 'Some years ago it was relatively rare to try a defendant in their absence, so if someone went on the run there would be no trial. 'And that is a very unsatisfactory situation because the family of the victim get no closure or justice. 'For the courts to try somebody in their absence, they rightly are going to be confident that there is a fair trial and that includes proper representation ... and also rights to appeal. 'This is why it is not quite straightforward - if you say 'if you fled the country you get no legal aid', would they be able to get a fair trial, would they have fair appeal rights? 'If the answer to that is no, then the fear is simply in cases like this he would not be tried. 'So it is an incentive to flee the country but also the people who lose out are the victims or the families of the victims.' Prosecutors had wanted Shepherd (pictured on January 29) to be extradited quickly to Britain After ten months on the run and following a Daily Mail campaign, Shepherd turned himself in to the Tbilisi authorities last week. The web designer has started learning Georgian in his prison cell and claims he hopes he can persuade his estranged wife to join him in the former Soviet state with their child. Shepherds wife disowned him after discovering he was on an internet date with Charlotte Brown, 24, when he killed her in his speedboat on the Thames. His bid to achieve Georgian citizenship will not be granted immediately, however. A highly-decorated British Army major has hid his salary cut from 60,000 to 54,000 for the next three years after he drunkenly attacked a superior officer who told him off for punching a captain at a family party. Major Andrew Hill, 51, launched a volley of abuse at Captain Joshua Warne over 'work-related' issues while at a party hosted by Royal Navy Commander David Goodman in Abuja, Nigeria. He had to be dragged away by a warrant officer after knocking the captain to the ground in front of other British military officers and some from the US Army, as well as their wives and children. After being taken outside to wait for a taxi, Commander Goodman, whose house the party was at, followed Hill to challenge him, prompting the major and father-of-two to punch his superior in the face as the two got into a brawl on the ground. The situation came to light at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire, where Major Hill was docked pay for three years At a court martial at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire, judge Alistair McGregor told Hill that assaulting a superior officer while drunk shows 'significant subordination'. Prosecutor Lieutenant Andy Ramage said that Hill had been posted to Abuja in an advice and support role. On June 23, last year, Commander Goodman hosted a small party at his accommodation for officers and their wives and children to attend. Lt Ramage said: 'At around 18.00 hours, Major Hill became aggressive towards Captain Warne about work-related matters. 'Captain Warne moves away, but Major Hill followed him and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. 'A Warrant Officer restrained Major Hill and escorted him to the main gate whilst they were waiting for transport. 'Commander Goodman approached Major Hill and told him his behaviour was inappropriate. Major Hill then assaulted him by punching him in the face. 'The Warrant Officer again intervened and pulled Major Hill off Commander Goodman. There were minor injuries sustained by both men. 'The defendant was interviewed and he admitted to being in altercations with both men and that he had been restrained. 'He says he has no memory of it and cannot remember what happened between 18.00 and 19.00 hours. 'Major Hill believes alcohol and stress of work may have contributed to his behaviour. 'He is a highly-decorated Major, with experience, awards and medals..' Hill, of Bristol admitted two counts of battery. Judge McGregor ordered the Major lose three years seniority, meaning his pay would reduce from around 60,000 a year to 54,000, as well as barring him from promotion for the same period. The judge said: 'You were part of a team out in Nigeria and attended a function hosted by your superior officer. 'You got involved in an argument and followed Captain Warne and punched him. This happened in front of women and children and other members of the allied forces. 'Outside, you got into a scuffle with Commander Goodman and punched him. Officers that assault their superiors demonstrate significant insubordination. 'We take into account your good military character and you are clearly of significant value to the Army. 'This matter is too serious for a fine. We will forfeit your seniority not only to punish you, but to show others such behaviour will not be tolerated.' Mitigating, Fiona Edington told the court the drunken fights had left her client 'embarrassed' after he had to explain to his teenage children why they were leaving Nigeria so quickly. Mrs Edington said: 'Major Hill wished to convey through me his apologies to both men for what happened. 'Not only has he found himself in court at 51 years of age, he has had to explain to two teenage children why they had to move back from Abuja quickly. 'It embarrassed him to explain they had to move because of his bad behaviour. No doubt, they will look at him in a different light now. 'He was under immense stress at the time; it should not have ended in this way. 'One can see, from looking at his medals, he has served everywhere.. It would be appropriate, in my submission, for him to pay a fine for this matter.' A BMW suddenly hits the brakes at traffic lights before they turn red, causing the vehicle behind to smash into it. The crash, caught on Dash Cam, shows the driver has precious few seconds to react once the BMW comes to a halt. It seems to be an innocent collision. But the footage is one of three separate videos showing an identical accident involving the same colour and make of car on the same city centre roundabout. And today motorists have been warned to be wary of fraudsters deliberately causing accidents as part of 'crash for cash' scams, which rake in an estimated 340million-a-year. A BMW suddenly hits the brakes at traffic lights before they turn red, causing the vehicle behind to smash into it The crash, caught on Dash Cam, shows the driver has precious few seconds to react once the BMW comes to a halt But the footage is one of three separate videos showing an identical accident involving the same colour and make of car on the same city centre roundabout In each of the trio of video clips sent to MailOnline, the driver of a BMW 3 appears to brake late at traffic lights just as they turn amber - causing a collision with the vehicle behind. All three videos are thought to have been filmed this month on the busy Five Ways Island in the centre of Birmingham. In the first clip, the driver of a blue BMW 3 series appears as though he's going to continue through the lights only to suddenly brake as they turn amber, stopping just short of the line. The car behind collides into the back of the BMW, shunting it slightly across the lights. After the crash, the BMW driver continues on through the red light and pulls over by the Broad Street exit. The driver of the car behind, meanwhile, complains of leg pain. In a separate collision, filmed at night, another blue BMW 3 series brakes hard at an amber light while heading onto Broad Street. The vehicle behind bumps into the rear of the car and looks to be left with a cracked windscreen. As in the first clip, the BMW driver continues on through the stop light and parks up further down the road. In the first clip, the driver of a blue BMW 3 series appears as though he's going to continue through the lights only to suddenly brake as they turn amber, stopping just short of the line The car behind collides into the back of the BMW, shunting it slightly across the lights After the crash, the BMW driver continues on through the red light and pulls over by the Broad Street exit The driver of the car behind, meanwhile, complains of leg pain The third incident happens at the same traffic lights and shows a BMW, almost identical to the one in the other videos, come to an abrupt halt after being hit in the rear bumper by the vehicle behind. The three BMW cars involved are all the same colour and vehicle type but have different licence plates. Last June, police convicted more than 150 fraudsters over bogus claims in Britain's biggest ever 'crash for cash' scam. The 2million insurance racket was masterminded by the Yandell family, who ran their own garage business in South Wales and conspired with a network of friends to stage fake car crashes in order to make bogus compensation claims. IFED, which is run by City of London Police, today issued advice for motorists to avoid becoming a victim of 'crash for cash' scams. The department warns: 'Keeping a safe distance will reduce your risk of running into the back of somebody, by allowing a greater stopping distance. Make sure you can see the tarmac below the tyres of the vehicle in front. 'Beware of Tailgaters. By forcing you to concentrate on the car behind, the criminals will attempt to take your eyes of the car in front of you. The car in front is 'in on the act' and will likely brake suddenly, forcing you to hit the back of them, because your concentration was on the vehicle behind. The third smash happens at the same traffic lights and shows a BMW, almost identical to the one in the other videos, come to a halt after being hit in the rear bumper by the vehicle behind The three BMW cars involved are all the same colour and vehicle type but have different licence plates 'Always look for brake lights. Non- functioning lights can be a ploy to trap unsuspecting motorists. Take extra care in traffic until you are certain that the vehicle in front has fully operational brake lights. If a car looks to be slowing quickly and the brake lights are not illuminated, give that particular vehicle plenty of room.' IFED also advises to take extra care at roundabouts or areas where there is stop-start congestion and to beware of cars rapidly pulling out of junctions and then braking in front of you. Drivers of commercial vehicles are warned to be extra aware of scams because 'there is a high probability of the vehicle being fully insured and a company may be less likely to contest a claim.' The Nxivm sex-cult leader Keith Raniere has been whining about the temperature in his jail cell, cold prison food and 'noxious fumes' in an attempt to be released on bond, DailyMail.com has learned. Raniere, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, is facing charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and forced labor for running the cult that pulled members from Hollywood. The 58-year-old was arrested last year on the above charges along with Smallville actress Allison Mack, 36, who is said to have been second in command of the cult, which was based in upstate New York. Raniere submitted papers in his third attempt to be released on bond on Thursday, citing poor conditions at the prison and claiming the recent government shutdown prevented him from meeting with his counsel. Keith Raniere has been whining about the temperature in his jail cell, cold prison food and 'noxious' fumes in his third attempt to be released on bond His team submitted papers on Thursday, claiming that due to the recent government shutdown they hadn't been able to meet with him They claim: 'Raniere has not been provided 'with any means to keep warm and apparently the temperature in the institution is 44 degrees' In papers filed in New York, Raniere's attorneys say his 'detention at the MDC...is functioning as a more extreme deprivation of his rights than what is typical for pretrial detainees.' The papers continue: 'During the Government shutdown, legal visiting was constantly suspended, making pretrial and trial preparation extremely difficult.' His Brafman & Associates legal team, claims the MDC has 'been without heat, electricity, hot water, commissary or warm food since January 27, 2019, following an apparent fire in the institution.' As a result, Raniere 'has not been provided with any means to keep warm and apparently the temperature in the institution is 44 degrees.' 'Raniere has also informed us that the corrections officers are wearing masks to mask the smell of noxious fumes, but have not provided any masks to the inmates,' the papers continue. Raniere's next court appearance is slated for February 6 and his team claims they have not been properly able to consult with their client. The papers say: 'These conditions merit relief. Not only is Raniere in MDC with no heat or hot water in the coldest temperatures in the United States to date this year, but he is also unable to meet with counsel to prepare for his imminent trial. ' In papers submitted on Thursday, Raniere's (pictured in a courtroom sketch in April 2018) attorneys say his 'detention at the MDC, which is functioning as a more extreme deprivation of his rights than what is typical for pretrial detainees' Raniere is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (pictured) Keith Raniere moved out of the Knox Woods development in Halfmoon, New York, where he lived in a small townhouse, and into this $1 million mansion in neighboring Clifton Park It continues: 'The lack of counsels' access to our client represent a violation of his Due Process rights as set forth in our bail application and his Right to the effective assistance of counsel.' In January it was revealed the other members of Nxivm who are facing criminal charges for a number of alleged offenses were cut off by billionaire heiress Clare Bronfman after Raniere blew through millions from her legal fund. The Seagram heiress had created the fund to pay counsel for the other defendants in the case. The exact amount of that fund has never been revealed, but the number has been reported as somewhere between $5 and $10 million. Unfortunately, Judge Garaufis informed counsel that three-quarters of the fund was gone already, and with the trial set to start in late April there was no conceivable way that the rest of the defendants would be able to pay their attorneys once the money was gone from the fund. The 58-year-old was arrested on the charges along with Smallville actress Allison Mack, 36, (pictured in January ) who is said to have been second in command of the cult, which was based in upstate New York Raniere and Mack are accused to leading NXIVM, which posed as a women empowerment group, but actually reportedly starved, beat, and branded their recruited members That is because Bronfman has elected to not replenish the fund she created, meaning that only she and Raniere are assured high-profile representation when the case heads to trial. Smallville star Allison Mack, Lauren and Nancy Salzman, and Kathy Russell on the other hand may soon be getting court-appointed representation. In December 2018, Raniere submitted papers hoping to be released on bond for the second time. In response the prosecution pointed to many of the allegations they made about the man when he was first indicted earlier last year as well as some shocking new claims. Those included the fact that Raniere had spoken in favor of incest, said gang rape was acceptable if the woman had an orgasm, and engaged in sexual relations with at least one underage member of his cult. It is also stated in the government opposition to Raniere's request for bail that he kept one woman locked in a room for two years after she refused to engage in sexual relations. Elwyn Crocker Snr. (shown), 50, has been jailed on charges of murder in relation to the death of his 14-year-old daughter, Mary, whose body was found buried in the backyard of his home in Georgia, on December 20 Five family members including a father who once worked as a Walmart Santa have been arrested after the bodies of two children were found buried in the backyard of a Georgia home. Elwyn Crocker Snr., 50, has been jailed on charges of murder in relation to the death of his 14-year-old daughter, Mary, whose body was found five days before Christmas as officers carried out a child welfare check in Guyton. Mary Crocker hadn't been seen since October, police say. An anonymous tip lead to an investigation of the property, where Mary was found buried in a muddy patch near a line of trees. Also unearthed during the grim discovery was the corpse of Elwyn Jr., 14, who hadn't been seen since November 2016. Scroll down for video Crocker (center) formerly worked as a Walmart Santa Clause in Rincon. Officials say they're dumbfounded about how Elwyn Jr (right) was able to go missing for two years without it being reported. Mary (left) hadn't been seen since October Candice Crocker, 33, (left) the children's step-mother, and Kim Wright, 50, (right) their step-grandmother are also included in the criminal charges Candice's brother, Mark Right, 31 (left) was arrested this week in relation to the murder. The apprehension of Kim's boyfriend Roy Prater, 55 (right), soon followed Effing County Sheriff Jim McDuffie refused to speculate whether Crocker Snr. would face charges in relation to Jr.'s death, but he insisted officials are carrying out a thorough investigation. 'We've just got a lot more information on Mary because of course, it's more recent. With Jr, it was two years old, and we're just trying to put together the pieces on what happened with that,' McDuffie told WTOC. A third child, 11, who is said to have learning difficulties, was found alive and well at the property. He's since been taken into the state's care. Autopsies are being carried out to investigate Mary and Elwyn Jr.'s causes of death, but the results have not yet been finalized Neither of the children had been reported missing by the Crocker family before their remains were found on December 20. Elwyn Crocker Sr., Mary Crocker (middle left), Candice Crocker and Elwyn Crocker Jr. (right) with an unnamed third child When questioned by officers inside the home, Crocker allegedly claimed Mary had gone to live with her mother in South Carolina. Discovering the information to be 'false and not accurate', officers arrested the 50-year-old, which was soon followed by the apprehension of the children's 33-year-old stepmother Candice Crocker and 50-year-old step-grandmother Kim Wright. Candice's brother Mark Wright, 31, and Kim's boyfriend Roy Prater, 55, have now also been arrested in connection with the deaths, police revealed on Friday. The five family members have all been issued a felony murder charge in addition to cruelty to children in the first-degree. Each defendant has been placed in a different jail around the county for security reasons, police revealed. 'As the bodies come back, there may be more charges added at some point, once the autopsies are completed,' McDuffie said. 'Were going to follow the letter of the law right up to the very tip of it that we can. We will get justice for these young folks.' Elwyn Crocker Jr. (left) was 14 when he apparently disappeared in November, 2016, and Mary Crocker (right) was also 14 when she was last seen in October of this year Both children were last enrolled at schools in the county during their sixth-grade year. Mary last attended school during the 2017-2018 year, where as Elwyn Jr. last attended in 2014 before being withdrawn. It's believed that a number of reports of potential abuse towards the children had previously been filed to the Georgia Department of Family and Children services. Speaking anonymously to WSAV, one neighbour claimed to witness Crocker Snr. shovelling the area where the children's bodies were found on numerous occasions. Another recalled how Mary would work for hours raking leaves in the yard outside their home at the Brother's Keeper trailer park, until her hands were red. 'That was from being out in the yard out there most of the time working, doing stuff from the time she got off that bus until they would go in at night,' said Gary Bennett. 'Then she would go to school and kids would see her and ask what was wrong, and she wouldnt ever say anything. She wouldnt open up to anybody.' The two bodies were found by deputies near the treeline on the property of the Crocker home An excavator was brought to the scene at the Crocker home in Guyton, Georgia, where two bodies were found Earlier Crocker family photo from Facebook. With the investigation ongoing, Sheriff McDuffie says more charges could be forthcoming Though dumfounded at how a child can go missing unreported for two years, police say they were familiar with the family's troubled past. In 2012 and 2013, Elwyn Snr. and Candice Crocker took mandatory counseling and parenting classes with Georgia Child Services following allegations Jr had been abused. According to counsellors, Crocker seemed an 'apathetic father', telling them the state only required him to 'feed, clothe and give shelter' to his children - nothing more. Jr had also allegedly been beaten by his step-uncle, Mark Wright, in June 2012. Wright was later found to have backhanded the child after a Goodwill worker spotted a bruise on Jr's face and called police. A classmate and neighbour of the would-be 16-year-old also told school counsellors how she'd witnessed Jr's step-grandmother, Kim Wright, whip him for more than an hour with a belt. It's unknown whether the boy was alive when the allegation was made in March 2017. 'I've been doing this 41 years, and a while ago I almost broke down in tears. It's that bad,' Sheriff McDuffie said in his news conference. 'I just - I cannot understand how you do children like this. It's horrible.' The investigation continues. A 'cold and calculated' killer has been found guilty of brutally murdering and robbing a mechanic at his rural cottage to 'fund a lifestyle he couldn't afford'. Steven Sidebottom, 25, had denied killing Brian McKandie, 67, at his home in Badenscoth, near Rothienorman, Scotland, on March 11 2016. Police originally ruled the death an accident but a post-mortem revealed Mr McKandie had suffered 15 blows to the head and a murder inquiry was launched. A jury at the High Court in Aberdeen deliberated for 11-and-a-half hours over three days after before finding Sidebottom guilty. Steven Sidebottom, 25, (left) has been found guilty of murdering Brian McKandie, 67, (right) at his home in Badenscoth, near Rothienorman, Scotland in 2016 Judge Lord Uist told him he faces life in prison when he returns for sentence next month and said he was guilty of a 'brutal murder'. Speaking outside the court Detective Superintendent Iain Smith said Sidebottom carried out the murder and robbery to 'fund a lifestyle he couldn't afford.' DS Smith said Sidebottom was: 'Someone desperate for money to fund a lifestyle he couldn't afford but managed to squander thousands of pounds the days following Brian's murder. 'He also went to extreme efforts to cover his tracks and spun a web of lies to deceive the people around him.' During the trial is was said that Sidebottom had a VAT bill to pay and was worried about financing his girlfriend's birthday present, reports STV News. Mr McKandie was said to be well known in the area for carrying out cash-in-hand car repairs at the garage at his home. He would even joke that the money he received for jobs would 'top up' his 'shoebox'. Weeks after his body was found police found a number of sweet and biscuit tins and shoeboxes containing about 200,000, reports the BBC. Weeks after Mr McKandie's body was found police discovered a number of sweet and biscuit tins and shoeboxes (pictured with cash inside) containing about 200,000 at his home The High Court in Aberdeen had heard how Mr McKandie's body was found in a bloodbath at his home on March 12 2016. It was said that Mr McKandie died in a savage attack that started outside his house and continued in the front hall. However his body wasn't discovered until customers came calling the next day. Despite the bloody scene police officers who attended the property ruled his death an accident and didn't begin a full forensic examination of the scene for six days. It then took seven weeks before a massive haul of cash was discovered inside the house, totalling more than 200,000. Mr McKandie's estate was later valued at over 800,000 - wealth beyond anything imagined by his friends or relatives. In the time between the death and the murder probe starting, the house had sat virtually unguarded by police with no measures to protect forensic evidence. Seven months later, police became suspicious of inconsistencies in statements made by Sidebottom and he came into the frame for the murder. A jury at the High Court in Aberdeen (pictured) deliberated for 11-and-a-half hours over three days after before finding Sidebottom guilty A trawl of his phone records placed him close to Mr McKandie's property at the time it was believed he was attacked - though that evidence could also have placed him at his own home. He had also been seen with a 'wad' of 'thousands of pounds' in cash around the time - money that nobody could account for. Text messages showed Sidebottom had been planning a 'job' that would involve him 'doing someone in' to recover cash. Following the guilty verdict members of Mr McKandie's family stood outside court as DS Smith read a statement on their behalf. It said: 'He was a much-loved and respected member of the community - a hard-working and quiet man who wouldn't have done anyone a bad turn. 'Every day we think about what happened to Brian in the home he lived his whole life, and every day we struggle to understand why this happened to him. 'The reality is we will never understand why Brian, a complete gentleman, died in such a brutal and senseless way, and it is something we will never come to terms with.' DI Smith praised the family's 'courage and dignity' throughout the lengthy police investigation and court process that followed. A video of a heavily pregnant black woman being overpowered by guards in front of her young daughter has sparked an outcry in Sweden. The unnamed woman was allegedly caught without a ticket on the metro in Stockholm before being dragged off the train. Activist Lovette Jallow shared the video on her Instagram, saying she 'wasn't surprised' that the woman had been 'racially profiled' and 'mistreated' - even if she was pregnant. She added: 'The victim is currently in the hospital and all I can do is hope the baby is alright.' In the clip, which has since been widely shared on social media, the woman is being pulled by two men as her young daughter walks behind with another woman. In the clip, filmed at a metro station in Sweden, the heavily pregnant woman is dragged from the train by two guards The woman's young daughter was also on the train with her. After she put her arm around her mother, the woman was dragged further away and pushed on to a bench at the station As the child puts her arm around her mother, the guards drag the woman further away and push her on to a nearby bench. Two guards pin her down while a third guard takes the child away to talk to her as she sobs uncontrollably. A second video shows the woman, with her pregnant stomach exposed, lying on the ground of the station as she is surrounded by guards. After the incident at Hotorget metro station, the unnamed woman, who is believed to be eight months pregnant, was rushed to hospital for treatment. The two guards have been suspended, and Swedish police are investigating the case as a potential assault. Her daughter was then taken by a third guard who spoke to her as she sobbed uncontrollably A second video shows the woman, with her pregnant stomach exposed, lying on the ground of the station as she is surrounded by guards The woman is also being investigated for violently resisting the guards. Henrik Palmer, from Stockholm's SL public transport provider, told Swedish public broadcaster SVT that videos posted online 'suggest that the security guards were too forceful'. He added: 'Unfortunately, it is difficult to make reasonable judgments in these situations. It gets stressed. Evidently this was not handled correctly the whole way through.' An SL spokesman told the BBC: 'What we do know is that the woman was caught without a valid ticket in a ticket check and was given a penalty fare. She refused this and therefore she, according to our rules, was asked to leave the subway. 'She refused this too and when she was going to be escorted from the subway by our public security officers she started to scream and make resistance.' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the U.S. will no longer comply with a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia, beginning as soon as Saturday. Pompeo says the U.S. will suspend its obligations to the treaty on Saturday. If Russia doesn't come into compliance, the treaty 'will terminate,' he said. Speaking at the State Department Friday, Pompeo said: 'For years Russia has violated the terms of the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty without remorse. 'Russia has refused to take any steps to return real and verifiable compliance over these 60 days. The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF treaty effective February 2nd.' In a statement issued on Friday, Trump suggested ties could improve markedly if Russia were willing to compromise on arms control, saying all sides must live up to such agreements. 'We stand ready to engage with Russia on arms control negotiations ... and, importantly, once that is done, develop, perhaps for the first time ever, an outstanding relationship on economic, trade, political, and military levels,' he said. The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, known as INF, bans the U.S. and Russia from having ground-launched missiles with ranges from 315 miles to 3,415 miles. The move could lead to the U.S. developing new nuclear weapons of the type which were stationed in Europe in the 1980s to huge public controversy - and potentially stationing them on the continent again. A senior official cited prior U.S. efforts to negotiate with Russia. 'We have had a series of discussions at the highest levels,' the official said. 'There was even an effort to arrange at highest level, President Putin and President Trump, that President Trump made the decision to cancel because of Russia's absolutely unlawful and flagrant violation of international law with respect to the of seizing 24 Ukrainian sailors,' the official said, referencing the cancelled formal meeting in Buenos Aires. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 'The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF treaty effective February 2nd,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday morning Stumbling block: The Russian Novatar 9M729 ground-based cruise missile system is accused by the U.S. of breaching the INF treaty which Russia denies. The U.S. now says it will pull out of the treaty as soon as this weekend after talks to resolve the standoff failed Possible Russian threat: The Iskander-M missile launcher system is part of Russian efforts to step up their armament which the U.S. says is in breach of the INF treaty Deadly load: A quasi-ballistic missile being loaded into an Iskander-M system by Russian troops at a firing range Pompeo said the U.S. had fully adhered to the treaty for three decades. 'But we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other,' the nation's top diplomat added. Administration officials say the U.S. has made 35 diplomatic engagements with Russia to try to get it to come into compliance with the treaty. In theory it could come back into compliance during the review period, but U.S. officials are not predicting it will. 'Russia will have this chance if they are truly interested in preserving the treaty, this is their final chance,' a senior administration official said during a briefing call with reporters Friday. 'They know what they do. They know what they're doing is a violation,' said a senior administration official, dismissing Russia's denials. The U.S. side called off that formal meeting in protest of Russia's firing on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Straight incident. However, it was revealed this week that Trump and Putin did meet privately in Buenos Aires, speaking for up to 15 minutes, the Financial Times reported, citing a Russian government official. However the report did not state that they spoke about the missile treaty. A few hours before Pompeo's announcement, the NATO Western security alliance issued a statement saying it would "fully support" the U.S. withdrawal notice. Speaking before Pompeo's announcement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the importance of using the six months window to keep talking. In the U.S. senator Bob Menendez, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused Trump failing to grasp the importance of arms control treaties or of having a wider strategy to control the spread of nuclear weapons. 'Todays withdrawal is yet another geo-strategic gift to Vladimir Putin,' he said. In Russia there was no immediate official response form the Kremin. 'America really wants to develop new weapons systems which are in breach of this treaty,' Konstantin Kosachyov, senior Russian lawmaker, wrote on social media, saying the alleged Russian violation of the treaty had been a convenient pretext. The Trump administration had forecast its withdrawal from the 1987 pact, citing concerns that Russia wasn't honoring it and that it didn't include China, which has engaged in its own missile program. The move is to be communicated to Russia and former states that made up the Soviet Union on Saturday. The formal move kicks in a 60-day period, which will be followed by a six-month period to withdraw from the landmark Cold War agreement. Leaving the treaty would allow the U.S. to develop longer-range conventional land-based missiles than it currently has - but which China is currently developing because it was not part of the banning treaty. The treaty was signed in 1987 as a breakthrough in reducing nuclear tensions. It banned the U.S. and the then Soviet Union from having any medium-range ground-based missiles, whether nuclear or conventional, which led to the U.S. getting rid of its nuclear land-based cruise and Pershing II missiles - although it left long-range missiles intact. The treaty banned such ground-based weapons with a range of 310 to 3,400 miles Public protests greeted the medium-range missiles being stationed in Europe and the Soviets saw them as an escalation of Cold War tensions. Pioneering moment: The INF was signed in 1987 by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan and banned ground-based cruise missiles with ranges from 315 miles to An administration official said President Donald Trump (C) was to have met with with Russia's President Vladimir Putin about the missile treaty, although the formal meeting was called off over Russia's actiosn in the Kerch Straight incident. Here Trump and Putin stand next to US First Lady Melania Trump (L) ahead a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018 Russia claims it is not in breach of the agreement. The pact has stood since then but in 2017 the U.S. accused Russia of flouting the pact by developing and deploying a new nuclear missile with a range of 1,500 miles. Russia denies that its Novator 9M729 is in breach of the treaty and claims that its range is within the pact's limits at 300 miles, but the U.S. says that it has been test fired over the far longer range. THE BALANCE OF POWER: CURRENT NUCLEAR FORCES IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA U.S. FORCES * Estimated 150 warheads, all in the form of bombs which would be dropped by F-15s or German Tornado fighters. Deployed in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands and Belgium * The U.S.'s main nuclear deterrent is based in the U.S. There are 431 Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, an estimated 230 submarine-launched Trident missiles, and the B-2 and B-52 nuclear bomber fleets. In total there are estimated 1,480 air-launched bombs and missiles. * In total the U.S. is estimated to have 1,800 deployed warheads and a stockpile of 4,0000 UK * Estimated 120 warheads, all deployed on Trident missiles carried by four nuclear submarimes FRANCE * Estimated 290 warheads * Four nuclear submarines each carrying 16 nuclear missiles with multiple warheads * 75 nuclear-tipped air to ground missiles fired from fighter-bombers, some of which can be launched from its sole aircraft carrier RUSSIA Russian strength is far more secret than that of the US, UK and France and where it is deployed in Russian territory is broadly unknown * Total estimated deployment of 1,444 warheads * 286 Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles * Estimated 68 strategic bombers carrying gravity bombs and short-range nuclear missiles * Between six and nine nuclear submarines each carrying 16 nuclear missiles * Estimated 140 warheads for use on short-range ballistic missiles. One of the short-range systems is deployed on the border with Poland but it is unknown if it is nuclear-fitted * Also has stockpile of estimated 1,800 warheads designed for short-range use on bombers, cruise missiles or even as anti-submarine depth charges * Putin unveiled a hypersonic missile called Avangard which could be used to deliver nuclear weapons and has said his forces are developing a nuclear-powered ICBM and a drone submarine Source: www.nti.org Advertisement Russia accuses the U.S. of using the claims as a pretext to get out of the treaty and rejected demands to destroy its missile system. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson on Thursday held last-ditch talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Beijing ahead of the expiration of a U.S. 60-day deadline for Moscow to come back into compliance with the treaty. The deadline expires on Saturday February 2. Thompson and Ryabkov, who met on the sidelines of a 'P5' meeting of nuclear powers - the U.S, Russia, China, France and the UK - said afterwards that the two countries had failed to bridge their differences. In an interview, Thompson said she expected Washington to now stop complying with the treaty as soon as this weekend, a move she said would allow the U.S. military to immediately begin developing its own longer-range missiles if it chose to do so, raising the prospect they could be deployed in Europe. 'Well be able to do that (suspend our treaty obligations) on Feb. 2,' Thompson told Reuters. 'We'll have an announcement made, follow all the steps that need to be taken on the treaty to suspend our obligations with the intent to withdraw.' The formal withdrawal process, once announced, takes six months. Stopping compliance with the treaty would untie the U.S. military's hands, she said. 'We are then also able to conduct the R&D and work on the systems we haven't been able to use because we've been in compliance with the treaty,' said Thompson. 'Come February 2, this weekend, if DoD (the U.S. Department of Defense) chooses to do that, theyll be able to do that.' Washington remained open to further talks with Moscow about the treaty regardless, she added. Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement this week that while Russia's violation of the INF treaty is a serious problem, U.S. withdrawal under current circumstances would be counterproductive. 'Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia,' they said. Kingston Reif, director for disarmament at the Arms Control Association, said Thursday the Trump administration has failed to exhaust diplomatic options to save the treaty. What's more, 'it has no strategy to prevent Russia from building and fielding even more intermediate-range missiles in the absence of the agreement.' Reif said the period between now and August, when the U.S. withdrawal would take effect, offers a last chance to save the treaty, but he sees little prospect of that happening. He argues that John Bolton, the national security adviser to President Donald Trump, is 'unlikely to miss the opportunity to kill an agreement he has long despised.' Ryabkov said Moscow would continue working to try to reach agreement despite the failure of the talks, but accused Washington of ignoring Russian complaints about U.S. missiles and of adopting what he called a destructive position. 'Unfortunately, there is no progress,' Rybakov said. Ryabkov called the US position 'rather tough, ultimatum-like' and 'destructive,' state news agency RIA Novosti reported. 'We have not made any progress. We state this not just with sorrow, but with deep concern for the fate of the treaty, for the fate of European and international security,' Ryabkov said. During the conference with the other Security Council nations in Beijing, Ryabkov said bilateral dialogue was stalling on certain topics as one party was 'intentionally' refusing to pursue discussions - a thinly veiled reference to the United States. At odds: Putin's forces are accused by Trump's administration of having a missile system which breaches the INF. Russia says it is a pretext for the U.S. quitting the treaty 'Russia can't be blamed for anything. We are always ready for dialogue on all topics, including the most difficult current issues, and to be fully transparent. We expect our partners to take the same approach,' he said. Last week the Russian military displayed the nuclear-capable 9M729 missile system to the media and foreign military officials in an attempt to prove the weapon does not violate the treaty. Russia says the missile's maximum range is 480 kilometers (300 miles) and within the allowed range. Washington has however said a static display of the cruise missile does not prove its range does not breach the agreement. It ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe but there are fears a similar situation could re-emerge. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had as many as 7,000 warheads deployed in Europe. However the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington D.C. based think tank, now estimates that there are far fewer - 150 nuclear warheads, all of them on air-dropped unguided bombs. They are held in Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands, the NTI reported. The INF did not ban long-range Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The U.S. has an arsenal of Minuteman missiles ready to launch from missile silos in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. But Russian concerns center on the possibility of the U.S. using bases in Poland to deploy short- to medium-range nuclear missiles. Poland has both asked the U.S. for a permanent presence, and allowed the U.S. to build a ground-based missile defense shield using Aegis technology. BreakingDefense.com reported that the Russians have claimed that the Aegis firing mechanism is essentially the same as the one used to launch Tomahawk conventional missiles from shops, and could be adapted to be turned into an offensive rather than defensive system. Russia itself has deployed short-range nuclear-capable rockets on its border with Poland in Kaliningrad. Their range of under 300 miles makes them compatible with the INF. The other source of U.S. concern over the treaty has been that it allowed China to develop the missile systems. HOW U.S. MISSILES LED TO PROTEST IN EUROPE IN THE 1980s - AND TOOK THE WORLD CLOSE TO THE NUCLEAR BRINK Both the U.S. and the Soviets expected that if they went to war, Europe would be their battleground. By the early 1980s, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan was outspending the Soviets and introducing dramatically improved new weapons in the air and on the ground. In particular, the Soviet SS-20 medium-range nuclear missiles, launched from mobile carriers, were seen as the biggest threat to NATO forces if there were to be an exchange of weapons. Nuclear missiles which could match their destructive power were a priority and the Pershing II was developed which could destroy underground bunkers and silos and reach Soviet territory in just six minutes - making them both undetectable and capable of largely killing off the Soviet ability to respond. But moving the missiles into the places where they would be used in battle created a whole new dimension of conflict for the U.S. and its NATO allies - this time with peace protesters who made their deployment the focus of their rage. Target: The land-based nuclear cruise missiles brought to the UK sparked public protests when they were deployed to the USAF base at Greenham Common west of London in 1983 Women's protests: Women formed a peace camp at Greenham Common from the time it was identified as the host for the cruise and Pershing missiles and remained there long afterwards. In December 1982 one of their protests was a human chain around its perimeter Blocking tactic: Anti nuclear protesters from the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp tried to stop cruise missiles arriving by stopping access to its main gates Beginning in 1983, two deployments in particular were to become infamous flashpoints. In the UK, the U.S. Air Force base at Greenham Common, Berkshire, to the west of London, would be used for 160 medium-range nuclear cruise missiles, and a smaller number of Pershing II rockets. RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire would receive 64 cruise missiles. In Germany, three bases - Neu-Ulm, Mutlangen and Neckarsulm - would receive a total of 108 Pershing IIs. But in both countries the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament launched huge and widespread protests. Focus: The Perishing II missile was deployed in 1983 to German bases in the face of huge public anger, with demonstrations of hundreds of thousands who saw it as a threat to West Germany's existence Cold war welcome: In West Germany there were protests regularly against the missiles and their deployment. They entered active duty in 1983 and by 1987 a deal for their destruction was done In Germany, Mutlangen became the focal point, while in Greenham Common, a peace camp of women against nuclear weapons sprang up at the perimeter. Attempts to move munitions were met with sit-down protests on roads outside. In Bonn, then the capital of West Germany, as many as 400,000 people took part in one anti-Pershing protest, part of a day of demonstrations across Europe, while other protests saw a human chain from U.S. headquarters in Stuttgart to the gates of Mutlangen. 1983 also saw one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War when NATO's Able Archer war games, which involved activating troops and giving dummy instructions to fire nuclear weapons, were misunderstood by the Soviets. Soviet threat: An SS-20 preserved in Russia shows the weapon which the Pershing II and cruise missiles were designed to counter. The SS-20 rocket launched multiple warheads and could reach all of Western Europe from Soviet-controlled territory including East Germany They thought the exercise was really preparations for a first strike with the new Pershing arsenal part of the plan. The Soviets ordered its nuclear arsenal to be prepared for action and placed bombers on high alert. If NATO forces under U.S. command had moved to an increased state of readiness, the Soviets could well have launched their own nuclear weapons. Spy Oleg Gordiesky later wrote an account of the tense moments, which ended when Able Archer concluded on November 11 1983. What peace protesters had not realized was that behind the scenes, the U.S. had made an offer in the late 1970s to the Soviets, that if it agreed to get rid of its SS-20s, the U.S, would withdraw the Pershings and the cruise missiles. By 1986, the Soviet Union was lead by Mikhail Gorbachev, and a deal began to take shape. By September 1987, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed by Reagan and Gorbachev in Washington D.C. It eliminated all the weapons being protested against in the space of four years, leaving just a handful of mementos in museums. Now however, its future appears doomed. Advertisement Astonishing moment Russian jet 'pushes' US F-15 by banking across it 'during NATO patrol over Baltic Sea' Russian fighter aggressively forced US-made plane to divert from its flight path The Su-27 cut across the F-15 from the side during the dangerous manoeuvre Pentagon said Russian jet had come close to colliding with one of its fighters over Black Sea on Monday - but it's not known if the two incidents are related A Russian fighter jet has been filmed forcing a US F-15 to turn away and change course by flying dangerously close to the American aircraft. In footage circulating on Russian social media, the Su-27 fighter comes into frame and makes a sharp left to bank across the F-15 from the side. The US-made plane has no choice but to move out of the way as the Russian jet came within feet of hitting it. The Pentagon said that a Russian jet came dangerously close to one of its fighters over the Black Sea on Monday. The Su-27 fighter comes into frame and makes a sharp left to cut in on the F-15 from the side The US-made plane has no choice but to move out of the way as the Russian jet came within feet of hitting it It said the Russian aircraft intercepted a US Navy patrol plane in international airspace, coming within five feet of the American plane, according to CBS. Pentagon spokeswoman Captain Pamela Kunze said the Russian plane flew close to the plane for two hours and 40 minutes before crossing directly into its flight path. It's not known if it was the same incident shown in the footage, or just the latest in a series of close calls between Russian and U.S. aircraft over the Black Sea. The American-made plane (left) was reportedly patrolling the Baltic Sea when the Russian fighter (in blue, right) appeared from nowhere and performed the dangerous manoeuvre The 40-second clip was uploaded to Twitter on Thursday but it's not known where the altercation took place. Commenters on social media claimed the manoeuvre was executed over the Baltic Sea as a part of a Baltic Air-policing mission. A man caught on camera punching two women to the ground outside a nightclub claims he was the victim and the video has been taken out of context. Arka Sangbarani Oroojian, 30, turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday night and was booked for assault with a deadly weapon. However, the man who LAPD said was 6'3" and 270 pounds has said he defended himself by delivering multiple blows because one woman spat on him and another hit him, knocking him to the ground, after a dispute over hot dogs. Scroll down for videos Arka Sangbarani Oroojian, 30, claims he was the victim in an altercation where he was seen punching two women to the ground multiple times Friday night Two women challenged him for being 'rude' to a street vendor. Oroojian claims a woman hit him first, causing the 270-pound man to fall to the ground, and when he got up he threw blows Speaking in a Thursday interview after paying a $90,000 bond Wednesday, Oroojian - also known as Arka the Virtue on the LA music scene - suggested the reaction he'd received was unfair. Oroojian, of Sylmar in California, has worked in private security according to his now-deleted LinkedIn page. On his also-deleted Facebook account he described himself as a 'writer and a research scholar of Eastern philosophy'. 'I can't believe it happened. I was defending myself,' he told KTLA. 'Because I'm a big person, I'm being crucified all over social media right now.' Oroojian said after he heard the women 'cussing him out' behind his back as he got into a disagreement with a vendor over the quality of his food: 'The woman spits on me, and her friend attacks me physically hits me.' The heavily-built man claimed the woman's move resulted in him losing balance and tumbling to the ground, then when he got up instead of walking away, he felt he 'had to defend myself'. That's when the recording began. He was filmed attacking the two women outside the venue in downtown LA on Friday night. He complained: 'Because I'm a big person, I'm being crucified all over social media right now' Detective Meghan Aguilar told ABC it occurred around 1am when one of the women told Oroojian: 'Hey, order your hot dog so we can get our food.' He is said to have flown into a rage and began bullying the employee after being charged $6 for a hot dog, boasting: 'I own the streets of LA.' Multiple people in the video can be heard laughing and cheering as Oroojian pummeled the women. He hurled one of the women to the ground and then punched her friend in the face as she confronted him. Onlookers cheered as the floored woman managed to stand back up before being immediately punched to the ground again. Oroojian was filmed dropping the second woman seconds later as she tried to defend herself. He was filmed punching the two women to the ground outside the venue in downtown LA on Friday night while queuing for hot dogs Multiple people in the video can be heard laughing and cheering as Oroojian pummeled the women. He hurled one of the women to the ground and then punched her friend in the face as she confronted him Police put out an appeal for the suspect after he fled the scene by running into traffic. He was arrested Tuesday night and his bail for set at $90,000. Bail was paid by Wednesday Police put out an appeal for the suspect after he fled the scene by running into traffic. Despite this, the hefty man claimed in the new interview that he 'retreated' as soon as he 'caught a moment'. Oroojian encourages fans to 'stay calm' and follow their dreams at the end of his 2015 Money and the Power music video and even gives out his cell phone number so people can contact him for advice. He also says in the video 'f**k a 9 to 5' but said in the KTLA chat he was worried the incident might affect his job as a cardiac sonographer. The LAPD said one woman broke her finger in the incident, and both went to the hospital and suffered concussions. One of the victims, who is a nursing student, was left with bruises to her jaw. She told NBC that another vendor had offered the man a free hot dog in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but when that failed she and her friend decided to intervene. His attorney Cristopher Reyes said if he really wanted to hurt the women he could have 'easily' 'He gets up in the hot dog vendor's face and is like saying "I own the streets of LA". We said something like just leave the guy alone, what's your problem? Just go, you're getting the free hot dog. The next thing that I remember is he hits my friend. 'I ran up to him and told him to not touch her, to not touch my friend, and he hits me. 'People were laughing and cheering, like as if it were a show. We can't believe that nobody did anything.' The father of the woman said in a Facebook post that has since been deleted, his daughter didn't actually know the woman she tried to help, however she jumped in to save her. Mike Watson added that the man had delivered even more blows to the women before the camera started rolling. Although Oroojian maintains he wasn't sturdy enough to withstand being hit by one of the women involved, his attorney suggested his client could have harmed them more seriously if he wished. 'Obviously, if that was his intent, he would easily be able to accomplish that,' Cristopher Reyes told KTLA. 'That's why when he would hit one of the women in response to what he was receiving, they would get right back up and the altercation would continue.' Oroojian is due in court February 22. Hiroshi Yuasa, pictured outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, was fined 2,000 A wealthy Japanese commuter who crouched underneath a woman at a busy Tube station to take a picture of her underwear has been fined 2,000. Hiroshi Yuasa was found with several 'upskirt' images and videos of women's underwear on his mobile phone after he was caught taking pictures of a woman on the London Underground. The 38-year-old, who lives in a wealthy London enclave where homes cost upwards of 1million, was ordered to remove a surgical mask he wore into court today. Yuasa had indicated a not guilty plea to one charge of outraging public decency at Victoria Underground station on 16 April but admitted the charge at Westminster Magistrates' Court today. The court heard how his victim became suspicious because of the way Yuasa was standing near her at Green Park underground station last year. She told police how she saw him bend down and when he got up, he retrieved his phone. She said the light on the phone lit up and he was later identified by police through CCTV footage. The judge fined Yuasa 2,000 and ordered the destruction of the mobile phone, despite Yuasa's plea for it to be reset to factory settings and returned to him. Yuasa is moving back to Japan next week, but his previous residence was near Victoria station in a flat in Belgravia Court, Ebury Street, where properties are worth well over 1million. Yuasa had indicated a not guilty plea to one charge of outraging public decency at Victoria Underground station on 16 April but admitted the charge at Westminster Magistrates Court today District Judge Tan Ikram said: 'It goes without saying that this sort of offending is taken very seriously by the court. What is the law around 'upskirting'? Taking pictures up a woman's skirt is set to become a criminal offence in the spring - with perverts found guilty of the crime facing up to two years in prison. Upskirting sees perpetrators taking photographs or videos of a victim's groin area from under their clothing, without that person's knowledge. A new law which bans 'upskirting' passed its final legal hurdle in January when it received its third reading in the Upper Chamber of the House of Lords. The upskirting bill will now become part of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and cover England and Wales. It is already a crime in Scotland. Advertisement 'It is reported that you were crouching down with your hand extended taking footage up the victim's skirt. 'I have not heard from the prosecution about a victim impact statement, but the effect there had to have been on the victim is obvious. 'Considerable stress would have been caused to her. 'There was initially to be a trial, of which she would have been informed and would have to give evidence. 'In the event she doesn't have to come to court, she has been saved that ordeal. 'I am considering compensation in this case. It is difficult sometimes to quantify a sum of money which reflects the sort of stress in this case. What figure do you put on it?' Prosecutor Matthew Barrowcliffe said: 'On the 16th April just before six in the evening this defendant was seen by an independent witness standing very close to the victim as they were waiting at Green Park underground station on the southbound Victoria line. 'The witness believed the defendant was suspicious because of how he was standing. 'She saw him bend down and when he got up he retrieved his phone. The light on the phone lit up. 'She informed the victim and they told the police and through CCTV footage he was discovered. 'On the phone there was a small number of videos and images showing the upskirts of the victim.' This is the heartwarming moment a good Samaritan saves the life of a fox which is gasping for air with its head stuck in two boxes. Eduardo 'Lito' Nunez was traveling along the southern Argentine Patagonia region towards the Chilean city of Punta Arenas when he decided to pull up at a truck stop to rest. The Chilean man told television network TVN that he then saw a brightly colored moving object. Eduardo 'Lito' Nunez (left and right) took a break and parked his truck while driving through the southern Argentine Patagonia region when he spotted a fox struggling to breathe because it had two containers stuck on its head. He was able to free the creature Nunez shows off his new four-legged friend moments after he it He recalled getting up from the driver's seat to get a better look. He walked in its direction and realized the anguished animal was in quite the predicament. 'I was far away and I thought it was stuck in between wires or cables because it was moving in circles in the same spot,' he said. The curious truck driver found the animal with wine and milk boxes, as well as a plastic bag, stuck to its head. He returned to his truck to retrieve some gloves. Nunez then set about freeing the animal and recorded the incident on his cell phone. 'Look there, he's free,' Nunez said while he held the fox. 'We got him out. We did the job of the day.' Brigitte Macron attended the funeral of legendary composer Michel Legrand in Paris on Friday, after he died this week at the age of 86. The French First Lady was pictured stepping out of the Cathedral Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky in Paris as they bade farewell to the Oscar-winning composer, who was most famous for writing 'The Windmills of Your Mind'. Mrs Macron was photographed walking alongside members of Legrand's immediate family as they left the church after the service on Friday morning. Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, arrives to attend Legrand's funeral on Friday Mrs Macron was pictured walking down the steps of the Cathedral Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky alongside French Culture Minister Franck Riester Among the other attendees were actor Frederic Beigbeder, French Culture Minister Franck Riester, French film director Claude Lelouch and Legrand's fellow composer Vladimir Cosma. The funeral took place as it was announced that a London concert due to feature Legrand will now become a tribute event to the composer after his death. The pianist had been due to perform at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall with Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra on September 20 but the show's producers now hope it will be a fitting tribute to the musician. Legrand's hits included the song Windmills Of Your Mind and the scores for The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and The Thomas Crown Affair. French composer and pianist Michel Legrand (pictured) died this month at the age of 86 Pallbearers carry the coffin of the composer after the funeral ceremony ended on Friday morning In a statement from producers Fane Productions, James Albrecht said: 'Very sadly, only a week and a half after announcing our September 20 concert with Michel Legrand and the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, we learned of his passing. 'It is no more than four months since Michel's unforgettable concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, also at the Royal Festival Hall, co-produced by Fane Productions and Ronnie Scott's. 'Aged 86, and certainly physically and vocally a little frail, Michel nonetheless conducted the 68-piece orchestra and rhythm section with total assurance, and his genius at the piano was as evident as ever. Hordes of mourners turned out to pay tribute to the legendary composer and pianist on Friday Mrs Macron was photographed looking solemn as she arrived for the service in central Paris 'In a concert billed as Michel Legrand: 60 years of Music and Movies, we were taken on a magical and nostalgic journey through some of the 20th century's most memorable film scores whilst clips from The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair, Summer Of 42, Yentl and many more screened above the orchestra. 'The evening had a tangible sense of occasion, even more so in retrospect now that we know it was to be Michel's last appearance in the UK. What a privilege to have been there.' The concert on September 20 will still feature Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, as well as special guests. Current ticket holders have been contacted by Southbank Centre. French film director Claude Lelouch and Frederic Beigbeder were also in attendance at the funeral Advertisement Like a comical masterpiece, this cute group portrait of pandas has caught 11 newborn cubs in their naughtiest posture. One mischievous cub raises its tiny paws as if it were protesting while another brave one in the front row tries to stand up on its hind leg. A third tiny bear appears to suck its claw while next to it, its playmate leans backwards to its keeper in a likely attempt to shy away from the camera. Eleven pandas have been caught in different funny postures as their keepers hold them during a debut in China yesterday The tiny pandas, all born in 2018, were showcased to the public to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 5 The amazing picture was captured yesterday at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda when the cubs, all around six months old, made a group debut ahead of the Chinese New Year. Holding one cub each, the centre's keepers struggled to keep the pandas still all at once for the picture as the playful animals keep squirming in their arms in their respective manner. The photographer managed to snap the funny image as staff said simultaneously: 'Panda cubs born in 2018 at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda wish everyone in the country a happy new year!' Bright ornaments such as huge lucky knots and red lanterns adorned the breeding centre in Wolong, Sichuan Province The cubs were also given pig-shaped staffed toys to play with as the upcoming year is the year of the pig in the Chinese zodiac One panda is seen resting on a tree above a red lantern. The newborn cubs have sent their wishes to the public for the holiday Bright ornaments such as huge lucky knots and red lanterns adorned the breeding centre in Wolong, Sichuan Province, to celebrate the festive occasion which will fall on February 5. The cubs were also given pig-shaped staffed toys to play with as the upcoming year is the year of the pig according to the 12-animal Chinese zodiac. A total of 27 cubs were born in 2018 at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, the main panda breeding centre in the country. Furthermore, three cubs were born in the centre's bases in Guangdong Province and Shanghai. One cub was born in Malaysia by a mother panda on loan from the centre to Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur. 27 cubs were born in 2018 at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda through its breeding programme Furthermore, three cubs were born in the centre's bases in Guangdong Province and Shanghai and another one in Malaysia China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda has the world's largest population of captive pandas The 11 cubs that greeted the public yesterday included He He (harmony) and Mei Mei (beautiful), a set of twins born to a captive panda mother and a wild father - a rare case in the breeding of the precious animals. China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda has the world's largest population of captive pandas. As of the end of 2018, the Sichuan-based institute looks after 285 pandas, which comprises 60 per cent of the entire captive panda population in the world, according to the centre. Purdue Pharma and the controlling members of the family-run company targeted veterans in an attempt to drastically increase opioid sales. An undredacted complaint filed against the pharmaceutical giant and eight members of the Sackler family states that this was done with the help of a 'survival guide' that was marketed as a self-help book for post-war veterans. The 'guide' urged service members to ask their doctors for opioid prescriptions while assuring them that the pills were not addictive unless there was a family history of drug abuse. Attorney General Maura Healey states in the complaint filed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the campaign launched by Purdue and the Sacklers to target veterans was remarkably successful in the end - at a 'terrible cost.' 'Compared to non-veterans, Massachusetts veterans are three times more likely to die from opioid overdose,' reads the court filing. Scroll down for video Campaign: Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers released a 'survival guide' (right) that was written by Iraq combat vet Derek McGinnis (right), who lost his leg in Iraq and now suffers from chronic pain Death dealers: The Sackler family paid themselves $4,273,489,182 (above) in profits from opioid sales from 2008 and 2016 (above) Horrible facts: At the same time, over 235,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses The complaint lays out a three-step method by which Purdue and the Sacklers worked to increase profits by targeting untapped groups. 'First, Purdue deceived Massachusetts doctors and patients to get more people on its dangerous drugs. Purdue targeted vulnerable people who could be introduced to its opioids, including elderly patients, veterans, and people who had never taken opioids before,' states the filing. 'Second, Purdue misled them to take higher and more dangerous doses.' And finally: 'Third, Purdue deceived them to stay on its drugs for longer and more harmful periods of time.' Step one in the push to get more veterans hooked on Oxycontin was the 'survival guide.' Exit Wounds a Survival Guide To Pain Management for Returning Veterans & Their Families was released in 2009 by Derek McGinnis. He is an Iraq War combat veteran who lost his leg when a terrorist deliberately drove into the ambulance he was driving overseas. He now speaks around the country to doctors and veterans on behalf of Purdue Pharma about his chronic pain, a diagnosis that requires him to be on pain pills at all times. That makes McGinnis a profit powerhouse for Purdue, but could lead to problems down the line, according to experts. The complaint cites one study that states: 'Long experience with opioids shows that people who are not predisposed to addiction are unlikely to become addicted to opioid pain medications.' There is little mention of Exit Wounds' origin online however, with even Amazon making no mention of Purdue or the Sacklers on the book's sales page. Exit Wounds tells 'the inspirational story of how one courageous veteran, with the aid of his family, recovered and thrived despite near death, traumatic brain injury, and the loss of a limb.' The book also 'offers veterans and their families comprehensive and authoritative information on acute and chronic pain syndromes afflicting veterans, treatment options, and strategies for self-advocating for optimal pain care and medical resources inside and outside the VA system,' according to its page in the Amazon. There is only one passage of the book that is highlighted in the complaint, and while it is brief there are a number of alarming comments. 'The pain-relieving properties of opioids are unsurpassed; they are today considered the "gold standard" of pain medications, and so are often the main medications used in the treatment of chronic pain,' writes McGinnis in the book. 'Yet, despite their great benefits, opioids are underused. For a number of reasons, healthcare providers may be afraid to prescribe them, and patients may be afraid to take them. At the core of this wariness is the fear of addiction, so I want to tackle this issue head-on.' McGinnis later writes in the book: 'Long experience with opioids shows that people who are not predisposed to addiction are unlikely to become addicted to opioid pain medications.' The Sacklers also allegedly pushed high doses of painkillers and hoped to cash in on anti-overdose drug NARCAN while 235,000 Americans died from the opoid epidemic. In March, a group of protesters led by photographer Nan Goldin descended on the Sackler Wing at the Met to shame the family Mortimer David Alfons Sackler, 47, with his wife, Jaqueline. Their Hamptons home has been featured in Vogue. Jacqueline is shown, right, with Ivanka Trump in 2007 The lawsuit claims that Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family knew that patients on higher dosages of OxyContin for long periods were at an increased risk of serious side effects, including addiction, yet they continued to promote the high doses as they yielded the most profit. In fact, from 2008 to 2016, the Sackler family added $4.2 billion to their already massive fortune in profits derived just from the sale of prescription opioids. Richard Sackler, a son of a founder of Purdue Pharma and its former president, wrote in a 2008 email to company officials to 'measure our performance by Rx's by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths', according to the filing. Jonathan and Mortimer Sackler were also copied in on the email, according to the new disclosures. Richard Sackler has always denied he was involved in the company's marketing activities. After making billions selling opoids, Purdue Pharma even considered selling anti-overdose drug NARCAN. The filing shows a potential plan to study 'long-term script users' to 'better understand target end-patients' for NARCAN. The plan never went forward but appeared in a 2014 presentation to company officials, including a Sackler family member, which also stated that 'pain treatment and addiction are naturally linked' and that 'there is an opportunity to expand our offering to be an end-to-end pain provider.' The filing paints a picture of a wealthy family getting richer while overdoses skyrocketed as the opioid epidemic swept the country and claimed the lives of more than 235,000 Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control. The 275-page suit is set to tarnish the legacy of a family that once bragged they would 'bury the competition' with the release of the highly addictive Oxycontin. Purdue spokesman Robert Josephson criticized the lawsuit and denied the claims, telling the New York Times: 'None of the documents cited by the attorney general support her fictional narrative that the company was only interested in promoting higher doses.' The complaint states that eight members of the Sackler family (Richard, Beverly, David, Ilene, Jonathan, Kathe, Mortimer and Theresa) 'paid their families billions of dollars from opioid sales.' Kathe Sackler, 70, lives in New York City and owns property in Connecticut with her wife The exact number is listed as $4,273,489,182, though it is noted that 'the list of payments if likely incomplete and not exhaustive.' It was not just the family who was profiting either, with board members taking home $600,000 annually for their work with the company, according to the complaint. Members of the family that controls Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma are also defendants in a lawsuit brought by New York's Suffolk County. There is also a massive consolidated federal case playing out in Ohio. More than 1,000 government entities have sued Purdue, along with other drugmakers and distributors, claiming they are partly culpable for a drug overdose crisis that resulted in a record 72,000 deaths in 2017. The majority of those deaths were from legal or illicit opioids. The company documents at the heart of the Massachusetts claims also could be evidence in the Ohio lawsuits, which are being overseen by a federal judge. The allegations have already started to tarnish a name that is best known for its generosity to museums worldwide including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a Sackler wing, and London's Tate Modern. The late Mortimer Sackler with his widow, Dame Theresa Sackler who is among members of the family being sued Brothers Jonathan, left, and Richard, right. Richard headed Purdue from 1999 to 2003 and oversaw much of the increasing sales of OxyContin as it was being advertised Beverly Sackler is Raymond's 94-year-old widow. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut The Sackler name also is on a gallery at the Smithsonian, a wing of galleries at London's Royal Academy of Arts and a museum at Beijing's Peking University. The family's best known and most generous donor, Arthur M. Sackler, died nearly a decade before OxyContin was released. In its lawsuit filed last year, the Massachusetts attorney general's office went after members of the Sackler family and Purdue, which is structured as a partnership and is not publicly traded. The company's flagship drug, OxyContin, was the first of a generation of drugs that used a narcotic painkiller in a time-release form. That meant each pill had a larger amount of drug in it than other versions and could get abusers a more intense high if they defeated the time-release process. The state is asserting that Richard Sackler, a son of a company founder and at the time a senior vice president for Purdue, as well as other family members pushed selling OxyContin even when they knew it could cause problems. Ilene is Mortimer's oldest daughter. She is pictured in 1999 opening the Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology When the drug was first sold in 1996, the filing said, Sackler told the sales force 'the launch of OxyContin Tablets will be followed by a blizzard of prescriptions that will bury the competition.' In 2007, the company and three current and former executives pleaded guilty to criminal charges that they deceived regulators, doctors and patients about the drug's addiction risks. The company agreed to fines of $634 million. The next year, according to the Massachusetts lawsuit, the company pressed ahead with a new version of the drug designed to be harder for abusers to crush. It did so without first conducting trials and despite a warning from the company's CEO that the new version 'will not stop patients from the simple act of taking too many pills.' Purdue had previously responded to the Massachusetts filing. 'In a rush to vilify a single manufacturer whose medicines represent less than 2 percent of opioid pain prescriptions rather than doing the hard work of trying to solve a complex public health crisis, the complaint distorts critical facts and cynically conflates prescription opioid medications with illegal heroin and fentanyl,' said the company. A spokesman for the Sackler family declined to comment. At least 18 deaths are now being blamed on the bitterly cold weather amid the deadly polar vortex wreaking havoc across the United States. Among those dead are a FedEx worker found between two tractor-trailers at a delivery facility in western Illinois and a man found frozen solid in his backyard in Milwaukee. Police say a colleague found the body of 69-year-old William L. Murphy between two semitrailers at the delivery company's East Moline facility Thursday morning, when Moline hit a record low of minus 33F (-36 Celsius). Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson says Murphy's death 'appears to be medical or natural' and that an autopsy scheduled for Monday will determine if the frigid temperature played a role. The company said: 'We are saddened by the loss of our team member and our sympathies go out to his family and friends.' The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office responded to a home in Cudahy on Thursday after a man was found dead in his backyard. It was the same day temperatures plunged to record lows in several Midwestern cities. No details about the man or what preceded his death were immediately released. An autopsy is scheduled. Officials have also confirmed the University of Iowa college student found dead just before 3am on Wednesday near his dorm likely froze to death. The deaths being blamed on the historic deep freeze have occurred in eight states, from Iowa to New York. A FedEx worker has been found dead outside in a western Illinois city that has been experiencing record low temperatures Pedestrians walk as snow falls in Washington DC Friday after brutally cold temperatures gripped the US Midwest A US Secret Service officer guards the White House as snow falls Friday At least 18 people have died during the freezing temperatures that have gripped the Midwest and Northeast A woman is hit by a snow ball while posing for a picture in front of the White House as snow falls in Washington Friday An icebreaking tugboat of the U.S. Coast Guard cuts through ice as it makes its way north on the Hudson River between the cities of Kingston and Albany on Friday Authorities in Minnesota's Carver County say they received a report of a car accident on Monday evening. They arrived and found a vehicle off the roadway. Forty-six-year-old Amy Debower of Chaska was found dead outside the vehicle. Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamerud says a preliminary investigation suggests the extreme weather may have been a factor in Debower's death. The investigation is ongoing. A 90-year-old woman has died in the extreme cold after locking herself out of her home in southwestern Michigan. WOOD-TV says Ada Salna was found covered with snow on the steps of her home Wednesday near Three Rivers in St. Joseph County. Pathologist Joyce deJong says Salna died of hypothermia. Blood loss from a cut also contributed to her death. The TV station says Salna was feeding birds when she was locked out. Authorities said the body of student Gerald Belz was found behind an academic hall in the early hours of Wednesday by campus police. The 18-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The university said in a statement to The Chicago Tribune that police think Belz's death was linked to the weather and do not suspect foul play. The National Weather Service says the wind chill in Iowa around 3am was -51F. Belz's family said their son was studying pre-med and that he had just graduated last May from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School. His family told KCRG that doctors did not find alcohol in his system. The deadly polar vortex wreaking havoc across the US has left at least 18 people dead, including college student, Gerald Belz Authorities in New York say the death of a homeless man whose frozen body was found in a suburban Buffalo bus shelter might be related to the arctic cold that has blanketed much of the northern U.S. this week. An autopsy was planned to determine whether the man found in the village of Williamsville froze to death or died of another cause. His name wasn't immediately released. In Indiana one person died early Friday morning in a crash involving a salt truck on the Interstate 70. Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine told The Indianapolis Star that the crash happened about 6:15 a.m. Friday near Monrovia in Hendricks County. Perrine says the Indiana Department of Transportation salt truck pulled over due to a mechanical issue and its hazard lights were on. He says another vehicle struck the truck's rear and the person in that vehicle died. The crash happened as a storm moved across Indiana, bringing up to three inches of snow. It follows a deep freeze that saw temperatures as low as minus 25F (-31 C) in LaPorte on Thursday morning. The bitterly cold weather has held much of the region in a historic deep freeze The frigid conditions are starting to ease with rapid thaw over the next few days There could be a swing of as much as 80 degrees within days in parts of the region Experts say the rapid thawing is unprecedented and could create problems of its own such as bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads Past cold waves have not dissipated this quickly according to forecasters The frigid conditions are starting to ease, and a dramatic swing of as much as 80 degrees was expected within days in parts of the region. Water main breaks and burst pipes have disrupted operations at several facilities in Michigan amid bitterly cold weather, including a Detroit court and a university library. Similar problems are expected amid a rapid thaw. A flood warning remains in effect along the Muskegon River in western Michigan due to an ice jam. Forecasts say the region will see a rapid thaw over the next few days, with temperatures climbing. Experts say the swing is unprecedented, and it could create problems of its own such as bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads. Jeff Masters is meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. He says past cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. Rockford, Illinois, saw a record-breaking minus 31F (minus 35 Celsius) on Thursday but should be around 50F (10 Celsius) on Monday. Other previously frozen areas can expect temperatures of 55F (13 Celsius) or higher. People walk alongside frozen Lake Michigan in Chicago on Thursday as the Midwest was struck by the polar vortex and bitterly cold weather The polar vortex that brought many cities to a standstill was expected to come to a swift end A woman walks on the North Avenue Beach as steam rises from the city buildings and Lake Michigan in Chicago on Thursday Arthur Murray International Inc, one of the world's largest dance brands, has announced news of rapid global expansion and plans to extend its franchise operation in the UK. The company, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida was founded by the late Arthur Murray. Teacher to the stars, Murray and the company he formed, have enjoyed enormous success since he set up his first dance class in 1912 and garnered a glittering student roster that included Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller and the Duke of Windsor. The Arthur Murray Dance troop led by Shaun McEnery perform for care home residents as the company announces it's expansion Today Arthur Murray International Inc. has 272 dance studios in 23 countries world-wide. The combined businesses offer its students lessons, courses, parties, club memberships, competitions, trips and a social and lifestyle community, and account for approximately $98 million in annual revenues. Last year Arthur Murray Dance Studios launched a campaign to #GetBritainDancing to promote the health and lifestyle benefits of dance and the business opportunity an Arthur Murray franchise provides. Tom Murdock VP explains: 'Arthur Murray International has been engaged for over a hundred years in operating and franchising dance studios of the highest reputation and excellence and boasts unique and successful methods of teaching dance. The company has a wonderfully talented team and I share their goals, values and vision. 'There are only three Arthur Murray studios in the UK all in London, and as a result, there is an enormous opportunity for expansion here and in Northern Ireland. I am on board to support that drive and in turn assist any new franchisees that join us.' Tom Murdock continues: 'Arthur Murray International Inc. has expanded exponentially in recent years through new franchises, international competitions and organic growth. We are in the strongest fiscal position ever and have the largest global reach in our company's history. 'We will be bringing to the UK - one of our most important markets, capital, experience, enthusiasm and a solid franchise support structure to assist new franchisees in the UK set up their businesses and capitalise on the company's market-leader status in the dance franchise category.' A day after senators from his own political party gave his troop withdrawal plan for Syria a major brush back, and demanded a review of approach to Afghanistan, President Trump defended his foreign policy in the Middle East in morning tweets. The GOP-controlled Senate voted Thursday to advance a bill checking Trump's strategy in the Middle East, where he claimed that ISIS had been decimated and announced an immediate retreat of U.S. forces. 'We will soon have destroyed 100% of the Caliphate, but will be watching them closely. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely. Certain people must get smart!' he claimed. Trump also claimed credit for a deal with the Taliban that would see. U.S. forces coming home after nearly two decades of beating back terrorists in the country. He bragged: 'I inherited a total mess in Syria and Afghanistan, the Endless Wars of unlimited spending and death. During my campaign I said, very strongly, that these wars must finally end. We spend $50 Billion a year in Afghanistan and have hit them so hard that we are now talking peace.' A day after senators from his own political party gave his troop withdrawal plan for Syria a major brush back, and demanded a review of approach to Afghanistan, President Trump defended his foreign policy in the Middle East in morning tweets 'We will soon have destroyed 100% of the Caliphate, but will be watching them closely. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely. Certain people must get smart!' he claimed He said in a second tweet that American troops will be coming home soon now that ISIS is nearly defeated Trump has been playing defense all week on his foreign policy positions, after his intel chiefs openly contradicted him in testimony on Capitol Hill. He attacked them on Twitter and said they they need to hit the books, again. On Thursday he told reporters, 'I disagree with certain things that they said. I think I'm right, but time will prove that. Time will prove me right, probably. 'You even look at what's going on -- and I can't tell you that this is a guarantee because we're going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan. And, for the first time, they're talking about settling. They're talking about making an agreement. 'And we bring our people back home if that happens. We'll see what happens, but they're in very serious negotiations for the first time. There's a reason for that.' Later on Thursday he brushed aside the contradictions his intelligence chiefs offered on Iran, North Korea and ISIS, saying he had spoken to them and got reassurance they 'were totally misquoted' and it was 'fake news' what was being reported. 'They said they were totally misquoted and totally taken out of context. What I do, I suggested you call them. They said it was fake news, which, frankly, didn't surprise me at all,' Trump told reporters at the White House after being asked if he'd spoken to them about their testimony to a Senate panel earlier this week. Pressed by the media about what FBI directory Christopher Wray, CIA director Gina Haspel, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in a public hearing that was broadcast on C-SPAN on Tuesday, Trump brushed the questions aside. Trump tweeted a photo of his meeting with his intelligence team He stuck to his guns in saying their were misquoted in their public testimony 'We're here to talk right now about China,' he said during his Oval Office meeting with Chinese trade officials. 'Next, please.' He also tweeted a photo of him meeting with Coats, Haspel, National Security Adviser John Bolton and other members of his intelligence team on Thursday and noted: 'Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media.' He added: 'I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page!' Earlier in the day Trump said he would have 'difficulty' taking advice from his intelligence chiefs after their testimony. 'I have difficulty with that. Time will prove me right, probably,' he told reporters at the White House. Earlier in the day Trump said he'd have trouble listening to his chiefs after their testimony Trump blamed Democrats for the situation with Iran He then went on to defend his withdrawing the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran after Coats had pointed out Tehran was still abiding by it despite America's exit. 'Iran is a big threat, and I think I did the right thing when I terminated the ridiculous Iran deal,' Trump said. The president also sought to blame the situation with Iran on the Democrats in an early morning tweet, particularly hitting out Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. 'Schumer and the Democrats are big fans of being weak and passive with Iran. They have no clue as to the danger they would be inflicting on our Country. Iran is in financial chaos now because of the sanctions and Iran Deal termination. Dems put us in a bad place - but now good!,' he tweeted Thursday morning. The president was continuing his line of defense from Wednesday when he suggested his intelligence chiefs should 'go back to school' and lectured their 'naive' assessments on Iran after they sharply contradicted his foreign policy claims, particularly on North Korea and ISIS. The president's response to his chiefs testimony before the Senate a day earlier was an unprecedented Twitter dressing down of America's top intelligence officials, where he called them 'extremely passive and naive,' said they were flat out 'wrong' on Iran, and suggested 'Intelligence should go back to school!.' He railed against FBI directory Christopher Wray, CIA director Gina Haspel, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who painted a different picture of America's relationship with its foreign partners when they testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. President Donald Trump defended his foreign policy initiatives on Wednesday He attacked his intelligence chiefs as 'extremely passive and naive' He suggested they go back to school Trump has been fixated on his chiefs' testimony on Tuesday Trump did not hold back in his fury and insults. 'The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but....,' he tweeted. He added: '....a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!' The president spent the morning in a defensive twitter storm about his foreign policy initiatives after Coats argued North Korea has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons - in contrast to the president's claim of success after his summit with Kim Jong-Un - and CIA director Gina Haspel warned ISIS was still dangerous after Trump claimed they had been beaten. Additionally Coats, in his testimony, had a different take on one of Trump's key assertions on Iran - that it had cheated on the spirit of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The president has argued Iran is still a nuclear threat. Coats appeared to contradict that when he said Tehran was complying with the deal - even after Trump announced America's withdrawal from it in May - and isn't taking any steps toward a nuclear weapon. 'We do not believe Iran is currently undertaking activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device,' he said. In The Senate, John Thune, the second most senior Republican as majority whip, told CNN: 'I prefer the President would stay off Twitter - particularly with regard to these important national security issues where you've got people who are experts and have the background and are professionals. 'I think we need to trust their judgment.' Former CIA Director John Brennan, a frequent Trump critic who had his security clearance revoked by the president, retweeted Trump's criticism and told the president: 'All Americans, especially members of Congress, need to understand the danger you pose to our national security.' 'Your refusal to accept the unanimous assessment of U.S. Intelligence on Iran, No. Korea, ISIS, Russia, & so much more shows the extent of your intellectual bankruptcy. All Americans, especially members of Congress, need to understand the danger you pose to our national security,' he wrote on Twitter. Trump's early morning defense of his foreign policies particularly focused on Iran and North Korea. FBI Director Christopher Wray; CIA Director Gina Haspel; and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on 'Worldwide Threats' Trump started Wednesday morning defending his policies on Syria He was particularly defensive of his work with North Korea The president's early morning Twitter focus was on world affairs after his intelligence chiefs sharply contradicted his claims Trump touted his foreign policy work after his intelligence chiefs offered a different assessment Former CIA Director John Brennan, a frequent Trump critic who had his security clearance revoked by the president, fired back in the defense of the intelligence chiefs 'When I became President, ISIS was out of control in Syria & running rampant. Since then tremendous progress made, especially over last 5 weeks. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting..,' Trump wrote in a series of tweets that came before he insulted his intelligence chiefs. 'Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization...,' the president noted. He added: '...Time will tell what will happen with North Korea, but at the end of the previous administration, relationship was horrendous and very bad things were about to happen. Now a whole different story. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!' The positive notes from Trump came after Haspel warned ISIS was still dangerous and Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Kim is unlikely to give up his nuclear stockpiles. 'We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD (weapons of mass destruction) capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capability because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival,' Coats said in his opening statement as the three intelligence chiefs testified on Tuesday. 'Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization,' he added. Coats' conclusions run counter to the claims Trump made after his June summit in Singapore with Kim, when he argued North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat. Trump plans to meet with Kim again 'shortly,' as he said in his Wednesday morning tweet but no agenda, venue or date have been announced. The White House has said the sitdown will be around the end of February. Additionally, in the annual 'Worldwide Threat Assessment' released on Tuesday, it was revealed Kim is wooing China and South Korea to support its push for Washington to loosen sanctions pressure without making significant nuclear concessions. 'Kim has also sought to align the region against the U.S.-led pressure campaign in order to gain incremental sanctions relief, and North Korean statements have repeatedly indicated that some sanctions relief is necessary for additional diplomacy to occur,' the report said. The 42-page report released by Coats noted North Korea had not conducted any nuclear or missile tests in over a year and had declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang had also 'reversibly dismantled' parts of its infrastructure for weapons of mass destruction, the report said. The report also noted that in his 2019 New Year's address, Kim pledged that North Korea would 'go toward' complete denuclearization and promised not to make, test, or use nuclear weapons. Contradiction: Dan Coats (right), the Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee, that Kim Jong Un still wants nuclear weapons so his regime can survive. Coats testified beside (from left) Christopher Wray, the FBI Director, and Gina Haspel, the CIA Director Another summit: After this meeting in Singapore in June 2018, Trump said that Kim Jong Un had committed to full denuclearization but was contradicted Tuesday by his own Director of National Intelligence However, it said Kim made it conditional on 'practical actions' by the United States and added that Pyongyang had - in the past tied - the idea of denuclearization to changes in diplomatic ties, economic sanctions, and military activities. And CIA director Gina Haspel told the Senate panel on Tuesday that Kim's regime 'is committed to developing a long-range nuclear-armed missile that would pose a direct threat to the United States.' The threat report also found that the United States' trade policies and 'unilateralism' - central tenants of Trump's presidency - have strained relationships with foreign partners. In addition to the focus on the North Korea, both the report and the chiefs' testimony examined relationships with Iran, Afghanistan and Syria plus warned of possible cyber attacks in the next presidential election. Missing from the report was any mention of threats at the U.S-Mexico border where Trump is demanding a border wall for security reasons. The report stated the Islamic State group 'remains a terrorist and insurgent threat' inside Iraq, where the government faces 'an increasingly disenchanted public.' In Syria, where Trump has ordered a full withdrawal of U.S. troops, the government of Bashar Assad is likely to consolidate control, with Russia and Iran attempting to further entrench themselves in Syria, the report claimed. And Haspel said of ISIS: 'They're still dangerous,' adding that they still command 'thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria.' Last month Trump claimed 'we have won against ISIS; we've beaten them, and we've beaten them badly.' The intelligence assessment of Afghanistan projected a continued military stalemate. Without mentioning prospects for a peace deal, which appear to have improved only in recent days, the report said, 'neither the Afghan government nor the Taliban will be able to gain a strategic military advantage in the Afghan war in the coming year' if the U.S. maintains its current levels of support. Trump has ordered a partial pullback of U.S. forces this year, although no firm plan is in place. Coats also told the committee that Russia and perhaps other countries are likely to attempt to use social media and other means to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election. 'We expect our adversaries and strategic competitors to refine their capabilities and add new tactics as they learn from each other's experiences, suggesting the threat landscape could look very different in 2020 and future elections,' the intelligence report said. The White House is planning another meeting between Kim and Trump after their first summit in Singapore in June Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is unlikely to give up his nuclear stockpiles The report specifically warned about Russia, which U.S. intelligence agencies determined had interfered in the 2016 election to sway voters toward Trump. 'Russia's social media efforts will continue to focus on aggravating social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities, and criticizing perceived anti-Russia politicians,' it said. 'Moscow may employ additional influence toolkits - such as spreading disinformation, conducting hack-and-leak operations, or manipulating data - in a more targeted fashion to influence U.S. policy, actions, and elections.' A woman has been left with a lopsided mouth for nine months following a plastic surgery mishap in central China. The devastated 25-year-old patient, surnamed Guo, paid 35,000 (3,960) for a jaw reshaping surgery at the Wuhan Huamei Plastic Surgery Hospital in late March last year. Four days after the operation, she was shocked to wake up with a pair of disfigured lips. Doctors at the hospital insisted the condition was a result of nerve damage caused by a complication in the procedure, according to Chinese reports. The devastated 25-year-old patient, surnamed Guo, paid 35,000 (3,960) for a jaw reshaping surgery at the Wuhan Huamei Plastic Surgery Hospital in late March last year Four days after the operation, Guo was shocked to wake up with a pair of disfigured lips. Top, patient Guo's lips before the surgery and bottom, her lopsided lips after the procedure A recent assessment by a judicial agency approved by the Hubei Provincial Department of Justice declared Guo's condition a Grade 10 disability, according to CCTV. The scale, where one is the highest and 10 the lowest, is determined by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. 'I was just hoping to shave a bit of my lower jaw to make my features a bit softer,' the woman told video news site Pear. When she complained to the doctors after the procedure, they told her everything would go back to normal in two months. In May, she was given treatment following an electromyography, a nerve and muscle test. A recent assessment by a judicial agency approved by the Hubei Provincial Department of Justice declared Guo's condition a Grade 10 disability, according to CCTV In May, Guo was given treatment following an electromyography, a nerve and muscle test However, after more than nine months, her condition did not improve and Guo was still left with a wonky mouth. In November, the hospital offered to refund her surgery cost of 35,000 yuan (3,960) and an additional 5,000 yuan (566) as compensation, but Guo refused. 'I did not accept their offer. My entire life has been ruined,' she said. 'Look at me - my lips are still lopsided. I cannot control my muscles on this side anymore,' she said, pointing to her left chin. 'I'm only 24, I'm still single.' she added. 'I'm very worried about my future. I look so ugly, what am I going to do?' 'Look at me - my lips are still lopsided. I cannot control my muscles on this side anymore,' Guo said, pointing to her left chin. Nine month after her surgery, she is still left with a wonky mouth The number of complaints filed by consumers over disfigurement caused by botched cosmetic surgery across China exceeds 20,000 annually, according to CCTV. In January, a university student died of malignant hyperthermia, a severe reaction caused by anaesthesia, during a nose job at Li Mei Kang Plastic Surgery Hospital in Guiyang, Guizhou province. The National Health Commission has been cracking down on unregulated cosmetic clinics, handing down punishments in more than 2,700 cases involving legal violations and irregularities in cosmetic surgery services in the past year, according to China Daily. Health authorities across China have revoked the permits of 28 cosmetic surgery providers, including medical institutions, ordered 47 vocational training institutes to cease illegal services and ordered service providers to correct 743 cosmetic surgery advertisements. A young tradesman is lucky to be alive after he was knocked to the ground following a single coward's punch to the head. Footage of the callous attack show the 22-year-old victim's head hit the pavement after he was assaulted at Northbridge in Perth's city centre on Australia Day night. In the clip, the young man is seen lying limp on the concrete while his alleged attackers appear remorseless. Scroll down for video A young tradie has dodged death after he was knocked to the ground following a single coward's punch to the head The victim told Yahoo! 7 that the only reason he believes he survived the coward punch was due to breaking the fall with his shoulder. 'He just dropped, he hit the floor,' the man's friend said of the punch's aftermath. Both the victim and his friend, Andrew, said they remain perplexed at what caused the violence. 'I really do not understand why someone would want to do that,' he said, adding: 'it's cowardly'. Footage of the callous attack show the 22-year-old victim's head hit the pavement after he was assaulted at Northbridge in Perth's city centre on Australia Day night Both men said they were punched by the alleged gang and still fear revealing their identities due to the chance of a retaliation attack. In the lead-up to the assault, the pair said they were followed by a group of teens before the punches were thrown. An iPhone and a pair of limited edition runners were stolen in the alleged loot, with the perpetrators still on the run. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page. At least 30 bales of cannabis have washed up off the coast of Gibraltar after a smugglers' boat capsized in the early hours of this morning. The Royal Gibraltar Police made the discovery after a distress call came in at 4am from a 40-foot dinghy which was in trouble in the Mediterranean. While the Spanish coastguard rescued the three occupants and rushed them to a hospital in Algericas - a town bordering Gibraltar - the British police investigated the beach. Dozens of hulking bales wrapped in blue plastic and packed with cannabis washed up on the beach in Gibraltar after a smuggler's boat capsized at around 4am on Friday The Royal Gibraltar Police investigated the beach at dawn after the Spanish coastguard rescued three sailors from the waves Waves crash into the side of the dinghy whose three sailors were rushed to hospital in Spain after being hauled from the seas by the Spanish coastguard They discovered dozens of massive blue bales on the beach packed with cannabis, according to the Gibraltar Chronicle. The RGP could not confirm the precise number of bales seized or their weight. However, based on pictures shared by those at the scene there were at least 30 of the large batches of the drug. Gibraltar has long been on the smuggler's route for drugs coming from around the globe, either directly porting in Spain or coming via Africa. The shipwreck can be seen flipped over with its hull facing the sky as it is tossed around on the waves The 40-foot RHIB can be seen getting buffeted against the rocky coastline in the early hours of Friday morning Morocco - just nine miles across the Mediterranean - is known for being the source of entry for potent cannabis into Europe, particularly the hashish variety. The bold smugglers were likely headed for Spain when their RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) capsized. The Rock - as it is affectionately known - is not the ideal port of entry for a crook, with a considerable military presence and short coast line. Police have stepped up patrols outside two of London's most prestigious private schools after students were mugged for their phones. Pupils from 40,000-a-year Dulwich College - reputedly Britain's most expensive school - and its 18,000-a-year neighbour Alleyn's - have been robbed including six boys in one evening. Students from the nearby state Kingsdale Foundation School have also been victims. The most recent incident came ten days ago two teenagers were targeted by a mugger with a knife with thugs apparently picking children to steal from based on their uniforms. But the increased patrols have caused a row online after some critics said the private school students were getting better protection than state students from other areas of London. One parent wrote on Facebook: 'Six posh kids are mugged and all of a sudden there's enough police to guard them. Sickening as all children should be protected not just the ones with rich parents'. Another critic wrote: 'Where are the patrols outside all the schools where so many children are mugged, offered drugs or being drawn into gangs?' Muggers have been targeted private school students including from the 40,000-a-year Dulwich College (pictured) Students at fee-paying Alleyn's (file picture) have also been targeted by thieves stealing phones The mother of one 13-year-old pupil today described how he was ambushed as he walked home from Kingsdale. The primary school teacher, 49, who asked not to be named, told the Evening Standard: 'He ran into a Co-op and called his friend who lives nearby, then stayed with his friend. I'm just glad he did all the right things. It was such a shock. I'd never heard of this happening in Dulwich, especially to children in uniforms.' Her son said: 'This person was following me. He turned me around and reached into my pocket. I was confused. Then he said 'Give me your phone'. He swung at me but missed. I ran down Ryedale Road and he chased after me. Then I saw some people and shouted "Help, I'm getting robbed".' The mugger, who was white with ginger hair and wearing a green jacket, sprinted off. Detectives have said the robberies are on children going to and from these schools and have spiked since the end of 2018. Reacting to the news Val Watson said on Facebook: 'Oh must look after the rich kids...s*d the rest'. Jackie Bennett said: 'What about police patrolling Eltham High Street where children are getting mugged regularly by a ginger boy in a white coat carrying a knife and his equally scummy friends. Dont those children matter because they arent private school pupils?' Liam Sheppard wrote: 'Wouldn't do this in a normal primary or secondary school'. Another said: 'Wow! So this can happen in an affluent area like Dulwich where there are two prestigious private schools. Where's the stepped up police presence in Islington after another child has needlessly lost his life?' And Nigel Rafferty said: Remove the temptation. Stop giving children 1000 iPhones etc'. But others said the school the teenagers go to is irrelevant. Brenda Whillock said: 'A child is still a child and to be mugged is horrendous rich or poor need to catch quick and a proper punishment given not a slap on the wrist as this isn't working'. Ant Goldsworthy wrote: 'They do the same outside many state schools everyday, and have done for years'. Critics on social media suggested the schools' students were getting special treatment Headteachers of Dulwich College, Alleyn's School and Kingsdale Foundation School said in a joint statement: 'Such crimes, particularly targeting children, are deplorable. We are working assiduously with local police, councillors, our local MP and Safer Routes to School to help ensure pupils walking to and from school are safe, and feel safe'. A 17-year-old male was arrested and admitted two robberies and one attempted robbery. He will be sentenced this month. Inspector Owen Pyle says the Met are working with schools in the area, and Southwark Council, to make sure any similar incidents are being reported. To report any information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or call police on 101. A woman who accused Southern Charm star John David 'J.D.' Madison of drugging and raping her in August 2017 has vowed to contest an 'unfair, unfounded' charge of filing a false police report. Susan Wall Johnson, 43, was arrested and released on her own recognizance by Charleston County Sheriff's Office Thursday after the discovery of messages and phone calls believed to be inconsistent with her account of the incident. The South Carolina woman filed the report in August 2018, a year after the alleged incident with the married father-of-four, and her attorney said the reason for any contradictions would be because she was intoxicated at the time. Susan Johnson (left and right) was arrested Thursday on suspicion of filing a false police report against John David 'J.D.' Madison in August 2018. Her lawyer said she'll fight the charge Madison (pictured with wife Elizabeth, left) was accused of raping and drugging South Carolina woman Johnson in August 2017 'Susan is going to fight this unfair, unfounded charge. She was severely intoxicated on the night in question and so naturally there are some inconsistencies in her recollection,' Trey Harrell said in a statement obtained by People. 'Such inconsistencies do not make her a liar, and they certainly do not make her a criminal. 'Susan does not remember sending any of the messages or making any of the phone calls that police are using as 'evidence' to dispute her recollection of what happened.' The lawyer warned that law enforcement could be discouraging other women who feel they have been victimized in a similar way from coming forward. Mount Pleasant Police said there were inconsistencies in Johnson's claim about Madison (pictured) Bravo star Madison is a married father-of-four. He is pictured with his wife Elizabeth The alleged incident involving Madison (top left) took place August 21, 2017, when Johnson claims she went to a bar with him after previously hosting their friends at her home He added that it's 'absolutely unconscionable' if investigators are charging his client simply based on their own belief and that Johnson will dispute the claim 'vigorously in court'. Johnson claimed the Bravo star lured her into his drug trap by smashing a glass. The alleged incident between the pair took place August 21, 2017, when the woman claims she went to a bar with him after previously hosting a female friend of hers and a male friend of Madison's at her home with other friends. Johnson claimed Madison broke a glass on purpose to allow him time to slip a drug into her drink while she looked away The woman claimed Madison's (second left) friend was in on the plan too, saying eventually it led to her being 'forcibly raped and sodomized' in the early hours of August 22, 2017 The alleged victim said he only stopped the assault when he got a call from his wife According to a report by FitsNews.com, Madison broke a glass on purpose to allow him time to slip a drug into her drink while she looked away. The woman claimed his friend was in on the plan too, saying eventually it led to her being 'forcibly raped and sodomized' in the early hours of August 22. People confirmed a complaint had been filed with Mount Pleasant Police Department August 25. The complaint states she was unwillingly drugged, sexually assault and raped by the businessman in the guest room of her home. Further details from the law enforcement documents state she was 'not feeling right'. Co-star Naomie Olindo claimed he was inappropriate with a woman and questioned the way he treated his wife Elizabeth 'This is when she stated that she felt like she might have been drugged,' the report continues. The alleged victim said he only stopped when he got a call from his wife, the mother of their four children, Elizabeth. According to public records, Jay Schwartz, a local chiropractor, was reportedly arrested on drug possession charges the same evening. According to the article, the female friend was also taken to hospital that night but the reason is unknown. In the past his co-star Naomie Olindo claimed he was inappropriate with a woman and questioned the way he treated his wife Elizabeth. In April, however, his spouse backed him up saying the pair had sorted their differences. 'With time apart, it allowed us to heal and to grow as human beings,' she told Bravo's Daily Dish. 'We are better people now than we were then. J.D. is, and always has been an amazing father. His dedication to them through all of this has been amazing. 'I see him clearer now for who he is and I know him better than anybody on this earth. I have seen him go through so much and he just keeps on fighting. 'He works hard to provide for our family, and to be the best dad in the world. He is still a royal pain in the ass at times, and such an extremist, but he has warmed my heart again, and I am taking things slow.' The UK and the EU launched into a new war of words over the Rock today as Gibraltar was branded a 'colony' in draft laws to give visa-free travel to Britons after Brexit. Downing Street swiftly moved to slap down the jibe which is the latest move by Spain to take advantage of Brexit to stake its claim on the Rock. Unlike at other moments in the Brexit negotiation Britain has no power to veto or even disagree because it is a decision made by the remaining 27 EU states. Britain's EU ambassador Sir Tim Barrow did attend today's meeting and raised a protest. It means the incendiary language is likely to stay in the final version of the rules granting visa-free to Britons after Brexit. It will not prevent Gibraltar's citizens taking advantage of the waiver and does not change their legal status in the EU. Gibraltar sits in an strategically crucial position on the western gateway to the Med and has been British for more than 300 years. Spain almost blocked the conclusion of the deal in November and repeatedly raised the issue during two years of talks. In April 2017 there were even claims Mrs May would go to war to defend the Rock in the same way as Margaret Thatcher fought for the Falklands. The EU caused fury today as it branded Gibraltar a 'colony' of the UK in draft laws to give visa-free travel to Britons after Brexit A spokesman for Theresa May slapped down the 'completely inappropriate' language today, insisting 'Gibraltar is not a colony' The new row started when the EU rules on visa free travel included a footnote which said: 'Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown' The new row started when the EU rules on visa free travel included a footnote which said: 'Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations.' Mrs May swiftly hit back when the text of the document emerged this morning. A No 10 spokesman said: 'The EU's provisions for visa-free travel into and out of the Schengen area cover Gibraltar, and mean that in any scenario, British Nationals from Gibraltar will be able to travel for short stays in and out of Spain and other countries in the Schengen area. 'Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way. 'Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. 'This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltar's democratic wish to be British.' Former minister Bob Neill said Mrs May was right to stand up for the Rock and added: 'Gibraltar is fully functioning democracy, with its own directly elected Parliament and Independent Judiciary and self governing in all its internal affairs. Disputed: The Rock of Gibraltar is a sore point for Spain. Downing Street has clashed with Brussels over its description of Gibraltar as a 'colony' following an European Council document setting out plans for visa-free travel for Britons after Brexit 'The EU are totally wrong on this.' Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo accused Madrid of trying to 'bully' the British Overseas Territory by rejecting British demands for the footnote to be removed. He told the BBC: 'No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect of Gibraltar. 'The 32,000 people of Gibraltar are used to the constant attempts by successive Spanish governments to bully us in every possible way. 'This is no different to the sort of abuse we have had from former Spanish administrations.' Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo accused Madrid of trying to 'bully' the British Overseas Territory by rejecting British demands for the footnote to be removed Unlike at other moments in the Brexit negotiation Britain has no power to veto or even disagree because it is a decision made by the remaining 27 EU states. Britain's EU ambassador Sir Tim Barrow (pictured on Whitehall on Tuesday) did attend today's meeting and raised a protest The Rock's 2006 constitution stipulates that there can be no transfer of sovereignty to Spain against the wishes of its voters. In a referendum in 2002, Gibraltarians resoundingly rejected the idea of joint sovereignty between the UK and Spain. Free travel between Spain and Gibraltar was fully restored in 1985, but travellers continued to suffer delays at the border. In late 2006, passenger flights between Spain and Gibraltar resumed for the first time in nearly 30 years, though seven years later there were renewed border checks by Spain in response to a Gibraltarian plan to build an artificial reef. The 2006 air link was restored after Gibraltar, Spain and Britain signed agreements aimed at improving living conditions on the Rock. In the 2016 EU referendum, the Rock voted overwhelmingly against Brexit. And even though the UK overall did not, Gibraltar's leaders have made clear they prefer to follow the motherland out of the EU. But for Madrid, Brexit represents a golden opportunity to overturn three centuries of history and stage their own bid to 'take back control'. A Russian girl was left 'defecating through her vagina' for three years after Russian doctors failed to realise she had been born without an anus. Medics were given an official reprimand after repeated examinations of Varya Galtsev failed to diagnose the condition which should have been noticed at birth. Father Andrey said doctors had ignored his concerns that his daughter's genitals looked 'different than normal' and her chronic constipation issues. Varya Galtsev, from Russia, was left 'defecating through her vagina' for three years after Russian medics failed to spot a birth defect that meant she had no anus He and his wife Svetlana were regularly told not to worry and that the problems would ease without surgery, he said. 'During a regular check, when Varya was one, we drew the attention of the doctor to the fact that her genitals looked different from normal,' he said. 'Besides, our daughter was suffering from constipation. But the doctors said it will get better with time.' As a result, the girl was left 'defecating through her vagina', Andrey said. Finally at the age of three she was diagnosed with 'atresia of the anus with rectovestibular fistula', which is what the parents suspected. It is a congenital condition that occurs in baby girls and is usually successfully corrected by surgery soon after birth. Varya had suffered chronic constipation since birth but doctors repeatedly assured her parents that the problems would ease with time Father Andrey said he also mentioned to medics that his daughter's genitals 'did not look normal', but they waved away his concerns Now at the age of three she has undergone one operation and will have more surgery later this month. 'Due to lack of attention or incompetence our daughter suffered for three years - she was doing poos through her vagina,' he said. 'A lot of time has been lost. Now she is in the hands of doctors from Moscow. 'The local surgeons didn't care about her.' Five specialist doctors were reprimanded over the case. A man in China was filmed bowing to medical staff to thank them for treating his father - even though were unable to save him in the end. Liu Lianqun, 70, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to doctors and nurses at the Wuhan No. 1 Hospital in Hubei province on January 24, after his 94-year-old father died of complications of a pulmonary infection. 'I just wanted to thank all medical staff for taking care of my father. I am not good with words, I only know how to express my appreciation this way... thank you all so much,' a teary-eyed Liu was heard saying, before taking off his hat and bowing deeply. Liu Lianqun, 70, takes a deep bow to express his heartfelt appreciation to doctors at the Wuhan No 1 Hospital in Hubei, after his father, 94, died of complications of a pulmonary infection 'Oh dear, you don't have to thank us,' astonished doctors and nurses said as they rushed to lift the elderly man. The moving 15-second clip was filmed by ICU nurse Lu Hui and uploaded to short video app Douyin, where it drew more than six million views. 'A 94-year-old father has completed his final journey at the ICU. A simple "thank you" is all us medical staff need,' Lu wrote in her viral post. The man told Changjiang Daily that he just wanted to thank doctors and nurses for trying their best to save his father's life. 'There was not a trace of odour on my father's body and he didn't suffer from any bedsores or bruises on his back,' the man said. 'This shows that the nurses took great care to constantly massage his muscles, clean and re-position his body.' 'I just wanted to thank all medical staff for taking care of my father. I am not good with words, I only know how to express my appreciation this way... thank you all so much,' a teary-eyed Liu is heard saying, before taking off his hat and bowing deeply The incident has sparked many conversations about how medical professionals are treated in China, where doctors and nurses are often overworked and under-appreciated. The Chinese Medical Doctor Association reported in 2015 that 13 per cent of 12,600 doctors surveyed had been physically assaulted the previous year. According to the World Health Organization, China has just one general practitioner per 6,666 people, far below the international standard of one for every 1,500 to 2,000 people. 'Despite the man's grief, he did not forget to thank the medical staff. Such a gentleman. May his father rest in peace,' one comment read on Chinese microblogging site Weibo. 'Thank you doctors, for respecting your patients and being such professionals,' one user said. 'Let's all better appreciate our doctors and nurses for saving our lives,' another said. 'As a fellow medical worker, we should also thank you. Thank you for understanding our work and I hope that doctor-patient relationships would improve in the future,' another user commented. Tom Watson warned Labour MPs not to accept 'bribes' from Theresa May in return for votes on her Brexit deal today. Labour's deputy leader slammed claims 'financial incentives' were being offered by Downing Street to MPs from Leave-backing constituencies. The tactic is apparently being used by Mrs May and one of the targeted MPs John Mann yesterday declared 'show us the money'. Independent former Labour MP Frank Field said he would only vote for a deal that was right today but said he had no issues with taking money for his constituents in return. Downing Street has played down the idea of a 'package' deal but has insisted Mrs May has always been committed to a 'national renewal' after Brexit. Tom Watson (pictured today on BBC Breakfast) warned Labour MPs not to accept 'bribes' from Theresa May in return for votes on her Brexit deal today Independent former Labour MP Frank Field (pictured today on BBC News) said he would only vote for a deal that was right today but said he had no issues with taking money for his constituents in return Theresa May (pictured) will persuade Labour MPs to back her Brexit deal by offering money for their constituencies, it has been claimed Mr Watson told BBC Breakfast today: 'If there are financial incentives for constituencies like that... it would be a bribe and it would be wrong 'I don't think any MP would take a bribe like that. I suspect what John Man was saying and maybe he got his words jumbled is the reasons why so many constituencies voted for Brexit is because of the economic divide and the opportunities people in those areas have. 'That's an issue we all need to be concerned about but after the Brexit negotiations are over as well.' But Mr Field - who walked out of Labour's parliamentary party over anti-Semitism - said he had set out a list of demands from the Government as he mulled the deal. He told BBC News: 'I hope that people will only vote for a deal that they believe is right. 'If the government is going to give us money for doing what we think is right, what's actually wrong with that? 'I am certainly yeserday made clear the things I want money spent on not just in Birkenhead but a whole package for the north. ' Yesterday Remainer MPs launched an extraordinary assault on Labour Brexiteers after they welcomed a bid by Mrs May to 'buy' support for her deal. The PM is preparing to pump millions of pounds into Leave-backing constituencies as she tries to entice wavering Opposition politicians. Who were the Labour rebels aganst delaying Brexit this week? Ian Austin, Dudley North Kevin Barron, Rother Valley Ronnie Campbell, Blyth Valley Rosie Cooper, West Lancashire Jim Fitzpatrick, Poplar and Limehouse Caroline Flint, Don Valley Roger Godsiff, Birmingham Hall Green Stephen Hepburn, Jarrow Kate Hoey, Vauxhall John Mann, Bassetlaw Dennis Skinner, Bolsover Laura Smith, Crewe and Nantwich Gareth Snell, Stoke-on-Trent Central Graham Stringer, Blackley and Broughton Advertisement The 'pork barrel' tactic is effectively an admission that Mrs May cannot get a package through Parliament with just Tory and DUP votes. The move was hailed by Labour MPs, with John Mann urging the PM to 'show us the money'. But Tottenham MP David Lammy, who has been demanding a second referendum, branded his colleagues 'fools' for working with the government. 'Socialists my arse. Cowards and facilitators. History will be brutal,' he said. The wrangling comes amid increasingly frantic efforts to forge a cross-party consensus. There is speculation that Jeremy Corbyn could be softening his position, after years of demanding a full customs union and the 'exact same benefits' as current membership terms. He pointedly refused to sack shadow ministers who defied orders and helped the government during crunch Commons votes on Tuesday. Labour MP Lisa Nandy, whose Wigan constituency voted 64 per cent to Leave in 2016, insisted her party now had to 'make real choices' and 'respect the result of the referendum'. The PM could target extra cash at the Leave-backing constituencies of Melanie Onn (left) and Gloria de Piero (right), who were among the shadow ministers who abstained in a vote on delaying Brexit this week Shadow minister Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, was also absent for the crucial vote in the Commons this week. John Mann (right) welcomed the prospect of money for Leave-backing constituencies Mrs May is battling to win a majority for her Brexit deal amid fierce opposition from many of her own Conservative backbenchers. Number 10 aides believe the backing of 20 Labour MPs could be enough to take a Brexit deal over the line to avoid a cliff-edge exit on March 29, The Times reported. A Government source told the newspaper: 'There's a willingness to look again at coalfield communities and make good the promises that former Labour governments failed to deliver. 'It's about allowing Labour MPs representing Brexit communities to show that they have extracted something tangible in return for their vote.' Mr Mann said: 'Show us the money. A fund of sufficient size to transform our communities. 'Our areas voted leave and it is time that we had the investment we need.' Labour's Stephen Hepburn also made clear he would be bidding for cash for Jarrow. 'More funding is needed to deal with the maintenance of roads in this area,' he tweeted. Ms Nandy told ITV's Peston programme it was now 'incumbent on the Labour Party now to start making real choices about what it is that we want'. 'There is still a debate going on within the Labour Party about whether we respect the result of the referendum or whether we have a second referendum,' she said. 'We went into the 2017 election saying that we respected the result of the referendum My view is that that is important.' Fourteen Labour rebels broke with Jeremy Corbyn to block a proposed Brexit delay in a Commons vote on Tuesday night. A handful of shadow ministers who appeared to defy him by skipping the vote, including Melanie Onn, Mike Kane, and Gloria de Piero. MailOnline understands none of them had permission to be absent. Tory sources confirmed that they were not 'paired' with other MPs - the mechanism for balancing out votes when people cannot attend the Commons. Seven Labour MPs also voted with the Tories to back the Brady amendment calling for changes to the Irish backstop. Tuesday's Commons vote demanded the replacement of the backstop with 'alternative arrangements' to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. Mrs May is due to report back to Parliament on her negotiations with the EU on February 13, with a further series of votes by MPs expected the following day. A 14-year-old girl missing from her Tennessee home for two weeks has been found 700 miles away in Wisconsin, and her stepfather has been arrested for raping her. The girl, who is not being named because she is the alleged victim of a sexual assault, was found on Thursday. She had been hiding out in Wisconsin for weeks while her mother and 41-year-old stepfather, Randall Pruitt, made appeals for her to come home on television. Police say she has been eating and is in a good condition. Scroll down for video The 14-year-old girl had been missing since January 13 when she vanished from her home in Madisonville, Tennessee. Randall Pruitt, her mother's husband who adopted her, has been arrested on rape charges Pruitt is shown in is mugshot on Thursday night. He is being held behind bars in Tennessee Pruitt, who legally adopted the girl after marrying her mother, was arrested on Thursday and charged with rape, and remains in custody in Tennessee. The girl has relatives in Wisconsin but was not staying with them when she was found. In a press conference on Thursday, Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones confirmed that the teenager was the victim of the alleged rape but he would not give further details on when it happened. Earlier this week, Pruitt made an emotional television appearance where he said life had 'stopped' since the girl went missing. 'Life has just ceased for us since the day she left,' her father, Randall Pruitt, said during a press conference. 'It's like having your soul ripped out of your body. You can't think, you can't eat, you can't sleep, you can't rest. 'She has never misbehaved or been a bad kid ever. This is way out in left field for her. Pruitt and the girl's mother, Christina, made emotional, televised appeals for her to come home earlier this week 'Please come home, we do miss you terribly,' he said. The girl's mother, Christina, has not been charged. She was bereft as she spoke during their appeal. 'She was my sunshine, and now my sunshine is gone. Please help us find our baby, please. 'We're very heartbroken. I miss her. I don't understand...none of us understand,' she said. Authorities believed the girl may have returned to Kentucky, where she lived with her family until a month ago, after her cell phone pinged near her old hometown. It went dark afterwards and she did not use social media for several weeks. It is unclear if she has been brought back to Tennessee or if she is still in Wisconsin. Pruitt is being held at the Monroe County Jail. The leader of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club and five other members of the biker gang are facing charges for murder, kidnapping, torture and racketeering in Oregon. An indictment unsealed Thursday details how the Gypsy Jokers 'sowed violence and intimidation throughout the Pacific Northwest' for years under the leadership of national president Kenneth Earl Hause, 61, also known as the 'Wiz' or 'Boss'. 'This is an organization whose members and associates pride themselves on living outside the law and use kidnapping, assault, murder and other forms of violence to extend and maintain their power,' U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Billy J Williams said in a statement. 'Kenneth Hause and his co-defendants will soon have their day in court and will face the consequences of their crimes.' Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, and an unnamed defendant are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death. National president of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club Kenneth Earl Hause, 61, and five other members of the biker gang have been charged with racketeering, kidnapping and murder, according to an indictment from Oregon's US District Attorney Billy J Williams unsealed on Thursday. Hause pictured above in his mugshot Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, (clockwise from top left) and an unnamed defendant were charged under the indictment, which accuses Gypsy Joker members of engaging in a number of violent crimes dating back more than a decade. Fisher, Negrinelli and Folkerts entered not guilty pleas to the new indictment in US District Court in Portland on Thursday afternoon Fisher, Negrinelli and Folkerts entered not guilty pleas to the new indictment in U.S. District Court in Portland on Thursday afternoon. The indictment describes barroom brawls in which Gypsy Joker members left people unconscious, brutal assaults on the gang's rivals, death threats issued to anyone who talked to police, beatings or torture of club associates who stepped into leaders' crosshairs and the distribution of drugs including methamphetamine. In September 2018, Hause allegedly used brass knuckles or large rings to knock out the teeth of a member of the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association. Prosecutors say Hause told the man that he had '30 days to shut [the veterans motorcycle club] down' and ordered him to no longer wear Gypsy Joker patches. The leader allegedly threatened to kill anyone who reported the assault, according to the indictment. On a different occasion, Hause allegedly punched, kicked and stomped a fellow Gypsy Joker while wearing heavy motorcycle boots, knocking out several of the member's teeth and informing him that he was no longer a member of the club. Hause and other members are also accused of assaulting people at Bar 181 in Portland in December 2008 after learning one of the victims had spoken to police about the Gypsy Joker crew. When a female club associate was caught dancing with members of the rival Mongols Motorcycle Club, members allegedly ordered her assault for 'disrespecting' them, the indictment says. The Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club became one of the most notorious and violent outlaw gangs in America after they were founded in San Francisco, California, on April Fool's Day in 1956 Four members of the Gypsy Jokers had already been charged in the kidnapping and killing of Robert Lee Huggins, 56, whose bloody, mutilated corpse was found dumped in a field in Clark County, Washington, on July 1, 2015. Police found clear evidence Huggins had been tortured before his death. He was missing a nipple, he had nails driven through his boots and had a broken leg, rib and fractured skull. His killers had also carved an 'X' onto his body, knocked out his teeth and repeatedly slashed his face and back with a knife, Oregon Live reported. Four members, including Tiler Pribbernow (above) had already been charged in the 2015 kidnapping and killing of fellow Gypsy Joker Robert Lee Huggins Investigators believe Huggins was the target of a revenge killing after he burglarized the Woodburn home of a Gypsy Jokers president, Mark Leroy Dencklau. Denklau, Fisher, and a third man - Tiler Pribbernow - were initially charged in the case. Pribbernow pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge. Prosecutors say jail notes passed between Dencklau and Fisher after their arrest helped tie the suspects to Huggins' murder. Dencklau wrote to Fisher: 'If we're both hoping to be in a situation where we can testify in front of the jury, our testimony needs to be similar' and 'The last thing we need is something like that coming back to haunt us.' The Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club became one of the most notorious and violent outlaw gangs in America after they were founded in San Francisco, California, on April Fool's Day, 1956. The Jokers were eventually forced out of the San Francisco Bay Area by the Hells Angels but have regional branches across the U.S. and in Australia. According to the Department of Justice, the club 'preserves, promotes and protects its power, territory and profits' through violence, intimidation, extortion, drug distribution and robbery. Four members of the Gypsy Jokers had already been charged in the kidnapping and killing of Robert Lee Huggins, 56, whose bloody, mutilated corpse was found dumped in a field (above) in Clark County, Washington, on July 1, 2015 A former history teacher who fell into drugs and got caught up in a county lines gang has been arrested after going on the run rather than face jail. Angela Davey's life spiralled out of control as she descended into drug abuse following the break-up of her marriage. The now-38-year-old became homeless and destitute, selling her 280,000 house and running up a string of debts to fund her Class A drugs habit. The mother-of-two ended up in court, admitting cocaine dealing in October, but went on the run rather than face jail and suffered the ignominy of being named as one of Norfolk police's ten most wanted people this week. Davey has been now caught by London's Met Police and faces a jail term for her role in the drugs gang. Angela Davey went from a history teacher to an on-the-run cocaine dealer. She has now been caught by London's Met Police The once hard-working history teacher is said to have been 'coerced' into taking hard drugs by a man she met on dating app Tinder. Three fellow members of her county lines gang have been jailed for a total of 11 years. But Davey did not show up in court to be sentenced for her part in a conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Davey appeared shaking and suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms in a five minute hearing this afternoon at Norwich Crown Court Her lawyer told the court: 'She has accepted that she is withdrawing from drug use. It seems to me that in order to make progress in this case, it ought to be adjourned.' Her father David Wilkes, 65, said earlier this week: 'The Angela Davey the police are looking for is not the Angela Davey who is my daughter. She is a loving, caring mother.' Davey's father said she completely changed after her marriage ended and she got into drugs Mr Wilkes said her life changed with the collapse of her marriage. 'She was absolutely devastated,' he added. 'Her whole world crashed down around her. We believe she was vulnerable at the time all this happened. Her whole persona changed. She lost control of everything.' Davey was arrested for dealing cocaine last February when she was living in a camper van. She admitted the charge at Norwich Crown Court on October 15, by which time she was sleeping in a tent. Her gang was targeted in a major police operation which tackled county lines crime, where drugs are shipped from cities to smaller towns - often by vulnerable people coerced into becoming mules and small-time dealers. Richard Potts, prosecuting, told Norwich Crown Court on Monday that the phone line Mrs Davey's associates used to peddle drugs had sent out 'bulk text messages' to hundreds of addicts. A disabled boy who was savagely beaten by a group of teenage girls has been left too traumatised to leave his home. Disturbing footage emerged of Jason Haldenby on the ground cradling his head as a group of girls kicked and punched him in Adelaide's northern suburbs on Wednesday. The 18-year-old said there were up to seven others who witnessed the vicious assault, but no one stepped in to help him. Jason Haldenby, 18, was savagely beaten by a group of teenage girls who laughed as they filmed the assault Many onlookers chose to film the beating instead, Mr Haldenby said. Mr Haldenby, who has an intellectual disability, has been left too terrified to leave his home. 'I've been bullied my whole life, primary school through to high school,' he told 9news. Mr Haldenby had arranged to meet with two girls at Elizabeth Train Station to talk about 'rumours'. Moments after meeting up with the girls he was dragged to the ground and beaten. The attack was allegedly over his mobile phone. The disabled teenage boy (pictured on the ground) was set upon by three teenage girls in Adelaide The teenage boy (pictured left) attempts to defend himself from the vicious attack in Adelaide In the footage a female can be heard demanding the password to his phone, before the beating continues. Laughing can be heard in the background of the footage. Some of the women believed to be involved in the incident have been contacted by police. The police investigation is ongoing. In the footage supplied to 9 News, one of the attackers appears to be wearing a school uniform from the prestigious Playford International College in Elizabeth. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Friday declared his bid for the presidency in 2020 with a sweeping call to unite a deeply polarized nation around a 'common purpose.' The New Jersey Democrat, who is the second black candidate in a primary field that's already historically diverse, delivered his message of unity amid an era marked by bitter political division. 'I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good-paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame,' Booker said in the video, subtly jabbing at President Donald Trump. 'It is not a matter of can we, it's a matter of do we have the collective will, the American will?' he added. 'I believe we do.' The New Jersey Democrat appeared live on The View on ABC on Friday, telling its hosts that he is running as a counterweight to 'a caustic type of politics' that threatens to divide the country. Booker did not specifically call out Trump as the source of that 'cancer in our country right now.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO He's running: Cory Booker leaves The View's studios after an appearance ... The United States! New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker launched his White House bid on Friday as Black History Month began Booker (left) is leaning heavy on his African-American heritage, talking about America's history of slavery and racial discrimination When asked what his party would do to fight the Trump administration's detention of immigrant children, he struck a note of unity and said: 'The question is not what the Democrats do. The question is what we do,' referring to all Americans. He was also interviewed in Spanish on Univision, vowing to work closely with 'the Latino community.' In another of a series of radio interviews he discussed his support for marijuana legalization. A former mayor of Newark, New Jersey's largest city, Booker spoke to reporters outside his home there on Friday afternoon and acknowledged that his optimistic tone may not resonate with some Democratic voters. But 'love ain't easy,' he added. The senator also weighed in on strategies to achieve universal health care that have shaken up the early Democratic field, saying that he would not eliminate the private insurance industry outright - a stance his rival and friend, California Sen. Kamala Harris, recently took heat for appearing to endorse during a televised town hall. He also likely will stand alone as an unmarried candidate, and when he appeared on Friday on 'The View,' a TV show popular with female audiences, one host asked how a committed vegan could win fans at the meat-and-butter-centric Iowa state fair. Booker noted that he enjoys 'lots of deep-fried stuff' and underscored his family ties to that pivotal state: His grandmother was born there. First words: Cory Booker's first interview was on ABC's The View, a show which attracts a female and diverse audience. Back home: Booker spoke to reporters outside his home in Newark, New Jersey, after appearing on The View Supporters: Cory Booker brought his mother Carolyn and brother Cary Jr. to the studio of The View for his appearance on the show. The senator's father Cary Sr. died in October 2013, shortly before his son won the special election for the New Jersey Senate seat he holds Booker's mother, who attended the show's live broadcast to support him, lives in another early-voting state, Nevada. Asked about Booker's candidacy on Friday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters that he 'very often sounds like a Hallmark card and not necessarily a person who's there to tell you everything he's accomplished in the United States Senate and as mayor of Newark' - and suggested he was sexist for running. 'What's wrong with the candidates that are already in there?' she asked on Fox News. 'What's your objection to Kamala Harris running, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, these others who have already announced, Tulsi Gabbard, maybe. 'If he were a Republican running against them, they would immediately call him a sexist for running against these women in the Democratic field.' Conway added: 'I imagine that the Drowded democratic field of presidential aspirants will be attacking each others' records or lack thereof, so we'll be sitting back with copious bowls of popcorn watching that.' 'I don't know what's in Sen. Booker's record that he's going to be able to point to and say, let me bring this to the entire nation.' The Republican Party took its own swipe at Booker on Friday. 'Cory Booker is a political opportunist who left Newark ridden with crime and an 'emblem of poverty,' GOP spokesman Michael Ahrens charged in a statement. 'Even the liberal base thinks he's a disingenuous self-promoter, and his embrace of policies like higher taxes, single-payer health care, and government-guaranteed jobs make him totally out-of-touch with most Americans,' Ahrens added. But fellow New Jerseyan Chris Christie, the state's former governor and an adviser to the president, wouldn't dismiss the 'talented, smart, articulate' senator. Christie said during a Washington Post event on Thursday that Booker could distinguish himself among other Democrats by sticking with his previous positions in favor of school vouchers, charter schools and tough crime-fighting. 'If he stays in that lane, and is the articulate, inspirational guy that he is, then I think he's got a legitimate chance to be a serious potential problem for the president in the general election,' he said. Booker enters what's shaping up to be a crowded presidential primary, with three of his fellow Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York already either declared or exploring a run. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that Booker has 'a legitimate chance to be a serious potential problem for the president in the general election,' but only if he doesn't run too far to the left But he's spent months telegraphing his intentions to join the race, visiting the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to build connections with key powerbrokers. In October he cast a Senate vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and promptly jetted to Iowa the first state where voters pick primary candidates to boast about it. Some of his past positions could help him win a Democratic primary but hobble him in a general election against Trump. He proposed legislation in December that would provide nest egg payments totaling up to $50,000 to low-income children, as a way to break 'generational' poverty. The funds would come out of taxpayers' pockets. And Republicans will do there best to make mincemeat of Booker for a fall 2018 moment that saw him compare himself to a Roman Empire gladiator. Regional foe: Booker will have to contend with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who will appeal to Big Apple donors who, he would otherwise have to himself Minority focus: California Sen. Kamala Harris was the first black candidate to enter the race, making Booker's splash less significant Firebrand foe: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a fellow candidate whose views and policies will be more liberal than Booker's, giving her an edge in a primary contest With a televised flourish in September, Booker released a collection of previously secret documents about Kavanaugh's views on racial profiling after the 9/11 terror attacks, and portrayed himself as a progressive crusader. He proclaimed that he was making the material public against the wishes of Republicans despite the fact that they had already cleared them for publication the night before. 'This is about the closest I'll probably ever have in my life to an, 'I am Spartacus' moment,' he said. Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio skewered Booker's 'Spartacus moment' on Twitter. 'On this day in 71B.C. the Thracian gladiator Spartacus was put to death by Marcus Licinius Crassus for disclosing confidential scrolls,' he tweeted. 'When informed days later that in fact the Roman Senate had already publicly released the scrolls, Crassus replied 'Oh, ok, my bad'.' Booker, a former mayor of Newark, New Jersey's largest city, won a special Senate election in 2013 to replace Democrat Frank Lautenberg and then won a full Senate term in 2014. Booker is emphasizing his connections to downtrodden inner-city New Jerseyans, but he reportedly earned about $1.3 million in speaking fees from 2009 to 2012 He will be able to run for a second full Senate term in 2020 while running for president, thanks to a law that New Jersey's governor signed in November. But that doesn't mean the 49-year-old's path to the nomination will be easy. As many as five more Democratic senators could soon mount their own primary bids, creating a competition for voters' attention, and several of Booker's rival presidential hopefuls bring higher name recognition to a race that may also feature popular former Vice President Joe Biden. Booker also will likely stand alone as an unmarried candidate, though he brings a compelling personal biography that could help elevate his message of bringing Americans together around what he described as 'common purpose.' Booker's father grew up in a low-income community in North Carolina, and the senator has recalled his family's later struggle to settle in suburban New Jersey amid discrimination against black homebuyers. The senator has brought a heartfelt and passionate style to his achievements in the Senate, at times fusing his personal spirituality with policy proposals that focus on social justice. Booker played a key role in the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that Trump supported last year, for example, a deal he helped strike two months after sparring with Republicans during the battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. In his announcement video, Booker invoked the fight against slavery and the role of immigration in building the nation's character. 'The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country and those who linked arms to challenge and change it,' he said. Born in the nation's capital but raised in New Jersey, Booker made a name for himself as Newark mayor by personally shoveling the snow of residents. He has $4.1 million left in his campaign coffers that could also be used to assist his presidential run. Rather than opening an exploratory committee to test the waters, Booker took the direct step to open a campaign seeking the Democratic nomination. Advertisement Hundreds of people turned out for the funeral of a World War II veteran who touched peoples hearts last year after a video was shared of him being helped out of his wheelchair by two paratroopers to pay his respects to fallen soldiers on Armistice Day. Ray Shuck, 95, from Bolton, was among the first troops to enter France on D-Day and he narrowly escaped death after being shot in the head by a German sniper in June 1944, with the bullet leaving a groove in his skull as it travelled through his helmet. Ray served as a member of sixth Airborne Air-landing Division, fourth Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery and 13th Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He died on January 5, surrounded by family. Six paratroopers carried the coffin of Ray Shucks, 95, who was among the first troops to enter France on D-Day and he narrowly escaped death after being shot in the head by a German sniper in June 1944 Current and ex-servicemen formed a Guard of Honor for Ray as hundreds of people came out to St Johns Church, Farnworth in Bolton to pay their respects At the poignant service held this morning in St Johns Church, Farnworth, standard bearers playing bagpipes led the procession with Rays coffin carried in by six paratroopers. His family invited well-wishers to join them in remembering Ray, with fellow veterans invited to form a guard of honour in a touching tribute. Last year, Ray hit the headlines after a video showed him being helped out of his wheelchair by two young paratroopers so he could pay his respects at the Manchester Cenotaph. Paras John Price and Kieran Mcgurk walked towards the cenotaph with one holding a wreath at the beginning of the video. As they got to the memorial, Ray's granddaughter asked him: 'Granddad, do you want to stand up and do it?' The two paras helped Ray get to his feet and he stood up straight and saluted the cenotaph saying 'God bless you' as dozens of people around him applauded. His family had invited well-wishers to join them in remembering Ray, along with fellow veterans to form a guard of honour in a touching tribute The former paratrooper was shot in the head by a German sniper in June 1944, but managed to narrowly escape death at the tiem Led by bagpipes and standard bearers, the crowds of well-wishers for Ray Shuck arrive at St Johns Church in Farnworth this morning A family member hugs a mourner who had joined a throng of people eager to pay their respects to the former soldier, who was one of the first troops to enter France on D-Day His granddaughter Joanne Raynor, 38, said at the time that the family felt 'very proud' and were extremely grateful to the paras for their help. 'Granddad didn't talk about the war while we were children, but after my nana passed away in 2010 I think talking about his experiences gave him a new focus. 'He still goes to Normandy every year for D-Day Revisited, so long as his health lets him.' The clip of Ray was shared all over the world and has been viewed millions of times in the months since. In 2016, Ray was presented with a Chevalier de lOrdre National de la Legion dHonneur. Ray served as a member of sixth Airborne Air-landing Division, fourth Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery and 13th Battalion the Parachute Regiment Ray won the hearts of millions last year after a video of him paying his respects on Armistice Day went viral - and the high turnout at his funeral proves he remained a popular figure His family paid tribute to Ray who, according to his granddaughter, didn't talk about the war much until his wife passed away in 2010 Emotions ran high during the service, as hundreds came to say their goodbyes to the war hero who was a popular figure after he went viral last year Paras John Price and Kieran Mcgurk walked towards the cenotaph with a wreath (left) and helped veteran Ray Shuck from his wheelchair so he could stand (right) to pay his respects The veteran para proudly stood up straight with the help of the other two men (left and right) and saluted at the memorial saying 'God bless you' Mr Shuck also carried his own wreath to the remembrance service in Manchester last year, with footage of him paying his respect shared widely The Parachute Regiment, known as the paras, is an elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army. The Regiment was formed in WWII and, save for 1968, have been in constant action since. They earned the nickname 'Red Devils' from German troops in North Africa. The Regiment was involved in the Battle of Arnhem during WWII, which happened after thousands of airborne Allied troops, trying to seize bridges on key routes to Germany, met stubborn resistance from enemy forces. As well as the 1,500 who died, nearly 6,500 troops were captured. The bloody events featured in the epic 1977 film A Bridge Too Far. Airborne troops also helped to take Pegasus Bridge - the first British objective to be captured on D-Day. The Vatican's women's magazine has condemned sexual abuse of nuns by priests and the 'scandal' of the sisters having abortions. The most recent issue of Women Church World - distributed along with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano - made an explosive attack on clerics. They cited Pope Francis' own analysis and blamed the power held by priests for being the root of the problem. It said nuns have been silenced for years for fear of retaliation against them or their orders if they report the priests who abused them. Pope Francis greeting nuns at his weekly general audience in the Pablo VI Hall at the Vatican on Wednesday - there is no suggestion these nuns are involved in the scandal Lucetta Scaraffia, editor in chief of Women Church World, wrote that for centuries the church had depicted women as 'dangerous temptresses' which enabled priests to carry out abuse Not only were these victims forced to have abortions, but if they had their baby it would be treated as illegitimate and never acknowledged by the priest who sired it. The publication marks a significant public acknowledgement from inside the Vatican of a problem the Holy See has long known about but has done next to nothing to address. Last year, after reports of the scandal, the international association of women's religious orders urged sisters to report abuse to police and their superiors. In the article, editor Lucetta Scaraffia notes that for centuries women in the church have been depicted as 'dangerous and temptresses', which has prevented them from coming forward. She wrote: 'But here Pope Francis's analysis about abuse can be of some help: If you point to power, to clericalism, the abuse against religious sisters takes on another aspect and can finally be recognised for what it is: that is an act of power in which touch becomes a violation of one's personal intimacy.' The article noted that reports written by religious sisters were presented to Vatican officials in the 1990s about the problem of priests sexually abusing nuns in Africa - they were considered 'safe' partners at the height of the HIV crisis. While little or nothing changed, sisters from the developing world and also wealthier countries are beginning to denounce their abuse as part of an overall demand for greater power for women in the church - part of the #MeToo reckoning. 'If the church continues to close its eyes to the scandal - made even worse by the fact that abuse of women brings about procreation and is therefore at the origin of forced abortions and children who aren't recognised by priests - the condition of oppression of women in the church will never change,' Ms Scaraffia wrote. Pope Francis arriving in Panama City during a visit to Panama last week, Women Church World cited his analysis of the corrupting power which could be bestowed by priesthood Women Church World, which is published in Italian, French and Spanish, last year made headlines with an issue devoted to 'work' and an article denouncing how nuns are often treated like indentured servants by cardinals and bishops, for whom they cook and clean for next to no pay. The current edition was dedicated to the sense of 'touch' and how it can be perverted. In an opening editorial, one of Italy's leading Jewish intellectuals, Anna Foa, said the abuse scandal had transformed that most fundamental aspect of love - the caress - 'into an expression in and of itself suspect and practically obscene'. Ms Foa also cites Francis's own words in 'thanking journalists who were honest and objective in discovering predator priests and made the voices of victims heard'. Judsen Cunningham, pictured on Day 1 of his boating under the influence and vessel homicide, took his own life Thursday morning A Florida man charged with killing two young people in a drunken boat crash has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the third day of his trial. A circuit judge convened court Thursday morning long enough to declare a mistrial in Judsen Cunningham's boating-under-the-influence case and dismiss the jury. 'I have sad and disturbing news,' Judge John Jay Gontarek told them. 'The defendant in this case, Judsen Cunningham, was found deceased this morning. This is a very shocking development for everybody.' According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Cunningham's home in Destin shortly before 7am on Thursday and found the 32-year-old man dead from an apparent suicide. In this March 18, 2016 photo, a US Coast Guard boat passes a sunken boat near a jetty in Destin, Florida, where two people were killed Avery Hatchett, 22, was killed in the boat crash after suffering a blow to the head. Anna Sorokina, also aged 22, was ejected into the water and her body was never foudn Michele Nicholson, spokeswoman for the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office, said deputies were called to Cunninghams familys home at 6.43 am. They found Cunningham with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Nicholson said. Multiple family members were there when he killed himself, she said. Prosecutors had spent two days building a case against Cunningham in the March 2016 crash, reported Northwest Florida Daily News. Witnesses testified that he had been drinking for hours and operating a boat with 11 other young people on board when it crashed into a jetty in Destin's East Pass, killing Avery Hatchett and Anna Sorokina, both aged 22. Sorokina's body was never recovered. Three other passengers sustained serious injuries, including fractures and lacerations. Cunningham was arrested six months after the accident on more than a dozen criminal counts, connection to the crash, including homicide/negligent manslaughter-BUI; homicide/negligent manslaughter and BUI causing serious bodily injury. According to an arrest warrant, Cunningham's blood alcohol content two hours after the crash was 0.14, which is nearly twice the legal limit A tweet from a WEAR-TV reporter shows an empty defense table after a mistrial was declared as a result of Cunningham's suicide Hatchett's mother, Lisa (right), broke down in tears in court after hearing of Cunningham's suicide Thursday Cunningham's defense was expected to begin presenting its case on Thursday, after which it would have gone to the jury for deliberations. If convicted of all the charges, Cunningham could have faced up to a life in prison. 'This has been a tragic case and it is unfortunate it has ended in such a tragic manner,' said Bill Bishop, the chief assistant state attorney for Okaloosa County. Avery's mother, Lisa Hatchett, was in court Thursday and broke down in tears after learning of the defendant's suicide. If convicted of all 14 charges against him, Cunningham (pictured in his August 2016 booking photo) could have faced up to a life in prison 'I was shook to the core of my being. Today is such a sad day for the Cunningham family,' Hatchett said. 'It's a day I have experienced myself. I know what they are going to have to endure.' On the morning of March 18, 2016, Cunningham took a 28-foot boat without permission, according to an affidavit. He gathered a group of a dozen people, many of whom he did not know, after offering them to go on a short pleasure cruise in the harbor with music and beer. Shortly after the boat's 4.30am departure from Destin Harbor, the boat smashed into the east jetty of East Pass and capsized, flinging the passengers into the water. A dive team later recovered Avery Hatchett's body. An autopsy showed he had suffered a severe blow, likely from the boat's propeller, and drowned. Byron Weiss, Anna Sorokina's boyfriend at the time, testified this week that the impact of the crash ejected the 5-foot-2, 120-pound woman from his arms. The boyfriend, who said he narrowly avoided drowning himself, spent 10 minutes calling Anna's name and tried searching for her in the water, but to no avail. 'I never saw her again,' he told the court. A man in China has had a toothpick removed from his heart after allegedly swallowing the sharp object by accident while out drinking. The 29-year-old patient, known by his surname Zhou, told reporters he had the habit of putting a toothpick in his drinking glass to differentiate it from the others', but he had likely swallowed the toothpick along with the alcohol one day a few years ago. Doctors said the toothpick, six centimetres (2.4 inches) long, was found in Mr Zhou's right atrium. It is believed that the toothpick had been drawn into the man's air passage and pierced through the wall of his right lung before sticking into his heart. 'Excessive growth' had been found in Mr Zhou's heart during a medical scan (left), and doctors were shocked to see a toothpick (right) in the patient's right atrium during surgery in China Surgeons in the city of Nanning in southern China's Guangxi Province made the shocking discovery by accident when they were performing an open-chest operation on the patient on January 9, according to Nanning Evening News. It is reported that Mr Zhou started to suffer from poor health about three to four years ago and had spent more than 200,000 yuan (22,700) on seeking medical advice. He had suffered from regular lung inflammation and high fever, but doctors had never been able to treat her illnesses properly. Some doctors told him he had sepsis while others claimed he had leukaemia. Mr Zhou (pictured), 29, said he had most likely swallowed the toothpick by accident while out drinking. He said he had the habit of putting a toothpick in his drink to help identify his glass Last month, Mr Zhou went to the People's Hospital of Guangxi Autonomous region, hoping the doctors could give him an accurate diagnosis. He had just had a high fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Upon examination, doctors found abnormal shadow in Mr Zhou's right lung and 'excessive growth' in his right atrium. They decided to carry out surgery to treat the growth. To their surprise, they saw a toothpick stuck in his heart. Speaking to Guangxi TV Station, Mr Zhou said he couldn't remember exactly when he had swallow the toothpick, but it most likely happened when he was drinking. He said he was used to putting a toothpick in the drink to help identify his glass. Apparently he had swallowed a toothpick by accident once before but had been lucky to retrieve it in time. He described the previous experience to reporters: '(The toothpick) followed the alcohol to my throat and got stuck there, then I immediately used my hand to pick it out.' Dr Wen (pictured) said Mr Zhou had been lucky to survive without any serious consequences Dr Wen Zhaohui, a deputy director at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the hospital, told reporters that it was rare to see a foreign object in a patient's heart and such condition could be difficult to diagnose. If the condition is not treated properly and in time, the patient could suffer from repeated inflammation in their heart and respiratory system. Dr Wen said Mr Zhou had been lucky to survive the ordeal without any serious consequences. A pub's decision to change its name to the Medway Arms has been slammed by punters - who claim the rebrand is 'chavvy, tacky, cheap and awful.' The popular Queen's Head in Wigmore, Kent, has been home to generations of drinkers, but now the new owners want to re-brand it. But their decision has left a bitter taste for those who frequent the hostelry, with hundreds taking to social media to vent their anger. The popular Queen's Head (pictured undergoing renovations) in Wigmore, Kent, has been home to generations of drinkers, but now the new owners want to re-brand it An online petition called 'Keep The Queen's Head Pub as The Queen's Head' has so far attracted more than 550 signatures. The Facebook campaign has been set up by Rebecca Maxwell, a mum who lives around the corner from the pub. Ms Maxwell, 48, said: 'It is a local landmark and part of Wigmore's history. 'It's been known by that name since the 1930s. I first went there when I was 18 and I can smell the food being cooked in the kitchen from my house. 'I'm not anti change as such, but I can't see the point in changing a name. To people round here it will always be the Queen's Head.' Comments on her page have stirred up quite a froth including a reference to Medway sounding 'chavvy, tacky, cheap and awful'. Others were incensed that the name change may have been introduced by managers at the Birmingham-based pub chain Mitchells & Butlers without consultation or knowledge of the area. Mum-of-two Belinda Baker, 42, from Parkwood, Gillingham, Kent, said: 'We used to go there as kids with the family. 'It will always be known as the Queen's Head to local people. Just like Farthing Corner services and not Medway Services and the Bowater's roundabout is the same. 'It's not as if the pub is overlooking the River Medway. We are losing our identity. 'Medway is made up of separate towns and it should remain that way.' The pub falls under the Ember Inns name, which is operated by Mitchells & Butlers. An online petition called 'Keep The Queen's Head Pub as The Queen's Head' has so far attracted more than 550 signatures The Facebook campaign has been set up by Rebecca Maxwell, a mum who lives around the corner from the pub. Dozens have left comments on the site A statement from Mitchells & Butlers said: 'From time to time we review our estate and take the decision to convert a business to another of our successful brands. 'We will be converting the Queen's Head Harvester to a brand new Ember Inns pub in February. 'We're excited to be bringing the renamed Medway Arms Ember Inn to Gillingham, Kent, providing the town with a new look pub where locals will be able to enjoy real ale and proper pub food. 'We have chosen the 'Medway Arms' name as a reference to the area and to re-introduce some provenance back into the local pub. 'Harvester fans will be able to find their next nearest restaurant at the Running Horse in Maidstone.' Ember Inns has about 150 pubs across the UK and specialises in cask ales and traditional pub grub. It has spent the last few months carrying out a massive refurbishment of the pub. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was awkwardly snubbed in the middle of a photo shoot on Friday. Frydenberg was at a photo opportunity with Commissioner Kenneth Hayne QC for the release of the final report from the banking royal commission. Mr Hayne looked as though he would rather be anywhere else and struggled to crack a smile throughout the shoot. Commissioner Kenneth Hayne QC (left) and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (right) were called to a photo shoot for the release of the final report from the banking royal commission on Friday However, it was when a photographer suggested a handshake that things got really awkward. The pair were seated in a small room, a stack of reports between them, when the photographer said: 'Could we get a handshake or something?' 'Nope,' Mr Hayne responded. The photo opportunity then quickly ended. The exchange was caught on camera and has left social media users in stitches, with many delighted over the frosty reception. 'I love Kenneth Hayne so much,' one person said. 'Just when we thought Commissioner Kenneth Hayne could get any cooler, he does this,' another said. Mr Hayne looked as though he would rather be anywhere else and struggled to crack a smile throughout the shoot The final report into banking misconduct was delivered by Mr Hayne in Canberra on Friday. Government ministers will be preparing a response to the report this weekend before its public release on Monday. Mr Hayne is expected to recommend wide-ranging reforms across the banking, superannuation and financial services industry, after an interim report that blamed greed for widespread misconduct. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important for the coalition to offer an interim response by Monday to help ensure stability for the stock markets. A couple who splashed out thousands for a BA World Traveller Plus ticket for their 12-hour flight were left 'disgusted' when handed a croissant and cereal bar instead of the traditional full English promised. Steve Kro and his partner made the luxurious upgrade for their return flights from Heathrow to the Grand Cayman costing them 2,000 in total. The airline's website promises a 'traditional full English breakfast or a delicious continental breakfast accompanied by a selection of fruit juices and tea or coffee'. Steve Kro and his partner made the luxurious upgrade for their return flights from Heathrow to the Grand Cayman costing them 2,000 in total. Mr Kro admitted he was disapointed and disgusted at his treatment, considering the high price he paid and the amount of time he spent on the flight Next to the description is a shot of mouth-watering looking mash sprinkled with chives, a beautifully fried sausage and wholesome, lightly grilled tomatoes. But when the hungry couple eagerly awaiting their morning meal were handed their breakfast, neither could hide their disappointment - or disgust. British Airways said today that its team were liaising with Mr Kro to resolve the issue. A spokesman for the airline said: 'We pride ourselves on the quality of the meals we offer on board, and have recently launched a multi-million pound investment programme into our World Traveller Plus catering.' Pictures posted to British Airways' Facebook page appear to show a very small, dry-looking croissant in plastic wrapping, a stodgy cereal bar and a small coffee in a disposable cup. Mr Kro blasted BA: 'Another totally c**p flight from BA. The airline's website promises a 'traditional full English breakfast or a delicious continental breakfast accompanied by a selection of fruit juices and tea or coffee'. But when the hungry couple eagerly awaiting their morning meal were handed their breakfast, neither could hide their disappointment - or disgust 'It's the only airline to fly to Grand Cayman so I can visit my grandfather so I have no choice. We paid to upgrade to World Traveller Plus where you're supposed to get a lot more. 'But, both flights, although we were only in row 14, ran out of decent meals so we had a choice of one meal which was awful on a 12 hour flight and you get one coffee with no choice of food. 'The breakfast on the way back was the final straw. Not only was it small it was disgusting and not what you need after a long haul flight absolutely shocking. I have filed a complaint with BA.' Mr Kro said: 'The breakfast on the way back was the final straw. Not only was it small it was disgusting and not what you need after a long haul flight absolutely shocking. I have filed a complaint with BA' Mr Kro admitted he was disapointed and disgusted at his treatment, considering the high price he paid and the amount of time he spent on the flight. Mr Kro added: 'It was disgusting both ways. Considering we were only row 14 I hate to think what was on offer by the time they reached the back. 'We had paid extra and booked World Traveller Plus which in-fact was actually worse than the World Traveller Class. 'We flew out on January 7 from Heathrow as these dates were on sale and were cheaper dates. In total the return flight was about 1,000.' A spokesperson for BA said: 'We pride ourselves on the quality of the meals we offer on board, and have recently launched a multi-million pound investment programme into our World Traveller Plus catering. 'Our customer relations team is in contact with our customer.' An Australian man arrested in Bali accused of attacking hotel staff was wanted by police over an earlier alleged assault. Charlton Thorn, 42, was detained at the Novotel Hotel in Denpasar following an alleged explosive argument with the resort's employees. Thorn was denied a room hotel after failing to provide identification - and instead offered a watch, local media reported. The Melbourne local allegedly went 'berserk' and was accused of 'disturbing comfort' in the lobby when he was refused check-in. An Australian man arrested in Bali accused of attacking hotel staff was wanted by police over an earlier alleged assault Security staff were forced to intervene after he allegedly assaulted staff members, leaving one with a bruised lip, reported 9NEWS. When Denpasar Airport police arrived to detain the tourist they discovered he was on the run for a previous alleged assault in the popular holiday spot, Kuta. Photos showed Thorn being escorted outside before he was detained. He is reportedly being held at a Kuta police station. Advertisement A stunning two-bedroom house hidden in the heart of London that was once a paper warehouse has gone on sale for less than 1million. Incredible images show cosy, light-filled bedrooms, a sleek bathroom and a modern kitchen inside the completely transformed home in Balham, South West London. Other striking shots show spacious living areas filled with character, a study space and a small courtyard to relax in outside which is surrounded by red brick walls. The two-bedroom property in Balham, South West London, is largely open plan downstairs and has a small private courtyard The bedrooms have vaulted ceilings and are decorated with neutral colours to maintain a light and airy feeling in the home Large Crittall windows open out into the courtyard which is surrounded by red brick walls and looks in on the modern house The property's listing explains that the home is in an 'affluent part of town and just moments from the buzz of Balham High Road.' The home is tucked away from the main road, which is 'lined with imposing period property', and on a mews. To get in you 'have to shimmy through the private gated entrance and in to a wonderfully landscaped courtyard that's surrounded by the property, a former paper warehouse and the home of thirty years to the current owner. The current owner has a strong creative eye and has absolutely transformed the home into something that wouldn't look out of place on the pages of an interiors magazine. The listing explains how: 'The building itself stood to the rear of what was once a print works and now a series of private conversion flats and served as a paper warehouse. 'Whilst it may have a very linear, architectural feel, it's a really warm environment and has lost none of its period charms. Evidence of its industrial roots are dotted around. The decorative tones used add to the tranquil feel. Inside the ceilings are high and the rooms have been well decorated by the current owner who has lived there for 30 years The home is tucked away from the main road, pictured, which is 'lined with period property' and is close to Balham High Road Downstairs is the reception room that leads to the courtyard, a study and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms and bathroom The ground floor is largely open plan but still manages to seamlessly house an office space, living, dining and kitchen area, all of which benefits from large Crittall windows and doors or vast skylights. The courtyard is accessed from the living area or entrance and thanks to the plot being landlocked, it's incredibly quiet. That said, sling the doors open and the living area and courtyard provide the perfect party environment. Upstairs there's two bedrooms and bathroom, again all benefitting from the owners' attention to detail, plus the vaulted ceilings, adding some drama to the feel of space. The home is also close to travel links with overline trains at Balham running regularly into Victoria and the Northern Line tube close by linking to the City, Shoreditch via Clapham and beyond. For more information see the listing on Unique Property Company for 945k. The modern kitchen is tucked in behind the stairs and connected to a large reception room which leads to a downstairs study There's ample under stairs storage in the two-bedroom South West London home which is now on the market for 945,000 For villagers in northern China's Hubei province, it's almost impossible to sleep past 7 am every day. Clusters of loudspeakers installed in 3,760 rural villages in Shijiazhuang city crackle on shortly after sunrise, spreading the word of the Communist Party and the spirit of the 19th National Congress directly to the people. For three times a day, radio programmes under the party-led 'New Village Loudspeaker Project' broadcast propaganda, news, songs and updates on government policies to every rural home. Clusters of loudspeakers installed in 3,760 rural villages in Shijiazhuang city crackle on shortly after sunrise, spreading the word and ideologies of the Communist Party The project was first launched in Zhengding, a county in southwestern Hebei, in December 2016. Every morning, groups of producers and anchors at local radio stations in Shijiazhuang record the programmes, which are later distributed to each village in the city, the Global Times reported on Thursday. The campaign is aimed at 'improving the ideological and political consciousness' of local farmers, according to Gao Wei, a programme director at the station. The daily 20-minute programmes - at 7 am, 12 am and 6 pm sharp - start with the sentence 'The Party's good voice singing in the new countryside,' followed by a short piece of background music along with a local news briefing. Every morning, groups of producers and anchors at local radio stations in Shijiazhuang record the programmes, which are later distributed to each village in the region (file photo) Authorities in Shijiazhuang are considering expanding the project to more villages this year Content is specially tailored for the villagers, who may not understand political terms and party jargon. 'For example, no one would understand the term "supply-side reform",' Gao said. 'But if we talk about ways to transform farmlands to ensure more efficient agriculture, that would draw the public's interest,' he said. Li, a local farmer in Hebei's Beiwang village told the Global Times the system allows him to find out what is going on in local communities without having to look at his smartphone. Others said they enjoy listening to the news while working on remote fields. The campaign also reminded many of the old-fashioned propaganda method used in the Mao Zedong era during the 1960s and 70s. The campaign in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province also reminded many of the old-fashioned propaganda method used in the Mao Zedong era during the 1970s and 80s (file photo) The new form of ideological push came after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2017 in an attempt to strengthen the leadership of the Party and to realise Xi's aim to embed the party more deeply into society. 'There are different programmes every day, including the Good Voice of the Communist Party of China, Policies of Our Party and Agricultural Technology,' said Xu Yinsheng, who is in charge of Beiwang village's broadcast programme. Authorities in Shijiazhuang are considering expanding the project to more villages across the country this year. As of December last year, officials of more than 200 cities and counties nationwide in provinces including Shandong, Heilongjiang and Zhejiang, have signed deals to launch the loudspeaker project. After arrest the Saudi consulate sent the $100,000 required for Noorahs bail Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah was arrested on the charges of first-degree manslaughter and felony hit-and-run but he later fled the country The parents of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a hit-and-run have spoken out about their devastating loss. Parents Fawn Lengvenis and Seth Smart opened up about losing their 'gentle' and 'generous' daughter Fallon Smart and the shock of finding out her accused killer, Saudi student Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah, had escaped before the trial. The teenager, who was weeks away from her 16th birthday, was killed by the speeding car as she crossed Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in August 2016. Witnesses had also described how Noorah, who studied at Portland Community College, had failed to stop his vehicle after hitting the teenage girl. In their first interview since losing their daughter, Fallon's parents described their wavering faith in the legal system upon hearing that the Saudi government had assisted Noorah in his escape. Following her death, Noorah, who was driving with a suspended licence, was arrested on the charges of first-degree manslaughter and felony hit-and-run but he later fled the country with the help of the Saudi consulate. Fallon Smart, 15, was killed by the speeding car as she crossed Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in August 2016 Ms Lengvenis told Oregon Live: 'Its like the laws of physics go out the door. And it all starts from the beginning again.' Father Mr Smart added: 'The imagination runs wild. 'Is he just leading his normal life somewhere? Does he even think about it? Does he even care?' The parents, who have since remarried, described how their lives had forever changed since their daughter, who had aspirations of becoming a scientist or a teacher, was killed. Ms Lengvenis said: 'It almost feels like youre reading the plot of an intrigue novel. Its hard to believe that its part of your reality.' Mr Smart told Oregon Live: 'Its not just mourning one life. It is mourning all the possibilities that one life had.' After his arrest, Fallon's parents described their shock at finding out how Noorah had posted bail, which had been set at $1 million, and been released from jail. They later learnt that the Saudi government had posted the $100,000 required for the Saudi student's release. In their first interview since losing their daughter Fawn Lengvenis and Seth Smart opened up about their devastating loss Courtesy of KOIN Mr Smart added: Im not very hopeful. I dont think Mr. Noorah is coming back to the United States.' According to Oregon Live, federal law enforcement now believe the Saudi government provided Noorah with an secret passport and a way of leaving the country-most probably a private jet- after he was released from jail and put under house arrest. Three men suspected of running a Dark Web child porn ring have been accused of abusing at least 23 children over 10 years at a German campsite. Police arrested main suspect Andreas V., 56, last month but have since arrested a 33-year-old who they accuse of assisting in the abuse and a 46-year-old accused of buying videos of the abuse online. The local prosecutor's office has also launched an investigation into state police after it emerged the abuse was reported in 2016 but nothing was done. Andreas V, 56, was arrested at this campsite in eastern Germany in December and accused of abusing at least 23 children here over the last 10 years Officers have since arrested a 33-year-old man they accuse of participating in the abuse and a 46-year-old who they say bought videos of the attacks (pictured, Andreas's campsite) Police who raided the run-down campsite, where Andreas had lived for more than 30 years, say they found 14 terabytes of child porn, amounting to 13,000 videos Andreas V, who is unemployed, moved to the campsite 30 years ago where he lived with his elderly mother for a time before she died, Bild reported. He is also thought to have been married at one point, though it is not clear to whom, or when the marriage fell apart. Prosecutors say that the abuse began in 2008 and lasted until he was caught in December 2018 and included more than 1,000 individual attacks. He is thought to have abused at least 23 children in that time, including his own seven-year-old foster daughter who he adopted from his wife after she left him, according to WDR. Bild reports that he used the girl in order to lure in more victims by making a 'comfortable' environment in which the children felt safe. The man was known locally as being 'overly friendly with children' and often took youngsters on day-trips he organised. At some point he met the 33-year-old suspect, police say, who then helped him carry out the abuse. The local prosecutor's office has also announced an investigation into the police after it was discovered that a worried father reported the abuse in 2016, but nothing was done Police accuse Andreas of using his foster daughter to lure in more victims and of trying to create an environment where the children felt 'comfortable' so he could attack them The entire property - which is littered with trash but includes several children's toys such as a trampoline and multiple bikes - has been cordoned off The two men then got in contact with the 46-year-old man over the Dark Web, who began ordering videos of the abuse from them, police say. When officers raided Andreas V's campsite - which was described as being piled high with waste and a dis-used caravan - they found more than 14 terabytes of material amounting to some 13,000 videos of abuse. Since then, father Jens R. has come forward to say that his two daughters were victims of Andreas and that he went to police and the Child Protection Association in 2016, but nothing was done. They assured me that everything was alright with the permanent camper. I should be careful with my comments, because I could be sued for slander,' he said according to Tz. Jens also raised further concerns, saying the man claimed to have worked at a children's village and swimming pool, opening up more children to abuse. Officers are now believed to be investigating whether there are even more victims. Chief prosecutor Ralf Vetter confirmed that in 2016 the district police received statements from two witnesses about the potential sexual abuse of one child, who at the time lived as a foster child in the caravan park home of one of the suspects. Officers are hunting for more victims after a local man said Andreas spoke to him about working at a swimming pool and children's village Andreas was known locally as being 'overly friendly with children' and organised day-trips for them to go on with him, German media reported The police forwarded the alert to the youth welfare office in Lippe and did not start an investigation. Vetter said: 'We are now investigating whether the police should have taken further steps.' More clues about the massive child abuse case were reported to the youth welfare office of Hamelin in Lower Saxony when workers at the local job centre called the office to ask for an investigation after the main suspect had appeared in the company of his foster daughter because he needed money. One of the job centre workers found it suspicious that the girl had said she could no longer stand the smell of men. Karl-Eitel John of the youth welfare office said that 'at the time no sexual abuse could be detected'. Even though the Hamelin youth office criticised the dire living conditions at the caravan park, they found that otherwise 'everything was alright'. According to the police, the 48-year-old suspect has already confessed to the crimes while the two others have remained silent. Investigations are ongoing. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has called for an income tax of up to 90 per cent on America's multimillionaires. Speaking to Yahoo News, Omar argued that tax rates of previous years had risen to the 90 per cent mark for top earners as she doubled down on fellow freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's calls for a 70 per cent rate. 'There are a few things that we can do,' Rep. Omar - the first Somali-American congresswoman - said. 'One of them, is that we can increase the taxes that people are paying who are the extremely wealthy in our communities. So, 70 percent, 80 percent, we've had it as high as 90 percent. So, that's a place we can start.' She and Ocasio-Cortez are part a radical grouping of freshman Democratic Congress members who have used social media stardom to leverage a powerful position within their caucus. Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar said in an interview with Yahoo News taxes should be as high as 90 per cent for America's millionaires Her calls for tax reform echoed the sentiment of fellow freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (left), pictured with Omar earlier this month Why I Wear a Hijab, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tells #ThroughHerEyes the inspiring reason she chooses to wear a hijab, her thoughts on taxing the rich and more. Posted by Through Her Eyes on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 'The one percent must pay their fair share,' Omar said in the interview - echoing a talking point used this week by both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the two senators running for the White House from the ultra-liberal Democratic wing. Omar claimed her radical tax plan would act as a catalyst for programs like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal being proposed by Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez called for zero carbon emissions within 12 years, in an interview with '60 Minutes' on her first day as a member of Congress. Omar also said she wants to slash the national defense budget in order to pay for the sweeping policy changes. 'I'm also one that really looks at the defense budget that we have, Rep. Omar said. 'That has increased nearly 50% since 9/11. And so, most of the money that we have in there is much more than with we spend on education, on healthcare.' Omar proposed the radical tax reforms as a way of funding other policy initiatives such as edicare for All and the Green New Deal After Ocasio-Cortez proposed the tax increase earlier this month, President Trump said the US would become like Venezuela under her plans In 1960, before the Kennedy tax cuts, the top rate was 91 per cent for those earning more than $200,000. According to the Tax Policy Center, the top 1 per cent earned 9 per cent of all income at that time, compared to 20 per cent in 2008. 'You look at our tax rates back in the '60s and when you have a progressive tax rate system your tax rate, you know, let's say, from zero to $75,000 may be ten percent or 15 per cent,' she said, in an interview with 60 Minutes earlier this month. 'But once you get to, like, the tippy tops on your 10 millionth dollar sometimes you see tax rates as high as 60 or 70 percent,' she said. 'That doesn't mean all $10 million are taxed at an extremely high rate, but it means that as you climb up this ladder you should be contributing more. 'I think that it only has ever been radicals that have changed this country. Abraham Lincoln made the radical decision to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt made the radical decision to embark on establishing programs like Social Security. That is radical,' she said. President Trump took a swipe at Ocasio-Cortez immediately after she proposed the tax hike, saying a 70 per cent rate would bring the turmoil of Venezuela to the US. 'We're looking at Venezuela, it's a very sad situation,' Trump told reporters. 'That was the richest state in all of that area, that's a big beautiful area, and by far the richest - and now it's one of the poorest places in the world. That's what socialism gets you, when they want to raise your taxes to 70 percent.' British tourists will be able to travel visa free in Europe this summer even if there is a no deal Brexit, EU leaders agreed today. It will be possible to travel to and around the EU for up to three months without a visa. Despite the move, Brussels risked a row when the draft regulation on visa free travel referred to Gibraltar as a British 'colony' - language slapped down by No 10. Spain is continuing to use the Brexit process to press its claim to reclaim The Rock, a British territory on its south coast. The decision is a major step forward for people who faced uncertainty over holiday bookings amid chaos in Parliament on the Brexit deal. With just 56 days to go there was no agreement on how - or even whether - people would be able to enter Europe once Britain leaves the EU. Britain has already made a similar commitment for EU travellers wishing to visit the UK after Brexit happens on March 29. British tourists will be able to travel visa free in Europe this summer even if there is a no deal Brexit, EU leaders agreed today (pictured is the Eurostar at St Pancras International) Despite the move, Brussels risked a row when the draft regulation on visa free travel referred to Gibraltar as a British 'colony' - language slapped down by No 10 A European Parliament committee backed visa free travel earlier this week and the decision was signed off by EU ambassadors today. EU visa exemptions cover short trips of up to three months and currently some 60 countries in the world, from Argentina to Japan to Ukraine, benefit from the system. The visa waiver is designed for business and tourism and does not grant the right to work in the EU. A statement issued by the Council of the EU said: 'Ambassadors mandated the Council Presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on this legislative proposal. 'According to EU rules, visa exemption is granted on condition of reciprocity. 'The government of the United Kingdom has stated that it does not intend to require a visa from EU citizens travelling to the UK for short stays. 'In the event that the United Kingdom introduces a visa requirement for nationals of at least one member state in the future, the existing reciprocity mechanism would apply and the three institutions and the member states would commit to act without delay in applying the mechanism.' Brexit supporter Michael Fabricant welcomed the news, tweeting: 'As I said last year, tranche after tranche of EU legislation will mean that if there is a No Deal Brexit, it will not be the disaster that Remainers like to predict. 'The EU would be hurt as much - if not more- if there were a breakdown between the UK and EU after Brexit.' Parallel talks among EU states on letting Britons visit without visas following a no-deal Brexit were delayed last week, diplomatic sources said, after Spain raised objections over Gibraltar, a British territory to which Madrid lays claim. Brexit supporter Michael Fabricant welcomed the news as a signal pragmatism would avoid a 'disaster' in the event of no deal Spanish diplomatic sources said on Tuesday that Madrid would insist on excluding Gibraltar from any Brexit deal, as it plans to revive its bid for shared sovereignty over the rocky outpost. In other developments on post-Brexit travels, British Airways boss Willie Walsh said today that leaving the EU would not impact passenger numbers. He said: 'I remain ... confident that we will see a comprehensive agreement between the UK and the EU on aviation. 'I've seen nothing to suggest that confidence is misplaced.' The commotion caused the pilot to terminate the flight early, diverted to Sydney An expert has issued a stark warning to plane passengers who attempt to 'take the law into their own hands' and restrain out of control travellers. Former head of safety for Qantas, Professor Ron Bartsch, said passengers should think twice before getting involved in a mid-air confrontation with a fellow rider who is experiencing a bout of 'air rage'. Dr Bartsch's advice comes shortly after passengers on board a flight bound for Singapore ended up in Sydney after an unruly traveller forced the pilot to turn around and make an emergency landing. Scroll down for video In a recent flight an out of control passenger (pictured) had to be restrained after he was drunk and disorderly. There is no suggesting anyone pictured committed wrongdoing Passengers' aggressive behaviour can be sparked by a whole host of factors from lack of sleep to personal issues and mental health problems. Professor Bartsch said if a fellow passenger is showing signs of air rage, others should hold off getting involved, and only do so as an 'absolute last resort'. 'So I would say to passengers, no, don't take the law into your own hands,' he told 9News. 'Because even in that, quite inadvertently, you may even be committing an offence in doing so,' Dr Bartsch added. If a passenger is acting unacceptably the captain has the authority to tell the cabin crew to arrest and detain that individual. The person will then be handed over to authorities once the aircraft lands. The term air rage is used to describe a person who gets unreasonably angry whilst on board a flight. (Pictured is a previous incident on an aircraft) There is no suggesting anyone pictured committed wrongdoing The shocking moment a drunk passenger on a Scoot flight became embroiled in a violent altercation has been caught on camera. There is no suggesting anyone pictured committed wrongdoing Earlier this month, Scoot Flight TR7 was just over an hour into its eight-hour journey from the Gold Coast when a man became involved in a violent mid-air incident. Footage shows a vicious fight break out between the man and another passenger - as others watched in horror. The man partially stripped off his clothes before being tackled by several 'burly blokes' and restrained with cable ties supplied by crew while the plane made an emergency landing in Sydney. Tattoo artist Rico Garilli, who filmed the fight, said the man was 'way too drunk' before the flight and should never have been allowed on the plane. He told Sunrise: 'We were sitting next to him at the bar while the flight was delayed and he was putting them down. Scoot Flight TR7 was just over an hour into its eight-hour journey when the out-of-control passenger became involved in a violent mid-air incident 'Before we'd even taken off he was standing up and staff couldn't control him. We probably shouldn't have taken off in the first place. 'He was prety incoherent - he was slurring his words. It was so surprising they let him on the flight - from the get-go you could tell he was just way too drunk.' Another incident just this month also saw a drunk passenger on a crowded holiday jet heading for Russia 'neutralised' by tourists. Passengers were forced to tie him up with sticky tape and belts after the crew were unable too subdue the man - and the pilot made it clear he was ready to make an emergency landing to hand the 'hooligan' over to police in China or Mongolia. Advertisement Incredible colorized photographs have brought the history of the Native American people to life. The fascinating images, dating back more than 100 years, include two cute Ojibwa babies in beautifully decorated cradleboards (traditional baby carriers); Taqui, a Hopi snake priest bedecked in a huge silver necklace; and a family portrait of members of the Ute tribe looking proudly towards the camera. Other photos show a young Native American man laboring under a huge crop of barley, and three Apache men - Chief James A. Garfield, Pouche Te Foya and Sanches - looking resplendent in their feather headdresses. Garfield was the revered chief of Apaches, a group of tribes which are similar in culture and speak the same language. The Ojibwa are one of the largest Native American tribes in North America; the Ute were the last of the Western tribes to be forced onto a reservation; and the Crow, a nomadic tribe of hunters on the Great Plains. Scroll down for video Arrowmaker, an Ojibwa warrior, circa 1903: This image forms part of a set of colorized photographs of Native Americans taken at the turn of the 20th century. The Ojibwa tribe settled mainly in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario. Hunters and fishermen, they also traded in furs with the French. The Ojibwa are part of a larger group of indigenous peoples known as the Anishinaabeg. The Ojibwe language, part of the Algonquian language family, is widely spoken in Canada Three Apache men - Chief James A. Garfield (center), Pouche Te Foya and Sanches - looking resplendent in their feather headdresses, circa 1900. The traditional lands of the Jicarilla Apache also include Oklahoma. They were driven out in 1716 by the Comanche tribe and settled in what is now New Mexico. There are currently about 2,800 tribal members of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, most of whom live in the town of Dulce. The name 'Jicarilla' comes from the Mexican Spanish 'little basket', which references the sealed receptacles they used for drinking A member of the Crow tribe, circa 1902. The Crow people were a plains tribe from land near the base of the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming and Montana. The tribe were powerful and skilled hunters on horseback and could demonstrate this during battle with techniques like hanging underneath a galloping horse by gripping the animal's mane. They were also known for their distinctive clothing, particularly their ornate and decorative bead-work Apache chief James A. Garfield. It is believed that he was given the name by Spanish missionaries. He lived in La Jara, Colorado with his wife. For the most part, the Native American tribes lived peaceably, believing that nature was sacred and was to be shared. However, the coming of the Europeans and the removal of their land led to conflict - both between the different tribes and between the Native Americans and the newcomers Jose Romero, his wife and a baby in a cradleboard, 1899. This family were members of the Ute tribe. The Utes were a large tribe that lived in the mountain regions of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Eastern Nevada and Northern New Mexico. Utes were skilled hunters but, after introducing horses into tribe life in the 17th century, they became known as expert big game hunters - especially of buffalo, which they were particularly reliant on Taqui, a Hopi snake priest. The Hopi tribe - also known as Moki - settled in what is now northeastern Arizona. Their culture traditionally centered around farming, and after the arrival of the Spanish in 1540, sheep-herding. One of their most notable rituals was the Snake Dance, which saw performers dance with live snakes in their mouths. A peaceful tribe, they were occasionally subjected to raids by Navajo and Apaches. There are believed to be about 15,000 people of Hopi descent alive today For the most part the Native American tribes lived peaceably, believing that nature was sacred and was to be shared. However, the coming of the Europeans and the removal of their land led to conflict between the different tribes - and between the Native Americans and the newcomers. By the end of the 19th century, the tribes had lost their fight to preserve their traditional way of life and those who had survived the conflicts were confined to reservations. The vivid images, which were taken around the turn of the 20th century, were produced using photochrom; a method of producing colorized photographs from black and white negatives via the direct photographic transfer of a negative onto lithographic printing plates. It was invented in the 1880s and was most popular in the 1890s, when these images were taken. Although true colour photography had been developed by then, it was not commercially practical yet. Photochrom reproductions became popular due to the craze with sending postcards. A group of Ute children, 1899. Utes had a reputation of fierce warriors, with Spanish settlers speaking of their fine physiques and ability to live in harsh conditions - a stark contrast to the soft dispositions of their Europeans counterparts. All members of the tribe were willing to fight... with women and children also known to defend their camps with spears if necessary Chief Ignacio (1828-1913) of the Southern Utes. Ignacio was leader of the Weenuchiu band of Utes, located in present-day Colorado, at a time when European-American settlers started encroaching on Ute land in the late 1800s. He helped to negotiate tribal treaties - and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation would go on to name Ignacio as its capital in his honor Ojibwa babies in cradleboards, circa 1903. Tradition dictated that every Ojibwa tribe was divided into migratory bands. In the autumn, these groups separated into family units, which dispersed to individual hunting areas; in summer, families gathered together, usually at fishing sites. There are an estimated 175,000 people of Ojibwa descent alive today Pueblo tribal members. Jose Jesus and wife, 1899. These indigenous people were given the name 'pueblos' ('towns') by colonizing Spaniards, on account of the small, permanent settlements the tribe called home,in Arizona and New Mexico. The systematic persecution of Native Americans by the white settlers had left what little Natives remained with few options, the best of which perhaps was to become part of mainstream society in an attempt to adjust to modern life A Hopi man with a hoe, while another brings in the harvest. The tribe farmed the sandy, arid soil for hundreds of years, with barley and maize chief among its crops. They also grew beans, squash and melons. Such activity was carried out by men, while the women would weave baskets, make pottery, raise their children and care for the elderly Southern Ute tribe member Pee Viggi and his wife, 1899. Today, the Uintah and Ouray reservation is the home of the Ute tribe. It is located in Northeastern Utah (Fort Duchesne) approximately 150 miles east of Salt Lake City - and is the second largest Indian Reservation in the U.S., covering 4.5million acres. A police worker has been spared prison after he sent 'abhorrent' sex videos to paedophile hunters posing as a 13-year-old girl online. Andrew Grimsted, 50, a resources co-ordinator at Hampshire Police, was caught by members of 'Justice For The Innocent' after sending explicit messages and videos of himself performing a sex act to what he thought was an underage teenager. Grimsted, from Southampton, Hampshire, was confronted by the vigilante group who had travelled to his home before calling the police. He was handed a 36-month community order, which includes a requirement to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order but avoided jail time. The defendant was a civilian employee based at Southampton Central Police Station, Hampshire. In the video of his capture, the police worker said he was talking to 'half a dozen' people online, though didn't specify their ages. Prosecuting, Christopher Wing said: 'The offences came to light after Grimsted went on the internet and thought he was communicating with young girls aged 13 or so. 'In fact he was communicating with members of a vigilante paedophile-hunters. Andrew Grimsted, outside Southampton Crown Court, was handed a 36-month community order 'They attended his address and detained him in the car park outside his home. Police were called and he was arrested on suspicion of grooming a child.' Justice For The Innocent filmed their confrontation and posted the footage online. Grimsted admitted three offences of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and three of attempting to have sexual communication with a child. Richard Onslow, mitigating, said: 'These offences were committed by a man of previous good character with a sensible job who ought to have known better. 'Fortunately there was no actual child, so the harm is lower than it would have been had the full offence been carried out.' Judge Gary Burrell QC described Grimsted's actions as 'abhorrent' and said: 'Sending moving images to people you believed to be young girls indicated something seriously wrong with your thinking. 'You're of previous good character and I'm required by law to take into account.' Speaking after the case a Hampshire police spokesman said: 'His role involved planning resources and did not involve any interaction with the general public. 'He remains suspended from the role and subject to ongoing gross misconduct procedures.' The police worker was spared prison after he was caught sending explicit messages and videos to paedophile hunters posing as a 13-year-old girl. They confronted him outside his home in Southampton Detective Superintendent Nigel Lecointe, from Hampshire Constabulary's Professional Standards Department, added: 'The investigation into Andrew Grimsted uncovered his attempts to exploit what he believed to be vulnerable children whilst he was off-duty. 'Hampshire Constabulary expects the highest standards from its officers and staff and will take action against those who commit criminal offences or breach the standards of professional behaviour.' Justice For The Innocent described the sentence as 'diabolical', saying Grimsted was in a position of trust and should have been jailed. A spokesman said: 'The sentence fails to reflect the seriousness of his crimes and what could have happened had there been no intervention by a decoy.' Kasim Shazada Khurum, 23, was sentenced to six years in jail at Birmingham Crown Court today. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years after disturbing nine coffins during a drug-induced psychosis last November A burglar who broke into a funeral parlour before 'lifting the lids of multiple coffins' and having sex with a corpse has been jailed for six years. Kasim Shazada Khurum, 23, forced his way into a Central England Co-op Funeralcare parlour on November 11 last year before violating a dead body at around 1.40am. A court heard how he lifted the lids of several coffins inside the funeral home on Walsall Road, in Great Barr, Birmingham, before selecting his victim. Another body was found face down while seven other coffins - including that of a baby - were also disturbed. Police were alerted by the parlour's alarm and turned up to find the depraved pervert still at the scene where he was 'more concerned' about leaving his watch inside. Khurum, who had been drinking vodka and smoking mamba, told officers: 'I bet you think I've been 'sh***ing them don't you?' Jobless Khurum, of Aston, Birmingham, who was previously sectioned, pleaded guilty to charges of penetration of a corpse and burglary in December. Today he was told his offences 'offended all human sensibility' as he was sentenced to six years in jail at Birmingham Crown Court. Khurum, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and khaki trousers and sporting a goatee, wept in the dock as evidence was read out. The victim's family also sobbed as they heard details of what Khurum did to the bodies of their loved ones. Kasim Shazada Khurum, 23, forced his way into a Central England Co-op Funeralcare home on Walsall Road, in Great Barr, Birmingham (pictured) on November 11 last year Sentencing, Judge Melbourne Inman QC said: 'The offences you have committed offend all human sensibility. 'It would be difficult to think of a greater deprivation of the dignity of the dead other than that which you did to the victim. 'I have not been able to find any similar case. 'Your intention was to steal anything you could find of value inside. You broke into the office and then you went further into the building. 'There were nine bodies at rest in the chapel of rest and you set about disturbing all nine. One of the bodies was only a mere baby. 'By the time you was arrested it was found all nine coffins had been disturbed. 'One of the lids had been left on the face of a person leaving a mark. Another female had been moved out of the coffin with her lower clothes removed. 'It was total degradation of the dead.' Robert Price, prosecuting, said nine bodies were at the funeral home at the time and one lid was left open as relatives had attended that day to see them in the chapel of rest. He told the court how three coffins had been 'disturbed or moved' while a funeral urn containing ashes had also been moved. Mr Price said: 'Members of the family involved sought counselling and medication. It was the violation of a beautiful person. 'The family have been caused immeasurable hurt.' In a statement read to the court, the family said: 'The actions of this monster is like a thunderbolt to the heart of our family. We were already dealing with grief. 'The pain caused by this cannot be expressed.' The court heard how psychiatrists said Khurum's mental state 'was all over the place' and he had been 'behaving in a disturbed manner'. A doctor described his mental state as 'psychotic and manic' and concluded he was suffering from a mental condition at the time of the offence. Joseph Keating, defending, said: 'Nothing I can say can stop the suffering they have endured for what he has done. Judge slams burglar during sentencing for offences that 'offend all human sensibility' Sentencing Khurum today, Judge Melbourne Inman QC said: 'The offences you have committed offend all human sensibility. 'It would be difficult to think of a greater deprivation of the dignity of the dead other than that which you did to the victim. 'I have not been able to find any similar case. 'Your intention was to steal anything you could find of value inside. You broke into the office and then you went further into the building. 'There were nine bodies at rest in the chapel of rest and you set about disturbing all nine. 'By the time you was arrested it was found all nine coffins had been disturbed. 'One of the lids had been left on the face of a person leaving a mark. Another female had been moved out of the coffin with her lower clothes removed. 'It was total degradation of the dead.' Advertisement 'He has had the victim impact statement read to him and he became upset. 'He hopes over time his actions he undertook will not tarnish the memories the loved ones will have of the victims involved. 'The offences were committed at a time when he had consumed alcohol and drugs. 'He had been drinking vodka and smoking mamba. He stated that his head was all over the place. 'He was walking past the Co-op and saw it as a place to get money. He didn't know in his fuelled state that it was a funeral home. 'He only changed his intentions when he saw what was in the building. 'The psychiatric report shows he approached the police and was arrested straight away. 'Upon arrest he was shouting incoherently. After seeing a doctor he formed the opinion he should be sectioned under the mental health act and was detained for two weeks. 'He knows the impact this had had on the families and is deeply remorseful - he knows his actions were disgusting and abhorrent. 'He wanted an opportunity to say sorry to the families and realises he won't get that chance today but through me he wants to say sorry.' Baljinder Kaur, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This is an unusual case and it is difficult to imagine a more distressing violation of a loved one. 'On the strength of the case built by the police and CPS the defendant ultimately pleaded guilty and will now have to face the consequences. 'Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased.' Co-op bosses previously called the shocking incident a 'disturbing and unprecedented' case. A spokesperson said: 'Our primary concern is for the families we serve and the welfare of our funeral colleagues who have all been deeply affected by this incredibly disturbing and unprecedented event. 'The security measures at Great Barr are such that the alarm alerted the police, who were thankfully able to apprehend the suspect at the scene.' Two 'vigilantes' filmed themselves pinning down a man as they accused him of 'attacking a woman in a park'. The footage, which appears to have been filmed in the Ward End Park area of Birmingham yesterday, shows the pair grabbing the man by the throat as he curls into a ball. They allege he robbed a woman then threaten to beat him while they wait for police officers to arrive on the scene. The footage, which appears to have been filmed in the Ward End Park area of Birmingham yesterday, shows the pair holding the man down West Midlands Police said it had not received reports of a woman being robbed. The clip begins with the man on the ground, with one of the vigilantes holding him down with his knee across his neck. One of them says: 'This is the guy, who just attacked a Muslim sister in Ward End Park. The police are on their way. 'You're not going to go nowhere, you understand. We will not allow any woman to be attacked in our areas. 'Stop resisting. Stop resisting or I'm going to smash your head. Don't resist or I'll break your f****** jaw. I'll smash your f******jaw.' The man curls up into a ball at the side of the grass verge, covering his face with his hand and staring down into the ground. The man filming says: 'Make sure all the women are safe in our areas. We need to protect them from p****s like this.' A man today went on social media to claim he is the subject of the attack in the video but insists he is innocent. He claims he 'grabbed' onto a woman after accidentally slipping but she then 'panicked and ran off screaming'. He wrote: 'I've been accused of beating a woman up and robbing one today. Neither are true. It's slippery as f*** today. 'I was waiting at a bus stop, decided to get up to go to Washwood Heath Road, and I slipped slightly and accidentally grabbed a woman to stay up right. 'She panicked and ran off screaming.' The clip begins with the man on the ground, with one of the vigilantes holding him down with his knee across his neck Viewers have been divided over the footage after it was posted on Facebook, with some commending the men's actions and others slamming them for recording the attack. Zaf Mohammed wrote: 'Nice one. This f*** needs a good kick in.' But Syd Femtino commented: 'Attacked? What's your definition of attack. Bravo you detained him til police came but I have a problem with video recording and putting his image on social media. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? There are always two sides of an argument.' West Midlands Police said: 'Police are investigating a report of a robbery of a woman in Ward End Park , Birmingham which took place just before 12pm on 31 January. 'We are appealing for the victim to come forward.' A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'We are aware of a video circulating online of a man being detained by members of the public yesterday in Ward End Park, Birmingham, following a reported assault on a woman. 'At this point, no victim has been identified. The man detained at the scene has been spoken to by officers. 'We are appealing directly for anyone involved in the incident just before 12 noon who has not yet spoken to officers to come forward so that the full circumstances around the incident can be established. 'Anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime. Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote log number 889 of 31 January.' Leslie McDonagh leaving Manchester Magistrates' Court where he received a fine and unpaid work for being drunk and disorderly A customer was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant after he dialed 999 to complain kitchen staff had put onions in his Big Mac. Insurance worker Leslie McDonagh, 53, called emergency services and told the operator he had got the 'wrong meal' and could not eat onions due to a 'severe allergy.' When officers arrived at the Oxford Road branch in Manchester city centre they found McDonagh had also challenged the restaurant manager to a fist fight. When police asked him to leave, he fell to the floor then grabbed an officer's leg as they attempted to get him to his feet. He then spat in the PC's face as he was being escorted out of the premises. McDonagh, from Atherton, had left a works party early to meet his wife for their wedding anniversary but went into McDonald's restaurant for a snack on his way home. He claimed to have drunk six cans of lager in the run up to the incident. At Manchester Magistrates' Court McDonagh admitted assault by beating of an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place. He was ordered to complete a 12-month community order plus 120 hours unpaid work. He was also fined 190. The incident took place at around 10.30pm on December 21, the evening dubbed 'Mad Friday' - one of the busiest nights of the year which sees thousands of workers celebrating finishing work for the Christmas period. McDonagh, from Atherton, had left a works party early to meet his wife for their wedding anniversary but went into McDonald's restaurant for a snack on his way home Prosecutor Paul Sumner said: 'The defendant stated that he got given onions on his burger and he wasn't happy with it so there had been a disagreement. 'He asked the manager outside for a fight. 'The defendant called the police himself. Police informed him that his food order being incorrect was not a valid reason to call them and they requested him to leave. 'They tried to escort him out of the premises, he's fallen to the floor and attempted to grab hold of the legs of the officer. 'The police then were able to hold the defendant by his arms in the scuffle and escort him out of the store.' When officers arrived at the Oxford Road branch in Manchester city centre they found McDonagh had also challenged the restaurant manager to a fist fight In mitigation defence lawyer Claire Parrot said: 'It wasn't just an argument about the order being wrong, the defendant has severe allergies. 'He specifically asked for something to not be in his food and it was. That is how this started. 'He left early because that night was his wedding anniversary. He had this argument about his food and thought McDonald's did not deal with it appropriately. Of course he now realises that this was not a police matter. He called them as did the McDonald's staff. 'His memory of the incident isn't complete but he was quite clearly utterly embarrassed and ashamed. This was not a planned attack on the officer, he says that he's not a violent person.' Metropolitan Police said emergency call handlers fielded 21,733 unnecessary 999 calls between January 1 and November 30 last year. One called to say they were outraged that KFC had run out of chicken while others moaned about breakfasts not being served quickly enough. A 74-year-old cult hero who sparked protests when he was arrested for demonstrating with an obscene sign has been immortalised in a touching mural. Danny Lim, a Sydney-based former local councillor, was arrested in Barangaroo earlier this month for holding a sign that read: 'SMILE CVN'T! WHY CVN'T?' A video of the altercation went viral and many of Mr Lim's fans labelled the apprehension as 'violent', spurring a protest held by loyal supporters. Cult hero activist Danny Lim has been immortalised in a touching mural (pictured) Located at Cafe Giulia, on the corner of Abercrombie Street and Meagher Street in Chippendale, Sydney's inner-city, Mr Lim's smiling face welcomes those passing by Amid the outpouring of support, the inner-west personality known for activist sandwich boards and cradling his 16-year-old Chihuahua Smarty has been commemorated by the community with a gigantic and colourful mural. Located at Cafe Giulia, on the corner of Abercrombie Street and Meagher Street in Chippendale, Sydney's inner-city, Mr Lim's smiling face welcomes those passing by. The mural depicts the activist displaying his typical sandwich board with the same controversial message he was arrested for last month and the words 'be kind' surrounded by a love heart. The artwork was brought to life by street artist Scott Marsh who labelled the local icon a 'bit of an institution'. 'I've wanted to paint him for years and I thought now would be a good time to do it to bring attention to what happened to him at Barangaroo,' Marsh told the Inner West Courier. The artwork was brought to life by street artist Scott Marsh who labelled the local icon a 'bit of an institution' Mr Lim watched the mural come to life and was pleased with the final product '(The arrest) was so over the top for a harmless, 74-year-old man with a 16-year-old Chihuahua and a sign saying 'peace and smile' to be manhandled by police.' Mr Lim watched the mural come to life and was pleased with the final product. 'Everyone loves the mural, Smarty looks really good,' he said. Mr Lim is currently awaiting a court date to challenge the $500 fine he was issued by three police officers in January. His lawyer Bryan Wrench has suggested that legal action is likely due to the 'concerning' manner of Mr Lim's arrest. The Sydney-based former local councillor was arrested in Barangaroo on Friday January 11 while holding a sign that read: 'SMILE CVN'T! WHY CVN'T?' (pictured) A video of the altercation went viral and many of Mr Lim's fans labelled the apprehension as 'violent', spurring a protest held by loyal supporters (pictured) Smarty, Mr Lim, and his colourful signs are widely spotted travelling between Sydney suburbs to often deliver a political message. 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 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. He was found to have been exercising his right to freedom of speech, and the infringement notice was quashed. Amazon has handed over less corporation tax in 20 years than M&S paid in the past 12 months, it was revealed today. Billionaire boss Jeff Bezos has been accused of 'exploiting the UK' after his business had a 6.86billion turnover in Britain since 1998 but only made 213million taxable profit in that time. In that period the billionaire's business paid 61.7million in UK corporation tax in 20 years - while Marks & Spencer handed over more than that last year alone and 3.3billion in the same two decades. The stark figures has led to more calls for the Government to clamp down on US tech giants including Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google who use complex tax structures to legally avoid tax in the UK. Amazon sells more than 40 items every second in the UK but pays far less corporation tax than high street rivals including M&S In the past 20 years paid 3.3billion in corporation tax - Amazon paid 61million But Amazon says it pays all its UK taxes and has created thousands of new jobs and supports huge numbers of British businesses using their marketplace. An investigation by the Mirror found that Amazon UK Services had paid 61.7 million corporation tax in the UK in the last 20 years. How Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is now richer than some countries Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos is the world's richest man and worth 86billion Jeff Bezos owns 16 per cent of Amazon, which is now the world's biggest internet company by revenue. As the world's richest man, Oxfam said he could fund the health budget of Ethiopia with just 1 per cent of his estimated 87billion fortune. Mr Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, one year after marrying his novelist wife MacKenzie Bezos. They met while working at hedge fund DE Shaw in New York and the couple later moved to Seattle, where Mr Bezos started his business in his garage. However he now faces the most expensive divorce in history after revealing earlier this month that he would be separating from Mrs Bezos after 25 years of marriage. Advertisement The Mirror's investigation comes after the tech giant reported a rise in revenue and profits for the last three months of 2018 in its latest set of financial results. For the three months up to December 31, the e-commerce firm said net sales were up by 20% on this time last year, rising from 60.5 billion US dollars (46.1 billion) to 72.4 billion dollars (55.2 billion). The company's profits for the quarter were also up, reaching three billion dollars (2.2 billion), compared to 1.9 billion dollars (1.5 billion) this time last year. An Amazon spokesman said the firm pays 'all taxes required in the UK' and every country where it operates. He added: 'In May 2015, to ensure we had the best business structure to serve our customers going forward, we established a local country branch of Amazon EU Sarl in the UK, with all retail revenues, expenses, profits and taxes due now accounted for in the UK. 'Corporation tax is based on profits, not revenues, and our profits have remained low given retail is a highly-competitive, low margin business and our continued heavy investment.' Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos also the world's richest man singled out virtual assistant Alexa as a key performer. He said: 'Alexa was very busy during her holiday season. Echo Dot was the best-selling item across all products on Amazon globally, and customers purchased millions more devices from the Echo family compared to last year. 'The number of research scientists working on Alexa has more than doubled in the past year, and the results of the team's hard work are clear. 'In 2018, we improved Alexa's ability to understand requests and answer questions by more than 20% through advances in machine learning, we added billions of facts making Alexa more knowledgeable than ever, developers doubled the number of Alexa skills to over 80,000, and customers spoke to Alexa tens of billions more times in 2018 compared to 2017. 'We're energised by and grateful for the response, and you can count on us to keep working hard to bring even more invention to customers.' Amazon has come under repeated fire for the amount of tax it pays in the UK. Its most recent corporation tax bill was 4.5m. And it pays just 63m in business rates - far less than High Street rivals such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis. Jeff Bezos' wealth now eclipses anyone elses and has largely been built up since 1998 Politicians are concerned a low tax bill gives Amazon a huge commercial advantage over traditional stores, which have been hit with big increases in rates and rents in recent years. In addition to being a major online retailer, Amazon also owns Prime, a television and film streaming service which is similar to that offered by Netflix. And it has even launched an assault on the High Street. Amazon snapped up Whole Foods last year, marking its foray into the grocery sector in the UK, Canada and America. The firm is now preparing to bring its checkout-free Amazon Go stores to the UK which opened in Seattle last year. The store allows shoppers to walk in pick up a sandwich or drink off the shelves and leave without going to the till. Amazon has invited bids from potential partners to find retail space for its Amazon Go stores in the UK, with plans for stores in London or counties including Surrey, Kent, Middlesex and Hertfordshire. Ambitious expansion plans have made Bezos the world's richest man after he founded Amazon from his garage in 1994. But the 54-year-old now faces the most expensive divorce in history after his 25-year marriage with novelist MacKenzie Bezos came to an end. Bezos is likely to be forced to split his 10bn fortune with his wife, sending him plummeting down the list of billionaires. He could also be required to hand over some of the homes the family owns across the US to his wife. The Bezos properties include two five-bedroom houses and one six-bedroom house in Medina, Washington, worth in total an estimated 50m, near Amazon's headquarters in Seattle. A six-year-old has discovered an usual way to pull out his wobbling tooth - by using a sled. Atticus Chandler, from Shaver Lake, California, USA, decided the best way to yank out his wobbly gnasher was to make use of the freezing weather. The youngster can be seen with a piece of string tied around his tooth before he lies down on a red sled. Atticus Chandler, from Shaver Lake, California, USA, has a piece of string attached to his wobbly tooth He lies down on a sled and is pushed down the snowy slope by his father to try pull the tooth out Father Nick Chandler, 37, then pushes Atticus down the slope as the tooth is pulled clean from his mouth. According to Mr Chandler the idea belonged to his son - who had also debated using a ceiling fan or a remote control car to pull out his tooth. Mr Chandler and his wife, Kyoko, 34, filmed the video last month and have since showed it to their family and friends. Nick said: 'Everyone was super excited but no-one could believe he was the one who had the idea and was willing to do it. As he races down the slope, his tooth is pulled clean out of his gums, revealing a gap in the front Father Nick Chandler, 37, and his wife, Kyoko, 34, (right) said the idea belonged to his son - who had also debated using a ceiling fan or a remote control car to pull out his tooth 'It was only his second time in the snow and he was having a blast sledding all day. 'When he woke up the next day he burst in to the kitchen and announced to the whole family, "I have my best idea... and I want to do it today!"' His father said Atticus wanted to do the bizarre stunt in order to get a gift from the tooth fairy. He said: 'The tooth fairy always leaves him a small train and a dollar.' President Donald Trump said congressional negotiations over border security are a 'waste of time' and he will probably take action independently when talks conclude in two weeks. Speaking to the New York Times in an interview published on Thursday night, Trump insisted he has 'set the stage' to take action on his own if lawmakers don't provide funding for his border wall. He also said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'is hurting our country very badly by doing what's she doing and, ultimately, I think I've set the table very nicely.' The President added: 'I'll continue to build the wall, and we'll get the wall finished. Now whether or not I declare a national emergency that you'll see.' Scroll down for video Donald Trump said congressional negotiations over border security are a 'waste of time' and he will probably take action on his own when talks conclude in two weeks Speaking to the New York Times in an interview published on Thursday night, the President said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (above) 'is hurting our country very badly by doing what's she doing and, ultimately, I think I've set the table very nicely' Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to get the wall built, but such a move would be challenged in court, tying up the money indefinitely. Following the Democrats' capture of House control in the November election, Trump's political muscle has weakened. It waned further after his surrender last week in ending the record 35-day partial government shutdown without getting a penny of the $5.7 billion he'd demanded to start building the wall. When Trump folded on the shutdown, he agreed to reopen government until February 15, giving lawmakers more time to craft a bipartisan border security compromise. If there's no deal by then, Trump has threatened to revive the shutdown or declare a national emergency, which he claims would let him shift billions from unrelated military construction projects to erecting his wall. Meanwhile, Pelosi today declared that there'll be no 'wall money' in any compromise border security deal as she and Trump signaled that congressional negotiators may never satisfy his demands for his cherished Southwest border proposal. The President has criticized Democrats' negotiating stance so far, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Pelosi is 'just playing games' and saying GOP bargainers are 'wasting their time'. Democrats remain united against those tactics. Republican opposition seems nearly as strong, and GOP leaders are becoming increasingly assertive about publicly telegraphing those feelings to Trump. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that 'there are a lot of us that are trying to dissuade' Trump from declaring a national emergency should border security talks deadlock. Cornyn, a close adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said he has 'absolute confidence' that such a declaration would be challenged in court, tying up the money, and said Congress might even vote to defy him. 'The president needs to know that before he heads down that path,' Cornyn said. Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to get the wall built, but such a move would be challenged in court, tying up the money indefinitely. Above, a section of border wall in Tijuana, Mexico No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters that 'a lot of folks are uncomfortable' with an emergency declaration. He stopped short of ruling out a challenge by the Senate, calling the question 'hypothetical'. Lawmakers caution that if Trump declares an emergency, future Democratic presidents might do the same for issues they favor that Congress derails. Some are reluctant to cede Congress' constitutional power to control spending to any president, and many say there is no real border emergency. Democrats offered further details of their border security plan Thursday, unveiling a measure that would provide no wall funds. It would significantly boost spending for scanners at ports of entry, humanitarian aid for apprehended migrants, and new aircraft and ships to police the U.S.-Mexico border. It would freeze the number of border patrol agents and block any wall construction in wildlife refuges along the border. Without a border security accord, lawmakers could avert another shutdown by once again temporarily financing dozens of federal agencies, perhaps for months. Trump has been unpredictable in the shutdown debate, mixing softer rhetoric about a multifaceted approach to border security with campaign-style bluster about the wall. Lawmakers negotiating the bill are aware that he could quash an agreement at any time, plunging them back into crisis. 'Obviously, it makes it more challenging,' Cornyn told reporters. 'You keep talking and try to understand where he is and try to work it out.' Donald Trump Jr. has called out House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff after Senate investigators confirmed that the mysterious phone conversations made ahead of the Trump Tower meeting were not with his father. Phone records obtained by the Senate Intelligence Committee in the run up to the 2016 meeting on June 9 revealed that Don Jr. had been speaking with two business associates. The new findings now undercut the years of accusations, led by Schiff, a California Democrat, that the blocked calls may have been between the American president and his eldest son. Donald Trump Jr. ( left) has called out Californian representative Adam Schiff (right), after investigators confirmed that the phone conversations ahead of the Trump Tower meeting were not with his father In a tweet Don Jr. slammed the false accusation and wrote: 'Has anyone heard from Adam Schiff? 'I imagine hes busy leaking other confidential info from the House Intelligence Committee to change the subject?!? #FullOfSchiff' Democrats, led by Schiff, had long held the suspicion that during the mysterious phone calls Don Jr. may have leaked information about what was discussed in the Trump Tower meeting. Yesterday Don Jr. took to Twitter to slam the false accusations and mock the American politician. In a tweet he wrote: 'Has anyone heard from Adam Schiff? 'I imagine he's busy leaking other confidential info from the House Intelligence Committee to change the subject?!? #FullOfSchiff' It had previously been suggested that during the private calls Don Jr. had shared information with Russian agents to influence the election. An accusation Don Jr. had consistently denied. Schiff had previously told CNN in 2018: 'We wanted to get the phone records to determine, was Donald Trump talking to his son about this meeting. Following the new discovery American President Donald Trump tweeted that the phone calls were 'found NOT to be made to me' 'Its an obvious investigative step, but one the Republicans were unwilling to take because they were afraid of where the evidence might lead.' Following the new discovery American President Donald Trump tweeted: 'Just out: The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me. 'They were made to friends & business associates of Don. Really sad!' A former policeman who tried to claim $1.1 million for false business expenses has been jailed for fraud. The Australian Tax Office audited David Latemore, 48, after his extortionate expenses raised suspicions. When questioned by tax officials, he produced false documents claiming he had bought a $9million super yacht and a fleet of luxury cars including a Mercedes Benz. The expenses David John Latemore, 48, attempted to claim back included luxury cars and a $9 million super yacht (stock) Latemore made the fraudulent quarterly Business Activity Statements between 2008 and 2012. Two offences occurred while he was still a policeman. He was hauled before Maroochydore District Court and on Friday sentenced to two-and-a-half years' behind bars - but could be released after serving four months. Latemore pleaded guilty to six counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, four counts of using a forged document to induce a Commonwealth official and two counts of attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception at the court in November last year, the Courier Mail reported. After he has served his jail time, Latemore will be subjected to a $250,000, three-year good-behaviour bond. He will also be required to pay back $138,000 in refunds he was given by the Australian Taxation Office. The former officer served for 15 years, including at Kawana Shoppingworld's police beat. He left on medical grounds in 2010 after his friend died in a crash. Judge Long found the ex-policeman's culpability was reduced due to a doctor misdiagnosing him ADHD and wrongly medicating him. A knifeman invaded an Upper West Side home on Thursday afternoon and tied up a family with electrical tape in a botched robbery. According to the New York Post, the suspect waited inside the lobby of the apartment building on West 78 Street at around 3pm on Thursday before pushing a 24-year-old woman and her mother to the ground. He then forced them into their apartment and tied them up with tape before swiping their credit cards and other financial records. Police removing evidence from the Upper West Side apartment on Thursday evening after the incident The incident became even more serious when the 52-year-old father of the family then knocked on the door. A police source said the burglar then grabbed the 24-year-old woman and held a knife to her throat, before forcing her to answer the door to her father. He then ordered the man to come inside the apartment and tied him up as well. According to police, the man then left but told them if their credit cards didn't work he would come back and kill them. After the daughter managed to call the cops, the suspect was arrested by officers near the apartment just minutes later. Cops closed off the street after the burglary, as they managed to arrest the suspect shortly afterwards At the precinct, the suspect tried to assault several police officers, who Tased him, cops said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital to be treated and charges against him are pending. Police sources said he had three prior arrests and was on parole for burglary. 'I just seen police come in with their guns drawn, and they ran inside the building,' neighbor Dave Chadwick told NBC New York. 'I was a little shocked.' Chadwick said he heard an older woman screaming for help, 'but that was after the cops had already gone inside so I wasn't sure what was going on.' Britain will work around any disruption caused by a no deal Brexit, members of the public on the Question Time audience insisted last night. One man got a huge round of applause for telling a panel including Remain campaign Gina Miller they were talking 'absolute rubbish' about no deal. Politicians, who included Tory Helen Whately and Labour's Richard Burgon, were accused of 'limping before you get kicked'. The tirade came amid mounting preparations for no deal Brexit because of the deadlock in Parliament over the negotiated divorce plan. Britain will work around any disruption caused by a no deal Brexit, one member of the Question Time audience (pictured is the man in a dark blue shirt) insisted last night He got a huge round of applause for telling a panel including Remain campaign Gina Miller they were talking 'absolute rubbish' about no deal. Major supermarkets warned this week the shelves could be empty of fresh produce within days of Britain crashing out on March 29 if no deal can be agreed. But the audience cheered last night when one man said: 'I think it's absolute rubbish really. You're all limping before you get kicked in a lot of ways. 'There is a lot of talk about we won't get lettuces into the country, tomatoes and other produce. 'There is going to be disruption, there's no doubt about that, but in this country we are resilient. 'We are going to find a way around these problems. It's going to take a little bit of time, there is going to be a bit of disruption. 'But we have companies and corporations who have already found ways not to pay taxes in this country - are you telling me they aren't going to find a way to get a few lettuce from Spain to England.' Ms Miller told the show: 'It's not about lettuce and tomatoes. It's about agencies and infrastructure and we don't have it.' She accused the Government of having created the prospect of shortages by failing to prepare properly. She said: 'No deal should have started being planned for the day they triggered Article 50 this is the depth of incompetence.' Question Time viewers questioned whether or not a shortage of lettuce was really going to cause major issues in a no deal Brexit Ms Miller told the show: 'It's not about lettuce and tomatoes. It's about agencies and infrastructure and we don't have it.' Leading retailers warned on Monday a no-deal Brexit would cause 'significant disruption' to food supplies because Britain is dependent on the EU for fresh produce. A letter to MPs, signed by bosses from firms including Sainsbury's, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, The Co-op, Lidl, McDonald's and KFC, warned about shortages caused by delays at the border and price rises as a result of tariffs. The firms - used by millions of Britons every day - said the timing of Brexit at the end of March made the situation worse because of when UK crops are harvested. The findings are based on the Government's own analysis, which says that up to 87 per cent of cross-Channel freight trade could be stopped, in disruption lasting up to six months. The panel - which featured Remain campaigner Gina Miller (right) and politicians including Tory Helen Whately (third left) and Labour's Richard Burgon (second right) - were accused of 'limping before you get kicked'. The letter said: 'In March, the situation is more acute as UK produce is out of season: 90 per cent of our lettuces, 80 per cent of our tomatoes and 70 per cent of our soft fruit is sourced from the EU at that time of year.' The supermarket and restaurant chain bosses said: 'We are extremely concerned that our customers will be among the first to experience the realities of a no-deal Brexit. 'We anticipate significant risks to maintaining the choice, quality and durability of food that our customers have come to expect in our stores, and there will be inevitable pressure on food prices from higher transport costs, currency devaluation and tariffs. 'We are therefore asking you to work with your colleagues in Parliament urgently to find a solution that avoids the shock of a no-deal Brexit on 29 March and removes these risks for UK consumers.' The retailers added: 'As prudent businesses we are stockpiling where possible, but all frozen and chilled storage is already being used and there is very little general warehousing space available in the UK. 'Even if there were more space it is impossible to stockpile fresh produce, such as salad leaves and fresh fruit.' A fugitive has posed on a bed covered with 65,000 of cash he made from running an illegal immigration scheme involving 'bogus colleges.' Muhammad Babar Bashir, 38, from Moss Side, boasted about his wealth in the posed picture but he's now on the run after failing to show up for his sentencing hearing. Police also found about 90,000 in cash hidden in the loft of his co-defendant, Tashina Nayyar, and a further 29,500 in a safety deposit box. Muhammad Babar Bashir posed on a bed with bundles of cash made from the illegal scheme Bashir, Nayyar, 51, from Chorlton; and another man, Koteswara Nallamothu, 36, were running 'bogus colleges'. The colleges had no books, equipment or teachers but the group managed to profit from 1,300 people who wanted to study in the UK and were otherwise ineligible. Their lucrative 'cash for visas' scam worked by taking over failing further education colleges, which were previously legitimately run. Tashina Nayyar, 51, pictured, was jailed for two years and three months for her part in the 'cash for visas' scam The colleges these defendants were involved with were St John College in Ashton, and Kinnaird College in Stevenson Square, Manchester city centre. People would hand over cash to Bashir and Nayyar in exchange for a 'golden ticket' - a confirmation of acceptance of study (CAS) letter - which enabled them to get a student visa. Some were genuine students who wanted to learn, others weren't. At one point at Kinnard College, which was ran by Nayyar, Home Office officials saw students knocking on the door and trying to get in. The majority of students who applied for CAS were already living in the EU, but used it as a way of securing their immigration status. The scam saw 2.6million pass through St John College's accounts, and a further 856,000 go through the accounts of Kinnaird College, both over a two year period. In total 955 'students' were granted a CAS letter through St John College, with 352 at Kinnaird. The colleges were later shut down by the Home Office. Under UK law, students who live outside the EU are able to study in the UK at tier four colleges which have been given permission to provide educational courses. Bashir, left, did not turn up and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Koteswara Nallamothu, 36, right, advertised the fake colleges as costing '500 with or without English' The colleges have to obtain a sponsor licence from the Home Office, which then allows them to offer CAS to students. Legitimate students entering the UK who need CAS for their course usually pay a nominal fee of 14 to cover an administration fee to the Home Office. But Nallamothu was advertising it on his mobile phone as costing '500 with or without English'. Students who enrol on these courses are required to be able to speak English. Bashir of Moss Side and Nallamothu of Rotherham were previously convicted of conspiracy to facilitate breaches of UK immigration law after a four month trial. Their co-defendant, Ayaz Ahmed, 38, from Nottingham, was acquitted during the trial. Nayyar of Chorlton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate breaches of UK immigration law before the trial. She was sentenced to two years and three months. Nallamothu will be sentenced in March, as his barrister was unable to attend the sentencing hearing. Bashir did not turn up and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. After the hearing, David Magrath, deputy directior of Immigration Enforcement's Criminal and Financial Investigations (CFI) team, which uncovered the abuse, said: 'Nayyar purported to be selling an education, but, all she was selling were documents which customers were told were golden tickets to a life in the UK. 'Since this abuse was uncovered a number of reforms have been made to the immigration system which has slashed student fraud and made it much harder for criminals like Nayyar to operate. 'Those measures and the robust action we have taken in this case demonstrates that we will not tolerate abuse of the immigration rules and will pursue any sponsors that try to profit by cheating the system.' A Cabinet minister warned today the so-called Plan C for Brexit is 'going nowhere' despite hopes it could reunite the Tory party. The warning came as Germany warned the EU would stay 'really, really strong' on the Irish border backstop and Ireland dismissed the ideas out of hand. Plan C - dubbed the Malthouse Compromise after Housing Minster Kit Malthouse brought together Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg and Remainer Nicky Morgan. Prime Minister Theresa May met the MPs behind the plan yesterday ordered officials to test its 'workability' and decide if it could be presented to the EU. Theresa May (pictured at PMQs on Wednesday) has ordered officials to test the 'workability' of a Plan C for Brexit hatched by a group of Leave and Remain Tories The group wants to propose to the EU an entirely new backstop plan based on using technology to keep open the Irish border. What is Plan C? Under Plan C, the UK would ask for the transition period to run for an extra year to the end of 2021 and EU citizens living in Britain would have their rights protected. There is then a two-pronged approach to the negotiations. First, the UK would demand the EU negotiates a new Irish border backstop that is acceptable to Brexiteers. They suggest a technology-based system for goods crossing the Irish border that has already been rejected by the EU. If this proves impossible, the group would then suggest a no deal exit based on keeping the transition period from the existing plan in return for paying some of the divorce bill. Both sides would then use the three year transition period to prepare for an exit on basic World Trade Organisation rules, while negotiating a final trade deal. If it went ahead, Brexiteers would get to remove the backstop they say is unacceptable while Remainers still get the transition period they say is essential. Advertisement Under the proposals, the current backstop based on the EU's customs union rules, would be scrapped entirely, removing a major block to the deal passing. The group say if the EU refuses, Mrs May should then demand a shrunken deal where Britain pays the EU for a three-year transition before trading on basic World Trade Organisation terms - effectively delaying a no deal hard Brexit until 2022. But one Cabinet minister told MailOnline 'Plan C' was 'going nowhere'. They said: 'We were nice about it to get the ERG onside for the votes. But it is basically going nowhere. 'Nobody can explain why it is any different from 'managed no deal', which was never going to work. 'It's a mystery why anyone on the softer side of the argument is having anything to do with it.' The Irish Government's Europe Minister, Helen McEntee, said Dublin would 'absolutely not' accept the reopening of the UK's Withdrawal Agreement. Despite the Commons voting for an 'alternative arrangement' to replace the backstop, Ms McEntee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We are 72 hours on and not only do we not have any proposals, but your own secretaries have admitted that they don't have any and that there is no solution here.' She said proposed technological methods for keeping the border open were 'not the answer'. Fox warns MPs they will be rejected by voters if they defy Brexit Liam Fox warned MPs today they may not be re-elected if they block Theresa May's Brexit agreement and force the UK to crash out of the EU with no deal. The Trade Secretary said politicians would have 'little cover when they next face the voters' if their actions led to a no-deal exit, as he became the latest frontbencher to suggest Britain's withdrawal may have to be delayed. Dr Fox said Downing Street's insistence that the UK will leave the EU on March 29, and suggestions by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom that the exit date could be pushed back were not 'incompatible' stances. 'There would be a huge difference between an extension to Article 50 because we hadn't reached an agreement or a short delay because we had reached an agreement and needed the legislation to implement it,' he said after a speech in London. 'We can get our domestic legislation through if we quickly reach an agreement with the EU and that's in everyone's interest.' Advertisement She told Today: 'This is about protecting a peace process ... No amount of technology can address that.' Ms McEntee said: 'This was a deal that was negotiated with the UK, by the UK. They weren't bystanders in a separate room, there were discussions, negotiations, there were compromises on both sides. 'The fact that we now have a deal that took that long to be negotiated and that deal has now been voted against by the very Prime Minister that negotiated it is extremely difficult.' German justice minister Katarina Barley warned today a hard border remained unacceptable - and the backstop was the only option. She told Irish broadcaster RTE: 'Britain has not offered any proposition whatsoever and I think that we (the EU 27) have to stay really, really strong on the backstop. ' Despite the scepticism, the ideas will now be studied in further detail by British officials in the hope of proving to the EU they can successfully track goods crossing to and from Ireland without the need for physical checks at the border. Mrs May's spokesman said today work was ongoing on the 'options' to change the backstop and talks would begin with Brussels 'shorty'. Mrs May is thought likely to travel next week. Mr Rees-Mogg, the ringleader of Tory rebels who destroyed the deal last month, said last night Plan C was the most 'sensible' way of reaching a deal with the EU. Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured in Northern Ireland last night), the ringleader of Tory rebels who destroyed the deal last month, said last night Plan C was the most 'sensible' way of reaching a deal with the EU. The Prime Minister met with MPs including Nicky Morgan (file) and Jacob Rees-Mogg in No 10 yesterday to discuss the plan dubbed the 'Malthouse Compromise'. Brussels has repeatedly rejected basing a deal for the border on technology on the grounds it does not exist. The current deal already commits both sides to try and invent it as a possible future alternative to the backstop. Despite the impasse, British officials will 'test the workability' of the alternative to the Irish backstop proposal, the Guardian said today. One of the MPs at the Downing Street summit said: 'It's very much about involving politicians rather than saying: don't call us, we'll call you. 'Eurosceptics and remainers left feeling encouraged that the atmosphere was receptive and constructive and if she continues that approach it will stand us in good stead for getting something with a consensus around it.' Speaking in Northern Ireland last night Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'I think the Malthouse Compromise has received a good deal of interest and widespread support, it's supported by the DUP, it is supported by many Conservatives from both the Leave and Remain points of view, and it seems to be something the Government is willing to run with. 'I think there is a possibility of leaving with a sensible deal which is the preferred option for most people. 'It is indeed my preferred option.' The Irish Government's Europe Minister, Helen McEntee, said Dublin would 'absolutely not' accept the reopening of the UK's Withdrawal Agreement. Despite the Commons voting for an 'alternative arrangement' to replace the backstop, Ms McEntee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We are 72 hours on and not only do we not have any proposals, but your own secretaries have admitted that they don't have any and that there is no solution here.' She said proposed technological methods for keeping the border open were 'not the answer', telling Today: 'This is about protecting a peace process ... No amount of technology can address that.' Ms McEntee said: 'This was a deal that was negotiated with the UK, by the UK. They weren't bystanders in a separate room, there were discussions, negotiations, there were compromises on both sides. 'The fact that we now have a deal that took that long to be negotiated and that deal has now been voted against by the very Prime Minister that negotiated it is extremely difficult.' German justice minister Katarina Barley warned today a hard border remained unacceptable - and the backstop was the only option. She told Irish broadcaster RTE: 'Britain has not offered any proposition whatsoever and I think that we (the EU 27) have to stay really, really strong on the backstop. The EU's deputy chief negotiator, Sabine Weyand, has previously said the required technology does not exist Mr Rees-Mogg made the assessment as he arrived at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena, Co Antrim, to attend a Democratic Unionist Party dinner. He was welcomed to the venue by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley. Ex-Ukip donor Arron Banks was also among the guests at the event. Mr Rees-Mogg said he was at the dinner to support the Conservatives' coalition partners. He said he has worked very closely with the DUP during the Brexit debate. 'The DUP has very similar views on many issues relating to Brexit,' he said. In terms of speaking at the event, Mr Rees-Mogg said those gathered have a 'great deal to talk about in terms of Brexit'. The EU's deputy chief negotiator, Sabine Weyand, has previously said the required technology does not exist. She said during the negotiations over the past two years officials had studied 'every border on this Earth, every border EU has with a third country there's simply no way you can do away with checks and controls'. Thousands of U.S.-bound Central American migrants resumed their northern journey on Thursday, Mexico City officials said, part of a growing group of would-be asylum seekers who say they are fleeing violence and poverty back home. Around 2,400 migrants left a city shelter to begin the journey from the Mexican capital early Thursday morning, the latest caravan to embark upon the risky path to the U.S.-Mexican border despite U.S. President Donald Trump's determination to prevent them from entering. Since last October, thousands of mostly Central American migrants have sought to cross into the United States, many traveling in caravans in order to minimize the risks of kidnapping and attacks by members of criminal gangs while in Mexican territory. Scroll down for video Migrants setting off for the US from Mexico City on Thursday as around 2,400 began their journey north Since the end of 2018 around 11,500 Central American migrants have entered Mexico, mainly from Guetamala The likelihood of having to wait weeks or even months at the border, where migrants face high rates of violent crime, has not dented the group's enthusiasm. 'I know it's violent at the border, but I have to take that risk. I don't have any more money and my family is waiting for me in the United States,' said Honduran migrant Maria Murillo alongside her young son, as she waited to leave the shelter. Other migrants were carefully studying their options, hoping to improve their chances of crossing the border and being able to stay. 'I'm not thinking of going to (Mexican border city) Tijuana, but I will make it to Monterrey,' said fellow Honduran Oscar Lopez, referring to the northern city which he thinks may offer easier access to cross the border. Migrants wait in the back of a truck during their journey towards the United States on Thursday A group of migrants leave the provisional shelter set up for them in Mexico City on Thursday Lopez, 33, was traveling with his wife and two children. On Tuesday, the United States government sent the first Central American asylum seeker back to Mexico through the Tijuana border crossing, part of the hardened immigration policy pursued by the Trump Administration. Many migrants expressed their opposition to the new U.S. policy, arguing that it will expose them to more risks at increasingly violent border towns, while others say they may eventually try to cross illegally. 'I'm not thinking of returning to Honduras, and if it's necessary, I'll pay to have a (smuggler) help me cross,' said Mauricio Gomez. Immigration advocates fear Mexico is not safe for U.S.-bound migrants, who are often kidnapped by gangs and smugglers. They have also raised concerns that applicants sent back to Mexico will not have access to proper legal counsel in U.S. courts. The US government announced it would be sending thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border to deal with the migrant caravans It comes as Donald Trump announced the US is sending thousands of additional troops to the border to thwart the caravans of migrants that has its sights set on America's doorstep. Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan said Tuesday that 'several thousand' troops were being sent to the U.S.-Mexico border, joining a deployment of roughly 2,350 forces that are already stationed in southern states. Trump confirmed that the forces are being sent in a Thursday morning tweet that referenced the wall he's attempting to build along much of the border to keep illegal immigrants out. 'More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large Caravans, into our Country. We have stopped the previous Caravans, and we will stop these also. With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive. Being Built!' he said. Rumours have begun spreading of an impending natural disaster in Japan after deep-sea oarfish began washing up (file) Japanese social media has been flooded with rumours of an impending natural disaster after mysterious deep-sea fish began washing up on its coast. In the last ten days, three oarfish have been found around Toyama Bay, despite the fact that they live 3,000ft down in the deep ocean and rarely surface, the South China Morning Post reports. Legend says that oarfish, which are known as 'messengers from the sea god's palace' in Japanese, will rise up and beach themselves ahead of an earthquake. In the days before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, around 20 of the fish were found washed up in north eastern Japan, Live Science reports. The quake that followed was one of the most destructive in recent history, killing 19,000 people and destroying the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Dozens of the fish were also discovered ahead of an 8.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Chile in 2010. Another oarfish was found on a beach in Agusan del Norte in the Philippines just days before a killer earthquake ravaged Mindanao island on 11 February. Five more oarfish were found around the coast in the days following the 6.3 quake. While scientists caution that there is no definitive link between oarfish sightings and quakes, researchers admit it is possible they could sense natural disasters. Orafish - whose name means 'messengers from the sea god's palace' in Japanese - are rarely seen near the surface and their appearance has been associated with earthquakes Rachel Grant, a lecturer in animal biology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, told Euronews: 'When an earthquake occurs there can be a build-up of pressure in the rocks which can lead to electrostatic charges that cause electrically-charged ions to be released into the water. 'This can lead to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which is a toxic compound. The charged ions can also oxidise organic matter which could either kill the fish or force them to leave the deep ocean and rise to the surface.' The discovery of three fish in ten days around Toyama Bay - the record is four fish found in the whole of 2015 - has set tongues wagging. Japan is criss-crossed by various fault lines and sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which has seen increased activity in recent years. Of particular concern is the Nankai Trough, which sits along the country's east coast - the opposite side from Toyama Bay. In the days before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake - which created a tsunami that killed 19,000 people - 20 of the fish were found washed up in the same region The tsunami also destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which the Japanese government is still cleaning up Experts believe any quake along this fault would cause widespread devastation and a huge loss of life, potentially wiping out large parts of Tokyo or Osaka - the two most populous cities in Japan. Quakes here usually occur in pairs, with the last two in 1944 and 1946, killing a total of 2,500 people. After the most recent discoveries, message on Twitter claimed: 'This is no doubt evidence of a precursor to an earthquake. 'And if it is in the Nankai Trough, it might be a huge quake.' One Twitter user asked: 'Is something happening deep in the sea?' Another questioned: 'What is going on under Toyama Bay?' The shattered mother of Sydney man killed in a horrific mudslide in Brazil has said she is praying for his pregnant fiancee's safe return and that she will 'dig her out with her bare hands' if she has to. Luiz Taliberti's heartbroken mother has said she hopes Fernanda Damian, who is five months pregnant, is found alive as rescuers continue to frantically search for victims. Mr Taliberti, a Brazilian national who was living in Sydney's Maroubra, has been confirmed dead while his fiancee, sister, father and step-mother are all still believed to be missing. He is believed to have perished in floodwaters after a Brumadinho dam burst its gates and unleashed toxic waters onto nearby towns on January 25. The catastrophe has killed 99 people as of Wednesday, with a further 259 people missing and feared dead. His mother has since spoken out to express her sadness at her son's death after his body was found on Friday. 'Everyone was happy because Fernanda was pregnant,' she told 9News. 'We just pray. I want to dig and take my children with my bare hands,' Ms Talibert added. Luiz Taliberti's heartbroken mother (pictured) has said she hopes her son's five months pregnant fiancee, Fernanda Damian, is found alive The young couple had travelled back to Brazil, their homeland, to celebrate their impending baby boy's birth and recent engagement with relatives. Mr Taliberti's work colleague described the horrific incident as a 'tragedy' from beginning to end and said Mr Taliberti, who worked as a creative director, would be truly missed. 'I think people will both miss his amazing expertise and his talent and his creativity but even more they'll miss him. He had this energy that really uplifted the team' Andrei Dolnikov said. Ms Damian (pictured left) was five months pregnant, and the couple had travelled to Brazil to share their exciting news with Mr Taliberti's (pictured right) biological family He also added that his fellow colleagues are planning to paddle out to sea next weekend in honour of Mr Taliberti, who loved to surf. Mr Taliberti's adopted father, Vagner Diniz, told The Sydney Morning Herald how he lost not only his son and daughter-in-law, but also his other adult daughter, and Luiz's biological parents. 'This was a massive assassination,' he said, blaming the mining company Vale, which owned and operated the dam, for the disaster. The catastrophe which occurred on January 25, after a Brumadinho dam burst its gates, is thought to have killed up to 100 people When the dam broke, mud enveloped a significant portion of the town of Brimadinho, including the Pousada Nova Estancia - the inn Mr Diniz believes his family was staying in. In a Facebook post, he claimed the inn had a good evacuation policy that would have seen all guests escorted to safety within five minutes, but no alarm sounded to warn people of the impending danger. He said the silent grief that had befallen his family was a reflection of the silence his family would have heard before they were trapped in the mud. Nearly 300 people are still missing, with the list of those unaccounted for being constantly updated. Most of those lost are presumed dead, officials have said Pictured: A group of firefighters pulls out a body during the search and rescue efforts on Sunday morning 'Like the siren [which did not sound], we're in a silence of pain,' he wrote. Only the body of Mr Diniz's son has been recovered, and he and his family will remain in the city until they can farewell all of their dead. 'We will only leave here when we have all our missing relatives found,' he told friends online. Friday's collapse buried neighbourhoods surrounding the mine with iron ore waste and has left hundreds of people unaccounted for. In addition to Mr Taliberti and Ms Damian (pictured), Mr Diniz has also lost his other adult daughter, and Luiz's biological parents In an ominous sign, nobody was recovered alive on Sunday, a stark difference from the first two days of the disaster, when helicopters were whisking people from the mud. Firefighters could be seen carefully moving over treacherous mud, sometimes walking, sometimes crawling, in search of survivors. The slow speed of search efforts was due to the treacherous sea of reddish-brown mud that surged out when the mine dam breached. The Sydney architect's adoptive father, Vagner Diniz, said his family had been 'assassinated' by the Vale mining company It is up 24 feet (8 meters) deep in some places, and to avoid the danger of sinking and drowning searchers had to carefully walk around the edges or slowly crawl out onto the muck. Areas of water-soaked mud appeared to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. Brazilian searchers got reinforcements late Sunday, when more than 100 Israeli soldiers and other personnel arrived with plans to join recovery efforts. A doctor who sexually assaulted a woman during an appointment leaving her with anxiety and paranoia has avoided jail. Samitha Sudusinghe, 53, has walked free from court despite being convicted of sexual assault. Sudusinghe was found guilty by a Brisbane District Court jury after touching the woman through her underwear during a consultation for her abdominal pain in 2015. Samitha Vernon Sudusinghe (pictured), 53, has walked free from court despite being convicted of sexual assault Sudusinghe (right) was found guilty by a Brisbane District Court jury after touching a woman through her underwear during a consultation for her abdominal pain in 2015 He was convicted after the woman covertly recorded her interactions with him during a follow-up appointment, in which she confronted him with her allegations. The recording, according to the prosecution, heard the doctor offer no denials and confess 'to a degree'. On the tape, Toombul GP Sudusinghe is heard saying: 'I was crossing the borders, yes.' He received a wholly-suspended one-year jail term despite the prosecution seeking jail time on Friday. While Sudusinghe faces deregistration as a doctor or suspension, his victim has suffered anxiety, paranoia, sleeping difficulties and a fear of and inability to trust doctors and people. 'And of course she's been put through the ordeal of giving evidence over two days this week,' crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said. He was convicted after the single mother-of-two covertly recorded her interactions with him during a follow-up appointment Sudusinghe received a wholly-suspended one-year jail term despite the prosecution seeking jail time on Friday Sudusinghe was acquitted of a rape charge but found guilty of the alternative, lesser sexual assault offence after the prosecution failed to prove there was penetration. He was also found not guilty of attempted rape after it was claimed he tried to digitally penetrate the woman's genitals a second time, and of a sexual assault stemming from an allegation he slapped her on the buttocks. Since being charged, Sudusinghe has been required to have a chaperone present while with female patients. He went from seeing an average 60 patients per day to 15. Sudusinghe was acquitted of a rape charge but found guilty of the alternative, lesser sexual assault offence after the prosecution failed to prove there was penetration To one patient, he said: 'God is punishing me for being naughty (to the victim).' 'She placed her trust in you to treat you in a professional manner,' Judge Anthony Rafter SC said in sentencing. 'Your conduct involved a gross violation of the relationship between a doctor and patient. 'Further, she was accused by your counsel, no doubt based on instructions, that she was fabricating the allegations for financial gain. 'You have shown no remorse.' NRL star Ben Barba has been sacked by the Cowboys after an alleged incident involving his partner at a Townsville casino. Barba had only just been named the fullback for the Indigenous team for the All Stars game on February 15 when news of a club investigation broke on Friday evening. His contract with the North Queensland Cowboys was then terminated due to a 'significant breach of terms'. This year was his last ditch last-ditch attempt to salvage his career after testing positive for cocaine in 2016 after starring in the Cronulla Sharks' run to an inaugural NRL Premiership. It is not clear what happened in the incident - but 7news reported it involved the mother of his four children, Ainslie Currie, over the Australia Day weekend. NRL star Ben Barba has been sacked by the Cowboys after an alleged incident involving his partner, Ainslie Currie (pictured) at a Townsville casino After a string of off field indiscretions culminated in his two year suspension Ben Barba (pictured with daughter Bodhi) was looking to make things right upon his return next season He was involved in a drunken car park brawl with Bulldogs team-mates Lee te Maari and Jamal Idris at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney in 2009 (pictured with daughters Bodhi, Bronte, Blaise and Bobbi) In a statement chairman Laurence Lancini said: 'When a player joins the North Queensland Cowboys he agrees to abide by the terms of the contract. 'After an internal investigation, it has been determined that this player has acted in contradiction to both the terms and the spirit of that agreement. Accordingly, the club has terminated his contract and has informed the NRL's Integrity Unit.' The NRL were made aware of the alleged incident involving his partner Ainslie Currie on Friday. The alleged incident is believed to have happened at the Ville Resort-Casino, which is a club sponsor. Police are believe to be involved. Ms Currie is the mother of his four children, Bronte, Blaise, Bobbi and Bodhi. The star playmaker signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2019 season after spending the last two seasons in exile in England He was drug tested after the historic 2016 grand final win and tested positive for cocaine, causing the NRL to suspend him (pictured with two of his daughters) The star playmaker signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2019 season after spending the last two seasons in exile in England. He was drug tested after the historic 2016 grand final win and tested positive for cocaine, causing the NRL to suspend him. Shortly after the Sharks released him from his contract to address 'personal issues'. But his off field incidents had begun years before the positive drug test. He was involved in a drunken car park brawl with Bulldogs team-mates Lee te Maari and Jamal Idris at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney in 2009. However, it seemed the troubles truly began after Barba's break out year while playing for the Bulldogs when he won the Dally M Medal in 2012. More to come An entrepreneur concerned with women's safety has created an app to protect women from attackers following the tragic death of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe. Melbourne-based app Leelou will have a new feature dubbed 'AIA Mode', in Aiia's honour. The feature is supported by Aiia's family. The ethos of the free-to-download Melbourne app is that personal safety is a right and not a privilege. An entrepreneur concerned with the safety of people has created an innovative feature to its safety app following the tragic death of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe (pictured: Leelou app) Melbourne-based app Leelou will have a new feature dubbed 'AIA Mode', in Aiia's honour and supported by Aiia's family (pictured: Aiia Maasarwe) The ethos of the free-to-download Melbourne app is that personal safety is a right and not a privilege (pictured: Aiia Maasarwe) Users of the app are able to quickly alert five emergency contacts if they are in any danger. The app enables the person in danger to touch a special SOS button which instantly records image, sends and streams audio with GPS location and phone battery information in under 15 seconds. The aim is to provide the five selected guardians with the necessary information to come to their friend or loved one's aide in a crisis. The updated 'AIA Mode' is a new vigilance feature which will allow the user to press and hold down a button as they walk home alone. Releasing it when feeling threatened or dropping the phone will send an instant SOS to scrutinised guardians. Users of the app are able to quickly alert five emergency contacts if they are in any danger (pictured: Aiia Maasarwe) Leelou founder Jerry Farsoun told AAP he was 'incredibly saddened' to hear the news of Aiia's death The idea is to prevent a repeat occurrence of Aiia's attack. The student's sister was on FaceTime with Aiia when the murder took place, but had no means of finding out where she was. Leelou founder Jerry Farsoun said he was 'incredibly saddened' to hear the news of Aiia's death. 'I immediately knew that by further development of our safety app Leelou, with the 'AIA Mode', lives could be saved for those in similar situations,' he explained. 'I am so passionate about saving lives, and the AIA Mode could make the difference in less than 15 seconds.' Aiia, 21, was allegedly raped and murdered in Melbourne's northern suburb of Bundoora last month after leaving a comedy club. The 21-year-old had only been living in the city for six months following a move from Shanghai. Codey Herrman, 20, (pictured) was arrested and charged in relation to the alleged murder He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court in June (pictured: Codey Herrman) Her body was found by a passer-by the next morning in the suburb of Bundoora, a short distance from where she studied language at La Trobe University. Codey Herrman, 20, was arrested and charged in relation to the alleged murder. He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court in June. Ms Maasarwe's sudden and tragic death shocked her home town of Baqa al-Gharbiya, northern Israel, a densely populated area of about 30,000 people, who hung black banners across the town in the days following her death reading: 'God have mercy on Aiia.' Boris Kondrashin, 36, spent 10 years in psychiatric care after he murdered his friend in 1998, cut up the body and drank his blood A 'vampire' who drank the blood of a classmate he murdered has been found working as a doctor in Russia using fake medical qualifications, say police. Boris Kondrashin, 36, has been detained amid urgent checks over the fate of hundreds of patients during his two and a half years working as a bogus GP, a psychiatrist and a specialist in addictions. He was unmasked by locals in Chelyabinsk who remembered his gruesome past. As a student, Kondrashin was placed under longterm psychiatric care after committing a macabre ritualistic killing two decades ago. In 1998, he lured a male friend called Ilya to his home, administered a lethal dose of tranquilliser, then dismembered his classmate's body with a hacksaw, say reports citing law enforcement. He cut out Ilya's heart and one of his eyes, preserving them in formalin, and then ate part of his liver. Kondrashin, son of an eminent psychiatrist, drank blood from a 'specially prepared silver goblet' under instructions from Satan, he claimed. Styling himself Baron von Ginzel, he told police officers who detained him that he was a 'vampire'. But after being released from care he used his family's wealth to acquire fake medical papers which allowed him to go to work as a doctor For the last two and a half years, Kondrashin has worked as a GP, psychiatric counsellor and as a specialist in alcohol and drug recovery A death list of ten targets for killing among his classmates was found in his possession, according to reports of the investigation in 2000. A court declared him 'insane' and he was sent for psychiatric treatment. After around ten years in care, he was classified as 'cured'. He then sought to return to his teenage dream of following his late father into a medical career. Kondrashin - from a noble family in tsarist times - paid cash to obtain fake medical college certificates which - astonishingly - enabled him to get jobs as a doctor in several Chelyabinsk hospitals. Police are now hunting back through hundreds of patient record to see whether Kondrashin used his profession to kill again He worked variously as a GP, a psychiatric counsellor and a specialist in alcoholic and drug addictions. A woman patient who recognised him as the 'murderous vampire' said: 'He saw me and let out an hysterical laugh.' She was on the list of ten former classmates he intended to kill, she said. Another male patient reported him to the chief doctor who refused to believe his medical certificates could be fake. 'I went to see a doctor in chief but he was not interested,' said the man. 'He told me it was nonsense because he had university qualification. 'He was also checked by the personnel department, which failed to discover the fakes. 'Soon Boris changed jobs and went to work in another clinic. 'It was here that his past was disclosed and finally somebody reported him to police.' His 1998 killing shocked even hardened police officers. 'The case was resonant and very unusual, I will recall it for the rest of my life,' said retired detective Alexander Filatov. 'He cut out the heart and eye and placed them in formalin, and also squeezed blood from the victim, drinking it in a specially prepared silver goblet,' he said. 'The student was detained almost immediately after parts of the body of the deceased were discovered. Kondrashin worked at various medical facilities in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia, until he was eventually recognised by a patient Medical bosses were at first loathe to believe Kondrashin's macabre past, but police were eventually called and he has now been taken out of work 'He explained that he had committed reprisals for making a sacrifice to the gods of dark forces.' When he was convicted in 2000, a newspaper report said he heard demons calling out to him, demanding blood. He was guided by Satan, he said. Kondrashin was described as a 'gloomy and unsociable' boy while his victim Ilya was an athlete and musician, popular with girls. After killing his classmate he was 'like a real butcher, dismembering the corpse, sawing it with a hacksaw. 'He took out the liver, and bit off a piece of it. 'Pouring blood from the heart into a silver goblet, he cast a spell and drank.' His father Alexander died when he was called to give evidence about his son. He 'choked on his own vomit', according to one account. Senior detective Konstantin Pravosudov said Kondrashin had been detained and a criminal case launched into use of fake documents. Certificates showed him falsely qualified as a GP and psychiatrist. 'Police experts have already confirmed that his university degree is fake,' said a law enforcement statement. 'Now investigators are checking where it was bought and if the bogus doctor did harm any of his patients.' Shocking figures show middle-aged adults make up the majority of accidental drug deaths in Australia. Five young people have died from accidental overdoses across the country in the past five months in a spate of tragedies at various music festivals. But drug policy expert Dr James Petty on Thursday revealed it is a much older crowd that is most at risk. Australians aged between 30 and 59 account for almost 70 per cent of the county's accidental overdoses, research shows. Shocking figures show Middle-aged adults make up the majority of accidental drug deaths in Australia MDMA is believed to be the drug responsible for those deaths, sparking a debate over whether revellers should be able to test drugs at festivals And those deaths were not related to MDMA use, Dr Petty said. About 142 people die every month in Australia from accidental overdoses, data from the Pennington Institute's annual overdose report shows. Dr Petty told 9News the dangerous combination of prescription painkillers, sleeping tablets and alcohol was one of the biggest killers of middle-aged people. 'We see someone being prescribed something legally like oxycodone and they already take something like Valium to help them sleep better. They then combine this with beer and wine a conjunction that sees them fatally overdose from legally obtained drugs. 'What I find interesting is the talk about young people being irresponsible and not doing the right thing, when the age bracket most at risk from fatal overdoses is actually Australians between 30 59.' Alex Ross-King (pictured left) and Marli Cartmer-Congiu (pictured right) died from suspected party drug over doses Six young people have died of suspected accidental overdoses, most at festivals, in the past eight months. MDMA is believed to be the drug responsible for those deaths, sparking a debate over whether revellers should be able to test drugs at festivals. Alex Ross-King died at the FOMO festival in Parramatta Park in Sydney on January 12 in what was the fifth fatality at an organised event in NSW since September. The 19-year-old's grieving parents begged the state government to consider introducing pill testing. Over the Australia Day weekend in Sydney, 14 people were hospitalised between two music festivals, with 10 of the cases believed to be drug-related. Alex Ross-King (pictured) died at the FOMO festival in Parramatta Park, Sydney, on January 12 At the four-day Rainbow Serpent Festival (pictured) in near Ballarat, Victoria, 13 people were taken to hospital At the four-day Rainbow Serpent Festival in near Ballarat, Victoria, 13 people were taken to hospital. Festival spokesman Tim Harvey said Rainbow Serpent is no different to other events in Melbourne, such as the Spring Racing Carnival. 'We are a microcosm of what is going on in the public and the broader community faces the same challenges that we do,' he told ABC radio on Tuesday. 'I think the issue has been created by 30 years of failed drug policy - and we are waiting on the government to fix that.' Advertisement Britain is set to freeze again tonight as the mercury plummets to its lowest of the winter, plunging the country into more transport chaos tomorrow, one day after airports were forced to close and hundreds of cars were left abandoned on blizzard-hit motorways. Scotland could see lows of -16C (3.2F) over Saturday night into Sunday as the cold snap continues, the Met Office said. A low of -15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight on Thursday at Braemar in the Scottish Highlands. Meteorologist Alex Burkill said parts of England could also see sub-zero temperatures reach double digits. He said: 'Over Saturday we'll see some snow showers around the far north, the far west and the far east of the UK. 'Elsewhere it's a cold day again and feeling especially cold in the south where it will be breezy, but for most it will be dry and sunny.' He continued: 'Tomorrow night it's likely to be very similar to Thursday night - we could get down to -16C (3.2F) in Scotland, but it's worth bearing in mind that even across the south we could get into negative double figures.' He said Benson in Oxfordshire was one of the spots predicted to reach -10C (14F) or below. 'Across the bulk of the UK, tomorrow night's going to be really cold.' A fresh yellow warning for snow and ice covering large areas of the UK took effect from noon on Friday until the same time on Saturday. It covers northern Scotland, most of Northern Ireland, the eastern coast of England, the south of England and the west coast of Wales. On Friday, a coating of up to 14 cm of snow caused havoc in the South West, forcing motorists to abandon their cars and seek shelter as traffic stood still. Travellers were hit by long delays and schools closed their doors as February began with the coldest night for seven years. By Friday evening, RAF Odiham in Hampshire had recorded 19cm of snow. The closures included more than half of Bristol's schools, more than 300 in Buckinghamshire, more than 150 in Cornwall and scores across Oxfordshire. There was misery for travellers on the blizzard-hit M3 westbound between junctions six and seven near Basingstoke due to snow and stranded vehicles, with the tailbacks stretching to Farnborough. Drivers were told to avoid the M3 at all costs as the motorway became 'impassable' at points. Basingstoke residents were left stranded for hours on their way home, with some drivers having to abandon their cars and walk after three HGV lorries jackknifed in the middle of the road. Parent Craig Heywood, 29, was stuck at Junction 6 from 3.30pm after leaving work early to make sure he could pick his son up from nursery. The snow storm collapsed a tree in the middle of the road in Hampshire. Residents abandoned their cars and walked home in the freezing conditions instead Junction 7 (pictured) near Basingstoke was shut after three lorries skidded out of control, blocking off the road in both directions Cairngorm swimmer Alice Goodridge takes her sledgehammer down to a frozen over Loch Insh, to break the ice and have a morning swim The snowy and Icy Conditions caused havoc in Teesside with this BMW 4x4 smashing into a house after skidding out of control on the ice Alison Grounds, 49 said, 'I heard an almighty smash, I walked into the room and a car had came through my front room. It could have killed me or my dogs' she said. Alison a mother of three from Thornaby A road in the Yorkshire Dales was blocked yesterday after a council lorry overturned between Marske and Low Fremington Parent Craig Heywood, 29, was stuck outside Basingstoke for hours, leaving his son (right, together) stranded at nursery. Staff had to stay late to look after two-year-old Harrison, who was worried about his father A 4x4 Range Rover, pictured today, slid off the road in the icy conditions on Black Down in Dorset near Hardy's Monument Nursery staff had to stay late to look after two-year-old Harrison, who had been worrying why his father didn't come for him. Mr Heywood, who works at Harwoods Jaguar Land Rover Dealership, said: 'I left work early today at 3.30pm to make sure I would get to my son's nursery on time. My work is only 15 minutes from the nursery too. 'I took some bottles of water from work just in case, so I've been handing them out to other drivers. As a nation, we're just not prepared for this weather. Every year it's the same. I just hope my son's alright.' Panicked motorist Samantha Smith missed her 7.30pm flight to Cairo after becoming trapped near Heathrow. She tweeted at British Airways: 'Do you answer your phones? Stuck in snow on M3 how do we let you know we won't make check in?' Jo Roberts said the motorway was an 'absolute nightmare' southbound from Basingstoke with 'snow on top of black ice'. She said: 'It's not been gritted. My partner hasn't moved for 2 hours.' Highways England also reported severe delays between Tonbridge and Hurst Green on the A21 in Kent in both directions on Friday night - again caused by snow and stranded vehicles. Most flights were cancelled from a snow-covered Bristol Airport on Friday, but normal service is expected on Saturday. At around 10pm on Friday night, London City Airport said it had closed its runway due to heavy snowfall, causing some flights to be diverted and others to be cancelled. Flight disruption at airports in Cardiff and Bristol left queues of rugby fans facing a race to get to Paris ahead of Friday evening's France vs Wales Six Nations opener. Salt-spreaders covered 80,000 miles of England's motorways and major A roads through the night to keep traffic moving, Highways England said. Cars skid around near Basingstoke, which is being described as an 'ice rink'. Jo Roberts said the motorway was an 'absolute nightmare' with 'snow on top of black ice'. She said: 'It's not been gritted. My partner hasn't moved for two hours' Motorists encounter icy and snowy road conditions on the M4 motorway in the West Country this afternoon Motorists get out of their cars amid extreme conditions on the roads in Basingstoke, Hampshire, this afternoon Cars are driven along a snow and slush covered road near Chievely in Berkshire this afternoon A lorry becomes stuck in the snow on the A37 at Shepton Mallet in Somerset today Two men help a driver try to get his car moving at Membury services on the M4 in Berkshire today after further snowfalls Children enjoy sledging in the snow at Farnham Park in Surrey this morning as they make the most of a day off school How many schools are closed in areas of Britain? Cornwall: 171 Devon: 141 Wiltshire: 223 Hampshire: 225 Bristol: 151 Somerset: 197 South Wales: 550 North Wales: 155 Dorset: 119 Highlands: 17 Lancashire: 8 Sussex: 6 Surrey: 10 Kent: 52 TOTAL: 2,025 Advertisement Last night, the lowest temperature was -15.4C (4.3F) in the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar - making it the coldest night in seven years, since the -15.6C (3.9F) observed on February 11, 2012 at Holbeach in Lincolnshire. Around 12 hours of snowfall - the heaviest in England this winter - knocked out power for around 1,000 homes in and around Southampton. Flights across the south were cancelled, including from London Heathrow. Bournemouth Airport and Bristol Airport were shut with rail lines closed as blizzards battered the UK. Snowfall and icy conditions will cause widespread travel disruption this morning after temperatures plummeted. In Devon and Cornwall, hundreds of motorists blocked roads after abandoning their vehicles following the arrival of 'snowbomb' - but the sea of cars, lorries and vans meant gritters and emergency vehicles failed to get through. On the A30 crossing Bodmin Moor, more than 100 people were stuck in their cars for ten hours. Some slept inside their vehicles while others made it to the famous Jamaica Inn pub where they spent the night on makeshift beds. Dominic Burton, 20, was among the stranded and said: 'It's like doomsday here, like a zombie movie. I have just passed around 200 cars trying to go southbound on the A30.' This satellite shows the weather system that affected Britain overnight into this morning - bringing the snow Temperatures will remain low across Britain this afternoon (left) and the Met Office issued a series of weather warnings (right) Snow is continuing to fall across much of southern England and South Wales this morning, as shown in this graphic Temperatures will remain low this weekend - with a maximum of 8C expected in the South West and South Wales by Sunday This graphic shows where the snow is falling across southern England this morning (in white) along with rain (in blue) Severe disruption around the M3 motorway in Basingstoke, Hampshire, today amid the severe weather conditions Clayfield Copse looks like a winter wonderland after the blanketing of snow in Berkshire today Snow is seen covering the area around the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Avon Gorge in Bristol today A boy helps clear snow from roads and properties at Shepton Mallet in Somerset today Longleat Safari Park's new Amur tigers get to grips with a snowman in their enclosure in Wiltshire today There was only one winner as the snowman's head was sent tumbling by the big cats today at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire At least 400 students were stranded at Callywith College in Bodmin because school buses could not get there. Teachers and canteen staff stayed the night and a supermarket donated 800 of blankets, duvets and pillows. Where and when are the Met Office warnings? SOUTHERN ENGLAND YELLOW: Ice, 1pm today until 11am tomorrow EASTERN ENGLAND YELLOW: Snow and ice, 12pm today until 12pm tomorrow SCOTLAND YELLOW: Snow and ice, midnight Monday until 2pm Advertisement One woman was even forced to give birth in a Cornish Asda. The RAC said their teams were working 'flat out to reach drivers in some challenging conditions'. They are expected to attend seven breakdowns a minute on average totalling around 10,000 by the end of today. After an extraordinary dump of snow fell overnight, it emerged: More than 2,000 schools are closed across the country due to snow - keeping 500,000 pupils at home The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning of snow for part of the south-east with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire expected to be worst hit; Flights were affected with Bristol Airport closed until at least 12pm and Bournemouth Airport shut 'until further notice'. Short-haul flights from Heathrow are subject to cancellations; Highways Agency issues warnings for more than 20 major A-roads and motorways hit by snow and warns drivers not to travel unless essential. In Bristol more than half of the city's schools were closed due to the weather and roadside refuse and recycling collections have been cancelled. A Co-op in Bristol has run out of bread today, saying its lorries are 'finding it difficult to get through the snow and ice' Thames Valley Police stopped this car in High Wycombe this morning, saying: 'The driver claimed he could see perfectly well' Blenheim Palace is a maganificent sight in the Oxfordshire snow today as parts of Britain face severe weather conditions A woman on skis tries them out in the shadow of Brunel's famous Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol today Snow makes driving treacherous today with this crash in Hampstead, North London, exemplifying the dangerous conditions Homeless tents covered in snow in Brighton today as temperatures plummeted again overnight last night A cyclist rides through Queen's Square in Bristol as some don't take a snow day and head to work in freezing conditions The River Forth in Stirling today after overnight snow turned the beautiful area of Britain into a winter wonderland The rare sight of snow on the beach in Brighton next to its famous pier greeted the Brighton Swimming Club this morning A tractor with a snow plough clears the snow on the B3081 near to Shaftesbury in Dorset this morning Trains leaving Bristol towards Bath on snow-covered tracks as the white stuff sweeps across the West Country today Children take their sledges to Farnham Park in Surrey as they make the most of the snow after it settled on the ground A cyclist rides through a blizzard in Maida Vale, West London, this morning as large parts of the UK are deluged with snow Police deal with an accident in the Glynn Valley, Cornwall, today - but emergency vehicles were hampered by abandoned cars A cyclist comes a cropper as he tries to ride his bike in Bristol as snow sweeps across the West Country today Bristol Airport was paralysed by snow today and is set to be closed down for the morning while they clear the runway SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/SnapshotFlo/ The city council said all priority roads have been gritted and are open but side roads and pavements may remain difficult. What's the travel situation on the roads, rails and airports in Britain today? TRAINS Dorking and Horsham : Train fault and crew shortage : Train fault and crew shortage Petersfield and Guildford : Broken down train : Broken down train Swansea and Shrewsbury : Timetable changes due to snow : Timetable changes due to snow Bellgrove and Glasgow : Severe weather : Severe weather Weybridge and Earlsfield : Overrunning engineering works : Overrunning engineering works Truro and Falmouth Docks : Rail repairs : Rail repairs Lichfield Trent Valley and Tamworth : Overhead wires damage : Overhead wires damage Portsmouth Harbour and Fratton : Points failure : Points failure Watford Junction and London Euston : Severe weather : Severe weather Gospel Oak and Barking : Severe weather : Severe weather London Underground, Jubilee line : Train fault ROADS A1(M) northbound within J63: Congestion northbound within J63: Congestion A19 southbound between A179 and A689 : Congestion southbound between and : Congestion A30 westbound between A395 and A389 near Bodmin (east): Snow westbound between and near Bodmin (east): Snow A30 eastbound between A38 and A389 near Bodmin (east): Snow eastbound between and near Bodmin (east): Snow A38 northbound between B600 and M1 : Congestion northbound between and : Congestion A38 eastbound between A30 and A390 near Liskeard (west): Accident eastbound between and near Liskeard (west): Accident A38 westbound between A390 near Liskeard (west) and A30: Accident westbound between near Liskeard (west) and A30: Accident A56 southbound between A680 and B6232 : Congestion southbound between and : Congestion A56 northbound between B6232 and A680 : Congestion northbound between and : Congestion A66 westbound within the A19 junction before A19 southbound access: Congestion westbound within the junction before A19 southbound access: Congestion Link road from M25 J7 clockwise to M23 J8 southbound: Congestion J7 clockwise to J8 southbound: Congestion Link road from M25 J7 anti-clockwise to M23 J8 southbound: Congestion J7 anti-clockwise to J8 southbound: Congestion M3 westbound between J2 and J3: Overturned Vehicle westbound between J2 and J3: Overturned Vehicle M4 spur (Heathrow) southbound between M4 and J4A: Congestion spur (Heathrow) southbound between and J4A: Congestion M66 northbound between J1 and A56 / A680 / A676 : Congestion AIRPORTS Bristol Airport : Airfield closed until at least 12pm : Airfield closed until at least 12pm Bournemouth Airport : Airfield closed 'until further notice' : Airfield closed 'until further notice' London Heathrow Airport : Some British Airways short-haul flights affected Advertisement In Gloucestershire waste and recycling collections have also been cancelled across Cotswold district. A pivoting system of wintry weather saw much of southern England and Wales wake up to more of the white stuff. An amber warning was issued for an area west of London including Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire, with stranded vehicles and power cuts 'likely', and a 'good chance' some rural communities could be cut off. The alert comes after as much as 5.5in (14cm) of snow wreaked havoc in the South West yesterday. Efforts to rescue motorists stranded on snowbound roads in Devon and Cornwall continued through the night. Meanwhile hundreds of people were forced to find shelter where they could. Persistent snow began to spread across the south east late last night and flurries were seen all the way into central London. The Met Office has also has two yellow weather warnings of snow and ice in force until this afternoon covering southern England and Wales, as well as the eastern edge of the UK from Shetland to The Wash. Police forces across the country are warning motorists to consider if their journeys are necessary before heading out today and be 'extremely careful' if have to travel by road. On the rail network, Southeastern and Transport for Wales have altered their services today as a result of the adverse conditions. South Western Railway was planning to run a normal timetable, but warned some early services may need to be cancelled as routes are cleared. Meanwhile Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express were expected to run normally, although all passengers were urged to check before they travel in case the conditions impact services. Transport for London also advised passengers to check their service status before setting off. Airports were also hit by the freezing weather, with Bristol Airport suspending flights until 8am while the runway was cleared. Bristol Airport has said its airfield will remain closed until 12pm. The airport said on Twitter: 'As a result of continued adverse weather, our teams are working hard to clear the airfield... A further update will be given as the situation changes. Please contact your airline for specific flight queries.' Snow was also seen falling at Heathrow, where British Airways altered a number of short-haul flights, and passengers using the hub were being told to stay in contact with their airlines before travelling. Gatwick Airport also saw flurries, although the airport was advising passengers it was planning on operating as normal today. Londoners and tourists battle with wet weather and cold temperatures near London Bridge station today Cold winter weather hits Central London this morning as people walk through the rain easyJet planes on the Tarmac at Gatwick Airport today as snow caused major travel disruption Drivers trapped on the A30 in Cornwall (left) last night as snow settled. Also pictured (right): Snow in Somerset overnight A car was flipped onto its roof in Plymouth overnight while motorists reported roads being 'like an ice rink' across the country MailOnline readers in Bracknell (left) and in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, (right) reveal the blanket of snow covering the country Emma Henwood from Cardiff tweeted this picture, saying: 'An assiduous building manager had been out early this morning to help clients know which parking space was which' A Central Line train pulls into a West London station today amid frozen and treacherous conditions in the capital's suburbs The snow-covered roofs of suburban London today as the capital has a rare but significant period of snow Heavy snow in London turned to sleet today as workers crossed London Bridge with The Shard shrouded in mist Queues form in London Bridge Station where trains into Kent were running at a reduced number due to the wintry conditions Commuters walk past three freezing homeless people as they sleep in an exposed bed underneath a railway track The 187 bus to Finchley Road drives through the morning snowfall in west London today as people were warned not to travel unless necessary A freezing commuter on a Boris Bike pedals through the slush and snow in north London today London has had its biggest dump of snow of the winter delivered from the skies overnight and it was still falling during rush hour Drivers including this 4X4 and trailer carefully make their way through snow covered roads in County Durham, today A car drives along a snow-covered residential road in Hartley Wintney, in Hampshire, 40 miles west of London Nearby on this Hampshire cricket field children whose schools are closed today make a giant snowman this morning Dog walkers in the snow, at Clayfield Copse, Berkshire, today There are wintry conditions in Bristol, in Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, and Reading, Berkshire, in pictures sent in by MailOnline readers Met Office meteorologist Emma Smith said: 'There is still sleet and snow across southern counties, the band is currently sitting across the south-west and Wales and across to East Anglia and London. 'It's kind of pivoting in place and it's not really moving very far. What will be happening to it is it will get patchier as it goes on, but it could cause some disruption to rush hour. 'Temperatures are widely below freezing so there's icy stretches so people will have to take care going into work.' By lunchtime temperatures in the South East are expected to nudge towards 4C (39F), meaning the sleet and snow should turn to rain. This MailOnline photo shows snow-covered Harpenden in Hertfordshire from above roof heavy with snow Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire is blanketed in frozen flakes of snow in this idyllic reader's photo The snowy scene from Dunders Hill above Polzeath Beach looking towards New Polzeath in Cornwall More than 100 cars were stuck or abandoned on the A30 through Bodmin in Cornwall overnight as the snow came down An extraordinary image of Jupiter, Venus and the moon lined up in the early morning sky in a phenomenon known as a conjunction in Derbyshire's Peak District near Buxton today However the rest of the country, with the exception of southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, is expected to see wintry showers persist into this evening. How to stop your car freezing over with a BAG With Britain waking up to sub-zero temperatures, many of us will be spending time de-icing our cars. But one way to stop this happening to your mirrors is to tie a plastic bag over them with an elastic band. When you take off the bags in the morning, the mirrors should not require de-icing, even if temperatures are below freezing. The RAC advises that clearing a windscreen of ice or snow should take about ten minutes using a scraper or de-icer spray. Drivers should avoiding using boiling water to clear snow and ice. The thermal shock from 100C water can cause windows to crack, the breakdown firm says. Advertisement 'Into the afternoon those showers will go into the Pennies and the Peak District as well,' Ms Smith said. The Met Office said a low of minus -15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight at Braemar. Had it fallen more than 0.2C, lower it would have surpassed the low of -15.6C (3.92F) set in 2012. Across Devonshire 34 schools have said they will be closed or partially closed today and 35 schools across Cornwall have also said they will not be opening, according to the two county councils. More than 100 people sought refuge at a pub high on Bodmin Moor overnight after heavy snowfall hit the A30, leading many stranded motorists to abandon their cars. Some of those reaching the Jamaica Inn reported trudging through snow for several miles after more than 12cm of the white stuff brought 'chaos' to the cross-country route on Thursday. The pub's 25-year-old general manager, Sammy Wheeler, said groups and families with young children arrived in droves after around 100 cars got stuck on a nearby stretch of the A30. A snow covered boat at Pewsey on the Kennet & Avon canal this morning shows how hard the West Country has been hit Sophie Taylor's Siberian Cat stalking their garden in High Wycombe today in a rare scene more like Russia than Bucks Snow in Compton near Newbury today where this resident who sent a picture to MailOnline looked like she was snowed in The glorious dawn at Bingley St Ives near Bradford, West Yorkshire, taken from the local golf club all covered in snow A motorist clears the windows of a vehicle in Bristol after snowfall yesterday and overnight caused widespread disruption The snowy scene in Gateshead this morning looking over to Newcastle from the banks of the famous Tyne river Slow moving traffic on the roads in Hanham, South Gloucestershire this morning with more set to come today Bristol has received a huge dump of snow overnight with cars and roads all treacherous because of the ice below Bristol Airport posted this picture of the conditions this morning with planes remaining on the stands because of the weather 'A lot of people have abandoned their cars. Some of them have walked a good three, four or five miles,' she said. Shoppers stuck for two hours in Tesco gridlock Panicked shoppers stocking up for snow were stuck for more than two hours - when their supermarket sweep caused gridlock. Worried shoppers rushed to grab bread, milk and other essentials from a Tesco Extra in Cardiff. But the 'vast number' of people caused gridlock in the supermarket car park - leaving them unable to leave for hours. One customer said: 'It was gridlocked. Thank heavens I have got heated seats, it was horrendous.' Another woman said: 'Two hours to get out of Tesco Western avenue cardiff car park this PM. Asked the customer service assistant in store what was happening; the response? 'Not our problem'.' A Cardiff council spokesman said: 'It appears that due to the current weather forecast, a vast number of people have visited the store to buy groceries. 'We believe this is the reason why there has been a tailback of vehicles leaving the car park which has caused the delays that are being reported.' Advertisement 'People were fed up of being in a cold car and they were running out of fuel.' Each of the inn's 36 rooms was full, with some being shared by complete strangers on Thursday night. Meanwhile makeshift dormitories with mattresses on the floors were set up in other parts of the pub, including 15 beds in the restaurant another five in the lounge. Paul Drye, 54, from St Austell, Cornwall, was heading home after working in Dorchester, Dorset, on Thursday afternoon when he became stuck on the A30 around 3.30 pm. He said: 'There had been a bit of heavy snow but while everything was moving it was fine, but as soon as there was a few incidents up ahead everything ground to a halt. 'You never know how long these things are going to last, whether it will be moving in two minutes or four hours as it turned out.' Mr Drye arrived at the Jamaica Inn around 7.30 pm and was met with a real 'cross-section' of people including dogs, children and truck drivers. 'People were still arriving until the early hours of the morning, people who had left their cars and walked, a couple miles some of them,' he said. The Jamaica Inn staff were like a 'well-oiled machine', they provided mattresses, blankets and pillows for everybody and stayed up all night stoking fires, Mr Dyre said. Woman, 23, seeks shelter at Asda after being trapped by snow while going into labour on the way to hospital Baby Amelia is said to be doing well after her mother sheltered in an Asda during labour yesterday as the snow hit Cornwall A pregnant woman who went into labour was trapped by snow on the way to hospital - and was forced to seek shelter in an Asda supermarket. Roxanne Campbell, 23, was travelling to a maternity unit after her contractions and a 'slow labour' started when a sudden flurry brought travel chaos to the UK. Her and husband Alex, 39, left home in Bodmin in Cornwall at 11am and were waiting for a train to Truro so they could get to the Royal Cornwall Hospital. But the services all got cancelled and they called an ambulance but were told there were none available and they would have to seek shelter. Their only hope was a nearby Asda store, where they arrived at around 4.30pm and were looked after by staff while she experienced contractions. Only several hours later did an ambulance finally show up to rescue Miss Campbell and help her through the final stages of labour. They are now recovering from their ordeal in hospital and baby Amelia is said to be doing well. He said: 'The staff at Asda were very calm and they didn't really know what they were doing but they were doing their best, I couldn't have asked for more. They were amazing.' Mr Campbell added: 'It was absolute carnage on the roads, there were cars dumped at the side everywhere and people were wheel spinning, they couldn't move. She picked the worst day ever to arrive, we'll never forget it.' Asda Bodmin store manager Robert Gerred-Hart said: 'I'm extremely proud of the community-minded spirit that our colleagues displayed as they worked quickly and compassionately to help during last night's cold snap.' Advertisement * Taken any photos of snow in Britain today? Please email pictures@mailonline.co.uk with their location * Wales fans stranded by snow ahead of Six Nations game Welsh rugby fans and pundits trying to get to Paris for the opener of the Six Nations faced being stranded after flight cancellations due to snow. Disruptions to flights from airports in Cardiff and Bristol left queues of fans facing a race against time to get to France ahead of this evening's kick-off. France are due to host Wales in the first game of the tournament at 8pm at the Stade de France. Ex Wales captain and BBC pundit Sam Warburton was one of the passengers due to fly on the cancelled 9.30am flight from Cardiff Airport to Charles de Gaulle. He told BBC Wales: 'A few of the guys went over yesterday from Bristol. I was doing some work last night for the BBC so we knew we would be cutting it fine this morning, but I am sure we will all be fine. 'I am probably too laid back for my own good so I don't mind at all. I have got 12 hours to get out there. Even if I need to get the Eurostar or something I am sure I will be there for kick-off so I am not worried at all.' Four flights from Cardiff to Paris are still expected to depart at 1.05pm this afternoon. The airport is advising passengers to check live flight information on their website and contact airlines directly for information. Bristol Airport said all flights were cancelled until at least midday due to snow, including flights to Paris. The airport said on their Twitter page: 'As a result of continued adverse weather, our teams are working hard to clear the airfield. Due to the volume of snowfall, the airfield will remain closed until 1200. A further update will be given as the situation changes. Please contact your airline for specific flight queries.' Wales women's team were caught up in the cancellations. They were due to fly from Bristol on Friday afternoon ahead of their own opening Six Nations game against defending champions France in Montpellier at 8pm on Saturday. A spokesman confirmed the team had now booked an early flight on the morning of the match from Heathrow Airport. Rugby fan Leon Brown said he was due to fly out of Bristol at 2pm, but had received a text to say his flight had already been cancelled. He said he was now looking to sell his two match tickets, adding: 'We did look at the Eurostar. Should never had sold my 4x4. I would have drove.' Lisa Marie Brown, from Cardiff, was also due to fly out from Bristol at 2pm with her husband, but said she will now be watching the game on television from home. She said: 'Our flight was due at 2pm and was cancelled at 10am. We were hoping to get to Paris to watch Wales v France for the start of the Six Nations, which has ruined the experience with no extra flights scheduled to leave. 'It would have been really good to put on a new flight at 3pm because snow is clearing here.' Advertisement 'Good job I've been panic buying!': Britons poke fun at #snowmaggedon as thousands enjoy day off work or school after blizzards swept UK overnight Britons are rejoicing at the prospect of a snow day after blizzards swept across the UK overnight blanketing the nation in crisp, white powder. But as commuters wrap up warm and head to work, some have noticed a suspicious lack of fellow travellers and have taken to social media to share the deserted stations along with the hashtag #Snowmageddon. Despite the thick snow and the amber warning issued by the Met Office, Britons are seeing the fun side of the day, sharing pictures of their early snowman attempts and picturesque village pub dusted with the February frost. Some have even taken their #Snowmageddon preparations to extreme lengths, stocking their fridge with dozens of bottles of milk (semi-skimmed), should the worst happen and they need endless cups of tea to sooth their woes. Snow Wars Return of the Sled-i: Despite the thick snow and the amber warning issued by the Met Office, Britons are still seeing the fun side of the snow day, sharing pictures of their early snowman attempts and picturesque village pub dusted with the February frost - and even the odd sci-fi meme about the need for some more heavy duty gritters to tackle the roads Guardian food critic Jay Rayner shows off his new redwood decking One splash or two? Some have even taken their #Snowmageddon preparations to extreme lengths, stocking their fridge with dozens of bottles of milk (semi-skimmed), should the worst happen and they need endless cups of tea to sooth their woes Winter is here: This weather forecaster issued a Stark reminder of the perils on snow last night Not everywhere has been affected, though, leaving some bemoaning the lack of snow of their driveways and roads. One disgruntled Brit, disappointment at the thin layer of ice on his tarmac even took out a measuring tape to highlight the severe lack of inches. Meanwhile others shared tweets demanding to know where their snowfall was and why they are missing out on all the fun. Quality not quantity, Rhodri: One disgruntled Brit, disappointment at thin layer of ice on his tarmac even took out a measuring tape to highlight the severe lack of inches This Twitter user was clearly expecting some more snow than the dusting of powder outside Amber warning: The Met Office has issued an amber warning that carries a 'potential risk to life' with more extreme snowfall expected in the Home Counties and West Country until lunchtime, cutting off towns and villages Meanwhile others shared tweets demanding to know where their snowfall was and why they are missing out on all the fun Londoner Mia also took umbrage at the lack of snow having rushed home before 9pm to avoid the blizzard Unbearlievable: Andy Sowton was less than enthused with picking up this hitchhiker this morning The Samaritans have said they are on hand throughout the day for those who need support The Met Office has issued an amber warning that carries a 'potential risk to life' with more extreme snowfall expected in the Home Counties and West Country until lunchtime, cutting off towns and villages. The overnight lowest temperature was -15.4C (4.3F) in the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar - making it the coldest night in seven years, since the -15.6C (3.9F) observed on February 11, 2012 at Holbeach in Lincolnshire. Around 12 hours of snowfall - the heaviest in England this winter - knocked out power for around 1,000 homes in and around Southampton. Flights across the south were cancelled, including from London Heathrow. Heaven vs hell! Dozens of motorists were stuck for ten hours in freezing cars on A30 overnight... while more than 100 lucky punters bedded-down for lock-in at cosy local pub More than 100 people sought refuge at a pub high on Bodmin Moor overnight after heavy snowfall hit the A30, with many stranded motorists abandoning their cars. Some of those reaching the Jamaica Inn in Cornwall had trudged through snow for several miles after 4.7in (12cm) of it brought 'chaos' to the cross-country route. Sammy Wheeler, 25, the pub's general manager, said groups and families with young children arrived in droves after cars got stuck on a nearby stretch of the A30. People staying at the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall are pictured this morning Families with young children arrived in droves after cars got stuck on a stretch of the A30 Makeshift dormitories with mattresses on the floors were set up in other parts of the pub She said: 'A lot of people have abandoned their cars. Some of them have walked a good three, four or five miles. People were fed up of being in a cold car.' Ms Wheeler added that many people were running out of fuel. Each of the inn's 36 rooms was full, with some being shared by complete strangers last night. Meanwhile makeshift dormitories with mattresses on the floors were set up in other parts of the pub, including 15 beds in the restaurant another five in the lounge. Paul Drye, 54, of St Austell, Cornwall, was heading home after working in Dorchester, Dorset, yesterday afternoon when he became stuck on the A30 around 3.30pm. He said: 'There had been a bit of heavy snow but while everything was moving it was fine, but as soon as there was a few incidents up ahead everything ground to a halt. 'You never know how long these things are going to last, whether it will be moving in two minutes or four hours as it turned out.' Mr Drye arrived at the Jamaica Inn around 7.30pm and was met with a real 'cross-section' of people including dogs, children and truck drivers. 'People were still arriving until the early hours of the morning, people who had left their cars and walked, a couple miles some of them,' he said. Each of the inn's 36 rooms was full, with some being shared by complete strangers last night The Jamaica Inn staff were like a 'well-oiled machine', they provided mattresses, blankets and pillows for everybody and stayed up all night stoking fires, Mr Dyre said. Ms Wheeler said: 'I have no sheets left and I'm sure my head housekeeper will kill me in the morning when she hears about it. 'I've stolen all duvets and everything from everywhere possible. There's no beds left but we are now letting people sleep everywhere and I'm providing them with pillows and blankets.' Spirits were said to be 'incredibly high' among the guests, who included around a dozen children and an eight-month-old baby. The pub's seven staff, including two chefs, were pulling out the stops to make sure all were comfortable - although they were 'in for a long one,' Ms Wheeler said. 'Credit to my staff - a shout-out goes to all of them,' she added. The area is under a yellow weather warning of snow and ice until this afternoon and efforts continued through the night to clear the A30 and get people moving again. Speaking at 7.30am this morning Mr Dyre said some travellers had already left to walk back to their cars and that from the Inn they could see traffic on the A30 was moving again. Hundreds of cars were stuck on the A30 last night for up to ten hours while travelling in the wintry weather which caused chaos across the country As darkness fell last night drivers were still stuck, some behind a jackknifed lorry, with no idea as to how or when they would make it home from work Highways England confirmed a plough and a gritter had been sent to assist the stranded motorists - some of whom have got out of their cars and started a snowball fight The pub had only 10 of its 36 rooms booked for last night before the snow fell but by the early hours of yesterday there were between 120 and 150 people crammed in every available space. Assistant manager Charlotte Barron said: 'All 36 rooms were full, we set up 15 makeshift beds in the restaurant, five in the lounge as well as blankets and duvets on the floor. 'It was actually a lovely atmosphere - we brought out all our board games and complete strangers were playing against each other. 'A lot of people made friends - probably for life - with one room being occupied by five people who didn't know each other.' Those taking shelter included about a dozen children, an eight-month-old baby and 'two dogs and their four humans'. Ms Barron added: 'There were still people arriving at 5am - the furthest one person walked was eight miles to get here.' Her selflessness was shared by seven of her colleagues - manager Ms Wheeler and staff Ashely Brown, June Parker, April Dawe, Tina Wright, David Bailey and Joe Pearson. She said: 'There were only two people in the kitchen who cooked all night - they were making people steak and ale pie, fish and chips - the usual pub grub. Makeshift beds beds laid out last night at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne du Maurier in her classic novel, on Bodmin Moor for motorists who are stuck on the A30 due to snow The view from the Jamaica Inn pub on Bodmin Moor last night as it laid out makeshift beds 'Then we started the breakfast menu at 3am as we were starting to get a little short of food. 'The chef has been making anything he can find for the lunch menu. We are praying for a delivery but aren't holding out much hope of one getting through.' Like her colleagues, Ms Barron pitched in all night, making beds, allocating blankets, pot washing, and working behind the bar and in the kitchen. She said most drivers had started to leave by 8am to go back to their vehicles to allow gritters to make their way along the A30. The Jamaica Inn's maintenance team was transporting motorists to their cars in the pub's 4x4 as well as shovelling ice from the nearby road. Hundreds of cars were stuck on the A30 last night for up to ten hours while travelling in the wintry weather which caused chaos across the country. A white out yesterday afternoon stopped cars in their tracks at Temple as thick snow settled up to 3ft high and drivers were forced to abandon their cars. As darkness fell last night drivers were still stuck, some behind a jackknifed lorry, with no idea as to how or when they would make it home from work. Highways England were urged to help stranded motorists, including those stuck with young children as drivers reported the roads were 'like an ice rink' on the A30 which runs between London and Honiton in east Devon. The Jamaica Inn on the A30 last night has laid out mattresses on the floor for stranded drivers Highways England confirmed a plough and a gritter had been sent to assist the stranded motorists - some of whom have got out of their cars and started a snowball fight. But after hours on the roads many became concerned elderly relatives would spend the night there. Cornwall Council said there was an 'intensive effort' to clear the roads while relatives of the stranded urged authorities to act faster, including those with elderly parents on the roads. Driver Dominic Burton said about 200 vehicles were trapped on the southbound carriage of the A30 near Okehampton in 'doomsday' scenes. People are being warned against travel in the morning on uncleared routes. Some were still on the roads at 11pm, having been there since the mid afternoon. Desperate drivers urged police to send advice over whether or not they should keep their engines on while a pub named the Jamaica Inn laid out mattresses on the floor for stranded motorists. Lee Flagg wrote on Twitter: 'My sister has been sat on the A30 for 5 hours. 2 young children in the car with no food, milk etc. Can anyone actually give an update that means anything??' Another man added: 'What advice do you have for people who look likely to be spending the night on the A30. 'How to keep warm? Should they keep the engine running? How long will that last for? How can they get water? Saying 'we're working as hard as we can' is great, but need a bit more.' Kind drivers on the A30 with four wheel drive cars began to tow others to get up a hill, around 8pm yesterday evening. Drivers described the response as a 'shambles'. Dominic Burton, 26, was trapped with more than 20 other cars on the A30 at Okehampton One driver said on Twitter: 'Ground to a halt at 2.30pm and it's now 8.20pm and have moved two miles. No snowploughs, no gritters, no police support, it's a shambles.' The head of roads policing in Devon and Dorset, Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, said: 'The snow is heading eastwards and will cause significant disruption tonight. Please be prepared and avoid all but absolutely essential travel.' He warned people to stay with their vehicles and to check before making a journey. Concerned car owners said they had only moved a few miles in hours. Dominic Burton, 26, was been stuck on the A30 from 4.30pm until 11pm after a lorry jackknifed at the top of a hill on the road at Okehampton. Mr Burton from Barnstaple left work early at 4.30pm in a bid to try and get home before the worst of the snow fell. But hours later after the lorry got stuck the snow has built up around cars, trapping them. Rescue workers were bringing in snow chains to move the lorry last night. There were hazardous driving conditions reported across Cornwall with multiple accidents. Police said people were abandoning their cars on the A30 at Highgate Hill and walking through the snow. Cars were being abandoned by drivers who could not continue their journey onwards Devon and Cornwall Police urged people to stay in their cars to keep warm. At around 8.15pm yesterday, the force tweeted: 'We have further reports of vehicles stuck on the A39 in Cornwall due to snow. 'Please stay with your vehicle and keep as warm as possible. Gritter trucks are working their way inwards from Winnards Perch and Wadebridge to get to stranded drivers.' Mr Burton told MailOnline: 'I have travelled around nine miles since I left work but we are stuck now. It's really not a nice place to be right now. 'The lorry has jackknifed at the top of the hill and there's a recovery truck there but the snow has been building up around us while we have been sat here. I've tried to move and I can't. 'There's about 25 of us pretty much everyone is just trying to get home from work. I've got another hour and a half to drive but that's in normal conditions.' Mr Burton, who started a new job yesterday, has seen gritters travelling southbound but nothing on the northbound carriageway. One person wrote on Twitter: 'Have moved only 100 yards in two hours! It's now 5.38pm and no end in sight of this situation. Oh, and it's still snowing!' Cars stranded on the A30 with dozens being stuck behind a jackknifed lorry at Okehampton Some were stuck for hours in snow on Bodmin Moor. Paul Newman said when he reached the A30 at Carland Cross heading eastbound the snow started to fall 'very, very heavily' and the traffic started to move slowly until it came to a standstill near Blissland. 'We believe the stoppage is somewhere near Kennards Cross. There is a lorry across the road. Now that everybody has stopped it is going to be difficult for lorries to get going again,' he said. 'At the moment we've no idea what's going on really... the chap in the car in front of us was just throwing snowballs to his dog!' A couple stuck in their car on the dual carriageway after a sudden dump of snow fear they face a cold night in their vehicle. Jak Roome was travelling to Wadebridge, Cornwall, to celebrate his 29th birthday with his partner, Jack Slymm, 27, when the roads ahead ground to a halt. Mr Slymm said that 3ft of snow fell quickly and the road beneath froze, making it impossible to tackle the hill in front. He said that many cars had attempted to brave the conditions but kept sliding back, and official advice online urged drivers on the road to stay in their cars. Cars and lorries had come to a complete standstill along the A30 yesterday evening Highways England teams were mobilised while others reported being stuck at Bodmin Moor Mr Slymm, a hair stylist from Bristol, said: 'We're currently about five miles north of Camelford and about 10 miles south of Bude on A39. 'We haven't moved for over three hours, the snow just came down really hard and really quick and the ground froze underneath it. 'The snow at the side of the road is about 3ft deep and anyone trying to get anywhere is just sliding. One gritter just came past and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference' Mr Slymm said that he had recently taken his car to the garage, and luckily was completing the drive in a brand new grey Mini Cooper. He continued: 'We're going to be here all night I think, luckily we've got 3/4 tank but the people next to us only have half a tank left. 'Everyone is helping each other and asking if each other are ok, if someone runs out of fuel we'll take them in.' To make matters worse, Mr Roome and Mr Slymm have recently bought a puppy and are travelling with the young animal - and have to keep braving the conditions to get it water. 'We've got a 13-week old puppy with us and we're worried about her', Mr Roome said. 'We didn't have any water in the car so we had to melt some snow. People were seen getting out of their cars and throwing snowballs on the A30 Snow was falling thick and fast in Plymouth last night while drivers remain stuck on the roads Cars stuck on the A30 as vehicles were stranded. All but essential travel should be avoided, police said Drivers were saved by a plough and a gritter being sent in by Highways England yesterday 'Luckily we had some food with us, but we can't leave her outside for too long as it's too cold. 'No one has told us anything, but the traffic report says to stay with your car and wait for the weather to clear. 'We're trying to get to Wadebridge, we've rented a house for all of us. It's my 29th birthday today, I'll look back and laugh at it one day.' Elsewhere, Londoners have have been warned to be home by 9pm this evening as snow is set to hit the capital, after blizzards blasted the South West today causing travel chaos on roads and rail. Workers and schoolchildren were told to leave early today as Britain endured up to three inches of snow in only 120 minutes, following the country's coldest night in seven years. And the Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow that carries a potential risk to life while Transport for London and Network Rail are telling passengers to get home by 9pm. County officials in Devon had urged people to get home by 3pm, shortly after the start of an amber warning for snow in parts of Wales and South West England, bringing up to 2.8in (7cm) of snow in just two to three hours. Meanwhile, about 400 students were stranded at Callywith College in Bodmin. Principal Mark Wardle said buses to transport students had not been able to get to the sixth-form college, and catering staff were providing sausages, chips and beans to those waiting for assistance. Newborn baby girl found abandoned in a Tesco bag in freezing London park is named Roman after road where she was discovered - as police urgently try to find her missing mother A newborn baby girl was found abandoned in an east London park last night as temperatures plunged to freezing and blizzards hit the capital. Police this morning released a picture of the infant in a bid to trace her mother, who officers said they were 'increasingly concerned' for. Nurses are calling the youngster 'Roman', because she was found on Roman Road in Newham. She was reportedly found in a Tesco bag, wrapped in a towel, shortly after 10pm and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. Police this morning released this picture of the baby in a bid to trace her missing mother The force said it was called to reports of an abandoned baby at a park area close to Roman Road and Saxon Road at around 10.15pm The Met said officers are growing 'increasingly concerned' for the mother's welfare and appealed for her to contact police, her local hospital or GP surgery. Pictured: the location where the newborn was found The Met said officers are growing 'increasingly concerned' for the mother's welfare and appealed for her to contact police, her local hospital or GP surgery. In a direct appeal to the child's mother, Inspector Shane Clarke of North East Command Unit, said: 'We are growing increasingly concerned for your welfare and I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery. It is really important that we know that you are safe. 'I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward.' Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the mother is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference CAD7825/31JAN or Tweet @MetCC. Heavy snowfall hit much of southern England and and Wales on Thursday night, leaving people trapped in cars as temperatures plummeted to just 1C (34F) in east London at the time the baby way found. The snowfall already exceeds the maximum 10cm of snowfall that was predicted when the Mt Office issued a severe weather warning for Thursday. The snow, which has been travelling eastwards, has reached as far as Wiltshire, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent, with a few flakes in central London on Thursday and into the early hours of Friday morning. The Met Office tweeted: 'Snow, initially moving north and east across parts of southern and southwestern England, the Midlands and Wales, will stall and tend to fragment. 'Wintry showers will continue in northern and eastern areas. Ice is likely in many parts overnight.' There are 'treacherous driving conditions in places', the forecaster added. Commuters in many parts of the country were warned to leave work early on Thursday to ensure they got home. Chocolate box Britain: From white-coated Blenheim Palace to snowy Cotswolds rooftops... how the big freeze has transformed UK into a winter wonderland The Arctic conditions may have caused chaos for some Britons, but others have been left stunned by just how beautiful the country looks blanketed in snow. Beautiful photos taken across Britain show how the countryside has been transformed into a winter wonderland by one night's snowfall. The market town of Dursley in south Gloucestershire looks like something out of fairy tale in stunning drone footage filmed above the Cotswolds. Meanwhile Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, looks resplendent in aerial photos taken in in Oxfordshire. Beautiful drone images show how the Cotswold town of Dursley has been transformed into a winter wonderland by the snow Winston Churchill's birthplace of Blenheim Palace also looks majestic this morning following a dusting of snow overnigh Snow settles on Gold Hill, in Shaftesbury, Dorset, - famous for its use in the Hovis 'baker's boy' advert in 1973 The River Forth in Stirling today after overnight snow turned the beautiful area of Britain into a winter wonderland The world-famous site of Stonehenge, Wiltshire was among the renowned places in Britain which were coated in snow today Clifton Suspension Bridge over the Avon Gorge in Bristol looks gorgeous as it is wrapped in a winter landscape this afternoon A road sign offers drivers several routes into the snow on the B3224 road between Raleighs Cross and Treborough on Exmoor These fallow deer struggled to find grass to graze upon in a snow-covered film near Whitworth Hall in County Durham Snow is not so rare in the hills of Scotland, but this abandoned croft in Cairngorms looked no less picturesque this morning Duntisbourne Leer in Gloucestershire showed why the Cotswolds is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty This farmer had his work cut out as he attempted to clear a route along the B3081 near to Shaftesbury in Dorset A snow covered boat at Pewsey on the Kennet & Avon canal this morning shows how hard the West Country has been hit Slow moving traffic on the roads in Hanham, South Gloucestershire this morning with more set to come today The snowy scene from Dunders Hill above Polzeath Beach looking towards New Polzeath in Cornwall Frozen pupsicles! MailOnline readers share their wonderful photos of Blizzard Britain (and there's a LOT of dogs enjoying the snow) Dogs have been making the most of the snowy conditions across Britain this week as they go exploring in the wintry weather. And these great photographs sent in MailOnline readers show just how much fun their pets are having in the snow despite temperatures falling as low as -15C (5F). Children were also pictured looking out of the window at the conditions, while cats nervously treaded over the white stuff in some back gardens. Snowfall and icy conditions are expected to cause widespread travel disruption in the UK this morning amid a pivoting system of wintry weather over the country. Much of southern England and Wales woke up to more of the white stuff after the UK's coldest night since 2012. Up to 5.5in (14cm) of snow fell in the South West. Bubbles the dog looks at the snow amid the chilly weather in East Finchley, North London Katie Bruce took this photograph of her dog out in the snow in Fair Oak, Hampshire Annie Bird's dog Ben the Cocker Spaniel sits in the deep snow in Lancashire Helene Birch's dog Lulu the cockapoo has fun in the snow in Bristol Sarah Pearson sent in this photo of frozen Arnie, a two-year-old border terrier from Durham Maria Williams sent in this picture of Nugget and Tinker in the snow in Bucknell, Oxfordshire Another picture from Maria Williams of Tinker playing in the snow in Bucknell, Oxfordshire Robert Armstrong took this picture of a dog at Chesham Bois in Amersham, Buckinghamshire MailOnline reader Veronica took this cute picture of a snow dog at Shaw in Berkshire MailOnline reader Rebecca Golsing sent in this picture of her dog on Snowdon in North Wales MailOnline reader Paula Caulder's dog Teddy is pictured catching snowballs in Bedford Elizabeth Hampshire sent in this picture captioned 'snowy paws' in Bramhall, Stockport Charlie the cavachion loving the snow, in this photo sent in by reader Wendy Oldrey MailOnline reader Faun Olivia's dog Zorro stands in the snow in the West Midlands Sasha Adams's dog Rhubarb, a miniature dachshund, enjoys the snow at Chatham in Kent Michelle Ayling took this photo of her dog Lucy at Bignor in West Sussex Camilla Fuller's blue Staffordshire bull terrier Pebble, pictured in the snow in Ascot, Berkshire Yvie Hampshire sent in this great photo of her husky smiling in the snow in Manchester Alison Ashton took a picture of Arnie the dog on a frozen football pitch covered in snow Barney Bear the chow chow refusing to come in for Justine Gyer in Southgate, North London Spencer Nash photographed Loki the dog having a great time in Tunbridge Wells, Kent Suzanne Roper's dog Daisy is loving the snow in Bristol, with a head covered in the white stuff Beverley Ellis's dog Ollie is enjoying the snow in Andover, Hampshire Cesar enjoying the snow near London Heathrow Airport, in a photo by reader T Reilly Maria Williams photographed Cicely playing with Nugget in the snow in Bucknell, Oxfordshire Anne Almond sent in this picture of Milly the dog from Amersham in Buckinghamshire MailOnline reader Karen Wilder sent in this picture of her dog at Camelford in Cornwall William Rodger's dog Jura, a seven-month old Fox Red Labrador, in Hessilhead, North Ayrshire Lauren Shave sent in this picture of Logan the dog in the Gortin Glens, County Tyrone Dan Gray's dog Chester enjoys the snow at Hollingbury golf course in Brighton, East Sussex Holly Chilton sent in a picture of Roxy and Ebbie catching snowballs in Hertfordshire Mike Peacock's dog Sir Walter Kipling, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier at Teggs Nose in Cheshire Eleanor Scanlon sent in this picture of her cute dog in the snow in Hertfordshire Naomi Rawlings photographed Mija, a miniature dachshund at Brandon Park in Bristol Willow and Tookay play in the snow near Helston in Cornwall, as pictured by Andrew Borman Lauren Houck's dogs Brody (left) and Alfie (right) enjoy the snow in Awbridge, Hampshire Sophie Taylor said her Siberian cat is 'living his best life' in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Clive Lawrence sent in a picture of Molly the cat - who doesn't like snow - in Wallington, Surrey Kathryn Griffiths's children look at the snow in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire Tina Entwistle's son Matty goes tobogganing in the snow in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire Jenny Taylor took a photo of children walking to school in the snow in Worthing, West Sussex Five-year-old Sam Boudier made this impressive snowman in Reading, Berkshire Betty, four, shows baby brother Thomas, seven months, his first snow in Guildford, Surrey Thomas and Florence Williams wrap up warm as they play in the snow in Surrey Icicles by the River South Tyne in Alston, Cumbria, in a picture from Clive Worboys Snow at Belsize Village in Hampstead, North West London, as pictured by Julia Kobrin MailOnline reader Charlotte Hopkins sent in this picture of snow on cars and roads in Bristol Snow in Hannington, Hampshire, as pictured by MailOnline reader Jacqueline Oates Vinay Vaghjiani photographed snow on the rooftops of Wembley in North West London Snow in Gateshead looking over to Newcastle, as pictured by MailOnline reader Andy Dawson MailOnline reader Emma White photographed snow at Burchetts Green in Buckinghamshire Amrita Sekhon's back garden in Sonning-on-Thames in Berkshire is a wintry scene today MailOnline reader Clive photographed snow at Pewsey on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire Lorraine O'Brien pictured snow in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, at 6.30am this morning Sarah Horohan photographed the snow at Compton in Newbury, Berkshire Pippa Whitehouse photographed Polzeath Beach looking towards New Polzeath in Cornwall MailOnline reader Will Fenton took this photograph of snow on the ground Bristol This picture of a garden covered in snow was taken at 4am today in Greenford, West London Snow on the trees in Reading, Berkshire, creates a wintry scene - pictured by Kate Tompkins Snow falls in MailOnline reader Louise Hesse's garden in Buckinghamshire overnight MailOnline reader Christian Farrow pictured snow in his garden in the Roath area of Cardiff Snow falls in Chessington, Surrey, at 2.30am this morning - as pictured by Marilyn Erasmus Laura Jane Colley Ward took this picture of snow at 3am in Bracknell, Berkshire Belinda Bodley took this picture of snow in the Somerset village of Curry Rivel Snow in Aldershot, Hampshire, just before 6am this morning - pictured by Donata Szczepaniak MailOnline reader Cheryl Painter photographed snow at Bradley Stoke in Bristol this morning Reader Alex Dellar was stuck on the A30 westbound at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall overnight * Taken any photos of snow in Britain today? Please email them to pictures@mailonline.co.uk with their location * * Have you been caught up in the travel chaos? Please email mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk and images to pictures@mailonline.co.uk with their location * 'What mountain do these teachers live up?': Furious parents slam 'pathetic' decision to cancel classes as 2,000 UK schools shut due to snow Angry parents across the country have reacted furiously to many schools' decision to remain closed for the day following overnight snowfall. While thousands of children were thrilled to have a snow day off, the 2.000 closures nationwide were not greeted with joy by some parents forced to make last minute arrangements. Hundreds of schools across the UK closed after snow fell overnight on Thursday, some were shut despite the white stuff barely touching them. One angry Twitter user, Codders, posted: 'Pathetic the kids school is closed today why? No snow if we take kids out we get fined are the schools gonna get fined and pay us parents? I doubt it proves fines are just money making scam for the schools' Wales, Bristol, Greater London, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire, and West Sussex were just some of the areas to announce closures. However, one Twitter user, Codders, posted: 'Pathetic the kids school is closed today why? No snow if we take kids out we get fined are the schools gonna get fined and pay us parents? I doubt it proves fines are just money making scam for the schools.' With his profile location set to Llanelli, West Wales, the message was accompanied by a photograph showing the lightest dusting of snow. Donna Marie, also in Wales, posted: '@GMB our school closed yesterday at 12.30 due to the forecast, at that time no snow had fallen and didn't fall until 4.30pm!! So they could have stayed itsajoke healthandsafetygonemad'. Snow angels: Photographs taken in Harlow show children playing in the grounds of their open school in Harlow, Essex. These pair are pictured making snow angels on the snow covered grass Another user, Emily, tweeted that her school was closed despite there being no snow. Tracy Cameron responded to a tweet from Monmouthshire County Council saying all community hubs and libraries were still open with: 'Why no schools open then? The knock on effect for parents is terrible. What mountain do all these teachers live up?' In most cases, parents, carers and pupils were able to check on the status of their school through social media, or the local council website. The happy group make snow angels and frolic with one another at Latton Green Primary Academy. The school remained open, unlike 2,000 others across the country who stayed shut The Department for Education website also allowed people to enter their postcodes to find out what institutions in their area had shut due to the bad weather. Photographs taken in Harlow show children playing in the grounds of their open school in Harlow, Essex. The happy group make snow angels and frolic with one another at Latton Green Primary Academy. Meanwhile parents in Gloucestershire have been left in the dark after a council website revealing which schools were closed crashed. Frustrated parents were met with the downed Gloucestershire City Council website this morning as they tried to find out if they needed to battle the cold weather to get their kids to school. The freezing temperatures has seen multiple weather warnings issued by the Met Office for today and over the weekend, including cautions for snow and ice. Thousands of schools have since closed, meaning an estimated 800,000 children will stay home today. But the day wasn't made any easier when the Gloucestershire City Council website crashed. Just one of the angry parents took to social media to vent their frustrations, writing: 'The school closure link is not working - been trying all morning! Please sort it out GCC, the old system always worked!' An ex-police officer who spent more than a decade using the police database to search the details of women he met online has been jailed. Adrian Trevor Moore, 48, was slapped with a six-month prison sentence on Friday after he used restricted computer programs to look up the details of 92 women he had met online. The former Western Australia Police senior constable also pleaded guilty to possessing obscene material, namely photos and videos of bestiality. An ex-police officer who spent more than a decade using the police database to search the details of women he met online, has been jailed (file image) Among the dozens of women affected were those Moore had met on Tinder and Plenty of Fish in encounters stretching from 2006 to 2018. The scheme was uncovered when a victim approached police with concerns that she may have been vetted. A fake Tinder profile was then created by the force's internal affairs officers which were then searched for by Moore last March. A third of the victims' details were checked by Moore multiple times over the intervening years in a total of 180 searches. One woman's information was accessed 13 times over six years. Among the dozens of women affected were those Moore had met on Tinder and Plenty of Fish in encounters stretching from 2006 to 2018 (file image) When police searched Moore's home following his arrest they found bestiality porn involving women, dogs and horses Moore was sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, when his lawyer Mark Andrews said his client was carrying emotional scars from previous relationships. The lawyer also claimed Moore's primary motivation for accessing the information was finding a suitable partner with no criminal associations. He was fined $2,000 for the obscene material and ordered to pay costs of $2,451. Advertisement The polar vortex has turned Niagara Falls into a spectacular winter wonderland as it bears down on the Northeast. Temperatures dropped to -4F in Ontario, Canada, on Thursday as tourists observed large chunks of ice flowing over the tremendous volume of water. Ice and snow could also be seen on plants surrounding the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls. Breathtaking images show the ice formations created by the falling water and mist along the banks of the falls and river. Steam was seen rising up from the Falls because the water temperature is warmer than the freezing air. And though some photos show what looks like frozen solid Falls, the water actually never stops flowing. According to Niagara Falls USA, ice forms on the river every winter. But the extent of the Falls actually freezing over depends on extreme cold weather lingering for long periods of time like the polar vortex events of 2014 and 2015, which can result in 'frozen falls' photos. Earlier this month, photographers captured ghostly scenes of frozen portions around the Falls. Scroll down for video The polar vortex has turned Niagara Falls into a spectacular winter wonderland as it bears down on the Northeast Temperatures dropped to -4F in Ontario, Canada, on Thursday as tourists observed large chunks of ice flowing over the tremendous volume of water Ice and snow could also be seen on plants surrounding the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls Breathtaking images show the ice formations created by the falling water and mist along the banks of the falls and river The Table Rock Welcome Centre overlooks a snow and ice covered American Falls, viewed from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Ice and snow paints the trees next to the American Falls seen from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday Steam is seen rising up from the Falls because the water temperature is warmer than the freezing air And though some photos show what looks like frozen solid Falls, the water actually never stops flowing According to Niagara Falls USA, ice forms on the river every winter. But the extent of the Falls actually freezing over depends on extreme cold weather lingering for long periods of time like the polar vortex events of 2014 and 2015, which can result in 'frozen falls' photos Ice and water flows over the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday The polar vortex that paralyzed the Midwest has killed at least 21 people and left tens of millions of Americans shivering for a second day as temperatures plunged to record-breaking lows. The death toll rose from a previous 13 after at least eight more people in Chicago were reported to have died from cold-related injuries, according to Stathis Poulakidas, a doctor at the city's John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. Poulakidas, a trauma specialist, said the hospital had seen about 25 frostbite victims this week. He said the most severe cases risked having fingers and toes amputated. The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze lingered on Thursday and continued to break historic records with parts of Illinois and Iowa recording temperatures of -38F and -30F respectively. Frigid conditions canceled more than 2,300 flights and caused more than 1,500 delays on Thursday. Chicago's temperature dropped to a low of around -21F on Thursday, slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading of -27F in January 1985. Milwaukee's low was -25F. Minneapolis recorded -24F, and wind chills were as low as -38F, an improvement from a day earlier. Rockford, Illinois, saw a record low temperature of -31F on Thursday, while Cedar Rapids, Iowa, set a daily record low of -30F. The extreme cold also settled in over the Northeast on Thursday. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow gave way to subzero temperatures and dangerous wind chills. The arctic conditions caused problems from Buffalo to Brooklyn, where about 200 firefighters battling an early morning blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses. The phenomenon caused surreal scenes throughout the region, including Lake Michigan freezing over and blocks of ice covering the river in downtown Chicago. NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument (below) captured the polar vortex as it moved southward from central Canada into the Midwest from January 20 the 29th, with the purple showing the vortex at its coldest.. An aerial view of Chicago on Thursday shows just how much ice built up along the shore of Lake Michigan as temperatures dipped to below -20F during the past two days Snow and ice covers Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday as temperatures plummeted in the city from the polar vortex Lake Michigan froze over and the city of Chicago was blanketed in ice after days of recording-breaking low temperatures Boat docks in Chicago were completely covered by ice and snow on Thursday after temperatures plunged during the deep freeze A view of frozen Lake Michigan during the polar vortex is seen from an airplane in Chicago, Illinois People take pictures as steam rises from Lake Michigan in Chicago on Thursday At its worst, the cold snap caused temperatures to plunge to -42F on Wednesday across the Midwest. The bitter cold was caused by displacement of the polar vortex, a stream of air that normally spins around the stratosphere over the North Pole but whose current was disrupted. It pushed eastward and states including Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania were experiencing bitterly cold temperatures Thursday. The prospect of a weekend break offered little comfort to those enduring icy conditions, brutal winds and temperatures. By the weekend, Chicago, which experienced near-record cold on Wednesday and Thursday, was expected to bask in snow-melting highs in the mid-40s to low 50s Fahrenheit. So will other parts of the Midwest. The deep freeze has caused more than a dozen deaths since Saturday with some dying in weather-related traffic accidents and others from freezing to death. The body of 18-year-old pre-med student, Gerald Belz, was found in the freezing cold at the University of Iowa at 3am on Wednesday. The National Weather Service said the wind chill in Iowa at the time he was found was negative 51F degrees. Police found a man's body across the street from his home in the Detroit area on Wednesday. He was not wearing a hat or gloves and wasn't dressed for below-zero temperatures. A 70-year-old man was also found dead in Detroit in front of a neighbor's home on Wednesday. Snow, ice and salt covers buildings and streets throughout downtown Chicago as temperatures dipped over the last two days Ice builds up around Navy Pier in Chicago on Thursday after temperatures plunged to record lows for two consecutive days Steam rises from building in downtown Chicago as the city experience painfully cold temperatures for the second day Mist rises from the Chicago River on Wednesday as tens of millions continue to face freezing temperatures Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge during frigid temperatures on Thursday in Minneapolis, Minnesota St. Louis, Missouri, plunged into negative temperatures during the polar vortex An 82-year-old central Illinois man died in the cold weather several hours after he fell trying to get into his home. Authorities said a Milwaukee woman, 38, was found frozen in her unheated apartment, a 60-year-old woman was found in a house in Ohio and the body of a Michigan man, 60, was found outdoors in freezing conditions. A 55-year-old man also froze to death in his Milwaukee garage after he collapsed shoveling snow, a man was fatally struck by a snow plow in Chicago, a nine-year-old died in an Iowa pile up and a young couple were killed when their SUV struck another on a snowy road in northern Indiana. A homeless man was also found dead at a bus shelter in Buffalo, New York on Thursday. Disruptions caused by the cold snap continued to persist on Thursday with power outages and canceled flights and trains. The blast of polar air that enveloped much of the Midwest on Wednesday closed schools and businesses and strained infrastructure with some of the lowest temperatures in a generation. The deep freeze snapped rail lines, canceled hundreds of flights and strained utilities. Crews in Detroit will need days to repair water mains that burst on Wednesday and other pipes can still burst in persistent subzero temperatures. Schools in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa remained closed on Thursday. But students headed back to school in eastern North Dakota, where the weather was forecast to crawl out of double-digit sub-zero temperatures. Temperatures are expected to bounce back into the single digits on Thursday and into the comparative balmy 20s by Friday across parts of the Midwest. In the Northeast, people braced themselves for the cold with temperatures plunging to -5F in Boston, 3F in Buffalo, New York, 5F in New York City, 8F in Philadelphia and 3F in Portland, Maine, for the early morning commute. In comparison, temperatures plunged to as low as minus 42F in Park Rapids, Minnesota, minus 31F in Fargo, North Dakota, minus 27F in Minneapolis and minus 25F in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday. Chicago dropped to a low of around -23F. Wind chills in northern Illinois made it feel as cold as negative 57F. Temperatures in parts of the Midwest were lower Wednesday than in Antarctica, where the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station hit -25F. The phenomenon stemming from a blast of Arctic air caused surreal scenes throughout the region, such as steam rising off the waters of Lake Michigan (above) - the result of extremely cold air passing over warmer water below This drone footage captured by Soaring Badger Productions was shot along the Chicago lakefront Thursday morning when it was between -15F and -22F degrees outside The fountain in New York's Bryant Park was frozen over on Thursday as the polar vortex moved into the Northeast Ice floats along the Hudson River as the skyline of New York City is seen during freeze temperatures on Thursday Mike Calen (left) and Steve Goyette (right) prepare to tie off as an ice covered fishing boat arrives at New Bedford, Mass The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze was expected to ease Thursday, though temperatures still tumbled to record lows in some places Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge during frigid temperatures in Minneapolis, Minnesota The freezing conditions made it difficult for firefighters to battle various infernos, including one at a New Jersey toilet paper plant late Wednesday. 'It's freezing,' Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said. 'Firefighters are dealing with water on their faces and on their hands. It's spraying all over you. Regardless of your equipment, it impacts you and slows you down.' Amtrak also axed all trains into and out of Chicago on Wednesday and most services to or from Chicago on Thursday. Crews had to set rail tracks on fire to keeps trains moving smoothly on Tuesday. Well over 2,500 flights were canceled on Wednesday, largely out of Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway international airports, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The US Postal Service also took the rare step of suspending mail delivery to parts of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, the Dakotas and Nebraska on Wednesday because of the dangerous Arctic blast. The bitter cold was the result of a split in the polar vortex , a mass of cold air that normally stays bottled up in the Arctic. The split allowed the air to spill much farther south than usual. In fact, Chicago was colder than the Canadian village of Alert, one of the world's most northerly inhabited places. Alert, which is 500 miles from the North Pole, reported a temperature that was a couple of degrees higher. Governors in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan all declared emergencies as officials in dozens of cities focused on protecting vulnerable people from the cold, including the homeless, seniors and those living in substandard housing. The polar vortex in the Midwest has brought record-breaking low temperatures across the Midwest, halted postal services in five states and canceled more than 2,600 flights. Lake Michigan (above) became a huge mass of ice. The freezing conditions made it difficult for firefighters to battle various infernos, including one at a paving company's warehouse in Big Beaver Township, Pennsylvania (pictured above) Ice forms on tree branches as New York firefighters battle a blaze in Brooklyn on Thursday morning The sunrises over downtown Pittsburgh and a partially frozen Allegheny River on Thursday. The temperature in Pittsburgh dropped to minus 4 late Wednesday, breaking an 85-year-old record low for January 30 of minus 1 degree A woman walks in the snow during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday Frozen pants stand alone in Saint Anthony Village, Minnesota on Wednesday The Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis were completely frozen over on Thursday following the cold spell Pedestrians who braved the cold weather completely covered their faces across the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday A homeless man accepts cash from a stranger on a bitter cold morning in Portland, Maine on Thursday Hundreds of warming centers were opened for vulnerable residents such as seniors, buses were employed as mobile warming spaces, and shelter capacities were increased for the homeless, including the approximately 16,000 living on the streets of Chicago. An anonymous good Samaritan paid for hotel rooms for 70 homeless people living in tents in Chicago until the cold subsides. In Michigan, state and utility officials warned residents that they risked brief interruptions of natural gas service if they didn't help reduce energy. The warning followed a fire at a utility's suburban Detroit facility that affected natural gas supplies. An emergency alert was sent late Wednesday to cellphones asking people to lower thermostats to 65F or below through Friday. Michigan Govenor Gretchen Whitmer asked everyone to 'to do your part'. Aside from the safety risks and the physical discomfort, the system's icy grip also took a heavy toll on infrastructure, halting transportation, knocking out electricity and interrupting water service. Ten diesel-train lines in the Metra commuter network kept running, unlike the electric lines, but crews had to heat vital switches with gas flames and watched for rails that were cracked or broken. When steel rails break or even crack, trains are automatically halted until they are diverted or the section of rail is repaired. A track in the Minneapolis light-rail system also cracked, forcing trains to share the remaining track for a few hours. In Detroit, more than two dozen water mains froze. Customers were connected to other mains to keep water service from being interrupted, according to a Detroit Water and Sewerage spokesman. Most mains were installed from the early 1900s to the 1950s. They are 5 to 6 feet underground and beneath the frost line, but that matters little when temperatures drop so dramatically. On a typical winter day, the city has five to nine breaks, with each taking about three days to fix. But those repairs will take longer now with the large number of failures to fix. The Honda Civic then smashed into a Honda Jazz driven by a male police officer footage shows a Honda Civic crossing onto the wrong side of the road The horrific moment a Honda Civic driver drifted across a highway and collided head-on with an off-duty police officer, leaving both fighting for life was caught on daschcam. Emergency services were called to Lucas Heights, in Sydney's south, about 2pm on Thursday following reports that four cars were involved in a serious crash. Dash cam footage shows a Honda Civic travelling south cross a lane of traffic before moving onto the wrong side of the road in front of oncoming traffic. The horror moment a black Honda Civic (pictured) crosses the wrong side of the road before colliding into a Honda Jazz in Sydney's south The vehicle initially nudged an oncoming Toyota Yaris before smashing head-on into a Honda Jazz, the footage obtained by 9 News shows. The Jazz was driven by a 29-year-old male probationary police officer from the Liverpool City Area Command. Both the officer and the 65-year-old female driver of the Civic were cut free from their vehicles. They remain in a critical condition at Liverpool Hospital. After he was pulled from the wreckage, the policeman was then placed into an induced coma. Following the initial point of impact, a Mitsubishi Triton driven by a 19-year-old woman crashed into the woman's Civic. The teenager, her 18-year-old male passenger and the 63-year-old driver of the Yaris managed to escape serious injury. 'Obviously, police turning up to a police officer injured is extremely upsetting for first responders and it was a devastating accident,' acting inspector Melissa Thompson told reporters. The collision forced the closure of Heathcote Rd for up to six hours on Thursday afternoon with major crash investigators examining the distressing scene. A father-of-three has captured the moment his house narrowly escaped a destructive fire. Neil Randle was forced to evacuate the home he built when smoke quickly approached his property in Glen Huon, Tasmania's south-east coast, on Monday. Mr Randle began to prepare for the worst as the raging fire closed in on the property. 'We had everything prepped and ready and as it got closer obviously the smoke got thicker,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Neil Randle (picturd) was forced to evacuate the home he built when smoke quickly approached his property in Glen Huon, Tasmania's south-east coast, on Monday 'As soon as you were outside, (your eyes) were really stinging, you can't really see much.' The father-of-three drove about 10 minutes down the road where he pulled over and was able to access phone reception to watch the terrifying blaze close in. 'I logged into my security camera and pressed record and just basically sat there and watched it,' he said. Mr Randle said the ordeal was 'not nice' as he was forced to question whether his hard work would be reduced to ruins as the six-metre flames approached. 'We built the houses up there, we didn't get other builders to do it. So it's your own houses built by your own hands and just watching fire get closer and closer,' he said. 'We sat there and watched it. From that you think everything's gone, you don't think anything's going to survive.' The father-of-three drove about 10 minutes down the road where he pulled over and was able to access phone reception to watch the terrifying blaze close in (pictured) Pictured: smoke billows from a wildfire in southern Tasmania on Tuesday To make his worries even worse the security camera cut out due to the heat. Mr Randle said he was able to reach his property for a couple of hours on Tuesday night and learnt the two houses were still standing. There was damage through the property but to the family's surprise the houses escaped unharmed. 'The fire got within a foot of all the houses. It was surprising it didn't go, it was just a miracle,' he said. Mr Randle praised his father and brother who were last to leave the home - about 10 minutes after he initially drove away. There was damage through the property but to the families surprise the houses escaped unharmed Pictured: A fire-fighting helicopter passes in Southern Tasmania on Tuesday 'Both houses saved thanks to the heroic efforts of my brother and father, who waited to the very last minute to leave but not before hosing all buildings down,' he wrote on Facebook. Mr Randle stressed that the beginning of the footage did not show how dire the situation was to begin with. 'We left because we couldn't see or breathe and we had masks,' he said. 'We left five to 10 minutes before that video and it was bad enough then and yet it gets much worse in the video.' The conditions have since moderated but Tasmania Fire Service is urging residents to remain vigilant. UPDATED By Alyson Klein and Andrew Ujifusa Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has backtracked from a move to replace her departments inspector general following an outcry from House and Senate Democratic education leaders. DeVos recently replaced Sandra Bruce, who took over as acting inspector general after Kathleen Tighe retired last year, with Phil Rosenfelt, who had previously served as the departments general counsel. On Friday, however, a spokeswoman for DeVos said that the move had been reversed and that Bruce was back on the job as the departments top watchdog. After the designation of the Acting IG was made, the matter came to the attention of new personnel in the White House. After they reevaluated the situation, the decision was made, in an abundance of caution, to rescind the designation, Liz Hill said in a statement. The move came shortly after a Friday letterto DeVos sent by Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., the chairman of the House education committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who oversees a panel that governs K-12 spending, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the Senate education committee. They demanded an explanation from DeVos as to why she had replaced Bruce with Rosenfelt. Rosenfelt also briefly served as acting secretary of education between the time that President Barack Obamas secretary, John B. King Jr. stepped down and DeVos was sworn in.) Selecting a senior department official to serve as that same departments independent watchdog is highly unusual, the Democrats stated. Congress and the public rely on the independence and objectivity of inspectors general to effectively conduct audits and investigations of their agencies with integrity, they wrote. The conflicts or appearances of conflict are a result of Mr. Rosenfelts prior work in the Departments Office of General Counsel, which has a role implementing virtually all programs that the OIG is charged with investigating. Given Mr. Rosenfelts work with the very programs he would be investigating, it would be virtually impossible to resolve these many conflicts, and the work of the OIG, including its audits, would grind to a halt. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Debra Tate, the sister of Manson victim Sharon Tate, is pleading on behalf of other victims of the 1969 cult slayings to make sure Manson follower Leslie Van Houten remains in a California prison. After commissioners on the Board of Parole Hearings on Wednesday found for the third time that the 69-year-old Van Houten was suitable for release, Debra Tate, 66, spoke on behalf of the LaBianca family, attending the hearing with nephews of the murder victims, according to FOX News. 'None of those children have been able to come to terms with this and be able to face their father's killers even to this day,' said Tate regarding the LaBiancas four children who did not attend. Van Houten, the youngest among the followers in Manson's murderous cult, was with the group who stabbed to death wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. Debra Tate (shown), sister to actress Manson victim Sharon Tate, is pleading with California Gov. Gavin Newsom not to free Leslie Van Houten on behalf of the LaBianca family Sharon Tate (right) was pregnant when she was murdered by the Manson cult in 1969. Her sister Debra continues to argue against Leslie Van Houten, 69, who was 19 years old at the time of murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, being paroled 'Leslie Van Houten has admitted to stabbing Rosemary LaBianca over 17 times,' said Debra Tate, stunned at the parole board's decision, and went on to point out that Van Houten has long maintained only stabbing her victim after she was already dead. It was reported at the time of the murders that Charles 'Tex' Watson' stabbed Leno LaBianca, while another woman and Van Houten restrained Rosemary. Watson handed a bayonet over to Van Houten after he had already stabbed Rosemary. Van Houten previously testified to stabbing her at least 14 more times in the back. She was 19 during the killings, which came a day after other Manson followers killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate, Debra's sister, and four others in Los Angeles. 'The public seems to think that this woman made these stabbings postmortem,' Tate said, incredulous at Van Houten's changing story. Leno LaBianca (left) and Rosemary LaBianca (right) were murdered by Leslie Van Houten and other Manson followers in 1969. Van Houten admitted to stabbing Rosemary multiple times Leslie Van Houten in a Los Angeles lockup in 1971. The youngest follower of murderous cult leader Charles Manson will ask a state panel to recommend her for parole In his decision last year, former California Gov. Brown acknowledged Van Houten's youth at the time of the crime, her more than four decades of good behavior as a prisoner and her abuse at the hands of Manson. But he said she still laid too much blame on Manson for the murders. 'She chose to go with Manson,' said lawyer Rich Pfeiffer, defending the parole commissioners taking into account Van Houten's remorse. 'She chose to listen to him. And she acknowledges that.' Debra Tate, however, responded that Van Houten's newly admitted eagerness to be part of Charles Manson's murderous plans for a race war hardly qualifies her to go free. 'You never recover from this,' said Tate, even after acknowledging Van Houten's good behavior in prison. 'You may find a new level of function, but things will never be as they were before the hugely traumatic incident.' Cult leader Charles Manson died in 2017 of natural causes at a California hospital while serving a life sentence Tate continued to plead with Gov. Gavin Newsom of California to keep not only Van Houten behind bars, but 'all of these types of people.' No one who took part in the Tate-LaBianca murders has been released from prison. Manson died in 2017 of natural causes at a California hospital while serving a life sentence. Earlier this month, a California parole panel recommended for the first time that Manson follower Robert Beausoleil, 71, be freed. Beausoleil was convicted of killing musician Gary Hinman, who was tortured for three days before his death. Much of the Midwest is preparing for a rapid thaw that could lead to major flooding problems after the bitter cold that sent temperatures plummeting below minus-50 in some places. Just days after the arctic conditions, forecasts say, the region will seemingly swing into another season, with temperatures climbing by as much as 80 degrees. Experts say the rapid thaw is unprecedented, and it could create problems of its own - bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads. Two dozen busted water mains were being patched Wednesday in Detroit, and that number grew to 44 on Thursday. But with temperatures pushing 50 degrees expected soon, there could be far more. A Detroit Water and Sewerage worker, uses an aqua phone to locate a water main break in Detroit, Wednesday 'I don't think there's ever been a case where we've seen (such a big) shift in temperatures' in the winter, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the Weather Underground firm. 'Past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly. ... Here we are going right into spring-like temperatures.' Inside homes and businesses, there was a threat the changing conditions could cause pipes to break or roofs to leak. Often a sudden thaw forces water rapidly through the pipe, or to a faucet closed by expanding ice. After temperatures below zero, temperatures from central Minnesota to northern Illinois will soar upward to the 30s and 40s this weekend For Chicago, Minneapolis and other parts of the Midwest that endured the harshest cold of the Arctic outbreak, the upswing in temperatures could be as high as 70 degrees 'I have gotten more calls on frozen pipes today than in the previous three years I've been here combined,' said Cathy Lombard of Barnes Plumbing in Minneapolis. Leaking also is a frequent byproduct of massive temperature swings. Above ground, Midwest freeze-thaw cycles also mean potholes on streets, roads, freeways and bridges. They form when melting snow or rain gets into tiny cracks in the pavement and the base beneath it. The water freezes when temperatures drop and expands before melting. Repeated cycles weaken pavement which eventually crumbles under the weight of passing vehicles. Officials are monitoring Niagara Falls (seen from Ontario, Canada) carefully because of high water and the potential for ice jams that could flood Cayuga Island 'Maintenance supervisors across the state are taking inventory now of the most likely places for pavement breakups as the rain and thaw approaches,' said Jeff Cranson, Michigan Transportation Department spokesman. 'They are planning for filling and patching.' On Wednesday, AAA Michigan was getting swamped with dead battery and flat tire calls. By Thursday, it was damage to vehicles due to motorists slamming into potholes that weren't there the day before. Bitter cold creates icy conditions on the Saint Joseph River, near Howard Park, on Thursday, in South Bend, Indiana Although many places remained painfully cold Thursday, the deep freeze eased somewhat, and the system marched east. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow gave way to subzero temperatures and face-stinging wind chills. On Friday, the wind chill in some areas was expected to be as low as minus 20 degrees. A ban on trucks and commercial buses on the western section of the Thruway was lifted Thursday night. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had vowed to crack down on violators a day after a semitrailer crash near Rochester caused a pileup that injured a state trooper. In New York City, about 200 firefighters battling a blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses. A pedestrian and dog make their way through blowing and drifting snow along Lake Boulevard in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Thursday Schools remained closed in Buffalo, New York, but students headed back to school in other parts of the Midwest. Educators in Fargo, North Dakota, were busy Thursday after two days of canceled classes. For Superintendent Rupak Gandhi, who came to Fargo last summer from Colorado, this week has been 'a personal new.' 'I've had experience with cold and snow days, but negative 50? Absolutely not,' he said. The dangerously cold and snowy weather is suspected in at least 18 deaths, including a man found frozen in his backyard Thursday in suburban Milwaukee and a man who died Friday after rear-ending a salt truck in Indiana. Icicles hang from the Harrington Inn in Geneva, Illinois, as commuters pass by on Thursday But relief from the bitter Midwestern cold is as close as the weekend. Rockford, Illinois, was at a record-breaking minus 31 degrees on Thursday morning but should be around 50 degrees on Monday. Other previously frozen areas could see temperatures of 55 degrees or higher. The dramatic warm-up will offer a respite from the bone-chilling cold that canceled school, closed businesses and halted trains. But potholes will appear on roads and bridges weakened by the freeze-thaw cycle. The same cycle can crack water mains and homeowners' pipes. Ice and water flows over the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Thursday Scores of vehicles will be left with flat tires and bent rims. Joe Buck, who manages Schmit Towing in Minneapolis, said he's already taking calls for Monday to deal with a backlog of hundreds of stalled vehicles. Elsewhere, a bridge in the western Michigan community of Newaygo, 40 miles north of Grand Rapids was closed as the ice-jammed Muskegon River rose above flood stage. Officials in Buffalo, New York, watched for flooding on the Upper Niagara River because of ice. A hiker makes her way through blowing and drifting snow as she sprints back to her car at Tiscornia Park in St. Joseph, Michigan In other signs that the worst of the deep freeze was ending, Xcel Energy on Thursday lifted a request to its Minnesota natural gas customers to temporarily lower their thermostats to ease concerns about the fuel supply. Earlier in the day, several cities set record lows, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which set a daily record low of minus 30 degrees. Chicago's temperature dropped to a low of around minus 21 degrees on Thursday, slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading of minus 27 degrees in January 1985. Milwaukee's low was minus 25 degrees, and Minneapolis recorded minus 24 degrees. Wind chills were lower still. Steam rises from the Fox River in St. Charles, Illinois on Thursday Masters, from Weather Underground, said the polar vortex was 'rotating up into Canada' and not expected to return in the next couple of weeks. If it does return in late February, 'it won't be as intense.' Still, memories of the dangerous cold were bound to linger. In Illinois, at least 144 people visited hospital emergency rooms for cold-related injuries over two days. Most of the injuries were hypothermia or frostbite, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health. The effect on the overall economy was not expected to be that great, in part because there were no widespread power outages such as there are in a hurricane. 'People may be in their homes, but they can do things such as online shopping,' said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. 'Life goes on.' Pedestrians pass a frozen water fountain at Bryant Park Thursday, in New York Frozen Minnehaha Falls is shown Thursday in Minneapolis Canada geese wade in the unfrozen waters of the Bee Branch in Dubuque, Iowa, Thursday Exhaust from traffic freezes in the cold morning air along Dodge Street in Dubuque, Iowa, Thursday J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (pictured) said he would refuse to serve patrons wearing MAGA hats A well-known chef and food writer has refused to serve diners wearing MAGA hats in his restaurant, describing them as a 'symbol of intolerance and hate.' J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is a partner at Wursthall Restaurant & Bierhaus in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, California. In a tweet on Sunday which has since been deleted he wrote: 'It hasnt happened yet, but if you come to my restaurant wearing a MAGA cap, you arent getting served, same as if you come in wearing a swastika, white hood, or any other symbol of intolerance and hate.' According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the tweet from Sunday had more than 2,000 likes by Wednesday afternoon. He has also written a New York Times bestseller called 'The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.' Other tweets replying to users remained on Lopez-Alt's profile on Thursday. 'If youre comfortable sitting next to a MAGA wearer Im probably not interested in serving you either,' the chef said. Lopez-Alt told Fox News that since putting up the tweet his business has received threatening emails, but he refused to change his mind. In a follow-up post to his original tweet, Lopez-Alt doubled-down on his feelings about the MAGA hats. 'MAGA hats are like white hoods except stupider because you can see exactly who is wearing them,' he said in a separate tweet to his 42,400 Twitter followers. In a tweet the popular chef compared the hats to 'a swastika, white hood' or other hate symbol J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is a chef at Wursthall Restaurant & Bierhaus in San Mateo, San Francisco Since Donald Trump's presidential campaign, red 'MAGA' caps have become a divisive symbol in the United States. People who wear them often say they do so to show patriotism and outward support for the president. Others say the hats promote the hate and racism that they believe Trump fosters. The hats sparked widespread debate earlier this month after an incident involving an indigenous marcher and a group of high school boys wearing MAGA caps in Washington D.C. The hats, which are sold for $25 on Trump's campaign website, sparked widespread debate earlier this month after an incident involving an indigenous marcher and a group of high school boys wearing MAGA caps in Washington D.C. After the incident, actress and acitviist Alyssa Milano tweeted 'The red MAGA hat is the new white hood' and later said she wouldn't apologize for the remark. Last year, the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, made national headlines when management asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave. Sanders said she was denied service because she worked for the Trump administration, The restaurants owner said Sanders was asked to leave because she supported the presidents controversial policies. Soldiers have been deployed, homes evacuated and dam gates opened as Queensland wrestles with a one-in-100 year monsoon. Townsville City Council announced it would open the dam doors of the town's Ross River in an attempt to drain out water from the overflowing dam. Forecasters said at the beginning of the day another 200mm of rain could be dumped over the region on each of the next few days. A disaster zone has since been declared in Townsville and businesses are being urged to allow their workers to stay at home where possible. Scroll down for videos Ross River had already reached 140 per cent capacity by Friday morning in what the mayor has called a one-in-100 year event Soldiers have been deployed, homes evacuated and dam gates opened as Queensland wrestles with a one-in-100 year monsoon (pictured, Ross River at Townsville) Townsville City Council announced it would open the dam doors of the town's Ross River in an attempt to drain out water from the overflowing dam Forecasters said at the beginning of the day another 200mm of rain could be dumped over the region on each of the next few days Ross River had already reached 140 per cent capacity by Friday morning in what the mayor has called a one-in-100 year event. 'We haven't taken this decision lightly, we're looking into what could happen over the next two to three days, we know that we're seeing really a record event, we know that the Ross River has hit a new milestone in terms of outflows out into the ocean with a one-in-a-100-year event,' Mayor Jenny Hill told ABC news. Townsville Police District acting chief superintendent Steve Munro and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have both said they are behind the decision. 'We're very comfortable with the decision they have taken and of course by opening up the gates it'll let a substantial amount of water out,' Ms Palaszczuk said at a conference this morning. 'Can I just urge all Townsville residents there just to make sure that they are following all those emergency alerts.' Residents in the Rosslea, Railway Estate, South Townsville, Idalia and Oonoonba areas have been warned their properties could be flooded as a result. They are urged to sandbag their homes and move items to higher ground. Council has already handed over 25,000 sandbags and sourced another 18,000. About 100 Townsville soldiers will be deployed to assist in sandbagging around the city. Heatley Secondary College has also been established as an evacuation centre. Residents fearing for their safety have been encouraged to head to the site immediately. All schools and childcare centres in the area have been closed. Townsville Police District acting chief superintendent Steve Munro and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have both said they are behind the decision Residents in the Rosslea, Railway Estate, South Townsville, Idalia and Oonoonba areas have been warned their properties could be flooded as a result Supermarkets have taken a hit amid the panic and stocks have slowly dwindled over the day. Though Woolworths has assured residents it has 14 semitrailers waiting south of the Ross River for when roads opened again. Though that may come as little relief for the residents who have already found themselves stranded in the flood waters. QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said close to 30 rescues had already been made over the days. 'We have conducted some 28 rescues already and where we'd like to get in and start looking at what damage has been caused and conduct those assessments, our resources have been pulled away to rescue people,' she said. 'That's ranging from rescuing people caught in flash flooding, minor flooding and major flooding, caught on roofs, you name it.' QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said close to 30 rescues had already been made over the days Meanwhile an emergency alert has been made for Bluewater, Black River, Beach Holm, Toolakea and Yabulu residents with more flash flooding expected to head their way Burdekin LDMG has sent out a helicopter to assist council officers to assess potable water supplies and top up chemicals at the Giru Water Treatment Plant. The chopper has also been used to deliver medicine to residents. Meanwhile an emergency alert has been made for Bluewater, Black River, Beach Holm, Toolakea and Yabulu residents with more flash flooding expected to head their way. BOM said Bluewater copped another deluge on Friday morning, after residents were just starting to mop up after Wednesday's flood. More than 200mm of rain fell fell in the space of three hours and the banks of the town's nearby creek buckled under the total 365mm of rain. BOM said Bluewater copped another deluge on Friday morning, after residents were just starting to mop up after Wednesday's flood More than 200mm of rain fell fell in the space of three hours and the banks of the town's nearby creek buckled under the total 365mm of rain Authorities have been doing the rounds in the small town to help any residents left stranded in their homes. Now BOM has released major flood warnings on catchments in the town and surrounding area. A landslip at Stanley Street in Townsville City on Thursday led to extensive damage to the foundations and retaining walls of an apartment complex. Emergency services evacuated the complex and its 13 residents and two nearby houses amid growing fears the building could crater. 1,200 homes at Townsville South were left without power yesterday as gale force winds brought down a tree onto powerlines. Haughton River has reached record flood levels and Majors Creek in the Catchment peaked at 12.75m at 8.40pm on Thursday. River levels at Giru remained around the March 2018 flood level of 3.2m on Friday morning Police spent Thursday night searching around Giru for a 32-year-old man last seen on foot near Black Gully about 5pm on Thursday That smashed the previous record of 11.72m set back in March 1990. River levels at Giru remained around the March 2018 flood level of 3.2m on Friday morning. Police spent Thursday night searching around the town for a 32-year-old man last seen on foot near Black Gully about 5pm on Thursday. They feared he tried to enter floodwaters in an attempt to get home. The search continued until just before midnight but the atrocious weather forced a halt, with officers left to monitor the creek line during the night. Much to their relief police announced the man had been found alive and well the next day. The Bruce Highway remains cut south of Townsville and there are major disruptions to the city's transport services, with most urban and school bus services affected by the deluge 'Police have located safe and well the man who was thought to be in flood water in Giru,' police said. 'Fortunately he made a decision to stay with a friend for the night rather than enter the flood water.' The Bruce Highway remains cut south of Townsville and there are major disruptions to the city's transport services, with most urban and school bus services affected by the deluge. 'Creek and river catchments are already saturated and will therefore respond very rapidly to any rainfall,' Bureau of Meteorology warned. 'The monsoon trough is expected to remain active into next week, with further heavy rainfall expected for already saturated catchments between about Cairns and Bowen. 'The potential for significant and dangerous flash flooding will likely continue into next week.' Supermarkets have taken a hit amid the panic and stocks have slowly dwindled over the day There are growing calls for overseas visitors to take a 'pre-vacation' driving test before they're allowed to get behind the wheel on Australian roads. Motoring experts and politicians in Victoria are concerned about the rising number of accidents involving international tourist drivers along the scenic Great Ocean Road south-west of Melbourne. Around 21 per cent of crashes around the popular tourist region are caused by non-Victorian licence holders. Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce chief executive Geoff Gwilym called for a 'pre-vacation' driving test. There are growing calls to address the rising number of accidents involving international tourist drivers along the scenic Great Ocean Road (pictured) 'Most visitors look at the scenery along the Great Ocean Road instead the road ahead of them, which is long and winding,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's very easy for them to have an accident if they're not familiar with driving conditions in Australia.' At a gateway to the tourist region, Birregurra locals have taken matters into their own hands to address the problem by erecting warning signs in Chinese to warn drivers who may not speak English to stop and look for passing cars. More than 15,000 visitors visited the Twelve Apostles on Christmas Day alone, according to recent vehicle count figures. Locals at the gateway to the Great Ocean Road region have erected stop signs in Chinese in an attempt to reduce the number of crashes involving international drivers State Polworth MP Richard Riordan told 3AW on Thursday some drivers come to the region from completely different driving circumstances or have driven never driven at all. 'The way you drive in Southeast Asia is not the way you drive in Australia,' Mr Riordan said. 'They're coming out here with licences that are not always bona fide, or they're coming for their first drive ever, at 100km an hour on roads where there are a lot of intersections, lots of zig-zagging.' Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce chief executive Geoff Gwilym believes overseas drivers need to better education before they get behind the wheel in Australia Mr Gwilym believes the campaign should be more education-focused than regulatory to ensure overseas visitors know they must drive on the left side of the road, stick to the speed limit and wear a seatbelt when behind the wheel in Australia. 'The last thing we want is to put the brakes on the tourism industry,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Education needs to start before visitors arrive here to ensure they're familiar with the driving conditions here. It would be a great initiative if the airlines had in-flight test modules for tourists to take while they're flying over here.' Around 21 per cent of crashes around the Great Ocean Road (pictured) region are caused by non-Victorian licence holders The calls were prompted by a yet another crash at a notorious Birregurra intersection earlier this week. Matthew Goodlet, 35, suffered spinal injuries when a car driven by a foreign tourist allegedly ran a stop sign and ploughed into his four-wheel-drive on Monday. The accident occurred at the intersection of Birregurra-Forrest and Deepdene roads, a busy thoroughfare for vehicles heading to the Great Ocean Road. It's also the scene of several crashes in recent years, including a fatality in late 2017. 'The woman was driving the car and she said she was from China and she had a Chinese licence,' Mr Goodlet's father Tony told the Geelong Advertiser. The disturbing details of an alleged plot to kidnap a young child from a county fair in Michigan have been revealed. David Bailey, 37, of Coldwater, Matthew Toole, 32, of Battle Creek, Talia Furman, 32, of Springfield, and Jayme LaPoint, 19, of Athens, were all arrested in September. The foursome had planned to abduct a child from either Eaton, Jackson, Branch or Hillsdale counties, torture and then sexually assault the child until they died, according to a report from MLive.com. All four were charged with three counts each of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and commit sexual conduct. An investigation by the Michigan State Police revealed this week that a witness who claimed to be the former girlfriend of Bailey and LaPoint contacted police in July 2018 about the suspect's plot to kidnap and kill a child. The witness told police at the time that she was around a table with all four suspects when they shared their plan. The disturbing details of an alleged plot to kidnap a young child from a county fair in Michigan have been revealed. David Bailey (left), 37, and his girlfriend, Jayme LaPoint (right), 19, were among four arrested last September Matthew Toole (left), 32, and his girlfriend, Talia Furman (right), 32, were also arrested. Authorities said they had plans to kidnap, torture and sexually assault a young child According to MLive, the witness told police that the suspects were trying to figure out which of four fairs would be geared toward children. 'Because Jayme LaPoint could pass for a teenager she would be the decoy,' the police report states. 'Jayme would ask a child to use their phone and when they gave it to her she would run away with it,' according to the news site. The plan was for LaPoint to then throw the phone into a rental car for the child to jump in and grab. Then they allegedly planned to take the child to a cabin in Michigan or Indiana and torture him or her. According to the police report, obtained by MLive, the group hoped that the child would still be alive so that they could 'start a fire and put the child in a burning barrel and put the child in it alive to be burned'. The report shows that the group allegedly had plans to crush the child's bones and teeth and burn the rental cabin. At the time of their arrest, Michigan State Police told WOOD TV that three members of the group were being investigated for child pornography when they discovered conversations between all four about their horrific plan. State Police Computer Crimes Unit Detective Sargent Gerald Yott, who led the case, told The Battle Creek Enquirer each member of the group was abusing their own child as well as others. 'They committed acts on their own children and were making sexually abusive material,' Yott said in September. 'They were all sharing and exploiting their own children and other children.' Toole and his girlfriend Furman were arraigned in mid-August after allegedly sexually assaulting a three-month-old girl and three-year-old boy on multiple occasions between October 2017 and February 2018,The Battle Creek Enquirer reported. Toole (left) and his girlfriend Furman (right) were arraigned in mid-August after allegedly sexually assaulting a three-month-old girl and three-year-old boy on multiple occasions between October 2017 and February 2018 The group, who police say were close to acting on their plan when they were arrested, were considering targeting county fairs in Branch, Calhoun and Jackson (pictured), parking lots of Walmart and Meijer stores that did not have security cameras, and a few parades Police claimed they seized videos and photographs of the assaults, and other child pornography. LaPoint was charged with criminal sexual conduct two weeks earlier after confessing to police she had made videos with her husband, 30, where they performed sexual acts with a girl under two, who the teenager babysat. In the videos, a woman was seen digitally penetrating the toddler, according to The Daily Reporter. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said they believe the group of four were close to putting their plan into action when they were arrested. Some of the messages discovered in the group's phones were of violent scenarios. 'I wanna hurt something. Have the plan for after its broken. Can make it gone without worry of discovery. You have a place for the play time ... we just need the toy,' one text read. Another read: 'Anything at this point. Lol. I seriously contemplated pistol whipping a woman and snatching her daughter at the store last night.' Detective Sargent Gerald Yott, who led the case, told WWMT the foursome was: 'One of the most heinous groups of monsters that we've dealt with'. 'These are the worst of the worst people,' he said. 'We like to think that this can't happen here, and it does. It happens here all the time.' Each charge against the foursome is punishable by up to life in prison, and all four are being held in custody until their arraignment. A friend of a 20-year-old Fijian national found dead by the side of a road in a sleepy town in Victoria has revealed the chilling last words he spoke to him. James Ratuyagone's body was discovered by a passing motorist on the Murchison-Violet Town Road in Murchison, north of Melbourne, at about 3.10am on Thursday. A man, aged 76, has since been cleared after he was interviewed by police over what was initially treated as a possible hit and run. Mr Ratuyagone's close friend Isireli Lumuti has been staying with him at the nearby Murchison East Caravan Park the night he died. James Ratuyagone was found dead by the side of a road in a sleepy town in Victoria. His friend has revealed the chilling last words he spoke to him Mr Ratuyagone's close friend Isireli Lumuti has been staying with him at the nearby Murchison East Caravan Park the night he died Mr Lumuti told the Herald Sun that when he went to bed on Wednesday night, Mr Ratuyagone went to meet friends at another caravan park in the area. 'I said ''you take care. Make sure you come back in one piece''. I was hoping that when I opened my eyes in the morning he would be there,' Mr Lumuti said. Mr Ratuyagone moved to Australia about a year ago and had worked as a chicken catcher and fruit picker at local farms. 'He was very hardworking, very active, well mannered. He loves his music. He loves his guitar,' Mr Lumuti said, adding that his friend's death was yet to fully hit home. 'I really miss him so much. He was just like a son to me.' The circumstances of the Ratuyagone's death will continue to be investigated. A dog owner living just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been charged with animal cruelty after his pet was found chained outside during brutally cold temperatures sweeping the Midwest. Dang Xiong, 29 was cited for the misdemeanor after leaving his dog outside of his Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, home on Tuesday afternoon when temperatures dropped to -9F, according to FOX News. The shivering canine was found on a short chain outside by police officers who said they also found vomit nearby and very little food and water inside the exposed shelter. Xiong was hit with a citation for inhumanely, unnecessarily, cruelly beating, injuring or abusing an animal. Dang Xiong, 29 was cited for the misdemeanor after leaving his dog (pictured) outside of his Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, home on Tuesday afternoon Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge during frigid temperatures on January 31 in Minneapolis, Minnesota The fine can bring a penalty of up to $1,000 in the state of Minnesota. Authorities also seized the dog taking it to the Pets Under Police Scrutiny (PUPS) center in Maple Grove, Minnesota, the pet impound facility for several towns in the area, according to Bring Me the News. 'If its too cold for you outside, its too cold for your them,' the PUPS Facebook page reminds pet owners. 'Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. Please bring them inside!' Xiong left his dog outside during the dangerous polar vortex gripping a large swath of the United States with temperatures ranging from the teens to below zero. The deadly weather phenomenon has killed at least 13 people since Tuesday, plunging the mercury to as low as -24F in Minneapolis alone. A mourning bottlenose dolphin has been carrying the body of her dead calf for days, struggling to come to terms with the youngster's death. She was spotted in waters in New Zealand's North Island, near the Bay of Islands, according to conservation authorities. The mother is thought to have had a stillbirth early this week but had been holding onto the body. She could be heard vocalising to the calf while travelling, the Department of Conservation claimed. Scroll down for video A mourning bottlenose dolphin has been carrying the body of her dead calf for days, struggling to come to terms with the youngster's death The struggle had also seen her separated from her group and left vulnerable at times. 'She has dropped the calf frequently as she tried to swim, and then circles back to retrieve it,' senior biodiversity ranger Catherine Peters said. Authorities have called for boats in the busy bay to keep clear. 'The mother is grieving and needs space and time to do this,' Dr Peters said. Earlier this year, a grief-stricken orca drew international attention after carrying her dead calf on her head for more than two weeks in the north Pacific. Earlier this year, a grief-stricken orca drew international attention after carrying her dead calf on her head for more than two weeks in the north Pacific Jenny Atkinson, an executive director at the Whale Museum on San Juan Island said the orca and her pod went through 'a deep grieving process' together at the time. The Puget Sound calf was the first in three years to be born to the dwindling population of endangered southern resident killer whales. There are only 75 of the mammals left. After the devastating loss of her calf, the mother was seen propping the dead newborn on her forehead and trying to keep it bobbing near the surface in the waters off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia. Earlier this year, a study by a non-profit organisation revealed whales and dolphins will hold 'vigils' for their dead. The animals will cling onto the lifeless bodies of their offspring for days and will try to keep them safe from predators. Bottlenose dolphins are relatively common in temperate and tropical seas around the world. Although many people picture Egyptian mummies when thinking of this ancient burial process, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition brings visitors face-to-face with mummies from several corners of the world, including Europe and South America. The estranged husband of Jersey Shore's Jenni 'JWoww' Farley has vowed to fight domestic abuse allegations that she made against him. Roger Matthews shared an Instagram post hitting back at JWoww's claims made in a lengthy post where she alleged he threw her to the ground during an argument. She also labelled him an 'abuser to the core' and describes years of 'domestic violence,' in the post titled 'A Message to Roger'. Matthews accused her of being prone to 'playing the victim' and said he was 'heartbroken over the current situation. He said: 'Things were said about me in a long, rambling rant that was put out that was highly erroneous and had many lies in it. Roger Mathews, the estranged husband of Jersey Shore's Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, has vowed to fight domestic abuse allegations that she made against him 'I had a speech prepared for me that I was going to read and I decided not to read it, I'm just going to shoot from the hip. 'Weve proven Jenny and her attorneys to be liars in the past and we will do it again. 'I know that we have the proponents of truth on our side, I know that there is a deep rooted history of this, playing the victim. 'We have evidence, the truth, witnesses and my concern is my children and I will not stop until I have my children.' Footage made public by JWoww earlier this week contains several 2017 videos taken inside their home including one where she is seen being thrown to the ground in the kitchen of their home in Tom's River, New Jersey. In this still image taken from the video, Matthews is seen grabbing Farley and throwing her to the ground It was taken on August 16. After throwing her to the ground, Matthews is filmed walking away while Farley yells: 'F*** you!' at him. The pair were married in 2015 and have two children together; four-year-old Meilani and two-year-old Greyson, who has autism. In some of the videos, Greyson can be heard crying while Farley yells in the background and his father boasts about having an affair with another woman. The statement on Farley's blog read in part: 'You have spit at me. You have pushed me. You have shoved me. You have aggressively thrown me to the ground. 'You have prevented me from closing doors to escape having you come at me... 'You are an abuser to the core...I have been broken down, beaten, hospitalized, traumatized, threatened, degraded, battered and abused.... 'I will be a victim no longer.' In a video dated February 12, 2017, she is filmed yelling at Matthews from the kitchen of their home while he sat on a couch and laughed at her. She described how he was punched by the husband of a woman he was having an affair with. At that, Matthews panned the camera to himself and said 'she was smoking hot.' Farley made the allegations in a lengthy blog post on Wednesday titled 'A Message to Roger' In another, she is crying and yelling in the background, saying: 'I spent all my money on this man,' while Matthews filmed himself cradling their son. In her blog post, Farley alleged that Matthews had refused to let their son's therapist into his home to treat him and that he refused to spend $40 on a babysitter for their daughter one morning. Matthews declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com. 'At this time we will not be giving a comment on this matter. Thank you for understanding,' his representative said. The reality star added a copy of a police report she filed in 2008 against an ex-boyfriend she said Mathews reached out to to try and team up with and work against her. In other videos, Matthews is seen cradling their son, Greyson, when he was six months old and laughing as his wife cried in the background and talked about him having an affair In one of the videos, Farley threw a vacuum on the floor in a rage while her ex filmed her Farley also shared screenshots of text exchanges she had had with her nanny which she says highlight how difficult Matthews is with their children Farley also included a disturbing police report about a different ex-boyfriend who was jailed for beating her in 2008. She claims Matthews knew about the abuse and contacted the man to try to team up with him to work against her In December, Matthews was thrown out of the couple's $900,000 home in Tom's River, New Jersey That boyfriend, who was not named, was jailed for aggravated criminal contempt after breaking into her apartment and cutting himself in front of her while threatening to kill himself if she broke up with him or called the police. She claims he beat her on other occasions and that she confided in Matthews abou the abuse but that he used it against her when their marriage fell apart. Farley said she had tried to keep a lid on the issue to spare their children from the 'public humiliation,' but is speaking out amid Mathews' ongoing public shots at her, and the alleged deceptive way she claims he portrays himself via social media. 'You have presented yourself to the public as a praiseworthy father and a husband who has been suffering by my alleged actions and behavior,' she claimed. 'Your postings are consumed with inaccuracies, false statements, self-serving comments, outright misrepresentations and blatant lies.' Matthews knocked his then fiancee to the ground accidentally in one episode while getting in a fight with a man in a bar The pair got married in 2015, after Farley had given birth to their daughter, Meilani They are now parents to four-year-old Meilani and two-year-old Greyson who has autism She also alleged that he tried to ruin her career by contacting bosses to tell them 'lies' about her and that he had put their son at risk by feeding him pizza when he is 'highly allergic to gluten and dairy'. 'You have called authorities to falsely accuse me of harming our children hoping to get a leg up as leverage in a custody case,' she claimed in her blog post, 'only resulting in our children having to be undressed and physically examined, being humiliated and investigated with naturally no substantiation of any abuse on my part.' Matthews has made several attempts to sully his estranged wife's reputation. He was thrown out of their home by police in December after calling 911 to report her to try to stop her from 'filing a false report'. Footage showed her in their kitchen, crying to police that she wanted a protective order to stop him from contacting her but that he should be able to see their children because 'he is not a bad dad.' She won the order because he had been 'harassing' her by filming her without her consent to try to get a rise out of her. He said that he was filming her because his attorney had told him to do so. In a series of eight selfie videos uploaded to his Instagram page, where he regularly posts photographs of himself with their children, in December, he accused her of keeping the kids from him. A constable is recovering after he was attacked by a police dog during a search for a suspect. Police officers were patrolling on Cleveland Street in Ashwood in Melbourne' south-east shortly before midnight on Thursday when they came across two men and a woman. Police said one of the men fled the scene when officers went to speak with the trio. A constable was taken to hospital after he was bitten by Victoria Police dog (stock image) 'A search was undertaken with assistance from the Dog Squad, with a male constable sustaining a small bite from one of the canines,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman said. The constable suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for observation but has since been released. The man who fled remains on the run. The other two people both aged in their 40s assisted police with their inquiries at the scene. No charges have been laid at this stage. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man is still on the run after spraying an unknown chemical at a group of people during a night out in Sydney. Police were told the man was arguing with another man and two women outside a venue on Oxford Street, Surry Hills at 1.30am on Friday. The argument escalated before the man sprayed all three people in the face and fled the scene. A man is still on the run after spraying an unknown chemical at a group of people during a night out in Sydney (stock photo) Earlier in the morning, the same man had been arguing with a different group of people outside a venue near the intersection of Oxford and Crown streets, Darlinghurst. At the time, he threatened the group with a can thought to contain a chemical. The man and two women who were sprayed in the face suffered irritation in the eyes, but did not require treatment. Surry Hills Police Area Command were told a bystander confronted the runaway man and took the spray away from him. They handed the can to security and officers collected the spray that is thought to be a form of OC spray. Police describe the man to be white, of slim to medium build, with spiked red hair and shaved sides. He was last seen running west along Oxford Street towards Crown Street, Surry Hills. Queensland's LNP has booted out embattled MP Jason Costigan, insisting it's the right thing to do even though it will now be harder to win the next state election. The Liberal National Party dumped the Whitsunday MP on Friday in the wake of harassment allegations from an 18-year-old woman. A second young woman, aged 20, later made a similar complaint of predatory behaviour relating to text messages she says she received from him last year. However, MP Costigan has announced that he will not resign despite being expelled from the LNP, tweeting: 'I will NOT be resigning! #qldpol #auspol #costo2020' Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan (pictured) has been expelled from the Liberal National Party over a harassment allegation towards an 18-year-old woman However, MP Costigan has announced that he will not resign despite being expelled from the LNP, tweeting: 'I will NOT be resigning! #qldpol #auspol #costo2020' Details of the claims have not been publicly released and party leader Deb Frecklington says they will remain confidential. She called on the MP to resign from parliament. 'He has disgraced the office and he should go now,' she told reporters. 'I don't care about the political cost, this is about protecting young women and victims against predators.' The LNP received the second complaint as Mr Costigan was strenuously denying on Thursday any wrongdoing relating to the first complaint. He displayed a selfie he had taken with the girl to the media at that press conference, and called her claims 'crap'. According to the Brisbane Times the 18-year-old's mother sent an email to the LNP after Mr Costigan took topless selfies with the teenager, who was gripping a duress alarm in her handbag. The mother called Mr Costigan's behaviour 'extraordinary'. The Whitsunday MP was once branded a 'sleaze' for posing with bikini-clad tourists (pictured) Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad commented on Mr Costigan's photos, saying, 'What a sleazebag,' accompanied by a vomiting emoji 'It was predatory, sexual, unhinged and intimidating,' she wrote in the email. Mr Costigan, 47, told The Courier Mail he strongly denied the allegation and would be pursuing legal action. 'I am going to contest the allegations. This is a stitch-up of the highest order,' he said. The party's disputes committee found the MP's conduct breached its constitution and recommended his expulsion, which the executive acted upon on Friday. Acting LNP president David Hutchinson said Mr Costigan was expelled and no longer a member of the party. 'The LNP fully recognises the significance of this action, and understands that removing a sitting MP will make the challenge of winning the next state election more difficult,' he said. Mr Hutchinson commended Ms Frecklington for her strong leadership on the matter. Ms Frecklington told reporters on Thursday that, as the mother of three girls, the claims had made her feel sick and her skin crawl. The complaint has been referred to police in another state. 'It's 2018. He's an elected official. He's being paid by the taxpayer. And yesterday he was out celebrating world bikini day by creeping on young, foreign tourists. Ugh,' Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (pictured) said Comment was being sought from Mr Costigan. Mr Costigan first came under fire after posing with two bikini-clad tourists last year and posting the photos and video to Facebook. Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad commented on Mr Costigan's photos, lashing out at his actions. 'Did you get a good look?' she wrote. 'You wouldn't know it, but this lad is Jason Costigan the LNP Member for Whitsunday. 'It's 2018. He's an elected official. He's being paid by the taxpayer. 'And yesterday he was out celebrating world bikini day by creeping on young, foreign tourists. Ugh.' She followed up her critique with the line: 'What a sleazebag', accompanied by a vomiting emoji. President Donald Trump said in an interview on Thursday that his not the target of the Russia probe. Trump said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had assured his lawyers he was not a target of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, according to a New York Times report. 'He told the attorneys that I'm not a subject, I'm not a target,' Trump said. When asked if that also covered the separate investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, Trump told the Times: 'I don't know about that.' President Donald Trump said in an interview on Thursday that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (right) had assured his lawyers he was not a target of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe Trump also told the Times that he never spoke to Roger Stone about the stolen Democratic emails that WikiLeaks posted during the 2016 election. 'No, I didn't. I never did,' Trump said. Stone, Trump's longtime associate, was indicted last week. Stone's indictment charges him with seven felonies, including witness tampering, obstruction and false statements, while leaving open the question of whether his or the Trump's campaign's interest in exploiting Russia-hacked emails about Democrat Hillary Clinton crossed a legal line. In the Russia investigation, one Trump aide after another has been accused of lying to investigators, or encouraging others to do so, about Russia-related contacts during the campaign and transition period. Mueller has charged six former aides of Trump, including his lawyer Michael Cohen, campaign chair Paul Manafort, and national security advisor Michael Flynn, in the 20-month-old investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russians. The Stone case is the closest Mueller has gotten to suggesting there was an illegal conspiracy to collude - yet that was not among the charges. The president also said that he never spoke to Roger Stone (pictured after his arraignment on Tuesday) about WikiLeaks nor did he direct anyone else to do so Mueller (pictured) has charged six former aides of Trump, including his lawyer Michael Cohen, campaign chair Paul Manafort, and national security advisor Michael Flynn, in the 20-month-old investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russians During the interview with Times, Trump confirmed his run for re-election. 'I love this job,' he said, adding that he doesn't believe he'll be challenged for the Republican presidential nomination. 'I don't see it,' he said. 'I have great support in the party.' Trump also commented on the Democratic field, praising Senator Kamala Harris for having the 'best opening so far'. 'I would say in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her. A better crowd, better crowd, better enthusiasm.' Trump made sure to mention Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, regarding the disapproval for the $5.7billion he has sought for his border wall. Pelosi maneuvered the president into retreating last week on his demand for a border wall in exchange for an end to the longest government shutdown in history. 'Ive actually always gotten along with her, but now I dont think I will any more, Mr. Trump told the Times on Thursday. 'I think shes doing a tremendous disservice to the country. If she doesnt approve the wall, the rest of its just a waste of money and time and energy because its desperately needed.' Trump ended the 35-day shutdown on Friday when he signed legislation to reopen the government until February 15. The president will give his State of the Union address on Tuesday that will stress 'unity'. The brother of Jeff Bezos' mistress has blasted suspicions that he leaked his sister's steamy text messages with the Amazon CEO to the National Enquirer. Michael Sanchez, a Hollywood manager and publicist, on Thursday denounced Bezos' top security guru Gavin de Becker for suggesting that he leaked Lauren Sanchez's texts. 'I am not dignifying de Becker's passive aggressive allegations or his crazy conspiracy theories,' Michael said in a statement to Page Six. 'I've recommended that Lauren fire him as security for her and [her] children.' De Becker, Bezos' long-time employee, earlier revealed that he spoke with Michael this week as part of the ongoing probe that Bezos is funding to find out how his romance with Lauren was exposed. Scroll down for video Jeff Bezos' private security guard questioned Lauren Sanchez's brother Michael, right, to ask whether it was him who leaked their private and explicit text messages earlier this month Family field trip: Michael is pictured with his sister and their mother at Amazon's HQ in Seattle in June last year - six months before his sister's affair with the founder became public 'Michael Sanchez has been among the people we've been speaking with and looking at,' de Beck told The Daily Beast on Thursday. According to three people close to the investigation, Michael believes that members of the 'deep state' used the NSA to harvest the text messages from either his sister's phone or the Amazon billionaire's. It is not clear why he thinks that or if there is any suspicion that he had a role in exposing the affair. He was pictured with his sister and their mother at Amazon HQ in June this year. He did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Thursday afternoon. Michael is close with his sister and spent the holidays with her, his husband Casey and the rest of their family. Like Lauren's estranged husband Patrick Whitesell, Michael is a Hollywood talent manager who has close friendships with key players in President Donald Trump's inner circle, including the recently indicted Roger Stone and former foreign policy advisor Carter Page. In 2016, he described himself in a letter to a newspaper as a 'gay man, a Hispanic, a West Hollywood homeowner and strong supporter of Trump.' Stone made mention of Sanchez during an interview with conservative commentator and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones this week not long after being released on bail. He was arrested as part of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's probe into Trump's Russia ties last week. Stone said: 'The Daily Beast is about to publish a story claiming that I, working with President Trump and the NSA, hacked the cell phone of Lauren Sanchez and that we gave the information to the National Enquirer. Sanchez, who is a Hollywood talent manager like his brother-in-law, is a Trump fan who is friends with some of the president's allies including former adviser Carter Page (pictured with him and conservative TV host Scottie Nell Hughes) and the recently indicted Roger Stone. Trump and Bezos are adversaries and it has been reported that Bezos believes his affair was exposed by people who were politically motivated BEZOS' SEXTS TO SANCHEZ 'I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon.' 'I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight. I want to kiss your lips. I love you. I am in love with you.' 'I miss you. I want to kiss you right now and tuck you in slowly and gently. And maybe in the morning wake you up and not be quite so gentle with you.' 'Your energy and ideas and competence and SPIRIT turn me on. You make me better. You're meant for me.' 'I am so full of love for you. My heart is growing just so it can have room for you. It's bigger than it's ever been and still swelling.' 'I want to hold you tight. I want to kiss your lips. I love you. I am in love with you.' 'You know what I want? I want to get a little drunk with you tonight. Not falling down. Just a little drunk. I want to talk to you and plan with you. Listen and laugh I basically WANT TO BE WITH YOU!!! Then I want to fall asleep with you and wake up tomorrow and read the paper with you and have coffee with you Advertisement 'This is a conspiracy that allegedly involves Michael Sanchez, Lauren Sanchez's brother, a very hot Hollywood manager that happens to be a friend of mine.' The Daily Beast denied pursuing the angle that the phones had been hacked. Bezos, who is yet to comment publicly about his new relationship, is said to be hell-bent on discovering who obtained the explicit text messages he sent Sanchez eight months before he announced his divorce. In one, he reportedly told the 49-year-old: 'I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight. I want to kiss your lips. I love you. I am in love with you.' Others are more graphic, including one where he is said to have told the former Extra and Fox host: 'I miss you. I want to kiss you right now and tuck you in slowly and gently. 'And maybe in the morning wake you up and not be quite so gentle with you.' In another, he allegedly said: 'Your energy and ideas and competence and SPIRIT turn me on. 'You make me better. You're meant for me.' Another is said to have read: 'I am so full of love for you. My heart is growing just so it can have room for you. 'It's bigger than it's ever been and still swelling.' Other reported remarks include: 'I want to hold you tight. I want to kiss your lips. I love you. I am in love with you,' and 'You know what I want? I want to get a little drunk with you tonight. Not falling down. Just a little drunk. I want to talk to you and plan with you. Listen and laugh I basically WANT TO BE WITH YOU!!! Then I want to fall asleep with you and wake up tomorrow and read the paper with you and have coffee with you.' Michael had a close relationship with his sister. Poking fun at her in one picture uploaded to social media, he captioned: 'Does this picture make my boobs look big?' Michael, pictured with his husband Casey, has not commented about his sister's romance or being interviewed by her new boyfriend's security Bezos personal security team is reportedly focusing on a theory that the messages were leaked by someone with ties to President Donald Trump (left), an outspoken critic of the billionaire who has been linked to the Enquirer through its chief executive David Pecker (right) He also sent her photographs of himself shirtless and one picture of his genitalia. It had been reported that Lauren, a former actress and TV personality, boasted to friends about them and sent them on which is how the National Enquirer obtained them. Pecker and Trump's friendship goes back decades and involves AMI, the company which owns the Enquirer, paying Trump's alleged mistresses - Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal - hush money to stop them from coming forward with their claims during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has repeatedly launched attacks on Bezos, accusing him of using the Washington Post, which he owns, to criticize his administration. After the Enquirer expose, Trump took a swipe at the Amazon founder on Twitter, writing: 'So sorry to hear the news about Jeff Bozo being taken down by a competitor whose reporting, I understand, is far more accurate than the reporting in his lobbyist newspaper, the Amazon Washington Post. 'Hopefully the paper will soon be placed in better & more responsible hands!' The Enquirer's investigation into the affair spanned four months and involved following the couple as they traversed the country on private planes and visited each other at their marital homes. Bezos has said nothing publicly of it since it emerged, nor has Lauren. It has been insinuated from both of their camps that they were separated from their spouses when they became romantically involved after nurturing a friendship for several years, but no one has confirmed that there was no infidelity on the record. A Sydney-bound Virgin Australia plane has made an emergency landing. The plane, which left Brisbane at 10.05am, was forced to land in Newcastle, about 150km from its scheduled destination, on Friday afternoon. The aircraft had been due to land in Sydney at 12.40pm. It is not known how many people were on board. A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the plane was diverted and met by emergency services on the tarmac 'as a precautionary measure' It is unclear what caused the warning light to activate. The passengers had to catch a bus to Sydney (pictured) Reports initially suggested there was a fire on board, however Virgin Australia say this was not the case. A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the plane was diverted and met by emergency services on the tarmac 'as a precautionary measure'. 'Virgin Australia flight VA938 from Brisbane to Sydney has landed safely after diverting to Newcastle Airport this afternoon following the activation of warning light in the cargo hold,' they told Daily Mail Australia. 'The safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority and we will be commencing a full investigation into the incident. 'We will be working hard to have all guests to their destination as soon as possible.' It is unclear what caused the warning light to activate. The passengers are now catching a bus to Sydney. It is unclear what caused the warning light to activate. The passengers are now catching a bus to Sydney The Royal College of Physicians is locked in a bitter row with its members over its position on assisted dying. The professional bodys plans to conduct a fresh poll of doctors and fellows on the issue has provoked accusations it is pandering to lobbyists in favour of assisted suicide. The college has always opposed allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients kill themselves, but said it required a super majority on the contentious issue. In the most recent poll in 2014, 58 per cent of its members said they would not participate in assisted dying. According to the rules, unless there is a 60 per cent majority for or against, the body will adopt a neutral position which critics fear could amount to tacit support for assisted suicide. The forthcoming poll has been criticised by some RCP members who believe the requirement to achieve a supermajority leaves the door open to pander to euthanasia campaigners College president Andrew Goddard said it was essential to base the College's stance on an up-to-date poll of the members A group of academics and doctors have publicly condemned the move in a letter to The Times newspaper. They wrote: We are worried that this move represents a deliberate attempt by the minority [on the colleges governing council] to drop the colleges opposition to assisted suicide even if the majority of the membership vote to maintain it. Nigel Biggar, regius professor at Oxford University, called for a more orthodox, justifiable and democratic approach. The new poll has been called a sham, and John Saunders, a former chairman of the colleges ethics committee, has threatened legal action against the new vote. Most medical bodies are against a change in the law. A free vote in the House of Commons four years ago vetoed moves that would have allowed people with less than six months to live to be prescribed drugs to end their lives with the consent of two doctors and a judge. College president Andrew Goddard said: The college is frequently asked for its stance on this... so it is essential that we base this on an up-to-date understanding of our members and fellows views. Dozens of uniformed police gathered and revved their motorcycle engines outside a prison where a man was executed for killing an officer. Robert Jennings was sentenced to death for the July 1988 slaying of Officer Elston Howard during a robbery at an adult bookstore in Houston, Texas. The 61-year-old, who spent 30 years in jail, was pronounced dead at 6.33pm on Wednesday, 18 minutes after the drug was administered. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, Elston Howard's mother Era and Jennings' partner Evelyn Staus were among the witnesses present at Huntsville Unit before Jennings received a lethal injection. Outside on the street, dozens of uniformed police gathered and revved their motorcycle engines, sending up a noise that echoed into the death chamber. Outside on the street, dozens of uniformed police gathered and revved their motorcycle engines as inmates Robert Jennings died by lethal injection Jennings (pictured) was the first inmate put to death this year both in the U.S. and Texas Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, whose members are law enforcement officers, make their way to Huntsville Unit for Robert Jennings' execution on Wednesday Houston Police officers also saluted to officer Elston Howard's mother and family as they walked into the Huntsville Unit. As witnesses filed into the death chamber, Jennings asked a chaplain standing next to him if he knew the name of the slain officer. The chaplain didn't respond, and a prison official then told the warden to proceed with the punishment. According to the Houston Chronicle, Jennings said in his final moments: 'Just briefly, to my friends and family, it was a nice journey. 'To the family of the police officer, I hope this finds you peace, and be well and stay safe. Enjoy life's moments because we never get them back.' He paused, then called out in a sing-song voice to his partner 'life-mate, see you at the crossroads.' When asked about the 30-plus years between the crime and the punishment, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he thought 'justice delayed is, to an extent, an injustice continued. 'But when the state takes a life, there has to be a process,' Acevedo said. 'In this case, the day of reckoning is here. It's a solemn occasion. For us it's a celebration of a life well-lived by Officer Howard. We're a family. That's why we're here.' In his final weeks, Jennings had decided he didn't even want a reprieve. He barely slept the night before. He'd rather be dead, he told a loved one, than stuck on death row indefinitely with no end in sight, his partner Evelyn Staus told the Houston Chronicle. Robert Jennings (left) served 30 years in jail for the murder of Elston Howard, and a mugshot taken of him when he was initially charged in 1988 (right) Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo (left) accompanies Era Howard, (right) mother of murdered officer Elston Howard into Huntsville Unit to witness her son's murder being executed Houston Police officers saluted to officer Elston Howard's mother and family as they walk into the Huntsville Unit on Wednesday to witness their loved one's killer's final moments 'You get to a point where you accept whatever happens and he's at that point,' Staus said. Jennings is the first inmate put to death this year both in the U.S. and in Texas, which is the nation's busiest capital punishment state. 'Justice has been rendered and my family can finally have the closure we deserve,' Michael Agee, Howard's nephew and a current Houston officer, said after watching Jennings die. Jennings lost a last-ditch appeal pending in the U.S. Supreme Court in which he argued that he suffered 'an improbable succession of bad lawyering.' In another appeal, he asked for a stay because the jury didn't properly consider reasons to give him a lesser sentence, such as his low IQ and show of remorse. Robert Jennings was sentenced to death for the July 1988 slaying of Officer Elston Howard (pictured) during a robbery at an adult bookstore in Texas Joe Gamaldi, the president of the Houston Police Officers' Union, said Jennings has spent more time on death row than Howard was alive In J988, Jennings and a friend went to the nearby Stop-N-Go and bought a six-pack in Houston. At the time, Jennings was still on parole from a sentence for his second aggravated robbery bid. But the then 30-year-old and his friend, David Lee Harvell, wanted a night on the town, so they drove to a nearby strip club. With no IDs, the pair got turned away, according to court records obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Jennings and David Lee Harvell then decided to rob an adult book store and were in possession of weapons. Vice officer Elston Howard, who was standing at the counter, was filling out paperwork when Jennings made his way inside. Howard and his undercover partner had just arrested the store owner for showing pornographic films without a permit. Jennings was put to death in the execution chamber in Huntsville, Texas (seen above) Howard, who was then 24, was waiting for a squad car to take the man downtown to booking when Jennings came inside and fired his gun at him. Two bullets hit Howard in the neck. He tried to flee but collapsed, according to court records. Jennings shot him two more times as he lay face down. Jennings ran outside and hopped in the getaway car, shoving the gun between the seats before telling Harvell that he'd just shot a 'security guard.' A clerk later testified the shooting was so quick, Howard never had a chance to unholster his gun. Jennings was arrested hours later when he went to a Houston hospital after being shot in the hand by his accomplice, who got angry at Jennings for shooting the officer. At the time court records reveal he said: 'I shot him in the back two times. 'After I shot him, the dude went to the ground between my legs, and he was still holding me by my legs, and I had to push him all the way down to the floor, and I then stepped over his body, and I went directly to the cash register.' Joe Gamaldi, the president of the Houston Police Officers' Union, said Jennings has spent more time on death row than Howard was alive. Howard 'was an honorable man full of integrity who did his job. He was absolutely one of the best and he was just taken entirely too soon by this animal who murdered him in cold blood,' Gamaldi said. After his arrest, Jennings confessed to killing Howard, telling police in a tape-recorded statement he was remorseful about what happened and would 'face whatever punishment (he had) coming.' Edward Mallett, one of Jennings' current appellate attorneys, said the inmate's trial attorneys failed to present sufficient evidence of his remorse as well as his history of brain damage, being abused as a child and drug addiction. He said the trial attorneys also failed to provide an instruction to jurors that would have allowed them to give sufficient weight to these aspects of Jennings' life when they deliberated. Mallett said a prior appellate attorney also failed to argue these issues in earlier appeals. 'There has not been an adequate presentation of his circumstances including mental illness and mental limitations,' Mallett said. Jennings' trial in 1989 took place just as the Supreme Court issued a ruling that faulted Texas' capital sentencing statute for not allowing jurors to consider evidence supporting a sentence less than death. The Texas Legislature changed the statute to address the high court's concerns but that took place after Jennings was convicted. The Texas Attorney General's Office called Jennings' claimed he had ineffective lawyers at his trial and during earlier appeals 'specious,' and said appeals courts have previously rejected allegations his personal history was not adequately investigated and presented at his trial. 'My hope is that on Wednesday (Howard's family gets) the closure that they've been searching for 30 years,' Gamaldi said. Leighanne Rumney (pictured) was stabbed and stripped naked by a violent gypsy gang in Portugal A British woman was stabbed, stripped naked and had her hair chopped off by a 'violent gypsy gang' in Portugal who claimed she was having an affair with a married man. Leighanne Rumney, from South Shields, was allegedly kidnapped and attacked by the mother and wife of the man who they wrongly believed she was seeing. The 22-year-old was reportedly targeted in a 'ritual shaming' in a Portuguese forest by gypsies who stabbed her and chopped off her long blonde hair. She fled with blood pouring from gashes in her back and crawled onto the road as she flitted in-and-out of consciousness where she flagged down a car, The Sun reported. She is said to have attracted interest from a Roma gypsy while working as a waitress at the Hot Shot bar in Alubfeira, in the Algarve, but said they had never dated. However his mother and wife wrongly believed they were having an affair, and lured her into their car to kidnap her. She said: 'They drove me 45 minutes away from where I lived to a remote spot then opened and bag which I saw contained two knives and scissors. One of her alleged attackers is Eliana Carvalho, 24, said to be the wife of the man who Ms Rumney spurned 'I was convinced they were going to kill me and was so scared I didn't move or speak as the two women stripped me naked and started stabbing me in the back. 'They finally took the scissors and chopped off all my hair - it was some kind of a ritual to shame me - then left me with blood pouring from my wounds.' The Geordie woman said she is so traumatised she cannot shower for the memory of her warm blood running down her back. Rute Isabel Almeida, 40, and Eliana Carvalho, 24, have reportedly been charged by cops in Portugal along with the getaway driver Tiago Soutenho, 22. The shocking ordeal took place in May 2015 and the case is now coming before the courts in Portugal after alleged witness intimidation stalled prosecution. Ms Rumney says the nine scars on her back have healed, but she finds the memory unbearable and is still mentally wounded. The 22-year-old (pictured before the attack) was reportedly targeted in a 'ritual shaming' in a Portuguese forest by gypsies who stabbed her and chopped off her long blonde hair The British woman had been working as a waitress at The Hot Shot Bar in Albufeira (pictured) when she attracted the interest of a gypsy man Last year a barman in Albufeira was arrested on suspicion of raping a teenage British holidaymaker. The 19-year-old said she had her drink spiked and was forced to have sex in a back room of a bar. In 2011 Ian Haggath, a British tourist, was killed in an attack by a gang of robbers in Albufeira. The 50-year-old was reported at the time to have suffered a fractured skull, blood on the brain and broken cheekbones. Earlier that year Lance Corporal Darren Lackie died after a night out with his girlfriend in Albufeira. The 21-year-old Afghanistan veteran suffered serious injuries after falling and hitting his head. Another Irish holidaymaker was also slashed with a knife and attacked with cobblestones in the same area that year. Kartchner Caverns State Park is about an hour southeast of Tucson, near the small town of Benson. More than 90 percent of the limestone features (inset) in the caverns are alive and flourishing. A school has defended teaching pupils about homosexuality after religious parents signed a petition for the subject to be dropped. Up to 400 predominantly Muslim parents signed up, with some even taking their children out of the primary school. They are protesting against the No Outsiders In Our School programme, which is taught as part of sex and relationship lessons to promote LGBT equality and challenge homophobia at school. Andrew Moffat, assistant head teacher of Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, said he had been threatened in a leaflet handed out by campaigners. Mr Moffat, who is gay, said he faced angry protests by parents who gathered at the school gates. Parent Fatima Shah, pictured, pulled her ten-year-old daughter out of the school, saying it was inappropriate and totally wrong A similar dispute with Muslim and Christian parents in December 2013 forced him to resign from another primary school in Birmingham. The programme involves five lessons a year for children aged from four to 11, in which they read books about same-sex marriages. Parent Fatima Shah pulled her ten-year-old daughter out of the school, saying it was inappropriate and totally wrong. Her daughter has now returned to the school, which is rated as outstanding by Ofsted, but she said she would continue to fight against the programme. She told The Guardian: Children are being told its OK to be gay, yet 98 per cent of children at this school are Muslim. Its a Muslim community. He said all parents are on board with it, but the reality is no parents are on board with it. Miss Shah added that the local communitys concerns were not being taken on board, adding: We have nothing against Mr Moffat we are as British as they come. We respect the British values but the problem is, he is not respecting our ethos as a community. We dont send our children to school to learn about LGBT. We send them to school to learn maths, science and English. Assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat, who is gay, said he faced angry protests at school gates Mr Moffat said most parent feedback had been positive and that concerns had only been expressed by a very small minority. He added: Some parents struggle with aspects of the Equality Act. But the vast majority of parents understand that... living in the UK, you can be different, but you can get along with other people. The programme, which was introduced into the school four years ago, includes the welcoming of people of any race, colour or religion and those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Mr Moffat added: Im just teaching children from an early age that there are different families. In some schools there are children with two mums. We want all children in Birmingham to know that their family is normal, that their family is accepted and welcomed in schools. The EUs hardline stance on Brexit was challenged last night as German economists warned that Brussels might not have the upper hand. They said the Irish backstop should be torn up and called for more flexibility to preserve friendly ties with the UK. A report by the influential Ifo Institute and universities across Europe said Brussels must abandon its indivisibility dogma on the EUs four freedoms the free movement of goods, capital, services and labour. It warned that Brussels may be deluding itself in thinking that the EU has the upper hand or that the UK will capitulate before March 29. In a standard game of chicken, the actor who loses the most will dodge first. Can the EU really be sure that losses are sufficiently asymmetrically distributed that it wins this game? the report asked. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, has insisted the Withdrawal Agreement is not open to renegotiation We call on the UK Government and the EU Commission to rethink their red lines and return to the negotiation table. The report rebuked the European Commission for mishandling negotiations, stating: Since 2000, the UK paid a net contribution to the EU budget of 76bn euros. One may argue that this fact alone merits a fair treatment of the second-largest European economy. It proposes that the EU and Britain form a joint trade body to cover goods. Meanwhile, ministers became embroiled in a Twitter row with Donald Tusk yesterday after he claimed Theresa May had not been clear about what she wanted from Brexit talks. Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said she would return to Brussels after winning a series of votes on Tuesday night which seemed to indicate there was a majority in the House of Commons in favour of passing a deal with an amended backstop Tory deputy chairman James Cleverly called the European Council Presidents comments ridiculous, and Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: On Tuesday Parliament was clear. We want the Prime Ministers deal plus changes to the backstop. Over to you. The pair responded after Mr Tusk tweeted his public appeal to the Prime Minister about her aims, adding: The Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation. A gel contraceptive for men is set to be trialled as scientists claim they have developed an ointment to rub onto men's arms which can stop them impregnating women. If proven the gel could replace the Pill and other treatments but the developers need 80 brave couples in Manchester and Edinburgh to try it for two years. The gel, called NES/T, is a hormone-based treatment designed to reduce sperm production without affecting libido If it works, it could be available to others in three to five years. Eighty men in relationships are being asked to test out the gel for two years with their partner Edinburgh University's Professor Richard Anderson who helped develop it said: 'It will let men share responsibility for avoiding unwanted pregnancies and give control over when to become a dad. 'And a gel may be more convenient than the repeated injections of previous trials.' The team led by Professor Anderson was also behind the male contraceptive injection which was stopped because of side effects including acne - but had shown signs of working. According to the developers sperm production can be stopped in four months More than three million women currently take the contraceptive Pill (pictured). The rub on gel which is not shown could be released in three years And, after stopping the usage, can return to normal after about six months. Dr Cheryl Fitzgerald of Manchester's St Mary's Hospital, added: 'Contraceptive options for men are limited to condoms and vasectomies. 'This will let them control their fertility in a safe, simple way.' At present, 11,000 men have NHS vasectomies each year and more than 3million women take the Pill. Experts warned it should not replace condoms for casual sex because of the risk of spreading infections. Dr Geoff Hackett, of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, added: 'Many will welcome it. 'But women are unlikely to rely on a man to use it correctly. That may be different in long-term relationships.' Men aged between 18 and 50, who are in a stable relationship with a woman aged between 18 and 34, are invited to participate in the trial by calling 0161 276 3296 (Manchester) or 0131 242 2669 (Edinburgh). 'Anyone who's interested, we'll be happy to hear from them straight away,' said Anderson. A man subjected to a one-punch attack that left him in hospital has slammed the double standards of the court after she was fined just $800 for the assault. Madeline Shay Ryan, 24, pleaded guilty to the unprovoked attack on Jake Gould, 23, inside a bar at Caloundra, in south-east Queensland, on October 6 last year. Mr Gould was taken to hospital with a severely bloodied and bruised face - but in court on Thursday, a judge decided not to convict Ryan, a student nurse. That decision has outraged Mr Gould, who told Daily Mail Australia he believes that if he had hit a woman he would have been sent to jail. Madeline Shay Ryan (pictured) pleaded guilty to assaulting Jake Gould inside a nightclub last year. She was ordered to pay an $800 fine, as well as $500 compensation to her victim Victim Jake Gould (pictured) was left with a severely bloodied and bruised face, but in court on Thursday a judge decided not to convict his attacker - something he says is a double standard 'If I had defended myself in the slightest I would've been attacked by other patrons in the club and arrested immediately,' Mr Gould said. 'We have these strict one-punch laws, but she has walked away with a fine and has to pay me $500 compensation, but she hasn't even apologised. 'It's not about the money, I just think she should be held accountable for her actions, because if the shoe was on the other foot I would have been locked up immediately. 'The judge missed a great opportunity to tell the community no matter if it's a man hitting a man, a man hitting a woman, or a woman hitting a man, it's not acceptable.' Ryan's unprovoked attack on Mr Gould came after a brief interaction in the nightclub precinct of the Caloundra Hotel about 2.55am. CCTV footage showed the moment Ryan - who had drunk a 'large amount of alcohol' - approached Mr Gould as he walked out of a toilet. The unprovoked attack occurred about 2.55am on Friday, October 6 in the nightclub precinct of the Caloundra Hotel (pictured) 'The judge missed a great opportunity to tell the community no matter if it's a man hitting a man, a man hitting a woman, or a woman hitting a man, it's not acceptable,' Mr Gould said of Ryan's attack It was claimed that Ryan (pictured on another night) doesn't normally drink and on that night she consumed a large amount of alcohol She then asked him if there was a man wearing a blue hat in the bathroom, and when Mr Gould replied 'yep' she began bashing him on the left side of his face. Ryan's lawyer Remy Kurz told the Caloundra Magistrates Court his client's attack was 'out of character', the Sunshine Coast Daily reported. Mr Kurz also told the court that if a conviction was recorded against Ryan it would be potentially damaging to her prospects of joining the Royal Flying Doctor service. 'She doesn't normally drink, on the night she consumed a large amount of alcohol and had been celebrating moving up to the Coast to join her partner,' Mr Kurz said. But Mr Gould disputed several of the lawyer's comments, claiming that on Facebook his attacker was regularly out drinking and that she had never apologised to him. 'She's not remorseful, she hasn't even said sorry, I'd just love to know why the judge gave her that sentence,' Mr Gould said. 'She's not remorseful, she hasn't even said sorry, I'd just love to know why the judge gave her that sentence,' Mr Gould (pictured with a friend) said Ryan's lawyer claimed a conviction could affect her chances of graduating from the University of Newcastle (pictured) and achieving her dream of joining the Royal Flying Doctor Service 'It (the attack) has definitely taken a toll on me. 'She's a very ordinary looking girl, so now whenever I go down the street I'm worried that when I come across someone who is looking at me strange that it might be her.' Ryan pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and was fined $800. She was also ordered to pay Mr Gould $500 compensation or face five days behind bars. Magistrate Stephanie Tonkin did not record the conviction. So you think you are a SNOWITALL? From snowbombs and bomb-cyclones to polar vortexes, flash freezes and a bit of snizzle, theres a new lexicon of weather swirling around us, as meteorologists struggle to describe the volatile events associated with our worsening winter climes. Whether its down to climate change or natural atmospheric blips, many parts of the world, including moderately temperate Britain, are experiencing phenomena once so rare or even just theoretical that they merited only an occasional mention in obscure science journals. This week, America is enduring one of the coldest spells in its history with temperatures of minus 41c (minus 42f). While the UK is in the grip of an Arctic blast as the mercury plummets, and widespread snowfalls forecast overnight described as a danger to life threaten chaos today. Suddenly, conventional terms are no longer enough to describe violent blizzards that appear from nowhere and catastrophic freezes that can kill in minutes. Its enough to make solastalgiacs (sufferers of anxiety caused by climate change) of us all unless, of course, youre a sturdy chionophile (someone who loves freezing weather). Heres what you need to know about our weird winter weather. Polar vortex Until recently, youd have had to search through an 1853 almanac called the Living Age to find any mention of the phenomenon of a polar vortex. But in January 2014, this once-obscure weather event escaped from its natural home in the North Pole to wreak destruction much further south in the U.S. Now its back and being blamed for the deep freeze engulfing much of Americas Mid-west, killing at least 12 people and inflicting temperatures colder than Antarctica. So what is it? The vortex is a wind current that sits like a spinning hat above the North Pole. Normally, the Jet Stream a narrow band of fast flowing air at high altitude that marks the boundary between cold polar air and warmer air to the south traps the vortex above the pole. But in recent years, the Jet Stream current has weakened, allowing freezing polar vortex winds to blast southwards. In early January, meteorologists warned that another factor was coming into play a sudden warming of air in the stratosphere above the North Pole. They predicted, apparently correctly, that this warm air would further weaken the integrity of the polar vortex and cause it to split off into smaller sister vortices that could travel south far beyond their typical range as has indeed occurred. Lake Michigan froze over and the city of Chicago was blanketed in ice after days of recording-breaking low temperatures Thundersnow A once-rare occurrence, this is a type of thunderstorm in which snow or hail falls instead of rain. This is because temperatures at the centre of the storm clouds have plummeted to freezing and below. Often, people are unaware they are in the middle of thundersnow. Snow dampens sound, so you have to be almost right beneath a lightning strike to hear the following thunderclap. Snowbomb Britain suffered its first recorded snowbomb, also known as bomb-ogenesis, in December 2017. The term describes a dramatically rapid plunge in atmospheric pressure that sends barometers plunging down by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. Its been around since the 1940s but was taken up by forecasters in 2014 to describe a fast-forming catastrophic snowstorm that was heading rapidly towards the East Coast of America. Our own British snowbomb caused heavy blizzards and transport chaos. Up to 12 inches of snow fell in some places. Again, the Jet Stream was implicated. Wobbles in its flow had prompted that sudden fall in atmospheric pressure over the Atlantic. This in turn sucked in Arctic air from Scandinavia and the East to create a whirlpool of vicious winds and stormy weather that swept eastwards into Britain. The Beast from the East the cold blast which hit Britain in February 2018 and in a weaker form in March had its origins in similar but less dramatic atmospheric falls over a longer period of time. The fountain in New York's Bryant Park was frozen over on Thursday from the polar vortex Frostquake These were virtually unknown until 2013 when a major ice storm and a numbing deep freeze struck eastern Canada in December 2013. Residents were alarmed to hear deep bangs in the middle of the night. Emergency phone lines were swamped as people panicked at the prospect of earthquakes or mystery bomb blasts. In fact, the bangs were caused by frostquakes (also known as cryoseisms) when water freezes deep underground and turns into ice that expands so powerfully that it forces huge cracks in subterranean rocks. They are caused when heavy rain is followed by air temperatures plunging far below zero. Frostquakes do little real damage, bar putting a few cracks in peoples driveways. Flash freeze The rapid appearance of perishingly cold winter storms can in turn cause a new traffic peril called flash-freezing. A flash freeze will occur when sub-zero wind blasts over a wet road and instantly turns the water to ice. It can be lethally unexpected, because it doesnt have to be snowing, sleeting or raining for the road surface to turn into a rink. That wind can also be cold enough to freeze your car doors shut. Flash freezing is a cousin of deadly black ice, which forms most often when its raining and air temperatures are 32f (0c) or below. This is cold enough to freeze the rain on impact. Its called black ice because it is so transparently thin that it can look just like ordinary road tarmac. Snow, ice and salt covers buildings and streets throughout downtown Chicago where the windchill is driving perceived temperatures down to minus 40 and below Snownado These are caused by wild winds spinning over surfaces that are covered in snow and are also known as snow devils, ice devils or willy-willys. They form when a mass of cold air passes over a warmer surface, heated by sunlight. Wind shear a variation in wind velocity at right angles to the direction of the wind then causes the rising air to spin. In January 2017, a 100ft-high snownado was filmed by a holidaymaker near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. Beautiful but scary was how Lynn Godfrey described the spiralling pillar of snow and ice as it engulfed nearby skiers and walkers. What about Wind Chill? Unless you were an Arctic explorer, once all you needed to know about the wind was how hard it would be blowing. Now, when cold weather strikes, wind chill is a crucial factor, because while the thermometer might read minus 2c (28f), wind chill makes it feel like minus 8c. Cold air blowing past our bodies takes heat from the skin and reduces our core body temperature. The stronger the wind, the faster is the cooling and the lower the temperature, the more impact the wind has. In freezing weather, wind chills can quite rapidly lead to hypothermia. Advertisement Snizzle or Frizzle You may not yet have come across these words but you soon will, according to etymologists at Rice University in Texas, who note they are increasingly popular with weather forecasters. Snizzle describes a mixture of snow and drizzle. Frizzle is freezing drizzle although one could argue until the cows come shivering home about whether a downpour of sleet is actually either snizzle or frizzle. Frankenstorm Our changing climate is not only creating wild new weather it is also vastly increasing the chances of one event colliding with another. Scientists use the term Frankenstorm to describe such monster mixes of lethal conditions. It was first employed by the U.S. National Weather Services Hydrometeorological Prediction Centre in October 2012, when meteorologists realised that Hurricane Sandy was roaring in from the Atlantic to merge with an inland snowstorm to create a superstorm. The result was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane seen that year, responsible for killing more than 70 people across eight U.S. states. Universities will face sanctions including fines unless they address the attainment gap between black and white students, the Government has warned. Ministers are today releasing data showing that white students are around a third more likely than black students to get a good grade in their degrees. The new Race Disparity Audit shows that only 56 per cent of black students achieve a 2:1 or first, compared with 80 per cent of their white peers. Black students are also the most likely to drop out of university, and only 2 per cent of all academic staff are black. Data has revealed only 56 per cent of black students get a 2:1 or higher at UK universities compared to 80 per cent of white students (file photo) The reason for the difference is unclear, but some black students have said they struggled while at university because they did not feel supported or welcome. Today the Government is calling on universities to do more to close the race attainment gap and will demand they set out measures to achieve this in the next year. Those who do not comply will face intervention from the Office for Students (OfS), the new regulator, which has the power to punish and fine universities. It is not clear how much any fines would be. The worst offenders for inequality will also be named and shamed in league tables that will expose the disparities in achievement between various ethnic groups. Universities minister Chris Skidmore said: Universities need to reflect modern Britain, and ensure that everyone who has the potential, no matter their background or where they are from can thrive at university. It cannot be right that ethnic minority students are disproportionately dropping out of university and I want to do more to focus on student experience to help ethnic minority students succeed at university. Universities minister Chris Skidmore, pictured, said universities 'must do more to reflect modern Britain' All universities will now have to publish data on admissions and attainment, broken down by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background, to shine a spotlight on those making good progress and those lagging behind. Universities will also be asked to explain or change existing gaps in attainment. As part of this, they will have to draw up more ambitious plans to show what they are doing to close the gap and must provide evidence that it is working. Chris Millward, director for fair access at the OfS, said: Where we see lower proportions of ethnic minority students continuing with their studies, achieving the best degree outcomes, or progressing into graduate jobs, we expect universities to have a measurable plan of action to address this. The move comes following accusations from campaigners such as Labour MP David Lammy that some universities including Oxford do not admit enough black students and are institutionally biased. Three-year classroom-based degrees will certainly not be the norm in future, Mr Skidmore has said. In a speech, he hailed the arrival of degree apprenticeships and two-year courses, which he said would become more widespread in years to come. He said degrees would be tailored to the needs of the future workforce and enhance graduate employability. His comments suggest he is trying to tackle the problem of the large numbers of graduates in low-skilled jobs. A speeding motorist has done a smoking handbrake turn on a busy intersection as he tried to escape police in New Zealand. Footage uploaded on Friday shows the red Holden Commodore cornered by four police cars and a motorbike at the intersection of Weymouth Road and Great South Road in Manurewa, South Auckland. An officer jumps out of a car and at least three police gun shots can be heard. But the reckless motorist manages to escape by driving over the footpath and onto the wrong side of the road as he narrowly avoids the police cars. Officers begin chasing the driver after he allegedly fired multiple shots during an altercation in Northcote, north of Auckland at 3pm on Friday. The offender allegedly fled in the red Holden sedan and drove south of the city on the Northern Motorway. He then drove on the Northwestern Motorway before he turned around and headed back to the city. The vehicle travelled back to the Northern Motorway, exited Onewa Road and continued down the Southern motorway, the NZ Herald reported. The man allegedly hit multiple cars, evaded road spikes and was shot at by police during the speed-chase. He was eventually caught by police with the help of a police dog. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital where he is being treated for a bite wound and is under the supervision of police. Officers began chasing the driver after he allegedly shot a gun multiple times and was involved in an altercation in Northcote, north of Auckland at 3pm on Friday The reckless motorist managed to escape by driving over the footpath and onto the wrong side of the road as he narrowly avoided the police cars Waitemata District Commander Superintendent Nailia Hassan said the offender 'posed an extreme risk to the public'. 'This was an extremely volatile and dangerous situation where we had a person who was known to have used a firearm, demonstrating violent behaviour and fleeing police,'she said. Advertisement People across the Midwest have been caught having a bit of fun with the sub-zero temperatures brought on by the polar vortex. Some of the strangest photos were shared on social media by police officers braving the cold and residents who instead of building snowmen, froze their pants. One Minnesota family took a photo of five pairs of jeans that were frozen outside their home. A martial artist promoted his Martial Arts Academy in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, by play fighting with frozen karate uniforms. Deputies from the Danes County Sheriff's Office were trying to grab a bite to eat when their Cup of Noodles froze on a fork while they stood outside. In Chicago, deputies also tried to the frozen clothing challenge by taking a photo of a frozen uniform standing next to a patrol car. One man said it was so cold in his home that the water in his toilet froze. Other quirky photos that were seen across the Midwest, included a woman in Iowa whose wet hair froze when she stepped outside and an 82-year-old grandmother in Michigan who was spotted snowblowing her driveway. Scroll down for video People across the Midwest have been caught having a bit of fun with the sub-zero temperatures brought on by the polar vortex. One family in Saint Anthony Village, Minnesota, took a photo of five pairs of jeans that were frozen outside their home Other quirky photos that were seen across the Midwest, included an 82-year-old grandmother (pictured) in Michigan who was spotted snowblowing her driveway (left) and a toilet bowl that exploded because the water froze inside. However strange, a Twitter user insists that the toilet bowl did explode and that she saw it on a Reddit feed Deputies from the Danes County Sheriff's Office were trying to grab a bite to eat when their Cup of Noodles froze on a fork while they stood outside Another image showed a woman in Iowa whose wet hair froze when she stepped outside Though some people were able to make light of the extreme cold, the polar vortex that paralyzed the Midwest this week was nothing to play around with. At least 13 people were killed in weather-related deaths throughout the week and tens of millions more were left shivering as temperatures plunged to record-breaking lows. The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze lingered on Thursday and continued to break historic records with parts of Illinois and Iowa recording temperatures of -38F and -30F respectively. The frigid conditions canceled more than 2,300 flights and over 1,500 delays on Thursday, while the number of deaths blamed on the cold climbed to 13. Chicago's temperature dropped to a low of around -21F on Thursday, slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading of -27F in January 1985. Milwaukee's low was -25F. Minneapolis recorded -24F, and wind chills were as low as -38F, an improvement from a day earlier. Rockford, Illinois, saw a record low temperature of -31F on Thursday, while Cedar Rapids, Iowa, set a daily record low of -30F. A martial artist promoted his Martial Arts Academy in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, by play fighting with frozen karate uniforms Another photo showed folks making a long sleeve shirt and a pair of pants appear to do a handstand In Chicago, deputies also tried to the frozen clothing challenge by taking a photo of a frozen uniform standing next to a patrol car One man said it was so cold in his home that the water in his toilet froze The extreme cold also settled in over the Northeast on Thursday. In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow gave way to subzero temperatures and dangerous wind chills. The arctic conditions caused problems from Buffalo to Brooklyn, where about 200 firefighters battling an early morning blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses. The phenomenon caused surreal scenes throughout the region, including Lake Michigan freezing over, parts of Niagara Falls solidifying into frozen stillness and blocks of ice covering the river in downtown Chicago. At its worst, the cold snap caused temperatures to plunge to -42F on Wednesday across the Midwest. The bitter cold was caused by displacement of the polar vortex, a stream of air that normally spins around the stratosphere over the North Pole but whose current was disrupted. An aerial view of Chicago on Thursday shows just how much ice built up along the shore of Lake Michigan as temperatures dipped to below -20F during the past two days Snow and ice covers Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday as temperatures plummeted in the city from the polar vortex Lake Michigan froze over and the city of Chicago was blanketed in ice after days of recording-breaking low temperatures Boat docks in Chicago were completely covered by ice and snow on Thursday after temperatures plunged during the deep freeze It pushed eastward and states including Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania were experiencing bitterly cold temperatures Thursday. The prospect of a weekend break offered little comfort to those enduring icy conditions, brutal winds and temperatures. By the weekend, Chicago, which experienced near-record cold on Wednesday and Thursday, was expected to bask in snow-melting highs in the mid-40s to low 50s Fahrenheit. So will other parts of the Midwest. The deep freeze has caused more than a dozen deaths since Saturday with some dying in weather-related traffic accidents and others from freezing to death. The body of an 18-year-old pre-med student, Gerald Belz, was found in the freezing cold at the University of Iowa at 3am on Wednesday. The National Weather Service said the wind chill in Iowa at the time he was found was negative 51F degrees. Police found a man's body across the street from his home in the Detroit area on Wednesday. He was not wearing a hat or gloves and wasn't dressed for below-zero temperatures. A 70-year-old man was also found dead in Detroit in front of a neighbor's home on Wednesday. Snow, ice and salt covers buildings and streets throughout downtown Chicago as temperatures dipped over the last two days Ice builds up around Navy Pier in Chicago on Thursday after temperatures plunged to record lows for two consecutive days Steam rises from building in downtown Chicago as the city experience painfully cold temperatures for the second day Mist rises from the Chicago River on Wednesday as tens of millions continue to face freezing temperatures Steam rises from Niagara Fall on Thursday after the brutal cold wave moved eastward after wreaking havoc on the Midwest A view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls as steam rises from Niagara Falls on Thursday as a brutal cold wave moves eastward Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge during frigid temperatures on Thursday in Minneapolis, Minnesota St. Louis, Missouri plunged into negative temperatures during the polar vortex An 82-year-old central Illinois man died in the cold weather several hours after he fell trying to get into his home. 13 KILLED AS DEEP FREEZE WREAKS HAVOC ON MIDWEST 1. Gerald Belz, 18, was found dead on the University of Iowa campus at 3am on Wednesday. The wind chill in Iowa when the pre-med student was found was -51F degrees. Gerald Belz was found behind an academic hall just before 3am on Wednesday at the University of Iowa 2. A man's body was found near his home in the Detroit area on Tuesday. He was not wearing a hat or gloves and wasn't dressed for below-zero temperatures. 3. Gary Sammons, a 70-year-old man, was found dead in Detroit in front of a neighbor's home on Tuesday. 4. An 82-year-old central Illinois man died in the cold weather after authorities say he was found by a neighbor several hours after he fell trying to get into his home. 5. A Milwaukee woman, 38, was found frozen in her unheated apartment on Wednesday. 6. A 60-year-old woman was found in a vacant house in Ohio. 7. The body of a Michigan man, 60, was found outdoors in freezing conditions. 8. A 55-year-old man, Charley Lampley, froze to death in his Milwaukee garage on Tuesday after he collapsed shoveling snow. 9. A nine-year-old died in an Iowa pile up. 10 & 11. A young couple were killed when their SUV struck another on a snowy road in northern Indiana. 12. Donald Anderson, 75, was fatally struck by a snow plow in Chicago on Monday. 13. A homeless man known to locals as 'Larry' was found dead in a bus shelter in Buffalo, New York on Thursday. Advertisement A Milwaukee woman, 38, was found frozen in her unheated apartment, a 60-year-old woman was found in a house in Ohio and the body of a Michigan man, 60, was found outdoors in freezing conditions. A 55-year-old man also froze to death in his Milwaukee garage after he collapsed shoveling snow, a man was fatally struck by a snow plow in Chicago, a nine-year-old died in an Iowa pile up and a young couple were killed when their SUV struck another on a snowy road in northern Indiana. A homeless man was also found dead at a bus shelter in Buffalo, New York on Thursday. Disruptions caused by the cold snap continued to persist on Thursday with power outages and canceled flights and trains. The cold halted postal services across the Midwest on Wednesday and Thursday. The blast of polar air that enveloped much of the Midwest on Wednesday closed schools and businesses and strained infrastructure with some of the lowest temperatures in a generation. The deep freeze snapped rail lines, canceled hundreds of flights and strained utilities. Crews in Detroit will need days to repair water mains that burst on Wednesday and other pipes can still burst in persistent subzero temperatures. Schools in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa remained closed on Thursday. But students headed back to school in eastern North Dakota, where the weather was forecast to crawl out of double-digit sub-zero temperatures. Temperatures are expected to bounce back into the single digits on Thursday and into the comparative balmy 20s by Friday across parts of the Midwest. In the Northeast, people braced themselves for the cold with temperatures plunging to -5F in Boston, 3F in Buffalo, New York, 5F in NYC, 8F in Philadelphia and 3F in Portland, Maine for the early morning commute. In comparison, temperatures plunged to as low as minus 42F in Park Rapids, Minnesota, minus 31F in Fargo, North Dakota, minus 27F in Minneapolis and minus 25F in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday. Chicago dropped to a low of around -23F. Wind chills in northern Illinois made it feel as cold as negative 57F. Temperatures in parts of the Midwest were lower Wednesday than in Antarctica, where the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station hit -25F. The phenomenon stemming from a blast of Arctic air caused surreal scenes throughout the region, such as steam rising off the waters of Lake Michigan (above) - the result of extremely cold air passing over warmer water below This drone footage captured by Soaring Badger Productions was shot along the Chicago lakefront Thursday morning when it was between -15F and -22F degrees outside A woman braves the cold in Buffalo, New York on Thursday after a winter storm dumped feet of snow The fountain in New York's Bryant Park was frozen over on Thursday as the polar vortex moved into the Northeast Ice floats along the Hudson River as the skyline of New York City is seen during freeze temperatures on Thursday Mike Calen (left) and Steve Goyette (right) prepare to tie off as an ice covered fishing boat arrives at New Bedford, Mass The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze was expected to ease Thursday, though temperatures still tumbled to record lows in some places A woman walks by trees covered in ice and snow at Niagara Falls on Thursday Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge during frigid temperatures in Minneapolis, Minnesota Crews clear downtown streets and sidewalks in St. Joseph, Michigan on Thursday The freezing conditions made it difficult for firefighters to battle various infernos, including one at a New Jersey toilet paper plant late Wednesday. 'It's freezing,' Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said. 'Firefighters are dealing with water on their faces and on their hands. It's spraying all over you. Regardless of your equipment, it impacts you and slows you down.' Amtrak also axed all trains into and out of Chicago on Wednesday and most services to or from Chicago on Thursday. Crews had to set rail tracks on fire to keeps trains moving smoothly on Tuesday. Well over 2,500 flights were canceled on Wednesday, largely out of Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway international airports, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The US Postal Service also took the rare step of suspending mail delivery to parts of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, the Dakotas and Nebraska on Wednesday because of the dangerous Arctic blast. The bitter cold was the result of a split in the polar vortex , a mass of cold air that normally stays bottled up in the Arctic. The split allowed the air to spill much farther south than usual. In fact, Chicago was colder than the Canadian village of Alert, one of the world's most northerly inhabited places. Alert, which is 500 miles from the North Pole, reported a temperature that was a couple of degrees higher. Governors in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan all declared emergencies as officials in dozens of cities focused on protecting vulnerable people from the cold, including the homeless, seniors and those living in substandard housing. The polar vortex in the Midwest has brought record-breaking low temperatures across the Midwest, halted postal services in five states and canceled more than 2,600 flights. Lake Michigan (above) became a huge mass of ice. The freezing conditions made it difficult for firefighters to battle various infernos, including one at a paving company's warehouse in Big Beaver Township, Pennsylvania (pictured above) Ice forms on tree branches as New York firefighters battle a blaze in Brooklyn on Thursday morning The sunrises over downtown Pittsburgh and a partially frozen Allegheny River on Thursday. The temperature in Pittsburgh dropped to minus 4 late Wednesday, breaking an 85-year-old record low for January 30 of minus 1 degree A woman walks in the snow during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York on Thursday The Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis were completely frozen over on Thursday following the cold spell Pedestrians who braved the cold weather completely covered their faces across the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday A homeless man accepts cash from a stranger on a bitter cold morning in Portland, Maine on Thursday Hundreds of warming centers were opened for vulnerable residents such as seniors, buses were employed as mobile warming spaces, and shelter capacities were increased for the homeless, including the approximately 16,000 living on the streets of Chicago. An anonymous good Samaritan paid for hotel rooms for 70 homeless people living in tents in Chicago until the cold subsides. In Michigan, state and utility officials warned residents that they risked brief interruptions of natural gas service if they didn't help reduce energy. The warning followed a fire at a utility's suburban Detroit facility that affected natural gas supplies. An emergency alert was sent late Wednesday to cellphones asking people to lower thermostats to 65 degrees or below through Friday. Michigan Govenor Gretchen Whitmer asked everyone to 'to do your part.' Aside from the safety risks and the physical discomfort, the system's icy grip also took a heavy toll on infrastructure, halting transportation, knocking out electricity and interrupting water service. Ten diesel-train lines in the Metra commuter network kept running, unlike the electric lines, but crews had to heat vital switches with gas flames and watched for rails that were cracked or broken. When steel rails break or even crack, trains are automatically halted until they are diverted or the section of rail is repaired. A track in the Minneapolis light-rail system also cracked, forcing trains to share the remaining track for a few hours. In Detroit, more than two dozen water mains froze. Customers were connected to other mains to keep water service from being interrupted, according to a Detroit Water and Sewerage spokesman. Most mains were installed from the early 1900s to the 1950s. They are 5 to 6 feet underground and beneath the frost line, but that matters little when temperatures drop so dramatically. On a typical winter day, the city has five to nine breaks, with each taking about three days to fix. But those repairs will take longer now with the large number of failures to fix. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was recently mocked over a photo of himself in the kitchen that he shared on Twitter. The Labor leader and father-of-three was prepping his kids back to school lunches, but online commentators were quick to pick up on a glaring cooking mishap. Over Mr Shorten's left shoulder, a black burn mark above the stove stood out in stark contrast to its cream-coloured walls. But his wife, Chloe, has since told news.com.au that the cause of the burn was not the fault of her or her husband. Scroll down for video Labor Leader Bill Shorten has been mocked for this picture posted to his Twitter In fact, it was caused by an overly enthusiastic attempt to cook by one of her children. While she didn't go into detail about what actually happened at the time, she did say it was 'something that brought about one of those household lectures that isnt quickly forgotten.' Mrs Shorten used the popularity of the now viral image to draw attention to the importance of child safety. She said there was a necessity for parents to keep informed on the best ways to keep their children safe to 'make sure a scare doesnt turn into a scar.' People were quick to lay into Mr Shorten about the burn mark over his left shoulder Online commenters were quick to point out the cooking mishap, with many initially wondering who was at fault - Shorten or his wife Chloe. 'Well, now I just have to know: Who burnt the back of the stove?' Another made reference to his political campaign, questioning whether the incriminating mark was an indication Shorten was going to leave things on the 'back burner'. 'Looks like the hot plate got a little too hot Bill,' another wrote. A stark black burn mark on Mr Shorten's kitchen walls grabbed commenter's attention Mr Shorten (pictured with his family) lamented that back to school meant 'back to making school lunches' for his kids The kitchen picture isn't the first run-in with food Mr Shorten has had over the years. Back during the 2016 Federal Election, the politician was mocked widely for how he ate the customary post-vote sausage sizzle. Tucking into the sausage and bread, Mr Shorten elected to bite it through the middle, as opposed to starting at one of the ends. At the time, one critic wrote: 'If Bill Shorten loses this election how much will it be because he ate a sausage sandwich sideways.' Despite the awkward photo the Labor Opposition finds itself ahead 53 per cent to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis in the latest Newspoll. Published by The Australian on Tuesday, the Liberal government increased its primary vote by two points since the last poll in December, which had Labor leading 55 per cent to 45 per cent. However, Mr Morrison's approval rating continues to plummet, despite leading Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister at 43 per cent compared to 36 per cent. The victim in Bill Cosby's criminal sex-assault case has settled a defamation lawsuit against a former prosecutor who refused to press charges in 2005. Andrea Constand, 45, went to police in suburban Philadelphia and told Bruce Castor the disgraced comic, 81, had drugged and molested her a year earlier. But Castor declined to charge the actor and in a statement, he said that both parties could be portrayed in 'a less than flattering light'. Former prosecutor Castor then accused Constand of adding details to her story over time. He said: 'If the allegations in the civil complaint were contained with that detail in her statement to the police, we might have been able to make a case out of it.' Constand's lawyer, Dolores Troiani, demanded a public apology, saying Castor had revictimized her client. Troiani said at the time: 'This is outrageous that a victim of a crime could be treated this same way - twice - by the same man.' The victim in Bill Cosby's criminal sex-assault case, Andrea Constand, left, has settled a defamation lawsuit against a former prosecutor, right, who said she added details to her story over time. Bruce Castor, pictured in 2016, refused to press charges in 2005 Bill Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison near Philadelphia Constand filed her defamation suit against Castor in October 2015. She accused him of undermining her credibility publicly and misstating facts about her case. She said he had twisted her story to benefit his political ambitions during his failed attempt at relection to district attorney. Constand's suit against Castor had been set for trial in April in Philadelphia after a federal judge refused to dismiss it. The case then settled this week, court records show. Troiani said Thursday that the terms are confidential and both sides had agreed not to comment. A new prosecutor arrested Cosby in 2015 after documents from her 2005 civil suit against Cosby were unsealed, revealing Cosby's damaging testimony about sexual encounters with Constand and others. Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand, left, and her attorney Dolores Troiani, right, listen during a news conference after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault trial in 2018 Constand said she felt like a 'limp noodle' after Cosby handed her three blue pills He was convicted in 2018 of sexually assaulting Constand and is serving a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison near Philadelphia. In an interview with Dateline Constand said she felt like a 'limp noodle' after Cosby handed her three blue pills to help her relax. Within a half hour, Constand started slurring her words and could no longer walk. Cosby helped her to a couch, where he began to assault her. Castor and his lawyers did not immediately return messages late Thursday. Cosby settled Constand's civil lawsuit for nearly $3.4 million. (ANSA) - Rome, February 1 - Snow hit the north of Italy and rain the centre on Friday. Milan and many other Lombardy cities were covered in snow while in Piedmont a man was killed when his car overturned on an icy road. Near Bergamo a woman gave birth outside a church after her car was blocked by the snow. Elba was isolated by gales. Several mysterious phone calls made by Don Trump Jr ahead of the infamous Trump Tower meeting were to business associates and not to his father, a new report has claimed. Records recently provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee show the calls in June 2016 were between Trump Jr and two of his business associates, three sources with knowledge of the matter told ABC News. Democrats had long speculated that several calls to blocked numbers three days prior to Trump Jr's meeting with a Russian lawyer were to Donald Trump, and had hoped to see the President's eldest son indicted for lying about them. Instead, the calls were to two Trump family friends: NASCAR CEO Brian France and real estate developer Howard Lorber, according to the sources. Trump reacted to the new report quickly, tweeting on Thursday night: 'Just out: The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me. They were made to friends & business associates of Don. Really sad!' Calls made by Don Trump Jr (left) ahead of his infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya (right) were to business associates and not to his father The new information throws cold water on the Democrats' hopes that Trump Jr could be indicted for perjury for testifying that he did not inform his father of the Trump Tower meeting beforehand. The report sheds light on a key question about Trump Jr's meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who had offered the Trump campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, which she apparently never delivered. Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort participated in the meeting, which Trump Jr later publicly dismissed as 'nothing' and 'a wasted 20 minutes.' There does not appear to have been anything inherently illegal about the meeting, but Trump Jr initially lied about its purpose in a press release. Opponents of President Trump have long hoped to see Trump Jr indicted for lying to investigators or Congress about the meeting or what his father knew about it. In his September 2017 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Trump Jr was asked whether he told his father about the meeting, and replied: 'No, I did not.' The blocked calls were reportedly to two Trump family friends: NASCAR CEO Brian France (left) and real estate developer Howard Lorber (right) Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort attended the meeting at Trump Tower (above) At the hearing, Trump Jr was also questioned about two phone calls between his iPhone and blocked numbers on June 6, 2017, the same day he spoke on the phone with Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, the son of a Russian oligarch who spearheaded the Trump Tower meeting. Trump Jr told the committee that he could not recall who he was speaking with on the calls with the blocked numbers. CNN first reported Thursday that the calls did not go to President Trump. It is unclear whether the calls had anything to do with the Trump Tower meeting, or were entirely unrelated. However, a spokesperson for Lorber told ABC that the real estate executive 'does not recall having conversations with Donald Jr. in the summer of 2016, but in any event he has absolutely not had conversations with Donald Jr. about any Russian matters.' Both Lorber and France have close ties to Trump and actively supported his campaign during the 2016 election. With Democrats in control of the House, the blocked calls had been primed to become a key avenue of inquiry. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, had said that he planned to seek records from Trump Jr and the Trump Organization detailing his communications, including calls about the Trump Tower meeting. Trump Jr reacted to the reports vindicating his blocked calls with a tweet mocking Schiff. 'Has anyone heard from Adam Schiff?' Trump Jr wrote. 'I imagine hes busy leaking other confidential info from the House Intelligence Committee to change the subject?!?' Lawmaker Dawn Adams (pictured) from Virginia apologized to constituents for not reading a controversial bill on late-term abortions which she agreed to co-sponsor A Democratic delegate who co-sponsored a bill repealing restrictions on late-term abortion said she wouldn't have supported it had she read it properly. Lawmaker Dawn Adams, from Richmond, Virginia, apologized to constituents in an email, saying she did not fully understand the bill when she signed it as a co-sponsor. The development comes after Ralph Northam, the Democratic governor of Virginia, provoked outrage by suggesting that a pregnancy could be terminated during the baby's birth. Virginia Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran, the primary sponsor of the proposed legislation, released a video Thursday standing by the bill. However in an email Dawn Adams said she didnt know what was in the legislation before adding her name to it. 'By now you have heard about the abortion bill, or seen the video,' Adams said in the email. 'I vaguely remember signing on to this, and I did this in solidarity with my colleague and as a symbolic gesture for a womans right to choose. She added: 'I am sorry that I did not exercise due diligence before this explosion of attention; had I done so, I would not have co-patroned.' Adams said she thought it only reversed 'onerous' abortion regulations implemented by Republicans in 2012, and didnt realize that it 'sought to do much more.' Kathy Tran provoked fury this week when she was asked at a hearing if a woman about to give birth and dilating could still request an abortion. 'My bill would allow that, yes,' she said. Adams apologized to constituents in an email , saying she did not fully understand the bill when she signed it as a co-sponsor Virginia Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran (left) proposed a bill for abortions up until the moment of delivery to the Republican House majority leader on Monday Tran released a video on social media on Thursday saying she 'was really surprised by the line of questioning that I got' in the hearing. 'I want to be very clear about whats currently allowed in Virginia law,' Tran said. 'Right now women are able to access an abortion in the later stages of pregnancy under certain conditions with the approval of medical doctors. 'Ive done nothing to change that. What I have done is try to make sure that women are able to make these decisions and access these services in a timely manner.' Northam provoked fury in an interview with WTOP-FM on Wednesday, when he was asked the debate in the state legislature over a bill that would relax restrictions on third trimester abortions. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, described a hypothetical situation where a severely deformed newborn infant could be left to die. He said that if a woman were to desire an abortion as she's going into labor, the baby would be delivered and then 'resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue' between doctors and the mother. And he refused to back down from comments . 'I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting,' Northam tweeted. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, described a hypothetical situation where a severely deformed newborn infant could be left to die A demonstrator holds a sign as Ralph Northam speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Richmond Trump and other prominent Republicans were outraged at the remarks made by Ralph Northam, leading POTUS to call the Democrats 'the party of late-term abortion.' 'Whats shameful is that you're too cowardly to say point blank that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth,' Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse said in a statement Thursday. 'You could have said that yesterday. But because youre terrified of an extremist pro-abortion lobby that now defends even infanticide, you're still ducking.' Existing Virginia state law does not put an absolute time limit on abortions and Tran's legislation did not alter that. Her legislation would reduce the number of doctors who would have to certify late-term abortions are needed from three to one. It would also delete the requirement that doctors determine that continuing a pregnancy would 'substantially and irremediably' impair a woman's health. Instead doctors would only have to certify that the woman's health was impaired. Supporters said the changes in law would help reduce the bureaucratic burdens women face when dealing with difficult decisions involving late-term abortions, which often involve serious medical complications. Opponents of the legislation, which has failed in both the state House and Senate, said it would give essentially allow for late abortions on demand. Oxycontin dynasty the Sacklers allegedly pushed high doses of the painkiller and hoped to cash in on anti-overdose drug NARCAN while 235,000 Americans died from the opoid epidemic, according to an unredacted complaint filed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The lawsuit claims that Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family knew that patients on higher dosages of OxyContin for long periods were at an increased risk of serious side effects, including addiction, yet they continued to promote the high doses as they yielded the most profit. A copy of the filing obtained by DailyMail.com shows that from 2008 to 2016, the Sackler family added $4.2 billion to their already massive fortune in profits derived just from the sale of prescription opioids. Richard Sackler, a son of a founder of Purdue Pharma and its former president, wrote in a 2008 email to company officials to 'measure our performance by Rx's by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths', according to the filing. Jonathan and Mortimer Sackler, were also copied in on the email, according to the new disclosures. Richard Sackler has always denied he was involved in the company's marketing activities. After making billions selling opoid Purdue Pharma even considered selling anti-overdose drug NARCAN. Death dealrs: The Sackler family paid themselves $4,273,489,182 (above) in profits from opioid sales from 2008 and 2016 while over 235,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses The filing shows a potential plan to study 'long-term script users' to 'better understand target end-patients' for NARCAN. The plan never went forward but appeared in a 2014 presentation to company officials, including a Sackler family member, which also stated that 'pain treatment and addiction are naturally linked' and that 'there is an opportunity to expand our offering to be an end-to-end pain provider.' The filing paints a picture of a wealthy family getting richer while overdoses skyrocketed as the opioid epidemic swept the country and claimed the lives of more than 235,000 Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control. The 275-page suit that is set to tarnish the legacy of a family that once bragged they would 'bury the competition' with the release of the highly addictive Oxycontin. A Purdue spokesman criticized the lawsuit and denied the claims, telling the New York Times: 'None of the documents cited by the attorney general support her fictional narrative that the company was only interested in promoting higher doses,' that spokesman, Robert Josephson, said. Mortimer David Alfons Sackler, 47, with his wife, Jaqueline. Their Hamptons home has been featured in Vogue. Jacqueline is shown, right, with Ivanka Trump in 2007 In March, a group of protesters led by photographer Nan Goldin descended on the Sackler Wing at the Met to shame the family The complaint states that eight members of the Sackler family (Richard, Beverly, David, Ilene, Jonathan, Kathe, Mortimer and Theresa) 'paid their families billions of dollars from opioid sales.' The exact number is listed as $4,273,489,182, though it is noted that 'the list of payments if likely incomplete and not exhaustive.' It was not just the family who was profiting either, with board members taking home $600,000 annually for their work with the company according to the complaint. Members of the family that controls Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma are also defendants in a lawsuit brought by New York's Suffolk County. There is also a massive consolidated federal case playing out in Ohio. Kathe Sackler, 70, lives in New York City and owns property in Connecticut with her wife More than 1,000 government entities have sued Purdue, along with other drugmakers and distributors, claiming they are partly culpable for a drug overdose crisis that resulted in a record 72,000 deaths in 2017. The majority of those deaths were from legal or illicit opioids. The company documents at the heart of the Massachusetts claims also could be evidence in the Ohio lawsuits, which are being overseen by a federal judge. The allegations have already started to tarnish a name that is best known for its generosity to museums worldwide including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a Sackler wing, and London's Tate Modern. The late Mortimer Sackler with his widow, Dame Theresa Sackler who is among members of the family being sued Brothers Jonathan, left, and Richard, right. Richard headed Purdue from 1999 to 2003 and oversaw much of the increasing sales of OxyContin as it was being advertised Beverly Sackler is Raymond's 94-year-old widow. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut The Sackler name also is on a gallery at the Smithsonian, a wing of galleries at London's Royal Academy of Arts and a museum at Beijing's Peking University. The family's best known and most generous donor, Arthur M. Sackler, died nearly a decade before OxyContin was released. In its lawsuit filed last year, the Massachusetts attorney general's office went after members of the Sackler family and Purdue, which is structured as a partnership and is not publicly traded. The company's flagship drug, OxyContin, was the first of a generation of drugs that used a narcotic painkiller in a time-release form. That meant each pill had a larger amount of drug in it than other versions and could get abusers a more intense high if they defeated the time-release process. The state is asserting that Richard Sackler, a son of a company founder and at the time a senior vice president for Purdue, as well as other family members pushed selling OxyContin even when they knew it could cause problems. Ilene is Mortimer's oldest daughter. She is pictured in 1999 opening the Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology When the drug was first sold in 1996, the filing said, Sackler told the sales force 'the launch of OxyContin Tablets will be followed by a blizzard of prescriptions that will bury the competition.' In 2007, the company and three current and former executives pleaded guilty to criminal charges that they deceived regulators, doctors and patients about the drug's addiction risks. The company agreed to fines of $634 million. The next year, according to the Massachusetts lawsuit, the company pressed ahead with a new version of the drug designed to be harder for abusers to crush. It did so without first conducting trials and despite a warning from the company's CEO that the new version 'will not stop patients from the simple act of taking too many pills.' Purdue had previously responded to the Massachusetts filing. 'In a rush to vilify a single manufacturer whose medicines represent less than 2 percent of opioid pain prescriptions rather than doing the hard work of trying to solve a complex public health crisis, the complaint distorts critical facts and cynically conflates prescription opioid medications with illegal heroin and fentanyl,' said the company. A spokesman for the Sackler family declined to comment. The sister of a nine-year-old boy who was dragged across the schoolyard by his principal has denied rumours it was punishment for attacking a teacher. Disturbing footage showed Steve Warner, principal of Manor Lakes school in Wyndham Vale, Melbourne, pulling the student by one arm. False rumours from students and parents at the P-12 school have since circulated on social media, claiming the boy kicked a pregnant teacher in the stomach. However, the boy's sister Bianca Moore rubbished such claims, saying he kicked a trolley during a 'tantrum' on his first day at his new school. Bianca Moore (pictured) rubbished claims her brother was being punished for kicking a pregnant teacher in the stomach, saying he kicked a trolley during a 'tantrum' 'He suffers from ADHD and anxiety and obviously starting at a new school has upset him, he was having a tantrum,' she said. 'I believe he was asked to share something to the class as it was their first day he didn't want to and became upset. 'It's no excuse I know for throwing a tantrum, but unfortunately that's how he deals with his emotions.' Ms Moore, a mother-of-one, said her brother was 'misbehaving' and kicked a school trolley, which may be how the rumour started. 'Nowhere near a pregnant teacher, he's not an animal,' she said. 'The principal was called to remove him which is fair enough, I agree with that. But the fact he was dragged by his arm and now has bruising from this shows how rough the principal was.' Principal Steve Warner was filmed dragging a student by the arm across the playground of Manor Lakes school in Melbourne The big sister claimed there were 'scuff marks on his school uniform' from where he was dragged on the concrete schoolyard. 'He has a few bruises but overall he is OK. But he now has to move schools again as my mum is so upset by this,' she said. The school on Friday morning said the student was sitting on a sensory board when Mr Warner dragged him by the arm. The well-liked principal was stood down pending an independent investigation called for by Victorian Education Minister James Merlino, and police are investigating. Ms Moore said it was not until after the video began appearing on social media that her family realised what happened. 'He didn't tell mum about it because he didn't know how to process it,' she said. Parents picking up their children said they were shocked after they saw the video and demanded Mr Warner be sacked. However, dozens of others defended him on social media, saying he had done great things for the school and they hoped he would stay principal. This was fuelled by the rumours about the boy attacking a teacher, with many saying Mr Warner just gave out some stern discipline. Parents picking up their children said they were shocked after they saw the video and demanded Mr Warner be sacked A petition calling for his reinstatement has almost 1,000 signatures since being launched on Thursday. 'Steve's dedication to his school community has been tremendous. He has turned this school around with a renewed focus on learning,' it read. 'He has improved discipline and behavior across the school and his management has seen many improvements in the schools facilities for students making for a fantastic environment. 'The worst outcome of this situation would be for the school to lose him as the principal and leader. His work has only just started to take effect and there is only good things that could come from him continuing in his role. 'We are asking that his dedicated work at the school not be in vain due to this one isolated incident.' School councilor Daniel Foster also said Mr Warner had '100 per cent' support from the school community, who had immense respect for him. 'At the end of the day, the policy basically surrounding all of this, if there's a child, children or a teacher in any danger in any way, they need to be removed from that danger,' he told 3AW radio. 'As far as I'm aware there was an incident in the classroom and the child needed to be removed. The School Council will support Steve 100 per cent.' A petition calling for Mr Warner's reinstatement as principal to Manor Lakes school (pictured) has almost 1,000 signatures since being launched on Thursday However, Mr Merlino called the footage 'appalling and concerning' and vowed to get to the bottom of what happened. 'Let me be very clear, I will not tolerate this kind of completely unacceptable behaviour in our schools,' he said. 'There will be an independent investigation into the staff member's conduct and he has been immediately stood down while this takes place.' Victoria Police said it was investigating the incident after a report was made about 'the treatment of a student'. 'It is yet to be determined if the nine-year-old boy was injured during the incident. The exact circumstances are being investigated,' it said. Some online commenters said it looked as though the boy was sitting on a skateboard or similar when he was dragged. Mr Warner became principal of the school in 2016 after spending five years at Footscray City Primary School. A 31-year-old man is due to face court over the indecent assault of a two-year-old girl in daycare at a friend's home. The young girl was assaulted at an Ariah Park child care centre in the Riverina region of New South Wales between 2008 and 2009. The 31-year-old man was arrested at an Ariah Park home on January 25 after detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad travelled to Victoria to speak with him in September 2018. A 31-year-old man is due to face court after a two-year-old girl was indecently assaulted (stock image) He was charged with the aggravated indecent assault of a victim under the age of 16. The man appeared at Wagga Wagga Local court and was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Temora Local Court on Friday. Police will allege in court the man assaulted the then two-year-old while she was attending the day care home of his relative. The Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate and the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities have been notified of the incident by police. A prohibition notice to the director of the child care centre. Inquiries are continuing. The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who investigate crimes against children and adults, which include sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect. A U.S. judge has ruled that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government is liable for $302.5 million in damages for its role in the death of renowned American journalist Marie Colvin. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson concluded the Syrian military had deliberately targeted the makeshift media center in the city of Homs where Colvin and other journalists were working. Sustained artillery barrages against the apartment building housing the media center killed Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik on February 22, 2012. The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (right) is liable for $302.5 million in damages for its role in the death of renowned American journalist Marie Colvin (left) Colvin, who had covered conflicts around the world for the British newspaper, wore a signature black patch over her left eye after being blinded by a grenade in Sri Lanka in 2001. The 2018 film 'A Private War', starring Rosamund Pike and Jamie Dornan, was based on her life. Lawyers for Colvin's family argued that her death was no accident. They hope to recover the $302 million verdict by targeting frozen Syrian government assets overseas. The Syrian government has never responded to the suit. 'The challenge now is going to be enforcing the judgment,' said Scott Gilmore, lead counsel for the Colvin family. 'The precedents show that it is possible to recover assets.' Gilmore said one of the main challenges of the lawsuit was to prove that Colvin's death wasn't caused by standard 'fog of war' battlefield confusion. The suit used a mixture of eyewitness accounts, testimony from defectors and recovered internal Syrian government documents to prove the Syrian military had spent days trying to locate the apartment building that Colvin and several journalists were using as a home base. Sustained artillery barrages against an apartment building housing the media center killed Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik (pictured) in February 2012 U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson concluded the Syrian military had deliberately targeted the makeshift media center where Marie Colvin was working 'This wasn't a stray shell,' Gilmore said. 'The overwhelming weight of the evidence concluded that this was essentially an assassination.' Colvin's sister, Cathleen, said she had initially assumed Marie's death was a tragic accident, the kind that could happen to any journalist in a war zone. She decided to pursue a lawsuit after speaking with Paul Conroy, a photographer who was working with Marie Colvin and was injured in the same shelling. Conroy, a veteran of the British Army's Royal Artillery, told her the media center wasn't hit by haphazard shelling but by 'bracketing,' a recognized artillery technique used to home in on a specific target. 'It was part of the government's strategy in putting down the uprising,' Cathleen Colvin said. 'They prioritized taking out the journalists.' Colvin's sister, Cathleen, (pictured) was told that Syrian authorities specifically targeted the media center were Colvin was working in a bid to quash the uprising Colvin said she doesn't know if the suit will ever succeed in retrieving any of that $302 million. But she hopes it will at least be a long-term inconvenience and embarrassment to President Bashar Assad's government. 'I don't have any illusions that this will have any effect on Assad's life,' she said. 'Hopefully, this will be some sort of thorn in his side for decades.' Foreign governments are immune from jurisdiction in U.S. courts through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. However, that immunity is lifted for alleged crimes against American citizens by governments classified as a 'state sponsor of terrorism.' Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian is using a similar approach to sue the Iranian government, which jailed him for more than 500 days on espionage charges. A group of teenagers involved in a horror car crash which left two fighting for life had just watched the sunrise with friends when the accident happened. The five boys were in a brown 2000 Holden Commodore travelling east on Beacon Road, in the Gold Coast Hinterland at around 5.40am on Wednesday. Witnesses said the car flipped before smashing into bins, sliding across the wet road and crashing into a wall, according to Gold Coast Bulletin. The mother of a girl who had been with the boys before the accident said the group had been watching the sunrise. A brown 2000 Holden Commodore travelling east on Beacon Road when the car veered onto the wrong side of the road and flipped upside down (pictured) Fellow backseat passenger Bailey Toms, 14, (pictured) went from critical to stable yesterday afternoon after arm surgery Sarah Holden wrote on Facebook: 'They were up Tamborine (Mountain) watching the sunrise with my daughter and her friend. 'She was there when help came too. God I hope they all pull through. My heart breaks for the parents. 'They made a mistake and now (they are suffering). No one deserves this.' The car landed just metres away from where swimmers were lining up at the Tamborine Mountain Pool. 'It was so close. There was a lot of pedestrians walking their dogs and cyclists,' resident Harry Maguire said. Eight ambulance units were in the area following the car crash. Police are still investigating the circumstances around the incident but a spokeswoman said the driver's speed and inexperience will play a big part in the investigation. The alleged driver, 16-year-old Bodi Lawson, is in the hospital in an induced coma, while backseat passenger Josh Flood, 14, remained in critical condition yesterday. A photo was posted on social media of one of the injured boys in the Tamborine Mountain car crash (pictured) Fellow backseat passenger Bailey Toms, 14, went from critical to stable yesterday afternoon after arm surgery. Bailey's father, David Toms, posted a photo of his son on Facebook, saying, 'Love you my son. You will pull through this'. Two other 14-year-old boys, Riley McDonald and Wyatt Ryan, were confirmed to be stable and recovering at the hospital yesterday. 'I am OK,' Mr McDonald told Gold Coast Bulletin. 'I have a broken hip in four different places'. Police are still investigating the circumstances around the car crash but a spokeswoman said the driver's speed and inexperience will play a big part in the investigation Eight ambulance units were in the area following the car crash in Tamborine Mountain (pictured) Friends on social media continued to show support. 'Omg Im so sorry to hear this sending Bailey and you all lots of love and wishing him a speedy recovery,' someone said after hearing news of the 14-year-old's arm surgery. 'Come on boys, you can get through this, yous are strong, you got this,' one posted. 'Everyone is praying for you, I wish this never happened to you,' another wrote. A Western Australia dad accused of killing his seven-month old son has walked free from court after manslaughter charges against him were dropped because of how he was treated by police. Rockingham man, Dylan Clinton O'Meara, 22, was accused of breaking his baby Shisui's tiny arm after he 'forcibly' pulled the infant from his cot on April 8, 2016. The charges against the Rockingham man were discontinued in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, after prosecutors said the state had 'no reasonable prospect of conviction.' During interviews with police, O'Meara said he has a spilt-personality disorder, and revealed he had an imaginary friend, a British spy called Alex O'Neill. Justice Jenkins said police planted the seed in O'Meara's head that 'Alex' may have had something to do with his baby's death. Scroll down for video Dylan Clinton O'Meara, 22, (pictured) had been facing manslaughter charges after he was accused of breaking his baby son's arm and shoving a blanket in his mouth O'Meara's baby son, Shisui (pictured) was found lifeless by his mother in April, 2016 'The detectives encouraged the accused to talk to Alex very late at night when the accused would have been very tired,' she said. In the judgement, handed down in December but suppressed until today, Justice Jenkins called the interview process a 'confusing mishmash.' In a 62 page judgement the Supreme Court also levelled other claims of police misconduct against the officers involved in the interview. O'Meara had not slept the previous evening because he was in custody, had suffered two seizures and had only eaten once during the 12 hours he was detained. Outside court today, O'Meara's defence lawyer, Nick Scerri, told 7news it had been a 'long and hard fought battle.' 'He will forever be heartbroken at not being able to attend the funeral of his son,' he said. Dylan O'Meara (pictured here with his son, Shisui) told police he had a split personality and an imaginary friend, a British spy called Alex Along with the accusation that he broke his baby's arm, O'Meara was also accused of shoving a blanket in his baby boy's mouth to silence cries of pain. It was also alleged that O'Meara then sat on his bed for 20 minutes before falling asleep while listening to loud music on his iPod. The child was later found cold and lifeless by his mother. O'Meara had denied unlawfully killing his seven-month-old son but was to face a trial later this year on the manslaughter charges. Up to 8,000 pensioners a year are needlessly dying of heart disease because they are not being given statins, leading experts warn. Oxford researchers said widespread ageism and a myth that the pills do not help the elderly mean millions are missing out. A major study now reveals over-75s who take the cholesterol-busting drugs cut their risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke by a fifth. The researchers said it demonstrates once and for all that statins are just as effective in the old as among younger groups. And they said every Briton over 75 should be offered them by their GP. Oxford researchers said widespread ageism and a myth that the pills do not help the elderly mean millions are missing out (stock image) Study leader Professor Colin Baigent said: Very often doctors are unwilling to consider statin therapy for people who are elderly simply because they are old. There is an idea that the person is elderly, they are going to have many other things happen to them, so why bother? Since 2014, NHS guidelines have said all over-75s even those who are healthy should be eligible for statins. But of the 5.5million people in this age group, just 1.5million about a third of those eligible actually take them. Professor Baigent said: If the 4million who are currently not taking statins started taking statins we might prevent 8,000 deaths a year. The academic said a number of misleading studies which he branded fake news had created confusion over the effectiveness and side-effects of statins among doctors and patients. Much of the row over the drugs has stemmed from the uneasiness doctors feel at the medicalisation of otherwise healthy people. But Professor Baigent said the new study, which combines the results of 28 trials involving 187,000 people, should put that debate to bed. He said it showed that even those who are healthy could avoid a potentially deadly attack if they took the drugs, which cost just a few pence a day. The research, published in the Lancet and part-funded by the research arm of the NHS, showed that the benefits of statins were just as effective among the elderly as in younger groups. Findings revealed that for every 10,000 Britons aged 78 who take statins, but have no history of cardiovascular problems, 80 heart attacks or strokes would be prevented every year. For those of the same age who already suffer heart disease, the benefits will be even greater with 160 heart attacks and strokes prevented a year per 10,000 people. Much of the row over the drugs has stemmed from the uneasiness doctors feel at the medicalisation of otherwise healthy people (stock image) Professor Baigent said prejudice against older people the idea that there is no point treating them also played a role in under-using statins. Society is ageist, he said. There is an attitude to the elderly that we are all working to try and counter. Cardiovascular disease kills about 150,000 people a year more than two thirds of which are aged over 75. So there is potential, since those people simply because of their age are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, to offer statin therapy to a larger number of people who are elderly, said the professor. Professor Naveed Sattar, of the University of Glasgow, said the results were convincing despite the many doubters on the benefits of statins. Professor Martin Marshall, of the Royal College of GPs, added: Its particularly reassuring to see evidence of benefit in patients over the age of 75 the age group most likely to need cholesterol medication. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, of the British Heart Foundation, added: Age should not be a barrier to prescribing these potentially life-saving drugs to people who are likely to benefit. A group of men were left in shock after a woman demanded they take down the Aboriginal flag from their boat because it was 'offensive'. Former NRL star Joe Williams said the woman walked up to their boat docked near Sydney Harbour to make the wild demand. 'She approached us and said we should remove the flag because it was offensive,' Mr Williams told Daily Mail Australia. 'That's literally what happened. She said today was Australia Day and flying the Aboriginal flag was offensive.' Only the night before, Mr Williams and his crew had sailed down the coastline from La Perouse on the Tribal Warrior. Former NRL star Joe Williams said the woman walked up to their boat docked near Sydney Harbour to make the wild demand The crew had been tasked with carrying the ceremonial fire lit at Me-Mel as part of celebrations in the lead-up to Australia Day. They had docked near Sydney Harbour the night before the national holiday, ready to deliver the fire to Barangaroo the next day. The following morning, Mr Williams said that's when the lady approached them. After the men refused to take down the Aboriginal flag, one of them began filming the woman's ensuing rant. 'They didn't steal the land, they settled on it,' the unknown woman says to Williams. 'It was a period of transition - it's part of evolution,' she continues. She goes on to say the First Fleet had brought 'science and education' to the country and that Aboriginal children had been forcibly removed from their families in the past because 'they were not properly being looked after'. 'You have to admit that your people killed our people,' she says. 'I know what happened, when they [early settlers] came here people killed one another but the fact is people went out to stop the black people from killing.' One of the men on camera chimes in: 'Youre very uninformed, uneducated and extremely offensive.' As both sides of the camp talk over each other, another man on camera tried to explain how land ownership was important for Aboriginal culture. 'You own a house right?' he said. 'I want you to think about this. That piece of land you probably bought ... now you're connected to it. 'So just imagine if you had that taken away. Your mother and father, and their mother and father ... and they come along and someone said listen, you don't own it anymore... you would fight back.' The footage cuts out before the tense standoff ends, though Mr Williams said the woman eventually went on her way without incident. Despite the woman's inflammatory comments, Mr Williams stressed the importance to remain calm in aggravated situations. 'I get that some of the things that she was saying most definitely could've been a trigger response for someone who might be living with past trauma. 'I can only speak for myself. 'From my perspective, personally, anger doesn't solve anything. The former Rabitohs player said he didn't let the woman spoil his day and a proud Mr Williams (second from right) and his crew raised the Aboriginal flag later that day While Mr Williams labelled the overall confrontation 'disappointing' he said he took it as an opportunity to 'educate' the woman 'As a kid my dad always said to me you'll never beat racism with anger or aggression, but only with intelligence.' While Mr Williams labelled the overall confrontation 'disappointing' he said he took it as an opportunity to 'educate' the woman. 'We were doing what we needed to do humbly, respectfully, and an opportunity to educate someone.' The video has already raked in more than half-a-million views and Mr Williams says the support has been overwhelming. 'The video has gone viral around the world and now all it does is highlights her lack of intelligence around the subject. 'I can probably say that she wouldn't be the only one that's educated that way.' The former Rabitohs player said he didn't let the woman spoil his day and a proud Mr Williams and his crew raised the Aboriginal flag later that day. (ANSA) - Rome, February 1 - League leader, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday the high-speed rail (TAV) line between Turin and Lyon must go on, adding that a spending review could save up to one billion euros on the controversial project. Meanwhile the League's senior government partner, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), accused Salvini of "lying" about how much progress had been made on the key tunnel north of Turin. Salvini said on his arrival at the TAV building site at the tunnel at Chiomonte: "if going back costs as much as going forward, I'm for going forward". He said "there are many tunnels" involved in the pan-European project, and "we would be the only ones who would be stopping". He said it was preferable to move goods and people by rail than by road and said a revision of the project could save one billion euros. There was tension between 'No-TAV' protesters and police guarding the tunnel site. Anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Salvini is in favour of completing the TAV while cutting some "excessive expenditure" while M5S leader Luigi Di Maio is against going on with the project. Di Maio said Friday he would not visit the Chiomonte site because, allegedly, "not even a centimetre of tunnel has been dug there". The M5S, and its transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, have insisted on carrying out a cost/benefit analysis which, according to M5S sources, is set to come out against completing the project. Salvini has done his own sums and says the failure to complete it will mean losing billions of euros. At the same time as Salvini's visit to Chiomonte, French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne visited the TAV work site across the border in France, at Saint-Martin-La-Porte. She called the TAV "an important project. "France has confirmed its commitment to the project and the respect of the accords signed between our two countries," she said. The line must be completed, Borne made clear. She said France's position on the completion of the project was "clear". Visiting the work site in Savoy, she recalled the international treaty ratified during the last Franco-Italian summit, when the two countries underscored their commitment to completing the project. "To realise this Franco-Italian project, there must be two of us", Borne said. But M5S Foreign Undersecretary Manlio Di Stefano said League leader Salvini is lying about the tunnel being built at Chiomonte. "Salvini didn't go to see the TAV worksite but only a 5 metre hole," said Di Stefano. "You mustn't spout electoral propaganda on this issue but only tell the Italians the truth.". "There is no work in progress...We want to invest citizens' money to realise works useful to all, works that are useful to citizens every day". Di Stefano called for an end to "chat" on the TAV, saying it would never be completed. "Enough useless chatter on a useless work, which won't be done. Full stop." he said. ""let's think about bridges, roads, the banks of rivers our country urgently needs. #NoTav #M5S". Meanwhile Premier Giuseppe Conte announced that the government would "unblock building sites" on major infrastructure projects, calling the move "a Pact on work sites". This pact, he said, would "free up and speed up the realisation of infrastructures all over Italy". Notorious rap mogul and convicted felon 'Suge Knight,' whose legal name is Marion Hugh Knight Jr., spoke exclusively with DailyMailTV from prison about his son's claim that Tupac Shakur is alive and in the studio making music for the reboot of Death Row Records Notorious rap mogul and convicted felon 'Suge Knight,' whose legal name is Marion Hugh Knight Jr., spoke exclusively with DailyMailTV from prison about his son's claim that Tupac Shakur is alive and in the studio making music for the reboot of Death Row Records. The founder and former CEO of Death Row Records told DailyMailTV he hasn't seen his son's posts claiming Shakur is alive, but shared details about private conversations with Shakur concerning faking his own death, avoiding prison and wanting to make sure he went to Heaven. Suge Knight also revelaed he still owns the rights to unreleased Tupac tracks and it's only a matter of time before they get released, over the phone from the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where he's just a few months into serving a 28-year-sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in September, stemming from a a fatal 2015 hit-and-run. The producer's son, Suge J. Knight, who is in the process of launching New Death Row Records, also talked exclusively with DailyMailTV about his claims that Pac, who is his godfather, lives. 'I'm definitely going to bring new Tupac music for you guys,' J. Knight said, adding, 'I don't want to be out in the category of conspiracy theorists,' while repeating, 'Trust me. Tupac is good, Tupac is good.' The producer's son, Suge J. Knight, who is in the process of launching New Death Row Records, also talked exclusively with DailyMailTV about his claims that Pac, who is his godfather, lives. Knight is pictured in the Los Angeles offices of DailyMail on January 28 J. Knight doubled down on his claims that Pac lives, telling DailyMailTV, 'All I can say is this. People can't fathom to believe that I have new music on the way from him.' But J. Knight didn't give a date to watch for any new releases. 'I'm not putting a time line,' he said. 'I'm moving like a business man. I'm a mogul millennial.' When asked what he thought about his son's claims that Shakur is alive, the older Knight said he always questioned why there was no arrest after the shooting in 1996. 'For me personally, there were sightings. I knew my son was one of those times,' he said. Suge Knight also recalled conversations he had with Shakur in Maiu in May of 1996, where Shakur talked extensively about faking his own death in favor of avoiding ending up back in a jail cell. 'He had a real horrible time. He wasn't happy in prison, so he felt that he would never go back to prison no matter what,' he said. 'And then the other thing was that his nickname was Makaveli. Everybody did know that. He was all about Makaveli, and as you know Makaveli faked his death so he was always talking about faking his death before he would go back to prison.' When asked what he thought about his son's claims that Shakur is alive, the older Knight said he always questioned why there was no arrest after the shooting in 1996. Suge Knight (left) and Tupac Shakur (right) are pictured in Los Angeles on April 23, 1996 When asked by DailyMailTV's Stephanie Haney if Shakur ever talked about what would happen afterwards if he did successfully fake his own death, in terms of whether there was a plan for a comeback, Suge Knight said: 'I wouldn't share that with anybody. Certain things you can't talk about. Certain things ain't meant to be repeated.' But he did reveal that Shakur was 'very religious,' and before being shot in 1996, he was so adamant about not going back to prison that he would say, '"Somebody's got to shoot me because I can't kill myself, because then I won't go to Heaven."' Speaking only about pre-recorded tracks known as 'studio scraps,' Suge Knight said some of those will come out eventually, when the timing is right and the right collaborations present themselves. '[It's] not that they was bad songs but those are songs that Pac didn't want to be out on an album or want to be out,' Suge Knight said, explaining that the Tupac tracks he was able to keep the rights to even after selling Death Row Records' assets for $24 million in 2008 were even more 'aggressive' than people were used to hearing from the controversial artist. When the tracks do come out, Suge told DailyMailTV he'll make sure it's with artists Pac would have worked with, like Cardi B, who he called 'Tupac in a skirt.' Speaking only about unreleased Shakur tracks known as 'studio scraps,' Suge Knight said those will come out eventually, when the timing is right and the right collaborations present themselves, saying he could see Shakur working with Cardi B, who he called 'Tupac in a skirt.' Cardi B is pictured leaving a hearing at Queens Criminal Court on January 31 in New York Suge Knight also said he thought Shakur would've worked with Drake (left) or Beyonce (right) 'When it's time to do a real Tupac album, you get the right people that work with him, that he would work with, you know, like Drake or... Beyonce likes Tupac music. He would definitely appreciate to see her with him,' Suge Knight said. 'And cardi B is probably the most aggressive entertainer in the biz today. And I think she's the female version of Tupac. Tupac with a skirt. Yeah.' Speaking of current artists, J. Knight said of New Death Row Records, 'I have a couple of younger artists that's getting ready. I have a few pretty big projects for [Los Angeles], you know. I'm excited because I studied the industry for a long time.' All of this comes after J. Knight (pictured) claimed again on January 18 that Shakur is still alive and that he was working on new music with the legendary rapper and actor in the studio - despite accounts of Shakur's death following a drive-by shooting in September of 1996 His father shared with DailyMailTV that he's told J. Knight, 'You're talented, and you don't need to speak on the past, because you are smart enough to make your own way. The past is his past and most importantly the biggest blessing is the present.' All of this comes after J. Knight claimed again on January 18 that Shakur is still alive and that he was working on new music with the legendary rapper and actor in the studio - despite accounts of Shakur's death following a drive-by shooting in September of 1996. J. Knight made the statements about Shakur on his personal Instagram account early this year, after first sounding the alarm that Shakur was living in Malaysia in October. 'I need the hottest producer to work on a project for Pac,' J. Knight posted on January 19, adding the caption 'Looking for the best producer for Pac' and the hashtags '#newdeathrow #sugejknight.' On January 18, he shared an image of text that read, 'I got Pac back in the studio. New music coming,' with the caption, 'This aint a joke. #NewDeathRow ??/?? Coming soon.' 'Looking for the best producer for Pac,' J. Knight wrote on January 19, adding hashtags '#newdeathrow #sugejknight' with the caption that went along with a photo that read, 'I need the hottest producer to work on a project for Pac' On January 18, J. Knight shared an image of text that read, 'I got Pac back in the studio. New music coming,' with the caption, 'This aint a joke. #NewDeathRow ??/?? Coming soon' J. Knight shared the latest posts amid others promoting 'New Death Row,' with slogans like, 'Bringing the best of the West' J. Knight shared the latest posts amid others promoting 'New Death Row,' with slogans like, 'Bringing the best of the West.' On October 2, J. Knight first took to social media with a series of since-deleted posts raising the idea that the fatal September 7, 1996 shooting in Las Vegas of the rap icon at the young age of 25 was a hoax, and that Shakur was alive and well in Malaysia. He posted a quote that read, 'Tupac is alive,' followed by an exchange of texts in which someone wrote to him, 'You said [too] much. Time for you to go.' On October 2, Suge J. Knight first took to social media with a series of posts raising the idea that the fatal September 7, 1996 shooting in Las Vegas of the rap icon at the young age of 25 was a hoax, and that Shakur is alive and well in Malaysia. On October 3, J. Knight (right) posted images that showed a man who looked like an older version of Shakur taking a selfie (with that image shown at left). J. Knight told DailyMailTV he didn't take the pictures himself. 'I don't know those pictures but they are nice pictures,' he said, adding again, 'Tupac is good' Surprise: J. Knight shared this shot of Beyonce in her current day form posed with a man who appeared to be an older incarnation of the rapper In addition: Another shot showed the purported older Shakur posed with 50 Cent On October 3, J. Knight posted an image, also now deleted, that showed a man who looked like an older version of the California Love rapper taking a selfie, as well as photos that looked like the same man with artists such as 50 Cent and Beyonce, which appeared to be from present day. J. Knight told DailyMailTV he didn't take the pictures himself. 'I don't know those pictures but they are nice pictures,' he said, adding again, 'Tupac is good.' If Shakur were alive today, as J. Knight claims he is, he'd be 47 years old. J. Knight made numerous references to the 'the Illuminati,' suggesting such a group may have been involved in allegedly faking Shakur's death and was continuing to hide his existence. J. Knight also posted a quote that read: 'Beware of fake accounts. Their job is to distract you. The Illuminati are all about power. This is why you see powerful names getting locked up.' He added in a caption, 'Dont be fooled. We can do it. They will say Im on drugs and etc. Im not.' J. Knight also reiterated that he wasn't on drugs in a repost on January 21, calling out DJ Akademics. In since-deleted posts, J. Knight made references to the involvement of the Illuminati, suggesting such a group may have been involved in allegedly faking Shakur's death and was continuing to hide his existence After previously writing ''Dont be fooled. We can do it. They will say Im on drugs and etc. Im not,' J. Knight reiterated that he wasn't on drugs in a repost on January 21, calling out DJ Akademics Short and sweet: J. Knight first said that Tupac Shakur was alive in October on social media The music professional had posted J. Knight's claim that he had Shakur in the studio, along with the caption, 'Suge knight son on that stuff?' J. Knight quickly screen-shotted and shared the slam on his own feed, with his own caption reading, 'Why the young black moguls gotta be on drugs? First Soulja boy now its Suge smh @akadmiks.' The reference to Soulja Boy was about fans claiming the rapper appeared to be on drugs, which Soulja Boy has dismissed as having more to do with surviving a near-fatal car accident earlier this month. Prior to J. Knight's claims to be working with Shakur in the here and now, a source with the Los Angeles Police Department told People in 2017 that Shakur's killing was an act of 'gang retaliation' against Suge Knight, who had signed the rapper to his Death Row Records label a year before. Shakur had been in prison in connection with a sex abuse conviction, and Suge Knight offered to pay for an appeal for the rapper if he agreed to make three records for his label, Death Row Records. The police source told the outlet that Shakur 'wanted to get out of jail and he basically signed his life away to Suge [Knight],' adding, 'He didn't want to do it, but when he does that they [the gang Suge Knight was said to be affiliated with] own him.' Prior to J. Knight's claims to be working with Shakur in the here and now, a source with the Los Angeles Police Department told People in 2017 that Shakur's killing was and act of 'gang retaliation' against Suge Knight, who had signed the rapper to his Death Row Records label a year before. In September, Suge Knight (pictured) received a 28-year prison sentence for a voluntary manslaughter conviction in a January 2015 incident in Compton, California in which he hit two people with his vehicle, leaving one person dead. Suge Knight's affiliation with the gang Mob Piru put Shakur in the cross-hairs of a rival gang, the Compton Crips, the police source said. Shakur clashed with Crip gang member Orlando Anderson at the MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas, earlier on the day he was killed, which the police source - paraphrasing information he received from a Crip leader - said led up to his murder. 'It was simple retaliation: you mess with one of ours, we will mess with one of yours,' the police source said. 'If Orlando had never been jumped in the hotel, they never would have killed Tupac that night.' In September, Suge Knight received a 28-year prison sentence for a voluntary manslaughter conviction in a January 2015 incident in Compton, California in which he hit two people with his vehicle, leaving one person dead. A child killer will spend just an extra six months behind bars for bashing another toddler he was babysitting that same month. Matthew James Ireland was jailed for just five-and-a-half years in 2017 for the manslaughter of 18-month-old Hemi Goodwin-Burke while she was in his care. The 33-year-old's sentence, which could see him walk free this year, sparked outrage and official recommendations for child killers to get tougher punishments. Matthew James Ireland (pictured holding Hemi) was jailed for just 5.5 years in 2017 for the manslaughter of 18-month-old Hemi Goodwin-Burke while she was in his care He escaped a murder trial due to a plea deal, despite Hemi suffering 75 bruises to his abdomen, a broken rib, ruptured internal organs, and a severed brain stem. Ireland pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm from his jail cell on Thursday to striking a three-year-old girl in the head in March 2015. The alcoholic with a string of mental illness diagnoses was drunk both when he hit the girl and when he killed Hemi the same month. He initially tried to claim the girl's brother was the one who injured her, but his story did not stand up and he eventually confessed. Ireland escaped a murder trial due to a plea deal, despite Hemi suffering 75 bruises to his abdomen, a broken rib, ruptured internal organs, and a severed brain stem The alcoholic with a string of mental illness diagnoses was drunk both when he hit the girl and when he killed Hemi the same month The now-six-year-old girl read out a heartbreaking victim impact statement to the Mackay District Court, saying she feared 'the bad man will come to get me again'. 'I have nightmares. I sleep with my mum and dad now, because I'm too scared to sleep by myself,' she said, according to the Daily Mercury. 'Why did you hit me? I am little and you are a big, strong, brave man.' Ireland's lawyer Scott McLennan told the court his client was in protective custody after being attacked four times in prison. He claimed Ireland was diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder and borderline schizophrenia. Judge Julie Dick gave Ireland just six months jail, despite the prosecution asking for nine to 18 months. The court heard Ireland drunkenly beat Hemi over a two-hour period while babysitting him in March 2015 (pictured Hemi's parents Kerri-Ann Goodwin and Shane Burke) Parents Kerri-Ann Goodwin and Shane Burke outside the Mackay Supreme Court in Brisbane (pictured wearing their shirts labelled 'Justice for Hemi') Hemi's mother, Kerri-Ann Goodwin, said Ireland only getting another six months was 'another kick in the guts'. 'It feels like we're back at square one and nothing has been resolved. 'No justice has been served,' she told the Courier-Mail. Ms Goodwin and Hemi's father Shane Burke have been campaigning for longer sentences for violence against children since Hemi's death. 'We thought we were being realistic. We were hoping for a year or two,' Mr Burke said on Thursday. The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council in November recommended bigger sentences for child murder and manslaughter. It recommended making killing of a child under 12 an aggravating factor in a manslaughter, allowing judges to give more jail time. Ireland is eligible for parole later this year after initially being able to be ask for release in March. A judge has called on Australian Muslims to publicly disavow violent verses of the Quran that have inspired acts of terrorism. Justice Desmond Fagan said hostile verses in the Quran that support 'intolerance, violence and domination' need to be denounced by the broader Islam community or they will 'embolden terrorists to think they are in common cause with all believers.' 'The incitements to violence which terrorists quote from the Quran cannot just be ignored by the many believers who desire harmonious coexistence. Those verses are not ignored by terrorists,' Justice Fagan told the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday. Scroll down for video Alo-Bridget Namoa (pictured) was jailed for three years and nine months without parole for a period of two years and 10 months, which expired on January 22 He made the comments while handing down sentences to husband and wife duo Sameh Bayda and Alo-Bridget Namoa who were jailed over planning a New Year's Eve terrorist attack on Sydney. The 'Jihadi Bonnie and Clyde' couple are now eligible for parole due to the time they've already served in prison. Justice Fagan called on Australian Muslims to weaken the moral conviction terrorists say parts of the Quran gives them. 'If the verses upon which the terrorists rely are not binding commands of Allah, it is Muslims who would have to say so,' he told the court. 'If Australian followers of the religion, including those who profess deep knowledge, were to make a clear public disavowal of these verses, as not authoritative instructions from Allah, then the terrorists' moral conviction might be weakened.' The husband and wife (pictured) dubbed 'Jihadi Bonnie and Clyde' could be released from prison if parole authorities agree for them to be released Islamic Friendship Association of Australia founder Keysar Trad said imams were 'extremely vocal' in disavowing violent interpretations of sections of the Koran. 'As much as we can find an opportunity to put the correct context to these situations, we do,' Mr Trad told Fairfax Media. He would be 'very surprised' if the people Justice Fagan referred to have read the Quran in its entirety. 'Unfortunately what we have in Australia from time to time, we get people who are ignorant of the religion, they hear a word here or there and want justification for their own behaviour,' Mt Trad said. Sameh Bayda (pictured) was given four years behind bars, without parole for three years, which expired on January 25 Bayda and Namoa were found guilty in October of conspiring between December 8, 2015 and January 25, 2016 to do an act in preparation for a terrorist act. Bayda was sentenced four years behind bars, without parole for three years while Namoa was jailed for three years and nine months without parole for a period of two years and 10 months. When planning the attack, Bayda was encouraged by his Islamic wife who wanted him to die in the name of Allah. Bayda went out on New Year's Eve 2015 to target non-Muslims but could not go through with the attack. Justice Fagan noted that Bayda had no real intention to going through with the terrorist act. 'I find it plausible in all the circumstances that he exaggerated to Namoa the nature of what he was planning,' Justice Fagan said, according to 9News. He added that Namoa was gullible. Both Bayda (pictured left) and Namoa (pictured right) are believed to have been brainwashed by jihad propaganda 'She could well have been taken in by false boasting from Bayda that he was on a suicide mission,' he added. Both are believed to have been brainwashed by jihad propaganda, but Justice Fagan accepted that neither of them are still fanatics. Prior to the terror plot charges, the couple had been in custody accused of collecting documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. Bayda was allegedly found with Arabic documents on how to carry out a stabbing and how to make an improvised explosive device (IED). Namoa allegedly had an Islamic flag and hunting knife, as well as instructions in Arabic on making a IED detonator. Justice Des Fagan handed down in sentences in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday (pictured) While they were now eligible to apply for parole, Justice Fagan said it was up to the parole authorities to rule on their applications. The judge told the pair he had placed considerable weight on their stated renouncement of their fanatical beliefs. 'I have taken you at your word,' Justice Fagan said. 'Don't let everybody down.' An apartment block is at risk of collapse and parts of Queensland declared a disaster zone as raging floods continue to rip through the state. Heavy rain has battered much of the central and north of the state as areas endured a devastating once in 20-year weather event. The Queensland government has declared the area a disaster zone and ordered the closure of more than 80 school and childcare centres in the Townsville area. Scroll down for video An apartment block is at risk of collapse and a man is missing as raging floods continue to rip through Queensland Heavy rain has battered much of the central and north of the state as areas endured a devastating once in 20-year weather event Emergency services evacuated an apartment complex and its 13 residents and two nearby houses at Stanley Street, Townsville (pictured) amid growing fears the building could crater Forecasters say another 200mm of rain could be dumped over the region on each of the next few days, keeping already swollen rivers at major flood levels (pictured, water cascading down stairs at Townsville) Forecasters say another 200mm of rain could be dumped over the region on each of the next few days, keeping already swollen rivers at major flood levels. A landslip at Stanley Street in Townsville City on Thursday led to extensive damage to the foundations and retaining walls of an apartment complex. Emergency services evacuated the complex and its 13 residents and two nearby houses amid growing fears the building could crater. Already Townsville City Council says many homes have already been seriously damaged as some residents in the town deal with flooding on their properties. 1,200 homes at Townsville South were left without power yesterday as gale force winds brought down a tree onto powerlines. Police have been given extra evacuation powers after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared a disaster situation on Thursday. The town's Ross River Dam is now at 140 per cent capacity and operators have had to partially open its spill gates to relieve excess water. At Giru south of Townsville police spent the night searching for a 32-year-old man last seen on foot near Black Gully about 5pm on Thursday. They feared he tried to enter floodwaters in an attempt to get home. Already Townsville City Council says many homes have already been seriously damaged as some residents in the town deal with flooding on their properties Police have been given extra evacuation powers after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared a disaster situation on Thursday The Bruce Highway remains cut south of Townsville and there are major disruptions to the city's transport services, with most urban and school bus services affected by the deluge Residents at Bluewater, a town north of Townsville, were busy clearing out their homes after more than a metre of rain causes mass flooding of residents' houses (pictured, Black Weir at Townsville) More than 200mm of rain fell fell in the space of three hours and the banks of the town's nearby creek buckled under the total 365mm of rain (pictured, Black Weir at Townsville) The search continued until just before midnight but the atrocious weather forced a halt, with officers left to monitor the creek line during the night. Much to their relief police announced the man had been found alive and well the next day. 'Police have located safe and well the man who was thought to be in flood water in Giru,' police said. 'Fortunately he made a decision to stay with a friend for the night rather than enter the flood water.' The Bruce Highway remains cut south of Townsville and there are major disruptions to the city's transport services, with most urban and school bus services affected by the deluge. 'Creek and river catchments are already saturated and will therefore respond very rapidly to any rainfall,' Bureau of Meteorology warned. 'The monsoon trough is expected to remain active into next week, with further heavy rainfall expected for already saturated catchments between about Cairns and Bowen. 'The potential for significant and dangerous flash flooding will likely continue into next week.' Flood warnings remain in place in coastal catchments from Daintree to Mackay as well as northwest Queensland (pictured, Giru in north Queensland on Thursday morning) Many major rivers in north Queensland have hit major flood level, leaving residents in low-lying communities nervous (pictured, Giru in north Queensland on Thursday morning) Flood warnings remain in place in coastal catchments from Daintree to Mackay as well as northwest Queensland. Communities near the Northern Territory border, including Camooweal, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Urandangi are at risk of flash flooding on Friday and Saturday. Many major rivers in north Queensland have hit major flood levels, leaving residents in low-lying communities nervous. A flooded rowing facility on the banks of the Ross River at Townsville A lone tree in the flood water at Ross River, Townsville As parts of the state cop more torrential rain, residents in other towns are left to clean up yesterday's mess. Residents at Bluewater, a town north of Townsville, were busy clearing out their homes after more than a metre of rain causes mass flooding of residents' houses. More than 200mm of rain fell fell in the space of three hours and the banks of the town's nearby creek buckled under the total 365mm of rain. Authorities have been doing the rounds in the small town to help any residents left stranded in their homes. The premier is due to be briefed by emergency authorities in Brisbane on Friday morning. Communities near the Northern Territory border, including Camooweal, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Urandangi are at risk of flash flooding on Friday and Saturday (pictured, Giru north Queensland on Thursday morning) Authorities have been doing the rounds in Bluewater to help any residents left stranded in their homes A school worker 'blinded by his feelings' had sex with a 15-year-old girl in the back of his ute and was only found out when the teen told her parents she was pregnant. The school IT consultant, 25, said he was aware of her age but was 'swept up in the moment' during the incident at a lookout spot west of Cairns, in northern Queensland. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the underage girl, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court on Wednesday to carnal knowledge of a child. He also pleaded guilty to contravening a requirement by police. The parents of the 15-year-old girl went to the police about the incident with the school IT worker when they discovered she was pregnant The court heard the couple had a romantic relationship and that the man knew the young teen's age. Despite this he was 'blinded by his feelings,' when the incident took place, Crown Prosecutor Eddie Coker, told the Cairns Post. 'Some time in 2017 he and the child went on a date. It culminated by going to a lookout on Lake Morris Rd and they had sex in the back of his ute,' he said. 'There was no coercion but what must be taken into account is that the law is there to protect those who are underage,' he said. Police were contacted about the incident by the young girl's parents after they discovered she was pregnant. While acknowledging the man was regarded as a trusted friend, Judge Dean Morzone sentenced the school employee to 12 months in jail, suspended for 12 months. Jerry McFadden, aka 'the animal', was executed in 1999 for killing three people including a cheerleader A convicted murderer called the 'Animal,' who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999 has been identified by DNA as the person who killed a young woman in Portland, Oregon, nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka, 20, was killed in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said Thursday her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the 'Golden State Killer' case. Hlavka was sexually assaulted and strangled with an electric cord. The Portland Police Bureau said at a news conference retired detectives submitted evidence to the state crime lab in 2009 for forensic testing. Authorities said that evidence eventually showed McFaddden, who was executed in Texas for the rape and killing of an 18-year-old high school cheerleader, was Hlavka's killer. The 51-year-old McFadden was a notorious criminal in Texas. He was sentenced to death for a daylong murder rampage in 1986 that took the life of the cheerleader as well as two other people. Authorities said it took years of research and detective work to determine that McFadden killed Hlavka. Portland police said an 'unknown male DNA profile' was found in 2011 in evidence collected from the scene of the 1979 slaying. The profile was deemed especially good considering how much time had passed. Anna Marie Hlavka, 20, was strangled with an electrical chord in her apartment in Portland in 1979 and her killer was never caught McFadden, pictured in his mugshot, was a notorious criminal in Texas. He was sentenced to death for a daylong murder rampage in 1986 that took the life of the cheerleader as well as two other people From 2012 to 2016, detectives collected and submitted eight subjects' DNA profiles in an attempt to identify the killer, but authorities said all came back negative. Last May detectives researched forensic genealogy using unidentified DNA profiles from homicides scenes, the technology used to bring about the May 2018 arrest of the suspect in the 'Golden State Killer' case. Detectives contacted Parabon NanoLabs and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab and it was determined that the evidence from the Portland cold case was a good candidate for that technology. Scientists were able to map three of the four familial lines of the Portland killer and identified him as McFadden. Detectives travelled to Texas to interview McFadden's relatives and obtain further DNA samples. The greatest form of love transcends the bond of blood. A Chinese woman has raised a disabled girl for 23 years after finding her abandoned as a baby on a construction site. Day in day out, You Yanli, now 59, nurses her bedbound child, spoon-feeds her food and carries her up and down four storeys on her back. To look after her daughter Jing Jing, who is now 23, Ms You has never been married. The devoted mother says: 'I have given all my love to my daughter'. This still from China Central Television Station shows a young You Yanli holding Jing Jing when she was a baby. Ms You had found the newborn girl abandoned on a construction site Ms You, a nurse from China's Mudanjiang city, holds Jing Jing in her arms during a recent interview. The mother has raised the disabled child for 23 years after saving her in 1996 Ms You lives in the city of Mudanjiang in north-eastern China's Heilongjiang Province and works as a nurse. Recalling that fateful day in 1996, she said it was 'destiny' for her and Jing Jing to meet each other - even it was the worst possible scenario. She found Jing Jing deserted on a construction site just days after being born. '(When I saw her), my first reaction was to rescue her. I felt very motherly,' said Ms You in an interview with Pear Video. Ms You has never been married. The mother says: 'I have given all my love to my daughter' She nurses Jing Jing, feeds her food and carries her up and down four storeys on her back Ms You said she immediately took the newborn baby to the hospital, but doctors refused to take in the child. More shockingly, medical staff suggested that Ms You should 'throw her away'. 'They said even (her parents) had given up, if you wanted to save her, she would ruin your life. 'But I said: "She is a life, I can't chuck her away. Then I took her home.' With support from her parents, Ms You who was 36 years old at the time and had never had a child before decided to adopt and look after the girl. Ms You has also brought Jing Jing around China to seek better medical advice for her condition From changing diapers to bottle feeding, Ms You learned everything from scratch from her mother. She nursed the baby as if she had been her own and shared a bed with her. When the girl was first found by Ms You, she appeared to be healthy. However at six months old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a life-long neurological disorder that affects a patient's movement, motor skills and muscle tone. The girl was also found to have epilepsy. Just as Ms You was deciding whether or not to save the girl, her mother's words changed her and her baby's life forever. 'My mother said: "She was still breathing, so how could you not save her? You have already brought her home, you can't leave her now,"' Ms You recalled in an interview with China Central Television Station in 2017. This still from China Central Television Station shows Ms You, who was 36 years old at the time, taking a bath for the baby girl. Jing Jing was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old This still from China Central Television Station shows Ms You's mother teaching Ms You how to take care of the baby. Ms You had never been married or had a child before meeting Jing Jing Since then, Ms You has given all her love to Jing Jing. Apart from taking care of her daily needs, she also took her around the country to seek medical advice. 'I told the child: "You don't have a mother. Please let me be your mother.' Ms You recalled having to sleep on the cold floor of a hospital in Beijing for 11 days one winter in order to wait for Jing Jing to be treated. 'Being with my daughter, I feel so happy and content.' Ms You said she was particularly grateful to her sister and brother-in-law for helping her during the 23 years. The couple live one floor above Ms You and would come to her home daily to cook and do chores for her. Ms You also said before her mother died, she promised her to never give up treating Jing Jing. And only after that did her mother passed away in peace. Ms You's sister (right) lives one floor above Ms You (right) and comes every day to help out Under Ms You's meticulous care, Jing Jing's condition has stablised and she is showing signs of improvement. In one moving clip from Pear Video, Jing Jing told Ms You she loved her while being held by Ms You in her arms. Apart from her daughter, Ms You has spread her love further to more strangers. She is leading a team of volunteers in Mudanjiang to give help to less-fortunate people. As the Chinese New Year is drawing near, Ms You's wish is for her family to be happy, safe and healthy. She said she would carry on living happily with her daughter and continue helping those people who are in need. The cousin of Manson Family victim Gary Hinman has issued a plea to California governor Gavin Newsom to keep killers Robert Beausoleil and Leslie Van Houten in jail, after both were granted parole this month. Hinman, a 32-year-old music teacher, was tortured for three days and then stabbed to death by Charles Manson and his followers Beausoleil, Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins in July 1969. After Hinman's death, the gang used his blood to daub the words 'Political Piggy' and a picture of a panther paw print on the wall of his Topanga Canyon, California, home. Van Houten was not involved but did take part in the brutal murders of Rosemary and Leno LaBianca on August 9, 1969. Now his cousin Kay Hinman Martley, 81, of Denver, Colorado, has spoken exclusively to DailyMailTV to beg Newsom to overturn the parole board's January 3 and 30 decisions to free Beausoleil and Van Houten, and says she has launched a supporting petition that has amassed 40,000 signatures so far. Victim: Gary Hinman, a 32-year-old music teacher, was tortured for three days and then stabbed to death by Charles Manson and his followers in July 1969. His cousin, Kay Hinman Martley (right) has issued a plea to Governor Newsom to keep the killers behind bars Manson Family: Susan Atkins (far left) Robert Beausoleil, and Mary Brunner (not pictured) killed Hinman after arriving at his Topanga home mistakenly believing he had acquired a $21,000 inheritance. Leslie Van Houten (far right) was not involved but did take part in other murders The retired schoolteacher also said the parole decisions made the family feel ignored and said it makes her angry that killer Beausoleil is allowed to sell his art and music via a website from jail. She said: 'These people are all psychopaths or sociopaths. They lie constantly about what they did or why they did it. 'Bobby Beausoleil said at the parole hearing, this last one [on January 3], that he regretted the murder. But no remorse. I didn't hear that. I heard the word 'regret' and that doesn't do it for me.' The 81-year-old added: 'It makes me feel that we just are not being listened to. The parole board doesn't take into account the heinous crime that was committed. 'This man has been allowed to produce art and videos, music and record it. He has a website that he sells his merchandise on. 'At the hearing, he said he had given $2,000 to the art program at the prison that he's at now. But why is he allowed to run a business and be in prison? 'It's not fair. Gary's dead. He never got to have children, a wife, a career. This is not right.' Hinman was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, on December 24 1934 and raised in Fort Collins by his parents Robert and Frances, along with his two younger sisters Carol and Barbara. His family were close and Martley said the whole clan would gather every Sunday for dinner, with Hinman putting on piano recitals to entertain them. 'I always remember him as a child, he played the piano,' Martley, who is two years younger than her murdered cousin, told DailyMailTV. Beausoleil(pictured left in 1969, and right in 2016) was sentenced to death at his trial in April 1970 a sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment in 1972. He was recommended for parole in early January Leslie Van Houten was 19 years old when she helped murder Rosemary and Leno LaBianca on August 9, 1969. She was recommended for parole on Wednesday 'On Sundays we had family dinners and they had a huge grand piano in their house and his mother was very proud of his ability and he would play the piano for us all. 'It was quite nice. That's my biggest memory of Gary.' When Hinman moved to California in the early 1960s, it was to study for a PHD in social work at UCLA, although he supplemented his income by teaching music. A devout Buddhist, he became involved in Southern California's hippy scene, often letting what Martley describes as 'dropouts' sleep on his couch. Through his hippy friends, Hinman was drawn into the Manson Family's orbit with devastating consequences. Although Hinman's death has partly been eclipsed by later Manson Family murders, including those of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and the LaBiancas, the facts of his killing make for gruesome reading. Mistakenly believing that Hinman had come into a $21,000 inheritance, Manson, Beausoleil, Brunner and Atkins arrived at his home on the evening of July 25 1969 and demanded the cash. When he refused to hand over the money, telling them he did not have it, Manson sliced off his ear and then left the property leaving him to be tortured over two agonizing days by the other three. Martley told DailyMailTV: 'It's been told different ways what happened in that house but the bottom line is Gary was murdered and they bragged about it. 'Manson came to the house, he cut Gary's ear off and after three days, Bobby Beausoleil calls Manson and says, "well he's signed over his two cars but he doesn't have any money what should I do?" Ringleader Manson sliced Hinman's ear off and then left the property leaving him to be tortured over two agonizing days by the other three cult members 'Manson says "kill him". And Bobby Beausoleil killed him. There was no hesitation. And then he left him, in the heat of summer, to rot literally for three days. 'Every time his friends had called the house during the three days of torture, they told them Gary had gone to Colorado to visit his family. So nobody was looking for him. 'After a while, some of his friends decided they better go knock on the door and the smell was so horrendous, they called the police immediately.' Beausoleil was arrested 11 days later on August 6: discovered sleeping in the back of Hinman's Fiat car just off Highway 101 near San Luis Obispo, California. His arrest meant he was not involved in the brutal Tate murders on the night of August 8, 1969 nor the deaths of the LaBiancas the following evening, although both Brunner and Atkins were. But, like Atkins and Manson himself, Beausoleil was sentenced to death at his trial in April 1970 a sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment in 1972. Martley says she believed that was it and she would never hear of Beausoleil, or any member of the Manson Family, again. 'When it [the death penalty] was changed to life imprisonment, I thought that was it. But they left out the two words 'without parole' when they did that. 'Then they put the death sentence back but they didn't reverse that or make accommodations for that legally, so that's what happened there. 'A few years ago, the District Attorney of LA called me for [Manson killer] Bruce Davis's hearing and said, would I come and represent Gary at the hearing. 'I said, well yes but he's not going to get out. And he said, well actually, yes he could. I said, no, no and that's when it all started.' Since then, Martley has attended every parole hearing for all of the surviving Manson Family killers and says she will fight tooth and nail to keep Beausoleil, Davis, Van Houten, Tex Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel behind bars. Manson had been in prison since 1971 and died behind bars in November 2018 Davis was cleared for release in February 2017, only to have it overturned by former Governor of California Jerry Brown. Watson and Krenwinkel were both denied parole, in October 2016 and July 2017 respectively, and cannot make further applications until October 2021 and July 2022. Martley says she hopes newly-elected Gavin Newsom will do the same for Beausoleil and Van Houten, and overturn the parole board's decision but worries he might not. She said: 'Governor Newsom, please. Do not give any of these five people parole. For public safety, they don't deserve to be out on the street. 'They are psychopaths and sociopaths. They were given death sentences. They were fortunate and got life imprisonment. They live a very comfortable life. They don't have to pay rent. They have food. 'They have everything they need. It's not uncomfortable I've been in the prisons they're in and they're in pretty nice prisons, if prison can be nice. But they don't belong on the public street.' Whatever Newsom decides, Martley says she will fight on. 'My aunt, she died a year after the murder because of the horrible way the house was left and how it had to be cleaned up. 'Then we relive this through movies and television and interviews it never is going to stop. So I've made up my mind that I have to fight for Gary to keep these five people in there [jail].' She added: 'My family are from third generation pioneers from Colorado. We've raised cattle, had farms, been in the legislature, we've built roads. 'We are tough people and that's me. I am a Hinman and I'm tough and I intend to see this through as much as I can and as far as I can to make sure these people don't get parole.' UBS executive Shele Danishefsky (pictured) was in the midst of divorcing her much younger husband Covlin when she was killed on New Year's Eve in 2009 Accused murderer Rod Covlin boasted to a former colleague he cheated on his UBS executive wife Shele Danishefsky and installed spyware on her computer to monitor her emails. Covlin's friend Marshall Baron testified today at the Manhattan Supreme Court trial of Covlin, 45, who is accused of murdering Shele to get hold of her $5.4 million fortune and staging her death as an accident. Shele was found dead in in the bathtub of her New York apartment on Dec. 31, 2009. She was 47. Baron said Covlin hired him to be chief compliance officer at Pragma Securities in 2008 after the pair had known one another since 1999. Baron told the jury Covlin said he was seeing other women and spoke of meeting people via Backpage, a site infamous for ads from escorts. Baron, who had met Shele several times and had been entertained at the Covlin home, said he didn't approve of Covlin playing away. 'It's one of the points I have very little tolerance for,' Baron told the court. 'If your wife and family can't trust you, why should I?' With access to Shele's emails, Covlin started to become obsessed with how she and her friends were characterize him, Baron said. Covlin had told Baron that he wanted to become a highly ranked backgammon player in a short time span and, Baron testified, Covlin spent a lot of time at work honing his backgammon skills online. Former backgammon pro Rod Covlin (pictured on Thursday) is accused of murdering estranged wife Shele Danishefsky, 47, in New York on New Year's Eve in 2009 Marshall Baron (above) told Manhattan Supreme Court Rod Covlin was fired from Pragma Securities because of absenteeism and, when at work, playing computer backgammon all day And, as the couple's divorce spat wore on, he became 'angry' and 'Indignant' over the fact that he had only supervised visitation. Between the divorce and the backgammon, Covlin was spending more time away from the office and being less productive while he was there, Baron said. Baron said he warned Covlin that he was skating on thin ice, telling Covlin, 'The work needs to get done because life gets worse if you don't have a job.' Life got worse. Covlin was booted after a new management team came on and found that between the absenteeism and the backgammon, Covlin's work wasn't getting done, Baron said. 'He [Covlin] was very angry', Baron said. 'He felt as if it wasn't warranted.' Earlier in the day, the court heard how Shele called Covlin's demand to have an open marriage - made on their tenth wedding anniversary in September 2008 - 'sick and twisted'. Shele slammed the proposal in a statement she wrote to her divorce lawyer Lance Meyer just six weeks before her December 31, 2009 death. Meyer told the jury Shele was so sickened by Covlin's plan she told him she wanted him to leave the family home. Shele's divorce lawyer Lance Meyer (above) told the court on Thursday she wrote how she threw Covlin out of the family home because he suggested a 'sick and twisted' open marriage Calling her situation 'urgent and desperate', Shele filed for divorce in May 2009 and asked for an order of protection and custody of their two children. Shele agreed to co-sign a lease on an apartment on the same floor of their upmarket Upper West Side building, but refused Covlin's demand for $50,000 in spousal support while the court case continued. The prosecution submitted as evidence divorce papers Shele wrote to Meyer six weeks before her death where she explained how Covlin's open marriage suggestion had led to her kicking him out. At the time of her death, Rod was 36 and Shele, a UBS executive from a wealthy background, was 47. She was the sole breadwinner and he was pursuing his backgammon passion 'I had absolutely no interest in such a sick and twisted concept and no longer wanted to share a bed with the defendant,' she wrote. 'I felt I had no other choice and for the sake of the children I co-signed a lease'. Covlin was dealt setback after setback in the divorce proceedings and could be seen after court appearances berating and 'getting in the face' of his attorney, Meyer testified. Meyer said Covlin had tried to forge a career as a professional backgammon player, and had told the divorce court he spent about $1,000 a month on travel and expenses related to tournaments. Covlin had also claimed he was unable to pay child support because he was expecting just $1,900 a month in unemployment payouts. Meyer told the jury: 'She [Shele] felt he was spending too much time and money going around playing backgammon [she felt] that if you can't pay child support you shouldn't be paying backgammon.' The judge in the divorce clipped Covlin's wings, barring him from playing backgammon and ordering him to pay $425 a month in child support. After Covlin violated the visitation order by keeping the children out all night and falsely accusing Shele of sexually abusing their son Myles , then 2, Covlin was told he could only have supervised visitation with the children. Meyer said Shele also had reason to believe Covlin had hacked her Gmail internet account and feared he was monitoring her movements in and out of her apartment. Shele Danishefsky, 47, was found dead in the bathtub of her Upper West Side apartment on New Year's Eve in 2009. Prosecutors allege estranged husband Rod Covlin murdered her Shele was killed five days after she had an email exchange with an attorney she knew from synagogue, in which she sought to have Covlin cut out of her will. She was found face-down in her tub by her daughter Anna, then 9, who notified her father in his apartment across the hall. Shele's orthodox Jewish family waived an autopsy of her body. After suspicions of foul play mounted, Shele's body was exhumed and a post mortem examination revealed a fractured hyoid bone, a hallmark of strangulation. If convicted of murdering Shele, Covlin faces 25 years to life. Dominique Williams, 34, was arrested on Tuesday A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman who captured the apparent attack on Facebook Live has been arrested and charged with forcible sodomy. News outlets report Atlanta police say 34-year-old Dominique Williams surrendered to police Tuesday. Williams is accused of assaulting the woman this month at the Opera Atlanta nightclub, where she'd been livestreaming herself dancing. The woman can be seen in the video shouting for help in a slurred voice and repeatedly screaming 'stop.' Williams' attorney, Shequel Ross, has told Rolling Out that his client denies sexually assaulting or drugging the woman. Williams remained jailed. The victim's lawyers said in a statement that the arrest is vindication for her, and that they are investigating what they call false statements about her spread on social media. The alleged incident took place at the Opera Atlanta nightclub earlier this month, according to police The video, streamed on Facebook Live from inside the club on Crescent Avenue in Midtown, 'appears to show a woman being sexually assaulted in a local nightclub,' police spokesman Jarius Daugherty said. Police said the woman was no longer in Georgia but was cooperating with investigators. In a statement on its Facebook page, management for Opera nightclub said they are cooperating with the investigation. 'At this time we have met with the Atlanta Police Department and have provided them with everything they have requested,' management said in the statement posted January 20. 'We will continue to aid and support their investigation in any way we can.' As of Wednesday night, Williams remained in the Fulton County Jail without bond, according to jail records. (ANSA) - Rome, February 1 - Italy's new ambassador to Libya, Giuseppe Maria Buccino Grimaldi, arrived in Tripoli on Friday, the embassy said in a tweet. Buccino, who was already ambassador there from 2011 to 2015, was designated in December and replaces Giuseppe Perrone, who left the Libyan capital last summer. "I return to this suffering and wonderful land with great emotion, confident of the gradual affirmation of peace, justice and prosperity," Buccino said in a foreign ministry tweet. A New York middle school is under investigation after four African-American girls claim they were strip-searched by two members of staff. The alleged victims, all 12, say they were forced to undress themselves at the request of a school nurse and assistant principle, who believed they were acting suspiciously. The girls say the two staff members of East Middle School in Binghamton accused them of being in possession of drugs because they seemed 'hyper' on January 15. They then claim they were taken to the school's health office where they were interrogated and strip-searched for drugs. However, school officials vehemently refute the claims, denying that a strip-search ever took place and instead stating administrators at the school conducted routine medical assessment of the girls. East Middle School in Binghamton, New York (pictured) will be investigated by two different bodies after four of its 12-year-old students claim they were strip-searched by an assistant principle and school nurse. Officials at the school deny the claims Now, under the instructions of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the State Education Department has been summoned to get to the bottom of the incident. 'The allegations that 12-year-old girls were strip-searched after being perceived as "hyper and giddy" at a Binghamton middle school are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns of racial and gender bias,' Cuomo said in a statement. 'Asking a child to remover her clothing - and then commenting on her body - is shaming, humiliating, traumatic sexual harassment.' New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, called the details of the allegations 'deeply disturbing' and has ordered the State Department of Education to investigate 200 people braved freezing cold temperatures to picket outside the school on Tuesday. More than 120 others attended a meeting at the school about the allegations (pictured) The school district announced an independent third party will be investigating the incident, but maintains there is no evidence a strip search ever took place. 'It must be reiterated, we have no evidence that a strip search was conducted by administration,' the district said. 'We only turn to medical assessment if we find clear reason to be concerned for our students' safety and health, which is what occurred in this instance.' News of the allegations was shared widely across social media, which lead to local community organizations protesting the school's stance and rallying in support of the students. On Tuesday, more than 200 people braved freezing temperatures to picket the school over what they perceived to be an example of institutional racism. They called for Principal Tim Simonds to resign, along with the accused nurse and assistant principal. A diagram made by one of the protesting groups, Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT), outlines each of the student's allegations and the extent of the reported strip-search The two staff members accused haven't been named by the School, but East Middle currently has two serving assistant principles, Michelle Rayleigh and Ronald Smith. Parents of the four girls released a statement this week, declaring their daughters were 'told to remove their clothing to be searched or drugs and other substances' in an hour-long procedure. They further stated they weren't informed of the searches by the school until their daughters told them about it. One of the alleged victims was suspended by the school for not complying with the search, a parent said. They also outlined how each of the girls missed several days of school after January 15, because they 'no longer feel safe at East Middle.' Protesters called for Principal Tim Simonds' (shown above) resignation for his handling of the allegations The staff who are said to have been involved in the alleged incident haven't been named, but East Middle School currently has two assistant principals, Ronald Smith (left) and Michelle Rayleigh (right). The school deny all claims made by the students According to the school district's guideline handbook, strip-searches 'are almost never justified'. It defines strip-searching as a 'search that inquires a student to remove any or all of his/her clothing, other than an outer coat or jacket.' And it later elaborates the practice will only be permitted when attempting to prevent a danger, when the safety of others is at risk, or where the search is very likely to yield evidence. Any use of the search under these terms should also see authorities contacted immediately as well as parents, the handbook says. 'Listening to our children recount and relive this trauma has been an experience we would not wish on any parent,' the girls' families said. 'And we hope no other child has to experience what they have endured.' The school district has stated numerous times that a strip-search never took place. They said staff at the school are 'trained to recognize behavior that is out of character', and medical examinations will be conducted in those instances. The district say they welcome the forthcoming investigation after a 'lot of misinformation was spread on social media'. A mother is furious her daughter, 17, was discharged from a hospital mental health ward just hours before she plunged from a cliff. The Indigenous teen fell off a rock platform at Coogee Beach, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, about 1pm on January 19. The fall came on the same day she was released from Prince of Wales Hospital, where she was admitted overnight for mental health treatment. The horrifying incident comes amid a national suicide crisis among Indigenous young people. 'I don't want to slam the hospital for this ... but I do believe they have let my daughter down,' the girl's mother told Daily Mail Australia. 'She just wasn't safe enough to discharge.' Channel Seven news footage captured the moment rescue workers winched the girl to safety from the bottom of cliffs at Coogee Beach, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on January 19 Dramatic Seven Network footage captured the moment the teenager was rescued and choppered to Sydney's Royal North Shore hospital. She is extremely lucky to be alive, suffering a fractured spine and ankles. One requires surgery. The girl has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - a mental disorder where people react to situations in intense and emotional ways - and has had several suicidal crises. Her mother asked for the family not to be named but wanted to share their plight with Daily Mail Australia to expose the faults in the mental health care system. 'My daughter has been going around in circles with this system since 2015 and nothing has changed,' she said. 'We are caught up in an endless cycle of self harm, suicide attempts, hospital presentations and community appointments.' 'ONCE I'M GONE, THE RACISM WILL STOP': THE FACTS ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS SUICIDE CRISIS Legacy: The mother came forward with her concerns about the mental health system after the death of Perth girl Rochelle Pryor, who died last month (pictured) The mother was prompted into coming forward with the story of her daughter's plight after the suicide of Indigenous teen Rochelle Pryor, 14. Rochelle's father found her unconscious in her bedroom on New Year's Day and she died nine days later. The Perth girl had sent friends a message on social media saying: 'Once Im gone, the bullying and the racism will stop.' Like Rochelle, the girl who fell from the cliff in Coogee is Indigenous, although it's not clear whether bullying or racism played a role. Suicide Prevention Australia director Dr Vanessa Lee said self harm in Indigenous young people 'is a crisis. 'I think people forget Indigenous people make up three per cent of the whole population,' Dr Lee said. 'When you think of the age bracket population for youth, it's not a big population . 'It's a massive issue, and it's not a competition. 'Indigenous suicides in Australia, for our youth, are amongst the highest in the world.' Indigenous kids aged five to 17 are five times more likely to die from self harm than other Australians the same age. Meantime, Indigenous people aged 15 to 34 are three times more likely to die by suicide. Over just two weeks in January, five girls, aged between 12 and 15, died in suspected suicides, including Rochelle Pryor, and girls from Port Hedland, Adelaide and Warnum in the East Kimberley. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the crisis 'breaks my heart as a parent'. Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt last week announced a series of measures to tackle the crisis. Mr Wyatt said the government had committed to investing $1.45 billion to commission mental health and suicide prevention services that were 'regionally and culturally appropriate'. The government will fast-track a school-based mental health education program in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. It will also invest $2.3 million for depression charity Beyond Blue to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities. 'These are tragic events which have devastating consequences for families and communities,' Mr Wyatt said. 'I believe we can collectively make a difference if we do things with and not to our people, to close the gap on this tragic issue.' Health expert Dr Lee said while it's one thing to set aside money, it's another to make the people spending it accountable. She is calling for a National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy. Advertisement The Prince of Wales called the mother the day her daughter was discharged to advise her of the girl's release. The mother was furious, angrily accusing the hospital of breaching their duty of care. Her daughter told her: 'I told you mum, I can't do it anymore, I need help!' The mother said: 'We have been forced to watch on as the mental state of our beautiful child deteriorates. 'Our lives have been turned upside down by this disorder and to be told that there is nothing that mental health can do is not acceptable.' Doctors are advised against long-term hospital admissions for sufferers of Borderline Personality Disorder. Coogee Beach was nearly the scene of tragedy on January 19 after the girl fell off a cliff The girl, 15, was discharged from Prince of Wales hospital following a crisis - and then plunged off a cliff 'Admissions to hospitals or other inpatient facilities should not be used as a standard treatment for BPD and should generally only be used as short-term stays to deal with a crisis when someone with BPD is at risk of suicide or serious self-harm,' a BPD Foundation document said. The mother acknowledged doctors were limited in the treatment they could provide but said her daughter often could not get a bed when she needed to go to hospital. 'This crisis admission was necessary and clearly her crisis was not resolved with an overnight stay in a hospital bed,' she said. She said the 'best practice treatment' wasn't working for her daughter 'and we are watching her life suffer as a result'. Over the years treating her daughter's disorder, she has noticed mental health wards have a 'serious lack of resources'. 'The mental health system in Australia is seriously inadequate and it blows me away that in a country like ours we are being told there is nothing more we can do,' the mother said. 'The suicide rates will continue to climb because people can't access adequate treatment.' For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 A Chinese company rolling out an anti-drone defence system to protect Australian airports from rogue drones has denied it is a national security threat. The denial comes as a security expert warned the company installing the system could use the technology to spy on Australian airports. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will next week begin monitoring all drones flying near airports to protect them from a Gatwick-style security fiasco. However, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the technology to run it will be supplied by a Chinese company accused in the US of leaking sensitive data to Beijing in 2017. Security experts claim an anti-drone program about to be rolled out across the country, using equipment from DJI Technology (one of its drones pictured), is a security risk CASA's program, which will be rolled out in the next month, aims to protect airlines from potentially deadly collisions with drones DJI Technology will provide the equipment to monitor drones near airports, Sydney Harbour, and in future other locations, and to locate their pilots. The company has repeatedly denied any collusion with the Chinese Government or the existence of security vulnerabilities in its technology - and stresses that its technology is still used by many federal and state agencies. Its AeroScope system can only detect drones made by DJI, which is also the world's biggest drone maker, so Israeli firm Convexum will be used to track other brands. Both firms share Australian distributor Counter Drone Solutions, which won the initial six-month CASA contract through a tender. CASA's program, which will be rolled out in the next month, aims to protect airlines from potentially deadly collisions with drones. All airports have a 5.5km exclusion zone and anyone who flies a drone inside them can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to five years if they put lives at risk. It was announced on the heels of London's Gatwick Airport being shut down for two days last month while a drone was deliberately flown over runways. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will next week begin monitoring all drones flying near airports to protect them from a Gatwick-style security fiasco DJI Technology (one of its drones pictured) will provide the equipment to monitor drones near airports, Sydney Harbour, and in future other locations, and to locate their pilots Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded in the lead-up to Christmas, causing a week of chaos. However, CASA only plans to monitor drone traffic and track down rogue pilots so they can be issued with infringement notices. Spokesman Peter Gibson told Daily Mail Australia that CASA would only provide 'passive surveillance' and it would be up to airports themselves to implement protection systems. DJI has previously been shunned by the U.S. military over security fears and an Australian industry source warned local airports should also be wary. 'U.S. airports wouldn't touch [DJI technology] with a barge pole and neither should Australia,' an industry insider told Daily Mail Australia. Experts said AeroScope works by tapping into radio frequency signals and extracting data sent between drones and their pilots. DJI's AeroScope system can locate and track drones (data readout pictured) and even locate rogue pilots that can then be fined for breaching controlled airspace Experts said AeroScope works by tapping into radio frequency signals and extracting data sent between drones and their pilots Industry insiders suggested CASA chose the two cheapest options in DJI and Convexum and gave less regard to potential security risks. They believed DJI's portable equipment could cost less than $10,000 per airport, several times cheaper than competitors. Mr Gibson said he didn't know the cost of the program. Experts said Convexum's system 'appears to be highly experimental' and was not to their knowledge installed in any other airports in the world. CASA's anti-drone program was announced on the heels of London's Gatwick Airport being shut down for two days last month while a drone (pictured) was deliberately flown over runways The company's co-founder Gilad Sahar is a veteran of the Israeli Defence Force's intelligence unit. There has never been any suggestion of security concerns about Convexum's operations. 'It is odd that CASA would deploy solutions by two foreign companies with links to foreign intelligence services in its airspace,' an industry insider said. When asked about DJI's spying allegations, which the company has vehemently denied, Mr Gibson said: 'CASA has taken appropriate security steps in accordance with Commonwealth requirements'. DJI has a long history of spying accusations and there are fears it could use its customers' drones to collect intelligence. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017 released a memo claiming DJI was part of an organised spying effort for Chinese intelligence. The agency said it 'assesses with moderate confidence' that DJI was 'providing U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government'. '[We] further assess with high confidence the company is selectively targeting government and privately owned entities within these sectors to expand its ability to collect and exploit sensitive U.S. data. 'DJI's criteria for selecting accounts to target appears to focus on the account holder's ability to disrupt critical infrastructure.' Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded in the lead-up to Christmas, causing a week of chaos ICE claimed DJI was selling its drones and software to targeted government, law enforcement, and private companies at heavy discounts to gain access to their data. The memo concluded that: 'The critical infrastructure and law enforcement entities using DJI systems are collecting sensitive intelligence that the Chinese government could use to conduct physical or cyber attacks against the U.S. and its population'. DJI at the time declared the memo was 'based on clearly false and misleading claims' and denied all the charges. 'The allegations in the bulletin are so profoundly wrong as a factual matter that ICE should consider withdrawing it, or at least correcting its unsupportable assertions,' it said. 'DJI does not access the flight logs, photos, or videos that our customers generate unless they choose to voluntarily share them with us.' The same year, the U.S. Army directed its staff to immediately stop using DJI products 'due to increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities' associated with them. 'Cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media from devices, and secure equipment for follow on direction,' it ordered. Experts at the University of Dayton Research Institute's Impact Physics Lab simulated the damage caused by a drone involved in a high-speed collision with an aircraft wing The Australian Defence Force soon after suspended its use of DJI drones for a two-week 'risk assessment' amid cyber security fears. The drone fleet was reactivated afterwards, but Defence Minister Marise Payne suggested they would only be used in 'unclassified situations'. Philippe Odouard, chief executive of Xtek, which supplies the ADF with U.S.-made drones loaded with Australian software, said at the time that concerns were warranted. 'The likelihood is any of their [DJI's] encryption algorithms would be available to the Chinese government,' he told SBS at the time. 'Most algorithms for encryption in particular, depending on who designed them, would have backdoors. And a lot of those, if it's done by a private enterprise, may be provided to the government.' DJI has repeatedly denied any collusion with the Chinese Government or the existence of security vulnerabilities in its technology. 'DJI rigorously protects customer data. Our customers have complete control over their data... and can use our systems with confidence that their data is protected,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'AeroScope comes with options that allow customers to keep their data entirely on their own local servers. 'You can keep it entirely offline with a mobile unit; you can sync it to DJI's servers; or you can use your own servers. It's up to the customer.' DJI and Convexum were chosen over Australian companies like DroneShield (pictured being used by police at Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast) CASA only plans to monitor drone traffic and track down rogue pilots so they can be issued with infringement notices. DJI also rejected claims that AeroScope could be used to collect data and spy on Australian airports or other systems. 'AeroScope cannot spy on Australian airport systems, or any other airport systems, or anything else,' it said. 'AeroScope receives radio signals from DJI drones and uses that information to display their location on a map.' The company said despite edicts by ICE and the U.S. Army, American federal and state government agencies still used its products. This included 'mapping and surveying to search and rescue, firefighting and accident scene reconstruction'. The company also pointed to a report by cybersecurity firm Kivu Consulting it commissioned, which concluded users had control of their data. 'Kivu's analysis of the drones and the flight control system (drone, hardware controller, GO 4 mobile app) concluded that users have control over the types of data DJI drones collect, store, and transmit,' the report read. An earlier version of this article suggested that AeroScope technology could be used to hack nearby systems. We now understand that this is not the case and that AeroScope technology could not be used in this way. Furthermore, although the US Army and US Customs have previously made allegations against DJI Technology, it is the case that DJI drones continue to be used by United States federal and state government agencies. We are happy to make the position clear. A graduate has taken to the streets armed with his CV in an unusual attempt to get himself a full-time job. Samuel Warren, originally from Britain, completed his physics degree at the University of Leeds in 2017 and says he is desperate to get in to the workforce. The 22-year-old, who is living in Sydney, was spotted by the city's finest professionals holding a sign which reads 'ask for a CV'. 'I got the inspiration from when I was in London - I was working on Pitt Street and noticed no one was doing it,' Mr Warren told the Daily Mail Australia. Samuel Warren, 22, (pictured left) has just completed a physics degree at the University of Leeds and is desperate to get in to the workforce 'I got to the station at around 6.30am and held the sign - you get some dirty looks, laugh and ask you what you are doing.' Mr Warren's photo was posted to LinkedIn on Thursday and shared by multiple business professionals supporting his proactive measure to find a position. The image posted by Hamish Stephenson read: 'Its an incredibly daunting experience to put yourself out there like this, which I commend wholeheartedly. If I had the capacity to recruit a grad within my team I would, but sadly I dont.' The post amassed more than 300 likes and comments of support and potential job offers. Mr Warren's photo was posted to LinkedIn on Thursday and shared by multiple business professionals supporting his proactive measure to find a position 'Great PR exercise and love Sam's motivation! Brings back memories of when I used to work in North Sydney and use this station. Love Australia - Love Sam's attitude,' one person wrote on the post. 'Good on him, my cousin is in the same position and hes probably sat in his underpants playing FIFA right now,' another said. Despite the exposure on the professional website - Sam was still promoting himself at Martin Place station on Friday. He said: 'I was there yesterday, this morning and I think I will go to Wynyard on Monday morning.' Sam moved to Sydney this year and instantly fell in love with the beach-side Australian lifestyle. The surfer who hails from the Isle of Wight hopes this courageous act to secure a job in Australia helps him continue living his dream. You can contact Sam on his LinkedIn account. Britain's biggest ever 'crash for cash' car insurance racket has seen more than 150 fraudsters convicted over bogus claims. The family-run garage business in Newport, south Wales, netted 2million by conspiring with a web of friends and relatives to swindle the insurance industry out of cash. But the scammers were caught out after a five-year probe by specialist investigators who analysed dozens of phony claims. The family members helped stage fake car crashes for themselves and others in order to make bogus compensation claims. Byron Yandell (pictured left) and his father Peter Yandell (right) Peter Yandell and his wife Michelle, who paid 1,900 for this holiday - the exact amount Michelle had just won in damages for a crash that never happened The operation was masterminded by Yandell family out of their St David's Crash Repair and Easifix garage business in Newport, South Wales. The family members helped stage fake car crashes for themselves and for others in order to make bogus compensation claims. But the Yandells' fraud ring was exposed by their own CCTV, which showed them driving a Land Rover into the back of a forklift truck to make it look like the car had been in an accident. Byron Yandell, 32, his father Peter Yandell, 53 and wife Rachel Yandell, 31, along with Gavin Yandell, 31, and Michelle Yandell, 52, were all jailed for between six and two years for the racket back in 2015. Byron's wife Rachel Yandell, 31, (right) along with Gavin Yandell, 31, (right). The sentences mean more than 60 years of jail time has been dished out between all the members of the fraud ring The final three fraudsters have now been sentenced for their part in the scam - making the total number people prosecuted 158. Carl Wilkins, 46, Philip Bowditch, 37, and Daniel Roberts, 34, were the last to be punished for the huge fraud ring which took place between 2009 and 2012. Many of the scammers went to the same doctor, Julian Sweetman, who diagnosed them with whiplash, situational anxiety and other crash-related injuries. Medico Legal Specialist Dr Sweetman was not accused of wrongdoing and is still registered by the General Medical Council. Pictured is one of the 57 cars involved in the scam which has seen 158 people prosecuted Many of the scammers went to the same doctor, Julian Sweetman, who diagnosed them with whiplash, situational anxiety and other crash-related injuries Newport Crown Court heard the final three scammers to be dealt with - Wilkins, Bowditch, and Roberts - had all admitted conspiracy to defraud. Wilkins was jailed for 26 weeks, suspended for 12 months, and 1,850 compensation. Bowditch, was sent to prison for 26 weeks, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay 1,820 in compensation. Pictured left to right: Darren Geoffrey Phillips, charged with conspiracy to steal/conspiracy to handle stolen property and sentenced to 30 months; Stephanie Barwood, charged with conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 36 months; William Veall, charged with conspiracy to defraud. All avoided prison Roberts was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay 3,670 in compensation. The sentences mean more than 60 years of jail time has been dished out between all the members of the fraud ring. Gwent Police and the Insurance Fraud Bureau joined forces to launch Operation Dino which brought the scammers to justice. Ben Fletcher, director of the IFB, said: 'The outcome of this case goes to show that if you commit insurance fraud you will pay the price. Michelle and Peter Yandell in Egypt just after claiming she was badly hurt in an 'accident' 'While we were pleased with the outcome of phase one of this investigation, which resulted in a total of 601 months' jail time for the 81 fraudsters, we saw an opportunity to continue the fight and ensure that everyone involved was brought to justice. 'Through the hard work and the determination of the industry as a whole, we are proving that insurance fraud is top of our agenda and will not go unpunished.' Gwent Police senior investigating officer Steve Maloney said: 'The investigation has brought people to justice for their criminal activity but has also assisted our partners in the insurance industry to prevent future offences of this nature going undetected.' 'Crash for cash scams have a real impact on society and cost the honest policy holders almost 350 million each year.' An Uber driver has smiled at reporters as he left court after pleading not guilty to negligent driving. Nazrul Islam, 31, was charged with negligent driving occasioning death after his passenger, a 30-year-old man, was killed in Sydney's centre in June 2017. Islam's lawyer Ali Cheema entered a plea of not guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Uber driver from Bangladesh smiled as he left court after his bail was continued. Nazrul Islam, 31, was charged with negligent driving occasioning death after a 30-year-old man was hit and killed by a bus in Sydney's CBD in June 2017 (pictured outside court on Wednesday) As a condition of bail, Islam has surrendered his passport and must stay away from international airports (Islam smiles as he leaves court on Wednesday) The scene of the incident is pictured, Sydney's centre, in June 2017 Police earlier alleged Islam dropped off his passenger at a set of lights near Bathurst Street around 3.15am on June 17 before the man fell onto the road and into the path of a bus when the car accelerated. The passenger died at the scene. Police allege there were multiple witnesses and video of the incident. According to court papers, Islam has been in Australia on a bridging visa from Bangladesh for five years. He has lived in Auburn for the past four years. As a condition of bail, Islam surrendered his passport was ordered to stay away from international airports. He is due to appear in court again on February 28. According to court papers, Islam has been in Australia on a bridging visa from Bangladesh for five years (pictured outside court) Police allege there were multiple witnesses of the incident - police pictured at the scene Grieving parents have been forced to turn their t-shirts inside-out in court because they called for justice for their baby boy killed by his babysitter. Hemi Goodwin-Burke was 18-months-old died in hospital in March 2015 suffering bruises, brain damage and ruptured internal organs. His babysitter Matthew James Ireland, 31, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Queensland's Mackay Supreme Court after his charge was downgraded from murder to manslaughter, despite Hemi's parents protesting, 7 News reports. Kerri-Anne Goodwin and Shane Burke believe they have again been let down by the justice system after they were forced to turn their tribute t-shirts inside out in court. Hemi Goodwin-Burke was 18-months-old died in hospital in March 2015 suffering bruises, brain damage and ruptured internal organs Kerri-Anne Goodwin and Shane Burke are pictured on Tuesday wearing their 'justice for Hemi' t-shirts outside Mackay Supreme Court in Queensland 'I believe our justice system is letting Hemi down. They don't care about him. They even made us remove our justice for Hemi shirts,' the parents wrote on their Justice for Hemi Facebook page. 'We all have to sit and look at Matthew, the child killer's face, why shouldn't he have to look at Hemi?' The parents and other family members reversed their t-shirts after the hearing so Hemi's face was visible as they left the court. The parents and family members were forced to turn the t-shirts inside-out in court. They reversed the t-shirts so Hemi's face was visible again when they left court (pictured) 'I believe our justice system is letting Hemi down. They don't care about him. They even made us remove our justice for Hemi shirts,' the parents wrote on their Justice for Hemi Facebook page Justice James Henry had explained to the family the court did not need a reminder its role was to get justice, and court was not an appropriate place for silent protest. 'I mean no offence whatsoever by that position,' he said, according to Courier Mail. 'The courtroom cannot be seen by the public ... where protest from the gallery might be thought to influence the way in which decision-making occurred. Ireland will be sentenced in Mackay Supreme Court in June. Hemi's mother Kerri-Anne Goodwin is pictured wearing a tribute t-shirt while laying on the grass I read somewhere that divorcing partners are increasingly hiding their wealth by investing in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. I'm going through the divorce process myself and I recall my husband investing in bitcoin not so long ago. I'm not sure how much money he invested but he hasn't declared it in the divorce proceedings. Is there a way of forcing him to declare this information? Divorces are messy at the best of times and crytptocurrency assets like bitcoin can make them a whole lot more so Myron Jobson of This is Money replies: Who would have thought that bitcoin would become the latest wheeze for unscrupulous partners wanting to hide their wealth from their soon-to-be exes in divorce? As if contending with offshore accounts or assets transferred to another name wasn't hard enough, cryptocurrency assets pose a new challenge for lawyers as they are owned anonymously, making it extremely difficult to trace the rightful owner. But it's not impossible. Bitcoin rose to prominence in 2013 when the price per coin rose to over $1,000 by December from $13 at the beginning of the year. It grew further still, reaching a peak of $19,783 in mid-December 2017. And then after Christmas and New Year it sunk dramatically. There have been rallies since, but no revival. Bitcoin was down 83 per cent on its peak to 30 January 2019. Whether or not your husband made money investing in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies is irrelevant though. If he has cash tied-up in the asset, it is his duty to declare it as you might be entitled to a cut. We've asked a lawyer with past experience presiding over similar cases to offer some guidance. Vandana Chitroda, a partner at solicitor firm Royds Withy King in London, replies: Most family lawyers will have dealt with cases where spouses attempt to move assets out of the reach of the receiving spouse in a divorce settlement. Chitroda says hiring a digital forensics expert to get to the bottom of things is costly In many of those cases, assets can be traced but the tracing exercise can be very expensive. In some cases, clients might be advised that it is not proportionate to spend large sums trying to locate hidden assets. The existence of cryptocurrencies can pose problems for divorcing couples. In the first instance, both parties would usually be required to provide full financial disclosure of their assets including their bitcoin holdings. This can be in the form of a copy of their holdings through the relevant online platform as the bitcoin address should appear on that. Provided the bitcoin address is available, the current value of the holding can be ascertained given that the blockchain serves as a live ledger. Bank statements will also be provided by both parties during the financial computation stage and those may provide evidence of bitcoin transactions. Questions can also be asked of the alleged owner of the bitcoin about their holdings and requests can be made for provision of evidence in relation to it. The courts can make orders for this provision if the evidence is not forthcoming and sanctions can be imposed if it is clear that the person in question is being evasive. If there is no trace of any bitcoin holdings whatsoever, it may be worth considering the appointment of a digital forensics expert to try and trace the bitcoin. Very careful consideration will need to be given as to the cost effectiveness of such an instruction as it is likely to be expensive and the court will only order the instruction if real merit can be seen in doing so. In the last instance, if your husband has failed to provide any evidence of the existence of bitcoin, and if the case does not settle amicably, the court can consider your case at a final hearing. Your oral evidence will be heard and that should include the reasons why you believe there is hidden bitcoin in existence. Although the court can draw inferences and find that there is bitcoin in existence, the difficulty will be putting a value to the Bitcoin without any actual evidence of the holding. I am currently dealing with a number of divorce cases where there has in some instances been full disclosure of the existence of cryptocurrency as well as some where there has not. We have been working with experts in the field to ask detailed questions of the opponent given this is a very complicated and new asset class which represents new territory for solicitors, barristers and even judges who are all trying to get to grips with it. TalkTalk has downgraded its annual earning expectations, citing accounting changes and higher levels of investment which will cost it an extra 15million. The group's annual earnings are now expected to come in between 245million and 250million, compared with 197million last year. Analysts had been expecting the firm's earnings to reach 259million. While TalkTalk now expects to miss its initial profit forecast, boss Tristia Harrison said the firm had nearly reached its 150,000 full-year customer growth target a quarter early and enjoyed a strong quarter in superfast fibre take-up. Lowering expectations: TalkTalk has downgraded its annual earning expectations Shares in FTSE 250 listed TalkTalk fell more than 10 per cent in early morning trading and is currently down 7.6 per cent or 8.45p to 103.15p. The company booked a 2.9 per cent rise in headline revenue to 386million in the third quarter as its customer base grew by 44,000, with double-digit growth in both consumer and business to business. Tristia Harrison, chief executive of TalkTalk, said: 'We continue to see strong trading momentum in the business, with customer growth ahead of expectations. Q3 was the eighth consecutive quarter of rising customer numbers and we saw record demand for Fibre. 'The underlying business is on track. The change to earnings guidance is due to IFRS 15 timing adjustments and investment in growth. 'Year on year, we have increased revenue by growing the base and stabilising ARPU, which combined with lower costs is driving improved earnings. 'Our significant customer momentum, combined with the benefits of our reorganisation and HQ move, gives us confidence in strong earnings growth for FY20.' TalkTalk's average revenue per user dipped in the quarter to 24.70 against 25.18 last year. In 2016, TalkTalk was hit with a 400,000 fine for the security failings that led to the company's IT systems being hacked in 2015. The Information Commissioners Office levied the fine saying that the attack 'could have been prevented if TalkTalk had taken basic steps to protect customers information.' The hack resulted in the attacker accessing the personal information of more than 150,000 customers of the internet service provider, including sensitive financial data for more than 15,000 people. Last year TalkTalk announced that it was shifting its headquarters from London to Salford in a move affecting hundreds of staff. The firm said it would relocate 'several hundred' employees from its existing headquarters to the new office in Manchester next year, while also creating new roles, including graduate and apprentice positions. It comes after TalkTalk opened a large, state-of-the-art office in Salford in 2017 to house its technology and business teams, which had previously been based in Warrington and Irlam. Snorers may think they face no greater problems than an occasionally angry spouse. But if you snore, it could make it harder to remember past memories from your life. People with obstructive sleep apnoea, a leading cause of snoring, have worse memories of years gone by. They struggle to remember specific details, such as colleagues' names or the house number and street they used to live in. Every time someone with sleep apnoea snores, their throat is constricting to block their airway, which also cuts off oxygen to the brain. Experts believe this may destroy grey matter in the part of the brain important for logging memories. People with obstructive sleep apnoea, a leading cause of snoring, have worse memories of years gone by and details such as people's names and houses they have lived in, study finds A study of 44 people with sleep apnoea, which affects 1.5million people in Britain and up to a third of pensioners, found they have much worse memories for life details from early adulthood. Asked to recount their personal histories, more than half had an 'over-general' memory, where they struggled to remember specifics. For healthy people of the same age, fewer than one in five had this problem, with most able to provide detailed memories. Dr Melinda Jackson, who led the study from RMIT University in Australia, said: 'Our study suggests sleep apnoea may impair the brain's capacity to either encode or consolidate certain types of life memories, which makes it hard for people to recall details from the past.' She added: 'Brain scans of people with sleep apnoea show they have a significant loss of grey matter from regions that overlap with the autobiographic memory network.' Researchers recruited people aged 20 to 69 with sleep apnoea, which causes snoring and interrupted sleep when the walls of the throat relax and prevent breathing. They were asked to recall three memories each from their childhood, early adult life and recent life, which were judged on the level of detail people could provide. Their responses were compared to 44 people of the same age who did not have sleep apnoea. When asked about their early adulthood, which could include a wedding, having children or starting out in their career, snoring seemed to affect memory. The people with sleep apnoea were less able to recall details, such as addresses and names. Researchers then gave people cue words, asking for memories which had made them feel guilty or proud, for example. These were scored as 'specific' if they were focused, with exact times and places, or 'overgeneral' if the memory included many events or jumped about over a longer period of time. This led the study to conclude that 52.3 per cent of people with sleep apnoea had a highly overgeneral memory, recalling five or more generalised memories. That compared to just 18.9 per cent of people free from the condition. However the people with sleep apnoea did not show problems remembering episodes from their life. Details from recent times and childhood did not elude them either. The sleep-deprived people may be worse at remembering early adulthood because that is when their snoring began to affect their brain. Or it may be that people with sleep apnoea struggle with memories from further back in the past. Sleeping masks worn by people to open their airways have been found to help improve thinking problems, according to the study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. Dr Jackson said: 'An important next step will be to determine whether successful treatment of sleep apnoea can also help counter some of these memory issues or even restore the memories that have been lost.' (ANSA) - Brussels, February 1 - Italy on Thursday was the only country in the European Union to block an EU compromise proposal on Venezuela advanced by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom accepting the role of opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president until new elections. The discussion took place at the meeting of EU diplomatic chiefs in Bucharest. The news was reported by Spanish news agency Europapress and confirmed to ANSA by EU diplomatic sources. It would have meant an implicit but not formal recognition of Guado as president. On Friday Guaido asked Italy to "do the right thing" saying a new Libya was "impossible". Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio replied by saying that the Venezuelan people would decide on change. French health officials have yet to publish the first conclusions from their long-awaited report into a spate of babies born missing arms and hands. Public Health France (PHF) promised an update by January 31 into its ongoing nationwide investigation into the mysterious cases. However, the body has yet to update its probe into why two dozen infants have been born in three regions with missing or malformed arms. Aurelie Bingler, the mother-of-one girl born without her hand, told RT: 'I want to know why she was born like that, because mothers blame themselves' Emmanuelle Amar was hailed as a whistleblower by ecologists and campaigners, but also accused of scare-mongering by fellow researchers, when she brought the issue to light A spokesperson for the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety - joint leading the investigation - today confirmed to MailOnline the report had not been published. A group of furious parents affected by the mysterious cases have now expressed doubts about the ongoing investigation, Russia Today reports. Former French environment minister Corinna Lepage said there was probably a 'fear of discovering that the causes could endanger a number of economic interests'. Aurelie Bingler, the mother-of-one girl born without her hand, told RT: 'I want to know why she was born like that, because mothers blame themselves.' 'We think it may come from us or that we did something wrong.' She also fears there may be a link to farming, which some health officials say. PHF launched the nationwide inquiry in October, when 11 old cases of deformities in Ain near the Swiss border - came to light. The full report is expected in June. The issue was first made public by Remera, a health body created after the thalidomide scandal and is responsible for tracking birth defects. The defects sparked scientists to warn the rate of deformities across the French region Ain was 'excessive' 58 times higher than the national average. Remera have pointed the finger at pesticides, due to cases being clustered in rural areas and calves being born in the same regions without tails. Emmanuelle Amar was hailed as a whistleblower by ecologists and campaigners, but also accused of scare-mongering by fellow researchers. Ms Bingler also fears there may be a link to farming, which some health officials say (pictured, her daughter Lola and her handprint) Ms Bingler's daughter Lola, pictured. She was born missing her right hand France has launched a nationwide inquiry after a spate of babies have been born with deformities across the country. Around 25 infants were delivered with missing or malformed limbs in the past 15 years in the regions of Brittany, Loire-Atlantique and Ain MOTHER OF SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS BORN WITH HIS LEFT HAND MISSING WAS TOLD 'IT HAPPENS. WE WON'T HAVE EXPLANATIONS' Melinda Mostini's seven-year-old son Leo was born without a left hand and his arm partially missing. The youngster was delivered at the Lorient hospital, Morbihannaise, in western France in October 2011. Ms Mostini, who is also mother to 10-year-old Eva, discovered Leo had the defect during an ultrasound scan in June. After she asked why, doctors reportedly told her: 'It happens. These are accidents. We do not have explanations.' And seven years on, medics are still clueless as to what caused Leo's birth defect. Melinda Mostini's seven-year-old son Leo, from western France, was born without a left hand and his arm partially missing (both pictured with her daughter Eva, 10) Ms Mostini told Le Telegramme: 'I wish I could give Leo a real answer, just to explain why he has only one hand.' But the youngster refuses to let his condition hold him back and simply tells friends his hand did not develop in his mother's womb. 'Leo has known how to tie his laces since kindergarten. He spent hours on the couch practicing!' Ms Mostini added. The youngster, who his mother calls a 'little fighter', has been horse riding since he was just four years old, and is a keen cyclist, swimmer and rugby player. Despite his confidence, cruel strangers still sometimes make nasty comments. 'Children have the right to be curious but they are sometimes hard,' Ms Mostini said. Leo refuses to let his defect hold him back and started horse riding at just four years old. But the keen cyclist, swimmer and rugby player still endures cruel comments Leo has had his first consultation to have a prosthetic fitted after he did not take to one he was given as a toddler. As part of the initial investigation into the problem, Ms Mostini was questioned by doctors as to her eating habits during pregnancy and what drugs she took. However, no common thread was found between her and other affected families. 'The question arises as to whether it could be environmental', she told FranceInfo. Referencing 'fertilisers, pesticides', Ms Mostini wonders whether something 'happened at this time on the commune'. Advertisement PHF initially denied the statistical analysis of birth defects in the country highlighted an 'excess of cases compared to the national average'. According to PHF, around 150 babies are born each year with limb defects. But there is no national register that measures such cases. The data it uses for its estimate is thought to be based on just a few regional registers, which only takes into account a fifth of the country. WHAT WAS THE THALIDOMIDE SCANDAL? Thalidomide was the medication given to pregnant women to combat morning sickness between 1958 and 1961. It was withdrawn after doctors noticed an increase in the number of deformed babies born to mothers who had been on the drug. After a long battle, the families affected received total of 28 million in compensation, paid out by the drug manufacturer during the 1970s. Advertisement But Ms Amar hit back at the time and said: 'We are definitely facing an excess of cases. We have the scientific and moral obligation to go further.' Francois Bourdillon, head of PHF, at the time assured the public that 'nothing is being hidden from you' and revealed it would look into all suspected cases. And Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told TV channel BFM in October that 'all of France wants to know' what was behind the spike in defects. Despite having no evidence of the causes, she suggested it was potentially down to 'what these ate, drank or breathed in'. An initial PHF inquiry last year declared the rate of limb defects was no worse in the three affected regions - Ain, Brittany and Loire-Atlantique, of France than elsewhere in the country. The probe was widened and involved the health agency and the sanitation, food and environment agency, WHBL reported in October. Ms Buzyn said investigators would try to determine if the affected families had anything in common. 'It is very complicated, we need to investigate the history of families in cases which sometimes date back ten years or more,' she previously said. Initial tests have already found the only thing they all have in common is they live in rural parts of the country. Others believe the defects could be genetic. And PHF has previously said the abnormalities were 'probably down to chance'. However, Remera has previously dismissed the likelihood of the defects being down to chance as 'more than infinitesimal'. The inquiry comes after thousands of babies around the world were born with missing or stunted limbs in the 1950s and 1960s, which was linked to the drug thalidomide. Thalidomide was used to treat nausea in pregnant women and was banned in the 1960s. A professional athlete nearly died when he swallowed a toothpick and it became lodged in his intestine and punctured an artery. The 18-year-old in Boston, Massachusetts, lived with the 7.5cm (three inches) long wooden spike in his internal organs for three weeks before doctors found it. While travelling to train with his team the man went to hospital after developing pain in his stomach and back, a fever, nausea and diarrhoea with blood in it. Medics couldn't find anything the first time he went to a hospital, but 20 days later they discovered the toothpick which, when removed, triggered 'life-threatening bleeding'. Doctors removed the 7.5cm wooden toothpick from the man's intestine they reported it had been lodged in his colon for nearly three weeks and caused his pain and diarrhoea The toothpick had perforated his intestine and poked into an artery when surgeons pulled it out it triggered 'life-threatening' bleeding A report from the Massachusetts General Hospital revealed the luck escape of the teenager, whose name, sport and team are unknown. At one point he had a body temperature of 40.6C (105.08F) far higher than the threshold for a fever (38C/100.4F). He had pain in his back and side, lost his appetite and repeatedly found blood in his faeces, according to the report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Some 20 days after he first saw a doctor the man was admitted to Massachusetts General in Boston. Doctors did various tests and discovered the toothpick was in his large intestine, 25cm (nine inches) away from his rectum. He had no memory of swallowing the stick but it had perforated his bowel and, when removed, it triggered 'life-threatening bleeding'. Dr Martin Rosenthal said in the report: 'Because of life-threatening bleeding, the patient was urgently taken to a hybrid operating room, which is equipped with a variety of advanced medical devices.' Surgeons then stemmed the bleeding from the artery and operated to repair his colon. In this illustration, the medics showed how the toothpick had travelled almost the entire way through the man's digestive system before becoming stuck in his large intestine As well as the stick, the man had a blood infection caused by the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae, which usually live in the gut but cause illness when they leak out. After two surgeries, antibiotics and 10 days in hospital, he made a good enough recovery to go home, with another three weeks' worth of antibiotics. Dr Fabian Scheid, who helped treat the patient, said: 'The patient did well after surgery and was discharged on the 10th hospital day, six days after the second surgery. 'At the time of discharge, he was able to walk without assistance.' He added: 'At the direction of the teams internist, additional follow-up was arranged with the physical therapy, vascular surgery, general surgery, and infectious disease services.' The man managed to get back to exercising after six weeks and, seven months, later played in his first professional game although the journal did not reveal which sport. 'He continues to have a substantial role in his sport,' the report said. The doctors warned the severity of the man's injuries was not unusual and swallowing toothpicks carries a high risk of complications. There is a 79 per cent chance of puncturing an internal tissue, and a 10 per chance of dying, the report said. Flu could make you 40 per cent more likely to have a stroke - and the risk can last for up to a year, a study has found. Researchers aren't sure why the link exists, but said it could be due to inflammation internal swelling caused by the flu. The finding adds to previous research which has suggested the flu vaccine can reduce your risk of a stroke. Flu vaccination rates have dwindled in recent years, with fewer than half of vulnerable people having the jab this winter. Influenza is already known to be able to lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, sepsis and heart disease. Flu could make you 40 per cent more likely to have a stroke - and the risk can last for up to a year, a study led by Columbia University in New York has found The scientists, led by Dr Amelia Boehme, from Columbia University in New York City, looked at the medical records of 30,912 people who had been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke. Study participants were 49 per cent male, 20 per cent black, 84 per cent from urban areas, and had an average age of 72 years old. Researchers looked at each patient's hospitalisation history for the two years leading up to their stroke. They found people had a 40 per cent higher chance of having a stroke if they had been admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms within the past 15 days. The risk remained for a year, the findings, to be presented in Honolulu at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, showed. Professor Philip B Gorelick, an American Heart Association volunteer and professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, said: 'The association occurred within 15 days. That's important for people to know because if they get the flu, they wanna be on the lookout for symptoms of stroke, especially early on after the flu.' The participants' data was analysed after accounting for urban or rural status, sex and race. But the link didn't seem to change between groups. HOW CAN F.A.S.T SAVE YOU DURING A STROKE? The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T. This will help you more quickly identify someone having a stroke. Face: the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped. Arms: the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm. Speech: their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake. Time: it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. Source: NHS Advertisement Dr Boehme said: 'We were expecting to see differences in the flu-stroke association between rural and urban areas. 'Instead we found the association between flu-like illness and stroke was similar between people living in rural and urban areas, as well as for men and women, and among racial groups.' There are various possible reasons behind the flu-stroke link, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. Researchers suspect it could be due to inflammation caused by the flu infection. Another study, by the same researchers, found an increased risk of a neck artery tear after having the flu. Neck artery tears, formally called a cervical artery dissection, is when one of the large blood vessels in the neck is damaged, causing blood clots to develop. It is a leading cause of stroke because it affects the blood supply to the brain. The study, which will be presented at the same conference, reviewed 3,861 cases of neck artery tears in the New York State Department of Health figures for 2006 to 2014. They found 1,736 instances of flu-like illness and 113 of influenza during the three years preceding cervical artery dissection. Patients were more likely to have suffered a flu-like illness in the 30 days before their artery tear than they were at the same time in previous years. Madeleine Hunter, the study's lead author and a second-year medical student at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City, said: 'Our results suggest that the risk of dissection fades over time after the flu. This trend indicates that flu-like illnesses may indeed trigger dissection.' Professor Gorelick said: 'Cervical or neck dissections make up about two per cent of all strokes and up to 25 per cent of strokes in persons who are under 45 years of age. So this is specifically important to people who are in that under 45 age group, but not exclusively.' The NHS encourages pregnant people and anyone over the age of 65 to have an annual flu jab. Recent figures show that only 44.8 per cent of pregnant women and 71.2 per cent over 65 year-olds have been vaccinated this season. This is compared to 47.1 per cent of pregnant women and 72.4 per cent of over 65 year-olds last year. Both the Center for Disease Prevention and Control in the US and the NHS in the UK also recommend heart failure patients get the flu jab. Viral infections, such as flu, can put added stress on the body and raise blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks or stroke in vulnerable people. A no-deal Brexit may raise the risk of hospital pharmacies being burgled by patients desperate for medicines, a hospital trust has warned. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is considering putting extra CCTV in its pharmacies in response to the threat. The trust, which runs the Central Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals in the capital, revealed the concerns in its Brexit contingency plan. The claim comes amid fears there will be drug shortages if no deal is made, a threat of blood donation sessions being cancelled, and the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, saying medicine would be prioritised over food if imports were disrupted. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Central Middlesex Hospital (pictured) is considering putting extra CCTV in its pharmacies because it believes a no-deal Brexit will leave it at risk of burglary The trust's plan, seen by the Health Service Journal, also had drawn up a policy for 'anxious' patients who asked doctors to hand drugs over. According to the specialist website, the trust wouldn't explain exactly why it believed no-deal would leave it at an 'increased risk of burglary'. Medicines would be used off-label prescribing for conditions they aren't intended for if there are shortages, the plan revealed. And the trust, which turns over 700million per year, is joining forces with others in north-west London in an agreement to share 'vital medicines' if any of them run out. Pharmaceutical companies have been stockpiling important medicines for months Mr Hancock said a large proportion of the NHS's supplies come from the EU. If the UK doesn't secure a trade deal there are fears imports could be disrupted as deliveries struggle to get across borders. Insulin supplier Novo Nordisk revealed in September it was stockpiling four months' worth of the hormone to ensure an uninterrupted supply for diabetics in the UK. MEDICINE SUPPLIES ALREADY LOW Medicine shortages are already 'putting people at risk' with rising numbers of common drugs being so hard to get hold of the Government is having to pay extra. Eighty drugs were so low in stock last month that the Department of Health was, in some cases, paying a price 45 per cent higher than usual and racking up thousands in added costs. Among them were blood pressure pills and anti-inflammatories, and some patients are being told to go back to their doctor to ask for something different. Global demand, the cost of ingredients and new regulations are all possible reasons why pharmacies are struggling to get hold of certain medications. And there is disagreement between experts over whether uncertainty about Brexit is worsening the situation, which has been called 'a threat to patient safety'. Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said the issue is putting patients' safety at risk. 'It's astonishing that there remains so much uncertainty for patients more than two and a half years after the Brexit vote,' he said. 'This could be the biggest disruption to patient safety we have ever seen.' Advertisement The list of medications already in short supply in December was six times higher than it was three years ago, with 80 common drugs running low. This sends prices upwards as demand outstrips supply and the NHS has been force to pay as much as 45 per cent over the odds for hard-to-get medicines. Ash Soni, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said he had never seen so many common drugs affected by shortages. He said: 'The items are out of stock and unavailable. Patients are having to wait. 'We're having to send some patients back to the GP to get a different prescription, because we just can't fill them.' But patients are warned not to try and stockpile for themselves at home, and to consult their GP or pharmacist if they're worried about running out. London North West has also raised concerns its patients might go into A&E departments if they can't get their medicine at a pharmacy. A&Es are notoriously busy in the winter and early spring so an extra reason for people to go would likely be unwelcome for hospitals. In other concerns about Brexit's impact on the NHS, the Blood and Transplant service this week tried to arrange the cancellation of blood donation sessions in Kent. It said six sessions could be called off in Folkestone and Dover surrounding March 29 because of concerns about traffic building up around the channel crossing. But the Department of Health and Social Care overrode the announcement hours later and said: 'The Department does not agree with this course of action. 'Weve discussed this issue with NHSBT and confirmed blood donations will continue as normal.' A woman born with a crooked back has gained two inches in height after a gruelling seven-hour operation. Lydia Platton, 23, originally from North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with a group of four spinal conditions, including scoliosis, in 2010 at the age of 15. Her self-confidence plummeted during her teenage years, due to her 'disgusting back', which caused 'fat rolls' on one side of her waist. After a failed spinal fusion surgery in 2015, Miss Platton, who now lives in Norway, was shocked to see her back continue to curve. This led to more surgery in July 2018, leaving her with a total of 13 bolts and long rods in her back, as well as a 12-inch scar. She is now unable to bend over and is unable to work due to the heaviness of the metal in her back, which is painful and becomes 'squeaky' in the cold. Lydia Platton, from North Yorkshire who lives in Norway, was diagnosed with a group of four spinal conditions, including scoliosis, in 2010 at the age of 15 Miss Platton's self-confidence plummeted during her teenage years due to her 'disgusting back', which caused 'fat rolls' on one side of her waist. Pictured, before her surgery Now, Miss Platton loves the scar on her back and her 2inches of extra height. However, she said she is unable to work due to the heaviness of the metal in her back Miss Platton said: 'My body always feels so heavy now. At the end of a day just being at home I really struggle to stand up straight because of the pain. 'Because of the surgery I can no longer bend at my hips, which is super annoying when I need to get something from the floor. 'It's also made it hard to sleep and I feel like the rods and screws are constantly pulling.' Miss Platton said that her back becomes so cold it 'feels like she has an ice pop stuck down the centre of it'. 'Living in Norway, it's very cold this time of year and being outside for long periods of time makes my metalwork start to squeak and my back become very tight and uncomfortable,' she said. 'I shouldn't complain, I'll be ever so grateful to both of my surgeons for trying to fix my problematic spine.' Miss Platton was diagnosed with the three conditions; spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, and spondylosis in October 2010, three months after her unofficial scoliosis diagnosis in July 2010. She had been suffering with debilitating symptoms since 2009, but doctors initially thought it was due to a recent hip fracture. 'It took over a year visiting three different hospitals for doctors to discover what was actually wrong with me,' Miss Platton said. Spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine, spondylolisthesis is a condition that causes the vertebrae to slip out of place and spondylosis is a fracture to the vertebrae. Scoliosis is a condition where the spine twists and curves to the side. It can affect people of any age but usually starts in children aged 10 to 15. Miss Platton said that her back, full of metal, becomes so cold it 'feels like she has an ice pop stuck down the centre of it' and it 'squeaks' Miss Platton's second surgery in July 2018 to correct her scoliosis left her with a total of 13 bolts and long rods in her back, as well as a 12-inch scar After Miss Platton's gruelling seven hour open-back surgery, she recovered quickly in the following two weeks. But her recovery slowed over the next six months WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS? Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape. Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain. Pain usually only affects adults with the condition. In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children could of every 1,000. It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis. It is more common in women than in men. Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows. However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing. Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine. In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement The conditions affected Miss Platton's life for most of her teenage years as the pain forced her to take days and even weeks off school. She said: 'Growing up with these conditions was hard. Missing out on lots of school, social events and being unable to live a normal teenage life sometimes quite isolating. 'Other kids didn't necessarily understand my problems and maybe thought I was weak because I would let it get to me so much? Maybe that's just how it came across, but it sure did feel like it at times. 'I had started to notice my scoliosis in my teenage years but was unable to do anything about it because of my other conditions.' In February 2011, Miss Platton received a cortisone injection into her nerve root to try to reduce the pain she was in - but this was unsuccessful. She later had her first spinal fusion surgery in July 2015, whereby her vertebrae L5/S1 were stabilised and decompressed with four bolts, a bone graft and two small rods. But not long afterwards, Miss Platton noticed that the curve in her spine, caused by her scoliosis, was still increasing - although it is not clear to what degree of curve it reached. As well as experiencing pain from her other conditions, her curvature affected her self-confidence as she hated 'the rolls' that were on her right-hand side. 'Before my surgery my scoliosis would impact me all the time, my self-confidence especially,' Miss Platton said. Not long after surgery in 2015, Miss Platton noticed that the curve in her spine, caused by her scoliosis, was still increasing 'I would be so wary about what clothes I could wear because I didn't want anyone to see how disgusting my back looked. 'I used to hate my rolls that were on my right-hand side that my scoliosis caused as I always thought they made me look fatter than I was.' Further surgery in July 2018 replaced the metalwork with longer rods and nine further bolts to reduce the curve in her spine. 'I was on a High Dependency Unity (HDU) for two days after and another four days on a specialist spinal ward,' Miss Platton said. 'The recovery that my body made within the first two weeks after the surgery was incredible. It was amazing just how quickly my body recovered from being face down on the operating table for seven hours with my back sliced wide open. 'However, the rapid recovery within those two weeks soon slowed down as I'm now almost six months post-operative and I'm still unable to go back to work.' Miss Platton is unable to pick things up from the floor, work or drive due to pain. She said it feels as though the 'rods are going to rip or tear all the time' Miss Platton said: 'Screening for scoliosis used to happen in schools and I would like to fight for that to be brought back into place' Unfortunately, Miss Platton has struggled to get used to the metal in her new back. She said: 'I still have lots of pain during the day as it feels like the rods are going to rip or tear all the time. 'I haven't driven since my surgery as I'm unable to because of the pain and medication I'm on and also because I can't do a lot of the movements that driving requires me to do. 'It also causes me a lot of stress and anxiety if I get invited to go somewhere with friends or family. I always worry that if my pain gets really bad that I won't be able to get home, no one will help me, or that people will think I'm attention seeking.' Miss Platton avoids being outside for extended periods of time in winter as the cold causes her metalwork to squeak. She said: 'It limits how long I can be outside for this time of year. I'm also super nervous about falling on the ice, which would sure would hurt a lot. So, if I'm by myself, I tend to stay indoors.' Miss Platton does, however, love her extra height, taking her from 5ft 8inches to 5ft 10inches, and the scar on her back. 'It took me a long time to accept that there are a lot of things that I won't be able to do again, things that I loved,' she said. 'But that's the card I got dealt and that's ok. I'm going to live my life as well as I can. 'Screening for scoliosis used to happen in schools and I would like to fight for that to be brought back into place. 'Three out of 100 people have scoliosis and if they are given braces at the right age, which can't be done for all cases, then it may mean that they might not have to have the surgery.' A stroke caused a 67-year-old man to believe it was fine to masturbate 'without shame' in front of his relatives. The bank manager's family were concerned when they noticed drastic changes in his behaviour and took him to hospital. As well as masturbating in front of them, the relatives told doctors that he was addressing them them with inappropriate sexual words. A CT scan showed a 5cm shadow in his frontal lobe, which they feared resembled a 'non-aggressive brain tumour'. A team of doctors led by Dr Rafael Garcia Carretero then settled on the diagnosis of a subacute anterior cerebral artery stroke Medics in Mostoles, 16miles (26km) south-west of Madrid, conducted several tests on the unnamed man. The team at Hospital Universitario de Mostoles found no abnormalities with his brain function and decided to then arrange a CT scan of the organ. The scan showed a 5cm shadow in his frontal lobe, which they feared resembled a 'non-aggressive brain tumour'. A team of doctors led by Dr Rafael Garcia Carretero then settled on the diagnosis of a subacute anterior cerebral artery stroke. The medics branded his stroke as being 'silent' - one that occurs without, or with very little, symptoms. Over the course of the patient's one-week hospital stay, his neurological symptoms improved, the medics revealed in the BMJ Case Reports. Writing in the journal, they added: 'His relatives said he once again became nice, judicious, prudent, thoughtful and well-mannered.' He was treated with aspirin and atorvastatin - drugs proven to reduce the risk of suffering another stroke. The man attended a follow-up appointment three months later, where doctors said he was the same man as before the stroke. Dr Garcia Carretero added: 'The man was never aware of his changes and his family said he had problems interpreting others' moods.' In the medical journal, the team continued: 'Frontal behavioural syndromes caused by strokes are rarely reported.' Hospital ended with 'heart-breaking' scenes last night when viewers found out a newborn baby never recovered from his emergency heart surgery. Casey-Jack, who featured in the BBC Two documentary, needed heart surgery soon after he was born because he had a hole in his heart and a damaged artery. Despite surgeons operating on his heart, which they said was no bigger than a strawberry, he couldn't recover and died last year when he was just two months old. Viewers tweeted about their upset after learning about the infant's death, which was revealed at the end of the hour-long programme. They called the episode 'heart-breaking' and 'terribly sad', commending his parents for sharing their tragic story. Casey-Jack needed heart surgery soon after he was born to repair a hole in his heart and an underdeveloped major artery, but he never recovered from the drastic operation Last night's episode, the fourth in the six-part series, followed the children's heart surgery unit at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Casey-Jack, one of the three children whose stories it revealed, was born with a hypoplastic aortic arch. This meant he had an underdeveloped aorta the main artery out of the heart and a hole in a vital part of the organ. Doctors discovered the heart defect when his mother Charlotte had her 20 week scan. On the programme, while she and her partner Mark, Casey-Jack's father, are waiting for their son to have surgery, Charlotte said: 'You don't realise how much time, effort and love you have for one person. '[It's] been rough. Up and down there are days when you [go] what did I do wrong?' Mark had 'always wanted a child of his own', Charlotte said on the programme, and 'it hit him hard' when he found out his son was seriously ill. In the end credits of the programme it was revealed that, despite the surgery being successful, Casey-Jack did not recover and died of heart failure two months after he was born. Twitter user Steve Shilling described the ending as a 'punch in the stomach'. Julie Smith said: 'What a beautiful little boy ... R.I.P. Casey-Jack. Condolences to his family.' Lauren Fordham added: 'Poor Casey-Jack's family, if only every kid got the happy ending they deserve.' Casey-Jack's mother, Charlotte, revealed she had days where she thought 'what did I do wrong?' when she discovered her baby son had a congenital heart defect Casey-Jack's father, Mark, had 'always wanted a child of his own', Charlotte said on the programme, and 'took it hard' when he found out his son was seriously ill Twitter user Steve Shilling described the ending as a 'punch in the stomach' Alice Pennington tweeted: 'Such a heart-breaking end. Thoughts with Casey-Jack's family' Ian Massey said: 'Terribly sad to hear that little Casey-Jack lost his battle at the end of tonight's episode of #hospital' Julie Smith said: 'What a beautiful little boy ... R.I.P. Casey-Jack. Condolences to his family' Lauren Fordham added: 'Poor Casey-Jack's family, if only every kid got the happy ending they deserve' When the episode had aired, Alder Hey Children's Hospital tweeted a picture of Casey-Jack accompanied by a message from his family who praised staff at the Liverpool unit Professor Cathy Lloyd, an Open University academic involved in the programme thanked Casey-Jack's family for allowing themselves to be filmed for the show Alice Pennington tweeted: 'Such a heart-breaking end. Thoughts with Casey-Jack's family.' And Ian Massey said: 'Terribly sad to hear that little Casey-Jack lost his battle at the end of tonight's episode of #hospital.' When the episode had aired, Alder Hey Children's Hospital tweeted a message from the family. The tweet read: Casey-Jack's parents, Charlotte, Mark & brothers Andrew and Simon wanted to pass on a message to our incredible staff who cared for him; "We want to thank the amazing team at Alder Hey who made us feel like part of an extended family. The team's dedication is faultless"'. Professor Cathy Lloyd, an Open University academic involved in the programme added: 'Thank you to Casey-Jack and his family for allowing us into their lives at such a difficult time.' As well as sadness at the family's ordeal, viewers were also quick to compliment the surgeons and staff on the programme. One of the surgeons featured, Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni, 51, revealed the difficulties of the job, including his 14-hour days and spending so much time away from his family. Referring to what Dr Dhannapuneni said on the programme, Bruce Hiscock tweeted: 'Time lost to family is better invested for somebody else #hospital cardiac surgeon describes amazing attitude to his [work life balance]. 'Words do not do justice to these wonderful people.' User SarahMissAtomicBomb said: 'Staff working tirelessly caring for children despite the horrific situation of the NHS crisis, not all heroes wear capes'. Susan Gilbert said: 'As ever am in awe of the dedication and brilliance of cardiac surgeons and nurses at Alder Hey'. And @Being_Caroline added: 'I have total respect for the exceptionally talented surgeons and hardworking and dedicated staff there. What an amazing job you all do.' Hospital continues next Thursday, February 7, on BBC Two at 9pm. Advertisement Melania Trump seemed thrilled to be leaving the chilly weather in Washington, D.C. behind this afternoon, beaming for the cameras as she left for Florida. The first lady, 48, flashed a grin at photographers and held her husband's hand as the couple walked out from the White House to a waiting helicopter on Friday. They were trailed by their 12-year-old son Barron and to and told photographers that they were headed to Mar-a-Lago. See ya! Melania Trump accompanied her husband on a flight to Florida on Friday afternoon Good mood: The first lady smiled at photographers and held her husband's hand Bundled up: She wore a long brown $3,875 Roksanda coat and a pair of $1,625 Gianvito Rossi boots Woohoo! She seemed happy to be leaving the frigid temps in D.C. for a warmer climate Big guy: The couple traveled with their 12-year-old son Barron, who has grown quite tall It's sure to be an exciting trip for the family, as they haven't all been together in Mar-a-Lago since last year. Melania and Barron had flown there briefly in December ahead of Christmas and New Year's, but flew back once it became clear that the government shut-down wasn't ending any time soon. The President hasn't been at all in 2019 or since the beginning of the shut down, with the family spending Christmas in D.C. Facing the cold for the last time in a few days, Melania went fully monochrome for the outing, bundling up in a light brown coat by Roksanda that reached down to her knees and retailed for a whopping $3,875. She paired it with matching brown boots with tall heels, a $1,625 pair by designed Gianvito Rossi, but skipped the gloves despite temperatures dipping into the low 20s. She didn't wear a hat, either, instead showing off her long, styled locks and perfectly-done makeup. For a single pop of color, she toted a red Hermes bag in one manicured hand, while the other was tucked inside her husband's grip. Mar-a-Lago here they come! Trump told reporters that they were heading to Florida Though Melania was all smiles, her son avoided reacting to the cameras Toting the essentials: She carried a red Hermes bag with her to the plane Matching mom's purse! Barron bundled up in a shiny red puffer coat Brr! The family braved some snow, but only for a little bit, as they headed to Florida Footwear: Barron kept it casual in New Balance sneakers as his mom tottered on heels The couple was joined by their son, Barron, who at just 12 years old is nearly as tall as his father, whose doctor said he is 6'3". Barron was bundled up in a red puffer coat and barely reacted to the press and photographers outside. Luckily, any snow on the the pathways at the White House had been cleared for their departure, so the family had an easy walk to board the plane. But at Andrews Air Force Base, where they boarded Air Force One, it was a snowier scene, with a dusting of snow and salt on the ground. It's not yet known whether they'll be joined by the rest of the family. Chilly: Ivanka Trump, 37, had a stone-cold expression on her face as she left her Washington, D.C. home in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on Friday morning Focused: The first daughter later attended a meeting on fighting human trafficking on the southern border in the Cabinet Room of the White House Passion project: Ivanka has been on a mission to end human trafficking and spoke passionately during the meeting Earlier this morning, Ivanka, 37, looked stone-faced as she left her home, heading straight for her Secret Service SUV. Though she often allows photographers a glimpse of her outfit of the day, she was in more of a hurry this morning though that may have been because it was incredibly cold. While most people on the East Coast have spent the week bundled up in puffy coats and fur hoods, Ivanka was less layered as she left her home on Friday. The White House senior adviser opted for light herringbone coat, which she wore over a cream turtleneck. Ivanka pulled the outfit together with a black belt that cinched her waist. She wore her long blonde hair loose around her shoulders, and she had a bronzed glow, despite it being in the middle of the winter. Ivanka was later seen attending a meeting on fighting human trafficking on the southern border in the Cabinet Room of the White House. With her flowing blonde hair, statuesque figure and dazzling smile, she is one of Britain's best-known models. But Penny Lancaster has revealed she is considering changing career to become a special constable, although it might cause sleepless nights for her husband Sir Rod Stewart. Miss Lancaster, 47, trained with the police for a new TV programme, and at one point found herself facing an addict who threatened to stab her with a needle. Miss Lancaster, 47, trained with the police for a new Channel 4 TV programme Despite the terrifying ordeal, she said the programme has inspired her to train as a special constable. In an interview with today's Weekend magazine by Jenny Johnston, she said: 'I want to do it. I've had a conversation with the sergeant and he said they'd love to have me join the force. 'The training for the real thing runs over 12 consecutive weekends, so I'm trying to figure out how I could do that. If I do qualify, I'd have to commit to 16 hours a month, which is very doable.' She was one of five well-known rookies being given the chance to see what it's like to be in the police Left to right, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, Gogglebox star Sandi Bogle, TV presenter Katie Piper, Made in Chelsea's Jamie Laing and Loose Women panellist Penny Lancaster But the change of career could be a worry for her husband of 11 years. She said that while Sir Rod supported her taking part in the Channel 4 show, Famous and Fighting Crime, he became concerned about her safety. 'When he first heard I wanted to do the show he said, 'Brilliant. You go, girl',' the Loose Women panellist added. 'But when it got under way and he realised what was involved, he worried more. He's a worrier anyway.' She revealed she is considering changing career to become a special constable, although it might cause sleepless nights for her husband Sir Rod Stewart In the programme, which starts on February 11 at 9pm, the model is seen in police uniform chasing after a suspected shoplifter in Peterborough. The woman, a drug addict, then threatens to stab her with a needle. 'It was terrifying,' the mother-of-two admitted. 'I was aware of how vulnerable I was. I was unarmed. I was wearing a stab vest but didn't have a baton or a Taser gun or mace spray. I didn't even have handcuffs.' Many New Yorkers have thrown style out the window while braving the below-freezing temperatures this week, but Savannah Guthrie couldn't help but mock her bold polar vortex look. The 47-year-old Today anchor took to Instagram on Friday to share a photo of herself smiling brightly while modeling a bright red winter jacket and matching leggings. 'When you inadvertently dress like the Elf on the Shelf for school pickup #polarvortex,' she captioned the image, which was taken in her Manhattan apartment. Bold look: Savannah Guthrie, 47, took to Instagram on Friday to share a photo of herself modeling a red winter coat and matching leggings Poking fun: The Today anchor pointed out that she looked like a real-life Elf on the Shelf The mother-of-two snapped the photo before heading out to pick up her daughter, Vale, four, and son, Charley, two, from school after appearing on the Today show earlier in the day. With her all-red outfit, black Ugg boots, white knit hat, and tan scarf, Savannah looked like a real-life Elf on the Shelf. Savannah's co-star and friend Jenna Bush Hager commented on the post, sharing heart and fire emoji to show that she approved of the eye-catching outfit. '[It is] National Wear Red Day, so it's perfect for today,' another person wrote. February is American Heart Month, and the first Friday of the month has been designated as National Wear Red Day to raise awareness for women's heart health. Little ones: The mother-of-two snapped the photo before heading out to pick up her daughter, Vale, four, and son, Charley, two, up from school Coincidence? It's unclear if Savannah's all-red outfit was in honor of National Wear Red Day, but it seems likely, as the Today star also sported a red blazer earlier in the day It's unclear if Savannah's all-red winter outfit was in honor of National Wear Red Day, but it seems likely, as the Today star also sported a red blazer on the show earlier in the day. Nearly two weeks ago, Savannah was enjoying a winter weekend getaway with Jenna, Siri Daly, and their families in Rhinebeck, New York. Savannah posted a snapshot of herself posing with Jenna, 37, and Siri, 38, as they showed off their matching green T-shirts, which had the words 'Upstate of Mind' splashed across the top in white. 'I will be remaining upstate of mind until further notice,' she captioned the image, but that wasn't the only matching that was going on. The Today star also posted a series of images of the moms posing on the couch with their daughters in matching pink heart pajamas. In the snapshots, Savanna has Jenna's three-year-old daughter, Poppy, on her lap, while her daughter, Vale, is curled up next to Jenna, who is also holding her five-year-old daughter, Mila. Moms' night in! Savannah, Siri Daly, and Jenna Bush Hager (left to right) enjoyed a winter getaway with their families in upstate New York earlier this month Theme: The three friends donned matching green T-shirts that said 'Upstate of Mind' Siri, meanwhile, is sitting with her four-year-old daughter, London, on her lap, and her six-year-old daughter, Etta, to her left. 'Matching by day and by night #upstateofmind,' Savannah captioned the group images, which show them laughing and smiling. Jenna posted a similar snapshot, hinting that the moms may have also been joined by their husbands. 'Girls rule...#andcharley #andhusbands #andqueso #andmatchingPJs,' she wrote, referencing Savannah's two-year-old son, Charley. Another snapshot from the day shows just the moms posing in their matching PJs inside the snow-covered vacation home. Savannah, Jenna, and Siri, a Today food contributor, are as close as can be and love spending time with each other on and off the Today show set. A first-time mother discovered she was having twins during a 47-hour labor - but only when doctors spotted a second head while preparing to stitch her up. Nicole, 31, and Matthew Ziesemer, 34, from Grand Haven, Michigan, had only just been introduced to daughter Blakeley when doctors realized she was still in labor. They spotted 'another head' as they went to stitch her up post-birth, and baby Cade was born 59 minutes later. Shock: First-time parents Nicole and Matthew Ziesemer discovered they were having twins only after Nicole had given birth to her daughter Blakeley A surprise blessing: Nicole, 31, had already given birth to daughter Blakeley (right) when doctors spotted another baby's head as they were preparing to stitch up her vagina Tough love: The new mother, pictured in hospital shortly after the birth, had been in labor for more than 45 hours when she opted to have an epidural and a suction birth for her first child Devoted parents: Nicole joked that she thought the biggest surprise about her birth would be learning the sex of their baby, however she says she and Matthew couldn't be happier Expectant: The new parents, pictured during Nicole's pregnancy, chose to only have one scan, on the same day that Nicole went into labor Stunned: 'It was really scary when they said that something else was inside me,' Nicole said. 'And when they told us that it was another baby I literally asked her if she was lying' The couple had a 'natural pregnancy', and only had one scan - the day she went into labor - but it's thought Cade was 'hiding' behind his sister, so wasn't spotted. Nicole is home with her family, and said she now can't imagine just having one baby. Thrilled: Doctors believe that Cade was 'hiding' behind his sister in the womb during Nicole's one and only scan The dedicated mom, who worked in insurance before becoming a full-time mother, said: 'It was crazy. We were over the moon but it utter shock. 'There were really no signs that I was carrying more than one baby, in fact people said how small I was. 'We thought the biggest surprise was going to be the sex of the baby, little did we know! 'It was really scary when they said that something else was inside me. 'And when they told us that it was another baby I literally asked her if she was lying! 'I just couldn't take it all in and was still in so much pain that it was almost impossible to process. 'But I really can't imagine having just one baby now. It's like they were meant to be. I love the thought that they'll always have each other.' Nicole planned a natural home birth with just a midwife present, but had to go to the nearest hospital - Gerber Memorial, Michigan - when her waters broke at just 36 weeks. Delighted: Although the arrival of a second child was a complete surprise to the parents, they say they are thrilled to have welcomed two babies Worry: Doctors began to worry about Nicole after daughter Blakeley (left) was born because she was still in agony; it was then that they discovered she was also carrying a son, Cade (right) Change of plans: Nicole had wanted to do a natural home birth, however when her waters broke at 36 weeks, she was rushed to nearby Gerber Memorial, Michigan Meeting: After he was born, Cade had trouble breathing on his own, so he was rushed to Spectrum Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to undergo treatment Process: 'We were still reeling from the shock and just trying to get our heads around it all,' Nicole said of the days following her babies' birth Family: While Cade (right) was in hospital, his father stayed with him, while Nicole and Blakeley (left) remained together for further monitoring Nicole - who had severe morning sickness throughout the pregnancy - decided to forgo painkillers in favor of breathing exercises, a yoga ball and cool showers. She didn't have any scans throughout her pregnancy, apart from one on the day we went into labor. Under control: Matthew says his wife Nicole is doing an 'amazing job' with both babies After being in labor for over 45 hours the expectant mother opted for an epidural and a suction, and after another two hours Blakeley arrived, at 10.06pm on December 30 weighing 4lbs 4oz. But doctors grew worried as instead to the pain subsiding, Nicole was still in agony after the delivery. They were due to stitch Nicole's vagina up, but realized that something else was in there, she said. While medics were trying to retrieve her placenta, it became clear something wasn't quite right, and decided to do an emergency ultrasound. Nicole gave birth again 59 minutes later, to a baby boy, weighing 5lbs. Baby Cade was having difficulty breathing on his own, so was rushed straight off to nearby Spectrum Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Nicole, who stayed with her daughter, said: 'Over the next few days my husband was primarily with Cade while my daughter and I stayed in for observations. 'We were still reeling from the shock and just trying to get our heads around it all. Anticipation: Nicole and Matthew, pictured before the birth of their babies, met online in 2012 Off they go! After spending time under observation in hospital to ensure that both babies and their mother were fully healthy, the family was allowed to go home Overjoyed: The couple had to go shopping for duplicates of all of the clothing and essentials they had already bought for Blakeley after they were allowed home with their babies Happy and healthy: After Cade spent some time in hospital, he was allowed home with his family, and both babies are now thriving Family history: The couple, pictured right with their babies on Halloween, have since learned that triplets and twins run in Nicole's family Going strong: The babies are now one year old and the family-of-four couldn't be happier Dedicated: Before giving birth, Nicole, pictured left with her babies, worked in insurance, however she has now devoted herself to being a full-time mother 'But primarily all we wanted was for them both to be strong and healthy. 'The craziest thing is that on the day I went into labor I did have a scan but it only picked up the one baby. 'They think that Cade must have been hiding right behind his sister.' Happy: Although the arrival of their twins came as a surprise, Nicole and Matthew both say they would be happy to have a natural pregnancy again in the future When allowed home, the couple, who met online in 2012, went shopping for duplicates of all the baby equipment that they'd previously purchased for just one. Matt, a chiropractor, and Nicole have since been told that twins and triplets run in her side of the family. She said: 'It was amazing to hear that it's a bit of a family tradition, my grandma's cousins apparently had twins and triplets. 'People do ask us if we were to have another baby, "Would we have scans this time?" but I honestly don't think we would. 'Unless there were any clear medical red flags, I'd do it just the same all over again.' Matt added: ''It was truly was just such a surreal moment. I could not believe that my wife was carrying two children that entire time. 'My wife does an amazing job with the two of them. I really don't know how she does it all day every day.' An artist has created Pringles wine tumblers after a woman was banned from a Walmart store for drinking wine from the chip container earlier this month. The tumblers are available in a range of different colors and retail for $35 each on Mississippi designer Celeste Powers' Etsy page. Celeste told MyRecipes: 'I thought the Walmart story was hilarious and was inspired to spoof it on a cup.' Creative! An artist from Mississippi has created Pringles wine tumblers after a woman was banned from a Walmart store in Texas for drinking alcohol from the chip can Multi-purpose: Celeste Powers created two versions of the wine tumbler and is now selling them on Etsy for $29.99 and $35.00 each The artist shared a photo of the first prototype of the wine tumbler on her Instagram page on January 21. She accompanied the photo, which showed four different variations of the container, with a caption that read: 'One you pop you can't stop!' The tumblers are now available to purchase on Etsy, ranging between $29.99 and $35.00. Wow! The creative designer made different variations of the tumbler, each sporting different 'flavors' The regular, tube-shaped Pringles wine tumblers retail for $29.99, while the wine bottle-shaped version costs a slightly pricier $35.00. The slim 20oz version of the tumbler comes with a plastic lid and straw. Describing the product, she said: 'Pringles wine tumbler with Lid and Straw ... Now you can be like the Lady banned from Walmart on electric scooter.' Celeste, who is known as The Cup Artist on Etsy, also wrote that the containers are 'double wall vacuum sealed,' meaning liquid won't spill from the tumblers. 'Great for your friends or moms that endure long trips in Walmart and need to drink wine from a Pringles can,' she wrote. To have a Pringles tumbler made, those interested can contact the seller on Etsy to request a custom order. Funny: Writing about the product, Celeste said: 'Great for your friends or moms that endure long trips in Walmart and need to drink wine from a Pringles can' Scene of the crime: The Pringles tumblers were inspired by a woman who was banned from a Texas Walmart (pictured) store for drinking wine from the chips can earlier this month The inspiration for the Pringles wine tumblers came from a woman who was banned from a Walmart store in Texas for drinking wine from the chips can on Friday, January 11. Texas police responded to an unusual drinking and driving call, when staff at a Walmart Supercenter in Wichita Falls reported a woman drinking wine out of a Pringles can while riding around the store on an electric shopping cart. They were told to look for a woman in a blue jacket and black pants, according to Officer Jeff Hughes, a spokesperson for the Wichita Falls Police Department. Workers at the store asked cops to ban the woman for reportedly drinking wine out of the cardboard packaging since 6.30am that morning, and roaming about the parking lot for hours, according to the Times Record News. The woman apparently had been driving an electric cart most often used by people with mobility issues, but had left the area by the time authorities arrived. Police found her at a nearby restaurant and informed her that she had been banned from the Walmart store. A standard Pringles potato crisps cylinder is roughly 10 inches tall and three inches wide making for a large container for an alcoholic beverage. There was no indication by police that the woman, whose name was not released by authorities, was put under arrest or charged. Viral: People have been tweeting about the incident, which occurred on January 11 After the incident occurred, it went viral, with the Pringles drinker becoming a sort of folk hero. 'Sometimes I wonder how that woman that got banned from Walmart for drinking wine out of a Pringles can while driving a motorized cart is doing,' wrote Twitter user @justanurse25: Another user, @ArchiBromo, wrote: 'What do you think the best Pringles can to drink wine out of would be?' 'Ive come to the conclusion that if Im ever going to be known for something its gonna be a story similar to the woman drinking wine out of a Pringle container at Walmart and Im okay with that,' wrote Twitter user @@HannahRiebeling. 'I bet Dollar General would let you drink wine from a Pringles can while strolling its aisles on a scooter,' wrote another. Princess Sofia of Sweden looked as glamorous in a neutral ensemble as she stepped out in Stockholm today. The 34-year-old royal opted for a muted colour palette, pairing a cream jumper with pale teal straight leg trousers. The Duchess of Varmland paid attention to detail as she co-ordinated her taupe handbag with suede heeled boots, while she held her nude coat over her arm. Princess Sofia of Sweden looked as glamorous in a neutral ensemble as she stepped out in Stockholm today Sofia's earthy colour palette impressed onlooker's, as she co-ordinated her bag with her suede heeled boots for the occasion earlier today Sofia added an extra touch of glamour to her look as she wore her hair in a neat half up/half down do, with her fringe in a centre parting. The royal was visiting BRIS, an organisation works to support the rights of children and young people. Sofia's husband Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland, was absent from the outing on February 1. However, the beauty was accompanied by the company's general secretary Magnus Jagerskog. The Duchess of Varmland cut a glamorous shape as she pinned her brunette locks half up and half down in a neat updo, while her fringe was drawn apart in a centre parting Sofia met with the general secretary at BRIS for the outing, and the duo posed for pictures outside of the Stockholm site. BRIS acts to support the rights of children and young people Magnus gave Sofia a tour of the building, and the royal appeared to be all smiles throughout the day as she beamed at the cameras During Sofia's visit Sofia and Magnus posed for pictures together at the entrance of the site. Magnus gave Sofia a tour of the trust's building earlier today, as the duo were pictured walking around the venue. Sofia has two children of her own with husband Carl. The couple have two-year-old son Prince Alexander, Duke of Sodermanland, and one-year-old Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna together. Princess Sofia and Prince Carl have been married for four years, after they tied the knot in 2015. Prior to marrying the Swedish royal Sofia boasted a successful career as a glamour model and reality television star, as she appeared on the Swedish version of Paradise Hotel. It may have been the end of the work week, but Ivanka Trump wasn't smiling when she left her Washington, D.C. home in a Secret Service vehicle on Friday morning. The 37-year-old first daughter was looking out the back seat window with a stone-cold expression on her face when her SUV pulled out of her garage a little after 8 a.m. It's likely Ivanka was quite literally cold, as the temperature in D.C. was well below freezing, hovering at 20 degrees with snow showers in the forecast. Chilly: Ivanka Trump, 37, had a stone-cold expression on her face as she left her Washington, D.C. home in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on Friday morning Focused: The first daughter later attended a meeting on fighting human trafficking on the southern border in the Cabinet Room of the White House Passion project: Ivanka has been on a mission to end human trafficking and spoke passionately during the meeting While most people on the East Coast have spent the week bundled up in puffy coats and fur hoods, Ivanka looked incredibly chic as she left her home on Friday. The White House senior adviser opted for light herringbone coat, which she wore over a cream turtleneck. Ivanka pulled the outfit together with a black belt that cinched her waist. She wore her long blonde hair loose around her shoulders, and she had a bronzed glow, despite it being in the middle of the winter. The first daughter may have looked stylish, but without a scarf or a hat on her head, her outfit was no match for the polar vortex that is plaguing the East Coast. Ivanka was later seen attending a meeting on fighting human trafficking on the southern border in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Making her point: Ivanka spoke animatedly with her hands during the discussion Prepared: The White House senior adviser brought a notebook and a pen do the meeting Outfit: The White House senior adviser opted for light herringbone coat, which she wore over a cream turtleneck Winter woes: The first daughter was also seen leaving her home in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on both Thursday (pictured) and Tuesday this week She looked focused as she held onto her pen and listened to the discussion about human trafficking, an epidemic that she has been on a mission to stop. Earlier this week, former White House aide Cliff Sims published his tell-all book Team of Vipers, which details the infighting, backstabbing, and dysfunction inside the West Wing and is critical of several staffers. Not holding back: Former White House aide Cliff Sims published his tell-all book Team of Vipers, in which he said Ivanka looks like a 'living, breathing Barbie doll' Although Ivanka has earned plenty of detractors during her father's presidency, Sims painted her in an interesting light, comparing her to a real-life doll. 'The first time I met [Ivanka] in Trump Tower I was genuinely stunned by what appeared to be a living, breathing Barbie doll,' he wrote, according to People. 'I distinctly remember thinking her face didnt appear to have a single blemish there was nothing being covered up by makeup,' he added. 'While her critics claim she has a plastic vibe, I didnt see her that way, though like anyone else, she could be scripted and find some topics and people more interesting than others. Sims, who was on the communications team as a special assistant to President Donald Trump until 2018, said he was 'also struck by the fact that she was unfailingly polite.' She 'laughed freely and had a breezy air of confidence about her,' he wrote. 'She could be assertive at times, but never rude. And if anyone could have gotten away with being rude, it would have been her.' The president took to Twitter on Tuesday to slam the book and its author, calling Sims 'a low level [sic] staffer that I hardly knew' who 'wrote yet another boring book based on made up stories and fiction.' Off to work! Ivanka was last photographed stepping out of her home two weeks ago, donning a demure herringbone skirt suit as she headed to work Hitting back: President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday to slam the book and its author, calling Sims 'a low level [sic] staffer that I hardly knew' First impression: 'I distinctly remember thinking her face didnt appear to have a single blemish there was nothing being covered up by makeup,' Sims wrote of Ivanka According to Trump, Sims had signed a non-disclosure agreement, and The Washington Examiner quoted an unnamed campaign official saying Donald J. Trump for President Inc. filed a lawsuit with the American Arbitration Association against the author for 'violation of the terms of a non-disclosure agreement.' Ivanka was also seen leaving her home in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on both Thursday and Tuesday morning this week. Although she is known to walk out the front door of her home and walk to the Secret Service vehicle that is waiting for her at the curb, Ivanka has been leaving from her garage more often than not this winter. The first daughter was last photographed stepping out of her home two weeks ago, donning a demure herringbone skirt suit as she headed to the U.S. State Department gathering of all U.S. ambassadors. Despite the near-freezing weather, Ivanka opted to hold on to her winter coat as she stepped out of the bottom gate of her home and walked the short distance to the Secret Service SUV that was parked at the curb. Stressed? Ivanka had a serious look on her face when she left her home in a Secret Service SUV straight from her garage a few weeks ago Looking tense: The first daughter was dressed somewhat casually in a cozy turtleneck sweater as she rubbed the back of her ear and took a phone call during her commute The next morning, she did a complete 180 and left her home in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage, looking unusually tense after once again being linked to the failed Trump Tower project in Moscow, Russia. She had a serious look on her face as she rubbed the back of her ear and took a phone call while in the back seat of the black SUV. The first daughter's tense commute came just one day after a report was published about her alleged involvement in building a Trump Tower in Moscow. According to the Buzzfeed News report, the president and his oldest children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka, received regular updates about the development, even as Trump repeatedly claimed he had no business in Russia. Ivanka has claimed she was only 'minimally involved' in the project; however, Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen has alleged that Trump's elder daughter was actually slated to manage a spa at the tower and had personally recommended an architect. British Vogue has revealed the biggest fashion trends for this season - and they are not for the faint-hearted. The fashion bible has revealed which of the biggest trends from the Spring/Summer 2019 designer collections will trickle down to the fashion-conscious shopper over the coming months - with a quirky list including Bermuda shorts, crochet, tie-dye and a lot of beige. Vogue said: 'Optimistic, fun and slightly eccentric, Spring's best collections balance function with all out fantasy and are guaranteed to make you feel good.' Emilia Wickstead sent models wearing bows down the catwalk during her Spring Summer 2019 show - and Vogue has now declared the accessory one of the biggest trends of the year Vogue's top five trends for SS19 1. The Colour - Beige A surprise hit on the Spring/Summer catwalks, beige was featured by all of the top designers - and the trick to working it in 2019 is to wear it head-to-toe. Riccardo Tisci at his first show for Burberry featured dozens of shades of beige for the British brand's classic trench coat, but other designers also unexpectedly featured the 'stick of butter' look, as coined by Man Repeller. Kendall Jenner, 22, wore head to toe beige as she strutted down Burberry's catwalk 2. The Print - Tie-Dye Once the realm of hippies and small children, tie dye has made a triumphant return to the catwalks. Prada, Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney and R13 all featured tie dye clothing on the catwalk and the high street is already making copies. Vogue says: 'Every trend deserves a second chance. Funky shapes and lurid shades are out; controlled bursts of colour coupled with fabrics that hold their shape are in.' A model walks the Prada show for Spring Summer 2019 in Milan wearing the 'new' tie-dye print 3. The Dress - Crochet A perennial favourite, crochet has become more structured, tougher, and downright saucier in its latest incarnation. Everyone from Chanel to Louis Vuitton and Dolce and Gabbana send models down the runway in the new constructed styles. Jennifer Connelly was the picture of elegance at the premiere of Alita: Battle Angel at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square last night. The actress, 48, donned a white minidress in crochet with balloon sleeves and structured shoulders 4. The Detail - Bows It's a chicken and an egg situation - did Royalty inspire the catwalk or did the catwalk inspire royalty? The Duchess of Cambridge turned heads back in September when she attended an event with a large black velvet bow wrapped around her ponytail. The Duchess of Cambridge had her hair tied back in a low ponytail secured with a new accessory - a plush velvet bow But far from throwing it back to the reign of the eighties Sloane Ranger, Kate Middleton was actually bang on trend. Designer Emilia Wickstead featured double bow ponytails on the Spring Summer catwalks during London Fashion Week in September. Kate has often worn one of the designers ensembles, and now Vogue has named bows everywhere as one of the top trends to look out for this S/S. 5. The Piece - Bermuda Shorts A grown up and fashion forward take on the bicycle shorts trend beloved of Instagram celebrities and Kardashians. Vogue says: 'How to take your shorts this spring? Knee-length, slimline and in a sumptuously decadant fabric.' It recommends a pair of black leather shorts which cost 2,095 from Bottega Veneta or, for a slightly cheaper option, a pair of wool and silk shorts costing 169 from Boss. A model in an Emilia Wickstead short suit - featuring a pair of on-trend Bermuda shorts A mother dyed her Great Dane's fur pink in a bid to make her look more 'approachable' to strangers. Jessica Williams, 21, of Kentucky, claims she became tired of passersby being scared of her loveable five-month-old puppy Drama - so she decided to take action. In a bid to make her puppy appear more 'approachable', Jessica decided to give the five-month-old dog an extreme makeover, which cost $100 (76). A 21-year-old dog owner, Jessica Williams, has dyed her dog Drama pink and purple and painted her five-month-old puppy's nails to make her less scary to the public who are fearful of the size of her Great Dane Jessica has previously owned four Great Danes, and has noticed people have been scared of every one of her pets over the years, which is why she wanted to change Drama's appearance to make people realize she was harmless Jessica says the transformation has worked a dream and claims that hordes of people now crowd around when they spot her brightly colored pet. She said: 'People are generally scared of big dogs, and I've noticed that some people might not approach my dogs as much as little ones. 'With them being dyed it makes it easier to socialise them, because not nearly as many people are afraid - especially when they're pink and purple.' Drama is none the wiser to her transformation because she is color blind and cannot see her fur has changed from white to pink, purple and blue Jessica has insisted Drama now makes people smile instead of hurrying past in fear. She added: 'It also means that Drama can be the reason someone smiles, and they would be more eager to walk up to us and ask to pet them. 'And alongside her short, pink nails, it makes it clear to people that she isn't going to do any harm.' She said: 'Even though Drama has only been dyed once, I am definitely hooked Jessica has also had her puppy's nails painted pink so passersby to not recoil in fear of her four-legged friend when she is out walking her dog 'We make sure that a safe dye is being used on her and she loves the experience - it's like she's having her own spa day. 'Unfortunately, Drama is color-blind, so can't see just how fabulous she looks, but everyone else definitely thinks she is. 'As soon as her dye starts to fade I will definitely be taking her back to the groomers to have it done again, she looks great.' Although Jessica is happy with the outcome, and the attention to her pet, she has admitted she has received death threats for her actions. Drama is only five-months-old but is already almost the same length as a grown adult, which is why people are afraid to approach Jessica's pet in public, although she hopes to change the stigma around Great Danes Since Drama's makeover more people are paying attention to the animal. However, Drama is Jessica's only pet who has undergone the transformation as her other pet Danes still have their natural fur Speaking about the reaction to Drama's new look, she said: 'Most people love it, but others hate it and think she's embarrassed. 'A lot of people don't realise that the dye being used is really safe so start to think it's cruel, so I make sure I tell everyone that it's a safe dye and doesn't harm Drama at all. 'I've had complaints about painting and trimming her nails too, but I always make sure Drama is comfortable and a good dog owner should always take care of their pooches feet. 'I've even received death threats about the fact I dye my dog - but in reality all of my dogs are spoiled more than most adults.' A pair of lovestruck newlyweds have relived their special day a grand total of 33 times, by travelling across the world to take a breathtaking collection of photos. Nick Aust, 24, and wife Zoe, 27, from New Jersey, decided to take their wedding pictures to the next level by snapping their couple shots not only at the venue itself, but at some of the world's most breathtaking landmarks. The couple spent the first nine months of 2018 travelling to the likes of Barcelona, Dubai, Rome, and even tackled the Great Wall of China and Mount Everest to create the album of a lifetime. In the beautiful shots, Zoe can be seen wearing her dress in front of everything from tourist landmarks to beautiful backdrops. The idea came to the couple on their very first date, when they joked to themselves that, if things worked out, they would like to travel the world together one day. Nick Aust, 24, and wife Zoe, 27, from New Jersey, decided to take their wedding pictures to the next level by snapping their couple shots not only at the venue itself, but at some of the world's most breathtaking landmarks (seen at the Great Wall of China) The couple spent the first nine months of 2018 travelling to create the album of a lifetime- taking Zoe's dress with them (Zoe seen in her wedding dress on Mount Everest) In the beautiful shots, Zoe can be seen wearing her dress in front of everything from tourist landmarks to beautiful backdrops. The couple are pictured in front of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Having got engaged in 2016 and married in December of 2017, Zoe and Nick decided it was time to make good on their promise to each other, taking off with Zoe's wedding dress packed. Zoe, who began her journey with Nick in Thailand in January 2018, said: 'Life is too short to only wear your wedding dress once. 'And the world is too big to only stay in your little town your whole entire life. 'Our hope is that when people see our pictures they feel nothing but inspired to explore a new place, try a new hobby and fulfill that dream they've always had.' The idea came to the couple on their very first date, when they joked to themselves that, if things worked out, they would like to travel the world together one day- seen in front of Barcelona's cathedral Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Rome, Italy, photographed in front of the Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre Pictured:Nick and Zoe Aust in Cappadocia, Turkey, the hot air balloons a stunning backdrop to their wedding pictures Nick and Zoe Aust in Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan. The couple spent nine months of 2018 travelling the world in an extended honeymoon Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Cape Town, South Africa. Zoe was surprised her wedding dress held up throughout the journey The idea came to the couple on their very first date, when they joked to themselves that, if things worked out, they would like to travel the world together one day. Nick and Zoe Aust in Sri Lanka In the beautiful shots, Zoe can be seen wearing her dress in front of everything from tourist landmarks to beautiful backdrops. Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Mykonos, Greece Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Piha, New Zealand. The couple saved for their project, which they named MarryMeIn and documented along the way The couple saved for their project, which they named MarryMeIn and documented along the way. They both admitted that they did not expect the wedding dress itself to hold up for the entire journey but, to their surprise, it made it through every stop along the way, from shoots in off-the-beaten-track woodlands to cosmopolitan cities. In total, the 33-country journey saw the couple travel from January until October 2018, when they finished their trip in the Seychelles. The couple admit that there was some stigma attached to the project, with people questioning what they would do spending so long each other's company and why they hadn't used their savings to buy a house. They both admitted that they did not expect the wedding dress itself to hold up for the entire journey. Pictured: Zoe Aust in Dubai Pictured:Nick and Zoe Aust in Capri, Italy. In total, the 33-country journey saw the couple travel from January until October 2018 Having got engaged in 2016 and married in December of 2017, Zoe and Nick decided it was time to make good on their promise to each other, taking off with Zoe's wedding dress packed Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust inTaj Mahal, India. Zoe added a sari to her beautiful wedding gown Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Burj Khalifa, Dubai The couple admit that there was some stigma attached to the project, people wondering how they could spend such a long time in each other's company Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Kotor, Montenegro. 'Our favorite thing about this project was that every photoshoot - we got the chance to put back on the outfits we wore on our wedding day' Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Mt Cook, New Zealand. Nick and Zoe are planning more trips far and wide in the future Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Vienna, Austria. The couple said their wedding day was the best day of their lives Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Positano, Italy. The couple inspired others to try and do the same thing for their own wedding Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. From their first date, the couple knew they would do this oen day Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Judean Desert, Israel. The couple said they had made a lot of friends along their travels Pictured:Nick and Zoe Aust in Meiji Shrine, Tokyo. Nick and Zoe hope to inspire others to visit new places and try new things, doing what makes them happy Through photographing their travels, however, Nick and Zoe hope to inspire others to visit new places and try new things, doing what makes them happy. They are planning more trips far and wide in the future, too, hoping to incorporate more volunteer-based programs into their travel plans. Speaking about their journey, Nick said: 'There are many things that we've loved about this project, like people telling us they'd love to do the same thing one day or the cool relationships we've built with people. 'But, to be completely honest, our favorite thing about this project was that every photoshoot - we got the chance to put back on the outfits we wore on our wedding day. 'That was by far the best day of both of our lives and to be able to re-live that day in some of the most beautiful places in the world is really what made us so happy about the whole thing.' Pictured:Nick and Zoe Aust in Sydney, Australia. Zoe wore her wedding dress with a beautiful white veil for the occasion Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust embracing under the sun in Bali. The couple looked relaxed on this leg of their tour Nick and Zoe Aust travelled the world to take their wedding photos Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Singapore Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Eltz Castle, Germany. These globetrotting newlyweds decided to take their wedding photos to the next level Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in India Ocean. She is seen braving the sea in her beautiful dress which managed to stay flawless Pictured:Nick and Zoe Aust in Great Pyramid, Egypt. Zoe adapted her outfits to the countries she was visiting Pictured: Nick and Zoe Aust in Santorini. Zoe stayed in her wedding gown throughout the shoot but Nick changed his outfits A Bollywood movie about a family accepting their daughter as gay has been hailed for pushing the boundaries of cinema in socially conservative India. It comes after the country's Supreme Court scrapped a colonial-era ban on homosexuality in September, sparking wild celebrations amongst India's LGBT community. 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga' (How I Felt When I Saw A Girl) is being lauded as the first mainstream Indian film to show parents dealing with their daughter being in a same-sex relationship. A Bollywood movie about a family accepting their daughter as gay has been hailed for pushing the boundaries of cinema in socially conservative India It was written by trans screenwrite Gazal Dhaliwal. 'I started writing this film 26 months back,' she wrote on Twitter. 'So, you might say it was two years in the making. But I would say it was several decades in the making.' The Hindi-language drama, which was released in India and the UK today, sees veteran actor Anil Kapoor star alongside his real-life daughter, Sonam Kapoor. Kapoor, 62, plays the role of a father in a family which is eagerly trying to get his daughter Sweety - played by Sonam - married. But she is in love with a woman and the movie centres on her grappling with how to tell her family, while fearing they won't accept the relationship. Some people were quick to point that Ek Ladki was groundbreaking on a lot of levels, being directed by a woman, written by a trans woman and having two leading ladies The official poster for Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (How I felt When I Saw That Girl) 'Looks like such a beautiful and heartfelt film... more power for pushing boundaries,' filmmaker Karan Johar posted on Twitter. 'Such a difficult subject handled with so much dignity n restraint... wishing All the very best to its cast n crew!! Its an important film first of its kind...' tweeted director Farah Khan. Mumbai-based Bollywood doesn't have a good track record when it comes to portraying homosexuality. Many movies over the years have even mocked gay characters, sometimes making them the target of jokes. But several films have dealt with the subject sensitively, such as 'Kapoor and Sons' and 'Aligarh'. Leading lady Sonam Kapoor plays Sweety, a young woman whose family want her to marry a handsome heir, played by Akshay Oberoi (both pictured) 'Fire' was widely considered to be the first mainstream Hindi movie to feature a gay relationship. The film centred on two women in unhappy marriages who have a sexual relationship. When the movie was released in India in 1998 Hindu extremists attacked cinemas showing it. Shelly Chopra Dhar, the director of 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga', told AFP she hoped her movie would help fight prejudice. 'We do hope that this (film) breaks paradigms for many people and we realise that the dignity of all human beings is exactly the same and (that) love is love,' she said. Sweety's father in the movie is played by Sonam Kapoor's real-life father, Anil Kapoor The movie has so far received a mixed response from critics. A Scroll.in review praised its 'bold theme' but said it was 'undercut by its timidity'. Shubhra Gupta, writing in the Indian Express newspaper, lauded 'a progressive film' but questioned why it showed women being free 'only after getting male approval and help'. Promoters kept the nature of the movie's romance under wraps for fear of putting off some audiences, but did release a few hints including the official hashtag #SetLoveFree. The trailer released last month gave little away - it could have been any Bollywood romance for the most part - but did include a short clip of Sonam Kapoor's character holding hands with a woman. On Friday, adverts taken out in newspapers hinted more at what was to come with the headline: 'Today is the day of acceptance'. The actors themselves remained tight-lipped ahead of the film hitting screens, with Sonam Kapoor telling AFP simply: 'It's about family and acceptance, for who the person is, for their dreams, caste, religion or sexuality, is so important'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are expecting their first child this spring, are currently renovating Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate after announcing their plans to leave Kensington Palace The Queen is to allow Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan Markle to choose some pieces from the Royal Art Collection to decorate their new home. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are expecting their first child this spring, are currently renovating Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate after announcing their plans to leave Kensington Palace, where they currently reside. Now, palace insiders have told Vanity Fair that the Queen has invited the pair to choose 'several pieces' from her priceless art collection to hang in their new home. 'Meghan and Harry have been told they can choose some art work for Frogmore Cottage,' said a Palace insider. 'They have been presented with a list of paintings that would be available to them and they are making up their minds as to what they would like to hang in their new home.' The Queen previously allowed Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge to select some pieces following their marriage. They put the artwork on display at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, and their apartments in Kensington Palace. MailOnline previously reported that Meghan plans to use vegan paint infused with eucalyptus oil to decorate her nursery for her first child, which is due in April. A member of staff at The Queens Gallery straightens a painting on display in the 'Gifted: From the Royal Academy to The Queen' exhibition at The Queens Gallery in London The Duchess of Sussex also plans to make the nursery gender-free for the next royal baby. As part of the 3 million renovation of their Grade II listed home Frogmore Cottage, which is on the Queens Windsor Estate, the 37-year-old Duchess is reported to be installing child proof windows and a 50,000 eco-friendly boiler. She has enlisted the help of the star interior designer Vicky Charles who decorated the chic hotel Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, which hosted Meghans hen party for three days. The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. As part of the 3 million renovation of their Grade II listed home Frogmore Cottage (pictured), which is on the Queens Windsor Estate, the 37-year-old Duchess is reported to be installing child proof windows and a 50,000 eco-friendly boiler Comprising almost all aspects of the fine and decorative arts and running to more than a million objects, the Collection is a unique and valuable record of the personal tastes of kings and queens over the past 500 years. Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, the greater part of the Kings magnificent possessions was sold by order of Oliver Cromwell, and the Royal Collection has largely been formed since the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. The most important additions to the Royal Collection were made by Frederick, Prince of Wales; George III; George IV; Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; and Queen Mary, consort of King George V. The Royal Collection is held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the nation. It is not owned by her as a private individual. Napoleon Perdis built his $125 million beauty empire from humble beginnings. But fast forward 24 years, the cult makeup giant collapsed into a voluntary administration on Thursday, with hundreds of jobs now in the firing line. The makeup artist - who famously said: 'Not to prime is a crime' - opened his first store in Sydney's upscale suburb of Paddington in 1995. As he transformed his much-loved brand into a multi-million dollar empire over more than two decades, the cosmetics mogul led an opulent lifestyle. So where did it all go wrong? Napoleon Perdis built his $125 million beauty empire from humble beginnings (pictured with his daughter Lianna Perdis in 2017) The makeup artist (pictured in 2011) - who famously said: 'Not to prime is a crime' - opened his first store in Sydney's upscale suburb of Paddington in 1995 The rise and fall of Napoleon Perdis Napoleon Perdis opened his first store in Sydney's upscale suburb of Paddington in 1995 The brand extended its presence overseas in 2004, predominantly in the US He made his debut on the Young Rich List with a $20 million fortune in 2004 By 2013, his beauty empire was worth a staggering $85 million The company pulled out of the US market in 2015 By August 2018, Napoleon Perdis signed an exclusive supply deal with discount pharmacy retailer Priceline after pulling out of upmarket department store chain David Jones On January 31, 2019, Napoleon Perdis announced the company was going into voluntary administration Advertisement As the company entered the US market in 2004, Mr Perdis made his debut on the Young Rich List with a $20 million fortune in the same year. By 2013, his beauty empire was worth a staggering $85 million. Despite becoming a household name, Mr Perdis decided to remove his brand from the US market in 2015. And in August 2018, Napoleon Perdis Group signed an exclusive agreement with discount pharmacy retailer Priceline after pulling out of upmarket department store chain David Jones - as many industry experts believe the association may have cheapened the brand. The rapid growth of beauty giants Sephora and Mecca in recent years has seen Napoleon Perdis dwindle on the retail market. As the world's largest beauty retailer, France-based multinational beauty chain Sephora entered the Australian market in 2014 - and has since opened up 17 stores across the country. Meanwhile rival Mecca has rolled out more than 90 stores in Australia and New Zealand. Despite beauty industry experts blaming Sephora and Mecca for contributing to the collapse of the brand, Mr Perdis said this wasn't the case. 'Retail is suffering a bit of a downturn, there's less foot traffic, e-commerce is up, the customers are shopping different, wants different experiences and we have an enormous number of stores,' Mr Perdis told The Project. Make-up chain Napoleon Perdis has collapsed, with hundreds of workers set to lose their jobs Designer Camilla Franks and Mr Perdis pose backstage at Australian Fashion Week in 2010 Andrew Spring, an insolvency specialist at Jirsch Sutherland, told Daily Mail Australia Sephora may have influenced Napoleon Perdis' move to go into administration. 'It's a tough retail environment - we've seen through a number of high-profile corporate failures in recent times that it's a challenging space to be in at the moment,' he said. 'In general terms, I think we've seen there's been a fair bit of influence from major international players in the Australian retail environment. 'That will definitely have an effect on the way management are trying to position the brand. You can't say [Sephora] wouldn't have affected Napoleon - but whether it's the nail in the coffin or the reason why they've gone down this path is unclear.' Mr Spring said the agreement with discount health and beauty retailer Priceline may have been the wrong strategy move for the high-end brand. 'Ten years ago you probably didn't associate Napoleon with Priceline,' Mr Spring told Daily Mail Australia. 'Having said that, Priceline is a pretty strong brand in its own right. But these types of strategies can ultimately impact on how brands are perceived. 'If you're running a premium brand, charging a premium price, then you move it into the mainstream - that sort of cheapens it a little bit. 'It's like that saying, "you don't want to join a club that wants you as a member".' But who knows, I think there are probably a number of factors that led to this outcome.' Napoleon Perdis (pictured with Laura Csortan and Sophie Faulkner) explained he had appointed administrators to 'make sure we assess our financial position and meet all obligations' Mr Perdis - who famously said 'not to prime is a crime' - said his brand 'is still in high demand', despite the empire he built from scratch (pictured in 2006) On Thursday night, Mr Perdis explained he had appointed administrators to 'make sure we assess our financial position and meet all obligations'. 'Over the last 18 months we've been trying to make sure we're growing the business and make sure maintaining the business,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, it's been huge cost structure, electricity has gone up, rent has gone up, lifestyle has gone up and less consumer spending.' He added: 'For 25 years, for me it has been an amazing journey and it's all because I just love making women look beautiful, love giving product that works at every level.' Shortly after announcing the shock collapse of the beauty empire, Mr Perdis visited his warehouse to give his staff members a hug. 'Emotionally I feel sad. Emotionally I feel it's one of those moments you actually have to be strong at the same time,' he told 7News. 'I am very conscious of the staff that I actually have and have been family for many, many years... I hope that I continue to be involved in the company right through.' As the company entered the US market in 2004, Mr Perdis (pictured with Haylie Duff) made his debut on the Young Rich List with a $20 million fortune in the same year After 24 years of trading, the directors of Napoleon Perdis Group appointed administrators from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants. 'The brand is still in high demand... and is more innovative than ever, so by restructuring the business in this manner, we believe, puts it in a prime position to continue to evolve through continued trade or in a sale,' he said on Thursday. 'My family and I are 100 per cent committed to achieving the best outcome for all stakeholders. 'We are fortunate that throughout our business, we have staff and teams who have not only underpinned the business success, but who are our extended family. 'As we work towards our goals, we ask customers, suppliers and other interested parties to continue with their valued support of the brand.' The first store was opened in 1995, before expanding overseas, predominantly in the US for more than a decade. 'The Napoleon Perdis directors have been trying to sell the business for several months,' Worrells Solvency said in a statement. 'The current plan for the administration process is to see whether the business can be restructured through the process or a buyer is found while the business continues to trade.' Napoleon Perdis (centre), Real Housewives star Nicole Gazal O'Neil (right) and daughter Lianna pose for a picture as they arrive for the InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards in 2017 The Napoleon Perdis Group has an exclusive agreement with Priceline, which has vowed to support the business during the administration process. Napoleon Perdis launched in more than 200 Priceline stores from August 2018. Worrells will continue to trade all stores as usual and undertake daily assessments of the stores throughout the administration process. 'The Napoleon Perdis brand is an iconic brand of Australia with substantial value and relevance within the cosmetic industry both for Australian and international markets,' administrator Simon Cathro said. 'Our understanding of the brand and its businesses has only strengthened our assessment of its potential business performance and profitability.' A 1961 advertisement for a children's front seat car belt has resurfaced online and shown just how far car safety has come over the years. The clipping from an old Sears catalogue, which was shared to a Sydney mother's Facebook group on Thursday, saw a toddler sporting a harness attached to a car seat. Having retailed for US $1.88, the 'Auto Strap' was described as a tool that 'guards your child as you're busy driving through traffic'. Facebook users shared their thoughts, with one saying 'thank goodness times have changed'. Scroll down for video 'Thank goodness times have changed': An old advertisement for a child's front seat car belt resurfaced online this week, and caused plenty of shocked reactions from mothers In the clipping, the toddler was seen standing on the front passenger seat and sporting a harness, that was attached with a strap to the back of the seat. Described as an 'Auto Strap for front seat tots,' the device retailed at the time for $1.88, and was designed for ages one to 10. Alongside the picture was a description of the product, that claimed to 'guard your child as you're busy driving through traffic'. It also claimed to allow one's child to 'sit, stand, kneel or sleep without disturbing the driver' and also 'prevents spills from sudden stops'. Then and now: The newspaper clipping shows just how much times have changed in regards to the design of children's car seats 'Heavy web harness attaches to safety strap that snaps to car seat frame,' the clipping read. 'Removes easily. Also use as walking harness.' Mothers today were shocked by the lack of careful design, with one writing in the Facebook comments section: 'Thank goodness times have changed'. 'It's a miracle we survived,' another added. What are NRMA's tips for purchasing a car seat? * Don't simply purchase based on price * Be wary of purchasing second-hand * Read through the national Child Restraint Laws Source: NRMA Advertisement One said it was a 'bargain' at $1.88, while another thought it was very odd to be designed for ages one to 10. The clipping shows just how much times have changed in regards to the design of children's car seats. Australian transport authority NRMA recently teamed up with partner organisations to test nine car seat options on the market. Using the Child Restraint Evaluation Program, they tested nine varieties, based on safety and ease of use. All models met the Australian standard, although prices were not indicative of safety. Road Safety Expert Dimitra Vlahomitros said that parents should take great consideration when it comes to choosing a car seat. 'A car seat is one of the first and last pieces of baby equipment a parent will purchase that will be used every day for several years, and can be one of the most important,' Ms Vlahomitros said. TripAdvisor has long been the one-stop shop for all travel and restaurant-related reviews around the world. And now the travel and restaurant site has released data based on which hotels in Australia have received the most positive reviews. Some states were well represented in the top ten, but interestingly Victoria, the Northern Territory and Adelaide didn't garner a single place. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the winners and what customers love about them. This lavish tropical escape had 851 reviews in total and scored an average 4.5 stars for customer recommendation (pictured is Freestyle Resort Port Douglas) #10 Freestyle Resort Port Douglas, Port Douglas, Queensland This lavish tropical escape had 851 reviews in total and scored an average 4.5 stars for customer recommendation. Airport transfers, a lavish pool and copious amounts of information about nearby restaurants and experiences made this hotel one to watch. 'I can't speak highly enough of Anne [the owner]. She was so accommodating. We arrived a few hours early and she made sure the room was ready,' one person said. 'She also gave us great recommendations on places to go and eat, as well as giving us discount codes to local attractions.' The average annual price for a night here is $264. Scoring an incredible five stars from reviewers, the Meriton's amazing view of the Gold Coast and comfortable bedrooms are top notch #9 Meriton Suites Southport, Southport, Queensland Scoring an incredible five stars from reviewers, the Meriton's amazing view of the Gold Coast and comfortable bedrooms are top notch. 'Always a pleasure to stay here. The rooms are a good size, always clean and tidy, with furniture in good condition,' one person wrote. 'The staff are great to deal with, polite and happy to help. Never had a problem staying with Meriton at Southport or at any other Meriton Suites.' The average annual price for a night here is $236. 'Always a pleasure to stay here. The rooms are a good size, always clean and tidy, with furniture in good condition,' one person wrote 'The staff are great to deal with, polite and happy to help. Never had a problem staying with Meriton at Southport or at any other Meriton Suites,' she continued #8 Qualia Resort, Hamilton Island, Queensland On the steeper end of the price scale is Qualia, but customers haven't shied away from paying up big to live like honeymooners. 'Have visited Qualia three times and cannot wait to go back! Most beautiful hotel immersed in nature with amazing views of the island,' a lady commented. 'The rooms are clean, spacious and the interior design is gorgeous. Driving in the buggies around the island is very fun and Qualia's location to the marina is a short trip which is convenient if you'd like to venture out. On the steeper end of the price scale is Qualia, but customers haven't shied away from paying up big to live like honeymooners The staff are very professional, helpful and friendly which makes the experience so pleasant 'The staff are very professional, helpful and friendly which makes the experience so pleasant. 'If you are planning a couple's getaway, this is definitely the place for you.' The average annual price for a night here is $1,508. #7 The Langham, Sydney, New South Wales This pretty-in-pink hotel is nestled in the Miller's Point region of the city: Close enough to easily get to your next destination but without the feeling of an urban jungle. 'Enjoyed a few days at this lovely, traditional Sydney hotel,' one person wrote. 'The Langham is in a great, quiet location. Just a short walk from the buzz of the harbour in one direction and the city shops in the other. This pretty-in-pink hotel is nestled in the Miller's Point region of the city: Close enough to easily get to your next destination but without the feeling of an urban jungle 'Enjoyed a few days at this lovely, traditional Sydney hotel,' one person wrote 'The staff were so friendly and helpful - they made us feel at home as soon as we arrived. The rooms are of a high standard, well equipped and classy,' they said 'The staff were so friendly and helpful - they made us feel at home as soon as we arrived. The rooms are of a high standard, well equipped and classy. 'Choose a harbour facing room for an unbeatable, stunning view.' The average annual price for a night here is $523. #6 COMO The Treasury, Perth, Western Australia Walking into this high ceiling establishment is nothing short of a welcoming experience. 'Located in a spectacularly character ridden turn of the century renovated bank building this gem has great rooms, amazing art, a plethora of dining options and singular boutique shops,' a customer wrote. The average annual price for a night here is $645. Walking into this high ceiling establishment is nothing short of a welcoming experience 'Located in a spectacularly character ridden turn of the century renovated bank building this gem has great rooms, amazing art, a plethora of dining options and singular boutique shops,' a customer wrote #5 Korte's Resort, Rockhampton, Queensland Five star reviews go to this stunning escape. 'We stayed here for two nights and it is was a great place to stay. The food and the staff were exceptional even though it's 15 mins out of town... it's worth the time to stay here,' one person commented enthusiastically. 'The meals can be pricey but well worth paying the extra for. Best steak in town. Breakfast was amazing, every meal was amazing, even the kids thought so.' The average annual price for a night here is $157. 'We stayed here for two nights and it is was a great place to stay. The food and the staff were exceptional even though it's 15 mins out of town... it's worth the time to stay here,' one person commented enthusiastically 'The meals can be pricey but well worth paying the extra for. Best steak in town. Breakfast was amazing, every meal was amazing, even the kids thought so' #4 Peninsula Boutique Hotel, Port Douglas, Queensland They don't call this one a boutique experience for nothing. From the very first moment you step in the ocean-facing hotel you'll feel as though you're miles away from home - and on a tropical island. 'We recently stayed at the Peninsular Boutique Hotel and will definitely recommend to all our friends and family who intend to visit Port Douglas,' one woman said. From the very first moment you step in the ocean-facing hotel you'll feel as though you're miles away from home - and on a tropical island 'We recently stayed at the Peninsular Boutique Hotel and will definitely recommend to all our friends and family who intend to visit Port Douglas,' one woman said 'It was the perfect location across from Four Mile Beach and an easy walk down Macrossan Street to explore the many wonderful shops' 'It was the perfect location across from Four Mile Beach and an easy walk down Macrossan Street to explore the many wonderful shops. 'There are plenty of restaurants in Main Street although we frequented the Hi-Tide Restaurant which is a part of the hotel on four of the five nights we stayed as the food and service was impeccable.' The average annual price for a night here is $405. #3 Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales Described as an 'edgy' experience, Ovolo 1888 is very close to the main tourist sites in Sydney. 'We booked here the week before we headed to Sydney. We were delighted to secure a room at a reasonable fare, and the stay lived up to its expectations,' a man commented. Described as an 'edgy' experience, Ovolo 1888 is very close to the main tourist sites in Sydney 'We booked here the week before we headed to Sydney. We were delighted to secure a room at a reasonable fare, and the stay lived up to its expectations,' a man commented 'Conveniently located behind Darling Harbour, it is an excellent stepping off point for visiting numerous attractions in Sydney. 'It is close to Pyrmont and this provides good eating alternatives to the usual tourist haunts around the harbour and other more popular parts of Sydney.' The average annual price for a night here is $338. #2 Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales You won't want to see in this cosy hotel just once, so says customers who have given Pinetrees five stars across the board. 'Pinetrees on Lord Howe has become our "go to" holiday for when we need to unwind,' a lady explained. 'The experience is just unbeatable - from the amazing (and incredibly plentiful!) food to the professional and genuinely friendly staff. You won't want to see in this cosy hotel just once, so says customers who have given Pinetrees five stars across the board The average annual price for a night here is $1,387 'Pinetrees makes it easy to enjoy the island to the fullest then come back and relax. It accommodates a variety of "speeds", from my "dive every day" partner to my "I'll work out what I want to do on the day" self. The average annual price for a night here is $1,387. #1 Ovolo Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales And the winner was clear with this 'quirky, fun hotel' taking the cake in the TripAdvisor awards. One person said they could 'stay there forever' while others said the sound system, Apple TV and yoga mat where welcome touches. The average annual price for a night here is $434. Napoleon Perdis has slashed up to 65 per cent off its makeup products after the $120 million beauty empire collapsed into administration. Shoppers eager to stock up on cut-price items can head into one of 56 stores across Australia - including 23 outlets in upmarket department store chain Myer - or online. The official website crashed earlier on Friday morning, but has since restored its page with new reductions, sending beauty aficionados into a frenzy. Every item has been discounted, with savings starting from 30 to 65 per cent off - but you'll have to be quick as popular makeup products are already selling out. Scroll down for video Napoleon Perdis has slashed up to 65 per cent off its makeup products after the $120 million beauty empire collapsed into administration Everything must go! The beauty brand has slashed up to 65 per cent off its products (Left: Blush Patrol $42 and right: Creator - Holographic Palette Eye and Face Shadows $27.30) The must-have products to look out for in the flash sale: From left right: Matte Eye Ink $22.40, China Doll Foundation $48.30 and Super Lips Glory $13.30) You'll have to be quick as popular makeup products are already selling out (Left: Blush Engineer Palette Face Shadow $27.30 and right: Devine Goddess Lipstick $26.60) If you're looking to update your beauty bag, there are $26.60 lipstick, $17.50 concealer, $31.50 primer and colour palettes starting from $27.30. The massive discount comes just one day after the brand shut 56 stores across Australia for stocktake on Thursday. As beauty products go on sale, administrators from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants are hoping to claw back huge losses. Beauty buffs revealed the 'must-have' products to look out for, including the 'China Doll Foundation', Auto Pilot Primer, Stroke of Genius Liquid Cashmere Foundation, Matte Eye Ink and the Camera Finish Foundation. Shortly after announcing the shock collapse of the beauty empire, Mr Perdis visited his warehouse to give his staff a hug, as hundreds of jobs are now at risk. 'Emotionally I feel sad. Emotionally I feel it's one of those moments you actually have to be strong at the same time,' he told 7News. 'I am very conscious of the staff that I actually have and have been family for many, many years... I hope that I continue to be involved in the company right through.' After 24 years of trading, the directors of Napoleon Perdis Group appointed administrators from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants. Napoleon Perdis - who famously said 'not to prime is a crime' - said his brand 'is still in high demand', despite the empire he built from humble beginnings. On sale with big savings! From left: Mattetastic Lipstick $26.60 and Mist Spray $48.30 There's a big range of eyelash extensions to choose from, including the Just Lash It Kit $27.30 As makeup empire Napoleon Perdis goes into administration, beauty aficionados are set to rush into stores for the highly-anticipated flash sale (Left: Auto Pilot BBB Cream SPF30 $20.65 and right: Camera Finish Look 5 $20.65) Napoleon Perdis (centre), Real Housewives star Nicole Gazal O'Neil (right) and daughter Lianna pose for a picture as they arrive for the InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards in 2017 'The brand is more innovative than ever, so by restructuring the business in this manner, we believe, puts it in a prime position to continue to evolve through continued trade or in a sale,' he said in a statement. 'My family and I are 100 per cent committed to achieving the best outcome for all stakeholders. 'We are fortunate that throughout our business, we have staff and teams who have not only underpinned the business success, but who are our extended family. 'As we work towards our goals, we ask customers, suppliers and other interested parties to continue with their valued support of the brand.' The cult cosmetics giant shut 56 stores across Australia for stocktake on Thursday, including 23 outlets in Myer (Left: Pro Palette Correct & Conceal + $21. Right: China Doll Eyeliner $27.30) Everything must go! Napoleon Perdis is set to launch a mega sale on items (From left: Total Bae - Perfect It! $34.40 and right Mosaic Powder Collection $42) The first store was opened in 1995, before expanding overseas, predominantly in the US for more than a decade. 'The Napoleon Perdis directors have been trying to sell the business for several months,' Worrells Solvency said in a statement. 'The current plan for the administration process is to see whether the business can be restructured through the process or a buyer is found while the business continues to trade.' The Napoleon Perdis Group has an exclusive agreement with Priceline, which has vowed to support the business during the administration process. Napoleon Perdis launched in more than 200 Priceline stores from August 2018. Left: Auto Pilot Pore Minimiser & Mattifier $48.30 and right: Lipstick Goddess Lynx $26.60 Napoleon Perdis (pictured in 2011) said in a statement his brand 'is still in high demand', despite the empire he built from scratch collapsing on Thursday Popular beauty products are set to go on sale, including Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer $41.30 and Stroke of Genius Liquid Cashmere Foundation $48.30 There are 20 shades of CTRL +Concealer - with prices starting from just $17.50 each Andrew Spring, an insolvency specialist at Jirsch Sutherland, said the agreement with discount health and beauty retailer Priceline may have been the wrong strategy move for the high-end brand. 'Ten years ago you probably didn't associate Napoleon with Priceline,' Mr Spring told Daily Mail Australia. 'Having said that, Priceline is a pretty strong brand in its own right. But these types of strategies can ultimately impact on how brands are perceived. 'If you're running a premium brand, charging a premium price, then you move it into the mainstream - that sort of cheapens it a little bit. 'It's like that saying, "you don't want to join a club that wants you as a member".' But who knows, I think there are probably a number of factors that led to this outcome.' Worrells will continue to trade all stores as usual and undertake daily assessments of the stores throughout the administration process. 'The Napoleon Perdis brand is an iconic brand of Australia with substantial value and relevance within the cosmetic industry both for Australian and international markets,' administrator Simon Cathro said. 'Our understanding of the brand and its businesses has only strengthened our assessment of its potential business performance and profitability.' A relationship expert has shed light on the seemingly romantic gestures that can actually bed red flags for controlling behaviour. Dr Mariana Bockarova, a relationship psychology teacher at the University of Toronto, explained saying 'I love you' too early on in a relationship might seem like a bold declaration of affection but in reality be can an indicator of an abusive personality. Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she also noted oversharing wanting to spend an excessive amount of time together could also be cause for concern. Here, FEMAIL explores some of the warning signs you should watch out for... SAYING 'I LOVE YOU' TOO SOON A relationship expert has shed light on the seemingly romantic gestures that can actually bed red flags for controlling behaviour. Stock image A big, bold declaration of love early in a relationship can make your heart soar, but all is not always as it seems. While it is normal to feel infatuated with a new partner, someone who makes absolutist promises like 'you are my soul mate' within the first few weeks will likely leave your heartbroken later on. 'Although not true in all cases, this sort of behaviour is quite common, unfortunately, among controlling, abusive, or narcissistic partners,' Dr Bockarova said. Partners make these sorts of declarations before they have gotten to know the other person and can grow angry or frustrated when the fantasy or idealised version is not met. She added: 'I would tread carefully with someone making extremely grand gestures before they know you. Be cognisant that long-lasting and healthy love takes communication, trust, reliability, and genuine care, which takes time to build.' OVERSHARING EARLY IN A RELATIONSHIP A big, bold declaration of love early in a relationship can make your heart soar, but all is not always as it seems, Dr Mariana Bockarova warns The great thing about a blossoming relationship is getting to know your partner and what you like about them. But partners who dump all of their personal lives and trauma on you very early on are a red flag. Be on your guard if they open up about past relationships during a first date. If they're highly critical of past partners, they might not be the right person for you. BEING TOGETHER CONSTANTLY When in love, it's common to want to spend every single second with a new partner. But everyone needs a bit of space. Partners shouldn't make each other feel guilty for wanting some me-time. Dr Bockarova said that this is a major red flag. She added: '[A relationship] becomes toxic and unhealthy when you feel pressured or are actively made to feel guilty for wanting to spend time on interests, or with people other than your partner.' The glovemaker to the Queen has graced the Duchess of Cambridge's mitts once again in Dundee this week - proving that Cornelia James has finally 'got' Kate. Back in 2012, Cornelia's daughter Genevieve Lawson, who now runs the firm, admitted she had plans to have Kate Middleton wear her stylish gloves. And it seems sending her samples worked, with the Duchess wearing Cornelia James styles on a number of occasions since 2013. That year, Kate stepped out in a pair of chocolate merino wool gloves in the Imogen style, which features a bow on the wrist, for a day out at the Cheltenham Festival. Just days later she chose a pair in the same 75 style, but in black, for a visit to the Child Bereavement UK headquarters in Buckinghamshire. The Duchess of Cambridge chose a pair of gloves by the Queen's glovemaker for a trip to the V&A in Dundee earlier this week Stylish Kate has worn pairs by the designer several times, including at the Cheltenham Festival in 2013. It comes after Genevieve Lawson, who runs the company, vowed to 'get' Kate a year before Days after wearing chocolate Imogen gloves to Cheltenham, Kate opted for a black pair for a visit to Child Bereavement UK headquarters in Buckinghamshire For a visit to New York in 2014, the Duchess of Cambridge once again wore a pair of black gloves by the designer. Three years later, in March 2017, Kate chose the same style and colour to keep the cold at bay for a rugby match in Paris. And it was the same pair that she wore in Dundee for a trip to the V&A in Dundee earlier this week - perhaps cementing the style as Kate's favourite for the winter season. But for a cold January morning in Sandringham last year, she chose a pair of gloves with a faux fur trim in the 100 Clementine style, perfectly matching her Russian style hat. It seems the Duchess of Cambridge is following in the footsteps of the Queen, who reuses gloves and sends them back for repairs instead of buying new ones. She also wore them on her trip to New York, pictured at the Carlyle Hotel, in 2014. The black Imogen style, which are made from merino wool and have a bow on the wrist, appear to be her favourite She wore the same style for a rugby match in Paris in March 2017. The Queen also regularly reuses gloves, sending them back for repairs instead of buying new ones But for a cold January morning in Sandringham in 2018, Kate donned a pair of gloves with a faux fur trim in the 100 Clementine style, perfectly matching her Russian style hat The Queen has been wearing gloves by the designer since her wedding in 1947, when dress designer Norman Hartnell ordered a pair of plain white cotton gloves for her going-away outfit. Her Majesty wears cotton gloves during the day, and nylon gloves for evening events, keeping several identical pairs in case they get dirty from handshaking. MailOnline etiquette expert William Hanson says Kate adopting one of the Queen's favourite brands is a logical decision after joining the royal family in 2011. He said: 'The Duchess of Cambridges style certainly has become more regal over the years since she married into the royal family - and rightly so, she will one day be Queen to Prince Williams King. Cornelia James is the official glovemaker for the Queen, having won the privilege thanks to its use of materials made in Britain. Pictured: Her Majesty 'Originally Catherine was reticent to take advice from those who had been there and done that on her style but she is much more willing to listen and learn from others - to her own benefit and that if the monarchy. 'Choosing one of The Queens favourite brands is a logical decision.' Cornelia James is the official glovemaker for the Queen, having won the privilege thanks to its use of materials made in Britain. Although Cornelia James gloves can cost between 75 and 240, Kate should be buying them at a discount after Genevieve revealed she sells the gloves to royal clients at trade price about a third cheaper. Genevieve told the Daily Mail in 2012: '[Kate]'s so gorgeous. I have a plan to get her. I'm going to make the ultimate ski gloves functional, but luxurious. 'They will be leather with possum fur, as possum isn't endangered... a little fur cuff. How cute! One of the men at the centre of Patty Hearst's 1974 kidnapping has revealed chilling details of the infamous crime in a new documentary. William 'Bill' Harris was among the group of heavily-armed SLA militants who broke into the home the teenage heiress shared with her fiance in Berkeley, California, before binding and gagging Hearst - who was only found 19 months later. Speaking in the UK premiere of a fascinating new documentary, Harris laughs as he recalls how Hearst's partner, high school teacher Steven Weed, was 'flummoxed' during the brutal attack while the 19-year-old daughter of media tycoon William Randolph was 'scared s***less'. Harris also reveals how the left-wing guerrilla group, which included his wife Emily Harris, carried out extensive surveillance on Hearst's home in the Bay Area of Berkeley before the kidnap to ensure the best possible chance of success. William 'Bill' Harris, pictured in a new documentary airing this week, has revealed chilling details of the infamous 1974 crime that saw Patty Hearst disappear for 19 months William 'Bill' Harris (pictured during the Vietnam War) was among the group of heavily-armed SLA terrorists who broke into the home the teenage heiress shared with her fiance in Berkeley Patty Hearst is escorted by U.S. marshals while leaving San Francisco Federal building where she was on trial in 1976. Hearst's sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter and she was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton Patty Hearst at the Federal Correctional Institute in California, January 1979. After disappearing for 19 months she was jailed for crimes including an armed bank robbery, but President Carter later signed a commutation order to allow her release in February 1979 Describing the days leading up to the violent abduction in February 1974, Harris says: 'It didn't take us long to do the surveillance. She was in an ideal location, there was no security. 'Her front door was right there, randy-dandy, and her apartment was blocked from the street so there wasn't going to be side lights for people to see what was going on or even hear.' Harris attempted to explain the SLA's motivation for the 'audacious' kidnapping, saying: 'Patricia Hearst was a symbolic target, she was an heiress. 'Her family was in control of a media empire that we viewed as an arm of propaganda for the US government. 'We had already determined that Hearst was a particularly easy target and that the propaganda that could be generated from it was perfect.' Producers also spoke to Hearst's then partner Steven Weed, who recalled a 'sketchy' couple turning up on their doorstep a few days before the kidnapping. A poster issued by the Symbionese Liberation Army shows Patricia 'Patty' Hearst, as 'Tania' toting a machine gun in front of the terrorist group's symbol in the infamous image Two months after Heart's capture, the heiress denounced her former life and carried out an armed robbery on a bank in San Francisco with the SLA in April 1974 (pictured) Patty Hearst, pictured, was filmed on CCTV carrying out a bank robbery with the left-wing guerrilla group SLA just two months after her capture and was subsequently jailed Heiress Patty Hearst poses for an FBI mugshot after her arrest for bank robbery on September 18, 1975 in San Francisco, California. She was ultimately released from jail in February 1979 In his own words: Steven Weed on his love affair with Patty Hearst School teacher Steven Weed was 23 when he struck up a romantic relationship with the 16-year-old Patty Hearst. Speaking in the new CNN documentary, he recalls: 'In 1972 I went to work at Crystal Springs [Uplands School] teaching maths and geometry. 'It was a small private girls' school and [Patty] came to some guitar classes I was giving. 'I don't think she really was interested in learning the guitar, she just wanted to hang out with one of the older teachers. 'She would find ways to talk to me and then finally one day she just showed up at my house for some maths tutoring and that became a constant thing eventually. 'I never would have initiated something like that but I was receptive over time. She knew what she wanted and she just went for it, and she was kind of fearless actually. Patty Hearst and then-fiance Steven Weed in happier times (left); and Weed speaking on new documentary The Radical Story of Patty Hearst which debuts Saturday (right) 'Patty and I had a great life together. She was fun loving and easy to get along with, we had great times together. 'Everything seemed like it was heading in the right direction. Patty and I decided we should get married, and we announced our engagement through [her father's newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner] of course and we were looking forward to it. 'It wasn't a simple story. When somebody you love who's close to you is kidnapped, it's a particular kind of torture that's hard to understand unless it's actually happened to you. '[After Patty's kidnap] she did change and it wasn't too many months before I realised that we weren't getting back together. Everything was crushed, it was gone, it was done.' Advertisement 'It didn't seem right,' he said. 'In retrospect, obviously they were checking us out [...] but we weren't at all paranoid.' Weed, then 26, tried to call his neighbours for help despite his eyes being 'full of blood' from being kicked in the face and struck on the head repeatedly with a wine bottle - but to no avail as the captors made off with his fiancee. Two months after Hearst's capture, the heiress denounced her former life in a tape released to her distraught parents in which she said of the SLA: These people arent just a bunch of nuts. Theyve been really honest with me, but theyre perfectly willing to die for what they are doing. She later carried out an armed robbery on a bank in San Francisco with the SLA in April 1974 and was eventually captured in San Francisco in September 1975. Hearst's extraordinary story has been described as by one commentator as a 'rich college girl turned armed terrorist in a matter of weeks'. Bill and Emily Harris, pictured, were both part of the left-wing guerrilla group SLA, who carried out extensive surveillance on Hearst's home in the Bay Area of Berkeley before her kidnap Patty Hearst's father, Randolph Apperson Hearst, was publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. Following the SLA's ransom demands, Hearst arranged the donation of $2 million worth of food to the poor of the Bay Area, but the left-wing guerrilla group refused to release Patty Hearst escaped from the scene but was eventually captured in San Francisco on September 18, 1975. She is pictured here in 1983, four years after her eventual release from jail Patty Hearst pictured in Hollywood in 2012. Last year, Fox was forced to cancel a planned biopic after the heiress blasted the film, saying it romanticised her torture and rape The kidnap of heiress Patty Hearst on 4 February 1974 ultimately descended into a terrorist in a saga of privilege, celebrity, politics, media, revolution and violence. The Radical Story of Patty Hearst features access to key figures in the story, notably Harris and Weed, as well as newly discovered evidence, archive footage and cinematic reconstructions. The new six-part series starts almost 45 years to the day since one of the most bizarre and sensational stories in modern American history. The series weaves through Hearst's upbringing, kidnapping, transformation into a terrorist, subsequent arrest and trial and her transition back into American royalty. Last year, Fox was forced to cancel a planned Patty Hearst biopic after the heiress - who was pardoned by Bill Clinton in 2001 - blasted the film, saying it romanticised her torture and rape at the hands of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The Radical Story of Patty Hearst starts Saturday at 9pm, PBS America Tess Holliday proudly showed off her figure in a racy black mesh teddy during her latest shoot while opening up about combating the hatred she receives because her 'body offends so many.' The 33-year-old plus-size model took to Instagram on Thursday to post a snapshot of herself modeling the sexy bodysuit, which features a plunging neckline, lace panels, and cut-outs. 'When I looked at this image I shot this morning, I thought about Maya Angelou's words: "You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise,"' she wrote, quoting the poem 'Still Rise.' Sexy look: Tess Holliday took to Instagram on Thursday to post a sultry snapshot of herself modeling a black see-through teddy Take that: In the caption, she opened up about combating the hatred she receives because her 'body offends so many' while quoting Maya Angelou's poem 'Still Rise' Tess looks stunning in the photo, which was taken on a balcony during her shoot in London. Her hair is curled in old Hollywood-inspired waves, and she is sporting a dramatic cat eye and a bright red lip. 'I know that my body offends so many, my existence makes some so uncomfortable, but yet each day, I get up & walk through the fire, because I have no choice but to keep going,' she added. 'The power you have once you realize that you can thrive in a world hell bent to know you down is something that no one will ever be able to take from me... because still, like air, I'll rise.' Ahead of her trip to the UK, the body positivity advocate shared a photo of herself right after she got a Brazilian bikini wax. Cheeky photo: Ahead of her trip to London for the shoot, the body positivity advocate shared a photo of herself right after she got a Brazilian bikini wax Keeping it real: Tess temporarily deleted the post-waxing image before reposting it, explaining: 'We all have body hair & if you choose to remove it - cool. It's not shameful!' Outfit of the day: The plus-size model donned a black bra and a pretty pleated skirt while in Beverly Hills last weekend The snapshot, which was taken by her waxer Lindsay Boggoch, shows Tess lying on down and holding on to her ankles. Her furry purple coat is draped across her chest, and she is sticking her tongue out at the camera. 'Yes my coat is on backwards, yes I'm flexible as hell & yes I just had a Brazilian & asked my esthetician & friend @the.wax.spot to take this at 10pm last night when she was done wazing moi. See you soon London,' she captioned the image. Tess ended up second-guessing the cheeky post and deleting it only to later repost it. The social media star, who has more than 1.7 million followers, updated her caption to explain why she temporarily deleted the picture. 'Posting this again bc I deleted it earlier bc I thought maybe it was too much,' she wrote. 'But we all have body hair & if you choose to remove it - cool. It's not shameful!' Russell Brand approaches his pronouncements on fatherhood in the same way a holy man approaches the pulpit; utterly convinced of the ineluctable rightness of his sermon. This week, the dad demagogue announced he wants tickling children to be outlawed until theyre old enough to consent. He has vowed he will punch anyone who does it to his daughters because it violates their space. Would you do it to an adult? Would you insert your rigid fingers into their belly or their armpits? Of course not, he roars. Russell Brand, 43, says tickling should be banned because it 'subverts bodily autonomy' The point is, who does? Id never go around randomly tickling stray children and I cant think of anyone who would who is not already in jail. Affectionate uncles and aunts or grandparents might get a little tickle on now and again, in a fit of familial affection. Yet any time Ive seen them do so, the tots have always gurgled and squealed with utter delight. The point is that they are babies, in the loving embrace of their family, where being cuddled and held is an important part of their physical and emotional development. Seeing sexualisation (rigid fingers) and harm where none is intended, while assuming that tiny children need the protection of sophisticated adult hegemonies just causes more damage than it seeks to prevent. Russell Brand and Lauren Gallacher out and about with their daughter in New York in 2017 Last year, a sexuality expert said parents should ask their babys permission before changing their nappy, in order to establish a culture of consent. How does that work? Apparently, you look junior in the eye and wait until the poor mite gives some sort of non-verbal signal that its OK to proceed with Operation Poopy Pants. Brands stance is, as an example of modern, enlightened parenthood, up there with Cinderellas father convincing himself his new wife and her two lovely daughters will be just the tonic little Cinders needs. Or Les Miserables Fantine deciding to leave little Cosette with those nice innkeepers, the Thenardiers. How is that going to set a good example? Russell Brand at Oxford Union in October last year. He said tickling 'violates the space' of children Especially in a world where two years into dadhood and exultant as the proud father of Mabel (two) and Peggy (six months), Brand has yet to change a nappy at all, or make any meaningful contribution to the daily childcare routine. He leaves all that to wife Laura because he is just too zen, too important, too into himself to do that sort of thing. He told a newspaper: Lauras able to sustain domesticity in a way thats astonishing. I didnt have much experience of how to organise domesticity. I do whatever Im told. It turns out she is extremely well-versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing. He added that he was too sensitive to change nappies and that his romantic, reflective, religious world view prevents him from being a full-time parent. Russell Brand, Laura Gallacher and Mabel Brand Russell Brand at LAX International Airport Russell doesnt sweat the small stuff. He concentrates on the big issues. He floats the big thoughts. And that is where the problem starts. Before his daughters were born, he said he was going to bring them up gender neutral. How very modish, but how can that happen now, in a household run on the worst kind of old-fashioned gender lines Mum the drudge does everything while dad the hero swans about being eminent? You might expect this sort of non-interventionist behaviour from someone like father-of-six and volunteer Edwardian Jacob Rees Mogg (No, Im not a modern man). Yet in a world where even Prince William gets his hands dirty, so to speak, can Russell Brand even have an excuse? Russell Brand and Laura Gallacher at the British Curry Awards in London The problem is that Russell has always seen himself as a superior being beyond censure, someone for whom the normal terms and conditions of life do not apply. Do as I say, not as I do. While he many have given up being a junkie sex god, hes clinging onto his arrogance; ramping up the messianic certitude he once turned on banks and democracy, with every word lapped up by his 10 million online followers. Is parenthood going to be his new gateway to cult hero status? Dear God, let us hope not. He has vowed he will punch anyone who does it to his daughters because it violates their space More on the ticklish tickling issue. It is an attempt to subvert the childs bodily autonomy, to take away their right to their own space and peace, he fumed. Russell is a changed man these days, so perhaps it is unfair to bring up Andrew Sachss right to space and peace, or the violated space of his granddaughter who he claimed to have slept with. It has been more than ten years since that prank call to the Fawlty Towers star, yet the impression lingers that underneath the chi-chi tai chi posturing, the juicing and the acupuncture appointments, all Russell cares about is himself and his giddy pronouncements. He is still like an ambitious critter who crawled into the ear canal of British life and wont stop buzzing until our heads explode. A beetle who wants to be a Beatle, to make an impact, and be bigger than Jesus or else. Help. You might have thought being a parent is exhausting, but Russell Brand being a parent is exhausting in a more profound way than anyone could have imagined. Staffies?I thought we loved Labs How on earth did Staffies become Britains most loved breed of dog? They might be lovely, but we are a labrador nation, by temperament and inclination. Always have been, always will be. At a push, lets hear it for our eternal devotion to the West Highland terrier, the real monarch of the glen. Elsewhere, people are lovers of spaniels, champions of mongrels, devotees of tiny terriers but Staffies? Twenty years ago, a muscle-bound hulk like a Staffie wouldnt have had a look in what happened? The Staffordshire bull terrier (file picture) was once seen as a bit of a chavvy dog Like all things in British public life, it all boils down to class. The Staffordshire bull terrier was once seen as a bit of a chavvy dog, beloved of young men who wanted a macho accessory the way some women want a fluffy teacup dog to accentuate their femininity. Now, Staffies have somehow overturned their reputation for occasional viciousness. Of course, there are no bad dogs, just bad owners. But having to pretend that we all adore these canine thugs makes me feel rather hangdog, to say the least. A golden girl who puts the Gere in the shade It has been a marvellous week for golden oldies but only if you happen to be a woman, of course. By some miracle performed by the gods, model Christie Brinkley celebrated her 65th, above, but still manages to look half her age. Yasmin Le Bon, 54, went to a party looking exactly like she did in 1985, while 73-year-old Helen Mirren wore a long leather skirt to a TV interview and looked fabulous. Wish I could say the same for Richard Gere, 69, inset, who popped up in a trailer for his new BBC series, MotherFatherSon. At least I think it was Richard. With odd, shimmering pools of highlighter under his eyes and a rather taut expression, I thought Richard had had more than a touch of the Tilda Swinton about him. Is that entirely a good look for a sexagenarian? You tell me. Even out in the cold, Meghan's style sizzles Hard to think of any woman in public life whos achieved such stunning levels of pregnancy sartorial style as the Duchess of Sussex. Primarily by not wearing any actual maternity clothes. There is a message here somewhere. On Tuesday, at the National Theatre, she was dressed head-to-toe in a clinging peach outfit, complete with strappy cocktail heels and a tiny Carolina Herrera minaudiere. It was fabulous, even if more suited to a spring wedding in Capri than a winters day in London. Yesterday, at the Association of Commonwealth Universities, she wore funeral black, including the same coat she wore on Remembrance Sunday. A frilly cocktail dress peeped out underneath. The Duchess of Sussex leaves after a visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities at the University of London Only a duchess with a palace-to-pavement lifestyle could wear ice cream colours in Central London. In January. Only a young woman with her own mind could wear black to an official engagement, when it breaks every traditional directive in the royal rulebook. But I love that about Meghan. I love her pared-down look, which is modern and appealing. I love that she wears what she wants, while convention can go hang. And I love that she doesnt pretend, with the judicious deployment of Zara accessories and High Street frocks, that she is being thrifty or ordinary or just like us. Were not idiots. She has married into one of the richest families on the planet. Her clothes are expensive, super luxe, gorgeous. She wears her heart on her sleeve, in more ways than one. In a world of frilly artifice, her sharply tailored honesty is to be admired. And she is not coming down to earth with her bump any time soon. Lovebirds are out of step Its all kicking off on the Strictly Come Dancing tour 2019. And not in a can-can way. Lovebirds Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell (pictured) have fallen out with their co-stars in a big way. Lost in the haze of new romance, their constant kisses are annoying everyone. Get a ballroom! Lovebirds Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell (pictured) have fallen out with their co-stars in a big way However, perhaps the dancers are even more annoyed that the audience vote Joe and Dianne winners at every show. Now the lovebirds have moved out of the 86-a-night Hilton tour digs into more luxurious accommodation and everyone is even more annoyed. But excuse me an 86 Hilton? Who says the Strictly stars are not living the dream? There is so much to admire about Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, but so much that grates, too. Jess likes to wear her working-class credentials as a badge of honour, something that gives her an edge of moral superiority. This week, she was insisting that there were no problems living in areas of high migration, like Birmingham. There is so much to admire about Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips (left), but so much that grates, too It is a total pleasure to live in an area of high migration, she insisted, while castigating the posh Tories she shares her workplace with. I thought I had met posh people before I came here, but I had just met people who eat olives. If Jess really thinks that consuming olives is a matter of poshness, then perhaps she doesnt mix as much in migrant communities as she claims. Oh no! The coldest night of the year so far! Coldest! So far! What? Time for everyone to put a sock on their socks, calm down and turn up the heating. The coldest night of the year? We are barely into February, my friends. @ChescoCourtNews on Twitter Michael P. Rellahan has been a staff reporter and editor at the Daily Local News since 1982. He has covered all kinds of news over the years but is now assigned to report on court and legal news, as well as Chester County government news and politics. Sunbury, PA (17801) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High around 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Ashland, KY (41101) Today Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 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. A politician with a long track record of supporting vouchers and other forms of school choice will seek the White House in 2020on the Democratic ticket. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., announced Friday that he will seek the presidency. When it comes to education policy, Booker has an interesting and perhaps unique track record among the Democrats who will fight to take on President Donald Trump. Although much of that record was established before he was elected to the Senate in 2013, how he talks about that record, and how teachers unions react to his candidacy, will be worth watching. Before coming to Congress, Booker was the mayor of Newark, N.J., from 2006 to 2013. During that time, he made his support for various forms of choice one of the key issues of his administration. In 2012, for example, we highlighted Booker as an example of how vouchers had gained a political foothold among Democrats at the state and local level. That year, he gave a speech to the American Federation for Children, a group formerly led by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (more on her in a moment) that supports vouchers, in which he said that many children by law are locked into schools that fail their genius. And he co-founded a group, Excellent Education for Everyone, that backed charters and vouchers in New Jersey but fell short of its goals. During his early political career, Booker also garnered support from Wall Street donors who took an interest in education policy. That group of donors eventually helped start Democrats for Education Reform, a group that supports charters and other forms of public school choiceBooker has served on its advisory board. However, some in the education community are suspicious of Bookers Wall Street ties. Booker also grabbed headlines for partnering with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who donated $100 million to Newark schools during Bookers tenure as mayor to help support a new teachers contract in the city, closed under-enrolled schools, and open new charters. But results from Zuckerbergs gift have been mixed , sparking sharp disagreements among those who participated in it. Zuckerberg has expressed regret about how his philanthropy in Newark schools did not include community members and teachers like it should have. Because of his work to support a new Newark teachers contract that included merit pay, Booker has often clashed with teachers unions, who did not endorse him in the 2013 special election in which Booker won his Senate seat. And in 2010, the Newark teachers union openly opposed his mayoral re-election bid. During his time in the Senate, Booker hasnt focused much on education policy, although he has tried to simplify the financial aid process for college students, and worked to provide relief for teachers who have student loan debt. But its how hes handled DeVos thats probably attracted the most attention. As he did in 2012, Booker spoke at DeVos American Federation for Children in 2016 , and told the audience that Newark had become a cauldron of educational creativity that was liberating the choice of our parents. Yet Booker voted against DeVos nomination in 2017, saying that the answers she gave in her confirmation hearing about special education concerned him. And in explaining his opposition to her nomination, he also cited the need for the head of the U.S. Department of Education to protect students civil rights. In general, he hasnt talked as much about his support for choice in the last few years, especially his previous backing for vouchers. It will be worth watching to see if Booker is pressed by allies and the media about his record on vouchers and his previous relationship with DeVos. Photo: Sen. Corey Booker, D-N.J., addresses the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner reception in Washington in 2018. --Cliff Owen/AP-File featured Ulster County Too many trips to the polls this year? Hein's departure means Ulster County voters could be at polls 3 times this year 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 Dalton, GA (30720) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Aamer Madhani The Daily American CHICAGO A federal judge on Thursday approved an agreement between the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago that will requirethe Chicago Police Departmentto undertake dozens of reforms. The sidesnegotiated the consent decreeafter the states attorney general sued the police department in federal court. Illinois Attorney GeneralLisa Madigan, who left office this month,allegedthat the 13,000-officer department had a troublingrecordof civil rights violations andsaid it neededan outside monitor to oversee reforms. The dealrequiresthe departmentto publish use-of-force data monthlyandtighten policy on when Tasersmaybe used.Itrequires officers to document each time theydraw their weapons, changes they rules by whichofficers are investigated, and requires the city to bolster wellness and counseling programs forofficers. Judge Robert Dowwrotethatthe decree "is not a panacea, nor is it a magic wand. But heexpressed optimism in his 16-page orderthatitcould be a useful tool for a city thats police department has been beset by allegations of mistreatment and brutalityagainstits black and Hispanic communities. The sides negotiatedthe deal, Dow wrote, with the goal of solving problems"in a manner that defuses tension, respects differences of opinion, and over time produces a 'lawful, fair, reasonable, and adequate'result for everyone involved. Let us begin,"he wrote. The decreemandates dozens of policychanges. Itwill go into effectwhenDow appoints an independent monitor to overseeit.Hesaid he expects the selection process to be complete by March 1. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson in a joint statement called it a historic day for the city. The city has made at least seven separate attempts in the last centuryat implementing large-scale reform in the department. This agreement builds on the strength of the reforms underway at the Chicago Police Department today, ensures there are no U-turns on that road to reform, and will help secure a safer and stronger future for our city, Emanuel and Johnson said. Relations between police and the citys sizeable African-American population havelong been strained. The department has spent more than $700 million since 2010on settlements and legal fees related to lawsuits alleging police brutality. Reform resistance: Sessions: Chicago police consent decree plan 'colossal mistake' pushed by lame-duck mayor Sessions policing reform: Sessions orders sweeping review of police reform Feds head to Chicago: AG Jeff Sessions dispatches 5 more federal prosecutors to help Chicago with gun cases The Justice Department launched an investigation of the department in 2015afterpolice dashcam video showed a white officer shooting a black teenas the teen appeared to be turning away from police. OfficerJason Van Dykewasfound guilty of second-degree murderand 16 counts of aggravated battery one for each shot he firedin the 2014 death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Van Dykewas sentenced the monthto almost seven years in prison. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx called the consent decree an important step in acknowledging past abuses by law enforcement. "Generations of fear and distrust dontgo away because there is a consent decree,"Foxx said. "Repairing that fractured relationship goes beyond todays actions." "This is not the end of the road, a but mere checkpoint on the journey to reform Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department opened investigations into more than two dozen police departmentsand secured court-enforceable agreements to secure reformsin more than a dozen. In the final days of the Obama administration,then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch reported that theChicago Police Department was beset by deficit in trust and accountability. But under President Trump, the Justice Department has opposed such decrees. Jeff Sessions, who served as attorney generaluntil November, said repeatedly it was not the responsibility of the federal government to manage local law enforcement. In the face of resistance from the Trump administration, Madigan sued the city department. Sessions was sharply critical of the state attorney general's effort. He flew to Chicago in Octoberto deliver a speech in which he called such an agreement a colossal mistake and urged Dow to reject it. "The bravery of the Chicago Police Department is not in question," Sessions said. "Theirlove for the city is not in question. "What is in question, however, is the support and political courage of the elected officials." Dow held a two-day hearing last year to get input from the community about the decree. Some civil rights activists told him they thought it was not strong enough. The police union complained about some of the monitoring provisions. The Court is under no illusion that this will be an easy process, Dow wrote in his order. It took a long time to get to this place, and it may take a long time to get out of it. With that said, there are good reasons to think that the conditions and incentives may be in place to start making progress right away. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal judge approves consent decree to reform Chicago Police Department Owen Ullmann The Daily American OKAVANGO DELTA, Botswana This country in the middle of the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa is a lure for safari tourists eager to spot the wild animals that roam freely. Yet visitors cant help but notice something else about this country that is as rare elsewhere in the world as the endangered animals who live in this vast savanna: racial harmony. Absolutely, its palpable. Theres no hostility between the blacks and whites, in contrast to neighboring South Africa and other nations in the region, observes Barry Wood, a veteran journalist who has covered southern Africa. Its an extraordinary accomplishment. Botswana stands out as a lone counterpoint to the racial strife, poverty, dictatorships and corruption that have long been the standard in so many African nations. It has its unique geography, history and culture to thank for that. As the United States celebrates Black History Month in February, all Americans, who stillstrugglewith along history of racial discrimination and conflict, can learn important lessons about racial harmony from faraway Botswana. The African country, roughly the area of Texas with just 2 million residents (about the same as New Mexico), was a British protectorate until it gained independence in 1966. It has been a successful and stable democracy ever since, something no other African nation can claim. It has the most enlightened environmental policies in Africa, creating a countrywide preserve for wild animals. As a result, it has Africas largest population of elephants, who sense they are safe. Watchdog groups rate the government as the least corrupt in Africa. And its an economic success story, increasing per capita income from $80 in 1966 (one of the lowest in the world) to $3,200 today. Besides tourism, the countrys economy has benefited from its chief export of diamonds, which were discovered a year after independence. (Thats the official story, at least. Some Botswanans suspect that diamonds were found earlier but kept secret until the British left). An even bigger accomplishment has been the development of a society in which the mostly black population and the tiny white minority (less than 5%) live and work together without the overt discrimination or more subtle tensions found in societies such as the USA. David Newman, Botswanas ambassador to the U.S., attributes his nations racial harmony to the core values of the majority Tswana tribe, which preachesrespect for all humanity. The concept, known as botho in theSetswananational language, means that everyone is connected to the larger community as if it wereanextended family. In South Africa, there are still divisions from apartheid, and we are reminded of racial differences in the United States, Newman said in an interview. In Botswana, you become color blind. Newman, a white British native married to a black Botswanan, said the countrys constitution specifically bars racial discrimination. He also attributes racial harmony to kgotla, the Tswana tradition of holding local courtyard assemblies so all community members can have a say in an open forum for free expression. Mimmy Polan, registry officer at the Botswana Embassy in Washington, said she and her white American husband have experienced discrimination against biracial couples like themselves in Boston, where they lived for years. You try to suppress it, but its there, she said. They also encountered bias in South Africa but never in Botswana, Polan said. Masego Nkgomotsang, the embassys first secretary for economic affairs, said that growing up in Botswana, we know racism exists, but we dont really know a lot about it. We dont understand it because we havent had to think about it. Nkgomotsang said that when he lived in Washington, a friend asked how it felt to be the only black person living in their neighborhood. He said he had not noticed that. His friend, he said, was amazed at how can I live here and not realize it. I just didnt have that consciousness. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As U.S. marks Black History Month,Botswana offers a valuable lesson about racial harmony The Daily American Pittsburgh medicine is officially a part of the Somerset community. The former Somerset Hospital was renamed UPMC Somerset during a ceremony Friday, becoming part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center health network. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to UPMC Somerset, hospital President Andy Rush said at the start of the event, which garnered applause from a crowd of hundreds. The crowd gathered in a heated tent in the Wheeler Family Medical Center parking lot as snow fell outside. Speakers included Rush, hospital board President Krista Mathias, Dr. Mark Yaros and UPMC Health Services Division Chief Operating Officer Leslie Davis. Davis, who is responsible for overseeing 42 hospitals in Pennsylvania and New York, said that in Somerset, possibly a dozen physicians will be added over the next few years. She said patients should expect to see technology advancements, including electronic medical records and telemedicine. For the time being, she said, all insurers will be accepted at the hospital with employees transitioning to UPMC coverage this summer. Im most excited about the community. They have such a nice culture here, she said. And to create something larger for this community. In November, an agreement was reached to integrate the hospital with the health network. UPMC has agreed to invest $45 million during the next 10 years for services and upgrades at the hospital. The hospital had a budget of about $65 million in 2016, according to its tax Form 990. Mathias, who is also the Somerset Area School District superintendent, said she is most excited about the prospect of bringing jobs to the area. When asked about the possibility of the hospitals maternity ward returning in light of the partnership, she responded in a text, That has not been discussed as of now. Somerset Hospital closed its obstetrical unit in 2016, citing an inability to recruit board-certified obstetricians. Rush, who took over as Somerset Hospital CEO in May and is now UPMC Somerset president, said that a new primary care center will be added, new technology will allow for better communication with Pittsburgh, and improvements will be made in drug and alcohol treatment programs. He said the primary care will include enhancements to programs seniors benefit from, including neurology, rheumatology and endocrinology. I think just joining a world-class organization, he said when asked what hes excited about. World-class care innovative care. The hospital turned 98 years old Thursday. Rush said the plan is to be UPMC affiliated for many years to come. Hopefully forever, he said. Im quite confident in that. Staff reports The Daily American Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered the commonwealth flags on all state facilities, public buildings and grounds in Somerset County to fly at half-staff in honor of Somerset County Commissioner John P. Vatavuk, who died Sunday. The commonwealth flag will be lowered until sunset on Saturday, the day of Vatavuks interment, the governor said in a press release Wednesday night. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute, the release states. The United States flag should remain at full-staff. Vatavuk, a retired North Star School District teacher and county Democratic Party chairman, was first elected commissioner in 2007. He announced in November that he would not be seeking a fourth term in office. He died Sunday at the age of 69, weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer. The Daily Journals Lee Provost writes about local business rumors, comings and goings and other notes of interests. Anyone with information to share should contact Provost at lprovost@daily-journal.com or 815-937-3364. A version of this story appeared in the Friday digital edition of the Daily Journal. Sect Member Gets Suspended Prison Term in Child Abuse Case A New Mexico judge sentenced a member of a paramilitary religious to a suspended three-year prison term in a child sex abuse case. Associated Press/January 29, 2019 Grants, New Mexico A New Mexico judge sentenced a member of a paramilitary religious to a suspended three-year prison term in a child sex abuse case. The Gallup Independent reports that Amos River, also known as Joshua Wentzell, was sentenced Friday in Los Lunas by state District Judge James Sanchez after pleading no contest to conspiring to tamper with evidence. River acknowledged trying to hide children during an investigation by Cibola County law enforcement, failure to report the births of one or more of his six children, and conspiring with his wife in failing to report the births. Authorities raided the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps' secluded Fence Lake compound in 2017 following a lengthy investigation. Sect co-leaders James and Deborah Green have been sentenced to prison terms in the case. Cullman, AL (35055) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 64F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. The following are recent arrests released by the Bridgeport Police Department on Feb. 1, 2019. Jan. 31 A 47-year-old Shelton Street man was charged with criminal attempt and sexual assault in the first and fourth degree. A 26-year-old Ridgefield Avenue man was charged with sale of illegal drugs, possession with intent to sell, stealing a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm. A 31-year-old homeless man was charged with criminal attempt/larceny and breach of peace. A 28-year-old West Haven woman was charged with assault. A 23-year-old William Street man was charged with assault. Feb. 1 A 49-year-old Dayton Road man was charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell, illegal possession of a controlled substance, threatening and criminal attempt/sexual assault. As of January 2019, Hearst Connecticut Media does not include names in online police blotters. Flying at 30,000 feet in a Boeing 737 is one thing. Lots of company. A movie, perhaps. The soothing susurrus of the jet engines. A sense of detachment from the world below. A person could relax. Flying at 1,000 feet? Flying in the world of Morgan Kaolian? Well, thats a whole different matter. In the week since he died, Kaolian has been perfectly described by his friends and those who dealt with him throughout his life: generous, hilarious, imaginative, an ardent environmentalist advocating for Long Island Sound in particular pilot and photographer. I knew him best as a guy who would call me, the newspapers managing editor at the time, most any time he was going up in the air to ask if we needed anything. He wasnt an employee. We never paid him a nickel. Wed run a Morgan Kaolian/Aeropix credit under the photos we used, photos hed take, I had to imagine, banking his plane with his knees on the steering wheel or whatever you call it and shooting out the window. One day, he invited me, my wife and my daughter Kate to join him in his world. My wife and daughter were thrilled. We took off from Sikorsky Memorial Airport in a plane the size of a Volkswagen. We wore headphones so we could talk over the deafening clatter of the lone only, sole, one engine, Morgan and I in front, Sharon and Kate in back, knees to chests. Good company, indeed. But that sense of detachment from the ground some 1,000 feet below not so much. The plane seemed to be standing still. I wanted to punch my feet through the floorboards, like in a cartoon, and push with my feet. The door I squeezed against seemed so flimsy, its one little metal latch so inadequate. When we landed, I got out, got down on my knees and kissed the tarmac. The three of them thought it was very funny. No. The kiss came from the depths of my heart. (Some time later, Kate and one of her friends went up with Morgan in his bi-plane his open-cockpit bi-plane. They wore leather helmets and said the experience was awesome. The only thing I found more incomprehensible was that the guy who eventually bought the bi-plane from Morgan flew it to California.) For health reasons, Morgan had to give up his pilots license. Hed still stop at the newspaper, though, just to chat. The conversations became more repetitive and circuitous. I ran into his son, Kit, a few months ago in downtown Bridgeport. Hows he doing? I asked. He smiled. Good days, bad days, he said. Would he enjoy a visit, or no? I asked. Oh, yeah, sure, he said. Ill call, and recited the number off the top of my head. Amazing, right? I cant remember the last time I called, but its like tattooed in my brain. Well, I didnt call. You know how things go. So many important things to do. My friend and longtime colleague, Ned Gerard, photo editor of Hearst Connecticut Media, has a photo exhibit at Bridgeports City Lights Gallery, 265 Golden Hill St. Ned and Morgan were also good pals. At the opening party for Ned on Jan. 24, I bumped into Kit again. The news about his father was not so good. Would he like a visit? I asked again. Yes, he said. I called Saturday morning and spoke with Anfrieda King, one of Morgans caregivers. Would it be OK to come over? I asked her. Of course, she replied, just dont come too late. I phoned Ned and told him I was going to see Morgan at noon. It was a cold but sunny day. The noon sun glistened on Long Island Sound, just a few doors down on York Street in Lordship. Morgan was in bed, gaunt. Awake but mostly silent. Ned and I sat at the head of the bed where he could see us. There would be no conversation, as such. So I talked to him and to Kit and Ned about the past, about John P. Reggie Kelly, newspaperman extraordinaire, a mentor to me and the man who introduced me to Morgan some 40 years ago, about Bridgeport and its rogues and about kissing the tarmac that day. I thought I saw flickers of recognition dance over his face. Kit sent an e-mail at 7:30 Sunday morning with the news that Morgan had died. Hes soaring freely now. Michael J. Daly is retired editor of the editorial page of the Connecticut Post. Email: Mike.Daly@hearstmediact.com. Serial killer Ted Bundy is back in the limelight thanks to a new Zac Efron movie and a four-part Netflix documentary series. Bundys crimes the murder of at least 30 people in the mid to late 1970s along with the subsequent trials and escapes, took America by storm. Before he was executed at Florida State Prison in 1989, Bundy became a father for what is believed to be the first and only time when his wife Carole Ann Boone gave birth to a girl. In the decades since Bundys death, mentions of his daughter have been few and far between, understandably, but heres what we know today: Bundy proposed to Boone while on trial Carole Ann Boone, played by Kaya Scodelario in "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile," first met Bundy at the Department of Emergency Services in Olympia, Washington, where they both worked six years before Bundys infamous court proposal. While he was on trial in Florida in 1980, Bundy, who was representing himself, asked Boone if she wanted to marry him during a question period about their relationship. Bundys proposal at the time was considered legal thanks to an arcane Florida law that stated as long as a judge was present for a marriage declaration in court, the transaction would be allowed. Per Ann Rules 1980 biography of Bundy, "The Stranger Beside Me," Bundy proposed a second time after mixing up the terminology (I do hereby marry you made it legit). Bundy was subsequently sentenced to death for a third time; he would remain on death row for the next nine years. According to Rule, Boone divorced Bundy three years prior to his execution. Bundy and Boones daughter was conceived in prison Per a September 1981 Associated Press story published in Utah paper The Deseret News, Boone told reporters its nobodys business how the child was conceived. At the time, AP pointed out that Boone lived (with her son from a previous relationship) and worked near the Florida prison and made frequent visits to Bundy at the prisons park. Conjugal visits were prohibited for inmates on death row, but as Rule revealed in her book, the bribing of guards who patrolled such areas was not uncommon. A prison superintendent interviewed by the AP in 1981 offered this: Im not saying they couldnt have some sexual contact but in that park it would be mighty difficult. Its stopped as soon as it starts. Rose (or Rosa) Bundy was born in the fall of 1981 The Orlando Sentinels coverage of Bundys final days before his execution confirmed that Boone became pregnant in early 1981 and gave birth to a daughter that October. The folks at Oxygen, who identify the daughter as Rose Bundy (sometimes called Rosa), claim the birth happened in 1982, which would make the daughter 36 or 37 today. Theres a good reason why not much is known about Bundys daughter today As Rule pointed out in her book, invasion of privacy was a main issue while writing about Bundys ex-wife and their daughter. In a 2008 reprint of her book, Rule did offer this vague update to the curious: I have heard that Teds daughter is a kind and intelligent young woman, but I have no idea where she and her mother may live. They have been through enough pain. She also writes on her official website, I have deliberately avoided knowing anything about Ted's ex-wife and daughter's whereabouts because they deserve privacy. I don't want to know where they are; I never want to be caught off guard by some reporter's question about them. All I know is that Ted's daughter has grown up to be a fine young woman. Rose is barely mentioned in Efron's movie Minor spoiler alert: Rose, or rather, the journey Bundy and Boone took to conceive the child, is not a big part of "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile," as the film is told from the perspective of Bundys girlfriend of seven years, Elizabeth Kloepfer (played Lily Collins). What the movie does show is Bundys relationship with Kloepfers daughter Tina. While he was not Tinas biological father, Bundy was present for much of Tinas early years. HARTFORD Connecticut has joined five other states and New York City in suing the Trump administration over smog that drifts into the region from Midwestern factories and other sources. Attorney General William Tong filed the suit to force the Environmental Protection Agency to comply with federal law by requiring further controls on smog pollution. "Connecticut sits at the end of the tailpipe of the nation's exhaust fumes, with severe consequences for public health," Tong said. "States like Connecticut ... downwind of some of our country's heaviest polluters need the protection of strong interstate ozone pollution regulation," Tong said. "Trump EPA's failure to comply with the Clean Air Act violates federal law and endangers the health of Connecticut families." The coalition is challenging the EPAs 2018 Cross-State Air Pollution Rule "Close-Out" for failing to require further control of smog pollution in states upwind of Connecticut despite the "serious, on-going health threat in Connecticut." Joining Connecticut are New York Attorney General Letitia James are the attorneys general of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the City of New York. Ongoing litigation The suit is not the first legal action Connecticut and other northeastern states have filed over smog wafting eastward from states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Last year, Connecticut and New York State won a federal lawsuit against the EPA to reduce smog that drifts into the Northeast. The lawsuit, filed jointly by Connecticut and New York in January, alleged that EPA failed to perform its mandatory duty under the Good Neighbor Provision of the federal Clean Air Act for 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. A U.S District Court sided with the states argument and ordered the EPA to develop a plan to control interstate pollution. The EPA is challenging the ruling and is continuing efforts to weaken Clean Air Act provisions as part of an effort to reduce burdensome regulation. The litigation claimed lax air pollution standards in states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio require the EPA to take steps to reduce the impact on downwind states such as Connecticut. Smog from coal-fired electric plants in a variety of Midwestern states is carried by prevailing winds into the Northeast, causing "bad air" days in the summer and harming the health of residents, the suit alleged. The state has also threatened to sue the EPA over a proposed rollback of auto emission standards now in the works. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says that more than 90 percent of the ozone levels in southwest Connecticut and more than 80 percent of ozone levels in some remaining parts of the state are the result of pollution that originates in areas outside of Connecticuts jurisdiction and control. Readings at Connecticut air monitoring stations consistently show that that air entering the state exceeds ozone standards, subjecting several million residents to unhealthy levels of air pollution. The state issues alerts to warn residents about bad air days. Those with breathing ailments, young children and the elderly people are advised to stay indoors. The Midwestern smog also prevents Connecticut from meeting federal air quality standards, despite efforts to minimize pollution within the states borders. "Connecticut must rely on other states to develop and implement plans to reduce air pollution, and upon EPA to act as a backstop when they fail to do so, as EPA is required to do under the Clean Air Act," Tong said in a statement. EPA has failed in its responsibility," he said. bcummings@ctpost.com WASHINGTON - About 3,500 additional U.S. troops will deploy to the southern border, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Thursday, criticizing the Pentagon for not revealing the number a day earlier under questioning at a committee hearing. Rep. Adam Smith, D.-Wash., the committee chairman, said he was "deeply troubled" that John Rood, the undersecretary of defense, and Vice Adm. Michael Gilday, the director of operations for the Pentagon's Joint Staff, did not disclose the increase in U.S. troops, "even though we asked them multiple times during a two-and-a-half-hour hearing what would happen next at the border." "They never mentioned it, despite the fact that the Secretary of Defense was revealing an increase in personnel that same day," Smith said in a statement, referring to acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan. "This was at best an error in judgment, and at worst flat-out dishonesty." Smith, in a letter to Shanahan also released Thursday, said that the Defense Department "balked" when given an opportunity to testify about the border mission. It marks a shot across the bow that Democrats will be pressing the Pentagon for more information now that they control the House. "In my opening statement before yesterday's hearing, I said one of the goals of the hearing was to 'set the factual record straight about the Department's support on the southern border," Smith said in the letter. "We did not achieve that goal with the testimony provided by Secretary Rood." During the hearing, Smith did not specifically ask how many additional troops were going to the border, though he requested an update on what would be occurring. Spokesmen for Rood and Shanahan could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the number Smith announced in his statement on Thursday is roughly accurate and has been discussed internally at the Pentagon for several days. The committee hearing was held Wednesday morning just after Shanahan held his first news conference with Pentagon reporters. Shanahan said then that "several thousand" additional U.S. troops would deploy to the border, supplementing about 2,300 already there. However, Shanahan did not provide a specific number. An additional 3,500 active-duty U.S. troops will put about 5,800 on the southern border, just short of the 5,900 the Pentagon had there in November. Those service members were dispatched in response to a request from the Trump administration as thousands of migrants traveling from Central America made their way north through Mexico. The deployment, announced just before the midterm elections, was decried as a political stunt by Democrats and some retired generals, a claim the Pentagon denied. Many of the migrants said they wanted to legally apply for asylum in the United States at a port of entry. Trump has continued to highlight the involvement of the U.S. military on the border as he presses to meet a campaign promise to build a border wall. "More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large Caravans, into our Country," Trump tweeted Thursday. "We have stopped the previous Caravans, and we will stop these also. With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive. Being Built!" When it comes to teaching students about slavery in the United States, teachers often stumble through the topic. In the worst cases, they use poorly conceived lessons that end up inflaming students, parents and communities about a subject that is already difficult to deal with because of the inhumanity involved. For instance, in 2018 a Bronx middle school teacher shocked and traumatized her social studies class when she had black students lie on the floor, then stepped on their backs to show them what slavery felt like. In 2012 in Georgia, a third-grade teacher resigned after an investigation found the teacher and three others had assigned math homework with word problems about slavery, such as, If Frederick got two beatings each day, how many beatings did he get in one week? As a former social studies teacher and now as an assistant professor who helps prepare educators to teach social studies, I have no shortage of ideas on how educators or parents or anyone who is interested in learning more about slavery in the United States can do a better job of understanding the subject and presenting it to others. Here are three of those ideas: 1. Identify the slaveholding presidents Every American should know that several U.S. presidents including some of the Founding Fathers were slaveholders. Twelve U.S. presidents held anywhere from one to hundreds of people as slaves. The nations first president, George Washington, enslaved over 300 people and held slaves for 56 years. Thomas Jefferson, the nations third president, held 600 persons as slaves. This often comes as a surprise to students. In my experience, many students have also been taught that the presidents were nice and humane to their slaves. I would emphasize to students that treating a person as property is neither nice nor humane. About two years ago, critics prompted Scholastic to stop distribution of a book, A Birthday Cake for George Washington, that depicted happy slaves and which Scholastic itself admits may have given a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves. Slavery should be taught from the perspectives of those who were enslaved. For example, the young readers edition of Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washingtons Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away, sheds light on an aspect of George Washingtons life as a slaveholder that is not widely told to children. Similarly, students should contemplate the life of Sally Hemings, an enslaved house servant with whom Thomas Jefferson author of the Declaration of Independence fathered six children, beginning when she was 16. Jefferson never publicly acknowledged his children with Hemings. 2. Move beyond textbooks When it comes to dealing with slavery, textbooks often use inadequate or inaccurate descriptions. For instance, in 2015, a high school freshman noticed that his geography textbook referred to Africans brought to plantations in the United States between the 1500s and 1800s as workers instead of as slaves. This sparked widespread outrage as McGraw-Hill is a major textbook publishing company. McGraw-Hill apologized and agreed to revise the textbooks. The McGraw-Hill textbook controversy was hardly an isolated issue. In 2018, the Southern Law Poverty Center found that when it comes to teaching students about American slavery, textbooks do not have enough material about it. Even the best textbook examined in the centers analysis scored just 70 percent on a rubric designed to assess how good the textbooks were teaching various aspects of U.S. slavery, such as how the nations founding documents the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution contain protections for slavery, or how slave labor was critical to the nations economy. The average book scored 46 percent. Parents and educators would be wise to encourage the use of primary sources to fill in what the textbooks are missing. Primary sources include records and firsthand accounts. Since slavery in the U.S. was not formally abolished until the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865, todays student might think theres no way they could actually hear the voices of former slaves. But as demonstrated by Voices from the Days of Slavery: Former Slaves tell their Stories a collection on file at the Library of Congress and available online a person can actually hear firsthand accounts of life during slavery. Hearing the voices of those who were enslaved is more powerful than what could ever be captured in a textbook. Similar primary sources can be found in in the Framework for Teaching Hard History of American Slavery. Picture books and novels, such as those on a list titled Slavery, Resistance and Reparations, are also a great way to engage children of all ages. 3. Get out of the classroom Another way to learn about slavery is to visit museums and historic sites. Smaller state and local museums with exhibits, plantations, cemeteries, auction blocks and historical markers might be located in your state or local community. A librarian or archivist at a local library might be able to share unique local histories of slavery. Plan family trips or field trips to larger national museums that highlight the histories of slavery. In Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture has a Slavery and Freedom exhibition. There is also the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Museum of Slavery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama, all provide a more comprehensive lens on the systemic oppression of slavery. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit source of analysis from academic experts. Author Tiffany Mitchell Patterson is Assistant Professor of Secondary Social Studies at West Virginia University. BRIDGEPORT A Stratford man caught downloading child pornography just one month after he finished a prison term for doing the same thing, was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison. Jaime Diaz, 32, of Franklin Avenue, Stratford, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree possession of child pornography and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin to 20 years, suspended after he serves eight years and followed by 15 years of probation. SHELTON There wont be a moratorium placed on developers seeking a Planned Development District zone change. But the citys Planning and Zoning Commission is considering limiting developers request for this zone change to downtown Shelton, the Route 8/Bridgeport Avenue corridor and sections of the River Road. Thats one of the recommendations posed by Anthony Panico, the commissions planning consultant. If we can agree upon needed changes...in a timely manner, Panico told the commission, they can be formally processed and adopted, thereby precluding any need for a moratorium. This is a start, said commission member Mark Widomski. At least we are now having a conversation. I never expected a moratorium. In a letter handed out Tuesday to the commission, Widomski proposed a one-year moratorium on all Planned Development Districts except in downtown Shelton. He charging that PDDs are used in too many sections of the city, especially Huntington Center and in places where the districts were never intended. Widomski asked that better language and requirements needed to be written into the PDD rules, taking into account reports from the Water Pollution Control Authority, the citys traffic authority and the city engineer. Reviewing regulations The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to review Panicos suggestions and discuss them during a special Feb. 19 meeting. In the meantime, the panel will continue to consider proposals for Planned Development Districts. We can do two things at once, said Jimmy Tickey, a commissioner. We can move through the business of our economic development projects while we review the regulations and see whats best for PDDs going forward. They are zone changes that can be requested for almost any area of a city. In Shelton, the applicant property must be at least 60,000 square feet, and there must be a public hearing on the proposal. After that, the commission discusses the matter at a later meeting and may recommend revisions or vote to approve. Mayor Mark Lauretti, who attended the recent P&Z meeting, called the use of PDDs in Shelton revolutionary its what other communities havent done. He said the zoning options give the commission a flexible tool allowing them to do things differently and keep pace with changing times and changing concepts My standpoint is if the commissioners dont like an application vote against it, Lauretti said. I havent always agreed with what the Zoning Commission had done. But by and large I agree to a very strong percentage ... of whats been accomplished. Lauretti did say hes opposed to the large number of apartments and residential proposals that have been approved and are pending in the Bridgeport Avenue area. Im concerned about going too far particularly with apartments, because I think Connecticut is going to become inundated...its going to saturate the market, he said. But Lauretti said he would favor apartments downtown and along the adjacent Housatonic River because the water is magic. It attracts people and it holds its values. Contested decisions Virginia Harger, the commissions chairwoman, suggested considering the matter in a timely manner and we not do something that causes some very drastic measures that would work against...what we have been able to achieve over the last couple of years and what we hope to continue to achieve in the future. Since 1979, the commission has approved 93 Planned Development Districts for both commercial and residential projects. Of those, 16 are mixed-use developments consisting of residential, retail and offices, while another 16 are corporate offices. Twelve approved PDDs were for 13 projects involving residential homes and 10 involved condominiums. The special zoning has been used 10 times for shopping centers, five times for hotels and four times for light industry. Many of these projects were built on the Route 8/Bridgeport Avenue corridor. The first approved was the Richardson-Vicks commercial offices on Far Mill in June 1979, and the most recent was voted in on Jan. 25, 2019. That one is a mixed use development of retail, commercial and 27 apartments on 509 Howe Avenue. One of the most controversial approved Planned Development District is the massive Towne Center at Shelter Ridge. The project includes a million square feet of apartments, offices, retail and restaurants planned for 121 acres of farmland and forests off Bridgeport Avenue. Nearly 900 people filled the auditorium at the Shelton Intermediate School during the public hearings and voiced their opposition to the project, but it was approved. The outcry helped form Save Our Shelton, a group of residents opposed to massive developments in residential areas. The group wielded its political power in the 2017 municipal election by backing Widomski in a successful effort to defeat Ruth Parkins, the longtime Planning and Zoning chair. Since the Towne Center proposal, SOS member have attended every Planning and Zoning commission meeting in the last three years and usually address the commission at the public hearings. Greg Tetro, one of their leaders, said the group will again support candidates in the November elections. BRIDGEPORT Back in 2017, freshman City Council members Marcus Brown and Kyle Langan were 20-something outsiders and reformers who supporters hoped represented the future of the local Democratic Party. As they head into this re-election year, however, Brown and Langan will not be campaigning for a second term representing the Brooklawn neighborhood as partners. Brown confirmed Thursday that he plans to run with one of the veteran council members he and Langan unseated in a primary two years ago, M. Evette Brantley. Langan said in a separate interview that he expected to, while an incumbent, once more be the outsider having to run against a town committee-endorsed Brown and Brantley in this years party primary. I very much see myself as a disrupter someone whos trying to progressively push the city and party forward, Langan, 31, said. Marcus made a decision somewhere along the way that he didnt align with what I was doing. It was a rift that wasnt able to be mended, in his opinion. Brown, 27, who last year became president of the Greater Bridgeport Young Democrats, said he and Langan still share the same values. We tend to have different approaches on how to get things done, Brown said. My approach is more collaborative. I know nothing I do by myself can get passed without 10 other people (of the 20 council members) who agree with me. I dont fight every battle like its my last fight. And thats where we disagree. Langan added, Im committed to working respectfully together for the rest of our term together. Contrasting styles Call it a political divorce, Bridgeport-style. The end of Browns and Langans partnership exemplifies politics in a city where Democrats are so dominant that any opposition typically comes from within the party. And yet sometimes the reformers, once in power, decide they want or need to work within the status quo the so-called machine to accomplish their goals and remain active in local politics. One person cannot get anything done by themselves, Brown said. Between Brown and Langan, the latter has been far more critical since joining the council of the citys two veteran Democratic leaders Town Chairman Mario Testa and Mayor Joe Ganim. Testa and Ganim, who are almost as close as family, ran the party when the latter was first mayor in the 1990s, and are in charge again since Ganim waged a political comeback in 2015. For Langan, having to defend his council seat as an outsider is a badge of honor. I dont necessarily want the town committees nomination, he said. In a lot of areas of my district, its a negative. And I dont want to be part of what I see as an oppressive structure that has been keeping people out for far too long. Brown said he and Brantley will make a good team. This time around we do see eye to eye on uniting the district, Brown said. She represents the lower half. I the upper half. ... We believe things we need to get done are collaborative efforts. Its a strength that she has been there so long and people trust her. A changing party Gage Frank, who helped revive the Greater Bridgeport Young Democrats a few years ago, said that groups evolution mirrors Browns. Frank, who is no longer active with the Young Democrats, said it was founded to challenge people and the powers that be. But, he said, now the group is more establishment-savvy. Its fine. Thats where you want to be in the party, Frank said. Thats the beauty of Bridgeport. Yeah, were all Democrats, but theres different variations of that. At 27, Tom Gaudett is already an influential figure in city politics, having helped run Ganims 2015 campaign for mayor, and then being hired by the returned Ganim as an aide with a long list of responsibilities. Gaudett also recently became secretary for the Greater Bridgeport Young Democrats. Gaudett acknowledged the criticism that the organization has gotten closer to the citys establishment. Theres been some change in leadership and people involved in the Young Democrats that may have involvement with the town committee, like myself, obviously he said. I wouldnt say that represents the whole organization. And, Gaudett said, the Young Democrats continue to support the same causes and candidates, and are focused on recruitment and getting Democrats elected. BRIDGEPORT There was no new information Friday about the body pulled from Bunnells Pond, frozen and unclothed, on Thursday morning. Nothing new yet, said Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald Friday afternoon. At 11:04 a.m., Bridgeport first responders and police units rushed to Bunnells Pond in Beardsley Park after a passerby called in a person in the water. Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Rolfe said firefighters found an unresponsive person in the water, and quickly pulled him out. By 11:20 a.m., the person had been pulled from the water. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene. The mans identity hasnt been released Friday and no autopsy results were available. Police Chief Armando Perez said Thursday since the mans body was frozen when he was pulled from the water, the autopsy might take some time. Perez said Thursday the victim was a heavy-set African-American man. Police said the man appears to be middle-age(d). Thursday, Perez said police were working to figure out what led to the mans death. He said the victim had a little blood on his clothes and there was a little blood near the shore where the man was found. But, Perez said, police did not immediately see any puncture wounds to have caused the blood. Perez said though there were no indications of foul play, cause of death would be up to the medical examiner. Temperatures hit single digits Wednesday night and hovered below freezing Thursday morning. It was unclear how long the man had been in the pond before the passerby called it in. It was also unclear whether he death was weather-related. Bunnells Pond, which feeds into the Pequonnock River, has been the site of several dozen deaths, though most are drowning deaths during summer heat waves when people fall victim to strong undertows. The pond is next to the Beardsley Zoo. Boats are not allowed on the pond and swimming is not allowed. Signs indicate no swimming in the water. Between 1930 and 1980, per decade, there were deaths in the double digits, found amateur historian Daniel Hearn, of Monroe, who did a study of Beardsley Park fatalities. Theres a deeply ingrained image of Connecticut that has just a few core characteristics. Its a place of small towns, a Colonial heritage, prosperous suburbs, great schools and Yankee innovation and ingenuity. Connecticut, according to this image, is a place of respite, where the rich, powerful and famous have getaway homes. Its a place thats pro-business. Its fiercely local, with 169 defiantly independent towns crowded into a tiny state. That Connecticut, the place of waspy businessmen and elite universities, shoreline homes and stone walls around rolling fields, is part fact and part manufactured self-imagery. The attributes always existed. But a remarkable confluence of events in the mid-20th Century brought them to a new prominence, as one remarkable magazine publisher sought to package them and sell an image, both for his own financial advancement and for the states. In 1938, the Merritt Parkway opened, making Connecticut accessible to commuters, and powering real estate and business growth as the state sought to attract affluent newcomers. New Haven was celebrating its 300th anniversary, and the state had just finished its own tercentenary in 1935. These dates bookended a period of reflection a reevaluation of the past combined with planning for the future, to some extent inventing both. A historic hurricane hit in September 1938, devastating eastern Connecticut, the oldest section of the state with the most direct Colonial roots. There was an election that November that upended the political status quo. The New Deal Democrat Wilbur Cross was replaced as governor by Raymond Baldwin, and the archetype of New England Republicanism was ushered in: low taxes, balanced budgets, pro-business, all while accepting certain progressive reforms. With that election, the political center of gravity shifted from the Eastern part of the state to Fairfield County, particularly to Greenwich, with its connections to Washington, D.C., and the power centers of New York finance and media. Connecticut Circle magazine launched that same year, created by Harry Franklin Morse, a New London shipwright, born in Brooklyn and raised in Maine, but a Yankee entrepreneur with a canny eye for opportunity. Connecticut Circle was a regional magazine, modeled on the magazines of a much-better known peer, Henry Luce, who introduced a repositioned Life Magazine to the country in 1936. (Connecticut Circle is the predecessor to Connecticut Magazine, sold after a 33-year run and renamed in 1971. Today, Connecticut Magazine is owned by Hearst Connecticut Media Group, which also published this article.) The magazine was there to serendipitously chronicle Connecticut in a seminal pivot, and thats what appealed to the Yale history professor Jay Gitlin, editor of the new book, Country Acres and Cul-de-Sacs: Connecticut Circle Magazine Reimagines the Nutmeg State, 1938-1952. It was published in November by the Acorn Club, an organization of Connecticut historians. The book organizes and interprets articles from Connecticut Circle. Gitlin and a team of contributors put the articles in the context of the historical patterns that were driving change. Its a rich primary-source record of an under-studied period in the states history. How did we get here it wasnt just the Civil War, Gitlin asks. It was also the work of an incredibly crafty businessman and marketer named Harry Morse. He had a vision of what he wanted to create. It was at some level a consciously-shaped image of Connecticut. Its a past we invented. Its a history of history making. The book, with 301 pages, including an extended introduction by Gitlin, is divided into 13 sections. It offers an in-depth look at Morses Connecticut, framed with section introductions. Its mostly verbatim reprints of articles, images, ads and covers from the magazine. The purpose is to capture the moment, and its effective. Theres Katherine Hepburn, the Connecticut native and movie star, who appeared on the cover several times. Theres Igor Sikorsky, the aviation pioneer. Theres a profile of the governors foot guard, and an illustrated spread on the states turkey farms. There are schools (including a 1938 article about what would become UConn, with an aerial photo of Storrs). Colonial homes and churches are featured and interpreted, as is the hurricane and the story of the construction of the Merritt Parkway. Through it all, theres the lure of the state beaches, boating, country lanes, and scenic waterfalls. Morse is the one who refines the sales pitch, Gitlin says. His message is we can keep the past, but we can also head into the future by selling this as our birthright: You, too, can be a Yankee. What doesnt appear much in the book because it wasnt in the magazine are the cities, with their factories and multifamily housing. You dont see todays familiar Connecticut ethnic mix, which admittedly was nascent, at best, in 1940. People of color are scarce. (One enigmatic ad from Pratt & Whitney features Mark Twain sitting with an unidentified African American man.) In 1935, Gitlin says, the state created a Publicity Commission. Tell the rest of the nation about Connecticut, Gov. Cross instructed the five-man panel. Tell about our natural beauties, tell about our accessible location, tell about our government, and our reasonable taxes. Invite those who are seeking an ideal place for a year-round home or for a vacation to come to Connecticut. And thats when it all came together for Gitlin. This is not just a magazine, this is a prospectus, he says. Then it made sense. Tony Silber is a freelance writer based in Connecticut. Global Ports Holding (GPH) has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the government of Antigua and Barbuda for cruise port operations in Antigua on an exclusive basis, adding yet another port to the GPH portfolio. The concession also includes certain retail outlets in the project area. This concession marks the groups important second step in its expansion into the Americas, after inking a similar deal in Havana last year. GPH said it will use its global expertise and operating model to manage the cruise port operations in Antigua. In addition, GPH will finance the completion of the ongoing construction of a new pier which will allow the port to handle Oasis-class ships. The group will also invest in improving the current retail facilities and designing and financing the construction of new purpose built retail and food and beverage facilities. Seabourn announced a number of new shore excursions for its 2019 cruise season, introducing a selection of never-before-offered excursions. The new shore excursions offer a diverse mix of opportunities including wellness-focused tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Alaska, a Picasso Museum exclusive visit, and culinary and art experiences secured through local connections, among others. Shore excursions are always a highlight as we visit each destination and a key element of the Seabourn luxury experience, noted Chris Austin, Seabourns senior vice president of Global Marketing & Sales. This complement of new excursions combines what Seabourn does best, presenting innovative, exclusive and unique programming for people to experience exotic destinations in truly memorable ways. Among the highlights is a visit to Kruger National Park & Lukimbi Safari Lodge over three days. Lukimbi is said to be a photographers delight with spectacular wildlife and wilderness around every corner. Kruger, South Africas largest game reserve, is the land of baobabs and fever trees, the Big Five, the Little Five, and the Big Six of birding, plus more mammal species than any other on the continent. Cape Town, South Africa; Available on Seabourn Sojourn, February 21, 2019 sailing In Alaska guests can look forward to Taku Glacier Lodge, Glacier Seaplane Discovery and Yoga: A Mindful Living Tour. This tour starts with a flight in a classic de Havilland seaplane over five glaciers from Juneau to Taku Glacier Lodge where guests will join a certified yoga instructor for a soulful session surrounded by views of the blue-hued glacier, and enjoy a guided interpretive nature walk with wildlife sightings likely. In Italy, guests can book Bocelli's Favorite Things & Seaside Experience for smaller groups, where they will explore the town of Lucca, Italy and learn about its history, culture and marvels, including the Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, the Church of San Michele in Foro, and the famous City Wall of Lucca. They will also learn about Giacomo Puccini, with a visit to his local apartment, the Puccini Villa and Puccini Theatre. Continue on to the exclusive Bocelli Alpemare Beach Club, run by the Bocelli family, for a four-course lunch and a tasting of wines from the Bocelli family farmhouse in Tuscany. Crossville, TN (38555) Today Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit Vinay Kumar Singh has joined Ganesha Personal Care Products as vice president of research and development. In his new role, he will oversee product development for all categories; i.e., skin, hair and body care; color cosmetics; men's grooming; and traditional Indian cosmetics. In addition, he will lead efforts to optimize current formulas, innovate novel product concepts, and transfer and scale-up lab batches to commercial manufacturing; all with an eye toward cost reduction and process improvement. Singh is post-graduate in chemical technology from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai, and has additional diplomas in Medical Laboratory Technology and Management Studies. He most recently served as chief research officer at Kumar Organics Products Ltd., Amkette Analytics, The Vanity Case Group of Companies, Mikasa Cosmetics Limited, Ahmedabad and Paramount Cosmetics India Limited, Bangalore. Prior to this, he was head of the technical division for 14 years at Shingar Ltd./Paramount Cosmetics (Topiwala Group). Singh has more than 30 years of experience in the field of cosmetics. He has been teaching cosmetics technology at VJTI since 1994; ICT (Formerly UDCT) and Kelkar College since 2012; Nirma University since 2014; and he also has been associated with Nagpur University since 1994 as an external examiner and paper setter for the cosmetics technology course. He joined the board of studies of Nagpur University and Sandip University, Nashik, for cosmetics technology courses and in 2004-05, was selected as Golden Jubilee Fellow by UICT of Mumbai University. Singh is a Life Member of the Cosmetology Society of India and Indian Society of Cosmetics Chemists; was the Principal Nominee of Shingar Limited in the Cosmetics sectional committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for 14 years; and was the Principal Nominee of Mikasa Cosmetics at the BIS for 4 years. Lastly, he has presented at various seminars and conferences, and is a regular contributor to Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall Police Service is looking to identify the woman pictured below in relation to a theft that occurred at a Montreal Road business on Jan. 11, 2019 at approximately 1:30 pm. The suspect is described as follows: Wearing a shiny black puffy coat Wearing a grey toque with a pom-pom on the top Shoulder-length straight black hair Dark rimmed glasses Anyone with information on this woman is asked to contact Constable Jessica Legue by calling 613-933-5000 ext. 2795 or ext. 2404 to leave anonymous information. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Chaldean Patriarch: Youth, Churches and Dialogue Foundations for Rebuilding the Christian Presence i Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako. Baghdad -- Attention to young people through "numerous spiritual and cultural activities" and the defense and resettlement of many "Christian churches and properties" in Baghdad and across the country, that were damaged or destroyed by jihadist madness: These are the foundations on which to build the future of Christians in Iraq, as underlined by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako in the pastoral letter -- also shared with AsiaNews - on the sixth anniversary of the election to Patriarch Chaldean, at the 2013 Rome Synod on January 31 of that year. To confirm the role of the Chaldean community in Iraqi society, the task has been assigned to the patriarchate of "forming a committee" for interreligious dialogue including "Christians, Sunnis, Shiites, Yazidis". This inter-confessional working group are called to make proposals on how to fight against radical ideology and the draft a booklet presenting all the religions in Iraq. The former archbishop of Kirkuk succeeded Emmanuel Delly III, who had resigned due to age restrictions. Born on July 4, 1948 in Zakho, northern Iraq, he was ordained a priest on June 1, 1974. As a prelate, then a primate of the Iraqi Church, he repeatedly denounced the exodus of Christians and launched numerous appeals to the executive and local authorities. Last May Pope Francis appointed the Chaldean primate to the rank of cardinal. Commenting on the choice of the pontiff, Cardinal Sako spoke of a gesture of "friendship and support" towards all Iraqi people. In the message, the cardinal does not forget the many critical points, the challenges and the threats that threaten the future of the Church and of Christians in Iraq, such as: The rise of the Islamic State (IS, ex Isis) that occupied Mosul and the Nineveh plain, which triggered a precipitous flight of hundreds of thousands of people. For three and a half years the Chaldean patriarchate took care of their needs, also ensuring the right to study (in Erbil and Kirkuk) for their children. Card Sako still remembers the exodus of Christians, with the flight of almost a million faithful, and the ongoing battle against those who foment hatred and divisions. Other priorities include the defense of Christian property in Baghdad and across the country, expropriated by force or deception. Finally, the clear opposition to Christian politicians who took advantage of the office "for personal ends". In the message the Chaldean primate not only remembers the problems and difficulties, but underlines at the same time the strengths on which to base the reconstruction: the establishment of the Chaldean Association; the organizations that refer to the patriarchate, including the pastoral council; the commitment of priests to displaced persons; the recognition of the Chaldean martyrs; the meeting in Baghdad - the first for Iraq - of the Catholic patriarchs of the East; the visit on the occasion of the Christmas of the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. "I love Iraq" concludes the cardinal, it is part of "my identity", "I love the Chaldean Church" that "has been entrusted to me" and "I am at the service of all Christian communities". Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and is a commentator for CNN. Remember those briefings from Remainer ministers that 40 of them might quit if Theresa May didnt allow her front bench free votes on Tuesday? Call me old-fashioned, but I must have missed the consequent resignations when this didnt happen. I dont know about you, but Im getting slightly fed up with self-indulgent ministers who go on the media and whine about resigning if they dont get their own way. (I discussed this in last weeks column.) They should all be called in to see Julian Smith for interviews without coffee, and told that any repetition will lead to their instant dismissal. If a Chief Whip cant control Ministers, then none of us can be blamed for writing about chaos at the heart of government. There once was an MP called Cooper Who for the cause of Remain was a trooper Yet for their whinge and her wail She just couldnt derail So we leave on the 29th, which is just super (h/t @BenStoneham) On Monday night, I wrote an open letter on my blog to the European Research Group, and emailed it to most Conservative MPs. The main thrust of it was to urge them to vote for Graham Bradys amendment, and to say that their antics were threatening to derail Brexit by leaving the Prime Minister with little alternative but to apply to extend Article 50 beyond 29 March. My fear is that once it is extended, it could lead to Brexit never happening. I wont rehearse the arguments here, but suffice it to say I didnt pull any punches. I was expecting quite a volcanic response. Instead, I was assailed by text after text, email after email from Conservative MPs including members of the ERG saying that I was bang on, and that they agreed with me. It demonstrated to me that even though Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker like to present the ERG to the media as a cohesive group, which votes as a slate, this is far from the case. Its all very well for them to say we should leave with No Deal, but Im afraid this implies that they cant count. As the passing of the Spelman/Dromey amendment proved, Parliament will do anything to prevent us leaving on 29 March without a deal. Clearly, the rest of the votes on Tuesday weakened the hands of the second referendum campaigners and those who think they can thwart Brexit. But make no mistake, this week isnt the end of the parliamentary battle. Only at 11pm on 29 March, assuming we leave, will it be over. Ive been given an exclusive insight into Theresa Mays meeting with Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday. Heres the transcript of their conversation TM: Thank you Jeremy. Glad you could make it at last. By the way, whats that tape measure for? JC: Oh, Laura asked me to measure the curtains. Anyway, Prime Minister, to the subject at hand: how are you intending to support my good friend Nicolas Maduro? TM: No, Jeremy, were to discuss the Withdrawal Agreement JC: I totally agree. You must persuade Donald Trump to withdraw his sanctions against Senor Maduros regime. Its what Hugo would want. TM: I dont know what Mr Swire has got to do with anything, but we really must find a way through JC: I totally agree. I think it would be great if you could divert 1 billion from the aid budget. In fact, Nicolas has given me this bank account number TM: Thank you Jeremy, but I really must insist we talk about what you need from me to support our deal. More workers rights? Guarantees on the environment? Whats your price. JC: I just told you. TM: Youre caracas. Imagine the outcry if a Conservative or UKIP MEP had been found to have charged constituents 150 Euros to visit them in Brussels. Theyd have been metaphorically torn limb from limb by the UK media, including the BBC. Last week, Politico revealed thats exactly what the CDU MEP Elmar Brok, so beloved by Newsnight and the BBC, had been doing. On Wednesday, the BBC reported his words reacting to Theresa Mays intention to reopen the backstop. Katya Adler, their Europe Editor, tweeted: Elmar Brok, MEP, bursts into English to appeal to UK MPs Please talk to each other in London before you come to us. Were united (in EU), youre not (in UK)! She then followed up with this tweet: Elmar Brok, German MEP appeals to UK for rational dialogue and warns a no deal Brexit will be toughest of all on the UK. To which UK MEP shouts Auf Wiedersehen! Does anyone really think if this had been a scandal-hit British Conservative MP, he or she would have been quoted about anything? Ive interviewed Brok on my show a few times. It wont be happening again. Schade. If youre into podcasts, do download Matt Fordes Political Party podcast with Alastair Campbell and Adam Boulton. They talk about their famous incident just after the 2010 election, as well as tell some wonderful anecdotes from their respective careers. A brilliant listen for a car journey or commute! Brexit 1) Labour MPs warn May they cant be bought on Brexit T A bomb dropped into Labours civil war The Sun Prime Minister mulls extra spending to win over Opposition FT National Renewal fund for seaside towns and Labour heartlands The Sun Labour MPs branded cowards and facilitators by colleagues The Times heresa May has been warned by Labour MPs she cannot buy them off to back her Brexit deal with the promise of extra funding for their constituencies. Downing Street is reportedly preparing to offer Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas a cash injection to persuade them to support the Prime Minister. But some Labour backbenchers have said the offer of cash would be pointless if Mrs May does not also soften her Brexit deal as they told her she must choose between them and hardline Eurosceptic Tories. Meanwhile, Remain-backing Labour MPs said any colleagues who supported the deal after being offered more cash would be seen as cowards. At least one Labour MP welcomed the prospect of more funding, with John Mann telling the Government: Show us the money. Daily Telegraph More Labour: Hard left purge as activists prepare for deselection push The Sun >Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Corbyn says May has listened to his backstop concerns Brexit 2) Has recess been cancelled? Whips accused of PR stunt Plans to force MPs to work on the Brexit crisis during their half-term recess descended into farce last night after they moaned about having to cancel their ski trips. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom announced yesterday that Parliament would effectively cancel this months ten-day break to help push through Brexit-related legislation. It came after Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned Britain may need to delay its departure from the EU to get all the relevant laws passed in time. But the move sparked an extraordinary outcry from MPs, who often use the break to hit the slopes or soak up some winter sun As a result despite the precarious state of Brexit negotiations the Government quickly relented, with Chief Whip Julian Smith emailing all Tory MPs to say that anyone who had booked a trip could still take their holidays. Daily Mail Smiths email suggests holidays are safe Buzzfeed MPs still get a break from Brexit The Times >Today: Iain Dales column: Self-indulgent Remain Ministers, self-deluded ERG MPs Brexit 3) Javid warns that exit day may be delayed As does Hunt FT May has until mid-March to win MPs support to leave on schedule The Sun EU fears short extension will mean no deal in June The Guardian Sajid Javid warned a Cabinet colleague that Brexit is likely to be delayed, a source told The Telegraph as it emerged that nearly a third of the Cabinet now believe Article 50 may have to be extended. The Home Secretary is said to have raised concerns with another minister during the last fortnight that Theresa May will run out of time to pass legislation needed for Brexit. One source claimed that during the conversation Mr Javid questioned the Prime Ministers strategy of publicly insisting the UK will leave on March 29. The Telegraph understands that nine Cabinet ministers believe Brexit may have to be delayed if extra time is needed to finalise the terms of a deal. Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, warned the Prime Minister at Cabinet earlier this week that she may be timed out if she returns to the Commons with her deal on February 14. Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Immigration policy must be made for everyone not just for bigger business Brexit 4) Robbins retains central role despite Eurosceptic pressure Olly Robbins, Theresa Mays chief Brexit adviser, is not being replaced ahead of the coming diplomatic push with the EU, the foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday following media speculation. The negotiating team is going to change, but with Olly Robbins still in his central role, Mr Hunt told Radio 4s Today programme. In the interview, Mr Hunt also said it was possible that the UK would seek a minor delay to its exit date from the EU, currently March 29, in order to allow legislation to be passed. Mr Robbins, a civil servant, has become a bogeyman figure for Eurosceptics, who want a stronger break with the EU. Some Eurosceptics have suggested replacing him with Crawford Falconer, the New Zealand trade negotiator who is the second top civil servant in the Department for International Trade. FT Germany puts huge pressure on Brussels red lines Daily Express as Selmayr insists no-deal isnt the end of the world The Sun More: ECJ would block lawsuits against Britain over divorce bill Daily Telegraph IoD warns that one third of firms may relocate The Guardian Anger in London over Crown Colony designation for Gibraltar FT Schools could lose right to check EU database of banned teachers The Sun Ireland: Ireland runs to the US for Brexit backup Daily Express Rees-Mogg tells DUP no deal need not mean a hard border Daily Mail Unionist MP says sending back negotiators pointless News Letter >Today: ToryDiary: The EU doesnt understand or claims not to understand the way our country works >Yesterday: Richard Tice in Comment: Robbins must go the EU negotiations need a fresh face Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: German unease over no deal is mounting A Of course May is running down the clock, it might save her deal Rob Wilson, Daily Telegraph The Prime Minister is in a stronger position than you think Philip Collins, The Times If May is robust with Brussels, she may finally get Brexit right Fraser Nelson, Daily Telegraph Brexiteer MPs arent the problem, its the rest Simon Jenkins, The Guardian Accept it, were done with the Peoples Vote Iain Martin, The Times group of top German economists has told the EU to tear up the Irish backstop and ditch its ideological demands in Brexit talks, calling instead for a flexible Europe of concentric circles that preserves friendly ties with the UK. Brussels must abandon its indivisibility dogma on the EUs four freedoms and come up with a creative formula or risk a disastrous showdown with London that could all too easily spin out of control. A joint report by the influential Ifo Institute and universities across Germany and Europe warned that Brussels may be deluding itself in thinking that the EU has the upper hand in all respects or that the British will inevitably capitulate before March 29. In a standard game of chicken, the actor who loses the most will dodge first. Can the EU really be sure that losses are sufficiently asymmetrically distributed that it wins this game? the report asked. Daily Telegraph More: Stable economy has allowed politicians to run wild Chris Giles, FT Ailing Europe can learn a lesson from Britain Ed Conway, The Times Five steps to a better deal with the EU Shanker Singham, Daily Telegraph Nothing wrong with poorer Brexiteers voting on their values Gary Younge, The Guardian Ireland: Ireland is in the grip of Anglophobia Eilis OHanlon, Daily Telegraph Forget the DUP and remember that Ulster voted Remain John Kampfner, Times Red Box Editorial: Backstop is Brussels golden ticket The Sun Gauke defends paying legal aid to on-the-run criminal Stopping the fugitive Jack Shepherd receiving tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money to pay for his defence and appeal could inadvertently encourage other criminals to evade justice and flee the country, David Gauke has said. The Justice Secretary has been criticised for refusing to intervene over Shepherd, who is receiving legal aid to appeal his manslaughter conviction for killing his date, Charlotte Brown, 24, during a champagne fuelled late-night jaunt on his defective speedboat. It is thought to be first time a convicted killer has been granted taxpayers funding to appeal while still evading justice. Shepherd, 31, absconded last March while on bail after a pre-trial hearing but was found guilty in his absence of manslaughter of Miss Brown by gross negligence in July. Daily Telegraph Penning calls for tougher laws against jailed MPs Morgan leads charge against business rates New laws are needed to automatically boot out MPs who are jailed in wake of the Fiona Onasanya scandal an ex-Policing Minister claimed yesterday. Sir Mike Penning said the former Labour whip had brought Parliament into disreputeby refusing to quit as an MP despite being jailed for three months for lying to police to avoid a speeding charge. Speaking in the Commons yesterday he blasted: My constituents and other constituents around the country do not understand how anybody can be convicted of a crime and still be a member of this House and be in prison. The police officers that protect us here, they lose their pensions, they lose everything. Something is seriously wrong. He called on the Government to change the law that allows the public to believe what we do is right and if you go to prison you shouldnt be in this House. The Sun MPs are increasing pressure on the government to consider scrapping the system of business rates that many retailers blame for the decline of the UK high street. The influential Treasury select committee on Friday launched an inquiry into the impact of recent changes to business rates policy, asking whether alternatives, including a tax based purely on land values, could help high street retailers survive the rise of online competition. Property-based taxes constitute an unusually large proportion of overall business taxation in the UK, with many businesses paying more in business rates than they do in corporation tax. Business rates can represent a substantial financial burden on the high street, said Nicky Morgan, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee. Unless action is taken, closures could continue and job losses may soar. FT MoD urged to scale back to fix shortfall FT Farage-backed Brexit Party has both cash and candidates, founder claims A Meanwhile, UKIP leader urges Queen to suspend Parliament The Guardian McDonnell challenges Whitehall chief over snub new Brexit party backed by Nigel Farage has received pledges worth more than 1million and is lining up a slate of candidates to fight in elections. Catherine Blaiklock registered the Brexit Party on Jan 11 with the Electoral Commission and is hoping it can stand candidates in the May European Parliament elections if Brexit is delayed past that date. She told todays Choppers Brexit Podcast which you can listen to easily by logging in or subscribing below that more than 200 highly professional people have come forward offering to stand at the European Parliament elections if they take place. The prospect is likely to raise concerns in Conservative central office which will be worried that the new party could take away votes and stop its attempts to defeat Labour. Daily Telegraph John McDonnell is demanding that Britains most senior civil servant opens talks about a Labour government in an early test of wills between what would be two of the most powerful figures in such an administration. The shadow chancellor wrote last November to Tom Scholar, the Treasurys permanent secretary, asking that he and his most senior officials meet him and his team to discuss a first Labour budget. Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, formally refused that request the following month but Mr McDonnell was informed only a week ago in what the Whitehall chief has said was an administrative oversight. Mr McDonnell has now written to Sir Mark demanding that he review the decision in consultation with Theresa May. He warned Sir Mark not to repeat what he said was the civil services failure to prepare for the outcome of the Brexit vote two years ago. The Times >Yesterday: Will Tanner in Comment: Labours war on free schools would be a direct attack on social mobility Scots facing higher council tax in SNP budget Edinburgh tourist tax given go-ahead by the Scottish Government The Scotsman Scots face paying hundreds of pounds to park at their workplace and higher council tax increases, under a Budget deal unveiled by SNP ministers that prompted a fierce business backlash. Derek Mackay, the Finance Minister, announced that local authorities will be given the power to introduce a workplace parking levy for everywhere except NHS sites. He also said the cap on council tax increases this year will rise from three per cent to 4.8 per cent, breaching a key SNPs 2016 Holyrood election manifesto promise. The average bill for a Band D property is on course to increase by 58 in April, rising to 142 for those in the largest Band H properties. Taking into account his income tax plans, announced before Christmas, the Tories said the blueprint amounted to a triple tax bombshell inflicted upon Scottish workers. Daily Telegraph Comment: Greens have nothing to offer, but Nationalists let them call the shots Alan Cochrane, Daily Telegraph Corbyns Brexit strategy is a gift to the SNP Ayesha Hazarika, The Scotsman >Yesterday: News in Brief: SMU partners with Google to offer data analytics programme To cater to the rising demand of professionals in data analytics and rapid growth of digital economy, Singapore Management University (SMU) and Google Singapore have signed an agreement to offer the SMU-Google Squared Data & Analytics Programme to undergraduate students of the University. This partnership marks the first time that Google is extending its Google Squared Data & Analytics Programme to the undergraduates of a local university, said a press release issued by SMU. The partnership was celebrated by SMU president Professor Lily Kong and Ms Stephanie Davis, Country Director of Google Singapore, at a special event organised to commemorate this partnership today. Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), with Stephanie Davis (centre), Country Director of Google Singapore, and SMU President Professor Lily Kong (right). Photo courtesy: SMU At the event, Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), was the Guest-of-Honour. About 400 people, comprising management and representatives from SMU, Google and Google partner companies, SMU students, prospective students and their parents, as well as government officials were present at the event. This programme is open to all SMU students at its six schools from their second year of study. The collaboration with Google will provide SMU students with the opportunity to undergo a six-month extended internship programme at a Google partner company in the media industry and earn credit in the process. Students of this course will return to campus for up to one day a week during term time to read up to two additional courses while on the work-study elective. The six-month internship with a Google partner company will offer students with opportunities to analyse and propose possible solution for an industry-specific problem, demonstrate synthesis of information, apply their domain knowledge, and understand the industry contexts and constraints. The SMU-Google Squared Programme aims to equip SMU undergraduates with industry-ready data analytics skills to contribute to the knowledge economy, and increase the availability of data analytics talent for the ecosystem. Professor Lily Kong, president of SMU and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences, said, SMU is delighted to partner with Google to provide experiential learning to our students through the SMU-Google Squared Programme. Not only will our students be able to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world problems during their internships with Googles partner companies which hail from different industries, they will also gain valuable experience and obtain a better understanding of the demands and opportunities in the media profession. We believe that the programme will prepare our students to go on and create impact for these industries and the economy. Stephanie Davis, Country Director of Google Singapore, said, In todays digital-first economy, data-driven insights are critical to helping businesses stay ahead of their competition. Weve seen great success across the four years working with IMDA on the Squared Data and Analytics programme to give more than 90 graduates a headstart in this fast-growing field, and it is heartening to hear how they are now utilising the skills in their respective companies to drive data-driven innovation. We are pleased to extend our collaboration with SMU and play a part in preparing Singaporean undergraduates as they enter the workforce and take on a key role in transforming industries, she added. Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive of IMDA, said, The ability to understand, manage and use data is a fundamental skill for the digital workforce. Therefore, we are pleased to support this collaboration between Google and SMU which will equip our undergraduates with data analytics skills, and offer them exciting opportunities to apply these skills at tech and media companies. We are investing, and will continue to invest, in the future of our workforce. In support of the partnership, IMDA will sponsor TeSA Awards to recognise the top student of each class in the SMU-Google Squared programme. Singapore-based education company XSEED purchases Indias edtech startup Report Bee For holistic development of children, Singapore-based education company XSEED Education announced that it is acquiring Indias edtech startup Report Bee for an undisclosed amount. XSEED provides academic programmes for schools, through an integrated curriculum, teacher training, and assessment tools. Headquartered in Singapore, XSEED claims to reach a million children in eight countries, and has a team of more than 350 members. Photo: Connected to India The edtech startup Report Bee provides a cloud-based software solution that allows schools to assess, report and analyse the performance of individual students, classes and teachers. On the acquisition of Report Bee, XSEED in a statement, said, By integrating Report Bees assessment platform and suite of products, XSEED seeks to make it easier for schools to make real-time assessments, provide personalized student feedback, and analyze data to diagnose teaching gaps. According to the terms of the deal, Report Bee founder Ananthraman Mani and co-founders Bala Ganesh S. and Anjan T. will join the XSEED technology product team. Ashish Rajpal, XSEED founder and CEO. Photo courtesy: XSEED Ashish Rajpal, XSEED founder and CEO, said, This is an important step towards becoming a complete education technology company. Report Bee brings on board capabilities in analytics, reporting, personalized assessment, and product design that compliment the XSEED Method, products, and philosophy. Headquartered in Singapore with development centers in Delhi and Bengaluru, XSEED claims to reach a million children in eight countries, and has a team of more than 350 members. XSEED has raised two rounds of growth capital from Lighthouse Funds and Belgium-based Verlinvest. Malaysia remitted SGD 15 million as abortive costs for suspending SG-KL HSR According to media reports, Malaysia has remitted a SGD 15 million payment to Singapore as abortive costs incurred the suspension of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project. The figure was agreed upon in September 2018 by both countries. Malaysia and Singapore had agreed to postpone work on the HSR up to May 31, 2020. Yahoo News said in a report that the project was to resume by end of May 2020, failing which it will be deemed to be terminated. Malaysia would then have to bear the costs incurred by Singapore in fulfilling the HSR agreement. Photo: Connected to India We have received confirmation from the Government of Malaysia through diplomatic correspondence that it has remitted to the Government of the Republic of Singapore the payment for abortive costs incurred by Singapore in suspending the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project, Ministry of Transport said in a media statement on Thursday, January 31. Singapore's transport minister Khaw Boon Wan had previously said that as of end-May 2018, more that SGD 250 million had already been spent on the HSR project by Singapore. The figure included costs for consultancies to design the civil infrastructure, manpower and land acquisition. Danville, IL (61832) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Cooler. High 71F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Rebuilding Broken Hearts: A Syrian Sister's Prayer for Her Country Aleppo, Syria -- As the people of Syria work to rebuild the cities, hospitals, homes, and schools that were destroyed through years of conflict, they also face a more difficult task, according to one Syrian Catholic sister: repairing broken hearts. "It is easy to rebuild a house, but it is difficult to rebuild a broken soul," said Sister Annie Demerjian, of the Community of Jesus and Mary. The Syrian sister, who has remained in Aleppo throughout the nearly 8-year Syrian Civil War, told CNA that there is a great need for psychological healing from the trauma and anguish her people have suffered during the conflict. "It is very hard to lose someone, harder when the death [is] not in a normal way -- either by killing or by bombs or persecution," Demerjian said. Many Syrians are coping with such a loss. In addition to violence at the hands of ISIS, more than 400,000 people have died since the Syrian Civil War broke out in March 2011, according to estimates. At least 28,226 of these casualties were children, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. "The war has robbed children of their childhood and innocence and killed the brightness in their eyes; they have been spectators and unwilling actors in a hell they did not create," Sister Demerjian shared at a prayer vigil sponsored to Aid to the Church in Need last fall. Demerjian cited a statistic from UNICEF that an estimated 3.7 million Syrian children have been born since the Syrian Civil War began. "Born and raised during this time, they know only of destruction, violence and death," she said. She particularly noted the pain of children who have lost one or both parents. "It is very hard to keep this great wound, you know. I ask the Lord to heal the wounds in their hearts and to make them accept with a heart of forgiveness." Children have been impacted in other ways as well. Syria has the lowest school attendance rates in the world after tens of thousands of teachers fled the country and one in three schools closed due to damage. Hospitals have also become military targets during the civil war. More than 300 healthcare facilities in Syria have been attacked and at least 768 medical professionals killed in the conflict, according to Physicians for Human Rights. "For years, priests and sisters have lived this nightmare alongside our people...There were many long nights without electricity, which meant working and praying by candlelight, often under heavy shelling. It meant hearing of all the deaths, and waiting and wondering who would be next," Sister Demerjian said. While the Islamic State's territorial caliphate has collapsed, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 ISIS fighters still remain in Iraq and Syria today, according to a recently released report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. And with government forces focusing on the few remaining rebel-held territories in the country, the civil war in Syria may be winding down, but it is unclear whether the nation will find peace in the postwar era. Sister Demerjian requested prayers for those directly involved with the conflict. "I want to pray for every person who carries arms, who has killed other people, that the Lord will enlighten their mind and their hearts to see the truth, to see that life is a gift from the Lord and only He has the right to take it," she said. Many Christians are coping with a sense of loss, not only from those who have died, but also from the loss of community due to emigration, she said. According to the U.N., more than 11 million Syrians have fled their homes. "Many Christians emigrated to the West, while those without means and connections fled to Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. The Christian population in Syria has fallen from 1.4 million in 2011 to an estimated 450,000," Demerjian said. However, the sister said that she is encouraged by the great faith she finds in the Catholics who have chosen to remain. "Anytime we ask the faithful how they are coping their answer is: 'Thanks be to God.' This is a sure sign of the hope and trust they have in the Lord Jesus, who is crucified with us and who will not leave our side." Columbia, MO (65201) Today Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. Cooler. High 74F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 52F. NNE winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Last Friday special counsel Robert Muellers team arrested a man by the name of Roger Stone on a number of allegations including: one count of obstruction, five counts of false statements, and one count of witness tampering. These alleged crimes are directly related to Stones apparent involvement with the release of Democratic National Committee emails by WikiLeaks during the summer of 2016. Additionally, these allegations involve his communications with a Russian Military Intelligence hacker, Guccifer 2.0 -- who claims to have been the one to hack into the DNC email server. Many believe the Stone indictment to be a major break for Muellers Special Counsel Investigation of the Russian governments involvement in tampering with the 2016 United States presidential election. For his part, Stone has pleaded not guilty to these accusations, and as he was carted away by the FBI at 6 a.m. from his Fort Lauderdale home he flashed the President Richard Nixon "V for victory" hands an idol of his and whose face is tattooed on his back. But who is Roger Stone and why is he so important? Roger Stones career in politics dates back to 1972 when Stone, then a college student from Lewisboro, N.Y. became a College Republican on the George Washington University campus. At 19 he secured a position in the scheduling division of Nixons re-election committee, dropping out of GWU for just a $550 monthly salary. Even as just a teenage political aide on the committee, Stone was able to make an impact as he launched what would be a long career in self-described political trickery. One of Stones early efforts to work the dark corners of politics came during the Republican primaries, when Stone was shipped off to New Hampshire with an order to make a donation to Republican challenger Pete McCloskey in the name of the Gay Liberation Front. Stone, who to this day remains a supporter of the gay community, continued with the plan, but instead issued the donation on behalf of the Young Socialist Alliance. Now armed with a receipt from this phony transaction, Stone forwarded a copy to a publisher in Manchester, N.H. in an attempt to link McCloskey to socialists. For his next act as a Nixon trickster, Stone took part in operation Sedan Chair II when he hired a political operative to spy on the Nixons Democratic challenger, George McGovern. The operative, Michael McMinoway had caught Stones eye from successfully infiltrating a number of Democratic campaigns, and was able to do the same with McGoverns as a member of his security staff. When a New York Times investigation came to learn of McMinoways deeds, Stone was named in the report as his Nixon campaign point of contact raising his clout among Republican circles. Despite his own meddling, Stone escaped Watergate and Nixons resignation scot-free, but he was hardly done with politics. In 1976 served Ronald Reagans failed first crack at the presidency as his youth director. The next year, Stone was elected the chairman of Young Republicans -- a political group for conservatives above the age of 18 and under the age of 40. In 1980, Stone coordinated Reagan campaign efforts in the northeast, working closely with Reagans advisor Roy Cohn. It would be Cohn, who introduced Stone to Donald Trump later that same year, 1980 would prove to be quite a significant year for Stone, as he co-founded one of the first major lobbying firms in Washington D.C. with the help of his old friends from Young Republicans, Charles Black and Paul Manafort. Lee Attwater signed on to join the firm shortly thereafter, creating the powerhouse team of Black, Manafort, Stone & Atwater a firm that would lay the groundwork for the current state of moral ambiguity in political lobbyism. The Trump Organization became one of the first clients to sign on to join the group, followed by high profile clients like Rupert Murdochs News Corp as well as objectionable ones like Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Whatever the case, Roger Stone is not just some random political operative involved in Russian meddling. Hes a man who has played a legitimate role in politics for almost four decades and paved the way for lobbyists and shady political operatives alike a feat which Stone takes great pride in. 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. The House Democratic Women's Working Group is urging congresswomen of both parties to don white, a symbol of the women's suffrage movement, for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. The group is led by Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida and includes all Democratic women House members. Its mission is to fight for women's rights, including equal pay, paid family leave and affordable healthcare. Frankel tweeted that she was "looking forward to wearing suffragette white" to "honor all those who came before us & send a message of solidarity that we're not going back on our hard-earned rights!" Female politicians have often worn white to amplify feminist messages and pay homage to the suffrage movement. Along with gold and purple, white was an official color of the National Women's Party. "The colors adopted by the union are purple, white and gold, selected for the significance they bear in the work the union has undertaken...White, the emblem of purity, symbolizes the quality of our purpose," said an early mission statement for the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage. Hillary Clinton wore a neatly tailored white pantsuit when she accepted the Democratic Party's nomination in 2016. On election day, female voters wore white as part of the social media movement #WearWhiteToVote to honor the women who fought for voting rights. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow implied Friday that Democratic proposals to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans could lead to economic troubles akin to those in Venezuela. "Taxing rich people that's an old saw from the left. It never works," Kudlow told Fox Business. "I don't know how these elections and nominations and candidacies will play out. I mean, look at Venezuela it's an absolute catastrophe. They taxed rich people, they taxed everybody and they have equality of sorts everybody's poor." Kudlow, director of President Donald Trump's National Economic Council, was likely referring to freshman N.Y. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's proposal for a 70 percent marginal rate on those with incomes above $10 million. Ocasio-Cortez was joined in her call for higher taxes on the wealthy by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who proposed a "wealth tax" on some of the richest Americans. Warren's wealth tax proposal is expected to apply to less than 0.1 percent of U.S. households, and would raise $2.75 trillion over 10 years, economist Emmanuel Saez told CNBC. Kudlow added that such attempts to remedy economic inequality with higher taxes on society's wealthiest individuals "never works" and would be a "nonstarter." The longtime conservative commentator said that he'd rather see broader prosperity by other means, but that aggressive tax plans proposed by Warren and Ocasio-Cortez would depress the nation's gross domestic product, GDP. "The top 1 percent of Americans pay 37 percent of all the income taxes, OK? And the top 1 percent basically pays more than the lowest 90 percent, so who's carrying the freight here?" Kudlow added. "The most successful are not only paying their fair share, they're paying the most. By far." A progressive tax system like that used in the United States is one that imposes a lower tax rate on households and individuals that earn less money compared with those with a higher income. Such systems take a larger percentage of total revenue from high-income earners than it does from low-income individuals. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States is ready to withdraw from a crucial nuclear weapons treaty with Russia on Saturday, a move that has sparked concerns of a budding arms race between the world's two biggest nuclear powers. The announcement comes a day after Russia and the United States said that discussions to save the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty had failed. "Tomorrow, the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing ... which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment," Trump said in a statement. "We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," Trump added. The INF treaty, signed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited the development and deployment of ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges of 310 miles to 3,420 miles. The agreement forced each country to dismantle more than 2,500 missiles and kept nuclear-tipped cruise missiles off the European continent for three decades. In October, Trump said the U.S. would withdraw from the Cold War-era pact and sent national security advisor John Bolton to personally deliver the decision to the Kremlin. Russia, Trump said, has violated the arms agreement by building and fielding the banned weapons "for many years." In December, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited material evidence that Russia has quietly added nuclear-tipped missiles that are currently banned by the treaty to its colossal arsenal. He said Russia has developed "multiple battalions of the SSC-8 missiles," a move that falls outside the arms agreement. "Its range makes it a direct menace to Europe," he said after a meeting with his NATO counterparts. Pompeo then offered Russia an ultimatum: Come into compliance of the agreement within 60 days or the United States will exit the weapons pact. NATO also called on Moscow to "return urgently to full and verifiable compliance." "It is now up to Russia to preserve the INF Treaty," NATO foreign ministers said in a joint statement. British politicians have called for new legislation that will force social media firms to fulfil a duty of care to their users. Parliament's Science and Technology Committee published a report Thursday that said social media companies must be legally required to protect users' health and wellbeing, emphasizing a lack of regulation around harmful content and online bullying. Legislation recommended in the report included forced transparency reporting, solid processes for dealing with alerts to harmful content, and the use of technology such as artificial intelligence to identify harmful content and behaviors. Lawmakers also called for a new regulator to scrutinize firms' efforts to minimize harm caused by their platforms. The regulator would be able to take enforcement action against companies that failed to comply with the code of practice, which would be underpinned by a "strong sanctions regime." One of the recommended sanctions was making company directors financially liable for breaches of the legislation. Evidence received by the committee linked social media exposure to health issues including damaged sleep patterns, poor body image, bullying, and grooming. Norman Lamb, chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said in a press release: "The government must act to put an end to the current approach to regulation. We must see an independent, statutory regulator established as soon as possible, one which has the full support of the government to take strong and effective actions against companies who do not comply." Twitter this week suspended at least two accounts suspected of troll-like behavior targeting presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris of California as well as other Democratic candidates. The accounts were created recently and had few followers. But they posted easily shareable content about the senator's record as a prosecutor that earned an outsized audience on the platform. One of those accounts claimed to belong to a black man in the South who opposes Harris and supports Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is exploring a presidential run of his own. That account, @WillisJermane, was created in November 2018 and tweeted about 500 times before it was suspended on Wednesday. Another account Twitter suspended was @Copmala, which the company suggested violated Twitter's rules against impersonation. That account was created in January. The suspensions mark an early test of the social media platform as it wrestles with the fallout of the last presidential race. Twitter has been criticized for not doing enough to stem disinformation posted by fake accounts during the 2016 race, including those that were part of a targeted campaign by the Russian government to stoke tensions around race and other matters. At the same time, Twitter has said it supports the free speech of its users. A spokesperson for Twitter told CNBC that the company was limited in how much it could say about specific suspensions and that they were not aware whether the accounts were linked. But the spokesperson said it would be "very accurate" to say that Twitter's prohibition on creating "50 accounts and have them all tweet, all use the same hashtag, to try to make that hashtag trend" was one reason why the @WillisJermane account was suspended. The spokesperson also pointed to Twitter's ability to determine whether a user is being truthful about where they say they are located geographically. "If we know an account is somewhere and it is saying something contrary to that, that is something that is taken into account," the spokesperson said. One of the most shared pieces of content the account posted was a 2010 video that showed Harris laughing about prosecuting parents of truant children during a speech she gave at the Commonwealth Club in Northern California. "A child going without an education is tantamount to a crime," Harris says in the two-minute video. "So I decided I was going to start prosecuting parents for truancy." Prominent figures circulated the video, including top university professors and scholars, as well as the Oscar-nominated director Josh Fox, an active environmental activist. The video was unearthed recently by the independent journalist Walker Bragman and covered by national news outlets. Fox News included a tweet from @WillisJermane in its report of the video and noted that the account had been suspended. A spokesperson for Harris' campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Bragman tweet The Twitter spokesperson said that the accounts were not suspended because of the content that they shared. "There are plenty of Sanders supporters out there who are tweeting similar stuff," the spokesperson said. "And there is a difference between that and creating accounts that are linked and trying to game search. It's important that there is a lively, rule-following political discussion." Bragman, who illustrated the book "Bernie Sanders: In His Own Words: 250 Quotes from America's Political Revolutionary" and has written for The Intercept, Paste Magazine and The Huffington Post, wrote in a post on Twitter on Wednesday that he could "now confirm that @WillisJermane is a real person, not a bot." In response to inquiries from CNBC, Bragman said he had contacted the person who operated the account by phone and email. He provided screenshots of call logs and email chains he said he exchanged with Jermane Willis. Willis' email address and phone number are not shown in the screenshots. He said that Jermane Willis is a pseudonym the person was using because "he wanted to be anonymous online and has been extremely reluctant to provide personal details about himself." Bragman said that he tracked Willis down via Reddit. A review of the JermaneLeeWillis Reddit account shows that the account was created on Wednesday and has primarily posted about Harris and about his suspension from Twitter. Matt Taibbi, a prominent journalist and the winner of a 2008 National Magazine Award, said that he had also spoken with the person behind the @WillisJermane Twitter account by phone and that he could confirm the individual was a real person. "One of the techniques that I've seen a lot of in the past year is someone will post something that's true and a bunch of people will mass report the individual," Taibbi said. "That's clearly what happened here, it seems to me." The Twitter spokesperson said accounts that are suspended are provided an opportunity to prove that they are real people. "They can prove that they are a person, that they are not a series of accounts, and if that happens the account can be unsuspended," he said. The email exchanges between Twitter and the person operating the @WillisJermane account are available in screenshots uploaded to Imgur, an online image-sharing community, by the account jermaneleewillis. In captions to those screenshots, the person behind the account said that he did not want to provide Twitter with his photo identification as it had requested because he feared negative repercussions due to his political activism. "I didn't feel comfortable giving up my identity to twitter -understandably, because I personally caused a lot of damage to a major political figure's campaign with my most recent tweets," one caption reads. In a post on Reddit, written by the user JermaneLeeWillis, the person wrote that their Twitter account "was suspended for no apparent reason." "I did not post anything threatening or break any twitter rules whatsoever, and haven't been given a reason for my suspension, which looks permanent now because twitter is requesting I give them a photo ID to prove my identity," the user posted. The Twitter spokesperson reiterated that, "as you can imagine," the policy of seeking photo identification is not going to change. Stone, 66, is notoriously verbose, and even before his arrest had been harshly critical of Mueller's Russia probe in public comments. Since his Jan. 25 arrest, he has continued speaking about the case in interviews. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson raised that prospect at Stone's third court appearance since last week, when he was arrested in a pre-dawn FBI raid on charges of obstruction, witness tampering and lying to Congress lodged by special counsel Robert Mueller. A federal judge overseeing the criminal case against Roger Stone said Friday that she is considering a gag order on the longtime confidant of President Donald Trump . "This is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign," the judge said, She admonished Stone for treating the run-up to the trial "like a book tour." Jackson said that any potential gag order would bar prosecutors, Stone and his lawyers from discussing the case publicly. But she noted it wouldn't prevent them from talking about "immigration, foreign relations or Tom Brady," the quarterback of the New England Patriots. The judge, who has not made up her mind about a gag order, asked prosecutors and Stone's defense lawyers to submit briefs on a possible gag order by Feb. 8. Stone addressed Jackson only to say that he understood that he was not allowed to talk to potential witnesses in the case. Prosecutors in Mueller's office told Jackson on Friday that they are looking at an October date for Stone's trial. But the judge said she is more inclined to schedule the trial for July or August, though she added that a fall date would not be unreasonable. Jackson has hit other Mueller targets with gag orders. In November 2017, Jackson ordered lawyers for Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort to limit their comments to the press. "I want to make it clear, from this point on, that I expect counsel to do their talking in this courtroom and in their pleadings, and not on the courthouse steps," Jackson said at that time. Before Friday's hearing, Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, told CNBC that he and his client have "no expectation that the judge is entertaining" a gag order. "The government has never mentioned it, and if the judge on her own motion does that, Mr. Stone will vigorously defend his First Amendment rights," Smith said. It's unclear what that defense might entail. David Weinstein, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, told CNBC that "Stone is barking up the wrong tree if he thinks, even with his experienced stable of First Amendment lawyers, that he can skirt around a gag order imposed by Judge Berman." Stone, Republican political operative and self-described dirty trickster, has been anything but shy about talking to the press since his indictment by Mueller's attorneys. He was arrested at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 25, and was released on a $250,000 bond later that day by a federal judge in a Florida district court. Minutes later while he was apparently still inside the courthouse Stone had a phone interview with Alex Jones, head of right-wing conspiracy site Infowars. After that call ended, Stone greeted a mix of supporters, critics and media figures outside, where he imitated former President Richard Nixon's "V sign" pose and told the crowd that there are "no circumstances whatsoever under which I will bear false witness against the president, nor will I make up lies to ease the pressure on myself." On Tuesday, Stone pleaded not guilty to the seven counts against him. Afterward, he again appeared on Infowars, where he called the case a "lynching" orchestrated by Mueller "because I support Donald Trump," and because "I helped take down" Trump's 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. After his arraignment, Stone, who prides himself on having a refined sartorial taste, participated in a video for conservative outlet The Daily Caller explaining how to dress for court. President Donald Trump looks out at reporters in the Rose Garden as he speaks after a meeting with U.S. Congressional leaders about the government shutdown at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 4, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump said he never spoke to his longtime advisor Roger Stone about WikiLeaks and stolen Democratic emails posted by the site, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Stone was arrested last week on multiple charges that included lying to Congress about his communications with Trump campaign officials regarding hacked emails that were published on WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election. Stone has pleaded not guilty to those charges. The arrest was a major development in special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation of Russian meddling in that election. When asked by the Times if he ever spoke to Stone about WikiLeaks, the president answered: "No, I didn't. I never did." He also denied directing anyone to talk to Stone about WikiLeaks. On any given day, Eric Mailman may transport a baby born into a neonatal intensive care unit from one hospital to another, or he could answer a call for an elderly person in cardiac arrest. The paramedic and operations coordinator at Northern Light Health's medical transport and emergency care in Bangor, Maine, can answer anywhere between four and 17 calls in a day, on shifts that can stretch from 12 to 24 hours. The only guarantee is that work will be busy and unpredictable. "The positive is that you get to step in on the chaos of the worst day of someone's life and bring some calm and peace to me that is priceless," Mailman said. "But there are days when you can't intervene, where things are out of your control. It's impossible to help everybody, and those days are the hardest." At Northern Light, some 170 people work in emergency medical services and transport, but the system is currently about 10 percent understaffed. Challenges are many in hiring the community is rural, and while the pay and benefits can be competitive, the job itself is a big commitment, requiring sometimes up to two years of training, recertification and continuing education. Roughly five years ago, there were 15 to 20 applicants per open position, says Joe Kellner, vice president of emergency services and community programs at Northern Light. Today, however, it's not uncommon to post a job and have zero applicants respond, he said. The tight labor market is particularly weighing on the health sector. The health-care industry added 42,000 new jobs in January, with more than 22,000 in ambulatory health-care services and another 19,000 in hospitals, according to Friday's closely watched Labor Department report. The health-care sector has added 368,000 jobs over the past year, while unemployment continues to hover near historic lows. "Fewer people are entering the profession, unemployment is low, and this is also a job that many people used to get into through volunteerism and in local communities there is a lot less of that," Kellner says. "The pathway in is harder and harder, but we try to create solutions for that." Northern Light's system is run in partnership with a larger nine-hospital system throughout the state, allowing for more reliable funding and options for those using emergency medical services as a stepping stone to other areas of health care. The company also reimburses for tuition, offers competitive paid time off and a retirement plan with a matching employer contribution. Highly trained paramedics are paid about $27 an hour. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics like Mailman are in demand, not just in Bangor but around the country. Challenges persist beyond just finding people to fill jobs in more rural areas, however 2017 median nationwide pay was just more than $33,000, or about $16 an hour. Funding can also be an issue in some communities, as reimbursements from insurers, patients, and Medicare and Medicaid are outpaced by wage pressures and costs to operate. This is especially common in volunteer programs, funded in large part by community donations and local taxpayer dollars. "If people really want to feel confident that they can call 911 and someone will come, they need to support their community so it will provide that kind of service," says Kathy Robinson, program manager for the National Association of State EMS Officials. The gender pay gap has widened at some financial services firms with offices in the UK. According to experts, that gap isn't likely to close anytime soon. A range of companies reported double digit gaps in UK offices since the government has required companies with more than 250 employees to file annual disclosures. This is the second year that companies will report their pay data. Of the banks that have shared their 2018 figures so far, HSBC reported an increase of 1 percent (for a gap of 30 percent) while international bank Nomura showed an increase of 1.5 percent (for a gap of 38.4 percent). Other big firms haven't released their latest 2018 numbers yet, but had substantial pay gaps in 2017 reports. Big players with gaps on last year's reports include J.P. Morgan Ltd and Barclays, which disclosed gaps of 54 percent and 43.5 percent, respectively. The government has asked companies to file their disclosures by April 2019. Pay disparities are fueled, in large part, by men holding more senior, higher-paying roles, according to experts. These structural issues are hard to change, according to Harvard economist Claudia Goldin. Firm's incentive programs are structured to provide promotion and partnership offers once people reach their mid-thirties a stage when women are more likely to leave work to raise families. Companies "can jump up and down, say they're going to mentor and stop the tenure clocks, but it doesn't really work," she told CNBC Make It. "They're not doing it to be malicious or to hurt women," Maddy Dychtwald, author and co-founder of the think tank Age Wave, told CNBC Make It. "Part of this outcome is cultural," she says, "and the fact that women have a different life journey than men." Firms who responded to CNBC Make It requests for comment cited initiatives to hire more women to senior roles, efforts to recruit more women at both student and experienced hire levels, and programs that allowed for flexible work schedules. Still, companies acknowledge that a change in the pay gap will take time. "Some of the steps we're taking, such as encouraging more women into the business at entry level, are having a short-term impact on our statutory reported median pay gap," Emma Codd, managing partner for talent at Deloitte UK, told CNBC Make It. But overall, Codd said, "our actions are getting results." Deloitte saw a slight increase in its hourly median pay gap, but saw a reduction in its total earnings gap when accounting for employees and partners. Additionally, vesting of equity awards made in previous years could widen disparities temporarily at some companies. Progress will indeed be slow. The Women in Finance Charter, which pledges for gender balance across financial services, found that firms would need to hire at least 2,300 female senior managers by 2022 to hit pay gap targets. More broadly, the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report estimates it will take 202 years for economic equality between men and women to be achieved around the world. That said, experts acknowledge that the UK government's reporting requirements are still a positive step towards gender equity. Requiring companies to publicly reveal this data and explain it is "an effective strategy," said Steve Hine, a labor economist at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. "You raise awareness of issues when you can present data on a topic like this." Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: There's a gender pay gap for congressional staffers and it's worse among Republicans Aerial photo of a Tesla distribution and manufacturing facility taken by a contributor to tslaq.org. Other photos on the site come from a group calling themselves the Shorty Ground Force, which takes photos from publicly accessible points near Tesla factories or facilities using smartphone cameras or hobbyist drones. Tslaq.org includes aerial photography from the Shorty Air Force, a group of pseudonymous researchers who fly over the company's parking lots and delivery centers to count Tesla's inventory cars. Some contributors tally up the cars that they can count in the images. Others provide theories about what's observable in the photos when considered along with Tesla's own claims and disclosures. Tslaq.org makes all the photos and videos featured on the site available under a creative commons license, meaning other independent bloggers or mainstream media outlets don't have to seek permission before re-publishing them. Tesla declined comment, but the site is likely to annoy Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has recently sparred with short sellers and the media. Last year, Musk shut up one of his most vocal critics, a short seller who used the handle "Montana Skeptic" on Twitter and wrote bearish analysis of the company on SeekingAlpha. The Tesla CEO reportedly phoned Montana Skeptic's employer and told the blogger he would potentially take legal action in response to his posts. The Tesla CEO also sounded off on Twitter at mainstream media organizations throughout 2018, and said he plans to start an organization that rates reporters. WATCH: Why this analyst rates Tesla a sell Traders and financial professionals work ahead of the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Check out the companies making headlines midday Friday: Papa John's The third-largest pizza delivery company saw its stock fall 8.9 percent after Reuters reported Papa John's would not sell itself, despite offers from private equity firms. The firm's offers reportedly did not meet Papa John's valuation expectations. Exxon Mobil Shares of Exxon Mobil rose 3.6 percent after the energy giant reported better-than-expected earnings. The company's upstream business, which explores for and produces oil and gas, posted a strong profit. Exxon's downstream business, meanwhile, nearly tripled. Chevron Shares of Chevron gained 3.2 percent after the company reported quarterly profits that topped Wall Street's expectations, as the company's fossil fuel production hit an all-time high and executives forecast solid output gains for 2019. Merck Shares of Merck climbed 2.7 percent after it reported fourth-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street estimates. Adjusted per-share earnings came at $1.04, a penny above consensus. Sales of the company's Keytruda cancer drug jumped 66 percent from a year earlier. Amazon Shares of the e-commerce giant fell more than 5 percent after the company provided a 2019 forecast that worried investors about costs, as well as the possibility of impacts from regulations in India. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said the company "expects investments to increase relative to 2018." Yum China Yum China shares jumped nearly 8 percent and posted their best day since July 26, after the company reported earnings per share of 12 cents, topping an estimate of 8 cents. The company also posted better-than-expected same-store sales. Honeywell Honeywell reported earnings per share and revenue that topped analyst expectations, sending its stock up 0.75 percent. The industrial giant also issued a profit forecast that was above expectations. Proofpoint The enterprise security company jumped 12.4 percent Friday after beating analysts estimates for fourth-quarter results. The firm reported 51 cents adjusted earnings per share, well above the 35 cents analysts were expecting. Cigna, CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group Shares of prescription drug companies fell after the White House called for a ban on "backdoor deals" that the companies pay to middlemen under the Medicare system. Cigna was hit the hardest, with shares falling about 3 percent. Deckers Outdoor Deckers Outdoor's stock surged a whopping 10.46 percent after the company posted earnings of $6.59 per share for its latest quarter, well above the consensus estimate of $5.30 per share. The maker of Ugg boots also raised its full year forecast. Symantec The cybersecurity software company was the biggest gainer on the S&P 500 on Friday, rising 8.99 after beating analysts' forecasts by 5 cents a share. Symantec executives said the quarter was helped by a strong performance by the company's consumer business. The firm also announced the departure of Chief Financial Officer Nicholas Noviello. CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Yun Li and Kate Rooney contributed to this report. WATCH: How to decide if Amazon Prime is worth the price President Donald J. Trump delivers the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives January 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday will be built on the theme of "choosing greatness," a White House official said Friday about the annual address to the nation. According to a senior administration official, Trump will say: "Together we can break decades of political stalemates, bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America's future. The decision is ours to make." The speech will be structured like a traditional State of the Union address and be centered on five subject pillars, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The first will be Trump's "vision for a safe and legal immigration system," said the official, who later added that the president was going to "try and provide a bipartisan way forward on immigration." The official declined to say whether Trump would declare a national emergency if Congress does not appear as though it will reach a bipartisan border security plan that includes wall funding. The second pillar will involve updating Congress on Trump's "fight to protect American workers who have been hurt by decades of bad trade deals," said the official. This will include calling on Congress to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, a recently signed replacement of the longstanding NAFTA agreement. The third pillar will address infrastructure projects, and the president will call on Congress to approve "a substantial investment" in rebuilding the nation's crumbling infrastructure. Fourth, Trump will address lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, the official said, and the president will call on Congress to support his efforts to bring down prices. Fifth, and finally, the official said, "Trump will update Congress on his diplomatic and military efforts around the world, including his efforts to protect American interests and bring to an end America's endless wars." The president will seek to strike a "unifying, bipartisan and optimistic tone," said the official. He acknowledged that optimism is not a traditional centerpiece of Trump's speeches, but noted that the State of the Union "is unlike other occasions in the year." The speech will also include a reminder of "how much the president has accomplished for all Americans, and the broad appeal of the president's agenda," the official said. This ticking off of his accomplishments became a hallmark of Trump's speeches practically as soon as he took office, so its planned inclusion on Tuesday came as little surprise. The White House would not directly address the specifics of what Trump will say, so as not to get ahead of the president on Tuesday night. But the official said that Trump will mention the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela. Asked about whether the president could offer a bipartisan vision in the midst of near-historic acrimony between the White House and Democrats in Congress, the official said only that the president would offer "common sense solutions with bipartisan appeal that are doable and practical." The real question Trump would pose, according to the official, was "are we going to seek common ground, and choose the politics of cooperation and compromise?" "There's a lot of common ground that's doable and practical," between the president and Congress, the official said. The White House declined to discuss the speechwriting process, save to say the address will include input from across the government, and would likely be tinkered with up until the very last minute. Trump's guest list will be released Monday afternoon, the official said, and parts of the speech will acknowledge the guests in the president's box, as is traditional for State of the Union speeches. Tuesday's speech will be Trump's second formal State of the Union address. He gave a major address to Congress shortly after his inauguration in 2017, but it was not technically a State of the Union address. More from this section The Advocate & Democrat will continue to report on this story as more details become available. michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Fayez Nureldine | AFP | Getty Images Satellite imagery reportedly revealing a ballistic missile facility deep in the Saudi desert spotlights Riyadh's increased investment in its independent warfighting capabilities, U.S. defense experts say. This, they believe, indicates a growing desire by the longtime ally to be able to take offensive measures without the approval of its main weapons sponsors in Washington. "There's an arms race underway," Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and Arab affairs expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told CNBC. "Whiplash policy changes in Washington have had their impact on Riyadh: Saudi authorities are no longer going to be constrained by White House whispers. The Saudis are demonstrating that they can take matters into their own hands." Images analyzed by missile defense experts at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, and first reported by The Washington Post, appear to show the testing and possible manufacturing of ballistic missiles. These can carry nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles from their launch point. International powers have sanctioned Iran for its own frequent testing of the weapons. In this Nov. 13, 2018 satellite image from Planet Labs Inc that has been annotated by experts at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, a suspected Saudi ballistic missile base and test facility is seen outside of the town of al-Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia. Planet Labs Inc, Middlebury Institute of International Studies As America's top weapons buyer and foremost security partner in the Arab world, one might question why Riyadh would need to invest in its own ballistic missile facility. It already has a fleet of top-of-the-line F-15 fighter jets, Tornados and Typhoons, giving it an airpower advantage over regional arch-rival Iran, the majority of whose air force hasn't been updated since the 1970s. The catch is that Saudi Arabia's air force still needs maintenance and logistics support from the jets' countries of origin the U.S. and the U.K. and that support could be terminated if the aircraft is used in an unapproved manner. Homegrown missiles, meanwhile, have no such limit. Furthermore, missiles don't need pilots who require training and risk being shot down and captured by the enemy. Chinese assistance? Riyadh has long operated its missile program outside the realm of U.S. approval and without U.S. assistance, starting with its small purchase of Chinese D3-F Silkworm ballistic missiles in 1988. The program is overseen by the kingdom's secretive Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF), which unlike other military branches, reportedly do not mix with American advisors. One former Pentagon official, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the topic, told CNBC that the SRF likely "operates with Chinese input," adding that "given that Pakistan has close ties with both China and with the Kingdom and has numerous advisors working with Saudi security agencies, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some Pakistani assistance as well." If true, the links illustrate a longtime Saudi strategy of diversifying its diplomatic and security alliances and highlight a potential shift eastward. Weapons purchases from China, though a tiny fraction of those from the U.S., now feature armed drones something the U.S. currently won't sell to the Saudis. And American arms dealers have voiced alarm over Riyadh's expressed interest in purchasing Russia's flagship S-400 missile defense system, a cheaper alternative to the U.S.-made THAAD system. China's Ministry of Defense, its foreign ministry and embassy in Riyadh did not immediately respond when asked for comment by CNBC. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to the Associated Press last week, saying: "I have never heard of such a thing as China helping Saudi Arabia to build a missile base." Pakistan's Ministry of Defense, its foreign ministry and its Saudi embassy also did not immediately respond when contacted by CNBC. Countering Iran is 'common sense' And at a time when Iran, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia designate the world's top state sponsor of terror, has increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile capability thanks to Russia, the investment is "common sense," some experts say. "If the Saudis are developing an indigenous ballistic missile capacity, part of the blame for this should be placed on the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) with Iran," David DesRoches, an associate professor of security studies at the National Defense University in Washington D.C., told CNBC, referencing the multilateral 2015 deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program. In doing this, DesRoches argues, "the West in effect gave Iran absolution for its missile program Given the plethora of missiles in the Iranian inventory, it is not unlikely that the kingdom sought to match its rival." It underscores a willingness to ignore Washington's interests and policies from the beginning of (Crown Prince's Mohammed bin Salman's) rise to power. Bruce Riedel former CIA officer and Gulf affairs expert The kingdom has long asserted its right to self defense, particularly at a time when it's been subject to missile and other projectile fire from Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen, where it's led a bloody offensive since 2015. Weapons experts have confirmed that the missiles fired at Riyadh, Medina and other cities from Yemen in recent years are of Iranian origin. 'I can't confirm or deny' In an interview with CNBC's Hadley Gamble in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih refrained from acknowledging the missile base, but argued that his country should be able to defend itself. "I really don't have any information one way or another, so I can't confirm or deny," Al-Falih said in response to a question about the base. "But I would say that Saudi Arabia is today a receiver, unfortunately, of a barrage of ballistic missiles that are being launched at civilian installations the kingdom needs to look after its own defense, our own interest." An Iranian military truck carries surface-to-air missiles past a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a parade on the occasion of the country's annual army day on April 18, 2018, in Tehran. Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Images The Saudis are also pursuing a nuclear energy program they say will be strictly peaceful. But the plan has faced pushback by many in Congress, particularly following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's statement last March that "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible." In a report published by the AP last week, missile expert Jeffrey Lewis noted the frequent link between missile development and the pursuit of nuclear weapons, telling the news agency, "I would be a little worried that we're underestimating the Saudis' ambitions here." 'The US underestimates Saudi Arabia' Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) greets people at the Country View Diner in Troy, New York, after announcing she will run for president in 2020, January 16, 2019. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been aggressively courting top Democratic Party donors in New York as she seeks to gain an edge in the 2020 presidential campaign's fundraising battle, CNBC has learned. Over the past two weeks, Gillibrand has met with a slew of financiers from a wide range of industries in her New York backyard, including those on Wall Street, according to people with direct knowledge of the conversations. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is the only other 2020 Democratic hopeful who has come close to matching Gillibrand's outreach over the past two weeks, said one of the top donors, who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity. Booker announced his candidacy Friday morning. Representatives for Gillibrand and Booker did not return repeated requests for comment. The strong positioning for Gillibrand in the New York donor circuit is significant because it could give her a financial advantage over her opponents as she builds her campaign apparatus and prepares for what will be an expensive primary. Other 2020 hopefuls are also trying to get an early start in the fundraising battle. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who launched her candidacy last week, will be in Los Angeles this weekend for two fundraisers. One will be hosted by entrepreneur and prominent LGBT activist David Cooley, according to a report in Variety. Harris' campaign announced last week that she raised $1.5 million through online contributions in the first 24 hours after declaring she would run for president. Prior to her announcement, Gillibrand had been personally making phone calls to some of Wall Street's top executives about backing her campaign. She also reached out to Democratic millionaire Bernard Schwartz to discuss a 2020 run. Democrats in the hunt for the White House have had to strike a delicate balance between seeking donations and not appearing to be too cozy with big business or rich donors. Liberal Democrats took to social media to roast Gillibrand's links to the financial industry following the reports of her gauging Wall Street and corporate interest in a possible presidential run. Between her discussions with affluent donors, though, Gillibrand has also been appealing directly to small donors and the party's grassroots base. In a tweet on Thursday, she reiterated her campaign's decision to not accept money from a variety of special interests including political action committees association with corporations, federal lobbyists and super PACs. "Please give. It makes a huge difference. It allows us to build a campaign based on you," Gillibrand says in the Twitter video. Tweet: Gillibrand has became a master at raising campaign cash ever since she joined the Senate in 2009. Throughout the 2018 election cycle, 32 percent of donations to Gillibrand's Senate campaign came from contributions under $200, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. She finished her victorious campaign raking in $20 million. Her Senate campaign fund has $10 million on hand, although her exploratory committee has yet to announce its early fundraising totals. In the past, Gillibrand has received the most contributions from lawyers, executives at securities and investment firms and retirees. The securities and investment industry gave her $1.1 million in 2018 and has spent $4.8 million supporting her career in total. Meanwhile, Gillibrand has been hitting the campaign trail and meeting with voters since unveiling her decision to run for president. In late January, she held 10 public events over two days in the early caucus state of Iowa. This weekend she's heading to the primary state of New Hampshire for the first time as a presidential candidate. The trip starts on Friday in Manchester, N.H. She has also been holding speaking engagements in New York. Gillibrand recently spoke at the National Action Network's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton. January 21, 2018: Indian farmer Neeraj Singh walks through his mustard field on the outskirts of Amritsar on the eve of Basant Panchmi, a festival that celebrates the onset of spring. NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images Investors will be paying close attention to India's budget. So will voters. As India unveils its interim budget on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party will likely dole out handouts to attract voters ahead of the general election that's due to be called by May. The main planks of India's budget will likely include: A farm sector relief package to attract the crucial farmers' vote, tax cuts and support for badly hit small and medium businesses. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) suffered a stinging election defeat in December, losing three key states to the opposition party. The budget is all the more crucial now as it marks the last major chance for the BJP to consolidate support from its voter base, pointed out Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit. A farm sector package will be a centerpiece of the upcoming Budget, due to the crucial importance of the farmers' vote... Rajiv Biswas Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit The government's new budget will likely introduce measures to boost support for rural voters, as well as to small and medium businesses, that were badly affected by the unpopular demonetization program and implementation of the new Goods and Services Tax in the last few years. The need to maintain fiscal prudence, however, will keep the government's budget in check, preventing them from giving out too many sweeteners, analysts said. Relief for farmers A relief package for farmers will be a key focus in the budget as they make up a large proportion of the Indian electorate and many of them struggle with high debt and crop failures, analysts said. "A farm sector package will be a centerpiece of the upcoming Budget, due to the crucial importance of the farmers' vote, with 69 percent of India's population still living in rural areas," said Biswas. "Key measures that could be included in the BJP's farm package include income support measures and interest relief for crop loans for small farmers to help mitigate the impact of rural debt distress in many states," Biswas added. But the devil is in the details, as debate is ongoing as to what form that relief could take. Rhetoric has been split on whether the package would include a cash transfer scheme for smaller farmers, loan waivers, or a broader universal income scheme, according to Radhika Rao, an economist at Singapore bank DBS. Other measures may include personal income tax relief for low income households, and measures to reduce tax and regulatory burden on small and medium-sized businesses, according to Biswas and some other analysts. Fiscal prudence needed Such measures will set the stage for a budget that would be "'popular', yet not profligate," said Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho Bank's head of economics and strategy. However, he added: "The need for fiscal discipline means that the BJP cannot be unbridled on using the Budget to dish out 'goodies'. So a very mild positive effect may be the outcome." The farmers relief package is thus both "a political hot potato" as well as "an onerous fiscal burden," said Varathan. The finance ministry had cut spending amounting to 750.8 billion rupees ($10.55 billion) in the last financial year ending in March 2018. But in its desperation to find ways to pay for pre-election spending, the government has also pressed the central bank to part with more of its reserves, causing a rift that culminated in the resignation of its governor in December. According to a Reuters report citing two government sources, the farm relief package alone could run up to at least one trillion rupees ($14 billion) that's if the government is to have a meaningful impact on which way voters lean in rural areas, home to two-thirds of Indians. A Morgan Stanley report in January estimated that the farmers package could cost 0.7 percent of India's GDP if it was to focus on small and marginal farmers, or an annual 0.2 percent of GDP or 440 billion rupees. Balancing act Regardless, the pressure is on the BJP to address the ongoing farmers' distress, said Rao, as the opposition Indian National Congress has pledged a "minimum income guarantee" to the poor, if voted to power. Experts say the likely optimal option could be a cash transfer to farmers instead of full loan waivers, but that might be somewhat of a disappointment to farmers, said Varathan. However, "the overall political calculus will still shift against him (Modi) should he try to be far more generous than the Budget allows," Varathan said. Given that financial constraint, any election sweeteners in the budget is likely to be long-term in nature, said Capital Economics Senior India Economist Shilan Shah. "They could include pledges to boost spending in rural areas or exempt more SMEs from the GST. This type of announcement would give the government wriggle room to adjust course if needed at a less politically-sensitive time," he said. Reuters contributed reporting to this story. WATCH: Why is India growing so fast? U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) seen speaking during the Open Markets Institute's conference, A Right to Compete: Are Monopolies Crushing Entrepreneurship in Washington, DC. Michael Brochstein | LightRocket | Getty Images Sen. Cory Booker on Friday became the latest Democrat to announce that he will run for president in 2020. New Jersey's Booker, 49, joined the Senate in 2013 after rising to national prominence as the mayor of Newark. He has grabbed headlines for his legislative efforts as well as his work on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now his policy positions will come into focus as the press, voters and his rivals dig into his record. His announcement Friday morning laid out few specifics, but nonetheless identified a few areas of concern, notably criminal justice reform. Booker said he envisions an American ideal "where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins." Booker Announcement tweet He has also taken aim squarely at President Donald Trump as he mounted his bid. But before he earns a chance to take on the president head to head, he'll have to distinguish himself from with the growing field of Democratic contenders. Here's where Booker stands on some key political issues as the 2020 race kicks off. Criminal justice reform Booker played a pivotal role in the passage of one of the First Step Act, one of the Senate's few bipartisan legislative success stories in 2018. The law implements measures designed to reduce recidivism and offers some protections against severe mandatory minimum sentences. "This is literally one of the reasons I came to the United States Senate, to get something like this done," Booker said when the bill passed in December. Booker has focused on reforming America's prisons and justice system throughout his political career. During his five years in the Senate, he pushed a number of criminal-justice bills intended to boost transparency in law enforcement, ban juvenile solitary confinement and lower employment barriers for people leaving jail. Drug policy Booker has called federal drug policy a decades-long failure. In 2017, he introduced the Marijuana Justice Act, which would legalize pot at the federal level. Marijuana is already legal for recreational use in 10 states, and lawmakers in Booker's home state of New Jersey have made recent moves to join them. But it remains outlawed at the federal level as a Schedule 1 drug, alongside heroin and ecstasy. Booker's proposal would remove pot from that list, as well as encourage states to "change their marijuana laws if those laws were shown to have a disproportionate effect on low-income individuals and/or people of color." More recently, Booker grilled Trump's attorney general nominee, William Barr, during his confirmation hearing on federal marijuana policy and what he described as the social and racial biases arising from it. Booker also criticized Barr's answers on implicit racial bias and his role overseeing the war on drugs during his first stint as attorney general decades earlier. "Mr. Barr was an architect of mass incarceration," Booker said. "He literally wrote the book. He designed a lot of what we saw." Business and economy Netflix Co-founder, Chairman & CEO Reed Hastings attends Q&A during Transatlantic Forum as part of Series Mania Lille Hauts de France festival on May 3, 2018 in Lille, France. Netflix is getting a new cinematic intro. The company spent two years revamping the short branded clip that introduces viewers to a new episode or movie, a spokesperson told Fast Company. The previous intro simply featured Netflix's logo on a white background. Now, Netflix's iconic "N" appears on a black background before the camera zooms into the letter to reveal several colorful vertical beams. Tweet Netflix assured followers on Twitter that its two-beat intro sound would remain unchanged. Viewers will start to see the new animation on all originals premiering on or after Feb. 1, the company said. It will be swapped into other Netflix originals "over the coming months," Netflix added. In a blog post announcing the new intro, Netflix explained its motivation for the change. "Simply put, we've evolved, and wanted to update this signature brand moment to reflect the many choices our fans enjoy today," the company wrote. The beams of light in Netflix's new design are meant to represent the company's array of content. "The new ident animation reflects the diversity and variety of our content. Our favorite part is when the Netflix symbol breaks out into an array of colors which is inspired by the spectrum of stories, emotions, languages, fans and creators that collectively make up who we are as a brand," the company wrote. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Watch: Netflix film 'Roma' and Disney's 'Black Panther' score historic best picture Oscar nominations That could cost former CEO and Chairman Lloyd Blankfein and other top executives millions of dollars, depending on the outcome of an investigation into a Malaysian investment fund called 1MDB. Goldman had helped raise $6.5 billion for the fund in 2012 and 2013 in three bond deals, but now faces charges by the Malaysian government, which claims assets were plundered from the fund. Goldman has said it was the victim of deceptive Malaysian officials. The Wall Street firm said in a regulatory filing Friday its board of directors had approved a forfeiture provision that gave it "the flexibility to reduce the size of the award prior to payment and/or forfeit the underlying transfer-restricted shares" of executive pay granted for 2018. Goldman Sachs said it could withhold some pay from top executives as a result of an ongoing criminal probe of a Malaysian investment fund. Blankfein was CEO of Goldman for 12 years starting in 2006, but stepped down from the role in October and retired as chairman at the end of December. His 2018 pay was $20.5 million, including $2 million salary, an $18.5 million bonus and more than $14 million in restricted shares that vest over time. David Solomon, who took over as CEO and chairman, received pay of $23 million for last year, including a $1.9 million salary, $21 million bonus and restricted shares of $15.4 million, according to the regulatory filing. The forfeitures could apply to any of the firm's top five executive officers as of the end of 2018. Goldman said it would withhold or pull back pay as much as five years from now "if it is later determined that the results of the 1MDB proceedings would have impacted the Committee's 2018 year-end compensation decisions for any of these individuals." In addition, the filing said Goldman has decided to put off calculating the value of longer-term pay granted Blankfein and other former executives in 2011 "until more information is available." after heart disease and cancer ? , , "" - - ! https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html-swj2000- (463 bytes) (193 reads ) 01/31/2019 postreply 19:15:39 -Overdiagnosis - - - - - Citizens juries can bring public voices on overdiagnosis into policy making BMJ 2019 364 As practitioners and policy makers struggle to manage the risks and harms of overdiagnosis, Chris Degeling and colleagues contend that citizens juries offer a way forward Key messages Overdiagnosis challenges the social contract that underpins healthcare, and community voices are often missing from the relevant policy discussions Citizens juries elicit the voices, values, and preferences of informed citizens who are presented with evidence based expert views Jurors deliberate the evidence among themselves before formulating their opinions and recommendations Citizens juries can elucidate public values that can then be used to inform policies and practices to manage the risks of overdiagnosis The findings can contribute to guideline development and proposed changes to disease thresholds The process of citizens juries align with the basic tenets of evidence based medicine and can broaden and improve the dialogue around medical uncertainty __________ Unnecessary and harmful interventions from overdiagnosis challenge the social and ethical contract that underpins healthcare.12 Strategies to tackle overdiagnosis from population screening should engage with the public and consider its values and concerns.3 Most high income countries develop evidence based policies to guide population screening using stringent criteria that are applied by expert panels to review the available technical evidence. Similarly, if perhaps not so systematically, expert panels collect and analyse pathophysiological and clinical evidence to determine disease thresholds and definitions.4 But in both cases the final judgments on the acceptability and legitimacy of different screening policies and disease definitions are informed by the values of the decision makers, because the relative balance of harms and benefits of making changes are also subjectively weighed and valued.567 For the deliberation sponsors (researchers, government, or other agencies), putting matters to the public can promote greater social and political engagement, public accountability, and confidence in the decision ultimately made. Public engagement occurs on a spectrum of participation in events that aim to consult the public (consumer forums or patient groups) to more formal deliberative methods such as citizens or community juries that seek to bring lay people into structured deliberation to tackle key complex problems (box 1).8 In this paper, we explore some of the advantages and limitations of using citizens juries to inform policy making in the complex policy areas of overdiagnosis. 9 Box 1 The characteristics of citizens juries First developed by the Jefferson Centre in 1970s, citizens juries have been used to tackle issues such as reproductive technology, xenotransplantation, biobanking,81325 and overdiagnosis.10111420 Several approaches exist, but at a minimum a group of 12-15 people are selected to meet over 2-4 days to consider and respond to a specific question. A topic, rather than an individual, is on trial.33 All citizens juries have two phases: the first focuses on educating participants, the second on deliberation. In the first phase jurors are provided with balanced factual information from expert witnesses (of whom they can ask questions and seek clarification), such that a diverse range of potentially conflicting perspectives are considered.2534 In the second phase the group work together in facilitated session to produce a verdict or set of recommendations. Citizens juries create the conditions for people to move beyond superficial arguments and suspicion of vested interests to understand the complexity of medical decision making and then to reflect on their own values and what is important to their communities. Consensus is encouraged but not essential; dissenting views and minority positions are included in the final report. What distinguishes deliberative methods from other forms of public engagement is a process of iterative two way exchange between representatives of the public and the deliberation sponsor. Like all engagement methods, however, citizens juries have been criticised.35363738 The most common concerns are about the selected group being representative of the citizenry and whether a group of lay people can overcome deficits in expertise to make judgments that truly reflect their values and informed preferences. 17 Juries of 12-24 people cannot possibly represent a statistically characterised sample of the general public or the prevalence of views. Rather, they offer insights into how and why informed citizens prioritise concerns about complex issues like overdiagnosis and provide explanations for divergence in opinions. Participants should be recruited to capture diversity of experiences and backgrounds in a community, and the deliberation processes organised so as to redress power imbalances as much as is feasible.39 When conducted in this way, citizens juries can reveal and capture key community concerns and arguments about current or proposed policy directions and enhance accountability in decision making. Citizens juries to consider screening and overdiagnosis They are appropriate when the evidence is uncertain, and experts or stakeholder groups (or both) disagree on its implications. In relation to overdiagnosis, citizens juries have been convened primarily by health researchers to provide research evidence for policy making that articulates values and explains the reasoning and preferences of an informed public. Juries can help those who develop screening guidelines to understand why patients go against expert advice and can inform them of the factors that need to be explained and explicitly considered to retain public trust. Citizens juries are designed to allow participants to first be informed, and then to discuss, reflect, and clarify their own views about a topic rather than recording peoples top-of-mind or intuitive reactions to contentious problems (like focus groups or mass surveys). In response to the question: Should the government offer free mammography screening to all women aged 40-49? surveys would likely capture the prevailing public mood as to the importance of helping women access preventive health services rather than a nuanced view on the implications of lowering the age related entry point for the national mammography screening programme. A citizens jury comprising women who had never participated in screening convened in Otago, New Zealand, to answer this question. Almost all of the women had been in favour of mammography screening for women aged 40-49 at the start of the jury. By the end of its deliberations, however, the jury voted 10 to 1 against the proposal to lower the entry age because of the potential for harms and the lack of evidence of lives saved in that age group (table 1).10 Table 1 Key questions pertinent to overdiagnosis that have been tackled by citizens juries in Australasia View this table: Citizen juries emphasise public values and social concerns that are not part of the evidence base but could be of great importance to policy implementation. Two juries composed of Australian women aged 70-74 voted to retain invitations to mammography screening for their age group, explicitly placing a low priority on the potential for overdiagnosis in their decision making (table 1).11 The reasons the jurors provided show that, once established, organised preventive health services have great symbolic value, and epidemiological evidence of an unfavourable balance of benefit to harm may not be enough to convince people of the need to stop. Although independent evidence based expert advice on population screening is essential, good policy also relies on public trust. Through their exposure to evidence and expert opinion, the participants in these juries about mammography understood that for population screening services to be effective there must be tolerance for some degree of overdiagnosis. The womens tolerance threshold, however, seemed to be higher than that of the clinical research experts who were advising against screening. The benefits of screening, as well as the harms of screening related overdiagnosis, are experienced by otherwise healthy people. For reasons of transparency and accountability, the values and priorities of potential service users should be considered and included in guideline development and programme implementation. Choosing jurors, types of evidence, and framing jury questions The policy relevance of a citizens jury convened to tackle an important issue such as overdiagnosis will depend on three important factors: how the topic or question is posed; who sits on the jury and how they are recruited; and the engagement of policy decision makers. Framing question for the jurors In the juries that we have conducted on screening and overdiagnosis the question, expert witnesses, and the evidence presented to jurors were determined by a steering committee comprising neutral experts and representatives of stakeholders from each side of the existing debates. The committee, organisers, and expert witnesses worked together to ensure that the question put to the jury was framed as neutrally as possible so that the verdict was less likely to be subsequently dismissed. The quality and reputation of the experts who provided the testimony and the structured process through which they reviewed and moderated each others presentations helped to ensure that all views presented to jurors were relevant and could be argued from the evidence. Not every issue is suitable for deliberation. Broadly speaking, citizens juries on screening and overdiagnosis have answered two somewhat different but overlapping policy questions: those that explicitly focus on resource allocation and those about which policy options are most justifiable and perceived to be legitimate (table 1).12 Juries are most useful for public engagement when the policy options require a deep consideration of both values and evidence.13 Juror characteristics and the type of evidence produced Citizens juries construct a form of mini-public, such that composition of participants will determine how representatives the outcome is. Three juries held in Sydney, Australia, on PSA testing and overdiagnosis risks show the difference between those composed of targeted or general public (table 1).14 One of the juries comprised men of screening age (potential PSA test users) and two were composed of participants of mixed genders and ages. All juries prioritised allocating resources to support GPs to adopt an active role in supporting individual men to make decisions about PSA. But the two mixed juries wanted all the information on potential harms and benefits of PSA testing to be provided to men before they took the PSA test, whereas the all male jury did not want men burdened with uncertain and detailed information about risks associated with diagnosis and treatment until they had an adverse test result. This example shows how a jury composed of service users can provide a different perspective and insights into a different recommendation from that of one composed of members of the public who may not be directly affected by the outcome. The findings of juries of service users provide insights into what changes to the status quo are likely to be acceptable to those affected. Juries comprising a broader range of citizens tend to reveal broader considerations, including the range of issues that may be important for weighing the fairness of resource re-allocation against a background of competing priorities.8 Involvement by policy decision makers Policy makers do not convene citizens juries but tend to commission independent researchers. The explicit and public nature of the jury process and its reporting are important. It is hard to find anyone who is free from bias, and policy makers are no more likely to be neutral than researchers. Indeed, policy makers are more likely to be less skilled at setting up an objective or independent steering committee when subject to political or budgetary pressures. The juries described in table 1 were initiated by researchers, but all had clinical and policy stakeholders as expert witnesses or members of the steering committee. Public deliberation aimed at informing policy decisions around overdiagnosis should ideally involve the decision makers in the design or implementation. If the jury is organised as an independent research project then a subsequent process of translation or knowledge mobilisation may be required to inform decision makers of the content and significance of the verdict.15 We dont mean to suggest that decision makers who engage with citizens juries should be bound by the jury verdict or that citizens juries cannot be legitimately done purely as research. But they are more likely to inform policy decisions if those involved recognise the value, role, and limitations of the jury outcomes in larger political processes.16 Individual clinicians and healthcare managers may find value in juries performed as research as a way to synthesise the diverse values that patients may consider when weighing up screening decisions. Informing policy around overdiagnosis Where expert opinion and public opinion diverge, citizens juries are valuable for understanding why and potentially informing future decisions about public communication and service delivery requirements to deal with patient concerns. The provision of facts, exposure to well reasoned and sometimes opposing expert opinions, and commitment to working through persistent disagreements (rather than dismissing them as deficits in understanding) can help to rebalance information gaps about overdiagnosis and the discrepancy of power between experts, decision makers, and the community affected.1819 Between us, we have conducted more than 15 citizens juries, several of which have considered overdiagnosis.1114202122 A consistent observation has been that members of the public report great surprise at the level of uncertainty embedded in medical practice. And particularly how new technologies and medical tests can create more uncertainties, rather than resolve concerns. Most people in high income countries like Australia are encultured to trust medical tests and their doctors.23 They believe that doctors know the right thing to do.24 Trust in doctors is inevitably the resource that people draw on when decisions need to be made in the face of conflicting or uncertain evidence. Citizens juries enable them to pull back the curtain on medical evidence and engage more meaningfully in screening policy debates. In our experience, in deliberations people first looked for the embedded interests that could drive apparent differences in expert opinion. But ultimately most jurors came to both understand and feel sympathy for GPs and other care providers who must manage medical uncertainty on a day-to-day basis. Conclusions If done well, citizens juries are an effective means to conduct research that informs guideline development for population screening and disease threshold determination.1225 Much could be achieved to tackle the social and ethical dimensions of overdiagnosis if those charged with organising and regulating these processes made a commitment to formally consider the values and preferences of well informed members of the public and to understand the complex trade-offs entailed. Procedurally, citizens juries are explicit about the limits of medicine and the pervasiveness of medical uncertainty. This fits with the basic tenets of evidence based medicine2627 and offers an authentic means to tackle issues related to overdiagnosis.28 In addition, citizens juries have the potential to uncover other ways that health services provide value to the public, which need to be explicitly mentioned and accounted for in the implementation of policy.29 Bringing the public into deliberation about overdiagnosis can broaden and improve the dialogue and make the reasons for decisions about resource allocation and potential withdrawal of services more clear and transparent, thus promoting public trust and partnerships at a time when trust in science and medical expertise seems to be in decline.303132 Indonesian ride-hailing company Go-Jek said Friday it had finalized the first closing of its ongoing Series F fundraising efforts. Go-Jek's release did not disclose the amount of fresh funds raised. An industry source familiar with the matter told CNBC that Go-Jek raised just more than $1 billion with the first close of the Series F funding round. Investors included tech giants Google and Tencent as well as Chinese e-commerce player JD.com and Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation. The company said the proceeds would be used to expand and deepen Go-Jek's presence in its home market, Indonesia, as well as Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. "We started out with ride-hailing but in a short space of time have become Indonesia's industry leader across all key verticals including transport, food delivery, mobile payments, logistics, and merchant services," Nadiem Makarim, CEO of Go-Jek Group, said in a statement. "As we expand internationally, we are excited to extend our vision to more countries and at the same time put Indonesia on the map as a regional hub for tech innovation," he said. Go-Jek has a presence in 204 cities and regencies across five countries in Southeast Asia. It has more than 2 million drivers and about 400,000 merchants on its platform. President Donald Trump (L) and Terry Gou, chairman of Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, at a groundbreaking for Foxconn's new LCD screen facility on June 28, 2018 in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. "In terms of TV, we have no place in the U.S.," Woo told Reuters earlier this week. "We can't compete." Earlier this week, Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, told Reuters the company was shifting strategy and would offer mostly researcher and engineering jobs in Wisconsin, not the blue-collar manufacturing jobs that were originally promised. Foxconn received $4 billion in tax breaks from the state to build LCD TV screens at the plant, but plans have shifted. Foxconn said it's moving forward with the construction of its Wisconsin facility after talks with the White House, according to a statement released Friday, but isn't clarifying what kind of jobs will be housed at the $10 billion plant. The site will function as both an "advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation," Foxconn said in its new statement Friday, but did not clarify what kinds of jobs it would hire for at the site. In a statement to CNBC earlier this week, Foxconn also signaled it was changing its focus for the Wisconsin facility, saying "the global market environment that existed when the project was first announced has changed." Announced at a White House ceremony in 2017, the 20-million-square-foot campus marked the largest greenfield investment by a foreign-based company in U.S. history and was praised by President Donald Trump as proof of his ability to revive American manufacturing. Foxconn had said it would employ 13,000 U.S. workers at the facility. Here's the statement Foxconn issued Friday: After productive discussions between the White House and the company, and after a personal conversation between President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Terry Gou, Foxconn is moving forward with our planned construction of a Gen 6 fab facility, which will be at the heart of the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park. This campus will serve both as an advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation for the region. Our decision is also based on a recent comprehensive and systematic evaluation to help determine the best fit for our Wisconsin project among TFT technologies. We have undertaken the evaluation while simultaneously seeking to broaden our investment across Wisconsin far beyond our original plans to ensure the company, our workforce, the local community, and the state of Wisconsin will be positioned for long-term success. We look forward to continuing to expand our investment in American talent in Wisconsin and the US. Reuters and CNBC's Ryan Ruggiero contributed to this report. WATCH: Fmr. Gov. Scott Walker says Foxconn wouldn't be in U.S. without Trump Howard Schultz, Chairman of Starbucks at the grand opening of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai, China on Dec. 5th, 2017. Justin Solomon | CNBC Former Starbucks chief Howard Schultz touted his background as a poor kid from Brooklyn during the rollout this week of his potential independent presidential run but the billionaire's overall performance got a big Bronx cheer from political analysts. Larry Sabato, the longtime University of Virginia political science guru, burst out laughing at some length when CNBC asked him to evaluate how Schultz did in introducing himself to the American public as the nation's next potential president during a whirlwind series of media interviews. "I'm sorry," Sabato said, as he continued chuckling. Potentially alienating voters Analysts also noted Schultz's own strong criticism of the Democratic Party, which they said risks alienating many voters that he likely would need to be able to win the election. "It concerns me that so many voices within the Democratic Party are going so far to the left," Schultz said earlier this week. "If I ran as a Democrat, I would have to say things in my heart I do not believe." Tweet And analysts said his focus on a platform committed to lowering the national debt is likely to fall flat with voters this election cycle, as opposed to the 1992 election, when independent Ross Perot caught fire with a candidacy centered on that issue. Then there is Schultz's vast wealth, lack of political experience and his charisma or what analysts said was his lack thereof. A spokesman for Schultz did not respond to a request for comment. Sabato said that Schultz and his advisors "didn't seem to understand that most Americans aren't looking for another white billionaire using bromides and buzzwords who has had zero experience in government." "We've already got one." A question of strategy Robert Shapiro, a Columbia University professor who previously chaired the Department of Political Science there, said he believed Schultz may have made a strategic error by floating the idea of his candidacy too "early" in the election cycle. "If you're running as an independent, you want to get attention, and you want to have voters see where you fit in the political space," Shapiro said. That is usually easiest, Shapiro said, when an independent has a good idea of who his opponents will be. Tweet While Trump is very likely to be the Republican Party's nominee in 2020, the Democratic field is completely wide open and still might be so a full year from now. "It does raise the question of if Schultz's strategy would be better if he first ran in the [Democratic] party and then ran as an independent afterward" if he failed to secure the nomination, Shapiro said. He and other analysts noted that it is possible for Schultz, or another independent, to garner a significant share of the popular vote. Perot got 19 percent in 1992, after actually leading in public opinion polls at some point that year. But Shapiro pointed out that Perot received "no electoral votes" that year despite his relatively strong showing in the popular vote. The Electoral College not the popular vote determines who wins the presidency. It is possible for an independent to win electoral votes, as George Wallace did with 46 electoral votes in 1968. But if Schultz were to win enough votes to play the spoiler in 2020 and no candidate were able to score the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, the election would then be decided by the House of Representatives. And "the House has Democrats and Republicans," Shapiro said. David Barker, professor of government and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, said Schultz's "rollout went quite poorly." Schultz also seems to have overestimated the pool of voters who could be induced to vote for him, Barker said. "The vast majority of 'independents' are simply ideologues who do not want to identify with their natural party because they believe that party sells out too much or is too interested with protecting its power rather than pursuing particular ideological goals," Barker said. "In other words, they don't like the party because the party is not pure enough." But "the group of pure independents who are truly up for grabs is about 10 percent, and most of them are quite disengaged from politics so not necessarily voters," Barker said. 'Didn't have that professional feel' Lynn Vavreck, a professor of political science and communications studies at UCLA, said she thinks that if Schultz "could have a do-over" for his possible candidacy announcement, "he probably would take it." She said she was struck by the difference between how Schultz announced his potential run for the White House during an interview with "60 Minutes" last Sunday and how others announced their bids: Trump in 2015, and Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., this week. "Those events" the ones other than Schultz's "looked like presidential campaign events," Vavreck said. She noted that choices of the setting and production values, down to the music, used for the announcements of Trump, Harris and Booker seemed to reflect a serious level of planning by professional advisors around those candidates. In contrast, she said, Shultz's interview "didn't have that professional feel ... I don't get the sense that he had a strategy or theme to his message worked out with a key core, a key group of people." "It doesn't signal to me ... that he's put a lot of effort into thinking about the run," Vavreck said. She also was critical of Schultz's messaging on "60 Minutes" and in interviews later in the week. "Mostly what I heard from him was a reaction to Democrats and Republicans and everything they're doing wrong," Vavreck said. She said that while it's true that Congress ranks low in terms of public opinion, and many people have criticisms of the major parties, it's a mistake to think that "I can go out and say those things and people will vote for me and I'll win." Vavreck said presidential contenders have to have "a theme, a message." "You have to give people a reason to vote for you, to be one of your team. Not just 'I'm that guy,'" she said. "People want to be with you for a cause. Not just because you're not something else." 'It's a vanity project' The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed provisionally up by 0.29 percent, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory. Household goods stocks were among the top gainers, led by Sweden's Electrolux. The home appliances maker surged close to the top of the European benchmark after posting stronger-than-anticipated quarterly results and forecast easing cost headwinds over the coming months. Shares of the company were up over 10 percent. Europe's banking index led the losses amid earnings news. Deutsche Bank reported its first full-year net profit in four years on Friday. However, shares came under pressure, losing 0.59 percent as Germany's largest lender continues to face growing merger speculation and a series of uphill struggles. Germany's Wirecard, meanwhile, plummeted 25 percent after a Financial Times report said an external firm commissioned by the payments firm to investigate its Singapore office found evidence indicating "serious offences or forgery and/or of falsification of accounts." Wirecard called the report "inaccurate, misleading and defamatory." On the data front, euro zone inflation slipped as expected last month. Official data published Friday showed inflation in the 19 countries sharing the euro slowed to 1.4 percent in January, from 1.6 percent a month earlier. It provides another reason for the European Central Bank to ease off removing stimulus, as inflation falls further away from its target. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, speaks an attendee at an overflow crowd prior to a round table event in Storm Lake, Iowa, U.S., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images Sen. Elizabeth Warren has set the stage for a colossal battle at the U.S. Supreme Court over her proposed wealth tax on households worth more than $50 million. The proposal, which would raise trillions of dollars to fund a host of social programs that are key to the Massachusetts senator's agenda, would awaken an area of constitutional law that has lain dormant for decades, experts say. And it would put Warren, if elected president, on an early collision course with a branch of government that could determine the success or failure of her administration. It is a concern the campaign is aware of. Behind the scenes, Warren's team sought legal advice from leading scholars ahead of rolling out its proposal, and put together a deeply researched briefing book on the matter. But that work was likely just the start of a long process that is shaping up to be the first major legal test of a candidate who was once an influential professor at Harvard Law School. "It's the dream of constitutional law professors," Matthew Franck, associate director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, said of Warren's proposal. "It would be an occasion for a burst of amicus briefs, of scholarly articles, of all sort of scholarly arguments." Read more: Chris Christie says an Elizabeth Warren nomination would be a gift to Trump But it could be a nightmare for a nascent administration butting heads with a conservative court over a tax that Warren has said she would use to provide funding for investments in child care, reductions of student loan debt and an ambitious slate of climate policies. The proposal would impose a 2 percent tax on net worth between $50 million and $1 billion. A 3 percent tax would apply to household net worth above $1 billion. In total, according to the proposal, Warren's "ultra-millionaire tax" would raise $2.75 trillion in revenue over a 10-year period from fewer than 80,000 families. Bruce Ackerman, a prominent constitutional scholar who provided Warren with legal guidance on the proposal, said he did not know how the justices would come down on the matter. But, he said, their decision would ultimately be a "test of seriousness." "A lot depends on whether they will pass the test," Ackerman said. "We have to give them a chance to consider deeply these issues." In response to inquiries, an aide to Warren pointed to letters from legal scholars supporting the plan. Those letters, which buck the conventional wisdom regarding the constitutionality of a wealth tax, include ringing endorsements from noted scholars including former top lawyers in the Department of Justice. But even those who have advised Warren on the legality of the plan are uncertain about what the nation's top court might do. Anti-wealth tax case remains on the books The question of whether a wealth tax is lawful stems from the Constitution's ban on any national "direct" tax that is not collected evenly from the states based on their populations. That language originated in a compromise over slavery. In exchange for receiving extra representation in Congress through the census' enumeration of each enslaved black person as three-fifths of a free person, the slave-holding states were required to ante up a corresponding amount of tax dollars. For more than a century after the Constitution was ratified, wealth taxes were not thought to be "direct" taxes, and versions were upheld. But that changed in 1895, when, in the midst of a barrage of anti-populist rulings, the Supreme Court for the first time declared a wealth tax unconstitutional. "We have acknowledged in our discussion that there is a case remaining on the books that would seem to make it unconstitutional," said Walter Dellinger, a law professor at Duke who also consulted with Warren on the proposal. "It is from an era where the court was striking down any progressive legislation, including minimum wage laws and maximum hours laws." While the court later reversed itself on minimum wage and maximum hours laws, there has been no such reversal on a wealth tax. Dellinger said that he believed the court, as presently constituted, would do just that. "But who knows how the court will be constituted when a wealth tax actually comes before it," he said. Dellinger and Dawn Johnsen, a law professor at Indiana University, published an article last year "to help ensure that a wealth tax is among the policy options available to Congress." Members of Warren's staff studied the article as they prepared to release their proposal. 16th Amendment pushed debate back Elizabeth Warren has apologized to the Cherokee Nation for releasing the results of a DNA test last year in an attempt to prove that she has Native American ancestry, the tribe said Friday. The apology comes as the Massachusetts senator is expected to launch her 2020 presidential campaign in the coming weeks, after creating an exploratory committee in December. "Senator Warren has reached out to us and has apologized to the tribe," Cherokee Nation Executive Director of Communications Julie Hubbard said in a statement to CNBC. "We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests," Hubbard said. "We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end." President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized Warren for claiming she has Native American heritage, calling her "Pocahontas." He even went so far as to offer to donate $1 million to her chosen charity if she could prove her ancestry. In response to Trump and other critics, Warren released a video last October which showed a DNA test had verified that she has Native American lineage. However, the move was widely panned by both her political opponents as well as Native Americans, who said that belonging to a community is about more than just genetics. According to the analysis of Warren's DNA test, her Native American genes can be traced to just a single ancestor "6-10 generations" in the past. Many tribal nations require at least one-eighth degree "blood quantum," equivalent to one great-grandparent with full Native American ancestry, in order to be eligible for membership. Warren is not a member of any tribal nation. "Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong," Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement last October. "Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage." Deutsche Bank posted its first full-year net profit since 2014 on Friday, despite a weak fourth quarter, amid growing merger speculation and a series of uphill struggles. The profit number of 341 million euros ($390 million) for 2018 failed to beat market consensus, with a Reuters poll of analysts predicting a figure of 461 million euros. For the fourth-quarter alone, the bank posted as loss of 409 million euros, which also failed to match estimates. "Our return to profitability shows that Deutsche Bank is on the right track. Now, our priority is to take the next step. In 2019 we aim not only to save costs but also to make focused investments in growth. We aim to grow profitability substantially through the current year and beyond," CEO Christian Sewing said in statement. Net revenues came in at 25 billion euros for the year and 5.5 billion for the last quarter of 2018, which both narrowly missed estimates in a Reuters poll. Its common equity tier-1 ratio, which indicates a bank's strength, dropped to 13.6 percent in 2018, versus 14 percent at the end of 2017. Shares fell 2 percent shortly after markets opened in Europe on Friday. The German lender has been under immense scrutiny by investors given its prolonged and ongoing troubles. It has been plagued by fines and several failed restructuring attempts. More recently, its headquarters were raided by prosecutors amid a money-laundering investigation. 'Challenging' fourth quarter James von Moltke, the chief financial officer of Deutsche Bank, told CNBC's Annette Weisbach that the last quarter was "challenging." "Obviously the market backdrop was very challenging, and we also went through some idiosyncratic, if you like, headlines. In light of that backdrop we are pleased with our performance," he said. Annual net revenues at the investment banking division fell 8 percent year-on-year, with asset management also falling 14 percent from a year ago. Deutsche Bank said that its asset management arm faced "difficult" market conditions with assets under management dropping 5 percent in the fourth quarter. "We have been working to stabilize and grow revenues after having executed on the restructuring and reshaping of the business that we did in 2018. The fourth quarter, with the environment that we faced, didn't turn out to be quarter for that turnaround but it is something we continue to work for, look for in 2019." Merger speculation Collaboration, she tells CNBC Make It, "is about about creating a situation where people get at least some of their interests met." Since it requires the most creativity, collaboration can be one of the trickiest negotiation strategies, says G. Richard Shell, a director of the Wharton Executive Negotiation Workshop and author of the book "Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People." "Collaboration isn't 'fold your cards and make peace,'" he tells CNBC Make It. "It's an art." Trump, as some experts have pointed out, has often preferred an "all or nothing" strategy that he honed as a real estate mogul and that can often work in business. Collaboration "isn't part of [Trump's] game plan," says Shell. That reality could make talks difficult for the congressional negotiators who must strike a deal by February 15 or face another possible government shutdown when funding lapses. The last shutdown lasted a record-setting 35 days and cost the country $11 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. To be sure, political negotiations like this one are not the typical bargaining situations most people find themselves in, says Gallo. Still, they can highlight the importance of strategies that keep talks moving forward. As politicians wrangle their own solutions to the border talks, here are four steps to help anyone keep collaborating when talks break down. 1. Be prepared Before any talk, think through your wants and needs, and assess your goals. "You can't ask what someone else's interests are if you don't know your own brain," says Gallo. Focusing on your needs and motivations can help you brainstorm the most alternatives to get those needs met. By contrast, focusing on just one specific demand can lead to a "line in the sand" approach that can limit your options. Additionally, ask yourself what you know about your counterpart, says Gallo. What is most important to this person? Consider that person's behavior, too. Is your counterpart open minded? Changeable? Flippant? Think about any patterns of behavior that you've seen in the past. Taking the time to think through these factors is essential. As Shell found in one research study he conducted, those who formally prepared for a negotiation reached better resolutions for themselves and their opponents than those who did not. 2. Avoid assumptions and attacks If you've reached an impasse, chances are emotions are charged. Those who find themselves in this situation should step back, writes Shell. Calm yourself first, to break the "attack-attack" cycle. Consider apologizing to build rapport. If someone has been difficult in the past, don't just assume he or she is simply impossible, warns Gallo. Differing interests, perspectives or assumptions don't automatically make a person irrational, she says. "Chances are there are points of agreement that you can unite on get to a resolution." And don't be so certain you'll win your position. If you do, you might find yourself blindsided, says Gallo. A better approach is to believe you'll do whatever you can to find a solution. 3. Make one small step If you've reached an impasse, don't attack your opponent's principles, says Shell. Instead, he suggests you look for ways to make "one small step" toward finding common ground. You might not need to make any sort of concession, writes Shell. The step might be as simple as putting aside any past ugliness or creating a way the other person could save face. Even when it seems you can't agree on anything, chances are you can agree on something small, like when you could next sit down and talk. Switch your tactics to talk about process, not principles. "The key is to sort of pave the way toward collaboration," says Gallo. "If we can just start to make small agreements, then we've started down the right path." 4. Ask question after question Chris Christie told CNBC on Friday that a 2020 Democratic presidential nomination of Sen. Elizabeth Warren would be a "gift" to President Donald Trump's efforts to keep the White House for Republicans. Christie, former New Jersey governor and unsuccessful 2016 GOP presidential candidate, suggested that Warren's liberal agenda won't resonate with American voters. "Please, Lord, nominate her," Christie said in a "Squawk Box" interview, slamming Warren's proposed wealth tax as a message that "people who make money suck, and we'd like to take their money from them." In a CNBC interview Thursday, Warren defended her bid to impose a 2 percent tax every year on households with assets over $50 million and a 3 percent tax on households with assets over $1 billion. "I want these billionaires to stop being freeloaders," the Massachusetts Democrat said on "Mad Money with Jim Cramer." Christie also scoffed at Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's proposal to target the wealthy. "She's having her moment. We're very happy for her," he said. Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman firebrand from New York, wants to slap a 70 percent marginal tax rate on income above $10 million. Christie said Democrats would be better served nominating centrist Joe Biden, adding that the former vice president might be able to siphon off some of Trump's working-class base by relating to them with his modest upbringing. Christie appeared on CNBC minutes after New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker launched a bid for the 2020 presidential nomination, the latest Democrat to enter a growing field. The former New Jersey governor said he likes Booker personally but stressed its too early to tell how any of these Democratic hopefuls might fare. "Remember, four years ago at this time, the front-runner for Republicans was Jeb Bush. So it doesn't really matter. It's too early to figure out." Bush ran as a more moderate, establishment Republican in a crowded field for the GOP nomination in the last presidential campaign. But he failed to gain traction with voters and dropped out in February 2016. Christie, who had positioned himself as more of a conservative, left the race shortly after Bush. However, Christie, 56, told CNBC on Friday he wouldn't rule out another bid for the presidency "someday," but he said he won't challenge Trump in 2020 for the GOP nomination. "[Trump's] popularity is among Republicans right now is 81 percent. That doesn't leave you a whole heck of a lot of room to primary somebody. Now, if things change over the course of the next six or nine months some people may look at it. There are some folks who don't like him. But right now, it's very unlikely," said Christie, who has had an on-again-off-again relationship with Trump. Christie is out promoting his new book, "Let Me Finish: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics." WATCH: Here's the full interview with Christie A Chinese court on Friday sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a female passenger of ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing last year, while he was employed as a driver. The crime triggered fierce public and government criticism of Didi whose backers include Uber Technologies, Apple and Japan's SoftBank Group and led to a safety overhaul at the company. The court in the eastern coastal city of Wenzhou announced the death penalty for 28-year-old Zhong Yuan, who committed the crime in August, in a post on its Twitter-like Weibo account. "The criminal means were extremely cruel and the consequences of the crime are extremely serious," the court said. Canadian marijuana producer Canopy Growth has a chance to make billions in America if the crop becomes legal federally, CEO Bruce Linton told CNBC. "On a global basis, you'll see THC is an active ingredient in probably 85 - 90 percent of our total global revenues" not including the U.S., he said Thursday on "Fast Money." If tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is legalized in the U.S., "it's a many tens of billion dollar opportunity and it's going to be coming down to great products with great brands." Canopy wants to introduce THC products to the U.S. market that could compete with alcohol and opioids, but only a non-psychoactive cannabis compound known as cannabidiol (CBD) has been authorized by the federal government. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the manufacturing, distribution and selling of hemp-derived CBD. While pot companies wait on the sidelines as more and more states legalize marijuana within their own boundaries, Linton said clearing CBD is a "great first step" because CBD research can yield results helpful for THC. The federal Food and Drug Administration will be "very active and useful" in providing perspective on many claims about the chemical. "It's a big deal ... [because] we can actually operate with a federally controlled program, which means we don't jeopardize say working with Bank of America, all the things that we've been able to enjoy by being on the New York Stock Exchange," Linton said. Shares of Canopy are up 94 percent this year, recovering from losses in November. Stocks in China saw strong gains on the first trading day of February as hopes rise for a U.S.-China trade deal. However, the country's manufacturing data came in below expectations. Mainland Chinese markets saw gains on the day, as the Shanghai composite rose 1.3 percent to close at around 2,618.23 while the Shenzhen component jumped 2.738 percent to finish its trading day at about 7,684.00. The Shenzhen composite also climbed higher by 2.765 percent to close at approximately 1,309.99. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped 0.23 percent, in the final hour of trade. A private survey on China's manufacturing sector on Friday showed that factory activity contracted in January. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 48.3 in January, compared to 49.7 in December. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the Caixin PMI to be 49.5 last month. "The terrible decline in the Caixin PMI index from 49.7 in December to only 48.3 in January shows just how important it is for China and the US to secure a trade deal. If nothing else, a deal should prevent the near-term imposition of higher tariffs," Robert Carnell, ING's chief economist and head of research for Asia Pacific, said in a note. Elsewhere in Asia, the mood appeared more cautious. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed slightly higher at 20,788.39 while the Topix index shed 0.18 percent to finish its trading day at 1,564.63, as shares of Fast Retailing advanced 1.97 percent. Nintendo, however, plunged 9.19 percent after the company cut its sales forecast for the Switch game console in the fiscal year ending March 2019. South Korea's Kospi closed slightly lower at 2,203.46. In Australia, the ended its trading day largely flat at 5,862.8. The materials subindex advanced 0.34 percent as shares of major miners rose. Rio Tinto was up 0.6 percent, Fortescue Metals Group jumped 3.36 percent and BHP Billiton gained 0.49 percent. The Apple logo is seen on the window at an Apple Store on January 7, 2019 in Beijing, China. Apple finally stood up to Facebook and Google on matters of privacy, and it made a powerful point about the influence it wields in mobile. Apple this week revoked the enterprise developer licenses of Facebook and Google, temporarily disabling internal employee-only apps, after reports that each company had side-loaded apps onto Apple's operating system that violated the company's rules. The license suspensions halted app development inside both companies and disrupted basic corporate functions until the privileges were restored Thursday night. Facebook employees couldn't access even their calendars or company transit schedules, according to a report by The New York Times. Facebook will now have to rebuild "a few dozen" internal apps, which could take weeks, according to a company memo defending the company's research app obtained by Business Insider. Both news outlets reported some Facebook employees blamed Apple for the snafu and thought of the suspension as an act of retaliation in the companies' ongoing feud. "Apple's view is that we violated their terms by sideloading this app, and they decide the rules for their platform," Facebook executive Pedro Canahuati said in the memo seen by Business Insider. "Our relationship with Apple is really important many of us use Apple products at work every day, and we rely on iOS for many of our employee apps, so we wouldn't put that relationship at any risk intentionally." Apple CEO Tim Cook has been teasing a privacy standoff with the internet giants. During a speech in Brussels in October, Cook stopped just short of naming Facebook and Google in his comments blasting data collection firms and claiming personal information has been "weaponized against us with military efficiency." He also characterized data collection practices by companies such as Google and Facebook as "surveillance." And yet this is the first time Cook has taken significant action against Facebook or Google. Apple has previously launched educational privacy measures user alerts within Safari about data tracking or Time Spent measures on iPhones, for example. But it's never hindered development or access. The move this week underscored just how much damage Apple could do to Facebook's and Google's core businesses if it wanted to. Of course, there are reasons to play nice. Facebook and Google products are among the most popular in the App Store, driving downloads and service fees for Apple's burgeoning Services revenue segment. Google also pays Apple something like billions each year to be the default search engine on products like the iPhone. Apple said on Wednesday the license suspensions were a means to "protect our users and their data." It remains to be seen whether the company will recycle that logic in the future. After all, as Canahuati conceded, Apple decides the rules. WATCH: Facebook was misusing Apple platform to get data from kids, says expert Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants billionaires like Howard Schultz and Michael Bloomberg to subscribe to the United States' "social contract" and pay "their fair share" in taxes, she told CNBC on Thursday in an interview with Jim Cramer. "I want these billionaires to stop being freeloaders," the Democratic senator said on "Mad Money." "I want them to pick up their fair share. That's how we make a system that works not just for the rich and the powerful, but works for all of us." Warren, who is considering a 2020 run for president, proposed a "wealth tax" on Americans with over $50 million in assets earlier this month. She has also criticized former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz who is also weighing a 2020 presidential bid for thinking he can "buy the presidency." On Thursday, the Massachusetts senator broke down her problem with billionaires, even those who contribute to charities and do good social works. "We have watched billionaires stand up and say, 'Look, I want to run for president. And one of the first planks in my plan is going to be no new taxes for billionaires,'" she told Cramer. "The thing about taxes is everybody who is an ultra-millionaire has to pay a portion, not just those who sign up, not just those who wave their hands and say, 'I'll do it as long as it goes to the particular charity I like,'" Warren continued. "That is your obligation. That's part of the social contract. That's part of being a citizen of the United States of America." A 2 percent tax, for example, was "not unreasonable" to impose on the "thinnest one-tenth of 1 percent" who earn multimillions, Warren said, adding that that portion of the U.S. population pays roughly 3.2 percent of their total worth in taxes, compared with the 7.2 percent the 99 percent pays. That additional money could go to child care, lowering student loan debt, or a Green New Deal, she added. "All I'm asking for is a little slice from the tippy, tippy top. A slice that would raise and this is the shocking part, Jim about $2.75 trillion over the next 10 years," the senator said. "That's money we need so that every kid in this country has a decent childcare opportunity, has an opportunity for pre-K, has an opportunity for a decent school." Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and US President Donald Trump hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg. WASHINGTON The world's two greatest nuclear powers are set to pull out of a crucial nuclear weapons treaty beginning this weekend. The United States and Russia announced Thursday that discussions this week to save the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, Treaty, failed and thus Washington will begin the six-month withdrawal process starting Feb. 2. "Unfortunately, there is no progress," Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said following the treaty discussions, according to a translation by Reuters. "As far as we understand, the next step is coming, the next phase begins, namely the phase of the United States stopping its obligations under the INF, which will evidently happen this coming weekend." Andrea Thompson, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, who is leading U.S. efforts, said that "diplomacy is never done" but that Washington is likely to withdraw from the INF pact. "The Russians still aren't in acknowledgment that they are in violation of the treaty," Thompson told Reuters. Read more: The U.S. and Russia are threatening to make more weapons. Here's how many nukes each nation has The INF treaty, signed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited the development and deployment of ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges of 310 miles to 3,420 miles. The agreement forced each country to dismantle more than 2,500 missiles and kept nuclear-tipped cruise missiles off the European continent for three decades. CNBC's John Harwood sat down with Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., new chairwoman of the House Financial Service Committee, to discuss diversity and closing the gap on income inequality. John Harwood: When you were born there was one African-American in Congress, just a couple of women. Now you're the chair of this committee. How does that make you feel? Maxine Waters: A lot of people talk about it as if this is so unbelievable. How could this have happened? How did you do this? Well, I was taught no matter what the circumstances were, that America was a place where everybody could achieve and become what they want to become if they work hard, if they're dedicated to it. I believe that, and that's what I've done. John Harwood: The United States' economy is the richest in the world. We've made some significant gains the black middle class is a lot bigger than it was. But we still have tremendous income inequality and wealth inequality. What does that tell you about what's worked, and hasn't worked, about the American economy and the American financial system? Maxine Waters: People of color, or poor people, have not had a combination of resources and wherewithal to really deal with a system that was not organized to improve their quality of life or invest in them. Unless we work at it and understand how it happened, we wouldn't be able to change it. No matter what the system does, we're going to keep trying and we're going to keep inspiring and motivating young people to make this democracy what it should be. John Harwood: Now, you've established, as I understand it, a diversity and inclusion subcommittee on this committee. What do you hope to achieve with that? Maxine Waters: I hope that we can gather the information, do the research, and help people to understand how big the gap is and what can be done in order to close that gap. And I think, looking in the financial services community, we can put together the kind of information that help people to understand that women and minorities don't really play in this arena, and that we have to do more to close that gap. John Harwood: You're talking about executive hiring? Maxine Waters: I'm talking about diversity in every aspect of our society, but certainly in the financial services. If you go to college and you study economics, or you get involved in a job that brings you to a point where you should be seriously considered for management or other high level jobs, it should be done in a fair way. Your application should not go in the wastebasket because of your color. John Harwood: Do you think that financial services companies should be required to have more diverse boards than they have now? Maxine Waters: What we are doing now is we are encouraging the CEOs to understand that diversity is a positive thing. For all the studies that have been done, it shows to the degree that a business or a company is diverse, it does better. In many cases it's more profitable, they get more experience, they get more intelligence, and it works well for the company. We're helping people to learn that and to understand that. John Harwood: So you're about encouraging, not requiring? Maxine Waters: I'm not about trying to changing any laws, necessarily. But I'm about using whatever leverage and whatever power I have to help make it happen. John Harwood: You have the most diverse 2020 presidential field in the Democratic Party's history. What do you think about that, and who do you like? Maxine Waters: I'm not surprised, as we emerge and we become more advanced in understanding our possibility, and understanding our influence, that we should be competing at every level in every business, everywhere. That's what's beginning to happen. John Harwood: Do you think it's important for the Democratic Party to have a nominee who reflects that diversity? Maxine Waters: I think Republicans should learn how to have diversity in the Republican Party. I think the Republicans should understand that they are trailing way behind in getting to the point where they have an appreciation for other races and other cultures. John Harwood: You haven't picked a candidate? Maxine Waters: Oh no, it's too early. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't tell you now if I had. CNBC's John Harwood sat down with Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who is the new chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee. They discussed the joint investigation into Deutsche Bank and money laundering, and how it might connect to the Trump administration. John Harwood: What is your objective in the joint investigation that you plan with Congressman Schiff of Deutsche Bank? Maxine Waters: We know that Deutsche Bank is one of the biggest money laundering banks in the country, or in the world perhaps. And we know that this is the only bank that will lend money to the president of the United States because of his past practices. He won't show his tax returns and we have a certain information that leads us to believe that there may have been some money laundering activity that might have been connected with Mr. Manafort, with some people in his family. John Harwood: Do you believe that money laundering has been a significant part of President Trump's business? Maxine Waters: I know that there are a lot of rumors. I think we need to learn more about the finances of the president of the United States, and he's hiding that information from us. He's not disclosing that information. And I think we need to delve deeper into that and find out what is going on and whether or not money laundering has been involved and whether or not there are connections with the oligarchs of Russia. John Harwood: Do you believe, based on what you know now, that the president is corrupt? Maxine Waters: I believe that this is a problematic president who has proven that he has taken advantage of others in the past. I know that he was fined and I do know that the attorney general of New York made him reimburse at least $25 million. We know that he has had bankruptcies. We know that there are a lot of stories he hasn't paid contractors, he hasn't paid subcontractors. We know a lot about the history of this president and it doesn't look good. ... So, we think that in addition to what Mr. Mueller is doing and now what we are able to do with our subpoena power, we'll find out more and we'll be able to answer that question directly. John Harwood: Now, do you think that the fact that you've taken some criticism about conflicts of interest you were on a watchdog group's list of most corrupt members of Congress does that undercut your ability to pursue these issues? Maxine Waters: No, absolutely not. First of all, all of the questions were answered, I was totally exonerated and found not to have done anything wrong. And the group that was involved in that was not an official group. It was simply a nonprofit operation that decided that it was going to take on the responsibility of choosing members that they didn't necessarily like. But whatever they tried to do to me didn't work because it was proven that I had done nothing wrong. John Harwood: You are one of the earliest members of Congress to call for the impeachment of the president. Maxine Waters: Yes. John Harwood: Speaker Pelosi is more cautious. But is it plain to you right now that that's where this is headed? Maxine Waters: Absolutely. John Harwood: So do you believe the House will vote to impeach the president even if it is clear that Republicans will not join with that effort in the Senate? Maxine Waters: No, I don't know that. I don't know that an impeachment resolution will ever be taken up. I hope so. I believe it should be, but I don't know that. John Harwood: You're not predicting that? Maxine Waters: No, I'm not predicting that. I don't know that that will happen, you're right. Democrats have been very cautious, everybody's waiting on our special counsel, Mr. Mueller, to give them permission to go for it. I'm not waiting (for) permission to say what I really feel and understand about this president and how he has defined himself before our very eyes. This story was updated with an extended exchange on the issue of impeachment. China dispatching a delegation for trade talks with U.S. officials is a "good sign" that the two nations are making progress, former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told CNBC on Thursday. It would be more promising if the countries' leaders agree to meet about a truce, Kirk said. As authorities hold meetings this week in Washington, D.C., to hammer out differences, President Donald Trump suggested in a tweet Thursday morning that he could meet with President Xi Jinping of China in the future. "Unfortunately ... this president loves to sort of make a grand pronouncement, whether there is an agreement or not," he said on "Power Lunch." "But if the two leaders were going to meet, at least in past administrations, the presumption is that some deal would have been worked out for the leaders to meet and formally embrace." Kirk served as trade representative for nearly four years under the Obama administration. "I do think it is a good sign that China sent a delegation" led by Vice Premier Liu He "and I'm told that it is a full delegation of leaders with the authority to make some very tough decisions, but we'll have to see what comes out of it," he said. In a press gaggle later Thursday, Trump indicated he would be open to extending the 90-day truce beyond the March deadline. Pressures are growing on both sides to sign a deal as markets worry about global economic slowdown. Trump later met with Liu to discuss issues including technology transfers, agriculture, services and enforcement. Afterward, reporters were invited to the Oval Office, where Liu announced that China would start buying 5 million tons of soybeans a day. "That's going to make our farmers very happy," Trump said. "That's a very big order," he added. In the first two weeks of 2019, U.S. soybean exports to China tanked 37 percent year over year. China, the world's largest soybean buyer, put a 25 percent tariff on the crop last year. Trump plans to raise tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods if a deal is not made by a March 2 deadline. Both countries have already slapped tariffs on billions of dollars worth of products, with Beijing targeting industries including steel, aluminum and agriculture. "I think you can see all of us, no matter whether we agree with the president's strategy or disagree with it, are hopeful that these talks will be productive and that we can back away from this war that's hurting both of our economies," Kirk said. Review of December 2018 Quarter Activities Sydney, Feb 1, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Product Authenticity and Customer Engagement solutions provider YPB Group Ltd ( ASX:YPB ) presents a summary of activities for the quarter ended 31 December 2018.Key highlights:- Achieved cash receipts of A$368,000- December 2018 had record monthly revenue figure with payment due in Q1, 2019- Increase in cash receipts from retail anti-theft products- Reduced and administration fees and reduced overheads including operations in China- Retired US$145,000 expensive debt facility from Bracknor with full release- Completed A$1.5M convertible note from strategic investors- Finalised cost reduction plan with benefits being delivered from Q1, 2019o Building momentum in the high security passport business line with a US$180k order placed from our key customers in the US during Q4 2018. Expect to receive payment in Q1, 2019.o Significant number of new customer wins for the quartero Payments on non-COGS increased by 12% in Q4 compared to Q3, due to increase in marketing and roadshows including a technical summit in Beijing where YPB won two awards.o One-off redundancy costs of $120k from the staff restructuring, particularly in China.o The reduction in staff costs is expected to be realised from January 2019 onwards due to the operational streamlining initiatives that took effect from mid 2018.o The convertible loan note of $1.5m was successfully completed in December from strategic investors. Incurred, one time transaction costs of $173k.o Research & development expenditure will continue into Q1 2019 with particular focus on smartphone application for the Android platform and also ongoing enhancements to our Connect platform. YPB believes this will help deliver a better solution and win more customer contracts.o On 2 Jan 2019, YPB paid USD 145k to fully settle the outstanding loan balance with Bracknor and obtained a signed Deed of Release to improve our balance sheet position and reduce interest payments. Bracknor no longer holds shares in YPB.Significant business progress in H2 2018 to become visible in H1 2019The new management and sales teams are achieving breakthroughs with both new and existing channel partners and new and existing end clients and this is likely to result in important new business in both Q1 and Q2 2019 and build progressively over the year.Specifically, new customers or increased volumes with existing customers are expected to be added in:- Wine - global major Accolade, (signing announced October 2018) is likely to begin contributing revenue in the H1 2019. If the substantial commercial trial in the Grant Burge range is successful, and should Accolade then choose to roll out YPB's solutions to other relevant parts of its portfolio, this single client is potentially bigger than YPB's present entire revenue base. Other new wine clients are expected to be added in Q1 and Q2.- Cannabis - YPB is working closely with global cannabis platform operator Namaste Technologies Inc ( CVE:N ) to protect cannabis brands and their customers using the Namaste e-commerce platforms. Starting in mid-2018 with a rush of signings, new client momentum disappointed later in the year as the whole cannabis industry became totally absorbed by the launch of legal cannabis in Canada. Now the industry has settled somewhat, further traction is expected with new cannabis clients in H1 2019 under the Cannabis Confirmed initiative with Namaste.- Pharma - A major client in SE Asia is expected to double its volumes with YPB in H1 2019 via expanded range coverage. This client is also advocating on YPB's behalf and has opened doors to five other pharma manufacturers in the region with whom engagement is strong. YPB has so far supplied around 50 million units to this one Pharma client.- Health and Beauty - a major unlisted nutraceutical Australian and international brand is expected to commit to trialing YPB's solutions on part of its range in Q1 2019.- Retail Anti-Theft and Engagement - trials of the revolutionary Concept Tag by a number of national retail chains have all demonstrated exceptional loss prevention and very high ROI. Sales traction is expected in H1 2019.This increased likelihood of new business noted above has been driven by:- Recruitment of high calibre, experienced and networked sales personnel - sales effectiveness has risen sharply and respected technical sales expertise with existing industry contacts is opening doors;- Extensive Productisation of the whole applications suite removing barriers to adoption and greatly increasing potential market size - a major breakthrough has been achieved in offering the YPB Connect customer engagement platform to those with no interest in anti-counterfeit e.g. domestic FMCG brands. The value, effectiveness and simplicity of YPB's solutions is being recognised and trials with household name brands in H1 2019 are likely. This is in part due to a significant barrier to adoption, the very limited ability of printers to print serialised QR codes, being eliminated. The use of static QR codes that link back to the sophisticated engagement and analytics capabilities of YPB Connect rather than a static website is highly appealing;- Better vertical targeting - the developing success in wine, for example, is due to reputational halo effects and industry specific technology. The Vintail NFC protection and engagement solution, for example, has been developed over the past eight months to an in-line application, mass production capability;- Increased emphasis on channel partners - developing partnerships with large suppliers who have big customers where YPB's unique solutions add clear client benefit and supplier differentiation. A number of trials by brands in conjunction with new, high quality channel partners are probable in H1 2019. The three new channel partners in China (announced September and October 2018) supplying YPB solutions to global majors in autos, oil, consumer electronics and FMCG will clearly improve YPB China's revenue base and have the potential for significant volume growth; and- The great commercial appeal of smartphone readability (Motif Micro's major breakthrough of August 2018) to transform a brand's packaging investment into a low cost, high return, direct engagement channel. Brands immediately get the power of leveraging a ubiquitous technology for minimal additional cost.One of the important expected benefits of the above initiatives is shortened sales cycles. To date, virtually all new client engagement has been slow but there are clear signs of cycles starting to shorten.An important regulatory development in H2 2018 was the new China Cross-Border ECommerce law of August 2018. The new law is in part intended to ensure Chinese consumers buying online from offshore are protected from counterfeit and receive the authentic product they intended to purchase. Opinions are mixed as to its likely impact but some believe it may still drive the adoption of anti-counterfeit and engagement solutions.Funding and Token Sale InitiativeFunding of $1.5m was received in Q4 2018 via a Convertible Note to a group of crypto token-related strategic investors. The note was approved by shareholders at an EGM held 30 October 2018.The Bracknor loan facility has been fully paid out and the relationship between the two parties has been finalised with a full release from any further obligations to Bracknor. It should be noted that Bracknor has held no YPB shares since October 2017.The YPB Token project has progressed during the quarter and our facilitators First Growth Funds have advised that listing is expected to occur in the March quarter. The Company will provide further details on the token project in the coming weeks.YPB expects to raise further capital in the current quarter. Strategic investors with interest in industry-specific applications of YPB's solutions are being emphasised.YPB Executive Chairman John Houston said: "Over H2 2018 our revitalised team has achieved more behind-the-scenes commercial advances than were made over the prior three years and this progress will become increasingly apparent to shareholders through H1 2019. I am strongly confident that 2019 will finally prove the transformational year for YPB where conversion of opportunity into revenue and ultimately profitability will clearly advance the rebuilding of shareholder value and start to demonstrate the company's true potential."About YPB Group Ltd DEACTIVATED Groupon Inc.: "I'll be candid: I like Groupon and I have been wrong. I keep seeing real value here, so I'm not going to desert it, but it has not been a good one." Citigroup Inc.: "We only care where something's going, not where it's come from, and I've got to tell you, I think Citi is the cheapest of the bank stocks. It sells way through its tangible book [value]. They are going to continue to buy back stock. It has been disappointing, but it is inexpensive." Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust: "It's a Philadelphia outfit and [CEO] Joseph Coradino came on the show. I've got to talk to him again. We thought that they were through the worst of it and they don't seem to be. This is one where he's an honest, terrific guy, and I invite him to come back." Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: "I'm not recommending any automakers. Life's too short. It's just too hard. I've actually been saying a lot of positive things about Tesla. I hate it when the CFO quits, let alone quits a second time, but I've got to tell you, I thought that they actually had a decent quarter. But it's a balance sheet issue and I don't have the faith." Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.: "Quarter was OK. Knight-Swift's OK. I would actually prefer United Parcel [UPS] after that terrific quarter today, and they give you a good yield. And I think that they're back and they're big and I like them." WHEN: Today, Thursday, January 31, 2019 WHERE: CNBC's "Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer" The following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren and CNBC's Jim Cramer on CNBC's "Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer" (M-F 6PM 7PM) today, Thursday, January 31st. The following is a link to video from the interview on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/31/elizabeth-warren-reiterates-call-for-change-in-culture-at-wells-fargo.html. All references must be sourced to CNBC. JIM CRAMER: Senator Warren, thank you so much for coming back to "Mad Money." SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Oh, I'm glad to be here. JIM CRAMER: Okay. I want to start with-- we had Tim Sloan on last week, the CEO of Wells Fargo. And he talked about he feels, and I quote, that he's: 'The right person to run this company. And I believe that, 1) because I care deeply about the company. I've been there for 31 years. I know how the company operates. I've taken responsibility. I don't think you should be criticized for taking responsibility, acknowledging the mistakes.' Why is that a bad stance? SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Well, wait just a minute. Explain to me exactly how it is that he's taken responsibility? Let's just do a quick rundown, let me see if I can remember all the ways. He was part of that management team that enacted the policies that caused millions of customers to get cheated on fake accounts. Let's see. And then there was the scandal over adding car insurance and pet insurance and all kinds of charges to customers' accounts, putting people into default. Oh, and then there was the fact that Wells Fargo targeted communities of color for the worst mortgages, costing we don't know how many people their homes. Let's see. And-- what else was-- oh, I remember. And then there's this latest piece that comes out that Wells Fargo markets itself to colleges and universities to use their credit card as an exclusive offering to students. And Wells Fargo charges about three times as much as every other bank that's doing the same sort of thing. In other words, Wells Fargo has had a longstanding policy of scamming, squeezing, and cheating its customers. Tim Sloan has been right at the heart of that. And he wants to keep right on running Wells Fargo. Look, the central problem at Wells Fargo is they need a change in culture. I'm not the only one who's said that; their own regulators have said it, people on the street have said it. You don't get a change in culture by having the same guy who had his finger in every single scandal still running the place. JIM CRAMER: But Senator, the Sherman & Sterling Outside Directors Report -- 110 pages, it's pretty thorough -- did indicate that he was not implicated and did not directly have anything to do with the cross-sell. Do you think the report was a whitewash? SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: So let me just do both halves. They pick one scandal and say, 'Gee, we don't think he was directly implicated.' I'm sorry, he was part of the management team. This was a massive fraud. So whether his participation was simply to cover up his ears, or cover up the evidence that he knew what was going on, either way, he should be pitched out. JIM CRAMER: Now, Janet Yellen, who was a terrific Fed chairwoman, had a long, long time to look at this, and she decided to sanction the bank. But she did not feel that Mr. Sloan should be fired. I wonder if you think that Janet Yellen and-- she was the regulator, and Jay Powell, current regulator, didn't do their job here. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Look, my view is: if you really wanna see change, when a financial institution, especially one of these giants, behaves so badly, so consistently, so many different times, then the time has come, Jim, to start holding the executives accountable. You know, just imposing a fine on Wells Fargo? You and I both know who pays for that: the shareholders-- JIM CRAMER: Shareholders. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Right? Until you start saying, 'You personally, Buster, your rear end is now in the crack,' we're not gonna get any change. So my view is: he should be pushed out because that's the signal that should be sent, not only to all the other executives of Wells Fargo, but the executives of the other giant financial institutions who, you know, are kind of on the sidelines, deciding whether they're going to cover their ears next time something looks not quite right-- JIM CRAMER: All right-- SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: --in their organizations. JIM CRAMER: Fair enough. Well, I have to tell you, Senator, you have also been in the news lately about billionaires. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Yep. JIM CRAMER: You have said, and I just quote'Billionaires like Howard Schultz and Michael Bloomberg,' who by the way thinks that your proposal for ultra-millionaires is something that they would do in Venezuela'want to keep a rigged system in place that benefits only them' SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Yep. JIM CRAMER: '--and their buddies.' Now, Howard Schultz created an institution that has given-- that's put food on the table for 300,000 people and offered a chance for baristas to go to college. Michael Bloomberg, I think you have to agree, has done more for higher education, in terms of trying to get people who are not wealthy into these schools. These are two paragons of Elizabeth Warren's view. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: And that's great. But here's the deal: they made a bazillion dollars. And now the question is, do they have to pay a little portion of that to make sure that we're reinvesting so the next kid gets a chance, and the next kid gets a chance, and the next kid gets a chance? You know, that's basically how the system is supposed to operate. Not-- not just because sometimes gives as a matter of charity, but because that is your obligation. That's part of the social contract. That's part of being a citizen of the United States of America. When you make it big, when you get so much from this country, then you got to take a little piece of that and you've got to put it back in so that we can build a strong education system, Pre-K through college, for all of our kids. JIM CRAMER: Well, how about -- SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: So that we can build that infrastructure. JIM CRAMER: But how about those who have taken the pledge, so to speak, to give half their wealth? Should we just perhaps-- maybe you craft legislation that says that money should go to make it so more poor people can go to school? SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: No. No, come on, Jim, you're starting at the wrong end of the-- of the deal. The thing about taxes is everybody who is an ultra-millionaire has to pay a portion. Not just those who sign up, not just those who wave their hands and say, 'I'll do it as long as it goes to the particular charity I like.' Good for them on their charitable works. But every single one of the ultra-millionaires, that thinnest one tenth of 1% slice at the top, they've got to take, in my view, 2%, that's not unreasonable, to say, 'You're gonna put that back into the kitty to reinvest for childcare, to reinvest to bring down the student loan debt burden, to reinvest in a Green New Deal, to reinvest in a future for all of America.' JIM CRAMER: Okay, so we want to go with Michael Bloomberg, again, a man I know you admire. He says, when asked about the wealth tax, 'It's probably unconstitutional. And there's an example to avoid for anyone favoring radical redistribution,' what is what he calls it, 'it's called Venezuela.' He almost sounds like that you are-- take-- making a war against so-called oligarchs in Russia. I know you're a capitalist. I know you're not declaring war against billionaires. How do we reconcile this? SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Look, all I can say is we've watched Michael Bloomberg, we have watched billionaires stand up and say, 'Look, I wanna run for president. And one of the first planks in my plan is going to be no new taxes for billionaires.' Look, all I'm asking for is a little slice from the tippy, tippy top. A slice that would raise-- and this is the shocking part, Jim-- about $2.75 trillion over the next ten years. That's money we need so that every kid in this country has a decent childcare opportunity, has an opportunity for Pre-K, has an opportunity for a decent school. All we're asking is when you make it that big, put something back in. And we're asking for a little fairness in the system. You know that top one tenth of 1% this year, taxes all in, they're gonna pay about 3.2% of their total worth in taxes to help keep everything running around here. You know what the 99% is gonna pay this year? They're gonna pay about 7.2% of their wealth. That's more than twice as much. What I want is I want these billionaires to stop being freeloaders. I want them to pick up their fair share. That's how we make a system that works not just for the rich and the powerful but works for all of us. JIM CRAMER: Well, there you go. I wanna thank you for coming on, thank you for putting the other side to Tim Sloan, and of course fleshing out your plan which I know a lot of people do favor. I wanna thank you, Senator Elizabeth Warren, for coming on "Mad Money." SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Thank you, Jim. JIM CRAMER: "Mad Money" is back after the break. Diabetic teen equipped with glucose sensor and Freestyle Libre scanner which can just be flashed at the sensor on the back of arm to instantly measure blood sugar levels. BSIP | UIG | Getty Images Aaron Neinstein, MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and Director of Clinical Informatics at the UCSF Center for Digital Health Innovation. He's also a practicing endocrinologist. Let's start with a prediction: By 2025, everyone with diabetes will be tracking their blood sugar with devices called continuous glucose monitors, and it will be common for many people without diabetes to dabble in tracking, too. This may sound like a bold statement coming from an endocrinologist (we're the specialists who manage diabetes), but hear me out. In my practice, I primarily treat people with diabetes, and over the years, technology to help manage the disease has made remarkable strides. People with diabetes now have alternatives to pricking their fingers with a sharp needle to measure their blood glucose level multiple times per day. Early continuous glucose monitoring systems the first was released in 1999 by the medical device maker Medtronic while helpful in some cases, were not widely used because they were painful to insert, bulky, inaccurate, very expensive and still required many calibrations every day with fingersticks. The technology has improved dramatically. Two of the newest devices, the Dexcom G6 and Abbott Freestyle Libre , no longer require fingerstick calibrations, are FDA-approved for people to make insulin-dosing decisions, and are much easier to insert. Anybody who has ever done a fingerstick blood glucose knows that it hurts. Inserting a device instead is much less painful than a fingerstick, and the needlestick happens much less frequently. Both devices transmit glucose levels to a smartphone, either wirelessly and continuously, or with a wave of a smartphone over the sensor. Accordingly, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use has increased in Americans with type 1 diabetes, from 6 percent in 2011 to 38 percent in 2018. I expect these technologies to continue to get even better they will get smaller, more accurate, and even smarter as better algorithms are developed and collaborations from between the device companies and tech companies like Alphabet or Apple. This is a positive trend. For the approximately 1.5 million Americans with type 1 diabetes, CGM has moved far beyond novelty and should represent standard of care. But, I believe CGM has much larger potential. That includes people with type 2 diabetes (approximately 30 million American adults), the even larger group with pre-diabetes (approximately 81 million American adults), and potentially almost anybody. Feedback is powerful I recently saw a 70-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes and heart disease who takes a medication known as metformin to manage his condition, but he has resisted making any changes to his diet. When he saw his own data from a glucose monitor, with no explanation even needed from me, he immediately identified the daily morning spike in his blood glucose level, and also its source: His daily glass of orange juice and banana. If he had instead done a fingerprick, he wouldn't have been aware of these large glucose spikes. (I shared the data with his permission). Data that shows blood sugar spikes Aaron Neinstein The patient then cut these items from his diet and reported an immediate improvement in his blood sugar levels. Another patient case is a 37-year-old man without diabetes. He noticed, by wearing a continuous glucose monitor for a while, that a particular soup from a particular hospital cafe caused a surprisingly sustained elevation in glucose. I can report that this person has taken this feedback seriously, because this person is well me. Do I have diabetes? No. But I decided to wear the device to both to help me understand the experiences of my patients (which I embarrassingly chronicled here in 2012), and because I have a history of borderline high cholesterol. Between my cholesterol levels and these data, I decided that my metabolism and insulin resistance levels were likely putting me at higher risk for heart disease, so I immediately made substantial changes in my diet. Looking at blood sugar trends with a continuous glucose monitor. Aaron Neinstein These two examples show how immediate feedback is powerful. And this applies even for people who do not have diabetes but may have risk factors for diabetes, such as being overweight, or having a family history of the disease. There is no proven benefit to everyone using a continuous blood sugar tracker all the time but, I think we will soon discover that many people can benefit from using it at least for a short period. As in the examples above, people can quickly gain valuable insights on the health impacts of lifestyle choices, including food, stress levels, sleep amounts, and activity levels. So what do we need next? now it's time: Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Ensemble Presents Four World Premieres in All Female Composer Concert February 01, 2019 The Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Ensemble's next concert will feature five outstanding composers who happen to be women. The ensemble, directed by Daniel Nesta Curtis, will perform four world premieres: "Little boy blue" by alumna Annika Socolofsky, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2012; "Everything Flows" by Professor of Composition Nancy Galbraith; "stacked emotions" for chamber ensemble by alumna Binna Kim, who graduated with a master's degree in 2012; and "Songs of Strength" by Professor of Theory and Composition Marilyn Taft Thomas. The concert also features "The Vermeer Room" by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe and will take place at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16 at the historic Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh. "Little boy blue," is the second movement of "Don't Say a Word," by Socolofsky. Calling the movements "feminist rager lullabies," she rewrites nursery rhymes to share messages she wished she heard at a young age. "Seeing yourself represented in the field you want to be in is an extremely powerful message." Annika Socolofsky The title of the concert "now it's time," comes from Socolofsky's lyrics: "Hush now, baby. Don't say a word. Now it's time for the women's turn." "Not only is it time for the women's turn, the world of classical music to needs to hear from all new voices: from women of color, people of color, trans and nonbinary composers," Socolofsky said. Nancy Galbraith's percussion concerto, "Everything Flows" is her fifth concerto that CMU has premiered and was written for Abigail Langhorst, who graduated in 2018 with a master's degree in percussion. Langhorst will perform the work with the ensemble. A fan of all genres of music, Galbraith's concerto was inspired by styles ranging from rock 'n' roll to gamelan, traditional music from Indonesia. "[The piece] goes from western to eastern, from in-your-face to very serene and ethereal, but it flows everything flows," Galbraith said. In five movements, Kim's "stacked emotions" unfolds as a series of waves where emotional intensity bubbles over before being reined in. Thomas's song cycle "Songs of Strength," was composed in honor of long-time CMU Voice Professor Mildred Miller Posvar. It is a setting of poems by Maya Angelou, performed by mezzo-soprano Hannah Shea, who graduated in 2018. "The text of the song cycle brings the ideas and themes of the concert out in a powerful way," Curtis said. The concert sparks a larger conversation about the experience of women composers in the classical music world today. Why do female composers continue to face a glass ceiling? Galbraith said that it is due in part to networking. Conductors and others who are able to give platform to emerging composers are overwhelmingly male, and therefore tend to raise up other young men. Socolofsky and her colleagues recognize the importance of mentorship and networking, "If I'm offered an opportunity that I can't take, I always try to pass it on to someone whose voice needs to be heard," Socolofsky said. Her first composition professor at CMU was Thomas, and she took classes with Galbraith. "To have these amazing women as mentors meant that, even though I was one of very few women in the program, I never felt out of place," Socolofsky said. "Seeing yourself represented in the field you want to be in is an extremely powerful message." Another large part is the programming and commissioning decisions of orchestras, festivals and other institutions. Curtis said he sees it as an imperative to create programming which is a direct representation of the human experience. "These changes often start in places like universities" Curtis said, "and our responsibility is greater, because we're educating the next generation." While nearly all of the Contemporary Ensemble concerts already feature composers who are women, "now it's time," came about naturally, and Curtis decided to celebrate it. "It's actually not difficult to program and perform the music of women composers," Curtis said, "I actually find it's difficult to exclude them." Four of the five composers are connected to CMU, either as faculty or alumnae. "Education is lifelong," Socolofsky said, "and having an institution who keeps caring and providing opportunities is wonderful." Following the concert there will be a reception and Q&A with composers and performers. Support for this concert and commissions comes from the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry and the Carnegie Mellon School of Music. Carnegie Mellon Hosts Activation of U.S. Army AI Task Force February 01, 2019 The United States Army is activating its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force at the birthplace of AI itself: Carnegie Mellon University. The activation, which will take place on February 1 at Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), augments the Army's long-standing commitment to modernization and future technology, while also strengthening its ties to fundamental research in academia. CMU is serving as the hub of the AI Task Force, which will eventually include other leading universities from across the country as well as engagement with the private sector. The Task Force will also leverage close coordination and extensive collaboration with the Army Research Lab and the Department of Defense's newly established Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. "The launch of this national network based at CMU represents an important effort for the United States Army and our nation," said Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian. "CMU looks forward to working closely with our partners to ensure this robust network of AI collaborators flourishes and benefits from the long-standing strengths in AI at Carnegie Mellon and the Pittsburgh region." AFC Commander General John Murray gives Brigadier General Matthew Easley the patch for the U.S. Army Futures Command. The AI Task Force will allow the Army to better connect with the broader AI community, which includes top-tier research universities and American companies. The technology they develop together will modernize processes used to equip and protect soldiers, enhance readiness and increase the Army's capabilities. "The activation of the Army's Artificial Intelligence Task Force is a critical step in modernizing the force to ensure future success," said Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. "Carnegie Mellon and the Pittsburgh area embody the spirit of hard work and innovation essential to shaping the Army of the future." The Task Force will be overseen by the newly-established Army's Futures Command (AFC). The AFC marks the most significant Army reorganization effort since 1973, when Forces Command and Training & Doctrine Command were established. The Task Force's initial priorities are for applications of artificial intelligence to equipment maintenance/logistics; situational awareness; and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. "The Army's AI Task Force is a good example of our commitment to capitalize on the spirit of American ingenuity found on today's colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon," said AFC Commander General John Murray. "Army Futures Command will posture the Army for the future by setting strategic direction, integrating the Army's future force modernization enterprise, aligning resources to priorities and maintaining accountability." Representatives from nearly a dozen universities will attend the activation ceremony as invited guests of the Army. They include Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn State University, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, Texas A&M University, University of Texas, Austin and the University of Texas System. Iowa State Sen. Chris Cournoyer, right, and Iowa State Sen. Jeff Danielson, introduce a resolution in the Iowa Senate formally honoring Clinton Fire Lt. Eric M. Hosette, who lost his life in service of others Jan. 5, and supporting firefighter Adam Cain, who is still recovering from his injuries. Photo courtesy of Iowa Sen. Craig Johnson via Facebook CLINTON [mdash] George E. Kunau, Jr. age 78 of Clinton, passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021 at his home. In following George's wishes cremation rites have been accorded. Private services will be held at a later date. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Ho Submit a letter to the editor The CJN provides an open forum for reader feedback and comments. Letters to the editor can be submitted via the form linked below, e-mailed to editorial@cjn.org or mailed to Letters, CJN, 23880 Commerce Park, Beachwood, Ohio 44122 (please type and double space, or write legibly). All submissions must include your full name, town of residency and daytime phone number (phone number will not be printed). Submit a letter Quarterly Activities Report - December 2018 Perth, Feb 1, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Potash Limited ( ASX:APC ) (APC or the Company) is pleased to provide shareholders with its Quarterly Activities Report for the period ended 31 December 2018.Highlights:Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash (SOP) Project (LWPP) - 100% Owned, Western Australia- 11 tonnes of potassium-rich salts harvested from Harvest Pond 1- 13 tonnes of potassium-rich salts crystallised in Harvest Pond 2- 3 tonnes of potassium-rich feeder salts delivered to Canning Vale pilot processing plant- 8 hole/1,086m air-core drilling program completed- Commitment to sealing an additional 100 kilometres of Great Central Road by Shire of Laverton- Agreement between APC and Shire of Laverton to scope the sealing of the remaining 80 kilometres of the Lake Wells SOP project's logistics solution- Post quarter end, high grade 98% SOP was producedLake Wells Gold Project (LWGP) - 100% Owned, Western Australia- Australian Potash Limited and St Barbara Limited ( ASX:SBM ) entered into a A$7M Earn In & Joint Venture Agreement covering tenure at the Lake Wells Gold Project- $1.25M cash payment received from SBMCorporate- Appointment of Automic as APC's shareholder registry services provider- Annual General Meeting held with all resolutions passedManaging Director and CEO, Matt Shackleton, commented: "Another exciting and progressive quarter for APC and the Lake Wells SOP project."While solar salt production is generally lowest-quartile on the cost curve, the cost of logistics can quickly erode that advantage. A sound, viable and cheap logistics solution is of paramount focus for APC. It was of material importance therefore to have the support of the local shire in not only committing to sealing an additional 100 kilometres of the 280 kilometre road haul to Leonora' rail terminal but to also agree to work with us on scoping out the sealing of the remaining 80 kilometres of access road."The pilot evaporation pond program on site concluded, with more than 20 tonnes of harvest salts produced. We sent the first 3 tonnes of these potassium rich salts to the pilot processing facility, where post-quarter end, our specialist salt chemist on secondment from Novopro produced a very high grade 53% SOP. A significant milestone for the Company and the Australian SOP sector."We finalised an agreement with St Barbara Limited to facilitate the exploration of the Lake Wells Gold project, which saw us not only receive A$1.25m but introduced one of Australia's most respected mid-tier gold producers and active explorers as a partner. APC's commitment and focus on the SOP can continue in the confidence that the gold exploration is being managed to the highest professional and technical levels."We very much look forward to 2019 and finalising the DFS into the development of the high-grade, low cost Lake Wells Potash project."To view the full report with tables and figures, please visit:About Australian Potash Ltd Australian Potash Limited (ASX:APC) is an ASX-listed Sulphate of Potash (SOP) developer. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Lake Wells Potash Project located approximately 500kms northeast of Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields. Following the release of a Scoping Study in 2017, APC has been conducting a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) into the development of the Lake Wells Potash Project. The Company is aiming to release the findings of the DFS in H2 2019. The Lake Wells Potash Project is a palaeochannel brine hosted sulphate of potash project. Palaeochannel bore fields supply large volumes of brine to many existing mining operations throughout Western Australia, and this technique is a well understood and proven method for extracting brine. APC will use this technically low-risk and commonly used brine extraction model to further develop a bore-field into the palaeochannel hosting the Lake Wells SOP resource. A Scoping Study on the Lake Wells Potash Project was completed and released on 23 March 2017. The Scoping Study exceeded expectations and confirmed that the Project's economic and technical aspects are all exceptionally strong, and highlights APC's potential to become a significant long-life, low capital and high margin sulphate of potash (SOP) producer. In our world of divisiveness, generally, most people can agree crime is bad. But what about hate crimes? We have all heard the loaded-phrase before, but many remain unclear about what elevates a seemingly regular crime into a hate crime? Two recent incidents reported on by the Clevel One month after we made aliyah more than 18 years ago, the second intifada broke out. The Palestinian uprising started with rock throwing and the entire five years of this daily hell was marked by more rock and firebomb throwing and moved on to shooting and suicide bombings. We were new immigrants. New to the language, new to the culture, and frankly, new to the violence. But one thing we learned pretty quickly: rocks kill. Rocks, stones and firebombs were the preferred method for intifada violence along Route 55, where my community of Karnei Shomron is located. Its also the road we must travel to get into the central Israel communities to visit doctors, go shopping and attend cultural events. I heard many stories from my neighbors of swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid flying rocks and of windshields cracked from the force of rocks. We all replaced our cars glass windows with shatterproof plastic ones paid for by the government and then had to replace them every couple of years because plastic scratches that become cloudy. But we reasoned, a small price to pay not to get killed by a rock thrown by a Palestinian rioter from the side of the road. Less than a year after we arrived, in June 2001, a rock thrown by Palestinian rioters crashed through the window of a car with Israeli license plates and crushed the skull of 5-month-old Yehuda Shoham, his parents only child. He never regained consciousness, was hooked up to a respirator and died of severe brain damage a week later. It took Adele Biton nearly two years to die after the car in which she was riding in March 2013 spun out of control and smashed into a truck when it was hit by rocks thrown by five Palestinian teenagers on Route 5 near the settlement of Yakir. The five teens, who had hit at least 20 cars that day, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison. Adele became a potent national symbol of the dangers that stones can cause, The New York Times wrote in a four-paragraph obituary in February 2015. Lets be clear about something. It is rare what is thrown can be called a stone, which conjures up images of something tiny and pebble-like. You can barely stretch your fingers around a good rock, something large enough to crash through a car window and smash someones skull. But the media constantly uses the term stone, and in many ways downplay the action of throwing them at cars, particularly cars with Israeli license plates traveling through the West Bank. These Palestinian teens are angry and all they are doing is throwing a few stones, the only weapon they have. In mid-October, a more than 4-pound rock smashed through the windshield of a car near the Tapuah junction in the northern West Bank and killed Aisha Mohammed Rabi, 47, a Palestinian mother of nine. More than two months later, five Jewish teens were arrested in connection with the rock-throwing attack and one was charged with manslaughter. The Israel Security Agency and the Israeli prosecutors seem pretty confident they have the Jewish teen who threw the rock that smashed Rabis skull and killed her. The boys parents, attorneys, rabbis and teachers from the Pri Haaretz Yeshiva high school in the West Bank settlement of Rehalim have stepped up to defend him, which makes sense. No one wants to see a young Jewish teen go to jail. But that is where he should go if a court finds him guilty. Since the teens were arrested, a few rabbis of note have written, mostly in the Shabbat journals that are delivered to our synagogue every week, that Jews should not throw rocks or tried to wake up people to the fact a person, a mother of nine children, was killed. But that is not good enough and I am disappointed with the leaders of what should be the religious and political camp that I subscribe to. They dont need to profess their opinion about whether the prime suspect in the Rabi murder is innocent or guilty. But they do need to be out there, front and center, publicly to all and not just their communities, loudly decrying civilian violence against Palestinians. They need to say that rocks kill Palestinians the same way they kill Jews. They need to say there is never an excuse to throw a rock at a person or at a car with Palestinian license plates. They need to say it over and over. Marcy Oster is a former Clevelander who covers the Middle East for the Cleveland Jewish News from Karnei Shomron, West Bank. To read more of Osters columns, visit cjn.org/oster. SOLON, Ohio -- OVI, SR 91: At 2:15 a.m. Jan. 26, an officer stopped a car that was being driven without activated headlights. When asked why his lights weren't turned on, the driver, a Solon man, 57, replied, "I'm in a hurry to visit my boss." The man was found to be intoxicated. He refused to take a breath test and his driver's license was immediately suspended. The driver had admitted to having "one or two beers earlier." When the man called his attorney, he learned that the line had been disconnected. Police charged the suspect with OVI and operating a vehicle without headlights. Theft, Portz Parkway: At 4:55 p.m. Jan. 24, a Solon man, 72, reported that his personal belongings, including his car keys, credit cards, cash and clothing, were stolen from a locker at the Solon Community Center, 35000 Portz Parkway. The man said he worked out for about 45 minutes and returned to find the items missing from the locker, which he had not locked. No fraudulent activity was found to have taken place on the credit cards, which the man had immediately canceled. OVI, SR 91: At 8:35 p.m. Jan. 26, an officer on patrol clocked a car as traveling 58 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed that the driver, a Solon man, 39, smelled of alcohol. The man admitted to having "four drinks." The man said he had a concealed weapons permit and a weapon in the glove box. The gun and ammunition were recovered. A small child was also in the car. The man failed field sobriety tests and was found to have a blood-alcohol content of .141, above the state minimum for drunk driving of .08. The child was released to a relative and the man taken to jail. He was charged with OVI, speeding, prohibited blood-alcohol content, child endangerment and possessing a weapon while intoxicated. Domestic violence, Park East Drive: On Jan. 27, police were called to an apartment to investigate a report of domestic violence involving a man and woman. At the scene, police found that their were two children in the room, and that both the man and woman admitted to having physical contact with the other as they argued. The man and woman were arrested and charged with domestic violence, and the children turned over to their grandmother. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Feb 1, 2019 | By Thomas Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of California, Berkeley have unveiled a 3D printer that creates an entire object at once, rather than building it layer by layer as typical additive-manufacturing devices do. Nicknamed the "replicator" by the inventors after the Star Trek device that can create any object on demand the 3D printer uses light to transform gooey liquids into complex solid objects in only a matter of minutes. In addition, it can create intricate objects that are smoother, more flexible and more complex than a traditional 3D printer. It does this by combining a standard projector and a rotating vial filled with a liquid that hardens when exposed to light. Researchers used new 3D printing technology to create a model of Rodin's 'The Thinker.' CREDIT: UC Berkeley photo by Stephen McNally "Basically, you've got an off-the-shelf video projector, which I literally brought in from home, and then you plug it into a laptop and use it to project a series of computed images, while a motor turns a cylinder that has a 3D-printing resin in it," said Hayden Taylor, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley and senior author of a paper describing the printer, which appears online yesterday (Jan. 31) in the journal Science. The new 3D printer was inspired by medicines Computed Tomography, where X-rays are projected into the body from all different angles to reveal the geometry of bones or tissues. Researchers reversed that principle - rather than measuring an object, they created one. The 'Replicator' 3D printer. (UC Berkeley photo by Hayden Taylor) Called Computed Axial Lithography (CAL), the process starts with a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model. Researchers use projected photons to illuminate the syrup-like resin, creating a continuously shifting video of projections as the vial rotates. The projection is calculated at each angle, researchers run an optimization algorithm and the result is a series of images that appears as a rotating video projection that can be played at a rate adjusted to the rotation of the resin vial. Like a CT scan done in reverse, the projections combine to form a 3D object that is suspended in the resin. After several minutes, the 3D structure appears, the researchers stop the exposure and drain the uncured liquid, leaving only the finished product. By using a projector instead of multiple laser beams the researchers demonstrated they could shine 1,440 different projections (four beams per degree in 3D space) into the resin as it rotates. The researchers formulated a thick, syrupy liquid that hardens into a solid when exposed to a certain threshold of light. (UC Berkeley photo by Stephen McNally) The 3D-printing resin is composed of liquid polymers mixed with photosensitive molecules and dissolved oxygen. Light activates the photosensitive compound which depletes the oxygen. Only in those 3D regions where all the oxygen has been used up do the polymers form the "cross-links" that transform the resin from a liquid to a solid. Unused resin can be recycled by heating it up in an oxygen atmosphere, Taylor said. So far, the team has created a number of different objects using the new printer, from a tiny model of Rodin's "The Thinker" statue to a customized jawbone model. Currently, they can make objects up to four inches in diameter. "This is the first case where we don't need to build up custom 3D parts layer by layer," said Brett Kelly, co-first author on the paper who completed the work while a graduate student working jointly at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "It makes 3D printing truly three-dimensional." The technology has the potential to transform how products from prosthetics to eyeglass lenses are designed and manufactured, the researchers say. Importantly, it can also encase an already existing object with new materials. For instance, researchers placed a screwdriver shaft within the resin, then used their 3D printer to fabricate a handle. UC Berkeley researchers used a new light-based 3D printing technique to add a handle onto a screwdriver shaft. (UC Berkeley photo by Stephen McNally) I think this is a route to being able to mass-customize objects even more, whether they are prosthetics or running shoes, said Taylor. The fact that you could take a metallic component or something from another manufacturing process and add on customizable geometry, I think that may change the way products are designed. Watch the video below that describes 3D printing with light: Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts and as a part of African American History Month, Shaker Library has a full slate of programs planned for February. Throughout the month, the library joins with the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning and 10 other libraries and cultural institutions in the "NEA Big Read." This year's NEA Big Read book is "Citizen: An American Lyric," by Jamaican-born author Claudia Rankine, which exposes modern American racism with poetry, commentary and visual art. "The NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book," library spokeswoman Margaret Simon said in a press release. On the goal of inspiring conversation and discovery by reading the book and discussing it with others, Simon recommended attending one of all of the provocative programs offered by the Shaker Library. The events kick off Saturday (Feb. 2) from 2-3 p.m. with an NEA Big Read book discussion of "Citizen" at the Bertram Woods Branch, hosted by Cleveland State Associate English professor Adrienne Gosselin. Copies of "Citizen" will be available at the Bertram Woods Circulation desk. Then from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 9 and 10, the main library will host "Hoodie: Between Black & White," a multi-media presentation that explores themes from Rankine's "Citizen." "On the cover of her book, the hoodie acts as a symbol -- the perceived stereotype that the wearer has to be suspect or dangerous, or both," the press release states. "The performance will be utilized as a springboard to promote awareness and understanding." Directed by Moreland resident Monica Boone, the local community theater group Rising Phoenix will explore themes of race and racism through poetry, drama, music, video, and the visual arts. A discussion with the actors will follow the performance. "Utilizing Rankine's book, the 2019 Black History Month theatrical performance will examine 'microaggressions,' which are everyday verbal, nonverbal slights, snubs, or insults," a separate press release states. Throughout the rest of the month, beginning on Monday (Feb. 4) the main library will also present an African-American Quilt & Doll Guild exhibit, "Conscience of the Human Spirit: Honoring the Life of Nelson Mandela." As the world mourned the passing of its most revered champions of human rights in 2013, quilt artists of South Africa, along with the Women of Color Network of the United States subsequently contributed their work to an exhibit honoring Mandela. From there, 14 members of the African-American Quilt & Doll Guild traveled to South Africa to participate in the celebration honoring this leader and champion of humanity. On display in the Shaker Main Library through March 4 are some of the quilts which have traveled in Africa and other parts of the world. Then on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m., the Main Library will also host "Represent: A Brief History of Self-Representation by African-American Artists," an hourlong program hosted by independent scholar, art dealer and collector David Lusenhop. Lusenhop highlights the work of African-American artists from the turn of the last century through the Harlem Renaissance to today. "They began creating art to celebrate their history, an art meant to counter the racist stereotypes that dominated American mainstream culture," Lusenhop added in the press release. "Their mission was, and is, to reclaim and re-imagine the Black body and the Black image," Lusenhop noted. Then Shaker Heights High School's Student Group on Race Relations (SGORR) will present "Microaggressions: A Community Conversation," from 7-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the main library. Adults and teens are invited to a further respectful discussion about what the word "microaggressions" means," how people are impacted and what can be done differently. "Whether intentional or unintentional, microaggressions communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target people based solely upon their marginalized group membership," organizers stated. For a list of programs offered at Shaker Library, visit NEA Big Read Shaker. For a complete list of programs throughout Cuyahoga County, visit BigReadCle.com CRESCO, Iowa Ohio Sen. Sherrod Browns first foray into Iowa wasnt the biggest political event in the world, but it was never designed to be. Brown, a Democrat, kicked off his early-state tour Wednesday as he continues to flirt with the idea of running for president. On a sub-zero Thursday night at the Cresco Area Chamber of Commerce, nestled in the room that houses the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, Brown made his Iowa debut. Around 40 people showed up to the meet and greet, even with the wind chill in the negative-20s. About as many members of the media showed up to cover the newest member of the Democratic presidential primary carousel of candidates. Despite Browns lack of a national profile unlike some of the other candidates already in the race, the crowd was relatively aware of who the Ohio senator was, even though he has yet to officially declare he is running. Ive been sort of following him the last month and just sort of feel of the candidates out. Hes the one Democratic candidate who can really appeal to a lot of people in the Midwest and the key battleground states that need to be won, said Mark Rhodes, a 43-year-old high school social studies teacher from nearby Decorah, a liberal enclave and the home of Luther College. Browns recent exploration of running for higher office came after he won re-election to a third term in 2018, feeling he could take the liberal economic message, which he calls the dignity of work, that hes run on for four decades to the rest of the country. Any hope he has of winning the presidency hinges on a successful outing in Iowa. The big problem: not many people outside of Ohio know who he is. Over the past three months, Brown has pounded his message of the dignity of work, and it looked like it was paying off in Cresco. Britt Rhodes, a 44-year-old social worker, and Laura Wright, a 40-year-old pastor, both said Browns signature phrase intrigued them. I heard his phrase the dignity of work and it seemed like a valuable way to talk about something positive rather than, Hey, we hate the one percent, Wright said. What are we going to do positively for those who are workers, especially in Howard County where youre in the one place in this county with union workers? Vicki Price, a 64-year-old musician from Decorah, said before Brown spoke she was also attracted to the idea of the dignity of work. I like it because our communities are dying. A lot of the work now available is low-paying, no union, no benefits, Price said. The country is really taking a bad attitude towards workers. By 6:20 p.m., it was time for Brown and journalist Connie Schultz, his wife, to meet the crowd. Schultz, who is famous in her own right, came out to some applause before introducing the senator. To Ohioans, Browns speech would have been familiar. Hes been giving it for the past 20 years, including during his launch Wednesday night in Brunswick, Ohio. Only this time, he gave it in presidential campaign attire a pullover fleece and khakis instead of the plain suits he usually wears. As always, his patented canary pin was attached in full view. After his spiel came the real test for the almost-candidate: questions from the crowd. Iowa voters notoriously take their first-in-the-nation caucus very seriously and come prepared to events like Browns with specific questions, expecting more in-depth answers than is typical of campaigns. Brown answered the questions, even those with intense specificity, though he sometimes reverted back to his campaign themes rather than get too far into the weeds. I think there will be a little more meat on the bones as he travels, said Rhodes, who asked about the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act the welfare reform act passed in the 1990s by name. Brown responded with some of his platform like increasing the minimum wage. Those in the crowd were at the very least intrigued and even enthused by a possible Brown candidacy. Hes down to earth and easy to talk to, Wright said. Hes willing to listen, curious, has answers but asks questions. Thats good news for Browns to-be-announced candidacy. Wright, Rhodes and the rest of the people in Cresco are exactly the kind of voters Brown will need to have any shot at emerging victorious in the Iowa caucus next year. Brown has made it clear that areas like Cresco rural, but with a union presence like at the Donaldson filter factory are the voters he wants to hear from on this trip. His visit to the birthplace of famed wrestler Dan Gable and Nobel Peace Prize-winning agriculturist Norman Borlaug was also symbolic. Cresco, a town of just more than 3,000, is in Howard County, the county that swung the most from supporting President Barack Obama in 2012 to supporting Republican President Donald Trump in 2016. During a media gaggle following the event, Brown said he saw a lot of similarities between Ohio, which Trump won by 8-percentage points, and Iowa. The two states have a whole lot in common beyond four letters, three vowels, lots of corn and sort of square looking states, Brown said. And what people call both states, flyover country, which is pretty insulting. He said areas like Cresco are primed to abandon the president. They are increasingly seeing that Trump betrayed them, he said. They are seeing that Trump doesnt care about workers, whether its a Donaldson worker in Howard County or a UAW General Motors worker in Lordstown. Laura Hubka, chairwoman of the Howard County Democrats, said Brown could be competitive in places like Howard County and Iowa at large. He just has to let people know who he is. His name recognition, people can say its a funny name. But Barack Obama had a funny name. Former state Sen. Shirley Smith, a Cleveland Democrat who resigned from the Ohio Parole Board late last year, has gone public with accusations that the board is secretive, unfair and inconsistent in its decisions. Smith, once chair of the legislature's Correctional Institution Inspection Committee, was appointed to the board in 2015 by Gary Mohr, then-director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). In a recent interview with cleveland.com's Jeremy Pelzer, Smith said the understaffed Parole Board often gives short shrift to inmates seeking parole. With many of their meetings not open to the public, she said members are often distracted by eating or other tasks. She also accused the board of being "harsher and stricter with people of color." Shockingly, an ODRC spokeswoman offered no response to a number of Smith's concerns while responding to some of them for Pelzer's story. In July, August and September 2018, the Parole Board held 350 hearings to consider an inmate for parole; 15 percent of those inmates were granted parole. Fully opening and live-streaming board meetings to the public, fully staffing the board and including more board members of varying backgrounds could go a long way to addressing problems that Smith cites. Making all Parole Board meetings public may require a change in state law. Ohio's nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission says parole hearings "conducted at a correctional institution solely for the purpose of interviewing inmates to determine parole or pardon" are exempt from the state open-meetings law. Then, there are too few Parole Board members. Ohio law authorizes the Parole Board to have up to 12 members, but it only has eight now - one-third fewer than its legally authorized strength. Yet the pay is not paltry. ODRC says Parole Board members are paid $95,000 to $108,000 per year, with the chair's salary set at $114,000. At that rate of pay, Ohioans have a right to expect full diligence from every board member. Beyond the need for a full board roster is the matter of board members' backgrounds. As state law requires, one board member is appointed to represent crime victims. Of the current board's seven remaining members, three were at some point parole officers; one was a correctional officer, later a warden; and three worked for ODRC in other capacities. Clearly more diversity of background is needed. Smith said the board also needs more expertise in mental health and the behavioral sciences. To maximize the panel's effectiveness in communicating with prospective parolees, the Parole Board also needs more African-American members. According to ODRC data, Ohio's prisons housed 48,954 inmates in January; 45.1 percent were African-American. Smith, who is African-American, told the editorial board that when she resigned, two of the remaining Parole Board members were African-American. Because fairness is the key test for any parole agency, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and new Gov. Mike DeWine to whom it answers, needs to address the concerns Smith raises. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. * Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the "Follow" option at the top of the comments, & look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. CINCINNATI -- The Doomsday Clock is two minutes to midnight, a warning to take action to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons. President Donald Trump needs to realize this, and he could learn a lot from the late former President George H.W. Bush, who made disarmament a priority. Last week, the annual announcement of the Doomsday Clocks setting was made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It remains at two minutes to midnight, which is the closest it has ever been. The greater the danger of nukes, the closer the clock ticks to midnight. Last year and in 1953, during the Cold War, it was also two minutes to midnight. The Bulletin warned that the worlds nuclear nations proceeded with programs of nuclear modernization that are all but indistinguishable from a worldwide arms race, and the military doctrines of Russia and the United States have increasingly eroded the long-held taboo against the use of nuclear weapons. William Lambers writes frequently from Cincinnati on nuclear disarmament. The problem is that Trump has no vision for eliminating nukes. He is not willing to fight for this noble goal of a better world. The late President Bush did believe in disarmament and took action. Trump should learn from Bush and carry on his disarmament program until we can get to zero nukes. The late President Bush was vice president as Ronald Reagan proposed the elimination of all nuclear weapons. This was during the Cold War years of the 80s when the Soviet and U.S. nuclear arsenals were in the tens of thousands each. With weapons technology dangerously escalating, something had to be done to avoid a nuclear holocaust. Reagans summit meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev started negotiations on reducing nuclear arms. When Bush succeeded Reagan in 1989, he took the baton and finished the largest of these potential agreements, the START I Treaty. This landmark pact signed on July 31, 1991 reduced strategic long-range nuclear warheads of both the U.S.S.R. and the United States down to 6,000 each. At the signing of the treaty in Moscow, President Bush exclaimed In a historic first for arms control, we will actually reduce U.S. and Soviet strategic nuclear arsenals. Bush added to Gorbachev that, by reducing arms, we reverse a half century of steadily growing strategic arsenals. But more than that, we take a significant step forward in dispelling a half century of mistrust. By building trust, we pave a path to peace. President Bush subsequently withdrew nuclear tactical (artillery-fired) weapons from foreign countries, hoping Gorbachev and the Soviet Union would follow. In a televised Sept. 28, 1991 address to the nation, Bush said: Recognizing further the major changes in the international military landscape, the United States will withdraw all tactical nuclear weapons there is every reason for the Soviet Union to match our actions. They did. Diplomat James E. Goodby wrote, these actions by Bush and Gorbachev prevented a disaster as the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union presented the risk of loose nukes. Getting the tactical weapons out of action was critical nuclear security. Some of the withdrawn tactical weapons were destroyed, thus further reducing nuclear arsenals. Bush was inviting Russia to shed the heavy burden of a dangerous and costly nuclear arsenal which has threatened world peace for the past five decades." President George H. W. Bush also achieved reductions with Russia on chemical weapons and limiting nuclear weapons testing. And Bush revived Dwight Eisenhowers idea of open skies aerial inspection over both Russian and U.S. soil. This led to the 1992 Open Skies Treaty involving the United States, Russia, Canada and European nations which helped to build cooperation in the post-Cold War era. American and Russian military officers would work together on these inspection flights. The Korean Peninsula today could benefit from Open Skies flights as a confidence-building measure toward disarmament. Many of Bushs accomplishments in disarmament are not well-known. U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who took part in many of the negotiations, told Goodby: We have negotiated the greatest disarmament program in history and it isnt even on the radar screen of the American people. Despite the significant process achieved during the Bush years and efforts by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, there are still 15,000 nukes worldwide. The journey of nuclear disarmament has still miles to go. But the momentum of nuclear disarmament that was present under Bush is nonexistent now. We need to get it back before its too late. The clock is ticking. We must continue negotiations with Russia on reducing nuclear arms with more START treaties. We should save the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty that eliminates short- and medium-range missiles on both sides. We should preserve the nuclear deal with Iran to prevent an arms race in the Middle East. We need to finally ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and secure agreements with North Korea, China, India and Pakistan. President George H. W. Bush gave future generations a solid disarmament platform to build from. Trump has to take the baton and build more treaties reducing the nuclear threat. The Doomsday Clock has given its warning. Its time for action. William Lambers of Cincinnati, who writes frequently on nuclear disarmament, is the author of 'Open Skies' for Peace. *************** Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio The Ohio House laid off a number of legislative aides late Friday afternoon, citing a desire to save money and streamline office support functions. Seven positions in all were eliminated. All the positions were floaters who were not permanently assigned to a specific legislator, said Gail Crawley, a spokeswoman for Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, in a statement. Floaters help where needed. One of the aides laid off was Marissa Reyes, who spoke with cleveland.com earlier this week about alleged racist comments made to her by staff and lawmakers. Reyes said she was given no severance. I think its very interesting that a few of us floaters have complaints against Householder-aligned individuals," she said. "It was an opportunity for them to get rid of the people who are outspoken, who they know wont put up with their behavior. Reyes said she became a floater after working for Rep. Scott Wiggam. She claimed Wiggam and other staff made racist comments to her, which Wiggam denied. Reyes said she participated in a probe that she thought was going to look into the culture in the Ohio House but instead focused on one coworker. The unidentified coworker was cleared of violating the law, discrimination, harassment and creating a hostile work environment. But he was counseled as to how his comments would be perceived by others and given a written warning that went into his file. Crawley, the spokeswoman for Householder, said the decision to eliminate the jobs was not retaliation against Reyes. It will save more than $350,000 a year. Affected employees have the opportunity to apply for future openings, she said. While the elimination of the jobs may save money, Householder is spending money as well. He is hiring a human resources professional to assist with personnel matters, which have for years been carried out by legislative attorneys and staff. Householder appointed four lawmakers to a bipartisan committee, which will meet for the first time next week to help him define the role. Then it will be advertised. The committee will vet candidates, Householder said. Householder, who sat with reporters Friday for a question-and-answer meeting, said that in one-on-one discussions with each Republican in the House, hed learned what he had already suspected: that respect was absent in the chamber. I will not tolerate the behavior that I have seen over the last couple of years in this building, Householder said, describing the House as having become a bit of a circus. When asked to expound, he didnt mention the recent history of racism and sexual harassment complaints but said that peoples attitudes were too lax. In addition to the HR professional, Householder said that many of the new staffers he has hired many of former Speaker Ryan Smiths staff are gone -- are seasoned professionals. Under Smith and former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, legislative staffers were younger. But its not clear whether Householder is paying his staff more. Reyes, meantime, said shes going to focus on her health. There has not been a day I have not cried to and from work in the past six months," she said. The first time I saw Miss Saigon at Playhouse Square, Alanis Morissettes Jagged Little Pill was on tight rotation on my car stereo (it was 1996, after all). What I remember most about the show is running out of tissues, and the roar and the wind of the helicopter blades as a real chopper appeared to land onstage. The details of the story the doomed romance between Kim, an orphaned teenager, and Chris, a hunky GI faded fast. But plot was a secondary concern. It was the age of the megamusical, and Id come for the spectacle. This time around, it will be the casualties of the Vietnam War Ill remember, among them the bar girls of Dreamland, a sleazy club where drinks and women come cheap. They are introduced in an explicit opening number, The Heat Is On, where they are bent over tables, bounced on laps or seen on their knees, ever groped and pawed by drunk U.S. servicemen. Director Laurence Connor aimed to deliver a grittier, more true-to-life Miss Saigon, and these raw, uncomfortable moments a thong slip away from parents making for the exits, preteens in tow more than prove hes done it. Gigi (Christine Bunuan), a veteran of the joint, asks a soldier to take her to America with him. Id make you a good wife, she says. Hes revolted by the suggestion and brutally tosses her aside. She answers, poignantly, with The Movie in My Mind, a fantasy of escape that plays in her head when shes in a strong GIs embrace. He takes me to New York He gives me dollar bills Our children laugh all day And eat too much ice cream And life is like a dream The dream I long to find The movie in my mind The potent Bunuan is joined by a chorus of bar girls, positioned on stairs and landings above her. Their faces are pinpointed by spotlights and shine in the dark like paper lanterns, as though their very longing was illuminating them from the inside. The women of the ensemble are powerfully good they offer more than simple titillation. We see in their smiles and come-ons a world-weariness they cant quite disguise. Into this hellscape comes 17-year-old Kim (Emily Bautista). Her family was killed before her eyes during an attack on her village, forcing her to take a job at Dreamland to survive. She is a particularly delectable dish on the menu, announces The Engineer (Red Concepcion), the opportunistic pimp who runs the bar: Men will pay top dollar for a virgin. Even Kims costume a demure long dress, a stark contrast to the fishnets and bikinis that surround her is unspoiled white. Its here she meets Chris, played by Anthony Festa, who sings with passion and exudes a good-hearted openness we like to associate with being American, even in the age of walls and government shutdowns. Hes the sort of guy who would pull over to help you change a tire in the rain. When they sing The Last Night of the World a duet that perfectly captures the heady, crazy strains of young love its thrilling. (For me, the number has always been the most memorable in a score that doesnt quite stick to the ribs the way the songs in Les Miserables, the composers earlier hit, do.) But this 21st-century iteration of Miss Saigon isnt about Chris, and its not about The Engineer, despite an effectively reptilian portrayal by Concepcion, right down to his red snakeskin-patterned pants. In the demented, Vegas-style showstopper American Dream, he lusts for a visa to earn a shot at the capitalistic riches he is sure await him in the United States. As The Engineer hoofs it with a feather-bedecked chorus line, the disembodied head of the Statue of Liberty, her mouth suggestively agape, disgorges a white Cadillac, complete with a busty blonde, wrapped in fur, in the back seat. He mounts the car and grinds his hips into the hood, pretending to ravish the old-school symbol of American wealth and prosperity. Hes a naughty scene-stealer, but this is Kims story. We often see her, motionless, center stage, bathed in light, as people move around her. Despite his best intentions, Chris leaves her behind as Saigon falls. Her fight to live to see him again is the life blood of the production. Bautista gracefully carries the narrative weight. She wins us over with Kims joy at having found a love and, she thinks, a savior in Chris. Then, she breaks our hearts with her hard evolution, three years later, into a desperate, even dangerous, woman. The country is now controlled by communist forces, and women, like Kim, who had consorted with the enemy are seen as traitors. Although Chris didnt know it, Kim was pregnant when he left her. Their child, like so many, was conceived in hell, born in strife, as the lyrics to Bui Doi explain. The songs title refers to the children of Vietnamese mothers and American fathers, such as Kims fictional son, Tam. (Tyler Dunn, one of four darlings alternating the role, has perfected the art of remaining perfectly still while being sung at and slung around like a sack of potatoes. He earned the loudest applause at Wednesdays curtain call.) We see the bui doi in searing documentary footage at the top of Act 2, and its one of the few, brief times the musical ventures into politics. They are the living reminder of all the good we failed to do, sings a chorus of absent daddies. Those children are also a reminder of something else the sexual exploitation of Vietnamese women by American forces and men like The Engineer. Its the same story, repeated the world over, in conflicts past and present, from the endless strife in war-torn Congo to fresh outrages in Yemen and Syria. Chris learns he has fathered a son and that Kim and the boy are living as refugees in Bangkok. While Kim has stubbornly held onto her love for her vanished GI as if it were a burning coal in her hand, Chris has moved on with his life and married the preternaturally patient Ellen (Stacie Bono). Is there a more unfairly reviled character in modern musical theater history? Even though we should blame Chris, its Ellen we inevitably see as the impediment to Kims happiness in America, a bucolic Disneyland where she and Chris would feed Tam ice cream and laugh all day. I admire the efforts of Maybe, a new song for Ellen from Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg to make Ellen more sympathetic. (Wish it had.) Chris and Ellen travel to Bangkok, a move that sets the tragic finale in motion. If you know Puccinis Madame Butterfly, you know whats coming, and the end is hard to take in 2019. But then again, think of how many fewer tragedies there would be onstage, on-screen and in life if women were able to wash unworthy men out of their hair. On the subzero Wednesday critics were invited to see the show, the long-awaited helicopter that strafes the theater to whisk Chris away in Act 2 was a shadow of its former self literally. With the real thing grounded by mechanical difficulties, the crew deployed a camo-colored projection. (Word is the copter will be up and running for the rest of the run.) Luckily, the production is no longer about whiz-bang scenery and massive set pieces. What Ill remember of the re-imagined Miss Saigon is Kim, almost spectral in white, riding the shoulders of a crowd trying to breach the gates of the American Embassy, her arms reaching out, and finding nothing. REVIEW Miss Saigon What: The KeyBank Broadway Series presents the North American tour of the Tony Award-winning musical. Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg. Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. Additional lyrics by Michael Mahler. Book by Boublil and Schonberg. Directed by Laurence Connor. When: Through Sunday, Feb 17. Where: KeyBank State Theatre, Playhouse Square, Cleveland. Tickets: $10-$125. Go to playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000. Approximate running time: 2 hours and 40 minutes, with one intermission. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During his 2016 presidential campaign, former Governor John Kasich dubbed himself "The Prince of Light and Hope." But in comedian Julie Klausner's account of him taking her first class flight seat, and in Chris Christie's new book, Kasich just comes off as the first class jerk that he's long privately had the reputation of being in political circles. Cleveland.com's Seth Richardson has reported on Klausner describing on her podcast how Kasich took her Alaskan Airline first class seat after failing to win the president's seat on Air Force One. According to Klausner's account, she first witnessed Kasich, who she didn't recognize, in the airline's lounge, boasting loudly on his cellphone about his deal to become a CNN contributor. When Klausner boarded the plane she saw the man who caught her attention bragging loudly on his cell phone now sitting in her assigned seat. Instead of confronting Kasich, Klausner learned from the flight attendants and boarding agents that Kasich had been bumped from his seat by an Alaskan Airline pilot. Kasich was reassigned a downgraded seat, but instead took Klausner's. When Klausner heard from the attendants that Kasich had been difficult to deal with she opted to take up Alaskan Airlines offer to take the next flight to diffuse the situation. Alaskan Airlines has not refuted the account Klausner gave in her podcast. "We're very appreciative to Ms. Klausner for helping diffuse an awkward situation by voluntarily giving up her seat. We made sure to take care of her on another flight," said an Alaskan Airline spokesperson. Kasich spokesman Chris Schrimpf said the former Governor was "sorry someone lost a seat" as the result of "chaos" and "confusion." "There was confusion about seating, the airline had given a pilot the Governor's seat and then chaos ensued," said Schrimpf. Actually, just Kasich rudeness and hypocrisy ensued. Klausner ended up taking the high road that self-righteous, holier-than-thou Kasich preached should be taken on the campaign trail. But when flying the friendly skies, Kasich just rudely took someone else's seat. Kasich channels God to Christie. Chris Christie wouldn't be surprised by the Kasich seat stealing story. In his new book, Christie recounts a conversation he had with Kasich after Christie finished fourth in the New Hampshire primary and Kasich came in second. "He asked how I was doing. I told him, okay, considering. "You know what happened to you, don't you Chris?" he said. I told him I didn't. "God wanted you to play right field, and you insisted on playing shortstop. No matter how many times God told you to play right field, you insisted on playing shortstop. And last night, you went out to shortstop, and the ball went through your legs." Right there, I understood why so many people in politics despised John Kasich... "And Joh," I asked, "what does God have in mind for you?" He didn't hesitate. "I think you're going to see that very clearly over the next couple of months." What we see clearly now is that apparently Kasich thinks God wanted him to become a CNN contributor and take a woman's first class seat instead of a downgraded one. Kasich berated Columbus officer in 2008. Before the Klausner-Kasich seatgate story went viral, the most public display of Kasich rudeness was when he berated a police officer who justifiably ticketed him. In 2008, when Kasich was working for Lehman Brothers, he was ticketed in Columbus for failing to move into the left lane when passing another police traffic stop. When recounting the incident in a 2011 speech, then-Governor Kasich called the officer who ticketed him an "idiot" three different times. Video of the Kasich traffic stop showed the $85 ticket was justified and that the officer, Robert Barrett was by the book and respectful the entire time. Kasich prickly personality rep pre-dates presidential run Kasich's penchant for being rude and a jerk had long been known by political insiders, in contrast to the persona he displayed when campaigning. In a July 3, 2015 column, former Plain Dealer Editorial Page Director Brent Larkin wrote: "...as Kasich prepares to run for president, expect more people to suggest in public what many who know him have have been whispering in private for years. Indelicate though it may be, it's a question worth asking. Is John Kasich too big a jerk to be president? Some in the national media have already raised the issue, with various degrees of sensitivity. The list includes Politico, the National Journal and NBC News. From a Feb.12, 2016 Larkin column: "Kasich's lousy personality belies a first-rate political mind. He can be rude, condescending, narcissistic and messianic. And he often seems burdened with the patience and attention span of an infant." Larkin could be describing Trump's personality in that quote. Trump should be glad John Acosta is CNN's White House correspondent instead of Kasich. Kasich needs to practice more what the "Prince of Light and Hope" preached on the 2016 presidential campaign trail. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mayor Frank Jackson unveiled his 2019 budget proposal Friday with a warning that the city needs to be prepared for possible economic trouble in coming years. In a meeting with editors and reporters from The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, Jackson said he his 2019 spending plan was prepared with three goals in mind: Balancing the budget. Providing quality services. Having the ability to maintain employment and service levels, even with a downturn in the economy. Weve gone through both good times and hard times and thats how we got to where we are, Jackson said. We dont want to spend all the money Were not spending ourselves down to the last penny. Jackson sent his proposal to City Council Friday morning. The council will begin a series of budget hearings starting next week with federal block grant programs. Hearings for the general fund departments will kick off after Presidents Day. The city charter calls for a budget to be approved by April 1. Here are some highlights: What are the numbers? Jacksons budget estimates about $43 million will be carried into 2019 from the 2018 budget, thanks mostly to increased revenue from a voter-approved increase in the city income tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent. At the end of the year he expects a similar amount will be carried into 2020. That money could serve as a reserve to help weather bad economic times. The budget estimates the citys general fund will take in about $690 million in 2019. Jackson projects spending about $645 million. Including self-supporting enterprise funds such as airport operations, the water department and Cleveland Public Power, the overall budget is about $1.8 billion. How many people are employed? Employment under the general fund the part of the budget that covers core city departments is expected to be 5,006 workers. That's up 547 from 2018. The biggest changes are expected in public safety, including about 150 more police officers than the 2018 budget, 45 more uniformed fire officers and 35 more EMS workers. The budget for building and housing includes funding for 16 more full-time inspectors than the 2018 budget. Will the workforce keep expanding? Somewhat. The new employees represent the citys efforts to enhance services that began after voters increased the income tax, Jackson said. The city began collecting the new revenue in 2017 and started restoring services that had been cut. By 2018, the city began ramping up new programs and expanded services. This years budget fills out the staffing, including workers needed to operate all programs, Jackson said. But there are still some jobs generally high skilled positions such as architects or engineers -- that havent been filled. Cleveland is using a headhunter service to try and fill some of those positions, Finance Director Sharon Dumas said. Where does police staffing stand? Cleveland has been working aggressively to increase the number of officers in the police department. The city graduated five police academy classes in 2018, lifting staffing to a goal of 1,640 officers. Police Chief Calvin Williams recently told cleveland.com he expects three academy classes will graduate in 2019. Those classes, about 120 new officers, should allow the city to maintain its numbers, filling jobs that come open with retirements and officers leaving the force for other jobs. What happened to Ward 4 yard work? For years, the Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation, with support from Councilman Ken Johnson, hired as many as 100 workers each summer to cut grass and clean vacant lots in Johnsons Ward 4 on the East Side. The organization relied on hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants that passed through the city to pay the workers and other program costs. The organization lost its funding at the end of June 2018 after failing to produce a financial audit for the third year in a row, and after the city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the grants, began questioning the size of the mowing program. Cleveland.com reported in November that Johnson and Buckeye Shaker are subjects of an investigation by the FBIs public corruption squad Clevelands Public Works Department stepped in and took over the work at a cost of more than $289,000. The city will continue to handle the work in 2019, cutting grass and clearing debris dumped on properties. Jackson said that by absorbing the work into the public works budget nearly $79 million -- the costs are mitigated and spread over the year. Will sidewalk repairs continue? Yes. Jackson authorized a program in 2017 to repair uneven or damaged sidewalks on streets that have been resurfaced. While sidewalks are the responsibility of homeowners, often the damage is caused by city-owned trees in the tree lawns. Homeowners cannot remove or damage the trees. Technically were not responsible, but in fairness, it is our fault, Jackson said. In 2018, the city spent $850,313 on sidewalk repairs at 737 locations along streets that were resurfaced in 2017. For 2019, the city will target streets resurfaced in 2018. RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Injury Crash, Hemlock Point: Police and EMS were dispatched 8:36 a.m. Jan. 25 for a two-car crash with air bag deployment. One person was transported to Hillcrest Hospital. Suspicious, Kinsman Road: An officer on patrol 2:18 a.m. Jan. 26 found a man sleeping in a parked car with the motor running at a park. The man was awakened, advised of park hours and sent on his way. Drunken Driving, Chillicothe Road: An erratic driver was stopped shortly after midnight Jan. 24 and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated near Martingale Lane. Suspicious, Fairmount Road: After receiving an email from TD Bank Commercial listing a scheduled payment of $6,500, a resident reported it to police Jan. 23. The resident does not have an account with the bank. An officer advised him to not respond to the email, not click on anything in the email, and to delete it. He was also advised to monitor his accounts for signs of fraud. Suspicious Call, Caves Road: A man reported Jan. 22 that he received a call notifying him he won a BMW car and cash. He did not provide any personal information, and told the caller his son would return the call. A police officer returned the call, which was spoofed from a Willoughby Hills restaurant. BROOK PARK Ohio - It's always great to get a compliment or two for a job well done, but how about seemingly unending kudos from satisfied customers? Pierre Aboukhaled, his wife, Maha, their son, Michael, owners of Express Deli, 5185 Smith Road in Brook Park and Deli employee Nouha Roueiheb are themselves in that very same situation as they are deluged with page after page of praise on Yelp. In fact, the Deli, founded 20 years ago by Pierre Aboukhaled, a native of Lebanon and an electrical engineer by training, has been named to Yelp's Top 100 List of Best Places to eat in the U.S. The Deli has one of the very few convenience store dining rooms in the area and it specializes in wraps made on fresh pita, along with its most popular Reuben wrap. Brook Park Mayor Mike Gammella says the Deli is recognized as a staple in the neighborhood and as "a 20-year-old business that strives to make the lives of its customers just a little bit better." The Aboukhaleds and Roueiheb have also received praise from the city in the form of a proclamation presented to them recently by the Mayor. The document proclaims that "We are proud to have them in the city," and calls upon Brook Park's citizens to "acknowledge and extend congratulations to the Express Deli and Beverage on behalf of the Administration and City Council of Brook Park." BW Film Festival: Foreign film fans can view a selection of subtitled films from around the globe at Baldwin Wallace University's 2019 International Film Series. Films including "L'Atelier" (The Workshop) and "Die Gottliche Ordnung" (The Divine Order), will be shown at 5 p.m. Feb. 8-10 (Friday-Sunday) and Feb. 15-17 (Friday-Sunday) at Marting Hall, 50 Seminary St. in Berea (receptions between screenings on Feb. 9, 15 and 16). Admission to films is free and refreshments will be served. For details, visit bw.edu/ifs. Buzzard Breakfast: The City of Brook Park has become home to its own group of turkey vultures who have been arriving in early March on the grounds of Redeemer Lutheran Church for the past ten years. Two of them have even been named, and are now known as Brook and Parker. A Buzzard Breakfast celebrating the return of the vultures, will be from 9-11 a.m. March 30 at the church, 6151 Smith Road. The free breakfast is sponsored by Brook Park Mayor Mike Gammella and friends. Please RSVP no later than March 1, by calling 216-362-0533. Scholarship: High school senior girls who are residents of Middleburg Heights are eligible to apply for a Middleburg Heights Women's Club 2019 Scholarship. Applicants may attend any high school or be home schooled in an accredited program, must be graduating in the spring of 2019 and must have completed a Middleburg Heights Women's Club Scholarship application. Applicants must submit the typewritten personal applicant statement, to be postmarked no later than March 22, 2019. Financial need, academics, extracurricular activities, community involvement, job history and an sessay will be considered in the scholarship decision. Applicants may have applied for and received other scholarships and still be eligible to receive a Middleburg heights Women's Club scholarship (unless a full-tuition scholarship has already been awarded). Please see your school guidance counselor or contact Norleen Biddulph for applications and additional information. Contact Norleen Biddulph, Scholarship Chair, at 216-676-8475 or by email at MHWC17@gmail.com. Opera: "The House of Bernarda Alba" is based on Garcia Lorca's final play, "La Casa de Bernarda Alba" and features Baldwin Wallace University faculty and students with acclaimed mezzo-soprano and BW professor Nancy Maultsby singing the title role. This performance is at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St. in Berea. Luncheon set: The Brook Park Beautification & Pride Committee will host its 11th Annual Spring Luncheon from 1-4 p.m. March 23. The luncheon will be at the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road. The event will feature a hot entree buffet, 50/50 raffle, Chinese Raffle and door prizes. Featured speaker will be Brook Park Police Chief Tom Dickel, who will talk on home safety concerns. To purchase tickets at $20 each, contact Barbara Warny at 216-676-0211, Marilyn Cordiak at 216-676-8873, or Carol Henninger at 216-676-8902. Salad luncheon: The Middleburg Heights Women's Club will host its Annual Salad Luncheon and Games at 12 noon, Feb. 7, at the Middleburg Heights Community Center, 16000 East Bagley Road. Feel free to bring a friend. Guests are always welcome. Please remember to bring items for the local food pantry. For more information, call 440-234-8879. Dean's List: Nicholas Klingbeil of Brook Park, has been named to the Ashland University Dean's List for the fall 2018 semester. Klingbeil, an environmental science major at AU is a 2016 graduate of Berea-Midpark High School. Bailey Pastura of Brook Park has been named to the Dean's List at Ashland University for the fall 2018 semester. Pastura, a 2016 Berea-Midpark High School graduate, is majoring in nursing. Christen Smego of Middleburg Heights has been named to the Dean's List at Ashland University for the fall 2018 semester. Smego, a 2017 graduate of Holy Name High School, is majoring in nursing at AU. Middleburg Heights pantry: The Middleburg Heights Food Pantry at 7000 Paula Drive is open to serve clients from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Special needs: Activities for those who have special needs are held throughout the year at the Middleburg Heights Recreation Department. Berea pantry hours: The Berea Community Outreach Food Pantry, 535 Wyleswood Drive (at front of Smith School), is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 440-826-4891. SCAN sets hours: The SCAN Hunger Pantry, 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite 7, in Berea's hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and from 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month. Contact SCAN by phone at 440-260-7726. For more information, contact Sandy Balzer, adapted recreation coordinator, at 440-234-2255 or at sbalzer@middleburgheights.com. Please email information (people photos, too. include ID's) on items you'd like to see included in this column to richatsun@gmail.com. A Journey with Hermes I was in for some surprises in May of 2006, when I first visited Samos, a Greek island near the border with Turkey, to give a talk at a students club. I had been invited by Minas Papageorgioua student back then and now a writer, researcher and journalistto speak about Mary Magdalene. He took me on a journey up a stream named Potami (pron. potami), the Greek word for river. It turned out to be a magical place as the stream runs through a forest and forms small lakes and waterfalls. Our journey into the wild startedappropriatelywith a strange kind of pilgrimage. Soon after Minas and I started hiking, we saw a sign reading: Ancient Chapel, Transfiguration of the Savior. Standing in the shade of a big rock, it had an eerie feeling about it. The day was warm and bright, but no sunrays touched the 11th-century church, as if Helios, the Sun God, carefully avoided this uncanny place. We pushed the blue wooden door and were instantly greeted by a pungent smell of candles and incense. With goosebumps crawling up my arms, I tried to resist the feeling of awe inspired by the tall, gray stone walls, which exuded an aura of mystery. Non-believers arent supposed to feel awe in such places, I carefully admonished myself. Besides, we were not there to pay homage to the Christian Savior, whose painted image was inspecting us from the door of the sanctuary. We had gone with the purpose of observing the four columns which supported the center of the old building. They were round and smooth, their only decoration being the intricate Corinthian-style column capitals. Were these pre-Christian? Archaeologists believe that they may well be. Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, a French botanist and writer who visited Samos in the early 18th century, claimed that the columns came from the shrine of Hermes Kharidotes, Giver of Grace (kharis) or Bringer of the Graces (Kharites). In some places, during his festival, called Hermaea, the social order was temporarily reversed, as strictly defined roles came topsy-turvy. Among his many qualities, Hermes was also the Trickster, the Subversive One. The foundations of that church were very old, dating probably from the 6th century CE. It was customary at the time to build Christian temples on top of Hellenic ones as the new religion was rapidly devouring the old one. We stared at the columns in silence, in the vain hope they might reveal their secrets. They didnt, but an unexpected clue manifested as we turned back to walk out of the door. The evidence was there, right under our feet: the marble rectangular stone which formed the doorstep had a big circle carved in its center, which bore two holes. What else could that be but the base of an ancient statue? Similar stones can be seen in a host of Greek archaeological sites. The name of the church was also telling: the Transfiguration of the Savior. The Greek word for transfiguration is metamorphosis, which is commonly used with the meaning of transformation. It rung a bell as Hermes (known to the Romans as Mercurius) is indeed a mercurial figure, a god with diverse roles and many faces, and a mediator between different realms. He was also considered the guide of souls to the underworld; his place of worship could have easily been transformed into that of the Christian Savior of souls That rather unorthodox pilgrimage was the beginning of our journey up the potami, a stream flowing into the sea just a few meters away from us. We began to walk uphill and soon reached a grove of olive trees and lemon trees, which seemed to relish the abundant touch of the sun and the presence of the life-giving water. As our walk through the grove came to an end, Minas and I suddenly entered a different world. I stood gaping at the dreamlike landscape. The interplay of light and shadow created an otherworldly atmosphere. Hermes came to mind again, this time as the god of dreams, magic and alchemy. As a messenger of the gods, he could easily cross from one world to the other, from heaven to earth and into the underworld. I wondered what messages he had in store for us. Read the second part of the essay here. Have you visited a place that seemed to have a special spiritual significance for you? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Please write about your experience in the comments section below! BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The city's Planning & Zoning Commission has made recommendations to City Council updating certain zoning classifications in an effort to make Beachwood's buildings more versatile adaptable in today's development climate. A portion of the recommendations center on Class U-7A uses, which are areas in which buildings can be used for business and medical offices, nursing homes, child and adult day care centers, banks, and for beauty, barber or photography shops. The Commission has recommended that the zoning classification also include restaurants and multi-family dwellings. Commission Chairman Orry Jacobs said at Thursday's meeting that in enlarging the scope covered by the zoning classification, other ventures would be able to operate in Beachwood's existing buildings. "This is recognizing a national trend going on all over the country and you're seeing projects, some locally like Pinecrest (in Orange) that are mixed use that have residential, have offices, retail, a hotel, etc.," Jacobs, said. Council has yet to discuss, let alone approve, those recommendations, yet developers are already at the city's door asking for permission to begin planning for a use in keeping with those recommendations. In attendance at the Commission meeting were developers Chad Kertesz, of Beachwood, and Rico Pietro, along with their lawyer, Jordan Berns. Kertesz and Pietro attended the Jan. 22 council meeting at which Berns spoke of their plans to convert what is now the Park East Center nursing home, 3800 Park East Drive, into an apartment building with a first-floor restaurant. Jacobs called a "stopgap" the measure before the Commission Thursday, as it would amend the zoning code as it now stands for quicker use by the developers, rather than waiting for council to discuss and act on the recommended changes. The Commission went on to approve the stopgap amendment to the zoning code by a 4-2 vote, with members Rochelle Hecht and Council's representative to the Commission, Councilman James Pasch, opposing. Pasch asked Pietro why the developers could not wait for council to discuss and vote on the recommendations. The process for changing zoning also requires that council hold a public hearing. Pasch said the entire process would probably be completed in late March or early April, although further delays are always possible. In answering, Pietro said, "We're trying to take advantage of a healthy economy." He also spoke of needing as much time as possible to redevelop an existing building. Pietro said that the sale of the building from the nursing facility, which is now about one-third full, had not yet closed, and was expected to do so in about a week. Pasch, in asking that the process be allowed to fully play out, said he believed those who now live in the facility should have enough time to find a new place to live, and noted that those who work there would have to find new jobs. "I have not heard a compelling reason why this has to move forward now," Pasch said. "You're talking about the first major code change in a couple of decades and the public should have ample time to respond. This is kind of one the major changes, a change to an entire section of the city, and it has not been a change either debated by council, nor has there been a public hearing." Approving the amendment means the Commission is recommending it to council. The Commission members who voted in favor of the amendment said they were merely backing their previous recommendation. At the meeting's conclusion, Pasch said he was not convinced that a stopgap measure needed approval. Pasch, who chairs council's Planning & Zoning Committee, said the committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday to begin discussions on the Commission's recommendations. Council must also, at some point, set a public hearing date and hold that public hearing before taking a final vote. Pietro and Kertesz both declined to comment further on their planned development, stating that they would prefer to wait until the sale of the property has closed. AKRON, Ohio The Merriman Valley Neighborhood Association is seeking a stop along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to help boost the vibrancy of the valleys business district. The association has launched an online petition to gather resident signatures so it can make its case for a new station. The group is working with support from Ward 8 Councilwoman Marilyn Keith. The nonprofit railroad works in conjunction with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, offering tourist outings via passenger boarding stations from Rockside Station near Cleveland to Northside Station in Akron. The train also offers stops where riders and their bikes can board the train. The Merriman Valley is the ideal place for a new station because the business district is near the convergence of the national park, Summit Metro Parks Sand Run Trail, and the Towpath Trail, said association President Karen Zampelli. The business district also is close to the border of Cuyahoga Falls. Establishing a new train station is not out of the question, said Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad President & CEO Joe Mazur. Theres a lot of good stuff happening in Akron and also in the valley, Mazur told cleveland.com on Friday. Were open to these types of opportunities but there are always these types of challenges that youve got to work through. A new train station would need a part-time railroad employee, and a structure enabling passengers to safely get on and off the train, he said. An ADA-accessible building with restrooms would also be necessary along with adequate parking, he said. The national park would need to be involved because it owns and maintains the tracks. We recognize there is a need for this service, but have not been part of discussions as to the feasibility of it, said CVNP spokeswoman Pamela Barnes. The Merriman Valley group expects to present a plan to railroad and park officials in June, Zampelli said. The Merriman Valley hosts many small businesses within a 1.5-mile area, she said, including restaurants and a brewery, stores, theaters, fitness centers, animal rescue agencies, spas and beauty salons. Were just a little hidden gem, Zampelli said, A station could be established on the trains existing route near the Parkway Estates residential development, which is adjacent to the business district, she said. A station was in that area years ago but it was removed. Adding a stop could boost rider numbers for the railroad, and draw customers to the Merriman Valley from Rockside Road, Peninsula and downtown Akron, where the train has active stations. Everybody here wants it, Zampelli said. We all want people to come from Peninsula and come see what we have to offer because were always going there. We want people from downtown to come visit us. The Merriman Valley is one 10 business districts in Akrons Great Streets initiative, now entering its second year. Great Streets is designed to help bring vibrancy back to small business districts through revolving loans, grants to neighborhood improvement organizations, facade grants and street enhancements. The Valley is an untapped treasure of Akron and has never been highlighted or developed to its full potential, Keith wrote in an email. Cleburne, TX (76033) Today Mostly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. William Russell Allton was born in Dewey, Oklahoma on April 25, 1931 to Russell Frank and Alice Mae (Steffens) Allton. He attended school in Claremore and graduated with the class of 1948. On August 26, 1949 Bill married Jimmie Louise Reed and the couple made Tulsa home for the first 25 year The future, it turns out, makes a quiet whirring sound. With little more fanfare than the soft buzz of its motor, a new kind of vehicle rolled down a concrete ramp in front of onlookers at the Washington state Capitol Monday: A delivery robot designed for carrying packages to consumers doors, among the first of its kind in the state. The devices are kicking off debate over regulating the latest frontier of automation in the state, even as online retail giant Amazon has already begun testing them. A bill up for a hearing Monday would restrict the weight of the robots, limit them to sidewalks and crosswalks, and require both insurance and active monitoring by a human, filling in what the bills sponsor called a gray area in state law. What would you define this as? Is it a motor vehicle, is it a pedestrian? We dont have, currently, rules that would define the behavior of this, said Democratic Rep. Shelley Kloba, gesturing to the robot at the demonstration. Amazon is ahead of lawmakers, however, and has already begun taking steps to replace delivery staff with robots in the state. The company announced last Wednesday that it had begun testing autonomous delivery vehicles in Snohomish County, just north of Seattle. The company posted on its website that it was starting with six of the devices, each about the size of a cooler with six wheels and a shiny blue case. They will be accompanied by an employee on their routes at least to start. Visually similar to Amazons six-wheeled cube, the device showcased Monday came from Starship Technologies, a company that already operates in other states. Employees usually monitor several of the devices at a time, with the ability to jump to any one of them should a problem arise, said David Catania, a Starship representative. But, Catania added, the units typically remain in autonomous mode 90-plus percent of the time. While the robots cant climb stairs, Catania added, they are able to raise their front wheels to mount curbs, and can carry the equivalent of about two bags of groceries. Kloba said she was still seeking input from disability rights advocates about the safe top speed of the devices on sidewalks, and that her bill wouldnt stop local jurisdictions from imposing their own licensing rules or quotas. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Federal investigators will finally be able to examine the stretch limousine in an October crash that killed 20 people, ending an increasingly testy impasse with local prosecutors over who has priority to probe the nations deadliest transportation disaster in nearly a decade. Under the deal reached Tuesday in Schoharie County court, prosecutors bringing charges against the limo companys operator will be able to remove auto parts potentially crucial to the criminal investigation before National Transportation Safety Board inspectors begin a hands-on inspection within the next two weeks. The modified 2001 Ford Excursion blew through a stop sign at a T-intersection on Oct. 6 in rural Schoharie and crashed beside a country store, killing the driver, 17 passengers on a birthday outing and two pedestrians. The damaged vehicle has sat for months beneath a tent behind state police headquarters outside Albany. All Im interested in is making sure everyone is able to do what theyre charged with doing, Schoharie County Judge George Bartlett said during the hearing. NTSB lawyers had argued that federal inspectors were prevented from getting within 15 feet of the crashed limo, and that their inability to make a detailed inspection unnecessarily delayed potentially crucial safety recommendations that could be applied to limos nationwide. Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery argued that criminal trials take precedence and that her office dictates access to all evidence. Under the deal, the NTSB can visually inspect the limousine as early as Tuesday and take photographs. After that, police experts will be clear to remove the limos transmission and torque converter as part of the criminal investigation. The NTSB can then proceed with a hands-on inspection, which is expected to begin within the next two weeks. NTSB investigators will be able to perform their entire post-accident protocol except take brake fluid, because there is an insufficient amount available, according to the agreement read in court after lawyers for the prosecution, state police, the defense and NTSB met privately. Instead, state police will send a report on the brake fluid testing to the NTSB investigators, who have agreed not to make it public until completion of the criminal case, according to the agreement. NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss did not have an estimate on when the board would release those findings, stressing that the agreement applies only to brake fluid testing. Agency inspectors will be able to examine components removed from the limo, along with defense experts, later in the criminal process, the agreement said. The cordial, low-key hearing contrasted sharply with critical barbs local and federal officials have traded recently. Mallery had accused the NTSB of spreading legal and factual inaccuracies through an extensive press campaign and of putting politics ahead of justice for the victims and grieving families. NTSB lawyer Kathleen Silbaugh argued that the nearly four-month delay could cause critical evidence, such as brake fluid, to be lost or degraded. Bartlett called for Tuesdays hearing earlier this month, writing that this standoff must come to an end. Just weeks before the crash, the limo had failed a state inspection that examined such things as the chassis, suspension and brakes. Prosecutors allege the limo companys operator, Nauman Hussain, allowed an improperly licensed driver to operate an unserviceable vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide, and his lawyer has said investigators rushed to judgment. The big problem was that defense experts and state police have all had access to the vehicle, weve been able to touch it, take photographs of it, defense lawyer Lee Kindlon told reporters after the hearing. But the NTSB until todays agreement hasnt been able to take part in that investigation. Now weve got a framework and timeline in terms of who gets to see it, and when. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The death of a young Connecticut woman who fell down stairs at a Manhattan subway station with her 1-year-old daughter appears to be related to a pre-existing medical condition, the citys chief medical examiner said Wednesday. Malaysia Goodson, 22, of Stamford, fell down the stairs at a midtown Manhattan station at around 8 p.m. Monday, according to the New York Police Department, whose officers found her unconscious next to a toppled over stroller. Her child was unharmed. While the cause of death is pending in this case, we can state that there is no significant trauma, and this fatality appears to be related to a pre-existing medical condition, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson said. The young mothers death, which the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is investigating, sparked complaints about the lack of accessibility in the New York subway system. Only about a quarter of the citys 472 subway stations have elevators, and the elevators that do exist are often out of service. The problem also makes it difficult for people in wheelchairs to use the subways, and disability-rights activists have staged frequent protests over the issue. This is a heartbreaking tragedy that never should have happened. The subway system is not accessible for everyone, and thats an environment the MTA should not allow, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted after the incident. Shams Tarek, an MTA spokesman, said the station where Goodson fell does have escalators. Parents are generally advised not to ride escalators with strollers, however. This is an absolutely heart breaking incident, the MTA said in a statement. While the ultimate cause of the event is being investigated by the MTA, medical examiner, and the NYPD, we know how important it is to improve accessibility in our system. Andy Byford, who was appointed the MTAs head of the subway system last year after running the Toronto Transit Commission, has set a goal of adding enough elevators to the system that after five years, no rider will be more than two stops away from an accessible station. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. One week and two hours ago, a CNN producer and a photojournalist were staking out Roger Stones home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when a heavily armed FBI team spread across the lawn. Agents rapped on Stones door and arrested him. The office of Robert Mueller, the special counsel for the Russia investigation, had finally indicted Stoneon charges including obstruction, making false statements, and witness tamperingand laid out, for the first time, prosecutors belief that a senior Trump campaign official had in 2016 been directed to contact Stone about material, possessed by WikiLeaks, that Russian intelligence had stolen from Democratic Party officials. The raid proved to be merely a curtain-raiser for a zany week on the Stone beat. Right-wing pundits quickly cried foul, claiming that the FBI must have tipped off CNN: How else could it have had a camera ready? Producers shot back that a combination of luck and dogged reporting had led them to Stones door. Hours after the arrest, Stone emerged on the steps of a local courthouse, flashed defiant V for victory hand signs, and told a flock of reportersover loud boos and chants of lock him up!that Muellers charges were bunk. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about, he said, and smiled. ICYMI: Advice for media and Trump from two former presidential press secretaries In the past week, Stone has stuck to that mantra. To an extent that is unusual for a man under indictment, hes made sure the media has talked about him by keeping a whirlwind schedule of interviews and public appearances. Many of these have been with conservative media. He first called into The Alex Jones Showof InfoWars, the conspiracy theory empire (Stone has been a host in the past)from the courthouse, then went on Tucker Carlsons Fox show, Sean Hannitys, and Laura Ingrahams. He also submitted to grillings by Chris Cuomo on CNN and George Stephanopoulos on ABC. Stone has painted himself as a victim of fabricated allegations, the FBIs Gestapo tactics, and powerful attempts to silence him. Right-wing journalists have boosted the signal. Referring to Stones dramatic arrest, Carlson asked him, with a straight face, Is there something we dont know? Do you have an arsenal at home? Stone has a long track record of eccentricity, so its no surprise that coverage of his indictment has veered into the ridiculous. Yesterday, he discussed his sartorial choices with The Daily Caller: You have to think long and hard about what youre going to wear for your arraignment in US district court, he said. Im Roger Stone and as you know, Ive always believed that the clothes make the man. But the circus has fed itself as much as Stone has fed it. Outlets and commentators across the media have relished the opportunity to re-up a flamboyant character, reminding their audiences, for example, of his back tattoo of Richard Nixon, and his past as a swinger. Even some serious Stone coverage has been infused with silliness: ahead of his arraignment in a Washington court on Tuesday, his attorneys, who arent members of the DC bar, botched paperwork naming an attorney who could vouch for them. If you look past the farce, however, the Stone indictment is an important and weighty development, offering new information about the Trump campaigns possible ties to WikiLeaks, and drawing on electronic, financial, and physical evidence that prosecutors yesterday called voluminous and complex. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Such developments have received ample coverage. Nonetheless, we should be careful, when having fun with Stones outsize persona, not to underestimate his power to set the media narrative. Below, more on Roger Stone: Doorstepping Stone: No, the FBI did not tell CNN that agents were about to arrest Stone last week. Jeremy Herb explains what led his network to the right place at the right time. No, the FBI did not tell CNN that agents were about to arrest Stone last week. Jeremy Herb explains what led his network to the right place at the right time. Stonewalled: The loquacious Stone has plans in place to circumvent a possible gag order, Politicos Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein report. Amy Berman Jackson, the federal judge in the case, already hushed other suspects in Muellers inquiry, including Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and their attorneys. Stone is due in court today. The loquacious Stone has plans in place to circumvent a possible gag order, Politicos Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein report. Amy Berman Jackson, the federal judge in the case, already hushed other suspects in Muellers inquiry, including Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and their attorneys. Stone is due in court today. Stone, wall: The Timess Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman scored a wide-ranging Oval Office interview with Trump yesterday after A.G. Sulzberger, the papers publisher, counter-offered the presidents request for an off-the-record dinner. Trump told the Times that he never spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks, nor directed anyone else to do so. I like Roger, hes a character, Trump said, adding that the manner in which Stone was arrested was a very sad thing for this country. The Timess Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman scored a wide-ranging Oval Office interview with Trump yesterday after A.G. Sulzberger, the papers publisher, counter-offered the presidents request for an off-the-record dinner. Trump told the Times that he never spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks, nor directed anyone else to do so. I like Roger, hes a character, Trump said, adding that the manner in which Stone was arrested was a very sad thing for this country. Rolling with Stone: For more color on Stone, check out The Dirty Trickster, a 2008 profile by The New Yorkers Jeffrey Toobin, or Get Me Roger Stone, a 2017 documentary thats available to stream on Netflix. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The digital winter turns apocalyptic 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. Many journalists are sensitive to the way wealthy owners can influence a newsroom, whether through outright pressure on reporters and editors, or behind-the-scenes maneuvering and subtle hints. But its not just rich capitalists and venture investors who bring such influenceevery form of funding, however well-meaning, shapes the kind of journalism that gets done, and that includes funding from foundations and nonprofits. While their motives may be pure, the fact that they hold the purse strings inevitably changes the way newsrooms that rely on that funding do their jobs. And with more media outlets turning to alternative sources of financing as advertising revenue dries up, the issue is likely to get even more acute in the future. Those are just some of the conclusions of a new report from a team of researchers in the UK, including Martin Scott of the University of East Anglia in the UK, Mel Bunce from City University of London, and Kate Wright at the University of Edinburgh. The study is based on interviews with 74 representatives from the foundations that are the most active in funding international non-profit news, as well as interviews with the journalists they support. Foundations support a significant amount of important international journalism. Without it, very few of the nonprofit news outlets we spoke to would survive, Scott tells CJR. But we are concerned that the nature of this journalismand the role that it plays in democracyis inadvertently being shaped by a handful of foundations, rather than by journalists. Scott and his fellow researchers found that funding from foundations does change the way reporting is done, the issues that non-profit media organizations decide to focus on, and the amount and content of that work. Regardless of whether we think those changes are ultimately good or bad journalistically, or even ethically, he says, its worth noting that even funding from foundations whose goals we agree with has an impact on the type of work that gets done and for whom. And by definition, if work is being done in certain areasareas that align with the goals of the foundation providing the fundingthen work is not being done in other areas. ICYMI: BuzzFeed management faces harsh criticism from staffers, internal messages reveal Ironically, Scott says some of the problems foundation funding creates arent a result of those foundations trying to meddle in the journalism their grantees do, but a result of them trying not to do that. Because they are so leery of infringing on the autonomy of the non-profits they fund, he says, many foundations arent very transparent about what their goals are. That means newsrooms have to spend a lot of time creating relationships with foundations and getting to know them well enough to start having those kinds of discussionsand all of that takes time and money many smaller nonprofit newsrooms dont have. I remember someone telling me: We didnt want to spend money to make money, we wanted to spend money to report, he says. But [their newsroom] eventually ran out of money and had to shut down. Another thing that creates more non-journalistic work for foundation-funded newsrooms, Scott says, is that many foundations require the media organizations they fund to show tangible results from their reporting, whether its the number of page views or changes that stemmed from their journalism. But here again, coming up with that kind of evidence takes time and resources away from the actual journalism. And those extracurricular activities, or what Scott calls hidden overheads, are part of the reason why the bulk of foundation funding tends to go to larger non-profit media outlets such as The Guardian, rather than to smaller entities. Not only do The Guardian and others of its ilk have the time and money to spend producing evidence that the funding accomplished something, they also dont have to do as much relationship building because they already have an established brand. Sign up for CJR 's daily email In addition to these kinds of administrative pressures, foundation funding often shapes the issues a non-profit newsroom chooses to focus on, and how they go about reporting on them, according to the study. Most foundation funding is focused on certain themes, such as global development or the environment, and so that is where the non-profits they fund often concentrate as well, for obvious reasons. But doing this encourages journalists to focus on a relatively narrow range of topics that broadly align with the priorities of the most active foundations, he says. Because many nonprofits rely heavily on funding from a fairly narrow range of foundations, those foundations have a disproportionate influence on the journalism and the news that people see. In many cases, its shaping that news to cater to niche, specialized, already engaged audiences, not on general mainstream news topics aimed at a general audience. That has broader implications for journalismwho it serves and how it serves them. Its not that foundations have ulterior motives, Scott says. Instead, the funding they provide inevitably pushes their grantees in certain directions. For example, many foundations are pushing media outlets to do more of what some call solutions journalism, which focuses on specific outcomes and how to encourage readers to help. I think we need to ask the question, are we happy that foundations are encouraging journalism in a more impact-oriented direction? Scott says. Are news organizations seeking to achieve impacts that are easier to achieve rather than deeper ones that are more radical? And which issues are getting that treatment and which are not? ICYMI: Reuters publishes ethically questionable story Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. You will receive 5-day a week delivery of the Citizen Tribune newspaper to your home or business, plus full, ad-free access to CitizenTribune.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of the newspaper. ONLY $13.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $16.00 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $169.99 for a full year Only $198.95 per year after promotional period. A U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) filing on Jan. 25 alleged Oracle discriminated against black, Asian and female employees, as well as international workers with visas, funneling them into lower-paying roles and ultimately underpaying them to the tune of $400 million dollars. The OFCCP, which enforces equal pay and ensures government contractors comply with anti-discrimination legislation, states: Oracle impermissibly denies equal employment opportunity to non-Asian applicants for employment, strongly preferring a workforce that it can later underpay. Once employed, women, Blacks and Asians are systematically underpaid relative to their peers. The practice allegedly goes back to 2013. As TechCrunch reports, The office also alleges Oracle discriminates against those who have visas, often putting them in low-level jobs. The vast majority of hires from Oracles college recruiting program, the suit alleges, were international students with student visas. These students required work authorization to remain in the United States after graduation, the suit alleges. In other words, Oracle overwhelmingly hires workers dependent upon Oracle for sponsorship to remain in the United States. The OFCCP filed the suit against Oracle last January, following the Labor Departments 2014 audit of the company. That suit was followed by an employee-led class-action lawsuit last September alleging Oracle pays women less than men in similar jobs. OFCCP says other tech companies also discriminate Oracle isnt the only large tech company the OFCCP says has engaged in these practices. In 2017, the OFCCP found that Google violated federal law based on information showing that systemic pay discrepancies exist within the company, The Guardian reported. The Guardian quoted testimony from Janette Wipper, a Department of Labor regional director, saying, "We found systemic compensation disparities against women pretty much across the entire workforce." And Janet Herold, regional solicitor for the Department of Labor, told The Guardian, "The investigation is not complete, but at this point the department has received compelling evidence of very significant discrimination against women in the most common positions at Google headquarters The government's analysis at this point indicates that discrimination against women in Google is quite extreme, even in this industry." That same year, according to TechCrunch, the OFCCP sued Palantir for racial discrimination. Palantir, several months later, settled with the DOL, agreeing to pay $1.7 million in back wages and other types of monetary relief to those affected. Sometimes, it doesnt even take a lawsuit; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has said it's "so easy" to close the pay gap using human resources management software "with a push of one button, every CEO in the world can know exactly what their pay discrepancy is between men and women," Benioff said in this video interview. In 2016, CNN reported, "[Salesforce] examined salaries last year, comparing people with similar roles and adjusting for location, then corrected "unexplained differences" between men and women. As a result, 6 percent of employees had their pay raised. Both women and men received boosts." The company spent an additional $3 million to further equalize pay for its approximately 25,000 worldwide employees the following year. Oracle, of course, says the discrimination lawsuit is meritless. In a statement to TechCrunch, Oracles EVP and general counsel said, This meritless lawsuit is based on false allegations and a seriously flawed process within the OFCCP that relies on cherry picked statistics rather than reality. We fiercely disagree with the spurious claims and will continue in the process to prove them false. We are in compliance with our regulatory obligations, committed to equality, and proud of our employees. Methinks they doth protest too much. I find it far more likely to believe that this kind of systematic discrimination occurred than not. We know the wage gap exists. We know pay discrimination exists, even in tech. We know sexism and racism and unconscious bias exist so, Oracle, maybe instead of wasting time, money and energy denying and fighting these claims, perhaps admit your mistake, make amends, and move forward. As financial services institutions (FSIs) face new regulations, rising customer expectations and disruptors around every corner, they are embracing digital transformation to prosper and stay competitive. One of the ways in which FSIs are transforming themselves is through the adoption of artificial intelligence. Increasingly, FSIs including commercial banks, investment firms and insurance companies are using AI to address some of their most pressing challenges. With todays AI solutions, FSIs are improving customer experience, reducing fraud, predicting customer needs, protecting confidential data, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Common use cases Lets consider a few of the more common use cases for putting the power of AI to work in the financial services industry. Risk analysis In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, FSIs have been subject to increased regulations for controlling risk. One way they do this is by using AI to simulate huge numbers of parallel market scenarios over large portfolios. These simulations require intelligent algorithms and an enormous amount of computing power. In addition, FSIs are using automated systems to compare whats happening now with benchmark data for normal behavior, so they can spot risks in real-time. These steps lead to better outcomes with reduced effort. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, FSIs have been subject to increased regulations for controlling risk. One way they do this is by using AI to simulate huge numbers of parallel market scenarios over large portfolios. These simulations require intelligent algorithms and an enormous amount of computing power. In addition, FSIs are using automated systems to compare whats happening now with benchmark data for normal behavior, so they can spot risks in real-time. These steps lead to better outcomes with reduced effort. Fraud detection Highly sophisticated, always-on fraud detection is a requirement for day-to-day business in the financial services world. Al is at the heart of these efforts. For example, smart algorithms help banks identify unusual transactions that could be fraudulent so they can put an immediate stop to those transactions. Similarly, insurance companies use AI to spot suspicious claims by comparing new claims against the patterns and specifics of legitimate claims. Highly sophisticated, always-on fraud detection is a requirement for day-to-day business in the financial services world. Al is at the heart of these efforts. For example, smart algorithms help banks identify unusual transactions that could be fraudulent so they can put an immediate stop to those transactions. Similarly, insurance companies use AI to spot suspicious claims by comparing new claims against the patterns and specifics of legitimate claims. Cyber security FSIs continually face malicious threats from hackers, thieves and defrauders, as well as unreliable insiders. To ward off these threats, they leverage a wide range of tools for protecting the security of data and systems. One of these tools is AI, which is used to detect suspicious behavior and other anomalies so security teams can stop threats as they emerge. Even better, FSIs are now using machine learning to enable threat-detection systems to learn from their experiences and get better over time. FSIs continually face malicious threats from hackers, thieves and defrauders, as well as unreliable insiders. To ward off these threats, they leverage a wide range of tools for protecting the security of data and systems. One of these tools is AI, which is used to detect suspicious behavior and other anomalies so security teams can stop threats as they emerge. Even better, FSIs are now using machine learning to enable threat-detection systems to learn from their experiences and get better over time. Trade optimization For algorithmic and highfrequency trading, AI helps firms make better, faster decisions on the trading floor. For example, AI helps investment firms and trading desks identify patterns and trends in data and make predictions about the future, so they have a better sense of the direction and volatility of a stock price. For algorithmic and highfrequency trading, AI helps firms make better, faster decisions on the trading floor. For example, AI helps investment firms and trading desks identify patterns and trends in data and make predictions about the future, so they have a better sense of the direction and volatility of a stock price. Credit risk assessment In mortgage and retail banking, AI helps FSIs make better decisions on the credit-worthiness of applicants while greatly accelerating the process of credit risk assessment. As the research firm McKinsey & Company notes, With machine learning and other technologies, risk models can become more predictive, which suggests that credit losses may fall by up to 10 percent.1 Even better, McKinsey notes that over half of risk managers expect credit decision times to fall by 25 percent to 50 percent with the power of AI on the backend. Marketing optimization With AI systems, FSIs can more easily cluster or segment customer behavior to better serve and sell to like groups. AI can also help FSIs personalize the customer experience. For example, they can use AI to mine transaction history, social media sentiments, and other structured and unstructured data to anticipate a customers needs and objectives in real time and offer customized services. With AI systems, FSIs can more easily cluster or segment customer behavior to better serve and sell to like groups. AI can also help FSIs personalize the customer experience. For example, they can use AI to mine transaction history, social media sentiments, and other structured and unstructured data to anticipate a customers needs and objectives in real time and offer customized services. Automated customer service In the customer-contact arena, FSIs now use voice analytics to increase customer satisfaction and reduce churn. These initiatives capitalize on advances in voice-recognition technologies, data analytics and AI algorithms. Systems can now detect not just the words customers use but also the tone and sentiment behind the words. These capabilities help FSIs automate both customer interactions and quality-assurance monitoring. In the customer-contact arena, FSIs now use voice analytics to increase customer satisfaction and reduce churn. These initiatives capitalize on advances in voice-recognition technologies, data analytics and AI algorithms. Systems can now detect not just the words customers use but also the tone and sentiment behind the words. These capabilities help FSIs automate both customer interactions and quality-assurance monitoring. Regulatory compliance A wave of new regulations has washed over the financial services world in recent years. For many FSIs, achieving compliance with new and existing regulations is no easy task, especially if they rely heavily on yesterdays processes. New AI-driven processes offer a better way forward. AI can help organizations automate the process of identifying, collating and analyzing data from disparate systems to meet compliance requirements. Fighting fraud at Mastercard Mastercard is among the payment-processing companies fighting back against fraud every second of every day with a war chest filled with sophisticated technologies. One example: To identify and stop fraudulent transactions, Mastercard leverages machine-learning algorithms running on HPC systems to process large data sets nearly instantaneously. This capability helps Mastercard stop fraud in its tracks without disrupting or delaying legitimate transactions. While thats a challenging proposition for any company, the scale at which Mastercard operates makes the problem all but unfathomable. In round numbers, Mastercard has 2 billion cards in use in more than 210 countries and territories. It processes 165 million transactions per hour, using machine-learning algorithms and applying 1.9 million rules to examine each transaction. It all happens in a matter of milliseconds.2 None of this would be possible without AI working quietly in the background at lightning-fast speeds. Key takeaways In the world of financial services, AI is transforming everything from risk management and cyber security to high-frequency trading and customer interactions. Along the way, AI is empowering FSIs to make smarter decisions that drive better outcomes. The bottom line: AI is very much the future of the financial services industry and thats something you can bank on. Ready to learn more? For a closer look at Mastercards successes with AI, read the Dell EMC white paper Fighting fraud the smart way with data analytics and artificial intelligence. _______________ 1 McKinsey & Company, The future of risk management in the digital era, December 2017. 1 Dell EMC white paper, Fighting fraud the smart way with data analytics and artificial intelligence, December 2018. Florida, FL (34429) Today Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. High 87F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. WASHINGTON Rhonda Hart, the mother of a Santa Fe High School shooting victim, will be the guest of Houston U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher at President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday. Another congressional freshman, San Antonio Republican Chip Roy, is inviting Brandon Judd, the president of the National Border Patrol Council and an outspoken supporter of Trump's hard line on illegal immigration. The more things change in the capital, the more they stay the same. It's become a time-honored ritual of the annual State of the Union speech: Guests whose appearances give new breath to issues such as immigration, gun safety, or, in 2019, the government shutdown. The guests are not always ideological. Last year, Republican Kevin Brady of The Woodlands brought along Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, who opened his Gallery Furniture stores to victims of Hurricane Harvey. But this year's presidential address, coming after a 35-day partial government shutdown over border wall funding, appears to be extra ripe for political messaging. Some Democrats are inviting federal workers who were affected by the shutdown and who could again be furloughed or forced to work without pay if House and Senate negotiators don't strike a funding deal by February 15. Also among the Democratic guests will be Central American immigrants who worked on Trump properties in New York and New Jersey without legal papers. Dreamers - young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children - are also expected on the invite lists. White House officials, briefing reporters Friday on Trump's speech, signaled that he will seek to strike a conciliatory tone, with phrases about "bridging old divisions" and "healing old wounds." But the opposition party is always a tough audience. As Trump gives his second State of the Union speech, many female lawmakers also will be seen in the House chamber wearing white, a symbol of the early 20th century women's suffrage movement. With lawmakers, members of the Supreme Court and cabinet officials all gathered in one place, guests take their place on the second-floor gallery overlooking the spectacle, often attracting the attention of news cameras. Some Texans in Congress will be satisfied with small, personal gestures, resisting the increasingly polarized mood of Congress. Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw, a freshman who has vowed to bring civility to politics, is bringing along his wife. Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar one of the negotiators on border security conference committee tasked with averting another shutdown invited San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Others are adopting a similarly regional, if topical approach. Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a top Republican, is inviting former Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Manny Padilla, now director of the Border Patrol's Joint Task Force-West in San Antonio. Austin Democrat Lloyd Doggett will bring Richard Perez, President and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Sugar Land Republican Pete Olson is inviting Brij Agarwal, a Houston-area entrepreneur who came to the United States legally, starting out in factory work. "Brij represents the diverse business owners in our community and the importance of small businesses who are the backbone of growth and opportunity for our hard-working families," an Olson spokeswoman said. But Roy's and Fletcher's guests will likely make more of a media splash. Brandon Judd, the Border Patrol union president invited by Roy, is a frequent guest on Fox News, where he is a vocal defender of the Trump administration's border policies. He has also taken aim at Democrats on Twitter. "Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release," he wrote last year. "Getting more dangerous. 'Caravans' coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW." Then there's Fletcher's guest, Rhonda Hart, an Army veteran whose 14-year-old daughter Kimberly was among the 10 students and teachers shot and killed at Santa Fe High School last year outside Houston. The loss turned Hart into a gun safety activist, leading her to volunteer for Beto O'Rourke's Senate campaign and crashing a campaign rally last September for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican incumbent. "Don't disrespect my daughter. My daughter died. My daughter died," Hart said, standing on a chair, while accusing Cruz of inaction on gun reform. She has since become the most outspoken of the Santa Fe victims' families. "Rhonda has suffered through the unimaginable loss of her child with poise and resilience," Fletcher said in a statement Friday. "She's taken her pain and focused it toward advocating for others whose lives are threatened by gun violence. And through it all, she's worn a smile on her face and her trademark red cape." Cruz, for his part, is inviting his father, Rafael Cruz, an evangelical preacher from Cuba who often served as surrogate on his campaigns, including his 2016 campaign for president. Waller County Sheriff R. Glenn Smith shared more details on Thursday about the death of a county jail inmate, including that he had been placed on suicide watch when he entered the jail and had apparently hanged himself with a mattress cover. Smith, who endured months of controversy and protests after the 2015 suicide of Sandra Bland in the jail he oversees, expressed deep regret at the new incident the first known suicide in the jail since Blands. As a sheriff in this state, our responsibility is to take care of those people in that jail. Just as much as we take care of everybody else. We dont enjoy these deals, Smith said. Its hard on the jailers. I promise you, I saw the look when I got up there that morning. I saw the look in their eyes and I know personally how they feel to lose someone. Evan Lyndell Parker, 34, died a month after an inspection by regulators revealed that jailers didn't meet certain standards for frequency of observing prisoners a deficiency also identified after the Blands death. Bland's suicide drew national attention and heightened the conversation about the treatment of African-Americans by police. Smith said computer errors confirming guard cell checks may have led to some errors in the December inspection report, but said he did not want evade responsibility for the findings. The sheriff said Parker had been monitored closely until he was found shortly before 3 a.m. on Jan. 25. Im not going to sit here and make excuses, Smith said. Its what it sums up to. We got a responsibility to check on them. The video monitoring in jails is a result of the Sandra Bland Act, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2017. The bill required jails to ramp up around-the-clock monitoring of prisoners and to install sensors or cameras subject to available funding from a grant program to ensure "timely in-person checks of cells" containing at-risk prisoners. Ashton Woods, the founder of Black Lives Matter Houston, said the news of the Waller County inmate made him think of Bland and Vincent Young, a Harris County inmate who committed suicide. ECHOES: Inmate's death raises issues from Sandra Bland case They have no excuse for what happened, said Woods. None. Someone has dropped the ball. Tarsha Jackson, an activist with Texas Organizing Project who spoke out after Blands death, agreed that Waller County officials need to be held accountable. Waller County made a lot of promises after Sandra Bland died in their custody to make changes that would keep the people in their custody safe, Jackson said in a statement. Waller County needs to be completely transparent with the results of this investigation and needs to be held accountable. Parker was accused on Jan. 9 of killing 64-year-old Harry Parnell and critically injuring 36-year-old Jose Rangel. The three worked at Orizon Industries in Waller County. Harry Parnell is the father of a Katy Police Department officer. A Galveston native, Parnell was apparently the night superintendent at Orizon Industries and had been employed there for 20 years, according to his obituary. Smith said Parker reportedly had complained of being picked on at work. Still, it wasnt immediately clear what led to the workplace stabbing, the sheriff said. When Parker was booked into the jail on Jan. 10 on murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges, he went through standard inmate screening, Smith said. Based on the screening, the local mental health authority did not think Parker needed additional treatment. Still, Smith said jail officials believed Parker should be placed on suicide watch for a few days because of the workplace incident. Parker was taken off suicide watch after three or four days, Smith said. During his time at the jail, he was described as quiet and reserved. The sheriff gave this account of Parkers movements on the day before he died: The inmate went to the nurses office for a routine medical visit. During the day, he was seen in the common room area and socialized with the inmate whose cell is next door and with the guards. Around 11 p.m., he went to his cell to go to bed and was observed at least three or four times. He was checked on around 2:21 a.m. and found inside his cell around 2:57 a.m. Parker was taken to Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston, but died on Sunday. The sheriffs office did not release a public statement about the death until Wednesday. Smith said officials waited to inform the public because they first wanted to notify Parkers family members. The Texas Rangers also told sheriffs office officials they could take over any media requests. More than anything, I totally understand the publics viewpoint of transparency vs. law enforcement. My goal is the same, Smith said. That transparency sometimes just takes us a little extra time than what the public expects. The FBI and Texas Rangers are investigating, according to a post on the Waller County District Attorneys Facebook page. Parker's criminal history includes charges of aggravated robbery, assault, resisting arrest and aggravated assault against a public servant, according to sheriff deputies. brooke.lewis@chron.com A man shot a security guard multiple times with a rifle outside a southwest Houston strip club Friday morning, Houston police said. Police responded to a reported assault at Gold Diggers Cabaret in the 11300 block of South Main, Metro Video reported. The gunman allegedly punched a man and threatened one of the security guards there. He left, but returned several minutes later and fired shots at the guards. When police arrived, he was gone. One of the guards suffered unspecified injuries. Both are reportedly in stable condition. The gunman is said to be in his 30s and may have left the club in a gold sedan. 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 | 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. Two Houston police officers remain in the hospital after being shot while serving a drug warrant on Monday. The police sergeant whose knee was injured during the drug raid has left the hospital, joining two other officers with gunshot wounds who had already been released, Chief Art Acevedo said on Friday. Roman Catholic clergy, staff and parishioners across the Houston area clung to their faith Thursday while absorbing the news that priests in their parishes had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. From Conroe to Katy, from Pasadena to The Woodlands, church members and staff said they were pained by the revelation that 42 priests in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese were among those accused. Many acknowledged that the scandal had damaged the church but expressed hope that the release of the names would lead to accountability and start a healing process. At the end of the day, our church is broken, but but we still believe in Christ and we still believe in our Catholic faith, said Stephen Lenehan, the director of development and community services at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, where more than 50 parishioners gathered Thursday after the list was released. During a midday Mass at Conroes Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where two former priests were among those on the list, the Rev. Joseph Manapuram addressed the issue directly. As you know, all the different dioceses of Texas are publishing the names of clergy who have abused children, Manapuram said. Accused priests Richard Edelin and Manuel La Rosa-Lopez had both served at Sacred Heart. La Rosa-Lopez was arrested Sept. 11 on four counts of indecency with a child; he is accused of molesting a boy and a girl at the Conroe parish from 1998 to 2000. Edelin, who served at Sacred Heart for a few months in 1985, was accused of groping a 17-year-old girl while working at a Houston church in the 1980s; he was removed from public ministry in 2013. At a midday Mass on Thursday, Manapuram told the 75 parishioners in attendance that they should live exemplary lives with children, who are innocent and should be loved and respected. Manapuram led a prayer of intercession for the abused. Parishioner Nicette Humphreys said that each Sunday, the priest leading Mass will talk about the list and ask the congregation to pray for the victims as well as the accused priests. I think that they should definitely pay for their sins, for whatever theyve done to these poor children, Humphreys said. At St. Anthony of Padua, Lenehan said the churchs transparency was valuable in helping parishioners cope with the scandal. Thats been our approach, and thats why we are praying today, Lenahan said. Ultimately, thats where healing starts for us. Dozens of voices rose in unison in the cavernous sanctuary, repeatedly reciting the Lords Prayer and Hail Mary asking God to grant them, and the Church, his grace. Its painful for those of us who are Catholic and work for the Church, Lenahan said. Its painful for the average Catholic and most importantly its painful for the victims. Thirty-seven years to the day after Charles Giardina welcomed God back into his life, he found himself at St. Anthonys, praying for the healing of the victims and the souls of the abusers. I think this is a really important moment in the history of the Church, Giardina said. Im sad it happened, but Im very grateful that its been exposed. At St. Pius Catholic Church in Pasadena, where four priests spanning nearly seven decades were identified as credibly accused abusers, Emilio Barba was picking up his young children from the churchs school Thursday. Barba, who is in his 30s, is a new member at St. Pius, but the list didnt shake his belief. Like I tell everybody: you have to have faith, he said not in individual priests or the church organization, but in a personal commitment to God. If youre going to get political, its going to make everybodys head turn in circles, Barba said. Its not just Catholics, its every race or group. Theres crazies, theres all kinds of things in this Earth youve got to have a lot of faith in the man upstairs. Thats it. The issue was also on the minds of the faithful in parishes not included in the list released Thursday. Shiara Plasencia, 29, has been a lifelong parishioner at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy, which wasnt on the list. Plasencia said she supports releasing the identities. I think its necessary. Cleaning house is a good way to put it, she said. Its very sad that this is happening with leaders in our faith that we are supposed to look up to. She added that sexual abuse is not unique to the Catholic Church. We always get a lot of attention but it happens to other religious denominations, she said. Its not unique to the Catholic Church. Yvette Orozco and Mike Glenn contributed to this report. jane.stueckemann@chron.com mrincon@chron.com A Harris County judge is under investigation by Houston police for allegedly assaulting the legal assistant of a defense attorney in his courtroom this week, a police spokesman confirmed Friday. Criminal Court at Law #10 Judge Lee Harper Wilson, who presides over misdemeanor criminal cases, is accused of walking down from the bench and physically grabbing the woman to move her out of an area in the courtroom typically reserved for attorneys. The incident left the woman with bruises on her arm, said her attorney, Thuy Le. My client is very upset about being assaulted in court Tuesday, said Le, who represents the woman. We are cooperating fully with HPD and their investigation. The judge, who has been on the bench in the days after the alleged incident but declined to comment, is now referring questions to his attorney, James Stafford. "He absolutely denies any wrongdoing," Stafford said Monday. Stafford said he is investigating the allegations and said he and Wilson would cooperate with HPD's investigation.. The Houston Police Departments major offenders squad is investigating a judge for an alleged assault during a court session, spokesman Victor Senties said Friday, but police did not identify the judge or courtroom. The police report portions of which are routinely available under Texas law has been classified as confidential, Senties said, declining to comment further. The Houston Chronicle has filed a request under the states open records laws for the public portions of the report. Judge Darrell Jordan, presiding judge of the County Criminal Courts at Law, confirmed in a brief email Friday that the state agency in Austin that monitors Texas judges has been notified. Earlier this week we were made aware Judge Wilson allegedly assaulted a legal assistant, he said. I immediately gathered information and submitted it to the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct as required by the judicial canons. The incident has been the talk of Houstons legal community for days. A number of attorneys witnessed the interaction during a busy public session in the courtroom Tuesday, Le said. Le is representing the woman, who is employed as an assistant to a different attorney. That lawyer did not see the alleged assault. Le declined to comment further, saying that she would speak in-depth after the investigation wraps up. Wilson is one of the many Democratic judges swept into office in the November election. He is one of 16 judges in Harris County who preside over misdemeanor cases, such as DWIs, domestic violence and assaults. The Chronicle endorsed Wilsons candidacy, and the veteran attorney said his commitment to help youth was his main reason for running for the bench. Hes board certified in criminal law, a graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and championed bail reform efforts. brian.rogers@chron.com The former Harris County treasurer has sued a man for $1 million after water was poured on his head during a news conference about HISD in December. Orlando Sanchez, who lost his re-election campaign in November, filed suit on Thursday against Steve Striever. Sanchez and his attorney said that Striever assaulted Sanchez by offensive physical contact during the news conference on Dec. 28, and that he knew or reasonably should have believed that Orlando Sanchez would regard the contact as offensive or provocative. Its not about the physical damage, its about the bigger effect the damage has, Sanchezs attorney Hector G. Longoria said. Its the visceral reaction it causes. Striever, reached on Friday by phone, declined to comment. Video from KHOU showed Sanchez speaking to reporters as protesters crowded around him, yelling things such as shame. The water was poured on the former treasurer, dripping down his face, before a man could be seen dashing off. Sanchez held the press conference to call for the state to begin the process of taking over Houston Independent School District, he said. Sanchez directed further comment to his attorney. Mr. Sanchez was there talking about a very important issue about HISD and its standards and how its failing the minority community, Longoria said. I think thats a topic that the public in general should be able to have a good debate about and not in this fashion. When does it stop? The $1 million includes relief for past and future mental anguish, according to the lawsuit. The amount would ultimately be for the jury to decide, Longoria said. Sanchez also demanded a jury trial and requested that Striever turn over material relevant to the incident, including any videos, documents, texts, or phone calls about the press conference or pouring water on Sanchezs head. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Twitter.com/sam_kett In a conversation with Todd Hayden, one thing is apparent: this entrepreneur is passionate about his businesses, which include a veterinary clinic, craft beer ale house and a newly opened whiskey bar. He sat down with The Villager to talk about how his entrepreneurial life developed. QUESTION: Tell us a little bit about yourself. HAYDEN: I identify as a veterinarian, first and foremost. Its what I grew up wanting to do, so I became one. I was at a hospital in The Woodlands, but had a non-compete clause. A lot of times veterinarians will have a time where (if you leave the practice) you cant practice that profession within a certain number of miles for a certain amount of time. There were two doctors at that hospital, and so I gave a one-year notice and left. Veterinarians work till the day they die, and after I left I focused on opening a community clinic. Im a vet full time at Rayford Animal Wellness Clinic (RAWC), the clinic I own with my wife, Corey Hill. Then I ended up opening Hop Scholar Ale House. We wanted to make it a community space, where people could enjoy themselves without getting crazy. I felt like I couldnt go to a bar here without the music being so loud you couldnt talk. QUESTION: How did you get involved in the craft beer world? HAYDEN: I was in the Marine Corps, so we drank quite a bit anyway. Somebody handed me a Boston Lager when I was in Japan and I thought, what is this?! At a pretty young age, I fell in love with beers that were better than what we were getting. I came back and started searching that out. After I left the corps and went to college, I tried to drink better beers. Then, I started printing t-shirts in college and med school. I printed all of Southern Star Brewings shirts for a couple of years, and they taught me how to be around a brewery. I wasnt afraid to pick up a broom and help clean, and I ran their swag department. QUESTION: Tell me about your new whiskey bar concept, Sabbatical? HAYDEN: Its a labor of love, I love this place. We knew we needed to expand, and theres so much that goes into knowing about whiskey. Theres no great place up here for it right now thats a neighborhood place and not overpriced or overdone. You have to go downtown to get a great cocktail, but we wanted to do it here. Our general manager, Matt Barr, is a huge whiskey and Scotch fan to begin with. We got him in (Sabbatical) and let him go crazy with whatever he wanted to do. I built everything here, but I left all the whiskey up to him. Hes done a great job. Theres no vodka here. We made a point of saying, vodka is a spirit thats made to be covered up with other flavors, and we dont really want that. Thats not who we are today. If you really want to explore whiskey and learn about itthats what we do. This is a horrible place to open a bar as far as DWIs. Not that any place is a great place for that, but this isnt a great place for that. We wanted to open a bar where you can come hang out with your friends and family, but one thats not designed to get torn up in. We cater more toward people who care that they have a job and a family and want to have a reasonable time without becoming unreasonable. Building this means that you get up every morning at 3 or 3:30 a.m., build some, go to work, come home, and do it all again. Its part of that labor of love, not sleeping a lot. We rented it a long time ago, and it took a long time to build. We opened about two months ago. After Harvey, youre broke. We did it ourselves. QUESTION: Have your businesses been affected by any flooding? HAYDEN: We flooded twice. The first one was like a foot and we were open again in three days. But Hurricane Harvey with four feet of water, that was a huge difference. Four feet wrecked us, and the clinic as well. Fortunately, we took all our clinic equipment home and we were spaying and neutering in our kitchen. These animals had to be spayed and neutered to get on transports to get out of Houston. We opened Hop Scholar three or four years before Harvey, and a year after it opened I opened RAWC as a little, tiny trap, neuter and return clinic. It wasnt even open to the public, I just didnt want to be in the shelter. So when I took over Hop Scholar, my wife took over RAWC and made it a real hospital. One of us always needed to have a steady paycheck to make life run, and the other could go out and make a difference in whatever they wanted to do. The public came and helped a ton with Hop Scholar, cleaning it out and rebuilding. I built all of the whiskey bar afterwards. QUESTION: How do you juggle doing it all? HAYDEN: You hire great people. If you dont surround yourself with great people, you wont be there. You just get up; you dont sleep a lot. Now that its all built, I sleep like a baby. But theres still stuff to be done. Everybody here does a great job. We only hire people who want to do more in life. If someone wants to be a bartender for life, we tell them to go to Chilis. We want people who want to go on to do other things, and its a great job for that. Get people who want to do more, and theyll do a great job. Our clinic is the same way. They have to aspire to do more. You dont want to be complacent. QUESTION: Whats your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur? HAYDEN: One of my favorite things is being here at 3 or 4 in the morning and looking around, and saying I did that. Then, seeing old pictures of it, to see how it has developed. Its fun to watch it grow, and now you kind of set it free and see what it does. Its stressful, its way easier to work for somebody else and know the paycheck is going to be there. Its tough, and when bad things happen to employees you want to try to help them. You feel responsible. My wife is a veterinarian. We always said we would never work at the same hospital, and now that we do, its fantastic. Theres 10 ways to do everything in medicine, and we always do it the opposite way from each other. Now, we can work together because we both have a strong base of experience to draw from. We know were both right, and we can deal with that. And shes awesome. Above all, anything thats ever happened is because shes amazing. I went in one day and told her I wanted to quit my job and open a bar, and she was like Great! Weve made good choices so now we can make bad ones. She let me quit my job and build this place, and she has supported me. QUESTION: What are your business goals for this year? HAYDEN: To run it like a business. I want to expand our footprint and our reach, do more stuff in the community. Also, just get better at running a kitchen. I didnt have any experience running a bar when I opened up, so when we got good at the bar I want to get good at the kitchen now. Were not looking to expand into another bar this year. I would love to, but thats probably not in the cards with the way I like to do business organically. We dont have investors, so if its not supported, its not supported. We were looking at moving the clinic and expanding it. The next thing wed do is add space to the current clinic. jane.stueckemann@chron.com Italy came to The Woodlands on Thursday night with the opening of Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen and its partner bar and lounge, Como Social Club Poolside Terrace and Bar. Guests feasted on truffle cavatelli, roast suckling pig, herb and sea salt-crusted beef sirloin drizzled with red wine caramel sauce under the twinkling lights of Waterway Square. Im really proud to be here, said Sorriso Executive Chef Enzo Fargione to the hundred or so guests gathered in the palatial lobby. Together I think we accomplished something unbelievable. Sorriso officially opened on Jan. 9, but the event on Thursday was a way to both welcome the community to the newest restaurant in The Woodlands and celebrate the opening of Como Social Club, said Wendi Gelfound, the Howard Hughes Corporations area director of marketing. We wanted to celebrate both places, so we waited until we were ready to open Como, Gelfound said. Although the two venues are housed at the Westin at The Woodlands, they are stand alone restaurants with their own identities, Gelfound said. Both are completely separate and are designed to appeal to different and diverse demographics, but work together under Fargione and offer a complementary experience for guests. Sorrisos authentic Italian fare is geared toward the guest out for high-end dinner, with its bar and charcuterie bar offering an authentic meal for all. With its pool, cabanas and bottle service, Como Social Club, on the other hand, is likely to draw a younger crowd as a night-out destination. We purposefully branded them differently and uniquely, Gelfound said. But they can work in tandem if theres a wait for tables (at Sorriso), people can go upstairs (to Como) and have a cocktail. But, on Thursday night, the two restaurants became one guests up and down the spiral staircase lounged on the mid-century chaises and couches on Comos balcony, sipping Aperol spritzes and Negronis and nibbling on focaccia, prosciutto and chickpea dip from the charcuterie bar set up downstairs. Not to be forgotten the dessert tower in Como stacked five shelves high with bite-size tiramisu, panna cotta and cakes. At the root of it all was Fargiones house-made sauces, pizza dough and pasta a major draw for Howard Hughes officials when they hired him from his former base in Washington, D.C. We went looking for a chef who is passionate about creating food from scratch that has all these authentic flavors, Gelfound said. There was nothing like this in The Woodlands before. mrincon@chron.com Dozens of voices rose in unison in the cavernous sanctuary, over and over reciting the Lords Prayer and the Hail Mary asking God to grant them, and the Church, his grace. The gathering of more than 50 parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands to pray the rosary on Thursday came on the heels of the release of a list by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston of more than 40 clergymen credibly accused of sexual abuse over the last 70 years. The Archdiocese was one of 15 in Texas and 70 nationwide who chose disclose such a list, which included 23 diocesan, 13 religious order and 4 extern priests serving in the region. (The abuse is) a breach of trust, said Stephen Lenahan, St. Anthonys director of development and community services. It's a breach of faith. On HoustonChronicle.com: Archdiocese releases list of credibly accused priests in Houston region St. Anthony clergy and staff have tried to be transparent as possible as the faithful search for accountability, Lenahan said. The parish twice hosted townhalls one in August and one in December where parishioners could get answers directly. Thats been our approach, and thats why we are praying today, Lenahan said. Ultimately, that's where healing starts for us. Its painful for those of us who are Catholic and work for the Church. Its painful for the average Catholic and most importantly its painful for the victims. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to you. Staff urged parishioners at the townhall not to allow the sins of the few push them away from their faith, and to not allow the scapegoating of priests who have not abused. This is not something we can have a knee-jerk reaction to and say, Just get rid of them all, said Michael Gormley, the churchs coordinator of evangelization. Many holy priests and good priests are caught up in the drag net of public opinion. Thirty-seven years to the day after Charles Giardina welcomed God back into his life, he found himself at St. Anthonys, praying the rosary for the healing of the victims and, as is the norm in the Catholic faith, the souls of the abusers. Finally, he said, change may come in how the highest echelons of the Catholic hierarchy handle abuse allegations. I think this is a really important moment in the history of the Church, Giardina said. Im sad it happened, but Im very grateful that its been exposed. For Paige Ingersoll, both a parishioner and the churchs high school youth minister, the scandal has allowed her to teach her students about the humanity and fallibility of the leaders of their church. We can sometimes place priests up on this pedestal, Ingersoll said. But theyre also human, theyre not immune to things that we all would do. 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. mrincon@chron.com WHARTON - It comes as no surprise to Wharton County Junior College Band Director Joe Waldrop that sophomore trombone player Angel Ramos has earned a spot on the Texas Two Year College All-State Band. A music major from Orchard, Ramos is known as a dedicated, devoted student who puts in the time and effort needed to perfect his craft. Hes been in the band for two years and is extremely reliable, Waldrop said of his student. He practices a lot. Last fall, Ramos auditioned for the All-State Band by learning and recording three challenging pieces. That recording was sent to a special committee that compared it to entries from across the state of Texas. Ramoss playing was good enough for him to earn the third chair position. It was challenging, Ramos said. It took a lot of extra work to perfect those songs. Four other WCJC Band members also tried out for the All-State group, but Ramos was the sole member selected. As part of the All-State Band, Ramos will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio in February. The conference welcomes thousands of attendees and performers from across the nation and features exhibits, workshops, professional speakers and live performances, including those from the All-State ensembles. Ramos, who intends to become a band director someday, will practice for three days before participating in the final concert at San Antonios Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Although he will be the sole WCJC Band member to make the trip, Ramos may recognize a few familiar faces. Three WCJC Choir members earned a spot on the All-State Choir and will also be participating in the convention. These students are Alexis Nieves of Rosenberg, Nicholas Paoletti of Richmond and Catching Valentinis-Dee of Katy. A Fort Bend County man convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child has been sentenced to 45 year in prison. Dwayne Bernard Howard, 52, of Houston was found guilty by a jury on Jan. 24 for aggravated sexual assault of a child before being sentenced by the Honorable Maggie Jaramillo to 45 years in prison in accordance with a plea agreement. Jenna Rudoff was the lead prosecutor on the case. It is very difficult for any child to speak out about sexual abuse and face their abuser in a courtroom full of strangers, Rudoff said. When children speak up, we must listen and make sure their voices are heard. In this case, the voices of these incredibly brave young children ensured the defendant will never be able to harm another child again. They are our heroes. Prosecutor Claire Andresen praised the young child who is the survivor of the sexual assault in this case. This child courageously stood up to their abuser and saw to it that the defendant was held accountable for his heinous actions, Andresen said. The verdict and punishment in this case sends a strong message to the community that sexual abuse of children in Fort Bend County will not be tolerated, and individuals who commit such offenses will suffer the severe consequences that justice requires. SEE LAST MONTH: 11 charged with felony sex crimes in Fort Bend County According to the Fort Bend County County District Attorneys Office, Howard originally entered a plea of not guilty to begin his trial in the 400th District Court on Jan. 22. After the jury was seated, Assistant District Attorneys Jenna Rudoff and Claire Andresen presented evidence in a hearing outside the presence of the jury regarding the sexual abuse committed by the defendant against the 7-year-old child in this case. Also presented was evidence that Howard sexually abused four other children when they were between the ages of 6 and 15 years old. After this evidence was heard, Howard changed his plea to guilty before the jury and have the court assess his punishment. On Jan. 24, the state presented evidence that Howawrd had three prior felony convictions, including an indecency with a child by sexual contact conviction in 1999 that resulted in six years in prison. The court then sentenced Howard to 45 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division. Under Texas law, Howard is not eligible for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence. Howard will be 74 years old before he is eligible for parole. DALLAS: 37-year-old man gets 60 years for impregnating 11-year-old Fort Bend County Sheriffs Detective Dawn Welch led the investigation in Fort Bend County. Welch discovered that there were four additional children who had been sexually assaulted by Howard over the last two decades in Harris County. She joined Harris County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Tyrone Tribbett in completing a full and thorough investigation related to all of the children abused by the defendant. Howard had three pending charges in Harris County which have been dismissed. He has a criminal record dating back to 1987 in Harris County. The investigation and prosecution was made possible by work including the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office, the Harris County Sheriffs Office, the Harris County District Attorneys Office, and the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office. Child Advocates of Fort Bend and the Harris County Childrens Assessment Center played a vital role in providing access to resources and services for all of the children, during and following the investigation. Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony in this case, punishable by 5-99 years, or life, in prison and a fine up to $10,000. rkent@hcnonline.com The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host the 11th annual State of the City Sugar Land Address on Thursday, Feb. 28. The even will be held with lunch being served at 11:30 a.m. at the Sugar Land Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at 16090 City Walk, at the corner of U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 6. The luncheon will be highlighted by the presentation from Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman and City Manager Allen Bogard. According to a news release from the Chamber of Commerce, the accomplishments of 2018 and goals for 2019 expected to be highlighted include: Sugar Lands efforts to improve mobility and connectedness. The focus on keeping Sugar Land safer, evidenced through the citys historically low crime rate and sustained investments in facilities and infrastructure, including drainage. The citys efforts to listen to the community by leveraging technology to enhance citizen engagement. Economic and tourism initiatives that help provide the high level of services that Sugar Land citizens expect while maintaining one of the states lowest tax rates About the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce is the only 5-star accredited chamber in greater Houston region. As the advocate for business excellence in Fort Bend County, membership provides both immediate and long-term benefits for your business and helps build momentum for our community's future. See More Collapse Sugar Lands AAA bond rating, a reflection of the citys strong financial position that allows the city to improve its quality of life, while at the same time minimizing our residents tax burden The citys champion workforce that consistently exceeds the high expectations of the Sugar Land community and positions the City to effectively respond to new opportunities. The Governmental Relations Division provides Chamber members with access to local and state government officials, promoting the understanding of current legislative issues and giving the business community an opportunity for input, the chamber reported. This division provide a forum for discussion of relevant legislative matters, updates members on key issues and provides leadership on legislative agendas. During election years, the division conducts community candidates forums for municipal, school, and county elections that provide a fair and unbiased opportunity for attendees to understand the qualifications, positions of the candidates and the key issues of the election. Sponsorships for the event are still available, including: Presenting Sponsor - $2,500 (includes table of 10, LOGO on all marketing materials and recognition at event). Underwriter Sponsor - $1,000 (includes table of 8, NAME on all marketing material, and recognition at event). Corporate Table of 8 - $650. Individual reservations are $35. Contact Matthew Ferraro at 281-491-0277 or matthew@fortbendcc.org to make reservations. You can also RSVP online at www.FortBendChamber.com More than 40 priests were named by the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese on Thursday, Jan. 31, as being credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor sometime after 1950, including four from the Prince of Peace Catholic Community. Father John Keller was recently removed from the ministry, according to the archdiocese and is currently under investigation by the diocese. As of Thursday, Keller was still listed as one of three priests assigned to Prince of Peace and listed as the pastor, according the churchs website. Keller was also assigned to Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring. Two of the priests, Robert Ramon and Allen Ray Doga, died in 1999 and 2014, respectively. Ramon also served at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe and was removed from ministry in 2002 before he resigned in the same year. Doga helped start the parish when it was established and getting the church built by 1974, according to the Prince of Peace website. He was also assigned to St. Edward Catholic Church in Spring, according to the archdiocese. Moises Cabrera, a fourth priest named by the archdiocese, was removed from the ministry in 1988. Bladimir Ramos arrived for confession at Prince of Peace on Thursday and said the accusations against the priests meant something bad had occurred to the victims. If found guilty, he said, they should be removed. They shouldnt be church servants. They dont belong to a church, he said in Spanish. Ramos said hed been attending the parish since 2012 as it was one of the few in the area that offered weekly mass in Spanish. Although he said he wasnt aware about the list published by the archdiocese earlier today, Ramos said his faith wasnt shaken. One shouldnt stop coming to mass despite what happens because were coming to Gods house (and) not for the priests, he said. Irma Jurado arrived for confession to accompany a friend and said she didnt regularly attend Prince of Peace. She said she felt bad about affected parishes reputations where the accused priests had served. Its not Gods fault. The fault is with the people who do wrong, she said in Spanish. In an op-ed published Thursday, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo apologized for the abuse and urged the public to report incidents to the police. Roxanne Portillo was dropping off one of her children at St. Pius V Catholic Church in Pasadena the day the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston released a list naming 42 priests identified as credibly accused of sexually abusing children, including four who had been assigned to St. Pius. Released Jan. 31, the list, which pertains to abuse cases dating back decades, is part of a stated effort by the Catholic Church to establish more transparency as well as assume accountability regarding abuses by priests. But the reckoning comes a little late, said Portillo. We come here for faith and to make sure that our kids our safe, but it doesnt always turn out that way, she said. If we find out that the priests or the deacons are trying to do something harmful to our children I think its the churchs responsibility to do more (to be accountable). Three of the priests on the list who had been assigned to St. Pius V at some point in their careers are dead: Nicholas Cornelius Antle, Allen Ray Doga and Joseph Giles Leduc. The fourth, Donald A. Neumann, was removed from ministry in 2013, according to the list. The list does not cite the years these men served at St. Pius. Each had been assigned to numerous congregations. The archdiocese provided information in the list about the assignments and careers of the men, and additional details are from court records, historical information and Houston Chronicle archives. Antle, who died in 2016, was ordained in 1959. Thirteen years later, he was charged with drunken driving in Harris County, according to state records. He was convicted and sentenced to a year of probation. Twenty years after that, he was arrested for public lewdness, which resulted in a a year of probation and he was also ordered to continue counseling. He retired in 1990 after seven assignments, including a few years at St. Pius, and was removed from ministry in 2011. Doga was ordained in 1949 and had assignments in Houston, Galveston, Spring, Houston and Pasadena. He died in 1999. Leduc was ordained in 1955 and had 10 assignments with the church in the Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur areas. He died in 1981. David Emmett Burns is a priest on the list who had been assigned to St. Marys of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in La Porte. Burns, who died in 2003, was ordained in 1961. He was arrested in June 1976 for driving under the influence in Houston, then fined and put on probation for 18 months, according to state records. He had nine assignments from Port Arthur to La Porte and retired in 1992. He was removed from ministry that year. To search an interactive database of priests on the list, visit chron.com/accusedpriests. St. Pius pastor, the Rev. Joseph Doran, referred questions about the priests named on the list to the archdiocese. In a videotaped statement, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said, For the survivors, those who are wounded, this was a day in which they could say, Im not alone it is a day when the healing of the church can begin ... Its a day of anger on the part of the faithful when they see these names, anger on the part of survivors. Portillo, 42, has been a member of St. Pius, the largest Catholic church in Pasadena, for five years. That the careers of the four priests on the list who were assigned to St. Pius were not recent does not make the situation it easier to process, she said. As a Catholic, she worries her children will lose their trust in the church. Its hard enough out in the world and you come to church and this (abuse) happens, Portillo said. Youre putting faith in God, showing your kids to be faithful, too and then this happens. Peak attendance at St. Pius, which is at 824 Main St., was from the 1950s-1970s, said Lucy Turoff, curator for the Pasadena Historical Museum. In the 1980s, St. Pius and other area Catholic churches began to experience a wane in membership as newer immigrants left to join the growing evangelical movement. But St. Pius, with its seating capacity of 600, adjacent school, courtyards and walkways, has continued as a vital part of the city, she said. It is, especially with its school, very much a presence in the community, but this (priest sexual abuse crisis) has not been good for the church in general, Turoff said. Emilio Barba was picking up his young children from the churchs school about an hour after the release of the names. Barba, who is in his 30s, is a new member at St Pius, but the list didnt shake his own belief. Like I tell everybody: you have to have faith, he said. Faith not in the human beings, or an organization that runs the church, he said, but in a personal commitment to God. If youre going to get political (about the church) its going to make everybodys head turn in circles, Barba said. Its not just Catholics, its every race or group. Theres crazies, theres all kinds of things in this earth. Youve got to have a lot of faith in the man upstairs. yorozco@hcnonline.com Its like [China is] preparing for World War III, the senator said, military newspaper Navy Times reported. Youre talking to our allies over there and you wonder whose side theyre going to be on. US senator warns: China 'is preparing for World War III'https://t.co/2HLzwCXaEN news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) January 31, 2019 Authorities raided four locations in San Antonio on Thursday, seizing dozens of high-end cars and arresting two auto dealers as part of a lengthy money-laundering investigation. The raids targeted MGM Auto near Rittiman Road and Interstate 35 and Odida Auto off of Stahl Road, both of which sell used cars. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Law enforcement officers also raided a rental home in the 4000 block of Barrington and a large home worth $460,000 in the gated Champions Run subdivision in the Stone Oak area, where a man named Karen Mgerian, 40, who owns MGM, was arrested. Jose Luis Magallon Jr., 28, also was arrested. Authorities have accused him of laundering money for a drug trafficking organization in Michoacan, Mexico. He was caught in a secret sting allegedly laundering money for undercover agents. Magallon appeared in federal court Thursday on a money-laundering conspiracy charge and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He's due in federal court again Tuesday for a bond hearing. Magallon is the owner of Magallon Enterprises LLC, an exotic and luxury used auto dealership in San Antonio, according to a 10-page court affidavit filed against him. The business was not among those raided Thursday. Magallon allegedly dealt with an undercover agent who posed as a transporter of large amounts of drug cash, and flashed several high-end cars that were part of Magallon's money laundering operation, the affidavit said. The affidavit also alleges that other people helped Magallon disguise his money laundering under layers of fronts. None have been charged. Law enforcement sources said Magallon also used photos of himself with a who's who of current or former public officials, posted to his Facebook page, to present a facade of legitimacy and significance. Among them are former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary Henry Cisneros ; Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar; state Sen. Jose Menendez; and former Bexar County Democratic Party chairman (and San Antonio mayoral candidate) Manuel Medina. None of the officials knew about nor were involved in Magallon's alleged scheme, according to the law enforcement sources. "He used them (the photos) to make himself look important," one of the sources said. Find out first: Get San Antonio Express-News breaking news directly to your inbox About 100 vehicles were seized in the early-morning raids, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, a Bentley and other luxury brands, officials said. Several were towed away from MGM Auto. "All told, it was about $3 million to $4 million in assets," Salazar said Thursday morning outside MGM Auto. The sheriff's office provided an undercover deputy during the investigation and also helped with SWAT teams that simultaneously swarmed the four locations Thursday, Salazar said. The case was developed by the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which used an undercover business in the sting operation, according to the affidavit. RELATED: Items seized from San Antonio oil and gas businessman Brian Alfaro's home The affidavit said that Magallon laundered $204,000 in a series of undercover sting transactions involving federal agents. The operation began in June 2017. According to the affidavit, Magallon told one of the undercover agents that he could "invest" in Magallon's car business. Magallon would take the undercover agent's bulk U.S. currency and purchase high-end vehicles of the agent's choice from an auto auction using Magallon's auto dealer license. That would help the agent avoid having the agent's undercover name and other identifying information on official U.S. government documents, and dodge having transactions of more than $10,000 be reported to the IRS, the affidavit said. "Magallon stated he could even ship luxury automobiles to the UCA (undercover agent) outside the U.S.," the affidavit said. "Magallon does this for members of the DTO he works with in Michoacan. Another arrangement Magallon does with DTO members in Michoacan and offered to the UCA is laundering bulk U.S. currency through a financial institution Magallon does business with." Magallon and the agent made a series of deals; the first involved $20,000 that the feds provided and Magallon gave the undercover agent the title to a luxury vehicle as collateral, the affidavit said. He then converted the $20,000 into two $8,500 checks he later gave back to the agent, and took a 15 percent cut as his money-laundering fee, the affidavit said. At least two other operations were conducted in similar fashion. Some of the deals were cut at San Antonio resorts, the affidavit said. During negotiations with the agent, Magallon allegedly said he would have his accountant provide him with false sale invoices to make it seem the "drug money" the agent was providing was for something legitimate, like auto parts. Magallon also said his accountant could create a false lien for the agent if the agent chose to buy a luxury vehicle in cash, the affidavit said. The accountant is not identified. The affidavit also said Magallon sold a 2011 Maserati Gran Turismo to undercover agents for $54,000 in cash and prepared the sales documents in the name of a straw person to hide the buyer's identity and did not prepare documents showing the receipt of more than $10,000 for the sale. Magallon also told the agent that he had a Russian friend who sells high-end vehicles and takes large cash payments and won't report the large transactions to the IRS. Magallon introduced them to Mgerian because he was able to launder larger amounts of money than Magallon could handle, according to the affidavit. The affidavit said Mgerian laundered $575,000 for the agents in four separate sting transactions. He is expected in federal court Friday for an initial hearing on a money laundering conspiracy charge. gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland 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 A prominent Houston priest was allowed to perform Mass hours before the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston made public that he was under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse and would be removed from his post. The removal of Father John Keller at Prince of Peace Catholic Community Church in Houston came as a slew of alleged victims came forward with accusations against other priests not named in lists of "credibly accused" clergy released Thursday by 14 of the Catholic dioceses in Texas. "When will it end?" asked Michael Norris, who leads the Houston chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), who received allegations against seven other priests in the hours after nearly 300 clergy across Texas were named as credibly accused. THE LIST: Here are names of Houston-area priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston notified Keller Wednesday evening that he would be removed from the ministry effective at noon Thursday as officials investigated a recently lodged claim of abuse, according to a statement released Friday by the archdiocese. The next morning, Keller stood before parishioners at the north Houston church and celebrated the 9 a.m. service before notifying the congregation as the Mass ended that it would be his last service. The allegations of child sexual abuse against Keller were brought to the archdiocese by adults about incidents that happened 25 to 40 years ago, officials said in the statement. The allegations were reported to the Houston Police Department, archdiocese officials said. "These allegations have been reported to the civil authorities and the individuals involved have been encouraged to cooperate with any investigation that may be conducted," the statement said. "The Archdiocese will also fully cooperate with any investigation." Keller, who has been assigned to Prince of Peace since at least 2000, agreed to tell his parish staff after Mass that he was "being removed from ministry during the investigation," the statement noted. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Priest abuse report tells of devastating, decades-long trail of sexual abuse by Texas clergy Nearly 300 priests across Texas have been identified as "credibly accused" of sexually abusing children over the last 80 years, including 40 priests in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Keller and former Conroe priest Manuel La Rosa-Lopez were listed as under investigation. The release of names Thursday sparked a surge in new accusations. Among those reported to SNAP after the release were five priests not previously named and at least two who were reported Thursday as "credibly accused." An accusation against an eighth priest was reported to the San Antonio Express-News, which is owned by Hearst, the Chronicle's parent company. Local law enforcement said Friday they had not received any new allegations. Victims advocates called this week for an independent statewide probe or other investigations into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, saying dioceses dramatically undercounted the number of abusive priests. "It's no surprise," said Tim Lennon, national president of SNAP. "When we have independent investigations, that's when we have a truer sense of the scope of systematic, historic sexual abuse of children, minors, and those who are vulnerable." The disclosure Thursday is one of the largest since a sweeping grand jury report in Pennsylvania last year identified more than 300 priests there who had abused more than 1,000 children. The report prompted more than 70 dioceses nationwide to announce similar plans to compile lists of credibly accused priests, including the Catholic dioceses in Texas. The Pennsylvania report detailed a pervasive cover-up by church leaders, with priests transferred from parish to parish as allegations surfaced. The list released by the Galveston-Houston archdiocese showed that the credibly accused priests moved through 111 churches in the Houston region and neighboring areas, with 10 accused priests assigned over the years to Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, the center of the archdiocese. Christ the King Catholic Church in Houston received seven accused priests, while Our Lady of Fatima in Galena Park, St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston and St. Vincent de Paul in Houston each received five. The records released by the diocese do not say what years the priests worked in those churches, or if they overlapped. The accusations date back to the 1950s. STATEWIDE: How to find Catholic priests 'credibly accused' of abuse in Texas Nationwide, dioceses so far have identified 1,250 priests and others church leaders credibly abused of sexually assaulting children. The majority of those priests are now dead. SNAP officials said there could be as many as 1,400 abusive priests who have been in Texas. Questions remain, however, about whether Texas officials could duplicate the Pennsylvania report. State law does not authorize grand juries to perform statewide investigations or issue reports, said Shannon Edmonds, director of governmental relations for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. "You would have to change the state constitution to authorize (the attorney general) to create some statewide grand jury tool like they have in Pennsylvania and some other states," Edmonds said. Advocates said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could initiate other actions, however, to investigate statewide. Paxton has offered to help local officials investigate allegations, but his office did not return calls or emails Friday seeking additional information. 'How dare they?' The celebration of Mass with Keller Thursday drew criticism from two parishioners who attended the service inside the Mary Chapel. "It made me uncomfortable because I think it should be severed between him and the parishioners," said one woman who has attended the Tomball Parkway church for decades. "He wasn't supposed to be there celebrating Mass." Another woman who attended said Keller's decision to perform Mass was inappropriate. "He shouldn't have, out of respect for the community," she said. Both women asked not to be identified. As Mass ended, Keller asked parishioners to leave the chapel so he could speak with his staff alone. He then made reference unspecified news reports during his farewell, said the women. Norris said Keller should have been removed immediately. A CBS News report Thursday identified an accuser who said he reported the alleged abuse to church leaders in December. "How dare they allow him to be around children and not tell their parents, their true protectors?" Norris asked. Elaine Ayala and Matt Dempsey contributed to this report, which contains material from The Associated Press. nicole.hensley@chron.com st.john.smith@chron.com After a shooting injured five Houston police officers earlier this week, Chief Art Acevedo called the union president's fiery response to the attack "over the top" during a press conference on Thursday. The shooting, which left four officers shot, another injured, and two suspects dead in a failed drug raid in southeast Houston on Monday, was among the most violent incidents for Houston police in recent history. During a Monday night press conference, Union President Joe Gamaldi made an emotional call to end police shootings. Then he took aim at "the ones out there spreading the rhetoric that police officers are the enemy." RELATED: 'Enough is enough': HPD union chief doubles down with fiery comments on Fox News "Well just know that we've all got your number now," Gamaldi said. "We're going to be keeping track of all of y'all, and we're gonna make sure that we hold you accountable every time you stir the pot on our police officers." Gamaldi appeared on Fox & Friends just two days later and doubled down on those comment, calling out "activists who have severely made our officers the enemy." "They've put targets on our backs," he told the national news outlet. Acevedo delivered an update on the shooting on Thursday evening, and he responded to criticism and so-called conspiracy theories about the incident. He said he believed Gamaldi's comments were the center of much of the fallout. "Quite frankly, I think a big part of it is because Joe Gamaldi's emotions got he best of him...and he just went off a little bit over the top over there a lot over the top if you ask me," Acevedo said. "Which brings me to this, Joe Gamaldi doesn't run the police department. I do." Acevedo went on to say that activists and the police department should not be painted with a broad brush "because of one guy's comments." GAMALDI'S STORY: New Houston police union president ready to tackle hiring, contracts Gamaldi responded on Twitter when he learned about Acevedo's comments. "I was just at City Council defending @houstonpolice budget, [and] while doing so, I was told I was being thrown under the bus at a news conference," Gamaldi said in his tweet. "Sad state of affairs when defending [the] reputation of the brave men and women of law enforcement is frowned upon by a few." Gamaldi was retweeting people who showed support for his words, including other police association leaders. "There is no time for political correctness when people are trying to MURDER police officers!" said Anthony White, the vice president for the Fort Worth Police Officer's Association. "Terrible move, @ArtAcevedo. @JoeGamaldi stood up for his officers at the right time and said what many officers feel about society." The San Francisco Police Officer's Association also chimed in on Twitter, saying Gamaldi "said what needed to be said." "He was protecting the membership he represents and all of law enforcement," the association's tweet read. "Too many times department heads (aka Chiefs) fold under political pressure. Joe did not go too far. You go Joe!" On the other side of the issue, Houston Black Lives Matter founder Ashton Woods didn't take kindly to Gamaldi's comments. He told the Houston Chronicle earlier this week that Gamaldi needed to apologize. "We don't need you blaming us for what happened," Woods said. Gamaldi continued to emphasize police officer deaths on Friday, despite a decrease in the number of law enforcement deaths nationwide in the last four years, according to data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. In 2014, 148 officers died compared to 129 in 2017, the latest available year in the data. Gamaldi pointed to an increase compared to 2013, when 120 officers died. However, that was the lowest figure for police officer deaths in the last 60 years, the data shows. 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 | 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. Days after his controversial comments sparked pushback, Houston Police union chief Joe Gamaldi doubled down in a fiery tirade Wednesday on Fox & Friends. "I'm talking to the activists who have severely made our officers the enemy," he told the national news outlet. "They've put targets on our backs." A botched drug raid on Monday left two residents dead and five Houston Police officers wounded in an incident Gamaldi framed as the result of anti-police rhetoric. In a five-minute interview, he laid the blame for police shootings on activists and media figures who "drive a wedge" between communities and police. "We're sick and tired," he said, "and enough is enough." After bursting in the front door of 7815 Harding, an undercover narcotics officer shot to death a pit bull, setting off a gun battle with the couple who lived there. The attempted raid stemmed from an earlier undercover heroin buy at the home. Police walked away with guns, marijuana and an unidentified powder. Related: 'We are so sorry': Family of man killed in drug raid offers prayers for wounded police Both Dennis Tuttle and his wife Rhogena Nicholas died in the shoot-out. Police said that Tuttle a Navy veteran snuck around the back of the house and opened fire on officers, while Nicholas reached for a shot officer's gun. Though the operation was intended to target drug dealers, the couple's friends and family have consistently maintained that they weren't using or selling heroin. Still, the incident provoked a strong reaction from union brass. First, Gamaldi lashed out in a Monday press conference, telling anyone "spreading the rhetoric that police officers are the enemy" that "we've got your number." "We're sick and tired of having targets on our backs," he continued. "We are sick and tired of having dirtbags trying to take our lives when all we're trying to do is protect this community and our families." Alarmed by the seemingly accusatory comments, local activist Ashton Woods struck back. "We have a freedom of speech," he told the Chronicle on Tuesday. "We don't need you blaming us for what happened." On HoustonChronicle.com: New details emerge as three officers remain hospitalized Yet, on Wednesday, Gamaldi reinforced his earlier statements during his TV interview, calling out activists and "talking heads" for "harmful narratives." He dismissed the idea that police could act with bias toward minorities, and blamed the activist upsurge following Michael Brown's killing in Ferguson for a subsequent increase in police deaths. "What was that seminal moment that changed it all?" he said. "Well, 2014 when we had hands-up-don't-shoot which by the way was a completely false narrative and they continue to beat the drum on that." As Gamaldi's comments made the rounds on social media and sparked outrage online, on Thursday HPD Chief Art Acevedo announced a press conference at 3 p.m. And again, Woods struck back, this time calling for Gamaldi to retract his statements and resing. "He should be held accountable," Woods told the Chronicle. "He needs to apologize." Approximately $29 million in fraudulent Medicare claims was billed by two Houston physicians, who were sentenced Tuesday to prison in the Southern District of Texas for their separate schemes. From December 2011 to August 2015 Dr. John Ramirez,65, along with co-defendants Ann Shepherd, 63, and Yvette Nwoko, 30, defrauded Medicare for unnecessary medical services, according to a Department of Justice news release. Ramirez and the two clinic operators were found guilty in September. Ramirez was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. A federal judge also ordered him to pay $26.7 million in restitution, according to the Justice Department Shepherd and Nwoko sold medical orders and other documents Ramirez had signed for home-health agencies in the Houston area. Ramirez falsely certified in these orders the conditions of patients and their need for medical services. The home-health agencies then used the fraudulent paperwork to bill and receive payment from Medicare for services that were not necessary or not provided. In total, Ramirez, Shepherd and Nwoko defrauded Medicare of $17 million, stated the release.. Shepherd was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Jan. 24 and ordered to pay $20.9 million in restitution and forfeit $250,000. Nwoko will be sentenced on April 18. The Department of Justice could not be reached to explain the large discrepancy in restitution ordered to pay and the amount Medicare was defrauded. The second Houston physician sentenced Tuesday was Dr. Anh Do, 78, who will serve three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Do in August had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare and must pay $1.8 million in restitution and forfeit $274,213. Do admitted to signing fraudulent care plans and other medical documents for patients' home-health services. The news release said that Do made it appear patients qualified for home-health services under Medicare when they were not necessary. Do also signed documents for patients to receive unnecessary diagnostic tests. Medicare paid approximately $12 million on claims for home-health service and diagnostic tests in which Do was the patient's attending physician. Last June, authorities charged 48 people in the Southern District of Texas for falsely billing $300 million in Medicare expenses. Police were in a brief shoot-out on Thursday afternoon in southwest Houston with two suspects who police described as part of a "serial robbery crew." Earlier in the day, police obtained surveillance video of two males suspected in four to six robberies in northeast and southeast Houston, assistant police chief Pete Lopez said at a news conference. Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward leading to information in the case of a murdered teen in Fort Bend County. While the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office continues its investigation in the murder case, Crime Stoppers has announced a $15,000 reward for information on suspects in the case of Jason Montes, 17. This is a senseless crime, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said in a news release. Someone took this young mans life, a horrible act performed by a sick perpetrator who needs to be caught and punished. We know someone in this area knows the story and we need to hear it in order to get this murderer off the streets and in prison. According to the Sheriffs Office, an employee at Bush High School called the Sheriffs Office when students told her there was a deceased Hispanic male near a retention pond. FAMILY OF ALLEGEDLY MURDERED TEEN SPEAKS OUT: 'You can hide from us but you can't hide from God' After deputies responded, it was determined the body was that of Montes. After retrieving his body, it was determined that Montes died from being shot. Anyone who has information on this crime is asked to call Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers, Inc. Call (281) 342-TIPS (8477) Submit online here. Information, which leads to the apprehension and filing of charges on the suspect(s) involved, could earn up to a $15,000 cash reward. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. rkent@hcnonline.com courtesy of Montgomery County Sheriff's Office A man was arrested Wednesday after the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says he injured an deputy reporting to call on suspicion of fraud at a FedEx Store in The Woodlands. Cedric Gilbert, 32, is charged with two third-degree felonies for assaulting an officer and forgery of a government document. A deputy responded to a call about a man trying to pick up an envelope addressed to a different person at a FedEx store located at the 1600 block of Lake Woodlands Drive. Going by the description provided, the deputy saw Gilbert holding a counterfeit Texas identification card. Gilbert began running to the door saying he wanted to go outside as the deputy repeatedly instructed him to stay. Gilbert kicked at as he pulled away from the deputy who received a nondebilitating injury, according to the sheriffs office. It isnt often that a symphony devotes a major part of its concert to old hymns and spiritual songs. Thats one reason supporters of Conroe Symphony Orchestra are anticipating the next concert on February 9, at 7:30 p.m. Its in the symphony orchestras customary locale, the auditorium of Conroe High School, 3200 Davis Street (105 W.). But the guest soloist is creating just as much excitement. Its American bass-baritone Timothy Jones. The concert is aptly titled from Gospel to Gershwin, featuring elements of both, gospel songs and selections from George Gershwins most recognized work. Of course, Music Director and Conductor Dr. Don Hutson creates an electrical tingle every time he takes the podium, as does Associate Conductor, Dr. Jacob Sustaita. They will be in their usual positions, as the evening begins with CSOs golden tradition of the national anthem. Some of the choices following that are from Porgy and Bess. Gospel varieties include Amazing Grace, The Prince of Egypt, and an African-American spiritual medley, among others. Guest soloist Timothy Jones currently is a voice professor at the University Of Houston Moore School of Music. A native of Shreveport, La., he graduated from Centenary College and the University of Michigan. He is a champion of new and contemporary music, and has performed as a guest in dozens of American universities and colleges, and abroad as well. Scores of distinguished metropolitan orchestras have invited him to perform as a guest star; he is especially recognized for annual appearances with the Pittsburg New Music Ensemble, and has commissioned and premiered numerous compositions. Mr. Jones voice also is featured on several recordings. Many prestigious American newspapers have highlighted his abilities and accomplishments, particularly noting his ability to connect with audiences, as well as his musicianship and vocal technique. The next concert on April 13 will honor Dr. Hutson as he retires from his CSO leadership and hands the baton over to Dr. Sustaita. Its titled A Walk down Memory Lane. Expected to be a time of mixed emotions, the public will lament his departure, but rejoice that so qualified a leader as Dr. Sustaita will take leadership responsibilities. Supporters are reminded that this concert will begin at 7 p.m. rather than at the traditional time. Ending this 22nd season will be Celebrating America! with Dr. Sustaita exercising leadership. Its scheduled for June 29 at a location not yet chosen. This is the traditional Independence Day concert which has been held for the past two years out of doors in downtown Conroe. Citizens liken it to the town square observations of yore, teeming with unabashed pride, flag-waving and energetic American patriotism. Tickets to CSO concerts are $20 each, with those age five and under getting in for $5. Buy at the door, contact (936) 760-2144 or www.conroesymphonyorchestra.org. The upcoming concert receives financial support from the Montgomery County Community Foundation, a Conroe Arts & Culture Development Grant, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Bad Bob Price, creator and director of the incomparable Jazz Connection, announced that a date for the Jazzs fundraiser concert has been solidified. Its Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. in downtown Conroes Crighton Theatre. So get out your little memory device or you Big Chief tablet and make a note. Youll be so deprived if you missed these young musicians who are almost as highly admired as they are talented. As you likely know, theyre junior and senior high school students (sometimes joined by college age musicians or an adult or two) who play for the love of music. Practice is required but theyd likely do that anyway, so much do they love playing their jazzy horns and percussions. And so much do their fans love to experience the good old sounds of the big band and later eras. Special guests on March 30 are Dr. Daniel and Paula Karp, Bob wrote in an email. Hes from MD Anderson and they live undercover in the Conroe area. Undercover? Whoa. When queried, Bob enlightened me that the Karps hide out in the lake area. I dont think theyre fleeing; just maybe, hanging out? Anyway, well go with that. Dr. Karp will play some standards on piano and his wife will sing, Bob wrote. He will be assisted by Craig Blackiston and a drummer to be announced. They will play two or three numbers in the middle of the concert. To hear all this marvelous music the tickets cost only $10. Hope is that most attendees will donate more to encourage these exemplary young men and women who devote their spare time to making real music. Jazz Connection is now a 501 c 3 tax exempt entity. Peggie Miller may be reached at pegmiller01@gmail.com. As Helen Craig celebrated 105 years of life on Tuesday, Jan. 29, surrounded by family members, the longtime West University Place resident said seeing another year is a blessing and a source of wonder. Born in Hamilton, Texas, in 1914, Craig was the eldest of three children. She moved to West University in 1948 and lived in the same home there until a few years ago when she moved to Belmont Village Senior Living West University. Craig married her husband in 1939, and together they they had three children and owned Craigs Cleaners until he passed away. She then ran the business for several years before retiring at age 70. Now, she has six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Her family members helped her respond to questions in an interview on her birthday. No secrets I just tried to live a good life, and Im still fighting, she said when asked what has kept her healthy and strong for so long. Her daughter said in earlier years, her mom would have said hard work, avoiding drinking and smoking and eating healthy. Craig added having good children probably didnt hurt either. This brought a few jokes and laughs from them as they huddled around her in her apartment. An enduring faith has also helped Craig. A member at West University Baptist Church for more than 65 years, she used to teach women there how to crochet and knit and help to plan day trips for senior adults. Today, Craig said she is healthy, all things considered. Looking back, she is most thankful for her wonderful family. She encouraged younger people to keep a good attitude and fully embrace their years on this earth. Try to stay positive and live life to the fullest, she said. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com In a powerful statement Thursday, the daughter of a woman gunned down by her husband almost a year ago sobbed while asking why he took her mother away, leaving her with just memories. A jury panel of six men and six women sentenced Rafael Leos-Trejo, 33, to life in prison Thursday afternoon after finding him guilty of murder for shooting his wife of seven years in the face with his high-powered rifle at the kitchen table of their Montgomery County home. Why did you have to take my mom the only person that belonged to me, the most important person to me? the 12-year-old daughter sobbed following the sentencing. All I have is memories. People could be heard weeping through the courtroom pews. Leos-Trejo covered his face with his hands. The decision came after seven days in trial where the prosecution, as lead by Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon and Assistant District Attorney Shanna Redwine, proved Leos-Trejo intentionally killed Jessica Torres Leos. Defense attorneys George Jacobs and Joe Ray Rodriguez argued it was accidental when their client shot his wife with a recently purchased AR-15. Moments before jurors heard closing arguments for sentencing, Leos-Trejos mother, Cecilia Trejo, began to stumble out of the courtroom. Closing her eyes, she fell to her knees, complaining she was having difficulty breathing and was removed on a gurney by EMS. Jacobs tried to reopen the case to identify Leos-Trejos mother to jurors who were removed from the courtroom after the incident. Presiding Judge Patty Maginnis denied his request. In the trials opening arguments, Jacobs described the 5-foot-7 Leos-Trejo as a meek individual. Meanwhile, prosecutors contested the image of domestic bliss the couple projected to their neighbors in the Spring Trails subdivision and through social media photos cataloging their many trips together, concealed discord wrought by an unfaithful husband financially dependent on his higher-earning wife. Jurors were presented with flirtatious text conversations between the defendant and two women, one of which texted Leos-Trejo a minute before he fatally shot Torres Leos. They were also shown texts Torres Leos sent her sister, Brenda Torres, where she voiced wanting to leave Leos-Trejo because of his financial irresponsibility. Torres Leos daughter, who was in the house when her mother was killed, testified that Leos-Trejo was abusive. She recalled an occasion where she found him hitting her mother once. She also spoke about how after a misunderstanding he spanked her bare buttocks so hard he left his hand prints on her. What appeared most damning to Leos-Trejos presumption of innocence, however, was the forensic evidence acquired through the investigation and displayed during trial. It outweighed some of the theories the defense offered up. In one instance, Jacobs implied a shocked reaction could be discerned off the victims face, therefore suggesting an unintentional shooting. Ligon said the move demonstrated how desperate the defenses argument was. Crime scene investigator Celestina Rossi testified she determined the AR-15 was aimed directly at a standing Torres Leos based on where the bullet apparently hit after going through the back of the victims head and where skull fragment and blood spatter landed in a chair behind her. This conflicted with the defenses argument that Torres Leos was seated and with Leos-Trejo who told a 911 dispatcher the rifle accidentally fired up. It remained unclear why Leos-Trejo, under what he repeatedly said was a state of shock after the shooting, removed the rifle and a handgun from the kitchen to a couch in the living room. He said the dispatcher told him to do so, but the calls audio as played in the courtroom did not include those instructions. In crime scene photos jurors were shown, Torres Leos lifeless body laid on the kitchen tile floor with the blood flow from the bullets exit wound looking unaltered. Testimony from a crime scene investigator corroborated as much. Prosecutors insisted this proved Leos-Trejo calmly walked over or around her body and remained unconcerned immediately after shooting her. The one explanation Leos-Trejos attorneys offered was he was trying to avoid coming into contact with Torres Leos blood to keep her daughter from seeing it. But the victims daughter said he snatched her phone when she tried dialing 911 and hesitated making the call himself. In the call he made, jurors could hear the girl crying and pleading with him to try and render aid to her mom. He declined. During the sentencing phase, the prosecution presented into evidence media retrieved from the defendants mobile phone. This included photos taken on the phone of substances resembling cocaine and marijuana and wads of dollar bills. The prosecution suggested Leos-Trejo, who was occupied as a vehicle transport driver, was involved in a narcotics dealing lifestyle. In addition, jurors viewed a video saved onto Leos-Trejos phone that showed a young man apparently killed as he is ambushed by gunfire from two people, including one carrying a recording device. The prosecution also made mention of a video saved onto the defendants phone that featured bestiality involving a dog. Life imprisonment is the only place that you put somebody that cant be fixed, Ligon said during closing arguments of the sentencing. There is no fix for somebody, like this. The emotionally charged argument the prosecution made through eight days in the 435th district court were perhaps best summed up by Torres Leos daughter during her impact statement to Leos-Trejo. You broke her down when she was perfect, the girl said. It wasnt a mistake. It couldnt be a mistake. It takes time and steps. You shot and killed my mother on purpose. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx All are invited to hop aboard the S.S. Conroe Chamber as it sets sail for the Annual Chairmans Awards Gala on Feb. 9. Presented by Sam Houston State University, the event will launch at 6 p.m. at La Toretta Lake Resort & Spa. The Chamber will honor its immediate past Chairman and longtime Montgomery County resident George Waggoner with First National Bank Texas. Tickets are $125 a person. Sponsorships with tables of 10 are available. This years theme sail-ebrates Waggoners year as chairman and the accomplishments of the Chamber in 2018. Guests are encouraged to dress in nautical, beach, cruise attire or even get creative by dressing up as a character from The Love Boat, Gilligans Island, a pirate, cruise boat or sailing captain. The best dressed will be awarded with the annual best dressed award. The event will include an awards program followed by dancing and a casino. The program will feature a presentation honoring Kati Krouse with Bears Etc as Diplomat of the Year, McKesson Corporation's Brent Wunderlich, who has succeeded Waggoner, as the Chairmans Key Person, and Lone Star College President Dr. Rebecca Riley as the Chairmans Horizon Award. Sergios Landscaping has been selected as the Small Business of the Year and two companies, HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, formerly Conroe Regional Medical Center, and Gullo Dealerships as the Large Business of the Year. I am continually amazed at the outstanding work done by businesses like Gullo Dealerships, HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe and Sergios Landscaping, said Brian Bondy, president of the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. My hope is that the community will rally around these entities and join us at this years Chairmans Awards Gala. Sponsors of the event include Sam Houston State University, Conroe Welding Supply, Consolidated Communications, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Woodforest National Bank, Wiesner Buick-GMC-Hyundai, First National Bank Texas, First Financial Bank, FASTSIGNS, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, Lone Star College - Montgomery, Soules Insurance Agency, LP, Buckalew Chevrolet, LP, Guaranty Bank & Trust, The Courier, Better Bookkeepers, Inc., Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Bleyl Engineering, MidSouth Bank, Grand Central Park, Primrose School of Conroe, Conroe Economic Development Corporation, McKesson, Gullo Dealerships, Provident Wealth Advisors and Lone Star Family Health Center. For more information about the event, contact Courtney Galle, director of special events, at courtneyg@conroe.org or 936-538-7111. Or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit www.conroe.org mellsworth@hcnonline.com In the recent midterms, voters across the country rejected ballot initiatives that would have imposed punishing restrictions on oil and natural gas producers. Washingtonians squashed a proposed carbon tax. Coloradans voted down a de facto ban on fracking throughout most of the state. And Arizonans rejected a proposition that would have mandated huge increases in renewable energy production. By defeating these ballot initiatives, voters sent a message to their political leaders. They don't want to choose between a clean planet and abundant, affordable energy. They want both. And thanks to recent advances in drilling technologies, they can get their wish. Around the turn of the century, energy firms developed new technologies empowering them to tap into huge underground oil and natural gas deposits that were previously inaccessible. Fracking, horizontal drilling, and other innovative drilling techniques have enabled a breathtaking expansion of domestic energy production. Since 1990, U.S. natural gas output has spiked 50 percent. Back in 2009, we surpassed Russia as the world's leading natural gas producer. And just this September, we unseated Russia to become the top oil producer, pumping out 11 million barrels a day nearly double the daily total just two decades ago. This expansion has generated immense economic rewards. Today, oil and gas support over 10 million jobs. And the industry annually adds $1.3 trillion to the national economy. We're also well on our way to achieving what was once dismissed as a pipedream: total energy independence. Within just a few years, America will no longer heavily rely on foreign energy imports, including those from rogue regimes that have often constricted supply for political gain. The central gospel of the modern environmentalist movement contends that this energy renaissance must be having catastrophic effects on the planet. Rapacious fossil fuel behemoths may make us rich, but they only do so by despoiling the natural world, accelerating climate change, and pumping toxic chemicals into the water and soil. Energy wealth and environmental preservation are mutually exclusive goals. Or so they claim. This gospel is belied by the fact that the United States has become the world leader in carbon emissions reductions. America's energy renaissance is helping, not harming, the environment. Here's why. The surge in natural gas production has caused prices to plummet, making the fuel a cheap substitute for coal in electricity production. Many power plants have switched over from coal to gas. Natural gas produces about 50 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than coal. Power plants' mass migration to natural gas has pushed electricity-related carbon dioxide emissions into a freefall; they've dropped over 19 percent since 2011. As a result, overall emissions have nosedived. Last year, total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell nearly 3 percent, marking the third consecutive year that carbon dioxide emissions declined. The United States has posted the world's largest annual drop in carbon dioxide emissions nine times this century. America is enjoying an unprecedented oil and gas boom. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen to a 25-year low. By the standard environmentalist logic, this is impossible. American energy dominance must come at the expense of the environment. But it clearly doesn't. Fortunately, voters recognized they can have abundant, cheap energy, a thriving economy, and a clean environment. There's no need to choose only one. Andrew Langer is president of the Institute for Liberty. There were a million reasons not to attend the Children's Assessment Center's sixth annual "Advocate Through Art" party. The weather, for one. Rush hour traffic, for another. Then there's highway construction and airport congestion. And for the unluckiest few, car trouble. Those who made the trek to Million Air Houston, a luxury aircraft hangar outside of Hobby Airport, were handsomely rewarded with the only reason worth driving across town in a Thursday afternoon rainstorm for: a damn good time. Sure, things got going a little later than anticipated. But by 8 p.m., the industrial private event space was a-hoppin'. Kudos to event chairs Haydeh Davoudi, Julie Kuo, Andrea Medina and Luvi Wheelock for convincing more than 400 friends to brave the conditions. Hour-long drive times dominated most of the cocktail reception conversations, but that's nothing a strong-handed Deep Eddy Vodka or Casamigos Tequila pour couldn't fix. BIG NAMES, BIG BUCKS: Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott score $300,000 for inaugural Lombardi Foundation Award soiree Rockets Power Dancers lifted dampened spirits, too. From a red carpet welcome to a bouncing performance just before the live auction, their energy remained consistently high - and contagious. Time flies when you have 65 works of art to bid on. And that doesn't even include the "live" paintings by Erik "Coler" Del Rio, Kelley Devine, Angela Fabbri and Taft McWhorter. Guests tore themselves away from Clark Cooper Concepts' - Punk's Simple Southern Food, Coppa Osteria, Ibiza Food & Wine Bar, Brasserie 19 - sprawling buffet stations to peruse offerings by artists ranging from Ashley Longshore and Salvador Dali to Sarah Todd and Sarah Jawda and Saba Jawda. Auctioneer Hamid Parvizian took a particular interest in Justin Garcia's "Children's Art Therapy Project." Parvizian grabbed the microphone and prompted patrons to "get up and close and personal with one of the most impressive auction items he's seen in a long time." Some of the female attendees to his invitation very seriously. They quizzed the artist and self-described "time architect" on both his oil canvas and newly shorn locks. Garcia's piece eventually sold for just under $20,000, and will be re-installed at CAC as part of a donor recognition wall, bringing the organization's total amount raised to more than $325,000. Proceeds benefit programming designed to prevent child sexual abuse and assist in the healing of young victims. FOR HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM SUBSCRIBERS: Open up to feng shui and embrace joy in home design and life Social media-savvy party-goers contributed to the cause by raising awareness via photos inside of the private planes. An Instagrammable picture is worth a thousand rainstorms. STAY IN THE KNOW: Get caught up on what's going on around Houston. From sports to news and entertainment, check out the newsletters we're offering. After the Texas Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from opponents of additional Friendswood sales taxes approved in 2016, an attorney for the city is pleased the matter is finally over. However, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed the case led to needed changes in city policies. In May 2016, city residents voted 1,274-1,135 to add 1/8 of 1 cent per dollar to the citys sales tax rate to fund improvements to the citys downtown district and another 3/8 of a cent for street improvements. But the election results were challenged by eight residents who sued the city, former Mayor Kevin Holland, City Council member Carl Gustafson and Mike Foreman, who was then on the council and now is the mayor. The plaintiffs believed election rules were violated, claiming that the city failed to inform voters that enacting a sales-and-use tax for economic development required creating an economic development corporation. They also said that the city failed to include a Harris County precinct in pre-election ordinances. This result is good for the people of Friendswood, Bill Helfand, the attorney who represented the city for the lawsuit, said after the Texas Supreme Court declined to hear the plaintiffs appeal last month. Its good because the people elected this (additional sales tax to fund) economic development program years ago, and unfortunately, some people, who were in the minority of the vote, didnt like it and tried to upset that. Unfortunately, this ended up costing a great deal of money because of a small group of people who kept appealing decisions made by judges, judges who, numerous times, indicated the lawsuit had no basis in the first place, Helfand said. But one of the plaintiffs, Robert Bertrand, believes the lawsuit served the greater good. The election contest was the right thing to do and served a valiant purpose in promoting better awareness among the public and city, Bertrand said in a released statement. It helped promote better procedures by the city and a city that is paying closer attention to how elections are conducted. The state comptroller's office began collecting the additional sales tax for the city on Jan. 1, 2017. State District Judge Elizabeth Ray had dismissed the lawsuit in November 2016, but the plaintiffs appealed, and the case eventually made it to the Texas Supreme Court, which ultimately denied the petition for review in late January. Fariha Dhanani and her cousin Amir werent kidding when they called their little semi-serve spot on Highway 6 the Twisted Turban. Twisted it is: in a quintessentially Houston fashion that braids together Indo-Pakistani and Tex-Mex ideas into a frisky and slightly improbable whole. Which is us, when you think about it. Dhanani says that as students a decade ago, she and her friends who ate halal which calls for meat butchered according to Muslim law pined for some of the Texas staples they couldnt eat in restaurants, snack bars or the food trucks that were then becoming popular. She remembers, with wry nostalgia, one particular greasy chimichanga with queso on it that she and her cohort pined for, and figured they might be able to create at home. Lo, a decade later, she presides over a menu full of such previously unobtainable restaurant treats, all of them meticulously halal. (Yes, theres a chicken chimichanga on the roster.) The grass-fed beef burgers, sandwiches and paratha-wrapped tacos cater to those who eat vegetarian, too: her meat dishes can be prepared with lively aloo tikki patties of spiced potato. Dhananis signature Turban Burger will give you an idea of what the Culinary Institute LeNotre grad (and former Kirans intern) is trying to do here in a far-west suburban strip mall, sandwiched between a payday cambio and a beauty salon that will give you a henna tattoo. Its a wild ride, so hop on board. PRICE: Turban Burger with slow-roasted braised brisket, Muenster cheese, mango slaw and house-made Turban hot sauce, $9.99. You can add an order of tots or seasoned fries for $2.99; and a mango ice-cream shake for $4.99, which will bring your total to just under 20 bucks. On HoustonChronicle.com: The $5 taqueria cheeseburger Alison Cook loves ORDERING: Step up to the counter to order from a wall menu, then find a seat in the bright, tidy dining room anchored by a street-art-style murals that place-checks both Houston and the subcontinent. Enjoy the Bollywood soundtrack while you wait for your food to be brought to you. Twisted Turban 2838 S. Texas 6, Suite B 281-372-8194 twistedturban.com See More Collapse ARCHITECTURE: Salad stuff (i.e. the mango slaw) on top. On a shiny toasted bun goes a swipe of tart yogurt, a half-pound patty of grass-fed ground beef, and a mantle of melted Muenster cheese. Then comes a heap of shredded, braised brisket, a crown of mango-and-red-cabbage slaw, and swizzles of bright, hot Turban sauce thats made in-house. A toothpick holds the tall, tilty creation together. Or tries to, anyway. The look is slightly outrageous and infinitely Instagrammable, like many of the millennial-friendly dishes here. QUALITY: I loved the tart heat and bounce that the mango slaw, Turban sauce and yogurt combo gave this complex burger. It was like a burger given a contrapuntal chaat treatment, and it rocked accordingly. The tall-straight-sided beef patty had good, direct beef flavor, and it stayed moist despite its medium-well doneness. Yeah, the juicy braised brisket complicated things, but the traces of fennel, fenugreek, mace and nutmeg I detected added another facet of Subcontinental personality to the sandwich. Personally, I dont think adding brisket or other meats on top of a burger patty generally improves matters some of the focus of a really superior burger inevitably is lost but I had to admit this particular combo was tons of fun. OOZE RATING: Fair, and condiment-based. LETTER GRADE: B-plus. A slight overworking of the house-made beef patty gave it a denser texture than seemed optimal, but it wasnt a deal-breaker by any means. The bumptious flavors trumped all. On HoustonChronicle.com: The best soups in Houston BONUS POINTS: The gentle, tropical quality of the mango ice-cream shake was a perfect complement to the riotous flavors of the Turban burger. And while the tots were well, tots, they can be had with that spirited Turban sauce, a raita dip or a sweet-and-sour mint and cilantro chutney. Thats my idea of fun. So was the aloo tikki burger, Chickni style, that I took home. With its chutney and red onion and cheese, it reminded me of a riff on vada pav, the potato-patty sandwich thats an Indian street-food staple. MINUS POINTS: Curiously, the tamarind chutney was pulpy and bland, altogether unworthy of its superior sidekicks. LOCAL COLOR: I came in mid-afternoon, when I was the sole customer, so I have no evidence of who hangs out here. But Twisted Turbans Facebook and Instagram accounts are full of photos of young people enthusiastically tackling sky-scraping towers of food, loaded-to-the max fries and tots even that contemporary must-have, a lobster mac-and-cheese. The colorful wall mural adds even more of a street-food vibe. Its full of local references to such totems as the Texans, the Rockets and the University of Houston, from which Dhanani graduated with a business degree. She was supposed to go into her familys auto audio business. (She still works there part-time, as does her cousin and business partner. Her husband, an engineer by day, helps out, too.) But Dhananis face lights up when she talks about her food, and its impossible not to conclude that when she found a space that had been vacated by a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant, she ended up here on Highway 6 in exactly the right place. Alison Cook is the Chronicle's James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter, and keep up with Houston's latest dining and drinking news and reviews by subscribing to our free Flavor newsletter. The busy Adair Concepts restaurant group is taking a huge step this year by opening its fifth and largest Los Tios Mexican Restaurant, slated for a late spring debut. That new, 6,000-square-foot store is slated to go into the former Ciao Bello space at 5161 San Felipe (legendary Houston restaurateur Tony Vallone abruptly closed his Ciao Bello restaurant in August). And the Adairs aren't skimping when it comes to the design of what will become their flagship Los Tios: They've hired Houston designer Aaron Rambo, whose restaurant designs in Houston include Local Food, The Classic, Benjy's, to impose a modern Mexican aesthetic that will have the feeling of a Mexican courtyard. This weekend, we're remembering the late Farrah Fawcett on her 72nd birthday. The Hollywood star, who was best known for her role as Jill Munroe on "Charlie's Angels," was born on February 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas. In the fall of 1965, Fawcett enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, where she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. The following year, a celebrity publicist asked her to go to California to work as a model, according to Biography.com. Within two weeks she landed a modeling contract and never returned to college. It was a day of reckoning for the Roman Catholic Church that many victims never believed would happen. On Thursday, Jan. 31, the 17 Dioceses across the state of Texas released their lists of credibly accused clergy who allegedly committed sexual abuse of minors. The sum of the offending priests across the state, including the Diocese of Beaumont where Liberty County is affiliated, totaled nearly 300 spanning nearly 70 years from 1950-2018. The Diocese of Beaumonts list included 13, the last one credibly accused dating back to 1994. Earlier on Thursday, Bishop of Beaumont Curtis Guillory, shared a letter with the faithful of the Diocese of Beaumont offering an apology to the victims and their families and enjoining fellow Catholics in praying for all those affected by this crime. The whole purpose of this is to help the victims to heal and that this wouldnt ever happen again, said Guillory. Unlike the Galveston-Houston Diocese or some others across the state where their list included more details, Guillory said there would be more later. We listed the status of the credibly accused priests. This is a process and at some point, we may do that, but we decided not to do it at this time. Were working on it (more details), the bishop said. The Beaumont Diocese consists of the counties of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler in southeast Texas with the bulk of the estimated 80,000 parishioners living in Jefferson County. More Information DIOCESE OF BEAUMONT NAMES OF CLERGY WITH CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS RONALD BOLLICH (Ordained 5-31-1964) Suspended from ministry 5/1994; Deceased 8-7-1996. JOHN BYRNE, SSJ (Josephite / Ordination date unknown) Removed from ministry approximately 1981; Deceased 8-18-2014 DALE CALHOUN (Ordained 5-1-1968 to Diocese of Yakima Nov. 1976) Public priestly ministry revoked by Bishop of the Diocese of Yakima approximately 1986; no faculties; no clerical garb HENRY DROUILHET (Ordained 3-24-1928) Deceased 8-16-1988 JAMES ENGLE (Ordained 5-25-1963) Deceased 5-16-1999 ALBERT GEOFFROY (Ordained 5-28-1965) Deceased 7-6-2010 EARL MUDD (Ordained 5-28-1960) Faculties revoked 11/1996; no public priestly ministry; no clerical garb; deceased 1-1-2019 FRANK PADUCH (Ordained 7-29-1989) Faculties revoked 10/2001; no priestly ministry; no clerical garb; granted dispensation from the clerical state by the Pope 1/2005 AUGUST PUCAR (Ordained 5-25-1963) Faculties revoked 6/2006; no public priestly ministry; no clerical garb; as directed by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 8/2007, must lead a life of prayer and penance; deceased 1-17-2012 JUDE SIVCOSKI (Ordained 4-19-1975) Arrested 12 1978; pled no contest; deferred judgment-10 years probation; Canonical Penal Trial in Diocese of Beaumont 1987-1989 with final judgment for dismissal; priest filed appeals all the way to the Roman Rota; dismissed from the clerical state by the Pope in 9/1996. ROGER THIBODEAUX (Ordained 5-19-1979) Resigned from priestly ministry 4-1-2002; faculties revoked; no clerical garb JOSEPH TULLY (Diocese of Rockford, IL / Ordained 4-11-1925) Deceased 12-18-1982 HERMAN VINCENT (Ordained 10-15-1933) Deceased 4-21-1985 See More Collapse The Diocese is relatively new being established on Sept. 29, 1966 by Pope Paul VI. The Most Rev. Vincent Madeley Harris was named the first bishop. Guillory is the first African-American bishop for the Diocese. He was appointed on June 2, 2000 and installed on July 28, 2000. To date, the Diocese has approximately 48 parishes and missions. The 75-year-old bishop who hails from Mallet, La., said since 2002 when the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a set of procedures established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in June of that year, the number of offenses has dropped dramatically. He believes accountability for all made it possible. I think that most of the cases nationwide occurred in the 70s. The behavioral science at the time was you sent the abuser away for counseling and psychiatric help and once he or she was okay, they could come back and be reassigned, he said. What we have found out, obviously, through the social behavioral scientists is that this is a disorder and will never be cured. They should not be sent back to ministry and thats why we suspend them or take their faculties away and they cant serve as priests here in this country or anywhere in the world, the prelate said. The Charter also details guidelines for reconciliation, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. Every bishop across the U.S. agreed to the Charter and in June of 2003, the USCCB implemented an auditing process of all Dioceses throughout the county to ensure it was being administered in every parish. When we met at the bishops conference in Dallas in 2002, I dont think any of us knew how big a problem this was. Thats why we put the Charter into being, he said. Now when these reasonably credible incidents occur, they are taken directly to law enforcement or Child Protective Services. The Charter requires both clergy and non-clergy working in the church to attend intensive training dealing with children and protecting them. Its all about boundaries, he said. Since the Charter has been in place, the bishop said they have not had a credible allegation during that time. Nationally, very few cases have been documented. The Pennsylvania jury brought that out, the bishop said referencing a report by a Pennsylvania grand jury. In 2003, Guillory instituted a Diocesan Review Board that reviews and assesses the credibility of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and makes recommendations to him. The board is made up of lay men and women who are not employees of the diocese and who are competent in fields such as psychiatry, judiciary, law enforcement and social service. Since the beginning of the audits, our diocese has received an in compliance determination each year, the bishop reported. He said he hoped that the policies that the church had instituted would spill over into secular life and help prevent abuse on any level. I think the Holy Spirit wants us to clean up, and thats what were doing, the bishop said. The leader of the Beaumont Diocese said he believed the church was two-fold in being and while the rending of the church was painful, it was necessary for cleansing. We believe as Catholics the church is both divine and human. Its divine because it was founded by Jesus Christ and He promised to be with His church for all times. Secondly, its human because its made up of sinners and, in fact, thats why He gave His life, he explained. Because we are sinners, there are crimes committed and people dont always live up to the ideals and commandments of the church. Were all wounded as human beings, he said. While there were no special services offered by the Diocese, parishes in their Prayers of the People were asked to remember victims and pray for healing and reconciliation. In his final words to parishioners he asked them not to lose heart. Together we will pray and work for the purification of our Church and all who have been wounded by the actions of Her clergy. THE NUMBER OF PRIESTS ALLEGED TO HAVE CREDIBLE ACCOUNTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (40) Archdiocese of San Antonio (53) Diocese of Austin (22) Diocese of Amarillo (30) Diocese of Beaumont (13) Diocese of Brownsville (13) Diocese of Corpus Christi (26) Diocese of Dallas (31) Diocese of El Paso (30) Diocese of Fort Worth (17) Diocese of Laredo (0) Diocese of Lubbock (5) Diocese of Tyler (1) Diocese of Victoria (3) Diocese of San Angelo (13) dtaylor@hcnonline.com As Black History Month begins, the Klein Family History Center is educating the community on history and ancestors they may not know they had. On Jan. 31, Lori Fortner, genealogist with the Klein Family History Center, gave a presentation on the history and geography of the slave trade. During the presentation, Fortner described the origins of the slave trade, where groups of slaves came from and went, and how to find potential ancestors from the slave trade. Fortner said she wanted to give the presentation so she could tell the truth about the slave trade and help people locate their ancestors within historical context. You cant know something until you learn something, she said. I want you to be able to tell a story when youre done here. Im not African-American, but there are many people who look like me who have ancestry that is African-American. They dont know it until they do a DNA test. This is a talk that speaks to everybody. The presentation covered the trade of slaves to not only North America, but South American and Europe, including information about the overwhelming amount of slaves brought to South America and the impact it had on the development of the area. There were people who were enslaved that were taken all over the world, she said. [Half of a] million went to North America. A huge number of people were sent to Brazil. The Portuguese took them right down to Brazil. This is something I had not been told. I feel like I was lied to. Fortner said many people may not know about their African ancestors due to the history of the slaves being erased when they were taken from Africa, such as their names and ethnicities, or ancestors being able to pass as white after losing their original names. We found [an ancestor] who was from Scotland who was married to a woman who was a native of Cuba, she said. After looking at her DNA and, by golly, she has DNA that comes from [Africa]. If you saw her, she looks just like me. I was blown away and she was too. She had no idea. During the second part of the event being held Feb. 7, Fortner will aid attendees in finding their own African origins. Fortner said she hopes her work can help people realize more about who they are and the true history behind the slave trade. One of the things thats always bothered me, and the reason Im doing this, is because there was a whole population of people who were stripped of their homeland and have no idea where they came from, she said. This is my little bit to help people tell their story. Fortner will present information on finding ancestors using DNA and genealogy during her next presentation Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Klein Family History Center, 16535 Kleinwood Drive, Spring. The Klein Family History Center has events throughout the spring including presentations on how to find female ancestors and repairing old photos. chevall.pryce@chron.com Sempra Energy's proposed Port Arthur LNG export terminal has moved one step closer to obtaining a federal permit. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a positive environmental impact statement for the project on Thursday, clearing Port Arthur LNG for the next round of the review process. In a statement, Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, president and CEO of Sempra's North American Infrastructure Group, called it a "significant step forward" for the project. "We appreciate the support we've received from regulators and the supporters in Texas and Louisiana," Sacristan said. "We look forward to delivering a world-class project that will create jobs and support the local economy for decades to come." Long-Term Plans: Sempra Energy taking two-coast approach to LNG business A final permit decision is not expected until May but if approved, Sempra plans to build two production units known as trains that will capable of producing up to 11 million metric tons of LNG per year. FERC's environmental report comes a month after Poland's state-owned natural gas company signed a a 20-year LNG deal with Port Arthur LNG. Done Deal: Port Arthur LNG signs 20-year supply deal with Poland Sempra's long-term plans are to take advantage of record U.S. natural gas production by building three LNG export terminals in Texas, Louisiana and Mexico that will ship 45 million metric tons of the supercooled natural gas per year. Crews are building Sempra's Cameron LNG export terminal in Hackberry, La. A final investment decision for the company's Energia Costa Azul LNG export terminal in Baja California is targeted for late 2019 with potential first deliveries in 2023. Oil held below $54 a barrel in New York as weak Chinese manufacturing data and persistent uncertainty over U.S.-China trade talks stoked concerns that slowing growth could hurt demand. West Texas Intermediate futures were steady after rising 18 percent last month. A Chinese factory purchasing managers index for January fell to the lowest level in almost three years, showing the damage the trade war is doing to Asias largest economy. The White House said progress had been made in talks, though didnt detail any new commitments from either side. Oil is stuck below $55 a barrel even as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies cut production in an effort to bolster prices that sank almost 40 percent last quarter. Gains over the past month have been capped by continued uncertainty over whether the U.S. and China can tamp down their trade conflict. PREVIOUSLY: Oil scores best January on record as supply cuts revive market We are seeing quite a bit of disappointment creeping into the market with the failure to move higher, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Saxo Bank A/S. For now the market seems to be adopting a wait-and-see approach on the demand side, which has yet to be negatively impacted by the economic slowdown witnessed in recent months. WTI crude for March delivery slipped 3 cents to $53.76 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:33 a.m. London time. It dropped 44 cents to $53.79 on Thursday. Brent for April settlement rose 1 cent to $60.85 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, and traded at a $6.85 premium to WTI for the same month. The March contract expired Thursday after climbing 24 cents to $61.89. Weakening Sentiment The Chinese manufacturing PMI fell more than expected to 48.3 last month, the latest evidence of a slump in factory sentiment across Asia. While the U.S. Federal Reserve provided a reprieve to global markets this week by signaling a pause in interest-rate hikes, it failed to assuage investor worries about the disruption to business orders and investment plans as the trade war drags on. From HoustonChronicle.com: Arrested Citgo executives forgotten in Venezuelas turmoil The U.S. and China plan further discussions before a March 1 deadline when new tariffs kick in. Much work remains to be done, the White House said in a statement in which it reiterated its threat to raise levies on Chinese goods. In Venezuela, the U.S. moved to block state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA and its customers from using the U.S. financial system in updated guidance on its sanctions. Any transactions with PDVSA, or any entity in which it has a controlling stake, involving U.S. persons or passing through the countrys financial system must be wound down by April 28, the Treasury said. The sanctions could directly halt 500,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan oil exports to the U.S., Citigroup Inc. analyst Ed Morse wrote in a report. Theres a 50 percent chance that the losses could near 1 million barrels a day, he said. --With assistance from Saket Sundria. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Deputies identified the man accused of shooting a teenager in the Atascocita High School parking lot as 17-year-old Mikael Necciosup. The victim, a 16-year-old student, was shot in the foot and grazed across the torso but did not suffer life threatening wounds, according to a tweet from the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Necciosup faces aggravated assault charges, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. The sheriff's office first tweeted about the shooting around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Gonzalez initially said police identified two possible teenage suspects fleeing, but it's unclear whether another suspect remains at large. There is expected to be a press conference around 10 a.m. This story will be updated. 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 | 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. With a mission of preserving and celebrating Conroes rich history, the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County several years ago began an oral history project where volunteers with the museum recorded interviews with some of the towns longtime residents capturing their memories of Conroe. Among the participants is longtime teacher Lucille Bradley, who lived to be 100, before her death in January 2014. She spent 90 of her 100 years living in Conroe. On June 21, 2011, at the age of 98, Bradley participated in an interview with museum volunteer Linda Hanover at her home in Conroe. The Courier presents a summary of that interview in celebration of Bradleys contributions to the Conroe community. Early life Lucille Mims-Johnson Bradley was born on Nov. 16, 1913 near the Maynard community in San Jacinto County. I was eight years old when we came to Conroe, Bradley said in the 2011 video. My mother moved here. She and my daddy went apart. She had an older son who was married and working here at the sawmill. Bradley recalled first living in the sawmill quarters in a house her mothers older son was able to obtain for them. She went to public school for approximately six months at Mittie J. Campbell school, a public school for black students at the time. When she was in the third grade she began attending classes and living on the Conroe Industrial and Normal College campus in Conroe. A student at Conroe College She explained young black students came from all over the country to attend Conroe Industrial and Normal College. There was a theologian there who was out of this world, she said. Thats the reason Conroe College had so many ministers to come out of the school. Even at the young age of 10, she lived on campus. There were separate boys and girls dorms at the campus with chaperones who lived in each building. There was also a cafeteria on campus where the students dined. She recalled that the students did everything in groups. They had to draw water from the well as young students. The boys and girls went in separate groups and they were on a schedule of when it was time to draw the water. They would walk into town on dirt roads to go shopping, again as a group, with a chaperone. As you got to be a teenager, a lot of times you wanted to do things on your own, she said. You couldnt even go down to draw a bucket of water unless somebody was with you. Sundays were reserved for church. Girls wore black skirts and white midi blouses. Boys wore black suits. This was their school uniform as well. The head of the school was President Dr. William A. Johnson. When Bradleys mother passed away when Bradley was 13, Johnson and his wife, Cora, wanted to adopt Bradley and her younger brother Frank. Bradley said on the video she did not wish to be adopted, so she became a foster child of the Johnsons and her brother became their adopted son. Bradley attended the rest of her elementary, junior high and high-school years at Conroe College. Going away to college Bradley said she got the chance to go to college because they thought she could sing. Some of her other friends from Conroe College attended Guadalupe College in Seguin on what would be a music scholarship today. She sang with the choir and traveled with them to different performances. She lived in a dorm with a roommate on the Guadalupe College campus. One of her most vivid memories was of the night their dorm burned down. Records from the Texas State Historical Association show this fire happened on Feb. 9, 1936. She said they had just returned from a weekend of singing. She and her roommate lived on the third floor and about 3 a.m. she woke up when she heard everyone moving around in the building. She looked out the window and saw that the building was on fire. She woke up her roommate and she said they had to break through each floor below to get out as there were locks between the floors. They eventually broke a window on the bottom floor to get out. Bradley showed in the video where at 98 she still had a scar from breaking the window. Fortunately everyone got out of the building safely. The girls escaped only with their lives, losing all of their possessions in the fire. Bradley recalls the next morning after people from Seguin and nearby San Antonio found out about the fire, trucks of clothing and shoes showed up at the campus. Bradley went on to earn her teaching degree from Texas Southern University. Marriage and her teaching career Bradley met her husband Rev. Arthur Bradley as he studied ministry at Conroe College. He said he heard me singing and he said the Lord told him There goes your wife, Bradley said. She said it was strange because the Lord didnt tell her anything. They went on to be married for 39 years. They didnt have children, but they raised a nephew as their son. She taught second grade at Armstrong Elementary and Booker T. Washington elementary for more than 30 years as well as being involved in her church and the community. In Bradleys final years, those she influenced as a teacher rallied around her. Henry Calyen, now retired from the U.S. Postal Service, was in Bradleys second-grade class in 1957 at Washington School. She gave me inspiration to learn in class and was instrumental in planting a spiritual seed in my life, Calyen said in a 2013 Courier article. She insisted that we learned all the songs about America: God Bless America, America the Beautiful and the National Anthem. For the last six years of her life, Calyen brought a home-cooked, country breakfast to Bradleys house about five days each week. I really do it to give back, he said in the 2013 article. I asked her what she liked for breakfast and it started from there. Conroes evolution In her younger years, Bradley said the town got a bad name. People didnt want to come here, she said in the video. They thought people here were mean. She admits there were bad things that happened here in Conroe and she doesnt really like to think about those things. But in reference to recent years, she called Conroe a Miracle City. Today, people of all races have come here and Im glad that things turned out the way that they have in Conroe, she said on the video. God doesnt mean for the races to be separated. He means for his people to be cooperative and to help each other. When we do that, were getting closer and closer to living the way that God wants us to live. In November 2013, Bradley enjoyed a three-day birthday celebration as she turned 100. She passed away on Jan. 12, 2014 roughly two months after celebrating her 100th birthday. In August 2017, a new elementary school in Spring opened as Lucille J. Bradley Elementary. Memorabilia from her life is displayed in a front case at the school as a tribute to her legacy. DVDs on sale at the Heritage Museum Copies of the Heritage Museums oral history project are available for sale at the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, 1506 I-45 North, Conroe. Call 936-539-6873 or visit http://heritagemuseum.us/ The DVD copies are $15 each. Longtime residents interviewed include: Floyd Baker, Barbara Bateman, Morris Bateman, Don Buckalew, Gary Calfee, Edith Clanton, Joe Corley, Lecretia G. Chatham, Mickey Deison, Seth Dorbandt, Whitson Etheridge, Martha Gandy, Don Granger, Celeste Graves, Roy Harris, Herbert Kix Lamp, Foster Madeley and Gerald Creighton, Mary McCoy, Margaret McCullough, Robin Montgomery, Anne Moore, Charlie Patterson, Rigby Owen Jr., Bob Peel, Sue Ann Powell, Toby Powell, Barb Sadler, Bob Shephard and Eddie Stephan, Gertie Spencer, George Strake Jr., Fostoria as remembered by Jack Telford, Coulson Tough and Dr. Wally Wilkerson. GALVESTON -- Publicity surrounding the mass shooting at Santa Fe High School last year has not created bias among potential jurors for the pending capital murder trial of a student charged in the case, according to prosecutors. In arguing not to move the trial to another location, Galveston County prosecutors Friday cited statements from local politicians to support their argument that media publicity will not taint the pool of jurors. Santa Fe student Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who was 17 at the time, has been charged with capital murder in the shooting last May that killed 10 people and wounded 13. Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady submitted sworn affidavits from the mayors of League City, Galveston, Dickinson, and La Marque, all of whom argue that their constituents -- who may be selected to serve on a jury -- have not shown any prejudice against Pagourtzis. "Based on my experience in public service to and familiarity with the citizens of Galveston County, I do not believe that there is a prejudice against the defendant such that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial here," Galveston Mayor Jim Yarbrough wrote in his affidavit. The prosecution also cited the scarce details provided about the May 18 shooting by local law enforcement and the Santa Fe Independent School District to counter the defense's assertion that the "intrusive publicity" has affected the impartiality of potential jurors. Roady referred to a section of a previous Houston Chronicle article that compared the lack of transparency in the aftermath of the May 18 shooting to the trove of information released after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. "Considering the lack of information made publicly available by government and law enforcement directly involved in this case...there is no indication here that the initial news conferences somehow created a coercive governmental force that could irreparably influence the potential jury pool and prevent the defendant from receiving a fair trial," Roady wrote in his argument. The prosecution noted a recent U.S. Supreme Court Case that involved former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, in which a venue change was denied. In that case, the Supreme Court "has not held that juror exposure to news accounts of the crime alone presumptively deprives the defendant of due process." Roady declined to comment any further about the arguments against a venue change, saying he would let the filings speak for themselves, and that prosecutors are restricted from commenting due to the ongoing investigation. Nick Poehl, one of the defense attorneys for Pagourtzis, who filed the initial motion for a venue change on Jan. 8, declined to comment in detail about the prosecution's response. Poehl said they were "looking forward to oral arguments," on a potential venue change. In its argument for a venue change, Pagourtis' attorneys had previously submitted a spreadsheet citing hundreds of news stories about the Sante Fe shooting since May 18 to underscore its argument that the media attention has stirred biased attention towards the case. A status conference for the Pagourtzis case was held Monday in the 122nd District Court in Galveston. Judge John Ellisor said he would make a decision on a venue change after he has reviewed the prosecution and defense's arguments. Poehl said after that hearing that he did not yet have a specific jurisdiction in mind for a venue change, but ruled out Harris County, saying the "law does not favor" contiguous counties. The defense has said that the prospect of a trial date set before the end of the year is unlikely, in part due to the uncertainty on when it will receive computer evidence seized from Pagourtzis and family members that has yet to be submitted for discovery by federal agencies investigating the case, including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com As the crow flies and Google Maps authoritatively confirmed the coast was just a matter of miles away. An easy drive and wed be lolling in the Mediterranean. Instead the car lurched along dirt roads, stopping for the odd goat or donkey cart, our driver chuckling at our surprised reactions in the rearview mirror. Suddenly the temperatures plummeted as we began an ascent into mist-wrapped mountains, a conifer-clad peak thrusting its nose into the clouds. Hello, Google Maps?! The car slowed to a crawl, passing beekeepers selling jars of honey from the side of the road. And then we broke through the swirling, rain-dense clouds and spied the sea glittering far below. Gesturing triumphantly, the driver brought the car to a screeching halt at the scenic overlook. We sprang out to drink it in. My sister and I had been looking for a Mediterranean destination for a short summer break. The only criterion? Not a blow-the-bank vacation but an adventure that would afford plenty of pretty beaches, open-sea swimming and culture. Albania, or Shqiperia as the locals call it, delivered in droves. Though lunch for two in nearby Corfu, a popular holiday destination in Greece, could easily cost $60, in Albania we had a dinner feast for less than $20. And then there were these epic road trips totally unexpected in a country the size of Maryland. We would learn that the Llogara Pass, where we now stood, is one of the highest paved roads in Europe a thrilling trip through different climates from the heat of cypress-dotted Mediterranean landscapes to fog and evergreen forests. Below, we could see a fringe of powdery white sand on the Ionian coast. These undeveloped crescent beaches are some of the prettiest you can find on the Big Blue. Outside, the cicadas loudly buzzed and the scent of sun-baked oregano wafted through the car window. We descended from the clouds onto the Albanian Riviera. A pearllike string of beach towns extended south toward the Greek border. The Albanians can be a party-loving bunch with electronic club music shaking up the beach clubs until the wee hours. Even if youre not a night owl, you can find bliss along this idyllic stretch of coastline. We found it in Qeparo, a sleepy village wedged between the mountains and the sea. We joined the local Albanian holidaymakers on the beach loungers ($5 for the day) and stared across the water to where according to Homers great legend Odysseus washed ashore on Corfu. After the fall But let me sing to you of Shqiperia, the land of the eagles, a country haunted by age-old legends and a colorful cast of characters including a gallant, 15th-century warrior called Skanderbeg, a 20th-century king by the name of Zog and a communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, who sealed the countrys borders for 40 years while he erected concrete bunkers in every nook and cranny across the countryside. (Maybe he wasnt paranoid; Hoxha reportedly survived 50 assassination attempts.) When his communist regime fell in the 1990s, citizens fled the country in droves. Today, Albania is a time capsule of ancient traditions mixing with modern ambitions. If you go WHERE TO STAY Mangalemi Hotel: Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat; mangalemihotel.com. On a hillside beneath the castle, this family-owned hotel occupies several historical Ottoman mansions. From the terrace restaurant, enjoy sweeping views over the city. Double rooms from about $45, including breakfast. Republika Hotel: Rruga Jonianet 0240, Saranda; republikahotel.com. The hotel is just across the street from the beach and is within easy walking distance to the ferries departing to Corfu. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the sea. Double rooms from about $55 per night, including breakfast. WHERE TO EAT Mare Nostrum Counsine: 20 Rruga Jonianet, Saranda; facebook.com/MareNostrum Cuisine. Sophisticated Mediterranean food at affordable prices, facing the popular beachfront promenade in Saranda. Appetizers average about $5, meat dishes from about $7 and fresh seafood (such as grilled dorado) from about $11. Lili's Home-Made Food: Rruga Llambi Guxhumani, Berat. A meal at Lili's is an authentic immersion in local life, as Lili welcomes you into his home with Albanian comfort food prepared by his wife and red wine produced by his father. Salad costs about $2, other traditional dishes between about $4 and $5. Half liter of wine for about $4.50. Barbarossa: Qeparo Beach St., Qeparo. Decorated with pops of greenery and hanging dried herbs, this chic restaurant serves tasty seafood and traditional dishes. Great service. The Greek salad costs about $3, seafood plates about $7. WHAT TO DO Berat Castle: Rruga Mihal Komnena 5001, Berat; albaniantourist.com. Perched high above the town of Berat, the castle is a sprawling complex of cobblestone streets and neighborhood houses enclosed within ancient fortifications. A highlight is the Onufri Museum inside the Assumption of Saint Mary Church. This iconographic museum showcases icons and rare wood carvings by master craftsmen. The entrance fee is less than $1. National Ethnographic Museum Berat: Lagja 13 Shtatori, Berat; muzeumet-berat.al. Housed inside a traditional 18th-century house, the ethnographic museum provides insights into local cultural traditions and Berat history. Open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day in the summer (May 1 to Oct. 15). Hours change in the winter. The entrance fee is less than $2. Butrint National Park: SH81, Butrint; butrint.al/en. Located 12 miles south of Saranda, the ancient ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992, draw tourists from all over the world. Open from 8 a.m. until sundown. The entrance fee is about $6.50. INFORMATION albania.al See More Collapse 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, urges 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. Here, as we meander through the alleyways, shaded by grapevine trellises, we pass elderly ladies draped in traditional black garments. The new town of Qeparo is set on the coast far below, but this old, forgotten village still exists in all its ancient glory. Bees buzz, laundry flutters from clotheslines, pink oleander blossoms contrast with whitewashed walls. We have walked into a time warp. Were startled back into reality at the sight of a parked car painted as a giant red Albanian flag, the black eagles wings stretched across the cars hood. According to legend, the great general Skanderbeg carried a banner of a two-headed eagle into battle against the Ottomans in the 15th century. The eagle flag is a symbol of fierce national pride today. The country itself is utterly unique; the Albanian language is unrelated to Slavic tongues or Latin-derived romance languages and occupies its own branch of the Indo-European language family. One of the smallest countries on Earth, Albania was never part of Titos Yugoslavia. Later that afternoon, we get another history lesson courtesy of the Greek Orthodox manager of a waterfront restaurant. The stylish Barbarossa serves delicious seafood and traditional dishes, including wild spinach sauteed with foraged herbs. The managers family fled Albania when the communist regime fell, and he picked up his restaurant savvy while working on the Greek island of Paros. You know about the Albanian connection to Aeneas? We Albanians want to claim certain historic figures from antiquity as our own, he explains with a grin, presenting a generous platter of watermelon for dessert. The ancient city of Butrint in southern Albania was famously founded by Trojans fleeing the fall of Troy. As described in Virgils Aeneid, Butrint was constructed to look like a mini Troy. A few days later, we find ourselves scampering over Butrints archaeological ruins, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. Dating to the eighth century B.C., its a hauntingly beautiful place, a forested nature park filled with eucalyptus groves and washed by sea tides. Even the crowds of day-trippers who take the ferry from Corfu cant diminish its mystique. There are Hellenistic gateways, an ancient Roman theater and baths, a Great Basilica from the early Christian period (sixth century) and a Venetian castle from the 14th century. After hours in the midday heat, we cool off in the nearby town of Ksamil, every inch of its coastline dotted with beach clubs. From here, you can swim to three small islands offshore, floating in the Mediterranean next to revelers giant inflatable unicorns and paddleboats with slides. Hospitality and folklore A romp through books by Albanian author Ismail Kadare, who won the inaugural Man Booker International Prize in 2005, is an immersion in folklore, tradition and quirky expressions such as the starved goat with its tail held high not to mention blood feuds and machismo. Kadare makes ample references to the Kanum of Leke Dukagjini, the ancient code of Albanian laws based on honor and hospitality. Our house belongs to God and the guest, an old saying proclaims. This hospitality is manifest in Berat, known as the town of a thousand windows, a magnificent legacy of the Ottoman Empire situated in central Albania. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Berat is known for its white Ottoman houses clinging to a hillside above the river Osum. The city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1450, but its castle dates to the 4th century B.C.; the resulting cultural mix is visible in the ensemble of byzantine churches and mosques. When we arrive at the family-owned Hotel Mangalemi, housed in 18th-century mansions, we are greeted with welcome drinks and grins as wide as the new Albanian tourism motto (Smile from Albania!) Hotel Mangalemi offers a warm welcome, not to mention a terrific restaurant and panoramic terrace for a mere $45 a night. As if to prove that hospitality is the rule of the land, we later stumble upon a restaurant inside the home of a local guy named Lili. He ushers us to a backyard table while his wife prepares traditional specialties such as byrek (spinach-stuffed pie) and fergese (a mix of peppers, tomatoes and cheese), to wash down with wine produced by his father. We didnt anticipate the complimentary cups of a stronger spirit Lili pours after the meal. Before flying out of Corfu, we stay in the popular holiday resort of Saranda, a convenient gateway to Albanias southern coast. Upon arrival, it appears to be a sweeping development of garish high-rises towering over the beach. But this port has a fantastic vibe. In the early morning, locals swim enormous lengths across the bay never mind the boat traffic. Colorful beach umbrellas pop up in the pebbly sand, and the restaurants are buzzing and delicious. In the evening, a loud commotion brings us to our hotel balcony to investigate. Peering down toward the waterfront promenade, we see a parade of people grandparents, toddlers, lovestruck adolescents slowly sauntering by the sea as the summer light fades into darkness. In Albania, the Xhiro, or nighttime promenade, is a sanctified ritual and recreational activity. Historic blood feuds be damned. How could we not fall for a country whose national pastime is the evening stroll? We run down the stairs to join them. Mary Winston Nicklin wrote this for the Washington Post. Three days after the botched drug raid that left two residents dead and five officers wounded, authorities identified the unknown powder they found at the scene of the bloody bust. The Thursday news conference revealed that the powder was cocaine, perhaps answering one of the nagging questions raised after the Pecan Park raid targeting a pair of alleged heroin dealers. "Our No. 1 goal," said police Chief Art Acevedo, "is always to find out the good, the bad, the ugly and to be transparent." He went on to push back against the union chief's fiery comments on TV, offer more details about the reasons for the raid, and condemn lingering "conspiracy theories." "There are people who believe in Flat Earth," he said. "I can't control what people think." It started Jan. 8, he said, when an anonymous caller phoned police to complain that her daughter was "doing drugs" inside the Harding Street home. The woman was standing outside, looking in the windows, she told police, adding a warning that the couple had "a lot of guns." When officers showed up, they didn't see anything amiss, though they spotted a passerby talking on the phone. When asked, the woman said she hadn't called 911, then turned back to her call and allegedly said, "Hey the police are at the dope house." BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking alerts delivered to you. Stymied, police called back the woman who first complained, but she refused to give up any more info, saying she feared for her life. So the officers started an investigation. A few weeks later, police sent in a confidential informant, who allegedly purchased some black tar heroin inside the home. The next day, undercovers in tactical gear showed up with a warrant. They burst in the door, and shot the couple's dog, kicking off a gun battle that ended in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. Police said that Tuttle a Navy veteran snuck around the back of the house and opened fire on officers, while Nicholas reached for a wounded officer's gun. Five officers were hurt, including one who blew out his knee. Four others were shot, and are all recovering. Police seized marijuana, some weapons and an initially unidentified powder now deemed to be cocaine. Afterward, family and friends of the slain couple repeatedly stressed that they weren't drug users or sellers, instead describing them as quiet animal-lovers who kept to the themselves. But union chief Joe Gamaldi sparked controversy with heated comments in a Monday press conference, where he told anyone "spreading the rhetoric that police officers are the enemy" that "we've got your number." "We're sick and tired of having targets on our backs," he continued. "We are sick and tired of having dirtbags trying to take our lives when all we're trying to do is protect this community and our families." Two days later, he doubled down in a Fox & Friends interview, blaming activists and "talking heads" for "harmful narratives" ever since Michael Brown's killing in Ferguson in 2014. Gamaldi's comments, Acevedo said, were unhelpful and only added to the "brouhaha" around the shoot-out. "He went a little over the top," Acevedo added. "A lot over the top, if you ask me." Acevedo repeatedly stressed that he not Gamaldi ran the Houston Police Department and that Gamaldi's words had had a "damaging impact." He said some other officers had barely been able to hide their displeasure at the news conference Monday joking that one officer in particular "shouldn't play poker." Activist Ashton Woods, who attended Thursday's press conference, demanded an apology and resignation from the outspoken union head, adding that he'd hope Acevedo would go further with his criticism of the firebrand. "I wish he had said unabashedly that he needs to be looking for a new (police union) president," Woods said. Gamaldi, he said, "should go back to New York." Editor's Note: This story has been updated to indicate that cocaine, not heroin, was seized at the home. 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. Lobster fans, rejoice. Beginning today (Feb. 1), Bernie's Burger Bus restaurants begins a monthly lobster fest that puts big hunks of sea meat front and center. Called Lobster Friday, the special crustacean fest will be held every first Friday of the month (that means you can mark your calendar for March 1, April 5, May 3....). Owner Justin Turner has created new menu items for the fest, available at all Bernie's locations. The lobster items include: Classic Maine-style lobster roll (lobster meat tossed with house mayonnaise flavored with garlic, lemon, minced onion and celery) in a top-loaded bun; Texas-style lobster roll (dressed with house-pickled jalapeno and crispy bacon); "hot" lobster roll (simple, butter-poached lobster with lettuce) in a top-loaded bun; lobster roll sliders (same Maine-style formula but in slider buns with lettuce and tomato served two to an order); and lobster poutine (hand-cut fries layered with cheese curds, butter-poached lobster and lobster gravy. BURGER MANIA: Alison Cook on what to order at Bernie's Burger Bus Lobster Friday began as a one-off at Bernie's in 2015, but Turner decided to create a menu dedicated to lobster and serve it once a month. Prices: Lobster roll, $24.50; Texas roll, $25.50; Hot roll, $23.50; lobster sliders, $18.50; and lobster poutine, $25.50. Bernie's Burger Bus locations are at 5407 Bellaire in Bellaire; 2643 Commercial Center Blvd. in Katy; and 2200 Yale. For more information see berniesburgerbus.com. Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio Photo: Penguin, Handout / Handout Photo: Penguin, Handout / Handout Sometimes the mood is one of enchantment and melancholy, of moonlit evenings when soft rain mists the windows and memories lie heavy on the heart. More often though, Pu Songlings Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio calls to mind a collection of mildly racy club stories or lost episodes of The Twilight Zone. Some very short vignettes even approximate our own urban legends or items from News of the Weird. Just now, though, reading this beloved classic provides a particularly enjoyable way to help celebrate Chinese New Year. The festivities for the Year of the Pig officially begin on Feb. 5 but have already launched and will continue until Feb. 19. Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio will last you the entire month. Though several English versions exist, I focused on John Minfords Penguin selection of 104 stories, in part because of its scholarly introduction and abundant endnotes, most of which incorporate some of Pu Songlings own commentary on his work. Born in 1640, Pu Songling worked at various clerical jobs in the province of Shandong, in northern China. He died in 1715, leaving behind almost 500 accounts of the wondrous, eerie and grotesque, some derived from oral narratives. Finally printed in 1766, Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio overflows with ghosts, demons, monsters, monks, magicians, revived corpses, gods and fox-spirits, these last being vampiric creatures that assume the outward form of attractive men or women. Love is a recurrent theme, often between a studious young man and an enigmatic beauty of unknown background who, alas, generally turns out to be a revenant or were-vixen. Invariably, the couple make love Pu treats sex quite matter-of-factly and the human protagonist soon thereafter wastes away and dies, though not always. Fast paced, surprisingly light in tone, emotionally cool, wryly humorous these uncanny tales, often just one or two pages long, might almost be adult bedtime stories. Sometimes Pu claims to have heard them from a relative or passerby, thus adding an introductory fillip of verisimilitude, but at other times he plunges directly into the action with an abruptness and simplicity reminiscent of Chekhov. Consider the following three opening sentences: A youth by the name of Zhao, from Yishui, was on his way home from a commission in town when he caught sight of a girl in white standing by the side of the road, weeping and seemingly in great distress. (The Girl From Nanking) A man named Zhang died suddenly and was escorted at once by devil attendants into the presence of Yama, King of the Underworld. Yama checked his registers and turned angrily to the attendants, informing them that they had brought the wrong man and were to take him back immediately. (A Most Exemplary Monk) Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio By Pu Songling. Translated by John Minford Penguin; 562 pages. Paperback, $18 A certain Mr. Liu, a second-degree graduate of the same year as my fathers cousin Pu Wengui, had the ability to remember his various past lives, and was able to relate them in some detail. (Past Lives) Given such sentences, you would need a will of iron to stop reading. Why is the girl crying? What will happen to Zhang in the Underworld? What were Mr. Lius past lives? In The Painted Wall, the Provincial Graduate Zhu visits a Zen monastery where he lingers before a mural, mesmerized by the image of a smiling maiden with unbound hair. The next moment Zhu has been transported bodily into the painting itself and his adventures have just begun. In Talking Pupils, a notorious libertine is blinded for making unwanted advances, only to discover that tiny beings live inside his eyes. When the protagonist of The Painted Skin initiates a passionate affair with a young woman of ethereal beauty, she makes him promise never to mention her existence to anyone. One night he secretly peeps through a window and sees the most hideous sight, a green-faced monster, a ghoul with great jagged teeth like a saw, leaning over a human pelt, the skin of an entire human body, spread on the bed The monster had a paintbrush in its hand and was in the process of touching up the skin in lifelike colour. Pus stories generally deliver short sharp shocks, but the longer ones delineate the often subtle dynamics of intimate relationships. The tender Grace and Pine recounts the mutually rewarding platonic friendship between a young scholar and an otherworldly family of fox-spirits. In Twenty Years a Dream, the protagonists devotion to a ghost is so great that he eventually brings the dead woman back to life. One of Pus masterpieces, Lotus Fragrance, begins as French farce when Sang Xiao finds himself alternately the lover of both a ghost and a fox-spirit, each insanely jealous of the other. But following a near-death experience and two instances of reincarnation, the trio ultimately settles into a harmonious menage a trois. Overall, this self-described Chronicler of the Strange sympathizes with every manifestation of Eros the bittersweet. A lonely woman turns to a pet dog for comfort, a child-bride finds herself unknowingly pregnant, a merchants wife grows hypersexualized after being assaulted by a fox-spirit. In Cut Sleeve, an academician longs for a pretty young man in fact, another fox-spirit who agrees to exchange his favors for a special medicine needed by his sick grandmother. This is only the beginning, however. In his next life, the academician weds his former lovers gorgeous female cousin while the fox-spirit nobly prostitutes himself to the provinces governor to protect the happy couple. The whole story concludes with a satirical poem that uses double-entendres to poke fun at the puritanically intolerant. In an endnote, Minford aptly characterizes these stories as subtle, contained, cultivated, not showy; poised, poignant, leaving much unsaid for the reader to think about. All true, but, above all, they are magical and wondrously entertaining. Happy New Year! The U.S. Attorney's Office is turning heads with their most recent Twitter photo of the $20 million found in a mattress' box spring in Boston. The money, which was obtained by a massive TelexTree pyramid scheme, was tweeted by the U.S. Attorney's Office yesterday and it has since thrown the story into the viral world. In this edition of Texas Inc., were proud to profile a powerful oil industry executive Shell Oil Co.s U.S. president, Gretchen Watkins. In this story, we didnt get into the obvious fact that she is a woman. We talked to her about her business, the same way we would talk to any CEO about their business. Its almost the 2020s, and being a woman in a position of great power shouldnt be considered a novelty anymore even in the oil and gas industry. If you read Texas Inc. you will meet plenty of powerful women, including one of General Electrics top deal makers, Victoria Lazar, who was on the cover two weeks ago. Or Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, who was on the cover of our second edition of this publication in November. Nevertheless, the fact remains that its still a mans world. Every year new studies show there are not enough women in Americas corporate boardrooms or among its executive ranks. And that women overall still make less than men doing similar jobs. Also, on Page 9 of this edition of Texas Inc., youll find a guest column examining whether the #MeToo movement is cracking the glass ceiling. Its by Yan Anthea Zhang, a professor at Rice Universitys Jones Graduate School of Business, and Yoon Jung Jenny Kwon, a doctoral student there. Their column notes how organizations embroiled in sexual harassment issues have been under pressure to replace male executives with females. It is an unfortunate commentary on our corporate culture if it takes a full-blown scandal to get a company or an institution to consider hiring a female leader. Heres what else is sad: Whether the cracking of the glass ceiling is temporary or has a lasting impact depends upon how well the incumbent female leaders perform, Zhang and Kwon write. I dont doubt this is true, but really? A female leader underperforms and its time once again to get a male? What happens when a male leader underperforms? Another big fat bonus from the boys on the board? al.lewis@chron.com Virginia lawmaker apologises for supporting controversial late-term abortion bill A Virginia lawmaker has apologised for being co-patron to a radical late-term abortion bill she says she never would have backed if she had read it properly. Delegate Dawn Adams, a nurse practitioner, wrote to supporters in an email to say that adding her name to Kathy Tran's bill had been a 'mistake' and that its provisions 'sought to do much more' than what she had originally believed. The bill put forward by Tran in the Virginia legislature this week has caused outrage among Republicans and pro-life advocates. Asked if her bill would allow abortion up to the point of birth and even where a pregnant woman was 'dilating', Tran replied: 'My bill would allow that, yes.' Apologising for her support, Adams wrote in her newsletter: 'I made a mistake, and all I know to do is to admit it, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may. 'If you follow my newsletter or have written to me to ask about my votes, you know that I do my best to read and research every bill I vote on. But I did not read a bill I agreed to co-patron and that wasn't smart or typical. I will work harder and be better for it. 'By now you have heard about the abortion bill, or seen the video. I vaguely remember signing on to this, and I did this in solidarity with my colleague and as a symbolic gesture for a woman's right to choose.' She added: 'I am sorry that I did not exercise due diligence before this explosion of attention; had I done so, I would not have co-patroned.' In addition to allowing abortion up to the point of birth, Tran's bill 'eliminates the requirement that two other physicians certify that a third trimester abortion is necessary to prevent the woman's death or impairment of her mental or physical health' and removes 'the need to find that any such impairment to the woman's health would be substantial and irremediable'. The furore over her bill escalated on Wednesday when Virginia Governor Ralph Northam addressed late-term abortion in an interview with the radio station WTOP-FM. '[Third trimester abortions are] done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus that's nonviable. So in this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen,' he said. 'The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated, if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.' Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington said that although the bill had failed, he was 'distraught' it had even been introduced. In a statement, he added that the governor's comments were 'staggering'. '[The bill] could have paved the way for babies to suffer a violent and gruesome death moments before birth and could have been harmful to women,' he said, adding that the views embodied in the bill and the governor's comments reflect 'a new level of deep-rooted animus against the inherent goodness of every child'. 'Abortion of a baby in the final stage of pregnancy borders on infanticide,' he said. Northam has stood by his comments, saying: 'I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting.' 'LGBT agenda' could be putting churches at financial risk, says Francis Chan Churches could be risking their own futures by relying too much on government tax breaks, Francis Chan has warned. Speaking to Premier Christianity magazine, the pastor and Crazy Love author warned that churches could find themselves financially struggling or even shuttering altogether if they lose tax breaks. He suggested that the 'LGBT agenda' could jeopardise the tax breaks that so many churches in the West rely on to stay afloat. 'Do you realise how volatile our system is of our church gatherings? How much money it requires?' he said. 'All it takes is one law that changes the tax breaks that we get and so many churches would have to shut their doors. 'And when you look at the LGBT agenda, and whatever else is going on in the government, you just think: 'How can I continue with this system that is so dependent on so much money and so many breaks from the government?' 'That can't be the future. Too much has changed.' Although he couldn't say for sure if persecution lay ahead for the US church, he revealed the level of his concern, adding 'it certainly seems like it's headed in that direction'. Chan was the founder and pastor of the 5,000-strong Cornerstone Church in California's Simi Valley before walking away after 16 years at the helm in 2010. In a talk with Facebook employees in 2017, he revealed that he quit Cornerstone after becoming disillusioned with the megachurch way of doing things. 'I got frustrated at a point, just biblically,' he said. 'I'm going wait a second. According to the Bible, every single one of these people has a supernatural gift that's meant to be used for the body. 'And I'm like 5,000 people show up every week to hear my gift, see my gift. That's a lot of waste. Then I started thinking how much does it cost to run this thing? Millions of dollars! 'So I'm wasting the human resource of these people that according to Scripture have a miraculous gift that they could contribute to the body but they're just sitting there quietly. ... [T]hey just sit there and listen to me.' It's a theme he continues to explore in his newest book, Letters to the Church, in which he advocates for smaller churches and Christian home gatherings that forego the need for expensive buildings. 'The great movements around the world are not from one person preaching to thousands but by mobilising hundreds and thousands of believers to trust the word of God and trust the Holy Spirit,' he told Premier Christianity. Kim Davis may be forced to pay $225,000 over gay marriage licence battle Kim Davis, the Christian clerk jailed after refusing to issue same-sex marriage licences, may be forced to pay $225,000 in legal and court fees incurred by gay couples suing her. Despite publicly praising her, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said she should pay the costs and has lodged an appeal against a court order putting the financial burden on the state's taxpayers. 'Davis represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky when she refused to issue marriage licenses to legally eligible couples. The buck stops there,' wrote US District Judge David Bunning. The case was being heard at the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Thursday. In his appeal, Bevin said Davis had broken the law in refusing to issue the marriage licences to gay couples and that Kentucky's taxpayers 'should not have to collectively bear the financial responsibility for Davis' intransigence'. Palmer G Vance II, attorney for Bevin, wrote in a brief filed with the court: 'Davis had an independent and sworn duty to uphold the law as an elected county officer. 'If fees are awarded, they must be the responsibility of the Rowan County clerk's office, which should be deterred from engaging in conduct that violates civil rightsand leads to costly litigation.' Liberty Counsel, which is representing Davis, said she should not be made to pay. 'Neither Rowan County nor Kim Davis are liable for damages,' said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel chairman. 'Kim Davis sought a religious accommodation, and today every Kentucky clerk benefits from her efforts thanks to Governor Matt Bevin and the entire general assembly. 'Davis already paid the high price of going to jail to win her battle for a reasonable accommodation of her religious convictions. Today, Kentucky clerks do not have to choose between their faith and their jobs.' Bevin mounted the legal challenge despite previously calling Davis an 'inspiration'. 'Amid all the vitriol, all the nastiness, she stood firm. I think it's beyond question that Kim Davis is an inspiration. Not only to leaders like myself, in the public arena and those outside the public arena, but to my children and to the children of America,' he said in a video posted online by her supporters last year. Free Church minister wins national award for prison work A minister in the Free Church of Scotland has won a national award in recognition of his pastoral care work at a prison in Edinburgh. The Rev Bob Akroyd is this year's recipient of the Butler Trust Award presided over HRH the Princess Royal, which recognises and celebrates outstanding work and best practice at UK prisons as well as in the areas of probation and youth justice. The Butler Trust was first set up in 1985 by Veronica Linklater, now Baroness Linklater of Butterstone, former prison governor, Rev Peter Timms OBE, and David Astor, former editor of The Observer, and is named after Richard Austen Butler, later Lord Butler of Saffron Walden who introduced a series of reforms to improve the management, care and rehabilitation of offenders. Rev Akroyd, who also lectures at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, is receiving the award in honour of his outstanding work in HMP Edinburgh. In announcing the award, the Butler Trust praised the 'exceptional support' that Rev Akroyd had provided 'to both prisoners and staff' and 'his outstanding pastoral care helping families and colleagues through remembrance and grief as well as in celebrations of life'. Joanne Smith, acting residential officer at HMP Edinburgh who nominated Rev Akroyd, said he was 'incredibly friendly, genuine and larger than life', and was regularly requested by name by prisoners seeking support 'regardless of their own beliefs'. 'Bob does not expect anyone to share his faith, or even have a faith of their own, and is completely indiscriminate in his approach to supporting those around him,' she said. In addition to being a 'favourite' among prisoners, she said staff also regularly turned to him in difficult times. 'Bob delivers his full attention, making you feel safe and encapsulated by his love and devotion to God, delivering a support and guidance that I have never known anywhere or with anyone else before,' she said. 'Bob unlocks potential and transforms lives. He helps each individual to shoulder their burdens and empowers them to move forward to a more positive future, where they are able to successfully tackle life and its problems head on, becoming the best and strongest version of themselves - a version they might not have even known, or dared hope, existed before his unwavering hand was offered in support.' Responding to his award, Rev Akroyd said: 'I am humbled and also delighted to receive this award. I feel particularly honoured because I was nominated by a fellow member of staff at HMP Edinburgh. 'I never expected to work in a prison and I certainly never expected to be honoured for working in a prison. 'This whole episode reminds me that God is good all the time and that good relationships with people are so important in every aspect of Christian service.' Evangelism tops agenda for CofE synod meetings This month's Church of England General Synod will be dominated by the need for evangelism. According to the Church, papers published today set out how 'small behavioural changes' by the around one million people who regularly attend Church of England churches could make a 'huge difference'. Synod members will also discuss evangelism among young people and the need for a 'culture of invitation' in parishes not only to reverse decline in attendance but to spread the good news to wider society. As part of that, Synod will discuss a call for the Church to renew its commitment to be 'a Christian presence in every community' by reaching out into housing estates where churches, clubs, amenities and public services have withdrawn in recent decades. In a paper discussing evangelism on estates, the Bishop of Burnley, Philip North, urges the Church to recognise the 'historic marginalisation' of social housing areas in the policies of both church and nation. 'Whilst estates were built with great optimism and can be good places to live, residents can often be dealing with multiple problems,' he writes. 'Many lives are ravaged by the contemporary "four horsemen of the apocalypse": Universal Credit, low-paid work, food poverty and austerity. 'The Grenfell Tower fire has revealed years of under-investment in building stock. 'Many commentators hold estates residents responsible for the vote to leave the European Union and this can all too easily play into a narrative that disparages working class political concerns.' Synod will also debate a motion calling for the government to rein in the spread of gambling advertising to protect children. The debate, to be led by the Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, will consider a call for a mandatory levy on gambling firms to fund research, education, and treatment programmes for addicts. Bishop calls for fines on social media platforms that harm young people A Church of England bishop has called for social media companies to be regulated to protect children from online abuse and bullying. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, called for regulations similar to those in Germany where firms can face fines of up to 44 million if they fail to delete harmful posts within 24 hours of a complaint. Treweek was speaking in the light of the death of 14-year-old Mollie Russell, who took her own life after viewing pages showing self-harm. She told the Telegraph: 'I would like to see a much more robust system of reporting. Young people need to feel in control when they report something that upsets or harms them. There needs to be a system whereby the companies are held to account.' She said: 'There should be a way where we can fine them if they don't take a complaint seriously. We have managed to regulate electricity, where there's an ombudsman. Or if you buy something in the shops, you can complain to a consumer body. 'There needs to be a way where the social media companies have to show what they have done and an ombudsman system to take action if people are not content, with some sort of fining system like Germany's. It is about stick and carrot.' Her comments follow criticisms of social media platforms by the children's commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, who in an open letter to Facebook Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat called for a 'moment of reflection'. She said: 'I would appeal to you to accept there are problems and to commit to tackling them or admit publicly that you are unable to.' Weekly briefing: Abortion while in labor, Polar Vortex, feminists and transgender horrors Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment We've compiled the top stories of the week. Here's what you need to know: Abortion during labor On the heels of a new law in New York that allows abortion up to birth, Democrats in other states have been pushing for similar legislation. But what caused a major firestorm this week were the words of Virginia Del. Kathy Tran as she proposed an abortion bill. When asked if her bill would allow an abortion even when the pregnant woman is dilating and about to give birth, Tran said, My bill would allow that, yes. Her remarks left many in shock. But the shock was doubled when Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam defended the bill and suggested what some interpreted as support for infanticide. Calling it morally repugnant, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said he plans to push for legislation that would protect babies born alive. If you cant say that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office. Sasse Here are six other states that already allow abortion up to birth. Polar Vortex grips millions Temperatures dropped to the lowest that parts of the Midwest and Northeast have seen in decades this week. It was colder than Antarctica and Alaska in some cities, including Chicago. Wind chill temperatures reached minus 66 degrees Fahrenheit in Minnesota. At least 12 people have died due to the record cold. Christian nonprofits have opened their doors to protect people from freezing to death. We want to make sure they know its Jesus watching over them, and Jesus is the reason we do this. House of Restoration Community Outreach Director Lucy Gomez Asia Bibi finally free to leave Pakistan Pakistans Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of Asia Bibi, three months after their initial decision. The Christian mother, who has been living in hiding as Muslims across the country have continued to call for her death, is now free to leave the country. Canada has offered asylum to Bibi and her family and there are some unconfirmed reports that she has already moved to an undisclosed location in the North American country. Meanwhile, human rights groups have called on Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, which have often been used to persecute Christians and those of other minority faiths. Feminists expose horrors of transgender treatments Unable to find a liberal organization that would host them, a group of radical feminists, a former trans-identified male and a lesbian spoke at a conservative think tank this week to warn the public about the real stories of children being medicalized and transitioned to the opposite sex. "My once beautiful daughter is now 19 years old, homeless, bearded, in extreme poverty, sterilized, not receiving mental health services, extremely mentally ill, and planning a radial forearm phalloplasty, a surgical procedure that removes part of her arm to construct a fake penis. anonymous mother The group made it clear that speaking out against transgender ideology meant risking their jobs and the possibility of losing friends and even family. Pray for The family of a California pastor who committed suicide Those affected by the Polar Vortex New releases Film: The Least of These (Feb. 1) Album: The Ruins EP by The Ruins (Feb. 1) Book: Vertical Marriage: The One Secret That Will Change Your Marriage by Dave and Ann Wilson (Jan. 29) Brave Love: Making Space for You to Be You by Lisa Leonard (Jan. 29) What If its True? A Storytellers Journey with Jesus by Charles Martin (Jan. 29) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment For the last 26 months, I have explained over and again why I, as an evangelical leader, voted for Donald Trump. But in recent days, I have felt the weight of it all over again. There really were strong reasons to vote for Trump, and, given similar circumstances in 2020, I would vote for him again. To be sure, I regret a lot of the negative fallout that has come with the Trump presidency. Our national divisions have deepened, and its not all the medias fault or the left. The President can be highly divisive, often in ways that are unnecessary and unjustified. Quite obviously, as an evangelical, I do not back the Presidents every word or decision, especially when he waxes ugly and even vulgar. (Please underscore those words quite obviously.) But recent developments have reminded me why we made the choice we did and why it was the right choice to make. The critical nature of the issues at stake leave us few to no voting options. Consider first some of the potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2020. As noted on The Hill (speaking to fellow-Democrats), we are leaning left too far. Yes, For Democrats, one trend that has taken hold is quite alarming: our swing to the far left. That trend has been exemplified by almost all of our putative presidential candidates. The two clearest examples of trying to appeal to our base by being as progressive as possible were the rush to embrace a single-payer health care system after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) publicly endorsed it, and the stampede to call for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is no exaggeration to say that some of the potential Democratic candidates make Hillary Clinton appear moderate. There is Beto ORourke. (In the words of the UK Guardian, If there was a bold progressive in this election [at least one facing an opponent], ORourke was that candidate.) There is Kamala Harris. (A Fox News headline quoted Niall Fergusons sentiments: If Democrats Nominate A Far Left Candidate Such As Senators Elizabeth Warren Or Kamala Harris It Improves President Trumps Chances for Re-Election.) There is Pete Buttigieg. (He is the openly gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and if elected, would be the nations first gay president.) Once again, there is Bernie Sanders. (Arguably, he is the single person most responsible for popularizing socialism in America.) And there is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the new face of the Democratic party. Need I say more? As for the issues that matter most to me starting with the sanctity of life in the womb, the importance of marriage and family, standing with Israel each of these candidates would be diametrically opposed to a conservative evangelical position. If 2020 came down to any of these putative Democrat candidates vs. Trump, it would be a no brainer for me. Trump would get my vote. And then there is that five-letter word: courts. Last week, a state judge in Iowa struck down the fetal heartbeat bill, which prevents abortions once the babys heartbeat can be detected. As reported by a local news outlet, Judge Michael Huppert found the law unconstitutional, concluding that the Iowa Supreme Courts earlier decisions that affirm a womans fundamental right to an abortion would include the new law passed last year. We desperately need judges who will do away with the myth of a womans fundamental right to an abortion and will instead rule in favor of life. Against this backdrop, it is critically important that Trump recently renominated 50 judges for federal positions, including two for San Franciscos notoriously far left 9th Circuit Court. And Trumps list of 50 is filled with solid conservatives. In contrast, can you imagine what kind of judges a far-left Democratic president would nominate? Last July, the New York Timesreported that, Trump Is Putting Indelible Conservative Stamp on Judiciary. In September, Reuters stated that, Trump chips away at liberal U.S. appeals court majorities. And he has two more years to go in his present term and, possibly, another four years after that. In light of the positive transformation of the courts, I will gladly put up with the Presidents divisive ways as much as I regret them. Again, the alternative leaves me no choice. Just last week, the state of New York passed its dreadful abortion law as well as stole the freedom of choice from minors struggling with same-sex attraction or gender confusion. They are now forbidden from receiving professional help to resolve these issues, even with parental backing. Both of these oppressive rulings need to be challenged in the courts, and we need solid judges to make righteous decisions when issuing their rulings. This cannot be emphasized too strongly. And for those who think the media would let up if we had a more mild-mannered, Christian-based president like Mike Pence, think again. The left hates Pence every bit as much as it hates Trump, just for different reasons. In an ideal world, we would have a president who was a shining example of Christlikeness, well-versed in the Scriptures, and serving as the leader of all Americans, from all faiths and backgrounds. And perhaps that day will come, even in our lifetimes. But right now, as the Democratic party continues to lurch left, as the courts play a bigger and bigger role in our society, and as the secular media exposes its extreme bigotry and bias, I am reminded afresh of why I voted for Trump in 2016. And thats why, given similar choices in 2020, I would vote for him again. Principal bans teacher from attending church event; superintendent steps in after legal pressure Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A school superintendent in the midwest has overturned a principals decision to forbid a teacher from attending a church event during nonschool hours because the event was also to be attended by two students. Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group that advocates for First Amendment right, says that it has come to the defense of a teacher at an undisclosed high school in the United States after she was told by the school principal that she could not attend an event organized by her own church. According to the legal group, the principal in question told the teacher in December that attending a church event in which two students at the school would also be present would violate some sort of fraternization policy. The two students were attending the church event because they also attend the same church as the teacher. At the beginning of the month, a representative of the Orlando-based nonprofit called the school district asking for the principals policy to be tossed out. The legal group explained that the policy is unconstitutional on grounds that it prevented the teacher from exercising her religious freedom rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The names of the school, teacher and principal involved in the matter have been left undisclosed by Liberty Counsel to protect the privacy of the teacher. It makes no sense to have a policy like that, Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver told The Christian Post in an interview Tuesday. Lets say a teacher is attending a church and students decided to also attend the same church; does that mean that the teacher has to leave that church and go someplace else? Staver noted that in some communities, it could be hard for a teacher to find a church where there are no students included in the congregation. He also asked how teachers are supposed to know whether or not students will be at an event they plan to attend. What if you go to a Christmas event in December, for example, or some other event or even church service on a Sunday or a choir? he posed. It makes no sense and it is unconstitutional to impose that kind of rule. Staver asserted that teachers have a First Amendment right both on campus and off campus. During nonschool hours outside of school, they have the same rights as any other citizen, he stated. They can engage in First Amendment-expressive activity, especially in church, without the schools intervention. This is actually government interfering in the free exercise of religion and speech and the free association guaranteed by the First Amendment. Staver said that Liberty Counsels correspondence with the school district led to a prompt reversal of the principals policy. The superintendent correctly reversed the principals decision to ban teachers from attending the same church events as students, Staver said in a statement. Teachers acting in their individual capacity after school have the same rights as any others who are not teachers. This is not the first time that Liberty Counsel has come to the defense of that teacher. About a year ago, the same principal tried to prevent the teacher from leading an after-school Bible club that had the approval and permission of parents of the students who wanted to take part. Even without the teacher, one student offered to lead the group as a student-led club. But that idea was also rejected by the principal. The teacher eventually contacted Liberty Counsel, which sent a demand letter to the school superintendent on her behalf. The principals decision, in that case, was also overruled by the superintendent. I think the first time we could give the [principal] the benefit of the doubt and that the principal acted out of ignorance and misinformation when she said the teacher couldnt be a part of a Bible study even though parents provided permission, Staver said. As wrong as it is and unconstitutional as it is, maybe the [principal] had good intentions. But when it happens again within a year and it involves something that is common-sense wrong yet alone constitutionally impermissible to impose, I now believe that this principal has some animus toward religion and Christianity in particular. I think the principal has some other kind of motive that is hostile to Christianity. Staver, who has in the past represented high-profile clients such as controversial Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, warned that actions like the ones taken by the principal could have led to a lawsuit if they were not addressed by the superintendent. Some people might not be willing to do a demand letter before they file suit, Staver said. The school might find themselves a defendant in a lawsuit over this principals actions. Now it is a recurring pattern and they need to do something to hold her accountable. Recently, Liberty Counsel intervened in a Nebraska school district after an elementary school principal sent out instructions telling teachers to stay away from using Christmas-related messaging and activities in the classroom. The teacher even warned that teachers could not give out candy canes, asserting that they symbolize Jesus. After Liberty Counsels intervention, the principals guidance was overturned, she was placed on administrative leave and eventually resigned. 1,000 educators to discuss struggles, trends facing private Christian schools Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Over 1,000 teachers and leaders from private Christian schools worldwide are gathering in Texas this week to collaborate and identify innovative ways to address the challenges and opportunities facing their institutions in an increasingly secular world. Looking to reshape the movement and continue offering distinctive Gospel-centered education, the second-ever Global Christian School Leadership Summit begins Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio. The three-day gathering is sponsored by eight Christian school associations, which represent over 25,000 Christian schools in 100 countries and serve more than 6 million students. With over 700 attending the first-ever GCSLS in 2017, the biennial event is becoming known as one of the premier networking conferences for Christian-based secondary and primary educators. This years summit we are focusing on innovation, said GCSLS Chair Lynn Swaner, who is also the chief strategy and innovation officer at the Colorado-based evangelical accrediting agency Association of Christian Schools International. Our hope is that participants will take away a fresh hope and bright ideas for how to innovate in their settings and also connect with colleagues who are innovating from around the world. In an interview with The Christian Post, Swaner said the goal is to position Christian schools to develop the best answers in all of education in order to address the changes that have emerged in the education field over the last several decades and also figure out ways to incorporate the latest technology in truly meaningful and efficient ways in the classroom. As believers, what we have to offer should be the most innovative and the best of what is out there, Swaner told CP. If you think about Daniel in Babylon or Joseph in Egypt, those are men of faith. They knew and obeyed God but they were also highly competent Spirit-led leaders who impacted their society for the good of all. As they were doing that, Gods name was glorified. One area of focus for the summit will be technology and how Christian schools can equip and use various forms of technology appropriately. One presenter during a technology work session will be Mitch Salerno, the headmaster of Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, California. According to Swaner, his school was the first in the nation to be an iPad demonstration school. One of the trends that I am seeing is that schools everywhere have been fairly quick to try to invest in technology and have that available to their students or they want to have a one-to-one policy, Swaner explained. They want to enable students to have the technology in their hands. Now that technology is ubiquitous, I think we are able to really ask some of the deeper questions about how we are able to not just physically have technology in the classroom but how do we use it in authentic ways to deepen and improve students' learning and to make teaching more effective. Many Christian schools are asking questions about what kind of policies they should be putting in place and how they can help teachers best navigate the use of technology in the classroom, according to Swaner. The summit will also feature a panel on hybrid and online learning. Many of our Christian schools are beginning to offer classes or entire programs online, Swaner said. That will be a panel that will be talking about best practice in that area. Another trend occurring in Christian schools, Swaner explained, is the desire to make their institutions more culturally diverse. Walter Strickland, a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will present on how to move beyond secular solutions and apply a biblical worldview so schools can become agents of reconciliation. The summit will also feature a discussion touching on how schools can grow their diversity programs. Swaner said she is seeing more Christian schools launching special programs or hiring specialists to help foster greater cultural diversity. That is really a trend in Christian schools that I have seen over the past few years, just the development of specific programs or hiring of specific staff to actually create a community that welcomes diversity, that welcomes the tough conversations that come around living in community, Swaner detailed. That is definitely a trend and we will have quite a few of those folks at the summit. Helping Christian schools serve those in their communities that have special learning needs, whether they are academic, mental or emotional, is another issue that will be addressed. According to Swaner, a family with three kids is likely to have at least one child with some sort of special need. The need for inclusive education is seen throughout the education field in both the public and private school setting. We are seeing more students with learning needs who are coming to our schools, she said. That is not a trend that is unique to Christian schools but that certainly something that our schools are recognizing that they want to be able to serve their communities well. As with other private and even public schools, many Christian schools are facing budgetary and financing issues. Swaner stressed that these issues might stem from things like demographic changes or resurges and declines in elementary school children in certain parts of the country. Schools everywhere are learning on the fly how to become leaner, more focused, more efficient and at the same time having to invest in things like new technology and good salaries. I think that is the challenge that schools everywhere are really struggling with. The GSCLS is sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International, Association of Christian Teachers and Schools, the Council on Education Standards & Accountability, Christian Schools Australia, National Christian School Association, Christian Schools International, International Christian Accrediting Association and the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. The summit will also feature a presentation from Beth Green, a senior fellow at the Canadian think tank Cardus. Cardus puts out an education survey about every two years that focuses on the impact that Christian school graduates have made on their communities in both the U.S. and Canada. Green will share some initial insights from the unreleased 2018 survey. Previous generations of the Cardus Education Survey have demonstrated clearly that in comparison with their counterparts in publicly-funded schools, Christian school graduates have things like stronger families and are more involved with their communities, Swaner recalled. Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the United States plans to quit the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty with permanent members of Russias Security Council, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "There was a detailed discussion on issues of strategic stability and international security in the context of the forecast U.S. pullout from the INF Treaty," TASS cited him as saying. The meeting was attended by speakers of both houses of Russias parliament Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin, Chief of the Kremlin Staff Anton Vaino, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, federal security service FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, foreign intelligence SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin and special presidential representative for nature conservation, ecology and climate Sergei Ivanov. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on both sides to stick to the treaty. "What we definitely don't want to see is our continent going back to being a battlefield or a place where other super-powers confront themselves. This belongs to a faraway history," Mogherini told reporters in Romania. The U.S. gave Russia 60 days to return to compliance in December when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced at a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting that Russia was in "material breach" of the treaty. The President of the National Strategy Institute, Mikhail Remizov, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the main risk of a U.S. exit from the INF Treaty is the increase in tensions in East Asia and Europe. "In Europe, it will happen due to the threat of deploying short- and intermediate-range missiles from both the American and Russian sides. In East Asia, the issue of forming the American infrastructure to contain China using this category of armaments will be on the agenda," he explained. Another consequence of the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty is stimulating the proliferation of nuclear missile technologies in non-nuclear, threshold states and unofficial nuclear states seeking to acquire nuclear weapons," Mikhail Remizov added, noting that the United States itself is not at any risk after its exit. Russia, in turn, will inevitably begin to intensify the development of missile systems. "A number of military-technical challenges arise here, including those related to adapting the current prospective hydrosound studies to ground systems," the president of the National Strategy Institute said. First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov earlier noted that Russia's response to the U.S. exit from the INF Treaty will be production and deployment of intermediate-range nuclear forces. "Once the Americans withdraw from this treaty, it means that they are trying to produce and deploy such missiles. Russia's response will depend on the place of their deployment - if Europe, then we will deploy our complexes at our western borders, and if Asia, it means that Russian missiles will be on the Asian territory of the Russian Federation. Since intermediate-range missiles are up to 5.5 thousand km, and short-range missiles are up to 1.5 thousand km, it's an approximate distance of our missiles from the American ones," he explained. The senator stressed that the exit from the INF Treaty would jeopardize global security. "Any agreement that provides for maintaining the balance of power is very important, and the slightest changes to it will entail major consequences. At any moment there may be a hot head which will violate the status quo, and then uncontrollable development of events is likely," Vladimir Dzhabarov warned. Va. Democrat defends abortion for women in labor: While 'she's dilating?' 'Yes' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Outrage mounted to a fever-pitch Wednesday as conservatives voiced opposition to a new bill proposed in the Virginia legislature that would've allowed abortions up to 40 weeks of pregnancy and permit abortions outside of a hospital during the second trimester. Virginia Democrat Delegate Kathy Tran, who proposed the currently defeated bill, explained in a viral video during a subcommittee hearing last week that the bill would also allow women to decide if they want to have an abortion as they dilate ahead of giving birth. In the video, chairman of the subcommittee, Delegate Todd Gilbert asked Tran, How late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion? Tran explained to him that the bill, Virginia House Bill 2491 known as the Repeal Act, would eliminate current restrictions on late-term abortions and allow abortions up until 40 weeks. Through the third trimester. The third trimester goes all the way up to forty weeks ... I don't think we have a limit in the bill, she responds pointedly. Where its obvious a woman is about to give birth? Gilbert asked. Even when she has physical signs that she is about to give birth? Shes dilating? My bill would allow that, yes, Tran said. The bill will not move forward out of the subcommittee, Gilbert told Live Action. The video, which has been making the rounds on social media, drew swift condemnation from conservatives such as Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. What is happening in our country. This literally makes me sick to my stomach.... #AdoptionIsAlwaysAnOption, she tweeted Tuesday with a clip of the exchange between Tran and Gilbert. Denny Burk, associate professor of biblical studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who also serves as associate pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, called the proposal an atrocity If you are pro-choice and this shocks you, you need to know that Roe v. Wade and its companion decision Doe v. Bolton make this kind of atrocity into a constitutional right, he noted on Twitter. In addition to allowing abortions up until 40 weeks, The Repeal Act would have eliminated all the procedures and processes, such as the performance of an ultrasound, required to effect a woman's informed written consent to the performance of an abortion. Informed written consent, however, would still be required for an abortion. The bill also wouldn't have required more than one physician to certify that a third trimester abortion is necessary to prevent a woman's death or impairment of her mental or physical health. When asked if he supported the measure, in a WTOP interview Wednesday morning, Virginias Democrat Governor Ralph Northam defended it. I certainly cant speak for delegate Tran but I would tell you, this is why decisions such as this should be made by providers, physicians and the mothers and fathers that are involved. When we talk about third trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of the mother, obviously, with the consent of the physician, more than one physician by the way, Northam said. And its done in cases where there may be severe deformities, where there may be a fetus thats not viable, so in this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable. It would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired and then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother. So I think this was really blown out of proportion, he continued. Then again, we want the government not to be involved in these types of decisions. We want the decision to be made by the mother and their providers. And this is why legislators most of whom are men, shouldnt be telling a woman what she should and shouldnt be doing with her body. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat noted studies on Wednesday, however, showing that most third-trimester abortions are not performed due to threats to the health of the mother or unborn child. Worth noting while watching the moderate governor of Virginia using his reassuring voice to discuss letting born-alive infants die comfortably that most third-trimester abortions are not performed for reasons of fetal or maternal health, he tweeted, and linked to a 2013 report by Guttmacher Institute. Responding to Northams support of the bill Wednesday, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said it was horrifying. This is nothing short of horrifying, a shock to any functioning conscience. My oldest son was born at 28 weeks, fighting for life and with severe health issues, in a Russian village. I thank God every day his birthmother did not share the ghoulish view of his worth and dignity that we are hearing today, he wrote in a series of tweets. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, had a similar response in comments to National Review. This is morally repugnant, he said. In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from safe, legal, and rare to keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide. I dont care what party youre from if you cant say that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office. Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Northam responded to the backlash, stating, No woman seeks a third trimester abortion except in the case of tragic or difficult circumstances, such as a nonviable pregnancy or in the event of severe fetal abnormalities, and the governors comments were limited to the actions physicians would take in the event that a woman in those circumstances went into labor. Attempts to extrapolate these comments otherwise is in bad faith and underscores exactly why the governor believes physicians and women, not legislators, should make these difficult and deeply personal medical decisions. Virginias abortion bill comes in the wake of the New York state Legislature passing a bill last Tuesday that made it legal for abortionists and other health care professionals to perform abortions up to birth for any reason. Pelosi praises evangelicals in address to Christian college presidents, cites Matthew 25 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment WASHINGTON Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi offered kind words about evangelicals during her speech before an annual gathering of Christian college presidents Wednesday. The Democrat from California spoke during the opening session of the 2019 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Presidents Conference on Capitol Hill less than an hour after Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos detailed for attendees the Trump administrations vision for rethinking higher education. The CCCU is an association of over 180 Protestant Christian colleges worldwide with a mission to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education through public advocacy, professional development and experiential education. Because people have faith, they believe. They believe in God and believe in themselves. They believe in the goodness of others, the charity of others. It gives them hope, the 78-year-old representative said. Faith is the strength and has always been the strength, of our country. It is also a country full of love. The House Speaker specifically addressed the issue of immigration, a hot button topic as the threat of yet another government shutdown stemming from President Donald Trumps request for additional funding to boost border security still exists. The CCCU is one of several evangelical organizations that form the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition that recently called for a compromise that would see both additional border security funding and a path to legal status for some who have lived in the country unlawfully. I have worked with some of you in this room over time on the immigration issue and the evangelical community has been in the lead on it for a long, long time being there for so many strong initiatives for comprehensive immigration reform, respecting the dignity and worth of every person, Pelosi told the audience. She continued by thanking Galen Carey, the vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, for his advocacy on the immigration issue. Pelosi recalled the time that Carey testified before Congress in 2017 when the Trump administration instituted a travel and refugee ban on a number of Muslim-majority countries. Galen came and he said to us The refugee resettlement program of the United States is the crown jewel of Americas humanitarianism, Pelosi recalled. Is that right, Galen? I quote you all the time because this is really true. Pelosi argued that it is the countrys obligation to be responsive to immigrants and refugees seeking asylum and refugee status after fleeing from their home countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution. But her speech comes at a time in which the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. has hit a historic low, despite the fact that there are over 25 million refugees looking for safety in the world today. Other countries are [doing their part] and we do a minimum and it is just not right, Pelosi said. She insisted even that asylum seekers have a right to cross the border in order to seek asylum in the U.S. In the current challenge that we have, one of the things that we have had to convey to the administration is that these people do have a right under international law in any sense of decency to seek refuge in our country, she contended. We have a responsibility to question whether it is a well-founded fear of persecution. But, it isnt against the law for them to come into America to have that test made. The large number of the people come through the ports of entry, overwhelmingly. But if they were to cross the border in another place because they are fleeing danger, that is OK too. Then, they are subjected to the test of whether they meet that standard. As many immigrants from Central America are fleeing gang violence and coming up through the porous U.S. southern border, the Trump administration late last year tried to institute a policy to temporarily disqualify illegal border crossers from being able to seek asylum in the U.S. But, a federal judge blocked the order. As the negotiations between Congress and the administration continue over the border issue, Pelosi explained that she and her colleagues are hoping to find some common ground with the White House as soon as possible. Some of the things that we have in there, I think will be very acceptable, she said. It goes on both sides of the ledger. We all care on both sides of the wall question about treating people who come. So there will be sizable funding for food, clothing, medical care for immigrants coming across the border so we dont have people dying in our custody. Pelosi said there would be sizable funding to hire more judges to allow for immigration cases to be more quickly adjudicated as there is currently a backlog of immigration cases. She added that there would be funding to send to the countries many of these immigrants are fleeing from to help alleviate some of the conditions that exacerbated the situation. We will have to see how that money is spent but a recognition that if we can solve some of the problems at home, then people can stay home, she reasoned. They come here because they have no choice and it is just a matter of life or death or danger for their families. Pelosi, a Catholic despite her pro-choice stance on abortion, cited Matthew 25 to stress that Americans should take up the responsibility to help immigrants and refugees fearing for their life. When people talk about the Gospel of Matthew as being an inspiration to so many of us When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was homeless, you sheltered me. When I was imprisoned, you visited me I always want to remind them that the rest of that Gospel is the [inverse]. When I was hungry, you didnt feed me. That second part of it, I think, is very important for us all to remember because the responsibility, the challenge is there both to respond positively but not to respond negatively, Pelosi also argued that the Trump administration stance on immigration issues is a departure from the bipartisanship that has existed in previous administrations around the recognition that we are, by and large, a nation of immigrants. Earlier in the morning session, CCCU President Shirley Hoogstra sat down with Education Secretary DeVos (a graduate of CCCU member Calvin College) to talk about issues such as accreditation, her plan for rethinking higher education and the administration's proposed Title IX sexual assault rules. The administration has claimed that the proposed Title IX rules will be historic in the sense that it would create formal regulations for how colleges and universities should respond to sexual assault and harassment claims. The two-month public comment period on the proposed rules ends Wednesday. Amassing over 100,000 comments, the rules have been praised by some and heavily criticized by others who say the regulations would be a step backward. In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era guidance that instructed colleges receiving federal grants that campus officials should respond more promptly to sexual assault claims from students. The guidance told officials to use a less rigorous standard of preponderance of the evidence to determine if a sexual assault had actually occurred. Critics claimed that such a policy violated due process rights of those accused. When I came into this job, I became aware very quickly of what had been promulgated in the previous administration simply wasnt working for too many students and institutions, DeVos said. So we began a process very early on, almost two years ago, of listening sessions. Speaking with those who had survived sexual assault about their experiences. We spoke with those who had been falsely accused and we also spoke with a number of folks from higher-ed institutions who have to adjudicate these things. It was very clear. The bottom line was that it simply was not working. So we set about to go through a proper regulatory process. After receiving input from the public, she said the department will move forward with a process to issue a final rule. The fundamental focus from my perspective is ensuring that we will be fair and balanced for all students, she explained. I said it often and I will say it again. One sexual assault is one too many. We need to move from a place where we are educating and ensuring that those horrible situations dont occur but when they do we need to have a process and framework that is fair for everyone. Democrats plan to strike God from oath for House Committee Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Correction appended House Democrats are looking to strike the phrase so help you God from the oath taken in a committee, prompting one prominent Republican to label them "the party of Karl Marx. A draft of the proposed rules for the House Committee on Natural Resources that was recently made public showed certain changes for the rules in red and items to be deleted put in brackets. For the oath witnesses are supposed to take, the proposed rules remove the phrase so help you God while adding the phrase under penalty of law. The proposed rules also add gender inclusive edits, changing chairman to chair and on multiple occasions replacing his or her with their. Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a Republican who is part of the Committee, denounced the proposed rules in an interview with Fox News. They really have become the party of Karl Marx, said Cheney. It is incredible, but not surprising, that the Democrats would try to remove God from committee proceedings in one of their first acts in the majority. Headed by Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the Committee on Natural Resources seeks to help preserve the environment and defend the rights of indigenous populations. Many federal oaths include the phrase so help me God. For example, the oath for United States Senators concludes with the phrase. However, the oath of office for the President of the United States does not include the phrase, but rather figures taking the oath have often unofficially added it in by tradition. According to a report by the Pew Research Center from earlier this month, the percentage of self-identified Christians in the 116th Congress is 88 percent, or 3 percent smaller than the 115th Congress. Sixty-three members of Congress, including two Republicans and 61 Democrats, state that they do not identify as Christian. This includes the first Muslim women elected to Congress, Democrats Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. For the past several years, many pundits and political experts have accused the Democratic Party of having a "God problem," or being too secular in their tone and views on religion. At their 2012 convention, Democrats garnered controversy over not including a reference to God in their party platform and then adding in a reference following three voice votes that had a questionable result. However, some, including journalist Amy Sullivan, defended the Democratic Party at the time, having a column published by the New Republic in 2012 noting the many examples of pro-faith expression at the convention. "The Democratic National Convention opens and closes each day's session with prayers, just like the Republican National Convention did," wrote Sullivan. "The 2012 Democratic platform has a separate section on 'Faith' that includes the lines, 'We know that our nation, our communities, and our lives are made vastly stronger and richer by faith and the countless acts of justice and mercy it inspires.'" Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Liz Cheney as being a representative of Wisconsin. Cheney serves Wyoming, not Wisconsin. Trump: Democrats 'becoming the Party of late-term abortion,' 'willing to rip the baby out of the womb' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are blasting the Democratic Party for its support of late-term abortion amid a national outcry over statements in support of a proposed Virginia late-term abortion bill. "Democrats are becoming the Party of late-term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime!" the president tweeted Thursday morning. His words come on the heels of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, who in a WTOP radio interview Wednesday defended a proposed bill from state delegate Kathy Tran, also a Democrat, that would have allowed abortions to be performed until the moment of birth. In video footage of a discussion among legislators that rocketed around the Internet earlier this week, Virginia House of Delegates majority leader Todd Gilbert, a Republican, asked Tran if a woman could ask for an abortion as she was going into labor, delivering a full-term baby. To the horror of many, Tran responded that such a request would be allowed under her bill. I thought it was terrible, Trump said of Trans statements in an interview with the Daily Caller Wednesday. Do you remember when I said Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? Thats what it is, thats what theyre doing, its terrible, he added, referencing his words in the third presidential debate prior to the 2016 election. Gilbert's office said Wednesday that the bill will not move out of subcommittee and no action will be taken on it. Responding to the fallout, Northam said that when speaking about third-trimester abortions, "these are done with the consent of obviously the mother, with the consent of the physician more than one physician, by the way and its done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus thats non-viable. If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the Virginia governor said. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. Like the video of Tran's admission that her legislation permitted abortion until moments before birth, Northam's comments went viral as conservative and pro-life advocates accused him of promoting a form of infanticide. "I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting," Northam, who is trained as a pediatrician, said Wednesday, responding to the fallout. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring stated Wednesday that President Trump and Virginia Republicans were "trying to spread shameful lies" about Tran and the governor. Pro-life legislators and advocates around the world were not moved, given the video tape of his comments and many were quoting him verbatim. "Whats shameful is that youre too cowardly to say point blank that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth," said U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, in a statement Thursday. "You could have said that yesterday. But because you're terrified of an extremist pro-abortion lobby that now defends even infanticide, you're still ducking." Pro-life senators Marco Rubio, R-Florida, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, all decried the Virginia bill. Nigerian pro-life activist Obianuju Ekeocha, author of Target Africa and founder of Culture of Life Africa, did not withhold her disgust. "Everyone that voted for this man @GovernorVA should wear sackcloth and remorsefully cover their heads in ashes, they should weep for putting power into the hands of a man that defends infanticide," she said Wednesday, tweeting his radio interview. In a Thursday National Review opinion piece, Vice President Pence weighed in, noting that the proposed Virginia bill follows similar legislation that was signed into law in New York, something that was celebrated with cheers in the state Senate chamber in Albany and illuminated pink lights atop One World Trade Center in New York City and other landmarks. "[A]t the base of the same One World Trade Center that was bathed in pink last week to mark the passage of New Yorks law, is the September 11th memorial," Pence noted Thursday. "There, the names of all who died in the horrific terrorist attacks 18 years ago are etched in stone including the eleven unborn children we lost along with their expectant mothers." "This shameless embrace of a culture of death is startling to every American who cherishes life. Not too long ago, the Democratic partys stated position was that abortion should be 'safe, legal, and rare.' It was this widespread rejection of late-term abortion that led a large bipartisan majority in Congress to pass the partial-birth-abortion ban in 2003. But now look at how far the Democratic party has fallen." The pushback to the Virginia bill led one Democratic lawmaker to withdraw her support for it, saying she had not read the proposed legislation's content closely enough. Had I researched each line of removed language, I would have seen that, and known that there was more research to be done. None of this changes that I believe women must have safe legal options for abortion; but I also would have seen the utility of language that provides guidelines for how to ensure this, wrote state delegate Dawn Adams, a Democrat who represents a suburban district outside Richmond, in a letter to her constituents Wednesday. I made a mistake, and all I know to do is to admit it, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may. Adams is a first-term delegate who won a close victory in 2017 and may face a competitive re-election campaign this year. The mainstream media, however, framed the events as an unkind attack on Tran. A Thursday headline in the Washington Post read: "Until this week, Del. Kathy Tran was known for nursing her daughter on the House floor. Now Republicans are calling her a baby killer." Tran deactivated her Twitter account soon after she was seen on tape talking about her bills allowance for abortions up until birth, but then reactivated it Thursday saying that misinformation had been spread, arguing that her bill does nothing to change the fact that women can request abortions under certain circumstances as long as medical doctors approve it. Medical missionary who fought Ebola and won in test of faith gets $500K prize Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment NEW YORK Nearly five years after the deadly Ebola virus threatened his life and work in Africa, medical missionary Dr. Rick Sacra was honored Thursday with the Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson LChaim (To Life) Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Mission Service, and a $500,000 grant to keep going. Sacra doesnt think of himself as a hero, but to hear the 56-year-old missionary tell his story about saving lives during the height of the worlds worst outbreak of the disease that claimed more than 11,000 lives, its hard not to imagine him wearing a cape. It was August 2014. Sacra, now 56, was delivering babies at the ELWA missionary hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, when he contracted the virus. It had been, he said, an awful time in the country he has called home for some two decades. That was the time when there were not enough beds for Ebola patients. Most of the Ebola care that was happening in Monrovia at that time was happening on the ELWA compound, he explained at a meet and greet held in the Manhattan home of Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson, the benefactors of the $500,000 prize. Other medical teams from groups such as Doctors Without Borders had set up operations to help the sick at the ELWA compound but the demands of the sick were overwhelming. Every day there would be patients. There would be sick people waiting around the entrances to these two units, waiting for news that there was an open bed. It was heartbreaking; you would literally see very critically ill people just sitting out on a grassy spot somewhere on the ELWA compound, Sacra said. I remember one morning coming into the hospital and finding out that a woman had died sitting in a chair not too far from the hospital entrance. We had to call in the burial team and the spray team to decontaminate the area. It was a pretty awful situation, he said. When Sacra got sick he had only been back in Monrovia for about four weeks after stepping in to volunteer shortly after other American medical missionaries, Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly the first two Americans to catch Ebola became ill. And he remembers it well. It was a Friday night when I developed the fever. ... I didnt know of an exposure, but we had had several patients who died under somewhat mysterious circumstances. At that time we didnt have good access to testing, he explained. But for some reason, I really felt from the moment I had the fever, I just thought, this is it. And I dont know why but I just felt that this is Ebola. For a time, Sacra remained calm and connected with his wife and employer, SIM. That weekend, I was in my little apartment; I didnt go anywhere. I talked with my wife on the phone. I talked with my medical director, my boss Dr. Brown. We decided wed wait until Monday and do my test on Monday if I still had the fever. The fever didnt break the whole weekend, he said. Even though he was sure he was doing what God wanted him to do, Sacra was tortured over what his possible death could mean for his family and the ELWA hospital. He cried as he trusted God to keep him. I did cry about it. I was upset about it, mainly for the sake of my wife and my kids. And even for the hospital. What would this do to the hospital to have another one of our health care providers come down with Ebola? That was pretty difficult to think about, he said. But you know, I have to say that for myself, I just had a real sense of peace that God was saying, Im here. I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. I said to God, God, but what about my family and what about the hospital?' And God kinda said, Rick, I got it. I can handle that. The Good Samaritan Ever since he was a child growing up and attending church in a Boston suburb, Sacra believes God placed a desire in him to help people of another culture in the name of Christ. I got to meet missionaries, I had some Sunday School teachers and youth pastors who were just very inspiring and really encouraging that kinda fanned that spark into a flame, he said. One of the stories of the Bible that inspired him, he said, is the story of the good Samaritan. I still remember hearing a preacher in a Vacation Bible School tell us the story of the good Samaritan. I mean, this was probably when I was 7 or 8 years old, and I still remember him telling that story and how much it meant to me and how I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be somebody who would stop and help my neighbor who was in need. So that just stuck with me and just that desire to want to be somebody that could make a difference, he said. Its no surprise then that even after facing death in the field, Sacra returned to Liberia a few months later to continue saving lives. In January 2015, we had a very ill little 6-week-old boy brought to ELWA, in the middle of the Ebola crisis, with vomiting. He was very sick and couldnt keep down any of his moms milk. At that time, other hospitals were closed. One of our younger doctors saw this child and felt he might have pyloric stenosis. I was asked to take a look with the ultrasound this was a disease I had not diagnosed before, but we got out the ultrasound book, and looked up how to diagnose it. We took a look and sure enough, it was pyloric stenosis, which requires surgery, he said. The baby would go on to have a successful operation with the help of his committed colleagues. It was great to be part of a successful team that God provided for the benefit of this baby, said Sacra. Advancing health care in Africa The annual $500,000 LChaim prize was awarded by African Mission health care for the third year in a row. The prize from the nonprofit, co-founded by Mark Gerson of Lehrman Group, and his college friend, Dr. Jon Fielder, who has served as a medical missionary to Africa for almost 20 years, will go toward supporting the advancement of health care in Liberia. It will help to cover about 15 percent of the training costs for Liberian family medicine residents. The country, which was founded as a colony of freed African-American slaves in the 19th century, only has one doctor for every 15,000 people, and many of them lack advanced training. There are many needs to train doctors library books, internet, faculty to teach, housing. This prize will cover about 15 percent of the training costs for our current group of residents, Sacra said. The money will also be used to help establish an intensive care unit with trained staff as well as install solar power capacity at the ELWA hospital as a buffer against Liberias unreliable power grid. And Rabbi Erica Gerson explained that growing local health care capacity is what the African Mission health care is pushing for. That means on the capital side, building up the physical plant, which could be anything from putting in proper roads Weve had a lot of requests for solar panels so they can have not only consistent power but [so] they [won't have to] spend a fortune on their power, she said. Providing housing for missionaries is also a part of the multi-pronged approached to supporting local health care systems. One of the most consistent needs of the Gerson LChaim prize over the years has been housing, the rabbi said. Even though were funding medical expansion, people dont think about it, theres no market for rentals. If you can offer someone safe and decent housing, that becomes a real draw. Its a necessity and its a strength when various campuses can build that, she said. The support of the Jewish benefactors of Christian medical missionaries was forged out of a relationship between Ericas husband and his Christian college friend, Dr. Jon Fielder. My husband was at Williams College with Jon Fielder, who then became Dr. Jon Fielder, and on his path he felt a calling to serve God and to do that in his medical capacity, said Erica. Mark, who would go on to co-found and become the chairman of the Gerson Lehrman Group, a knowledge brokerage and primary research firm, began helping to support Fielders work. After observing how the missionaries were operating for a while, the friends teamed up to help make the operations of medical missionaries in Africa more efficient through African Mission health care. When Mark got on the scene and when Jon got on the scene, these doctors were going back to America for months at a time going church to church, weekend to weekend, raising a few hundred dollars. And Mark, as a businessman, said this is not a good use of human capital, Erica said. These are the people who are trained and willing to serve, lets figure out how we can support them so they can do their holy work in Africa. We can build the relationships and the systems needed to support that work. So it took off from there, she said. Another reason Erica and her husband say they got involved was because of their faith. And hell (Mark) say that he feels that one of the strongest commands in Judaism is to love the stranger. Its the most often repeated commandment or mitzvah in the Torah. Its always, love the stranger, remember the stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. ... Nothing could be stranger for us than a sick orphan in Africa. We have no personal connection but we recognize their humanity and are inspired by the love and medical skill that all these doctors are bringing, she said. Mark Gerson also told The Christian Post Thursday that the prize is a reflection of what he sees as the historic friendship that has bloomed between Jews and Christians in recent years. Its been over 3,000 years since Moses and God liberated the Jews from Egypt. This right now is the greatest friendship the Jewish people have ever had, and it's with Christians today, he said. The Christian love for Israel has amplified the Christian love for Judaism. And the Christian love for Judaism has in response amplified the Christian love for Israel, and it has become a virtual cycle. And that virtual cycle has produced this world historic friendship. In all of Jewish history there has never been anything like this, he said. The businessman praised the work of Christian missionary doctors and described it as one of the most spectacular investments in which anyone could make. Whats really inspiring is being able to see the places where the Christian missionaries serve is functionally impossible to get to just hearing about the extraordinary work they do in helping us fulfill our Jewish obligation to love the stranger, he said. When you hear about the number of people whose lives they saved, and people whose illnesses they treat and people whose injuries they heal per dollar invested, its the most spectacular investment anybody has ever made. And its inspiring. "Its inspiring to think about the amount of good one can do with almost any amount of money that one invests in the work of Christian medical missionaries. It's gonna deliver the best investment return anybody has ever seen, he said. Drag Queen Story Hour with 'Annie Christ' sparks outrage in Philly Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Philadelphia-area community is pushing back against a library's plans to host a drag queen story hour, saying the event is hostile to Christianity in part because the performer's stage name is "Annie Christ." The drag name Annie Christ is a play on words for AntiChrist. What is being called the "Drag Queen Story Fun Time with Annie is scheduled for Saturday at the Lansdale Public Library. Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is bringing perversion from the nightclubs and sexually charged pride parades into the library with children, a Facebook event page for a protest and prayer rally says. Trusted officials and library staff are promoting a foul-mouthed adult entertainer named Annie Christ (a discriminative attack on Christianity) as a role model to our small children, and we must take action. Why is our library taking on such a politically controversial issue especially when receiving our tax dollars?" According to Philly.com, the library has already received several complaints. Theres definitely more complaints about this than any other event weve done, said library director Tom Meyer, but support for the event is "overwhelming, he said. "One of the tenets of our mission here is to celebrate cultural diversity in the community, and I think a lot of the parents are interested in that and also the message of the story time, about acceptance and inclusion, said Meyer who's unphased by plans for potential protests. "Library branches in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania suburbs, and South Jersey have run similar events with drag queens since 2017; the Free Library of Philadelphia alone has hosted more than 50 of them, according to Andrew Nurkin, deputy director of enrichment and civic engagement. Currently, the Fumo Family Library Branch in South Philadelphia is hosting a series of drag-queen trivia nights, including one Feb. 13," Philly.com reported. Another drag queen named "Brittany Lynn" is putting on an event at the Please Touch museum in Philadelphia. Were not pushing any agenda. Were just giving a view of diversity and acceptance that isnt so heteronormative, the performer said. Writing on his blog at The American Conservative Wednesday, author Rod Dreher, who regularly documents how fringe sexuality has made inroads into the public domain, noted how outlandish the event seemed. "What kind of Christofascist could possibly imagine that theres an agenda present in these things? And I cant imagine why some folks in the Philly region are troubled by a public library hosting a childrens story hour led by a drag queen named 'Annie Christ' (Antichrist get it?)," he mused sarcastically. "Life in post-Christian Weimar America, folks. Drag queens named Antichrist invited to read stories to children in public libraries." Drag Queen Story Hour started in San Francisco, California, in 2015, where it was launched to provide "positive and unabashedly queer role models" for children and now has chapters in 40 states and in other countries. In 2017, parents in Long Beach, California, also spoke out against the Drag Queen Story Hour when the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library hosted a drag queen named Xochi Mochi who dressed as a five-horned demon to read to children. Pastor who fatally shot himself would sometimes stop taking medication, megachurch leader reveals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jim Howard, a California pastor who fatally shot himself in the head at his home last week after a private struggle with mental illness, would sometimes fail to take medication prescribed for his condition. In talking with some of his friends I discovered that he was known to be on medication and would suddenly go off, which is not recommended, Rusty George, lead pastor of the more than 6,000 member Real Life Church, in an interview with KHTS on Tuesday. There were some things there that I didnt fully know about, those of us closest to him didnt fully know about. He would make comments apparently to some, we didnt really take it all that seriously cause Jim was always joking and fun-loving and all of that. And to look back on it, I think anytime you look back, hindsight is 20/20, you start piecing some things together. But you never really know the darkness behind what someone is carrying, George said. According to his LinkedIn profile, Howard became the lead pastor for Real Life Churchs Valencia Campus in July 2018 and had also been serving as the executive director of the churchs family ministry for the last three years. Detectives told The Signal that they began investigating the death of a person they suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the backyard of a Valencia home last Wednesday. Shortly before 3:40 p.m., paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the home on North Sunny Creek Drive and police were called in to investigate. Carl Goldman, owner of KHTS, said even though he was close friends with Howard he never saw any signs that would lead him to believe his friend would take his life. I spent a lot of time with Jim but obviously not enough to see the signs. We would have breakfast together and there was no indication, Goldman said. George explained that Howards death has helped to highlight the importance of Christians who are taking mental health medication to not substitute it with prayer. Medication is such a powerful thing and I think in the Christian community theres a stigma [of] well, Im not going to take medication, Im just going to pray it away. Well sometimes Gods answer to us is OK, but also take your meds, George said. Hes gifted great scientists and doctors with the ability to put together great medication regimens to help us. So why wouldnt we do that? We go to the doctor if we have a headache or if we have a broken leg. And for many of us, we have this kind of brokenness in our brain with chemicals and whatnot that definitely needs some kind of medication to be on that. Its helpful, he added. George also noted that his church would work to continue speaking more openly about mental health issues and the issue of suicide, which appears to have reached epidemic levels in his community, particularly among men between the ages of 40 and 55. Just having been here in the community for 15 years and seeing the growing rate of suicide in our community, which some stats tell us were one of the highest in the nation, and for it to be in this demographic of men between the ages of 40 and 55 that this is an epidemic we need to talk about, he said. We just felt that we needed to get out in front of this and let people know that this is something that happens to everybody, this is something that affects everybody and there are people struggling behind their eyes with darkness or depression or sadness that not everybody can see. And the more we talk about it, the more lives we may save in the process, he said. Davey Blackburn's Resonate Church shuttered due to lack of successor, membership decline Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The interim pastor at Resonate Church in Indiana that was founded by Davey Blackburn admitted they were poor stewards of church finances and revealed that they ultimately decided to dissolve the church because of dwindling membership and an inability to find a successor to continue the ministry. This decision was not made lightly but was deemed best due to several factors. We do not have the right successor to lead and pastor and additionally we have experienced a decline in attendance and financial support, John Berry, interim pastor since Blackburns abrupt resignation a week ago, said in a statement to The Christian Post. Some three years after the murder of his first wife Amanda inside their Indiana home and a year after he remarried, Blackburn announced his decision to resign from the church he founded. Its with a heavy heart, a nervous apprehension, a trusting spirit, and yet an excited anticipation for the future that I must announce that Kristi and I are stepping away as the leaders of Resonate Church. We are doing this in order to answer a call God has placed on our lives to help people from all over the world find purpose in their pain through Nothing is Wasted, Blackburn said. A week later, on Sunday, Berry presented a dissolution plan to the congregation that was highlighted by Amy Smith, a sexual abuse survivor advocate, and fellow activist Traci Mosby, who shares at the Pink Haired Devil on Twitter. Mosby was at the church on Sunday. The plan showed that the church had liabilities of $73,817.97 and cash totaling only $38,154.48. It also showed that the church would sell off its worship, production, and other valuable equipment owned by the ministry to offset the deficit. Any funds remaining from the sale is expected to be donated to a church or nonprofit that is yet to be determined. In a recording from the meeting highlighted by RTV6, when a church official, identified as Berry, was asked if any funds from the church were misappropriated, he denied it but admitted they had been poor stewards. Absolutely not. Money and donations that came in the form of tithes and from the outside all went in. There are multiple checks and balances for every check that was written out of the church or coming in. There was no misappropriation whatsoever. There is no money that went places it shouldn't be. What we were not as a church is good stewards of what we had if you want to know the truth, he said. It was only a year ago that Berry, who formerly pastored at Liberty Baptist Church in Spring Lake, North Carolina, told friends and family on Facebook that he was moving to Indiana to be Gods answer to Blackburns prayers. Many of you have heard our family is moving to Indianapolis this week. Some have asked why? Some have asked, why would you move to Indiana where its so cold? Where youre so far away from family? Where youve never been before? Heres why! Take some time and listen to why we are trusting God in this, Berry said in January 2018. About 2 years ago Pepper and I began praying he would use our family to make a difference in His kingdom on earth no matter where we are. We positioned ourselves with open hands, knowing this could be life changing but hoping it wouldnt mean we had to leave. Then God. Then God heard the prayers of a pastor in Indianapolis and began making a way for the Berrys to be the answer." His wife, Pepper, revealed in a post on Facebook a week ago that her familys future is now uncertain. This picture is a memory from one year ago today. We had just emptied all our belongings here on Earth into a home in Indiana. And today I cant help but wonder what God is doing and what his plan is, she wrote in the post which included a photo of a moving truck. Ive just determined in the midst of this Im not gonna know the long term in my life and that is what God wants for me and I have to be ok. How can I live open handed if I have an expectation in place? So I just think its a day by day/week by week blind trust of a good and faithful God. That kinda trust is so outside my security but so inside the Word and the call of my life if I truly believe God to be who he says he is." John Berry said he will be helping Resonate Church members find new places of worship. We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, activated through the local church, is the hope [of] the world. We are committed to helping people in our church family find and become part of new church homes where they can be a part of corporate worship, serve the Lord and take next steps in their relationships with Jesus, Berry told CP. Blackburn and his late wife, Amanda Blackburn, moved to Indianapolis in January 2012 to plant Resonate Church. Prior to that, he had spent four years on staff at NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, under then Pastor Perry Noble. On the morning of Nov. 10, 2015, while Blackburn was away at the gym, police said his late wife was shot three times, including once in the head, during a home invasion. She succumbed to her injuries the following day along with her 13-week-old unborn daughter, Everette "Evie" Grace Blackburn. After Amandas death, Blackburn recast the vision of his church. She believed nothing was wasted and anything could be restored into a treasure. Now the vision of Resonate has taken on a deeper level and reach. We now spend every waking moment following Jesus in His plan to restore this tragedy into something beautiful. We've seen hundreds of people give their lives to Jesus as their personal savior since Amanda's death, the church says on its website. We're on a mission to turn Indianapolis upside-down for Jesus and we believe it is only just the beginning of our story. Our story is played out in the light of a greater Story Jesus Story. Scripture tells us in Jesus story that Nothing is Wasted, even the most tragic of situations." As National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) president Leith Anderson announces his retirement after 13 years at the helm of the organization, the outgoing leader cautioned against politics taking over perceptions of the movement. Bringing together evangelicals based on our shared faith in the Bible and Jesus Christ is my greatest joy at NAE, said Anderson, who will step down from the NAE, which represents 40,000 churches and millions of believers, at the end of 2019. Some try to define evangelicals by politics. That is a big mistake. We are defined by our faith. In recent years, the NAE president spoke up in new debates that arose during President Donald Trumps campaign over the use of the label evangelical that has defined the organization throughout its history. Recognizing the divisive polarization in current culture, NAE has focused on the design of our founders 75 years ago, he told CT. We were started to be a biblical voice between ... 1 John Chilembwes revolt against colonial Britain failed, but he is still hailed as a hero in Malawi. In a grass hut in 1892 in British Central Africa, a 10-year-old British girl named Emily Booth lay sick and without her family. Her mother had recently died and her father, a missionary named Joseph Booth, was undeterred by the death of his wife and was away preaching. So, Emily was left alone with their new house servant, John Chilembwe. Though the servant knew little English, he had already proven himself superior to previous employees simply by virtue of not stealing from the Booths. Yet his care for little Emily would demonstrate his tender-heartedness and compassion, far outstripping his language skills. As Emily later recounted: When my malaria recurred, and it seemed impossible for Father to go about his business of finding suitable land for the Mission, John proved himself invaluable. Father was able to leave me in his care. He was kind and infinitely patient, making beef-tea and broths for me, trying to tempt my appetite and give me strength. He could not more gently have tried to comfort me, and help me to be unafraid, if he had been my big brother.The days were very long with Father away. I was weak and sometimes half delirious. Late one afternoonit has, somehow, stayed clearly in my memoryI woke up and found that Father had not returned. Unreasoning panic possessed me. I got out of bed and went out-of-doors in my nightgown. I started to run down the path, calling for Father. My strength gave out and I fell in a heap. John, who had tried to restrain, came and gently picked me up. He carried me in his arms and laid me down on my cot. You no cry, Miss Dot, he said, your father come back soon. I must have slipped off to sleep for a brief time, and when I woke up again in restless ... The Syrian government has been held liable by a U.S. court for the extrajudicial killing of the Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin and ordered to pay $300m dollars in punitive damages. In a judgment, the Syrian government was found to have targeted journalists deliberately during the countrys civil war in order to "intimidate newsgathering" and suppress dissent. Colvin, an American reporter who operated out of London, and Remi Ochlik, a French photojournalist, were killed in a rocket attack on a makeshift media centre in the rebel-held city of Homs in February 2012. In her decision, the judge declared that Marie Colvin was "specifically targeted because of her profession, for the purpose of silencing those reporting on the growing opposition movement in the country," the Guardian reported. As well as awarding $300m in punitive damages, the court also ordered Syria to pay $2.5m in compensation to Colvins sister and $11,836 in funeral expenses. I recently talked with author and speaker Ann Voskamp about why she is part of a grad school cohort at Wheaton College. Through our masters-level courses in the Wheaton College Graduate School, we offer students cohort-style learning experiences for them to continue in ministry while learning from each other and some of the best professors in the world. We have partnered with Propel Women to create cohorts and one of the students in our cohort is author and speaker Ann Voskamp . I was glad to interview Ann about her experience going back to school. If you are interested, Ive also recently interviewed Matt Chandler on the same subject . Since most of our masters students are adult learners, I hope this (short) series is helpful. Ed: Why did you decide at your place and stage as a writer and a leader, to go back to school? Ann: I think there were a few catalysts. First, ultimately, we are as helpful teachers as we are humble learners. Leaning into a kneeled posture of humility to receive leaves us better positioned to pour out more thoughtfully. The professors at Wheaton walk in a brilliant humility and to listen and learn from their experiences, their readings, their perspective, and to bring that wealth of wisdom that has been tried and tested by time to our own lives is needful and transformative. As we are watered by the writings and teachings of the faithful who have poured out before us, the hope is that our own lives would yield far better. Second, as a mother of seven children, deeply committed to building a community of readers and inquisitive minds, we have always believed that, as it is widely said, Education is not about merely filling a bucket. Its about ultimately lighting a match. That match burns hot the rest of our lives. Every parent, every person in leadership, needs to model what it's like to have a voracious appetite to learn more of the ways of Christ, to be intentionally growing in Christ, to be a lifelong learner at the feet of those who have gone before, to be lifelong learner in community. Third, I think that the Christian life is a life of discipleship, so how are we humbly positioning ourselves to be discipled by great books and great teachers? How are we, in our limping brokenness, intentionally joining the great cloud of witnesses, to learn from great thinkers, to sit at the feet of spiritual giants? The body of Christ has historically always been a seedbed of culture-shapers: Copernicus, Kepler, Pascal, Luther. How are we, in a posture of neediness and readiness, committed to cultivating our minds, planting seeds, to be part of the humble, cruciform shaping of culture now? Finally and maybe most importantly, spiritual formation is ultimately result of what we let form us. Our spiritual formation is informed by the information we allow to shape and form our days. And to humbly ask and sincerely search our hearts: Are we most informed by social media streams, or most informed by a stream of scriptural truth? Being formed, and reformed, and made cruciform through the biblical wisdom of Wheaton that formed the likes of Billy Graham and Nate Saint and Jim and Elizabeth Elliot is to humbly and genuinely choose a spiritual formation that has proven to impact the nations and generations. Ed: What's the value in directed learning rather than me picking the learning? Ann: I wonder if the value in directed learning is that we are directed down old roads that have proven to be the good roads, the trusted roads, the best roads. Directed learning acknowledges that terrain of the current cultural landscape is uncharted, and like you wouldnt attempt to wander out of a mountainous wilderness without direction, why would we attempt to navigate the current times without humbly choosing directed learning? Every disciple needs a guide to get from where you are to where you want to be. And I humbly believe that directed learning is part of the process of having a wise guide through these times. Ed: What has it been like preparing to go back to school, reading eight books for just one course? Ann: Its been a discipline thats igniting. Humbling. Thrilling. When youre reading at the same time from a gathering of books, those books start to have a collective conversation amongst each other, ideas of one text questioning, challenging, extending the ideas posited in another text, and you find yourself in the front row seat of an exhilarating, awakening conversation that is nuanced and robust and formational. A stack of books can be a community nursery that births new growth, deep and sincere conviction, and a cruciform shaping of a surrendered heart and mind. Yes, it may be hard, but taking time to cultivate hard things can grow the most meaningful things. And frankly, its nothing short of exhilarating to participate in this process of fresh hope, new growth, and humble remaking and reshaping. Ed: What about the community experience where you're learning with other people? Ann: To learn in community is to be on a humble listening tour. To lean in to listen from someone who is 24 years old and learn from their perspective, and then turn to the wisdom of a fellow student who is 64 years old is a rich and formational experience. Growing in grace is corporate; we are a body and the body of Christ needs to be informed and reformed by the other parts. Ed: How can we all pray for you as you go back to school? Ann: I think, we as Christians, particularly in this day and age, need to be, much like Tim Keller ishumble and voracious students of culture, of Scripture, of people. How can we, in community, be vulnerable with our brokenness, our desperate need of the Cross, and embark on a humble journey toward wholeness in him? How do we remain in a posture of humility and learning so that we can reflect Christ more to the world? To be at Wheaton, a place that has such a history of orthodoxy and biblical spiritual formation, that has so impacted the church in North America and the global church, is one of the most humbling and formational gifts in my life. Ultimately, pray that all of us, as cross-clinging students of Christ, might be radical about grace, relentless about our neediness and repentance, resolute about the all-sufficiency of Christand unwavering in cruciform love. Pennsylvania Drag Queen Story Time with 'Annie Christ' Sparks Protest Share Tweet A Philadelphia library announced that they will be hosting a drag queen story hour with Annie Christ to sound like AntiChrist and some people in the community are pushing back. According to the Christian Post, the Lansdale Public Library is inviting kids from across the community to Drag Queen Story Fun Time with Annie this Saturday. While library director Tom Meyer says the event has overwhelming support, he also noted that the event has attracted more complaints than ever before. The Christian Post reports that Meyer said they are going through with the event, despite push back, because it is a celebration of inclusion. He said, One of the tenets of our mission here is to celebrate cultural diversity in the community, and I think a lot of the parents are interested in that and also the message of the story time, about acceptance and inclusion. Others, however, see this event as doing the exact opposite, and instead of demonstrating inclusion, it is attacking Christianity. A Facebook Event page for a prayer rally against the event said of the Drag Queen story time, Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is bringing perversion from the nightclubs and sexually charged pride parades into the library with children. It continues, Trusted officials and library staff are promoting a foul-mouthed adult entertainer named Annie Christ (a discriminative attack on Christianity) as a role model to our small children." The event, which is expected to bring in a handful of protesters, already has nearly 150 people confirmed to attend on Saturday. Photo courtesy: Pixabay The first new Catholic church to be built in Cuba in over 60 years opened its doors Saturday in the rural town of Sandino, providing what some say is "a new sign of faith" in the socialist country. With the help of a parish in Tampa, Florida, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish became the first of three new parishes to be completed across the island nation. The bright yellow church that seats about 200 people is the first Catholic parish to be dedicated since the days of the Cuban Revolution and the revolutionary government's crackdown on organized religion. The project came to be thanks to a fundraising campaign launched by St. Lawrence Parish in Tampa that raised over $95,000 to cover much of the construction costs. "It was incredible to see the church that was built by a small but faith-filled community in Sandino," Father Chuck Dornquast, the parochial vicar of St. Lawrence Parish, said in a statement. "While the church seats 200 people, it's estimated that nearly 500 people attended the dedication." According to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Catholic Schools were closed and many priests and religious communities were exiled following the Cuban Revolution. Additionally, public expressions of faith "became taboo." A move toward more tolerance of some public expressions of faith started in the 1990s when Pope John Paul II celebrated mass in Cuba with thousands of believers. Also in the 1990s, the Communist Party removed atheism as one of the membership requirements. Although Cuba remains a secular state, the communist government has become much more tolerant of Christianity. The Diocese explained in a press release that Catholics in Sandino, a town on the very northwest end of the island, had previously held mass and Bible studies and other gatherings at their homes. The community expects that the new building will bring more people and strengthen their congregation. "Christ has placed the call to make disciples in each of us, whatever our circumstances," Dornquast added. "People in this tiny town of Cuba are finding a way to live out that call, despite their difficult circumstances." The priest who oversaw the construction, Cirilo Castro, told CNN that with the warming relations between the communist government and the Vatican, he "knew it would happen one day." "To see this finished is like coming out of the night into the day," Castro explained. Because construction materials are hard to come by on the island, the construction took about four years. "From the day they put the first stone we have been watching it grow little by little," Sandino resident Aleida PadrAn Zabala told the news outlet. "Patience has given us this church." Two other Catholic parishes are being constructed in Havana and Santiago. According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, around 60 to 70 percent of Cuba's 11 million people are Catholic while five percent are Protestant. Although the Cuban government is warming up to religion, USCIRF warns that religious freedom conditions in the country are still "poor" despite the existence of 55 registered religious communities. The country was listed by the federal government watchdog entity as a "Tier 2" country of concern for religious freedom in its annual report last year. USCIRF said that the Cuban government has engaged in "harassment campaigns that included detentions and repeated interrogations targeting religious leaders and activists who advocate for religious freedom." William Devlin, an evangelical New York City pastor, recently traveled to Cuba for the 40th time since 2007. "[I have] never had a problem with government nor [have] the thousands of pastors, missionaries and evangelists that I've taught and been to a conference with," Devlin, a Navy veteran and Purple Heart recipient, told The Christian Post Wednesday. "The Cuban evangelical church is experiencing significant growth," he added. "The pastors are free to preach the Gospel." Last week, Devlin met with a pastor of one of the largest churches in Holguin, one of the largest cities in Cuba, about trying to make Cuba a "sending country." He said that a group of about 20 Cuban Christians from the church expressed a desire to train to become missionaries to the Middle East. Fluent in Arabic, Devlin is prepared to beginning training this group. Courtesy of The Christian Post McCall, Idaho native receives honor for the first time after 12 years on the Cheney force File photo Cheney police Officer Zeb Campbell was named 2018's Officer of the Year. It's the first time he has received the award in his 12 years of service with the department. Overall, Cheney police Officer Zeb Campbell thinks 2018 was a pretty quiet year. That might be a comparative statement for the veteran who came on the force in 2006 and was named Officer of the Year in 2018 by his peers. "Zeb routinely leads the department in activity, and he has demonstrated time and again an uncanny ability to spot suspicious activity and to take appropriate action," Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said in an email. Campbell - no relation to Cheney police Capt. Rick Campbell - joined the Cheney department after serving almost a year with the Eastern Washington University Police Department. He served first as a reserve officer before getting regular patrol duties in early 2007. He also worked for American Medical Response (AMR) and as a volunteer firefighter with Cheney's fire department. Campbell has also served as the police department's field training officer, and it was in that role that he took part in one of the bigger stories of last year - the shooting death of a man in Mitchell Harvest Foods' parking lot in the early morning hours of Sept. 3. Campbell had a trainee with him when he received the call to respond with other officers to reports of a man with a knife in the parking lot, details of which he said he can't discuss because the case is still in the hands of the county prosecutor's office. "We train for it (shooting incidents) all the time," Campbell said. "But what do you do if you're involved in a shooting with a trainee?" Officers had little time to ask that question as the individual, later identified as 40-year-old Steve L. Anderson, was practically on top of them from the moment they arrived, according to reports. It was later determined that he was the one who placed the call reporting a man with a knife in what appears to be a possible suicide-by-cop incident. Campbell said there was a lot of stress on himself and the other first responders after the incident, along with some negative comments and accusations from the public. "But there was a lot of support throughout the department and the community," he added. While there have been some other high-profile police incidents in Cheney, Campbell said overall last year was relatively quiet, in comparison to other years. Some of the biggest changes have come in personnel with retirements, the addition of two new officers, another lateral entry officer candidate that didn't work out and the recent hire of a third officer. "And with Capt. Campbell retiring (March 31), it's going to change the face of the department," he added. Over the past 12 years, Zeb Campbell said Cheney continues to retain much of the feel of a relatively small town, something that appealed to himself and his wife Maudi since they both come from McCall. But then again, Cheney isn't as small as people think as it's beginning to develop more criminal problems inherent in a larger city. Campbell said while the city doesn't have a gang problem, some of the incidents that have taken place are a result of those elements coming to the city from outside. While parties associate with Eastern Washington University students might contribute to some of the allure, it's not a large part. "Those suspects we're arresting aren't Eastern students," Campbell said. Campbell said he plans to remain with the department for a long time, and hopes to move in to other roles such as perhaps detective work. "Zeb is energetic, focused with a good sense of humor and as the chief, I find him a pleasure to have a part of the Cheney police department team," Hensley said. Campbell feels the same about his role, and appreciates his peers bestowing the Officer of the Year honor on him for the first time. "It was a surprise, I was not expecting it at all," he said. "They got me." John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com. Replica of Vietnam Memorial arriving in June as part of Founders Days This years Founders Day in Medical Lake will include a special guest and additional ceremonies. The group Re*Imagine Medical Lake is sponsoring The Moving Wall, a mobile, scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall located in Washington D.C., to the city in mid-June. The event will overlap the annual Founders Day festivities, according to Gerri Johnson, president of Re*Imagine Medical Lake and Founders Day director. Were a military-rich region, Johnson said. The Moving Wall will be located at 250 S. Prentis St. on the Medical Lake Middle School playfield between June 12-16. Each day will include an opening and closing ceremony, Johnson said. And on Founders Day, Saturday, June 15, a noon ceremony with an as yet unconfirmed keynote speaker is planned following the Founders Day parade. There may also be a military flyover. According to Johnson, the flyover has already received initial approval from the Pentagon. Final approval is pending. But bringing The Moving Wall to Medical Lake is no small challenge. The logistics and requirements of hosting the wall are significant, and like a military campaign, very regimented. For example, it requires an escort the day it arrives. Several motorcycle groups are interested, Johnson said. Sponsoring The Moving Wall is an expensive and logistically challenging proposition, one that the local community of not only Medical Lake but other West Plains communities have embraced. There is a significant list of requirements to which sponsoring organizations must adhere, including construction of a stage with lighting, piping and skirting, a canopy, lighting and landscaping elements, and meals for volunteers. An escort is required the day the wall arrives, and several motorcycle groups are interested, Johnson said. The most expensive item on a line-item list provided by Re*Imagine Medical Lake is the printing of 20,000, 8-by-10 inch color booklets. The cost for the booklets alone is estimated at $10,000. Total price to bring the wall to Medical Lake is nearly $40,000. Its no surprise that Re*Imagine Medical Lake is actively seeking donations. Fundraisers have already raised some of the necessary cash, with The American Legion Post 72 in Cheney, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Horton Strength Post 3386 in Airway Heights each raising $4,000, according to Johnson. Many local groups, businesses, and fraternal organizations, including the 141st Air Refueling Wing, and the Medical Lake School District, have also donated or pledged donations, according to the Re*Imagine Medical Lake website. Other small groups and individual donors have chosen not to be recognized, Johnson said. Some local merchants have pledged in-kind donations of material for requirements such as the construction of the foundation for the wall, Johnson said. She declined to provide the total amount of money raised to date. Locally, members of the Medical Lake Kiwanis have for the past three years been erecting a homemade memorial that includes the names of local veterans. Originally conceived by Stanley Johnson as a way to raise money for the club, it started out as a single sheet of 4-inch by 8-foot plywood holds 52 names. This year, its fourth, there will be four sheets, Johnson said. There are several mobile replicas of the original Vietnam Memorial Wall that have been created by veterans organizations. The Moving Wall is a half-sized replica of the original 247-foot wall, according to the groups website. The mobile memorial was originally conceived by John Devitt, a former Army helicopter door gunner during the war. Its transported in two pieces. The original wall was designed by Maya Lin, an architect, designer and artist, who won a design contest for the monuments design. It now sits on a two-acre site in Washington D.C. The monument and its landscaping was completed in 1982. Two lessor known components of the Vietnam memorial include a statue and a flagpole. There are currently 58,272 service member names engraved on the walls 70 granite panels. Approximately 1,200 of those are listed as missing in action. In all, 2.7 million men and women served within the designated war zone during the nearly 20-year-long Vietnam War. Having seen the one in person in D.C., I think it will be a nice edition for people to have here in our community, simply because a lot of people associated with Fairchild (Air Force Base) knew people who lost their lives in Vietnam, Stanley Johnson said. HOW TO VOLUNTEER OR DONATE In addition to monetary and in-kind donations, the event also requires 30 volunteers for each of the four days The Moving Wall will be in Medical Lake, between June 12-16, which overlaps the annual Founders Day celebration. Each of the four days begins and ends with a ceremony. Volunteers are needed throughout the day for set-up, helping people locate names on the wall, general visitor assistance, 24-hour security, and other duties. Food and beverages are provided to volunteers. Those interested in volunteering for, or donating to The Moving Wall event can contact Re*Imagine Medical Lake at info@medicallake.org. Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com Dbali Asian Bistro becomes early neighborhood favorite thanks to distinctive signature flavors By SHANNEN TALBOT Staff Reporter Mama Jeannie doesnt quite know what to do with compliments. Jeannie Choi, called Mama Jeannie by employees and customers alike, is the owner and chef at Dbali Asian Bistro, the Airway Heights restaurant gaining a cult following for its signature Asian fusion dishes and distinctive seasonings. And when complimented on the delicious food coming out of her kitchen, she just smiles, waves a hand and says, Its not bad, huh? Not bad is an understatement, with the small location already setting the local culinary scene on fire despite opening at the end of 2018. Dbali serves up exotic dishes inspired by Chois days in the corporate hotel industry, when she travelled all over Southeast Asia and fell in love with the flavors. Her menu shows off those flavors with a deft hand, spotlighting traditional meals with a modern twist. Though the restaurant has a variety of offerings with Balinese, Malaysian, Thai and Indian influences, each meal begins with the Korean tradition of banchan, complimentary side dishes served with rice for tasting. The side dishes rotate, and earlier this week included pickled radish, jalapeno onions and kimchi. Chois friend Kelly Bishop is Dbalis director of business development and handles most of the marketing due to Chois slight language barrier. Bishop has been with Choi every step of the way for several years and calls the new business a labor of love. When we were looking for places we just kept coming back to Airway Heights, Bishop said. Airway Heights is kind of a cool little hub of ethnic food and theres lots of culinary diversity, so it felt comfortable. Mama Jeannie and her husband Tony have dreamed of owning a restaurant since they came to the United States from South Korea more than a decade ago, Bishop said. That dream was more than two years in the making with the restaurants current building requiring an extensive remodel, but its been well-worth it in an extremely short time. In fact, DBali Asian Bistro was recognized as the regions best ethnic dining spot at the Spokane Culinary Arts Guilds 2018 awards gala in early January. She was not expecting it, but I was. Her food is fantastic, but even more than that is the warmth she treats people with, Bishop said. How she treats her family and friends is how she treats her customers. Its that sense of connection and community that keeps people coming back. Chois South Korean family can be seen in the black and white photos adorning the walls of the restaurant cousins, siblings, parents. Choi said she sees her family about every two years and admits she misses watching her nieces and nephews grow. But Mama Jeannie has made her own family with her restaurant, remembering past customers first names and welcoming them like old friends. On Monday, Jan. 28, the dining room filled with the lunch rush as the place has quickly become a favorite of local airmen. Military members and Alaska/Horizon Air employees get a 10 percent discount, while 10 percent of all dessert sales are donated to local animal charities, primarily the Spokane Humane Society. Mama Jeannie still makes everything traditionally in small batches by hand, Bishop said. Many of her dishes are ones shes been making at home for decades. Her signature Dbali wings shes made for friends and family, for parties and potlucks for years, and everyone has been going crazy for these addictive wings, Bishop said. Those signature chicken wings live up to the hype, served resting on a bed of sweet and savory sauce worth scraping up with a spoon for one last taste. The fresh Malaysian curry is a particular gem, offering a bevy of mouth-watering flavors with just a touch of heat and served in a bowl big enough to share or at least provide leftovers. In it, youll find eggplant, peppers and a blend of spices curry fans across cultures can agree on. Mama Jeannies own favorite dish on the menu is her bone broth To-die-for boat noodle soup inspired by the floating markets and cities she visited in Thailand. People have been seriously loving the Nasi Goreng Indonesian fried rice, Bishop said. I think its something that Spokane people have not often had a chance to try and has unique flavor profile thats still familiar and comforting. The recipes at Dbalis are all Chois own, developed over years and coupled with cooking skills honed to an edge as sharp as the one on her cooking knives. That authenticity shines through in each dish and has made die-hard fans of neighboring residents already. In our culture, when youre far away from family, you create your own, and thats what shes done here, Bishop said. And with her food she pays tribute and honor to those delicious flavors she fondly remembers. For menu information and operating hours visit http://www.dbaliasianbistro.com. Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com. Princess Diana and Duchess Sarah Ferguson had a very complicated relationship. They were childhood friends who reconnected later in life just as the Princess of Wales was marrying into the royal family. Its because of the late princess that the Duchess of York connected with and married her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. Unfortunately, because Princess Diana and Duchess Sarah Furgeson were so close, they also fought viciously. This is why the Princess of Wales wasnt speaking to Fergie before she died. Princess Diana and Duchess Sarah Ferguson | Royally Fergie via Instagram Sarah Ferguson insulted Princess Diana in her autobiography By 1996, both the duchess and the princess were divorced from their husbands. They had both experienced public scandal and infidelity, and for a while, they clung to each other for comfort. They even took their children on vacation together to the South of France. However, by November of that year, the women had stopped speaking. In her 1996 autobiography My Story: Sarah the Duchess of York, Fergie wrote, some pretty rude things about the late princess. She wrote that Princess Diana had generously given her several pairs of shoes, and less happily her plantar warts. Fergie and Princess Diana had a history of friction Though the princess and the duchess were close, they also had a history of friction. The autobiography was the final straw. The tension between the pair began in 1981 at Princess Dianas wedding to Prince Charles. Though Fergie was invited to the wedding, she was insulted because she was not invited to the post-ceremony reception. Toward the end of her life, Princess Diana told biographer Andrew Morton, that the Duchess of York wooed everybody in this family and did it so well. She left me looking like dirt. She even said that her ex-husband Prince Charles told her I wish you would be like Fergieall jolly. Pregnant Princess Diana and Duchess Sarah Ferguson | Royally Fergie via Instagram Did Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson ever try to reconcile? After realizing that her good friend and fourth cousin was gravely insulted by the things she said about her in My Story, Fergie tried to reach out to T he Peoples Princess. The duchess told Harpers Bazaar, I tried, wrote letters, thinking whatever happened didnt matter, lets sort it out. And I knew shed come back. In fact, the day before she died she rang a friend of mine and said, Wheres that Red? I want to talk to her. Fergie still regrets her fight with Princess Diana Unfortunately, the pair would never speak again. Princess Diana died tragically in Aug. 1997 in a car accident in Paris, the morning she was supposed to return to London. It has haunted the Duchess of York forever. She told Harpers Bazaar, Because we were like siblings we rowed. And the saddest thing, at the end, we hadnt spoken for a year. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Congressman Scott DesJarlais, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said he backs a decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF): He said, The failed reset of the prior Administration resulted in a more aggressive Russia. Under Vladimir Putin, the country has advanced its nuclear technology and supplied it to U.S. adversaries, for years flouting our mutual arms control agreements. "The President and Congress, led by Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee, have ratcheted up economic sanctions, rebuilt the U.S. military, and strengthened our international alliances, including NATO. Our allies support this decision. Withdrawing from the INF Treaty, another one-sided deal Donald Trump has promised to cancel, is a necessity at this point. Russia refuses to comply, and our military must have every means at its disposal to defend Americans from hostile foreign powers. Sure, the suns out todaythat strange, rarely seen ball of gas. Its spent much of the past several monthsnay, yearhiding behind rain clouds. Thats because, according to James Everett, senior manager of TVAs River Forecast Center, we just experienced a record-breaking rainy year in 2018and January has carried on with the trend. The year 2018 was the wettest year on record going back 130 years, Mr. Everett said. We had a Valleywide average of 67 inches, eclipsing the prior 1973 record by two incheswe cruised right by it. We even had locations in the North Carolina mountains receive up to 100 inches of rain. The 2018 rains were different than the 1973 rains in that they were more consistent and spread out. There was never a big flooding event, as there was in March of 73, he said. Water levels in the Tennessee River system are high due to a very large amount of rain received in the second half of December, as well as a rainy January. January rainfall is at 120 percent of normal, and runoff is 170 of normal, Mr. Everett said. The ground is so saturated from all the rain, it drives runoff levels up. To keep up with all that water, the river forecasters are using the tributaries to store flood waters, then releasing the water down through the Tennessee River to get ready for the next big event. Spilling and sluicing at Cherokee, Douglas, Norris and Fontana was more common than normal this yearit doesnt normally happen to that extent, but we had to release all that water that's been stored. Spilling and sluicing are happening on all the main stem river dams, from Fort Loudoun to Kentucky, andbecause of the sheer volume of water moving through the systemriver flows are quite strong, creating dangerous conditions below dams. People need to heed warning signs, and know that conditions are especially hazardous for waders. Well look forward to spring, when we can start to fill up the tributaries and create better conditions for trout fisherman. Between now and then? Conditions look favorable for more rain. Were looking for rains in the three-inch range late next week, Mr. Everett said. The rainy trend looks like it might carry on. Ten students from Lee University were accepted to present at the upcoming Sigma Tau Delta International Convention. This convention is an annual conference held by Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society for graduate and undergraduate students. Lee is home to the Alpha Beta Iota chapter of Sigma Tau Delta.Five of the students from Lee were accepted for their creative work- Emily Baker (poetry), Hope Fischbach (poetry), Macy OFallon (fiction), Hannah Rogers (fiction) and Lydia Trail (creative nonfiction).The other five students were accepted for their critical papers- Judith Bell, Brian Ericson, Makayla Jenkins, Ashley Walker and Hunter White.Were so excited that the convention judges accepted these ten students work, said Dr. Kevin Brown, professor of English and sponsor for Lees chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. As more and more students submit to the convention, it has become more challenging for students to have their work accepted. This year, though, were in the top five schools with number of students accepted.These students will present their papers in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 27-30 at the 2019 Sigma Tau Delta Convention, titled Work in Progress. Half of the students are attending the convention for their second or third time, while the other half will attend for the first time.Year after year, we have more students accepted to the convention than almost any other college or university that is a part of Sigma Tau Delta, said Dr. Brown. Im proud of our students accomplishment, and I look forward to accompanying them to the convention.To see the list of accepted papers and creative works for the 2019 Sigma Tau Delta Convention, visit http://www.englishconvention.org/2019/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/accepted-papers.pdf Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia's military capabilities guarantee the country's security irrespective of the U.S. moves on the INF Treaty. "I think this is an inevitable prospect, and there will be no deviations from the path stated by President Trump and his national security assistant John Bolton when he was in Moscow. This game is played, the Americans will eventually reject the contract," Ryabkov said. He also noted that Washington is moving towards a moratorium on all American obligations and expressed a fear that the new Strategic Arms Reduction (START) Treaty would meet the same fate as the INF agreement. "We have not violated the treaty. We have repeatedly offered the United States to prove why the missile, which they use to incriminate us, does not violate the treaty. Nevertheless, they continue to stick to their position, arguing that it was Russia that violated the treaty, so that they had a reason to suspend it," Sputnik cited the diplomat as saying. It is no secret by the arrest reports that crime is occurring all over the community. Some of these crimes are non-violent but many are not. However, the public is left to piecemeal all of the crime data that accumulates. The city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County correspondingly should subscribe to Crimemapping.com. By subscribing and participating with this website, criminal events can be listed on a local map with the type of crime that occurs, when it occurs and where it occurs exactly. It is my understanding that the CPD maintains a database of these parameters and publishes them daily? However, the public is not commonly aware of these statistics and it is ridiculous to presume that the public should have to Google Map a thousand different addresses per day to ascertain where crime is occurring. Crimemapping.com allows the public to instantly see and be fully informed by zip code as to where crime is occurring, when it is occurring and what types of crime are occurring. By empowering the public this way, the public can make informed decisions as to how they can successfully negotiate these criminal events be it demanding increased police surveillance, locking their doors, checking their cameras or simply increasing their general awareness of their surroundings. It is high time that the CPD and HCSO stop keeping the citizens in the dark about what is occurring in their neighborhoods. I just recently relocated from Davidson County that does subscribe to this website and it is a powerful tool for keeping the general public safe and informed. Kurt Morgan Chattanooga * * * Morgan Mr.Morgan First off, let me say welcome to Chattanooga. Prior to your arrival here Mayor Berke ran on a platform of public safety and technology and how the two intertwine in order to make a safer community. The investment of technology has afforded the Chattanooga Police Department a great deal of applications that have allowed us to be more efficient in capturing crime data which has allowed us to be more transparent to the public in the process. There are two different applications that are readily available to the public in order to see crime data in their communities. The Chattanooga Police Department has a mobile based app (available on android and IOS). The application not only has crime mapping but the availability to submit tips, and quick access to our social media platforms as well as the ability to receive important alerts. The other is a web-based resource that is more robust and will allow the user to create custom reports tailored to their neighborhood as well as the ability to receive updates and emailed alerts. The web address can be located at www.cityinsider.chattanooga. gov We appreciate your commitment to staying informed about your new community. I would also like to invite you to apply for our Citizens Police Academy. You can find more information about this program from Chattanooga.gov under Police section in the Community Outreach tab. Thank you. Sgt. Curtis Penney Chattanooga Police Department Neighborhood Policing Bureau The Creative Discovery Museum will celebrate the year of the pig during its annual Chinese New Year, a celebration of color, tradition, food and dance, on Feb. 16 from noon-4 p.m. The celebration will feature the Chien Hong Lion Dance Troupe as they present two Lion Dance performances in the Museum Atrium at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Chien Hong Schools martial arts performing group will also present a martial arts demonstration at 2 p.m. Chien Hong School Wu Guan's Chinese martial arts performing group is formed by a group of expert martial artists and is the only martial arts team that emphasizes on-stage performances. The Chattanooga Chinese Association Folkloric Dance Group will also present traditional Chinese dances at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Museum guests will also spend the afternoon celebrating with additional festive activities including constructing paper pig masks and lion puppets, learning how to use chopsticks and tasting a Chinese dumpling. Creative Discovery Museums Chinese New Year event is a special time for families to celebrate a cultural tradition while engaging in a rich and colorful arts experience, said Liza Blair, arts manager at Creative Discovery Museum. Funding for the artists performances is made possible by Arts Build and the Tennessee Arts Commission. All activities and materials are included with Museum admission. For more information, call 423-756-2738. Criminal Court Judge Don Poole on Thursday denied a new trial for a truck driver convicted in the death of six people at the Ooltewah exit of I-75. Judge Poole heard arguments from both sides with Benjamin Brewer in the courtroom. Brewer, 42, earlier was sentenced to serve 55 years in state prison. Judge Poole gave him 11 years on each of six vehicular homicide cases and ran five of the cases consecutively. The range was 8-12 years for vehicular homicide. Brewer, of London, Ky., was also sentenced to four years on each of four convictions of reckless aggravated assault involving four people who were injured in the 2015 crash. Those sentences are concurrent. He has no prior criminal convictions so is a Range One Offender who is eligible for parole consideration after serving 30 percent of the sentence. Killed were well-known Cleveland musician Brian Gallaher and Dalton State assistant director of residential life Jason Ramos. Also killed were Tiffany Watts, her mother Sandra Anderson, and daughters Kelsie and Savannah. A Chattanooga Police officer who had been under investigation after more than one woman brought rape accusations against him resigned on Thursday. Police said Desmond Logan's separation from the CPD is effective immediately. He had been under administrative investigation by the Chattanooga Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit. A Disciplinary Review Hearing had been scheduled for this morning. However, Logan resigned by email just minutes prior to the start of that hearing. The allegations he was facing prior to resignation were untruthfulness and two counts of improper procedure. Officials said the Chattanooga Police Department will be requesting decertification from the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission for Logan. The criminal investigation by other law enforcement agencies is active and ongoing, it was stated. Chattanooga Police earlier said the department was "conducting an internal investigation into an allegation of criminal sexual conduct involving an officer in CPD's Neighborhood Policing Bureau." Officials said, "CPD immediately launched the Internal Affairs investigation after the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office contacted CPD regarding an officer who was the focus of a sexual assault allegation reported to them on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. HCSO stated to CPD the woman told them she was sexually assaulted by a Chattanooga Police Officer while he was on duty." Logan was hired by CPD in 2014. He was relieved of duty pending investigation on Thursday, June 14, 2018. Police said at the time, "He will remain on administrative/modified leave until there is a final disposition in the Internal Affairs investigation. That disposition will not be made until the criminal case concludes." "Trust between CPD Officers and the people we protect and serve is of utmost importance to me," said Chief David Roddy. "I want our community members to know proven misconduct by any CPD Officer that undermines their trust will not be tolerated." Police earlier said, "The CPD Internal Affairs investigation is separate from the criminal investigation being conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office." Its a complex issue, but here it is in less than 500 words: Bad weather - and extremely cold weather in particular - always results in a discussion of our serious lack of emergency shelter facilities for our citys homeless. Every plan produced over the last 20 years (including the recently published Homeless Action Plan) recommends the provision of a permanent low barrier facility to provide a safe, warm place of shelter for all people who may not have any other place to go. Its notable that the majority of current emergency shelter beds are simply mats that were purchased by the city more than 10 years ago that are rolled out on the floor during harsh weather. Blankets are often re-purposed carpet padding. A second identified need is for a Clean and Safe Ambassador program to serve as eyes and ears for downtown businesses, and to provide homeless outreach including direct assistance to individuals. Other cities have done such things quite successfully. Of course, a major issue is funding. With that in mind, please consider the following: According to published data, Hamilton County occupancy tax revenue increased from $4,235,794 in 2009 to $7,638,833 in 2017. That trend has continued, and today more than a dozen new hotels are recently opened, under construction or actively under design. With all the increases in tourism related activity, the City of Chattanooga is experiencing a similar windfall with its separate hotel tax.Most of these funds are earmarked for the promotion of tourism and to further enhance the visitor environment downtown. As revenue has dramatically increased, it might be argued that we have now reached a point of diminishing returns and it makes little sense to pour more and more money into advertising and promotion while the downtown homeless population remains visibly and inadequately addressed. Therefore, investing in homeless facilities and services should be considered as a unique but valid expenditure for such visitor-generated funds.So, in preparing upcoming budgets, lets propose that the city and the county each set aside $1 million from its tourism related revenue to provide a reliable and continuing financial base to support needed homeless services. Certainly, that $2 million annually wont do the entire job, but it will enable those agencies that currently provide such services to do a better job without having to spend so much of their valuable time and volunteer assistance on fund raising.Of course, increased tourism has not gone unnoticed and there are many hands now reaching out for a piece of that larger financial pie. But the hotel/motel tax is separate and does not affect the comparable increase in sales tax, etc. So let others go there to those other funds for their needs.Back in the 1980s at the dawn of our citys renaissance , the motto of Chattanooga Venture was Turning Talk Into Action. Thats how transformation happens. Lets readopt that attitude and do it again.Ron Littlefield * * * Mr. Littlefield, I have a proposal for you after the almost 16 years of Democrat rule of the mayor's office we currently have far higher taxes, far higher assessments on properties, way too much public art, and a general sense of corruption that stems out of every Democrat ruled city in the United States. Rather than taking $1 million more of our taxpayer's money and transferring it to people unable or unwilling to work. How about we have the county and city donate $1 million dollars each a year to fix the potholes all over Chattanooga and Hamilton county that continue to destroy cars on a daily basis? While we are at it how about looking into the good 'ole boy network of who is actually doing all of these substandard paving jobs all over town and find out why they aren't being held accountable. It is not complicated to pave around a manhole and not have a gaping crater around it two months later. I might recommend some reputable contractors as opposed to whomever's brother-in-law that is currently fleecing the taxpayers. Just a suggestion. Regards, Mark Maynor * * * Mr. Maynor, I both disagree with you and believe that you are spot on. The community should treat the homeless with the utmost compassion and consideration that the community can allow. Many of these homeless are truly destitute, some are afflicted with substance abuse or mental illness and some, yes, do not want to work, cannot work (or a combination of everything). A compassionate society and an affluent society (and we are an affluent society) should treat these people in an equitable manner. We just should. That said, I have lived in Chattanooga off and on for many years and have recently relocated from Davidson County for comparison. So far, after returning, my driving has been principally in the East Brainerd area. I am appalled at the condition of virtually every single auxiliary road that I have traveled (Gunbarrel, Morris Hill, Standifer Gap, Banks) and so on. I can only extrapolate that what I see in the East Brainerd area is occurring across the community. It is high time for the leaders of the community to stop giving exorbitant tax breaks to their Walden Club buddies and get these problems fixed. The entire county has been neglected to the benefit of these profiteers. When I first moved to Chattanooga in 1979, downtown was a festering and dangerous place to go. Kudos to the development that has occurred. Three is no question that downtown Chattanooga is a much greater place to go than what it was then. However, downtown development has occurred at the expense of the rest of the city and county. Part of this has been the result of unfettered development in the rest of the community (again, with tax breaks) without any regard to the underlying infrastructure of the community. If you pack an additional 30,00 people without expanding the roads, there will be extreme problems. It is simple mathematics. As far as the microcosm of East Brainerd goes, East Brainerd Road should have been expanded 40 years ago and was not. East Brainerd is just a symptom of the general problem of poor city and county planning. Maybe we need new community leaders with a more pragmatic approach. Kurt Morgan EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has welcomed the Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges, or INSTEX, set up by France, Germany and Britain to facilitate Iran global trade. "I welcome today's registration of INSTEX SAS (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges), a Special Purpose Vehicle with France, Germany and the United Kingdom as initial shareholders," she said. According to Mogherini, the instrument will provide economic operators with the necessary framework to pursue legitimate trade with Iran. The High Representative/Vice-President said that the European Union supports further developing INSTEX with interested European countries and open it, at a later stage, to economic operators from third countries, according to the statement posted on the EU official website. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has attended the inauguration of the newly built kindergarten No 6 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Khatai district, Baku. The First Vice-President cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the kindergarten and viewed conditions created here. Power Cement has 22% of new 7700tpd line erected 01 February 2019 Power Cement Ltd (PCL) reported its progress on its ambitious expansion plan to install a new 7700tpd line at its existing site in Sindh province of Pakistan. According to Tahir Iqbal, company secretary, during early 2017, equipment supply and supervision contracts were signed with FLSmidth and letters of credit were established. Construction and erection contract had also been finalised with China-based TEPC and the company has since been working actively to complete the project within due timelines. Once the said expansion is completed, PCL will be one of the most cost-efficient cement manufacturers of Pakistan and the second-largest cement producer in the south zone, having an production capacity of 3.5Mta. Letters of credit for supply of engineering and equipment for the cement plant from FLSmidth A/S were established through a consortium of banks. Currently, 97 per cent of the shipments have been received. Mechanical and electrical drawings are complete and 22 per cent of erection work has been completed. The design phase of the new 40MW grid station and its column bar fixing has been completed, civil work has started and related shipments have started arriving at site. The contract for the civil construction was awarded to CECC Tianjin (Pakistan) Electric Power Construction (Pvt) Ltd. The contractor is fully mobilised at the plant site and up to now, 91 per cent of the civil works are completed. Published under Moscow does not consider Juan Guaido as head of state, he is Venezuelan parliament speaker, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Mr. Guaido is the Venezuelan parliament speaker. We do not consider him as head of state, we dont recognize him as such. Mr. Nicolas Maduro is the head of state and his government is our partner in Venezuela," TASS cited the spokesman as saying. At the same time, Peskov said that the Kremlin is ready to consider a message from Guaido once it arrives, but they havent received any messages so far. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, or activate your access, to continue reading. The Central recruitment agency, Staff Selection Commission, has released the recruitment notification for the post of Junior Engineers (JE). The Junior Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Quantity Surveying & Contracts) notification was released to fill up vacancies in various Departments/ Organizations in the Government of India. Interested candidates can visit the official website of SSC to apply online for Junior Engineers (JE). The posts are Group B (Non-Gazetted) and selected can earn between INR 35400 and INR 112400 per month (pay matrix of 7th Pay Commission). The diploma or equivalent in engineering is required to apply. The last date to apply online is February 25, 2019. Also Read: SSC Calendar 2019 Released: Check CGL, CHSL, JE, MTS And SI Exam Dates CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Junior Engineer Organisation Staff Selection Commission Educational Qualification A diploma or degree in the relevant engineering Job Location Across India Salary Scale INR 35400 and INR 112400 per month Application Start Date February 1, 2019 Application End Date February 25, 2019 SSC JE Details Of Posts Sl No Organisation Post 1 Central Water Commission Junior Engineer (Civil) 2 Central Water Commission Junior Engineer (Mechanical) 3 Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Junior Engineer (Civil) 4 Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Junior Engineer (Electrical) 5 Department of Posts Junior Engineer (Civil) 6 Military Engineer Services (MES) Junior Engineer (Civil) 7 Military Engineer Services (MES) Junior Engineer (Electrical and Mechanical) 8 Military Engineer Services (MES) Junior Engineer (Quantity Surveying and Contracts) 9 Farakka Barrage Project Junior Engineer (Civil) 10 Farakka Barrage Project Junior Engineer (Electrical) 11 Farakka Barrage Project Junior Engineer (Mechanical) 12 Border Road Organization Junior Engineer (Civil) 13 Central Water and Power Research Station Junior Engineer (Civil) 14 Central Water and Power Research Station Junior Engineer (Electrical) 15 Central Water and Power Research Station Junior Engineer (Mechanical) 16 Directorate of Quality Assurance (Naval) Junior Engineer (Mechanical) 17 Directorate of Quality Assurance (Naval) Junior Engineer (Electrical) 18 National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) Junior Engineer (Civil) 19 National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) Junior Engineer (Electrical) 20 National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) Junior Engineer (Mechanical) Eligibility Criteria Post Age Limit Educational and Other Qualification Junior Engineer (Civil), Central Water Commission Up to 32 years Degree or Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized University or Institution Junior Engineer (Mechanical) in Central Water Commission Up to 32 years Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University or Institution Junior Engineer (Civil), CPWD Up to 32 years Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized University or Institute. Junior Engineer (Electrical), CPWD Up to 32 years Diploma in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University or Institute. Junior Engineer (Civil), Department of Posts Up to 27 years Three years Diploma or equivalent in Civil Engineering from an institution recognized by the Central Government or State Government. Junior Engineer (Civil), MES Up to 30 years Degree in Civil Engineering from a recognized University Or (a) Three years Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized Institute or University or Board; and (b) Two years experience in Planning, Execution and Maintenance of Civil Engineering works. Junior Engineer (Electrical & Mechanical), MES Up to 30 years Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University; Or (a) Three years diploma in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from a recognized Institute or University or Board; and (b) Two years experience in Planning, Execution and Maintenance of Electrical or Mechanical Engineering works Junior Engineer (Quantity Surveying & Contracts), MES Up to 27 years Three years Diploma in Civil engineering from a recognized Institute/ University/ Board or equivalent; or (i) Passed Intermediate examination in Buildings and Quantity Surveying Sub-Division-II of the Institute of Surveyors (India). Junior Engineer (Civil), Farakka Barrage Project Up to 30 years Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized University or Institute or Board. Junior Engineer (Electrical), Farakka Barrage Project. Up to 32 years Diploma in Electrical Engineering from a recognized University or Institute or Board. Junior Engineer (Mechanical), Farakka Barrage Project Up to 30 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University or Institute or Board. Junior Engineer (Civil), Border Roads Organization, Ministry of Defence Up to 30 years Degree in Civil Engineering from a recognized University/ Institute or (a) Three years Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized University/ Institute/ Board; and (b) Two years working experience in Planning/ Execution/ Maintenance of Civil Engineering works Junior Engineer (Civil), Central Water Power Research Station Up to 30 years Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized University. Junior Engineer (Electrical), Central Water Power Research Station Up to 30 years Diploma in Electrical Engineering from a recognized University Junior Engineer (Mechanical), Central Water Power Research Station Up to 30 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University. Junior Engineer (Mechanical), Directorate of Quality Assurance, Naval Up to 30 years Degree in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University; or (a) Three years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized University or Institution; and (b) Two years experience in the respective fields. Junior Engineer (Electrical), Directorate of Quality Assurance, Naval. Up to 30 years Degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized University; or (a) Three years Diploma in Electrical Engineering from a recognized University or Institution; and (b) Two years experience in the respective fields. Junior Engineer (Civil), National Technical Research Organization. Up to 30 years Diploma in Civil Engineering from recognized University/ Institution. Junior Engineer (Electrical), National Technical Research Organization Up to 30 years Diploma in Electrical Engineering from recognized University/ Institution. Junior Engineer (Mechanical) National Technical Research Organization Up to 30 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from recognized University/ Institution Note: Age relaxation is provided to the candidates belonging to reserved categories. 5 years is provided to SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates. Click here for the official announcement Application Fee Applicant must pay INR 100 through online. Women and candidates belonging to SC, ST, PWD and Ex-servicemen are exempted from payment of the fee. The online fee can be paid till February 27, 2019. How To Apply In order to apply online for SSC Junior Engineers, the online application process consists of two parts. The first part is one-time registration. The second part is filling of online application for the examination. Candidates need to visit the official website of SSC (www.ssc.nic.in) to fill the online application. Selection Process The Commission shortlist the candidates based on the written examination. It consists of two papers i.e. Paper-I (computer-based examination) and Paper-II (Descriptive type). The Paper-I exam will be conducted on September 23 to 27, 2019. The descriptive type exam will be held on December 29, 2019. The final selection will be made based on the marks obtained in both the papers. Also Read: How To Prepare For Competitive Entrance Examinations? Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. A republican conference dedicated to the Day of Azerbaijani Youth was held in Baku today, the presidential press service reported. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the conference. The head of state made a speech at the event. 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 Everything you need to know about South Dakota government Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro should leave the country the sooner the better, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote on Twitter.. He stressed that Maduro should take advantage of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's amnesty and move on. Bolton added that he wishes Venezuelan President and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement somewhere far from the country. * 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 Officers of the Armenias State Revenue Committees smuggling-prevention agency foiled two attempts of smuggling drugs and psychotropic substances to the country, the committees press office reported. In particular, workers of HayPost examined a parcel from France addressed to an Armenian citizen and found 132 pills wrapped-up in used clothes, of which 92 were psychotropic substances. Another case happened in the Ararat customs house 1,320 pills, of which 360 were psychotropic substances and 960 drugs, were found in a car imported into Armenia from the United States, ARKA reported. news, act-politics Cracking down on corruption in Canberra will be a part-time gig for the ACT's new integrity commissioner. It will also be a lucrative post at nearly $2000 a day, according to the job advertisement for the newly-created role. The territory government is paying executive recruitment firm Ford Kelly about $40,000 to find candidates for the job, with the anti-corruption commission due to start work on July 1 this year. The commission was created last year, after lengthy negotiations between Labor, the Greens and the Liberals. The job ad posted on Friday said the commissioner role will be a part-time, seven-year appointment, which will set the "strategic direction" of the commission. The commissioner must have been a Supreme or Federal Court judge, a justice of the High Court, or a lawyer for at least 10 years, and have "extensive knowledge of and experience in criminal investigation or criminal adjudication, law enforcement or the conduct of investigations, or public administration, governance or government". "Exceptional leadership, communication, representational, interpersonal and analytical skills are fundamental requirements," it reads. The commissioner cannot have been a politician, or a public servant in the past five years, and will not be able to have any other paid gigs that conflict with the job in any way. The strict criteria led to speculation last year that the ACT would be hard-pressed to find anyone to take up the job. Whoever does step into the role will be well compensated for their time. A remuneration tribunal ruling from December shows the commissioner will receive the same rate of pay as a Supreme or Federal Court judge - almost $2000 a day, up to a maximum of $458,840 a year. A submission from Chief Minister Andrew Barr to the tribunal said while the job was part-time, there should be "capacity in the determination to work an increased number of hours subject to workload requirements". Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said he was not aware that the job would be part-time, but he did not mind so long as they had enough time to get the job done. He said Tasmania's integrity commissioner was only part-time, although NSW had a full-time commissioner and two part-time assistant commissioners. Applicants for the ACT commissioner have been told they need to be available around late April or early May to help set up the new integrity commission and hire staff. The office will have around 10 staff, including a counsel assisting and an investigative team, with a budget of $8 million over four years. The commissioner will also be eligible for a maximum relocation allowance of $51,533, which can include the cost of temporary accommodation up to six months and stamp duty for a new property purchased in Canberra. It may also include legal fees for selling their old house, removalist fees and travel costs. The commission is set to investigate allegations of corruption involving public servants, politicians, and government contractors, with a focus on serious and systemic cases, and the most serious cases of misconduct. The ACT is still waiting for a decision from Prime Minister Scott Morrison as to whether the commission can investigate corruption in ACT Policing, as it requires a change in the self-government act. The commissioner will ultimately be appointed by the Speaker, although the choice must also be signed off on by the leaders of all three parties in the Assembly. The ACT must also recruit a chief executive for the integrity commission, as well as a part-time inspector who will hold the commissioner to account. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/541b4824-48e4-4b38-a8d9-3df1be42db7e/r0_413_4000_2673_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics Controversial Indian mining firm donated $35,000 to the federal branch of the Liberal party, despite incorrectly reporting the funds went to the Canberra Liberals. The annual release of Australian Electoral Commission records of political donations nationally took place on Friday, revealing the mining company made three payments to the Liberal Party in late 2017. The mining firm is behind a controversial proposal to create what would be Australia's largest coal mine in the Galilee Basin in Queensland. But the mining company's donations returns given to the federal commission named the party's ACT branch as the recipient - despite the company late on Friday confirming the funds actually went to the federal branch. ACT branch president John Ciesla said the ACT branch had no record of any donations from Adani Mining, and as such, did not need to disclose donations it had not received. He said the mining company may have incorrectly labelled their donations returns given to the federal commission as being to the ACT branch of the party, when the money may have instead been donated to the party's federal branch. Despite the company's returns to the electoral commission correctly citing the ACT branch post office box, a company spokeswoman said the company had donated the funds to the federal Liberal Party. She said after it came to their attention on Friday that 'an administrative error was made', the company on Friday corrected its declaration to reflect the fact the federal branch received the funds, not the ACT branch. The figures released show Adani Mining made two donations to the party worth a total of $22,500 on September 15, 2017, with a further $12,500 donated on November 13, 2017. While the national commission's records are less complete than the ACT commission's given the higher threshold for disclosure, they show the Liberals reported $383,814 in donations in 2017-18, compared with ACT Labor's $1,675,731. Labor's finances continued to be largely underwritten by donations from its associated entity, 1973 Foundation, which gave the party two donations of $486,331 and $521,537; and $30,000 from the Community and Public Sector Union. The Canberra Liberals' return was dominated by 'other receipts' from LJ Hooker Commercial, which gave about $96,000, and PwC, which gave $51,900 in other receipts. The ACT Greens reported no donations above the federal threshold in 2017-18, though they did report $121,630 in donations and receipts that financial year to the territory commission. Adani Mining also declared a donation of $15,000 to Pauline Hanson's Queensland-based One Nation party in May 2018. The federal Liberal party and ACT Electoral Commission did not respond to questions on Friday. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f0fd4582-9ba5-46f6-9faf-18aaaa2b0cc0/r0_242_5416_3302_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news When he was still alive, Narelle Blinman's husband had a plan to secure her financial security after he had gone. That plan hasn't worked out. Mrs Blinman says their savings have been decimated because of changes made to the ACT government's system for licensing taxis. The government allocates "plates" - the right to operate a taxi - to operators for a fee. Two years ago, it decided to release another 50 plates, at a cost of $5,000 a year to lease. It's just released another 30. Mrs Blinman says this means the five plates she and her husband bought to be their superannuation have now become worth a fraction of their former value. The cost of owning the right to run a taxi is falling fast, and that means those who bought earlier at much higher prices are struggling. Before Mr Blinman died, he drove his own bus and saved every cent to invest in the five plates. At that time, they cost around $250,000 each - a total of $1.25 million dollars. But the ACT government has changed the system to try to encourage more taxi drivers to stay in the business, as Uber encroaches on the market. One of the ways of making the system more attractive for taxi drivers was to make the plates cheaper. And that, according to Mrs Blinman, has made their old investment virtually worthless. She struggles to pay bills, including those for her husband's care in his final months. He died in December. At 75, Mrs Blinman says she has to keep working. She says that because she is the victim of a change in government policy, she should be compensated as people in similar situations in NSW have been. When people invest in company shares and the market falls, they take the hit - but Mrs Blinman says this is different because she is the victim of an arbitrary change in government policy. She is not alone. According to Petar Ivanovski, the new chairman of the ACT Taxi Plate Owners Association: "The losses for plate owners are severe and at crisis point for many families." "The policy changes implemented by the ACT government have resulted in the massive devaluation of the investments of taxi plate owners," he says. Mr Ivanovksi says the association is contemplating legal action, though he won't say what the basis for such action might be. A counselling phone line has been set up by the ACT government for people who have lost out due to the policy change. A government spokeswoman said on Thursday that that government was committed to making Canberra "an accessible, inclusive city" but it was also "keenly aware of the personal pressure" many participants in the industry might be feeling as the transport industry evolved. "The government is committed to ensuring that personal counselling services for those in the on-demand transport industry are available for those who may require some additional support with ongoing change," the spokeswoman said. She said that following a review of the impacts of regulatory reform, the government recognised the benefits of increasing the available supply of taxi licences. A key action to come out of the review was the government committing to release 80 further government-issued standard taxi licences by March 2019, bringing the total number in the market to 408. The spokeswoman said a buyback process had been considered as part of the evaluation, however perpetual plate holders had already benefited from the regulatory framework over several decades. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/b3f83283-fd01-42a6-97e8-e32517eed30a/r0_300_5568_3446_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg St. Johnsbury, VT (05819) Today Scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Albanian President Ilir Meta will visit Baku in March to attend the 7th Global Baku Forum, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. The 7th Global Baku Forum will be held in Baku on March 14-16, 450 guests from over 70 countries are expected to take part in the forum. 'New Foreign Policy' will be the topic of the 7th Global Baku Forum. Panel meetings titled 'Role of big forces in changing global politics', 'Sustainable Development Challenges', 'Middle Eastern cooperation for security', 'Role of science and culture in making modern decisions' and other topics will be held during the forum. One of the main meetings of the forum will be devoted to the role of young leaders in global politics. St. Johnsbury, VT (05819) Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The boss of Aer Lingus and British Airways owner IAG said on Friday that a no-deal Brexit would not deter passengers from flying and he remained confident that an aviation agreement between Britain and the European Union would be reached. Asked about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, Willie Walsh said: "I don't think it's going to have any impact on passenger numbers." "I remain ... confident that we will see a comprehensive agreement between the UK and the EU on aviation," he added. "I've seen nothing to suggest that confidence is misplaced." (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, last week announced a significant provision of 2,964,500 in Failte Ireland funding to enhance and promote 40 festivals nationwide and develop new festivals and events across the country. The allocation of funding will be used to enhance existing festivals, develop new festival ideas and support St. Patricks Day celebrations across the country. It is estimated that Festivals and events specifically attract more than 200,000 overseas visitors to Ireland and contribute 108million to the economy every year. Making the announcement, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin said, "With many challenges on the horizon for tourism, todays announcement is a welcome start to 2019. Not only do festivals and events play an important role in delivering brilliant visitor experiences, they often encourage people to visit areas outside of traditional tourism hotspots and outside of peak times, helping to spread the benefits of tourism to communities throughout Ireland. Im delighted to see Failte Ireland focusing on St Patricks Day across the country - there is massive opportunity there to attract overseas visitors to locations outside Dublin." Source: www.businessworld.ie As Venezuela's political crisis deepens, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan has thrown his support behind President Nicolas Maduro. In recent years, the two leaders have found their interests increasingly intertwined. As Deutsche Welle writes in the article Turkey and Venezuela: The rise of a new alliance?, when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim president last week, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one of the few state leaders to call Nicolas Maduro to express his unwavering support for the embattled leader. In a sense, the Turkish president was paying his respects to Maduro, who came out in support Erdogan after the failed coup in Turkey in July 2016. On the telephone Erdogan reportedly told Maduro: "My brother, stand firm." Maduro, meanwhile, received plenty of support on social media from across the world, and especially from Turkey, where the #WeAreMaduro hashtag soon gained popularity. For a change, both those on the political left and supporters of Erdogan agreed on something, namely that Maduro should stay in power. So it was not all that surprising that Maduro gave his first interview after Guaido's declaration to a Turkish television station. Shared interests Serkan Bayram, a member of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and chairman of the Turkey-Venezuela Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, says there are political and economic reasons for the increasingly close relationship between both countries. "Turkey is reacting to the fact that a president who was elected by 68 percent of the populace is now being deposed through undemocratic means," says Bayram, who believes that Venezuela's self-declared leader Guaido is being instrumentalized "by global actors." Turkey, says Bayram, is working to boost trade in general and Venezuela falls within this policy. According to the Turkish government statistics, Turkey in 2018 imported $900 million (780 million) in precious metals from the Latin American country. Much of this is believed to be gold. And Venezuela announced last year that it intends refine its gold in Turkey, rather than Switzerland, to bypass international restrictions. There have also been a number of mutual state visits between Turkey and Venezuela since Maduro's first trip to Turkey in October 2016. Returning from the G20 summit in Argentina in late 2018, Erdogan made a stop-over in Caracas, where he lambasted the United States and international sanctions imposed on Venezuela. Erdogan acting out of self-interest Journalist Metin Yegin believes Erdogan's interest in closer ties with Venezuela is not purely economic. "Erdogan has attempted to act as America's eastern nemesis," he says. "He is cultivating that image now. And Erdogan wants to show his supporters that he is on the side of the oppressed." Esra Akgemci, an expert on Latin America at Turkey's Selcuk University, believes Erdogan's vocal support for Maduro is merely rhetoric. Erdogan, she says, is hoping to arouse sympathy as a "victim of a coup." Akgemci believes the Turkish president is acting out of self-interest: "I think Erdogan supports Maduro primarily because it strengthens his own position. If the political balance shifts tomorrow, this could also impact the extent to which Turkey supports Venezuela." Despite the ideological differences between the two, Akgemci says they have certain things in common. "Both are seen as authoritarian state leaders. And they are both increasingly isolated. On top of that both countries struggle with similar economic problems, and neither are fond of the US." Maduro's motives Journalist and Latin America expert Asli Pelit argues that Maduro has gravitated towards Turkey ever since Venezuela's financial crisis led to its dire humanitarian situation. Turkey provides much needed food aid to the country, for example. According to Pelit, Maduro has sought to find new international partners following the rise of right-leaning governments in Latin America in recent years opposed to his Socialist regime. Meanwhile, Akgemci suggested that Maduro wants to establish a relationship with Erdogan that is akin to the one predecessor, Hugo Chavez, had with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. To fuel the growth of India's entrepreneurial and small business community, the Facebook-owned WhatsApp in partnership with Invest India launched the "Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge". The challenge will give away a total of $250,000 (Rs 1.8 crore) to the top 5 winners. WhatsApp has listed healthcare, rural economy, financial and digital inclusion, education and citizen safety as the themes for the startup challenge. "Entrepreneurs with highly innovative ideas, business models that solve for a local India problem, making a large scale socio-economic impact, are invited to apply," WhatsApp said in a media release. Registrations will be open till March 10, 2019. The applications will first be evaluated by an independent evaluation committee post which the best 30 ideas will be shortlisted for the subsequent round and to 10 in the following round. The selected 10 ideas will be invited to participate at the live pitch day during the grand finale. The five winning ideas will each receive a grant of $50,000 on May 24. Earlier on October 31, 2018, WhatsApp had announced partnership with Invest India in the presence of Suresh Prabhu, Commerce & Industries Minister, Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Industrial Policy & Promotion and Chris Daniels, Vice President, WhatsApp. At the time, Minister Prabhu said "WhatsApp is a startup that has grown into a community and is an example of how an idea can grow to become an integral part of our day to day life [and]... that the Startup community is the future of India and will be the platform through which the millions of youth of this country will be gainfully employed." WhatsApp, with 1.3 billion global users and over 200 million users in India, has been working closely on its business platform - the WhatsApp Business app and WhatsApp Business API. These were launched in 2018. With the launch WhatsApp, showcased how it is offering businesses of every size - be it small, medium or large enterprises-a formalized way to connect with customers. Earlier, last week, WhatsApp announced that over 5 million businesses are now on WhatsApp. Also Read: Honor Days sale on Flipkart: Grab discounts on Honor 10 Lite, Honor 9N, Honor 10 and more Also Read: Vodafone offering free 4GB data to new 4G customers To attract new customers, Vodafone is offering free data to its subscribers in Bihar & Jharkhand circle, as well as the Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh circles. Vodafone has upgraded its network in these circles and the company is planning to offer 4GB free data to the people who opt for their network. Idea Cellular already has 4G network in Bihar and Jharkhand. This offer is available not only to the new 4G customers, but also includes those 3G users who upgrade to the new 4G SIM in the mentioned circle. As of Nov 30, 2018, Vodafone Idea is offering 4G network to over 95 lakh subscribers in the Bihar and Jharkhand circle. The circle has over 2,471 towns, and cities like Patna, Ranchi, Muzaffarpur, Dhanbad, Begusarai, Jamshedpur, Bhagalpur, Bokaro, and Darbhanga can now use 4G services through the Vodafone network. As for Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, it has enhanced its services for over 50 lakh customers (November figures) in the circle, major towns such as Indore, Bhopal, Raipur, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhilai-Durg, Bilaspur, Ujjain, Sagar, Rewa will get to use the network 4G. The free 4GB data to the new subscribers comes with 10 days of validity. In order to switch to the 4G network, customers will have to go to Vodafone's retail outlet and upgrade to a 4G SIM. Users will only be eligible for 4GB data after an upgrade, which will be credited to their account automatically. To check their data details, the new customers can log on to the My Vodafone app. Monishi Ghosh, Business Head, Bihar & Jharkhand, Vodafone Idea Ltd said in a statement, "Vodafone Idea is one of the leading telecommunications service providers in Bihar & Jharkhand with over 2.36 crore customers across both brands. With the benefit of a vast and deep-rooted network in the region, we are happy to extend our world class 4G services to all Vodafone customers in Bihar & Jharkhand fulfilling their ever-increasing data needs. The free 4GB complimentary data offer will encourage users to begin a digital journey on our high-speed broadband network." Rajesh Naik, Circle Business Head, Vodafone Idea Ltd, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh said, "Vodafone Idea is the largest telecommunications service provider in Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh with over 3.2 crore customers across both brands. With the benefit of a vast and deep-rooted network in the region, we are happy to extend our world class 4G services to all Vodafone customers in Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, fulfilling their ever-increasing data needs. The free 4GB complimentary data offer will encourage users to begin a digital journey on our high-speed broadband network." Also Read: WhatsApp announces 'Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge', Rs 1.8 crore up for grabs! Also Read: Honor Days sale on Flipkart: Grab discounts on Honor 10 Lite, Honor 9N, Honor 10 and more The Modi government on Friday announced that it will allocate Rs 6,400 crore for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the upcoming financial year. With this, the Centre's budget allocation for Ayushman Bharat has increased by Rs 4,000 crore from the last financial year. In March 2018, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that Rs 10,000 crore was initially allocated to implement the scheme until 2020. Click here to get all the coverage on Budget 2019 During the Budget 2019 speech, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that over 10 lakh patients have benefited from free treatment under Ayushman Bharat that is the world's largest health protection scheme. "Ayushman Bharat was launched to provide free medical treatment to 50 crore people, and already close to 10 lakh patients have benefitted which would have cost otherwise Rs 3,000 crore through free treatment made available under the scheme," said Goyal. Also read: Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal delivers part Budget speech and part election pitch FM Goyal also said that a total of 21 AIIMS hospitals are operating or being established in the country, out of which 14 were constructed under the Modi government. Goyal also announced 22 AIIMS In Haryana. Presenting the Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the government has also been providing cheaper drugs through Jan Aushadhi stores. Modi govt's ambitious healthcare project Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana( AB PMJAY), was launched on September 23, 2018. AB PMJAY aims to provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year and is likely to benefit more than 10 crore poor families across the country. Recently, on January 25, National Health Authority signed an MoU with railways to provide treatment to eligible families in Indian railways hospital across the country. Also read: Moody's says budget credit negative as it has only giveaways Twenty states and union territories had initially signed the agreement to implement PM's healthcare project Ayushmann Bharat. However, five states - Delhi, Punjab, Telangana , Kerala and Odisha opted out of the scheme. Moreover, PM Modi has written a letter to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Delhi, after failing to persuade Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for five times. Get all the latest news on Budget 2019 here (Edited by: Mansi Jaswal) As the Interim Budget 2019 presentation came to an end, social media flooded with applauds and brickbats for Piyush Goyal's budget. On one hand, BJP lauded the "pro-farmer", "pro-middle class" budget, and on the other, Congress criticised it as election gimmick. It must be mentioned here that analysts were expecting the Budget 2019 to be a populist one, as the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are only a couple of months away. BJP, who is looking to lock in the middle class as well as the farmer votes, was anticipated to take their wishes into account. One of the biggest announcements made by the Modi government is the full rebate on income tax payable by individuals who earn up to Rs 5 lakh. The expectation in general was tax exemption for people earning up to Rs 5 lakh, which is currently for individuals earning R2 2.5 lakh. However, the rebate announcement is likely to go a long way in favouring the ruling party. Other announcements include hike TDS limit from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 on post office and bank savings. A single window clearance for filmmakers, eight crore LPG connections to rural households under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month under Mega Pension Yojana, Rs 6,000 per year in three instalments for farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, allocation of Rs 60,000 crore for MNREGA in FY20 were also announced. Soon after the Budget 2019, the Modi-government ministers took to Twitter to congratulate the Interim Finance Minister, while other ministers, led by Congress opposed the same. My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. @PiyushGoyal - Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class. - Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019 I congratulate @PiyushGoyal for presenting a visionary #Budget2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister @narendramodi. This will go a long way in creating a strong, vibrant and #NewIndia, a world leader based on our model of #SabkaSaathSabkaVikas. - ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 1, 2019 It's easy to take credit for completing something, once 97% of the work is done by someone else. #Electrification#Budget2019#AakhriJumlaBudgetpic.twitter.com/RY2ynzM8x1 - Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2019 From small and marginal farmers to nomadic communities, and from unorganized laborers to the middle class, #Budget2019 has shown the commitment of PM @narendramodi ji's govt to the welfare of every section of the society!#BudgetForNewIndia - Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) February 1, 2019 Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble PM Sri @narendramodi ji, Sri @arunjaitley ji and @PiyushGoyal ji. This budget is for the welfare of every section of the society as per our mission of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. #BudgetForNewIndia - Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 1, 2019 This government's promise of Rs. 6000 per year for small farmers is too little, too late. One single budget cannot solve the agrarian crisis India faces - and such populist handouts can neither be solutions to concrete policy change nor deliver political dividends.#Budget2019 - Milind Deora (@milinddeora) February 1, 2019 S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress' declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country. - P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019 What can we call it? Another "Jumla" of false Promises? What happens if the present Govt is voted out in 2019? Modi ji as the saying goes "You can fool some people some time some people all the time but NOT AAL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME". - digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 1, 2019 If they were serious they would have introduce exemptions or the middle class in the last budget On one hand they say those earning below Rs 8 lakhs are economically backward, but that's not what their budget says. - Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) February 1, 2019 Also read: Budget 2019: Modi govt announces highest-ever defence budget of over Rs 3 lakh crore Also read: Union Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal announces Rs 1.58 lakh crore for Railways Union Budget 2019 Live: The Modi-led government announced multiple measures to benefit the middle class taxpayers as well as farmers in the Union Budget 2019. However, once the session wrapped up, there was a war of words on social media with BJP ministers lauding FM Piyush Goyal's budget while Opposition, led by Congress criticised it. Prime Minister took the stage after a while and said that the Budget 2019 was only a trailer of the 'new India' to come. He also congratulated Goyal on his Budget. The Prime Minister also said that there have been several schemes by different governments from time to time but only 2-3 crore farmers were included under these schemes. "But now PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will benefit over 12 crore farmers who own 5 acres or less than 5 acres of land," he said. Meanwhile, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram criticised the Budget 2019 and said that his one line comment would be that Budget 2019 was "not a Vote on Account but an Account for Votes". He further added that the government's "last-gasp announcements" will effectively end in ninety days. "The question that naturally springs to one's mind is 'if these were important and necessary interventions, what was the government doing for five years?'" P Chidambaram said. Follow BusinessToday.In LIVE blog updates for everything related to the Interim Budget 2019. 3.48 pm: For farmers, there have been several schemes by different govts from time to time, but only 2-3 crore farmers were included under these schemes. But now PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will benefit over 12 crore farmers who own 5 acres or less than 5 acres of land: PM Modi. 3.37 pm: It's the generosity and honesty of middle class and upper middle class which provides tax to the nation through which schemes are formulated and there is welfare of poor. There was always the demand to exempt those, with annual income upto Rs 5 Lakh, from taxation. Our govt fulfilled this. 3.33 pm: From middle class to labourers, from farmers' growth to the development of businessmen, from manufacturing to MSME sector, from growth of the economy to development of New India, everyone has been taken care of in this interim budget: PM Modi. 3.32 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "This is an Interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development." 3.31 pm: Our government is announcing one significant measure after another for farmers: PM Modi 1.21pm: Key highlights of Budget 2019. 1.18pm: Congress Shashi Tharoor says the whole exercise has turned out to be a damn squib. S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damn squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/0eJHWnuysf - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 1.16pm: Sensex up 120 points, Nifty hovers around 10,850 levels; defence stocks up 2 per cent. 1.12pm: 10 Dimensions of Government's vision 2030 for India. 1) Physical & Social Infra 2) Digital India 3) Clean and Green India 4) Rural Industrialisation 5) Clean Rivers 6) Oceans and Coastline 7) Space 8) Self-sufficiency in Food Production 9) Health 10)Minimum government and max governance 1.08pm: The government has hiked TDS limit to Rs 40,000 from Rs 10,000 on post office, bank savings. 12.54pm: Abudget for the people, says Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu. Indeed a budget for the people, of the people! Focusing on the 3 main components of our glorious nation - people, progress & prosperity. This budget will move us towards #NewIndia by 2022. We shall celebrate 75 yrs of our Independence with our heads held high!#BudgetForNewIndia - Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) February 1, 2019 12.52pm: The government has increased capex for the Railways to Rs 1.59-lakh crore from the earlier Rs 1.48-lakh crore. 12.50pm: The new tax exemption rule will be applicable from the next financial year. 12.46pm: The income tax exemption limit increased to Rs 5 lakh from the current Rs 2.5 lakh. 12.39pm: Individuals with gross income up to Rs 6.5 lakh will not need to pay any income tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities, says FM Piyush Goyal. FM Piyush Goyal: Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities https://t.co/0zphKNVt2I - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 12.33pm: Big tax benefit! Individual taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh to get full tax rebate. Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get full tax rebate: FM Shri Piyush Goyal #Budget2019https://t.co/bwq6afFrrs - PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2019 12.29pm: Piyush Goyal thanks tax payers, and vouch for the benefits to the middle class people, including small tax payers and salaried class. 12.29pm: "Along with completion of fiscal deficit consolidation programme, we will now focus on debt-to-GDP ratio consolidation," says Piyush Goyal. 12.26pm: Under SkilI India, more than 1 crore youth are being trained to earn livelyhood, says Goyal. Under the Mudra Yojana, as many as 15.56 crore loans have been disbursed amounting to 7 lak 23 thousand rupees, he said. 12.25pm: "Within almost two years, almost all assessment and verification of the I-T returns will be done electronically by an anonymised tax system without any intervention by tax official," says Goyal. 12.24pm: Cost of data and voice calls in India is now possibly the lowest in the world; mobile and mobile part manufacturing companies have increased from 2 to 268, says Piyush Goyal. 12.22pm: The GST registered MSMEs to get 2% interest subvention on 1 crore loan. 12.14pm: We are poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years, we aspire to become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years: FM Piyush Goyal. We are poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years, we aspire to become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years: FM Shri Piyush Goyal #Budget2019https://t.co/bwq6afFrrs - PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2019 Piyush Goyal: A single window clearance for filmmaking to be made available to filmmakers, anti-camcording provision to also to be introduced to Cinematography Act to fight piracy pic.twitter.com/qMsd6CB7Ji - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 "A single window clearance for filmmaking to be made available to filmmakers, anti-camcording provision to also to be introduced to Cinematography Act to fight piracy," says Goyal. 12.00pm: Simplification of direct tax system will benefit taxpayers; direct tax reduced and tax interface made simpler and faceless to make life easier; resulting in increase in tax collections and return filings: FM Shri Piyush Goyal. 11.59am: The government increases defence budget to Rs 3 lakh crore. 11.58am: 2% interest subvention to farmers for animal husbandry, says FM Piyush Goyal. 2% interest subvention to farmers for animal husbandry : FM Piyush Goyal#Budget2019pic.twitter.com/4fGMy70xFn - PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2019 11.52am: The government's Sagar Mala Project will help faster handling of import and export cars, says Goyal. India is the fastest highway developer in the whole world, 27 kms of highways built each day, projects stuck for decades completed; #SagarMala will help faster handling of import and export cars: FM Shri Piyush Goyal #Budget2019https://t.co/bwq6afFrrs - PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2019 11.51am: All farmers affected by severe natural disasters to will continue to get 2 per cent interest subvention and additional 3 per cent on timely loan repayment, says the FM. 11.49am: Goyal says 75 per cent of beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana are women. He added that 26 weeks of maternity leave and the Pradhan Mantri Matritva Yojana are empowering women in the country, says the FM. 11.47am: The government to now give 8 crore LPG connections to rural households under the Pradhan mantri Ujjwala Yojana. FM Piyush Goyal: To ensure cleaner fuel and health assurance, we embarked upon Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a programme to give 8 crore free LPG connections to rural households, 6 crore connections have been given already pic.twitter.com/0jWN71pwOt - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 11.45am: Under the Mega Pension Yojana, namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan, the government will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month, with contribution of Rs 100 per month for the workers in unorganised sector after 60 years of age, says Goyal. 11.42am: High growth and formalisation of economy has resulted in increased EPFO members by 2 crore in the last two years, says Goyal. 11.37am: "This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs 75,000 crore, this will enable farmers to earn a respectable living," says Goyal. 11.31am: To provide assured income support for small and marginal farmers, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi has been approved, says Goyal. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 per year will be given for each farmer in three installments. This money will be transferred directly to the farmers' bank accounts. The scheme is applicable for farmers with less than 2 hectares land holding, says Piyush Goyal. 11.28am: During the 2014-18, 1.53 crore houses have been constructed under the PM Awas Yojana. 11.28am: 21 AIIMSs are operating or being established, 14 of these have been announced since 2014, says FM Shri Piyush Goyal. 11.26am: The government allocates Rs 60,000 crore for MNREGA in FY20. 11.11am: "Inflation is a hidden and unfair tax; from 10.1 per cent during 2009-14, we have broken the back of back-breaking inflation," says the FM. 11.10am: "We have prepared the foundation for sustainable progress and prosperity for our people; we are moving towards realising the dream of New India by 2022," says the FM. 11.10am: "The people of India gave a strong mandate to the Government, under leadership of PM Narendra Modi, structural reforms undertaken, reversed policy paralysis and restored the nation's image," says Goyal. 10.55am: Govt sources have been sending budget pointers to media houses, now if these pointers are there in FM's speech then it tantamounts to a leak. It would be a serious issue of breach of secrecy, says Congress leader Manish Tewari. Manish Tewari, Congress: Since morning, Govt sources have been sending budget pointers to media houses, now if these pointers are there in FM's speech then it tantamounts to a leak. It would be a serious issue of breach of secrecy #Budget2019pic.twitter.com/AKQsDS4B0X - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 10.46am: You can enjoy live streaming of Budget 2019 at BusinessToday.In. 10.45am: The Sensex is up by 137.62 points, currently at 36,394.31 ahead of Union Budget 2019. 10.34 am: Meet the CBDT team behind the Union Budget 2019. Meet the budget team of CBDT with Union Minister of Finance,Corporate Affairs,Railways & Coal, Sh @PiyushGoyal,alongwith both MoS Finance,Sh @BJPShivPShukla & Sh @PonnaarrBJP with Revenue Secretary Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey &Chairman CBDT Sh Sushil Chandra on the eve of #Budget2019. pic.twitter.com/9RvUqseYrM - Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) January 31, 2019 10.32 am: They'll try to introduce populist schemes in the Budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls. Budgets they've presented so far haven't really benefitted general public. Only 'Jumlas' will come out today. They've only 4 months when will they implement the schemes?: Mallikarjun Kharge. 10.30 am: Ministers arrive at the Parliament ahead of the session. Delhi: Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at the Parliament. Following the Cabinet meeting, Piyush Goyal will present the interim Budget 2019-20 at 11 am #Budget2019pic.twitter.com/aVBOgDXKVK - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 10.25 am: PM Modi reaches the Parliament to attend the Budget 2019 session. 10.23 am: The last five budgets have been dedicated to the farmers, the government's sixth budget will also be for the farmers, it will empower them: Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh. 10.21 am: Budget is not only all business, it has its share of fun too! Here's a list of interesting quotes and poems that Finance Ministers have used during the Budget presentation. 10.11 am: The way the government has increased the investment in railways, from installing CCTV cameras to WiFi, I believe further investment in railways will certainly be increased: Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Railways. 10.09 am: Read why Modi govt's financial goodies to bag votes will hamper economic prosperity of the country in the short and medium term 10.06 am: FM Goyal reaches the Parliament. 10.01 am: Former Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari has accused the Modi government of leaking the budget to the media. 9.53 am: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Budget 2019. Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union #Budget2019pic.twitter.com/QZUnE01gqU - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 9.48 am: As Modi govt is set to anounce its last budget before the general elections, here's a comparison between PM Modi and former PM Manmohan Singh on who managed Indian economy better. 9.42 am: Cabinet to meet at 10:00 am in Parliament to approve the Interim Budget 2019: Doordarshan. 9.39 am: Market live: Firm opening for the benchmark indices ahead of Budget 2019 announcement with Nifty holding above 10,850 level. The Sensex is up 83.63 points or 0.25% at 36348.32, and the Nifty up 29.30 points or 0.22% at 10854.55. 9.37 am: Timeline of Indian agricultural sector accounts for 17 per cent of India's GDP and engages almost 50 per cent of India's workforce. Take a look at some key policy measures announced for the agri sector in past decade. 9.34 am: Further checks conducted before the Budget 2019 session starts at 11:00 am. Delhi: The printed copies of #Budget 2019-20 being security checked in Parliament premises pic.twitter.com/QYObkVE0CI - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 9.27 am: Sniffer dog checks the printed copies of Budget 2019. Delhi: The printed copies of #Budget 2019-20 being security checked by sniffer dog pic.twitter.com/McqnCegoQ6 - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 9.13am: The Union Cabinet to meet ahead of the Budget 2019 in Parliament. 9.06am: The copies of Union Budget 2019 brought to the Parliament complex. #Delhi: Copies of #Budget2019 brought to Parliament complex; Piyush Goyal to present interim Budget 2019-20. pic.twitter.com/oF3MgBmsdK - ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 9.01am: Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal arrives at the Ministry of Finance. The Budget will be presented at 11am. Read more: Check date, time; all you need to know. 9am: What kind of Budget will be presented today? Does that mean there will be no big bang announcements or huge giveaways for the poor and the under employed even while the government is preparing for elections a few months down the line? Read more: Is the Union Budget 2019 presentation going to be pedestrian? 8.33am: A big rural development allocation on the way! In its interim budget today, the government is set to earmark about Rs 1.3 lakh crore ($18.25 billion) for the Ministry of Rural Development, up from Rs 1.12 lakh crore in the current fiscal year, reports Reuters. Read more: Budget 2019 prediction. 8.24am: Will the Interim Budget 2019 will be populist one? Fitch Ratings warned of a fiscal slippage if Modi government resorts to populist spending to win over lost vote base. Fitch's base-case scenario is that government debt will remain close to 70 per cent of GDP in the next few years and will constrain India's sovereign rating (BBB-/Stable). Read more: Fitch Ratings' warning. 8.16am: Budget 2019: Who managed Indian economy better - Modi or Manmohan? India's GDP growth rate in 2010-11, which falls during his second term as the Prime Minister, is the highest recorded, even after the recalibrated GDP data. Recalculated data shows Indian economy growing faster under the Modi government, though. Read more: Modi or Manmohan. Edited by Manoj Sharma The Union Budget 2019-20 will be presented in the Parliament by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in a couple of minutes. The budget, in particular, is anticipated to be a populist one as the country gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in a couple of months. From income tax slabs to farmer woes, the Budget 2019 is the Modi government's last shot before the elections to appease the Indians. Follow the updates from Budget rituals to expectations from the Union Budget 2019 and stream it live on Aaj Tak. You can watch it online on AajTak. You can also watch the live coverage on TV. Speculation is rife that the Budget will come as good tidings to the middle class as income tax exemption is expected. The Finance Minister is also expected to announce measures to entice farmers. It remains to be seen how the Modi government tackles expectations from the masses and handles the pressure of the economy. Also read: Union Budget Live Updates : Finance Minister Piyush Goyal begins Budget speech Also read: Budget 2019 Live Streaming: When and Where to watch; here's everything you need to know It was clear from the get-go that Modi government's Union Budget 2019 would favour the farmers a great deal. And the government has delivered on these expectations, to some extent. An income support scheme for "vulnerable farmer families", a couple of interest subvention announcements, and new entities to look after animal husbandry and fisheries were part of the Budget speech Interim Finance Minister Piyush delivered before the Parliament on Friday. Presenting the Budget 2019 before the Lok Sabha, Goyal said that the pro-farmer policies by the government have helped the cultivators to attain record levels of agricultural produce. Reiterating the aim to double farmers' income, he also mentioned the move to increase minimum support price for 22 crops at minimum 50 per cent more than the cost. "During the last five years, for providing affordable loans to farmers, the amount of interest subvention has been doubled. The crop loan to farmers increased to Rs 11.68 lakh crore in year 2018-19. We have made genuine efforts to remove the hardships of farmers by providing them Soil Health Cards, quality seeds, irrigation scheme and Neem Coated Urea to remove shortage of fertilisers," Goyal said. Below are the crucial proposals from the Budget 2019 that have been aimed at bolstering the primary economic sector of the country: ALSO READ:Budget 2019: TDS limit on interest from deposits hiked to Rs 40,000 Direct income support under PM-KISAN To ensure assured income support to marginal and small farmers, Goyal announced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in the Union Budget 2019. This programme will provid direct income support of Rs 6,000 every year to vulnerable landholding farmer families, with cultivable land up to two hectares. An outlay of Rs 75,000 crore has been proposed for the scheme which is estimated to benefit 12 crore farmers. "PM-KISAN would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season. PM-KISAN would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living," Goyal said. The programme would be effective on retrospective basis from December 1, 2018. The first instalment for the period up to March 31, 2019 would be paid during this year itself. However, Rs 6,000 a year promised under the PM-KISAN programme translates to less than Rs 17 a day to farmer families. This could give way to reservations over the effectiveness of the scheme. ALSO READ:Budget 2019: Not all budgetary sops will reach the beneficiaries before the election Loan incentives for calamity-hit farmers Goyal proposed an incentive for calamity-stricken famers against their crop loans. Under the extant rules, crop loans in the name of farmers coping with natural disasters are rescheduled and an interest subvention of 2 per cent is provided for the first year of their rescheduled loan. As per the proposal in the Union Budget 2019, farmers affected by natural calamities will get an incentive of 3 per cent on repaying their loans on time. This will be in addition to the 2 per cent interest subvention that they get now. "Our Government has now decided that all farmers affected by severe natural calamities, where assistance is provided from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), will be provided the benefit of interest subvention of 2 per cent and prompt repayment incentive of 3 per cent for the entire period of reschedulement of their loans," Goyal said. ALSO READ:PM Modi addresses the nation; says Budget 2019 was only a trailer of the 'new India' to come Relief in loans under Kisan Credit Card The Union Budget 2019 proposed 2 per cent interest subvention against loan availed through Kisan Credit Card in case of farmers engaged in animal husbandry and fisheries. They will also get 3 per cent incentive over and above it if they repay their loans within the stipulated time frame. "To ensure provision of easy and concessional credit and to bring all farmers under KCC fold, our Government has decided to initiate a comprehensive drive with a simplified application form," Goyal further said. ALSO READ:Salaried class? Here are key tax announcements in Piyush Goyal's speech you need to know Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog for bovine welfare In his Budget speech, Goyal announced the formation of a Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog to upscale sustainable genetic up-gradation of cow resources and to enhance production and productivity of cows. The commission will also look after effective implementation of laws and welfare schemes for cows. Goyal further added that the allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been increased to Rs 750 crore in the current year itself. New Department of Fisheries To dedicatedly work for development of fisheries, the government has proposed a separate Department of Fisheries in the Budget 2019. Presenting the Budget, Goyal said that India is the second-largest fish-producing nation, accounting for 6.3 per cent of the total global production with an annual growth of over 7 per cent in recent years. ALSO READ:Budget 2019: P Chidambaram says people will see through Modi govt's desperation ALSO WATCH: In an interim budget targeting the mass voters, the Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal did not come up with major new schemes or announcements related to healthcare, education and technology sectors, other than announcing intentions to set up a new AIIMS in Haryana and a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence. "We launched the world's largest healthcare programme, Ayushman Bharat, to provide medical treatment to nearly 50 crore people. Already close to 10 lakh patients have benefited for medical treatment, which would have cost them Rs 3,000 crore through free treatments made available under the scheme," the minister claimed in his speech, but did not mention new allocations for the year. He also claimed lakhs of poor and middle class people are also benefiting from reduction in the prices of essential medicines, cardiac stents and knee implants, and availability of medicines at affordable prices through Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Also Read: Salaried class? Here are key tax announcements in Piyush Goyal's speech you need to know "One interesting highlight in the interim budget is the vision for 'Healthy India' by building a distress free, functional and comprehensive healthcare and wellness system by 2030," said Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman & Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare. "Regarding healthcare, we expected larger spends on Ayushman Bharat but the current increase is insufficient," said Ganesh Sabat, CEO, SMT. "Although with an excellent intention to march towards 2030 by taking actions on child welfare along with Pradhanmantri Ayushman Yojana this budget will have a lot of challenges for its execution right from Primary Healthcare centres. Government is also trying to make comprehensive wellness system and also look forward to invest in digitalisation, which will overtime be beneficial for pharma and healthcare industry," felt Dr RB Smarta, Chairman & Managing Director, Interlink, a pharma consulting company. Also read: Budget 2019: TDS limit on interest from deposits hiked to Rs 40,000 The minister said in the area of Artificial Intelligence and related technologies, the government is planning a National Programme on Artificial Intelligence. "This would be catalysed by the establishment of the National Centre on Artificial Intelligence as a hub along with Centres of Excellence. Nine priority areas have been identified. A National Artificial Intelligence portal will also be developed soon," he said. However, no allocation was made for the initiative. Similarly, the Finance Minister also announced setting up of the 22nd All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Haryana. Sources said the country currently has only nine AIIMS operational, though the NDA Government announced 14 AIIMS in the last five years. While four AIIMS coming up at Raebareli, Gorakhpur, Kalyani, Hyderabad and Bhatinda are expected to be operational temporarily this year, work on another eight AIIMS have not progressed much, they said. The minister did not indicate allocating funds for the same in the interim budget. Also read: PM Modi addresses the nation; says Budget 2019 was only a trailer of the 'new India' to come Also read: Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal hikes tax-free gratuity limit to Rs 30 lakh The announcements in the Budget will put more money in the hands of the middle class and the vulnerable and that will create demand and increase consumption, says Sunil Kumar Sinha, Director & Principal Economist, India Ratings & Research. The Interim Budget announced that the salaried middle class with an annual income of up to Rs 5 lakh will not be required to pay any income tax, putting more disposable income in their hands which generally goes towards consumption. For farmers who own up to five acres of land will also get an income support of Rs 2000 every quarter, which will be transferred directly into their bank accounts. People will not just spend more in urban and rural areas, it will also give a fillip to their savings because there will be more money that will not be spent, adds Sinha. This will have an impact on the economy from consumption and savings perspective. Also, there will be a boost in demand created by announcements in construction and housing sector, says Ranen Banerjee, Partner & Leader - Public Finance and Economics, PwC India. "Given the election year, it was widely expected that the Interim Budget 2019-20 will be a 'Populist Budget'. The budget has given more sweeteners than expected. Targeted towards the marginalized farmers, rural economy, workers in the unorganised sector, MSMEs, and low income earning population, this budget has addressed the bulk of the population which are most impacted by any turmoil in the economy. We believe that this will help in alleviating some of the stress in the rural sector, have a positive impact on consumption and kick-start the investment cycle. Given such an aggressive expenditure plan and deductions given in the direct tax with no new avenues for revenue collection, achieving the fiscal deficit target for 2019-20 seems ambitious. The latest data on fiscal deficit is that we will miss the target in FY19, the second year in a row and is not credit positive," said Manish Sinha, Managing Director, Dun and Bradstreet Earlier, there was a tax on the notional rental income on second property. That has been removed. This will not only lead to more disposable income but also increase demand in housing sector. Additionally, given that the capital gains from one estate can now be set off against investments in two properties, this will also boost activity in the real estate sector, says Banerjee. Registration for tax benefits window under affordable housing have also been extended. This will positively impact the real estate sector and that will provide a boost to the economy, says Banerjee. Also read: Interim budget ignores pharma, health and education sectors The allocations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has been increased to Rs 19,000 crore as against Rs 15,500 crore in 2018-19 for rural roads which should create more jobs. However, it might have a significant impact on the fiscal deficit. The fiscal deficit for these years has been on the higher side than what had been slated to be. Typically, what has been observed in the Interim Budget in the previous years is that usually the income is overestimated and the expenditure is underestimated to keep the fiscal deficit under check. This year too there are several such assumptions and one will have to see how it pans out. "The disinvestment target is still being maintained while it looks increasingly difficult to achieve. The actual deficit numbers will depend on the realised GST collections over the next two months and the government's ability to meet the disinvestment target over a timeline of one month left for actions before the election code kicks in," says Banerjee. Also read: Salaried class? Here are key tax announcements in Piyush Goyal's speech you need to know India is a vast country with a population of 1.3 billion therefore India cannot survive with agriculture and service industry alone. We need to become an industrial hub. And to become an industrial hub, the government should give a lot of benefits, subsidies and incentives to the industries based on all labour intensive units. Also to overcome the current problem of Chinese products flooding the Indian market, we need to ensure that we start manufacturing locally. And this is exactly what the superpower countries are doing where India is lacking. Furthermore, for each and every district the government should announce schemes so that every district can become a city. For that any plant which a particular company sets up in a district there should be no GST or income tax and they can also claim the GST input. This will facilitate double benefit. By claiming the GST input, they can take credit, there will be no GST on the products and no income tax for a period of 10 years. Moreover, there should be slabs. For example if a company has over 1000 employees recruited, then they should get 20% rebate in GST and income tax. Likewise above 2000 there should be a rebate of 40%, for over 3000 it should be 60%, above 4000 it should be kept 80% and for above 5000 the rebate should be 100% . This will help uplift all the rural areas and help them come at par with the metropolitan cities. It will make our country a manufacturing hub and bring down the crime rate as every individual will become productive. As far as the helmet industry is concerned, GST shall not be levied on helmets as they are meant for safety. Helmets are life saving device just like medicines. Therefore, just the way there is no GST on medicines so shall helmets be exempted. Moreover, unless helmets are exempted from taxes, prices will go up and the effort of the government to roll out the new ISI standard and mandatory use of ISI helmets will be defeated. Therefore, helmets should not be treated like other commodities. Every day approximately 13 people die in road accidents. Many of these deaths happen because of no or poor quality of helmets. In a country where people consider helmets as a financial burden, a zero percent GST will help to win people's faith in good quality helmets and will induce them to buy and understand its significance. Rajeev Kapur is Managing Director at Steelbird Helmets Based on past experience, an attention-getting start of Ukraine's election campaign is able to set the tone for the entire race. The presidential election set for March 31, and the remaining two months will undoubtedly be marked by uncompromising clashes between candidates for every vote. The struggle will be fierce, as according to polls, none of the political camps enjoys the support of even half of the population, while the nominees' approval ratings are at unprecedented low levels. Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko, announcing his decision to join the elections, has actually completed the pool of candidates for the top job. Registration is ongoing, the Central Election Committee is considering the documents of another fifteen people wanting to take a chance, but hardly any of them will be able to have any serious impact on the elections as a participant. As of now, the CEC had registered 23 candidates for the elections. The main candidates are well-known politicians who have already tasted the sweets of power. Not as a president, of course (except for Poroshenko), but in high positions. Perhaps it explains the low level of public approval and low ratings of politicians. Socio-economic living conditions in Ukraine are deteriorating, therefore, how can there be trust and high ratings. Leader of Fatherland political party Yulia Tymoshenko has the highest rating among politicians. The former prime minister's election program has already been outlined. She will try to win over voters with the promise of total reform. Tymoshenko is in favor of constitutional reform, changes to the law on parliamentary elections and their rules, the transition to a new form of government with the highest office of chancellor. The economic part of Yulia Tymoshenko's program reiterates the need for reforms as well: improving the efficiency of managing industry and agriculture promises a sharp increase in income and an improvement in the quality of life. Tymoshenko's foreign policy guide - the EU and NATO. The same is largely promised by incumbent president Petro Poroshenko, who joined the race, addressing a forum dubbed "From Kruty to Brussels. We Follow Our Own Path." Unlike Tymoshenko, the incumbent president plays a card of antagonistic relations with Russia, to the extent that at some point a slogan appeared on monitors: 'Either Poroshenko or Putin', replacing Poroshenkos official motto 'Army. Language. Faith'. The President of Ukraine in his speech positioned himself as the most anti-Russian candidate. His speech focused more on confrontation with Moscow than on some economic ideas. Although he did not stint on the promises to improve lives of ordinary Ukrainians. Poroshenko sees the key tasks in restoring Ukraines territorial integrity returning Crimea and stabilizing the situation in the Donbass. But without federalization. "We all need to understand that Ukraine is a unitary state with one state language, as written in the Constitution, and no federation and no special status," Poroshenko said. There is no need to talk about the external vector: when there is a declared confrontation with Russia, one thing remains, even if one imagines that it's not what they want, - integration with Western institutions. Another candidate is the representative of the Opposition Platform For Life alliance, former Minister of Fuel and Energy, former Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko, running as independent. His voter base is a part of the population that wants normal relations with Russia in addition to a good life, etc. The platform's ideologist Viktor Medvedchuk said at the presentation of Boyko's program, "the agreement could be reached within a Kiev-Donetsk-Lugansk-Moscow quadrangle, with the subsequent creation of the Donetsk autonomous region within Ukraine." In summary, all election participants' plans and main promises are generally the same: raising the socio-economic level, restoring territorial integrity - either in confrontation with Russia with the help of the West, or in cooperation with Russia. There have been no sensations yet. Popular rock musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, whose name was linked to an even greater aggravation of the election campaign, did not join it, saying, nevertheless, he was going into politics, but ... not for the presidency. Well-known journalist Alexander Gordon poured oil on smoldering flames, saying that a politician who has a huge dossier on all, being, therefore, able to turn the entire campaign upside down, would join the race. People in Ukraine understood in the moment who this might be - the journalist maintains relations with the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Igor Smeshko. But nothing resonant linked to this name, as well as with any other name, has not happened yet. In such a sluggish pre-election situation, the majority of Ukrainians surveyed by the Rating sociological group are ready to vote for showman Vladimir Zelensky. He is supported by 19% of the population. According to the Rating, he is followed by Yulia Tymoshenko with a minimal gap - more than 18%. The expert community predicts the leader of the race will soon be replaced -it shouldn't be hard for Tymoshenko with her experience to beat out the politically unsophisticated artist. The third place is occupied by incumbent president Petro Poroshenko with 15.1%. Yuriy Boyko is fourth with 10%. The next are the former Minister of Defence, leader of the Civic Position party Anatoliy Hrytsenko with 8.5% and leader of the Radical Party Oleg Lyashko with 7%. Other candidates' ratings are insignificant and range from 1% to 3.4%. The Rating group has also released data on popularity in regions. Vladimir Zelensky is more popular in the south and east of Ukraine, he shares the leadership in Kiev with incumbent president Poroshenko and with Boyko in the Donbass. Yulia Tymoshenko is popular in the center and north of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko competes with her in the west. In addition, Poroshenko is the absolute leader in Galicia. Not less interesting was data published by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), which fixed "citizens' deep distrust towards state institutions" during its research. According to representatives of the KIIS, "democratic elections are almost the last chance to avoid a great social outrage, uncontrolled mass protests." According to data released by the KIIS, the level of public confidence in the government and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was minus 63%, in incumbent president Petro Poroshenko - minus 70%. The situation of other political subjects in Ukraine is much better. The pro-European opposition camp, which includes Yulia Tymoshenkos Fatherland, is not trusted by 47%, while 57% of respondents dont trust any pro-Russian party, such as the Opposition Platform For Life alliance. According to the majority of interlocutors of Vestnik Kavkaza in Ukraine, at the moment the second round of presidential elections seems inevitable. With its five-year term drawing to a close, the outgoing government under Narendra Modi will be known for the economic decisions it took, for better or worse. Demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, India rising among its peers in terms of economy, and much more happened during the past five years of the Modi government. But PM Modi's predecessor, Manmohan Singh, is regarded as a capable economist. India's GDP growth rate in 2010-11, which falls during his second term as the Prime Minister, is the highest recorded, even after the recalibrated GDP data. Recalculated data shows Indian economy growing faster under the Modi government, though. On the question of which of the two Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi or Manmohan Singh, guided the Indian economy better, here is what the numbers reveal: Budget 2019: Check date, time; all you need to know Jobs Job creation has been a longstanding challenge for the Modi government despite several initiatives to tackle it. Available data shows that unemployment rate has maintained an upward trend between June 2017 and December 2018. Notably, CMIE started collecting job data extensively only a couple of years back and EPFO payroll data started from September 2017, which means there are no concrete numbers depicting job creation during the Manmohan Singh era. Also read: NSSO report citing unemployment rate at 45-year high not final, says Niti Aayog Gross Domestic Product Recalculated GDP data shows Indian economy growing 0.6 per cent faster under PM Modi as opposed to time during the UPA-II government, but it is still a long way from attaining double digit growth. Manmohan Singh did achieve this milestone during his tenure, crossing the 10 per cent-mark during 2010-11, followed by a substantial decline in the next fiscal. While recalculated data brought it down to 8.5. Fiscal Deficit Numbers show that Modi govt substantially more fiscally prudent. The average fiscal deficit growth rate under PM Modi has been 1.7% lower than what was reported during Manmohan Singh's tenure. This can be attributed to the spike in fiscal deficit during the third year of UPA-II government. Bad Loans During the Narendra Modi era, bad loans have remained a thorn in the side of Indian banking industry, something the ruling BJP has openly blamed the Manmohan Singh government for. The fact remains, though, that Non Performing Assets (NPAs) have skyrocketed 321 per cent between 2014-15, when Modi government came into power, and 2017-18. The total advances, meanwhile, have grown by a little over 12 per cent during this period. Foreign Portfolio Investment and Foreign Direct Investment Narendra Modi government was able to bring in 50 per cent more foreign direct investment during only four years of its tenure as compared to the five of UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh. The FDI inflow, which started strong in the initial days of the Modi government, had reached a plateau in its second and third year and taken a downward trend by the fourth year. The FDI numbers for the fifth year have not been released yet. Meanwhile, Indian economy saw 40 per cent more foreign portfolio investment during Singh's second term. However, FPI numbers for the fifth year of Modi government are still awaited. Given the upward trend FPI has maintained since Modi's second year in office, it will be interesting to see whether it can match the level during the Manmohan Singh government. Exports and Imports While goods exports have remained flat under the Modi government, services exports have increased 50 per cent. By its fourth year, the incumbent government has managed to gain some ground in terms of exports as compared to the previous regime. On the other hand, while moderate crude oil prices have helped Narendra Modi keep the import bill under control, it has overstepped the numbers posted by the UPA-II government. New Projects, Stalled Projects, and Completed Projects Numbers denote that new project announcements have fallen by 12 per cent under the Modi government, whereas stalled projects have increased 34 per cent. The silver lining is that completed projects have increased 38 per cent under the incumbent government. Weighed down by factors including policy uncertainties and increasing bad loans, the investments have taken a hit across the board during the previous quarter of current fiscal, according to a report by CMIE. National Debt There is good news and bad news for the Modi government on the front of national debt. The present regime has reported national debt growing 3% slower as opposed to the Manmohan Singh government from 2009-2014. However, the Modi government is paying 0.3 per cent higher rate of interest. Edited by Vivek Punj Also read: Resignation of NSC members exposes government's unwillingness to tackle unemployment Union Budget 2019: Will your home loan finally become cheaper? Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the Interim Budget 2019 unveiled a farm support scheme, under which the govt plans to offer income support for marginal farmers at Rs 6,000 per year under a scheme called Kisan Samman Nish. The scheme will benefit some 12 crore farmers. The FM set aside Rs 75,000 crore under the scheme. Ankur Bhardwaj, Senior Editor - Web, business-standard.com talks to Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Agriculture Editor, Business Standard on how far the budget go in addressing issues facing India's farm sector Listen to this podcast. February 23, 2021, Tuesday Aggregate annual PE deal value has doubled, count up over 60% in last 5 yrs With the exception of sectors like telecom and utilities, PE investments have outperformed capital markets with an average IRR of ... September 10, 2020, Thursday PE investments worth $1.9 bn in August, dipping 53% from July deals Month has been better than the sub $1 billion monthly run rate seen in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic July 13, 2020, Monday PE/VC investments decline 10% y-o-y in first half of 2020: Report Deals worth $9.6 billion in Jio Platforms accounted for 52 per cent of all PE/VC investments in this period May 21, 2020, Thursday PE firms express concerns over new FDI rules, say investments will get hit Urge govt not to slap the rule on PE funds that have already raised money April 27, 2020, Monday Covid-19 impact: PE/VC investments hit 12-quarter low at $5.1 billion At $2.2 billion, large deals declined by over 70 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the same period April 01, 2020, Wednesday PE-VC companies invest $5.9 billion across 164 deals in the Q4FY20 The latest quarter witnessed 14 PE-VC investments worth $100 million or more, down from the 20 such transactions in the same ... December 12, 2019, Thursday Venture Capital firm 3one4 raises Rs 400 crore for its third fund Fund managed by Pranav and Siddartha Pai, sons of former Infosys director and CFO T V Mohandas Pai, has invested in 50 startups ... November 26, 2019, Tuesday TPG Growth leads $33 million investment in Ess Kay Fincorp Ess Kay Fincorp is a differentiated NBFC primarily providing financing for income generation activity to the commercial vehicle ... November 20, 2019, Wednesday Brookfield now one of the biggest PE players in India, thanks to RIL deals The PE fund's exposure is primarily focused on infra projects (where it invested $10 billion) and real estate (around $4 billion) October 25, 2019, Friday Private equity inflows in realty up by 19% to $3.8 billion in 2019 Commercial real estate sector continued to attract the maximum PE investments, totaling close to $3 billion funds in the first ... October 10, 2019, Thursday Social commerce player DealShare raises $11 mn from Matrix Partners, others The start-up, focused on middle- and lower-income clientele in grocery and home categories segments, in Tier-II and -III cities, ... September 19, 2019, Thursday Key deals last week: Blackstone's $379 mn infusion in GV Tech Park, & more There were 19 PE deals worth $476.87 million with 2 exits in the last seven days ended September 18, 2019 September 12, 2019, Thursday Key deals last week: Advent International, Nexus India and more There were 12 PE deals worth $475.05 million with 3 exits in the last seven days ended September 11, 2019 September 11, 2019, Wednesday Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bets on PE, infrastructure in India After playing LP (investors in PE funds), the Canadian pension fund is keen to invest directly in India September 10, 2019, Tuesday PE/VC investments surge 39% to hit $36.7 bn in first 8 months of 2019 This data comes at a time when the economic growth has plunged to a six-year low, at 5 per cent for the June quarter, leading to ... September 04, 2019, Wednesday From sector-wise allocation to key deals: A snapshot of PE activities There were 11 deals worth $381.71 million and 2 Private Equity Exit in the last six days ended September 04, 2019 By Jeff Mason and David LawderWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal as Trump and his top trade negotiator both cited substantial progress in two days of high-level talks.Trump, speaking at the White House during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, said he was optimistic that the world's two largest economies could reach "the biggest deal ever made."The Chinese trade delegation said in a statement that the two days of high-level talks made "important progress," ... US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal as Trump and his top trade negotiator both cited substantial progress in two days of high-level talks. Trump, speaking at the White House during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, said he was optimistic that the world's two largest economies could reach "the biggest deal ever made." No specific plans for a meeting with Xi were announced, but Trump said there could be more than one meeting. U.S. Trade Representative ... Thyssenkrupp is holding good and constructive talks with the European Commission, which has launched a deepened probe into a planned European joint venture with India's Tata Steel, its chief executive said on Friday. "We explicitly share the opinion of competition Commissioner (Margrethe) Vestager: Steel is of enormous importance to the European economy. That's why we need a strong European steel industry," Guido Kerkhoff told shareholders at the group's annual general meeting. The commission has set an April 29 deadline to rule on the transaction, which ... By Arnab Paul and Chris Thomas(Reuters) - India's Dewan Housing Finance Corp lost nearly half of its market value over five sessions ending on Friday, its worst week since listing, hit by claims of financial mismanagement and broader sectoral woes.Investigative media outlet Cobrapost on Tuesday alleged that loans from Indian state banks were diverted by Dewan to shell companies, including those linked to its controlling shareholders.The allegations are also the latest setback for a shadow banking sector stung by a string of defaults at lender IL&FS, triggering sharp falls in stock and debt ... MOSCOW (Reuters) - Domestic gas supplies from Sakhalin-1 project, led by ExxonMobil have been suspended due to the stoppage of a compressor facility, the Russian energy ministry said on Friday.It said the gas supplies had been halted from the Chaivo field to the Okha - Komsomolsk-on-Amur pipeline on Feb. 1 at 0145 local time."We've had an unplanned stoppage of gas flows from the field to the pipeline. The consumers continue taking off gas from the stockpiles, accumulated in the pipeline," a spokesman for Exxon Neftegaz Ltd, the operator of the project, told Reuters.Sakhalin-1, on Russia's ... Astana is ready to strengthen its relations with Russia, Beibut Atamkulov said during his first visit to Moscow as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. According to him, the relations between Kazakhstan and Russia are the standard for international connections. Atamkulov assured that the course towards expanding the good-neighborly relations would continue. Experts believe that Astana is consistent in its multi-vector policy. Beibut Atamkulov paid an official visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. During the meeting, the diplomats discussed prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on various issues of the international agenda. Moreover, they signed an action plan for the cooperation of the foreign affairs agencies for the next two years. Lavrov noted the success of Astana diplomacy in the international arena. Atamkulov spoke about reformatting the activities of his department. He stressed that the Foreign Ministry plans to strengthen the economic component of Kazakhstans diplomacy. "A serious emphasis will be placed on the issues of attracting investments and promoting Kazakhstani exports. We expect that the intensification of cooperation in the economic field will have a mutual positive effect on our countries, both in terms of increasing mutual trade and in the direction of investment and industrial cooperation. Russia is one of the seven largest investors in the Kazakh economy, Atamkulov said. The first and second place among investors are traditionally held by the EU and the United States. But Russia is leading as a foreign policy direction in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's foreign policy and its possible changes were discussed during the round table entitled The Multiplicity of Central Asia: the Kazakhstan Version" on January 29th. According to the senior researcher at the Center for the Study of Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Ural-Volga Region at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Head of Central Asia and Kazakhstan Department at the Institute of CIS Countries Andrei Grozin, Kazakhstan was the first among the CIS countries to declare a multi-vector foreign policy at the official level and is following it during all the independence period. According to the expert, not only subjective factors influenced Kazakhstans multi-vector policy (leadership decided, leadership accepted the multi-vector concept), but objective circumstances as well. Among the objective circumstances is the territory of the country and its geographical location. Kazakhstan is a gigantic landlocked territorial entity in the center of Eurasia - it has no access to world maritime communications. The Caspian Sea - a large closed reservoir - does not count. Therefore, the authorities of the country were forced to accept the concept of multi-vector maneuvering between world powerhouses. Subsequently, other measures were added to this tacking. The matter concerns the ability to use the interests of these world powerhouses for the countrys own benefit and fulfillment of the national interests. The subjective factors include Kazakhstans foreign policy, which, like of all post-Soviet republics, is determined by the interests of the ruling political class of the country, working to maintain and strengthen its power and political systems. The economy is secondary to a certain extent. Andrei Grozin also recalled that unlike its neighbours, Kazakhstan was able to integrate into the world economic system. On the one hand, the liberalization and denationalisation of the economy carried out at the dawn of independence yielded certain fruits that were gathered by the political and business elite of the country. Kazakhstan, according to experts, remains the economic leader of the region. The standard of living of the population in the republic is higher than in other countries of Central Asia. On the other hand, a serious dependence on raw materials emerged. According to the expert, the entire foreign policy of Kazakhstan, as well as other Central Asian countries, with the exception of Kyrgyzstan, is built upon the interests of the country's top political leadership and president. Decision-making depends on leaderships views on certain issues on the agenda. Kazakhstan, in addition to the objectively existing factors that have led to the adoption and implementation of a multi-vector policy, in the future, will adhere to the established style and maintain the model of foreign economic and foreign policy balancing between the various world powerhouses. In his latest message, President Nursultan Nazarbayev once again set political priorities with minor changes. However, the reshuffle with the preservation of the Russian-Kazakh cooperation on the first lines does not reflect the fluctuations in Astanas foreign policy. "The republic will try to adhere to the same strategies in relation to Moscow, Beijing, Brussels and Washington, as well as to other capitals. It is unlikely that one of the world powerhouses will seek any greater one-sidedness from Astana," Andrei Grozin said. According to him, Astana, being in close relations with Russia, has never pursued a policy that would meet 100 percent of Russia's national interests. Astana, for example, does not recognize Moscows decisions on Transcaucasia; Kazakhstan is quite critical about the number of recent Russian steps. Periodically, there is a mutual misunderstanding on some issues, but they are technical in nature. And what is important, they are not as loud as, for example, between Moscow and Minsk. The reason for this is the style and behavior of elites. The Kazakhstan elite is more integrated into the Russian context than the Belorussian one. In addition, the political system of Kazakhstan, in contrast to Belarus, is not prone to flamboyant statements. Nazarbayev, in fact, is the oldest president in the post-Soviet space. Obviously, due to his age and political experience, he does not lack the understanding that spoiling the relations with the leadership of Russia is not too productive or rational, and will not lead to anything good. Kazakhstan has managed to implement a strategy to increase the political weight and authority of the country in the world arena; it has managed not to quarrel with the world's leading players and to smooth out all the difficulties that arise both with the Kremlin and the White House. So far Astana manages to maneuver in the increasingly complex global agenda. But there are also disadvantages. Kazakhstan to a certain extent has become a confirmation of the English proverb: friend to everybody is a friend to nobody. The current geopolitical reality can put Astana that wants to maintain a model of foreign policy activity with a focus on everyone before a choice. Another question whether this development is possible. Asked by Vestnik Kavkaza whether the status quo of Kazakhstan will be preserved in the post-Nazarbayev period, Grozin answered that, most likely, yes. The transit of power will be closer to the Uzbek scenario than to the Turkmen one. This is likely to be a planned transfer of power, rather than an unexpected one, giving rise to numerous conflicts and problems. In any case, due to the activity that has been observed in the state construction over the last two to three years, it is clear that the insurance mechanism for force majeure is being built in. This is a question concerning the new status of the Security Council, the prospects for holding early parliamentary and presidential elections, which are widely discussed in the country. The transfer of power will be characterized by a consensus between the main financial and industrial elite groups, as in Uzbekistan, and if a consensus is reached, an attempt will be made to preserve the political system that has developed over the past 25 years. No matter who becomes the successor, the state line will remain unchanged, as it was under Nazarbayev, including the foreign policy guidelines, tactics and strategy for building foreign policy. We should not expect a major revision of the economic decisions. However, Alexey Malashenko, the head of research department at the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, is not sure that the transit of power in Kazakhstan will be similar to Uzbekistans one: There are nuances. There are zhuzes that are said to be outdated, but, nonetheless, they are preserved. The political elite in Kazakhstan is bright. There are at least five or six ambitious politicians who hope for something at heart. I will not mention their names, because, as they say in Kazakhstan, if you want to spoil someones biography, name him a presidential candidate. Moreover, there are Kazakhstani politicians who are in emigration. In particular, former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin. The transfer of power will be based not on the continuity of a rigid authoritarian regime, but on a certain synthesis of authoritarianism and consensus. This is the best scenario for Kazakstan, Malashenko believes. (Reuters) - India's Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) on Friday said it will seek fast track resolution through National Company Law Tribunal, the court that deals with bankruptcy cases, to resolve its debt position.The company said lenders had not received any proceeds from its asset monetization plans, and that its overall debt resolution process had not made any progress.Over twelve months, talks with forty lenders to reach a consensus has been impossible and has driven them to the bankruptcy court, the debt-laden telecom company said.RCom, controlled by businessman Anil Ambani, owed ... Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is expected to try and shore up its political support with big ticket farm giveaways and tax cuts for the middle class in its final federal budget on Friday, months before elections. Modi is facing growing discontent over depressed farm incomes and doubts over whether his policies are creating enough jobs. A local media report on Thursday quoted a government survey as saying the jobless rate was the highest in at least 45 years, putting further pressure on the government. ALSO READ: Interim Budget 2019 LIVE updates: Final ... By Devika Krishna KumarNEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 3 percent on Friday on upbeat U.S. jobs data and signs that U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan exports have helped tighten supply, then extending gains after weekly data showed U.S. drillers cut the number of oil rigs.Brent crude oil futures rose $1.91 a barrel, or 3.14 percent, to settle at $62.75 a barrel. The international benchmark notched a weekly gain of about 1.9 percent.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ended the session at $55.26, up $1.47 a barrel or 2.73 percent and gained about 3 percent on the week. Prices ... By Noah BrowningLONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose 1.5 percent on Friday, lifted by signs the United States and China could soon settle their protracted trade dispute while producer cuts and U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan exports have helped tighten supply.International Brent crude oil futures were up 91 cents, or 1.5 percent, at $61.75 per barrel by 1445 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $54.42, up 63 cents or 1.17 percent.Global markets gained support from comments on Twitter by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, saying he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping ... By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices were steady on Friday, torn between hopes the United States and China could soon settle their trade disputes and new data raising fresh concerns over China's economic slowdown.International Brent crude oil futures were at $60.93 per barrel at 0712, 9 cents above their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $53.80 per barrel, virtually unchanged from their last settlement.Oil prices were supported as U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a ... By Aditya Kalra and Sankalp PhartiyalNEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's revised e-commerce rules caused widespread disruption on Amazon's India website when they kicked in on Friday, forcing the company to take down its key grocery service and remove a wide range of products such as sunglasses and floor cleaners.The products began to disappear from Amazon India late on Thursday as it began complying with the regulations before a midnight deadline, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.In December, India modified foreign direct investment rules for its burgeoning ... MUMBAI (Reuters) - India will face challenges meeting its fiscal deficit target of 3.4 percent for 2019/20, a Moody's analyst said on Friday, after the government announced plans to step up rural income support in its last budget before a general election due by May.India set a fiscal deficit target of 3.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year ending March 2020, higher than a previous estimate, and also said it would breach the current year's 3.3 percent deficit target."Taken together, it doesn't really bode well for their medium-term fiscal consolidation targets," said Gene ... By Alasdair PalNEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Friday unveiled a budget aimed at tackling rural discontent, in what is being seen as a critical test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is facing anger over depressed farm incomes and unemployment, with a general election just months away. Here are the highlights of interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's budget for the 2019/20 fiscal year beginning April 1.- Government to allocate 600 billion rupees ($8.45 billion) for a rural employment scheme in 2019/20- India to allocate 190 billion rupees for construction of rural roads in 2019/20 - ... By Karl Plume(Reuters) - Chinese state-owned firms bought at least 1 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans on Friday, a day after high-level bilateral talks yielded progress toward a trade deal and a Chinese commitment to buy more U.S. soybeans.The purchases are slated for shipment between April and July, with a large share expected from U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals, three traders with knowledge of the deals said.One trader with direct knowledge of the deals said total purchases were around 2.2 million tonnes. The other two traders said the sales were similar to three recent waves of buying in ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump in a letter that he hopes both sides will be able to meet each other halfway to reach a trade agreement before a March 1 deadline.The letter was read during a White House meeting on Thursday between Trump and China's Vice Premier Liu He, who is in Washington trying to reach a deal that would ease trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Tim Ahmann)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a ... By Devjyot Ghoshal and Abhirup RoyNEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - The government on Friday announced a pension scheme targeting at least 100 million workers in the unorganized sector, such as drivers, maids and cobblers, in a bid to woo a critical voter group that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to sway ahead of a general election due by May.In the interim budget for 2019/20, acting finance minister Piyush Goyal said the government would spend 5 billion rupees ($70.06 million) to launch what could become "the world's largest pension scheme". The unorganized sector of India's economy is ... By Ron BoussoLONDON (Reuters) - BP has agreed to broaden its disclosure on greenhouse gas emissions to show how it thinks future investments in oil and gas align with U.N.-backed climate goals, it said on Friday. Following talks with a large group of investors, BP also agreed to back a shareholder resolution on the measures at its annual general meeting (AGM), further evidence of the way the energy industry and investors are engaging on climate issues.The agreement with a group of investors with $32 trillion under management, known as Climate Action 100+, comes weeks after rival Royal Dutch ... E-commerce rules that went into effect in India on Friday caused widespread disruption for Amazon.com, forcing it to take down an array of items from its India website including Echo speakers, batteries and floor cleaners. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the products began to disappear from the Amazon India website late on Thursday as it began complying with the revised norms before a midnight deadline. "The company has no choice, they are fulfilling a compliance requirement ... customers will suffer," said one of the sources. In December, ... / -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet, today announced that it has jointly released the white paper "5G Best Choice Architecture" along with IHS. Based on a comparative analysis of 5G SA and NSA, the white paper concludes that SA architecture is the better path to the target network in 5G era from the perspectives of long-term investment, business capability and network performance. From the perspective of network investment, in spite of low initial investment of NSA architecture, NSA architecture's long-term cumulative investment cost is relatively higher than that of SA architecture, considering the upgrade cost of existing LTE network equipment and the evolution cost to SA architecture. Furthermore, the initial deployment cost of SA architecture can be significantly reduced by virtue of an appropriate 5G deployment strategy. For instance, selective 5G coverage in hot spots, 4G and 5G co-site, deploying 5G Core Network on the existing data center, and starting with fundamental 5G Core functions only, opening the interfaces and introducing service features step by step. From the perspective of service capability, SA architecture not only improves the access bandwidth, but also supports applications such as URLLC and mMTC. SA architecture can deliver customized network capabilities to different applications through flexible network slicing. Therefore, the introduction of SA architecture in the early stage can launch differentiated innovative services and business models in the vertical industry market as soon as possible, and bring more revenue sources for operators. From the perspective of network performance, SA architecture can make full use of the dual antenna transmit diversity and high power transmitter of 5G devices, achieving better network coverage, system capacity and other KPI, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of devices and thereby enhancing the end user experience. In addition to the analysis of 5G network architectures, the white paper also elaborates the maturity of 5G core network and devices, one of the operators' major concerns, to eliminate their worries for a better network architecture. In recognition of the capabilities of commercial 5G networking for both NSA and SA architectures, ZTE actively promotes 5G commercialization, completes network verification and tests of NSA and SA architecture with multiple partners. In the white paper, IHS uses ZTE's SA application cases and commercial field test data as a supplement. The following is the link to access the full white paper "5G Best Choice Architecture": https://res-www.zte.com.cn/mediares/zte/Files/PDF/white_book/5g-best-choice-architecture.pdf?la=zh-CN About ZTEZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, carriers, companies and public sector customers. As part of ZTE's strategy, the company is committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE's products and services are sold to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in international standard-setting organizations. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Friday said its endeavour is to ensure that a regular Director is appointed "immediately" and the issue of transparency in the selection process can be raised by the petitioner in future litigation. The apex court, which was hearing a petition filed by NGO Common Cause challenging the Centre's decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as an interim director, said the issue of transparency raised by the petitioner was "pre-mature" at this stage. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha observed this after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, argued that the top court must deal with issue of transparency in the process to appoint director. "You want an immediate appointment. Let us stop there. Let the appointment be made first. If you have any grievance that the process is not followed and transparency was not there then you can challenge it later," the bench told Bhushan. "We cannot lay down general guidelines at this stage. When you will challenge it in future, we will consider it. Unless there is a concrete cause of action, we cannot interfere in an administrative action," the bench observed. Bhushan said he was not saying that appointment of a new CBI director should be delayed but he was on the aspect of transparency in the selection process. "For future, the issue of transparency in the process should be kept open," he said. To this, the bench told Bhushan, "You can file a petition in future on this. This issue is pre-mature at this stage". Bhushan then referred to earlier judgements of the apex court on the issue of transparency in such appointments. The bench referred to the 1997 judgement in Vineet Narain case, in which the top court had fixed a tenure of a minimum of two years for the CBI director to allow the officer to work independently. Justice Mishra said that judgement delivered by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on January 8 in the CBI matter also dealt with this issue and Vineet Narain verdict was quoted in it. "We will ensure the appointment of a regular director. As for transparency, if there is any lacunae, you will have the option of future litigation," the bench told Bhushan. "When can I raise this issue? There are so many verdicts that transparency must be there," Bhushan said, adding, "You should lay down that these are the minimum norms that must be followed in appointing the CBI director". "Vineet Narain is not on transparency. It speaks of independence and the the high-powered selection committee," he said. However, Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court that the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister would hold a meeting on Friday to select new CBI director. The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". The Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the leader of the largest Opposition party and the Chief Justice of India or his nominee judge of the apex court. Taking account of Venugopal's submissions, the bench posted the matter for hearing on February 6. Earlier, three judges of the apex court -- CJI Gogoi and Justices A K Sikri and N V Ramana -- had recused themselves from hearing the petition. In its petition in the apex court, the NGO has sought specific mechanisms to ensure transparency in the process of appointing the CBI director. It has alleged that Rao's appointment was not made on the basis of the recommendations of the Selection Committee. The plea has alleged that the October 23 last year order of the government appointing Rao as interim CBI director was quashed by the top court on January 8 but the Centre "acted in a completely mala fide, arbitrary and illegal manner" to appoint him again in "complete contravention" of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government today sought the consent of the Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament to form a 'national government', a move seen as a step to get a majority in the 225-member House. Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella handed over a proposal to form a national government to the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's office. Wickremesinghe was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena in October last year and strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed the prime minister. The President also removed the members of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from the national unity government. Sirisena was forced to reappoint Wickremesinghe as the prime minister after Rajapaksa failed to prove his majority twice in Parliament. Since his reappointment in December last, the Wickremesinghe-led government has been functioning without the required majority of 113 in the 225-member House. Sirisena's move to dissolve Parliament to hold a snap parliamentary polls on January 5 was turned down by the Supreme Court. "The proposal (to form a national government) was handed over this morning to the office of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya," Kiriella said. The Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP) is also in talks with the Sirisena-led SLFP to join the national government claiming that a number party members were willing to become part of it. A national government would enable Wickremesinghe to appoint ministers from Sirisena's party. "We have been talking to the SLFP members on the need to expand the government," said Minister Mano Ganesan. The UNP, with 106 seats, had joined hands with the Sirisena's SLFP in 2015 to form a unity government. The Rajapaksa-led opposition has been demanding holding of fresh elections ahead of its schedule in August 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Friday praised the Mamata Banerjee government for being able to cope with the challenges of demonetisation and "hasty" implementation of the GST "thrust upon" by the Centre. In his address to the Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session, Tripathi said state government never for once faltered from the track of the development process that encompassed every person from all walks of life. He also praised the government for keeping a "steady vigil" to ensure communal harmony, and said the overall atmosphere remained peaceful. "The state government was able to cope with the twin challenges of demonetisation and hasty enforcement of GST thrust upon by the central government," he said. He said there were attempts to disturb peace in the Darjeeling hills which were strongly dealt with. Tripathi said the state government was committed to safeguarding the democratic and federal structure of the Constitution. Noting that the country was standing at the "crossroads of history", the governor said, "regardless of the ominous forces of divisiveness, intolerance and contempt, the West Bengal government will strive to protect the triple pillars of democracy (the legislature, executive and judiciary)." Holding placards and shouting slogans, opposition Left Front and Congress members trooped into the Well of the House demanding a discussion on the governor's address during the current session. The opposition is up in arms against the government for his decision to do away with the customary debate on the motion of thanks to the governor's address. However, Speaker Biman Banerjee told reporters in his chamber that there will be a discussion on the governor's address when the House reconvenes in due course and the chief minister would also give a reply. He said the chief minister had a packed schedule at the moment. Finance minister Amit Mitra is scheduled to present the state Budget on Monday and the House will pass it the next day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Netherlands is hiring around 100 mainly foreign veterinarians to check imported animals and food from Britain in its latest contingency plan for a no-deal Brexit, the government said Friday. Most will be recruited from southern and eastern Europe as there are not enough qualified vets to spare in the Netherlands, and they will receive a crash-course in the Dutch language before being deployed. European Union countries are increasingly concerned that Britain will crash out of the bloc without a divorce agreement on March 29, meaning that customs checks and tariffs would automatically return. The Netherlands in particular has taken a number of steps to ease the expected impact of the rift with one of its biggest trading partners. "We want to take precautions," a spokeswoman from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) told the ANP agency, adding that it wanted to train 143 new employees including 100 veterinarians. The NVWA said it was working on the assumption that in the case of a no-deal Brexit all goods being imported from Britain to the EU needed to be checked. "Brussels prescribes that food and food-related products from third countries, and that includes the UK, must be inspected by skilled veterinarians," the spokeswoman said. The vets would be deployed at the Netherlands' two inspection points for live animals at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Maastricht Aachen airport, and for meat inspection points at various ports including the sea port of Rotterdam, the NOS website reported. The inspection of imported meat was a "laborious process", it added. The Dutch cabinet earlier this week received parliamentary approval for emergency powers to pass laws in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Netherlands has already made major preparations for Brexit, setting aside 100 million euros (USD 114 million) for preparations, including the appointment of 900 new customs officers. The government this week launched an information campaign for businesses including a "muppet" character representing Brexit that blocks trucks and industry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President on Friday announced that the will withdraw from the landmark nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, alleging that Kremlin violated the Cold War-era pact. The announcement comes after heated exchange between the two powers recently failed to resolve a long-running accusation that is violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. said that the will begin withdrawing from the pact on Saturday and will exit the treaty in six months unless comes back into compliance by destroying all of its "violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment." The INF treaty, signed in 1987 by then President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited the development and deployment of ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges of 500-5,500 kilometers. The agreement forced each country to dismantle more than 2,500 missiles and kept nuclear-tipped cruise missiles off the European continent for three decades. The US alleged in 2014 that had tested a weapon, the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, at a range that fell under the treaty. In 2017, the US said Russia had deployed that weapon. In October, said the US would withdraw from the Cold War-era pact and sent national security advisor John Bolton to personally deliver the decision to the Kremlin. Russia, however, said the relevant missile was never tested at distances banned under the agreement and has called on the US to show proof of a violation. Russia also has accused the US of breaching the treaty with its missile-defence systems in Europe, a charge Washington rejects. Russia, Trump said, has violated the arms agreement by building and fielding the banned weapons for many years. "For far too long, Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to US allies and troops abroad," Trump said. "Tomorrow, the US will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment, Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. NATO Allies fully support the US, he said. "This is because they understand the threat posed by Russia's violation and the risks to arms control posed by ignoring treaty violations," he noted. Asserting that the US has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, Trump said the US will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia "misrepresents" its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct, Trump said. Addressing an early morning news conference, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged that for years Russia has violated the terms of the treaty without remorse. To this day Russia remains in material breach of its treaty obligations not to produce, possess or flight test a ground-launched, intermediate-range cruise missile system with a range between 500 and 5500 km, he alleged. "In spite of this violation, for almost six years the US has gone to tremendous lengths to preserve this agreement and ensure security for its people, allies and partners, he noted, adding that the US has raised Russia's noncompliance with Russian officials, including at the highest levels of government, more than 30 times. Yet Russia continues to deny that its missile system is noncompliant and violates the treaty," he charged. Accusing Russia of jeopardising the US' security interest, Pompeo said the US can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia shamelessly violates it. "If Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance with the treaty within this six-month period by verifiably destroying its INF-violating missiles, their launchers and associated equipment, the treaty will terminate, said the top American diplomat. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement supported the withdrawal of the US from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The Russian government has had endless opportunities to change their bad behaviour, and over the past 60 days has proven its disinterest in doing so. The time has come to set the treaty aside and develop alternative avenues toward the security the treaty once provided, he said. Responding to the US suspension, Russia blasted the US and threatened to deploy new weapons if Washington goes through with pulling out of the deal. The United States said Friday it was withdrawing from the landmark Cold War INF missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in violation. Effective Saturday, "the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers and associated equipment," President Donald Trump said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, the five-star family-resort situated in the heart of Abu Dhabi, has welcomed Chadi Nicolas as its new general manager. A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Nicolas completed his degree in Finance and Auditing from the prestigious Lebanese Technical College and is a veteran of the hospitality industry. Nicolas has been associated with Rotana Hotel Management Corporation for 18 years. Starting at Beach Rotana where he gradually moved up the ranks, he has taken on several managerial roles at various Rotana properties in the UAE capital, such as executive assistant manager at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana and in his previous role, general manager of Centro Capital Centre & Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana. I am delighted to be back at the Khalidiya Place Rayhaan by Rotana. Its just nice to see a lot of familiar faces; equally, its nice to see lots of new joiners and together we will strive for perfection to anticipate guests expectations, to maintain excellent guest satisfaction and respectively positive business growth, Nicolas said. - TradeArabia News Service The Trump administration is poised to announce Friday that it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centerpiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War and whose demise some analysts worry could fuel a new arms race. An American withdrawal, which has been expected for months, would follow years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the pact, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometers and 5,500 kilometers. Russia denies that it has been in violation. US officials also have expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it's unclear how it would do that. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with actual withdrawal taking place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday, and the administration is expected to say as early as Friday that efforts to work out a compliance deal have failed and that it would suspend its compliance with the treaty's terms. The State Department said Pompeo would make a public statement on Friday morning, but it did not mention the topic. During remarks made at a conference in Bucharest, Secretary General Stoltenberg, said there are no signs of getting a compliance deal with Russia. "So we must prepare for a world without the INF Treaty," he said. Technically, a US withdrawal would take effect six months after this week's notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty. However, in talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance on whether a Russian cruise missile violates the pact. A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was quoted by the Russian state agency Tass as saying after the Beijing talks Thursday, "Unfortunately, there is no progress. The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum." He said he expects Washington now to suspend its obligations under the treaty, although he added that Moscow remains ready to "search for solutions" that could keep the treaty in force. US withdrawal raises the prospect of further deterioration in U.S.-Russian relations, which already are arguably at the lowest point in decades, and debate among U.S. allies in Europe over whether Russia's alleged violations warrant a countermeasure such as deployment of an equivalent American missile in Europe. The U.S. has no nuclear-capable missiles based in Europe; the last of that type and range were withdrawn in line with the INF treaty. The prospect of U.S. withdrawal from the INF pact has stirred concern globally. The mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, Frank Cownie, is among dozens of local officials and lawmakers in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere who signed a letter this week to President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing worry at the "unraveling" of the INF treaty and other arms constraints. "Withdrawing from treaties takes a step in the wrong direction," Cownie said in a telephone interview. "It's wasn't just Des Moines, Iowa. It's people from all around this country that are concerned about the future of our cities, of our country, of this planet." The American ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, set the rhetorical stage for Washington's withdrawal announcement by asserting Thursday that Russia has been in violation for years, including in Ukraine. She said in a tweet and a video message about the INF treaty that Russia is to blame for its demise. "Russia consistently refuses to acknowledge its violation and continues to push disinformation and false narratives regarding its illegal missile," she said. "When only one party respects an arms control treaty while the other side flaunts it, it leaves one side vulnerable, no one is safer, and (it) discredits the very idea of arms control." Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement this week that while Russia's violation of the INF treaty is a serious problem, US withdrawal under current circumstances would be counterproductive. "Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia," they said. Kingston Reif, director for disarmament at the Arms Control Association, said Thursday the Trump administration has failed to exhaust diplomatic options to save the treaty. What's more, "it has no strategy to prevent Russia from building and fielding even more intermediate-range missiles in the absence of the agreement." Reif said the period between now and August, when the U.S. withdrawal would take effect, offers a last chance to save the treaty, but he sees little prospect of that happening. He argues that Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, is "unlikely to miss the opportunity to kill an agreement he has long despised. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is in serious negotiations with the Taliban for the first time in 19 years to end the war in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump has said as he touted his administration's talks with the militant group. The optimistic tone come hours after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad defended his talks with the Taliban and cautioned against a rush to judgment. While Khalilzad said his nearly week-long meeting with Taliban officials yielded "significant progress," Afghan President Ghani expressed concerns about the US troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. "I can't tell you that this is a guarantee because we are going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan and for the first time, they are talking about settling, they are talking about making an agreement and we bring our people back home if that happens," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We will see what happens but they are in very serious negotiations for the first time," he said. Early this week, Khalilzad announced that he has reached a draft peace framework after six days of talks in Qatar. As per the draft framework, the Taliban will deny safe haven to terrorist groups. This is based on the understanding that the Taliban must enter into direct talks with Kabul and, at the same time, agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile, a media has said the Trump administration is unlikely to order withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan without a comprehensive cease-fire agreement with the Taliban and a political road map for peace. Based on interviews with unnamed senior administration officials, The Washington Post in a report said that no withdrawal will occur until a comprehensive cease-fire and a political road map for peace have been negotiated between the militants and the Afghans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington has imposed visa restrictions on Ghana following a row over the deportation of Ghanaians staying illegally in the United States. US officials have accused the West African country of refusing to accept the return of Ghanian nationals that it wants to deport. "Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo has ordered consular officers in Ghana to implement visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. "Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population," it said. Some 7,000 Ghanaians are living illegally in the United States, according to the US embassy in Accra. Washington said the sanctions would not be lifted until Ghanaian authorities comply with the directives. "We hope the Ghanaian government will work with us to reconcile these deficiencies quickly," said Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. There was no immediate comment from the Ghanaian government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six immigrant detainees, including Indians, have been force-fed through nasal tubes by immigration authorities in the US after they went on a hunger strike to protest conditions at a processing centre in Texas, drawing a strong reaction from Indian-American groups which described it as violation of human rights. In a statement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that as of Wednesday night, 11 detainees in El Paso had refused to eat; four other individuals at different ICE detention centres across the country were also on hunger strike, officials said. Of the 11 people starving themselves in El Paso, six were being hydrated and force-fed under court orders issued by a federal judge in mid-January about two weeks after those detainees stopped eating, ICE said. Two of the 11 people began their hunger strike on Wednesday, officials added. "The ICE Health Services Corps is medically monitoring the detainees' health and regularly updating ICE of their medical status," the agency's statement said. "Efforts are being taken to protect the detainees' health and privacy". Ruby Kaur, a lawyer for two of the detainees in Texas says her clients, like the majority of those taking part in the hunger strike there, are Indian immigrants who entered the US through southern border more than six months ago and turned themselves in to officials. "They have tubes that have been shoved through their noses and IV's giving them fluids. It's extremely painful and it's against their will," Kaur told NPR, adding that as recently as Thursday morning her clients told her in a phone conversation that they are experiencing nasal and rectal bleeding and vomiting. They began the hunger strike at the start of the new year to call attention to what they say are inhumane conditions, repeated verbal threats of deportation and debilitating angst created by a total absence of information about their impending asylum cases. Kaur said that up until 10 days ago about the time a federal judge ordered the nasogastric intubation both of her clients and several others, were held in solitary confinement for two weeks "to intimidate them" into ending the protest. "They want to get out and be with their families. They want move forward with their legal cases," Kaur said, adding that each of her clients have extended family living in the US. Christina Fialho, the co-executive director of the nonprofit Freedom for Immigrants, said as many as 30 people could be on hunger strike in El Paso, a higher figure than the one ICE provided. The use of force-feeding, she said, represented an escalation in the tactics used by immigration officials on detainees. "It's barbaric," she added. An ICE spokeswoman did not comment directly on the allegations leveled by Kaur and Fialho. But the agency said that it does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers and that it tells detainees about the negative health effects of not eating, The New York Times reported. Th Indian-American community in the US has expressed concern over reports that that federal immigration officials are force-feeding Indian detainees. North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) in a statement said 11 Indian detainees at the El Paso Processing Center in Texas have been refusing food. "Force-feeding to any immigrant is a violation of human rights," said NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal. Some of the detainees have been on fast for more than 30 days, he said. "They are now so weak that they cannot stand up or talk. This is learnt that they stopped eating to protest verbal abuse and threats of deportation from guards. They are also upset about lengthy lock ups while awaiting legal proceedings," he said. Instead of the authorities not addressing the detainees' allegations of abuse, Chahal alleged that El Paso Processing Centre is not following the federal standards for care. "The men with nasal tubes are having persistent nose bleeds, and are vomiting several times a day. They are not well. Their bodies are really weak, they can't talk and they have been hospitalized, back and forth, they want to know why they are still in the jail and want to get their rights and wake up the government immigration system," he said. In a separate statement, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) said that it is deeply disturbed by reports of staff at the El Paso, Texas detention processing centre force-feeding mostly Indian and Cuban detainees in the midst of a hunger strike. Up to 30 detainees, the majority of whom have pending asylum claims, went on a hunger strike after verbal and psychological abuse at the hands of ICE and detention centre staff at the notorious El Paso facility, SAALT said. "Individuals should not have to put their bodies and lives on the line to draw attention to their indefinite detention. Our nation's immigration system should provide protection from violence and persecution, yet current practices create an increasingly punitive asylum process, which only extends the violence and persecution asylum seekers are fleeing," Suman Raghunathan, SAALT executive director, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Friday said "unnecessary social disturbance" was being created in the state over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 before the Lok Sabha polls. No one should feel threatened as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not take any decision to hurt the emotions of the people of the northeast or the interests of Assam, he said replying to the Governor's speech during the ongoing budget session of Assam assembly. "It is not right to unnecessarily create social disturbance... Polls will come and go, but we (Assam govt) will not harm the indigenous people," he said. "All are 100 per cent safe here (in Assam). We will continue to work for the people of Brahmaputra and Barak valleys," he added. Criticising the ongoing protests against the bill in the state, Sonowal said, "You (protestors) can definitely talk and debate the Citizenship Bill, we will listen." "But you do not have the right to take to the road, disturb peace and affect livelihood of the poor. It is undemocratic," he added. The chief minister asserted that it was not true that the Assam Accord will be violated if the bill is implemented. "Many people are giving data on illegal foreigners, but without any basis. Once the National Register of Citizens is done, we will get the actual figure of illegal foreigners," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh Friday termed the Budget for 2019-20 as a 'Kisaan Budget' saying it reflected the vision of doubling farmer's income. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday made "historic announcements for our farmers," Singh said and welcomed the Rs 6,000 per year cash support to small and marginal farmers. "it is a 'Kisaan Budget' and reflects the vision of doubling farmer's income and will help youngsters take up farming as a career as it will no longer be a loss-making business," Singh told PTI. Seeking to address distress in farm sector, Goyal Friday announced a 2 per cent interest subvention for farmers hit by natural calamities, while offering 3 per cent more to them for timely loan payment. Goyal, also announced 2 per cent interest subvention for farmers involved in animal husbandry and fishery. In a bid to provide relief to distressed farm sector, Goyal also announced Rs 6,000 per year cash support to small and marginal farmers that will cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually. Under the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land in three equal instalments. Announcing the scheme during the Budget speech in Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said it will benefit 12 crore farmers and will be implemented from this fiscal itself. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming the Union Budget an "exercise in rhetoric" done with the general elections in mind, the Left parties alleged that the government has made promises which was not its to make. Hours after Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal gave his maiden Budget speech in Parliament, the CPI(M), in a statement, said it was a testimony to the BJP's "fear and desperation" about what that verdict of the people might be. "It has sought to use what is an interim budget to make promises that are not for it to make," the party said. "The Modi government has now become famous for suppressing and manipulating data and offering jumlas to the people. The interim Budget for 2019-20 is yet another exercise in the same vein. "The acting finance minister made tall claims during his speech about the record of the Modi government and promises of a rosy future for all Indians which was a cruel joke played on the suffering people of the country," the CPI(M) said. The Communist Party of India (CPI), in a separate statement, described the budget an "eyewash" as many schemes declared to help farmers and workers in the unorganised sector do not have sufficient budgetary provision. "Ayushman Bharat, which claims to cover 50 crore people, has only Rs 2,000 crore and many states like Delhi, West Bengal, Odisha have refused to implement the scheme. "Agricultural work force have been totally neglected in the budget and it is feared that withdrawal of subsidies on fertilizers and other inputs will increase the cost and hence the sum of Rs 6,000 per year promised is insufficient," it said. The CPI(M) said the Union Budget for 2019-20 is therefore yet another reflection of the "bankruptcy" of the Narendra Modi-led government. "No amount of spin can, however, remove the distress that farmers feel or the poverty and joblessness people actually experience. This grim reality will assert itself in the 2019 electoral verdict," the party said. In a series of tweets, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that a farmer's family of five being given Rs 3 per day as some largesse makes it evident how "disconnected" the government is from the "rural crisis of its making". "Promises made today are not worth the paper they are written on. Modi govt came to power in 2014 promising 10 crore new jobs, 100 new smart cities, doubling of farmers income & 15 lakh in each bank account. This is another attempt to fool people before Polls but it won't succeed," he wrote on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- The 26th edition of SATTE was held at a new venue - India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR Over 1,000+ Participants from over 50+ countries and 28 Indian States Supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and UNWTO2nd year of I-Pledge campaign to promote sustainable tourism - received over 40,000 pledgesUBM India welcomed the year 2019 with a great start to the 26th edition of SATTE, a leading B2B travel trade engagement show which was held at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR for the first time ever. The three-day expo has witnessed a tremendous response from the industry with participation from over 1,000 exhibitors and representation from over 50+ countries, 28 Indian States and 90 cities from across India. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/675607/UBM_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816613/SATTE_2019_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816611/SATTE_2019_Show_Floor.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/816612/SATTE_Dance_Performances.jpg ) The signature expo was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for State for Culture (I/C), Government of India, along with key dignitaries - Mr. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Affairs and Wildlife, Govt of Sri Lanka; Mr. YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; Ms. Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia; Ms. Eunji Tae, Officer, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO; Mr. Subhash Goyal, Member, National Tourism Advisory Committee; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India and Ms. Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, UBM India, amidst an august industry presence. Speaking at SATTE's growing stature, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said, "I congratulate UBM India on a great start to SATTE 2019, SATTE is the tourism maestro and this platform has taken the tourism to a new height. I am proud to host this event in my constituency, the potential of tourism in India is high, it takes 6.8 per cent of country's GDP and has shown a growth of 9 per cent to 13 per cent in the number of tourists visiting India. It's the 26th edition of SATTE, my compliments go to the UBM group behind this as they have changed the meaning of travelling over the years. Good luck and good wishes to SATTE this year too and the tourism industry." This platform has been well-supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and is backed by international organizations and Indian associations. SATTE endeavours to analyse trends, forecast future developments, come up with viable solutions and of course, help businesses thrive. It showcases the true potential of tourism for India and other countries, all under one roof. Mr. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Affairs and Wildlife, Govt of Sri Lanka marked the growing importance of the Indian tourism market for Sri Lanka and noted that there was great potential for rapid growth and said, "The expo enabled professionals to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations to counteract economic uncertainties and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India. I am proud of my association with SATTE. Our goal is to make Sri Lanka the most preferred destination for Indian tourists. We are far from realising the full potential of the Indian outbound market in terms of longer staying and higher spending visitors." Ms. Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia said "An exhibition like SATTE comes to the fore with its reserves of ideas and thought leadership. India is a very important market for Indonesia as it is the second fastest with a growth of 30 per cent. This year, we have a target of 700,000 travellers from India and are looking to hit our target. I am glad and honoured to be a part of this spectacular B2B show where I represent my country Indonesia and welcome Indians to experience our culture and heritage. I wish all the best to the UBM team for putting an excellent effort for this show and for the near future." The expo saw a record participation from States of India - The partner Indian states were Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh was the host state for SATTE 2019. Among international tourism boards, Indonesia was the feature country destination and Azerbaijan was the focus country for SATTE 2019. Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai and Sri Lanka were the partner countries Speaking at the successful conclusion of SATTE 2019, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, "SATTE has always been a unique exhibition for us because of its aspirational nature. It has emerged as the subcontinent's largest, foremost and the only international travel show that both the exhibitors and buyers from across the world participate to showcase as well as shop for the diverse global travel and tourism products and services in this part of the world. Be it the overwhelming response from exhibitors, or the discussions at our conference pertaining to trending subjects like Tourism and Jobs, Cruise Tourism, Corporate Travel, MICE and destination briefing sessions by Czech Tourism, Dubai Tourism and Singapore Tourism to name a few, SATTE is a wholesome experience that no travel professional can afford to miss. Every year, we put in our best efforts to make the show more promising than the last one serving the industry and we look forward to another prolific year in tourism." "In its 26th edition at the new venue - India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi - NCR, SATTE continued to stand tall and we are glad that we have tapped the aspirational traveller like every year in SATTE that the visitor footfall has increased," he further added. This year too, SATTE continued to receive the support of international organizations/associations and Indian travel trade associations such as World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA), Network of Indian MICE Agents, Association of Corporate Travel Executives, Cruise Lines International Association to name a few. UBM India hosted the third edition of the SATTE Awards powered by T3 on January 17, 2019. The awards is an endeavour to recognize and celebrate the excellence, triumphs and innovations of key stakeholders in the Travel and Tourism industry and is based on transparent, authentic and genuine parameters, a philosophy which is imbibed in the values of SATTE and T3. The awards also included networking opportunities, presentations and other features. The 21 awards covered various segments of the travel and tourism industry including cruise, tour operators, hotels, destinations, online travel portals, to name just a few. SATTE Awards 2019 - Category and Winner List Category Winner Best Blogger - Company Operated Blog Holiday Travel Triangle Pvt. Ltd. Best Blogger - Individual Blog Travel See Write Best Cruise Liner Royal Caribbean International Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Best Domestic Tour Operator Corporation Ltd (IRCTC Ltd.) Best Foreign Destination Tourism Australia Best Foreign Destination Tourism Authority of Thailand Best Hotel in India - Heritage Hotel Vivaana Culture Hotel, Mandawa, Rajasthan Best Hotel in India - Luxury Hotel The St. Regis Mumbai Best Hotel in India - Mid Market Rokeby Manor Best Inbound Tour Operator Swagatam Tours Pvt. Ltd. Best Niche Tour Operator - Adventure Tourism Wanderlust Travels Pvt. Ltd. iCE Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd (iCE Group Best Niche Tour Operator - MICE Tourism India) Best Niche Tour Operator - Others PEAK DMC India Best Online Travel Booking Site Tavel Boutique Online Best Outbound Tour Operator Cox and Kings Ltd. Best Startup OYO Hotels and Homes Lifetime Achievement Award Amitabh Kant Industry Crusader Deep Kalra Women Leader in Travel Industry Priya Paul SATTE T3 Initiative Recognition - Exhibition Venue of the Year India Expo Mart Limited Tourism Brand of the Year Odisha Tourism About SATTE: SATTE is organized by UBM, which in June 2018, combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. Please visit https://www.satte.in/for more information on SATTE and https://www.ubm.com/global-reach/ubm-asia for our presence in Asia. About UBM Asia: UBM Asia recently became part of Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. Please visit https://www.ubm.com/global-reach/ubm-asia for more information about our presence in Asia. Source: UBM India Pvt. Ltd. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Drabgam area of Pulwama following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said a gun battle ensued as the militants opened fire at the security forces. Two militants, identified as Shahid Mushtaq Baba and Inayat Abdullah Zigar -- both residents of Pulwama, were killed in the gun battle, the official said. "The duo was affiliated with Jaish and Baba was wanted by the law for his complicity in several terror crimes," he said. "Inayat was an active supporter of terror activities of JeM for a long time. He had joined the outfit as an active cadre very recently," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a "great" trade deal between the world's two largest economies as crucial talks to resolve the tariff war that rattled the global economy ended without any deal. The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on each other's goods. Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods. The move prompted China to increase tariffs on USD 110 billion of American goods. During a meeting in Argentina on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, Trump and Xi agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1. During the two-day talks which ended here on Thursday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer led the US delegation while Vice Premier Liu He headed the Chinese side. The White House said in a statement that the two sides had made progress but that "much work remains to be done." The administration said it would keep a "hard deadline" of March 2, at which point it would escalate import taxes on USD 200 billion in Chinese good if there was no deal. Asked in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Liu, whether a deal was possible, Trump said he was not sure. "We have to get this put on paper at some point if we agree," the President said. But Trump said he was optimistic the world's two largest economies could reach "the biggest deal ever made". Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made "tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling." Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agreed to reforms by March 1 deadline. "There are some points that we don't agree to yet, but I think we will agree. I think, when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to," said Trump. "We're going to have a great trade deal with China if it all works out...it's going to be great for both countries -- not just us, not just them," he added. Trump has made resetting the US relationship with China a centerpiece of his presidency, pulling out of a planned multilateral trade deal drawn up by the Obama administration and launching a trade war last year that has contributed to an economic slowdown in China -- and jitters in the US. China too struck an upbeat tone on the outcome of the latest round of talks, noting that negotiators had discussed a range of issues, but focused on the trade imbalance, intellectual property rights protection, and the implementation mechanism of any eventual deal reached. "Both sides have also set-out a timeline and road map for the next step of talks," state-run agency Xinhua reported. China agreed to increase imports of US goods and boost cooperation on protecting intellectual property, it said. China is facing the daunting task of presenting a credible plan to meet Trump's demands to cut down the USD 375 billion trade deficit. At the heart of the conflict is the US demand that China stop taking predatory actions -- from intellectual theft to the forced handover of technology by US companies -- in a drive to become a global power in such fields as robotics and electric cars. The Trump administration also complains that Beijing unfairly subsidizes its own tech companies. China has denied that it deploys any such tactics. During talks between the two sides, the Chinese delegation read out a letter from Xi in which he said China-US relations were at a "critical" stage. "I hope that our two sides will continue to have mutual respect," Xi said. Both counties should meet "each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works in the best interest of both sides .such an agreement will send a positive message to our two people and the broader international community, the letter from Xi said. Trump described it as a "beautiful" letter. The leaders are expected to meet soon. "We haven't set up a meeting yet...we're working on seeing where everybody is. Both countries would like to see a positive result, he added. He also said China has agreed to purchase five million tonnes of US soybeans. Later, the White House said, the talks covered a wide range of issues, including the ways in which the US companies are pressured to transfer technology to Chinese companies; the need for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; and the numerous tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US companies in China. They also discussed the harm resulting from China's cyber-theft of the US commercial property; how market-distorting forces, including subsidies and state-owned enterprises, can lead to excess capacity; and the need to remove market barriers and tariffs that limit the US sales of manufactured goods, services, and agriculture to China. Among other things the American and Chinese delegation discussed are the role of currencies in the USChina trading relationship. They also discussed the need to reduce the enormous and growing trade deficit that the United States has with China. The US-China trade hostilities have weakened both economies, shaken financial markets and clouded the outlook for global trade. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Decision-makers and opinion-formers from the Chinese and international travel industry will impart their knowledge at the third ITB China Conference 2019, set to take place from May 15 to 17 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Centre. With 4,000 attendees featuring 120 outstanding speakers and 70 topics last year, ITB China Conference can build on the success of the 2018 event. This year the conference is once again expecting the leading travel organisations and tourism officials active in the Chinese market. Top speakers from Chinas leading travel service provider and Conference Partner Ctrip, Partner Hotel Wyndham, Partner limousine services Shouqi, Mafengwo and many more will provide exciting insights into their expanding markets. Chinas travel think tank kicks off with the opening keynote speech by James Liang, chairman of Ctrip, on May 15 at 10.10 am in Room A. If we think of the society as a human brain, everyone in the society is like a neuron. The more neurons there are and the greater the connectivity we have between the neurons, the better developed the brain will be. This is how the travel industry is building up neuron-like connectivity. I am proud to be in the travel industry, which enables people to move around, facilitates the communication of information and cultures, stimulates innovation in the society, and leads mankind to constant progress and exploration. Thanks to ITB China for providing a platform of communication and cooperation in travel," said Liang. The three-day conference will provide up-to-date key insights relating to nine topics in total: Destination, Travel Tech, Online Travel, Mice, Business Travel and Education and Job Day. For the first time, the conference topics are being extended to cover all aspects relevant to Themed Travel, Customised Travel and Hotel Marketing & Distribution due to the shifting of Chinese travellers behaviour as the ITB China Travel Trend Report just recently revealed. The second Education and Job day on May 17 will partner with Fudan University and other leading universities to give newcomers more information about University degree courses and Executive Education courses in the tourism industry. Jobseekers will be able to see all job offers in the conference area. They can make immediate contact with personnel managers and apply for jobs directly at the show. Last year around 45 companies, institutions and universities presented themselves in the job area which was well accepted by the visitors. - TradeArabia News Service US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a comprehensive trade deal between the world's two largest economies as the two-day talks to resolve the conflict that has rattled the global economy ended without any agreement. The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on each other's goods. Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods. The move prompted China to increase tariffs on USD 110 billion of US goods. Trump and Xi agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1. During the latest round of talks, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer led the US delegation while Vice Premier Liu He headed the Chinese side. The White House said in a statement that the two sides had made progress but that "much work remains to be done." The administration said it would keep a "hard deadline" of March 2, at which point it would escalate import taxes on USD 200 billion in Chinese good if there was no deal. Trump, speaking at the White House on Thursday during a meeting with Liu, said he was optimistic the world's two largest economies could reach "the biggest deal ever made". Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made "tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling." Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agreed to reforms by March 1 deadline. "There are some points that we don't agree to yet, but I think we will agree. I think, when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to," said Trump. "We're going to have a great trade deal with China if it all works outit's going to be great for both countries -- not just us, not just them," he added. China too struck an upbeat tone on the outcome of the two-day talks, noting that negotiators had discussed a range of issues, but focused on the trade imbalance, intellectual property rights protection, and the implementation mechanism of any eventual deal reached. "Both sides have also set-out a timeline and road map for the next step of talks," state-run agency Xinhua reported. China agreed to increase imports of US goods and boost cooperation on protecting intellectual property, it said. China is facing the daunting task of presenting a credible plan to meet Trump's demands to cut down the USD 375 billion trade deficit. At the heart of the conflict is the US demand that China stop taking predatory actions -- from intellectual theft to the forced handover of technology by US companies -- in a drive to become a global power in such fields as robotics and electric cars. The Trump administration also complains that Beijing unfairly subsidizes its own tech companies. China has denied that it deploys any such tactics. During talks between the two sides, the Chinese delegation read out a letter from Xi in which he said China-US relations were at a "critical" stage. "I hope that our two sides will continue to have mutual respect." Both counties should meet each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works in the best interest of both sides .such an agreement will send a positive message to our two people and the broader international community, the letter from Xi said. Trump described it as a beautiful letter. The leaders are expected to meet soon. "We haven't set up a meeting yet...we're working on seeing where everybody is. Both countries would like to see a positive result, he added. He also said China has agreed to purchase five million tonnes of US soybeans. Later, the White House said, the talks covered a wide range of issues, including the ways in which the US companies are pressured to transfer technology to Chinese companies; the need for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; and the numerous tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US companies in China. They also discussed the harm resulting from China's cyber-theft of the US commercial property; how market-distorting forces, including subsidies and state-owned enterprises, can lead to excess capacity; and the need to remove market barriers and tariffs that limit the US sales of manufactured goods, services, and agriculture to China. Among other things the American and Chinese delegation discussed are the role of currencies in the USChina trading relationship. The two sides also discussed the need to reduce the enormous and growing trade deficit that the United States has with China. The US-China trade hostilities have weakened both economies, shaken financial markets and clouded the outlook for global trade. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ruling TRS working president K T Rama Rao Friday met US Consul General Katherine B Hadda here and discussed Indo-US relations, particularly with respect to Telangana. During the discussions, Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also raised the issue of hundreds of Indian students, including those from Telangana, facing deportation in the wake of the "pay to stay" visa racket busted by US authorities. "Always a privilege to catch up with our good friend. We discussed the many areas of US-Telangana cooperation, current and future. He really deserves the moniker TRS Working President as he is always on the go!, Hadda tweeted about about her meeting with Rama Rao. Replying to her tweet, Rama Rao said Pleasure meeting with you Kathy. Glad to have covered a wide gamut of US-India relations & with Telangana in particular As discussed, I hope you could convey our request on behalf of the students from Telugu states who are engulfed in a situation in the US." However, Rao did not elaborate. Several foreigners, including from India, face deportation from the US after authorities busted the racket by arresting eight people on charges of fraudulently facilitating hundreds of immigrants to illegally remain in the country. The arrests were made by the US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and the Customs Enforcement agency early Wednesday in crackdown on foreign students who were staying in the country without proper authorisation. India has sought consular access to its students detained by the US authorities and has impressed upon the Trump administration the need to address the situation at the earliest, the external affairs ministry said on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu's budget would be presented on February 8 by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who holds the Finance portfolio. The budget for 2019-20 would be tabled in the House at 10 am that day, an official release here said. With the Union budget bringing relief to the middle classes by pushing up the income tax threshold to Rs five lakh, it is expected that the State too may have some surprise in store in its annual financial statement ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The first session of the Assembly for the year began on January 2 with the customary address of Governor Banwarilal Purohit to the House. The Opposition parties had boycotted his address. A gift hamper to every family (including Rs 1,000 cash component) with a ration card for the harvest festival of Pongal (in January) was among the announcements he had made. On January 8, the House was adjourned sine die after the passage of several Bills including ones that extended the term of office of special officers of urban and rural civic bodies by another six months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telugu poet Varavara Rao, accused of having Maoist links, and advocate Surendra Gadling were arrested in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron or mine arson case, Gadchiroli police said Friday. On December 25, 2016, at least 80 vehicles engaged in transporting iron from Surajgarh mines, in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli, were torched by Naxals. A senior official said Rao and Gadling were arrested from Pune on Wednesday and produced in Aheri court in Gadchiroli on Thursday. The two have been remanded in police custody till February 11, he added. "We have evidence of the involvement of the two in this case," the official claimed. Rao and Gadling were earlier arrested last year in connection with the Elgar Parishad that took place in Pune on December 31 in 2017. Caste violence erupted the day after the event and police have charged the organisers with having Maoist links. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Friday expressed concern over discrimination on the basis ofcaste, religion, region and gender in certain parts of the country and urged the student community to work towards eradication of such social evils. "This caste has no meaning. It has no social relevance," the Vice President said, addressing students and teachers of Sacred Heart College, Thevara, here. Addressing the function, organised as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the college, Naidu said, discrimination on the basis of caste, religion and region was not acceptable at all. "So all of us should work in the eradication of these social evils--still prevalent in certain sections, certain areas," he said. "We are all Indians, who should feel proud that we are Indians-- irrespective of caste, creed, religion and region. India is one--one nation," Naidu said. Naidu said it was imperative that equity be safeguarded and promoted in higher besides ensuring inclusion of women, minorities, and differently abled persons, providing them a barrier free higher environment. He said was not only for employment but for enlightenment, enhancement of knowledge and empowerment. Education should aim at the holistic development of all faculties of 'head', 'hand' and 'heart'. "It should provide the knowledge, skills and attitude required for the 21st century," Naidu added. Speaking about India's stature as 'Vishwaguru' to the world, the Vice President said scholars, students and knowledge seekers from all over the world came to the great universities of Nalanda and Takshashila in search of knowledge and wisdom. He said education was the foundation for growth and development, both of individuals and society. Highlighting the importance of research and development, Naidu said "We should strive to create an enabling atmosphere in higher educational institutions to promote research and innovations." Education would flourish only when all those with a stake in its success work closely together, the Vice President said. He urged civil society groups, community organisations, parents, teacher associations, professional bodies, women and youth groups to work together to strengthen education. The Vice President also emphasised the need for promoting the mother tongue. "Whatever is your mother tongue, promote your mother tongue, we should encourage our native languages first, we should encourage, promote and propagate our mother tongue," he said. Kerala Governor P Sathasivam presided. The Vice President also distributed kindle tablets to seven educational institutions donated by K V Thomas Vidyadhanam Trust, a charitable organisation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka, which last year handed over a strategic port to a Chinese firm for a 99-year lease as a debt swap, will soon sign a USD 1 billion consessional loan agreement with Beijing to fund a major highway project linking Colombo to the hill resort of Kandy. The construction of the first phase of the road linking Colombo with Kandy had been delayed for more than two years due to a lack of funding. Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Karunasena Kodituwakku, was quoted by the official media here on Friday as saying that the USD one billion will be used for the first stage of the central highway. The second stage will be financed by Sri Lankan consortiums and the third by Japanese loans. Earlier, the chief of Sri Lanka's central bank said the country will receive a sovereign loan of USD one billion from the Bank of China in the first quarter of this year, and it will be used to meet repayments in the coming months. Kodituwakku did not confirm if it was the same loan and whether it is linked with the USD one billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, the state-run Global Times reported. The envoy thanked China which he said had provided assistance to Sri Lanka in both long-term project loans and day-to-day needs. Kodituwakku also revealed that the country was negotiating with the China Development Bank for short-term loans. Playing down the allegations that China's financial assistance to Sri Lanka has led it into a debt trap, he said, "We don't agree with that. China never forced us to take a loan. If there is something wrong with the loans we have taken, it's our responsibility. It's not fair to blame China or another country, saying Sri Lanka is a victim". According to reports, Sri Lanka owed USD eight billion debt to China. The envoy said though Colombo has borrowed from many countries, including India and Japan, as well as multilateral organisations, it is not heavily indebted. "This year Sri Lanka has to settle nearly USD 4 billion, and the country has more than USD 8 billion in reserves. But we cannot use all that money just to pay back. We have to keep a minimum balance," he said. Sri Lanka is in talks with China on a free trade agreement. "They have reached consensus on many issues, but (the agreement) isn't finalised," the Ambassador said, adding "We hope this year will be the critical year to finalise it." He said the Colombo port is a very crucial transit port serving India. India's strong economy will prop up the port as a successful entity. Sri Lanka last year granted a 99-year lease on Hambantota port to a Chinese firm over its inability to repay loans to Beijing for the USD 1.4 billion project. He expressed hope that Chinese firm can turn the Hambantota port into a successful facility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said it has rescued six Nepalese women from a house in North West Delhi. The women, rescued two days ago, were trafficked from Nepal and brought to Delhi with promises to be taken to the Gulf countries for salary-based work, the DCW said. They DCW received an email-based complaint and sent a team to the site together with police personnel. The women, in the age group of 18 -25, were alone in the isolated house, and informed they have never met the agent whom they had paid around Rs 1 lakh each, the DCW said in a statement. The women were taken to the Bhalswa Dairy police station for recording their statements. Later, the women were shifted to a shelter home. The DCW has expressed grave disapproval of the approach of Delhi Police in the matter. "First the commission's counsellor was not allowed to be present at the time of recording the statements of the girls at the police station. Subsequently, when DCW Member Vandana Singh recorded the statements of the girls at the shelter home, police failed to register the same in the daily diary register, claiming that the statements were in Nepalese," the DCW alleged. DCW chief Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to the Bhalswa Dairy police station, station house officer, seeking a copy of the FIR as well as reasons for not registering proper statements in the matter. She has termed the attitude of police as "lackadaisical" and has sought reasons for the apathetic and casual approach of their personnel in this matter". "The laid-back attitude of Delhi Police does not help the women's causes and will eventually lead to increase in such cases in the city. The commission shall work with Delhi Police to curb trafficking in the city," Maliwal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aiming to transform the educational landscape in the state, the Sikkim government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with tech giant Microsoft, officials said. Sikkim Minister for Human Resource Development RB Subba said the state government was committed to harnessing the power of technology to transform e-governance and core sectors and partnering with Microsoft was a much-needed step to help prepare the future generation. He said the government's vision was to make the youth future-ready and Microsoft was an able partner for transformational initiatives. Additional Chief Secretary, HRD Department, GP Upadhyaya said the role of Microsoft India in the laptop distribution scheme to students in Sikkim was managed at a reasonable budget which led to the furthering of ties with the tech giant. As part of the collaboration, Microsoft would support the state in integrating IT content in the state board curriculum and build student capacity besides building teacher capacity through the Microsoft Educator Network and Innovative Educator Program. Two schools in the state will be identified and adopted for implementing the plan. The teachers and students will be trained on Microsofts curriculum on creative coding and gaming through apps, robotics, entrepreneurship and tools for collaboration, creativity and communication, he said. The training will be imparted through workshops at these schools as well as online webinars to equip them with technology skills to counter real-life challenges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andreas Seppi overcame early jitters to beat Ramkumar Ramanathan in straight sets, giving Italy a 1-0 lead over India in the Davis Cup Qualifer here Friday. The World number 37 was slow off the blocks on the grass court of the Calcutta South Club but hit top gear in the second set to complete a 6-4 6-2 win in one hour and 11 minutes. The big-serving Indian fired eight aces but his weak returns meant that he failed to convert two break points in the first set before the Italian won five points in a row to wrap the opening set in 41 minutes. Italy took a gamble by naming Seppi as their number one player ahead of world number 19 Marco Cecchinato, who had ousted world number one Novak Djokovic from the French Open last year. In front of a motley crowd shouting 'Ram, Ram', it was a neck and neck battle till the eighth game with both holding their serves. Ramkumar, who is ranked 133, failed to convert two break points in the second and eighth game. The match was tantalisingly poised in the next game before the Italian broke it with a cross-court back hand. He went on to win four games in a row to seal the first set. The second set turned out to be a formality for the Italian as he shifted gears in the third game to give Italy a 1-0 lead in the tie. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on February 3, officials said here on Friday. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength around the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, the venue for Modi's engagements in the valley, a senior police official said. He said the entire area around the venue is being sanitised and security personnel have been deployed to ensure that militants are not able to carry out any subversive activities. "Besides area domination, the focus is on intelligence gathering to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit of the prime minister," the official said. Mobile checkpoints have been set up at dozens of places within the city and at all entry points of the summer capital of the state, he said. Modi is scheduled to visit all three regions of the state. During his day-long visit, he will inaugurate or lay foundation stones for several development projects. Separatists have called for a complete shutdown to protest Modi's visit. Former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed has said his Awami Ittehad Party will show black flags to Modi to protest against what he termed as the Centre's "loot" of Jammu and Kashmir's natural resources. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian government on Friday announced new measures to boost farmers' incomes and cut taxes for the country's growing middle class as it courts voters ahead of general elections later this year, said media reports. Making a big populist push in its final Budget before the general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government exempted people with an earning of up to Rs 5 lakh from payment of income tax, announced an annual cash dole-out of Rs 6,000 to small farmers and provided a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to workers in the unorganised sector, reported PTI. Converting what was supposed to be an Interim Budget or a vote on account into an almost full-fledged Budget announcement in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal proposed an array of incentives for both middle-class and farmers, whose disenchantment was said to have cost the BJP dearly in recent assembly elections. Over 3 crore salaried class, pensioners, self-employed and small businesses with total income of up to Rs5 lakh will save Rs10,900 in income tax annually after considering the relief Goyal provided in form of a rebate. For those making investments of Rs1.5 lakh in tax saving instruments, the tax-free income would be Rs6.5 lakh, it stated. He also raised standard deduction by Rs10,000 to Rs50,000 which would translate into a saving of Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 in taxes for those with taxable income of Rs7.5 lakh and Rs20 lakh in a year. Also, exemption from deduction of tax at source for interest income earned from deposits in banks and post offices has been increased to Rs40,000 from current Rs10,000. This would help all salaried taxpayers who lost out last year due to the removal of medical reimbursement and transport allowance exemptions. As was widely anticipated, Goyal announced an income support scheme for 12 crore small and marginal farmers by providing Rs6,000 in their bank accounts in three equal installments in a year, which will cost Rs75,000 crore a year to the government, stated the PTI report. A mega pension scheme was introduced to provide a monthly pension of Rs3,000 with a contribution of Rs100 per month for workers in the unorganised sector after 60 years of age. Taking a dig at the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Goyal said: "Those sitting in AC rooms cannot understand the plight of the small farmers. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This is a historic decision. A holistic approach has been taken by the Government for the welfare of all sections of citizenry, he stated. A positive change, which will be a relief to all tax payers, is that the government is working on processing income tax returns and initiating refunds within 24 hours. Under new system being developed, income tax assessment to be done in 24 hours, he added. Prime Minister Modi described the interim budget as "just a trailer" of the complete budget. "From middle class to labourers, from farmers growth to the development of businessmen, from manufacturing to MSME sector, from growth of the economy to development of New India, everyone has been taken care of in this interim budget", he said. Indian stock market traders cheered the proposal of the increase the tax slab of the middle class, which boosted consumption stocks. The Bombay Stock Exchange index rose as much as 522 points on Friday, before closing 0.59 per cent higher at 36,469.43. The Nifty 50 index closed 0.58 per cent higher at 10,893.65. Lauding the budget, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said the government's decision to exempt income of up to Rs 5 lakh from tax will benefit the "great Indian Middle Class". "Piyush Goyal has today made a significant announcement wherein income earners earning upto Rs 5 lakhs have been exempted from payment of Income-tax. This effectively strengthens the great Indian Middle Class whose expansion of purchasing power holds the key for India's future," the minister wrote in his Facebook post. The budget marks a high point in the policy directions that the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given to the nation, stated Jaitely who is away in New York for medical treatment. Meanwhile Indian businessmen and leading executives in the UAE too have welcomed the new budget proposals and said the emphasis on agriculture and raising the tax limit will boost the economy in the longer run. The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang in late February, according to a media report. The White House last month announced the second meeting between the two leaders will be held in late February following discussions with Kim Yong Chol, North Korea's lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting between the two leaders happened in June in Singapore. A senior Trump administration official and a source with knowledge of the meeting told CNN that the current plan is for the second summit between President Trump and the North Korean leader Un to be held in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. The plan is being finalised. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location. The source said there are no discussions right now for Trump to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit, but the source says Xi is very supportive of the summit. Trump's agenda during the summit is still not clear. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the next summit between the two leaders to be held somewhere in Asia. On Thursday, the State Department's top envoy on North Korea said the US is not looking to invade the reclusive nation and seemed to strongly signal that the US would be willing to formally end the Korean War. Trump and Kim's first summit in Singapore ended with a commitment from the North Korean leader to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," but negotiations appear to have stalled since then. Many critics accuse the Trump administration of failing to get Kim to agree to specifics at their first summit. On Wednesday, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence officials after they had contradicted several of his foreign policy claims -- including on North Korea -- during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said during the hearing that North Korea "is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons." CIA Director Gina Haspel said Pyongyang "is committed to developing a long-range nuclear-armed missile that would pose a direct threat to the United States." Trump said on Thursday that those same intelligence chiefs told him their comments had been taken out of context and the had been "totally misquoted" and that the administration was all on the same page. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday expressed surprise over early listing of the petition of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel pertaining to his election to Rajya Sabha in 2017 and said, "someone seems to be over anxious in this case". The top court said that as per the last order, the matter was to be listed for final hearing on a non-miscellaneous day but the case got listed on the very first day of February, which is a miscellaneous day and would like to know from the registry how it happened. Patel has challenged the order of the Gujarat High Court's on October 26 last year by which it had dismissed his plea questioning the maintainability of rival BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput's election petition. "Someone seems to be over anxious in this case. We would like to know from the registry how this matter got listed," said a bench of Chief Justice of Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Patel, said that they were also surprised over the listing of the matter. "We were also surprised. We don't know how it happened," Sibal said. To this, the bench said, "We are not saying anything to you. We would like to find out from the registry how it happened. In our last order, we had said that the matter be listed in the month of February for final hearing. Now, suddenly we find that it is listed on the very first day of February and that too on a Friday". Usually cases which require detailed hearing are listed on non-miscellaneous day that is from Tuesday to Thursday. On Monday and Friday, miscellaneous matters are usually listed for hearing in the Supreme Court. Sibal said as per the last order of the top court, the trial is in progress. To this, the bench said that the matter requires detailed hearing and therefore it is listing the case on February 13. On January 3, the apex court had asked Patel to face trial in connection with his election to the Rajya Sabha in 2017 which has been challenged by Rajput. The apex court had declined to interfere with the October 26, 2018 order of the Gujarat High Court which had said that Rajput's allegations required a trial. Rajput in his election petition had challenged the Election Commission's decision to invalidate the votes of the two rebel MLAs. Had these votes been counted, he would have defeated Patel, the BJP leader had contended. In its order, the apex court had said that "as contesting parties have appeared, no notice need be formally issued. List the matters for final disposal in the month of February, 2019. In the meantime, the High Court shall proceed with the trial of the Election Petition". Patel was declared the winner after the Election Commission invalidated the votes of rebel Congress MLAs Bholabhai Gohel and Raghavjee Patel, bringing down the number of votes needed for victory to 44 from 45. In the election petition before the high court, Rajput also alleged that Patel had taken Congress MLAs to a resort in Bengaluru before the election which amounted to "bribing the voters". In October 2018, the high court for the second time declined to give relief to Patel. Earlier, April 20, it had rejected Patel's plea. Patel had moved the Supreme Court against the April 20, 2018 order, contending that the decision of the poll panel cannot be challenged by an election petition. The apex court on September 26 last year had asked the Gujarat High Court to decide afresh a plea of Patel challenging the maintainability of a petition filed by Rajput. In October it dismissed Patel's plea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday sought a response from the CBI on a plea of its Deputy Superintendent of Police A K Bassi challenging his transfer to Port Blair. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued a notice to the agency and sought its response in six weeks. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Bassi, said this is the case which raises question on the governance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He said this matter will also affect the purity of investigation. On January 21, Bassi had moved the apex court challenging his transfer, saying it was vitiated by mala fide and would prejudice the probe against former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana. He has challenged the transfer order issued on January 11. It is violative of the directions issued by the top court in its judgment on the plea of the former CBI director Alok Kumar Verma, Bassi had said. Bassi, who was the investigating officer in the corruption case against Asthana, had said he is being "victimised by the present interim CBI Director - M Nageswara Rao, who represents certain elements within the CBI, who did not want the Petitioner herein to conduct a free and fair investigation in the Asthana FIR". He had said it was Rao, who had passed the order dated October 24, 2018, transferring him to Port Blair and it is the same person at whose behest he is being sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands again in utter disregard to the judgment of this court in the case of former CBI director Alok Verma. Verma, however, was divested from his duties as CBI director by the high powered selection committee and transferred as Director General Fire Service. Bassi had said there are apprehensions that the transfer order is the first step to implicate him either in a false criminal cases or in a departmental proceedings for discharging his duties in a fair and impartial manner in the investigation of the FIR pertaining to Asthana. He said this is not a routine case of a transfer of an officer. In his application in the Verma case he had submitted that his transfer is pursuant to a deep rooted conspiracy, aimed at influencing the course of the investigation against Asthana and further to penalise him for discharging his duties in a free and impartial manner in the case. Subsequent to the January 8 verdict in the Verma case, he had made a representation to the then CBI director (Alok Verma) on January 9, which was allowed and then he was transferred back to Delhi and assigned to his duties of DSP, CBI, AC-III, New Delhi, Bassi had said. "Once the said representation was accepted and the Petitioner herein was transferred back to Delhi, it was not open for the impugned order to summarily, without application of mind and without any stated reason, simpliciter revoke the said transfer order dated January 9, 2019 by a generic order terming the earlier order as "non-est"," the plea had said. On January 8, the apex court had asked the CBI officers including Bassi, who were transferred overnight to various places after the Centre's decision to divest the probe agency's Director Alok Verma of his powers, to approach appropriate forum assailing their transfers. Bassi had said he was never a part of any "group or faction" within the CBI and has no concern whatsoever with the alleged disputes that have erupted within the CBI. He had said he does not claim or contend or seek any vested right to be a part of any investigation team that is investigating into the FIR related to Asthana or any other case investigated by CBI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday sought responses from the CBI and its interim director M Nageswara Rao on a plea of Deputy Superintendent of Police A K Bassi challenging his transfer to Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued a notice to the probe agency and Rao and sought their response in six weeks. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Bassi, said this is the case which raises questions on the governance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Dhavan said that Bassi was brought back to Delhi on January 9 after he made a representation to CBI director Alok Verma following an apex court verdict, but on January 11 he was again transferred to Port Blair. "This matter will also affect the purity of investigation the officer was doing," he said. The bench then said, "Issue notice returnable in six weeks." On January 21, Bassi moved the apex court challenging his transfer, saying it was vitiated by mala fide and would prejudice the probe against former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana. Verma and Asthana had been at loggerheads and levelled allegations of corruption against each other. Bassi has challenged the transfer order issued on January 11, saying it is violative of the directions issued by the top court in its judgment on the plea of Verma. Bassi, who was the investigating officer in the corruption case against Asthana, said he is being "victimised by the present interim CBI Director - M Nageswara Rao, who represents certain elements within the CBI, who did not want the Petitioner herein to conduct a free and fair investigation in the Asthana FIR". He had said it was Rao who had passed the order dated October 24, 2018 transferring him to Port Blair and it is the same person at whose behest he is being sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands again in utter disregard to the judgment of this court in the case of former CBI director Verma. Verma, however, was divested from his duties as CBI director by the high powered selection committee and transferred as Director General Fire Service. Bassi had said there are apprehensions that the transfer order is the first step to implicate him either in a false criminal cases or in a departmental proceedings for discharging his duties in a fair and impartial manner in the investigation of the FIR pertaining to Asthana. He said this is not a routine case of a transfer of an officer. In his application in the Verma case he had submitted that his transfer is pursuant to a deep rooted conspiracy, aimed at influencing the course of the investigation against Asthana and further to penalise him for discharging his duties in a free and impartial manner in the case. Subsequent to the January 8 verdict in the Verma case, he had made a representation to the then CBI director (Alok Verma) on January 9, which was allowed and then he was transferred back to Delhi and assigned to his duties of DSP, CBI, AC-III, New Delhi, Bassi had said. "Once the said representation was accepted and the Petitioner herein was transferred back to Delhi, it was not open for the impugned order to summarily, without application of mind and without any stated reason, simpliciter revoke the said transfer order dated January 9, 2019 by a generic order terming the earlier order as "non-est"," the plea had said. On January 8, the apex court had asked the CBI officers including Bassi, who were transferred overnight to various places after the Centre's decision to divest Verma of his powers, to approach appropriate forum assailing their transfers. Bassi had said he was never a part of any "group or faction" within the CBI and has no concern whatsoever with the alleged disputes that have erupted within the CBI. He had said he does not claim or contend or seek any vested right to be a part of any investigation team that is investigating into the FIR related to Asthana or any other case investigated by CBI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday asked the Centre why it has not appointed a regular CBI director and said it was "averse" to the appointment of an interim chief for the agency for a long period. A bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Naveen Sinha said the post of CBI director was sensitive and the government should have appointed a regular director by now. Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court that a high-powered committee, headed by the prime minister, will hold a meeting on Friday to select a new CBI director. He also told the court that the Centre had taken the approval of the high-powered committee before appointing IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. Taking account of the attorney general's submissions that the committee will hold a meeting on Friday, the apex court posted the matter for hearing on February 6. The bench was hearing a petition of NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of Rao as interim CBI Director. During the hearing the bench said the process of appointing a CBI director should have been over by now as it was known that the earlier CBI chief was going to retire in January. The court also told the attorney general that the new CBI director who would be appointed must "trace the movements of files" during the period when former CBI chief Alok Kumar Verma was reinstated to the post for two days. The attorney general placed before the bench in a sealed cover the minutes of the meeting of the high-powered committee held earlier. The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner NGO, told the bench that the apex court must also look into the aspect of transparency in the process of appointing the CBI director. "You want an immediate appointment. Let us stop there. Let the appointment be made first.If you have any grievance that the process is not followed and transparency was not there then you can challenge it later," the bench told Bhushan. The top court on Thursday had set up a fresh bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra to hear a petition challenging the Centre's decision to appoint Rao as interim CBI director after Justice N V Ramana had recused himself from hearing it citing social reasons. Justice Ramana had expressed his disinclination to hear the matter saying he belongs to Andhra Pradesh, from where Rao hails, and had attended the wedding of the IPS officer's daughter who is married to an advocate known to him. He became the third judge of the apex court to recuse himself from hearing the matter after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and the second senior-most judge in the top court Justice A K Sikri. Both had recused themselves earlier from adjudicating the case. In its petition in the apex court, the NGO has sought specific mechanisms to ensure transparency in the process of appointing the CBI director. It has alleged that Rao's appointment was not made on the basis of the recommendations of the Selection Committee. The plea has alleged that the October 23 last year order of the government appointing Rao as interim CBI director was quashed by the top court on January 8 but the Centre "acted in a completely mala fide, arbitrary and illegal manner" to appoint him again in "complete contravention" of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. It has sought a direction to the Centre to appoint a regular CBI director forthwith. The plea has also sought immediate direction to the government to ensure that "all records" of deliberations and rational criteria related to short-listing and selection of the CBI director be properly recorded and made available to citizens in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of State Bank of India fell by over 3 per cent Friday despite the lender reporting consolidated net income of Rs 4,709.15 crore and a healthy improvement in asset quality for the December quarter. Meanwhile, the nation's largest lender Friday denied reports that its servers were compromised last week and assured that all its customer data remains safe and secure. According to a item published by US-based TechCrunch, SBI has some unprotected servers which gave access to the financial information of millions of its customers to anyone looking for it. The report, however, did not quantify as to how many of SBI's over 42.2 crore customers were hit. The bank's shares declined 3.09 per cent to close at Rs 284.30 on the BSE. Intra-day, it slumped 3.86 per cent to Rs 282. At the NSE, shares dropped 3.15 per cent to close at Rs 284.40. In terms of traded volume, 45 lakh shares of the company changed hands at BSE and over 6 crore shares on the NSE. A healthy improvement in asset quality and a drastic dip in loan loss provisions helped SBI Friday report a consolidated net income of Rs 4,709.15 crore for the December quarter as against a net loss of Rs 1,886.57 crore a year ago. On a standalone basis, it booked a net profit of Rs 3,955 crore compared to a net loss of Rs 2,416.37 crore in the year-ago period. Showing better asset quality, the gross non-performing assets ratio came down to 8.71 per cent from 10.35 per cent, while the net NPA ratio also decreased to 3.95 per cent from 5.61 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court Friday directed that the results of NIOS tests for untrained primary teachers in West Bengal will not be published till March 29, on a petition challenging cancellation of earlier examination held in December last year. Justice Samapti Chatterjee also directed that the candidates will have to sit for a re-examination of the two subjects, which had been earlier cancelled. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has scheduled re-examination of the two subjects - Understanding Children in Inclusive Context and Community and Elementary Education, on February 3. Justice Chatterjee directed that the results for candidates from West Bengal will not be published till March 29, when the matter would be heard again. Additional Solicitor General Kaushik Chanda submitted that the earlier examination was cancelled owing to leak of question papers. The petitioner, a candidate, moved the high court, claiming that he had been prejudiced as after having sat for the examination in a fair manner on December 20 and December 21, the papers were cancelled on December 26 by the NIOS through a public notification. Petitioner's lawyer Firdous Shamim submitted before Justice Chatterjee that while the examination was held for candidates throughout the country, it has been cancelled in West Bengal only. Shamim also asked for a CBI probe into the alleged leak of question papers. As per data sheet released by the NIOS, there are 1.69 lakh candidates enrolled for the 2017-2019 diploma course in West Bengal, Shamim said. The NIOS is a statutory body under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, which has been tasked to train in-service teachers and grant them Diploma on Elementary after they pass in the examination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to grant asylum to Pakistani woman Aasia Bibi, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case, claiming she was "persecuted" in the Muslim-majority country for being a Christian. A three-member Supreme Court bench threw out a petition seeking to review the apex court's decision to acquit 47-year-old Bibi on Tuesday. Bibi, a mother of four, was arrested in 2009 for allegedly using derogatory words during a quarrel with Muslim women while working on a farm in Punjab province. Bibi was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. The apex court overturned her conviction last year, sparking days of violent demonstrations led by hardline Islamist parties. "Aasia Bibi has been persecuted, jailed and threatened for doing nothing more than being a Christian in Pakistan," Congressman Ken Calvert said. The recent decision by Pakistan's top court to overturn Bibi's death sentence and free her from jail is obviously welcome news, the lawmaker said. "However, Asia continues to be in danger and is the subject of incendiary rhetoric by radical Islamist leaders. That's why it's essential for Congress and other defenders of religious freedom to stand up and protect her," Calvert said. Recognising the importance of granting asylum to those with legitimate claims of persecution for their religion, race, nationality, membership in a social group, or political belief; the resolution supports granting asylum in the United States to Aasia Bibi and her immediate family. Pakistani media reports on Thursday said Bibi may leave the country shortly as there are threats to her life. Her two daughter had already shifted to Canada. Pakistan said on Thursday that Bibi was a free citizen and has the right to travel anywhere inside the country or abroad. Bibi's case gained prominence when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad. The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AAP government told the Delhi High Court Friday that it rescued over 600 minors from child labour during 2018-19 and recovered over Rs 30 lakh as rehabilitation amount and minimum wages, from their employers. The data was placed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao by the Delhi government in response to an application by NGO 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' (BBA) and associate organisation 'Save the Childhood Foundation' seeking implementation of the court's 2009 judgement to prevent and eliminate child labour. In an action taken report, filed through its standing counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra and advocate Chaitanya Gosain, the Delhi government has said that it rescued 611 kids from child labour in 2018-19 of whom 587 has been restored to their families. The government said it has also recovered Rs 10,60,000, towards rehabilitation amount in respect of children below 14 years of age, and Rs 20,69,563 as minimum wages from their employers. Apart from that 63 cases of child/bonded labour were registered and 43 employers were also arrested, the government has said in its report. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for the NGOs, said a lot more needs to be done by the Delhi government and the police to ensure proper implementation of the high court's 2009 direction. In the July 2009 judgement, the high court had modified the existing provisions for better rehabilitation of child labourers and had widened the involvement of police in rescue operations of child labour in the city. Thereafter, November 2014, the high court had disposed of a petition seeking complete elimination of child labour from the national capital after the city's additional commissioner of labour had assured the court of action on the issue. In its application filed in the disposed of matter, the NGOs had sought a direction to the government to file an action taken or compliance report in terms of the July 15, 2009 judgement of the high court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Underworld don Ravi Pujari,arrested in Senegal on a red alert by Indian intelligence agencies, was living with a new identity,had got a Burkina Faso passport for himself and his family and ran a chain of restaurants in some West African nations, Karnataka police said Friday. "Ravi Pujari had obtained a new identity as Antony Fernadez and got a Burkina Faso passport for himself, his wife and children. Being a dreaded criminal and always afraid of his identity getting exposed, he ran away from Burkina Faso and his track was lost," police said in a statement. It said Additional Director General of Police (intelligence) Dr Amar Kumar Pandey coordinated with the National Crime Record Bureau to expedite the Red Corner Notice to Interpol on the directions of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to ensure the arrest of the gangster, wanted in several cases in Karnataka, including extortion. Pandey also succeeded in obtaining information about the chain of restaurants Pujari ran in partnership in several west African countries like Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ivory Coast, the statement said. After getting information about Pujaris presence in Senegals capital city Dakar, he alerted the Indian Ambassador in that country, Rajeev Kumar. Kumar got in touch with Senegal interior minister Aly Ngouille Nbiaye and the director of judicial police, Seydou Bocar Yague, the statement said. On January 19, Senegal police received information about Pujaris presence in a barber shop and soon heavily armed policemen in three buses surrounded the place and arrested him, the statement said. On January 21, Senegal police confirmed his arrest. Pujari had hired shooters to attack his targets to create a scare, police said,adding,people used to pay up out of fear. There are 39 cases against Pujari in Bengaluru alone, including the murders of Shailaja and Ravi of Shabnam Developers on February 15, 2007, police said. He has 36 cases against him in Mangaluru, 11 in Udupi, and one each in Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kolar and Shivamogga, police said. The Karnataka government expressed its gratitude to the government of Senegal, especially the interior minister and director of judicial police, it said. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy earlier said that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka played a leading role in getting Ravi Pujari arrested from Senegal He said the arrest of the don was effected due to the 'sustained efforts' of Karnataka government officers, with the assistance of the central government and officials af the Indian Embassy at Senegal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Honeywell recently awarded scholarships to four chemical engineering students from Cairo University as a part of its ongoing commitment to develop and support young engineering talent in Egypt. Honeywell awarded the students at an event hosted by Cairo University. The recognition we have earned through the Honeywell UOP scholarship and internship program is a testament to the education we provide at Cairo University, said Professor Ehab Abadir, head of Cairo Universitys chemical engineering department. We are very pleased with the Honeywell UOP initiative in the field of engineering with a particular focus on the oil and gas industry, enabling our students to learn about the industry in the Middle East as a whole. We look forward to further enhancing the Honeywell Cairo University relationship in our future endeavours. The annual scholarship program, which commenced in 2016,is part of Honeywells investment in nurturing engineering talent in Egypt. This year the scholarship program was offered to Ahmed Yousry Muhammad, Omar Emad Khallaf, Esraa Ashraf Abdel-Alam and Mohamed Ahmed Khodeir, each who were selected after a rigorous interview process led by Honeywell UOP. In addition to the scholarship, the four students will compete for a seven-week internship placement program in the US at Honeywells Research and Development Center near Chicago. Honeywell is committed to developing young talent in the engineering field in Egypt, and through our ongoing collaboration with Cairo University, we are able to recognize excellent academic potential, said Khaled Hashem, president for Honeywell in Egypt and Libya. With the oil and gas industry advancing rapidly, it is now vital to equip the younger generation with knowledge of the technological disruptions impacting the industry. Initiatives like the Honeywell UOP scholarship program invests in the next generation of the countrys science talent, which will benefit our refining, gas processing and petrochemical industries for years to come. Honeywell has a 50-year track record of working on many of Egypts most significant energy and infrastructure projects. The companys technology portfolio spans across refining and petrochemical technologies, catalysts, process and control systems, renewable fuels and chemicals and specialty materials. TradeArabia News Service Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday termed the interim Budget "historic" and said it will accelerate the process of creating a 'New India' which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous. Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, Singh said the tax exemption given to people with income up to Rs 5 lakh and another Rs 1.5 lakh in investments, totalling Rs 6.5 lakh, will have a major impact on the lives of middle class in general and salaried class in particular. "I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for this historic interim Budget which is not only development-friendly, but also pays special attention to the middle class, farmers, workers in unorganised sector and the other vulnerable sections of our society," he said in a statement. "It also highlights the vision and way forward for making India a 10 trillion dollar economy by 2030," he added. The Union home minister said earlier, the governments used to give temporary relief to farmers but the PM Kisan Samman Scheme will ensure a permanent income for all small farmers. Under the scheme, every farmer with land holdings up to 2 hectares will receive a sum of Rs 6,000 per year directly in the bank account. The Budget has allocated Rs 20,000 in the current fiscal for the scheme, which reflects the government's intent and commitment to farmers' welfare, Singh said. "On one hand, the Budget is focused on supporting the social infrastructure of our country and on the other hand it pays great attention to strengthening the economic infrastructure," he said. "Sectors like defence, agriculture, infrastructure, industry, energy, education and health have been given a big boost in the Budget," Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Rajasthan Police head constable was arrested on Friday for taking a bribe of Rs 24,000 from a gang rape victim's father, an Anti-Corruption Bureau official said. The accused, Lokesh Meena, was the reader of Deeg additional superintendent of police (ASP) and currently attached to the office of the circle officer- city, he said. He had demanded money from the complainant for DNA testing in the case. DNA testing is done free of cost by the state government but the accused was demanding money for testing the samples, Deputy Superintendent of Police-ACB (Jaipur rural) Ram Singh said. "After verification of the complaint, a trap was laid and the accused was arrested," he said. ASP, Deeg, is investigating the gang rape case which was lodged in February 2018. "No arrests have been made in the case. When the girl's father requested for expediting the investigation, the head constable demanded Rs 24,000 as fees for DNA tests," Singh said. "The accused is no more attached with the investigating officer of the case but he was misleading the victim's father, assuring him of an expedited investigation," he said. He said the role of the ASP will also be probed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh Friday called the Budget 2019-20 "historic, people-friendly and forward-looking" as it provides assistance to all needy sectors while maintaining fiscal prudence. However, some renewable energy sector players have expressed their disappointment on the Budget, saying it provided no ray of hope as there was no policy directive to promote manufacturing, especially renewables, when there is a scarcity of funding for clean energy projects. "Interim Budget 2019-20 is historic, it's people-friendly and forward-looking. It provides assistance to all sectors which need assistance at the same time maintaining fiscal prudence," said Singh said in a statement. He expressed hope that the Budget would be able to bring smile to every face. The country's electrification success found a special mention in Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's Budget Speech. The finance minister said: "Till the year 2014, about 2.5 crore families were forced to live the life of 18th century without electricity. Under Saubhagya Yojna, we provided free electricity connection to almost every household. By March 2019, all willing families will get electricity connection." Goyal also thanked the taxpayers saying, "Your tax pays for the electricity connections to the poor who lived in darkness for generations". On the UJALA scheme, the finance minister said 143 crore LED bulbs have been sold with the combined efforts of the government and the private sector and this has resulted into a saving of about Rs 50,000 crore per year in electricity bills of poor and middle-class families. Goyal in his maiden Budget Speech also stressed upon electric vehicles and renewables to make India a pollution-free nation. Citing the International Solar Alliance as example of India's commitment towards clean energy, the finance minister said: "India's installed solar generation capacity has grown over 10 times in past five years. This sector is now creating lakhs of new age jobs." Commenting on the Budget, Amit Gupta, director of legal and corporate affairs, Vikram Solar, said: "In a situation where there is scarcity of financing options for renewables and manufacturing units are dying a slow death, the Budget provides no ray of hope."Gupta further said: "The industry was expecting a policy directive from the government to promote manufacturing, especially in the renewable energy sector, in the background of job crisis, which India is facing right now. Surprisingly, this was completely missing from the Budget."He also said the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy remained almost the same as the capital allocated in 2018-19, standing at Rs 5,200 crore. "Unfortunately, the government did not act upon the Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation of the reinstatement of the funding for renewable energy projects through the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF), which was diverted towards the GST (goods and service tax) Compensation fund since 2017," he added. Sohinder Gill, director general of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), said: "The EV (electric vehicle) industry welcomes our finance minister's commitment towards making the country pollution-free, in his budget speech. "We hope the government would soon announce a concrete plan of action with its time-bound implementation in order to fulfil its stated vision. The SMEV feels that an initial high dose of incentives and actions must be taken in the next one or two years to relaunch the electric mobility mission that has sort of lost steam in the recent years due to flip-flop of policies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here rejected Friday anticipatory bail application filed by Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. Additional sessions judge Kishor Vadane observed that investigating officer has collected sufficient material against Teltumbde. "In my view, there is sufficient material collected by the investigating officer to show the involvement of the present accused in the alleged commission of the offence," the judge observed. The investigation was at a crucial stage and custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary, the court held. The prosecution Thursday had submitted an envelope containing "evidence", claiming that it proves Teltumbde's involvement in Maoist activities. Teltumbde filed the anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail application before the Pune court after the Supreme Court rejected his plea seeking to quash the FIR against him in the Elgar Parishad case. Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar had argued that some of the correspondence seized by police revealed that the leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist) comrade Prakash, Milind (Teltumbde), Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen and Anand Teltumbde were in contact with each other. "It establishes a larger conspiracy," she had said. Gadling, Wilson and Sen are already arrested. According to Pune Police, Maoists had supported the Elgar Parishad conclave held here on December 31, 2017, and the inflammatory speeches there led to violent clashes at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial the next day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) File photo of Nirav Modi The process of demolition of fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi's illegal bungalow at Alibag has started, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court Friday. The high court had ordered action against unauthorised constructions in Alibag in Raigad district, a popular getaway near Mumbai. Advocate P P Kakade, who appeared for the government, told a division bench headed by Chief Justice N H Patil that the district collector has initiated action. "The process of demolition of Nirav Modi's bungalow has also begun. However, since it is a huge bungalow, structural engineer's opinion is being taken. The demolition will have to be done by way of controlled blasts," he said. ALSO READ: PNB board found no criminality against sacked executive directors At the last hearing, the (ED), which has charged Modi with money laundering, had moved the HC, saying it had attached the bungalow, so it should be heard in the matter. ED's lawyer Neha Bhide told the court Friday that the central agency has handed over the property to the collector but it is yet to shift some movable articles lying inside. "We have removed some of the movable properties. However, there are some more inside the bungalow for which the agency requires more time," Bhide said. The court said it cannot interfere as the demolition process is being carried out following its orders. "You (ED) can approach the collector and sort it out," Chief Justice Patil said. The bench was hearing a petition filed by activist Surendra Dhavale seeking demolition of unauthorised constructions along the coast in the Alibag area. Bungalows and other structures have mushroomed in the area in violation of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority rules and the state's land laws, the petition said. The high court had last year ordered the collector to demolish unauthorised structures. Nirav Modi, wanted in a Rs 14,000-crore scam at Punjab Bank, has fled the country. Making a big populist push in its final budget before elections, the Narendra Modi-government Friday exempted people with an earning of up to Rs 5 lakh from payment of income tax, announced an annual cash dole-out of Rs 6,000 to small farmers and provided a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to workers in the unorganised sector. Converting what was supposed to be an interim budget or a vote on account into an almost full-fledged budget announcement in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal proposed an array of incentives for both middle-class and farmers, whose disenchantment was said to have cost the BJP dearly in recent assembly elections. Over 3 crore salaried class, pensioners, self-employed and small businesses with total income of up to Rs 5 lakh will save Rs 10,900 in income tax annually after considering the relief Goyal provided in form of a 'rebate'. For those making investments of Rs 1.5 lakh in tax saving instruments, the tax-free income would be Rs 6.5 lakh. The rebate will cost the government Rs 18,500 crore in revenue. He also raised standard deduction by Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 which would translate into a saving of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 in taxes for those with taxable income of Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh in a year. Also, exemption from deduction of tax at source for interest income earned from deposits in banks and post offices has been increased to Rs 40,000 from current Rs 10,000. This would help all salaried taxpayers who lost out last year due to the removal of medical reimbursement and transport allowance exemptions. As was widely anticipated, Goyal announced an income support scheme for 12 crore small and marginal farmers by providing Rs 6,000 in their bank accounts in three equal installments in a year, which will cost Rs 75,000 crore a year to the government. The eligibility for the scheme, called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, will be ownership of less than 2 hectares of cultivable land. Though the finance minister said the scheme will be implemented from the current fiscal year, where it will cost Rs 20,000 crore, it wasn't clear how the beneficiaries would be identified. A mega pension scheme was introduced to provide a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 with a contribution of Rs 100 per month for workers in the unorganised sector after 60 years of age. The farm income support scheme will result in the government breaching its 3.3 per cent fiscal deficit target from the current year and slipping on 3.1 per cent target for the next. Fiscal deficit for both the years has been put at 3.4 per cent of the GDP. Wooing farmers, an interest subvention of 2 per cent to those pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries and to farmers hit by natural calamities was announced. An additional 3 per cent interest subvention will be given to farmers for timely repayment of loans. In a boost to housing sector, he announced no notional taxation on second house purchase, raised threshold of TDS on rent from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh and allowed capital gains of up to Rs 2 crore made from sale of immovable property to be invested in two residential houses as against current practice of exempting such income if invested in one house within a year. While defence allocation has been raised by 7 per cent to over Rs 3 lakh crore, subsidy bill has gone up to Rs 2.97 lakh crore from Rs 2.66 lakh crore. Target for revenue from disinvestment of government stake in PSUs has been raised to Rs 90,000 crore from Rs 80,000 crore and dividend from RBI and other banks has been pegged at Rs 82,900 crore. The relief in income tax for the middle class came in form of a rebate. A rebate is different from a general exemption which would have meant income up to Rs 5 lakh for all would have been exempt from taxes and taxes would have to be paid only on income in excess of that. For anyone earning more than Rs 5 lakh annually will continue to pay taxes at the prevailing rates - no tax on first Rs 2.5 lakh, 5 per cent on income between Rs 2.5 and 5 lakh, 20 per cent on income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and 30 per cent on earnings of over Rs 10 lakh. Justifying inclusion of tax proposals in an interim budget which normally is only to seek approval of the parliament for spending for an interim period until a new government is sworn in, he said, "Though as per convention, the main tax proposals will be presented in regular budget, small taxpayers especially middle class, salary earners, pensioners and senior citizens need certainty in their minds at the beginning of the year about their taxes." "Therefore, proposals, particularly relating to such class of persons should not wait." Goyal, who was made the interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to rush to New York for medical treatment last month, said what he presented was not merely an interim Budget, but a medium of the country's development journey. The NDA government, he said, has laid the foundation for India's growth and development for times to come. India is poised to become a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal's Durgapur on Saturday to launch a nearly 300-km-long electrified section of the railways. He will also inaugurate a 20-km-long Hijli-Narayangarh third line, a statement from his office said. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation the railway electrification of the 294-km-long Andal-Sainthia-Pakur-Malda and the Khana-Sainthia sections. The electrification of this section will enable ease of transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North and Northeast India in a seamless manner, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab government will give 1,38,000 bicycles to girls studying in Classes 11 and 12 in government schools in various parts of the state to boost girls' education, a state minister said Friday. The scheme under the Women and Child Development Department will cost nearly Rs 40 crore to the state exchequer, Minister Om Parkash Soni told reporters here. He said 11,085 bicycles will to be given to girls in Amritsar district alone. To begin with, as many as 940 girls of a government school here were given the bicycles, Soni added. "The aim of providing bicycles free of cost to girls is to encourage them to continue their even after school," the minister said. He also said the government was working to provide better teaching facilities for students in government schools. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over Rs 240 crore was allocated to the Personnel Ministry for domestic and foreign training of bureaucrats and augmenting necessary infrastructure during the next financial year, according to the interim Budget presented by Finance Minister on Friday. Of the total allocation of Rs 241.81 crore for 2019-20, which is about 24 per cent more than the revised allocation of Rs 194.76 crore for the ongoing financial year, Rs 79.06 crore was earmarked for the ministry to meet establishment-related expenditure of the Delhi-based Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. Both the ISTM and LBSNAA conduct several training programmes for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and all other levels of secretarial functionaries with exposure to rules, regulations and aptitude. ALSO READ: Interim Budget has enough to galvanise Sangh Parivar workers for elections Under a separate head, Rs 162.75 crore was allocated for the next fiscal for training schemes. It includes upgradation of the LBSNAA to a centre of excellence and augmentation of training facilities at ISTM. A sum of Rs 30.26 crore was allocated for transparency watchdog Central Information Commission (CIC) and the government's head-hunter Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) for the next fiscal to meet their establishment- related expenditure. A total of Rs 29.27 crore was allocated to the CIC and the PESB for 2018-19. The Central Administrative Tribunals (CATs), which are entrusted with the redressal of grievances of public servants, have been allocated Rs 119.46 crore for 2018-19 to meet establishment-related expenditure. It has been given Rs 115.73 crore for the ongoing financial year, as per the revised allocation. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC), which conducts various recruitment examination for central government jobs, was allocated Rs 239.97 crore to meet establishment-related expenditure, including those on the conduct of examinations for recruitment of lower grade staff in central ministries or departments. The revised allocation for the SSC is Rs 227.11 crore for the current fiscal. Top leaders of various opposition parties met on Friday to discuss the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs and develop their future course of action. Sources said the Congress convened the meeting to discuss a joint strategy on the issue of alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs) as some parties have questioned their efficacy and demanded the EC revert to the old system of ballot paper. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, Rashtriya Janata Dal's Manoj Jha, Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh, and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary, among others, attended the meeting, the sources said. Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and A K Antony were also present in the meeting. Various opposition parties have been claiming that only 2-3 countries across the world are using EVMs and the rest have reverted to the ballot paper system following complaints of EVM malfunctioning. The Congress, while supporting the demand, has maintained that since the Lok Sabha election is just around the corner, the EC should ensure counting of paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading industry experts explored the opportunities and challenges surrounding sustainable development, as well as ways to engage all members of the community in development efforts at the third UAE Public Policy Forum held in Dubai. Titled Sustainable and Resilient Cities: Opportunities and Policy Challenges to Building Smart Cities, the panel brought together Ivano Ianelli, CEO of Dubai Carbon Centre for Excellence; Saeed Al Abbar, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board at Emirates Green Building Council and Managing Director at AESG; Dr. Victor Pineda, Director of the Inclusive Cities Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, and President of World Enabled; and Mira Ahmed Al Sheikh, Project Manager at Smart Dubai. During the session, Dr Pineda showcased his experience as a Person of Determination in integrating this segment of the community in efforts to shape the future and implement sustainable development goals (SDGs), presenting frameworks that can be implemented that meet the needs of this segment. The UAE has offered an outstanding and commendable model in that regard, stated Dr Pineda one that stimulates innovation among all segments of society, despite any difficulties they may face. Sustainability requires reshaping the creative environment to better integrate People of Determination and empower them to be a productive segment of society, capable of inspiring ideas and innovation, which, in turn, makes the cities of the future more inclusive for every member of society in work and in everyday life, Dr. Pineda asserted. "The integration process requires several elements, notably: Laws that ensure smooth integration; a supportive leadership; appropriate budgets; dedicated institutions; and, finally, participation from all segments of the community to facilitate integration of People of Determination," he stated. On managing rapid population growth while limiting energy consumption, Ianelli noted that Dubai has made great progress in implementing long-term sustainability goals and has been a role model in this field, promoting innovation in such sectors as transport, energy and waste management, which is particularly important for developing sustainability assessment equations and indexes. The projects undertaken by the UAE and Dubai, in particular to reduce carbon emissions have driven emission rates from 40,000 tons per year down to just 18,000, Ianelli went on to note, calling for further engaging the private sector in the process. In his address, Al Abbar discussed ways to develop cities without harming the environment and despite the increase in population, explaining that the Emirates Green Building Council has established a new approach to construction that reduces carbon production to zero, designing smart buildings that do not emit any CO2. To achieve these objectives, it is important to promote innovation from the private sector. We believe that teams of engineers from different companies can come up with innovative solutions to achieve these ambitious goals, he noted. Al Sheikh highlighted Smart Dubais role in achieving the 11th objective of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to design smart city blueprints that that can be implemented in any country, taking into account the differences and specificities of each individual city. Dubai, he stated, had made significant progress in achieving SDGs, providing all its residents with seamless access to basic services such as health and transportation. "Smart Dubai had launched several initiatives and strategies to that end from the Dubai Blockchain Strategy and the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which significantly reduced paper consumption in Government agencies," he noted. Smart Dubai focuses on three main points when setting policies: Technology, culture, and legislation that ensures this technology is used properly," added Al Sheikh.-TradeArabia News Service A day after advising his top spymasters to go back to school after they differed with him on global threat assessment, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he and the leadership of country's intelligence community are "on the same page." After meeting with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other top security officials, Trump said they told him their testimony at the Senate hearing had been "mischaracterized" by the media. Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterised by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc, Trump said in a tweet. He followed, Their testimony was distorted press... I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page! They (intelligence community leaders) said that they were totally misquoted and they were totally -- it was taken out of context. So what I'd do is I'd suggest that you call them. They said it was fake news, so -- which, frankly, didn't surprise me, he told reporters later Thursday in the Oval Office. Earlier, on Wednesday, the president had called US intelligence chiefs "extremely passive and naive" and advised them to go back to school after they contradicted him on threats posed by Iran, North Korea and ISIS during congressional testimony. The top security officials told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the nuclear threat from North Korea persists and that Iran is not taking steps towards making a nuclear bomb, conclusions that contrasted starkly with Trump's assessments of those countries. Asserting that Iran's nuclear programme remains dangerous, Trump tweeted, "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President, Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but a source of potential danger and conflict, Trump said in a series of foreign policy tweets. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school! he said in his harshest criticism of the powerful intelligence community of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year old NRI businessman was found dead in a parked car under mysterious circumstances on a highway in Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, police said Friday. US-based Chigurupati Jayaram, on a business visit to the state, was found dead with head injuries in his car parked at the roadside at Itavaram village, about 80 km from here, by a police patrol on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway. A Non-Resident Indian from the state, he was the Director of private Coastal Bank and also owned a pharmaceutical company in Andhra Pradesh. District Superintendent of Police Sarvasresth Tripathy said Jayaram was travelling to Vijayawada from Hyderabad and a search was on for the missing driver of the car. The body had been sent to a government hospital for post-mortem and further investigation was on, he said. The family of the businessman had been informed about the death, the SP, who visited the spot, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country's premier investigation agency CBI has been allocated Rs 777.27 crore in the interim union budget for 2019-20, a marginal reduction from last year's allocation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing several sensitive cases across India and abroad, including AgustaWestland chopper scam, ponzi scam, illegal mining scam and fake encounter cases in Manipur, requires deployment of large-scale of manpower and resources. It has also been pursuing high-profile fugitives such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Jatin Mehta, Mehul Choksi and Nitin Sandesara. According to the budget document, the funds for the agency have been slashed to Rs 777.27 crore from Rs 778.93 crore last year. In the last budget, the CBI was allocated Rs 698.38 crore, a marginal increase of 2.79 per cent as compared to previous year. However, it was revised to Rs 778.93 crore later. The provision is for establishment-related expenditure of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is entrusted with investigation and prosecution in corruption cases against public servants, private persons, firms and other cases of serious crimes, the budget document said. This also includes provision for various projects such as the CBI e-governance, modernisation of training centres of the CBI, establishment of technical and forensic support units, comprehensive modernisation and purchase of land/construction of office and residence buildings for the CBI, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister Friday welcomed the as "positive", while his arch rival RJD national president Lalu Prasad dismissed it as a "basket of lies". Kumar welcomed provisions like an annual assistance of Rs 6,000 to farmers and Rs 3,000 monthly pension to those employed in the unorganised sector. "The budget will strengthen the rural economy. Besides, raising income tax exemption from Rs 2.5 lakh per year to Rs 5 lakh per year will bring relief to the middle class," the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official release. Lalu, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases, tweeted in Hindi, "Placing a basket of lies in the marketplace of jumlas will prove to be of no avail. People nowadays not only hear jumlas, but also see through these. And they respond not just with a smirk, but with guffaws." Lodged in a Ranchi hospital for various ailments, Lalu keeps sharing his views on the microblogging site with the help of close aides, who operate his official Twitter handle. He used a hashtag, AakhriJumlaBudget, seeking to "underscore the opposition's claim that the BJP has come up with a slew of sops in a desperate bid to avoid defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections". Meanwhile, at a press conference, AICC in-charge of Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil questioned Union minister Piyush Goyal, who is handling the Finance portfolio in the absence of ailing Arun Jaitley, presenting the Union Budget while holding the post of the BJP treasurer. "Piyush Goyal should not have been allowed to present the Union Budget while holding the post of national treasurer of his party. There was conflict of interest," Gohil alleged. The NIA on Friday arrested a man, accused in the 2006 Kozhikode twin blasts cases, from the Delhi airport after he landed from Saudi Arabia, the agency said. It said P P Yoosaf (36), resident of Thalassery in Kerala's Kannur district, was arrested from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. He had been absconding and was chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency in 2010 in the case. On January 24, the central agency had similarly arrested another accused Mohammed Ashar from the same airport after he returned from Saudi Arabia. "The cases pertain to the twin improvised explosive device (IED) blasts that occurred at the KSRTC and mofussil bus stands in Kozhikode (Calicut) city on March 3, 2006 causing injuries to two persons besides damage to property," an NIA spokesperson said. He added that NIA had taken over the investigation of the cases in December, 2009 from the state police and filed a chargesheet against eight accused, including Yoosaf, in 2010 under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, IPC and Explosive Substances Act. The investigation found that "Yoosaf had participated in the criminal conspiracy hatched by the prime accused T Naseer, Safas and others to carry out IED blasts in Kozhikode City in protest over the denial of bail to Muslim accused persons involved in the 2003 Marad communal riots", the agency said. Yoosaf, it said, along with the recently arrested Ashar had "assisted" Naseer in preparing the IEDs and had "planted" the same at bus stands in Kozhikode city. The spokesperson said Yoosaf will be produced before a special court in Delhi on Saturday to obtain transit remand to take him to Kochi and produce him before the jurisdictional special court at Ernakulam in Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NHRC has sent a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government over reports that girls at a shelter-home in Ratlam were allegedly sexually exploited, assaulted and manhandled. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement, said it is "painful" to know that persons, who are supposed to protect the girl inmates, are accused of subjecting them to indignity in their custody. "The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging that girls at a shelter-home, Kundan Kuteer Balika Grah at Jaora town in Ratlam district, were being sexually exploited, assaulted and manhandled," the commission said. Five inmates of the shelter-home had escaped on January 24 by breaking the window of the toilet and were later traced in Mandsaur. Police have held three persons, including a couple, in this connection, it said. Reportedly, efforts are being made to arrest the current head of the shelter-home, who is also an accused in the case. The commission has issued a notice to the chief, seeking a detailed report in four weeks, including on the action taken against the culprits, steps taken for relief and rehabilitation or counselling of the victims. The response is expected within four weeks. "It has also expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of sexual exploitation of the girls at shelter-homes, which are meant to provide protection, relief and succour to them," the commission said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A novel artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tool can help diagnose schizophrenia more accurately than other such systems, according to a study led by an Indian origin scientist. The tool called EMPaSchiz, developed by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada, examined brain scans from patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and predicted the diagnosis with 87 per cent accuracy. The finding, published in the journal 'NPJ Schizophrenia', follows on a previous study in 2017 in which researchers at IBM and Alberta developed a tool capable of predicting schizophrenia with 74 per cent accuracy. "Schizophrenia is characterised by a constellation of symptoms that might co-occur in patients. Two individuals with the same diagnosis might still present different symptoms. This often leads to misdiagnosis," said Sunil Kalmady, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta. "Machine learning, in this case, is able to drive an evidence-based approach that looks at thousands of features in a brain scan to lead to an optimal prediction," said Kalmady, who led the study. There are ways to estimate how accurate this tool will be and how often it will provide the correct diagnosis, said computing scientist Russ Greiner, who supervised Kalmady's research. The researchers noted EMPaSchiz is one of the first machine learning tools trained exclusively on data from patients who were diagnosed but not yet taking any medication to treat their illness, which could make it more valuable in the early stages of diagnosis. "Mental health disorders are highly complex in terms of causes and manifestation of symptoms," said professor Andrew Greenshaw. "Machine learning and future AI are approaches that enable a multi-dimensional, data-driven inroad that captures the level of complexity and objectivity that we need to unravel the wicked problems of understanding mental illness," Greenshaw said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of students in Nepal on Friday flew balloons carrying black flags near Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's office at Singhdurbar here to protest against the government's inaction over issues like reforms in medical sector and corruption. Nepal Students Union, the student wing of Opposition Nepali Congress, flew black flags and banners with slogans "save life of agitating doctor Govinda K C, take action against the culprits in the rape and murder of 13-year old girl Nirmala and end corruption." The black flags were flown to pressurise the government to fulfil their demands, said NSU central member Sushil Bhatta. Meanwhile, all hospitals except emergency services remained closed in the country after the Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella body of medical and dental doctors, called on strike to extend solidarity to Dr KC, who is on hunger strike for the last 23 days demanding sweeping reforms in medical sector. As the government failed to address the demands raised by senior surgeon and social activist Dr KC in the medical bill recently endorsed by Parliament through majority votes, the agitating doctor decided to continue with the hunger strike. Main opposition Nepali Congress party has also been launching protests to express solidarity to the agitating doctor. Dozens of doctors have gone on a relay hunger strike to support Dr K C. Dr KC is on fast-unto-death demanding that the government should endorse the bill by incorporating agreements reached with him in the past that sought reform in the country's health education and medical sector. The NMA has urged the government not to create such situation where it would have to resort to stringent measures and warned that the government would be responsible for the stormy situation that may arise thereof in medical sector. Nepali Congress spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over the passing of National Medical Education Bill through National Assembly against the agreement reached between Dr KC and Prime Minister Oli. In a press meet organised by Press Union Kaski in Pokhara, Sharma said the bill further violated the agreement reached between Dr KC and the government on limiting the university to affiliate no more than five medical colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government should have the political will to promote public education, AAP leader Atishi Marlena said Friday and noted that there should be a mechanism in place to probe the link between politicians and private schools. She was speaking at the Difficult Dialogues annual session here on how public school was losing out to private players. "The government in power needs to have the political will to really care about public schools and that is something governments after governments have not done...Someone should also research the links between politicians and private schools," she said. She asked why would the people in power improve public if they have incentives in private Difficult Dialogues 2019 is holding a series of sessions on education and its myriad facets. The session on 'Primary Education' Friday looked at enrolment and dropout rates, quality of education imparted and the reasons why private education is preferred by even those belonging to economically backward sections. The problems faced by government school teachers like additional election and civic duties and lack of confidence in believing that they are agents of change in a student's life were also highlighted during the panel discussion. The panelists said government teachers view themselves as passive agents rather than people who can make a change. The task, therefore, is to empower them, get them involved and train them and explain the larger social role they can and should play, they said. The session also highlighted the need to restore the image of public schools so that people from middle class can send their wards to state-run schools without having to spend a fortune on private education. The panelists said more budgets need to be earmarked and used efficiently to improve the infrastructure and quality of education imparted in public schools. Key speakers at the event included University Grants Commission Vice Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge Arathi Sriprakash, Centre for Policy Research, President & Chief Executive Yamini Aiyar, Goa Education Secretary Nila Mohanan, World Bank's Higher Education Specialist for India Francisco Marmolejo. To capture the voice of students, the summit will also host 'Daring Debates' wherein students from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Sikkim, Goa and Puducherry will compete with the regional winners from each city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Dun & bradstreet in association with RBL Bank hosted an awards ceremony- 'SME Business Excellence Awards 2018' in Mumbai. The ceremony was aimed to recognise the achievements of India's SMEs and Mid-corporates in manufacturing and services sectors pushing the growth of India. Navitas Solar was awarded for 'Excellence in Renewable Energy Sector' among other sectors such as Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering & Machinery, and Auto Components etc. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/812246/Navitas_Award.jpg ) With the clean room manufacturing facility along with the state-of-the art production equipment supplied from world-renowned manufacturers, Navitas Solar owns one of the most technologically advanced solar PV module manufacturing facilities in India. Navitas offers PV modules ranging from 3watt to 375watt per panel, mono and multi crystalline modules. The modules are passed through 100% Electroluminescence test and are certified. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Vineet Mittal, Director-Navitas Solar, expressed delight on recognition of hard work done by entire team of Navitas and said, "It is in moments like this we find motivation to keep working hard" and Mr. Ankit Singhania, Director-Navitas Solar remarked, "We work to give satisfaction to our customers who are as enthusiastic about switching to solar energy as we are and its satisfying to be recognized for that." About Navitas SolarNavitas Solar is the manufacturer of the state-of-the-art mono/multi crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules which supply sustainable solar electric power to both on-grid and off-grid residential, commercial as well as industrial establishments. Apart from providing the panels we also provide a complete lifecycle of solar power solutions and our expertise now includes developing, installing and constructing solar power plants. With a 200 MW installed production capacity, we have aims to come up as one of the largest manufacturers in India as well as spread our reach in the global market. Solar power industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. We are determined to mark our footprint on the global solar energy market and tap into every possible resource we come across, to live in a better world where we rely on nature to meet our energy requirements and thus build a future for our coming generations to cherish. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State oil giant Saudi Aramco and its partner Total have signed an agreement with South Korean petrochemical company Daelim for the construction of a new 80,000-tonne state-of-the-art polyisobutylene (PIB) plant, which is likely to come on-stream in 2024. Daelim Industrial is a petrochemical and construction company that is a part of the Daelim Group hailing from South Korea. As a global developer on the world-wide arena, Daelim is setting a standard of optimised business models and creating added value on petrochemical, urban, power and infrastructure. Daelim is equipped with fourth largest ethylene facilities in northeast Asia and global No 1 market share of PIB, a high value-added chemical product that has a wide range of industrial applications such as adhesives, lubricants and fuel additives. Saudi Aramco said this agreement was another step to drive its petrochemicals growth strategy. This comes following the Saudi groups announcement in October last year to launch an engineering study to build a large petrochemical complex in Jubail. The launch of the front-end engineering and design (Feed) of the PIB plant will begin next month and will get completed in Q4 2019, said the company in its statement. The new petrochemicals facility will be using feedstock from the Amiral complex in Jubail, located on Saudi Arabias eastern coast. It is the first time that the PIB product will be developed in the kingdom, it stated. The facilitys location in Saudi Arabia will give Daelim access to competitive feedstock and energy, with large infrastructure, to better serve customers in the Middle East and markets across Europe and Asia, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Kim Bok-dong, who became a figurehead for the suffering endured by South Korean "comfort women" sexually enslaved by occupying Japanese forces in the Second World War, will be laid to rest on Friday. The 92-year-old was a symbolic figure for weekly rallies in front of the Japanese embassy that started in 1992, demanding a full, heartfelt apology from Tokyo for the horrific wartime abuse. Kim, who died Monday of cancer, was only 14 when the Japanese military knocked on her parents' door and requisitioned her for what they said was wartime work in a factory. Instead, she found herself on the battlefield in a brothel where soldiers had sex with her from morning until evening, every day for years -- one of tens of thousands of girls used as so-called comfort women by the Japanese military. "It was sexual slavery, there's no other word for it," Kim told AFP in 2013. Hundreds gathered near the Japanese embassy on Friday, the culmination of a five-day commemoration of Kim, during which thousands visited the memorial altar set up at a Seoul hospital to pay their respects. Among the visitors to the altar was President Moon Jae-in, who said in January Tokyo should take a "more humble" attitude to history. Kim was one of as many as 200,000 women -- many Korean but there were victims from other parts of Asia too -- abused by Japanese soldiers, and the emotive issue has marred the relationship between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan for decades. Japan occupied the Korean peninsula from 1910 until its defeat at the end of World War II in 1945. But it was not until the early 1990s that the issue of comfort women came into the spotlight with the growth of the women's rights movement in South Korea, and Kim was one of only a handful of survivors who ensured their abuse was not forgotten. In 1993, Japan issued a formal apology but some politicians since then -- including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- have backtracked and caused outrage by questioning whether the girls were really forced into prostitution. In 2007, Abe triggered a region-wide uproar when he said there was no evidence that Japan directly forced women to work as sex slaves. Mourners Friday followed the vehicle carrying Kim's remains through the streets of Seoul with paper cutouts of yellow butterflies, symbols of sexual slavery victims, in their hands. The car stopped near the Japanese embassy. "I feel thankful for others who have come to join in remembrance of her life," said Jo Gyu-suk, a 39-year-old woman. Japan says all compensation issues related to its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula were settled by the 1965 deal that saw Tokyo and Seoul restore diplomatic ties and included a reparation package of about USD 800 million in grants and cheap loans. When Kim finally returned home after her wartime ordeal, she initially lied to her family about what had happened. But she could not face marriage after what she had been through. "I was born a woman but I never lived as a woman," she says. Faced with her mother's insistence that she marry, she eventually broke down and confessed what she had been through. Kim says her mother never recovered and later died from the shock. Kim herself never married or had children, and became the owner of a fish restaurant in the bustling city of Busan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There has been an increase in water birds -- resident and migratory -- at Himachal Pradesh's Pong Dam wetland with 5,026 more from the avian species being spotted in 2018-19 over the previous year, wildlife officials said. The wetland areas of the dam is home to 29 species of resident waterfowls and is a stop over for 62 types of migratory waterfowls from regions in Russia, Central Asia and Tibet. The count of these birds was recorded at 1,10,203 in 2017-18, they said. The increase was found in the annual waterfowl estimation exercise that was carried out on January 28 and 29 for monitoring the numerical size of bird's population during 2018-19 at the wetland, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PPCF)-cum-Chief Wild Life Warden, Himachal Pradesh, Savita, said. "The survey recorded 1,15,229 birds of 103 different species at Pong Dam Lake this year (for 2018-19), this includes 1,04,230 migratory waterfowls of 58 species, 10,231 resident water birds of 29 species and 768 birds of 16 other local species," the wildlife official said. Experts from various organisations and state officials participated in the survey. The area was divided into 26 sections and about 110 persons participated in the exercise. Each section was thoroughly traversed on land and water by a team of three to six members, she said. The overall sighting of water birds is expected to increase when the migratory ones on their return journey to Russia, Tibet and regions of Central Asia make a stop at the dam's wetland area, the PCCF said. They fly back to their breeding grounds from North-West, Central and South India, she said. The dam, about 100 kms from Dharamshsala, is known as Pong Reservoir, Pong Dam Lake and the Maharana Pratap Sagar. It was created in 1975, by building the highest earth fill dam in India on the Beas river in the wetland zone of the Siwalik hills. The dam is a well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 26 international wetland sites declared in India by the Ramsar Convention. The reservoir covers an area of 60,610 acres, and the wetland portion is 38,700 acres. "Over the last few years, the Pong Dam area and the Ramsar site have become ideal destinations for winter sojourn for many species of migratory birds," the PCCF said. Savita said though four species of migratory waterfowls -- mew gull, water rail, ruff and godwit -- could not be seen this year, there were sightings of the great crested grebes, red crested pochards, ferruginous pochards, mallards, tufted ducks, eurasian spoonbills, curlew sandpipers and species of larks and pipits. In general, 425 species of birds, including terrestrial and summer migrant birds, have been sighted at the Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. The birds are drawn to the area as it provides varied habitats and food, she said. The intervention done and protection extended by wildlife staff and active involvement of local communities are also reasons of the wetland area turning into a haven for these birds, Savita said. She said the dominant species are the bar headed geese (29443), northern pintails (17934), common pochards (17742), eurasian coots (16313), common teals (7918), great cormorants (5600), eurasian wigeons (1481), gadwals (1408), greylag geese (1249) and ruddy shelducks (1164). Other uncommon bird species recorded during the survey are the common shelducks (52), northern lapwings (39), common mergansers(31), greater white-fronted geese (24), water pipits(22), pied avocets (6), ospreys (5), black-bellied terns(2), sarus cranes (4), eurasian curlews (2) and white-tailed lapwings (2). One each of the lesser white-fronted goose, common ringed plover and hen harrier species were also spotted, Savita said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Deputy Commissioners of all the eight districts in Mizoram have issued orders banning import of pigs and piglets from other countries in view of possible outbreak of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), officials said Friday. The orders were issued as the dreaded PRRS outbreak always occurred from March to July, during a dry spell after pre-monsoon downpours, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department officials said. According to the records of the Veterinary department, the PRRS had killed 3,806 swine in 2013, and 4,699 and 2,574 pigs in 2016 and 2018 respectively. It was suspected that the PRRS outbreak was due to illegal and even legal import of pigs and piglets from Myanmar where there was reported prevalence of the porcine disease, the officials added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Mirage-2000 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed Friday at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport here killing both the pilots, a Defence official confirmed. Though the pilots made a bid to eject, they were caught in the flames as the plane crashed with a huge explosion, the official added. "This morning, a Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft on an acceptance sortie after upgrade crashed at the HAL Airport, Bengaluru," a Defence public relation officer said in a statement. "Both occupants sustained fatal injuries. Further details are awaited. Investigation into the cause of accident is being ordered," he added. The pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Samir Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddhartha Negi, both from Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment. A police official said, "the body of one the pilots was completely charred while the second pilot was rushed to the Command hospital." Later, the second pilot succumbed to the injuries, the official said. An eye-witness said the plane went up in flames as it crashed with an explosion and thick smoke billowed from the spot, leaving passersby and residents living around the airport in a shock. Soon firefighters and ground staff at the airport swung into action to douse the flames and tried to bring out the pilots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya Police is taking the help of a cyber expert to examine the alleged leakage of the Meghalaya Teachers' Eligibility Test (MTET) question papers hours before the examination on Thursday. Photos of the question paper flooded the social media since early morning, though the examinations were held as scheduled. The leakage was reported in the Garo Hills region and an FIR was lodged in this regard in Tura police station in West Garo Hills district. Candidates aspire to become teachers in lower and upper primary schools of the state appeared for the MTET. District Superintendent of Police Dr MGR Kumar admitted that the matter was serious. "We have already roped in a cyber expert on the matter and we should be able to get down to the bottom of this soon," he said. Meghalaya Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the government is examining the matter and the police were trying to get to the bottom of it. "We are yet to decide if it demands inquiry by other agencies besides the police. By Monday, we will be in a position to decide on the matter," Rymbui told PTI. Congress MLA Dr Azad Aman demanded a CBI inquiry into the question paper leakage. "To ensure transparency, there should be a CBI inquiry in the entire procedure who sets the questions, where the printing was done and under whose custody the printed questions are kept," said Aman who represents Rajabala constituency of West Garo Hills district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 58-year-old man was Friday apprehended at a Delhi Metro station for allegedly carrying a country-made pistol and bullets in his bag, officials said. G Ahamad, a resident of Samastipur district in Bihar, was caught at the Chandni Chowk metro station at about 11:30 am after the X-ray baggage scanner detected the weapon and three bullets inside his bag, they said. The man was handed over to the local police by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel for further investigation, officials said. Carrying arms and ammunition in the Delhi Metro is banned by law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been arrested by the customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valuing over Rs 66 lakh at Delhi airport, according to an official statement issued Friday. The accused was intercepted after his arrival from Hong Kong on Thursday. A detailed personal and baggage search of the passenger resulted in the recovery of two gold bars of one kilogram each, the Customs Department said in the statement. The gold was concealed inside the shoes of the passenger, it said. The accused, aged 38 years, who claims to be a businessman here, has been arrested and the gold valued at Rs 66.02 lakh seized, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Urging the people of the country to promote the motto of 'unity in diversity', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday stressed on the need for interfaith harmony for peaceful coexistence. Banerjee acknowledged the value of interfaith harmony as the need of the hour, especially in the "times of strife and violence". World Interfaith Harmony Week starts today. Acknowledging the value of interfaith harmony in these times of strife and violence is the need of the hour. Let us uphold the motto of 'unity in diversity', Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is a United Nations resolution proposed in 2010 by King Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. The World Interfaith Harmony Week begins from February 1 every year and aims to promote harmony among all people, regardless of their religion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday welcomed the "pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-common man" interim Union Budget 2019-20, which the Opposition denounced as a mere "gimmick" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress dubbed the budget as the BJP's "jumlebaz (filled with gimmicks) manifesto" for the polls, while the NCP termed it as a "lollipop". Attacking the government for not announcing farm loan waiver, the opposition parties alleged that since it had not offered anything to the people in its previous budgets, it has now made populist announcements to assuage prevailing dissent among the public. Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the government Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said Rs 6,000 per year cash support will be given to small and marginal farmers. He also announced a new scheme to provide unorganised workers with up to Rs 15,000 monthly income an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after 60 years of age. "A Pro-worker, pro-poor, pro-farmer, pro-villager & truly pro-common man budget ! Thank you Hon PM @narendramodi ji & Union Minister @PiyushGoyal ji for series of historic decisions in your continuous efforts for a better living to last person of the society! #BudgetForNewIndia," Fadnavis tweeted. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil claimed that the announcements the government had made in its previous five budgets were yet to become a reality. "The ruling party has realised that people won't vote for it as they have been disenchanted. Hence, the populist announcements (are meant) to allay the dissent among the people ahead of the polls and avoid its imminent defeat," the Congress leader said in a statement, terming the budget as "meaningless". He accused the government of proffering cash dole of Rs 6,000 per year per farmer to hide its failure in "doubling the income of farmers as claimed". "The farmers would have benefited had the government announced farm loan waiver in entirety," he said. NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik echoed a similar view. "FM @PiyushGoyal started his #Budget2019 speech with the report card of the government and handed lollipops to #MiddleClass and #Farmers with an eye on forthcoming #LokSabhaElections2019. Farmers were demanding #LoanWaiver and double income but all they got was a lollipop," Malik tweeted. He questioned why there were no provisions meant for the landless farmers. "Tax relief provided at the end of 5 year term? All this because they are staring at defeat in #LokSabhaElections2019. Overall a #Lolipop #Budget," he said on the micro-blogging site. Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde termed the budget as a "poll gimmick". "The government has failed miserably in washing its sins committed in the past four years. This is the 'last' budget of the Modi government," Munde said. Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil dubbed the budget as "mere eye wash and disappointing" and one that offers nothing to the youth and women. "The government could have increased the income tax ceiling to Rs 8 lakh, but it kept it to Rs 5 lakh," Patil observed, adding that the fiscal plan gave "no relief" to the commoners. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men, including an advocate, were arrested for allegedly killing a woman in 2011 for not vacating a house in northwest Delhi's Model Town area where she used to stay on rent, police said Friday. The accused were identified as lawyer Virender Kumar (44), a resident of Loni, Ghaziabad, Prithi Singh alias Prithvi (59), a resident of Burari, and Kamlesh (28), a resident of Azad Pur, they added. On December 18, 2011, the body of a woman was found dumped in the New Usman Pur area. A case was filed at Usmanpur police station and later, it was shifted to Crime Branch, a senior police officer said. During investigation, the deceased was identified as Kiran Aggarwal, a resident of Model Town-II, and on January 19, 2012, her brother filed a missing report, G Ram Gopal Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. On Thursday, police received information about the accused persons and Singh and Kamlesh were arrested. On Friday, Kumar was also apprehended, he said. During interrogation, they disclosed that Aggarwal had a dispute with her landlord over vacating the flat and her landlord had filed a case, he added. Aggarwal was having a matrimonial dispute and had filed a case of domestic violence against her husband. She had hired Virender Kumar for her cases, Naik said. Aggarwal was demanding Rs 2 crore for vacating the flat. Kumar, who was representing the case of Aggarwal in the court, had taken the task of vacating the flat for the landlord in lieu of Rs 30 lakh, Naik added. Kumar conspired with Singh, who was his client and was working as a sweeper in Delhi Jal Board, to eliminate Aggarwal. Singh demanded Rs 1.5 lakh. Later, Singh hired three more criminals Birju, Bunty, and Kamlesh, Naik said. On December 17, 2011, at around 10.30pm, Kumar, Singh, Birju, Bunty and Kamlesh forcefully entered into the flat and dragged her and killed her by strangulating with a leather belt. They wrapped up the body in a bag and dumped it in the New Usmanpur area, he added. Further investigation is in progress and efforts are being made to apprehend the remaining accused, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old labourer was killed and another injured after they accidentally fell into a pit they had dug in outer north Delhi's Vijay Vihar area Friday evening, police said. The deceased, Ravi Kumar, and the injured, identified as Shiv Dutt (19), from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. The information about the incident was received at around 5.30 pm regarding, they said. After reaching the spot, they learnt that the two were digging the pit, a senior police official said. The work was initially assigned to the Delhi Jal Board, who later passed it to a private company, police said. "After digging about 15-16 feet deep, the workers stood near the hole. The surface was not so solid and unfortunately, they slipped and fell into the pit and got submerged under the sand," Gaurav Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer north), said. The victims were rushed to the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, where Kumar was declared brought dead, while Dutt sustained minor injuries, police said. Dutt was later referred to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he is going under treatment, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting out at the BJP-led NDA government, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy asked if the budget presented on Friday was prepared by the finance department or at the RSS headquarters. Kumaraswamy termed the newly announced 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi' as Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's "cotton candy" to the distress hit farming community. He said the "election budget" lacked clarity and need not be taken seriously as the new government that will come in after the election may present a fresh budget. "If this budget is implemented, if at all they (BJP) come back to power again and form the government, under this scheme 59 lakh farmers of our state will get Rs 3,578 crore in one year," Kumaraswamy told reporters here. "Our government in the state is waiving Rs 48,000 crore farm loan, it will cover 44 lakh farmer families," he added. Kumaraswamy recalled how Modi had earlier described the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government's farm loan waiver scheme as a lollipop for the farmers of Karnataka. "They are planning to now give 59 lakh farmers Rs 3,578 crore, what should we call it... You can call it Bombay mithai or cotton candy. This is Narendra Modi's programme," he said. Hitting out at the state government's farm loan waiver scheme, Modi had said "lollipops" were handed out to the farmers and claimed that only 800 farmers had benefited from the scheme. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi announced in the interim budget Friday, Rs 6,000 will be transferred to bank accounts of farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land in three equal instalments. "The budget was prepared by finance department officials or at RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) or BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) headquarters, I don't know," Kumaraswamy said. He said the full tax rebate for income up to Rs 5 lakh was expected as it was a long standing demand after the BJP came to power and they had announced it ahead of Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that the government had failed in meeting the expectations of the farmers. Terming it an "election budget, the chief minister said, "We need not take it seriously, thinking that it will bring about a drastic change." "New government that will come in May (will) present a fresh budget, so this is an election budget, several experts have said this... The state government has no huge expectations from it," he said. The budget lacks clarity, and there are no issues in it to be discussed, he added. Kumaraswamy said no announcement was made with regard to suburban railways for Bengaluru in the budget. "This is the contribution of 17 BJP MPs from the state in the last five years and I congratulate them on behalf of the people of the state," he said, sarcastically. "There is no big support for middle class also in the budget, is increasing the slab to five lakh a big thing," he asked. On the other hand, state BJP chief and leader of the opposition B S Yeddyurappa asked the people to celebrate the budget, as he lauded Modi and Finance Minister Piyush Goyal for the government's initiatives and keeping all sections of the society in mind. He cited various schemes announced in the budget including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, increase in MSP, Kamadhenu Ayog and enhancing income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. "Piyush Goyal has tabled a historic budget today, this is because of initiatives taken by PM Modi to improve the economic situation of the country. I congratulate Modi and Goyal for this good budget," he added. In a series of tweets, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the budget as "anti-farmer and anti-youth." Both these sectors are in complete distress, he said. "There is nothing mentioned in this budget to give solace to them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has betrayed both these sectors," he said. Unemployment was a major concern, he said, adding that no programme has been announced for creation of jobs. Describing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi as a copy of 'Raita Belaku' programme announced by him in the 2018-19 state budget, the Congress leader said in the programme announced by him Rs 5000 would be given per hectare. Also noting that farmers have obtained Rs 11 lakh crore farm loan from nationalised banks, Siddaramaiah, who was former state finance minister, tweeted there was expectation that government may waive farmers loan from nationalised banks, but it has turned out be false. The Congress' Karnataka unit described the budget "BJP manifesto", and said Friday was not April 1 to fool people. "It is not 'April 1' today @narendramodi ji and @PiyushGoyal ji, it's February 1. The budget looks more like BJP Manifesto rather than a budget," it said. "You cannot fool people with your nice sentences & never in the history has any one lied so much on the floor. #AakhriJumlaBudget," it tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Korean man has been apprehended at the airport here for allegedly using a fake ticket to enter the terminal area, a senior official said Friday. Dongwan Cho was intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel when he was about to leave the Terminal-3 building of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) Thursday night at about 11:30 pm, he said. The man, from South Korea, was stopped and questioned while exiting the terminal area. He told the security personnel that he used a cancelled ticket to enter the terminal area to see off his wife, who was travelling to Seoul, the official said. The official said the man was subsequently handed over to police as his ticket was a fake travel document and he was charged with trespass. Under the aviation security rules, a passenger is allowed to enter the airport terminal only to board a flight and is not allowed to exit the terminal under normal circumstances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala government Friday said it would soon take an appropriate decision on the long-pending demand of restoration of various rights of Mala Araya tribe including lighting the 'Makaravilakku' at Ponnambalamedu in Sabarimala. Replying to a calling attention motion by BJP's lone MLA O Rajagopal in the assembly, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the 2011 Kerala High Court order shows that the members of the tribal community had played a key role in the rituals and traditions of Sabarimala temple. "... after considering all the aspects, the government will take an appropriate decision with regard to the participation of the tribe in performing various rituals including the lighting of the Makaravilakku," Surendran told the house. Makaravilakku appears on the Ponnambalamedu hill, around eight km from the shrine, on Makara Samkrathi day which usually falls on January 14 every year. The lighting of the lamp by the Kerala government with the support of the Travancore Devosom Board and forest department at Ponnamabalamedu is the continuation of the practice followed by tribal families who lived near the hilltop. "We all know how the Makaravilakku is being lit. It was done by forest dwellers earlier. Now it is being lit by the government officials. The Mala Araya community has been demanding restoration of their rights," Rajagopal said while seeking attention of the government to the demands of the tribal community. Surendran, in his reply informed the house that a memorandum was submitted by the Aikya Mala Araya Mahasabha and and Sree Ayyappa Dharma Sangham, saying their community used to light the Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu. "They also have mentioned in their memorandum that used to perform the ghee and honey anoinment on the idol of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.... "In a high court order of 2011 it was mentioned that regular pujas were held at Ponnambalamedu and the tribe continued to light Makaravilakku on the Makarasamkranti day. This shows that the tribe played a key role in the rituals and traditions of the temple," Surendran said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala Assembly Friday condemned the action of right-wing All India Hindu Mahasabha burning an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi, in an enactment of his assassination on his death anniversary. Opposition Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded that the Assembly condemn the action of the Hindu Mahasabha activists who fired at the effigy before setting it ablaze on Wednesday. "The act of the Mahasabha was barbaric. The incident of enacting the killing of Gandhi and praising Godse was anti-national," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Five suspects, allegedly belonging to the All India Hindu Mahasabha, had fired at the effigy before setting it ablaze in Aligarh on Wednesday. They have been arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) K P Singh, senior IPS officer of the 1985 batch, on Friday assumed the charge as officiating Director General of Police (DGP) Haryana. The state government has assigned the charge of DGP, Haryana, to Singh, who is DG Haryana Human Rights Commission, in addition to his present duty, an official statement said. According to an official order, Singh has been assigned the charge of DGP of the Haryana police "till the finalisation of the ongoing process of regular appointment to the post as per guidelines of the Supreme Court". The tenure of incumbent DGP B S Sandhu, who was scheduled to retire in September 2018 ended on January 31 after he was granted a three-month extension in service earlier. The Supreme Court had on January 16 dismissed the pleas of five states, including Haryana, seeking modification of its order issued last year on the selection and appointment of director generals of police (DGPs). The apex court last month was hearing applications of various state governments, including Haryana, seeking implementation of their local laws regarding the selection and appointment of DGPs. Sandhu was due to retire on December 31 last year after the extension, but was to continue to remain in office till January 31 this year, according to the earlier order of the Supreme Court. Several states were seeking modification of the apex court's earlier order directing all the states to mandatorily take the assistance of the Union Public Service Commission in short-listing the names for appointing DGPs. The top court had on July 3 last year passed a slew of directions on police reforms in the country and chronicled the steps for appointment of regular DGPs. It said the states will have to send a list of senior police officers to the UPSC at least three months prior to the retirement of the incumbent DGP. The commission will then prepare a panel and intimate the states, which in turn will immediately appoint one of the persons from that list. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Friday hailed the interim budget as a balanced one that would take the country on the path of all round development. He said that new employment would be generated by this budget, which would prove a mile stone in the creation of New India. Das said the budget has priority for welfare of farmers, agriculture and rural development. Addressing a press conference here, Das said that the 2019-20 central budget has underlined Rs 75,000 crore for agriculture, which would nurse the present and future of farmers. This budget reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modis Sab ka Saath Sab ka Vikas (together with all, development for all), keeping the poor, labourers, youth, women, farmers and rural development as focus areas, Das said and stated the peoples faith has increased in Modi during the last four years. The introduction of Pradhan Mantri Kishan Yozana in the central budget has underlined to give Rs 6000 per year to small farmers having up to two hectare, Das said, adding farmers from Jharkhand will benefit from this new scheme as the state government has already announced to give Rs 5000 per acre per year under Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yozana----giving a total financial benefit of Rs 11,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Italian Trade Commissioner Francesco Pensabene Friday, terming the Indian market as crucial and strategic for Italy, sought relaxation of trade barriers to improve the relationship between both the countries. Also, the commissioner lauded programmes such as 'Startup India', 'Skill India' and 'Make in India' saying they have made the enviroment more open, wider, interesting and profitable to foreign companies. "India is a crucial and strategic market for us. Italy is the fourth largest trade partner to India among EU members," he said on the sidelines of 34th edition of the India International Leather Fair here. Seeking relaxation of trade barriers for Italian companies to gain easy access to Indian market, Pensabene said everybody knows there were heavy duties and tariffs in some sectors which posed difficulties to some Italian companies. "For example, food, furniture and components. So we believe a lower level of duties would help the two countries improve their relations," he said adding that he did not, however, represent all Italian companies. ''We are interested in the Indian market. The move would, of course, benefit other companies overseas too. We all believe in India and this great partnership, he told PTI. Pensabene said trade exchange between the two countries grew by 12-13 per cent during the 10-month period from January-October 2018, indicating a positive trend. In 2017, the trade exchange accounted for 8.7 billion Euros out of which Italian exports accounted for 3.6 billion Euros with the rest dominated by Indian exports. "This means there is deficit for Italy and that deficit is in favour of India which is performing quite well," he said. The diplomat praised the capacity of the country in implementing the GST regime which he saw was a complex one. He said that portrayed India as a more stronger and stable market. "I don't want to flatter. But India has been capable to realise and reform a very difficult and complex task. This is very important for Italian companies in particular," he said. More than 40 per cent of Italian exports into India were dominated by industrial machineries (textile, machine tools, marble-cutting, leather). Over 400 Italian companies have presence in India and the number increases to over 600 when joint ventures are considered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming the Union Budget the "final jumla" of the Narendra Modi government, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday said it has disappointed the city. The Centre Friday allocated Rs 1,112 crore for Delhi in the Union Budget, while keeping its share in central taxes and duties unchanged. Kejriwal rued the "stagnant" share of Delhi in central taxes and his party too alleged "step-motherly treatment" by the BJP government at the Centre. "Final jumla of Modi govt: it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially (sic)," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. He also tweeted, "1. Invest heavily in edu n health 2. Increase min wages n enforce it 3. Give crop prices 1.5 times cost 4. One time farm loan waiver. This wud put money in pocket of poorest, create demand, give boost to economy n create jobs. None of it done in budget (sic)." The ruling party in Delhi termed Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's budget speech an "election speech" of a government hardly four months away from its "departure". "The BJP government at the Centre has given step-motherly treatment to the people of Delhi. From 2001, the Centre is giving only Rs 325 crore to the Delhi government despite getting lakhs of crores of rupees collected as taxes. As per the Finance Commission recommendation, it should be around Rs 70,000 crore," AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said. The Delhi government has been given Rs 472 crore as central assistance in the interim Budget for 2019-20 presented by Goyal in Parliament. In the previous budget, the Centre had allotted a total of Rs 790 crore. The central assistance to the city government was Rs 499.99 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who heads the finance department of the Delhi government, complained of "nominal increase" in central assistance. In the interim Budget, the share in central taxes of Delhi has not been increased from Rs 325 crore which is stagnant since 2001-02, he said in a statement. "The Delhi government deserves its legitimate share in central taxes to finance various developmental projects. We had requested the Government of India a number of times to enhance the allocation to at least Rs 6,000 crore as share in central taxes as against Rs 325 crore being released to Delhi," Sisodia said. The budget of Delhi has increased from Rs 8,739 crore in the year 2001-02 to Rs 53,000 crore in 2018-19, whereas the share in central taxes has remained frozen at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02, he said. The Delhi deputy chief minister also claimed the Centre has not allocated any funds to the local bodies in Delhi though it was requested for by the Kejriwal government. "No funds have been earmarked to local bodies in Delhi although we had requested for allocation of at least Rs 1,000 crore as basic and performance grants to them in 2018-19 (revised estimates) and Rs 1150 crore in 2019-20 (budget estimates)." Sisodia said, the Delhi government had requested the Centre to enhance the normal central assistance to Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20, but it has declined by two percentage points, although the expenditure of the government on its schemes has increased to Rs 22,000 crore. "We had requested (the Centre) to increase the normal central assistance to at least Rs 1,300 crore in the current year revised estimate and Rs 1,500 crore in 2019-20 budgetary estimates. However, an amount of Rs 472 crore as an additional central assistance has been proposed in 2019-20 as against Rs 450 crore in the current year," he said. An amount of Rs 10 crore each has been proposed under 2018-19 (RE) and 2019-20 (BE) as reimbursement of compensation to 1984 riot victims to Delhi government, the deputy chief minister said. The Rs 5 crore proposed for the Delhi government as an assistance for the Delhi Disaster Response Fund is "negligible", he said. The figure of Rs 1,112 crore shown in 2019-20 (Budget Estimates) is mainly due to loan taken from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the externally aided project for a water treatment plant at Chandrawal. However, on all other parameters, it is more or less at the same level, Sisodia added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to two years and six months in jail for his part in an illegal drug trafficking network in the UK. Bhavin Patel, 27, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court in London on Thursday along with an accomplice, 25-year-old Lawrence Amoah, who was jailed for five years and seven months after the duo pleaded guilty to the offence of supplying Class 'A' drugs. The court noted their role in County Lines activity, which involves gangs in cities such as London using children as young as 11 to deal mostly heroin and crack cocaine over a network of dedicated mobile phones to smaller towns. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Justin Cole said to Amoah there was "overwhelming inference that you activated that line and supplied Patel" and that he was "directing or organising on a commercial scale, opening a new drugs market with an expectation of significant financial gain". "County Lines is a problem that the Met, along with the Mayor of London, is committed to tackling and today's result is a positive step in disrupting those who profit off selling drugs," said Metropolitan Police Detective Constable Tom Palmer from the local Gangs Unit. "The judge's comments totally reflect our own, in the fact that Amoah was attempting to open a drugs market on a commercial scale, and only cared about making as much money for himself as possible," he said. The case dates back to October last year, when Scotland Yard officers on patrol came across a black BMW X5 parked up on Cambridge Road in Harrow, north London. Officers approached the car and noticed Patel, who was sitting in the driver's seat, and Amoah, in the passenger's seat, were pretending to be asleep. Officers knocked and both suspects refused to open the door. After about a minute, they opened the door but were reluctant to answer any questions. "Drug paraphernalia was found in the car and both suspects were searched at the scene. Patel was found with 125 wraps of heroin on his possession whilst Amoah was found with a mobile phone, which was subsequently found to be running a County Lines operation in the Kingston and Surrey areas," the Met Police said. Both men were arrested for possession with intent to supply Class 'A' drugs, which Patel resisted and "reasonable force" was used by the police officers to detain him. Both were taken to a nearby police station, where they were interviewed and charged on the same day to appear before court. Subsequent enquiries showed that Amoah had established the drug line on October 6, shortly after his release on remand for an unrelated matter. Amoah and Patel were subsequently making daily trips to the Kingston and Surrey areas to supply Class 'A' or illegal drugs. The police investigation revealed that Amoah was in control of the drugs line and would send a "bulk" message to over a 100 "customers" in the dealing areas and Patel would then travel to these areas, either with Amoah or under his direction, in order to supply the drugs. There has been an increasing crackdown of the so-called County Lines drugs trade in the UK, in which criminal networks exploit thousands of children and vulnerable adults to funnel hard drugs from cities to towns and rural areas. The country's National Crime Agency (NCA) recently released an annual assessment of the illegal trade and found that phone numbers identified by law enforcement officials as being used on established County Lines networks is now 2,000 - nearly three times the 720 previously established. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Niraj Antani, an 27-year-old Indian-American Republican state representative, has announced that he will be running for the Ohio state Senate in 2020. Antani represents Miamisburg in the 42nd Legislative District. He is currently serving a third term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He will run for the open State Senate District 6, currently represented by Senator Peggy Lehner whose term is ending and also she is retiring, Antani was quoted as saying in a statement by a local radio station on January 30. The Ohio Senate District 6, which encompasses most Dayton area suburbs, has been a Republican stronghold since 1985. "Having been born and raised in this community, I am running for state senator to ensure every Ohioan who works for it has the opportunity to achieve their American Dream," Antani said in a statement. "I will lay out a vision throughout this campaign to solve the many great challenges our community and state face." The Ohio Senate is the upper chamber of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body that makes laws for Ohio's 11.5 million citizens. Antani is the third youngest member of the state House of Representatives and the first Indian American Republican elected to the Ohio House. Born and raised in Miamisburg, he is a graduate of the Ohio State University. If elected as state senator, he would become the highest ranking Indian American elected official, and the first Indian-American state senator in Ohio history, the statement said. "I just knocked on the first door of my campaign for state Senator! Team Antani is pounding the pavement, talking to voters about their most important issues. We will work hard every day to earn the support of every voter," he tweeted on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has sought consular access to its students detained by the US authorities and has impressed upon the Trump administration the need to address the situation at the earliest, the external affairs ministry said on Friday. Asserting that the government was according the "highest priority" to the situation arising out of the detention of Indian students in the US, External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India has also highlighted that a distinction should be made between those involved in recruiting or enrolling students and students who have been duped or defrauded in the process. One-hundred-thirty foreign students arrested by US authorities for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US are largely Indians. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made the arrests on Wednesday. "As soon as we received the information regarding their detention, our mission contacted the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security requesting for a list of the detained students along with relevant identity details, the place of their detention, etc," he said. He said the government together with Indian Mission in Washington and the Indian Consulates in the US were according the highest priority to the situation arising out of the detention of Indian students in the US. "We have placed a formal request for consular access, emphasizing that the request may be taken as very high priority. We have highlighted that a distinction should be made between those involved in recruiting or enrolling students and students who have been duped or defrauded in the process," Kumar said. "Our Mission and Posts are ready to render all assistance to Indian students in the US to deal with the emerging situation. We have also involved Indian community organizations in reaching out to the students," Kumar said, adding India is monitoring the situation closely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Healthcare industry Friday welcomed the government's move to include 'Healthy India' as one of its 10 key priorities under the vision for the next decade as highlighted by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in his Budget speech for 2019-20. The industry, however, said it expected higher budget allocation for healthcare. Reacting to the Interim Budget, Apollo Hospitals Group Joint MD Sangita Reddy said: "The interim budget threw light on the Government's dedication to a healthy India with a distress-free healthcare system". The Budget highlighted the government's aim to bridge the urban-rural divide and provide benefits that people in a city have to those staying in villages. Healthcare should be a critical component of these efforts, she added. "We must not lose this opportunity to address the urban-rural imbalance in health infrastructure and ensure specific policies to encourage private sector to invest in the same," Reddy said. Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) said the inclusion of 'Healthy India' in the government's 10 key priorities under Vision 2030 is one of the key takeaways from today's budget. The Interim Budget 2019-20 appears to be comprehensive, wide ranging and balanced, with many positives for the health sector, however, the government needs to revisit unfinished agenda such as 'Priority Sector' status to healthcare..., it added. "NATHEALTH welcomes the scaling up plans for the Ayushman Bharat Mission and the government's focus on universal health coverage that improves India's march towards a Swasthya Bharat. However, we believe it has to be done collaboratively through value based scientific costing driving sustainable pricing supported by improved ecosystem efficiency gains," its Secretary General Siddhartha Bhattacharya said. Stating that one interesting highlight in the interim budget is the vision for 'Healthy India' by building a distress free, functional and comprehensive healthcare and wellness system by 2030, Aster DM Healthcare Founder Chairman and MD Azad Moopen said: "What we missed in this budget is the increase in budget pie for healthcare". Saying that healthcare industry was expecting larger spends on Ayushman Bharat programme, Sahajanand Medical Technologies CEO Ganesh Sabat said: "... we expected larger spends on Ayushman Bharat but the current increase is insufficient". There is no beneficiary scheme for the local manufacturers of medical device, whereas the government wants to reduce healthcare cost in India, he added. The speech spelled out the central government's scale-up in healthcare initiatives over the past few years. This is encouraging as this focus helps augment and strengthen health access across India, Roche Diagnostics, MD India and Neighbouring Markets Shravan Subramanyam said. "With the announcement of ambitious projects like Ayushman Bharat last year, expectations were high for the 2019 Budgetary recommendations on healthcare. Some inclusions on outpatient care and diagnostics would have been great," he added. Manipal Hospitals Chairman Sudarshan Ballal said, Ayushman Bharat will empower the needy class of the country, a movement that can potentially change the healthcare in India. A scheme of this magnitude would be very challenging and certainly a herculean task to implement. "The main problems I see in implementing this, would be the need to build an enormous infrastructure, healthcare personnel and finances. The government has allocated some additional funds for this but will require a much larger allocation in the future," he added . India is emerging as a new target for patent filings in the field of Artificial Intelligence and is among the top countries for publications in specific categories such as computer vision and natural language processing, according to a UN report. According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Technology Trends report, 50 per cent of all patents for AI the replication of human intelligence by machines for use in industries such as transport and healthcare, for instance have been published since 2013, adding up to more than 170,000 different patented ideas. Australia, Canada, Germany, India and the UK hold prominent positions in publications in specific categories such as computer vision, natural language processing, speech processing, distributed AI and predictive analytics. The report said that while major patent offices receiving patent filings in the AI field are France, Germany, the Republic of Korea and the UK, India is emerging as a new target for patent filing. The greatest number of patent applications are filed in the patent offices of U.S. and China, followed by Japan, South Korea, Germany, Australia and India. The report noted that India was ranked eighth for first filings in 2015 and has enjoyed a high rate of annual growth during recent years (with an average of 33 per cent in the three years up to 2015). India ranks fourth in scientific publications (ahead of Japan), Italy, which ranks ninth, and Spain, which is 10th. India ranks third in fuzzy logic and fourth in machine learning, whereas it is eighth or lower in patenting activity. "This suggests that India has strengths in AI research that might become even more evident within the next few years in terms of patenting activity," it said. The "upsurge" in patent applications for devices and machines powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the last five years, suggests that it could soon revolutionize all areas of daily life far beyond the tech world, the UN report said on Thursday. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry told journalists in Geneva the surge in patenting was striking, noting that AI research began in the 1950s. "But there has been a quantum leap since about 2013, so we're dealing with what is happening right now in a very fast-moving field," he said. By number, patent applications for machine learning, indicate that this is currently the dominant application of AI; think of apps that include ride-sharing services to minimize detours. The fastest-growing AI area is deep learning, however, which is used in speech recognition. This saw a 175-per cent annual increase in patent applications from 2013 to 2016, far in excess of the 33 per cent average for all patents in the same period. The United States and China dominate the field of patent application, although only a fraction of China's patents is filed abroad. US-based tech giant IBM leads by number of patent applications (8,290), followed by Microsoft (5,930). Japan's Toshiba has the next highest patent tally (5,223), ahead of South Korea's Samsung (5,102) and Japan's NEC Group (4,406). China's increasingly important role in the sector is also illustrated by the fact that Chinese organizations make up 17 of the top 20 academic players in AI patenting, as well as 10 of the top 20 in AI-related scientific publications. In coming years, AI is set to grow with major military and economic uses, Gurry said, before highlighting the importance of proposed WIPO-led discussions between Member States, on legal and ethical issues relating to intellectual property rights that have been raised by the technology. "One would expect that the strategic focus of major geopolitical players will turn to their positioning in relation to AI," he said. Internet search giants have also been key to the AI revolution, the WIPO report shows, with Google (US) and Baidu (China) embracing the potential of the technology early on, just as Microsoft and Apple did before them. In addition to the US and China's large populations, the WIPO head noted the importance of State-led support for innovation in both places, which included investing in technology hubs and even training specialized patent officers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu Friday hailed the Budget for 2019-20, saying it has focused on people, progress and prosperity. "Indeed a budget for the people, of the people!. Focusing on three main components of our glorious nation - people, progress and prosperity. This budget will move us towards #NewIndia by 2022," Prabhu said in a series of tweets. He said this Budget has shown the government's commitment and dedication in ensuring that welfare reaches every home, section of society, and industry. "Youths are the strength of India!. Our government aims to harness their potential through #SkillIndia Training over 1 crore youth and helping them earn a livelihood," Prabhu added. However, there was no major announcement to boost the country's exports. Making a big populist push in its final Budget before elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government Friday exempted people with an earning of up to Rs 5 lakh from payment of income tax, announced an annual cash dole-out of Rs 6,000 to small farmers and provided a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to workers in the unorganised sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old student of IIT Hyderabad died Friday after allegedly falling from the seventh floor of a building on the campus, police said Friday. According to Sangareddy rural police, the deceased was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad. The police said they have not ruled out the possibility of suicide. "We are verifying some emails sent by the deceased to one of his friends," a police official said. He was a fourth year student in mechanical and aerospace engineering here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways owner IAG, said Friday that he was "very confident" that London and Brussels would reach a "comprehensive agreement" on post-Brexit aviation. Walsh, speaking at a relaunch of global airline alliance Oneworld, added that a chaotic no-deal Brexit would not deter passengers from flying. "I remain very confident that we will see a comprehensive agreement between the UK and the EU on aviation," Walsh told journalists at the event in central London. "I've seen nothing to suggest that confidence is misplaced." He added: "Aviation has been one of the best successes of Europe and it will continue to be after Brexit; we will continue to see flights operating, and I think everybody is clear on that at this stage." Questioned about the industry impact of a disorderly no-deal Brexit, he replied: "I don't think it's going to have any impact on passenger numbers." Walsh was also quizzed about the future of the A380 superjumbo, one day after its maker, European aerospace giant Airbus, revealed it was in talks with Emirates over a deal reached last year for 36 of its A380 jets, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Media reports suggest that the Gulf carrier is considering converting some or all of the order to the smaller A350. "I've no concerns about the A380. We are very pleased with the 12 A380s that BA operates. It's been an excellent aircraft for us," Walsh said. The IAG boss however urged Airbus to be more "aggressive" on pricing. "I've been very clear with Airbus that if they want to sell the aircraft they are going to have to be very aggressive on the price because there is great competition between aircraft manufacturers at the moment." Walsh said that IAG was in "the late stages of negotiations" with Airbus, US aerospace giant Boeing, as well as engine-makers Rolls-Royce and GE, to get more wide-body aircraft to replace its ageing 747 jumbo jets. "We have made it clear to Airbus that we might consider some additional aircraft but it would only be at a price that we would find attractive," Walsh said. "We have not been able to reach that level that would encourage us to get new A380s. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stefano Furari and Poornima Pande's 'I was a Sari' project won the first Circular Design Challenge at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019 here. Furari and Pande will receive cash prize of Rs 20 lakh and an opportunity to present their collection at the upcoming Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2019 as part of the award. The award, launched in August at the Winter Festive 2018 edition of LFW in a collaboration between Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) R Elan Fashion for Earth' initiative, Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) and the United Nations (UN) in India, aims at promoting sustainable fashion. It received 900 entries from over 30 cities in India and in November last year, a shortlist of eight designers was announced who presented their collection on Thursday at the ongoing LFW Summer/Resort edition. The jury included designer Rahul Mishra, Country Head, UN Environment India, Atul Bagai and actor Neha Dhupia among others. 'I was a Sari', an eco-ethical lifestyle fashion brand, works with the underprivileged community of women in Mumbai. "After this win, we want to increase the reach of our brand. I think there are a lot of people who are seeking out stuff like ours. So we want to invest a big portion of our prize money in digital marketing. Probably in the future we will have a dedicated design team. Right now we only collaborate with other designers and brands," Poornima told PTI. "We are in fashion by chance. The reason we are here because we believe in social inclusion and women empowerment and these two will always be the main pillars of 'I was a Sari'," Stefano added. Other seven finalists in the challenge included Aiman Sabri (Delhi), Aman Singh (Delhi), Kriti Tula (Delhi), Seerat Virdi (Ludhiana), Pooja Monga (Mumbai), Kanika Ahuja (Delhi) and Bhavya Goenka (Jaipur). Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019 ends on February 3. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Friday reported a marginal increase in domestic sales at 45,803 units in January. The company had sold 45,508 units in January 2018, HMIL said in a statement. "January 2019 started on a cautious note, however, the company registered all model growth on account of strong performance by all new Santro, Grand i10, Elite i20, Verna and Creta," HMIL National Sales Head Vikas Jain said. The government has announced many people-oriented schemes with focus on rural economy during the 2019-20 Interim Budget, and the company expects it to give positive impetus to customer sentiments and business environment, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police on Friday claimed to have solved the murder of a 34-year-old woman and her daughter within 24 hours with the arrest of her husband and his girlfriend. Tahsin Illias Hussain Sayyed and her two-and-a-half years old daughter were found killed with their throats slit inside a flat in Mahim area of central Mumbai Thursday. The police said Friday that Illias Sayyed (38), the woman's husband, was having an affair with Afreen Banu, which led to frequent quarrels between him and Tahsin. After one such fight, Illias, with the help of Banu, allegedly killed Tahsin and the daughter Thursday morning, the police said. After committing the crime, Illias allegedly sent a message to himself from Tahsin's phone to make it appear that he was not present at the crime spot and the Tahsin was alive at that point. The accused also attempted to burn the bodies by setting them on fire, the police said. It was the smoke from the flat that had alerted neighbours. The police have arrested Illias and Banu under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), an official said, adding that further probe was on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From reference to "josh" of Bollywood flick 'Uri', jeering by opposition members to chants of "Modi, Modi" from the BJP, there were varied reactions in Lok Sabha as Finance Minister Piyush Goyal gave his interim budget speech on Friday. Goyal announced various populist measures, including direct cash transfer to farmers and income tax exemptions, all of which were welcomed by thumping of desks by the ruling side. Attired in a grey jacket and black kurta, Goyal also made it a point to explain some of the key announcements, including those related to income tax sops, in Hindi. Traditionally, finance ministers stick to their written Budget speech. Goyal paused for almost a minute as the ruling party members continued to cheer and chant "Modi, Modi" and thumped their desks after he announced doubling of income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh from the next fiscal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior ministers were also seen thumping their desks. "It was fun watching There was a lot of josh (energy) in the movie ( movie mein jo maza aaya. Jo Josh tha)," Goyal said while mentioning the future agenda. This prompted many members, including Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to deliver the movie's dialogue "How is the josh". The finance minister used the word 'josh' twice during the speech. During the speech, Modi was seen thumping his desk numerous times. After the Budget presentation, Goyal turned towards Modi with folded hands. Soon after, a smiling Modi walked up to Goyal and patted him on his back. As some opposition members tried to disturb Goyal's speech, the laughter of TMC members -- Idris Ali and Kalyan Banerjee -- rang out aloud in the House prompting the minister to say it reminded him of the Ram Lila. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to... probably it reminded of the Ram Lila," Goyal said. He was apparently referring to Modi's swipe at the then Congress MP Renuka Chowdhary after her loud laughter during his speech in Rajya Sabha last year. ALSO READ: Interim Budget 2019: No income tax on income of up to Rs 5 lakh a year The finance minister, who entered the House around five to seven minutes before the proceedings began, touched the feet of Cabinet colleagues Nitin Gadkari and Uma Bharti, and BJP veteran Shanta Kumar. Goyal, who is the interim finance minister as Arun Jaitley is in the US for treatment, mentioned him in the beginning of the speech, saying he was "deeply conscious of the absence of Shri Arun Jaitley today". After finishing the speech, many MPs congratulated Goyal, and as he was walking, he waved at his family members, including wife Seema Goyal, standing in the visitors' gallery. ALSO READ: Ahead of LS polls, Modi govt reaches out to large electorate in Budget 2019 The family members waved back and one of gave the thumbs up. Congress President Rahul Gandhi was away from the House for a brief period during the Budget presentation. This prompted some BJP members to remark that 'Rahul Baba bhag gaye (Rahul ran away)'. The visitors' gallery was almost full and Rajya Sabha members, including Rajeev Chandrashekhar (BJP), Y S Chowdary (TDP) and Majeed Memon (NCP), were present there. Former Union Minister M J Akbar and former RBI Deputy Governor Narendra Jadhav, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, were also present. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress' Chief Whip in the House Jyotiraditya Scindia and Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai were not in the House. Blockbuster movie 'Uri' and its catchy dialogue "How is the Josh" made its way to Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's budget speech Friday. During the presentation, Goyal said he watched the movie and liked it very much. The movie "Uri: The Surgical Strike" is based on the 2016 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on terror launch pads across the border after the attack on an Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. "It was fun watching Uri. There was a lot of josh (energy) in the movie (Uri movie mein jo maza aaya. Jo Josh tha)," he said. This prompted many members, including Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to deliver the movie's dialogue "How is the josh". Goyal used the word 'josh' twice in the budget. Several BJP leader and ministers have watched the movie. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also referred to the film's dialogue in his public speeches in recent days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The Madras High Court Friday directed all the teaching staff of the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University to furnish affidavits explaining their terms of appointment, including their qualification, to weed out unqualified professors and lecturers appointed by favouritism. The teaching staff has been asked to file sworn affidavits by February 20 Justice S M Subramaniam, in an interim order, said the court would scrutinise each affidavit independently and check whether the appointments were according to the norms of the University Grants Commission. If not, they would face the consequences, the judge said. The order was passed based on a plea by professor of the university D Sankar seeking the court to remove unqualified persons from the service of the university enabling the students to get proper and good legal There was a general allegation that students are not respecting teachers, the petitioner said. If the teachers were unqualified and not able to take classes properly how would the students respect them. One should command respect, not demand it, Justice Subramaniam said. The court could see appointments made by favouritism, he said. After two years of such appointment on contractual basis, silently proposals would be sent to the state government and such persons' service would be regularised, he said. Expressing disappointment over such issues, the judge said that the court was concerned over the welfare of the students and the institution as it would directly affect the quality of future lawyers and judges society would get. This apart, as the former vice-chancellor of the university P Vanangamudi who is a party responded to the plea disputed the qualification of the present vice-chancellor Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry, the judge directed the UGC to file a report on the educational and other qualification for the post. The court then impleaded all the serving teaching staff of the university as respondents to the plea and directed them to file the affidavits by February 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat High Court Friday directed a magistrate's court in Bhavnagar district to register FIRs against policemen accused of brutally thrashing villagers who were agitating against limestone mining. Justice Sonia Gokani asked the Judicial Magistrate at Talaja to lodge first information reports against all the police officers accused of custodial torture of 54 persons, including women, from Bambhor village. The HC passed the order after going through medical reports and statements given to the magistrate by the victims. The villagers have demanded that a committee be formed to investigate the violence, and Bhavnagar District Superintendent of Police P L Mal be suspended. The high court will hear the case next on February 11. The villagers alleged in the petition that Bhavnagar Police arrested around 90 people for taking out a peaceful march against limestone mining by a private firm at Bambhor village on January 2. Around 50 to 70 male police personnel from Datha Police Station beat them mercilessly at the behest of senior police officials, which led to "fracture in the hands, legs, serious injuries on the spinal cord", they alleged. The police did not take the injured villagers, including women, to hospital and kept them in custody till they were produced in the court on January 3, the petition said. In the magistrate's court, the 54 agitators complained of custodial torture by policemen, allegedly in the presence of Superintendent of Police P L Mal. The agitators were granted bail on January 10 on the condition that they will not go near the mining site. The petition claimed that the Talaja magistrate recorded their statements about custodial torture and forwarded it to the sessions court as per the procedure, but no action was taken for three weeks, which compelled them to move the high court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unveiling the development vision for the next decade, the government Friday said it would focus on 10 key areas including job creation, physical and social infrastructure building, pollution-free nation and clean rivers. Presenting the Budget 2019-20, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal laid out vision for 10 most important dimensions in 2030. "The first dimension of this vision will be to build physical as well as social infrastructure for a USD 10-trillion economy and to provide ease of living," he said. It will comprise, he said, next-generation infrastructure of roads, railways, seaports, airports, urban transport, gas and electric transmission and inland waterways. On the social infrastructure side, Goyal said every family will have a roof over its head and will live in a healthy, clean and wholesome environment. "We will also build a quality, science-oriented educational system with institutes of excellence providing leadership at the top," he said. The other dimensions of the visions include creating a Digital India reaching every sector of the economy; making India a pollution-free nation; expanding rural industrialisation using modern digital technologies to generate massive employment; space; and clean rivers. Elaborating on rural industrialisation, he said this would be built upon the Make in India approach to develop grassroot-level clusters, structures and mechanisms encompassing the MSMEs, village industries and start-ups spread in the country. The fifth dimension of the Vision for India 2030 is clean rivers, with safe drinking water to all Indians and efficient use of water in irrigation using micro-irrigation techniques. "Our coastline and our ocean waters powering India's development and growth is the sixth dimension of our vision," he said, adding that making India self-sufficient in food, exporting to the world to meet their food needs and producing food in the most organic way is the eighth dimension. "High farm production and productivity will be achieved through modern agricultural practices and value addition. An integrated approach towards agro and food processing, preservation, packaging and maintenance of the cold chain will be our focus of attention," he added. Further, he said that by 2030, the government will work towards a distress-free health care and a functional and comprehensive wellness system for all. "Our India of 2030 will have a proactive and responsible bureaucracy which will be viewed as friendly to people," the minister said. With this comprehensive 10-dimensional Vision, "we will create an India where poverty, malnutrition, littering and illiteracy would be a matter of the past. India would be a modern, technology driven, high growth, equitable and transparent society," the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the intervention of Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, the government and the opposition reached an understanding on six bills to be taken up for consideration and passage in the upper house, sources said Friday. However, no consensus was reached on the contentious triple talaq and citizenship amendment bills, sources said, suggesting that their fate hangs in balance. Earlier in the day, Naidu urged both the government and the opposition, saying a sincere effort shall be made to ensure proper functioning of the House to send out the right message, as this budget session is the last one before general elections. Following his intervention, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his deputy Vijay Goel held a 30-minute-long meeting with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of other parties, official sources said. As a result of the meetings, it was decided six legislative proposals, including one to replace an ordinance, will be taken up during the session, sources further said. The Companies (Amendment) Bill to replace ordinance, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill 2019, Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019, Aadhar and other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019, are the ones which a consensus has been reached by both sides. Rajya Sabha is likely to discuss a motion of thanks to the president during February 4 to 6, the budget on February 7 and 11. In the last two days, it will take up the agreed upon legislations for consideration and passage. February 8 is earmarked for the private members bill. Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad, BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav, Congress leader Anand Sharma, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra and TMC leader Derek O'Brien were among the leaders who attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Economic Affairs Secretary Friday said the government expects Rs 28,000 crore from the (RBI) as an in the current financial year. The government has already received Rs 40,000 crore from the during 2018-19, Garg told reporters in the post Budget interaction. When asked how much the government expects from the RBI, he said, "Rs 28,000 crore". The decision with regard to will be taken in the next board meeting. The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was involved in a series of terror acts in the country, has been banned by the government for five years as it continues to indulge in subversive activities. According to a Home Ministry notification, if the unlawful activities of SIMI are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will continue its subversive activities, re-organise its activists, who are still absconding, and disrupt the secular fabric of the country by propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionism. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby declares the SIMI as an 'unlawful association' and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years," the notification said. The Home Ministry listed 58 cases where members belonging to the SIMI were allegedly involved. The ministry said the organisation has been polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, undertaking activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country. The central government is also of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the SIMI, it is necessary to declare the SIMI to be an unlawful association with immediate effect, it said. The order comes into effect from Thursday. Among the terror acts in which SIMI members were allegedly involved are blasts in Gaya in 2017, Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in 2014, and jail break in Bhopal in 2014. The police from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala have provided details of conviction against top SIMI leaders Safdar Nagori, Abu Faisal, among others. Faisal was instrumental in the 2013 Khandwa jail break incident, according to investigators. Members of the group have allegedly been involved in bank robberies, killings of policemen, blasts, among other cases, officials said. The SIMI was established on April 25, 1977, in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, and the organisation allegedly works on the agenda of liberating India by converting it into an Islamic state. It was first declared an outlawed outfit in 2001. Since then, it has been banned on several occasions. The last time it was banned was under the UPA on February 1, 2014, for a period of five years. The ban was confirmed by a tribunal on July 30, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was allegedly involved in a series of terror acts in the country, has been banned by the government for five more years as it continues to indulge in subversive activities. According to a Home Ministry notification, if the unlawful activities of SIMI are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will continue its subversive activities, re-organise its activists, who are still absconding, and disrupt the secular fabric of the country by propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionism. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby declares the SIMI as an 'unlawful association' and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years," the notification said. The imposition of the ban on SIMI by the government will have to be confirmed by a tribunal. The Home Ministry listed 58 cases where members belonging to the SIMI were allegedly involved. The ministry said the organisation has been polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, undertaking activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country. The central government is also of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the SIMI, it is necessary to declare the SIMI to be an unlawful association with immediate effect, it said. The order comes into effect from Thursday. Among the terror acts in which SIMI members were allegedly involved are blasts in Gaya in 2017, M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in 2014, and jail break in Bhopal in 2014. The police from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala have provided details of conviction against top SIMI leaders Safdar Nagori, Abu Faisal, among others. Faisal was instrumental in the 2013 Khandwa jail break incident, according to investigators. Members of the group have allegedly been involved in bank robberies, killings of policemen, blasts, among other cases, officials said. The SIMI was established on April 25, 1977, in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, and the organisation allegedly works on the agenda of liberating India by converting it into an Islamic state. It was first declared an outlawed outfit in 2001. Since then, it has been banned on several occasions. The last time it was banned was under the UPA on February 1, 2014, for a period of five years. The ban was confirmed by a tribunal on July 30, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gangster Ravi Pujari, on the run for the last 15 years, has been arrested in Senegal in West Africa, a source in the security establishment said Friday. Pujari, who allegedly ran an extortion syndicate, was held from a hotel in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on January 22, a senior official told PTI on the condition of anonymity. The Mumbai Police did not comment on whether the report was true. The Indian Embassy got information about the arrest on January 25, the official said. Pujari is facing dozens of cases of extortion and murder in various parts of India. His trusted lieutenants, William Rodricks and Akash Shetty, were recently arrested by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police in an extortion case. The Indian authorities will now initiate the extradition process to bring Pujari back to the country, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Nicolas Maduro remains steadfast in his position that he is the legitimate President of Venezuela, while Juan Guaido, an unknown until recently, has declared himself President. (Photo Credit: Daily Times) Venezuela continued to occupy the attention of the international community as the week opened. On Sunday, the world woke up to an urging by the United States to support Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. In a quick response, Russia accused the Trump administration of attempting "to engineer a coup detat against the legitimately elected president Nicola Maduro. USA, Russia spar over Venezuela US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the UN Security Council at a meeting held last Saturday and called by the United States, that it was beyond time to back the Venezuelan people as they tried to free themselves from Maduros "illegitimate mafia state. Towards this end, he called for support for Juan Guaido, who had declared himself he countrys interim president, arguing that Maduros re-election was fraudulent. But Russias UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Venezuela didnt threaten international peace and security, and accused "extremist opponents of Maduros legitimate government of choosing "maximum confrontation, including the artificial creation of a parallel government. He urged Pompeo to say whether the US will use military force. Division in the Security Council What has played out in Venezuela and the worlds media between supporters and opponents of the Maduro government, played out face-to-face in the chamber of the UNs most powerful body, which has failed to take action on the Venezuelan crisis because of deep divisions, especially among the Security Councils five veto-wielding permanent members. The leaders of two of those council nations France and Britain joined Spain and Germany to turn up the pressure on Maduro, saying they would follow the US and others in recognising Guaido unless Venezuela calls new presidential elections within eight days. But the opposition to Guaido was reflected in the initial procedural vote on whether the 15-member Security Council should even discuss the crisis in Venezuela, which is not on its official agenda. Meanwhile, Maduro remains steadfast in his anti-USA rhetoric, saying late last week, "This is nothing more than a coup detat, ordered, promoted, financed and supported by the United States. They intend to put a puppet government in Venezuela, destroy the state and take colonial control of the country, even as he repeated that he was still open to talks with the opposition. (Main Source: AP) The USAs plea and Russias response reflected the worlds deep divisions over the crisis in the embattled Latin American country.When asked for a response to the Russian Ambassadors remarks, Pompeo said, "I am not going to speculate or hypothesise on what the US will do next.And to demonstrate to the world that he had the backing of the military, and that Venezuelas armed forces were ready to defend the country, President Maduro and his defence Minister watched a platoon of soldiers in an active military exercise and even joined them on a run. Former Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey on Friday took over as the member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the agency that conducts prestigious civil services examination to select the country's bureaucrats, diplomats and police officers. Choubey, a 1981-batch (retired) IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, superannuated Thursday on attaining the age of 60 years. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by UPSC chairman Arvind Saxena, a statement issued by Personnel Ministry said. Choubey was named as the Civil Aviation Secretary in June 2015. During his career spanning over 35 years, Choubey held several important positions in the central government as well as in the government of Tamil Nadu. He served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Development Commissioner (Handloom) in the Ministry of Textiles, Director General in the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Special Secretary, Ministry of Power. 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. With Choubey's appointment, the Commission is in its full strength. The UPSC can have a maximum of 10 members, besides a chairperson. Former Delhi Police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, former chief statistician T C A Anant, Prof Pradeep Kumar Joshi, Air Marshal A S Bhonsle (retired), Sujata Mehta, Manoj Soni, Smita Nagaraj, M Sathiyavathy and Bharat Bhushan Vyas are other 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister on Friday announced launch of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) scheme to provide unorganised workers an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after 60 years of age. The scheme will attract matching contribution of Rs 100 per month from government as well as from workers. Besides, pension scheme for unorganised workers, Goyal also announced hiking of tax free gratuity to Rs 30 lakh from existing Rs 20 lakh for employees having service of more than five years. "We are launching Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan today. The scheme will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000, with contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganised sector after 60 years of age," Goyal said while presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20. The minister informed the House that the government will also provide a matching contribution of Rs 100 for every unorganised workers covered under the scheme, which is expected to benefit 10 crore workers in next five years. He said,"The scheme will benefit 10 crore workers in unorganised sector, may become the world's biggest pension scheme for unorganised sector in five years". He said that there are around 42 crore unorganised sector workers, which contribute toward the growth of national economy. The minister also informed the Lok Sabha that the government is providing Rs 500 crore initially for the scheme in the Budget. The workers under the scheme will have to contribute Rs 100 per month and equal contribution would be paid by the government. The scheme will cover all those unorganised sector workers like autorikshaw driver, whose income is up to Rs 15,000 per month. Goyal also announced hiking limit of tax free gratuity to Rs 30 lakh in his maiden budget speech. The government had doubled the tax free gratuity to Rs 20 lakh in March last year. Hiking gratuity limit will enable employers to pay higher tax free gratuity to their employees who have worked for them for more five years. Nagpur Rural police on Friday booked five persons including three Chinese nationals for allegedly carrying beef. On January 18, the police had intercepted an SUV heading for Gumgaon mines at Khapa in the district, and on search found 10 kg or meat inside. Police detained its driver Afroz Sheikh (29), Devendra Nagrale (31) and Chinese nationals Li Chu Chung (55), Lu Weng Chung (51) and Lu Wong Kong (53) who were travelling by the SUV as they could not explain what the meat was. The meat samples were sent for chemical analysis which revealed that it was cow meat, the police said. Following which, the police Friday booked all five including the Chinese nationals under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act. They were produced before a court at Saoner which remanded them in judicial custody till February 14. While others were sent to Nagpur Central Jail, Li Chu Chung was admitted to a government hospital as he complained of ill-health. The three Chinese nationals are employees of China Coal India and were working as technicians at a Manganese Ore India Limited (Moil) mine at Gumgaon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) George Fernandes lived a multi-faceted life fighting for the poor and less fortunate, speaking several languages to connect strongly with people and even briefly running a Konkani magazine before entering politics. Family and friends of 'George Sahab', as he was fondly addressed by many, recalled his legacy as his ashes were Friday buried at a colonial-era cemetery in the heart of Delhi, a day after his mortal remains were cremated. Bengaluru-based younger brother Michael Fernandes, 84, said he was named George by their mother after a famous British monarch, with whom he shared the birthday. "My mother had named him after King George V as he liked him and the monarch too was born on June 3," he said. George Fernandes was born in 1930 in Mangalore to John Jos and Alice Martha, and faced several struggles in life before climbing high on the ladder of politics. "In 1946, at the age of 16, he was sent to St Peter's Seminary in Bangalore, where he also picked up Latin. He did not wish to continue his life at the seminary and so after a few years moved away from it," Michael said. "My mind is flooded with his memories. I lost a brother, the country lost a leader and a multi-faceted man," he said. Fernandes died at his residence here Tuesday after suffering from Alzheimer's disorder that had left him debilitated. "He had lost his memory and speech abilities, but not many will believe that he was a polyglot and spoke many languages, including fluent Marathi and Kanadda. Konkani was his mother tongue. And he would not recognise me due to Alzheimer's, but whenever, I would speak in Konkani, his eyes would pop up," Michael told PTI. L Kalappa, 65, general secretary of Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat's Karnataka unit, who had travelled from Bengaluru to pay respect to Fernandes and attend his cremation, recalled the letters that Fernandes used to send to him in Kanadda. He shows a photograph of a handwritten letter written by Fernandes in Kanadda in 1987 when he was staying in Hauz Khas. "He was fluent in Kanadda, as he was born and raised in Mangalore. And, whenever he visited Bangalore or interacted with workers, he spoke in Kanadda only. He spoke many other regional languages too that allowed him to connect to people in a much stronger way," he said. He could also speak Bengali, Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, besides English and Hindi. "In Bombay, he would make his fiery speeches in Marathi and in Bangalore in fluent Kanadda. That is the legacy of George Sahab," he said. Michael also recalled the time when he ran a magazine -- 'Konkani Yuvak' in his mother tongue in late 1940s. "It was a Konkani publication and he ran and edited it briefly. It faced some problems and eventually after a couple of years, it folded," he said. His admirers had earlier come from Mangalore to Muzaffarpur and Noida to Roorkee to his residence to pay respect after his death, many recollecting stories and anecdotes associated with 'George Sahab'. The Kaushiks, a doctor family couple, came from Roorkee to pay tribute to him, said even as a defence minister, he did not seek any security cover and his doors were always open for people, literally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said farmers will be provided Rs 6,000 per year in three installments under a scheme to be fully funded by the central government. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal sought to address some of the distress that the farm sector has been facing. He said the government will provide Rs 6,000 per year to farmers "in three installments" and it will be "fully funded by the central government". Allocation to MNREGA has been hiked to Rs 60,000 crore for 2019-20, said Goyal, who stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. He further said the government had spent Rs 1.7 lakh crore to supply food grains at cheaper price to poor in 2018-19 as against Rs 92,000 crore in 2013-14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 27-year-old farmer was injured when a wild boar attacked him at Badatubi village in Odisha's Kendrapara district Friday. The man, identified as Gobind Mandal, was taken to a local hospital in an unconscious state with wounds on his right thigh and back. He was shifted to district headquarter hospital at Kendrapara and then to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. "Mandal is now out of danger," hospital sources said in Cuttack. The man was engaged in farming when the wild boar attacked him. The village is close to mangrove forest areas and animals often stray into the village from the forest, a forest official said. "The forest department has formed two night vigil squads to drive away the wild boar and asked the villagers to stay indoors at night," the official said. The forest department is bearing the cost of his treatment and will provide an ex-gratia compensation to his family, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) California firm ELF cosmetics has agreed to pay a nearly USD 1 million fine for importing fake eyelashes containing materials from UN-sanctioned North Korea, the US Treasury Department announced. Between 2012 and 2017, the company imported "156 shipments of false eyelash kits from two suppliers located in the People's Republic of China that contained materials sourced by these suppliers" from North Korea, the Treasury said in a statement. "ELF's compliance program and its supplier audits failed to discover that approximately 80 per cent of the false eyelash kits supplied by two of ELF's China-based suppliers contained materials" from North Korea, it said. The company faced more than USD 40 million in penalties but the Treasury took into account mitigating circumstances including the small amount involved and the fact that ELF reported the violation of sanctions, which were imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "This enforcement action highlights the risks for companies that do not conduct full-spectrum supply chain due diligence when sourcing products from overseas, particularly in a region in which (North Korea), as well as other comprehensively sanctioned countries or regions, is known to export goods," the Treasury said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday announced a grant of Rs 3 crore for a war memorial being constructed in Haryana to honour the Maratha warriors who fought in the third battle of Panipat. The announcement was made here at the 33rd Surajkund International Crafts Mela, which was jointly inaugurated by Fadnavis and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar. The fair will continue till February 17. Speaking on the occasion, Khattar announced that the site of the war memorial in Panipat district's Kala Amb would be expanded from present eight acres to 20 acres. A separate special memorial to showcase the history and bravery of Marathas through the medium of light and sound would also be constructed on four acres of land on GT Road, Khattar added. In his address, Fadnavis said more than one lakh brave Marathas of Maharashtra sacrificed their livesin the third battle of Panipat, which was fought between the Marathas and the Afghan army in 1761. Maharashtra and Haryana share close ties and thousands of Marathas were living in Haryana, he said. Fadnavis expressed his gratitude to Khattar for choosing Maharashtra as the 'theme state' in the Surajkund fair and invited domestic and foreign tourists to the state, saying it had a lot to offer. "We are going to start a Ramayana festival in Maharashtra," he said. Speaking about the fair, Khattar said events such as the Surajkund mela strengthen the unity and integrity of the country. "In this mela, over 31 countries are participating," he said. Khattar added that his government had signed an agreement with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, under which artists of Haryana will promote the cultural heritage of the state in foreign countries. Haryana Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that last year, 25 countries had participated in the fair, 600 stalls were put up and 16 lakh visitors had visited the fair. "This year, 31 countries are participating and the number of stalls have also been increased to over 1,400. We have made 10 acres of land available adjoining Surajkund for parking, by freeing it from encroachment," he said. Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana Tourism, Vijai Vardhan said Maharashtra, the theme state of the fair this year, was showcasing its unique culture and rich heritage through various art forms and handicrafts. Hundreds of artistes from Maharashtra will be performing different folk arts and dances, he said. From traditional dances and art forms to ballets based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, there is a bouquet of heritage and culture from Maharashtra to enthral the audience, he added. The main attraction of the fair is a replica of 'Maha Dwar' or 'Maha Darwaza'-- the main entrance of the historic hill fort of Raigad, said the official. The crafts mela helps thousands of craftsperson from across India to showcase their art and products to a wider audience, he added. Stressing that an elaborate security arrangement was in place, the official said that a complete ban had been imposed on plastic and polythene bags within the mela premises. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook says it has removed 783 Iran-linked pages, accounts and groups from its service for what it calls "coordinated inauthentic behaviour". That's the social network's term for fake accounts run with the intent of disrupting politics and elections. Facebook has been disclosing such purges more regularly in recent months, including ones linked to groups in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia. Twitter also said on Thursday that it found "found limited operations" that have that may have been connected to sources in Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. It did not give further details and said it suspended the suspicious accounts before the 2018 US midterm elections. The accounts on Facebook and Instagram typically misrepresented themselves as locals in more than two dozen countries ranging from Afghanistan, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia and the US. Facebook said Thursday the accounts spent about USD 30,000 on advertisements, paid for in US dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars and euros. The company said Twitter helped its investigation by sharing information about suspicious activity it found on its own service. The companies, along with others in the tech industry, have been cooperating more when it comes to such account takedowns by sharing information. Such cooperation can help the companies avoid regulatory scrutiny by showing critics and lawmakers that they can set aside differences when it comes to battling outside threats that affect their users. The latest removed accounts, Facebook said, typically represented themselves as locals in various countries, often using fake accounts and posting stories on current events. This included using stories from Iranian state media about conflicts in Syria and Yemen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez delivers a television address in which he reiterates the militarys support for President Nicolas Maduro. (Photo Credit: USA News Times) away from President Maduro. (Photo Credit: VOA) Right: Venezuelas military attache in Washington Col. Jose Luis Silva said that he was the only diplomat in Washington he knew of who had taken a step away from President Maduro. (Photo Credit: VOA) In response to self-proclaimed president of Venezuela Juan Guaidos appeal to the Venezuela military to join the "struggle to return the country to Democracy, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, on January 24, reiterated the militarys loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro. Appearing on television in the company of the heads of all the militarys departments, Lopez called Maduro the "legitimate president and accused the opposition of waging a coup in collaboration with the USA and other countries, who were already waging an economic war against Venezuela. Meanwhile, in a video published last Saturday, a man identifying himself as Venezuelas military attache in Washington one Col. Jose Luis Silva - said that he had broken with Nicolas Maduro, and that he "will report to an opposition leader trying to wrest control of the government. Silva called on other members of the military to join him in defecting from Maduros government, saying they "need to avoid attacking protesters whose only aim is to feed themselves. "The armed forces have a fundamental role to play in the restoration of democracy, Silva added in the video, which he said was shot at his office in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, sitting in front of the nations red, blue and yellow flag. (Sources: Reuters, USA News Time) There appears to be some uneasiness among military personnel in Venezuela as reflected last week, when a small National Guard unit stole a stockpile of weapons in what is said to be an attempt to oust Maduro. The uprising was quelled within hours and 25 guardsmen arrested. A Hong Kong-listed security firm who has a former US Navy SEAL on its board has signed a preliminary deal with authorities in China to build a training centre in Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have experienced a huge security crackdown. Frontier Services Group, which specialises in providing security and logistics for businesses operating in risky regions, said it had signed a deal to run a training base in the city of Kashgar, according to a statement posted on its Chinese website. One of the firm's board members and its deputy chairman is Erik Prince, a former SEAL and the brother of US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Prince was the founder of the US military contractor Blackwater, whose mercenaries had a prominent and controversial role during Washington's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- including the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians by Blackwater employees. FSG, which has a Hong Kong headquarters, has built up a wealth of contracts both inside China and for Chinese companies operating overseas, particularly in Africa. But its presence in Xinjiang is controversial because of the sweeping security crackdown Chinese authorities have launched in the restive far-western region, including reported mass incarcerations. On Friday, a spokesman told AFP that Prince -- a minority shareholder -- was unaware of the deal, which was preliminary and would need sign off from all board members before final approval. "He had no knowledge or involvement whatsoever with this preliminary memorandum regarding the company's activity in Xinjiang," the spokesman said. Up to one million Uighurs and members of other mostly Muslim minority groups are held in extrajudicial detention in camps in Xinjiang, according to a group of experts cited by the United Nations. Beijing says the facilities are benign "vocational education centres" to help people drawn to extremism to steer clear of terrorism, and allow them to be reintegrated into society. Critics and ex-detainees say the facilities are little more than prisons. In October, AFP reported how one local government prefecture's purchases had little to do with education and included 2,768 police batons, 550 electric cattle prods, 1,367 pairs of handcuffs, and 2,792 cans of pepper spray. The region is a major plank in Beijing's massive "Belt and Road" global infrastructure push, acting as China's western gateway to Central Asia and beyond. Security companies have seen a boom in business as a result. FSG's original Chinese language statement on 22 January said one of its subsidiaries had inked a deal for a "training centre" with the Kashgar Caohu industrial park in southern Xinjiang. The January 11 signing was attended by officials from Xinjiang's Tumxuk city and a subsidiary of the state-run conglomerate CITIC Group. The statement did not detail what kind of training would be provided. FSG's website shows it has previously trained "overseas security specialists" for a host of Chinese companies. It has also helped train Chinese military and police. Last month it announced it had obtained a security license to operate in Cambodia where it will aim to provide "cash escort, airport security (and) VIP close protection". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday said talks are still going on to bring "like-minded" political parties to take on the BJP in the general elections. So far, four meetings were held with non-BJP parties and the parleys are still underway, he told reporters after a meeting of the Opposition parties here. Naidu said there is a "democratic compulsion" for all the Opposition parties to come together. However, the political compulsion of each party at the state-level will be taken into account, while forming a united force to fight the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls. "Keeping political compulsions into account, all the like-minded parties will come together to take on the BJP. We are still in the process. We are discussing...So far, four meetings are held," Naidu said. The motto is to 'Save India, Save Nation'. There have been instances of pre-poll and post-poll alliances, he said, adding that "let us see how things will shape up". Asked about the meeting, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief -- who broke away from the NDA last year -- said the parties expressed concern over likely manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines and decided to approach the Election Commission Monday on the matter. Besides the EVMs, farmers and unemployment issues were discussed in detail in the meeting, he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, NC leader Omar Abdullah, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, Derek O'Brien of TMC, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, Manoj Jha of RJD, AAP's Sanjay Singh and RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary, among others, attended the meeting. Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and A K Antony, Danish Ali of JDS and Sharad Yadav were also present in the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A BJP leader from Goa Friday said due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's 'josh' (enthusiasm), the Congress and its leadership have lost 'hosh' (sense). BJP MP from South Goa Narendra Sawaikar Friday met Parrikar at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where the latter has gone for a follow-up treatment. After the meeting, he said on Twitter that he found the chief minister "as cheerful and jovial as ever". Parrikar, 63, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment and has been recuperating at his private residence at Dona Paula near here since October 14 last year, after he was discharged from AIIMS. "Met CM @manoharparrikar at @aiims_newdelhi. Is here for his regular check up. As cheerful & jovial as ever. A warrior to the core. With his #Josh, Congress & its leadership has lost its #Hosh @BJP4India @BJP4Goa," Sawaikar tweeted. Parrikar, while presenting the budget in Goa Assembly on Wednesday, had said, "I am presenting the budget in josh. The josh that is too high, very high, and fully in hosh". His remarks had come days after the opposition Congress had said that while the BJP-led Goa administration has "collapsed" and the state's debt is mounting, the chief minister was asking about the "josh" among people in the state. "Pehle hosh me aao, baad me josh ki baat karo (first come to your senses and then talk about josh)," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar had said Monday. Parrikar was flown to the AIIMS on Thursday evening after the conclusion of the three-day long assembly session. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has said that he is expected to return to the state in four days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd registered a 45 per cent increase in its profit after tax for the quarter ended December 31 at Rs 485 crore against Rs 334 crore in the third quarter of FY18, a senior official of the city-based drug maker said Friday. President, CFO and Global Head of HR of Dr Reddy's, Saumen Chakraborty told reporters here, consolidated revenues for the quarter under review was up by one per cent to Rs 3,850 crore. It was Rs 3,806 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. The growth was based on improved performance in emerging markets, improved cost efficiencies and also party due to the profit booked on the sale of one of their plants here, he said. "It has been a good quarter. On profit the year on year growth is 45 per cent. There was also profit we made out of the sale of our Jeedimetla plant," Chakraborty said in a press conference. Though the company was able to book a health profit during the quarter, revenues from North America declined by eight per cent despite new product launches. Revenues from North America declined by eight per cent to Rs 1,480 crore against Rs 1,607 crore in Q3 FY18. "In North America, the total revenue was 1,483 crore so there is a year on year decline of 8 per cent, but quarter on quarter there is a 4 per cent growth. Year-on-Year decline is due to the new launches we had last year. They were very good launches, that's why the base was very high. We have been able to launch 10 new products in Q3 of FY 19 in North America," he said. Replying to query, he said the company bets big on the proposed launches of three products- Copaxone, Suboxone and birth control device Nuvaring. Revenues from global generics segment in Q3 was reported at Rs 3,135 crore, a year-on-year growth of four per cent over the same quarter last year, primarily driven by contributions from emerging markets and India. Revenues from emerging markets was at Rs 770 crore registering 31 per cent growth on year-on-year basis primarily on account of new launches, traction in new markets and improved volume off take in the existing markets. Revenues from India grew by 10 per cent to Rs 670 crore driven by volume traction and new products. Europe sales was up by one per cent to Rs 200 crore, the official said. Revenues from Pharmaceutical Services and Active Ingredients stood at Rs 594 crore in the third quarter with nine per cent growth over the Q2 of FY18. The pharma company may spend lesser amount on capex this year owing to the availability of sufficient capacities. "We continued to improve our performance in the third quarter of FY 19, supported by significant growth in emerging markets and India, pickup in new product launches, and improvements in cost structure. We are on track towards delivering sustainable and profitable growth," company CEO and co-chairman G V Prasad said in a press release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A panel of the city's health department is examining the swine flu death cases reported by various hospitals, to ascertain if H1N1 infection was the cause of fatalities, a senior official said. Meanwhile, 43 fresh cases have been reported in the national capital, taking the total number of cases to 660 for the month of January, he said. While 13 deaths due to swine flu have been reported at two Centre-run hospitals here this year, but the Delhi health department has not made public any fatality due to it yet. "A committee under the health department is examining the cases, if the deaths were caused by swine flu. The report will come out by Monday or Tuesday, so we will get a clear picture," the official told PTI. According to senior officials at Safdarjung Hospital, three deaths due to swine flu have been recorded this season while RML Hospital has reported 10 fatalities. Nine of the 10 people who died at RML Hospital were from Delhi, and the other one from outside the city, officials said. After holding a state-level review meeting on in?uenza A (H1N1), the Delhi government had recently said that all government hospitals in the city are equipped with necessary logistics required for the management of the disease and drug Oseltamivir along with personal protective equipment (PPE kits) and N95 masks are also available. Recent guidelines from the Union Health Ministry on case diagnosis, management, vaccination, isolation criteria, risk categorisation and preventive measures have been circulated among all hospitals and health facilities. "All hospitals have been asked to keep ventilators ready, and also told to disseminate information on the prevention of the disease," the Delhi health department official said. Health advisories, in English and Hindi, on seasonal In?uenza A H1N1 (swine flu) have been prepared and issued for general public in leading newspapers. Patients with co-morbid condition like low immunity, on immune-suppressant, blood cancer, renal transplant, diabetes, heart disease are at high risk of getting infected with swine flu. For any query on swine flu, people can seek assistance on the 24X7 helpline number at DGHS (HQ): 011-22300012, 22307145. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AAP government on Friday told the Delhi High Court that DDA is not handing over sites for setting up 'mohalla clinics', saying it is impermissible under the master plan for the national capital and to wait till 2021 for the next plan. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao was also told by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that apart from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) various other local agencies, including DMRC and DJB, were also creating hurdles in setting up the clinics on land owned by them. The court issued notices to the DDA, Delhi metro (DMRC), the jal board (DJB) and other local agencies seeking their responses to the Delhi government's application by March 29, the next date of hearing. The Delhi government, in the application filed through its additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, has said that 333 sites for which no objection certificate (NOC) has been received have been handed over to the Public Works Department to construct the clinics within three months. However, in respect of some proposed sites DDA has refused to grant permission saying "no specific land can be earmarked in the layout plan for those areas as norms for the same are not given in the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021", Ghose told the court. According to the application, DDA has also said that no land can be allotted for 'mohalla clinics' "without amendment in the MPD". Delhi government has contended that the sites under DDA control were required for constructing temporary structures only and therefore, there was no need to amend the MPD. Not just DDA, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and DMRC were also not cooperating with the project work, the application has claimed. While DMRC was not granting NOC to set up clinics at all the 86 sites under it which were identified for the purpose, DJB was not cooperating with the site inspections that are to be undertaken before finalising the land under it. DMRC was also not waiving the licence fees for setting up the clinics on the land under its control and the size of the identified sites fell below the standard norms, the application has claimed. The Delhi government has sought directions to DDA to reconsider its stand and make available the requisite land along with the NOCs. It has also urged the court to direct DMRC to waive the requirement of licence fees payment. The application has been moved by the Delhi government in an ongoing PIL by NGO Justice for All seeking setting up of 'mohalla clinics' across the national capital to provide adequate health care facilities to the citizens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attacking NDA government on the issue of unemployment data on a NSSO report, the CPI Friday demanded that the actual report be put before Parliament. "What has come out now is only through press leakage. It should be introduced in Parliament. There is a need that the true report is known to the country," CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told reporters here. The government Thursday said it has not finalised the survey on labour force which reportedly showed that the unemployment rate in the country hit a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force survey, according to the Business Standard newspaper, states that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. The unemployment rate was 2.2 per cent in 2011-12, it said. Unemployment grew in the country because of the economic policies of the NDA government, Reddy alleged. "..It is a horrible thing to try to hide the truth about unemployment. Unemployment grew in the country because of the economic policies followed by the BJP-NDA government," he said. On government's defence that the unemployment data as put out in a media report was only a draft report which was not approved by the government, he said NSSO's reports are generally made public and that there is no need for them to be approved by the government. Claiming that the NDA government indulged in jugglery of numbers, he said it is introducing new accounting systems to show the declining growth rate to be high. Unemployment grew as public sector has been ignored by the NDA government as it tried to encourage private sector, he alleged. "Private sector tries to provide jobs to minimum possible number of people," Reddy said. The 'Make in India' remained only a "bogus slogan", he claimed. "... This situation arose because of the pro-corporate policies. Government should take responsibility for this. We demand that Narendra Modi apologise to the country for being responsible for price rise and unemployment rising to a five-decade high," he said. The Rs 6,000 being offered to farmers by the NDA government is not adequate and Rs 12,000 subsidy should be given, he said. The MSP should be increased and Swaminathan Commission recommendations implemented in toto for the crisis in agriculture to be addressed, Reddy said. The President's address to the joint session of Parliament was disappointing, with no reference made to key issues like price rise, he alleged. Referring to reports that the ruling TRS in Telangana was equidistant from both the Congress and BJP, he said the TRS supported GST and all other major decisions of the NDA. It is only a "friendly wrestling" between TRS and BJP, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat High Court Friday ordered an inquiry after it learnt that a copy of the petition challenging Congress leader Ahmed Patel's election to the Rajya Sabha is missing from the court records. It came to light during the cross-examination of BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput, who has filed the election petition, before Justice Bela Trivedi. When the copy was not found, Justice Trivedi directed the Registrar General of the high court to conduct an inquiry and submit a report in a sealed cover before February 8. This copy of the petition was given to Patel by Rajput's lawyers and subsequently submitted to the high court by Patel's lawyers. On the second day of Rajput's cross-examination Friday, Patel's lawyers wanted to show this copy to Rajput. However, it was missing from the court records. The judge said one copy of the petition was tagged at the end of the case file. But Patel's lawyers said it was not the copy which they had submitted. Patel won the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat by defeating Rajput in August 2017. Rajput has moved the high court, claiming that Patel bribed Congress MLAs to vote for him and the election should be set aside. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday asserted that it would solve Bihars problem of recurring floods by taking up the matter with Nepal if the party was voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. AICC in-charge for the state, Shaktisinh Gohil said this at a press conference here to brief reporters about the partys "Jan Akanksha Rally" on February 3 which would be Rahul Gandhis first public meeting in Bihar after becoming the Congress president. "Rahul Gandhi has been apprised of the problems of Bihar by the party leadership. He is sensitive towards the losses that residents of the state have to suffer on account of the floods that take place almost every year," Gohil told reporters. "Since the rivers which cause the maximum damage to crops, life and property originate mostly in Nepal a solution to the problem would essentially involve taking the neighbouring country on board. We can promise to the people of Bihar that this problem would be solved if we are voted to power at the Centre", Gohil said. He also said that Sundays rally would be attended by a number of senior leaders besides Gandhi, including Chief Ministers of states ruled by our party and senior leader Ahmed Patel. "In addition, we have invited top leaders of our alliance partners in the state, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, RLSP supremo Upendra Kushwaha and HAM president Jitan Ram Manjhi. We understand they all will be with us at the rally," Gohil added. He dismissed speculations that the rally, to be held at the historic Gandhi Maidan, could witness induction into the party of controversial Independent MLA Anant Singh who has declared his intention to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Mokama. "A rally is not a place where people are made to join the party. At present I cannot say whether Anant Singh will be inducted into the Congress. But, Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) and his ally the BJP is being hypocritical in criticising us citing the MLAs criminal antecedents," Gohil said. "They would do well to recall that until his exit from the JD(U) ahead of the 2015 assembly polls, Anant Singh used to be a favourite of the chief minister," Gohil added. A three-term MLA from Mokama, Anant Singh has many serious criminal cases against him. He was expelled from the JD(U) in 2015 after his name cropped up in the murder of one Puttush Yadav a supporter of Lalu Prasads RJD which, along with the Congress, was then supporting Nitish Kumars government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) staged a nude protest outside the secretariat building here, adjacent to the assembly, on Friday against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Security personnel were caught off guard when the protesters got down from a car near the secretariat and stripped, a police officer said. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he said. Policemen rushed to cover the protesters with blankets and took them into custody before whisking them away from the high-security area, the officer said. "The main gate leading to the secretariat has been shut for the time being to prevent protesters from entering the premises and security arrangements have been intensified in the area," he added. DCP Amanjit Kaur told reporters that all three protesters have been arrested and necessary measures taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The agitators, before being whisked away, said the nude protest was symbolic as the BJP governments in Delhi and the state were trying to strip Assam's people of their identity, culture and language. Echoing similar sentiments, a senior KMSS member said, "We hope that the protest shames the government and the bill is immediately revoked." Last month too the KMSS had staged similar protests outside Parliament as well as in Jorhat and Tinsukia districts of Assam. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. Protests against the bill have rocked the entire northeast over the past five weeks, with several organisations and political parties vehemently opposing it. The protesters claim that the bill will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for deportation of illegal immigrants, irrespective of religion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The protest line comprised teachers, civil servants, opposition NDP members and members of the public. The morning session proceeded in slow fashion, as far as the number of persons on the picket line was concerned, but shortly after 3:00pm last Tuesday, the numbers increased in the area in front of the Central Market, opposite the House of Assembly, in capital city Kingstown. The protestors, primarily teachers and civil servants, had come to highlight specific complaints, while others had come out in solidarity with their cause. Barricades placed on either side of the road outside the House of Assembly ensured order. Members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Union of Teachers, clad in their trade mark red jerseys, were joined by members of the Public Service Union. Those two Unions, along with the Police Welfare Association, have been at loggerheads with the ruling regime over a series of issues. A meeting involving the Prime Minister and other government officials and representatives of the three public servants organisations, never materialised; representatives from those bodies refused to hand over their cell phones to the security officers at the Prime Ministers Office. The meeting, however, preceded with other worker representatives who agreed to a 1% salary increase, retroactive to July 2018. The Teachers Union and the Public Service Union have dismissed the increase as "insulting, and their placards showed their disgust. The protesting teachers and civil servants, by this time joined by members of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), sang choruses of gospel numbers, and danced around the open area behind the cordon. NDP parliamentarians also showed solidarity with those on the picket line. Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday filtered through the gathering. Central Kingstown St. Clair Leacock ensured his presence was felt, and so too did his Kingstown colleagues Arnhim Eustace (East Kingstown) and Daniel Cummings (West Kingstown). Roland Matthews, the North Leeward parliamentarian accompanied by Southern Grenadines Terrance Ollivierre, joined the protesters, and South Leewards Nigel Stephenson interacted with members on the picket line. There was also a Rastafarian presence to the protest. The Rastfarians, who mounted their own picket line, displayed a number of placards and in particular, a large banner emblazoned with the words, legalise it, in clear reference to marijuana. Earthquake, one member of the Rastafarian group, had another concern. His focus was on getting the government to pay wages on a fortnightly basis. He complained that as a vendor, his business has not been profitable because circulation of money was slow. A pamphlet distributed at the picket compared the increases of workers at the $1,000 and $1,500 levels in contrast to others who they contend receive annual salary and allowance of $70,000. It lamented the "fren fren basis on which promotion obtains in the Public Service, and echoed agreement with the stance taken by the Unions. The pamphlet also alluded to an agreement allowing teachers to contest general elections. That time marked the commencement time for the delivery of the Revenue and Expenditure for 2019, by the Minister of Finance.All in all, traffic flowed in normal fashion, pedestrians were unencumbered, and a heightened security presence maintained close scrutiny. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (Geely Auto) sold 1,500,838 vehicles throughout 2018 with a year-on-year growth of 20.3%, making it the champion among Chinese PV makers by 2018 sales and its full-time sales exceed 1.5 million units for the first time in history, according to the sales report released by the automaker on January 7, 2019. Although Geely Auto failed to accomplish its original 1.58 million-unit sales goal for 2018, it is still a pretty well performance amid the overall sales downturn in China this year. Gasgoo hereby summarized Geely's significant events that happened in 2018, helping you review how the automaker developed itself during the past year. Geely Auto sales company names new executive vice general-manager It is reported on January 8 that Song Jun, former vice general-manager of Geely Auto Sales Company, was promoted as its executive vice general-manager to take charge of sales and marketing promotion of Geely Auto brand. As an outstanding marketing management talent cultivated by Geely Auto, Songjun has worked for it for over 10 years. Previously, he was employed as general-manager assistant of Geely Auto Sales Company. In July, 2017, he was rewarded with promotion to vice general-manager of the same company. After taking the post of companys executive vice general-manager, he bears much more responsibilities for achieving Geely Auto's 20200 Strategy. Geely to manufacture intelligent new energy commercial vehicles in Shangrao On Jan. 13, Li Shufu, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, led a team to visit Shangrao, Jiangxi Province. During the visit, Geely Holding Group signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement and a cooperation plan of targeted poverty alleviation with Shangrao Municipal Government. It also signed two agreements with Shangrao Economic & Technological Development Zone, one is about investing in the project of Geely's new-gen intelligent new energy urban commercial vehicles, the other is a cooperation agreement of comprehensive vehicle testing grounds. Geely invests RMB 32.6 billion to build new energy vehicle production base On February 11, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group signed an agreement with Changxing County of Zhejiang Province. Geely plans to invest a total of RMB 32.6 billion to build vehicle production base, transmission production base, auto parts industry park and so on. The vehicle production capacity of this program would be up to 300,000 units and the first phase was expected to start construction by the end of October, 2018. Geely buys $9 billion stake in Daimler On February 23, Daimler AG confirmed in a regulatory filing that Li Shufu, the founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, had become the largest shareholder investor in Daimler with a stake of 9.69%. On February 24, Geely Group Co., Ltd, owned by Li Shufu and administrated by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, announced that it had become the largest shareholder of the German group after the closing of the deal, rather than the founder himself. The Chinese company promised to hold Daimler's shares for long term. Currently, none of the subsidiaries of Geely Group or Zhengjiang Geely Holding Group had further plans to increase the stake in Daimler. As to the sources of the funding, Geely said that it is via the overseas capital body that the company gained the shares. The deal wont use the company's domestic capital. At the current market price for Daimler shares, 9.69% stake is worth nearly RMB 57 billion, five times as many as the acquisition price for Volvo Cars. Geely to set up new DMA plant in Ningbo for new flagship sedan Geely was about to set up a new DMA plant in Meishan, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, a Chinese media outlet, who got the news from China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp. Ltd, reported at the end of February. Besides, the automaker's DMA plant in Hangzhou Bay New Zone, Ningbo, was expected to be put into operation this year. It is predicted that the company's Meishan DMA plant would manufacture Geely and Lynk & Co's B-class and C-class sedans as well as SUVs. According to an engineer from Geely's R&D center in Hangzhou Bay, the automaker would build a flagship sedan model larger than Borui based on DMA platform. The new model was expected to be in the same size class as the BMW 5 Series, the medium-large sedan series. All-new Geely Emgrand hits market with starting price of RMB 69,800 Geely Auto announced on March 6th that its all-new Emgrand officially went on sale at prices ranging from RMB 69,800 to RMB 98,800. According to Geely Auto, the all-new Emgrand still chooses the ripple-shaped intake grille which is typical for Geely family and installs LED headlights at the front end. Geely Hangzhou Bay program starts construction with investment of RMB 31.5 billion Geely Auto's Ningbo Hangzhou Bay program officially started construction on March 12, according to local media. This program, involving a total investment up to RMB31.5 billion, includes the second and third phases of Geely Auto's R&D center in Hangzhou Bay, the PMA pure electric vehicle project and Geely Corporate University project. With an investment sum of RMB 7 billion, the second and third phases of Geely Auto's Hangzhou Bay R&D center will build the world-leading crash test laboratory, environmental wind tunnel laboratory as well as new energy power center, etc. Besides, it plans to recruit around 500 R&D talents. Geely's all models to carry Autonavi mobile-vehicle map app AutoNavi, a navigation and location-based services provider owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, reached cooperation with Geely Auto, saying that both parties would forge deep exploration in such areas as onboard navigation, location service, traffic big data and Ali ecology. What's more, the latest Autonavi mobile-vehicle map app would be deployed in the full lineup of Geely's models. It is said that Autonavi mobile-vehicle map app offers navigation services for driving scenarios, featuring a wide variety of cutting-edge functions, such as real-time road conditions, congestion avoiding, 3D navigation guide, traffic accident checking and mobile connection, etc. Geely, JD.com form strategic partnership in IoV area On March 15, Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and Geely formed a strategic partnership recently that would cooperate in such areas like intelligent connection, auto e-commerce and auto aftermarket service to provide consumers with IoV (Internet of vehicle) services. On the same day, Geely launched its new SUV model, the 2018 Boyue, which is China's first intelligent-connected model using the JD.com's intelligent IoV solution. A driver can control its home facilities in vehicle by connecting great numbers of data from home facilities with the vehicle's computing system. Geely releases Lynk & Co's European strategy Lynk & Co released its European strategy in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Mar. 26, according to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. The first European bricks-and-mortar store will open in Amsterdam in 2019, and later will expand its presence in other major European cities gradually. Lynk & Co 01 PHEV, the first model to hit the European market, will be put into production at Volvo's plant in Ghert, Belgium in 2019 and go on sale in the European market in 2020. Targeting the urban youngsters worldwide, Lynk & Co will focus on the hybrid vehicle models first. With Volvo's global manufacturing strategy and superior quality control system, Lynk & Co chooses Volvo's Ghert plant as its manufacturing base in Europe. In accordance with Lynk & Co's European strategy, the production of the Lynk & Co cars will start in Volvo's Ghert plant from 2019. The Lynk & Co 01, first model to go on sale in Europe, will share the same production line with the 2018 Volvo XC40. Geely Auto, Aisin AW to establish transmission JV Zhejiang Geely Luoyou Engine Co., Ltd. (Geely Luoyou), a 99%-owned indirect subsidiary of Geely Auto, would establish a joint venture (JV) with Aisin AW to manufacture and sell front-wheel drive 6-speed automatic transmission and relevant parts, Geely Auto announced on April 25. Besides, the JV, with a designed annual transmission capacity of 400 thousand units, will start mass production from 2020. In accordance with the announcement, Geely Luoyou and Aisin AW possess 40% and 60% equity interest respectively in the JV. In addition, the registered capital of the JV totals $117 million. Li Shufu increases HKD 433 million worth of shares in Geely Auto Li Shufu, chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), purchased HKD 433 million worth of shares in Geely Auto, Geely Holding's subsidiary, on May 2, according to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK). Reportedly, this transaction increased Li's shareholding in Geely Auto to 46.39% of the issued capital from 46.16%. According to the SEHK, the chairman bought 20,154,000 shares of Geely Auto on May 2 at HKD $21.479 per share, which was 2.28% higher than the closing price of HKD 21 per share on April 30. In addition, the stock of Geely Auto closed at HKD 21.65 on May 2. Geely alternative fuel vehicle, pan-Eurasian parts base located in Chengdu On May 23, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group signed a cooperation agreement with Chengdu municipal government, marking Chengdu Economic and Technology Development Zone officially become the site for Geely alternative fuel vehicle and pan-Eurasian parts base. According to the agreement, Geely Holding Group would invest and deploy in R&D of alternative fuel vehicles, parts manufacturing and mobility services. The conclusion of the agreement would help Geely to build a manufacturing platform with capacity of one million vehicles and set up an industry park of pan-Eurasian parts base. Moreover, it also helps the group to gain a total value of more than RMB 100 billion in auto industrial chain in Chengdu. Geely launches new energy strategy Geely launched the Borui GE on May 28 in Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Area. During the launching ceremony, Geely also launched its latest new energy strategy. It is revealed that the Borui GE has a PHEV version and a MHEV version involving 8 variants with price range between RMB 136,800 and RMB 199,800. In terms of technology, Geely released new energy powertrain system dubbed Zhiqing that covers four technology routes, namely pure electric vehicle technology, hybrid vehicle technology, alternative fuel vehicle technology and hydrogen fuel battery technology. As to products, Geely aims to realize full electrification for all its products in the future. Over the next three years, Geely will introduce more than 30 new energy and energy-saving vehicles. Geely, Hainan State Farms to co-develop intelligent mobility service, methanol-fueled vehicles Geely Group (New Business) Co., Ltd and Hainan State Farms Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd officially signed a strategic framework agreement on June 3 to cooperate in new energy and mobility service areas. According to the agreement, both parties would join forces to develop four major businesses, including the Share'n Go (an EV sharing platform), the Caocao Zhuanche (Geelys EV mobility service platform), methanol fuel and methanol-fueled vehicles as well as flying cars. At the signing ceremony, Hainan State Farms Commercial Logistics Industry Group Co., Ltd (HSF) and Share'n Go signed a shareholder investment agreement to fully initiate the operation of Share'n Go in Hainan Province. Both parties would jointly make efforts to provide users with economic and convenient mobility services in the form of long-term and short-term rental, timesharing rental and tailored taxi service, etc. Both companies hope to effectively lower users' travelling cost and reduce the waste of social resources through the cooperation. Geely, Tencent jointly win bidding for equity of China Railway Wi-Fi provider Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and Chinese Internet giant Tencent won the joint bidding to obtain 49% equity in Bullet Train Network Technology Co.,Ltd (Bullet Train Network), which offers Wi-Fi service to high-speed rail passengers across China, Geely announced on June 7. In addition to providing railway travellers with Wi-Fi access, Geely and Tencent would join forces with China Railway Corporation (China Railway) and its affiliated companies to build a one-stop platform offering various value-added services throughout China's high-speed rail network, such as ticket, shopping, tourism and catering, etc., according to Geely's announcement. Geely, CASIC likely to join forces to develop hyperloop train Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) and China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp. (CASIC) had a discussion on June 8 about industrial cooperation and the commercialization of aerospace research achievements. At the meeting, both parties decided to start cooperation as soon as possible in such areas as industrial connectivity and hyperloop train, a new, futuristic type of transport which would operate via supersonic "near ground flight". Besides, they discussed the potential to extend collaboration in developing self-driving system, vehicle-mounted chip, automotive blockchain application, IoV (Internet of Vehicles) etc. Corun to buyout Geely's capital in ChinaHybrid System Co.,Ltd Chinese hybrid power system supplier Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,Ltd (Corun) announced on July 2 that the company plans to acquire 9.9% stake in ChinaHybrid System Co., Ltd (CHS Company) held by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and 27.07% stake in CHS Company owned by Shanghai Maple Automobile Co., Ltd.(Shanghai Maple). According to published information, Corun and Geely Holding signed an agreement on October 23, 2014 to establish a joint venture, namely, CHS Company. Under the agreement, the joint venture would focus on the R&D, manufacturing and marketing of hybrid power system, transmission as well as battery pack (including power battery and battery power systems) and involve a total investment of around RMB 10 billion. Currently, Corun possesses 51.02% stake in the joint venture. Geely, Tencent, CRIC co-build high-speed train Wi-Fi service joint venture China Railway Gecent Technology Co.,Ltd (CRGT), a joint venture co-built by China Railway Investment Corp (CRIC), Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and Tencent was officially established on July 5. The shares of Geely Holding and Tecent in the joint venture account for 49% in total. CRGT would focus on constructing and operating China's high-speed train Wi-Fi platform. Besides, it would provide passengers with one-stop services integrating on-line and off-line operational modes, covering Wi-Fi, recreation, news, on-line food order, e-commerce services and smart retail, etc. Geely announces all-new BMA platform, first SUV BMA-based model to be launched in H2 2018 Geely Automotive Research Institute in Hangzhou officially launched its self-developed BMA platform (B-segment Modular Architecture) on July 25, following the CMA platform (Compact Modular Architecture) jointly developed with Volvo. Reportedly, the automaker planned to roll out 2-3 BMA-based models per year from then on. According to the on-the-spot introduction, the BMA platform boasts highly scalability, which can be applied in SUVs, sedans, MPVs, crossovers and wagons. Besides, the BMA platform could maximum the passenger room by optimizing the size of powertrain, the location of suspension system, the height of seats and the layout of automobile parts, etc., without changing the bodywork length over existing models. Geely Auto opens 149 4S dealerships, involving RMB 1 billion investments On August 5, Geely Auto announced the opening of 149 new 4S dealerships in Jiangxi Province. Geely Auto had invested a total of RMB 1 billion in the development of 149 new dealerships. Reportedly, the newly-established 4S shops would introduce the brand new visual image for their sales channels and to fully upgrade the 4S shop's facilities in compliance with the sales channel and service standards of the Geely's 3.0 Era. Geely New Energy, State Grid EV Service team up to promote NEV development Geely New Energy and State Grid Electric Vehicle Service Co., Ltd (State Grid EV Service) signed a cooperation agreement in Beijing on August 4 to jointly promote the new energy vehicle (NEV) development in China, according to local media. Geely New Energy would form an in-depth partnership with the wholly-owned subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China by fully exercising and integrating each other's resources and actively exploring innovative business modes. According to the agreement, both parties was about to co-build an intelligent IoV (Internet of Vehicles) service platform, and carry out cooperation in clean energy ecological chain and bespoke NEVs, etc. Besides, both companies agreed to establish a special group to coordinate, promote and deepen the collaboration, timely solve problems and execute concrete projects. Geely Automobile Holdings says first-half net profits leap 54% China's Geely Automobile Holdings Limited reported on August 22 that its first-half net profits soared 54% year on year to around RMB6.67 billion and total revenues (excluding Lynk & Co joint venture) surged 36% from the previous year to over RMB53.7 billion. The company said such blooming profit performance mainly benefited from its lucrative product portfolio and elevated scale economy. Geely Binrui hits markets, priced at RMB 79,800 to RMB 110,800 Geely Auto announces the official guide price of its all-new compact sedan called the Binrui on August 30. The new model's price is ranging from RMB 79,800 to RMB 110,800. The Geely Binrui features two engine variants. The first is a 1.0L turbocharged direct-injection engine that can generates a maximum power of 136hp and 205Nm of peak torque, paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The second is a 1.4L turbocharged engine that can output 133hp and 215 Nm, mated with a Punch-sourced 8-speed CVT-type automatic transmission. Geely, Toyota team up to research, develop hybrid electric vehicle Dong Changzheng, vice general manager of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., revealed on August 27 that Toyota was cooperating with China's largest privately-owned automaker Geely to popularize hybrid power technology, through Corun, Toyota's largest Chinese core parts supplier of hybrid power. At the eve of the 2018 Chengdu Motor Show on Aug. 30, An Conghui, president of Geely Holding Group, and president and CEO of Geely Auto Group also confirmed that Geely and Toyota were working on the cooperation. However, the detailed information would be announced later. Geely plows RMB8 bln in new power battery base in Hubei Geely's new power battery base had settled in Jingzhou, Hubei province, local media reported in early September. Involving a total investment of RMB8 billion, the new base might be put into operation in 2020, equipped with such facilities as production line and R&D center of batteries and battery modules, office building as well as logistics distribution center. It is rumored that Geely Auto was going to build a NEV plant with an annual capacity of 200,000 NEVs in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. With the Jingzhou power battery base starting construction, the automaker took another step forward for its NEV ambition. Geely Holding approved to buy 51.5% stake in Denmark Saxo Bank Denmark's Saxo Bank announced on September 14 that China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Finland's Sampo PLC had gotten all necessary regulatory approval to take control of Saxo Bank. The completion of the transaction would make Geely Holding and Sampo PLC master 51.5% and 19.9% stake in Saxo Bank respectively. Meanwhile, co-founder Kim Fournais' stake of 25.7% remains unchanged. On September 13, Li Donghui, executive vice president and CFO of Geely Holding, was named as chairman of Saxo Bank by the bank's board of directors. Geely, AutoNavi step up cooperation on HD map Chinese location-based service provider AutoNavi and automaker Geely have cemented their partnership in high-definition map (HD map) area, Liu Zhenfei, president of AutoNavi, revealed on September 17. Liu Zhenfei said at the 2018 Alibaba Investor Day that AutoNavi has been focusing on developing HD map business in a bid to provide infrastructures for vehicle intelligentization. It was willing to work with Geely to boost the intelligent car development. Daimler Mobility Services, Geely Group Company announce premium ride-hailing JV in China Daimler Mobility Services GmbH and Geely Group Company, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group's new business subsidiary, announced on October 24 that they would build a joint venture (the JV) in China to provide premium ride-hailing services, according to Geely's official WeChat account. The 50-50 JV would be headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The JV would work on providing ride-hailing services in some Chinese cities using premium cars, including but not limited to Mercedes-Benz branded vehicles. At the initial stage, the fleet would include the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E-Class and V-Class and Maybach vehicles and could deploy premium electric vehicles from the Geely Group later. Geely Binyue hits market on Oct.31, priced from RMB78,800 to RMB118,800 The Geely Binyue, the first A-segment SUV model based on Geely Auto's brand new BMA platform (B-segment Modular Architecture), officially hit the market on October 31. Offering 5 variants in total, the new vehicle is priced from RMB78,800 to RMB118,800. Featuring gray & brown contrast color design inside, the new SUV model is equipped with a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel, a full liquid crystal instrument panel and a large-sized floating console liquid crystal display. In addition, the Binyue is also outfitted with such technical amenities as the electronic gear lever, electrical park brake, hill descent control as well as valet parking assistant. Geely Holding, China Telecom team up to build multifaceted smart mobility ecosystem Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and China Telecom, a Chinese state-owned telecommunication company, inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement on November 26 to jointly build a next-generation vehicle-to-home Internet business mode and a multifaceted smart mobility ecosystem, according to Geely Holding's official WeChat account. Under the agreement, both companies would pursue cooperation on corporation informationization, vehicle-to-home Internet, cloud computing, big data, 5G technology, V2X (vehicle-to-everything), edge computing, International businesses, etc. They are going to co-build a special working group or a joint venture to implement concrete programs and expand the scope of cooperation. Geely unveils first MPV model Jiaji, offering three powertrain variants Geely unveiled its first MPV model dubbed Geely Jiaji on December 6. The new MPV model is expected to hit the market in first quarter next year, rivaling such models as the BYD Song MAX and the Buick GL6 after officially hitting the markets. The Jiaji MPV measures 4,706mm in length, 1,909mm in width and 1,690mm in height, with a wheelbase length of 2,805mm. It will be available in choices of five-, six- or seven-seater options. Geely, CATL form battery joint venture Zhejiang Jirun Automobile, a subsidiary of Geely Auto, and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd.(CATL) would set up a joint venture for the research and development, manufacturing and sales of batteries, battery modules and battery packs to enhance their core competence and the ability of sustainable development, both companies said on December 20. According to the statement, the joint venture would be named CATL Geely Power Battery Co. Ltd, and the registered capital of the new joint venture would be RMB1 billion. CATL holds a 51% stake of the joint venture while the automaker owns the rest stake. Geely expected the new company would help with the stable supply of key components in electric vehicles. Both parties would enjoy complementary advantages and integrate sources to make preparation for the post-subsidies era in new energy vehicle segment. The latest round of China-US trade talks made important progress and Beijing has agreed to make key concessions to expand American imports in agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services, the main demand of President Donald Trump, official media reported on Friday. The two sides had candid, specific and constructive discussions, state-run Xinhua quoted the Chinese delegation as saying. Guided by the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state in Argentina, the two sides discussed the topics of trade balance, technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), non-tariff barriers, service sector, agriculture and enforcement mechanism, as well as certain issues of particular concern for the Chinese side, it said. The Chinese delegation said that creating a market environment of fair competition goes in line with the general direction of China's reform and opening-up, and therefore the Chinese side will actively address relevant US concerns. The two-day talks in Washington on January 30-31 were led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, with the participation of dozens of senior officials from both the governments. The White House said in a statement that the two sides had made progress but that "much work remains to be done." The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on each other's goods. Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods. The move prompted China to increase tariffs on USD 110 billion of American goods. During a meeting in Argentina on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, Trump and Xi agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1. Liu and Lighthizer held candid, specific and constructive discussions in particular on such topics of common concern as trade balance, technology transfer, IPR protection and enforcement mechanism, as well as certain issues of particular concern for the Chinese side, according to the Chinese delegation. Important progress has been made for the current stage, and the two sides also determined the timetable and roadmap for next-step consultations. Both sides attach great importance to the issue of IPR protection and technology transfer, and have agreed to further enhance cooperation in this regard, the Xinhua report said. Both sides believe that it is very important to establish an effective two-way enforcement mechanism, so as to ensure all measures agreed upon through consultations will be implemented. The Xinhua agency said that the two sides have agreed to take effective measures to promote a more balanced development of bilateral trade. The Chinese side will make active efforts to expand imports from the US in the sectors of agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services, which will help China's pursuit of high-quality economic development and meet the people's demand for a better life, the Chinese delegation said. They have reached consensus in principle on the framework and basic elements of the enforcement mechanism, and will continue to hammer out more details, it said. The two sides also discussed some specific concerns of the Chinese side, and the US side said it would seriously address these concerns, the Xinhua report said without specifying. Significantly, China's vocal protests over the last month's arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the high-profile CFO of China telecom giant Huawei in Canada have not been found mention in the Chinese delegation briefing. She was arrested following request from US alleging that she and her company violated American sanctions against Iran. Ahead of the trade talks on Tuesday, US caught China by surprise by issuing a criminal indictment against Huawei and sought the extradition of Meng from Canada. The charges include a series of crimes like stealing trade secrets which Chinese officials say would complicate efforts to negotiate an end the bruising trade war. For its part China minced no words demanding the withdrawal of arrest warrant against Meng, the high-profile daughter of Huawei's owner Ren Zhengfei who was arrested on December 1, last year by Canada following an extradition request by US under a bilateral treaty between the two countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday accused the NDA government of discriminating against South India in the matter of allotting cabinet berths and criticised a saffron party lawmaker for trying to defend the Centre. Referring to the Union Budget, the Chief Minister said in the State Assembly there was "not one word" about Andhra Pradesh in the budget and alleged that the Centre was attempting to remove the state from the country's map. "In the initial days, there at least used to be a reference to AP. In this budget, there is not a mention of Andhra Pradesh. Looks like they ultimately want to remove AP from the India map," Naidu said. Accusing the Centre of discriminating against south India and not giving any berth in the Union Cabinet to at least one MP from the region, he asked if it was not part of the country. When the two BJP MLAs P Vishnu Kumar Raju and Manikyala Rao protested, the Chief Minister said Sadananda Gowda (from Karnataka) was the sole face in the Central government. The name of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, did not figure in Naidu's address. He also wondered if making M Venkaiah Naidu the Vice-President was a "punishment or promotion" and alleged he was removed as Union Minister out of "anger." "Does anyone from the south have a post (in the Union Cabinet)? Poor Venkaiah Naidu used to be a minister. He used to go round the states.With anger, he was made Vice-President. How jealous! If it is a punishment or promotion, God should know. Tell me one leader from the south. Is it not part of the country," Naidu asked. During the Congress rule, if the Prime Minister was from the north, a person from the south used to be made the President, he said. "They used to be given a honourable position and respected. Even northeast.... There used to be Ananth Kumar, who unfortunately died. Now, there is only one (Sadananda Gowda) in the huge Cabinet," he pointed out. He asked the BJP MLAs to count the number of portfolios allotted to South India. The Chief Minister addressed the House on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 and the "broken promises" of the BJP-led NDA government. When BJP floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju started reading out names of national institutions sanctioned to AP, though not promised in the Reorganisation Act, Naidu said "You have no right to be an elected (peoples) representative. Are you doing tamasha." "What do you think of yourself? What can you people do? Put me in jail? Dont we have anguish," Naidu said. As the BJP leader sought to raise an objection, Naidu asked the MLA to "go to Delhi and raise your objection." "Who wants your objection? We will not leave you till justice is done (to the state)," he said. Naidu said he was the senior-most politician in the country. "Modi came in 2002... (Amit) Shah came yesterday. I became an MLA for the first time in 1978. I was a partner in NF, UF, NDA-1...," he added. Claiming that the proposed Federal Front was Narendra Modis "new proposal," Naidu said they were trying to play in Andhra Pradesh through (Telangana Chief Minister) K Chandrasekhar Rao and YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. "Prime Minister says I have taken a U-turn. Mine is not a U-turn, I have taken the right turn," Naidu maintained, referring to his stand on the special category status issue and subsequent pulling out of the NDA. He also accused Modi of trying to protect all economic offenders, including YSR congress chief. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Friday said it was "averse" to the arrangement of an interim Director and the Centre should "immediately" appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. The post of Director is "sensitive" and "important", and it is not good to keep an interim director of the agency for longer period, the top court observed, seeking to know as to why the government has not made the appointment yet. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha was told by (AG) K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, that a high-powered Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister would meet Friday to select a new director. "We are only saying that you should appoint CBI director immediately. No more of this in-charge business," the bench told the Venugopal, who said the committee is doing it as soon as possible. The top court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Common Cause challenging the Centre's decision to appoint IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, told the top court that 40 officers have been transferred from CBI in last two-three weeks. The bench told Venugopal that the officer who would be appointed as the new CBI Director should examine not only the decisions taken by Rao after taking charge of interim but also "trace the movement of files" during the period when IPS officer took charge of the post for two days on being reinstated. During the hearing, Venugopal placed before the bench in a sealed cover the minutes of the meeting of the high-powered Selection Committee which was held last month for appointing the new The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". Venugopal informed the bench that the Centre had taken the permission of the committee to appoint Rao as an interim CBI Director. The Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the of the largest opposition party and the of or his nominee judge of the apex court. Bhushan told the apex court that besides challenging Rao's appointment as interim CBI chief, the NGO has sought appointment of a regular CBI director and transparency in the entire process. He said the government has no power to appoint Rao as the interim as it would be done only after taking approval of the high-powered committee. "But in the event of a vacancy if say someone (CBI director) goes on leave, then how that vacancy will be filled?," the bench observed. "You are 100 per cent correct that appointment should be made by the committee," the bench told Bhushan. At this juncture, the bench asked the AG, "Why you (Centre) have not appointed a regular director so far? CBI director is such a sensitive post. All this is going on since October. You already knew that the person (former director Alok Kumar Verma) was going to retire in January. You should have appointed a new director". Venugopal said the matter was pending before the apex court and a judgement was delivered on the issue last month. He said the committee has already met once and the next meeting was scheduled for today (Friday). The bench told the AG that arrangement of appointing an interim CBI director in the interregnum should not be adopted. "It cannot function on an ad-hoc basis. For seven, 10 or even 15 days we can understand. But not for longer period," the bench said, adding, "CBI director is an important post". To this, the AG referred to the tussle between Verma and the then special director of the agency and said the two senior officers were fighting in public domain. "The CBI was not functioning properly. Not only fighting, they had levelled corruption allegations against each other. That was wholly unbecoming of the CBI officers. We are averse to this arrangement. When are you going to do it? Tell us? Let us post this for Monday and we should not pass any order. The person in-charge is only an in-charge," the bench said. The said that in the last meeting of the committee, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a member of the high-powered panel, needed some more details which have been given to him. The bench observed that if a member of the committee wanted to verify something, "it is not bad". Bhushan told the court the Centre's October 23 last year order appointing Rao as interim CBI chief was set aside by the apex court which had delivered a verdict in the case on January 8. "We have read that. The order (appointing Rao) was set aside. Ultimately, it is not an appointment," the bench said. Bhushan said if the permission of the selection committee was taken before appointing Rao as interim CBI director, the issue of his appointment no longer endures. He then argued that there should be transparency in the process of appointing CBI director. However, the bench observed that the January 8 verdict authored by of Ranjan Gogoi had dealt with the issue of transparency in the selection process and there were several other judgements of the apex court in the issue. "You want an immediate appointment. Let us stop there. Let the appointment be made first. If you have any grievance that the process is not followed and transparency was not there then you can challenge it later," the bench told Bhushan and posted the matter for further hearing on February 6. The Centre Friday allocated Rs 1,112 crore for in the Union Budget, while keeping its share in central taxes and duties unchanged. The government was given Rs 472 crore as central assistance in the Interim Budget for 2019-20 presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in Parliament. In the previous Budget, the Centre had allotted a total of 790 crore. The central assistance to the city government was Rs 499.99 crore. In the Interim Budget, Rs 10 crore has also been given to the AAP government for paying enhanced compensation to the 1984 riot victims. The same amount had been given in the 2018-19 Budget. ALSO READ: Interim Budget 2019 LIVE: Modi congratulates middle class on tax relief Apart from this, the grant for the Disaster Response Fund remained unchanged with an allocation of Rs 5 crore. ALSO READ: Ahead of LS polls, Modi govt reaches out to large electorate in Budget 2019 The city government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, had been demanding that the share in central taxes and duties for it be increased. According to it, Delhi's share in central taxes has remained static at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Friday she was "sorry" that Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar was not present at a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI) a day ago. Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora sought an explanation from the state government over the absence of Kumar at a meeting here on Thursday, where the poll panel discussed election preparedness with senior officials. "Rajeev Kumar is working as the city police commissioner for over three years and he is now on leave. If the CEC says so, I am sorry for that (Kumar's absence)," Banerjee said when her views were sought on this matter. According to a well-placed source, during Friday's meeting with the chief secretary and home secretary, there was a strict directive from the commission to remove Kumar from the post. According to ECI rules, any officer who has completed three years in the same place cannot continue there if the person has to be tasked with election duties. An 1989-batch IPS officer, Kumar replaced Surajit Kar Purkayastha as the city commissioner in January 2016. While interacting with the media, the CEC said: "The ECI has no idea about why the city police commissioner remained absent. We have sought an explanation from the controlling officer of the police commissioner in this matter." Asked about the reason behind Kumar's absence from the meeting, Arora said somebody told him that it was the officer's birthday. The commission had last month directed all state governments to transfer officials posted in their home districts and those who have spent three years in a post in the past four years. It is usual for the poll panel to issue such directions ahead of the Lok Sabha or assembly polls to ensure that officials do not interfere in the election process in any way and the exercise remains free and fair. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora Friday sought an explanation from the West Bengal government over the absence of the Kolkata police commissioner during a meeting of the EC's full bench here. The full bench of the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday met representatives of civil society organisations to take their views and suggestions to make the 2019 Lok Sabha elections more inclusive, ethical, accessible and participative. Rajeev Kumar is the commissioner of police of Kolkata. Amid a raging debate over the use of electronic voting machines in polls, Arora said there was no consideration of going back to ballot paper. "We are not going back to ballot paper," the chief election commissioner (CEC) told reporters here. The CEC was interacting with the mediapersons after meeting with representatives of political parties and officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A dozen Catalan separatists will go on trial on February 12 over their bid to make the region independent from Spain, the Supreme Court has said, naming former prime minister Mariano Rajoy among those called to testify. Nine of the accused are charged with rebellion for their role in the dramatic breakaway attempt in October 2017. They face up to 25 years in jail. Rajoy, who ruled Spain until last June, will be one of "hundreds" of witnesses to testify at the trial, a Supreme Court document said. He sacked Catalonia's regional government and called snap local elections after the Catalan parliament declared independence in October 2017 following a banned independence referendum. Rajoy was unseated by a no-confidence vote backed by Catalan separatist parties last year. The trial will last "around three months", with a verdict expected within three months, the president of Spain's Supreme Court, Carlos Lesmes, told reporters in Madrid. "This is the most important trial which we have known in democracy," he added. The trial will be broadcast in full on Spanish TV and it is is expected to have national political implications. Tensions are likely to flare up between the central government and the separatists who rule Catalonia despite Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's attempts to defuse the independence issue. That makes it unlikely Catalan separatist parties will give their crucial backing for his minority government's 2019 budget, said Eurasia Group analyst Federico Santi. "Failure to pass the budget, in turn, is likely to prompt Sanchez to resign and bring the 2020 elections forward to later this year," he added. Rajoy's deputy prime minister Soraya Saez de Santamaria and Barcelona's current mayor Ada Colau are among those summoned to testify at the trial. The court said it would also hear testimony from police officers and citizens who were injured during clashes during the October 1, 2017 independence referendum. Riot police beat protesters and stormed polling stations on the day of the referendum in an attempt to stop it from going ahead. In pre-trial detention for months, the nine jailed defendants were being transferred from the northeastern region of Catalonia to prisons near Madrid on Friday. Supporters in Barcelona cheered them as they were taken away, waving the region's red, yellow and blue separatist flag and holding up umbrellas to guard against the rain. Some held up black and white signs in English that read "Fake justice!". Three others will also stand trial, accused of disobedience and misuse of public funds. Catalan President Quim Torra read a statement in English and Catalan in support of the defendants, saying "they have not committed any crimes". Supporters of independence for Catalonia call the trial a "farce". But many Spaniards support it, having looked on in disbelief as the rich region's then executive tried to secede. Catalonia's president at the time of the secession bid, Carles Puigdemont, is also accused of rebellion. But he fled Spain after the region's majority-separatist parliament made a short-lived declaration of independence on October 27, 2017 which triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. He is not among the 12 going on trial this month in Spain, which does not try suspects in absentia. The trial's main protagonist is former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras, who opted to remain in Spain. He faces up to 25 years in jail on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds. Puigdemont and fellow separatists have all denied any wrongdoing, saying the 2017 referendum gave them the authority to break away from Spain. The Catalan government claimed some 2.3 million people took part in the referendum and that 90 per cent had backed independence. Those figures could not be independently confirmed. Far from curbing the desire for independence, the prosecution of the separatist leaders has energised the movement for Catalan self-determination and helped to keep the movement united despite deep divisions over strategy. Hundreds of Catalan separatists protested outside an EU office in Barcelona on Friday night against what they claim is the unfair treatment of the defendants. They hung a banner from the office's balcony that read in English: "Self-determination is a right not a crime". Twenty-one protesters entered the office and plan to spend the night, a spokeswoman for influential grassroots separatist group ANC which organised the demonstration told AFP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Modi government on Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. Presenting the interim 2019-20 budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said Rs 6,000 per year cash support will be given to small and marginal farmers that will cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually, in a bid to provide relief to distressed farm sector. Under the scheme called 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi', Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land in three equal instalments. Goyal said it will benefit 12 crore farmers and will be implemented from this financial year itself. He said Rs 20,000 crore have been provided for current financial year and also announced allocation of Rs 75,000 crore for the next fiscal. Unveiling the mega pension yojna for the unorganised sector workers that will benefit 10 crore people, Goyal said they will get assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after reaching the age of 60 years. "We are launching Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan today. The scheme will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000, with contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganised sector after 60 years of age," Goyal said. Goyal, who is standing in for Arun Jaitley undergoing treatment in the US, informed the House that the government will also provide a matching contribution of Rs 100 for every unorganised worker covered under the scheme. "The scheme will benefit 10 crore workers in unorganised sector, may become the world's biggest pension scheme for unorganised sector in five years". In a major relief for the middle class, Goyal proposed to double the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and increased the standard deduction from the existing Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. The announcement was greeted with thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of the treasury benches. The proposal will benefit 3 crore middle class tax payers, Goyal said. Doubling the threshold exemption limit is expected to cost the exchequer Rs 18,500 crore. Goyal further said an individual having an income of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum will not be required to pay any tax provided he invests in the specified tax saving schemes of the government. The TDS threshold on interest from bank, post office deposits was also raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. "This is not just an Interim Budget, this is a vehicle for the developmental transformation of the nation," Goyal said. He also announced a hike in the Defence budget to over Rs 3 lakh crore. BJP president Amit Shah Friday hailed the interim budget for "benefiting" all sections of the society and asserting that it has underscored the Modi government's dedication to the aspirations of the country's youth, farmers and the poor. The budget touches everybody, will spur growth and generate employment, he told reporters and also praised the government for "maintaining" fiscal discipline. "This budget gives relief to every section of society in some way," he said, referring to its announcements and schemes for farmers, unorganised sector workers and income tax payers. With its sops for farmers and the middle class- two crucial voting blocs- among others, the BJP believes that the budget will it woo them ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The perceived farm crisis is said to be a key reason for the saffron party's defeat in the state elections where it also suffered reverses in urban centres. Shah dubbed the raising of income tax exemption to Rs 5 lakh as "historic", saying the Modi government has surpassed the expectation of the middle class by announcing a number of concessions for it. The decision to provide Rs 6000 annually to farmers will be a "milestone" towards meeting the government's goal of doubling their income by 2022, he said, adding that a loan waiver helps peasants only once and merely those who take loans while this scheme will benefit all of them and every year. "The budget has proved that the Modi government is dedicated to the aspirations of the country's youths, farmers and poor," the BJP chief said. Congratulating the government for announcing a Rs 3 lakh crore outlay for the defence sector, Shah said it is the highest so far and added that the country's security has always been a top priority for the BJP-led NDA dispensation. He also hailed the setting up of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog for boosting cow conservation and productivity, saying icons like Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave had recognised the animal's significance to the Indian economy and society. The increase in budgetary allocation for the Northeastern states by over 21 per cent shows the government's commitment to the remote region which, he said, has seen a big boost to its rail and air connectivity under its tenure. The BJP chief said enhanced income tax exemption announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will not only provide tax relief to the middle class but also deepen their participation in the country's development. He also praised measures like monthly pension of Rs 3000 for the over 10 crore poor workers after 60 years of age, creation of a separate fishery department and schemes for women. Relaxation in interest on loan for farmers and more for those who pay their debt in time is a big step for their welfare, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday hailed the interim Union Budget as "sarvasparshee" one that touched everybody, had something for all sections of the society. The senior BJP leader, who holds Finance portfolio in the Nitish Kumar government, also claimed that the budget was like a "surgical strike" on the opposition which has been "rendered speechless" by the Narendra Modi government ahead of the general elections. "The provision of Rs 6,000 assistance to farmers would be of particular benefit to a state like Bihar where the average size of land holdings is less than one hectare. There are also provisions for those involved in dairy farming and fisheries," Modi said here. "Raising the limit of taxable income from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year will bring big relief to the salaried class. Hike in the lower limits for taxable income generated through rent and interests on deposits in banks and post offices will also benefit the middle class," he added. "The sarvasparshee budget is a veritable surgical strike on the opposition, which had been coming out with baseless attacks on the government and has now been rendered speechless," he said. Senior JD(U) leader and MLC Ranbir Nandan said in a statement "the budget would help fulfil the aspirations of the common people. Care has been taken to protect the interests of farmers, the middle class, small traders and pensioners." Senior Congress leader and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said "the budget is the last instalment of jumlas by the government which is incapable of undoing the damage caused by demonetization and GST." He also questioned "how can the government explain treating those with incomes of up to Rs eight lakh per annum as economically backward and eligible for reservation and at the same time holding earnings of over Rs five lakh a year as taxable."RJD chief spokesman and MLA Bhai Virendra said "the entire budget is an eyewash and none of the promises made therein needs to be taken seriously. This BJP-led government is staring at an electoral defeat and it has made a last ditch attempt to salvage its reputation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NDPs Benjamin Exeter (left) and Lauron Baptiste are said to be confident about victory in their election petition matters before the court. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is not deterred by the delay in the case of the two petitions that they have filed in the Court, challenging the 2015 election results in the Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies. Justice Esco Henry, sitting in the High Court here, set aside February 11, 2019 as the trial date for the next hearing in the election petitions, but has since recused herself from the matter, after it surfaced that the Registrar Office here had set other matters for her attention on that date. He emphasized, however, that his side had had nothing to indicate that there is any reason to say that the matter would not be heard on that day, and they are holding fast to that date. Dr. Friday added, "What we have done over the course of the three years since this matter has worked its way through the court, is we have been pushing to have it heard as soon as possible. He also stressed that, "This is a matter that we have been committed to; its a matter of principle . This is not a matter just about NDP, and assured the public that "we are going to pursue it and yes, we are optimistic and confident about the matter ruling in the favour of the petitioners. The elections petitions were filed in the names of NDP 2015 general elections candidates Benjamin Exeter and Lauron Baptiste the former contesting the result in the Central Leeward seat and the latter in the North Windward seat. The Respondents in the matters: the relevant Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, the Supervisor of Elections, Sir Louis Straker (ULP candidate in Central Leeward) and Montgomery Daniel (ULP candidate in North Windward). The Opposition Leader and NDP President Dr. Godwin Friday admitted that Justice Henrys recusal from the case had created some concern as to the practicality of a replacement judge being ready for February 11 date.According to Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday, while addressing a press conference last week Monday, "We have always maintained that first and foremost we have an obligation that when things dont look right in the election process, to use the law to seek redress. That is all essentially what we are doing,The matter was first struck out by Justice Brian Cottle in the High Court. The opposition then went to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, where it was reinstated, with the instruction that it be heard expeditiously.Since then, there has been a number of setbacks, most recently the decision by Justice Esco Henry to recuse herself from the matter. BJP president Amit Shah Friday hailed theUnion Budget for "benefiting" all sections of society and said it has proved that the Modi government is dedicated to the aspirations of the country's youths, farmers and poor. Shah told reporters that the budget will spur growth, generate employment and also provide relief to the middle class, farmers and poor workers among others. The BJP chief described the hike in income tax exemption announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as "historic" and said it will not only provide tax relief to the middle class but also deepen their participation in the country's development. He highlighted various measures announced in the budget for different sections of society and said those for farmers will prove to be a "milestone" in doubling their income. Congratulating the government for announcing a Rs 3 lakh crore outlay for the defence sector, Shah said it is the highest so far. The country's security has always been a top priority for the BJP-led NDA dispensation, he said. Shah also praised measures like monthly pension of Rs 3000 for the over 10 crore poor workers after 60 years of age, creation of a separate fishery department and schemes for women. Relaxation in interest on loan for farmers and more for those who pay their debt in time is a big step for their welfare, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit slammed the Interim Budget presented on Friday as "high on rhetoric, low on content" and disappointing. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal made various announcements in his budget speech, including direct cash transfer to farmers and income tax exemptions, amid cheers by NDA members in Parliament. "High on rhetoric and low on content, #Budget2019 has been truly disappointing. From landless farmer to the urban middle class, this government has hoodwinked every section of the society," the former three-time chief minister of Delhi tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Various industries and trade bodies in the region have welcomed the union budget presented by union finance minister Piyush Goyal Friday, particularly the announcement of Rs 6,000 per year for the farmers having below two hectares of land. The scheme would benefit millions of cotton farmers, as the crop got affected in certain states and the amount announced would benefit the farmers, chairman of Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) P Nataraj said. Also, he welcomed the announcement of the pension scheme for the workers in the unorganised sector enabling them to receive Rs 3,000 per month as pension after attaining the age of 60. Most of such workers were in the textile sector. Nataraj said the scheme would largely benefit the weavers of handlooms and powerlooms and also the workers of several other small, micro units from other segments of the industry. He welcomed the decision of doubling the income tax exemption limit, and enhancing the standard deduction to Rs 50,000 which would benefit several lakhs of middle-class employees of the textile industry. However,the substantial reduction in the budget allocation for rebate on state levies (ROSL) and amended technology upgradation fund benefits would have serious impact on the textile industry, he said. President of the local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lakshminarayanasway, welcoming the interim budget, said it was focused on major relief for farmers and the tax payers. The chamber welcomed nil tax for those with an annual income of Rs 5 lakh, increase in gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, and mega pension scheme for unorganised workers whose salary was below Rs 15,000. The trade body, however, said the finance minister did not concede too much on the fiscal consolidation goals, since fiscal deficit for 2018-2019 was seen at 3.4 per cent of the GDP. In a press release, president of Tirupur Exporters' Association Raja M Shanmugham termed the budget as people- oriented. He welcomed the announcement of Rs 6,000 per annum for the small and marginal farmers and increasing the income tax exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh to the individuals. Shanmugham expressed disappointment over the rebate on state levies allocation of Rs 1,000 crore which was lower since the apparel exports per annum were hovering around Rs 1.10 lakh crore. He said he was happy over raising the interest equalisation scheme allocation from Rs 2,600 crore to Rs 3,000 crore, which would meet the recent increase in interest equalisation for micro, small and medium enterprises from three to five per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain and Gibraltar reacted with fury to a European Council document published on Friday that described the British overseas territory as a colony. The document, laying out proposals to give British nationals short-stay, visa-free access to the EU's borderless Schengen area after Brexit, contained the description in a footnote. "It is completely unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way," British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman told reporters. "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and this will not change due to our exit from the EU," he said. Gibraltar, home to 33,000 people, was ceded to Britain by Spain in 1713, in perpetuity. The seven square-kilometre peninsula is an internal, self-governing British overseas territory. Its government expressed anger over the EU's description, saying the "legal status of Gibraltar is not a matter of argument, it is a matter of fact". "The use of such language, were it to materialise in the final documents, does not assist the creation a climate of understanding and trust between Gibraltar and Spain as we prepare to leave the EU," it added. "It is, in any case, totally irrelevant to our departure from the European Union and says more about Spain's anachronistic obsession with Gibraltar than it does about anything else. "This is totally out of place in the modern Europe of today." Sharing a 1.2-kilometre-long fenced border with Spain, the implications of Brexit on Gibraltar have formed part of Britain's divorce talks with the European Union. "Gibraltar is a colony of the British crown," the European Council document said in a starred footnote. "There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached," it added. In a 2002 referendum on whether Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar, 99 per cent of voters said no. "Is this another referendum result the EU is trying to overturn?" Daniel Dalton, a British Conservative member of the European Parliament, said on Friday. In the 2016 referendum on Britain's EU membership, Gibraltar voted against Brexit, with the highest Remain vote of 96 per cent. The draft divorce deal between London and Brussels -- rejected by British MPs -- sought to defuse any future tensions over Gibraltar when Britain leaves the EU on March 29. The deal provides for Spanish-British cooperation on citizens' rights, tobacco and other products, environment, police and customs matters. It sets the basis for administrative cooperation for achieving full transparency in tax matters, fighting fraud, smuggling and money laundering. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To woo distressed farmers ahead of general polls, the Centre Friday announced a direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year to those holding cultivable land up to two hectare, a move that would benefit 12 crore farmers and cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually. The scheme, named Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), has been made applicable from the current fiscal itself, and first installment of Rs 2,000 will be transferred directly into the bank account of farmers before March. About Rs 20,000 crore extra has been provided for the scheme in the revised estimate for the current fiscal. The move was widely expected after the ruling BJP lost power in the recent assembly polls in three Hindi heartland states, where rural distress was cited to be one of the reasons for the defeat of the saffron party. Apart from direct income support to farmers, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in the Interim Budget for the 2019-20, also announced extended interest subsidy on loans availed for animal husbandry and fishery as well as those farmers affected by severe natural calamities. Consequently, the total budget allocation for agriculture and allied activities is projected higher at Rs 1,49,981 crore for the 2019-20 fiscal, when compared to the revised estimate of Rs 86,602 crore for this fiscal. The fertiliser subsidy is pegged at 74,986 crore for the next fiscal as against Rs 70,075 crore. Emphasising the need for providing "structured income support" to the poor land-holder farmer families, the finance minister said the returns from farming has reduced due to falling agri-prices and small fragmented land holdings. PM-KISAN is required for procuring inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, equipment, labour and to meet other needs, he said, adding that it will help them avoiding indebtedness and falling into clutches of money lenders. Goyal also said, "This scheme will be funded by Government of India. Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from this". The scheme would pave the way for farmers to earn and live a respectable living. It would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season, he added. To boost farmers' income by promoting allied farm activities, Goyal also announced the benefit of 2 per cent interest subvention to the farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries, who avail loan through Kisan Credit Card (KCC). "Further, in case of timely repayment of loan, they will also get an additional 3 per cent interest subvention," the minister said. It was during the last Budget, the government had extended the facility of the KCC to animal husbandry and fisheries farmers. The finance minister also extended the interest subvention of 2 per cent on crop loans to all farmers affected by severe natural calamities, where assistance is provided from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) as well as prompt repayment incentive of 3 per cent for the entire period of re-schedulement of their loans. When natural calamities strike, farmers are generally unable to repay their crop loans. Presently, the crop loans are rescheduled for such affected farmers and they get benefit of interest subvention of 2 per cent only for the first year of the rescheduled loan, he added. To ensure provision of easy and concessional credit and to bring all farmers under KCC fold, the government has decided to initiate a comprehensive drive with a simplified application form. Goyal, however, did not raise the farm credit target for the next fiscal. In the 2018-19, the farm credit has exceeded the target of Rs 11 lakh crore and reached Rs 11.68 lakh crore. "During the last five years for providing affordable loans to farmers, the amount of interest subvention has been doubled. The crop loan to farmers increased to Rs 11.68 lakh crore in year 2018-19," he said. The government has made "genuine efforts" to remove the "hardships of farmers" by providing them Soil Health Cards, quality seeds, irrigation scheme and Neem Coated Urea to remove shortage of fertilisers, he added. Asserting that animal husbandry and fisheries sector also need considerable support, the minister said the allocation for 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission' has been increased to Rs 750 crore in the current year itself. He also announced setting up of "Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog" to upscale sustainable genetic up-gradation of cow resources and to enhance production and productivity of cows. The Aayog will also look after effective implementation of laws and welfare schemes for cows. To provide sustained and focused attention towards development of this sector, Goyal said that the government has decided to create a separate Department of Fisheries. India is the second largest fish producing nation in the world, accounting for 6.3 per cent of global production, registering an average annual growth of more than 7 per cent in recent years. The sector provides livelihood to about 1.45 crore people at the primary level, he added. Goyal also highlighted that the government for the first time in history has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of all 22 crops at minimum 50 per cent more than the cost with an aim to double the income of farmers. Farmers are in distress in most parts of the country as they are not getting better returns because of falling prices due to bumper production of foodgrain, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and other horticulture crops. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP took out a rally in Guwahati on Friday to protest against Wednesday's attack on its Tinsukia district president Lakheswar Moran and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, demanding action against the guilty. Earlier, BJP state unit president Ranjit Kumar Dass had threatened to retaliate for the attack on Moran, while addressing a public meeting. "None would be spared if lakhs of my party members come out in protest against the incident," he had said. Around 11am on Friday, the members of the saffron party's 39 district organisations, along with the Guwahati unit, marched from their northeast office in the city to the Kamrup (Metro) district deputy commissioner's office to submit the memorandum to Sonowal. In the memorandum, signed by BJP's Guwahati district president Bichitra Kalita, the party demanded stern action against all those who attacked Moran in Tinsukia. The memorandum wanted the police administration to take measures so that such incidents do not recur. Kalita alleged that "goondagiri" (hooliganism) has been going on in the state under the garb of protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The opposition Congress and the leftist organisations are "instigating certain sections to resort to attacks on the BJP workers", he alleged. Moran sustained injuries on Wednesday when a group of unidentified men clashed with RSS activists in upper Assam. He was rushed to hospital where he was administered first-aid and his condition was stated to be stable. Three separate FIRs have been filed in the case by the Tinsukia district BJP president, BJP Yuva Morcha and BJP Kisan Morcha. Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill have rocked the entire northeast, including Assam, over the past five weeks, with several organisations and political parties vehemently opposing it. The legislation, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from 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.) Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, who heads the BJP ally SBSP, Friday claimed that a US agency has warned that the saffron party could instigate riots. The minister was apparently referring to reported remarks by US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on an assessment by intelligence agencies on threats worldwide. According to reports, Coats said there was a possibility of communal violence if the BJP stresses on nationalist themes. But Rajbhar was more direct, claiming, "An American agency, in its secret report, has said that BJP can instigate riots... riots can take place in India. I am telling you not to fight in the name of Hindus and Muslims. It is only the common people who die in riots and not the leaders," he said at a public meeting in Saidpura village of Bansdih area. In an apparent reference to a meeting of seers at the Kumbh Mela recently, he said, "They are in the mood for riots now. They can start riots on February 21. "Remain vigilant as these are dangerous people. We want all to live peacefully and in amity in the country. They can do anything for votes," the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief said. The seers had announced a march to Ayodhya to ceremoniously begin the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site there. The backward classes welfare minister had recently stayed away from a UP Cabinet meeting at Kumbh, complaining that the issues raised by him were being ignored. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A powerful bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced a bill in the US Senate to combat tech-specific threats to national security posed by foreign actors like China. If passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, the bipartisan legislation would create an Office of Critical Technologies & Security at the White House responsible for coordinating across federal and state agencies and developing a long-term, whole-of-government strategy to protect against "state-sponsored" technology theft and risks to critical supply chains, a media statement said. "China's theft of critical US technologies and increased efforts to expand into our telecommunications market pose as serious threats to our national security and to consumers, said Senator Susan Collins, who on Thursday cosponsored the legislation authored by Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio. "This bipartisan bill would ensure greater coordination and cooperation between government at the federal and state levels, as well as with nongovernmental experts and the private sector, to develop a long-term strategy on combatting foreign attempts to acquire US technologies, she said. The Warner-Rubio bill would guarantee that there is a federal entity responsible for proactively coordinating interagency efforts and developing a national strategy to deal with the challenges to our national security and long-term technological competitiveness, the media statement said. The Office would also be responsible for raising awareness and improving the overall education of the American public and business leaders in key sectors about the threats to US national security posed by the improper acquisition and transfer of critical technologies by foreign countries and reliance on foreign products such as those manufactured by Chinese telecom companies ZTE and Huawei that jeopardize the overall security of private sector supply chains, it said. At the same time, the US is also facing major challenges to the integrity of key supply chains as a result of reliance on foreign products that have been identified as national security risks. A national response to combat these threats and ensure our national security has, to date, been hampered by insufficient coordination at the federal level, it said. China and other nations are currently attempting to achieve technological and economic superiority over the United States through the aggressive use of state-directed or -supported technology transfers, it added. The proposed legislation is cosponsored by Senators Michael Bennet, Roy Blunt, and Chris Coons. The Companion legislation was also introduced in the House of Representatives on January 16 by Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, Mike Conaway, Jim Himes, and Will Hurd. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh's central bank has filed a lawsuit in the US against a Philippine bank to recoup losses it suffered when unidentified hackers stole USD 81 million from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2016. The Bangladesh Bank has sought to get back USD 81 million along with the damages and the legal cost. "We filed in Bangladesh time this morning a lawsuit with Southern Court in New York seeking to recover the entire amount heisted," Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, Bangladesh Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) chief told reporters in Dhaka on Thursday. Hassan has accused Manila-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) and dozen others including bank officials of involvement in the "massive" and "intricately planned" conspiracy to steal the money. The hacking took place on the night of February 4, 2016 using information stolen through malware, which sent a total of 35 transfer orders to the NY Federal Reserve Bank where the Bangladesh's central bank has an account. According to the complaints, hackers from North Korea used fraudulent orders on the SWIFT payments system to steal the money while the amount was funnelled through RCBC accounts in New York City. The stolen money then was sent to the Philippines, where much of it disappeared in the country's casino industry. The complaint, however, said the investigators eventually could not exactly track down the destination of the amount. No RCBC comment was available immediately but the bank earlier said they would welcome this complaint, as it is an opportunity for RCBC to "put on record again that it was a victim of what was started in Bangladesh by still unnamed persons". The hackers actually stole a total USD 101 million from Bangladesh's account with the New York Fed in February 2016 and of the amount, USD 81 million was transferred to four RCBC accounts in Manila and another USD 20 million to a bank in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, however, immediately stopped the delivery of the amount that entered their banking system and returned the money immediately, complying with a Bangladesh Bank request. The development came nearly a month after a Philippine court found RCBC's Makati City branch manager Maia Deguito guilty of eight counts of money laundering tied to the heist and sentenced her to a 32- to 56-year prison term and a USD 109 million fine. The heist forced the then Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman to resign weeks after the central bank revealed that the huge amount was stolen from its account. On the same day the government sacked two of the central bank's four deputy governors while the secretary of fianc ministry's banking division was stripped off his responsibility. The Bangladesh Bank officials earlier said the hackers tried to steal a further USD 850 million, but the bank's security systems and typing errors in some requests thwarted the full theft. The Federal Reserve Bank, which manages the Bangladesh Bank reserve account, denied its own systems were breached. Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir, earlier said the New York Fed had signed an agreement to help with the case. However, New York Fed spokesperson declined to discuss what support her office might offer, according to media reports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A state-wide bandh was observed by various organisations in Andhra Pradesh Friday, demanding that the Centre immediately accord special category status to the state and fulfill promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Besides, the bandh a protest programme sponsored by the ruling Telugu Desam Party over the issue was also staged. The bandh and protest by and large did not affect normal life, though bus services were partially hitS. State Road Transport Corporation workers too joined the agitation in some districts, partially affecting bus services. No untoward incident has been reported as the protests were continuing in a peaceful manner, a senior police official said. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu shed his trademark light gold coloured outfit as he came to the assembly clad in a black shirt and white trouser while other TDP legislators wore black shirts in protest against the Centre's "apathetic attitude" towards the state. In Vijayawada, TDP, Congress and Left parties' leaders staged a demonstration in front of the RTC bus station, raising slogans against the Narendra Modi government and blocking movement of buses. Some protesters lay down on the main road blocking movement of traffic. AP Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy and Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samiti leader Chalasani Srinivas led the protest. Reports from Rajamahendravaram, Guntur, Kadapa and Visakhapatnam said bus services were partially affected because of the protests. Educational institutions were closed in many towns while practical examinations for Intermediate students scheduled for the day were postponed. The main opposition YSR Congress and the Jana Sena Party stayed away from the protest programme. The chief minister announced that the state-wide protests would continue till February 10. A "dharma porattam" (just fight) would be undertaken in New Delhi from February 11 to 14 and a memorandum would be submitted to the President on the issue, he said. "We will then go to the people and fight it out in the people's court," Naidu told his party leaders during a teleconference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) L-R: Elvis Daniel contested the North Windward seat and lost to Montgomery Daniel; Kenroy Johnson contested the North central Windward seat and lost to Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Addison Thomas contested the South Central Windward seat and lost to Saboto Caesar. An old adage tells us that when things go wrong, they will go wrong in threes, and the recent experience of government here, could well bear testimony to this. Following on the heels of having to endure defeats against Otto Sam and the Public Service Union, the Unity Labour Party Government has been dealt another blow by the court. According to sources in St. Kitts where the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal was sitting, disclosure was made last Tuesday, that the Appeal Court had ruled that the election leave provision of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves led Unity Labour Party (ULP) government agreed with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Unions in 2005, "is not unconstitutional. The Appeal Court Justices ruled otherwise, awarding victory to the SVG Teachers Union which had filed a case on behalf of three teachers Elvis Daniel, Kenroy Johnson and Addison Bash Thomas. The three had contested unsuccessfully the 2010 elections, on an opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) ticket. It was the expectation of the Union and the teachers, that the three would have been rehired, as per the reinstatement clause of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. That was not to be, and the Union filed a claim in the local court where Justice Brian Cottle, even before calling a hearing of the matter, ruled that the claimants case was "hopeless, and dismissed it forthwith. Undaunted, the Union filed appeal, and last Tuesday, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal handed down a ruling that clearly said that Justice Cottle had erred when he dismissed the case and deemed it "hopeless. The Appeal Court advanced the ruling that the claimants had "a legitimate expectation of success, on the basis of the collective bargaining agreement in which government had agreed to no-pay leave to teachers, who had been members of the Union for three years, so that they could contest elections and to reinstate them if they are unsuccessful. The reinstatement, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, was to have been at a level of status at which they left, and to include all benefits that they would have accrued prior to taking leave. The Appeal Court further ruled that the section of the relevant section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement under scrutiny was "clear, unambiguous (and) devoid of qualification. However, the Court stated clearly that it had no authority to order the reinstatement of the teachers. That was recognized as the responsibility of the Executive, i.e. Government. It did, however, remit the matter to the High Court "for an assessment of damages by a single judge for breach of the appellants property rights protected by Section 6 of the Constitution. The Appeal Justices also ruled that "The Attorney General shall pay the appellants prescribed costs of the appeal and in the court below to be assessed by a judge if not agreed within 21 days. (SR) This was, according to at least one commentator here, "a slap for Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who had gone on a crusade to sell the interpretation that the article in the agreement that promised re-employment of teachers who were unsuccessful as candidates in a general election, had breached the constitution of the land.Interestingly, Otto Sam, who won a wrongful dismissal claim against the same ULP government, was one of the Techers Unions signatories to the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement. He was then the Unions General Secretary. The Assam government Friday admitted that a scam has taken place in distribution of pre-matric scholarships to minority students and the investigation has been handed over to the CID. In a written reply to a query by AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, Welfare of Minorities Minister Ranjit Dutta said in Assembly that already five persons have been arrested for their involvement in the scam. Dutta said that a scam has taken place in the scholarship distribution scheme for the students belonging to the minority communities. The minister, however, did not share details such as the size of the scam but said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police is carrying out the probe at present. "The investigation is being carried out taking into account all the districts of Assam. So far, two teachers in Morigaon and Barpeta, two staff of bank customer care centre and one middleman have been arrested," Dutta said. Since the probe is on, other details cannot be shared at this moment, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will launch its latest communication satellite onboard European launch services provider Arianespaces launch vehicle on February 6 from French Guiana, Indian Space Research Organisation said Friday. According to Arianespace, the launch of Ariane-5 (VA 247) is scheduled for 2:31 am India time on Wednesday. Weighing about 2,535 kg, the Indian satellite, GSAT-31, will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites, ISRO said. The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, the space agency said, adding that it provides Indian mainland and island coverage. GSAT-31 is the country's 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO's enhanced 'I-2K Bus', utilising the maximum "bus capabilities" of this type. This satellite will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit, ISRO said. With a mission life of around 15 years, GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite Gathering, DTH-television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications. It also provides wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over large oceanic region, comprising large parts of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, using a wide band transponder. According to ISRO, two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted for ground tracking purpose. Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 will be the co-passenger of GSAT-31 during the launch, Arianespace said. Comprising two payloads, Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4, also called HS- 4/SGS-1, is a geostationary condosat for KACST (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Saudi Arabia) and Hellas Sat (Greece Cyprus). It will provide telecommunication capabilities, including television, Internet, telephone and secure communications in the Middle East, South Africa and Europe, Arianespace said on its website. GSAT-30 is another geostationary satellite to be lofted soon by Arianespace. Since the launch of Indias APPLE experimental satellite on Ariane Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 22 satellites and signed 24 launch contracts with the Indian space agency, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu Friday night met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal amid ongoing efforts to cobble up a grand alliance of opposition parties in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, met his Delhi counterpart at the latter's official residence here and discussed a host of issues. AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was also present there. "It was great meeting @ncbn ji today. We will all fight together against Modi government," Kejriwal tweeted. He shared a picture of him and Naidu that the Andhra chief minister had tweeted. Earlier in the day, Naidu had met opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in an attempt to bring together opposition parties on a platform to take on BJP in the polls. Naidu said there is a "democratic compulsion" for all the opposition parties to come together. However, the political compulsion of each party at the state-level will be taken into account while forming a united force to fight the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls, he said. His statement assumes significance in view of speculation over the possibility of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress which is yet to materialise even as both sides are attacking one another and asserting that they are going solo for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. Sources claimed backroom parleys between the two parties were still on over a "seat sharing" formula for Delhi where seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Friday gave approval to declare the endangered Indus River dolphin, found only in the Beas River in the country, as the state aquatic animal, an official statement said here. Chairing a meeting of the State Board for Wildlife here, Singh said the Indus dolphin, a rare aquatic mammal, would be the flagship species for the conservation of the Beas River ecosystem. The chief minister also gave approval to declare the Kanjli Wetland and the holy Kali Bein River as a wildlife conservation reserve to mark the historic 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The sacred Kali Bein river was associated with the life of the Sikh Guru, who got enlightenment while taking a dip in the holy river, the release stated. The chief minister said that the declaration of the area as a conservation reserve would contribute to maintaining the region's ecological balance and also to the cleanliness of the river, which had become polluted with time. Taking a serious note of the erratic flow of water in the Beas river, Singh ordered the Water Resources Department to ens ure minimum flow of 5,000-6,000 cusecs of water to ensure continuity of water streams and to curtail the resultant threat to the wildlife. He also directed the Chief Wildlife Warden to immediately initiate the process of declaring the Beas river as a "heritage river" given its historical, cultural, social and religious significance. The chief minister gave approval for establishing turtle hatcheries at the Harike wetland. Underlining the need to develop ecotourism in the Shivaliks and around Harike wetland, the chief minister asked the Wildlife Department to implement the Karnataka Model of Jungle Lodges in coordination with key private players in this field. He constituted a committee of the principal chief wildlife warden and the tourism and managing director, punjab state forest corporation director to examine the entire issue and submit their report by the end of this month. Responding to the concern expressed by environmentalist Reema Dhillon for protection of the Shalla Pattan Wetlands, Gurdaspur - the last habitat of common crane in the state - he asked the State Wildlife Department and the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun to come out with an action plan for compensating local farmers in case they keep their land fallow for one season. Taking a serious view of the growing population of the wild boar, Singh asked the Wildlife Department to carry out a special census of the wild boar population in the state, and suggested declaring it vermin for one year if it is found to be beyond the carrying capacity of wild areas. He also launched a mobile app for granting online permits for hunting of wild boar in areas where they were creating problems for farmers. The chief minister also announced his government's decision to ban the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Aceclofenac for veterinary use to ensure vulture conservation. Singh, while underscoring the need to create awareness among students on the need for conservation of wildlife and ecology, asked the School Education Department to include the subject of wildlife in its curriculum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that the Afghan peace talks, which is expected to bring a breakthrough in the 18-year conflict, are the result of America's military pressure on the Taliban. Last month, Trump had said regional countries like Russia and India should play a more active role in resolving the Afghan conflict. "We spend USD 50 billion a year in Afghanistan and have hit them so hard that we are now talking peace after 18 long years," Trump tweeted. Reiterating that the wars in Syria and Afghanistan must end, he said, "I inherited a total mess in Syria and Afghanistan, the "Endless Wars" of unlimited spending and death...these wars must finally end." Trump's comments came hours after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad defended his talks with the Taliban and cautioned against a rush to judgment. While Khalilzad said his nearly week-long meeting with Taliban officials yielded "significant progress," Afghan President Ghani expressed concerns about the US troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. Though Trump has not announced a timeline for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, he has repeatedly said in the past that he wants to get the soldiers back. "Syria was loaded with ISIS until I came along. We will soon have destroyed 100% of the Caliphate, but will be watching them closely. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely. Certain people must get smart!" the president said. Backing Trump, Senator Rand Paul also sought quick withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. "I stand with you. Time to declare victory, end these wars and focus on rebuilding our own homeland. Don't listen to the naysayers in the swamp, you are making the right decision! Paul tweeted. According to Scott Worden, Director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programmes at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), the reports of a possible troop withdrawal added urgency to negotiations with the Taliban and demonstrated that the US was serious about offers to remove troops in exchange for counterterrorism security guarantees. "On the other hand, troop withdrawal rumours created a perception in the region that the US may be willing to withdraw even without a peace deal, which reduced the value of that bargaining chip," he said. Khalilzad has made it clear that there is no formal agreement in place yet, and that "nothing is agreed until all issues are agreed", including a ceasefire and direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, Wordon said. "This formula maintains an incentive for the Taliban to deliver on political issues so they can get what they want on troops without further fighting," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) officials from Meerut arrested a retired police inspector from his residence here in connection with a disproportionate assets case, police said. Superintendent of Police (city) Shlok Kumar said a team headed by Inspector Yatendra Sharma arrived here and sought the help of local police to arrest retired inspector Puran Singh Mehra. He said Mehra was wanted in a case of disproportionate assets registered against him on the instructions of undersecretary (Home). He will be produced before special Judge of ACB for seeking a 14-day remand, police said. Mehra was booked on the basis of a complaint by Naresh Yadav, a resident of Noida, on June 21, 2009. The complainant alleged that Mehra amassed wealth more than his income when he was posted in Meerut. It was also mentioned in FIR, which was lodged on 1st January 2011, that Mehra made assets in the name of his wife too. Mehra was recruited as a sub-inspector on June 1, 1981 and was in-charge of various police stations in Ghaziabad district during his service. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Almost a third of British companies are considering moving or setting up overseas operations because of Brexit, according to a survey published Friday by business lobby group the Institute of Directors. The IoD survey of over 1,200 company directors found that 16 per cent had already decided to relocate or open operations abroad due to Brexit, while a further 13 per cent said they were considering such plans. Over a quarter of large businesses have already taken action or will do so in the future, compared with 12 per cent of small businesses. The finance, manufacturing and science sectors were the most affected, with a third of manufacturers planning to set up foreign operations. The looks set to benefit the most, with 91 per cent of those planning new foreign operations looking to set up in the bloc. "It brings no pleasure to reveal these worrying signs," said IoD interim boss Edwin Morgan. "Change is a necessary and often positive part of doing business, but the unavoidable disruption and increased trade barriers that no-deal would bring are entirely unproductive," he added. Britain's MPs voted on Tuesday to send Prime Minister back to Brussels to renegotiate the unpopular divorce deal she struck with the EU. ALSO READ: UK MPs reject chaotic 'no-deal' Brexit, but back May's bid to renegotiate Brussels has ruled out any big changes to the deal, leaving staring at a no-deal with only 56 days left until the official departure date, which would lead to the imposition of trade tariffs. "The UK's hard-won reputation as a stable, predictable environment for enterprise is being chipped away," warned Morgan. "Our political leaders must keep this in the front of their minds as we enter this critical phase of negotiations." Some 64 per cent of IoD members export to the EU, compared with a national average of around only 10 per cent of businesses, although many more rely on supply chains dependent on the bloc. British industry is ramping up plans for a no-deal Brexit, with companies reporting on Friday sharp rises in both purchasing activity and stockpiling of inputs at warehouses. " preparations were... a major contributing factor underlying the trends in input buying activity and stocks of purchases," according to the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index report released by information provider IHS Markit on Friday. Inventory holdings increased at the fastest pace in the 27-year survey history, according to the report. "Businesses did their best to develop forward purchasing programmes to avoid potentially disappointing clients and in case of a bad outcome," said Duncan Brock from purchasing body the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. "Supply chains were closer to breaking point with stretched capacity and delivery times lengthening again for the 33rd month. "This begs the question of how much longer suppliers can deliver and businesses can retain stocks for every eventuality," he added. Twenty people have been charged with criminal offenses for a deadly fire in a hotel in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province that killed 20 people. The deadly fire broke out at Beilong Hot Spring Leisure hotel in the tourist city of Harbin on August 25 last year and it took around three-and-a-half hours for 100 firemen and 30 fire engines to bring the blaze under control. Investigators found that a fan that short-circuited set nearby plastic ornaments on fire at the hotel and fire control at the hotel had been chaotic since its opening. The 20 people who have been charged with criminal offenses include Li Yanbin, the de facto controller of the hotel and Zhang Weiping, the hotel's legal representative. Both people have been arrested and each will face a fine of 175,079 yuan (about USD 25,746), state-run Xinhua agency reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 161 people were killed in "witch-hunting" and other superstitious practices over the past 18 years in Assam, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma told the Assembly Friday. Cutting across party lines, the members of the House urged the government to take urgent steps to generate awareness and support the victims of the social menace, which is still rampant in the state. A total of 133 cases of witch-hunting have been registered across the state since 2001, Brahma said. Witch-hunting is rampant across 17 districts of the state, with Kokrajhar leading the tally with 45 deaths, followed by Chirang with 24 deaths and Goalpara with 17 deaths, she stated. Tinsukia and Udalguri have seen 15 deaths each during this period, while Nagaon witnessed 10 killings, Sonitpur eight and Karbi Anglong six, Brahma said. Stressing the need for government support to the victims and their families, Congress MLA Durga Bhumij said that inhuman tortures are meted out to people as part of superstitious practices. "The existing laws are not stringent as one can get bail in 15-20 days. Besides, the ongoing awareness campaigns are not sufficient and there should be budgetary provisions in this regard," the opposition party MLA said during the Question Hour. Bhumij also alleged that the social welfare and home departments are not taking their responsibilities seriously. BJP MLA Prasanta Phukan suggested that a mechanism should be developed to support the survivors and their immediate relatives, as most of them belong to the 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) categories. Sharing his views, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said the witch-hunting killings are nothing but a form of mob lynching, but there is no act to deal with such crimes in the state. "After the Dokmoka incident of Karbi Anglong, the chief minister had talked about introducing a law to tackle mob lynching, but that has not been done as yet. So, I request the government to bring in a stringent law against mob lynching," he added. Two men were lynched allegedly by local villagers in Dokmoka police station area of Karbi Anglong district in June last year on the suspicion of being "child lifters". The Assam Police, on September 1, filed an 844-page chargesheet against as many as 48 accused in the case. Bodoland People's Front legislator Thaneswar Basumatary and Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha appealed to the members of the House to take initiatives in their respective constituencies to create awareness groups and launch campaigns to stop the menace. Responding to the suggestions, Brahma said the government is considering the option of doling out financial assistance to the families of victims, urging the MLAs to back the NGOs that have been fighting the social evil. "The social welfare department is working with the Assam State Women's Commission to create awareness among common people. It is primarily a law and order issue. So, the police needs to take action. We are taking steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 130 foreign students arrested for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US are largely Indians and were not aware of the varsity's illegitimate operation, immigration attorneys have said while criticising authorities for using "troubling" methods to trap them. The university in Detroit's Farmington Hills was part of an undercover operation by the Department of Homeland Security designed to expose immigration fraud, according to federal prosecutors who announced charges in the case. In what the authorities called a "pay-to-stay" scheme, foreign students knowingly enrolled in the fake school to falsely maintain their student visa status and remain in the United States, according to prosecutors. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made the arrests in the early morning hours Wednesday, the same day federal indictments were unsealed that charged eight people, all of whom are either Indian nationals or Indian Americans -- in a visa fraud scheme. The eight defendants were charged criminally for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit. But the 130 students were arrested on only civil immigration charges, Detroit Free Press reported. The sweep was one of the largest targeting immigrants from India in recent years, immigration attorneys said. In a nationwide sweep, federal agents with ICE arrested "130 foreign nationals on civil immigration charges," ICE spokesperson Carissa Cutrell told the Free Press on Thursday. "This may increase." The students swept up in the scheme were largely from India, lawyers said. The arrests took place across the US, in New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, Michigan, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, St Louis, according to immigration attorneys. Some of the arrests of the students came at their homes. The students had immigrated legally to the US on student visas and had transferred to the University of Farmington so they could work, said attorneys. Federal prosecutors claim the students were aware the university was not running a legitimate operation. But attorneys who have spoken with students or with family and friends of those arrested are pushing back against the government's claims. Ravi Mannam, an immigration attorney in Atlanta, said the government's fake university "kind of hooked these students by promising them credits for their previous master's programs." He said that what the University of Farmington was offering allowing students to work while enrolled is not unusual. And so the students may have thought it was an authorised university and work programme through a type of F-1 visa known as CPT (Curricular Practical Training). Michael Sofo, an attorney in Atlanta with Mannan and Associates said based on what he has heard about the students, it's "not been the case" that they were knowingly participating in an illegal operation. "There are specific universities who have advanced degree programmes that primarily involved practical training from day one that allows them to enroll and the bulk of the time is spent working," Sofo said. The courses "can be done at a remote location. It doesn't have to be where they attend the university. ... Programs like this exist and they are legal." Mannam said some students had come from India to the United States to enroll elsewhere, only to find that their intended programme had lost accreditation. So they enrolled at the University of Farmington, believing that they could apply their prior credits to the new program, which seemed to emphasise work experience, he said. Other students had completed legitimate master's programs in the United States but were waiting to be approved for a specialty work visa, so they enrolled in school as a stopgap measure, he said. "The government utilised very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution," Mannam said. Rahul Reddy, an immigration lawyer in Houston, said he had spoken with about 25 students who had enrolled at the University of Farmington and who were facing possible consequences. Some had already been arrested, he said, while others had rushed to leave the country. In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We are aware about this incident. We are ascertaining more details (through) our embassy in Washington and different consulates in the US." "We are getting in touch with the concerned US authorities to extend consular assistance to the people who have been affected. We have also mobilised the Indian community organisations in the US to extend all possible support to the Indian students who are affected by this incident," he added. The ICE said that foreign students are granted what are called "F" and "M" visas to study in the US and must maintain their legal status by enrolling in a university certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The ICE said that that since the University of Farmington did not offer courses, the students were using the programme as a way to work. On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security shut down a website they had been created for the University of Farmington. On the website, it now reads: "The University of Farmington has been closed by the US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement." It tells affected students to contact their local office of Homeland Security Investigations, the ICE agency that did the investigation and undercover operation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While privately owned omni-buses are exempt from becoming part of the Intelligent Bus Management System, these Taiwan-donated school buses will not enjoy that privilege. There will be no mandatory imposition of the Intelligent Bus Management system on independent omni-bus operators. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, Information/Technology, etc., made the comment at the signing ceremony last Friday that gave a kick start to the implementation of the Intelligent Bus Management and Monitoring System project in this country. Minister Gonsalves noted, however, that the idea will be to sensitize all omni-bus operators/owners over time and engage them in dialogue, towards having them sign on to the system. It was explained at last weeks signing ceremony, that the Intelligent Bus Management and Monitoring System Project will involve the use of a transmitter which will be placed on the vehicle, and will allow commuters to utilize GPS technology to determine the whereabouts of an omni-bus. But while independent omni-buses were exempt, not so for school buses donated to this country by Taiwan in August 2017. Those school buses will be outfitted with these transmitters along with those omni-buses that are privately owned, and have a contractual arrangement with the government to transport students. All other private omni-buses do not have to comply, however, Gonsalves did say that there was already a handful of omni-bus operators that had expressed their willingness to participate. In addition to tracking the whereabouts of an omni-bus, commuters are being extended a greater sense of safety with the deployment of closed circuit cameras at designated bus stops. As many as 129 Indians were among the 130 foreign students arrested for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US, officials said on Friday, even as immigration attorneys claimed that the youths were not aware of the varsity's illegitimate operation and criticised authorities for using "troubling" methods to trap them. The university in Detroit's Farmington Hills was part of an undercover operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designed to expose immigration fraud, according to federal prosecutors who announced charges in the case. In what the authorities called a "pay-to-stay" scheme, foreign students knowingly enrolled in the fake school to falsely maintain their student visa status and remain in the US, according to prosecutors. "The ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has administratively arrested 130 foreign nationals enrolled at the University of Farmington for civil immigration violations. Of the 130, 129 were Indian nationals," Khaalid H Walls, an ICE spokesperson, told PTI. "These individuals have been placed in removal proceedings, and ICE will seek to maintain them in its custody pending the outcome of those proceedings," he said. The ICE agents made the arrests on Wednesday, the same day federal indictments were unsealed that charged eight people, all of whom are either Indians or Indo-Americans, in a visa fraud scheme. The eight defendants were charged criminally for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit. But the 130 students were arrested on only civil immigration charges, Detroit Free Press reported. The sweep was one of the largest targeting immigrants from India in recent years, immigration attorneys said. In a nationwide sweep, federal agents with ICE arrested "130 foreign nationals on civil immigration charges," ICE spokesperson Carissa Cutrell had told the Free Press on Thursday. The arrests took place across the US, in New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, Michigan, California, Louisiana, North Carolina and St Louis. The students had immigrated legally to the US on student visas and had transferred to the University of Farmington so they could work, said attorneys. Federal prosecutors claim the students were aware the university was not running a legitimate operation. But attorneys who have spoken with students or with family and friends of those arrested are pushing back against the government's claims. Ravi Mannam, an immigration attorney in Atlanta, said the fake university "hooked these students by promising them credits for their previous master's programmes". He said what the University of Farmington was offering - allowing students to work while enrolled - is not unusual. So the students may have thought it was an authorised university and work programme through a type of F-1 visa known as CPT (Curricular Practical Training). Michael Sofo, an attorney in Atlanta with Mannan and Associates, said based on what he has heard about the students, it's "not been the case" that they were knowingly participating in an illegal operation. "There are specific universities who have advanced degree programmes that primarily involved practical training from day one that allows them to enroll and the bulk of the time is spent working," Sofo said. The courses "can be done at a remote location. It doesn't have to be where they attend the university...Programmes like this exist and they are legal." Mannam said some Indians had come to the US to enroll elsewhere, only to find that their intended programme had lost accreditation. So they enrolled at the University of Farmington, believing that they could apply their prior credits to the new programme, which seemed to emphasise work experience, he said. Other students had completed legitimate master's in the US but were waiting to be approved for a specialty work visa, so they enrolled in school as a stopgap measure. "The government utilised very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution," Mannam said. In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We are aware about this incident. We are ascertaining more details (through) our embassy in Washington and different consulates in the US...We have also mobilised the Indian community organisations in the US to extend all possible support to the Indian students who are affected by this incident." The ICE said foreign students are granted what are called "F" and "M" visas to study in the US and must maintain their legal status by enrolling in a varsity certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The ICE said since the Farmington varsity did not offer courses, the students were using the programme as a way to work. On Thursday, the DHS shut down a website they had been created for the University of Farmington. The website tells affected students to contact their local office of Homeland Security Investigations, the ICE agency that did the undercover operation. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy here has appointed a nodal officer here to help the students in distress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly one in three (29 per cent) UK-based businesses could be forced to shift operations abroad due to Brexit, a new report by an influential lobby group comprising business leaders warned on Friday. The Institute of Directors (IoD) conducted a member survey of over 1,200 company directors and found that 16 per cent had already pressed the button on relocation plans or are planning to in connection with Britain's impending exit from the European Union (EU) next month, while a further 13 per cent are actively considering doing so. IoD revealed that the trend was not restricted to big business firms alone. While more large companies had already moved operations, small firms were almost twice as likely to be now actively considering the prospect as the Theresa May-led UK government reopened negotiations with the EU this week in an attempt to avert a chaotic 'no-deal' Brexit. "It brings no pleasure to reveal these worrying signs, but we can no more ignore the real consequences of delay and confusion than business leaders can ignore the hard choices that they face in protecting their companies," Edwin Morgan, IoD Interim Director General, said. "Change is a necessary and often positive part of doing business, but the unavoidable disruption and increased trade barriers that no-deal would bring are entirely unproductive," he said. The new survey found that two-thirds of exporters to the EU were looking to relocate overseas, and four in 10 IoD members who are engaged with contingency planning have explored moving operations. The EU was by far the most commonly-identified destination for firms looking to move or set up operations abroad to deal with Brexit. "While the actions of big companies have been making headlines, these figures suggest that smaller enterprises are increasingly considering taking the serious step of moving some operations abroad. For these firms, typically with tighter resources, to be thinking about such a costly course of action makes clear the precarious position they are in," Morgan said. IoD called on the British government to "stem the flow" by providing enough certainty to the firms that are considering moving but haven't yet done so. Many Indian companies using the UK as a base for their European operations are also likely to be hit. According to the most recent CII-Grant Thornton Report, 'India Meets Britain 2018', almost 800 Indian companies operate in the UK, recording combined revenues of 46.4 billion pounds. "Several major Indian companies that have invested in the UK are concerned about post-Brexit developments especially around their supply chains. Some of the companies have decided to 'wait and watch' the developments before proceeding with their investment plans," the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recently warned in its written evidence to the UK Parliament's ongoing 'Global Britain and India' inquiry. "Several Indian companies having their European HQs in the UK have expressed concern over the ease of doing business with the UK leaving the EU. The concerns vary from attracting and retaining talent in technology companies to passporting rights for financial services companies," the CII notes. The latest IoD survey comes as large international companies such as Sony and Panasonic have already relocated their European headquarters out of the UK. Since the referendum to leave the EU in June 2016, business groups have been lobbying ministers for greater certainty over post-Brexit plans and ensuring a tariff-free regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venezuelan authorities freed three foreign journalists and have permitted them to continue reporting from the South American nation. Photographer Leonardo Munoz, video editor Mauren Barriga, both Colombian nationals, and Spanish editor Gonzalo Dominguez were released on Thursday night after spending the night at El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuela's Sebin intelligence service, reports Efe news. Munoz, Barriga and Dominguez works for Efe, a Spanish international news agency. The reporters were accompanied at the time of their release by Deputy Spanish Consul Julio Navas and the Charge d'Affaires at Colombia's embassy, German Castaneda. Venezuelan government sources said unofficially that the reporters were detained by mistake, attributing the mix-up to conflicting orders and adding that the Sebin agents had apologised to the correspondents for their "arbitrary arrest". Other journalists have also experienced problems this week while trying to cover developments in Venezuela, where a long-simmering political crisis entered a more acute phase on January 23 when National Assembly speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself the country's legitimate leader. Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro won last May's ballot by a wide margin, but much of the opposition boycotted the process and rejected the result as illegitimate, a stance shared by the US and numerous nations in Latin America and Europe. Washington and its Western allies recognised Guaido as interim head of state and the European Parliament followed suit on Thursday. The parliament voted 439-104 for a motion to acknowledge Guaido as Interim President even as the executive arm of the European Union was touting the creation of a contact group comprising European and Latin American nations aimed at finding a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela within 90 days. The Spanish government would recognise Guaido on February 12 if Maduro refused to call a snap election. Russia, which supports the Maduro government, warned on Thursday of a persistent risk of armed conflict in Venezuela and expressed willingness to join a mediation process. Among Latin American nations, Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua remain solidly behind Maduro, while Mexico and Uruguay are calling for mediation. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea has pledged to destroy all its nuclear material enrichment facilities, the US special envoy has said. Stephen Biegun said he planned to discuss "corresponding measures" the US can take in return for the country's denuclearisation, the BBC reported on Friday. The US would first however need "complete understanding" of the country's weapons programmes. President Donald Trump earlier said both countries had made "tremendous progress". Speaking in the Oval Office, the President said he would soon announce the date and location of a planned summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un. The pair met in Singapore last year, the first meeting between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader. In a speech at Stanford University in California, Biegun said North Korea had made the pledge to South Korea and to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But the US needed to agree on "expert access and monitoring mechanisms" of North Korea's nuclear programme first, he said. "President Trump is ready to end this war," he said. "We're not going to invade North Korea. We are not seeking to topple the regime." However, he reiterated the US would not lift sanctions until denuclearisation was complete, and said Washington had "contingencies" in case diplomatic efforts failed again. Biegun will meet his North Korean counterpart in South Korea on February 3 for talks. North Korea has complained about continued US sanctions and the slow pace of change in their relationship. Kim Jong-un has strived to improve relations with South Korea in the past year, seeking a formal end to the Korean War, which ended with a truce in 1953. The two Koreas marched under the same flag at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and Kim even sent puppies to South Korea's dog-loving President Moon Jae-in as a peace offering. But there are still sceptics on the Korean peninsula and in the US. US intelligence chiefs presented the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment report to the US Senate earlier this week, which assessed that North Korea is "unlikely to give up" its weapons programme. The report also said Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, as the Trump administration has said, prompting a tweet from the president telling the intelligence heads to "go back to school". --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US dollar extended slight gains as its exchange rates against the euro and pound rose, which demonstrated traders' and investors' concern about Britain's divorce deal with the European Union (EU). In late New York trading on Thursday, the euro decreased to $1.1444 from $1.1481 in the previous session, and the British pound slid to $1.3111 from $1.3112 in that period, Xinhua news agency reported. The Australian dollar increased to $0.7264 from $0.7254. The US currency stood at 108.87 yen, lower than 108.93 yen of the previous session. The US dollar was up to 0.9946 Swiss franc from 0.9941 Swiss franc, and decreased to 1.3131 Canadian dollars from 1.3148 Canadian dollars. British Prime Minister Theresa May has not secured a Brexit deal and EU officials worry that a no-deal Brexit would pose "under-appreciated risk" to the European financial markets, said the Guardian. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a TV programme on Thursday that Brexit could be delayed as the government may need "extra time" to pass key legislation, describing the Brexit impasse as "a very challenging situation." --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US authorities arrested three people on charges of running "birth tourism" companies that catered to Chinese clients in southern California, the media reported. It is the first time that criminal charges have been filed in a US federal court over the practice, CNN quoted Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office, Central District of California, as saying on Thursday. "Birth tourists" travel to foreign countries to give birth, so that their children acquire the citizenship of that country. In the US, the legal principle of "jus soli" or right of the soil, automatically confers citizenship upon babies born on US soil. Other countries, including Switzerland and Japan, do not grant citizenship automatically unless one or more parents are also citizens. Federal prosecutors also unsealed indictments of 16 more people, who are considered fugitives who are all linked to three alleged Southern California birth tourism companies that catered to Chinese clients. According to a Department of Justice (DoJ) statement issued on Thursday, the three businesses under scrutiny allegedly advertised access to "the most attractive nationality; better air and less pollution; priority for jobs in US government; superior educational resources, including free education from junior high school to public high school; a more stable political situation; and the potential to receive your senior supplement benefits when you are living overseas". The three people in custody have been charged with "conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, international money laundering and identity theft", according to the DoJ statement. The charges stem from a 2015 raid of dozens of "maternity hotels", CNN reported. Pregnant clients paid between $15,000 to $50,000 each, for lodging, transportation and food during their stays. According to the indictment announcement, the companies instructed women to wear "loose clothing that would conceal their pregnancies" before US immigration officials. --IANS ksk/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Donald Trump administration has announced that the US is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday at the State Department, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow, Xinhua news agency reported. The move, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened quitting the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the US and then-Soviet Union. "We will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the US is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, effective in six months," said the top US diplomat. A senior Trump administration official later told reporters that the US will officially inform Russia of its decision on Saturday. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will "move forward with developing our own military response options". The US "will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct", said Trump in a statement released by the White House. Meanwhile, Pompeo said Washington would reconsider its pulling-out decision in the following months if Russia could take actions toward what the US regards as bringing the country back into compliance with the treaty. Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of violating the historic arms control deal amid increased tensions. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Soon after the Central government announced a scheme to provide an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganized sector, several labourers living in the national capital hailed the scheme. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced the "Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan", a scheme to provide an assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganized sector who earn up to Rs 15,000 per month. For 35-year-old Mohan, a tea seller, the scheme will help him in days when he will not be in a state to do much physical work. "I heard people talking about the Budget and also the pension scheme for people like us. I got to know that a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 will be given to us. I hope the scheme will turns out to be good. I cannot work throughout my life, and if there is a security that I will get some money after the age of 60, it will help me and my family," he told IANS. For Raju Pushkar, who sells fast food and is in his early 20s, the scheme will be helpful for sure. "I have seen my parents. They were also from the unorgnaized sector. Now they depend on us and have nothing apart from their little savings, which they have kept for my sister's marriage. I don't wish to be like them. I will opt for the scheme so that I can live my life in old age with dignity," he said. Anita, a domestic worker, said as there is hardly any security in her profession, the scheme will help. "People like us are most exploited. We have nowhere to go in old age. Most of the times, our own children throw us out of the house. At least with such a scheme, we will not have to beg in our old age," said the 23-year-old. While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the scheme will benefit 10 crore workers and might become the world's biggest pension scheme for the unorganized sector in the next five years. "Half of India's GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganized sector. We must provide them a social security coverage," said Goyal. He said the mega pension scheme will benefit household helps, rickshaw pullers, agricultural labourers and beedi workers -- and more. A worker joining the scheme on attaining 29 years of age or above will have to contribute Rs 100 a month while those joining at age 18 will contribute Rs 55 per month. The workers will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after attaining 60 years of age. However, not all labourers were happy with the scheme. "This is not the first time a government has promised us anything. We are used to such promises. Plus, the election is coming. I have seen many parties and governments making promises but I have not seen any change in my life," said 56-year-old rickshaw puller Rampal Yadav. Echoing the sentiments, another rickshaw puller, standing next to him, said: "I will only believe in the schemes when I actually see the change. They (government) makes false promises and takes our votes and then there is no one to even listen to us." (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) --IANS nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has said the date and location of his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been decided, and will be announced next week. "We'll be announcing the location and... the exact date it will be... it'll be end of February," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. Trump added that his administration will announce the venue and date "next week". The meeting between Trump and Kim, if held as scheduled, will be the two leaders' second face-to-face encounter following their meeting in Singapore in June last year. Both sides have said they look forward to such a meeting. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the second meeting would take place "someplace in Asia", without revealing further details. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smaller than last years number, but nevertheless, government anticipates that it will record another surplus this year. Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves, on Tuesday presented the 2019 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure which amounted to EC$1,067,343,283, a 7.4 percent increase over last years figure of EC$993,535,449. Improved tax collection expected The Minister of Finance further stated that the 2019 Budget is financed by Current Revenue of EC$656,590,775 and Capital Receipts amounting to EC$410,743,508. Main revenue agencies and revenue from tax sources are expected to contribute EC$568.4 million, with revenue from non-tax contributing EC$88.2 million, Gonsalves said. Gonsalves said that tax revenue was expected to grow by 6.8 percent, to be driven by increases of 12.5 and 9.3 percent on international trade and goods and services respectively. Improving public service quality "In this regard, a number of new positions have been created, Gonsalves told the Parliament. Provisions have been made in the 2019 Budget for the creation of some additional posts. There will be an increase in the number of police recruits, ten new officers in the fire department, and eight new posts in the Coast Guard; additional positions in the area of aviation services; an additional 78 posts within the health sector; seven posts created within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - including provisions for the setting up of an embassy in Taiwan, and enhanced capacity of the United Nations Mission in New York, to advance this countrys bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. The overall sum budgeted for wages and salaries amounted to EC$306.5 million: salaries - $259.4 million; allowances - $24.5 million, and wages - $22.6 million. Pension payments amount to EC$72.7 million, comprising $60.2 million in pensions and $12.5 million in NIS contributions. The Minister again spoke of governments concern as it related to the fast-growing pension bill, repeating that pension reform was needed. But even with increased expenditure in some categories, Gonsalves told members of Parliament that this years budget realizes a modest surplus of EC$1,158,485, with current revenue estimated to be 5.6 percent, or $34.9 million more than the 2018 figure.This increase he attributes to an expected improved performance as a result of a pick-up in real economic activity in 2019 and administrative improvements.The Recurrent Expenditure, inclusive of amortization and sinking fund contributions, amounts to EC$844,763,703 which was 8.7 percent higher than last years figure, and was made up of Current Expenditure - $655.4 million, amortization $137.4 million and sinking fund $51.9 million, Gonsalves said, adding that Capital Expenditure is EC$222,579,580."Taxes on income and profits grow to EC$158.6 million, and is the third largest source of revenue, he added.On the side of the Current Estimates, exclusive of amortization and sinking fund contributions, this amounted to EC$655,441,290 and Current Revenue EC$656,590,775.The Minister of Finance said that the government was continuing in its quest to lift the level of public service delivered, through improving the quality and quantity of the human resources that it employs.When compared to the corresponding figures for 2018, Gonsalves said that this years wages and salaries bill, inclusive of the 1 percent retroactive increase along with the 1.5 percent for 2019, was 11 percent higher.The Budget presentation and debate on the Appropriation Bill will commence on Monday. An ongoing rift between US President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the construction of a wall along the Mexican border appeared to have widened even as negotiators worked to strike a deal ahead of a looming deadline. On Thursday, Pelosi made her strongest comments against the wall since the government reopened last week after the longest shutdown in US history, reports CNN. "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation," she told the media. Pelosi added that other aspects of border security involving infrastructure and technology were part of the negotiations. In response, Trump dismissed the Speaker's remarks as "just playing games", insisting even she would be "begging for a wall" if an onslaught of undocumented immigrants swarm the border. "I'm not waiting for this committee and I've told a lot of people I don't expect much coming out of the committee because I keep hearing words that 'We'll give you what you want but we won't give you a wall'. And the problem is, if they don't give us a wall, it doesn't work," he said at the Oval Office. Also in a series of tweets early on Thursday, Trump insisted his long-promised border wall would come to fruition one way or another, blaming "political games" for delaying the inevitable. The war of words between the two leaders came as Republican and Democratic negotiators began talks on Thursday over a government funding measure that Trump insists must include the border wall funding. The President and his aides were continuing to make preparations for the national emergency order this week in the event that the negotiators on Capitol Hill fail to reach an agreement by mid-month, according to White House officials. --IANS ksk/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will hold a second summit in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang by February end, a senior administration official said here on Friday. The plan for the summit is being finalised, CNN quoted the official as saying. Vietnam had been widely believed to be the location ever since the second summit was announced. White House officials announced on January 18 that the two leaders will hold the second summit following discussions with Kim Yong-chol, North Korea's lead negotiator on nuclear talks. The first such meeting took place last June in Singapore. Another informed source said that there were no current discussions for Trump to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit. Trump's agenda for the summit and the actual date were yet to decided. --IANS ksk/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana's Rythu Bandhu scheme showed the way to the Centre, which on Friday announced the PM Kisan Yojna to provide income support to farmers. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in his Interim Budget announced the scheme for direct cash transfer to small farmers. Every farmer owning less than two hectares of land will get Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments. It was Telangana, India's youngest state, which came out with the investment support scheme last year as part of its measures to transform the agriculture sector. It is aimed at taking care of the initial investment by the farmer so that he doesn't have to approach private lenders. However, under Rythu Bandhu, farmers irrespective of their land holding are getting Rs 8,000 per acre annually, at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre per crop. Launched in May last year by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government, the scheme has so far benefited 58 lakh farmers. In the Budget for 2018-19, the state had set aside Rs 12,000 crore for this scheme. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan had noted last month that Rythu Bandhu not only found its place in the national agenda but also won appreciation from the UN. To ensure that benefits of Rythu Bandhu reach the actual beneficiaries, a comprehensive programme for purification, rectification and update of revenue records was taken up. Under the programme, ownership of 94 per cent of lands was determined and passbooks were issued to farmers. The only aspect of Rythu Bandhu which has come under criticism is that tenant farmers are not entitled for the benefit. --IANS ms/oeb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hailing the Interim Budget, tech companies on Friday said the focus on leveraging digital technologies will boost rural manufacturing and create jobs. "The focus on leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable a positive impact on the lives of people is an encouraging step," Sumeer Chandra, MD, HP Inc. India, told IANS. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced that the government will soon launch a National Artificial Intelligence Portal. "Further, the expansion of rural industrialization using digital technologies, development of clusters encompassing the MSMEs, village industries and start-ups, will boost rural manufacturing, job creation and strengthen the overall economy," added Chandra. Dr Subho Ray, President, The Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said the announcement of a National Artificial Intelligence portal is expected to propel India on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive technologies. "The budget acknowledges that is now the second-largest hub for start-ups in the world," he added. Sanjay Jalona, CEO and MD, LTI (L&T Infotech) said the continued support by the government to New-Age concepts such as AI is a huge trigger to further advancements in these fields. "The role of such exponential technologies in driving the nation's development is immense and provides a much-needed avenue to address and overcome pertinent age-old issues," he added. Budget proposals such as those on AI, one lakh digital villages and the thrust on RFID usage will not only fuel entrepreneurship but also unleash enormous job opportunities, noted Deepak Maheshwari, Director-Government Affairs, India, Symantec. Souma Das, Managing Director, Teradata India, said the investment proposed by the government in the field of AI and allied technologies will lay a strong foundation for making revolutionary transformation in the scope of governance and the opportunity to provide seamless and improved citizen services experience. --IANS na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka will get a $1 billion loan from China, its biggest lender and might sign a free trade agreement with Beijing, becoming the third country to ink such a pact in India's neighbourhood. Sri Lankan envoy to Beijing Karunasena Kodituwakku, who made the announcement here, said it was wrong to accuse China of pushing the South Asian island nation into a debt trap. Sri Lanka will soon sign a concessional loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China to borrow $1 billion to fund a major highway from Colombo to its second largest city Kandy, Kodituwakku said on Tuesday at a briefing, apparently only for select media. The money will be used for the first stage of the central highway and the second stage will be financed by Sri Lankan consortiums and the third by Japanese loans, the Global Times quoted him as saying. It was not clear if the envoy was talking about the same $1 billion loan which his country's top bank official said will come from the Export-Import Bank of China. Sri Lanka is trying to limp back to normalcy after being hit by a deep political crisis last year that plunged the credit rating of the already-indebted country. The Chinese have made deep inroads into the strategically located nation in the Indian Ocean and have a 100-year lease of the Hambantota Port after Sri Lanka failed to pay back loans. Beijing's growing presence in Sri Lanka worries India which held considerable clout in the country. The envoy also said that Sri Lanka was in talks with China on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). "They have reached consensus on many issues, but (the agreement) isn't finalised," said the Ambassador. "We hope this year will be the critical year to finalize it." If materialised, Sri Lanka will be the third South Asian country to sign such a pact after Pakistan and the Maldives. The new Maldivian government is rethinking on its FTA as it believes that the pact is blindly in favour of Beijing. Kodituwakku also revealed that Sri Lanka was negotiating with the China Development Bank for short-term loans. He slammed the Western media's allegations that China's financial assistance to Sri Lanka had led it into a debt trap. "We don't agree with that. China never forced us to take a loan... If there is something wrong with the loans we have taken, it's our responsibility. It's not fair to blame China or another country, saying Sri Lanka is a victim," he said. He emphasised that it was on Sri Lanka's request that China provided funds, especially the development assistance. "This year Sri Lanka has to settle nearly $4 billion, and the country has more than $8 billion in reserves. But we cannot use all that money just to pay back. We have to keep a minimum balance," he said. According to the Ambassador, the Colombo port was a very crucial transit port serving India. India's strong economy will prop up the port as a successful entity. He hopes Chinese firms can turn the Hambantota Port into a successful facility. In October, Sri Lanka received orders worth at least $15 million at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). "We would like to enhance exports to the Chinese market," he said, adding the items could include tea, jam, vegetables, fish and natural rubber-based products. "We also invite more Chinese investors to invest in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan exports have concessional access to US, Indian and European markets. They can come to take advantage of these opportunities." --IANS gsh/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Normal life was paralysed across Andhra Pradesh on Friday due to a day-long shutdown called over demands for a special category status to the state. The ruling Telugu Desdam Party (TDP), Congress, Left parties and mass organisations backed the shutdown called by Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi (PHSS), which is fighting for special status to the state. Students and workers groups have also extended support. PHSS chairman Chalasani Srinivas said on the day when the Union Budget was being presented in Parliament, the shutdown was called to draw the nation's attention towards the plight of Andhra Pradesh due to the Centre not fulfilling the promise to accord special category status. Buses of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went off the roads, while shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed.. Srinivas along with state Congress chief Raghuveera Reddy and leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI) took part in a protest outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Bus Stand in Vijayawada. Left parties and student groups staged a protest in Visakhapatnam. Demonstartions were also held in Guntur, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Kurnool, Anantapur and other towns. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, his cabinet colleagues and TDP legislators will attend the Assembly session wearing black badges. Government Employees Association has also appealed to the employees to wear black badges while attending their duties. Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners' Association, managements of private schools and colleges were also extending support to the shutdown. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana in 2014, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced in Parliament that residual state of Andhra Pradesh would be accorded the special category status. TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA government at the Centre last year after the latter ruled out special status. Chandrababu Naidu, who has also accused Modi government of going back on commitments made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, will be staging a protest in New Delhi on February 11. --IANS ms/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samsung has launched the latest version of Android 9 Pie on its Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones that come with a new user interface (UI) -- One UI -- in the US. This roll-out began in the US earlier this week, although the update started reaching European countries in December 2018, The Verge reported on Thursday. Although this latest update has come to Samsung's devices a lot more quickly than previous versions of Android did, the South Korean firm is still lagging behind Nokia, OnePlus and HTC with its update schedule. One UI, which is Samsung's latest take on Android 9 Pie, is specifically designed to make navigating on a massive screen easier. The South Korean company showcased One UI with -- a new visual flair, more rounded corners, splashes of colour across apps and redesigned icons -- at its developers conference in November. Other improvements in the new interface include a system-wide dark mode and larger "focus blocks" in apps like the gallery to reduce clutter and distractions, allowing users to focus and quickly navigate their phone. The US roll-out of Android 9 Pie on Galaxy S9 and S9+ has begun just days before Samsung's "Unpacked" event, scheduled to be held on February 20 in San Farncisco. Samsung is expected to discuss the Galaxy S10, S10+, a so-called "lite" version of the S10, its folding phone and potentially even a 5G phone at the event, the report added. --IANS rp/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat faced a hostile crowd on the second day of the ongoing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-supported "Dharm Sansad" at Kumbh as dozens of people shouted slogans decrying his statement that something will happen on the Ram temple issue after 2-3 months. Soon after the address of Bhagwat concluded, the protestors started shouting slogans demanding that the work on a grand Ram temple begin immediately. Organisers had a tough time reining in the protestors booing the RSS chief, who in his address had said that the Hindus should rest assured as they will not settle for "anything less than the Ram temple". Bhagwat said that whatever be the political upheaval, something will happen in the next two-three months. He also said that the Ram temple will be made but after the support to our government in 2019. He assured everyone that soon after the next government is sworn in, the construction of Ram temple will begin during the very first session of Parliament. But the moment he said this, all hell broke loose and people seated in the back got up and raised slogans like "Mandir Banao, ya waapas jao". Demanding that the date of beginning of Ram temple construction be declared here and now, they said their patience has run thin. --IANS md/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday welcomed the interim Budget as "historic" which he said is not only "development friendly" but also pays special attention to the middle class, farmers, workers in unorganised sector and the other vulnerable sections of our society. Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who present the Interim Budget 2019-20, Singh said that the announcement of exemption from income tax to people with income up to Rs 5 lakh and another Rs 1.5 lakh in investments totalling Rs 6.5 lakh will have a major impact on the lives of middle class in general and salaried class in particular. The Minister said that with the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, the government will provide income support to small and marginal farmers which will bring big relief to farmers. "Under this scheme every farmer with land holdings up to two hectares will receive a sum of Rs 6,000 per year directly in their bank accounts." Speaking on the relief given to the farmers in the budget, he said that earlier the government used to give temporary relief to farmers but the Kisan Samman scheme will insure a permanent income support to all small farmers. "The budget has allocated Rs 20,000 crore in the current fiscal which shows our government's intent and commitment to farmers' welfare," Singh said. Praising the steps taken for the labourers working in unorganised sector in this budget, the Minister said that under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Yojana, the government will now provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month after 60 years of age, at a nominal contribution of Rs 100 per month. Singh said that on the one hand, the budget is focused on supporting the social infrastructure of our country and the other hand it pays great attention to strengthening the economic infrastructure. "Sectors like defence, agriculture, infrastructure, industry, energy, education and health have been given a big boost in the budget. The budget will go a long way in accelerating the process of making a New India which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous. It also highlights the vision and way forward for making India a 10 trillon dollar economy by 2030." --IANS rak/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Hyderabad police on Friday arrested a woman techie for kidnapping a youth, who was harassing her. Police arrested Pulleri Divya, Project Management Officer at Wipro, and five others who helped her in the crime. The 24-year-old techie with the help of other accused kidnapped V. Sai Kumar, a carpenter, on Thursday. According to K. Srinivasa Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gopalapuram Division, Divya called Sai Kumar to a place in Secunderabad. When he reached there, all the accused attacked him and made him sit on one of their three bikes. They took him to two different locations and thrashed and beat him with sticks. On a complaint by Sai Kumar, 23, Gopalapuram police station began the investigations and on Friday arrested the accused. They were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and attempt to murder. According to police, Sai Kumar had attended a work in the house of one Pravalika in Borabanda. She once used the mobile phone of her friend Divya to call the carpenter. The youth then started calling Divya and was sending her messages on WhatsApp. She decided to take revenge and took help of five persons including two car drivers, a security guard and diesel mechanic to kidnap him. The police officer said that if any woman faces humiliation and harassment she should lodge complaint with the nearest police station or approach 'She' team of the police. "Don't take law in your hands as this will make you an accused," said the ACP. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just over two weeks after 51-year-old Susan Jileina Debique-Mason appeared at the Serious Offences Court on cocaine charges, another woman was before the same Court on similar charges. On Monday, Suranie Graham, 20-year-old business woman of Lowmans Windward, was taken before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne charged with possession of 1,024 grams of cocaine with intent to supply, possession for the purpose of drug trafficking, and importing the drug. She pleaded not guilty and was granted $20,000 bail with one surety, on condition that she report to the Biabou Police Station, and surrender her travel documents. She was also put on a dusk to dawn curfew. Stop notices will be placed at all ports of exit, and she is not to leave the state without the permission of the Serious Offences Court or a higher court. The matter was adjourned to March 15. The other defendant, Mason, who is originally of Fitz Hughes but resides at Rose Hall, had appeared before the Chief Magistrate on January 14 charged with possession of 1,810 grams of cocaine with intent to supply, possession for the purpose of drug-trafficking, and attempting to export the drug. Mason had also pleaded not guilty to her charges and was granted $20,000 bail with one surety, with reporting conditions, and ordered to surrender her travel documents. Both arrests stemmed from police actions in Kingstown. Graham was arrested last Saturday while Mason was apprehended January 11. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal praised the latest release "Uri: The Surgical Strike" during the Interim Budget session here on Friday. While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, the Minister praised the movie and said: "I had the opportunity to watch the film ... recently. 'Kya josh tha, kya mahaul tha' (the atmosphere there was great)." As Goyal spoke about the film, several BJP leaders including Paresh Rawal, who also featured in the military drama, thumped their desks in Parliament. In the past also, several politicians such as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have praised the film. "Uri: The Surgical Strike" is based on the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces on terror hubs in Pakistan. The movie, released earlier this month, also stars Yami Gautam and Mohit Raina. In the film, Vicky Kaushal plays the role of an Indian commando who is involved in the 2016 surgical strike. --IANS nks-dc/nn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Friday met US Consul General Katherine Hadda and discussed the issue of Telugu students stuck in that country. Rama Rao, who is son of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, appealed for assistance to the students from the US government. Many students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among over 100 arrested so far in a "pay-to-stay" sting operation of US authorities using a fake university. Several hundred Indian students face arrest following detention of eight recruiters and some students over an alleged immigration fraud detected by a fake university sting operation set up by government agencies to crack down on visa scams. The American Telugu Association (ATA) reported that 100 students were arrested on Wednesday. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 20 opposition parties including the Congress, SP, BSP and the Left on Friday discussed the agrarian crisis, rising unemployment and "attacks on democratic institutions" by the Modi government here and resolved to petition the Election Commission (EC) over tampering of EVMs. The 'Save the Nation, Save Democracy' meeting at the Constitution Club here was participated by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and NCP chief Sharad Pawar among others. Addressing the media after the meeting, Gandhi said the opposition parties will on Monday submit a memorandum to the EC with their proposals seeking to address their "doubts" over the fairness of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The parties also discussed at length the core issues that the country is faced with -- agrarian distress, unemployment and the systematic attacks on democratic institutions by the Modi government. "It was a very good meeting where we all discussed two central issues and one structural issue - the issue of unemployment where the Modi government has completely failed, the agrarian crisis and the systematic attacks that this government has been carrying on," said Gandhi. Raking up the Rafale deal which he alleges to be the India's "biggest defence scam", Gandhi also said that agrarian crisis, unemployment and the attacks on democratic institutions along with "Modi's corruption in the jets deal" will be the core issues in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The memorandum on the EVMs signed by representatives of 21 parties will be submitted to the EC on Monday evening. "The main issue with the EVMs is that there are doubts about the fairness of the system in many people. We want to create a backup system, it is about building the confidence of people in the electoral system," said Gandhi adding that the memorandum to the EC has several proposals seeking to address the doubts about the voting machines. Communist Party of India-Marxist Lok Sabha member Mohammad Salim said among the major demands to the EC was ensuring verifying 50 per cent of VVPATs with the paper trails instead of the now 10 per cent. "Doubts over the EVMs have been raised by all opposition from time to time and that's why VVPATs were introduced. But even then the issues remain because only a fraction of the paper trail is verified. The demand is to ensure 50 per cent of verification if not more," said Salim. Among other present in the meeting were Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, Ramgopal Yadav of SP, Sharad Yadav of LJD, Sanjay Singh of AAP, Omar Abdullah of National Conference, Satish Chandra Misra of BSP, Manoj Jha of RJD, Kanimozhi of DMK, Jayant Chaudhary of RLD, D. Raja of CPI, Danish Ali from JD-S and Jitin Ram Manjhi of HAM. While the opposition parties had earlier demanded the EC to revert to paper ballot system for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but with only two months remaining for the poll battle, they have insisted on enhancing the paper trail verification of VVPATs. On the Interim Budget presented by the Modi government, Gandhi was fiercely critical of the scheme of annual income support of Rs 6,000 for small farmers, calling it an insult. "When Rs 3.5 lakh crore of loans to a handful industrialists have been waived, an income Rs 17 per day to our debt ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can no bigger insult than that," he said. Countering the BJP's assertions that devoid of any issues, the Congress was criticising the budget, Gandhi said the Lok Sabha elections will be fought on the issue of Modi's corruption in the Rafale deal. "There will be surgical strikes happening in the next couple of months, on Rafale, on agriculture crisis, on unemployment, we have many issues and the biggest issue is that Modi enriched his crony by Rs 30,000 crore in the Rafale deal," added Gandhi. --IANS and/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition parties on Friday panned the Modi governments final Budget, saying the entire exercise was made eying the Lok Sabha elections and claimed it failed to address the acute agrarian and employment crises. If the Congress called the interim budget an "account for votes", the Trinamool Congress said it was "BJP's manifesto" for the Lok Sabha polls and questioned the Modi government's fiscal prudence. Leading the charge Congress President Rahul Gandhi called the scheme to provide direct income support of Rs 6,000 each to poor farmers as the "biggest insult". When Rs 3.5 lakh crore of loans to a handful industrialists have been waived, an income Rs 17 per day to our debt ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can no bigger insult than that "Giving Rs 17 per day to our debt-ridden farmers is nothing but an insult. There can be no bigger insult," said Gandhi after participating in a meeting of 21 Opposition parties where agrarian crisis and unemployment were the core issues discussed. Flaying the Modi government over the agrarian crisis and alarming unemployment, Gandhi also said they will be major issues ion the Lok Sabha polls. Congress veteran and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said "It was not a Vote on Account but an Account for Votes." He pointed the big takeaway of the budget was the present government had "further weakened fiscal stability" and said the exercise points to the government's "incompetent fiscal management and a disdain for fiscal prudence". West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee described the Budget as a "farce" and a "BJP manifesto". "The Budget proposals will be not implemented... New government will present the Budget. This government's expiry date will be over in one month. What will they implement in one month?" "There is no future of the Interim Budget ahead of the elections," Banerjee told the media in Kolkata. "It is obvious that economic emergency is going on in our country. Our apprehension is where the money will come from," she added. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) ridiculed the budget as another 'jumla' (fake promise) and questioned the government move to present Budget for the entire year. "This cannot be the final budget for this year because the government presenting it, and the Lok Sabha considering it, will both cease to exist less than two months into the financial year to which the budget pertains," it said. CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said "Promises made today are not worth the paper they are written on". "Modi government came to power in 2014 promising 10 crore new jobs, 100 new smart cities, doubling of farmers income and Rs 15 lakh in each bank account. This is another attempt to fool people before polls but it won't succeed," he added. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party head Arvind Kejriwal called it the "final jumla of Modi government". Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav billed the interim budget as "everything but true". "The budgetary provisions are a bundle of lies," he said and blamed the Modi government for the "highest unemployment rate in 45 years". "The youth will take revenge on the false promises and joblessness in the Lok Sabha elections," added Yadav. Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha also attacked the Budget. "It is a cash-for-votes budget. It is illegal for a candidate to do it, but when the government does, it is perfectly valid. I hope the people of India will not be fooled by these last-minute gimmicks," he tweeted. --IANS and/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men on Friday staged a nude protest near the Secretariat here in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The protesters were swiftly removed by security personnel, police said. Protests against the Bill have enveloped virtually the entire north-eastern region since the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. The Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to six non-Muslim minority groups from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The fear in the northeast is that if this is done, "outsiders" will overwhelm the locals in the region. A nude protest was also staged last month by 10 Assamese youths in front of Parliament in the national capital. --IANS ah/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Interior designer and entrepreneur Sussanne Khan says many people know her as the former wife of actor Hrithik Roshan, but her identity goes beyond that. "My mother Zarine has been a role model for her daughters especially for me and my other two sisters -- jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali and Simone Arora . Many know me as the wife of Hrithik Roshan," Sussanne said. "However very few know that I am in fact the daughter of prolific interior designer Zarine Khan," she added. "After having obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Interior Design from a college in California, I went on to work with my mother for a while before starting my own venture," said Sussanne. "In 2005, I shifted focus to furniture design. In collaboration with Gauri Khan, I launched my furniture boutique 'The Charcoal Project' in 2011. In addition to designing my own home with Hrithik, I have also designed Rani Mukerji and Priyanka Chopra's homes," she said. "Today due to competition, we have to work more hard and the team of workers and craftsmen introduced by my mother, help a lot as a family members." Sussanne expressed her opinion as part of an interactive session "Successful Mothers & Daughters in the Business of Luxury", organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women business wing of FICCI. It was also attended by Zarine Khan, Shahnaz Husain and Nelofar Currimbhoy, among others. Zarine said: "I am proud of my daughters, they look after business, children and household. They also travel to various places for business." --IANS sug/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pointing out that the Interim Budget announced on Friday is "silent" on jobs and education, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram ridiculed the Modi government saying all it understands is "pakodanomics". "Two words that are missing from the Budget speech are education and jobs. In the 10 point vision document presented by Finance Minister (Piyush Goyal), there is nothing about education, nothing about jobs. "There is nothing about jobs because if they say anything about jobs the youth will dismiss it as 'pakodanomics'. "The only thing this government knows about jobs is 'pakodanomics'," said Chidambaram, referring to the term coined after Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that street vendors selling 'pakodas' should also be considered as employed. The Congress veteran also dismissed the NITI Aayog's defence of the government "suppressing" a report that showed the unemployment rate at a 45-year high. "The NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) report has revealed that unemployment for 2017-18 stood at 6.1 per cent which is highest in 45 years. "The NSSO data is never approved by the Prime Minister or the cabinet. "The CSO (Central Statistics Office) is an autonomous body which collects statistics and releases its reports. "But the Niti Aayog Vice Chairman suddenly comes up with this theory that NSSO data must be approved by the government before it is released. "The data shows unemployment to be highest in 45 years and the government doesn't have a word about jobs in the budget speech. The government doesn't have a word on what it intends to do about reforming education both quantitative and qualitative." He questioned Goyal for using Hindi and English simultaneously in his budget speech. "I am a strong supporter of the use of Hindi and English as official languages, but no one intended that the two languages should be used alternately or simultaneously. "Those who knew only Hindi did not understand one half of the Budget Speech and those who knew only English did not understand the other half. "Perhaps that was the real intention of the government: leave the people confused at least for a day. The mist that wraps this Budget will lift by tomorrow and the people will see the desperation and recklessness of the government," he added. --IANS and/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Film: "Mary Queen Of Scots"; Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie; Director: Josie Rourke; Rating: ** (2 stars) History is nobody's personal property. Filmmakers are free to re-interpret and even vandalise historical facts as long as they do not distort history outright. In "Mary Queen Of Scots" the new version of the classic story of conflict where Queen Elizabeth I takes on Mary Queen Of Scotland, the latter's court seems more a hotbed of excessive libidousness than a place of political intrigue. The atmosphere is one of exacerbated hormones with Queen Mary all but raping her English husband (played by Scottish actor Jack Lowden), who is caught in bed with a gay courtier (Ismael Cruz Cordova), who incidentally is the most liberated character in the over-populated plot. No wonder the gay character gets savagely knifed. This is a film that doesn't have tolerance for moral, spiritual or sexual ambivalence. The characters shriek their moral and political allegiances. This loudness of mood comes from the director's origins in theatre. She must make the characters heard in the last row even if it means sacrificing a tempered equilibrium between the two protagonists. This brings us to Ronan and Robbie as the protagonists at war with one another and a world that cannot accept female supremacy. Both accomplished actresses attempt to play the two sides of the battle line with as much empathy and passion as possible. But the script doesn't encourage nuances. Ronan's Mary is all sweetness and sexiness. Robbie's Elizabeth is an angered embittered childless lonely woman who wears her hideous masked face as a shield against the emotions that flow within her. Neither performance can even remotely compare with what Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson achieved as Mary and Elizabeth in the 1971 version of "Mary Queen Of Scots". Funnily, Ronan and Robbie actually resemble the two great actresses who played their parts in that 1971 film. So it looks like Ronan and Robbie are playing Redgrave andA Jackson rather than Mary and Elizabeth. On the plus side, this new profoundly disappointing version of "Mary Queen Of Scots" has some luscious shots of horses trooping across the Scottish countryside. But that's more because a camera canA be placed anywhere in Scotland to capture a panoramic landscape. Not much is seen of the British outdoors, perhaps this is done purposely to replicate Elizabeth's hemmed-in emotionally locked-out existence. I may be wrong in imagining such thematic metaphors in a film that gets down to basics with Mary's husband pleasuring her manually on their wedding night. After her satiationA she offers to return the favour. "There is no need for that," the bridegroom declares coyly. Queen Mary looks more confused by the nuptial sacrifice than moved. By the time her execution comes along I was no longer sure, other than their religious difference, what the problem was between the two queenly cousins. Or, why Queen Mary wore red to her execution. Maybe the black dress had gone to the laundry. While it is welcome to see strong women taking the lead in another political drama, "Mary Queen Of Scots" nowhere replicates the masterly mischief and pungent political machinations of that other recent favourite British period drama "The Favourite". --IANS skj/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Negligence in maintaining the security of a Jharkhand government web system has resulted in the leaking of personal information and Aadhaar numbers of nearly 1,66,000 government employees in India, TechCrunch reported on Friday. A web system that was used to record employee attendance was left without a password since 2014, exposing Aadhaar numbers, names, job titles and phone numbers of Jharkhand government workers on the Internet, claimed the report. The Google-indexed website which has now been pulled offline was located with stored copies of the attendance record pages of employee information and photos -- on a sub-domain of the Jharkhand government's website. "Digital transformation promises to bring significant economic gains to India, but only if cyber security keeps pace and since more personal data is being created and stored by more organisations, security measures must also be resourced commensurately," Steve Ledzian, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer (APAC) at US-based cybersecurity company FireEye told IANS. Last year, around half-a-dozen people died of starvation in Jharkhand because they were denied rations from the Public Distribution System (PDS) shops for failing to possess an Aadhaar card. "It's important for Indian authorities to understand their security posture and risk profile so when incidents do happen, they can quickly spot the problem and respond appropriately," said Ledzian. There was no official statement from the state government or UIDAI on the matter as of now. --IANS rp/na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I am much better now. You won't have to wait very long," remarked Union Minister Arun Jaitley who is in New York convalescing after a surgery. He was replying to a question from reporters through video conferencing when they greeted him and wished him a speedy recovery. Asked when he would be back in Delhi, he said, "Hopefully soon". Jaitley, who presented the last five Budgets of the Narendra Modi government, has been in the US for more than a fortnight for medical treatment. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who presented the Interim Budget, had been given additional charge of Finance and Jaitley had been made Minister without portfolio. --IANS vv-vsc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian IT industry on Friday lauded the Interim Budget 2019-20 for its push to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI). "The highlight of the Budget was the announcement of a National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the AI portal. This will play a key role for India to accelerate AI development and adoption," IT industry apex body Nasscom said in a statement. The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) said it was keen to partner with the government on the AI initiatives. Presenting the Interim Budget, Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the government would set up a National Centre for Artificial Intelligence as a hub along with centres of excellence for AI and other disruptive technologies. "In order to take the benefits of AI and related technologies to the people, a national programme on AI has been envisaged by the government," Goyal said. The Interim Budget's plan to convert a lakh villages into "Digital Villages" over the next five years gives an "impetus to technology integration and penetration" in the country, Nasscom said. "While the Finance Minister focused on education, jobs, and start-ups, the industry's key ask towards abolition of Angel Tax and various Goods and Services Tax (GST) clarifications did not a find mention," the IT industry body lamented. Indian IT bellwether Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also hailed the programme on AI. "The announcement of a national programme on AI will provide a fillip to building national capabilities in this area," said the company's Chief Financial Officer V. Ramakrishnan in a statement. While TCS reacted to the Interim Budget positively, the city-based global software majors Infosys and Wipro, however, declined to comment on it. The support of the government to disruptive technologies like AI can help drive the nation's growth, said L&T Infotech's Chief Executive Sanjay Jalona in a statement. "The role of such exponential technologies in driving the nation's development is immense and provides a much-needed avenue to address and overcome pertinent age-old issues," Jalona noted. --IANS bha/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India Inc. has welcomed the announcements made in the Interim Budget on Friday and called it forward looking, primarily due to the enhancement of income tax rebate, measures to boost rural economy and the SME sector. According to the industry, proposals made in the Interim Budget will increase the levels of consumption and in turn provide a fillip to the domestic manufacturing sector. The Budget presented at the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal contained proposals to aid small farmers and the middle class. Welcoming the budgetary proposals, industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)President Rakesh Bharti Mittal said: "The measures announced in the Budget are likely to provide a significant impetus to consumption spending in the economy, which will boost growth in the near to medium term." "In an astute balancing act, the Finance Minister has presented a budget, which addresses issues of every segment of society. This a true peoples budget". However, K.G. Purushothaman, Partner, Advisory, and Telecom Leader at KPMG expressed concerns for the telecom sector. "With a strong focus on overall fiscal growth of the Indian economy, the telecom sector remained forlorn in the interim budget 2019." Purushothaman said that the telecom sector, despite being the foundation ground of the digital India, remained wanting for critical support needed by the sector to reinvigorate itself. The ailing telecom sector had huge expectations from the budget in terms of relaxation and reduction of huge taxes and levies paid by them. Adding that the significant financial distress faced by the sector due to huge debt pile up and the impending infrastructure spend which is estimated to be over Rs 1 trillion, the industry was expecting a financial relief and resolution of some disputed issues like SUC etc. Hailing the announcement of an assured Income Support Scheme for Small and Marginal farmers, Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI said: "The Union Budget for FY 19-20 is growth oriented and forward looking in nature... Interest Subvention announced for farmers pursuing Animal Husbandry and Fishery will provide a fillip to this sector". "Raising the full tax rebate up to Rs 5 lacs will surely be welcomed by country's emerging middle class. We believe, this will further strengthen the purchasing power of the growing middle class thereby providing a welcome fillip to the economy at large." B.K. Goenka, President, Assocham explained that India is an agrarian economy and has the largest number of people depending on it. "The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi where Rs 6,000 assured income benefit would be provided to all farmers with land holding of less than 2 hectares would encourage small farmers to continue in the field." "An additional 3 per cent interest subvention to farmers repay loans on time would also encourage timely repayment of bank loans," he added. Sandip Somany, President, FICCI said: "It is a progressive budget that addresses both the current challenges being faced by the economy as well as presents an outline of the vision the government has for the future of India ten years ahead". "It's good to see the focus of the interim budget on rural sector, middle class. More money in the hands of rural and middle class is good for driving consumption in the country And hence good for economic growth." said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO Flipkart Group. "More and more local MSME manufacturers and sellers can cater to this increased demand from rural, tier 2-3 towns and we at Flipkart marketplace will be happy to support thousands of such sellers to access the consumers cost effectively and efficiently." --IANS ravi-rv/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has provided a token amount of just about Rs 1 lakh as budgetary support to the ailing national carrier Air India which has been saddled with a debt burden of around Rs 55,000 crore. In the Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal to Lok Sabha on Friday, an allocation of only about Rs 100,000 has been provided to the national carrier. Separately, the airline has been allowed to raise Rs 434 crore through Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR). However, the Finance Minister has proposed to provide Rs 2,600 crore for the next fiscal to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) -- Air India Assets Holding Ltd -- created to transfer a substantial portion of national carrier's debt. As per the ministry-wise summary document of Budget provisions, the government had allocated Rs 3,975 crore to the carrier in the revised estimates for Budget 2018-19. The cash-strapped airline has received loans worth Rs 2,600 crore from the National Small Savings Fund, while the Central government was expected to further infuse Rs 1,500 crore in the company. Additionally, the Interim Budget has proposed to provide the airline with Rs 1,084 crore for the purchase of two new aircraft for "Special Extra Section Flight" or VVIP operations. The Finance Minister has proposed to provide Rs 2,600 crore to the SPV for the next fiscal, while Rs 1,300 crore has been provided in the revised estimates for 2018-19. "The provision is kept for servicing of loan transferred to SPV as a result of financial restructuring of Air India," the document said. In November, the government had announced of its plans to transfer Rs 29,000 crore out of the a debt burden of around Rs 55,000 crore owed by the national carrier. In addition, the government has planned to provide the SPV with proceeds from divestment of the airline's land banks, buildings and ground handling subsidiary -- Air India Air Transport Services Limited to retire the debt. Further, the government is expected to issue the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) for the divestment of Air India's ground handling subsidiary by next week. The purpose of PIM is to provide certain information about the company to enable the interested parties to make assessment about the proposal prior to the submission of Express of Interest (EoI) bids. Last year in November, an inter-ministerial panel, Air India Specific Alternate Mechanism, decided to divest the government's stake in AIATSL. The steps to financially revive the airline come as the state-owned carrier failed to attract any bidder after the government last year had offered to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India. On May 31, 2018 the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that "no response" was received even during the extended submission deadline for the EoI bids under Air India's divestment process and the "further course of action will be decided appropriately". --IANS rv-bc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While paintings and sculptures seem to remain the all-time favourites at the ongoing India Art Fair here, a special space dedicated to large-format interactive installation art provides experiences not only for the eye, but also involves listening, touching and even creating. The four-day Fair, known to be a leading platform for modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, opened to the public on Friday. In partnership with the BMW group -- who is presenting a BMW Art Car by British artist David Hockney -- 75 exhibitors from 24 Indian and international cities are occupying the space. It is possible to lose oneself in the labyrinthine Fair, but the Art Projects tent showcases just a handful of installations by different artists, supported by various galleries. The 'Change Room' by Bhopal-born artist Baaraan Ijlal is a sound installation about conflicts, fear, loss, love and the possibilities of change. Audio recordings of anonymous voices, of those who have experienced violence -- ethnic, racial, state-sponsored and gender-based, or war and displacement -- play in a dark room, audible when visitors move closer. Another installation by artist Neha Verma is a personal interpretation of traditional consort of architectural patterns and hangs in a booth by the organisation Access For All. The artist brings out geometric patterns and forms in her work. What makes it interactive is a miniature, tactile version of the deeply-geometric and layered work, that can be touched by the visually impaired. Access for All head, Siddhant Shah, told IANS that the idea behind the tactile artworks came when his mother, who is partially sighted, was once asked to leave a gallery for the fear that "she will break something". Shah, who now champions Universal Design, encouraged the Fair visitors to experience tactile works in a simulated environment, blindfolded. Another work by Ravi Agarwal called "The Desert of the Anthropocene" is an installation with photographic works, text, videos and objects, and is a part of an ongoing investigation into the current state of the nature -- both as a crisis which traverses a political realm, but also a cultural contestation of how 'nature' is thought of as an abstract idea to be exploited, in the era of the Anthropocene. A booth space by GALLERYSKE has a pop-up concept store offering artist-designed products for "first-time art buyers like college students and young professionals", with prices for the specially-created works starting from as low as Rs 5,000, an exhibitor told IANS. Installations by sculptors Shanthamani Muddaiah and Shalina Vichitra are also displayed, alongside a video project by Madhusudhanan. An immersive experience from architect Pinakin Patel engages visitors in a narration about a stone placed at the roots of a tree: "..another traveller notices the beautiful rock and is tempted to add a wild flower, a lady applies her vermillion on it, and another day, the cook paints the stone with turmeric..." An exhibitor hands a paintbrush and a palette of colours to the visitors, and asks them to add their signatures on the stone, after what comes to their mind listening to the narration. Many visitors do pick up the brush hesitantly, and probably after years. Manisha Baswani, who documents artists' lives and studios, and herself has a Partition connection, is also showcasing her project "Postcards From Home", which has stories of India and Pakistani artists kept in sacks of wheat grain ("kanak") -- symbolising feelings of home and something that is common to the lands of the countries. The India Art Fair will conclude on Sunday at the NSIC Grounds here. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) --IANS sj/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is according top priority to the case of Indian students in the US facing detention under an alleged immigration fraud and is in touch with the Indian Embassy in Washington and other consulates, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday. "The government of India, together with our mission in Washington and our consulates in the US are according the highest priority to the situation arising out of the detention of Indian students in the US," Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries. "As soon as we received information regarding their detention, our mission contacted the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security requesting for a list of the detained students along with relevant identity details, the place of their detention. "We have placed a formal request for consular access, emphasising that the request may be taken as very high priority," Kumar said. Several hundred Indian students face arrest following the detention of eight recruiters and some students over an alleged immigration fraud detected by a fake university sting operation set up by government agencies to crack down on visa scams. The American Telugu Association (ATA) reported that 100 students were arrested on Wednesday. The Indian Consulate General in Chicago reported receiving the names of 29 Indians arrested in the case as of Thursday. The charges against the eight people who allegedly ran the scheme were made public on Wednesday in a federal court in Detroit. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in the court documents that it set up Farmington University with undercover agents as staff in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to target foreign students who were staying in the US without proper authorisation. Kumar, in his statement on Friday, said that India has highlighted that a distinction should be made between those involved in recruiting or enrolling students and students who have been duped or defrauded in the process. "Our mission and posts are ready to render all assistance to Indian students in the US to deal with the emerging situation. "We have also involved Indian community organisations in reaching out to the students." The spokesperson added that the government is monitoring the situation closely "and has impressed upon the US government the need to address the situation at the earliest". --IANS ab/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Friday at the military airport runway in the city's suburb soon after take off, an official said. "The plane crashed around 10.30 a.m.," the official said. "Though both the pilots ejected from the aircraft, their condition is not yet known. They have been rushed to the Air Force Command Hospital," an HAL official told IANS. The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) operates the military airport with the IAF and other state-run defence and aerospace agencies like DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency). --IANS bha-fb/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Friday granted one month more to CBI to probe wrestler Narsingh Yadav's complaint related to doping filed ahead of 2016 Rio Olympics. The Central Bureau of Investigation told Justice Najmi Waziri that it needs more time to probe the case as it is in process of obtaining the statement of theA members of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The investigation agency has send requests to question the foreign nationalsA through diplomatic channels. Narsingh had tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Rio Olympics and was debarred from representing India. Thereafter, Yadav filed a complaint alleging that his food was spiked. Narsingh had lodged the complaint after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s decision not to give a clean chit to the wrestler in the doping matter. He has been banned for four year. CBI also told he court that Narsingh Yadav is one of best wrestler of the country and has full sympathy with him. CBI also assured that it is trying to conclude the investigation as early as possible. The probe agency also filed a report in a sealed cover. Claiming that after his several representations to the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete the probe went unheeded, he moved the high court seeking speedy disposal of his complaint. The court has listed the matter in March for further hearing. CBI counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj has told the court that the probe agency has to question members of the CAS panel and the scientists involved in the decision-making process who are foreign nationals. --IANS akk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday regretted the Mirage-2000 fighter crash which killed two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots during a test sortie in Bengaluru. "HAL expresses condolences to the grief stricken families of the two pilots. The company has initiated an enquiry into the accident in co-ordination with the IAF," HAL said in a statement here. Squadron Leader Samir Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi died after the upgraded Mirage-2000 crashed on a test sortie at the military airport in the city's eastern suburb, an official told IANS. While Negi hailed from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Abrol was from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. They were both test pilots with the IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). The crashed Mirage-2000, which was upgraded by HAL, was developed by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation. --IANS bha/rs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced the "Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan", a scheme to provide an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganised sector who earn up to Rs 15,000 per month. While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the scheme will benefit 10 crore workers and might become the world's biggest pension scheme for the unorganised sector in the next five years. "Half of India's GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector. We must provide them a social security coverage," said Goyal. He said the mega pension scheme will benefit all workers under the unorganised sector including household helps, rickshaw pullers, agricultural labourers and beedi workers. Under the scheme, the workers will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after attaining 60 years of age. A worker joining the scheme on attaining 29 years of age or above will have to contribute Rs 100 per month while those joining the at the age of 18 will have to contribute Rs 55 per month. Goyal said this scheme will be in addition to the life insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and accident insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). --IANS and/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has said there is "a good chance" that he will declare a national emergency to obtain funding for his long-promised US-Mexico border wall. Trump made the comments on Friday at a White House event as he appeared downbeat about the prospect that Democrats would agree to give money to build the border wall as congressional negotiations on border security adjourned for the weekend, Xinhua reported. "I could see we're getting nowhere with the Democrats, we're not going to get anywhere with them," the President said. "We will be looking at a national emergency because I don't think anything's going to happen." Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of declaring a national emergency, a legally-mandated executive power of a US president, while claiming there is a "humanitarian crisis" at the nation's southern border with Mexico due to illegal immigration, which Democrats have rebuked. Such a declaration would enable Trump to bypass congressional approval and redirect funds already allocated by Congress for other purposes, possibly at the Pentagon, to his wall, but is almost certain to draw political backlash and legal challenges. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that "there's not going to be any wall money" in legislation as part of border security measures for the rest of this year. The California Democrat also said she was open to negotiating funding for more ports of entry or additional border security technology. A bipartisan conference committee of lawmakers from the Republican-held Senate and Democrat-controlled House is tasked with negotiating a deal on border security, with a February 15 deadline. About a quarter of federal government reopened last week after Trump ratified a bill funding them for three weeks, ending a historic 35-day partial government shutdown. The shutdown was a result of an impasse between the White House and Congressional Democrats over whether to provide billions of US dollars for the Trump-proposed border wall. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission (EC) has sought an explanation from the West Bengal government for the absence of city Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at a meeting convened by the panel, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said here on Friday. A letter seeking explanation was sent to Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya. Kumar had not turned up for the meeting with the full bench of the EC on Thursday and instead the city police was represented by Special Commissioner (II) Jayanta Kumar Basu. "The Election Commission of India has sought an explanation from the Home Secretary for the absence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at its meeting on Thursday," said Arora. --IANS mgr/ssp/rs/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday said the Commission was fully committed to providing a safe and conducive environment to conduct the coming general elections in West Bengal. Arora was here along with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) since the last two days to oversee poll preparedness in the state. "After holding meetings with all political parties yesterday (Thursday), the ECI has taken note of all their concerns regarding security. "The ECI is committed to providing safe and conducive environment during the elections. It has asked the administration that effective monitoring and vigilance be done and concerns of the political parties be addressed," Arora told the media here. He said that along with the norm of appointing general and expenditure observers, the Commission will also appoint accessibility observers for the first time during the coming elections. It has also proposed intensive action plans to enable adequate confidence building among the voters. "Bengal is an emotional place. It has been at the pinnacle of culture and traditions and so on... But if those emotions get channelised in the direction of violence, the EC will intervene," the Commissioner said. "I have asked the District Magistrates and police officers to ensure speedy execution of non-bailable warrants and disposal of pending cases from the last elections." He said the Commission has directed the officials to make electoral rolls error free and identify the expenditure in sensitive constituencies. Arora said VVPATs will be used along with EVM machines at all polling booths in the state for the first time. "The Chief Electoral Officer in this state has been directed to organise review and awareness campaigns at the booth level," he added. --IANS mgr/ssp/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Various government schools in the national capital are flouting CBSE rules and regulations like running more than one school in the same building, a co- school within the premises of a girls school and functioning as a senior secondary school despite being affiliated with secondary school, the Delhi High Court was told on Friday. The facts were disclosed in a PIL filed by Ummeed Educational and Welfare Society through its president Anurag Malik. Society lawyers Pankaj Mehta and R.K. Mehta told the Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V. Kameswar Rao that despite there being rules and regulations in place, various private aided and unaided schools in Delhi are blatantly flouting them. The lawyers requested the court to direct the concerned authorities to put stringent measures into effect, conduct periodic inspection of the schools' premises and take strict action against the schools found to be violating the rules, norms and guidelines. They also sought a direction to the authorities to initiate a Delhi-wide audit of all schools within their purview and take action against the violators in accordance with the law and the formation of a unified regulatory body. The counsel requested the court to direct the authorities to properly enforce the rules and guidelines related to schools as they are putting the lives and careers of students at stake. Admitting the plea, the Delhi High Court asked the Central Board of Secondary (CBSE), the Delhi Government, its Secretary, Directorate of Education, the Delhi Development Authority and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to file their response to the public suit. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 8. The petition apprised the court that various schools are running more than one school in the same building and premises. "In a girls school, which is a government-aided school there is a co- school running within the same premises, which is recognised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, that clearly violates the rules and regulations framed by government authorities," read the petition. Some schools are functioning as senior secondary schools despite being secondary schools wherein no affiliation has been granted by the CBSE. Changing the name of the school in the middle of the session without the prior approval of the concerned authorities is another malpractice by some schools. Some schools are using the school building for commercial purposes, the society said. It added that schools have failed to maintain the minimum standards of school safety. Some have failed to deploy school buses and are employing drivers and conductors for private cabs and vans without any proper police verification or proper training. The plea also told the court that a blind eye is being turned by the authorities towards various complaints filed against such schools and no action is being taken on such complaints. "Unless stringent steps are taken to ensure accountability of public authorities towards ensuring proper compliance of the rules and affiliation bye-laws by the schools, the irregularities and malpractices by the schools flouting norms cannot be curbed/stopped," the petition said. --IANS akk/oeb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi Court on Friday allowed meat exporter and alleged hawala dealer Moin Akhtar Qureshi to travel UAE and Pakistan. Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann allowed Qureshi to travel UAE and Pakistan asking him to furnish additional security in the form of Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) or bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore. The court also directed him to provide details of address wherever he will be staying during in foreign trip, phone number and other details. Qureshi has sought permission to go to UAE for business purpose from Feb 2 to 24. He has also requested the court to grant him permission to travel Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan from March 6 to 20 as he has to attend a marriage in his family. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Qureshi had "extorted" Rs 7.5 crore from two businessmen, Pradeep Koneru and Satish Sana on the pretext of helping them in the pending court cases using his influence. ED said that Qureshi used the names of former CBI directors Ranjit Sinha and A.P. Singh and promised the businessmen to help them in their CBI cases. --IANS akk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The defence budget for 2019-20 has crossed Rs 3 lakh crore, the highest in any year so far, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha on Friday. "Our soldiers protect the country on the borders and they are our pride. We have allocated more than Rs 3 lakh crore in this budget for securing our borders, which is the highest so far. If necessary, additional funds would be provided," he said presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20. Goyal said the government had implemented the One Rank, One Pension concept and had already disbursed Rs 35,000 crore. "While the Congress governments only put the OROP promise in the budget thrice, we have implemented it," he said. --IANS ps/vsc/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday recovered from a Shopian village dead body of a woman killed by gunmen. The body bore bullet marks. It belonged to the woman from Dangerpora village of Pulwama whom militants murdered on Thursday, the police said. The murderers even posted a video showing their brutal act on the social media. Her body was found in Sugan village, an officer added. Police is trying to identify the assassins. --IANS sq/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian Andreas Seppi made short work of India's second highest ranked Ramkumar Ramanathan by winning 6-4, 6-2 in their first Davis Cup World Group rubber at the Calcutta South Club here on Friday. Ramanathan, ranked 133rd in the world, got off to a decent start but failed to captitalize on two break points in the first set which was closely fought till 4-4 before the 37th ranked Seppi used his reservoir of experience to down his much younger opponent. It was an Italian gamble to name Seppi their first player ahead of World No. 19 Marco Cecchinato, who had ousted World No. 1 Novak Djokovic from the French Open quarters last year. The 34-year-old, who is not used to playing on grass, took time to get used to the surface but once he did the tie became a lopsided affair. At 5-4, Seppi won four points in a row to seal the first set in style. In the second set, the Italian toyed with Ramkumar hitting clinical forehands (17 winners) even as the lanky Chennai player tried to forge a comeback in the third game. The big-serving Ramanathan hit eight aces but paid the price for his inconsistency with six double faults as opposed to Seppi's two. --IANS dm/gau/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China and Japan have held a regular diplomatic consultation and a security dialogue here. During the activities attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and visiting Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori, the two sides agreed that 2019 is a vital year for China-Japan relations to move toward a higher level, Xinhua reported. The two countries should grasp the opportunity and implement the consensus reached by their leaders that China and Japan are cooperation partners rather than a threat to each other, and that they should support each other in peaceful development, according to a press release issued after the consultation on Friday. The two sides agreed to plan and prepare for high-level exchanges, make solid progress in trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and properly handle major, sensitive issues. During the security dialogue, the two sides stressed that they share important responsibilities for safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, and that they should stick to the path of peaceful development. Both sides agreed to step up dialogue, manage differences, build up trust and strive for a constructive relationship in security. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Positive expectations from the interim Budget for 2019-20 on Friday buoyed the BSE Sensex by 148 points during the pre-noon trade session. Just ahead of the interim Budget, healthy buying was witnessed in the auto and capital goods stocks. At around 9.45 a.m., the Sensex traded at 36,405.45 points, higher by 148.76 points or 0.41 per cent from the previous close of 36,256.69 points. It had opened at 36,311.74 and has so far touched an intra-day high of 36,448.30 and a low of 36,261.95. The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange traded at 10,869.10, higher by 38.15 points or 0.35 per cent from the previous close of 10,830.95 points. "Indian markets opened higher on Friday, rose further to touch an intra day high of 10,888 and later softened a bit. Volumes were higher than normal but in line with Budget days. Advance decline ratio remains positive in anticipation of positive cues from the Budget and following large buying from FIIs on Thursday," said Deepak Jasani of HDFC Securities. "Real estate, FMCG, Media and Auto indices are up, suggesting expectation build-up in these sectors while Metal index is down following poor numbers from Vedanta the previous evening." He added that Jet Airways gained on reports that the lenders have made progress in involving Etihad to take a higher stake in the company. --IANS ravi-rv/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bomb exploded on a mountain in Manipur's Noney district on Friday, killing two teenage tribal sisters, police sources said. The two had climbed the mountain near their Leisok village to fell trees for doing shifting cultivation. The victims were identified as Akhiuna Kamei (17) and Gaikhonlieu Kamei (15). "The elder sister died on the spot while the younger one succumbed to the injuries on the way to hospital. Their mother was also injured and had to be hospitalised," a police officer said. The bodies were taken to Imphal for post-mortem. One report said the bomb appeared to be of World War II vintage. But official speculation is that the bomb might have been buried there to attack insurgents of rival outfits. Some armed groups are active in the mountains of this district. --IANS il/rs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As all revival options appeared to fail, and after a crucial hearing in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday, the debt-hit fashion major Reid & Taylor may face liquidation, officials said. At today's hearing before the NCLAT, the appellant, Finquest Financial Solutions (FFS) had challenged the NCLT Mumbai's earlier order asking a Gujarat-based company to participate in the Reid & Taylor's resolution process, although the statutory 270-day period ended on January 1. After the Gujarat-based company CFM Asset Reconstruction Pvt. Ltd. (CFMARPL) backed out at the last minute on January 31, the NCLT Mumbai had allowed a New Delhi-based company Indian Gas Ltd. to participate in the Resolution Process. The NCLAT had issued notices to all parties concerned and kept the matter for hearing today. Interestingly, the IGL, which was directed by NCLT Mumbai to remain present at the NCLAT hearing today and prove its bonafides by Feb. 5, also failed to turn up, said FFS lawyer Sunil Fernandes. The NCLAT, frowning at the delays, said in view of the statutory mandate and orders of the Supreme Court, on the issue of 270 days available under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, the NCLT Mumbai must complete its proceedings in the matter within two weeks. The NCLAT also noted the FFS's senior advocate and ex-law minister Ashwani Kumar's submissions that "no entity can approach the NCLT for the first time after the expiry of the 270-day period." These developments, coupled with several entities backing out or declared ineligible, have effectively ruled out the possibility of revival of the beleaguered Reid & Taylor, sitting on a pile of around Rs 8,000 crore debt, Fernandes pointed out. "For long, there has been neither a viable resolution plan nor a resolution applicant, and it is difficult that this could be achieved within the next fortnight. The sole course left open for the NCLT Mumbai could be to order Reid & Taylor's liquidation, within the two weeks granted to it," Fernandes told IANS. The NCLAT has listed the matter on the board for the next hearing on Feb 27. Officials in the FFS - the biggest investor in Reid & Taylor - say that the fate of the around 1,100 employees of the Mysore-based company would be clear only after the NCLT Mumbai's final verdict. Promoted by S. Kumars-fame textile tycoon, Nitin S. Kasliwal, Reid & Taylor once boasted of top-notch brand ambassadors such as Hollywood's Pierce Brosnan and Bollywood's Amitabh Bachchan. Since 1999, the company operated a modern plant and machinery in Mysore from where it produced its famous men's apparels ranging from formal to casuals, but after the financial crisis hit a few years ago, it continued with truncated operations. --IANS qn/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Andhra Pradesh Legislature on Friday passed a resolution condemning Centre's "unfair" attitude and the delay in fulfilling the commitments made at the time of bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh. The resolution passed in both Assembly and Council condemned the "indifferent" attitude of the Centre towards the commitments made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and the announcements made by then Prime Minister. It said people were angry over the attitude of the Centre and demanded that the Union Government fulfil the commitments. The resolution was passed on a day when the state observed a shutdown on a call given by a group fighting for special category status. The resolution noted that as per the Reorganisation Act, the Centre should provide funds for development of state capital Amaravati, create a railway zone, set up steel factory, develop port and petro chemical industry, establish various educational and research institutes and complete distribution of institutions between the two states. It also recalled that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made six-point announcement in Rajya Sabha with the key promises being special category status to Andhra Pradesh, funds to meet the fiscal deficit for 2014-15 and special assistance to backward districts. The resolution pointed out that the Centre had failed to fulfil all these commitments. It alleged that even Rs 350 crore provided for backward districts was taken back. The resolution alleged that the Centre was creating hurdles in completion of Polavaram project by not approving the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR). "The Centre is also yet to release Rs 3,818 crore spent by us on the project so far," it said. The council disputed the Centre's claim that the 14th Finance Commission ruled out giving special status to any state. It alleged that even the funds promised under special assistance in lieu of special status were not released. Though the Chief Minister visited New Delhi 29 times to take up these issues, there was no change in the Centre's attitude, it added. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the northeastern states on February 8 as he is scheduled to inaugurate some projects in Assam and Tripura, a senior BJP leader said. The visit of the Prime Minister assumes significance as the saffron party has been witnessing a series of protests in the form of mass rallies, protest demonstrations and waving of black flags before BJP leaders in the region over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. A senior BJP leader confirmed this on Friday and said that the Prime Minister will arrive in Guwahati on February 8. "The Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura to inaugurate some developmental projects," he said. "However, the Prime Minister will also likely hold a crucial meeting with party leaders of northeast India on February 8 and 9 in Guwahati. He is meeting all the state in-charges on a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls," said the leader requesting anonymity. The party's leadership in the region is likely to brief the Prime Minster about the situation arising out of the passing of the Citizenship Bill in the Lok Sabha in almost all the northeastern states. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), who was a partner of the BJP government in Assam, has already snapped its ties with the saffron party on January 7 over the bill. Following this, at least 11 political parties of the northeastern states -- who are also constituents of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) have expressed their opposition to the Bill and urged the Central government to scrap it. The BJP has been aiming to win at least 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the eight northeastern states. The party which has seven Lok Sabha MP from Assam at present, plans to increase its tally to at least 11. --IANS ah/rs/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Friday arrested three Iranian nationals for fleecing some Afghan nationals of their money by impersonating as police officers. Noor Mhd, 28, Reza Kohan Khaki,30, and Farhad Abasisaorr, 31 -- all Inranian nationals -- were arrested from Greater Kailash area of south Delhi. "Police team laid a trap around their rendezvous and deployed a police constable Kailash dressed as an Afghan in Greater Kailash market," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar said. "When the accused posing as police officers approached Kailash, showed him a fake police identity card and sought his wallet for checking, Kailash signalled the police team and they were arrested," Kumar said. "The accused, who came to India on valid visas, used to target Afghan nationals on their way to a diagnostic centre for medical treatment," the DCP said. "During interrogation, the accused said they approached Afghan nationals as police officers. They would then, without stepping out of the car, ask whether the victims were carrying any narcotic substance." On this pretext, they would seek the purse of the victim and after searching through it, they take the US dollars and escape. "Police team recovered USD 2,829, Euro 200, Iranian Rial 2.3 lakh, Maldivian Rufiyaa 1,015 and Vietnamese Dong 1.25 lakh, besides currencies of some other countries from their possession," the officer added. --IANS sp/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Australian Ministry of Defence on Friday confirmed that an Australian air strike in the Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2017 against the Islamic State (IS) may have killed several civilians. Although a probe could not determine the exact number of deaths in the June 13 bombing of the Al Shafaar neighbourhood, "the coalition assesses that between six and 18 civilians may have been killed", the ministry said in a statement sent to Efe. The strikes occurred during Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) operations to retake West Mosul. Calculations by the Australian national broadcaster ABC brought to 35 the number of civilians killed in the guided missile attack involving two Australian F/A-18F aircraft. The ministry also stated it was "not possible to determine if the civilian casualties occurred as a result of the Australian, the nearby Coalition airstrikes, or from other actors". The head of the Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, said the attack was carried out at the request of Iraqi Security Forces and in compliance with the law of armed conflict and applicable rules of engagement. "On this occasion, it was assessed that the enemy intended to attack Iraqi forces from the targeted location, threatening imminent loss of life or serious injury." The IS were attacking ISF positions and fleeing civilians with a combination of small arms, heavy machine guns, mortars and rocket propelled grenades. The ISF identified three enemy personnel in a building and four enemy personnel in the adjacent courtyard, armed with heavy weapons. "Based upon the proximity of the enemy to the Iraqi forces, the nature of the target and the circumstances of the fighting in Mosul at the time, I can confirm that this action complied with Australia's rules of engagement and the Laws of Armed Conflict," Air Marshal Hupfeld said. "The Australian Defence Force takes all feasible precautions to minimise the risk of civilian casualties," Hupfeld said of the incident which was first reported in January 2018, when Australia ended its airstrikes in Iraq. Australia previously confirmed its involvement in three cases of potential civilian deaths as a result of air strikes in 2017 during Operation Okra, also in the Mosul region. --IANS in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants were killed on Friday in a gunfight with security forces in a Jammu and Kashmir village in Pulwama district, police said. The information was posted on Udhampur headquartered Northern Command's website. "Two terrorists killed in joint operation in Drabgam," it said. Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the special operations group (SOG) of state police surrounded the village late on Thursday after receiving information about the hiding militants. Floodlights were put up around the cordoned off area to prevent the militants from escaping under the cover of darkness. As the security forces closed on the hiding militants they were fired upon triggering the encounter. "The slain militants belong to , but their exact identity is yet to be ascertained. Search operation are underway," police said. Mobile Internet facility has been suspended in Pulwama and Shopian districts. --IANS sq/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 130 students arrested so far in a "pay-to-stay" sting operation using a fake university face only civil immigration charges, according to media reports. "We have arrested 130 foreign nationals on civil immigration charges," Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Carissa Cutrell was quoted as telling the Detroit Free Press on Thursday. She added that more of them could be arrested. Those students who knowingly participated in scam knowing it was not a genuine academic programme face deportation. Eight people who allegedly ran the scam as recruiters of the students face criminal charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit and face maximum sentences of five years, according to the ICE service. Documents filed in court by federal prosecutors said as many as 600 students were enrolled at the fake institution, University of Farmington, set up by immigration officials for the sting operation to catch student visa fraud. Prosecutors called it a "pay-to-stay" scam because the students paid the recruiters to get documents from from the fake university to enable them to stay on in a student visa without attending classes. Court documents show that the recruiters were paid between $5,000 and $20,000 at meetings with Homeland Security Investigations agents involved in the university for recruiting the students. Shiva Kumar, the chairperson of SEVA, the American Telugu Association's legal assistance programme, told IANS that they were working with the affected students to provide them help. He said that he had met India's Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla to ask for help for the students. The Detroit News said that six alleged recruiters, who were arrested locally, were produced in a local federal court on Thursday wearing ankle chains and handcuffs. Federal Magistrate Judge David Grand ordered them held without bail. On Monday the court will hear lawyers' arguments on whether they should be jailed pending their trial. The two others arrested elsewhere are expected to brought to Detroit. The Free Press said the students were arrested in early morning raids in New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, Michigan, California, Louisiana, North Carolina and Missouri states. The federal prosecutor in Detroit, Matthew Schneider, said in a statement: "We are all aware that international students can be a valuable asset to our country, but as this case shows, the well-intended international student visa program can also be exploited and abused." The students had come to the US on legitimte student visas, but did not fulfill the condition of attending universities for the required classes making their continued stay illegal, which would be compounded if they worked. Many of the students enrolled in the university were students who had transferred from other universities, according to media reports. ICE, which carried out the operation, admitted in a press release that it had set up the private university run by undercover agents. Farmington University had a web site as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts - but did not have a campus or faculty. ICE said that the alleged recruiters facilitated hundreds of foreigners to illegally remain and work in the US by enrolling in the fake university without the intention of attending classes. "All participants in the scheme knew that the school had no instructors or actual classes," ICE said. Sting operations are used quite frequently by US law enforcement officials, who sometimes create fake institutions to create a sense of credibility. University of Farmington is the second fake institution of higher learning created by law enforcement to catch student immigration scams. Although the latest arrests came during a period of heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, Farmington University was set up in 2015 by Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. Obama administration officials had also set up the other fake institution, the University of North Jersey, and ensnared over 1,000 students, most of them from India and China, in 2016. Twenty-one people who acted as student visa brokers were arrested in that sting. The Detroit News reported that Michigan state allowed Farmington University in 2015 to conduct business after confirming it had "demonstrated plans to provide housing space, administration facilities, labs, a library and other teaching facilities". But the News said it had none of the facilities and operated out of a single office suite in the basement of an office building. Its president was a fictional character named Dr. Ali Milani, the News reported. --IANS al/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten children trafficked from Jharkhand's Khuti district to New Delhi have been rescued, an official statement said on Friday. "Ten children belonging to Khuti district have been rescued from different houses of New Delhi. They were rescued in a joint operation of Jharkhand Police with Integrated Rehabilitation-cum-Resource Centre (IRRC). "Of the ten children nine are girls and one boy. Six girls and the boy are minors," said the statement. "The children have been sent to Jharkhand. They were recovered on the directive of the Child Welfare Committee," said Kalanath, Nodal officer of Child Trafficking. "The rescued children will be provided assistance under the social security scheme and employment with skill development," the release added. IANS ns/rs/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bank of Maharashtra, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Bank of India advanced at 11:20 IST on BSE after the Reserve Bank of India permitted these banks to exit the prompt corrective action framework. Bank of Maharashtra (up 7.23%), Oriental Bank of Commerce (up 1.88%) and Bank of India (up 0.93%), edged higher. The S&P BSE Sensex was up 85.92 points, 0.24% at 36,342.61. On a review of the performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) currently under the Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCAF), it was noted that a few banks are not in breach of the PCA parameters as per their published results for the quarter ending December 2018, except Return on Assets (RoA). However, though the RoA continues to be negative, the same is reflected in the capital adequacy indicator. These banks have provided a written commitment that they would comply with the norms of minimum regulatory capital, Net NPA and leverage ratio on an ongoing basis and have apprised the Reserve Bank of India of the structural and systemic improvements that they have put in place which would help the banks in continuing to meet these commitments. Further, the Government has also assured that the capital requirements of these banks will be duly factored in while making bank-wise allocations during the current financial year, RBI said in a statement yesterday, 31 January 2019. Taking all the above into consideration, it has been decided that Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra which meet the regulatory norms including Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) and have Net NPAs of less than 6% as per third quarter results, are taken out of the PCA framework subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring. In the case of Oriental Bank of Commerce, though the net NPA was 7.15%, as per the published results of third quarter, the Government has since infused sufficient capital and bank has brought the Net NPA to less than 6%. Hence, it has been decided to remove the restrictions placed on Oriental Bank of Commerce under PCA framework subject to certain conditions and close monitoring, RBI added. RBI further said it will continuously monitor the performance of these banks under various parameters. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices are trading with modest gains in morning trade. At 10:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 168.34 points or 0.46% at 36,425.03. The Nifty 50 index was up 45.40 points or 0.42% at 10,876.35. Investors are awaiting the interim budget to be announced today, 1 February 2019. Trading for the day began on a positive note as the key benchmark indices drifted higher in early trade. The interim budget will be the last one presented by the current NDA government led by Prime Minister Modi, before the 2019 general elections in April. The government is expected to make a host of populist announcements in the budget. It is widely expected that the interim budget may contain tax sops and a certain package for the farm sector. The Budget session of Parliament began yesterday. The session will conclude on 13th of next month. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.66%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.58%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 1114 shares rose and 744 shares fell. A total of 94 shares were unchanged. Maruti Suzuki India (up 3.68%), Bhari Airtel (up 2.07%), HCL Technologies (up 2.05%) and M&M (up 1.65%) edged higher from the Sensex pack. Vedanta (down 16.56%), Power Grid Corporation of India (down 1.09%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 0.99%), ICICI Bank (down 0.82%) and ONGC (down 0.81%) edged lower from the Sensex pack. Yes Bank shed 0.21%. Yes Bank announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019, that Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Mr. Ajai Kumar as interim MD & CEO of the bank from 1 February 2019 for one month or till Mr. Ravneet Gill assumes office as MD & CEO, whichever is earlier. MOIL fell 0.77%. MOIL announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019, that it has decreased the prices of Ferro Grade and Chemical grade by about 5% on the existing prices prevailing since 1 January 2019 and continued the prevailing prices of the Silico Manganese Grade (SMGR 25% & SMGR 30%) and Fines. The company will continue the prevailing discount of 10% on the price effective from 1 February 2019 and also continue the existing bulk quantity discount ranging from 5% to 20% on the select grades of non-moving low grade manganese ore. Ferro Manganese/ Ferro Manganese Slag and some identified grades of Manganese Ore will continue to be sold on e-auction basis as well as through Metal Mandi (M3) of MSTC. Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher as the latest round of US-China trade talks ended on a positive note, with President Donald Trump saying he was optimistic that the two nations could reach the biggest deal ever made. Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal. However, no specific plans for the meeting were announced. A private survey released on Friday suggested that manufacturing in China slowed in January. China's Caixin Manufacturing PMI was 48.3 in January, down from 49.7 in December. South Korean exports shrank for the second straight month in January weighed by weaker prices for memory chips and petrochemicals. Exports fell 5.8% from a year earlier to $46.35 billion in January, a steeper decline than the prior month's revised 1.3% drop, according to preliminary data from the trade ministry on Friday. Imports also fell 1.7% from a year earlier to $45.02 billion after a revised 1.2% gain in the month before, producing a much narrower trade surplus of $1.34 billion. US stocks closed mostly higher Thursday led by technology shares after some solid corporate reports. On the data front, the Chicago purchasing managers index for January came in at 56.7, down from 65.4 in December. New home sales in November rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000, up from 562,000 in October. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key indices sharply pared gains in mid-afternoon trade as investors booked profits at higher levels. At 14:22 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 132.27 points or 0.36% at 36,388.96. The Nifty 50 index was up 38.65 points or 0.36% at 10,869.60. Intraday volatility was high. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.40%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.19%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, turned negative from positive. On the BSE, 1,145 shares rose and 1,230 shares fell. A total of 139 shares were unchanged. Presenting the interim budget for 2019-20, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the fiscal deficit for the current financial year is expected to be 3.4% of GDP. As per the Budget estimate, the fiscal deficit for 2018-19 was pegged at 3.3%. Piyush Goyal announced doubling of income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, raising standard deduction from the current Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 and provided concessions on interest income from bank deposits and rent. GST has been continuously reduced, resulting in relief of Rs 80000 crore to consumers, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. He claimed that most items of daily use for poor and middle class are now in the 0%-5% tax bracket. The defence budget was increased for the first time to three lakh crore in 2019-20 for securing borders and to maintain preparedness of highest order and if necessary additional funds will be provided. India is poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years and become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years. Piyush Goyal increased the budgetary allocation for India's flagship rural employment scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The scheme will get Rs 60000 crore as against Rs 55000 crore rupees promised in the last Budget. For welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision taken to increase minimum support price (MSP) by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. He also announced a steady income support to help farmers in view of depleting income from agriculture. To provide an assured income support to the small and marginal farmers, our Government is launching a historic programme namely 'Pradhan Mantri KIsan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)'. Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs 6,000 per year. This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. This programme will be funded by Government of India. The interim budget is the last one presented by the current NDA government led by Prime Minister Modi, before the 2019 general elections in April. The Budget session of Parliament began yesterday. The session will conclude on 13th of next month. State Bank of India (SBI) was down 1.28%. The bank reported net profit of Rs 3954.81 crore in Q3 December 2018 compared with net loss of Rs 2416.37 crore in Q3 December 2017. Total income rose 11.81% to Rs 70,311.84 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. The result was announced during trading hours today, 1 February 2019. Maruti Suzuki India rose 4.86% after the company said that its total sales rose 0.2% to 151,721 units in January 2019 over January 2018. Maruti Suzuki India said total domestic sales rose 1.1% to 142,150 units, while total exports fell 11% to 9,571 units in January 2019 over January 2018. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 1 February 2019. Hero MotoCorp gained 6.31%. The company's net profit fell 4.5% to Rs 769.10 crore on 7.5% increase in net sales to Rs 7,864.82 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019. Bharti Airtel advanced 0.68%. On a consolidated basis, Bharti Airtel's net profit fell 71.81% to Rs 86.20 crore on 0.99% increase in net sales to Rs 20,519.20 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019. Yes Bank fell 2.21%. Yes Bank announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019, that Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Mr. Ajai Kumar as interim MD & CEO of the bank from 1 February 2019 for one month or till Mr. Ravneet Gill assumes office as MD & CEO, whichever is earlier. Power Grid Corporation of India was up 0.27%. The company's net profit rose 14.2% to Rs 2,331.17 crore on 12.8% increase in net sales to Rs 8,471.17 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019. Vedanta slumped 17.24%. On a consolidated basis, Vedanta's net profit fell 21.06% to Rs 1,574 crore on 2.84% decrease in net sales to Rs 23,669 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 January 2019. Overseas, European stocks were trading higher Friday as market participants monitored a flurry of corporate results and key economic reports. Asian stocks ended mixed even as the latest round of US-China trade talks ended on a positive note, with President Donald Trump saying he was optimistic that the two nations could reach the biggest deal ever made. Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal. However, no specific plans for the meeting were announced. A private survey released on Friday suggested that manufacturing in China slowed in January. China's Caixin Manufacturing PMI was 48.3 in January, down from 49.7 in December. South Korean exports shrank for the second straight month in January weighed by weaker prices for memory chips and petrochemicals. Exports fell 5.8% from a year earlier to $46.35 billion in January, a steeper decline than the prior month's revised 1.3% drop, according to preliminary data from the trade ministry on Friday. Imports also fell 1.7% from a year earlier to $45.02 billion after a revised 1.2% gain in the month before, producing a much narrower trade surplus of $1.34 billion. US stocks closed mostly higher Thursday led by technology shares after some solid corporate reports. On the data front, the Chicago purchasing managers index for January came in at 56.7, down from 65.4 in December. New home sales in November rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000, up from 562,000 in October. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key indices regained strength as interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that India is poised to become largest global economy. At 12:21 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 195.09 points or 0.54% at 36,451.78. The Nifty 50 index was up 43.95 points or 0.41% at 10,874.90. Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said that India is poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years and become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years. Piyush Goyal said that the fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4% in the revised estimate of 2018-19. The government had set a fiscal deficit target of 3.3% of GDP in February 2018. Piyush Goyal increased the budgetary allocation for India's flagship rural employment scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The scheme will get Rs 60000 crore as against Rs 55000 crore rupees promised in the last Budget. For welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. He also announced a steady income support to help farmers in view of depleting income from agriculture. The interim budget is the last one presented by the current NDA government led by Prime Minister Modi, before the 2019 general elections in April. The Budget session of Parliament began yesterday. The session will conclude on 13th of next month. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.5%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.51%. Shares of defence equipment companies rose after the government allocated Rs 3 lakh crore for defence budget. Additional funds will be provided if needed for border security, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in the interim budget 2019-20. Bharat Electronics (up 2.03%), BEML (up 1.81%), Reliance Naval and Engineering (up 1.06%), Larsen & Toubro (up 0.99%), Bharat Forge (up 0.46%) edged higher. Shares of companies whose business is linked with the agriculture sector rose after Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the interim budget 2019-20 laid emphasis on agriculture and farmers. Mahindra & Mahindra (up 2.39%), Aries Agro (up 3.86%), Shakti Pumps (India) (up 1.61%), Dhanuka Agritech (up 3.27%), Kaveri Seed Company (up 1.87%), Godrej Agrovet (up 1.24%) and Monsanto India (up 0.39%) edged higher. The central government will spend Rs 75,000 crore per year on the farm income support plan scheme, Piyush Goyal said in the interim budget. Called the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the scheme will provide farmers with land up to two hectares Rs 6,000 annually in direct annual support. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apollo Tyres Ltd is quoting at Rs 207.1, up 1.35% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 16.99% in last one year as compared to a 1.28% gain in NIFTY and a 24.95% gain in the Nifty Auto index. Apollo Tyres Ltd rose for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 207.1, up 1.35% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.63% on the day, quoting at 10898.75. The Sensex is at 36606.88, up 0.97%. Apollo Tyres Ltd has dropped around 10.29% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Apollo Tyres Ltd is a constituent, has dropped around 4.73% in last one month and is currently quoting at 8218.4, up 3.21% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 9.42 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 16.79 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 209.5, up 1.85% on the day. Apollo Tyres Ltd is down 16.99% in last one year as compared to a 1.28% gain in NIFTY and a 24.95% gain in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 14.25 based on TTM earnings ending September 18. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of nine companies whose business is linked with the agriculture sector rose by 0.35% to 3.64% at 11:45 IST on BSE after Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the interim budget 2019-20 laid emphasis on agriculture and farmers. Aries Agro (up 3.64%), Shakti Pumps (up 2.81%), Dhanuka Agritech (up 2.72%), Kaveri Seed Company (up 2.60%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 1.94%), Jain Irrigation Systems (up 1.72%), Godrej Agrovet (up 1.61%), KSB Pumps (up 0.49%) and Monsanto India (up 0.35%), edged higher. The S&P BSE Sensex was up up 134.92 points, or 0.37% at 36,391.61. The central government will spend Rs 75,000 crore per year on the farm income support plan scheme, Piyush Goyal said in the interim budget. Called the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the scheme will provide farmers with land up to two hectares Rs 6,000 annually in direct annual support. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller on Thursday disclosed United State's interest to sell military equipment to Dhaka during a meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen here. According to Dhaka Tribune, Miller, during his maiden meeting with the minister discussed democracy, good governance, military sales, and Indo-Pacific strategy. The US envoy said that Bangladesh could approach Washington if they intended to buy military hardware. While replying to the offer, Momen said: "We don't have any objection. We are open to all. But, I have also said your products are expensive. We buy cost-effective products." Apart from this, he also requested Ambassador Miller to send back Rashed Chowdhury to Bangladesh in order to impart justice. Chowdhury was one of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In response, the envoy told him that his request would be conveyed to Washington. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is expected to announce the suspension of its participation in the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia on Friday. Quoting sources, CNN reported that the decision comes after high-ranking officials from the US Department of State, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, put forth that the US would exit from the treaty if Russia failed to comply with the accord until February 2. The United States and Russia had, on Thursday, held a meeting in Beijing on the sidelines of the P5 conference, where the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov slammed the US for holding a "tough" and "ultimatum-like" position with regard to the arms control treaty. "Unfortunately, there is no progress. The US position remains rather tough and ultimatum-like. We told the US side that it is impossible to hold dialogue in the conditions of attempted blackmailing of Russia," Ryabkov said. Experts believe that the suspension of the INF Treaty will trigger an arms race between Russia and the USA, much like how it was during the Cold War era when the treaty was signed. US President Donald Trump had, in October last year, announced Washington's plan to withdraw from the INF Treaty. Following this, US Secretary of State Pompeo issued the 60-day ultimatum to Russia for their compliance to the treaty, failing which the USA would withdraw from the treaty on February 2. The Treaty, sealed in the waning days of the Soviet Union in 1987, bans ground-launched missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. The Trump administration announced last October that, because of Russian violations dating back several years, it was planning to pull the United States from the pact. The INF treaty was signed by former US President Ronald Reagan and former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to limit the arms race between the nations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a second bilateral summit between Washington and Pyongyang appeared only a few weeks away, the United States special representative on North Korea policy, Stephen Biegun Stephen Biegun on Thursday called on the communist nation to disclose all of its nuclear and missile programs. Biegun stated that the full declaration will be needed to acknowledge complete denuclearisation of the south Asian nation, reported Yonhap. During a speech at Stanford University, referring to weapons of mass destruction, the Special Representative said, "Before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean WMD and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration." Without divulging anything consequential, Biegun stated that Washington has "contingencies" prepared in case negotiations fail. Pyongyang has been unwilling to disclose any such information, claiming that this will give the US a list of targets to destroy. Biegun, however, clarified that Washington is adamant about verifying denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Assuring North Korea that the US has no interest in regime change, Biegun asserted, "We're not going to invade North Korea." "We must reach agreement on expert access and monitoring mechanisms of key sites to international standards, and ultimately ensure the removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction," the envoy said. He further acknowledged that there is a difference in the interpretation of "denuclearisation" for the two nations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paris, TX (75460) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 85F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening, then skies turning partly cloudy overnight. Low 59F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Toyota attained a YoY growth of 14.3% in sales with 1,474,500 vehicles sold throughout 2018, successfully completing its original sales target. Both two joint ventures gained positive increase. GAC Toyota delivered 580,337 vehicles with a YoY surge of 31.8%. FAW Toyota saw its 2018 sales edge up 2.0% to 720,306 units. Gasgoo hereby summarized the automaker's top stories that happened in China last year as below. Toyota launches new mobility ecosystem and concept vehicle at CES 2018 Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda announced on January 8 a new mobility service business alliance and e-Palette Concept Vehicle designed to meet the demands of future multi-mode transportation and business applications. Unveiled at CES 2018, the new e-Palette Alliance will leverage Toyota's proprietary Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) to develop a suite of connected mobility solutions and a flexible, purpose-built vehicle. The new alliance will create a broad-based ecosystem of hardware and software support designed to help a range of companies utilize advanced mobility technology to better serve customers. Launch partners include Amazon, DiDi, Mazda, Pizza Hut and Uber, who will collaborate on vehicle planning, application concepts and vehicle verification activities. GAC Toyota third assembly line put into operation GAC Toyota claimed on January 16 that its third assembly line was formally put into operation. In the initial stage, the third plant features an annual capacity of 10,000 vehicles and this number is expected to be enlarged to over 200,000 units per year to meet the ever-growing market needs, which will make the total capacity of the automaker's three assembly lines increased to 600,000 units on an annual basis. The new plant is constructed based on TNGA, involving as much as RMB 3 billion of investment. Focusing on small-size vehicle's production, it aims to build itself into a vehicle production line with the highest efficiency and the best quality in the world. Toyota plans to roll into China's EV market in GAC Motor vehicle Reuter reported on May 18 that Toyota was taking an unprecedented route to meet China's stringent green car quotas: its showrooms would sell an electric vehicle without the Japanese company's distinctive triple-oval logo. Instead, it would feature the label of GAC Motor, Toyota's Chinese partner, and would be built around GAC's lower-cost technology. The move will give GAC access to the Japanese carmaker's stringent quality control, prestige and sales channel. For Toyota, it presents a quick way to meet Beijing's requirements that such vehicles represent 10% of an auto manufacturer's production by 2019. According to two company executives familiar with the matter, Toyota planned to start selling the GAC Toyota ix4 by the end of the year. The car is a battery-powered compact SUV based on GAC's Trumpchi GS4, and had been in development for two years. Both FAW-Toyota, GAC Toyota launch locally-produced CH-R in June Toyota's CH-R small-sized SUV was introduced into China and has been locally produced there by both FAW Toyota and GAC Toyota. The CH-R developed by FAW-Toyota named IZOA hit the market on June 22, and just one day later, the GAC Toyota-made version went on sale. Prices for the locally-produced CH-Rs range between RMB140,000 and RMB180,000. GAC Toyota adds RMB 2.45 billion to enlarge capacity, introduce new SUV model GAC Group had agreed a project that allowed GAC Toyota to expand its production capacity and introduce more models, the group announced on July 2. The project involves an additional investment of RMB 2.45 billion, which should be raised by GAC Toyota itself. GAC Toyota saw its annual retail sales volume exceeding 440,000 vehicles in 2017, surpassing its initial sales goal. To ease the capacity pressure and introduce the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, the third assembly line of the Sino-Japanese joint venture was put into operation in January last year with an initial capacity of 100,000 vehicles on an annual basis. In addition, the automaker has another two assembly lines possessing annual capacity of 380,000 vehicles in total. Once the capacity of the third assembly line is completely released, the total capacity of GAC Toyota will increase to 600,000 vehicles per year. Toyota cuts marketing costs to fuel research Toyota had begun slashing costs, starting with sales and marketing, and shifting resources into research that would help it keep up with new competitors, four people familiar with the matter said, citing by Reuter on June 21. One of the company's first moves was to cancel contracts with the China unit of its long-term communication and advertising agency, Dentsu Inc, the sources said. Some senior executives from Toyota said the savings should be plowed into investment in emerging technology such as autonomous vehicles. Toyota was frustrated with the cost of at least two events Dentsu organized in China: a ride-and-drive for Toyota's premium Lexus brand in March and the Beijing auto show display stand for Toyota in April. Toyota said to increase production capacity in China by 20% Toyota would build additional capacity at its auto plant in China's Guangzhou, a company source said in August, in addition to beefing up production at a factory in Tianjin city by 120,000 vehicles a year. The planned capacity expansions in Guangzhou and Tianjin are part of a medium-term strategy of the Japanese automaker that aims to increase sales in China to two million vehicles per year, a jump of over 50%, by the early 2020s, according to four company insiders with knowledge of the matter. In addition to boosting manufacturing capacity, Toyota also plans to roll out 10 HEV and BEV models in China by 2020, including the PHEV version of the Corolla and the Levin as well as an electric SUV based on the locally-produced C-HR. It intends to strengthen the domestic production of batteries and engines by teaming up with auto parts suppliers. FAW Toyota to add annual capacity of 120,000 NEVs FAW Toyota planned to invest RMB1.762 billion in renovating its plant located in Taida, Tianjin, which would add an additional capacity of 120,000 NEVs, including 110,000 PHEVs and 10,000 EVs, according to reports released in early August. Its first PHEV model will be the Corolla PHEV and the first BEV model is expected to be derived from the IZOA, which might be introduced to China in 2020. GAC Toyota unveils first all-electric SUV model ix4 at Chengdu Motor Show 2018 On Aug. 31, GAC Toyota launched its first mass-produced pure electric SUV, the GAC ix4, at the Chengdu Motor Show 2018 with two variants. Price starts from RMB 163, 800 after enjoying purchase tax exemption. The launch of the GAC ix4 symbolizes that GAC Toyota has made great progress in new energy vehicle (NEV) market. It is said that GAC Toyota will introduce all-new energy-saving and NEV vehicle products per year over the next three years. In addition, the participation of the GAC ix4 also makes the joint venture achieve a wide range of mass production covering such power systems as naturally aspirated engine, turbocharged engine, hybrid system and all-electric system. Toyota announces executive, organizational, and personnel changes Toyota Motor Corporation announced on November 30 that it planned to change its executive lineup and revise its organizational structure in January 2019 to further advance its "acceleration of management" and the development of a diverse and talented workforce. Additionally, in view of the fast pace of change in the environment currently surrounding Toyota, TMC plans to advance the timing of executive changes from the traditional April to January, in 2019, just as it did in 2018. Of personnel changes, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, former chairman and president of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd, resigned his post, which was succeeded by Tatsuro Ueda (former CEO of China & Asia Region) as Toyota China's chairman. Toyota registers new trademark in China dubbed YARIS CROSS Toyota has registered a new trademark in China dubbed YARIS CROSS, according to the record from the China's State Administration for Industry & Commerce. The new trademark is expected to be used as the name for a new model. It could be conjectured from the name that the new model will be a crossover which is to rival models like the Kia KX CROSS in China's market once the registration is legally passed. South Africa: Condolences to Hoerskool Driehoek families Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi has on behalf of national and provincial government extended sincere condolences to the families of learners who died after a walkway collapsed at Hoerskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark on Friday morning. Three learners were killed and 23 sustained injuries after a bridge, which connected two buildings, collapsed and trapped several learners. The injured were taken to various hospitals. It breaks my heart to see those bodies still lying there, it breaks my heart to see those innocent souls still there. I urge the law enforcement agencies to wrap up their function so that we can release the bodies to their families, an emotional Lesufi said at a media briefing after visiting the scene. Lesufi said the department has issued an immediate instruction to all hospitals that all learners be attended to - whether they have medical aid or not. He said the department will step in and provide the necessary assistance. There are learners that have been identified that didnt have medical or financial assistance that needed to be attended to. Weve issued an instruction and that instruction has already been implemented, and all the children are now receiving medical assistance, whether they can afford [it] or cant afford [it], Lesufi said. For safety reasons, Lesufi said the department has also taken a decision to close the school immediately until further notice. Trauma counselling would be provided for affected learners. He added that a number has been created for parents who are missing their children to contact the department. Another number has also been created for those who are injured and for general enquiries. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the interim Budget 2019-20 on Friday. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who given charge of the Finance Ministry owing to Arun Jaitley's illness, will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. In addition to Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh arrived at the Parliament, among others. The Interim Budget, also known as a vote on account, will seek the Parliament's nod for meeting the expenditure for the first six months of new fiscal-2019-20. A full-fledged Budget will be presented in Parliament once the new Central government is formed after the General Elections, due in March-April. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has slammed border security negotiations with the US Congress as a "waste of time," indicating that he would probably declare an emergency, when the stop-gap measure expires on February 15, to build the fence on the US-Mexico border. "I've set the table. I've set the stage for doing what I'm going to do," Trump told The New York Times in an interview. He further lambasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - again - on Thursday (local time). "I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what she's doing and, ultimately, I think I've set the table very nicely," the US President said. A stalemate between the US Congress and Trump had triggered the longest-ever partial government shutdown, which came to a temporary halt for three weeks on January 25 after being in place for a 35-day period. The impasse was caused by a disagreement between the two on USD five billion funding for the construction of the wall on the United States' southern border with Mexico. Trump has continuously pressed for the wall, which was one of his electoral promises, citing that crime and an inflow of narcotics would stop with the construction of the wall. The Democrats, on the other hand, have slammed the wall's construction, labelling it as a waste of money and an "immorality". The temporary relief for the US shutdown ends on February 15, leaving the options of either going back to the shutdown or the declaration of an emergency on the table. Meanwhile, Trump's son, Eric Trump had recently told Fox News that he wanted his father to declare an emergency to get the wall constructed, further adding to speculations regarding the President's plan of action after February 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kalyanpur Police arrested two persons red-handed with banned drugs here on Thursday. Police have seized banned drugs including heroin, brown sugar and marijuana from the duo, said an official statement. A case has been registered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. After investigating the accused, police have also begun conducting raids at several places. Last year in September, North Tripura Police had seized 1359 kg marijuana worth around Rs 1 crore from an oil tanker from near the Assam border.As per the information, more than 20,000 kg of marijuana was seized along with a huge quantity of contraband cough syrups, tablets, heroine in the state in the first six months of 2018. At least 65 people were arrested in connection to drug peddling from January to September 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today appointed Sanjiv Ranjan as its new Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday. Ranjan, who is the current Ambassador to Argentina, is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the MEA said in a statement. Ranjan who is a 1993 batch Indian Foreign Service officer holds a bachelors in Economics from Delhi University and an M.A. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Between 1995 and 2009, he held diplomatic positions in Indian Embassies in Madrid, Lima and the Permanent Mission of India, New York interspersed with tenures at the External Affairs Ministry. The 1966-born IFS officer had served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius from 2006 to 2009. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Friday took to Twitter to complain about how every morning he wakes up to "yet another attachment by the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) officer" and that already Rs 13,000 crore of his assets had been attached, against the Rs 9,000 crore owed by him. He wondered "how far will this go and well beyond" and whether it was "justified". Mallya, 63, who fled to India in March 2016, tweeted, "The DRT Recovery Officer recently attaches my group assets worth over Rs 13,000 crore in India on behalf of the Consortium of Banks. Yet the narrative is that I ran away with the claimed amount of Rs 9000 crore causing loss to the Public Sector Banks. Where is justice or fair play?" He added, "Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT Recovery Officer. Value already crossed Rs 13,000 crore. Banks claim dues including all interest of Rs 9,000 crore which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond? Justified?" Mallya said that banks had been given an "open licence" to pursue "multiple frivolous litigations" against him. He said, "And despite all the attachments in India, banks have given an open licence to their lawyers in England to pursue multiple frivolous litigations against me. Who is accountable for spending Public money on legal fees in such a brazen manner?" The liquor baron added, "And finally, the Banks Lawyers in England have objected in writing to my paying my legitimate tax dues to HMRC which I requested. Irony is Indian State Banks want my money in England to settle an Indian debt already secured and deny payment to the U.K. tax exchequer. Disgraceful." Mallya was on January 5 declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), becoming the first person to be declared so under the new law. The court is expected to hear the plea on confiscating his properties on February 5. The special PMLA court refused his application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal. In December last year, the special PMLA Court had adjourned the order on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking to declare Mallya a fugitive economic offender. Mallya is also facing money-laundering charges in the United Kingdom after India initiated extradition proceedings against him. Both the ED along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed several cases for alleged loan default against him. The Westminster Magistrates Court in London on December 10 last year had ordered the extradition of Mallya to India, who is facing charges of loan default to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya left India in 2016, following which, the Indian government initiated extradition proceedings against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Producers Guild of India has welcomed the central government's announcement of single-window clearance for Indian filmmakers to shoot their films - a provision that was earlier available only to international filmmakers. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, while presenting the Interim Budget on Friday, also announced the introduction of anti-camcording provisions to control the menace of privacy, following which the House erupted into cheers of "How's the Josh". Welcoming the move, Producers Guild of India president Sidharth Roy Kapur in a statement said, "We are delighted that the immense contribution of Indian cinema towards employment generation in the country has been acknowledged and applauded in Parliament during the presentation of the Union Budget." He further added, "The announcement of a single-window clearance mechanism for Indian film makers filming within India is a significant step and has the potential to play a huge role in boosting tourism in the country. The amendments in the Anti Camcording provisions will support the industry's growth by curtailing illegal recordings of films in cinema halls and will go a long way towards reducing piracy." The single-window clearance is a trade facilitation idea that enabled international traders to submit regulatory documents at a single location and a single entity. The single-window clearance increases efficiency through time and cost savings for the filmmakers in dealing with government authorities for obtaining relevant clearance before starting with any shoot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attorney General KK Venugopal on Friday told the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led high powered Committee for Appointment meeting is likely to take place today to select a new Director for the CBI. The three-member committee, with the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the other members, had last met on January 24. Names of 80 IPS officers were discussed by the committee on that day, although it remained inconclusive on a successor for former Director Alok Verma. The court also set a new date to hear the petition challenging interim Director Nageshwar Rao's appointment. The two-judge bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justice Naveen Sinha, said the matter will be heard on February 6. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Common Cause, said today that the Centre has to take permission from the high-powered committee for the appointment of an interim director, which he claimed was not done. Bhushan also pleaded that the appointment process should be transparent. To this, Justice Mishra said that CJI Gogoi had, in his 10-page order, stated about how the transparency was established. Verma was removed as the CBI Director on January 8 following months of conflict with Special Director Rakesh Asthana and was reinstated the following day on the orders of the Supreme Court. However, the committee voted 2:1 and removed Verma from the post on January 11 and appointed M Nageshwar Rao as his interim replacement. On January 31, Justice NV Ramana had recused himself from hearing the case against the appointment of Rao as the interim CBI chief, becoming the third judge who has recused from hearing the case after Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice AK Sikri. The petitioners in the case claim that the lack of transparency in Rao's appointment allows the government to exercise "undue influence in the appointment process" especially at the stage of short-listing of candidates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi's Patiala Court on Friday reserved the order in businessman Moin Qureshi's application to travel abroad. Qureshi had filed an application to travel to Dubai and Pakistan and according to sources, both the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate had opposed the application. The meat trader who was arrested in August 2017 after a case was filed against him under the money laundering act for illegal forex dealings and tax evasion, was granted bail by a Delhi court on December 12 last year. Opposing Qureshi's plea in an earlier hearing, the ED contested that "questioning of his arrest was an abuse of the legal process" and told the court that there were serious charges of hawala transactions against him. Qureshi is accused of conducting illegal transactions through Delhi-based hawala operators. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr. M. Manikandan, Minister for Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated 'ICT Academy Bridge 2019' conference in the city yesterday (on 31st January 2019) that witnessed more than 1,000 participants from government, industry and academia. Dr. Santhosh Babu IAS delivered the special address. Organized by ICT Academy, the 37th edition of the conference is the largest Industry-Institute Interaction Event of Asia. Themed "Fostering India for Industry 4.0", the event brought together industry experts, academic leaders and government policy-makers to address the challenges faced by India Inc. in the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution, thus creating a correlated education ecosystem and formulating a strategic regulatory framework. ICT Academy - TN Icon Awards 2019 ICT Academy conferred 3 industry icons of Tamil Nadu from 3 different sectors with 'TN ICON 2019' award for their outstanding contribution to the growth of their sectors through the extensive use of new age technology in their business/field. Awardees are: Shankar S, Film Director, Producer, Writer Arun Alagappan, Executive Director, Cholamandalam R. Dinesh, Managing Director, TVS Logistics Services Limited Speaking about the event, Lakshmi Narayanan, Emeritus Vice Chairman, Cognizant and Chairman, ICT Academy said, "Over the last several years ICT Academy has traced the progress of technology and prepared academia, government and industry to the onslaught of newer technologies that are hitting us at pace that we have never seen before. This year, the event included few more technologies and new companies and shared on the mix of newer technology platforms and newer technology partnership that evolved. Be it an education industry or a financial services industry or a healthcare industry or the oil and gas industry, technology has become so inseparable that the new paradigm of Industry 4.0 is what all of us need to explore together and make a success out of using the research, the teachers and the students that are at our hands." M. Sivakumar, Chief Executive Officer of ICT Academy said, "Bridge is the flagship event of ICT Academy, and was initiated to bridge the gap between industry and academia. This event serves as a platform for the academicians to eagerly follow the evolving technologies and make the next generation ready for this technology revolution." Expert Technical Sessions and Panel Discussion The summit featured exclusive tech talks by experts from leading technical organizations including NVidia, Intel, Oracle, IBM, K7, TCS, Palo Alto, AWS etc., presenting on topics for the Industry 4.0 including Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Block Chain etc., and a power panel by CEO NSDC, Vice Chancellor Anna University that deliberated on the Challenges and Opportunities of Industry 4.0. ICT Academy India YouTube channel contributor awards 2019 ICT Academy YouTube channel serves as a knowledge repository with over 700 videos contributed by industry experts, policymakers, educationists, students and media personalities. With 1.5 lakh subscribers and 17 million viewers ICT Academy recognized the contributors of top 5 most viewed videos. The award winners include: Bharathi Baskar, Vice President, Citi Bank S. Raja, Media Personality V. Nandakumar IRS, Govt. of India Hip Hop Aadhi, Music Director Ashwini John, ICT Academy Youth Contest Winner ICT Academy Partner Excellence Awards 2019 The ICT Academy Academic Excellence Awards 2019 recognized member institutions of ICT Academy for its outstanding participation in the initiatives of ICT Academy and their commitment to growth and enhancement of the education. The awards were presented under 2 categories: one for engineering colleges and other for arts and science colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Interim Budget, which Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday, is not something new in India's parliamentary governance. Goyal, who got the charge of Finance Ministry only recently after Union Minister Arun Jaitley went to the US for his treatment, also takes care of Railways, Power, Corporate Affairs, and Coal ministries. In 1948, then Finance Minister R K Shanmukham Chetty had presented a vote-on-account, also called the Interim Budget, which was followed by Independent India's first full-fledged Budget. R Venkataraman and Pranab Mukherjee, who went to become President of India, too presented the Interim Budgets as the country's Finance Ministers. Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has the distinction of presenting two Interim Budgets, first for Chandrashekhar led government in 1991 and thereafter in 1998 when then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA was in power at the Centre. Jaswant Singh, a BJP veteran from Rajasthan, also presented the Interim Budget on February 3, 2004, as the Finance Minister in then NDA government led by Vajpayee. Bharat Ratna and former President Pranab Mukherjee presented the interim Budget in the Lok Sabha in 2008-09 at the end of the first term of the UPA government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On February 17, 2014, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented the Interim Budget, which he started as saying "As I prepared to write this speech, I found that whether it is a regular Budget for the full year or an interim Budget, some things remain the same." However, Chidambaram's Interim Budget had led to a kind of political war of words with the principal opposition party-BJP-terming the financial exercise as a full-fledged budget. Arun Jaitley had been Finance Minister since May 26, 2014 when NDA came to power at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He could not present the Interim Budget for 2019-20 as he is not well. However, in several landmark decisions last year, he combined the railway budget with the main budget. With a focus on the rural economy and farmers, Jaitley proposed a string of measures for the agriculture sector. He also announced the ambitious National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) for over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families with coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. It was described as the world's largest government-funded healthcare programme. P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister from July 31, 2012 to May 26, 2014. He is remembered for slashing personal income tax rates that led to a surge in income tax collections. He was also the first finance minister to include the proposal to move towards a unified goods and services tax in his budget speech in 2006. However, the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) 1997 which he announced was condemned by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) because of the loopholes that made it possible to fudge data to the advantage of the confessor. Manmohan Singh was the Finance Minister under late Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. He presided over a period of dramatic changes. His 1991 budget introduced watershed reforms that liberalised India's economy and opened it up to global markets and investments. This set the country on a course of rapid growth. Under the New Economic Policy of 1991 license raj system was abolished, many obstacles to foreign direct investments (FDI) were removed, and public sector companies were privatised. Pranab Mukherjee first served as the Finance Minister in 1980s under late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He took the position once again in 2009 after serving as Defence Minister and then Minister for External Affairs under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Pranab's success as a Finance Minister was marked by the last loan payment of International Monetary Fund (IMF). He implemented several tax modifications such as the fringe benefits and commodities transaction tax. During Pranab's tenure, the fiscal deficit was also achieved the as per the annual target. Pranab made the mid-day meal project possible before resigning from the position in 2012 after being selected as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's candidate for the Indian presidency. When he was the Finance Minister from 1982 to 1984, Euromoney magazine rated him as the best finance minister in the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smithsonian Exhibit Coming To Town TEAM SMITHSONIAN GETS TRAINING ON UPCOMING EXHIBIT Last Thursday and Friday, team Smithsonian attended a training session at the Georgia EMC Training Center in Smarr. The Smithsonian Traveling Crossroads Exhibit will arrive in Monticello in December 2019. Traveling Crossroads Change in Rural America is an exhibition that examines the evolving landscape of rural America which will tour six communities in Georgia starting in the summer of 2019. The exhibit will be on display in the Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center for six weeks beginning December 9, 2019 to January 11, 2020. This is a free exhibit and will include a display of local history from Monticello-Jasper County. Monticello-Jasper County has a rich history of textile mills, railroad, and heritage of generations of family settlements. Our community has a story to tell. The team needs the publics help collecting artifacts, memorabilia and pictures to display during the exhibit. Anyone who has a story to tell, or items to loan, please contact Mandi Tanner at 706-468-8994. Team members include (left to right) Michelle Celani, Judy Hunsucker, Georgia EMC Senior Vice President Bill Verner, Pam Mayer, Linda Aldridge, Mandi Tanner, and Sandra Carter The government on Friday raised individual Income Tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum and announced a major financial support scheme for farmers as well as a pension scheme for the unorganised sector as it presented a 'feel-good' interim Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal also talked about measures to provide relief to small traders. In his 105-minute speech, he spoke about a host of initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government since 2014 and enlisted 10 areas, particularly focusing on infrastructure and social development, to make a 'New India' by 2022. He said India is now the 6th largest growing economy and it will become a 5 trillion dollar economy in 5 years with aspiration of becoming 10 trillion dollar economy in 8 years. A foundation has been laid for sustained growth and better quality of life with an aim of making a 'New India' by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th year of Independence. Among the major announcements, the interim budget catered to the middle class and the farmers. He proposed Income Tax exemption on individual salaries of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. The exemption limit will go up to Rs 6.5 lakh per annum if a salaried person invests in specified savings, like Provident Fund, Goyal said, adding it will benefit around 3 crore small salary earners and pensioners. The exemption limit will go up further when exemptions on aspects like home loan and medical insurance are considered, the Minister said in his speech which was marked by continuous thumping of desks by the ruling benches, led by the Prime Minister. Exemption threshold on interest earned on deposits was increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. "There will be no TDS for interest up to Rs 40,000. This will benefit small depositors and small earners," he said. He said though the regular Budget will be presented later, "small taxpayers, salary earners and pensioners need certainty in their minds. So the proposals for such class should not wait." For the agriculture sector, which has been an area of focus because of the farmers' distress, the Finance Minister announced a new scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Under the scheme, each marginal farmer will get Rs 6,000 annually, in three installments with effect from December 1, 2018. The scheme, for which an annual outlay of Rs 75,000 crore was made, will benefit 12 crore marginal farmers, he said. The payment of Rs 6,000 will be paid directly in the bank accounts of the marginal farmers, he said. The intention is to provide assured income support for small and marginal farmers, he said. "For welfare of farmers and for doubling their income, historic decision has been taken to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops," the Finance Minister said. He also announced 2 per cent interest subvention to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries. For the unorganised sector, Goyal announced 'Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan' pension scheme for those with a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000. Under the scheme, a beneficiary can deposit Rs 55 per month starting from the age of 18 years. The government will deposit the same amount and at the age of 60, the beneficiary can get Rs 3000 per month of assured income, Goyal said. The Finance Minister also earmarked Rs 3,05,211 crore for the Defence sector. He said it is the first time that the outlay has touched Rs 3 lakh crore mark. He said if more funds are required, those will be made available. The intent is to strengthen the defence of the country, Goyal said. Talking about One Rank, One Pension (OROP), the Finance Minister said Rs 35,000 crore have already been dispersed under this scheme by the present government. He used the occasion to target the previous UPA government, saying it had earmarked just Rs 500 crore for the purpose. Enlisting 10 focus areas, Goyal said priority will be given to building next-generation infrastructure, both physical as well as social, and to provide 'ease of living'. The priority areas will also include creating a digital economy, expanding rural infrastructure and generating employment, providing safe drinking water, giving boost to space programme, reforming agriculture sector and providing affordable healthcare. The intent is to create a "proactive and responsive bureaucracy" by 2030, Goyal said. Talking about efforts to bring about transparency, the Finance Minister spoke about "path-breaking" initiative of reforming the Income Tax return system. In two years, almost all verifications of Income Tax returns will be done anonymously, without any human interface, he said. Returns will be assessed within 24 hours and refunds will be issued immediately, the Finance Minister said. "For scrutiny, you won't need to go to Income Tax office. It will be done anonymously through a computer," he added. Talking about providing relief to small traders, he referred to the rationalisation of GST slabs. Describing GST as the "biggest tax reform", Goyal said it has resulted in higher returns and ease for businesses. Returns have become online, efficient and hassle-free, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Friday requested consular access and details of the scores of Indian students who were arrested on Wednesday in the United States for violating immigration rules. External Affairs Ministry in a statement said it had accorded the highest priority to the situation. "As soon as we received the information regarding their detention, our Mission contacted the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security requesting for a list of the detained students along with relevant identity details, the place of their detention, etc. We have placed a formal request for consular access, emphasizing that the request may be taken as very high priority" the statement said. In a nationwide crackdown on Wednesday, US authorities arrested scores of Indian students, mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who were illegally staying in the country. A US federal court charged eight Indian student recruiters- six from Detroit and one each from Florida and Virginia. The Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has also issued warrants for the arrest of 600 persons. "We have highlighted that a distinction should be made between those involved in recruiting or enrolling students and students who have been duped or defrauded in the process," the statement read. "Our Mission and Posts are ready to render all assistance to Indian students in the U.S. to deal with the emerging situation. We have also involved Indian community organizations in reaching out to the students," the Ministry further added. The conspiracy came to light after the Department of Homeland Security set up a fake university in Farmington Hills to target foreign students who wanted to stay in the U.S. without proper authorization, according to federal indictments unsealed in Detroit. The students enrolled at the fake university with the intent to obtain jobs under a student visa program called CPT (Curricular Practical Training) that allows students to work in the U.S., said prosecutors. India is closely monitoring the situation and has expressed to the US government "the need to address the situation at the earliest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday asserted that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been an old ally of BJP and if need be the party should take an extra step to keep them. Speaking to ANI, Swamy said, "There was a time when Shiv Sena was angry with us but now all is well. Akalis are our oldest allies; if an extra step is needed to keep Akalis then we must take that step." His remark comes after the SAD boycotted a meeting of the NDA, accusing the RSS of meddling in the religious matters of Sikhs and the BJP of not treating its allies properly on Thursday. The SAD is said to be upset with the alleged move of the BJP government in Maharashtra to appoint its own man as the head of board of Gurdwara Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded. Swamy also hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus. He said, "As per Shashi Tharoor if someone gets hurt because of him it is beneficial. He has lost his mind after he played a role in his wife's murder. They call it a suicide but it was actually a murder. I had told him that if you take a dip in the river Ganga the river itself will go back." Elaborating on the Ram Janmabhoomi matter, Swamy stated, "There is no dispute about who the land belongs to. They called it disputed land; I ask why is it disputed? The dispute is about who will get the compensation of that land. The person who has the title should get the compensation. Anyway, that land has been taken by the government, so what we ask is that the court can tell us what amount to pay to the government, we will pay it. There is no hurry, the court can take another 20 years." On the Sabarimala issue, he said: "For women who do not fall under the age bracket that is permitted for entry, there is a point from where they can worship. Provisions to worship from that point should be made. It is also the fault of the government that they implemented (the Supreme Court directive); they should have asked for time and adopted some measure for this, but since they are Communists they were all overjoyed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party on Friday said that nothing is expected from the interim budget, which the Narendra Modi-led government is scheduled to present in the Parliament today. "Those who could not do anything in the last five years what good can they do with this budget? They will just try to tell their populist schemes in it. Till now all the budgets they have presented common man has not benefited even by a bit. They anyway have only 4 months, out of which two months will be spent in polls. They will ll try to introduce populist schemes in the budget keeping an eye on Lok Sabha polls," Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, told ANI. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal arrived at the Parliament earlier today, ahead of the presentation of the interim budget. This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government's sixth and last financial exercise, which will seek Parliament's nod for spending for six months of the new financial year till the formation of the new government at the Centre. The new Central government, likely to get elected after the general elections by May, is expected to present a full-fledged budget in July, which will be preceded by the tabling of Economic Survey. As per the standard practice, a vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget is presented by the new government. If the budget date falls few months ahead of polls, then an Interim Budget is presented. Finance Minister Goyal, who examined the final copy of the document on Thursday evening here, will present the budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. He is also expected to address the media around 3.30 pm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Lok Sabha elections only a few months away, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present NDA government's Interim Budget on Friday amidst a lot of hopes and expectations from across the spectrum of society-right from the common people to industries. The Interim Budget or a vote-on-account for 2019-20, the last financial exercise by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government before the General Elections, will be presented in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Goyal on Friday at 11 am. If some relief in income tax exemption to the salaried and middle-class people is expected, there is a hope that the Central government may come out with some 'concrete' measures to combat the problem of unemployment, which rose to 45-year high during 2017-18 as per the assessment of the Sample Survey Office (NSSO). At present, there is an exemption from paying personal tax on an income up to Rs 2.5 lakh, while income between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh attracts five per cent tax. A 20 per cent tax is levied on the income in the range of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. An individual's income above Rs 10 lakh is taxed at 30 per cent. However, in 2014's Interim Budget presented by then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha on February 14 for 2014-15 fiscal, no change was made in income tax rates. Since the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is in force now, there is not much scope for the government to offer in terms of relief on the front of indirect taxes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the all-party meeting on Thursday, said the government's focus lies on finding solutions to problems of people. "The country expects from all of us to perform our duties as Parliamentarians in a positive manner and we must deliver to the expectations of the people," he said as the Interim Budget session began on Thursday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall. The current session of Parliament will have 10 sittings spread over 14 days. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday told media persons that the Interim Budget Session of Parliament, subject to exigencies of Government Business, may conclude on February 13, 2019. "The Session will mainly be devoted to the Financial Business relating to Interim Budget for 2019 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President's address. However, essential Legislative and other Business will also be taken up during the Session," he said. Some of the key highlights of 2014 Interim Budget, which the BJP had then described as more of an election Budget rather than an Interim Budget, relief in indirect taxes, reduction in excise duty on capital goods from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, focus on building up manufacturing capacity, three more industrial corridors, one million jobs, and Rs 11,200 crore for capital infusion in PSBs. Distressed farmers are another area of serious concern, which the Central government would like to take care of in the 'Interim Budget.' It, however, remains to be seen how the government moves on this front as most of the states have chosen to waive off farm loans. Universal basic income (UBI) is likely to find a place in the Budget. Anil Khaitan, former president of PHD Chambers, said the income tax exemption limit for individuals should be raised to Rs 5 lakh. "For corporates, we have always said that exemptions and subsidies in tax rates should be removed. A flat levy rate of 20 per cent will increase tax compliance," he said. "We need at least Rs 40 lakh crore Budget to be able to focus on all sectors," said Khaitan, adding that improving the productivity of the agriculture sector is very important. "Marketing focus is necessary for farmers to get the income they deserve," he said. "This has to be meticulously implemented. Loan waiver is not a solution. Any country that waives off loans cannot do well, everything becomes a mess. Increasing productivity is necessary," he added. Sanjay Aggarwal, vice president of PHD Chambers, appreciated the government's move last year to create the corporate tax slab of 25 per cent. "Unnecessary taxation only leads to tax evasion. Our only request is to not levy any surcharge. Tax rates for individuals should also not be more than 25 per cent," he said, adding that universal basic income is a good concept. Sunil Sinha, Principal Economist at India Ratings, said that according to the 2011-12 agricultural Census, the land owned by small and marginal farmers has to be multiplied as Rs 10,000 per acre. "This amount has to be provided as income benefit in this year's budget. In terms of GDP, this is 72 basis points," he said, adding that as this is an interim budget, the expectations are not much. Shivkumar Kakkaji, president of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, said the Budget must announce waiver of loans to farmers. "Labourers and farmers do not have the capacity to work after 60 years of age. Something should be done about income for people with no means of livelihood," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat was on Friday greeted with vociferous demands for early construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya as he ended his speech at the Dharam Sansad here. The protesters waving flags shouted in unison demanding early construction of a Ram temple as Bhagwat ended his speech at the Dharam Sansad called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj. Several saints, seers and people have been demanding early construction of the Ram temple. A conglomerate of saints on Wednesday said construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will start on February 21. Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati on Wednesday told ANI that the 'Dharam Sansad', after a three-day meeting here, decided that the foundation stone of the temple will be laid on February 21. He also said the saints and those mobilized for the effort would not be deterred by arrests or any other kinds of obstacles. Their decision came a day after the government approached the Supreme Court for permission to restore the "excess" land surrounding the disputed portion in Ayodhya to Ram Janambhoomi Nyas. The government, in a petition, sought direction for releasing to the Nyas 67 acres, which it had acquired about two-and-a-half decades back, leaving untouched 0.313 acres of disputed. The Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case has been pending before the apex court for the last eight years. For a long time, parties in the case and various right-wing organisations have been asking for an early or day-to-day hearing in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Iranian nationals have been arrested from the capital for duping Afghan nationals of their currency by posing as police officers. The accused, who came to India on valid visas, were held on Friday from Greater Kailash area of south Delhi, police said. The Iranian nationals have been identified as Noor Mhd, 28, Reza Kohan Khaki,30, and Farhad Abasisaorr, 31. After investigating the accused, police learnt that the three used to target the Afghan nationals who were here for medical treatment.Posing as police officials, the accused used to approach the Afghans nationals by showing them a fake police identity card and asked for their wallets to check if they are carrying any narcotic substance, following which they used to escape with the money in the wallets.In order to bust the racket, a police team set a trap and one of the police officers, Kailash, posed as an Afghan in Greater Kailash. When the accused approached him, he signalled the police team and arrested the Iranian nationals. The police team has recovered Iranian Rial 2.3 lakh, USD 2,829, Euro 200, Vietnamese Dong 1.25 lakh and Maldivian Rufiyaa 1,015 along with currencies of some other countries from their possession. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre put forth a proposal to launch a mega pension scheme 'Pradhan Mantri ShramYogi Maandhan' for unorganised sector workers with a monthly income of up to Rs. 15,000. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, while presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament today, said the yojana shall provide them with an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 from the age of 60 years on a monthly contribution of a small affordable amount during their working age. An unorganised sector worker joining pension yojana at the age of 29 years will have to contribute Rs. 100 per month till the age of 60 years, while a worker joining the pension yojana at 18 years will have to contribute as little as Rs. 55 per month. The government will deposit equal matching share in the pension account of the worker every month. "Half of India's GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector working as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, construction workers, rag pickers, agricultural workers, beedi workers, handloom, leather and in numerous other similar occupations. The government must provide them with comprehensive social security coverage for their old age. Therefore, in addition to the health coverage provided under Ayushman Bharat and life and disability coverage provided under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, our government proposes to launch a mega pension yojana namely 'Pradhan Mantri ShramYogi Maandhan' for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income up to Rs. 15000," he said while introducing the scheme. It is expected that at least 10 crore labourers and workers in the unorganised sector will avail benefits of the 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' within the next five years, making it one of the largest pension schemes of the world. Goyal said a sum of Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for the scheme, adding that additional funds will be provided as needed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday described the Interim Budget 2019-2020 presented by Union Minister Piyush Goyal as "not a vote on account, but an account for votes". He trashed the new initiatives announced in the Budget as "last gasp announcements" by the government with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections, and said that if they were important interventions then "what was the government doing for five years?" "My one-line comment on the budget is that it was not a vote on account, but an account for votes. The interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest Interim Budget speech in recent memory. It was not an Interim Budget. It was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. By doing so, the government has trampled on time-honoured conventions," Chidambaram told media here. "A government confident of returning to power would have respected the conventions. It is crystal clear that the government has no hope of returning to power and has therefore acted desperately and recklessly, and in violation of the Constitution," he added. "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)" - a new scheme for 12 crore small and marginal farmers with direct income support, a pension initiative for 10 crore unorganized sector workers, exempting income up to Rs 5 lakhs from Income Tax, reforms in stamp duty, budgetary allocation of Rs 3 lakh crore for Defence and record allocation of funds at Rs 58,166 crore for North Eastern Areas were some of the highlights of the Budget presented by Goyal. "The big take away is that the present government has further weakened fiscal stability. For the second year in succession, the government has missed the fiscal deficit target. The revised estimate shows a slippage from 3.3 per cent to 3.4 per cent. For 2019-2020, the government has proposed an FD of 3.4 per cent The government will end the year with a current account deficit (CAD) of 2.5 per cent as against the CAD in the previous year of 1.9 per cent," Chidambaram said. He added, "Both numbers for the current year and estimated FD for 2019-20 point to incompetent fiscal management and disdain for fiscal prudence. All of these are last gasp announcements by a government whose term will effectively end in about 90 days. The questions that naturally springs to one's mind is that if these were necessary and important interventions, what was the government doing for five years?" Chidambaram said that the government's "desperation has proved by its announcement of the farmer's income support scheme to provide a sum of Rs 6,000 per year to every small and medium farmer." "The fiscal deficit numbers are telling by recklessly breaching fiscal discipline. The government will fund the scheme this year entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 20,000 crore. Next year too, the scheme will be funded entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 75,000 crore. While I welcome the support of farmers, I ask what about the non-farmer poor? What about the urban poor? I have no doubt in my mind that the Congress' announcement of a Minimum Income Guarantee will bring true relief to all the poor households and families of the country, both farmer and non-farmer, and both rural and urban," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has provided an amount of Rs.1330 crore in the Interim Budget for protection and empowerment of women, entailing a hike of Rs. 174 crore over the revised estimates of 2018-19. While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament, Union Minister for Finance Piyush Goyal said: "More than 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana are women who are getting affordable and collateral-free loans to start their own businesses." While touching upon the initiatives taken to empower women, Goyal highlighted the benefits of maternity leave of 26 weeks and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana for expecting mothers. He also added that the government had set a goal to deliver 8 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjawala Yojana out of which 6 crore connections have already been given and the remaining will get free gas connections by next year, Goyal said. "Ujjwala is a remarkable success story of our government programme, defined by a bold yet practical vision of responsible and compassionate leadership," he told the House. This is the final and last budget of the current NDA government since its tenure began in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday morning ahead of presenting the Interim Budget 2019, as part of tradition. Catch all the latest budget updates here The Finance Minister shook hands with President Kovind and held a brief meeting with him at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President's House tweeted photos of the meeting and posted: "As per tradition, Finance Minister @PiyushGoyal calls on #PresidentKovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union Budget." As per tradition, Finance Minister @PiyushGoyal calls on #PresidentKovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union Budget pic.twitter.com/yZfFL8uVKs President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 1, 2019 As the standard practice is, a vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget is presented in the Lok Sabha by the new government. If the budget date falls a few months ahead of General Elections, then an interim budget is presented. Finance Minister Goyal, also the Railway Minister, examined the final copy of the document on Thursday evening here. He will present the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. He is also expected to address the media around 3.30 pm. The interim budget will seek Parliament's nod for spending till a new Central government is sworn-in. The new government, elected after the General Elections due by May, is expected to present the full-fledged budget in July to be preceded by the tabling of Economic Survey. (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.) Leading the Opposition's attack against the interim budget 2019-20, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed Narendra Modi government for destroying the lives of the farmers by providing a direct minimum income for farmers stating that giving them Rs 17 a day is an insult. "Dear NaMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for" Congress President said in his tweet. Earlier, in his interim budget presentation, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced a new scheme "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)" to extend direct income support at the rate of Rs 6,000 per year to farmer families, with cultivable land up to two hectares. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh called it an election-centric budget aimed at misleading people with false promises, which were not backed by numbers. "They had promised Rs 15 lakhs in accounts of all but have ended up giving only Rs 6000 a year to farmers up to two hectares of land, and that too at the end of their tenure, clearly showing their lack of intent to do anything for the farmers' welfare," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister termed the Rs 6000 a year announced for marginal farmers as mere peanuts. "With just Rs 500 a month for the distressed farmers, the Modi government had made it obvious that they did not recognise the gravity of the problem," said Captain Amarinder, dubbing the exercise as a mockery of the interests of the farming community. Ostensibly populist, the budget is a typical budget of a government on its last legs, with nothing except fake promises for the people of India, said Captain Amarinder, who rejected the budget as all fluff and no action. "They had promised Rs 15 lakhs in accounts of all but have ended up giving only Rs 6000 a year to farmers up to two hectares of land, and that too at the end of their tenure, clearly showing their lack of intent to do anything for the farmers' welfare," the Chief Minister said. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, Rs 2,000 each will be transferred to bank accounts of around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families, in three equal instalments. This programme would be made effective from December 1, 2018 and the first instalment for the period up to March 31, 2019 would be paid during this year itself. Amarinder Singh flayed the budget as a mismatch one, noting that the concessions given to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore should actually mean an incremental deficit of 0.5 per cent but the government had shown additional deficit of only 0.1 per cent. This means at least Rs 80,000 crore worth of taxes will be imposed in the full budget, resulting in more burden on the common man in the coming days, he added. "Even the MSP of 50 per cent above the production cost was nothing but eyewash as the government was not buying all the items on the list," he said, pointing out that while maize had an MSP it was not being bought by the government, forcing the farmers to sell it at an abominably low cost. The entire budget, said Captain Amarinder, was in "future tense", as it talked about a USD 5 trillion economy in five years and a USD 10 trillion economy in the next eight years. Nowhere did it reflect the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government of the past five years, he said. Singh said: "The Government had also breached healthy norms of constitutional propriety by announcing concessions for the future with a clear eye on elections, even while it was expected to propose a mere vote on account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terrorists shot dead a 25-year-old married woman from point-blank range in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. A video of the shooting has surfaced on social media platforms. The body of the woman was retrieved by police from Dragad area of Zainapora in Shopian district. She has been identified as Ishrat Muneer, daughter of Muneer Ahmad Dar, resident of Dangerpora, Pulwama. A police spokesman said that a video of the shooting surfaced in several social media platforms late on Thursday evening and police are ascertaining the details. A senior police officer said the woman is related to Al-badr commander Zeenat ul Islam, who was killed in an encounter last month. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated an investigation into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two terrorists from militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday. The encounter ensued when security forces launched a search operation in Rajpora area, after being tipped off from credible sources about the presence of terrorists in the area, according to a police official. SP Pani, IG Kashmir range said, "An operation was launched in Rajpora based on specific input. Two terrorists were killed in this operation and their bodies have been handed over to families after completion of medical examination. As per inputs, they were part of the proscribed terrorist outfit JeM. One of them was active since quite some time and was involved in several terror-related offences." On January 26, security forces had in an encounter gunned down two terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition from them on Saturday in Khonmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar. The encounter on Republic Day ensued while terrorists fired at security personnel who were conducting a search operation in the area, based on a credible tip-off. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has seen a massive scale-up in the healthcare sector in the last five years and 10 lakh people have been enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat scheme so far, Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said while tabling the Interim Budget in the Parliament on Friday. "Under Ayushman Bharat scheme, close to 10 lakh people have already benefited for medical treatment under the scheme. Scores have been benefited from the reduction in the prices of essential medicines, stents, knee implants. Households have saved Rs 3,000 crore From Ayushman Bharat," he added. The Union Minister also told Parliament that his government has announced the setting up of 14 new AIIMS since 2014. "Twenty-one AIIMS are operating or being established in India presently. Fourteen out of 21 AIIMS were announced since 2014. We are happy to announce the setting up of the new 22nd AIIMS in Haryana," the Finance Minister said. The statement from Goyal comes at a time when India has an estimated 840,000 doctors -- one for every 1,674 people -- far fewer than the one per 1,000 people recommended by the World Health Organisation. In his concluding remark, Minister Goyal stated that the "Transformation of Aspirational Districts" programme launched by the Government of India in January 2018 achieved its targets with improved performance in all indicators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 won a thumping mandate promising a universal healthcare plan to protect poverty-stricken people. This Budget is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's last before the general elections in May this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France, Germany and Britain have opened a new channel for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert US sanctions, although diplomats say it is unlikely to allow for the big transactions that Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat. Washington's major European allies opposed last year's decision by US President Donald Trump to abandon the 2015 deal, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. Iran has threatened to pull out of the deal unless the European powers enable it to receive economic ... The government decision to allocate Rs 75,000 crore to 12 crore farmers for a minimum assured income of Rs 6,000 per year in the interim budget will boost the rural consumption and positive for agriculture and allied sectors, according to industry experts. The measures initiated by the government to revive the agricultural economy such as income support scheme (Kisan Samman Nidhi), higher agricultural credit and interest subvention for a longer period in case of natural disasters, will help fertilisers companies in the medium-term through higher demand, Icra senior vice president K Ravichandran said. Payment for indigenous urea has been hiked, while for imports it has been maintained, which will be a positive for new urea projects, he said. However, phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertiliser manufacturers will face pressure on margins, as the rise in raw material prices and rupee depreciation will necessitate higher pass through to the farmers, he added. Comprehensive financial services and solution provider ABans Group chairman Abhishek Bansal opined that the farmers are the net beneficiaries after the government increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for many crops last year, now they are supported by minimum income as well. The income support of Rs 2,000 per hectare or Rs 6,000 per year to farmers with up to 2 hectares of land will be a game-changer. Dhanuka Agritech managing director M K Dhanuka said, though an interim budget, the government has provided much needed income support to farmers by providing an additional fixed income. Addressing farm distress was much required since from last few years cost of production have gone up and farmers are not getting full price of their produce, he added. Icra vice president Pavethra Ponniah said the budget announcement of setting up a separate Department of Fisheries is positive for the aquaculture industry as it would lead to prioritisation and more focused follow up on the development of farmers. Further, loans availed through the Kisan Credit Card would give the farmers benefit of 2 per cent interest subvention and will go some way towards easing the ongoing pricing pain for shrimp farmers. Amit Vatsyayan, partner - government and public sector, advisory services, EY India observed that each farmer faces unique type of challenges and requires customised schematic and policy support to mitigate these challenges. A scheme like PMKSN is a welcome move, as it provides support to small and marginal farmers who are largely involved in subsistence farming and struggles to invest in agriculture inputs or technology, he added. Further, he said, the budget also emphasised the importance and need of doubling the farmer's income. However, NCML managing director and CEO Sanjay Kaul said, this budget announcement would provide only marginal relief to the estimated 120 million small farmers in the country. The Kisan Sanmaan Nidhi scheme does not provide any relief to many actual cultivators such as tenants and share croppers as the cash transfer would go to owners even if they are not actual tillers of the land. There is thus a very good case for deploying budgetary resources to create non-farm employment opportunities in rural areas, he added. 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 dystopia George Orwell conjured up in 1984 wasnt a prediction. It was, instead, a reflection. Newspeak, the Ministry of Truth, the Inner Party, the Outer Party that novel sampled and remixed a reality that Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism had made apparent. Scary stuff, certainly, but maybe the more frightening dystopia is the one no one warned you about, the one you wake up one morning to realise youre living inside. Roger McNamee, an esteemed venture capitalist, would appear to agree. A dystopian technology future overran our lives before we were ... Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Mom-and-pop shopkeepers on Mermaid Avenue want out of the business-boosting group some Coney Islanders hope to create in the neighborhood, because the annual fees they would pay to be a part of the so-called Business Improvement District will largely benefit bigger companies storefronts on more touristy streets, not their shops, they said. If they want to create the BID, keep it along the amusement park district and on Surf Avenue, said Edwin Cosme, who owns Hair 4 You on Mermaid Avenue between W. 17th and W. 19th streets, as well as a nearby apartment building on the avenue, both of which fall within the current boundaries of the proposed district. We dont see how local businesses along Mermaid Avenue are going to benefit. Its an additional financial burden. Last December, leaders of the local Alliance for Coney Island kicked off the formal process to create the bid, whose current proposed footprint includes properties along Mermaid Avenue, others on parts of Surf, Stillwell, and Neptune avenues, and those along the Reigelmann Boardwalk between W. Fifth and W. 23rd streets. The city-sanctioned district would fund supplemental services including sidewalk and street cleaning, new signage, holiday lights, and citywide promotion of local shops through annual taxes levied on business and property owners within it. The median cost of the taxes, which the city calls assessments, for Mermaid Avenue business and property owners would be just more than $500 per year, according to Alliance executive director Alexandra Silversmith, who added that owners of the avenues larger storefronts would pay more, because the tax is partly determined by square footage. But many Mermaid merchants dont want to pay a penny, with several signing a petition against the bids formation that Cosme and his fellow local property owner Daniel Ioannou circulated last year. The two bid critics now plan to formally present that opposition in the coming weeks, by delivering an official letter to the Alliance asking it to remove Mermaid Avenue from the proposed bid boundaries on behalf of the avenues business and property owners, they said. Mermaid Avenue is saying theyre not interested, and their autonomy should be respected, Ioannou said. One Mermaid business owner said that even though he could afford a potential annual tax of $1,000 more, he would not be willing to put money towards the bids services, which he considers frivolous expenses for his storefront but not for operations located in other parts of the proposed district. Christmas lights are pretty, but they dont help [my business], said Steven Feinstein, who owns Wilensky Hardware at Mermaid Avenue and W. 22nd Street. Mermaid and Surf avenues have totally disparate needs, I dont see why we should be bundled together. If Mermaid Avenue was removed, Id be all for it. Another entrepreneur, who owns a drug store on Mermaid Avenue, agreed, saying he doesnt want to pay for supplemental sanitation services as part of the bid, because he already sweeps the sidewalk in front of his shop on a daily basis. Im doing it everyday theres not much garbage outside, said Roger Li, the owner of J & R Pharmacy at Mermaid Avenue and W. 23rd Street. But business owners who say street maintenance is unnecessary may soon be singing a different tune, according to Silversmith, who said Mermaid Avenue has largely remained clean for most of the past two years thanks to a private sanitation team funded by a state grant, which drained the last of its dollars in 2018. And not all Mermaid property owners are against the bid one entrepreneur who owns three properties on the stretch, all of which are within the current proposed boundaries, said the avenue would benefit from the regular upkeep the district would fund. Mermaid Avenue has been so depressed for so many years. That whole corridor is unmaintained it needs help, said Nino Russo, who also owns Gargiulos restaurant on W. 15th Street between Mermaid and Surf avenues, which is within the proposed district as well. Silversmith and her fellow bid organizers do not want to put local small-businesses in the red, she said, and they will continue to seek feedback from neighborhood business owners before holding the final vote on whether or not to form the district which will require majority approval from all merchants within it in order to pass. Were trying to get the correct information out and then let people make the right decision based on facts, she said. Our goal here is not to put anyone out of business. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC You know what the funniest thing about the bar is? Its the little differences. A new saloon celebrating the films of Quentin Tarantino is set to open in Williamsburg today. The walls of KillBar are drenched in artwork depicting characters created by the bloody filmmaker, including a sketch of Samuel L. Jackson chowing down on a burger from Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman as the Bride in Kill Bill, and an oil painting of Jamie Foxx astride a horse in Django Unchained. The owner of KillBar, who formerly ran an 80s-themed bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, said that he hopes the cinematic touches will bring in movie fans from across the country. We want it to be a destination spot for people coming to Brooklyn who want to have an experience, said Michael Galkovich, who lives around the corner from his bar. Galkovich also hopes that the bars food and drinks, named after Tarantinos films, will draw Williamsburg regulars to the spot. Without the neighborhood, we wont survive, he said. The menu includes the Kill Bill Burger (but oddly, not a Royale with Cheese), Death Proof Chili, and Hateful Eight Wings, among other staples of pub food. The cocktails, which run $12$14, are similarly themed, with a Bloody Bride Mojito made with blood oranges, a Tarantino Iced Tea, and Brooklyn Tap Water, made with Hennessey, Grand Marnier, and champagne. A $5 milkshake will arrive on the menu soon, said Galkovich, though it probably wont have bourbon in it or nothin. KillBar has a projector that will screen subtitled, silent Tarantino films on a loop. Galkovich said that he will turn the sound on during Monday movie nights, and will host Tarantino trivia on Tuesdays. The bar owner has not reached out to the man behind his inspiration, but he hopes that he would appreciate the space. Hopefully hell hear about it, and hell respect what were doing, said Galkovich. It really is an homage to his work, with the art, the food, and the drinks. KillBar [82 S. Fourth St. between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, (845) 8935626, www.killb arbro oklyn.com ]. Open daily; noon2 am. Reach arts editor Bill Roundy at broun dy@cn gloca l.com or by calling (718) 2604507. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Borough wide Three cheers to the two local principals honored by Schneps Medias New York Family magazine at the publications annual awards ceremony on Jan. 14, where the Kings County educators were recognized for dedicating their lives to the enrichment of local youngsters. Schneps Media president and publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis handed Tabari Zaid Bomani, principal and founder of the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a Blackboard Award plaque in the Outstanding School category for his Fulton Street high school, which he said succeeds on the strength of its inclusivity. Our core philosophy is organized around the conviction that our school community is open to all students, regardless of their educational or personal history, said Bomani at the ceremony held at the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan. And Karen Ditolla, principal at Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented in Coney Island, nabbed the plaque for Outstanding Principal, saying her students inspire her each and every day to strive for perfection. There is a magic at Twain that continues to inspire both young and mature, said Ditolla. Simply put, I would not want to be anywhere else. I am humbled to be part of such a community. The Blackboard Awards, which kicked off in 2002, honors both exceptional schools and educators across the five boroughs. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Friday Feb. 1 Wilde times This is your last chance to catch the nightclub musical Oscar at the Crown, a clever piece about refugees from a fascist society who celebrate frivolity by re-enacting the rise and fall of Oscar Wilde, and then find a new way to survive. The show ends with a joyous dance party that brings the audience along. Dress up! 10:30 pm at 3 Dollar Bill in Bushwick (260 Meserole St. between Bushwick Place and Waterbury Street in Bushwick, www.thene oncov en.com ). $29. Saturday Feb. 2 Chill, out! After a week of freezing temperatures, it is time to drive out the chill with spiked cocoa, winter ales, and cheese-filled comfort foods. You can find all of the above at todays Winter Warmer Festival in Greenpoint, a celebration of the good parts of sweater weather. Your ticket will get you access to fire pits, free booze, fake snow, and much more. 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm at Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble St. at Franklin Street in Greenpoint, www.winterwarmer.nyc). $49 ($75 VIP). Sunday Feb. 3 In the House! Skip the Super Bowl and watch a live taping of The Flop House, Brooklyns best podcast about bad movies! Daily Show writer Dan McCoy, Mystery Science Theater 3000 writer Elliot Kalan, and Hinterlands bar owner Stuart Wellington will analyze and pass judgment on The Happytime Murders, the woefully reviewed Melissa McCarthy puppet crime film. Feeling Left out: Sally Ann Hall and Kimberly Dinaro host the Left Breast Comedy Hour, an all-female comedy show happening on the first Monday of each month at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg. Mike Lavin 8 pm at the Bell House [149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues in Gowanus, (718) 6436510, www.thebe llhou seny.com ]. $15. Monday Feb. 4 Ladies night The matriarchal comedy extravaganza Left Breast Comedy Hour settles into its new slot tonight, on the first Monday of every month at the Knitting Factory. The pro-female, pro-drinking show features hosts Sally Ann Hall and Kimberly Dinaro, along with six more non-dude stand-up comics. Admission is free, so you can spend your money on booze! 8 pm at Knitting Factory [361 Metropolitan Ave. between Havemeyer and N. Fourth streets in Williamsburg, (347) 5296696, bk.knitt ingfa ctory.com ]. Free. Thursday Feb. 7 Black and white Head down to Dumbo tonight for its First Thursday Gallery Walk, when art spots all over the neighborhood will stay open late. Be sure to catch the closing night of the exhibit Aunty! African Women in the Frame, 1890 to the present at United Photo Industries, a fantastic survey of the portrayal of black women on film over the years. 69 pm at United Photo Industries Gallery (16 Main St. at Water Street in Dumbo, www.unite dphot oindu strie s.com ). Free. In a city where apartments are the size of a postage stamp and "backyard" is a foreign word, the outside world becomes a necessary extension of one's barely-existent living room. Manhattan's coffee shops, libraries, taverns and parks serve as a quasi-home for 1.7 million residents squeezed into a 59-square kilometre island. At 1am, coffee shops glow from a sea of laptops. Manhattan's 1.7 million residents often jostle for space in the crowded city. Credit:Nicholas Doyle Tiny slivers of space along footpaths and roadways become much-needed mini parks and dog runs. I see my neighbour, an eccentric 50-something man who plays in a Grateful Dead cover band, in the bar over the road more often than our narrow hallway. "We live in a shared city. Public space is our connective tissue," Andrea Woodner and Claire Weisz, co-founders of the Design Trust for Public Space, surmise. Beijing: Hopes that a trade deal will be reached by the United States and China have been raised after both sides said substantial progress was made in Washington this week, and China agreed to the "enforcement" of any promises. US President Donald Trump said it would be "the biggest trade deal ever made" - if agreement was reached - and appeared to waver from his earlier tweet that a March 1 deadline for the introduction of new tariffs may have to be postponed. China committed to "vigorously expand imports of US agricultural products, energy products, industrial manufactured goods and service products," reported Chinese state news agency Xinhua. China and the US have been locked in a trade battle since Donald Trump introduced new tariffs on Chinese goods last year. Credit:AP Nick Coyle, chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, said the chamber was watching the negotiations closely, "particularly in the agriculture and energy sectors given their obvious importance to the Australia-China relationship". The Australian Workers' Union has welcomed the chance to cross examine Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash in court about her office tipping off the media about police raids of the union's offices in 2017. The tip offs raised controversy because journalists arrived at the union offices before the Australian Federal Police. Senator Michaelia Cash. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer AWU national leader Daniel Walton said the union was looking forward to finally having its day in court on February 11. Senator Cash's legal representative advised a pre-trial hearing in Melbourne on Friday that she was now prepared to give evidence after having tried to fight a subpoena to appear in court. The AWU subpoenaed Senator Cash to answer questions about how the media were tipped off ahead of the Australian Federal Police raid of the union's offices in Sydney and Melbourne on October 24, 2017. Former prime minister Tony Abbott, his fundraising chief and several NSW Liberal MPs have been hosted by the Chinese Communist Partys top Australian lobbyists and propagandist, including several facing pressure to declare their Beijing connections on the nations new foreign influence register. Mr Abbott, fundraiser John Caputo and state MPs John Sidoti and Mark Coure, were all VIP guests at a Chinese New Year function attended by Beijings highest ranking United Front affiliates in Australia. Tony Abbott speaks at the Chinese New Year event. Credit: The United Front Work Department is a unique agency overseen by the Chinese Communist Partys Central Committee and which leads the partys United Front operations aimed at influencing overseas Chinese and Western elites, including politicians, to back Beijings aims. When Mr Abbott was informed by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald that associates of the United Front were at the event, he said: If I knew [United Front groups were there], I wouldnt have gone. The last thing I am is a patsy for the Chinese government. Two years since he went missing, police are appealing for help in finding murder suspect Jonathan Dick. Credit:Victoria Police A Melbourne man wanted over the brutal killing of his brother at a Doncaster shopping centre two years ago is believed to be using parks and reserves to avoid detection as police describe his movements over the past two years as "largely a mystery". Investigators who have been searching for Jonathan Dick, who turns 41 today, since his brother David was slain with a sword as he stepped out of a lift at Westfield Doncaster, on February 3, 2017, say he may also be using a bicycle for transport but doesn't appear to be living on the street and could even be working. On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the murder, Homicide Squad detectives are renewing their appeal for information on the whereabouts of the Melbourne fugitive, whom they believe has been "hiding in plain sight". A warrant has been issued for Mr Dick's arrest in relation to his brother's murder which was captured on CCTV. The carjacking of an 84-year-old man in Melbourne lasted just 17 seconds but has cost the violent offender at least four years of freedom. Jason Mammoliti's victim lay on the side of the road for two minutes before help arrived, after he was dragged out of his car and dumped on the ground outside a Brimbank shopping centre last June. Mammoliti, 40, has since apologised and expressed remorse for the violent attack but County Court judge Sandra Davis said the traumatising crime was serious as she slapped him with a six-year prison sentence. Brian Ritchie had pulled to the side of the road and was on the phone to his wife in north-west Melbourne when Mammoliti targeted him on June 2. Then a homeless drug addict withdrawing from heroin, he opened Mr Ritchie's car door, unbuckled his seatbelt and roughly pulled the elderly man from the Toyota Camry. Two out-of-control bushfires are still burning in Grantville, south-east of Melbourne, and Moe in the Latrobe Valley. Sections of the Bass Highway at Grantville remained closed late Friday night as more than 100 firefighters battled the blaze. An image of the fire burning in Glen Forbes taken from the South Gippsland Highway at Lang Lang. Credit:David McAlpine Residents in nearby Adams Estate were earlier told to evacuate before conditions became too dangerous. An emergency warning was issued for Adams Estate and the nearby towns of Almurta, Glen Forbes and Grantville about 3pm. This was downgraded to a watch and act warning shortly after 9.30pm on Friday. A jury will decide if a Brisbane doctor raped a patient who later set up her own sting to try to prove her claims. Samitha Vernon Sudusinghe has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape. A woman being treated by the Toombul GP for abdominal pain claims he digitally raped her though her underwear. She claims he tried to do it a second time after she told him not to. He also allegedly slapped her on the buttocks as she picked up her young son on a previous occasion. In one instance a clinician calling the ieMR helpline because oxytocin "went missing from the system" was told to prescribe an alternative drug, when there was none available. "System wide 'upgrades' have also resulted in alerts to all ieMR sites about patient safety risks on the medication module and an order to revert to using paper with little notice," the AMAQ letter says. The letter cites an alert issued on April 11, 2018, which warned of urgent patient risk. 'It has a lack of proper oversight' The states ieMR project began in 2011, when a contract was signed with US medical technology giant Cerner to purchase its Millennium software off the shelf and modify it as it was installed in each public hospital. A Brisbane Times investigation has revealed serious safety risks in the software, with clinicians, health bodies and independent consultants repeatedly voicing concerns to the government. Loading Blood samples have been left in the wrong test tubes, test results have gone missing in the software, and patient data has been added to the wrong patient records in the years since the program was installed. State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the LNP believed the integrated electronic medical record program should be halted until issues were resolved. But Health Minister Steven Miles said the LNP needed to explain why a 2014 report commissioned during the Campbell Newman government that held serious warnings about the project was not heeded. In 2014, an independent consultant report said the software could cause problems for Queensland Health similar to the 2011 payroll debacle, when thousands of hospital staff went without pay for months after a new IT system went live, triggering a commission of inquiry. A Queensland Health general manager requested that the 2014 ieMR report be modified to remove those warnings. Dr Rimmer said the December 2018 Auditor-Generals report - cited by Queensland Health as the roadmap for the future of the program and described by Mr Miles at the time of its release as a big tick for the ieMR project - raised huge issues. The current approach seems very flawed, and its providing very wide access, he said. It has a lack of proper oversight, it seems insufficient that theyre merely relying upon disciplinary measures for individual staff for such a system in place. Theres a real failure there to understand what adverse impacts could take place. The Auditor-General's report found the ieMR was generally improving patient health and hospital performance but had issues particularly in its future costs and highlighted concerns about the wide access and "weaknesses" in password controls. Staff who left the organisation might still be able to access data using their logins for several months, and the Auditor-General found dormant accounts "could be exploited by internal users". Hospitals were "expected to monitor access logs" but that process "relies heavily on co-operation from staff assigned the responsibility", the Auditor-General found. Citing international electronic medical record failures such as in Singapore, where the HIV status of more than 14,000 people was leaked online in January after its national electronic medical record was hacked, Dr Rimmer said he wondered about the legal and ethical implications of the ieMR project for Queensland Health. Any clinician can edit any patient's record To date the ieMR is installed in nine Queensland hospitals, with Ipswich Hospital the latest to go live in December 2018. Dr Rimmer said the ieMR project appeared to be experiencing similar issues to other big government digital technology programs, such as the federal 2016 census fail, the Centrelink robo-debt scandal and the controversial My Health Record. The federal governments My Health Record sparked serious concerns after it was revealed every Australian would have to opt out if they didnt want all their sensitive medical data stored in an online record. The integrated electronic medical record project is specifically designed to allow all clinicians at all public hospitals both read and write access to patient records, allowing clinicians to log in remotely and edit records. It also connects directly to My Health Record and allows clinicians to see a patients medical records and upload test and imaging results and discharge summaries to the national database. Any patient who enters a Queensland public hospital with the ieMR installed will have a record automatically created for them. A Queensland Health spokesperson said only authorised Queensland Health staff could access a patients electronic medical record. Medical information is protected by strict legislation and built-in security measures to prevent unauthorised access, the spokesperson said. Dr Rimmer said on both a state and federal level there needed to be a serious reconsideration of how patient confidentiality and health privacy were handled. The digital hospital program is converting Queensland hospitals from paper-based records keeping to electronic. Credit:Glenn Hunt There seem to be huge gaps between the aspirations to have seamless bureaucratic IT systems and the very ugly reality of whats taking place, Dr Rimmer said. A Queensland Health spokesman said the integrated electronic medical record had improved patient safety and hospital efficiency. The recent Queensland Audit Office report into digital hospitals, released just last month, confirmed the digital hospital program is improving healthcare and patient outcomes, the spokesperson said. Patient safety has markedly improved since the integrated electronic medical records was first rolled out. It has reduced the average length of stay, unplanned readmissions, and the number of serious falls and pressure injuries. Minister often 'lack technological expertise' By 2025 the department wants 27 hospitals to have the ieMR installed and fully operational, by which time the project is predicted to cost $1.2 billion. Dr Rimmer said a political problem with the implementation of such whole-of-government digital health IT projects was the minister in charge often lacked technological experience. Often its passed from one minister to the next; weve had a sequence of people serving a couple of terms as health ministers in Queensland for a while, he said. Health Minister Steven Miles. Credit:Glenn Hunt Mr Miles is the latest minister to oversee the integrated electronic medical record project after taking over from Cameron Dick in 2017. Previous health ministers overseeing the digital transformation of Queensland Health were Stephen Robertson, Paul Lucas and Geoff Wilson under the ALP Bligh government, followed by Lawrence Springborg under the LNP Campbell Newman government. Ms Frecklington said the rollout of the ieMR should be halted until issues were resolved. Weve seen a $256 million cost blowout and clinicians concerns have been ignored by the Labor Health Minister, Ms Frecklington said. LNP leader Deb Frecklington says the rollout of the integrated electronic medical record should be halted until all issues are resolved. Credit:AAP Image/ Darren England This has all the hallmarks of Labors health payroll debacle except worse patient safety is at risk. Mr Miles said the LNP needed to explain why the 2014 report was buried. Since coming to government Labor has made changes to the LNPs program to address some of the concerns I understand are in this secret LNP report, he said. The Australian Hotels Association has emerged as the second largest political donor in the country, with declared political gifts leaping from $153,000 in 2016-17 to $1.1 million last financial year. The AHAs new-found generosity was focused on the Tasmanian division of the Liberal Party, which received $289,000 as it fought an election campaign against the Labor Party which had promised to ban poker machines in the states pubs. The Australian Hotels Association directed most of its donations to a fight for pokies in Tasmania. Credit:Louie Douvis The Tasmanian Liberals top five declared donors all had poker machine interests and together they gave the party $513,750 in 2017/18, new data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows. Further donations to the Tasmanian Liberals flowed from mainland gambling interests, including $12,000 from the Australian Hotels Association federal office, and $2750 from Tabcorp. The Tasmanian Liberals received $4.1 million in total donations compared with just $1 million to the states Labor Party. A suspended police officer who made a "disgraceful" phone call to the office of Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has been convicted, fined $5500 and given a bond which requires him to abstain from alcohol for two years. Sean Daniel Murphy, 57, a NSW Police senior constable formerly based at Surry Hills, made a 16-second phone call in July 2018 during which he said he wanted to "f---" Ms Hanson-Young's daughter and requested a photograph of the young girl. Sean Murphy leaves Downing Centre Local Court on Friday. Credit:AAP The woman who answered the call hung up and referred the matter to Australian Federal Police. Murphy pleaded guilty in November to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and was suspended without pay days later. He was previously suspended with pay, having made a "hurt on duty" claim relating to post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Educational giraffe Healthy Harold will expand and modernise his health and safety messages across NSW schools through a $2 million funding injection, as the Berejiklian government continues its back-to-school education spending blitz. Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the extra funding for Life Education NSW, which runs the Healthy Harold program, at Mulgoa Public School on Friday, as she targeted key Liberal seats in western Sydney for the fourth consecutive day. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces education funding this week. Credit:AAP "This means children across the state will be able to get those important lessons to really set themselves up for healthy lifestyles into the future," she said. The $2 million will be made over four years, on top of the $2.1 million in recurrent annual funding by NSW Health. The culture within the division is the most toxic, dysfunctional and prehistoric that I have ever worked in Submission The independent review was announced by Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris in September after a string of scandals and mounting pressure for change. The review, which did not investigate specific claims, was a step down from the royal-commission-type inquiry called for by the Australian Medical Association and the ACT Liberals. It made 20 recommendations, and called for changes to be overseen by a committee which would include the minister, ACT Health employees, the Australian Medical Association and unions. The report found the overwhelming majority of submissions were negative and came from staff, consumers, non-government organisations and unions. The information gathered from submissions, individual and group interviews and the staff survey reveal a worrying and pervasive poor culture across the ACT public health system, the report said. There are pockets of high performance where staff are proud of the quality of their work and were keen to demonstrate it to the reviewers. By contrast, there were areas where a very poor culture had persisted over many years, and where bullying and other poor performance had not been addressed." The report found significant scepticism among staff that the review would lead to change and the recommendations would be implemented, noting previous reviews had been forgotten. There is ZERO consequence for the bully or even at the least feedback about how their behaviour may be contributing. Submission Talking to my ex-colleagues, I have asked a number of them if they wish to make a submission to the review," a submission read. "They all replied 'no' as they believe that nothing will come of it. "I want the review team to prove them wrong, just this one time so we can improve the health of all Canberra residents. A nurse's submission, partially published in the report, said there was endless emotional abuse and manipulation that had forced many staff members to seek work elsewhere. She said the culture at ACT Health was the worst she had seen in all her years working in the public health system in Australia and overseas. When I think about the culture within ACT Health and what I have experienced in my time here, I feel shocked and disgusted," the submission said. "The culture within the division is the most toxic, dysfunctional and prehistoric that I have ever worked in. "In the [xx] years I have worked, I feel that I have been a target for bullying from managers and colleagues. As a result, in 2019 I will be looking to leave the public health system. Mr Reid said it was a difficult review to do because of the distressing stories and long histories of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace they heard. He said a major issue found in the review was the way in which complaints and human resources issues were handled. He said too many complaints against staff were automatically escalated to a system which became quite opaque. "There is healthy skepticism based on a good history that change won't occur," he said. "But I am confident that the CEOs that I met with.. are capable of leading this change, together with the implementation committee." Doctors were the least likely to engage with the review, which the reviewers found indicative of clinicians' general disengagement from management. The workplace culture within the [redacted] is the worst by far that I have seen. Submission This means the local health system does not benefit from the knowledge and input of individual clinicians to improve the quality of care across the system. "The majority we met with who did engage expressed their skepticism that anything would change," Mr Reid said. Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris has agreed to all the recommendations in principle, noting it is an interim report. "Clearly today there are some findings in there that I am really sad and disappointed to read," she said. The report clearly shows that people want to see change, and were keen to be involved in this review. While I was born in Yorkshire, I'm a Londoner at heart, and one of the joys of returning to the city is to eat. The temptation is often for me to relive the past and revisit old favourites but London always offers exciting new tastes, as I discovered on a recent trip there. Top of my list to try was The Quality Chop House in inner-city Clerkenwell. The Victorian-era venue is heritage-listed, with an interior that features ornate, 19th-century tiles and narrow, bottom-numbing benches. This serves to give the place a feeling that little has changed from its beginnings as a working-class caterer, serving the porters of nearby Smithfield Market. St Leonards in Shoreditch is part of Londons latest trend: serving food cooked over coals. But the menu, by head chef Shaun Searley, tells a different story. I dine there with a friend who's a truffle supplier, and Searley is one of his customers. As a perk we are served chicken liver parfait, served with toast, covered with black truffle shavings. We order a leg of Yorkshire grouse, beautifully cooked, which appears with its claw clenched, as well as lamb croquettes that are crisp, warm and served with a fresh mint mayonnaise. Next on my list is St Leonards, which is east in the creative hub of Shoreditch. St Leonards is among the latest wave of restaurants where almost everything is cooked over coals. Chefs Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke opened it last June with an ice bar for fish and shellfish and open hearth cooking for meat and vegetables. The other obstacle, depending on your tolerance for monumental arseholes, is that Bellow wasn't a particularly nice person. So even the most ardent admirers of his writing might still be advised to steer clear of this warts-and-all uncloaking of the man's behaviour away from his desk. The first roadblock, perhaps, is that Bellow's star has curiously dimmed in recent years. Despite the efforts of devotees such as Martin Amis to install him as the Great American Novelist, his fashionability hasn't endured as well as other contenders such as Melville, Hemingway or Fitzgerald. Unlike Cormac McCarthy, his hit books have never caught the eye of Hollywood; and even his good friend and contemporary, Phillip Roth, is more likely to be passed around at book clubs these days. A natty Saul Bellow, associated in most minds with Chicago, on the streets of his second home, New York, in 1975. Credit:NEAL BOENZI By all rights this should be an easy sell. An impeccably researched, colossal gift of a biography about one of the world's great writers: what part of this equation isn't literary catnip to the readers of these pages? The Life of Saul Bellow by Zachary Leader. The uncloaker is Zachary Leader, whose first volume of biography magnificently charted Bellow's lust for literary fame. Volume two opens right at the moment he achieves it. His latest novel, Herzog, has been released to ecstatic reviews, and shoots straight to the top of the bestseller list. Money is rolling in at a furious rate, and the fawning queue of flunkies isn't far behind. Not all of Bellow's new starry-eyed fan club were women, but it was principally the women the otherwise put-upon author made serious time for. Leader chronicles Bellow's sexual conquests with a kind of resigned weariness; the kind of weariness a biographer of Donald Bradman might feel having to note every single time The Don scored a run. The affairs numbered in the hundreds. But arguably the most significant, and the one to which Leader devotes the most time, was with a woman called Maggie Staats. She first met the middle-aged Bellow at a party while she was working as an assistant at The New Yorker, aged 24. Pretty young things in the publishing game had traditionally been a pushover for the great author. But Staats had never heard of Bellow. Rather than finding this refreshing, or even an interesting challenge, Bellow immediately took Staats by the hand and dragged her to a late-night bookshop, purchased a copy of his novel Henderson the Rain King, and then brought her back to his hotel room where, after they both got naked, he read the entire book to her. (Not my idea of foreplay. A more considerate wooer might have restricted himself to a short story or two). Leader recounts another occasion when Bellow advised one of his female students (also his lover) that he wasn't confident she could contribute anything useful to his tutorial on James Joyce, but that she could still attend to be "decorative". There's also a story of a science editor showing Bellow her review of a new biography on Albert Einstein. After reading her work, Bellow grabbed her breasts and told her there were "other things you do so very well". After 10 years investing in the property Andres Vargas has keenly felt the market's sharp turn in the last 18 months. He sold one house near Mt Druitt for a tidy profit last year and has now decided to sell his remaining Sydney investment in Green Valley, west of Liverpool. Andres Vargas at his Green Valley property. Credit:James Alcock "I got it valued at $619,000 by the bank when I was applying for my home loan a year and a half ago," Mr Vargas said. "I've now seen similar properties going up for sale for $540,000, so there is a clear 10 per cent drop there alone. "It's quite scary. The longer I hold onto it, the more I'm losing." The national property market is in free fall with new figures showing prices tumbling sharply in January led down by a 1.7 per cent drop in Melbourne and a 1.4 per cent fall in Sydney. CoreLogic's closely watched measure of dwelling values showed every capital city in the country bar Canberra started the year going backwards with the rate of fall accelerating through the past three months. House values have tumbled at the start of the year with Sydney values down by 1.4 per cent while in Melbourne they dropped by 1.7 per cent Credit:Rob Homer The drop in Melbourne means the city's house values have fallen by 10.6 per cent over the past 12 months. Unit values did a little better, down 1.3 per cent in January to be down by 3 per cent for the past year. The world's central banks bought more gold last year than at any time since President Richard Nixon ended the gold standard in 1971 as they used the metal to diversify their holdings. Their gold stocks soared 74 per cent from 374.8 tonnes in 2017 to 651.5 tonnes - the second-highest total since records began. The only time it was higher was in 1967. Big on bullion: Central banks have been piling into gold last year for a variety of reasons. Credit:Bloomberg "Last year an incredibly large sum of gold was bought by central banks," said Alistair Hewitt, of the World Gold Council, which compiled the figures. "Twelve months ago I would have been talking about how Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey were the three big central banks buying gold. But now so many more central banks are adding to reserves. The pub sector has started the new year on a busy note with three popular sites to change hands in the coming weeks. It is a reflection of the changing ownership structure of the sector, from pure investment-driven returns to owner/operators with a focus on the food and beverage offerings. The two latest offerings are by long-time pub owner Paddy Coughlan, the founder of the Riversdale Group, which he sold to business partners Geoff Dixon, John Singleton and Mark Carnegie. The Lord Gladstone Hotel, 115 Regent Street, Chippendale, Sydney. Mr Coughlan is selling the freehold stakes in the Lord Gladstone, Chippendale, and the Botany View Hotel, 597 King St, Newtown, Sydney. He will focus on expanding his newly formed craft-brewed alcoholic lemonade business, Frank Strongs. Kobi Boaron had more riding on the fate of the property market than most other buyers. Boaran bought an entire 12 unit apartment block in St Kilda East in inner Melbourne with his business partner at the height of the property market with a plan to renovate and sell. Kobi Boaran with business partner Sagi Mitlin (left) bought the St Kilda apartment last year as a "buy, renovate and sell" project to make some profit. Credit:Eddie Jim But when they were ready to sell just seven months later, the market had come crashing down. We had no choice but to sell, Mr Boaron says. We were worried about the prices coming down even further. Proposals that would mean Britons do not require a visa for short visits to the EU after Brexit, even in the event of no deal, are a step closer to being rubber-stamped. EU ambassadors have agreed that UK citizens coming to the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period should be granted visa-free travel. The Trump administration says it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centrepiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War, in a move some analysts claim could fuel a new arms race. President Donald Trump said in a statement that Russia, "for far too long", has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty "with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad". Mr Trump said the US "has fully adhered" to the pact for more than 30 years, "but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other". US officials have also expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it is unclear how it would do that. Technically, a US withdrawal would take effect six months after this week's notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty, but in talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance. Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the Russian state news agency Tass as saying after the Beijing talks: "Unfortunately, there is no progress. The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum." He said he expected Washington to suspend its obligations under the treaty, although he added that Moscow remained ready to "search for solutions" that could keep the treaty in force. Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement this week that while Russia's violation of the INF treaty is a serious problem, US withdrawal under current circumstances would be counter-productive. "Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia," they said. In Moscow, Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of parliament, said: "I 'congratulate' the whole world; the United States has taken another step toward its destruction today." Senator Igor Morozov said: "This step carries a threat to the entire system of international security, but first of all for Russia because after leaving the INF the Americans will deploy these missiles in European countries." Before the withdrawal announcement, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on both sides to stick to the treaty. "What we definitely don't want to see is our continent going back to being a battlefield or a place where other superpowers confront themselves. This belongs to a faraway history," she said. Latest: US abandons Cold War nuclear treaty with Russia Latest: The US is pulling out of a treaty with Russia which has been a centrepiece of arms control since the Cold War. The withdrawal had been expected for months, and follows years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the 1987 pact, which bans certain ground-launched cruise missiles. Mike Pompeo (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) US officials have also expressed concern that China, which is not part of the treaty, is deploying large numbers of missiles in Asia that the US cannot counter because it is bound by the treaty. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,100 miles. Nato said Russia is in breach of the treaty and urged Moscow to come back into "full and verifiable compliance" during the six months that remain before the US leaves. The military alliance said it will continue to review the security implications of Russian missile development, and take any "steps necessary to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the alliance's overall deterrence and defence posture". It said that if Moscow fails to destroy all new missile systems that Washington insists violate the treaty, "Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty". - Press Association Trump administration poised to announce US withdrawal from nuclear arms treaty Earlier: The Trump administration is poised to announce it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centrepiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War and whose demise some analysts worry could fuel a new arms race. A US withdrawal would follow years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the pact, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,400 miles. Russia denies being in violation. US officials have expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it is unclear how it would do that. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with actual withdrawal taking place six months later. The 60-day deadline expires on Saturday, and the administration is expected to say that efforts to work out a compliance deal have failed and it would suspend its compliance with the treaty's terms. The State Department said Mr Pompeo would make a public statement on Friday, but did not mention the topic. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses the media at the Security Council stakeout area following a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela at United Nations Headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 26 January 2019. (EPA/JASON SZENES) During remarks made at a news conference in Bucharest, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said there are no signs of getting a compliance deal with Russia. "So we must prepare for a world without the INF treaty," he said. Technically, a US withdrawal would take effect six months after this week's notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty, but in talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance on whether a Russian cruise missile violates the pact. A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was quoted by the Russian state news agency Tass as saying after the Beijing talks: "Unfortunately, there is no progress. The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum." He said he expects Washington to suspend its obligations under the treaty, although he added that Moscow remains ready to "search for solutions" that could keep the treaty in force. PA A teenager who hit the director of a children's detention centre on the head with a metal bar later escaped from the facility by cutting through a fence, a court has heard. Michael Ward (aged 19) with an address at Gleann Riada, Strokestown Road, Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage, assault causing harm and assault while attempting to commit theft at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus, Lusk, Co Dublin, on May 29, 2017. The court heard that Ward is currently serving a four-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for offences of criminal damage also committed at Oberstown. Garda Vincent Tierney told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that on the evening in question Ward asked a staff member at Oberstown if he could use the bathroom. On their way to the bathroom, Ward began jostling with the staff member who initially thought he was joking. Ward told him not to take this personally and they began to struggle. During the struggle, Ward grabbed the man's security fob. He then pulled a broken piece of a ceramic plate from his shorts and said Don't fucking come near me. Ward and a number of other youths barricaded themselves in an office and armed themselves with metal table legs. The staff member observed Ward break a sink off the wall of the staff bathroom and smash it over the toilet. Campus Director Pat Bergin arrived at the scene and attempted to prevent the removal of bars from the office door's smashed window. Ward reached through the window and swung the metal bar, hitting Director Bergin in the head and causing him to start bleeding. Ward removed a radiator from a wall and used it as a battering ram to get into a hallway. He and two others obtained an angle grinder from a maintenance shed and used it to cut their way through the campus fence. He was brought back to Oberstown after the escape and told gardai that he had walked to his grandmother's home in Crumlin after getting through the fence. He said that the incident was not planned and that he had not intended to strike Director Bergin in the head. The total cost of the damage done to Oberstown was 17,135. Ward has 56 previous convictions, including convictions for theft, burglary, handling stolen property, criminal damage and public order offences. Gda Tierney accepted the assertion of Dean Kelly BL, defending, that while obviously the behaviour described in your evidence is appalling, Ward could be a charming young man. Mr Kelly said the incident was not a prison break but rather that it was a case of three young men going wild. He said that Ward walking across Dublin in the dead of night to his grandmother's house was not the act of a master criminal. Judge Patricia Ryan said that Ward minimised his actions on the evening in question and that he was trying to insult the intelligence of the court. She ordered a governor's report and a probation report to be prepared and adjourned the matter for sentencing to March 22, of this year. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will seek solidarity from the EU but also continue talks on a potential Brexit no-deal when he travels to Brussels next week. As the countdown continues to Britain crashing out of the union without agreement next month, Ireland is trying to cement EU support for stopping fresh attempts by London to reopen the Brexit deal. Mr Varadkar will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker next Wednesday and discuss contingency plans for a no-deal, including issues around trade. A statement from the Government said: This work is intensifying both within the European Commission and across the member states. The Taoiseach will outline the work underway in Ireland and the supports that may be needed given the potential impact of a hard Brexit in Ireland. At the same time, EU officials examining problems with a no-deal will visit Dublin and meet senior figures from several departments. The officials have already visited other EU capitals in preparation for a Brexit without agreement. While in Brussels, Mr Varadkar will also meet European Council President Donald Tusk who is expected to give a show of solidarity. Mr Varadkar will thank the union for the support from member states to keep the backstop, a mechanism designed to prevent a new hard border in the North. Meanwhile, Tanaiste Simon Coveney will use a scheduled visit to Washington and New York next week to drum up support from the United States for Ireland's position on Brexit. While Mr Coveney is in America to discuss general Irish-American relations as well as developments in the Middle East peace process, Department of Foreign Affairs sources say there is palpable concern in the US Congress about unfolding developments with Brexit, including any possibility of a new hard border on the island of Ireland. Elsewhere, European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has reiterated Dublin's opposition to British prime minister Theresa May's wish to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement to look for alternatives to the backstop. She said proposed technological methods for keeping the border open were "not the answer", telling BBC 4's Today Programme. She said: "This is about protecting a peace process ... No amount of technology can address that." Ms McEntee added: "This was a deal that was negotiated with the UK, by the UK. They weren't bystanders in a separate room, there were discussions, negotiations, there were compromises on both sides." Nonetheless, Ms McEntee signalled that Ms May would be able to postpone the Brexit March 29 date. She said a British request to extend the two-year Article 50 negotiation process would "most likely" be approved by the EU27. Update: Gardai have seized "a substantial quantity of ammunition" and a mortar tube in an operation investigating dissident Republican groups in Co Louth. Officers started the search this morning near Omeath on the Cooley peninsula. Gardai said they "have recovered a substantial quantity of ammunition of varied calibre along with a mortar tube". The Army Bomb Disposal team are at the site and a cordon is in place, with the search expected to continue into tomorrow. No arrests have been made. Earlier: 'Significant' Garda operation believed to have unearthed weapons in Louth By Elaine Keogh Gardai are believed to have found what could be weapons, possibly belonging to dissident republicans, in what is being described as a "significant" operation. Gardai have requested the Army Bomb Disposal team to attend the scene of the search in the Cooley Peninsula area of Co. Louth. File photo. The operation is understood to be in the general area of Omeath Gardai say the operation is live and ongoing and involves the Special Detective Unit. Among other things, it is responsible for investigating threats to State security. No other details are available at the moment. Mourners who attended a remembrance Mass and reception for a priest who died in a freak accident have been left outraged when they found their parked cars clamped in an adjoining site. Fr John Cummins, 51, parish priest in Abbeyleix, Co Laois was killed in an accident involving his car at the parochial house last Wednesday. Hundreds of former parishioners of Fr Cummins, who was the administrator of Carlow Cathedral for several years, were paying their respects at Carlow Cathedral on Thursday night when the incident happened at the private site. Scores of people took to social media to vent their anger at what clampers had done. One lady who was at the Mass and reception, who did not wish to be named explained, (I had attended) a beautiful, heartbreaking Remembrance Mass for Fr John Cummins in Carlow Cathedral. The church was packed which was a sign of how highly he was thought of. The congregation were invited back to the parish centre for a cup of tea. People had parked in an old car park on Tullow St. "When we arrived back clampers had already clamped about eight cars. (I) would have been next only I got back just in time. It was a disgusting (sight), the parish are mourning the death of Fr Cummins and the clampers use this tragic event to make a profit. It is revolting and the lowest despicable behaviour. Independent councillor Walter Lacey told local radio KCLRfm said: We discussed this (issue) at a council meeting (on Thursday). The Council are contacting the owners of the site about the carry on. Theres no point in talking to clampers. They simply dont care. Its also a private site and the Council have no authority over it. The signage and lighting are inadequate at the site. Its hard to find the words to explain what happened. Fr Cummins was a really nice guy and the contribution he made to Carlow was immense. "Its hard to believe hes gone. Its a pity to be speaking about the (clamping) in this context. Its despicable. "The Council is writing to the owners of the property. They are not offering a safe and secure site. If they want to charge for parking there should be a barrier in and out instead of clampers. A visiting priest Fr Liam Morgan, said he purchased a ticket for 2 and was due to expire at 9.02pm. Unfortunately I was one of those people (who was clamped) I forgot about the car as I was at the reception chatting about Fr Cummins. When I returned to the car at 9.30pm, I just didnt expect to see clampers but they were there (at that time of night). I felt there was no option but to pay the 120 fine. The clamper had no choice but to do his job. "I could have argued all I liked but have gotten nowhere as I had to call a Dublin number to try to release the car. Fr Cummins is mourned by his mother Renee, brothers Con and Gary, extended family and Bishop Denis Nulty and the priests of Kildare and Leighlin. His funeral mass will take place on Monday at 11am in St Conleths Parish Church, Newbridge, Co Kildare with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The owners of the car parking site have been contacted for comment. A Cavan resident has been jailed for 18 years for a 92,000 post office robbery during which three women were tied up and abducted. Paschal Kelly (53) was one of a gang of three men who burst into the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin on September 25, 2014. The gang used to cable ties to bind Ms Lawlor, her daughter and an Italian student who was staying at the home. The women were brought to a field where they were held overnight before the gang drove them to the Bayside Post Office in Sutton, Dublin. At one stage Kelly threatened to burn them alive in a car by pouring petrol over it. The raiders eventually left with the cash. Last December Kelly with an address in Cootehill, Co. Cavan, was convicted of trespass and false imprisonment Ms Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and student Gabriella Saisa. He was also convicted of robbery at Bayside Post Office and of threatening to kill the three women. He was found guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle, all on the same date. The father-of-two had denied all charges. His trial last year extended into a ninth week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor paid a very special tribute to the three remarkable women who she said showed courage that not only got them through their ordeal but led to the capture of one suspect. She said it was clear Ms Lawlor was using her mind right to the end of the incident when she suggested the raiders put money into post office bags so it could be traced. She noted too how Ms Carter had tried to delay leaving the house because she thought her screaming might have alerted the gardai. These women have demonstrated extraordinary dignity throughout this case and for that I am very grateful to them, Judge O'Connor said. She said during the sentence hearing last week, Kelly's defence team had suggested this case did not meet the criteria for a tiger kidnapping. Detective Superintendent Tony Howard pictured speaking to media outside Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where Paschal Kelly was convicted. Picture: Collins Court Judge O'Connor said she disagreed and described how Ms Lawlor's home was violated and targeted and that she was clearly the subject of surveillance. The judge said the offending was premeditated, because the raiders used duct tape, cable ties and guns and they had their faces disguised. She said Ms Lawlor was separated, punched and threatened before being brought to the post office and that the money was only recovered because her fast thinking actions had alerted the authorities. Judge O'Connor told the court it made for disturbing viewing to have watched the CCTV footage of the three women being brought into the post office in their night wear. Judge O'Connor said the aggravating factors in the case was its premeditated and planned nature, the violation of Ms Lawlor's home and the use of firearms. She said the threats to kill instilled considerable fear and terror. The judge told the court she was respecting the three women's wishes by not disclosing details of their victim impact statements in public. She acknowledged the crime clearly impacted them and said one cannot imagine the terror the three women endured that night. She accepted Kelly had a difficult and chaotic upbringing and had suffered deprivation from a young age. She said he had suffered extremely serious abuse in state institutions, but has a supportive partner and two impressive children, who have never come to garda attention. The court heard Kelly's 60 previous convictions include assaults, escaping lawful custody, robbery and road traffic offences. In March 2015 he was sentenced for threatening to kill a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) officer and failure to provide tax returns. He received ten years for a post office robbery in 1997 and four years for another robbery offence in 1989. Judge O'Connor imposed an 18 year sentence with credit to be given for time Kelly has already spent in custody on the matter. A 50-year-old man allegedly put his ex-partner in fear by placing a lump hammer outside her bedroom door and writing a note reading 'Get out of my home'. Under new legislation - the Domestic Violence Act 2018 brought into effect on January 1 of this year, the case against the accused was heard at an in-camera hearing of Cork District Court. No details of the case which might identify the parties can be published. The charge sheet against the defendant states that at an address in County Cork he allegedly contravened a safety order made at Cork District Court. The particulars state that he put the applicant in fear by banging on her bedroom door; placing a lump hammer outside her bedroom door and two notes under her bedroom door stating, 'Get out of my home'. Some of the allegations were brought to the attention of Judge Olann Kelleher in court today. It was alleged that the defendants ex-partner heard banging outside her bedroom door at 10.30 in the morning and that two notes were passed under the door directing her to leave the house. Eddie Burke solicitor said that the bail documentation supplied by gardai to the defence indicates that the complainant did not want to attend court in relation to any objection to bail. Mr Burke said the accused man has supplied an address to gardai where he would live in Kerry pending hearing of this case. I have impressed on him the seriousness of the matter, Mr Burke said. Bail conditions were imposed that required him to live at the Kerry address, abstain from intoxicants, stay away from the complainant and have no contact with her directly or indirectly. Judge Olann Kelleher explained to the accused that this included have no contact with his ex-partner by social media. The case was adjourned until February 19. A woman has settled a High Court action over a gall bladder operation as a result of which she had to undergo reconstructive surgery in which she said half her liver was removed. Ellen Reidy (aged 39), a chartered accountant of Garanbaum, Murroe, Co Limerick, also received an apology from the surgeon who carried out the gall bladder operation. She is to receive monies paid into court before the case began by order of Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon. Details of the settlement were not disclosed. Ms Reidy, a married mother of two, sued Barringtons Hospital Ltd, Bon Secours Health System Ltd and Ralph Keane under whose care she was at the old Barringtons Hospital in Limerick, now owned by the private Bon Secours group. Liability was admitted by Mr Keane but denied by the other two defendants. The case was before the court for assessment of damages only. Following talks during a break in the case, Ms Justice O'Hanlon was told by Michael Counihan SC, instructed by solicitor Cian O'Carroll for Ms Reidy, the case had been settled and counsel for the defendants would read "some words of comfort". Simon Mills SC, on behalf of Mr Keane, said the doctor took the opportunity to apologise for failings in Ms Reidy's care and for the distress she suffered. The judge congratulated the parties on coming to an agreement and made orders for the immediate payout of the lodged monies to Ms Reidy. Ms Reidy underwent the gall bladder removal procedure on December 6, 2016, at Barringtons. She told the court she became ill afterwards and developed obstructive jaundice. She attended Limerick University Hospital from which she was transferred by ambulance to the Mater in Dublin. In Dublin, following tests, she was told she had suffered a bile duct injury, was very sick, and would need major surgery which took place on December 20. She was very upset when she was told she would not be going home for Christmas to her two small children. She was discharged on December 30. She said the surgery to release the obstruction and fix the damaged bile duct took three hours and half her liver was removed. She claimed the defendants were negligent, among other things, in exercising a lack of care or skill and failing to follow a recognised or approved procedure. It was also claimed there was a failure to, if necessary, abandon the procedure, seek assistance from a more experienced medic or to open the gallbladder and remove stones. The claims were denied. A judge has questioned whether a property developer, who owes more than 1m in unpaid taxes and penalties, accepts responsibility for his offences, a court has heard. James Jordan (aged 51) of Laochfail, Outfarm Lane, Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain said she had concerns with a report regarding his fitness for community service in which Jordan presented his fraudulent claims as an oversight on his part and said that certain of his employees had been responsible. Judge Ni Chulachain said this made her concerned that either she had attributed a moral complicity to Jordan that was undeserved or that there were issues with his acceptance of responsibility. Seamus Clarke SC, defending, handed in a signed agreement between his client and Revenue that Jordan will pay around 5,000 a month. Jordan has already made payments totalling 57,500. The court heard that Jordan came to the attention of a special Revenue unit looking for high-wealth individuals due to his having a large property portfolio in the 2000s. Former Revenue Officer Elizabeth Keane testified that Jordan was required to pay capital gains tax on the sale of five properties which he sold for a total value of 1,960,500 between 2004 and 2010 and that he failed to do so. She said the tax returns he submitted during that period were incorrect due to the failure to pay capital gains tax. He also submitted four incorrect invoices which lowered his VAT liability. Judge Ni Chulachain noted that Jordan had failed to pay tax on rental income and had waived a tax exemption on this income which he was entitled to in order to offset it elsewhere. She said he made a number of false claims for Income Tax relief for properties he owned. This relief was ineligible because the properties were not registered to the PRTB. The total figure owed by Jordan when interest and penalties were factored in was 1,236,881. This figure includes a VAT liability of 162,945 and a liability for 297,974 in capital gains tax. The balance of 775,962 owed by Jordan was made up of interest and penalties. Jordan has one previous conviction from 2017 for failure to file an income tax return. Mr Clarke said Jordan ran a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he was given a custodial sentence. Judge Ni Chulachain ordered an updated probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 18 of this year. A High Court judge has imposed a long stay on her order for sale of a couple's family home in Co. Kerry on condition the husband makes 700 monthly payments to another man until a 30,000 judgment over a defective home extension is paid off. Ms Justice Marie Baker was satisfied Peter Crean could afford 700 monthly payments from March next to Michael Flynn, plus a further payment of 5,000 by December 2019. If those were kept up, the judgment, less costs, would be discharged in about four years but, if there was default on payments, Mr Flynn could return to court, she said. Mr Crean, a carpenter, had described himself as an "unemployed builder" on welfare payments who hoped to return to work soon, the judge noted. She believed he would do so and was also probably doing some work now for cash. Accounts showed he spent some 400 monthly on betting with Paddy Power over six months last year and she considered that was a "wholly personal choice" and not a gambling addiction. Michael Flynn got the 30,000 judgment in early 2016 against Mr Crean, of Keel, Ballylahive, Castlegregory, Co Kerry, after alleging Mr Crean "walked off the job" in October 2014. Mr Flynn lives at Listowel Road, Ballybunion, with his wife, two children and elderly and unwell mother-in-law and hired Mr Crean to extend it to create a family room and downstairs bathroom. Mr Flynn said the property was left with defects and in a poor dilapidated condition with exposure to the elements. His engineer's report suggested the extension has inadequate foundations and showed visible evidence of damp penetration, that a new floor slab was required and the space for location of the new downstairs bathroom was too narrow for a toilet. The case came before the High Court via Mr Flynn's bid to enforce the judgment mortgage against Mr Crean. Mr Crean's wife Michelle was joined as a co-defendant because of her interest in the home. She argued it would be unjust to sell her home to discharge a judgment that had nothing to do with her or the children. Ms Justice Baker in April 2018 declared the judgment mortgage was well charged against the presumed 50% interest of Mr Crean in the family home but sought more information concerning the financial affairs of the Creans. She later heard further evidence before issuing her judgment today. She took into account several factors, including the "critical" factor the property at issue is a family home where the Creans live with their two young children and its sale would leave them homeless. Because the property is mortgaged to KBC at 330,000 outstanding, and valued by the Creans at 270,000, a sale would not result in Mr Flynn getting any of the proceeds of sale and was likely to leave the Creans with an unsecured debt of between 50-75,000, making payment of the 30,000 judgment even "more remote". The fact a sale may not realise enough funds to pay off a debt was not a factor, taken alone, that might defeat the interest of a judgment mortgagee, she stressed. In this case, the "prudent and just" approach was to make an order for sale, with a long stay and with conditions including Mr Crean make 700 monthly payments to Mr Flynn beginning next month. She believed he could afford that. She also noted Mrs Crean works full time outside the home and the couple do not appear to have any appreciable overdraft. Mr Crean had said in evidence he intended to satisfy the judgment but could not in his present circumstances and had paid none of the judgment to date, she noted. His offer to pay 200 monthly was rejected by Mr Flynn. She found Mr Crean "evasive" and sometimes "untruthful" in his evidence and noted he had not expressed any regret the refurbishment works to the Flynn home were "wholly unsuitable to their needs". Industrial action by nurses is set to intensify in the weeks ahead as the stalemate continues. The executive council of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation meets tomorrow to discuss further dates beyond those already announced. There will be further 24-hour strikes on Tuesday and Thursday next week and on the following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The HSE said it regrets the industrial action and has apologised to patients and their family members who may be affected. In a statement, they said: "The HSE remains available to engage in any efforts to avert this action. "We are continuing to engage with the INMO to put in place arrangements for the safe provision of services, in particular, in the area of urgent care and cancer services. Where procedures go ahead, hospitals will make direct contact with patients to inform them. "At this stage, the HSE expects that all outpatient, inpatient and day surgery appointments will be cancelled. We expect Injury Units to be closed. We expect routine community nursing services and health centre nurse clinics to be cancelled. Public day centres and day hospitals for older people or people with disabilities will close. "All planned admissions, including respite and rehabilitation, to public community nursing units and specified centres for people with intellectual disability will be cancelled. "The HSE would advise that people only attend emergency services if absolutely essential." They will provide updated information on patient services on their website hse.ie and social media over the coming days. INMO general secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha. INMO general secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said the executive council wants to plan ahead because the Government has not made any serious proposals. Hospital and community care services across the country were severely disrupted by the first 24-hour strike by nurses on Wednesday. Ms Ni Sheathdha, who was speaking on RTE radio, said the INMO is meeting with the HSE every day but wants to start planning for the weeks beyond so the health authority can make preparations. Last Wednesday 25,000 medical appointments for surgeries, outpatients and community care were cancelled because of the 24-hour strike by nurses. HSE national contingency co-ordinator, Bernard Gloster, said it is difficult to estimate how many more patients will be affected by the strikes because of their compound interest effect on services. He said the HSE is doing everything to mitigate the impact on the public but the level of disruption already experienced is likely to continue into next week and be felt for some time to come unless the substantive matters are resolved. The INMO is seeking to secure pay parity with other graduate entry healthcare staff, such as radiographers and physiotherapists. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the purpose of the negotiations should be to address the pay inequality and it can be done within the public service agreement. Meanwhile, some 6,000 members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association continued their two-day overtime ban today. The PNA tweeted today that their action again shows the extent of understaffing across the mental health services with problems in Galway, St Ita's Hospital, Portrane, Co Dublin and elsewhere. Our second day of @PNA action (overtime ban) again showed the extent of under staffing across the mental health services with problems in Galway, St Itas and elsewhere , closure of community services, and huge redeployment of management to fill gaps. Thanks for all your support. PNA (@PNA_IRL) February 1, 2019 Community services were closed and there was huge redeployment of management to fill gaps. Members will not be available to work overtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week and will strike on the following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if the dispute over recruitment and retention of nurses is not settled by then. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 admitted patients were waiting for a hospital bed in hospitals last month, according to figures compiled by the INMO. Among the 10,350 patients were 190 children. However, the monthly figure is not as bad as the record high of 12,201 waiting on trolleys in emergency departments or on additional beds placed throughout hospitals in January last year. The worst affected hospitals last month were University Hospital Limerick which had 970 patients waiting; Cork University Hospital which had 947 and South Tipperary General Hospital which had 629. Ms Ni Sheaghdh blames understaffing for the continuing problem of hospital overcrowding. Farmers will get compensation to help them adjust to price shocks if there is a no-deal Brexit. That is according to the Agriculture Minister who says agri-food and fisheries are the two most exposed sectors. Earlier this week, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said there could well be job losses in those sectors. Agriculture Minister Michael Creed says they will try to lift the burden for farmers if the UK goes off the cliff edge. "What our ambition would be is to compensate farmers for whatever price drop happens so that the industry can continue to supply that product into the market and that obviously will depend on the market reality in the UK," said Minister Creed. The UK could apply tariffs. It could apply tariffs across the board. It could apply them on specific products, it could decide to apply no tariffs. The Minister said that the beef sector, in particular, was very open to shocks. "In this department, I'm worried about the entire range of products from the agri-food sector whether it's beef, pork, dairy, sheep meat, the drinks industry, the tillage sector. "They all have a degree of exposure. The unfortunate reality is that there is no upside, it's all downside in agri-food." By Ann O'Loughlin There was "a missed opportunity" to treat Ruth Morrissey when "on balance" pre cancer was present in 2012 a leading expert has told the High Court. Cervical cancer on the balance of probabilities was there in 2012 when a smear slide tested by MedLab laboratory was reported as negative, Dr Michael McKenna said on the fourth day of Ruth Morrisey's action against the HSE and two US laboratories over the alleged misreading of her cervical smear slides. Ms Morissey who is seriously ill with cervical cancer was diagnosed with the disease in 2014 which reoccurred last year. Ruth and Paul Morrissey pictured at the Four Courts. Picture: Collins In court today Dr McKenna, who is consultant cytopathologist in charge of one of the North's four laboratories responsible for screening cervical smear tests, said if Ms Morrissey had been brought back three months after a MedLab test in 2012, he believes a test would have given an abnormal result, whether high or low grade. The recommended recall of three years on the MedLab test, he said was inappropriate and there was a missed opportunity to refer Ms Morrissey for treatment. The recording of the sample by MedLab fell below the acceptable standard of care," he added. Dr McKenna said he knew the 2012 slide was going to be inadequate before he tested it. He said 5,000 cells are required on a smear slide "for you to be certain" and he considered the 2012 MedLab slide to be inadequate and scanty. He added that it took him less than a minute to decide the smear test was abnormal. Ruth Morrissey and her husband Paul Morrissey of Kylemore, Schoolhouse Road, Monaleen, Co Limerick have sued the HSE and the US laboratory Quest Diagnostics Ireland Ltd with offices at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin along with Medlab Pathology Ltd with offices at Sandyford Business Park, Dublin 18. It is claimed there was an alleged failure to correctly report and diagnose and there was an alleged misinterpretation of her smear samples taken in 2009 and 2012.A situation it is claimed allegedly developed where Ms Morrisseys cancer spread unidentified, unmonitored and untreated until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2014. It is further claimed a review of the 2009 and 2012 smears took place in 2014 and 2015 with the results sent to Ms Morrissey's treating gynaecologist in 2016, but she was not told until May 2018 of those review results which showed her smears were reported incorrectly. The Morrisseys further contend that if Ms Morrissey had been told the results of the smear test audits in late 2014 or early 2015, she would have insisted on an MRI and other scans. The HSE the court has already heard admitted it owed a duty of care to Ms Morrissey but not to her husband. The laboratories deny all claims. Dr McKenna said cervical screening is not to test for cancer but to detect changes before you get cancer. He said when examined the 2012 MedLab under the microscope he observed a group of cells which were stained darker and were hyperchromatic which he said is one of the features that could lend itself to not being benign. One group of cells on the slide would have been interpreted as abnormal. Dr McKenna agreed with counsel for Ms Morrissey Patrick Treacy SC the Republic of Ireland is the first country which has outsourced its cervical screening to two private multi national companies. The case before Mr Justice Kevin Cross continues next Tuesday. Chinese authorities are accused of protecting fishermen and harassing local activists. Many monasteries dot the area near the lake and Tibetans traditionally do not eat fish. The central government has declared the area a tourist zone and the fish a protected species. However, the influx of ethnic Han settlers has led to increasing violations. Xining (AsiaNews) Chinese authorities have detained and questioned Tibetan activists trying to stop illegal fishing in Qinghai Lake, saying the Tibetans are taking the law in their own hands, local sources say. The lake is located in Qinghai province, in the north-eastern-most part of the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese fishermen caught fishing in the lake are frequently released, after complaining that Tibetans have seized their nets and other fishing gear, one local resident told Radio Free Asias Tibetan Service. When the Tibetan activists take away the fishing nets and hand them over to the police, this results in disputes with the fishermen, the source said. Chinas central government has declared the area of Qinghai Lake, also called Kokonur (In Oirat, a Mongolic language), a tourist area and the lakes fish a protected species, and has promised that anyone caught fishing in the lake would be punished in accordance with the law. But since the fishermen have good relations with the local police, they are quickly set free, while the Tibetans are held for questioning. Some of the local activists have been held for several days on charges of bad behaviour, though most are released after being questioned for a few hours. One activist was recently held for four days, and was asked if he and his group had sent pictures or video clips to contacts outside the country, and whether they were being organised and directed by outside forces. Teams of volunteers from many communities around the lake have been working around the clock to stop fishing in the lake. Tibetans are against it because they consider the Qinghai Lake a sacred place. Many monasteries can be found in the lake area and Tibetans traditionally do not eat fish. Incidents of illegal fishing have increased in recent years around Qinghai Lake, with local Tibetans stepping up monitoring activities in response. Directives from Chinas central government urging protection of Tibets vulnerable environment are often flouted at the local level by Han Chinese settlers to the area, experts say. Danske Bank has again apologised over its failure to monitor around 200bn in suspicious transactions that went through its Estonia branch over many years, as the lender posted a sharply lower net profit of 15bn Danish krone (2bn) for 2018, in what it described as a challenging year. The Danish lender which is a significant mortgage and business lender in the North and is running down a once substantial mortgage operation in the Republic has been enveloped by the money laundering scandal after admitting to regulators and government investigators over its failings to monitor and report that billions of euro transactions passed through its Estonian bank into Europe from Russia and other former Soviet republics. Criminal investigations continue in a number of countries into what Danske and other international banks knew about the suspicious transactions. It is clear that we have failed to live up to our responsibility in this matter, not only in not being able to efficiently prevent suspicious activities and transactions from taking place in Estonia, but also in our inability to understand and address the issues efficiently as they came to light, Danske said. Capital reserves remained strong, it said. We are determined to get to the bottom of the matter and to learn from it so that we can take all necessary steps to prevent something similar from happening again, it said. In the North, it said its pre-tax tax profit fell 41% to 744m krone last year because write-backs and other one-off gains had boosted profit levels in 2017. It had a total income of 1.97bn kroner, up 1% from 2017, from its northern operation. In 2004, just years before the crash, Danske bought Northern Bank and National Irish Bank. Much of its former substantial mortgage activities in the Republic are now housed in a non-core operation, which now also includes non-core lending in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. The winding up of the non-core portfolios is proceeding according to plan, it said. In the North, it said it had taken a charge in the event of the UK crashing out of the EU and the probability of a hard Brexit has been factored into the forward-looking macroeconomic scenarios. However, it said: While uncertainty remains around Brexit, customer activity levels remained healthy. Our business continued to perform well, supported by ongoing improvements to our mortgage finance proposition, including new products and revised processes, as well as further strengthening of business relations, the bank said. OTTAWA - A federal trade tribunal has dismissed a challenge to the federal government's handling of a high-stakes competition to design the navy's new $60-billion fleet of warships. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Irving Shipbuilding facility is seen in Halifax on June 14, 2018. A federal trade tribunal is tossing out a challenge to the federal government's handling of a high-stakes competition to design the navy's new $60-billion fleet of warships. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan OTTAWA - A federal trade tribunal has dismissed a challenge to the federal government's handling of a high-stakes competition to design the navy's new $60-billion fleet of warships. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal's ruling removes one potential obstacle as Ottawa prepares to award the lucrative warship-design contract to U.S.-based defence giant Lockheed Martin. The government and Irving Shipbuilding, which will build the warships, selected Lockheed's proposal as the preferred design in October over submissions from Alion Science and Technology of Virginia and Spanish firm Navantia. Alion subsequently filed complaints with the trade tribunal as well as the Federal Court, saying Lockheed's design did not meet the navy's requirements and should have been disqualified. But in a ruling issued on Thursday, the trade tribunal said neither Alion nor its Canadian subsidiary "have standing to file a complaint" and that it was throwing the case out. While the tribunal has 15 days to provide its reasons for the decision, the government and Irving had argued the challenge should be rejected because Alion is not a Canadian company, which is a requirement for asking the tribunal to consider a complaint. Alion's challenge was formally filed by its Canadian subsidiary, but the government and Irving said the subsidiary was never qualified to be a bidder in the competition only its American parent was. Following Thursday's ruling, the federal procurement department issued a statement stating that officials had "full confidence in our process, and continue to work toward awarding a contract for the design and design team for the future" warship fleet." The warship project is the largest military purchase in Canadian history. It will see 15 new warships built to replace the navy's 12 aging frigates and three already-retired destroyers. The new ships will serve as the navy's backbone for most of this century. The Defence Department's top procurement official, Patrick Finn, told The Canadian Press in a recent interview that negotiations with Lockheed had continued despite Alion's challenges, and that he hoped a final contract would be signed before spring. Alion did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Its complaint remains pending in Federal Court. The trade tribunal's ruling represents a full 180-degree turn from November, when it ordered the government not to award a contract to Lockheed until it had a chance to investigate Alion's complaint. Alion had alleged that Lockheed's proposed design did not meet the navy's requirements when it came to speed and accommodations for crew members, and should have been rejected during the competition. But the trade tribunal rescinded its order after government officials warned, without explanation, that the deal was "urgent" and any delay would be against the public interest. Asked about that urgency, Finn noted the navy has been without destroyers for several years and that the government is contending with a production gap between when Irving will finish work on six new Arctic vessels and begin work on the warships. "My experience is these things could go on for a very long time," he added of the legal proceedings. "It's not done in days or weeks. In some cases I've seen them go on for years. So as we look at it, it's not ... 'Wait two weeks then it will all be done and we'll determine the way forward.' We need to press on." Follow @leeberthiaume on Twitter. OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has restored the second-degree murder conviction of a Halifax-area man who admitted to repeatedly burning his girlfriend's body but insisted he didn't kill her. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ice coats tree branches outside of the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa on December 10, 2012. The Supreme Court of Canada will deliver a judgement today in the case of a Halifax-area man who admitted to burning his girlfriend's body but insisted he didn't kill her. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has restored the second-degree murder conviction of a Halifax-area man who admitted to repeatedly burning his girlfriend's body but insisted he didn't kill her. A jury convicted Paul Trevor Calnen of the second-degree murder of Reita Louise Jordan, 35, in March 2013. The man from Hammonds Plains, N.S., pleaded guilty to burning her body and scattering her ashes in a lake, but maintained he did not cause her death, claiming she accidentally fell down the stairs. The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal overturned the murder conviction in 2017, in part because the lower court judge did not properly instruct the jury. The appeal court said the trial judge erred in denying Calnen's request to remove second-degree murder as an option for the jury, and replace it with manslaughter. But one appeal court judge dissented, giving the Crown the right to appeal the decision, which it did. In a divided decision released Friday, the Supreme Court concluded that evidence of Calnen's conduct after Jordan's death was admissible in determining whether he caused her death and whether he intended to kill her two essential elements of second-degree murder. The court also concluded the trial judge's instructions to the jury were adequate, and the fact he did not instruct them about general propensity reasoning concluding someone has committed an offence based on evidence of the accused's bad character did not amount to a "reversible error." "The risk that the jury would engage in general propensity reasoning based on the evidence of the accused's after-the-fact conduct was considerably offset by the trial judge's introductory and final jury instructions, which were neutral, fair and balanced," the 137-page judgment said. "The trial judge's opening instructions and his answer to a question from the jury insulated the jury from reasoning that the accused's guilty plea to indecent interference with the victim's remains meant it was more likely that he committed second-degree murder." The decision went on to say: "It is clear that he properly equipped the jury to make reasonable inferences from the circumstantial evidence without resorting to specious reasoning or speculation." Of the panel of five Supreme Court of Canada judges, one dissented from the decision and another dissented in part. The decision said Jordan was living with Calnen at the time of her death. The sexual relationship, which appeared to have been fuelled by their joint use of crack cocaine, was coming to an end. Text messages revealed Jordan was planning to move out of Calnen's home, and that there was a heated exchange between the two. Calnen claimed that Jordan took a swing at him in anger, missed, and fell down the stairs. He said he tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but decided she was dead. Rather than call for help, Calnen used crack cocaine and decided to remove Jordan's body. Over the following weeks, Calnen went to great lengths to destroy her body, first hiding it on a logging road in Ingramport, N.S., and then transporting it to another logging road in Pleasant Valley, N.S., a few days later. On a third logging road, he gathered branches and trees and built a large fire to burn her body. But he received a call from the police, so he put out the fire and put the remaining portion of Jordan's body the torso into a canvas bag. A few days later, Calnen finished burning her remains in the fire pit behind his home. He then put her ashes in a bucket, drove to a lake near her family cottage, and placed her ashes near a diving rock. The following night he took body parts not consumed in the fire and used a boat to put them in the same lake. "He told the police that he put her remains in the lake because that is what he and Ms. Jordan had discussed previously about what they each wanted done with their respective remains," the judgment said. Prosecutor Jennifer MacLellan said she was pleased that the Crown's appeal was successful, and believes the decision will impact other cases where the accused's conduct after an offence plays a role. "We feel this is an important issue for this and other cases and for the state of the law in Canada. There seemed to have been some reticence from some courts about using this evidence," said MacLellan at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service office. "It's an issue that's come up in a number of cases and a number of matters that we even have ongoing, so having the use of post-offence conduct and what we can do with it ... is going to be very important for other cases." Calnen's lawyer, Peter Planetta, described Calnen's case as a "roller-coaster." "We obviously really believed in our argument. Mr. Calnen maintains his innocence, and we went to the top court in the country and they made their decision and we respect that, but we're obviously very disappointed," said Planetta at Halifax provincial court, where he was appearing on another matter. "What Mr. Calnen acknowledged doing after the fact was reprehensible, and it would have an impact on the jury it makes him look bad and may misled them into thinking that, well, he's guilty because he looks bad in this other regard." Calnen was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years. He received a concurrent sentence of five years for indecently interfering with human remains. Planetta said Friday's decision restores the trial judge's sentence. By Aly Thomson in Halifax. GATINEAU, Que. - Premier Francois Legault said Thursday there is no Islamophobia in Quebec, closing the door on the idea of designating a national day to combat the problem. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Quebec Premier Francois Legault speaks with the media during a news conference in Gatineau, Que., Wednesday, January 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld GATINEAU, Que. - Premier Francois Legault said Thursday there is no Islamophobia in Quebec, closing the door on the idea of designating a national day to combat the problem. On Tuesday, the second anniversary of a mosque shooting that killed six Muslim men in Quebec City, his deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault appeared open to the idea of a national day to combat Islamophobia, which had been proposed by Muslim groups. "Genevieve was careful in saying that we were going to look at that," Legault told reporters at the end of a caucus meeting in Gatineau, Que. "We looked at it, and there won't be any, that's clear." As for why, he said simply: "Listen, I don't think there is Islamophobia in Quebec." After the news conference a press aide told media the premier meant to say "there is no current of Islamophobia in Quebec." The topic remains sensitive in Quebec, which continues to grapple with a debate over accommodating minority religions. Legault has promised legislation early in the next legislative session to prohibit public servants in positions of authority police officers, judges, prosecutors, prison guards and teachers from wearing religious symbols such as the hijab, turban and kippa. In Ottawa, the Commons heritage committee recommended last year that Jan. 29 be declared a "national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination." Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week that the city was proclaiming Jan. 29 a day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia. WINNIPEG - A jury found a passenger guilty of second-degree murder Thursday for stabbing a Winnipeg transit operator who had removed him from a bus at the end of a late-night shift. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/1/2019 (871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Bus driver Irvine Fraser (right) and passenger Brian Thomas are shown in Winnipeg in this 2017 still image from security video submitted into court as evidence. Crown prosecutors have argued security camera footage shown in a Winnipeg courtroom depicts the moments bus driver Fraser confronted a passenger on Feb. 14, 2017 before he was killed. Thomas is on trial for second-degree murder in the death. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba WINNIPEG - A jury found a passenger guilty of second-degree murder Thursday for stabbing a Winnipeg transit operator who had removed him from a bus at the end of a late-night shift. Irvine Jubal Fraser, 58, was stabbed multiple times during a fight with Brian Kyle Thomas in February 2017. Thomas, wearing a white dress shirt and a white rosary around his neck, stared ahead as the verdict was read out. Second-degree murder carries an automatic sentence of life imprisonment with parole eligibility between 10 years and 25 years, which will be decided at a future hearing. Fraser's death prompted calls for increased safety measures on Winnipeg buses, including safety shields for drivers. Many people in Winnipeg Transit jackets filled the courtroom throughout the trial. Aleem Chaudhary, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, said the trial was very difficult for Fraser's family and he hopes this brings them closure. He added it has also affected "the entire transit family." "Every worker has a right to a safe and respectful workplace," Chaudhary said in an email after the verdict. "No one deserves to be assaulted or killed on the job." Part of what happened on the unseasonably warm winter night were captured on security cameras in Fraser's bus and shown during the trial. They show 24-year-old Thomas asking where he is and if he can use a phone. Fraser told him to leave the bus more than two dozen times before video shows the driver grabbing Thomas by the neck of his sweater and bending him over backwards before shoving him off the bus. The defence did not present evidence during the trial. During closing statements lawyer Evan Roitenberg argued that the bus driver provoked the violent confrontation and may have been the one who pulled the weapon. Security video showed the passenger throwing punches at Fraser from outside the door after he is pushed off the bus. Crown attorney Keith Eyrikson argued that Thomas was looking for a fight and being kicked off a bus should not engender "murderous rage." During closing arguments Eyrikson told court that within a span of seconds after getting off the bus the driver was stabbed multiple times. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A group that supplies food banks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador may have a new home after a fire damaged its warehouse, but sparked an outpouring of support from across the province. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A group that supplies food banks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador may have a new home after a fire damaged its warehouse, but sparked an outpouring of support from across the province. Donations were steadily flowing in for the Community Food Sharing Association, which learned Thursday it may have the warehouse space needed to resume operations. Executive director Eg Walters says a space offered by the provincial government in St. John's could mean food distribution could start up again within the next few days. Premier Dwight Ball also announced $50,000 in immediate aid for the association, adding that a food drive was being organized by public sector workers. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan, who is the MP for St. John's, tweeted a photo of bags of donated groceries piling up in his office, saying: "This is our community." The association said hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of food was contaminated and will have to be destroyed after the fire caused extensive smoke, heat and water damage at its supply centre Wednesday. The association distributes food donations to 54 food banks from St. John's to Labrador. (VOCM) MONTREAL - Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Pierre Duhaime will serve 20 months of house arrest after pleading guilty Friday to a single charge in connection with a bribery scandal around the construction of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Pierre Duhaime will serve 20 months of house arrest after pleading guilty Friday to a single charge in connection with a bribery scandal around the construction of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital. Duhaime was the last defendant in a major corruption and fraud case involving the McGill University Health Centre project. His trial on 16 charges including fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, using forged documents and breach of trust had been scheduled to start Monday. Former SNC Lavalin president and CEO Pierre Duhaime arrives at the courthouse for a preliminary hearing for several people accused in connection with an alleged bribery scandal related to a $1.3 billion hospital project in Montreal Monday, March 16, 2015 in Montreal. Duhaime has pleaded guilty to a charge of helping a public servant commit breach of trust for his role in a bribe scandal around the construction of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson He pleaded guilty to helping a public servant commit breach of trust, and Quebec court judge Dominique Joly accepted a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence that Duhaime receive a 20-month sentence. Duhaime, 64, was also sentenced to one year of probation and 240 hours of community service. He has been ordered to donate $200,000 to a centre that aids victims of crime. His lawyer provided a receipt to the court showing the donation has already been made. An agreed statement of facts presented to the court said Duhaime was wilfully blind to one of his employee's efforts to extract inside information as SNC-Lavalin competed for the lucrative hospital construction project. The statement said Duhaime did not receive any money from the crime. It added that he was not connected to and had no knowledge of the $22.5-million in bribes paid to then-CEO of the MUHC, Arthur Porter, and his right-hand man Yanai Elbaz. But Duhaime did speak to Elbaz by phone once, contrary to the contract tendering rules, the statement said. And he "implicitly acquiesced" in an employee's successful efforts to obtain privileged information from Elbaz. "He chose to look the other way," Crown prosecutor Robert Rouleau said outside the courtroom. "He let it go, and that produces his criminal participation in the breach of trust that was being committed." Elbaz, a former MUHC senior manager, pleaded guilty in December to accepting a bribe and was sentenced to 39 months in prison. Former SNC-Lavalin executive Riadh Ben Aissa pleaded guilty to a charge of using forged documents last July and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Pierre Duhaime leaves a courtroom in Montreal on Friday, February 1, 2019. Duhaime has pleaded guilty to a charge of helping a public servant commit breach of trust for his role in a bribe scandal around the construction of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Duhaime left SNC-Lavalin in March 2012 after an independent review found he had approved $56-million in payments to undisclosed agents. His lawyer, Michel Massicotte, said the Crown case against his client fell apart because a key witness was found not to be credible. "We made our arguments to the Crown and they had the wisdom ... to listen to our arguments and not wait for the trial," he said outside the courtroom. In the agreed statement of facts presented in court in Elbaz's case, the former MUHC official admitted to giving privileged information to SNC-Lavalin to help its submission for the contract to build a massive hospital complex in west-end Montreal. Elbaz also admitted to denigrating SNC's competitors in front of the hospital's selection committee. Elbaz and Porter, who died a fugitive in Panamanian custody in 2015, received a total of $22.5 million to rig the bidding process to favour SNC-Lavalin. Porter created a shell company that received the bribe money. Elbaz then created his own shell company and received his share of the cash, the document said. Elbaz admitted that all the money in the shell companies was proceeds of crime. Police raided the MUHC's offices in September 2012. The following February, Quebec's anti-corruption unit issued warrants for the arrests of Duhaime, Ben Aissa, Elbaz and Porter. Porter's wife, Pamela, was arrested later and in 2014 pleaded guilty to laundering the proceeds of crime. Duhaime's house arrest comes with strict conditions. He cannot leave his home during the first six months except in an emergency. For the next seven months, he will have a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., except for Christmas and New Year's Eve. For the final seven months he is not required to be at his home, but there are other restrictions on his movement. Massicotte said the sentence is a serious one. "If someone thinks that the gentleman leaves light-hearted, his feet up by the fireplace laughing at the system, they are sorely mistaken," he said. Duhaime declined comment as he left the court. MONTREAL - Premier Francois Legault's statement that Islamophobia does not exist in Quebec was denounced by Muslim groups as "offensive and inexcusable," prompting Legault to clarify his statements on Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Quebec Premier Francois Legault listens to a questions from reporters before attending a cabinet meeting in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang MONTREAL - Premier Francois Legault's statement that Islamophobia does not exist in Quebec was denounced by Muslim groups as "offensive and inexcusable," prompting Legault to clarify his statements on Friday. The National Council of Canadian Muslims called on Legault to retract the remarks made Thursday, two days after the second anniversary of a mosque shooting that killed six Muslim men in Quebec City. Ihsaan Gardee, the group's executive director, said in a statement late Thursday that Legault's comments "are an absolute insult to the families of the victims and to Muslim communities in Quebec and across Canada who continue to grieve this tragedy." Speaking to reporters at the end of a caucus meeting, Legault said there is no Islamophobia in Quebec and closed the door on the idea of designating a national day to combat the problem. But on Friday his office sought to clarify those comments, saying the premier meant to say that Islamophobia exists but it's not widespread. "Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism and hate exist, but not an Islamophobic current," an aide to Legault said. "Quebec is not Islamophobic or racist." In a second statement, the premier's office added: "Unfortunately, too many racist acts still occur today in our society, and we must do everything we can to fight hate and intolerance." When reached by phone Friday afternoon, Gardee said his group welcomed the premier's acknowledgment that Islamophobia exists in Quebec and hopes to work with the government to tackle the problem. "In our view, taking the ostrich approach and putting your head in the sand is not going to solve a problem or make it go away," he said. In Ottawa, the Commons heritage committee recommended last year that Jan. 29 be declared a "national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination." Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week that the city was proclaiming Jan. 29 a day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia. Legault's original statement drew a swift reaction from opposition parties and Muslim groups, including the mosque that was targeted in the 2017 shooting. In a scathing letter addressed to the premier, mosque president Boufeldja Benabdallah said he felt betrayed by the comments and expressed fear that they would encourage the fringe group of people who commit Islamophobic acts. "I appeal to your generosity and your intelligence to remain the premier for all Quebecers, and not just those who elected you, to ensure this wound doesn't become an insurmountable fracture that your government will be responsible for and will be part of the history of our country," he wrote to Legault. Speaking in Ottawa, Quebec NDP MP Anne Minh-Thu Quach said Legault's initial comments "lacked sensitivity." "It's not very constructive to deny that there are acts of violence that stem from hate of Islam when we have families, women, mothers, children, who live this violence and are living witnesses to this violence," she said. The controversy came as Quebec provincial police reported the arrest of a man who allegedly appeared in a video published Tuesday praising Quebec City's mosque shooter and expressing hatred toward Muslims. Pierre Dion, 49, appeared in court in Laval Friday on two charges of inciting hatred against an identifiable group. Statistics Canada reported in November that the number of hate crimes reported to police rose sharply in 2017, fuelled by an increase in incidents targeting blacks, Jews, and Muslims. In his letter, Benabdallah noted that the Quebec City mosque has been the target of a long list of Islamophobic incidents, including swastikas painted on the walls, a pig's head left at its entrance during Ramadan, insulting pamphlets handed out in the neighbourhood and excrement flung at the door. In August 2017, a car belonging to the mosque's former president was torched. Two men were later arrested and charged in connection with the incident. -- With files from Terry Pedwell in Ottawa and Caroline Plante in Quebec City OTTAWA - The federal government intends to save the international heritage status of Canada's largest national park by increasing staffing, better monitoring oil-sands tailings and artificially recreating spring flooding to rejuvenate the park's waterways. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An aerial view of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., on the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park is shown on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. The federal government intends to save the international heritage status of Canada's largest national park by increasing staffing, better monitoring the tailings from the oil sands, and artificially recreating spring flooding to rejuvenate the park's waterways. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh OTTAWA - The federal government intends to save the international heritage status of Canada's largest national park by increasing staffing, better monitoring oil-sands tailings and artificially recreating spring flooding to rejuvenate the park's waterways. Ottawa submitted a 96-page action plan to save the Wood Buffalo National Park to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization Friday to stave off having the park designated as "in danger" due to poor management practices. UNESCO warned Canada in 2017 that the park was in a bad state after receiving a complaint from the Mikisew Cree First Nation two years earlier. Canada had until Friday to submit its response plan, which UNESCO will consider at its July meeting before deciding whether the park continues is marked as "in danger." That could lead to it being delisted as a world heritage site altogether. World-heritage status designates important cultural and natural locations around the world as being in need of proper conservation. There are more than 1,000 such sites worldwide, about 50 of which are currently listed as "in danger." Wood Buffalo National Park covers 45,000 square kilometres of forests, wetlands and grasslands that straddle the border of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The park is home to the largest free-roaming wood-bison herd, the last breeding ground for whooping cranes and one of the largest inland river deltas in the world. The Mikisew Cree say climate change, hydro dams and the oil sands are having catastrophic effects on the ecosystem in Wood Buffalo National Park, which received world-heritage status in 1983. Mikisew spokeswoman Melody Lepine says the action plan as written is well-designed and if it is actually implemented it could help restore the ecosystem to its previous health. The question mark, she said, is whether the government will put the resources in to implement it. Last year's federal budget included a $1.3-billion, five-year investment in national parks; $27.5 million of that has been earmarked for Wood Buffalo. Lepine says she doesn't know what the right amount of money is, but that $27.5 million doesn't come anywhere close to what is needed. "Just recently, I think, the government committed $250 million to protecting killer whales on the coast," she said. "Our region is rich in resources and yet there doesn't seem to be a lot of resources from the federal government to protect the Wood Buffalo National Park." Officials with Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada said Friday there are other sources of money that can go towards the park's restoration, including a $50-million oil sands monitoring fund. The impact of the oil sands located upstream of the park and particularly the tailings left over once the bitumen is mined has been one of the significant hurts to the park, research has shown. Lepine is also concerned there are no hard timelines for accomplishing the items in the action plan. Parks Canada has committed to a progress report in 2021, but officials say several items are already in motion and there is a commitment to implementation in Ottawa and among the provincial and territorial governments involved. Alberta, for example, is working on establishing additional provincially protected areas around the national park's borders. Work to collect relevant data on water flows through the park is also well underway, the officials said. The action plan also includes conservation strategies for the bison herds and whooping cranes, and a requirement that environmental assessments of any future developments include possible impacts on the park. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Four stories in the news for Friday, Feb. 4 CANADA AND LIMA GROUPS ALLIES TO DISCUSS VENEZUELA CRISIS Scott Thomas, whose son Evan was killed in the crash, arrives for the sentencing hearing of Jaskirat Singh Sidhu on Monday, January 28, 2019 in Melfort, Saskatchewan. Thomas says he had a tearful face-to-face meeting this week with the truck driver who caused the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that killed his son and 15 other people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Canada and its Lima Group allies are meeting in Ottawa today to talk about the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will host the meeting that comes amid protests in Venezuela aimed at pressing the country's socialist leader, Nicolas Maduro, to vacate the presidency. Canada has contributed $2.2 million to the humanitarian crisis that's seen three million Venezuelans flee their country, with most of them heading to neighbouring Brazil and Colombia. SENTENCING HEARING TO BEGIN FOR SERIAL KILLER BRUCE MCARTHUR A sentencing hearing for the serial killer who preyed on men in Toronto's gay village is expected to begin today. Bruce McArthur, who pleaded guilty last week to eight counts of first-degree murder, is slated to hear from victims' families and friends who will give statements to the court. The prosecution laid out previously unheard details of the case in a synopsis of facts last week that included the 67-year old McArthur admitting he sexually assaulted and forcibly confined many of his victims before murdering them. STUDY FINDS IVF LINKED TO SLIGHTLY HIGHER RISK OF MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS A new study suggests women who get pregnant using in-vitro fertilization have a slightly higher risk of severe birth-related complications compared to women who conceive naturally. Those complications include post-partum bleeding that may require a blood transfusion, admission to an intensive care unit, and, in extremely rare cases, death. The study found that roughly 31 of every one-thousand women who received a fertility treatment experienced a severe complication, compared to about 22 per one-thousand who conceived naturally. NORWEGIAN POLITICIAN PROPOSES MOOSE TRUCE The deputy mayor of a Norwegian town says she may travel to Saskatchewan to discuss a possible truce in the ongoing battle over the world's tallest moose sculpture. Linda Otnes Henriksen says she's been following efforts by people in Moose Jaw to raise funds to raise the height of the community's beloved Mac the Moose. The rivalry started when it was revealed that her town of Stor-Elvdal had a silvery moose sculpture that was 30 centimetres taller than Mac. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Montreal port employers and longshoremen gearing up for a battle over the definition of "essential service" amidst contract talks. Special Senate committee hearing on the Arctic looking at changes to the region and impacts on its original inhabitants. An estimated 5,000 students march to Queens Park to protest changes made to OSAP under the Ford government. Sukhmander Singh, owner of the trucking company involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, to appear in Calgary court. WHITEHORSE - An event considered to be the toughest dog sled race on the planet begins Saturday in Whitehorse. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A haze hangs around spectators on the Chena River as teams left Fairbanks, Alaska, during the start of the Yukon Quest sled dog race Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. An event considered to be the toughest dog sled race on the planet begins Saturday in Whitehorse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Robin Wood/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP WHITEHORSE - An event considered to be the toughest dog sled race on the planet begins Saturday in Whitehorse. Thirty teams from Canada, the United States and as far away as the Czech Republic and New Zealand will vie to win the 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest, which begins this year in Whitehorse and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska. For the first time since 2003, mushers must truck their teams between Braeburn, the first checkpoint north of Whitehorse, and Carmacks, about 75 kilometres further along the route. Race Marshall Doug Harris says a lack of snow made the Braeburn to Carmacks stretch of the route too rough for the teams. In all, mushers must pass through nine checkpoints, four dog checks, and four mountain peaks, including the 1,200-metre King Solomon's Dome. The gruelling race was won last year by Two Rivers, Alaska musher Allen Moore in nine days, 18 hours and 53 minutes. The route follows the Yukon River and the historic winter "highway" travelled by prospectors, mail and supply carriers between the gold fields of the Klondike and the Alaska interior. Mushers and race organizers are concerned about the lack of snow and warmer weather along the trail, but Sgt. John Mitchell with the Canadian Rangers says a 32-member squad has been working on the Yukon side of the trail and conditions have improved in the last week. "The low snow conditions allowed us to brush it out a lot better than has been done in the previous years," Mitchell says. "When you get down to the low stuff on it, and then we got the snow dump ... so it actually set up (well) and we've got a pretty darn good base." This year's prize purse is $115,000, down slightly from the $125,000 awarded last year, and the first 15 finishers will share a percentage of the pot. The first musher to reach the Dawson City checkpoint also receives two ounces of gold nuggets, worth about $3,400. Moore took home just over $23,000 as the 2018 winner and also kept the gold nuggets as he led almost from start to finish. Four past champions, including multiple winners Moore and Whitehorse resident Hans Gatt, as well as 12 rookies are among the 2019 field. Quebec's Denis Tremblay, who finished 14th in the 2013 Yukon Quest, drew bib number one at the start banquet held in Whitehorse, Thursday night. (CKRW) HALIFAX - Ottawa will spend $186 million upgrading and maintaining underwater sensors for the Royal Canadian Navy's frigates. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HMCS St. John's, one of Canada's Halifax-class frigates, heads through the fog as it returns to port in Halifax on Monday, July 23, 2018. Ottawa will spend $183 million on the upgrading and maintaining of underwater sensors for the Royal Canadian Navy's frigates. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - Ottawa will spend $186 million upgrading and maintaining underwater sensors for the Royal Canadian Navy's frigates. National Defence said in a news release Friday that global defence giant General Dynamics has been given two contracts that will involve the employment of about 120 people. It said the "majority of this work will occur in Canada." The Halifax-class frigates use sonar to detect, locate and track surface and sub-surface threats through the continuous monitoring and collection of information. The $186 million contracts include acquisition and upgrade for the first six Halifax-class frigates, totalling $103 million, and in-service support, which would potentially cost $83 million for up to 23 years. The contracts include options to upgrade all 12 Halifax-class frigates, which would bring the acquisition portion to $170 million. The first installation of the upgraded underwater warfare suite is expected to be completed in 2021 and operational in 2022. "Threat detection is critical to initiate rapid defence countermeasures that protect our sailors and our ships," Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a statement. OTTAWA - The federal government says diplomats visited Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor today for the third time since he was arrested in China in December on allegations of endangering Chinese national security. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this file image made from a March 2, 2017, video, Michael Spavor, director of Paektu Cultural Exchange, talks during a Skype interview in Yanji, China. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo, File OTTAWA - The federal government says diplomats visited Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor today for the third time since he was arrested in China in December on allegations of endangering Chinese national security. A statement by Global Affairs Canada says the government continues to be deeply concerned by the "arbitrary" detentions of Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig, who was also arrested last month on similar allegations. The department has said that Kovrig, a Canadian diplomat on leave from his job, has received two consular visits. Canada is pushing for more consular access to both men and has demanded their immediate release. The arrests of Spavor and Kovrig are in apparent retaliation for Canada's December arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. The arrest of the Chinese telecom giant's executive and her potential extradition to the U.S. to face charges of fraud and conspiracy have angered China, which says she's done nothing wrong. China has demanded her release and has warned of serious consequences for Canada if it fails to do so. HALIFAX - Dalhousie University's interim president has written a new book on campus debate and dissent and it has provoked both at the Halifax school, with some students calling for his dismissal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX - Dalhousie University's interim president has written a new book on campus debate and dissent and it has provoked both at the Halifax school, with some students calling for his dismissal. Peter MacKinnon, former president of the University of Saskatchewan, took over the helm of Dalhousie in January as it searches for a new top administrator. But his appointment has proven controversial, after a group of students protested at his welcome reception, issuing a strong rebuke against his recent book, "University Commons Divided: Exploring Debate and Dissent on Campus." The students say the book expresses "racist perspectives" and "oppressive rhetoric" on topics such as blackface, and have issued a list of demands including his immediate removal as interim president. The controversy appears to have roiled the university, which marked its bicentennial last year with forums and workshops related to the theme Year of Belonging. "The university has made repeated claims that it's committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and then it hires this extremely divisive figure," says Letitia Meynell, an associate professor of philosophy at Dalhousie. In an interview, MacKinnon says the impetus for writing the book was a sense that public conversations on difficult issues have become more severe. "I think they're becoming more rhetorical, I think they're becoming more emotive, and I think they're becoming more inclined to denunciation than illumination," he says. The 71-year-old officer of the Order of Canada short-listed for the Supreme Court of Canada in 2006 says freedom of expression is a fundamental university value. But MacKinnon says he's concerned that issues of high sensitivity are increasingly met with "ritualistic denunciation" on campuses, rather than respectful discussion. "It is incumbent upon universities to model what debate means, and I think part of that is being open and being engaged on contentious issues and avoiding highly rhetorical and denunciatory responses," he says. However, Hayley Zacks, a fourth-year student studying at Dalhousie, says MacKinnon only appears to value freedom of expression and open debate when it supports his own views. "He doesn't like dissent when it's not in his favour, he calls that uncivilized and divisive," Zacks says. Meanwhile, Meynell who's cross-appointed with Dal's Gender and Women's Studies department took issue with MacKinnon's position that universities have strayed from a commons in which civility is valued. "It's a kind of nostalgia for a time when white men were massively privileged and had control of the university debate," she says. "He's basically saying Make Campuses Great Again." In his book, MacKinnon discusses contentious topics like blackface Halloween costumes, Dalhousie's dentistry faculty scandal, Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, and University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson's views on gender pronouns. MacKinnon acknowledges that some of the issues explored in his book have "touched a nerve" and caused distress. In a report to the university's senate this week, he addressed some of the concerns, saying that while some of the issues are discussed in depth in his book, others are mentioned for "illustrative purposes." The passage in MacKinnon's book that appears to have garnered the greatest backlash refers to costume parties involving white students in blackface. The incidents sparked outrage on campuses, but MacKinnon suggests in his book that there was "a lack of proportion in the responses." "These were Halloween parties, not cultural misappropriations, Nazi mimicry, or manifestations of disapproval of other peoples," he wrote. "So describing them risks diminishing real problems of intolerance, discrimination, and racism." He added later in the chapter that the reaction to the incidents involved "narrow interpretations of Halloween costumes and overreaction to them." MacKinnon told the senate he stands by the discussion of these topics in his book, but he says some have interpreted his comments as condoning blackface. "I do not condone blackface," he told the senate. "I regret any interpretation to the contrary, and the distress it has caused." MacKinnon has also offered to meet with concerned students, and says he's "willing to engage in conversation on difficult issues." But some students and faculty aren't backing down from their criticism of the interim leader, and the process undertaken to hire him. "He's trying to backtrack. But to me his book still perpetuates blackface and gives words and excuses to students that do blackface," says Zacks. "That's a really dangerous narrative ... he's excusing behaviour that's incredibly harmful." Matthew Sears, an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton who is outspoken on social justice issues nationwide, called MacKinnon's book "wildly out of touch." "How many acts of casual or overt racism are we just simply going dismiss as a joke or, 'Don't be so sensitive,'" he said. "As someone who has never faced that kind of discrimination based on colour or ethnicity, I don't think you get to tell people to settle down." Sears added: "If you have a group of students at Dalhousie who are already inclined to make fun of these equity-seeking groups, this will be a shot in the arm for them." Lianne Xiao, president of the student union at King's College, a small liberal arts university within the Dalhousie campus, says MacKinnon's book "is harmful and racist and fuels negative stereotypes on campus." Xiao says his comments to the senate, and an email sent to students on the topic, have not alleviated concerns. Despite vocal opponents to MacKinnon's interim tenure, others at Dalhousie have welcomed his arrival. Reagan Seidler, a second year student at Dal's Schulich School of Law, says MacKinnon is "arguably the most well-respected university leader in the country." A former student president at one of the University of Saskatchewan's colleges during MacKinnon's tenure, he says it's difficult to witness his legacy reduced to one passage in his book. "One reason Peter was so celebrated in Saskatoon is for his leadership on behalf of racialized students, particularly Indigenous students. He has a real track record the protesters surely know nothing about." Seidler added: "We've asked him to put off retirement for a temporary job across the country at a school in constant turmoil. He's here because he cares." MacKinnon, originally from P.E.I. but who now calls Canmore, Alta., home, says he hopes to contribute to the university during his time currently expected to be six months, though an extension is possible. "I want to sustain the incredible momentum of this university," he said, adding that he hopes to work closely with the school's agricultural campus in Truro and continue to build on the university's strength in the ocean sector. "This is an exciting university. I certainly don't want to move across the country simply to be a place holder." OTTAWA - Canada and its Lima Group allies will use their Monday meeting in Ottawa to find new ways including financial to support the Venezuelan opposition and ease the refugee crisis in neighbouring Brazil and Colombia. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opposition leader Juan Guaido is surrounded by supporters as he arrives to speak in a public plaza in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Canada and its Lima Group allies will use their Monday meeting in Ottawa to find new ways - including financial - to support the Venezuelan opposition and help ease the refugee crisis in neighbouring Brazil and Colombia, sources say. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Fernando Llano OTTAWA - Canada and its Lima Group allies will use their Monday meeting in Ottawa to find new ways including financial to support the Venezuelan opposition and ease the refugee crisis in neighbouring Brazil and Colombia. The agenda for the gathering of foreign ministers from more than a dozen of Canada's Western Hemisphere allies was still being finalized on Friday, in part because of the speed at which the Venezuelan crisis is unfolding. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will host the meeting two days after Saturday's scheduled national street protests in Venezuela aimed at pressing the country's socialist leader, Nicolas Maduro, to vacate the presidency. Canada has already contributed $2.2 million for the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela that has forced three million people from their homes, sending ripples across the region. Sources say Canada won't be adding to that fund because Maduro won't allow proper humanitarian access to the country. And while they stress Monday's meeting is not a pledging conference, sources said the discussions will include looking at new political and financial ways to support the politician they see as the country's true interim president: parliamentary leader Juan Guaido. One source framed a central question for the talks as: "How can we continue to pressure Maduro in such a way that he steps down to allow for a new election? What more can we be doing in terms of financial support but also general support?" A possibility is to repurpose billions of dollars of overseas assets seized from the country's corrupt leaders to help countries coping with the influx of refugees and to back Guaido's new government. That proposal comes from the Washington think-tank Inter-American Dialogue and the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Ont. "It's a way of holding individual members of the regime's feet to the fire," said Fen Hampson, head of CIGI's global security program. Monday's meeting will also be focused on keeping the pressure on Maduro to vacate the Venezuelan presidency and turn it over to Guaido, whom the Lima Group, the United States and other democratic countries now call the South American country's legitimate leader. He was elected president of the Venezuelan National Assembly in December and claimed the presidency of the country on the grounds that Maduro's last election was illegitimate and the office is vacant. The Ottawa talks will be aimed at charting "a path forward that ensures that the international spotlight remains on the opposition because we're at a turning point. The last thing that we want is the international attention for fade and for Maduro to be emboldened to hold on," said one source. In recent days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been personally invested with that issue in a series of phone calls with foreign leaders, including Ireland's and Italy's. In his Thursday conversation with Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, Trudeau "emphasized the importance of the international community sending a strong, unified, and clear message" on the crisis in support of Guaido and the Venezuelan people, the Prime Minister's Office said. Trudeau has also stayed in close contact with the leaders of Venezuela's neighbours, which are directly affected by the crisis, said Federico Hoyos, the Colombian ambassador to Canada. "The strength of the Lima Group resides in the unity of our voices demanding democracy in Venezuela," said Hoyos. The meeting comes at a time when the Trudeau government has been under siege domestically for how it conducts foreign policy. This has included the ongoing turmoil with China, which has imprisoned two Canadian following the RCMP's arrest of a Huawei executive on behalf of the U.S., unsuccessful efforts to get U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs lifted, and a high-profile rift with Saudi Arabia. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer cited those examples and others as evidence of the "debacle" Trudeau has made of Canadian foreign policy. Canada's Lima Group allies don't share that view. "Canada is an important country on the world stage, and its support and leadership have been critical to reinforce the Lima Group," said Hoyos. Brazil's ambassador Denis Fontes de Souza Pinto said Canada has been playing a key role in the Lima Group since its formation in August 2017. "The participation of Canada shows it not only has to do with Latin America; it's something that has to do with the American continent's values," he said. The group has 14 members in North and South America, including Canada and Mexico, but excludes the United States. Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez have often painted the U.S. as a villain seeking to thwart Venezuelans' popular will. Roland Paris, the University of Ottawa professor who was Trudeau's first foreign-policy adviser, said: "This will be a substantive meeting, but it can't hurt the government politically to showcase Canada's international leadership on Venezuela." WASHINGTON - The federal Liberal government laid the blame at Russia's feet Friday after the United States pulled out of a 30-year-old nuclear missile treaty, rekindling Cold War fears and prompting fresh concerns about an escalating arms race. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/2/2019 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. President Donald Trump speaks during an event on human trafficking in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, in Washington. The federal Liberal government is blaming Russia for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of a landmark Cold War-era treaty on nuclear weapons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Evan Vucci WASHINGTON - The federal Liberal government laid the blame at Russia's feet Friday after the United States pulled out of a 30-year-old nuclear missile treaty, rekindling Cold War fears and prompting fresh concerns about an escalating arms race. Russia has for years been alarming the U.S. and NATO allies alike by flouting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, "with impunity" and in plain sight of the world, President Donald Trump declared in a statement. "The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions," he said. "We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct." The decision comes as no surprise, given fruitless U.S. efforts to convince Russia to abide by the terms of the pact, the first such measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range of up to 5,500 kilometres. That's a little more than the distance from Vancouver to St. John's, and twice that from Moscow to Paris. Cruise missiles are guided and powered and typically fly close to the ground, which makes them difficult for current missile-defence systems to shoot down. Since 2017, Russia has deployed four battalions of the 9M729 cruise missile, up from three a few months ago, increasing its stockpile to nearly 100 of the missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Canada and NATO both sided with the U.S., making it clear that Russia's aggression and intransigence is responsible for the imminent demise of a pivotal arms-reduction agreement seen as central to the end of the Cold War. "Canada strongly supports global non-proliferation and disarmament efforts, which are essential to keeping the world safe. However, arms control only works if everyone follows their obligations," Adam Austen, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, said in a statement. "Russia has failed to comply with this important treaty, and Canada is disappointed that Russia's actions have led to (Friday's) announcement. Russia must come into compliance with this treaty immediately." NATO concurred: "Allies fully support this action," the military alliance said in a statement. "Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty." The U.S. argues that it was being hamstrung by the treaty at a time when threats are escalating around the world, not only from Russia but China, which is not party to the treaty and which officials fear has gained a significant military advantage in Asia. That cuts both ways: the end of the treaty could also serve Russia's strategic interests. The move away from disarmament bodes ill for the safety of countless millions around the world, a coalition of activists, prominent Canadians and current and former political and business leaders warned last week in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Without these treaties," they wrote, "the world would, for the first time since 1972, be without any formal constraints on nuclear arsenals, and would thus face a perilous future of renewed arms races and the heightened danger that political and military confrontations could escalate to nuclear use and widespread planetary annihilation." The U.S., which started a 60-day clock on its treaty obligations two months ago, will officially suspend the treaty on Saturday and begin the process of withdrawing fully over the next six months, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a briefing in Washington. Even as he detailed the withdrawal, Pompeo insisted that the risk of nuclear proliferation remains Trump's "highest American national-security interest," and that the U.S. will endeavour to replace an agreement that has stopped working. But in the interim, he said, the damage has already been done. "We are prepared to enter into negotiations on these complex arms-control issues all around the world, including conversations about the renewal of other arms-control agreements as we move forward," Pompeo said. "President Trumps mission set is to make sure that any agreement that we entered into has Americas best interest that is, it protects the American people, protects our allies around the world as well, and has provisions that other countries are both capable and willing to comply with, and allow us to verify that they have complied with those agreements." 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. He Dated A Cockroach Called Lisa For A Year And Ate Her When She Died Pulse oi-Syeda Farah Noor Some stories make us wonder if they are fantasy or they happened for real and this story of a young man loving a cockroach might creep you out. This is an unusual love story of a young man with a cockroach and how eventually there was an end to their relationship. Check out the details of this bizarre story that will make you feel cringy when you learn the details of this unusual love story... This Relationship Can Be Called Sex Pest! Yuma Shinohara gives a new meaning to the words sex pest' when he confessed that he was dating a cockroach named Lisa' for a year and he was obsessed about having sex with her. Most Read: WTF!! The Next Big Superfood Is COCKROACH MILK! He Confessed About His Fantasy About Love Yuma called the bug his "first love" and claimed that even though the relationship was platonic, he fantasised about bedding his love in either way where he imagined himself to be of insect-size or with Lisa being human-size. Their Love Was Going Strong Until Lisa Died! He claimed that no human girl was as "hot" as Lisa! He further added that they were "100 per cent serious" about each other. Until one fine day when Lisa died, and the worst happened as Yuma ate her! Most Read: The World's Weirdest Lovemaking Laws He Ate Her As He Was An Entomophagist Yuma is an entomophagist by profession which means that he advocates and practices eating insects as an alternative to meat for environmental reasons. Yuma is also well known for organising a bug-eating contest in his native, Japan. More About Lisa - The COCKROACH! Yuma revealed details about Lisa. He claimed that she was an African farm-reared cockroach and that he believed they could communicate with each other. Once she died and he consumed her, he said that now Lisa lives in his heart and body as well! What do you think of this unusual story? Share your thoughts in the comment section. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 1, 2019, 11:28 [IST] With Oregon lawmakers considering cap and trade, here's how it worked in Quebec Paris Achen: pachen@portlandtribune.com or 503-506-0067. Achen is a reporter for the Portland Tribune working for the Oregon Capital Bureau, a collaboration of EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. SIGN UP TO GET BLACKLISTED NEWS DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Enter your email address: Acumen Media has unveiled this week's stories making headlines on social media. It's all about inquiries with the State Capture Inquiry, Mokgoro Inquiry and the PIC Inquiry making up a combined 40% of the week's top 10 stories.The 'Please Call Me' debacle reached the national consciousness this week as Panyaza Lesufi led the Vodacom shutdown in Nkosana Makate's fight against the telecoms company. Western Cape Premier Helen Zille once again caused a commotion on social media, this time calling for a tax revolt.Political parties have started revving up their electioneering, and citizens are raising suspicion, as the 2019 Elections approach. The SABC's failure to pay employees along with its cancellation of retrenchment plans had many talking.Many expressed distaste at AfriForum's announcement that it would appeal the conviction and sentencing in the Coligny murder. The World Economic Forum and the political unravelings in Zimbabwe have started losing steam amongst South Africans. Despite concerns that intermittent renewables such as solar and wind could affect the reliability of power supply, mining companies are adopting wind and solar to reduce their energy costs at remote off-grid mines. Photo: Voltalia Second phase In various microgrid applications, renewables combined with diesel, HFO, or gas are proving their worth in isolated regions, a recently released white paper says. For almost all mines, the integration of renewables will have a positive impact on their energy cost position. Mining companies do not have to invest their own money; independent power providers (IPPs) invest in the renewable energy infrastructure and sell electricity to mines through power purchase agreements (PPAs).This trend is now moving into its second market phase characterised by price competition where IPPs can offer extremely competitive PPAs to remote miners.Large IPPs take advantage of economies of scale on components for solar and wind power plants not only for remote mining projects but also for much bigger grid-connected plants. Market leaders have managed to optimise the planning and construction processes substantially. However, conducting projects in remote locations, especially in Africa, requires an extended experience. Amongst the challenges of undertaking projects in Africa is financing, which requires an excellent relationship with local and international banks.Cost optimisation does not necessarily mean minimising capex, but rather focusing on the total lifetime of the project and including O&M. It is also important to take the interplay of the different energy sources into consideration. Not every kWh of solar and wind energy generated means equivalent fossil fuel savings. When gensets run at suboptimal loads, they lose efficiency and require additional maintenance. For Immediate Release, February 1, 2019 Contacts: Kendall Dix, Gulf Restoration Network, (504) 233-9416, kendall@healthygulf.org Emily Jeffers, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7109, ejeffers@biologicaldiversity.org State of Louisiana Approves Key Permit for Toxic Polluter in Cancer Alley ST. JAMES, La. The state of Louisiana again affirmed that profits for out-of-state petrochemical companies come before the health of its most vulnerable residents. The Department of Natural Resources announced today that it has approved the coastal use permit for the construction of the Formosa Plastics plant in the 5th District of St. James Parish. The 5th District sits in Cancer Alley, an area on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans known for its high cancer rates among its poor and black residents, who have been targeted for industrial development. Formosa, a Taiwanese company with a long and well-documented history of pollution in Baton Rouge, Texas, Taiwan and Vietnam, did not submit a single proposed alternative site in a non-black neighborhood. The plant has faced fierce opposition from local residents who have been fighting against petrochemical development since the term Cancer Alley was first coined in the 1980s. Rise St. James, a local faith-based group opposed to the Formosa plant, recently hosted a revival headlined by Rev. Dr. William Barber that attracted hundreds of local residents. Im highly disappointed because the authorities issuing these permits dont care about the people who live in St. James, said Sharon LaVigne, founder of Rise St. James, a faith-based group of local residents opposed to the Formosa plant. People are suffering and were asking for help, but it seems like wealthy people and those in charge dont care. They are only concerned about what they can get out of it. These are lives. These are human beings. God made us just like he made the people making these decisions, LaVigne said. It angers me because they grant these permits knowing that the people in the 5th District spoke out against the plant but they approved it anyway. At the hearing for the coastal use permit on Dec. 6, dozens of people spoke out against the plant, with only one person speaking in favor. Formosa still needs approval from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for its air permit. Ethane crackers like the proposed Formosa Plant are known for releasing a variety of cancer-causing toxins into the air. The Department has yet to release the public notice for the comment period or hearing for the air permit. The Formosa plant is part of push to turn the byproducts of natural gas extraction into plastic feedstocks for single-use plastic packaging and consumer products. The fossil fuel industry plans to increase plastic production by 40 percent over the next decade, adding to the growing ocean plastic pollution crisis. Its appalling that Louisiana isnt protecting its residents or environment from toxic pollution. Formosa is harming local communities as it makes more plastic that will end up in our oceans, said Emily Jeffers, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. Whales, sea turtles and migratory birds in the Gulf and around the world are already choking on plastic pollution. This plant and others like it will only add to the crisis of plastic collecting in our oceans, landscapes and landfills." Formosa will be gifted $1.5 billion in tax breaks for its new plastics plant through the controversial Industrial Tax Exemption Permit. But with plastic products being banned in Europe and municipalities across the United States, the demand for Formosas output is likely to decline over time. The plant will destroy more than 100 acres of wetlands, making flooding worse and increasing the risk of a chemical spill during a natural disaster. As a greenhouse gas emitter, Formosa will worsen climate change and increase the likelihood of devastating hurricanes. The Formosa project is therefore incompatible with the states $50 billion master plan to slow down the loss of its coast. Groups opposing the Formosa project include Gulf Restoration Network, Rise St. James, 350 New Orleans, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Sierra Club Delta Chapter and Center for Biological Diversity. Is Russias army violating a European Union sanction targeting the purchase of goods that can be used for military purposes? The sanction has been in place since 2014. BILD has inquired into whether Russian forces are using propeller blades so-called folding propellers manufactured in Germany for seven types of drones in their drone fleet. The respective German companies did not know about this until now. More specifically, the unmanned aerial espionage and reconnaissance vehicles that are equipped with German propellers are the models Granat-1, Granat-2, Granat-3, Tachion, ZALA-42104M, Grusha, and Orlan-2. Their first flights took place between 2005 and 2012. However, they only began to be mass produced in 2015 and 2016 and were then incorporated into the various troop units of the Russian forces. Drone propellers are potentially a violation of sanctions Ever since Russias destabilizing activities in Ukraine in 2014, an EU arms embargo against Moscow has been in force. There are also trade restrictions on dual-use goods, i.e. material that can be used for both civil and military purposes. Does this include the German propeller blades used on Russian military drones? BILD inquired with the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). According to the Office, there is a general ban on supplying dual-use goods to Russia, if these goods are, or might be, wholly or partly designed for military purposes (in the example described by you: potentially for installation in military goods) or for a military end-user. In this particular case, the BAFA does not want to make a definite decision. The export of propeller blades and folding propellers is partly subject to authorization. However, whether there is an authorization requirement, and whether an export must be authorized, needs to be reviewed in each respective case, a BAFA spokesperson told BILD. Lesen Sie auch Georgian President Margvelashvili Russia's hybrid war against us continues Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili gives his account on the situation in his country, exactly 10 years after the Russian invasion He is on two sanctions lists! Putin friend receives work visa for Germany Why does the federal government enable one of the closest friends of Vladimir Putin to stay and work permanently in Germany? Concerning the question of whether a sanction was circumvented, the point of time at which the German components were bought by Russian companies in the EU is also decisive. All components purchased and brought to Russia from August 2014 onward would constitute a violation of sanctions. BILD sent a written request to the Russian Ministry of Defense concerning this question, but it remains unanswered. Auch Interessant Head of company: military use was never envisaged BILD contacted German modelmaking companies Graupner/SJ GmbH from Kirchheim unter Teck and aero-naut Modellbau GmbH & Co.KG from Reutlingen. Both companies were shocked to hear that their components had been used for military purposes. Thorsten Rechthaler, general manager of aero-naut, told BILD: We sell our products exclusively to specialist modelmaking shops and modelmaking wholesale companies, who in turn supply specialist retailers and final consumers with our products. Whom the products are resold to, via several distribution channels, cannot be determined. We ourselves are not in contact with military or state organizations. According to Rechthaler, industrial or military use of the components misused by the Russian army was never envisaged. Rechthaler states: We have no intention at all of supporting this kind of use and will consider the extent to which we can take action against such use. We regret that products which were made to cause joy can also be used to the contrary. We reject any use other than the one we envisaged. These folding propellers, made by the company aero-naut, can be purchased on the companys website for EUR 17.90 Foto: aero-naut The second company, Graupner, was also not aware that their components were being used by the Russian military. General manager, Hannes Runknagel, told BILD: We do not and will not supply any military facilities or manufacturers in Russia. Runknagel also emphasized that the Russian arms companies could have purchased the companys folding propellers in a different European country. Almost all modelmaking retailers in Europe sell our products. The company Graupner is selling the folding propellers on its website. Price per item: EUR 19.99 Foto: Graupner On some (but not all) of the aero-naut and Graupner drone propellers, the German company names were painted over or removed by the Russian users in order conceal their origin. Russia is using drones with German propellers in the war against Ukraine Russia itself makes no secret of its use of German components on its drones. At the military museum Park Patriot which opened near Moscow in 2016 two army drones with German propeller blades are on exhibit to this day. At Russias biggest military fair, Army, drones with German propellers were also presented to the public in 2015 and 2016. But thats not all. BILD has inquired into whether Russia has been employing drones with German technology in its war against Ukraine since early 2015. In the battle for the Ukrainian city of Debaltseve (with 184 dead on the Ukrainian side) in the spring of 2015, pro-Russian troops already used a Granat-2 drone with folding propellers manufactured in Reutlingen. This has been confirmed by images broadcasted on the pro-Russian channel New Russia TV, published on YouTube. The soldier operating the drone with a computer conceals his face in the video. But it is obvious what the drone was used for. The task of the Granat-2 is to reconnoiter targets for artillery and multi-barrel rocket launcher shelling. A Russian military newspaper raved in 2013 that this can be done up to twice as fast with the drone compared to traditional means. An dieser Stelle findest du Inhalte aus YouTube Um mit Inhalten aus YouTube und anderen sozialen Netzwerken zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. soziale Netzwerke aktivieren Since 2015, the Ukrainian army has taken down numerous Russian army drones with German propellers or they have crashed over Ukrainian territory due to technical faults. The last time this happened was on Wednesday January 23. According to the Ukrainian army, they forced a Russian Granat-2 drone to land in the south of the Donetsk region by using electronical interference signals. Since the aerial vehicle has a reach of only approximately 15 kilometers, the Ukrainian army assumes that it was launched in the occupied area by Russian soldiers or separatists who were trained to handle the drone. An dieser Stelle findest du Inhalte aus Facebook Um mit Inhalten aus Facebook und anderen sozialen Netzwerken zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. soziale Netzwerke aktivieren This drone was also equipped with folding blades made by the company aero-naut from the German county of Baden-Wurttemberg, as a comprehensive video made by the Ukrainian army proves. Greens and Ukraine demand consequences Tobias Lindner, representative of the Greens on the German parliaments defense committee, is now demanding that action be taken. If Moscow is indeed acquiring components of military drones from Germany, the federal government must do everything it can to prevent the purchasing of these parts by Russian state actors, Lindner told BILD. The German components of the crashed Russian army drone are currently also being examined in Ukraine. BILD has learned from Ukrainian government circles that Western components including German ones! were found on several drones that had previously been shot down. Apparently, Kiev had already asked Berlin to investigate the channels by which these components were being delivered to Russia. Robin Bjork is a Avian Conservation Biologist of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. The GCBO is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the birds and their habitats along the entire Gulf Coast, and beyond into their Central and South America wintering grounds. Contact the observatory at 979-480-0999 or visit gcbo.org. People use their mobile phones to take pictures as a Sharia law official whips a woman, who was convicted of prostitution, outside a mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, April 20, 2018. Two teenagers were publicly flogged in Indonesias religiously conservative Aceh province after being accused of cuddling in open view, a local official confirmed on Friday. The caning of the couple, both 18 years old, took place in the provincial capital despite a pledge from authorities last year that corporal punishment of people found violating Acehs Islamic code would be done only behind prison walls. The two stepped onto a raised platform and each received 17 lashes of a rattan cane, as dozens of people watched and took photos outside a mosque in Banda Aceh on Thursday, Iin Muhaira, a spokesman for the mayoralty, told BenarNews. The teenagers were punished outdoors after serving 98-day jail sentences. The teens were caught being affectionate with each other outside the landmark Baiturrahman mosque in Banda Aceh in November, officials said. We want to convey to the public that Sharia law is implemented to anyone without exception, Banda Aceh Deputy Mayor Zainal Arifin, who witnessed the event, told Agence France-Presse. Secondly, Sharia law is not intended to injure. Apart from the couple, a 35-year-old man was caned 20 times on Thursday after he was caught being intimate with a woman a local grocery story that she owned, CNN reported. The womans punishment has not yet happened. It was delayed because she was deemed medically unfit to undergo corporal punishment, CNN said. In 2018, Acehnese officials signed an agreement declaring that canings would be carried out in prisons, despite protests from a legislator and a group of students who said that public canings served as a deterrent. But the agreement did not make clear when the new rule would take effect. Then-Aceh Gov. Irwandi Yusuf, who is now being detained in Jakarta on corruption charges, said he did not want canings to cause Islamophobia. In May 2017, the first-ever public caning of a couple convicted of gay sex in Aceh drew international media coverage and widespread condemnation. Islamic Sharia law, as implemented in Aceh, allows up to 100 strokes of the cane for sex outside marriage, including gay sex or sodomy. Zainal said the latest canings were still carried out in public because there still were no implementing guidelines. For now, were doing it according to existing regulations, he said. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia with authority to implement Sharia, the Islamic law, as mandated by its status as a special region with a degree of autonomy, as part of the central governments attempts to pacify a clamor for independence. In 2015, Sharia police in Aceh began educating the public about a broadening of the Islamic penal code in the province. Gambling and alcohol consumption are among offenses punishable by caning in the province. President Joko Jokowi Widodo last year called for an end to canings, which are carried out by hooded figures on a makeshift stage. Rights groups have derided the floggings as cruel. But a Banda Aceh resident named Hamidah, who also watched the whippings of the young couple on Thursday, described the punishment as "useful." "Mothers who have girls or younger children are advised that, if you say you go to the school, you go to the school," she said. "Don't do anything that disgraces your parents." There's a buzzword fluttering around the whole Brexit debate. The word is 'unicorn'. That Theresa May going back to ask the EU to change the deal is fantasy. And like the unicorn, which never existed, it cannot therefore be grasped, or obtained, in real terms. But then, turn that phrase around, from the 'p' word of politics to the unicorn factor of our own country, Northern Ireland, where both politicians and the police have now grappled with the problem of paramilitaries over the past half-century. Read More Both have been hung up on the unicorn's horn of a dilemma. How do you deal with the dregs of the terrorist gangs? Ostracise and extricate them and put them in jail where they belong? The fact, rather than the fantasy, is that the forces of law and order have not been good at trying to grapple with the reality of the gangster gangs which have their Mafia-like grip on the throats of society, and our working class and non-working class communities, what are called 'areas of deprivation', in particular. It is here that fear, and illegally-gotten finance - with its fast cars, flash women, flush wallets - still run their writ. And it is in that respect that the police face a form of paralysis. They know, and know how, the key players, the Godfathers of crime, operate, but their prime problem is collecting the evidence to put them under lock and key. Behind bars. And this is where I get really angry. We still have the figureheads of still illegal organisations strutting our streets, on both the loyalist and republican sides. We all know who they are, but they still run their criminal empires seemingly impervious to the rule of law. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Vigils were held for Ian Ogle after his murder. Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Especially, as a prime example, on the streets of east Belfast, on the turf of the (still illegal) UVF (however, it tries to wash their hands of it) where the latest bloody butchery of Ian Ogle occurred. Or in west Belfast, where the dissidents sentence people to die, also with seeming impunity. So, having covered and tried to expose all these gangster organisations over all these years, I want to strike a new angle on all of this. And it is this: what is the National Crime Agency (NCA), Britain's equivalent of America's FBI, doing sitting in Northern Ireland? At Palace Barracks, for God's sake? Just a couple of miles down the road from where the most renowned so-called 'loyalist' gangster runs his east Belfast mob. Why isn't the NCA out there, in there, digging out the real godfathers of crime? On their own doorstep? On OUR own doorsteps. If our own police force is constrained by the unavailability, or unattainability, of hard evidence, the NCA should be out there: in there. Otherwise, what is the point of their existence? It's time they did their job. Especially here in Northern Ireland where the paramilitaries have been able to get away with so much for so long. The PSNI may be stuck on the unicorn's horn of procuring and producing evidential veracity in court. The NCA have deeper, and different, methods of putting drugs dealers, extortionists, Mafia-like criminals - and killers, and those who sanction them - in the dock. It is a statistical given that Northern Ireland has, per head of population, more criminal gangs than any other region of the United Kingdom. So just do it. Because if you don't - and as you're paid by us, the public, out of the public purse, and that, per se, you are servants of us, the public - sitting down there in your HQ in Holywood, you may well deserve another interpretation of those NCA initials. The National Crass Agency or another middle word to that effect. Whatever has happened to cross-border co-operation in recent years? As somebody who was intimately involved in it for 14 years, it seems to me to have become almost invisible. Where, for example, is the evidence of progress in those practical areas where it is just plain common sense to have greater co-operation on this small island: in agriculture, health, energy, tourism, and education? What I can see in these areas is mainly missed opportunities. Let us take them one by one. Agriculture, with its huge importance to the economies of both north and south, is an obvious area for greater co-operation. There was a high level of co-operation between the two departments of agriculture during the 2001 foot and mouth disease crisis. Back then, there was a lot of discussion between Belfast and Dublin about an all-island animal health policy, which would help Irish farmers, north and south, to trade internationally from a disease-free island, bring localised outbreaks of animal disease quickly under control and react jointly to common animal health problems in the farming industry. So, what has happened to that eminently sensible proposal? Joint marketing is another area that makes great sense. Northern farmers and food processors could benefit enormously if their produce was sold as Irish-made in expanding markets in Europe and Asia. Nobody in most of those countries has the slightest idea about the existence of the border; what they know about is the clean, "green" image of Irish food. It has contributed to a spectacular growth in its export performance in recent decades. And a lot of Irish food is produced on a cross-border basis. Take the example of poultry, an important sector in the border region. Here, eggs might be laid in Northern Ireland, hatched in the Republic and then the birds sent back across the border for "rearing". Yet the Department of Agriculture in Dublin and Bord Bia, the Irish state's food marketing body, do not recognise any duck, turkey, or chicken with any part of its processing based in the north as Irish for export purposes. Would it not make sense for the two departments of Agriculture to work together to maximise the export potential of farmers in the whole island? The same goes for beef, lamb and milk. Health is a key issue in a society, north and south, which by European standards is both rural and ill-served by public transport (making hospital access often difficult). The most successful north-south network here is Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT), the partnership of health boards and trusts set up in 1992 to serve the whole border region between Derry and Dundalk. It has used EU funding to undertake and provide a range of cross-border projects and services in acute care, primary care, family and child care, learning disabilities, health promotion, public health and mental health. However, CAWT's successful example has not been followed elsewhere. This is a major missed opportunity for north-south health co-operation. Another key sector is energy, which ironically was not designated as an area for co-operation under the Good Friday Agreement, but where the electricity companies have acted as a major commercial driver. This saw the extension of the south's natural gas pipeline network to Northern Ireland in 2005; the establishment of an all-island (wholesale) electricity market in 2007 and an all-island electricity grid in 2008; and finally, the Republic's state-owned electricity company, the Electricity Supply Board, buying the north's largest supplier, Northern Ireland Electricity, in 2010. As we move from oil and coal-fired electricity to renewable energy from a wide variety of natural sources, there must be huge potential for further co-operation in this island of high winds, big waves and strong tides. At a time when the need to combat catastrophic climate change by switching to sustainable energy is becoming more and more urgent, this is an example where co-operation on the island could help in a small way to protect the planet. Tourism Ireland, which markets tourism on the whole island overseas, is the one big cross-border success story. The World Economic Forum has put Ireland third in the world when it comes to overseas tourism marketing. Over a million people visited the Giant's Causeway in 2018 compared to just over 100,000 in the mid-1980s. Belfast's Titanic Centre had 850,000 visitors. In 2017 there were 2.2 million tourists to Northern Ireland, up 70% over the previous eight years. In this sector, the border simply does not make sense. Few, if any, overseas tourists care, or even know, about it. Yet the hugely successful Wild Atlantic Way initiative to promote the beautiful south and west coasts has to stop in Donegal: the overwhelming logic is that it should continue along the Causeway Coast in Co Antrim. Similarly, the Ireland's Ancient East campaign, to promote 5,000 years of history and archaeology, has to exclude the rich ancient sites of Armagh and Down. What possible reason can there be for not replicating our impressive overseas marketing of Ireland abroad, by putting in place the efficiencies and economies of scale that would result from the establishment of one tourist board for the whole island at home? Education can play a vital role in ensuring that the barriers of mutual ignorance and misunderstanding which my generation and previous generations suffered from do not endure. In the 25 years from the late-1980s onwards, north-south co-operation in education and training saw thousands of mainly short-term individual projects funded by the EU and other foreign donors, but which suffered seriously from a lack of the kind of co-ordinating structure which should have been provided by the departments of education in Bangor and Dublin. Some of these projects were significant. In 2010, wearing my hat as director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, I did a report for the two departments which estimated the large numbers of students and young people involved in them: 70,000 in the European Studies programme, involving nearly 200 Irish and Northern Irish secondary schools; 30,000 in the Dissolving Boundaries project, which brought primary, secondary and special schools together through IT and face-to-face contact; 17,000 in the Wider Horizons youth training and employability project; 14,000 in the Education for Reconciliation secondary schools project; and so on. I concluded that report as follows: "This must be the largest cross-border movement of young people for the purposes of education and mutual understanding anywhere in the world in recent memory. "This movement affects not only the students themselves, but their teachers, their families and their communities. There is a great opportunity here for consolidating the present peace and future reconciliation of Ireland by continuing to work with the more open minds of children and young people. This must not be lost by lack of foresight on the part of the leaders and planners of the island's educational systems. If the gains of the extraordinary explosion in north-south educational co-operation of the past 10-15 years are allowed to peter out, what will the people of Ireland say in 10 or 20 or 50 years?" Nine years on, I can only say with great sadness that this is precisely what has happened. The level of north-south co-operation nearly 21 years after the Good Friday Agreement is deeply disappointing. I only hope that Brexit is not the final, knock-out blow to this vital element in both the peace process and the longer-term prospect of reconciliation through practical co-operation on the island. Andy Pollak was the founding director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies in Armagh (http://crossborder.ie) Juan Guaido speaks to supporters in a public plaza in Las Mercedes neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2019. Venezuelas political showdown moves to the United Nations where a Security Council meeting called by the United States will pit backers of President Nicolas Maduro against the Trump administration and supporters of Guaido. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said he has turned down offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with embattled Nicolas Maduro, a day before nationwide street protests called to escalate pressure on the socialist leader to step down. In a letter to both presidents, Mr Guaido urged them to back Venezuelas struggle, saying to remain neutral aligns them with Mr Maduro. At this historical moment that our country is going through, to be neutral is to be on the side of the regime that has condemned hundreds of thousands of human beings to misery, hunger and exile including death, he said. Mr Guaido declared himself interim president last week before tens of thousands of cheering supporters and vowed to topple Mr Maduros administration, which he labelled a dictatorship. Expand Close Nicolas Maduro (Ariana Cubillos/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicolas Maduro (Ariana Cubillos/AP) His claim to the presidency is backed by the US and two dozen other nations. The oppositions priority is to end Mr Maduros grip on power and usher in a transition by holding democratic elections, Mr Guaido said in the letter to Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The US also rejects offers from Mexico, Uruguay and the Vatican to mediate a dialogue. President Donald Trumps national security adviser John Bolton tweeted on Thursday that Mr Maduro and his advisers should retire to a nice beach somewhere far away from Venezuela. I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela. They should take advantage of President Guaidoas amnesty and move on. The sooner the better. John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 31, 2019 Mr Boltons talk turned tougher on Friday in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt in which he warned that it could be a beach area more like Guantanamo. A defiant Mr Maduro remains dug in, blaming the White House for openly backing what he calls a coup to remove him from power and exploit his countrys vast oil wealth. He retains support from powerful allies including Russia and China, but is growing increasingly isolated as more nations back Mr Guaido. Mr Maduro on Friday continued a show of strength that has seen him criss-cross Venezuela to oversee military exercises in recent days as he vows to defend his socialist government no matter the cost. Were in a historic battle, he told several hundred troops standing in formation around armoured vehicles. Were facing the greatest political, diplomatic and economic aggression that Venezuela has confronted in 200 years. The militarys top leadership is backing Maduro, though analysts warn that rank-and-file troops frustrated by their countrys economic and humanitarian crisis may not share that unwavering loyalty. Expand Close Protesters in Caracas (Fernando Llano/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters in Caracas (Fernando Llano/AP) Venezuelas opposition has called on supporters to flood the streets again on Saturday in nationwide protests against Mr Maduro, the second such mass action this week. Mr Guaido led a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday with residents stepping out of their homes and workplaces for two hours. Last week, street protests turned violent in days of unrest that killed nearly three dozen people in clashes with government security forces. EU agrees visa-free travel for UK citizens even after no-deal exit Independent : The EU has agreed to give British citizens visa-free travel to member states, even if there is a no-deal Brexit. A proposed new regulation, which has sparked a row with UK officials by describing Gibraltar as a "colony", will allow visits to the EU for up to 90 days. Britain has already confirmed that EU citizens will be able to make short-term visits to the UK without a visa after Brexit takes place on 29 March. The European Council said in a statement: "EU ambassadors today agreed that, following Brexit, UK citizens coming to the Schengen area for a short stay (90 days in any 180 days) should be granted visa free travel. "Ambassadors mandated the Council Presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on this legislative proposal. "According to EU rules, visa exemption is granted on condition of reciprocity. The government of the United Kingdom has stated that it does not intend to require a visa from EU citizens travelling to the UK for short stays. "In the event that the United Kingdom introduces a visa requirement for nationals of at least one member state in the future, the existing reciprocity mechanism would apply and the three institutions and the member states would commit to act without delay in applying the mechanism." The regulation distinguishes between those living in Britain and those who are citizens of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory which is now in the EU. A contentious footnote in the agreement reads: "Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations." The British ambassador to the EU raised objections to the text in a meeting of envoys, according to reports. A government spokesperson said: "The EU's provisions for visa-free travel into and out of the Schengen area cover Gibraltar, and mean that in any scenario, British nationals from Gibraltar will be able to travel for short stays in and out of Spain and other countries in the Schengen area. "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way. "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltar's democratic wish to be British." by Peter Zhao Members of the United Front, police, representatives of the Religious Affairs Bureau entered the churches while Mass was being celebrated, interrupted the liturgical services, chased the faithful away, threatened them and decreed the closure of the communities. Msgr. Wei Jingyi, the bishop of Qiqihar, despite being underground, has good relations with the government. The suppression occurred after the signing of the China-Holy See Agreement. Qiqihar (AsiaNews) - At least seven churches and their communities have been suppressed in recent months in the diocese of Qiqihar, whose bishop, Msgr. Giuseppe Wei Jingyi (photo 2) is recognized by the Holy See, but not by the government. Members of the United Front, police, representatives of the Religious Affairs Bureau entered the churches while mass was being celebrated, interrupted the liturgical services, chased the faithful away, threatened them and decreed the closure of the communities. The priests were asked to leave the territory if they did not want to be forcibly expelled. The suppressed communities are all "underground", that is unregistered. However, until now they had good relations with the local authorities. There are two curious facts: first of all the suppression began at the end of September, shortly after the signing of the agreement between China and the Vatican (22 September) and the lifting of the excommunication of the official bishop of the area, Msgr. Giuseppe Yue Fushen of Harbin; secondly, it should be emphasized that Msgr. Wei, despite being an underground bishop, also enjoyed good relations with the authorities. The dynamics of the suppressions reflect the implementation of the new regulations for religious activities (launched in February 2018), which provide for the elimination of the underground Church. The implementation has been ongoing since the end of September, as if the China-Vatican agreement had precipitated the times: as a sign of challenge, or of the united fronts certainty towards the Vatican. The faithful denounce the violation of the Chinese Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all. Some suspect that the suppression is also endorsed by Bishop Yue Fusheng. In the diocese of Qiqihar, last December, the police semi-destroyed a convent and expelled the nuns (photo 3). Here is a report from the suppressed communities. At the end of September, Li Fu Min, deputy director of Da Qing's Religious Affairs department, traveled with his collaborators to the city of Shuang Fa. During a meeting in the local government office, he told Father Zhang Feng that the parish was not allowed to carry out religious activities. The priest could either choose to collaborate immediately in interrupting all activities, or they would do it by force. Later, at the end of October, a delegation led by Xiao Guo Feng, deputy director of the United Front of Zhangzhou County, accompanied by more than 10 people - including members of the local community and the police from the jurisdiction - reached the parish of Zhangzhou shortly before the start of the evening mass, declaring that church was illegal and obliging all the faithful inside to get out. After a few days, several local police officers on behalf of the United Front Department repeatedly expelled the faithful and banned all activities, interfering with the religious life of the community, such as preventing meetings and liturgical activity. Finally, on December 21st, firefighters declared the two churches of Zhangzhou and Shuang Fa accessible because they lacked the government license for religious activities. The community was also forbidden to celebrate Christmas it in another place that it had rented. The priests and the faithful had to celebrate outside in the cold, in front of the church. In Feng Le Parish, the city's deputy government secretary went to church at least 10 times accompanied by district police officers, to stop the ceremonies and expel the faithful from the church. They also changed the lock on the church door several times and even threatened to seal the structure if the faithful continued to meet. Before Christmas, dozens of local government officials went to the church of Wu Yuan, forcibly dragging Father Liu away while celebrating mass, sparking great panic among the faithful, showing complete lack of respect for the place of worship and deeply wounding the hearts of those present. They also said that they would expel the priest and it was forbidden to meet and celebrate again there. From the first half of 2018 until today, United Front and religious affairs officers have been targeting Father Shen. They claim that the priest is an unofficial priest, influenced by foreign powers and asked him to leave Wu Da Lian Chi. On December 24, the head of the Department of Religious Affairs went to the parish and, in the presence of the president, invited Father Shen to leave; if he did not leave by the end of the year (2018), they would force him out. Before Christmas, they told the faithful of the church of Tong Bei (Bei An) several times that their meetings are illegal and will be banned. In November and December (2018), the police went to church in Jia Ge Da Qi every 2-3 days preventing us from acknowledging and welcoming our parish priest. For the faithful these behaviors seriously harm their most basic rights and their freedom and faith. With repression and persecution, our faithful are not allowed to come together and live their faith. The methods used by many government officials trample on the rights of citizens and the faithful and are strongly disrespectful of the sacredness of places of worship. The faithful of many parishes have expressed their disappointment to their pastors, priests and bishops. They are very angry about the fact that government officials apply the law in an arbitrary manner, even without the directives of the central government. The priests and faithful of the official Church have also spread the word that the government is implementing a policy of repression of the underground community, inviting the faithful to listen to Bishop Yue Fusheng: this situation is causing great anger and a serious internal conflict among the faithful. The Venezuelan opposition leader has warned security officers to stay away from his family after he challenged Nicolas Maduros claim to the presidency. Juan Guaido told a crowd that members of a special police unit known for its brutal tactics had gone to his high-rise apartment in a middle-class neighbourhood of Caracas while his 20-month-old daughter was inside. I hold you responsible for anything that might happen to my baby, the 35-year-old politician said as his wife stood beside him. They're not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family He rushed home and emerged an hour later holding his smiling daughter, named after Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan patriot who paved the way for Venezuelas independence. He described how four agents from the polices Special Action Force had arrived at the building and asked security guards stationed there for his wife. Children are sacred, he admonished the agents as a crowd of supporters applauded. Wives are sacred. So dont cross that red line. Expand Close People holding signs with a message that reads in Spanish: No more dictatorship (Ariana Cubillos/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People holding signs with a message that reads in Spanish: No more dictatorship (Ariana Cubillos/AP) In a statement on Twitter, Venezuelas police denied that special agents had gone to Mr Guaidos home, dismissing the claim as totally FALSE. Mr Guaido is at the centre of Venezuelas political upheaval as he presses forward with establishing a transitional government after swearing himself in as the nations rightful president in a move denounced by Mr Maduro as a US-backed coup. In a country where the socialist leaders foes often end up behind bars, Mr Guaido has thus far managed to avoid arrest, but in recent days authorities have let it be known that even as his powerful international support grows Mr Guaido is not untouchable. Expand Close Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro march in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro march in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP) On Tuesday, the government-stacked Supreme Court barred Mr Guaido from leaving the country and froze his bank accounts while chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab, a ally of Mr Maduro, conducts an investigation into his anti-government activities. Once more they are playing the intimidation game, Mr Guaido said. Theyre not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family. Even while denouncing the special police force, Mr Guaido appealed to them and the military to abandon Mr Maduro and abide by the constitution, which he contends instructs him as leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to take the presidency. The opposition and a large segment of the international community consider Mr Maduros reelection fraudulent, in part because the presidents most popular adversaries were barred from running. You have time to put yourselves on the right side of history, he said. The Trump administration says it is withdrawing from a treaty that has been a centrepiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War, in a move some analysts claim could fuel a new arms race. President Donald Trump said in a statement that Russia, for far too long, has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad. This morning, @SecPompeo delivered remarks to the media on the #INFTreaty. pic.twitter.com/KHVPSKPAOI Department of State (@StateDept) February 1, 2019 Mr Trump said the US has fully adhered to the pact for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. Nato said that if Moscow failed to destroy all new missile systems that Washington insists violate the treaty, Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty. Russia is in material breach of the #INFTreaty & must use next 6 months to return to full & verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise. #NATO fully supports the US suspension & notification of withdrawal from the Treaty: https://t.co/VOhUB0HoAd pic.twitter.com/28Rwicqr8o Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 1, 2019 A US withdrawal had been expected for months, after years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the pact. It was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,400 miles. Russia denies being in violation. US officials have also expressed worry that China, which is not party to the 1987 treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treatys limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it is unclear how it would do that. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliance before it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with the actual pullout taking place six months later. Technically, a US withdrawal would take effect six months after this weeks notification, leaving a small window for saving the treaty, but in talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute, leaving little reason to think either side would change its stance. Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the Russian state news agency Tass as saying after the Beijing talks: Unfortunately, there is no progress. The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum. He said he expected Washington to suspend its obligations under the treaty, although he added that Moscow remained ready to search for solutions that could keep the treaty in force. Russiaas violation of the INF Treaty is a serious problem. However, U.S. withdrawal from the treaty without an effective strategy would be counterproductive. Read the policy outlook by @pranayrvaddi and @PerkovichG.https://t.co/B5siT0sdA6 Carnegie Endowment (@CarnegieEndow) January 31, 2019 Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement this week that while Russias violation of the INF treaty is a serious problem, US withdrawal under current circumstances would be counter-productive. Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia, they said. In Moscow, Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of parliament, said: I congratulate the whole world; the United States has taken another step toward its destruction today. Senator Igor Morozov said: This step carries a threat to the entire system of international security, but first of all for Russia because after leaving the INF the Americans will deploy these missiles in European countries. "Our wish and our call is for #INFTreaty to be preserved with full compliance by both parties" @FedericaMog pic.twitter.com/r7g0HECNiA European External Action Service - EEAS (@eu_eeas) February 1, 2019 Before the withdrawal announcement, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on both sides to stick to the treaty. What we definitely dont want to see is our continent going back to being a battlefield or a place where other superpowers confront themselves. This belongs to a faraway history, she said. Police tape cordons off the site of a walkway collapse at the Driehoek High School in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. At least 3 students were killed and scores injured at the school near Johannesburg, a South African official said. (AP Photo) At least three pupils are dead and 23 injured after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, South African officials have said. Panyaza Lesufi, head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark. Two boys and a girl were killed, he said. It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state, Mr Lesufi said. He reported scores trapped but an Associated Press witness later said no one remained in the rubble. When we arrived we found that there are still children underneath, said Kay Makhubela, spokesman for Gauteng police. He said about nine people were seriously injured. The students at the school are aged 13 to 18, local broadcaster eNCA reported. It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Police said engineering reports would form part of the investigation. Local media posted photos of a large slab and scattered bricks with the scene blocked off by emergency tape. The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed. Young boys from a neighbouring school came by to lay flowers. Expand Close A pastor leads prayers at the school (AP) AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A pastor leads prayers at the school (AP) My heart goes out for the school because a lot of my friends were (there), said one of the boys, Herco Lintvelt. I hope they can build the school up again. And I hope everyone who is here must be fine. A statement by AfriForum, a civil society group that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders. President Donald Trump says he has seen the reports about the racially-charged attack in Chicago on Empire actor Jussie Smollett, and described what happened as horrible. President Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that he saw the story the night before and that, It doesnt get worse, as far as Im concerned. The presidents Trump International Hotel & Tower is in the general area where the attack took place. Expand Close (Chicago Police Department) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Chicago Police Department) Smollett, who is gay and black, told police that two masked men attacked him early on Tuesday as he was walking home from a Subway restaurant. He says they beat him, hurled racial and homophobic insults at him, poured an unknown chemical substance on him and looped a rope around his neck before fleeing. Police are gathering and reviewing video from scores of surveillance cameras in the area. They have recovered video that shows Smollett arriving home with a rope around his neck, but they have not found video of the attack itself. They have also released photographs from videos of two people walking in the area about the time of the attack in the hopes that those people can be located and provide them with more information about what happened. Two further arrests have been made in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old in Islington. Nedim Bilgin, 17, was knifed to death in Caledonian Road, Islington, north London, shortly before 7pm on Tuesday night. An 18-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday and is currently being held in custody, while a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The second man has been released on bail, police said. Expand Close 17-year-old Nedim Bilgin (Met Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 17-year-old Nedim Bilgin (Met Police/PA) Officers previously arrested two boys, aged 16 and 17, on suspicion of murder close to the scene of the crime within minutes of the killing. Both have since been bailed pending enquiries. An 18-year-old man who was arrested at a residential address on suspicion of murder a short time after the killing has also been released on bail. Nedim became the eighth person to die as a result of violence in the capital so far this year. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a knife wound. Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Investigating officer DCI Mark Wrigley said: This fatal knife attack took place just before 7pm in an area that lots of people would have been walking or driving through. We have had reports of people seen running around and on pedal bikes near Caledonian Road junction with Tilloch Street at around this time. Were you there? Did you see anything suspicious? Did you record footage before or after the attack or did have you vehicles dashcam on? We need to hear from you to help build a clearer picture of what happened. Temporary Chief Superintendent Nick Davies said: Five arrests have been made so far. The investigation continues apace. My officers and those from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are carrying out a number of detailed forensic and CCTV footage related enquiries. I completely understand the alarm and concern it has raised from those who live and work in the area. Officers are continuing their painstaking work to piece together the details of the attack. A soldier desperate for money joined a ring of migrant smugglers so he could pay off spiralling gambling debts prompted by the horror of seeing his best friend killed in action, a court has heard. Lance Corporal Kyle Harris was jailed for three years on Friday for his part in the conspiracy which saw him earn 5,000 a time for smuggling Kurdish asylum seekers into the UK from the Calais Jungle. The member of the Princess of Wales Regiment served two tours in Afghanistan before moving to the Barker Barracks in Paderborn, Germany. While on leave, he would travel home hiding migrants in the boot of his car, Maidstone Crown Court heard. The 30-year-old, dressed in a dark suit with white shirt and grey tie, wiped tears from his eyes as defence barrister Isabelle Gillard told the court how he battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeing his best friend and colleague blown up by a bomb. Expand Close Lance Corporal Kyle Harris, formerly of the Princess of Wales Regiment, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lance Corporal Kyle Harris, formerly of the Princess of Wales Regiment, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court (Gareth Fuller/PA) Private Thomas Lake, 29, died in 2011 while Harris was completing his second tour of an isolated part of Helmand Province. He tried to save him but watched in vain as he died, Ms Gillard said. Described as a courageous and disciplined soldier who had served in the Army for six years in frontline infantry, Harris was trusted with significant roles above his rank and had an exemplary disciplinary record including several significant achievements such as winning medals for his work, Ms Gillard said. The Army was his life but after the death he became withdrawn and was struggling with demons, having nightmares and experiencing insomnia, Ms Gillard said, adding: The events that day led directly in a downward spiral to him committing these offences. He was put on anti-depressants but given very little assistance by the Army mental health team so turned to drink, drugs and then became addicted to gambling using the base camp wifi late at night, racking up debts of 30,000 and so was desperate for money. Judge Adele Williams gave him credit for pleading guilty to conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration and money laundering reducing his sentence to a total of three years in light of his personal circumstances. She said: You have served your country and suffered PTSD as a result of your service and witnessed the death of your best friend. Middlesbrough car wash owner Zinden Ahmed was jailed for 10 years for his part in the conspiracy and possession with intent to supply a class A drug after around 136 grams (5oz) of high-purity cocaine with the street value of 13,600 was found at his home. Expand Close Zinden Ahmed was jailed for 10 years at Maidstone Crown Court (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Zinden Ahmed was jailed for 10 years at Maidstone Crown Court (Gareth Fuller/PA) The 36-year-old, who has two young children and has lived in the UK for 15 years, initially recruited Harris to bring his brother Huner Ahmed into the UK but the plot then became a commercial venture to bring in other Kurds. Hadi Hassan was used as a go-between to reach out to migrants in the camps and arrange the crossings, the court heard. The 35-year-old was jailed for two years and eight months after being brought back to the UK from Turkey to face the charges. The conspiracy took place between March and May 2016. Harris brought three people into the country to Nottingham, Peterborough and Banbury during several trips in April after arranging the details over text. Ahmed arranged to pay Harris 2,500 in advance and a further 2,500 once each of the migrants had been delivered to the UK. He met them at a McDonalds restaurant in Coquelles just outside Calais and close to the entrance to the Channel Tunnel. Harris was arrested in May 2016 when an Iraqi and a Syrian migrant were found in the back of his car by border officials and was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence after admitting the single offence. He was dishonourably discharged from the Army and has since found work as a Surrey pub chain manager. But he never volunteered any further information about the wider conspiracy and the court previously heard claims he boasted at the base about his escapades. Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said Harris needed very little encouragement and would have continued had he not been caught. Andrew Hill, defending Ahmed, said he was a hard-working man who became embroiled in criminality after fulfilling his quest to bring his brother into the UK. Judge Williams said: This became a commercial operation despite the fact there were some humanitarian and loyalty motives. She acknowledged the personal tragedy of each defendant but said they had no regard at all for the need of the authorities to record and carry out checks on who was entering the UK and the mischief of their offending was to evade border officials. Fellow serving soldier of the same regiment David Plumstead, 24, was cleared of the same charge at an earlier trial after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence for the case against him to proceed. The row was triggered by a footnote on the draft European Council document (Ben Birchall/PA) Downing Street has clashed with Brussels over its description of Gibraltar as a colony. A European Council document setting out plans for visa-free travel for Britons after Brexit notes the controversy between Spain and the UK over the sovereignty of the territory. But the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: It is completely unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. The 32,000 people of Gibraltar are used to the constant attempts by successive Spanish governments to bully us in every possible wayGibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo Gibraltars Chief Minister Fabian Picardo accused Madrid of trying to bully the British Overseas Territory by demanding the contentious description in the draft document. The Gibraltarian government said the use of such language, were it to materialise in the final documents, does not assist the creation of a climate of understanding and trust between Gibraltar and Spain as we prepare to leave the EU. Expand Close The controversial footnote on Gibraltar / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The controversial footnote on Gibraltar The row was triggered by a footnote on the draft European Council document which states: Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Mr Picardo said: No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect of Gibraltar. The 32,000 people of Gibraltar are used to the constant attempts by successive Spanish governments to bully us in every possible way. This is no different to the sort of abuse we have had from former Spanish administrations. A row with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over Gibraltar almost derailed efforts to agree the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement between Theresa May and the EU in November. The diplomatic spat which threatened to derail the Brexit process was resolved after a clarification about the legal position and emergency talks involving Mr Sanchez, European Council president Donald Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. The mother and sister of a woman who has vanished with her three-year-old son have urged her to come home. Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, disappeared with Olly Sheridan six months ago after becoming embroiled in family court litigation with ex-partner Patrick Sheridan. Her mother Donna, 47, and sister Maddie, 22, on Friday made a joint plea with Mr Sheridan, who is in his mid-forties, and said Olly needed to come home to his normal life. They issued a joint statement after a judge analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London. We just want to know that Olly is safe and we plead for Ellie to return home as soon as possible, they said. We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friendsJoint statement We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friends. Mr Justice Williams had initially raised the alarm in December. He said he remained gravely concerned. Miss Yarrow-Sanders, who is from Basildon, Essex, disappeared with Olly in July, a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a critical family court hearing, according to lawyers. Family court hearings had been staged in private and journalists were barred from identifying anyone involved. But Mr Justice Williams has lifted the identity bar in the hope that publicity will help find Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders. He said family members could be named and photographs published. Essex Police are also searching and have urged anyone with information to get in touch. A Cabinet minister has warned MPs that they may not be re-elected to Parliament if they block Theresa Mays Brexit agreement and force the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal. Liam Fox said politicians would have little cover when they next face the voters if their actions led to a no-deal exit, as he became the latest frontbencher to suggest Britains withdrawal may have to be delayed. The International Trade Secretary said Downing Streets insistence that the UK will leave the EU on March 29, and suggestions by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom that the exit date could be pushed back were not incompatible stances. There would be a huge difference between an extension to Article 50 because we hadnt reached an agreement or a short delay because we had reached an agreement and needed the legislation to implement it, he said after a speech in London. We can get our domestic legislation through if we quickly reach an agreement with the EU and thats in everyones interest. Dr Fox, a prominent Brexiteer, said he hoped to avoid a no-deal exit by securing an agreement. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox says Britainas post-Brexit relationship with Europe will be better for both the UK and the EU pic.twitter.com/kdnhnwW3Pr Harriet Line (@HarriLine) February 1, 2019 But he warned: I listen to Members of Parliament complaining about the potential effects of no-deal while voting against the deal itself. I think they have to ask themselves whose interests they actually represent because ultimately they will have to answer to their voters for their own decisions. Those who block the deal and then complain about no-deal I think will have little cover when they next face the voters. Dr Fox also urged the remaining EU members to reach an agreement with the UK as quickly as possible, as he said it was not a good time to introduce unnecessary instability into the European economy. He told the audience at the Policy Exchange think tank: We are still aiming to get to the 29th March thats the date we promised the British people. The answer is to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. And I think there are factors frankly driving that process. Yesterday we saw that Italy is now officially in recession, weve seen weakness in the German economy and weve seen weakness in the French economy. This is not a good time to introduce further unnecessary instability into that European economy which is why I hope the European Union will recognise that the best way forward for all of us is to get an agreement as quickly as possible. BNP men should take to street to free Khaleda, says Kh Mahbub Staff Reporter : BNP Vice-Chairman Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain on Friday said, the party men need to take to the streets to free its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail. "Khaleda Zia is a victim of the government's political vengeances. So, I think it will not be easy to free her through the legal process. It is highly necessary to build popular movement to get her released from jail," said Mahbub Hossain while addressing a protest meeting as the chief guest in the National Press Club. The Senior Supreme Court Lawyer said, "It will not be easy to free her without government's will. It is because the government has victimized her." He said the party leaders and workers should join street movement for Khaleda Zia's immediate release. It is the only way in this regards. 'Nagorik Odhikar Andolon Forum', a civic platform organized the meeting demanding Khaleda Zia's immediate release from jail. "The history will deliver verdict how far we were right to contest in the 11th general election keeping Khaleda Zia in jail," he said. He asked the BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront leaders to build tough movement on a single issue and that is to free Khaleda Zia from jail. Sayeed Ahmed Aslam, Advisor of the organization, presided over the programme. MPs announcing the result of a vote on Sir Graham Bradys amendment to the Prime Ministers Brexit deal in the Commons (UK Parlianent/Jessica Taylor/PA) As the countdown continues to the scheduled date of Brexit on March 29, heres whats been happening over the past week. Days to go 56 What happened this week? Voting on a series of amendments to Theresa Mays Plan B, the House of Commons backed a move to authorise the Prime Minister to reopen her Withdrawal Agreement and get rid of the controversial Irish backstop. But the plan met a wall of resistance in Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Dublin, where EU leaders were united in saying there would be no renegotiation. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt became the most senior minister to suggest that Brexit may have to be delayed beyond the end of March. Expand Close Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the partys chief whip Nick Brown met Theresa May in her Commons office, after the Labour leader ended a boycott of cross-party talks on Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the partys chief whip Nick Brown met Theresa May in her Commons office, after the Labour leader ended a boycott of cross-party talks on Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) What happens next? No plans for a trip to Brussels have yet been announced, but Mrs May is expected to seek meetings with EU leaders to attempt to persuade them to consider a rethink of the backstop plans to keep the Irish border open after Brexit. Good week Sir Graham Brady. The chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee achieved something which had long eluded the Prime Minister, by uniting the partys feuding wings behind a Brexit plan. Expand Close Yvette Coopers amendment, which could have delayed Brexit to the end of the year, was defeated in the House of Commons (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Yvette Coopers amendment, which could have delayed Brexit to the end of the year, was defeated in the House of Commons (PA) Bad week Yvette Cooper and Nick Boles. The authors of a cross-party bid to put Parliament in control of the Brexit process saw their plans go down to defeat by a margin of 23 votes, thanks in large part to 25 Labour MPs who rebelled against Jeremy Corbyns orders to back it, with 14 voting against and 11 abstaining. Quote of the week It is now clear that there is a route that can secure a substantial and sustainable majority in this House for leaving the EU with a deal Prime Minister Theresa May, following Tuesdays votes in the House of Commons. Tweet of the week My message to PM @theresa_may: The EU position is clear and consistent. The Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation. Yesterday, we found out what the UK doesnt want. But we still dont know what the UK does want. #brexit European Council president Donald Tusk. My message to PM @theresa_may: The EU position is clear and consistent. The Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation. Yesterday, we found out what the UK doesn't want. But we still donat know what the UK does want. #brexit Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 30, 2019 Word of the week Alternative. MPs vote for alternative arrangements to replace the backstop was hailed by Mrs May as sending a clear message to Brussels of what Parliament wants. But challenged by Mr Corbyn at Prime Ministers Questions to explain what this alternative was, she was unable to give a specific answer as was Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay when asked five times in a radio interview. A search is currently underway on lands near Omeath, Co Louth. A Garda operation is currently underway near the Irish border as part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of dissident republican groups. The search operation began on lands near Omeath, Co Louth on Friday morning. During the searches Gardai have recovered a substantial quantity of ammunition of varied calibre along with a mortar tube (pending examination by Garda ballistics experts). No arrests have been made in connection with the searches. Army EOD are currently assisting at the site and a cordon is in place. The search is expected to continue into tomorrow. The operation is being led by members of the Garda Special Detective and Emergency Response Units. Irish premier Leo Varadkar will travel to Brussels next week to discuss no-deal Brexit preparations with the leaders of the European Commission and Council. Leo Varadkar, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk will meet on Wednesday for a number of Brexit-related meetings. The leaders are to discuss preparations for a no-deal Brexit in the event that the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified. The contingency work for no deal is intensifying both within the European Commission and across the member states, according to the Irish government. The Taoiseach set out once again the unchanged Irish and EU position on the Withdrawal Agreement and the backstop.Irish government The Taoiseach is to outline the work under way in Ireland and the support that may be needed given the potential impact of a hard Brexit on the country. It was revealed by the Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe this week that a no-deal Brexit could knock an estimated 4.25% off the countrys GDP. Mr Varadkars office has said that he will also use the opportunity to thank the institutions, and the other member states, for their continuing support for Ireland. They are also expected to discuss the latest developments in London. Mr Varadkar reiterated his governments stance on no deal during a phone call with British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday afternoon. In a statement following the call, the Irish government said: The Taoiseach set out once again the unchanged Irish and EU position on the Withdrawal Agreement and the backstop, noting that the latest developments had reinforced the need for a backstop which is legally robust and workable in practice. The DUP has said the Government's focus must be on renegotiating the withdrawal agreement with Brussels as a senior Cabinet member warned Brexit may have to be delayed to finalise legislation. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Article 50 might need to be extended if progress isn't made in talks with the EU in coming weeks. But Downing Street appeared to contradict Mr Hunt. At a media briefing, a spokesman for Theresa May said: "The Prime Minister's position on this is unchanged. We will be leaving on March 29." Read More Responding to Mr Hunt's remarks, a DUP spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph: "The priority must be to reach a deal which commands a majority in line with what the House of Commons voted for on Tuesday. That's where the focus must be rather than speculation on the process of passing subsequent legislation." Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said: "The UK is very far behind in preparations for a no deal crashout. Indeed, it is impossible to prepare properly for that scenario. "But even in the context in which the UK can agree the withdrawal agreement, it is now almost impossible to take all of the legislative steps. "The UK has had plenty of time to prepare for Brexit, but has been hampered by delusions and contradictory objectives. If there is to be a modicum of sanity, then some form of extension seems inevitable." TUV leader Jim Allister last night said the clear motivation of many people seeking to extend Article 50 was to deny Brexit. "It is only by holding firm both to the 29th March timeline and the no-deal option that there is any prospect of Brussels budging," he said. "The common denominator of advocacy for delay and taking no-deal off the table is a desire to remain, not leave. Thus, both must be rejected." Earlier Mr Hunt warned Brexit could be delayed to enable the Government to pass crucial legislation if a deal was not agreed until late March. He said it was "difficult to know" if negotiations with Brussels would run until the eleventh hour, but confirmed that "extra time" may be needed to pass laws. But Downing Street insisted Mrs May was "determined" to ensure that all the necessary arrangements would be in place for the UK to leave on March 29. Mr Hunt's suggestion was echoed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said it was "possible" Article 50 would need to be extended in order to secure a deal. It came as the Institute for Government (IFG) said the UK is unprepared for a no-deal exit as there would be "extremely damaging" disruption. The think tank predicted that in eight out of 11 broad policy areas, including health and borders, the Government would be unable to avoid "major negative impacts". IFG director Bronwen Maddox told the BBC the UK is "not ready for no-deal", adding: "The disruption from no-deal - simply from the lack of preparation - would be extremely damaging. It cannot be dismissed as a mere blip." Mr Hunt told Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it is true that if we ended up approving a deal in the days before 29 March then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation, but if we are able to make progress sooner, then that might not be necessary. "We can't know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen." He said it was still possible to reach a deal, as a consensus in Parliament had emerged, and added that the Government is not ruling out any potential solutions, including a technological solution to solve the Irish border question. Meanwhile, speaking in Derbyshire, Mr Corbyn told reporters: "It is possible that there will have to be an extension in order to get an agreement because we cannot leave the EU on March 29 without an agreement. "Crashing out would mean problems of transport, problems of medicine supply, problems of supply to the food processing industry that does just in time deliveries - and that simply is not acceptable. "This Government has had two-and-a-half years to negotiate and has failed to do so." A teenager in custody on a charge of murdering a father-of-five is allegedly under "a live threat" from other inmates, the High Court heard today. He is the youngest of three to be accused of killing Karol Kelly, 35, in Derry last year. Mr Kelly was stabbed to death at Grafton Street in the Rosemount area of the city on March 4. Three people have been charged with his murder - including the youngest defendant who was aged 17 at the time of the incident. He is not being named amid ongoing legal issues. His lawyers mounted a fresh application for bail amid plans to move him from Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre to Hydebank Young Offenders Centre. The court heard that an alleged threat to the teenager from two others currently being held at Hydebank has been assessed as "greater than initially thought... a live threat". Prosecution counsel Iryna Kennedy said if he was transferred those two would be moved to ensure they were not held together. But Plunkett Nugent, defending, claimed the pair could still wield influence even after any relocation. "The threat may not necessarily be removed with them," he contended. Adjourning the application, Mr Justice McAlinden stressed that the teenage defendant will not be transferred without the necessary safeguards. "This court is not going to make any order which could possibly put him at increased risk of harm," he said. "Unless and until this court is satisfied that steps will be taken to ensure his safety this court directs that no move from his present place of incarceration takes place." The case is to be reviewed again in a week's time. A passenger train travels through Worting Junction in Basingstoke, Hampshire in snowy conditions (Andrew Matthews/PA) Hazardous ice and further snow flurries are forecast as freezing weather keeps a firm grip on Britain. Travellers were hit by long delays and schools closed their doors as February began with the coldest night for seven years. A coating of up to 14cm of snow caused havoc in the South West, forcing motorists to abandon their cars and seek shelter as traffic stood still. By Friday evening, RAF Odiham in Hampshire had recorded 19cm of snow. There were long delays on the M3 westbound between junctions six and seven near Basingstoke due to snow and stranded vehicles, with the tailbacks stretching to Farnborough. One lane has now opened, Highways England said, but it urged travellers to delay their journeys or find alternative routes. Most flights were cancelled from a snow-covered Bristol Airport on Friday, but normal service is expected on Saturday. Flight disruption at airports in Cardiff and Bristol left queues of rugby fans facing a race to get to Paris ahead of Friday evenings France vs Wales Six Nations opener. Ex-Wales captain and BBC pundit Sam Warburton was one of the passengers due to fly on the cancelled 9.30am flight from Cardiff Airport to Charles de Gaulle, while fan Leon Browns axed flight forced him to put his two game tickets up for sale. Expand Close Gulls and ducks stand on ice in front of canal boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes, Wiltshire (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gulls and ducks stand on ice in front of canal boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes, Wiltshire (Jonathan Brady/PA) Salt-spreaders covered 80,000 miles of Englands motorways and major A roads through the night to keep traffic moving, Highways England said. More snow is forecast going into the weekend, and though it is unlikely to be as heavy, there is a danger of untreated, treacherous ice covering paths and roads. A fresh yellow warning for snow and ice covering large areas of the UK took effect from noon on Friday until the same time on Saturday. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) It covers northern Scotland, most of Northern Ireland, the eastern coast of England and the west coast of Wales. A separate warning for ice is in place for the southern counties between 1pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday. Conditions will be largely bright and cold through Saturday but a widespread hard frost and freezing fog are forecast for the early hours of Sunday. Expand Close A person snowboards in Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve on the Chilterns escarpment in Oxfordshire (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A person snowboards in Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve on the Chilterns escarpment in Oxfordshire (Victoria Jones/PA) Elsewhere on Friday, a landslip at a village in Cornwall blocked off vehicle access to around 30 homes and kept other cars trapped inside a cul-de-sac. Around 1,000 tonnes of hillside collapsed on to the narrow Scrations Lane, in the village of Lostwithiel, but no-one was injured and no property damaged, Cornwall Council said. More than 100 people who left their cars on the A30 to seek shelter at a pub in Cornwall were told to pick up their vehicles as soon as possible by Highways England. Expand Close Loch Ard in the Trossachs National Park near Stirling after overnight snow (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Loch Ard in the Trossachs National Park near Stirling after overnight snow (Andrew Milligan/PA) Councillor Geoff Brown, who handles transport at Cornwall Council, said the actions of a few impacted on many after abandoned cars blocked emergency services, delaying the clear-up. Authorities asked motorists to completely clear their vehicles of snow and Wiltshire and Thames Valley police forces advised drivers to travel only if absolutely necessary. One driver claimed he could see perfectly well after his car, with its side windows completely encased in snow, was stopped in High Wycombe, police added. Expand Close A tractor with a snow plough clears the snow on the B3081 near to Shaftesbury in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A tractor with a snow plough clears the snow on the B3081 near to Shaftesbury in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) Meanwhile, images posted online showed firefighters working with shovels to clear a route out of their stations. Thousands of schoolchildren were enjoying an extended weekend as hundreds of schools closed their doors on Thursday and Friday. Fridays closures included more than half of Bristols schools, more than 300 in Buckinghamshire, more than 150 in Cornwall and scores across Oxfordshire. On the rail network, passengers were urged to check before they travel in case the conditions impact services and some Eurostar services were cancelled on Friday. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Transport for London also advised passengers to check their service status before setting off. The Met Office said a low of minus 15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight on Thursday at Braemar in the Scottish Highlands. Had it fallen more than 0.2C (0.4F) lower it would have surpassed the low of minus 15.6C (3.92F) set in 2012. Northern Ireland's health watchdog is at the centre of High Court action over its decision to register a facility owned by a disgraced care home firm Northern Ireland's health watchdog is at the centre of High Court action over its decision to register a facility owned by a disgraced care home firm. Runwood Homes is reopening Ashbrooke Care Home in Enniskillen under a new name, 17 months after the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) closed it as it posed a serious risk to life. The regulator took the unprecedented step of shutting the home with immediate effect in August 2017 because conditions there were considered so dangerous. However, it emerged earlier this month that Runwood Homes was taking steps to reopen it under the name Meadow View Care Home, and it has now been approved by the RQIA. Read More By law, all care homes must be registered with the RQIA before they can admit residents. According to the RQIA website, the home is allowed to provide residential care to elderly people and people with dementia, while the registered manager is a former manager of Ashbrooke Home. It comes as the PSNI continues its investigations into allegations of institutional abuse and neglect at another Runwood Homes facility, Dunmurry Manor. While there is no enforcement action currently under way against any Runwood Homes facility here, the company has continually failed to meet basic standards at a number of its premises. Julieann McNally, whose grandmother spent time at Dunmurry Manor, last night revealed she had launched legal proceedings against the RQIA. She said: "It is unbelievable that the RQIA has made this decision. "Runwood Homes still refuses to accept the criticisms made by the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland. "As long as they continue to reject his findings, the public cannot have any confidence that they have addressed the problems that put so many people at risk." Ms McNally said the RQIA has been served with a pre-action protocol informing it of intention of a judicial review of the decision to register Meadow View. The RQIA said the organisation's priority is the safety and quality of care that will be delivered to everyone who will be living there. It said the RQIA carries out a range of checks, examining areas such as the fitness of those responsible for the management of the home, references and AccessNI vetting. It continued: "RQIA will only issue a registration certificate when the provider and the manager have satisfied all the checks we have put in place. "Following a new registration, RQIA may also provide additional support as the home settles with a new staff team and new residents, to help ensure that care is safe and of the high quality that the residents expect and deserve. "RQIA is proud of the work we do to protect, promote and ensure the safety and quality of care of the people who live in and use the services we register and inspect. "We can only do this in partnership with the providers, managers and staff in these services, and our colleagues in health and social care trusts." Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan said it was imperative that the health trusts and the RQIA ensure the safety of anyone who moves to Meadow View. The Western Health Trust last night said it has no contract in place with Runwood Homes to provide services at Meadow View. However, Mr Sheehan said he has been told otherwise by officials, who said the trust has commissioned services at the facility. He continued: "I am very concerned this nursing home is opening under another name but continues under the management of Runwood Homes. "Given their track record in the home and in other residential homes such as Dunmurry Manor, there needs to be a close eye kept on how Runwood Homes are being managed." Mr Sheehan added: "I think it's important to say that the trusts and RQIA are responsible for the oversight and patient safety, and they should also be accountable for how people are treated in those homes." Two members of staff at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) were attacked at a shop in Co Cavan on Friday afternoon, the firm's boss has claimed. The BBC has reported that two senior management team members of the Fermanagh-based company required medical treatment for their injuries. The Gardai has confirmed they are investigating an assault in the Ballyconnell area at around 1.30pm. "Two males received facial injuries, which are not believed to be serious," a spokesperson said. "No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing." It is the latest in a spate of attacks on homes and businesses linked to the former Quinn Group manufacturing company which was broken up after Sean Quinn fell into bankruptcy after investing in the collapsed Anglo Irish Bank. QIH has previously said there has been a campaign of threats and intimidation against senior management "by persons who had sought the return of Sean Quinn". In October last year arsonists attacked a car at the Co Cavan home of senior manager Tony Lunney. It followed a similar attack at the home of the chief financial officer of QIH, Dara O'Reilly. QIH Chief Executive Liam McCaffrey thanked members of the public who intervened in the attack. Expand Close Chief executive of QIH Liam McCaffrey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief executive of QIH Liam McCaffrey "Cowardly unprovoked attacks of this nature cannot be allowed to go unpunished and we trust the authorities will deal with this accordingly," he said. Firefighters battle to get the blaze at the Lewis Tavern in Dundonald under control yesterday Firefighters battle to get the blaze at the Lewis Tavern in Dundonald under control yesterday Firefighters battle to get the blaze at the Lewis Tavern in Dundonald under control yesterday Firefighters battle to get the blaze at the Lewis Tavern in Dundonald under control yesterday The cause of a blaze which ravaged a pub in east Belfast has yet be the established, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has said. A major fire broke out at the Lewis Tavern in Dundonald around 8am yesterday. The Upper Newtownards Road was closed in both directions as 30 firefighters dealt with the fire at the premises, which is located near the Ulster Hospital. Thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the roof of the building stretched across east Belfast during rush hour. It was later confirmed that no employees had been injured in the incident after a message was posted on the Lewis Tavern's Facebook page which read: "Thank you for the messages of concern. All staff are safe and well." In addition to the dozens of firefighters, the NIFRS said five fire appliances and two specialist appliances were initially sent to the scene. Adjacent buildings were also searched as firefighters continued with their operation into the early evening, which was eventually scaled back to one fire appliance. A NIFRS spokesperson, however, revealed firefighters would likely continue to remain at the scene for a "number of hours". The spokesperson, who confirmed there were no reports of any casualties, said the cause of the fire is "under investigation". During the day, Glider services operating in and around the area were subject to delays and disruption. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 31st January 2019 The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Firefighters are the scene of the blaze on Upper Newtownards Road near the Ulster Hospital. Credit: Malina Maria Virtejanu Firefighters are the scene of the blaze on Upper Newtownards Road near Ulster Hospital. Credit: Malina Maria Virtejanu Firefighters are the scene of the blaze on Upper Newtownards Road near Ulster Hospital. Credit: Malina Maria Virtejanu Firefighters are at the scene of the blaze on Upper Newtownards Road near Ulster Hospital. Credit: Malina Maria Virtejanu Firefighters are at the scene of the blaze on Upper Newtownards Road near Ulster Hospital. Credit: Malina Maria Virtejanu / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene at the Lewis pub in Dundonald, east Belfast, where a mayor fire is taking place. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye The PSNI also warned motorists to expect travel delays as the road closure remained in place during the evening rush hour, and urged drivers to seek alternative routes. Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said the blaze was gut-wrenching for all involved. "It is devastating to see the footage of the fire at one of our members' premises this morning. "Our thoughts are with the management and staff and we'll do all we can to support them at this time," he said. Rape suspect found dead in Jhalakathi bdnews24.com : Another rape suspect has been found dead in Jhalakathi with a note around his neck on Friday. He has been identified as Rakib Hasan, one of the men accused of gang-raping a madrasa student in a case filed with police in Bhandaria. Rakib is the second person accused in the case to be found dead with a note hung around his neck. The note read: I am Rakib who raped in Pirojpur's Bhandaria. This is the fate of rapists. Rapists beware-Hercules." The body was discovered on a field next to a brickfield at Razapur Upazila's Angaria village around 12pm Friday, said Razapur Police Inspector Jahid Hossain. Police found multiple wounds on his head, face and back, the inspector told bdnews24.com. "We are trying to confirm his identity." Six days earlier, Sajal Jomaddar, another suspect in the Bhandaria gang-rape case, was found dead in the district. His body was dumped on a paddy field and the note hung around his neck had read: "I am in this state because I raped a madrasa student". A madrasa student was gang-raped in a betel-leaf farm at Bhandaria's Hetalia village on the morning of Jan 12. Her family filed a case with police on Jan 17. The case named Rakib Hasan, 28, of Bhitabari village in Shialkathi Union, and Sajal Jomaddar, 28, of Nodmula village. Calls for greater transparency in Northern Ireland's health service are getting "louder and louder", politicians have said. Calls for greater transparency in Northern Ireland's health service are getting "louder and louder", politicians have said. Their intervention follows a warning from a senior judge who investigated the serial killer doctor Harold Shipman, who murdered 250 patients before signing their death certificates. Dame Janet Smith said there was a risk that "deliberate killings" in Northern Ireland could go undetected. Read More She called for the introduction of an independent medical examiner in Northern Ireland - a position already approved in England and Wales - but she fears that the Stormont impasse will prevent this. SDLP health spokesman Mark H Durkan MLA backed Dame Janet's comments and claimed the public would back such a move. He said recent high-profile cases, such as the Hyponatraemia Inquiry report and the alleged ill-treatment of patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, showed the demand for transparency was "rightly becoming louder and louder". DUP health spokesman Jim Shannon MP said it was "disconcerting" the Department of Health had been left unsure of its powers to appoint a medical examiner. Speaking to the BBC, Dame Janet added: "The deliberate killing of a patient is, thankfully, very rare. "It is, however, a fact that the health service sometimes closes ranks in the face of criticism and is prepared to cover up failings in the system and in the conduct of medical professionals." "I do not want to sound alarmist and I am not saying there is another Shipman out there. However, the medical examiner system was also designed to detect the cover-up of medical negligence. "I'm sorry to say that is not uncommon, as a number of high-profile health inquiries have proved in recent years." As Brexit continues to dominate political debate, she said it seemed "impossible" that Stormont would reconvene to make the necessary changes. Mr Durkan said: "It's yet another example of how people are being failed by politics here. "Karen Bradley (The Northern Ireland Secretary) passed legislation to provide clarity for civil servants. "But there are so many instances in which we're still being told the authority to take these decisions doesn't exist." Mr Shannon echoed the calls for a medical examiner. "To learn that the Department of Health is unsure if the powers conferred in the Secretary of State's Bill to allow business of the country to carry on without a functioning assembly is disconcerting," he said. "I will be contacting both the Permanent Secretary and Secretary of State to clarify and if necessary seek the changes that are needed to ensure we have this independent medical examiner (who is) able to allay fears and work with the medical staff to ensure families feel there is complete transparency and accountability." A Department of Health Spokesperson said: "The introduction of an independent medical examiner will have implications for policy areas across government departments and will require new legislation and appropriate infrastructure to support it." Police have said they do not believe a fire at a band hall in Keady, Co Armagh was started deliberately. Fire broke out at the Madden Road property at around 3am on Friday. Police and the fire service attended the scene. The Fire Service said two buildings were "well alight" by the time firefighters arrived. One shed has been destroyed and a garage with vehicles inside also badly damaged. The operation at the scene ended at 5.35am. PSNI Inspector Greg Beckett said: "The hall sustained extensive damage as a result and Madden Road was closed for a number of hours. Whilst the reason for the fire is unknown at this time, we do not believe it to have been started deliberately. "We are, however, conducting further enquires and would ask anyone who may have information which could assist us with our enquiries to please contact 101 quoting reference number 98 1/2/19." A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two ATM cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/02/2019 A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press A Digger was used to steal two cash machines at the Asda store in Antrim. Considerable damage was caused to a building during the incident. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press A digger has been used to steal two cash machines at a supermarket in Antrim. It happened at the retailer's Junction One store at around 2am on Friday. The structure housing the cash machines was left demolished. South Antim DUP MLA Pam Cameron said she was "horrified to see evidence of smash and grab of two ATMs". "My colleagues and I will be speaking to [police] about this incident. Anyone with information should pass it on calling 101." She added: "The theft of these ATMs will inconvenience many users. We continue to hear about bank closures and the withdrawal of ATMs from shops due to the increase in cost of having them. "When they are being targeted by thieves that will only further act as a deterrent for businesses to have them at their property. My hope is that the perpetrators are caught and caught soon. DUP MP Paul Girvan added: "The audacity of such thefts is quite startling and it shows how confident the perpetrators are in both executing the crime but also evading any detection. "It is vital that anyone with information in relation to this theft brings that to the attention of the PSNI. It is not long since a similar theft occurred in Ballyclare. Catching those responsible and serving justice for their crimes is the best deterrent to ensure these thefts cease. Police said they believe the cash boxes were taken from the scene in a white pickup truck and a dark four-door saloon car. "The white coloured Mitsubishi L200 pickup style vehicle Reg number SH61 MHE is believed to have been stolen from the Ballyeaston Village area of Ballyclare shortly before 11.05pm last night," Detective Sergeant Gray added. "The vehicle was later found burnt out on the Tildarg Road area at around 7:20am this morning. Police believe that a white coloured canopy which was part of the vehicle at the time it was stolen had been removed and discarded in the area prior to the ATM theft taking place. "Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area at the time of the incident, or who may have seen a white coloured canopy in the area to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 62 1/2/19." Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Northern Ireland's pro-Remain parties have joined forces to accuse Theresa May of an "enormous act of bad faith" in seeking to renegotiate her Brexit deal with Brussels. Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance, and the Greens repeated their support for the border backstop. They said abandoning it would threaten the gains made in the Good Friday Agreement and they called on the EU to ensure it was protected. In a joint statement issued last night, they said that while they opposed Brexit, the Prime Minister's original deal with Brussels represented the best way forward. They added: "With only eight weeks until the UK exits the EU, the four pro-Remain Assembly parties - Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and Greens - are united in our support for the backstop negotiated by both the European Union and the British Government. "We continue to believe that there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit, and any opportunity to reconsider Brexit should be taken. "We believe that while the withdrawal agreement is imperfect, it will mitigate against a bad Brexit, which is being imposed against the democratic will of a majority of citizens here who decisively voted to remain within the European Union." The four parties described the backstop, as outlined in the withdrawal agreement, as a "vital insurance policy which avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland". They said: "While it may never need to be deployed, the backstop is the guarantee in all circumstances that no hard border will be re-established on this island. "Prime Minister Theresa May and her government, in their attempts to abandon the backstop, have demonstrated an enormous act of bad faith. "Abandoning the backstop would put at real risk the interests, rights and entitlements of the citizens, households, businesses and the Good Friday Agreement endorsed overwhelmingly in 1998." The parties said that while The House of Commons had come out against a no-deal Brexit earlier this week, it was not a legally binding vote. "Therefore no steps have yet been taken to prevent a catastrophic crash out from the EU on March 29," the statement said. "The EU has been crystal clear in stating that they will not reopen the negotiation on the withdrawal agreement, including the backstop. "We urge the EU to remain firm in that position and we call on the British Government to reconsider the reckless path that they have adopted." The controversial backstop would see Northern Ireland adopt a different regulatory framework to the rest of the UK if a wider trade deal failed to materialise after the end of the Brexit transition period. The mechanism, which would see the whole UK remain in a customs union with the EU, faced huge opposition in the Commons. A parliamentary amendment seeking an alternative to the backstop was passed by MPs on Tuesday, with Mrs May subsequently signalling her intent to go back to the EU to try to renegotiate that aspect of the deal. However, Brussels has said that the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation. A senior PSNI detective has said it's "impossible" for people to leave loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland once they join up. It comes as police made their ninth arrest in the probe into the murder of Ian Ogle - whose family say he was subject to intimation for over 18 months. Police are investigating a UVF link. The latest arrest saw a 38-year-old man held. He was taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast city centre for questioning. A 36-year-old man and a 22-year-old man remained in police custody on Friday afternoon. Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton, who heads up the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF), said many young people are forced to join organisations like the UDA and UVF in order to settle their debts and then they struggle to free themselves from their grip. Mr Singleton was speaking just days after the horrific murder of Mr Ogle in east Belfast. He was stabbed 11 times in the back on Sunday evening in Cluan Place. Read More "Once you fall in debt to these organisations they determine how they want to see that repaid," Mr Singleton told the BBC. "In many instances that can involve you becoming actively involved in activity on behalf of those paramilitary groups. "It could be holding weapons for them, it could be being involved in targeting or even the distribution of drugs." The Ogle family have said they were intimidated by loyalist paramilitaries for 18 months before the killing of Ian. Mr Singleton said members find it impossible to leave due to the fear of being shot or badly beaten if they try. Expand Close Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton. He added: "We would view many of the paramilitary-style attacks that we see as forms of coercive control being meted out by these organisations. "In many cases a lot of the young people who become involved with these organisations fear that if they don't go along with what they're told to do they themselves can be the victim of precisely those kind of attacks. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Vigils were held for Ian Ogle after his murder. Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) "What I have heard from some of the young people who have found themselves in that situation, and in fact some of the older members, is that they effectively can't leave. "They've been told that the only way on occasion that they can get themselves out of an organisation is by buying themselves out. "But then again, what guarantee does that come with that the knock won't come on the door at some point in the future and you won't be asked to do something on behalf of that organisation again." Expand Close A child runs past a UVF mural / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A child runs past a UVF mural Mr Singleton said the UDA and UVF remain heavily involved in a wide range of criminal activity. This is despite the UDA, UVF and the Red Hand Commando releasing statements committing themselves to peaceful and democratic principles of the Good Friday Agreement. The PCTF focuses on the activities of loyalists and the republican group the INLA, which the PSNI views as crime gangs. Dissident Republican groups are dealt with by the security service MI5 because they are viewed as a threat to national security. Mr Singleton said in loyalist communities in Northern Ireland there is still a significant number of people involved with paramilitaries. He said: "Young people are particularly susceptible to gang-type culture and obviously here in Northern Ireland we have a particular variation on that. "So it is a problem for us and one I think will be around for the considerable future." A Northern Ireland teacher who tutors children to get into elite private schools in the UK has spoken of the glamorous lifestyle her work affords her. Valerie Westfield (56), from Lisburn, earns up to 104,000 a year tutoring children privately. The uber rich fly the teacher around the world at a moment's notice and she is sometimes paid 900 for half an hour's work. In the past year she has been flown to Switzerland, Morocco, Dubai, Greece, France and Saudi Arabia where she can earn up to 2,000 a week teaching, with all expenses paid. Ms Westfield, speaking to the Mail Online, said she has seen no shortage of pushy parents who are willing to pay huge amounts for a tutor. "It's an interesting lifestyle to step in and out of," she says of teaching on yachts, mid-air, in chauffeur driven cars and at luxury hotel pools. "It can be very glamorous, people are paying you big money and you have to live up to what you say you can do, "If you can't deliver then they will find someone else. I have years of experience, I can guarantee to get them up to the level needed, and I know I can do it." Ms Westifled spent many years teaching in north Wales before moving back home to Northern Ireland to care for her father. She is signed up to two agencies in London- the Duke and Duchess International and The London Governess Agency- who both cater specifically to royals, millionaires and billionaires. The agencies negotiate teaching packages with the families for the tutors, with prices varying from client to client depending on their needs. Ms Westfield has become accustomed to travelling abroad at short notice since switching to tutor for the super rich in August 2017. "I was contacted on a Wednesday for a seven day contract in Switzerland starting on the Friday. So I flew to Zurich the next day to spend seven days teaching and preparing a Swiss boy for the 13+ common entrance exams for a top Scottish boarding school." "Most of the time its OK and I kind of have a schedule of what Im doing, but sometimes on a whim [the family] will just decide theyre leaving. "They will say 'were leaving tomorrow'. I was in Dubai twice in one week, you have to pack all your stuff and go too, otherwise they can just cut your time short." The tutor said that she was once gifted a Range Rover by a Chinese family she taught and that families are prepared to pay high prices for her services because of her record of getting pupils through exams. "I have a solid record of getting pupils through their GCSE level and entrance exams for example at Eton, Harrow, and Merchiston Castle." Ms Westfield said the headmaster of Eton College even recently got in touch to encourage her to apply for a teaching post. She said that it is not always the super rich who will secure her surfaces. "I find that some families are not high earners, but they will sacrifice other things for tuition and I dont charge them extortionate rates. "Other families dont have a lot of money but they will still pay. They want their children to have the better chance than what they had." Ted Cunningham took his case to the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) A former financier who laundered some of the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbery has sought to compel the Irish state to explain what happened to around 3 million seized from his home. On Thursday at the High Court in Dublin, Ted Cunningham mounted judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, head of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Danske Bank the named assumed by the Northern Bank in 2012 over the accounting and inventory of the process in which the money was taken. The money was removed from Mr Cunninghams former home, in Church View, Farran, Co. Cork on February 17 2005, and his barrister argued there was no valid forfeiture order issued at the time of conviction to seize the money. The Northern Bank robbery was one of the biggest bank robberies in British and Irish history when 26.5 million was stolen during the heist in Belfast in December 2004. Police have said that they believe the Northern Bank robbery was the work of the IRA. Expand Close Ted Cunningham has launched a legal challenge at the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ted Cunningham has launched a legal challenge at the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Cunningham was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering more than 3 million from the Northern Bank robbery in 2009 following a 10-week trial. The conviction was later quashed on the basis of a problem with the warrant used by gardai, and deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Due to the Supreme Court ruling, Mr Cunningham was tried a second time in February 2014, he pleaded guilty to laundering a total of 275,400 and receiving cheques totalling 200,000 euros and received a five-year suspended sentence. Barra McGrory QC, the former director of public prosecutions in Northern Ireland, and barrister Eamonn Dornan argued that Mr Cunningham has a constitutional entitlement to an explanation on where the money went. Were not asking the court to give the money back, Mr McGrory said. Thats not the issue, were asking the state to set out a proper account on the basis of which they took this action. Mr McGrory stated that Mr Cunningham was blissfully unaware of the money being removed from the jurisdiction and thought that it would at least have a more thorough process, in terms of checking on what legal authority it seeks to take that action. The barrister added: The Superintendent thinks theres a forfeiture order, and the State Solicitor doesnt demur, however the State Solicitor has the responsibility to check court records and ensure there is before authorising any removal by the state of a citizens property, and what he failed to do manifestly was to put in place those checks and balances that protect citizens from unconstitutional abuse. We wouldnt be here had the state solicitor checked with court and looked to see if an order was drawn up, obviously it wasnt, or we would have it, Mr McGrory argued. Mr McGrory also told the court that Mr Cunningham claims he was stopped in Heuston train station by a police officer who told him he was Special Branch and tried to discuss the trial with him. A statement supplied by the police officer agreed that he did speak with Mr Cunningham at the station but says he did not tell him he was Special Branch or ask him about proceedings. Mr McGrory added that it was very odd and coincidental that the encounter took place. The barrister for the state, Seamus Clarke, argued that not only had Mr Cunningham not proved that the money was his, he was also way beyond the time limit to apply for judicial review, which is three months, and argued the clock would have started in 2014 after his sentencing. It is clear that the prosecution in proceedings asserts this was Northern Banks money and not his, and when no appeal came in, the state is entitled to take the view that he accepts its not his money. No appeal was taken at that time in 2014, it was later set out in a letter to Mr Cunningham in 2017, so lets say the clock starts then with the best will in the world. He did nothing for a further six months, he was sitting on his hands. Giving the applicant a benefit of the doubt that he doesnt deserve the order sets out in clear terms, the time period starts running. There is a strict time limit, you cant just turn up on a hearing date and say time doesnt really matter in this case, youd have chaos. Judge Miriam ORegan, who noted a number of times she would not disregard the rules on time limits for judicial review, said she would have a decision in the coming weeks. A Larne man was placed on the sex offenders register yesterday after he confessed to sexually abusing a teenage schoolgirl he had groomed. John Workman had been on trial charged with 10 sex offences at Antrim Crown Court when his defence counsel, Terence McDonald QC, asked for him to be rearraigned on four of the allegations. Standing in the dock, the 34-year-old from Craigyhill said simply "guilty" to charges of meeting a child following sexual grooming and three of sexual activity with a child aged 13-16, all committed on various dates between March 1 and October 16, 2014. The details of the grooming offence state that Workman met the girl "following sexual grooming" and "at the time of doing so he intended to do an act to or in respect of that person during or after the meeting which would involve the commission of a relevant offence". Following the confessions, prosecuting counsel told the court that he was satisfied the guilty pleas reflected Workman's "culpability" and added that it wasn't in the "interests of justice to proceed" with the other counts. Directing the jury to convict as "guilty by confession", Judge Brian Sherard further ordered the jury to acquit him of the remaining offences as "no evidence" had been offered by the Crown. As well as a victim impact report, the judge also ordered a pre-sentence probation report to be written. Freeing Workman on continuing bail, Judge Sherard said that he would now have to be placed on the sex offenders register. He adjourned the case until February 28, when sentence will be passed. An east Belfast man will spend a minimum of ten years of a life sentence in prison for the murder of his 29-year-old friend. Kenneth Cowan (30), of Titania Street, off the Cregagh Road, pleaded guilty last December to the murder of Brian Burke in an upstairs room of the house and was handed an automatic life sentence. Belfast Crown Court heard on Friday Cowan had armed himself with the knife after Mr Burke had got the better of him in a game of "horseplay'' in a first floor bedroom in April 2018. A senior prosecution lawyer said Cowan rammed the 12cm knife into the chest of Mr Burke with "moderate force'', first piercing a lung before entering the heart. Cowan's defence counsel said that he "wished he could undo his actions of that night'' and had expressed "genuine remorse'' for causing the death of his friend. Expand Close Victim: Brian Burke was killed in east Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Victim: Brian Burke was killed in east Belfast Handing Cowan a minimum of ten years in jail before he could apply for parole, Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland said: "This was a senseless taking of life of a young man and it is natural that family and friends will struggle to rationalise what has happened.'' Detective Chief Inspector Peter McKenna, speaking after the sentencing, said: "This was a brutal murder and I welcome todays sentence. Brian was spending his evening relaxing, playing computer games and watching TV with friends when a play fight broke out between him and Kenneth. "Kenneth saw red and he ran downstairs into the kitchen and grabbed a knife before returning and stabbing Brian straight in the chest. The blade punctured Brians lung and penetrated his heart, leaving him little chance of survival. "Brian was rushed to hospital but sadly died within the hour. "Brian was just a young man in the prime of his life when he was the innocent victim of this attack. He should have been safe enjoying his evening with friends but Kenneth lost his temper and Brian paid the price for this with his life. "Brian was a much loved friend and family member who helped out in his local Jujutsu club and loved music, skateboarding and martial arts. "Brians life was brought to a brutal end and his mum Deena and two brothers Michael and John have been left devastated by the murder. Kenneth has shown no remorse for his actions and whilst he is now behind bars, nothing can ever ease the pain and loss that he has caused." "Non-agreed" family holidays accounted for just over 10% of all primary school absences in 2017/18. There has been a rise in the number of pupil absences from primary schools due to unauthorised family holidays, new figures have revealed. Statistics released by the Department of Education show that "non-agreed" family holidays accounted for just over 10% of all primary school absences in 2017/18 - five years ago this figure was 7.5%. Absences are reported by schools in half-day sessions and recorded as authorised or unauthorised. Have you taken your child out of school for a holiday? Contact digital.editorial@belfasttelegraph.co.uk There has also been slight year-on-year increases in the proportion of absences in primary (14.6%) and special schools (24.5%) for which no reason was given. Illness is by far the most common reason for absences in all schools, accounting for more than half of absences in primary and post-primary schools. In terms of overall absence rates for 2017/18, this was 5.1% of all half days for primary schools, 6.7% for post-primary schools and 10.1% for special schools. Read More While in Northern Ireland there are no penalties for parents who take their children out of school for family holidays, the same cannot be said for parts of England. Across the Irish Sea parents can be fined 60 for such unauthorised absences, with the penalty rising to 120 if it is not paid within 21 days. In 2016 one parent, Jon Platt, from Northern Ireland but living in the Isle of Wight, won a High Court case over taking his daughter out of school for a holiday to Disney World in Florida without the school's permission. Mr Platt's case, however, was later referred to the Supreme Court in 2017 where he lost and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a 2,000 fine. When compared with England and Wales, Northern Ireland had the highest rate of unauthorised absences in primary schools and post-primary schools in 2017/2018. In Northern Ireland this figure was 1.6% of all half days, while the equivalent figure for England and Wales was 1.0% and 1.3% respectively. One person was killed and 15 others were injured as bus, truck collided head on at Madhupur area of Sathia in Pabna on Friday. Murder victim Ian Ogle was savagely stabbed in the back 11 times and suffered horrific injuries including a fractured skull, a senior PSNI officer revealed yesterday. The east Belfast loyalist was left to die on the street at Cluan Place, yards from his home, after being attacked by a group of at least five men just before 9.30pm on Sunday. The father-of-two's funeral will take place at the Covenant Love Church on the Albertbridge Road at 11am on Monday, followed by burial at Roselawn Cemetery. Read More In a fresh appeal for information yesterday, PSNI Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy confirmed that one line of enquiry is that Mr Ogle (45) was murdered by members of the UVF. The senior detective said that since Sunday night police have conducted 14 searches, visited nearly 200 premises and are viewing more than 70 hours of CCTV footage. Four men aged 21, 31, 45 and 49 and two women aged 35 and 36 who were arrested in connection with the murder were released on bail pending further enquiries. Police arrested a 36-year-old man on Friday morning and another man (22) arrested yesterday remains in custody. Det Supt Murphy said: "There has been widespread speculation about the motive for Ian's murder. "Only those who were involved know how they sought to justify a family man being brutally murdered in the street. "I want to be clear: there was no justification for the murder of Ian Ogle." In yesterday's Belfast Telegraph Mr Ogle's grieving daughter Toni Johnston-Ogle (27) said her family had endured 18 months of intimidation over accusations that her brother Ryan (23) had given a "dirty look" to someone she believed to be a member of the UVF in a bar. More than 1,000 people joined a vigil in support of the family on Wednesday night. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Vigils were held for Ian Ogle after his murder. Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The ogle family as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Toni Johnston Ogle as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Sonia Copeland as A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vigil is held Cluan Place where Ian Ogle was murdered on January 30th 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Det Supt Murphy said: "I can confirm that one line of enquiry is that Ian was murdered by individuals who were members of east Belfast UVF. "The UVF have issued statements in relation to Ian's murder. It is too early in the investigation to establish the veracity of those." He asked those "with influence" to help find and bring those responsible to justice. Det Supt Murphy said Mr Ogle's murder had "disgusted the entire community" and "left his wife, two children and wider family circle completely devastated". Responding to media questions, DSI Murphy said that "certainly it is a line of enquiry" that Mr Ogle and his family members had been under threat for some time. He admitted he did not yet know "what weapons were used, how many weapons were used and by whom". Turning to the day of the attack, Det Supt Murphy said: "I believe that the events leading up to Ian's murder began on the Beersbridge Road, around 8.45pm on Sunday evening, when an altercation took place outside a fast food outlet. The exact circumstances of that incident are still developing, but I believe that Ian was there. "I want to hear from anyone who witnessed this altercation or who knows anything about it, to contact police." The senior officer said it was believed that shortly before 9.30pm the killers parked a black Seat Leon, registration number JGZ 7406, in Langtry Court, just off Templemore Avenue. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Floral tributes at the scene Det Supt Jason Murphy speaks to the media yesterday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Floral tributes at the scene "They then walked the short distance to Cluan Place, via Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road," he said. "After the attack, they returned to Templemore Avenue. "Some of the killers got into the car and others dispersed on foot from Langtry Court, through the houses. "The car was driven along Templemore Avenue, into Major Street and on to the lower Newtownards Road, before being left at Pitt Place." He appealed for anyone who had seen the black Seat Leon at Langtry Court, or who had witnessed the Beersbridge Road fight, or a group of at least five men walking or running to and from Cluan Place, to come forward. All of these incidents occurred between 8.30pm and 10pm on Sunday. He also asked for anyone who was in the Beersbridge Road, Albertbridge Road, Templemore Avenue or Lower Newtownards Road areas between 8.30pm and 10pm on Sunday, including anyone with dash cam footage, to contact police. And he asked anyone who had recently found discarded clothing or weapons to report it. He said that the killers' "fear tactics" had "not dissuaded the community from their resolute determination to see justice done". "We are absolutely committed to bringing Ian's killers to justice and continuing to work with them to build a safe and peaceful community," he added. "If anything positive is to come from Ian's murder, it will be that the fear and intimidation that some people use to influence has been starkly exposed to the community and condemned from every corner." The PSNI investigation team can be contacted on 101 referencing 1303 of 27/1/19 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Floral tributes left near the scene in east Belfast where community worker Ian Ogle was murdered on Sunday night (Rebecca Black/PA) Two men arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a Belfast community worker have been released. Ian Ogle, 45, was stabbed 11 times by a group of men on Sunday night. Two men aged 38 and 36 years old arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the murder of Ian Ogle in east Belfast on Sunday 27th January, have both been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 2, 2019 One line of inquiry being pursued by officers investigating the killing is that members of the East Belfast UVF were responsible. Two men aged 38 and 36 arrested in connection with the murder on Thursday and Friday were released on police bail on Saturday morning, pending further enquiries. Expand Close Police at the scene in Belfast where Ian Ogle, was murdered on Sunday night (Michael McHugh/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police at the scene in Belfast where Ian Ogle, was murdered on Sunday night (Michael McHugh/PA) Seven other people arrested in the wake of the murder five men and two women have also been released on bail pending further inquiries. Mr Ogle was attacked as he prayed with a pastor on a street near his home in Cluan Place. Expand Close Hundreds of people gathered in Cluan Place in east Belfast for a vigil for Ian Ogle (Rebecca Clark/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hundreds of people gathered in Cluan Place in east Belfast for a vigil for Ian Ogle (Rebecca Clark/PA) More than 1,000 people attended a vigil in his memory on Wednesday, bringing the busy Albertbridge Road to a standstill. Those attending heard a plea for answers and justice for the Ogle family, but no revenge. In recent years many parents in England have been fined for taking their kids on family holidays during term time. Parents across Northern Ireland have defended taking their primary school children on unauthorised family holidays during term time. Several parents spoke out after Department of Education figures revealed that "non-agreed" family holidays accounted for just over 10% of all primary school absences in 2017/18 - an increase from 7.5% five years ago. While in Northern Ireland there are no penalties for parents who take their children out of school for family holidays, in recent years many parents in England have been fined for doing so. Read More In 2016 one parent, Jon Platt, from Northern Ireland but living in the Isle of Wight, won a High Court case over taking his daughter out of school for a holiday to Disney World in Florida without the school's permission. Mr Platt's case, however, was later referred to the Supreme Court in 2017 where he lost and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a 2,000 fine. Many parents in Northern Ireland have now spoken up on the issue, or lack thereof, stating they see no problem with the practice. Sharon Clarke, a mother-of-seven from Co Antrim, said she regularly takes five of her primary school age children on family holidays during term time and said it is "disgraceful" parents in England are penalised for doing so. "It would maybe be different if you're taking them off to Australia or somewhere for months at a time," she said. "But if you're taking them away for a week here and there, any responsible parent should be able to get their kids caught up on any work they miss. Expand Close Sharon Clarke said she regularly takes five of her primary school age children on family holidays during term time. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sharon Clarke said she regularly takes five of her primary school age children on family holidays during term time. "And, at primary school, they're really not going to be missing out on anything too important. "Travel is an education in itself, kids learn a lot from travelling to new places. I know my kids have. That's not even taking into account the cost difference between taking your kids away during term time compared with the summer when the prices are astronomical." Many parents reacted to the figures on social media supporting Mrs Clarke's views. One user wrote: "I took my grandson out to Australia for three weeks and he learned more through travel than sitting in a classroom all day learning the same things over and over. We are taking him to Singapore and Australia for four weeks in March, kids need to learn about life and travel and other countries and cultures." Another said: "Maybe the government should look into the travel companies charging triple the price during school holidays and it wouldn't be an issue." A Co Antrim man believed to be the first person in Northern Ireland to be charged with "paying for sexual services" has had his case further adjourned A Co Antrim man believed to be the first person in Northern Ireland to be charged with "paying for sexual services" has had his case further adjourned. Peter David Clyde (39), of Rocavan Meadow in Broughshane, is accused of committing the offence on January 18 last year. Whilst there have been two previous prosecutions here under legislation introduced in 2015, both involved "attempting to pay for sexual services". The current matter is understood to be the first in which a person has been charged with "paying for sexual services of a person". The charge states that he "obtained sexual services from a person in exchange for payment, the payment having been made or promised by you, contrary to Article 64A of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008". Clyde faces a second charge of "attempted sexual communication with a child" on January 18, 2018. The specifics of that charge are that "being a person aged 18 years or over, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 years, the communication being sexual or intended to encourage the said person to make a communication that was sexual, and you did not reasonably believe that person was under 16 years". On November 8, District Judge Nigel Broderick released the defendant on 500 bail with conditions that he was not to have any contact with anyone under the age of 16 unless approved by social services apart from unavoidable daily contact. He was also told that he had to reside at an address approved by police and he was not to access social media or dating sites. In December a prosecutor said phones and computers were being examined. The defendant had been excused from attending the latest hearing of the case at Ballymena Magistrates Court yesterday. A prosecution lawyer asked for a further six-week adjournment and a defence solicitor said he had "no contrary submissions". No other details were given to the court and the defendant has yet to enter either a guilty or not guilty plea. Judge Broderick adjourned the case until mid-March for an update and said the defendant would continue to be excused from attending court. Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg MP last night insisted there was no need for a hard border when the UK leaves the European Union. The North East Somerset MP, who chairs the influential European Research Group (ERG) of pro-Brexit MPs, was in Ballymena to address a DUP fundraising dinner in the constituency of the party's controversial MP Ian Paisley. Also joining senior DUP figures at the event was prominent Brexit-backing businessman Arron Banks. Speaking to reporters ahead of the dinner, Mr Rees-Mogg set out his position on the Irish backstop and the current Brexit negotiations. He called for a "sensible" deal with the EU and played down fears of a hard border between the UK and the Irish Republic after Brexit. Read More "Many people are concerned about the border issue, understandably, because it has been played by the European Union as one of the main obstacles to us leaving smoothly on the 29th of March," he said. Expand Close Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg with Baroness Paisley / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg with Baroness Paisley "The truth is that nobody wants a hard border. "There is no intention on any side of having checks on the border. They are unnecessary. "There is no threat to create that, and there is no issue of undermining the Belfast Agreement." Turning to the issue of the EU's proposed backstop, which Parliament has rejected, the MP said: "The backstop question is tied in with the question of a hard border, and it is quite clear that there is nobody who is going to implement a hard border." Asked if he understood the worries some people had about the possibility of border checks, Mr Rees-Mogg pointed out that there was already a border, and there were already customs checks. "People seem to think that 'no hard border' means 'no border at all' - when there is already a border. "There are two different countries - that is the thing to remember." Saying he was delighted to be attending the fundraiser at the Tullyglass House Hotel, Mr Rees-Mogg offered his thanks to the DUP for its contribution to UK political life, and Brexit. "I'm here supporting the coalition partners of the Conservative Party in Westminster, people with whom I have worked very closely in the whole Brexit debate. "The European Research Group, which I chair, and the DUP have very similar views on many issues relating to Brexit. "I should like to thank the DUP for what they have done to give the United Kingdom not only a Government since the election in 2017, but also rigour over questions relating to Brexit." DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson MP, who also attended the fundraising dinner, last night slammed Brexit scaremongering. "People are being told that somehow or other the country is going to grind to a halt after the 29th of March when the truth of the matter is that things will go on normally," the East Antrim MP said. PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 1/02/2019 The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Belfast murder victim Ian Ogle was stabbed 11 times in the back and his skull was fractured, detectives investigating the killing have said. They said a gang of at least five men were involved in the attack at Cluan Place in east Belfast on Sunday night. Photo Pacemaker Press The body of murdered man Ian Ogle arrives back at his home in Cluan Place. Photo: Pacemaker Press. The body of Ian Ogle has returned home to east Belfast ahead of his funeral on Monday. The community worker and father of two was murdered by a group of men near his Cluan Place home on Sunday evening. Read More Police said that Mr Ogle had been stabbed 11 times in the back and suffered a fractured skull. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he passed away. Mr Ogle's funeral will take place at the Covenant Love Church on the Albertbridge Road at 11am on Monday, followed by burial at Roselawn Cemetery. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far. Two men aged, 38 and 36 remained in police custody on Friday afternoon. Expand Close Ian Ogle Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ian Ogle Seven other people arrested in connection with the murder - five men and two women - were all subsequently released on bail pending further inquiries. A large vigil was held in east Belfast on Wednesday night in Mr Ogle's memory. Mr Ogle's daughter said his murder was carried out by people using the name of the UVF. Toni Johnston said that her family had been subjected to eighteen months of harassment after an incident involving her brother and men claiming to be from the UVF in a bar. She said that her father and brother had been ordered to attend a "punishment attack", but had refused. However, Ms Johnston said she did not believe the UVF had sanctioned her father's murder and the group have denied involvement. Detectives continue to appeal for anyone with any information on Mr Ogle's murder to contact them on 101. The Northern Ireland economy could be devastated in a no-deal Brexit, it has been warned. The head of the Danske Bank says a no-deal Brexit would be the biggest risk to the Northern Ireland economy for a generation. Kevin Kingston, chief executive of Danske Bank UK, said some businesses will not survive the UK crashing out and others would have to take "tough decisions" on the number of people they employ as well as consider their investments. He said he was gravely concerned. "A no-deal Brexit is the biggest risk to the Northern Ireland economy in a generation," he said. The banker said that while a no deal was a "real possibility" he believed a solution could be found. Danske predicts a 1.2% growth in the Northern Ireland economy in the event of an "orderly Brexit". Mr Kingston was not prepared to give a projection in the event of a no deal but anticipated a "shock". As the biggest bank in Northern Ireland, we have a strong insight into how thousands of local businesses operate. We have engaged on an individual basis with many of these business customers in recent months to help them plan." The warning comes as Prime Minister Theresa May is to make a bid to the EU for changes to the withdrawal agreement, in particular the hated backstop - something the EU and Ireland has outright rejected. Read More Some Cabinet ministers have indicated Brexit may have to be delayed in order to find a deal with the EU. However, Mrs May has stressed the UK will leave on March 29 and refused to take a no-deal off the table. A Commons motion on ruling out a no-deal was passed, however, it has no legal standing. Mr Kingston added: What we have seen is that larger businesses have been taking decisions to try to safeguard their operations, but the smaller businesses are far less prepared, making them the most vulnerable. It is these businesses that are of course the lifeblood of the economy in Northern Ireland. At this point I am gravely concerned about the challenges ahead should a hard Brexit become a reality. DUP leader Arlene Foster has said that she doesn't expect the EU to roll over to UK demands, but that they must face up to reality if a Brexit solution is to be reached. Mrs Foster was speaking after a dramatic week of Brexit developments at Westminster, with MPs voting in favour of replacing the controversial Irish border backstop with "alternative arrangements". Read More MPs also passed a non-binding amendment to Mrs May's deal, saying the UK should not leave the EU without a deal. Following the vote Prime Minister Theresa vowed to return to Brussels to try and renegotiate her Brexit withdrawal deal. However, the EU and Irish government remain adamant that the backstop cannot be replaced, and that the withdrawal deal is "not open for renegotiation". Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that the backstop remained the best way of preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. The DUP have joined Tory Brexiteers in opposition to the backstop, with the party feeling that it would create a trade border in the Irish Sea and could leave Northern Ireland tied to the EU indeifinetly. The party has given its backing to the "Malthouse Compromise" which involves a "recasting" of the Northern Ireland backstop as "free trade agreement-lite" with a commitment on all sides that there should be no hard border on the island of Ireland and an extended transition period to December 2021. Mrs Foster said that "good progress" had been made in the House of Commons over the last week. During a speech to supporters and members in Kesh, Co Fermanagh, she said that the DUP had been urging the Prime Minister to seek changes to the "toxic" backstop. "It was a massive step forward for the party to see a majority in Parliament also calling for such changes. A clear message was sent to Brussels that the backstop is the problem," the DUP leader said. "For weeks, Brussels called for a clear ask from the United Kingdom, they now have it. "Whilst a consensus was reached, we must be realistic, the EU are tough negotiators. I dont expect them to roll over within hours. But they must face up to reality. The blockage to getting a deal is the backstop, therefore there must be sensible engagement and a pragmatic approach." Speaking near the border the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said that it was "disgraceful for some in Brussels to exploit genuine fears by spinning tales of border posts, troops and queues". "No one is building border checkpoints. No one is sending troops to the border either. Such talk is foolish and careless," she said. "Last week Michel Barnier acknowledged that there were mechanisms to avoid a so-called hard border, even in a 'no-deal' scenario. Simon Coveney also helpfully acknowledged this in the Dail on Tuesday. "I welcome the realism both in Brussels and Dublin. Such pragmatic statements ensure genuine fears of local people about the border are laid to rest." Mrs Foster said that the road forward would be "long and winding". "Its now time for those who speak a lot about the Belfast Agreement to step up and demonstrate by their actions that the views of unionists are also valued," she said. "A new border east-west is unacceptable to unionists. Lets focus on getting a sensible deal which works for Brussels, Dublin and London. DUP leader Arlene Foster has challenged the European Union to ditch the backstop. (Steve Parsons/PA) Arlene Foster has challenged the European Union to ditch the backstop. The DUP leader also ruled out speculation of a hard border in Ireland if the backstop option is dropped as spinning tales. She made the comments on Friday in a speech to party members in Kesh, Co Fermanagh a short distance from the border with the Republic of Ireland. Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May has been tasked with renegotiating her withdrawal deal with the European Union. (House of Commons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May has been tasked with renegotiating her withdrawal deal with the European Union. (House of Commons/PA) Mrs Foster described the weeks events at Parliament, where MPs voted for an alternative arrangement to replace the backstop as good progress. It was a massive step forward for the party to see a majority in Parliament also calling for such changes, she said. A clear message was sent to Brussels that the backstop is the problem. It remains unclear whether the EU will reopen negotiations on the withdrawal deal, with the Irish Governments Europe Minister, Helen McEntee, earlier saying that Dublin would absolutely not accept that. Expand Close Traffic passes close to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland just outside Newry, Co. Down. (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Traffic passes close to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland just outside Newry, Co. Down. (Liam McBurney/PA) Mrs Foster conceded that the EU are tough negotiators. I dont expect them to roll over within hours, she said. But they must face up to reality. The blockage to getting a deal is the backstop therefore there must be sensible engagement and a pragmatic approach. Here in Kesh, we are within walking distance of the border. Local people travel to and fro across the border multiple times every day. It is quite disgraceful for some in Brussels to exploit genuine fears by spinning tales of border posts, troops and queues. No one is building border checkpoints. No one is sending troops to the border either. Such talk is foolish and careless. Expand Close DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds and DUP leader Arlene Foster in Downing Street after a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May. (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds and DUP leader Arlene Foster in Downing Street after a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May. (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Mrs Foster also reiterated her partys position that any form of division between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is unacceptable. If the UK leaves without an agreement in place and the European Union and Ireland are on one side and the UK is on the other, we will all have to work intensively together to ensure that we deliver on our shared goal of avoiding the return of a hard border, she said. We are absolutely committed to doing that, even in those difficult circumstances. A new border east-west is unacceptable to unionists. Lets focus on getting a sensible deal which works for Brussels, Dublin and London. US, China hail major 'progress' in trade talks AFP : The United States and China said their trade war negotiations resulted in major progress as the clock ticks on a March deadline to avert a massive escalation of tariffs that could bruise the global economy. US President Donald Trump hailed "tremendous progress" and welcomed a "beautiful" letter from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who said he hoped for further cooperation. Beijing's official Xinhua news agency said Friday that US and Chinese negotiators made "important progress" during two days of "candid, specific and fruitful" discussions in Washington. Although the latest round of talks ended with positive words, the White House emphasized the two sides still faced the "hard deadline" of March 1 to avoid another sharp escalation in their trade war. Economists say that prospect-which would mean more than doubling US tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods-would be a body blow to the global economy. In a letter from Xi to Trump that was read out by the Chinese delegation, Xi said relations were at a "critical" stage and that he hoped "our two sides will continue to work with mutual respect." Trump said relations between the two countries are "very, very good." US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to China in mid-February for the next round of talks, according to Xinhua, and Trump said he would meet Xi after that to close the deal. "We have to get this put on paper at some point if we agree. There's some points that we don't agree to yet. I think we will agree. I think when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to," Trump said. With China's economy slowing sharply and markets on edge at the prospect of further trade disruptions, the stakes for the talks have become especially high. Last year, Washington and Beijing imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, after Trump initiated the trade war because of complaints over unfair trade practices. US duty rates on $200 billion in Chinese goods are due to rise to 25 percent from 10 percent if no agreement is reached by March 1. "We haven't talked about extending the deadline," Trump said. A Conservative peer will today table an amendment to the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths Bill which would extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland. Lord Hayward said his proposal, to be debated in the House of Lords, can resolve an issue that has left the region as the only part of the UK or Ireland without marriage equality for same-sex couples. The amendment would extend same-sex marriage legislation to here, while including a clause that would give the Assembly six months to overturn the provision following the Bill becoming law. The peer said: "As a devolved matter, this should have already been dealt with at Stormont, but there hasn't been devolved government for more than two years. "There's no end in sight and same-sex couples should not have to suffer the consequences of political failure. "Westminster has already passed Northern Ireland legislation in the absence of Stormont, so we can and should address this issue of inequality without further delay. "My amendment offers a straightforward solution and I believe it can attract sufficient support across the benches in both Houses of Parliament." An Amnesty International petition calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to introduce equal marriage in Northern Ireland has more than 35,000 signatures to date. Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty said the amendment had a real chance of success if support at Westminster was translated into votes. "We hope the Government will stand by its previous statement that this issue can be dealt with at Westminster and that it will be a free vote for members of the Government," he said. Secretary of State Karen Bradley previously said that Parliament can legislate for equal marriage in Northern Ireland in a written answer to Labour MP Conor McGinn. Sarah Ewart (centre) with mum Jane Christie and Amnesty Internationals Grainne Teggart (left) on day two of the judicial review of Northern Irelands abortion laws Selecting unborn children for abortion because of disability is prohibited by an international treaty, Northern Ireland's top law officer claimed yesterday. Attorney General John Larkin QC also told the High Court that a Belfast woman challenging the near-blanket ban on terminations here does not have the necessary victim status. However, counsel for Sarah Ewart countered that she had been forced to put off having children because of fears they would have the same fatal condition which led to her travelling to England for an abortion. Final submissions came as judgment was reserved in Mrs Ewart's bid to change the strict regime. Before rising after two days of argument, Mrs Justice Keegan said: "I obviously have a lot to think about." Unlike the rest of the UK, terminations are only legal in Northern Ireland when it is necessary to protect the woman's life or when there is a serious risk to her wellbeing. Last year a majority of Supreme Court judges held that those restrictions breached the UK's human rights obligations. They still rejected a case mounted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, however, because it did not have the necessary legal standing. Mrs Ewart (28), has now mounted a challenge in her own name as a woman directly affected by a ban she claims violates her human rights. In 2013 she travelled to a London clinic after being told her unborn child had no chance of survival outside the womb because of a fatal foetal abnormality (FFA). Her lawyers contended it should be highly persuasive that the Supreme Court decided, by a majority, that the law in Northern Ireland was incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in FFA cases. They said Mrs Ewart's shock at being told her foetus had no skull or developed brain was compounded by the trauma and humiliation of travelling to England for the procedure, which she likened to being "on a conveyor belt". But according to Mr Larkin, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities extends to a prohibition on discrimination before birth - and has been designated as an EU treaty. Arguing that every human being has the inherent right to life, he told the court: "The unborn child belongs to the human race. "Selecting out some unborn children for abortion on the basis of disability is prohibited." Assertions that this includes FFA cases were strongly disputed by counsel representing Mrs Ewart. During submissions, Mr Larkin also argued that her challenge must fail because no unlawful act required to obtain the necessary victim status exists. He acknowledged, however, that she went through a "dreadful experience" in 2013. If Mrs Ewart had issued proceedings at that stage, she could have declared herself a victim, the court was told. But the Attorney General contended that it was abstract to suggest the same condition will occur in any future pregnancy. However, Mrs Ewart's barrister, Adam Straw, claimed the current abortion rules render the mother-of-two a victim. "She had to put on hold her wish to have more children because of the concerns about the same trauma which happened to her in 2013 happening again," Mr Straw said. Rejecting the idea of leaving the issue for any future restored administration at Stormont, Mr Straw also stressed the urgency for his client and other women who find themselves in the same situation. "If this case is, to use a colloquial term, kicked into the long grass and sent back to the Assembly, there will be a considerable delay before anything is done about it," he said. A wave of diplomatic efforts is under way to get senior figures in American politics to weigh in behind the Republic's position in the Brexit negotiations. Having so far kept European capitals on board with the border backstop, the Irish Government is now hoping the US and Canada will pressurise Theresa May into "protecting the Good Friday Agreement". Read More Tanaiste Simon Coveney will travel to Washington next week where his itinerary will include meetings with senior figures in the White House and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Irish-American congressman Brendan Boyle will also table a motion in the House of Representatives opposing any re-establishment of a hard border. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has already secured the support of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. It has emerged the two leaders discussed the situation in a phone call on Wednesday evening. Mr Varadkar did not publicly reveal details of the call, but his office issued a brief note indicating that Mr Trudeau was siding with Ireland. "They agreed on the fundamental importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement for the peace process in Northern Ireland, and recalled Canada's role in achieving the Agreement," a statement read. Diplomatic sources told the Irish Independent that any intervention from North America would be carefully monitored in London. The US and Canada are both high on the list of countries the UK wants to strike trade deals with after Brexit. US president Donald Trump's aides are in the process of laying the groundwork for trade talks. However, any discussions on future deals between the two countries are unlikely to start in earnest before the EU and UK resolve their own future relationship. Another source said the US State Department takes great pride in its work on the Good Friday Agreement and that this influences political thinking on Capitol Hill. Congressman Boyle has already appeared on some UK media to highlight his resolution which is expected to gain cross-party support. He has claimed preserving an open border in Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement has bipartisan support even in what has become a highly partisan Washington. "One of the relatively few things that would unite our people here would be support for Ireland and support for the Irish peace process,'' he said. The congressman also issued a warning that if the UK reneges on its Good Friday Agreement commitments, "it will have an impact on any future negotiations between the US and UK". They were the ultimate symbol of the swinging 60s and flamboyant 70s and now VW is bringing back the beach buggy. This week the German manufacturer teased a concept vehicle modelled on the legendary American dune buggies of yesteryear. It will get its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of March. Apart from its flowing modernist lines, the big difference is the new car will be all-electric leading to the inevitable description of it as an e-buggy. The concept is also surprisingly muscular, with high haunches, a bold bonnet and fat wheels. Although technically still a concept, all the indications are that VW intends to proceed to production. The e-buggy is based on Volkswagens modular electric drive matrix (MEB), which will provide the structure for its electric models in coming years. Like the historic Beetle chassis of old, says VW, the modular electric drive matrix has the potential to facilitate the development of low-volume niche ranges and sub-ranges. A dune-roaming vehicle is bound to cause a stir, particularly if VW can make the car inexpensive enough, and with a long enough range, to make it a big-seller. VW chief designer Klaus Bischoff said: A buggy is more than a car. It is vibrancy and energy on four wheels. These attributes are embodied by the new e-buggy, which demonstrates how a modern, non-retro interpretation of a classic can look and, more than anything else, the emotional bond that electric mobility can create. Dune or beach buggies were typically used on sand, beach or desert terrain, and had large wheels and wide tyres to provide traction and stability. The open top also made them fun. Most were built by modifying an existing vehicle which was generally the VW Beetle. The original was the 1964 fibreglass dune buggy called the Meyers Manx, built by Bruce Meyers in California on a Beetle chassis. Many other companies, like Hebmuller and Rometsch, also created open buggy designs atop Beetle chassis. Globally, its thought around 250,000 individual buggies were built as one-offs or at low volumes through to the 1980s based on Beetle underpinnings. Whilst dune buggies largely faded from popular culture in the mid-80s, their military use remains common. Many armed forces used them particularly for rapid deployment by the likes of special forces. They are also used in specialised dune and desert races, for example MINI has produced buggy version of the John Cooper Works model (also pictured) for the likes of the desert-based Dakar Rally. VW has released no further information on the e-buggy, however expect further details ahead of the grand reveal in Geneva from Thursday 7 March to Sunday 17 March. Concept cars frequently but not always - have exaggerated features so it will be interesting to see if VW tones down the production version of the e-buggy when it begins actual production. Unilever's boss has started his tenure on a downbeat tone, saying he expects the new year to remain tough and stressing that sales growth will come in at the lower end of the consumer goods giant's target. Alan Jope, who recently replaced Paul Polman as chief executive, said: "In 2019 we expect market conditions to remain challenging. "We anticipate underlying sales growth will be in the lower half of our multi-year 3% to 5% range, with continued improvement in underlying operating margin and another year of strong cashflow." He maintained that Unilever was on track for its 2020 goals. Mr Polman stood down at the end of December after a decade at the group, where he oversaw the failed plan to move Unilever's headquarters from London to Rotterdam and fended off a takeover bid from rival Kraft Heinz. Mr Jope was promoted to chief executive from his previous position of president of the group's beauty and personal care division. Unilever posted a 5.1% decline in turnover to 50.98bn (44.65bn), which the company blamed on foreign exchange headwinds of 6.7% and the disposal of the spreads business, which was completed last July. However, pre-tax profits increased 52% to 12.38bn (10.84bn). Underlying sales grew by 2.9% in 2018 from the year earlier and, excluding the spreads business, by 3.1%. Mr Jope said Unilever had a "solid" 2018 with growth of 2.1% and "high-quality margin progression". Its operating margin grew 8.1% thanks to 4.3bn (3.7bn) profit made on the sale of the spreads unit. A fall of nearly 25% for Northern Ireland's total farm incomes shows the importance of securing a Brexit deal to protect the sector in future, it's been claimed. Total income from farming fell by 23% from 467m in 2017 to 360m in 2018, according to figures from the Department of Agricultural, Environemnt and Rural Afffairs. However, output for agriculture was 1% higher at 2.13bn in 2018, with growth in most sectors. There was a 2% increase in the value of output from the livestock sector, while field crops rose by 3% and horticulture was 5% lower. Dairying remained the largest contributor to output at 680m in 2018, a rise of 3%. The annual average farm-gate milk price was 28.7p per litre, while the volume of raw milk produced increased by 3% to 2.3bn litres. Average prices are well up on 2016, when dairy farmers were stricken as prices fell as low as 17.15p. The figures published yesterday are provisional, with a final report due in March. UUP leader Robin Swann said they demonstrated that, with incomes rising and falling, farmers needed the reassurance of a Brexit deal to protect from the consequences of a no-deal. "Farming is a difficult livelihood with fluctuating markets compounded by constant unknowns from one year to the next," he said. "However, this uncertainty has been greatly increased in the two years since the EU referendum. "It is ridiculous that we are now less than two months away from Brexit and our farmers still have no better idea now how they will be supported in the future than they had two years ago." The MLA said farmers had been left with no idea of what future support would entail after leaving the EU. "That, combined with the fact that Northern Ireland farmers have the most to lose from a no-deal Brexit, means the industry here is in an incredibly precarious situation," Mr Swann added. "The industry has the potential to be decimated if it were suddenly forced to compete against cheap, lower quality food imported from other less reputable countries." Ryan Foster and Suzanne Bowman of Jurys Inn celebrate the completion of a 9.1 million refurbishment of Jurys Inn Belfast with Pete Snodden. Suzanne Bowman and Ryan Foster of Jurys Inn celebrate the completion of a 9.1 million refurbishment of Jurys Inn Belfast. JURYS INN BELFAST CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF 9.1M MAKEOVER Ryan Foster and Suzanne Bowman of Jurys Inn celebrate the completion of a 9.1 million refurbishment of Jurys Inn Belfast with Pete Snodden. Two Belfast city centre hotels have unveiled completed renovations costing a total of 14m which have added nearly 100 rooms. Jurys Inn said it had spent 9.1m at its Great Victoria Street hotel, including an 80-bedroom extension and self-check-in kiosks in the lobby. The hotel now has 270 bedrooms - and each new room has a mural featuring local landmarks. The lobby, restaurant and bars have been refitted by suppliers including Ulster Carpets, while Spires Art in Omagh created the artwork. And the nearby five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel has finished the second phase of its redevelopment, bringing the total invested since 2016 to 5m. The completion of both projects is a continuation of a bumper year in 2018 for new hotels and hotel extensions in Belfast. Both hotels are owned by Dublin-based groups. Around five new hotels were launched in the city during the year - with many others - including Jury's Inn and the Fitzwilliam, announcing ambitious renovation plans. The changes have boosted the supply of rooms by 47% to over 9,000. The latest stage of improvements at the Fitzwilliam added 16 luxury bedrooms and a new penthouse suite with views over the city. General manager Cian Landers said: "Over the last 10 years the Fitzwilliam Hotel has continuously invested in improving the offering available to our customers. We strive to ensure that our guests enjoy the best in luxury and service and this new development has once again allowed us to do just that. "The addition of these new rooms and the penthouse increases the total number of rooms to 146, a 12% increase which will help to meet the continuing rise in visitors seeking luxury accommodation in the city, which we are thrilled about." This year is also due to bring a number of new hotel openings, including the George Best Hotel and its 63 sport-themed rooms and Bank Square Boutique Hotel, which is adding 17 rooms. The George Best Hotel at Donegall Square South had been due to open in December but was delayed until this month. Donnelly Groups Dave Sheeran and Terence and Raymond Donnelly at the new showroom The Donnelly Group has opened its new 6m Jaguar Land Rover showroom. The 50,000 sq ft complex is located at the company's flagship site at Moy Road, Dungannon. The largest family-owned new and used vehicle retailer in Northern Ireland, Donnelly Group's portfolio includes 18 brands spread over nine locations. Managing director Dave Sheeran said: "The Donnelly Jaguar Land Rover showroom presents a really unique experience for Mid Ulster and one which has been designed with the customer in mind at every stage. "There is now adequate space to showcase 16 new and 75 used Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, which is really important for our customers to see the cars in real life. Group executive chairman Terence Donnelly, who is the son of founder Peter Donnelly, said: "Flooded with natural light and luxurious decor, the showroom provides a comfortable space for both our employees and our customers, who can relax in the lounge area which is complete with a coffee bar and wi-fi. Donnelly Group director Raymond Donnelly added: "We appointed a number of local contractors to help us with this project and we are delighted with the finished product, so I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone has played a role in getting this new showroom out of the ground. "Our customers will be amazed at the difference." A site in Belfast once identified for a 55m office block could be turned into a car park. (stock photo) A site in Belfast once identified for a 55m office block could be turned into a car park. The wasteland beside Lanyon Place Station, formerly known as Central Station, was at the centre of legal action last year after residents of the inner-city Markets community successfully challenged the offices scheme at the High Court. The Kilmona Group, owned by high-profile Belfast developer Patrick Kearney, had proposed a 14-storey complex next to the train station. Featuring 300,000 sq ft of space, it would have been one of Northern Ireland's biggest office developments. Kilmona said the project would have generated 350 construction jobs and potentially accommodated up to 2,500 people permanently. The planning application was initially approved by Belfast City Council, but more than 200 households in the Markets objected and launched a campaign under the slogan 'sunshine not skyscrapers'. They took their case to the High Court, with Justice McCloskey quashing the decision to approve the plan. The Belfast Telegraph can now reveal that Mr Kearney has put forward a new proposal. The Loughview Leisure Group has submitted a planning application to Belfast City Council seeking to turn the brownfield site into a 244-space car park. Mr Kearney is one of three directors listed for the company, which owns the Ten Square Hotel in Belfast, Chimney Corner Hotel in Newtownabbey, the Loughshore Hotel in Carrickfergus and the Bad Ass Kitchen restaurant behind Belfast City Hall. Loughview lodged its application for the lands at the junction of Stewart Street and East Bridge Street on January 15. The proposal describes a single-level car park with 244 spaces and landscaping. The developer did not wish to comment on the plan. It is unclear whether the car park proposal is a long-term investment, or an interim measure to generate revenue from the site until a new development materialises. Mr Kearny, one of Northern Ireland's biggest developers, was one of the so-called 'Maple 10' group, which bought shares in Anglo Irish Bank in 2008. He is also pressing ahead with a 40m bid for two new apart-hotels in Belfast under the Ten Square brand on Stockmans Way and Apollo Road. Company accounts for Loughview show it more than doubled its turnover to 9.2m for the year to December 31, 2017. However, in a year which saw the firm double its workforce from 140 to 282, Loughview Leisure also posted a pre-tax loss of 279,525. KHULNA: State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnuzan Sufian, MP and KCC Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque being greeted during a reception at Daulatpur Central Shahid Minar Square recently. A computer generated image of the new apartments A south Belfast property developer has submitted plans for the latest apartment complex along the Ormeau Road. Bluehouse Developments has lodged an application for 15 apartments in a new three-storey scheme on the Lower Ormeau Road, close to its Donegall Pass headquarters. The site at the corner of Ormeau Road and Essex Grove is currently a car wash. The developer, who specialises in inner city schemes, has been behind a number of similar projects in Belfast, Bangor and Dundonald. Most recently the company, owned by Bernadette and James Neeson, launched plans for 41 apartments in three blocks on Townsend Street, just off the Shankill Road. The site of the new proposal is close to other new residential developments on the Ormeau Road, including the Portland 88 complex. The former UTV headquarters at nearby Havelock House is soon to be turned into a new build-to-rent scheme. Barnett Developments, which built Portland 88, is also seeking permission for another 38 apartments further up Ormeau Road. Bedford, PA (15522) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening. A steady rain arriving overnight. Low 61F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Although artificial intelligence is being promoted as a way to diagnose patient conditions and predict patients' risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit, the use of AI in medicine could worsen health disparities, a physician writes in The New York Times. Dhruv Khullar, MD, a physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City voiced three concerns: 1. Imperfect technology. AI must learn to diagnose disease on large data sets, and if that data does not have enough patients from a particular background, it will not be as reliable for these patients, Dr. Khullar said. For example, a recent study found some facial recognition programs incorrectly classified less than 1 percent of light-skinned men more than one-third of dark-skinned women. "What happens when we rely on such algorithms to diagnose melanoma on light versus dark skin?" Dr. Khullar wrote. 2. Risk of perpetuating biases. Since AI is trained on real-world data, it risks including and perpetuating the economic and social biases that already contribute to health disparities, Dr. Khullar said. "In medicine, unchecked AI could create self-fulfilling prophecies that confirm our pre-existing biases, especially when used for conditions with complex trade-offs and high degrees of uncertainty." For example, if poorer patients fare worse after organ transplantation or after receiving chemotherapy for end-stage cancer, machine learning algorithms may conclude these patients are less likely to benefit from further treatment and recommend against it, Dr. Khullar said. 3. Disproportionate effects on certain groups. AI may worsen disparities if its implementation means disproportionate effects for certain groups, according to Dr. Khullar. For example, if an algorithm incorporates a patient's residence in a low-income neighborhood as a marker for poor social support, it may recommend minority patients receive treatment at a nursing facility, which is linked to higher costs and higher risk of hospital readmission, as opposed to giving the patient home-based physical therapy. "Worse yet, a program designed to maximize efficiency or lower medical costs might discourage operating on those patients altogether," Dr. Khullar said. "American healthcare has always struggled with income- and race-based inequities rooted in various forms of bias," Dr. Khullar wrote. "The risk with AI is that these biases become automated and invisible that we begin to accept the wisdom of machines over the wisdom of our own clinical and moral intuition. It is our duty to ensure that we're using AI as another tool at our disposal not the other way around." When Bonnie Clipper, DNP, RN, asks a room full of nurses if they consider themselves to be innovators, the response is usually the same: only a few people raise their hands. When she asks nurses if they've ever had to do a workaround or "MacGyvered" something to take care of a patient, many more hands go up. "Nurses are natural innovators, but few see themselves that way," said Dr. Clipper, who serves as vice president of innovation for the American Nurses Association. Dr. Clipper stepped into the newly created executive role at ANA in August 2017 after spending more than 20 years as a chief nursing executive at hospitals and health systems. Her first undertaking at ANA was the creation of a three-part framework to help recognize more nurse innovators' accomplishments and inspire their peers. Here, Dr. Clipper discusses the importance of cultivating nurse innovation and leadership with Becker's Hospital Review. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: What drew you to the field of nursing? How do you think the role of nurses has changed since you first joined the profession? Dr. Bonnie Clipper: I've been in nursing for more than 30 years, and I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I was 6. I have pictures of me in my pajamas wearing a nurse cap and a plastic stethoscope. I was just naturally drawn to it. Nurses are really smart individuals with amazing skill sets. They know how to assess and prioritize. They are incredible critical thinkers and problem solvers. The nursing practice and nurses' role in healthcare has become much more complex in the last three decades. As patient care becomes more complex and difficult to deliver, nurses continually rise to the occasion. Q: How is the healthcare industry falling short in terms of promoting nurse innovation? BC: We know nurses tend to be underrepresented in the innovation space. We need to teach nurses from the start that they are, in fact, innovators as much as anyone else on the care team. Also, creating more opportunities for nurses to get involved in the design and development of technologies is critical. There are four times as many nurses as physicians in healthcare. Yet so often, when tech companies are designing products or disposables, they go to the physicians. Of course, it makes sense when physicians are the end user. However, nurses are oftentimes the end users. So, we really need to start bringing them into those conversations. Q: What is ANA doing when it comes to innovation? BC: We are working on an innovation framework with three tenets: Igniting nursing innovation, highlighting innovation and cultivating future nurse innovators. To us, it's a three-legged stool. We need to educate nurses and help them develop innovation competencies. We also want to introduce nurses to innovation through innovation labs, NursePitch events or hackathons to show them they can do it. The goal is for nurses to have an "aha moment" that, yes, they have ideas and they can advance this work. We also want to celebrate the work nurses do as innovators. We developed the ANA Innovation Awards with our corporate partner, BD [Becton, Dickinson and Co.]. We want to bring more attention to nurses' brilliant ideas and insights. Through this framework, we believe we will bring more nurses to the innovation space and help them cultivate that skill set so we can transform healthcare together. Q: A 2018 NEJM Catalyst survey found nurses fill less than 25 percent of leadership roles at most healthcare organizations. How can health systems cultivate more nurse leaders, especially among millennials? BC: Nurses' ability to provide quality patient care and their knowledge of the healthcare delivery system is unmatched. We need to make the effort to bring them in, not only to leadership ranks such as supervisors, managers and directors, but also as chief nursing officers, CEOs, COOs, etc. For millennials, I think it will be about meeting them where they are. Trying to find ways to bring them into leadership roles and also making sure they're finding value in their work will be important. This may mean we need to redesign leadership roles or look at them differently. But we really have no choice but to engage aspiring nurse leaders into higher ranks going forward. Q: How can healthcare executives promote nurses' resilience and overall well-being in the workplace? BC: When we start with design thinking, the first step is empathy. So often, our work processes and systems don't start with empathy of our own staff. When we build these systems and processes, we need to make sure we set them up in such a way that allows clinicians to be successful. Our program Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation encourages organizations to build processes to improve the well-being of all caregivers. We often include many steps and algorithms that make sense in a logical manner, but prove difficult to do when you're the end user. For me, it always goes back to making sure the people affected by these processes are involved in the design. That way, we know they'll be set up to be successful. An emergency room nurse at Detroit-based Henry Ford Hospital who created a screening protocol to identify patients in danger from human trafficking has helped 17 people over the last year, according to FOX Detroit. Michigan has the sixth-highest number of reported human trafficking cases, which peak when events like the North American International Auto Show come to Detroit. "It is an event that draws so many people, it is increased in this area especially because we are a border city and have a high population of trafficking already," said Henry Ford Hospital ER nurse Danielle Jordan Bastien, DNP, RN. Ms. Bastien created the screening and assessment program while attending Wayne State University in Detroit. The program flags potential victims when they come into the ER. "It is a multiple-step process, and it involves mostly nurses," she said. "What happens is, as soon as you make contact to our area you go through triage. Based on the education the nurses [and physicians] have they say, 'You know what, something doesn't seem right, I am going to flag them.'" When a nurse flags a patient, the primary nurse is alerted and conducts another evaluation with specific questions. "A lot of the things we look for is an inconsistent story," Ms. Bastien said. "If there is abuse, torture or neglect signs with that person; if they aren't holding their own ID or money; [and] if the person with them is refusing to leave while they answer, or [is] answering questions for them." If the hospital identifies the patient to be a human trafficking victim and the patient agrees to receive help, staff alerts authorities, and the patients receive housing, necessities and transportation. If they are identified but not ready for help, they receive a small personal item that has a help hotline number hidden on it. Ms. Bastien said she hopes other hospitals will implement her program, which includes formal training and a policy for all ERs. More articles on clinical leadership & infection control: How to create the 'aha moment' most nurses are missing: 5 questions with ANA's VP of innovation 50 states ranked by amount of active nurses 11 labor and delivery nurses pregnant at Michigan hospital UnitedHealthcare will no longer share its claims data with the Health Care Cost Institute, the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter reports. Part of what weighed into UnitedHealth's decision was an ongoing evaluation of its research-focused partnerships, a company spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review. From a data security and privacy standpoint, the spokesperson added, many companies are revisiting their partnerships to get ahead of any potential risks. UnitedHealth will continue its partnerships with academic institutions and other researchers, and is looking at new ways to enter into these types of agreements, the spokesperson added. "UnitedHealth Group continues to expand its partnerships with leading organizations and experts to conduct health care research to advance the triple aim," read the company's prepared statement. "We appreciate the partnership with the Health Care Cost Institute over the past seven years and its contributions to healthcare research." Researchers will be able to continue to access UnitedHealthcare data until Dec. 31, 2022, according to Politico. HCCI plans to approve up to 10 new projects during the first half of 2019, Politico adds. Editor's Note: This article was updated Jan. 31 at 10:30 a.m. to include additional information from UnitedHealthcare. Lawmakers in New Mexico proposed legislation that would open its Medicaid program to paying customers, according to The Telegraph. The measure, introduced by Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, would allow residents to pay a monthly premium to New Mexico to access Medicaid coverage. The buy-in option aims to create an affordable health insurance option for residents who make too much to qualify for Medicaid or other subsidies under the ACA, but still can't afford healthcare. New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham supported the proposal while campaigning in 2018. Her budget recommendation for the upcoming fiscal year earmarks some initial funding for the proposal, according to the report. More articles on payers: Anthem to release PBM earlier than expected: 4 things to know BCBS of Louisiana adds VP Aetna inks $200M reinsurance deal with health insurance company Shriners Hospitals For Children-Tampa will end inpatient care and focus on outpatient care instead, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Shriners cited dwindling inpatient volumes as the reason for the change. "We are constantly looking at trends and there is a need for more outpatient care while inpatient nationally is declining," a Shriners spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The Tampa hospital will end inpatient care in August, and will be the fifth Shriners hospital to switch to an outpatient care model. It is unclear how many employees will be affected by the change. Shriners' Minneapolis campus cut 35 full-time positions when it made the switch to outpatient care. Shriners' hospitals in Pasadena, Calif., Erie, Pa., and Lexington, Ky., have also switched to the outpatient model. Access the full Tampa Bay Times article here. Access the full Tampa Bay Business Journal article here. More articles on patient flow: Midwest hospitals see frostbite cases spike amid freezing temps California hospital dumped dementia patient outside locked assisted-living center, family says UPMC Horizon hospital cuts lab services, 5 jobs Editor's note: This article was updated Feb. 1. Michigan-based pain management physician Gavin Awerbuch, MD, on Jan. 30 testified that Insys Therapeutics' "beautiful" sales representatives and financial gifts persuaded him to write unnecessary prescriptions for the company's highly addictive opioid painkiller Subsys, reports Bloomberg. "They had beautiful sales reps, and I liked the attention I was getting," Dr. Awerbuch told a Boston jury. "I felt like I was becoming friends with these Insys employees." Dr. Awerbuch's testimony was part of a racketeering case against Insys founder John Kapoor and other executives who allegedly bribed physicians to write Subsys prescriptions by giving them fake speaker's fees. Dr. Awerbuch said he made more than $130,000 in 18 months by attending sham educational sessions. "It was just easy money for me. I got paid $1,600 to show up, have a nice meal and go home," he testified. Dr. Awerbuch also said he doled out inappropriate Subsys prescriptions to ensure he could keep collecting speaker fees. Last February, Dr. Awerbuch was sentenced to two years in prison for illegally distributing Subsys. Prosecutors postponed the start of his prison term until this March so he could testify at the hearing. A former South Georgia Medical Center nurse alleging discrimination has settled a federal lawsuit with the Valdosta, Ga.-based hospital, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in December 2016 by Virginia Abbott. Ian Smith, an attorney with the Barrett and Farahany law firm in Atlanta, representing Ms. Abbott, told the Times the settlement terms are not public. At issue in the lawsuit is events that led to Ms. Abbott's firing. The lawsuit claims Ms. Abbott, who has a seizure disorder, was discriminated against by colleagues after suffering a seizure at work in 2014, according to the report. The lawsuit claims she was forced to take unpaid leave and not allowed to work in the cardiac outpatient department. Ms. Abbott says she learned she could take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act and eventually took another job offered to her as a nurse educator at the hospital's diabetes management center, according to the Times. The lawsuit claimed she did not receive the same work accommodations as colleagues and was given less time than colleagues to complete orientation training. Ms. Abbott was terminated in 2016, about a month after suffering a second seizure. "After numerous complaints about the working conditions lack of guidance and denial of basic resources, defendant sabotaged plaintiffs chance of success by not allowing her to return to work and then terminating her employment for not completing her orientation," the lawsuit claims. "Although Defendant purports to provide a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action, this reason is a pre-text," the lawsuit claimed. Ms. Abbott sought "front pay" or reinstatement. According to the Times, the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, the hospital's governing body, largely denied the lawsuit's allegations and said some of the allegations should be prohibited by statutes of limitations. The authority said it at times believed Ms. Abbott could not safely do her work for health reasons. Medical center officials did not immediately return phone calls from the Times seeking comment. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Ex-CEO gets 46 months in prison for defrauding Florida hospital New York hospital let woman end life support for stranger, lawsuit claims New York hospital suing insurance plan over millions in reimbursement Gameloft, leader in the development and publishing of mobile games, announced the upcoming release of Modern Combat Blackout on Nintendo Switch. Based on the popular Modern Combat 5, which was downloaded more than 100 million times on mobile devices, Modern Combat Blackout brings its intense action and stunning graphics to the Nintendo Switch system. Modern Combat 5 is the benchmark for FPS action on mobile devices with its unparalleled graphics and nine unique classes to master in either a deep multiplayer mode or intense single player campaign. Modern Combat Blackout brings features that made the mobile edition successful and tailored them specifically for Nintendo Switch: CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE CLASS: Find the playstyle that suits you among nine customizable classes that players can level up across single and multiplayer, including Assault, Heavy, Recon, Sniper, Support, Bounty Hunter, Sapper, X1-Morph or Kommander. Find the playstyle that suits you among nine customizable classes that players can level up across single and multiplayer, including Assault, Heavy, Recon, Sniper, Support, Bounty Hunter, Sapper, X1-Morph or Kommander. HIGH-POWERED MULTIPLAYER: Deploy for epic clashes in Team Battle and Free-For-All matches online. Deploy for epic clashes in Team Battle and Free-For-All matches online. INTENSE SOLO CAMPAIGN: Play the challenging Spec-Ops missions for a real adrenaline rush. Fast-paced story missions with various challenges will take players from Tokyo to Venice. Play the challenging Spec-Ops missions for a real adrenaline rush. Fast-paced story missions with various challenges will take players from Tokyo to Venice. UNIFIED PROGRESSION: Character progress in any mode carries over to the others, so play solo or multiplayer and watch abilities expand. Character progress in any mode carries over to the others, so play solo or multiplayer and watch abilities expand. PERSONALIZED CONTROLS:Intuitive, highly customizable controls allow players to battle just the way they want for a true console experience. The Modern Combat franchise is the benchmark for FPS games on mobile since the first installment was released in 2009, says Carlos Zarate Game Manager for Modern Combat Blackout at Gameloft. Were thrilled to bring our successful Modern Combat franchise to Nintendo Switch players and have them discover a robust single and multiplayer experience. Modern Combat Blackout will be available in the coming weeks for $19.99, exclusively on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch. A bankruptcy judge has rejected California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's efforts to block the sale of O'Connor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, according to The Mercury News. El Segundo, Calif.-based Verity Health operated six hospitals in California when it entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August. In December, the bankruptcy court approved Santa Clara County's $235 million offer to buy O'Connor Hospital and St. Louise Regional Hospital from Verity. Mr. Becerra filed a petition to suspend the sale in early January. He wants to block the deal because Santa Clara County has not agreed to conditions put in place in 2015 when private hedge fund BlueMountain Capital acquired six hospitals owned by Los Altos, Calif.-based Daughters of Charity Health System. The deal and name change to Verity were approved, subject to several conditions including that O'Connor Hospital and St. Louise Regional operate as acute care hospitals and offer emergency services for 10 years. In approving the sale of the hospitals Dec. 27, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ernest M. Robles said the attorney general's office couldn't halt the sale because it doesn't have oversight authority when a county government is buying a nonprofit hospital. The judge affirmed his decision this week. "The Attorney General still has not identified any specific statutory provision that establishes his authority to review the sale," Mr. Robles wrote in a tentative ruling, which was finalized Jan. 30, according to The Mercury News. In a statement released after the hearing, Mr. Becerra said: "This decision unfortunately strips our office of the authority to protect patients when hospitals are transferred to public entities like the County of Santa Clara. This is concerning, since the County of Santa Clara would not articulate which of these important patient protections and services that were a condition for the operation of Verity's hospitals would survive in the transfer of ownership. Nor would Santa Clara County explain why it would not commit to maintain these levels of patient protections and services." More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Ex-CEO gets 46 months in prison for defrauding Florida hospital New York hospital let woman end life support for stranger, lawsuit claims 10 employees hit NewYork-Presbyterian with $15M discrimination suit Imaging technicians and engineers at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, Calif., plan to strike over employee health plan coverage, according to hospital and union officials. Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers and Local 39 will walk off the job beginning at 6 a.m. PST Feb. 1. The hospital and union said about 65 imaging technicians will strike only on Feb. 1 and return to work Feb. 2. About 20 Local 39 engineers plan to strike until a labor deal can be reached. The engineers' contract expires Jan. 31. The imaging technicians' contract expired in October. The engineers and imaging technicians are striking to protect their health coverage, according to union officials. The union claims the hospital "is trying to push [workers] into a far less comprehensive health plan." "To keep their current plan, which allows them to choose their doctors, full-time employees would have to pay $120 per month to insure themselves or $359 per month to insure their families," they said. "Otherwise, employees would have to opt for a new HMO plan that would force many of them to find new doctors willing to take the insurance plan and doesnt include access to any nearby hospitals operated by Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health. Their current plan allows them to use Sutter Health hospitals." Hospital spokesperson Jamie Maites described the hospital's health benefits as "generous," "highly competitive" and "the very best." She said the proposed HMO program will be free for eligible employees and their family members, offering access to: UCSF Health, Marin General Hospital, Sonoma Valley Hospital, Santa Rosa Memorial and John Muir Health. She said Marin General is also offering a PPO option for employees who want to "buy up." More articles on human capital and risk: Hospitals and unions: 5 recent conflicts, agreements Healthcare workers rally outside California hospital after layoffs Labor board schedules hearing on complaints against Johns Hopkins Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives and San Francisco-based Dignity Health have completed a deal to combine their systems. The new $29 billion health system, called CommonSpirit Health, serves communities in 21 states and comprises 142 hospitals and more than 700 sites of care. Catholic Health Initiatives CEO Kevin E. Lofton and Dignity Health President and CEO Lloyd H. Dean will jointly lead CommonSpirit Health. "Our new organization will bring the expertise of a national health system to neighborhoods across the country," Mr. Lofton said in a press release. "Whether it's a neurological institute in Arizona, a 25-bed critical access facility in North Dakota, a mobile lung cancer screening program in Tennessee, or a 'hospital at home' in Nebraska, CommonSpirit Health will expand the best approaches from across our new organization. Our whole will be much greater than the sum of our parts." Mr. Dean said the merger will have a positive effect on patient care. "We didn't combine our ministries to get bigger, we came together to provide better care for more people," he said. "We created CommonSpirit Health because in order to solve national health challenges, we need the breadth, scope, and resources to make a nationwide impact. We believe that no one should ever have to choose between being healthy and putting food on the table." CommonSpirit Health, which employs roughly 150,000 people, including 25,000 clinicians and advanced practice clinicians, is headquartered in Chicago. More articles on healthcare industry transactions: HCA completes $1.5B acquisition of Mission Health Pipeline Health buys 22 freestanding ERs Tenet sells 3 hospitals, exits Chicago market UnityPoint Health's St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, tapped Chad Markham to serve as the COO. Four notes: 1. Mr. Markham most recently served as senior vice president for clinics and network development at the Sioux City hospital. 2. He was previously CEO of the Hawarden (Iowa) Community Hospital. 3. He holds an MBA from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University. 4. Mr. Markham succeeds Leah Glasgo, who left for the top post at UnityPoint Health's Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Eric Yablonka, CIO at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, Calif., discusses how the health system's newest facility will impact operating costs as well as the projects he's most excited for in 2019. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: What does your health IT budget look like this year? Is it trending up or down over previous years? Eric Yablonka: Our operating budget increased this fiscal year in large part due to the opening of a brand-new hospital facility. Taking that out, our operating budget is flat over the last year. It is hard to predict the future, but I expect continued pressure on the operating budget as the full costs of the new facility are realized, and there is the need for moderating expenses in relation to our revenues. Capital budgets have been skewed high the last two years with large programmatic investments. Taking those out, we saw a reduced capital budget last fiscal year and this year more toward a steady state spending level. Q: How are you allocating the budget? What difference is there this year compared to previous years? EY: I would say the allocation is consistent with previous years, the big caveat being the intense focus and budget allocation on opening a new hospital facility. Q: What projects are you most excited about for 2019? EY: Certainly, opening our new facility is very exciting. From a technology perspective, it is certainly using leading edge technologies. I am also quite excited about working with our partners on artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and care coordination initiatives. Our mobile health engagement platform MyHealth is widely deployed and rapidly gaining adoption. We are doing very innovative work there. We also plan to replace our human capital management platform, which is a great catalyst to making our employee engagement and experience stronger. To learn more about clinical and IT leadership, register for the Becker's Hospital Review 2nd Annual Health IT + Clinical Leadership Conference May 2-4, 2019 in Chicago. Click here to learn more and register. To participate in future Becker's Q&As, contact Jackie Drees at jdrees@beckershealthcare.com. Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating for Des Moines, Iowa-based Mercy Medical Center, affecting $97.5 million of outstanding revenue bonds. The rating reflects Moody's expectation that the hospital's margins will remain modest in fiscal year 2019, though it will maintain its market share position in its primary service area. The rating outlook has been revised from stable to negative. Advocate Aurora Health will move forward with a new $250 million expansion into southeastern Wisconsin despite reports that Foxconn Technology Group may revise its plans for a plant in the region, according to the Chicago Tribune. Taiwanese electronics producer Foxconn initially said it would make a $10 billion investment in southeastern Wisconsin and add up to 13,000 jobs in the area. However, the Apple supplier announced Jan. 30 it had adjusted its plans and would consider hiring research and development professionals for the facility, which was anticipated to focus on manufacturing. Advocate Aurora, formed when Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health merged, will continue its plans in light of the change. Advocate Aurora Chief Business Development Officer Rick Klein told the Chicago Tribune the system is "focused on advancing our plans to expand access to care in communities throughout southeast Wisconsin." Advocate Aurora unveiled plans to build a hospital, medical office building and two clinics in the region in May 2018, about eight months after Foxconn decided to build its plant in the area. "Our decision to build and invest here was made independent of any Foxconn pledge but informed by long-term projections of market dynamics and an opportunity to better serve the healthcare needs of this growing region," Mr. Klein told the publication. More articles on healthcare finance: Tennessee hospital to close, lay off 146 The 10 most concerning issues for hospital CEOs in 2018 Maine hospital files for bankruptcy Numerous privacy incidents at hospitals, IT suppliers and other healthcare organizations captured public attention last month. While media outlets reported on the following breaches in January 2019, healthcare organizations experienced breaches as early as June 2018. Eight healthcare privacy incidents reported by Becker's Hospital Review in January: Editor's note: Incidents are presented in order of the number of patients or organizations affected. Alaskan officials have upped their tally of individuals likely affected in a June 2018 data breach at the state's health department from 501 victims to 700,000. Two separate data breaches disclosed in December 2018 exposed the protected health information of 31,876 plan members of Managed Health Services, which runs Indiana's Hoosier Healthwise and Hoosier Care Connect Medicaid programs. Critical Care, Pulmonary and Sleep Associates in Lakewood, Colo., notified 23,377 patients about a potential exposure of their protected health information after an unauthorized individual gained access to an employee's email account. Integrity House, a nonprofit substance use disorder treatment facility in Newark, N.J., notified 7,206 of its patients of a data security incident after a number of business computers and tablets were stolen from its offices in November. An employee at Lebanon (Pa.) VA Medical Center emailed a veteran's family member a document that contained the protected health information of up to 1,002 elderly patients. Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in Richmond, Mich., notified "a limited number of patients" after a phishing scheme compromised an employee's email account in April. Officials at the Delaware Department of Insurance said five health insurers and about 650 of their members were affected by a data breach at a third-party administrator in October. Shriners Hospitals For Children Tampa (Fla.) will transition away from its inpatient model to an entirely outpatient, same-day model in August, the Tampa Bay Times reports. What you should know: 1. Tampa will be the fifth Shriners hospital that is outpatient only. Shriners operates 20 hospitals across the U.S. 2. Shriners spokesman Mel Bower said the health system has seen fewer patients who need complex, inpatient care in recent years. 3. Some Shriners employees will lose their jobs because of the change, but Shriners has yet to designate how many. 4. Shriners will refer patients in need of more complex procedures to other facilities, or will transfer patients to Shriners' Shreveport, La., and Greensville, S.C., facilities. Editor's Note: This article was updated Feb. 5 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Facing competition in the outpatient space and new regulatory initiatives, the hospital sector has the most to gain or lose from healthcare disruption, according to Thomas Campanella, Berea, Ohio-based Baldwin Wallace University's Health Care MBA director. Mr. Campanella examined how stakeholders will weather continued disruption in the healthcare space. Here are five takeaways: 1. New, innovative competitors in the outpatient and home healthcare spaces pose a threat to hospitals. Hospitals are also the target of several recent legislative and administrative initiatives. 2. Hospitals' infrastructure, technology, people, mission and focus have been defined by what Mr. Campanella called "sick-care," rather than value-based care. "The winners will be those hospitals and hospital systems that embrace this new world of healthcare and follow through and go forward with a real value-based transformation," he said. 3. Hospital inpatient admissions will continue decreasing while patient acuity increases, Mr. Campanella predicted. 4. He expects for-profit models will be prevalent in the growing outpatient and home healthcare spaces. 5. Private equity, venture capital and Fortune 500 companies will likely continue investing in healthcare to fill value-based voids and participate in supply-chain innovations. A large volcanic event was detected on Jupiter's moon Io using Jovian sodium nebula brightness variation, a new paper in Astrophysical Journal Letters said. "These results highlight the growing body of evidence that the traditional way of monitoring Io's volcanism -- by looking for temperature changes on its surface caused by hot lava -- is not able to reliably find these large gas release events," said Jeff Morgenthaler, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and lead author on the paper "Large Volcanic Event on Io Inferred from Jovian Sodium Nebula Brightening." "Lack of a strong infrared counterpart to this event tells us something about the geology of Io. To use some well-known Earth analogies, this volcanic event may have been from an eruption more like that of Mount St. Helens in 1980, which released lots of gas and dust, rather than Kilauea's recent eruptions in Hawaii, which produce lots of hot lava," Morgenthaler said. "The volcanic event occurred sometime between mid-December 2017 and early January 2018. Gas from the event filled Jupiter's magnetosphere, the region of space dominated by Jupiter's magnetic field, with excess material until early June," Morgenthaler said. "Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system, so its volcanism is the ultimate source of the material. Interestingly, this event, which was the longest recorded by this technique, was not independently reported by any other Io volcanic monitoring technique, despite significant number of observations in support of NASA's Juno mission." A small telescope popular with amateur astronomers was used to detect the volcanic event. Planetary Science Institute's Io Input/Output facility (IoIO), is outfitted with a coronagraph, which reduces the intensity of the light from Jupiter and allows light coming from clouds of gas around Jupiter to be imaged through special filters. Besides the intrinsic interest of studying volcanism on another solar system body, these results are interesting because the movement of extra material through Jupiter's magnetosphere drives a host of physical phenomena observable by other techniques. In other words, the IoIO results place many other observations of Jupiter's magnetosphere in context, such as those being conducted by and in support of NASA's Juno mission. "The immediate goal of the research is to better understand how ionized material moves in a rapidly rotating planetary magnetosphere," Morgenthaler said. "Ultimately, this project will help us understand all magnetospheres better. Since the Earth's magnetosphere protects us from some of the harmful effects of living relatively close to a star, this research does have some 'down home' applications." The first version of IoIO was designed by coauthor Jeffrey Baumgardner of Boston University, who used it to detect the sodium cloud near Io from his backyard in a Boston suburb. Morgenthaler said, "I think the demonstrated ability of this technique to work in such a high-light-pollution environment definitely helped sell the project to the National Science Foundation!" IoIO consists of a 14-inch (35-cm) Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope feeding a custom-built coronagraph. An Astro-Physics 1100 mount, 80-mm offset guide scope, and associated software enable the system to acquire and guide on solar system targets robotically. The telescope is hosted at the San Pedro Observatory in Benson, Arizona, 40 miles east of Tucson. By using equipment popular with high-end amateur astronomers, the project was able take advantage of the low cost of mass-produced equipment. The project is funded by a National Science Foundation grant to PSI. PSI Senior Scientist Julie Rathbun is a co-author on the paper. Reference: "Large Volcanic Event on Io Inferred from Jovian Sodium Nebula Brightening," Jeffrey P. Morgenthaler et al., 2019 Jan. 25, Astrophysical Journal Letters [https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aafdb7, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/1901.08996]. The Planetary Science Institute is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to solar system exploration. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, where it was founded in 1972. PSI scientists are involved in numerous NASA and international missions, the study of Mars and other planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, impact physics, the origin of the solar system, extra-solar planet formation, dynamics, the rise of life, and other areas of research. They conduct fieldwork on all continents around the world. They also are actively involved in science education and public outreach through school programs, children's books, popular science books and art. PSI scientists are based in 23 states and the District of Columbia, and work from various locations around the world. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. After reporting a drop in hospital operations revenue in the third quarter of 2018, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. closed the sale of three Chicago-area hospitals to Los Angeles-based Pipeline Health. What you should know: 1. Tenet sold Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, Westlake Hospital and West Suburban Medical Center in a deal that was announced in July 2018. In early 2018, the company sold MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill., to Chicago-based Loyola Medicine. 2. Tenet has been shifting its investment portfolio over the past several years. The company sold nine hospitals between August 2017 and April 2018, after more than doubling its platform of ambulatory care centers with its 2015 investment in Addison, Texas-based United Surgical Partners International. 3. While Tenets hospital operations "fell short" in the third quarter of 2018, the company's ambulatory performance remained strong. Tenet Executive Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Rittenmeyer said about the results: "My view as CEO is that we had a solid quarter in Conifer and USPI, and we fell short in hospital operations. Make no mistake, growth and operational excellence are my top priorities as it relates to hospital operations. While we had some headwinds in all the malpractice settlements this quarter, as well as an impact from prior hospital divestitures, our growth is not acceptable." 4. Notably, Tenet eliminated the president of hospital operations position following Eric Evans' departure from the role in late 2018. Columbus-based OhioHealth opened outpatient care centers in Westerville, Ohio and Pickerington, Ohio, to lower patient costs and increase case volume, The Columbus Dispatch reports. What you should know: 1. The facilities have 12 patient diagnostic rooms. 2. Each facility will allow patients to stay for up to 24 hours. 3. The hospital believes each facility will save patients' significant costs, but do not have specific estimates yet. 4. OhioHealth opted for the locations to meet growing suburban demand. Anchor Health Properties closed an investment in the 89,000-square-foot La Ronde Medical Centre, an outpatient medical center in Sun City, Ariz. What you should know: 1. Anchor Health invested in the center through a joint venture with The Carlyle Group. 2. La Ronde Medical Centre was redeveloped in 2016 to serve as an outpatient medical campus. The campus features two ASCs and an array of specialty physician practices. 3. Anchor will handle the campus' asset and property management services. 4. Anchor Health CEO Ben Ochs said, "The assets strong tenancy, wide variety of services, and superb location make this an excellent addition to our investment and property management portfolio. Anchor is excited to partner with the providers at La Ronde Medical Centre with the shared goal of providing quality healthcare to the region." 5. Anchor now manages more than four million square feet of medical office space. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston released the names of 42 priests Thursday who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children over the past decades. Here is the list with the latest information provided by the archdiocese and additional information, where available, based on court records, historical information and Houston Chronicle archives. Galveston-Houston Diocesan priests Nicholas Cornelius Antle Born: 1934 Died: 2016 Status: Retired 1990, removed from ministry 2011 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Patricks, Galveston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Rose of Lima, Houston (in residence); St. Vincent de Paul, Houston (in residence); Tribunal History: Born in 1934 and raised in Baytown, Antle was ordained in 1959. Thirteen years later, he caught a drunken driving charge in Harris County, according to state records. He was convicted and sentenced to a year of probation. Twenty years after that, he was arrested for public lewdness. Its not clear what led to the arrest, but he again netted a year of probation, and was also ordered to continue counseling. He started his work with the church in Galveston, spending six years at St. Patricks Catholic Church, where he founded the St. Patricks Boys Choir, according to his obituary. After a few years at St. Pius V Church in Pasadena, he moved to the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and later served as the late Bishop Wendelin Nolds chaplain and secretary. He had a total of seven assignments before retiring in 1990. He was removed from ministry in 2011. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Reaction pours in to report released by Archdiocese Robert Ralph Barzyk Born: 1932 Died: 2007 Status: Retired, 1993; removed from ministry, 1994 Assignments: Holy Family, Wharton; Holy Name, Houston; Holy Rosary, Rosenberg; Newman Center, Wharton Junior College; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Joseph, Baytown; St. Jude, Highlands History: Barzyk was born in Pennsylvania in 1932 and spent his entire career in what is now the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston. He was ordained in 1958 and had seven different assignments in Rosenberg, Houston, Wharton, Baytown, Galveston and Highlands before he retired in 1993. He was removed from ministry the following year and died in 2007. David Emmett Burns Born: 1935 Died: 2003 Status: Retired, 1992; removed from ministry, 1992 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Annunciation, Houston; Christ the King, Houston (in residence); Our Mother of Mercy, Port Bolivar; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. James, Port Arthur History: Burns was born in Massachusetts in 1935 and came to Texas later, where he was ordained in 1961 He was arrested in June 1976 for driving under the influence in Houston, then fined and put on probation for 18 months, according to state records. He had nine assignments from Port Arthur to La Porte, and retired in 1992. He was removed from ministry the same year and died in 2003. Allen Ray Doga Born: 1925 Died: 1999 Assignments: Prince of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Edward, Spring; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena History: Born in 1925, Doga was ordained in 1949 and had five assignments in Houston, Galveston, Spring, Houston and Pasadena. He died in 1999. George Patrick Dougherty Born: 1925 Died: 2002 Status: Removed from ministry, 1996 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Notre Dame, Houston; Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Navasota; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Palestine; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Jerome, Houston; St. Patrick, Navasota History: Born in Houston in 1925, Dougherty graduated from Lamar High School in 1942, where he was the head cheerleader, according to his obituary. He joined the Navy and transferred to the Marines, where he was wounded in Okinawa and received a Purple Heart. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, then worked for Conoco in Houston before switching careers to become ordained in 1967. He had eight assignments, from Houston to Navasota, and was removed from the ministry in 1996. He died in 2002. Richard Edelin Born: 1953 Status: Removed from public ministry, 2013 Assignments: Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Sacred Heart, Conroe; Sacred Heart, Pattison; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. John Vianney, Houston; St. Thomas More, Houston; transferred to Diocese of Baker in Oregon in 2005 History: Ordained in 1979, Edelin was accused of groping a 17-year-old girl while working as a young priest from at least 1980 to 1984 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston. The woman filed a complaint with then-Bishop Joseph Fiorenza in 1996, and said she was given a $5,000 check and assurances that Edelin would no longer work as a priest. In 2004, she stepped forward again when she learned he was set to return to priestly duties at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land. Church officials said at the time they were unable to confirm the allegations, however, and Edelin was approved to return to work in 2005 outside the Houston area. He was transferred to the Diocese of Baker in Oregon to serve at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in the town of John Day, and was reported officiating at a funeral in The Dalles, Oregon in January 2011. He also worked briefly as an auditor for the Galveston-Houston diocese. Carlos (Charles) Guerra Born: 1953 Status: Removed from ministry, 1984; left priesthood, 1987 Assignments: Epiphany of the Lord, Katy; St. Benedict the Abbott, Houston; St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston History: Ordained in 1981, Guerra was the first known priest arrested in the Houston area. He was charged in 1984 with sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy who said he was molested after visiting St. Cyril of Alexandria Church in west Houston in 1981 to learn about converting to Catholicism. At the time of the arrest, Guerra, 30, was assigned to Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community in Katy. The boy said the alleged abuse began as massages and escalated over a period of three to four weeks. Charges against Guerra were dropped after a new state law required corroboration of the accusers testimony after a delay of six months. He left the priesthood in 1987. Stephen R. Horn Born: 1944 Status: Removed from ministry, 2008 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; St. Luke the Evangelist, Houston; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal, Texas City; St. Theresa, Houston History: Horn was ordained in 1973. He was removed as pastor at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Houston in 2008about two months after being accused of abusing a boy from 1989 to 1993 while assigned to Christ the King Catholic Church in Houston. Horn was treated at the Shalom Center rehabilitation facility for priests in Splendora after his removal, court records show. He was assigned to Christ the King from 1981 to 1994, when he was transferred to St. Luke the Evangelist. William Jimenez Born: 1927 Status: Removed from ministry, 1959 Assignments: Resurrection, Houston; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston History: Ordained in 1953, Jimenez was removed from the ministry six years later. He served at one church in Houston and one in Galveston. Joseph Giles Leduc Born: 1929 Died: 1981 Assignments: Annunciation, Houston; Assumption, Houston; Christ the King, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Dominic, Houston; St. Joseph, Baytown; St. Mary, Port Arthur; St. Philip Neri, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Ordained in 1955, Leduc had 10 different assignments with the Catholic Church in the Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur areas. Jesse S. Linam Born: 1935 Status: Retired 1998 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Holy Rosary, Rosenberg; Newman Center, Galveston; Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart, Galveston; St. Ambrose, Houston; St. Andrew, Channelview; St. Henry, Freeport; St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Freeport; Sts. Peter and Paul, Bellville History: Linam was ordained in 1961. He was accused of sexually abusing a minor in 2002 after a California man filed a federal lawsuit in Galveston against the diocese, accusing Linam of sexually molesting him in 1973 and 1974 while he was a young parishioner at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Channelview. Linam served at St. Andrew until 1985, then served as a celebrant and officiant at weddings and funerals from 1985 to 1991 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Anderson; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Houston; and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bellville in Austin County. Donald A. Neumann Born: 1946 Status: Removed from ministry, 2013 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston (in residence); St. Gregory the Great, Houston (in residence); St. Paul the Apostle, Houston; St. Pius V, Pasadena; St. Thomas More, Houston History: Ordained in 1972, Neumann was removed from the ministry in 2013 after seven assignments. Details of the allegations that led to his removal were not available. Lawrence O. Peguero Born: 1921 Died: 2000 Status: Retired 1993 Assignments: Holy Name, Houston; Our Lady of Sorrows, Houston; Our Lady of St. John, Houston; Resurrection, Houston; St. Anne, Beaumont; St. Gregory the Great, Houston; St. Joseph, Beaumont; St. Patrick, Galveston History: Peguero was accused posthumously in a 2010 federal lawsuit by four siblings three sisters and a brother of molesting them at their home in the 1970s while he was assigned to Our Lady of St. John Catholic Church in Houston. Peguero, ordained in 1947, had been dead 10 years at the time. Before filing the lawsuit, the family members said they had reached out to the archdiocese in 2007 but rejected officials offer to fund counseling sessions. Peguero served at eight churches in Houston, Galveston and Beaumont before retiring in 1993. Dennis L. Peterson Born: 1947 Died: 2007 Status: Laicized 2005 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; Special Youth Services; St. Benedict the Abbott, Houston; St. Francis Cabrini, Houston; St. Jerome, Houston; St. John Neumann, Houston; St. Michael, Houston; St. Theresa, Houston History: Dennis Peterson fashioned himself as an advocate for troubled youth in the Houston area, where he founded the Houston Community Youth Center and served as the Harris County Juvenile Detention Centers chaplain. Ordained in 1973, he was on medical leave from St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Houston in 1999 when a lawsuit accused him of molesting one of the at-risk youths he was tasked with counseling. The victim, then in his 20s, claimed that Peterson, while assigned to St. Annes and St. Francis Cabrini Catholic churches in Houston, plied him with drugs and alcohol and abused him from 1987 to 1997, according to court papers. A grand jury in 1999 declined to indict Peterson for an alleged sexual assault in March 1997. Three more adults all siblings came forward in a 2000 lawsuit to accuse Peterson of molesting them as teens in the mid-1970s. The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. He died in July 2007 from a sudden illness, according to his obituary. Services were held at St. Theresas in Houston. Robert C. Ramon Born: 1949 Died: 2014 Status: Removed from ministry, resigned from priesthood, 2002 Assignments: Annunciation, Houston; Prince of Peace, Houston; Resurrection, Houston; Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson; St. Charles Borromeo, Houston; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. John of the Cross, New Caney; Tribunal History: Ordained in 1982, Ramon was assigned to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston when he was accused of molesting a girl in 1991, according to a lawsuit her parents filed in 1993. The suit was settled in 1995, according to the Bishop Accountability website. Ramon died in Pasadena at age 64. Charles Kevin Schoppe Born: 1925 Died: 2014 Status: Removed from ministry and retired, 1992 Assignments: Resurrection, Houston; St. Dominic Center; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Piux X, Beaumont; St. Thomas More, Houston History: Ordained in 1949, Schoppe was overseeing the St. Dominic Center in Houston in 1992 when he was forced to resign from the ministry amid an allegation of child molestation. He was also accused of molesting four children while serving as pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston from 1967 until 1974. The diocese revealed the complaints of three victims about a week after the U.S. Conference of Bishops approved the Dallas Charter, which was created to dictate how dioceses react to child sex abuse claims. Ivan Turic Born: 1940 Status: Faculties removed, 1977 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park (in residence); Port Ministry; St. Francis of Assisi, Houston; St. Michael, Lake Jackson; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Turic was ordained in 1968 and charged with indecency with a child fondling in 1977. He was removed from his duties as a priest the same year. The case was dismissed in 1980 without explanation. He had five assignments during his career as a priest. Other Diocesan priests Moises Cabrera Born: 1946 Diocesan: Tuguegarao, Philippines; incardinated, Galveston-Houston 1985, and Manila 1994 Status: Removed from ministry, 1988 Assignments: Prince of Peace, Houston; St. Ambrose, Houston; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Michael, Houston; St. Rose of Lima, Houston; St. Thomas the Apostle, Huntsville History: Ordained in 1969, Cabrera had six church assignments in Texas, all in Houston and Huntsville. Rodrigo J. Guillermo Diocesan: Manila, Philippines; incardinated, Galveston-Houston 1979 Born: 1928 Died: 2015 Status: Retired and removed from ministry, 1994 Assignments: Catholic Chaplain Corps; Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park (in residence); Queen of Peace, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Charles Borromeo, Houston; St. Jerome, Clute; St. Mathias the Apostle, Magnolia; St. Thomas More, Houston (in residence) History: Guillermo was ordained in 1965 and eight assignments in Houston, Clute, Magnolia and Galena Park. He retired in 1994, the same year he was removed from ministry. Alphonse Rodrigue Hemond Religious: La Salette Fathers; incardinated Galveston-Houston, 1986 Born: 1916 Died: 1990 Status: Retired 1990 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Most Holy Trinity, Trinity; Our Lady of Lourdes, Hitchcock; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Dominic, Houston; St. Francis of the Tejas, Crockett; St. John, Hungerford; St. Joseph, Brazoria; St. Mary, Cleveland History: Hemond was ordained in 1949. He had pastoral assignments in Rhode Island, Canada, and Louisiana, where a stint in Baton Rouge led to at least three reports of abuse. The incidents in the 1960s and 1970s were reported between 1992 and 2002, according to the diocese there. He was incardinated in 1978 in Louisiana and in 1986 in Galveston-Houston. In the Lone Star State, he had nine assignments, including Houston, Crockett, Hungerford, Brazoria and Cleveland. He retired in 1990 and died the same year. Denis O. Lynch Religious: Discalced Carmelite; incardinated, Galveston-Houston, 1972 Born: 1930 Died: 2015 Status: Removed from Ministry 1993 Assignments: Christ the King, Houston; Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston; St. Alphonsus, Houston; St. Mary, Humble; St. Theresa, Houston History: Ordained in 1957, Lynch was removed from the ministry in 1993 after five assignments. Through the 1960s, according to Chronicle archives, he spoke at various events around Houston and served as an instructor at Sacred Heart Dominican College and the Jesuit Preparatory School. A 1986 article cites him as a spokesman for the diocese. Christopher J. Martin Diocesan: Galveston-Houston, Victoria Born: 1900 Died: 1989 Assignments: All Saints, Houston; Annunciation, Houston; Assumption, Houston; Blessed Sacrament, Houston; Holy Cross, Bay City; Holy Name, Houston; St. Anthony Cathedral, Beaumont; St. Joseph, Bryan; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Patrick, Galveston History: Martin was ordained in 1924 and had 10 assignments in Houston, Bay City, Beaumont, Bryan and Galveston. Anthony G. Stredny Diocesan: Nashville; incardinated Galveston-Houston, 1971 Born: 1929 Died: 2018 Status: Removed from ministry, 1993 Assignments: Not available from the archdiocese. History: Stredny was ordained in 1957. According to Chronicle archives, he served at St. Josephs Catholic Church from 1985 to 1992, shortly before he was removed from the ministry. A native of Cleveland, he was reportedly active in youth and adult groups. A 2009 article by the Huntsville Record cited him as paying off the churchs $250,000 restoration debt and expanding the churchs programs during his tenure. Religious Order Priests Antonio Gonzalez, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1927 Status: Left the priesthood, 1985 Assignments: Immaculate Conception, Houston; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Galveston; St. Patrick, Houston; St. Thomas the Apostle, Houston History: Gonzales, ordained in 1957, was accused of impregnating a 17-year-old parishioner in 1983 while he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Houston, according to a lawsuit filed in 2005. The priest promised her he was going to the Vatican to seek permission to marry her but never returned to their Harrisburg Boulevard parish; instead, he was shipped off to Canada. He was removed from the priesthood in 1985 after serving in parishes throughout Texas. The woman, believing he had died, learned in 2003 that he was living in Taylor with a family of his own. She sued the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of Texas. The religious order agreed to pay her $1.35 million a week before trial was set to begin in 2008. Jack Hanna, CSB Religious: Basilian Fathers Born: 1944 Status: Faculties Removed 2013 (Galveston-Houston) Assignment: St. Thomas High School, Houston History: Hanna graduated from Houstons St. Thomas High School and was ordained in 1974 as part of the Basilian Fathers religious order. He went back to his alma mater, joining the faculty in 1981 to teach Spanish and art history. He resigned in 2013 after an unspecified misconduct complaint from an adult who did not work at the school. The school sent out an apology letter and Hanna entered treatment at a therapeutic center for priests. Additional details were not available. Anthony Keil (Kyles), SSJ Religious: Josephite Fathers Born: 1894 Died: 1969 Ordained: Not available. Assignments: Our Mother of Mercy, St. Francis Xavier, both in Houston History: Its not clear when Keil was ordained into the Josephite Fathers religious order, or when the accusations were made against him. Dennis Laroche, MM Religious: Maryknoll Born: 1946 Status: Left priesthood 1987 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston History: Laroche was ordained in 1974 as a member of the Maryknoll movement, known for its missionary work. He left the priesthood in 1987 but further details are not available. He served in the Philippines, according to a Maryknoll website, and then went to Ethiopia. Pius Lawe, SVD Religious: Divine Word Fathers Born: 1976 Ordained: 2005 Status: Removed from ministry, 2009 Assignment: St. Mary of the Purification, Houston History: Lawe was ordained in the Divine Word Fathers in 2005. He was removed from the ministry in 2009 after one assignment in Houston. He was reported officiating two funerals in Mississippi in 2012. Raphael OLoughlin, CSB Religious: Basilian Fathers Born: 1916 Died: 1998 Ordained: 1942 Assignments: Holy Family, Missouri City; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rosenberg; St. Basil (Most Holy Trinity), Angleton; St. Thomas High School in Houston History: OLoughlin was ordained in 1942 had four assignments in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties and Houston. In 1991, he authored a book, Basilian Leaders from Texas. Details were not available of the allegations against him. Vincent Orlando, SJ Religious: Jesuit Born: 1941 Status: Removed from ministry, 2002 History: Ordained in 1974, Orlando was a teacher and principal at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston when he was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1985 while working at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. The Houston school sent out a notice to parents in 2002 detailing the allegation. Orlando left Strake in 2000. A 2002 letter to parents described a another complaint, saying Orlando was accused of inappropriately touching a Strake student in 1984 during a school-sponsored ski trip. Walter Dayton Salisbury, SSJ Religious: Josephite Fathers Birth date: Unavailable Status: Removed from ministry and retired, 1993 Assignments: Prairie View Newman Center; St. Nicholas, Houston; Texas Southern Univeristy Newman Center History: Ordained in 1959, Salisbury was arrested in April 1978 on allegations he molested a 13-year-old boy he met while serving as a chaplain at Texas Southern Universitys Newman Center. He later pleaded no contest to the charge and received three years of probation. Salisbury was convicted of molesting another child in 1993 while assigned to St. Luke Parish in Washington, D.C. He is now believed to be living in Maine, where he was removed from a housing board for elderly residents after his two convictions were discovered in 2010. The Archdiocese of Washington D.C. identified Salisbury as credibly accused in October 2018. Christopher Joseph Springer, CSSR Religious: Redemptorist Fathers Born:1925 Ordained: 1952 Status: Laicized, 1990 Assignment: Holy Ghost, Houston History: Springer, a member of the congregation known as the Redemptorist Fathers, was ordained in 1952. He was laicized that is, he lost his clerical status in 1990. He had one assignment in Houston. An Arkansas man filed a civil suit against Springer, the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Vatican and other Catholic organizations in 2011, accusing Springer of sexually abusing him as a child. The suit alleged that he abused children from 1952 to 1972 in New Orleans and was transferred to Baton Rouge, where he continued the abuse. The suit was dismissed in 2012. Two lawsuits against him in Corpus Christi were settled in 2007. Donald Stavinoha, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1943 Died: 2007 Status: Removed from ministry, 1986; Assignments: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston; St. Patrick, Houston History: Stavinoha was arrested in 1986 after a Houston patrol officer found him sexually assaulting an aspiring 9-year-old altar boy in the back of a van belonging to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in east Houston. The officer was a parishioner at the church and recognized Stavinoha as a co-pastor. Stavinoha pleaded guilty in 1990 and was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison, but was released in March 1991 after serving only about one year. He joined the church in 1983 after graduating from St. Anthony Seminary in San Antonio. He was ordained in 1970. Gerard Martin Weber, OMI Religious: Oblate Born: 1936 Status: Removed from ministry, 2011 Assignments: Blessed Sacrament, Houston; Christian Renewal Center, Dickinson; Our Lady of Sorrows, Houston History: Weber was ordained in 2011 into the Oblate of Mary Immaculate order. He was removed from the ministry the same year after serving assignments in Houston and Dickinson. Details are not available on the allegations raised against him. John Benedict Weber, O.Carm. Religious: Carmelite Status: Removed from Ministry 2011 Assignments: Mount Carmel High School; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Houston History: Details are not available about his removal from the ministry in 2011. He grew up in New York and was ordained in 1977. Andrew Willemsen, CM Religious: Vincentian, later incardinated, Austin Born: 1928 Died: 2012 Assignments: St. Jerome, Houston; St. Mary Seminary, Houston History: Ordained in 1954, Willemsen was a Vincentian priest. A San Antonio-area man accused him of abusing him when he was 12 to 14 years old, but was told Willemsen had already been sent out of the country. Additional details were not available. Extern priests from other dioceses Luis (Eugenio) Eugene DeFrancisco Diocesan: Cali, Colombia Born: 1908 Status: Removed from ministry, 1960 Assignments: Methodist Hospital; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston (in residence) History: DeFrancisco was ordained in 1931 in the Cali, Colombia diocese. He was ordained in 1931. Its not clear when he spent time in Houston. Fernando Noe Guzman Diocesan: Morelia, Mexico Born: 1951 Died: 2006 Status: Removed from ministry, 1987 Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Navasota; St. Patrick, Navasota History: In one of the most notorious cases in the Houston area, Guzman was accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl at her grandfathers home. He then blamed the girl, saying she was a rather precocious child who came on to him, a church leader later testified. The allegations surfaced two years at Guzman, ordained in 1979, came to the U.S. in 1982 from Morelia, Mexico for an assignment at the predominantly Spanish-speaking Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Navasota. He was later transferred to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Galena Park. the following year. The allegations against him surfaced after a church secretary in Galena Park file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit accusing him of forcing her into a sexual relationship. The lawsuit was dismissed, but Guzman was charged with sexual assault in Grimes County. He pleaded guilty, was granted shock probation and served 90 days in jail. He registered as a sex offender in Galena Park and was arrested at least twice for drunken driving in Waller County in 1994 and Harris County in 1997. Francisco Ordonez Diocesan: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico Born: 1930 Status: Removed from ministry, 2003 Assignments: Immaculate Conception, Houston; St. Augustine, Houston; St. Helen, Pearland (assisted with Spanish Masses); Notre Dame, Houston; St. Benedict, Houston; St. John Vianney, Houston; St. Vincent de Paul, Houston History: Ordained in 1995 in the Nuevo Laredo, Mexico diocese, he had seven assignments in Texas in eight years. Joseph Tully Diocesan: Rockford Born: Unknown Died: 1982 Status: Retired, 1971 Assignments: St. Anne, Beaumont; St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston; St. Theresa, Houston History: Tully, of the Rockford Diocese, was ordained in 1925. He had three assignments in the Galveston-Houston diocese before retiring in 1971 for undisclosed reasons. Recent allegations currently under investigation John T. Keller Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Born: 1948 Status: Removed from ministry, 2019 Assignments: Christ the Good Shepherd, Spring; Prince of Peace, Houston; St. Frances Cabrini, Houston; St. Justin Martyr, Houston History: Ordained in 1974, Keller was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a 9th grade boy while assigned to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston. The allegations surfaced after a woman sent a letter on behalf of her now-adult son to a former diocese chancellor in July 2001 detailing the allegations. A diocese review board considered the complaint and Keller underwent a psychological assessment, according to church officials. Former Bishop Joseph Fiorenza dismissed the complaint, saying there were obvious differences between what the accuser and Keller said of the incident. The bishop concluded that Keller should remain in ministry. Details are not available about his recent removal from the ministry. Facing criminal charges Manuel La Rosa Lopez Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Born: 1957 Status: Removed from ministry 2001 and 2018, per archdiocese Assignments: Sacred Heart, Conroe; St. Francis de Sales, Houston; St. John Fisher, Richmond; Tribunal History: La Rosa-Lopez, the latest priest to face criminal charges, is accused of abusing an altar boy in 1992 while he was a seminarian. The childs family confronted church leaders at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston about alleged inappropriate touching and La Rosa-Lopez was moved out of the parish. The Peruvian clergyman was nonetheless ordained in 1996 and assigned to the Sacred Heart in Conroe in 1997, where he was accused of molesting two more youths. He was confronted again about the alleged abuse in Conroe in 2001 and was treated at the Shalom Center in Splendora. He was later reassigned to St. John the Fisher Church in Richmond, where he remained until the month before his Sept. 11 arrest. He is facing charges of four counts of indecency with a child in Montgomery County. Police in the second gayest city in America have gussied up a squad car with the colors of the rainbow in support of the community they protect. I dont think there is any better way to show this is genuine public recognition by a municipality, said five-year city resident Matt Dreger of the colorful cruiser. This isnt just a flag up on a pole somebody wont see unless they are in the park or if someone points it out. I think it really shows the heart of the community. The city rolled out the rainbow rider in anticipation of Fort Lauderdales upcoming Pride Fort Lauderdale festival, February 22-24, and Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Street Festival on June 15, said Wilton Manors Police Chief Paul OConnell. It's pride in our community and its diversity. Its pride in our Police Department, OConnell said. We can do our job a whole lot better as long as we have a partnership with the community. That car is an illustration of that partnership. The rainbow wrap, designed by a city employee, includes rainbows on both sides of the car and the words Policing with Pride on the hood and rear window. The word Pride, in rainbow colors, appears on the vehicles trunk and doors. The vehicle will be used for special events. In a city where residents elected their first all-gay City Commission in November 2018, a police car with rainbow swoops is just another visible embrace of the local demographics. Wilton Manors has the second highest rate of same sex couples in the United States and the first highest rate of any city in Florida, according UCLAs Williams Institute. The city has 125 gay couples per 1,000 compared to San Francisco, which has 30, the Institute said. Dreger, a member of the Stonewall parade committee, said the rainbow cruiser will be a show stopper when it rolls down the Stonewall festival parade route in June. I think the crowd will roar, Dreger predicted. Considering Stonewall started from police harassment, we have come 180 degrees in a different direction. Now police are flying our flag. What else could it do but make you happy? The Stonewall riots of June 28, 1969, marked the birth of an international gay rights movement, spurred on by violent confrontations between police and gay rights activists. Wilton Manors police decked out the cruiser in early January well ahead of the two upcoming events so they couldnt be shamed like they were last year when another city thought of it first. Fort Lauderdale skunked us last year, OConnell confessed. They had one of their cars wrapped for our Stonewall parade last year. We are trying to one-up them. The festive decor will come off after the June event. Its a wrap. Easy on, easy off, OConnell said. The city spent about $1,000 on the decals, he said. The few dollars that were spent are significantly outweighed by the popular impact, OConnell added. Its a great illustration of our Police Department reflecting the community it serves. Bill Carpenter has retired as deputy director of the Port of Beaumont, where he had worked for 40 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Lamar University. Tony and Sheila Ramirez have signed a franchise agreement with Delta Disaster Services. Their store is expected to open March 21 at 305 Interstate 10 South in Beaumont. Decades later, David Arceneaux still can wake drenched in sweat, terrified that returning to sleep will only bring "those images back." "I live close to the church, and I will purposely go the opposite way so I don't have to go near it," the Nederland man said of the place where he worshipped as a child. "I've missed relatives' funerals and friends' weddings because I just physically can't go into that building." Arceneaux, 48, is among the victims whose allegations led to Thursday's dramatic reckoning by the Catholic church across Texas and in the Diocese of Beaumont, where 13 priests were publicly identified as credibly accused molesters. Parts of his story were already known due to a 2010 lawsuit alleging abuse by two of those priests, August Pucar and Roger Thibodeaux. Both priests served at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland. He was only 8 when he was molested by Pucar in 1978, the lawsuit claimed. Arceneaux said it occurred at a wedding. Thibodeaux abused him 10 years later during a mission trip in Europe. "I had a headache and I took medicine that made me fall asleep. I woke up to him on top of me," Arceneaux said Thursday. "Then on the plane home, the priest told me that I better wish that the plane crashes because if I say anything no one will believe me over him." Many did not. When Pucar died in 2012, Arceneaux was told he had killed the former priest "with his defamatory lies." He received threats to drop the case, he said. The lawsuit, filed by the Sloan Firm, said the victim "suffered and continues to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life." The diocese accused in the lawsuit of misrepresentation, fraud and misconduct in relation to the abuse settled for an undisclosed amount of money. "The settlement is nothing compared to what the Diocese has caused me," Arceneaux said. "A 48-year-old man should not be crying three or four times a week because he is so scared of the flashbacks." Pucar had his priestly privileges revoked in 2006, according to information provided by the local diocese on Thursday. He was directed to "lead a life of prayer and penance." Thibodeaux resigned from ministry in 2002. "I'm still Catholic, always will be. No man is going to rip me away from my faith," Arceneaux said. "What they don't get is God does not sleep." erica.apodaca@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/erica_a10 A 35-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery and 99-years for aggravated kidnapping, according to information from the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Raphael Dimineck Sam was sentenced by a jury Thursday for the aggravated robbery that took place on March 24, 2018 on Avenue I. Houston police officers were shot at Thursday afternoon in the Alief area. The Houston Police Department tweeted that one or more robbery suspects fired shots at the officers at 12600 Bissonnet St. around 3:40 p.m., and that at least one officer returned fire. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: HPD union chief doubles down with fiery comments on Fox News The officers were not injured, and there have been no reports of any injured or struck suspects. The media office would not comment on whether officers were responding to the robbery when they were shot at. More information will be provided at a later time by police. 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. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely late. Low near 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Ludwigshafen, Germany and Wilmington, Delaware, USA, January 31, 2019 Following the approval of all relevant authorities, BASF and Solenis have completed the transfer of BASFs paper wet-end and water chemicals business to Solenis as announced in May 2018. Effective February 1, 2019, the combined business will operate under the Solenis name and offer increased sales, service and production capabilities across the globe. With pro forma sales of around 2.4 billion in 2017 and approximately 5,200 employees, the combined company is positioned to provide an expanded product portfolio and cost-effective solutions for paper and water treatment customers. BASF will hold a 49% share, 51% of the shares will be held by funds managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and the Solenis management. The transaction includes production sites and plants of BASFs paper wet-end and water chemicals business in Bradford and Grimsby, UK; Suffolk, Virginia, USA; Altamira, Mexico; Ankleshwar, India, and Kwinana, Australia. From closing, BASF will account for its share in Solenis using the equity method and include its share of the companys net income in EBIT before special items and EBIT for the BASF Group (reported under Other). Combining our strong heritages creates the leading customer-focused, global solutions provider for the paper and water industries. Customers from these industries will benefit from our joint strengths, resulting in an unparalleled and complementary range of products and services, state-of-the-art innovations and know-how, said John Panichella, president and CEO, Solenis. Joining forces with Solenis is the right step for BASFs paper and water chemicals business to maintain sustainable growth and will enable us to share in the future success of this promising joint entity. Together, we will provide the broadest scope of products and services to meet the needs of the global paper and water industry, added Anup Kothari, president of BASFs Performance Chemicals division. BASFs paper and water chemicals production plants strongly embedded in the Verbund in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Nanjing, China, are not transferred, and will deliver products and raw materials to the combined entity under mid- to long-term supply agreements. BASFs paper coating chemicals portfolio is not part of the transaction. Receive the latest press releases from BASF via WhatsApp on your smartphone or tablet. Register for our news service at basf.de/whatsapp-news . . (Mirror) I cant think of a better show that mirrors America more than Hamilton. You see, Hamilton is a show about an immigrant. Yes, one of our Founding Fathers, the primary author of The Federalist Papers, a constitutional doctrine for the ages, and the nations First Secretary of the Treasury, would be deported if he tried to cross the border today. History is not sure whether Alexander Hamilton was born in 1755 or 1757, but we know it was on the Caribbean island of Nevis, and that he was orphaned shortly thereafter. But nothing held him back. He got his shot. By the time Alexander Hamilton arrived in Manhattan in 1773, he was a young man with a bold purpose. The show bearing his name captures a glimpse of the earliest days of America while it magically and marvelously tells his story. If you go though, hold on to your seat. Dont be surprised. This is not your mothers musical. This is no Hello, Dolly. Dont expect dancing waiters or Auntie Mame. This is a fast moving and stunning production which from the very first number integrates hip hop, R & B, pop, soul, and show tunes into its script. It uses expressive, color-conscious casting of non-white actors to play the protagonists, our Founding Fathers, along with related historical figures. It is off the charts. You just dont expect to see Thomas Jefferson as a 66 black man, but damn, it works, and here is why. America is a melting pot of diversity. We ARE a nation of immigrants. The show is riveting because of its intense and driving score which captures the spirit of rebellion in all of us. It is a story of young lives carving out their own tomorrows, boundaries tossed aside, lives motivated, dreams energized. Very subtly, this is a show that speaks and raps out truth to power, mocks monarchy, promotes democracy, speaks out for equality and against slavery, and fights for justice. Hamiltons multi-racial cast represents theater at its best. It exemplifies the truth that there is no limit to what any of us can achieve, what roles we can play given the opportunity to do so. Hamilton pushes the envelope at every corner. Its a ground-breaking, breath-taking musical; a cultural phenomenon. History, not Hollywood, wrote the script for the Hamilton book. It is a telling glimpse of Americas emergence as a nation. Ron Chernow did a great job scripting it. Alexander Hamilton was a rebellious young man when he arrived in New York in 1773. He became a Kings College student who actively spoke out against the king (George) that young America rebelled against. Alexander Hamilton became a revolutionary. King George went mad. By the age of 24, he would rise to stand by the side of General George Washington and command armies of his own. He fought the British Empire. He did not claim a draft deferment for bone spurs. After the war, Alexander Hamilton took part in the Constitutional Convention and the discussions and debates leading to our constitution. He was a smart man, but not known to claim to all that he had a great brain. A prolific writer, Hamilton would eventually author most of the writings in the Federalist Papers. He used no ghost writers. A dedicated constitutionalist, he advocated for a strong central government. He published thoughtful doctrines, not daily tweets. Alexander Hamilton would become the nations first Secretary of the Treasury, laying out the case for a national banking system under a unified system of currency. He did not use the system as a tool to declare bankruptcy five times. Alexander Hamilton would also become a renowned statesman, and when one of the first votes for the presidency of the United States resulted in a tie in the electoral college in 1800, historians tell us he crossed party lines to support Thomas Jefferson, because he was a candidate of principle not expedience; honor, not politics. Alexander Hamilton was as human as all of us. His own political career came to a crashing end when he was caught in a sex scandal, revealed to have engaged in an all too embarrassing and adulterous affair. He admitted to paying blackmail to keep the story quiet, but it became public anyway. Shakespeare has cast many in his shoes. How did Hamilton get through it? Oh, he just became a lawyer, helped start the Coast Guard and the New York Post. He was a journalist, too. Unfortunately, his story took an irreversible course in July of 1804, by a New Jersey lake. Alexander Hamilton would die in a duel with the man he blocked from becoming president, Aaron Burr, who just happened to be at the time the sitting vice president of the United States. Burr lived only to be forever remembered as a villain - the man who killed Hamilton. The location of this deadly duel was less than a mile away from where Hamiltons eldest son, Phillip, had been killed in a similar duel three years before, at the age of only 19. Hamilton left behind 7 other children. The story was tragic; Shakespearean. All of this happened 214 years ago. Just the stuff a musical is made of, right? Lin-Manuel Miranda apparently thought so. Miranda saw mystery and magic in Alexander Hamiltons two century old story. His ingenuity and spark converted it into the hottest and hippest Broadway production in decades. It has crossed generational lines and ethnic boundaries. Like the stage it is set upon, the show spins us round and round. Excitement and anticipation blanket every city on the national tour. The Broadway productions still have lines. Tickets are impossible to come by. Touring shows have public lotteries to get them. From students to seniors, everybody wants in. Since its debut in 2015, Hamilton followed up the Tony Awards wins with a series of Drama Desk Awards and Grammy Awards. Damn, those immigrants are good. Hamilton has become an American history lesson, wrought with high energy, human drama, and heartfelt pain. It touches all of us because it is about all of us. Theater is all about capturing dreams and destinations, aspirations and ideas. Hamilton does. This is the reason this production has stolen the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere, young and old, theatergoers or not. Hamiltons story is our story. The revolution, the revolt, and the rebellion continue still today. Each day our own story unfolds. We dont always know where the road is going to take us or what obstacles may get in our way. We find many of our own dreams defeated, some deferred, and others denied. No matter. We rise. We try again. We are, after all, the product of a revolution. That is what this show is about. In our own lives, we all come of age hoping to make our mark. As the musical score Hamilton sings out, in one of its most popular songs, we all want to be in the room where things happen. Like Hamilton, we pray for the day when we get our shot. None of us ever know how long we have, or how many chances we will get. We may not make it to the ten-dollar bill, but Alexander Hamiltons story is that of a decent citizen who did his duty boldly and honorably. The message to all of us is that we too, can be Alexander Hamilton. His journey may have ended. This show reminds us that ours goes on. Give me a place to stand, wrote Archimedes, and I will move the world. As long as you are still here, you can take your shot. That is the message of Hamilton. John Cox can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter: @TheThirdGraf. Sign up at Bakersfield.com to receive free newsletters about local business. John Cox can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter: @TheThirdGraf. Sign up at Bakersfield.com for free newsletters about local business. Reader: Thank you for your column on the display of a Nazi flag in the Frontier High School history teacher's classroom ("Nazi flag apology? W President Trump says a new border wall is necessary to stop drugs and people from crossing illegally into the U.S. It's a compelling argument in theory, but in reality we found it may be much less effective. When you add up all the money 3 On Your Side was able to recoup for our viewers during the month of January, it amounts to $13,052. Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried recently added sexual orientation and gender identity to her department's list of workplace protections against discrimination. This is a brand new day in which our Department and its 4,000 employees are making a strong statement we will not tolerate discrimination in our workplace on any basis, including sexual orientation and gender identity, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried said in a prepared statement. Fried is Floridas only Democratic cabinet member, winning her election by less than 7,000 votes in the 2018 midterms. As a candidate Fried ran on a progressive platform focused on medical marijuana. At one point she wrote an op-ed for SFGN saying, I will be a fierce advocate for [] the issue of patient access to medical marijuana. It will be one of the top priorities of my administration to end the obstruction and ensure the people of Florida have access to the medicine prescribed by their doctors. While LGBT issues were not one of her top priorities on her campaign website she aggressively courted the LGBT vote. During the primary she ran against a gay man. Even so she secured the endorsement of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, while the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus declined to endorse in the race. They are both supportive of our issues, but she rocks and will be very effective in office from day one, said Rand Hoch, president and founder of the PBCHRC, at the time. The workplace protections announcement came on Frieds tenth day in office. We are pledging today that our Department is committed to an inclusive culture of equality, in which every employee is hired, promoted, and respected on the basis of their merit. This is a common-sense, long-overdue measure that the majority of Fortune 500 companies have implemented, and the majority of Floridians agree with, she said. I encourage my fellow Cabinet officials to enact similar policies within their agencies and throughout our government. Local LGBT rights activist Michael Rajner met Fried while she was campaigning for the Democratic Party's nomination. Rajner said they discussed over lunch how she could use her position to advance LGBT equality in the state. Among the topics discussed was the use of her executive authority to protect LGBT state workers and contractors from discrimination, he said. Back then Commissioner Fried showed herself to be an incredibly authentic and genuine candidate, today I'm proud to call her a friend and a passionate champion for LGBT Floridians. Frieds announcement came on the heels of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signing an executive order banning discrimination in the workplace, which did not mention the LGBT community. DeSantis told NEWS 13 he looks at the merits of candidates nothing else. He also said the order was the same order first signed by former Governor Rick Scott. "I can tell you my workplace policy is one sentence: You will be hired based on merit," DeSantis told NEWS 13. "That's all I care about, and I think if you look at the appointments I've made, nobody has done more diverse appointments than I have. It's not even close. I believe in merit, and I don't care about those other things." PBCHRC urged DeSantis to include LGBT people in his order. "PBCHRC tred -- and failed -- to get Governor DeSantis to include LGBTQ state employees in his recent executive order on diversity, Hoch said. So [Frieds] inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in her department's nondiscrimination policies is groundbreaking. Apparently Fried though took her inclusive order one step further. "Shelby Scarpa, the Commissioner's Deputy Chief of Staff, confirmed that the Department's definition of gender identity also extends to gender expression, Hoch added. This should be great news to Commissioner Fried's nonbinary employees." Equality Florida, the statewide LGBT rights group, also applauded Frieds order. These critical protections both affirm the equality of LGBTQ employees and provide the agency with clear guidance on equitable practices in hiring, firing, and management, a statement from the organization reads. This marks the first time an agency has guaranteed protection based on both sexual orientation and gender identity - thereby extending protections to transgender employees. by Felix Machado Vasai (AsiaNews) Mgr Felix Machado is the archbishop of Vasai and president of the Office for Ecumenism and Interfaith Affairs of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. For him, It is not just where Catholics are that the Church must go. The papal visit is not a waste of time. He will be in Abu Dhabi from 3 to 5 February along with the pontiff for an international interfaith meeting called Human Brotherhood. This will be the first visit by a pope to the Arabian Peninsula. The archbishops comments follow. The visit of the Pope to UAE is very important. There are conservative and politicized voices which criticize Pope's visit, saying that it is a waste of time to invest Pope's efforts on a visit to a place where there is no native Catholic. It is not just where Catholics are that the Church must go. We must go to such places where there are no Catholics, precisely to explore the possibilities for the future. The Holy Father is investing in a precious future and he should be lauded for it. It is also a question of his universal leadership. The recent Popes have brought a lot of credibility to the Papacy and the tempo must be maintained and solid edifice of trust and confidence must be built. Pope Francis is doing that and we all Catholics and people of good will should support him. Pope Francis is the one who said that the Church must not be self-centred but must look outside of herself. That is what he is doing. I am Catholic Archbishop and I will be there as a Catholic Archbishop vested in Catholic Bishop's dress. But I will participate, together with leaders of other religions, especially the Muslim leaders. This group of the World Muslim Elders Council has prepared the Pope's visit and they would like that the leaders of all religions sit and reflect on how there could be peace among religions and reflect that peace in the world at large. Such initiative has come from Sunni Muslims whose leader is the Grand Imam of Al Azaar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. He will be leading this interreligious group and seek Pope's support and counsel; because Pope Francis himself is personally committed to building peace in society and the world. "Firstly, I must thank God for this invitation from the World Muslim Elders Council to attend the ceremonies on the occasion of the visit of Pope Francis to United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. This visit is, once again, an open statement of the Catholic Church expressing the desire to meet believers of other religions, in this case the followers of Islam. The Church has made this commitment during the Second Vatican Council and it is irreversible because it has become part of the Church's teachings. Pope Francis wants to encourage the Catholics throughout the world to continue to put into practice the teachings of the Church regarding dialogue with Muslims. There are some beautiful things the documents of the Second Vatican speak about Muslims (especially Nostra Aetate and Lumen Gentium). I have not met the Council as a whole but some members of the Council know me and I have met them individually at different occasions. The Council is headed by the Grand Imam of Al Azaar. I have met the Grand Imam (who changes according to their terms). Imam Tantawi was a good friend of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue (PCID), Vatican. He was also a great scholar and leader. I met the Grand Imam twice at the Peace Meetings which the Community of Sant'Egidio organizes every year. Last October I met the Grand Imam in Bologna, Italy. The Al Azaar has a continuing dialogue with PCID. There are annual formal meetings. Much is done during these meetings which are cordial and friendly. The place of the meetings alternates between the two bodies. Pope Francis was specially invited in 2017 to Al Azaar and he has given a very good address there. That, I think, was the first time that a Pope has entered Al Azaar Mosque, the central authority of Sunni Muslims. The Grand Imam will be there in Abu Dhabi and will lead the discussions (also one day with the Holy Father) in Abu Dhabi. The theme is "peace and harmony". What is expected is some concrete acts from all religious believers towards establishing peace. My experience is that we, as Christians, cannot go with our expectations as structures are different among Muslims. The Muslims also do not accept the "binding" authority of "heads" (that is their religious understanding. Therefore, as a Christian I go with hope and open mind. One step at a time. We have to take things as they stand and what is before us. We cannot make apriory plans. Dialogue is respect and openness and therefore we allow things to happen rather than impose or keep unrealistic expectations. Dialogue is like relationships. We keep on meeting, listening, talking and hoping. We cannot give up. That is the nature of dynamics of dialogue. I see that much good has happened over the years but I have no criterion to judge "how much" or "how little"; or "good" or "bad", etc. The Church wants to build relationships and Pope Francis is doing whatever is possible to extend helping hand. Isn't that wonderful? I have travelled several times to the Middle East. These are countries with majority Muslim populations and ruled under the law of Sharia. Islam is official religion. Therefore, the culture is very Islamic. But different parts are ruled by different rulers and under different systems. E.g. Bahrain is not Saudi Arabia and UAE is not Bahrain. Actually, the Sheikhs are ruling these countries and therefore they are the rulers. They are Muslims but they also are rulers by their own rights. Aware that they have petrol but need manpower they welcome immigrants (only to do the work but not to become permanent citizens). They are good to the immigrants but on their own terms. So, one who accepts to go there to work must remain totally under their rule and administration. So, one can hardly speak of "human rights" as one would speak in democratic countries. The Muslims are late comers to dialogue but they have been open throughout the world. Obviously, where they are majority, as I wrote above, they impose their laws. They have the petrol which the world needs and they call the shots. But, my experiences with Muslims have been that of friendship and cordiality. They are wonderful people when we take them for who they think they are. In Europe and America, the Muslims tend to be more open and friendly. I think we must emphasize that the Indian Islam is a brand in itself. We have had great leaders from this community and the world praises the openness of Indian Muslims. The students of Islam study Indian Islam as a phenomenon by itself. There are also divisions among Muslims (Sunni, Shia, Bohra, and other smaller groups, sometimes not enjoying good relations among themselves). God bless you. Jason Barry is best known for his Dirty Dining Report which airs Fridays at 6:30 p.m. on CBS 5. He is also the storyteller behind CBS 5's Pay It Forward which airs every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. By Trend Foreign citizens spent 1.278 billion manats in Azerbaijan via bank cards in 2018, which is 25 percent, or 256 million manats more than in 2017, Ramin Huseyn, analyst at Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication , said at a press conference Feb. 1, Trend reports. He said that in December 2017, foreign citizens carried out transactions worth 82.9 million manats via bank cards in Azerbaijan, which is 6 percent more than in December 2016. In total, for 2018, Azerbaijan was visited by 2.849 million foreign citizens and stateless persons from 196 countries, which is 5.7 percent more than in 2017, he added. In the total number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan, 30.9 percent accounted for tourists from Russia, 21.4 percent from Georgia, 10.2 percent from Turkey, 8.5 percent from Iran, 3.3 percent from the UAE, 2.6 percent from Saudi Arabia, 2.4 percent from Iraq, 2 percent from Ukraine, 1.4 percent from Israel and 17.2 percent from other countries. (1.7 manats = $1 on Feb. 1) -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov In recent years, special attention has been paid to the tourism development on the Caspian coast. Many states adjacent to the Caspian basin are taking measures to create a favorable image of the sea as a tourism zone. Russia and Azerbaijan are increasing joint efforts to develop maritime tourism in the Caspian Sea, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov told Trend. As the ambassador noted, the parties intend to establish cruise trips between the Caspian littoral states and for this purpose two vessels are being built in Russias Astrakhan region. "It is necessary to provide all the Caspian littoral states with the appropriate infrastructure, so that in the future maritime tourism becomes one of the important areas," he noted. "Our countries are actively increasing cooperation in many areas of economy and trade, in humanitarian cooperation, and are also reliable strategic partners in the region. I believe the friendly ties between the states will strengthen and deepen in the coming years." At the Fifth Caspian Summit, held on August 12, 2018, in Aktau, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "Peter The Great" cruise ship is being built in Russia, which will be able to perform all-round cruises across the Caspian Sea to all the five Caspian states. It is planned to carry out two types of cruises on the liner - short (7-8 days) and long (13-14 days). Short cruises will cover calls to several ports in the northern and southern part of the Caspian Sea, while long cruises will include calls to the ports of all five Caspian countries. Approximate commissioning of the liner is scheduled for 2020. Most of the Caspian cruises are planned to begin and end in Baku. In the future, "Peter the Great" will also take cruises connecting the Caspian, Azov and Black seas. In the future, "the Great Peter" will also perform cruise trips in the three seas - the Caspian, Azov and Black. Russians made up the majority of the tourists who visited Azerbaijan in January-October 2018, according to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan. Tourism as one of the main areas of the non-oil sector of the Azerbaijani economy remains in the focus of attention of the Azerbaijani government. Here the transport infrastructure is developing, the work of public utilities is adjusted, modern hotels are built. The geographical position of Azerbaijan assumes the organization of the most different types of tourism. As many experts consider, coastal recreation in the Caspian is best developed in Azerbaijan. There are opportunities for the development of combined cruise tourism through a combination of sea and river cruises - cruise ships from the Mediterranean and Black Seas could pass through the canal system to the Caspian Sea, visit the Caspian countries during the navigation season. This would provide a cognitive trip covering several countries, especially since the natural environment of the Caspian coast with sandy beaches, mineral waters and therapeutic mud in the coastal zone creates opportunities not only for recreation but also for treatment. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Uzbekistan began to supply electricity to some cities and regions of northern Tajikistan after a long break, said the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Usmonali Usmonzoda. Every day, the northern regions of Tajikistan receive 3 million kWh of Uzbek electricity. The minister noted that with the arrival of winter cold, the south of Uzbekistan receives 17 million kWh of Tajik electricity each day. He also declared that Tajikistan plans to export 2 billion kWh of electricity to the south of Uzbekistan from April to October 2019, which is 800 million kWh more than last year. The Parliament of Tajikistan ratified the agreement signed in November 2018 between the Government of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank on the project Reconnection of energy networks of Tajikistan to the Central Asian energy system. For the implementation of the project, ADB allocated $ 35 million as a grant. The money will be spent on synchronizing Tajikistans energy networks with the energy systems of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and creating relay network protection systems. The press service of Uzbekenergo reported in December 2017 that the power systems of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan could work in parallel in 2018 after the restoration of infrastructure, damaged 220 and 500 kV transmission lines in the border areas of Uzbekistan in Khatlon and Soghd regions. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were established on October 20, 1992. Having come to power in December 2016, the current head of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev firmly stated that he intends to improve relations with neighbors. In November 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan announced "deep changes in the Tajik-Uzbek relations". Since the beginning of 2018, more than 10 checkpoints have opened on the border of the two countries. Uzbekistan has restored the Galab-Amuzang railway line. Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Dushanbe with an official visit on March 9-10, 2018. In two days, the President of Tajikistan and the head of Uzbekistan signed over 27 documents. In particular, the parties determined the deadlines for demining the Tajik-Uzbek border, abolished visas and agreed to fully restore air traffic. It is planned to open air communication between Dushanbe and the Uzbek cities of Bukhara and Samarkand in 2019, where a large number of ethnic Tajiks live. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are counting on an increase in trade turnover to $ 500 million by 2020. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Tax revenues from Kazakh automakers in 2018 exceeded 7.5 billion tenge, Trend reports referring to the Kazakh media. Kazavtoprom (Kazakhstan Automobile Industry Enterprises' Union) informed that this is an increase of 2.7 percent compared to 2017 (7.3 billion tenge). The largest taxpayer in the industry is the Ust-Kamenogorsk plant ASIA AUTO. It accounts for more than half (54.7 percent) of the tax revenues of the automotive industry. At the end of 2018, the enterprise sent 4.1 billion tenge ($10.8 million) to the state treasury, which exceeds last years figures by 34.3 percent. Tax payments of Kamaz-Engineering plant increased by 35.7 percent to 1.3 billion tenge (17.9 percent of total tax payments in the industry). The Saryarka AvtoProm plant reduced tax payments by 58.4 percent to 945.5 million tenge (12.6 percent of total tax payments). Next in the list of taxpayers of the automotive industry are SemAZ (5.3 percent; 397.5 million tenge ($1.05 million)), Daewoo Bus Kazakhstan (4.3 percent; 320.5 million tenge ($840,000)) and Uralskagremremmash (3.6 percent; 272.3 million tenge ($720,000)). The last place in the list of taxpayers in the industry is occupied by Hyundai Trans Auto (share - 1.8 percent). Tax payments of the company in 2018 decreased by 24 percent and totaled to 133 million tenge ($350,000). Last year, cumulative sales of the Kazakh automakers grew by 57.5 percent to 29,931 vehicles. Sales of the Asia Auto plant exceeded the figure of 2017 by 34.6 percent (17,100 vehicles sold). Sales of Saryarka AvtoProm showed an increase of 2.5 times (11,200 vehicles), while the sales of Kamaz-Engineering decreased by 12 percent (587 vehicles). SemAZ and Daewoo Bus Kazakhstan completed the year 2018 with an increase in sales of 6.6 percent and 76.1 percent, respectively (584 and 155 units of products). The demand for the Hyundai Trans Auto lineup was reduced by 40.6 percent (to the level of 252 cars sold). The first Kazakh car was released in 2002. It was a VAZ-2121 "Niva". With this car, the era of the automotive industry in Kazakhstan began. Joint-stock company "ASIA AVTO" was founded on December 20, 2002. The goal of ASIA AVTO is the creation in Kazakhstan of the automotive industry, which allows the production of competitive cars, and meeting the needs of the Kazakh population and some of the nearby countries. Cars of the following brands are manufactured at the facilities of ASIA AVTO in Ust-Kamenogorsk: LADA (Granta, Vesta, Xray, Largus, Kalina, 4 4), SKODA (Octavia, Rapid, Superb, Yeti, Kodiaq), Chevrolet (Aveo , Captiva, Cruze, Tracker), KIA (Rio, Cerato, Optima, Cadenza, Quoris, Picanto, Soul, Sportage, Sorento, Mohave). --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Kazakhstan is completing the procedure for agreeing on the text of the intergovernmental agreement on air traffic, which is planned to be signed with the American side in the near future, according to the committee of civil aviation of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. The contract will be based on the "open sky" principle, that is, it will provide an opportunity for its participants to fly over each other's territories. "Bilateral negotiations between the aviation authorities of Kazakhstan and the U.S. took place in Washington in September 2018. The signing of the agreement will create the legal basis for the opening of direct flights between the two countries," the committee said. As previously reported, the first direct flight should take place from Kazakhstan to New York in 2020. It is planned that trans-Atlantic flights will be operated by Air Astana. To do this, the airline has acquired the appropriate new aircraft. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the Kazakh airlines to set the goal of expanding flights, including to the U.S. and Japan at an enlarged meeting of the government on January 30. The head of state called on the government to provide support, since such flights may at first be unprofitable. Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and U.S. were established on December 26, 1991. Chevron and ExxonMobil entered the Kazakhstan market in 1993, becoming the first major oil companies to invest in a new independent country. Kazakhstan initiated a short-term visa-free entry program for U.S. citizens in 2015, and the U.S. began issuing 10-year business and tourist visas to citizens of Kazakhstan. These visa regimes have contributed to the growth of travel to both countries, opening up new opportunities for business, investment and tourism. U.S. President Donald Trump received the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, at the White House on January 16, 2018. The visit strengthened close commercial and trade relations between Kazakhstan and the United States, which will help create new jobs and boost economic growth in both countries. Nazarbayev noted that these efforts are important for Kazakhstan to achieve its goal of joining the top 30 most developed global economies of the world by 2050. During the visit, a number of commercial contracts and documents were concluded, including new agreements between Boeing, GETransportation, GEDigital, Chevron, Air Astana, KTZ, SCAT and Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund for the purchase of American products and services worth more than $2.5 billion. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A meeting with the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, Peter Burian, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen foreign ministry. "The issue of opening a representation of the European Union in Turkmenistan for a strengthened cooperation was highlighted," the report says. Opinions on the new EU strategy for Central Asia were exchanged. Issues of developing relations in the areas of logistics, transport and energy were also discussed during the meeting. The EU and Turkmenistan are committed to the implementation of the project designed to bring Turkmen hydrocarbon energy to European markets. Negotiations have been going on since 2011. The project of laying a 300-kilometer gas pipeline under the Caspian Sea to the shores of Azerbaijan, as noted earlier by the interested parties, is optimal for the delivery of Turkmen resources to the European market. The Turkmen fuel can further reach Turkey, which borders with European countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade The governments of Germany, France and the UK have registered INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) to support trade relations of European countries with Iran, bypassing U.S. sanctions. This was reported by the German TV channel ARD on January 31. The headquarters of the organization will be located in Paris, and it will be headed by a German citizen with banking experience. The chairman of the supervisory board, which will consist of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of each of the three countries, will become a British. The EU announced its intention to create a financial transaction mechanism (Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV) to support trade relations with Iran, evading U.S. sanction last fall. It was assumed that it will begin to act in December 2018. The mechanism should guarantee international financial transactions between Iran and the EU countries, regardless of the effect of U.S. sanctions. For the first time, the need for a special payment mechanism for transactions with Iran was announced by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in August last year. Such a mechanism should work independently of the United States, the European Monetary Fund and the international bank payment system SWIFT. In addition, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said that Europe did share U.S. concerns about Iran but "at the end of the day it will be companies that decide whether or not they want to work in Iran, bearing in mind the risk of American sanctions." On May 8, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Washingtons withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - a deal that was concluded in 2015 and limited Tehrans nuclear development in exchange for lifting the UN Security Council sanctions and unilateral restrictive measures of the United States and the European Union. The remaining parties to the agreement did not approve of the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement and remained committed to the previous deal. On January 30, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the crisis caused by the sanctions the strongest crisis in the last 40 years since the Islamic revolution in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Ambassador of Belarus Oleg Tabanyukhov has met with President of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan Sapardurdy Toylyev in Ashgabat, Trend reports referring to the Belarusian embassy in Turkmenistan. The sides are discussing the issues in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, petrochemistry, pharmaceutics, seismology, micro- and nano-technologies, military sphere, training of scholars of Turkmenistan and Belarus. The Belarus-Turkmenistan intergovernmental commission on science and technology, which has already held two meetings, plays an important role in expanding the scientific interaction of the two countries. The next third meeting of the commission will be held in 2019 in Minsk. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iranian foreign minister in a message hailed implementation of Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), saying Iran is ready to maintain constructive engagement with Europe, Trend reported citing IRNA. 'Iran welcomes #INSTEXa long overdue 1st stepin E3 implementation of May 2018 commitments to save JCPOA by ensuring dividends for Iranians after US illegal reimposition of sanctions. We remain ready for constructive engagement with Europe on equal footing & with mutual respect,' Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Thursday. INSTEX, set up by France, Germany and Britain, aims to facilitate Iran's global trade. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has also welcomed the INSTEX. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Its been said that timing is everything. The new Blu-ray reissue of Sean Mathias 1997 film adaptation of gay playwright Martin Shermans Tony Award-nominated play Bent (Film Movement Classics/MGM) arrives at a time when brutal homophobic and anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise. It is a terrifying reminder that the past is never that far behind us. Max (Clive Owen) wakes up in his flat after a night of debauchery. A Berlin grifter, Max revels in the decadence of the period. At a nightclub where drag diva Greta (Mick Jagger) makes her performance entrance by being lowered from above, Max is hit on by hot SS man Wolf (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Naturally, this doesnt sit well with his boyfriend Rudy (Brian Webber). But that doesnt stop Max from bringing Wolf back to their shared apartment. This sets a series of unfortunate events in motion. Wolf, the boyfriend of high- ranking Nazi deputy Karl Ernst is killed by a pair of soldiers. Max and Rudy are on the run. They get to Gretas, now dressing like a man and going by George, just in time to see her set fire to her makeshift drag wardrobe. George declares that suddenly queer is out, queer is dead, but is good enough to give them some money. On the lam and homeless for more than a year, Max meets with his gay Uncle Freddie (out actor Ian McKellan). Freddie can only provide Max with one new passport and identity, but Max refuses to leave Rudy behind. Estranged from the rest of his family for 10 years for being a fluff, Max promises to marry (which would be good for the family business) and be discreetly queer. But shortly thereafter, Max and Rudy are found by Nazi soldiers. In a cattle car on the way to a camp, Rudy is badly beaten by soldiers. Gay prisoner Horst (Lothaire Bluteau) saves Maxs life by stopping him from going to help Rudy. A former nurse, Horst fills Max in on their situation, gives him the lowdown on the code of the yellow stars and pink triangles. Ultimately, a sadistic Nazi officer (Rupert Graves) forces Max to beat Rudy to death, and then rape a woman to prove he isnt queer. At the camp, Max is given a yellow star, while Horst is presented with a pink triangle for having signed a Magnus Hirschfeld petition. Horst wants nothing to do with Max for not admitting to being gay. Max, who has been given rock pile duty, involving moving boulders from one side to the other, bribed a guard to get Horst to work with him, desperate for human contact and conversation. The long shift, which includes a three-minute rest period every two hours, is designed to drive them mad. Horst is furious with Max for having him brought there. Eventually, the reach detente, and so begins the series of scenes for which Bent is perhaps best known. Without making eye contact, they use erotic language to make love to each other. At one point, Horst even tells Max he loves him and creates an eyebrow rubbing signal to represent an expression of love for Max. During the winter, their pointless work shifts to moving piles of snow from one side to the other. Horsts health begins to fail. Max provides comfort and support, he gets medicine for Horst, whose health improves. Of course, Horst is upset when he learns that Max blew one of the evilest captains in order to get the meds. It is the same sadistic captain who eventually brings about the films tragic finale. Mathias adaptation opens up the play, but it still feels stagey, especially the dialogue. Owen and Bluteau do their best to do the difficult material justice, but in the long run, this adaptation falls short. Nevertheless, the timeliness of the subject matter makes it worth seeing. Blu-ray bonus features include behind the scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, a music video of Mick Jagger performing Streets of Berlin and a new essay by Steven Alan Carr. Rating: C+ By Trend Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a number of personnel changes in the fuel and energy sector, Trend reports referring to the corresponding documents on Jan. 31. Guvanch Aghajanov was appointed deputy chairman of the Turkmengas state concern, Hajimuhammet Recepmyradov - deputy minister of energy, Murad Gurbandurdyev - deputy chairman of the Turkmenhimiya state concern upon the presidents certain decrees. Turkmenistan is one of the key suppliers of natural gas in the Caspian region, selling gas to China and Iran. Turkmengas develops deposits, produces, processes and transports natural and liquefied gas, sells and exports gas. The Turkmen Ministry of Energy is responsible for generating electricity, providing consumers with electricity, as well as increasing export, building, operating and repairing power plants and power transmission lines. The main goal of Turkmenhimiyas activity is to ensure the needs of the national economy and the population of Turkmenistan for mineral fertilizers and chemical products, as well as sell them abroad. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Yazmyrat Muhammetmuradov, who previously served as deputy chairman of Turkmengas state concern, was appointed director general of the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries, Trend reports referring to the presidential decree. Former head of the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries Dovletmyrat Bashimov failed to perform his duties and was dismissed. The Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries includes two oil refineries in Turkmenbashi city and Seydi town. Earlier it was reported that Turkmenistan intended to increase the capacity of the oil refining industry up to 22 million tons by 2025 and up to 30 million tons by 2030. The country produces about 10 million tons of oil annually, most of which is processed at local enterprises. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Incheba Expo Arena, the largest exhibition center in Bratislava, hosted the International Tourism Fair ITF Slovakia Tour 2019 from January 24 to 27, Trend reports with reference to UzDaily. This event has been held annually since 1994 and today is one of the major international events in the field of tourism in Central and Eastern Europe. Over the three days of the exhibition, more than 80000 people visited it. Uzbekistan was represented at the fair by the travel company Bubo Travel Agency with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Slovakia (with a residence in Vienna, Austria). They organized a photo exhibition of historic cities of the country as well as a presentation of its tourism opportunities. It was particularly noted that Uzbekistan has introduced visa-free entry for citizens of more than 60 countries. The participants of presentation were informed about Uzbekistans rich historical and cultural heritage. Moreover, representatives of a number of Slovak travel companies shared their vision of the prospects for tourist exchange between the two countries. The head of Slovak travel company Bubo Travel Agency Lubos Fellner said that his company is the largest tour operator in Slovakia offering tours to the historic cities of Uzbekistan. In recent years, an increasing interest in the Central Asian region has been observed in Slovakia and the Bubo Travel Agency has been carrying out an active advertising campaign aimed at attracting more Slovak tourists to the legendary cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent. We are sure that this is a very promising direction, especially since the country is ready to welcome foreign tourists cordially and is doing everything to make their trip unforgettable, he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The 17th meeting of the Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Committee was held in Brussels, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reports. The Kazakhstan delegation, which included representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs ministries, national economy, energy, the National Security Committee and the General Prosecutors Office, was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko. The European delegation was headed by the Deputy Managing Director, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia and the OSCE European External Action Service Luke Devine. Vasilenko in his speech noted that in December 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan received new powers in the sphere of attracting investments and promoting Kazakhstan's exports abroad. In this regard, the role of one of the key results of bilateral cooperation is especially growing. The signing in 2015 of the Extended Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU was noted. During the negotiations, the parties agreed to develop a roadmap for the EPCA implementation in order to ensure its most effective implementation on both sides. Today, the EPCA, which is designed to raise cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU to a new level and cover 29 areas of cooperation, has already been ratified by 25 of the 28 EU member states, as well as the EU legislative body - the European Parliament. At the meeting, the parties paid special attention to the issue of strengthening trade, economic and investment cooperation, which is considered a priority area. The parties confirmed their special interest in deepening comprehensive ties in the fields of energy, transport, environment, education, science, and the development of civil society. A separate point of discussion was the regional cooperation EU - Central Asia, which Kazakhstan fully supports and considers one of the additional tools to ensure the sustainable development of Kazakhstan and the region as a whole. Vasilenko stressed that the new EU Strategy for Central Asia, the adoption of which is scheduled for the summer 2019, will become a solid and multifunctional basis for strategic cooperation between the regions. On the same day, the Kazakh delegation, representatives of the European External Action Service, the European expert community and the media, as well as the deputies of the European Parliament participated in the discussion on the theme Prospects for the relations development between Kazakhstan and the EU, organized by one of the leading European media agencies Euractiv. Luke Devine noted that relations between Kazakhstan and the EU are indeed at a high level, and stressed that two sides have common goals, both on the bilateral and on the regional agenda. He also noted that the EU seeks to play a constructive role for Central Asia. MEPs Iveta Grigule and Andrei Mamykins agreed that the active foreign policy of the Head of State makes Kazakhstan a prominent actor at the international level and allows maintaining constructive relations with all global players. Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the EU were established on February 2, 1993. In January-September 2018, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and the EU amounted to $28.6 billion; this is 30 percent higher than the volume of foreign trade turnover a year earlier ($ 22 billion). --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Armenia cannot be transit country due to aggression policy towards its neighbors. In an interview with a journalist from a Russian television channel, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attracted attention with his next ridiculous statement. He complained that pipelines are not being built in Armenia now and expressed interest in building a transit pipeline in the country that would transport oil or gas. Though it might sound a loud statement, but lacks any logic. Evidently, Pashinyan absolutely doesnt care where this pipe will come from and whether it will meet the interests of Armenias main strategic partner - Russia. Pashinyan should then agree on such a pipe (energy project), for example, with Azerbaijan, previously withdrawing the Armenian armed forces from the Azerbaijani territories. President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that it is in the interests of Armenia itself, which stayed away from all regional projects because of its occupation policy, reach an agreement with Azerbaijan as soon as possible and benefit from future cooperation. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made similar statements, who said that "the lack of success in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict poses the greatest threat to regional cooperation. Because of its occupation policy, Armenia has been left out of all regional projects". So, the Armenian Prime Minister should take this important step, which will contribute to improving the economic situation of Armenia itself. Russian expert Yevgeny Mikhailov believes that Pashinyans recent statements are quite understandable. He considers the leadership of Armenia did not succeed in negotiations with Russia on lowering gas prices, and now the Armenian prime minister needs to do something so that the disgruntled population does not begin to show his protest on the streets as well. Pashinyans remarks regarding his desire to see at least some pipeline passes through the Armenian territory should be precisely linked with this factor. Gas transit first of all implies favorable prices for fuel and money for its transportation through the country's territory, said Mikhailov. At the same time, the expert did not rule out that Pashinyan could go against the Russian national interests in this matter and take part in any other, competitive Russian gas transportation system. And this can be done, including under pressure from Armenias western partners, he added. "We must understand that so far Armenian PM has not received such a proposal. But if such proposals appear and Pashinyan agrees to them, this will be the last straw in the campaign unfolding in Armenia to discredit Armenian-Russian relations," noticed Mikhailov. The leading analyst of the National Energy Security Foundation, Igor Yushkov, also noted that Pashinyans statement demonstrates that the Armenian prime minister is more economically oriented, and whether the pipe is politicized or not is in second place for him. Yushkov noted that Russian projects, most likely, will not go through Armenia. All Russian gas pipelines are built in order to bypass the transit countries. It would be difficult to let the pipe through Armenia, and besides, it is not clear where to direct it, the analyst noted. As for Azerbaijan, the current gas pipeline to Europe has already been built up to the Turkish territory, the sections will be completed to Bulgaria and Greece by 2020, and they will reach Italy by 2022. Yushkov said that since the section from Azerbaijan to Turkey has already been built, a new pipeline, for example, to Armenia, already implies additional supplies of gas, which the Azerbaijani side does not have. Now, when there are no supplies to Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy yet, Azerbaijan already bought about 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom in 2018. The expert noted that this was done because the Azerbaijani side had to fulfil export contracts and supplies to the domestic market. The question also arises whether why Azerbaijan should supply gas to Armenia. Azerbaijan could do it if it were a good deal. If Azerbaijan suddenly obtains additional volumes, the country will have to decide where it woild be more profitable to export them. The Azerbaijani side is well aware that Europe will hardly refuse to buy additional gas from Baku in order to reduce purchases from Russia itself. Thus, it turns out that either Armenia will have to pay an acceptable price for Azerbaijans gas or ask for a lower price. But expert is sure Azerbaijan will clearly not agree to the latter. So, Armenia is not lucky in this regard. It is not as well located as, for example, Turkey, which is now becoming a rather large transit country, Yushkov concluded. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan and Germany have established versatile cooperation in the field of energy and there are all possibilities for expanding this cooperation. Azerbaijan and Germany discussed bilateral cooperation in the energy sphere. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov met with a delegation led by State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Thomas Bareiss at the Ministry of Energy. Minister Parviz Shahbazov underlined the importance of the further development of relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, the High-Level Trade and Investment Working Group, as well as the important role of the Manager Training Programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The minister noted that there is a diverse cooperation with Germany in the field of energy and there are new opportunities for expanding this cooperation. The main share of Azerbaijan's exports to Germany is oil and oil products. Last year, SOCAR supplied over 2.2 million tons of crude oil to Germany. In addition, the projects implemented with Uniper company of Germany on energy efficiency in oil and gas production, modernization of gas supply network in Baku and Absheron peninsula, as well as projects implemented with Siemens and other German companies in the electricity sector, were mentioned. Azerbaijan highly appreciated the cooperation with German companies such as VPC, Enerco, in designing and implementing diagnostics and audit of power plants in the country, optimization and recovery of generating capacities and power transmission systems. Giving information about the work to expand the use of renewable energy sources, Azerbaijani side expressed its interest in cooperation with Germany (SimensGamesa) in this area. The representatives of Uniper, EWE, Vito and other German companies shared their views on energy cooperation prospects. Germany, like most European countries, supports the implementation of large-scale energy projects by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan declared itself in the international arena as a guarantor of Europes energy security, and this fact is very important and valuable for Germany as the leading country of the European Union. It should be noted that very important aspects of cooperation related to the supply of gas to Europe, as well as the prospect of further ties in the energy sector were discussed in the framework of the visit of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Baku in August 2018. The German Chancellor emphasized that Azerbaijan is an important country for the EU in terms of the diversification of Europe's energy security and the launch of the Southern Gas Corridor project will play an important role in ensuring Europe's energy security. Germany plays an important role in Azerbaijan-EU energy cooperation. The energy cooperation between the two countries covers the following areas: legislation in the field of energy cooperation, study of practice in the energy security and reliability, deepening of reforms at the energy market, modernization of the energy infrastructures, energy efficiency, energy saving and development of renewable energy sources. SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) is cooperating with German RWE in exploration and development of the promising structure Nakhchivan and with UNIPER company in energy and steam generation. It should be emphasized that the German energy provider Uniper and SOCAR have been working in close cooperation for the past five years. Uniper company is one of the buyers of Azerbaijani gas in the framework of the Shah Deniz-2 project and will purchase a total of 40 billion cubic meters of gas under the agreement. Since January 1, 2016, Uniper had a spin-off with German E.ON company which was one of the nine European companies that signed an agreement with Shah Deniz consortium in September 2013 on purchasing Azerbaijani gas. The gas trading business is now in the responsibility of Uniper. Uniper also cooperates with SOCARs chemical sub-company Azerikimya. SOCAR-Uniper joint venture operating from 2016 is conducting modernization based on German technologies at the Azerkimya Production Unions enterprises. Uniper and SOCAR will collaborate on projects aimed at improving the energy efficiency of oil and gas production in Azerbaijan. The two companies signed an agreement on the same day with German Chancellor Angela Merkels trip to Azerbaijan. The recently signed new agreement in the field of oil and gas production, energy efficiency, use of new technologies, optimization of energy consumption and reduction of carbon emissions will contribute to the development of this sphere in Azerbaijan. As of October 2018, Baku hosted the German-Azerbaijani Business Forum on Energy and ICT, organized by the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan). In November last year, the First German-Azerbaijani Business Dialogue was held in Berlin. Recently, Baku hosted the eighth meeting of the Azerbaijani-German high-level working group. Last year Azerbaijans share among Germanys partners in the South Caucasus was 70 percent. The trade turnover between the countries increased by 61 percent and reached $1.4 billion in 2018. German companies invested $570 million in the Azerbaijani economy. Currently, 154 companies with German capital are operating in Azerbaijan. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan continues to expand its economic influence in Turkey: new petrochemical complex, petrol station network and other projects. Investments of the Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR in Turkey will reach $19.5 billion in the future, Director General of SOCAR Turkey Zaur Gahramanov told Trend. He noted that from 2008 to the present day, SOCARs investments in Turkey amounted to $ 14.2 billion. SOCARs investments in Turkey will allow expanding economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey and significantly reducing Turkeys dependence on imports of petrochemical products, said Gahramanov. He also noted that SOCAR will play a crucial role in making Turkey an important player in the global energy market. The director general noted that Azerbaijan, being a country whose geographic and geopolitical power is growing every day, is aimed at further strengthening its power in the international arena with the help of Turkey. Results of 2018: launch of new projects Speaking of the results of 2018 as a whole, Gahramanov underlined that it was successful for SOCAR Turkey, saying that the company launched two giant projects and began to work on new investment plans. The opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which is a very important strategic investment project of Azerbaijan and Turkey, was held in 2018, he said. TANAP was linked to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on the border with Greece in 2018. Thus, 16 billion cubic meters of gas will be supplied to Turkey and Europe annually through these pipelines. He went on to say that six billion cubic meters of gas of this volume will be transported via TANAP to Turkey, while 10 billion cubic meters of gas - to Europe via TAP. TANAP will help meet about 12 percent of Turkeys gas needs, he said. In the future, the volume of gas pumping through TANAP may reach 24 billion cubic meters, and later, 31 billion cubic meters of gas. TAP, along with TANAP, is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor project. The Intergovernmental Agreement on the TAP project was signed by Albania, Italy and Greece in February 2013. The 878-kilometer-long TAP pipeline (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers) connected to the TANAP on the Turkish-Greek border, will run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south. The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016. The Southern Gas Corridor is a project of strategic importance for Europe, since it will provide the European countries with one more natural gas source, thus diminishing its dependence on a single market (Russia). It was state for a multple times that this ambitious project is of great significance for Europe's energy security. Gahramanov also noted that one of the most important achievements of 2018 was that the Aliaga peninsula, where the STAR refinery and Petkim petrochemical complex are located, obtained the status of the Special Industrial Zone. "Thus, we will continue to contribute to the development of the economies of both Azerbaijan and Turkey, he added. Azerbaijan will help Turkey to reduce import of petrochemical products Petrochemicals are becoming the largest drivers of global oil demand. The dynamism of the petrochemical industry is also driving new trends around the world. In conditions of high demand for petrochemical products of Turkey, the country is in need of further investments into this sector. The new petrochemical complex, a joint project of SOCAR and BP, is designed to serve the production of polyester packaging and the textile industry, which are developing in Turkey, Gahramanov said. Gahramanov noted that Turkey has the integrated petrochemicals complex Petkim, which can cover only 20 percent of Turkeys demand for petrochemicals. "Therefore, Turkey needs to invest more in this sector. And taking into account this fact, we decided to create a new petrochemical complex," he said. The director general noted that the start of construction of the new petrochemical complex of SOCAR in Turkey is scheduled for the seconf half of 2019, and added that if there is no change, it will be commissioned in late 2022. The investment value of the joint project will be approximately $1.5-$2 billion, he said. "Thus, SOCARs share in the petrochemical market of Turkey will increase, and Turkeys need to import petrochemicals will decrease. All our projects in Turkey are aimed at this," Gahramanov said. Petkim - indispensable manufacturer of petrochemical products in Turkey Petkim produces 60 types of petrochemical products and from this point of view is indispensable for Turkey, Gahramanov said. Petkim, which is Turkey's first and the only integrated petrochemical enterprise, includes 15 plants and six additional enterprises, he said. Petkim's production capacity is 3.6 million tons per year. The materials for many industries, including medicines, paints, detergents and cosmetics, are produced here, Gahramanov said. He added that approximately 60 percent of Petkims products are sold domestically, while Petkim covers 20 percent of Turkeys petrochemicals needs. He stressed that when STAR refinery reaches its full capacity, there will be a very big potential in this sphere. STAR refinery will supply Petkim petrochemical complex with naphtha, which will increase the added value of Petkim products, Gahramanov said. STAR refinery will soon reach full capacity The STAR refinery will soon reach full production capacity, Gahramanov said, reminding that the opening of the refinery took place on Oct. 19, 2018. "The refinery, in which $6.3 billion were invested, will supply its products domestically, and when it goes to full capacity, it will be able to meet needs of the Petkim petrochemical complex for raw materials," he said. Its total refining capacity will reach 10 million tons, and thus will significantly reduce Turkeys dependence on imports of petrochemical products, Gahramanov added. Established by SOCAR with a $ 6.3 billion investment, STAR Oil Refinery will supply Petkim with raw materials. STAR Oil Refinery, which was built to improve Petkim's value chain, will make a significant contribution to the diversification of the company's pro vice assets as a project that holds an important place in the new strategic development course of SOCAR. STAR Oil Refinery will process 34,000 cubic meters of crude oil daily. SOCAR Turkey Energy A.S. earlier reported that STAR will reduce Turkeys annual deficit by about $1.5 billion. STAR refinery will meet more than 25 percent of the processed oil products need of Turkey upon its startup. Certified with the first investment incentive granted by Turkey, STAR Refinery will eventually reduce the foreign-dependency of the country. STAR is the biggest investment made by private sector in Turkey and has started to test its first test by August, the first crude oil load of 80,000 tons to the STAR Oil Refinery delivered from Azerbaijan. With its 4.8 million tons of diesel fuel and 1.6 million tons of naphtha, Turkey will also increase its competitive power in the global energy market with STAR NEZ, which will also produce oil products such as jet fuel and LPG. SOCAR increases production of alternative energy in Turkey SOCAR Turkey plans to increase energy production at the Petkim wind power plant to 200 gigawatt-hour, Gahramanov said. He noted that this will be possible after the launch of 17 wind turbines. The power plant, Gahramanov added, has now managed to bring the production to 25 megawatts. The maximum capacity of the power plant is 51 megawatts. The oil refining and petrochemical industries are distinguished by the most intensive energy consumption among other industries, according to the head of the company. "Our investments in alternative energy are important for the use of alternative energy sources in industry," he stressed. The volume of investments in Petkim wind power plant is $55 million. The power plant was launched in 2017. SOCAR may expand network of filling stations in Turkey Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR may increase investments in expanding the network of filling stations in Turkey in the future, Gahramanov said. SOCAR has filling stations in many countries, but in Turkey our first filling station will be built in the new airport of Istanbul, he noted. Starting from this year, nine filling stations of SOCAR will operate in the airport. Five of the nine filling stations will be located on the platform, one in the cargo transportation territory, two in the parking lot and one filling station will provide services for taxis, he said. He added that the presence of filling stations at the Istanbul airport - the biggest airport in the world, is a strategic and important step for SOCAR in promoting its brand. We are a company that always evaluates and considers possibilities of carrying out activities in the fuel sector, and we are closely monitoring the developments in the market, he said. Founded in 2008, SOCAR Turkey, officially titled SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.S., is an affiliate of SOCAR, one of the most well-established oil and natural gas companies of the world. SOCAR Energy Turkey keeps empowering Turkish industry with its significant investments, thus assisting Turkey in becoming a major player in international energy platforms. SOCAR is the biggest foreign investor of Turkey with its total investment to reach $19.5 billion by 2020. At the same time, SOCARs group companies in Turkey, namely Petkim, STAR Refinery, Petlim Container Terminal and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) represent the largest-scale investment that Azerbaijan has ever made to a single country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Hydrocarbons, which are the traditional source of energy used by the world for many years, are gradually being run out and, thus, make the use of alternative and renewable energy sources urgent. Aiming to lessen its dependency on oil, Azerbaijan implements a number of measures for further development of alternative energy sector. Ministry of Energy held a meeting with a delegation led by Eirik Waerness, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of Norwegian Equinor. Deputy Energy Minister Samir Valiyev appreciated Equinor's long-term activity in Azerbaijan as one of the first foreign oil companies invested in Azerbaijan, the Ministry told AZERTAC. He also noted that the implementation of joint projects together with Equinor in the development of the renewable energy sector is also one of the priorities, as well as cooperation in Karabakh, Ashrafi, Dan Ulduzu, Aypara fields. Later, the presentation was made by Senior Vice-President of Equinor E.Waerness on Energy Perspectives 2018". It was stated that the future of energy is to reform oil and gas industry, to achieve efficient energy supply to reduce carbon emissions, to ensure cheap, reliable, sustainable energy use for all. Data on energy consumption prediction by 2050 prepared on various scenarios was highlighted. In addition, the share of oil and gas resources and renewable energy sources in the future energy consumption, efficient use of energy resources, forecasted figures on the impact of new technologies on waste dumping to the environment were analyzed. Comparisons have been made on demand for electricity, oil and gas in housing, transport, industry and other sectors in 2015-2050. Additionally, forecasts on the use of solar and wind energy have been reviewed due to the economic growth and increasing demand for energy. It was stated that in the future the demand for oil will be formed by the transport sector, and the demand for gas will be generated by electricity production. Expected investments in oil and gas sector in all scenarios will be less than renewable energy sources. It should be reminded that Norway's Statoil oil and gas group changed its name to Equinor on May 16, 2018. Equinor is planning to invest more in alternative energy projects in the future, and it is expected that by 2030, up to 15 percent of investments will be directed to renewable energy projects. The Energy Ministry is negotiating with BP and TOTAL on alternative energy cooperation as well. Negotiations with BP have already resulted in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly explore potential opportunities for the development of renewable energy in Azerbaijan, as of December 2018. The new draft law on alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan will be ready by May 2019. The Norwegian DNV GL will help create a support system and a legal framework in Azerbaijan's alternative energy sector. Recently, the company won the tender of the Ministry of Energy and was selected as a consulting company to develop a bill and other legislation. The favorable geographic location and climatic conditions allow the widespread use of environmentally friendly alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan. The capacity of the energy system of Azerbaijan is more than 6,000 megawatts. At the same time, according to experts, the potential of renewable energy sources in the country is more than 25,300 megawatts. At present, 18 percent of electricity production in Azerbaijan fell on alternative energy sources, in which hydroelectric power stations hold main share, although most of the country's potential in this area falls on solar energy (estimated at 5,000 megawatts). Some 4,500 megawatts accounts for wind power, 1,500 megawatts -- for biomass, 800 megawatts -- for geothermal energy, and the remaining 350 megawatts -- for the small hydro power plants (HPP). As much as 23.2 billion kWh of electricity was produced in Azerbaijan in 2018, thermal power plants produced electricity amounted to 20,534 kWh, hydro power to 1,737 kWh, solar energy to 38.3 kWh, wind power to 57,5 kWh. There are plans to implement a number of projects totaling $2.3 billion in alternative energy. The projects include a plant for production of biofuels (pellet fuels) in the Sabirabad district, construction of wind power plants in the Pirallahi district, an agro-energy residential complex in the Samukh district and others. Construction of two wind power farms worth $800 million and $408.9 million in the Pirallahi district, as well as a wind power farm worth $377.7 million in the Khizi district are the biggest projects planned for implementation.The Azerbaijani government is planning to increase the share of alternative energy by 30 percent by 2030 in total power generation. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea by the five Caspian littoral states opens up broad prospects for good neighborly use of the resources available in the Caspian Sea, Mikhail Bocharnikov, the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, said during an event at the Baku Slavic University dedicated to the activities of the diplomatic service of Russia. The ambassador described the reaching of a consensus on determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea as a positive move. "The economic component of the Caspian is of great importance, and rational use of all the possibilities is crucial. However, a number of issues between the Caspian countries remain unresolved. The maritime boundary between the Caspian countries, for example, is still not fully divided, although the principle of the median line is taken as the basis for the division of the sea basin, continued Bocharnikov. The ambassador noted that the lack of delimitation in the Caspian is mainly associated with the position of Iran, whose coastline is cut, which in turn complicates the holding of a median line. As Bocharnikov said, the position of the Iranian side on this issue differs from that of other Caspian countries, since Tehran is not satisfied with the sector that it will potentially get according to this principle. A meeting of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran was held on August 12 in Aktau, during which the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed. In addition, other important documents connected with this Convention were signed by heads of the relevant structures of the five countries, namely the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime in the Caspian Sea, the Agreement between the Governments of the Caspian States on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of transport between the governments of the Caspian littoral states, the Agreement on Prevention of Incidents in the Caspian Sea and the Protocol on Cooperation and interaction of border agencies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended a republican conference dedicated to the Day of Azerbaijani Youth at Baku Convention Center. The head of state made a speech at the event. The event then featured the screening of a film highlighting the youth policy. An award ceremony then was held. The conference concluded with the performance of national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Their names were Balthazar, Caspar and Melchiorat least according to biblical tradition. But very little is known of them, and what is known is based on traditional stories and interpretations more than any information of a decidedly factual nature. Im speaking here of the Three Wise Men, also known as Magi or Kings. They make their appearance in the Bible in the Christmas story, arriving 12 days after the birth of Jesus. They arrive in order to pay homage and praise the birth of this new born King. Surprisingly, the Bible tells us strikingly little about the Wise Men. It doesnt even tell us how many Wise Men there were, we only assume there were three because they bring three giftsgold, frankincense and myrrh. Almost everything else we know about the Wise Men (Magi or Kings) is based on traditions that developed through the centuries after their biblical appearance. Among the traditions that developed through the centuries, and one I appreciate most, is often reflected in contemporary nativity sets. Whether purchased from discount stores or the most expensive church supply stores, contemporary images of the traditional Wise Men are often now depicted as being of three different races imagined with dark skin, medium skin and light skin. Why is this developed tradition so important? Well, it has to do with what I talked about in my December article family. Much like at the foot of Jesus manger, Christ Lutheran Church is a place where allare welcomewhether those who look different than many of us or those who live differently than many of us.To Grow in Faith, Serve Those in Need, and Draw All People to Christ is the mission statement of Christ Lutheran Church. Its our reminder and calling to avoid remaining stagnant but to grow, to prevent staying closed in on ourselves but to serve others, to counteract a closed-in community but to call all others into our midst. By living our mission statement we pray that we as a family, as a community in Christ, with all our gifts and differences, might be present at the manger of the Christ Child as were the Wise Men, with their gifts and differences. While Christmas is over for another year, we are left with an unexpected gift from Godthe model of Christian living imaged for us by the Wise Men and lived out among us in the family we understand as Christs own at Christ Lutheran Church. As a family we live out our differences and respective and God-given gifts as a community... and as a family these gifts and differences come together and make us one family in God. Ours is a family where others with their gifts and differences are welcome and come together to make our community complete. We at Christ Lutheran Church continue to invite all people into the community we call Church, that, among all our differences and gifts that make us family, we come together to bow down and worship our King. By Trend Azerbaijan is a strategic partner in the Caspian Sea region not only for Russia, but also for Europe and many other countries, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency Lina Vaitkeviciene said. She made the remarks during the Moscow-Baku video bridge on the topic Russia - Azerbaijan: Agenda for 2019 organized Jan. 30 at the press center of Trend with participation of Baku Network and the North-South Center representation in Baku. This has been achieved thanks to the political reputation of authorities of Azerbaijan, which has established itself as a reliable partner, she said. Today, Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing, stable and secure country. She said that huge investments in the energy sector are the basis of Azerbaijans economic achievements. Vaitkeviciene recalled that the official opening ceremony of Southern Gas Corridor, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Southern Europe, took place in 2018. This is a great historical achievement that will change the energy map of the region and provide the Azerbaijani people with stable income for many years, she added. She said that over the past 15 years, Azerbaijan has also made huge investments in infrastructure development, that's to say, the modernization and construction of highways and railways, airports, electric and gas networks, etc. It is noteworthy that all these positive changes also took place in the country's regions, which were provided with good infrastructure, she said. Today, Azerbaijan is the only country in the region that actively participates in the creation of the North-South and East-West international transport corridors. This will allow Azerbaijan to become a transport hub of the region in the future. We are already witnessing that Azerbaijan is reaping the fruits of this potential, but I am confident that the sweetest fruits are expected in the future, since investments in infrastructure dont generate income quickly. This is strategic investment in the future of the country. This will provide the Azerbaijani people with income in the long term, regardless of oil revenues. Recalling the year 2015, when oil prices plummeted, the deputy director general of Trend noted that Azerbaijan did a lot to diversify its economy. A great number of reforms in the customs, tax and other spheres were carried out in the country, she said. Industrial zones and parks were created throughout the country, where many projects are being implemented. More than 11,000 jobs were created there in 2018 alone. As a result of the work done, the non-oil industry in Azerbaijan grew by more than nine percent. She also touched upon the changes in Azerbaijans agriculture and tourism. Agriculture is a particularly important sector of economy for Azerbaijan, because more than half of the countrys population lives in rural areas, she said. Id like to note the work done in this sphere. Agricultural machinery has been updated, new technologies have been acquired and benefits, including tax benefits. have been provided, Moreover, the infrastructure is being updated, many facilities for processing agriculture products have been built in Azerbaijani districts, and this allowed to open a great number of jobs. The work done in this area ensured a 4.6 percent growth in agriculture sector in 2018. She noted that the investments in Azerbaijans tourism sector for the recent years, as well as the reforms that have been recently carried out, have provided the country with rapid development. We are witnessing how the flow of tourists to Azerbaijan increases annually, she said. "About three million tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2018. The development of the tourism industry brings great income to the country and also contributes to the opening of new jobs. This also makes great contribution to the economic development of the country. These reforms allowed Azerbaijan to achieve such a high 25th place in the World Banks Doing Business 2019 ranking, she said. Azerbaijan entered the ten most reformed countries and rose by 32 notches compared to last year, and this is a historic event, she added. Such an achievement was never recorded in the history of the World Bank's Doing Business ranking, she said. This once again demonstrates the aspiration and potential of Azerbaijan in economic development. She noted that the rapid economic development of Azerbaijan, economic strength, stability, security and, most importantly, the political reputation of Azerbaijani authorities have secured the countrys image of a strategic partner in the Caspian region for many countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The cornerstone of the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend. Abdullayeva was commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans statement that "we will not discuss peace in exchange for the return of territories in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue." "It is difficult to understand Pashinyans logic because the cornerstone of the negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being conducted under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs is the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, she added. Four well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council and almost all the documents adopted by international organizations regarding the settlement of the conflict envisage that, she said. In this regard, a question arises: should this position of Pashinyan be regarded as his refusal to negotiate?" 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 Trend A complete settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would bring benefits to Armenia in many aspects, including public finances, trade, energy and water management, as well as financial markets, Trend reports citing a study conducted by independent economic policy consulting firm Berlin Economics. Military expenditures could be reduced by 2 percent of annual GDP in the country to a level comparable with other countries at peace, according to the study. In addition, Armenia could save annual expenditures of 0.9 percent of GDP for supporting the local economy in Nagorno-Karabakh and 0.1 percent of GDP in interest payments, thus saving 3 percent of GDP every year, the consulting firm believes. Such large fiscal savings would enable the country to sharply reduce budget deficits and at the same time substantially increase spending in socially useful areas such as education or health by eliminating present budgetary pressures, according to the study. Very substantial benefits of peace could in the long run also be gained in the domain of the energy and water sectors, said Berlin Economics. This would mainly benefit Armenia, deferring the need for investment into expensive new power plants as the country could import electricity during the dry season, said the study. Capital flows to Armenia constrained at present to a large extent due to elevated country risk as a consequence of the ongoing conflict, according to Berlin Economics. The consulting firm believes that Armenias ratings would probably improve by one notch. Increases in the inward FDI stocks due to reduced country risk could significantly and permanently elevate the level of GDP by 3.4 percent to 6 percent of GDP in Armenia, according to the study. Considerable benefits in trade would however materialize for Armenia due to an increase of trade with Turkey. Armenia would annually export USD 123 m to its western neighbour in the medium term, while in the long term the share of Turkey in Armenias trade would reach a sizeable 13 percent. 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 Abdul Kerimkhanov Baku has repeatedly advised Armenia not to repeat the mistakes of the previous regime and stop the policy of occupying Azerbaijani territories and ethnic cleansing. In accordance with resolutions of the UN Security Council, Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will never agree to attract separatists to the negotiations as party. Azerbaijan holds its stance that the negotiations are impossible without the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, all those who were expelled from their homes, whose relatives were killed. Armenia continues to consider that the people themselves living in Nagorno-Karabakh should determine their future, and illogically suggests that only Armenian community of Karabakh should take this decision. But what about the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh region? All the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes, must be involved in the process. This attempt by Armenia, in fact, legalizes separatism. Baku will never lead the conversation on such conditions. The requirement of Armenia to grant privileged rights to the Armenian community after it has ethnically cleansed Azerbaijanis contradicts all documents, said Hikmet Hajiyev, head of the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan A meeting of the board of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region with diplomatic representatives of foreign countries and international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan was held on January 29. Hajiyev recalled the grave consequences to which the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted, reminded the participants of the event the position of the international community in connection with the conflict settlement and the requirements of four resolutions. Then, he about the consistent policy pursued by the Azerbaijani government to improve the living conditions of all internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as the concern of President Ilham Aliyev to the families of martyrs. He said the constructive work carried out in Jojug Marjanly, ensuring a dignified and safe return of internally displaced persons, once again demonstrates the determination of Azerbaijan to restore all the territories that will be freed from occupation, to establish peace and development. Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev also spoke about the serious consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and noted that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis living in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas were forcibly expelled from their homes. Mammadguliyev stressed the importance of releasing the Azerbaijani territories from occupation in the framework of the conflict settlement and the return of internally displaced persons to their homes. He in particular stressed the importance of restoring contacts and dialogue between the two communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Mammadguliyev noted the significance of restoring the violated fundamental human rights of internally displaced persons, including 80,000 people from the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Tural Ganjaliyev, noted that according to the OSCE resolution adopted in Helsinki of 1992, the Azerbaijani community is an interested party in resolving the conflict. Ganjaliyev said that the Azerbaijani community is ready to establish contacts and constructive dialogue with the Armenian community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Next speakers, members of the Azerbaijani community board from Khojaly, Durdana Aghayeva and Samira Guseynova, noted that before the occupation of Khojaly, they lived together with the Armenians in an atmosphere of prosperity and stressed that the peaceful Armenian population had become hostage to the Armenian aggressive policy. During the event, other members of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region addressed their questions to representatives of the diplomatic corps in Azerbaijan. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani MPs Aflatun Amashov and Fazil Mustafa have proposed to adopt the Law on Online Media at a plenary session of the countrys parliament, Trend reports. Amashov said that there is a need to adopt a law not only on online media, but also on the Press Council. He noted that such proposals have already been voiced several times, and added that taking these proposals into account would be a positive step. In turn, Fazil Mustafa explained the need to adopt the Law on Online Media with the current situation. I believe that there is a need to adopt such a law and the preparation of the corresponding bill should be accelerated, he added. Presently, activities of online media in Azerbaijan are regulated by the Law on Mass Media and the provisions of the Law on Information, Informatization and Protection of Information and the Law on Telecommunications. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova The 95th anniversary of the first female composer of East Shafiga Akhundova was solemnly marked in Baku. The literary evening dedicated to prominent composer was held in Shaki Cultural Center, Trend Life reported. The artistic director of the center, Rashad Rustamov, spoke about the life and work of Shafiga Akhundova, highlighting her contribution to national art. Shafiga Akhundova was first professional female author of an opera in the East and a legend of the Azerbaijani music history. The composer always wrote only about what touched her heart and expressed the highest human feelings. Therefore, her music finds a lively response in the hearts of listeners. Akhundova has opened a brilliant page in the history of Azerbaijani music art, creating a myriad of beautiful works. The legendary composer, who was born on January 21,1924 in Shaki, devoted her whole life to the culture and art of her home country. She was born into a family of an eminent public figure Gulam Akhundov. He did not approve the passion of her daughter. Although they had a piano at home, he always kept it locked to prevent little Shafiga from playing it. When her father knew that Shafiga attended the Conservatory, he got angry with her and didn't let her come home. She even had to stay at her neighbors' place for a while. The father was afraid that, having engaged in music and art, his children would face financial difficulties. Thus, he wanted to see his daughter as a doctor. However, love for music overcame all challenges. Years later, he realized that he was mistaken. Shafiga received her primary education at Baku Music School named after Asaf Zeynally, where she had been taught by Uzeyir Hajibeyli for eight years. Then, in 1956, she continued her education at Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, from which she graduated from the class of prominent composer Boris Zeydman. In 1972, Shafiga composed her first opera "Brides rock" and became the first female composer in the East. The opera was composed on the libretto of Iskender Joshgun based on the story of the same name by Azerbaijani writer Suleiman Rahimov. Initially Shafiga Akhundova wrote music for the radio play "Brides rock". In this music, the song "Melodies of the Heart" was especially popular. The author of the novel Suleiman Rahimov suggested composer to write an opera. The opera was staged on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater in Baku. Akhundova is also the author of the wonderful songs "Leyla", "Happy Land", the operetta "Our home, our secret" (1965), pieces for a string quartet, the dramatic plays "Aydin", "Farewell to India!", "What do you live for?", etc. and music for children's plays such as "A tale of a clown", "Birthday of a rabbit", etc. She is the author of more than 600 works and composed music for more than 30 spectacles staged in state theaters. In 1998, Akhundova was conferred a title of Peoples Artist of Azerbaijan and in 2005 she was awarded with the Shohrat Order. For many years she combined her creativity with the pedagogical work at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. She wrote a number of critical articles, reviews of performances and concerts. She was a welcome and invariable guest at the creative meetings of composers, poets and writers. Shafiga Akhundova suffered from heart disease for a long time. He passed away on July 26 at the age of 89. Her beautiful music will remain forever in the hearts of Azerbaijani people. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova February 5 marks the birthday of the outstanding composer, Gara Garayev. Considered one of the greatest Azerbaijani composers, his music legacy has been sung and performed all around the world. The unforgettable pallet and richness of Garayevs music touches a wide spectrum of human emotions. The legendary composer inherited his love of music from his parents. His father Abulfaz Garayev was a famous pediatrician, who enjoyed Azerbaijani folk music. Garayev's mother, Sona Khanim, was among the first graduates of the Music School, the Baku branch of the Russian Music Society. Between 1933-1938, Gara Garayev studied composition and folk music at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. In 1938, he continued his education at the Moscow Conservatory, named after P. I. Tchaikovsky, where he initially studied composition with A. Alexandrov and then later in 1943 with legendary Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975). The creative heritage of Garayev covers almost all genres of musical art. Garayev wrote nearly 110 musical pieces, including ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber pieces, solos for piano, cantatas, songs and marches. He brilliantly juxtaposed features of Mugham with jazz, blues, African music, European counterpoint styles, and developments related to the 20th century Western music such as the 12-tone technique. In 1938, he composed his first musical piece, a cantata "The Song of the Heart" to the poem by Rasul Rza. It was performed in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in the same year. He was only 20 years old at the time. The composer returned to Baku in 1941. He began teaching students at Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. In 1945, both he and Jovdat Hajiyev wrote the "Motherland" opera, for which they were awarded a prestigious Stalin Prize. A number of works of the late 1940s - early 1950s are influenced by the outstanding Azerbaijani poet Nizami - the symphonic poem Leyli and Mejnun, the symphonic suite "Seven Beauties", and finally the ballet on the same name, which became the pinnacle of the composers work. In 1952, under the direction of the choreographer P. A. Gusev, Garayev's "Seven Beauties" ballet was staged at the Azerbaijani Theater of Opera and Ballet. Based on Nizami Ganjavi's famous poem, "Seven Beauties", it became the first Azerbaijani ballet and opened a new chapter in the history of classical music of Azerbaijan. His ballet, "Path of Thunder", staged in 1958, was dedicated to racial conflicts in South Africa. In the same year, he wrote the score for the documentary film" A Story About the Oil Workers of the Caspian Sea", directed by Roman Karmen and set at the Oil Rocks. Garayev died on May 13, 1982 in Moscow at the age of 64. He can be justly considered one of the most powerful figures in the history of Azerbaijani music. In 2018, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on October 17 to mark the 100th jubilee of the legendary Azerbaijani composer. A House-Museum of the legendary Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev opened in Baku last year. The museum's collection includes personal belongings, posters, programs, photographs, books and other exhibits dedicated or belonging to Gara Garayev. February 4 is a memorial day of the outstanding composer. The memory of the legendary composer will be commemorated in Baku. A photo exhibition dedicated to composer will open at his House-Museum, Azertag reported. The event is organized by the State Museum of Azerbaijan Musical Culture. The concert will be also held as part of the event. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan has temporarily restricted poultry and animal meat imports from some regions of Russia, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans Food Safety Agency. Earlier, the World Organization for Animal Health has identified cases of Newcastle disease in Russias Krasnodar Krai, as well as foot-and-mouth disease in Russias Khabarovsk Krai regions. In this regard, it was decided to temporarily restrict the import of poultry and poultry meat products from the Krasnodar Krai, as well as livestock and meat products from the Khabarovsk Krai. At the same time, Azerbaijans Food Safety Agency appealed to the State Customs Committee of the country to disinfect vehicles passing through customs checkpoints that arrived directly or in transit through these regions of Russia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan strives to cooperate with foreign investors to develop renewable energy sector to not rely on hydrocarbons that are being run out and which are not also environmentally friendly. Azerbaijan and International Financial Corporation (IFC) discussed renewable energy cooperation opportunities. Prospects for the development of renewable energy and creation of efficient, competitive energy market were discussed with the Delegation of International Finance Corporation at the Energy Ministry. Deputy Energy Minister Samir Valiyev recalled IFC's participation in financing Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project and talked about new opportunities for cooperation. He informed about the work done in Azerbaijan on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources development. He underlined that the country has been cooperating with the public and private sectors as well as with various international organizations in the development of renewable energy legislation, energy market law It should be noted that at present, Norwegian DNV GL is cooperating with Azerbaijan on the creation of a support system and a legal framework in Azerbaijan's alternative energy sector. The new draft law on alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan will be ready by May 2019. IFC Regional Director for the Caucasus & Russia Jan Van Bilsen said that the organization represented by the World Bank Group had long-term cooperation with Azerbaijan in various areas, including the energy sector. He said that IFC is ready to share experience with Azerbaijan on the development of renewable energy sources in different countries, private sector involvement in energy efficiency and trade. The importance of the development of renewable energy sources on the basis of market mechanisms, the creation of a competitive environment for manufacturers and ensuring the participation of private companies in this field, was highlighted. At the event, the sides agreed to submit proposals to the International Finance Corporation for the implementation of joint projects in the field of renewable energy. IFC is one of the World Bank Group Companies, with 182 members. The IFC promotes sustainable economic growth in developing countries through financing private sector investment, directing capital to international financial markets, and consulting services to companies and governments. IFC helps companies and financial institutions to create jobs in emerging markets, improve tax revenues, improve corporate governance and environmental protection, and contribute to local communities Azerbaijan became a member of IFC in 1995. Since then, IFC has invested around $473 million in the country, of which $73 million was mobilized from other lenders. The funds have financed 56 long-term projects across a range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, and manufacturing. In addition, IFC has supported around $100 million in trade through its trade finance program, and provided $250 million for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. IFC has also implemented a range of advisory projects aimed at encouraging private sector growth. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Today, Azerbaijan is a member of space satellite club with three satellites, long-term space industry development programs and infrastructure and strengthens its position in the global space industry market. The revenues of Azerbaijan's Azercosmos OJSC from the export of satellite and telecommunication services amounted to $25.6 million in 2018, Ramin Huseyn, an analyst at the Center for the Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications said at a press conference on February 1, Trend reports. The company's revenues from the exports increased by 12 percent compared to 2017 and accounted for 87 percent of the company's total income. Azercosmos provided 24 countries with its services. The bulk of the services accounted for France ($11.8 million), Malaysia ($8.4 million), the UAE ($1.5 million), Germany ($941,000) and Georgia ($537,000). Azercosmos OJSC was established in May 2010 with the purpose of implementing the launch, operation, and exploitation of telecommunication satellites for Azerbaijan. This is the first Caucasian satellite operator. Azerbaijans Azercosmos OJSC operates satellites and other devices used at different heights in order to support the countrys socio-economic development, commercial, scientific activities and for state purposes. Azercosmos OJSC operates geostationary satellites Azerspace 1, Azerspace 2 and low-altitude satellite AzerSky. The first satellite of Azerbaijan, Azerspace, was launched into space in 2013 from the Kuru cosmodrome in South America. At present, its service area includes countries of Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The income from using the first telecommunications satellite amounted to $ 72 million. At the same time, the country earned $ 19 million from using the Azersky satellite, operating since 2014 and intended to monitor the surface of the Earth. Azerbaijans revenue from the operation of Azersky is expected to exceed $200 million within the next decade. In addition, Azercosmos launched the new satellite Azerspace-2 on September 25, 2018 by ELA-3 platform in Guiana Space Center located in French Guiana. Its service area will cover the countries of Europe, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Azerbaijan's telecommunications satellite Azerspace 2 reached its test orbit on December 18, 2018. Azerkosmos OJSC has already started commercial exploitation of the resources of Azerspace-2. Currently, the operator is negotiating with potential companies in countries within the scope of the spacecraft. Primary agreements are signed with several operators in the USA, Pakistan and other countries. The projected revenue for the current year from the commercial sale of satellite resources is 16.5 million dollars. The lifetime of a satellite in orbit will be 20 years. The new satellite will not only expand the range of services and geography of activities of Azercosmos OJSC, but will also act as a reserve for the first telecommunications satellite Azerspace 1. In addition, the second satellite will make it possible to take part in big international tenders, which was not possible before. Azerspace-2 satellite worth $ 190 million is expected to bring $ 400 million in revenue to the country's economy. The main satellite control center is located on the 37th kilometer of the Baku-Shamakhi highway, and the backup center is located on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (the village of Nekhedzhir, Julfinsky district of NAR). National satellites offer high-quality services for telecommunications in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the Caucasus region. The launch of satellites in space ensures the formation of a reliable information security system in Azerbaijan and, in general, boosts telecommunications system development, and further enhances the quality of internet, international telephone calls, television broadcasting and satellite services throughout the country. At the same time, satellite mapping, hydrometeorology, study of the Earth's surface, geodetic works will be possible at a high level. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Samoa and other Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S) will benefit the most should they adopt renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels. This was highlighted in a report titled A New World The Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation released during the three-day 9th International Renewable Energy Agency (I.R.E.N.A.) in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who led Samoas delegation. The 88-page report estimated that the import of fossil fuels in these states amounts to 8 percent of their gross domestic product, so the shift would reduce import bills, promote sustainable development, and increase their resilience. International cooperation to support S.I.D.S. renewable energy ambitions is growing substantially, and 13 S.I.D.S. have established 60-100 percent renewable electricity targets, the report reads. Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Cook Islands were the Pacific Island countries singled out among these 13 S.I.D.S. as having 100 percent renewable energy targets. The shift increases their resilience during extreme weather patterns as well as boost their energy security and reduce prohibitive import bills, despite these states having done the lease to cause climate change. Electric Power Corporation C.E.O. Tologata Tile Tuimalealiifano said for Samoa the proven renewable energy is hydro. The second priority is solar and wind but hydro is more stable and 24/7 but it also has its limitations like during the dry season, no water, he said, adding that Samoa is looking at ways in which they can achieve the 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. So far its about 50 percent right now. The target of the Government is that despite if we have achieved the 100 per cent renewable, we still need diesel as a backup. According to the report, achieving an electricity supply that is 100 percent renewable is technically feasible in places where diverse sources of renewables are available, and the variability of renewable electricity generation can be managed on the grid. Azercell Telecom LLC continues to launch beneficial campaigns for its subscribers. This time the company will delight GencOl5 tariff package subscribers. Thus, beginning from February 1 to February 15, 2019 Azercell conducts GencOl8 Endirim(GencOl8 Discount) - a special campaign, only intended for GencOl5 users. During the validity period of the campaign, Gencol5 subscribers will be able to activate above-mentioned tariff package by paying only 6 AZN. Activation of the campaign requires sending key word G8 to 7575 or dialing *750*4*2#YES USSD code. Subscribers joining GencOl8 package are entitled to take advantage of discounts three times during 90 days. GencOl8 tariff package includes 4GB internet, 400 minutes free calls among GencOl subscribers and 400 free on-net sms. Remarkably, GencOl subscribers will not only take advantage of favorable tariffs, but also benefit from different discounts and campaigns. Currently, GencOl users profitt from various discounts in more than 150 locations. You are invited to visit www.gencol.az portal, to review daily updated list of discounts. For further information, please visit: https://www.azercell.com/en/personal/campaigns/monthly/endirimgencol8/ For more information, please contact [email protected] The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48 per cent share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80 per cent of the territory (excluding 20% per cent of the occupied territories) and 99,8 per cent of population of the country. Currently, 4,5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, mobile customer services, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Azercell deployed first 4G LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan intends to expand and strengthen its activities in production of textile products. Azerbaijan's "Mingachevir Textile" LLC has established deliveries of its products to Portugal and Belgium, Rashad Karimov, the public relations manager of the company, told Trend. Karimov noted that presently, the company's products are exported to Turkey and Russia. "We intend to further expand the geography of exports. In particular, it is envisaged to expand deliveries to non-CIS markets. Currently, about 80 percent of the products manufactured at the factory are exported. The rest is sold in the domestic market, mainly to large enterprises of the textile industry. The plans of the enterprise for the current year include increasing production volumes, as well as expanding international cooperation," Karimov said. The products manufactured by the company in 2019 will be on display at the industry exhibition "International Istanbul Yarn Fair", which will be held on February 28, 2019 in Istanbul. Mingachevir Textile LLC was established in February 2018 on the territory of the Mingachevir Industrial Park. The company uses equipment from leading companies of Germany, Switzerland and Japan. The plant will produce 20,000 tons of yarn per year based on the technology of countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Turkey in the 14.5 hectare land area of the Industrial Park. Enterprises that produce yarns on two types of cotton raw materials (by Ring and Open End) will be one of the most modern lightweight factories in the South Caucasus. National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support of the Ministry of Economy allocated a 10 million manat soft loan to create plants of Mingachevir Textile LLC with a total cost of 144 million manat. The launch of textile enterprises is of particular importance in reducing dependence on imports in the light industry, increasing export potential, creating national textile brands, training of qualified personnel and opening new jobs, allowing the development of the textile industry in the country. Textile industry of Azerbaijan has deep roots and centuries-old history. The socio-economic policy pursued in Azerbaijan in recent years, as well as the implementation of programs aimed at the development of agriculture and industry, led to the implementation of large-scale projects in this area. The Association of Textile Producers and Exporters was established to support the development of this sector in Azerbaijan. The initiative on the establishment of this association was put forward by entrepreneurs involved in the textile sector. In general, such associations serve to improve relations between the state and the private sector. The development of cotton growing in Azerbaijan gives impetus to the development of the textile industry. The further development of textile industry has great potential in Azerbaijan, since in early 2017, the State Program for 2017-2022 was approved with an aim of strengthening measures directed at developing cotton-growing in the country. The purpose is to develop cotton growing, increase export potential in this sphere, ensure employment of the rural population and increase the production of cotton. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Russias Metrovagonmash JSC (a part of Transmashholding JSC) and Baku Metro CJSC have signed an agreement to supply 30 subway railcars to Baku, Trend reports with reference to the company. In accordance with the agreement, six trains will be built for the Baku subway by the end of 2019. The agreement was signed by Director General of Metrovagonmash JSC Boris Bogatyrev and Chairman of Baku Metro CJSC Zaur Huseynov. The first delivery of new railcars to Baku is planned in the second quarter this year. The Baku subway will be replenished with new railcars that have been manufactured by Russias Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant since 2017. Compared with the rolling stock of previous models, passengers can freely move from one railcar to another in the new trains. Besides, a new light warning system is used when the doors are opening or closing in the trains. The trains have good noise and heat insulation, the railcars are equipped with air conditioning and ventilation systems, sockets for charging passengers electronic devices. The first and last railcars of the new trains have places for wheelchairs and bicycles. Baku Metro, opened in 1967, was the first subway system to be launched in the East and the fifth on the territory of post-soviet countries. Serving the residents and guests of the capital for more than 50 years, Baku Metro is the most affordable and safest way to get around the city. On April 19, 2016, the Avtovagzal and Memar Ajami stations of the Violet Line were commissioned for passengers, which is the first priority line of the long-term development plan for the Baku Metro. Having 25 stations on three lines Green, Red and Purple the Baku Metro is 36.63 km in length. Construction work is underway in the Baku Metro in accordance with the conceptual development program. By 2030, it is planned to expand the infrastructure of Baku Metro and create a giant underground transport network consisting of 76 stations, six electric depots, and five lines with a total length of 119.1 kilometers. Metrovagonmash JSC has been supplying rolling stock to the capital of Azerbaijan since 1967. About 300 subway cars of the Mytishchi plant are currently operated in the Baku subway. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 25 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Feb. 1, Trend reports. The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Germany wants to contribute to Armenias economic development and supports sweeping reforms promised by its government, Chancellor Angela Merkel said after meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Berlin on Friday. Merkel said that closer commercial ties between the two countries would help to boost living standards in Armenia. We want to provide support in as many areas as possible in order to advance the economic development of Armenia, she told a joint news conference with Pashinian. In the past year our commercial and trade relations have already grown by 40 percent, but we can still do a lot to expand that. In that context, Merkel stressed the importance of quick progress in the implementation of Pashinians reform agenda. He is, I believe, determined -- and we want to support this course -- to take action against corruption and other things that have always negatively affected this economic development in the past, she said. Pashinian, who was making an official visit to Germany, also singled out economic issues when he commented on his meeting with Merkel. We hope that German investments in Armenia will inevitably increase parallel to the improvement of our business environment, he said. An Armenian government statement on the talks said the two leaders agreed to continue active dialogue on the implementation of various economic projects. It did not elaborate. Germany is already Armenias number European Union donor and trading partner. It has provided the South Caucasus nation with hundreds of millions euros in aid and low-interest loans since the 1990s. Merkel also expressed confidence that the EUs relations with Armenia will intensify after the recent Armenian parliamentary elections which she described as democratic. We want to support Armenia -- I believe that the European Union has also made this clear through Commissioner Hahn -- without us interfering in Armenia's other foreign policy activities, she said. Armenia must be free to decide who it has relations with. EU representatives have said that they are going to expand assistance to Armenia, Pashinian said for his part. He noted with satisfaction that the EU and Germany in particular are not pressing his country to make a geopolitical choice. Important democratic developments are underway in Armenia and there is no doubt that they will continue regardless of the existence or absence of foreign aid because democracy is the choice of our people, he added. Pashinian also called on the EU to start official negotiations with Yerevan on the eventual lifting its visa requirements for Armenian citizens. I think that its about time we thought about starting negotiations on this subject, he said. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also on the agenda of the talks, with Merkel praising courageous steps taken by the Armenian leader and saying that she hopes they will be reciprocated by the other side. I encouraged the Prime Minister to continue trying to resolve this conflict, but as I said, at the end of the day both sides must be ready [for a compromise solution,] she said. Former President Robert Kocharian again defended his actions in the wake of a disputed 2008 presidential election as he personally challenged his pretrial detention in Armenias Court of Appeals on Friday. Kocharian spoke for nearly two hours during a court hearing on his appeal against a lower courts decision on January 18 to extend his arrest by two months. The district court in Yerevan also refused to free him on bail. Kocharian was arrested again on December 7 on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order just weeks before serving out his second and final presidential term in April 2008. He is specifically accused of illegally using Armenian army units against opposition supporters who protested against alleged fraud in the February 2008 ballot. Armenias Special Investigative Service (SIS) has also leveled the same charges against three retired army generals, including former Defense Minister Mikael Harutiunian. The SIS says that Harutiunian started illegally deploying troops in before Kocharian declared a state of emergency late on March 1, 2008. The outgoing president ordered army units into the city center amid vicious clashes between protesters and security forces trying to disperse them. Eight protesters and two policemen were killed in that violence. According to one of Kocharians lawyers, Hayk Alumian, the ex-president told the Court of Appeals that he simply ordered the generals to ensure the armys neutrality in political processes unfolding in the country. Kocharian, he said, argued that opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian tried to get the Armenian military to back the protests and that two deputy defense ministers sided with Ter-Petrosian. They both were sacked in April 2008. The coup charges are based on a secret directive which Harutiunian issued to the military on February 23, 2008. SIS investigators say that the directive known as the Order No. 0038 led to the armys illegal involvement in the post-election developments. In Alumians words, Kocharian defended the legality of that order in his court testimony. I believe that order does not contain any provision for which Mr. Harutiunian can be accused or rebuked, the lawyer told journalists. The Court of Appeals scheduled its next hearing for Monday. A senior Pentagon official has said that she will visit Yerevan soon to explore the possibility of stepping up military cooperation between the United States and Armenia. I look forward to visiting Yerevan in the near future and learning first hand how we can deepen the defense and security ties between our two countries, Laura Cooper, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said at a reception hosted by the Armenian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday. The embassy organized the event to mark the 27th anniversary of the official creation of Armenias Armed Forces. Despite its military alliance with Russia, Armenia has already deepened its military ties with the U.S. and other NATO member states since the early 2000s. It currently contributes troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan and regularly participates in multinational exercises organized by the Western alliance. U.S. military assistance to Armenia has totaled about $50 million since 2002. In her speech, Cooper expressed Washingtons appreciation of the Armenian troop deployments in Afghanistan and Kosovo. She said they underscore Armenias commitment to a close relationship with the U.S. The 160 or so Armenian soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Kosovo are part of a special Peacekeeping Brigade which has received considerable assistance from U.S. Army Europe and the Kansas National Guard. U.S. instructors have long been training the brigades personnel. A newly renovated training center of the brigade was inaugurated by Armenian and U.S. military officials in October 2017. The renovation was mostly financed by the U.S. The White House is making Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and members of his inner circle an offer: Accept amnesty from National Assembly President Juan Guaido and move somewhere nice or dig in your heels and face the consequences. What they're saying: "I hope this is the end. There's nothing we'd like more than for Maduro and those dozen people or so to pick up, leave the country" and allow for a democratic transition, a senior administration official told reporters today. If the regime endangers Guaido or otherwise gives the U.S. reason to escalate the situation, though, "We'll be creative. We're not going to announce it beforehand." or otherwise gives the U.S. reason to escalate the situation, though, "We'll be creative. We're not going to announce it beforehand." "Clearly the writing is on the wall," the official said, pointing to "desperate movements," including the arrival of Russian planes to "take out the last bits of gold and other commodities that Maduro and his cronies can get their hands on." the official said, pointing to "desperate movements," including the arrival of Russian planes to "take out the last bits of gold and other commodities that Maduro and his cronies can get their hands on." National Security Advisor John Bolton tweeted today: "I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela. They should take advantage of President Guaidos amnesty and move on. The sooner the better." What to watch: The official said the administration is focused "100%" on preparing humanitarian aid to be delivered once Maduro is out of the way. I asked whether there were any discussions about sending troops to Colombia (based on John Bolton's notepad) and got a lengthy non-denial. The latest: Guaido was reportedly threatened by paramilitaries who entered his home today. Meanwhile, in Brussels, the European Parliament voted to recognize him as president. Go deeper: I joined Axios' Dan Primack on the Pro Rata podcast to discuss Venezuela. Over the first two years, President Trump could get away with largely extending his campaign bluster: Build a "big, beautiful wall" and get Mexico to pay for it, withdraw from foreign entanglements, deliver "incredible" healthcare, slash drug prices and fundamentally change the U.S.-China relationship. Between the lines: Now he faces a new reality that's driven by Democrats in Congress and the need to deliver on his lofty promises. Trumps dawning reality: The only path to a wall is by taking executive action, probably by declaring a national emergency, and finding himself caught up in yet another court fight. Nobody at a senior level in the White House thinks theyll get any legislating done in a Congress now dominated by a newly-elected anti-Trump, and unapologetically progressive, House Democratic majority. Trump has thrown China off balance with harsh tariffs and deserves credit for highlighting Beijings abuses more than any recent president. Congress and the business community are surprisingly receptive to Trumps tough line on China. But he now needs to deliver the structural changes he promised fundamentally changing Chinas behavior. If all this results in is a bribe China goes on a short-term U.S. shopping spree in exchange for Trump leaving them alone then all the bluster will be worthless. The American healthcare system remains an unaffordable mess. Trump is using executive powers to make some reforms to drug pricing, which have angered the pharmaceutical lobby. But the chances of Congress passing something substantial this year are minimal. After declaring unequivocally, as always that he was getting U.S. troops out of Syria, Trumps administration is now grinding through a complicated and unclear process. The Senate Intelligence Committee has obtained phone records showing that President Trump was not one of the blocked numbers his son Donald Trump Jr. called before and after the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, CNN first reported and ABC News later confirmed. The big picture: Trump Jr. made phone calls to two blocked numbers the same day he spoke with Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, who helped set up a meeting three days later with a Kremlin-linked lawyer claiming to have dirt on Hillary Clinton. He made another phone call to a private number several hours after the meeting. There has long been speculation that the calls were to his father, and that then-candidate Trump had advanced knowledge of the meeting an allegation he has denied. Three sources familiar with the calls tell ABC News that the blocked numbers belong to NASCAR CEO Brian France and real estate developer Howard Lorber, longtime Trump family friends who supported the president during the 2016 campaign. Lorber has extensive business dealings in Russia and brought Trump to Moscow in 1996 to explore real estate options, according to the Washington Post. What we don't know: It's unclear why Trump Jr. made the phone calls and what was discussed during the three conversations, which lasted 11 minutes, 4 minutes and 3 minutes, respectively. It's also not known whether special counsel Robert Mueller has obtained the phone records. Tesla recently began construction on its first gigafactory in China, suggesting that foreign automakers may be eyeing new opportunities in China following the country's decision to dismantle its requirement that foreign automakers create joint ventures with Chinese firms to make and sell vehicles there. The big picture: The rule relaxation, which applied to EVs immediately and will cover all vehicles by 2020, could increase incentives for EV and AV companies to develop and sell vehicles there. But removing the joint venture requirement doesn't remove all risks. Background: The joint venture rule was intended to encourage a technology transfer that would benefit Chinese automakers, but research suggests that it backfired. Foreign automakers have brought older technologies to China and kept advanced vehicle technology development at home, leaving their Chinese partners (often state-owned enterprises) struggling to absorb new technology. Coinciding with the rule change, China recently reduced its import tariffs amid the trade war and rolled out new fuel economy standards and an EV sales mandate, further incentivizing global automakers. What were watching: Chinas EV marketthe largest in the worldis currently almost entirely comprised of domestic Chinese brands. But following the rule relaxation, foreign firms, including AV start ups, may now be inclined to develop advanced vehicle technologies in China, which already has one of the worlds largest AV research and development communities, including tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent. Yes, but: Although BMW, Audi, and Mercedes were all approved last year to test AVs in China, they have to do so through their joint ventures, as only EVs are currently exempt. Existing joint ventures have enormous fixed investments, such as manufacturing facilities and marketing channels, so automakers may not rush to divorce their Chinese partners. Parting ways could also raise issues around intellectual property. And as with any advanced technology, there is concern that developing AV-related software in China could create a national security threat. The bottom line: Chinas reversal of a decades-old requirement could open the flood gates to foreign investment in advanced vehicle development in China, which could accelerate EV and AV technological progress, but with attendant risks. John Paul Helveston is an Assistant Professor in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at George Washington University. A few days ago, departing Minot North Dakota for Duluth in a Skylane, I asked ATC if the NOTAM for military training at Duluth had the airport closed, or whether it was open to GA traffic. He asked me to stand by for a minute, and then said, Its closed at the moment, but will reopen in 30 minutes, so unless you are doing Mach 3, you should have no problem. Brian Samuels Vancouver, BC Copyright 2020 by Mountain Times Publications. Digital or printed dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action. 4-speed is the way to go for heavy loads, says Suzuki exec Marcus De Guzman February 01, 2019 08:21 Some things are just best left unchanged. And Suzuki seemed to have followed that mantra to a certain extent, particularly on one of their best-selling models in the country. Just last week, Suzuki Philippines (SPH) officially unveiled the 2019 Ertiga for the local market. Bigger, bolder and slightly more powerful than its predecessor, the Ertiga is poised to be a standout in the cutthroat seven-seater segment not just in terms of features and power, but in price as well. But there was one thing that left us scratching our heads when Suzuki finally pulled the covers off the new MPV, it still comes with a four-speed automatic transmission on the range-topping GLX, as well as some of the mid-range GL variants. First launched at the 2018 Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS) last year, we were expecting it to come with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) since it also sits on Suzukis new Heartect platform (which is also seeing use in both the Swift and Dzire). Puzzled, we asked SPH Senior Product Supervisor for Automobiles Kennedy Adia, as to why Suzuki stuck with a four-speed automatic for the 2019 Ertiga during the companys media test drive of the MPV. According to Adia, the four-speed automatic has long been Suzukis choice for vehicles that need to carry heavy loads if needed. Suzuki wanted to maintain the four-speed automatic for the 2019 Ertiga as it was designed to meet the companys requirements for heavy-duty hauling besides the five-speed manual. Its a reliable and capable transmission that has proven its worth, said Adia. As to why the 2019 Ertiga did not get a CVT option, Adia simply stated that the CVT was engineered specifically for the Swift in order to deliver better efficiency. But does that mean the Ertiga will forever be stuck with a four-speed automatic for those that prefer a self-shifting gearbox? Not to worry as Adia also mentioned that there is a possibility of a six-speed automatic in the Ertigas future. As a reminder, the all-new Vitara currently has a six-speed automatic transmission. However, the company is still studying as to how they will fit a six-speed auto onto the Heartect platform for the Ertiga. We already have the capability of making six-speed automatics since the Vitara already has it. Its just the matter of developing it, and making it fit onto the Heartect platform on the Ertiga, added Adia. Hopefully, Suzuki will be able to introduce a new transmission with additional gears for the Ertiga in the not too distant future. Last week, we reported the Philippine auto industry sold 15.22% less in 2018, ending the year at 401,803 units. The numbers are in from the players in the Philippine auto industry, and here are the 10 top selling vehicles of the year that was. As expected, most of the vehicles in the top 10 are Toyotas. In 2017, Toyota Motor Philippines was able to lock out the top 7 spots out of 10. In 2018, Toyota was only able to retain the top six spots overall. The Toyota Vios has just reclaimed the top spot as the best selling nameplate in the country with 25,840 units sold*, besting the Toyota Fortuner which had 23,082 units in sales. Both the Vios and Fortuner actually had big drops in sales compared to their respective sales figures in 2017; the Vios dropped by 29.7% from 36,734 units but the Fortuner dropped by 41.8% from 39,680. It is noteworthy that the Vios was launched as an all new model in the middle of 2018, and thus the total sales of the model reflects a mix of both the 2013-2018 Vios and the current model. In third place overall is the Wigo which, surprisingly, experienced a rather good 2018 with an increase in sales by 10% to 21,234 units. The Hilux likewise experienced significant growth at 24.2%, racking up 18,237 unit sales last year compared to 2017's 14,688 units; pick-ups did get an exemption from excise taxes under the new law, and there was an introduction of a new version called the Conquest. The Innova finds itself in fifth overall with 18,175 units sold, a 25.6% dip from 2017's 24,434 units wherein it ranked third. The Hiace followed with 17,972 units, likewise representing a drop of 15.1% versus 21,178 units in 2017. The Montero Sport also took a bit of a dip, dropping two places to seventh overall with 16,148 units versus 2017's tally of 19,917 units. In eighth place is a newcomer, as Nissan Philippines broke into the top 10 with the Navara with 16,140 units. This is the first time that the Navara -or any Nissan for that matter- has entered the top 10 since AutoIndustriya.com started tallying up the best selling cars. In ninth and tenth are two Mitsubishis with the locally-made Mirage G4 at 14,810 units and the Xpander with 13,502 units. From 2017's top 10, our rankings lost the L300 (discontinued) and the mu-X. The Toyota that is not present in the ranking is the Avanza; we can make a guess that the Rush, with its relatively similar pricing and sharper looks, actually acquired a significant chunk of the Avanza's potential sales. * Vios total sales volume includes MY2018 and MY2019 HP kWh The photo was sourced from the Worldscoop forum and has "Guyancourt" added in bold font, probably a reference to the location of Renault's technical test center. The car is in the process of receiving its camo, and white foam blocks have been added all over to obscure the lines. The heat gun suggests the cover is next, which makes this quite a rare and cool sight.Call it an evolution of the older model or a brand new car, Zoe II is a little bit of both. The front end features bolder headlights which form a large V-shape with the oversized Renault grille. The bumper features the same fog light trim as the Clio and a grille pattern with chrome flakes, like BMW's Z4 setup.A few other things we notice include a number plate at the very bottom of the bumper, followed by a black dome for the radar system. The 2020 Zoe also has parking sensors on the very edges of the fender, suggesting it has gained Park Assist.The interior should receive a transplant from the Clio as well. Renault has stepped up its game in the infotainment and build quality departments. But the model faces more competition than ever. Volkswagen is close to launching a small, affordable ID hatchback , and Peugeot has an electric version of the 208. The same platform will be used by an electric Opel Corsa.Reports suggest that the Zoe II will carry over the R110 engine, which has 109and 225 Nm (166 lb-ft) of torque for a 0-100km/h time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of only 135 km/h (84 mph). Of course, the battery pack will also be the same, a 41unit with a range of about 300 km (186 miles). Der neue 911 mit Aerokit #timelessmachine A post shared by CAR COLLECTOR (@marko.wegat) on Jan 23, 2019 at 4:05pm PST We're referring to the rear wing showcased in the photos at the bottom of the page. The aero element made its debut at the Thermal Club in California and we have to admit this is a bold step for Zuffenhausen.Come to think of it, the wing looks more aggressive than the one found on the 996 GT3 , for instance (more on the future of the GT3 badge below). Of course, this also means it's a splitter and by that we're referring to an opinion splitter.For one thing, there are Porschephiles who believe such wings must only adorn GT cars, while other fans of the brand are glad the personalization options have been taken further. And the latter might just argue that with the Carrera S being able to blitz the Nurburgring in 7:25, it deserves an optional fixed wing.Note that the white demo car for the Aerokit also includes the Sport Design Package, namely the front and rear fascias, as well as the specific side skirts included in the SDP mix - the kit might not be offered on the upcoming non-S Carrera, though.Now, regardless of which side you decided to take, you should know there's no reason to worry about the Carreras cannibalizing the 992 GT3 on a visual level. And that's because test cars for the future model have shown us that the aero is set to become considerably more aggressive compared to the retiring 991.2 GT3.At least as far as prototypes are concerned, the list of visual changes on the new Porsche 911 GT3 is led by the rear wing and you can find more spy pics here Oh, and did we mention that the naturally aspirated flat-six and the optional manual transmission of the 911 GT3 are here to stay? Greetings and salutations! I'm a Canadian citizen dating an Australian citizen. We've been together under a year but met on vacation and have been in love/in contact daily ever since. He's just returned from visiting me in the frigid Rocky mountains, and I'm off to see him late this month.We're going to get married in a couple of months. My question is - we're going to apply while I'm in Canada. I still have to work and will be applying offshore. I'm not sure which visa would be most appropriate? And we haven't lived together, per se, but will be married. It is a genuine relationship and we can provide statements from friends/family, screenshots/emails etc.I'm somewhat confused as to if it means that while the visa is processing I can STAY in Australia, or not? Must we be apart for 1.5 years or longer according to what it states it takes to process? I can't find these answers anywhere on the immigration website.I'm also curious if the length of time we've known each other is an issue for immigration? He will sponsor me, I'm just curious and have many questions and the immigration website is confusing so any help would be most welcome!Thanks so much in advance for your help. Lander & Rogers has launched iHub, an independent business function that is focused on innovation. Taking a client-centred and innovative approach to the delivery of legal and business services, the service will tap a multidisciplinary team of lawyers, digital designers, and business specialists to help clients solve real commercial problems, the firm said. Michelle Grossmann, the national firms head of innovation and transformation, will lead the new business. Lander & Rogers said that iHub will use emerging technologies to find solutions to problems that save time, cut costs, and improve information access and service delivery. Seguin, Texas (78155) Today Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 94F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low near 70F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Last Christmas Day, two men unbolted and carried away a 330-pound bronze gnome from outside an Auckland art gallery. When the extensive media coverage made things a little too hot, they dropped off the statue at a Salvation Army post with a please return to note taped to its head. The gnome-nappers have now been apprehended. Artsy The Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre is funded from the always-strapped budget of Kyrgyzstan, a small and mountainous ex-Soviet republic wedged between China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. So director Bolot Osmonov took the opportunity to make some extra money by renting the premises out for a national tournament of Dota 2, a notably violent online video game. Alas, pearls were clutched in horror and Osmonov lost his job. (And this wasnt even the first time that sort of thing happened.) Global Voices On many days lately, the last places Ive wanted to be are 2020 and 2021. And living outside of the present is clearly optional. Encouraged by pandemic restrictions, I retreated to my... Read more Have any questions? Please give us a call at 541-889-5387 Owosso, MI (48867) Today Thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 70F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 41F. NW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Weather Alert ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 kt with local gusts around 30kt and waves 1 to 3 ft expected. * WHERE...Portions of Lake Superior. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 10 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Anyone operating a smaller vessel should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && Opening Feb. 10, Heritage Hall has collected exquisite works of art from talented African-American artists all over the state of Alabama in honor of Black History Month. The exhibit features 14 artists and highlights works in various media from ceramics, sculpture, to mixed media, paints, and graphite. An opening reception will be Sunday, Feb. 10 from 2-4 p.m. at the museum, offering music by David Baker, singing, and guest speaker NAACP Talladega Branch President Rev. Hugh Morris. Drinks and refreshments will be served. Close SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Jan-31-2019 22:29 TweetFollow @OregonNews Four Defendants Added to Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club Racketeering Conspiracy Clubs National President Among Those Charged in Conspiracy Earl Fisher, Kenneth Hause, Ryan Negrinelli, Joseph Folkerts, and a previous booking photo for Mark Dencklau Images: Multnomah County Jail. (PORTLAND, Ore.) - A federal grand jury has returned a five-count superseding indictment charging six members and associates of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club (GJOMC) for racketeering, kidnapping and murder. The superseding indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon; Special Agent in Charge Darek Pleasants of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division; and Chief of Police Danielle Outlaw of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). GJOMC National President 61-year old Kenneth Earl Hause, of Aumsville, Oregon; 58-year old Mark Leroy Dencklau, of Woodburn, Oregon; 48-year old Earl Deverle Fisher, of Gresham, Oregon; 36-year old Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, of Gresham; 61-year old Joseph Duane Folkerts, of Battleground, Washington; and a sixth unnamed defendant are charged, as members and associates of the GJOMC, with conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise. Additionally, Dencklau, Fisher, Negrinelli, Folkerts and the unnamed defendant are charged with murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death for the June 30 to July 1, 2015 kidnapping and murder of Robert Huggins, a former GJOMC member and resident of southeast Portland, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the GJOMC criminal enterprise. According to the indictment, since at least 2003, the Gypsy Jokers have engaged in a wide range of crimes, including kidnapping, murder, drug dealing, robbery, extortion, and witness tampering, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. Thanks to the efforts of ATF, the Portland Police Department, and federal prosecutors, we will work hard to hold accountable the leaders and members of this brutal and highly organized gang for their alleged crimes. Kenneth Hause is the leader of a criminal organization that, through its many chapters and support clubs, has sowed violence and intimidation throughout the Pacific Northwest. "This is an organization whose members and associates pride themselves on living outside the law and use kidnapping, assault, murder and other forms of violence to extend and maintain their power. "Kenneth Hause and his co-defendants will soon face the consequences of their crimes thanks to a seamless partnership of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, said U.S. Attorney Williams. This is a continuation of ATFs operations against the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club for racketeering, kidnapping and murder, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Pleasants. As president of a criminal organization, Mr. Hause put the community at risk and showed contempt for law and order. It is among ATFs core commitments to protect the public from violent criminals such as these Gypsy Jokers. The Portland Police Bureau is proud to be a part of this cooperative effort, said Chief Outlaw. Violent crime deeply affects our community. By working with our partners, we can utilize a collective group of strategies and tactics to investigate and apprehend those responsible for committing violent acts or profiting from peoples fear through extortion and intimidation. According to the superseding indictment, the GJOMC preserves, promotes and protects its power, territory and profits through violence and intimidation and enriches its members through extortion, robbery and the distribution of narcotics. Authorities say the organization is known for using fear through its members and associates as a tactic for establishing and maintaining its power. The GJOMC oversees several support clubs in Oregon and Washington, including the Road Brothers Northwest Motorcycle Club, Solutions Motorcycle Club, Northwest Veterans Motorcycle Club, High-Side Riders, and the Freedom Fellowship Motorcycle Club. Dencklau, Fisher and 37-year old Tiler Evan Pribbernow, of Portland, were first charged in a four-count indictment unsealed in July 2018. Pribbernow pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise on November 7, 2018. Dencklau and Fisher are detained pending trial. In addition to the criminal charges brought against the named defendants, the government is seeking forfeiture of the Gypsy Joker Clubhouse, located in Salem, Oregon. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case was investigated by the PPB and ATF, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Clark County, Washington Sheriffs Office, the Oregon State Police, and the Oregon and Washington State Crime Labs. Leah K. Bolstad and Steven T. Mygrant, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, are prosecuting the case with Rebecca A. Staton, Trial Attorney for the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justices violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon _________________________________________ United-states | Crime | Motorcycles | Most Commented on Articles for January 30, 2019 | Articles for January 31, 2019 | Articles for February 1, 2019 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: February 1, 2019 3:59 PM A priest in the Diocese of Trinidad & Tobago, Gerald Hendrickson, is in a serious condition in hospital after being shot as he left a cafe. CCTV footage shows the gunman running after another man, shooting at him as he ran into a store. He continued firing indiscriminately, hitting the priest twice in the stomach as he left the Big George foodstore as the shooting took place. Reports say that police found 15 rounds of ammunition at the scene one of them was still live. Police responded quickly and a suspect was detained a short distance from the shooting. They say that Hendrickson, a 54-year-old priest based at St Margarets Church in Belmont, Port of Spain, was an innocent victim just going about his daily affairs when he was shot at 2 pm AST (6 pm GMT) on Tuesday. The Bishop of Trinidad & Tobago, Claude Berkley, responded to the incident with a call for a concerted effort to get illegal firearms off the streets and a community programme to reduce criminal violence. One of the issues that we have to deal with is tackling the feeling that people can get away with the commission of crimes or that they will not be caught, the Bishop told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper. That kind of urge and feeling has led to a sense of brazenness and disre-spect for law and order and seeking to promote some chaos on our streets and in our communi-ties. There is a need for some drastic action to help push back this kind of wanton and runaway situation where people feel they can act if they are angry . . . they can just respond to their anger and be without that self-control and self-discipline to hurt and even kill other people who are not even involved in their own conflict. Commenting on Gerald Hendricksons condition, Bishop Claude said: he is in pain and somewhat restricted given the aftermath of the surgery that he undertook. However, we are praying for him and a speedy recovery. Posted on: February 1, 2019 2:50 PM Three members of the House of Lords, the upper house of the UK Parliament, have tabled an amendment to a Bill on marriages and civil partnerships that would have removed the exemption for members of the clergy to solemnise the marriage of a same sex couple. But the amendment was withdrawn by the main proposer, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, after the Government said it could not support the proposal. The amendment was tabled by three opposition Labour Party peers: Richard Faulkner, Raymond Collins, and Michael Cashman. If introduced into law, it would require the Secretary of State to make regulations within six months to remove the exemption for clergy. The Act of Parliament that legalised same-sex marriages in England and Wales contains opt-in protections for religious groups. Clergy may not solemnise same-sex marriages unless their denominations governing body has formally opted in. The law also protects religious groups who do not conduct same sex marriages from claims under anti-discrimination law. The Act contains specific additional exemptions for the two Anglican Churches, the Church of England and the Church in Wales, which prevents them from opting in without a change in the law. The Church of Englands General Synod has the legal authority to make such a change in the law. The Act contains provisions for the Lord Chancellor to change the law by secondary legislation, if the Church in Wales Governing Body decided to opt in to same sex marriages. Explaining his reasons for introducing the amendment, Lord Faulkner told the House of Lords today (Friday) that the exemption continued the ban on same sex couples marrying in Church of England churches. He said that he wanted to give the opportunity to the churches to say at some point in the future that because the [law permitting same-sex marriage] had been an unqualified success, and is already giving the opportunity to thousands of same-sex couples to enjoy the opportunity to be married and to live together, I hope it will be possible for the Church of England to follow the lead set by the Anglican Churches in Scotland, the United States, Canada, and other countries to permit same sex couples to marry in Church. Responding to the amendment, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, a member of the House of Lords, said that the Church of England seeks to welcome all people including those in civil partnerships and same sex marriages. There are, of course, questions about how this welcome can be expressed, he said. He told Peers that he regretted the amendment for introducing a discordant note into a Bill that was, otherwise, not contentious. He said that the law which introduced same sex marriages to England and Wales seeks to strike a balance between the right of individuals to marry a person of the same sex; and the rights of churches, other religious bodies and their ministers, to act in a way which is consistent with their religious beliefs. Opposing the amendment, the Conservative Government minister Susan Williams Baroness Williams of Trafford stressed that the law on same sex marriage was an opt-in system. Same sex marriages can only be performed on religious premises or under religious rites when the governing religious body has expressly consented, she said. There is no requirement to give such consent. We have always been clear that no religious body should be forced to marry same sex couples or to host civil partnerships. Lord Faulkner withdrew his amendment without a vote, but said that he may bring it back at a later stage of the Bills progress through the House of Lords. Sony has now announced four new TV series that are due to become available to buy soon. These are the XG70, XG80, XG81 and XG83. Sony has currently not confirmed pricing or general availability for any of these lines but has stated they will all arrive within 2019. Although that should not be interpreted as all of them will be available in the US. In spite of all of these TV series coming loaded with 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, they are designed to be more affordable options that cater to consumers looking for a 4K HDR TV but without the additional features and perks associated with the companys higher-tiered models. Advertisement Of the four, the XG70 series is the only line to not come with Sonys flavored Android TV in use. Although it is a smart TV and does come with a built-in internet browser. The XG70 will be available in four different sizes: 43, 49, 55 and 65-inch. With the other three models all coming loaded with Android TV buyers can expect a Android-related app experience and take advantage of a wide variety of apps that have been optimized for the TV. As this is a newer version of Android TV, this also means access to Google Assistant built-in, with users able to issue various commands to the voice assistant for feedback on information or access content. For those more tied into Amazons voice assistant ecosystem, all three are also certified as works with Alexa and therefore will connect to an Alexa-enabled device and provide the option of hands-free TV control through voice commands given to the external device. Advertisement All three also feature Sonys 4K X-Reality PRO technology thats designed to upscale content to offer a 4K-like picture even if the content is not 4K. In terms of size options, the XG80 is the most varied as it will be available in five sizes in total with the smallest coming in at 43-inch and the largest at 75-inches. The XG81 is scheduled to arrive in the same sizes as the XG80 although there will be no 75-inch option on offer. The XG83 is the most limited in size with only two size options currently due for release, 43 and 49-inch. One notable difference between the three Android TV-powered lines is the XG83 also features the companys 4K HDR Processor X1 chip which should result in an even better viewing experiencing thanks to the processors ability to enhance depth, textures and colors. Making it the more premium option announced today. Advertisement The unveiling of these latest lines follow on from Sonys appearance at CES 2019 in Las Vegas where the company confirmed many more TV lines that are arriving to market throughout 2019. Compared to the current announcement, the CES-confirmed lines are the ones aimed at consumers looking to gain the best experience possible, albeit at an increased price. These more premium options also come with Android TV and form the companys A9G series, A8G series, and X950G series. At the same event, Sony also unveiled its new Z9G TV. Not only does this one come powered by the Android TV platform, but it is also the companys first consumer 8K LCD TV. A recent certification issued by the Brazilian telecommunications regulator ANATEL shows that the LG G8 ThinQ will feature a 3,400mAh battery. The government agency recently tested a battery with the model number BL-T41, and in comparison with the companys other smartphones, the capacity of the power pack is around 400mAh larger than the battery included with the LG G7 ThinQ. On the other hand, the battery is also slightly larger than the power pack included with the LG G6 and the LG V40 ThinQ, which had a capacity of 3,300mAh. Furthermore, the battery of LG G8 ThinQ is smaller than the battery included with the upcoming LG V50 ThinQ 5G, which will likely have a 4,000mAh power pack. Background: The LG G8 ThinQ is one of the two devices that the company will reportedly launch next month. Aside from the latest addition to the LG G series, recent rumors claim that LG Electronics will also announce its first 5G smartphone offering, which the company will market as part of the LG V series. While the LG G8 ThinQ will not support the latest communications standards, it will still feature several improvements compared to the LG G7 ThinQ. Among the enhancements that LG may include with its upcoming device is the Sound on Display technology, which aims to use the screen to produce sound. The inclusion of this technology may allow the manufacturer to remove the earpiece in the upcoming premium device offering. Furthermore, another recent report suggests that LG Electronics will incorporate a 3D camera to the LG G8 ThinQ. This hardware should improve the speed and accuracy of the handsets face unlock technology, although the South Korean tech firm may also use the imaging module to enhance the augmented reality features of the smartphone. Advertisement There is little information about the specifications of the LG G8 ThinQ, although a recent render detailed the design of the smartphone. The renders show the device will sport a similar design with its predecessor, the LG G7 ThinQ, and it suggests that like the previous generation handset, the smartphone will include a notch above the display, which seems to contain a single front-facing camera and several additional sensors. Interestingly, a recent report says that the LG G8 ThinQ may sport a waterdrop notch rather than the broader indent seen in the companys earlier products. Meanwhile, the back of the device features a horizontally-arranged dual rear camera setup. Beside the rear shooters is the LED flash, and directly below the two cameras is the fingerprint scanner. A recent report from South Korean media also notes that the LG G8 ThinQ will likely be the last LG G-branded handset that LG Electronics will release. Rumors suggest that the LG V series will take over as the flagship smartphone lineup of the company, and the branding of the tech firms first 5G smartphone supports this notion. If LG puts an end to the LG G series, reports claim that it will likely be replaced by a new handset series. Impact: While the LG G8 ThinQ includes a smaller battery than the V50 ThinQ 5G, the device only features LTE connectivity, which means that the handset will have lower power requirements than the 5G handset. Aside from offering a slightly larger battery than its predecessors, the newer hardware that the company may include with its upcoming smartphone offering could result in longer battery life for the device. Andover, MA (01810) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. The United Kingdom Post Office introduced the first public telephone kiosk, designated K1, in 1921. These were constructed out of pre-cast concrete sections, had a four-sided rectangular form with a pyramidal roof, and was topped by a wrought iron spear. It was not a particularly bad design, but somehow, it didnt appeal to the British public. The London Metropolitan Boroughs as well as the Birmingham Civic Society voiced their dislike and even resisted the Post Offices effort to erect K1 kiosks on the streets. To ease the tension, the Royal Fine Art Commission intervened and offered to organize a competition to design a new kiosk. George Basevis painting of Eliza Soanes tomb. The organizers invited entries from three respected architectsRobert Lorimer, John Burnet and Giles Gilbert Scott, along with the designs from the Post Office and from The Birmingham Civic Society. Robert Lorimer was a Scottish architect who designed the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. John Burnetanother Scottdesigned many prestigious buildings across Britain. Giles Gilbert Scott was a well-known English architect who gave Britain many of its popular landmarks such as Cambridge University Library, Lady Margaret Hall, and the Battersea Power Station. His most popular creation was the ubiquitous red telephone box. Scott designed a four-sided rectangular box with a domed roof. Each side had fluted architrave moldings at the outer edge, and at the base there was a blank rectangular panel with trim molding-surround. Above, on three sides of the kiosk, Scott put six rows of three small rectangular panes of glass, with trim moldings and internal beading. Above the main body of the kiosk was an entablature, set back from the face of the kiosk, and finished with a crown-molded cornice. The entablature carried a rectangular illuminated telephone sign, and above it, on the pediments, Scott carved the Tudor crown. Image credit: the-telephone-box.co.uk The K2s design was largely inspired by the mausoleum of Eliza Soane, wife of Sir John Soane, at the Old St Pancras churchyard in London. Sir John Soane was one of the most renowned architects of his day. Some of his finest works include the Bank of England (later rebuilt), Dulwich College Picture Gallery, and his own house in London which is now Sir John Soanes Museum. When Eliza Soane died in 1815, Sir John interred her in the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church, and built a tomb above the vault. Designed by Sir John himself, the tomb comprises a central domed structure supported on four paneled piers with ornamental capitals and four columns decorated with a style of Soanes own creation. The roof has a pine cone finial, the symbol in Ancient Egypt for regeneration, below which is carved a serpent swallowing its own tail, the symbol of eternity. There are also carvings of boys holding extinguished torchessymbols of death. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott knew the tomb well. In fact, he had just become a trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum. K2s design was well received by the Royal Post Office. Giles Gilbert Scott originally wanted the K2 to be painted silver, with a blue-green interior, but the General Post Office chose red. About 1,700 kiosks were produced and installed mostly around London, before the Post Office realized that the K2 was too big and costly to produce. In 1929, five years after the K2 was introduced, Giles Gilbert Scott produced a revised design, the K3, that was similar to K2 but smaller and with less classical architectural styling and thus more cost-effective. The design of the telephone kiosk continued to evolve, but the structure remained the samea rectangular box with a domed roof. Over the years the telephone box became a British cultural icon, and although their use has diminished over the years, hundreds of them still stand all around Britain. Illustration of Soanes tomb, from the book Description of the House and Museum of Sir John Soane (1835) Photo credit: David Edgar/Wikipedia According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia delegate Dawn Adams (D-Richmond) says she would not have co-sponsored Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax)'s abortion bill, known as H.B. 2491, if she had known what was in it. From RTD: "I made a mistake, and all I know to do is to admit it, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may[."] Adams ... said she believes women have "full authority to decide what is best for themselves and their bodies." But she said she mistakenly believed Tran's bill would only repeal "onerous" abortion restrictions Republicans imposed in 2012. "Had I researched each line of removed language, I would have seen that, and known that there was more research to be done. None of this changes that I believe women must have safe legal options for abortion; but I also would have seen the utility of language that provides guidelines for how to ensure this." Adams is a nurse practitioner with over 20 years' experience and a far-left Democrat well versed in abortion politics, so there's little doubt she was on the same page as Tran. What makes her feigned regret even more obvious is the support and campaign funds she received from EMILY's List an abortion PAC so radical that its founders have lobbied against a ban on partial-birth abortions and for zero restrictions on abortion up to and including the baby fighting its way down the birth canal. To have the endorsement of EMILY's List, a candidate must support and vote for unrestricted abortion laws. NARAL and Planned Parenthood also round out the list of abortion zealots who funded and endorsed Adams. Yet Adams wants us, the residents of District 68, to believe she did not "research" the bill sufficiently and did not see "the utility of language" that would have guided her to ensure that partial-birth abortion up to the end of the third trimester was safe, legal, and not included? Up for re-election in 2019, Adams can't afford to be associated with a piece of legislation that promotes infanticide. In 2017, Adams, the first openly lesbian candidate running for a House of Delegates seat, won by only 325 votes with nearly 40,000 votes cast. Adams is being challenged by Garrison Coward, a young and charismatic black Republican, who has just announced his plan to secure the nomination for his party. Despite publicly distancing herself from H.B. 2491, Adams said she still supports the sponsor of the bill, Kathy Tran. She stated that Tran was put in an "untenable position" when House majority leader Todd Gilbert asked her if, under her legislation, a woman would be allowed to request an abortion if she were full-term and "dilating." Finally, Adams, utterly confused by the unforeseen firestorm created by Tran's "untenable" honesty, said Gilbert's question focused on "partial birth infanticide" which she understands is a crime in Virginia but is "different than [sic] a late-term abortion." Image: Dawn Adams's Twitter page. Kathmandu, Nepal: Police arrested dozens of doctors while they were staging silent protests in support of Dr. Govinda KC from different hospitals including the Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu on Friday. The Nepal Medical Association (NMA), the professional organization of doctors, announced, had announced the protest program in support of Dr. KC, who is in hunger strike demanding reform in the medical sector in Nepal. The NMA has announced a shutdown of all health services except emergency in government, public and private health facilities across the country from Friday despite the governments threat not to protest in favor of Dr. KC. Persia was one of the greatest empires on Planet Earth and one the of the most civilized nations until she was infected with Islam and suffered a slow death. It should be noted that Islam was imposed on an enlightened Persian people some 1,400 years ago, and it was always viewed as an invader. My concern with Persia has somewhat subsided. Over 1,400 years of darkness is reaching its inevitable end. People on the mountaintops are clearly discerning the rays of the new sun that inevitably will chase away the gloom of Islam. I see Persia rising from the ashes, and Iranians by the tens of thousands have either left Islam or are on their way out. The remaining task is to expel the agents of Islamic terror in Iran: the Islamic Republic. However, I am not optimistic about the health and continuation of Western civilization and my adopted home, the United States, both of which have put themselves on the path to extinction with the help of Islam's useful idiots, Islam apologists, Islam-enablers, and their collaborators: the liberal media, Hollywood celebrities, university professors, and politicians. Every American should be ashamed when our elected officials anywhere call Islam a "religion of peace," because this is appeasement, if not an outright lie. We, the people, elect our leaders, and we hold them accountable to be honorable and faithful to their oath of office. When the people's representatives downplay the deadliest threat to everything we cherish, they not only legitimize Islam, but also confuse the rest of the uninformed population with a false belief and information. Therefore, politicians, while using political correctness to advance their own lofty agenda, expedite the demise of our civilization. I see America and even Canada, in thirty years or so, becoming a war zone if we don't stop Islamic ideology from advancing and identify it for what it truly is. If we ignore these warnings, the future of America will not be so bright and ultimately, like Persia, will suffer a slow death. This is historical fact, not fiction. I have seen what Islam has done to the country of my birth. The civilized Western world will either face this new reality now or hand it over to future generations, to include their loved ones. Persians underestimated the power and dedication of the newly formed Islamic ideology of hate and violence by the desert-dwellers 1,400 years ago. An unexpected unorthodox attack on the Persian army caused it to fall into the hands of the butchers of Islam, and eventually, the culture of death prevailed and the era of Islamic terrorism began. Americans need to learn from Persian experience and become more vigilant. We must always learn from history. America's founding fathers did not believe they had written a perfect document or that they had created a flawless form of government, and they accepted that the world a hundred or two hundred years in the future would probably be quite different from the one they lived in. To contain the evolution of knowledge and experience and changing needs, they provided the means to amend the Constitution in Article V. Freedom is fragile. Anything that protects freedom can also become an Achilles heel for those blessed with freedom. This is because freedom always entails the unfortunate ability to use one's rights to destroy the freedoms and rights of others. People can use the protections afforded them by the Constitution to inflict great harm to those who live within the law. We know that this is the main argument against the Second Amendment. In the interest of impartiality, the authors of the Constitution did not define what constitutes a religion. Presently, a plethora of sects, cults, and orders, all claiming to be religion, cover the length and the breadth of the land. So long as these "religions" minister to the legitimate spiritual needs of their congregations without threatening the rights of others, there is no reason for concern. However, when one or more of these claimants strive to undermine the very Constitution that protects them in order to impose their belief and way of life, serious problems arise. The framers never envisioned that their magnificent document, the U.S. Constitution, which protects our lives, would someday become the downfall of America by protecting Islam, the greatest threat to humanity! As they say in the news industry, follow the money. And the money in Venezuela, like a lot of Venezuelans, is fleeing. Here's a new one from Reuters: SINGAPORE (Reuters) - PetroChina Co plans to drop Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) as a partner in a planned $10 billion oil refinery and petrochemical project in southern China, said three sources familiar with the matter this week.The companys decision adds to state-owned PDVSAs woes after the United States imposed sanctions on the company on Jan. 28 to undermine the rule of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. However, dropping the company was not a reaction to the U.S. sanctions but follows the deteriorating financial status of PDVSA over the past few years, said two of the sources, both executives with China National Petroleum Corp, the parent of PetroChina.There will be no role of PDVSA as an equity partner. At least we dont see that possibility in the near future given the situation the country has been through in recent years, said one of the executives, asking to remain unidentified because he is not authorized to speak to the media. The Reuters sources say it's nothing to do with U.S. sanctions. But that, in the context of what the pullout means, is irrelevant: The Maduro dictatorship still loses the use of the money, or the oil earnings the money can bring. And the Chinese reasons are just as damning as if the whole thing had been about U.S. sanctions: Chavista fiscal practices, which have almost literally run Venezuela's once-vast oil industry back into the ground. The story signals that the Chinese have decided that right about now's a good time to finally cut their losses. It follows a big Russian pullout move that does seem to be linked to U.S. sanctions: Really significant..., a game changer https://t.co/WiwfPQBdJJ Diego E. Arria (@Diego_Arria) January 29, 2019 Russia, along with China, is one of the big imperial overseas players that are the last pillars holding the Venezuelan dictatorship up. They have refused to join most of Latin America, Europe, Australia, Israel, other Asian states and the U.S. in recognizing Venezuela's constitutional president, Juan Guaido, and instead hollered unsolicited nonsense about a 'coup,' with the millions in the street the handiwork of U.S. interference, and the whole thing cooked up by Uncle Sam. They also blocked Venezuela's Maduro regime in the United Nations from getting a condemnation last week, and put out propaganda, lapped up by ignorant Democrats such as Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, to argue for maintaining the status quo, calling for useless been-there-done-that 'negotiations.' But now they're speaking louder ... with their money. They are both pulling out, because, well, it's time to pull out. They wouldn't do this if they didn't see Maduro lasting. It's pretty obvious they don't and if they put all their pennies on the Maduro pile, they are going to lose it all. Get a load of how much money and investment that is from Fox News's Holly McKay: For starters, China has a satellite tracking facility at the Capitan Manuel Rios Air Base in Guarico, while Russia has a cyberpresence at the Naval Base Antonio Diaz "Bandi" in La Orchilla, an island north of Caracas. This adds space and cyberspace capabilities that the Maduro regime does not have, Humire pointed out. For Russia and China, pressuring the U.S. via Venezuela adds leverage to their regional ambitions in Ukraine and Eastern/Central Europe (for Russia) and Taiwan and South China Sea (for China). Furthermore, Venezuela owes a total of more than $120 billion just to China and Russia. Both Beijing and Moscow are, according to geopolitical experts, worried that if Maduro falls, their already-strained budgets will take a major hit. Russias tight relationship with Venezuela dates back to the reign of Hugo Chavez, and in the ensuing years, Venezuela has been one of the few in the international community to back Russias involvement in Syria and Ukraine. But most importantly, Russias state-run oil company Rosneft has an especially deep-rooted interest in Maduros government. Two years ago, Rosneft took an almost 50 percent stake in the U.S-based oil company Citgo, which is owned by Venezuelas energy conglomerate PDVSA. Citgo serves as collateral on Venezuelas debts to Rosneft, and fundamentally gives Russia strategic sway in Latin America a region where the U.S. once had significant weight. Both lose a strategic ally in South America, and both risk losing the ability to collect in full the debts owed by Venezuela, cautioned William Ogborn, strategic communications and public diplomacy expert for numerous U.S. government entities including the House of Representatives and the Department of Defense. Here's the good part: The news is just going to get worse for Maduro: Early this morning, the U.S. put out notice that non-U.S. entities have until April 28 to get their keisters out of Venezuela if they are involved in any transactions with Venezuela's now-sanctioned oil company. You can bet they will get out because not getting out will negatively affect any and all of their operations with the U.S. Access to U.S. markets, U.S. supplies, U.S. imports, U.S. exports, U.S. banks, will be ... cut off. Maduro's not going to weather that one. And already the capital flight has started. No wonder he's holding some kind of emergency meeting this morning with all his trusted cronies: #AHORA En este momento, reunidos en el ministerio de Interior y Justicia, Henri Falcon, Claudio Fermin, Aristobulo Isturiz, Nestor Reverol, Padrino Lopez y Delcy Rodriguez. No hay mas detalles del encuentro. Gregory Jaimes (@GregJaimes) February 1, 2019 Do I think he's running out of other people's money? I do. Image credit: ABC News screen shot from the television. On Tuesday, University of Michigan students circulated an online petition demanding the college close because of approaching severe cold weather. It is sad to read the tactic they employed while asking the university to close; UM should close because "A refusal to do so is classist and ableist, with disproportionate effects on workers, low income community members, and community members who are not able-bodied. A marked inability to express simple concerns without resorting to SJW semantics, histrionics, and rueful accusation defines these students not as snowflakes but rather as slushballs; the icky stuff that soon despoils a beautiful snowfall with cold muddy sludge. There are shelters open all across our state and thousands of our citizens are right now volunteering their time and effort to minimize the pain and suffering that arctic temperatures have swept across Michigan. In hard times, which surely arrive upon occasion, most people grab the communal rope and pull together. But there are always the selfish ones who refuse to aid and assist. They stand back and jeer the larger effort. They condemn those who act. They seize upon a higher moral ground to justify and disguise their lack of true compassion, their inability to act. They dont lead, and they certainly wont follow. Their narcissism is enfolded in a vanity coated with conceit; they can only accuse others. This sort can never be part of a community effort because they hate and distrust the community itself. If just one of these students or their intersectional instructors had an ounce of honest charity in their hearts the petition would have read quite differently. We politely ask that the University leave a shelter open for community members most at risk; the library or perhaps the student union. We, the undersigned, pledge to volunteer our day in service to a greater good. We will maintain order and civility as we serve this portion of our community so in need of aid and comfort. Thank you for considering this option. The fact that such a letter never occurred to them is what makes this whole situation sad. You would think that fifty thousand dollars a year might result in graduates who at least partially resemble persons of high quality and purpose; an asset to the community. Instead we get a mortarboard full of narcissists throwing a tantrum and demanding personal attention to their conceits as the community in general rises up to overcome potential disaster. Like so many others, I am a lapsed Catholic. For me, it happened in stages. It started with the banality of the post-Vatican II liturgy and the insipid messages from the modern pulpit designed mainly not to offend. Later came the priestly sins of sodomy and pederasty, which the church self-servingly kept under wraps. To me, there seemed to be little spiritual value in modern Catholicism. With a sense of sadness, I became estranged from the church. There was, however, one noble crusade from which the church did not withdraw, namely opposition to the slaughter of innocents taking place because of the proliferation of abortion. This alone seemed to be the one principled stand from which the Church would not waver. In the Catholic Catechism, abortion is considered a grave offense, and the church and subject to the canonical penalty of excommunication to those who procure or perform an abortion in all but a few circumstances. On January 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the New York State Senate passed the Reproductive Health Act, which effectively removes the last restrictions on abortion in the state, which already had very liberal laws relative to the procedure. As roughly one-third of pregnancies in NYC are ended by abortion, access did not seem to be a big problem. Far from the days of safe legal and rare the bill allows abortions essentially up to term, allows non-physicians to perform them, and even loosen the requirements regarding when they need to be performed in a hospital. Any sense that the procedure is at least regrettable was dashed by the rollout, scenes of cheering in legislature when the vote was passed, and a rather gleeful signing ceremony featuring the odious Governor Andrew Cuomo which would have been more appropriate for a more conventionally happy event (like naming the former Tappan Zee Bridge for his father). Governor Cuomo, it seems, is Catholic, an identity he will often trot out when his actions are in concert with the new social justice theories that are now the new catechism for the Vatican. With the stroke of a pen, Cuomo cheerfully and very publically will have participated in the deaths of thousands of more infants, and reduced the quality and safety, of their former mothers care. As if this wasnt enough, he ordered that the Empire State Building be lit up in pink in celebration of the bill. Red would have been more appropriate. Such a flouting of the teaching of Catholicism by a prominent alleged Catholic might have been expected to elicit a strong response from the New York Catholic Conference. Instead, the issued a weak statement of regret for decision. Nowhere was there any mention of murder, of evil or of innocence? The statement deals with the bills supporters thusly: Let us all pray for the conversion of heart for those who celebrate this tragic moment in the history of our state. Stern words indeed. Later in the week, Fox and Friends invited New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan to discuss the matter. To be sure, he was fiercely critical of the new law and of the governors actions. When asked about excommunication, however, the Cardinal had this to say: "We would give ammo to our enemies who say this is an internal Catholic disciplinary matter, that this is really not civil rights, this is really not biology, that Catholics don't have freedom when it comes to this." The cardinal is right. This is an internal Catholic disciplinary matter. Now, let them commence with the discipline. Oh well, I suppose any stronger action on the part of the diocese or the Vatican would make things a bit awkward for the conversation at the Al Smith dinner. No point in creating a distraction from the churchs new and more virtuous issues of wealth inequality and climate change. There was a time when a Catholic politician would have never violated church teachings so flagrantly. Now they do it with impunity and relish. Saint Thomas Aquinas once wrote: "The respect that one has for the rule flows naturally from the respect that one has for the person who gave it." It seems to me that as Governor Cuomo has little respect for the Catholic faith, then the Church should compel him to spiritually move on. Sadly, they wont. When historians of the future write about our own time, they will surely see January 2019 as a turning point, when the new America was laid bare for all to see. This past month marked a point of no return. The forces arrayed against the republic have shown themselves, and their stranglehold on our lives is now impossible to deny. It was in January of 2019 that the police state that runs our country revealed itself in full. Roger Stone, a Donald Trump associate whose only crime was acting as though he were free to express his opinion and fight to preserve his liberty, was dragged out of his home in a pre-dawn raid by dozens of heavily-armed federal agents who had surrounded his property using vehicles, watercraft, and helicopters. As Judge Andrew Napolitano points out, there were more agents sent to arrest Stone than there were sent to find Osama bin Laden. To be sure, Roger Stone is a much bigger threat to Washington than bin Laden ever was. Any man who dares to live free is the existential enemy of the Stasi that has taken over the Potomac. This past month, we learned what our government is capable of, and who their targets are: us. It was also in January of 2019 that the mask slipped once and for all from the true face of the mainstream media. When a group of high school boys from Kentucky was shown in a short video smiling at a paid provocateur drumming right against one of the boys chest, the media ran with the edited footage and launched into a feeding frenzy, mocking and ridiculing the boys and their families as racists and terrorists. Of course, the MAGA hats that many of the boys sported were what triggered the media firing squad, but the fact that the boys were white and from a poor state were what made the calumny especially delicious for the journalists who slathered the boys with every conceivable epithet and slur. Many pundits called for violence against them. In doing so, the media called for violence against all of us. CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the insufferable lapdogs at National Review -- all of them hate all of us with a cold disdain. It is all out in the open now. No one in the media is even attempting to pretend otherwise. The boys were in Washington in the first place to attend the March for Life, a pro-life rally held every year to mark the January, 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions handed down by the United States Supreme Court. In January, 2019, New York State held its own commemoration as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that would allow virtually anyone to take the life of a baby in the womb for any reason at any time, even up to the emergence of a baby from the birth canal. As Gov. Cuomo signed the legislation at a public ceremony, the audience erupted in cheers. Later, Gov. Cuomo ordered the new World Trade Center building lit up bright pink in celebration of the signal accomplishment. The place where terrorists once murdered three thousand innocent people -- the place that until now had been a solemn shrine to lives cut senselessly short -- was in an instant converted into a lurid monument to the institutionalization of mass murder. Our country now has two hearts, one red and bleeding for the holocaust of the innocents, the other black and twitching with glee over the same. This past month, we could finally see the monster that half the country has become. January, 2019 was the month in which the cracks in the republic began to open into fissures. It was the month when the edifice began to crumble and fall apart. There can be no more delusion, America. The forces arrayed against us are glorying in their growing might. Are we ready for what is coming next? Jason Morgan is assistant professor at Reitaku University in Japan. He has written for Chronicles, New Oxford Review, Ethika Politika, University Bookman, Human Life Review, Modern Age, and Japan Forward. Iran has around one million monuments, delicious food, beautiful nature, and welcoming people, but if you have decided to travel to Iran, you should consider the risks. I am going to give my fellow Americans some warnings before you get hurt, from someone who lived forty years in Iran before moving to this lovely land that is called America. The Iranian government looks at Americans and Europeans as gambling chips. In Iran, you may be arrested for any excuse. Then you will be imprisoned for years until the governments of Iran and the U.S. reach a deal. A low ransom amount does not work. There are hundreds of hostage-taking cases in the last forty years. As the State Department has warned, "Iranian authorities continue to unjustly detain and imprison U.S. citizens, including students, journalists, business travelers, and academics, on charges including espionage and posing a threat to national security." If you are a dual citizen (Iranian and Western), you will be a better target; the Iranian government will claim that Western countries have no right to complain due to the fact that Iran does not recognize dual citizenship. There is no private sector in the tourism industry in Iran. When you spend money in Iran, you are not helping the Iranian people. Facilities are in the hands of the government or well connected "insiders" who have been able to receive low-interest loans and contracts from the government. They recruit their family members and friends. When you spend in Iran, the terrorist government and IRGC benefit. If you walk your dog in the streets, the vice police or Basij members confiscate your dog and release him in the desert. Dog-walking is banned in Iran because dogs are considered najes (religiously dirty), similar to infidels and urine. Having a dog in the car is also banned. If you are a reporter and have credentials from a news organization, the government assigns a chaperone for you. You are not free to go anywhere you like. The chaperone (a staff member of Foreign Press Office) watches you all the time, and if you talk to somebody without permission, or go somewhere you shouldn't, these actions will be recorded, and you will not get another visa in the future. This chaperone will guide you to report the government-sponsored events such as Friday prayer or Basij demonstrations against the U.S. and Israel. Your report will be engineered to be a piece of propaganda for the regime. If you are a businessman and can find a way to ignore or undermine U.S. sanctions, you will be asked to pay a bribe and some percentage to the authorities to work in Iran. The whole economic system is corrupt. If you are a woman, you will not be protected by the law and law enforcement against sexual harassment and abuse. The government loves to oblige women to stay home and be housewives. Therefore, sex offenders have a mission to help the government in this objective. Whenever a rape or sexual offense happens against women, the preachers say, "Didn't we tell you to stay home, do not wear makeup, do not talk to men, and so on?" If you are caught having an affair with a married woman, she will be stoned to death. The government has declared that it no longer enforces this medieval and brutal punishment, but it does it when cameras are not recording. Shia Muslims believe that stoning is God's order, and the Islamic government cannot ignore God's words. If the government wants to arrest and kill you, it is enough to send a married woman to your room and record what is happening in the room. If you are caught with a bottle of wine or liquor, you will bee sentenced to be lashed 7 4 times, pay a fine, and spend between one and six months in prison, unless you are lucky and have enough money to bribe the vice police or the judge. Every year, around twenty thousand people are killed and hundreds of thousands are injured in car accidents in Iran. The driving habits, Iran-assembled cars, and the roads are awful. If you want to come back alive and well, Iran is not your destination. Is the left going bonkers over Howard Schultz? Like some malfunctioning clockwork still partly moving, weird Obama 'narratives' from Obama minions are rolling out, dysfunctional and yet still recognizable. Get a load of this tweet from former Obama Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (yes, that was his title) If you "grew up in the projects," then you're not "self-made." The "projects" are taxpayer-funded public housing. Your friends, neighbors, family members and millions of Americans you never met all worked and paid their taxes so that you wouldn't have to grow up homeless. https://t.co/zcWIMw2O4m Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) January 30, 2019 Schultz, see, after all of his success as the visionary chief executive officer of Starbucks, "didn't build that." Nope, he owes his success to having lived in the government-run 'projects' as a poor kid growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s. Like that gave him some kind of advantage instead of actually worked to thwart him. There's a reason the U.S. government doesn't build housing 'projects' anymore - remember this? Meanwhile, Schultz's claims to being an American success story, which, oh yes he actually is, is somehow a nothingburger, not a big deal. The individual inititiative and vision and risk and hard work he used to build the great Starbucks business empire had nothing to do with his revolutionizing the coffee industry, it was the projects he owes the credit to, not how he reacted to having to live in the projects. By this logic, the projects are an elixir, a veritable success factory, an advantage. Hey, everyone comes out of the projects a billionaire, so let's have more of them, is that it? In Friedman's mind, the only success story out there is Big Government. That's the Democrat talking point now, at least for the most ambitious ones, sucking up to the Obama line and wheeling out the Obama nostalgia. Guys like Friedman are citing the superiority of Big Government over individual initiative and telling Schultz he'd be nothing without Big State, so running for president as an independent is a bad idea because what he should really be doing is trusting the Democrats. It's all so surreal. It's all so Obama, taken, like socialism, to its logical conclusion. Like him or not, Howard Schultz is a perfect 10. On the famous Forbes billionaire's list (Full disclosure: I once helped compile it), Schultz got a ranking of '10' in terms of how he acquired his Starbucks wealth. A ranking of '1' reserved for someone who completely inherited his pile and isn't doing a thing to increase it. A '10' is reserved for someone who started at the absolute bottom with significant disadvantages, broke the shackles, and soared to the top. Schultz is in that tiny club with a '10,' and in America, that's the highest status one can get, the biggest kind of American success story. Only in America...and yes, he did revolutionize business. As Forbes columnist John Tamny writes: But Schultzs bigger achievement is what Starbucks became, and what it will continue to be. Its community all over the U.S., and around the world. Its long been said that countries with McDonalds in them dont invade one another, and if true, think about what Starbucks means for world peace. There are more Starbucks in Shanghai (double) than there are in New York City. Starbucks doesnt just bring people together, its a symbol and brand that brings the world together. Starbucks is where people meet to talk, and its also of course where people meet to do business. In short, Schultz didnt just create a great global business, he also created a concept that will be the starting point of all manner of other businesses. To walk by a Starbucks in an airport, or walk into one anywhere in the world, is to invariably see a big crowd. That Starbucks are invariably full and bustling is a sign that Schultz built something that continues to meet the needs of billions. All that, plus Schultz forever redefined the nature of entry-level work. Starbucks doesnt have employees; rather it has baristas. And those baristas provide a great customer experience precisely because Schultz realized what every wise CEO has always known: poorly paid workers are very expensive. Figure that the poorly paid arent invested in the job, in knowing their customers, their orders, the names of their kids, and their pets. And the customers suffer this low pay. Schultz not only pays well, but wanting his baristas to create community in his stores over the long term through fully-invested-in-the-concept employees, he offers health insurance and college education. Entry-level compensation will never be the same thanks to this visionary. Thinking about all this, Schultz is way too good for politics. To Tamny's analysis, I can also add that Starbucks triggered a host of imitative rivals, which expands consumer choices as well as egged on older competitors, such as McDonald's, to improve their product. Schultz sure as heck is a revolutionary. To say he owes it to big government is utterly insulting and out of touch. Fortunately, Friedman has made himself a figure of fun with that idiocy. Here's a sample of what came back at him on Twitter: Really? This is what you want to go with? ConservativeCajnCelt (@SouthLAConserv) January 31, 2019 Yeah if youre ever attempted to public school or drove on a public road or watch Sesame Street then it was the government that did it. and in fact everyone who grew up in the projects has become billionaires. (((Charlie Martin))) (@chasrmartin) January 31, 2019 A system that creates billionaires is immoral. Therefore public housing is immoral. Jim Maruschak (@JimMaruschak) January 31, 2019 So youre saying we should delete the term self made, because everyone benefits from tax supported programs like roads, bridges, public schools, cops, airports, etc. Yeah, thats an idiotic take. Self made means used to be poor. Projects are poor. CB (@TexasCB) January 31, 2019 Seems to me growing up in the projects, and lifting yourself up from there to create the life he did, is a pretty good accomplishment despite tough odds. According to @BFriedmanDC its no biggie. Alan Kaiser (@alanhkaiser) January 30, 2019 Right on, man. Because as everyone knows, the projects are really just an incubator for success. Craic Yehuda (@indoeuropa) January 31, 2019 Keep it coming... Sex-selective abortions are still unacceptable in American society. Women are not usually the selection, and America's abortionists have politically cloaked their practices in the women's movement. They aren't talking about sex-selective abortions, even if they perform them. No data exist to confirm the practice or do they? The wealthy use expensive private clinics to increase the odds of having a child of a desired sex. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, which is legal across the United States, provides all the information necessary to select the sex of offspring produced by in vitro fertilization. No one discusses this much, even though it doesn't seem to offend American sensibilities. It happens, but the technology is so expensive that it isn't apparent in our demographic data. Sex-selective abortions are far less expensive. The technology necessary is both cheap and readily available. There is some evidence that they are already occurring in the United States, in some ethnic communities. Male and female births are a binomial probability. When a woman has a female child, there should be no effect upon the odds of her next child's sex. If there is an outsized probability of having a male second child, you know that sex selection is taking place. It is taking place, but only in a few communities disconnected culturally from the rest of America. The New York Reproductive Health Act facilitates sex-selective abortions by extending the time span over which pressure can be applied to expectant mothers to abort female fetuses. Virginia delegate Kathy Tran's REPEAL Act offers the same time extension. Think the pressure to abort female fetuses will remain confined to the cultural fringes? The American fertility rate dropped like a stone in the Great Recession. It is now 1.80 births per women. A lot of people limiting themselves to one child will have a sex preference. We are a consumer society accustomed to the satisfaction of our whims. The N.Y. RHA also empowers a broader range of health care practitioners to perform abortions. Many peripheral health care practitioners will not have the reservations doctors have about performing sex-selective abortions. It is an icky topic, on a par with female genital mutilation. Peripheral practitioners don't have the same investment in their career or reputation as doctors. Sex-selective abortions will become an attractive business opportunity for health care practitioners at the margin. Sex selection destabilizes a society. It is already happening in China and India. There are millions of men in those countries who will never find a partner. The men denied partners are at the bottom of the social strata the same bottom that the global left claims to represent and a demographic that causes a lot of trouble when it is disaffected. The left's infatuation with abortion has now come full circle. It has become a blatant attack on women and the lower classes. It will take a while for women and the lower classes to realize this. Sadly, by the time they do, the damage will have been done. Fox Business is reporting that potential independent presidential candidate Howard Schultz has told advisors that he was shocked by the near hysterical backlash from Democrats to the news that he may run in 2020 and that he was having second thoughts about entering the race. Wishful thinking on the part of Democrats or anti-Trump Republicans? No advisors to Schultz are quoted directly in the story. Fox Business "learned" that Schultz told advisors of his second thoughts, which could mean they never even had direct contact with Schultz's top advisors. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be surprising. The reason for the rapid, and at times, nasty Democratic response is less about what Schultz stands for, and more about how he might impact the 2020 election: If he runs for president as an independent, Schultz is expected to draw votes from the Democratic nominee because of his progressive social positions, thus aiding Republican President Donald Trumps re-election effort when the president suffers from chronically abysmal approval ratings. Among Schultzs most prominent critics has been fellow billionaire and former New York City Mayor Mike BloombergOpens a New Window., himself a possible 2020 Democratic contender. Bloomberg, who also once considered an independent presidential bid, issued a statement that said if Schultz goes that route it will just split the anti-Trump vote and end up re-electing the president. The intense nature of the criticism stunned Schultz, people close to him tell FOX Business. While he expected some carping, he did not foresee the ferocity of some of the vitriol, particularly from the partys top officials and operatives. In addition to the barrage of criticism from leading Democrats, Schultz was also blindsided by the grass roots blowback, including being heckled during an event in New York City to promote his new book. One person with knowledge of Schultzs reaction to the attacks said he is freaking out about the criticism; another person described Schultz as being surprised by the severity of the Democratic Party backlash. So which is it? "Freaking out" or "surprised"? More reason to doubt the story. Schultz hasn't committed to a run, saying he is still exploring his options. And he has made it known he won't run unless he sees a path to victory. But a senior advisor to Schultz told FOX Business on Thursday that Schultzs decision is far from finaland he wont make up his mind until at least the summer. This person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Schultz is weighing several factors including how people outside the Washington to New York Amtrak corridor react to his ideas during events as he sells his new book, "From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of AmericaOpens a New Window.." Schultzs memoir describes his working-class upbringing, business career, and the philosophy that underpins his beef with the political extremes he believes control both parties to the detriment of the country and may prod him to run for president. The advisor added that Schultz has studied one of the barriers to entry for any independent candidate: The laborious process of getting on all the state ballots and he said Schultz believes that wont present a significant obstacle. The bigger issues for Schultz is whether his message will resonate and whether he will win. What Howard needs to figure out still is whether theres a need for him to be in the political process, the advisor said. Then he needs to figure out if he can win. If true, this means Schultz is still several steps away from making a decision to run. But his candidacy is such a threat that Democrats feel it necessary to shame him into staying on the sidelines. It could be that once he gets to the point that he tries to determine whether he can win the presidency running as an independent that he will conclude he can't make it and refuse to run. Indeed, the best he could probably hope for is to win a few states and throw the race into the House of Representatives. There, with the two sides hopelessly deadlocked, political leaders would turn to him. More a fantasy than a realistic scenario, to be sure. But running for president is an exercise in extreme ego and vanity, so he may decide to run anyway. In the fever swamps of Trump Derangement Syndrome, a key part of the catechism of Russia collusion has been the belief that candidate Donald Trump was plugged-into the 2016 meeting at Trump Tower where Russians dangled the prospect of dirt on Hillary Clinton before Donald Trump, Jr. (In fact, the Russians had nothing to offer and were pushing for the repeal of the Magnitsky Act which hasnt happened.) The conspiracy theorists seized on Trump Jrs cell phone records, showing two calls to blocked numbers. Aha! The candidate must have been preparing his son for the meeting, himself collaborating! Why else would people block their numbers? It shows intent to conspire (or something). Of course, in the real world, lots of people have blocked numbers for all sorts of reasons, but in the minds of conspiracy theorists, ordinary things can take on extraordinary significance if you are sufficiently woke. But yesterday, someone privy to the information held by the Senate Intelligence Committee leaked the Awful Truth to CNN, who reported it (credit to CNN for not burying it) with sad faces: Senate investigators have obtained new information showing Donald Trump Jr.'s mysterious phone calls ahead of the 2016 Trump Tower meeting were not with his father, three sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN. Records provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee show the calls were between Trump Jr. and two of his business associates, the sources said, and appear to contradict Democrats' long-held suspicions that the blocked number was from then-candidate Donald Trump. The information came to light recently and could answer one of the key questions over the meeting Trump's eldest son set up to get Russian dirt on the Clinton campaign. Trump Jr.'s phone calls involving blocked numbers -- meaning the numbers are private and do not appear in the phone records -- have been a lingering issue as investigators have probed the meeting and whether Trump himself had advance knowledge through any means that his son, son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chair Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr.'s phone records included calls with two blocked phone numbers the same day he exchanged calls with Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, the son of a Russian oligarch who spearheaded the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. The calls came three days before the Trump Tower meeting, and an additional call with a private number occurred several hours after the meeting. CNN has not confirmed the identity of the business associates who spoke with Trump Jr. nor what they discussed on the calls. The purpose of the calls and their relevance to the Trump Tower meeting and the Russia investigation is still unclear. Trump Jr. attorney Alan Futerfas declined to comment. Of course, to the fevered minds of conspiracy theorists the lack of evidence is just proof of the deviousness of the conspirators. So dont expect any apologies or retractions. Kathmandu, Nepal: Finally, Lucky Sherpa has stepped down as the Ambassador to Australia on Friday. Issuing a press statement, she has confirmed her resignation from the post. In the press statement, she has accused the media of providing biased and defamatory news stories defaming her image rather than clarifying about the allegations. Following the controversies, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepal Communist Party co-chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal had suggested her to resign from the post. Likewise the three-member panel formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the allegations had also recommended relieving her from her duties. Ambassador Sherpa was dragged into controversies after her former driver Wongchhu Sherpa had accused her and her husband of involving in human trafficking to Australia. For about a million Catholics, the Pope's visit will be a "milestone" in interfaith dialogue and the local communitys development. The parish priest at Saint Anthonys Cathedral describes the visit as the crowning of the countrys tolerance. Egyptian, Jordanian and Filipino migrants speak of their experience. The government wants the visit to be a Strong message" against those who use religion to divide. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) Christians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are preparing the visit of Pope Francis with "joy and hope". The event "will contribute" to "building bridges" in an era of "growing nationalism", the countrys Tolerance Ministry said. For about a million Christians living in the UAE, about 10 per cent of the population of the mostly Sunni country, the pontiffs presence will be a "milestone" in inter-faith dialogue and the local communitys development. Francis will visit Abu Dhabi from 3 to 5 February to attend an international interfaith meeting on "Human Brotherhood". For the Arabian Peninsula, this will be the first papal visit, at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the local Catholic Church. The Emirates are among the few places in the Middle East with a certain stability, albeit with some dark corners like domestic repression and its involvement in the Yemen War. For Fr Bishoy, pastor at Saint Anthony's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, the Pope's visit is the crowning of an Emirati trend of tolerance that serves as an example to the world. Its a message of peace and progress [. . .] against fanatics and extremists. Salvador, a Filipino waiter in Abu Dhabi, cannot hide his joy over the papal visit. This means a lot to me, he said. Its the first of its kind. Reflecting diversity and tolerance, the whole world should embrace the UAE as an example to other countries. Hala Daroug, a Syrian Christian interpreter, agrees. Its Great that the Popes visit coincides with the Year of Tolerance in UAE, she said. For her, Christians can practise their faith freely in this country. We as Filipinos feel elated with the Popes visit, said Pia, another Filipino working in one of Abu Dhabi restaurants. Although he wont be able to attend Mass, Ill follow it on TV, he explained. Jenifer, a Jordanian Christian, noted that This is a historic visit [. . .]. We all are looking forward to His Holiness prayers, with joy and hope. Coptic Christians from Egypt are also looking forward to them. For one of them, the visit is a natural development of the harmony and tolerance among all the people living here as if theyre at home. During the visit, the Holy Father will meet leading Muslim clerics, politicians and cultural leaders, noted Tolerance Minister Sheikh Nahyan Ben Mubarak Al Nahyan The goal of papal invitation is to build bridges and break walls "that some people erect. Our definition of tolerance is to understand the other, to talk to each other and at the same time, keep our own differences, Al Nahyan added. Speaking about the country, he said that it is a beautiful mosaic, with our differences, whether in our religions or culture or other habits. The minister hopes that the interfaith meeting with Francis can end in a final joint declaration that will serve as a roadmap for different faiths "to create a better world". This is the strongest message to send to those who are trying to divide us, to those who are creating mistrust between us. Pennsylvania audited its voter rolls, and surprise, found more than 11,000 non-citizens registered to vote in the state. How many have actually cast ballots is unknown, but so much for the left's insistence that fraudulent voting is a 'miniscule' problem and merely a figment of Republicans' imaginations. The Washington Times has the story: A top Pennsylvania lawmaker called on the state Wednesday to immediately expunge the names of 11,198 noncitizens whom the state confirmed are registered to vote, despite not being eligible. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican and former chairman of a House government oversight panel, said the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, belatedly acknowledged the large number of noncitizens in communications over the past two months. I believe that we need to take action and have those people removed immediately from the rolls, Mr. Metcalfe told The Washington Times. They were never eligible to vote. It comes hot on the heels of the news that Texas discovered 95,000 illegally registered voters, with 58,000 votes cast, often repeatedly in elections. Texas, of course, is that state where a poll worker was found encouraging a DACA recipient to vote in a James O'Keefe video. Pennsylvania is that state where Black Panthers have been accused of intimidating voters as Democrats stood by and did nothing, and some precincts counted 100% Democrat voting. There's more than a little whiff of electoral shenanigans going on in that state, too. In Pennsylvania, the discovery is especially disturbing because unlike Texas, it's a swing state. Illegal registrations can easily mean illegal votes. With elections there very close, it does not take many to make a difference. Investor's Business Daily had an excellent editorial a few days ago explaining why that's a problem: Now, after claiming this problem didn't exist at all, the left says it doesn't matter because it's not "widespread." But this is a clever dodge. Election fraud doesn't have to be widespread to be effective. In fact, the very purpose of election fraud is to flip extremely close elections. That doesn't take widespread voter fraud, just carefully targeted efforts. That fits Pennsylvania to a tee. If illegal voters have been responsible for electoral outcomes, including in Pennsylvania, where the evidence of fraud is there, it effectively means that foreigners have decided our elections for us. Democrats may like that, but the rest of us do not. It's time to reinstitute President Trump's voter fraud boad, which IBD said, was scuppered because of non-cooperation of blue states - and use some muscle to either get compliance on clean vote rolls, or else put those states on notice that their electoral college votes won't be accepted. Every time a state gets audited, amazing amounts of fraud are turning up. Image credit: Huebi, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 2.0 Lets do a little pretending. You are living in East Germany in 1960. The Stasi, the repressive secret police, have arrested you. As you are languishing in prison, the state prosecutor asks you to cough up information that will be damaging to a certain individual that the state wishes to condemn. The prosecutors demand is backed up with a threat. If you dont compose the incriminating information he seeks, you will spend the next 40 years behind bars and the state will go after your spouse, your children, and your best friend Fido. Everyone you love will be destroyed. Ah, but you say, This is America in 2019. That could never happen here. Arent we lucky to be living in the land of the free and home of the brave? Well, guess what? This used to be the land of the free. Thanks to the politicized justice system that was set in motion more than 20 years ago and reinforced during eight fateful years of the Obama administration, the quaint notion that we benefit from due process has evaporated, along with Cinderellas ball gown and fancy coach. A former federal prosecutor by the name of Sidney Powell has blown the whistle. If you watched the January 27th episode of Life, Liberty and Levin on the Fox channel, you heard Ms. Powell dispel the illusion that our justice system is fair and impartial. Powell, author of Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice, described a system consisting of out-of-control prosecutors who will do anything to get a conviction. She accused the Justice Department of a broad range of offenses. Some of those include: False charges brought by overzealous prosecutor Andrew Weissmann (Robert Muellers right-hand man) in the case against leading accounting firm Arthur Andersen. Although the conviction was subsequently reversed unanimously by the Supreme Court, Andersen was completely destroyed, its 85,000 employees lost their jobs, and the assets of untold investors were wiped out. Weissmann was promoted by the DoJ. Destruction of the lives of four Merrill Lynch executives. Before they could appeal their fake convictions, they were sent to prison with the toughest criminals in the country. They did the worst things they could possibly do to these men, says Powell. The defendants were eventually exonerated on appeal, but it was only after one of them served eight months in solitary confinement. Frequent failure by the DoJ to disclose evidence favorable to defendants as required by law. Using the phony Steele dossier, the DoJ and FBI unlawfully obtained FISA warrants for the surveillance of the Trump election campaign. The dossier was then used to justify creation of a special counsel to investigate alleged Trump-Russia collusion. After two years, that investigation is nothing more than a witch-hunt against Trump supporters. Leaking at the top levels of the FBI and DoJ in the midst of criminal investigations. Unwillingness of federal judges to discipline the DoJ for its transgressions. As Mark Levin has suggested, the Deep State -- led by Obama holdovers in the justice system -- is using the Mueller investigation as a silent coup to unseat President Trump. Neither Mr. Mueller nor Andrew Weissmann are interested in the truth whatsoever, says Powell. Theyre only interested in whatever they can generate to create a criminal offense against associates of the president. The special counsels attempt to invalidate a legitimate presidential election is an example of the weaponization of the DoJ in service of political objectives. Mueller coerces witnesses to compose evidence capable of bringing down the president. General Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen, Jerome Corsi, and others refused to compose and were charged with perjury. Manafort is in solitary confinement after his questionable conviction. There is a name for this: blackmail. Goodbye USA, hello Stasi. If you refuse to lie for us, we will destroy you and your family. The latest target in Muellers sights is Trump associate Roger Stone. Stones indictment is described by former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova as a vindictive prosecution. It serves no law enforcement purpose, says diGenova, Its disgraceful. What is being done to these Trump supporters could just as easily happen to you or me. Its the sort of thing that we would expect in North Korea. If our justice system were functioning as it should, Mueller himself would be charged with blackmail and subornation of perjury -- persuading a witness to make a false oath. Instead, the lives of uncooperative witnesses are being destroyed when they are charged with an arbitrary process crime by the special counsel. The FBI has been complicit in Muellers efforts, as demonstrated by the KGB-style nighttime raids on the homes of Manafort and Stone. A venal gang of Obama alumni is getting away with the perversion of American justice. What a cast of crooked characters! At the FBI, we have former directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Page. At the DOJ: Rod Rosenstein, Andrew Weissmann, Sally Yates, and Bruce Ohr. From the Obama administration: Hillary Clinton, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Susan Rice, Samantha Power, John Brennan, and Barack Obama himself. The specifics of their illegal activities are described in detail by Greg Jarrett in The Russia Hoax. The civil rights of innocent individuals are being violated for no reason other than their political views. Do you think William Barr, our new attorney general, will do something to stop it? Lets hope he is more effective than his predecessor. Unless the Mueller investigation is terminated and we address the real scandal in our government -- corruption at the top levels of the DoJ and FBI -- we can kiss the American system of justice goodbye. Ed Brodow is a political commentator, negotiation expert, and author of seven books including his latest, Tyranny of the Minority: How the Left is Destroying America. In a display of raw federal power unseen since Barack Obama rappelled from a Blackhawk helicopter to personally beat Bin Laden to death with an autographed copy of The Audacity of Hope, Roger Stone was arrested at his home by a 29-man, 17-vehicle tactical unit of the FBI. Another Trump figure has fallen -- the end is near, and the noose is tightening. All Trump associates now fear for their lives and freedom. Yet some people who have committed crimes much more serious than any of the Mueller indictments remain, as always, unafraid. That list, by no means comprehensive, includes, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Clapper, Brennen, Steele, Strzok, Page, McCabe, Ohr (Mr. and Mrs.), Rice, and Yates. Some are guilty of lying to Congress or the FBI, mishandling classified information, obstruction, conspiracy, destroying evidence, and much more. A case could be made that the Mueller investigation itself destroyed evidence when it wiped clean the Strzok and Page cellphones to delete text messages requested by IG Horowitz. Yet being a Democrat means never having to say youre sorry because the rule of law only applies to Republicans and conservatives. There are no pre-dawn, guns-drawn raids to arrest Democrats. Hillary sold 80% of Americas uranium for a 20-minute, $500,000 Moscow speech by her husband and $140 million in donations to the Clinton Foundation, which foundationally was not a charity in any meaningful sense (unless of course, the charitable purpose was to make Bill, and Hill fabulously wealthy). In contravention of campaign finance law, Hillary paid through her attorneys millions of dollars to a foreign national to use his connections with a foreign government to compile a dossier whereby both the foreign national and the foreign government could interfere with a presidential election. She knew her bathroom server was illegal and a risk to national security. But she wanted to keep her crimes secret. Mishandling of classified material and the wholesale flea-marketing of her office and influence are imprisonable offenses. Yet, What difference, at that point, does it make? Hillarys exempt from prosecution because shes a Democrat and a bona fide leftist; and that provides blanket immunity. She knew, as did others from the Obama Administration, that a Democrat cant get arrested in this town. One can act with impunity when there is no fear of prosecution. Why not harvest ballots to steal elections, provide sanctuary for felonious illegal aliens, lie to Congress, or try to frame a president? Democrats never worry about financial ruin or Mueller going after their families (In like Flynn). Sally Yates opened the Flynn investigation under the pretense that he violated the Logan Act, a 1799 law widely believed unconstitutional and never successfully used to prosecute anyone, and a law he didnt violate since talking to the Russian ambassador was his job as National Security Advisor. Yet, John Kerry and his negotiations with the mullahs after Trump canceled the Iran deal was ignored. Real crimes go unaddressed, while misstatements about lawful actions warrant incarceration. Mueller is fond of false-statement charges where the underlying actions arent illegal; he also loosely interprets the definition of lie. Flynn was indicted for lying about lawful actions, as was Stone, and Papadopoulos. Cohen was indicted for testifying negotiations over a Moscow Trump Tower ended in January (2016) when they ended in June. George Papadopoulos told investigators a conversation with suspected CIA spy Joseph Mifsud took place prior to him joining the Trump campaign when he knew before their meeting that his appointment was imminent. Stone testified he had contact with people solely by phone when he also spoke via email and text. He claimed to have used a single intermediary in communicating with Wikileaks when he used two. He said he didnt discuss his conversations with his intermediary when he did. Those are three of the seven charges. Most of Muellers indictments are process crimes which came about as a result of his investigation. By making people fear they might have committed a crime, Mueller induces them to lie so they can be indicted and turned against his real target, President Trump. Clapper lied to Congress, as did Brennan and Comey, who can only remember things when he has a $15 million book to write. McCabe lied to the IG. Barack Obama weaponized federal agencies to attack his political opponents. Hillary sold her office as Secretary of State for money. Strzok disregarded his oath of office and used his power to attempt to destroy Trump. In fact, he guaranteed hed destroy Trump. Then in testimony before Congress, he smirked with more arrogance than any Covington kid could ever muster. Yet, no arrests. Hillary destroyed her phones and her illegal server, and Comey leaked classified FBI memos to impel the appointment of his best bro as Special Counsel. Again, no indictments. Did I mention the newly elected anti-Semitic Islamic congresswoman who married her brother to commit immigration fraud? Apparently, in America today the only people who should fear prosecution are those who disagree with the ones weve been waiting for because if youre a Democrat, you cant get arrested in this town. William L. Gensert can be followed on Twitter @williamlgensert President Trump, to meet in late February with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a second attempt at ridding the dictatorship of nuclear weapons, maintains he is making historical progress and North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat to the U.S. Yet, earlier this week Americas top intelligence official, Dan Coats, rebutted that view. In a congressional hearing, Coats said North Korea wouldnt completely give up nuclear weapons because its leaders view them as critical to regime survival. Given todays political urgency, a clear-eyed, comprehensive look at North Koreas military capabilities and its long-standing and wide-ranging proliferation couldnt be more timely and it is offered by retired Marine, author and political science professor, Bruce Bechtol. His new book, North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa: Enabling Violence and Instability (University Press of Kentucky, 2018), uses open-source intelligence reports, defectors testimony, field interviews and the work of fellow experts, to quantify the full extent of North Koreas military capabilities and what it will take to stop the regimes illicit activities. Bechtol enumerates North Koreas nuclear proliferation that includes weapons, capabilities, training, advice, assistance with fabricating facilities, equipment repairs and military backup. He profiles North Koreas diversified capabilities that go beyond nuclear weapons programs to include myriad ballistic missile systems, maritime technology advances, airborne platforms, WMDs and cyber-warfare expertise. He lists the countries and non-state actors that benefit from their relationships with the rogue regime and details the countrys illicit financial networks and creative shipping arrangements that enable the regime to skirt sanctions and carry out global proliferation. The Hermit Kingdoms first nuclear weapons test occurred in 2006. By 2015, it had the capability to launch a nuclear weapon on a ballistic missile that could hit the U.S. In 2016, it put a satellite into space using a missile with a range of 7,200 miles. Other tested ballistic missile systems, according to Bechtol, include a solid-fuel missile with an advanced GPS system for pinpoint guidance, a three-stage mobile ICBM able to carry a miniaturized nuclear warhead, and a two-state and a liquid-fueled mobile missile able to reach higher altitudes and distances than previous missiles. Other weapons include myriad naval capabilities, such as advanced anti-ship missiles, ships equipped with Aegis-type computer and radar technology to track and guide weapons, a craft armed with 30-millimeter guns and torpedoes able to travel at 60 mph, and hundreds of submarines with at least one containing an ejection launcher for an SLBM. Airborne platforms include long-endurance drones able to fly up to 10 hours carrying a dirty bomb, a low-altitude biplane that avoids radar and can carry up to eight troops, and EMP weapons that could detonate a nuclear weapon from a satellite. Meanwhile, biological and chemical weapons exist, along with cyberwarfare capabilities. Professor Bechtol then examines North Koreas activities worldwide. The Kim regime, the worlds only government engaged in large-scale criminal activity, illegally exports minerals and sells weapons, counterfeit U.S. currency, cigarettes and illicit drugs. Using phony companies, fake names and a network of small banks, North Koreans operate internationally, bankrolling the military, guaranteeing a high lifestyle for the countrys elite and generating money for Kim, believed to have up to $5 billion in funds scattered around the world. In return for weapons trafficking, the Kim Jong-Un government receives cash, oil, yellowcake and other bartered goods, plus opportunities to test equipment in new environments and make improvements. The North Koreans have been able to operate, largely undetected, around the world serving various state customers. North Koreas best customer, Iran, has received military support since the early 1980s, with technical expertise, raw materials and technicians for Irans nuclear weapons program. The Kim regime set up Iranian ballistic missile assembly and manufacturing facilities and helped the Iranians build HEU facilities. It supplied various weapons including a road-mobile, land-based missile system; chemical munitions-capable arms; cruise missile launching submarines and floating bridges. According to Bechtol, North Korea constructed nuclear infrastructure underground facilities with reinforced concrete ceilings and walls strong enough to withstand bunker buster attacks. An Iranian defector stated that Iran paid up to $2 billion for the construction of the Syrian plutonium facility, destroyed by the Israelis in 2007. North Korea has also helped affiliated, non-state Iranian actors such as Hezb'allah, Hamas, and Houthi rebels. Active in Syria since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, North Korea has provided pilots, training for guerrilla operations, tanks, rifles, machine guns, ammunition, bombs, rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, nuclear weaponization expertise, chemical weapons and more. North Korea has collaborated with Syria and Iran to build and run at least five Syrian chemical weapons facilities. In Africa, North Korea sold ballistic missiles to Egypt, built arms and ammunitions factories and military bases in Namibia, supplied precision-guided rockets and satellite guided missiles to Sudan, trained the Ugandan military and police forces, and engaged in other proliferation activities in Angola, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and the Congo. China is North Koreas largest trading partner, providing food, military supplies and aircraft fuel. For high fees and bribes, Chinese middlemen help North Korean clients mask transactions and launder money used to carry out illegal activities. North Koreans evade sanctions by transporting containers to China partially filled with weapons, then ship the containers to a third country, where they are filled with other freight and paperwork completed. Despite international sanctions, counter-proliferation initiatives, interdictions and diplomatic efforts, North Korea continues this illicit trade, skirting the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a global strategy credited to former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton to stop illicit trafficking of weapons systems. North Korea simply reflags its ships. North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa provides a comprehensive picture of this rogue regime, the breadth of its illicit activities and its threat to global stability. The author concludes that past interventions -- diplomacy, interdiction missions and inconsistent economic sanctions -- have all failed. He believes stopping North Koreas rogue state behavior will only occur after the U.S. and its allies impose strict sanctions with adequate resources that lead to the regimes collapse. Scaremongering is now in vogue. The left is keen to utilize this to their advantage. Liberals, and leftists, all agree that democracy and equality is facing a challenge it hasnt faced since the 1930s. While cries of Nazis and brownshirts and other epithets are hurled at will, there is an intentional image-based tactic the left uses in these rhetorical ploys. Humans are image-based creatures. Images are the first grammar of the psyche. Thus, those who are deftly aware of this reality use language and mannerisms to their advantage -- crafting an image to impregnate the mind of listeners and audiences. That the left constantly invokes the 1930s is no accident. The 1930s, at least for those on the left, was a time of tumult and terror. Fascism and Nazism were on the rise. Ignoring the brutality of communist revolutionaries in Spain and the purges of the Soviet Union, the left depends on the ignorance of the masses to think only right-wing forces in the 1930s were guilty of crimes leading to racism, eugenic laws, and the movement to the Second World War. No mention is given to the racism of the left; of those stalwart progressives from whom modern progressives take their inspiration. Centrist liberals, who may occasionally refer to the dangers that the far-left posed in 1930s posed to liberal democratic societies, nevertheless have a more visible (yet invisible) target in mind: right-wing revolutionaries. Mark Lilla, a Columbia University sociology professor, is right to acknowledge that fascists, Nazis, and other reactionaries differ from mainstream conservatives. Conservatives, Lilla notes, are moved by an understanding of human nature. Reactionaries, principally those forces arrayed on the far right, while sharing common ground with conservatives on metaphysical issues like hierarchy, authority, and family, were more moved by visions of History rather than human nature. In this sense the right-wing reactionaries and left-wing hyperprogressives shared a commonality in historical imagination moving in opposite directions. Though this is not evidence, as others claim, that the far left and far right were identical to each other. The scare tactics of liberals and leftists who invoke the eerie in-between decade of the 1930s is, undeniably, a conscious effort to paint the current political and cultural struggles as one between totalitarian dictators and genocidal maniacs on one hand, and the stalwart vanguard of liberty, equality, and fraternity on the other hand. (Again, ignoring the Terror that those partisans of liberty, equality, and fraternity unleashed in the 1790s when hundreds of thousands perished in the first mass purge and acts of political terror in modern history.) This tactic is aimed at scaring the supposed middle majority into the liberal camp in much the same way that George Orwell envisioned totalitarian regimes to work in 1984. The imminent threat of war and Emmanuel Goldstein propagated through Oceanias news networks, ensured the power of the party elites. Where liberals, in the 1930s, offered systematic and comprehensive political programs to assuage the anxieties of the millions suffering from the Great Depression, liberals today offer no such programs other than to double-down on the failed policies that have led to our current discontents. More globalism, more immigration, and more government centralization, they claim, will resolve our problems. There is a great deception in this tactic; rather than hope -- however flawed it was when offered by the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt and other 1930s reformers -- the left is also playing on the fear card to cash in their political chips. If they frighten millions into thinking Brexit, Trump, Salvini, and Le Pen are the moral equivalent of Adolf Hitler, then they do not need any comprehensive plan other than to double-down on the same policies and system from which hundreds of millions throughout the West are feeling alienated. The far left is no different than the mainstream liberal establishment. They propose a doubling-down of the same failed Marxist vision of the last century. As I walk through London, I can see graffiti saying, Karl Marx Walks, and other references to the dead white male German political-economist who was wrong on all his predictions about the dialectical advancement of history. There is an odd irony in the left complaining about dead white males except for the dead white males that they like. These true believers, like the religious fanatics they are but in a secular guise, will seek to purge heretics of some blasphemous crime like abandoning the dogmatic tenets of the religion. It hasnt happened yet, but it will, is their brain-dead universal retort. You cant have a rational conversation with such people who pin their expectations to some future imagined event yet to be realized. All evidence to the contrary will just be met with the response, it will. Moreover, the scare tactics of invoking the 1930s is deceitful because the 1930s was a decade of exuberant excitement for the far left. They sought to capitalize on the crumbling liberal order and usher in their utopia with bloodshed and violence too. The far left was not besieged in the 1930s, it was carrying out the besieging in places like El Salvador, Spain, China, and on the march in many European countries hoping to take power to enforce upon society its vision of the ideal community. Where the far left was in power, they resorted to murder, terrorism, and intimidation to try and create that ideal community. There is no doubt that we live in tumultuous times. But the prophets of chaos and scaremongering overplay their hand in trying to link current movements of discontent with those of the 1930s. The next time you hear or read something about the 1930s or allusions to brownshirts and concentration camps, it would be best to see through the florid rhetoric to realize that those who are weaponizing apoplectic indignation do so for political expediency. They do not care about those whom they want votes from. They just care about getting those votes, however possible. And theyve decided scaring people into voting for them is the best tactic to achieve, or hold, power. Welcome to Wonderland. That's the code name for the fake houses and landscapes built to hide California's airplane factories circa 1942. Japanese bombers were expected at any moment. This anticipation was the theme of Steven Spielberg's 1979 movie titled 1941. The film, starring John Belushi, was too slapstick to convey California's utter panic. People truly believed they saw Zeroes swooping in from every direction. That panic explains the intensity of the faking-it offensive. Thousands of the best engineers, architects, artists, carpenters, set-designers, and magicians responded with grim ingenuity. They invented, constructed, and improvised at a fierce pace. Entire neighborhoods were created on burlap strung above the factories. Trees. Streets. Cars. People. Telephone poles. Empty lots. Shrubs. Ranch houses. And every inch of Wonderland was a lie. The goal was to trick a Japanese bombardier flying a mile overhead. He's looking for a massive factory, not somebody's suburban house. The illusion was almost perfect. Where else do we see such obsession with substituting the fake for the real? Not in a small way, as in bogus money, silicone breasts, or magic tricks, but in a huge way: an entire panorama is replaced by a new "reality." If you survey American K-12, you see a similar story. The Education Establishment replicated traditional schools and, with relentless ingenuity, created doppelgangers. Almost no one notices that everything has been replaced by clever forgeries. This educational fakery was directed not at foreign invaders, but at natives, at the local population. That's you and I. Are we the enemy? Yes. We are not supposed to see the nature or extent of the deception. Little is left of the original school. Almost everything you see now is the imitation. It's the $100 bill printed on an Epson; it's the big zirconium diamond. Vast ambition is the most striking feature. The Education Establishment didn't seek a little bit of fakery. These people wanted total fakery, wall to wall, from K to 12. Two sets of clues revealed the onrushing duplicity. First, throughout the school system, standards nosed downward, always and in every subject. Second, in order to facilitate the decline, all fakes were promoted and protected by layers of jargon. There was often a new name for everything and new wrinkles that needed to be taught to millions of teachers. Jargon is typically a sign of decay and dysfunction. Orwell discussed how the squid squirts out its black ink and then hides inside that ink. Jargon, in American education, is one of the most creative fields. Here, in no particular order, is some weird jargon generated, like so much marsh gas, in America's greatest educational wasteland, faux reading instruction: closed instructional activities, emergent literacy, picture reading, pre-reading, functional systemic linguistic theory, authoring cycle, goal orientation theory, cognitive flexibility theory, and many others. Note that all this jargon is gone, passe, obsolete not real now because it never was. Elementary schools still taught reading, but millions of children never learn to read. School officials pretend sight-words are traditional reading instruction but better. All too often, the victims never realize that what they're doing is not reading, but a stand-in. They don't grasp that they can't actually read. Many teachers don't realize they have not been teaching reading. Arithmetic presents similar confusion. The Education Establishment tried again and again to replace genuine math instruction with fake instruction. The first counterfeit was New Math in 1962. The main gimmick was to teach advanced material to young children. Americans, almost across the board, realized immediately that this thing was a scam. Experts moved on to Reform Math circa 1985. The most famous version is called Everyday Math. Again, Reform Math, with all of its sophistries and mysteries, was not math; it was anti-math. But it looked like a math class because there are numbers on the blackboard, children have a textbook, and they had problems to do at home. This trickery is now evolved into Common Core Math. Again, the schools sent home things that are called problems. Many are egregious. Even smart people cannot agree on the answer: "Juanita wants to give bags of stickers to her friends. She wants to give the same number of stickers to each friend. She's not sure if she needs four bags or six bags of stickers. How many stickers could she buy so there are no stickers left over?" In another example of inspired phoniness, public schools mutated all direct, commonsense instruction into non-instruction, known as Constructivism. Teachers were ordered not to teach. So students learned whatever they concocted for themselves, often very little. The blueprint for all this chicanery was to substitute unreal for real. The entire process was like greedy offspring, not willing to wait for their inheritance, who commission forgeries for all the valuable antiques in the family mansions. Little by little, there's nothing left of value. But to the complacent, all too trusting parents, everything looks as it did. That's the story of American K-12 throughout the 20th century, the Golden Age of the Imposter. Finally, that thing down there is not an airplane factory. It's something completely different. The Education Establishment creates a dummy in order to make dummies. Bruce Deitrick Price's new book is Saving K-12 What happened to our public schools? How do we fix them? His education site is Improve- Education.org. Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615) Today Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. YANGON, Feb 1: Myanmars government under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has used repressive laws to prosecute peaceful critics, dashing hopes that its first democratic leader in decades would safeguard free speech, Human Rights Watch said on Friday. Freedom of expression has been deteriorating since her administration came to power in 2016, with prosecutions creating a climate of fear among journalists, the rights group said in its report, Dashed Hopes: The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy promised a new Myanmar but the government still prosecutes peaceful speech and protests and has failed to revise old oppressive laws, Linda Lakhdhir, Asia legal adviser at Human Rights Watch and the reports author, said in a statement. A government spokesman could not be reached for comment. The military governments that ruled Myanmar for decades placed severe restrictions on free speech. Reforms undertaken by the quasi-civilian administration that came to power in 2010, including the abolition of censorship, had positive implications for speech and assembly, HRW said. However, the Suu Kyi-led government had made only marginal changes to oppressive legislation and continued to use overly broad, vague, and abusive laws to prosecute peaceful speech and assembly, it said. Myanmar free speech group Athan, whose report was quoted by HRW, said some 140 cases had been filed since 2016 under the Telecommunications Act, at least half of which involved prosecution for peaceful speech. Parliament made some amendments to section 66(d) of the act, which punishes anyone who defames someone using a telecommunications network with up to two years in prison, but rejected calls to repeal the provision. Reporters were especially vulnerable to prosecution and attacks, HRW said, with threats coming from authorities as well as nationalists and militant supporters of the government or army. The result has been a climate of fear among local journalists, the HRW report said. Laws criminalising defamation, the Official Secrets Act, the Unlawful Associations Act, the 1934 Aircraft Act, and section 131 of the Myanmar Penal Code have all been used against journalists in recent years. Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in prison in September 2018 under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. They had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in Rakhine state. Aung San Suu Kyis government has had a real opportunity to abolish the tools of oppression used by the military juntas, but has instead used them against peaceful critics and protesters, Lakhdhir said. Its not too late to reverse course and take steps to fully protect speech and assembly in Myanmar, she said. BEIRUT: Fighting in Yemen has forced more than half a million children from their homes in the past six months alone, aid groups said on Thursday, warning of a lost generation of young people. Most fled during a major military offensive on the key port of Hodeidah in July and August and all now face a bleak future, with no access to education and an increased risk of disease and hunger, the UN childrens agency said. We are losing a generation many children are losing on their education, and displacement makes it worse, Meritxell Relano, Yemen director for UNICEF told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from the capital Sanaa. Without education they will not be able to find jobs a generation that is not educated has a very bleak future. About 2 million children in Yemen are now out of school after a nearly four-year-long war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the verge of starvation, according to the United Nations. The charity Save the Children said that despite a lull in fighting, thousands of families were still streaming out of Hodeidah fearing renewed conflict and many were struggling to afford basic items like food, fuel and medicine. Children forced to flee their homes often have to live in unsanitary and cramped conditions in camps or host communities with little access to clean drinking water or nutritious food, said spokesman Bhanu Bhatnagar. Children are at risk of malnutrition, diarrhea, cholera, and diphtheria a disease that spreads as easily as the common cold. Bhatnagar said 89 percent of Yemenis whose deaths were linked to diphtheria were children under 14. The conflict pits the Iranian-aligned Houthi group against Yemeni forces backed by an Arab coalition loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The Houthis control Hodeidah while other Yemeni factions backed by the coalition trying to restore the internationally recognized government are massed on its outskirts. Their failure to pull troops from the port city under a month-old truce, has revived the threat of an all-out assault on Hodeidah that could unleash famine. Russian Supreme Court rejects Telegram users appeal over claim against FSB RIA Novosti, Kirill Kallinikov 18:02 01/02/2019 MOSCOW, February 1 (RAPSI) The Supreme Court of Russia has dismissed a cassation appeal lodged by Telegram messenger users against a lower courts refusal to entertain a class action against the Federal Security Service (FSB), according to court records. Thirty-six claimants insist that the demand to provide Telegram keys to the FSB for deciphering is illegal. In March 2018, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow dismissed their lawsuit because its content did not prove that contested actions violated their rights and freedoms. In May, the Moscow City Court upheld the ruling. In June 2017, Roskomnadzor requested Telegram management to comply with the Russian legislation or face blocking of the messenger. Telegram founder Pavel Durov agreed to register the service in Russia. However, he refused to abide by laws incompatible with Telegram privacy policy, Durov wrote on his VKontakte (VK) page in late June. In July of the same year, Durov received the FSB requests to provide information for decoding messages of six app users. In September, law enforcement authorities drew up administrative protocols against Telegram because of law violation, as Durov failed to reply for the request. In December 2017, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow ordered Telegram to pay a fine for failing to provide FSB with information on decoding of messages. On March 23, the Supreme Court upheld the right of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to request data on decoding of user messages. On April 13, the Tagansky District Court issued a ruling on blocking Telegram. Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor was tasked with putting a stop to sending and receiving messages in Telegram until the messenger fulfills its obligations by providing deciphering keys. The ruling came into force immediately. Roskomnadzor started blocking the messenger on April 16. In August, the Supreme Court of Russia ruled that information required for decoding of digital messages is not classified as requiring restricted access and as such cant be treated as secrecy of correspondence. According to the Federal Law On Information, Information Technologies and the Protection of Information, organizers of information distribution on the Internet must submit information about users and their messages to the authorized governmental bodies conducting investigative activities and ensuring the state security. The idea of Europe is in peril. So wrote 30 leading intellectuals in the Guardian last week including an assortment of Nobel laureates and other literary prize winners and a sprinkle of philosophers as the threat of Brexit and the May European Parliament elections loom on the horizon. Europe indeed appears to be in bad shape. An Italian-Austrian-Hungarian-Polish axis of xenophobic populism is coalescing in the heart of the continent, Swedish Democrats are threatening to derail whats left of the quintessential European liberal welfare state in the north, and a powerful far right is tearing apart the centrist German political establishment. To the west, Brexit UK and Trumpian US are a cause of much anxiety, to the east, scheming Russia and an increasingly authoritarian Turkey are a constant source of tension. And from the south, millions of forced migrants are on the move seeking safe haven on European shores. So who can blame Europes most creative writers for worrying deeply about the future of humanitys most important political experiment since the Russian, if not the French, revolution? But what precisely is the idea of Europe that is coming apart before our eyes? What is the cause from which so many are deserting, the national soul and lost identity whose failing conditions the authors believe have fed the rising, swelling, insistent tide of illiberal, anti-European sentiments threatening the continents future? What is Europe? Its too much to ask a manifesto-like polemic to provide a monographs worth of historical analysis. But acknowledging and accounting for Europes bastardised, highly problematic history is, in fact, a sine qua non for moving towards the liberal Imaginarium the signatories seek to enable. Laying aside the evident elision in the text between Europe and the EU (which isnt mentioned in the manifesto though its clearly the idea more in danger today), even the origin of the word points to a core problem faced by European patriots such as the signatories. Did Europe arise from the idea of eruba, the Akkadian/Mesopotamian term for the western horizon or the Phoenician erub meaning evening or west? And did the Ancient Greeks adopt it into the myth about Phoenician princess Europa of Sidon (modern-day Lebanon), who was kidnapped by Zeus and brought to Crete? Or did they come up with the word combining eurus (broad) and opt (eye)? Although various uses of the word can be found as far back as the Roman Empire and became more common with the Reformation, it was Napoleon who first imagined a politically United States of Europe with one overarching identity and set of laws and culture. In the centuries before and after Napoleons grand imperial vision, millions would die fighting over precisely who had a legitimate right to define European identity. That definition was never arrived to. Europe has always had fluid frontiers. On its eastern flank, the Russian and Ottoman Empire were both a core part of the political geography of Europe and its most dangerous other. To the south, the Mediterranean Sea was never a wide enough barrier to serve as a definite and impenetrable border that would establish with certainty the identity of the inhabitants on its southern shores. By the early 20th century, well over a million poor Europeans wound up in North Africa, with cities like Tunis, Tripoli and Alexandria becoming home to hundreds of thousands of Italians, Greeks, French, Maltese and other migrants from the north. At the same time, both France and Italy offered at some point full citizenship to colonised Algerians and Libyans (Muslim Italians as Benito Mussolini would say) in return for supporting continued metropolitan rule. From illiberal empires to neoliberal fantasies Indeed, Europes colonial past is also completely absent from the discourse of the manifesto, even though the idea of Europe has always been inseparable from the nearly half millennium of inhumanly brutal, massively exploitative and often genocidal imperialism, colonialism and slavery. In this context, its tellingly ironic that when the Italian deputy prime minister, Luigi di Maio, wanted to blame France for the migrant crisis that has sent untold tens of thousands of Africans towards Italys shores, he accused the French government of taking the lead in never stopp[ing] colonising tens of African states and impoverishing Africa. Africans should be in Africa, he continued, not at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Of course, Italy was no less brutal in its own colonial wars and rule in Africa (nor were any other European colonial powers). Ultimately, Europe is both deeply and implicately related (to borrow a sadly underused concept from Israeli geographer Juval Portugali) to its Muslim and African neighbours and could not have become the bastion of liberal and Enlightenment ideals the present manifestos signatories rightly strive for without the massive violence perpetrated or supported by European states during the last half millennium. More to the current point, the financial and broader corporate elites of every EU member state have benefited greatly from the policies of neoliberal openness, export-led-growth and foreign investment imposed on the very countries that currently threaten to flood it with refugees, often with the support of brutal and corrupt authoritarian regimes that enriched themselves mightily in the process. None of this is mentioned in the manifesto, even though the policies at the root of the political wreckage across Europe today lie in neoliberal policies, which, in fact, have been visited directly upon European populations as well. Indeed, neoliberalism in the Euro-American contexts can be well understood as the application of colonial ideologies and policies to metropolitan populations. Here its not surprising that Dominque Strauss-Kahn, the disgraced former head of the IMF, which along with the World Bank helped lay the groundwork for so much of the misery that pushed millions to flee towards Europe from Africa and Western Asia, said, Europe is not about borders, Europe is an idea. Were it not for one brave hotel maid in New York, one could imagine Strauss-Kahn proudly adding his name to this document (indeed, one of the primary signatories, Bernard Henri-Levy, publicly defended his friend when news of abuses first became public). Even without him, its clear that IMF/World Bank policies that have devastated Europes former colonial hinterlands are, today, increasing precarity and insecurity among large segments of the populations of the European countries under greatest risk of turning against the EU. One doesnt need to be a Marxist to understand that the present wave of hypernationalism and xenophobia in Europe have economic roots that must be addressed if the imagination of Europe as a space of liberal freedom and prosperity is to stand a chance of being preserved, never mind be achieved in practice. Sadly, but not surprisingly, when the signatories of this manifesto talk about the need to make a clean break with the conviction that the European idea could defend itself, they seem blind to the direct line leading from the tear gas and beatings of activists at the first great anti-neoliberal protests in Prague at the September 2000 IMF meetings, and the even more extreme violence and killing at the G8 meeting in Genoa the following summer, to the rise of the extreme right today. If any of the signatories were on the front lines of these conveniently forgotten struggles for a different post-Cold War world and European order, they seem to have forgotten that when it mattered most, European leaders viciously turned on the very people who were struggling to preserve the idea of Europe the signatories endorse. And so when Salman Rushdie, Bernard Henri-Levy, Leila Slimani, Herta Mueller and the other signers warn that Europe is being attacked by false prophets, lets remember that Tony Blair belongs in the same circle of Dantes Hell as Victor Orban, that the wreckers of their and most of our beloved European idea are neoliberals as much as theyre neopopulists or neofascists, and that the new battle for civilization in which theyve asked us to choose sides is, in fact, a battle to create a culture that is far more radical, and will take far more sacrifice than, the liberal order whose demise they so regret. Europe and the world dont need patriots, they need revolutionaries with the ability to turn words, music, art and knowledge into weapons in the struggle to create a Europe, and a world, whose contours and character most of us, including the signers of the manifesto, have barely begun to outline. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. What a recent incident between an Omaha elder and a white student tells us about race and protest in the US today. I am the student in the video who was confronted by the Native American protestor. So begins the public statement released on January 20 by Covington Catholic High school student Nick Sandmann via RunSwitch, the public relations firm with Republican ties retained by the Sandmann family. Sandmanns opening sentence throws up core questions that are buried by the media spectacle and debates about the content and interpretation of the videos. Who can be a protester, what does it mean to be one, when is protest seen as legitimate, and by whom? Sandmanns statement crafted no doubt with the aid of many adults provided early shape to the narrative by introducing the terms that have slipped unnoticed into media coverage of this viral event. In the statement, the word protestor crops up repeatedly with reference to Nathan Phillips, the Native Omaha elder who moved between the two other groups at the scene the Covington contingent and the Black Israelites. The latter are also framed as the four African American protestors. Despite wearing Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats and travelling hours from Kentucky to attend the March for Life in Washington, DC an annual rally and march started in 1974 to protest the Roe v Wade court case ruling which made abortion legal in the US the white teenagers and their teachers are never referred to as protestors. They are named only as faithful Christians and students. Rather than a confrontation between protesters of different ages, Sandmanns statement frames the encounter alternately as students facing protesters, and adults attempting to provoke teenagers. The statement works hard to present Sandmann as an obedient student who achieves good grades, and to present his cohort likewise as permission-seeking schoolboys who would never produce the disruption on which all protest turns. It assures us that they would never have begun countering other groups with school chants without obtaining permission from the adults in charge of our group. We are presented with the ahistorical claim that as a faithful Christian and practising Catholic, Sandmann would take no action that would lead to conflict or violence. Sandmanns comment that he was thankful nothing physical occurred signals a fear that fits clearly with the racial narrative in the United States that black and brown bodies are inherently confrontational, even violent. In this narrative, the tomahawk chops and build that wall chants that Phillips and others at the scene reported, mixed in with what Sandmann claims were school spirit chants are not confrontational. The effect is to obscure the political agency of the white male teenagers in relation to all the others at the scene, pushing forward an image of white racial innocence that is anchored in the figure of the vulnerable white child. We should ask what is at stake for Sandmann, his supporters, and for our larger cultural conversation in what has come to be known as an age of protest in inoculating these white male youth from the label of protester and affixing to them the label student instead. What is obscured by this neat binary of students and protesters is of course the fact that the students in question were in fact also protesters, from the time they left their homes in Kentucky for the anti-abortion rights march with MAGA hats in hand, to the moment they set up their school chants, to the long minutes during which Sandmann stood his ground, refusing to move out of the way for Nathan Phillips. As far as standing there, I had every right to do so, Sandmann insisted in his NBC interview, asserting his prerogative to block Philips path. So when is a protest not a protest but a rally, and when is a protester not a protester but an innocent youth? The separation of student from protester in Sandmanns statement echoes long histories of either casting as violent and unruly even non-violent protests by the wrong people; or else delegitimising protests that employ means of direct action that clash with imagined modes of non-violent protest often valorised across the political spectrum. As the editors of a recent journal issue on the very topic of protest, we have written about the question of selective legitimacy of protests in the public sphere. As we wrote there: One trend that marks the state response to recent protests spanning the globe is mainstream demand that protests must be peaceful and lawful, even as what they protest are circumstances that are often unlawful (eg, Israeli settlements in Gaza, which are illegal according to international law), including sometimes legalised violence by powerful militarised states against their communities. Protesters who favour actions outside of a limited repertoire of nonviolent, state-sanctioned modes such as permitted marches and petitions run the risk of becoming criminalised, perceived as threats, or labelled terrorists. Such demands for decorous forms of protest cast the only legitimate protester as one who disrupts nothing in the status quo. As we can see in this situation, peaceful modes of protest by racialised minorities are no guarantee of legitimacy. Thus, while the 2017 womens march in Washington DC gave us viral photos of police officers smiling with protesters in pink pussy hats, non-violent protesters in Black Lives Matter and #NoDAPL protests in the same year were met with riot police. In like fashion, Nathan Philips drumming is rendered in Sandmanns statement as nothing less than a violent confrontation, as he is described playing it within inches of his face and locking eyes with him, having singled [Sandmann] out for confrontation. Additionally, as the youth in places like Gaza, Kashmir, and at the Mexico-US border can attest, being a student does not automatically inoculate one from being seen as a threatening political agent. Young men and women in these contexts are often labelled terrorists for their protest actions, which are cast as violent no matter the method or the disproportionate might of the powerful forces they are confronting. In the US, particularly in our current moment under the Trump administration, non-sanctioned protesters are often portrayed as paid, acting for financial gain, disrupting things for no reason, rioting, destroying private property, and clogging up streets simply to cause chaos without a larger strategy in mind. Sandmanns statement shows with stark clarity how protester can be deployed as a dirty word in 2019 United States: the unsanctioned protester is cast as chaotic, confrontational and always on the verge of becoming violent. His statement asserts that he does not even know why the African Americans or Native people were protesting, yet he is sure that protesting is what they were up to. All Sandmann does knows is that he, as a good, obedient, kind-hearted Christian, with all claims to legitimacy that white boyhood affords, could not possibly be a protester. Elena L Cohen, who is the President of the National Lawyers Guild and a partner at Cohen & Green, PLLC, co-authored this article. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Lithuania extradites Russian citizen charged with skimming flickr.com/orphanjones 17:21 01/02/2019 MOSCOW, February 1 (RAPSI) Russian national Artem Antonov charged with producing, keeping and using counterfeit has been extradited from Lithuania, the press service of Russias Prosecutor Generals Office reports Friday. According to investigators, in February 2015, the defendant acting within an organized group in Voronezh produced at least 32 high-grade forged payment cards. Antonov used these cards from December 2015 to January 2016 in the Republic of Belarus, but all the cards were caught by cash dispensers and brought to the law enforcement attention. The accused has been put on the international wanted list. Later, he has been arrested in Lithuania. Authorities have released the name of two people killed in a crash with an 18-wheeler in Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa police identified the victims as Tina Michelle Williams, 55, and Alton Michael Williams, 56. They lived in Northport. The crash happened about 9 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Jack Warner Parkway and Bryant Bridge. Tuscaloosa police Lt. Teena Richardson identified the two vehicles involved as a Quest Liner tractor-trailer and a Toyota 4Runner. Both occupants of the 4Runner were pronounced dead on the scene. The preliminary investigation shows that both vehicles entered the intersection on a green light when the 4Runner turned north to enter the on-ramp of Bryant Bridge in front of the 18-wheeler. There was no indication that the driver of the 18-wheeler was impaired. The Tuscaloosa Police Departments Accident Reconstruction Unit responded and took over the investigation, which is ongoing at this time. Aline Jenkins Howard, who reigned as the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association's first queen in 1940, passed away on Jan. 31. She was 97. Howard was 19 when she was crowned MAMGA's queen, and said she was chosen because she was seen as a "woman of character." And in the subsequent 78 years of her life, she proved that to be true as an educator and advocate for area youth. According to a statement issued by MAMGA, Howard was principal of Cottage Hill School and Council Elementary School, as well as serving as assistant principal at Blount High School. In the statement her cousin, Patrick Packer, said, "Her joy came when some of her former students would visit her each week as well as inviting her to the alumni reunions. She loved her students to the very end of her life's journey." Howard's mother was a teacher, and her father a preacher. She was an only child, and said in a 2012 AL.com interview that her parents instilled in her the value of hard work and good conduct. "It's not how much you make," Howard said. "It's applying what you have." Howard studied at Tuskegee University and Alabama State, before attending graduate school at Columbia University in New York. And she would have stayed in the northeast to teach, but responded to an advertisement for teachers in her hometown. In Mardi Gras circles, she was a grand dame as a founding member of MAMGA. She was the oldest surviving member of the association, and loved to tell stories about her reign in 1940. Her royal gown is currently on display at the History Museum of Mobile, as part of its "Mardi Gras: Parading Through Time" exhibit. Marcus Catchings, membership and public relations chairman for MAMGA, said Howard set the bar for Mardi Gras royalty. And it was through her commitment to being a woman of character that she made such a lasting impact on the Mobile community and beyond. "For 97 years she has graced the earth and the city with her presence," Catchings said. "And for 81 of those years, she has presided as a queen and an ambassador of the city, and the nation." Aline Jenkins in 1940. He said Howard was a blessing to the "art and science of Mardi Gras," and was usually delivered to the annual MAMGA coronation in a limousine. And always had feedback on the young women and their attire, Catchings said. In 2012, she reminisced to AL.com about being a 19-year-old queen, watching the inaugural MAMGA parade from the Elks Lodge before spending her evening dancing the jitterbug. It was the culminating moment to a season of celebratory teas and breakfasts, she said. Howard became queen after the Utopia Social Club cast her as one of the Mardi Gras seasons' debutantes. And she was crowned by King Elexis I Alexander Herman, father to former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, who was MAMGA queen in 1974. "Queens aren't made, they're born," Catchings said. "And Aline Howard was a poised and dignified lady who definitely transcended all time." A visitation service will be held Friday at Christian Benevolence Funeral Home from 1 to 5 p.m., with a funeral service to be held at Stone Street Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday. In lieu of flowers, her family requests contributions be made to Stone Street Baptist Church Educational Building Renovation Fund. The Trump administration continued its reshaping of how science is evaluated at the Environmental Protection Agency with the appointment Thursday of a slew of new members to a key advisory panel. Among the eight additions to the agency's Science Advisory Board are a number of members whose ideas run against mainstream scientific thinking on issues that include the health effects of radiation and the modeling of Earth's climate. Andrew Wheeler, the acting EPA chief, added the eight new members while reinstalling eight others selected during the Obama administration. He cast the appointments as a reaffirmation of the Trump administration's commitment to hearing scientific opinions from a diverse set of voices. "In a fair, open, and transparent fashion, EPA reviewed hundreds of qualified applicants nominated for this committee," Wheeler said in a statement. "Members who will be appointed or reappointed include experts from a wide variety of scientific disciplines who reflect the geographic diversity needed to represent all ten EPA regions." But critics of the administration see this and other moves under Wheeler and former EPA chief Scott Pruitt as part of a larger push to make the agency's decisions more friendly to industry. "The general makeup of the Science Advisory Board has changed significantly in the past two years," said Genna Reed, a science and policy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "What we're seeing is a decrease in the number of academics and a surge in the number of industry and consulting-firm members." With the announcement Thursday, 26 of the board's 45 members have been appointed by the Trump administration. The best-known new member of the panel, though, actually does work at a university. John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is perhaps the most prominent climate skeptic in all of academia. Christy acknowledges that humans have altered Earth's climate. But he's a polarizing figure within the climate science community for his criticism of mainstream climate models produced by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and of scientific conclusions about the severity of global warming reached by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Pointing to his own analyses of satellite temperature data, which suggest that observed warming is on the lower side of projections, Christy has argued that atmospheric temperatures are less sensitive to the buildup of greenhouse gases than the majority of other climate scientists say they are. Among the many scientific institutions that say global warming is dangerous is the EPA itself. In President Barack Obama's first year in office, the EPA determined greenhouse gases posed a risk to public health, giving the government the legal justification it needed to try to curb emissions from cars, coal plants and other sources. Christy, Alabamas state climatologist, takes issue with EPAs endangerment finding. "I, as well as many others, am very skeptical of the basis of many of these findings, like the endangerment finding," Christy said in an interview Thursday. He said he believes the EPA's reliance on what he regards as faulty climate models have led it to issue misguided rules for polluters. "If you use bad models," he said, "you're likely to come up with bad regulations." Christy is often called on by Republicans leery of government climate regulations to testify before Congress. At a 2015 House Science Committee hearing, Christy described the study of climate change as a "murky" science. "We do not have laboratory methods of testing our hypotheses as many other sciences do," he said in his written remarks. "As a result, what passes for science includes opinion, arguments-from-authority, dramatic news releases, and fuzzy notions of consensus generated by preselected groups." Michael Mann, a climatologist at Pennsylvania State University who has testified opposite Christy before lawmakers, has argued that Christy's findings have become "a central pillar in the case for climate change denial" despite the fact they have "been shown to be an artifact of faulty computations." The advisory board will also now include Brant Ulsh, a health physicist at M.H. Chew & Associates whose work focuses on low-dose radiation. In the past, the EPA has maintained there is some risk of cancer from any exposure to radiation. But Ulsh argues the way the government has modeled the health effects of small amounts of radiation exposure at places like nuclear power plants overplays that risk. "Right now we spend an enormous effort trying to minimize low doses," Ulsh told the Associated Press last year. "Instead, let's spend the resources on minimizing the effect of a really big event." Another new panelist is Richard Williams, an independent consultant and former Food and Drug Administration official who has praised the Trump administration for cutting regulations. In the fall of 2017, Pruitt upended the agency's key advisory groups, announcing plans to jettison scientists who have received EPA grants. The move set in motion a potentially fundamental shift, one that could change the scientific and technical advice that historically has guided the agency as it crafts environmental regulations. "It is very, very important to ensure independence, to ensure that we're getting advice and counsel independent of the EPA," Pruitt told reporters at the time. He estimated that the members of three different committees - the Scientific Advisory Board, the Clean Air Science Advisory Committee and the Board of Scientific Counselors - had collectively accepted $77 million in EPA grants over the past three years. He noted that researchers would have the option of ending their grant or continuing to advise EPA, "but they can't do both." Some former advisory board members sued the agency, calling the new policy "unlawful, arbitrary and capricious." They argued that Pruitt did not have authority to change the agency's ethics rules. Robyn Wilson, a professor at Ohio State University and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, told The Post at the time that as a first-time EPA grant recipient whose term on the agency's Scientific Advisory Board was cut short, she viewed the policy change as "morally reprehensible." "It all sounds very well intentioned, wanting more diversity on the boards, wanting more voices to be heard. Who is going to disagree with that?" Wilson said then. "But I think it is an attempt to get rid of people who they assume are not on board with the current administration's goals, which are deregulatory." Wheeler reaffirmed that his new appointees will remain "financially independent" from EPA grants. But he did differ from his predecessor in one way by reupping the terms of Obama-era members. Its a nice departure from the Pruitt administration, Reed of the Union of Concerned Scientists said. Its good to see that Wheeler is acknowledging the value of institutional knowledge on these advisory boards. A federal judge ruled today against an Alabama death row inmate who sought a stay of execution to litigate his claim that prison officials are violating his religious rights because they wont allow his Muslim spiritual adviser to be with him in the execution chamber. Domineque Ray, 42, filed a lawsuit Monday claiming that the ADOCs denial of the request violates federal law and the U.S. Constitutions prohibition on government establishment of a religion. Chief U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins of the Middle District of Alabama held a hearing on Thursday and issued his decision today denying the stay of execution. Ray is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Thursday at 6 p.m. at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. He has been on death row since 1999 for the murder, rape and robbery of 15-year-old Tiffany Harville of Dallas County in 1995. Rays attorneys said they will appeal Watkins' decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In Watkins order, the judge wrote that it is difficult for inmates to show they have a right to a stay and that the bar is even higher when they raise issues they could have raised earlier. During Thursdays hearing, Watkins told Rays lawyers the case should have been filed several months ago. The Alabama Supreme Court set Rays execution date in November. Ray has been on death row since 1999. At the hearing, Rays lawyers said Ray did not learn he could not have his spiritual adviser in the execution chamber until he met with the Holman warden on Jan. 23. Ray asked the warden if his spiritual adviser could be in the chamber instead of the prison chaplain, who is Christian. The warden denied that request. However, the Alabama Department of Corrections agreed to grant a second request from Ray, excluding the Christian prison chaplain from the procedure. The chaplain, an ADOC employee, has attended executions since 1997 as a matter of the ADOCs standard practice on executions. Watkins said he would issue a consent order stating that the chaplain would be excluded. Watkins said he would not order the state to allow Rays spiritual adviser to be in the execution chamber. A lawyer for the ADOC said in court Thursday that, to his knowledge, the ADOC has never allowed a private spiritual adviser in the execution chamber. The ADOCs standard practice is that the chaplain is available to pray with the inmate during execution. If the inmate does not want to pray with the chaplain, the chaplain remains standing unobtrusively by the wall, the ADOC said in its response to the lawsuit. Rays lawyers assert that Ray should have the same access to prayers with a minister in his faith during the execution as a Christian inmate. Rays adviser, Yusef Maisonet, imam of Masjid As Salaam in Mobile, attended Thursdays court hearing. The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement in support of Rays request. Mr. Ray is asking for the same thing that every other inmate on death row is afforded -- for a spiritual advisor to be present with him in his last moments," Ali Massoud, government affairs coordinator for CAIR-Alabama said. ADOC policy will allow the spiritual adviser to visit with Ray in a cell next to the execution chamber until about 45 minutes before the execution. The adviser can watch the execution from a viewing room separated by glass from the chamber. The viewing room is for relatives and friends of the inmate and for the media. Ray also filed a request on Tuesday to have his method of execution changed from lethal injection to nitrogen hypoxia. The Legislature passed a law last year authorizing executions by nitrogen hypoxia, although the procedure has never been used in any state. Alabamas death row inmates had one opportunity to opt for nitrogen hypoxia and had a deadline of July 1, 2018 to do so. Lawyers for the ADOC said Rays late request was just a delay tactic. Watkins said he would not order the state to execute Ray by nitrogen hypoxia. Read Watkins' order. In his ruling, Watkins wrote that Ray unduly delayed in bringing the lawsuit. Watkins wrote that after almost 20 years on death row Ray should have been familiar with the execution procedures, yet did not file the lawsuit until 10 days before his execution date. Watkins wrote that an inmate must show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of his claim to be granted a stay. He wrote that Ray failed to do so and failed to show how the execution procedure amounted to a substantial burden on his religious rights. Ray makes no serious attempt to explain why the States policy imposes such a burden, Watkins wrote. He only vaguely complains of not having his spiritual advisor present with him during the execution. Watkins noted that the state allows unfettered access to a spiritual adviser until just before the execution. Watkins also wrote that the state has a strong justification for its policy of not allowing private spiritual advisers into the death chamber. The States interests in solemnity, safety, and security are so strong that the State cannot permit even a slight chance of interference with an execution, Watkins wrote. Though a state chaplain is usually in the death chamber, he is also a trained member of the execution team. The Alabama Hospital Association released two reports today laying out almost $3 billion in financial benefits for expanding Medicaid a step state leaders have declined to consider since Obamacare passed in 2010. Leaders of the hospital association held a press conference at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Friday morning to tout the findings. The organization has been one of the strongest supporters of Medicaid expansion in Alabama, claiming the move would benefit hospitals and patients. David Becker, a professor in the UAB School of Public Health, created similar reports in 2012 and 2016 when federal funds covered all the costs of expanding Medicaid to low-income adults. The match is down to 93 percent this year and will drop to 90 percent in 2020, where it will remain. Owen Bailey, CEO of USA Health, said the deal still makes sense for Alabama. Its obvious that by expanding Medicaid, the state would have a huge return on investment, Bailey said. For every one dollar the state provides, we will get nine dollars to match it. Beckers study found that implementing Medicaid expansion now would be costlier for the state than it would have been in 2014 because of the loss of federal matching dollars and the increased cost from low-income patients who purchase insurance through the exchange. Bailey said 12 hospitals have closed in Alabama in the last eight years. The state did miss out on the deal of the century, Becker said. I dont have a time machine. All we can do is look forward. The case for expansion remains very strong. Medicaid expansion is one part of Obamacare, which also created regulations on health insurance and subsidies to purchase private insurance. Alabama is one of 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Residents of Utah, Nebraska and Idaho recently voted to expand Medicaid in statewide referenda. The states lack of action has kept millions in federal dollars out of the state that could help support rural hospitals that often care for the sick and uninsured, said Don Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. Hospitals and healthcare are every bit as important for infrastructure as roads are, Williamson said. Otherwise they are building roads to communities that are dying because their hospital has closed. If Alabama expanded Medicaid, the program would grow to cover adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Currently, the program only covers caregivers of people on Medicaid who earn less than 20 percent of the poverty level. The change would add more than 300,000 people to the Medicaid rolls, according to the study. That expansion would cost Alabama $227 million in 2020, according to Beckers calculations. The state would receive nearly $2 billion in funds from the federal government that year. The other study, by consulting company Manatt, said the state could pay up to $216 million in additional costs and get more than $2 billion from federal sources. The state would save additional money in other areas, including medical care for prisoners, Williamson said. The Alabama Hospital Association has submitted similar reports in 2012 and 2016. Williams said they are hopeful legislators will give expansion serious consideration this year. He said unsuccessful votes to repeal Obamacare and midterm successes by Democrats running on healthcare show the law has staying power. For a lot of people, there was a belief that Obamacare was going to disappear, Williamson said. The last election has pretty much taken repeal and replace off the table. The number of states, including some very Republican states have gone to expansion and they are seeing the benefits. Our hope is that the reality that this is going to be here, that its not going away, will become clear to Alabama lawmakers. A Jefferson County judge Friday ruled that Erron Browns bond will remain at $60,000 but also sentenced the alleged Galleria shooter to five days in jail for contempt of court after finding that Brown made false statements to the court about having a pistol permit. Prosecutors requested that Browns bail be increased to $125,000, in part citing Browns claim that he was in possession of his pistol permit when he was apprehended in Georgia; prosecutors said Browns permit was revoked after being involved in a shootout on Green Springs Highway in August. When someone provides false statements to a court, that is very, very important, said Assistant Attorney General Andrew Arrington. When someone lies to the court, there has to be consequences. Arrington also requested an increase in bail because of the August shootout, but Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge William Bell Jr., denied the request, noting that Brown was not charged in that incident. Browns attorney, Emory Anthony, said his client used his gun in self defense after his car was shot up and a man broke a bottle over his head at a nightclub. I dont know why the state of Alabama is trying to overprosecute my client when he was just protecting himself, Anthony said. While Bell decided to keep Browns bond at $60,000, he also sentenced the alleged shooter to five days in jail. The defendant has misled this court in regards to those statements at the preliminary hearing where he did state that he had a valid pistol permit, Bell said. The judge also cited testimony from a representative of the electronic monitoring firm who said Brown has been complying with the monitoring. It was immediately unclear whether Brown was going to contest the contempt of court charge. After the hearing, Anthony accused the attorney generals office was trying to persecute Mr. Brown by moving to get his clients bail increased. I believe that the attorney generals office is trying to focus on Mr. Brown and take the communitys focus away form the shooting of E.J. Bradford, Anthony said, referring to the black man killed by Hoover police during the Thanksgiving Day incident at the Galleria. The Trump presidential campaign is suing former staffer and Alabama native Cliff Sims for his behind-the-scenes book about the White House. The Washington Examiner quoted an unnamed campaign official saying Donald J. Trump for President Inc. filed a lawsuit with the American Arbitration Association against Sims, author of Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House, over alleged violations of a non-disclosure agreement. Sims' book published this week and is currently number 17 on Amazon.com. The book details infighting and dysfunction inside the White House and is critical of several staffers, including adviser Kellyanne Conway, whom Sims described as a cartoon villain brought to life and one of the biggest leakers in the White House. The president was quick to dismiss Sims book, calling him a low-level staffer and a gofer. Michael Glassner, chief operating officer of Donald J. Trump for President Inc., wrote on Twitter that the campaign planned to sue Sims for violating his nondisclosure agreement. The Trump campaign is preparing to file suit against Cliff Sims for violating our NDA. https://t.co/Xl1N95fPkH Michael Glassner (@michaelglassner) January 29, 2019 Sims fired back with photos showing him with the president on multiple occasions. "Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House" is out today, written by the most famous "gofer" in the world! Enjoy! https://t.co/Eovn8jMVhk pic.twitter.com/V013bIe0r2 Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) January 29, 2019 According to the Examiner, the campaign did not disclose what it was seeking from Sims but said he violated the NDA signed when he became a communications adviser to the 2016 campaign. The suit also asks Sims return any notes, reports or other materials related to his time with Trump. Founder of the conservative political blog Yellowhammer, Sims took a leave of absence from that job in 2016 to work for the Trump presidential campaign. In 2017, he was named Assistant to the President and Assistant Communications Director for White House Message Strategy. Sims left the White House in May amid claims of tension with other staff and reports he was moving to a new role with the Secretary of State. That appointment never occurred, however. UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: The victim is a white male who was shot in the parking lot of the motel, according to an Mobile Police Department spokesperson. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The spokesperson could not say at this stage of the investigation whether the victim was a guest at the motel or visiting someone else. One of the rooms was searched for evidence. The location of the body was not near any vehicle and was just feet from a large concrete drainage ditch that bordered a vacant field. Its unclear if the victim had fled from a room when he was shot or was already in the parking lot. Original story: Mobile law enforcement has reported a homicide at a motel in Tillmans Corner Thursday afternoon. Mobile Police Department investigators are at the Days Inn, according to a MPD representative. This post will be updated as more information becomes available. Birmingham private aviation firm Southern Sky Aviation is expanding into the Atlanta market with a new office located at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). At the new location, Southern Sky plans to offer both charter and aircraft-on-ground (AOG) maintenance services, as well as full-service maintenance, charter, brokerage and management services through its Birmingham operation. Southern Sky presently offers those services, plus avionics and flight training, in Birmingham at Hangar 34 on the West ramp and Hangar 14 on the East ramp of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Southern Sky Aviation CEO Bo Andrews said the expansion is something the company has considered for some time, waiting for the right opportunity. We are so pleased to have a new home at PDK where we can bring our top-notch services to a new market and increase our company footprint in an impactful way, Andrews said. The Atlanta expansion means four new hires for the company. Steven Dunn, a 14-year veteran of private aviation, will serve as the general manager of Georgia operations and be responsible for daily charter operations. Barry Lambert, a Birmingham native, will serve as director of finance-aircraft operations. Allie Ray, the director of charter sales and marketing, has been in private aviation for 16 years. Her field is private jet and turboprop charter operations, customer service and concierge personalization. Auburn University graduate Zack Wallace will be charter manager. If youve ever wanted to learn the skills of commercial construction, a free training program is being offered, beginning this month. East AlabamaWorks, the Associated General Contractors of Alabama (AGC), and the Construction Education Foundation of Alabama (CEFA) are collaborating on a new, free construction trade training program. Funding for the training is being provided through a grant from the Alabama Craft Training Board and AGC. Starting in February, AGC and CEFA will offer a free, 10-month construction skills training program for anyone who would like to gain the skills necessary to begin a career in commercial construction. The program is geared toward contractors with new employees who need a skills upgrade, or jobseekers looking to gain skills. Students who complete the class will earn a certification from AGC and will be offered job placement assistance, if needed. Students will learn from certified instructors using a curriculum approved by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and AGC. Participants will learn the basics of hand tools and power tools, foundations, framing, drywall and other areas of expertise. Instruction will include on-line training at home, as well as a once-weekly hands-on lab class to be held every Thursday evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Classes are scheduled to start on Feb. 7 and run through Dec. 5. The building for the class training is being provided by WordAlive International Outreach, at 5349 U.S. 78 in Oxford. Potential students should contact Josh Caton with AGC at (205) 266-7202 or joshc@alagc.org for application information. There are a limited number of seats available. Birmingham lifestyle brand Aviate is expanding its presence in the city, with larger office and distribution space, as well as an event venue that the company says fits in with its corporate philosophy. Aviate began four years ago selling ballcaps with Birminghams three-letter airport code (BHM). Before long, the classic cotton hats expanded to cover 160 cities, 45 states and 3 countries. Randall Porter, Aviates director of brand communications, said the company has acquired a 9,000-square-foot office and warehouse space in Lakeview on Sixth Avenue South. Porter said the space will allow the company to move its distribution hub from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and add jobs to the local market. The company should be moved in by the end of February. Aviate logo In addition, the company will be opening The Hangar, a 2,500-square-foot event space, by March. The venue will be available to host events, parties, wedding receptions and other activities. Porter said The Hangar will allow patrons to bring in their preferred vendors, at a competitive rate, while renting the space. For more information, contact randall@shopaviate.com The Hangar is about bringing the community together to discover whats best about Birmingham, which is what Aviate is about," Porter said. Turkish breakfast today is famed for its wide range of selections, with two dozen or more small plates of everything from crumbly cheese to fried garlic sausage to a mixture of tahini and molasses all found on the same table. It is not unusual to begin late, particularly on weekends after a late night. The meal is slow-paced and communal, and often enough to keep one full until dinner. But in the city of Gaziantep, considered by many to be Turkey's culinary capital, the most prized breakfast is a serenely spicy and hearty soup called beyran, and only the early bird gets it. Tender strips of lamb are topped with rice and then drowned in a fiery broth teeming with red pepper flakes. The best spot to get it is a restaurant called Metanet which aptly means strength or backbone in Turkish in the heart of Gaziantep's old city, but the morning rush begins at the crack of dawn and it tends to sell out quick. In Turkey, soup is more than dish or even a meal. It is the bearer of a vast, rich culture and an indispensable pillar of the Turkish culinary fortress. There are countless recipes from every pocket of the country made from a dazzling wealth of ingredients, from the familiar to the unlikely. In every region, soup is atop the list of essentials. If there are many things we long for, the absolute must for everyone is the soup of their land. People really love it and long for it, said Musa Dagdeviren, the owner of Istanbul's celebrated restaurant and culinary institution Ciya and an eminent scholar on the cuisines of Anatolia. Ciya is renowned for its extensive variety of dishes from all over Turkey, some of which have been rescued from near extinction by Dagdeviren and preserved in the restaurant. Within this canon is a rotating cast of soups culled from regional recipes. According to a customer's tally, Ciya has served over 400 different kinds since its inception. When no one except from the region it came from knew that there was soup made from mulberries, we brought it here and served it, Dagdeviren told Al-Monitor. There are cold soups consumed during the August heat, there are soups made for weddings and those made from raisins or apricots, Dagdeviren said, adding that there are hundreds of varieties of tarhana alone, a dried powder blend of yogurt, tomato paste and grains used to make soup. Soup is clearly a crucial part of Turkish food culture. It seems to be eaten at almost any time of day, from breakfast to late at night. Any restaurant will always have at least one soup on offer, Vidar Bergum, an Istanbul-based Norwegian food writer, told Al-Monitor. Bergum has garnered more than 9,000 followers on Instagram, where he showcases his creative, colorful takes on Turkish cooking. One of Bergum's first encounters with Turkish cuisine was a bowl of iskembe, a pungent tripe soup often consumed late at night as it is believed to stave off hangovers. Iskembe is one of the four classic soups served in Istanbul restaurants, according to Dagdeviren. The other three are tavuk suyu corbasi (chicken noodle soup), paca (sheep's foot soup) and mercimek corbasi (lentil soup). At affordable restaurants all over the city, a common on-the-go meal is a bowl of lentil soup with a couple wedges of crusty bread baked that day, invigorating fare that can be had for pocket change. In an unassuming, compact two-story storefront in the heavily gentrified Istanbul neighborhood of Karakoy lies the Karakoy Corba Evi, which opened around the time that the area was being inundated with hip bars and coffee shops. This soup house serves 20 different varieties, which range from 6 to 15 Turkish lira ($1.5-3) a heaping bowl. The menu includes the classics as well as less common soups including karalahana corbasi (kale and bean soup), a Black Sea specialty. Full or half portions can be ordered, allowing diners to sample one or more. On the cover of the latest issue of Yemek ve Kultur (Food and Culture), a quarterly magazine that Ciya produces, a group of people in the 1930's crowd around a pot of tarhana. Inside is an article about the varieties of soup in Turkey, including a hunger-inducing list divided by ingredients for soups from all over the country. It's more economical and filling compared to other foods. If there's nothing at home, there are absolutely the ingredients with which we can make soup, writes academic Gunay Kut. Dagdeviren calls soup culture in Turkey sacred, adding that it was common for mosques to distribute soup after the first prayers of the day and that a special soup is often the first thing consumed on Kurban bayrami or Eid al-Adha, the holiday of sacrifice. Divine as it may be, soup in Turkey is a simple yet cherished part of the land and the people who live on and cultivate it. When I travel abroad, the one thing I miss is soup, Dagdeviren said. Reeling from President Donald Trumps decision to pull US troops out of Syria, the political wing of the Pentagon-backed Kurdish group that has spent the past four years fighting the Islamic State started the public portion of their 13-day tour of Washington with a bang on Monday, greeting the commander in chief at Trump International Hotel. Its not clear how the delegation, led by Ilham Ahmed, happened upon the president. Trump told the group I love the Kurds and promised that the US allies are not going to be killed by Turkish forces, the Syrian Democratic Committee co-president recalled at a panel earlier this week. The Wall Street Journal reported that the president also said he loved the Turks, the sworn enemy of the group. The Trump encounter, captured on Twitter by Kurdish allies, reflected the challenges the low-budget outfit faces to get their message in front of the Trump administration as the Pentagon proceeds with a conditions-based withdrawal from Syria. Its kind of like a scrappy gubernatorial campaign, Nick Heras, a Middle East fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Al-Monitor. Thats what people forget. Ahmeds visit, which a spokesman said was organized by volunteers, is run out of the organizations three-story townhouse near the Washington waterfront. Old boxes are stacked in the entryway and the office is lined with tributes to slain Americans who fought for the group in Syria. When this reporter arrived at the facility, workers were scrambling to file paperwork to get the Syrian official into meetings with other Pentagon officials. This is the first visit by an SDC leader to Washington since the group registered to lobby last year. Ahmed, who said she learned of the news of the US pullout by surprise while on a trip in Paris, regretted not coming sooner. The groups message to Washington policymakers has centered around slowing the US withdrawal, and stopping Turkish plans to police a safe zone on the border of northern Syria, which the SDC sees as a potentially deadly repeat of the 2018 incursion into the Kurdish-held city of Afrin. I should have come earlier actually, but I postponed my visit, Ahmed told Al-Monitor, speaking through a Kurdish-language interpreter. But after the decision of the withdrawal, we thought it was urgent to come over so we can actually put forward our position to the public and the government of the US. Its not clear how the visit is being treated by US officials. The groups leaders parried questions about their meeting schedule, choosing instead to release it bit-by-bit on social media. The delegation didnt get in the door to see some of Washingtons heavy hitters inside the administration, such as acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, according to a senior defense official. Yet Facebook photos from a US-based fixer for the group showed Ahmed in meetings with Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Even though the visit is mostly missing the sleek graphics and plated dinners that characterize Washington lobbying, the group still appears to be getting its way on several of its priorities. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the US administration is pushing for Western nations to patrol a 20-mile buffer zone on the Syria-Turkey border, a potential rebuke of a Turkish-patrolled zone the SDC has lobbied against. And in Congress, a non-binding resolution led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warning of a precipitous withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan, advanced this week with the support of more than two-thirds of the chamber. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also pushed for a Senate amendment to call on the Trump administration to protect the Kurds, which was followed up by a letter from Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. But the initial euphoria from the impromptu Trump meeting may have done little to change the presidents mind on Syria. Though President Trump has backed off of his original 30-day timeline for US troops to leave Syria after a snap withdrawal decision in December, its not clear that congressional efforts or the upstart lobbying campaign will change the pullout timeline. We will soon have destroyed 100% of the Caliphate, but will be watching them closely, Trump tweeted this morning. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely. Experts tracking the US negotiations over the safe zone say Mazlum Kobani, the commander of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, is intent on keeping US forces inside the country. Mazlum is counter-offering, saying that theyll disarm in a zone if the US stays, said Aaron Stein, director of the Middle East program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. During the visit, Ahmed seemed to be bracing for the worst, warning that the Syrian Democratic Forces would integrate with Bashar al-Assads regime as an alternative option if they cant secure guarantees of US protection. She told Al-Monitor that shed met with the Russian minister of defense in December. With the talks over a potential safe zone facing significant obstacles, some experts, such as Stein, see that as inevitable. The smart money is on a US-Turkish negotiation failure, opening the way for a Kurdish deal with the regime, and then Russians and regime on the border, Stein said. Israel is the only place where a military operation that occurred almost five years ago could resurface and feature in a crucial election campaign, with the army and defense chiefs who commanded it both running for high office coming under intense fire from the politicians who directed them. The fallout from Operation Protective Edge continues. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his Security Cabinet have recently launched harsh attacks against Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz, the former military chief of staff now running for the premiership, and his running mate and former defense minister, Lt. Gen. (res.) Moshe Yaalon. The accusations are absurd, especially given that the accusers themselves had previously declared clear and total victory over Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu and his senior ministers are reacting in part to viral videos from social media highlighting pronouncements they made in 2014. In the clips, they are seen praising the military operation and its commanders with the same passion with which they are now vilifying them. Others have also been caught up in the fray, among them former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, a cabinet member during that war and now in the Knesset opposition, and Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Galant, former commander of the southern front now running in Netanyahus Likud. Then there are Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the New Right, whose current versions of 2014 events consistently contradict what they said at the time. Gantz, founder of the new party Israel Resilience, saw this coming and launched a pre-emptive strike with three videos posted online. One video documents the horrific destruction wrought on Gaza by the Israeli army under his command, with a counter adding up the number of Palestinian terrorists killed, stopping at more than 1,300. Another shows images from the 2012 killing of Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari by the Israel Air Force, which was also under Gantzs command at the time. For the sake of balance, and to snag the support of center-left voters, the other video has Gantz saying that Israel must keep striving for peace. The clips did the job. They boosted Gantzs standing in the polls from voter support equaling 11 Knesset seats to 15 seats, even before he officially declared he would run for the premiership, and then to more than 20 seats after the Jan. 29 speech launching his campaign. In response, Netanyahus entourage sent the word for the Likud to ramp up attacks. Lacking other damning material, the broadside against Gantz has focused on his conduct as the countrys top soldier in general and especially during the 2014 Gaza war. Operation Protective Edge, the Israeli campaign during the war, lasted 51 days, during which time Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel, including Tel Aviv. Gaza sustained extensive damage, and the Palestinians thousands of deaths and injuries, but the fighting ended in a draw, not a knockout. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not conduct a significant ground campaign in Gaza, like it did in Operation Cast Lead at the end of 2008. Instead, it carried out a limited operation to destroy tunnels dug by Hamas into Israel to use for attacks. The performance of the military, Security Cabinet, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon came under harsh public criticism and an especially tough assessment by the state comptroller. Now the protagonists of that campaign find themselves engaged in another round of fighting, this time confronting each other from opposing trenches. Netanyahu is being forced to criticize the operation that he led and misleadingly hailed as a triumph. Yaalon and Gantz are having to justify themselves. Bennett and Shaked are trying to score points at all the others expense, forgetting that when the fighting stopped, they too had heaped praise on the IDF and its commanders for their performance and achievements. In this fight, the combatants are highlighting what their comrades said at the time compared to what they are now claiming as rivals. The public is confused: Which of the contradictory statements are true, and which are not? When do the officials mean what theyre saying, and when do they not? Netanyahu is vulnerable and worried about Gantzs surge in the polls. For the first time in a decade, someone other than himself seems to be scoring high marks and has even achieved near parity in the most important area of all suitability to serve as prime minister. Previous Netanyahu rivals, among them former Labor Party Chair Isaac Herzog and current Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, never came close to Gantzs current poll numbers. Almost overnight, Gantz catapulted from a one-digit suitability rating before he officially announced his candidacy to a virtual draw, at 42% afterward, according to a Channel 13 News poll. This dramatic shift, making this period particularly fateful for the election campaign, led Netanyahu to order a full-scale assault on Gantzs soft underbelly allegations about his performance in the 2014 war and in general. Netanyahu was prime minister during the operation and has worked hard in the ensuing years to explain just what a heroic victory he and the IDF had achieved. He also extended Gantzs term for a year, heaping praise on him at the war's outcome and again after Gantz left the army. Netanyahu declared repeatedly how the IDF had vanquished Hamas and how Israeli fighters had displayed superiority and a wonderful fighting spirit. Such praise is now coming back to bite Netanyahu as he authors a new version of events to the sounds of cheering supporters. Gantz has adopted a calm, business-like strategy, sticking to laconic responses, no more than a few words at a time. In fact, he barely needs to react. Social media are doing it for him through the video clips. In fact, Gantzs mission is more complex than merely slinging mud at the other side. Gantz has chosen not to conduct a negative campaign, for now. Instead, he is trying to position himself as all things to all people. On the one hand, he is a military hero, a commander who eats Arabs for breakfast and a defense hawk who can step into Netanyahus shoes as Mr. Security. On the other hand, he is a moderate leader, sober and peace loving. In the Israel of 2019, Gantz still needs these latter traits to attract voters from the political center-left. With that in mind, Gantzs greatest asset is positioning himself as the leader of the anti-Netanyahu camp. This sizeable Israeli tribe, which can no longer stand Benjamin Netanyahu, will whitewash Gantzs sins and ignore any lapse or wild veering to the left or right just as long as he defeats Netanyahu. That is the state of affairs, for now. What was at the start a campaign featuring one outstanding party, the Likud, against a gang of downtrodden parties has turned into a two-player challenge: Bibi versus the anti-Bibi. To complicate matters, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has decided to announce his decision on whether to indict Netanyahu for corruption before the April 9 elections, rejecting Netanyahus demand to postpone the announcement until after the balloting. If Mandelblit announces a decision to indict, the campaign conducted thus far, including the allegations over Operation Protective Edge, will seem like childs play. It will be a very different type of war, hopefully one that the public can withstand. Nearly eight years after the start of the Syrian conflict, forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad backed by Iran, Russia and Lebanons Hezbollah have reclaimed control over most territories once held by the rebels. As one of the main allies of Assad, who received Iranian aid in the form of military advisers, manpower and billions of dollars in credit lines to keep Syrias economy afloat, the Islamic Republic is now trying to widen its role in the war-torn country as reconstruction estimated to cost up to $400 billion begins. Speaking to Al-Monitor, David Butter, an associate fellow at Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa program, said, The main Iranian economic contribution has been through the provision of crude oil at an average of about 50,000-60,000 barrels per day since 2013 on a credit basis. This would work out at about $6-7 billion. With the Syrian war nearing its final stages, Iranian officials both from the government and the military ranks have stressed the need to reap economic benefits from the costs they have shouldered. In this vein, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri visited Damascus on Jan. 28 at the head of a senior economic delegation. During the two-day visit, Iran and Syria signed 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding that included a strategic long-term economic cooperation agreement spanning two decades. The key agreements as reported by the Iranian media focus on industry, trade and agriculture, while the memoranda of understanding relate to education, investment, railways, housing and public services, among other sectors. At the press conference held after the signing of the accords, Jahangiri noted that Iran and Syria have reached very important agreements on banking cooperation. He added that Iran "will be by Syria's side in the reconstruction phase as we have been by its side in fighting terrorism." Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis described the agreements as unique and added that Iranian companies wishing to invest in Syria will benefit from legal and administrative facilities." But local and foreign experts alike are not very optimistic about the impact of the agreements. The actual Iranian economic role will be limited because of Iran's financial constraints and the reluctance of the Syrian side to give Iranian investors too much control, as has been the case with the blockage of the mobile phone license and the deals signed with Russia for phosphate mining deals, Butter told Al-Monitor, referring to a memorandum of understanding that Syria and Iran signed in January 2017. Although these kinds of agreements can facilitate trade and business between countries, without proper infrastructure such as transportation or banking ties, it is merely a symbolic act that cannot change the realities on the ground, Iranian businessman Ali Shariati told Al-Monitor. This view is shared by other experts. In my view, this announcement was mainly political, intended to show that Gulf Arab investment [in Syria] will not be at the price of downgrading ties with Iran. The Syrian regime will try to get better terms for aid and investment through playing off Gulf Arabs, Iran and Russia against each other, Butter argued. Although the details of the agreements signed in Damascus remain scant, repairs of several power plants across Syria, construction of a 540-megawatt electricity generation station in Latakia worth over 400 million euro ($460 million) and rehabilitation of the ports of Tartus and Latakia are among the projects that have been awarded to Iranian companies. According to Khamis, the wide-ranging deals with Iranians also include dozens of projects in the oil and agriculture sectors and the opening of a permanent fair for Iranian goods in the Syrian capital. Syrias economy Nearly eight years of war in Syria have cost its economy billions of dollars. According to IMF estimates, the countrys economy shrank over 75% between 2010 and 2015, falling from roughly $60 billion to an estimated $14 billion. Syrias imports have plummeted from over $18 billion in 2011, reaching an all-time low of $4 billion in 2016. The conflict has affected Iran alongside other trade partners of Syria. Irans non-oil exports to the country reached an all-time high of over half a billion dollars in the Iranian calendar year ending March 20, 2011. That figure slid for years before rising again since 2015. While Irans non-oil exports to Syria might not be as significant compared to that of other countries such as Turkey, China and Russia, it should be noted that the total value of Iranian exports to Syria is likely much higher, given that weapons and other defense exports are not reflected in its export data. It should also not be overlooked that Iran's share of Syria's total imports has increased from 2.9% in 2010 to over 5.43% in 2017. Lack of secure roads and railways, proper banking ties or regular flights to and from Damascus and the high cost of transportation via shipping lines are just some of the main obstacles that many believe have hindered the expansion of economic ties between Iran and Syria. Despite all the costs weve paid in Syria over the past years, we still dont have any significant share in Syrias trade due to many barriers, Shariati the businessman told Al-Monitor. We have a free trade agreement with Syria, but it is not implemented. Getting a license from Syrians to export our goods is nearly impossible since weve to pay [a bribe] to every involved government body to secure permits. That would raise the import tariffs to as high as 50% and literally makes the products too expensive, he added. Shariati believes that the Iranian private sector might need to alter its strategy. "Instead of focusing on large-scale and infrastructure projects, which are harder to get and have a much greater risk, we should support the [Fast-Moving Consumer Goods] industries such as food, agriculture, cosmetic, soap or detergents among others," Shariati said. Although the full extent and feasibility of the deals Iran struck with Syria during Jahangiri's recent visit to Damascus remain cloudy, it is clear that Syria is a much higher priority when it comes to security at least for some of those in the Iranian ruling system. The legal presence of the Islamic Republic in Syria is upon request by Syrian officials. Our presence is not for financial gains. Relations between the Islamic Republic and Syria have enjoyed the highest political and economic level over the past four decades, Ahmad Dastmalchian, Irans former ambassador to Lebanon and Jordan, told Al-Monitor. "In the midst of geo-strategic and geopolitical developments in the region, a new chapter in relations between the two countries will begin which could have profound effects in the region. Now the conditions are ripe for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanons Hezbollah as the winners of the battle to carry out their strategic partnerships." Turkeys rocky relationship with the United States has hit fresh turbulence over Ankaras gold exports to Venezuela. Washington has aired worries that the flourishing trade may be in violation of US sanctions against President Nicolas Maduros embattled regime and is threatening to take action against its NATO ally. The Donald Trump administration has instructed US Assistant Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea to broach the subject with Turkish authorities during a previously planned trip to Ankara to discuss US sanctions on another Washington bugbear, Iran. Billingslea has previously voiced concerns about Venezuelas gold imports to Turkey. We are looking at the nature of Turkish-Venezuelan commercial activity, a senior US official told Reuters, and if we assess a violation of our sanctions, we will obviously take action. Venezuela exported more than 20 metric tons of gold to Turkey last year and there are suspicions that some of it may have wound up in Irans hands. Why it matters: Last year, Venezuela exported 23.6 tons of gold worth $900 million to Turkey, compared to zero the previous year. Critics say Turkeys facilitation of Venezuelan gold exports, which have thrown a lifeline to Maduros collapsing regime, is not unlike the help Ankara extended to Tehran in an oil-for-gold scheme that the FBI described as the biggest sanctions-busting scam the agency had ever uncovered. That investigation led to the sensational March 2016 arrest of Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, who became a key witness for the prosecution in the federal governments case against Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a senior executive for Turkish state lender Halkbank. The bank was allegedly at the nexus of the money laundering operation. Turkey has been pushing back against a potential multibillion-dollar fine being mulled by the Treasury Department. Ankara allegedly linked the release of detained US pastor Andrew Brunson to ongoing negotiations with Washington on the issue. Brunson was released in October after the Trump administration slapped sanctions on Turkeys interior and justice ministers and raised tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports, sending the lira into a tailspin. Whats next: Should Turkey resist US pressure over its gold trade with Venezuela, it may well face a fresh set of sanctions. It would likely put further pressure on Turkeys wobbly economy ahead of critical municipal elections scheduled for March. It would also make the Trump administration less amenable to leniency on Halkbank. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as one of Maduros most passionate defenders after the United States backed opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim head of the country. Erdogans alliance with Maduro is part of a broader pattern of cooperation with fellow authoritarian leaders, most notably his bromance with Russias Vladimir Putin. Fittingly, the pair will meet on Feb. 14, Valentines Day, to discuss Syria. Turkey's plans to ram through the acquisition of Russian-made S-400 missiles despite Washington's fierce objections has elicited a separate flurry of sanctions threats from both Congress and the administration. Turkish Airlines is one of the few Western carriers to fly to Caracas and Turkish aid helps keep the Latin American giant afloat. But its unlikely that Ankara can sustain its magnanimity should Washington turn up the pressure. Know more: Turkey Pulse columnist Semih Idiz lays out the backstory driving Ankara's affection for Maduro. -Amberin Zaman MOSCOW On Jan. 28, Russia's special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin landed in Jerusalem for two days of talks with their Israeli colleagues. Yuval Rotem, director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, was among the first to host the Russian officials. We had a meaningful and insightful discussion about a variety of regional issues, Rotem wrote on Twitter, calling the overall meeting productive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top-level Israeli officials also met with the Russians. The discussions centered around Iran and the situation in Syria, as well as strengthening the security coordination mechanism between [our] armies to prevent any friction, Netanyahu tweeted after the meeting. They repeated Russia's commitment to maintaining Israel's national security, he later added. Just as the Russian emissaries were discussing Syria and Iran with the Israelis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, back in Moscow, received a call from his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. The foreign ministers discussed the current developments in Venezuela and noted their shared readiness to help facilitate mutual understanding between responsible political forces of Venezuela in the interests of maintaining domestic peace and resolving pressing socioeconomic challenges as soon as possible, the official readout of the conversation from the Russian side said. While there also was a brief mention of bilateral issues, the Russian Foreign Ministry never specified what those issues were or whether Syria was among them. The Russian-language Israeli media outlet ILand TV reported, "The meeting in Jerusalem happens amid more frequent reports on disagreements between Russia and Iran on Syria. Russia is interested in settling [Syrian issues], seeks the return of refugees and the restoration of order. Iran aims to make Syria its foothold against Israel and will use all its powers to turn [Syria] into a Shiite state. With this in mind, the Iranian leadership seeks to prevent the return of refugees, most of whom are Sunnis. This further fueled flames of speculation that there is a rift between Moscow and Tehran. The focus on Venezuela in the Russian readout of the Lavrov-Zarif conversation may have been meant to hedge the disagreements over Syria, but could similarly have been presented to showcase that Russia and Iran do have cooperative agendas including one that supports governments opposing the United States. Meanwhile, Lavrentiev and Vershinin proceeded from Jerusalem to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. There the discussions focused on a possible Israeli-Palestinian agreement, the Arab Peace Initiative and restoring intra-Palestinian unity. Russia will be focusing on the unity enterprise in February, when high-level Palestinian delegations will travel to Moscow for talks. The meeting in Palestine was also supposed to show that the Russian-Israeli agenda in the region is not limited to Iran. Defusing Israeli-Iranian tensions, however, is still Russia's prime preoccupation at this point. We do not change our position in this regard. It is based on the principles of international law," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a Jan. 23 briefing. "The practice of [Israel] dealing arbitrary strikes on the territory of a sovereign state [Syria] must be ruled out. In our estimation, the escalation of hostilities in the region does not meet the long-term national interests of any state in the Middle East, including, of course, Israel. It is necessary to prevent Syria, [which] has been through so much hardship in the long years of the armed conflict, from turning into an arena for settling geopolitical scores. Three days later, on Jan. 26, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told CNN that Russian officials in no way underestimate the importance of measures that would ensure very strong security of the state of Israel. This is one of the top priorities of Russia," he said. Asked whether Moscow and Tehran are allies in Syria, Ryabkov said he wouldn't use this type of word to describe where we are with Iran." While this statement sounded rather reassuring for Israel, it triggered understandable anger in Iran. Yet this shouldnt come as a surprise. In October, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, a top aide to the Iranian foreign minister, had cautioned against mischaracterizing the Moscow-Tehran relationship. Russia is not our strategic ally; neither are we Russias strategic ally in the sense that was very popular particularly in the bipolar era [of international politics], in the era of blocs and great alliances, he said in an interview with Press TV. We dont have a strategic alliance with Russia, but we have a strategic partnership, in specific projects, based on specific mutual interests and in spite of the differences we have and we can continue to have [such a partnership] in the future, too. Validating this argument, Ansari visited Moscow two months after that interview for talks with Lavrentiev and Vershinin about efforts to form a Syrian constitutional committee. Hence, Ryabkovs statement shouldnt be taken as a change in tone, let alone an indicator of Russias relations with Israel and Iran. But it certainly reflects the challenge of preserving the fragile balance between the two intense, strong-willed opponents. Hyping up every clash of interests between Russians and Iranians wont provide much of a clue about their degree of divergence, though it will reinforce that such differences exist. But the informed public has long known what those differences are, and neither Moscow nor Iran deny they persist. Moreover, such clashes are likely to increase in number and possibly intensity, as Russian and Iranian views on postwar Syria vary as do those of local actors on whom the two are betting. Similarly, the discontent in Tehran over Moscows seeming reluctance to put caps on Israeli strikes on supposed Iranian and Hezbollah positions in Syria isn't likely to deter Russia from tenacious mediation to prevent a major war. Russian and Iranian strategic cultures are mature enough to be cautious about branding the relationship. They seek to avoid the politically and morally binding commitments that an alliance implies, yet dont shy away from stating their long-term interest in collaborating on a wide range of issues across a vast geography from Central Asia and Afghanistan to Syria and the Caspian. Perhaps there is no solution that could bring permanent peace between Israel and Iran, at least under current conditions and leaderships. But as long as Moscow agrees to remain a glutton for punishment, and Russian officials maintain their shuttle diplomacy, theres a chance the conflict can continue as merely an occasional flare-up of medium-intensity tensions at least until a greater intensity is reached. I recently made the five-hour drive from Tripoli to the little town of Harawah, home to the Awlad Suleiman tribe, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Sirte in eastern Libya. Just before reaching Harawah, I passed through the last checkpoint manned by the Libyan National Army (LNA), headed by Gen. Khalifa Hifter. The single guard in military uniform at the checkpoint waved me through without question. Libya has been torn between two would-be leaders: Hifter in Tobruk in the northeast, and Fayez al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli in the northwest. The UN recognizes the GNA; Hifter's LNA has the support of Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France. On the day I arrived, locals were talking about how one of Harawahs sons had advanced into southwest Libya and how he'd been welcomed by the locals in places like Sabha, the regional capital of Fezzan, as southern Libya is known. With a sense of pride, one of the locals told me, [Officer] Hassan Maatouk is leading LNAs first brigade to enter the southern region since the [first] civil war ended in October 2011," when Moammar Gadhafi was ousted. Maatouk initially had founded his own militia, funded by his rich brother, to keep security and calm in Harawah after the little towns violent episode with the Islamic State (IS), before it was defeated in December 2016. At some point last year, Hifter heard of Maatouk and asked if he wanted to join the LNA, which he did. Choosing Maatouk to lead the LNAs first brigade heading south is clever on Hifters part. Hassan belongs to the Awlad Suleiman tribe, which has a branch in Sabha with its own armed militia. If anyone is able to persuade them to join the LNA or lay down their arms, it is their own son, Maatouk. For years the southern region has been lawless, with sporadic fighting between local tribal militias. The region is also home to Chadian guerrillas fighting against their government across the border. Human trafficking is also a big problem in the area. LNAs brigades heading south have three important objectives: to convince as many tribal militias as possible, particularly Awlad Suleiman, to either join the LNA or lay down their arms; to clear out the different Chadian armed opposition groups; and to control as much as possible of the largely desert region, which is not controlled by any local party. Controlling the region means, among other things, cutting any supplies headed north to the different militias that control the area from Sirte west to Tripoli. It also means guarding the area against IS remnants scattered south of Sirte and deep into the desert, all the way to neighboring countries like Niger and Chad. Having been defeated and ejected from Sirte in 2016, IS has not given up on Libya. After being hit hard in Syria, IS may be considering Libya as a potential new base. Unstable and fractured as it is, Libya provides the right environment for the terror group. Many of its fighters are still around and there are thought to be sleeper cells in Tripoli. In May, IS struck Libyas election commission, and in September, it destroyed much of the countrys National Oil Corporation. In December, it attacked the Foreign Ministry building on Tripolis seafront. Three days after the LNAs first troops arrived in the south, the army struck big luck by killing Abu Talha in the small town of al-Shati, 60 km northwest of Sabha, on Jan. 18. LNA spokesman Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Mesmari said that three of Abu Talhas top commanders were killed too. Abu Talha is a Libyan jihadist who was a member of al-Qaeda and founding member of Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria before he returned to Libya in 2014 to fight the LNA in Benghazi. If the LNA manages to keep its positions in the middle and southern regions, it means all militias along the coast, including in Misrata and Tripoli, are surrounded, even if from a distance. As the LNA consolidates its presence, it may consider moving toward Tripoli. As of Jan. 29, LNA forces were spreading in the area after taking most of Sabha, including its famous castle. Such a scenario will certainly involve confrontations with the strongest militia, al-Bunyan al-Marsos, which controls the area from Harawah in the east, all the way to Misrata in the west, along the coastal road from Sirte to Tripoli. Most fighters in the militia are from Misrata, and al-Bunyan al-Marsos is the same militia that expelled IS from Sirte in December 2016 with help from the US Africa Command and Italy. On paper, al-Bunyan al-Marsos operates under the GNA's control, just like many other militias claiming alliance to the weak government. However, in reality, it has its own command structure and exists almost independent of the GNA. Its leadership doesn't like Hifter and is concerned that his latest gains in the south could put them in a dangerous situation with the LNA. If Hifter is still following his objective of controlling Libya, then at some point he will have to take action against other militias entrenched in Tripoli and other cities along the coast. However, in the current political atmosphere, it's unlikely the LNA will take any action against any other militia. Hifter is bound by his commitment to the international community, to UN envoy Ghassan Salame, to free elections and to avoiding violence under all circumstances. Such commitments were initially made during a Paris meeting in July 2017 between Hifter and the GNAs Sarraj. The same pledges were repeated in another Paris meeting in May 2018 and again in November in Palermo, Sicily. Is the LNAs latest move into the lawless south another political maneuver by Hifter to keep himself at the top of politics in Libya, or is it a serious, genuine effort to repeat his success in eastern Libya and further consolidate his power, to be translated into political cards at the right time? Such questions aren't easy to answer. Hifter has, on many occasions, distanced himself from politics, always claiming that the LNA is a professional army tasked with securing the country and helping the political process being led by Salame. That process includes elections sometime this year and it remains unclear if Hifter is seeking to run for the presidency. If he plans to run for office, then upcoming elections could be his last chance to put on a civilian suit and try his luck. At 75, he has reached retirement age. He is also a dual Libyan-American citizen and current Libya law prohibits dual citizens from holding any public office unless they renounce their foreign citizenship. To run for office, Hifter also would have to first leave his military position, which would be a big risk for him. What if he were to lose the elections and end up completely out of the political and military scene, after he fought so hard to get where he is now? In terms of elections, he would really only have one option: to publicly endorse other candidates loyal to him and hope they remained loyal so he could still play a military role after the elections. While it's easy to figure out how many armed militias are willing to fight against Hifters LNA, it's unclear how many Libyans are willing to cast their ballots for him. Although no concrete figures are available, Hifter is popular, particularly in eastern Libya. In Benghazi and other places, he is looked at as a savior who brought back security and relative stability after years of chaos and bloodshed. In western Libya, it's a little different. While many Libyans like what Hifter did in the east, they're not sure what he will do if one day he takes Tripoli by force. Many others support him and are willing to vote for him if he runs for office because they believe the country needs a strong figurehead to lead it out of its current misery. After an absence of 77 days from the public eye since Nov. 10, Hezbollahs Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had a three-hour interview Jan. 26 with al-Mayadeen TV. Decoding his messages might be key to understanding how Hezbollah will deal with major challenges ahead, most notably tensions on the southern border with Israel and its military intervention in Syria. In a relatively subdued tone, Nasrallah had a measured posture, evading a direct provocation of Israel, overly accommodating Lebanese politicians and acting as a political commentator on Syria instead of being assertive, as he is known to be. The timing of this interview seems orchestrated to fit the Iranian strategy this week to heighten the rhetoric against Israel after suffering successive airstrikes in Syria most recently on Jan. 21. Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani was quoted Jan. 29 warning Israel that Hamas and Hezbollah are prepared to unleash an inferno against Israel. There are, however, four noteworthy trends in Nasrallahs interview. Nasrallah went out of his way to ease the tensions with Israel. Beyond the expected attempt to establish deterrence by showcasing Hezbollahs capability to strike when needed, he assured that Hezbollah made no decision to launch an attack on the Galilee. Nasrallahs rhetoric was merely advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to alter the rules of engagement in Lebanon. While Israel managed to outmaneuver Hezbollah on discovering cross-border tunnels, Nasrallah justified the Shiite groups silence on this issue as intentional to avoid being lured into what he considered an Israeli campaign. Hezbollahs leader remained ambiguous on whether these tunnels have been dug recently in an attempt to lessen their implications or relevance to any plan to attack Israel. It is not clear whether defusing the tensions with Israel is based on advice from close Lebanese allies, instructions from Tehran or upon Russian request. But Nasrallah explicitly affirmed, I am interested for him [Netanyahu] to calm down a bit, and advised the Israeli prime minister to be careful of going overboard in what you are doing in Syria. Netanyahus reaction to Nasrallahs interview was also subdued, implicitly claiming that Israeli pressure forced Hezbollah to back down. The Israeli prime minister noted that Nasrallah is embarrassed that Israel exposed Hezbollahs tunnel plans, by the financial distress caused by US sanctions on Iran and by Israeli determination. Hezbollah seems invested in the current status quo on the southern border as Israel has been, in recent weeks, attempting to alter these dynamics an attempt that was incidentally aborted by US officials when Israel sought to punish the Lebanese government for the existence of the tunnels. On Hezbollahs regional role, the interview showed how much Hezbollahs demeanor and calculations have evolved when compared with a few years ago when the Shiite group threatened an open war against Israel and showed readiness to retaliate against Israeli actions in Gaza or Saudi actions in Yemen. Nasrallah justified the restraint to retaliate against recent Israeli attacks in Syria as a political decision based on managing priorities in this phase, not based on military deficiency. This subdued tone shows how much Hezbollahs regional role has dwindled and is increasingly restricted to Lebanon, as Russia and Iran are directly taking the lead on Syria. Nasrallah gave the impression that Hezbollah does not decide what happens in Syria. He acknowledged that the retaliation against Israel is obviously a decision to be made by the axis, in a reference to Damascus, Tehran and potentially Moscow. His only affirmation was that an attack on Hezbollah in Syria will be met by retaliation in Lebanon, which is a shift from previous threats of simultaneously opening two borders against Israel. This interview also shows how Iran is increasingly in full control of Hezbollahs decisions when compared with the margin the Lebanese group had a decade ago. US sanctions on Iran made Hezbollah more reliant on Tehran for funding. Nasrallah spoke in this interview on behalf of the Iranian regime because his voice is heard in Israel and his threats are taken more seriously. Nasrallah was cautious in addressing Russias role in Syria, sticking to the Iranian regimes talking points despite the increasing cracks in the alliance between Moscow and Tehran. He indirectly acknowledged Russias role in regulating the tensions in Syria by noting that, to be fair, the Israelis are not trespassing on the rules of engagement with Iran in Syria and are not intentionally targeting Iranian officials in their airstrikes. Nasrallah described how Moscow relayed with sincerity the US offer to withdraw Iranian forces from Syria and reaffirmed the stance that Tehran is not ready yet for a deal that synchronizes US and Iranian withdrawal from Syria. He linked any withdrawal plans to the end of the war against extremist groups, mainly in Idlib and northern Aleppo. Reluctantly consenting to Moscows role as mediator between Israel and Iran in Syria, Nasrallah noted that Russia can give Israel a margin to act in Syria but cannot open all margins and let them go far. From a Lebanese perspective, Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah stands behind the state in all issues related to negotiating the land and maritime borders with Israel. He noted that Hezbollah will only intervene if Israel launches an attack against Lebanon. Hezbollah feels comfortable with the positions taken by the Lebanese government and does not want to bypass decisions taken by President Michel Aoun and parliament speaker Nabih Berri. Moreover, Nasrallah believes US officials are trying to drive a wedge between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement that was founded by Aoun. The last meeting of the High Defense Council showed the impact of US mediation that asked both the Lebanese and Israeli sides to show restraint on the border. President Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri reportedly tried to make sure they have the final say in the Lebanese armys decision to retaliate against any Israeli violation on the border, and they both agree with the US offer to negotiate the land border for now and delay discussing the maritime border with Israel a view that is not shared with Berri or Hezbollah. Most of all, Nasrallahs interview shows that Iran is sending messages to Israel, the United States and Russia that it will not stand still for long and its patience might run out if provocations continue. Hezbollah is planning long-term for Lebanon and Syria and hence sees any short-term confrontation with Israel as a setback. Both Netanyahu and Nasrallah are facing domestic challenges (Israeli elections and the Lebanese Cabinet formation) and want to maintain their political leverage at home, which make them less inclined to initiate a confrontation that might trigger a regional war. RAMALLAH, West Bank A new shopping center in the Atarot Industrial Zone, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, has Palestinians grappling with how to respond to it. Atarot Mall, built by the Israeli supermarket magnate Rami Levy on the western side of the separation wall, is promising high-quality goods at low prices and jobs for Jews, Muslims and Christians. Many, however, see the mall as a threat to Palestinian-owned shops in East Jerusalem and have called for Palestinian merchants and consumers to boycott it. The shopping center, inaugurated Jan. 11, is part of a chain that also has branches in Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in Jerusalem. What differentiates the Atarot branch is its location on Route 60, the highway that separates the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and is used by Palestinians as well as Israeli settlers. Also of note is that Palestinian merchants from Jerusalem have purchased or rented space in the mall, which will have a reported 50 stores. The shopping center embodies Levys policy of promoting economic coexistence and normalization between Jews and Arabs. He has pursued these policies through Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing, Israel's third largest supermarket chain, which hires Muslim, Christian, and Jewish workers and caters to both the Arab and Jewish communities. In an article and video posted Nov. 20, 2017, to the website for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Levy said, In Judea and Samaria we have four branches. I think that coexistence needs to come from here. To show that it is possible to live together, to work together, and serve each other in a fair and moral way. Levy, who invested 200 million shekels ($54 million) in the new shopping center, which took two years to build, told COGAT that 65% of the merchants will be Jews and 35% Palestinians. We treat everyone here equally, he said. Everyone wants to make this center a success. Various Palestinian parties have called for boycotting the mall. In a Jan. 8 statement, Fatah asserted, Buying and renting shops or shopping there is a betrayal of the homeland. The day before, the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, some of them PLO affiliated, and the Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection released a press statement calling for a boycott and urged Jerusalem merchants to refrain from opening shops in the mall, claiming that the shopping center is contributing to the expansion of the settlement project in Jerusalem. They further called on the PLO and the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Economy to take action along the lines they suggested and also to implement a boycott of Palestinian businesses with stores in the shopping center. Atarot Mall is located close to Beit Hanina and Shuafat, where thousands of Palestinians live, and the Pisgat Zeev and Ramot settlements. Although Levy might see the location as perfect for attracting Jewish and Palestinian customers alike, some opposed to the mall are concerned that the center's location threatens to negatively affect the commercial activity of small Palestinian shops north of Jerusalem, luring Jerusalemites from them with lower prices. This settlement shopping mall is part of the ongoing Israeli practice aimed at strangling the Palestinian economy in Jerusalem and putting pressure on Jerusalemite merchants to limit any economic activity that strengthens the steadfastness of citizens, Palestinian Economy Minister Abeer Odeh said in a Jan. 8 press release. Azmi Abdul Rahman, director general of economic policies at the Ministry of Economy, told Al-Monitor that his ministry, in cooperation with others, will address the situation in accordance with Decree no. 4 of 2010 Concerning the Prohibition and Control of Settlement Products, issued by PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The law stipulates that anyone who trades in settlement products or provides a settlement-related service shall be fined according to the provisions of the law, which applies to all lands occupied by Israel during the June 1967 War. Although the PA does not have the authority to implement the law against Palestinian merchants in Jerusalem, it can prevent those who open shops in Levys mall from opening shops in Palestinian cities, like Ramallah. In one sign of opposition, on Jan. 8 Palestinian youths lobbed Molotov cocktails over the separation wall from the town of al-Ram, causing minor damage to the parking lot and prompting shoppers to scatter. Rita Abu Ghosh, media coordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, told Al-Monitor, The BDS movement considers anyone taking part in the mall to be working with the occupation and must be boycotted. She said that BDS in cooperation with the National Labor Authority, a Jerusalem-based NGO comprised of political, national and religious figures, had succeeded in dissuading prominent merchants from Jerusalem not to open stores in the mall. One of them owns a large electronics company that was supposed to occupy an entire floor, and another owns a mobile phone business. Abu Ghosh remarked that BDS also contacted several owners of small shops, such as those selling bread, shoes or clothes, but the majority refused to withdraw from the mall because of the potential benefits, such as expected high demand for their goods, or for fear of having to pay hefty fines should they withdraw from their lease agreement. Salah Haniyeh, head of the Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection, told Al-Monitor that to compete with the lower prices at the shopping center, many shops in Jerusalem have begun to offer discounted prices themselves, which benefits Palestinian shoppers. Large commercial centers in the West Bank are doing the same, he noted, which allows them to argue against claims by shopping center businesses that they offer lower prices. He called on the Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem to create a committee to follow-up on the possibility of Palestinian merchants getting out of their shopping center contracts and helping them to bear the financial burden of doing so. Haniyeh asserted that Levy had purposely pursued Palestinian merchants for the mall to make Palestinian consumers, as a target audience, feel more comfortable shopping there. Although the primary purpose of Atarot Mall is to generate economic activity, it also appears that normalization of economic relations between Palestinians and settlers could be at the expense of the Palestinian economy in East Jerusalem and its environs and efforts by the Palestinian Authority and the BDS movement to boycott settlement products. The liberal left-wing media threw massive support behind Benny Gantz after his maiden political speech Jan. 29. Haaretz, the flagship newspaper of the Israeli left, devoted an editorial, commentary and numerous reports to Gantz, describing him as a fitting alternative with a good chance to defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The paper even rose to the challenge of defending Gantz from attacks on his Achilles heel, i.e., his handling as chief of staff of Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and the way he was late in tackling the problem of the Hamas terror tunnels. The papers military commentator determined that the political leadership, meaning Netanyahu, was a full partner in everything attributed to Gantz. Support for Gantz is based in the belief that he has a chance to take down Netanyahu, the greatest enemy of the Israeli left. But by coronating Gantz as the leader of their bloc, the center-left is making a basic mistake. Lt. Gen. Gantz (Res.) is far from being a dove, and he has proved as much over the past few weeks with his messages, speech and deeds. Actually, Gantz has positioned himself on the right-wing flank of the Likud in almost every issue he raised in his speech. The only exception was his position on matters of religion and state. This was already apparent in the first videos released by Gantzs staff about two weeks ago. These included a clip of the 2012 assassination of Ahmed Jabari, the Hamas military commander in the Gaza Strip. The clip also boasted about the large number of Palestinian casualties during Operation Protective Edge and showed images of how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) flattened entire neighborhoods in Gaza during that operation. These arent exactly the kind of messages that appeal to the Israeli left. Yet in his speech this week, Gantz was even more blunt; he warned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that he would take action against him on all fronts and deliver devastating blows to his country. Later in his speech, when speaking about Gaza, Gantz even outflanked Netanyahu on the right by suggesting to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar that he better not test him. It was the kind of bellicose statement frequently heard from Netanyahu and his former Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman. He then attacked Netanyahu for allowing Qatar to transfer money to Gaza, saying, I will not allow the payment of protection cash payments in suitcases to murderous gangs under the disgraceful protection of screaming Cabinet members. He then warned the Hamas leadership that the policy of targeted killings, halted by Netanyahu, would resume once he is in power. Gantz is adopting positions taken by parties to the right of Netanyahu, even if these conflict with the positions of the army, which he headed until four years ago. It was the IDF, for instance, that recommended to Netanyahu that he should allow the transfer of money from Qatar to the Gaza Strip for humanitarian purposes. It is also fairly safe to assume that had he been prime minister or defense minister, Gantz would have accepted the militarys position on the matter. Similarly, most people aligned with the Israeli right could identify with Gantzs positions on diplomatic issues. He declared that a government under his leadership would strengthen the settlement blocs and keep the Jordan Valley as Israels eastern border. Furthermore, he would not allow the Palestinians to put Israels security or its Jewish character at risk. He passed the rights test on Jerusalem as well, saying, United Jerusalem will be built, will grow and will remain forever the capital of the Jewish people and the capital of the State of Israel. Still, Gantz did make a gesture to the left, when he said that he would not allow millions of Palestinians to endanger neither Israels safety, nor its Jewish identity. By stating that he would guarantee Israels Jewish nature/majority, he was insinuating that he objects to the annexation of the West Bank. A significant reason of his success so far is his nonpartisan approach (beyond party divide), combined with a message of unity. Gantz promised to establish a government "of the people" that will "govern to unite." All the contrary of current politics, which he qualified as ugly and poisoned. In fact, he had relayed a sense of a clean path, similar to the political centers attitude when trying to differentiate themselves from the political camps on the right and the left. Unlike them, Gantz argued that he will fight for the interests of the state, regardless of the interests of the parties. The argument that this was nothing more than an election speech and that it does not reflect his true positions was disproved when Gantz refused to let Hatnua head Tzipi Livni, who is identified with the Israeli left, join his list. Similarly, he did not agree to consolidate forces with Avi Gabbay and the Labor Party. Instead, he joined forced with the Telem Party of Netanyahus old Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, a former member of the Likud and a diplomatic hawk. Yaalon brought two former Likud-members with him: Yoaz Hendel, a former media adviser to Netanyahu, and Zvi Hauser, Netanyahus former Cabinet secretary. Both men are clearly aligned with the right, even if they are more liberal in their leanings than the current Likud Party. As an example of their right-wing bona fides, Hauser is currently working on obtaining international recognition for Israels annexation of the Golan Heights. Gantz even mentioned this in his speech, taking a decidedly right-wing position when he said that Israel would never descend from the Golan Heights. Gantz practically ignored the issue of Israels Arab population and the way they are treated, another touchstone for the Israeli left. All he did in his speech was lump them together with the ultra-Orthodox and the Druze, saying, I will deepen my partnerships with the ultra-Orthodox, the Arabs and the Druze." He also addressed the issue indirectly, when he promised to expand national civic service alongside military service. (Israeli-Arabs for the most part do not serve in the army.) Actually, it was only on matters of religion and state that Gantz expressed positions different from the right-wing parties. He announced his willingness to allow public transportation on the Sabbath in secular settlements and to allow civil marriages, rather than only religious marriages as required now by law. He also said that he would promote the Western Wall compromise to make the site accessible for pluralistic religious services, and in general, that he would work to bring all branches of Judaism together. The leaders of American Jewry will certainly be happy to hear this position, given the ongoing rift between them and the prime minister on these very matters. The crisis between Israel and the non-Orthodox branches of Judaism is one of the reasons that American Jewry, particularly the younger generation, has been distancing itself from Israel. His decision to express views that would be unwelcome to the ultra-Orthodox community makes sense given the belief among Gantz and his advisers, as told to Al-Monitor, that they would be able to form a coalition without the ultra-Orthodox bloc. The decision also helps him gain votes from the secular center, which is Yair Lapids traditional base. In fact, polls taken one day after the speech show that Gantz took anywhere from 3 to 6 seats from Lapid. Gantz is not a leftist. The conclusion is unavoidable, based on his actions and his speech. The opinions he expressed tend mainly to the right, with just a few positions leaning toward the center. The fact that the media and left-wing voters support him stems mainly from the possibility that he could form the next government instead of Netanyahu, or at least put up a good fight. His clean image of an honest man, contrary to Netanyahus entanglement in various affairs, increases his popularity. On the other hand, if he does form the next government or joins the next coalition, it is doubtful that Gantz will fulfill the hopes and expectations of the Israeli left. Iraq's parliamentary Security and Defense Committee revealed Jan. 20 the readiness of the military command to hand over security duties to the local police in seven provinces in the center and south of the country. This follows a debate in the National Security Council Jan. 8, headed by Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, on the transfer of security duties from the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Interior. Earlier, concrete steps were taken on the ground in some provinces. On Jan. 9, the Diwaniya province police announced that it started taking over security control from the Middle Euphrates Operations Command as of Jan. 1. In turn, the Diyala police command confirmed Jan. 3 that this year would witness a transfer of the security duties across all provinces without exception. Security has stabilized across Iraqs cities, as indicated by the decline in bombings and attacks, after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq on Dec. 10, 2017. Hisham al-Hashimi, a security expert at Al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies, believes this is the moment to speed up the transfer of security duties to the police and withdraw army troops from the cities back to their barracks. He told Al-Monitor, The joint Iraqi forces have improved their capabilities and achieved great victories in urban areas and peripheries. A positive security transformation has occurred since the joint operations command united the efforts of operations and units of all armed forces and intelligence command. This has made the deployment of army troops in the stable provinces unjustified. Army troops should be stationed in military camps as a reserve force. Hashimi said that Najaf, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Diwaniya, Muthanna, Babil and Wasit would witness this transformation. The operations command of Basra and Karbala and the capital Baghdad will still fulfill its duties until 2020, when the security functions in these provinces are reviewed given the specificities of these provinces and their touristic, political and economic conditions. He added, Army forces are currently in Anbar, Baghdad, Ninevah and Diyala. The anti-terrorist forces are in their camps inside each province. The Baghdad operations command is not part of the joint operations command and is directly subordinated to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. We have suggested that the army withdraw to the Baghdad belt, and this is what we are doing now in the Ninevah, Tigris and Anbar operations. The Babylon police chief, Maj. Gen. Ali Kowa, told Al-Monitor, The expected success of the transfer of the security duties to the police is due to the declining crime rates and terrorist acts in cities, especially in the south. He noted, The police command completed a security plan in Babylon to tightly control the security situation. We informed the Ministry of Interior that we accept assuming the security duties provided a series of technical and logistical conditions are met. These include the activation of the intelligence services role, a safe and fast exchange of information, the equipment of police and security forces with modern communication and early warning systems. The details of the new plan revealed by a member of the Security and Defense Committee, Nayef al-Shammari, to Al-Monitor indicate that the first phase of the transition process begins by handing over to the local police the security duties in seven provinces in the center and the south. The second stage includes the capital Baghdad. In the final stage the police forces would assume security in the western and northwestern provinces, where some areas are witnessing the elimination of IS remnants by ground forces and operations commands. Shammari said, The operation will ultimately enhance security in every Iraqi city, with three defensive units the local police, the federal police and the Iraqi army. This is a solid plan that strengthens the role of the police and assigns the army troops to protect the countrys borders. But parliamentarian Falah al-Khafaji has a different opinion on the transfer of security duties at the present time. He warns of the fast transfer of security duties from the defense authority to the local police in the provinces, amid the local governments' influence and flagrant interference in the work of these security units and institutions. He told Al-Monitor, The police units will be under the influence of officials and influential parties that will exploit them to implement personal and partisan goals. The solution would be a decision by the prime minister or by the Iraqi parliament to amend the law on provincial councils so as to keep the Ministry of Interior away from the power of local governments before the transfer of the security duties. If the transfer of security duties proves to be successful, Ahlam al-Watifi, a member of the provincial council of Babil, believes it would have positive repercussions. These include most notably curbing the militarization of society and allowing the army units to train and rehabilitate soldiers and upgrade mechanisms to ensure the protection of the Iraqi borders from any imminent risk, she told Al-Monitor. She added, The security transfer should be coupled with the deployment of combat troops from the Popular Mobilization Units in the peripheries of cities to deter any surprise terrorist attack. Meanwhile the handover to the local police and federal police of security duties in the capital would allow the Baghdad operations command to be fully dedicated to protecting the capital walls and uncontrolled desert highways connecting it to the provinces of Diyala, Anbar and Babil. The commander of Rafidain operations, Maj. Gen. Ali Ibrahim, told Al-Monitor that the year 2019 would witness a full control by the Ministry of Interior on security departments in the cities. He said, The course of the security events clearly indicates that army troops will withdraw to their camps. Their duties would be limited to defending the country from any external military intervention, deploying in open areas and supporting the border guards." He added, "This is a turning point in security that ushers in a state of stability and the return of civilian life to the cities, instead of the long drawn-out militarization manifestations. There is no doubt that the reimposed US sanctions on Iran will compel Tehran to shift more proactively toward deeper political and economic ties with Eastern powers. Here, China stands out not only as Irans largest trading partner, but also as the top buyer of Iranian oil and hence the key player in filling the vacuum left by a withdrawal of Western companies from Iran. At the same time, past experiences with Chinese petroleum sector companies have been disappointing for Irans technocrats. In fact, as recently as 2014, Tehran terminated the major Azadegan oil project with Chinas CNPC due to dissatisfaction with progress made. The question is how the new circumstances in the aftermath of the US reimposition of sanctions will impact Chinas role in Irans petroleum sector. Post-revolutionary Irans international relations have been based on a complex set of drivers borne out of revolutionary ideals alongside security, economic and technological needs. Irans relationship with the European Union is a case in point. Indeed, despite all tensions and challenges, the EU has in the past three decades been the desired partner for the technological needs of Iran, and especially in the petroleum sector. However, Iran-EU economic ties have been challenged by ups and downs in the relationship, including the role that anti-Iran sanctions have played periodically. In fact, as a consequence of sanctions related to the nuclear standoff, China in 2010 replaced the EU as Irans most important trading partner. The expansion of Iran-EU trade since the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January 2016, such as a 53% growth in 2017 compared with 2016 and further growth in 2018, was yet another indication that Iranian decision-makers still prefer European technology over that found in Asia. Nonetheless, the reintroduction of US secondary sanctions has undermined Iran-EU trade and investment, despite efforts by Europe to sustain the JCPOA. Consequently, Tehran will have to develop an alternative plan to fill the financial and technological gaps that a decline in relations with Europe will create. Incidentally, there is a greater appreciation among Iranian elites that China is an alternative. Ali Khorram, a former ambassador to Beijing, said in early January, There are many fields of potential cooperation between Iran and China one of them being technology, where China does not have a high rank compared with the US and Europe, but could be a good trading partner for Iran. Also, in the field of investments, the two sides have to pave the way for greater cooperation. At the same time, Khorram underlined that China does not view Iran as a strategic destination for investment. These perceptions may explain why media reports emerged in January that Chinas state-owned Sinopec had the previous month proposed to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) that it invest $3 billion in Irans petroleum sector. While it is evident why Iran would welcome such a plan under the current circumstances, it is also important to assess Chinas motivations. One can see the Chinese initiative within a geopolitical context, namely how such a plan could bolster Beijings bargaining position against Washington in the current US-China trade negotiations. Others argue that China could use its existing and emerging projects in Iran to justify an extension of the so-called Significant Reduction Exemptions (SREs) to continue purchasing Iranian crude beyond the levels stated in current US sanctions waivers. For example, Chinas CNPC has already received a waiver from the US government to continue working on its ongoing secondary recovery oil project in Masjed-e-Suleiman. In this scenario, continued SREs would then be justified to facilitate Chinese investors import of their own revenue share of Iranian projects in the form of crude oil, hence not generating additional revenues for Iran. However, the most likely explanation for the Chinese proposal seems to be Sinopecs improved bargaining position. Of note, it has been reported that Sinopec has presented the Iranian side with stringent demands, especially to buy equipment of its choice made in China and request reimbursement for costs as soon as the new development undergoes testing, terms Iran normally refuses. It will be interesting to see whether Tehran will agree to these demands, which appear based on the assumption that the withdrawal of Western enterprises from the Iranian market has created a monopoly for Chinese companies. While some analysts agree with the latter assessment, actual events in Irans petroleum sector indicate that a different strategy has emerged. Indeed, NIOC has shifted its approach to the awarding of projects and has defined 33 projects 29 onshore and 4 offshore under the rubric of Sustaining and Increasing Oil Production, with a total investment value of $6.2 billion and a plan to add 280,000 barrels per day of oil production capacity. All of these projects will be signed with Iranian contractors including nine agreements signed Jan. 22. In many cases, the Iranian prime contractor will look for foreign technology partners who could help with engineering and procurement within the projects framework. The objective here will be to get the local contractors to identify and engage foreign and especially European engineering and procurement companies as project partners in order to facilitate the availability of needed technologies. Irans Ministry of Petroleum will also use local bonds to finance these projects in order to sustain a minimum of development in the petroleum sector. Nonetheless, small projects managed by domestic contractors wont be enough to materialize the massive potential of the countrys energy sector. This is why Chinese as well as Russian and other Asian investments will be needed. It is also important to underline that Iran has confidence in Chinese capabilities in a number of sectors, including telecommunications and infrastructure projects. Iran already features strongly in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which involves various planned Chinese infrastructure investments. In January 2018, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mohammad Khazaei who is also the official in charge of attracting foreign investment outlined the significance of Chinese investments in Iran, saying, Todays China is different from the China of 15 years ago. As such, economic and investment relations will be part and parcel of Iran-China relations in the future. Chinas strategic goal of securing energy resources for its future demands and Irans need for foreign investment will likely pave the way for a greater Chinese role in the Iranian energy sector. However, a growing Chinese presence, and especially under conditions that will sacrifice the technological quality of the Iranian petroleum sectors development, will clash with Tehrans desire to create domestic capacities and become a technological power in its own right. Consequently, Iran will continue to carve out a role for European engineering firms, hoping that Chinese investment can be combined with European technology to develop the countrys crucial energy sector. Nevertheless, it is also clear that the continuation of US pressure on Iran will weaken Irans bargaining position and will thus consolidate the footprint of Chinese companies in the Iranian economy with all of its technological and political consequences. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., managed to rebuke both President Donald Trump and Democrats with one vote today. The Senate voted 68-23 to advance nonbinding legislation warning against a precipitous withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. Trump announced in December that the United States would pull out of Syria, causing considerable confusion throughout the Pentagon and among US allies. Why it matters: McConnell effectively forced Democrats to choose between implicitly siding with Trump and angering elements of their anti-war base. American national security interests require continued commitment to our missions there, McConnell said on the floor today. But I guess some Senate Democrats didnt want to vote on these important subjects. Perhaps it could have put some of my colleagues with aims beyond the Senate at odds with parts of the far left. Indeed, virtually every senator rumored to be considering a run for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination voted against the legislation, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also voted no, as did a handful of Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and John Kennedy of Louisiana. The American people do not want endless war, said Sanders, echoing arguments made by Warren earlier in January. It is the job of Congress to responsibly end these military interventions and bring our troops home, not to come up with more reasons to continue them. Trump has similarly referred to US military activity in the region as never ending war on multiple occasions Still, Sanders argued that the manner of Trumps pullout was reckless and the Vermont senator called for a troop withdrawal plan that is coordinated with our allies, that continues to provide humanitarian aid and that supports political settlements in these countries. Israel boycotts: McConnell is using the same bill to highlight divisions among Democrats on Israel. Todays vote was on whether to add an amendment to a broader Middle East legislative package that includes a bill clamping down on the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. Although the bill has significant bipartisan support, most of the potential 2020 candidates with the exception of Klobuchar oppose the anti-BDS provision on free speech grounds. Whats next? Todays vote was only procedural and the Senate must hold yet another vote to attach the amendment to the broader bill the Strengthening Americas Security in the Middle East Act. Then it must hold on a final vote on the entire bill. In the meantime, Republicans will eagerly use the Senates slow procedural processes to point out Democratic divisions on Syria and Israel. Know more: Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris first addressed Democratic support for a Syria withdrawal after Warren endorsed the troop drawdown earlier this month. And keep up to date on all the latest BDS controversy with Al-Monitors running coverage. -Bryant Harris An escalating feud between freshman Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Minn., and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is laying bare Democrats gaping divide over Israel. Why it matters: Democrats are in a pickle over their left-wing bases increasing frustration with the plight of the Palestinians. Rising anti-Israel rhetoric risks scaring Jewish voters and others toward the Republican Party, which is exploiting the Democratic rift to the hilt. Listen and learn: The latest skirmish began this week when Al-Monitor asked Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., about Tlaibs plans to replace the traditional visits organized by the pro-Israel lobby with trips to the West Bank that highlight the Palestinian experience. Engel shot down the idea, saying Tlaib ought to listen and learn and open her mind and then come to some conclusions. She shot back Wednesday with a fiery tweet. Yo @RepEliotEngel, how are we ever going to obtain peace? Tlaib wrote. I hope youll come with me on the trip to listen and learn. My sity (grandmother) will welcome you with an embrace & love. Please feel free to call me if you have anything to say. I am your colleague now. Dem on Dem: The Engel-Tlaib spat is part of a much broader debate within the Democratic Party between a feisty progressive base and a more conservative old guard. While the anti-war group Code Pink crashed Engels office this week in response to his comments to Al-Monitor, progressive groups banded together to demand that Democrats make public their internal party rules. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has started conversations on everything from taxes to health care. And billionaire Starbucks former CEO Howard Schultz has launched a long-shot presidential campaign thats seen in some quarters as an effort to save the Democratic Party from itself. Blood in the water: Republicans have been quick to capitalize on any Democratic dissent over Israel. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, hand-delivered letters to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and all Democratic committee chairs asking them not to approve any requests to send a congressional delegation to the West Bank. Meanwhile, Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., has objected to sitting on the same House Foreign Affairs oversight panel as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a Somali-American refugee who, like Omar, supports the pro-Palestinian movement to boycott Israel. Crazy to watch what House Dems are empowering/elevating, Zeldin tweeted on Tuesday. Dont mind him, he is just waking up to the reality of having Muslim women as colleagues who know how to stand up to bullies! Omar retorted on Twitter. Its gonna be fun watching him lose his marbles. Whats next: Tlaibs office doubled down on the proposed West Bank trips after her spat with Engel. Rep. Engels comments did not take into account that this trip is to do exactly what he spoke of listen to the people directly impacted and learn from their experiences to be able to make well-rounded decisions here in Congress, Denzel McCampbell, a spokesman for Tlaib, told Al-Monitor. Instead of making condescending remarks, we hope that the congressman joins us in this effort. Know more: Read congressional correspondent Bryant Harris in-depth piece from last fall about how Democratic newcomers are challenging the pro-Israel status quo. - Bryant Harris Another round of layoff notices was issued at the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter. It is not immediately clear how many MOX workers received layoff notices this time around. More than 1,000 MOX workers have been effectively laid off as of early January. An internal MOX memo obtained by the Aiken Standard last year stated layoffs would come the week of Jan. 28. Previous layoff notification rounds took several hours to complete, beginning in the early morning and lasting through the afternoon, according to a person familiar with the situation. The layoff notices afford workers a 60-day heads up, as required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act, a large-employer labor law. The National Nuclear Security Administration, a semiautonomous U.S. Department of Energy agency, canceled the MOX project contract in full, effective immediately, on Oct. 10, 2018. These layoffs are the result of that termination. SRNS tasked with initial work for 'Savannah River Pit Production Plant,' official says "The preliminary plans SRNS is developing show how we will make use of SRS's expertise, existing facilities, and infrastructure to start up an The official NNSA cancellation came five months after U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced his plans to kill the over-budget project in favor of a plutonium disposition method known as dilute-and-dispose. MOX, the product of an international disarmament pact, was designed to turn weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for nuclear reactors. The incomplete venture is located at the Savannah River Site. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the SRS management and operations contractor, was recently tasked to among other things push MOX infrastructure toward plutonium pit production, a spokesperson confirmed to the Aiken Standard earlier this month. Plutonium pits are nuclear weapon cores, often referred to as triggers. 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. Pulse USA, a pulse crop and forage seed company based in Bismarck, N.D., is now fully-owned by some of the employees who work there. If you think the American medical system isn't a disgrace, check out this article. Pharma sales is outright bribery. In the record business 60 years ago, the Payola scandal changed how record sales people would work with radio station programmers and disc jockeys after bribes were exposed. That was a pay for air play. In the liquor business, men with black bags full of money walked into bars and helped the owners "choose" a brand. In the 1990s, I took my first and only trip to Indianapolis to meet with the VIOXX team at Pfizer. There, my company presented the incentive gifts for the doctors who would prescribe the drug - long since removed from the market for killing. The gifts included diamond earrings for wives and girlfriends. Reps still bring lunch and donuts and the like to doctors. I've seen the young men and women, tidily dressed with their briefcases, sitting earnestly in the waiting room. Me? I'd bring lunch too. Here's your knuckle sandwich! In a trial in Boston, Massachusetts (home to the Puritans, ha ha), a pharma exec is said to have given a lap dance to a doctor in a bid for opioid drug sales. In the midst of the "#MeToo" movement, where women are clamoring against sexual harassment, some women will still use their feminine wiles to get what they want: sales commissions. Power. Success!!! Mama mia. You know what? I don't give a rat's patooty if women use sex for success. That's part of liberation and choice. If she wasn't forced. If she made the decision to go for the doctor's weak point, that's hers to decide. But make no bones about it - MEDICINE IS FILTHY. Your health does not come first. Or second. Or third. It's a game of sales, commissions, quotas, getting patients in and out of the office in 9 minutes and bowing to pharma and medical device companies. To think otherwise is quaint at best. Vaccines are no different except it's the government giving the lap dances to doctors while the patients get... well, this is a family blog. You know what word to insert. KIM Pharmaceutical Executive Once Gave Lap Dance to Doctor in Alleged Opioid Bribe Scheme, Witness Testifies A former pharmaceutical executive accused of joining in a scheme to bribe doctors into prescribing a powerful painkiller once gave a lap dance to a doctor the company was pressuring to get his patients on the drug, her onetime colleague said Tuesday. Jurors heard the testimony on the second day of the closely watched federal trial in Boston against Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor and four other former executives. They include Sunrise Lee, whom prosecutors have described as a former exotic dancer who was hired to be a regional sales manager even though she had no experience in the pharmaceutical world. The executives are charged with conspiring to pay doctors kickbacks in the form of fees for sham speaking events that were billed as opportunities for other physicians to learn about the drug, a highly addictive fentanyl spray. In reality, prosecutors say, the events were mainly social gatherings for doctors and their friends to enjoy a fancy meal. Earlier this month, hundreds of aggrieved parents gathered outside the government office in Jinhu County, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, demanding an explanation for why 145 infants had been administered expired doses of the polio vaccine. It was Chinas fifth vaccine scandal in less than seven years, and yet another blow to the countrys drug industry, its national immunization program, its regulatory authorities and to the very legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.). Last summer, one of Chinas largest vaccine makers was found to have issued at least 250,000 substandard doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. (Many more were discovered later.) Soon after, in a survey of 300,000 parents by Xiaodoumiao, an app used to book vaccination appointments, 79 percent of respondents said that before the scandal, they would have given their children a vaccine made in China, but only 36 percent said they would still do so now. Sixty percent of respondents said they were considering having their children inoculated outside mainland China. Then and this month as well, there were protests, sometimes violent, against local officials. Last summer, after a senior regulatory official appeared on state-owned television to address public concern, Chinese web users lambasted him for his stiff manner and his Burberry shirt, calling it inappropriate for the occasion. The sanctions that the government undertook firing officials, imposing a colossal fine on one drug company didnt seem to quell peoples anger. Former President John Dramani Mahama has condemned the violent attacks and intimidation of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Thursdays by-election in the Ayawaso West constituency in Accra. Mr Mahama described the unfortunate development as a sad day for Ghanas democracy. The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), unleashed terror and violence on supporters of the NDC at the residence of its parliamentary candidate, Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong with several rounds of ammunition fired into his residence. The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Hon. Samuel George, was also brutally assaulted by pro-government vigilante forces. Elsewhere in the constituency, masked gunmen clothed in police uniforms, armed to the teeth and riding in military grade vehicles violated supporters and members of the NDC, injuring scores of them. Addressing delegates of the NDC in the Adaklu constituency as part of his flagbearership campaign tour of the Volta Region, Mr Mahama said it is unacceptable that a by-election is characterised by such violence and intimidation with many of our comrades brutalised and injured. He warned that as a democratic party, the NDC would resist any attempt by the Akufo-Addo government to subvert Ghanas constitution as it happened during Thursdays by-election. Mr Mahama is suspending his tour to return to Accra to visit the victims of the NPPs rampaging thugs. For his part, the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Agbodza also expressed outrage at what happened in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency. Source: 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 India TV management has filed a 20 million suit on Anchor Sucherita Kukreti. Kukreti who has been associated with India TV for 14 years has joined Republic Bharat that will begin airing this Saturday. The news channel approached the Delhi High Court on January 25 and demanded that the anchor be prevented from joining their competitor. As of now, The High Court has dismissed the demand claiming it curtails an individuals freedom. The next hearing is on July 11. The Hindi News genre is set for disruption with the launch of Republic Bharat, the Hindi news channel of ARG Outlier Media-Asianet News Service. Helmed by Arnab Goswami, Republic Bharat will go live at 6 am tomorrow (February 2, 2019). Expectations are high, given that its sister English news channel, Republic TV, stormed into the English news space in May 2017 and has remained the top English news channel ever since its launch. Republic Bharats launch is preceded by a 360-degree campaign blitz across outdoor, TV, radio, print, social media, digital & mobile that has gained huge traction. The launch campaign will reach out to 150 million viewers of the HSM market. The pre-launch campaign digitally has already garnered over 1.1 billion Impressions in just a span of nine days. According to data from RW Promotions, Republic Bharat will be available in 3,098 networks, which is higher that Hindi News genre leader Aaj Tak, which is available in 3,078 networks. Ahead of Republic Bharats launch, Arnab Goswami, Managing Director, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Republic TV, spoke to Adgully on the crucial launch, the channels strategy, plans to grow the Hindi news genre, reaction from competitors and much more. How different will be Republic Bharats news presentation? If you look at other news channels, each anchor has a script written by somebody else which they recite almost as if it is a hand down to them, so you see no energy or passion in their presentations. If you take away their teleprompter, then I assure you that 75 per cent of the 9 pm anchors in Hindi will not be able to present their bulletins! What is the fun of doing news if it does not come from the heart? I have entered Hindi news to remove the teleprompter and I request all the 9 pm anchors as a token to their seriousness in news to stop using their teleprompter in their 9 Oclock news. I throw this as a challenge. If they do not know how to do news by heart, they need to tell their audiences that they cannot do the news via a teleprompter. One line goes off the teleprompter, and they will stumble and stop. They dont do debates because they do not do their research. I do not want to name anyone, but these are facts. There should be a massive campaign against teleprompters in Hindi news. I dont use a teleprompter for two hours in my news. And in Hindi, too, I will not use a teleprompter. If I can do it in Hindi without a teleprompter, then I think the others can do it as well. In your channel promo you have said that you would deliver a new kind of news with a heart to the country. Could you elaborate on that? The existing Hindi news channels have let down the viewers for almost two decades now. They have refused to do news; they have done everything except for news. They have told you how the world will end tomorrow, they have spread superstition, they have shown vulgar programmes, they have shown dance programmes and passed them on as news in order to get ratings. They have completely destroyed the credibility that the news channels are supposed to have. Republic Bharat has come to save the Hindi news genre from complete destruction, because if you continue to have this kind of a situation where you dilute the news to such extent, people will lose interest. What would be the DNA of Republic Bharat? Our DNA is essentially news in the way we are going to differentiate the news, present the news what we are going to do is news. We will present it in a way that the news is best presented. Will we be able to maintain the high editorial quality like Republic TV English? Absolutely. Will it be smart and sound as straightforward as Republic TV? Yes. Will it be distributed with the same intensity like Republic TV? Yes, that will happen. So, I think success is guaranteed. How will Republic Bharat bridge the gap between Hindi news and English news? The Hindi news channels have come to the conclusion that people dont want to watch news in Hindi, and this is something that I dont agree with. Hindi news viewers are strongly nationalistic and we are the channel today that is pro-nation in its approach. That is the reason why we are being welcomed in a big way by the Hindi audiences even before the launch. Why are you touting Bharat and India as two different words? Bharat and India being different worlds is a game of words, but when you say Bharat today, you signify the heart and soul of India, and the soul of India among the people who speak not just English but all the other Indian languages. I consider English to be an Indian language and then there 22 other recognised languages in the country, Hindi is one of them. One day, I will be able to be broadcast in all the Indian languages; but when you go and reach 150 million people on day 1 through Republic Bharat, that is very exciting for me, because in my over two-decade long journey in television journalism I have not been able to reach this large an audience that Im reaching with Republic Bharat. I often imagine about the impact that the stories we have here for the audiences they are not just a source of news, but also an inspiration to change and an opportunity to change mindsets and the thinking of the nation towards a more positive direction. How do you see Republic Bharat cutting through the clutter? I have been lucky that whenever we have launched a channel, the only reason I have clutter is because of the news. I have a very distinguished production and design team and everything is being done in-house, which has never happened before. When you look at the packaging and design of the entire channel, it is better than all global standards, so that is one very big differentiator and I would like to give full credit to our team. Content wise, as long as we are ahead of the news, we will be ahead of the rest, and we know how to be ahead of the news than any other existing Hindi news channel. What are your IPO plans at this point of time? I am happy to tell you that Republic TV is cash positive, basis our strong editorial content, our depth of distribution and our strategic intent. I have no immediate plans of an IPO and I am not in need of additional funds neither am I looking for strategic investment at this particular point of time. For the future, I have a team of financial advisors and legal experts who advise me from time to time, but frankly, I have not had much time to meet them now. Is there any risk of cannibalisation from English to Hindi? Do you see any viewers shift from Hindi to English? No. When we joined English, we increased the size of the genre by 71 per cent from then to now. I am pretty sure that with the deep efforts that we are making in editorial and distribution, the Hindi news genre will grow with Republic Bharat. We are not here to eat others. We are here to grow the genre and understand why channels that have been in the business for 18 years have gone to ASCI complaining that why are we saying that we are Indias No. 1 channel now in Hindi. Are they so scared of me that they have gone and filed complaints with the Advertising Standards Council of India? The fact of the matter is that they must not be scared of me. As I said, I am not there to eat them up. I am not here to compete with them. We have to grow the market and get hundreds and millions of additional people to watch Hindi news. With not much time for the Lok Sabha elections, is there a specific strategy that you have put in place? Our strategy is that we are going to be the No. 1 news channel for the elections, because no Hindi viewer is going to watch channels who for 18 years, while claiming to be a news channel, have been showing only superstition, etc. Nobody will watch those channels which show vulgar dance shows and pass it off as news. When it comes to elections, people want top notch political reporting, technology and analysis. We have tie-ups with C Voter and Jann Ki Baat with Yashwan Deshmukh and Pradeep Bhandari. As of now, I have a team of 150 dedicated reporters. I have a presence in every part of the country. I have English and Hindi teams and gathered a strong base of 1,300 reporters across the country besides my own, which gives me reach that is incomparable. Hence, when the elections approach, people will be watching Republic TV English and Republic Bharat. What time do we get to see you on Republic Bharat? I will come every day, much to the annoyance of other players in Hindi! I will come as much as I come on Republic TV English. With the exam season around the corner, children need more than just nutrition to tackle stress and better prepare. An additional need for emotional support is high as students constantly battle immense pressure, more so when living away from their homes. Answering this silent call, Horlicks unveiled the campaign Fearless Kota last year. The campaign successfully spread the message on the missing emotional nutrition in a students life and reunited mothers with their children, encouraging students to take on their exams fearlessly. Adding even more depth to the emotional nutrition narrative, Horlicks is back again with a brand-new campaign Bottle of Love which now reconnects mothers to their children across the country. With the new campaign, Horlicks empowers mothers to break down locational barriers and share a bottle filled with love, helping kids to better prepare for their exams. After last years success in Kota, Horlicks continues to deliver emotional nutrition to kids by taking the initiative nationwide, giving kids the support they need to greet each challenge with a confident smile. The new campaign enables parents to share a bottle of love by registering on www.bottleoflove.in. When on the website fill in the details for your request, after which an empty bottle will be sent to you, to fill with things you want to send. We will then deliver this very special bottle to your children and let love work its magic! The new film plays out the real-life bytes of children talking about their journeys away from home and the emotional stress they undergo. It also shows mothers trying to relive the moments spent with their children and filling the Bottle of Love with goodies from home which are then sent to their children. Vikram Bahl, Executive Vice President Marketing, GSK Consumer Healthcare India said, We recognize the emotional stress in children during exam time and the need to provide them with emotional nutrition. Horlicks, as a brand, has always aimed at providing students the support they need to excel in all their endeavors. This time we went a step further with this campaign and launched it across India, in a bid to connect and reconnect children with their mothers. Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka said, Almost every household in Bihar, Bengal and down South is home to a Horlicks bottle. There is hardly a house that doesnt have one. And by using the bottle, using its body to be the medium of sending emotional nutrition from mothers to the children battling exam stress, is the insight that forms the foundation of this film. Campaign Elements : Digital Client : Horlicks India (GSK Consumer Healthcare) Creative Agency : FCB India CCO: Swati Bhattacharya Creative Team : Abhijeet Ray Accourt Management : Debarpita Banerjee, Shreekant Srinivasan, Vishakha Khatri Planning : John Thangaraj, Gurleen Pal Director (of the TVC) : Veneet Raj Bagga Executive Producer : Aanchal Bhargava, Anshul Jain Production House : Onions Creative Media TVC Details : Digital Working title of film : Fearless Kota 2.0 Duration : 3 mins Campaign breaks as of : 20. 01 .2018 Entrepreneur First (EF), a pioneering UK based global talent investor, announced its launch in India; and the appointment of Esha Tiwary as General Manager. EF also announced its first-ever cohort of 50 founders in Bangalore, its sixth global location. Entrepreneur First has a first-of-its-kind program model that invests in outstanding individuals, even before they have an idea and helps them find co-founders and raise seed funding. This model has been running successfully in 5 locations around the world - London, Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong and Singapore. As part of its pledge, EF will invest in each of the companies developed during its bi-annual Bangalore programme that clear the Investment Committee. They will also pay each of the selected cohort members a monthly stipend during their process of developing startup ideas in the first three months. EF focuses on deep tech companies that build on defensible technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, AR/VR, Robotics etc and in the past has funded companies across a broad spectrum of industries including space, satellites, medical devices, logistics, marine technologies, insurance, banking, fintech, education, agriculture and many more. Finalized startups from EF Bangalore will pitch to well-recognized regional and global investors at Investor Demo Day in Asia next July. Also present on the Investor Demo Day will be startup counterparts from EFs Hong Kong and Singapore programmes. Speaking to journalists at the India launch, Matt Clifford, Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Entrepreneur First said, We invest in people who have the will, ambition and skills to succeed. At EF, our investment is in talented individuals who go on to find the right co-founder in their cohort and build globally competitive companies. We believe that the world is missing out on its best founders and it matters what the most ambitious people do with their lives. Entrepreneur First also announced the appointment of Esha Tiwary as General Manager, India. Esha has a spent several years in the startup ecosystem in India and has a deep understanding of the space. Matt Clifford further added, We are very ambitious about the Indian market and can foresee this becoming one of the largest global plays for EF. Given our ambition for India, we have brought in Esha Tiwary to lead our India operations. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in building and scaling startups, and will be an asset for EF. We welcome Esha and together, look forward to contributing to the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Esha Tiwary, General Manager, India, EF, said, I am excited to be leading Entrepreneur Firsts India journey. These are exciting times for the start-up ecosystem in India and I am looking forward to helping build a new paradigm of entrpreneurship in the country. Anne Marie Droste, Global Expansion Director, EF, opined, Launching in India was never in doubt. The quality of applicants even in our very first batch has been very impressive. This tech city offers a very dynamic start-up environment. Bangalore was the obvious choice for EFs entry into the Indian market, and I am looking forward to seeing the companies that our first batch of founders in India will build! BTVI Money Mantra, an initiative by Business Television India (BTVI) received an outstanding response from the audiences of Delhi. The evening kick started with Mr. Muralidhar Swaminathan, Channel Director BTVI sharing how BTVI is constantly working towards adding value to viewers lives and these on ground initiatives are a part of BTVIS plan by targeting directly and indirectly millions of investors all over the country through Money mantra. This was followed by a panel discussion on the market scenarios. The discussion continued on How to build your portfolio in uncertain market scenario. It was open to audiences who were keen to understand the dynamics of the current market situation. The event was an interesting exchange between experts from the finance industry such as Kalpesh Ashar, Founder, Full Circle Financial Planners & Advisors, Sanjiv Bhasin EVP - Markets & Corporate Affairs at IIFL securities and Ajay Garg, CEO & Director, SMC Global Securities Ltd. The panel discussion had interesting and intellectual views by experts. One of the panellists stressed on the importance of identifying the right time to buy, hold and sell according to the market conditions. The session answered many questions enabling the audiences to take the decision whether to buy, sell or hold. The session laid great emphasis on the fact that buying is easy, and selling is not, since every layman experience that the prices go down when you have bought, and prices go up when you sell. The panellists also highlighted that buying and selling is not only for traders, it is important for every investor. The panellists also discussed the volatility in the market conditions. The session also shed some light on the pros of investing in Mutual Funds On the idea behind money mantra, Anuj Katiyar, Head of Marketing, Research and Branded Content at BTVI shared "BTVIs Money Mantra is a journey that we have embarked upon to increase the financial independence of the citizens of the country. By doing these on-ground events we take expert opinions and guidance directly to the people who are dependent on secondary sources for financial guidance. We have had an overwhelming response in Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and now in Delhi. With Money Mantra We have now started a dialogue on financial growth, which till now was a monologue by the business channels. We also have a lot of youth participation which clearly indicates that the young population is also getting aware and involved in financial and wealth generation kind of conversations. Its very heartening to see people taking wealth generation so seriously. Its like the butterfly effect. One small change here will have a large impact somewhere else. Small wealth generation conversations will have a much larger positive impact on the economy. And BTVI is happy to contribute to the nations growth. So, dont forget to Save, Invest and Prosper." Money Mantra will have its fifth chapter in Bangalore the coming month. The initiative will travel across all metro cities and will also take place in Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata over a span of next few months. Missing Los Molinos Boy Found Freddy Preciado-Gonzalez, 13, of Los Molinos, was missing for hours before being back home safe and sound. The Tehama County Sheriff's Office says good samaritans found him around midnight in Mill Stream Mobile Home Park in Los Molinos. Outrage Growing Against PG&E Bankruptcy Outrage against PG&E's bankruptcy is growing with protestors now calling for state utility regulators to break up the company. The newly formed No PG&E Bailout Coalition demonstrated in Sacramento yesterday. The group believes the state should take over the utility company and payback fire victims. Paradise Town Council to Hold Special Meeting Monday Looking ahead to Monday, the Paradise Town Council plans to hold a special meeting in the Town Council Chambers. This will be the first time the Paradise chambers have been used since the Camp Fire. That meeting is set for 8 a.m. on Monday morning in the Town of Paradise Council Chambers on the Skyway. Deadline Extended to Turn in Right-of-Entry Forms Camp Fire survivors now have a bit more time to turn in their Right-of-Entry forms. The new deadline is Friday, Feb. 15. County officials say they made the move after hearing that survivors needed more time. You can download the right of entry form HERE. Chico City Council Considering FEMA Trailers at Hegan Lane Business Park Chico City Council is considering putting 48 FEMA trailers at the Hegan Lane Business Park, just west of the midway in south Chico. The meeting is this coming Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Chico City Council Chambers. Three Butte County Residents Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl-Laced Pills Three men have now been indicted for trafficking fentanyl-lace pills in Butte County. Guillermo Ramirez, Justin Garcia and William Vollendroff were charged with distribution and conspiracy. Prosecutors say the men sold more than 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills which were made to look like oxycodone. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the spring-like weather while it lasted! Big changes are moving into Northern California today, and we'll be staying active and cooler through your weekend. Showers are still off the coast as we start your Friday, but will be returning to all of Northern California today. Temperatures are starting out very warm this morning. Valley areas are in the 50's for the start of your Friday and mountain areas are in the 30's to 40's. Winds are already pickup up into the 15 to 20mph range out of the South early today, and gusts up to around 45mph will be possible out of the South tonight. Looks like showers will be holding off until this afternoon for most areas, but areas closer to the coast will get wet weather earlier. Snow levels will range from around 4500' to 5000' today. Temperatures will top out in the mid to high 50's in the valley, and in the mid to high 40's in the mountains. Rain and snow will become heavier tonight, and stay heavy through Saturday morning. There is some concern for debris flows, and mudslides in recent burn scars during that time. Showers will still be widespread on Saturday afternoon, but will not be as heavy as the morning hours. Snow levels will dip into the 3500' to 4000' range late Saturday into early Sunday. High temperatures will top out in the mid 50's in the valley this weekend. There will be a chance for valley thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. Isolated areas of heavy rain will be possible, which could result in some localized flooding. Another colder wet system will be arriving in our area on Sunday. Snow levels will dip into the 3000' range on Sunday, so snow will be possible in the upper foothills. There is a chance for snow levels dropping to below 1000' on Monday as the coldest airmass will be in place, and showers continue. Thunderstorms will also be possible in the valley on Monday. A dusting of snow down to around 500' could be possible in Shasta County for the start of next week. Up to a foot of snow will be possible down to 2500' on Monday. Dry but cold weather will be on tap for Tuesday through the middle of next week. REDDING, Calif - After some beautiful sunny California days, drivers on Friday can expect slick roads throughout the weekend. When driving on these wet roads motorists have less time to react and could get into a crash. Thats why CHP officers want to remind everyone to drive slower, leave extra room between cars and make sure your windshield wipers are working. Residents Action News Now spoke with say theyre happy about the change in weather. Oh no, I have plenty to do around the house, and just throw on a hat and a slicker and we're good to go, said John Whitmore, a resident in the Redding area. You wont ever hear me complain about it although somewhat selfishly you know we are going to be inside this weekend when we had plans to go outside you know off-road motorsports that kind of stuff. But there is always another weekend for that, said Ryan McNally, a resident in the Redding Area. Caltrans District 2 is also announcing snow as close as Shingletown. If you do head out there this weekend do not forget your snow chains and a full tank of gas. PARADISE, Calif. - The Paradise Town Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 4 at 8 a.m. to amend and possibly rescind Urgency Housing Ordinance 573. The town council passed the ordinance in hopes of alleviating the critical housing shortage after the Camp Fire. However, the ordinance has raised concerns in recent days due to health and safety measures. According to Butte County Health, residing in areas within the disaster area has not been cleared as safe. Due to the safety concerns, the ordinance could jeopardize federal funding for Camp Fire disaster relief. The town and county are working with CalOES to prioritize removal for properties where temporary power pole permits have been issued. They are also looking for acceptable sites for the temporary relocation of recreational vehicles during the debris clean up. The meeting will be held at the Paradise Town Hall (5555 Skyway Rd., Paradise) on Monday, Feb. 4 at 8 a.m. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Protestors took to Sacramento after PG&E declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, calling for state utility regulators to break up the company. Protestors chanted, "PG&E, no more greed. We should own our energy." The group is from the newly formed "No PG&E Bailout Coalition." They believe the state should take over the utility company and pay back fire victims instead of Wall Street Banks. "Currently what we're doing is hitting recycle on corporate money coming in and government entities looking the other way," said Pete Woiwode, a member of the coalition. "It's the only way that we can get out of this cycle of corporate America." The California Public Utilities Commission says it may offer more community control over rates but in the event of a disaster, it could mean ratepayers would be stuck paying for the power company's mistakes. Whatever the decision may be on potential restructure, commissioners do not expect any changes to happen for another two to three years. The governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom have released separate statements on the upcoming general elections in Nigeria. Both governments are not in support of any party or candidate, but the countrys democratic process, the statements said, adding that they will not hesitate to place visa restrictions and other sanctions on those found responsible for rigging and/or instigating violence during the polls. See both statements below: U.S. Statement The conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent. The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigerias upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process. We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences including visa restrictions for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members. We welcome the signing of peace pledges by Nigerian candidates and their commitment to a peaceful electoral process. UK Statement 23 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 37 days to the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, the British High Commission in Abuja would like to reaffirm our strong support for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria. We and our international partners remain committed supporters of Nigerias democracy. We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity. We continue to provide significant support to Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections. We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm. We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EUs Election Observation Mission. Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law. The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria. We hope our continued support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in 1999. 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 CHICO, Calif. - Chico police detectives arrested a doctor on Thursday suspected of sexually assaulting a patient. Dr. Annamalai Ashokan is accused of sexually assaulting a female patient during a medical procedure at his office located at Jan Ct. in Chico. Following an investigation, detectives obtained evidence to establish enough probable cause to arrest Ashokan for the assault. There is no information about any other potential victims. Ashokan only has office hours in Chico every other week, with his main office located in Hollister, CA. Stay with Action News Now for the latest updates as they become available. Instagram/WENN/Adriana M. Barraza Celebrity The 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' actor admits his 'heart sank' when he heard his fiancee choose the Captain America depicter over him, but she 'rescued it.' Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - Chris Pratt just found out that his fiancee Katherine Schwarzenegger had admired him even before they met, but not before a shocking twist. During an interview with Access Hollywood for his new movie "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part", he was shown a throwback video of Katherine playing a game of "would you rather" with Access. In the video which was taken two years ago or one year before Chris and Katherine were introduced to each other, the author was asked whom she would choose among Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans. She answered, "Chris Evans!" The "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor, who sat next to his "Lego Movie 2" co-star Elizabeth Banks and watched the video from a tablet, showed his genuine reaction as his jaw dropped in shock. But Katherine quickly corrected herself, "Actually, Chris Pratt. Chris Pratt has been looking good lately, so you never know." He was clearly pleased with her final answer as he pointed at the tablet with his mouth agape. Chris admitted, "When she said Chris Evans my heart sank, and then she rescued it!" He then jokingly accused the media outlet of making up the clip just to mess with him. "You guys just made that," he enthused. He then sweetly and shamelessly put in a plug for Katherine's book "Maverick and Me". Chris announced his engagement to Katherine on January 14, less than a year after they were first spotted on a date. While her mother Maria Shriver has congratulated the couple via Instagram, her famous father Arnold Schwarzenegger has just publicly reacted to their engagement. "That was really fantastic," he told "Extra" host Mario Lopez about the news. "She is so happy, they both are so happy." The actor and former California governor also praised his future son-in-law, "As I said to him, he is such a likable guy. I love Chris - he's fantastic." He added, "He's a wonderful guy. They both look really great together, they're both happy together, so I wish them both the best of luck." He confirmed that Chris asked for his daughter's hand "the traditional way." Twitter Celebrity The roller coaster remains closed after the man climbed out of the ride on his own force while it was moving. Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - A visitor jumped out of Disneyland's Space Mountain roller coaster while it was moving on Tuesday afternoon, January 29. While it was initially reported that the man had fallen out of the ride, it turned out that he climbed out of the ride on his own force. Disneyland officials said the ride vehicle's lap bar restraint remained engaged and the man "used force to maneuver his way out of the vehicle." The Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt confirmed, "He didn't fall out. He had to maneuver himself around the safety mechanism." The Southern California man, who is described as in his 20s, climbed out of the moving train in the dark during a slower portion of the ride as the coaster was making its initial climb, said Wyatt. The ride operators stopped the coaster once they realized the man was not on the ride and located him. The man, who has cognitive disabilities, walked under his own power to the Disneyland first aid station and was later taken to the hospital for a precautionary examination. He's luckily uninjured in the incident. Disneyland immediately called the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health to inspect the ride following the incident. Cal/OSHA spokesman Luke Brown says that Disneyland is fully cooperating with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration during investigation of the Space Mountain incident. The ride has remained close during the investigation. Jim Seay, past chairman of the ASTM International Amusement Ride Safety Standards Committee, said incidents where riders climb off of moving roller coasters are dangerous and "extremely rare." Seay, who is also president of Maryland-based amusement ride manufacturer Premier Rides, reminded that riders are responsible for their safety and had to follow the rules while any attraction is in motion. "Everybody is a contributor to the safety of the ride," he told the Register in a phone interview. "The actions of the individual are an important part of the ride safety experience." Celebrity A statement from the comedian's team reveals that he 'will be undergoing a long term treatment program,' as he is reported to being held in a New Jersey correctional facility for a few days. Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - Comedian Artie Lange is reportedly heading back to rehab following his positive drug test on Wednesday, January 30. The 51-year-old is being held in Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey after he allegedly tested positive for cocaine and morphine during a court hearing earlier in the day. According to reports, he has not been placed under arrest and is at the correctional facility to sober up before he goes back to rehab. "Starting today, Artie will be undergoing a long term treatment program, he loves and respects his fans... updates coming soon.. and it's time - TeamLange," a message on his Twitter account reads. Excuse any show advertisements.. starting today, Artie will be undergoing a long term treatment program, he loves and respects his fans... updates coming soon.. and its time - TeamLange Artie Lange (@artiequitter) January 30, 2019 In June (2018), Lange was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to complete a rehab stay after pleading guilty to a heroin possession charge in December, 2017. He was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and a mandatory out-patient drug program. Instagram Celebrity A fellow tenant says she saw two suspicious men outside the entrance of their building with one bringing a rope, while security camera captured the 'Empire' star having a rope around his neck. Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - As police continue their investigation into the Tuesday, January 29 attack on Jussie Smollett, more evidence and witness have been gathered to bring to light the attackers. Most recently, investigators found a video of the actor entering the lobby of his building with what appears to be a noose around his neck. The video was captured by a surveillance camera in the building. Police are now in possession of the rope and the sweater he was wearing on the night of the attack to test the substance that was poured on Smollett by the attackers. Meanwhile, a woman who lives in the same building Smollett stayed in has given her testimony to cops about two suspicious men she saw that night before the attack. The woman, who remains anonymous, says she saw a man who looked like a "redneck" pacing between the parking garage and entrance when she took her dogs out at 12:30 A.M. Tuesday. According to her account, the man looked agitated and smoked a cigarette. She further describes the first man as a white male with scruff on his face wearing a blue winter beanie, a blue zip-up sweatshirt with a hood and blue jeans that were too short, exposing "thick, grey hunting socks" with camel-colored dress shoes. "He looked out of place," she tells TMZ. She adds that she noticed what looked like a rope, or a clothesline, protruding from the bottom of his sweatshirt. The second man was standing about 300 feet away, near another entrance of the building. She says she got "creeped out" by the man, and decided to retreat back into the building after 5 minutes. The woman says she called a detective after she woke up at 4 A.M. and learned of what happened to Smollett. Police have released photos of two persons of interest who are wanted for questioning regarding the incident, but it's unclear if the men in the photos were the same persons the woman saw. Police have looked into footage from surveillance cameras around the area, but so far have not found footage of the attack. Meanwhile, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has confirmed that a letter containing white powder was sent to the Chicago set of "Empire" days before the attack on the actor. The letter addressed to Cinespace Studios, where the show is filmed, was received on January 22. A HAZMAT unit was called into the building, but it's later determined that the powder was just aspirin, nothing harmful. The FBI is leading the investigation into the letter. Previously, MTO News reported that police are not convinced that Smollet has told them everything about the incident. The source, who is allegedly close to the "Empire" star and having "intimate knowledge" into the investigation, said, "Jussie is holding back information." The so-called insider added, "I can't say that Jussie wasn't attacked. But it didn't [happen] like he said it did, and the police don't believe him either." Instagram Celebrity On the seriousness of the Twitter proposal, Polk County Democrats chair Sean Bagniewski explains that the 'I Like It' hitmaker 'speaks to the new activism in the Democratic Party.' Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - Hip-hop star Cardi B has been invited to share her political opinions as a guest speaker at an upcoming Democratic Party event in Iowa. The "I Like It" hitmaker recently hit headlines after speaking out against U.S. President Donald Trump amid the nation's longest-ever partial government shutdown, which forced thousands of federal employees to work without pay until a temporary deal was reached last week, ends January 25. Cardi's outspoken nature has won her legions of fans among Democrats, and now party officials in Iowa have reached out to the rapper to have her deliver a speech at a "reception of her choice" in May, reports the Des Moines Register. Organisers in Polk County initially extended the invitation via Twitter, but now they have made it official. "We are definitely serious about this," Polk County Democrats chair Sean Bagniewski told the publication. "She speaks to the new activism in the Democratic Party." The New York native has yet to respond to the offer, but Bagniewski is hopeful she will say yes. "Stranger things have happened," he said. "It's a long shot, but a little bit of her presence would go a long way." The mother-of-one recently suggested she would be open to addressing voters across the nation after a Twitter follower suggested she replace Trump and deliver the traditional State of the Union address. "Why not... I get straight to the point," she joked. "Government shutdown over." Cardi initially weighed in on the political controversy on 16 January, admitting she was "scared" about the state of the country as the shutdown entered its third week. "Now, I know a lot of y'all don't care because y'all don't work for the government or y'all probably don't even have a job, but this s**t is really f***ing serious, bro, this s**t is crazy (sic)," she declared in an Instagram video. "Our country is in a hellhole right now... Everybody need to take this serious," she continued. "I feel like we need to take some kind of action. I don't know what type of action, b***h, because this not what I do. B***h, I'm scared. This is crazy and I really feel bad for these people who gotta go to f***ing work to not get motherf***ing paid (sic)." Instagram Celebrity Addressing the report during an Instagram Live session, the rapper says, 'I will never put my hands on a woman.' Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - Kid Buu has broken his silence on report of his fight with Blac Chyna while on a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. During an Instagram Live session on Wednesday night, January 30, the rapper denied that he assaulted his alleged ex-girlfriend when they were fighting in addition to calling out media for spreading misinformation. Calling the attack report "bulls**t," Buu said, "My mother, my mom, raised me better than that. I will never put my hands on a woman. Never have I, and never will I... I was raised better than that. In fact, I was raised that if you ever feel like it had to get there with a woman, leave her. Dump her. Don't you ever put your hands on her. You dump that woman before it gets there." The "Momma" rapper went on slamming media for spreading false information about their fight, urging them to "stop feeding negativity" and asking his fans to only focus on the positive. "Every single body out there that's honestly feeding into this s**t and finding all this bulls**t entertaining all these lies thinking they're cool and funny, you're sad," he said. "We livin' in a good world. We honestly are. But everybody believes we live in a f**ked up world because all you guys wanna talk about is the negative ...Stop with that, for real. Stop with that, and leave me out of it." Buu and Chyna got into a fight in their hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Honolulu, Hawaii after she accused him of cheating on her. The Honolulu Police Department confirmed that the case is currently under investigation. "Shortly before 9 A.M. today, a female visitor staying in Waikiki reported being assaulted by a male acquaintance. The victim reported that she and the suspect had escalated to a physical confrontation," so a statement read. "The male left the area after the confrontation and has not been located. This incident has been classified as abuse of a household member. The investigation is continuing, and no further information is being released at this time." WENN/FayesVision Celebrity Despite the 'Thank U, Next' hitmaker's effort to fix her palm tattoo, fans couldn't help but notice that the Japanese character symbols now translate to 'small charcoal grill finger'. Feb 1, 2019 AceShowbiz - Ariana Grande tried to fix her misspelled palm tattoo but ended up making things worse. The "Thank U, Next" hitmaker took to Instagram earlier this week (begin January 28) to show off her new body art - the title of her single "7 Rings" etched onto her hand in Japanese Kanji character symbols. However, lots of fans noticed that the tattoo was missing a symbol and actually translated to "shichirin," a word for a BBQ grill. In order to fix the error, Ariana has paid another visit to tattoo artist Kane Navasard, and on Wednesday, she uploaded a new photo of the updated ink. "Slightly better. Thanks to my tutor for helping me fix and to @kanenavassard for being a legend. And to my doctor for the (numbing medication) lidocaine shots (no joke)," the star wrote alongside a black and white snap of her design on her Instagram Stories. "RIP tiny charcoal grill. Miss u man. I actually really liked u (sic)." However, many social media users noted that Ariana hadn't actually managed to fix the tattoo, as the new character symbols mean it now says "Japanese BBQ finger" or "small charcoal grill finger", instead of "7 Rings". Soon after Ariana shared the original misspelled tattoo online, she garnered a huge amount of attention and was made fun of in many Internet memes. Yet, she later explained in a response to a Twitter follower that the reason for the incorrect tattoo was simply due to the awkward place that she had selected for the design. "Indeed, I left out (the other symbol) which should have gone in between. It hurt like f**k n still looks tight. I wouldn't have lasted one more symbol lmao (laughing my a*s off). But this spot also peels a ton and won't last so if I miss it enough I'll suffer thru the whole thing next time," the 25-year-old wrote. "'It's 99 per cent gonna go away,' (my tattoo artist) said... He was like, 'That's the most painful spot for sure.' I was like, ... 'I'm curious.' For sure. Also that's how u end up w tiny grill / circle / tambourine on your hand." .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE Some of New Mexicos lawmakers recognized American Indian Day at the Capitol on Friday by highlighting Congresswoman Deb Haalands push to address the number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The state Senate also honored Haaland for her role as one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress. Haaland, a Democrat and member of Laguna Pueblo, said Friday that she hopes the FBI will establish a task force and lead efforts concentrating on the murder and disappearance of women and girls in Indian Country. She said she hopes federal officials will make an appropriation to support the effort. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A nonprofit group, the Urban Indian Health Institute, released a study last year that found many police departments nationwide are failing to adequately identify or report cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The city of Albuquerque has one of the highest numbers of urban native women reported missing or murdered, according to legislation introduced in the state Senate. Haaland said a shortage of law-enforcement officers and the challenge of patrolling wide expanses of country contribute to crime in tribal communities. But other improvements including the expansion of broadband internet service and cell-phone coverage are also needed, she said. The lack of officers is compounded by the fact that a victim may not even have cell service to call them in the first place, Haaland told reporters. We need to fix issues across the board. Sen. John Pinto, D-Tohatchi, introduced legislation, Senate Memorial 38, supporting calls for an investigation and describing the situation as a national disgrace. Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo, said Haalands understanding of tribal communities is refreshing. And he said shes doing important work to highlight missing or murdered women. These are somebodys grandmother, auntie, mom, sister. These are human beings, he said. Not having the resources and making that an excuse its not justifiable. A proposal in the state House would declare an emergency, create a state Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force and make $100,000 available. House Bill 278 is co-sponsored by Democratic Reps. Andrea Romero of Santa Fe, Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo and Melanie Stansbury of Albuquerque. The Associated Press contributed to this report. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Video game developer Ganymede Games will open a new studio in Downtown Las Cruces, creating 51 jobs over the next five years. The company will invest more than $1.3 million in building and infrastructure improvements at its new headquarters, said state Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keyes, one of several state and local officials who spoke at an event Friday afternoon to announce Ganymedes arrival. The companys move to Las Cruces is supported by $250,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding from the state, and another $100,000 in LEDA money from the city of Las Cruces, which will act as fiscal agent. The Ganymede Games team is bringing years of valuable industry experience, knowledge of video game development and a unique understanding of their market to New Mexico, Keyes said in a prepared statement. This project is significant because the company will contribute to Las Cruces Main Street district and the local community by providing high-paying jobs for local artists and engineers. The company expects to hire engineers, artists, designers, production staff and writers, said Ganymede CEO Jerry Prochazka. It will seek talent from local colleges, including New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College and New Mexico Tech in Socorro. The states refundable film production tax credit was one key reason Ganymede chose to locate in New Mexico, Prochazka said. The credit refunds 25 percent of most expenses associated with producing movies, TV shows, digital productions and video games in New Mexico. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The states low-cost, high-quality environment were also major draws. We left the high cost, noise and density of high-tech cities when we discovered Las Cruces, which is affordable, offers a higher quality of life, and now we have plenty of wilderness to explore both in-game and out-of-game, Prochazka said. The affordability allows us to maximize value to our investors with an experienced, world-class team. Prochazka and Ganymede co-founder Lynn Stetson are video game industry veterans who recruited a core team of seasoned gamers, adventure seekers, nature enthusiasts and animal lovers to move the company forward. The team is focused on creating new gaming experiences that can inspire todays gamers, rather than offering fresh iterations of old games, which is what many established companies do, Prochazka said. A lot of big companies have investor pressure to generate predictable revenue, he said. That pressure narrows their focus to continue making known games and take less risk. Its a good time to go out on your own and provide new experiences, and thats what we want to do. Masked security officers opened fire near crowds of Ghanaian opposition party activists by a polling station during a by-election in the capital, Accra. Seven people are being treated for injuries, according to officials at the University of Ghana hospital. A local journalist shared a photo of the masked security agents at the La Bawalashie Presby polling station. The security officials were following up on an allegation of suspicious activity during the by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency. The candidate for the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), lives a few metres away from the polling station and when the security forces attempted to enter his house his supporters tried to prevent them. In retaliation, the security forces fired warning shots. The NDC has pulled out from the race and is set to notify Ghanas Electoral Commission officially, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, national chairman of the party, has said. The party has asked all its agents to withdraw from the various polling stations as their security and safety cannot be assured. 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 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas notified Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today that his office has discovered credible evidence that a non-profit firm in Albuquerque has embezzled thousands of dollars from nearly 250 vulnerable people whose finances previously had been managed by the now-defunct Ayudando Guardians. Balderas, in a letter obtained by the Journal, told the governor the AG special investigations division uncovered that Guardian Angels Representative-Payee Services of Albuquerque and its owner/operator embezzled about $50,000 from New Mexicans whose cases were transferred to the firm by the U.S. Marshals Service in the wake of the Ayudando Guardians criminal prosecution that began in mid-2017. Ayudando Guardians top officials are awaiting trial on charges of siphoning $4 million in client funds. Balderas is asking the governor for help in leading state agency leaders to take swift action to develop a multi-disciplinary approach to combating predatory practices associated with guardianship and representative payee service providers who threaten the financial safety of New Mexicans. In his letter, Balderas said he was asked by 2nd Judicial District Court judges in Albuquerque in December 2017 to review certain civil guardianship matters which were not investigated or prosecuted federally. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ So far no arrests have been made, but AG agents executed a search warrant Thursday on the business. The companys website states that it provides services to people who are low income, and those with addictions and mental and physical disabilities. Guardian Angels clients are recipients of Social Security disability benefits, SSI, Veterans benefits, and railroad benefits who cannot manage their money. No one from the firm responded to phone calls left on a message machine Friday. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... RIO RANCHO, N.M. A 36-year-old former electrician on the Kirtland Air Force Base has been charged in the burial of two teenage boys who were slain late last year and found in shallow graves west of Rio Rancho. Anthony Loy Aragon of Rio Rancho is charged with two counts of tampering with evidence. He is in jail out of state on unrelated charges. Court documents say that he was arrested in Las Vegas, Nev., around Jan. 2 for armed robbery with a deadly weapon. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The Sandoval County Sheriffs Office is working with our District Attorneys Office, and with the other jurisdictions District Attorneys Office, to coordinate extradition of this individual back to New Mexico, Capt. Allen Mills of the Sandoval County Sheriffs Office wrote in an email. Family members say 14-year-old Ahmed Lateef, a refugee from Iraq, and 15-year-old Collin Romero had been best friends since middle school. They were last seen in a neighborhood in Albuquerques foothills on Dec. 16 and police say they may have been involved in a drug deal that may have gone bad. Shortly thereafter, a Snapchat video surfaced of their being severely beaten and bleeding on a mesa. For two weeks, family members and friends organized search parties. On Dec. 29, investigators found them buried near 60th and 29th NW, an empty expanse of land to the west of Rio Rancho. A criminal complaint filed in Sandoval County Magistrate Court suggests that Aragon buried their bodies. It is unclear from the complaint how Aragon knew Ahmed and Collin, or if investigators believe he worked alone. Also unclear is who deputies believe killed the boys or what the motive was. The investigation is ongoing. With the assistance of local, state and federal authorities, Sandoval County investigators continue to work diligently on this case, and are following all credible leads, Mills wrote. Mills did not return phone calls requesting more information. Court documents filed in divorce proceedings say Aragon is unemployed and was arrested for armed robbery in Las Vegas, Nev., early last month. The documents also say he is a licensed journeyman electrician and had been employed by the Air Force base for the past two years. Aragon made headlines in September when he was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes. His ex-wife told police that Aragon and his sister had followed her into a Nob Hill bar and threatened her. She said Aragon was addicted to methamphetamine. Aragons family members could not be reached Friday. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. Navajo Nation Council delegates have approved legislation that voices support for legislative priorities they want New Mexico lawmakers to address during the legislative session. The list of 29 topics was passed Wednesday during a Naabikiyati Committee special meeting in Window Rock, Arizona. Delegate Kee Allen Begaye Jr. sponsored the legislation, as well as three additional bills that held priority lists for state legislatures in Arizona, Colorado and Utah. Begay said in his presentation to the committee that he wanted the list finalized and ready for distribution when delegates meet with New Mexico leaders, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, today in Santa Fe. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Among the topics on the list were capital outlay funds, the tribal infrastructure fund, veterans and the military, public safety, education, the state budget, water and water rights, gaming, energy and natural resources, roads, sexual assault prevention, health care and economic development. The list reiterates priorities adopted by the 23rd Navajo Nation Council in November and continues to advocate for the tribes position to state lawmakers, the bill states. During the committee discussion on Wednesday, delegates added language to address police training and certification, and rural addressing as part of the development of enhanced 911 services. Delegates also expressed support for additional funding to build a police station in Shiprock and a new building for the tribal police headquarters in Tse Bonito. Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton, who represents the Shiprock Chapter, explained that it was important for the list to state that any funding appropriated by New Mexico lawmakers will go directly to the two projects. I want that to be clear, she said. The committee also backed an amendment by Delegate Rick Nez, who represents the Nenahnezad, Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh Sikaad, Tse Daa Kaan and Upper Fruitland chapters, to support the appointment of a Navajo veteran to the New Mexico Veterans Advisory Council. Committee postpones work session Committee members postponed a work session on Wednesday during which they were scheduled to receive an update from the Navajo Transitional Energy Company about the Navajo Generating Station. NTEC has been in talks about possibly acquiring the coal-fired power plant near Page, Arizona, and its coal supplier, the Kayenta Mine, located near Kayenta, Arizona. Speaker Seth Damon announced during the meeting that committee members had agreed to postpone the work session since they were still discussing priority lists for the state legislatures. A new date for the work session has not been announced. Noel Lyn Smith covers the Navajo Nation for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4636 or by email at nsmith@daily-times.com. 2019 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A New Mexico judge has rejected a developers request to access more than 100 million gallons of groundwater annually for a planned community east of Albuquerque. In what has been a decades-long fight, State District Judge Shannon Bacon ruled this week that the proposal would impair existing water rights and was contrary to the conservation of water. Bernalillo County was among the groups that opposed the application, which was initially filed in 2009 by Aquifer Science. The company has been working on behalf of the Campbell Ranch development to secure the water rights. Its not clear what the ruling will mean for the future of the project. County officials are planning to update residents in the East Mountains on water issues during a Feb. 23 public meeting. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Editors note: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect figure for the number of faculty and staff who work at Albuquerque Academy. The longtime leader of Albuquerque Academy has announced he is stepping down. Andrew Watson, the head of the private middle and high school, is in his 18th year, and by the time he ends his tenure as a Charger, he will have been in the position for 19. While Watson sent a memo this week to the Academy community announcing his departure, his last day wont be until June 30, 2020. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ This timing feels right for me, my family, and the Academy, he wrote in his farewell. But hell have his hands full until then. Im in charge of everything, but of course I have all these wonderful people doing it for me. Its the culture of the school, the finances of the school, its supporting the missions and fundraising, its being the face and spokesman for the school. Its pretty all-encompassing, he said. Having spent nearly two decades balancing these responsibilities for the schools 230-person staff and 1,158-member student body, it makes sense that Watson refers to his next move as a retirement with a little r. An Academy alumnus recently told Watson there are two types of retirements: an official, full-time big r retirement and a semi or little r retirement. I think maybe this is a little r retirement because I have lots of ways I want to help people out in my life and in the future, he said. Theres probably something down the road. After all, he has been involved in schools, as a student or professional, for six decades. Ive been eating school lunches since 1959, he joked. Watson received his masters degree from Yale University in 1979 where he was also a teaching assistant. He has worked in schools since then in Ohio, Colorado and Virginia. He suspects he will volunteer either in education or economic development after leaving his role at the private school in Albuquerques Northeast Heights. Looking forward is bittersweet for Watson. He said stepping down will afford him more time with his family and to visit his daughters out of state, but hell also miss walking the Academy campus and talking with students. It will give him more time for his hobbies, too, like going to Americana or jazz concerts. Though Watson moved to Albuquerque from a school in Virginia, he doesnt plan on going anywhere. I think Ill stay; I love New Mexico, he said. Watson told the Journal his replacement will be selected by the Board of Trustees, and a search committee made up of alumni, parents and staff. According to Albuquerque Academys most recent publicly available tax documents, Watsons compensation from the school was $391,366. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal In early December the Children, Youth and Families Department put a 48-hour hold on a 1-month old girl and inspected the familys Socorro County home after she was taken to an Albuquerque hospital with a brain bleed and bruising from suspected child abuse. The baby was discharged but was back in the hospital two weeks after the initial injury, this time with more than a dozen rib fractures and broken limbs. New Mexico State Police arrested the parents, Andres Herrera, 24, and Llamiles Amaya Carbajal, 22, on Thursday following a two-month investigation. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ They were booked into the Socorro County Detention Center, and each faces two counts of abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm. The victim and the other children in the home are currently safe and in states custody, NMSP spokesman Mark Soriano said. No other information is available at this time. It is unclear how the CYFD investigation played out or what happened after the girl and the couples other infant daughter were taken into the states custody following the initial incident. The department did not respond to several calls from the Journal on Thursday night. What is known is that the baby was discharged from the hospital after a doctor warned State Police detectives that she was at great risk for more injuries and a high likelihood of death if returned to the home where the abuse occurred without removal of the perpetrator. According to a criminal complaint filed in Socorro Magistrate Court, it started on the night of Dec. 2 when Herrera and Carbajal brought their 1-month old daughter to University of New Mexico Hospital. The couple initially told doctors that the babys 4-year-old cousin accidentally hit her in the head with a Tonka truck at the home they share with Carbajals family in Polvadera, a small community 10 miles north of Socorro. Medical staff called police after finding the girl had significant bleeding around her brain along with bruising on her body and face. Police contacted CYFD after a doctor told them there was no question the girl had been abused and her injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome. During interviews with police that day, both parents denied hurting the baby and said they werent in the room when the Tonka truck was thrown. Herrera initially told police they had noticed the bruising but didnt take the baby to the hospital until hours later when it started turning purple. According to the complaint, Carbajal corroborated Herreras story but showed moments of inappropriate chuckling and smiling during questioning. Police say they placed the baby on a 48-hour hold with CYFD for obvious safety concerns due to the couples story being inconsistent with her injuries. A State Police officer and CYFD personnel also did a welfare check of the couples other daughter, an 11-month-old, at the home. During the welfare check, Carbajals younger sister told police the baby was crying for a few days before the couple took her to the hospital and that she sounded like she was being hurt the previous Saturday night. CYFD took the couples other daughter into custody that same day and the couple confessed to fabricating the story of the Tonka truck being thrown because they did not want their children being taken away. Both Carbajal and Herrera told detectives they did not know how the baby got the bruises but said they noticed the injuries the morning of Dec. 2 and waited 12 hours before taking the baby to the hospital. On Dec. 6, a UNMH doctor submitted a Child Abuse Response Team report to State Police detectives. In the report, the doctor noted that the baby suffered a brain injury and other additional bruising for which there was no plausible traumatic explanation provided by the parents. According to the complaint, the doctor found the physical abuse was indicative of blows to the face and head and the baby would endure developmental delays, seizures, body function and cognitive impairment stemming from the severe brain injury. Police say the doctor advised that if the baby were returned to the environment in which she has been abused, without the identification or removal of the perpetrator of her injuries she is at great risk for additional injury with high likelihood of death. The doctor contacted police on Dec. 17 to report that the baby was back in the hospital. Police say the baby had been discharged, then transported back because she was having seizures and doctors found 15 rib fractures, and a broken arm and leg indicative of a crushing type injury. It is unclear in the complaint when the baby was initially discharged from the hospital and how much time passed before she was readmitted for the seizures and fractures. It is also unclear if she was discharged into the couples care, or states custody, and when exactly the additional injuries happened. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON Billionaire coffee magnate Howard Schultz has two problems: Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. Schultz, a lifelong Democrat, said on CBS 60 Minutes Sunday that hes seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent in 2020. So am I, for that matter. With about, oh, 400 Democrats lining up to run, whats one more? But Schultz, unlike most of us, has billions of dollars entire galaxies of dollars because: coffee. He also has already hired two big guns of previous presidential campaigns Bill Burton and Steve Schmidt, of Barack Obama and John McCain fame, respectively. While the media, including this columnist, display a Pavlovian response to the scent of fresh meat, Democrats have been shrieking like cartoon girls when a rat scampers past. Recently, when Schultz was talking at a Manhattan Barnes & Noble to promote his new book, a man in the audience shouted, Dont help elect Trump, you egotistical billionaire! Whereupon the thought did briefly flicker: Could Schultz and Trump be in cahoots? No. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The man did have a point, however one shared by countless Democrats. Their fear that a third-party or independent candidate would merely siphon votes from their nominee is not without precedent. In 1992, when Perot led a PowerPoint rebellion running as an independent, he may have helped Bill Clinton defeat incumbent George H.W. Bush. Perot captured almost 19 percent of the popular vote, albeit no electoral votes. Even though exit polling indicated that Perot voters were evenly split on their second choice, its still conceivable that enough would have stuck with the familiar rather than gamble on an Arkansas governor whose slightly curled lip and hip-dipping swagger suggested he hadnt yet fully shed his inner-Elvis or his aint-nuthin-but-a-hound-dog ways. Who knows? But isnt it lovely to ponder what might not have been: Monica Lewinsky. The 750-word columnist is grateful when a single name suffices to summarize an era. An alternative history would have excluded so many familiar names, tropes and at least one Tripp that its hard to imagine life without: the two-fer presidency, Whitewater, Ken Starr, Bosnia, sniper fire, wag the dog, Primary Colors by Anonymous (Joe Klein), the blue dress and, yes, Linda Tripp. Would the world have been better off? At least I could have avoided this conversation about oral sex with my then 8-year-old child: Why, yes, sweetie you may ask me anything. What?! Oh! That, huh? Ummm. Well, its when people talk about sex a lot. Later, when Nader ran as a Green Party candidate in 2000, he may well have ensured the presidency of George W. Bush. In Florida, where the election ultimately was decided, Nader earned nearly 100,000 votes, a sufficient portion of which almost certainly would have otherwise gone to Al Gore. Bush won by just 537 votes. To the extent that newly elected presidents tend to represent the antithesis of the incumbent, the younger Bush was plainly Clintons opposite. And, needless to say, Obama was Bushs. Then came Donald Trump, who emerged from central casting as the opposite not only of Obama but of all things decent, fair and true. Who, pray, will be the non-Trump? By all rights, it should be a woman of color to counter Trumps grab-em-by-the-whatever misogyny and his dog-whistling to Jim Crow. California Sen. Kamala Harris would be the obvious choice given those criteria. But as telegenic, experienced and charismatic as she is, Harris pro-debt-free-college and Medicare-for-all positions would be hard sells in a general election. Enter Schultz. Hes richer than Trump; as white as Trump; a man. You see the problem. But he does have antidotal qualities. Hes polite, smart, self-made, articulate, calm, rational and a centrist like millions of voters. Given that the two major political parties have been rendered ridiculous by their bases and 56 percent of Americans say they wouldnt consider voting for Trump, according to a Washington Post poll released Tuesday why not a third way? Besides, theres no guarantee hed attract only Democratic votes. Schultz hasnt declared his candidacy yet, but it would be a mistake to drive him away on the precedents of Perot and Nader, who, lets face it, never had a chance and, thus, indeed, were spoilers. Schultz is also no Michael Bloomberg, the other billionaire independent who has flirted with the presidency. Consider: As New York City mayor, Bloomberg wanted to control soda consumption; Schultz, though no longer CEO of Starbucks, wanted to feed the world high-calorie scones and venti salted caramel mocha lattes with two pumps of vanilla. It wouldnt be the worst thing. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal One of New Mexicos newest members of Congress, Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is often painted as an advocate of open borders, but on Thursday she stressed that is not the case. Torres Small represents New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District, which shares about 180 miles of its southern border with Mexico. Physical barriers, she said, make sense when they are strategically placed. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ In an interview about her new committee assignments in Congress, she also discussed border issues. She will chair the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management and Accountability for the Committee on Homeland Security, and will sit on the House Armed Services Committee. About 65 percent of New Mexicos border with Mexico already has a physical barrier of some kind, Torres Small said. And they can be effective when they have been carefully placed, based on a detailed plan about where it makes the most sense. New Mexicos other first-term congresswoman, Democratic Rep. Debra Haaland, who represents the 1st Congressional District, has been selected as vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and will sit on the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 2009. He sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Subcommittee for Health, the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. Regarding barriers on the border, Torres Small said, Im very grateful to have had the experience of living and working on the border. I started working for Sen. (Tom) Udall right after the first fence or physical barrier was put up. When that happened, I talked to Customs and Border Patrol about how it was done, and it was done very carefully. Ive seen places where a physical barrier works, because they divide the terrain based on the time it takes for someone avoiding detection to disappear, whether its in a car or into urban populations. In some places, it is seconds to minutes, in other places it is minutes to hours, and in places like the New Mexico bootheel, it can be hours to days. Thats why its important to design and place walls according to the terrain. Weve seen that barriers really work to delay people from crossing; so if it delays someone 20 minutes, that makes a big difference in an urban area where you can get an agent there quickly to interdict them, she said. But when it takes days to cross a desert, that 20 minutes doesnt do a whole lot of good. The last time Congress passed legislation about physical barriers, it was based on a detailed plan about how it would be implemented on the ground, with mile-by-mile analysis, she said. So just throwing out a number and saying you want to build physical barriers isnt enough to create real border security. Ranchers in New Mexicos remote Bootheel recently told the Journal they support barriers along the border, especially in light of the large groups of migrants illegally crossing by simply stepping over low fencing in recent months. One challenge Torres Small hopes to address on the oversight subcommittee is a shortage of Border Patrol officers. We have to make sure that we are recruiting and getting the right people there with the right training, and then be able to retain them, she said. Recruitment and retention are particularly difficult in the most remote reaches of our border, and where interdiction efforts require more boots on the ground. Torres Small also said she was excited to sit on the House Armed Services Committee. She noted that two military installations are in her district Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, which has the largest restricted air space thats over land in the country, she said. Because of their location, its critically important to support the communities that support the installations missions, which in turn supports our countrys national defense. Haaland said in a statement that among her priorities on the Natural Resources Committee are tackling climate change, and building a strong renewable energy economy in New Mexico and around the country. New Mexico is poised to be a leader in solar energy production, she said, and the plains east of the Sandia Mountains in particular are ripe for wind energy production and industry. According to a statement from Lujan, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will take the lead on some of the most consequential policy initiatives this Congress, addressing health disparities, clean energy innovation, strengthening consumers privacy protections and bolstering broadband infrastructure. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE Fresh off steering House Democrats to big electoral gains, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan called on state lawmakers Thursday to approve bills dealing with voting, environmental protection and health care access during their current 60-day session. In a 25-minute speech to members of the House and Senate, Lujan specifically praised bills dealing with automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration. I encourage you to continue to act to make New Mexicos democracy as open and transparent as possible, he said, adding that lawmakers should make it easier, not harder, for New Mexicans to vote. The son of former New Mexico House Speaker Ben Lujan, who died in 2012 after a battle with lung cancer, the younger Lujan easily won re-election in November to a sixth term representing the 3rd Congressional District, based in northern New Mexico. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ He also oversaw House Democrats election strategy as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee. After Democrats won a net of 41 seats to reclaim control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since 2011, Lujan ran for and won the caucus position of assistant speaker the fourth-highest position among House Democrats. With his national political stature increasing, Lujan on Thursday criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of a 35-day partial federal government shutdown that ended last week. He called the shutdown unacceptable and cited a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimate that it had created $11 billion worth of economic damage to the nation. Unfortunately, lately it seems that what comes out of Washington is a series of false starts and distractions, where we move from one manufactured crisis to the next, Lujan said. He also said a series of public corruption scandals involving elected officials, a flood of dark money in national elections and efforts to make it more difficult to vote have diminished Americans confidence in their government. A former congressional colleague of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lujan also said the new Democratic governor will pursue federal dollars for drug treatments programs. But he said there still is work to be done to improve treatment and prevention programs in a state with one of the nations highest drug overdose rates. Incarceration and shame will not solve this public health crisis, Lujan said. Both of New Mexicos two U.S. senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich have also already delivered speeches to the Legislature. The two other members of the states all-Democrat congressional delegation U.S. Reps. Xochitl Torres Small and Deb Haaland are expected to do likewise in the coming days. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON The Trump administration Thursday unveiled a plan to channel now-hidden prescription drug rebates directly to patients, saying it would bypass middlemen and lower prices for consumers. The proposed regulation from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar would eliminate behind-the-scenes discounts among drugmakers, insurers and go-betweens and instead require that they be paid directly to consumers when they buy their medications. The idea is to do away with a hidden cost seen as contributing to artificially high list prices for prescription drugs. The proposal was co-authored with the Health and Human Services inspector generals office. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The plan comes as President Donald Trump is under political pressure to deliver results on his repeated promises to slash prescription drug costs. Democrats in Congress want to empower Medicare to directly negotiate prices with drug companies, but Republicans prefer a market-based approach that keeps the government out of setting prices. The impact for consumers would not be immediate, since the changes would take effect over the next year if all goes according to plan. Also, drugmakers do not currently provide discounts for all their medications. When you go into the pharmacy, there is something going on that you dont know about, Azar said in an interview. Another actor is getting a payment (but) under this proposal you would actually get that money as a discount. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacted skeptically, saying the rebate proposal puts the majority of Medicare beneficiaries at risk of higher premiums and total out-of-pocket costs, and puts the American taxpayer on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars. The California Democrat added, Experience tells us that merely trusting Big Pharma to lower its drug prices for consumers is not a solution, its a prescription for more of the same. Prices for brand-name drugs have continued to rise, although data shows the total number of price hikes this year is somewhat lower than at the same time in 2018, and the overall percentage increase isnt as steep. Facing heavy criticism from Trump and Democrats, some drugmakers have pledged to take fewer or smaller increases as the industry tries to avoid government regulation. Thursdays proposal applies directly to Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicaid managed care plans, but administration officials say they believe the impact will eventually be broader. Insurers and middlemen like CVS and Express Scripts opposed the plan, saying that the discounts from drugmakers are used to keep premiums lower for everybody. We are not middlemen, we are your bargaining power, Matt Eyles, head of the industry lobby Americas Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. We cannot achieve those savings if our leverage and negotiating power is weakened through well-intentioned but misguided actions like this proposed rule. HHS officials acknowledge that Medicare prescription premiums could go up by $3 to $5 as a result of the change, but said they expect greater savings for people purchasing medications. Those patients would see their copays and cost-sharing reduced when they go to fill a prescription. Drugmakers applauded the administrations action. Stephen Ubl, head of the lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said in a statement the plan would fix the misaligned incentives in the system that currently result in insurers and pharmacy benefit managers favoring medicines with high list prices. Drug companies pay rebates in order to make sure their medications are covered by insurance plans that are the intermediaries between them and patients. Thursdays complex proposal would work by doing away with an exemption from federal anti-kickback rules that currently allows drugmakers, insurers and middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers to negotiate rebates among themselves. It would be replaced with a new exemption for discounts offered directly to consumers. HHS says todays hidden rebates can amount to 26 percent to 30 percent of a drugs list price. Azar contends that under the current system everybody but the patient benefits from high prices. A high list price makes room for bigger negotiated rebates for insurers and middlemen. And drugmakers then merely build that expectation into their prices. By doing away with hidden rebates, Azar says hes hoping to force the industry to lower its prices. This makes the rebates transparent, and it makes them available to patients, said Azar. Drug companies now for the first time will compete on the basis of lower list prices. Democrats, however, say pharmaceutical pricing remains a black box, and theres no guarantee prices will reflect the actual costs of research, development and manufacturing. Consumers are worried about prices for brand-name drugs, particularly new medications that promise breakthrough results. Generics account for nearly 90 percent of prescriptions filled, but brand-name drugs account for more than 70 percent of the spending. Before joining the Trump administration, Azar was a top executive for drugmaker Eli Lilly. That led to criticism that he would be an industry pawn. But the drugmakers vehemently disagree with some of his other ideas, including an experiment using lower international drug prices to cut some Medicare costs. The second suspect in the murder of the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adams Mahama, has been arrested. The suspect, Asabke Alangdi was busted in the Ivory Coast on January 25, 2019, following collaboration between Ghanas security agencies and Interpol. 48-hour arraignment Briefing the press on the arrest of Alangdi, the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said The fugitives arrest came after over a year of surveillance and search during which he moved camps from Burkina Faso to Ivory Coast. He said the suspect is expected to be put before a court for committal trial to begin in the next 48 hours. He is currently in police custody. The minister stated that Asabke was the second person believed to have conspired with the first suspect Gregory Afoko in the murder of the deceased Mr Mahama on May 20, 2015. It will be recalled that on that day Mr Mahama was attacked in front of his home in Bolgatanga with acid leading to his death, he stated. According to him, investigations revealed that Mr Mahamas death was caused by Afoko and Alangdi. Alangdi however fled the Ghanaian jurisdiction in the days after the murder and has been on the run since. Ghanas security agencies have been on a manhunt for him since then. Afoko was however apprehended by police and has been put on trial since, he stated, saying Afokos case had been ongoing in the Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, and that the case has been adjourned to February 20, 2019 for lawyers to address the jury. Retrial of two suspects Mr Nkrumah said while the trial had been ongoing, consistent efforts were made to apprehend the fugitive, Alangdi until he was arrested on January 25, January 2019 with the assistance of Interpol. He pointed out that the arrest of Alangdi has necessitated the filing of a nolle prosequi in respect of the ongoing trial in the case of the Republic Vrs Gregory Afoko. This has been done about an hour ago with the objective of discontinuing the initial trial to enable the two accused persons to be tried together to best serve the interest of justice. Committal proceedings for the two accused persons will commenced shortly for them to stand trial as soon as possible, he stated, pointing out that the two would be charged with conspiracy and murder. Speedy trial To ensure the speedy trial of the two, Mr Nkrumah said the state intended to pray the Chief Justice to assign a dedicated judge for an expedited trial of the two persons, considering the background of the case. Government assures all Ghanaians that it will not relent on any efforts to bring the perpetrators of crimes within this jurisdiction to book, he added. Afokos trial On January 26, 2019, the defence counsel in the case involving Gregory Afoko, accused of murdering the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) closed their case after a series of adjournments by the Accra High Court to enable them to bring in their witness. The defence, represented in court by Madam Benedicta Antwi, told the court that their witness was still not available, and as such would want to close their case. The prosecution, led by a State Attorney, Mr Mathew Amponsah, did not object to that. The court said it was the constitutional obligation of the court to give the defence the time to do their case therefore ordered the defence to file their closing address on or before February 8, this year while the prosecution must react by way of closing address on or before February 19, 2019. Source: Daily Graphic 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 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A family court judge with 25 years of experience resigned effective Thursday, eight days after she was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Judge Deborah Walker sent a resignation letter Wednesday to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Chief Justice Judith Nakamura of the New Mexico Supreme Court. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of the State of New Mexico as a member of the judiciary for the past 25 years, Walker said in the letter. She didnt respond to a call for comment Thursday. The Supreme Court on Thursday entered an order that accepted Walkers permanent retirement in lieu of a temporary suspension and further disciplinary proceedings. Walker, 65, has been a judge in the 2nd Judicial District Court since 1993 and was appointed and elected as a family court judge in 1997. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ On Jan. 23, Walker was involved in a crash while making a U-turn near the 2000 block of Candelaria NW, according to police. An Albuquerque police officer responding to the crash wrote in a criminal complaint that Walker smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and denied she had been drinking. The judge reportedly performed poorly on three field sobriety tests, and a Breathalyzer showed that her blood alcohol level was above the presumed level of intoxication. Pro Tem Judge Conrad Perea has been assigned to Walkers criminal case. She has a bond arraignment scheduled for Feb. 14, according to court records. Shortly after her arrest, Metropolitan Court Chief Judge Sandra Engel said in a court filing that all judicial divisions in Metro Court recused themselves from the case and that the chief judge of the state Supreme Court would assign a judge. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON After a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School seven years ago, the FBI released 1,500 pages of documents from its investigation. Its report on the 2017 massacre in Las Vegas was just three pages. The brevity prompted disbelief and outrage from survivors and relatives of victims. Even President Donald Trump said he was disappointed and surprised, though he said he understood the FBI had not determined a motive in the Vegas shooting. I dont think they did that thorough of an investigation, said Christine Caria, who survived the attack that killed 58 people and injured nearly 900 others. It seems like it was really fast. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Close to 16 months after the shooting, the FBIs long-awaited report released Tuesday did little to shed light on the investigation and left its main question about motive unanswered. They were unable to find a real reason, other than that obviously he was sick, and they didnt know it, Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller. So, I was a little surprised and a lot disappointed that they werent able to find the reason, because youd like to find a reason for that and stop it. The report compiled by the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit found that gunman Stephen Paddock sought notoriety in the attack, but it cited no single or clear motivating factor to explain why he opened fire from his suite in a high-rise casino hotel on 22,000 people attending an open-air concert. Aaron Rouse, special agent in charge of the FBIs Las Vegas office, defended his agencys handling of the investigation calling it a herculean effort. More than 1,000 FBI employees worked on the investigation, he said, adding that it would be a mischaracterization to deem the FBIs inability to identify a specific motive as a failure. Everything that could be done to figure out why has been done, Rouse said. Sandra Breault, FBI spokeswoman in Las Vegas, did not immediately respond Thursday to messages about the presidents comments. Jack Levin, author of several books on serial killings and professor emeritus of sociology and criminology at Northeastern University in Boston, said he doubted authorities had any reason to withhold information about Paddock. But he said he would have liked the FBI report to detail whether a catastrophic loss might have triggered Paddock to undertake the attack. Ive studied hundreds of cases, and in almost every case there has been a catastrophic loss, Levin said. Loss of a job, loss of lots of money, becoming deeply in debt, losing a relationship or a loved one, separation from important friends, an eviction. Mary Ellen OToole, who retired as an FBI profiler in 2009, said agents typically compile long reports after extensive analysis to help law enforcement and the public understand the investigation and what can be done to prevent future attacks. People really want more information in cases like this, she said. They want to know what we missed, who knew something and what was the motivation so this doesnt happen anymore. The FBI said it enlisted experts who spent months examining several factors that might have prompted the rampage. The report said the gunman was inspired in part by his fathers reputation as a bank robber who was once on the FBIs most wanted list. In many ways, Paddock was similar to other shooters the FBI has studied motivated by a complex merging of developmental issues, stress and interpersonal relationships. Paddocks physical and mental health had been declining before the shooting. His wealth had diminished, and the 64-year-old struggled with aging, the FBI said. Trump, who met with victims at a hospital in the days after the massacre, said the FBI worked very hard on the case but they just were unable to find anything. A very sick person, who just, people never saw that coming. Trump said. OToole now heads the George Mason University forensic science program in Fairfax, Virginia. She said FBI profilers often work like consultants for police departments in major investigations. She cautioned that while she didnt know the specific details of the arrangement following the Las Vegas shooting, police may have told the FBI what specific information they wanted agents to investigate and report on. Las Vegas police have declined to comment on the FBI report. The department closed its investigation in August with the release of a 187-page report also without identifying a reason for Paddocks rampage. In response to a court order in a public records lawsuit, Las Vegas police previously released thousands of pages of police reports, witness statements and hundreds of hours of officer body camera and surveillance video footage. People have a hard time understanding motive, OToole said. They think of money or sex. Were seeing more and more these motives are personalized like a desire to be infamous or to be internationally known. Paddock broke out a window in his 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel and fired more than 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes into a crowd of music fans below. He had 23 assault-style weapons, including 14 fitted with rapid-fire bump stock devices, which the Trump administration has banned, beginning in March. Authorities said Paddocks guns had been legally purchased. Paddock did not leave a manifesto or suicide note, and federal agents believe he had planned to fatally shoot himself after the attack, according to the report. Bottom line is he didnt want people to know his motive, Rouse said. Levin said he thinks Paddock wanted most to be remembered. People say we dont know Paddocks motive, Levin said. But I think his motive was to go down in infamy. Thats a motive thats shared by lots of killers. ___ Ritter reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Bragging rights are on the line for 24 chefs. And theres a lot to celebrate during The Food Depots 25th signature event, The Souper Bowl. It is a lot of fun. The chefs engage in a friendly competition, but the bottom line is the Souper Bowl consistently raises enough monetary support each year to provide 180,000 meals to New Mexicans who dont have enough to eat, says Jill Dixon, development director at The Food Depot. The Food Depot is a food bank that serves nine counties in northern New Mexico. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ From its warehouse in Santa Fe, The Food Depot provides food to more than 145 nonprofit partners in Taos, Raton, Las Vegas, Los Alamos and all of the rural communities in between. In 2018, The Food Depot provided the equivalent of more than 5 million meals to those who need it most working families, children and seniors. On Saturday, Feb. 2, 24 chefs will compete in the 25th Souper Bowl. Dixon says the organization is marking the milestone in a few ways. Logistically, we have changed the layout of the event. We believe this will improve attendees experience and also give the participating restaurants the prominent positions they deserve, she says. We have a commemorative cookbook with a beautiful presentation of recipes and stories. We will also have a special T-shirt designed by local artist Michael Martinez available for purchase. Dixon says there will be a friendly competition in the lobby between two nonprofit chefs competing against each other with their soup creations. This is separate from the main competition, she says. The chef in the lobby with the most donations to their pot will win. After 25 years of the event, Dixon says, there are still obstacles, but the organization learns something new each year to improve the event for all involved. We hope that people are drawn to the event by the combination of a compelling cause hunger and the opportunity to experience the culinary creations of two dozen local chefs, she says. While we continually work to improve the event, sticking to the simple structure of a soup competition has kept the Souper Bowl thriving for 25 years. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... It took Aquaman 2 hours just to put a fancy trident in its heros hands. Pawel Pawlikowskis latest, Cold War, follows a doomed romance over 15 years and across much of midcentury Europe in a mere 88 minutes. And youre telling me the guy who can swim fast is the superhero? In two immaculate films in a row, Pawlikowski has put countless filmmakers to shame with his devastating concision. In his Oscar-winning and surprise art house smash Ida and now in Cold War, Pawlikowski distills staggering amounts of story into austere monochrome images so deeply expressive you could dive into them. Cold War is a kind of companion piece to Ida. Its similarly set in postwar Poland, shot in pristine black-and-white by cinematographer Lukasz Zal, framed in a boxy academy ratio and has jazz music drifting evocatively through it. But Cold War begins with a folk song, sung directly into the camera by a pair of peasants, whose plaintive tune foreshadows the heartbreak to come. Open up my love, for fear of God, they sing. Pianist Wiktor Warski (Tomasz Kot) is traversing the bleak winter countryside of Poland in 1949 to record folk music and hold auditions for a new school of traditional song and dance. During tryouts, one student stands out to Wiktor: a striking, sultry blonde named Zuzanna, or Zula (Joanna Kulig). She doesnt sing as well as some of the others, but she catches the eye of the immediately infatuated Wiktor. The schools other director dryly notes that Zula isnt the mountain girl she pretends to be, and shes on parole for killing her father. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ He mistook me for my mother, so I used a knife to show him the difference, Zula later says. Wiktor promptly falls for her, and Zula isnt far behind. At first, the perilous air of a femme fatale hangs over her. While they lie in a field, she pledges her fidelity to Wiktor even while confessing that shes reporting on him to their communist supervisors. With Zula front and center, the show is a hit, a success the state quickly co-opts for propagandist means. Soon, they are singing communist anthems with an enormous curtain of Stalin draped behind them. While on tour, Wiktor and Zula resolve to flee to West Berlin, but Zula stands him up. It will be years before they reunite in Paris. In Pawlikowskis film, its often what happens in between the cuts that hurts the most. Just as crucial moments rob Zula and Wiktor of years together, time simply gets edited out. When they do finally make a life for themselves in Paris, its warped by the emptiness of exile. They live in a bohemian loft. Wiktor plays in jazz clubs. They make a record of Zula, but she curses the French translations of the songs they sang in Poland. A relationship always tumultuous turns tragic without a country. In Poland, you were a man, she says. Cold War is dedicated to Pawlikowskis parents, whom the protagonists are loosely based upon. Whereas the years other stunning black-and-white excavation of family past Alfonso Cuarons Roma is based on Cuarons own memories, Pawlikowskis film is less a literal re-creation. Its more mythically drawn, and seen with a weary, backward-looking resignation. Its also animated by the filmmakers own political struggles in Poland, where Ida was made a campaign talking point by a nationalist right-wing party that, once in office, drew international criticism for its own ideological management of Polish heritage. Cold War concludes with a forced finality that feels like the films only stray step. Kot and Kulig have by then forged such an indelible romance that weve come to believe in its persistence. (Kulig, in particular, is astonishing. It seems hardly possible that she covers so much emotional territory. This is the revelation of a retro-styled star of the highest magnitude.) Its Pawlikowski second straight masterwork, only one with a critical if seldom-seen error. His movie is too short. Cold War 3.5 stars RATED: R (for some sexual content, nudity and language) WHEN: Opens today WHERE: Century 14 Downtown, High Ridge .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Spend the evening checking out the latest local fashion while helping a great cause. This is the third year for the Hearts on Your Sleeve Jeff Highlander Memorial Fashion Show, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Hotel Albuquerque. The event raises money for the ALS Association, New Mexico Chapter. The event has grown significantly since its inception. Were changing it up this year, said Katie Crouch, special events and development coordinator for ALS Association, New Mexico Chapter. The past two years, its been tea room-style modeling, and its all been at Casa Esencia. Weve kind of outgrown that space, so what were doing this year is were having it in one of the ballrooms at Hotel Albuquerque, and we have five different stores that will be participating this year. We have Gee Loretta! Articles for Her, Silk Road Connection, Catherines Cache, Back at the Ranch Boots thats located in Santa Fe which are custom boots that will be featured throughout the show, which is really cool. About 18 models will hit the runway to show off clothing items from each of the participating local retailers. A cocktail hour with hors doeuvres and music will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The fashion show will follow, and later models will direct eventgoers to Casa Esencia. Were calling it Follow the Fashion, so the models will walk off the stage and will escort people across the street over to Casa Esencia, Crouch said. Well have all of our raffle items, our silent auction items. We have specialty cocktails being made by Titos Handmade Vodka. We also have food and wine pairings, dancing, just a real fun little party afterwards just to get people excited to kind of join our cause and donate and check out our cool raffle items that we have. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The event was created by committee Chairwoman Jill Sivage, whose brother, Jeff Highlander, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Highlander had the disease for six years before succumbing to it in 2017. The fashion show generates revenue for ALS Association, New Mexico Chapter, which helps 100 to 110 people with ALS and their families each year. ALS is a costly disease, with needed equipment such as wheelchairs for ALS patients costing about $10,000. The average cost to an ALS patient annually is about $250,000, according to Crouch. The ALS Association, New Mexico Chapter helps in a number of ways, including lending out needed equipment, issuing grants to help with medical expenses, medication costs and other related bills, as well as consolidating doctor visits through its multidisciplinary clinic at the University of New Mexico Hospital. They can be seen by each specialist that needs to be seen, all in one day, which does help them out, Crouch said. With ALS patients, they get tired very easily, so as you can imagine having to go to different appointments different days can be really exhausting for them, so at our clinic, theyre able to see the neurologist, (occupational therapy/physical therapy), speech language pathology, nutrition, all of that all in one day, so we kind of help with that too. HEARTS ON YOUR SLEEVE JEFF HIGHLANDER MEMORIAL FASHION SHOW WHEN: 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 WHERE: Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, 800 Rio Grande NW HOW MUCH: $75 per person. Tickets and information, visit alsanm.org Elisa Sand esand@aberdeennews.com Editors note: Public notices are published daily in the American News Classifieds section and at AberdeenNews.com/classifieds online. This is a digest of some recent notices, which are paid for by public bodies. These notices are your right to know. Hecla, Cresbard, Mound City, Waubay and Ipswich all have vacancies to fill on their city boards. Hecla has three vacancies for city council and one for mayor, according to a public notice in the Britton Journal on Jan. 23. All positions are two-year terms. Cresbard has one vacancy on the city commission, according to a public notice in Wednesdays Faulk County Record. The three-year seat for Water Commissioner Kelsey Huss is open. Mound City has three vacancies on the town board. One is a one-year term, one a two-year term, and one a three-year term, according to a public notice in the Prairie Pioneer on Thursday. The Waubay school board and town council both have vacancies to fill, according to public notices in the Jan. 26 Waubay Clipper. The Waubay City Council has four vacancies. Three are two-year terms. One is a one-year post. The positions are currently held by Robert Grebel, Eric Niles, Curt Koepp and Kathy Breske. The Waubay school board has two openings for three-year terms. They now held by Renee Olson and Ryan Breske. The Ipswich City Council has three council vacancies and an open seat for mayor, according to a public notice in the Ipswich Tribune on Jan. 16. All are two-year positions. The mayor is LeRoy Kilber. The councilors are Susie Treftz, Tom Schaefer and Barb Gillick. Nominating petition circulation began Jan. 25. For more information, contact the local town, city or school district office. Aberdeen approves vacation of alley section Aberdeen has approved the vacation of a section of alley between South Illinois Street and South Harvard Street. The city vacated the entire 120-foot-by-16-foot alley between 402 S. Illinois St. and 423 S. Harvard St., according to a resolution published in the American News on Jan. 25. Claremont Fire Protection District meets Wednesday The Claremont Fire Protection District has its annual meeting Wednesday, according to a public notice in the American News on Jan. 24. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the Claremont Fire Station, 507 Sixth St. Mud Creek Watershed District has board openings The Brown County Mud Creek Watershed District will hold its annual meeting on March 19 in Groton, according to a public notice in Wednesdays American News. The meeting is at 2 p.m. in the Groton Community Center, 109 N. Third St. Eligible voters will elect new managers. Anyone interested in being a candidate should file a written application with Grant Rix, board secretary; 12960 406th Ave.; Groton, SD 57445; by Feb. 17. Continued operation of Columbia restricted use site approved The continued operation of a restricted use site in Columbia has received tentative approval with conditions, according to a public notice in Thursdays American News. The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources received the permit renewal application for the site that accepts up to 499 tons of trees, branches and untreated wood for burial or burning. DENR has agreed to the renewal with various conditions. The decision is final on Feb. 24. A copy of terms and conditions is available from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Waste Management Program; 523 E. Capitol Ave.; Pierre, SD 57501. Kelda J.L. Pharris kpharris@aberdeennews.com It was Tuesday evening and the polar vortexs grip on Aberdeen was tight, but Pax Christi had work to do. The local chapter of the social justice group tasks itself each year with watching South Dakotas legislative session and bills that influence its mission. They send Presentation sisters to lobby, generally against policies that could be perceived as life-threatening or violent. The sisters also encourage and look for amendments that would better the lives of the most vulnerable people with the sentiment that doing so helps everyone. About a dozen Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, along with Sister Kathleen Bierne, who phoned in from Pierre, joined a couple other Aberdeen residents and special visitor Dennis Davis for this weeks gathering at the convent on the north side of town. Davis updated them on death penalty issues in the Legislature. The group would like to see the death penalty abolished altogether, but a total recall wouldnt even get past committee, Davis said. When you talk about pro-life, its just not anti-abortion. Its also anti-gun laws and anti-death penalty, Sister Myra Remily said during an earlier phone conversation. Davis is the director of South Dakotans Against the Death Penalty, which was founded in 2010. He lobbies to get exemptions added to South Dakotas capital punishment policies. Senate Bill 71 would make an exemption from capital punishment for people who are found severely mentally ill at the time of a crime or who have a history of severe mental illness. It has been moved to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bills prime sponsor is Sen. Art Rusch, R-Vermillion, whos on the Judiciary Committee. Davis counts two more votes from Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, and Sen. Craig Kennedy, D-Yankton as in the bag. But there are holdouts on the committee, so theres work to do to move the proposal along. Davis is optimistic about Stephen Manloves testifying on the bills behalf. Manlove is a forensic psychiatrist from Rapid City whos worked with both incarcerated and severely mentally ill people. The sisters are careful in their thoughts, asking for clarification on bill numbers, email addresses and names to make sure their correspondence and its intended destinations are correct. Do you think we are getting anywhere closer to killing the death penalty? asks Sister Marilyn Dunn. The comment draws a few raised eyebrows and a sigh. A list of bills is handed out to the group for consideration with the hope that attendees will contact legislators. Running themes include firearms, health care and advanced care, and other measures that affect the most vulnerable. South Dakotas sales tax on food is another item the sisters and Pax Christi lobby against frequently. One of the main things weve been working with is to try and eliminate the food tax, said Remily. Our neighboring states dont have a food tax. People will have more money to purchase other things they need without the tax. It not only helps low income, it helps everyone. There are several ways that could be balanced and wouldnt change revenue, but it constantly gets rejected. Members of the group are also proponents for policies that assist immigrants and refugees bettering their quality of life and connection to their communities. So they were happy to hear about Senate Bill 117, which would authorize other languages to be used in the process of issuing drivers licenses and permits. It has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Staff reports Aberdeen News Wylie Park Campground and Storybook Land received the Excellence in Tourism Innovation Award at the annual state tourism conference in Pierre. Wylie Park and Storybook Land won for to their "unique special promotions and overall elevation of the visitor experience," according to the release. "Wylie Park and Storybook Land have been wowing visitors for more than 40 years, becoming one of the top 10 municipal parks in the entire nation," said Gov. Kristi Noem. "It was an exciting year for them to welcome their one millionth passenger of their world-famous train, and I look forward to hearing what the next million have to say about this iconic South Dakota attraction." Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram criticised the Budget 2019 presented by FM Piyush Goyal on February 1. Chidambaram said that if he were to give his one line comment on the Budget, he would say that it was "a Vote on Account but an Account for Votes". The former FM said that the interim FM Piyush Goyal "tested our patience by the longest Interim Budget Speech in recent memory" in a press conference. He also criticised the Budget as an election campaign speech and lashed out on the government for violating "time honoured conventions". Chidambaram also criticised the languages used by FM Goyal in his speech. Adding that he is a strong supporter of the use of Hindi and English as official languages, Chidambaram criticised the use of both the languages together. "Those who knew only Hindi did not understand one-half of the Budget Speech and those knew only English did not understand the other half. Perhaps that was the real intention of the government: leave the people confused at least for a day. The mist that wraps this Budget will lift by tomorrow and the people will see the desperation and recklessness of the government," said Chidambaram. Chidambaram said that the big takeaway is that the government further weakened the fiscal stability and has missed the Fiscal Deficit target for the second year in a row. He also called the cow welfare scheme, setting up of a new Department of Fisheries and the pension for unorganised sector workers "last-gasp announcements". "The question that naturally springs to one's mind is 'if these were important and necessary interventions, what was the government doing for five years?'" he added. Also read: Salaried class? Here are key tax announcements in Piyush Goyal's speech you need to know Calling the Farmers' Income Support Scheme to provide "a measly" Rs 6,000 per year to every small/medium farmer a desperate measure, Chidambaram said that such measures recklessly breache fiscal discipline. "The government will fund the Scheme this year entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 20,000 crore. Next year too, the Scheme will be funded entirely out of borrowed money of Rs 75,000 crore. While I welcome the support to farmers, I ask what about the non-farmer poor? What about the urban poor?" he said. Chidambaram further added that this was hardly to help the poor farmers but to help the absentee landlords. Chidambaram said that by listening to the speech, the overall impression one got was that "the government believed its own fake statistics". He said, "None of the numbers put out by the government is true, but the government is so blinded by the dazzle of its fake numbers that it is not able to see that thousands of toilets that were constructed are unused or unusable; that there are thousands of villages and millions of homes that do not get electricity; while the homemaker has taken the first free cylinder and the stove she does not take the second or subsequent cylinder because she cannot put together a lump sum of Rs 750-900 on the day she needs the money; and the Mudra loans have only added to the accumulation of NPAs." "The direct tax concessions were beyond the authority of the government that will lay down office in 100 days. They seem to have been added at the last hour after the Budget numbers were finalized. We will study them carefully in order to find out if they are in accord with the projections of revenue from income tax," he added. (Edited by Anwesha Madhukalya) Also read: Budget 2019: TDS limit on interest from deposits hiked to Rs 40,000 BOZEMAN - As progress continues on a second high school in Bozeman, administrators need help locking down an identity for the new school. Now, theyre asking the public to help them pick a name. To keep up with Bozemans booming population, the city will have a second high school open by 2020. Half of the student population will stay at Bozeman High, and half will roam the halls of a school yet to be named. And coming up with a name is a little harder than you might think. "Lewis and Clark would be my first thought, said Bozeman resident Mariah Rich, but everything out here's Lewis and Clark or Sacajawea. Or Bridger High School Bridger Peaks High School, friend Autumn Rose added. Everything that weve thought of has been overused, Rich said, laughing. A transition committee is in place to assist with decisions made for the new school, including everything from curriculum to school colors. While many ideas are floating around, some say its best to be straightforward with the name. As Head of Youth Services at Bozeman Public Library, Cindy Christin has already put some thought into the name. We did talk about it the other day with friends, she said, and I sort of think that going real simple with Bozeman High for one school and Bozeman West for the other makes sense to me. Luke Terry, Student Representative for the High School Transition Committee agrees that Bozeman West is the best option. Cause its west of everything, he said. Bozeman resident Lisa Giroux suggested Gallatin High School: They used the town, why not the county? Meanwhile, others were a little more creative with their suggestions. Saddle Peak High School. Because its a known landmark in the area and its a cool name, said Tyler Rutz, referring to the famed Bridger Range mountain. Teddy Roosevelt High could be cool since he did a lot for the National Parks, said Kory Landwehr. I was gonna say, Obama needs a high school named after him, Rich said as Rose laughed. I mean the first Barack Obama High School, that would be fantastic. And still others remain haunted by naming mistakes of the past. Anthony Parks and friend Jordi Jerome recalled the infamous incident from 2016, when a #NameOurShip poll from a British government agency was taken over by a wave of internet fans wanting to name the $287 million polar research ship Boaty McBoatface (that name eventually won, though it was later reassigned to a much smaller, autonomous vehicle within the agencys fleet). School officials have laid out some ground rules for the new high school name. First, it must be related to someone with widespread attention, or made a significant contribution to the area. If named after a person, it must be someone who has been dead for at least five years. If the school is named after a landmark, it must be significant to Bozeman residents or exemplify local geography. Finally, the name cant be too similar to nearby high schools. After all of the name suggestions have been submitted, the transition committee will cut the list down, finally submitting 3-5 options to the Bozeman Public School Board. The final name will need to be approved by the board before it is official. The board is anticipated to make a decision on the name by late Feburary. If you have an idea of what the new high school should be named, you can submit a suggestion before February 15th on the school districts website. Correction (2/4/19): A previous version of this article stated that the public would be able to vote on the new school name, starting May 3. However, it is the board that will approve the final decision on the name. The article has been updated to reflect this change. En espanol | If youve ever had a major surgery such as a knee or hip replacement, chances are good that your doctors relied heavily on opioids to manage your postsurgical pain. But they carry side effects such as dizziness, nausea and constipation, and can be potentially addictive. Among knee replacement patients, 53 percent whod taken opioids both before and after surgery were still taking them six months later. (Of those who did not report taking opioids before surgery, 8 percent were still taking them after surgery, according to a 2016 study published in the medical journal Pain.) Thankfully, new research now suggests that there are much better options. Using at least three different meds to relieve pain, instead of just opioids alone, lowers the risk of respiratory and GI complications and also shortens hospital stays, according to a study published last year in the medical journal Anesthesiology, which looked at over 1.5 million joint replacement patients. And avoiding opioids entirely for presurgery, during surgery and postsurgery led to shorter hospital stays, according to another Cleveland Clinic study presented last October at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. Weve become much more sophisticated at targeting pain at different parts of the pain pathway, so we can get better pain relief without relying on opioids nearly as much, explains Asokumar Buvanendran, M.D., professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists committee on pain medicine. Buvanendran and Stavros G. Memtsoudis, M.D., director of Critical Care Services in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, shared the latest, and safest, ways to best handle postsurgery pain, below. Many are options youll need to discuss with your doctor if youre scheduling surgery in the near future, and a few are things you need to do on your own like not quitting any opioids you are given cold turkey, or making that physical therapy session a top priority. Rating: R Run time: 1 hour 39 minutes Stars: Real World War I veterans Director: Peter Jackson The first critical-hit film of 2019 was shot in 1914-18s World War I, archived in Britains Imperial War Museum, and converted into a sensational-looking movie by director Peter Jackson, 57. Its only appropriate that Jackson should make the worlds greatest Great War documentary: His $4.7 billion Lord of the Rings saga was begun by 2nd Lt. J.R.R. Tolkien in the trenches of the Somme. It was the worst battle in British history, with more than a million casualties, and killed most of Tolkien's best friends. No Mans Land, the desolate moonscape between the armies, became the Dead Marshes of Mordor, and the heroic working-class soldiers who served Oxford-educated officers like him became Sam Gamgee and the other Hobbits. This film is dedicated to Jacksons grandpa, who did not grow old thanks to Great War injuries. To re-create the scene of the real Dead Marshes, Jackson drew on 100 hours of footage of these formerly anonymous heroes, some of it so black or overexposed you couldnt see much of anything, plus 600 hours of interviews with vets done half a century after the war, and drawings of battles from the 1914-18 magazine The War Illustrated. With Gandalfian tech wizardry, the director changed the jerky footage from a hand-cranked 13 frames per second to a smooth modern 24, and added new camera movements, panning and zooming into close-ups. Crucially, he freed the faces of the soldiers some as young as 14 from the murk. One group looks glum because almost everyone in the scene knows he has about half an hour to live before going over the top to be mown down by machine guns. (In Tolkien, evil is mechanized.) But amazingly often, the soldiers are smiling, most of them with worse teeth than Austin Powers, reflecting bad dentistry and the fact that most soldiers used their toothbrushes to clean things other than teeth. Theyre also smiling because theres a camera present, which you seldom saw back then: One says, Were in pictures! Using forensic lip readers, Jackson figured out what many soldiers were saying, and hired actors to lip-sync their lines. He used sound effects, firing cannons and rifles comparable to the old ones for authentic booms and whooshing projectiles, recorded Foley artists boots squelching mud, even added the squeaks of the ubiquitous rats who fattened on the fallen troops. Aided by deep research and visits to original battle sites, he colorized the old black and white footage with artistic skill. Film purists grumble about this, but as Jackson says in the fascinating, touching epilogue about how he put the film together, its one thing when someone colorizes a film whose director wanted it to be black and white, whereas every Great War cameraman would have seized the chance to use color. Jackson shot the film both in 2-D and 3-D which usually leaves me cold, but this 3-D works brilliantly. The film starts out in black and white because there wasnt budget enough to colorize it all, and this gives the transition to color (and 3-D) a Wizard of Oz punch. The result is utterly immersive: You are there alongside the real-life Sam Gamgees, seeing basic training, infernal battles, male bonding, frolics between horrors, gangrene, men crucified on barbed wire, traumatized homecomings to civilians who cant imagine what youve been through. Through They Shall Not Grow Old, you can imagine. At the end of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien sends his good soldier Sam to the Undying Lands. For the casualties of World War I more than 50 million if you count the victims of the flu pandemic the trenches spawned Jackson has done a comparable service, preserving them forever. The Union Budget 2019 session is underway. Amid a host of announcements, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has announced a scheme called Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan. The scheme, the Finance Minister said, is being launched to provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month. The contribution will be Rs 100 per month for workers in unorganised sector from 60 years of age onwards. Apart from that, the Modi government has announced assured income support for small and marginal farmers. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi has been approved, said Goyal. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 per year will be given for each farmer in three installments. This money will be transferred directly to the farmers' bank accounts. The scheme is applicable for farmers with less than 2 hectares land holding, says Piyush Goyal. "We have prepared the foundation for sustainable progress and prosperity for our people; we are moving towards realising the dream of New India by 2022," said the FM, in his Budget speech. Also read: Budget 2019: Modi govt's new scheme offers Rs 6,000 directly into farmers' bank accounts He also said that the people of India gave a strong mandate to the government and under the leadership of PM Modi, structural reforms were undertaken, policy paralysis was reversed and nation's image has been restored. The Budget 2019 was anticipated to be a populist one as the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place in a couple of months. The Modi government would be looking to appease the middle class and secure their votes. Also read: Budget 2019 LIVE updates: Piyush Goyal's speech brings smiles to farmers! New scheme offers Rs 6,000 per year Oliver Wiseman at CapX: Take a look at the world poverty clock, which shows in real time the fall in the number of people living in extreme poverty. Or consider two recent bestsellers Enlightenment Now by the American Psychology Professor Steven Pinker and Factfulness by the late Hans Rosling both of which have gone some way to bridging the gap between peoples hardwired pessimism and the much happier truth about the state of the world. Under Marian Tupy, a CapX regular, the team at Humanprogress.org works as a kind of societal fitbit, keeping count of the steps humanity takes in the right direction. Over at Our World in Data, Max Roser and his colleagues produce richly detailed graphics that help bring that progress to life. This is the tip of the iceberg, and the result of all these endeavours, and many, many more, is a body of evidence that is as overwhelmingly persuasive as it is reassuring. Some, however, remain unconvinced. Writing in the Guardian this week, Jason Hickel, an anthropologist at the University of London, argues that this good news story, in particular the dramatic fall in extreme poverty is a powerful narrative, but completely wrong. More here. Oslo-based architecture firm SPINN Architects has completed a new wooden cabin that can fit in any local terrain and could withstand the harsh polar winter conditions of the area. The 15-square-metre cabin will provide hikers with a warm and inviting rest stop, and be an attraction in itself with its rounded shape. Called Dagsturhytter, the cabin was designed for the Hammerfest chapter of The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) as one of the two warming huts requested to promote hiking activities in the mountains around town. To create a warming hut, the architects were inspired by the idea of the hut concept "Varden". The idea was to create a unique hut for Hammerfest and Omegn Turlag, which is inspired by the beautiful nature of Hammerfest. The cabins designed by SPINN at Storefjell and Tyven are perfectly fitted into the terrain, like a large stone with a rounded and weather-beaten external shape. The interior space is warm, enclosed and completed with wooden tables and seats. Hikers can warm themselves by the fireplace and enjoy the view protected from the weather. The architects designed a rounded shape for the cabins that naturally stays clear in snow and reduces wind pressure, and with a material efficient way to build. The shapes are adapted to the terrain based on a 3D laser scanning of the area, and it is made for doors and windows based on wind direction, views and availability. Massive wood is visible on the inside of the cabin, while the outside is covered by roofing paper and an external screen of wood panels treated with flames based on the Japanese sho-shugi method. SPINN Architects collaborated with Format Engineers to build these cabins. The structures are designed as a refuge place for weary hikers and a summer tourist destination. The first hut has been fabricated from solid timber panels on a computer controlled 5 axis router and held together with screwed dowel connections to allow for a simple construction without having to use expensive plant and to allow Hammerfest go Omegn Turlaf to build it themselves in a warehouse in the city and then transport it to site in one piece. The pattern of the simple flat solid timber elements is created using in-house scripts and panelisation techniques we pioneered on the Trada pavilion in 2012. This allows six sided flat panels to follow a double curved surface and keeps the number of expensive connections to a minimum. The shape of the structure was deliberately chosen to try and funnel snow away from the entrance and to maximise structural efficiency. The first mountain hut was completed in Summer 2018 and the second was planned for Spring 2019. Image courtesy of SPINN Architects Image courtesy of SPINN Architects Image courtesy of SPINN Architects All images Tor Even Mathisen, unless otherwise stated. All drawings courtesy of SPINN Architects > via SPINN Architects Since January 31, 2019 Rabia Meo has been appointed as Pakistan's Country Reporter, as part of the WAC's Country Editors/Reporters program. Meo is a recent graduate from Bahauddin Zakariya University, who has taken several courses online from Harvard, ETH Zurich, Delft and IIT Bombay and has also completed two design internships. With a passion for learning; she also understand the problems faced by the architecture community of her country specially students. Meo has also served as the Student President of architecture department at the university and helped in sorting many problems faced by the students. She has now developed a social media platform called "Architects of Pakistan" where architecture students and architects can share their projects and work related problems. Rabia Meo has a keen interest in studying different architectural projects and learning from them. She look forward to working with World Architecture Community so that she can share amazing projects and architecture related news. You can follow Rabia on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you also want to be part of our volunteer reporters and become "the voice of your country on WAC while being the face of WAC in your country", please send your motivation message and your CV to info@worldarchitecture.org. We also accept more than one reporter by country. Top image courtesy of Rabia Meo ECOS announces a competition for the best design for infrastructural objects in the Free Economic Zone in Armenia, ECOS FEZ Design Competition with a total prize fund of 3,000,000 AMD. ECOS is looking for bold solutions, distinctive and non-conventional ones, which will help create the image of innovative Armenia and give a chance to designers and architects to contribute to the creation of the infrastructure. The latter will serve for the development of high-tech projects in Armenia that will allow a balanced regional development of the country. ECOS FEZ Design Competition is a competition for young and talented designers which enables them to participate in the creation of the interior and exterior design of buildings and structures in the Free Economic Zone in Armenia. The ECOS FEZ will become the hallmark of modern high-tech digital Armenia, which is becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investments and the export of IT technologies. In the near future, ECOS will launch an industrial mining center located in the cooling tower building at the Hrazdan TPP. It will be integrated with the technology cluster for innovative start-ups, and will also functionally serve as the data center of the FEZ. ECOS offers a fundamentally new perspective on the market for innovative technologies. This is not a platform or an IT cluster, but a full-fledged ecosystem, each of the elements of which is synergistically connected with the others. We achieve big goals together, not competing with each other. Invited to participate: professional architects, designers, aspiring professionals, project organizations, design offices, manufacturing plants, design studios, and workshops; students and graduates of relevant universities in Armenia and abroad. The competition was announced in three nominations: The best design project of the cooling tower The best design project of the administration office The best design project of the surrounding area Winners and finalists of the competition will receive funding for the implementation of their projects and valuable prizes. "With the help of the competition, ECOS gives young creative people from all around the world the opportunity to express their views on the future through innovative and promising proposals. In the era of globalization, when the technological revolution prevails, there is a need to rethink the connection between a city, an individual and high technology. We want the look of the Free Economic Zone to reflect this vision, so we are waiting for your ideas!," said Ilya Goldberg, managing partner of ECOS company commented. The competition is held with the support of the Government of Armenia, with the participation of leading experts in the field of architecture and design, as well as with informational support from leading Armenian and international media. Competition Info The competition is held from January 15, 2019, to March 15, 2019. Apply for participation in the contest here. The participation is free of charge. Competition Rules can be seen from here. Prizes: 1 000 000 AMD for each category. Read about the requirements in the Competition Rules section. Jury Board is composed of Merujan Minasian - Storaket Architecture Agency, President & Co-Founder, Naira Hayrapetyan - French University in Armenia, Head of Marketing and E-Commerce, Armen Babushyan - National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, Head of Design, Artak Knyazyan - ARCHANGEL Architecture Agency, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder. About the Hrazdan FEZ: The Free Economic Zone is located on the territory of Hrazdan, Armenia, activities of which are aimed at the development of high technologies in the country. The organizer of the free economic zone in Hrazdan is the ECOS company. A unique ecosystem is being created on the basis of the FEZ, where infrastructure services will operate: from educational and communication projects, research laboratories to electronic platforms for attracting investment in developing projects. About ECOS project: ECOS is an innovation ecosystem that includes data centers, an industrial mining center, a venture fund, an R&D laboratory for designing innovations, an educational platform, acceleration programs, and an information and education forum for the Armenian Blockchain Forum. The purpose of the ECOS FEZ is to create in Armenia an ecosystem for the development of export-oriented companies in the field of high and information technologies, including the formation of an industry of companies creating products based on blockchain technologies, as well as attracting highly qualified specialists and world-class experts, a concentration of human, research and development and investment and financial potential necessary for the sustainable development of the socio-economic situation in the Republic of Armenia. ECOS activities are aimed at the development of the market for innovative technologies in Armenia and abroad. Top image courtesy of ECOS FEZ Design Competition > via ECOS FEZ Design Competition Last week we were invited out to join Nicholas Wolken and Patagonia out in Innsbruck for the launch of both Patas #WornWear tour and Nicos new film Close to Home. As well as taking in the event in the city itself, we had a little time to share the blue skies and crisp mountain air on a short splitboard mission around Kuhtai. Joined by a rad little crew including Austrias own Mitch Tolderer, Whitelines former front man turn podcast guru Matt Barr, test team regular Hannah Bailey and a whole host of media bods. You can catch a couple of shots from that particular excursion below, gain a little bit of insight from the man himself in our interview above, or if you like, make a beeline for the film Close To Home, which is free to watch right now! All photos: Mike Brindley Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in its Budget speech announced a direct income support Rs 6,000 per hectare which will be transferred directly into the farmers' bank accounts. Farmers, who own upto 2 hectares (5 acres) of land, will be given a direct income support Rs 2,000 every four months a year, which equals to Rs 6,000. "This will be funded directly by the government of India," Piyush Goyal said in the Parliament. The scheme, which will be applicable from 1 December 2018 and will cost Rs 75,000 crore to the Modi government. Piyush Goyal said that this scheme will benefit 12 crore farmers. Also Read: Budget 2019 LIVE updates: Govt announces Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi; farmers with up to 2 hectare lands to get Rs 6,000 per year In a move that will benefit farmers across India, the FM also announced 2.5 per cent interest subventions for farmers struck by natural calamities. Adding to it, he announced 2 per cent interest subvention for animal husbandry and fisheries sector. Patrick Iber has an op-ed in The New York Times arguing the United States should not intervene in Venezuela. This made me start thinking what we mean by this. We hear it broadly--the US should not intervene or interfere. Sometimes I feel this refers specifically to invasion, which is much more unpopular than other types of intervention. But that's easy to oppose. The fine details get tougher. So what U.S. "intervention" is going on now? recognition of Juan Guaido pressure on other governments to do the same sanctions pressure on other governments to spread those sanctions threatening rhetoric fake to-do list of sending troops When people say they oppose U.S. intervention, do they oppose all of these things? If not, why not? Washington is all too ready to lend a hand, but in doing so it could as it has so many times in Latin Americas history cause more harm than good. What types of intervention cause more harm than good? This is not clear to me at all. Further, what is "harm" anyway? Harm could refer to the suffering of Venezuelan people, in which case oil sanctions might apply. But harm could also mean "action that reduces the incentive for military officers to switch their allegiance," in which case we don't know.Overall, there is confusion within the U.S. left. James Bloodworth noted this in a recentarticle. Some people support Maduro out of a knee-jerk ideological reaction while others see how authoritarian and destructive he has been, but don't know what to support in his place and--critically--what role the United States should play. There is no way the U.S. plays zero role.In sum, the U.S. is currently intervening in a number of different consequential ways, though not yet invasion. It is worth it for all of us to ponder what level of intervention we support and to think hard about what the long-term impact of such intervention might be. For me, recognizing Guaido is reasonable, as Maduro's claim to legitimacy is no stronger. I think oil sanctions hurt the Venezuelan people too much and that pressure can be applied in other ways. I think U.S. officials should stop with the blustery invasion talk. My own views might change but that is where I am leaning now. WATERLOO --- The Waterloo Police Department is requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing person. Titus Sarwah, 19, was last seen by family members three weeks ago, according to police. He is not believed to be in any danger. Sarwah is 6-foot-2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. If you have information about Mr. Sarwah's whereabouts, please contact the Black Hawk Consolidated Dispatch Center at (319) 291-2515 and reference Case W19-008378 so that he can be reunited with his family. Love 0 Funny 15 Wow 2 Sad 1 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. DES MOINES Cory Booker is running for president, and hes coming to Iowa. None of that comes as a surprise to anyone who has followed Booker or Iowa politics over the past few years. But now its official. Booker, a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, announced this morning he is running for president. He joins an ever-growing field of Democrats seeking the partys nomination. We are better when we help each other, Booker said in a video his campaign released this morning. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame. Booker will visit Iowa for a two-day swing next weekend, his campaign said. He will visit Mason City, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City on Friday, Feb. 8; and Marshalltown and Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 9. Details on those events will be released at a later date, Bookers campaign said. DECORAH An Urbandale school district administrator will be the next superintendent of Decorah Community Schools. The Board of Education on Wednesday approved a three-year contract with Mark Lane, who has served for six years as Urbandales associate superintendent of human resources and operations. He will receive a $160,000 annual salary. Lane will officially assume his duties July 1, when current Superintendent Michael Haluska retires. He was one 31 applicants for the position and seven semifinalists. The board interviewed him and two other finalists Monday. We had three excellent candidates, we would have been very happy with any of them, said Ronald Fadness, the boards president. But of the three, Mark Lane rose to the top as best meeting the goals we had for the search. Those goals were determined with the help of district residents through an online survey. In addition, three teams of 25 residents interviewed each of the finalists for an hour before the board did. The teams then provided a summary of their findings to the board. IOWA CITY -- Three people were killed in one crash and a fourth was killed in a Johnson County pileup Thursday on Iowa highways. The crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 at mile marker 242 1/2 was directly related to the weather, according to the Iowa State Patrol. William W. Hicks, 72, of Coralville, died in that crash, reported about 3:30 p.m. Another driver, Reggie R. Gist,36, of Cedar Rapids, was injured. Troopers said a total of seven passenger vehicles and four semi-tractor trailers were involved in the crash "due to 100 percent ice and snow covered roadway and diminished/reduced visibility." In the Crawford County crash, three people died in a crash about 5 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 59 and 270th Street. The deceased were identified as Penny Hulsebus, 52, of Defiance, the driver of a minivan; Maria Petro Garcia Hernandez, 48, of Denison; amd Erika L. Dionicio, 42, of Denison. The latter two women were backseat passengers in a SUV being driven by Saul Armando Guzman Orellana, 46, of Denison, who was injured in the crash, along with another passenger. Troopers said both vehicles were on Highway 59 when the minivan cross the center line and struck the SUV head-on. The report did not say whether weather was a factor. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had their first-ever historic meeting last June in Singapore. A second one is on the cards and the tentative venue could be Vietnam. The first meeting was an effort to assess each other and was more of a photo ops event. There were some decisions taken on the burning issue of denuclearization but it is difficult to ascertain the extent of implementation by Kims regime. The second one is a follow-up of the first. It could result in action that is more positive by the hermit kingdom on issues that relate to the disposal of nuclear arsenal and facilities. CNN reports the two leaders plan to meet in Vietnam in late February and details are under finalization. In fact, the venue could be in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. There is no clarity on Donald Trump's agenda for the second summit as yet but sources say he is not likely to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The source adds, Xi is very supportive of the summit. Trump says to announce date, venue of second meeting with DPRK's Kim next week https://t.co/Sg7I6zHagH #KimTrumpSummit pic.twitter.com/HNDtuLp6lM Global Times (@globaltimesnews) February 1, 2019 Developments on the Korean front Officials in the State Department have dropped hints that the US could formally end the Korean War. That is one of the sensitive issues and the Koreans want to settle it. Steve Biegun said in a speech at Stanford, "President Trump is ready to end this war." He added America does not want to invade the country or topple the regime. Steve Biegun is the State Department's top envoy on North Korea. Assurances of this nature could pay dividends. However, there are doubts in certain quarters that the US might extend the goodwill gesture by agreeing to the withdrawal of troops from South Korea. A top U.S diplomat plans to see North Korean officials in early February to hammer out details of a second nuclear summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un https://t.co/FpYzn8bHSS POLITICO (@politico) January 29, 2019 CNN says in the first summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore, there was a commitment from the North Korean leader on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula but there is no indication about progress on that front. Incidentally, earlier this month, Trump expressed satisfaction that North Korea had not sent up any more rockets. Mike Pompeo does not confirm Vietnam According to USA Today, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is cautious about announcing the venue of the second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. Pompeo says his team is going someplace in Asia and the next summit will be by the end of February. While interacting with a section of the media he admitted that his team would lay the foundations for the summit that will lead to the ultimate objective of denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula. He also said that such a line of action would ensure a brighter future for the North Koreans. Fans of "The Young and the Restless" are in for some interesting storylines during February sweeps. Spoiler alerts indicate that the Newman family drama will continue and that the person who has been terrorizing Victor and his loved ones may soon be revealed. As Genoa City residents try to figure out the mystery of what really happened to JT Helstrom the facts may lead to a startling conclusion. One of two dead men may prove to be alive and well as JT himself or his former brother in law Adam Newman could be behind all the mischief. It's a stretch but there is a possibility that both men may be living and breathing and working together. JT continues to cause mayhem in Genoa City Soaps She Knows reveals that JT will continue to be front and center on the minds of those living in Genoa City. Rey is determined that the Newman patriarch will go down for the murder of his former son in law. The cover-up crew is nervous because the list of people who know their secret continues to grow. Victoria refuses to commit to Billy because of her role in her ex-husband's death while Nick and his father both want to protect their families and get to the bottom of things. Phyllis is the Genoa City wild card who is always looking out for herself. Distrust of the Newmans and jealousy caused her to tell Reed that his father abused his mother. She later told Vicki that Billy only turned to her because she Phyllis refused to get back together with him. Spoilers indicate that her meddling and trying to pin JT's death on Victor will take a toll on her relationship with Nick. Sharon is fighting her growing feelings for Rey while simultaneously withholding evidence related to the crime he is trying to solve. Nikki desperately wants the nightmare far behind her as she has already fallen off the wagon and begun drinking. Her loved ones are also concerned that the stress may cause flare-ups of her MS. As February sweeps are almost upon us "The Young and the Restless" will no doubt pull out all the stops over why JT being alive and/or Adam returning to Genoa City seems so plausible. Reasons both Adam and JT may be alive For weeks on "The Young and the Restless," things have been taking place that opens up the possibility that JT Helstrom may be alive. Numerous spoiler alerts have also been teasing that this could be so. Who else would have known about the poker Nikki struck him with or had access to the clothing he was wearing the night he attacked Victoria? Mr. Hestrom also has good knowledge of technology so he could easily be using surveillance equipment inside Victor's house. Celeb Dirty Laundry, however, suggests that as Adam was spying on Chelsea and Conner inside their apartment, that perhaps he is the one wreaking havoc in Genoa City and targetting the Newmans. it's even possible that both men are alive and well and working together. Be on the lookout for updated spoilers and be sure to continue watching "The Young and the Restless" weekday afternoons on CBS at 12:30 PM EST. The stock market gave a tepid response to the Budget 2019 until the announcement of tax rebate for individual taxpayers with an annual income of up to 5 lakhs. The benchmark indices extended initial gains with Sensex rising over 500 points, while the Nifty50 traded above 10,950. Sectorally, auto, banking, agriculture, and FMCG stocks rallied as budget measures are expected to provide a boost to sectors in domestic consumption like automobiles, consumer staples and durables, real estate, building materials, home improvement and retail-focussed banking and financials. "The market expected Budget 2019 be a pro-rural/poor and middle class budget, and it meets those expectations. The increased cash availability due to the measures taken would aid consumer demand--FMCG, white goods and two-wheelers. However, I would take the increased defence budget with a pinch of salt," said independent market analyst Ambareesh Baliga. "We need to see where the additional liquidity would be available to the government, otherwise it would be a budgeted spends--order would be placed but it won't be paid for--exactly what we are witnessing for HAL and other such Indian defence suppliers as payments have been overdue," he added. Full coverage of Union Budget 2019 Gaurav Dua, Head of Research, Sharekhan believes the government did not get carried away and the dole outs in the run up to elections are in line with expectations. "The Budget 2019 would boost consumption and is positive for the economy and the growth in the corporate earnings. Despite constraints, the capital expenditure allocations have also remained healthy with continued focus on infra development. Overall, a prudent budget in the light of the political compulsions and macro situation," he said. Here are five takeaways for the stock market investors: Fiscal slippage: The stand in Finance Minister Piyush Goyal estimated the fiscal deficit for the financial year 2019 to come in at 3.4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), slightly higher than the targeted 3.3 per cent. For FY20, the deficit is expected to be 3.4 per cent. The market took the fiscal slippage in strides as the deficit was widely expected to be higher than targeted due to a combination of revenue shortfalls and increased spending ahead of the general election in May 2019. More disposable income in hand: Street reacted positively to the announcement of doubling the tax rebate to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 2.5 lakh. The government also raised standard deduction limit from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. FM Goyal also announced that TDS threshold on interest on bank and post office deposits will be raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. TDS threshold on rental income was also raised from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. Goyal hiked the gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and also announced a Mega Pension Yojana, under which Rs 3,000 per month will given to unorganised sector employees. "It may become the world's biggest pension scheme for unorganised sector in five years," he said. "Complete tax rebate up to Rs 5 lakh is a populist measure. However, it is important to understand how the loss of tax collection equalling around Rs 18,500 crore, will impact the overall economy," says Partho Dasgupta, Partner/ Tax & Regulatory Services, BDO in India. Relief for banking sector: The stocks of most banks under the PCA framework rallied after Goyal said that he expected more banks to come out of PCA soon. Notably, RBI had removed the three PSU banks--Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and Oriental Bank of commerce--from the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework yesterday. Eight public sector banks--Allahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Dena Bank--still remain under PCA framework, which imposes lending restrictions and prevents them from expanding, among other curbs. Support to farmers: Goyal announced measures to address some of the distress that the farm sector has been facing. He said the government will provide Rs 6,000 per year to farmers in three instalments, which will be fully funded by the central government and will benefit 12 crore farmers. The government has set aside Rs 75,000 crore for the scheme for FY20. The allocation to MNREGA, meanwhile, has been hiked to Rs 60,000 crore for 2019-20. The interim finance minister also announced a 2 per cent interest subvention for farmers hit by natural calamities, while offering 3 per cent more to them for timely loan payment. Divestment target maintained: Goyal noted that the government had received over Rs 1 lakh crore from disinvestment proceeds during 2017-18. He sounded confident of crossing the target of Rs 80,000 crore this year. However, so far the government has collected only Rs 35,533 crore. The interim FM did not highlight how the government is planning to achieve the target in the remaining two months. Global brokerage Nomura pointed out that while the government is racing to meet its disinvestment target (including through 'novel' mechanisms such as raising money through its exchange-traded funds and share buybacks by public sector companies), it will fall short by Rs 15,000 crore. Estados Unidos Nico Castillo is going back to Mexico, but this time he will be joining Club America in a transaction that cost 11 million dollars becoming the massive signing at the close of the winter transfer window. He will become the best-paid player in the history of the Mexican League with a salary that rounds the 5 million dollars per year, in a four-year contract. The Chilean striker left Pumas and the Mexican League to join Benfica last year, but he will return to Mexico as he didn't find his place in the European team. Time with Pumas During his stay with Pumas, Castillo managed to be the author of 26 goals between League and Cup. Without a doubt, he became a referent for the attack of Club Universidad, that sold him for four million euros to Benfica. The arrival of the Chilean striker has been taken very good by the fans since his name transcended. Even Club America fans voted in favor because Agustin Marchesin expressed his desire to share the same goal as him. Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next. Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! A Change Of Plan When we book our overseas trips, we usually do so several months to a year in advance to be able to use our frequent flyer miles. Id never been to Vienna, and le Monsieur hadnt been since he was a teen, so we decided to make that the primary destination for this years trip (with a side trip to Salzburg for a couple of days and a few days in London at the end). Booked the flights last summer for this summer, all set. Or so we thought We had both really enjoyed visiting the Bourgogne region of France last year, and knew we eventually wanted to return. And we kept talking about it and reading articles about the region, food, and wine. A couple of weeks ago we acknowledged that neither of us was as enthusiastic about Vienna as we were about returning to Bourgogne, so made the switch. (Fortunately, we only had to rebook the flights from and back to London, as the long-haul portion of the trip didnt change.) Rather than staying in Lyon this time were looking at the area between Macon and Dijon, probably Beaune. Were still keeping the London portion for the last few days. The photo above was taken at the La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot (mustard boutique and museum) in Beaune. (Im so short I had to stand on tiptoes to get my face in the hole! ) We made a short stop there driving from Lyon to Paris. Still enjoying some of the mustards we brought home! Wrapped Up Even in warmer months, I always bring a travel wrap for the plane or unexpected cold. Many of you have mentioned that youre allergic or sensitive to wool or cashmere, so you may be interested in this wool-free wrap from emme, offered in black and plum (shown above). Use code UNEFEMME for 20% off for a limited time. I realized I never announced the winner of the February My Stylish French Box congratulations to Wendy! (We had a few Wendys enter the giveaway, but the winner was notified by email last week. ) There are still a limited number of boxes available to order (will be shipped later this month)click HERE for more information and to order. And a few sales worth mentioning J.Crew 25% off full-price styles with code SHOPTOIT (including my favorite sweater coat!!) Eileen Fisher end of season sale Bloomingdales Winter Break Sale, up to 70% off Nordstrom up to 50% off Where will you be traveling this year? Bon weekend! The announcement of GST exemption limit being extended to businesses with a turnover of Rs 50 lakh in the Interim Budget will surely bring a smile on the faces of small traders and manufacturers. The greatest pain among the small traders and manufacturers on the announcement of GST in 2017 was that their costs had gone up by over 50 per cent. Unlike earlier, when most small traders ran a one-man show, in the GST era they were forced to hire an accountant and a computer-friendly resource, as they had to file monthly returns. Now, businesses with less than Rs 5 crore turnover can file quarterly returns, while businesses between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore need to file a flat 1 per cent GST and can file annual returns. The mood of traders and small manufacturers across the country post the GST roll-out, especially in the hinterlands was morose, many of them actually went out of business. These were traders who had never paid any kind of taxes earlier. The distribution of local 'masala' brands, snacks and detergent brands went down by 50 per cent, as they were not able to hire distributors because of the GST burden. Many of them dumped their products with retailers and never returned to pick up the unsold stock. Though several local manufacturers in cities such as Indore and Nagpur did come up with ways of paying GST for only 10-20 per cent of their merchandise and managed to sell the rest under the table, and some of them even managed to duck the e-way bill (by carting their products on cycles and Volvo buses if they distributed in more than one market), they were not able to sustain. Even the wholesaler, who earlier preferred local brands to national brands as he got higher margins from the former, switched his allegiance to the national brands. Will the new GST guidelines bring back some of the small traders and manufacturers in action? "I expect some of them to come back as they will now be able to offer better margins to the wholesalers and win back their allegiance yet again," remarks Kannan Sitaram, Former COO of Dabur, who is now Venture Partner, Fireside Ventures. But the advantage, points out Sitaram, will largely be for those manufacturers dealing with food items derived from agri commodities which doesn't come under the GST bracket. "I don't see local personal care or home care brands benefitting as much even if they are exempted from GST," adds Sitaram. The biggest beneficiaries of the GST regime have been the FMCG major such as HUL, ITC and Britannia who have taken advantage of the single taxation system and have hugely strengthened their distribution might. Companies such as HUL have even come up with strategies such as 'Winning In Many Indias', as part of which they are coming up with region specific brand extensions. Most of these companies have also substantially increased their advertising spends in regional markets. This will be the biggest challenge for the local brands, which don't have the ability to spend on marketing and distribution and could hence lose out. At a time when several local brands exited the market, unable to handle the pressures of GST, the national brands have encroached upon their territory by either strengthening their direct distribution might or by giving huge incentives to the wholesale community. "It's not that the likes of HUL or Dabur are paying us higher margins after GST. But if we sell Rs 50,000 or Rs 100,000 worth of their products a month, they pay us 2-4 per cent higher margins," pointed out a wholesaler in Gujarat's Navasari, in an earlier interview with Business Today. "The deeper pockets of the bigger players as well as their quality standards may not allow the local players to come back that easily," says Sitaram. A small-town kirana store may have multiple local brands sitting next to the big brands and would be priced far lower than the national brands, but could lose out in terms of quality. In the earlier era most of the big brands were not as widely distributed as they are now, hence, the local brands had a monopoly. The wholesaler also may not be too happy to stock a local brand as he would prefer to push a better quality product, and at the same time he is also getting pampered by the bigger brands with attractive incentives. Will the expansion of GST exemption limit really help really small traders and manufacturers? It may not. Also read: Budget 2019: Modi govt announces highest-ever defence budget of over Rs 3 lakh crore Also read: Union Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal announces Rs 1.58 lakh crore for Railways Geller pictured with his bent spoon in 2003 (PA Images) Uri Geller is not a fan of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. So much so that he is willing to use all of his telepathic powers to stop him from ever becoming Prime Minister. The 72-year-old Israeli illusionist and friend of the late Michael Jackson made this bold claim before an audience in Jerusalem, Israel. According to The Jewish Chronicle Geller said he believes Corbyn to be anti-Semitic. I have no problem in saying he is an anti-Semite. God forbid if he takes control. God forbid he takes control, Geller said. Speaking on a panel organised by American rabbi, Shmuley Boteach alongside controversial comedian Roseanne Barr he went on to say he would make sure Corbyn would never become PM. With all my telepathic powers I am not going to let that happen, he declared. Barr, whose revival of 90s comedy Roseanne was revived as The Conners, but fired her after she published apparently racist tweets, added that she would also user her telepathic powers too to stop Corbyn reaching 10 Downing Street. Uri Geller with the late Michael Jackson. (REX/Shutterstock) Geller said that he had accurately predicted current PM Theresa May would become Prime Minister. He explained that May lived near his former Berkshire estate, and he invited her over to see his collection of spoons. I told her to touch Winston Churchills spoon. I told her she was going to be prime minister and she laughed. It is important that she stays in power because god forbid Corbyn should take her place. Geller rose to fame in the 1970s when he began appearing on British television demonstrating his illusions, his most famous illusion being the apparent ability to bend metal spoons. He was also a close friend of the late Michael Jackson, but they fell out after he introduced him to journalist Martin Bashir, who hosted the controversial documentary Living with Michael Jackson in 2003. Read more Radio 4 comedian Jeremy Hardy dies The Specials Terry Hall reveals child abuse EastEnders extensive new set costs exposed By Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday called U.S. intelligence chiefs "extremely passive and naive" on Iran and dismissed their assessments of the threat posed by North Korea a day after they contradicted his views during congressional testimony. His comments drew criticism from some of his fellow Republicans in Congress, some of whom have introduced legislation that would counter Trump's policies on national security in an unusual break from their party's leader. Leaders of the U.S. intelligence community told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the nuclear threat from North Korea persisted and Iran was not taking steps towards making a nuclear bomb, conclusions that contrasted starkly with Trump's assessments of those countries. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!" Trump, who criticized U.S. intelligence agencies even before he took office, said in a Twitter post. Trump cited Iranian rocket launches and said Tehran was "coming very close to the edge." "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" he said. Trump last year pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, saying Tehran was "not living up to the spirit" of the agreement, and reimposed sanctions. Under the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The intelligence officials told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons in violation of the agreement. Their assessments also broke with other assertions by Trump, including on the threat posed by Russia to U.S. elections, the threat the Islamic State militant group poses in Syria, where he plans to withdraw U.S. troops, and North Korea's commitment to denuclearize. "The President has a dangerous habit of undermining the intelligence community to fit his alternate reality," Senator Mark Warner, the Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, wrote on Twitter. "People risk their lives for the intelligence he just tosses aside on Twitter." Story continues Republican U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, who served as a Marine Corps intelligence officer during the Iraq war, defended the intelligence agencies, saying: "They are doing a very difficult job and they are actually trying to advance the president's priorities." BILL TO REBUKE TRUMP? Gallagher was one of a group of Republican and Democratic House of Representatives members who announced bills on Wednesday to set strict conditions before the United States could withdraw troops from Syria or the Korean Peninsula. The Democratic-led House overwhelming passed legislation last week reaffirming U.S. support for the NATO military alliance, another target of Trump criticism. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation on Tuesday urging U.S. troops to remain in Syria and Afghanistan. A few Republicans also joined Democrats on Wednesday to reintroduce a war powers resolution, which passed the Senate but not the House in December in the face of Trump's opposition, seeking to end any U.S. involvement in Yemen's civil war. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Trump should have trusted the intelligence leaders' judgment. "I don't know how many times you can say this but I prefer the president would stay off Twitter - particularly with regard to those important national security issues," Thune told CNN. Trump has challenged U.S. intelligence agencies in the past, including casting doubt on their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help him win the presidency. The CIA and the Director of National Intelligence office did not comment on Trump's remarks. Trump has invested heavily in improving relations with North Korea in hopes of getting Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. He broke with decades of U.S. policy when he agreed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June and plans another summit in February. "North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization," Trump said on Twitter. "I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!" Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel told senators that North Korea viewed its nuclear program as vital to its survival and was unlikely to give it up. Trump also defended his decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria on grounds that Islamic State no longer poses a threat, saying: "We've beaten them." "Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago," Trump said on Twitter. The U.S. intelligence chiefs said Islamic State would continue to pursue attacks from Syria and Iraq against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle, Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Will Dunham and Peter Cooney) Heavy snow hit many parts of the UK causing chaos for commuters in London, southern England, parts of Wales and north and east Scotland. More than 400 schools have been closed, train services are disrupted and more than 100 people spent the night at the famous Jamaica Inn pub high on Bodmin Moor after their cars became stuck on the A30 in Cornwall. As well as the snow, temperatures plummeted to -15 Celsius in Aberdeen, making it one of the coldest nights in the UK for several years. A cold Bristol commuter makes his way to work (PA) The conditions replicated last year when Britain was hit by the so-called Beast from the East at the same time of year. More than a million people were said to have stayed at home because of the conditions and more than 2,000 schools were shut. TFL had warned people to people to get home by 9pm so as not to get stuck in the snowfall. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. The freezing weather has, predictably, crippled parts of the UK as it struggles to cope with the wintry weather. Bristol Airport has suspended all flights this morning and British Airways have cancelled some flights from Heathrow Airport. Bournemouth Airport has been closed completely. Around 12 hours of snowfall knocked out power for around 1,000 homes in and around Southampton. Shaftesburys famous Gold HIll blanketed in snow (PA) To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. All air passengers have been advised to check with their airlines if they were scheduled to fly today. An amber snow warning has been put in in place for southern England and a yellow ice and snow for northern Scotland. And the Met Office has warned of treacherous driving conditions in some areas. Some though hit out at those who did not manage to make it into work. One Londoner Joanna Bunt tweeted: The good thing about travelling to work in the snow the little preciouses are off school because of a #snowday and people freak out so work from home. Bristol commuters brave the weather (PA) The south west appeared to be worst affected overnight. In Devon and Cornwall it was reported that hundreds of motorists blocked roads after abandoning their vehicles, which meant gritters and emergency vehicles failed to get through. Story continues Sammy Wheeler, who runs the Jamaica Inn, said some people had walked a good three, four or five miles through the snow to seek sanctuary in his pub. The snow must go on: An ice cream seller in Merthyr Tydfil didnt let the weather stop him (PA) All 36 rooms at the pub were occupied overnight. Snow depths of of up to five inches were recorded in Bodmin. The chief executive of Cornwall Air Ambulance was one of those who got stranded on Bodmin. A chilly Wanstead Park in London (PA) Some 400 students were stranded in nearby Callywith College after school buses could not reach the school. Teachers and other staff stayed the night and a supermarket donated 800 of blankets, duvets and pillows. Elsewhere, snowfall reached almost similar heights in Cumbria and Inverness-shire. The forecast is for further snow across England, with up to four more inches falling in central and southern areas. Snow showers will continue in Scotland also, say forecasters. The FBI and police in Miami, Florida are investigating after a reported sinkhole turned out to be a narrow tunnel. The tunnel leads from nearby woodland, under a road and towards a Chase Bank branch. Investigators found a small electric generator and electric cables at the entrance of the 45-metre tunnel. There has been no robbery at the bank and it's unknown how long the underground structure has been there. FBI spokesman Mike Leverock said no bodies have been found and no arrests made at this stage. Father-of-three Mr Cox, 53, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, Ireland, suffered catastrophic head injuries in the attack. A man has been charged with assaulting Liverpool FC supporter Sean Cox, police have said. Merseyside Police said Simone Mastrelli, 30, from Rome, had been extradited after being arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in Italy in connection with the assault outside Anfield ahead of the Champions League match between Liverpool FC and AS Roma on April 24 last year. Father-of-three Mr Cox, 53, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, Ireland, suffered catastrophic head injuries in the attack. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. He has been recovering at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. A force spokesman said: Mastrelli was extradited back to England yesterday and has been charged with Section 20 assault and violent disorder. He has been remanded in custody to appear at South Sefton Magistrates Court at 2pm today. Over the new year, Mr Coxs family said they were thankful for the wave of public support and sympathy he had received from across Ireland and the UK, and across football. He has been recovering at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, where his wife Martina says he is slowly making progress. Mrs Cox said her husband, a sales director, still has the battle ahead of a long-slow recovery but was now eating and drinking independently after spending weeks incapacitated. He spent four-and-a-half weeks at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, a specialist neurological unit for brain injuries, following the attack, before being airlifted to another specialist unit at Dublins Beaumont Hospital. The Gaelic football fan was a keen golfer and runner before his brain injury, and was due to run the Dublin marathon before the attack. Ongoing fundraising has raised more than a million euros (992,045) to date to help his family. Liverpool FC will host a special legends game at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on April 12 in aid of SupportSean, the Sean Cox appeal. A squad of former Reds will line up against an Ireland XI team, with proceeds raised from the match donated to the Sean Cox Rehabilitation Trust. Story continues Roma fan Filippo Lombardi, 21, from Rome, was cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox in October, though he was jailed for three years for violent disorder. Daniele Sciusco, 29, from Rome, admitted violent disorder ahead of the match and was jailed for two-and-a-half years in August 2018. Football fans can also support the fundraising appeal directly by visiting: www.gofundme.com/SupportSeanCox Primark has announced the opening date of a second store in Belfast after its former flagship outlet in the city was devastated in a fire. The blaze at the Bank Buildings in August resulted in a cordoned-off zone around the historic building, which saw the city centre effectively split in two and a drop in footfall figures. The retailer confirmed that an investigation into the fire remains ongoing five months on. The Bank Buildings became engulfed in a major fire at the end of August 2018 (Liam McBurney/PA) In a statement, Primark said it is assisting the NIFS (Northern Ireland Fire Service) and HSENI (Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland) with their ongoing investigation. We await the outcome and final report, they added. In December, more than 1,000 people queued on Castle Street for the opening of the first Primark store in Belfast city centre since the fire. Some of an estimated 1,000 people who joined a queue to enter the new Primark store on Castle Street, Belfast in December 2018 (Rebecca Black/PA) On Friday, Primark announced a second store will open on Donegall Place on April 16. Donegall Place opens in addition to our store on Castle Street, which started trading in December following the fire at Bank Buildings in August, 2018, a statement from the retailer said. Primark would once again like to thank the whole community in Belfast for their support over recent months. Flames from a major blaze at the Primark store in Belfast city centre in August 2018 (PA Archive) We will announce more details about the Donegall Place opening in the coming weeks. The French ministry of justice said that it would study a number of options concerning the children of jihadists in nothern Syria and Iraq and how to bring them back to France. They are mainly minors. Their children are born there, others left France with their parents when they were small. There are more children than adults there," said French justice minister Nicole Belloubet on French private radio station RTL on Thursday. She was addressing criticisms about the eventual return of French jihadists to French soil. There are a lot of children. A few have already been repatriated back to France after we made an agreement with their mothers and we have taken on some of the children. We also want to take care of the children who are orphans, she added, saying that it needs to be determined which children are with their parents. Children held by Kurds The French children are being held by Kurdish forces in Syria, said Belloubet, although she does not have and exact number of exactly how many are there. However, 75 per cent are children under seven. She said that the French are detained in different camps, but that also needs to be confirmed. French newswire AFP reports that of the estimated130 French people held in the camps, 50 are adults. The remaining 80 are children. They are being detained by the Kurd-majority Syrian Democratic forces (FDS). France against repatriation France opposes the return of jihadists to France, but prefers that they be repatriated instead of being left in Syria to disappear and turn up later as a security threat on French soil. If the French detained by the Kurds were to be released and expelled, I believe that we - In France - have a collective interest in knowing where they are rather than leaving them free without knowing," she said. Minister Belloubet said that the children and adults would be judicially taken care of once they returned to France where they will be either placed in custody or put under investigation. The fact of having visited a battlefield can be qualified as terrorist criminal association, she said, adding that France has several prisons that would be able to hold this type of prisoner. The French ministry of justice said that it would study a number of options concerning the children of jihadists in nothern Syria and Iraq and how to bring them back to France. They are mainly minors. Their children are born there, others left France with their parents when they were small. There are more children than adults there," said French justice minister Nicole Belloubet on French private radio station RTL on Thursday. She was addressing criticisms about the eventual return of French jihadists to French soil. There are a lot of children. A few have already been repatriated back to France after we made an agreement with their mothers and we have taken on some of the children. We also want to take care of the children who are orphans, she added, saying that it needs to be determined which children are with their parents. Children held by Kurds The French children are being held by Kurdish forces in Syria, said Belloubet, although she does not have and exact number of exactly how many are there. However, 75 per cent are children under seven. She said that the French are detained in different camps, but that also needs to be confirmed. French newswire AFP reports that of the estimated130 French people held in the camps, 50 are adults. The remaining 80 are children. They are being detained by the Kurd-majority Syrian Democratic forces (FDS). France against repatriation France opposes the return of jihadists to France, but prefers that they be repatriated instead of being left in Syria to disappear and turn up later as a security threat on French soil. If the French detained by the Kurds were to be released and expelled, I believe that we - In France - have a collective interest in knowing where they are rather than leaving them free without knowing," she said. Minister Belloubet said that the children and adults would be judicially taken care of once they returned to France where they will be either placed in custody or put under investigation. The fact of having visited a battlefield can be qualified as terrorist criminal association, she said, adding that France has several prisons that would be able to hold this type of prisoner. Australia has some of the toughest checks in the world (GETTY) Indian police have accused a brother and sister of marrying each other to obtain an Australian visa for the woman. Authorities in the Indian state of Punjab allege the siblings forged identity documents and registered themselves as married, before obtaining an Australian spouse visa in 2012. The brother was thought to already have residency in Australia. The pairs cousin lodged a complaint to police earlier in January claiming they had forged a bank account, passport and other documents in the sisters name, before using them to be granted an Australian spouse visa. Inspector Jai Singh of Bathinda District claimed the fraudulent couple were currently living in Australia along with other family members including their father, mother, brother and maternal grandmother. Mr Singh said: According to our investigation, we have come to know so far that the brother was already a permanent resident of Australia and documents were forged to give his sister the identity of their cousin and they first got a marriage certificate from a gurdwara and it was registered in the sub-registrars office. We are carrying out raids to find them so that we can question them and complete our investigation. But so far, their whereabouts are unknown. The Australian Department of Home Affairs told the newspaper that all documents provided as proof of identity when applying for a visa are thoroughly checked and verified with authorities based in the country of origin. But it admitted the department has no control over genuine passports issued by the foreign government which may have been issued based on fraudulent documents. Inspector Singh said that while identity fraud was not common in his jurisdiction, he was left shocked by the current case. The brother and sisters case shocked Indian police investigating the alleged fraud (GETTY) He told SBS Punjab: We all have heard of fake marriages taking place for going migrating overseas, even among close relatives, but this happening with a brother-sister was unheard of. The Australian Border Force (ABF) confirmed that 164 spouse visa applications were refused after they were found to be linked to an ongoing fake marriage syndicate. The Australian High Commission in India issued a warning in December after a 32-year-old Indian national was charged over a Sydney-based fake-marriage visa scam in November 2018. 'Big six' energy firm npower is to cut up to 900 jobs in the UK, blaming "worsened market conditions" including the price cap on default tariffs. The company said it was looking to save costs as it forecast "significant losses" for 2019. It made the announcement after the planned merger of its household supply operations with that of rival SSE (LSE: SSE.L - news) was abandoned last month - weeks before the price cap came into force. :: 'Big six' energy merger called off ahead of price cap The company's statement said: "Npower is today announcing a programme to reduce its operating costs in response to the extremely tough UK retail energy market conditions, in particular Ofgem's price cap and intense competition on fixed price tariffs. "The proposed reductions are likely to affect around 900 roles over the course of the year out of npower's current 6,300 workforce, although as around this number of people leave the company each year, the actual number of redundancies will be considerably lower." Npower said it would be consulting staff and unions early next month. Chief (Taiwan OTC: 3345.TWO - news) executive Paul Coffey added: "The retail energy market is incredibly tough - Ofgem itself forecasts that five of the 'big six' energy companies will make a loss or less than normal profits this year due to the implementation of the price cap, and with several recent failures of new energy suppliers, it is clear that many have been pricing at levels that are not sustainable. :: Sky Views: The fall of small energy firms affects us all "Even (Taiwan OTC: 6436.TWO - news) with these reductions, we still forecast significant losses this year, but we're doing everything we can to minimise them whilst continuing to focus on service and value for our customers." The price cap on default tariffs came into force on 1 January to protect households who fail to switch from paying what the prime minister described as "rip-off" charges. The biggest companies argued there was already effective competition in the market because dozens of suppliers had entered the fray - most under-cutting their charges because they had no infrastructure costs to take into account. Story continues A government statement dismissed the company's link to job losses because of the market intervention. A spokesperson said: "Our price cap protects 11 million households from poor value standard variable and default tariffs, and ensures that consumers pay a fair price for their energy. "Ofgem designed the energy price cap independently, through consultation with industry, so that an efficient supplier can continue to thrive." A number of smaller firms have collapsed this winter - nine across 2018 - as energy costs have risen and they failed to secure enough from their fees. National energy officer of the Unison union, Matt Lay, responded to npower's statement: "This is grim news and means an anxious few months for staff across the company. "But it's just the tip of the iceberg - npower isn't the only firm struggling. "The UK's entire retail energy market is broken and in need of an urgent fix. "Households across the country are now better off because of the price cap. But as more energy suppliers shed staff, or go under completely, it's businesses and consumers who'll end up picking up the tab." Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in his Budget 2019 speech on Friday announced several tax benefits for the salaried and middle class. The salaried class people or those earning up to Rs 5 lakh are now not required to pay income tax. Also, they will be exempted from additional deductions of up to Rs 2 lakh on interest on homes loans, education loans, etc. The government has also increased TDS threshold on deduction of tax on rent, which will benefit the salaried people. The standard deduction limit has also been increased to Rs 50,000. The centre has also assured of GST benefit for home buyers in the coming year. Also read: Piyush Goyal's speech brings smiles to middle class! Let's look at five big announcements made in the Budget 2019. 1. No tax for income up to Rs 5 lakh The Finance Minister said individual taxpayers having taxable annual income up to Rs 5 lakh will get a full tax rebate. He added means those with gross income up to Rs 6.50 lakh may also not have to pay any income tax if they make investments in provident funds, specified savings, insurance etc. The existing income tax exemption limit is Rs 2.5 lakh, and including tax rebate, no tax is payable on income up to Rs 3 lakh. However, all these tax proposals will be presented in the regular budget, and will only be applicable from the financial year 2019-20. "The mega tax relief is a noteworthy move as with this, the limit significantly increases from Rs. 2.5 lacs to Rs. 5 lacs. Also, no tax for people earning a gross income of up to Rs. 6.5 lakhs managed with the right kind of investments will give an impetus to life insurance industry as insurance is an important tax saving tool," said Ms. Saba Adil, Chief People and Operating Officer, Aegon Life Insurance However, there has been no increase in the threshold limit of Rs 2.5 lakh. The government has announced a rebate under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, which has been hiked to Rs 12,500 from the earlier rebate of Rs 2,500. The eligibility of the total income to avail the benefit has now been increased Rs 5 lakh from the earlier from Rs 3.5 lakh. So, only those whose total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh will be eligible for the benefit. 2. Relief on home loans, education loans The government has announced additional deductions such as interest on home loan up to Rs 2 lakh, interest on education loans, National Pension Scheme contributions, medical insurance, medical expenditure on senior citizens. This will provide a tax benefit of Rs 18,500 crore to over 3 crore middle-class taxpayers, including salaried class, self-employed, small businesses, small traders, pensioners and senior citizens, claimed the government. 3. TDS threshold of tax on rent increased The government has increased the TDS threshold for deduction of tax on rent to Rs 2.4 lakh from the current Rs 1.8 lakh, which will provide a big relief to small taxpayers, including salaried class. Also, the benefit of rollover of capital gains under section 54 of the Income Tax Act will be increased from investment in one residential house to two residential houses for those having capital gains up to Rs 2 crore. This benefit, however, can be availed once in a lifetime. Also, the government has done away with 'notional rent' on a second self-occupied house, payable if one has more than one self-occupied house. 4. Standard deduction limit raised For salaried persons, the standard deduction is being raised from the current Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000, which will give additional tax benefit of Rs 4,700 crore to over 3 crore salary earners and pensioners. 5. GST cut for home buyers Union Finance Piyush Goyal said the high taxation levied on multiple commodities in the pre-GST regime has been rationalised to a significant extent, which has provided relief of about Rs 80,000 crore annually to consumers, claimed Goyal. He said the government wants to reduce the GST burden for home buyers, and that it has appointed a group of ministers to examine this. Also read: Budget 2019: Piyush Goyal hikes tax-free gratuity limit to Rs 30 lakh The entrance to Irelands treasury agency. Photo: PA Irelands National Treasury Management Agency, which is responsible for borrowing money on behalf of the state, does not have a Brexit contingency plan, its chief executive said on Friday. The agency, Conor OKelly said, is more worried about the effects of Italian economic woes and changes to the international tax regime. Because Ireland has one of the most open economies in the world foreign capital is often relied upon for more than 80% of state borrowing OKelly said that the agency required a permanent contingency plan, rather than a Brexit-specific one. We are being asked more and more by politicians and policy makers, he said, what are our contingency plans for Brexit. Our answer is: We dont have any. READ MORE: European officials to visit Dublin for no-deal Brexit planning Irish policymakers have long pointed to how exposed Irelands economy is. As a small island economy on the edge of Europe, its financial fortunes are greatly influenced by global markets and contingent on a high level of international trade. On a per capita basis, Irelands national debt is also the third-highest in the developed world. It thus has a limited ability to mitigate the impacts of economic shocks. READ MORE: Irish government publishes no-deal Brexit contingency plan The Irish central bank said in January that Irelands economy is resilient enough to withstand the bumps of a hard Brexit, even though one of the countrys leading think tanks had warned that a no-deal Brexit could almost halve economic growth in 2019. The Irish government in December published an expansive no-deal Brexit contingency plan, warning that such a highly disruptive scenario would have profound political, economic and legal implications for the country. Of course it would be trite to say Brexit is not a worry, but we have things we worry about more, OKelly said. Its just as likely the next negative shock to funding and markets will come from something we have not yet even thought about and is not currently on the front pages of the newspapers. Story continues READ MORE: Irish economy resilient enough to withstand bumps of hard Brexit Part of the agencys overall contingency plan revolves around borrowing ahead of time to lock in todays rates and holding sufficient cash buffers, he noted. It has also made adjustments to when Irelands national debt is owed, and also diversified its debt by both geography and investor type. But Ireland, he said, is vulnerable and will need a contingency plan for many years to come. Lidia Thorpe, a Gunnai-Kurnai & Gunditjmara woman and former Greens MP appeared on Studio 10 this week in a follow-up panel to the clash between Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Yumi Stynes. Thorpe (pictured left) was in a Melbourne studio addressing Kennerleys comments while Alice Springs councillor Jacinta Price (pictured right), in the 10 Sydney studio, disagreed with her position and sided with Kennerley. But Thorpe has now has written an opinion piece for Nine website 9Honey titled Heres what I wasnt given the chance to say to KAK. In her article she refers to sweeping generalisations on the program and disputes claims by Price she herself is racist and privileged. On morning television, I told KAK she needed to let go of her white privilege. KAK was offended but it wasnt an attack, Thorpe writes. Its about KAK understanding she has the privilege of being able to turn on the TV and see almost everyone is white. Its about going into a workplace and not being labelled the coloured person in the room, about giving birth in a hospital without being allocated an Aboriginal liaison officer, about walking into a shop and not being asked where your money came from, about applying for a rental property without hiding that youre Aboriginal. In KAKs world, everything in your environment is legitimising rather than undermining your entitlement to be there. There was little consensus in the panel follow-up other than the women agreeing to visit Alice Springs to see communities first-hand. KAK agreed to the invitation on air. You can read more of Thorpes article here. Related Four Corners returns to ABC on Monday with Escape from Saudi, a report by Sophie McNeill on the women who make it -and the ones who dont. This is presented by Sarah Ferguson. My name is Rahaf Mohammed. Im 18 years old They have my passport and tomorrow they will force me to go backPlease help me. They will kill me. Rahaf Al Qunun. It was a voice of desperation, an urgent SOS to the world. A Saudi teenager, trapped in transit, on the run from her family and the Saudi state, hoping to make it to Australia. I planned my escapeI planned it at dawn, paid for my tickets, left in the morning while my family slept and arrived at the airport. Rahaf Al Qunun. Within hours #saverahaf lit up social media and set off global headlines. There was no going back for Rahaf nowI couldnt live with myself if this was a real person and I didnt do what I could to help her. Author. Four Corners reporter Sophie McNeill flew to Bangkok, slipped past security and joined Rahaf Al Qunun as the young woman barricaded herself inside the room. An officialhas just knocked on the door and tried to get Rahaf to leave, shes refused theyve tried all sorts of ways of enticing her out of the room. Sophie McNeill, reporter. On Monday Four Corners reveals how the extraordinary events unfolded, using exclusive previously unseen video recorded by both Sophie McNeill and Rahaf herself. The program captures moments of high tension, despair and eventual jubilation when Rahaf is offered asylum in Canada. Rahaf is one of the lucky ones; not every woman gains her freedom. In this dramatic investigation, Four Corners reveals how Australia has become a hotspot for women attempting to escape the oppressive Saudi regime. Not everyone makes it. They beat her. They taped her mouth shut. They bound her arms and legs together, and dragged her onto a plane kicking and screaming, and nobody did anything. This is a grown woman. Author. The program shows the tactics used and the pressure applied to try to stop these young women. The Saudi state is active in exerting its diplomatic influence to try to interdict them. Human rights investigator. Those lucky enough to make it to Australia say they are still at risk. The investigation has uncovered multiple cases of Saudi women here in Australia, living in fear, telling reporter Sophie McNeill of the attempts to intimidate or trick them into returning them home. They are trying to reach the girls and speak to them to convince them to return back to Saudi. Saudi woman in Australia. Monday 4th February at 8.30pm on ABC. Related Media articles around Married at First Sight have hit a premium this year as press are keen to pump out stories on the #1 show on television. On the Daily Mail there is a cavalcade of stories about the show and contestants, spanning everything from honeymoon hotels to spoiler speculation on couples who have split (and even yarns quoting TV Tonight programmer interviews). Interestingly, theres not too much on MKR. News Corp included a story on the alleged past history of a brides brother (Daily Mail went one better with paparazzo shots of him shirtless on a construction site). Meanwhile news.com.au also has a story on a former bride from 2017 who alleges she was prevented from leaving a shoot after a long night of filming. Scarlett Cooper claimed she was pursued by a producer and cameraman when she fled from filming, in manic scenes sounding like an episode of UnREAL. She called the police who arrived about 1.30am who eventually took her home. The incident made news in 2017 which you can read about here. Coopers contract included a non-disclosure agreement that extended for months after the show, but has since expired. Its not clear why she is speaking out about it again now, other than being free to do so You can read more on her claims here. All production shoots, including the one here in question, comply with and follows all applicable licensing regulations and legal requirements, an Endemol Shine Australia spokesperson said in a statement. Only 1 couple from all previous MAFS seasons remains together. Related The last two contenders to represent Australia at Eurovision 2019 have been confirmed. They are: Sheppard: On My Way Tania Doko: Piece of Me (to be released in full on Spotify on Monday) Sheppard says, On My Way is about someone craving the uncontrollable heat and passion they feel when they are with the one they love. Its about excitedly making their way to reunite with their lover, wherever that may be in the world. We love it because its quite musically complex, but very easy to listen to. Tania Doko says, As the song suggests, I am giving Aussie audiences a Piece of Me, and for me thats pretty special as Ive been living in Sweden for ten years and I genuinely miss performing in Australia. For me its another reminder of an inescapable truth that we are all people, not machines. We live in a fast-paced world, and we can all feel like everyone wants a piece of us. But at the end of the day, whats it all for? Who represents home? Sometimes we forget the why and take those closest for granted. The other 8 acts vying for their shot to represent Australia are: Kate Miller-Heidke with Zero Gravity, Mark Vincent with This Is Not The End, Electric Fields with 2000 and Whatever, Courtney Act with Fight for Love, Aydan with Dust, Leea Nanos with Set Me Free, Ella Hooper with Data Dust, Alfie Arcuri with To Myself. Dami Im will also guest perform with Sound of Silence at Eurovision: Australia Decides. There is also a contest for 2 people to win a trip to the Gold Coast. Voting opens at 1:00am AEDT on Saturday 9 February. To register an SMS vote, voters must text the song number (as promoted in program) of their favourite Act to 1991 3773. Premium SMS must be enabled to vote. Voting costs $0.55 per vote and the maximum number of votes is 20 per mobile phone provider. By casting a valid vote for Eurovision Australia Decides voters will automatically be entered into the Eurovision Australia Decides Win the Ultimate Trip to the Gold Coast! competition. Saturday 9 February, 8:30pm AEDT on SBS. Related A Vietnamese man who was in a critical condition after consuming alcohol mixed with industrial methanol now has a bad prognosis as doctors in Ho Chi Minh City feed pure ethanol into the patients digestive system to delay methanol breakdown, while he is undergoing dialysis. D.V.M., a resident in Ho Chi Minh City, was admitted to the 115 General Hospital in District 10 in the early hours of Wednesday with symptoms of methanol poisoning. M. sat down for a few drinks of alcohol with a friend from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm on Monday. He went to work as usual the next morning, but began to feel sick on Tuesday evening, with symptoms including fatigue, difficulty breathing and profuse vomiting. M. was rushed to the 115 General Hospital early Wednesday, where doctors diagnosed him with methanol poisoning, allegedly from consuming alcohol that had been mixed with industrial methanol. At the time of his admission, M. was unconscious and in a critical condition, suffering from respiratory distress and low blood pressure. The pH level in his blood was dangerously low, coupled with damage to the liver and kidneys that could threaten the patients life, doctors said. Tests showed the concentration of methanol in his blood was 54.1 milligrams per deciliter 36 hours after consumption of the alcohol, way over the deadly threshold of 40 mg/dl. Two bottles of alcohol that D.V.M. consumed before he suffered from methanol poisoning. Photo: Tuoi Tre Pure ethanol of 96-percent concentration was administered to the patients stomach to help delay the bodys natural breakdown of methanol, a process that releases harmful toxins, while he underwent dialysis to remove the methanol from his digestive system. However, the patients condition has not seen much improvement, as doctors say prognosis is bad. Earlier this month, doctors at a hospital in north-central Vietnam took a similar approach to treating a patient suffering from methanol poisoning with successful results. Doctors in Quang Tri Province fed the patient 15 cans of beer, containing around four percent of ethanol each, as they performed dialysis on him. Methanol poisoning is a persistent issue in Vietnam, where alcohol sold on the market can come from unlicensed establishments that mix methanol with the drink for higher profits. Over 2,700 people suffered from methanol poisoning in the country, and ten died, in the first ten months of 2018, according to the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! This is something I have long wanted to do, Dang Vi Uyen Nhi said as she left a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City shortly after completing the registration to become an organ donor. The young woman, a digital marketing associate at a company in the citys Binh Thanh District, made the decision to register on her 24th birthday, she told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, adding that knowing her organs and body could help those in need gave her an overwhelming feeling of confidence in her life. While young people are not yet flocking by the thousands to register as organ donors, local hospitals do say there has been a recent upswing in the number of youths who have signed up. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Trang and Hoang Ha, two young professionals in the southern metropolis, also recently made the decision to become organ donors. It is not exactly common for young people living a healthy life to start thinking about what will become of their bodies after death, but after a long period of inner conflict and hours of research, the decision was clear. Its normal to be hesitant about organ donation when youre alive, but I am willing to do it when I die, said Trang, a 24 year-old video editor in Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Trang Organ donation involves transplanting healthy organs and tissues from a recently deceased person to someone in need. The kidneys, heart, intestines, lungs, and several other organs from a single healthy donor can save eight to ten people, but healthcare institutions around the world are still desperate for organs to help their patients. I know that organs are very precious and hospitals are always in need [of organs for patients], said Trang. Ha, a 30-year-old media employee, also shared Trangs sentiment, explaining that it was important to her to decide what would happen to her body after her death even though she is still young, healthy, beautiful and bubbly. I believe Im mature enough to make this decision, she said. Organ donation is still considered taboo in Vietnam, where traditional culture dictates that the deceased should be buried with a complete corpse. Those who register as organ donors often face criticism from their families, relatives, and friends. A survey of youths in Ho Chi Minh City showed that 67-70 percent of young people say they are willing to donate organs, an extremely high number, according to doctor Hoang Thi Diem Thuy head of the nephrology and endocrinology division at the Childrens Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. Thuy did not mention the size of the sample or date of the survey. The wife of a lung donor (R) meets the mother of a lung recipient. Photo: L.Anh / Tuoi Tre Dr. Thuy shared that young Vietnamese have become much more open to organ and body donation but internal and external conflicts involving religions, cultures, and social prejudices often leave them hesitant about making a final decision. Nhi, Trang and Ha are no exception. When I asked my friends for their opinions on my decision, most of them tried to stop me, Nhi said. Similarly, Trang was met with heavy disapproval from her family, who declared organ donation as a bad omen. They told me it is important to live and die with a full body. It made me think twice, but in the end I got over it, said Trang. More and more donors According to Vietnams Ministry of Health, around 4,000 people have been saved in Vietnamese hospitals by donated organs, including 105 transplanted livers, nearly 20 transplanted hearts, three lung transplants, and thousands of kidney and corneal transplants. Trinh Hong Son, director of the National Coordination Center for Organ Transplantation, gives an organ donation card to Mourez Thomas, attache of medical cooperation and social development of the French Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: National Coordination Center for Organ Transplantation According to Nguyen Hoang Phuc, deputy director of the National Center for Coordinating Human Organ Transplants, the number of people registering to donate their organs after their death has been on an upward trend over the past two years. In 2018, the number of registrants hit approximately 8,000, equal to that of the four previous years combined, he explained. People come to the center every day to register as organ donors," Phuc said. "Sometimes theyre even outside waiting even before the center has officially opened." In 2018, about 20,000 people registered as organ and body donors, nearly double the number of registrants from 2017. Many of them are young people and some are even celebrities. Knowing that there are so many people willing to help give the gift of life exudes a very warm feeling. Three special cases of organ donation made the news in 2018 after three children, aged 4, 7 and 12, gifted their corneas after death so that six blind people might have the opportunity to see. Also in 2018, four domestic flights carried organs donated by young people for those in need. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A set of three statues of pigs dressed up as famous superheroes in U.S comics and installed as decorations at a flower street in Bien Hoa, the capital of the southern province of Dong Nai, has received mixed opinions from the public over the past few days. As the Lunar New Year 2019 ushers in the Year of the Pig, the animal is the main theme for decorations at public places and attractions across Vietnam. Decorations at Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street in Bien Hoa are no exception. But three of the pig statues there have become the talk of the town for their controversial designs. The cartoon pigs in question are dressed up as three well-known superheroes - Superman, Spider-Man and Iron Man -- and not all visitors are pleased with the designs. 'Iron Pig'. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Pictures of the superhero pigs were quick to surface on Facebook, and, like any other times, immediately sparked mixed responses. Many think that the trio are ugly due to their fierce eyes, even though they are identical to those of the real Superman, Spider-Man and Iron Man, whereas others describe the statues as cute and adorable." Too ugly! Too ugly! a Facebook user named Nhu Hai Nguyen commented, while Duyen, a resident in Bien Hoa, said, Pig statues should be cute while these look scary." 'Spider-Pig'. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre But Pham Thi Trieu Tien, a resident in the neighboring province of Binh Duong, has a different view. They are not scary at all, but rather lovely and cute, deserving to be the highlights of the flower street, Tien underlined. A little boy takes a photo with the 'superhero pig' statues. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street is an annual event organized at the eponymous park in Bien Hoa by the municipal culture department on Lunar New Year occasions. The departmental head, Nguyen Van Bong, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the superhero-pigs are meant to make an adorable attraction for children. He underlined that the controversial statues are not the only decorations visitors can find at Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street. There are several other pig statues with cheerful and amusing faces, attracting many visitors, he said. This years Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street, themed Bien Hoa - Eastern Scents and Colors," runs from January 30 to February 9, showcasing more than 50,000 flower pots of various kinds on the 1,100-meter pathway. A set of decorations at Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Visitors are seen at Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre A man takes a selfie at Nguyen Van Tri Flower Street in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Photo: Courtesy of the Retailer Dressing when youre pregnant is always a challenge, but its especially tricky during colder months when youre not only battling a protruding belly but also polar vortex temperatures. There are definitely lots of maternity coat options out there, says Grace Kapin, co-founder of Storq, but its hard to pull the trigger on what can feel like a particularly temporary piece of clothing. To help us scope out the best maternity winter coats that arent crazy expensive (or hideous), we spoke to Kapin; Eva Dorsey and Yelena Ferrer, the owners of New York City maternity and childrens consignment shop Janes Exchange; Ariane Goldman, founder of Hatch; and Wild Was Mama store manager Victoria Tartaglione. Bonus: Some of these coats are not maternity clothing at all and can seamlessly transition into postpartum wear. Maternity winter coats Mamalicious Parka $114 now 39% off $70 Janes Exchange co-owners Dorsey and Ferrer like to keep things budget-friendly at their consignment shop in the East Village, and Mamalicious is among the more affordable brands they carry. While the maternity fur-trimmed hood parka coat they recommend is now sadly sold out, heres a similar, shorter version in a trendy dusty rose with an adjustable drawstring waist thats designed to fit pre- and postpartum. The best part is that its currently on sale for under $100. $70 at ASOS Buy Mamalicious Maternity Padded Parka With Post Birth Functionality $222 now 50% off $111 Heres another padded coat from Mamalicious that comes with a detachable maternity panel (essentially an extender for your bump) that can accommodate space for wearing your baby once you give birth. There are also drawstrings for maximum adjustability, while the longer length is great for more extreme weather. It also happens to be on sale for 50 percent off. $111 at ASOS Buy Motherhood Maternity Three-In-One Belted Quilted Puffer Coat $150 Dorsey and Ferrer also recommend this belted puffer from Motherhood Maternity: Motherhood Maternity has this great three-in-one hooded parka that you can wear all throughout your pregnancy and then post. We love the navy color. This coat also comes with a removable center panel for your belly. Postpartum, you can flip it over to create a pocket in which to hold your baby while wearing a carrier. $150 at Motherhood Maternity Buy The M Coat Maternity and Babywearing Jacket $480 now 41% off $285 A favorite of Wild Was Mamas Tartagliones is the M Coat, a trendy, warm, and most importantly, practical three-in-one coat for any pregnant mama braving the cold. Made from down, it features a center panel that can also accommodate baby-wearing postpartum. But you can remove the panel and wear it as a regular coat, too. It has a sleek and stylish design, which can be hard to come by in the maternity clothing world, says Tartaglione. Its also machine-washable. $285 at Wild Was Mama Buy Mamalicious Wool Wrap Coat $178 now 53% off $83 Wrap coats are a pregnant womans best friend because they can be worn open or tied. Heres another favorite from Janes Exchange, also by Mamalicious. The high-rise tie waist allows you to secure the coat over your bump and would be great for layering. $83 at ASOS Buy Kimi + Kai Maternity Robin Wool Blend Cape $228 now 40% off $137 For something a little more vibrant, Dorsey and Ferrer recommend this swingy red wool cape with Little Red Riding Hood vibes that wont feel constricting at all, no matter how far along you are. In general, Dorsey and Ferrer also see a lot of women using ponchos or capes in all different fabrics and styles and it adds a really gorgeous flair. $137 at Kimi + Kai Buy Non-maternity maternity winter coats Acne Studios Odethe Double Breasted Wool and Cashmere Coat $1,450 For those who want to opt out of buying maternity-specific winter coats altogether, Storqs Kapin suggests going for oversize wool coats, like this piece from Acne Studios. Weve seen lots of conveniently spacious cocoon coats this season, says Kapin. Hatchs Goldman agrees: Some of the moments more avant-garde shapes tend to have room [for your belly]. While its definitely an investment piece, youll be wearing it long after you have your baby. $1,450 at Nordstrom Buy COS Belted Wool Coat $350 Kapin also suggests loose wrap coats for staying warm throughout a winter pregnancy, like this belted wool coat from COS. It is something that can adapt to your changing body and feels just as chic and classic not pregnant, she says. $350 at COS Buy Orolay Womens Thickened Down Jacket $247 now 56% off From $108 As ubiquitous as Amazons Orolay coat is, it would make a great maternity piece, given its oversize silhouette and side panels that zip open for extra room. A bunch of reviewers agree, including one who writes: I am currently 7 months pregnant and bought this coat a month ago, wearing it non-stop since it arrived. Its delightful! I was so skeptical of an affordable garment with so many positive reviews, but I cant imagine a better coat for the price. The bonus is that its versatile enough to wear through my pregnancy, but stay in my closet permanently. From $108 at Amazon Buy From $108 at Amazon Buy And a few bonus layers If youve reached a point where even buttoning an oversized coat is no longer possible, well opt to go deep on layering, says Kapin. That way you can peel back or add on layers as needed. We all know the sporadically heated subway car is not actually a godsend when youre wearing 800 wool things. For the most efficient layering technique, Kapin suggests starting with a tight base layer, then a thermal piece or sweater on top. Add a shorter jacket plus a longer, larger coat over that. If the coat doesnt close, well fill the gap with a big wool scarf wrapped around our neck with the ends hanging long in front. Then close the whole thing up with a belt. Uniqlo Heattech Turtleneck Long-Sleeve T-shirt $15 $15 This writers go-to winter outfit has been layering a Uniqlo Heattech turtleneck under oversize sweaters, like Storqs drape-y Frame Sweater (which, full disclosure, was given to us by the brand). $15 at Uniqlo Buy Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket $70 $70 For extra warmth without the bulk, throw on Uniqlos ultra light down puffer (unzipped, if you need to) underneath an A-line coat or a belted trench. $70 at Uniqlo Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. In the dead of night in a Hanoi cemetery, Nguyen Van Thang's casket is unearthed; his bones carefully cleaned, wrapped in silk and then reburied, so he can finally segue into the next life. The ceremony is one of Vietnam's most sacred death rituals, an ancient custom usually carried out before the Tet lunar new year, which falls in early February this year, as the final act in life's journey. Many Vietnamese, especially in the north, honour their dead with reburials -- normally three years after their loved ones are first laid to rest. Modernity is chipping away at the tradition with cremations preferred as a more simple, clean and cheap passage into the afterlife. For Thang's relatives, however, meeting his wishes of a reburial three years after he died of cancer aged 59 was never in question. "Finally, he can rest in his nice new home. I feel so blessed and happy," said his wife Ha Thi Thua from his graveside at a cemetery on the outskirts of Hanoi. The hours-long ceremonies are not for the impatient -- or faint of heart. Beginning in the evening, a shaman makes offerings to the spirit guardian and the deceased -- in Thang's case, sticky rice, boiled chicken, a paper horse model for the spirit guardian to ride on and fake US dollar bills among a cornucopia of items. Then the shaman chants and tosses coins to gain "permission" from the dead and the grave's spiritual guardian to begin the ritual, before the coffin is dug out by gravediggers and relatives. Once the coffin has been carefully lifted out of the ground, the bones are gently removed. If the remains are black and bare of flesh, as Thang's were, it's a relief. Otherwise, the grim but essential task of scraping the flesh off must begin. The reburial ceremony is one of Vietnam's most sacred death rituals, an ancient custom usually carried out before the Tet lunar new year, which falls in early February this year, as the final act in life's journey. Photo: AFP The sight of her dead husband was too much for Thua to bear, and she fainted as his skull, ribs, tiny hands and feet were washed by bone cleaners in a pot of herbal water. "Did the man have all his teeth when he was alive?" a bone cleaner asked the family, a sour odour wafting in the air. "Yes," replied a daughter, knowing the importance of reburying her father with all his parts in place. The final and most important step is re-wrapping the bones and placing them in a new "tieu" -- a small, carved stone casket that is buried in a new resting place, this time forever. Journey for the soul Adherents to the ancient custom believe the souls of the dead are stuck in a spiritual limbo until they are reburied. "The soul can't make the journey by itself, it needs living humans, especially relatives, to do it for them," explains anthropology professor Shaun Malarney of Japan's International Christian University. According to the belief system, even the souls of the living might be eternally uncomfortable if the ritual is not correctly carried out. Performed with few luxuries in the post-war period, the ceremonies have become splashier in step with rising wealth, Malarney added, with more elaborate offerings for the dead to enjoy in the next life. Adherents to the ancient custom in Vietnam believe the souls of the dead are stuck in a spiritual limbo until they are reburied. Photo: AFP But modernity has seen the ritual fall out of favour with some families helped by government efforts since the 1990s to push cremations as a hygienic alternative. Today Hanoi families who cremate their dead get a $130 rebate from the government, and once-scarce cremation parlours have popped up across the city catering to a growing number of customers. Even some long-time bone-cleaners prefer the modern approach. "I sent my mother's body for cremation when she died in 2017. It was much nicer, simpler and cleaner," said Tien Huong, donning gloves and a face mask before cleaning Thang's remains. Those who oppose cremation believe burning a body after death will suspend a spirit in a hot state for eternity. Regardless of how the deceased are sent off, it is up to the living to make sure the proper respects are paid. "In the end, your attitude towards the death of your parents is what counts most. Reburial or cremation doesn't matter," cultural researcher Le Quy Duc told AFP. Believing children should be exposed to the art world at a young age in order to tap their full potential, a married couple in Hanoi has established a private art center to nurture a love for arts amongst kids. Ti Toay, a Vietnamese word that describes subtle arm movements, like fidgeting, has been in operation since 2013. The art center maintains a stable workforce of 35 personnel responsible for the roughly 500 learners who study at its four campuses each month. Unlike other conventional art schools, which adopt patented courses from mostly foreign sources, Ti Toay utilizes its own nine instruction manuals, which capably cater to various targets, from the elderly, retirees, to elementary schoolers. But prior to such a scale of operation was a silent struggle of individuality. Yearning for a difference Everything began in 2013, when couple Le Dang Ninh, now 32, and Nguyen Thuy Trang, 31, decided to fulfill the womans dream of making a difference in the countrys art teaching landscape. Hailing from a family long attuned to artistic pursuit, then-25-year-old Trang was dissatisfied with Hanois extracurricular art courses. The fact that such courses were similar to crammers, where children were taught the end justified the means as parents only admired their final results, does not please Trang, who believes art studies can unlock diverse perspectives and give way to boundless imagination, which in turn yields creativeness. Despite such positivity, art has never truly flowed in modern Vietnam evident as the subject is considered secondary in general education, while its higher education aspirants dwindle by the time. Worse still, due to the pressure stemming from standardized exams, as well as rigorous academic competition, it has often been found at the lowest of priorities for both students and parents alike. The art education market is equally unhealthy. Many Vietnamese art institutes received sponsors from international organizations, and passively call for enrollment only during summer breaks, during which they were assured of the stable flow of learners. Once the academic year starts, most of these institutes would maintain a low profile as they patiently wait for summer. Furthermore, art in Vietnam is often restrained and regulated into a common path by the responsible, which could not see much growth for young practitioners, if any at all. No wonder the market is very humble, and circulated only around a handful of those accustomed to the flair. Fully intending to revert the situation for the better, the Ninh-Trang duo were determined to take matters into their own hands, via an art establishment of their own. Nurturing young minds with art has never been a walk in the park, yet it does not mean the challenges posed are impossible to resolve, Ninh affirmed. With only VND20 million (US$862), the couple ran the first of Ti Toays sessions in 2013. Save for Trangs art-media masters degree earned in France on a scholarship, and the fact that both were not shackled to common practice, almost every other element was working against them. Ninh and Trang knew nothing of business administration, and their center at the time was just limited to a 15-square-meter room, packed full with six students who already knew one another before they met in this class. But with the support from like-minded parents, plus Trangs immense knowledge of artistic approaches, they supplemented what learners could not achieve at their main schools, and steadily worked themselves up. At Ti Toay today, all drawing materials are employed, and the curriculum development process evolves around the visual/applied/media art field trio to boost growth in students in the most diverse, yet natural way possible. Nguyen Thuy Trang, co-founder of Ti Toay, is seen in this supplied photo. Haste makes waste To comprehend the nature of art, and how it assists the cognitive expansion of young minds, adults should never rush the process for a hastened result. Instead, Ti Toay encourages its learners to shy from judging the-end products on a score-based chassis, and puts more effort on the journey of each individual. It is not the fanciful outcomes, but meaningful build-up that enhances mental development. Should parents and children alike regard experiencing art as a journey, then both will benefit greatly from such a creative mindset, Trang said. To spark curiosity, enable healthy growth, while entertaining young minds, it is not the art, nor the materials, but each souls experience in the ordeal that calls the shot. Such an approach to art has been scientifically claimed as positive as it improves language proficiency, mathematical immersion, stress reduction, and other factors. But maintaining a growing Ti Toay while remaining true to its original creed is not an easy feat. Besides making an effort to alter the adults school of thought, Ti Toay also has to instill within its workforce a sense of creativeness, and fiery passion for art. That is not to say the center, due to their focus on inner quality, has faced rising financial problems for quite a while. Yet those are not the most pressing matters. For Ninh, what he deems the most challenging task is to keep hold of the learners excitement, and interest for the practice. Ninh hopes to see them change for the better after attending his courses, admittingly not a piece of cake after all. Trang, now a university instructor and a mother to two children, shares the same view as her husband. The artist-turned-teacher surmises that both occupations relate majorly to creativity, only with different results. While an artist puts drawings up for exhibition, an art teacher shapes young aspirants into proper human beings, capable of moral goodness. In this day and age, even though art practitioners can learn on their own by using the Internet, human-to-human interaction remains steadfast as ever for the sake of esthetics and individual identity. About Ti Toay, both husband and wife agree that their journey is only just beginning. For us, success is the sheer persistence amidst sprawling challenges. We will see how far our passion can carry us, Ninh stated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Coffee shipments from Vietnam are expected to fall sharply next week on the Lunar New Year holiday, while trade in Indonesia will continue to be quiet on empty stock and wont pick up until March. Markets in Vietnam will close next week and I think export activities wont resume until the holiday is over, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Farmers in the Central Highlands sold coffee at VND32,400-33,600 (US$1.41-$1.46) per kilogram COFVN-DAK on Thursday, down from a range of VND32,600-33,800 a week earlier. Traders in Vietnam offered five percent black and broken grade-two robusta COFVN-G25-SAI at a $50 per metric ton discount to the March contract, compared with $60-$70 discount last week. Farmers in the Central Highlands, the countrys largest coffee growing area, have sold more than 50 percent of their newly harvested beans of the 2018-19 crop year, traders said. Data released by the governments General Statistics Office on Tuesday showed coffee exports from Vietnam in January will likely fall 19.1 percent from a year earlier to 175,000 metric tons. Last week, traders forecast January coffee shipments would total 200,000 metric ton. Coffee export revenue for Vietnam, the worlds biggest producer of the robusta bean, will likely fall 27.2 percent to $305 million in January, the GSO said. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, many coffee exporters wont even bother setting prices or make any offers to foreign buyers due to a lack of beans. Indonesias premium for the grade-four defect 80 robusta COFID-G4-USD stayed flat at $50-$60 to the March contract on Thursday, a trader in Lampung said. The trader expects activities to start picking up pace in March as the mini harvest is expected in some areas in southern Sumatra. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. We hope you have enjoyed your complimentary access for the month. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. And though Kelly has frequently been rumored as a candidate for public office, he has never so openly contemplated it. Former Rep. Ron Barber, who replaced Giffords in Congress after she was shot and remains close to the couple, said previous rumors of Kelly contemplating a run were baseless. This is his first real consideration. Not only is Kelly actively considering it himself, he is also the subject of a Draft Mark Kelly petition drive by 314 Action, a Democratic-aligned group that recruits scientists to run for office. And his national prominence continues to rise. He is appearing with his brother Scott in an Amazon commercial scheduled to air during the Super Bowl this Sunday. If Kelly is ever going to run, this may be his moment. And it would potentially create an All-Southern-Arizona general election vs. Tucson resident McSally unless McSally is successfully challenged in the GOP primary. Kelly would likely face less resistance from the Democratic rank and file then former Republican Woods has faced. Progressives in the party have been going through his records as a radio-show host, pointing out instances of sexist language that they say makes him unfit for a Democratic Party nomination. Protesters don Putin and Trump masks during a demonstration against U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty on February 1, 2019. Photo: picture alliance/picture alliance via Getty Image President Trump just delivered what was probably the death blow to one of the underpinnings of 30 years of peace in Europe, announcing the suspension of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The move could irreparably damage prospects for further international arms limits, just as were experiencing rapid technological change and heightened great power rivalry. Thus, its time for Americans to reconsider what kind of posture we should set with the worlds deadliest weapons and the 2020 presidential contest may be the venue for that debate. The landmark 1987 agreement bars the U.S. and Russia from fielding ground-launched cruise missiles that can fly between 310 and 3,420 miles, the range Washington or Moscow would use to hit targets in Europe. In a statement released Monday morning, President Trump said the U.S. will suspend its compliance with the INF Treaty on Saturday and begin the withdrawal process, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other, Trump added. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct. The Trump administration has telegraphed this move for several months. Its a response to Russias new SSC-8 ground-fired cruise missile which violates the treaty, according to both the U.S. and NATO and more broadly, to concerns that China is building a large stock of intermediate-range nuclear missiles. The accord has constrained Washingtons efforts to counter Chinas militarization of the South China Sea. The Obama administration accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty in 2014, but Moscow was adamant that it would not cancel the missile system, and eventually claimed that Washington had flouted its terms as well. With each side alleging violations, the treaty seemed in bad shape even before the Trump administration developed an interest in building and deploying intermediate-range nuclear missiles of its own. The problem at hand is much broader than any specific missile system; its the demise of the principles underlying the treaty that we should really worry about. The treaty signaled a profound interrelationship between U.S. and European defenses, such that Moscow would always have to worry that an attack on Europe would be met by a stronger counterattack from the U.S. That, our European allies believed, still constrained Moscow from building even more weapons targeting Europe and perhaps just as important, from applying pressure through cyberwarfare, influence operations, and other nonmilitary measures. Obviously, you dont need a treaty suspension to tell you the security ties between Washington and Europe are unraveling. But for a relationship that was always based on the assumption of deterrence, this is a significant blow. The INF Treaty negotiated between Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev was also a model for internationalizing the risk of nuclear war through intrusive inspections and extensive information sharing. It paved the way for conventional arms treaties that came after it as the Cold War was ending, and for the kinds of deals Washington got from Iran and has demanded from North Korea. If the United States is no longer willing to share that kind of information about its own forces, or to use its human and technological resources to get that information from others, then other efforts to curb nuclear and conventional weapons are in deep, deep trouble. The weapons prohibited by the INF Treaty were seen as uniquely destabilizing, as their shorter flight times demanded even faster decisions, potentially unleashing full-on nuclear war in less time than it takes the president to compose a tweet. In the 1980s, Washington and Moscow led in cementing a global consensus that such weapons should not be built or deployed. Today, China is building them by the dozens, Moscow has brought its system on line, and some Pentagon officials and GOP national security circles want similar weapons. Arms-control advocates have long countered that the U.S. should negotiate a trilateral agreement with Russia and China to limit intermediate-range weapons. But the Trump administration was uninterested and its fair to say that Beijing sees little to gain from such an agreement either. Instead, the Trump administration began development of its own intermediate-range weapons a year ago, and has spoken to defense firms about plans for others. In case anyone missed the message that the administration likes nuclear weapons and wants to field more of them, news broke this week that the U.S. Department of Energy has started making new small nuclear weapons (i.e. weapons with one-half to one-third the power of the bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki). These developments were approved by Congress back in 2017, but following the 2018 midterm elections, some lawmakers have been pressing to take another look. They are led by Democratic congressman Adam Smith of Washington, the new chair of the powerful House Armed Services Committee. Smith has said he will try to ban the smallest weapons and redo the administrations entire approach to nuclear weapons, spelled out in the most recent Nuclear Policy Review. That may seem like a tall order when Democrats control just one house of Congress, but Smith can if he chooses to make sure that these issues get the kind of loud public debate they havent had in a generation. And he can team up with fiscal hawks in both parties to insist that the Pentagon make choices for instance, between adding nuclear submarines and surface ships, or launching new missile systems and ambitious aviation expansions (like Trumps proposed Space Force). It looks like Smith will have some help from the 2020 presidential class. This week, the congressman teamed up with Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce a bill that would commit the United States to launching nuclear weapons only in response to their use by another nation. The so-called No First Use policy is hotly debated by nuclear experts, and is unlikely to reach the floor for a vote, much less pass but the bill does draw attention to the administrations interest in developing weapons explicitly designed for first use. Meanwhile, Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation that would bar the Pentagon from developing weapons that were banned under the INF Treaty unless a U.S. ally specifically offers to host them. Many of the bills sponsors are either already running for president or rumored to be considering it; the list includes Senators Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Sherrod Brown. Dont dismiss this as just 2020 positioning. Washingtons nuclear posture, essentially unchanged since the Cold War, is fraying from all sides. Conservatives say that Chinas major weapons upgrades, the emergence of North Korea as a nuclear power, and a more hostile Russia all mean that Washington should up its nuclear game and possibly even take another look at using nuclear weapons on the battlefield. That idea was broadly discredited during the Cold War. (There is no such thing as a nuclear weapon, even a small one, that only ruins half of your day.) But on questions from whether cyberwar and hypersonic weapons change the foundations of nuclear theory, to how to live with a nuclear North Korea, to how to respond to Chinas growing arsenal, opponents of the administrations policies are going to have to come up with serious, fleshed-out alternatives. That kind of debate only comes around once in a generation, and it looks as if it has arrived. Nationwide, the amount of fentanyl seized at ports of entry has jumped from 440 pounds in fiscal year 2016 to more than 1,196 in 2017. As of July 31, with two months remaining in fiscal 2018, officers had already seized nearly 1,400 pounds of fentanyl across the United States. Fentanyl is not the only narcotic coming across largely through the countrys ports of entry. About 85 percent of all hard drugs cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine seized by Customs and Border Protection between fiscal years 2012 through 2018 (as of Aug. 31, 2018) was caught by customs officers, not Border Patrol agents working between the ports. The Border Patrol is also seeing a rise in meth smuggling, however. Most hard narcotics seized at CBP are at the ports of entry and thats the case here, Humphries said. They like to use vehicles with hidden compartments that they are able to track, instead of between ports of entry, thats my opinion. Mom, dont give up on me. Give me every chance, Patricia Adames remembers her son saying years ago if he was ever put on life support during a medical crisis. Her son, David Ruiz II, saw his 2-year-old nephew on life support after a near-drowning incident. The child died after being removed from life support, Adames said. Now, Adames seeks to support her sons wish as he lays incapacitated connected to a ventilator at St. Josephs Hospital. On New Years Eve, Ruiz, 32, suffered a stroke and was taken to the hospital, where he was placed in the intensive-care unit. By Jan. 13, he was declared brain-dead by doctors. His family said the hospital stopped providing treatment, water and nutrition to Ruiz without their knowledge. He remained connected to a ventilator, which helped him breathe. He went 19 days without food and 15 days without water, said his family, which took to social media to pressure the hospital into restoring his food and water, which it did earlier this week. The pleas garnered national support from several groups that advocate for patients in Ruizs situation and their families. He is still alive, Adames said, claiming he is moving his feet and responding to his familys voices. He hasnt gotten time to heal. I think we should all be ready to be here through June, he said. Mesnard pointed out theres another option, one that Ducey cant veto: Do nothing. That would maintain all the same deductions for 2018 that Arizonans were able to take in 2017, meaning no net increase in what Arizonans owe the state based on the federal changes. But it could prove an administrative nightmare. If we end the session without conforming, it wont matter that the Department of Revenue has printed forms that assumed we did, and that Arizonans used them to file their taxes by April 15, Mesnard said. He said the department will have to not just redo the forms but also issue notices to everyone who used the original form that they now either owe more money or perhaps are in line for a bigger refund than they thought. There was no response from Ducey or his staffers about that possibility. Duceys claim that its too late now to consider how best to conform the 2018 state tax code to federal changes is undermined by the fact he has known about this for more than a year. Mesnard first broached the subject in January 2018, and the governors spokesman declined then to comment on what Ducey wanted to do. The annual bill to conform usually goes through without controversy. What changed this year is that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump in late 2017 slashed many of the allowable deductions for things like home mortgages and taxes paid to other levels of government. But it made up for that by doubling the standard deduction available on the federal form. If Arizona conforms, the most recent estimate by legislative budget staffers shows it would generate close to $153 million in state revenues because of the disallowed deductions, as Arizona is not increasing its own standard deduction. SB 1143 is designed to reduce collections by about $155 million. Rep. Randy Friese, D-Tucson, said that, at the very least, that means Arizona is going to be reducing revenues this year by $2 million. But Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, D-Tucson, said the real issue is that the state is turning away needed revenues. She pointed out that Ducey said the money should be put into the states rainy-day fund. And Powers Hannley agreed with the governor that account is underfunded. We need to look at our financial future, not just where we are today but what could happen in the future, she said. As evidence, Powers Hannley said the state still hasnt fully restored the cuts that were made a decade ago to education and other services during the Great Recession. PHOENIX Picking a fight with Gov. Doug Ducey, Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate voted Thursday to conform Arizona's allowable income tax deductions to federal law and offset that with a drop in tax rates. The legislation is designed to keep tax filing simple for Arizonans, making it easy for them to prepare their state tax returns once they have filled out their federal forms. In essence, it means that any deductions allowed by the Internal Revenue Code are permitted by the state. That's what Ducey told lawmakers he wants. But what has proven unacceptable to members of his own Republican Party is that conforming to the current federal law means fewer deductions on the state form. And that would boost state revenues by anywhere from $133 million to $200 million. "This is simply a tax increase by any other name,'' said Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria. To make up for that, the legislation cuts tax rates across the board by 0.11 percentage points. So, for example, the top tax rate of 4.54 percent on income over $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for couples would drop to 4.43 percent, with similar decreases for lower tax brackets. He said its no different than when the state pays the upfront costs of fighting fires knowing that there eventually will be reimbursement from Washington, D.C. But House Speaker Rusty Bowers cautioned colleagues that it isnt that simple. The (federal) government isnt guaranteeing us anything, he said. Theyre just saying there is a grant program. State action became necessary because existing agreements say that when Lake Mead drops below 1,075 feet above sea level automatic reductions are triggered in how much water can be taken out of the Colorado River. The lake is projected to drop below that point next year. Mexico and the six other states that have rights to Colorado River water have all agreed to make cuts in what they draw to restore the lake back to close to 1,090 feet. Nevada and California have agreed not to draw some of the water they are entitled to take right now, before the lake hits 1,075 feet. The deal means Arizona needs to reduce its draw from the river by up to 700,000 acre-feet between now and 2026, against the states current annual pre-drought allocation of 2.8 million acre-feet. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons of water, considered enough to serve a typical family of two for a year. From changing jobs to leaving relationships, at one point or another, we've all had to take big risks, make life-altering shifts, or completely start over. Tucson Storytellers, a live storytelling event hosted by the Arizona Daily Star and This is Tucson in partnership with Startup Tucson, is sharing stories about the times in life when we've had to pivot. Six community members will take the stage on February 19 at the Rail Yard to share their true, first-person stories about the pivots in their lives. Among them is local author Adam Rex, who will be telling about the biggest pivot in his life adopting his son. Entrepreneur Janelle Briggs will be sharing a story about three monumental conversations in her life, and how those shaped her into the person she is today. And Andrea Carmichael, who works at a non-profit, will be sharing about how practicing ballet helped her find the confidence to live as her true self. The Donalds Trump. Photo: Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images One of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries of the Russia investigation has been a series of phone calls Donald Trump Jr. made to a blocked phone number while he was setting up a meeting during the campaign with Russian agents who were promising to help his father. Many people, including me, speculated that the call might have been to his father to inform him of the meeting. Yesterday, CNN reported the calls were actually between Trump Jr. and two of his business associates. Trump and his supporters, presented with one of the very few times a suspicious angle in the Russia investigation did not pan out, immediately began gloating: Just out: The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me. They were made to friends & business associates of Don. Really sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2019 To be clear, nobody said the phone calls were made to his father. They said the calls might have gone to his father. (Democrat Eric Swalwell suggested last year, That looks like he may very well have been trying to call his father to talk to his father about taking this meeting.) They didnt. So, whether or not Trump Jr. did inform his father of the meeting Steve Bannon speculated he did so in person immediately after he didnt do it through those phone calls. On the other hand, the notion that Donald Jr. was just making an innocent phone call to what some reports have described as a longtime family friend elides some distinctly less innocent possibilities opened by this news. The recipient of one of the phone calls was Howard Lorber who is, yes, a family friend. But he is also a longtime point of contact in Trumps ambitions to build a tower in Moscow, which date back to the 1980s. Lorber accompanied Trump on a 1996 visit to Moscow to explore building there. Howard has major investments in Russia, Trump boasted to a Russian politician at the time. As Craig Unger notes, Lorbers dealings in Russia put him in contact with Russian mobsters. Trump Jr. was also very active in the family efforts to consummate the Moscow deal. Now, the timing of his call to Lorber may well be a total coincidence. But the more information that emerges about the Moscow tower project, the more central it appears to be to the Trump-Russia relationship. Coincidentally, in an interview yesterday, the New York Times asked Trump about his Moscow building plans. He dismissed the episode as a minor discussion that went nowhere: I had no money invested. It was a letter of intent, or option. It was a free option. It was a nothing. And I wasnt doing anything. I dont consider that even business. And frankly, that wasnt even on my radar. If you take a look at that, take a look at the deal. There was no money put up. There was no transfer. I dont think they had a location. Im not even sure if they had a location. I had very little interest in the first place, and again, I viewed it as a free option. It may have been a letter of intent. I dont know exactly what it was called. But it was unimportant. There was a letter of intent, which BuzzFeed News obtained. Trump signed it. And there also was a location selected for the project, along with pages and pages of minute details, including a payment agreement that appeared highly lucrative for Trump a $4 million fee up-front, plus a percentage of all condominium sales, rent, food and beverage fees, and fees for use of the spa and conference facilities. You cant read too much into Trumps misstatements on this issue, because he lies about things all the time. But the relevant background here is not only the lies but also the pattern of Russian foreign influence operations. Russia tends to dangle business deals in front of its prospective foreign political partners. Those deals tend to intermingle organized crime and the state itself, which in Russia, operate in tandem. Trump spent decades chasing a building deal in Moscow. Russia was dangling that opportunity in front of him throughout the campaign, at a time it was dealing with him secretly, and also promising to help his campaign. Not every suspicious detail in this episode will turn out to indicate guilt, but the prospect that this story ends innocently for Trump is slim, and growing slimmer. This, he argued, was a largely arbitrary quantity that had no bearing on the consumption patterns currently practiced by Wyoming residents, who are likely to buy large quantities of marijuana in Colorado where it is legal to purchase for recreational use for their own personal use over a period of several weeks or even months, with no intent to sell. If a weight were to be considered, he argued that the weight for misdemeanor possession of marijuana should be raised into poundage, rather than grams or ounces, which would eliminate non-malicious users of marijuana from being charged with the most serious drug offense charges. We want whats fair. We dont want preference, said Rep. Sara Burlingame, D-Cheyenne, a co-sponsor of the bill and a director of a group that advocates for members of the LGBTQ community. We want people to coming to the Equality State knowing that theyll be protected. However, this happy medium did not satisfy several groups to testify against the bill early Friday morning, including Republican Party officials and representatives for the Wyoming Pastors Network and the Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne. While some said the bills language presented some ambiguity in interpretation for religious employers who may have faith-based objections to employing members LGBTQ community, others expressed confusion over what gender identity actually meant, and asserted that homosexuality or bisexuality was a lifestyle choice. Im concerned that this bill forces certain individuals to lay down their faith the moment they step outside of the church or their religious organization, said former state Rep. Nathan Winters, a pastor and Republican. We want to let people know that we are a people of love, but we are also a people of conscience, and we do not like to see that conscience diminished in any way. I think that bill takes that step when it comes to the workplace. Party opposition A Natrona County judge on Friday sentenced a Glenrock man to five years probation for child porn possession. Judge Daniel Forgey suspended James D. Simpson Jr.s four to 10 year prison sentence. If Simpson violates the terms of his probation, which include no unapproved contact with minors, he could serve the prison time. Authorities were able to link a USB drive with child porn on it found outside of Wyoming Medical Center to Simpson, who pleaded guilty in October to the single felony. Simpson entered his plea as part of a deal with prosecutors. Simpson declined to speak in Fridays hearing when Forgey offered him the opportunity. According to court documents filed in the case, a person found the USB drive in early March. When the man plugged the storage device into his computer he discovered child porn and called 911. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agents recovered the drive and used forensic software to uncover previously deleted files, the documents state. Law enforcement used the deleted non-pornographic files to link the drive to Simpson, the documents state. When DCI agents arrived at Simpsons home, he admitted to ownership of the USB drive, according to the documents. Follow crime reporter Shane Sanderson on Twitter @shanersanderson Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 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. I sincerely hope the representative leadership in Wyoming will hear the voices of local families who suffered and consider their sacrifices before allowing something like this to happen again in mid-February, she wrote. Reece previously explained that the museum is one of Caspers most popular visitor attractions. Winter is especially busy because visitors in town for the holidays often stop by the museum, and schools throughout the state tend to organize field trips to the facility during the colder months. Its a really valuable resource for educators, she said, adding that the museum has special tour guides for students and brings in musicians and historical re-enactors to help engage children. We strive for really, really happy visitors. The 11,000-square-foot center houses a variety of exhibits and programs design to educate visitors about the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails, according to its website. The trails all passed through central Wyoming. Although Reece takes great pride in the center, she said in her email Thursday that she was even more concerned for federal employees who work in areas related to public safety. That a leadership agenda out of step with those values is met with disapproval in the West is no surprise, although the rejection of the current administrations priorities is particularly intense here, she said. That disconnect is less obvious in Wyoming, where seemingly opposing values the conservation mindset and the energy mindset are often espoused by the same people. For example, Wyomingites were fairly split on wanting their congressional delegates to emphasize environmental issues like clean water or energy production: 49 percent to 41 percent respectively. Melinda Harm Benson, dean of the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, said conservation isnt really political in Wyoming. We all value wildlife. We all value open space, she said. If you live in Wyoming, and you love being here, thats why you love being here. The Colorado poll picked out a number of the Trump administrations decisions over the last two years for surveyors to rank as good or bad. Just 13 percent of those polled across the West thought removing national monuments protections in areas where oil and gas development can occur was a good idea. About 17 percent approved of cutting back comment periods. Paro (Bhutan): The picturesque valley town of Paro, dotted with Bhutan's historical and sacred monasteries like Tiger's Nest that clings to a vertical rock cliff with a 200-foot majestic waterfall in its vicinity and wrapped in prayer flags fluttering with fresh cool breeze is far from the madding crowd - literally. Aptly called Shangri-La, it's the blissful place where Buddhist spirituality and its ancient culture still reign supreme amidst virgin nature with oxygen-rich gurgling streams flowing downstream. "Visiting Taktsang (also known as Tiger's Nest) and its nearby monasteries give me a feeling of a spiritual journey and helps me developing understanding about Buddhism," remarked Hong Kong resident Jeff Ho amidst chanting the 'Om Mani Padme Hum' religious prayer. Visiting this Himalayan kingdom - a landlocked nation located in the eastern Himalayas between India and China, for the first time, he said this is a place where the spirituality and traditional culture were still prevalent. Taktsang Monastery is the place that every Bhutanese is expected to pay obeisance at least once in a lifetime. It was first built in 1692 at a cave where Guru Rimpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, meditated in the 7th century. Legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for three years, three months, three days and three hours to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it. It is located 10 km north of Paro town at an altitude of some 10,000 feet above sea level. Reaching the monastery involves a steep trek that takes around three hours. The world-acclaimed and the most iconic religious site Taktsang Monastery. It is located 10 km north of Paro town, some 50 km from Bhutan's capital city Thimphu. Photo: IANS Ahead of the monastery's entrance, one can notice crevices filled with Tzatzas or cones made from ash in memory of departed souls. The monastery's major reconstruction was completed in 2005 after a fire devastated its structure in 1998. Mobiles and cameras are not allowed inside the monastery that houses various Buddhist temples. Non-Bhutanese have to pay an entrance fee of Rs 500 per person at the base camp of the monastery. One can attend the summer festival of Haa and delve into the wonders of the ancient living culture of the Haaps (people from Haa). The festival highlights Shamanic rituals and other folk dances. Central Bhutan includes some of the most significant historical and religious sites, while Eastern Bhutan is one of the least explored regions of the kingdom and offers one of most authentic experiences for adventure-oriented tourists. Getting to Paro: Paro, Bhutan's only international airport, is connected by regular flights from New Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore and Bangkok. The Delhi-Paro flight takes less than two hours. Where to stay: Luxury and small hotels, guest houses and even homestays with local people. A court on Wednesday jailed six former agents of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet's regime for involvement in the 1982 murder of ex-president Eduardo Frei. Judge Alejandro Madrid handed down the verdict after a 15-year investigation during which Frei's body was twice exhumed for forensic examination. The verdict found the six defendants guilty of "homicide by poisoning after a surgical intervention," and sentenced them to between three and 10 years. Lawyers for the Frei family described the verdict as historic. Frei, president from 1964 to 1970, died of a sudden infection in January 1982 while he was hospitalized for hernia treatment. He was 71. Pinochet became Chile's dictator soon after a military coup that killed Frei's successor, Salvador Allende, on September 11, 1973. Pinochet left office when democracy was restored in 1990. Frei died when he and his Christian Democratic Party were gaining strength as the military regime's main opposition. The Pinochet regime faced its first street protests in the early 1980s. His body was disinterred for a second time in 2016 to determine how the poison, low doses of mustard gas and thallium, had been administered. The judge sentenced a doctor, Patricio Silva Garin, to 10 years in jail for administering the poison, causing Frei's death. Another doctor, Pedro Valdivia, was sentenced to five years as an accomplice. Lusi Vecerra Arancibia, the ex-president's driver, and intelligence agent Raul Lillo Gutierrez were each handed seven-year sentences. Two physicians specializing in palliative care, Helmar Rosengerg and Sergio Gonzalez, got three years for covering up the crime. More than 3,200 people were killed under the Pinochet regime, and some 38,000 people were tortured. A major police operation unfolded Thursday afternoon in Grevenmacher. Police suspect a connection with the Igel (DE) case. Germany's police raided nine locations on Wednesday. Among them: an apartment in Igel, not far from the Luxembourgish border. Officers found 50 kg of explosives in the cellar of the building. 150 residents had to be evacuated. SteilTV Olidom Multimedia Olidom Multimedia Olidom Multimedia Olidom Multimedia Hei eng Foto vum Freideg zu Igel (D). / Olidom Multimedia The suspects were group of young men aged 19 to 24. All of them live in the Moselle region and hold German or Luxembourgish citizenship. Police arrested three individuals - allegedly two Luxembourgers among them. Police believe that the men got the explosives from the warehouse of a company that works with explosives. Unknown suspects had broken into the warehouse three times in 2018 and removed 50kg of explosive material. On this side of the border and beyond After the dramatic operation in Igel, Luxembourgish and German police officers searched another building on Rue Paul Faber in Grevenmacher. The entire street was closed to traffic for the duration of the police operation, which lasted from 4pm to 6pm. Officers seized 1kg of explosives in Luxembourg, a spokesman of the German police confirmed on Friday morning. According to RTL information, the explosives were found during the Grevenmacher raid. When they searched the suspect's apartment, police found further items that had been stolen from the aforementioned warehouse in 2018 as well as an igniter and a 1000 metre long fuse cord. The occupant of the apartment is a 21-year-old German student. German police arrested him in Konstanz, where he attends university. He is accused of having been involved in the 2018 break-ins. He is the fourth suspect that was arrested since the Igel evacuation on Wednesday. The young men's motives remain unclear but police have ruled out a religious or political background. Police have secured almost the same quantity of explosives that were removed during the warehouse break-ins. The rest was allegedly ignited for testing purposes. Luxembourg's police have not yet commented. Following the Eurostat report which revealed that Luxembourg's working youth is at the second highest risk of poverty in the EU, members of parliament discussed the report in detail on Thursday. Luxembourg came near the top of the startling report, beaten only by Romania. On Thursday, the Green MP faction requested an hour to discuss the Eurostat report, as a number of MPs believed the topic required addressing. DP MP Carole Hartmann had a critical stance, claiming that the Eurostat statistics were volatile, only questioning just over 200 young people. She believed as a consequence that the statistics required addition nuance. That said, MPs did not deny that some young people in Luxembourg do risk falling into poverty. MPs were adamant that they should not absolve themselves of the responsibility to help these youths. The main contributing factor to poverty is, of course, the significantly expensive costs of renting. Pondering how to legislatively protect young people from poverty, CSV MP Marc Spautz provided a few potential solutions. First of all, Spautz highlighted the need to change work contracts, ensuring that young people get CDIs (open-ended contracts) rather than being locked into CDDs (fixed-term contracts) and ending up in a vicious circle. Spautz also suggested developing living structures for young people unable or unwilling to live at home. The ADR's Fernand Kartheiser also stressed the need of ensuring qualifications remain at a high level. The Left's Marc Baum called for MPs to not willfully ignore that inequality between people is a ever-expanding gap. He criticised the fact that MPs were breaking down this study, as other studies already suggest the increasing inequality in society. Minister of Labour, Employment, and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Dan Kersch, highlighted the number of projects aimed at helping young people, citing the Youth Guarantee in particular. Implemented by the Employment Agency (ADEM), the Local Action for Youth (ALJ), and the National Youth Service (SNJ), the Youth Guarantee helps young people determine their pathway in life. Kersch stressed that the Youth Guarantee is certainly bearing fruit in helping young people. Young people up to the age of 30 can sign up for the Youth Guarantee. The Chamber of Commerce is firmly against the government's proposal of giving employees two further days off, one on 9 May and one extra vacation day. The Chamber of Commerce expressed their dissent in a statement that was published this week. The very first sentence of the statement firmly states the Chamber of Commerce's position: "The Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the draft law." They said that they were both opposed to the principle as well as to the speed at which the proposed change of law is being pushed forward, saying that the private sector had not been included in any discussions of consultations even though private sector employers would be the most heavily impacted. The Chamber of Commerce stated that they were very perturbed by this, because productivity would likely go down and costs would go up. In addition to this, adding two further days off would also lead to organisational problems. The Chamber of Commerce was also unhappy about the fact that the financial document relating to the draft law stated that the project would "minimally impact" the national budget. The Chamber of Commerce argues that it would feel that way to lawmakers because government employees have more than 26 days off per year anyway. Supporters of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders hold signs during an event to introduce the Medicare for All Act of 2017. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images While the midterm elections, nationally, were a referendum on Trump, the blue wave that propelled the Democrats back into control of the House was also driven by the issues. One of the signature issues for the Democrats was Medicare for All, which seeks to abolish private insurance, replacing it with a single government health-care program for all Americans. But while candidates found Medicare for All a galvanizing and powerful slogan to run on, some of them seem to be walking back or moderating their stances now that theyve been elected. This political two-step reveals a fundamental challenge to the future prospects of the progressive policy. Two bills in the House and Senate to enact Medicare for All will be reintroduced this session by Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and Washington State Democrat representative Pramila Jayapal. With the Republicans in control of the Senate and Trump as president, the bill is less live legislation than it is a very important symbol. Jayapal is head of the 78 member Medicare for All Caucus in the House and the Medicare for All PAC, which supported eight Democrats from the center to the left in their 2018 runs. In the end, five of the eight won. Jayapal told New York that her PAC and caucus intentionally endorsed Democrats like Representative Harley Rouda, a California moderate, whose politics stray to the center and the right, to make the point that universal health care is a policy with cross-partisan and cross-ideological appeal. I dont think universal health care is just a progressive idea, said Jayapal, who cited the fact that the policy polls well with all Americans. But Rouda, who asked his supporters to sign a petition supporting Medicare for All in October 2017, and reaffirmed his position the following spring during primary season, hedged his position in the general election, on his way to unseating Republican Dana Rohrabacher. By the time it hit his issues page, Rouda was talking about Medicare for All as a long-term goal, and pitching voters on the generic principle of making sure that health care coverage is a right for all Americans. Roudas office declined to comment for this article. Rouda is not alone first-term Democrat representatives Katie Hill, Susan Wild, Colin Allred, Josh Harder, and Kim Schrier all flipped Republican seats and each indicated support for Medicare for All at least once while on the campaign trail. But today, all but Harder have either qualified or walked back their support for the policy. While Jayapal recruited candidates from across the ideological spectrum of the Democratic Party to illustrate the broad viability of Medicare for All, once they get into office, moderate Democrats tend to join moderate Democratic coalitions. And those coalitions tend not to support progressive policy. For instance, a number of congressional freshmen who ran on Medicare for All have joined the New Democrat Coalition caucus, a centrist group which explicitly came out against Medicare for All this year and prefers health-care policy that prioritizes protecting insurance markets. The New Democrat Coalition, through its communications director Natasha Dabrowski, did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this article. Hill, who joined both the New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said it was time for universal health care in a campaign ad and name-checked Medicare for All in a Facebook video. But since the election, Hill seems to have decided that the time for Medicare for All is, instead, at some unspecified point in the future. Katie believes that Medicare for All is a system we should be striving towards, said Kassie King, Hills communications director, in a statement to Intelligencer. Getting it right will require infrastructure and investment. Katie supports creating that infrastructure so that when the time comes that it makes sense to implement Medicare for All, it has the tools to succeed. Hills decision to align herself with both the center and left, King added, is part of the congresswomans pragmatic approach to achieving progressive goals. In this way, she is the perfect fit for [both] the New Dems and the Progressive Caucus, said King. Wild, Hills fellow freshman who also caucuses with both the New Democrats and the CPC, tried to redefine the policy by borrowing the terminology without the ideology. While she initially promised to passionately advocate for issues like Medicare for All, she retreated from her stance two months later, saying instead that she supported a Medicare for Allstyle plan that would ensure affordable coverage for all Americans. Wilds office declined multiple requests to comment for this article. Wild isnt the only new member of the Democratic majority whose position on Medicare for All includes redefining its meaning. Colin Allred, the new Democrat representative for Texass 32nd District, said via Twitter on January 27, 2018, that he was in favor of the policy. Six months later, during an interview with Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune, Allred explained what he thought Medicare for All meant. According to Allred, the policy could mean many things and shouldnt be interpreted to simply mean government health care. Its a Medicare buy-in, Allred said. In a statement, Allreds office clarified further. Congressman Allred has always supported a strong public option, like a Medicare buy-in, as a pathway to universal coverage, said Allreds communications director Josh Stewart. Central Washingtons Schrier supported Medicare for All as well but her office said last fall that the Medicare for All Schrier supported was not the Bernie Sanders plan. Kim has her own plan that is separate and distinct from Medicare for All, Katie Rodihan, a Schrier spokesperson, told Politifact in October. Schrier, whose office would not provide comment for this article, apparently supports a Medicare buy-in. There are a slew of bills, introduced or suggested by other members of Congress and influential think tanks like the Center for American Progress, which use the language of Medicare for All but advocate for wildly different policies. They include three separate Medicare buy-in bills, a Medicaid buy-in bill, and CAPs Medicare for All bill, among others. The diversity of approaches has created ambiguity that politicians dont seem particularly eager to clear up Medicare for All is a galvanizing rallying cry. All bills expand coverage, according to a Vox analysis, but none save the Sanders-Jayapal proposal would enact fundamental restructuring of health care and abolition of private insurance the traditional meaning of Medicare for All. The retreat from full-throated support for Medicare for All in an environment in which that support is largely symbolic is not promising for its future passage. If these marginal supporters of Medicare for All waver or moderate when it has no chance of becoming law any such bill passed in the House would die in the Senate then what will they do if Democrats control both chambers and the stakes become real? The optimistic scenario for belief that the next Democratic government will pass Medicare for All is that the center of the party continues to move left. Jayapal told New York that Americans understand the idea of universal health care as distinct from the left the policys crossover appeal is how change happens. Medicare for All may have started off as a progressive idea, but, as with not taking corporate PAC money, it became a mainstream Democratic idea in the midterm election. That means that the hostility from the New Democrat Coalition to universal health care is shortsighted, said Jayapal. Its a really outdated idea from the leadership, or whoever is defining the agenda for New Dems, to not realize this boldness around universal health care may be a winning strategy for them, said Jayapal. On Thursday, a debate was held on the topic of space mining and the bankruptcy of the Planetary Resources project. Critical Christian Social People's Party (CSV) MPs accused the government of having been able to avoid the failure of Planetary Resources if only they had gone about it with more sensitivity and expertise instead of displaying "amateurish behaviour". On Thursday, Luxembourg's parliament saw some heated debates erupting after the CSV demanded explanations by minister for the economy Etienne Schneider. CSV MP Laurent Mosar didn't want to accept minister Schneider's usual justification that space industry is a high-risk area and instead said that even as a "small accountant" he had observed that things didn't go the way they should have. Mosar asked Schneider where all the space mining companies are that the minister promised would flock to invest in Luxembourg and create new jobs. The CSV MP said that while the minister pulled off a great PR stunt, nothing concrete has yet become of it. Franz Fayot of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) however pointed to the numbers and suggested that many space resources companies are already active in Luxembourg. There are currently about 800 employees working for about 50 companies in that sector. Around 20 new companies settled in Luxembourg in the last three years alone, creating 70 additional jobs. 120 more companies expressed an interest in settling in Luxembourg in 2018. LSAP party president Fayot explained that the sector is growing steadily, by about 6.7% each year between 2005 and 2017. In his reply, Etienne Schneider defended himself against the CSV's accusations of amateurism saying that if Laurent Mosar accused the government of such a thing, he would also have to accuse investors such as Richard Branson, Microsoft and the founder of Amazon. These large multinational companies also invested in the Planetary Resources start-up that has since failed. Luxembourg's mission to the moon Minister Etienne Schneider also took the opportunity to announce that a mission under the Luxembourg flag will leave for the moon in 2020. The company Ispace will be involved, as well as a spectrometer to analyse the chemical composition of celestial bodies. The right-wing ADR party didn't outright criticize the Planetary Resources fiasco, saying that Luxembourg at least managed to make itself known to companies in the sector. However, MP Roy Reding pointed out that questions would need to be asked concerning the competence of decision makers in the government. The Left are still generally critical of the idea of space mining, saying that it is all about money. They argue that the projects are not in the public interest but rather in the interest of the wealthy and that it is used as an opportunity to expand capitalism. The Left MP Marc Baum lamented the fact that not more people are voicing their opposition to these kinds of projects. Even though the CSV are critical of some aspects of the space industry, they are generally in favour of expanding the sector, arguing that it is a future-oriented industry that should not be neglected. In our ongoing series on Luxembourg's Royals, RTL Today delves into the history of the Grand Ducal family. In today's installment of our popular Royals series, we're going to go slightly outside the line of succession and shed a light on the life of Princess Tessy, the estranged wife of Prince Louis. Tessy Antony was born on 28 October 1985 to Francois Antony, a roofer, and his wife Regine Antony. Tessy has a twin brother, Ronny, and the two are actually the second set of twins born into the Antony family. Tessy's older brother Mike also had a twin brother called Jerry, but he sadly passed away shortly after birth. She also has an older sister, Patty. Instagram/tessy_from_luxembourg The future Princess of Luxembourg grew up both in the north and in the south of the country. In her childhood years in the north of Luxembourg, she grew up surrounded by nature. The family owned chickens, Tessy cared for litters of kittens and she even had her own cow to look after. Tessy Antony attended school in Niederkorn, Esch-sur-Alzette and Petange before deciding to join the military along with her twin brother at the age of only 17. Her father was instrumental in that decision, he encouraged and inspired her to follow in the footsteps of Tessy's older sister Patty who already served at the time. At the age of 18, Tessy was drafted and deployed for the first time, as the only woman in her regiment. You can listen to Tessy Antony telling the story in her own words in the video below. Tessy Antony served in a UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and it was during that time that she met her future husband Prince Louis, third son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, when he was visiting troops in Yugoslavia. After their first meeting in 2004, love soon blossomed between the young couple. A royal whirlwind romance About one year after their first meeting, their relationship was made public for the first time when the Grand Ducal Court announced that the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess were looking forward to welcoming their first grandchild. After the September 2005 announcement, there was a big media whirlwind and a rush to find out more about the young servicewoman who had stolen the heart of one of the Princes of Luxembourg. Tessy Antony gave birth to her first son Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny de Nassau on 12 March 2006 at the Clinique des Grangettes, a private hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Prince Louis was only 19 when his 20-year-old girlfriend Tessy Antony had their first child. As the couple was not married at the time, the child was not given any royal titles. About six months later on 26 September 2006, Prince Louis and Tessy Antony exchanged their "I do's" in a small ceremony in Gilsdorf, a small town of about 1,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Diekirch in the north of Luxembourg. Schnekert To be able to marry his bride, a "commoner" with a child out of wedlock, Prince Louis had to relinquish his right of succession to the throne along with those of his descendants. Prince Louis was however allowed to keep his royal title of Prince of Luxembourg and his wife and child took the surname "de Nassau". Tessy Antony had become a mother, a wife and a Princess in all but title by the age of only 20. Prince Louis and Princess Tessy with their sons Gabriel and Noah at Noah's baptism in 2007. / Grand Ducal Court The young family soon welcomed a second son into the world: Noah Etienne Guillaume Gabriel Matthias Xavier de Nassau was born on 21 September 2007, five days before his parents' one year wedding anniversary. With their family complete, the young couple moved to the US where Prince Louis studied Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management for two years. Tessy and Prince Louis then made the move to London, where they would stay for quite a few years. They both enrolled at the Richmond American University where Tessy Antony studied International Relations and received her Bachelor's degree in 2014. For her Master's studies, she switched to the University of London where she read Diplomatic Studies. Prince Louis and Princess Tessy at their graduation from Richmond American International University in London, together with Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Princess Tessy's mother Regine Antony. / Grand Ducal Court On Luxembourg's National Day in 2009, Grand Duke Henri officially granted his daughter-in-law Tessy the title of "Princess of Luxembourg" and made his grandchildren into young Princes of Nassau. A fairytale gone sour On January 18 2017, Princess Tessy and Prince Louis announced their separation with intent to divorce to an unsuspecting public. Just four months earlier, they had sat down for a rare joint interview with RTL to mark their ten year wedding anniversary in which they talked lovingly about their relationship. Their divorce was granted on 17 February 2017 in London but it has yet to be finalised. Upon her divorce, Princess Tessy will lose her title of Princess of Luxembourg according to a grand-ducal decree from 18 June 2012 which states that "a spouse (by marriage) loses, in case of divorce, her titles and predicates". Grand Ducal Court In court, the two parties disagreed on money with Princess Tessy revealing on social media that she is considering an appeal to the ruling in which Prince Louis has to pay around 4,500 per child per year. The mother of two children disagreed with the ruling, saying that she is "simply asking for a house for her and her children" as well as financial support. During the divorce proceedings, Prince Louis stated that he could not pay a large amount of money because he doesn't have a paying job, but he is said to be looking for one. The young family in happier times. / Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court, Hana Noguchi Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Grand Ducal Court Despite these disagreements, kind words were also exchanged with Mr Justice MacDonald revealing a statement by Prince Louis: "We married young and much has been expected from the applicant in her role as princess. She undertook that role with grace and represented my family well, for which I am grateful to her." Justice MacDonald, the presiding High Court judge in the case, also came to Princess Tessy's defence after several tabloid newspapers portrayed her as a "gold digger": "Although a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression, and whilst the point does not fall formally for me to determine, on the detailed evidence that has been available to me, I take the view that the manner in which the wife has been traduced in some sections of the press by the use of that malign characterisation is both unfair and unwarranted." Grand Ducal Court Justice MacDonald added: "At its heart, this is simply a sad case about a young couple who determined to marry for love despite the considerable challenges posed by the way in which history, tradition and chance had conspired to define their respective social status and to shape attitudes towards their marriage." Despite challenging ongoing divorce proceedings, the Princess Tessy seems to be doing well and is immersing herself in her humanitarian work. She is currently involved in the NGO Professors without Borders and works as an UNAIDS ambassador, and earlier this year announced that she would be working with Montessori St Nicholas as a global partner of education. In a series of instagram posts to mark her 33rd birthday on 28 October 2018, Tessy bid goodbye to a tough year and said that she was looking forward to making "new and inspiring memories." Sarah Cames is a twentysomething freelance journalist with a keen interest in anything to do with politics, history and pop culture. 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) If that were not enough fake news for a Friday, a group of high school boys from Kentucky got caught up in a national scandal, i.e. fake news. Covington Catholic high school sponsored a field trip to the March for Life in Washington. Ordinarily, Catholic teens attending the national March for Life would not be news. But these are not ordinary times. Americas left continuously looks for any semblance of news for Trump-haters. The teenaged boys represented nearly everything the left hates: white, male, Christian, Catholic, pro-life, and wearing MAGA hats. Talk about making yourself a target and inviting vile hatred and expletive-filled rhetoric that has become mainstream and unremarkable for lefties! The boys were waiting for their school bus in the same area where Black Hebrew Israelites were verbally assaulting Native Americans with such rhetoric as You aint no child of God. You are the Indian. You are a blue-eyed demon. Thats the last Mohican. The attackers were using a bullhorn, thus attracting a lot of attention, especially from curious teens on a high school field trip. We know that this is a decision that needs to be made and made soon. Public hearings should have been begun long ago. Sadly, they were not. But this decision is too important to be made in the dark, if only because it involves a purchase using tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. We ask our legislators to put the brakes on the current process, pending legislative consideration of the alternatives. We ask them to decide that our voting future should take advantage of the expertise that is available. We ask them to ensure that South Carolina has the voting system that it needs, so that we can all have confidence that our votes will be counted as intended. You go up to this, I call it a vending machine, and you scan the barcode and you scan it, stick it in the machine, and it grinds it up, and when you get through with all of that it gives you a voucher worth so many dollars. Then you go in and buy your groceries and turn in the voucher and get your discount, Williamson said. Things are being recycled because youve given it value, he added. Orangeburg County resident Jim Harvey encouraged the faith-based community to pick up the litter in front of their places of worship. Cobb-Hunter agreed. I would ask those of you in the audience who are part of a church to try to get your church to adopt itself and to adopt the areas around the church. It would be great if the church decided that it would expand its territory, she said. Quite frankly, I think it would be helpful for the church to have a conversation with church members about cleaning up their own front yard or backyard, or picking up where they are, Cobb-Hunter stated. Mallory Coffey of PalmettoPride stated that, adopt-a-highway agreements are for two years, and youre required to pick up at least four times a year. Abolish the filibuster or bust. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The wealthy speculators and slave owners who founded our republic had little faith in popular democracy. The specter of a tyrannical majority using its power over the state to infringe on individual liberty (i.e. their property rights) haunted their collective imagination. To keep that hypothetical thieving mob at bay, they designed a system of government chock-full of veto points which is to say, opportunities for powerful minorities to kill popular reforms. To become a law, bills would need to make it through the committee systems of not one but two legislatures, past an independently elected president, and then (after Marbury v. Madison) survive the withering scrutiny of judicial review (and in many cases, the modifications of state-level officeholders). By modern standards, this system was exceptionally small-c conservative. Virtually no contemporary democracy makes it anywhere near as difficult for elected majorities to govern as the early American republic did. And yet, even the men who designed this system could not condone the modern Senate filibuster. The framers explicitly debated whether legislation should be subjected to any kind of supermajority requirement in the Senate and they affirmatively decided against it. And then, the upper chamber accidently created a loophole that allowed any individual senator to prolong debate indefinitely. Eventually, a supermajority threshold was established for closing that loophole, and, as American politics polarized, exceeding that threshold became a requirement for passing any major law. Now, Americas legislative system isnt just unwieldy and conservative by 21st-century international standards, but also, by 18th-century American ones. Many of the most progressive Democrats in the Senate wish to keep it that way. We should not be doing anything to mess with the strength of the filibuster, New Jersey senator (and 2020 presidential candidate) Cory Booker told Politico this week. Its one of the distinguishing factors of this body. And I think it is good to have the power of the filibuster. Senators Mazie Hirono, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Chuck Schumer all said versions of the same. None of Team Blues presidential candidates have called on their party to abolish the filibuster the next time it gains a Senate majority although Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have both indicated that they would be open to such a gambit. Debates over Senate procedure do not typically figure into presidential primary campaigns. But the combination of the Senates historic bias toward Republicans and the Democratic Partys increasingly ambitious policy ideas has led progressive activist groups to adopt filibuster reform as a prominent demand. At present, the average state is about 6 percentage points more Republican than the nation as a whole. And given current demographic trends, small states with overwhelmingly white, non-college-educated populations appear likely to grow both more overrepresented in the upper chamber and more Republican in the coming years. Right now, Democrats have 47 Senate seats, and a reasonable chance of regaining a narrow majority in 2020 or 2022. But the partys chances of gaining 60 votes in the medium-term future are nil. Which means that, absent the legislative filibusters (de facto or de jure) destruction, the partys prospects for passing Medicare for All, a Green New Deal or voting-rights legislation strong enough to combat the GOPs voter-suppression efforts at the state level are bleak. Arguments for preserving the filibuster come in two flavors: misguided and bad. In the first category, theres the notion that, given the radicalism of the modern Republican Party, and the fact that the Senates biases make it fairly easy for the GOP to assemble a 51-vote majority, Democrats should safeguard minority power in that chamber, even at a cost to the progressive agenda. There are two problems with this line of reasoning. One is that the filibuster isnt actually an effective check against a truly radical majority party. Which is to say: It only takes 51 votes to abolish the legislative filibuster, and Senate Republicans would surely do so the moment they decided it was in their partys interests (already, they have severely undermined the filibuster by bending the rules of budget reconciliation). Mitch McConnell has not left the legislative filibuster alone out of a faithful devotion to norms of bipartisan comity. He has done so because he recognizes that the filibuster is an inherently conservative institution; if you are the party thats more skeptical of ambitious government programs, a rule that makes such programs nigh-impossible to pass is extremely valuable to your cause. It is worth remembering that the filibuster did not save Obamacare the profound unpopularity of the conservative vision for social welfare did. Even the modest skinny repeal bill could not garner 50 votes. And the same is true of Social Security, Medicare, and the other crown jewels of New Deal liberalism. Progressives dont need supermajority requirements to protect most of their favorite programs because progressive policies aim to serve majoritarian interests, and thus, tend to attract majoritarian support once implemented. By contrast, conservatives do need supermajority requirements to protect against progressive advances, because conservatives aim to serve a plutocratic minority that has had (relatively) little luck in rolling back universal social welfare programs once theyve been enacted. Separately, there is the simple fact that we do not have the luxury of passing no major legislation for the next decade. A deepening ecological crisis will (almost certainly) be humanitys central challenge for the rest of our lives. We have a short window of time to take actions that will keep that crisis in the category of not quite catastrophic. And there is no sign that a critical mass of Republican senators will be willing to back the kinds of big government interventions necessary for mitigating climate change before its too late. Meanwhile, as indicated above, the Republican Party is actively fomenting a democratic crisis in states across the country, as it seeks to protect its fragile majorities from demographic changes that undermine their popular support. If your central concern is restricting the power of a radical conservative movement, then you should demand that the next Democratic Senate majority abolish the filibuster, and pass a new voting rights act on a party-line basis. From there, that majority could proceed to approve D.C. and Puerto Rican statehood (if the Puerto Rican people are so willing), thereby reducing the GOPs structural advantage in the Senate. The bad argument for the preserving the filibuster is the one Cory Booker made: That it is a good institution on the merits, as it forces bipartisan compromise and protects minority rights. This is an obscene stance for anyone who claims to believe in the American peoples capacity for self-government or the public sectors capacity for advancing the collective good to take. At present, the 26 smallest states are home to roughly 17 percent of the U.S. population. Which is to say: The filibuster allows lawmakers elected by less than 17 percent of voters to exercise veto power over any and all laws. This is a monstrously anti-democratic institution with no parallel in any other advanced democracy. And while the filibuster has protected the rights of minority coalitions in the Senate, this has often come at the cost of protecting the human rights of minority populations. In the 20th century, the filibuster enabled southern segregationists to block anti-lynching laws and delay civil-rights legislation. This millenium, it enabled to nativists to block a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. If the Democratic Partys Senate majority had abolished the legislative filibuster in 2009, it could have conceivably passed a larger stimulus, card check for unions, a public health-insurance option, cap and trade, and a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants on a party-line vote. Such legislation would not merely have hastened the onset of the economic recovery, bolstered the labor movement, lowered the uninsured rate, reduced carbon emissions, and spared 11 million vulnerable immigrants from the nightmare of Trumps radical enforcement regime. It would also have quite likely prevented Trumps election; add a few million more immigrants to the electorate and a couple percentage points to the rate of private-sector unionization and you end up with a country that is both more democratic and more Democratic. If the erosion of vital democratic norms brought our republic to its present crisis, the faithful observation of anti-democratic norms did, too. If the next unified Democratic government doesnt learn from this history, they may very well make us all repeat it. Have you ever been in a crowded room, surrounded by many faces you know and some you do not, and spot someone you are not sure you recognize? To somebody, this person could be their spouse. To another, perhaps their brother or sister. Yet again, this person could be someones co-worker, maybe even their parent. However, in this setting, none of these relationships apply to you and this mystery person sharing the crowded space with you. How would you solve your curiosity? In the Book of Mark, Jesus with His disciples are traveling to the towns of Caesarea Philippi. No doubt many have taken notice of Him from His teachings and miracles. The onlookers have been gazing upon Jesus from both near and from the edges, pondering about the words and works He has been sharing and performing. The onlookers have never seen a man like Him before. Some in the crowds probably knew Him from His childhood days; perhaps they even knew His mother, Mary, and His dad, Joseph. Yet they were not certain if the man they were seeing was in fact who they were seeing. To the Editor: Bill Maher, late-night talk show host and comedian, has compiled a list of traits that he described as the 10 signs of a dictator. His point was that our current president displays nine of the 10 traits on his list, and I submit the list for consideration. Whether you agree with this comedians general views or not (I dont), this list is prescient and worrisome. It reads as follows: Is a narcissist (ya think?) Likes to see his name on buildings (think Trump Tower) Appoints family members to positions of power (think Jared and Ivanka) Hates the press and uses his own propaganda outlet (think Fox News) Uses his office for his own financial gain (think Moscow Trump Tower, and why cant we see his tax records?) Aligns with other dictators (think words of praise for Putin, Kim Jong Un, Bashar Al-Assad, etc.) Claims minorities are the cause of problems in the country (pretty self-explanatory) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Gov. J.B. Pritzker has tabbed a Cook County pediatrician and an Army combat veteran to lead the state's public health and veterans' affairs departments. The Democrat on Thursday named Dr. Ngozi Ezike (en-GOH'-zee ih-ZEE'-kee) as director of public health. She is an internist and pediatrician with Cook County Health for 15 years. She is currently medical director for the Juvenile Detention Center the nation's largest. Army Lt. Col. Jaime Martinez heads up Veterans' Affairs after serving as executive director of Joining Forces. It's a statewide nonprofit that delivers services to military veterans. Martinez is a 26-year veteran who served tours of duty as a paratrooper in Panama, the Gulf War, and Iraq and Afghanistan and was a policy adviser to the Defense secretary. Both appointments require Senate confirmation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD As it considers raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour, Illinois has a few examples to follow. Wednesday, the Illinois Senate Labor Committee had a hearing on raising Illinois minimum wage from $8.25 to $15. There is no agreement on how long the transition would take, or if it should be done uniformly statewide. Legislation could be sent to the Senate floor as early as next Wednesday. Raising the minimum This year began with 18 states having new, higher minimum wages. Of those, eight wage increases were automatic cost-of-living adjustments. The other 10 were the result of specific legislation, according to the National Confederation of State Legislatures. +2 Senate Labor Committee discusses path to $15 minimum wage in Illinois SPRINGFIELD Divisions between business and labor interests were on display Wednesday at the Illinois Senate Labor Committees hearing on rai But only three states and Washington, D.C., have approved the significant jump to $15 an hour. And each of those states has done it differently. Consider California, which was the first state to pass such legislation in 2016. There, it will take 6 years by Jan. 1, 2022, for the statewide minimum hourly wage to reach $15. The nations capital also passed legislation in 2016, with a slightly shorter timeline of four years. Raines said CHANGE Illinois never approached representatives from the states highest court about whether they would be interested in assuming the responsibility of overseeing Illinois redistricting process every 10 years, but assigning the role to that branch of government makes the most sense. Typically, of the three branches of government, we in this country believe that the judicial branch is the least partisan, so thats why were looking to them to do this, Raines said. The redistricting revamp would require a constitutional amendment, which carries a high burden of approval to be successful. Both chambers of the General Assembly must give their support by a three-fifths majority before it can go to voters. Then, 60 percent approval by voters is needed. When this proposal was introduced in the previous session, it had wide support from lawmakers in both chambers on both sides of the aisle. But it began making its way through the legislative process only about two weeks before the deadline to appear on the ballot. That gave legislators some measure of political cover. It may be safe to use FaceTime again in the near future. Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images The FaceTime bug that allowed iPhone users to use FaceTime Groups to surreptitiously eavesdrop on any other FaceTime user will be getting an official fix from Apple next week. Apple also thanking Grant Thompson, a 14-year-old kid who discovered the bug while trying to set up a FaceTime group to play Fortnite. Thompsons mother reported the bug to Apple a week before it was widely known, but while Apples security team exchanged a few emails, it took no action until Twitter and Snapchat users began showing how easy it was to listen in or even see video from other iPhone users phones, at which point Apple quickly shut down the servers for FaceTime Groups. From Apple: We have fixed the Group FaceTime security bug on Apples servers and we will issue a software update to re-enable the feature for users next week. We thank the Thompson family for reporting the bug. We sincerely apologize to our customers who were affected and all who were concerned about this security issue. We appreciate everyones patience as we complete this process. We want to assure our customers that as soon as our engineering team became aware of the details necessary to reproduce the bug, they quickly disabled Group FaceTime and began work on the fix. We are committed to improving the process by which we receive and escalate these reports, in order to get them to the right people as fast as possible. We take the security of our products extremely seriously and we are committed to continuing to earn the trust Apple customers place in us. Apple may still be facing further headaches from the FaceTime bug. A lawyer in Texas is suing the company, saying the bug allowed for people to overhear sworn testimony. New York Attorney General Letitia James has also announced that her office plans to investigate the bug and whether Apple was tardy in its response. This FaceTime breach is a serious threat to the security and privacy of the millions of New Yorkers who have put their trust in Apple and its products over the years, said James in a statement. New Yorkers shouldnt have to choose between their private communications and their privacy rights. Fed Decriminalization of Cannabis Could Spark New Pot Stock Boom (Ad) With Democrats now controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch, cannabis decriminalization on the federal level could be months away. This could result in established Washington State weed companies being able to market across state lines -- setting off a bidding war for quality stocks at reasonable prices. Get All the Details on #1Interstate Cannabis The Undead Archives I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world. At least hes bringing people together. Photo: JASON REDMOND/AFP/Getty Images Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today, Howard Schultzs bid for the White House, what to expect in Stacey Abramss State of the Union response, and two more insider accounts of Trumps path to the White House. Since former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced that hes interested in a centrist independent run for the White House, hes been the target of criticism everywhere from the White House to his own book signing. Is there no room for a centrist in the race, or is he just the wrong one? Sometimes I wonder if there is such a thing as centrism in our politics anymore beyond its use as a branding strategy for pundits and out-of-work politicians hustling to be hired as talking heads. As Margaret Sullivan of the Washington Post wrote this week in response to CNNs hiring of John Kasich and CBSs of Jeff Flake, networks love the television-news equivalent of elevator music the smarmy centrism that often benefits nobody but wont offend anyone. Yet along comes Howard Schultz to prove that even in these polarized times, Americans from Donald Trump to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can still rally in the center in support of a shared conviction: Schultzs potential third-party presidential candidacy is a ludicrous exercise in plutocratic ego that is of benefit to no one except Trump. So lets give Schultz credit for bringing the country together, even if only in its bipartisan detestation of him. And lets not fault Schultz for having zero qualifications for the White House now that Trump has obliterated the notion that qualifications are required. Still, Schultzs inadequacy for the presidency is more galling than Trumps. The incumbent charlatan-in-chief is nothing if not unabashed in advertising his moral unfitness, parading his ignorance, and spewing his contempt for democracy at every opportunity. Schultz, by contrast, is a fount of disingenuousness, wrapping his entitlement and narcissism in the cloak of high-minded ideals and furrowed-brow civic concern. Some will recall that his idea of solving Americas racial woes the year before Trumps election was to have Starbucks baristas write Race Together on his customers coffee cups a scheme that he purported would generate conversation and reconciliation but whose only real point was to trigger an ad campaign intended to boost Starbucks sales and float Schultzs political ambitions. In the same vein, Starbucks rolled out a voter participation drive in 2016. Its not just about who will be the next occupant of the White House, Schultz preached at the time. More Americans should participate in all elections, even those for city councils and school boards. This week the Seattle Times reported that since 2005, Schultz voted in only 11 out of 38 elections. Unlike Trump, Schultz did make rather than inherit his billions. (And also unlike Trump, Schultz actually can prove he has his billions.) But in his own way he seems almost as ignorant as Trump about politics. A self-described lifelong Democrat, he says he is not running as a Democrat because the party has no place for centrists like him which may come as news to Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Beto ORourke, and John Hickenlooper, among others contemplating presidential candidacies. Schultz also seems to think theres a majority of America that shares his alienation from both political parties, when in fact Pew polling shows that only 18 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of both parties and only 16 percent share Schultzs view that both are too extreme. For that matter, he doesnt know that the polling term Independent refers not to moderates or centrists but to unaffiliated voters who are quite partisan, whether left or right. But why should he worry? The Washington Post reports that Schultz has been promiscuous in hiring pollsters and strategists (including the former Obama hand Bill Burton and the former McCain-ite Steve Schmidt), all of whom are happy to take his money and reassure him that he knows what hes talking about. No third-party candidate can win the presidency, even if hes Theodore Roosevelt. All Schultz can do is siphon votes away from the Democratic ticket, much as Jill Stein did in 2016. Stein, we now know, was a useful idiot for the Russians in their scheme to help facilitate Trumps victory. Schultz may be less innocent. In recent years, Starbucks has been making deals in Russia, where its outlets have proliferated. For all we know, there was a plan to place a Starbucks in Trumps ill-fated Moscow Trump Tower to match the one in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. Time for another Steele dossier! The Democrats have tapped Georgias Stacey Abrams to respond to Trumps State of the Union next week. Whats on the line for Abrams, and for Trump, in this rescheduled address? Abrams is, along with ORourke and Floridas Andrew Gillum, a Democratic politician who found national stardom by losing a red-to-purplish state race in 2018. She lost the governorship narrowly to a Georgia secretary of State with a history of hostility to minority voting rights. Her popularity at home remains high, and its possible she could defeat the man who beat her, Brian Kemp, in 2022, or perhaps knock out the freshman Republican senator David Purdue when hes up in 2020. On State of the Union night, her No. 1 mission must be not to make a fool of herself in a role that has proved an embarrassment for the likes of Bobby Jindal, Tim Kaine, and Marco Rubio. (Does anyone even remember who responded to Trump last time? Joe Kennedy, a young Massachusetts congressman who came across so blandly that he managed to drain the luster out of his hallowed family name.) My advice to Abrams would be to keep it simple: Explain her partys border security and immigration policy with clarity, passion, brevity, and a sense of humor. In his previous State of the Union, Trump droned on for 80 minutes, reading robotically from a teleprompter and promising those who had not fallen into a coma that he was shepherding a new American moment that would include a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan. Since then, countless infrastructure weeks have come and gone under that bridge to nowhere. This time around, perhaps Trump will revert to full MAGA mode, railing on about the wall and threatening another shutdown and/or a declaration of a national emergency to get his way. Given that a large majority of Americans disapprove of both these tactics, and that most Americans really dont care about the wall, its all so much stale hot air. Stacey Abramss biggest problem may be that much of the audience will have fled by the time her big moment arrives. Two new books recounting time spent in the Trump campaign and White House came out this week, written by Chris Christie and Cliff Sims. Is there still an appetite for these stories? Its hard to tell. Theyre both instant best sellers but thats meaningless. So was Omarosas tell-all of last summer, Unhinged, whose sales collapsed the second week, despite the considerable publicity boost of an avid Trump Twitter rampage much like the one hes been aiming at Sims and his book. Since then Omarosa seems to have vanished into a witness protection program. Christie and Sims could well follow her to oblivion, joining Trumps original press secretary, Sean Spicer, another White House memoirist who seems to have vanished into a black hole after a brief flurry of speculation that he might land a gig on Dancing With the Stars. Meanwhile, a thought experiment: Can you imagine who in his or her right mind would listen to the audiobook of Christies Let Me Finish ten hours worth, read by Christie himself? It makes me feel a little better about life that quite honestly I cannot. The Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce combined two of its annual events The Chamber Experience and Business and Bites to bring the business community together for fun, networking and fundraising for the chamber. It was the chambers first large-scale in-person event since early Depicting how the robot changes autonomously the directions of locomotion when hitting a wall. Credit: Sandor et al. A team of researchers at Babes-Bolyai University, in Romania, and Goethe University Frankfurt have recently collaborated on a study exploring implementations of kick control on both simulated and real-world wheeled robots. The term 'kick control' refers to short, higher-order commands that can be used to 'kick' a system from one self-organized attractor into the basin of attraction of another attractor. "When we move, do our muscles just react to the signals the brain sends, or do they take into account also the state of the joints, of the tendons and of the muscles themselves?" asked Claudius Gros, one of the researchers who carried out the study. "One speaks of 'embodied locomotion,' if the latter is the case. Our research is dedicated to investigate how embodiment helps animals and robots to navigate the world." In nature, even animals with simple nervous systems can navigate a variety of complex environments. In order to move around both known and unknown environments, robots should have similar sensorimotor skills. So far, however, scientists and engineers worldwide have been struggling to design robots with motor capabilities that resemble those of humans and animals. "Coordinating a high number of actuators in a continuously changing environment is certainly a challenging task," Bulcsu Sandor, another researcher involved in the study, told TechXplore. "So why don't we let the body of the robot do the hard work, by taking over a substantial part of the computation? Following this idea, we suggest an alternative control scheme in which motion patterns are generated in a self-organized manner. In this framework, locomotion is created via a dynamical interaction between the brain and the body of the robot, and the environment." Phase diagram of the system: dynamical behaviors as a function of the parameters of the controller. Sandor, Gros and their colleagues devised a controller framework in which movements are not rigidly defined, but rather are described by a set of equations for controlling actuators that are dynamically changing, incorporating the body's proprio-sensory information. They then tested and refined these equations in the LPZRobots simulation environment. "Due to the interaction of the robot with its environment, several self-organized motion patterns can be created," Sandor said. "This allows us to switch between these behavioral primitives by a well-defined kick-like control signal. This is what we call `kick control`. Finally, as a proof of concept, we implemented this idea on real-world wheeled robots." Coordinating the contraction of the many muscles in the body is a very challenging task, which is innately acquired by most humans and animals. In their study, Sandor, Gros and their colleagues tried to devise an easier method to instil motor skills to robots. Sketch of a compliant sensorimotor loop, able to adapt to the environment. Credit: Sandor et al. Simulated robots (one car, 5 cars connected into a train). Credit: Sandor et al. Lego robot and the controller mechanism we used. Credit: Sandor et al. Depicting how the robot changes autonomously the directions of locomotion when hitting a wall. Credit: Sandor et al. "Wouldn't it be much simpler if the brain would just give a short kick signal and the body of either an animal or robot would carry out a well-coordinated movement by itself?" Gros said. "This is the key idea behind kick control. It can be realized, as we discovered, when the robot disposes of self-organized actuators." The researchers evaluated their framework on both simulated and real-world wheeled robots, generating the dynamics of distinct wheels independently via local feedback loops. These feedback loops are mediated by rate-encoding neurons, which process propriosensory inputs describing the actual rotational angle of each wheel. Subsequently, a simulated transmission rod that resembles those used in steam locomotives translates changes in neural activity into a rotational motion. Credit: Claudius Gros "We demonstrate how self-organized motion patterns can be used to generate embodied locomotion," Sandor said. "Using this control scheme may help to simplify complex computations that need to be carried out to complete various locomotion tasks. Combining it with other methods may lead to powerful tools for generating complex robotic behaviors. Our framework could also contribute to the understanding of animal and human locomotion." The study carried out by Sandor, Gros and their colleagues could lead to a new technique for efficiently controlling the movements of robots. The key practical advantage of their framework is that it allocates part of the computational load to the robot's body. Their model could also be used to teach dynamical systems in high school physics courses, as it allows for interactive and engaging demonstrations. The researchers are now planning to test their algorithms on more complex robotics architectures, incorporating different sensory modalities into their equations. For instance, they could apply kick control to a hierarchical organization of controllers, in which visual information triggers a particular locomotion mode. Credit: Claudius Gros "We are currently working on generalizing our principles to legged robots, in particular hexapods, and our first results are promising," Gros said. "We are also investigating the activation of kick control by sensory information." Explore further Engineers build a soft robotics perception system inspired by humans More information: Kick control: using the attracting states arising within the sensorimotor loop of self-organized robots as motor primitives. arXiv:1806.09321 [nlin.AO]. Kick control: using the attracting states arising within the sensorimotor loop of self-organized robots as motor primitives. arXiv:1806.09321 [nlin.AO]. arxiv.org/abs/1806.09321 Bulcsu Sandor: phys.ubbcluj.ro/~bulcsu.sandor/index.html Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros: itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros/ 2019 Science X Network And a lot more natural gas may soon come online. Thus far, the shale revolution has been mostly confined to North America, says Michael Greenstone, an economics professor at the University of Chicago. But there are large, as-yet-untapped deposits around the world that other countries want to extract. The worlds history of leaving $100 bills on the ground is very, very short. Clean renewables especially solar and wind have made faster-than-expected technological advances, as well, threatening to leave coal in their dust (or, ahem, lack thereof). The governments official models are belatedly catching up to these on-the-ground changes, says Rice University professor Dan Cohan. And if anything, Cohan adds, the trends suggest that Obamas Clean Power Plan was not all that ambitious. Or as S&P Global Platts coal analytics director Joe Aldina put it: The Clean Power Plan was never in our expectation going to be a main driver in the switch away from coal. Rather, market forces are. Weve seen this pattern before wherein Trump promises a vision of an industry from decades ago and then struggles to understand why he cant turn back the clock. Woodland police arrested two Centralia residents Wednesday night on suspicion of second-degree burglary and third-degree theft. The loss prevention staff at Woodlands Walmart store called police around 9:35 p.m. to report that Natasha Tatiana Henderson, 23, and Anthony Scott Lawson, 31, stole about $40 worth of items, said police sergeant Jim Keller. They both have been previously trespassed for multiple prior thefts, Keller said. Usually a $40 theft would quality as a misdemeanor, but the couple was charged with felony burglary because they were not allowed inside the Walmart and entered the store unlawfully, Keller said. The way the law is written, if you unlawfully enter a premises with the intent to commit a crime, thats burglary, Keller said. In addition to the robbery and theft, Henderson was booked on first-degree robbery charge for a $75,000 warrant out of Lewis County, Keller said. It was pretty cut and dry. There wasnt anything that really stood out, Keller said. Love 4 Funny 6 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 2 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. Filings from the prosecution said that according to witnesses, Williams had been using alcohol, marijuana, Xanax and methamphetamine prior to stealing Morales car. (Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorder but can cause multiple mental impairments and can be fatal if used along with alcohol or if too much is taken, according to DrugAbuse.com .) The day after the shooting, several police agencies arrested Williams in Camas. He told them unsolicited that he was a drug dealer, according to police, and was found with 7.7 grams of methamphetamine.His girlfriend, Bethany Collins, was with him when he was arrested, according to police. However, she was not with Williams at the time of the crime, according to new records entered by the prosecution. She told detectives that he showed up Wednesday and asked her to help him come up with a story. She identified the backpack used by the gunman as hers. Hairdressers across Washington took their political scissors to proposed legislation to eliminate a business model theyve used for years. The legislation is now officially dead. State Sen. Karen Keiser, a Democrat, announced Thursday that Senate Bill 5326, intended to prohibit hair salons and barber shops from contracting out space to independent stylists, has been dropped after negative comments from across the state, according to a press release. Keiser said in the release she and other senators heard from hundreds of hairdressers who felt the bill would jeopardize their profession by changing the way many salons are set up for business. Many smaller salons lease or sublease chairs in the shop to independent hairdressers who are licensed individually instead of being directly employed by the shop owner. Several salons in the Longview area have conducted business this way for decades. The arrangements allow them to avoid paying unemployment and workers compensation taxes. But other businesses operate on this model as well. Thanks outreach, it was made clear that this bill fell short of those requirements, Keiser said in a statement. I will still work hard to promote fair employment practices and will be focusing my time on legislation regarding non-compete contracts. Love 3 Funny 1 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. Banks and credit unions throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho are cautioning customers after seeing an increase in fraudulent account activity over the last few months. Some precautions taken at Fibre Federal Credit Union in Longview caught a local customer by surprise last week. Tamara Norton, a 40-year customer of Fibre Federal, saw her account shut down last week after making local purchases on things like gas and groceries. Unsure of what was causing the trouble, she went to Fibre Federal and had her card looked at for issues. Norton said her account was locked after Fibres fraud detection deemed the activity suspicious. Luckily, she said, there were no real fraud charges but she was locked out of her account without notice. Norton said she has had to get a new card in the past due to a risk of account exposure, but that she hasnt been locked out of her account before. Because of (the uptick) they have gone the other way about watching accounts, Norton said. Theyre trying to be so careful it seems to be interrupting. The province of El Oued in southeastern Algeria was rocked by violent clashes between disenchanted youth demanding jobs and better living conditions and Algerian security forces. The clashes take place in a climate of uncertainty in Algeria where the government failed to use the oil mantra to develop the long-neglected south. The protesters in the city of El Maghair also demanded peacefully highways and proper roads before security agents used force leading to clashes. Videos shared on social media showed torched vehicles and blocked roads as well as scenes of destruction of private property. the protests add to a series of dissent in Algerias boiling south where the government has been exploiting gas and oil while investing heavily in the comparatively well-off and densely populated north. Algerias south is plagued by instability. Most western countries advise their citizens against travel to the Algerian Sahara, the region being fraught with risks of kidnapping by terrorist groups. The population of oil and gas rich south have also protested at the governments plundering of their resources. Ain Salah and Ouargla have been the theatre of violent clashes with security forces. The region of Ghardaia was rocked by violent sectarian fights between Amazigh Ibadites and Arab Malikites. Regime opacity and the secrecy shrouding the successor to Bouteflika have also been hampering Algeria from carrying out economic reforms to wean their economy from dependence on hydrocarbons. Actually, uncertainty over Bouteflikas succession adds to Algerias explosive mix: ailing economy, dwindling oil revenues, widespread corruption, fragile social cohesion and lingering terrorist threat, which make the country a powder keg waiting to explode. Longview chiropractor Anik St. Martin held a meeting for parents of unvaccinated children Thursday so they could get more information and connect with each other in light of the measles outbreak. St. Martin said she could not give medical advice specific to the illness because it is outside her realm of practice but wanted to get people together to have a conversation about it and vaccinations in general. Ashley Gatlin was one of about 45 people that attended the meeting at the Country Nutrition Shoppe in Longview. She said she isnt scared of her healthy, unvaccinated child getting the measles because it is easy to treat in that case. Its upsetting when people say your kid is the reason this is happening when they dont have the disease, Gatlin said. The Centers for Disease Control website states anyone with measles should stay home for four days after developing the rash. The illness is highly contagious and can be contracted from surfaces several hours after they are infected. According to the Mayo Clinics website, there is no specific treatment for measles other than addressing the symptoms. Those exposed can get the vaccination to provide protection. Patients who cant get the vaccine may receive an injection of antibodies that may prevent measles or make symptoms less severe. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 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. Wissam al-Teir was the head of the Damascus Now Network and a prominent journalist in Syria writes Damascus Voice. Damascus Voice has learned from Assad regime security sources that news of the death of journalist Wissam al-Teir, head of the Damascus Now Network is circulating between security and media official. Teir was held and interrogated by the Air Force Intelligence for over a month. Three sources confirmed to Damascus Voice that Teir had been died about two weeks ago,while being tortured. Other sources denied the news, saying that it was only a rumor that had been circulated by people who wanted to put pressure on the regime to show Teir, who has not been seen since he was arrested at his office over a month ago. The sources, which confirmed Teirs death, said that a state of confusion prevailed in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate after the death, as the command had not been informed of Teirs death until today. Regime intelligence arrested Wissam al-Teir at his office in the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus in December 2018, along with a friend who was released after two days, while Teir remained in detention with the Air Force Intelligence. Two days after Teirs arrest, Air Force Intelligence forces stormed a number of offices in which Damascus Now correspondents worked, confiscating much of their equipment. There were conflicting reports about Teirs arrest. Media sources said that he had been charged with spying for a foreign country, and selling media equipment to agencies under the authority of a country hostile to the Assad regime. Other sources told Damascus Voice that Teir had been intending to open major corruption files concerning the former Interior Minister, General Mohamed al-Shaer, related to the embezzlement of billions of Syrian pounds from the funds of the Interior Ministry and the Internal Security Forces. They said that Shaer was behind Teirs arrest. Wissam al-Teir is one of the most prominent regime media figures, and the Damascus Now Network has worked in recent years to cover battles and bombardments from the perspective of the regime and its allies. Previously, the regime has prevented Teir from meeting Bashar al-Assad and covering his appearance in Ghouta during the military campaign in March 2018, which caused him to quit his media work for a time, before returning and continuing to work far from the front lines. 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. So far, the bodies of 60 people, including women and children, have been found in the al-Fakheekha mass grave, but the number is expected to rise to 1000 reports Syria TV. First responders in the city of Raqqa are continuing to remove corpses from the al-Fakheekha mass grave, recently discovered south of the citythe 14th mass grave discovered in the province. On Wednesday, the team recovered 11 corpses from the mass grave, bringing the number of corpses removed from it up to 60, including women and children. On Jan. 20, 2019, 57 workers began removing corpses from the grave, which is 1.5 km from the Euphrates River south of the city of Raqqa in a farm, for forensic research. The first responders expect to find about 1,000 corpses in the al-Fakheekha grave, spread throughout collective ditches and individual graves. On that basis, a thousand graves have been prepared in land south of the Raqqa-Deir ez-Zor highway in the al-Jabel area, eight kilometers from the surrounding villages. Alongside the corpses being removed from the mass graves, the team is also still working to remove bodies from under damaged buildings in Raqqa. About 20 bodies have been removed from various parts of the city over the past ten days. The head of the team, Yasser al-Khamis, told the Smart News agency last month, that after removing the corpses from the al-Panorama district grave in Raqqa, the number of bodies recovered throughout the province since last September reached 3,310. Residents have identified 550 of them and delivered the remains to their families, while there were also the corpses of 850 militants among them. The al-Fakheekha mass grave is the 14th to be discovered in Raqqa. There were 793 corpses recovered from the Panorama grave, 553 from the al-Rashid field grave, 402 from the al-Tajj collective grave along the old bridge, and 94 from the Old Mosque grave, 90 from four mass graves in al-Bedou street, and 33 from the al-Bayda park grave in the al-Nahda district, 27 from the al-Najirin park grave, 19 from the al-Nahda park grave, seven from the al-Jazrah junction grave, and five from the Childrens Park grave. The International Coalition acknowledged at the end of August that 1,061 civilians had been killed unintentionally during the 30,000 or so air raids it conducted against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, since it started its operations in 2014. The Syrian Network for Humans rights has documented 2,832 deaths, including 861 children and 617 women at the hands of the International Coalition from September 23, 2014, to September 23, 2018. 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 convoy, was stopped by the US-linked militia of Qasad, and prevented from continuing its journey, despite the desperate need for aid in the area writes SANA. US forces and the US-linked militia of Qasad prevented a humanitarian relief convoy, provided by the Syrian government and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, from reaching locals in Hajin city in Deir ez-Zors countryside, on the eastern bank of Euphrates River, SANAs reporter said. The convoy of 10 trucks loaded with potable water bottles, medicine, personal hygiene supplies, and other basic commodities, were prevented from crossing into al-Husseiniya village by the militia of Qasad, as instructed by the US forces in the area, the reporter indicated. The reporter added that this measure contradicts international law and shows the USs indifference to the humanitarian situation and the falsity of its claims regarding its intentions to protect the lives of the Syrian civilians, who have been subjected to systematic and repeated airstrikes by the USled coalition. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the time for stakes nominations for 2019 nears, Northfield Park reminds the connections of top Open pacers, Open trotters and three-year-old pacers that the tracks richest three Grand Circuit events in 2019 will all be 'by-invitation-only.' The $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie (Open Pace) on June 8, the $175,000 Cleveland Trotting Classic (Open Trot) on June 29 and the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial (three-year-old pace) on Aug. 10 will all be Invitationals with no nomination or starting fees for the participants. Northfields Executive Vice President of Racing Dave Bianconi adopted the change for this years Battle and Trotting Classic (the Milstein Memorial has already been an Invitational for the past few seasons) with the following reasoning. I simply think that Invitationals are the way that Northfield can attract the best eight horses for each of these great events. When you are handcuffed with only the horses that paid into your stakes races as possible starters, you can often miss a late-bloomer who gets hot leading up to your race. And it isnt uncommon for connections of good horses to miss a payment deadline early in the year and then find themselves on the outside looking in come race time. Also, with state-bred Sires Stakes programs across the country so economical to enter and so lucrative to participate in, it has become more difficult to get young horses to stake to numerous Grand Circuit events. That led to the change when the Carl Milstein Memorial became an Invitational, and we have had some great fields for that race since the change. I want that same flexibility for our Open events (The Battle of Lake Erie and Cleveland Trotting Classic). While Northfield will be actively recruiting the top horses for these races as the year goes on, Bianconi encourages the connections of horses that are interested in participating to reach out to him as well. Id love to hear from owners or trainers who think their horse would fit in well in any of our big events. I like to invite horses from different circuits across North America to meet here at Northfield, which is an easy ship from just about anywhere. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me in the race office at (330) 467-4101 ext. 2300. Northfields feature event for three-year-old pacing fillies, the $125,000 Courageous Lady on Oct. 12, will remain a stakes event overseen by the Hambletonian Society. The Courageous Lady is late in the year after everyones Sires Stakes have been completed, so it has been successful as a paid-in event. Im leaving it alone for now, explained Bianconi. (Northfield Park) Chinese President Xi Ping Thursday urged Gulf Cooperation Council members to cultivate unity and harmony as he welcomed Qatars ruler whose country has been embroiled in a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, since June 2017. President Xi, welcoming the Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, said regional cooperation was an important basis for prosperity in the Gulf region, Chinese state media reported. The Gulf region has been cracked by the 18-month diplomatic rift, which erupted after the Saudi-led camp accused the gas-rich country of supporting terrorism and the groups regional foe, Iran. Qatar denied the charges and castigated the four for launching a smear campaign against its sovereignty. China has stayed out of the crisis but maintained good ties with the various protagonists. President Xi reportedly offered Chinas help to defuse the crisis. China supports the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council to seek an appropriate resolution to disputes and contradictions via political and diplomatic means, to return unity and harmony between Gulf and Arab countries, Xi said. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role according to the wishes of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Xi added. Qatar has become a major trade partner in the region for the second world largest economy. The tiny Gulf country according to its ruler is willing to pump investment into the Chinese economy. We are ready to have bigger investments in China, in infrastructure or in any other field we see as important for us, al Thani said. We are happy to provide China with liquid gas and we are ready to provide China with more in the near future Qatar is set to supply China with 600,000 of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for a period of five years under an agreement signed late last year. The Gulf country announced recently that it bought 5 per cent stakes of Chinas second largest state-run airline, China Southern Airlines. The acquisition will help Qatar Airways to gain access to Chinas fast-growing travel market. The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) applauds the New Jersey Legislature for passing critical legislation to help support New Jerseys horse racing and breeding industry. S2992/A4810 will allocate $100 million over five years to be used for horse racing purse allocations. We are grateful for the commitment to our industry demonstrated by Senators Gopal, Sarlo, Oroho and Assemblymembers Burzichelli, Hougtaling, Downey and Dancer by ushering this bill through the Legislature, said Mark Ford, President of the SBOANJ. Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Coughlin took the time to understand the challenging position our industry is in and made this a priority. SBOANJ is thankful for their leadership on this issue. This funding will start to even the playing field for the New Jersey horse racing and breeding industry and help us to compete with the surrounding states which have very lucrative incentive programs. The industry and horse racing and breeding farms not only aid and protect the preservation of open space in New Jersey, they heavily support the agribusiness and ensure thousands of jobs around the state. Without stimulation from the horse racing and breeding industry, these support businesses stop production and contributing to the New Jersey economy as well. This legislation will help to prevent this from happening in New Jersey. "SBOANJ is proud of the strides taken by our advocacy efforts," said the organization in a statement. " The relentless work of the Association will pay dividends for the horse racing and breeding industry and the State of New Jersey, enabling the horse industry to continue to grow and provide top of the line purses that will undoubtedly attract unparalleled competitors back to the state. "SBOANJ is also appreciative of the support shown by their longstanding partners the Meadowland Racetrack, Freehold Raceway, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen Association and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey." (SBOANJ) Brexit has bolstered public support for the EU Ireland, the smaller country, now negotiates from a position of strength because of EU membership. In a time when so much about the EU feels troubled, British backwardness is prompting reminders of what works. (Source: AP/TASR) One huge irony of Brexit is that it has bolstered public support for the European Union. One poll last year found European support for the EU at a 35-year high. Populists that once hinted of leaving the EU now talk about changing the EU from within instead. Meanwhile, the stalemate that has emerged after the UK parliament rejected Theresa Mays Brexit deal serves as a perfect demonstration of why EU membership is important. The biggest sticking point in Mays proposed agreement with the EU was the so-called Irish backstop. Northern Ireland (part of the UK, and thus on its way out of the EU) is geographically isolated from the rest of the UK, but shares an island with the Republic of Ireland (an EU and eurozone member). Northern Ireland is dependent on goods from Ireland, while Irelands economy counts on selling goods to Northern Ireland. When and if the UK leaves EU free trade area, these strong ties, and many livelihoods are thus threatened. But solving this problem is complicated. How do you pull your country out of a trade area while also maintaining free trade? A solution to this riddle if there is one may take a while. So May and the EU negotiated that Northern Ireland would remain in a customs union with the rest of the EU until a permanent solution is found. However, hardcore Brexiteers opposed Mays proposal. They fear, justifiably, that solving this problem is so tricky perhaps impossible that Northern Ireland could end up stuck operating under EU trade rules forever -- effectively creating two different trade regimes within the UK itself. Instead, Brexiteers insist on a time limit for this backstop, meaning Northern Ireland would eventually leave the customs union at a certain date no matter agreement or not, potentially seriously harming the Irish economy. In the past, Ireland (which has a population that equates to just 7 percent of the UKs) would be at a huge disadvantage negotiating a solution to this problem. In a repeat of a pattern that saw Ireland colonised by the British for hundreds of years, the Irish would have no choice but to accept whatever London dictated as the new rules on the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. But not today. After the UK parliament rejected Mays plan, she sought to renegotiate the backstop portion of the agreement. The EU said no. Ireland, the smaller country in this particular dispute now negotiates from a position of strength because of EU membership. A similar dynamic allows Slovak businesses to negotiate deals with Chinese companies on equal footing. Backed by trade rules negotiated by the EU as a whole, they are not abused or disadvantaged simply because they come from a smaller country. Even the EUs biggest members France, Germany, Italy and Spain use this combined strength of the EU to compete with big players on the world stage. In a time when so much about the EU feels troubled, British backwardness is prompting reminders of what works. 1. Feb 2019 at 17:13 | Benjamin Cunningham Foreigners' Police to introduce a new online booking system soon More foreigners motivate the police to make their departments more efficient. The number of foreigners legally living in Slovakia has nearly doubled in the past six years, which also impacts on the work of police departments. Were aware of this situation, which is why we have already adopted several measures and are working on other significant ones, the police informed on their Facebook page. The basic aim is to improve the quality of our services to clients but we also want to offer comforting working conditions to our police officers. Among the already adopted measures are the gradual increase in workplaces dealing with foreigners and making organisational and legislative changes. The police have also introduced a systematic redistribution of files among the Foreigners Police departments, said Ladislav Csemi, the head of the Office of the Border and Foreigners Police (UHCP) of the Slovak Police Presidium. Read also: Why some foreigners struggle to open bank accounts in Slovakia Read more The police had to process 38,600 applications for residency permits last year. Currently, there are 120,000 foreigners legally living in the country, of whom 65,300 come from non-EU countries. For the first time, their number is higher than those from the EU, the police added, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Since the number of foreigners is still increasing and the process of dealing with their agenda is becoming more demanding, they want to amend the law on the residence of foreigners with the aim of simplifying the processes, he said in a video published on Facebook. New booking system to be introduced The police also plan to open a new Foreigners Police department in Ruzomberok in three months time. They also want to continue in rebuilding the other departments so that they meet the standards and improve the environment for both foreigners and police officers, Csemi said, as reported by TASR. Read also: Most foreigners working in Slovakia are Serbs Read more In addition, they want to introduce a new, nation-wide booking system for all categories of foreigners, he added. Until now, this was possible only for employees of strategic companies. The main aim of these changes is that the police will adequately offer services to foreigners while maintaining the emphasis on Slovakias security and controlled migration, Csemi said. 31. Jan 2019 at 22:50 | Compiled by Spectator staff Well-travelled siblings Jana and Samo Stefanec formed an electronic music duo to share their joy for music with others. Samo Stefanec : The whole aspiration of our generation is to create work that has appeal beyond Slovakia Right now, there is this trend, at least in electronic music, where the world is starting to look at Eastern Europe and notice there is really good music coming out of here. Eastern Europe is no longer a sign of bad quality, being Eastern European is novel What really changed me and shaped my outlook on life are the people I got to meet during my work and studies abroad. I noticed that they were open to doing stuff outside of their comfort-zone. Read also: Slovak migrant shares the stories of other migrants to understand her own Read more If you want to do something exciting in life, you have to go outside of your comfort-zone That doesnt necessarily mean going abroad. Going out of your comfort-zone can of course mean doing stuff in Slovakia. The most important thing is to create from joy I noticed that whenever I get together with musicians, no matter their style or where they are from, if there is joy in what they are doing, there will always be magic. I think the mindset in Slovakia is to be afraid to do something that will not give you immediate results. If something is not working, solve it If the project I am doing doesnt bring me joy, then I just dont do it. Thats how I solve many problems. Thats my mindset. Many people in Slovakia dont feel joy when they are doing things. This automatically feeds into the next problem, which is pointing out everything that is wrong. Read also: Blog: Slovak art therapist's passion grew while living in poverty abroad Read more Its really hard to accept that you may not receive energy back from people Which is why its important to stay in your joy. When someone is rude and vulgar, its really easy to be rude and vulgar back. My approach is to just stay nice and maintain my good energy. Jana Stefanec Learning other languages is the essence of knowing something more Our parents taught us these values. Our father is a doctor and he travelled the world, even under communism. This inspired me to study culture and languages. During my studies at Slovak university, I started working summers in Malta and lived there for 6 years. Abroad, I gained the confidence to do things my own way When it comes to music, its extremely subjective. Our expression may be nice for someone and not nice for someone else. The point is it doesnt matter what other people think. Just be yourself Your quality of life reflects your mindset. When I first went abroad, I made the conscious decision to be open. For example, in Malta, I told myself: Be open and take every opportunity that comes your way. I landed on my feet very quickly because of that approach. I learned a lot from all the people I met They came from different cultures, they spoke different languages, but they all had a similar mindset. They were open. When you are interested in what you do, it translates into the quality of your work This is what we want to show and give to people in Slovakia. Through our music, we share our energy with them. Every time we perform, we share our joy This testimony was originally published in Zuzana Palovics book, The Great Return. You can learn more about the book as well as Palovics own journey as a Slovak migrant that later returned to Slovakia at http://thegreatreturn.eu/. 1. Feb 2019 at 10:00 | Zuzana Palovic 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. Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now... The Intoxication Issue By Megan Gates 01 February 2019 Print Issue: February 2019 Its a typical affair. A company hosts a holiday party for employees and clients. It books a venue to handle the DJ, it hires a caterer to provide the food and wine, and it contracts with a security firm to make people feel safe while they celebrate. But what happens if someone gets drunk at the party and gets into an argument with another guest? Or passes out? Or tries to drive home? Whats the security officer supposed to do? This exact predicament arose when a woman, whod just been promoted at work, was attending a private event. She wanted to celebrate her new professional accomplishment and ended up drinking alcohol to the point that she was intoxicated. When she went to leave the event, she stumbled and fell. A security officer, whose firm was contracted for the event, helped her up, sat her down in a chair, and got her some water. She reassured the officer that she was fine, and he escorted her to an elevator that went down to a sub-level parking garage. The woman, however, was not fine. She got in to her car, drove up the wrong ramp to exit the parking garage, crashed into a drop gate, drove out onto the street, and ultimately killed a bystander. A lawsuit was later filed against the security firm for allowing her to leave the venue in her vehicle while intoxicated. The suit was settled for a final amount that was not disclosed. In a deposition, the security officer who had been on duty at the event was asked what training he had to handle interactions with individuals under the influence. The officer said he had never received any. If that guard had been trained, hed have known betterthat there are policies or something I have to do because this woman cant drive, says Russell Kolins, CEO of Kolins Security Group and an expert witness on security issues. And, unfortunately, that lack of training is common for many security officers working for contract firms that provide services for special events, Kolins adds. The professionals who are the bartenders, servers, and security personnel who work at venues are trainedbut in the private party arena, where you have contract guards who are assigned to protect the party, they are not trained because this is not something they would normally do, he explains. In the last two years, Kolins says hes been contacted about five separate cases involving contract security agencies that were later sued because of their responseor lack ofto an intoxicated person at a private party. Typically, contract agencies that are hired for eventslike private partiesare focused on keeping uninvited people out of the venue, answering questions, and giving the presence of authority so people feel safe. But they normally dont have discussions about whether or not alcohol is being served; its not something that would be in their normal course of operation, Kolins says. They are there for a specific purposeto provide a deterrent to a crime or negative things that could occur. They dont take into consideration how they are going to deal with intoxicated individuals. Side Effects Alcohol is a depressant and when consumed, it passes into the bloodstream to affect the brain, kidneys, lungs, and liver. Its most visible effects, however, are on the central nervous system, causing physical and behavioral changes like relaxed inhibitions, impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, and reduced motor coordination. The amount of alcohol it takes to make a person intoxicated depends on a variety of factors, including weight, gender, age, metabolism, food intake, the strength and type of alcohol, and any medication that the individual is taking. Women are more likely to feel the effects of alcohol sooner because they have lower levels of the enzyme that breaks alcohol downmeaning it will stay in their system longer. The legal blood alcohol limit to operate a motor vehicle in the United States, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the United Kingdom is .08 percent. Many other Western and European countries have a .05 percent blood alcohol limit, including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Other countries, like China and Sweden, have a lower blood alcohol limit of .02 percent. Employees who work in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs are trained to recognize changes in behavior due to alcohol consumption. Many establishments have this training in place due to U.S. dram shop statutes, which allow the venue and the individual serving the alcohol to be held liable for selling or serving alcohol to individuals who then cause injury or death due to intoxication. While security personnel are not engaged in serving people alcohol, by being employed directlyor indirectly via a contractby a venue that does, they could be liable should an incident occur. Therefore, its critical for security personnel to receive Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS), like bartenders and servers do, to recognize the signs that someone is intoxicated, Kolins says. The program teaches you how to handle people and how to interact with them, and gives you an understanding of how people might act if they are under the influence, he explains. People do stupid things when they are under the influence. Security managers also need to have policies in place that explain what security personnel are expected to do if someone is intoxicated. These policies could be as restrictive as necessary, but should at least say, We will stop people, talk to them, notify the supervisor for the event, and turn this job over to the supervisor to handle if necessary, Kolins says. He also recommends that clients hiring contract security firms for special events cover what the policies and expectations are for security staff when interacting with individuals under the influence. Have a clear understanding, in writing, requiring guards be trained to understand the effects of alcohol and how to deal with people who are intoxicated, Kolins explains. This can then be used to demonstrate, should an incident occur, that the security firm took reasonable steps to prevent it. In Practice Darrell Clifton, CPP, has worked in casino security for almost 30 years. As the current executive director of security for Eldorado Resorts, Inc., which owns the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and Circus Circus in Las Vegas, he works with a proprietary security team responsible for three casinos, six night clubs, and roughly 100 bars. And they interact with people under the influence every day. Being drunk, not only is it not a crime, its acceptable behavior at a casino and a nightclubits what we market, Clifton says. Just because someone gets drunk doesnt mean they are a bad person. This is the mindset that Eldorado Resorts starts with when teaching security staff how to interact with people who are under the influence. Even though individuals are intoxicated, security staff has a responsibility to treat them like valued guests. There are many states that have dram shop laws. Nevada does not, but it doesnt excuse us from liability or moral responsibility of making sure somebody gets to where they are going safely, Clifton adds. In training, which involves role playing and then on-the-job training with a supervisor, security staff are taught how to recognize that someone is intoxicated, the policies in place to address that behavior, and that they are empowered to take action based on those policies. For instance, security officers are taught to work the line, looking for minors who would not be allowed in, individuals who dont meet the dress code, or those who are visibly intoxicated. We teach our staff that you have the power to keep those people out of the venue, because then they take it seriously, says Clifton, adding that it helps prevent future incidents. Clifton also stresses the importance of training security staff, and other employees like valets, to be on high alert when people leave the premises to ensure their safety. His staff is encouraged to engage people, especially those who show signs of intoxication, while they exit clubs, bars, or the casinos. You talk to them and get more information as to how intoxicated they are, and then decide if they are all right, Clifton says. If the security officer determines that that person is not safe to leave on his or her own, the officer is taught to ask if there is someone who can be called to pick them up. Other options include walking the person to their hotel room, if its part of the same venue, or calling a taxi or free shuttle service. If the person has been driving, the officer and the valet can offer to hold the persons keys and keep their car overnight. If the individual becomes resistant and insists on driving, security and the valet can tell them they will only surrender the persons keys after the police have arrived on the scene. We tell people we dont want to ruin your night, and that works 99 percent of the time, Clifton says. As a last resort option, security staff can call the police who will pick the individuals up and put them in a holding cell to sober up without being charged with a crime. This all goes back to duty of care, Clifton says. Security owes this care to people at the venues it is responsible for protecting. What we should do as good risk managers is realize the liability is out there, the danger is out there, and we have a responsibility to the customers to keep everybody safe, Clifton says. If we do the right thing, we should be okay. How to Handle Intoxicated Customers While security managers and officers are not engaged in serving alcohol, they could be found liable for incidents involving intoxicated individuals if they have not been trained to identify, interact with, and manage people under the influence. In a session at GSX 2018 in Las Vegas, Russell Kolins, CPP, CEO of Kolins Security Group, and Darrell Clifton, CPP, executive director of security of Eldorado Resorts, Inc., walked attendees through the science of alcohols impact on the human body, as well as liability risks and best practices for security staff. A recording of Dealing with Customers Who Present Signs of Impairment or Intoxication is available at https://learning.asisonline.org/diweb/catalog/item?id=2569397. It is free to all during February 2019. Smarter Access At The State The State of Michigan recently faced a daunting security breach. Someone copied an employees credentials to a government building using a software program that clones access cards to grant the individual unauthorized access. Ive always known that with the normal proximity cards there are vulnerabilities, says Chris Christensen, director of cybersecurity and infrastructure protection for the State of Michigan. On YouTube, you can figure out how to clone and copy those proximity cards quite quickly and efficiently and be able to get to places where youre not supposed to. Thankfully, in the case of this security breach, it was a paid vulnerability test, in which a penetration testing team was tasked with finding ways to infiltrate the buildings security. The test exposed a problem with the states physical security, which is important, according to Christensen, because of the growing emphasis on cybersecurity over the past decade. We have a lot of firewall rules, were making sure applications are secure, but what about when somebody takes a key and copies it and walks into a building, a secure site, and then has accesswhat are we doing about that? Christensen asks. So, I think thats a big thing that were missing in security. Were trying to protect the castle from the inside, and weve just opened the front door for people to walk in. Tasked with access control for approximately 40 government buildings, including facilities in the capital city of Lansing and on Mackinac Island where the governors residence is located, Christensen notes that physical security cant fall by the wayside as departments focus more on digital threats. After the penetration test, he wanted to find a more-secure, cutting-edge solution to access control. Once that happened, I knew that we needed to do something that was more safe and secure, and that had a little bit more of the wow factor, he says. About two years ago, the state turned to the Vector Occupant app from Honeywell, a Bluetooth-enabled access control system that stores user credentials on individuals smart devices. Users download the Vector app from any smartphone application store and enter a code sent by the state of Michigan. Since the beginning of 2018, all new card readers installed at government buildings are equipped with Vector. Having access via ones phone is preferable to carrying around a traditional proximity card for several reasons, Christensen notes, including higher reliability and usability for the end user. When you go to work in the morning, if youre at the first stop sign, and you look down and your phones not there, you turn around and go home and get your phone, he says. If you dont have your card, you go all the way to the office and then go try to get a loaner card or have somebody else sign you into the building. He adds that the potential for sharing and swapping access control devices is essentially a nonissue, because people would be less likely to share their phones than a plastic card. So far, Vector has been installed at about 20 government buildings. Were utilizing Vector in the high-security areas, Christensen says. Places like gun rooms, evidence rooms, where were housing money with the medical marijuana areas. He adds that its being used for the governors detail areas that require higher security. Its easier, its faster, and its more secure so we can keep our executive leadership better secured. The Honeywell Vector Occupant App generates reports on who is accessing what doors and when, telling the infrastructure team whether someone was accessing a certain area an unusual amount of times. If someone is using Vector, and the report shows someone scanned at the same place three times, obviously something wasnt working at that point, Christensen says. So we would investigate it and whether it was just a user error issue. Most often he says these reports show that the user wasnt holding his or her phone close enough to the reader, and not cases where unauthorized individuals were attempting to enter a secure area. Alarms from door access panels also alert security when a person has entered a secure room at unusual hours. We had an alarm go off on one of our Vector doors at 2:00 a.m., but it was actually the detective sergeant going back in and putting some more evidence in after a long day of protests, he says. So, it was valid, but we did look into that. Authorizing access for users is quick and simple, as is provisioning conditional, temporary access for contractors and employees who dont normally have access to a certain building. Weve done that on various employees when theyve needed access. So, lets say the data server room at Michigan State Police headquarters had to be updated, Christensen explains. Ill get the access for the individuals for a 24-hour time period, and after that time they dont have access. As the person provisioning access, he says Vector offers added peace of mind that no one walks away with a card that they shouldnt have. It made it really easy for me, because by the time the week was done I forgot he was in the system, says Christensen. So, for the credentials to expire and him to not have access, I didnt have to worry about it again. Eventually the state also hopes to take advantage of the building intelligence function of Vectorvia the app, users can report their comfort level within buildingsif theyre too hot or cold; whether a conference room needs more chairs; and more. At our agency, were all about trying to do customer service, Christensen says. He adds theres a cost-saving benefit to the building intelligence. Knowing where people have come or gone, or where theyre moving with their Bluetooth being activatedit will help us save and use the power when we need to. For more information: Julio Ampuero, [email protected], www.honeywell.com, 480.606.9569 On Jan. 31, Twitter announced that it took down 418 accounts thought to have originated in Russia that were suspected of spreading disinformation targeting the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Two weeks earlier, Facebook removed yet another round of Russia-linked pages and accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior. Russian fake news seemingly proliferates on every major platform. But the Russian government has also been gearing up for a fake news fight of its own. Just last week, the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, approved the first reading of a bill package that, if passed in its current form, would prohibit Russian citizens and news outlets from publishing unreliable news and from expressing disrespect toward the government. The legislation is intended to protect the Russian public from misinformation, according to its authors. Yet many worry that it will simply be used as a pretext to further limit freedom of expression online. The Russian government is already blocking the popular messenger app Telegram and trying to force social media giants to store local data on Russian servers. Enacting new controls over online expression would allow government agencies to target opposition under the dubious pretext of rooting out Western propaganda and fake news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill defines unreliable news as untruthful socially significant information that is presented as trustworthy. Untruthful socially significant information can mean reports on anything from inconsistencies in government spending to environmental catastrophes. Individuals who spread false information would face administrative fines of up to 5,000 rubles (about $75), while legal entities would be liable for fines up to 1,000,000 rubles (about $15,000). Those found posting indecent materials about Russian government entities, state symbols, or the constitution can face up to 15 days under administrative arrest or fines between 1,000 to 5,000 rubles (about $15 to $75). Out of 374 Duma deputies present at the reading, 332 members supported the measure. A number of representatives from two opposition partiesthe Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federationspoke out against it during the reading. LDPRs Sergei Ivanov especially criticized the provision against disrespecting the government. If we stop calling a fool a fool, he wont stop being a fool as a result, he said. Simply dont give people a reason to treat you with disrespect. Advertisement The bill makes some concessions to concerns about violating freedom of speech. An explanatory note attached to the bill, obtained by Russian news agency Tass, states that the bill is a response to the awareness of the negative aspects of spreading false information and reaffirms the legal guarantees against the abuse of the freedom of speech. To qualify as unreliable news, the bill says, a story must pose a threat to an individuals life or health or be capable of causing large-scale social disorder. But opponents think that language is just a fig leaf. The RosKomSvoboda project, which fights internet censorship in Russia, says that the bill goes against both the Russian Constitution and international law, calling it repressive and regressive. Sen. Andrey Klishas, who sponsored the bill, disagrees. He contended that the spread of false, socially significant information could infringe upon the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens, which the constitution is meant to protect. These changes are aimed at suppressing unlawful acts of this sort, Klishas told Tass when the bill was first introduced in the Duma. Advertisement If we stop calling a fool a fool, he wont stop being a fool as a result. Sergei Ivanov Russia is not the first country to attempt to crack down on fake news in recent years. If the proposed bill is adopted, it will join France, Belarus, Kenya, China, and Cambodia, all of which have enacted laws against online misinformation, according to Poynter. The French law, passed in November 2018, specifically targets misinformation during elections. It grants the government authority to remove fake content, block sites that publish it, and enforce financial transparency for sponsored content on social media platforms during the three months leading up to a national election. Similarly, Belarus amended its media laws in June 2018 to allow the state to block social media and any websites found to be spreading false information online. In Kenya, anyone knowingly sharing false information can be fined up to 5 million shillings (about $50,000) or imprisoned for up to two years. In Cambodia, individuals can be jailed for two years and fined up to $1,000 for publishing fake news. The Committee to Protect Journalists has criticized these governments for stifling free speech. Malaysia had a similar law but repealed it after just a few months. CNN quoted Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams as saying that the then-proposed law was a blatant attempt by the government to prevent any and all news that it doesnt like, whether about corruption or elections. Advertisement Advertisement Unsurprisingly, its China that currently has one of the strictest misinformation laws in the world. Any rumors that undermine economic and social order were criminalized in 2016. By 2017, social media platforms were only permitted to link to news articles from registered media. In August 2018, the government launched an app that uses artificial intelligence to identify false reports online and allows the public to report any online rumors. Chinas crackdown on fake news is in line with President XI Jinpings broader policy of cyber sovereignty, a concept that advocates total sovereign control over networks and data within a countrys borders. Its an idea that Russia has also tried to emulate. Klishas, the same man whos pushing for the adoption of the fake news bill in the Duma, has also proposed the creation of an independent Russian internet called Runet. The Runet law would create a centralized internet traffic control system in Russia, develop a national domain name system, and mandate that all Russian network operators install technical means of unspecified nature to counter threats to their networks. These technical tools would be provided by Roskomnadzor, the Russian media watchdog, to both protect the network and block all sites blacklisted by the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Between a crackdown on unreliable news and anti-government speech and an attempt to separate Russian networks from the World Wide Web, Russia is clearly favoring the Chinese cyber model, as Emily Parker noted for Future Tense in 2017. Moves toward more centralized control of cyberspace could set a dangerous precedent, according to Samuel S. Visner, adjunct professor at Georgetown University and director of the National Cybersecurity Federally Funded Research and Development Center at the MITRE Corporation. That model limits international access to information, Visner told me over email. It also politicizes information as a result of the political considerations used to determine what is or is not fake. I worry that a centralized approach practiced by other countries will lead to further Balkanization of the internet, attempts at cyberspace sovereignty, and diminished work on setting international cybersecurity standards. Both Russian proposals are still in the early stages. As theyre debated and amended, perhaps the best way to help Russians who are concerned about a free and open internet would be for real journalists around the world to watch closely. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. In sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 600 million people still lack access to electricity, the continent would need to declare a state of emergency on the energy sector, the Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina said. According to Mr. Adesina, energy is a critical component of driving economic growth and prosperity. The continent needs to have a common energy sector agenda that addresses the peculiarities of the various markets across the entire energy value chain, he told Ghana News Agency. Mr. Adesina said Sahara Group would be delighted to partner with South Africa to drive the agenda, working alongside all stakeholders. Sahara Power Group, a Nigerian-owned company and a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations in over 38 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, deems it important to focus on strengthening the capacity, accessibility, reliability and safety of energy in its various forms in Africa. Officials of the conglomerate said the continent must ensure that any energy agenda adopted must have strong governance and sustainability components for continuity and longevity. Huge investment in technology would be required to expand the energy mix to include more modern renewable energy sources. Supportive legislation, environmental consideration, safety and the sustainable development goals must be well articulated in the agenda, the group said, adding that transparency and the creation of a level playing field are also factors to be considered as we would be looking at applicability across markets with different capacities. Industry experts say meeting current and future energy demand remains a major challenge in all African countries with the continents population expected to hit 2.3 billion people by 2050. The best remaining chance for restoring net neutrality has a key day in court Friday, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit to overturn the Federal Communications Commissions 2017 repeal of the open-internet rules. As of right now, theres nothing stopping internet service providers, like Comcast and Verizon, from slowing down access to blocking certain websites, or charging websites to reach users at faster speeds, as long as the companies say that they reserve the right to do so in their terms of service. Advertisement The Obama-era net neutrality protections were barely two years old when Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai began taking a weed whacker to the rules. The agencys repeal officially went into effect last June, and two months later, Verizon was caught throttling the internet service of the Santa Clara Fire Department while it was responding to a massive wildfire in Northern California, forcing the emergency responders to pay twice as much to lift their data restrictions. (Verizon claims that it was a customer service error.) Advertisement Advertisement Now, a large coalition of consumer advocates, 22 state attorneys general, and technology companies have lodged challenges to the FCCs repeal, all of which have been consolidated into a single case with hundreds of pages of legal briefs for the judges and their clerks to read. The FCC and internet providers contend that the repeal was legally sound and good for consumers, and a panel of three judges will hear about 75 minutes of arguments from each side about whether the gutting of the net neutrality order was done to the letter of the law. Advertisement Among the many arguments expected Friday, the challengers hold that the internet is an essential communications service, and as such should be regulated to prevent companies from discriminating against how information travels over their wires. Pai argued in his proposal to overturn the 2015 net neutrality rules that that was a misclassification, which he reclassified as an information service, like videoconferencing or email, and thus not subject to strong consumer protections. This was a rather novel argument. The FCC is saying for the first time that broadband internet access has no telecommunications component, says Gigi Sohn, who was senior adviser to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who oversaw the passage of the Obama-era protections. Basically, what theyre saying is the package delivery is the package, the road to the hotel is the hotel, the pizza delivery service is the pizza, Sohn said, noting the limits of Pais conception of the web. People dont sign up for Verizon because of the email address; they do it to connect to countless websites and services. Advertisement Advertisement Another point thats likely to be argued is whether the previous net neutrality rules dissuaded internet providers from investing in their broadband networks, a claim Pai has made repeatedly. The problem with that argument is that after the net neutrality rules were passed in 2015, Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T all told their investors in public calls that theyd subsequently buttressed their investment in improving and building out their networks. And in 2018, the year after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality, Comcast reported that its overall capital expenditure costs decreased, as did Verizon and Charter. Pai has repeatedly cited decreases in capital expenditure as a key indicator of net neutrality impeding investment in network expansion. That argument is a lot harder to believe given reports from broadband providers that say otherwise. Advertisement Challengers to the FCCs repeal could also bring up the fact the troubled process through which the net neutrality rules were rescinded. Although more than 23 million comments were submitted regarding the net neutrality repealthe overwhelming majority of which in favor of keeping the open-internet regulationsmany of those comments were faked, submitted using stolen identities and the names of dead people, or were filed by bots, not people. Hundreds of thousands of comments were filed using Russian email addresses. Pai even claimed that the comment system sustained a mysterious cyberattack in early May 2017 when it crashed following a deluge of unexpected traffic. But the FCCs inspector general looked into the matter and concluded this never happened. Our investigation did not substantiate the allegations of multiple DDoS attacks, the report said. Rather, it appears the system crashed after a segment on net neutrality on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver urged viewers to tell the FCC they opposed repealing the internet rules. Advertisement Advertisement After both sides make their arguments, a ruling could take monthsat which point the case could go to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, Congress will almost certainly continue to deliberate the topic. The new Democratic chair of the House Communications Subcommittee, Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania, vowed to make net neutrality the first hearing of his chairmanship. An effort to undo the FCCs repeal failed to get enough votes to move forward in December under the last Congress. So far, internet providers appear to be treading lightlytheyre almost certainly going to be more cautious as the issue works its way through the courts. The scary part for consumers is that if ISPs do begin manipulating how we experience the web, it could happen piecemeal, with one free service here and one slower website there, until one day were all living on a very different web. Comcast, Verizon, and their peers can be patient; theyve certainly waited long enough. Earlier this month, an Iowa man took his winning scratch-off ticket to the regional lottery office and asked for his prize. Soon, he could be seen in photos grinning and holding a giant novelty check. His winning amount: $1. Can anyone really get the jackpot winners treatment for a tiny prize just by asking for it? Almost certainlyin Iowa. But other states might give you a harder time. The question is largely untested, because for most small prizes, even up to a few hundred bucks, youd probably just claim your prize at the store where you bought your ticket and get your cash on the spotwith no celebratory flourishes. But its safe to say it comes down to how much a specific office cares about optics and how much they care about keeping a tight budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone wanting a novelty check would have to drive to their state lotterys regional office, which in large states like Texas or California could be hours away. If you make the trip, be prepared for a strange reaction: It would be highly unusual for someone come in for a small prize, according to different state lotteries we asked. And while you should still expect to get your prize money, you wouldnt be guaranteed one of those checks. First, the obstacles: Many states require you agree to take a photo with your novelty check, and some of those still wont let you keep it. According to a spokesman for the Texas Lottery, as long as you agree to allow them to use your photo for publicity, theyll hand you a 11.5-inch by 21.5-inch novelty check for a photo op, but youll have to hand it back. The considerably larger checks you may have in your mind are just for jackpot prizes, but the spokesman said no one has asked for one in years. (In Colorado, winners can cover their faces with giant glasses, boas, and other party store props in their publicity photos.) Advertisement Advertisement Some states have minimum amounts. Florida only hands them out to winners who get more than $250,000 (if the winner agrees to have their photo taken, they get to take their check home). California also offers checks for prizes bigger than $250,000. Iowa and Kansas offer them for prizes over $10,000. Colorado will allow it for any prize over $5,000, but the checks are tiered: small cardboard ones for the smaller prizes, giant 48- by-22-inch ones mounted on a foam board for big winners. Some lotteries, though, might see feting an enthusiastic small-prize winner as good press, as it has been for Iowa. But the spokespeople for several states also said that after the first gimmicky photo-op, theyd be less inclined to humor every winner who walked through the door. I thought it was a really wholesome story, said Cory Thone, the spokesman for the Kansas Lottery. But at the same time, I dont want everyone in Topeka to come in and try to get these checks. It wouldnt be fiscally responsible to give them out to everyone. Advertisement Just how fiscally irresponsible that might be also varies state to state. Theres no one source for novelty oversized checks. Some states order them from local stores or online retailers, and at least one has its own graphics department to handle it in-house. According to the Colorado, its largest checks cost $32 a pop. The bulk-ordered 30-by-12-inch ones set them back $6 each. Advertisement As with many service requests, it may just come down to the person you get at the office. Its silly, but if someone wants a dollar, if theyre going to take the time to go to the district office for that I dont think anyone will deny them that, a spokesman for the California lottery said. Its an awful lot of effort. Thone agreed: Obviously, its hard to say unless youre in the moment. But if it was me and the guy came in and was super amped, Id probably do it, I guess. In Iowa, the state where the $1 prize had been celebrated, the lottery spokeswoman was more enthusiastic. To see this guy who just had a ball winning a dollar, we just went with it and had fun with him, she said. Because why not, right? Conservative politicians and right-wing activists have targeted a Virginia state legislator this week and in the process reignited a nationwide debate about third-trimester abortions. Delegate Kathy Trans bill, which was tabled by a House of Delegates subcommittee this week, would have loosened some restrictions on second- and third-trimester abortions, which are legal in the state under specific circumstances. Though the legislation has been proposed in previous sessionsand though it never made it to the House floor for a vote this go-roundanti-abortion advocates are using it to paint pro-choice Democrats as supporters of, as Sen. Marco Rubio put it in a tweet, legal infanticide. Advertisement A woman can currently terminate a third-trimester pregnancy in Virginia if three physicians certify that the procedure is necessary to prevent her death or to stave off substantial and irremediable harm to her mental or physical health. Trans legislation would have made the procedure legal with only one physicians approval and without the need to prove that the damaging health effects of a pregnancy were substantial and irremediable. (The physician wouldve still needed to confirm that the womans physical or mental health was at risk.) Advertisement Advertisement In a video Tran released Thursday in response to criticism and mischaracterizations of the bill in right-wing media, she said her legislation would have removed medically unnecessary and unduly burdensome barriers to a health care procedure women should be able to obtain in consultation with their doctors. She expressed surprise that her bill was met with such hostility, given that it had been proposed in previous legislative sessionsand in the state Senate in the current sessionand emphasized the point that third-trimester abortions are already legal in Virginia with a physicians certification that the pregnancy presents dire health risks. Ive done nothing to change that, Tran said. What I have done is try to make sure that women are able to make these decisions and access these services in a timely manner. Advertisement Over the last few days, you may have heard a lot of misinformation about my bill to help women make their own healthcare decisions in consultation with their doctors. Here are the facts, straight from me.#IStandWithWomen pic.twitter.com/egMO2euUHe Kathy Tran (@KathyKLTran) January 31, 2019 The rest of the country had gotten wind of Trans bill when the Virginia House Republican Caucus tweeted out a video of Tran answering questions from Republican Todd Gilbert, the chambers majority leader. In the clip, Gilbert presents Tran with a hypothetical scenario: A pregnant woman is in the process of giving birthShes dilating, Gilbert sayswhen she decides to request an abortion to preserve her mental health. That would be a decision that the doctorthe physician and the woman would make at that point, Tran responded. Advertisement Heartbreaking... This isn't in New York, this isn't in California, this happened just this week right here in Virginia. @VAHouseDems proposed legislation to provide abortions up to just seconds before that precious child takes their first breath. Watch for yourself. pic.twitter.com/AxgPVyI6kU VA House GOP (@vahousegop) January 29, 2019 Advertisement Gilberts implicationthat, if it were legal, women would routinely wait until they were physically in labor before making an impulsive decision to terminate an unwanted pregnancyis a timeworn right-wing scare tactic. Abortions late in pregnancy are rarein 2015, just 1.3 percent of abortions occurred at or after 21 weeks gestation, the same as it was in 1992. And in 1992, one study found that only about 2 percent of that 1 percent of abortions were performed at more than 26 weeks gestation. But pregnant women are not as capricious, nor doctors as slapdash, as anti-abortion advocates make them out to be. There are plenty of legitimate reasons that a woman might want or need an abortion later in her pregnancy. As doctor and public health researcher Daniel Grossman explained in a Twitter thread on Thursday, changes in the health of the fetus or pregnant woman, late-in-pregnancy test results revealing fetal abnormalities or nonviability, and legal restrictionsEverything from medically unnecessary waiting periods and ultrasound laws to shuttering of clinics and insurance bans, Grossman writescan all contribute to a womans decision to get an abortion in her second or third trimester. Advertisement Pregnancy, birth, and human development dont lend themselves easily to the broad yet hyperspecific generalizations that legislation requires. To understand the circumstances that precede a third-trimester abortion, forget the midlabor abomination Gilbert invented and consider the story of Kate Carson. At 35 weeks pregnancy, Carson learned that her fetus had multiple brain malformations that would leave her daughter unable to walk, talk, swallow, or even sleep. Or consider the story of Erika Christensen, who found out while 30 weeks pregnant that her baby would never be able to breathe, meaning the child would choke to death within minutes of his birth. Phoebe Day Danziger has framed her decision to terminate a fetus with critical urethra, kidney, and lung development issues as end-of-life carea way to compassionately and peacefully prevent the suffering of a son she very much wanted. Trans billand, to some extent, the law thats already on the books in Virginiarecognizes that no pregnant woman should be forced to endure childbirth to the detriment of her own health and possibly be forced to deliver a fetus doomed to a short lifetime of suffering, if its capable of surviving outside the womb at all. Advertisement Gilbert didnt ask Tran why pregnant women might need timely access to late-in-pregnancy abortion care or why under urgent circumstances it may be too high a threshold to get three physicians to stake their careers on certifying that substantial and irremediable damage would occur without an abortion. Thats because he and his peers arent interested in confronting the real-life choices made by women and their doctors. Instead, theyre deploying a diversion tactic, trying to focus the publics sympathies by conjuring an imaginary scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Tran was right that, under her bill, a physician and a pregnant woman would be allowed to make the final decision about when and under what circumstances she could terminate her pregnancy. But even though there may be times when a pregnant womans life is prioritized over that of a fetus, doctors do not provide abortions to women in active labor. There is no such thing as a born-alive abortion, a specter Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel invoked in a tweet. Advertisement Virginias Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, a pediatric neurosurgeon who supported Trans bill, didnt exactly clear up this point when he gave a radio host a confusing response to her request for clarity on Gilberts imaginary situation. Northam made it sound like a doctor would deliver a healthy infant, then discuss with its parents whether they should kill it. But his phrasinghe says third-trimester abortions are performed in cases of severe fetal abnormalities and nonviability, then says the hypothetical infant would be kept comfortable and resuscitated before the doctor and parents decide what to doindicates that he was thinking about the procedure as a physician, not a politician. When an infant who might have otherwise been terminated in a third-trimester abortion is born, doctors and parents dont then decide whether to kill the baby. They choose whether to take extreme, painful measures to try, against the odds, to keep a baby with severe congenital deformities alive. Advertisement Advertisement Why is it so difficult for Democrats like Northam and this political consultant to make a confident, affirmative case for third-trimester abortion as essential health care and a womans right? One reason is that a fetus in the third trimester of pregnancy looks like a newborn baby. If a third-trimester fetus is healthy, theres a good chance it could survive outside the womband Roe v. Wade, as its widely interpreted, only guarantees a womans right to abortion up until fetal viability (usually around the end of the second trimester) or in cases where her life and health are in danger. This eliminates the constitutionally protected argument that undergirds a lot of the rhetoric of abortion-rights groups. Advertisement Theres also the fact that the experiences of pregnancy, birth, and human development dont lend themselves easily to the broad yet hyperspecific generalizations that pieces of legislation require. Every bodyof a pregnant woman, of a fetusis different, as is every set of life circumstances that might lead a woman to choose abortion as the best option for her and her family. Arguing for the right to third-trimester abortion means arguing that the exceptions should become the rule: Even though third-trimester abortions are extraordinarily rare, if restrictions on them are too strict, they could prevent women in unimaginably difficult and dangerous situations from getting the care they need. But its hard to convince the general public that loosening abortion restrictions to account for these few cases wont then allow all manner of women to wait until theyre 30 weeks pregnant to request elective abortions. The reality is, theres no reason why any woman would decide of her own free will to opt for a more dangerous, painful, and wildly expensive procedure over an earlier, easier one. But in a culture that believes women to be fundamentally irrational and untrustworthyin issues of sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination as well as reproductive healthan If they can, they will argument is more convincing than the simple truth of They wont. Advertisement Advertisement In a series of tweets on the controversy, conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat pointed out that, for anti-abortion advocates, if youre trying to awaken consciences why wouldnt you highlight the cruelest cases? Its in the anti-choice crowds interest to make exceedingly rare abortions involving a fetus that looks like a baby seem like not only the norm, but the inevitable outcome when women and doctors are empowered to make emotionally fraught and medically necessary decisions. The real cruelty is that its easier to generate sympathy for a fake scenario conjured by a Republican legislator than for real pregnant women who, faced with devastating decisions they never wanted to make, find theyre not trusted to make those decisions themselves. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will reportedly announce Friday the suspension of a Cold War-era nuclear pact with the Russia that prohibits the development and deployment of intermediate nuclear missiles in Europe. The Trump White House has been signaling its displeasure with what it says is Moscows flouting of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty and gave Russia until Feb. 2nd to get in compliance with the accord that has been a staple of European security in the post-Cold War era. After a set of negotiations failed however, the U.S. appears ready to initiate a suspension of the accord , which starts the countdown on the six-month required notice to exit the treaty altogether. Advertisement The fundamental sticking point for the U.S. government is a missile system developed by the Russians that Washington says violates the INF treaty. The U.S. says Russia tested the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile in 2014 at a range that violates the pact and that Moscow later deployed the weapon in 2017. In October 2018, NATO declared Russia in violation, prompting Sec. Pompeo, in Dec., to set the Feb. 2 deadline for Russian compliance. The only way [Russia] can get the system back into compliance is to destroy the system, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson told reporters last week. Destroy the missile. There is no way to alter it, there is no way to change it, there is no way to adjust the fuel cycle. Russia denies its violating the terms of the treaty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a number of worrying trendlines in the dispute and possible dissolution of the landmark agreement signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the tail end of the Cold War. The end of the agreement could give Moscow far greater leeway to deploy strategic nuclear weapons that would put much of Europe within reach. Thats an obvious concern for Americas European allies that are already spooked by the Trump administrations permissive attitude towards Moscow and hostility towards NATO. Also, there are indications that a faction of the Trump administrationand Congressarent all that interested in keeping the INF treaty, in its current form, intact. Trump national security adviser John Bolton has called the treaty outdated and some lawmakers say its constraints have allowed China to gain a military advantage. If the U.S. pulls out of the INF treaty, the only remaining pact regulating the worlds two biggest nuclear arsenals would be an agreement that expires in 2021, Bloomberg notes. New START, signed in 2010 by then-Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, sets limits on overall totals for nuclear weapons for each side. The treaty can be extended for five years if both sides agree. No talks have begun on prolonging the deal. President Donald Trump says he has a mandate to build a border wall. I was elected partially on this issue, he declared at the White House on Thursday. Trump thinks that by claiming to have won the 2016 election based on his pledge to build a wall, he can bully Congress into accepting it. Hes bluffing. A close look at election results in 2016 and 2018 shows that Democrats who reject the walleven those who represent states Trump wonare standing on firm ground. Advertisement Trumps bluster about a mandate boils down to two claims. The first is that most Americans support a wall. The people of our country, they want the wall, he asserted at the White House in October. Three weeks ago, while visiting the Texas border, he suggested that Congress should fund the wall because most people want it. Feigning reasonableness, he allowed: I guess there could be some pockets where they maybe disagree a little bit. But not very much. Advertisement Advertisement The second claim is more specific. Its that when voters elected Trump, they did so because he had promised to build the wall. In November 2017, Trump told Democrats that he would beat them in a shutdown fight because the central issue would be the border wall, which everybody wants. I got elected partially because of the border wall. In June, he repeated, Thats why I got elected. Last month, in the middle of the latest shutdown, he vowed not to yield in his demand for a wall. The people that voted for Donald Trump those people are for it so much, he declared. And let me tell you: People that didnt vote for Donald Trump are for it also. Advertisement Trump is totally wrong. Lets start with 2016. We dont have to guess what voters thought of the wall that year because they were asked about it the national exit poll. The question in the poll was, How do you feel about building a wall along the entire U.S. border with Mexico? Fifty-four percent of voters opposed it. Only 41 percent favored it. Trump got 46 percent of the voteless than Hillary Clintons 48 percent, but enough to beat her in the Electoral College. He won Michigan by 11,000 votes, Wisconsin by 23,000, and Pennsylvania by 44,000. Thats fewer than 80,000 votes out of more than 130 million cast. He needed every ballot he got. And many of those ballots came from people who disagreed with him about the border. Fewer than 35 percent of voters supported a wall and voted for Trump. Another 9 percent opposed a wall and voted for him. That 9 percent, along with voters who took no position on a wall, put him over the top. Advertisement Advertisement You could argue that this wasnt a fair test because the question specified a wall along the entire border. You could also object that the question was asked in some states but not in others. So lets dig into the numbers. The wall question was asked in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, and Texas. Trump won two of those states: Arizona and Texas. But in none of the eight states did a majority of voters, or even a plurality, endorse the wall. And in none of them did wall supporters give Trump enough ballots to reach even 40 percent of the vote. California, Illinois, and New York were wipeouts, so lets set them aside. Of the remaining five states, Trump won two, and Clinton won three. In each of these five states, roughly 7 to 8 percent of respondents said they opposed a wall but voted for Trump. Subtract those voters, plus the few who didnt answer the wall question, and Trump would have been swept. In Nevada, Trump got 46 percent of the vote, but wall supporters accounted for only 36 percent. In Arizona, he got 48 percent, but wall supporters accounted for only 38 percent. In Texas, he got 52 percent, but wall supporters accounted for only 39 percent. Advertisement Advertisement So Trumps election wasnt a mandate for a wall. Wall supporters were outnumbered by 14 percentage points. They didnt give him enough votes to reach 40 percent in any of the tested statesincluding Texas, where he won by 9 percentage points. In none of the eight states did a majority of voters, or even a plurality, endorse the wall. But lets move on to the second objection, about the wording of the question. The 2016 exit poll specified a wall along the entire border. Maybe that was too extreme. Is there a mandate for a simpler project? What happens if we just ask voters about a wall? The network exit poll didnt ask that question in 2016, and it didnt ask any question about a wall in the 2018 midterms. But a separate survey of the midterms, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the Associated Press, did. This massive project, designed to capture early voters as well as Election Day voters, sampled roughly 120,000 people. It asked them, Do you favor or oppose building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border? Advertisement There was no presidential election in 2018, so turnout was somewhat lower, especially in states that didnt have competitive Senate or gubernatorial races. Other factors also affected turnout: Progressive voters went to the polls to oppose Trump, while anti-immigration voters came out in response to his scare talk about migrant caravans and crime. The gap between wall supporters and opponents wasnt as big as it had been on the 2016 exit poll question. But again, opponents outnumbered supporters, 53 percent to 47 percent. Advertisement The 2018 poll, unlike the 2016 poll, asked voters in every state about the wall. That means we can zero in on the three states Trump narrowly won in 2016: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In each of these states, most voters in 2018 opposed the wall. So voters who supported the walland who showed up at the polls specifically because Trump emphasized that issue in the weeks before the electionwerent enough to deliver those states to Trump or the GOP. Advertisement In deep red states, most midterm voters supported the wall. But even then, they werent sufficient to elect Republicans. Only one Republican Senate candidate, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, got enough votes from wall supporters to win her race. Every other Republican Senate candidate either lost or depended on wall opponents to deliver the winning margin. That includes Mitt Romney, who won in Utah by 32 percentage points, and Deb Fischer, who won in Nebraska by 19 percentage points. Look at national polls taken in the past month, and youll see the same pattern. Do you support or oppose building a wall along the border with Mexico? Oppose, 55 percent to 41 percent. Do you support or oppose building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico? Oppose, 54 percent to 42 percent. Would you favor or oppose building a wall or a fence all along the border between Mexico and the United States, from Texas to California? Oppose, 52 percent to 45 percent. There is a proposal to substantially expand the wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. In general, do you favor or oppose this proposal? Oppose, 58 percent to 40 percent. Most people who voted for Trump in 2016 supported a wall. But nobody else, certainly not congressional Democrats, should care. If your job is to represent people in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or most other states, your constituents oppose a wall. Theres your mandate. A report released Thursday by the Defense Department and based on an anonymous survey found that the number of sexual assaults at three military academies had spiked by nearly 50 percent in the past two years, even as actual reports of those assaults remained low, a disheartening figure that undermined claims of progress since a national conversation about sexual assault and harassment in the military began two years ago. According to the report, 747 cadets and midshipmen from the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy responded that they had experienced unwanted sexual contacta category that ranges from groping to rapein the 201718 academic year. It marks a sharp increase from the 507 reported in the 201516 academic year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the survey, about 16 percent of women and 2 percent of men at West Point had experienced unwanted sexual contact. Two years before, just 10 percent of women had said the same. The number of reports of sexual assault between those two years remained static, just over 110. The academies, as part of the militarys larger reckoning with issues of sexual assault and harassment, have made an effort in recent years to officially encourage students to report assaults. But according to statements from the Defense Department, officials expressed frustration at the lack of progress and blamed a broader culture at those academies for the low rates of reporting. According to the New York Times, Jim Mattis, the former defense secretary, ordered the academy leaders to focus on promoting responsible drinking along with encouraging students to report incidents. Advertisement [The Defense Department] says theyre disappointed, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Armed Services Committee, tweeted in response to the news. Disappointed? And theyre asking for more time? Times up. Our service members deserve our full commitment to ensuring their safety. When will the Pentagon commit to a military justice system worthy of them? Two years ago, an invitation-only Facebook page featuring active-duty Marines and veterans was exposed for sharing thousands of nude photos, including of female Marines.* At about 1:00 a.m. on Jan. 24, two on-duty officers from the St. Louis Police Department rushed a third, off-duty officer named Katlyn Alix to a hospital. Alix, a 24-year-old military veteran who had worked at the department for two years, soon died from the gunshot wound in her chest. Whats going on is that two on-duty officers went by one of their homes, police chief John Hayden said at a press conference a few hours later. They were on duty. While they were at that particular home, an off-duty female officer came to that home. While they were there at that home there was, what we understand to be, an accidental discharge. The female off-duty officer was shot in the chest and she was brought to the hospital by those officers. Upon arrival shortly thereafter, she was pronounced deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unusual nature of Alixs death immediately attracted media attention, and subsequent developments have only heightened the scrutiny on the case. Initial reports indicated that the firearm was not a service weapon, and that the on-duty officers were miles away from the district they were supposed to be patrolling. Over the past week, the details that have emerged underscored the senselessness of the incident and raised new questions about exactly what happened that day. A day after the shooting, the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged 29-year-old Nathaniel Hendren with involuntary manslaughter. The office released a probable cause statement from the police department, which revealed that the three officers had congregated at Hendrens apartment. At some point, Alix and Hendren had reportedly been playing with guns, and Hendren produced a revolver. The defendant emptied the cylinder of the revolver and then put one cartridge back into the cylinder. Advertisement Hendren allegedly spun the cylinder, a routine often associated with Russian Roulette, and aimed the gun away. The gun did not fire when he pulled the trigger. According to the police statement, Alix allegedly then took the gun and aimed it at Hendren. It again did not fire when she pulled the trigger. Hendren allegedly took the gun back, aimed it at Alix, and accidentally shot her in the chest. The third officer, Patrick Riordan, told investigators that he admonished Alix and Hendren for fooling around with the revolver and was about to leave when it was discharged. Advertisement Hendren was booked on Monday and held on a $50,000 cash-only bond, which was subsequently raised to $100,000. In his mugshot, his left eye and forehead appeared to be bruised. Sources familiar with the situation later told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he had headbutted the back window of a police vehicle while at the hospital and sustained minor injuries. Advertisement On Thursday, local outlet KMOV4 published an internal police misconduct report indicating that the three officers had been consuming alcohol on the night of the shooting. A lieutenant with the police department filed the complaint about 20 minutes after Alixs death suggesting that Hendren and Riordan had violated an administrative regulation that dictates, No employee shall report for duty or remain on duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. Moreover, no employee shall consume alcohol while on duty and/or engaged in City business. Riordans attorney claims that his client only had a few sips of beer and poured the rest down the sink and that he blew a 0.0 on a breathalyzer test. Advertisement However, the breathalyzer has ignited further controversy in this case. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office sent a letter to the police department questioning why blood tests had not been performed on the two officers, which would give a more accurate reading of their level of intoxication. The letter indicated that the St. Louis University Hospital did not honor a search warrant for a blood test. The attorneys office wrote that the fact that only urine and breathalyzer tests were performed appears as an obstructionist tactic to prevent us from understanding the state of the officers during the commission of this alleged crime. The police departments public safety director, Jimmie Edwards, said in a press conference, Our officers are not obstructionist. Medical examiners have performed an autopsy on Alix, but they will not release the report until the results of a toxicology test are complete. Hendren has been suspended without pay, while Riordan is on paid leave. Hayden, the police chief, told reporters that the departments laptops are currently being upgraded so that supervisors can use GPS and radio to ensure that officers remain in their assigned patrol locations. A continuous 24-7 worship service, held in a Dutch protestant church to prevent the deportation of an Armenian family seeking asylum in the Netherlands, has ended after 96 days. But the compromise that gave the Tamrazyan family a second chance could likely strip hundreds of children of the opportunity to have their asylum cases considered by the Dutch government. Under Dutch law, authorities cannot enter a church during religious service. The Bethel Church in the Hague began its round-the-clock service on Oct. 25 to shield the Tamrazyan family, which had lived in the Netherlands for nine years, after their political asylum claim was rejected. The Tamrazyans, who have three childrenHayarpi, Warduhi, and Seyranhad applied for asylum under the so-called childrens pardon law. It allows children and unaccompanied minors who have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years to apply for a residence permit. If the request is granted, childrens immediate family can stay, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After weeks of political strife, the four-party ruling coalition in the Dutch Parliament agreed to review an estimated 700 previously rejected applications of child asylum-seekers. The expectation is that a large number of the rejected children will be eligible for a residency permit, Mark Harbers, the government minister in charge of immigration, said on Tuesday. This means that the Tamrazyans will likely be allowed to remain in the country. Not all families were so lucky. The Grigoryans, another Armenian family with three young children, were deported from the Netherlands on Jan. 21 while negotiations about the fate of rejected asylum-seekers were ongoing. In another high-profile case in September, two young Armenian children ran away from their Dutch home to avoid deportation. Advertisement For the Tamrazyans, the efforts of the Bethel Church community resulted in a miraculous outcome. Yet, the agreement reached by the four ruling parties does not bode well for future asylum seekers. After the 700 rejected cases, the Tamrazyans among them, are reassessed, the childrens pardon legislation will be abolished, although the head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service will retain discretionary authority to resolve similar cases. In addition, the number of recognized asylum-seekers selected by the U.N. that the Netherlands will take in each year will be reduced by a third, from 750 to 500. The Immigration and Naturalization Service will also receive a budget increase in order to expedite asylum procedures and ensure that children whose cases are under review do not stay in the country too long. MP Bram van Oijk of the Green Left Party called the agreement miserly horse trading in a tweet. UNHCR Netherlands lamented that the positive news for current asylum-seekers came at the expense of future refugees. Advertisement Advertisement In this way, the agreement, which Le Monde heralded as a victory, rings hollow. Given the publicity surrounding a few pending deportation cases, the Dutch government may have felt the pressure to make a sweeping gesture and revisit some asylum rulings. But the childrens pardon legislation was never intended to make immigration easy. In fact, as recently as September 2018, Harbers acknowledged that the law was intentionally designed to bar the majority of asylum seekers from qualifying. This rhetoric echoes Trumps new migrant protection protocols, which similarly seeks to make it as difficult as possible for immigrants to seek asylum in the U.S. With the childrens pardon eliminated, asylum seekers in the Netherlands will be at the mercy of the countrys immigration department. The agencys inflated budget may cut down the wait times for pending cases, but a speedy rejection will not make deportation any more humane. At a New York event celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. held in the Riverside Church last week, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparked a small firestorm when she argued that algorithms reflect human bias. Algorithms are still made by human beings, and those algorithms are still pegged to basic human assumptions, she said. Theyre just automated assumptions. And if you dont fix the bias, then you are just automating the bias. Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) claims that algorithms, which are driven by math, are racist, replied Daily Wire reporter Ryan Saavedra, kicking off the latest cycle of online conservative handwringing about something AOC has said. Advertisement Ocasio-Cortez was right, though, and what she said should not be that controversial. While algorithmic processes are intended to rationalize decision-making by minimizing human bias and fallibility, the data they consume already reflects that bias, and so algorithms continue to perpetuate racial bias, just at a greater speed and with the illusion of independence. As machine-learning algorithms are being used to replace human decision-making in various areas of life including hiring, law enforcement, and pretrial bail, AOCs point is a crucial one. Advertisement Advertisement Still, this discussion, while vital, misses an important point. Even if the data were somehow clean, we should still worry that algorithmic decision-making perpetuates racial inequality. Lets take the use of algorithms in policing as an example. Increasingly, police departments across the country are employing algorithms to predict patterns of criminal behavior based on historical crime and arrest data. These algorithmic predictions inform police tactics, such as how aggressively different neighborhoods are policed. But as researchers have pointed out, previous arrest data is already skewed by racial bias; as long as there is racially biased police profiling (which there no doubt is), then past arrest data is more predictive of police behavior than of criminal behavior. Advertisement But suppose we have good math. Suppose that we have data about past crime rates that does not incorporate biased policing. Then would Saavedra be right to be so derisive? Is it absurd to think that algorithmic decision-making driven by bias-free math could be racist? No, it is not. Even with our clean data, it is likely that algorithms would recommend that certain neighborhoods with predominantly socioeconomically disadvantaged populations from historically marginalized racial groups face increased and targeted policing. This would indeed be a form of bias-free or rational profiling. But it would in no way take historic racism out of the equation. Advertisement The thought would be simple: Theres more crime here, so there should be more policing here. Nothing biased about that. One might argue such law enforcement decisions might be based on hard data; the algorithm merely presents us with the rational course of action. The problem is that this would conflate seemingly rational decisions with just decisions. In the case of algorithmic decision-making, a seemingly rational decision can easily be an unjust one. Advertisement This is because justice requires not only that political institutions create the formal objective conditions necessary for persons to relate to one another as equals (e.g. equal protection of the law), but also that they foster the subjective conditions necessary for persons to view themselves as equals. In other words, justice demands both that were treated as equals, and that we see ourselves as equals. While often overlooked, this principle of justice has a distinguished pedigree. We can locate it in Kings objection to the practice of racial segregation: I could never adjust to the separate waiting rooms, separate eating places, separate rest rooms, partly because the separate was always unequal, and partly because the very idea of separation did something to my sense of dignity and self-respect. Advertisement Advertisement Here, King distinguishes two ways in which segregation was unjust: First, segregation failed to formally accord equal treatment to black people in the South. And second, segregation prevented black people from viewing themselves as possessing equal self-respect and dignity; in other words, it fostered a subjective sense of inferior status. While often overlooked, this principle of justice has a distinguished pedigree. Kings second objection matches the subjective requirement of justice. The importance of self-respect in a just state is also familiar to liberal philosophy; John Rawls treated self-respect as a primary good in his theory of justice. Self-respect in the Rawlsian sense is a persons sense of his own value, his secure conviction that his conception of the good, his plan of life, is worth carrying out and a confidence in ones ability, so far as it is within ones power, to fulfill ones intentions. Justice requires that the state take steps to ensure that people possess a sense of equal self-respect, that they dont view themselves as holding an inherently inferior status to others in society. Advertisement Rational algorithmic decision-making still violates this principle because it can undermine a persons sense of equal self-respect. Much like with racial segregation, police targeting of predominantly black neighborhoods can erode a sense of equal status and dignity. As philosopher Adam Hosein put it, people in these neighborhoods can reasonably interpret profiling as signaling a lack of regard for their interests: either a willingness to rely on racial stereotypes about them or a willingness to use their race as a negative proxy in ways that cause substantial disadvantage. In 1967, exactly one year before his assassination, King delivered his famous Beyond Vietnam speech at the same Riverside Church where AOC made her recent comments. King offered this prescient advice: When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly involved in the distribution of primary goods, we must keep these prophetic words in mind. Were still 368 days away from the Iowa Caucus (Feb. 3, 2020), 532 days from the end of the Democratic National Convention (July 16, 2020), and a whopping 642 from Election Day (Nov. 3, 2020). It is understandable if you prefer to check out from the permanent campaign for at least a few more months. At this point four years ago, after all, the Republican race had not yet become a full-on orgy of bombast: preexclamation mark Jeb Bush was the front-runner, Scott Walker the rising star, and Chris Christie a potential dark horse. Christies time near the top of the polls wouldnt see spring; Walker would drop out by the end of summer; and Bush would go on to win a grand total of zero nominating contests and three delegates, at a cost of about $53 million apiece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, sure, feel free to ignore the horse race for now. But if you look past the early jockeying and instead pay attention to the ideas and issues driving the conversation, youll be more prepared to understand where the party and its primary are headingand who could be the nominee. Consider the first major Republican cattle call of the 2016 cycle, the Iowa Freedom Summit, held in a Des Moines theater at the end of January 2015roughly the same point were at in this presidential election cycle. Watching video of that event today is like opening a time capsule containing all the hints of what was in store for the GOP in the years to come. The daylong forum was hosted by Rep. Steve King, a man already infamous for fretting about the size of immigrants calves and who still talks approvingly of white nationalism. The conservative confab featured 10 of the eventual 17 GOP candidates, four future senior members of the Trump administrationand, as a bit of a sideshow, Donald Trump himself. Advertisement The celebrity businessman was still fine-tuning his act, but most of it was already in place, five months before he made his campaign official. In a rambling 20-minute speech, Trump suggested Barack Obama might be a double agent working with ISIS: Our president is either grossly incompetent or he has a completely different agenda than you want to know about, which could be possible. He bashed the Affordable Care Act and called for its full repeal: Everything about Obamacare was a lie; it was a filthy lie. And he even tested out the xenophobic line that would become the centerpiece of his campaign launchand arguably of his presidency: Advertisement I saw the other day on television people walking across the borderwalking. The military is holding guns and people [are] just walking right in front, coming into our country. It is so terrible. It is so unfair. It is so incompetent. And we dont have the best coming in; we have people who are criminals, we have people who are crooks. You can certainly have terrorists. You can certainly have Islamic terrorists. You can have anything coming across the border. We dont do anything about it. So I would say, if I runand if I winI would certainly start by building a very, very powerful border. Advertisement Trump had a morning speaking slot, and the crowd wasnt entirely sure at first how to react to what it was hearing. But nervous laughter slowly gave way to occasional cheers and, eventually, a standing ovation. Somebody said that was the best ovation by far, Trump would tell reporters moments after stepping off stage. Although Trump was merely workshopping his pitch, the general message was hardly an outlier at the event. Ted Cruz, for one, trotted out a faith-based version of MAGA during his speech, urging the crowd to believe again in the miracle of America. The Texas senator went on to rail against the presidents unconstitutional amnesty and half-jokingly suggest that the IRS should be shuttered and its entire staff redeployed to the southern border. Ben Carson, likewise, said that the next president should seal that border within the year. And Rick Perry, the outgoing Texas governor who four years earlier made the mistake of chastising his own party for its hard-line immigration views, sounded a similar note that predated Trumps current go-it-alone pledge: If Washington refuses to secure the border, Texas will. This rhetoric was flaring up just a little more than a year after the GOP released its postmortem from its 2012 defeat declaring that we must embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform. Advertisement Advertisement Accordingly, what do the early days of 2019 foreshadow about the 2020 Democratic primary? Spotting major themes is easier in hindsight, but already weve seen Medicare for all and a Green New Deal emerge as early litmus tests on the left. As far as policy proposals go, both of those can and do mean different things to different candidates, and as Kamala Harris made clear this week, they can even mean different things to the same candidate. But as Yascha Mounk has pointed out in Slate, the Democratic message that matters to the most voters wont be the policy specifics but instead the worldview those policies advance. For Republicans, a hard-line anti-immigrant position in 2015 metastasized into America First nationalism in 2016. Its easy to imagine something similar happening for Democrats this time around, whereby an idea that seems extreme now in relation to mainstream orthodoxysay an end to private insurance, a federal jobs guarantee, or something else entirelybecomes shorthand for the partys larger worldview. Should that happen, it will favor those who can claim they owned that idea from the very start. That wont guarantee a primary victory, but it will impress voters. This early in the nominating contest, then, its worth paying more attention to those candidates who are leading the conversations that go on the longest and the loudest, and less to those who are leading in the polls at a given moment. Consider, for instance, Trumps response when asked after his Iowa speech what advice he had for the days other speakers. My advice to them, he said, is to talk about how we make our country great againand theyre not talking about that. On that position, at least, Trump had it all figured out. To listen to the discussion, use the player below: Get More of the Political Gabfest Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to the Political Gabfest Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Listen to Slates Political Gabfest via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. On this weeks Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Howard Schultzs threat to run for president, Mitch McConnells legacy with guest Charles Homans, and performative workaholism. Here are some of the links and references from this weeks show: Charles Homans for the New York Times: Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted. But at What Cost? Advertisement Insecure Majorities by Frances E. Lee Jonathan Chait for New York magazine: Howard Schultz Might Re-elect Trump Because He Doesnt Understand How Politics Works FiveThirtyEight: Why Is Howard Schultz Getting So Much 2020 Attention? David Frum for the Atlantic: Howard Schultz May Save the Democratic Party From Itself Advertisement Advertisement Erin Griffith for the New York Times: Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work? Anne Helen Petersen for BuzzFeed: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation Here are this weeks cocktail chatters: Emily: George Joseph and Debbie Nathan for the Intercept and the Appeal: Prisons Across the U.S. Are Quietly Building Databases of Incarcerated Peoples Voice Prints John: Camelots End: Kennedy vs. Carter and the Fight That Broke the Democratic Party by Jon Ward Advertisement David: Lee Zalben for Serious Eats: Nuts vs. Drupes: Whats the Difference? Listener chatter from Ben Gilbert @RealBenGilbert: Benjamin Dreyer for Medium: Close Proximity, End Result, and More Redundant Words to Delete From Your Writing For this weeks Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily discuss Lavanya Ramanathans piece in the Washington Post, Lifestyle Guru B. Smith Has Alzheimers. Her Husband Has a Girlfriend. Her Fans Arent Having It. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest. The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Emails may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Medicare for some of us, maybe: 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are fielding questions about Medicare for allsort of. As Jordan Weissmann writes, Kamala Harris says she would like to pass a single-payer health care bill. Its just not clear how serious she is about it. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren evaded the question in an interview: Warren doesnt say that single-payer health insurance is her goal, which was the question. She says affordable health care for every American is her goal, which is quite different. Advertisement Shiny things: Contrary to some recent reports, the Large Hadron Collider is not a boondoggle just because it hasnt yielded another discovery since the Higgs boson. Physicists Chanda Prescod-Weinstein and Tim M.P. Tait remind us that in science, not finding something is just as informative as finding something. Advertisement Advertisement Full of vice, not virtue: Adam McKay has made some great movies. Vice might not be one of them, but it is the one with eight Oscar nominations! Jack Hamilton breaks down why the Dick Cheney biopic is exactly what the Academy is looking forand why Oscar voters love it. Not hyphy: Weve just welcomed a new podcast into our network: Hi-Phi Nation, the philosophy-in-story-mode show hosted and produced by Vassar professor Barry Lam. In the first episode of Season 3, Barry examines the ethics of police software that can predict where and when crimes are going to occur, and goes deep into the conflict unfolding over this technology in Los Angeles. For fun: Teaching a child about sex through drawings of copulating animals. Not too graphic, not cute, but straightforward, Dawnthea Across the United States, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers stalk state courthouses, tracking down undocumented immigrants to arrest, detain, and deport. Since Donald Trump took office, ICE has dramatically escalated courthouse arrests; in New York, for instance, they increased by 1,700 percent between 2016 and 2018. This phenomenon is particularly acute in Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia ICE office is the most aggressive in the country, seizing more undocumented immigrants with no criminal convictions than any other. Courthouse arrests are a key part of its strategy. ICE agents stake out Pennsylvania courts and persuade personnel to reveal the immigration status of plaintiffs, defendants, paroleesanyone with business before a judge. Then they arrest these immigrants, either in the courthouse or just outside it, placing them in detention and thwarting their access to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania judiciary does not have to be complicit in ICEs assault on the integrity of its justice system. On Wednesday, the Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law released a new report detailing the devastating impact of ICEs tactics on Pennsylvanias immigrantsand urged the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to halt state courts collusion with the agency. Its findings bolsters proposals put forth by the ICE Out of Courts Coalition, a collection of public defenders and immigrant advocates led by Community Legal Services. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court cant stop ICE from snatching immigrants in their homes, schools, and offices. But it can keep ICE agents out of the courthouses where immigrants have a constitutional right to be. Advertisement Unsurprisingly, the Temple report notes that ICE activity in Pennsylvania surged after Trumps election, partly because the president encouraged officers to target individuals without criminal records. ICE conducted courthouse arrests in at least 13 Pennsylvania counties, most of which have large immigrant populations. Probation officials, meanwhile, regularly collaborate with the agency, telling ICE agents which probationers are undocumented. Some probation officers inform ICE when probationers are scheduled for a check-inallowing ICE to wait at the courthouse and arrest them when they arrive. Others share probationers personal information with ICE so agents can seize them at their homes. Advertisement Judges, too, help ICE identify undocumented individuals whose immigration status has nothing to do with their claims before the court. A Cumberland County judge called ICE on a couple seeking to get married because she suspected the groom, who is Hispanic, was undocumented. (He wasnt, but ICE came to the courtroom and fingerprinted him just to make sure.) A Lancaster County judge pressed a defendant about his immigration status during a traffic hearing; when he acknowledged that he was undocumented, the judge had him jailed and asked a police officer to notify ICE. Chester County judges have asked individuals with Spanish surnames about their immigration status in an effort to identify undocumented immigrants to report. Advertisement Incidents like these have had a disastrous effect on the legal communitys ability to serve immigrants. A national 2018 study by the American Civil Liberties Union and National Immigrant Womens Advocacy Project found that crimes against immigrants are increasingly difficult to investigate and prosecute due to victims fear of ICE arrest. A majority of police officers said that domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault had all become more difficult to investigate. Fifty-four percent of judges reported that court cases were interrupted due to an immigrant crime survivors fear of attending court, a jump from 43 percent in 2016. Legal service and victim advocates filed 40 percent fewer cases for immigrants in 2017 than 2016, noting that undocumented clients stayed in abusive relationships to avoid setting foot in a courthouse to seek protective orders. (ICE has arrested at least one alleged victim of domestic violence seeking a protective order at a courthouse, then lied about the incident in an affidavit.) Advertisement Advertisement These findings align with the Temple studys survey of legal service agencies in Philadelphia. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said immigrant clients feared going to court or declined to pursue a case because they were worried theyd be arrested by ICE at the courthouse. One immigrant mother was terrified to attend a hearing regarding her injured son because she thought ICE might seize her. Domestic violence service agencies have found that immigrants are frightened to file protective orders against abusive partners because they worry ICE will arrest them in court. Legal service agencies in Philadelphia have seen a precipitous drop in immigrants pursuing wage-theft cases for the same reason. Incidents like these have had a disastrous effect on the legal communitys ability to serve immigrants. The impact of courthouse arrests are especially ruinous for individuals with scheduled court hearings. (That includes anyone from a criminal defendant to an individual dealing with a traffic ticket.) When ICE snatches them before they can appear in court, the judge may issue a bench warrant, placing their names in a statewide system that will trigger their arrest the next time they interact with law enforcement. Ironically, ICE will use these bench warrants against immigrants in removal proceedings to justify their deportationeven though it is ICEs fault that the warrants are issued in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Can ICE, a federal agency, really ambush and arrest immigrants attempting to navigate their states justice system? Not necessarilyat least in Pennsylvania. The state constitution contains a guarantee that all courts shall be open and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay. As interpreted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, this provision grants those with a legal injury a right to access the courts. There is no question that ICEs courthouse arrests create substantial denial or delay for immigrants who need access to the justice system. Moreover, ICEs immigration arrests are generally civil, not criminal, conducted with no judicial warrant. Pennsylvania courts have long recognized a privilege against civil arrests at courthouses, and theres no clear reason why ICE should be exempt from this principle. Advertisement The Temple studys authors implore the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtwhich promulgates rules for the state judiciaryto convene a task force to craft a response to ICEs assault on courthouses. Luckily, the ICE Out of Courts Coalition has already proposed a number of sensible policies for the courts to adopt. Among other things, the coalition has called on the courts to prohibit immigration arrests at courthouses, including their outlying premises; to prohibit collusion between ICE and court personnel; and to compel ICE officers to identify themselves upon entering a state courthouse. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court proved it was not afraid to take bold action to safeguard individuals rights under the state constitution, striking down a GOP gerrymander despite a relentless assault by Republican lawmakers. Its progressive majority should not back down from a fight with Trumps deportation machine. The justices do not have to stand idly by as the Pennsylvania judiciary becomes a stalking ground for ICE agents. They have the power to stop ICEs immigrations arrests at state courthouses. And Pennsylvanias victimized, vilified immigrants have nowhere else to turn. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has launched a book publicity tour-slash-quasi-presidential campaign around the premise that the Democratic Party has been captured by far-left policy ideas like raising the top marginal tax rate and instituting single-payer health care. Rather than articulate what policies he would pursue instead, though, Schultz has returned repeatedly to the idea of a hypothetical room where problems are solved by expert businesspeople. When the hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe asked Schultz how hed help Americans who dont have health insurance, for instance, he responded like so: We bring inwhat I have done my entire career people smarter than myself, with skills and experience beyond Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, in the room, get private enterprise in the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His Morning Joe answer about where to set tax rates was similar: Get serious people around the table and solve this problem once and for all. At a book promotion event, he said hed address border security by getting the most advanced, sophisticated tech companies in a room. If Schultzs pitch can be summed up in one word, that word is definitely room. (FWIW, he told 60 Minutes that the room is a place for creative debate, but cautioned Time magazine that ideology must be left outside the room.) Schultzs pragmatic-businessman, well-figure-it-out-around-the-conference-table pitch, especially when put in perspective with the more aggressive solutions to inequality-related issues proposed by candidates like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is reminiscent of the dynamic involved in another fairly important presidential racethe one in 1932 between Herbert Hoover, who was a successful engineer and mining entrepreneur before entering politics, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. I spoke to Eric Rauchway, a professor at the University of CaliforniaDavis and the author of several booksincluding the recent Winters War: Hoover, Roosevelt, and the First Clash Over the New Dealabout how Schultzs rhetoric recalls that of Hoover and other capitalist politicians in U.S. history. Our conversation below has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Mathis-Lilley: I was trying to think of the last president who had a real prominent background being successful in business. And if you dont count Trump, whose actual record as a businessman is pretty spotty, you might have to go back to Hoover. Eric Rauchway: I think thats a natural point of comparison. Hoover was a immensely successful businessman, possibly one of the richest men in the world around the turn of the century. And then he became sort of a self-appointed do-gooder, and he was hired by the [Woodrow] Wilson administration to administer rationing during the Great Warso you could say heres somebody who, although he was a Republican, was willing to work across party lines [as Schultz says he would like to], setting aside ideology. Advertisement Did Hoover have the same impulse to solve problems by consulting his peers in industry? He was a big fan of getting people together, but it turned out to be an ineffective way of combating the Depression. He famously, or infamously, held a business conference where he got all the nations prominent CEOs together in the wake of the [October 1929] crash, and in an effort to avoid a deflationary spiral, said, I want you to pledge not to cut wages. Which they did. But that really didnt do the trick. They pledged to not cut wages, but not to not lay people off. So while this was symbolically quite a nice thing, and wasnt wholly misguided, it still was ineffective. And Hoovers general message in the Depression was, This is a crisis in confidence that we can best meet by cooperation. So he was very big on that idea, but it was not effective. Advertisement Advertisement And then there was the more aggressive approach by FDR, who is maybe comparable in this situation to Warren. Theres a case to be made that Warren is actually a lot of like FDR, especially given her past, which is that shes trying to make capitalism and democracy compatible when it looks like they are pulling against each other. And at the time Roosevelt came into office, it looked like capitalism had failed democracy, or maybe democracy was failing altogether, depending on who you asked. So his job was to try to put that system back together, not really to change it into anything else. And he was fending off both fascists and communists. And I think Warren has a history of acting like a technocrat: somebody who essentially wants to fix the system so that it works, right? Advertisement That sounds right to me. Shes not Huey Long, lets put it that way. Going back to Hoover, how did he present himself to the public when he was first getting into politics? In 28 he presented himself as the great administrator, basically. He had been secretary of commerce under [Warren] Harding and [Calvin] Coolidge. And in 27, he had been in charge of the flood relief effort during the record Mississippi River flood in that year, which covered multiple states. It required this massive effort to relocate people, get them out of the way, and then to build remediation, sandbag levies and stuff like that. A huge thing, and Hoover coordinated it. Or at least appears to have coordinated itand he promoted himself, and managed to get massive, massive credit. There is a film you can find online called something like Herbert Hoover: Great Administrator or Herbert Hoover: Hero of the Flood [Ed. note: Its Herbert Hoover: Master of Emergencies] that shows him going to all of the sites of the flood. So thats how he pitched himself. I am the engineer as humanitarian was the basic idea. I can show you how administration can help to solve our problems. Advertisement Advertisement The other way his campaign pitched him in 1928 was hes not Irish-Catholic like Al Smith, which was a big selling point in the South. So you cant discount that. Probably not a theme that Schultz will repeat. Yeah, you know, probably not. And what about Hoovers re-election campaign against Roosevelt? It often goes unmentioned, but Hoover ran as a protoGoldwater-ite in the 32 campaign. He talked about how he could smell, on the scent of the New Deal, the fumes that had recently boiled over in Moscow. This was red-baiting to the extreme, that we had to stick with Hoover because the alternative was full communism. Given how relatively mild, in terms of damaging capitalism, the New Deal turned out to be, thats kind of telling in the same way that Schultz seems to have overreacted to we might tax you a teeny bit more. Advertisement What other figures does Schultz resemble in American political history? Im sure he sees himself, in a way, like Henry Ford and [industrialist and Ohio Sen.] Mark Hanna, who was William McKinleys big backer. A kind of reasonable, benevolent capitalist. Hes going to meet the workers halfway and provide them benefits, and therefore they dont need unions or social welfare policies or all of those other things. Because I, the enlightened executive, will provide a suitable standard of living. Advertisement Advertisement Why is it we have to go back so far in history to find another businessman-politician? Why the big gap? [Historians] Kevin Kruse and Julian Zelizer had a piece in the Washington Post about guys like Trump and Schultz as products of the 1970s. And that makes sense. In the middle of the 20th century, [the ambitions of business leaders] were kept at bay by the New Deal and then the Great Society. And then in the 70s, the ideology behind that begins to erode, and thats when you see this sort of business can fix it message come back. Schultz is very much actually somebody who benefited from the social structures that were put in place by the New Deal and the Great Society, but doesnt appear to actually like them now. Hoover, for whatever his failings, really did come from a dirt-poor background, and really did come up in a time when there wasnt a lot of social safety net to bail you out. He was a creature of the Gilded Age and a success in that environment. So Hoover might have a purer case, I think, than Howard Schultz. Listen to Live at Politics and Prose: Get More Live at Politics and Prose Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to Live at Politics and Prose Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. On this episode of Live at Politics and Prose, Jason Rezaian discusses his memoir, Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison, Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out, at a Politics and Prose event on Jan. 23. You can watch a playlist of videos from other readings that have featured in this podcast feed. Email: books@politics-prose.com Twitter: @PoliticsProse Podcast production by Tom Warren. On Wednesday, Amelie Wen Zhao, author of the upcoming YA fantasy novel Blood Heir, announced that she asked her publisher, Delacorte Press, not to publish [the book] at this time. Blood Heir was born from a Twitter pitching event for marginalized creators, and it secured Zhao both an agent and, eventually, a six-figure book deal. The novel was going to be published in June, but amid rumors of racial insensitivity (and, to a lesser extent, plagiarism), Zhao ultimately issued an apology and put her debut on an indefinite hold. Advertisement The controversy surrounding Blood Heir has since spread outside the impassioned YA community, with some supporting Zhaos decision, others decrying it as the result of a Twitter mob. Heres a guide to what happened, so you can decide for yourself. Advertisement Advertisement What is Blood Heir about? Blood Heir isor maybe I should say wasthe first book in an intended fantasy trilogy. The story is a loose retelling of Anastasia, only with magic and more racially diverse characters. In the fictional Cyrilian Empire, Princess Anastacya Mikhailov has been forced to live in secrecy because she shares the same blood and powers as the empires enslaved population, Affinites. When Ana is framed for her fathers death, she sets out to find her fathers killer. Advertisement Why are so people so mad about it online? In a nutshell, some YA influencers in the Twitterverse accused Zhao of racial insensitivity, among other things. This led to both a Twitterstorm and one-star Goodreads reviews, including one in particular that accused the novel of anti-blackness. Hold on, what is a YA influencer, exactly? Theyre YA authors and fans with substantial followings who are attuned to trends in young adult fiction and often push for better representation and diversity within the genre. Some of them receive Advanced Readers Copies, or ARCs, so that they can preview books similar to professional critics before theyre published. How did the Blood Heir controversy begin? Its hard to pinpoint an exact moment, but last week, Twitter user @LegallyPaige accused Zhao of compiling screenshots of people who werent fans of Blood Heir ahead of its release and harassing them: Ill tell you which 2019 debut author, according to the whisper network, has been gathering screenshots of people who dont/didnt like her book and giving off Kathleen Hale vibes: Amelie Wen Zhao. (@LegallyPaige has since made her account private.) Advertisement Advertisement This opened the floodgates, with others accusing Zhao of plagiarism and of her book being offensive to African Americans. YA novelist L.L. McKinney voiced her displeasure with this particular description of the book: In a world where the princess is the monster, oppression is blind to skin color, and good and evil exist in shades of graycomes a dark Anastasia retelling that explores love, loss, fear, and divisiveness and how ultimately it is our choices that define who we are. The description led McKinney to also state that the book was pretty much about the oppression and slavery faced by the African American community. Explain to me how you write a book pretty much about slavery and oppressions suffered by the Black community, such as a system that uses not only slaves but people "arrested' by the authoritative system in place to be used as relatively free labor, but "oppression is blind to LL McKinney (@ElleOnWords) January 28, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Author Ellen Oh, known for the Prophecy series, also made comments that seemed aimed at Zhao (and later applauded Zhao for canceling the publication). Dear POC writers, You are not immune to charges of racism just because you are POC. Racism is systemic, especially anti-blackness. And colorblindness is extremely tone deaf. Learn from this and do better. Ellen "Hell No" Oh (@ElloEllenOh) January 29, 2019 Advertisement How did Zhao respond to the uproar? Zhao posted an apology on Twitter in which she revealed she asked her publisher to hold off on publishing Blood Heir. To The Book Community: An Apology pic.twitter.com/SCdYMOSLOA Amelie Wen Zhao (@ameliewenzhao) January 30, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Wow. So the accusations were true? Well, after actually reading Blood Heir, were not entirely convinced. Is there any merit to the plagiarism charge? Barely. The main basis for such an accusation seems to be a line in Chapter 21. The main protagonist, Ana, tells her dying friend May: Dont. Ana was crying freely. Dont go where I cant follow. The quote is identical to popular Tolkien quote from the second Lord of the Rings book in which Sam begs Frodo to wake up: Dont leave me here alone! Its your Sam calling. Dont go where I cant follow! But as others have noted, the idea is rooted in the Bible. is that it? Not quite. A few people have also pointed out similarities to The Hunger Games. In Blood Heir, Ana sings Mays beloved childhood song to her as May dies. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen sings her own childhood song as her young, black friend Rue dies. Also like Rues burial in the Hunger Games, Ana buries May surrounded by flowers. Advertisement These seem like pretty common tropes. But you said people were also mad about racial insensitivity, right? Right. The issue that has most inflamed YA Twitter is the alleged racial insensitivity toward the black community. Influencers are saying that the book shows a black girl being rescued from the slave trade and subsequently dying so that the white protagonist can live. Advertisement Advertisement That sounds like a bummer. Agreed. However, that interpretation may not be correct. Why not? Well, for starters, were really not even really sure that the character in question, May, is black. Huh? Yep. After reading a few descriptions of the character, its difficult to be 100 percent certain, but May is described several times as having ocean-blue eyes or aqua marine eyes. Her skin is initially described as bronze and then tan on second reference. Her brown curls are also not necessarily indicative of a particular race. Advertisement What about the slavery aspect? In her apology, Zhao explained: The issue around Affinite indenturement in the story represents a specific critique of the epidemic of indentured labor and human trafficking prevalent in many industries across Asia, including in my own home country. The narrative and history of slavery in the United States is not something I can, would, or intended to write, but I recognize that I am not writing in merely my own cultural context. I am so sorry for the pain this has caused. So the author has said that the American slave trade was not the inspiration and the character might not even be black? Correct. Advertisement Does that mean Zhao stalled the publication of her book over false claims? That still depends on your point of viewMcKinney maintains that the book perpetuates anti-blackness even after all thisbut if not false claims then maybe claims driven by passion rather than facts. As the overwhelmingly white publishing industry pushes toward more inclusive and socially aware storytelling, public scrutiny has only gotten harsher. While it is important to hold both industries accountable and push for greater progress, its important to make sure these claims are truly valid. Advertisement Why does this situation sound so familiar? Because this isnt the first time something like this has happened. In 2017, a novel called The Black Witch by Laurie Forest famously faced major backlash and accusations of racism prior to its release. The novel follows a girl named Elloren who was raised to believe other (fictional) races were inferior to her own. However, she begins to question those beliefs, ultimately joining a rebellion to fight back. Like Blood Heir, the book was meant to be the first in a series, but was quickly called out for the comments made by racist characters. This led to a flurry of angry Twitter comments and one-star reviews, some of which were based on out-of-context quotes that were shared online. Whats next for Zhao? While the future of the Blood Heir series in particular is uncertain, Zhaos relationship with her publishing house seems to be in good standing, at least publicly. In a statement to the New York Times, Random House Childrens Books, Delacortes parent company, said, We respect Amelies decision, and look forward to continuing our publishing relationship with her. Subscribe to Slates Culture newsletter for the best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered twice a week. DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. -- Doyle Turner had sought relief of his thoracic outlet syndrome for years before he turned to a physical therapist and her needles. Turner, 49, had a clavicle bone that wasn't in its designated place. This misalignment caused problems with the nerves and muscles in his chest, including his heart. "It was causing my heart to go into tachycardia, it'd just race," Turner said. "It would go really fast, but it has a tendency to not pump blood very good when it goes that fast." In addition to the wayward clavicle, Turner also suffered internal shingles, in which the body doesn't show outward signs of the disease. His ticker was not at all pleased with this state of affairs. "Drove the heart absolutely nuts," he said. "At one point, I was taking six nitroglycerin a day." In tremendous pain -- for which he made several emergency room visits -- Turner doctored around for his condition. His heart was healthy, the doctors said: but somewhere in his chest, there was a very unhappy nerve. At one point he spent three days in a cardiac intensive care unit, where doctors were perplexed by his stubborn tachycardia. SIOUX CITY -- Since MedPharm Iowa opened in Sioux City Dec. 1, only a few dozen patients have beaten a path to the dispensary's doors. Stephen Wilson, the dispensary manager (he also oversees operations at MedPharm's Des Moines location) said currently the dispensary sees around 35 to 40 patients, a number not far off from the day they opened. Which isn't to say people aren't interested in the product. They've just had trouble figuring out how to get permission to buy it. "We've gotten several people obviously very interested in the program," Wilson said. "The problem is, physicians by and large in the Siouxland area have been maybe confused as to what their role in the certification process is, or just uneducated in what they know about medical cannabis." In May 2014, then-Gov. Terry Branstad signed the Medical Cannabidiol Act, which allowed the possession of CBD oil with a neurologist's recommendation for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. The law came under fire, because it gave patients no legal way of obtaining CBD oil. Then, in May 2017, Branstad authorized the expanded Medical Cannabidiol Act, which paved the way for the legal growing and dispensing of medical marijuana in the state and expanded the list of medical conditions covered by the law. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Although Schweddy's offers the same ol' classic dog, longtime friends Jolin and Robinson didn't let traditions get in the way of their fun. "As kinds, we grew up eating Milwaukee, George's and Coney Island," Jolin said. "(But we wanted to go) bigger and we load 'em up," Robinson said. "We're not skimpy about it." In addition to the traditional Coney Island chili dog toppings, Schweddy's piles on shredded pork and hot sauce for its Pulled Pork Dog and, even, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese for its Pizza Dog. There are other options like meatball subs,pretzels and loaded nachos to appease non-dog lovers. Plus all of Schweddy's all-beef weenies are customizible for its customers. Like onions, relish, sauerkraut, jalapeno, black olive and other toppings? Well, Jolin can help you out. Like tons of food and tons of food at a cheap price tag? Well, that's where Robinson can help out. "Our slogan should be good product. Lots of It. Cheap," he suggested. Well, that philosophy has kept Milwaukee Wiener House going for the past century. Check back with the guys from Schweddy's sometime in 2118. 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 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. Why can't the City use one of our local sign companies to put a welcome sign on a billboard that is already in place at either entrance to the 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 County supports riverfront project Supervisors Keith Radig, Jeremy Taylor and Marty Pottebaum on Tuesday voted to approve a $60,000 Woodbury County contribution to planned redevelopment of the former Argosy casino site on Sioux City's riverfront. Good for them. As we said in an editorial in Octobefr, we believe the county should get behind this dynamic project in financial fashion for the following reasons: 1) Like the proposed expo center in our community's old stockyards area and Cone Park, both of which received financial support from the county, the riverfront project shouldn't be viewed as an us-vs.-them, rural-vs.-urban proposition. An enhanced riverfront will contribute to economic growth in our community by boosting quality of life, but all of Woodbury County will benefit because when the largest city in the county grows, everyone in the county prospers. 2) A contribution of money by the county would boost efforts by the city to secure a state grant because those grant programs require city, county and private funding for a proposed project. While some Iowa Democrats may have been put off by the strategy, there were county leaders who said it was no big deal and could actually be a wise strategy. "An event like (the CNN town hall) gets a lot of attention," said JoAnn Hardy, chairwoman of the Cerro Gordo County Democrats. "And when she comes back to do the coffee shops, a lot of people will want to go (having seen her on TV)." "Of course shes running for Iowa votes, but shes also campaigning nationally as well. So this gives her double points," Jeremy Dumkrieger, the chair of the Woodbury County Democrats, said. The 2020 Iowa caucuses are a year away. Kamala Harris will surely be back to Iowa a number of times. What Hardy and Dumkrieger are essentially saying is fret not, all you Iowa Democrats waiting for Kamala Harris to walk through the door. Youll get your chance. Told you so Iowa Auditor Rob Sand took something of a victory lap this week after a nonpartisan state board confirmed his take in a debate that encompassed his 2018 campaign. Sand, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Mary Mosiman in November. WEST POINT, Neb. -- The trial for a man accused of killing a rural Rosalie, Nebraska, man will remain in Cuming County after a request for change of venue was withdrawn. Derek Olson's attorney made an oral motion to withdraw the request to move the trial during a hearing Monday in Cuming County District Court. District Judge Mark Johnson will rule later on Olson's motion to suppress evidence collected from a cell phone during the investigation. Olson's attorney, Logan Hoyt, contends that the cell phone was seized without a warrant. Olson, 29, of Oakland, Nebraska, is scheduled to stand trial March 11 for the March 10, 2017, death of Ernest Warnock, 64. Olson has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, accessory to a felony, use of a weapon to commit a felony, first-degree arson, and cruelty to an animal for the death of a dog that died in a fire at Warnock's house. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} According to court documents, Olson and his father, Jody Olson, were at Warnock's home to retrieve property belonging to Becky Weitzenkamp, who also was present. A fight broke out, and Warnock stabbed Jody Olson in the arm before Derek Olson stabbed Warnock several times in the neck and head and hit him in the head with a ball peen hammer. Schriever baby-sat both children a second time in late July. She said Sterling was still light but seemed a little heavier. The rash was better, she said. After about 16 hours, she saw Cheyanne Harris and Koehn return to the apartment building, and Harris texted she would be over soon to get the kids, she just needed a minute. But Harris didn't arrive, and after awhile the daughter began to get fussy, so Schriever took the children and headed over to the apartment where Cheyanne Harris answered the door. Cheyanne Harris huffed and rolled her eyes like she wasn't ready to take the children back, Schriever said. Schriever said she didn't have much contact with the children after that. Then on Aug. 30, 2017, she saw Koehn outside smoking a cigarette, and asked him what was wrong. She said Koehn told her the baby had died, and he didn't know what to do. She said she told him to put out the cigarette and call 911. The couple then had her look after Leo, the family dog, while medics and deputies came to the apartment. A few days after Sterling's death, Schriever returned Leo, and they went to a nearby park to talk. "The new logo visually expresses the past, present and future of the health system and honors the deep connection the word 'Mercy' has with patients, colleagues and communities," MercyOne said in a press release. MercyOne will air a commercial promoting the new brand during local broadcasts of the Super Bowl on Sunday. Beth Hughes, president of MercyOne - Siouxland Medical Center, said branding changes will begin soon. "You're going to see quite a bit, everything that has our logo on it currently, from badges to interior signage -- of course, the largest thing you'll notice is, we will start to change the signs on the outside of all of our buildings," she said. The process of changing the logos and signs will be gradual, and the outside signs could take 18 months to be replaced. The former Mercy Health Network was formed in 1998 by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Trinity Health. MercyOne currently employs more than 20,000 people across its facilities. MercyOne - Siouxland Medical Center, the only Level II Trauma Center in western Iowa, serves 33 counties in the tri-state area. The system also owns rural hospitals in Primghar, Iowa, and Oakland, Nebraska, manages hospitals in Pender, Nebraska, and Hawarden, Iowa, and directs 36 owned or managed family practice and specialty clinics in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 1 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. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "When we look at diversity, it isn't so much about immigration as much as it is, what can we do to make the state of Iowa look similar in diversity of those folks that live here, similar in demographics of what we see across the United States?" Wells said. For Wells, that means businesses need to embrace and encourage affordable housing options, local quality-of-life and cultural offerings that workers find appealing, as well as bilingual accommodations in the workplace. Van Gundy said IBC is "putting together a group of thought leaders" in Iowa to examine the diversity and population issue. Policies supported by IBC include Gov. Kim Reynolds' $20 million recommendation for workforce housing tax credits program and reforming childcare benefits regulations to allow recipients to earn more money without losing their benefits. Benefits currently begin being cut off when a recipient's pay goes above 145 percent of the poverty level. Van Gundy called it "the childcare cliff effect," and Wells said a number of people find themselves "trapped" in un- or under-employment due to the risk of losing their state childcare benefits. SIOUX CITY -- Two men sought by the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force were arrested Thursday following an hour-long pursuit with police. Gabriel Verbeski and Chase Riessen were booked into the Plymouth County Jail on previous state warrants and will likely face additional charges related to the pursuit, according to a statement from Deputy U.S. Marshal David Hubbell. The statement said the pursuit began Thursday afternoon when a Sergeant Bluff Police officer attempted to pull over a black Ford Ranger driven by Verbeski, who took off at a high rate of speed with police giving chase. Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City police pursued the vehicle through multiple areas of Sioux City before terminating the pursuit due to safety reasons. A short time later, the vehicle was spotted by police in Le Mars still traveling at a high rate of speed. Police attempted to stop the vehicle when Verbeski led police on another pursuit, according to the statement, through Le Mars. Verbeski and Riessen eventually abandoned the vehicle in a yard and took off running on foot. Both men were quickly captured by Le Mars Police officers and Plymouth County Sheriff's deputies. Verbeski was wanted on a felony warrant for running away from the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility for a third time. Riessen was wanted on felony warrants for running away from Sioux City's Residential Treatment Facility after assaulting two staff members there. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 21 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. SIOUX CITY -- A woman whose body was found in a burned hotel room last week was romantically involved at one time with the man charged with killing her, according to court documents filed Thursday. An autopsy had previously determined the cause of death of Elizabeth Bockholt was homicide by strangulation. Sioux City police investigators have determined that Bockholt, a 40-year-old mother of four, had a relationship with Jordan Henry, 29, before he was sentenced to prison in March 2017. Bockholt voluntarily went to Henry's room at the Wingate by Wyndham on Jan. 24, eight days after Henry was released from prison, the investigation found. Henry attempted to burn her body when he set the room on fire that night, according to investigators. The information was contained in an application for a subpoena filed by First Assistant Woodbury County Attorney Mark Campbell, who is seeking a subpoena of Verizon Wireless records of Bockholt's incoming and outgoing calls and content of incoming and outgoing text messages from Dec. 24 through Jan. 25. The application gave no other details about the relationship between Bockholt and Henry. SIOUX CITY -- Ty Smedes, one of the states most respected wildlife photographers, will present a program titled "Raptors of the Midwest" at 2 p.m. Feb. 10. The program will be held at Briar Cliff University in the Stark Student Center and is hosted by the Woodbury County Conservation Foundation. Smedes is a wildlife photographer and author from Central Iowa. He will share tips for identifying and locating these fascinating birds of prey such as hawks, owls, eagles and vultures. If weather allows, a visit from the Nature Centers live birds of prey is scheduled as well. This program is free, open to all and is part of the Annual Meeting of the Woodbury County Conservation Foundation. The WCCF Annual Meeting will be held prior to the program, at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10. The meeting and program are free and open to the public. Copyright 2019 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 "These breweries are the only real bright spot in a lot of little towns," said Caleb Pollard of Scratchtown Brewing Co., which churns out 1,200 gallons of beer a month in Ord, a central Nebraska farm town of 2,100. He said that the excise taxes he pays would rise from $4,800 a year to over $21,000 and that passing along that kind of increase to consumers is more complicated, and damaging, than the senators think. Scratchtown, he said, competes with much, much larger breweries in other states that could more easily absorb such a tax increase. "It will severely hurt our ability to be competitive," Pollard said. The tax increase, he said, would force Scratchtown to reconsider a planned expansion and to look at reducing staff. The brewery now employs five full-time and two part-time workers. Both Pollard and Ayala disputed that the increase would be only 10 cents a drink, saying it could be much higher. Friesen said he's open for negotiation about the size of the increase in alcohol taxes, but he said the tax on beer, wine and liquor has to be part of the conversation by lawmakers if they are going to provide property tax relief. "Some (ideas) are going to fly and some aren't," the senator said. Singapores chope-ing culture is a defining feature of our society. Often, it is lampooned and ridiculed by Western-leaning media, as is every aspect of Singaporean kiasuism. To be result-oriented; to have clear, unapologetic goals, and a drive to work harder than anyone else to fulfill themthis is alien, amusing. To these people, kiasuism exists more as a caricature than a characteristic. An image of Singaporeans as busy, bustling worker bees emerges in media, if we appear at all. Whats even more concerning is that some Singaporeans have absorbed and internalised this message. Chope-ing is the devils device; a behaviour so boorish, so coarse, that we should collectively disavow it if we are to advance as a society. What these detractors fail to discern is that, in place of an anarchic social seating schedule, we have elected to employ a simple society-wide system to organise the public eating space. Rather than being destructive, chope-ing culture is the foundation of our society. The End is Nigh The year is 2031. The country mourns the passing of the Singapore Zoos last giant panda, and the first flying hawker centre has started operations from Changi Airports Terminal 6. In other news, Singapore elects its first minority prime minister. In a bid to promote the Singapore Kindness Movement (yet again), the government bans the use of tissue packets to chope seats at hawker centres. The international community is outraged; this is one of many restrictions on fundamental freedoms that Singapore has imposed in recent years, such as banning vaping and disallowing corporations from using dark money to fund election campaigns. Everyday, Singaporeans are less affected by the change, and many dont even notice that it has taken place. They go about their day. A Thousand Cuts Lunch hour, Day Zero. A brief argument occurs between two men in a Bugis hawker centre. They both claim to have spotted the table first, and both lay claim to the seat. The dispute gets heated, so a polite elderly man offers to give up his seat to one of the quarrelling gentlemen. A crisis is averted. Story continues At dinner time, a law student leaves a packet of wet wipesnot tissue paperto reserve her seat at a food court in SMU. Another female student takes the seat, and the law student politely asks her to move. She replies that the seat is not choped, as this has been outlawed. The law student explains that choping refers only to dry tissue packets; he had instead reserved the seat with a sachet of wet tissues. A fierce verbal battle erupts, resulting in legal challenges and appeals to a higher power (gahmen). At one point, one student threatens the other with a lawsuit. Eventually, both students decide to share the table, sparking a new romance. It will not outlive them. 8 AM, Day One. Brief disputes emerge islandwide over seating at public food outlets, and one observant netizen proposes a repeal of the law, daring to suggest that it may be more harmful than beneficial. He is sued for scandalising the judiciary. Later that day, the conflict blows over to libraries. A reader rises from his sofa-chair to go to the restroom; he leaves his newspaper and spectacles behind to chope the seat. When he returns, he finds that a young man is now sitting in that very seat, having neatly folded his newspaper and glasses, and placed them on the library floor. The two begin to argue silently, and a viral video dubs the incident The Great Singapore Mime Fight. Finally, the young man can no longer contain himself, and raises his voice. As his words catch the ear of a nearby listener, both men are evicted by that most terrifying bouncer: the librarian. 12:30 PM, Day Two. Twelve traffic accidents have occured in the last half-hour, involving screen-dazed office workers collecting their lunch across the country. Tray in hand, these workers milled about for a few minutes, bumping into one another and politely excusing themselves. Unable to find a seat, they wandered out into the street, blinking under the harsh glare of the sun, and were promptly knocked down by oncoming vehicles. Seven of these accidents are fatal. That evening, Channel News Asia reports the formation of a new political party, the Peoples Choping Party (PCP), on a platform of widespread chope law reform. We aim to chope a majority of the seats in parliament! says the party leader, shortly before being arrested on drug charges. 11:45 AM, Day Three. Every office worker in Singapore turns up early to secure seats at their local food court/hawker centre, resulting in widespread chaos. As the timing of office lunch hour adheres to strict protocols and social norms, people bicker over seats, checking their watches every so often to make sure that they wont be late to touch base at a brainstorming session on actioning a shelved project. The environment is brimming with tension, as seats are exchanged, found, stolen, picked up; all without any organisation or consideration. Its a mad panic, a nationwide game of musical chairs, a stack of oil-soaked wood pallets waiting for a lit match. The flashpoint: a coffee shop in Kallang. We may never know who started it, but a muted argument escalates to a fistfight; suddenly, there are hundreds of lunch-goers brawling in plain sight. The first responders to the scene are quickly overwhelmed, and the riot police is activated. They arrive to find a scene overrun with fire and food: scalding bowls of soup are flung to and fro; chopsticks are thrown like daggers at uncovered eyes or ears; a man screams as his face is pressed onto a searing Pepper Lunch hot-plate by a rioter. Police cars are overturned and set ablaze by mala burners. After four hours and multiple escalations, the scene is finally brought under control. Fifteen arrests are made, but there are twenty-four injured and six killed. No individual has been identified as responsible for the event. The governments response is swift, decisive, and unrepentant: it will not repeal the chope law. On the morning of Day Four, we awake to a different country. Uncertainty rules the food courts, chaos rules the streets. Traffic accidents quadruple as drivers ignore turn signals, thinking that they have right of way regardless. Extramarital affairs spiral out of control, as spouses no longer consider themselves taken by virtue of a metal loop on an appendage. At Changi Airport, two pilots are uncertain on who has the right to a landing strip. They circle the terminal for hours, until both simultaneously decide to end the stalemate and take the dive; the planes collide mid-air in a massive explosion. There are no survivors. The government calls a national emergency as food centres close down, fearing rampant violence and NEA fines over serving food alongside pools of blood. Meanwhile, the Malaysian government declares that Singapore and Malaysia have equal rights to Pulau Tekong, and invades the island. After two days, the survivors are claimed by the rising sea, which, in light of climate change, has decided to take back the land choped by the continental crust. And So Human civilization is based on collective agreements on rights and ownership. I own my body, you cannot murder it; I own my slaves, I can murder them; I own my French fries, stop asking if you can have some. Choping culture is but an extension of the grand tradition of demarcating whats ours and what isnt. Public spaces should be shared and enjoyed by all, but you cant fit ten people on a park bench. Similarly, there are space limitations in this crowded city, and if you dont like it, move to Greenland (before it melts). Choping is passive-aggressive, maybe, but it resolves conflict before it begins; a remarkably efficient way to organise a society. Instead of erasing it, we should formalise it: Create chope laws that enforce, not repeal. Form from formlessness; order out of chaos; this is how we move society forward, and you want to move it back? Stand up to the cultural colonialists. Make your voice heard. #chopeit. What did you think of this apocalyptic vision? Let us know at community@ricemedia.co. The post What is Singapore Without Chope Culture? We Imagine It in the Most Extreme Way Possible appeared first on RICE. Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation (BAIC Philippines), entered the local automotive market back in 2014. Slowly but surely, the China state-owned car brand is developing a solid reputation for quality. Although BAIC is made in China, its specs follow highly stringent European standards because it is partly owned by Daimler AG, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and this is how BAIC is making its markby providing Filipino drivers with vehicles that combine European sophistication with Asian sensibilities. Now, BAIC invites you to experience the uniqueness of their cars via a hard-to-resist all-in low down payment promo that lets you drive home a brand new BAIC vehicle for just PHP93,000! You can check out this all-in promo, brought to you exclusively by BAIC Makati, by clicking on this link, which also provides you with handy info on how much youll have to pay for the car in three-, four-, and five-year payment arrangements. A blank form is also available for you to send your inquiries and contact a BAIC Makati representative. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of this limited promo today! The post Start the New Year Right with BAICs All-In Low Down Payment Promo! appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. Atap.co is a platform for interior designer sourcing and hiring, as well as a digital publisher for interior design and home and living content Atap team Malaysia-based private investment firm RHL Ventures has announced that it has agreed to invest an undisclosed sum in Atap.co, an online marketplace for interior designer sourcing and hiring. Atap.co will use the money to solidify its market presence in Malaysia. With assistance from RHL, the company plans to launch a physical experience centre in Petaling Jaya to raise the level of immersion for prospective interior design customers. Atap.co was founded in 2015 by Shen Maosheng Seng and Seow Yao Han, both are tech entrepreneurs who have earlier created the automotive review website Live Life Drive (acquired by iCar Asia in 2013). It is a platform for interior designer sourcing and hiring in Malaysia, as well as a digital publisher for interior design and home and living content. It was created with an aim to help consolidate the fragmented interior designer and architect market in Malaysia via a proprietary online platform that links them to customers (home- and office-owners). With a team of 16 people, the company claims that 1,580 interior designers have been utilising the Atap.co platform, with project and photo listings numbered at 2,481 and 26,911, respectively. Also Read: Meet the VC: RHL Ventures on sniffing out a good deal and why VCs need to work together Over the past two years, Atap.co via its Leads Marketplace has listed nearly 3,000 renovation jobs which have carried a budget value of MYR415 million. During this period, the website has drawn in 480,000 average monthly site visitors. In todays market, those in need of interior design work would typically look to the internet only to find that their search lists are dominated by large and expensive firms that can afford to maintain an online presence, said Seng, Co-founder of Atap.co. We therefore created Atap.co to match up-and-coming interior design businesses in Malaysia with prospective clients leads, which our in-house technologies help verify to ensure that the leads are genuine and not automated. Story continues Since 2014, it is estimated that the building sector in Malaysia has experienced an 8.7 per cent growth, with 70 per cent of projects being carried out by the private sector. This has helped to foster the tremendous growth of interior design and decorators in the naLon, however the sectors potential has not been fully realised as many designers especially those in the B2C segment still rely on word-of-mouth to land projects. We decided to back Atap.co as they are helping to bring in much-need innovation in Malaysias interior design market, said Rachel Lau, Managing Partner of RHL Ventures. Maosheng, Yao Han and their team are helping to highlight the breadth of talent possessed by our homegrown designers which we consider as having the potential to stand toe-to-toe with their international peers. The post RHL Ventures invests in Malaysias interior design marketplace Atap.co appeared first on e27. A Japan Airlines plane from New Delhi skidded off a snow-bound runway at Narita Airport on Friday, officials told AFP, briefly closing part of Tokyo's main hub. Spokespeople from the airport and the carrier said the 201 passengers and crew had all been escorted off the Boeing 787 jet with no serious injuries. The accident forced the airport to close one of its two runways for an hour from 7 am (2200 GMT Thursday), Narita spokesman Kazuhiko Morio told AFP. The runway was then closed again as the plane was moved out of a safety zone, Morio added. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear but public broadcaster NHK said one of the plane's tyres may have slipped on a rare patch of snow on the runway. The country's weather agency has forecasted light snow in part of the Kanto region in eastern Japan, including the area around Narita. Television footage showed some snow lingering on the ground at the airport although runways and taxiways were clear. Judging by the footage, the plane seemed to have sustained no damage in the accident. In this case, getting judged is a good thing With TOP100 just around the corner, heres an exclusive sneak peek behind the judges table. Meet 15 of the many investors we have lined up for the TOP100 pitching qualifiers! Leck Ting Yan TRIVE Partner Ting Yan was a judge last year during the Singapore qualifiers. He spends most of his time working with TRIVEs portfolio companies on their next steps, looking for partnerships as well as good teams to invest in. His four personal areas of interests in tech are: off-grid renewable energy, water, food, and education. Mohd Ridzwan (Reez) Nordin Monks Hill Ventures Venture Partner Reez has led several initiatives to nurture and unearth entrepreneurial talents within corporates and the public at large through angel matching funding and pre-accelerator programs. Reez was previously the Vice President at Khazanah Nasional, Malaysias strategic investment fund. Over there, he helped to invest in startups in the enterprise software space, as well as fund investments across the world. Zoe Ng Raintree Development Co-founder and Managing Director Zoe started her entrepreneurial career as a founding team member at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, leading business development and digital. She has since moved back to Southeast Asia to work on multiple ventures in Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia. Her latest project Raintree, is Cambodias first creative office development that supports the tech, education and entrepreneurship sectors through programmes in the space. Christopher Quek TRIVE Managing Partner Christopher is Managing Partner at TRIVE, an early-stage VC based in Singapore that focuses on SEA. He is a 4th generation serial entrepreneur-turned-VC with 20 years of experience in various industries of eCommerce and deep technologies. With TRIVE, he has invested in over 13 startups. A prior experience running a pro-bono incubator saw him help 38 Singapore startups raise US$5.6 million in angel funding. He has also provided over 1000 one-to-one advisories to startup entrepreneurs. His current pay-it-forward program has helped 22 Singaporean startups obtain the Startup SG Founder Grant. Story continues Joshua Agusta MDI Ventures Vice President of Investment (Chief Investment Officer) Joshua is currently serving as the Vice President of Investments in MDI Ventures, leading all MDI Ventures investment, divestment, portfolio management and post-deal integration activities. Joshua is highly experienced in corporate innovation with a demonstrated history of leading multi-stage tech investments, starting from seed stage up to pre-IPO and M&A activities of Telkom Group. Besides investing activities, Joshua is also highly involved in industry and market research where he co-led MDI Ventures two whitepaper publications. RJ Balmater Monks Hill Ventures Investments RJ was previously a consultant at Balmater Consulting Company, where he led a small team to advise family-owned SMEs in Indonesia. Prior to that, he was a financial analyst at Fortman Cline Capital Markets in Manila focusing on local sell-side deals in the region. RJ holds a bachelors degree in finance from California State University of Fullerton (CSUF). Khairu Rejal Rekanext Managing Partner Khairu has more than 10 years of experience in the venture capital and startup incubation space, initially at the Nanyang Technopreneurship Center (NTC) and later at Majuven, a Singapore-based venture capital firm focused on early growth and high tech companies in Biotechnology, Healthcare, Clean-Sustainable Solutions and Dynamic Digital Convergences. In 2017, Khairu along with other like-minded angel investors came together to launch Rekanext Capital Partners. Nadia Fonny Gobi Partners Investment Manager Nadia was a judge during our TOP100 qualifiers last year where she judged in Manila, Thailand as well as at Echelon Asia Summit 2018. Nadia has four years of working experience in the chemical industry, and more recently as a Citibusiness Associate at Citibank, where she spearheaded the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) implementation with 100 per cent High Priority Completion in CitiBusiness Indonesia. Low Zhen Hui Captii Ventures Associate Director ZhenHui does quite a bit of research and analysis on markets and industry verticals, on top of participating in investment origination and processing at Captii Ventures. ZhenHui travels extensively to Indonesia and Singapore to meet with new start-ups. Ruui Wong Captii Ventures Investment Manager Ruui is active in engaging with startups and researching on various opportunities besides pursuing investments from origination to execution at Captii Ventures. Ruui travels extensively in this region to meet with new start-ups. Katrina Chan QBO Director As director of QBO, Katrina leads the teams overall operations, strategy and partnerships. In addition to managing their stakeholders, growth and fund-raising, She also works with and advises start-ups directly. June Chen Monks Hill Ventures Associate June was a project manager, managing an engineering services company in Thailand where she led planning and executions of projects focusing on maximizing resource utilization and process efficiency. Earlier, June has worked in the investment banking industry primarily advising large corporate clients on IPOs, local and cross-border M&A transactions in Southeast Asia. Junes experience spans across multiple segments including consumer, real estate, telecommunication and energy sectors. June has an MBA from Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business and a bachelors degree in finance from Thammasat University. Khiem Tran Expara Vietnam Associate Khiem joined Expara in early 2017. He holds both Bachelor of Corporate Finance and Master of Business Administration (Finance focused) degree with 100 per cent scholarship from Vietnam National University where he contributed research papers about Vietnam venture capital market to Southeast Asia (Singapore Management University) and local journals (Vietnam Trade and Industry Review). Before joining Expara, Khiem had experience in Vietnam ecosystem since 2014 as Investment Representative from ESP Ventures (formerly Alpha Vision Ventures) and Senior Investment/Innovation Officer at Asia Commercial Bank. Albert Shyy Burda Principal Investments Principal Albert joined Burda in 2017 and heads Burda Principal Investments Singapore office. Previously he was at GREE Ventures from 2014 to 2017, where he led the funds investment team in Southeast Asia and India as Principal while working closely with many of its portfolio companies including Kudo, Berrybenka, and Bukalapak. Prior to this, he served as a Director at Lazada Group, Southeast Asias largest e-commerce retailer, helping build the companys Marketplace business across the region. He completed his MBA at the University of California, Berkeley and studied at the University of Pennsylvania with dual degrees in economics and systems engineering. He currently sits on the board of Priceza, Zilingo, and Carsome. Nat Wittayatanaseth Beacon VC Investment Manager Nat is a VC Investor interested in utilizing fintech to improve financial inclusion in emerging markets and disrupt traditional banking models. My background is in central banking, capital market business, fintech and cryptocurrency having worked at the Bank of Thailand, KBank, Digital Ventures, Pantera Capital and 500 Startups. Keen on meeting the pool of investors? Sign up today for TOP100! Stand a chance to be chosen as the Judges Choice which will land you a spot in Echelon Asia Summit 2019 where you can pitch and exhibit your innovative idea. (free of charge!) If youre an investor interested in being a part of our pool of judges, heres the link to sign up! The post Meet 15 of the top-notch investors who will be judging TOP100! appeared first on e27. Senator Leila de Lima is flanked by guards as she exits the courthouse to return to her detention cell. MUNTINLUPA CITY, Philippines The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 pushed through on Friday (February 1) the arraignment of Senator Leila de Lima in relation to the drug case filed against her. De Lima refused to enter a plea and maintained her position that the charges filed against her were all fabricated. The Court entered a not guilty plea for her instead. The lady senator and her former aide Ronnie Dayan are accused of conspiring with convicted drug lords from inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to trade illegal drugs when she was still Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The trial on the case will begin on February 22. The defense revealed they have tapped former president Benigno Aquino III to take the witness stand. His testimony, according to De Limas legal counsel, is definitely vital to the case. Being the president, he has all the information relative to the topics ng kaso natin. Meaning, we want present him to prove na at all times material sa kaso na ito. There was no issue or even a rumor that would involve senator De Lima sa drug trading because if he knows na mayroon talagang ganyan, he would have taken action against the secretary, argued Atty. Boni Tacardon. Other witnesses on the defense side would be former PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and former AFP chief of staff now DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano. Si General Bato has been quoted several times sa newspaper na tinatakot iyong mga witnesses. Marami siyang sinabi regarding sa, itong mga inmates na ito, Tacardon said. The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution panel, meanwhile, remained confident and unfazed by the line up of big names in the defense list of witnesses. They will be presenting Ano. They will be presenting other military officers. I dont see any materiality. At the end of the day, we will just wait for the former president to testify, said prosecutor Romancito Ocampo. Story continues De Lima previously contested the credibility of the drug lords tapped as witnesses by the prosecution to testify against her. The lady senator claims that those inmates were being pressured to speak against her, something the inmates lawyer denied. Marje Pelayo (with reports from Mai Bermudez) The post De Lima refuses to enter plea; eyes former P-Noy as witness appeared first on UNTV News. The International Criminal Court finally freed former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on Friday after his shock acquittal last month on charges of crimes against humanity. Supporters sang and waved flags in the Hague after judges agreed to release the 73-year-old on condition that he stays in an as-yet-unnamed country pending an appeal by the prosecution. Gbagbo, the first former head of state ever to stand trial at the ICC, and his aide Charles Ble Goude were cleared on January 15 over a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010. More than 3,000 people died on both sides after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his internationally backed-rival -- and now-president -- Alassane Ouattara. ICC appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release Gbagbo "to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set" by the court. The court later said that Gbagbo and Ble Goude had been released from the ICC's detention centre in The Hague for an "interim" location while his final destination was confirmed, without giving further details. "We are very happy for Mr Ble Goude and his family that he is finally released," Ble Goude's lawyer Alexander Knoops told reporters. "He was under huge stress." - Very happy - One country -- whose name was redacted in court documents -- had "expressed its willingness to receive Mr Gbagbo" on condition that he signs a pledge to return to court if asked. Prosecutors had expressed fears that if released, Gbagbo would fail to return to the court for a retrial if January's acquittal was overturned on appeal. He also had to surrender his travel documents, report weekly, avoid contacting witnesses in Ivory Coast and refrain from making public statements about the case, the court documents said. Lawyers have previously cited the arrangement reached with former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. While Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbo's wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Dozens of Gbagbo supporters broke out in song, waving Ivorian flags and chanting slogans like "Gbagbo is free!" and "Respect Gbagbo power!" They were watched by around 20 Dutch police officers. "Eight years is a long time" to be in detention, Abdon Bayeto, one of Gbagbos closest advisors told reporters, comparing the release to that of the late Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years behind bars in apartheid South Africa. "Finally reconciliation can start in the Ivory Coast". - Election violence - Gbagbo and Ble Goude went on trial in January 2016 accused of playing a role in murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts during the post-electoral violence. Former academic Gbagbo had been in power since 2000, after two decades in opposition, but found his rival Ouattara backed by western powers and the African Union after the election result was disputed. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 by Ouattara's troops, aided by UN and French forces, and sent to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. Despite hearing from 80 witnesses, ICC judges stopped the trial midway on January 15 citing an "exceptionally weak" prosecution case. They also ordered the immediate release of Gbagbo and Ble Goude but prosecutors successfully applied to have Gbagbo kept in detention, saying they may appeal. Chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Friday that she was waiting to "carefully examine" January's acquittal ruling before deciding whether to challenge it. The Gbagbo acquittal was a severe blow for ICC prosecutors after similar failures with Bemba last year and Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014. The delay in Gbagbo's release at least puts off, for now, the political uncertainty over his possible return to a country where he still faces a possible jail term for economic crimes. His acquittal comes at a sensitive time with Ivory Coast facing fresh elections in 2020. FILE PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore Foreign vehicles with outstanding fines for traffic, parking or vehicular emission offences may be denied entry into Singapore from 1 April. The move, which is aimed at strengthening enforcement of such offences, was announced on Friday (1 February) in a joint media release by five authorities: Housing and Development Board (HDB), Land Transport Authority (LTA), National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The authorities added that they have been repeatedly reminding foreign motorists to settle their outstanding fines via flyers and display billboards at land checkpoints. Traffic Police and other agencies have also been conducting operations at the land checkpoints to get the motorists to settle the fines. Despite these measures, some motorists among the 60,000 foreign vehicles entering Singapore daily continue to disregard their outstanding fines. This has led to the latest measure to deny these vehicles entry into Singapore with effect from 1 April. Where to check and settle fines To avoid being denied entry into Singapore, foreign motorists are strongly advised to check if they have any outstanding fines for vehicle-related offences, and settle them promptly. They can check this at www.axs.com.sg. Payment for the fines can be made through the following channels: AXS kiosks, AXS website and AXS mobile app, respective agencies websites and customer service counters, and SingPost post offices (applicable for all agencies except Traffic Police). Foreign motorists who wish to seek clarifications on their offences may contact the following agencies: HDB tel: 1800-2255432, email: hdbcarparks@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg LTA tel: 1800-2255582 NEA tel: 62255632 SPF (Traffic Police) tel: 65470000 URA tel: 63293434 Other Singapore stories: Construction worker who fell to his death failed to secure harness to life line: State Coroner Pedra Branca included in revised East Coast electoral division Malaysia remits $15m for abortive costs incurred in suspending KL-Spore High Speed Rail project A Hong Kong-listed security firm founded by a former US Navy SEAL has signed a preliminary deal with authorities in China to build a training centre in Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have experienced a huge security crackdown. Frontier Services Group, which specialises in providing security and logistics for businesses operating in risky regions, said it had signed a deal to run a training base in the city of Kashgar, according to a statement posted on its Chinese website. The firm was founded by Erik Prince, a former SEAL and the brother of US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Prince was also the founder of the US military contractor Blackwater, whose mercenaries had a prominent and controversial role during Washington's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- including the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians by Blackwater employees. FSG, which has a Hong Kong headquarters, has built up a wealth of contracts both inside China and for Chinese companies operating overseas, particularly in Africa. But its presence in Xinjiang is controversial because of the sweeping security crackdown Chinese authorities have launched in the restive far-western region, including reported mass incarcerations. On Friday, a spokesman told AFP that Prince -- a minority shareholder and deputy chairman of FSG -- was unaware of the deal, which was preliminary and would need sign off from all board members before final approval. "He had no knowledge or involvement whatsoever with this preliminary memorandum regarding the company's activity in Xinjiang," the spokesman said. Up to one million Uighurs and members of other mostly Muslim minority groups are held in extrajudicial detention in camps in Xinjiang, according to a group of experts cited by the United Nations. Beijing says the facilities are benign "vocational education centres" to help people drawn to extremism to steer clear of terrorism, and allow them to be reintegrated into society. Critics and ex-detainees say the facilities are little more than prisons. In October, AFP reported how one local government prefecture's purchases had little to do with education and included 2,768 police batons, 550 electric cattle prods, 1,367 pairs of handcuffs, and 2,792 cans of pepper spray. The region is a major plank in Beijing's massive "Belt and Road" global infrastructure push, acting as China's western gateway to Central Asia and beyond. Security companies have seen a boom in business as a result. FSG's original Chinese language statement on 22 January said one of its subsidiaries had inked a deal for a "training centre" with the Kashgar Caohu industrial park in southern Xinjiang. The January 11 signing was attended by officials from Xinjiang's Tumxuk city and a subsidiary of the state-run conglomerate CITIC Group. The statement did not detail what kind of training would be provided. FSG's website shows it has previously trained "overseas security specialists" for a host of Chinese companies. It has also helped train Chinese military and police. Last month it announced it had obtained a security license to operate in Cambodia where it will aim to provide "cash escort, airport security (and) VIP close protection". Health Secretary Francisco Duque III MANILA, Philippines Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed dismay over Public Attorneys Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acostas continuous attacks on the Department of Health (DOH) over the Dengvaxia controversy. In a statement released on Thursday (January 31), Duque cited Acostas recent interview where she accused the DOH of paying off families of alleged Dengvaxia victims P50,000 each to drop charges. This is malicious, baseless and a complete lie, the Health Secretary said. Baseless statements like these cause serious damage to our reputation as the primary government entity mandated to protect the health of all Filipinos, he added. The official said the DOH has tried to reach out to government agencies, including PAO, to resolve the issues surrounding the controversial anti-dengue vaccine. However, Duque said, the PAO led by Acosta refuse to cooperate and continue to attack and throw baseless claims and accusations at the Department of Health and the Health Secretarys person. Duque, along with other former and current officials of the DOH and executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, is facing charges over the deaths of children who received the anti-dengue vaccine. Duque noted that Acostas accusations resulted in a decline in vaccine confidence and a rise in cases of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. According to World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines, measles cases in the country skyrocketed to 17, 298 cases from January to November 2018, a staggering 367% increase than 3,706 cases in the same period in 2017. On its Facebook account, the WHO Philippines noted that: Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Have your children vaccinated at the nearest health center. Even President Rodrigo Duterte himself urged the public to get vaccinated and not to be lulled and be complacent as children, especially infants, are susceptible to viral and bacterial diseases. Story continues In his statement, Duque called on his fellow public servants to work together and collectively find solutions to the problems instead of creating divisions. We must work around facts backed by reliable evidence, he said implying of Acostas accusations. He also lamented that despite the DOHs efforts to help the Filipinos, especially the poor, as the primary health care provider in the country, their actions are being twisted and taken negatively. He cited instances that Health staff who are facilitating the support groups on the ground are being bullied and harassed at every instance. I strongly call on those with negative intentions to stop propagating baseless allegations and stop harassing our staff, the Health Secretary concluded. Marje Pelayo The post Duque hits PAO: Stop baseless claims that destroy public trust in DOH, vaccines appeared first on UNTV News. The scene outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu after twin explosions ripped through it on January 27, 2019. | Courtesy of WestMinCom MANILA, Philippines Days after the deadly blasts that occurred at a church in Jolo, Sulu and a mosque in Zamboanga City, other nations have offered to help the Philippine government quell the growing terrorism network in the Mindanao region. Among those that offered assistance are the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, China, and Russia. The offer came after President Rodrigo Duterte declared an all-out war against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other enemies of the state. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the government welcomes the assistance offered by the international community. Theres no need for any asking for help, because they are already offering them, those supportweapons for instance, intelligence. So kung yun ang ibibigay sa atin, we will welcome it, said Panelo. Malacanang is also confident that the recent bombings in parts of Mindanao will not scare residents from casting their votes in the second plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The second BOL plebiscite had been scheduled for February 6 in some parts of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato. The first voting was held last January 21 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City, Basilan and Cotabato City. Theyre saying na dahil nagkaroon ng pambobomba. Takot na takot ang mga tao. Hindi ba sabi nila, theyre going with their normal activity. Theyre just alert now, vigilant and cautious. But they will vote, Panelo concluded. Rosalie Coz The post Countries offered help to quell terrorism in Mindanao Palace appeared first on UNTV News. HOUSTON (AP) What started as an online fundraiser to provide President Donald Trump with donations for his southern border wall has morphed into a foundation whose members vow to build a wall themselves. The "We The People Will Build the Wall" campaign has surpassed $20 million since it was created in December by Air Force veteran and triple amputee Brian Kolfage. The campaign has received almost 350,000 donations even as wall opponents derided the effort and after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended with Congress refusing Trump's demand for billions in wall funding. Kolfage and other Trump supporters have now organized a nonprofit corporation, WeBuildtheWall Inc. Its board of directors includes former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a hardline immigration opponent who has advised Trump. The group spent part of this week in South Texas touring the U.S.-Mexico border and meeting landowners the group hopes will allow private construction on their land. Whether a private group could build such as wall remains to be seen. There are legal and environmental obstacles in South Texas that have delayed the U.S. government, even with its powers to seize land and waive laws for national security. The group acknowledges the obstacles. But Dustin Stockton, one of the group's leaders, said he still believed they could build something in "months, not years." "We talked to several people who weren't interested in having a wall five or six years ago who have since changed their mind based on what they're seeing happening on their land," Stockton said. He declined to identify the landowners they met, but said they said the security situation at the border had gotten significantly worse. Experts on border walls are skeptical. "If there is a landowner who wants a wall built on their property and they happen to have property near the border, I suppose they could convince the person to let them build on their property," said Efren Olivares, a lawyer with the Texas Civil Rights Project who is organizing landowners against a border wall. "It's extremely silly for achieving any kind of objective." Story continues The fundraising so far "is still a tiny sum compared to the cost of any significant fencing on the border," said Reece Jones, a University of Hawaii professor and author of the book "Violent Borders." U.S. Customs and Border Protection is working to build 33 miles (53 kilometers) of new walls and fencing in the Rio Grande Valley. The construction was funded by Congress in March. So far, the government has awarded 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) of construction for a total of $313 million, or roughly $22 million a mile. The average cost of 1 mile built by the government exceeds what the campaign has raised. "Walls alone are a very ineffective way to secure a border because they are expensive and still need to be constantly guarded," Jones said. "Even then, people regularly go over, under, around, or through them." Most land along the Rio Grande is privately owned, and many landowners oppose surrendering their land for a border wall. The U.S. government has the authority to seize land under eminent domain and will likely have to sue many landowners to build more barriers. It can also waive environmental laws to speed construction. A private group doesn't have those powers. The river also feeds wildlife including many endangered species as well as farmland on both sides. A bi-national commission governs flood control on the river, and building at the water's edge is particularly difficult due to concerns about terrain and flooding. Kolfage originally promised to donate any proceeds from his campaign to the U.S. government. But the group announced in January that it would instead fund a private construction effort. Donors before the change had 90 days to opt into the new effort or receive a refund. A spokesman for GoFundMe, the online fundraising site Kolfage used, says 53 percent of donors have opted in, and 57 percent of donors had responded as of last Friday. The online fundraiser claims to have Trump's blessing, though the president has not tweeted or spoken publicly about the effort. The White House did not respond to a request for comment last week. Kolfage posted a photo Monday of the sign outside the CBP Rio Grande Valley sector headquarters. He captioned it: "Time to see what USCBP thinks of our border wall plans." An agency spokesman said Kolfage did not have any meetings with local agents or chiefs; Stockton later confirmed there'd been no meeting. WeBuildtheWall Inc. will employ a paid staff, though the group has not said how many employees it will have or how much they will be paid. It continues to raise tens of thousands of dollars a day, Stockton said. "It's an expression of the frustration of people all over the country about our politicians in Washington's inability to get the job done," he said. A supreme court judge in Brazil on Friday overturned an injunction requested by President Jair Bolsonaro's senator son that had frozen a probe into a suspicious payments scandal involving a former close aide. The development dealt a blow both to the son, Flavio Bolsonaro, and to the president, who has unsuccessfully been trying to distance himself from the growing scandal, which now also implicates his wife. The affair is proving a dogged embarrassment to President Bolsonaro, who won office by campaigning fiercely on promises to stamp out corruption. Flavio Bolsonaro won the injunction last month from another supreme court judge by arguing the case should be taken away from Rio de Janeiro prosecutors and shifted to the jurisdiction of the supreme court, which should deal with it under secrecy afforded to federal lawmakers. But on Friday the judge, Marco Aurelio Melo, said that would be inappropriate given that Flavio Bolsonaro was not a senator at the time, with the payments occurring when he was a legislator in Rio de Janeiro's state assembly. He also said court-imposed secrecy was not justified. Flavio Bolsonaro and the rest of Brazil's new federal congress inaugurated their session on Friday, a month after President Jair Bolsonaro took office. The politician father and son were elected to their higher posts in October last year. - Wrongdoing denied - The scandal initially focused on Flavio Bolsonaro's former bodyguard and driver, a policeman named Fabricio Queiroz. Brazil's government anti-financial crimes agency COAF detected 1.2 million reais in transactions made in 2016 through Queiroz's accounts (equivalent to $344,500 according to average exchange rates that year), far exceeding his salary. One transaction was a deposit to an account belonging to President Bolsonaro's wife Michelle. The leader said it was repayment of an undeclared loan he himself had made to Queiroz. Later, it was revealed that COAF also found 48 deposits to Flavio Bolsonaro's account in June and July 2017 -- some made within minutes of each other -- that totaled 96,000 reais ($30,000 equivalent at the time). Both Queiroz and Flavio Bolsonaro have denied wrongdoing in media interviews, but neither have testified to COAF. Queiroz said the money that went through his accounts was from a side businesses he ran, mainly buying and selling cars. Flavio Bolsonaro said his deposits were from a property transaction, but did not explain why the money was entered in amounts coming in under the threshold triggering depositor identification requirements. President Bolsonaro has said that if wrongdoing were proved against his son "he'll have to pay the price." But he also said he believed he himself was the ultimate target of the "unfounded accusations." Reports said Brazilian tax authorities were now scrutinizing the bank accounts of First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro because of the payment made in Queiroz's name. Australia on Friday acknowledged it may have killed as many as 18 civilians in an air strike on Mosul two years ago, during a massive and ultimately successful campaign to dislodge jihadi fighters. Following an internal investigation, the Australian Defence Forces said coalition raids against Islamic State group positions in the then-occupied northern Iraqi city on June 13, 2017 "may have caused civilian casualties". "The coalition assesses that between six and 18 civilians may have been killed," during strikes on the Al Shafaar neighbourhood. Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld indicated there was no firm information about the number of deaths or whether they came as a result of the Australian strike, or from other coalition members. The intense aerial bombardment to retake what had been Iraq's second-largest city has already been the subject of intense scrutiny, with the US-led coalition admitting over 1,100 civilian casualties. A total of 30,008 strikes against IS were carried out between August 2014 and the end of August 2018, with the Mosul campaign being particularly intense. Critics have alleged the coalition strategy leaned too much on overwhelming air power. While quicker and posing fewer risks for coalition forces, they allege it put civilians at greater risk. Monitoring group Airwars says the number of civilian deaths acknowledged by the coalition is well below the true toll of the bombing campaign, estimating that at least 7,468 civilians were killed. IS was known to hold civilians as human shields in a deliberate effort evade detection, deter air strikes and shape Western public opinion against the war. Hupfeld said the Australian strike was requested by Iraqi security forces and was in "full compliance with the law of armed conflict and applicable rules of engagement". "The Australian Defence Force takes all feasible precautions to minimise the risk of civilian casualties." Ahead of the strike, seven IS fighters were identified in a building and adjacent courtyard, armed with heavy weapons. They were hit with a "500lb precision guided munition" which "achieved the effect desired". Australia's defence forces said the civilian casualties were in a nearby building. A soldier stealthily emerges from the dense undergrowth of French Guiana's jungle, grabbing the shoulder of a man blasting gaping holes into the forest floor with a high-pressure hose, hoping the dirt will yield a golden payoff. But the arrest of the clandestine gold panner, known as "garimpeiros", will barely make a dent in the rampant illegal prospecting deep in this French corner of South America. "At sites that are easy to get to, near the river, they come back with two motors and a chainsaw and restart their operations in three days, as soon as we're gone," said Thomas, a lieutenant-colonel in France's Ninth Marine Regiment, giving only his first name in line with military policy. AFP journalists accompanied members of the regiment this month on a patrol up the Maroni river, part of Operation Harpie, aimed at driving out miners and choking off supply lines to outlaw camps. More than 500 soldiers, police, customs agents and rangers are tasked with patrolling the vast swaths of the Amazon forest where some 10,000 gold seekers are currently thought to be active. Most come across the border from Brazil, mounting highly organised operations using motorised canoes and specially outfitted all-terrain vehicles (ATV). Others are small-time panners without the resources to pay for their own boats or lookouts -- like the garimpeiro and his two associates caught this month in front of AFP journalists. Last year, 1,300 patrols were carried out -- an average of 11 per day -- leading to the discovery of 765 illegal sites and the seizure of equipment and cash worth 26 million euros ($30 million). "As long as there's gold, there will be garimpeiros," Olivier Ginez, the French government's top official in the territory, told AFP. "Our goal is to keep the panning at a relatively low level," he said. - 'They know we're watching' - The environmental advocacy group WWF says 10 to 12 tonnes of gold are illegally extracted each year in French Guiana by panners dislodging huge quantities of dirt to sift through makeshift sluices. The damage to French Guiana's lush landscape is devastating, with 13 tonnes of mercury, used for extracting the gold, contaminating the ground and rivers every year, the WWF says. But even when planes or helicopters spot an illegal camp, it's not easy for patrols to reach them. Authorities rely on wooden canoes piloted by a few dozen Bushinengue, descendants of slaves brought to neighbouring Suriname in the 18th century, who later escaped into the jungle and learned the art of river navigation from native tribes. "The rapids, the rocks, it's very dangerous," said Thomas, 51, at the bow of his canoe, still made with steel-covered joints that let a little water inside, keeping the hull supple in case of contact with rocks. "I've got the lives of 10 people in my hands," adds Thomas, who like other Bushinengue also serves as translator for the French forces. Once on land, patrols face long slogs through jungle trails hacked out with machetes to reach their targets, who often have already been tipped off by lookouts and hidden much of their equipment before fleeing. "They know we're watching them. What they don't know is when we're going to come," said Captain Charles. - 'Cutting the grass' - After a camp is found the soldiers immediately confiscate mobile phones to keep the men from alerting other miners in the area. They then toil for hours breaking down sluices, destroying motors and other machinery, and searching for hidden stocks of diesel fuel and tools, often sinking into oily mud up to their waists. Yet many times the miners have had ample time to gather up key gear onto their own canoes or Honda Foreman ATVs, fleeing deeper into the jungle or crossing the Maroni into Suriname, where soldiers and police will often look the other way for a few grams of gold. "They come back. They always come back," said Captain Jean-Sebastien. "To keep my men motivated I tell them we're here to cut the grass. If you don't cut the grass you'll soon have it up to your knees." But unable to keep tabs on every track into the forest, authorities focus instead on disrupting travel routes, for example destroying barges that force the miners to take long and costly detours. "Our goal is to create insecurity and hinder the logistics of their operations," said Ginez. "I often ask soldiers how much beer or fuel is going for in the forest. If the price goes up, our operations are working," he said. It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors -- barred from education and work -- have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power. "If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together. Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power. "We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music -- banned under the Taliban -- plays in the background. After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the US and Taliban have agreed a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul. With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like. Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women. Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law. "We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district. "I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes." The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate -- and in Taliban-controlled areas nothing has changed. "They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back." - 'Shut out' - Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher. "The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes. The Taliban vowed Friday to pursue "the establishment of an Islamic system" in the country as talks continue, saying the group did not oppose education for women, according to the insurgency's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. However, Mujahid remained vague on what an Islamic system would mean for the rights of Afghan women. The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001. More than 2.5 million of the eight million schoolchildren are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce. But despite the progress -- and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 - Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance. The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two percent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition. Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards. "We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says. "If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni. - Afghan women 'have changed' - Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight. "Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights. Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP. "The price of peace cannot be limitless." Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression." Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again". "I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us." str-us-emh-lab/ahe/st/ds/je FBI and Air Force experts are sinkholing the Joanap botnet to collect information about it and dismantle the malicious infrastrcuture. The U.S. Justice Department declares war to the Joanap Botnet that is associated with North Korea. The U.S. DoJ announced this week that it is working to dismantle the infamous Joanap botnet, a malicious infrastructure that is believed to be associated to Pyongyang. The FBI and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) obtained court orders and search warrants that allow them to conduct sinkholing of the Joanap botnet. The Joanap bot is a remote access trojan (RAT) that allows the attackers to exfiltrate data from compromised systems, it supports many commands and is also able to drop additional payloads. The authorities set up servers that mimic the botnets communication system in order to collect information on infected systems and share them with ISP and the owners of the compromised computers. The U.S. authorities will also inform foreign victims through the FBIs Legal Attaches that works with the law enforcement and security agencies in their countries. The Joanap botnet has been around since 2009, experts pointed out that the threat is still spreading through unpatched systems and unprotected networks. The bot is delivered by using the Brambul SMB worm that is able to spreads through a network by brute-forcing SMB shares leveraging on a list of hard-coded credentials. Experts linked both the Joanap and Brambul malware to the North Korea-linked Hidden Cobra APT group. The Joanap bot infected systems in many industries, including media, aerospace, financial, and critical infrastructure sectors across the world. Computers around the world remain infected by a botnet associated with the North Korean Regime, said Assistant Attorney General John Demers. Through this operation, we are working to eradicate the threat that North Korea state hackers pose to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. This operation is another example of the Justice Departments efforts to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt national security threat actors, including, but by no means limited to, prosecution. Through technical means and legal process, the FBI continually seeks to disrupt the malicious cyber activities of North Korean cybercriminals, as in this case, and all cyber actors who pose a threat to the United States and our international partners. explained ADIC Paul Delacourt, In June 2018, the FBI filed a complaint against the North Korean citizen Park Jin Hyok, an expert that works for North Korean military intelligence agency Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). The man, also known as Pak Jin Hek , is also linked to the dreaded Lazarus APT Group, according to the authorities it was involved in numerous computer intrusions in which he had used also the Brambul malware to gain unauthorized access to computers. Moreover, a complaint was filed on June 8, 2018, charging Park Jin Hyok with a conspiracy to carry out numerous computer intrusions backed by the North Korean government. That complaint alleged how co-conspirators used Brambul to gain unauthorized access to computers, and then used those computers to carry out the charged malicious cyber activities. The Brambul worm itself was recovered from the computer networks of some victims of the conspiracy. The good news for users is that the Joanap is not effective against updated Microsoft Windows systems running Windows Defender and using Windows Update. Most of the antivirus programs are also able to detect both Joanap and Brambul . Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Joanap botnet, North Korea) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme returns to the UK in February, presenting a diverse lineup of Japanese cinema to audiences across the country. This year's selection is based around the theme of 'love' and is titled People Still Call It Love: Passion, Affection and Destruction in Japanese Cinema. The lineup features "thoughtfully selected films from Japans artistic repertoire, all focusing on this theme in one way or another. As the conventional binaries defining what it means to love continually give way to new understandings of this sweeping emotion, so too does this years curation aim to provide insights into a wider context of love in Japanese society". Within this theme, a wide range of (mostly) contemporary cinema is presented, with films encompassing a range of genres. In addition to the films on offer, the programme brings several special guests to UK shores for Q&As. Keisuke Yoshida (Himeanole) is on hand with his latest film, the sibling rivalry drama, Thicker than Water. Yukiko Mishima will present her 6th film, the poignant drama Dear Etranger, and documentarian Hikaru Toda will answer questions on her award-winning new doc Of Love & Law, which follows the plight of Japans first law firm run by an openly gay couple. The Programme will run from 2 February to 10 February at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts before heading to cities across the UK until 28th March. Check the website for tour locations and further details. Scroll through the gallery below for details on each of the titles in the programme. For some time now, it has been a well-known fact that Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his predecessor William Kabogo both attended the Punjab University in India in the 1980s. In the run-up to the 2017 general election, the two rivals politicised their academic credentials, with Kabogo accusing Waititu of forging his papers. He also claimed that Waititu was neither his classmate nor schoolmate at Punjab University. The former Kiambu governor, however, lost a court case in which he had sued Baba Yao on account of forging his academic qualifications. The Punjab University administration also confirmed that one Clifford Ndungu Waititu was their undergraduate student in the 1980s; and that he qualified for the award of Bachelor of Commerce degree. On the back of this information, some people have been wondering how is it that Waititu and Kabogo were in the same university but never met each other, especially because they were Kenyan students in a foreign country. According to Waititu, Kabogo was his senior by four years hence the reason their paths never crossed at the learning institution. Kabogo went to Punjab University four years ahead of me. So, there was no way we would have shared a class; and, by the time he came back to the university [for his certificates], he did not know that I was there, Waititu said during an interview with Jeff Koinange on Wednesday night. He also addressed the issue of his two names Clifford and Ferdinand saying: I am Clifford. I took an affidavit to that effect. As a result, there shouldnt be confusion. I took the name Ferdinand because I wanted to become a police officer. I cheated about my age so that I could be recruited. I wanted to drop out of school and join the forces. However, when my pursuit was unsuccessful, I went back to my old name Clifford, said the Kiambu county boss. I have, to a significant extent, been referred to as Ferdinand because of the original ID that I took, which contained that name, he said. Waititu also told Jeff Koinange that he used a students passport to travel out of Kenya in the 1980s, hence the reason it was difficult to retrieve his travel records from back in the day. Intro Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy. Being threatened lately on numerous fronts, opioids have witnessed a dramatic decline in sales, but its a monster thats created another monster, so when opioid giants are looking for another line of business, theyve got nothing to fear: Anti-addiction is now thriving, and there are plenty of opportunities for revenue in both construction and deconstruction. In 2017, The White House called opioid addiction a major crisis, even declaring it a public health emergency. Some $13 billion in funds is set to be funneled over the next two years to efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Last October, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill aimed at promoting research to find new drugs for pain management without addiction. Also last year, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of New York filed a bill to outlaw online opioid sales, while over the past few years, some states and municipalities have filed lawsuits against drug companies, targeting opioid products. In their lawsuits, local and state governments claim that dozens of companies made billions of dollars flooding the country with a variety of prescription pain pills. Critics also say there was a concerted effort by firms to mislead the public and physicians about the dangers. Some believe that this year might just be the year when America explicitly responds to the crisis in a very real way. The biggest drug-makers and distributors in the U.S., such as Purdue Pharma, Walmart, Rite-Aid face a wave of civil lawsuits that could total tens of billions of dollars in damages. Since 1999, millions of Americans have abused prescription opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported this month that more than 115 Americans die from opioid overdoses every day, though not all of those drugs were obtained by prescription. Still, sales are on the decline, and while numerous lawsuits and regulations have been tightened, but there are always creative ways to keep the profits coming. In essence, pharma companies that are making the opioids are now looking to make billions more helping people cope with the addiction theyve created. One of them, and the one thought to be a driving force behind the opioid epidemic is Purdue Pharma. Late last year, Rhodes Technologies Inc. was granted a patent for a new drug that could help treat opioid addiction. The initial euphoria dulled after it was discovered that the company was a subsidiary of Purdue Pharma. Richard Sackler, member of Sackler family who controls the company, is listed as one of the inventors on the patent. Related: Palladium Boom Sparks String Of Car Robberies The patent is for a new and faster-acting form of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine controls drug cravings and is often given as a substitute to people hooked on heroin or opioid painkillers such as OxyContin. In 2012, OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma made a $2.8 billion in profit from sales of it. But by 2017, that figure had dropped to $1.8 billion. Still, it is a decent profit for a drug that leads to hundreds of thousands of emergency-room admissions each year due to side effects and has caused overdose deaths. Burdened by lawsuits, last March, Purdue Pharma decided to stop marketing OxyContin to physicians, leading to another major profit dive. Related: Automakers Go All-In On Electric Vehicles For its role in creating the opioid epidemic, Purdue Pharma and three of its top executives were fined more than $630 million, while three executives were criminally sentenced to 400 hours of community service. However, Purdue Pharma also made about $35 billion from the sales of opioids. Now, with all of this in mind, another recent creative sales pitch looks even innocent by comparison. During the ongoing federal racketeering trial, it was found that a former pharmaceutical executive was accused of giving a lap dance to a doctor to boost opiate prescriptions. By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Blog archive May 2006 (2) June 2006 (4) July 2006 (2) August 2006 (4) September 2006 (4) October 2006 (6) November 2006 (6) December 2006 (5) January 2007 (4) February 2007 (6) March 2007 (6) April 2007 (5) May 2007 (6) June 2007 (3) July 2007 (6) August 2007 (7) September 2007 (11) October 2007 (8) November 2007 (2) December 2007 (3) January 2008 (3) February 2008 (2) March 2008 (2) May 2008 (3) June 2008 (3) August 2008 (4) September 2008 (3) October 2008 (2) November 2008 (1) December 2008 (1) January 2009 (1) February 2009 (1) March 2009 (2) April 2009 (2) May 2009 (4) June 2009 (2) July 2009 (4) August 2009 (4) September 2009 (5) October 2009 (4) November 2009 (5) December 2009 (2) January 2010 (4) February 2010 (7) March 2010 (4) April 2010 (5) May 2010 (7) June 2010 (2) July 2010 (6) August 2010 (4) September 2010 (5) October 2010 (4) November 2010 (3) December 2010 (4) January 2011 (3) February 2011 (5) March 2011 (3) April 2011 (6) May 2011 (6) June 2011 (3) July 2011 (3) August 2011 (4) September 2011 (4) October 2011 (2) November 2011 (4) December 2011 (3) February 2012 (1) March 2012 (5) April 2012 (2) May 2012 (4) June 2012 (1) July 2012 (3) August 2012 (4) September 2012 (3) October 2012 (3) November 2012 (4) December 2012 (2) January 2013 (1) February 2013 (4) March 2013 (3) April 2013 (2) May 2013 (1) June 2013 (4) July 2013 (2) August 2013 (5) October 2013 (2) November 2013 (4) December 2013 (2) January 2014 (1) February 2014 (3) March 2014 (2) April 2014 (4) May 2014 (3) June 2014 (7) July 2014 (4) August 2014 (4) September 2014 (4) October 2014 (4) November 2014 (4) December 2014 (4) January 2015 (5) February 2015 (5) March 2015 (6) April 2015 (8) May 2015 (5) June 2015 (5) July 2015 (7) August 2015 (9) September 2015 (9) October 2015 (15) November 2015 (2) December 2015 (8) January 2016 (6) February 2016 (4) March 2016 (11) April 2016 (7) May 2016 (10) June 2016 (9) July 2016 (8) August 2016 (7) September 2016 (5) October 2016 (6) November 2016 (5) December 2016 (4) January 2017 (3) February 2017 (2) March 2017 (5) April 2017 (7) May 2017 (6) June 2017 (8) July 2017 (6) August 2017 (8) September 2017 (4) October 2017 (7) November 2017 (8) December 2017 (11) January 2018 (13) February 2018 (16) March 2018 (14) April 2018 (12) May 2018 (8) June 2018 (10) July 2018 (6) August 2018 (8) September 2018 (6) October 2018 (3) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (3) January 2019 (7) February 2019 (6) March 2019 (8) April 2019 (11) May 2019 (9) June 2019 (13) July 2019 (10) August 2019 (7) September 2019 (4) October 2019 (6) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (6) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (3) March 2020 (6) April 2020 (7) May 2020 (6) June 2020 (6) July 2020 (6) August 2020 (6) September 2020 (8) October 2020 (6) November 2020 (4) December 2020 (3) January 2021 (2) February 2021 (2) March 2021 (6) April 2021 (5) May 2021 (3) June 2021 (1) The EU Google says the EU requires a notice of cookie use (by Google) and says they have posted a notice. I don't see it. If cookies bother you, go elsewhere. If the EU bothers you, emigrate. If you live outside the EU, don't go there. President Uhuru Kenyatta has sounded a warning to his Cabinet Secretaries whom he accused of politicking at the expense of service delivery to the people. Addressing residents of Kitengela town on his way to Arusha Thursday, President Kenyatta told members of his Cabinet to choose between politics and implementation of government agenda in their various dockets. We will not be fed by politics. We will be fed by our efforts and hard work that will improve the lives of all Kenyans, said Kenyatta. Today I held a Cabinet meeting and I told our Cabinet Secretaries that anyone who is not ready for service delivery they are free to leave because I have so many young Kenyans who are willing and ready to work. He added: Tell those who come to you politicking that you dont need politics. Tell them you need water, roads and education for your children. Tell them to stop their corrupt ways, and tell them not to go around dividing Kenyans along tribal lines. President Uhuru further reiterated the need for a united country, urging Kenyans not to accept to be divided along tribals lines. Raila & I used to compete politically but we are now united. We need to decide as Kenyans that we will live together peacefully and work together to develop our nation and East Africa. Politics cannot feed us, we will be fed by our hard work, said Kenyatta. Elections will come & go but I assure you today that Kenyans will not shed their blood again because of politics. Peace in the country implies that investors will have the confidence to invest in industries which will have the effect of providing jobs to our youth. I want to point out to all Kenyans that you should not be wondering where your neighbour comes from. When you go home today, look for your neighbour and assure him that his problems are your problems and that you are there to help him. That is the meaning of the handshake, declared Uhuru. The President is attending the East African Community Heads of State Summit in Arusha, Tanzania. 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So when Trump is caught making collusive whoopee with Russians, some of us will say, "Well, what else is new?" This person is making a mockery of our rule of law and democracy itself. Can we as a nation do anything about it? Well, not right now, but this isn't the worst thing facing us. Our bigger problem lies with those who won't endeavor to advance venerated democratic values. Some narrow-minded leaders of groups such as nationalists, capitalists, militarists, religious hierarchy and the NRA can't allow real democracy for fear of losing their singleness of purpose. If we can't marry democracy to these ideals, then the ideals need reins put on to keep them from becoming more powerful than democracy itself. Former Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, who Ricketts also referred to Wednesday as a senator who advocated for tax hikes, said Briese's plan to address the property tax issue created a way to actually fund it, rather than relying on drawing down the state's cash reserve. "There has not been a realistic effort to deal with property taxes," said Schumacher, who was term-limited. "Unless you come up with a source for property tax relief, urban or rural, you can't give it. If there are no new taxes, where are you going to get the relief from?" Should the bill advance from the Legislature's Revenue Committee, of which Briese is a member, and through three rounds of floor debate intact, it will run into a governor who has pledged not to sign any tax hikes into law. At his Beatrice town hall, Ricketts indicated he would not sign Briese's bill when asked by one farmer who advocated for it. Through a spokesman, Ricketts reiterated that point Thursday, homing in on Pansing Brooks' district in central Lincoln. "The governor opposes plans, such as LB314, which would raise taxes on the people of Lincoln," Taylor Gage said in an email. The above organizations are recognized by Queens Crap as being beneficial to the city as a whole, by fighting to preserve the history and character of our neighborhoods. They are not connected to this website and the opinions presented here do not necessarily represent the positions of these organizations.The comments left by posters to this site do not necessarily represent the views of the blogger or webmaster.Street or satellite shots used here are from Google Maps or Windows Live Local In the Jan. 30 Quad-City Times, a "Letter to the Editor," totally mischaracterized the actions of students from Covington (Kentucky) Catholic school. This group of students was awaiting buses near the Lincoln Memorial after attending a pro-life rally. Nathan Phillips, "well-known Native American activist," self-proclaimed "tribal elder," and fake Vietnam veteran, was leading a small group of "indigenous people" near the Cov-Cath students. Phillips, beating a drum, walked a distance, approaching these young students. Still drumming, he moved into the middle of them. He beat his drum right in one kid's face, and that student remained motionless, smiling. No physical contact was made by anyone. This "incident" was unremarkable, except several of the students were wearing "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hats. Parsed, out-of-context, video clips began flooding Twitter, positing a premise that these kids were racist bullies. The fake news media was happy to run the Twitterverse's version. The only flaw? It's fiction. Hours of video revealed the truth. The mainstream media walked back their reporting, albeit a day late. This information's available to the letter writer, but that wouldn't fit her narrative. And that's the common thread running through all of this. When the intelligence doesn't serve Trump's purposes - and especially when it runs afoul of his personal political interests - he will do what he can to undermine it. Previously, with Russia, that has been somewhat more subtle and veiled. Trump didn't outright attack intelligence assessments, but he pretended they didn't say what they said. In the case of Khashoggi, where its conclusions about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's culpability were not public but reported via anonymous sources, Trump pretended the intelligence said something it didn't. And he got other members of his administration to mislead about those findings right along with him. But in this case, it was all out in the open. Here were the officials flatly disputing Trump's claims that the Islamic State has been defeated, that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat and that Iran had been flouting the nuclear deal. They couldn't pretend otherwise or put a good spin on it, because Trump's claims were so over-the-top. What's interesting is these assessments don't all err in the same direction, according to Trump. He's saying the intel chiefs are too harsh about the Islamic State and North Korea, but not harsh enough about Iran. There's no consistent direction in their alleged failures, except away from Trump. That says a lot. Just like Kiambu Governor Baba Yao Waititu said in a recent interview with Jeff Koinange, Mike Sonko is truly a joker. This after the controversial Nairobi governor updated his accent settings while attending the AIDSfree Global Forum in London. While delivering his speech this week, Sonko was a new man altogether as he unleashed his now infamous American accent and polished English. It was reminiscent of the first time Sonko pulled off the accent during the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi last November. When the foreign delegates had left, Sonko reverted to factory settings and explained that the acquired accent was meant to impress the international visitors and make them feel at home. The governor was at it again in London as seen and heard in a video shared on his Facebook page. We are not exactly sure if he was trying the British accent but he did put in his best effort to represent Nairobi Cirry. Watch below. As a result of Larkins tireless work and meticulous craftsmanship, the Rock Island County Courthouse was dedicated on March 13, 1897. Grand and majestic, both the exterior and interior of the courthouse were designed and constructed with aesthetics and longevity in mind. The building was described as 170 feet long with a Bedford limestone exterior. There was a variety of formsround topped entrances and windows, circular windows in the triangular pediments, balconies and bulbous standing-seam metal roofs on domes. On the inside, offices and courtrooms were constructed around a central rotunda that extended all four stories to the buildings top where it was crowned by a windowed dome. The floors of the rotunda were small marble tiles on two lower floors and terrazzo on upper ones. Railings around the open area of the rotunda as well as on stairways were ornate cast iron. Throughout the years, the building has undergone numerous renovations in order to suit the countys evolving needs. Despite this, the courthouse maintains much of its original character. A great amount of the tile work in the four-story rotunda and on the stairway and building entrances are intact. Intricate railings and original curving wood benches are found in the rotunda and are in good condition. On sweltering summer days, the Quad-City Times newsroom could count on long-time columnist Bill Wundram to say "It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk." And then, inevitably, he and a photographer would try it. Bill retired in May and now winters in Florida. But the Times newsroom was thinking of him Thursday, as record cold hit the Quad-Cities. "Is it cold enough to freeze an egg on the sidewalk?" we asked. In a salute to Bill, we tried it. First, we placed a frying pan on the walkway to our 3rd Street office in Davenport. We let it sit for 20 minutes. At this point, it was a relatively balmy -1 degrees (-14 with windchill). At noon, we cracked one egg into it and a second directly onto the sidewalk. Then we watched and waited. The frying pan egg immediately began to freeze around the edges. At the two-minute mark, the egg white was solidified. At just under four minutes, the yolk was frozen. It looked like a fried egg, sunny side up. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat and possible presidential candidate, is stopping in Clinton Saturday as he wraps up a three-day tour of the Hawkeye State. A roundtable discussion with labor leaders is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Pangea International Academy, 400 N. Bluff, Clinton, and a meet-and-greet will follow, according to Browns campaign. Brown launched his campaign-style Dignity of Work tour earlier this week, visiting a handful of Iowa cities that included Waterloo, Perry, Cresco and Dubuque. The meeting Saturday marks the tail end of the senators first visit to the first-in-the-nation caucus state, where Democrats have begun to flock in recent months as they explore their presidential ambitions. The event is open to the public. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The governors criticism of the existing restitution process marks a departure from her predecessor and political mentor, former Republican Gov. Terry Brandstad, who reinstated the policy after it had been struck down previously, and defended the application process when questions of its fairness last arose. Earlier this week, Reynolds introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow felons to have their rights restored upon discharge of a criminal sentence, but passage carries a high bar. It would have to be approved in the House and Senate in consecutive, separately elected legislative sessions before going to Iowa voters for ratification. Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers in recent weeks have called on Reynolds to restore rights for felons immediately by executive order, an idea Reynolds did not rule out entirely on Thursday. The governor has said she does not want the voting rights of felons to be left to the whims of whoever is governor of the state at a given time, saying she is solely focused on the constitutional amendment route right now. The governors constitutional amendment has drawn support from an array of interest groups and on its face appears to hold bipartisan support. Some supporting groups include the American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Leader Foundation. The filmmakers previewed an early version in November in Independence, Iowa to a packed Starlight Cinema Theater. The 1965 incident took place in the Independence area. With the fiscal sponsorship of The Moline Foundation, The Amish Incident was partially funded by a grant from Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area. Interviews in 2009 for Country School were partially funded by a grant from Humanities Iowa. Filming took place in Fayette, Buchanan and Polk counties. As we reviewed the 2009 footage and began to think about how to tell the story, we were surprised that it wasn't just going to be a film about a conflict with the Amish, director Kelly Rundle said. It's equally a film about journalism, and how reporting in this case, one photograph can crystallize public opinion on a policy issue. It was a complex story to tell and in keeping with the old days of journalism, we decided to creatively use the 'printed word' to tell the story, he said. The Amish do not allow posed photos or sitting for a video interview, so it was especially challenging to paint a picture of who the Amish are and do their story justice. The recently passed House File 802 is a complete mess of a bill and an embarrassment to the state of Iowa. On the one hand, it bans teaching a number of "specifically defined concepts"; on the other, it claims not to infringe on any freedom of speech or prohibit discussing these concepts "as part of a larger course of academic instruction." But as it does not define what makes a course "larger," and no one teaches any of these concepts in a vacuum, it will either a) have no effect whatever or b) functionally prohibit what it claims to permit. If the Orion Village Board opts to make an appellate court case out of a nuisance pet problem, it is taxpayers who will pay the price. On Tuesday, Judge Dana McReynolds ruled in favor of Patti Hardi and Mike Larson, the Orion couple who own nine cats, and against the village of Orion, which is seeking to enforce a village ordinance restricting residents to no more than three. That ruling should have put an end to the protracted fight between the village and the couple that began in 2016 when authorities discovered that Hardi, the former Orion animal control officer, had custody of nearly 80 cats. Clearly, Hardi had amassed a hoard, but supporters, including the former mayor, say it began with the best of intentions. After she was no longer employed by the village, she continued to get calls to take in stray cats because she still was listed as animal control officer on the village website. She took them in rather than turn callers away or risk having the cats euthanized. Hardi boarded and cared for her growing clowder in a rental house she owned and at her own expense, but it eventually became too much, and the authorities stepped in. The government shutdown is over -- for now -- but the political ramifications are still being sorted out. The media has been chortling that Donald Trump "caved," and he may well have lost this battle with congressional Democrats. Their "victory," such as it is, is to notify American voters that they are so opposed to a wall and a secure border that they were willing to keep the government shut down for four weeks to ensure it doesn't happen. Trump has thus exposed the Pelosi-Schumer Democrats as being hopelessly soft on illegal immigration. Some Democrats are starting to wonder whether they have dug their own political grave for 2020. This is why Democrats are screaming from the rafters that they are for border security -- just not the way Trump wants to do it. The reality is far from this spin. At the start of the shutdown, the Pelosi crowd was saying that "there is no border crisis" and that "a wall is immoral." But every response to illegal immigration over the past decade proves they don't want it stopped. Democrats have instead openly encouraged illegal immigration. Let's start with the 2018 midterm campaigns. The rallying cry of many prominent Democrats running for Congress was to "abolish ICE," the federal border patrol agency. "In reality, it comes down to what families and funeral homes want to do, and if they think it's too dangerous for people to be there or not," Russell said. Russell has to lay out a 4-by-10-foot site to accommodate a gravesite, with metal pins marking the dimensions. That way, he can easily locate them using a metal detector, he said. "Other than that, I will have to contend to all the snow on the ground," Russell said. The amount of snow he will need to remove will make that a little easier, because it makes soil underneath softer, he said. Gross said the record-breaking temperature was set despite calm winds. Cold Canadian winds coming down was to blame, he said. Stranger things have happened on live television before but the most recent one, captured by Citizen TV reporters, is simply mindboggling. It shows the moment a robbery suspect rammed his head into a wall during a live transmission from Majengo Slums in Nyeri. As the story goes, the man is one of four suspects who were arrested for breaking into a local bar and stealing booze, television sets and CCTV cameras on Wednesday night. Nyeri Central OCPD Paul Kuria said they used sniffer dogs to trace the burglars to their hideout in the slums, where they were found binging on stolen alcohol. Most of the stolen items were also recovered. Citizen Television reporter in Nyeri, Martin Munene, was at the scene to cover the arrest when one of the male suspects was captured inexplicably headbutting a wooden wall. According to the reporter, He[the suspect] did not sustain any injuries. He and his three colleagues are being detained at the Nyeri Police Station as they wait to be arraigned on Friday, February 1. Watch the bizarre moment below. The meetings stemmed from 2008, when retired ministers from Christ Episcopal in Moline and Trinity Episcopal in Rock Island learned the Diocese of Quincy wanted to theological differences. "None of this was conveyed to either of the congregations, so a few of the parishioners of Christ Church started a letter campaign to both churches to explain the situation and what exactly this would mean," Erickson said. "At Christ Episcopal, we were able to set a date in February 2009 to vote if we stayed with the Episcopal Church or if we left and joined the Anglican Communion." Erickson said that letters were sent to both congregations, explaining if members stayed with the Episcopal Church there would be a church to go to. The Rev. James Allemeier, the Rev. Larry Larson and the Rev. Peggy Lee would lead the group until a full-time priest could be called to the church. "This would mean we would have to secure a location, have ministers, all the service books and hymnals, vestments, etc., which we were able to take care of with the enormous amount of help from the Chicago Diocese, as well as the Episcopal Cathedral in Davenport," Erickson said. She said the group felt it was unlikely it would receive the two-thirds votes required to stay with the Episcopal church. Winners will be announced Feb. 21 the group's annual banquet at Deere & Company headquarters in Moline. Arconic posts dividend The Arconic Board of Directors this week declared a dividend of 6 cents per share on the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. It is payable Feb. 25 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 8, according to the announcement. The board also announced a dividend of 93.75 cents per share on Arconic's $3.75 Cumulative Preferred Stock. It is payable on April 1 to the stockholders of record at the close of business March 15. Among the company's operations is Arconic Davenport Works in Riverdale. Hy-Vee launches food bank drive WEST DES MOINES Hy-Vee, Inc. on Friday launched the Feed the Need campaign to help replenish local food banks across its eight-state region. The supermarket chain recently become aware of a major crisis that food banks are facing, with many extremely low on food due to an influx of additional people over the past several weeks. Food banks historically have lower donations in February than any other time of year. 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 1+ days ago | June 19th | 2021 10:00 PM The 3 secrets you need to know to cope with work stress The day I went to work at the company they welcomed me with a smile. They guided me to my place, showed me my desk, my chair, my computer and even gave me a white mug with my name printed in orange. In the desk drawer I found a dark, heavy and circular object that I immediately made my own, seeking to fulfill the expectations that I believed others had of me. Navitsky said a lot of the biomonitoring was done with the help of aquatic biologist Corrina Parnapy and environmental consultant Kathy Bozony. With their expertise and Navitskys engineering and land-use knowledge, the team was able to pinpoint the areas in Lake George where septic systems may be polluting the waters. Navitsky presented his latest effort at a Lake George Town Board meeting, which showed that one-third of septic systems close to the lake are operating past their life expectancy. One-third of septic systems have operated an unknown number of years. The waterkeeper used public survey responses, available town data and algae biomonitoring results to create a map of potentially problematic septic system areas in the town close to the shore of the lake. He hopes to use this same method in other parts of the watershed. The Fund for Lake George named Navitsky the Lake George waterkeeper in 2002. The Lake George region has a tremendous resource in Chris Navitsky, said Eric Siy, executive director of The Fund, in a news release. The work Chris does on a daily basis to identify and address the risks to the lakes water quality are making a real difference today and for future generations. To have Chris recognized by his peers from across the state attests to the importance of his work. Reporter Gwendolyn Craig can be reached at (518) 742-3238 or gcraig@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @gwendolynnn1. 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. A primary school teacher has taken his own life after being wrongfully accused of stealing school laptops in Bondo, Siaya. Elkana Owino Omondi, a teacher at Migiro Primary school was found dead in his house at Nango trading centre. Area Deputy County Commissioner Samson Akach said the father of ten committed suicide after being frustrated by the school administration over two school laptops which had gone missing. According to Akach, the deceased left behind a suicide note maintaining his innocence and detailing his frustration with the schools management. He also indicated his lack of means to replace what he was being wrongfully accused of stealing. The deceased further implicated two teachers whom he accused of being behind the alleged theft warning that they will live to regret. His body was moved to Bondo sub-county hospital mortuary awaiting post moterm. Police are investigating the incident. A state appeals court on Thursday rebuffed a mans effort to appeal his sentence for the 2016 killing of a Glens Falls man. Kevin S. Chapman asked the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court to reduce his sentence for his guilty plea to second-degree murder for the July 2016 killing of 58-year-old Kevin Jenks in Jenks home on Dix Avenue. +2 Man pleads guilty to murder in Glens Falls case QUEENSBURY A central New York man who was one of two suspects in the July killing of a Glens Falls man pleaded guilty late Wednesday to seco Chapman and his friend, Robert M. Henry, both of Ilion in central New York, had arranged to meet Jenks at his home, and when they went there they bound and gagged him before he was choked to death. The men then looted his home, stealing electronics and other valuables as well as a Cadillac sedan. +4 Henry guilty of murder for Glens Falls killing QUEENSBURY A Warren County jury on Thursday quickly convicted Robert M. Henry of murder, robbery and lesser charges for last summers killin Chapman pleaded guilty to the murder count and testified against Henry, telling a Warren County jury that Henry choked Jenks. Henry was convicted of murder, robbery, burglary and grand larceny after a trial. Chapman, who had three prior felony convictions, had agreed to a plea deal that included a sentence that ranged from 15-years-to-life to 18-to-life. Warren County Judge John Hall opted to impose 18-to-life, which prompted Chapman to appeal the severity of the sentence. +8 Chapman sentenced for Glens Falls murder QUEENSBURY Kevin S. Chapman, the central New York man who pleaded guilty last year for his role in the murder of Glens Falls resident Kevin A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was quoted by the Russian state news agency Tass as saying after the Beijing talks Thursday, "Unfortunately, there is no progress. The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum." He said he expects Washington now to suspend its obligations under the treaty, although he added that Moscow remains ready to "search for solutions" that could keep the treaty in force. He wants to promote careers in the skilled trades so shipyards have more welders, machinists and the like. His newest ally in that cause needs no introduction to local voters. Courtney wants to partner with Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, the Newport News Democrat who now chairs the Committee on Education and Labor. Mariner was born in Texas but grew up in the shadow of Naval Air Station Miramar in California. Her father, an Air Force pilot, was killed in a crash when she was 3 years old, and her mother was a Navy nurse, according to her obituary. Mariner began flying at 15 and soloed at 17, the same year she entered Purdue University, where she was the first woman to graduate, at age 19, with a degree in aeronautics. "That kind of sparked me to do some research and see all of the things he had been doing over the years since I was 15, 16 years old," she said in the documentary. "It just enraged me." "I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now," Northam said. "This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians' faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their governor." "The amount of money that we are going to have to put into this to fix these stormwater issues is not going to happen at the local level alone," she said. "We need state and federal buy-in. We need more money, and I want to make sure that we get it." Don't trust your wing selection to a wing and a prayer: grab some at Windy City Pizza, where we also love the classic Chicago-style pizza. Our fave: the Sweet Red Chili, a very nice balance of sweet and heat, and neither of too much either way. A glossy sheen provided a first taste of sweetness, with some of the chili coming up on the finish to make you sweat just a little bit. The future of the Kenyan music industry is in safe hands if new cool kids on the block, such as Charisma and rapper Mbithi, are anything to go by. The two vastly talented new age music acts have teamed up to great effect in a fresh collaborative project that, in my own opinion, is the best the 254 has seen and heard so far this year. Dubbed Unavyonipenda, this beautiful romantic piece could not have come at a better time with Valentines Day just around the corner. Unavyonipenda is a Swahili word that means the way you love me. The track sees Charisma and the Kamba boy Mbithi affirming their love to their lovers and assuring them that they are there for them to the end inspite of what life throws their way. The lyrics emphasize the same in a beautifully well-written way. Unanivyonipenda is also special in that it is Charismas first solo project without Le Band. The song was written by Charisma and Mbithi, produced by Jopee, mixed and mastered by Jaaz Odongo, and recorded at Box House Media. The video concept by Charisma and Mbithi was implemented by renowned director Johnson Kyalo R. Unavyonipenda is the stuff we talk about when we say we want quality Kenyan content. Its hard to fault anything in the song and, therefore, we are rating it 10/10. Watch below. Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center achieved Pathway to Excellence re-designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, demonstrating its nurses work in an environment where they can excel, feel empowered and are valued as integral members of inter-professional health care teams. The Pathway to Excellence designation is granted based on the confirmed presence of nursing practice standards. For an organization to earn the distinction, it must successfully undergo a thorough review process that documents foundational quality initiatives in creating a positive work environment as defined by nurses and supported by research. These initiatives must be integrated in the facility's practices, policies and culture. Nurses in the organization validate the presence of the criteria in the organization through participation in a voluntary and confidential online survey. The honor encourages other nurses to join their colleagues in this desirable and nurturing environment. We then evaluated the assets and deficiencies of each site and graded their readiness to serve as an economic development catalyst for the region. With this information, the door is now open to determine how to invest in these sites to grow our economy and create more high-paying jobs. One possibility, modeled after a successful GO Virginia proposal, is to share site development costs and tax revenue among localities to spread the risk and reward around the region. Advance tickets of $20 per person are required. Get them at www.ticketmaster.com or pick them up at the Conference Center administration office between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more details, call the Center at 757-382-2531. Born at a time when Thomas Jefferson still held sway at Monticello, Douglass survived almost into the 20th century long enough to know the future founders of the NAACP and even one or two of the great figures of the Harlem Renaissance. A year before his death, he wrote his impressions of listening to a phonograph for the first time. It "raises the question as to the boundary of the human soul, the dividing line between the finite and the infinite," he reflected. There was, he thought, "something solemn in the thought that though being dead and turned to dust a man's voice may yet live and speak." But Mikeeto caused him to worry. The cat had to be rehomed to an owner with proper licensing which isn't attainable in Virginia. At the last minute, Hames said, a wildlife reserve outside of Franklin stepped in and took the cat. "It services a more upscale clientele. It is not large like a conventional market but the products and the offerings that they do have tend to kind of fit into that particular niche," he said, noting it could appeal to the type of people living in The Icon, luxury high-rise apartments nearby. "In terms of the space, it's not going to be bare bones but it will be minimal, shall we say." The Cavalier, an Autograph Collection Hotel, received a Four Diamond Rating, which is awarded to just 1,722 hotels 6.3 percent of those inspected across the country. This rating is given to hotels that "are committed to providing every guest with a high degree of hospitality, attentive service in upscale surroundings, and typically offer an extensive array of amenities and guest services," according to an AAA news release. Moor said there are about 25,000 water accounts in the city. For most residents, their water usage is tracked by a meter. For each consumption they use, they're billed $9.71. Virginia Beach residents pay $3.29 per consumption while Portsmouth residents pay $3.92. Chesapeake residents pay $7.47 for the first six consumptions and $5.05 for every consumption after. Norfolk residents are billed $5.11 per consumption. Vice Media CEO Nancy Dubuc, pictured in 2017, announced plans to cut 10 percent of staff at the digital media group that is now operating in some 40 countries Vice Media unveiled plans Friday to cut 10 percent of its staff, or some 250 jobs, in the latest round of job slashing in the once-sizzling digital media sector. Chief executive Nancy Dubuc made the announcement to staff as part of a plan to refocus Vice and move toward profitability at the fast-growing firm which produces online news, television programs and more. "Having finalized the 2019 budget, our focus shifts to executing our goals and hitting our marks," Dubuc wrote in the memo, initially revealed by The Hollywood Reporter and later confirmed by AFP. "We will make Vice the best manifestation of itself and cement its place long into the future." The reorganization will trim international operations and focus on growth in areas like film and television production and branded content, according to the memo. Vice has been one of the rising stars of the digital media world, raising more than $1 billion from Disney, 21st Century Fox and others and valued as high as $5.7 billion. It has operations in some 40 countries. The news comes after similar cuts in recent days at other digital media stars including BuzzFeed and HuffPost, raising fears of a major retrenchment in what had been a growing media segment. BuzzFeed is trimming some 200 jobs out of a staff of 1,700 people. At HuffPost, about 10 percent of journalists, or 20 people, were laid off as part of a belt-tightening move at parent firm Verizon's media unit, which also includes Yahoo other websites. Dubuc took over as CEO last year from founder Shane Smith, who built a youth-focused digital group which faced concerns about a difficult workplace environment. Vice was founded in 1994 as a Canadian magazine and grew into an online media group with news websites and television operations. Explore further Reboot at Vice Media as co-founder Shane Smith steps down 2019 AFP In this Jan. 3, 2019, file photo, a woman walks past trash piled next to a garbage bin at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. National parks across the United States are scrambling to clean up and repair damage caused by visitors and storms during the government shutdown while bracing for another possible closure ahead of the usually busy President's Day weekend. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file) National park visitors cut new trails in sensitive soil. They pried open gates while no one was watching. They found bathrooms locked, so they went outside. One off-roader even mowed down an iconic twisted-limbed Joshua tree in California. During the 35-day government shutdown, some visitors to parks and other protected areas nationwide left behind messes and repairs that National Park Service officials are scrambling to clean up and repair as they brace for the possibility of another closure ahead of the busy Presidents Day weekend this month. Conservationists warn that damage to sensitive lands could take decades to recover. Even before the shutdown, national parks faced an estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog that now has grown. Many of the parks went unstaffed during the shutdown, while others had skeleton crews with local governments and nonprofits contributing money and volunteers. National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst in Washington, D.C., declined to provide a full accounting of the damage at more than 400 locations, saying it was isolated and most visitors took good care of the land. But interviews with park officials and nonprofits that help keep parks running reveal a toll from people and winter storms when workers could not make fixes quickly. In this photo taken Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, without tourists and park rangers to discourage them during the government shutdown, elephant seals have expanded their pupping grounds in Point Reyes National Seashore, Calif. About 60 adult seals have birthed 35 pups took over a beach knocking down a fence and moving into the parking lot. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat via AP) President Donald Trump has said another shutdown could start Feb. 15 if he and Democratic leaders can't agree on funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, compounding pressure on the park service to catch up on repairs. Hiring seasonal workers who typically start in the spring as rangers, fee collectors and hiking guides also has been delayed. Grand Canyon National Park officials said Friday they are is delaying the start of a highly competitive lottery to award permits for self-guided rafting trips on the Colorado River in 2020 because staff had work to catch up on after the shutdown. Matt Baldwin, who works with the park's river permits office, said the lottery is rescheduled for Feb. 16, a date that could be changed if another shutdown occurs. "We're kind of ready to just have a bit more stability," said Angie Richman, a spokeswoman at Arches National Park in Utah. Arches visitors left human waste outside a restroom, stomped out five trails in a permit-only area that was shut down and damaged an entrance gate to allow vehicles to drive on snow-covered roads when the park was closed after a storm, Richman said. In some places, less oversight meant animals moved in. In this Jan. 10, 2019, file photo, a car drives along the road at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California's Mojave Desert. National parks across the United States are scrambling to clean up and repair damage that visitors and storms caused during the recent government shutdown while bracing for the possibility of another closure ahead of the busy Presidents Day weekend later this month. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) A colony of elephant seals took over a Northern California beach in Point Reyes National Seashore without workers to discourage the animals from congregating in the popular tourist area. Rangers and volunteers will lead small groups of visitors to the edge of a parking lot starting this weekend to safely see the seals and their pups. At Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, an off-road vehicle ran over one of the namesake trees and someone cut down a juniper tree, Superintendent David Smith said. Several other Joshua trees were damaged, including one that was spray-painted, but the park has yet to determine the exact number, he said. Off-road vehicles also created extensive unauthorized trails, with wheel marks dug into the delicate desert soil nearly a foot deep in some spots, Smith said. Employees at Death Valley National Park found human waste and toilet paper scattered in the desert and evidence people tried to kick in locked restroom doors, said David Blacker, executive director of the Death Valley Natural History Association. A time-lapse video on Death Valley's Facebook page showed how it took staffers two hours to clean a restroom overflowing with trash and splashed with waste. Crews also have to rake and replant vegetation to repair ruts from off-road vehicles, which delays work elsewhere in the 3.4 million-acre park. "It became pretty depressing the kinds of things people will do when they are unsupervised," Blacker said. In this Jan. 10, 2019, file photo, a person climbs a rock face at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California's Mojave Desert. National parks across the United States are scrambling to clean up and repair damage that visitors and storms caused during the recent government shutdown while bracing for the possibility of another closure ahead of the busy Presidents Day weekend later this month. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) People in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park drove around locked gates and through meadows, spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee line, visitors cut locks on some gates to closed roads and stole about $5,000 in maintenance tools, spokeswoman Dana Soehn said. Officials at Zion National Park in Utah, Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado and Olympic National Park in Washington were fixing trails, roads and campgrounds damaged from winter storms. Mesa Verde wasn't set to open until Monday, and some areas were still closed at Zion and Olympic. Campgrounds, visitors centers and trails that seasonal workers help prepare could face delayed openings, and families planning spring break or summer vacations might think twice about visiting if they don't think national parks are safe or fully staffed, said Phil Francis, chairman of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. "There are a lot of impacts that will be felt in the future that aren't being felt or even talked about now," he said. Meanwhile, the prospect of another shutdown looms. In this photo taken Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, elephant seals are seen on a beach at Point Reyes National Seashore, Calif. Officials say dozens of elephant seals took over a beach in Northern California during the government shutdown when there was no staff to discourage the animals from congregating in the beach popular with tourists. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat via AP) Grand Canyon National Park could miss out on its main centennial celebration Feb. 26 and other related events. Elizabeth Jackson, a spokeswoman for Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the Texas-New Mexico border, noted the stress on workers. "It's a way of life if you're a federal employee," Jackson said. "Not to be glib, but it's something we face every year." Explore further Volunteers strive to stave off shutdown chaos at US parks 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. "DNA tests will determine if the severed heads belonged to foreign nationals." The recent incidents of bombing in Jolo, Sulu have given rise to speculation that terrorists are now deploying suicide bombers in their objective to sow terror in the country. No less than the President has raised this possibility. In fact, this development has prompted, Sulu caretaker-Representative and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles to call on the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to conduct DNA testing on the two recovered heads from the blast site of the Jolo twin bombings. According to Nograles, who claim his office has been receiving information from various sources regarding the attacks, there exists a possibility that those individuals are foreigners and that DNA testing may be able to verify such reports. If the DNA tests will confirm that these severed heads belong to foreign nationals, then we have to call the attention of the Bureau of Immigration to make necessary precautions, as well as the coast guard and navy to implement all that is necessary to prevent entry in the back doors of the archipelago, Nograles says. Nograles theory appears to be more sound than those claiming that local Muslim groups have now resorted to suicide bombing in furtherance of their goals. This writer for one, doesnt believe that it is not in the culture of Filipinos, regardless of religion or ethnicity, to resort to such act. In fact, Nograles says that even he could not believe that Tausugs cannot do such thing to a fellow Tausug. Nonetheless, more than ever, Nograles says there is a need to increase militray funding to counter the threat of terrorism in Mindanao. According to the solon, while the threats against the Cathedral were present as early as five months ago, the military lacks the necessary fund to secure the area. This is why the people of Sulu fully support martial law in Mindanao. I trust that the President and the Armed Forces will maximize the martial law powers to bring the perpetrators to justice, according to the caretaker-solon. * * *When Boracay was closed last year for purposes of rehabilitation, it was expected that the renewed look of the island resort would attract more tourists. Thus, there was a need to also rehabilitate support infrastructure including the airports which service the tourists off to their island getaway. That includes the Kalibo International Airport. In compliance, the rehabilitation of KIA stared last July and was projected to be completed by March this year. The intial phase of the project amounting to P17.9 million cornered by Herbana Builders, Inc. include refurbishment of the existing passenger terminal building; repainting of the international passenger terminal building interiors; landside beautification through landscaping; electrical system and air-conditioning system rewiring; and enhancement of railings and barricades. Also to be done at the KIA are: Reblocking of apron pavement; runway strip grade correction; and construction of a power house. However, according to Jerry Yap, publisher/editor of the daily tabloid, Hataw, given the deployment of workers of the contractor, it would be impossible to beat the March deadline for the rehabilitation of KIA. Yap claims there are almost no workers working on the project. Aba e paano tatapusin ang konstruksiyon sa isang airport kung tatlong tao lang ang gumagawa gayong P17 milyones ang halaga ng kanilang kontrata?! Yap states in his column. Yap adds that this was due to the fact that most of the workers Herbana imported from Manila to work on their Kalibo project, had since gone back home after the contractor failed to pay them their salaries. I am not sure how the Department of Transportation comes up with their criteria or how they set their terms of reference in their biddings to choose contractors for their projects, but I think Secretary Art Tugade has to check and verify these reports. If accurate, this will not sit well with the Presidents Build, Build, Build mantra. Credit: cemT/Shutterstock Coming home from a bone-chilling winter commute and buying a new coat online could lead to buyer's remorse, according to new research by University of Salzburg (UoS) and Cass Business School academics. The study, by Dr. Jochim Hansen from UoS and Cass researcher Dr. Janina Steinmetz shows that when a product meets the immediate needs of an online shopper they pay more attention to a single positive review than they do to an average product rating based on other reviews. According to the research, online shoppers should make sure they are warm before they go searching for clothes to keep the cold out, or a new heater for that matter. Previous research by Dr. Steinmetz has shown temperature affects people's decision making processes and that people can even use detailed imagination of what it is like to be very hot or cold to mimic the effects of actually feeling hot or cold, respectively. In this study, the researchers asked 60 students of an Austrian university to read, and imagine themselves in, a first-person narrative about waiting for a bus on either a very hot or very cold day. Participants were then asked to evaluate two heaters and two ventilators on an online retail platform similar to Amazon. For the purpose of the experiment, each product showed just one user-submitted review and an overall 'star rating' showing the average of other reviews that the participants could not see. The results of the experiment found that when participants felt that they were cold, they paid more attention to the individual review of the heaters than the overall ratings, even if the two contradicted each other. In other words, the product with a low star rating but a positive individual review was regarded as better than the product with a high star rating and a negative individual review. Dr. Hansen and Dr. Steinmetz said the results of the study show that consumers are geared towards fulfilling momentary goals. "Therefore, marketers could adapt the information shoppers receive, for example by giving very hungry consumers detailed information about tempting foods." More information: Jochim Hansen et al. Motivated level of construal: How temperature affects the construal level of state-relevant stimuli, Motivation and Emotion (2019). Jochim Hansen et al. Motivated level of construal: How temperature affects the construal level of state-relevant stimuli,(2019). DOI: 10.1007/s11031-018-09750-w Glaciers and lava flows, east Greenland. The layered rocks in the high peaks formed when the Iceland hot spot broke through after passing beneath Greenland. The main ice sheet is visible in the distance. Credit: Richard Alley, Penn State The Greenland ice sheet melted a little more easily in the past than it does today because of geological changes, and most of Greenland's ice can be saved from melting if warming is controlled, says a team of Penn State researchers. "There is geologic data that suggests the ice sheet was more sensitive to warming and temperature variations in the past million years, and not so much in the more recent past," said David Pollard, research professor in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State. Too much warming will cause Greenland to lose most or all of its ice over the coming centuries, but most research indicates that the threshold warmth for complete ice loss has not been reached yet. Paleoclimatic records indicate that most of Greenland was ice-free within the last 1.1 million years even though temperatures then were not much warmer than conditions today. To explain this, the researchers point to there being more heat beneath the ice sheet in the past than today. Data show that when the Iceland hot spotthe heat source that feeds volcanoes on Icelandpassed under north-central Greenland 80 to 35 million years ago, it left molten rock deep underground but did not break through the upper mantle and crust to form volcanoes as it had in the west and east. The Earth's climate then was too warm for Greenland to have an ice sheet, but once it cooled the ice sheet formed, growing and shrinking successive with ice ages. "The idea is that the loading and unloading, flexing and unflexing from ice ages tapped into slightly melted rock that was left deep under Greenland by the Iceland hot spot and brought that melt up," said Richard Alley, Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences at Penn State. Changes to the ice sheet allowed the molten rock to move closer to the Earth's surface, even to the base of the ice. The hotter bed melted more ice from below, lubricating the ice sheet so it was thinner and easier to melt from above. The melted rock wants to come up, according to Alley. As the ice sheet grows and shrinks, it essentially shakes the melt, drawing it up in pulses. "The first shakes usually do the most moving," Alley said. The effect would have been largest when the first big ice sheet grew and then shrank, he added. More recent changes to the ice sheet also affect geothermal fluxes, but not as much as they had in the past. "The hypothesis does not change the reality that if we make it hot, Greenland's ice melts, and no one will like that," Alley said. "It does not even really tell us whether geology just at this moment is making it harder or easier for the ice to melt. The ability of the ice to melt got easier in the past and is sort of bumpily getting harder, and we do not know where on the bumps we are." Pollard tested the team's hypothesis using a numerical, three-dimensional ice-sheet model. The researchers report their results in the Journal of Geophysical Research in January. "The Greenland ice sheet is very likely to melt a lot and retreat, and contribute to sea level in the next few centuries," Pollard said. "This study is part of the puzzle of figuring out how much it will melt and retreat. We are using past geologic data to validate the models that are being used for the future." If Greenland's ice sheet were to completely melt today, global sea levels would rise nearly 23 feet and flood coastal areas. Parts of cities like New York would be underwater. The team says future studies should integrate geologic and geophysical data as well as glaciological, atmospheric, oceanic and paleoclimatic information to better project how much and how fast the ice sheet will melt and its effect on sea-level rise. "If you had a better idea of how much and how fast sea level rises from warming, you could make wiser decisions," Alley said. "This research is a piece of the effort to provide policymakers and planners with the background information that will allow them to make good decisions." More information: R. B. Alley et al, Possible Role for Tectonics in the Evolving Stability of the Greenland Ice Sheet, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface (2019). Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research R. B. Alley et al, Possible Role for Tectonics in the Evolving Stability of the Greenland Ice Sheet,(2019). DOI: 10.1029/2018JF004714 Permafrost peatbog border. Storflaket, Abisko, Sweden. Credit: Dentren/Wikipedia Permafrost underlies nearly 85 percent of Alaska and nearly a quarter of the landmass in the northern hemisphere. This perennially frozen soil contains twice as much carbon as is found in the Earth's atmosphere. Since the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, understanding carbon uptake and loss in permafrost regions is crucial to improving accuracy of climate models. It also offers clues to how this region will respond and shape a future warmer world. As the Earth's atmosphere warms and causes permafrost to thaw, carbon that's been locked away for hundreds to thousands of years is being made available to microbes. But what are microbes doing with that recently exposed carbon, how fast is it decomposing and how much of a difference does this make in the atmosphere? To help answer these questions, Northern Arizona University doctoral candidate Elaine Pegoraro designed an experiment to measure how microbes respond to fresh carbon addition at different depths in soil collected from a field site near Healy, Alaska. Essentially, she made glucose additions to the soil three times throughout the course of a year. The results were published this month in Soil Biology and Biochemistry. "Glucose is this really accessible energy source," said Pegoraro, who is part of the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (Ecoss). "It's like giving the microbes a choice between brownies and a bag of frozen peas at the back of your freezer," where the frozen peas stand in for carbon found in permafrost. That carbon decomposes slowly because of biological, physical and chemical processes. "Unless you were starving, you probably wouldn't touch the peas." Adding glucose at the surface didn't produce much of a sustained response. But at deeper soil layers, where permafrost is found, Pegoraro and her team saw a "priming effect:" microbes respired twice as much soil carbon than the samples that didn't receive glucose. The microbes were eating the "brownies," and, in their sugar high, had the energy needed to decompose soil to access nutrients, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere. When Pegoraro extrapolated these findings to the field, she found this priming effect accounted for 4-12 percent of carbon that is released into the atmosphere in a growing season. "It's a considerable amount of carbon," she said. As the Arctic warms, more plants are growing in these ecosystems, doing their part to remove some carbon from the atmosphere by incorporating it into their biomass. But Pegoraro's findings suggest that plants may also contribute to some soil carbon loss by releasing glucose from their roots into soil. "We need to consider priming effects to fully understand permafrost carbon dynamics," she said. "Otherwise we could underestimate how much carbon is being lost to the atmosphere." Explore further Tundra loses carbon with rapid permafrost thaw More information: Elaine Pegoraro et al. Glucose addition increases the magnitude and decreases the age of soil respired carbon in a long-term permafrost incubation study, Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2018). Elaine Pegoraro et al. Glucose addition increases the magnitude and decreases the age of soil respired carbon in a long-term permafrost incubation study,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.10.009 Optical Alignment Lead Engineer Bente Eegholm's reflection can be seen in the primary mirror of GEDI's receiver telescope. The photo was taken at a Goddard clean room before the payload was shipped to Kennedy Space Center for launch. Credit: Desiree Stover/NASA NASA instrument scientist Bryan Blair had just finished writing the flight software for the agency's Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, or MOLA, when he was invited in 1991 to fly a lidar instrument aboard a P-3 research aircraft to test new lidar techniques over the ice sheets in Greenland. En route, he gathered measurements of forested areas in New York state. What he discovered in the data stunned him, resulting in a 27-year quest to build a spaceborne lidar for measuring forests. That instrumentthe Global Ecosystems Dynamics Investigation, or GEDIis now collecting data as a payload attached to the Japanese Experiment Module, the largest science facility on the International Space Station. It is expected to collect data for at least two years. "We were shooting lasers over forests and what we saw were crazy, complicated results in the signals that came back possibly indicating the structure of the forests below," recalled Blair, the GEDI deputy principal investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The aircraft flight and discovery got him thinking: could light detection and ranging, or lidarthe technique that scientists used to map the barren Martian topography with MOLAbe equally effective at mapping forests? Using research-and-development funds he cobbled together from various NASA R&D programs, he advanced an innovative idea into the first-ever mission dedicated to providing three-dimensional views of forests and details about the role of forests in the carbon cycle. "GEDI's nearly three decades of development is a testament to the value of research and development, which often matures 'crazy ideas' into instruments. It also underscores the importance of conceiving an idea, building a prototype, testing the instrument, and, as in GEDI's case, building an aircraft instrument first to finalize the measurement technique and needed technologies," said Goddard Chief Technologist Peter Hughes. "GEDI is a poster child for what can happen when NASA invests in good ideas." Innovative Technologies Enable GEDI Led by University of Maryland professor Ralph Dubayah, GEDI, pronounced Jedi, as in the Star Wars fame, carries out its job with several innovative technologies. Central to GEDI's capabilities is its trio of specialized lasers that send laser beams toward Earth where they penetrate forests and ricochet off everything they hit, which can be leaves atop a dense canopy, protruding branches, and, eventually, the ground from which the forest emerges. Its onboard telescope then receives the reflected signals tagging the time they take to return. However, GEDI, which NASA's Earth Venture program selected for development four years ago, does more. Unlike many other lidar instruments flown in space, GEDI employs the so-called waveform-based measurement technique that analyzes the shape of the returned light signal, not just the time it took to return. The waveform reveals the distribution of surfaces above the terrain, making it especially useful for measuring the density and structure of trees and vegetation, and even the structure of leaves and branches within a forest's canopy. Therefore, it allows scientists to obtain the three-dimensional structure of vegetation from space. This information is useful for mapping wildlife habitat, biodiversity, as well as the amount of biomass and carbon stored in vegetation. The 1,160-pound GEDI also sits on a gimbal, and therefore, is actively pointed to specific ground tracks on the Earth below. To give it an even wider view of the surface, GEDI uses sophisticated optics that divide the three laser beams into eight ground trackstwo of the lasers generate two ground tracks each, and the third generates four. Together, these technologies allow GEDI to sample all land between 51.6 degrees north latitude and 51.6 degrees south latitude covering temperate and tropical forests. "Without the pointing system, it would have taken three times as long to complete the coverage we need," Blair explained. LVIS: The Essential Pathfinder Blair stresses that GEDI wouldn't have been possible without its predecessor, an aircraft-based instrument called Land, Vegetation and Ice Sensor, or LVIS, which Blair began flying in the late 1990s, just a few years after he conceived the instrument concept. Since then, LVIS has become something of a mainstay for more localized measurements. In addition to mapping forests, LVIS has measured ice sheets. LVIS not only provided never-before-obtained data about forest canopies, it created a community of data users familiar with the measurement technique and its usefulnessa community that will make use of GEDI's more global measurements over the coming months, Blair said. "Without this already-established community of users, it would have been harder to get the mission funded," he said. "We pioneered this mission at Goddard," Blair added. "We couldn't have accomplished this without support from Goddard and NASA Headquarter's Earth Science Division over the years. This is a homegrown instrument based on a homegrown measurement technique." More information: For more information about GEDI, visit: For more information about GEDI, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2905.html Thomas Zurbuchen, addressing a crowd gathered at BU School of Law's Barristers Hall, talked about NASAs current and future space missions. Credit: Jackie Ricciardi In December 2018, Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, visited Boston University to discuss funding opportunities with faculty and researchers. While on campus, he also gave a talk about NASA's current and future missions. Afterward, Zurbuchen sat down with BU Research to talk about the timeline for traveling to Mars and whether he thinks humans are destined to live in a galaxy far, far away. BU Research: Out of all the great unknowns about the universe, what is the one question that you really hope we will answer in your lifetime? Zurbuchen: Is there life beyond Earth? I think the answer is yesbut we just don't know. The simple reason I think so is because we underestimated nature when we doubted whether water or complex molecules would exist beyond Earth. Each one of those is much easier to achieve than we thought possible. We find it right in front of our doorsteps, everywhere, including the polar craters of the planet Mercury. As for how that relates to the chain of lifewell, life is much more likely to be out there than we thought before. You haven't been to space yourself. Would you ever like to go? If it's as easy to go to space as it is to go to Paris, I will. Right now, I don't want to spend the weeks and months of training that are necessary for space flight. What do you think about the idea of space tourism? I think it's exciting. Everyone that has been to space says it's a really important experience to have. I imagine it's like being on top of a big mountain, except only around 500 people have ever been in space. How do we open that human experience to others? Speaking of novel experiences, NASA is clearly planning to send human explorers to Marsas you've outlined, many current missions are building knowledge toward that eventual goal. When do you think humans will be ready? I'd say in the mid-2030s, but things need to happen now in order for us to get there. We need to take humans out of low-Earth orbit to understand the key elements of "Can we survive in deep space?" What are the biggest hurdles to answering that question? Space radiation is a lot more intense away from the protection of Earth's magnetic field. And the farther away from Earth, the more time it takes for astronauts to get to safetyit turns from hours into days, to weeks, to months, or even years. You have to be entirely self-sustainable and self-reliant. As far as communications and operations go, the speed of light is finite. When you're on Mars, that means things have to work autonomously. From mission control, you can pretty much joystick landing on the moon because it's close enough, but you can't do that on Mars. What do you think the first Mars team will be like? The first mission to Mars will be limited in size, because the bigger the mission, the harder it becomes technologically. So, I predict it will be made up of four to eight people. It won't be twenty. But one or two people would also not be goodjust because it would be very difficult to address any issues occurring on the way. You've said that diversity is very important to you. Diversity has everything to do with innovation and excellence. There's lots of research that links teams with diverse backgrounds to excellence in innovationif you want teams that imagine the future better than anyone else, you need people with different backgrounds, races, genders, the list goes on. Groupthink is not the right tool to create excellence; it's useful for making fast decisions but not excellent ones. Is space exploration paving the way for humans to live "off-Earth"? No matter what the answer to that question is, we have to keep Earth livable. It's unsafe to do otherwise. I do think about terraforming other planets a small percentage of the time, but much more time I spend focused on ways to keep the Earth livable and wonderfulnot the other way around. Explore further Planet Earth working on 3 Mars landers to follow InSight PhD student Jacob Harer (left) and research professor Peter Chin worked with researchers from Draper to develop technology that could find the kind of software flaws that are often exploited by hackers. Credit: Jackie Ricciardi As the volume of digital information in corporate networks continues to grow, so grows the number of cyberattacks, and their cost. One cybersecurity vendor, Juniper Networks, estimates that the cost of data breaches worldwide will reach $2.1 trillion in 2019, roughly four times the cost of breaches in 2015. Now, two Boston University computer scientists, working with researchers at Draper, a not-for-profit engineering solutions company located in Cambridge, have developed a tool that could make it harder for hackers to find their way into networks where they don't belong. Peter Chin, a research professor of computer science and an affiliate of the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering, and Jacob Harer, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in computer science, worked with Draper researchers to develop technology that can scan software systems for the kinds of vulnerabilities that are often used by cybercriminals to gain entry. The tool, which used deep learning to train neural networks to identify patterns that indicate software flaws, can scan millions of lines of code in seconds, and will someday have the ability to fix the coding errors that it spots. Chin says the idea for the project, called DeepCode and funded by the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) MUSE program and the Air Force Research Laboratory, came to him four years ago while he was delivering a lecture to his machine learning class (CS 542). Chin was describing the breakthrough achievement of scientists at Google and Stanford University, who used deep learning to teach a neural network to spot common patterns in millions of images and use the patterns to identify cats in YouTube videos. He wondered if a similar network could mine the big data of open-source programs and find patterns that indicate software vulnerabilities. Chin knew that it was possible to represent a software program visually, as a control flow graph. He also knew that there was a library of more than 10,000 common coding errors, called CWE (Common Weakness Enumerations), that had been put together by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). If those common coding errors in NIST's CWE could be presented as an image, he reasoned, a neural network could conceivably be trained on them to find common patterns of vulnerabilities, just as the Stanford neural network learned to identify common features of cats. With that initial inspiration, Chin, who at the time was a chief scientist in decision systems at Draper as well as a professor at BU, helped secure funding for the project from DARPA. He, Harer (a Draper Fellow at BU), and colleagues at Draper began testing his assumptions on computer programs based on open-source C and C++ functions. Since the start of the project in 2014, the researchers have realized that they needed more than just an image from the control flow graph to spot vulnerabilities. They have since improved their techniques, adding additional features, such as a parsed representation for code similar to that used by modern compilers, and they have adopted networks commonly used for natural language processing. Their research, which Chin says illustrates the promise of such university/industry partnerships, is now described in two papers, "Automated Vulnerability Detection in Source Code Using Deep Representation Learning," which has been accepted at IEEE ICMLA 2018, and "Learning to Repair Software Vulnerabilities with Generative Adversarial Networks," which was accepted at 2018 NIPS. Chin says DeepCode's second function, fixing the coding errors, is still a working project. "It's very difficult," he says. "Correcting bad software is a lot like correcting bad grammar. Someone could say 'I went at the market' when they should have said 'I went to the market.' You train the network to identify the mistaken pattern and replace it with the proper pattern. At least that's the basic idea." Harer says one problem is that researchers don't know enough about how the machines recognize vulnerabilities. "These neural network models are very much black box models," he says. "They are trained on huge amounts of data and we sort of hope that they can figure out what's going on. This is a problem with deep learning in general." Chin, Harer, and Draper researchers will continue to work on DeepCode, and plan to offer a version that can be deployed on a laptop and sent to corporations, most of whom are reluctant to share their code with outside parties, even for an examination that could save them tens of millions of dollars. Explore further Using machine learning to detect software vulnerabilities More information: Jacob Harer et al. Learning to Repair Software Vulnerabilities with Generative Adversarial Networks. arXiv:1805.07475 [cs.CL]. Jacob Harer et al. Learning to Repair Software Vulnerabilities with Generative Adversarial Networks. arXiv:1805.07475 [cs.CL]. arxiv.org/abs/1805.07475 Rebecca L. Russell et al. Automated Vulnerability Detection in Source Code Using Deep Representation Learning. arXiv:1807.04320 [cs.LG]. arxiv.org/abs/1807.04320 On Wednesday 30 January 2019 with the funds raised at PHAB 2 on 28 April 2018. Together with Phuket International Womens Club (PIWC) and Phuket International Womens Foundation, the scholarships were granted to 7 successful candidates who are studying in Hotels and Tourism Program at Phuket Rajabhat University. Every year, the association runs Phuket Hotels Association Benefit to raise funds to support Thai local students to study in the Hospitality & Tourism Industry. This year, PHAB 3 takes place on 3 May 2019. Phuket 1 February 2019: Mr. Matthias Y. Sutter, General Manager of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa hosted the annual Heinecke Foundation scholarship ceremony at Mai Khao Ballroom recently. This year, we provided the scholarship to 56 children of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spas Associates children. The total of THB 368,500 scholarship is awarded to children with the outstanding track record of excellence grades, good attitude and well behaved. They are studying in 34 schools over the country, among Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Satun, Pattani, Songkha, Nakorn Srithammaraj, Roi-Ed, Mookdaharn, Nakorn Pathom and Yasothornm provinces. The Heinecke Foundation, named after the founder and CEO of Minor International, Bill Heinecke, supports less fortunate children of all ages throughout Thailand who have outstanding records of performance. Each year, the foundation gives scholarships to over 500 students which help support their education from early learning stages through to graduation. Since 2000, the foundation has supported thousands of children and many have since graduated to earn professional degrees. Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo is visited by personnel of the PRO5 Health Service after he was rushed to the hospital following his arrest. | Courtesy: PRO5 ALBAY, Philippines Authorities from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) requested for the medical abstract of Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to verify the true health condition of the local executive. Police said they wanted to know why the Mayor needed to stay longer in the hospital right after he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms. Baldo has been in the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital in Legaspi City more than a week already. He was rushed to the hospital on January 23 when he began hyperventilating during his arrest after police raided his house for firearms. According to the PNPs legal team, the medical abstract can help them decide if the Mayor needs to be under hospital arrest. UNTV News and Rescue The post Police seek medical abstract of Daraga Mayor Baldo appeared first on UNTV News. THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has removed over 650,000 campaign materials all over Metro Manila.NCRPO Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar urged the candidates to also do their DESPITE long-standing disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea, the Philippines was "thankful" with China's move to build a maritime rescue center on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef in the contested waters, Malacanang said on Thursday, January 31. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said there was nothing wrong with China's establishment of a maritime rescue center in the South China Sea, if the facility is meant to provide support to rescue missions. "Maybe, we should be thankful. That could help seamen in distress in that area. It can help everybody," the Palace official said in a press conference, when sought for reaction on the opening of a maritime rescue center on China's artificial islands in the disputed waters. "Kung alam natin na wala namang makakasira doon sa claim natin at tutulong sila sa lahat ng mga nangangailan ng tulong, eh dapat nagpapasalamat tayo (If we know that it will not affect our claim and China will offer assistance to those who need help, let's be thankful)," he added. China opened Tuesday, January 29, a maritime rescue center on Kagitingan Reef, one of Beijing's occupied man-made islands in the South China Sea, in a bid to "better protect navigation and transport safety," Chinese state-run media Xinhua reported. The Ministry of Tranport, as quoted by Xinhua, said the center was meant to offer better support to maritime rescue operations. "The center will offer better support to maritime rescue operations in the souther part of the South China Sea," the ministry said. China's relentless build-up in the busy waterway came despite the July 12, 2016 decision of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, favoring the Philippines' petition to invalidate Beijing's claims to almost the entire South China Sea. China, which claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the arbitral ruling. Story continues For Panelo, China's latest establishment of a maritime rescue center was "not bad," since it would be "helping everybody in distress." "We'll give them the benefit of the doubt... Tignan muna natin (Let's wait first). Let's not jump into conclusion yet," Panelo said. "When you say you're thankful, kung halimbawa natayo na 'yun at talagang tumutulong, dapat magpasalamat na tayo sa mga ibang bansa na tumutulong sa ibang bansa din (When you say you're thankful, if for example, it's already built and really helpful, we have to thank the country helping other countries)," he said. The Palace official, nevertheless, said the Philippine government would file a diplomatic protest, once China makes "inconsistencies" with regard to its establishment of the maritime rescue center. He specifically said the Duterte government would oppose China's installation of the center, if it is indeed not meant to provide support to rescue missions. "If we see anything that will be inconsistent with what they're saying, then we will make [appropriate actions]," he said. "Yes, of course, the government will always protest on anything that intrudes into our sovereignty... We will certainly take action, initially, it's always a diplomatic protest," he added. (SunStar Philippines) SacramentoThree Americans hailed as heroes for thwarting a jihadist attack on a train between Amsterdam and Paris were officially welcomed as French citizens on Thursday in a ceremony in the US state of California. Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone, all aged 26, risked their lives for the values of the republic, Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, the French consul general in San Francisco, said at the ceremony in Sacramento. While on vacation in Europe, the trio took action on August 21, 2015 to prevent a bloodbath on the high-speed Thalys train, tackling a man who opened fire on travelers. The gunman, identified as Moroccan national Ayoub El Khazzani, was armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a pistol and a box cutter. The attacker had seriously injured a person before the intervention of the three Americans, two of whom were in the military at the time: Skarlatos in the Oregon National Guard, and Stone in the Air Force. The three young men received the Legion dhonneur, the highest French distinction, from then-president Francois Hollande, and became even more famous after the incident was made into a Clint Eastwood movie in which the three played themselves. The three were naturalized at their request.It was important for us to become citizens because we have such a connection with France now. Weve been back four or five times since the terrorist attack, Skarlatos said. Today, France is proud and happy to welcome you, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in his official letter of naturalization. You now have the full rights attached to French and European citizenship and must fully assume all the duties. Our republic and the European Union need your active participation to support democracy, Macron added. We dont speak French yet but were currently about to get into classes, Sadler said. It opens up a lot of different options in my life, said Stone. Maybe Ill have a French wife! Taxumo is a business registration and tax computation filing and payment platform suited for self-employed professionals, sole proprietors and freelancers Taxumo team At the end of every month, he saw his entrepreneur wife struggling and stressing about filing taxes for her startup, Manila Workshops. The filing process was so cumbersome and time-consuming that it took her attention away from her business, affecting its operations. Alas, in one instance, her previous accountant forgot to file her quarterly taxes in time and accomplish the bookkeeping requirements, which resulted in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) imposing hefty penalties on the company. My wifes was not an isolated incident, but is a common problem across the Philippines, EJ Arboleda told e27. Many established and aspiring small business owners, as well as self-employed professionals are struggling with the company registration and tax filing formalities. In order to solve this problem, I built a simple online platform that automatically computed and filed her tax dues. To my delight, the solution worked. This is when Arboleda decided to convert the platform into a serious business venture. Taxumo established in December 2016 by the husband-wife duo of Arboleda (CEO) and Ginger Arboleda (CTO) describes itself as an end-to-end online business registration and tax computation, filing and payment platform suited for self-employed professionals, sole proprietors and freelancers. One can easily register and renew her business and also compute, file and pay taxes with a few clicks. This, claims Arboleda, effectively reduces the time taken to file taxes from hours and even days to just a few minutes. With Taxumo in place, entrepreneurs can now focus on their core work; that is, building their careers and businesses, and stop worrying about the compliance side of their work, he said. In his on words, Taxumos advantage is that the founders understand the market well as they have gone through the same problems in the past. The platform basically caters to serve self-employed professionals, solo proprietors and freelancers (mixed income earners). Story continues Also Read: 5 things startups should know about Corporate Venture Capital As a startup, Taxumo faces many challenges, including catalysing and sustaining the momentum of growth. More than raising funds and hitting the profit targets, Taxumo wants to quickly address the needs of its intended market by offering more features that simplify the process for them. We also are big believers in investing in our people because we understand that their passion to serve the market will help in creating the best service for our subscribers. This means wisely allocating resources to achieve the goal, which frankly sounds easy for larger companies, but can be a challenge for a startup like us, he shared. Hiring is a major challenge for many startups. But for Taxumo, it was relatively easy since most of its team members were hired from the founders own networks. The most important trait we want in a team member is her passionate belief in our purpose: to create inclusive economic growth by helping small businesses succeed and grow. This means we look for people who possess integrity. Our word is our bond. When we make a commitment, we do everything in our power to ensure that commitment is delivered, he stated. We believe in people who possess healthy discontentment. We are not content with the status quo, and we constantly look for ways of working for ourselves and our customers that enable greater effectiveness and productivity, shared Arboleda. Asked about the Philippine startup community, Arboleda said it is on the right track, but there is still a huge room for improvement: Theres still a huge room for improvement. While we see more innovative startups sprouting up, and we are glad to witness the success of Filipino startups getting substantial investments (like Coins.phs funding from Go-Jek), the Philippines still lags behind neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Data from CB Insights revealed that the Philippines only received US$18 million worth of outsourced funding sometime in 2017, versus Indonesias US$2.9 billion. EJ Arboleda, CEO of Taxumo As he said funding is still a big challenge for Philippine startup. This is why Arboleda urges his fellow entrepreneurs to prepare themselves to dip into their own personal resources. I suggest that people build their networks extensively before even deciding to found their startup; it gives you a necessary head-start that will determine the success of your company. He also feels that the startup community in the Philippines needs more support from the government, in order to compete with the likes of Singapore or Malaysia. He was, however, quick to add that the local startup community is lucky to have been given a tax break incentive through the Board of Investments Investment Priority Plan in 2017. We hope more startups get to enjoy these, since the first few years are really the most difficult for any startup. Also Read: The culture of Echelon is the biggest draw for both speakers and participants alike Explaining his vision for Taxumo, Arbeloda said that the venture aims to be the number one regulatory technology company in the Philippines: fuelling inclusive economic growth by helping small businesses succeed and grow. As of 2016, 63 per cent of the labour force in the Philippines are employed by MSMEs. By helping them focus on their core business and removing the pain and cost of compliance, we would be able to help them start and and thrive. In that way, Taxumo will become a key enabler to UNDP Goal No. 8: full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030, he noted. However, challenges to achieve this goal are galore. We must keep constantly abreast with the changing needs of our intended market. Also, the government must continue supporting and encouraging the startup industry to thrive in the country, and make it easier for us to operate and reach our growth targets, said the CEO. What does the startup have in store for 2019? Well, we have a lot of exciting new products and partnerships in the pipeline in 2019. Watch out for these, Arboleda smiled, concluding the interview. (Lyra Reyes significantly contributed to this story) Image Credit: Taxumo The post Filipino startup Taxumo aims to reduce time taken to file taxes from hours to just a few minutes appeared first on e27. THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has removed over 650,000 campaign materials all over Metro Manila.NCRPO Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar urged the candidates to also do their THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is optimistic that significant improvements in financial inclusion will be achieved, in light of recent regulations that are expected to boost account ownership and acceptance of digital payments. These are the innovations made under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS); the basic deposit account framework (Circular 992 issued on Feb. 1, 2018), which meets the need of the unbanked for a low-cost, no-frills deposit account which they can open even without standard identification documents; and the branch-lite regulation (Circular 987 issued on Dec. 28, 2017), which gives banks the flexibility to determine the appropriate size and model of a banking office for a specific area or locality based on market needs. The BSP stated this in its report on the State of Financial Inclusion in the Philippines 2017, which discussed milestones and trends in financial inclusion in the country. With the continuous growth of banking offices nationwide, the number of unbanked local government units declined to 554 (33.9 percent of the total) in 2017, from 582 (35.6 percent) in 2016, representing a 1.7-percentage point decrease in unbanked areas. The report also noted that the number of deposit accounts in the country increased by 6.8 percent from 53.5 million in 2016 to 57.1 million in 2017. As of June 2018, 155 banks (out of 581 head offices) have tapped 1,751 branch-lite units to expand physical outreach in 738 local government units (LGUs), of which 151 LGUs were being served by branch-lite alone. Meanwhile, the Year-End Report on BSPs Financial Inclusion Initiatives underscored the opportunities presented by the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) in facilitating key multi-partite agreements, such as the promotion of financial literacy in schools and access to finance by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). (PR) Session Hall of the House of Representatives Complex in Constitution Hills, Quezon City QUEZON CITY, Philippines The House of Representatives (HOR) adopted on Thursday (January 31) on second reading a resolution which provides stricter rules on releasing the lawmakers statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). House Resolution No. 2467 seeks to require plenary approval or approval of the majority of members of the Lower House before any of the SALN can be released. Such a rule is first in the history of Philippine legislation. Currently, the HOR publishes a summary report of its members SALN on its official website which the public may freely access. The proposal seeks to protect the safety and security of the lawmakers and their families since SALNs reflect pertinent information about the individual. Oppositions to the measure expressed doubts on its intention noting that the timing of the discussions may have something to do with the upcoming elections and controversial pork barrel or budget insertions. If we have nothing to hide, why make public access to and disclosure of SALNs, which are public documents, extremely difficult to the extent of discouraging and deterring applicants from securing copies of said SALNs? argued Bayan Muna Representative Edcel Lagman. Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin urged the public to challenge the constitutionality of the proposal. I think this should be challenged in court by any taxpayer and stricken down as unconstitutional being class legislation, said Villarin. Any public official and employee is required by law to submit a SALN under R.A. 6713 or the Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Any statement filed under this Act shall be available to the public for a period of ten (10) years after receipt of the statement. After such period, the statement may be destroyed unless needed in an ongoing investigation., Section 8 of the law read. The SALN provides information of assets, liabilities and overall net worth of a public employee along with those of his or her family. Story continues Such a document also traces the record of an official if he or she is involved in corruption. The information therein can provide enough grounds for impeachment from public office. In the case of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, he was impeached from the Supreme Court for not declaring as assets his bank deposits and other investments on his SALN. Marje Pelayo (with reports from Grace Casin) The post Access to lawmakers SALN will soon require House approval appeared first on UNTV News. The Independent reports that the Northern Ireland Secretary has been accused of misleading MPs about human rights laws, after refusing to act on the provinces bans on abortion and same-sex marriage.They say that Karen Bradley sparked a backlash when she announced she would not intervene, despite the Commons passing guidance requiring her to take into account human rights obligations. She insisted both abortion and marriage law remained matters for the devolved administration, and argued Belfast had responsibility for ensuring equal rights despite the Legislative Assembly at Stormont still being suspended, with no sign of it reconvening soon.The row centres around which administration has responsibility for international human rights obligations. Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who spearheaded the amendment believes that the onus to act lies with Westminster. She has accused the government of putting its pact with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ahead of the victims of domestic violence.She insists that the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), ratified by the UK, requires national government to fulfil its obligations to all women within its jurisdiction. and that the 1998 Northern Ireland Act said obligations under the Human Rights Convention remained under Westminsters control:The fact that the government refuses to act on this is deplorable. They are keeping in place a system whereby women and those seeking equal marriage in Northern Ireland are effectively second class citizens within their own country, just to placate the DUP. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar Paginas vistas en total 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Follow by Email Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante) Ladrones al poder Asi mira el perrito a su amo Crazy Clamor popular La nueva inquisicion Bolivia Chile Hoy Eso es todo amigos! Pinerachet No More Trump Adios Macri, hasta nunca La Marioneta se desinfla Asi o mas cinico Almugre Mexico en 1794 Mas arrastrado imposible La pura verdad Solidaridad con Palestina Serie Capitalismo Espejismos de la clase trabajadora Comerciantes o delincuentes Asi es la vida USA HOY La avaricia no tiene limites Chile Hoy Asi son las cosas Mapa Electoral de Venezuela Patagonia argentina? Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad Retrato del franquismo en Espana El Chulo de Madrid Cuando la policia se roba la democracia Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras La purita verdad Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia Mi pobre clase media Como Chavez nadie Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear Programa de la MUD Asi o mas clarito Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte? Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio? Una verguenza nacional La luz que nos guia La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz? Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! Extensibility was a major theme in pandas development over the last couple of releases. This post introduces the pandas extension array interface: the motivation behind it and how it might affect you as a pandas user. Finally, we look at how extension arrays may shape the future of pandas. Extension Arrays are just one of the changes in pandas 0.24.0. See the whatsnew for a full changelog. The Motivation Pandas is built on top of NumPy. You could roughly define a Series as a wrapper around a NumPy array, and a DataFrame as a collection of Series with a shared index. That's not entirely correct for several reasons, but I want to focus on the "wrapper around a NumPy array" part. It'd be more correct to say "wrapper around an array-like object". Pandas mostly uses NumPy's builtin data representation; we've restricted it in places and extended it in others. For example, pandas' early users cared greatly about timezone-aware datetimes, which NumPy doesn't support. So pandas internally defined a DatetimeTZ dtype (which mimics a NumPy dtype), and allowed you to use that dtype in Index , Series , and as a column in a DataFrame . That dtype carried around the tzinfo, but wasn't itself a valid NumPy dtype. As another example, consider Categorical . This actually composes two arrays: one for the categories and one for the codes . But it can be stored in a DataFrame like any other column. Each of these extension types pandas added is useful on its own, but carries a high maintenance cost. Large sections of the codebase need to be aware of how to handle a NumPy array or one of these other kinds of special arrays. This made adding new extension types to pandas very difficult. Anaconda, Inc. had a client who regularly dealt with datasets with IP addresses. They wondered if it made sense to add an IPArray to pandas. In the end, we didn't think it passed the cost-benefit test for inclusion in pandas itself, but we were interested in defining an interface for third-party extensions to pandas. Any object implementing this interface would be allowed in pandas. I was able to write cyberpandas outside of pandas, but it feels like using any other dtype built into pandas. The Current State As of pandas 0.24.0, all of pandas' internal extension arrays (Categorical, Datetime with Timezone, Period, Interval, and Sparse) are now built on top of the ExtensionArray interface. Users shouldn't notice many changes. The main thing you'll notice is that things are cast to object dtype in fewer places, meaning your code will run faster and your types will be more stable. This includes storing Period and Interval data in Series (which were previously cast to object dtype). Additionally, we'll be able to add new extension arrays with relative ease. For example, 0.24.0 (optionally) solved one of pandas longest-standing pain points: missing values casting integer-dtype values to float. >>> int_ser = pd . Series ([ 1 , 2 ], index = [ 0 , 2 ]) >>> int_ser 0 1 2 2 dtype : int64 >>> int_ser . reindex ([ 0 , 1 , 2 ]) 0 1.0 1 NaN 2 2.0 dtype : float64 With the new IntegerArray and nullable integer dtypes, we can natively represent integer data with missing values. >>> int_ser = pd . Series ([ 1 , 2 ], index = [ 0 , 2 ], dtype = pd . Int64Dtype ()) >>> int_ser 0 1 2 2 dtype : Int64 >>> int_ser . reindex ([ 0 , 1 , 2 ]) 0 1 1 NaN 2 2 dtype : Int64 One thing it does slightly change how you should access the raw (unlabeled) arrays stored inside a Series or Index, which is occasionally useful. Perhaps the method you're calling only works with NumPy arrays, or perhaps you want to disable automatic alignment. In the past, you'd hear things like "Use .values to extract the NumPy array from a Series or DataFrame." If it were a good resource, they'd tell you that's not entirely true, since there are some exceptions. I'd like to delve into those exceptions. The fundamental problem with .values is that it serves two purposes: Extracting the array backing a Series, Index, or DataFrame Converting the Series, Index, or DataFrame to a NumPy array As we saw above, the "array" backing a Series or Index might not be a NumPy array, it may instead be an extension array (from pandas or a third-party library). For example, consider Categorical , >>> cat = pd . Categorical ([ 'a' , 'b' , 'a' ], categories = [ 'a' , 'b' , 'c' ]) >>> ser = pd . Series ( cat ) >>> ser 0 a 1 b 2 a dtype : category Categories ( 3 , object ): [ a , b , c ] >>> ser . values [ a , b , a ] Categories ( 3 , object ): [ a , b , c ] In this case .values is a Categorical, not a NumPy array. For period-dtype data, .values returns a NumPy array of Period objects, which is expensive to create. For timezone-aware data, .values converts to UTC and drops the timezone info. These kind of surprises (different types, or expensive or lossy conversions) stem from trying to shoehorn these extension arrays into a NumPy array. But the entire point of an extension array is for representing data NumPy can't natively represent. To solve the .values problem, we've split its roles into two dedicated methods: Use .array to get a zero-copy reference to the underlying data Use .to_numpy() to get a (potentially expensive, lossy) NumPy array of the data. So with our Categorical example, >>> ser . array [ a , b , a ] Categories ( 3 , object ): [ a , b , c ] >>> ser . to_numpy () array ([ 'a' , 'b' , 'a' ], dtype = object ) To summarize: .array will always be a an ExtensionArray, and is always a zero-copy reference back to the data. will always be a an ExtensionArray, and is always a zero-copy reference back to the data. .to_numpy() is always a NumPy array, so you can reliably call ndarray-specific methods on it. You shouldn't ever need .values anymore. Possible Future Paths Extension Arrays open up quite a few exciting opportunities. Currently, pandas represents string data using Python objects in a NumPy array, which is slow. Libraries like Apache Arrow provide native support for variable-length strings, and the Fletcher library provides pandas extension arrays for Arrow arrays. It will allow GeoPandas to store geometry data more efficiently. Pandas (or third-party libraries) will be able to support nested data, data with units, geo data, GPU arrays. Keep an eye on the pandas ecosystem page, which will keep track of third-party extension arrays. It's an exciting time for pandas development. Other Thoughts I'd like to emphasize that this is an interface, and not a concrete array implementation. We are not reimplementing NumPy here in pandas. Rather, this is a way to take any array-like data structure (one or more NumPy arrays, an Apache Arrow array, a CuPy array) and place it inside a DataFrame. I think getting pandas out of the array business, and instead thinking about higher-level tabular data things, is a healthy development for the project. This works perfectly with NumPy's __array_ufunc__ protocol and NEP-18. You'll be able to use the familiar NumPy API on objects that aren't backed by NumPy memory. Upgrade These new goodies are all available in the recently released pandas 0.24. conda: conda install -c conda-forge pandas pip: pip install --upgrade pandas As always, we're happy to hear feedback on the mailing list, @pandas-dev, or issue tracker. Thanks to the many contributors, maintainers, and institutional partners involved in the pandas community. One of the large refiners in the U.S., Citgo Petroleum, owned by Venezuelas state oil company PDVSA, has denied a report that it was considering filing for bankruptcy, among other options, to protect itself from competing claims over its governance amid the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that a bankruptcy filing was one of the options that Citgo Petroleum is considering. Such filing is neither imminent nor certain, but could be a way to protect Citgos operations on the U.S. Gulf Coast and keep them running, The Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the matter. According to the WSJ report, a potential bankruptcy filing could provide some period of calm, but it could also prompt many creditors to start encroaching Citgo to claim repayments. One of those is Russias oil giant Rosneft, which has extended a loan to PDVSA. The Venezuelan state oil firm used 49.9 percent in Citgo as collateral for that loan, and if it defaults on the loan, Rosneft could claim that stake in Citgo. Citgo has no intention of entering into bankruptcy proceedings, a spokesman for the company wrote in an email to Reuters after The Journal published its report. We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet, flat debt levels and liquidity of more than $1 billion into the new year, the spokesman added. Amid the political impasse in Venezuela, opposition leader Juan Guaidowhom the U.S. backed last week as the legitimate presidentwas said earlier this week to be preparing to announce new boards of directors for PDVSA and Citgo. Guaido has ordered Venezuelas congress to appoint new boards at the two companies, Reuters reports. In a tweet on Thursday, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton wrote: Today, President Guaido has asked the workers of Citgo to stay in their jobs during the democratic and economic recovery of Venezuela. The fruits of their labor will no longer be used to facilitate graft and corruption by Maduro. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Non-U.S. companies buying crude oil from Venezuelas embattled state oil company PDVSA have until April 28 to wind down their purchases, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a note quoted by Reuters. U.S. individuals working for non-U.S. companies outside the United States and Venezuela have until March 29 to carry out certain maintenance or wind-down transactions, the note also said. Venezuela is one of the four biggest suppliers of crude oil to the United States, which is one of the countrys biggest buyers, taking in some 41 percent of all crude oil exports. Washington has doubled down on its efforts to oust President Nicoals Maduro, who was sworn in for a second mandate in early January. Soon after, the President of the national Assembly, opposition leader Juan Guaido, declared himself interim president and called for new elections. Guaido was recognized as Venezuelas legitimate president by the U.S., Canada, the European Union and a host of South American countries, all of them insisting on new elections. Guaido, in the meantime, said he will soon announce new boards of directors for PDVSA and Citgo. In his statement, Guaido said his government was aiming to "guarantee the biggest transparency and control" for PDVSA, adding that it was preparing to "start the process to name the boards of directors of PDVSA and Citgo to allow the recovery of our industry that is going now through a dark moment." The Trump administration also slapped new sanctions on PDVSA, saying the company could avoid the sanctions if it recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader of the country. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, as quoted by the BBC, the sanctions will involve withholding PDVSAs proceeds from crude oil sales to the United States Across the Atlantic, UKs Foreign Minister has called on the EU to institute its own sanctions against the Maduro government. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Exxon and Qatar Petroleum will proceed with a US$10-billion expansion of their Golden Pass LNG import terminal in Texas to turn it into an export facility as well, Reuters reports, citing source familiar with the matter. The third partner in the venture, ConocoPhillips, however, will not be joining them in the expansion and has decided to sell the 12.4-percent interest it holds in Golden Pass, the sources also said, adding that Exxon, which has a 17.4-percent stake in the project, is the most likely buyer. Qatar Petroleum is the majority shareholder in the venture with 70 percent. The Golden Pass terminal can accommodate up to 2 billion cu ft of natural gas for regasification right now. The sources did not detail the capacity of the future export part of the facility. The Reuters sources also noted that Exxon and Qatar Petroleum have been forging closer ties in the liquefied natural gas segment across the world, from Qatar itself to Mozambique and the United States, which has thanks to the shale gas boom become an increasingly important exporter of LNG. At the same time, Qatar is planning huge investments in U.S. natural gas as it seeks to retain the number-one LNG exporter spot, which last November was threatened by Australia. Down Under emerged as the largest LNG exporter globally for that month. Qatar plans to invest US$20 billion in U.S. natural gas, part of a larger U.S. investment campaign by the Qatar Investment Authority that will total US$45 billion as it diversifies away from Europe. Meanwhile, LNG capacity is growing along with demand. Earlier this week, oilfield services provider Baker Hughess chief executive, Lorenzo Simonelli said he expected new LNG projects with a total capacity of 100 million tons per year could be approved this year alone. Global LNG consumption is seen to double by 2030, reaching 550 million tons. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BLASTS CONDEMNED. Members of the Police District Command Special Weapons and Tactics Unit secure the vicinity of Quiapo Catholic Church and the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, where young Muslim boys gathered and called for a peaceful resolution of the bombing in Jolo and Zamboanga, Friday following the twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu and in Zamboanga that killed at least 21 people and wounded dozens more. Norman Cruz SOLIDARITY WALK. National Capital Region Police Office Director Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar (center), with Christians, Muslims and officials of other religious groups display unity during a news conference in Quezon City Friday for Sundays Solidarity Walk dubbed Lakas Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Iwaksi ang Karahasan to condemn the Jolo twin bombing. Manny Palmero BLASTS CONDEMNED. Members of the Police District Command Special Weapons and Tactics Unit secure the vicinity of Quiapo Catholic Church and the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, where young Muslim boys gathered and called for a peaceful resolution of the bombing in Jolo and Zamboanga, Friday following the twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu and in Zamboanga that killed at least 21 people and wounded dozens more. Norman Cruz READ: Zambo blast kills 2, hurts 4 READ: 2 Zambo blast suspects eyed European buyers of the heavy crude produced by Venezuelas PDVSA have put their purchases on hold in anticipation of sanctions against the government in Caracas to be announced by the European Union, Reuters reports, citing trading sources. The European Parliament followed Washingtons example in recognizing national Assembly President Juan Guaido as interim president earlier this week, although the agreement to do so was not unanimous. Meanwhile, UKs Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has urged his European Union colleagues to introduce more sanctions against Venezuela in a bid to increase the pressure on President Maduro and force him out, like Washington hopes with the latest round of sanctions that specifically targeted PDVSA. In Europe, PDVSA trades with Spains energy major Repsol, commodity traders Trafigura and Vitol, among others, and Swedish Nynas. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that PDVSA was seeking to renegotiate contracts with oil buyers in a bid to circumvent the new U.S. sanctions. One source who spoke to Reuters said the Venezuelan company had asked customers to swap oil products, including fuels, for Venezuelan heavy crude instead of payments. We are trying to redo the contracts. It is not yet entirely clear how because customers are being individually called, but we are studying alternatives, a source from the Venezuelan state company said. Another tactic PDVSA is using, according to the sources, is asking commodity trading houses to act as intermediaries for its sales of crude to clients abroad, including U.S. refiners. Despite falling production and exports, Venezuela is still exporting some 1.25 million bpd of crude, of which half a million barrels daily go to U.S. refiners. A the same time, the country imports some 200,000 bpd of refined products, Reuters Eikon data shows. These imports are essential for the functioning of Venezuelas oil industry as a substantial portion of them are diluents needed to be added to Venezuelas extra heavy crude to make it fit for export on tankers. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Enterprise Products Partners L.P. said on Thursday that a pipeline it is converting from shipping natural gas liquids (NGL) to crude oil will begin in February limited operations to ship crude from the Permian to the Texas Gulf Coast, potentially easing some bottlenecks in the basin. Enterprise is in the process of commissioning facilities related to the conversion of one of the Seminole NGL pipelines to crude oil service, the company said in its 2018 results release on Thursday. Enterprise expects the repurposed Seminole pipeline to begin limited operations next month and to become fully operational in April 2019. The repurposed crude oil pipeline is planned to have a capacity to ship around 200,000 bpd, and the conversion of the pipeline is supported by a 10-year contract with firm demand fees, Enterprise Products said. When it announced plans to repurpose one of its NGL pipelines to crude oil, Enterprise said in December 2017 that after the Seminole conversion is completed, the partnership would have a total crude oil pipeline capacity of more than 650,000 bpd from the Permian to its crude oil hub in the Houston area. Enterprise Products announcement that the repurposed crude oil pipeline would begin limited service as soon as February comes a day after ExxonMobil, Plains All American Pipeline, and Lotus Midstream said that they would build a pipeline capable of transporting more than 1 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate from the Permian in West Texas to the Texas Gulf Coast. Also on Wednesday, Magellan Midstream Partners and Navigator Energy Services said they were extending the open season to solicit commitments from shippers for the potential new Voyager pipeline to transport various grades of light crude oil and condensate from Cushing, Oklahoma to Houston, Texas. Significant interest has been expressed from potential shippers, particularly those reaching Voyager from connecting carriers, the companies said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday that bankrupt oil and gas companies must first clean up their old inactive wells before selling active profitable wells to repay creditors, overturning two lower court decisions and setting a precedent for the entire Canadian energy industry. Bankruptcy is not a licence to ignore rules, and insolvency professionals are bound by and must comply with valid provincial laws during bankruptcy, Chief Justice Richard Wagner wrote in the Supreme Courts 5-2 ruling. The Supreme Court heard the case, which stemmed from the bankruptcy of a small Canadian oil and gas company, Redwater Energy Corp, in 2015. The following creditor claims created a legal dispute over who should pay for abandoned wells and whether creditors should have priority over environmental cleanup in case of energy bankruptcies. In the receivership proceedings that followed, the receiver, Grant Thornton, disclaimed the non-producing wells, and wanted to sell producing profitable wells to pay the creditors, leaving the non-profitable wells to the industry-funded Orphan Well Association to clean up. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), however, argued that it is the energy companies that must pay for abandoned wells, and receivers should sell producing wells to pay for remediation of non-producing wells. The Supreme Courts ruling overturns two lower court decisions that had sided with the receiver. The Supreme Court essentially said that bankrupt oil and gas firms cant walk away from their responsibilities to clean up the old abandoned wells and leave the energy regulators or other associations to clean up their wells. Commenting on the Supreme Courts ruling, Keith Wilson, a lawyer representing landowners with oil and natural gas wells on their land, told CBC News: This is good news for landowners, taxpayers and the environment. The concept of polluter pays is alive and well in Canada, Wilson said. According to the Orphan Well Association, as of January 28, 2019, Canada had 3,127 orphan wells for abandonment. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BP will expand its reporting on carbon emissions under investor pressure and as the company seeks to improve its public standing amid increasingly urgent calls for climate action from the oil industry. The agreement, Reuters reports, is with shareholders with a combined US$32 trillion under management and comes on the heels of a similar deal between Shell and its shareholders. However, BP has gone further than its peers, saying part of the more detailed reporting on emissions will include the ways the company is tying its future investment decisions with advancing the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The supermajor, which recently announced its first advertising campaign since the Deepwater Horizon disaster that caused whats probably the most severe environmental catastrophe in the history of the oil industry, also said it will tie the remuneration of some 36,000 employees, including its executive suite, to the achievement of its carbon emissions reduction goals. Last year, again under shareholder pressure, BP said it would keep its carbon emissions flat for the ten years to 2025 even though the company planned to continue raising its crude oil production. To do that, BP said it would reduce its carbon footprint by 3.5 million tons between 2018 and 2025 by pumping more natural gas, reducing methane leakages, and cutting gas-flaring. Also last year, the supermajor said it would invest some US$500 million annually in renewable power, including solar, wind, and energy storage. We now know that a race to renewables will not be enough. To deliver significantly lower emissions every type of energy needs to be cleaner and better, chief executive Bob Dudley said at the time. This year, speaking to CNBC, Dudley said carbon emissions had to be halved, indicating the companysand the industrysgrowing acceptance of the need to take climate action alongside governments. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices rose almost 2 percent on Friday morning, closing higher for the week, with traders turning turned bullish once again as a result of lower OPEC+ supply and global outages (Click to enlarge) Friday, February 1, 2019 Oil prices gained roughly 18 percent in January, the largest gain for that month of the year on record. A break through $55 in WTI and $65 in Brent would be a very bullish signal for these and could be the catalyst for more significant upside, with oil having stabilised over the last few weeks following the post-Christmas bounce, Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA, wrote in a briefing. Prices lost ground on Thursday, but there are plenty of bullish landmines lurking in the market, ranging from Venezuela and Iran outages, OPEC+ cuts, and slowing U.S. shale growth. U.S. considers SPR release. The U.S. government is considering a release of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR), timed with potential outages from Venezuela. Venezuela has exported roughly 500,000 bpd to the U.S., and because of American sanctions, those volumes are now in jeopardy. The only problem is that the SPR does not contain heavy crude. Already the market for heavy oil is tight while that for lighter oil is much looser. Related: Global Outages Boost Oil Prices U.S. refiners looking for alternatives to Venezuela. U.S. refiners that import heavy oil from Venezuela are now looking for alternatives. Canada and Mexico have heavy oil, but have little scope to increase supply. The region with the biggest shortfall of Venezuelan crudes, either through sanctions or inadvertently through further production declines is the U.S., said Michael Tran, commodity strategist at RBC Capital Markets, in a note. U.S. domestic medium and heavy sour grades, including Mars Sour, have seen their prices jump. Its nuts. Everything with sulfur in it is getting bid, one U.S. crude trader told Reuters, referring to sour oil that is typically less desired. Valero (NYSE: VLO), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), and of course, Citgo, are the largest importers of Venezuelan oil. PDVSA is scrambling to renegotiate contracts. PDVSA is trying to work around U.S. sanctions, seeking fuel swaps and intermediaries. We are trying to redo the contracts. It is not yet entirely clear how because customers are being individually called, but we are studying alternatives, a PDVSA source told Reuters. Rosneft could lose out in Venezuela. Rosneft has made billions of dollars worth of loans to Venezuela and could suffer if the U.S.-backed coup is successful. Rosnefts share price fell last week after the U.S. recognized the opposition. ExxonMobil gives greenlight to Permian pipeline. Plains All American (NYSE: PAA) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) are moving forward on the Wink to Webster pipeline, connecting Permian oil to the Texas Coast. The 1 million-barrel-per-day pipeline will expand midstream capacity while also servicing refineries along the Gulf Coast. Not coincidentally, ExxonMobil also gave the greenlight to a major expansion of its Beaumont refinery near the coast. Alberta eases production cuts. Alberta partially lifted the mandatory production cuts that took effect at the start of the year. The curtailments were aimed at reducing a supply glut, which was a symptom of the midstream bottleneck. The province had expected to lift some of the cuts in March, but is doing so earlier than expected, allowing another 75,000 bpd to come back. Western Canada Select prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks, and the potential outages in Venezuela have heavy oil, such as Canadas, in high demand. Were not out of the woods yet, but this temporary measure is working, Premier Rachel Notley said in a statement. Crude-by-rail surging in U.S. Shipping crude oil by rail waned in importance over the past few years, but more recently has started to make a comeback as pipelines reach capacity. In October 2018, the U.S. saw 718,000 bpd shipped on railways, up 88 percent from a year earlier. Crude-by-rail shipments peaked in October 2014 at 1.1 mb/d. The uptick is the result of the bottleneck from Canada, which imposed painful discounts on Canadian oil. Related: The Next Big Threat For Oil Comes From China Europe sets up SPV for Iran. Europe announced the launch this week of the special purpose vehicle, or SPV, that is aimed at allowing European companies to continue to do business with Iran despite U.S. sanctions. Few expect the SPV to amount to much commercially, but politically it is symbolically important, both in terms of Europe laying down a foreign policy independent of the U.S., and as a means to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive. Chinese oil companies to increase spending and drilling. Chinas state-owned oil companies are set to spend and drill at their highest rate since 2016, according to Reuters. Chinas trio of oil majors - PetroChina, Sinopec Corp and CNOOC Ltd - are adding thousands of wells at oil basins in the remote deserts of the northwest region of Xinjiang, shale rocks in southwest Sichuan province and deepwater fields of the South China Sea, Reuters wrote. Corporations turn to renewable energy. In the U.S., spending on wind and solar up 13 percent in 2018 from a year earlier. Growth will more than double in 2019, according to Wood Mackenzie. Corporations are driving the growth, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a sign of the times, even Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHGE), the worlds third largest oilfield services company, is considering a pivot towards goods and services for the wind and solar industries, eying the long-term transition to cleaner energy. ExxonMobil leads in exploration. Oil and gas exploration ticked up last year, and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) led the pack. ExxonMobil was exceptional, both in terms of discovered volumes and value creation from exploration, Rystad Energy head of upstream research Espen Erlingsen said in a statement. Exxon discovered close to 2 billion barrels in additional gross resources in the Stabroek block in Guyana. By Tom Kool of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Driven by its significant investment in Guyana, ExxonMobil is leader of the pack among the top oil and gas explorers of 2018, according to Rystad Energys annual exploration review. ExxonMobil was exceptional, both in terms of discovered volumes and value creation from exploration, said Rystad Energy head of upstream research Espen Erlingsen. Erlingsen added: Last year, Rystad Energy witnessed the revival of offshore exploration activity. Improved market conditions and operational efficiencies, along with sustained cost deflation, allowed many E&P players to move forward with promising high impact exploration campaigns in 2018. To measure performance, Rystad Energy looked at the number of exploration wells, net discovered resources and the value creation from wildcat exploration (wells drilled in new prospects) during 2018. In 2018, the US supermajor ExxonMobil drilled 2.7 net wildcat wells in Guyana, and discovered close to 2 billion barrels in additional gross resources in the Stabroek block (which includes the giant Liza discovery). These volumes are extremely valuable, as they will add to the large existing development solution in this region. Hess and CNOOC come in at second and third place in terms of value creation in 2018. However, both are partners in ExxonMobils Stabroek block, and have therefore benefitted from the Guyana success as well. Total ranks as the second best oil major, having created about $2.2 billion in valuation from 2018 exploration. The company had particular success in the US Gulf of Mexico (Ballymore), the UK Savannah Petroleum was the company with the highest value creation per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) last year thanks to its work in Africa. Rystad Energy estimates the resources discovered in Niger Block R3/R4 have a net present value of more than $10 per boe. Russian independent Novatek that had the greatest amount of discovered resources in 2018, at 935 million boe. Novateks volumes stem from the North Obskoye discovery in the Kara Sea. Top E&P companies registered many exploration successes in 2018, as majors and minnows alike made significant discoveries, but ExxonMobil was exceptional, Erlingsen added. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mariah Carey, a noted career trailblazer, was the first international female artist to perform in Saudi Arabia since restrictions on gender segregation were lifted. Mariah Carey, a noted career trailblazer, was the first international female artist to perform in Saudi Arabia since restrictions on gender segregation were lifted. The Elusive Morality Chanteuse put on a show alongside other struggling entertainers DJ Tiesto and Sean Paul at King Abdullah Economic City a multi-billion dollar mega-city north of Mecca. Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta also showed off their public support of liberalizing reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by performing in the kingdom in December, in exchange for a single digit uptick in personal wealth. Not all fans of the Nihilistic Christmas Chanteuse could attend, of course, as some are imprisoned activists of women's rights in the newly progressive kingdom. Amnesty International had urged Carey to use her voice to help release female rights activists from prison. Carey's publicist, however, said the singer was "presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia" and "accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation". "As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all," Carey's publicist added. The Makati City councilors supporting the political comeback bid of former Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay Jr. finally attended a special session requested by Mayor Abigail Binay to discuss the long-delayed 2019 executive budget. But Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo expressed concern to the councilors proposal to cut the P18.17- billion budget cut by P244 million, saying the move will deprive constituents of better services and benefits. Among the services to be affected are employment programs for the youth, with P76.8 million slashed from the Government Internship Program and Special Program for the Employment of Students along with 7,300 target beneficiaries. The Health departments budget for dengue kits was reduced by P38 million, while P10 million was taken off the budget for the Lingkod Bayan Caravan. The caravan held every Saturday in a designated barangay brings city services directly to the residents. These include free medical, dental and diagnostic services, free legal services and marriage counselling, free vaccination and other veterinary services for their pets, and free meals to residents. The caravan also serves as a one-stop-shop for Makatizens applying for or renewing their Yellow Card, Blu Card, PWD Card, and other benefit cards. These budget cuts will have serious repercussions on each departments ability to serve our constituents. Furthermore, these cuts will hamper the execution of programs and projects across various sectorsincluding health, education, public safety, senior care, employment programs, and disaster management, among others, Lagdameo said. By refusing to pass the proposed budget presented by each department, the opposition councilors will be depriving Makati residents of the enhanced services and programs they rightfully deserve, she added. The vice mayor reminded the opposition councilors that the heads of city departments and offices dutifully submitted their respective Annual Investment Programs early on for review by the councilors, particularly the Committee on Appropriations and Budget which conducted budget hearings as early as September. I am surprised by this development and I would like ask our councilors why no objections were raised during the initial hearings. If there were questions on the projects being proposed, these should have been raised at that point, she said.Lagdameo explained that the department and office heads were not even consulted about the budget cuts, nor given the chance to again defend their budgets before the committee. Minority floor leader Councilor Ma. Concepcion Yabut seconded Lagdameo, saying it was not fair to subject the projects and budgets of the departments to amendments without giving them the chance to explain and defend them. Lagdameo appealed to the opposition councilors to reconsider the proposed budget for each department and weigh the merits of projects, services, and innovations being proposed. We hope to continue giving Makatizens the best service through programs that prioritize their welfare, safety, and overall well-being, she stated. Earlier, the vice mayor expressed her dismay over the budget cuts and called out the opposition councilors for their narrow-minded partisanship. She recalled that in the previous council sessions this January, opposition councilors had been harping on the budget of one office. Why now are they suddenly questioning the other 11 departments? The same departments whose budgets were previously approved by the Committee on Appropriations and Budget, Lagdameo said. Members of the opposition who proposed the budget cuts are Councilors Nemesio Yabut, Jr., Divina Jacome, Shirley Aspillaga, Grazielle Iony de Lara-Bes, Ferdinand Eusebio, Leonardo Magpantay, Romeo Medina, Nelson Pasia, Arlene Ortega, Mary Ruth Tolentino, Marie Alethea Casal-Uy, and Evelyn Delfina Villamor. These councilors are reportedly supporting the mayoralty bid of Junjun Binay who is going against his sister, who is the incumbent mayor Abby Binay, in the coming May elections. Washington, PA (15301) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Quezon City Acting Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday opposed a plan to list the city as an election hot spot, following the killing of Barangay Bagong Silangan chairperson Crisell Beng Beltran. To put the city on the list of election hot spots is premature since the police are still investigating all the possible motives behind the murder of Beltran, she said. I dont think our city should be declared an election hot spot. I think that is premature and it will only cause panic. It will only cause our people to doubt the integrity of our local government and our police force, she added. The incident should not be considered yet as politically motivated as other possible angles had been identified as the investigation progresses, she said.Just like what National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar said, it is election-related only because it occurred in the election period. Many people think that when we say it is an election-related incident, it is politically motivated already. No, they are two different things, she said. When we say election-related, the incident occurred during the election period. Thats different to politically motivate and General Eleazar himself said that thats just one of the angles they have been exploring, she said. She called on the public to stay vigilant, in her belief that perpetrators could exploit the election period to commit crimes and then connect the incident to politics. Could Dry January actually kill you? (Picture: Getty) For millions of people across the UK, February 1 brings with it a big reward an alcoholic drink. At least four million people are thought to have taken part in Dry January this year, which means not touching alcohol for the full month. But while it seems to be a force for good, for those addicted to a drink, it could actually mean serious harm or death. Speaking on Yahoo UKs podcast Britain Is a Nation of, which this week focuses on alcohol, Professor Ian Hamilton, lecturer in mental health and addiction at the University of York, warned that for those addicted to alcohol, suddenly giving up could kill them. Healthcare data suggests that around 4.4% of the population roughly two million people consume almost a third of all the alcohol sold in England. Listen to the full episode of Britain is a Nation of below This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Asked if those people should consider Dry January, Prof Hamilton told the podcast: They definitely shouldnt for that 4% who are drinking more than a third of alcohol available it potentially could kill them. Its quite rare to be honest but if you are quite dependant its going to feel really uncomfortable so youre going to know within the first 24-48 hours whether you psychologically or physically have got a problem. Itll happen very quickly. Prof Hamilton said despite its popularity, little is still understood about Dry January, adding: I think we still dont really understand the way people benefit or approach it four to five million do this and we have very little understanding of how they approach it, how they benefit, etc etc. While it may have some benefits, Prof Hamilton said Dry January is most likely aimed at middle class people who dont struggle with their alcohol consumption. He said it may be useful as an acid test to see whether youre dependant physically or mentally as peoples reaction to withdrawal will reveal their dependance. Dry January is for middle class people who dont have problems with alcohol, says Prof Ian Hamilton (Picture: Getty) But he said: My gut feeling is I think its for middle class people who probably dont have a lot of a problem with alcohol and they find it pretty easy. Story continues Thats my gut feeling, I have nothing to prove that but I just suspect it draws in people who are quite health literate, who relax in other ways and dont really find it much of a problem. He added: There seems to be something quite attractive about us testing ourselves and challenging ourselves and I think thats great. But I think having the capacity to do that, certain things have got to be in place, and the obvious thing is youre not physically and psychologically dependant on alcohol. His worry, Prof Hamilton told the podcast, is that Dry January provides a distraction from the 4% of core loyal customers who are consuming a third of the countrys alcohol. Thats my only concern, is Dry January distracts us away from people who really need help, really need support, and because its endorsed by Public Health England its a formal way of saying, oh were doing something on alcohol. To hear more unpacking of statistics about British people, listen to the full episode above, or download it on Apple Podcasts, Acast, or Spotify to listen while on the go. One year and a half after the highly-publicized announcement of Foxconns investment in Wisconsin, the states legislature has been kept in the dark about the electronic giants plan to fulfill its promise of creating 13,000 jobs. We have no idea of what is really going to happen, state Assemblyman Gordon Hintz said on Yahoo Finance On the Move Thursday. When they made the announcement at the White House with all the fanfare, it seemed to be a project that was going to have manufacturing jobs coming back to the heartland in Wisconsin. But what was sold to the public, what the president and the governor and others talked about in terms of this resurgence of manufacturing just simply isn't going to happen. Since Foxconn broke ground in June 2018, the Taiwan-based manufacturer known as the iPhone maker, has constantly revised its vision for its Wisconsin facility. It first switched production plans from making large panel LCD screens to Generation 6 screens. President Donald Trump stands with Foxconn chairman Terry Gou, center, and CEO of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, during a groundbreaking event. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) On Wednesday, Foxconn said that it was refocusing on research and development rather than manufacturing, which means it will employ scientists and developers, rather than blue collar workers as originally promised. Two days later, the company did an about-face and said it will build a factory for displays in Wisconsin after its chairman Terry Gou spoke to President Donald Trump. Trump has touted the $4 billion project as the eighth wonder of the world and attended the groundbreaking ceremony in-person. The company didnt mention the number of jobs it will create in its latest statement. Some remain skeptical. They had a history of overpromising and underperforming, Hintz said Thursday. Hintz said the state hasnt paid out the incentives that are associated with employment and with capital investment, which could total to $4 billion of taxpayer money. Wisconsins economic development agency, largely controlled by Republicans, is protecting the Foxconn project from the newly-elected Democratic governor's intervention, according to Hintz. Governor Tony Evers team has denied reports that he is trying to renegotiate the Foxconn contract. Story continues Krystal Hu covers technology and trade for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Read more: What Tim Cook left out about China in Apple's revenue guidance Apple cuts iPhone XR price for partner sellers in China Amazon eyes closed Sears stores for Whole Foods expansion Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and receive a $60 prize! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, well show how William Lyon Homess (NYSE:WLH) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Based on the last twelve months, William Lyon Homess P/E ratio is 7.24. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 14%. See our latest analysis for William Lyon Homes How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for William Lyon Homes: P/E of 7.24 = $13.26 $1.83 (Based on the year to September 2018.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. When earnings grow, the E increases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others and that may attract buyers. Most would be impressed by William Lyon Homes earnings growth of 14% in the last year. And earnings per share have improved by 4.3% annually, over the last three years. So one might expect an above average P/E ratio. Unfortunately, earnings per share are down 20% a year, over 5 years. How Does William Lyon Homess P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. If you look at the image below, you can see William Lyon Homes has a lower P/E than the average (12.1) in the consumer durables industry classification. Story continues NYSE:WLH PE PEG Gauge February 1st 19 This suggests that market participants think William Lyon Homes will underperform other companies in its industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. You should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling. Remember: P/E Ratios Dont Consider The Balance Sheet The Price in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future), by taking on debt (or spending its remaining cash). Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. Is Debt Impacting William Lyon Homess P/E? William Lyon Homess net debt is considerable, at 296% of its market cap. If you want to compare its P/E ratio to other companies, you must keep in mind that these debt levels would usually warrant a relatively low P/E. The Verdict On William Lyon Homess P/E Ratio William Lyon Homes has a P/E of 7.2. Thats below the average in the US market, which is 16.7. While the EPS growth last year was strong, the significant debt levels reduce the number of options available to management. If the company can continue to grow earnings, then the current P/E may be unjustifiably low. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. You might be able to find a better buy than William Lyon Homes. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). 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. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and receive a $60 prize! Over the past 10 years Wasion Holdings Limited (HKG:3393) has been paying dividends to shareholders. The company currently pays out a dividend yield of 5.5% to shareholders, making it a relatively attractive dividend stock. Should it have a place in your portfolio? Lets take a look at Wasion Holdings in more detail. Check out our latest analysis for Wasion Holdings 5 checks you should use to assess a dividend stock If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is it paying an annual yield above 75% of dividend payers? Does it consistently pay out dividends without missing a payment of significantly cutting payout? Has the amount of dividend per share grown over the past? Is is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will the company be able to keep paying dividend based on the future earnings growth? SEHK:3393 Historical Dividend Yield February 1st 19 How does Wasion Holdings fare? Wasion Holdings has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 72%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. However, going forward, analysts expect 3393s payout to fall to 62% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of around 6.4%. However, EPS should increase to CN0.33, meaning that the lower payout ratio does not necessarily implicate a lower dividend payment. When assessing the forecast sustainability of a dividend it is also worth considering the cash flow of the business. Companies with strong cash flow can sustain a higher payout ratio, while companies with weaker cash flow generally cannot. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock youre eyeing out is reliable in its payments. In the case of 3393 it has increased its DPS from CN0.084 to CN0.19 in the past 10 years. During this period it has not missed a payment, as one would expect for a company increasing its dividend. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock. Story continues Compared to its peers, Wasion Holdings generates a yield of 5.5%, which is high for Electronic stocks but still below the markets top dividend payers. Next Steps: Keeping in mind the dividend characteristics above, Wasion Holdings is definitely worth considering for investors looking to build a dedicated income portfolio. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the companys fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. Ive put together three pertinent factors you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 3393s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 3393s outlook. Valuation: What is 3393 worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether 3393 is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a 6-month subscription to the award winning Simply Wall St research tool (valued at $60)! Today well evaluate Want Want China Holdings Limited (HKG:151) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, were going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business. Firstly, well go over how we calculate ROCE. Next, well compare it to others in its industry. Last but not least, well look at what impact its current liabilities have on its ROCE. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it? ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. Ultimately, it is a useful but imperfect metric. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar. So, How Do We Calculate ROCE? Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets Current Liabilities) Or for Want Want China Holdings: 0.19 = CN4.0b (CN28b CN5.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) Therefore, Want Want China Holdings has an ROCE of 19%. See our latest analysis for Want Want China Holdings Is Want Want China Holdingss ROCE Good? When making comparisons between similar businesses, investors may find ROCE useful. Using our data, we find that Want Want China Holdingss ROCE is meaningfully better than the 11% average in the Food industry. I think thats good to see, since it implies the company is better than other companies at making the most of its capital. Regardless of where Want Want China Holdings sits next to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears satisfactory, and this company could be worth a closer look. Story continues As we can see, Want Want China Holdings currently has an ROCE of 19%, less than the 25% it reported 3 years ago. This makes us wonder if the business is facing new challenges. SEHK:151 Last Perf February 1st 19 Remember that this metric is backwards looking it shows what has happened in the past, and does not accurately predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. Since the future is so important for investors, you should check out our free report on analyst forecasts for Want Want China Holdings. Want Want China Holdingss Current Liabilities And Their Impact On Its ROCE Current liabilities are short term bills and invoices that need to be paid in 12 months or less. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. Want Want China Holdings has total assets of CN28b and current liabilities of CN5.8b. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 21% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE. Our Take On Want Want China Holdingss ROCE With that in mind, Want Want China Holdingss ROCE appears pretty good. But note: Want Want China Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. 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. Vice Media revealed on Friday that it would move to lay off roughly 10 percent of its employees in a reorganization that is expected to cut 250 jobs, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to TheWrap on Friday. Having finalized the 2019 budget, our focus shifts to executing our goals and hitting our marks, CEO Nancy Dubuc told Vice staff in a memo. We will make Vice the best manifestation of itself and cement its place long into the future. The layoffs are the latest in what is already shaping to be a tough start to 2019 for media companies. Over the last two weeks, at least a 1,000 media jobs have been eliminated according to a count from CNN, with high profile cuts coming to BuzzFeed, HuffPost and Gannett. Basically the email came through from Nancy this morning and sure enough people started getting called up to HR bit by bit, a Vice Media employee who escaped the layoffs told TheWrap via text. I can tell you that everyone from Post PAs to seasoned staff editors for the shows (Vice News Tonight, and the now defunct weekly show) got axed. Even one of the Emmy-winning producers of the Charlottesville special. Understandably the mood in the office is very morose. Many people were expected to continue working for the day as if nothing had happened. Also Read: Vice Media Co-Founder Calls Sen. Cory Booker 'Sambo': 'Shucking and Jiving for the White Man' The Vice Media layoffs are the most significant of the downsizings so far and suggest that media companies will continue to suffer losses in its effort to develop a sustainable business model for the industry. Dubuc, who was previously president and CEO of A&E, became Vice Medias top executive in March 2018, taking over for Shane Smith, who became the companys executive chairman. The cuts come as Vice Media continues to grapple with a culture of sexual misconduct, which resulted in multiple departures of some of its top leaders. In January 2018, the company fired its chief digital officer Mike Germano after he was accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct in a lengthy expose New York Times. Story continues The same piece also reported on a $135,000 settlement between company president Andrew Creighton and another woman. After being a lengthy suspension, Creighton ultimately left the company as well in October 2018. Listening to our employees over the past year, the truth is inescapable: from the top down, we have failed as a company to create a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone, especially women, can feel respected and thrive, wrote Vice co-founders Smith and Suroosh Alvi in a public note to Vice employees in December 2017 shortly after the Times piece was published. Read original story Vice Media to Lay Off 10 Percent of Staff in Company Restructuring At TheWrap It's two millionaires in a row for Super Lotto 6/49a rare and lucky streak. This was how Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan described the Lotto draw phenomenon happening recently. There is one in 13,983,816 for winning the Super Lotto 6/49; but winners hit the jackpot on Jan. 27 and 29, consecutively. It is indeed a lucky start for year for our lotto patrons, Balutan said in a statement. For January alone, PCSO gave away a total of P522,039,761 in jackpot prizes for the different Lotto games, which was shared by nine Lotto winners. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, a lone winner guessed the winning combination of 11-34-30-10-07-21. Earlier, on Sunday, Jan. 27, another lotto winner got the winning number combination of 11-41-03-20-47-22.Each will be taking the P15,840,000.00 pegged as jackpot prize during the draws. Last Tuesdays winner purchased the ticket at a lotto outlet in Imus, Cavite; while Sundays winner purchased the ticket at a lotto outlet in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas, Metro Manila. Of the nine jackpot winners, three hit the jackpot in the Super Lotto 6/49; two from the Ultra Lotto 6/58; two from Lotto 6/42; one from Grand Lotto 6/55, and one from the Mega Lotto 6/45 draw. The chances of winning in the lotto draws are one in 5,245,786 for Lotto 6/42; one in 8,145,060 for Mega Lotto 6/45; one in 13,983,816 for Super Lotto 6/49; one in 28,989,675 for Grand Lotto 6/55; and 1 in 40,475,358 for Ultra Lotto 6/58. bitcoin etf The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and VanEck refiled their Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) application. But, there likely wont be a Bitcoin ETF by the end of the year and possibly by the years end. On January 31, as CCN reported, VanEck announced that it submitted its newly drafted Bitcoin ETF application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Why There Will be No Bitcoin ETF Until the Years End In late January, due to the shutdown of the U.S. government and the lack of staff members at the SEC to continue discussions on the prospect of the approval of a Bitcoin ETF, VanEck officially withdrew its application. Read the full story on CCN.com. Washington (AFP) - The United States on Friday called on Lebanon to deprive Hezbollah of all official funds after the Shiite militant movement took a record three cabinet posts in a long-delayed government. The United States stressed that it was ready to work with Prime Minister Saad Hariri's new government, welcoming the breakthrough in the eight-month deadlock and saying that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hoped to visit Lebanon. "Nevertheless, we are concerned that Hezbollah, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, will continue to occupy ministerial positions and was allowed to name the minister of public health," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said. "We call on the new government to ensure the resources and services of these ministries do not provide support to Hezbollah," he said in a statement. But the health portfolio makes it difficult for donors to avoid Hezbollah, which is under multiple US sanctions. A donor meeting in Paris last year pledged $11 billion in low-interest loans and aid for Lebanon, hoping to avert disaster amid political and economic instability and the influx of 1.5 million refugees from neighboring Syria. Hezbollah is allied with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, where Israel says it has carried out hundreds of strikes on the militants and their patron Iran. But Hezbollah is a major political party within Lebanon, which has a complex political system designed to ensure representation for all religious factions. Palladino welcomed signals from Lebanese leaders that they would abide by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which established a ceasefire in 2006 after Hezbollah attacks triggered a devastating Israeli offensive on Lebanon. Washington (AFP) - A US negotiator called Thursday on North Korea to provide a detailed account of its weapons to seal a peace deal, saying President Donald Trump was ready to offer a future that includes diplomatic relations and economic aid. Trump is set to hold a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in around a month and said Thursday that he would announce the exact date and venue early next week. "I think most of you know where the location is. I don't think it's a great secret," he told reporters at the White House. Vietnam has offered to host the talks. "We've made tremendous progress with North Korea," said Trump, whose June summit with Kim in Singapore was the first ever between leaders of the two countries that never formally ended the Korean War. The meeting produced a document in which Kim pledged to work toward the "denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." As skeptics voice worry that Trump is overly eager to make a legacy-building deal and enjoy the spotlight of meeting the reclusive leader again, the US special representative on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, said the administration is "clear-eyed" and prepared for contingencies if talks fail. On Tuesday Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee that "North Korea is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and production capabilities," an analysis counter to Trump's position that there is "a decent chance" of the North giving up its nuclear weapons. Biegun painted an upbeat picture at ending decades of hostility despite repeated failures in the past, saying that Trump "is unconstrained by the assumptions of his predecessors." "I have this perfect outcome moment where the last nuclear weapon leaves North Korea, the sanctions are lifted, the flag goes up in the embassy and the treaty is signed in the same hour," Biegun said at Stanford University. Story continues "Now that's an ideal, I know, and these things are going to move haltingly along different courses. But they can also be mutually reinforcing," he said. Preparing the summit, the State Department said Biegun would head Sunday to South Korea and also meet his North Korean counterpart. - Promises on all nuclear sites - Biegun said the United States would ask North Korea for negotiations on verifying that the totalitarian state is giving up its nuclear weapons. "Before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean WMD and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration," Biegun said. "We must reach agreement on expert access and monitoring mechanisms of key sites to international standards, and ultimately ensure the removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction," he said. Rejecting criticism that the Singapore declaration was vague, Biegun said that Kim has committed -- both at the summit and in follow-up talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- to "the dismantlement and destruction" of all plutonium and uranium sites, not only its signature Yongbyon facility. North Korea watchers believe the regime is foremost interested in easing international sanctions, which were tightened in 2017 after the regime's missile and nuclear tests raised fears of a new war. Biegun said Trump was prepared to assist Kim in building "a brighter economic future" and gave nuance to the repeated US insistence that it will not ease sanctions until denuclearization. "We say we will not lift sanctions until denuclearization is complete. That is correct. We didn't say we won't do anything until you do everything," he said. - US troops to stay in South Korea - Biegun assured North Korea that Trump -- who in 2017 threatened in front of the United Nations to "totally destroy" the country -- wanted to end the state of war. "We are not going to invade North Korea. We are not seeking to topple the regime," he said. He also said that the United States had no intention to pull its 28,500 troops out of South Korea. "We are not involved in any diplomatic discussion -- full stop -- that would suggest this tradeoff. It has never been discussed," Biegun said. With Trump known both for his impulsiveness and his criticism of US defense alliances, observers have wondered whether the nearly seven-decade US troop presence could up for debate. The United States and South Korea remain at loggerheads on a new agreement on how much Seoul contributes to maintain the troops. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are force-feeding migrants who are on hunger strike at a detention centre in El Paso, Texas. ICE officials have been inserting plastic tubes up the nasal cavities of four migrant detainees, and say the method was authorised by a federal judge this month. Family members of migrants say the force-feeding is causing severe nosebleeds and vomiting. Force-feeding is when a lubricated tube is pushed through the nostril until it reaches the throat, so that liquid food can be pumped into the stomach. The United Nations Office of Human Rights has described force-feeding as a cruel, inhuman, and degrading practice, and others. The World Medical Association holds force-feeding as an unethical practice. Some human rights groups consider force-feeding to be a form of physical torture. "Forced feeding is never ethically acceptable," the World Medical Association said in its declaration on hunger strikers in 1991. "Even if intended to benefit [the detainee], feeding accompanied by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints is a form of inhuman and degrading treatment." The migrants are on a hunger strike to protest the alleged abusive conditions at the El Paso Processing Centre. The Associated Press reported that the detaineesmany of whom are from India and Cubawent on a hunger strike to protest against guards who verbally abuse and threaten them. The migrants are also protesting the duration of their detention while they wait for legal proceedings. In addition to the four detainees in El Paso, four other men are participating in a hunger strike in Miami, San Diego, San Francisco and Phoenix, officials say. A spokesperson for ICE told BBC that hunger strike protocols were triggered after detainees missed their ninth meal in a row, and that a total of 11 detainees were on hunger strike in El Paso. "Of these 11, four are currently being hydrated and fed non-consensually," the ICE spokesperson said. ICE officials claim the force-feeding was in the best interest of the migrants health and safety since not eating food for a long period of time could lead to long-term physical and mental conditions. A general view of a graduation ceremony at University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Archive/PA Images The government has launched measures to tackle racial inequalities in higher education in England, it announced on Friday. Universities will now be held accountable for how they will improve outcomes for underrepresented students, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is an independent regulator and authority for the higher education sector across the country. The OfS will scrutinise institutions Access and Participation plans, in which schools will set out how they will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in, and progress from higher education. READ MORE: The three schools where women graduates are making more than men Figures from the Race Disparity Audit and OfS show that only 56% of black students achieved a first or 2:1 compared to 80% of their white peers in the 2016 to 2017 academic year. They also found that while a record number of ethnic minority students currently attend university, black students are the most likely to drop out. Universities minister Chris Skidmore said he expects the access and participation plans, which universities will draw up this year for implementation in 2020, to contain ambitious and significant actions to make sure we are seeing material progress in this space in the next few years. READ MORE: Black and ethnic minority academics in UK earn less than white colleagues Universities will also now have to publish data on admissions and attainment, broken down by ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic background, to shine a spotlight on schools making good progress and those lagging behind. The Department for Education (DfE) said it is encouraging league table providers to present better information on social mobility and underrepresented groups. The department added that the OfS is also developing a new website to replace Unistats, which will have a greater focus on supporting those who are less likely to enter higher education. Story continues READ MORE: These are the 10 best universities in the world The measures are part of a cross-government effort to explain or change ethnic disparities highlighted by the prime ministers Race Disparity Audit website, so people can achieve their true potential, whatever their background and circumstances. Universities need to reflect modern Britain, and ensure that everyone who has the potential, no matter their background or where they are from, can thrive at university, Skidmore said. I want to do more to focus on student experience to help ethnic minority students succeed at university. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure from fellow Republicans to reset his contentious presidency, Donald Trump plans to offer Democrats a choice in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday: Work together to make progress, or fight each other and get nothing done. He signalled on Friday that the address, an annual rite of American politics, will include extensive remarks about his standoff with Democrats over building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the subject of an intense partisan battle that prompted a 35-day partial government shutdown that ended a week ago. Dwelling at length on this could undermine any attempt by Trump to strike a compromising tone, which many Republicans, including some close to the White House, are urging him to offer in an effort to temper his rhetoric and move past the shutdown fight. Beyond the wall, a senior White House official told Reuters that Trump will outline what he sees as areas where Republicans and Democrats may be able to find agreement. These include a plan to fund infrastructure improvements across the country, lower the cost of prescription drugs and work to resolve long-standing differences over healthcare. An excerpt of the speech released by the White House on Friday made clear Trump would strike a compromising tone in at least part of his address. "Together we can break decades of political statement, we can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions and unlock the extraordinary promise of Americas future. The decision is ours to make," Trump will say. Whether the two sides are prepared to work together in any significant way is far from clear, with tensions still high over the shutdown fight and another deadline approaching on Feb. 15. He will offer a choice of either working together and doing great things or fighting each other and doing nothing," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Story continues The speech comes as Trump begins the second two years of his first term facing major challenges: a long-running probe into whether his 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia; investigations by House Democrats of his presidency and his business ventures; and difficult trade negotiations with China, among many others. He and his advisers do not believe the shutdown fight will give him lasting scars. Many Republicans are urging him to focus on the U.S. economy in his speech and beyond, to try to broaden his appeal beyond a hard-core conservative base of voters that make up about a third of the electorate. "I would hope he would choose the pathway of broadening his appeal to voters who might want to consider voting for him in the next couple of years," said Lanhee Chen, a Hoover Institution fellow who advised the presidential campaigns of Republicans Marco Rubio in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. Presidential aides said Trump would still talk about immigration and his demand for a border wall in his speech. "Some of it will be border-related," said one. Nancy Pelosi, who took over as speaker of the House of Representatives after Democrats won big in November elections, has vowed not to support funding for a border wall, and the issue has increased partisan tensions across the board. Trump's speech was delayed from January after a fight with Pelosi that stemmed from the dispute on border wall funding. Republicans anxious about the 2020 election - not just holding the White House, but also control of the Senate - are urging him not to get bogged down in immigration in his speech. Trump really needs to change the subject. This is an opportunity to get back on offence on his terms. As opposed to being reactive to the Democrats in the House. I really see the State of the Union for Trump as a potential reset, because like it or not the government shutdown was a political loser and it hurt a lot of people, said Republican strategist Scott Reed. Trump is also expected to cover foreign policy. He said on Thursday he will likely announce the site of his late-February summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the speech, with Hanoi a leading candidate. He may also cite progress in peace talks between the government in Afghanistan and Taliban rebels. Trump has signalled that a peace deal would allow the United States to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after 17 years of war triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He and his advisers have been discussing withdrawing half of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan, officials have said, a steep drop that could prompt criticism that Trump is putting U.S. gains in the volatile country in jeopardy. Trump is expected to declare in his speech that the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria is largely complete, reinforcing his decision to pull 2,000 troops out of Syria, another abrupt move that angered many in his own party. Trump, along with chief speechwriter Stephen Miller, plans to work on the address during a trip this weekend to his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, aides said. (Reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Jonathan Oatis) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Security Council ambassadors will travel to Guinea-Bissau this month to press for peaceful elections that could pave the way to a lifting of international sanctions, the council president said Friday. The West African country has been under UN sanctions since 2012 when military officers staged a coup just two weeks before elections, the latest in a string of army takeovers in the former Portuguese colony. The council's visit comes as the country prepares to hold long-delayed legislative elections on March 10 to be followed by a presidential vote expected in the following months. Equatorial Guinea Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba, who holds the council presidency in February, said the visit is to "encourage the political leadership in Guinea-Bissau to ensure peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections." "That will hopefully draw a line under the chronic instability of institutions in Guinea-Bissau," Mba told a news conference. Successful elections could lead to a lifting of sanctions later this year or in early 2020, said Mba. The elections are intended to end a political standoff after President Jose Mario Vaz sacked his prime minister in 2015. Vaz is the first elected leader since the 2012 coup in the country that has been plagued by corruption and cocaine trafficking. The council will also travel to Ivory Coast during the February 14 to 17 trip. By Roberta Rampton and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Thursday warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of consequences for what it called "egregious" acts of intimidation, and said Russia and other countries should cease "last-minute looting" of oil and gold. Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president, said on Thursday that agents from a feared special police unit had visited his home. "Such acts of intimidation are seen as very serious, very egregious by the United States," a senior U.S. administration official told reporters on a conference call. "There will be consequences for those engaged in such acts, they will be held accountable and they will be missing this unique opportunity to move on." Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official urged Venezuelan military officials to accept Guaido's offer of amnesty if they backed his claim. So far, the Venezuelan military has remained loyal to Maduro. The United States and most other Western nations have backed Guaido's push for a transition and new elections. But Russia and China, among others, are supporting Maduro. Washington also warned Maduro, Russia and other international players against making deals for Venezuelan commodities like gold and oil. The arrival of an unusual Russian plane in Caracas this week sparked rumors, denied by Russia, that gold was being shipped out the country. Venezuela is selling gold from its central bank vaults to the United Arab Emirates in coming days in return for euros in cash, a source said. The U.S. government wants Venezuela oil company PDVSA's U.S. subsidiary, Citgo, to keep operational despite tough new sanctions it imposed earlier this week. "Our goal is to ensure that Citgo remains viable, but to make sure that Maduro and his cronies are not able to loot Citgo in the way that they've been looting it for years," the official said, adding that the U.S. was also looking at further economic sanctions. The official said Maduro and a dozen other Venezuelan officials were standing in the way of a political transition, and the U.S. government was open to conversations about how to help them leave the country. But the U.S. government rejects recent suggestions that Uruguay, Mexico, or the Vatican should play a mediating role between Maduro and Guaido, the official said. "We explicitly reject any talk about any type of effort that would allow Nicolas Maduro to usurp or, maintain himself in power, or be a political player in that regard," the official said. Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and began a second term earlier this month after disputed elections last year, has said Guaido's actions are an attempt at a U.S.-backed coup. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Dan Grebler and Rosalba O'Brien) By Lesley Wroughton and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Friday it will withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia in six months unless Moscow ends its alleged violations of the landmark 1987 arms control pact. The United States would reconsider its withdrawal if Russia, which denies violating the treaty, came into compliance with the agreement, which bans both nations from stationing short- and intermediate-range land-based missiles in Europe. Announcing the move, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would cease to regard itself as being bound by the treaty starting Saturday, which is when Washington will formally inform Moscow of its intent to withdraw, a senior U.S. official told reporters. The announcement may aim to pressure Russia to come to terms during the next six months but it also raised fears of a new U.S.-Russian nuclear arms race in Europe as well as one between the United States and China in Asia. U.S. President Donald Trump repeated U.S. allegations that Russia had violated the INF treaty, which limited only U.S. and Russian arsenals, and he held out the prospect of negotiating a wider agreement, possibly including other nations. "I hope that were able to get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty that would be much better. Certainly I would like to see that," Trump told reporters. Trump's tenure has been dogged by allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help his candidacy, which Moscow denies. The dispute over INF has contributed to U.S.-Russia frictions, now at their worst since the Cold War ended in 1991 despite Trump's stated desire for better ties. "If Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance with the treaty within this six-month period by verifiably destroying its INF-violating missiles, their launchers, and associated equipment, the treaty will terminate," Pompeo told reporters. (Graphic: U.S. nuclear arsenal - https://tmsnrt.rs/2sYZOpw) RUSSIA SEES FALSE PRETEXT Russian officials accused the United States of inventing a false pretext to exit a treaty that it wants to leave anyway so it can develop new missiles. Speaking before the announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia regretted the expected U.S. move and accused Washington of failing to negotiate to avoid such an outcome. "The unwillingness of the Americans to listen to any arguments and to hold substantive negotiations with us shows that the decision to break this treaty was taken in Washington a long time ago," Peskov told reporters. The United States alleges a new Russian cruise missile violates the pact. The missile, the Novator 9M729, is known as the SSC-8 by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The treaty required the parties to destroy ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of between 500 and 5,500 km (310 to 3,420 miles). Last week, the head of Russia's military's missile and artillery forces said the new missile's maximum range fell short of the treaty's lower limit. Russia has rejected the U.S. demand to destroy the new missile. NATO "does not have any intention to deploy new land-based nuclear weapons to Europe," Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters on Friday, saying the Western security alliance had intelligence from the United States and other allies confirming that Russia had violated the treaty. "We don't have to mirror what Russia does. But at the same time we have to make sure that we maintain credible and effective deterrence," he said, without giving specifics on military options NATO is considering. France and Germany both emphasized the importance of using the six-month window to keep talking. Formal U.S. withdrawal could give the Pentagon new options to counter Chinese missile advances but experts warn the ensuing arms race could greatly escalate tensions in the Asia-Pacific. The United States will notify Russia on Saturday of its plan to pull out in six months, a senior U.S. official said, describing this as "one final chance" to comply with the agreement but saying Washington doubted Moscow would do so. He said the administration is weighing whether to extend the "New Start" arms control treaty, which went into effect in 2011 and required both nations to cut deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550, the lowest level in decades. That treaty, which also limits deployed land- and submarine-based missiles and nuclear-capable bombers, expires in February 2021, can be extended by five years if both sides agree. (Reporting By Makini Brice, Susan Heavey, Steve Holland, Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed and Lesley Wroughton; Additional Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in BRUSSELS, Andrey Kuzmin and Andrew Osborn in MOSCOW and Gwladys Fouche in OSLO; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Bill Trott) The Department of Information and Communications said the legal hurdle on the new major telecommunications player would not hinder the governments plan to accelerate the build-up of more telecommunications infrastructure. We will go ahead with the common tower initiative even if we have only two telcos because the fact remains that we still need an additional 50,000 towers to improve our connectivity, said Acting ICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said. Rios statement came at the heels of a pending Senate Committee on Public Service resolution that will determine if Mislatel, the franchise holder of the winning new major player consortium, can get Congress approval regarding its request to grant the transfer of controlling interests. Common towers can bring down the cost of our telecommunication services so there is definitely a need for this initiative, whether we have to two or three or even four telcos, Rio added. He noted that the common tower project would approximately bring in $4.4 billion in investment and create thousands of jobs, dubbing it as the biggest DICTs Build Build Build project without using any public funds. Earlier, RT Telecom Sdn. Bhd., the second Malaysian-based company and the sixth tower provider signed an agreement with the DICT for the construction of new common towers nationwide. The deal entered by RT was the same as the five previous firms, including ISOC Infrastructures Inc., ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd., IHS Towers, Edotco Group and China Energy Engineering Corp., where the government would support companies in facilitating permits and right-of-way, and provide other assistance for infrastructure should they secure a contract with any of the telco operators. Rio said that two or three more tower companies have expressed to follow suit in signing the same agreement.The Philippines has 17,000 cellular towers nationwide, serving 7,000 subscribers per tower. RT Telecom Sdn. Bhd. Committed to construct at least 15,000 cell sites in the Philippines for more than five years. Subhash Devan, chief operating officer of RT Telecom earlier told reporters the company would be spending $800 million to $1 billion to roll out 15,000 cell sites nationwide. We see a lot of growth in the Philippine market and we are very familiar with the rollout in the Philippines, he said. RT Telecom is under the umbrella of Rohas Tecnic Berhad, a global infrastructure company in power, telecommunication, water and steel fabrication industries. The company built over 3,000 sites with various companies in Southeast Asia and other regions. RT Telecom has implemented similar full turnkey rollout for Ericsson Telecommunications Inc., Globe Telecom, Digital Mobile Philippines Inc. and Smart Telecom and constructed more than 1,000 cell sites spanning throughout the Philippines. By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) - Tens of millions of Americans braved Arctic-like temperatures on Thursday as low as minus 56 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 49 Celsius) that paralyzed the U.S. Midwest and were blamed for at least 21 deaths. Warmer-than-normal weather was on the way, but that offered little comfort to vulnerable populations such as the homeless and elderly enduring cold that caused frostbite in minutes and made being outside potentially deadly. Officials across multiple states linked numerous deaths to the frigid air. The death toll rose from a previous 12 after at least nine more people in Chicago were reported to have died from cold-related injuries, according to Stathis Poulakidas, a doctor at the city's John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. Poulakidas, a trauma specialist, said the hospital had seen about 25 frostbite victims this week. He said the most severe cases risked having fingers and toes amputated. Among those believed to have died from the cold was University of Iowa student Gerard Belz. The eighteen-year-old was found unresponsive on campus early Wednesday morning just a short walk from his dorm, according to university officials. Police told a local television station they believed the cold played a factor in his death. The wind chill at the time officers found Belz was minus 51 F (minus 46 C), according to the National Weather Service. Homeless and displaced people were particularly at risk, with Chicago and other cities setting up warming shelters. But many toughed it out in camps or vacant buildings. A 60-year-old woman found dead in an abandoned house in Lorain, Ohio, was believed to have died of hypothermia, Lorain County Coroner Stephen Evans said. "Theres just no way if youre not near a heat source that you can survive for very long out in weather like this," Evans told the Chronicle-Telegram newspaper. 60 DEGREES F BY SATURDAY It has been more than 20 years since a similar blast of frigid air covered a swath of the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, according to the National Weather Service. Story continues The bitter cold was caused by the mass of air known as the polar vortex drifting south from its usual position over the North Pole. Homes and businesses used record amounts of natural gas to fight the cold, according to financial data provider Refinitiv. Utilities appealed to consumers to conserve energy to avoid power outages. In Detroit, General Motors Co suspended operations at 11 Michigan plants to cut natural gas consumption. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV canceled a shift on Thursday at two of its plants. Snow and ice created treacherous travel conditions, with 26 road collisions reported within two hours on Thursday in eastern Iowa's Johnson County, emergency communications center chief Tom Jones told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. For the second day in a row, the intense cold and windy conditions forced U.S. airlines to cancel more than 2,000 flights. Chicago was hardest hit, with OHare International Airport experiencing over 700 cancellations, according to the FlightAware tracking site. Heavy snow hitting Chicago off the Great Lakes was set to begin winding down on Thursday night, the weather service said. More than 30 record lows were shattered across the Midwest. Cotton, Minnesota, had the lowest national temperature recorded early on Thursday at minus 56 F (minus 48 C), before the weather warmed up, the weather service reported. Temperatures in the Upper Midwest will rebound to well above zero F (minus 18 C) on Friday, with highs making it into the teens and low 20s F. By Saturday, highs will be in the 30s and even low 40s F, while the central Plains will be in the low 60s F, nearly 20 to 25 degrees above normal, the weather service said. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, Suzannah Gonzales and Karen Pierog in Chicago, Gina Cherelus in New York and Katharine Jackson in Washington; Writing by Andrew Hay; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Peter Cooney) GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Office said on Friday there were "serious doubts" whether three Bahraini opposition leaders were given a fair trial after Bahrain's highest court upheld this week their life sentences on charges of spying for Qatar. Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the now banned Shi'ite Muslim opposition group al-Wefaq and senior members Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad were sentenced to life imprisonment in November, overturning a previous acquittal. Al-Wefaq played a leading role in a 2011 uprising against Bahrain's Sunni rulers, whom the Shi'ite majority accuse of discrimination and human rights abuses. Bahrain denies this. It has since banned al Wefaq and most of the group's leadership has been imprisoned or left the country. "We are deeply concerned that these convictions are due to their opposition to the Bahraini Government and its policies," said office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado in an e-mailed comment. "There are also serious doubts concerning whether the court proceedings respected the right to a fair trial." Salman is already serving a four-year prison sentence for inciting hatred and insulting the interior ministry following his arrest in 2015. The two other men were tried in absentia. Bahrain is among the Arab countries imposing a diplomatic, trade and transport boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations it supports terrorism, a charge Doha denies. The other countries are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) By David Brunnstrom and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington is willing to discuss "many actions" to improve ties and entice Pyongyang to give up nuclear weapons, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea said on Thursday, but set out an extensive list of demands for the North, including a full disclosure of its weapons program. In a speech at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, envoy Stephen Biegun did not elaborate on what concessions the United States might make, but said the "corresponding measures" demanded by North Korea would be the subject of talks next week. Biegun will arrive in Seoul on Sunday for meetings with South Korean officials, before holding talks with North Korean negotiators. "From our side, we are prepared to discuss many actions that could help build trust between our two countries and advance further progress in parallel on the Singapore summit objectives of transforming relations, establishing a permanent peace regime on the peninsula, and complete denuclearisation," he said. Biegun's comment referred to the unprecedented meeting last June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in the wealthy Asian city-state. Trump hailed "tremendous progress" in his dealings with the North Korea and told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that the date and location of a second summit with Kim would be announced "early next week" and probably during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. North Korea has complained that the United States has done little to reciprocate for its actions so far to dismantle some weapons facilities and freeze its weapons testing. It has repeatedly urged a lifting of punishing U.S.-led sanctions and also a formal end to the war, as well as security guarantees. In his most detailed public remarks on his approach to North Korea after five months in his role, Biegun said the United States had told the North it was prepared to pursue commitments made in Singapore "simultaneously and in parallel" and had already eased rules on delivery of humanitarian aid to it. Story continues Still, he outlined a long list of demands North Korea would eventually need to meet, such as allowing expert access and monitoring mechanisms of nuclear and missile sites. It would have to "ultimately ensure removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction," he added. Pyongyang has rejected making an itemized declaration of its weapons programs for decades. "MORE WORK AHEAD" Biegun said Kim committed, during an October visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to the dismantling and destruction of plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities. The information from Biegun goes further than remarks by Pompeo himself after his trip and beyond any public statement by Pyongyang. While Biegun conceded there was "more work ahead of us than behind us," Trump appeared upbeat about the prospects for a second summit with Kim. "They very much want the meeting," Trump said in his Oval Office remarks. "And I think they really want to do something, and we'll see." On Wednesday, Pompeo said North Korea had agreed the summit would be held at the end of February and it would be "some place in Asia." Last June's Singapore summit produced a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, where U.S. troops have been stationed in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. Still, Pyongyang has yet to take concrete steps in that direction, in Washington's view, and the director of U.S. national intelligence, Dan Coats, told Congress on Tuesday it was unlikely to give up all its nuclear weapons and has continued activity inconsistent with pledges to denuclearize. The State Department said Biegun's trip to South Korea on Feb. 3 will include talks with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol "to discuss next steps to advance our objective of the final fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and steps to make further progress on all the commitments the two leaders made in Singapore." TRANSFORMING RELATIONS Responding to questions, Biegun said the United States would not lift sanctions until North Korean denuclearisation was complete, but added: "We did not say we will not do anything until you do everything." Biegun said both he and Trump were convinced it was time to move past 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean Peninsula, but stopped short of suggesting the summit could yield an end-of-war declaration North Korea has been seeking. However, he added: "If we are doing the right thing on nuclear weapons, it makes it a lot more conceivable that there would be a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula." But he cautioned, "These things are going to move haltingly along different courses." Biegun admitted that the United States and North Korea did not have an agreed definition of denuclearisation, but was blunt about U.S. expectations and said Trump had made clear he expected "significant and verifiable progress on denuclearisation" to emerge from the next summit. "Before the process of denuclearisation can be final, we must have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean WMD and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration," Biegun said in his speech. Biegun said the details would have to be tackled in working-level talks to establish conditions "to fundamentally transform the U.S.-North Korean relations and establish peace on the Korean peninsula." He pledged that once North Korea was denuclearised the United States was prepared to explore with it, and other countries, the best way to mobilize investment there. Biegun said the past 25 years of talks showed the possibility of failure was great, and stressed, "We need to have contingencies if the diplomatic process fails - which we do." (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by David Brunnstrom and Makini Brice; Editing by Grant McCool and Clarence Fernandez) By Tina Bellon (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday blocked a San Francisco law requiring health warnings on advertisements for soda and other sugary drinks in a win to the American beverage industry which fought the requirements in court. The 11 judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a unanimous decision said the city's ordinance violated commercial speech protected under the U.S. Constitution. "The required warnings therefore offend plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by chilling protected speech," the judges wrote in granting a preliminary injunction that prevents the law from taking effect. The judges said beverage makers were likely to suffer "irreparable harm" if the law is implemented because the warning would "drown out" the advertisements' other visual elements. The San Francisco ordinance is part of a national effort to curb consumption of soft drinks and other high-calorie beverages that medical experts have said are largely to blame for an epidemic of childhood obesity. Over the past years, many U.S. localities have imposed taxes on sugary beverages, adding a surcharge of up to 1.75 cents per ounce (29 milliliters). At that rate, the cost of a typical 12-ounce can of soda would rise by 21 cents. The beverage industry has opposed the measures, saying they hit poor and working-class families and small businesses the hardest. The ordinance passed by San Francisco in June 2015 required advertisements on billboards and posters within city limits to include a warning that drinking high-sugar beverages contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. A smaller, three-judge panel of the 9th blocked the law in 2017, saying it unfairly targeted one group of products. The entire 11-judge panel in January 2018 agreed to rehear the case. The American Beverage Association, which in 2015 asked for the preliminary injunction, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday's ruling. San Francisco's City Attorney Dennis Herrera, whose office defended the law in court, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The United States is monitoring trade between its NATO ally Turkey and Venezuela and will take action if it judges any sanctions have been violated, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. Three months ago Washington introduced new sanctions aimed at disrupting gold sales from Venezuela, which exported more than 20 tonnes of the precious metal to Turkey in 2018. On Friday Marshall Billingslea, U.S. assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the Treasury, is due to hold talks in Ankara with the Turkish government. The trip was originally planned to discuss U.S. sanctions on Iran, which exports gas to neighboring Turkey, but was likely to include Venezuelan issues as well, a senior U.S. official said. "We are looking at the nature of Turkish-Venezuelan commercial activity, and if we assess a violation of our sanctions, we will obviously take action," the official said. Last year Venezuela exported 23.63 tonnes of gold worth $900 million to Turkey, compared to zero the year before, official Turkish data showed. Nearly all that quantity was in the first nine months of the year, before Washington imposed new sanctions in November. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan has stood by his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, calling him last week to express support after Washington backed opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim head of the country. The official said Washington was disappointed that Turkey continued to support Maduro. "We have talked to the Turks like we have talked to an awful lot of governments around the world, sharing our perspective and asking them to join us in acknowledging the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime," the official said. "They have not responded positively to that conversation thus far." (Reporting by Dominic Evans and Nevzat Devranoglu; Editing by Catherine Evans) Oslo (AFP) - Hundreds of people observed two minutes of silence on Monday in Norway in honour of two Scandinavian women hikers murdered in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in December. Standing in the cold with flags flying at half-mast at the University of South-Eastern Norway in the town of Bo, the participants gathered to remember 28-year-old Maren Ueland from Norway, and 24-year-old Dane Louisa Vesterager Jespersen. Both were both students there. The two women were killed at an isolated hiking spot south of Marrakesh overnight December 16-17, where they were vacationing. Their bodies were found the following day. The authorities have said they were beheaded and are calling the crime a "terrorist" act. The university addressed the murders with students on Monday morning as classes resumed after the Christmas break. "We talked with the students and tried not to understand what can't be understood, but we tried to make it easier for the students to put words on what has happened," Annette Bischoff, the head of the faculty where the two women were studying to be travel guides, told AFP. "This is very difficult for all of us, especially for the students who lived and studied with them," she said. The Moroccan authorities have arrested a total of 22 people in connection with the murders. They include the four main suspects and a Spanish-Swiss man who had links to some of the suspects and who subscribed to "extremist ideology", say Moroccan officials. The main suspects belonged to a cell inspired by Islamic State group ideology, but none of the four had contact with IS members in Syria or Iraq, Morocco's counter-terror chief Abdelhak Khiam told AFP. Donald Trump has indicated he is likely to declare a national emergency when a federal government funding deal runs out later this month, dismissing talks with Democrats as a waste of time. The president said he had set the stage for action to sidestep congress to secure $5.7bn (4.4bn) for a wall on the US-Mexico border, as the prospect of a second government shutdown looms. In a wide-ranging New York Times interview, Mr Trump also said he had received reassurances he was not a target of Robert Muellers Russia investigation and dismissed talk he may not seek re-election in 2020. The president spoke to the newspaper he has repeatedly derided as failing after contacting its publisher, AG Sulzberger. During the interview in the Oval Office, Mr Trump hinted that he planned to declare a national emergency in two weeks time if the deadlock with Democrats over border wall funding continues. Mr Trump last week signed off a spending bill that reopened federal government departments until 15 February following the longest shutdown in US history. Mr Trump has continued to insist he will not sign off a long-term funding package without money for the border wall, but Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday there was not going to be any wall money in the legislation. A group of 17 Republican and Democrat politicians has been set up to thrash out a compromise, but Mr Trump told the New York Times: I think its a waste of time They dont want to give money for the wall. Asked if he had set the table for emergency declaration, the president replied: Ive set the table. Ive set the stage for doing what Im going to do. He added: Ill continue to build the wall, and well get the wall finished. Mr Trump also brushed off Mr Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, claiming deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had told his lawyers that Im not a subject, Im not a target. Asked if that reassurance also covered the separate investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, he replied: I dont know about that." Story continues The special counsel has previously refused to confirm if Mr Trump was a focus of his investigation. Mr Trump dismissed speculation he may opt against running for a second term in the White House. I love this job, he said, although he added he had lost massive amounts of money while president. Theres been more of a burden on me than other presidents, he claimed. Discussing potential Democratic challengers in 2020, he said California senator Kamala Harris whose name he mispronounced Kameela had the best opening so far, with a better crowd, better enthusiasm. The US is set to suspend a 32-year-old nuclear weapons treaty with Russia within hours amid fears the move could trigger a new arms race. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to announce the withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) pact on Friday, just over three months after Donald Trump first announced his intention to terminate it. The move has received widespread criticism, with former president Mikhail Gorbachev who signed the original treaty with Ronald Reagan in 1987 towards the end of the Cold War describing it as not the work of a great mind. However it was supported by UK defence secretary Gavin Williamson, who claimed Russia had been making a mockery of the agreement. The INF treaty was the first arms control measure to ban the US and Russia from possessing or test-firing ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 300 and 3,100 miles. In October, during a visit to Nevada, Mr Trump claimed Russia has been violating the agreement for many years, adding: We are going to terminate the agreement and then we are going to develop the weapons. The US has repeatedly accused Russia of breaking the pact by developing a cruise missile, known as 9M729. NATO ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison said: Russia consistently refuses to acknowledge its violation and continues to push disinformation and false narratives regarding its illegal missile. When only one party respects an arms control treaty while the other side flaunts it, it leaves one side vulnerable, no one is safer, and discredits the very idea of arms control. Donald Trump at the White House Oval Office with vice president Mike Pence (AP) In December, Mr Pompeo said the US would withdraw unless Russia complied with its terms within 60 days. That deadline expires on Saturday, although the withdrawal would only take effect in another six months, allowing room for further attempts to resolve the dispute. On Thursday Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said there were no signs of a breakthrough following talks this week in Beijing. Story continues So we must prepare for a world without the treaty, she added. Nato must maintain credible and effective deterrence and defence. At the same time, allies are committed to arms control. We must look at new initiatives: a new arms race would be in no ones interest. Russia allows foreign journalists and military officials to view the missile at the centre of the dispute over the INF nuclear arms treaty (EPA) Russia had denied violating the pact and deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the state news agency Tass as saying: The position of the American side is very tough and like an ultimatum. Nuclear weapons experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a statement that while Russias violation of the treaty is a serious problem, US withdrawal would be counterproductive. Leaving the INF treaty will unleash a new missile competition between the United States and Russia, they said. Democrats in Congress have described a withdrawal as a win for Russia. Elliot Engel, a Democrat member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said: President Reagan concluded this treaty to reduce the risk of war in Europe. We owe it to our allies and to the American people to do everything we can bring Russia back into compliance and preserve peace. A quick withdrawal will simply be a win for Russia and clear the way for our chief adversary to expand its missile arsenal. Additional reporting by Associated Press 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. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would let the Justice Department decide how to handle the special counsel's report on an investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Moscow. Republican Trump's nominee to be attorney general, William Barr, said at his confirmation hearing this month he would allow Robert Mueller to complete the probe and pledged to make as many details of the findings public as he can. Asked in an interview with the Daily Caller conservative website whether he would make the decision on whether to release the Mueller report, Trump said "they'll have to make their decision within the Justice Department." Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said on Monday that Mueller's probe is "close to being completed." Trump told the Daily Caller he has not spoken to Whitaker about whether the investigation is nearing its conclusion. Whitaker's comments were the first time a top government official with knowledge of the investigation has publicly said it is in the final stages. Democrats worry that Trump's administration may try to undercut the investigation, which has clouded Trump's two years in office and has been a frequent target of the president and his allies. So far, the investigation has ensnared 34 people. Russia rejects the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that Moscow ran an operation to hack Democratic Party computers and spread disinformation to undermine candidate Hillary Clinton and the American electoral process. The president dismisses the probe as a political witch hunt and denies collusion with Russia. Mueller's office most recently indicted a long-time Trump confidant, Republican political operative Roger Stone, on charges of obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress. He has pleaded not guilty. Others in Trump's orbit charged by prosecutors include former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, his former campaign deputy, Richard Gates, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn and former lawyer Michael Cohen. (Reporting by Eric Beech; editing by Grant McCool) President Donald Trump WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said there is a "good chance" he'll declare a national emergency to build his proposed border wall and said he would use his State of the Union address next week to once again make a case for the barrier. I think theres a good chance well have to do that, he said of the declaration, which he has threatened for weeks. "We have very strong legal standing. The emergency declaration could help the Trump administration free up billions of dollars in construction money for the wall, but it will also almost certainly face legal challenges that could redefine the president's ability to use emergency powers. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working against a Feb. 15 deadline to produce a deal to fund the government and avoid another shutdown. Trump has demanded the final product include funding for his proposed border wall but has also said Republicans on the committee are "wasting their time" trying to negotiate with Democrats. Trump is debating how to handle wall funding while he is also planning a pair of high-profile meetings with foreign leaders. Trump told reporters he may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month after an expected summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The U.S. and China are working to head off an escalating trade war, and the president hosted a delegation of Chinese officials on Thursday. "Im thinking about it, Trump said of the possible Xi meeting. It could happen. Trump dismissed questions about the widely reported location of his meeting with Kim Da Nang, Vietnam. The president declined to confirm those reports. More: Is Trump right that border security talks are doomed? A graveyard of past failures says likely yes In one of his few public appearances this week, the president met in the Oval Office with officials from the Department of Homeland Security as well as advocates working on human trafficking. To make the case for his proposed border wall, Trump has often lamented what he has described as a crisis of human trafficking across the border. Story continues People have no idea how bad it's become, Trump said. The case for building a wall is everything." Human trafficking is problem at the border, but advocates have questioned some of the presidents more colorful descriptions of that issue such as his assertion women are brought over the border bound with duct tape. The Human Trafficking Legal Center found a large number of trafficking victims were not entering the country illegally but rather had contracts to work as seasonal agricultural workers and domestic workers. The president is set to depart the White House on Friday afternoon for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, his first visit there since Thanksgiving. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says there's a 'good chance' he'll declare an emergency for border wall Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Friday cheered the "great news" that Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn said it was going ahead with plans for a major factory in Wisconsin. The company announced that following a conversation between Trump and Foxconn chief Terry Gou it was "moving forward with our planned construction of a Gen 6 fab facility." It was a reversal from news earlier this week that the company was scaling back its plans to open a factory and create manufacturing jobs. "Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou!" Trump tweeted. The reports that plans were being scaled back were a blow to the administration since Trump had publicly claimed credit for the investment, which was backed by $4 billion in controversial local tax breaks. Foxconn, which makes devices and components for a host of major tech firms including Apple, had planned to build a factory producing LCD flat screen televisions and create around 13,000 jobs. Trump bragged about the plan and appeared alongside Gou at a groundbreaking ceremony last summer wielding golden shovels. The company previously said the changing global economic climate -- roiled by Trump's trade war with China where Foxconn has most of its assembly lines -- prompted it to revise its original plans. But the firm now says it is going ahead after "productive discussions between the White House and the company, and after a personal conversation between President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Terry Gou," according to the statement, which was published Friday in media reports. "This campus will serve both as an advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation for the region." Foxconn said the decision also was based on a "comprehensive and systematic evaluation to help determine the best fit for our Wisconsin project." It did not provide details on employment or products, although it said it intended to "broaden our investment across Wisconsin far beyond our original plans." Story continues Speaking to thousands of Foxconn employees at a Chinese New Year carnival in Taipei Saturday, Gou said investing in the US "is undoubtedly a right decision and fits with future economic trends." Gou, who described the ongoing US-China trade war as a "major concern," said he had spoken with Trump by phone on Friday night. "US President Trump... shared with me the progress on the US China trade negotiations and said it is going smoothly, and there will be a deal soon," Gou said. Media reports earlier this week quoted Louis Woo, an assistant to Gou, suggesting the company might scrap the flat screen factory in favor of hiring more high-skilled engineers for research and development -- a move that would lead to far fewer blue-collar jobs and run counter to Trump's promises. Foxconn, officially known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, is the world's largest contract-electronics manufacturer and assembles most of its products in China, leaving it acutely vulnerable to Trump's tariffs. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview on Thursday that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had assured his lawyers that the president was not a target of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, the New York Times reported. Trump also said he had never spoken with his longtime political ally Roger Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen Democratic Party emails it made public during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, nor had he directed anyone to do so, the Times said. "He told the attorneys that I'm not a subject, I'm not a target," Trump said of Rosenstein's comment about the Mueller probe, according to the Times. Mueller is leading an investigation into what U.S. intelligence agencies have said was Russian interference in the 2016 election to help Trump win the presidency, and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Trump calls the investigation a witch hunt and denies any collusion with Russia, Moscow denies meddling in the election. Stone pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges that he tried to obstruct a congressional investigation into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Charging documents after Stone's arrest a week ago alleged a senior Trump campaign official "was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information" WikiLeaks had about the campaign of Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. The Times said when Trump was asked whether he had spoken with Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen emails, he said, "No, I didn't. I never did." Asked whether he had directed anyone to get in touch with Stone about WikiLeaks, Trump said, "Never did," according to the Times. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Sandra Maler) WASHINGTON The Trump administration will halt U.S. compliance with a nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday, citing Moscow's "brazen" violations of a pact that has served as a cornerstone of nonproliferation since the Cold War. "For almost six years, the United States has gone to tremendous lengths to preserve this agreement," Pompeo said. He said the Kremlin's repeated denials that it has developed a covert missile system in violation of the treaty has left America and its European allies at immense risk. "Russia has jeopardized the United States' security interests, and we can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia shamelessly violates it," Pompeo said. The U.S. will suspend compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, known as INF, on Feb. 2 and begin a six-month formal withdrawal process, Pompeo said. That gives Moscow additional time to reverse course even as the Trump administration begins to look at developing and deploying new intermediate range missiles. "We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," President Donald Trump said in a statement on Friday. Supporters of the move said it was long overdue, after years of trying to cajole Russia back into compliance proved fruitless. The Russian government has had endless opportunities to change their bad behavior and ... has proven its disinterest in doing so," said Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The time has come to set the treaty aside and develop alternative avenues toward the security the treaty once provided. The administration's decision will also now free the United States to confront other emerging security threats, principally China's build up of intermediate-range missiles. Story continues But critics said abandoning the 32-year-old treaty could spark a new arms race, undermine American credibility, and put Europe at risk of Russian aggression. Russias brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning, but discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "The administration should exhaust every diplomatic effort and work closely with NATO allies over the next six months to avoid thrusting the United States into a dangerous arms competition." While experts do not dispute Russia's violations, proponents of arms control argue the U.S. decision will allow Russia to be more overt and aggressive. "This really changes the dynamic where Russia could deploy systems are that are much more offensive and that upsets the security balance in Europe, because it can hold at risk a lot of the countries who are NATO allies and partners," said Rachel Ellehuus, deputy director and senior fellow with the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. Russia will now be able "to turn the narrative on the United States and NATO and essentially say 'We need to defend ourselves and the way we defend ourselves is by deploying these systems in our neighborhood'," Ellehuus said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that Russia greeted the decision with "much regret" and blamed the U.S. for the INF's collapse, saying Washington has been unwilling to hold any substantial talks to save it. More: 'They are wrong!' Donald Trump crosses swords again with intel chief Dan Coats again More: Putin warns against 'destructive interference' in Venezuela after Trump recognizes Juan Guaido The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 by then-President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, bars the U.S. and Russia from deploying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of between approximately 310 and 3,400 miles. The agreement led to the elimination of nearly 3,000 missiles with nuclear and conventional warheads and contributed to the end of the Cold War. But the U.S. has long accused Russia of violating the pact stretching back to the Obama administration. European leaders have also accused Russia of cheating on the agreement, even as Kremlin officials insisted they were in compliance. In a statement Friday, NATO strongly backed the Trump administration's move and said Russia was to blame for the U.S. decision. "The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russias covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems," NATO said in its statement. "Allies fully support this action." It's not clear yet how European allies will respond. It's possible that NATO would allow the U.S. to deploy ground-launched missiles in Europe, but that step would likely provoke Russia even more and would risk a public backlash across the continent. "NATO continues to closely review the security implications of Russian intermediate-range missiles and will continue to take steps necessary to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the Alliances overall deterrence and defence posture," NATO said Friday. "We will continue to consult each other regularly with a view to ensuring our collective security." Ellehuus said the Europeans could move in one of two directions. "They could argue 'Gosh, we need a stronger nuclear deterrent' and then were in a new arms race," she said. "Or they could say 'You know what? The U.S. doesnt have our back anyway, we want all U.S. nuclear weapons out of Europe'." A senior administration official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the Pentagon has started to conduct research and development of intermediate range missiles. But the U.S. is not close to making any decisions about whether and how such weapons would be deployed, he said, adding that the administration is focused on conventional, not nuclear, missiles. We are only looking at conventional options at this time, this official said. Nothing the United States is currently looking at is nuclear in character. This official also emphasized that any decisions about deployments would be made in close consultation with NATO allies. He insisted that said Fridays decision was not a signal that the U.S. would pivot toward an arms race with China, although he noted that China has more than 1,000 of these intermediate range missiles. And in discussing the INF withdraw decision last year, Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton noted that China was not bound by the treaty and argued that Beijing represents a growing threat to the U.S. "Exactly one country was constrained by the INF Treaty: the United States, Bolton said while in Moscow in October. In the meantime, Bolton said, China, North Korea and Iran are free to do whatever they want and have made very substantial strides in developing intermediate range and missiles. Some experts say the administration's withdrawal from the INF pact also jeopardizes a second nuclear arms control agreement with Russia known as New START and which expires in 2021. The Russians have asked the U.S. to begin negotiations on an extension of that agreement but so far the Trump administration has not agreed to do that. Asked if the Trump administration was committed to extending New START, Pompeo did not answer directly. He said President Trump is committed to reducing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but said "it does no good to sign an agreement if a party is not going to comply with it." Experts say Russia is in compliance with New START, and the administration has not alleged any cheating on that pact. Steven Pifer, a fellow at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation, said the Trump administration's refusal to begin those complicated negotiations is worrisome and a sign it may want to see that treaty expire. "Theres a very early and an unfortunate possibility that in 2021, for the first time in five decades, you have no negotiated limits on U.S. or Russian nuclear forces," said Pifer. He said that would severely undermine global non-proliferation efforts. The U.S. would no longer have credibility, he said, to press North Korea and other rogue states to give up their nuclear arsenals if America has abandoned its own arms-control agreements. Indeed, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif used Friday's news to jab the U.S. as an unreliable negotiator, a theme he has hit on since Trump's decision to nix the Iran nuclear accord, known as the JCPOA. "Yet another withdrawal from an accord by the Trump administration; this time the #INFTreaty," Zarif tweeted. "It's not just the #JCPOA or Iran: Seems this clique is allergic to anything w/ US signature on it. Message: Any deal with US govt is not worth the ink; even treaties ratified" This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Related stories: Trump: U.S. will build up nuclear arsenal after nixing landmark weapons treaty with Russia Contributing: David Jackson and Kim Hjelmgaard This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump administration withdraws from nuclear weapons treaty, accuses Russia of violations Tesla shares fell nearly 4 percent on Thursday as Wall Street analysts following up on the automaker's fourth-quarter results questioned underlying demand for its crucial Model 3 sedan and the electric car maker's ability to make inroads in China. Tesla reported quarterly profit below analysts' expectations on Wednesday though it was the second straight quarter in the black, a first for Tesla. The company also surprised investors by announcing that Chief Financial Officer Deepak Ahuja, 56, would leave and hand the reins to 34-year-old Zach Kirkhorn, its vice president of finance. JPMorgan analysts were among those warning that Ahuja's leaving deprived the company of long automotive industry experience and relative stability in a company that has seen a steady stream of senior staff come and go since 2016. Analysts were also concerned by Tesla's indication that it is only making cars for China and Europe right now, and expects a gap of about 10,000 vehicles between production and deliveries due to vehicles in transit at the end of the first quarter. "This is a strong indication that demand in the U.S. for both the mid-range and long-range Model 3 versions has largely been exhausted, and the company is still working through the estimated ~6.8k of unsold Model 3 inventory," Cowen analysts said. Still, the fall in Tesla shares was less than that suggested by initial pricing after Wednesday's results and also far smaller than some of the swings in one of the past year's most volatile Wall Street stocks. The company, which is striving to stabilize production and deliver consistent profit, ended the quarter with $4.3 billion in cash and said it had "sufficient cash on hand" to pay a $920 million convertible bond maturing in March. Of the 31 brokerages covering Tesla, 10 have a "buy" or higher rating, 10 "hold" and 11 have a "sell" or lower rating and their median price target is 327.50. Story continues Only four changed their price targets on the stock on Thursday, with two raises and two cuts. Wedbush cut its price target by $50 to $390. While Tesla is pumping money into a Shanghai factory, which it hopes to bring on line around the end of this year with a target of producing 500,000 vehicles a year, several analysts questioned whether that investment will pay off. "Tesla serves the purpose of a 'stalking horse' to the fast growing domestic Chinese EV industry, but we believe it has limited to zero terminal value in a region where a number of domestic champions should emerge," Morgan Stanley analysts said. A Georgia businessman is missing after allegedly scamming his friends, family, and mother out of $750,000 in exchange for non-existent Super Bowl tickets before skipping town. Ketan Shah, a businessman described as squeaky-clean by one of his victims, apparently left his Gwinnett County town after staging the months-long scam, which involved taking large sums of money from roughly a dozen people while promising tickets to the upcoming game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. I really dont know where ehe is now, Mr Shas wife, Bhavi, told local news channel WSBTV2 in Atlanta. I really dont, Im sorry. Among those who found themselves allegedly falling victim to Mr Shah was his own mother, who reached out to police after losing $36,000 in her sons scam, but did not file charges. Mr Shah reportedly sits on community boards in his area, and owns a digital printing business there. The victim who called Mr Shahs reputation squeaky-clean, said that he and a friend had deposited $20,000 with the businessman. They never received those tickets. Yet another victim reportedly lost $500,000 in the exchange, and also indicated that he had trusted Mr Shah because of his reputation in the community. Police expressed shock that Mr Shah had engaged in the scam that left people in the lurch. Its not that he posted some ad and random people are contacting this guy for tickets and being scammed, Gwinnett County police spokesman Corporal Wilbert Rundles told WSBTV. Hes known these people for many years. One of them, hes known his whole life because its his own mother, and hes taken advantage of them. Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese police fired tear gas on Friday at worshippers leaving a mosque in the metropolis chanting "freedom, freedom" in an anti-government protest after the main weekly Muslim prayers, witnesses said. Worshippers have held regular demonstrations after prayers at the mosque run by the opposition Umma Party in the capital's twin city Omdurman since its veteran leader, former premier Sadiq al-Mahdi, threw his support behind the protest movement. "Riot police swiftly moved in and fired tear gas at them," a witness told AFP. "They were also chanting freedom, peace, justice," the rallying cry of the protests that erupted in December against the three-decade rule of President Omar al-Bashir, the witness said. Demonstrations first broke out in the farming town of Atbara on December 19 after the government tripled the price of bread. But they swiftly ecalated into a broader protest movement that has been seen as the biggest threat to Bashir's rule since he took power in an Islamist-backed coup that toppled Mahdi's elected government in 1989. Officials say 30 people have died in violence related to the protests. Human rights groups say children and medics have been among more than 40 people killed. Alphabet Inc. GOOGL is slated to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 4. Googles expanding ad services portfolio, robust search engine, improving search features and strategic partnerships are expected to drive its ad revenues. Moreover, Google Cloud is recording substantial revenue growth, reflecting ongoing momentum in the business. Both the factors are expected to drive Alphabets results in the to-be-reported quarter. Click here to know how the companys overall Q4 performance is likely to be. Strengthening Search Initiatives to Drive Ad Revenues In the third quarter, Google generated ad revenues of $28.95 billion. Per eMarketer, Google controls almost 37.1% of the total U.S. digital advertising market. Facebook FB, with 19.6% share, holds the second spot. A plethora of new features namely Featured Videos, Activity Card, Collections, Enhancing Topics, Discover, Image Search, Google Lens and Pathways are aimed at enhancing the search results and modifying the feed content. Alphabet Inc. Revenue (TTM) Alphabet Inc. Revenue (TTM) | Alphabet Inc. Quote Google has introduced Discover feed specific preferences for languages and additional related content features. It is improving job search results by providing information on training programs depending on the type of job being searched and its availability. Additionally, the company rolled out a new search engine called Dataset Search to primarily cater to the needs of scientists and data journalists. Moreover, partnerships with the likes of Shopify SHOP and Mastercard MA boost Googles capability to provide relevant user information to advertisers, which they can use to target appropriate audience. However, the company is facing strict scrutiny from regulators over its search dominance, data privacy and data security policies. CEO Sundar Pichai was grilled by the House Judiciary Committee at Capitol Hill in December, last year. Moreover, the Republicans were of the view that there is a significant political biasness on Googles search platform, and hence questions were raised against its search algorithms. The increasing regulatory scrutiny doesnt bode well for the ad business. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter total ad revenues is $32.34 billion. Data Center Expansion to Boost Cloud Business Per third-quarter data from Synergy Research, Google gained 1% share over the trailing four quarters in the Cloud Infrastructure Services market, which is currently dominated by Amazon AMZN. Google has announced plans to set up a data center in Denmark, which will be located just outside of Fredericia. This will mark the companys fifth data center in Europe. Notably, the search giant will invest 600 million for the development of this new data center, which is likely to be an energy efficient one. The growing number of data centers not only strengthens Google Clouds competitive position but also provides better storage for its vast search data, emails, photos and most importantly cloud data with advanced security. Alphabet currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues 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 Shopify Inc. (SHOP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean protesters marched alongside the coffin of a 'comfort women' campaigner to the Japanese embassy on Friday in a protest over Japan's use of forced labor in its wartime brothels. A hearse carried the casket of Kim Bok-dong, who died this week at 93, to the embassy to highlight the plight of "comfort women," a Japanese euphemism for women who were forced into prostitution and sexually abused at Japanese military brothels before and during World War Two. "Japan must apologize," some of the protesters chanted during the march. "Japan provide formal compensation." Mourners carried banners thanking Kim for her devotion to the cause and called on Japan to atone for its actions. Some signs were in the shape of butterflies, a symbol of freedom for suffering women. The "comfort women" are a contentious issue between the two Asian neighbors which share a bitter history stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the Korean peninsula. Japan says the claims have been settled by past agreements and apologies, and that the continued dispute may threaten relations between the two countries. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters in Tokyo on Friday that it would be a problem if the event caused a "public disturbance" at the embassy or "infringement on its dignity." "DIGNIFIED" Kim, who died in hospital after battling cancer, was one of the first victims to come forward in 1992 and became a fixture at weekly protests outside the Japanese embassy. Kim said she was 14 when first sent to a military brothel, and forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers also in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for eight years. Never married, she dedicated her life to advocacy and traveled the world to tell her story. "I first met her during a protest in 2012 and she was sitting up straight even in the rain as she spoke about her struggle," said Kim Sam, a 27-year-old student campaigner. "Upright, dignified - that's how she always was, first as a victim and later as a human rights activist. She's a role model I respect the most." Lee Yong-soo, a fellow victim who paid her respects despite the cold weather, laid flowers at a bronze statue of a girl erected near the Japanese embassy to represent the women. Many mourners quietly sobbed and wiped their eyes as organizers aired a video clip in which Kim shouted during a rally that she would raise similar girl statues around the world until Tokyo sincerely apologized. Kim was a vocal critic of a 2015 deal in which Tokyo apologized to the victims and provided 1 billion yen ($9.2 million) to a fund in Seoul to help them. She said the apology was not sincere because some Japanese leaders continued to deny the women were forced to work in brothels. Moon's government has said it will not seek to renegotiate the 2015 deal. Last year it vowed to shut down the Japan-sponsored fund and pursue a more "victim-oriented" approach. With Kim's death, only 23 registered South Korean survivors are still alive, underscoring a sense of urgency behind efforts by the women to receive a formal apology and legal compensation from Japan while their voices can still be heard. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; additional reporting by Yijin Kim and Daewoung Kim in SEOUL and Tim Kelly in TOKYO; editing by Darren Schuettler) By Marja Novak LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenian centre-left Prime Minister Marjan Sarec said on Friday that his minority government will quit if parliament does not pass its 2019 budget plan in March but that it was holding talks with various factions to secure their support. In an interview with Reuters, Sarec also said the government planned to introduce a pension reform later this year and hoped to remove some of the bureaucratic hurdles facing potential foreign and domestic investors. Sarec's coalition government, which holds 43 out of 90 parliamentary seats, adopted a draft 2019 budget last week expecting a budget surplus of 0.5 percent of GDP and a spending increase of 4.8 percent to 10.2 billion euros compared to an earlier budget plan made by the previous government. "We can do nothing without the budget. If there is no budget there will be a (parliamentary) election," Sarec said in the interview. A former comedian turned politician who took power in September following June election, Sarec said the privatisation process of Slovenia's third largest bank Abanka was underway. As agreed with the European Commission in 2013 when the commission approved state aid to the bank, the bank is due to be sold by the middle of 2019. Sarec, whose government is due to announce a new privatisation strategy later this year, also said he was against any "poor-considered privatisations". "I believe we should privatise as little as possible, instead we should put good managers in state firms," he said. Slovenia is due to sell another 10 percent of its largest bank Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) in 2019, having sold 65 percent of the bank in November. The government will keep 25 percent of NLB in the long run to have a say in key business decisions. [nL8N1XK3ES] The planned pension reform would gradually increase retirement age, Sarec said, but gave no further details. At present Slovenians can retire at the age of 60. He also said that while not pessimistic about Slovenia's economic outlook, he was worried that Brexit and trade disputes could affect some of its main trading partners which are mostly other EU states. Export-oriented Slovenia, which narrowly avoided an international bailout for its banks in 2013, returned to growth a year later and expects the economy to expand by 3.7 percent this year versus some 4.4 percent in 2018. (Reporting By Marja Novak; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, is preparing to run for president. But hed like you to know that he would be no ordinary candidate he would run as a centrist independent. Schultz thinks that his candidacy is viable because 40 percent of American voters self-identify as independents. Neither party, he says, represents the silent majority of the American people. From his perspective, the increasingly acute split between the two parties means that many disaffected Republicans and Democrats are looking for a home, and Schultz wants to invite you to his guest house. Like Michael Bloomberg, he opposes the extremes of both parties: Hes a fiscal disciplinarian who rejects the Lefts lavish spending proposals on health care and college, but hes also a social progressive who breaks with Republicans on issues such as immigration. Schultzs perspective, of course, is a billionaires perspective. And if a billionaire feels politically homeless, its because he, like legions of finance and tech bros in Brooklyn and Palo Alto, is socially liberal but fiscally conservative. Neoliberal, in a word: a big fan of free markets, but an equally big fan of diversity, progress, and sustainability. Suspicious of socialism, but woke some might say performatively so on immigration, LGBT issues, racial justice, and abortion. When a billionaire with a platform or a yuppie with a Patagonia fleece vest tells you hes a centrist, or an independent, or a moderate, this is what he means. But what Schultz means by centrist is most definitely not what almost everyone else means when they report dissatisfaction with the two major parties. The vast majority of Americans who dont fit into either party box arent neoliberals theyre populists, the exact opposite of socially liberal but fiscally conservative. In a remarkable report for the Voter Study Group titled Political Divisions in 2016 and Beyond, political scientist Lee Drutman plotted a nationally representative political opinion survey of the 2016 electorate on an XY graph, with the X axis representing economic views and the Y axis representing social views. The result looks like this: Story continues Voters who are conservative on both economic and social issues are plotted in the upper-right quadrant, and voters who are liberal on both economic and social issues are plotted in the lower-left quadrant. Color-coding each voter with their choice in the 2016 election shows that voters in the upper-right overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump, and voters in the lower left overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton. That makes sense: These are the voters whose views are well represented by the platforms of the two major parties. But the real story is happening in the two quadrants whose views arent represented by Republicans and Democrats. The lower-right quadrant is where you end up if youre socially liberal but fiscally conservative, like Howard Schultz. That quadrant is a ghost town, representing a mere 3.8 percent of the electorate. Meanwhile, the upper-left quadrant those voters who are socially conservative but liberal on economic issues is packed. A full 28.9 percent of the electorate resides in what Drutman calls the populist quadrant, outnumbering even the conservatives in the upper right, who clock in at 22.7 percent. If youre in that quadrant, you might be frustrated by the Republicans embrace of corporate tax breaks and spending cuts, but youre probably also wary of Democrats who want open-door immigration and rapid social change. You might want working families to get a fair deal, but youre also proud to be a patriotic, often religious American. In short, youre a populist. And youre politically homeless. This is the silent majority that actually matters. But Schultz cant see its members, because their worldview is so far away from the ambient neoliberalism that thrives among big-city cosmopolitans such as himself. Schultz is simply projecting, assuming that voters are dissatisfied with the two-party system for the same reasons he and his fellow elites are. But as Drutmans research makes clear, there are two kinds of voters who can feel unrepresented by the major parties. The disposition that calls itself centrist tends to locate itself in the neoliberal quadrant even though voters in the populist quadrant are far more numerous and just as underrepresented by the two-party system. The potential power of the populist quadrant was realized by the victory of Donald Trump. Drutmans report concluded that the decisive factor that changed between 2012 and 2016 was that Republicans made gains among the populists. In 2012, Romney won populists by a 21 margin over Obama, but in 2016, Trump won these voters by a 31 margin over Clinton. Trumps personal weaknesses may render him vulnerable with these voters in 2020 his administration has been filled largely by Reaganites and neoliberals, which is hardly what populists voted for. Still, any candidate who can effectively occupy the populist quadrant could have an enormous advantage. Not only could such a candidate rely on those voters who identify as populist, but he would also enjoy some crossover appeal. Conversely, a candidate who occupies the neoliberal corner in the lower-right would be at an enormous disadvantage: While a neoliberal candidate could try to appeal to social liberals and economic conservatives, his home quadrant would remain empty. There is no neoliberal base. Which raises the question: Why do billionaires such as Howard Schultz retain such faith in the neoliberal formula despite the evidence that no voters want to drink it? Why are free markets and social justice the philosophy of choice in Seattle and Palo Alto if this combination is so disliked by everyone else? The answer can be found in the boardrooms where Howard Schultz made his living. Our era has witnessed an unprecedented groundswell of corporate progressive activism, from boycotts of the NRA to a push to legalize same-sex marriage to the circulation of open letters in support of trans rights and undocumented labor. Corporate leaders are largely white, well-educated, urban, and wealthy, and wokeness, especially to the younger half of that demographic, is a form of social currency. As Ross Douthat has pointed out, such activism is also an adaptive strategy to facilitate continued corporate enrichment: By taking the progressive side in the culture wars, corporations can earn goodwill from the resistance and deflect its regulatory impulses. This dynamic of woke capital is active not just with Howard Schultz, but in the neoliberal wing of the Democratic party. Candidates such as Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker use performative wokeness on social issues to hide their proWall Street orientation from the progressive base. For Gillibrand, that means tweeting about intersectionality on the heels of killing derivatives regulation; for Schultz, it means embarking on a media tour to tout a largely symbolic racial-bias training initiative for Starbucks employees. Political figures whose livelihoods or campaign coffers heavily depend on deregulated markets take it as a given that those markets shouldnt be toyed with, even as the American population sours on laissez-faire. To make up for that, these figures emphasize social issues. Indeed, Drutmans report found that the donor class of both parties is more conservative on economics and more liberal on social issues than voters. These elites are likely to feel homeless as figures like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders expose the unpopularity of laissez-faire. Yet many make Schultzs mistake and assume that their frustration is broadly shared. Its actually parochial. It is a travesty that centrism is defined in the U.S. as advocacy for a suite of unpopular ideas that are overrepresented in American life. Doubly so when the centrist is a billionaire who says he represents a supposedly silent majority of free-market social-justice advocates. The populists, the true silent majority, dont get to be called centrists. Theyre either written off as xenophobes or totally ignored. Donald Trump was the first candidate to pay attention to them and they deserve better. Its up to populists to demand more effective representation for their fusion of economic fairness and social conservatism. And its up to candidates to listen. More from National Review WASHINGTON (AP) In a bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump, the Senate voted 68-23 Thursday to advance an amendment that would oppose withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The amendment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell comes after Trump called for a drawdown of troops in both of those countries. The measure says the Islamic State and al-Qaida militants still pose a serious threat to the United States, and it warns that "a precipitous withdrawal" of U.S. forces from those countries could "allow terrorists to regroup, destabilize critical regions and create vacuums that could be filled by Iran or Russia." Trump abruptly tweeted plans for a U.S. pullout from Syria in December, arguing that the Islamic State had been defeated even though his intelligence chiefs have said the group remains a threat. Trump also ordered the military to develop plans to remove up to half of the 14,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan. McConnell didn't frame the measure as a reproach to the president, but he said before the vote that "I've been clear about my own views on these subjects." He said he believes the threats remain. "ISIS and al-Qaida have yet to be defeated," McConnell said. "And American national security interests require continued commitment to our missions there." The vote is the latest indication of deepening cracks between the Republican Senate and Trump on foreign policy matters. Similar rifts exist within Trump's own administration, evident this week when the heads of major U.S. intelligence agencies testified to the Senate and contradicted him on the strength of the Islamic State and several other foreign policy matters. Trump's announcement on Syria, meanwhile, prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. McConnell's amendment, which is nonbinding, would encourage cooperation between the White House and Congress to develop long-term strategies in both nations, "including a thorough accounting of the risks of withdrawing too hastily." Story continues Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., argued in support of the amendment on the Senate floor, saying Trump's withdrawal announcement has already undermined U.S. credibility in the region. "This is being used against us right now," Rubio said. "This is a very dangerous situation. That's why this is a very bad idea." Though many Democrats have argued that the U.S. should eventually withdraw from the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan, around half of them supported McConnell's resolution. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said after the vote that she believes it's "far past due for the United States to negotiate an appropriate end" to the conflict in Afghanistan. But she said she also agreed with McConnell that the "precipitous withdrawal" from either country without political resolutions would risk what troops there have already achieved. She voted in favor of the measure. Many of the most liberal members of the Senate including several Democrats who are eying presidential runs in 2020 voted against the amendment. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said he thinks Trump announced the withdrawals too abruptly, but the U.S. has been in Afghanistan and Syria for too long. "What McConnell is saying is let's maintain the status quo," he said. A handful of Republicans also opposed the amendment. McConnell's Kentucky colleague, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, missed the vote but said he was against it. "It's time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Syria," Paul wrote in a tweet, saying he stands with Trump. "It is ludicrous to call withdrawal after 17 years 'precipitous.'" A vote on final passage of the amendment could come early next week. If it succeeds, the language would be added to a wide-ranging foreign policy bill that has been pending on the Senate floor for several weeks. The legislation includes measures supporting Israel and Jordan and slapping sanctions on Syrians involved in war crimes. That bill has also split centrist and liberal Democrats over a provision by Rubio that seeks to counter the global Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians and their settlements. Israel sees a growing threat from the BDS movement, which has led to increased boycotts of the Jewish state in support of the Palestinians. That has led to a "boycott of the boycotts" as Israel pushes back against those aligned with BDS. In support of Israel, Rubio's measures would affirm the legal authority of state and local governments to restrict contracts and take other actions against those "engaged in BDS conduct." Several states are facing lawsuits after taking action against workers supporting BDS boycotts of Israel. Opponents say Rubio's measure infringes on free speech. The promised land. Last February, millions of black people who saw Black Panther were convinced theyd found it in Wakanda, the fictional, futuristic African country that had never been conquered or colonized. We searched cultural clothing shops for African apparel, bought Kendrick Lamars soundtrack and enthusiastically greeted each other with Wakanda Forever, fantasizing about returning to a place weve never known. We can only imagine how our ancestors, captured and coerced into slavery centuries ago, longed for the Wakanda that they did know the west and central regions of Africa beyond the doors of no return. For African-American slaves emancipated during the Civil War, the very idea of Wakanda might have been as elusive as El Dorado, the golden city of legends the Europeans were seeking as they first enslaved Africans and brought them to the New World. But with faith like a mustard seed, these newly free men, women and children set out for promised lands north and west, taking with them nothing but a newfound agency and independence as they paved the way for those of us who would follow. The Black Migrations theme of USA TODAYs 2019 Black History Month Special Edition, Exodus, on newsstand through Feb. 18, unpacks a lot of assumptions about the origin and place of African Americans in this country. As we approach the 400th anniversary of the African Arrival in Virginia in August, historians of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History show us how the incident is but a small part of the larger slavery picture. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Cultures multimedia exhibit In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience positions the arrival near the beginning of 13 historic migrations that trace black resilience and power rather than victimhood. Also in this issue, explore little-known civil rights milestones like the Red Summer of 1919 and the Sir George Williams affair in Canada. Its been 50 years since Woodstock, so we find out how Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone fared at that now-iconic event. Story continues Travel with us as we find out what its like to live abroad, and sample life in Botswana and in Jamaica, where Treasure Beach gave me my own Wakanda dreams. And try your hand at the first Black History Month Special Edition crossword puzzle, created by Jan Buckner Walker, one of only a handful of black puzzlemakers in the country. (Answers are here, but no peeking!) Find select content from the edition throughout February at our Civil Rights in America website, civilrights.usatoday.com. Special thanks this year goes to former Washington Post reporter Hamil R. Harris, who helped us distribute more than 18,000 copies of the special edition to museums, schools, libraries and churches across the country. Wakanda forever, Nichelle Smith Editor of the Black History Month 2019 special edition, Exodus, available for purchase here. nysmith@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In search of Wakanda: A new world of black agency and identity Rome (AFP) - The migrant rescue ship Sea Watch 3 has been detained in the Sicilian port of Catania for breaching safety and environmental laws, the Italian coastguard said Friday, after it disembarked dozens of people it had saved from the sea. The crew of the Dutch-flagged ship had expected the vessel to be detained or impounded as a show of strength from Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who says charity rescue boats aid illegal migration. "As assumed, we are blocked for political reasons! There was high pressure on the coastguard to find a reason to chain us," Sea Watch International said on Twitter. "They can chain our ships, but they can't chain solidarity!" it said. Sea Watch 3, which had been waiting off the coast of Sicily with 47 people it rescued in the Mediterranean on January 19, was finally allowed to anchor in Catania after six other countries agreed to take in thew migrants, including 15 minors. Officials then boarded the ship "to perform a technical inspection of conditions on board", the coastguard said. "During the inspection of the Sea Watch 3, a vessel certified as pleasure yacht, a series of non-compliances concerning both navigation safety and compliance with rules protecting the marine environment were noted," it said. The coastguard will "not permit the departure of the ship until they are resolved," it added, without providing further details. Should the ship be impounded, it would take the last rescue charity ship operating in the central Mediterranean out of action, though there is one more charity-run surveillance boat that aims to spot migrants in distress but is not equipped to help them. - Legal threats - Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the ship was a pleasure yacht, "which is not as a rule for carrying out rescues of migrants at sea". "In Italy this is not possible. If you are a millionaire and you buy a yacht, you are going to sail for your pleasure, not in order to substitute the Libyan or Italian coastguards," he said in a Facebook post. Story continues Sea Watch replied on Twitter that the ship is registered as a yacht because it is not a commercial boat. "This doesn't affect our ship's qualification as a rescue vessel. Come up with something new!" it said. France, Germany, Malta, Portugal, Romania and Luxembourg had said they would share care of the mainly Sub-Saharan group of migrants. Europe has been wrestling with divisions over migration since the crisis of 2015 when more than one million people arrived on its shores, many of them fleeing conflict in the Middle East. Salvini is looking into whether it is possible to ban charity rescue ships from Italian waters and has threatened legal action against the Sea Watch crew. He accuses them of sailing straight for Italy rather than taking the migrants to closer ports in Libya or Tunisia. The German charity says it tried but failed to get a response from Tripoli or Tunis and had no other option than to head to Italy. Sea Watch's mission head Kim Heaton-Heather told AFPTV on Thursday that he feared "problems with the authorities". "But I am also very, very certain that in the end, no matter what allegations are brought against the organisation, the ship or the crew as whole, none of these allegations will stick and the truth of the matter will come out," he said. Sajid Javids new measures to stop nasty knives such as the one shown above (L) are impossible to implement (TWITTER/GETTY) Sajid Javid announced plans to ban knife crime offenders and suspects from social media on Thursday but this could be impossible to implement, a cyber-psychologist has said. As part of a proposed government crackdown on the rising problem of knife crime and gang violence, the Home Secretary revealed a new series of measures to be able to control suspects carrying knives. The Knife Crime Prevention Orders proposal would impose a variety of sanctions such as bans on suspects using social media to create threatening environments. However, speaking to Yahoo News UK, University of Northumbria Cyber-psychologist Dr Dawn Branley Bell said the Governments proposed social media crackdown would be practically impossible to implement. Dr Branley-Bell said: Social media generally does not create new, unique behaviours, it just provides a different communication channel about behaviours and issues that already existed. I suspect that there are many more influences on knife crime and gang behaviour than social media sites. The professor also highlighted that with all the different methods of accessing the internet, it will be impossible to enforce orders across every platform. She said: There are millions (if not more) new posts on popular social media sites every single minute of the day, it is not possible to moderate all of this content. Yes certain blocks can be put into place, e.g., automatically censoring certain words, or blocking certain user accounts, but these are not difficult to overcome. I wonder in the meantime, if the effort required could be put to better use elsewhere. For example, out on the streets where knife crime is actually occurring. Mr Javids proposals to bar at risk people from using social media is already coming under fire from multiple critics. Enver Solomon, CEO of Just for Kids Law, told the BBC the government was resorting to harsh headline-grabbing initiatives that wont work. He said: This will do very little to address the underlying causes of knife crime and will push more young people into the criminal justice system. Story continues The Home Office proposes to ban knife crime offenders and suspects from accessing social media (GETTY) And Dr Branley-Bell told Yahoo News UK that the impact of policing social media and banning those suspected of knife crime may create new channels as the gangs are pushed underground. She continued: I agree that something needs to be done to tackle knife crime (and also negative material online) but this needs to be done in a way that is realistic and likely to result in the most positive impact. Social media can often give the authorities an indication about when or where trouble is likely to occur. If this information goes underground, this could potentially have an unexpected negative impact on our ability to react to situations. The new social media orders would target anyone in England and Wales aged 12 or over that is suspected of knife crime involvement even if they are not caught with a weapon. If a court is convinced that a police forces intelligence is right, it can impose sanctions including strict curfews, preventing offenders from meeting with other suspected gang members and court orders to attend knife awareness workshops. The new legislation is being debated at the House of Lords as part of the Governments wider Offensive Weapons Bill. Madrid (AFP) - Spain's far-right party Vox holds the key to the formation of a right-wing government in the southern region of Andalusia but is proving to be a tough partner for Spain's mainstream conservative parties. Vox this week warned it wouldn't back a coalition government in Andalusia made up of the Popular Party (PP) and Ciudadanos unless the two parties agree to end funding for measures to fight domestic violence. Formed in December 2013 by former PP members, Vox won a surprise 12 seats in Andalusia's regional elections last month after campaigning on a nationalist, anti-feminist agenda and polls show it could play a crucial role in national politics after the next polls. It was the first time that a far-right party has won representation in a Spanish regional parliament since the country returned to democracy following the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. The election outcome appeared to set up the end of 36 years of Socialist rule in Spain's most populous region but the PP and Ciudadanos together only have 47 seats in Andalusia's 109-seat regional parliament. Without the support of Vox they will not be able to form a government. Vox's national leader, Santiago Abascal, said his party wants to "replace ideological gender laws, which do not protect women and persecute men just for being men." - 'Will not retreat' - The party's demand for domestic violence legislation to be overturned sparked outrage in Spain where the fight against violence against women has been a national priority for years and where a resurgent feminist movement organised a massive strike in favour of gender equality last year. "This is not debatable, we will not retreat," Spain's Socialist Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo tweeted. "There is a violence and a contempt which is specifically aimed at women and girls around the world, it is called male chauvinism and patriarchy. Nobody can hide this reality." Story continues The national leader of the PP, Pablo Casado, said "one should not politicise domestic violence". "On this issues we all have to row in the same direction," he added. But his party partially ceded to Vox's demands on Friday by proposing that state aid to male victims of domestic violence be increased. "It seems to us to be a good start," said Abascal, who still wants the PP and Ciudadanos to sit at the negotiating table with Vox. The issue is especially tricky for Ciudadanos, which fears losing its more centrist credentials as well as its support in Europe by associating itself with a far-right party ahead of elections to the European Parliament in May. - 'Impassable wall' - Spain has up until now been immune to populist, nationalist right-wing politics which have gained ground in Italy, France and other European countries. But Vox has surged in the polls over the past year, buoyed by its tough opposition to Catalonia's separatist push and rising migrant arrivals. The party defends bullfights, calls for separatist parties to be banned and wants an "impassable wall" to be built around Ceuta and Melilla, two tiny Spanish territories in North Affrica which have the European Union's only land borders with Africa. It also wants the national health service to cease paying for abortions and an end to "subsidized radical feminist associations". Vox would capture 12.9 percent of the vote if a national election were held now, entering the national parliament with 43-45 seats, according to a poll published Wednesday in centre-right daily El Mundo. If the PP, Ciudadanos and Vox joined forces they would have an absolute majority in the 350-seat parliament of as much as 189 seats, according to the poll. The survey comes amid rising speculation that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will call a snap general election this year. His Socialists have only 84 seats and are struggling to approve their draft 2019 budget. WASHINGTON The mysterious phone calls that Donald Trump Jr. made before and after his meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower were not to his father, President Donald Trump, but rather to several business associates, according to media reports. The reports, from CNN and ABC News, which cited unnamed sources, say records given to the Senate Intelligence Committee revealed the identities of who Trump Jr. spoke with both in the hours after and in the days before the notorious 2016 meeting with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya, who the president's eldest son thought had compromising information on rival Hillary Clinton. The reports cast doubt on a theory long held by Democrats that the blocked phone calls were to his father, informing him of the controversial meeting. The Democrats theory seemed to hold weight for months due to contradicting explanations given by Trump Jr. about the meeting. Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started Trump Jr. first said the meeting was about U.S. - Russia adoption policies but that changed after the New York Times inquired about emails that showed the meeting was set up with the promise of obtaining "dirt" on Clinton. Trump Jr.'s phone calls became a focus due to the mysteriously blocked numbers. When he appeared before Congress, Trump Jr. said he did not remember who he spoke with in three calls with blocked numbers but said that he didn't speak to his father. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The president called the revelations about the calls "really sad." "Just out: The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me," Trump wrote on Twitter late Thursday. "They were made to friends & business associates of Don. Really sad!" Trump Jr. also relished in the news. "More of the Democrats #fakenews narrative disappearing before their eyes," he wrote on Twitter. "I wonder how many more false leaks will pop now to keep their dreams alive???" Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Two of the disputed phone calls happened two days before the June 9, 2016 meeting and a third, a three-minute conversation, happened just after the meeting, CNN reported. "I simply don't remember," Trump Jr. told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2017 when asked about who he spoke with on the phone. ABC News reported the phone calls were to NASCAR CEO Brian France and real estate developer Howard Lorber, citing three anonymous sources. Trump Jr. and his attorney did not respond to inquiries from USA TODAY. The first two phone calls happened on June 6, 2016, lasting about 11 minutes in total. The calls came one day before Trump, who was then a candidate for president, teased a "very interesting" announcement on Clinton. The calls also happened the same day Trump Jr. spoke with Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, whose publicist Rob Goldstone, set up the meeting, according to CNN. Agalarovs father, Aras, is a self-made oligarch and a billionaire developer. He and Trump partnered together to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Moscow in 2013. Democrats argued while this might clear up one unknown aspect of the Trump Tower meeting, it's still unclear why Trump Jr., Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, would take a meeting with a foreign national who was offering information on behalf of the Russian government. "I don't think this clears up much at all," Rep. Eric Swalwell argued on CNN. Swalwell, D-Calf., said if President Trump and his administration wants to put this whole inquiry about Russian influence in the election to rest, "just sit down in Bob Mueller's interview chair and come clean." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reports: Trump Jr.'s mysterious phone calls after Trump Tower meeting weren't with the president By Laurence Frost PARIS (Reuters) - Renault-Nissan is examining fees paid to consultants and political advisers including a serving European lawmaker, following Chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest and ouster from the helm of the carmaking alliance, two sources told Reuters. Past business relationships with French advisers and lobbyists are in focus as the carmakers embark on an independent audit of their Dutch-registered Renault-Nissan BV (RNBV) holding that Nissan had long demanded and Renault initially resisted. The Japanese carmaker is concerned that use of shared RNBV funds lacked transparency and may not have served the company's interests as much as those of Renault, or Ghosn himself, the sources said. Strategic PR adviser Claudine Pons and security consultant Alain Bauer have already confirmed reports they were paid via the holding for their services after a scandal at Renault in 2011 that almost forced Ghosn out. The company was hoaxed into firing three innocent executives over false spying accusations. The alliance also hired former justice minister Rachida Dati as a legal adviser soon after she left the government of then-president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009 to stand for the European Parliament, according to the same two sources. RNBV's dealings with Dati were unknown to Nissan, which co-funds the holding, spokesman Travis Parman said, when approached for comment. "Nissan is not aware of any such payments. We can't comment on specifics related to the joint audit," he said. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Dati, who is the highest-profile recipient of an alliance contract to have come to light. When contacted by Reuters, she referred questions to her lawyer, Olivier Pardo. Pardo said Dati had been hired by RNBV in October 2009, four months after leaving Sarkozy's government, and retained until February 2013. He declined to comment on her remuneration. "It was a retainer agreement that complied with the rules applying to lawyers," Pardo said. "It was a very broad and wide-ranging assignment, and since she is bound by professional secrecy I can't go into any more detail." Story continues The decision to end her RNBV contract was taken in October 2012, according to Pardo, five months after Francois Hollande succeeded her former mentor as French president. Spending on advisers appeared in RNBV accounts as a single line for consultants' fees, which exceeded 20 million euros in 2015 but included no further details, sources have said. Renault declined to comment on the RNBV audit. Ghosn, who was forced to resign as Renault chairman and CEO last week, has been charged with failing to disclose more than $80 million in additional Nissan compensation for 2010-18 that he had arranged to be paid later. Senior director Greg Kelly and the Japanese carmaker itself have also been indicted. Both men deny that the deferred pay deals were illegal or required disclosure. Ghosn has denied a separate breach of trust charge over personal investment losses he temporarily transferred to Nissan in 2008. The scandal has strained Nissan's 20-year-old partnership with 43.4 percent-owner Renault. Repairing the relationship is the biggest challenge facing Jean-Dominique Senard, who took over as Renault chairman last week, as Ghosn's deputy Thierry Bollore was promoted to chief executive. Nissan began pushing for an investigation into RNBV within hours of Ghosn's arrest, and formally proposed a joint audit on Dec. 19. But its calls were rebuffed by Renault under Bollore's leadership as interim CEO, several sources have told Reuters. Nissan stepped up pressure for a financial audit to be conducted independently of lawyers reporting to Mouna Sepehri, a senior executive close to Ghosn, following a Reuters report on Jan. 10 about her undisclosed pay, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Renault's board agreed to the audit the following week. Further management changes are now likely at Renault "within a month or so", a source close to Chairman Senard told Reuters. Mazars, the Paris-based audit firm selected last week to comb through RNBV's finances stretching back to its creation in 2002, is expected to complete its work by the end of February. ($1 = 0.8736 euros) (Reporting by Laurence Frost; Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry and Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Mike Collett-White) Congresswoman Ilhan Omar sits down with Through Her Eyes to discuss what it was like to live in a refugee camp and how everything changed when she came to America. London (AFP) - A British media watchdog on Friday fined a top pro-Brexit campaign and an insurance company headed by its donor for violating data protection rules. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the Leave.EU lobby group funded by Arron Banks used the personal data of his insurance company's clients to send them targeted political ads. Leave.EU and Eldon Insurance -- known as GoSkippy Insurance at the time -- were fined a total of A120,000 ($157,000, 137,000 euros). The amount was reduced by A15,000 from the fine originally announced in November following an appeal. The ICO concluded that Leave.EU used Eldon Insurance customers' details to unlawfully send them nearly 300,000 messages backing Britain's split from the European Union during the 2016 campaign. It said Eldon Insurance simultaneously broke the law by sending Leave.EU subscribers more than a million marketing messages without their consent. "It is deeply concerning that sensitive personal data gathered for political purposes was later used for insurance purposes; and vice versa," Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said. Denham said both groups have informed the ICO that they had made improvements to how they work with clients' data. The ICO intends to conduct an audit "to determine how they are using customers' personal information," she said. Banks is usually heavily active on Twitter but issued no immediate response. The businessman tweeted in November that "we may have accidentally sent a (political) newsletter to customers" of his insurance firm. "Gosh, we communicated with our supporters and offered them a 10 percent Brexit (insurance) discount after the vote! So what?" he also tweeted at the time. Vote Leave was the official and slightly larger pro-Brexit campaign, while Leave.EU was the biggest unofficial lobby group. It focused heavily on putting an end to migration and received backing from former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. The pro-Brexit camp won by a 52 to 48 margin. Britain is due to leave the bloc after 46 years on March 29. pot stock weed unlimited More than three dozen cannabis companies applied for the POT symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange after it became available this week. Potash Corporation relinquished the symbol, and so many Canadian companies wanted it that the CSE ran a first-ever random lottery for the symbol. A small firm in Vancouver, Weekend Unlimited, won the ticker in the lottery. The company formerly had the ticker YOLO, which stands for you only live once. Most sites like TradingView were still showing YOLO as the companys ticker. In the 24 hours after it officially became POT, it surged 65%. Pot Stock Almost Doubles after Winning Coveted Ticker Symbol pot stock weekend unlimited YOLO/POT (Weekend Unlimited) rose more than 90% in the 24-hour period. At the time Bloomberg wrote on the subject earlier today, YOLO/POT was on the way up. By press time it had risen more than 90% over the 24-hour period. The stock market is a psychological game. Traders believe in brand recognition. The strategy is likely along these lines: as people come in and invest in the marijuana industry, one of the first symbols they will consider is POT. Read the full story on CCN.com. Tokyo (AFP) - A Japan Airlines plane from New Delhi skidded off a snow-bound runway at Narita Airport on Friday, officials told AFP, briefly closing part of Tokyo's main hub. Spokespeople from the airport and the carrier said the 201 passengers and crew had all been escorted off the Boeing 787 jet with no serious injuries. The accident forced the airport to close one of its two runways for an hour from 7 am (2200 GMT Thursday), Narita spokesman Kazuhiko Morio told AFP. The runway was then closed again as the plane was moved out of a safety zone, Morio added. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear but public broadcaster NHK said one of the plane's tyres may have slipped on a rare patch of snow on the runway. The country's weather agency has forecasted light snow in part of the Kanto region in eastern Japan, including the area around Narita. Television footage showed some snow lingering on the ground at the airport although runways and taxiways were clear. Judging by the footage, the plane seemed to have sustained no damage in the accident. By Martin Petty and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - A deadly church bombing that shook the southern Philippines at the weekend was a suicide attack carried out by an Indonesian couple, with help of an Islamic State-linked group, the Philippine interior minister said on Friday. Citing information provided by witnesses and undisclosed sources, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said he was certain that an Indonesian man and wife were behind Sunday's attack on the mainly Muslim island of Jolo, which killed 22 people and wounded more than 100, including civilians and soldiers. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for what it said were suicide bombings. Such attacks are almost unheard of in the Philippines. "They are Indonesians," Ano, a former military chief, told CNN Philippines. "I am certain that they are Indonesians." Ano's remarks are the latest twist in a probe that has been fraught with inconsistent and sometimes contradictory accounts from authorities and, according to one investigator interviewed on television, complicated by a contaminated crime scene. Security officials had initially said the two bombs were remote detonated, but by Tuesday, that changed after President Rodrigo Duterte said it may have been a suicide bomber, a view supported by his defence minister. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said bag checks at the entrance to the church would have made it difficult to plant a bomb there, so a device strapped to the body was more likely. "According to the forensic investigators ... these body parts could belong to two persons: one inside the church and one outside," Lorenzana told reporters. Ano said the couple had received help from Abu Sayyaf, a militant organisation notorious for kidnappings and extremist factions. He said those who plotted the attack would have been under the instruction of an operative he said had been recognised by Islamic State. The violence has rekindled fears about the extent of Islamic State's influence in Southeast Asia, and the lure of Mindanao for extremists from Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere. Story continues Martial law has been in place in Mindanao since domestic and foreign fighters dressed in black outfits overran Marawi City in 2017 and clung on through five months of air strikes and street battles reminiscent of scenes in Syria and Iraq. The latest violence follow a peaceful Jan. 21 referendum that overwhelmingly approved autonomy for the predominantly Muslim parts of the Mindanao, following a peace accord that excluded the Abu Sayyaf. On Wednesday, two people were killed when a grenade was thrown into a mosque in nearby Zamboanga, a mainly Christian province. It is not clear who was behind it. (Editing by Nick Macfie) By Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats on Thursday hardened their positions over a wall being built on the border with Mexico, raising new doubts over their ability to reach a deal just as negotiations were getting underway. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters: "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation" to fund border security for the rest of this year. Instead, Pelosi said funding for more ports of entry or additional border security technology was open for negotiation. She added that the 17 House and Senate negotiators should decide the components of the nation's border security. But the Democratic negotiators went a step further from Pelosi's prohibition on wall funds, unveiling a detailed opening position containing no money for any type of additional physical barriers on the border to control the flow of undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs. Previously, Democrats have supported $1.3 billion for new border fencing this year or improvements to existing fencing. Asked by reporters about Pelosi's comment on wall funding, Trump, a Republican, said: "Without a wall, it doesnt work." Congress has a Feb. 15 deadline for coming up with a new plan for further securing the southwestern border. The bipartisan conference committee of House and Senate lawmakers held a public session on Wednesday with the goal of producing a deal in about a week so it could be voted on by both chambers by the deadline. TORRENT OF TWEETS Democratic leaders have called on Trump to stand aside and let the negotiators do their work as a way of fostering success. Ignoring that advice, Trump issued a series of tweets on Thursday predicting failure and sounding alarms. "More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large Caravans," Trump tweeted. In another tweet, he declared Democrats were becoming the party of "open borders and crime." Story continues At the same time, each side has left some potential openings for the congressional negotiators to exploit. Evan Hollander, a House Appropriations Committee spokesman, said the Democratic plan detailed on Thursday was the party's "position entering conference negotiations" and "every proposal raised by conferees will be thoughtfully considered." Pelosi got into a few specifics at her news conference. "Is there a place for enhanced fencing? Normandy fencing would work. Let them have that discussion," she said, referring to low-slung vehicle barriers. For his part, Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said, "you can have other things" securing the border, "but the other things only really work if you have a physical barrier." On Capitol Hill, Republican negotiator Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama did not seem overly concerned about Pelosi's statements, calling them "ambiguous." But he said if Pelosi, Trump and party leaders "would let us, the appropriators, do our job, we could do this." Calling himself hopeful, Shelby said, "I think if we're going to get a deal, we'll get it probably in the next 10 days." A Democratic negotiator, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, brushed aside Trump's tweets, saying people are paying less attention to them. "A lot of the Republicans told me they wished he (Trump) would not do that," Leahy said. Trump has demanded $5.7 billion for this fiscal year to start construction on a border wall that he envisioned during his 2016 campaign as being 2,000 miles (3,200 km) long and made of concrete. Since then, he has said it would not run the full length of the border, could be made of other materials such as steel slats - and that the wall could be called "peaches" if that was a way to get around the semantics of a "wall." And he has maintained that large sections had already been built. But on Thursday, Trump reversed himself. "Lets just call them WALLS from now on and stop playing political games!" he tweeted. "A WALL is a WALL!" Without a deal by Feb. 15, a partial government shutdown could resume. The president also has said he would consider declaring a national emergency in order to divert existing funds to build a wall, which would almost certainly trigger a constitutional legal challenge. Included in the Democrats' plan was $98 million above last year for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire 1,000 more customs agents, and $400 million for buying and deploying security technology. Democrats also called for new constraints on the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to place in deportation proceedings the sponsors of undocumented immigrant minors who are in the United States without their parents. (Reporting by Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan; additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a subscription valued at $60. While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, well look at ROE to gain a better understanding of China Communications Services Corporation Limited (HKG:552). Over the last twelve months China Communications Services has recorded a ROE of 9.1%. Another way to think of that is that for every HK$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn HK$0.091. Check out our latest analysis for China Communications Services How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders Equity Or for China Communications Services: 9.1% = 2841.021 CN32b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 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 all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. Shareholders equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does Return On Equity Signify? Return on Equity measures a companys profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The return is the yearly profit. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. Does China Communications Services Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess companys ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see China Communications Services has a similar ROE to the average in the Telecom industry classification (11%). Story continues SEHK:552 Last Perf February 1st 19 That isnt amazing, but it is respectable. ROE doesnt tell us if the share price is low, but it can inform us to the nature of the business. For those looking for a bargain, other factors may be more important. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Most companies need money from somewhere to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. 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. China Communications Servicess Debt And Its 9.1% ROE China Communications Services has a debt to equity ratio of just 0.013, which is very low. Although the ROE isnt overly impressive, the debt load is modest, suggesting the business has potential. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. But Its Just One Metric Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. 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. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth and how much investment is required going forward. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company. Of course China Communications Services may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have high ROE 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. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's Republican-led House endorsed legislation Thursday that would prevent a doctor from using instruments like clamps, scissors and forceps to remove a fetus from the womb. Representatives voted to outlaw the abortion practice known as dilation and evacuation, the most commonly used procedure in second-trimester abortions. The bill uses the non-medical term "dismemberment abortion" and is graphic in describing it. Except in cases of an emergency, doctors performing the procedure would be charged with a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The measure says a woman having the abortion would not face charges. Abortion-rights groups argue that banning the procedure is unconstitutional because it interferes with private medical decisions. Laws banning the procedure are on the books in Mississippi and West Virginia, while Ohio's new law will take effect in March, according to the New York-based Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights research organization. Similar laws are on hold because of legal challenges in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Last month, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes North Dakota, heard oral arguments over a judge's decision to block Arkansas from enforcing its law. The North Dakota bill now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate. Republican Gov. Doug Burgum has not indicated whether he would sign or veto the measure. If passed, the measure would not take effect until the state's attorney general recommends it is "reasonably probable" it "would be upheld as constitutional," according to the bill. Republican Rep. Luke Simons, the bill's sponsor, said the decision from the federal appeals court on the Arkansas law likely would decide if the North Dakota law moves forward. North Dakota has one abortion provider, the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo. Clinic director Tammi Kromenaker has said her facility's lawyers would wait for a decision in the Arkansas case before deciding on possible legal challenges to North Dakota's legislation. Story continues The measure is the second to pass North Dakota's House this week, and the first time in six years lawmakers in the conservative state have pushed bills restricting abortion. On Monday, representatives approved legislation that would require abortion providers to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions that they could still have a live birth if they change their mind. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said there is no medically accepted evidence that a drug-induced abortion can be interrupted. That proposal follows similar and successful bills in Idaho, Utah, South Dakota and Arkansas. Paris (AFP) - Oxfam and 53 other organisations Friday accused EU governments of being complicit in the "tragedy" of migrants crossing from Libya to Italy, saying more than 5,300 people had died in the Mediterranean in the past two years. In an open letter, the NGOs called on European governments to support rescue operations and stop sending migrants back to Libya, where the organisations said they face abuse. With the support of the EU, Italy and Libya in February 2017 signed a deal to stem the flow of migrants from North Africa to Italy, with Rome and the EU to provide support for Libyan coastguards while Tripoli would prevent people leaving its shores for Europe. But in two years, "more than 5,300 women, men and children perished in the Mediterranean", the NGOs said in their open letter. According to the groups, EU governments have become "complicit in the tragedy unfolding before their eyes" because people are in more danger at sea and are being returned to Libya. The NGOs highlighted the plight of migrants detained in Libya. "Many are mistreated before being sold to armed groups or as slaves," Jon Cerezo, humanitarian campaign head at Oxfam France, said in a statement from the NGO. The humanitarian organisations called on EU governments to "stop sending people rescued at sea back to Libya". They also said these governments should support "search and rescue operations and ensure that people rescued at sea can arrive safely and without delay to Europe". Logo of jester cap with thought bubble. Image source: The Motley Fool. National Fuel Gas Co (NYSE: NFG) Q1 2019 Earnings Conference Call Feb. 01, 2019, 11:00 a.m. ET Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks: Operator Good morning. My name is Adam, and I'll be your conference operator today. At this time, I'd like to welcome everyone to the Q1, 2019 National Fuel Gas Company Earnings Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise, and after the speakers' remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) Thank you. Ken Webster, Director of Investor Relations, you may begin your conference. Kenneth Webster -- Director of Investor Relations Thank you, Adam, and good morning. We appreciate you joining us on today's conference call for a discussion of last evening's earnings release. With us on the call from National Fuel Gas Company are Ron Tanski, President and Chief Executive Officer; Dave Bauer, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer; and John McGinnis, President of Seneca Resources. At the end of the prepared remarks, we will open the discussion to questions. The first quarter fiscal 2019 earnings release and January investor presentation have been posted on our Investor Relations website. We may refer to these materials during today's call. We would like to remind you that today's teleconference will contain forward-looking statements. While National Fuel's expectations, beliefs and projections are made in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, actual results may differ materially. These statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and you may refer to last evening's earnings release for a listing of certain specific risk factors. National Fuel will be participating in the Scotia Howard Weil Energy Conference in March. If you plan on attending, please contact me or the conference planners to schedule a meeting with the management team. Story continues With that, I'll turn it over to Ron Tanski. Ronald J. Tanski -- President and Chief Executive Officer Thanks, Ken. Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us. Just a quick word on logistics today, to avoid travel complications due to weather in the Midwest and Northeast, I ask John McGinnis to stay safely in Houston and call-in from the office there. Now, onto our earnings release, where you can see that we had a really good opening quarter for our 2019 fiscal year. Our operating plans that I laid out during our call last November are moving along right on target. Our study approach in our upstream drilling business is working out quite well. We continue to fill the firm transportation capacity that we have lined up. We don't have to drill an excessive number of wells to hold expiring leases. Early results in our Utica development show that production is right in line with our initial projections and that has helped us to increase our overall production level with just the three rigs that we have active. In our gathering operations, which run pretty much in lockstep with Seneca, our capital expenditures will be lower this year since we're revisiting existing Marcellus pads to drill deeper Utica wells, and only minor additions to the gathering infrastructure are necessary to take in production from the newer Utica wells. In our interstate pipeline business, there have been no major changes to the status of our pipeline projects. We're almost ready to kick off construction of our Line N to Monaca lateral that will be used to provide operational gas to the Shell petrochemical plant being built in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. With respect to our other expansion projects, our engineers are busy working on the details of our Empire North project, which still has a target in-service date for the second half of fiscal 2020. We're expecting to receive our FERC certificate for this project within the next two months. Our engineers are also busy with our FM100 project, that's paired with Transco's Leidy South project, both of which have a late calendar 2021 target in-service date. And it's our lawyers, rather than our engineers that continue to focus on our Northern Access project. We're encouraged by a recent federal DC Circuit Court decision in an unrelated, California and Oregon case had determined that state agencies cannot exceed one year in their processing of a section 401 Water Quality certificate. We're hoping that this recent federal court decision will allow the FERC to quickly dismiss New York's rehearing request on FERC's most recent authorization for our project. In our Utility business, our system is holding up quite well as we've reached peak flow of 1 billion cubic feet or more per day during the bitter cold over the last four days. But for the financial quarter we were only about 3% colder than normal in New York and just about normal in Pennsylvania. I'd like to give a shout out to all of our field operations folks and the people manning our phone centers for keeping the gas flowing and fueling our customer's furnaces and boilers on the coldest of winter days like we've experienced over the past week. For us, it's not a surprise that our system has held up so well. Over the last nine years, we've invested almost $700 million to upgrade our utility system and keep it reliable for our 750,000 customers. We've been able to do that and keep our residential customer rates at levels that are the lowest of any utility in both New York and Pennsylvania. What is surprising, to me anyway, is that given New York State's proximity to one of the most prolific and inexpensive clean burning fuel sources in the world, Albany recently announced a target of 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and a green new deal to ultimately make New York carbon-neutral. That's a pretty tall order given that right now approximately 40% of the electricity that's generated in the State is generated with natural gas, and in our service territory, over 95% of households heat with natural gas. So far the transition away from natural gas isn't going so well in New York City, where Consolidated Edison recently announced a moratorium on hooking up new gas customers. People looking to switch from fuel oil and developers looking to build new buildings in New York City are outraged that they can't enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas. We believe that natural gas can continue to provide solutions as we continue to transition to renewables, but that transition could take a long time. In the National Fuel Service territory, our system can adequately handle our customer's needs without a problem. But I'm not sure what might happen if state policies are fully enacted that will require our customers to change out their heating systems and move away from natural gas as a fuel that they relied on forever. While people like to talk about switching to renewables, no one ever continues the discussion long enough to talk about the costs to the ultimate consumer involved in such a switch. We'll be keeping an eye out and get involved in State Energy Policy discussions and try to assure that our customers can maintain access to reliable and affordable energy solutions. So, what do I see for the overall Company for the rest of the year? Well, we'll be sticking with our same basic plan; operating three drilling rigs to develop our acreage and grow production at a steady pace, and we'll continue to work on our pipeline projects in our interstate pipeline business. We will have a slight outspend this year that's easily handled with the cash on our balance sheet. It's our intention to generally live within cash flows, but we don't expect to be in the capital markets until we refinance one of our long-term notes that matures in 2022. I think our shareholders can take comfort in the consistency of our operating plans and our commitment to returning capital to shareholders through our dividend payments that we've increased each year for the last 48 years. I'll ask John McGinnis to give us some more details on Seneca's operations. John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Thanks, Ron, and good morning from Houston everyone. Seneca had a great first quarter. We produced 49.2 Bcfe compared to 40.1 Bcfe in last year's first quarter, an increase of almost 10 Bcfe or 23%. In Pennsylvania, we produced 45.3 Bcfe, up by 28% compared to last year's Q1. On a sequential basis, quarterly production increased by around 2 Bcfe or around 4%. As a result of maintaining a steady three-rig pace in Pennsylvania, we should continue to see quarter-over-quarter production growth through the remainder of the year. We had marketing curtailments early in the quarter just over 0.2 Bcf, related primarily to delays in the Atlantic Sunrise in-service date. But spot prices quickly rebounded and have been strong since, ranging in the plus/minus $3 neighborhood. Our fiscal '19 CapEx and production guidance remain the same with capital expenditures ranging from $460 million to $495 million and production ranging between 210 Bcfe to 230 Bcfe. And please recall, this assumes no significant marketing curtailments for the remainder of the year. During the quarter, we brought online seven new Utica wells in the WDA; three at the end of November and another four at the last week of December. The completed lateral length related to these wells average well over 9,000 feet, so they're taking a bit longer to clean up, but very early results suggest that these seven wells are all in-line with our WDA Utica type-curve expectations. We now have 17 Utica wells online in the WDA with an additional 10 Utica wells remaining later during the year. Our type-curve remains at 1.7 Bcf per thousand-foot, and this curve can be compared to our '17 well average in our most recent investor presentation on Page 18. Once the all 27 wells have been online for a few months, we will then provide an updated type-curve and provide additional insight related to our drill and completion design optimization. As a reminder, our testing to-date has been focused on drill target, stage spacing and well spacing during this early phase of appraisal. Once optimized, we'll begin focusing on proppant loading and proppant type and mix, among other factors. We have many years of Utica development inventory on our WDA fee acreage, so we're going to be deliberate and patient in our approach toward optimizing well and completion design as we move forward. Our next WDA Utica appraisal well is currently scheduled for late fiscal '19 located about five to 10 miles North East of Boone Mountain. For the remainder of the year, we plan to bring to production 10 Utica and six Marcellus wells in the WDA and four Utica and 13 Marcellus wells in the EDA. But please keep in mind, our development plans are subject to change during the year. Our current development pace will allow us to grow naturally into our firm transportation commitments at each of our key receipt point over the next three years. This includes our Atlantic Sunrise volume commitment of a 190 million a day in Lycoming; our firm transport and sales portfolio of around 125 million a day in Tioga, which includes our Tract 007 Utica development; and our most recent 330 million a day Leidy South commitment, which allows us to continue to develop our significant Marcellus and Utica WDA inventory over the next decade and provide access to a market that is currently trading well above NYMEX. We expect natural gas production to range between 194 Bcf and 214 Bcf this fiscal year, an increase of over 25% from fiscal '18 at the midpoint. As stated prior, we produced 45.3 Bcf in the first quarter; and during the second quarter, we plan on bringing online six new wells, two Marcellus wells in Lycoming and four Utica wells on our 007 Tract in Tioga. These wells will be the first wells brought online in Tioga since late 2016. Moving forward, we have locked in approximately 114 Bcf of firm sales in Pennsylvania at an average realized price of $2.41 per Mcf; and another 29 Bcf for production with basis protection through our firm sales portfolio. Therefore, we already have over 85% of our remaining fiscal '19 production protected by firm sales, securing significant growth at attractive prices. We currently estimate around 16 Bcf available for sale into the spot market, but as we see opportunities, we will continue to layer in additional firm sales and in effort to avoid potential price related curtailments. In California, we produced 654,000 BOEs of oil during the first quarter, a decrease of around 17% from last year's first quarter. This decrease was largely driven by the sale of our Sespe oilfield and due to natural decline across our fields; and to a lesser extent, a temporary drop in steaming activity at South Midway Sunset also contributed to both a small drop in oil production and LOE. Dave will add a bit more detail regarding California operating expenses in a moment. Finally, we have recently received our requested steam injection permit for our Pioneer farm-in and located adjacent to our South Midway field. As a result, we will begin drilling both production and steam injection wells in Pioneer this year. We should begin to see production growth related to this field during fiscal 2018, as our steaming operations begin to heat the reservoir. In addition, at Coalinga, we have recently drilled a successful saltwater disposal well that increases our available water disposal volume. As a result, this will also allow for new production wells to be drilled this year and will be our first development activity in Coalinga since 2015. We continue to generate significant free cash flow in California and around 79% of our expected fiscal '19 oil production is hedged at an average price of $57.57 per barrel. And with that, I'll turn it over to Dave. David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer Thanks, John, and good morning, everyone. Overall, the first quarter was a good one for National Fuel with each of our major operating segments delivering increased earnings over last year. Consolidated GAAP net income was $1.18 per share. Adjusting for items impacting comparability, operating results for the first quarter were $1.12 per share, up 10% compared to last year's first quarter. To echo Ron's earlier comments, our focus in 2019 is on execution. With line of sight on future pipeline capacity out of the basin, our plan has us growing the upstream and midstream portions of our business, while living within cash flows over the medium and long-term. First quarter was right on track with that plan. Production and capital met expectations and we had a nice tailwind from natural gas prices. Our first quarter results had a fair amount of accounting noise related to tax reform, hedging ineffectiveness and changes in accounting standards. First, as you may recall, tax reform made AMT credits refundable subject to sequestration. Last fiscal year, when we recorded a receivable for those AMT credits, we booked a $5 million reserve for that sequestration. This past December, the Office of Management and Budget determined that sequestration would not apply to AMT refunds, so we reversed the reserve in this quarter's results. The second item impacting comparability relates to a $6.5 million unrealized gain from ineffectiveness associated with hedges of our California oil production. The financial hedging market at Midway Sunset is fairly illiquid, so instead we use a combination of WTI and Brent contracts to hedge that production. Over the past few quarters, the spread between Midway Sunset and WTI pricing has tightened considerably so much so that we've experienced ineffectiveness on a portion of our WTI hedges. In other words, the value of our hedging contracts has increased far more than our underlying production has decreased, which is a good thing. Under the accounting rules, this ineffectiveness was recorded as a gain in the quarter's results. We were required to adopt two new accounting standards this quarter. The first relates to the investments we've made in marketable securities to fund our non-qualified benefit obligations. Previously, changes in the fair value of those investments flowed through other comprehensive income. But effective October 1, we now have to mark those investments to market through the income statement. With the decline in the equity markets in December, we recorded approximately $6 million in losses on these investments which we highlighted as an item impacting comparability. Going forward, we intend to adjust our operating results for this mark-to-market activity to the extent it's material for a given quarter. We also adopted new pension accounting rules that require us to remove approximately $7.4 million of non-service pension costs from O&M expense and present them below operating income; in our case, in the other income and deductions line item on the income statement. Though this change gives the appearance of higher operating income, particularly at the utility, it has no impact on earnings. We reclassed last year's income statement to reflect these new rules, so the amounts in last night's release are at apples-to-apples with this year. Page 64 of our current IR slide deck contains further details on this change. Excluding these accounting items, our results for the quarter were right in line with our expectations. The earnings release does a good job highlighting the key drivers of quarter-over-quarter earnings, but there were a few items worth noting. At Seneca, NYMEX and spot prices increased meaningfully in the latter half of the quarter. We were very well hedged to start the year. So we didn't see a large benefit, but it was nonetheless a nice uplift to our in-basin spot sales and unhedged NYMEX firm sales. On the flip side, the end of the year run up in NYMEX did cause an increase in the Pennsylvania impact fee, which is reflected in Seneca's other taxes line item. That fee is determined based upon the age of our wells and the average NYMEX gas price for the year. The run up in the December contract pushed the calendar 2018 average price up over $3 per MMBTU, which moved the impact fee into a higher tier for the entire year. We have been accruing at the lower tier for the first three quarters of calendar '18, so we had to catch up that accrual. As a result, other taxes increased by $2.1 million. Based on the natural gas prices in our guidance; $3.25 for winter and $2.75 for summer, we expect calendar 2019 prices will average a shade below $3. Therefore, we will be accruing for the impact fee at the lower tier for the remainder of the year or until our pricing expectations change. In California, production was down year-over-year, principally due to the sale of our Sespe field last spring. We also saw a slight decline in California production related to a short-term reduction of our steaming operations at Midway Sunset. So we are now back to normal injection rates and production is returning to its natural decline. This phenomenon, which was the primary driver of the drop in per-unit LOE in the first quarter occurred when (inaudible) all natural gas prices spiked late last summer. Looking forward, we anticipate the second quarter. Excuse me, being a higher LOE quarter, likely in the 90% to 95% range, due to the combination of high steam fuel prices and a return to normal steam injection rates. However, on a positive note, we made some changes to our supply portfolio and now source almost all of our steam fuel at indices that are more closely tied to Rocky's pricing. This should result in Q3 and Q4 seeing costs returning to more normal levels. Therefore, we're keeping our full year LOE guidance at $0.85 to $0.90 per Mcfe. On the regulated side of the business, the quarter was right in line with our expectations. That being said, there was a fair amount of activity with the FERC. In December, Supply Corporation filed its Form 501-G. In it we committed to file a new Section 4 rate case by the end of this coming July. If you recall, our 2015 rate settlement requires us to file a rate case by the end of calendar 2019. Assuming we now file in July, new rates will go into effect in February 2020. At Empire Pipeline, we reached a settlement in the rate case we filed in June. As we discussed on prior calls, the case was filed because of the loss of a large shipper that had Canadian import capacity on the original Empire Connector project. The settlement also addresses the impact of tax reform on our rates. The outcome was in line with our expectations with an estimated increased to Empire's revenue of $4.6 million annually. The settlement removes one of the larger uncertainties in our pipeline and storage revenue forecast and therefore allows us to reaffirm our revenue guidance for the segment of approximately $285 million for the full fiscal year. Turning to guidance, we're increasing our earnings expectations for the fiscal year to a range of $3.45 to $3.65 per share at the midpoint, a $0.05 per share increase over our previous guidance. This increase reflects our strong performance through the first quarter and our updated commodity price assumptions detailed in last night's release. Our capital spending plans are unchanged. We continue to expect that our funds from operations should cover substantially all of our capital spending for fiscal 2019. We might be in a short-term borrowing position, hit low points in our working capital cycle, but over the course of the year, any financing need should be met from the cash balance with which we started the fiscal year. With that, I'd like to turn it over to the operator to open the line for questions. Questions and Answers: Operator Thank you. (Operator Instruction) And your first question does come from Holly Stewart of Scotia Bank Weil. Holly, your line is open. Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst Good morning gentlemen. Maybe the first one for John. John, I think you kind of talked about the new EDA production coming on in Q2 '19, but you went pretty fast. Can you give us those well numbers again? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Good morning gentlemen. Maybe the first one for John. John, I think you kind of talked about the new EDA production coming on in Q2 '19, but you went pretty fast. Can you give us those well numbers again? Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst And that's all in 2Q? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources And that's all in Q2. Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst Okay, great, thank you. And then, maybe as it relates to that, are you full on your Atlantic Sunrise capacity today? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Yes. Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst Okay, great. Thank you. And then maybe, maybe for -- one for Dave or John, just thinking about bases here going forward, I think the bases for the quarter was a little weaker than our expectations. We don't know if that's firm sales running through there or if that's just the addition of the Atlantic Sunrise capacity? Can you just help us think about that going forward? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Yeah. I mean it was certainly stronger than we expected during the early winter months but it has fallen back and I think it's just that production is so high in Pennsylvania these days. And with a bearish storage report, I just think we've seen a bit of a fall off related to bases in that area. It's hard for me to really predict how it's going to look going forward, to tell you the truth. Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst Okay. All right, great, thanks guys. That's all I had. Operator Your next question comes from Chris Sighinolfi from Jefferies. Chris, your line is open. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Hey, thanks a lot. Good morning, guys. Ronald J. Tanski -- President and Chief Executive Officer Good morning Chris. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Following from Holly's questions and maybe just to start on firm sales, it looks like, we added a bunch in the period, at least since December deck or the back half of this year and early fiscal '19. So John, I'm just curious, is that something that you had stated as an ambition to fill that wedge over time? And we're obviously paying attention to the dialing back in ambitions from some of your gas E&P peers in the Northeast. Just wondering how that market is shaping up for you? Is that sort of consistent with prior expectations or have you done arguably more to-date than you thought you would at this point? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources I think it was consistent. Definitely the increase in prices, as we moved into November helped a little bit. But as they did run up in mid-November, we added a portfolio firm sales, both a combination of fixed bases and also fixed price. And really our focus was at the back half of fiscal '19 going into 2020, Our '19 is in great shape. As I stated before, we're about 85% hedged plus and so we're fine there. We'll continue to focus on fiscal '20. But I think it was in line with what we're thinking in our expectations. I think we added, if I remember correctly, it was about 50 a day this summer in fiscal '19 Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Yeah, that looks like the delta from -- at least from the presentation slide so, OK, that's helpful. And then I guess switching gears a little bit. Dave, appreciate the color on the Empire settlement. Realize it's not sort of fully signed and sealed by the FERC yet. But you had mentioned that in line, just to confirm the expansion project you have there. That's entirely negotiated, is that right and it's not impactful at all any outcome change. David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer The Empire North project? Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Yes. David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer Yes. Yes, that's a negotiated rate deal. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Okay. And then Dave, I saw in the -- this is just a point of clarification or curiosity from my perspective, I saw about $8 million in what you say as net share repurchase in the quarter. Is that just to satisfy sort of year-end equity grants? David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer I believe so. Yeah, I believe that's the case. So we'll double-check that and if it's not, Ken will get back to you. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Okay. It just was something that stood out to me. I haven't seen that number in a little bit. So just figured I would ask about it. And then, maybe the final question from me is, Ron you made some statements in your opening remarks about clearly what we've experienced down here, the issues from Con Ed in Westchester County, you mentioned sort of the costing items that wanting to have a renewable portfolio, can't help but notice that that's part of what they're discussing in California as it pertains to problematic TPA agreements that PCG has that maybe started some of their financial issues. Obviously the issues have gotten worse with the fires. But other than identifying it, has there been any tangible discussions with the Commission about either what New York or Pennsylvania does in regard to approaching this? Ronald J. Tanski -- President and Chief Executive Officer No. No, I think the -- and I think that's the struggle Chris, is there is all these pronouncements, but when it comes time to actually getting renewable plant on the ground, frankly those developers are having as much trouble citing their new either wind turbines or solar farms as much as we are getting pipelines on the ground. There seems to be -- no matter where someone wants to put something up, somebody is going to be complaining about it or they don't want it in their backyard. So I think it is going to be a struggle to -- just to get those resources developed. But what would be nice is to be able to have a discussion about it rather than like things these days so much being very polarized and just -- instead of shouting matches, we just need to talk and have everyone understand what those costs are going to be. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Okay, that's great. Alright, thanks a lot for the color this morning guys. Appreciate it. Operator (Operator Instructions) And we do have Chris Sighinolfi back from Jefferies. Chris, your line is open again. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Hey, thanks guys, I was going to get back in the queue, but I'm the only one there. The -- Dave, one question, follow-up question I did have, you were discussing impact the tiers. I'm less verse -- well versed in sort of where those different tier points hit you? Can you just describe that in a little bit or revisit in a little bit more detail? David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer Yeah, I'm pretty sure Chris that it's the $3 is a line in the sand. For us it was -- this past year, it was $3 was the tier. John I'm -- honestly, I don't remember the -- how the tiers move from that. John, do you know? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Yeah, actually I do. Actually, the range is above $3 it's -- if in year one it's about $50,000 below $3, it drops $5,000. So, it is a range that goes from $2.26 to $2.99 that for each well, both producing and drilled, it will drop that impact fee by $5,000. So, it adds up when you kind of quite a few wells. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Okay. Yeah, sure, and so that's the realized price, on average, in the first year, is that the point? John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources Yes, it's the annual average -- not the realized price, it's the average Henry Hub NYMEX across that calendar year. Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst Okay, wonderful. Thanks a lot guys. Appreciate the added color. Operator And we have no further questions at this time. So, I'll turn the call back over to Ken Webster for some closing remarks. Kenneth Webster -- Director of Investor Relations Thank you, Adam. We'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to be with us today. A replay of this call will be available at approximately 3:00 PM Eastern Time on both our website and by telephone and will run through the close of business on Friday, February 8th. To access the replay online, please visit our Investor Relations website at investor.nationalfuelgas.com. And to access by telephone, call 1-800-585-8367 and enter conference ID number 7996513. This concludes our conference call for today. Thank you and goodbye. Operator And thank you for your participation, you may now disconnect. Duration: 34 minutes Call participants: Kenneth Webster -- Director of Investor Relations Ronald J. Tanski -- President and Chief Executive Officer John P. McGinnis -- President of Seneca Resources David P. Bauer -- Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer Holly Stewart -- Scotia Howard Weil -- Analyst Christopher Sighinolfi -- Jefferies -- Analyst More NFG analysis Transcript powered by AlphaStreet This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability. More From The Motley Fool Motley Fool Transcribers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. A mum has divided the Internet after claiming schools should stay open in the snow. Kerry Davies appeared on Good Morning Britain today to debate whether children should be given time off school when the weather turns Baltic. Snowfall and freezing temperatures have forced the closure of many schools across the country, with thousands of children being granted snow days after the wintry conditions set in earlier this week. For some parents their childrens school being shut presents an opportunity to get out and enjoy the snow, for others, however, an enforced snow day presents a childcare dilemma because many are unsure whether they are entitled to take time off work in such circumstances. Mum-of-two, Davies, who appeared to debate the issue alongside Kerry Katona, argued that schools were often too quick to shut their gates when snow falls. Explaining that she dreads snow days she said: I have had to take my youngest to work with me in the past and my argument is if I can get to work the teachers can get to work. She cited an example last year when the UK was hit by snowfall her youngests school closed she managed to take a round work trip in the snow from Cheshire to Wales with her seven-year-old son in tow. I think were just a little bit premature sometimes, we see a snowflake and we become a snowflake, she added. She went on to argue that schools should try to stay open no matter what. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kerry Katona on the other hand argued that children should be able to enjoy making memories when snow forces school closures. The debate massively divided viewers, with some people disagreeing with Davies that schools should stay open, arguing that it was a safety issue for both staff and children. 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. Others, however, agreed that schools were too quick to close their gates when snowfall hits, with many citing examples of schools staying open in all weathers when they were growing up. 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. Some viewers offered the viewpoint that modern parents could be contributing to the problem. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. What do you think? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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: Your toddlers screen time could hinder their language and motor skills Would you leave your five-month-old baby with someone else overnight? What is a fiver party, and would you host one for your child? With the polar vortex in full retreat, the USA's wildest weather shifts to the West. A powerful, dangerous storm is forecast to batter the western United States over the next couple of days, especially California. Heavy rain could trigger mudslides, rockslides and floods, while feet of snow will bury the mountains, the National Weather Service warned. Forecasters say rain will arrive in the north late Friday afternoon and reach southern California late in the night, and last through Saturday night. A flash flood watch was in effect for millions of people in the Los Angeles area, where as much as a half-foot of rain could fall. Flash flooding and debris flows will be a concern particularly near burn scar areas. "Southern California residents, in or below the recently burned areas, are urged to take the steps necessary to protect their property," the weather service said. A person walks with an umbrella on a bridge over the 101 Freeway Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, in Los Angeles, as a storm bears down on California. "If you are in Southern California & live near a recent wildfire burn scar, take the incoming storm extremely seriously," tweeted UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. As the storm approaches, the biggest priority will be to keep people out of harms way, said Craig Sap, district superintendent of California State Parks. People may see a fire coming, but a debris flows gives little or no warning, he said. If a hillside lets loose, theres nothing you can do. The weather service in Los Angeles warned that "in addition to the heavy rain potential with this storm, the very strong southerly winds could be an equally concerning impact with this storm system." The storm "could bring one of the strongest south-southeast wind events we have seen in recent years." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The strong winds can bring down trees and cause power outages. Up to 10 feet of snow could fall in the Sierra Nevada, where "travel is highly discouraged." Winter storm warnings were in effect for hundreds of miles of mountainous regions of California, all the way from the Oregon border to north of Los Angeles. Story continues "While the snow will be a further boost in the snowpack and add to the tremendous bases of snow at the ski resorts, it will lead to major travel disruptions," AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. Contributing: The Associated Press; Cheri Carlson and Tom Kisken, The Ventura County Star This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mudslides, floods, rain, howling winds, 10 feet of snow: California braces for powerful, dangerous storm The news obsesses over the recent government shutdown, the latest Robert Mueller arrest, and, of course, fake news from the BuzzFeed Michael Cohen non-story to the smears of the Covington Catholic High School students. But aside from the weekly hysterias, the world has dramatically changed since 2016 in ways we scarcely have appreciated. The idea that China systematically rigged trade laws and engaged in technological espionage to run up huge deficits is no longer a Trump, or even a partisan, issue. In the last two years, a mainstream consensus has grown that China poses a commercial and mercantile threat to world trade, to its neighbors, and to the very security of the United States and requires a strong response, including temporary tariffs. The world did not fall apart after the U.S. pulled out of the flawed Iran nuclear deal. Most yawned when the U.S. left the symbolic but empty Paris Climate Accord. Ditto when the U.S. moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In retrospect, most Americans accept that such once-controversial decisions were not ever all that controversial. There is also a growing, though little reported, consensus about what created the current economic renaissance: tax cuts, massive deregulation, recalibration of trade policy, tax incentives to bring back offshore capital, and dramatic rises in oil and natural-gas production. Although partisan bickering continues over the extent of the upswing, most appreciate that millions of Americans are now back again working especially minority youth in a manner not seen in over a decade. The Supreme Court and federal judges will be far more conservative for a generation as Trumps judicial nominations are uniformly conservative, mostly young, and well-qualified. For all the acrimony about illegal immigration, the government shutdown over the wall, and the question of amnesties, most Americans also finally favor some sort of grand-bargain compromise. Story continues The public seems to be agreeing that conservatives should get more border fencing or walls in strategic areas, an end to new illegal immigration, and deportation for those undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Liberals in turn will likely obtain green cards for those longtime immigrants here illegally who have a work history and have not committed violent crimes. Both sides will be forced to agree that illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, and open borders should end and legal immigration should be reformed. Americans have paradoxically grown tired both of costly overseas interventions and perceptions of American weakness that led to the Libyan fiasco, the Syrian genocide, the rise of the ISIS caliphate, and Iranian-inspired terrorism. Today U.S. foreign policy actually reflects those paradoxes. The public supports a withdrawal from the quagmires in Afghanistan and Syria. But it also approved of bombing ISIS into retreat and muscular efforts to denuclearize North Korea. Two years ago, most Americans accepted that the European Union and NATO were sacrosanct status quo institutions beyond criticism. Today there is growing agreement that our NATO allies will only pay their fair share of mutual defense if they are forced to live up to their promises. Europe is not stable and steady, but torn by Eastern European anger at open borders, Southern European resentment at the ultimatums of German banks, and acrimonious negotiations over the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. Most Americans have now concluded that while the EU may be necessary to prevent another intra-European war, it is increasingly a postmodern, anti-democratic, and unstable entity. Trump has not changed his campaign reputation for being mercurial, crass and crude. But what has changed is the medias own reputation in its hysterical reaction to Trump. Instead of empirical reporting, the networks and press have become unhinged. When reporting of the presidency has proved 90 percent negative, and false news stories are legion, the media are no longer seen as the remedy to Trump but rather an illness themselves. Since 2016, polls show that Americans have assumed that the proverbial mainstream media cannot be counted on for honest reporting but will omit, twist and massage facts and evidence for the higher truth of neutralizing the Trump presidency. When asked on The View why so often the liberal press keeps making up facts, jumps the gun and has to walk stuff back when it turns out wrong, Joy Behar honestly answered, Because were desperate to get Trump out of office. Thats why. Trumps popularity is about where it was when he was elected ranging on average from the low to mid-forties. But many of his policies have led to more prosperity and address festering problems abroad. And despite the negative news, they are widely supported, even or especially if Trump himself is not given proper credit for enacting most of them. (C) 2019 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. More from National Review A woman and her Ghanaian partner, both from Walthamstow, East London, were on trial at the Old Bailey (GETTY) A mother of a three-year-old girl has become the first woman in the UK to be found guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM). The 37-year-old Ugandan-born woman, from Walthamstow, East London, was convicted of FGM following a trial at the Old Bailey on Friday. The woman and her 34-year-old Ghanaian partner were accused of cutting their daughter in summer 2017. The woman told the court that her daughter fell on metal and its ripped her private parts as she had climbed on to a surface to get a biscuit. The trial heard that spells and curses intended to ward off police and social workers from investigating were found at the womans home. The defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied the charge of FGM and a further charge of failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation. The womans partner was acquitted by the jury. Mrs Justice Whipple warned of a lengthy jail term and remanded the woman in custody. FGM carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years and is illegal in both the UK and Uganda. She will be sentenced on 8 March. Lynette Woodrow of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the sickening offence had been committed against a powerless victim. Mrs Woodrow said: We can only imagine how much pain this vulnerable young girl suffered and how terrified she was. Her mother then coached her to lie to the police so she wouldnt get caught, but this ultimately failed. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the conviction sent a clear message to those who practise this barbaric act. Mr Khan said: Every woman and girl should be safe and feel safe wherever they are in London, and we will continue our fight to end FGM with every power we have. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Baker, of the Mets child abuse and sexual offences command, said: We cannot lose sight this is a case about a very young girl who was subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of two defendants, her parents. Mike Pence, the US vice president, was in Miami on Friday to rally Venezuelan exiles to support Juan Guaido - AP Mike Pence, the vice president of the United States, has said that Venezuela needs action rather than dialogue, rallying Venezuelan exiles in Miami to the cause of interim president Juan Guaido and demanding that President Nicolas Maduro step down. Mr Pence told the Florida gathering that all options are on the table, and warned Mr Maduro not to test the resolve of the United States. This is no time for dialogue. This is time for action," he said. "The time has come to end the Maduro dictatorship once and for all. Removing Mr Maduro has been a priority for Mr Trump right from the beginning of his presidency, but has become an obsession for the White House since Mr Guaido, president of the national assembly, declared himself interim president on January 23. Mike Pence addressing Venezuelan exiles in Miami On Friday John Bolton, the national security adviser and one of the most strident Venezuela hawks, attempted to reduce the temperature somewhat, saying he did not believe US military intervention was imminent. He reacted angrily to reports that Mr Maduro was planning to send 15 tonnes of gold from central bank vaults to the United Arab Emirates in coming days, in return for euros in cash. Oil sanctions announced by the US last week are hitting hard, and Mr Maduro is becoming increasingly desperate to find means of keeping his regime afloat including accessing $1.5 billion of gold kept in the Bank of Englands vaults. Not only does Maduro require foreign paramilitary support to keep remaining threads of a failed dictatorship, but reports show he is flying out Venezuelan assets by the plane full, Mr Bolton tweeted. Is he stealing resources from the people to pay for Russian intervention? Venezuelan exiles listen to Mike Pence in Miami on Friday Mr Guaidohas urged his supporters to take to the streets on Saturday and demand the resignation of Mr Maduro, who is clinging to power with the support of Russia, China and Iran. Mr Maduro, 56, on Friday tweeted a video of himself inspecting troops. The military, which has so far remained largely loyal, is seen as holding the key to Mr Maduros future. Mr Guaido has appealed to the forces to defect, and wrote an open letter to soldiers offering amnesty which many of them publicly burnt. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The 35-year-old published an open letter to Mexico and Uruguay, turning down their offer of mediation in talks with Mr Maduro and saying he would only consider talks when the usurpation is over. He argues that Mr Maduros May election was fraudulent, and so the end of his term, in January, marked the end of his legitimate rule. He insists that, with the presidency vacant, he, as the president of the national assembly, becomes under the constitution the interim president. Juan Guaido with his 20-month-old daughter at his home in Caracas, which was visited by Venezuelan police on Friday Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, expressed dismay at Mr Guaidos position, siding instead with his friend Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, president of Mexico, and criticising the British foreign secretary for calling for further sanctions. The future of Venezuela is a matter for Venezuelans. Jeremy Hunt's call for more sanctions on Venezuela is wrong. We oppose outside interference in Venezuela, whether from the US or anywhere else. There needs to be dialogue and a negotiated settlement to overcome the crisis. The European Parliament officially recognised Mr Guaido on Thursday, and urged the European Union to follow suit. A series of European countries, among them Britain, Spain, France and Germany, have set a deadline for Sunday for Mr Maduro to call elections, or else they will join the US, Canada, Australia, Israel and many Latin American nations in recognising Mr Guaido. Pro-Maduro protesters holding up a poster of the late Hugo Chavez take to the streets of Caracas on Thursday Francisco Sucre, the head of the international committee of Venezuelas national assembly, on Friday called on Mr Maduro to step down. Speaking in Spain, at the end of a trip designed to rally support for Mr Guaido, he said that the "international contact group" announced on Thursday by the EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, "should help to cease the usurpation of power by Maduro and establish a transitional government until new elections." He added: "There is no possible discussion here, Maduro has to leave." He said Venezuela, under Mr Guaido, welcomes the EU's involvement "because we are going to need its cooperation during the initial stages of the recovery of our country." "Power is evaporating from Maduro's hands with the passing of the hours," he said. "We have been contacted by diplomatic workers across Europe who are ready to take a step forward, but they are waiting for the right moment." By Suzannah Gonzales and Gabriella Borter CHICAGO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the biting cold put Chicago into partial hibernation this week and the U.S. Postal Service kept mail carriers off the streets, Daly O'Brien was on the job, braving extreme conditions to deliver food to customers cocooned inside their toasty homes. O'Brien, 25, who works for grocery delivery company Instacart, was out on his rounds as usual on Thursday morning, bundled up in a woolly cap, thermal leggings and parka as he made a stop in the Boystown neighborhood on the city's North Side. The temperature was hovering at minus 11 Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius), and it felt like minus 27F with the wind, thanks to the reservoir of arctic air known as the polar vortex that has sagged over the region this week. This is definitely the coldest its ever been in the four years Ive had this job," Daly said with a laugh, pointing out that his father, a mail carrier, had the day off. As an independent contractor, you just have to do the grind." Daly was hardly alone. For first responders, tow truck drivers, package deliverers and people doing a variety of other jobs, it was business as usual. Many had no choice but to brave the brutal weather, which pushed to the U.S. Northeast on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. In Elmwood Park, New Jersey, 17 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan, hundreds of firefighters and other emergency workers endured single-digit temperatures for hours as they battled a spectacular blaze that eventually destroyed a historic paper factory. Fire Chief Jacob Mamo from the neighboring town of Fair Lawn said his company's job was to pump water out of the adjacent Passaic River. The night was "horrible," he said, despite occasional breaks in warming tents. "Once we started flowing all the water, the mist from all the trucks, all those hoses and stuff just started icing up and made for very miserable conditions - walls of ice," he said. Story continues Mamo, 36, said his feet quickly froze as he walked through puddles of water and his hands stung from having to take off his gloves so many times during the operation. "The cold starts to set in pretty quick," he said. "Thats when you get a real feel of reality." Back in Chicago, Jesse Medina, a 49-year-old tow truck driver, said he planned on working all day on Thursday after taking a few hours off the day before because of the weather. Im cold as can be, Medina said as he dropped off a car at a garage on the citys North Side. "But it's a way to make a living - you have to. Parts of Chicago were among the ZIP codes in 10 states where the U.S. Postal Service shut down mail delivery, after dangerously low temperatures forced Midwesterners, who pride themselves on their winter toughness, to huddle indoors Oscar Ramos, a 26-year-old paramedic who lives in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, was not one of them. He worked on both Wednesday and Thursday, though he admitted the weather made it difficult to do the job. You gotta just adjust, do whats best for the patient. So we try to keep it warm in the back, Ramos said, standing outside a Chicago hospital where he had just dropped off a patient. Chris Poon, a New York Police Department officer who was working an eight-hour shift in Manhattan's Times Square on Thursday, invested in a battery-powered jacket to keep warm. Ive got to tell you, the heated jacket works wonders, he said. You buy one, it has batteries and whatnot, and it heats up, its almost like a heated glove. (Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago and Gabriella Borter in New York; Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York and Richa Naidu in Chicago; Writing By Frank McGurty; Editing by Leslie Adler) Watch the full episode 14 of Yahoo UKs show The Royal Box, here. Its been less than a year since Meghan Markle married into the Royal Family and shes hit the ground running in her role. The Duchess of Sussex has been quick to learn the ropes and announced her first solo project just five months after her wedding to Prince Harry. She helped the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, whose lives were affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to compile a charity cookbook to help with funding. She also navigated her first royal tour of the South Pacific in October, while newly pregnant and has given passionate speeches about education, female empowerment and mental health. The Duchess of Sussex visited two of her patronages this week [Photo: PA] Meghan also became patron of four organisations at the beginning of the year The National Theatre, The Association of Commonwealth Universities, Smart Works (which helps unemployed women) and animal welfare charity Mayhew. PR guru Nick Ede says that while Meghan has been a positive force for the Royal Family, theres still some work to do. He told Yahoo UKs The Royal Box: Shes not a peoples princess yet and I think that will be interesting to see her change into that. What she did with Grenfell was great and that, I think from a popularity point of view, was really strong, but again I still think she has a bit of work to do. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Body language expert Judi James adds: I think weve seen the tip of the iceberg, I think shes fiercely intelligent. I think well see her campaigning, I think shell get our respect and awe, I think shes that good. 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: Helen Mirren praises Meghan Markle for admirable handling of royal fame Meghan Markle is unrecognisable in Katharine McPhees throwback photo Meghan Markle works the perfect ballet bun as she meets London university students Syrian president Bashar al-Assads regime was responsible for killing journalist Marie Colvin in 2012, a US judge has ruled. The countrys military was found to have deliberately targeted the makeshift media centre in the city of Homs where Colvin was working with other journalists, US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson concluded. Sustained artillery barrages on the apartment building housing the media centre killed the longtime foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times and French photographer Remi Ochlik on 22 February, 2012. Judge Jackson also ruled the Syrian government was liable to pay $302m (203m) in damages to Colvins family. The 56-year-old had reported on conflicts around the world and wore a signature black patch over her left eye after being blinded by a grenade in Sri Lanka in 2001. A biographical film about her life, called A Private War and starring British actress Rosamund Pike, will be released in the UK on 15 February. Pike called the ruling colossal. The civil lawsuit was filed in US federal court by Colvins family in 2016, who accused officials in President Assads government of deliberately targeting the media centre where Colvin and other journalists were working. They hope to recover the $302.5m damages by targeting frozen Syrian government assets overseas. It is thought to be the first lawsuit seeking to hold Mr Assads regime liable for war crimes. The challenge now is going to be enforcing the judgment, said Scott Gilmore, lead counsel for the Colvin family. The precedents show that it is possible to recover assets. Mr Gilmore said one of the main challenges of the lawsuit was to prove Colvins death was not caused by standard fog of war battlefield confusion. The suit used a mixture of eyewitness accounts, testimony from defectors and recovered internal Syrian government documents to prove the Syrian military had spent days trying to locate the apartment building Colvin and the other journalists were using as a home base. Story continues This wasnt a stray shell, Mr Gilmore said. The overwhelming weight of the evidence concluded that this was essentially an assassination. Paul Conroy said he felt really emotional after hearing the verdict, which he described as a great building block for bringing the Assad regime to account (PA) Colvins sister, Cathleen, said she had initially assumed Maries death was a tragic accident, but she decided to pursue a lawsuit after speaking with Paul Conroy, a photographer who was working with Marie Colvin and was injured in the same shelling. Mr Conroy, former soldier of the Royal Artillery told her the media centre was not hit by haphazard shelling but by bracketing, a recognised artillery technique used to home in on a specific target. It was part of the governments strategy in putting down the uprising, Cathleen Colvin said. They prioritised taking out the journalists. Mr Conroy, who escaped with a leg wound in the attack said he was really emotional after hearing the verdict. Asked if he thought it would make a difference, he said: I think its too late for the people of Syria, they have been through the worst hell anyone can imagine. Its also important that we keep this going, the case against the regime is now proven, this should now go into the higher courts and these people should be held to account. Its a great building block. The evidence that the UN has about atrocities and massacres is undoubtable but it needs will, political will, to bring these people to account. But hopefully this is the start. The first time he saved her life, he had no idea who she was. Three years later, he's saving her life again. Jeramy Davies hosted a bone marrow drive while in college at Texas Tech in 2010. He registered with Be The Match at that drive. About 1 in every 430 U.S. Be The Match Registry members actually go on to donate to a patient. Davies didn't expect a call. Five years passed. "I was busy living my life, building a house and making all the plans that you normally make," recalls Davies. "I never thought about it honestly that much. I knew that I was on the registry and if I ever did get a call, I'd of course say yes." In May of 2015, he got the call. He was a potential match for a 27-year-old woman with lymphoma. Due to privacy rules, donor and recipient cannot have direct communication or share contact information until a year after the transplant. Davies was asked if he was still open to donating; he immediately said yes. Knowing only her age, illness and gender, Davies went through with the donation a month later. At the time, his wife Laura was in remission. Laura had been diagnosed with a grade 2/3 astrocytoma on September 11th, 2014. She had brain surgery to remove it, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. I was given a 50 percent chance Kelly Ribeiro was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013 at 25 years old. After going through treatment, lymph nodes started growing again. Ribeiro needed a stem cell transplant. "I was given a 50 percent chance. Without it, I had no shot," says Ribeiro. She matched with Davies, saving her life. A year after the transplant, he reached out to her. "You feel like you know this person, but technically you're strangers, but it doesn't feel like that at all, so you just want to start rolling into a natural conversation, and it just feels like you know them already," says Ribeiro. Ribeiro and Davies exchanged texts and emails regularly, until communication slowed down in October of 2016. Story continues At that time, Laura's brain tumor came back as a glioblastoma. She had surgery to remove it in March 2017, but in late May doctors found a gliamatosis cerebri, a rare brain tumor diagnosed in only about 100 people a year. "We knew the signs when she started having seizures. They gave us six months to a year, and it was two months, and she was gone," Davies said while wiping a tear from his eye. "The first six months after she passed, I was mourning, and I wasn't coping with grief very well. I talked to Kelly a lot about that." Davies and Ribeiro grew closer, becoming like brother and sister. They began speaking on the phone and FaceTiming regularly. Then in January 2018, Davies quit his job and went on a road trip, ending in Union City, New Jersey, Ribeiro's hometown. The two finally met in person. "It feels like we almost grew up together," says Davies. Shortly before his trip, Davies spoke with Ribeiro's mother. He learned that Ribeiro had gone into kidney failure as a result of chemotherapy. She had been on dialysis three times a week. "She's always been one that doesn't want to take from other people," Davies explains of Ribeiro keeping that information from him. Now that Ribeiro had his stem cells, Davies was a 100% match, which is essentially the same as having an identical twin. He was the best option for a kidney transplant. "This man offered that kidney immediately. Immediately," emphasizes Ribeiro. After months of convincing, Davies finally got Ribeiro to rematch with him at Mount Sinai. "I'm here twice because of this man." On December 18th, Davies and Ribeiro checked arrived at Mount Sinai for the kidney transplant. Prior to the surgery, the two were inseparable. Once transplanted into Ribeiro, Davies' kidney took immediately. Upon waking, Ribeiro recalls immediately feeling better. "You don't understand what it feels like to feel yourself at the brink, like you know you're going, and you just feel rejuvenated. It's amazing. I don't know how to say thank you enough," says Ribeiro. For Ribeiro, it isn't just getting off dialysis. Because she is a genetic match with Davies, she may not need to take anti-rejection medication for the kidney, according to her doctors. As a result, this could be a permanent solution for Ribeiro, and her doctors will monitor her progress, but she may be able to keep that kidney for life. "He's giving me a shot at normalcy again, at a life of not being a patient anymore after seven years of this, so I don't think he'll ever get what he did, what that means," says Ribeiro. Click here to learn more about joining the Be The Match registry. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man saves strangers life not once, but twice LAS VEGAS (AP) A man suspected of being in the U.S. illegally shot and killed four people in Nevada over the past two weeks, including an elderly Reno couple, authorities said, and the slayings added fuel to the immigration debate. Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, 19, from El Salvador, has been jailed in Carson City since Saturday on possession of stolen property, burglary and immigration charges. Authorities said they expect to file murder charges against him in Reno in the shooting deaths of a Washoe County couple and in Douglas County in the slayings of two women in Gardnerville. Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said federal immigration authorities told his office that Martinez-Guzman was in the country illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not have details on his entry into the U.S. The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff said, and it was too early to comment on a possible motive. Investigators who had been tracking Martinez-Guzman considered him "an imminent threat" when they arrested him Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping mall. "We couldn't account for him Friday night, and we couldn't predict what he would do Saturday night," Furlong told The Associated Press. "It was too great a risk to the public not to make the arrest." Detectives had watched Martinez-Guzman go to a car wash and trash bins, raising concern that he might try to dispose of evidence connected to the slayings. He did not have a weapon when he was handcuffed, the sheriff said. The suspect did not yet have an attorney who could speak on his behalf, according to the sheriff. President Donald Trump seized on the killings as evidence of the need for his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. "Four people in Nevada viciously robbed and killed by an illegal immigrant who should not have been in our Country," Trump said Monday in a tweet. "We need a powerful Wall!" The killings are the latest crimes Trump has cited to bring attention to the wall, which is at the center of his battle with Democrats that has shut down much of the federal government. Story continues Since the start of his presidency, he has highlighted crimes committed by immigrants who were here illegally, including the killing of a 32-year-old woman at a San Francisco pier in 2015. Last month, he tweeted about allegations that a man from Mexico fatally shot a California police officer. Many academics and Trump's critics have pushed back on the president's narrative, citing studies that have found that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the United States. The Nevada suspect, who was due in court Thursday, had lived in the Carson City area for about a year. His only known infraction was a speeding ticket, the sheriff said. "We have no information this guy has ever been on anyone's radar," Furlong said. The investigation began Jan. 10, when 56-year-old Connie Koontz was found dead in her home. Three days later, the body of 74-year-old Sophia Renken was discovered in her home about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from where Koontz lived, authorities said. On Jan. 16, the bodies of 81-year-old Gerald David and his 80-year-old wife, Sharon, were found in their home on the southern edge of Reno. The two were remembered as "jovial" by Tom Cates, a longtime friend who knew the Davids through Reno's rodeo and equestrian scene. Cates said Gerald David used his time as the Reno Rodeo Association president in 2006 to promote a breast cancer awareness campaign by getting the group's cowboys to show they were "tough enough to wear pink shirts." "You walk into a room and his presence will just command attention. He was a true leader," Cates said. Sharon David was "exuberant" and "bubbly" and "loved animals to the hills," he said. She was a former director of the rodeo. Renken belonged to an antique automobile club and was known as the friendly driver of a Ford Model A who was always volunteering to help. Robin Reedy, who was also in the Carson-Tahoe Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, said she was surprised to learn Renken's age. "I would never have known she was 74 by the way she acted," she said. Koontz, who worked at a Walmart and as a manicurist at a local salon, was remembered by co-workers Tuesday as a positive woman who loved wearing bright colors. Her Walmart colleagues wore memorial buttons with her picture. She was "the only person I know that could come to work wearing lime green glasses and lime green crocs and rock it," said Teri Bower, who works at the store. Koontz and her daughter were best friends, Bower said, and the mother had saved up money and surprised her daughter with a trip to Las Vegas for her 21st birthday in December. Bower said the killings had shaken the quiet community where everyone knows everyone and big news is a pending storm "or a bear running down Main Street." "This does not happen around here," Bower said. "It's crazy." ___ This story has been updated to correct the suspect's age to 19, not 20. ___ Associated Press writers Regina Garcia Cano in Las Vegas, Elliot Spagat in San Diego and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this story. VALLETTA, Malta (AP) Racing an approaching storm, Maltese military vessels took to shore 49 migrants who were kept in limbo on private rescue ships until the island nation reached a deal Wednesday for the asylum-seekers to be distributed among eight other European Union members. The deal ended an impasse that kept the migrants stuck on the rescue boats while European governments negotiated which countries would take them. A ship operated by German rescue group Sea-Watch picked up 32 people on Dec. 22. Another aid group, Sea-Eye, rescued 17 in waters off Libya on Dec. 29. "After 19 days at sea, our guests finally have a safe haven," a tweet from Sea-Watch's account read. "It is a testament to state failure; politics should never be played at the cost of people in need." When the deal was announced, the aid boats were about 5 nautical miles off the coast of Malta, which denied them permission to port but let the vessels shelter in its territorial waters for days. The Maltese government continued to deny the boats permission to dock, but arranged for the 49 migrants to be transferred to the military vessels offshore and then brought to the island nation. Upon their arrival not long before the storm whipped up the sea, many of them waved and cheered at cameras recording the event. One man formed the shape of a heart with his hands as he stepped off a military boat. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the ad hoc deal illustrated anew that the EU needs a comprehensive policy on migrants who are rescued while trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. "I think it is obvious that we need something more structured and long-term," he told reporters. "However, right now, I think it would be delusional to think that there is the political climate for this to happen." The deal also met Malta's demand for other countries to take many of the 249 migrants Maltese military vessels rescued in late December. The agreement calls for 131 to be relocated to other EU nations, 74 to remain in Malta and to have EU experts review the circumstances of 44 migrants from Bangladesh before their destinations are decided. Story continues Germany agreed to take 60 migrants from Malta, some from the stranded rescue ships and some Maltese boats rescued in December. Italy was another of the eight countries that agreed to let in migrants from the Sea-Watch and Sea-Eye ships. The other countries in the deal are France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Like Malta, Italy has refused to let private aid vessels dock in its ports since last year. The latest standoff at sea sharply divided the partners in Italy's populist government, the right-wing League party and the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte had said Italy was willing to receive 15 children and their parents, but Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, Italy's anti-migrant interior minister, reacted angrily to Malta's announcement of a deal. "I am and remain absolutely contrary to new arrivals in Italy," he said. At EU headquarters in Brussels, "they pretend to not understand and facilitate the work of (migrant) smugglers and NGOs," Salvini said. "To give in to the pressures and the threats of Europe and NGOs is a signal of weakness that Italians don't deserve," he added in a possible jab at Conte and the leader of the 5-Star Movement. Aggravating tensions within the coalition government, Salvini later declared that he would disregard Italy's consent to the deal and refuse to let any of the 49 migrants into the country. It was unclear if he would follow through in defiance of Conte. Salvini was in Warsaw on Wednesday for meetings with officials from Poland's government, which refused to accept any of the 49 migrants. He has been pushing for far-right political parties and sovereignty-advocating movements like his League to join forces for European Parliament elections in May and the chance to steer EU policy on immigration. The migrants at the center of the EU-brokered deal are among the waves of people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East who fled poverty and armed conflicts and risked their lives aboard smugglers' boats bound for Europe in recent years. Police in Spain said Wednesday they broke up a gang that allegedly smuggled people and drugs on boats from Morocco and charged migrants up to 2,000 euros ($2,300) a trip. The number of migrants reaching Spain by sea has surged amid Italy's refusal to let private rescue vessels into its ports. European Union border agency Frontex says about 57,000 migrant crossings were detected last year in Spain, twice as many as during 2017. ___ Frances D'Emilio reported from Rome. AP writers David Rising and Geir Moulson in Berlin and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this report. Blantyre (Malawi) (AFP) - Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima and former president Joyce Banda have formed an alliance to take on the ruling party in May elections, a joint statement said Friday. The opposition alliance does not include the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which came second to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the 2014 elections. Chilima has fallen out with President Peter Mutharika, and has teamed up with Banda and two other smaller parties ahead of the May 21 vote. The alliance said it would reveal its presidential candidate on Monday, adding that "there are grounds for a united front among Malawians discontented with the sad state of affairs in this country." Mutharika won the last election defeating Banda, who later fled after being embroiled in the multimillion-dollar "Cashgate" corruption scandal. She returned to Malawi last year, saying the allegations against her were politically motivated. She has never faced any charges. About half of Malawi's 18 million population live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, and the country relies on foreign aid. Food shortages, power outages and ballooning external debt have hurt Mutharika's popularity ahead of the vote. Paris (AFP) - A major deal allowing a company to drill for crude reserves in areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo bordering Africa's largest protected rainforest may contravene the country's own oil law, a watchdog said Friday. The transparency group Global Witness said that an agreement signed in 2007 between the government and Compagnie Miniere Congolaise SPRL (CoMiCo) and approved in February 2018 by outgoing president Joseph Kabila could be considered void as it was forged under outdated legislation. The NGO also warned of the potentially catastrophic environmental damage were a large-scale industrial project surrounding part of the famed Salonga National Park to go ahead. DR Congo, a vast, mineral-rich nation plagued by unrest, passed new legislation in 2015 requiring future oil contracts to pay an annual area tax of $100 per square kilometre where a company conducts oil exploration. Global Witness said that under the agreement CoMiCo needs to pay just $2 per square kilometre per year -- a rate the watchdog said would leave the treasury of the impoverished state short millions of dollars. In addition, the 2015 law states that 35-45 percent of profit oil -- the share of production left after costs have been deducted -- should go back to national stocks. Signed under legislation dating to 1981, CoMiCo's agreement grants only a 30 percent share of profit oil on the first eight million barrels produced, according to the NGO. The tax rises to 40 percent for anything after that. Global Witness said that the declaration of Kabila, who was replaced by his chosen successor Felix Tshisekedi after much-delayed elections in December, left the deal in need of review as it contained several provisions out of line with the new oil law. "The questionable manner in which this contract was approved during a crucial election year in DRC raises real concerns about the way the country's oil sector has been managed," said Peter Jones, team leader at the pressure group. Story continues A lawyer for the company told AFP that the claims made against CoMiCo were "unsubstantiated" and said it was "a responsible company and as such subscribes to best practice". "We are confident that, following its ratification by presidential decree, the (agreement) is valid," the lawyer said. "Without going into the legal intricacies which support our position... it would be incongruous for a state to ratify an act which would be illegal under its own laws." - 'Massive devastation' - Global Witness said the agreement allows CoMiCo to explore DR Congo's vast untapped oil reserves in three land blocks, including one that skirts or impinges upon hundreds of kilometres of protected park. Salonga -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is Africa's largest contiguous area of protected rainforest and home to 40 percent of Earth's bonobo apes, among several other endangered species. CoMiCo says it has no intention of drilling within the boundaries of the national park. But Jones said there was reason to worry after the government announced the creation last year of a commission to examine options for shrinking the area of the Salonga and the Virunga National Park to allow oil exploration. "Any oil exploration in the park or its surroundings opens up the risk of massive environmental devastation in a fragile ecosystem, the preservation of which is vital to the survival of local communities and the prevention of climate breakdown," he told AFP. CoMiCo's lawyer reiterated the company's "clear commitment to not drilling in the national park." AFP requested comment from the environment ministry but has yet to receive a response. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) A U.S. court verdict that blamed the Syrian government for the killing of an American journalist was based on "fortune telling" rather than an investigation in accordance with the law, a senior Syrian legislator said Friday. Syria's deputy Parliament Speaker Najdat Anzour reiterated to The Associated Press previous statements by government officials that Marie Colvin had entered the country illegally. U.S. President Donald Trump "wants to build a wall with Mexico to prevent people from entering illegally to America," Anzour said. "At the same time there are some who want to get compensation for a person who entered a country illegally." A Washington judge this week hit the Syrian government with a $302 million judgment over the 2012 death of Colvin, a longtime foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson concluded the Syrian military had deliberately targeted the makeshift media center in the city of Homs where Colvin and other journalists were working. "We don't know who killed her," Anzour said. Lawyers for Colvin's family argued that her death was no accident. They hope to recover the $302 million verdict by targeting frozen Syrian government assets overseas. The Syrian government never responded to the suit. Legg Mason LM is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2019 (ended Dec 31) results on Feb 4, after the market closes. Both earnings and revenues are projected to decline year over year. In the last reported quarter, the company reported a negative earnings surprise of 2.4%. Fall in revenues, resulting from lower investment advisory fees, remains a major drag. However, controlled expenses and higher assets under management (AUM) were positives. Yet, Legg Mason boasts an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings have surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, average positive surprise being 10.81%. Legg Mason, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise Legg Mason, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Legg Mason, Inc. Quote Despite an impressive earnings record, the companys price performance does not seem encouraging. For the three-month period ended Dec 31, 2018, its shares have lost 18.2% compared with the 19.2% decline recorded by the industry. Now, before we take a look at what our quantitative model predicts, lets discuss the factors that are likely to impact fiscal third-quarter results. Factors at Play Weak Markets: Performance of equity markets remained unimpressive during the Oct-Dec quarter. The S&P 500 Index declined nearly 6.2% year over year and 14% sequentially in the quarter. Moreover, the index measuring international equity performance the MSCI EAFE decreased 13.4% year over year and 12.5% sequentially. This is anticipated to likely impact the Baltimore-based asset manager to a large extent. AUM Might Witness Fall: The asset manager is expected to reflect lower AUM as uncertainty, mainly related to escalating trade-war fears in the to-be-reported quarter, failed to significantly boost client activity. Notably, in the last two months of the quarter, the company witnessed fixed income and equity net outflows, which remains a headwind. Revenues Likely to Decline: Lower AUM during the quarter is likely to weigh on Legg Masons performance fees as well. Overall, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues of $717.5 million indicates a year-over-year fall of 9.5% Costs Might Remain Under Control: With a decline in AUM, distribution and servicing expenses are likely to be down as well. Further, management predicts compensation ratio to remain in the range of 53-55%, highlighting lower seasonal impacts. Here is what our quantitative model predicts: Our proven model indicates that chances of Legg Mason beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate are low as it does not has the right combination of the two key ingredients positive Earnings ESP, and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or at least 3 (Hold). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Legg Mason is currently pegged at 0.00%. Zacks Rank: Legg Masons Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) decreases the predictive power of ESP. It should be noted that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Oct-Dec quarters earnings remained unchanged over the last seven days, calling for year-over-year decline of 31.7%. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are some stocks you may want to consider, as according to our model these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter. Apollo Investment Corporation AINV is slated to release results on Feb 6. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.72% and carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Ares Capital Corporation ARCC is scheduled to report earnings on Feb 12. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.10% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. Garrison Capital Inc. GARS has an Earnings ESP of +11.94% and has a Zacks Rank #2. It is set to release quarterly numbers on Mar 5. 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 Legg Mason, Inc. (LM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apollo Investment Corporation (AINV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Garrison Capital Inc. (GARS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Beirut (AFP) - Lebanon's new cabinet includes three posts for Hezbollah, a Shiite group subject to US sanctions. The incoming government will need to carry out vital reforms to stave off an economic crisis. How different from its predecessors is this administration, announced on Thursday after an eight-month delay, and can it handle the challenges? - What does Hezbollah gain? - Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is listed as a terror organisation by the United States, has gained three places in the new cabinet -- a record number for the party. Iran-backed Hezbollah is the only party not to have disarmed after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and is a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in neighbouring war-torn Syria. The United States has slapped a series of sanctions on the group. Key Washington ally Israel has in recent months moved to destroy a network of tunnels built by Hezbollah into the Jewish state. Imad Salamey, a professor of political sciences at the Lebanese American University, said Hezbollah was seeking security in the new government. "The party is in need for national protection and national support due to the financial sanctions and military threat by Israel," he said. Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar added that Prime Minister Saad "Hariri, with his Western facade, could be a safety catch and source of help faced with the American sanctions." Hezbollah's new portfolio at the head of the health ministry will make it hard for international donors to avoid them, Salamey said. And it will be an interesting post for the Shiite group, says Karim Bitar, of the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Affairs think-tank. "The health ministry is one of those juicy ministries that can allow you to distribute services to voters," he said. - Has anything changed? - Lebanon is governed by a complex system which aims to maintain a precarious balance of power across religious and political communities. Story continues The new cabinet gives roles to 30 ministers from Lebanon's rival political clans, including four women. While Hezbollah has three positions, its ally the Free Patriotic Movement of President Michel Aoun, a Christian, has landed 10 portfolios. Fellow Shiite party Amal also holds three. Hariri's Future Movement party takes five posts. The women in the new cabinet include Raya al-Hasan, a former finance minister from the premier's grouping, as head of the interior ministry. Nada Boustani, from the Free Patriotic Movement, is to become energy and water minister. May Chidiac, a former journalist and vocal critic of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, is to be minister of administrative planning. But analysts say there is little hope for major change. "Power relations overall remain unchanged," Bitar said. "We've been watching rather ridiculous bargaining," he said of eight months of wrangling over cabinet positions. "We saw community leaders swap positions last minute, demanding ministries more conducive to handing out services to their allies," Bitar added. - Will there be reforms? - Finally formed, the cabinet will now have to tackle key reforms to save a service-based economy on the brink of collapse. On Thursday, Hariri said the government would have a lot on its plate. "The next government will be forced to take difficult decisions to decrease previous allocations in the general budget," he said. A conference dubbed CEDRE in the French capital in April pledged aid worth $11 billion (9.5 billion euros), promising to stave off an economic crisis. But the protracted arguments over the cabinet's makeup threatened to scupper that aid, further damaging the ailing economy. Lebanon is one of the world's most indebted countries, with public debt estimated at 141 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2018, according to credit ratings agency Moody's. Annual economic growth averaged 9 percent over the last two full years before the war broke out in Syria, but has since plummeted to little more than one percent in recent years. At the Paris conference, Lebanon committed to reforms including slashing public spending and overhauling the electricity sector. In exchange, the international community has pledged major aid and loans, mostly for infrastructure projects that need to be signed off by the new government. But Bitar said the announcement of a new government would only briefly relieve pressure over the economy. "This Lebanese political class is genetically incapable of proceeding with necessary structural reforms, because it abusively milks the current system" for its own benefit, he said. When Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue marriage licenses following the 2015 Supreme Court Decision legalizing gay marriage, she cited Gods authority and became a hero to right-wingers, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and then-candidate, now Kentucky governor Matt Bevin, who said: Without any question I support her. When Davis was later arrested for refusing to comply with a court order to issue licenses, Bevin even tweeted about visiting the clerk in jail. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Now, after a string of court losses, the time is approaching for her to pay more than $220,000 in attorneys fees awarded to plaintiffs who sued Davis and the state of Kentucky over the clerks protest. These days, Bevin is no longer unquestionably supporting Davis. Instead, the governors lawyers have argued in federal court that Davis should pay up, personally if need be. Oral arguments commenced Thursday in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, weighing, in part, the merits of a legal brief Bevins team filed last year insisting Davis should pay the price of her intransigence: Any fees awarded to [the plaintiffs] cannot be imposed against the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Bevins lawyers wote. If the plaintiffs prevailed, they did so against Davis individually or in her official capacity as Rowan County Clerk. Davis unilaterally defied existing law when she created a no marriage licenses policy for Rowan County, the brief continues, adding: the Rowan County Clerks office must be liable for any award of fees arising from her policy. Davis ousted from her clerk job in an election last November has filed her own legal brief in the case, countering that Kentucky taxpayers must be forced to pay for her religious objections: The Commonwealth is liable, her legal team argues, because Davis acted as a state official for purposes of marriage licensing. Despite the court brief filed on behalf of Matthew G. Bevin, in His Official Capacity as Governor of Kentucky declaring Davist to be liable, Bevin insists he still personally supports Davis. The governor has sought to blame his lawyers for attempting to stick her with the legal bill. A spokesperson for Bevin called the attorneys outside counsel retained by the Beshear administration referring to Bevins Democratic predecessor Steve Beshear and argued: if constitutional rights were violated, the taxpayers of Kentucky are not responsible to pay the ACLUs attorney fees. WASHINGTON A federal judge told Roger Stone on Friday that she did not want him to treat the criminal case against him like "a book tour," and said she was considering issuing a gag order to quiet the prolific political operative and longtime confidant of President Donald Trump. Stone has conducted a carousel of television interviews since FBI agents arrested him last week on charges that he lied to Congress and tried to obstruct the investigation of Russian interference into the 2016 election. He has suggested the case against him is a plot to install Hillary Clinton in the White House, criticized the early morning raid on his house and even offered tips on what to wear to court when being arraigned. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she was concerned that the continued publicity surrounding the case against the 66-year-old political operative could taint the jury pool. She gave Stone's lawyers and federal prosecutors until next Friday to tell her whether she should issue an order preventing them all from talking publicly about the case. Berman said the "considerable publicity" related to the case has been "fueled by extra-judicial statements by the defendant himself." She later reminded Stone that he was now at the center of "a criminal proceeding, not a public relations campaign." Stone appeared to heed the judges warning as he left court on Friday afternoon. He declined to comment, but flashed his now-trademark, Nixon-esque victory wave before ducking into a white SUV. The court session came a day after federal prosecutors disclosed that they had seized a cache of potential evidence from Stone's home and office following his arrest last week. Prosecutors and Stone's attorneys have agreed that material is "voluminous and complex," and includes "multiple hard drives containing several terabytes of information," including messages he had sent and received over several years. Story continues Prosecutors told Jackson on Friday that they had seized so much material that they might not be ready to bring Stone to trial until October. At the heart of the charges against Stone is his relationship with WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group that published troves of documents stolen from Democratic political organizations by hackers working for Russian military intelligence. Stone is the latest Trump associate to face charges in a special counsel investigation that has shadowed the president's first two years in office. Prosecutors alleged that starting in the summer of 2016, as Trump secured the Republican nomination for president and as the FBI launched its initial inquiry into Russia's election interference campaign, Stone communicated with senior Trump campaign officials about WikiLeaks and the politically charged material in its possession. More: Trump attacks Roger Stone indictment as White House aides try to distance him More: Who is Roger Stone? Longtime Republican operative worked on campaigns from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump In those contacts, according to court documents, the campaign officials who were not identified referred to information that "would be damaging to the Clinton campaign." Among the allegations contained in the charging documents is a claim that after the release of stolen Clinton-related emails July 22, "a senior campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information (WikiLeaks) had regarding the Clinton campaign." "Stone, thereafter, told the Trump campaign about the potential future releases of damaging material by (WikiLeaks)," prosecutors alleged. Stone has denied serving as an intermediary between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Judge warns Roger Stone: Russia probe charges not a 'book tour' and considers issuing gag order The Hague (AFP) - The International Criminal Court finally freed former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on Friday after his shock acquittal last month on charges of crimes against humanity. Supporters sang and waved flags in the Hague after judges agreed to release the 73-year-old on condition that he stays in an as-yet-unnamed country pending an appeal by the prosecution. Gbagbo, the first former head of state ever to stand trial at the ICC, and his aide Charles Ble Goude were cleared on January 15 over a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010. More than 3,000 people died on both sides after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his internationally backed-rival -- and now-president -- Alassane Ouattara. ICC appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release Gbagbo "to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set" by the court. The court later said that Gbagbo and Ble Goude had been released from the ICC's detention centre in The Hague for an "interim" location while his final destination was confirmed, without giving further details. "We are very happy for Mr Ble Goude and his family that he is finally released," Ble Goude's lawyer Alexander Knoops told reporters. "He was under huge stress." - Very happy - One country -- whose name was redacted in court documents -- had "expressed its willingness to receive Mr Gbagbo" on condition that he signs a pledge to return to court if asked. Prosecutors had expressed fears that if released, Gbagbo would fail to return to the court for a retrial if January's acquittal was overturned on appeal. He also had to surrender his travel documents, report weekly, avoid contacting witnesses in Ivory Coast and refrain from making public statements about the case, the court documents said. Lawyers have previously cited the arrangement reached with former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. Story continues While Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbo's wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Dozens of Gbagbo supporters broke out in song, waving Ivorian flags and chanting slogans like "Gbagbo is free!" and "Respect Gbagbo power!" They were watched by around 20 Dutch police officers. "Eight years is a long time" to be in detention, Abdon Bayeto, one of Gbagbos closest advisors told reporters, comparing the release to that of the late Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years behind bars in apartheid South Africa. "Finally reconciliation can start in the Ivory Coast". - Election violence - Gbagbo and Ble Goude went on trial in January 2016 accused of playing a role in murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts during the post-electoral violence. Former academic Gbagbo had been in power since 2000, after two decades in opposition, but found his rival Ouattara backed by western powers and the African Union after the election result was disputed. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 by Ouattara's troops, aided by UN and French forces, and sent to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. Despite hearing from 80 witnesses, ICC judges stopped the trial midway on January 15 citing an "exceptionally weak" prosecution case. They also ordered the immediate release of Gbagbo and Ble Goude but prosecutors successfully applied to have Gbagbo kept in detention, saying they may appeal. Chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Friday that she was waiting to "carefully examine" January's acquittal ruling before deciding whether to challenge it. The Gbagbo acquittal was a severe blow for ICC prosecutors after similar failures with Bemba last year and Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014. The delay in Gbagbo's release at least puts off, for now, the political uncertainty over his possible return to a country where he still faces a possible jail term for economic crimes. His acquittal comes at a sensitive time with Ivory Coast facing fresh elections in 2020. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's attorney general said on Friday there was no legal reason to prevent him from indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges before an election on April 9, should he decide such a move was warranted. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said his team was examining the case materials and intended to make a decision as soon as possible. Netanyahu is facing possible charges in three graft cases. He denies any wrongdoing and has called the cases a witch-hunt. He is favourite to win the election but opinion polls show one of his toughest challengers, former general Benny Gantz, making gains. Mandelblit said he had informed Netanyahu's lawyers "there is no impediment to making and publishing a decision, if there is any, to consider filing an indictment in the cases relating to the prime minister, or part of them, subject to a hearing, even before the election date." Not doing so, Mandelblit said, would undermine the principles of everyone being equal under the law and the right of the public to know about decisions of such importance. Netanyahu said on Facebook the attorney general seemed to be "giving in to pressure from the left and the media" to indict him "at any cost, even when there is nothing, as long as it's before the election." Netanyahu, who heads the right-wing Likud party, has said he would not bow out of the race if Mandelbit announces his intention to accept police recommendations to indict him. Police say Netanyahu granted regulatory favors to telecommunications company Bezeq Telecom Israel in return for more positive coverage on a news website belonging to the firms owner. In a second case, police contend that Netanyahu received expensive gifts from rich friends. A third investigation focuses on suspicions that Netanyahu negotiated a deal with one newspaper for better coverage in return for promises to back legislation that would have limited the circulation of a rival. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Janet Lawrence) Bnei Brak (Israel) (AFP) - Amy Spiro is one of many Israeli journalists who recently received a direct message on her Twitter account linking to a sensational news story. The sender, using the Jewish-sounding name "Bina Melamed", directed her to a fake story falsely alleging former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman was a Russian spy. "I just ignored it until I saw a lot of other people were talking about it," said Spiro, who works for the Jerusalem Post. She avoided falling victim to the ruse, but four Israeli journalists -- hoodwinked by the article appearing on a rogue but convincing duplicate of Harvard University's website -- spread the story, before it was exposed. Bina Melamed, which turned out to be a fake account operating from Turkey, has become a cause celebre of attempts to propagate fake news in Israel through bots. And cases of cyber sabotage are rising, ahead of April elections. So a coalition of Israeli diplomats, programmers and hackers have joined forces to stave off threats -- including from hostile states -- by identifying networks on social media and getting them removed. In some cases, like Bina Melamed, disinformation makes its way from social to professional media. "We blocked that within 24 hours by contacting them (the account holder) directly," said Elad Ratson, a foreign ministry diplomat who spearheads Israel's efforts against fake news bots. - From fake to 'real' news - Digital intervention could aim to sway Israel's election results, according to Itai Brun and David Siman-Tov, researchers at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. But beyond supporting one Israeli candidate over another, foreign cyber intervention could be an opportunity "to deepen polarisation in Israeli society and damage public faith in the democratic process," they wrote in a recent paper. Nadav Argaman, head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, raised concerns in early January. Privately-owned Hadashot television news quoted him warning of a cyber intervention in the April 9 poll by a foreign state. Story continues On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was foiling cyber-attacks from Iran daily, without specifying the nature of the attacks. Insiders say Shin Bet has a significant and capable cyber unit, but the foreign ministry is leading public engagement with social media giants. Ratson said companies like Facebook and Twitter "don't like dealing with states" but can stomach the softer approach of diplomats. The foreign ministry began working in 2015 to form "a broad coalition" of experts who could help keep the public discourse uncontaminated by sabotage, he said. Since the alleged Russian campaign aimed at tipping the US election in favour of Donald Trump in 2016, "we were preparing for when elections would take place in Israel and we'd be the target," Ratson added. "We have identified five foreign attempts of disinformation in a level of sophistication indicating a state involvement" since it became apparent in November that Israel was heading for early elections, he said. Two of the Israelis collaborating with Ratson are Sharel Omer and Ran Margaliot, co-founders of commun.it, a company that deals in social media management and risks to brand reputation. They are experts in identifying networks of bots that will interact with a central fake account and other real accounts, lying largely dormant until it is time to act. "The goal of the bot networks is to take a narrative from the realm of Twitter and Facebook and transfer it into the 'traditional' world," Omer said. "Once a 'traditional' reporter writes it in a serious newspaper, the fake news becomes real news." Omer and Margaliot will follow suspect accounts and networks and establish evidence they are illegitimate attempts to artificially instill a narrative before presenting findings to Twitter so that the media giant can shut the accounts down. Hundreds of Twitter accounts have been closed due to their work, Omer said. - 'Platforms for people' - Alongside the US, Britain, France and the Ukraine have been widely cited as recent targets of state-orchestrated cyber campaigns. While the Shin Bet and Ratson refused to name the countries of origin for networks targeting Israel, independent hacker and activist Noam Rotem is less cautious. He names Saudi Arabia and Iran, "and we're pretty sure Russia". Rotem noted that his project to monitor the Israeli internet for "suspicious, non-organic" activity aimed at "influencing things by amplifying messages" uncovered local networks too. The motivation of each network is not immediately apparent in most cases. Commercial interests sometimes come into play, he said. Rotem and his partner Yuval Adam will present their findings on malicious networks to Twitter when the time is ripe. "If they don't listen to us, we involve other professionals like Ratson from the foreign ministry," he said. To Rotem, safeguarding the Israeli internet ahead of the elections is part of a broader ideal. "Our goal is to distance these foreign influences and leave the platforms the way democracy would have it -- for people," Rotem said. Isis could regain its lost territory in a matter of months after troops withdraw from Syria, according to a draft Pentagon report. Donald Trump announced last month that the US would withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria on the grounds the militant group no longer pose a threat. He doubled down on his claim this week, when he wrote on Twitter: Weve beaten them. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. But the Department of Defense Inspector General Quarterly Report, due to be released mext week, appears to contradict that claim. It claims Isis is determined to rebuild a physical caliphate, NBC News reported. With no military pressure on the terror group, it could retake land in Syria within six to 12 months. The Republican-led US Senate advanced a largely symbolic legislation earlier this week opposing the presidents plans to withdraw troops from both Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 68-23 in favor of a non-binding amendment drafted by majority leader Mitch McConnell saying it was the sense of the Senate that Islamic militant groups in both countries continue to pose a serious threat to the US. US intelligence chiefs have said Isis would continue to pursue attacks from Syria and Iraq against regional and Western adversaries, including the US, after Washington withddraws its troops. Isis is expected to lose the final bits of its territory in Syria to US-backed forces within the next couple of weeks, acting US defence secretary Patrick Shanahan said earlier this week, even as US intelligence chiefs said the group would still pose a threat to regional and Western adversaries. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are preparing for a final showdown with Isis in eastern Syria after helping to drive the fighters from the townd and cities that once formed the groups self-proclaimed caliphate. Isis fighters in eastern Syria are pinned down in a tiny pocket with their wives and children, forcing the US-backed militia to slow its advance to protect civilians. Story continues The annual Worldwide Threat Assessment from the Directorate of National Intelligence (DNI), released earlier this week, also contradicted assertions by Mr Trump and other top administration officials that Isis had been defeated in Syria and Iraq, saying the group still commanded thousands of fighters and posed a long-term threat to both countries. During a congressional hearing director of national intelligence Dan Coats said Isis and other militant groups would remain active for years around the world. Isis will continue to be a threat to the United States, he said. This terrorism threat is going to continue for some time. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will meet European Council President Donald Tusk and the head of the bloc's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, in Brussels next week to discuss the latest Brexit developments, Varadkars office said on Friday. British lawmakers on Tuesday instructed Prime Minister Theresa May to reopen her Brexit treaty with the EU to replace the backstop - an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border in Ireland - but promptly received a rejection from both Dublin and Brussels. "They are expected to discuss the latest developments in London. The Taoiseach (prime minister) will use the opportunity once again to thank the institutions, and the other Member States, for their continuing support for Ireland, an Irish government statement said. Varadkar will also use Wednesdays meetings to discuss Irelands preparations for a no-deal Brexit, including the support that may be needed given the potential impact of a hard Brexit in Ireland. Varadkar said earlier this week he had already alerted the European Commission that he will seek emergency aid for companies if Britain leaves without a deal next month, alongside other potential EU aid and domestic sources of emergency funding. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by Stephen Addison) An 18-year-old University of Iowa student died after he was found unresponsive outside of a campus building in wind chills as frigid as 51 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Gerald Belz, a second-year pre-medicine major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was found by campus police near Halsey Hall at about 2:48 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a six-minute walk from his residence at Burge Hall, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reports. The unconscious teen was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators have not yet released Belz's official cause of death but believe it was weather-related. Foul play is not suspected. Photo: Handout The teen's father, Michael Belz, told KCRG that doctors confirmed no traces of alcohol were found in his son's system at the time of his death. He also told the station his son was communicating with his girlfriend via Snapchat late on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and had indicated he was going to bed. The outdoor air temperature was 22 degrees Fahrenheit below zero with a wind chill of 51 degrees below zero at the time the student was found, the Press-Citizen reports. A wind chill of just minus 25 can freeze skin within 15 minutes. The National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa, said on Tuesday that "this is the coldest air many of us will have ever experienced" and warned that those who go outside should "avoid taking deep breaths, and minimize talking" to protect themselves. Belz's death is the eighth fatality across multiple states linked to the bitterly cold weather in the Midwest this week. RELATED: Photos from the polar vortex gripping the U.S. Midwest, Northeast: BP has caved to investor pressure to be more transparent on climate change efforts. Photo: Alexander Demianchuk\Getty Images They say money talks. Thats certainly true when youve got $32tn (24.5tn) to throw around. More than 300 large investors have banded together and convinced BP (BP.L) to be more transparent in its actions to limit global climate change and align with targets set by the Paris climate treaty of 2015. BP said on Friday that it planned to go along with investor demands to clearly outline how its investments in oil and gas would be aligned with the Paris climate goals. It also committed to cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions and said the bonuses of 36,000 employees and executives would be tweaked to incorporate its emissions goals. The company employs 74,000 workers. The BP announcement was made alongside the investor group Climate Action 100+, which has been pressuring some of the largest carbon emitters in the world to take responsibility for limiting climate change. Investors remain concerned that [BP] has not yet demonstrated that its strategy, which includes growth in oil and gas as well as pursuing low carbon businesses, is consistent with the Paris goals, Climate Action 100+ said in a statement. The group hopes these commitments from BP will provide more clarity and transparency in the coming months. The BP announcement comes weeks after rival energy giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB.L) agreed to introduce broad carbon emissions reduction targets linked to executive pay. The company announced the initiative jointly with Climate Action 100+. Climate Action 100+ is also targeting global energy companies including Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), along with consumer goods companies like Nestle (NESN.VX) and PepsiCo (PEP). A range of investors have been pressuring Exxon to be more transparent in setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a 6-month subscription to the award winning Simply Wall St research tool (valued at $60)! It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. On the other hand, wed be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in iBuyNew Group Limited (ASX:IBN). Do Insider Transactions Matter? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise. See our latest analysis for iBuyNew Group iBuyNew Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Stephen Copulos for AU$200k worth of shares, at about AU$0.005 per share. So its clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. That purchase may suggest an expectation of positive returns over the long term. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Stephen Copulos. Stephen Copulos bought 107.70m shares over the last 12 months at an average price of AU$0.0034. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Story continues ASX:IBN Insider Trading February 1st 19 iBuyNew Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. iBuyNew Group insiders own about AU$809k worth of shares. That equates to 37% of the company. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. What Might The Insider Transactions At iBuyNew Group Tell Us? It is good to see recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didnt make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest iBuyNew Group insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. If you would prefer to 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. London (AFP) - An "industrial renaissance" in countries like Australia, Britain and the United States can help tame the political forces dividing Western societies, Indo-British tycoon Sanjeev Gupta told AFP in an interview. "There will be a renaissance of industry in these countries," said the 47-year-old metal industry boss, who heads up the GFG (Gupta Family Group) Alliance. After a series of takeovers, his company will employ around 30,000 people worldwide and have an annual turnover of around $20 billion ($17.5 billion) by the end of this year. Gupta disputed the idea that industry was shifting inevitably to the East, arguing that a new wave of industrialisation would require "higher educated or better skilled labour, which is more easily available in developed countries." "From a social point of view, you can't have a sustainable society without an industry," he said from his Hyde Park headquarters. "Without this you will have problems like we are seeing everywhere in the world, whether it's in France, in the UK, in the US. "Everywhere we will see these problems emerge where you have the middle part of the society left behind as the services sector tries to go ahead," he added. Turning to his adopted home country, Gupta said Brexit would "100 percent have an impact" on his company, but there were "pluses and minuses" in any outcome. "Of course we are concerned and we are waiting for things to settle down," he said. "Ultimately there will be opportunities, but we really want to see these issues resolved and the country move on because everything has come to a sort of standstill. "Either way, we will invest in the UK but the journey will be a little bit different." - Future is regionalism - Another example of his focus on western industry is the recent acquisition of a huge aluminium foundry in Dunkirk to help "reindustrialise" France. Story continues "France's industrial decline is very clear. It's time to reindustrialise," he said. In addition to the $500 million already paid, GFG Alliance has promised to invest an additional $55 million to upgrade the plant. Born into a family of industrialists in Punjab, Gupta started his own business after studying economics at Britain's prestigious University of Cambridge. Despite the globalised nature of his journey, Gupta is preparing for a shift towards more localism in industry in contrast with the globalisation of the 1980s and 1990s. "Industries, countries, will look to have a full sufficiency in their supply chains rather than depending on global supply chains," he predicted. Of his own company, he added: "Even if we are present globally, we are not truly a global business. It's a regional business". Indonesian ride-hailing company Go-Jek said Friday it had finalized the first closing of its ongoing Series F fundraising efforts. Go-Jek's release did not disclose the amount of fresh funds raised. An industry source familiar with the matter told CNBC that Go-Jek raised just more than $1 billion with the first close of the Series F funding round. Investors included tech giants Google (GOOGL) and Tencent (700-HK) as well as Chinese e-commerce player JD.com and Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation. The company said the proceeds would be used to expand and deepen Go-Jek's presence in its home market, Indonesia, as well as Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand . "We started out with ride-hailing but in a short space of time have become Indonesia's industry leader across all key verticals including transport, food delivery, mobile payments, logistics, and merchant services," Nadiem Makarim, CEO of Go-Jek Group, said in a statement. "As we expand internationally, we are excited to extend our vision to more countries and at the same time put Indonesia on the map as a regional hub for tech innovation," he said. Go-Jek has a presence in 204 cities and regencies across five countries in Southeast Asia. It has more than 2 million drivers and about 400,000 merchants on its platform. Last month, the company made its beta service available to all users in Singapore . Go-Jek's regional expansion puts it in direct competition with Grab, which announced a partnership with video streaming service Hooq earlier this week. Grab has also raised funds north of $3 billion since last year as investors jump on board the potentially lucrative digital market in Southeast Asia. The region's internet economy is set to exceed $240 billion by 2025, according to a report from Google and Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Go-Jek said that after the close of the Series F fundraising, its founders would still maintain control over the decision-making process and direction of the company. The Hague (AFP) - The International Criminal Court on Friday ordered the conditional release of former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo after he was cleared last month on charges of crimes against humanity. Judges agreed to release the 73-year-old ex-strongman and his aide Charles Ble Goude on condition that he lives an as-yet unspecified country pending an appeal by the prosecution. Appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release them "to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set" by the court. Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, but the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland, given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbo's wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Lawyers have previously cited the arrangement reached with former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. The court ordered officials to make "appropriate interim arrangements" to find somewhere for Gbagbo to stay until a final arrangement is made with whichever country hosts him. The first former head of state to stand trial in The Hague, Gbagbo was found not guilty on January 15 over a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010. More than 3,000 people died on both sides after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his internationally backed-rival, Alassane Ouattara, who is Ivory Coast's current president. MILWAUKEE A Wisconsin nurse died a brutal death in a parking garage attached to a hospital where she worked saving lives. As word of Carlie Beaudin's violent beating spread this week, health care workers nationwide took to Facebook voicing shock and sadness; offering prayers and condolences. And expressing anger. Not only at the suspect, a former valet who was arrested within hours, but at medical facilities they say refuse to provide them adequate protection. Nurses and other hospital workers said they have long worried about their safety arriving and leaving work at all hours of the night, often forced to park in faraway lots or poorly lit parking garages that usually lack security staff. They shared stories of terrifying experiences in their workplace parking structures, talked of the daily fears and the frustration that the medical complexes havent taken better measures to ensure their safety. Carlie and Nick Beaudin in an undated photo. Their concerns are backed up by federal crime data. FBI reports show parking structures and lots are the third most common site of murders and assaults in the U.S. Medical staff are especially vulnerable, the workers said. One woman who has worked for many years at Froedtert Hospital, where Beaudin was killed, said part of the problem stems from the fact that executives and administrators are not in the same situation. They have nearby parking and dont typically come and go in the middle of the night. Somewhere along the way, we lost focus and the safety and wellness of the caregivers was no longer important, the woman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The woman did not want her name published due to concerns about retaliation. The woman said she has regularly felt frightened walking to her car over the years and wonders why the cameras in the garages do not appear to be monitored in real time. January 30, 2019 photo shows the physicians entrance at Parking Lot 1 at Froedtert Hospital where a former valet at Froedtert Hospital has been charged in the brutal homicide of a nurse practitioner in the hospital parking garage last week. Kenneth Freeman was waiting behind a concrete pillar in parking structure 5 at Froedtert when Carlie Beaudin stepped out of the elevator about 1 a.m. on Friday, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office Tuesday. The 27-year-old Freeman, who had been fired as a valet in October, stepped out, and according to video surveillance, said something to Beaudin. She was then seen walking toward her car when he ran up behind her and knocked her to the ground, the complaint says. Gina Dennik-Champion, executive director for the Wisconsin Nurses Association, said the issue of parking garage safety for Wisconsin's 105,000 nurses as well as medical personnel across the country should not be ignored. Story continues Jan. 30: Former parking valet was waiting to attack Wisconsin nurse in parking garage, according to homicide charges Its an extension of the workplace, Dennik-Champion said of parking on-site, noting that medical staff dont always leave as a group during a shift change. Sometimes they stay late to provide extra care to patients, she said. Youre not going to abandon them, and you shouldnt have to be all that concerned about whether Im going to get to my car safely. Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin officials would not answer questions about security policy or protocol. They declined to say whether or how often the garages are patrolled, how camera surveillance is used, how many complaints theyve received or how many incidents have happened over the years. Loading... We continue to work closely with law enforcement and remain vigilant about the emotional and physical safety of every person who works or studies at, is cared for by, or visits our campuses, clinics and hospitals, spokesman Stephen Schooff wrote in an email. Data support concerns about parking garages National statistics support concerns about parking garage safety. Data from the FBI show parking garages are the third most common place for assaults and homicides after private homes and streets, alleys or sidewalks. In 2017, of 5,542 homicides (roughly a third of the homicides nationwide reported to the FBI that year), 378 happened in a parking lot or garage, according to the agency's figures. Thats more than at bars, gas stations and hotels combined. Jan. 28: Slain Wisconsin nurse found frozen, bleeding under her car was beloved by patients The data cover roughly 7,000 of the 16,655 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. that reported crime information to the FBI in 2017. Many of the nations larger cities did not submit figures for this specific data collection effort. In all, about 4 percent of personal assaults occur in parking areas, the agencys numbers show. The data also show the most likely time for an assault or homicide is between midnight and 1 a.m. Beaudin was attacked at 1 a.m. as she walked off the elevator to her car. Loading... Jim Johnson, a Minnesota-based parking industry consultant, said securing parking structures is not as easy as it might seem. The multiple points of entry and the fact that they might be open to the general public around the clock make them especially challenging. They are remarkably difficult to secure, he said. They have built-in problems." Johnson said closed-circuit TV, which many companies rely on to show they are taking safety measures, isnt as useful as many people think. He said cameras arent always monitored and even when they are, it can be difficult for guards to detect nefarious behavior. Controlling access is the number one way to cut down on crime, he said. Given the high number of women who work in hospital settings and the statistics showing women are more often victims of assaults, Johnson said extra precautions need to be taken on medical campuses. Call it sexist, I dont care what you call it, its a matter of reality, Johnson said. You need to take measures to defend against it. Carlie Beaudin Case law pertaining to responsibility for employee safety in parking garages has varied. In a Pennsylvania case where a woman was injured in a parking garage where she worked, the company was not held responsible because it didnt actually own the structure or require her to park there. In a similar case in Oklahoma, the company was held responsible for a womans injury in the garage because the company owned and maintained the structure and instructed her to park there. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, the federal agency that oversees workplace safety, requires employers under the "General Duty Clause to provide workplaces that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. The agency publishes guidelines that specifically address parking for health care workers. The agency suggests medical facilities provide secure escorts, ensure lighting is adequate and trim hedges to eliminate hiding spaces. It also provides a worksheet for medical complexes to assess their level of security, asking, Is the parking lot attended or otherwise secured? And, Is there a nearby parking lot reserved for employees only? Using technology to increase safety The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police department plans to implement a new system in March it hopes will offer an added layer of security for students, staff and faculty, who also tend to be moving about campus after dark. Called Rave Guardian, the app will allow users to simply press a button on their phone that will connect them directly to campus police. As long as location services are turned on, police can see their GPS coordinates and dispatch directly, said Chief Joseph LeMire of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police department. The app also has a virtual escort feature that allows a friend to see where a person is for a specified amount of time and get alerted if they dont arrive on schedule. I can choose a guardian, and lets say Im about to walk from the library to my car, you accept and see my GPS, said LeMire. Juliana, a recently retired registered nurse of 30 years from Illinois who didnt want her last name used because a family member is a nurse in Milwaukee, said panic buttons would be a good idea on hospital grounds. She said safety threats were prevalent around the hospital where she worked in Chicago years ago, leading to an unusual arrangement. Gang members regularly offered to walk hospital staff to their cars to ensure their safety, she said. They would walk us out, unless there was a rival gang around, she said. They were great. But hospital workers should not have to depend on gangs for safety, she said. Aside from incorporating and linking panic buttons to on-site security, hospitals should station guards on every level of the garages, she said. Talk about unemployment, put some folks to work. Put them in a truck and have them sit there. Many of the hospital workers interviewed by the Journal Sentinel said they feared retaliation from their employers. In fact, while Juliana agreed to have her name published, she backed out at her daughter's insistence. Her daughter is a nurse, and feared that she would face problems herself if her mother stirred things up. The daughter, who worked at Froedtert until last year and was regularly worried about safety, also was afraid to speak out because word could travel to her new employer. Its a small community, she said. Theres a lot of black-balling and bad-mouthing. Juliana said she hopes executives now realize immediate action is needed. The attitude is, Oh youre just worried about stuff. They say, Oh that doesnt happen here. It does happen here. Contributing: Kevin Crowe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Follow Raquel Rutledge on Twitter: @RaquelRutledge This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hospital workers, shaken by murder, say parking garage danger ignored. FBI figures confirm the risk Honda Motor Company Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) says that its operating profit in the quarter that ended on Dec. 31 fell 40.2% from a year ago, to 170.1 billion yen ($1.55 billion), on a shift toward less-profitable models and higher recall-related costs. But despite the decline in quarterly profit, Honda slightly boosted its revenue and per-share earnings guidance for the full fiscal year. A red 2018 Honda CR-V, a compact crossover SUV Higher incentives on CR-Vs were one factor in Honda's year-over-year profit decline, company officials said. Image source: Honda Motor Company. Honda earnings: The raw numbers Like many Japanese companies, Honda uses a fiscal year that runs from April 1 through March 31. The quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 2018, was the third quarter of Honda's 2019 fiscal year. Honda reports its financial results in yen; as of Dec. 31, $1 equaled about 109.6 yen. Metric Q3 FY2019 Q3 FY2018 Change Revenue 3.974 trillion yen 3.957 trillion yen 0.4% Automobiles sold 1.408 million 1.344 million 4.8% Operating profit 170.1 billion yen 284.5 billion yen (40.2%) Operating profit margin 4.3% 7.2% 2.9 ppts Net profit 168.2 billion yen 570.2 billion yen 70.5% Yen per U.S. dollar, average during period 113 113 No change Data source: Honda Motor Company. Ppts = percentage points. How Honda's business lines performed during the quarter Honda has four business units: automobiles, motorcycles, "power products" (including tractors, generators, and lawn equipment), and financial services. Honda attributed its decline in operating profit to four key factors: An unfavorable year-over-year shift in "model mix": While Honda's overall automobile sales were up, it sold a less profitable mix of vehicles than it did in the year-ago quarter. Higher incentives: Honda boosted discounts to sell down leftover CR-V crossovers, company officials said. The company also changed its accounting method for incentives, which led to an on-paper increase in spending. Higher recall-related costs: These were due in part to the ongoing global recall of airbag inflators made by now-defunct supplier Takata. Honda added nearly 1.4 million vehicles to its Takata-related recall list in late September. Unfavorable exchange-rate effects: These notably included the devaluation of the Argentine peso versus the U.S. dollar. Honda's auto sales rose 4.8% from the year-ago period, on strong gains in China and Japan and continued good results in North America. But automotive revenue fell 1.4% to 2.86 trillion yen ($26.1 billion), due to a weaker mix of products sold. The mix effects had a more drastic effect on the bottom line, as automotive operating profit fell 75.4% to 41.2 billion yen ($380 million). Honda's automotive operating margin was just 1.4% for the quarter, down from 5.8% in the year-ago period. Story continues Global sales of Honda motorcycles rose 2.9% from a year ago, as higher sales in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil more than offset a modest sales decline in North America. Operating profit rose 7.3% to 69.5 billion yen ($630 million), with a margin of 13.5% (up 0.5 percentage points from a year ago). Revenue in Honda's power products business rose 6.3% from a year ago on a 13% increase in sales, but the unit swung to an operating loss of about 900 million yen ($8.2 million) from a profit of 1.5 billion yen a year ago, on increased expenses and unfavorable currency effects. Honda's financial-services revenue rose 7% to 564 billion yen ($5.15 billion), on an increase in leasing contracts. Operating income rose 19% to 60.3 billion yen ($550 million), for an operating margin of 10.7%. Looking ahead: Honda increased its full-year guidance Honda boosted its revenue and net income forecasts for the fiscal year that will end on March 31. It now expects: Revenue of 15.850 trillion yen, an increase of 50 billion yen from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 15.361 trillion yen.) Operating profit of 790 billion yen, unchanged from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 833.5 billion yen.) Operating margin of 5%, unchanged from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 5.4%.) Net income of 695 billion yen, up 20 billion yen from the prior forecast. (Fiscal 2018 result: 1.059 trillion yen.) Honda's updated forecast anticipates slightly lower motorcycle and power-product sales versus its previous guidance, but expects a modest improvement in automotive mix to drive slightly higher revenue for the full year. More From The Motley Fool John Rosevear has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a subscription valued at $60. If you own shares in Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) 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. First, we have company specific volatility, which is the price gyrations of an individual stock. Holding at least 8 stocks can reduce this kind of risk across a portfolio. The other type, which cannot be diversified away, is the volatility of the entire market. Every stock in the market is exposed to this volatility, which is linked to the fact that stocks prices are correlated in an efficient market. Some stocks see their prices move in concert with the market. Others tend towards stronger, gentler or unrelated price movements. Beta can be a useful tool to understand how much a stock is influenced by market risk (volatility). However, Warren Buffett said volatility is far from synonymous with risk in his 2014 letter to investors. So, while useful, beta is not the only metric to consider. To use beta as an investor, you must first understand that the overall market has a beta of 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. View our latest analysis for Hertz Global Holdings What we can learn from HTZs beta value Given that it has a beta of 1.65, we can surmise that the Hertz Global Holdings share price has been fairly sensitive to market volatility (over the last 5 years). If the past is any guide, we would expect that Hertz Global Holdings shares will rise quicker than the markets in times of optimism, but fall faster in times of pessimism. Beta is worth considering, but its also important to consider whether Hertz Global Holdings is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. Story continues NYSE:HTZ Income Statement Export February 1st 19 Could HTZs size cause it to be more volatile? Hertz Global Holdings is a small company, but not tiny and little known. It has a market capitalisation of US$1.4b, which means it would be on the radar of intstitutional investors. Its not particularly surprising that it has a higher beta than the overall market. Thats because it takes less money to influence the share price of a smaller company, than a bigger company. What this means for you: Since Hertz Global Holdings has a reasonably high beta, its worth considering why it is so heavily influenced by broader market sentiment. For example, it might be a high growth stock or have a lot of operating leverage in its business model. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but its well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Hertz Global Holdingss 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 HTZs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for HTZs outlook. Past Track Record: Has HTZ 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 HTZs historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: Its worth checking to see how HTZ 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. Harrowing footage has shown an 17-month girl being reunited with her mother a month after being separated from her asylum-seeking parents by US border forces. The Honduran toddler is seen crying as she is cradled by her tearful mother, Sindy Flores, at San Francisco International Airport. The child, Juliet, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when officers detained her father at the US-Mexico border in late December. Her father, Kevin Ventura-Corrales, is facing deportation but his partner, Ms Flores, remained in the US while her asylum claim was processed. Juliet was held at a shelter for migrant children in Texas after being taken from her parents. "I was devastated, not knowing what to do, her mother told NBC. Impotent knowing she was somewhere else and not with me. The 23-year-old said was concerned about the impact the separation had had on her daughter and how she was treated while detained. San Francisco psychologist Chandra Ghoshippen said: Not only is she old enough to be affected, shes more likely to be affected than an older child because her parents are her world; theyre everything she knows. Juliet and Ms Flores were reunited on Tuesday following campaigning by Mijente, a grassroots Latin American social justice movement. Im not the only one going through this, Ms Flores told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There are thousands of other families experiencing the same, but maybe theyre afraid to speak out. Ms Flores has two other children, aged seven and nine, who crossed the border with her and have been staying in San Francisco. Mijente said the family were now facing a "very long battle" for asylum in the US. US immigration officials are working through more than 800,000 applications after the government shutdown exacerbated an already huge backlog. In June last year, Donald Trump's administration officially abolished its controversial policy of separating children from their migrant parents after they cross the border illegally. But campaigners say the zero-tolerance policy is still continuing at the border. THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court on Friday ordered the conditional release of former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo. Reading a unanimous decision by the five-judge panel, presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji ordered Gbagbo and co-defendant Charles Ble Goude "to be released to a state willing to accept them on its territories". The men were acquitted of atrocities charges on Jan. 15 but had been kept in detention pending objections by prosecutors, who plan to appeal the acquittal and sought guarantees that the men would return to court later if required. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Apatou (France) (AFP) - Honda all-terrain vehicles have replaced mules as the beast of burden of choice, but the wildcat mining camps of French Guiana are governed by the same rules and violence that have marked gold rushes since the 19th century. Around 10,000 men are thought to be toiling deep in the jungle of the territory in South America, stripping away the soil to sift for golden flecks while playing cat and mouse with the authorities. They have created a clandestine economy, whose base currency is a gram of the prized metal -- the average daily pay for the "garimpeiros" (miners) who brave squalid conditions, and the risk of arrest. The miners can buy supplies, transport -- and pay bribes -- with gold dust folded into pieces of paper, or an IOU voucher symbolising one gram, which is worth around 30 euros ($34). Soldiers in France's Ninth Marine Regiment are well familiar with the workings of this backcountry society, having staged dozens of raids against the gold panning operations. "You start with the worksite, where they dig and wash the dirt using generators and pumps," said Martin, a captain in the regiment, during a patrol in the Apatou region this month accompanied by AFP journalists. "There, no alcohol is allowed," Martin said, giving only his first name in line with military policy. "They take drugs and work themselves into a stupor. Then on Saturday night and Sunday they head to the cabarets." Farther from the rivers, which provide the only way of accessing the remote sites by boat, are camps that have grown into villages complete with bars, workshops, makeshift jewellers and churches which are packed on Sundays. At the cabarets, women perform pole dances on stages festooned with disco balls and blaring sound systems, while brothels await upstairs. The owners organise shows and bingo games, with prizes tailored to their audience: For New Year's Eve, the "Garimpo Iopass" cabaret offered the chance to win a pump motor or Yamaha outboard engines. Story continues - Tolls and jewellers - Depending on how supply lines are functioning, a pair of boots at the village store can cost 30 grams of gold -- nearly 1,000 euros -- while a bottle of cachaca liquor goes for five to 10 grams. A six-pack of cold beer hovers at around a gram and French forces monitor this price in particular, seeing it as a key indicator of how well they are disrupting supply routes. "To operate this deep in the forest, logistics are essential," said Charles, another captain on the Apatou patrol. "Everything has to be brought in, first of all the fuel for the pumps and generators," he said. "So they need canoes, then the ATVs." ATV drivers, who are almost always Brazilians, and canoe pilots are usually self-employed, paid per trip. The all-terrain vehicles, preferably Hondas, are customised by removing the rear brake -- useless in the jungle mud -- and adding a third shock in the back for absorbing heavier loads. "I've seen ATVs carrying seven 60-litre cans, plus gear," Charles said of the vehicles, worth 400 grams, or some 12,000 euros. Also at work are gangs of roadmen offering access to cleared paths or shortcuts they keep barred with heavy chains. The toll is two grams. At the bottom of the pyramid are the "petroleros" hauling jerricans of diesel fuel through the forest on foot, while "raseros" earn a few grams by clearing out the vines and trees for a new camp. Carpenters wielding chainsaws earn more, since they cut the trees into planks for the sluicing and sorting tables. Also well paid are jewellers melting down the gold specks and fragments in open-air clay ovens, forming rudimentary rings or necklaces with fake stamps of purported designers. If arrested, a "garimpeiro" might be able to keep his jewellery even if all the other material -- often obtained by taking on huge debts -- is seized or destroyed. - Costs to bear - At the top of the economic chain are Chinese merchants on the Suriname side of the Maroni river, who supply all the shovels, high-pressure sprayers and other equipment needed for the panning camps. Inside their shops are sacks of rice and beans, and freezers stocked with frozen chicken and other meat. Outside are dozens of barrels of fuel, hoses and ATVs. "They are extremely rich because they profit twice: They sell the gear on the one hand, then buy the gold and deposit it in accounts in Suriname on the other hand," Jean-Sebastien, another French captain, said. "They extend loans to the garimpeiros and profit from their labour, without ever having to leave their stores," he said. "But they too have costs to bear," added Martin. "They get shaken down by the Suriname army and police, and sometimes by the ultraviolent gangs." And in a world where gold fever goes hand in hand with the risk of malaria or the swollen feet of beriberi disease, disputes are settled with a shotgun, if not a Kalashnikov. Along the jungle trails, fresh mounds of dirt mark the most recent graves, maybe with an overturned bottle of rum by way of a cross. Google is marking the first day of Black History Month by honoring one of America's most important civil rights advocates. Friday's Google logo features abolitionist Sojourner Truth in an illustration created by Philadelphia-based guest artist Loveis Wise. "As a Black woman, illustrating Sojourner Truth was especially personal and meaningful to me," said Wise in a statement. "Her journey and persistence inspired major change in both rights for enslaved African-Americans and women." Truth was born Isabella Bomfree as a slave in New York in 1797. One year before a state law freeing slaves took effect, Truth ran away with her infant daughter to a nearby abolitionist family who paid $20 to secure her freedom, according to the National Women's History Museum. Truth won a lawsuit to return her five-year-old son who had been sold illegally into slavery in Alabama. It was one of the first lawsuits where a black woman successfully sued a white man in the U.S. Friday's doodle features the courthouse where Truth won her case. Truth moved to New York City and became a preacher, meeting abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, who encouraged her to speak out against slavery. Because Truth could not read or write, she dictated her autobiography, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, in 1850. After the book published, she spoke at a woman's rights conference where she gave her famous "Ain't I a Woman" speech supporting women's equality. "Without her work and the awareness Sojourner spread, the U.S. would not be what it currently is today," Wise said. "It's important to lift up her legacy and reflect on that." In 2016, the Treasury Department announced Truth would be portrayed on the back of the redesigned $10 bill. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Google honors abolitionist and women's rights advocate Sojourner Truth (Reuters) - The board of Goldman Sachs Group Inc said on Friday it is withholding a bonus worth at least $7 million from former chief executive Lloyd Blankfein until investigations into the bank's involvement in the 1MDB scandal are resolved. The bank also introduced a new forfeiture provision in its annual compensation plans for both its most senior executives, current Chief Executive David Solomon and former head Blankfein, relating to the ongoing 1MDB proceedings. The move underscores the perils the 1MDB scandal still holds for Goldman, which is being investigated by Malaysian authorities and the U.S. Department of Justice for its role as underwriter and arranger of three bond sales that raised $6.5 billion (5 billion) for 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The U.S. Justice Department has estimated that a total of $4.5 billion was misappropriated by high-level 1MDB fund officials and their associates between 2009 and 2014, including some of the funds that Goldman Sachs helped raise. Goldman Sachs has consistently denied wrongdoing. The company said in a regulatory filing on Friday that its board can reduce pay packages of top executives if it is later determined that the results of the ongoing investigations related to the 1MDB proceedings would have impacted their year end compensation decisions. The Wall Street bank also said it paid Solomon $23 million in total compensation in 2018, a 9.5 percent jump from his 2017 compensation. Blankfein received $20.5 million in annual compensation in 2018, down $3.5 million from 2017. (Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Daniel Wallis) General Motors is planning to layoff at least 4,000 salaried workers in North America starting Monday ahead of the company's fourth-quarter earnings report, according to two people briefed on the matter. The reductions come as the largest U.S. automaker undergoes a massive restructuring announced by CEO Mary Barra in November. GM (GM) is halting production at five plants in North America and cutting 14,000 jobs as it realigns its workforce and plants to produce more electric vehicles. Company executives want to complete as many of the layoffs as possible before the company reports its earnings Wednesday, the people said, asking not to be named because the information isn't public yet. "We are not confirming timing. Our employees are our priorities and we will communicate with them first," GM spokesman Pat Morrissey told CNBC Friday. The involuntary cuts aren't as steep as previously thought. GM offered buyouts to 17,700 employees in North America with at least 12 years of service in November, according to a document obtained by CNBC at the time. The company was aiming for 8,000 voluntary buyouts, the company previously confirmed. About 2,250 workers accepted severance agreements by Nov. 19, the company previously confirmed. Roughly 1,500 contract jobs have since been eliminated, according to one of the people briefed on the layoffs. That leaves roughly 4,250 salaried workers and 6,000 hourly employees targeted for layoffs. The company said in November that half of the hourly workers were in Canada with the other half in the U.S. The company has offered jobs to all 2,800 hourly workers affected in the U.S., and about 1,000 have accepted. The other 3,000 hourly workers located in Canada are getting help finding jobs and training. Many of the cuts are planned at factories in the United States and Canada that make sedans and compact cars vehicles that have not been selling well in North America, as customers turn toward trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers. These vehicles tend to be more profitable for automakers. Story continues As it has been trimming back its sedan lineup and exiting its least lucrative businesses, GM has been pumping cash into new mobility technologies, especially autonomous driving. GM's reorganization is expected to save the company about $6 billion by 2020 , with half of those savings realized by the end of 2019, the company has said. Executives told investors in mid-January that the company's full-year results for 2018 exceeded the company's expectations, and gave a positive outlook for 2019 as well. "Mary is bold man. She doesn't mind making a tough decision, which is probably nice to see compared to what GM has been historically. Shes not afraid of a tough decision," said Sam Huszczo, owner of SGH Wealth Management outside of Detroit. He said he manages money for several clients who work at GM. This story is developing. Check back for updates. CNBC contributor Paul Eisenstein assisted with this article. You probably know Gina Rodriguez as the star of the hit show Jane the Virgin, but theres so much more sabor to this Latina celeb than meets the eye. As she prepares to say goodbye to the TV role that made her famous, Rodriguez is making major strides in Hollywood with her new movie Miss Bala. In the film, Rodriguez plays a woman who tries to take down a Mexican drug cartel after her best friend is kidnapped. For the actress, this movie was an important step forward for Latinx representation in Hollywood (95 percent of the cast and crew in Miss Bala were Latinx). Now we get to see this new girl, this new woman, that I dont feel is often portrayed, especially in the Latino culture, she said. As of 2018, Latinas made up 7 percent of speaking roles across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, according to the report "Boxed In." Rodriguezs passion for acting began after she watched fellow Latina actress America Ferrera in the 2002 movie Real Women Have Curves. One of her first roles was on The Bold and the Beautiful. Rodriguez's soap opera background proved to be the perfect training for her 2014 breakout role as Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin. The CW show, airing its fifth and final season in March, beautifully pays homage to sassy drama-filled telenovelas. Her role as Jane earned Rodriguez a Golden Globe for Best Actress. The win launched her into a new level of stardom one she truly appreciates, especially as a Latina. This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes, she said in her acceptance speech. Whats up next for Rodriguez? Two words: Carmen Sandiego. She's playing the fedora-wearing icon in two Netflix projects: a live-action feature and an animated series, proving that she can do just about anything she sets her mind to. Bucharest (AFP) - Germany said Friday that Russia had "de facto invalidated" a landmark Cold War missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race. A US deadline for Russia to come back into compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty expires on Saturday but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will reportedly announce the pullout as early as Friday. Western capitals say a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the terms of the 1987 treaty and puts European cities at risk. Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister who has shuttled between Moscow and Washington in recent weeks trying to save the INF treaty, said Russia was still in breach. "We must note that the INF treaty has been violated by the Russian side and that the appeals of the last 60 days for more transparency and more information have come to nothing," Maas said as he arrived for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers in Bucharest. - 'Clear lesson' - "A treaty to which two contracting states belong and which has been violated by one side has de facto been invalidated". The INF treaty, signed by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a new arms race if the treaty collapses -- a prospect that has alarmed some European nations. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said history had taught his country "a very clear lesson". "This clear lesson is whenever there was a conflict between east and west, we central Europeans always lost," he said. "We as Hungary I don't think we have too much leverage in this issue. We can just cross fingers for a more pragmatic cooperation between east and west." Pompeo announced in December that the US would start the six-month process to quit the INF if Russia did not withdraw its 9M729 missile system by February 2, using the period to start work on new missiles. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said military commanders will begin preparing for "a world without an INF treaty" but insisted the alliance was still committed to arms reduction. Russia insists the missile system complies with the treaty, and displayed it to foreign military officials and media last week in a bid to allay concerns. By Joseph Nasr BERLIN (Reuters) - A German city is looking at an alternative location for a sausage museum, after plans to build it on the site of a Nazi holding facility for Jews destined for a concentration camp sparked anger. Friends of the Thuringian Sausage, an association that runs a museum in honor of the regional delicacy, aimed to relocate the building on land where the Nazis held prisoners during World War Two before shipping them to the Buchenwald camp. Reinhard Schramm, head of the Jewish community in Thuringia, home to some 800 Jews, said he was "shocked and irritated" by the plan's "total lack of sensitivity." "We are in talks with city officials and hope we can find a solution that honors the victims." The site of the former holding camp lies on the outskirts of the city of Muehlhausen, some 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Buchenwald. Muehlhausen's mayor, Johannes Bruns, said on Friday the city council was exploring an alternative location for the sausage museum. The former subcamp is located on a patch of land that a private investor bought from the government in 2008. As well as the museum, the investor wants to build a theater and a hotel there. One idea being considered was to ensure the new project included some kind of memorial to Holocaust victims. A spokesman for the First German Sausage Museum, currently located in Holzhausen, 60 km south of Muehlhausen, did not respond to an email asking for comment. The museum had announced plans to move to Muehlhausen on Wednesday. Thuringian sausages, usually made with pork mince, caraway, marjoram and garlic, are among the most famous of the more than 1,500 sausage varieties made in Germany. (This version of the story has been refiled to make clear Buchenwald is in Germany, not Poland, paragraph 2) (Editing by Hugh Lawson) Finding a free checking account with no conditions is getting harder. The share of banks, credit unions and thrifts offering totally free accounts dropped to 38.6 percent at the end of 2018 from 52.8 percent in 2017, according to a new survey of 2,947 institutions from Moebs Services, a research consulting firm for the banking industry. That marked the lowest level since at least 2000. The rapid year-over-year decline was led by mid-sized credit unions those with assets above $100 million to $25 billion but banks and thrifts also reduced their options for free checking. Moebs Services defines free checking as an account with no periodic fees, no minimum balance and no requirements for transactions, rewards sign-up, or enrollment in other accounts. Michael Moebs, CEO of the firm, noted two potential reasons for the change: First, credit unions may want to reduce costs associated with regulatory compliance that rose following the financial crises. And they may be tying checking to other, more profitable services as a way to boost revenue. Banking: Wells Fargo, Chime, Empower banks fight for millennial accounts It doesnt make sense to me and I dont think there is unified movement, he said of the credit union decline. Unlike for-profit banks, credit unions are nonprofit, customer-owned financial cooperatives that serve only their customers. Large credit unions have assets over $25 billion, while small ones have $100 million or less. What happened to real free checking? In 2009, more than four out of five financial institutions provided free checking that met Moebs definition, the firm said. These accounts were meant to attract new customers who would eventually get a mortgage or credit card, which generated more money for the financial institution. The reality is that has not paid off in the past five to 10 years, said Ron Shevlin, a director of research at Cornerstone Advisor, a banking consulting firm. Free checking is not a springboard for a deeper relationship. Story continues Food recalls: Perdue is recalling chicken nuggets for the second time in less than two weeks Tech eavesdropping: Apple FaceTime bug lets people eavesdrop on your iPhone or Mac without your knowledge Health costs: Hospitals now required to post prices online to help patients. But it doesn't work. So, the bigger banks first dumped free checking. In its place, banks waived checking account fees for customers who maintained larger balances that banks could lend against, who used their debit cards that generated swipe fee revenue, or who opted for paperless statements that cut overhead costs. The Moebs survey shows that other financial institutions are following suit. Where to find real free checking Moebs Services did find some institutions that offered free checking accounts, even by its strict standards. Overall, more than 70 percent of large credit unions and small credit unions still provide it, while just under a third of banks do. Location may play a role. There's generally more free checking options in areas with a larger under-25 or over-65 population, Moebs said. Areas where credit unions make up half of the top 10 financial institutions typically have more free checking available, he added. The Moebs survey found that free checking is more prevalent in New England and mid-Atlantic states, especially Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, Boston, Baltimore and Washington D.C. also have the highest percentage of financial institutions offering free checking. Financial institutions in the South and West have curtailed free checking. States with a smaller share than the national norm of 38.6 percent are Nevada, Georgia, California and Florida, Moebs found. Delaware also fell below the norm. Many financial institutions abandoning free checking are in these cities: Las Vegas, Sacramento, Tampa, San Francisco, Miami, and Houston. Other free-ish options The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) considers free checking accounts as those that don't charge maintenance fees. By that metric, many credit unions provide these types of no-cost accounts. Per NCUA data, the credit union industry makes free checking available to over 95 percent of their 115 million members, said Curt Long, chief economist of National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU), an industry trade group. Credit unions are not-for-profit, community-based financial institutions who look to offer affordable products and services. Overall, 76.5 percent of credit unions offer checking accounts with no maintenance fees, according to NAFCU. But more than 96 percent of those with $50 million or more in assets offer these accounts, while 62.1 percent of the smallest credit unions with less than $50 million in assets dont. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Free checking, with no strings attached, is harder to find, especially among credit unions MADISON, Wis. (AP) Foxconn Technology Group has shifted its stated strategy yet again on Friday for a massive Wisconsin campus, crediting a conversation with President Donald Trump for cementing plans to proceed with building a factory to make high-tech liquid display screens. The news capped a week of confusion about Foxconn's plans in Wisconsin. The company announced in 2017, to much fanfare, that it planned to invest $10 billion in the state and hire 13,000 people to build an LCD factory that could make screens for televisions and a variety of other devices. The company last year said it was reducing the scale of what was to be made in Wisconsin, from what is known as a Gen 10 factory to Gen 6. But this week, even that was thrown into question with Foxconn executive Louis Woo said it couldn't compete in the television screen market and would not be making LCD panels in Wisconsin. But on Friday, in yet another twist, Foxconn said after discussions with the White House and a personal conversation between Trump and Foxconn chairman Terry Gou, it plans to proceed with the smaller manufacturing facility. "Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou!" Trump tweeted. Wisconsin's new Democratic governor criticized the company Friday for its flip-flopping. "There's no limit, frankly, to skepticism if the messaging isn't coherent," Evers told reporters. "I'm comfortable that they're still committed to the state. They're committed to this Generation 6 technology, but that doesn't mean that we (won't) encourage them to be more transparent and consistent in their messaging." The latest Foxconn statement did not say whether the commitment to this size factory would affect the type of workers who would be employed in Wisconsin. Foxconn executive Louis Woo told Reuters earlier this week that about three-quarters of workers in Wisconsin would be in research and development-type jobs, not manufacturing. Woo said the Wisconsin project would be more of a research hub, rather than having a manufacturing focus. Story continues A Foxconn spokeswoman had no immediate comment about what its plans to build the "Gen 6" factory would mean for the makeup of the workforce. The difference between a "Gen 10" and "Gen 6" plant rests with the size of the original glass used to make the screens. The larger plant, which had been part of Foxconn's initial plans, would have used glass more than three-times as large as what the smaller facility will use. The "Gen 6" plant can make screens ranging in size from a smart phone to a 75-inch television, while the larger plant would have allowed for devices as large as 9 feet by 11 feet. The "Gen 6" plant is expected to be smaller in size and less expensive than a "Gen 10" factory, but Foxconn has not specified just how large it will be. Foxconn, the world's largest electronics company, said Friday the campus will house both an advanced manufacturing facility and a center of "technology innovation for the region." Local Wisconsin government and economic development officials where the Foxconn campus is located praised the news, saying construction of the "Gen 6" factory will coincide with construction of other related buildings over the next 18 months. Wisconsin promised nearly $4 billion in state and local tax incentives to Foxconn if it invested $10 billion and created 13,000 jobs for the project, which Trump heralded last year as the "eighth wonder of the world." But Foxconn has repeatedly revised its plans for what will be made in Wisconsin and who will work there, causing confusion in the state and leading critics of the project this week to accuse Foxconn of a "bait and switch." The original deal was struck by then-Gov. Scott Walker and Trump. Evers, Wisconsin's current governor who used Walker's support for Foxconn against him in the race, was a critic of the project during the campaign but has said this week he's working closely with Foxconn on the project. Foxconn earlier this week cited a changing global market as requiring a move away from making LCD panels in Wisconsin. Apple is Foxconn's main manufacturing customer and it has forecast a drop in revenue from the Chinese market due to decreasing demand for iPhones. ___ Associated Press writer Todd Richmond contributed to this report. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP By Katie Paul SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Twitter Inc took down nearly 6,000 tweets during last November's U.S. congressional elections, most of which were attempting to suppress the vote through intimidation or sharing false information, the company said on Thursday. Most disinformation around the elections originated inside the United States, the company said, though it also identified "limited operations" to influence voters potentially connected to sources in Iran, Venezuela and Russia. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia ran an interference operation of hacking political party computers and using social media during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign to undermined the American democratic process. Moscow denies any meddling. Since then Twitter, Facebook Inc and other social media companies have been under pressure globally to remove propaganda, bots and illegal content. The companies have stepped up controls, but are still criticized by lawmakers and others for being too slow to close rogue accounts. Twitter said it identified fewer foreign influence attempts than in 2016 and suspended a majority of the abusive accounts before the elections for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. An additional 418 accounts possibly affiliated with Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA), which U.S. prosecutors said spearheaded the 2016 influence operation, were identified by Twitter. It previously disclosed 3,843 accounts in that category. "Most appear to originate in Russia, and much of the behaviour mimics the activity of prior accounts tied to the IRA," the company said, but noted that it could not confirm a definitive link. The company also said it had removed 1,196 accounts in Venezuela that "appear to be engaged in a state-backed influence campaign targeting domestic audiences," and suspended 2,617 malicious accounts believed to originate in Iran. The Venezuelan accounts were taken down in December 2018, Twitter said. The company examines 8 million accounts per week for abusive or inauthentic behaviour and ultimately removes about three-quarters of them from the service, company representatives said. (Reporting by Katie Paul; editing by Grant McCool) Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a 6-month subscription to the award winning Simply Wall St research tool (valued at $60)! As a large-cap stock with market capitalization of UK29b, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS) is classified as a major bank. As these large financial institutions revert back to health after the Global Financial Crisis, we are seeing an increase in market confidence, and understanding of, these too-big-to-fail banking stocks. A set of reforms called Basel III was imposed in order to strengthen regulation, supervision and risk management in the banking sector. These reforms target banking regulations and intends to enhance financial institutions ability to absorb shocks resulting from economic stress which could expose banks to vulnerabilities. As a large bank in GBP, RBS is exposed to strict regulation which has focused investor attention on the type and level of risks it is subjected to, and higher scrutiny on its risk-taking behaviour. Investors are viewing RBS with a more cautious lens and analysing these stocks using bank-specific metrics such as liquidity and leverage. Today were going to take a look at these metrics to gain more confidence investing in the stock. See our latest analysis for Royal Bank of Scotland Group LSE:RBS Historical Debt February 1st 19 Is RBSs Leverage Level Appropriate? Banks with low leverage are better positioned to weather adverse headwinds as they have less debt to pay off. A banks leverage may be thought of as the level of assets it owns compared to its own shareholders equity. Financial institutions are required to have a certain level of buffer to meet capital adequacy levels. Royal Bank of Scotland Groups leverage level of 14.79x is significantly below the appropriate ceiling of 20x. This means the bank exhibits very strong leverage management and is well-positioned to repay its debtors in the case of any adverse events since it has an appropriately high level of equity relative to the debt it has taken on to remain in business. If the bank needs to firm up its capital cushion, it has ample headroom to increase its debt level without deteriorating its financial position. Story continues What Is RBSs Level of Liquidity? Handing Money Transparent As abovementioned, loans are quite illiquid so it is important to understand how much of these loans make up the banks total assets. Usually, they should not be higher than 70% of total assets, which is the case for Royal Bank of Scotland Group, with a ratio well-below the maximum level at 44%. This ratio suggests that less than half of the banks total assets are made up of loans, but the banks strong liquidity management may be at the price of generating higher interest income. Does RBS Have Liquidity Mismatch? RBS profits by lending out its customers deposits as loans and charge an interest on the principle. Loans are generally fixed term which means they cannot be readily realized, however, customer deposits are liabilities which must be repaid on-demand and in short notice. This mismatch between illiquid loans and liquid deposits poses a risk for the bank if unusual events occur and requires it to immediately repay its depositors. Since Royal Bank of Scotland Groups loan to deposit ratio of 79% is within the sensible margin, below than the appropriate maximum of 90%, this level positions the bank cautiously in terms of liquidity as it has not disproportionately lent out its deposits and has retained an apt level of deposits. Next Steps: Royal Bank of Scotland Group passes all of our liquidity and leverage checks which shows it is prudent in managing those factors. This gives us confidence in the operational side of the business, an important aspect to consider before investing in the stock. The banks favourable liquidity and leverage position exposes it to less risk when it comes to repaying financial obligations, in particular, in the case of an adverse macro event. Today, weve only explored one aspect of Royal Bank of Scotland Group. However, as a potential stock investment, there are many more fundamentals you need to consider. Below, Ive compiled three relevant aspects you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for RBSs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for RBSs outlook. Valuation: What is RBS worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether RBS is currently mispriced by the market. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Washington (AFP) - The crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge Donald Trump in 2020 -- already shaping up to be one of the largest and diverse ever -- has added one more potential candidate -- Senator Cory Booker, an African-American steeped in issues facing urban America. Booker joins a field that includes high-flying female US senators, charismatic military veterans and a young gay mayor. And it is likely to grow before the US primary season gets underway a year from now. Here are the first entrants in the presidential race, 21 months before the election. - Cory Booker - The 49-year-old US senator from New Jersey announced his candidacy February 1, evoking the civil rights movement as he promised to work to bring together a divided America. Often compared to former president Barack Obama, Booker began his career as a community activist and rose to prominence as mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was elected to the US Senate in 2013, the first African-American senator ever from New Jersey. A talented orator with a flair for the dramatic, he drew attention for his performance during confirmation hearings of Trump Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. - Elizabeth Warren - At 69, the US Senate's consumer protection champion from Massachusetts became the first high-profile Democrat to enter the race when she announced a presidential exploratory committee on December 31. Warren is on the party's left flank, and built her reputation by holding Wall Street accountable for its missteps. Trump has already taken aim at Warren, mocking her for her proclamation of Native American heritage. - Kirsten Gillibrand - This senator from New York cut her teeth on the battle to end sexual assault, especially in the military, before the #MeToo movement gained national prominence. The 52-year-old fierce Trump critic is making gender and women's issues a hallmark of her campaign. - Kamala Harris - The barrier-breaking senator from California who aspires to be the nation's first black female president announced her candidacy on a day honoring slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. Story continues The daughter of an Indian immigrant medical researcher mother and Jamaican economist father, Harris, 54, began her career as a district attorney in San Francisco before serving as California's attorney general. - Julian Castro - A cabinet member in the Obama era and grandson of a Mexican immigrant, Castro announced his candidacy in English and Spanish on January 12 in the heat of debate on immigration and border security. At 44, the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas hopes to become the nation's first Hispanic president. - Tulsi Gabbard - At just 37, this congresswoman from Hawaii would be the first Hindu president if elected. A supporter of liberal Bernie Sanders in the 2016 race, military veteran Gabbard was criticized for meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad during that country's civil war, and for anti-gay positions that she has since retracted and apologized for. - Pete Buttigieg - Nine months younger than Gabbard is the South Bend, Indiana, mayor who joined the race unveiling a resolutely future-looking and optimistic message to counter Trump's darker vision. A US Navy veteran who put his mayoral duties on hold to serve in Afghanistan, Buttigieg would become the first openly gay nominee of any major party. - Andrew Yang - The 44-year-old tech entrepreneur launched his campaign with little fanfare in late 2017, warning against the dangers that automation presents to US workers. He has advocated for a form of universal basic income as a way to reduce inequality. - John Delaney - A wealthy businessman who served three terms in Congress, Delaney was the earliest Democrat to officially launch a bid, back in July 2017. He has crisscrossed the early-voting state of Iowa seeking to boost his name recognition. - Waiting in the wings - Several big Democratic guns have yet to commit, including former vice president Joe Biden and senators Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Sherrod Brown. Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke is considering a run, as are billionaire New York ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Current and former governors are in the mix too: Washington's Jay Inslee, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Steve Bullock of Montana and Virginia's Terry McAuliffe. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Facebook Inc has removed hundreds of Indonesian accounts, pages and groups from its social network after discovering they were linked to an online group accused of spreading hate speech and fake news. Indonesian police uncovered the existence of the group, called Saracen, in 2016 and arrested three of its members on suspicion of being part of a syndicate being paid to spread incendiary material online through social media. "These accounts and pages were actively working to conceal what they were doing and were linked to the Saracen Group, an online syndicate in Indonesia," Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of Cybersecurity Policy, said on Friday. "They have using deceptive messaging and... networks of concealed pages and accounts to drive often divisive narratives over key issues of public debates in Indonesia," Gleicher told Reuters in an interview. The world's largest social network has been under pressure from regulators around the globe to fight spread of misinformation on its platform. In January, it announced two new regional operations centres focused on monitoring election-related content in its Dublin and Singapore offices. Indonesia is currently in the run-up to a presidential election set to take place in April, with internet watchdogs flagging the impact of fake news as a concern. Indonesia is estimated to be Facebook's third largest markets, with over a 100 million users. Indonesia's police cyber crime unit has previously told Reuters that Saracen was posting material involving religious and ethnic issues, as well as fake news and posts that defamed government officials. The country has an ethnically diverse population of 260 million people, with a big majority of Muslims but with significant religious minorities, and ensuring unity across the archipelago has been a priority of governments. Gleicher said Facebook's investigation found Saracen agents would target and compromise accounts, but stressed the removal of the accounts was due to "coordinated deceptive behavior (by Saracen)... not due to the content they had shared". Story continues The pages and accounts deleted had 170,000 followers on Facebook and more than 65,000 on Instagram, but the reach of the people exposed to the content is believed to be higher. Police alleged there were financial links between Saracen and a handful of organisers of 2016 protests against the former governor of Jakarta, who was condemned for blasphemy after a doctored video of supposed anti-Islam comments went viral. However, the Indonesian supreme court ruled in April 2018 that Saracen had not been guilty of spreading hate speech and that the police's case could not be proven. A national police spokesman said they were continuing to monitor Saracen's social media activity and would ask Facebook for the data from their investigation. A lawyer for Jasriadi, whom prosecutors allege was one of the masterminds of the Indonesian syndicate, said "that based on the facts of the case and our hearing, there remains no evidence that Saracen exists". (Reporting by Fanny Potkin; additional reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Ed Davies, Himani Sarkar and Michael Perry) Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM reported strong fourth-quarter 2018 earnings despite weakness in crude prices. Robust downstream profits, owing to impressive margins from North American crude differentials, and ramped-up liquids production from the prolific Permian primarily supported the outperformances. Investors cheered ExxonMobils quarterly earnings and the stock rallied more than 2% in pre-market trading. The largest publicly-traded integrated energy companys earnings per share of $1.51 after adjusting non-recurring items surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08. The bottom line also improved from the year-earlier adjusted figure of 88 cents. Total revenues of $71,895 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $74,177 million. However, the top line improved from $66,515 million recorded a year ago. Operational Performance Upstream: Quarterly adjusted earnings were recorded at $3.7 billion, up from $2.5 billion in the year-ago quarter. Higher seasonal demand, along with strengthening prices of natural gas & liquefied natural gas (LNG) primarily drove the upside. This was negated partially by weakening oil prices through the October-December quarter of 2018. Total production averaged 4.010 million barrels of oil-equivalent per day (MMBOE/d), marginally higher than 3.991 MMBOE/d a year ago. Liquid production increased year over year to 2.348 million barrels per day (MMB/D) from 2.251 MMB/D, thanks to ramped-up activities in the prolific Permian. However, natural gas production was 9.974 BCF/d (billions of cubic feet per day), down from 10.441 BCF/d in the year-ago quarter. Downstream: The segment recorded profits of $2.7 billion, surged from $0.9 billion in the October-December quarter of 2017, thanks to strong margins from North American crude differentials. ExxonMobil's refinery throughput averaged 4.3 million barrels per day (MMB/D), higher than the year-earlier level of 4.2 MMB/D. Story continues Chemical: This unit contributed to the companys $744 million profit, down from $935 million in the prior-year quarter, owing to weak margin. Financials During the quarter under review, ExxonMobil generated cash flow of $9.5 billion from operations and asset divestments, up from $8.8 billion in the year-ago quarter. The energy giant returned $3.5 billion to its shareholders through dividends. Capital and exploration spending was down 13% year over year to $7.8 billion. Exxon Mobil Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Exxon Mobil Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Exxon Mobil Corporation Quote Other News To combat low production of oil & natural gas over the years and double its earnings and operating cash flow within 2025, ExxonMobil has taken a bold step of streamlining its world-wide exploration operations. With the restructuring, ExxonMobilhas decided to form three new upstream firms by reportedly folding seven companies. The new companies will be ExxonMobil Upstream Oil & Gas Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Business Development Company and ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions Company. Zacks Rank and Key Picks Currently, ExxonMobil carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Some better-ranked players in the energy space include Jones Energy, Inc. JONE, RGC Resources Inc. RGCO and Sunoco LP SUN, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Jones Energy expects 2019 earnings to grow 19% year over year. RGC Resources delivered average positive earnings surprise of 87.64% in the preceding four quarters. Sunoco LP pulled off average positive earnings surprise of 18.39% in the trailing four quarters. 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 Sunoco LP (SUN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Jones Energy, Inc. (JONE) : Free Stock Analysis Report RGC Resources Inc. (RGCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Karl Plume (Reuters) - Chinese state-owned firms bought at least 1 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans on Friday, a day after high-level bilateral talks yielded progress toward a trade deal and a Chinese commitment to buy more U.S. soybeans. The purchases are slated for shipment between April and July, with a large share expected from U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals, three traders with knowledge of the deals said. One trader with direct knowledge of the deals said total purchases were around 2.2 million tonnes. The other two traders said the sales were similar to three recent waves of buying in which state-owned firms booked 1 million to 1.5 million tonnes of soybeans. U.S. soybean futures rallied to multi-month highs on Friday on news of renewed demand from the world's top importer. But the market's gains were restrained by worries that Chinese purchases will hardly dent massive soybean stockpiles in the United States and around the world. The looming harvest of a large soy crop in Brazil, the world's top supplier, further capped prices. "It certainly is good to see some concessions and more buying interest from China, but this is a concession in terms of a larger trade agreement. Brazilian offers are cheaper than we are so it's just part of the negotiation," said Terry Linn, analyst with Chicago-based brokerage Linn & Associates. Friday's purchases by state-owned firms were believed to be destined for China's state reserves, and thus immune from high import tariffs on U.S. beans. The 25 percent tariffs, imposed last summer in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, remain in place for U.S. soy imports by commercial crushers in China. Exports to China have plummeted this season during a bitter trade dispute, with swelling supplies sending prices to near decade lows last autumn and U.S. farmers struggling to turn a profit. China has been buying most of its soybeans from Brazil, which is in pace to harvest a bumper crop in the coming months. Story continues Friday's sales bring China's total purchases of the 2018 U.S. soybean harvest to at least 6.5 million tonnes, a fraction of its traditional annual haul from the United States of more than 30 million tonnes. Through January of 2017, more than 29.4 million tonnes of that season's harvest had already been shipped to China, with another 4 million tonnes sold and awaiting shipment, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Benchmark Chicago Board of Trade March futures climbed to $9.31-1/4 a bushel on Friday, the highest point for a most actively traded soy contract since mid-June. Beijing slapped steep tariffs on U.S. soybeans on July 6, effectively halting all U.S. shipments to their top customer. Before Friday's sales, China had previously booked an estimated 5 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans in three waves of purchases since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to a trade war detente on Dec. 1. After high-level trade talks in Washington this week, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He announced on Thursday China would buy an additional 5 million tonnes. (Additional reporting by Michael Hirtzer in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Richard Chang) Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will work with ex-lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez to break down fights on an upcoming ESPN show called, Unlocking Victory. To the untrained eye, a lot of what goes on during an MMA fight looks like chaos. UFC fighters Dominick Cruz and Gilbert Melendez will try to bring order to that chaos and provide fans with a deeper understanding of why a fight unfolds the way it does as hosts of a new ESPN series that debuts on Sunday called Unlocking Victory. Melendez said he believes fans will learn to enjoy the sport more if they understand the strategy the fighters employ, which is why he said yes to the opportunity. Its really a chance for Dominick and I to educate the fans and give our perspective on how the fights are going to play out, Melendez said. What were going to do is go into the mind of the fighters and Ill try to pass along how I would approach it. My perspective isnt always the same as Doms, so its great to get into his mind. The show is scheduled to break down the main and co-main events of each UFC pay-per-view event. The majority of the show will be shot in the Octagon with the fighters in their workout gear. UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin joined them for the first episode, which was recorded at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, because Cruzs right arm is in a sling as he recovers from shoulder surgery. The first episode of the half-hour show will debut at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, prior to kickoff of the Super Bowl. It will follow the UFC 234 countdown show on ESPN, which begins at 3:30 p.m. ET. Melendez was involved in one of the wildest slugfests in UFC history when he scored a decision over Diego Sanchez in Houston at UFC 166 on Oct. 19, 2013. For a lot of people, it looked like two men going out, gritting their teeth and firing punches indiscriminately. Melendez, though, said its a lot more than that. There is an instinct you fight with, but you train that instinct, Melendez said. There is a lot of chaos going on, but I play chess in there, as well. In that fight, I knew Diego was coming with big punches, so I was pulling back and throwing my right hand. But I know in doing that Im jumping into danger and taking that calculated risk. I try to weigh things out. Yeah, I could have tried to jab and moved backward, but honestly, thats not my style. My style is Im a forward fighter. I expected Diego would give me that and thats what I had to respond with. Story continues What we did was complex and there was a lot of thought on both sides that went into it. It wasnt as simple as just stand in the middle and trade. If it was just stand in there and trade, I would have gotten hit on the chin much more and it wouldnt have been so good for me. Despite what looked like a wild brawl with Diego Sanchez (L), Gilbert Melendez (R) said there was a lot of strategy in that fight. He said hell try to explain that strategy to viewers in his new ESPN show. (Getty Images) More from Yahoo Sports: Browns embarrassing 2011 draft attempt revealed Kaepernicks lawyer goes hard on NFL owners, Trump Rams star gives janitor a once-in-a-lifetime gift Wetzel: Brady wins even if hes the biggest loser Warsaw (AFP) - Several EU countries on Friday seized and destroyed suspect beef from a Polish slaughterhouse where allegedly sick cows were butchered, as French authorities said some of the meat had already been sold to customers. Warsaw has attempted to reassure affected countries and says the meat does not pose a health risk. Poland's chief veterinarian Pawel Niemczuk confirmed that 2.7 tonnes of the suspect beef was exported, while the European Commission said the meat was traced to 13 member states where it was being withdrawn and destroyed. The scare recalls a 2013 scandal in which horsemeat was passed off as beef and used in ready-to-eat meals sold across Europe. Brussels will send a team of auditors to Poland to assess the situation on the spot, said Anca Paduraru, a spokeswoman for the European Commission. French authorities said 795 kilogrammes (1,750 pounds) of beef from the slaughterhouse -- which has now been closed -- had been imported. More than 500 kilogrammes have already been seized and destroyed, said France's Directorate General of Food. Around 150 kilogrammes, however, had been "sold to the consumer notably through butcher's shops" which were now attempting to alert customers, an agriculture ministry said in a statement. Attempts to track down the remaining meat were continuing. French Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume said nine French companies had been "duped" into importing beef from the abattoir in Kalinowo, a village some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Warsaw. - Lame or diseased? - Portuguese authorities said they had destroyed 99 kilogrammes of suspect Polish beef, while Romania said it had eliminated 1,432 kilogrammes as a "safety measure". Sweden's National Food Agency said that just under 100 kilogrammes of the total 239 kilogrammes of suspect Polish beef delivered to the country had already been consumed, while the rest has been seized. The beef was also exported to the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Spain, according to the European Commission. Story continues Niemczuk said another seven tonnes were sold to about 20 outlets in Poland but insisted that tests found it did not pose a health risk. Despite the assurances, Polish beef producers are reeling from the scandal with prices falling by around seven percent since an undercover TV report on the slaughter was aired on Saturday. "All segments of the Polish (beef) market are worried," Jerzy Wierzbicki, head of the Polish PZPBM meat producers' association, told AFP on Friday. Wierzbicki insisted that the cows shown in the report by the TVN24 commercial news channel were lame but not diseased. "They were lame cows... such cattle should not be taken to a slaughterhouse but should rather be put down on the farm by a person who is qualified to do so," Wierzbicki said. - 'Isolated case' - "This is an isolated case, concerning a single company, the concerns are unfounded," he said, conceding that the scandal could deal a blow to Polish beef producers who rely on exports. A leading pork supplier in the European Union, Poland also produced some 415,000 tonnes of beef last year and nearly 90 percent of it was exported, Wierzbicki said. Poland's Agriculture Minister Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski said on Friday that "pathologies" in the agri-food industry would be "cauterised with a hot iron". "A police investigation is underway regarding the owners of the slaughterhouse and anyone involved in this process," he said, adding that there was "zero tolerance" for anything that could harm Polish exports. The criminal probe was launched after TVN24 aired footage of apparently sick or lame cows being dragged across the floor and then butchered. The TVN24 report said dealers bought lame or sick cattle at much lower prices. A journalist working undercover at the abattoir used a hidden camera to film the secret late night slaughter when veterinary authorities were unlikely to visit. The European Commission has not commented on the quality of the meat in question, but issued a statement that raised concerns about the treatment of the sick animals, which it insisted could not be considered fit for human consumption. "The practice of dragging animals unable to walk, as described (in the Polish report) is prohibited by European Union legislation on the protection of animals in slaughterhouses," it said. Hong Kong (AFP) - A Hong Kong-listed security firm who has a former US Navy SEAL on its board has signed a preliminary deal with authorities in China to build a training centre in Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have experienced a huge security crackdown. Frontier Services Group, which specialises in providing security and logistics for businesses operating in risky regions, said it had signed a deal to run a training base in the city of Kashgar, according to a statement posted on its Chinese website. One of the firm's board members and its deputy chairman is Erik Prince, a former SEAL and the brother of US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Prince was the founder of the US military contractor Blackwater, whose mercenaries had a prominent and controversial role during Washington's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- including the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians by Blackwater employees. FSG, which has a Hong Kong headquarters, has built up a wealth of contracts both inside China and for Chinese companies operating overseas, particularly in Africa. But its presence in Xinjiang is controversial because of the sweeping security crackdown Chinese authorities have launched in the restive far-western region, including reported mass incarcerations. On Friday, a spokesman told AFP that Prince -- a minority shareholder -- was unaware of the deal, which was preliminary and would need sign off from all board members before final approval. "He had no knowledge or involvement whatsoever with this preliminary memorandum regarding the company's activity in Xinjiang," the spokesman said. Up to one million Uighurs and members of other mostly Muslim minority groups are held in extrajudicial detention in camps in Xinjiang, according to a group of experts cited by the United Nations. Beijing says the facilities are benign "vocational education centres" to help people drawn to extremism to steer clear of terrorism, and allow them to be reintegrated into society. Story continues Critics and ex-detainees say the facilities are little more than prisons. In October, AFP reported how one local government prefecture's purchases had little to do with education and included 2,768 police batons, 550 electric cattle prods, 1,367 pairs of handcuffs, and 2,792 cans of pepper spray. The region is a major plank in Beijing's massive "Belt and Road" global infrastructure push, acting as China's western gateway to Central Asia and beyond. Security companies have seen a boom in business as a result. FSG's original Chinese language statement on 22 January said one of its subsidiaries had inked a deal for a "training centre" with the Kashgar Caohu industrial park in southern Xinjiang. The January 11 signing was attended by officials from Xinjiang's Tumxuk city and a subsidiary of the state-run conglomerate CITIC Group. The statement did not detail what kind of training would be provided. FSG's website shows it has previously trained "overseas security specialists" for a host of Chinese companies. It has also helped train Chinese military and police. Last month it announced it had obtained a security license to operate in Cambodia where it will aim to provide "cash escort, airport security (and) VIP close protection". CHICAGO (AP) The family of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett issued a statement through a spokesman Thursday in response to what Smollett told police was a racist and homophobic attack by two masked men in downtown Chicago earlier this week. Here is their statement: "In the early hours of Tuesday morning, our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack. We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime. Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice. Our family thanks everyone for their prayers and the huge amount of love he has received. We are thankful to our village for your immense support during this trying time. We are so grateful that God saw him through this cowardly attack alive. Jussie is a warrior whose light cannot be dimmed. We want people to understand these targeted hate crimes are happening to our sisters, brothers and our gender non-conforming siblings, many who reside within the intersection of multiple identities, on a monthly, weekly, and sometimes even daily basis all across our country. Oftentimes ending fatally, these are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such. They will continue to occur until we hold each other accountable. Make no mistake, words matter. Hateful words lead to hateful actions. Radical love is the only solution, but passivity will be our downfall. We, as a family, will continue to work for love, equity and justice until it reigns supreme in our nation and all over the world. With love & gratitude, The Smollett Family" Valentines Day is the perfect time to shower the special people in your life with love and gifts. While the traditional hallmark card, chocolates and teddy combo is always a safe bet, Elizabeth Chambers Hammer thinks a great way to spice up a Vday gift is with cake and alcohol. The Bird Bakery founder, mother of two and wife of Armie Hammer recently partnered with Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur to create a sweet treat for your sweetie. "I have loved Baileys for as long as I can remember," Chambers Hammer exclaimed. "My very fondest memories always included Baileys, and I always say the best indulgence in life is a cupcake -- but the only way to make it better is to make it a boozy cupcake." READ MORE: The top Valentine's Day gifts for your pets on Amazon Although Chambers Hammer and her team have incorporated Baileys into their cupcakes in the past, the limited-edition Valentines Day-inspired Baileys Love Bird Jar is an innovative remix of her classic vanilla cupcake recipe. "We've always had Baileys on our menu for March, so we've loved the product for so long. [However], the strawberries and cream was next level and we just knew we had to do something with it for Valentine's Day," she explained. Baileys Love Bird Jar is made of Bird Bakerys signature vanilla cupcake blended with fresh strawberries and topped with Baileys seasonal offerings infused with a Strawberries & Cream buttercream to complete the delicious treat. The cupcake, sold at both Bird Bakery locations and online, is available for purchase February 1 through February 15. It comes premixed in a jar so everyone can have access to it and enjoy the romantic dessert. Take a look at the treats in the slideshow below: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. According to the National Retail Federation, consumers are predicted to spend over $20 billion this Valentine's Day. And with the boozy recipe, Chambers Hammer hopes to encourage gift givers to think outside of the box when it comes to spoiling their loved ones. After all, it's one of the entrepreneur's favorite holidays. "There's so many people in our lives that we love, and [we should] do something special for all of those people," Chambers Hammers said. New York (AFP) - Accused Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is an "excellent father, friend, brother, son and partner," his young wife said as his landmark trial in New York wound up. "Everything that has been said in court about Joaquin, the good and the bad, has done nothing to change how I think about him after years of knowing him," Emma Coronel, 29, said in a message on her Instagram account late Thursday. In his almost three-month-long trial, Guzman, the 69-year-old former head of the Sinaloa drugs cartel known widely as El Chapo, or Shorty, was accused of smuggling hundreds of tons of drugs into the United States over the past quarter-century. On Monday, the jury starts deliberating on its verdict. If convicted, Guzman is likely to spend the rest of his life in a US jail, having twice escaped from Mexican prisons before being extradited to the United States two years ago. During the trial, which closed Thursday, Guzman's former henchmen and colleagues said he had ordered the deaths of dozens of rivals, underlings suspected of being snitches and police officers who refused to take his bribes. Part of the evidence presented by US prosecutors indicates that Coronel was at the very least an accomplice in Guzman's escape from Mexico's Altiplano prison in 2015. She has not however been charged with any crime and showed up almost every day in court to be with her husband. A former right-hand man of the drugs lord said that when Guzman was jailed between 2014 and 2015, he used Coronel's prison visits to pass messages to accomplices planning his escape via a mile (1.5 kilometer) long tunnel from the shower stall of his cell. During the trial the prosecution played a recording of a phone call between Coronel and Guzman, in which she passed the telephone to her father. Guzman then informed his father-in-law about an illicit drugs shipment into the US. "My name was often mentioned and called into question," admitted Coronel, a tall Mexican-American woman with long dark hair, with whom Guzman has two daughters. "I can only say that I have done nothing to be ashamed of. I am not perfect, but I consider myself a good human being who never intentionally hurt anyone," she said. The US authorities do not allow visits or phone calls between Guzman and his wife. They also forbade the couple from briefly hugging each other in court during the trial. By Brendan Pierson and Daina Beth Solomon (Reuters) - On a typical day, Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman would wake at noon and make calls while strolling under the trees in the mountains of his native Sinaloa state, where he was in hiding, a witness recently testified at the kingpin's trial. The infamous gangster's personal life and business dealings have gone on public display since mid-November at a courthouse in New York, where Guzman faces 10 criminal counts and a possible life sentence. The jury will begin deliberations on Monday, after attorneys for the prosecution and defense gave closing statements this week. U.S. prosecutors, who say Guzman amassed a $14 billion fortune through bribery, murder and drug smuggling, supported their case by calling to the stand Guzman's former associates, including one who says she was his lover and another whose brother was among his top allies, as well as law enforcement officers. "Do not let him escape responsibility," Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Goldbarg told jurors on Wednesday, standing at a table displaying AK-47 rifles and bricks of cocaine as evidence. Defense lawyers claim the 61-year-old Guzman, whose nickname means "Shorty," was set up as a scapegoat. They attacked the credibility of witnesses, many of whom have extensive criminal histories. Here are some of the most colorful tales from recent weeks in the courtroom: HIS OWN WORDS ** Guzman's voice was "sing-songy" with a "nasally undertone," said FBI agent Steven Marston. In one recorded call, Guzman tells an associate, "Don't be so harsh... take it easy with the police." The partner responds: "You taught us to be a wolf." ** Text messages between Guzman and his wife, Emma Coronel, often turned to family matters. "Our Kiki is fearless," Guzman wrote in one, referring to one of their daughters. "I'm going to give her an AK-47 so she can hang with me." ** After Coronel said she saw a suspicious car, Guzman wrote to her, "You go ahead and lead a normal life. That's it." Later he reminds her: "Make sure you delete everything after we're done chatting." ** In one of the trial's final days, Guzman told the judge he would not testify in his own defense. The same day, he grinned broadly at audience member Alejandro Edda, the Mexican actor who plays Guzman in the Netflix television drama "Narcos." LOVERS AND BUSINESS ** Multiple "wives" visited Guzman when he was hiding in Sinaloa, said Alex Cifuentes, a former close partner. ** Lucero Sanchez Lopez, a former Mexican lawmaker, told jurors she once had a romantic relationship with Guzman, who sent her to buy and ship marijuana. "I didn't want for him to mistrust me because I thought he could also hurt me," she said. "I was confused about my own feelings over him. Sometimes I loved him and sometimes I didn't." ** Agustina Cabanillas, a partner of Guzman who called him "love," set up drug deals by passing information between Guzman and others. In one message, Cabinillas called Guzman a "jerk" who was trying to spy on her. "Guess what? I'm smarter than him," she wrote. HIGH LEVELS OF CORRUPTION ** Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel paid bribes, some in the millions of dollars, to Mexican officials at every level, said Jesus Zambada, the brother of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who worked alongside El Chapo and is still at large. ** Beneficiaries included a high-ranking police official who fed Guzman information on police activities "every day," said Miguel Angel Martinez, a former cartel manager. ** Guzman once paid $100 million to former President Enrique Pena Nieto, Cifuentes said. Pena Nieto has denied taking any bribes. ** When imprisoned in Mexico in 2016, Guzman bribed a national prison official $2 million to be transferred to a different facility, but the move was unsuccessful. MURDER ** After a rival cartel member declined to shake Guzman's hand, he ordered the man killed, fueling a war between the cartels, Zambada said. ** When assassins reporting to Guzman killed a police official who worked for a rival, Zambada said, they lured him out of his house by pretending they had hit his son with a car. ** Guzman ordered Cifuentes to kill the cartel's communications expert after learning he was cooperating with the FBI. But Cifuentes said he was unable to carry out the hit because he did not know the man's last name. ** When Damazo Lopez Nunez, a top lieutenant to Guzman, told his boss that a Mexican mayor wanted them to "remove" a troublesome police officer, Guzman told him they should do her the favor because the mayor was a favorite for an upcoming state election, Lopez testified. He said Guzman told him to make the killing look like revenge from a gang member. ** Lopez also said Guzman's sons killed a prominent reporter in Sinaloa because he published an article about cartel infighting against their wishes. ** One of Guzman's former bodyguards, Isaias Valdez Rios, said he watched his boss personally kill three rival cartel members. Guzman shot one of them and ordered his underlings to bury the man while he was gasping for air. On another occasion, Guzman tortured two men for hours before shooting them each in the head and ordering their bodies tossed into a flaming pit. SAFE HOUSES AND ESCAPES ** For a period of Guzman's time as a fugitive in Sinaloa, in northern Mexico, his posse lived in "humble pine huts" with tinted windows, satellite televisions and washer-dryers, Cifuentes said. About 50 guards formed three rings around the homes to keep watch. ** Guzman escaped into a tunnel hidden beneath a bathtub when U.S. agents raided one of his homes in 2014, said Sanchez, his lover. She followed Guzman, who was completely naked, into the passage, feeling water trickle down her legs. "It was very dark and I was very scared," she said. ** Guzman's wife helped her husband tunnel out of a Mexican prison in 2015 by passing messages to his associates, Lopez testified. She unsuccessfully tried to help him duplicate the escape when he was captured the next year. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Additional reporting and writing by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Editing by Tom Brown and Dan Grebler) The index enjoyed a strong week overall, bolstered by encouraging earnings. An end to the longest government shutdown in history also brought the much-needed relief to market participants. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds target rate and adopted a dovish approach, boosting markets further. Last Weeks Performance The index gained 0.8% last Friday as markets breathed a sigh of relief after the longest government shutdown in history came to an end. Meanwhile, expectations that the Fed will not raise the federal funds rate in its next meeting also boosted markets. Finally, Chinas decision to boost its slowing economy also proved to be one of the catalysts which boosted stocks. The index gained 0.1% last week, posting its fifth straight week of gains. Upbeat earnings results throughout the holiday-shortened week boosted markets. Meanwhile, the partial government shutdown continued to be another cause of worry for market participants. Also, trade related tensions between the United States and Chins kept investors on tenterhooks. However, Trumps decision to end the longest-ever shutdown in U.S. history brought the much-needed relief to investors. The Dow This Week The index declined 0.8% on Monday after Caterpillar Inc. CAT posted dismal for fourth-quarter earnings. Caterpillars shares dipped 6% in pre-market trading as results fell short of expectations. Meanwhile, Trump stated he was doubtful that a border-wall funding deal would be reached and shutdown fears reemerged. The index gained 0.2% on Tuesday even as broader markets declined after trade war concerns escalated. Notably, 18 stocks of the 30-stocks blue-chip index finished in the green while 12 ended in red. The index gained 1.8% on Wednesday after the Fed kept the federal funds target rate unchanged and adopted a dovish monetary stance. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated the central bank will be patient while taking a call on future rate hikes. Story continues Moreover, strong fourth-quarter earnings results also lifted investors confidence. Shares of Apple Inc. AAPL and The Boeing Company BA surged 6.8% and 6.3%, respectively, after posting strong earnings numbers. The index lost 15.19 points on Thursday to close marginally below the flatline on Thursday. However, the Feds new-found dovishness helped stocks post their most successful January in three decades. The Dow gained 7.2% over the last month to post its strongest January gains since 1989 and its largest monthly increase since 2015. Components Moving the Index Caterpillar delivered adjusted earnings per share of $2.55 in fourth-quarter 2018, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.98. However, the figure improved 18% year over year. Revenues improved 11% year over year to $14.3 billion in the quarter under review, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.4 billion. Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Caterpillars adjusted earnings per share in fiscal 2018 stood at $11.22, marking an improvement of 63% from the $6.88 reported in the prior fiscal. (Read: Caterpillar Q4 Earnings, Revenues Lag Estimates, Up Y/Y) DowDuPont Inc. DWDP recorded earnings (on a reported basis) from continuing operations of 21 cents per share for fourth-quarter 2018. In the year-ago quarter it had incurred loss of 52 cents per share. However, earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 89 cents. Zacks Rank #3 DowDuPont raked in net sales of $20,099 million for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21,105 million. For 2018, net earnings from continuing operations were $1.65 per share, up from 95 cents per share recorded in 2017. (Read: DowDuPont Lags Earnings & Revenue Estimates in Q4) McDonald's Corporation MCD reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.97 per share, which surpassed the consensus mark of $1.90 and increased 15% from the year-ago quarter number (18% in constant currencies). McDonald's has a Zacks Rank #3. In the quarter under review, revenues of $5,163 million outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,159 million but decreased 3% year over year. (Read: McDonald's Earnings & Revenues Surpass Estimates in Q4) Apple reported first-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of $4.18 per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and increased 7.5% year over year. Apple has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Net sales decreased 4.5% year over year (3% when adjusted for foreign exchange) to $84.31 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $84.07 billion. iPhone sales declined 15% from the year-ago quarter to $51.98 billion and accounted for 61.7% of total sales. The sales figure lagged the consensus mark of $52.27 billion. Services including revenues from cloud services, App store, Apple Music, AppleCare, Apple Pay, and licensing and other services increased 19.1% year over year to $10.88 billion and accounted for 12.9% of sales. (Read: Apple Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Down Y/Y) Boeing reported adjusted earnings of $5.48 per share for fourth-quarter 2018, which outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.52 by 21.2%. For 2018, Boeings adjusted earnings came in at $16.01 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.06 by 6.3%. The company's revenues amounted to $28.34 billion, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $26.65 billion by 6.3% and improved 14% year over year. For 2018, Boeing generated sales of $101.13 billion, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $99.62 billion by 1.5%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 3M Company MMM reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of $2.31 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27. On a year-over-year basis, the bottom line increased 10%. For 2018, Zacks Rank #3 3Ms adjusted earnings per share were $10.46, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.94 and marking roughly 14.4% increase over the year-ago tally of $9.17. 3Ms net sales were $7,945 million, reflecting a decline of 0.6% from the year-ago quarter. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.94 billion. For 2019, 3M revised down the adjusted earnings guidance from $10.60-$11.05 to $10.45-$10.90 per share. (Read: 3M Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates, Revises '19 View Down) Microsoft Corporation MSFT delivered second-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of $1.10 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The figure jumped 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3. Revenues of $32.47 billion increased 12% from the year-ago quarter (up 13% in constant currency or cc). The figure was almost in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $32.45 billion. (Read: Microsoft Q2 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y) Pfizer, Inc. PFE reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings per share of 64 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Earnings rose 3% year over year. Pfizer has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The pharma heavyweight recorded revenues of $14.0 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.77. Revenues rose 2% from the year-ago quarter on a reported basis. Full-year 2018 sales rose 2% to $53.65 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $53.42 billion. Revenues were within the guided range of $53.0 billion to $53.7 billion. (Read: Pfizer Q4 Earnings Beat, 2019 View Tepid, Stock Dips) Verizon Communications Inc. VZ reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of $2,065 million or 47 cents per share compared with $18,783 million or $4.57 per share in the year-ago quarter. Verizon has a Zacks Rank #3. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted earnings were $1.12 per share compared with 86 cents in the year-ago quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. (Read: Verizon Beats on Q4 Earnings, Misses Revenue Estimates) Visa Inc. V reported first-quarter fiscal 2019 (ended Sep 30, 2019) earnings of $1.30 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4%. Also, the bottom line improved 21% year over year. Visa has a Zacks Rank #3. Net operating revenues of $5.5 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2% and were up 13% year over year. (Read: Visa's Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates on Revenue Growth) Performance of the Top 10 Dow Companies The table given below shows the price movement of the 10 largest components of the Dow, which is a price-weighted index, over the last five days and during the last six months. Over the past five trading days, the Dow has gained 2.4%. Next Weeks Outlook With the government shutdown coming to an end, investors have one less headwind to worry about. It is unlikely that this episode will be repeated after the stipulated three-week period of negotiations elapses. Further, the Feds newly found dovish stance is pushing stocks higher. If the United States and China are able to provide an outline for a long-standing trade agreement after this weeks two-day meeting, markets could enjoy an unimpeded ascent in the days ahead. 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 Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report McDonald's Corporation (MCD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Mr trump suggested he may declare a national emergency to build the wall - REUTERS Donald Trump has declared being president one of the "great losers of all time" financially as he lambasted suggestions he was making money out of the office. The US president also indicated he is preparing to declare a national emergency in order to build a wall on the Mexico border, calling ongoing negotiations with Democrats in Congress a "waste of time". Mr Trump also said he has been informed he is not personally a "target" in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia in 2016. His comments came on a day when it emerged the US economy added 304,000 jobs in January, almost twice what economists had forecast. Mr Trump tweeted: "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!" The president has been accused by critics of violating the "emoluments clause" in the US Constitution, which bars gifts from foreign states, due to diplomats and other officials staying at his hotel in Washington, a few blocks from the White House. But in an interview with the New York Times, Mr Trump said he had actually lost out on business opportunities because he was president. He said: "I lost massive amounts of money doing this job. This is not the money. You know, fortunately, I dont need money. This is one of the great [financial] losers of all time. "But theyll say that somebody from some country stayed at a hotel. And Ill say, 'Yeah. But I lose'. I mean, the numbers are incredible." Mr Trump criticised Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat speaker of the House of Representatives, who has refused to agree to any of the $5.7 billion funding he has requested for the border wall. Nancy Pelosi says there will be no money for the wall Credit: AP If agreement is not reached by Feb 15 the US government may shut down. A previous 35-day shutdown, caused by the same funding impasse over the wall, ended last month. Mr Trump indicated there would probably be no second shutdown because he will declare a national emergency, allowing him to use military funding for the wall. Story continues "I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly," Mr Trump told the New York Times. "Ive set the table. Ive set the stage for doing what Im going to do." The president also said his personal lawyers had been assured he was not being targeted by Mr Mueller. He said that assurance came from Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who is overseeing the special counsel. Mr Trump said: "He [Rosenstein] told the attorneys that I'm not a subject, I'm not a target." The president said he had never spoken with Roger Stone, his longtime political ally, about Wikileaks and Russian-hacked Democratic Party emails made public in 2016. He said: "No, I didn't. I never did." Mr Stone pleaded not guilty this week to charges including lying to Congress, and obstruction, stemming from the investigation Mr Trump also denied that he had ever directed anyone to make contact with Wikileaks. "Never did," he told the New York Times. The president said he did not believe he would face a Republican challenger for his party's nomination ahead of the 2020 election. And he praised Kamala Harris as having had the best campaign launch of his potential Democrat rivals. He said: "I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris. Some of the others were very flat." Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a subscription valued at $60. We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell Smart Metering Systems plc (LON:SMS), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. What Is Insider Selling? Its quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers. See our latest analysis for Smart Metering Systems Smart Metering Systems Insider Transactions Over The Last Year CEO & Executive Director Alan Foy made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK14m worth of shares at a price of UK8.00 each. Although we dont gain confidence from insider selling, we note that this large sale was at well above current price of UK6.57. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price. The only individual insider seller over the last year was Alan Foy. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 1.82k shares for UK13k. But they sold 1.80m for UK14m. 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:SMS Insider Trading February 1st 19 For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership of Smart Metering Systems Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Smart Metering Systems insiders own about UK60m worth of shares. That equates to 8.1% of the company. Weve certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Smart Metering Systems Insiders? It doesnt really mean much that no insider has traded Smart Metering Systems shares in the last quarter. Still, the insider transactions at Smart Metering Systems in the last 12 months are not very heartening. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. 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, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting 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. ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. A day after a disastrous fire destroyed the landmark Marcal Paper Mills plant in New Jersey, officials and residents took the first steps to move forward Thursday. Nobody was injured, officials said, but Wednesday's nine-alarm blaze left the factory in ruins and 500 people without jobs. The fire almost completely incinerated the paper factory, with 90 percent of the complex's footprint gone, said Police Chief and Borough Administrator Michael Foligno during a Thursday press conference. Although authorities are investigating, Foligno said the fire does not appear to be suspicious. After New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy toured the ruins of the factory Thursday afternoon, he spoke of the aftermath along with Marcal CEO Rob Baron and other officials. Wednesday night's cold and windy conditions overcame the factory's fire suppression system, according to Baron. While he did not say what the next steps for the 500 workers would be, he expressed gratitude that they were all OK. "Our sole focus is our people," Baron said. "That's the most important thing we have in that building." Murphy said that it was "too early to tell" what kind of help the state could offer, but the Department of Labor and Workforce Development would look into getting employees benefits while they got back on their feet. "(The fire was) devastating," Murphy said. "But this is a state, this is a county, this is a community with an extraordinary spirit. This is a company with an extraordinary spirit." The fire tore through the 45,000-square-foot warehouse building, which acts as a distribution center for Marcal paper products. The flames consumed the building, and firefighters battled the intense heat of the flames amid the searing cold of the night. Zbigniew Golko, who worked at Marcal for 25 years, watched the fire on the news. He couldn't believe that the factory was now destroyed. Story continues "That was many peoples livelihoods that are down the drain," Golko said. The intense wind made fighting the fire a difficult task, according to Fire Chief Michael Sulick. "We were making good progress," Sulick said. "It was the tail end of that squall. That wind wrapped around the fire and it took it all over. At that point, fire went up." That's when firefighters inside the building began to hear cracking sounds and evacuated, Sulick said. "It just went downhill from that point," he said. Hours after the fire began, the iconic Marcal sign that sat atop the Marcal Paper Mills building, toppled down into the flames and smoke. The conflagration burned so fiercely, the flames could be seen from airplanes arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport. Bergen County Executive James Tedesco said wind created a "thermal updraft," a phenomenon where a localized heating of air causes air to rise and fall in relatively small areas. The temperature dropped so low that water in some of the hoses used to douse the flames was freezing, he said. "It's a fire that'll be remembered a long time," Tedesco said. Contributing: Sarah Nolan, Melanie Anzidei, Ricardo Kaulessar, Keldy Ortiz, Owen Proctor, Svetlana Shkolnikova, Debbie Waldeyer, Joshua Jongsma and Anthony Zurita This article originally appeared on North Jersey Record: Devastating fire destroys New Jersey paper plant and leaves 500 without jobs INSIDER "It was upsetting to me to know that someone would go to that extreme not having cream cheese on his bagel," Police Chief Noel-Pratt said, the AP reported. Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - A week after a dam storing mining waste collapsed in southeast Brazil, the human cost is clear, with 110 killed and 238 missing, presumed dead, but the environmental impact is still being evaluated. Authorities fear the mineral-laced slurry released by the collapse could eventually pollute the Sao Francisco River, the second-longest in Brazil, which hosts various species of fish and has many towns on its banks. Daily tests carried out by Brazil's national water agency ANA in the Paraopeba tributary, muddied along 200 kilometers (120 miles) by the dam burst, show the presence of metals in the water have spiked to unhealthy levels. Residents along the riverbanks have already said fish they relied on for food were floating to the surface, dead. "Most of us here are very rural, riverside people, so we use the Paraopeba River to feed ourselves. It gives us fish, we use it to water our plants, and now we can't do this anymore, so many people have been affected by the dam breaking," one local, Leda de Oliveira, 31, told AFP. - Worst industrial disaster - The latest ANA results showed iron, magnesium and aluminum at worrying levels. It added that, while trace levels of lead and mercury had initially spiked, they had since fallen to normal counts. Arsenic -- another impurity often found in iron ore waste -- was not a problem, according to the tests. But those measured just water quality, and not the way the elements were being absorbed in sediment, food chains and the general ecosystem. Experts say the real long-term effects of the dam break at the mine, located near the town of Brumadinho and owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, may not be evident for years. "Right now there are many unknowns -- how toxic is the waste? How mobile are the toxins? Will the waste move again? It is only when these things are known that we will really know how bad this will be," an expert in landslides, Professor David Petley at Britain's University of Sheffield, told AFP. Story continues Immediate action, "very expensive if done properly," was needed to contain the pollution, he said, adding: "There is a lot of waste in the river. There is a risk that this now moves downstream in floods, or that toxins that it releases might move." While Brumadinho is now considered Brazil's worst-ever industrial accident, given its high likely final death toll, a similar mining dam collapse three years earlier in the same region, near the town of Mariana, remains the country's worst environmental disaster. Its effects are still being measured today. The dam near Mariana was part of a facility jointly owned by Vale. Nineteen people were killed. Pollution extended for 650 kilometers (400 miles) along a river, to the Atlantic Ocean. The 60 million tons of waste it released were more than four times greater than the 13 million tons held back by the Brumadinho dam. Whole ecosystems affected by the Mariana sludge were killed off. Both disasters resulted from ruptures of tailings dams -- reservoirs of detritus left over from the process of extracting iron ore. Such dams are the cheapest ways to store mining waste, but also the riskiest, as the two successive disasters showed. Petley said it was to be hoped that measures to contain pollution were better now, but added that both disasters were "scandalous failures." - 'Recklessness' - Vale started decommissioning its tailings dams in Brazil after the 2015 Mariana disaster, and has now accelerated the process for its remaining 10 dams. But for Brumadinho, where many inhabitants worked at Vale, that process proved tragically slow. Almost all of the dead and missing were workers at the mine, many buried by the sludge as they were having lunch in the facility's on-site cafeteria. Many residents accuse the mining giant of putting profits over lives. Graffiti saying "Vale, murderer" has been scrawled on several walls in Brumadinho, and in mud at Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. "We are all shaken. This should never have happened. There was a lot of recklessness. Today all of Brumadinho is in mourning," said Gustavo Franca, a 25-year-old real estate agent who lost many friends. Vale paid dearly for Mariana. It and its partner in the joint venture, Anglo-Australian miner BHP, forked out $6 billion in compensation and fines. But, while 20 executives were charged, none ever went to trial and to date no one was convicted. Authorities have frozen $3 billion of Vale's assets to pay for damages from the latest disaster. Lawsuits are bound to follow. It has also already lost around 20 percent of its value on the stock market this week. For the mining company, the world's third-biggest, the blows are harsh. But with 2017 revenues of $34 billion yielding profits of $5.5 billion, Vale will survive. Have you been paying attention to shares of Cree (CREE)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 27.1% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $52.76 in the previous session. Cree has gained 17.9% since the start of the year compared to the 8.8% move for the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the 14.3% return for the Zacks Semiconductor - Discretes industry. What's Driving the Outperformance? The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on January 30, 2019, Cree reported EPS of $0.23 versus consensus estimate of $0.17 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 0.92%. For the current fiscal year, Cree is expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share on $1.66 billion in revenues. This represents a 289.47% change in EPS on a 11.43% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $1.27 per share on $1.87 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 72.16% and 12.22%, respectively. Valuation Metrics Cree may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level. On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style. Cree has a Value Score of F. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B. Story continues In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 68.2X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 13X versus its peer group's average of 11.5X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective. Zacks Rank We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Cree currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates. Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Cree meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Cree shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term. How Does Cree Stack Up to the Competition? Shares of Cree have been rising, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? Some of its industry peers are also impressive, including Rambus (RMBS), Cirrus Logic (CRUS), and Silicon Motion Technology (SIMO), all of which currently have a Zacks Rank of at least #2 and a VGM Score of at least B, making them well-rounded choices. However, it is worth noting that the Zacks Industry Rank for this group is in the bottom half of the ranking, so it isn't all good news for Cree. Still, the fundamentals for Cree are promising, and it still has potential despite being at a 52-week high. 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 Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rambus, Inc. (RMBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. NEWARK, N.J. Cory Booker is in. The New Jersey senator launched his White House bid on Friday morning with an email to supporters declaring, Im running for President of the United States of America. His letter was followed up by the release of a video in which he focused on the idea that people in the country share common pain, a case that has been a centerpiece of his speeches throughout the past year. Together, we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose. Together, America, we will rise, Booker said in the clip. Sen. Cory Booker launched his White House bid on Feb. 1. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters) His entry into the crowded Democratic primary field is not a surprise. Booker became mayor of Newark in 2006 and became famous for his blend of social media savvy and hands-on emotional politics that hearkened back to the rhetoric of the Civil Rights movement. Since his time in City Hall, Booker has been widely touted as a potential presidential prospect. That speculation only intensified after he was elected to the Senate in 2013. Booker kicked off his campaign surrounded by the three things that have been hallmarks of his career thus far: spirituality, sentiment and Newark. He spent the night before his announcement at Metropolitan Baptist Church, a congregation he regularly attends a few blocks from his home in the city. Senator Booker requested that we would come together and have prayer, said the churchs pastor, the Rev. Dr. David Jefferson. This is representative of who he is and what he believes in, that he dare not make a move without asking the almighty God. Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013. (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) The small service was attended by several of Bookers friends and allies who had been told to come to the church in the past day. It concluded with Jefferson encouraging those in the room to hug somebody. Afterwards, Booker briefly spoke to reporters. He told Yahoo News the decision to run came after his appearances on the campaign trail this past year, which included extensive travel to key primary states. I saw the receptivity to me giving my authentic message out there, not shying away from the urgent calls of justice, not shying away from the need to stand up for those who are being left behind and left out, Booker said. Story continues Booker felt his positive and emotional approach resonated even in a time of deep political division. I saw that people didnt just want a politician thats going to stand up and say, Im going to punch Trump in the face. I saw that people really did want to rise above it and pull people together back to our common ideals and common principles, he said. Booker, who would be the second African-American president, made a point of launching his campaign at the start of Black History Month. He said he was humbled and feeling blessed to be entering the presidential race. I still look on the Senate floor and feel this sense of gratitude. The reason why I still live down the street is because these are the folks that helped me do things that were beyond my wildest imagination, Booker explained. Booker said he wants to bring people together back to our common ideals and common principles. (Photo: Mel Evans/AP) When pressed about how he could possibly invoke humility while putting himself forward for the highest office in the land, Booker countered that he hopes to set a new political paradigm. What is real strength? Is it bombast? Is it swagger? Is it braggadociousness? Is it strut? No. I think real strength is seen in vulnerability, said Booker. I think its seen in those people who stood before fire hoses and armed troopers unarmed. I think its people who are willing to let the truth be told that were all imperfect folks trying to make a better nation. Booker is eager to display this approach on the campaign trail. I look forward to offering up a very, very strong spirit of love and kindness and grace and decency along with my policy ideas, he said. With an extremely crowded primary field vying to fight the famously combative President Trump, Booker is almost certainly in for a bruising race. And in spite of all the positivity and tenderness, Booker insisted he will be a forceful presence in the field. We have this mistaken sense that being strong is being mean, that being tough is being cruel. Its just not, explained Booker, adding: You could be a strong tough street fighter and still be a person of love, and grace, and kindness, and courageous empathy and vulnerability. Sen. Cory Booker stops for a photo before a Martin Luther King Jr. prayer service at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C. (Photo: Meg Kinnard/AP) In his announcement video, Booker highlighted his personal story, which began with parents who secured his family a place in the New Jersey suburbs with the help of Civil Rights activists who helped them fight discriminatory housing practices. It featured footage of him walking through the streets of Newark near his home. I still live there today, and Im the only senator who goes home to a low-income, inner city community, the first community that took a chance on me, Booker said in the video. He went on to detail his vision for a potential presidency including a focus on criminal justice reform, which has been one of his signature issues in the Senate. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind, where parents can put food on the table, where there are good-paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood, where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins, where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame, Booker said. According to a spokesperson, Booker plans to spend Friday morning doing a series of radio interviews. He will also appear on ABCs The View. Booker is spending the next weekend at home in Newark before taking off on Feb. 8 for a swing through the three early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Unlike some of his rivals, Booker is not beginning his presidential bid with any interim steps. Theres no exploratory committee, a Booker campaign source told Yahoo News. Hes all in. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: 2020 prospect Sen. Klobuchar: Its difficult to imagine voting for Trump AG pick If I were the prosecutor on Roger Stones case, Id be delighted that he continues to speak out publicly. Capitol Hill has finally started to take notice of Special Counsel Robert Muellers brass-knuckles investigative tactics: Rather than call defense counsel to arrange Stones surrender on charges of misleading Congress that have been expected for months, Mueller had dozens of well-armed agents swarm Stones home as if it were Osama bin Ladens compound. But Stones lunatic theories, spun nightly on cable TV, make Mueller look downright judicious. In his latest rant, Stone deduces that Russian collusion is Muellers pretext not just to nail to him, but to impeach both President Trump and Vice President Pence, then install Speaker Nancy Pelosi and, finally, Hillary Clinton as president. Mueller, of course, has not even charged Stone with a conspiracy, or anything to do with Russias espionage; and in the many indictments he has filed, the prosecutor has never hinted at criminal misconduct by Trump, much less Pence. As I mentioned to Rich Lowry during The McCarthy Report podcast this week, Stones statements in the raucous press conference outside the courthouse the day he was arrested were about 90 percent of the way to a guilty plea. The defendant conceded that, sure, he may have made some untrue statements in his congressional testimony, but they were surely immaterial or the result of failed recollection. Good luck with that. On CNN a few days later, while stressing that he had no advance knowledge of the WikiLeaks disclosures of Democratic emails, Stone acknowledged, I always said that there could be some process crime. Not the best approach when the indictment does not accuse you of such advance knowledge but does charge seven felony counts of process crime. Still, the fact that it is not in Stones interest to keep talking does not vitiate his First Amendment right to do so. On that score, Politico reports that a gag order is apt to be slapped on Stone this afternoon. Thats when he is to appear for a first status conference before Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the federal district court in Washington. Judge Jackson has already issued a number of gag orders, including in Muellers prosecution of Paul Manafort. This is obviously a boon for prosecutors obsessed with maintaining investigative secrecy and avoiding criticism. But that doesnt make it right. Story continues Judges certainly have qualified authority to regulate the speech of attorneys in matters before them. Lawyers are deemed officers of the court, and their admission to practice before a court is contingent on agreeing to follow its rules. In the District of Columbia, that includes a rule obliging lawyers to refrain from commentary that could interfere with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice. Moreover, lawyers in criminal proceedings have privileged access to non-public information; it is thus reasonable to condition that access on respect for the informations sensitivity e.g., by barring its publication until it is properly made part of the public record in pretrial or trial proceedings. Nevertheless, free-speech limitations justified by the peculiar duties lawyers owe to the courts processes do not extend to non-lawyers, even if their commentary might make the administration of justice more challenging. A court is powerless, for example, to restrain the press from reporting on a criminal case and pundits from analyzing it, even though such commentary whether accurate or inaccurate can undermine the courts capacity to conduct a fair trial before an impartial jury. Judge Jackson and her colleagues appear to presume that the qualified power to regulate the speech of attorneys can be stretched into a generalized power to muzzle the parties and witnesses as well. In her gag order in the Manafort case, Jackson observed that the district courts rule 57(c) gives the judges authority in a widely publicized or sensational criminal case . . . [to] issue a special order governing such matters as extrajudicial statements by parties, witnesses and attorneys likely to interfere with the right of the accused to a fair trial by an impartial jury. For this proposition, Judge Jackson relied on language mined from the Supreme Courts 1991 decision in Gentile v. State Bar of Nevada, which noted the evils of out-of-court commentary that could prejudice the jury pool or influence the outcome of a trial. There are at least three problems with Jacksons reasoning. First, Gentile dealt specifically with the regulation of speech by lawyers. It had nothing to do with commentary by non-lawyers involved in a criminal case, such as the accused and trial witnesses. While it is true that the majority discussed a prior case (Sheppard v. Maxwell) in which it contemplated restricting non-lawyer participants from divulging prejudicial matters in the context of reversing a conviction due to pervasive publicity that prejudiced the accused the issue of silencing a defendant was not before the Gentile Court. Second, Gentile is a confusing split decision, in which the majority comprises different groups of justices in different parts of the opinion. Four justices (Kennedy, Marshall, Blackmun, and Stevens) were prepared to rule that the fair-trial concerns of federal courts must yield to the free-speech rights of even lawyers when the commentary at issue involves potential governmental abuse of power. Significantly, the lawyer in Gentile publicly alleged that the prosecution of his client was politicized. The four justices opined that this was classic political speech. Besides lying at the very center of the First Amendment, such commentary was seen as promoting the forum of public opinion as a check against potential abuse of the judicial process. To be sure, this was not a majority sentiment. Yet, given that the Court was so closely divided on the matter of case-related speech by lawyers whom courts, for institutional reasons, have great leeway to regulate why should we assume that non-lawyer trial participants, such as the accused, may be restrained from publicly complaining about the possible politicization of a prosecution? Unlike the lawyers, the defendant does not volunteer to be involved in a criminal case and subordinate his rights to the courts interests. Third, the fair-trial right that the Constitution guarantees belongs to the accused, not the prosecutor. This is expressly acknowledged in Judge Jacksons own Manafort gag order, in which she claimed to be protecting the right of the accused to a fair trial by an impartial jury. How is it fair to the accused to allow the government to file its charges publicly, to orchestrate an arrest that portrays the accused as a dangerous violent criminal and flight risk, and to employ law-enforcement and intelligence agents who leak like sieves, but then tell the accused he must keep his thoughts to himself? Roger Stone is an odd character with a mile-wide self-destructive streak. Any public statements he makes may be used against him in court. If he keeps speaking out, the chief beneficiary will no doubt be the prosecutors. If he gets convicted (a high probability), the court will take his commentary into account in imposing a sentence. If he says things that are libelous he may be sued, and if he says things that are obstructive he may be further prosecuted. The risks are obvious. But they should be his risks to run. The First Amendment gives him that right. A judges desire to run a tight ship is worthy, but it is secondary. More from National Review By Nichola Groom LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For three decades, California has led the fight to control tailpipe pollution, with countless policies promoting cleaner gasoline, carpooling, public transportation and its signature strategy - the electric vehicle. Californians now buy more than half of all EVs sold in the United States, and the states auto-pollution policies have provided a model being adopted around the world. But theyre not working at home, by the states own measure. Tailpipe pollution here is going up, not down, despite billions of dollars spent by one of the most environmentally progressive governments on earth. "The strategies that we've used up until now just haven't been effective," Mary Nichols, the head of the California Air Resources Board, told Reuters. That failure has less to do with energy or environmental policies and more with decades-old urban planning decisions that made California and especially Los Angeles a haven for sprawling development of single-family homes and long commutes, according to state officials. Californias struggle bodes poorly for other major U.S. cities with similar sprawl and expensive urban housing such as Houston, Atlanta, and others that planned their cities around cars - and casts doubt on how quickly the United States can reduce greenhouse gas emissions amid urgent warnings from scientists about climate change. The United States is the world's second-biggest carbon dioxide emitter behind China, at over 5.1 billion metric tons in 2017, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The state's troubles also hold lessons for massive economies such as China and India that hope to control pollution from vehicles as they rapidly urbanize. Transportation is tied with power generation as Americas leading source of carbon dioxide emissions, at 28 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and it takes top billing in California, at about 40 percent. Story continues It makes up a smaller share in the rest of the world, where car ownership is lower but likely to grow. California's carbon emissions amounted to 429 million metric tons in 2016, the last year for which data is available. That's the lowest level since 1990 thanks to a shift away from coal-fired electricity toward natural gas, solar and wind. But its next target - calling for a further 40 percent cut by 2030 - will be out of reach without transformative changes in state residents' driving habits, CARB said in a report published late last year. As the state struggles to cut its own vehicle pollution, California officials are also fighting an effort by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to weaken national standards for automobile emissions. A spokesman for newly-elected Governor Gavin Newsom, who ran on a promise to continue California's legacy of climate action, did not return requests for comment. A QUIET ADMISSION California's tailpipe emissions have risen 5 percent since 2013, according to CARB data, as population growth, urban sprawl, and a devotion to ones own car produced longer commutes and choking traffic. The increase came even as the state has finally caught traction in promoting electric and hybrid vehicles, some 1.18 million of which have been sold in the state since 2011, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The government last year set a target of 5 million electric vehicles by 2030. But even hitting that goal by no means assured - wont be near enough to allow the state to meet its goal for carbon reduction, which would require California drivers to reduce per capita miles traveled by 25 percent, CARB said in its report. The state has also boosted spending on public transport by about 60 percent over the past decade, according to CARB. But transit options are poorly suited for Californias vast expanses of suburban-style neighborhoods. "If we keep thinking we are going to overcome a 1950s system overnight, that's wrong," said Hasan Ikhrata, executive director of the San Diego Association of Governments, the city's main public planning body. SOARING EMISSIONS IN SPRAWLING U.S. CITIES The United States has pledged to cut carbon emissions by between 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 under the Paris Agreement, an international pact to fight climate change reached by nearly 200 countries in 2015. While President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to pull the United States out of the accord, a group of states led by California wants to ensure the U.S. meets its commitments, which scientists call critical to avoiding the most devastating effects of climate change. But California's problems - and those of other sprawling U.S. cities - suggest that meeting that goal will be difficult. In Houston, for example, tailpipe emissions have soared 46 percent, posing a major challenge for the citys goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Unlike California, Texas has no statewide greenhouse-gas reduction goals, and the states love affair with gas-guzzling trucks is only deepening. More than two thirds of new vehicles registered in the Houston area last year were pickup trucks or SUVs, compared to less than half in Los Angeles, according to IHS Markit, a global financial information provider. Electric cars, by comparison, represent just 1 percent of new vehicle sales in Texas, according to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. In California, it was around 7 percent in the first eight months of last year, according to data compiled by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Transportation emissions have also been rising in other major cities such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, and San Antonio, according to city climate emissions reports from recent years, and have climbed about 21 percent nationwide since 1990, according to the EPA. FIGHTING POLLUTION WITH URBAN PLANNING Other parts of the world could have an easier time. In Europe, residents of densely populated cities face high fuel taxes, encouraging reduced car travel. Many European cities have seen relatively high levels of electric car adoption. And in China and India, which also have lofty electric vehicle targets, major cities are still being built - with pollution control in mind. They are much better able to bake in this kind of planning into their urban designs, said John German, a senior fellow with the non-profit International Council on Clean Transportation. One example is Chinas new zone of Xiongan, a spill-off district to ease overcrowding in Beijing, which is being designed from scratch. In a document published in January, the Chinese government promised to incorporate low-carbon development ideas such as high-speed commuter rail and efficient land use - into its planning for Xiongan to create a convenient, safe, green and intelligent transportation system. China is also seeking to improve fuel standards, ban old cars, and stop diesel trucks from entering certain areas as car ownership surges by about 20 million vehicles per year. California officials, eager to maintain the states leadership role on climate action, hope to pave the way for a fix to entrenched urban sprawl. Los Angeles is mulling a proposal to charge drivers during rush hour and use that money to make public transit free by 2028, according to Metro Chief Executive Phillip Washington. Other options include waiving fees for pooled rides to and from airports and adding safety lanes for scooters and bikes, said Dan Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. CARB Deputy Executive Officer Kurt Karperos said the state is planning talks with municipal governments to discuss controlling emissions through city planning. Such efforts could include lower-cost housing in urban centers to bring people closer to work, and the elimination of building codes requiring parking spots to encourage more drop-off carpooling, according to experts. "It is a tough problem," Karperos said. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Brian Thevenot) The market expects Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2018. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 8. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This mining company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +119.2%. Revenues are expected to be $714.13 million, up 18.8% from the year-ago quarter. Estimate Revisions Trend The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 100% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Earnings Whisper Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction). The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is subject to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Story continues Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Cleveland-Cliffs? For Cleveland-Cliffs, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.84%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination indicates that Cleveland-Cliffs will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue? Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Cleveland-Cliffs would post earnings of $0.66 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.64, delivering a surprise of -3.03%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. Bottom Line An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Cleveland-Cliffs appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings 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 Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Clearfield (CLFD) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.08 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.05 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.07 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 60%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of fiber optic management products would post earnings of $0.05 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.14, delivering a surprise of 180%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Clearfield, which belongs to the Zacks Wireless Equipment industry, posted revenues of $20.09 million for the quarter ended December 2018, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.50%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $16.87 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Clearfield shares have added about 21.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 7%. What's Next for Clearfield? While Clearfield has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Clearfield was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.04 on $19.50 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.30 on $85 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Wireless Equipment is currently in the top 25% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. 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 Clearfield, Inc. (CLFD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research What does the Year of the Pig have in store for us all? [Photo: Getty] Its almost Chinese New Year, with February 5, denoting the beginning of the Year of the Pig, defined by the Chinese zodiac cycle. While millions will gather to mark the occasion with the giving of gifts and the enjoying of a feast, its also a chance to consider what the sign of the Pig will mean for the year ahead. What is Chinese Astrology? Chinese astrology is a fascinating topic and much deeper than it looks! explains Laurent Langlais an international Feng Shui consultant who also specialises in Chinese astrology. Like Western astrology, Chinese astrology gives each person a sign of the zodiac to each lunar year in a cycle of 12 years. Those 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig are a different form of energy we can all be born under, Laurent explains. Your animal is determined by your date of birth and is said to reflect your strengths, weaknesses and character traits. But have you ever wondered how bizarre it is that everyone born in a Monkey, Dog or Ox year have the same horoscope? Laurent continues. Well they actually dont as the Chinese animal of our year of birth is only a fraction of our astrology! According to Laurent we also have a different animal for: the month, day and time of our birth. And on top of those, there is some energy called the 5 Elements. They are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Altogether those 4 animals and the Elements form a personal chart called the 4 Pillars of destiny, or Bazi (Bat-tzeu). There are almost 13 millions of combinations possible for the 4 Pillars, and the placement of each animal and element can accurately describe our lives, ideal career, relationships, personal timing etc. But that doesnt mean that the famous sign of our year of birth doesnt offer some guidance about our overall personality. Characteristics of The Pig As a full cycle is 12 years, an animal sign comes back every12 years! Therefore you are born under the Pig sign if you are born in: 2007 (Fire Pig), 1995 (Wood Pig), 1983 (Water Pig), 1971 (Metal Pig), 1959 (Earth Pig) and so on Story continues Though only your full chart will reveal your life story, there are some general characteristics that those born in the year of the Pig might share. The Pig has some nomadic qualities and is also a lover of life, explains Laurent. A traveller at heart, it is a sign that can take you on a real adventure. But that hedonism doesnt come without a shadowy side and Laurent warns that those born in the year of the Pig often forget about discipline which can hold them back from fulfilling their own potential. 2019 marks the Year of the Pig [Photo: Getty] So what does the year have in store for those born in a year of the Pig? A common misconception is that being in your year is good luck, Laurent explains. Actually being in the year of your sign brings a close to a 12 year cycle, and your luck becomes largely dependent on the karma you have generated during this time. Heres what else year of the Pigs have to look forward to. Love. If you are partnered, you could feel frustrated and more impatient and this would reflect on your relationship. If you are single, the year can help you meet someone who will mirror your own energy but youll need to step up your game, says Laurent. Work. It is a time when you are evaluating how far you have come up so far. Some of you might be frustrated by the results (or lack off), especially if your hard work has not been acknowledged enough. The best advice this year would be to sit still however, or to train to evolve in your career. Personal evolution. It is a great year for personal development, to delve into some form of spirituality, and to take some therapy if you need to get rid of some luggage. But for the Pig who wants to procrastinate and not better who they are, the year could be harsh. What does the year have in store for other signs? In the logic of Chinese astrology we can group the animals through the combination they form, or through their opposition, explains Laurent. The animals that are combining with the Pig namely the Rabbit and the Goat are doing well this year. The one clashing directly with it the Snake is not having too much fun. The Rat ( 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020) According to Laurent those born in the year of the Rat should be mindful of confusing situation in love, such as love triangle or losing the spark with their partner. The confusion can extend to your work and it is not the best time to change career, he says. The Ox ( 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021) The Ox is predicted to benefit most from this years energy and see interesting developments in all areas of their life. While the first half of the year helps them to think about their plan, the second half should give them real career opportunities, Laurent explains. The Tiger ( 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022) The Tiger is rather in luck in 2019, Laurent says. The year is favourable to new friendships and one of them might evolve into something much deeper. There is also a chance that you could move for your work, or get a position that involves travelling, he adds. The Rabbit ( 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023) After two difficult years in a row, particularly in 2017, the Rabbit finally sees a supportive year. This sign should make more money this year, and men have higher changes to find love too. The Dragon ( 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024) The storm has passed for the Dragon as its opposite sign, the Dog, is now out of sight. Altogether, this year is really helping you to build bridges and be part of a community, Laurent says. Go out, network, socialise and meet as much people as you can. During the second half you can travel and have meaningful experiences. The Snake ( 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025) The Snake must be very cautious all year long. You are under attack by the energy of the year, and feel that you are losing your mojo, Laurent warns. Keep a low profile in all things and avoid risky schemes or major life changes. The Horse ( 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026) 2019 is an excellent year to undergo therapeutic work, explains Laurent. If you accept to do this work early on, you should then undergo a personal transformation during the second half, he explains. The right people and offers could come to you more naturally. Chinese New Year is almost upon us [Photo: Getty] The Goat ( 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027) As the Pig supports this sign, it could be a good year for those born in the year of the Goat. If you are willing to step up your game and accept to evolve, Laurent says. It can be a wonderfully playful year for travelling, spiritual discoveries, and self-exploration. Challenge yourself and dont hesitate to try new adventures. The Monkey ( 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028) Those born in the year of the Monkey could see 2019 as a year of two halves thanks to an unusual dynamic. The first half of the year blocks you a bit and the second half brings much movement to your life, Laurent explains. Try to identify your blockages and frustrations, work on them, and make the necessary changes from August onward. The Rooster ( 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029) For Roosters 2019 is a year of opportunities. The planets are lining up for you to evolve in your career, says Laurent. If you have been waiting for a promotion, this years energy is on your side. You are also very likely to address your home base with either a move or remodelling/redecorating, and will have a desire to take roots and build new foundations. The Dog ( 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030) For those born in the year of the Dog, 2019 will be more challenging. While your love life can remain supportive, you absolutely should avoid being confrontational at work, especially for men with a strong ego, Laurent warns. The key is to not try imposing your will, and accept what the Universe throws at your with humility. 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: As dating app Bumble launches zodiac filter, which star signs are romantically compatible? These star signs are most likely to cheat in 2019 Aquarius children more likely to become famous than any other star sign By Ben Blanchard URUMQI/KASHGAR/HOTAN, China (Reuters) - China will not back down on what it sees as a highly successful de-radicalisation program in Xinjiang that has attracted global concern, but fewer people will be sent through, officials said last week in allowing rare media access there. Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, scholars, foreign governments and U.N. rights experts over what they call mass detentions and strict surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority and other Muslim groups who call Xinjiang home. In August, a U.N. human rights panel said it had received credible reports that a million or more Uighurs and other minorities in the far western region are being held in what resembles a "massive internment camp." Last week, the government organized a visit to three such facilities, which it calls vocational education training centers, for a small group of foreign reporters, including Reuters. In recent days, a similar visit was arranged for diplomats from 12 non-Western countries, including Russia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Kazakhstan, according to Xinjiang officials and foreign diplomats. Senior officials, including Shohrat Zakir, Xinjiang's governor and the region's most senior Uighur, dismissed what they called "slanderous lies" about the facilities. Speaking in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, Shohrat Zakir said the centers had been "extremely effective" in reducing extremism by teaching residents about the law and helping them learn Mandarin. "As time goes by, the people in the education training mechanism will be fewer and fewer," he said. Shohrat Zakir said he could not say exactly how many people were in the facilities. "One million people, this number is rather frightening. One million people in the education mechanism - that's not realistic. That's purely a rumor," he said, stressing they were temporary educational facilities. Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Munich-based exile group the World Uyghur Congress, told Reuters the Chinese government was using extremism as an excuse to lock people up. "What they are trying to do is destroy Uighur identity," he said. INSIDE THE CENTERS Human rights groups and former detainees have said that conditions in the camps are poor, with inmates subject to abuse. They said detainees did not receive vocational training. Seeking to counter that narrative, the government took reporters to three centers, in Kashgar, Hotan and Karakax, all in the heavily Uighur-populated southern part of Xinjiang, where much of the violence has taken place in recent years. In one class reporters were allowed to briefly visit, a teacher explained in Mandarin that not allowing singing or dancing at a wedding or crying at a funeral are signs of extremist thought. The students took notes, pausing to look up as reporters and officials entered the room. Some smiled awkwardly. Others just looked down at their books. All were Uighur. None appeared to have been mistreated. In another class, residents read a Chinese lesson in their textbook entitled "Our motherland is so vast." There was plenty of singing and dancing in other rooms reporters visited, including a lively rendition in English of "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands," that seemed to have been put on especially for the visit. Several residents agreed to speak briefly to reporters, though all in the presence of government officials. Reporters were closely chaperoned at all times. All the interviewees said they were there of their own accord after learning of the centers from local officials. Many answers used extremely similar language about being "infected with extremist thought." Pazalaibutuyi, 26, told reporters at the Hotan center that five years ago she had attended an illegal religious gathering at a neighbor's house, where they were taught that women should cover their faces. "At that time I was infected with extremist thought so I wore a face veil," she said, speaking clear Mandarin after a year at the center. Government officials came to her village to talk to the villagers and after that, she said, "I discovered my mistake." In the Kashgar center, Osmanjan, who declined to give his age, said he had incited ethnic hatred, so village police suggested he go for re-education. "Under the influence of extremist thought, when non-Muslims came to my shop I was unwilling to serve them," he said in unsteady Mandarin. It was not possible to independently verify their stories. All the interviewees said they had not been forewarned of the visit. Residents said they can "graduate" when they are judged to have reached a certain level with their Mandarin, de-radicalisation and legal knowledge. They are allowed phone calls with family members, but no cell phones. They are provided halal food. Only minimal security was visible at any of the three centers. Reuters last year reported on conditions inside the camps and took pictures of guard towers and barbed wire surrounding some. (https://tinyurl.com/y9zzouss) 'A GOOD LIFE' The situation in Xinjiang has stirred concern in Western capitals. At least 15 Western ambassadors wrote to Xinjiang's top official, Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo, late last year seeking a meeting to discuss their concerns. Chen did not meet reporters on the trip. Diplomatic sources told Reuters the ambassadors did not get a response. The United States has said it is considering sanctions against Chen, other officials and Chinese companies linked to allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang. Maya Wang, a Hong Kong-based Human Rights Watch researcher, said international pressure needs to increase. "The fact that they feel they need to put on a show tour is a sign that this pressure is working," she told Reuters. Both Wang and Dilxat Raxit noted that the tight control over the visits and interviews showed China's concern about their true nature. Over a lunch of lamb kebabs, horse meat and naan, Urumqi party boss Xu Hairong told Reuters that "all of the reports are fake" when it comes to foreign coverage of Xinjiang. He dismissed worries about U.S. sanctions. "We, including Party Secretary Chen, are working all out for the people of Xinjiang to have a good life," Xu said. "If the U.S. won't allow me to go, then I don't want to go there. That's the truth." The government says its goal is for Uighurs to become part of mainstream Chinese society. Shohrat Zakir said in parts of southern Xinjiang people couldn't even say hello in Mandarin. Officials point to a lack of violence in the past two years as evidence of program's success. Urumqi's Exhibition on Major Violent Terrorist Attack Cases in Xinjiang, normally closed to the public, displays graphic images and footage from what the government says are attacks. "Only with a deeper understanding of the past can you understand the measures we have taken today," Shi Lei, Xinjiang's Communist Party committee deputy propaganda chief, told reporters. One member of the Chinese armed forces, who has served in Kashgar, said the security situation had improved dramatically. "You can't imagine what it was like there in 2014 and 2015. There were attacks all the time, bombings, stabbings. It was chaos," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. In Kashgar, Hotan and Karakax, petrol stations are still surrounded by barbed wire and heavy security barriers. Residential areas are dotted with small police stations. The stations have broader public service in mind, Zhang Yi, commander of one of the stations, told reporters. The one reporters visited provided pamphlets on a wide range of subjects, including how to legally change your sex. Kashgar deputy party chief Zark Zurdun, a Uighur from Ghulja in northern Xinjiang, where many ethnic Kazakhs live, told Reuters that "stability is the best human right." "The West should learn from us" on how to beat extremism, he said, dismissing concerns Uighur culture was under attack. "Did Kazakh vanish in the USSR when they all had to learn Russian?" he said. "No. So Uighur won't vanish here." (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Gerry Doyle) The Chemical Brothers have just revealed that their forthcoming album "No Geography" will be released in April, and they've shared its latest preview, the euphoric single "Got to Keep On." The electronic duo has likewise shared the full track listing for the LP, which features the previously released tracks "Free Yourself" and "MAH": 1. "Eve Of Destruction" 2. "Bango" 3. "No Geography" 4. "Got To Keep On" 5. "Gravity Drops" 6. "The Universe Sent Me" 7. "We've Got To Try" 8. "Free Yourself" 9. "MAH" 10. "Catch Me I'm Falling" A description of the album offers some insight into its genesis: "At some point during the recording of 'No Geography,' Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons pushed the reset button. It began with the construction of a studio within a studio -- a tiny makeshift room that housed the kind of kit they'd previously used to record the bulk of their first two albums.... That experimental space offered a freedom and the chance to create music and tell their own story in a way they hadn't done for years." It continues, "Songs were road tested in front of audiences as part of the 2018 live set (which took in two shows at Alexandra Palace -- the band's biggest UK headline shows to date) and honed in regular DJ sets the world over." "No Geography" will be released on April 12. In May, the duo will head out for a string of live shows in North America, the UK and Europe. By Mayela Armas CARACAS (Reuters) - A change in government in Venezuela would favor the country's two main foreign creditors Russia and China, Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaido, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday. Guaido said he had sent communications to both allies of President Nicolas Maduro, who accuses Guaido of staging a coup against his socialist administration. The United States and a number of other countries now recognize Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate head of state. "What most suits Russia and China is the country's stability and a change of government," he said. "Maduro does not protect Venezuela, he doesn't protect anyone's investments, and he is not a good deal for those countries." Guaido was speaking from his Caracas home where earlier on Thursday agents from a feared special police unit turned up to ask for his wife, a sign of increasing pressure Maduro is putting on the opposition. In the interview, he said he "had no fear" of a possible arrest after the Supreme Court approved the opening of a preliminary investigation into his actions on Tuesday, imposing a travel ban and a freeze on his bank accounts. Guaido said the Venezuelan government would be "responsible" to its creditors and bondholders. Guaido does not yet control any of the state's functions, which remain loyal to Maduro despite the opposition's calls for defections. Guaido said he was evaluating how to take control of state-run oil firm PDVSA's U.S. unit Citgo, Venezuela's biggest foreign asset, as the Trump administration tries to use the company as leverage to topple Maduro. The U.S. government and Guaido are trying to appoint a new board of directors for Citgo. Under a future government, PDVSA would remain in state hands, Guaido said, adding the top priority would be on recovering production in the devastated oil sector. "We are here to provide certainty to the economy, society and in politics," he said. (Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) CBOE Holdings (CBOE) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2018. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 8, 2019, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.35 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +55.2%. Revenues are expected to be $311.77 million, up 17.4% from the year-ago quarter. Estimate Revisions Trend The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Earnings Whisper Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is subject to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Story continues Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for CBOE? For CBOE, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.93%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2. So, this combination indicates that CBOE will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue? Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that CBOE would post earnings of $1.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.06, delivering a surprise of +4.95%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. Bottom Line An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. CBOE appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings 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 Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a Liberal Party breakfast event in Toronto on Friday, February 1, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young) Canadians are divided over Ottawas response to the deepening diplomatic row with China, while most agree there are more important considerations than trade with the worlds number two economy, a new survey shows. The RCMP arrested Huawei Technologies CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver at the request of United States authorities in early December. She faces 13 criminal charges in the U.S. for alleged violations of trade sanctions against Iran. U.S. prosecutors are seeking Mengs extradition while she remains under partial house arrest in Vancouver. Both Meng and Huawei have denied any wrongdoing. The case will return to court in Vancouver on March 6. Mengs arrest ignited a political firestorm in Beijing, where officials continue to demand her release from Canadian custody. Meanwhile, the Canadian government is demanding the release of two citizens apprehended by Chinese authorities shortly after Meng was detained. A third Canadian man now faces a death sentence after a Chinese court decided his 15-year prison sentence was not harsh enough. Ottawas official stance on Mengs arrest has centred on the autonomy of the judicial process and allegiance with the United States. John McCallum, Canadas ambassador to China, was forced to resign after publicly suggesting the jailed telecom executive has a strong case to fight extradition to the U.S. While U.S. officials have denied Mengs charges are linked to the high-stakes trade talks underway in Washington between the worlds two largest economies, President Donald Trump has stated that he would certainly intervene if he thought doing so would secure a favourable trade deal. The gravity of the situation was reflected in a new Angus Reid Institute survey. Ninety-two per cent of respondents said the tension between Canada and China is either very serious or quite serious. Ottawa is in a tight spot, bound by a long-standing treaty with the U.S., while facing harsh criticism from Canadas third-largest trading partner. Story continues The governments response to China thus far has not gone over well, the survey found. Fifty-two per cent said Canadas actions have been poor or very poor, and 44 per cent called for stronger action. How that should materialize was less clear. More than half (55 per cent) of survey participants said arresting Meng was the right call. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has long expressed interest in broadening Canada-China investment and trade ties, while at the same time taking the Chinese government to task for its poor human rights record. Chinese investment in Canada slid in 2018 for the first time in six years, according to data collected by the University of Albertas China Institute Investment Tracker. The inflow of investment dollars plunged 47 per cent, from $8.35 billion in 2017 to $4.43 billion. Responses were mixed on the impact of Canada-China trade, with 35 per cent viewing it as positive for Canada and 33 per cent viewing it as negative. Trade and investment opportunities took a back seat to human rights and the rule of law when survey participants were asked to choose which of those priorities should be more important to Canada. Eighty-eight per cent said China cant be trusted on human rights or the rule of law, while 41 per cent answered that Chinas treatment of its citizens is none of Canadas business. Most who participated in the survey see the Canada-China relationship improving, with 65 per cent indicating the current situation will be sorted out and relations will normalize. Thirty-five per cent believe Canada-China relations are in long term trouble. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Want to help shape the future of investing tools? Participate in a short research study and receive a 6-month subscription to the award winning Simply Wall St research tool (valued at $60)! Today well evaluate Cambridge Technology Enterprises Limited (NSE:CTE) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, well consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. First up, well look at what ROCE is and how we calculate it. Second, well look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. And finally, well look at how its current liabilities are impacting its ROCE. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) ROCE is a measure of a companys yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Author Edwin Whiting says to be careful when comparing the ROCE of different businesses, since No two businesses are exactly alike. How Do You Calculate Return On Capital Employed? Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets Current Liabilities) Or for Cambridge Technology Enterprises: 0.25 = 138m (1.1b 345m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) So, Cambridge Technology Enterprises has an ROCE of 25%. Check out our latest analysis for Cambridge Technology Enterprises Is Cambridge Technology Enterprisess ROCE Good? ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. Using our data, we find that Cambridge Technology Enterprisess ROCE is meaningfully better than the 14% average in the IT industry. We consider this a positive sign, because it suggests it uses capital more efficiently than similar companies. Independently of how Cambridge Technology Enterprises compares to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears decent, and the company may be worthy of closer investigation. Story continues NSEI:CTE Last Perf February 1st 19 Remember that this metric is backwards looking it shows what has happened in the past, and does not accurately predict the future. ROCE can be misleading for companies in cyclical industries, with returns looking impressive during the boom times, but very weak during the busts. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. If Cambridge Technology Enterprises is cyclical, it could make sense to check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Do Cambridge Technology Enterprisess Current Liabilities Skew Its ROCE? Current liabilities include invoices, such as supplier payments, short-term debt, or a tax bill, that need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. Cambridge Technology Enterprises has total liabilities of 345m and total assets of 1.1b. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 33% of its total assets. With this level of current liabilities, Cambridge Technology Enterprisess ROCE is boosted somewhat. The Bottom Line On Cambridge Technology Enterprisess ROCE While its ROCE looks good, its worth remembering that the current liabilities are making the business look better. You might be able to find a better buy than Cambridge Technology Enterprises. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. 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. By Tom Perry and Laila Bassam BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah's bigger role in Lebanon's new unity government points to a growing appetite to shape state affairs and builds on unprecedented military clout the group is wielding after helping turn the tide in Syria's war. Hezbollah's expanding power in Lebanon reflects a deepening of Iranian influence in an arc of territory from Tehran through Baghdad and Damascus that its foes Saudi Arabia and Israel have struggled to counter. Deemed a terrorist organization by the United States, Iran-backed Hezbollah has assumed control of three ministries in the government led by the Western-backed Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, the largest number of portfolios it has ever held. The new government was formed on Thursday, ending nine months of wrangling. The most significant portfolio under Hezbollah control is the Health Ministry, the first time Hezbollah has controlled a ministry with a big budget, though the Shi'ite doctor it picked for the job is not a party member. More broadly, Hezbollah and its political allies from across Lebanon's sectarian spectrum have emerged with more than half of cabinet's 30 seats, reflecting a May parliamentary election which the group declared a victory. Salem Zahran, an analyst with links to Hezbollah leaders, said the government would go down in its history as the "first big shift and the first step along a long road" towards more influence in government. "This transformation is because Hezbollah has accumulated an excess of power after it has nearly finished with the military battles in Syria," he said. "I believe that Hezbollah will build up even more involvement in the Lebanese state." Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is by far the most powerful group in Lebanon. Its clout in the region has grown since it joined the war in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Lebanese government posts are parcelled out according to a complicated sectarian system, capping how many any one group can hold. The post of prime minister is reserved for a Sunni Muslim, a job Hariri has now held three times because of his status as Lebanon's leading Sunni. But Hariri's Sunni dominance was shaken by the May election in which he lost more than one third of his seats in parliament, many of them to Hezbollah-allied Sunnis. Hezbollah managed to secure a cabinet seat for one of its Sunni allies. This is a big gain for Hezbollah and its allies who have long sought to erode the Sunni dominance built by the Hariri family after Lebanon's civil war, with the backing of Riyadh. As Hezbollah's clout has grown, Saudi Arabia has turned its focus away from Lebanon to other parts of the region, weakening Hezbollah's opponents who had benefited from its backing. Hariri's ally, the staunchly anti-Hezbollah Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) party, was forced to cede significant ground during nine months of political wrangling over government portfolios, though it gained seats in parliament. Hezbollah's biggest Christian ally, President Michel Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement, made fewer concessions. The most significant was giving the ground needed for Hezbollah's Sunni ally to join the cabinet - a point of friction between the allies. But Aoun, who backs Hezbollah's possession of weapons, still controls one third of the cabinet. "STRATEGIC IMBALANCE" Nabil Boumonsef, a Hezbollah critic and An-Nahar newspaper columnist, said Hezbollah's role was "growing very clearly" and noted that Hariri allies failed to secure all their demands. "This strategic imbalance confirms that Hezbollah's influence in this government is stronger than in the previous one for sure. This absolutely cannot be denied," he said. This poses questions for the United States, whose Lebanon policy twins military aid to the Lebanese army and support for Hariri with growing pressure on Hezbollah through sanctions. The U.S. State Department said in a statement it was concerned that Hezbollah would continue to occupy ministerial positions and was allowed to name the health minister. "We call on the new government to ensure the resources and services of these ministries do not provide support to Hezbollah ... We look to all parties in the new government to uphold Lebanon's policy of disassociation from regional conflicts and its international obligations," it said. The United States has imposed new sanctions on Hezbollah as part of its strategy to counter Iran. The frontpage headline of the pro-Hezbollah newspaper al-Akhbar said Hezbollah needed "a government amid the storm". "Hezbollah benefits today from the government led by Hariri specifically ... because Hariri, with his Western and Gulf (Arab) facade could be a safety net or helper, keeping options open, when it comes to escalating American sanctions", al-Akhbar wrote in its main story on the government. A senior Western diplomat said Hezbollah's opponents would keep a close eye on how Hezbollah manages the Health Ministry. "The other parties will closely monitor the funds Hezbollah has in the ministry and will cry foul when something is happening, because they know the Americans are looking in the same direction." The new health minister, Jamil Jabak, has said his priorities include improving government hospitals and bringing down drug prices. (Additional reporting by Angus McDowall; Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. BIP is set to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 6, before market opens. In the last reported quarter, the company reported negative earnings surprise of 1.39%. Lets see how things are holding up prior to the announcement. Factors to Consider The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2018 earnings per unit is pegged at 81 cents. The projected figure reflects year-over-year increase of 125%. The partnership's bottom line continued to benefit from solid organic growth, higher volumes delivered through its transport and energy networks as well as startup of new projects. Rising customer base and the acquisition of controlling stake in Gas Natural Colombia is likely to have a positive impact on the partnership's earnings. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP Price and EPS Surprise Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP Price and EPS Surprise | Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP Quote Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not show that Brookfield Infrastructure is likely to beat estimates in the upcoming quarterly results. That is because a stock needs to have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%. Zacks Rank: The partnership carries a Zacks Rank #3, which when combined with 0.00% ESP makes earnings beat uncertain. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 and 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Investors may consider the following companies from the same industry that have the right combination of elements to beat estimates in the quarter to be reported: Ameren Corporation AEE has an Earnings ESP of +1.68% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company is expected to release fourth-quarter 2018 earnings on Feb 14. ALLETE Inc ALE has an Earnings ESP of +5.26% and carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company is slated to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 14. Portland General Electric Company POR has an Earnings ESP of +4.19% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company is expected to release fourth-quarter 2018 numbers on Feb 15. 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 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Allete, Inc. (ALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Portland General Electric Company (POR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ameren Corporation (AEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research London (AFP) - Britain and Gibraltar reacted with fury to a European Council document published on Friday that described the British overseas territory as a colony. The document, laying out proposals to give British nationals short-stay, visa-free access to the EU's borderless Schengen area after Brexit, contained the description in a footnote. "It is completely unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way," British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman told reporters. "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and this will not change due to our exit from the EU," he said. Gibraltar, home to 33,000 people, was ceded to Britain by Spain in 1713, in perpetuity. The seven square-kilometre peninsula is an internal, self-governing British overseas territory. Its government expressed anger over the EU's description, saying the "legal status of Gibraltar is not a matter of argument, it is a matter of fact". "The use of such language, were it to materialise in the final documents, does not assist the creation a climate of understanding and trust between Gibraltar and Spain as we prepare to leave the EU," it added. "It is, in any case, totally irrelevant to our departure from the European Union and says more about Spain's anachronistic obsession with Gibraltar than it does about anything else. "This is totally out of place in the modern Europe of today." Sharing a 1.2-kilometre-long fenced border with Spain, the implications of Brexit on Gibraltar have formed part of Britain's divorce talks with the European Union. "Gibraltar is a colony of the British crown," the European Council document said in a starred footnote. "There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached," it added. In a 2002 referendum on whether Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar, 99 percent of voters said no. Story continues "Is this another referendum result the EU is trying to overturn?" Daniel Dalton, a British Conservative member of the European Parliament, said on Friday. In the 2016 referendum on Britain's EU membership, Gibraltar voted against Brexit, with the highest Remain vote of 96 percent. The draft divorce deal between London and Brussels -- rejected by British MPs -- sought to defuse any future tensions over Gibraltar when Britain leaves the EU on March 29. The deal provides for Spanish-British cooperation on citizens' rights, tobacco and other products, environment, police and customs matters. It sets the basis for administrative cooperation for achieving full transparency in tax matters, fighting fraud, smuggling and money laundering. Photo: Reuters The manufacturing sector is the latest in a long line of industries that are ramping up their stockpiling of goods in order to prepare for Brexit. According to the IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers Index, manufacturers boosted their stockpiles at the fastest pace since the survey began 27 years ago. A score of 50 or above on the index signifies growth. In January, Britains PMI score fell to 52.8, down from 54.2 in December. The start of 2019 saw UK manufacturers continue their preparations for Brexit. Stocks of inputs increased at the sharpest pace in the 27-year history, as buying activity was stepped up to mitigate against potential supply-chain disruptions in coming months, IHS Markit director Rob Dobson said in a statement. There were also signs that inventories of finished goods were being bolstered to ensure warehouses are well stocked to meet ongoing contractual obligations. The Institute of Directors (IoD) said in a survey released Friday that Brexit has prompted almost a third of British companies to move some operations abroad or at least consider it. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) put the UK auto industry on red alert on Thursday after investment in the sector almost halved in 2018. The trade group also cited the growing threat of a no-deal Brexit. With fewer than 60 days before we leave the EU and the risk of crashing out without a deal looking increasingly real, UK Automotive is on red alert. Brexit uncertainty has already done enormous damage to output, investment and jobs, SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said. Yet this is nothing compared with the permanent devastation caused by severing our frictionless trade links overnight, not just with the European Union but with the many other global markets with which we currently trade freely. READ MORE: UK auto industry on red alert amid growing no-deal Brexit threat Brasilia (AFP) - Plans by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to shake up Latin America's biggest economy with pro-business reforms and anti-crime measures are about to run into their first real test, with his country's new Congress beginning work Friday. Bolsonaro, a far-right 63-year-old former paratrooper and veteran legislator, took office at the beginning of the year on promises to do away with decades of center-leftist policies. Chief among his vows are an easing of gun-ownership laws so "good" citizens can counter armed criminals, an eradication of graft, and a liberalization of a protectionist economy that is still limping after exiting its worst-ever recession. On the first pledge, Bolsonaro acted swiftly, decreeing much looser regulation for possessing up to four firearms at home. On corruption, however, actions have not yet followed stern rhetoric. Indeed, the president is dogged by an expanding suspicious payments scandal involving his son Flavio Bolsonaro, a lawmaker in the upper chamber. And on the economy, there have been no concrete measures unveiled. Bolsonaro delivered a much-anticipated speech to the high-powered crowd at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, but disappointed for his lack of any detail on pension reform and privatizations -- the two key changes investors are looking for. - No majority - Much of Bolsonaro's credibility rests on the shoulders of his economy minister, Paulo Guedes, a US-trained free-marketeer, and his justice minister, Sergio Moro, a former star anti-corruption judge. What Bolsonaro lacks, however, is a ruling-party majority in Congress to push through legislation. The president's ultraconservative Social Liberal Party (PSL) holds around 10 percent of the 513 seats in the lower Chamber of Deputies. That means he is relying on ad-hoc alliances with likeminded lawmakers. Such alliances should be forthcoming in the early period of Bolsonaro's four-year mandate. The president enjoys high public support, and backing from Congressional caucuses representing the powerful evangelical, beef and pro-gun lobbies that helped swing his electoral victory. Story continues Whether that support for Boslonaro survives unpopular moves to overhaul Brazil's unsustainably generous pension system, by raising the retirement age and cutting benefits, remains to be seen. Such changes would need modifications to the constitution. "In whatever country, that's a really difficult reform to do. If the government manages it, it will have a lot of (political) capital," said Carlos Pereira, a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. "If not, I'd fear for his ability to govern afterwards," he added. The scandal around Flavio Bolsonaro could make the president's task even more difficult, according to Pereira. "Without a stable coalition, the suspicions of corruption could make the president very vulnerable," he said. - 'Different' legislature - The new Congress is atomized, with some 30 parties present in the lower chamber. The two biggest are the PSL and the opposition Workers Party. It is estimated that Bolsonaro can currently count on support of around 300 deputies -- close to the 3/5 majority, or 308 votes, needed to push through constitutional amendments. That bloc will also be important for Bolsonaro to expand an easing of gun laws to also allow citizens to carry weapons, something currently prohibited except for the military, police and licensed private security guards. One deputy, Andre Figueredo of the opposition leftwing Democratic Labour Party, told AFP that the make-up of the Congress and the leadership of Bolsonaro made for a "different moment from previous years" of rule. "We have a president who, although is not in our political field, was elected by the majority of the Brazilian population," he said. Pension reform was obviously on the cards, he said, but "we hope that this reform will be one that does not bring so much damage to the great mass of the workers." Sao Joaquim de Bicas (Brazil) (AFP) - In her 88 years, Antonia Alves has seen much hardship as a member of Brazil's indigenous community, whose people have often been driven from their ancestral lands over conflicts with farmers and loggers. Until a few days ago, she had never seen an entire river die right before her eyes. This is the unthinkable ecological nightmare her people are facing, however, after a dam storing mining waste collapsed in Minas Gerais state in southeast Brazil, engulfing the village of Brumadinho, where 110 people have been confirmed dead. Another 238 unfortunates are still missing, hopes of their recovery all but gone in the toxic wave of sludge that engulfed them, suffocating everything in its path to the Paraopeba river. The brown waters, which reek of dead fish, reached as far as Nao Xoha, a village sheltered by the Atlantic rainforest 14 miles (22 kilometers) from the burst dam. Alves and her small branch of the Pataxo Ha-Ha-Hae indigenous people settled in the forest a year and a half ago, relocating from their strife-torn ancestral lands in the north to live in nature according to their customs. "It is very sad because we lived off the river," said Alves, her face lined by age and sun, head crowned with a band of white and purple feathers. "We bathed there, took our water from it, washed our clothes there and fished from it. Indians live from fishing and hunting." Alves' neighbor Jocelia Josi describes the stench as she pulled dead fish from what formerly an important tributary of the Sao Francisco, the longest entirely-Brazilian river. - 'Village of resistance' - "Now we don't have any more food from there," said the 46-year-old, who is waiting for her daughter and three-month-old grandson to return from the state capital Belo Horizonte, where they were evacuated after the disaster. It is lunchtime in Nao Xoha -- which means "warrior spirit" in the community's native tongue -- and Alves and her husband Gervasio, a serene elder of 93, are waiting for their daughter to finish cooking outside their modest hut. Story continues But today is no normal day. Nothing has been normal here since Dam Number 1, owned by mining giant Vale, burst last Friday, dramatically changing the lives of the 27 families living in the village. Nao Xoha lacks its own medic, but a doctor has checked up on the 15 people who were not evacuated, and volunteers have brought supplies to the community, which always lacked electricity and now has no water. To reach the village, visitors have to cross a railway line where cargo trains pass and then enter the verdant Atlantic rainforest. The dam breach unleashed a torrent of almost 13 million cubic tons of mud that swept across the countryside before reaching the river. But its impact spreads even further than the vast scar of mud that rescue services are probing for the bodies of the missing. The government of Minas Gerais has warned that the metal-tainted waters present a health risk and organizations like the WWF have said the environmental impact will be felt for years to come. "They have taken away part of our reserve, killed a part of it, but we are a village of resistance and we will get over this," said community leader Hayo Pataxo Ha-ha-hae, who sported a head dress made of palm fronds. "We will carry on even if the river has died. Nature depends on us to preserve it." - 'Lack of respect' - He had just attended another meeting with FUNAI -- the Brazilian government body responsible for indigenous peoples' interests -- and said it was too early to determine what action the community would take against Vale. He simply insisted that his people would resist, and defend their traditional lifestyle, just as they have for centuries. "It shows a lack of respect towards us", said Tahh'a, a well-built watchman aged 55, his frown wrinkling the black paint on his face. "The biggest loss for us is the fish, because we are not permitted to hunt around here," he said, holding a pointed stick in his hand, a machete dangling from his hip. While the full extent of the environmental impact remains unclear, the precedents are not encouraging. No one here can forget the destruction of the Rio Doce river, also in Minas Gerais, which was devastated by the collapse in 2015 of the Mariana dam, the biggest environmental disaster in Brazilian history. That barrier was also jointly owned by Vale. "I want to tell not only Vale, but also our leaders, to punish those guilty of doing this to our indigenous nation, together with the farmers and the families who lost people," said 29-year Hayo. "How many more people have to be killed before the justice department takes notice?" he demanded. "It is very sad," added Alves. "When are they going to clean up the river? When will there be fish in it again?" Lagos (AFP) - Boko Haram killed at least 60 civilians in an attack on the remote town of Rann in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. The human rights group's Nigeria director Osai Ojigho said "at least 60 people" were killed while satellite imagery showed "mass burning" of structures used by displaced people. "Eleven bodies were found within Rann town, and 49 were found outside," the group said in an emailed statement, adding that some 50 people were still missing. It quoted one of 10 civilian militia members who travelled to Rann to bury the dead as saying the bodies found outside the town all had gunshot wounds. "This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime, and those responsible must be brought to justice," said Ojigho. The death toll made it the "deadliest" by Boko Haram on Rann, she added. In January 2017, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadists killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food. - Burning buildings - Rann, which is some 175 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, has now been hit four times since March last year. The first attack killed three aid workers and saw three others kidnapped. Two of the three were later executed. The second attack happened in early December. On January 14, fighters loyal to the Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau attacked a military position. Some 9,000 people fled across the border into Cameroon but were sent back, as troops from Nigeria's eastern neighbour were deployed to Rann as reinforcements. Cameroonian forces were withdrawn last Sunday, which the United Nations said forced more than 30,000 people to flee in fear of another attack. AFP has been told the remaining Nigerian soldiers also withdrew because there were not enough of them to fight off Boko Haram if they came in greater numbers. Story continues Amnesty's Ojigho said "environmental sensors detected fires" in and around Rann on Monday and Tuesday, indicating the jihadists returned after the troops pulled out. Analysis of satellite images indicated the two attacks had left most of the town "heavily damaged or destroyed", and "well over 100" structures had been burned down. Many of the structures destroyed date back to 2017, indicating they had been constructed for those who had fled to Rann in search of refuge from the fighting. - Call to investigate - Rann had been home to some 35,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), according to the International Organization for Migration. Amnesty International said it wanted Nigeria to investigate the withdrawal of troops, as it "may have left tens of thousands of civilians exposed" to attack. On Wednesday, the Norwegian Refugee Council called on Cameroon to keep open its borders to those fleeing Boko Haram attacks. More than 27,000 people have been killed in nearly 10 years of fighting, while some 1.8 million others remain homeless and reliant on aid for food, shelter, healthcare and water. The UN this week said it needed $848 million (741 million euros) to fund projects for affected civilians in Borno state and two other northeast states over the next three years. An additional $135 million was required to help the 228,500 Nigerian refugees who have fled to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, it added. Hong Kong: Rail link safety the top priority The Government will not give the go-ahead to commission the Shatin to Central Link unless it is assured of the safety of its construction, Secretary for Transport & Housing Frank Chan said today. Mr Chan made the statement after attending a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting on the rail links progress update. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation had earlier informed the Government that records had gone missing for the north and south approach tunnels, and the Hung Hom Stabling Siding of the links Hung Hom Station. Speaking to reporters, Mr Chan said the rest of the links stations will also be inspected, after the MTRC identified more issues at the Hung Hom Station. The rail firm has been asked to conduct an internal audit of all the stations along the link to ensure they are structurally safe, and to submit a report afterwards. Mr Chan said the Highways Department will also carry out a separate inspection of the stations, starting with the To Kwa Wan and Diamond Hill stations, to ensure the projects overall safety. The departments review will be conducted under the supervision of a team of expert consultants, he added. Mr Chan noted that once the separate inspections by the MTRC and the Government are completed and the findings comply with safety requirements, the rail corporation would still need to submit the necessary documents to the Buildings Department. The department will then process these building plans, designs and records to determine whether a completion certificate should be issued for the Shatin to Central Link. The transport chief also said at the LegCo subcommittee meeting that the Governments decision to inspect the links stations was made out of safety considerations, adding that the review would start soon. He made it clear that the MTRC, as the project manager, is responsible for ensuring the quality of the links construction. This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The ban on initial coin offerings in South Korea will stay, the countrys financial regulator has said in a statement. The decision by the South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) follows a survey which the regulator commissioned. Among the findings of the survey include the fact that some ICO projects misrepresented themselves. For instance, some had claimed to be fundraising abroad but they went on to involve South Koreans. Dirty Tricks Employed to Evade ICO Ban According to the FSC, the projects did this by registering in Singapore in order to circumvent South Koreas ICO ban. Some of the evidence that the FSC obtained included marketing materials and white papers written in Korean. The FSC has also accused some of the projects of concealing material information from investors including financial statements and company profiles. From the survey, the FSC also concluded that some projects also duped investors by offering false information. Read the full story on CCN.com. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Austria sees a heightened risk that Britain will fall out of the European Union without an agreement to avoid a hard economic crash, the country's foreign minister said on Friday. Asked if Britain was heading for a hard Brexit, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said: "That is my estimation." "In my view, there are lots of signs that indicate a hard Brexit," Kneissl told reporters as she arrived for a second day of talks with her EU counterparts in Bucharest. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Alison Williams) WASHINGTON When Dan Coats was tapped by President Donald Trump to be his intelligence director, some of the Indiana Republican's former Senate colleagues wondered if he was too nice for the job. Im not sure likeability and affability are the qualities I want in this position, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told Coats at his confirmation hearing. "Youre going to be reporting to a president who may or may not want to hear what you have to say. That turned out to be an understatement. "They are wrong!" Trump tweeted Wednesday, after Coats and other leaders of the intelligence services backed differing views of the president's on Iran and North Korea when testifying before Congress this week. Trump backtracked Thursday, accusing the news media of incorrectly describing the testimony, after initially telling reporters that time will prove him right and his intelligence leaders wrong. That's become a familiar pattern. Here's a recap of the clashes between Trump and his director of national intelligence. In this Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, Dan Coats speaks Trump sides with Putin At a news conference in last July, Trump appeared to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial of interference in the 2016 elections over what Coats and others had said are undisputed facts. "My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me, some others, they said they think it's Russia," Trump said as he stood next to Putin at a joint news conference between the two leaders following their talks in Helsinki. "I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia. I will say this, I don't see any reason why it would be." In response, Coats issued a statement saying the intelligence community has been "clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy." "We will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security," Coats also said. Story continues The next day, Trump said he had misspoken, and that he meant to say he saw no reason why it "wouldn't" be Russia that interfered. Another reversal The day after walking back those comments in July, Trump was asked by reporters whether Russia is still targeting the U.S. "No," he said, again contradicting statements Coats had made. After another public furor, the White House said Trump's response was misunderstood. Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump was saying no to answering questions" from the reporters, not "no" to the question itself. Coats' candid reaction While some commentators urged Coats to resign to protect his honor and the honor of the intelligence community, he appeared unruffled. "As long as I'm able to have the ability to seek the truth and speak the truth, I'm on board," Coats said when asked that week in July if he'd ever considered quitting. But he couldn't keep his composure when, during the live interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell at the Aspen Security Forum, news broke that Trump had invited Putin to Washington. Coats grimaced. "OK ...," he said, while laughing. "That's going to be special." Coats also said he had not known in advance of Trump's 2017 White House meeting with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, at which Trump revealed highly classified information. The meeting, Coats said, was "probably not the best thing to do." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Was Coats "Anonymous"? Because of Coats' candor, he was immediately among those speculated to be the author of a September New York Times essay that offered blistering criticism of Trump. The anonymous writer, described by the Times as a "senior official in the Trump administration," described the president as erratic and amoral. Coats called the speculation that his office penned the letter "patently false." "We did not," Coats said in a statement. "From the beginning of our tenure, we have insisted that the entire (intelligence community) remain focused on our mission to provide the president and policymakers with the best intelligence possible." Coats' increases transparency In January, Coats issued publicly his agency's 2019 report on major threats, a departure from past years when the office generates both a public report and a separate classified version. The Washington Post described the change as "an effort by Coats to be more transparent in the face of sustained attacks from the president and his allies on the right against what they've taken to calling the Deep State." In the reports' introduction, Coats said he is fortunate to lead an intelligence community "composed of the best and brightest professionals." Contradicting Trump Trump had a different description of that community Wednesday. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran," Trump tweeted. "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" While Trump defended his decision to withdraw the United States from the Iranian nuclear deal in which the U.S. and allies eased sanctions on Tehran as it gave up the means to make nuclear weapons the intelligence community said the country continues to live up to its end of the bargain. "We do not believe Iran is currently undertaking activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device, Coats told senators Tuesday. Trump continues to plan a second summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un date and location to be determined and expresses confidence that Kim is committed to junking his nuclear weapons programs. But Coats also testified Tuesday that North Korea is "unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons." In tweets, Trump said the U.S. relationship with North Korea is "the best it has ever been." He said they have stopped nuclear testing, and claimed a "decent chance of Denuclearization." Blaming the media Asked by reporters Thursday if he still has confidence in Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel to give him good advice, Trump responded, "No, I disagree with certain things that they have said." "I think I'm right, but time will prove that," Truimp added. "Time will prove me right, probably." But, in later remarks to reporters and in a tweet, Trump said there was no difference in views between him and his intelligence leaders. "Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media," Trump tweeted. "We are all on the same page!" This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. What's next? Hours after that tweet, the New York Times released excerpts from a Thursday interview with Trump in which he was asked about Coats. "Im happy with Dan Coats. I am," Trump responded, before adding: "That doesnt mean ...." Asked if that's a change, Trump remained cryptic. "Well, no, everybody changes," he said. "You know, this business, other than me, everybody changes." Contributing: David Jackson and Will Cummings. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'They are wrong!' Donald Trump crosses swords with intel chief Dan Coats again As the LGBT community continues to pursue equal rights, it can point to substantial gains at the state level, broad public support and increased momentum toward a federal Equality Act. On the other hand, a majority of states still lack laws banning discrimination, and those pesky bills that would curtail gay rights keep popping up. The latest State Equality Index, a yearly report of statewide laws and policies that impact LGBT people produced by the Human Rights Campaign and the Equality Federation Institute and released Thursday, revealed a record 17 states (and the District of Columbia) earning a top rating. Thats an increase of four states over last year and more than double the total of eight from 2014, the first year the SEI was published. Of course, that still leaves 33 states in the other three rankings, with a whopping 28 of them in the lowest category, dubbed, High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality. Its incredibly important that these states have taken action to make sure LGBTQ people are afforded equal rights under the law in their states, but certainly, its concerning that there are still 33 states that are not there, said Cathryn Oakley, the HRCs state legislative director and senior counsel. Just as troubling to the HRC, the nations largest gay rights organization, is the spate of legislative initiatives that have sprouted since the 2015 Supreme Court decision that guaranteed same-sex couples the right marry. Supporters and members of the LGBT community dance to celebrate after the country's top court struck down a colonial-era law that made homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in Bangalore, India, Sept. 6, 2018. The SEI details more than 100 bills it considers anti-LGBT that were introduced across 29 states in 2018. Only two passed. Oakley also cited measures like Indianas Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2015 and North Carolinas so-called bathroom bill of 2016 both seen as infringing on LGBT rights as either responses or anticipatory moves related to the Supreme Courts landmark ruling. On Thursday, the Arkansas state Supreme Court rejected an attempt by the city of Fayetteville to continue enforcing its ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, saying the measure violates a state law aimed at preventing local protections for LGBT people. Story continues That was viewed as a jurisdictional ruling more than anything else, but Arkansas is one of 30 states that doesnt provide civil rights protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity. More: Jussie Smollett attack highlights amplified risks facing black LGBT community More: Some Americans are denied 'lifesaving' health care because they are transgender The HRC is one of the advocacy groups pushing for an Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas including employment, housing, public accommodations, etc. LGBTQ people still face the sobering reality that their rights are determined by which side of a state or city line they call home, HRC president Chad Griffin said in a statement. As this years State Equality Index makes clear, the time has come for us to do away with this patchwork of state laws and to protect all LGBTQ people by passing the federal Equality Act. Previous attempts at such a law have died in committee, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has committed to making the bill a priority. The California Democrat has public support on her side, with a survey published in August by the Public Religion Research Institute revealing that 71 percent of Americans favor safeguards for the LGBT community. In addition, the HRC said more than 130 major companies throughout the country have joined its effort to push for the bill. Then again, theres no certainty the Republican-controlled Senate would approve it, and even less that President Donald Trump who wants to ban transgender people from serving openly in the military would sign it. Oakley said the HRC is optimistic about the bills prospects this year, while recognizing it will be a huge undertaking to get it passed. Its absolutely a big lift, but it should be a big lift, she said. Its a major piece of civil rights legislation and it only makes sense it would take work to pass it. That said, its had bipartisan support in the past, and we know we have tremendous support from the American public, and we have a lot of support from the business community. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Sobering reality': LGBT progress report shows gains, but most states still won't grant rights Carter Page, former foreign policy adviser to Donald WASHINGTON A defamation lawsuit filed by former Trump aide Carter Page against the Democratic National Committee was thrown out on Thursday by a federal judge in Oklahoma. The suit, which revolved around the infamous dossier compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, alleged that the DNC paid for the dossier as part of opposition research that made "extremely malicious and destructive falsehoods" about him. Page, who is representing himself, also made a number of charges in the lawsuit, including that the DNC's actions constituted as "act of terrorism" and racketeering. U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton dismissed the suit, which was filed in Oklahoma, saying in his order that the court lacked jurisdiction over the case because both Page and the DNC do not have strong enough ties to the state as the DNC has only a state affiliate. "This court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendants," Heaton wrote in the order. "Defendants motion to dismiss is therefore granted and this case is dismissed." Page told USA TODAY he intends to appeal the decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "I plan to appeal to the 10th Circuit," Page said in an email, adding he was traveling overseas but would appeal in February. "More to follow, but there were key facts alleged in my pleadings which were not taken into account in todays order" that address whether the court had jurisdiction, Page said. Those targeted by the lawsuit, which along with the DNC included Democratic lawyers Marc Elias and Michael Sussman and their law firm Perkins Coie, argued in a November court filing that the lawsuit was not only frivolous but "bizarre." "Defendants need not address Pages bizarre and speculative narrative here because even if Page could state a viable legal claim based on the vague facts alleged, this decidedly is not the appropriate forum in which to do so," the DNC's defense lawyers wrote in a 46-page request to have Page's lawsuit dismissed. Story continues Pages suit claims that those individuals gave information reporters about Page's dealings with Russia. He blamed the DNC for the public release of the dossier, which alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. The dossier was used in part to help launch the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a probe now led by speical counsel Robert Mueller. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I plan to appeal': Carter Page's lawsuit that accused the DNC of terrorism is dismissed The family of "Empire" star Jussie Smollett, who reported being attacked in the early hours of Tuesday morning, is speaking out. In a statement to USA TODAY Thursday, the family declared it was clear the attack was a hate crime. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack," the statement read. "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime." Police are investigating the incident as a "possible hate crime." The statement continued: "Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice." Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Thursday that detectives have recovered surveillance-camera footage of Smollett arriving home at his apartment with a rope around his neck. The video was recorded minutes after the actor said he was attacked by two masked men. Investigators still have not managed to locate footage of the assault itself. The actor said his attackers poured an "unknown chemical substance" on him, and used racial and homophobic slurs. Smollett, who is black and gay, later told police his assailants yelled, "This is MAGA country!" during the incident. The family also thanked fans for their kindness. "Our family thanks everyone for their prayers and the huge amount of love he has received. We are thankful to our village for your immense support during this trying time," the statement read. "We are so grateful that God saw him through this cowardly attack alive. Jussie is a warrior whose light cannot be dimmed." The statement also addressed "targeted hate crimes" as a whole, saying these attacks will continue unless we "hold each other accountable." Story continues "We want people to understand these targeted hate crimes are happening to our sisters, brothers and our gender non-conforming siblings, many who reside within the intersection of multiple identities, on a monthly, weekly, and sometimes even daily basis all across our country," the statement read. "Oftentimes ending fatally, these are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such. They will continue to occur until we hold each other accountable." The family reiterated the importance of combating hatred. "Make no mistake, words matter. Hateful words lead to hateful actions. Radical love is the only solution, but passivity will be our downfall," the statement concluded. "We, as a family, will continue to work for love, equity and justice until it reigns supreme in our nation and all over the world." Contributing: Jayme Deerwester, Cydney Henderson More: 'Empire' co-star Taraji P. Henson decries Jussie Smollett attack: 'Hate will not win' More: Kevin Hart defends himself after Twitter drags his post supporting Jussie Smollett This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett's family speaks out: 'This was a racial and homophobic hate crime' The world's largest annual migration is taking place in China as millions of people travel home to celebrate the Lunar New Year. In other images from the Asia-Pacific region this week, people in Bangkok wore masks to filter out air pollution, which forced schools to close temporarily. Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was welcomed at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur after replacing a sultan who abdicated the throne unexpectedly. The Kumbh Mela bathing ritual is taking place in Prayagraj, India. Hindus believe bathing in the confluence of rivers cleanses them of their sins and ends their process of reincarnation. ___ This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo. ___ Visit the AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean that were published in the past week. Doctors in scrubs, businessmen in suits and construction workers in jeans poured into the streets of Venezuela's capital waving national flags and demanding that Nicolas Maduro step down as a reinvigorated opposition ratcheted up pressure on the embattled president. Pope Francis called for a "just and peaceful solution" to Venezuela's political crisis as he wrapped up a visit to Panama for a World Youth Day rally, which closed with an outdoor Mass that drew an estimated 700,000 people. A Brazilian environmental group began testing river water in the area where a dam holding back mine waste collapsed, measuring toxicity and assessing health risks. In Havana, neighborhood residents and teams of government workers hacked at fallen trees and hauled chunks of concrete out of collapsed homes after the strongest tornado to hit Cuba in nearly 80 years. People in the remote Guatemalan indigenous community of Yalambojoch bid farewell to Felipe Gomez Alonzo, the 8-year-old migrant boy who died in U.S. custody at a New Mexico hospital on Christmas Eve. Nayib Bukele, a young businessman and former mayor of El Salvador's capital, is the front-runner in this weekend's presidential election, appearing well positioned to break the hold of the two parties that have dominated government for three decades. ___ Curated by photo editor Anita Baca in Mexico City. On Twitter: @LatDesk Members and some residents wants the council to adopt an ordinance against cooperating with the federal immigration agency. Kennebunk Post "We are trying to tell the narrative of our town as a whole, all the pieces that makes us who we are today." About 340,000 new homes need to be built every year until 2031 to clear the UKs housing shortfall. Photo: Belinda Fewings/Unsplash Almost 500m will go towards building desperately-needed affordable homes in England, the UK government has announced. Housing associations from Essex to Eccleston will receive a share of 497m to build a total of about 11,000 new properties, including ones for social rent. The UK is currently facing its biggest housing shortfall on record, with a backlog of almost four million homes, according to research by Heriot-Watt University. This means 340,000 new homes need to be built every year until 2031. READ MORE: US government shutdown created long-term affordable housing concerns The funding boost will help the government as it strives to build 300,000 new properties every year by the mid-2020s. Potential partnerships between the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and housing associations will be agreed upon by Homes England, which funds affordable housing across the country. The housing associations will then have the freedom to spend the money on developments where they can have the biggest impact. READ MORE: The least affordable housing markets arent where you think This is the third wave of strategic partnerships between the MHCLG and housing associations. The previous wave was part of the 2018 Budget. Housing associations Bromford, Curo & Swan, Liverpool Mutual Homes & Torus, Longhurst & Nottingham Community Housing Association, Together, Walsall Housing Group, and Yorkshire and Your Housing Group will all benefit from this round of funding. Alongside this, homes will be built on London rooftops after Homes England agreed upon a 9m three-year funding deal with real estate developer Apex Airspace Developments. READ MORE: 10 once-affordable housing markets where residents could soon be priced out Apex is a pioneer of airspace development, where unused airspace above residential, commercial, and public buildings is used as a location for new homes. The properties which will be built in Tooting, Wanstead, Walthamstow, Putney, and Wallington will largely be constructed off-site before being winched on top of buildings, minimising disruption to residents, according to the MHCLG. Story continues The first of the homes will be completed by this summer, with a total of 78 rooftop homes built over three years. The project is being funded from the governments 4.5bn Home Building Fund. READ MORE: How an infrastructure tag for affordable housing will help realise it By providing targeted investment in affordable homes, and funding innovative projects to build rooftop properties, we are making our housing market work for everyone, communities secretary James Brokenshire said. Our 500m funding boost for housing associations will help them build thousands of extra affordable homes including properties for social rent. These measures are all part of our plans to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. Mexico City (AFP) - Amnesty International said Thursday the United States is violating international law by sending asylum seekers back to Mexico to await their court dates, a policy it condemned as "disgraceful, mean-spirited and unlawful." Speaking a day after the US sent the first asylum applicant back across its southern border -- a 55-year-old Honduran man who arrived in a migrant caravan last year -- a team of top officials from the rights group accused the Trump administration of placing people who are fleeing for their lives at even greater risk. "This clearly constitutes refoulement, the return of individuals who are at risk of persecution... to a country where they might be subjected to further harm," Colm O'Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, told a press briefing. President Donald Trump announced the new policy last year, dubbing it "Remain in Mexico." The Department of Homeland Security has since rebranded it the "Migrant Protection Protocols." The policy aims to curb what Trump calls "catch and release" -- allowing migrants who cross the border without papers and claim asylum to remain in the US while their cases are processed. Officials say many of those people never show up for their court dates and disappear into the US as illegal immigrants. Most are migrants fleeing poverty and gang violence in Central America's "Northern Triangle": Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The US asylum system is badly backlogged, with 800,000 requests currently pending. However, the argument that the new policy is about insufficient capacity is "absurd," said Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada. "This is simply one more measure meant to make the system as inaccessible, punitive and fearful as possible, with an eye on the part of the US government to deter others from arriving. And under international refugee law, deterrence is absolutely forbidden," he said. Story continues Migrants have been tortured, raped and killed in Mexico's often violent border regions. Trump himself tweeted Thursday that the record number of murders registered in Mexico last year -- 33,341 -- was "a big contributor to the Humanitarian Crisis taking place on our Southern Border." The US has not said how many asylum seekers it plans to return under the new policy. By Kirsti Knolle and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian aeroplane parts maker FACC is ready to spend 500 million euros ($572 million) on acquisitions to make it less dependent on suppliers, add new technologies and strengthen its core business, its chief executive said. The Chinese-owned group makes components for wings, tail assemblies and fuselages as well as engines and cabin interiors for planemakers including Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier. It expects revenue of 760-770 million euros ($881 million) for its 2018/19 business year that ends in February. "Half a billion (euros), that is the amount of money we could use to make acquisitions in the next five years," Robert Machtlinger told Reuters in an interview. FACC, which belongs to China's state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation, is screening the market for suitable takeover targets but there are no negotiations yet, he said. In recent months, the firm has been increasing production of parts it makes for Airbus and Rolls Royce that are needed for assembly in Great Britain, the CEO said, as it prepares for Britain's exit from the EU. A Brexit agreement that would secure tariff-free trade and safeguard just-in-time cross-border supply chains still looks elusive just two months before the divorce. Components for about four weeks of production are being sent to Britain, Machtlinger said. Quite a stretch for the company as normally the buffer would be two to four days. "The majority of the (extra) costs are borne by the customer," the engineer said. Airbus, which accounts for half of FACC's revenue, has threatened to shift future wing-building out of Britain. That would not be a problem for FACC, Machtlinger said, as the company could easily adapt delivery routes. Machtlinger, whose company generates half its revenue from European planemaker Airbus, a quarter from Boeing and also equips China's planemaker Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), does not expect the industry to be hampered by current U.S.-Chinese trade friction. Story continues "Aviation is an export business for the U.S.," Machtlinger said, adding that he did not think anybody wanted to change that. He noted there was no such thing as a purely American plane: "This is a completely intertwined industry." The manager, who has been with the company for more than 30 years, expects revenue to pick up significantly in the second half of the 2019/20 business year with a 750 million euros order for the new Airbus 320. His goal for 2020/21 is to increase the margin on earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to 8-10 percent from 6.5 percent last year and revenue to 1 billion euros, he said. By 2030, he wants to make that 2 billion euros, betting that COMAC becomes a major customer. Asked whether shareholders can hope for a higher payout for the current business year than the previous year's 1.11 euros per share, Machtlinger nodded but did not elaborate. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) The cannabis-related ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF MJ topped the list of the best performing ETFs of January, with impressive returns of about 41%. It also attracted $100.1 million in capital in the first month of 2019. The surge was driven by renewed appeal for riskier assets and Trump's $867 billion Farm bill, legalizing cannabis products derived from hemp in America, including products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Additionally, a string of strong earnings and upbeat guidance from the pot companies added to the strength (read: What Makes Marijuana ETF the Best Performer in January?). Canadian legalization for recreational marijuana continued to spread optimism in the space and pave the way for widespread legality. Recreational marijuana is expected to be legal soon for adults over the age of 21 years in New York while the European nation of Luxembourg in late November announced that marijuana would soon be legalized for recreational use by adult residents. All these developments have spurred a large number of deal activities, including mergers and acquisitions in the industry. In particular, a number of alcoholic beverage companies are investing or partnering with cannabis producers. Among the latest deal, Aurora Cannabis agreed to buy Whistler Medical Marijuana Corp. in a stock deal valued at up to C$175 million ($131.8 million). Canopy Growth CGC plans to invest up to $150 million in New York to target the emerging market for cannabis products derived from hemp and CannTrust CNTTF plans to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group MO is mulling over an acquisition of Canadian cannabis firm Cronos Group CRON. As a result, the pot industry is emerging and poised for rapid growth in the years ahead. Per an analyst at Cowen, the U.S. legal cannabis industry is expected to reach $80 billion in sales by 2030, surpassing the carbonated soft drink market in 2017. An analyst at Haywood Securities foresees exponential growth in cannabis stocks with the U.S. cannabis market expected to be worth between $15.9 million and $21.7 billion by the year 2022 (read: Top ETF Trends for 2019). Lets take a closer look at the fundamentals of MJ. MJ in Focus This is the first and only ETF targeting the cannabis/marijuana industry. It tracks the Prime Alternative Harvest Index, designed to measure the performance of companies within the cannabis ecosystem, benefiting from global medicinal and recreational cannabis legalization initiatives. The fund holds 38 securities in its basket with higher concentration on the top firms. Canadian firms make up 61% of the portfolio, while American firms comprise 29%. The ETF has AUM of $875.4 million and trades in a solid volume of around 887,000 shares. It charges 75 bps in annual fees. Though most of the stocks in the funds portfolio delivered strong returns, a few were the real stars. Below we have highlighted those five best-performing stocks in the ETF with their respective positions in the funds basket: Best Performing Stocks of MJ Cronos Group Inc. (CRON): This company is engaged in investment in firms that are licensed to produce and sell medical marijuana. It has gained about 89% this month. Cronos Group currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and VGM Score of F. The stock occupies the top position in the funds portfolio, making up for 17.3% share. Canopy Growth (CGC): This cannabis company offers dry cannabis and oil products primarily under the Tweed and Bedrocan brands. Canopy Growth takes the second position in the funds basket with 9% allocation. It also delivered incredible returns of 79% in January. The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and VGM Score of F (read: Why Marijuana ETF is on a High in 2019). CannTrust Holdings Inc. (CNTTF): This company produces and distributes pharmaceutical grade medical cannabis products in Canada. The stock has surged 52.5% this month and takes the eight spot in the basket at 3.9%. CannTrust Holdings has a Zacks Rank #3 and VGM Score of F. GW Pharmaceuticals PLC GWPH: This biopharmaceutical company is focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease areas. The stock has surged about 49.6% this month. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and has a VGM Score of F. GWPH occupies the tenth spot in the funds basket with 3.4% of the total assets. Aphria Inc. APHA: This produces, supplies and sells medical cannabis primarily in Canada. The stock takes the eleventh spot in the funds basket with 2.7% of the assets. It has gained 39.2% in January. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> 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 CannTrust Holdings Inc. (CNTTF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cronos Group Inc. (CRON) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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 Tehran (AFP) - Forty years ago Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Shiite cleric who led Iran's unfolding Islamic revolution, was welcomed back to Tehran by a jubilant throng after more than 14 years in exile. This story by AFP journalist Patrick Meney, originally in French, captures the mood of that remarkable day in February 1979 when the opposition leader returned to replace the monarchy with an Islamic republic. - A triumphant return to Iran - TEHRAN, February 1, 1979 (AFP) - Millions of Iranians with beaming faces massed along a 32-kilometre (20-mile) route Thursday to give a triumphant welcome to the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini, whose car was engulfed for hours by an ecstatic human tide. As soon as he left the Tehran airport (...), a visibly moved but calm Khomeini was swept up by millions of his supporters. In black robes and a turban, the religious leader travelled in an American station wagon that was followed by a fleet of minibuses packed with journalists from around the world. About 50,000 volunteers were on hand to control the crowd. Wearing green armbands, they were called the "Islamic police". The government had given them full responsibility for the ayatollah's security. - Engulfed in the crowd - But this religious security service was quickly overwhelmed. In a matter of seconds, Khomeini's car disappeared in the crowd, which blocked the way for dozens of ambulances filled with unconscious demonstrators who fainted in the swell of the black mass that stretched as far as the eye could see down Tehran's long, straight avenues. How many people were out on the street on this Thursday? Five million, perhaps... or six, it was impossible to say. In any case, it was unprecedented. At the gateway to the capital the imposing memorial to the shah, the symbol of modern Iran, had been renamed Khomeini Square. Where is the ayatollah's car now? We don't know. It has disappeared somewhere in the noisy tide of people, a swarming wave, from which emerge hundreds of thousands of portraits of the leader of the "Islamic revolution". Story continues - Veils and carnations - The women have all turned out in chadors -- black veils -- with a red carnation in their hands. Since sunrise they have been singing "Khomeini is our leader". Banners read: "Khomeini, welcome to your country." The men chant: "Allah is great." Clerics spray rose water on the demonstrators, who hold up their faces to the holy scent. In the sunny capital, overlooked by the nearby snow-covered mountains, a single roar resounds: "Khomeini, Khomeini." The military has totally deserted the capital. At some points along the route, followers -- finally getting back their venerated "leader" after more than 14 years in exile -- pick up the ayatollah's car and carry it for several metres (feet). - Islamic republic - "Your return signifies the proclamation of the Islamic republic," the most enthusiastic among them shout. One mullah, or Shiite cleric, sporting a white turban, exclaims: "Who would have thought just six months ago that Khomeini would return to Iran, he the pariah, today cheered by millions of Muslims?" Everyone is aware of the significance of this return from exile, while the recent departure of the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, also looks like someone who has gone into exile. When the ayatollah's Boeing 747 touched down in Tehran, there was silence. It was also in silence that he descended the steps of the plane, rediscovering his country but not recognising the capital, now bristling with modern towers. Several minutes later the ayatollah made an appeal for unity, saying, "The fight is not over, the shah's departure is only the first part of the road to be travelled." - Old system to be 'destroyed' - Then he vehemently lashed out at his adversary. "The shah has destroyed everything, our culture, our university, the economy, agriculture. We will destroy the system he put in place." On Thursday all of Iran seemed to have turned out for Ayatollah Khomeini. From the airport to the Tehran cemetery, the centre of religious protest where a massive crowd awaited him, the Shiite leader could see that he was followed by a whole people to whom he intends to "show the way". With the monarchy still in place and the shoots emerging of civil -- or would it be holy -- war, everyone is wondering, what concretely will this Islamic way be? Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Thirty-two Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli troops in renewed clashes along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement they were shot during protests along the border, but none were reported to be in a life threatening condition. The Israeli army said approximately "10,000 rioters and demonstrators" gathered in different locations along the fence separating the Gaza Strip from Israel. "The rioters are rolling tyres and hurling rocks at (Israeli) troops," a spokeswoman said, adding a number of explosive devices were thrown towards the Jewish state's forces. Palestinians have for nearly a year gathered at least weekly in various spots along the Gaza border for often-violent protests. They want to be able to return to the homes their families fled in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948, and they are calling for an end to a blockade of Gaza. At least 246 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30, the majority during border protests but also by tank fire and airstrikes. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period. As a child, Anjan Chakravartty visited India and the Caribbean, and could not help but notice the variations in culture and beliefs. He marveled at the intersection of religions and ideologies in his parents native Indian region of Assam when he visited relatives. Later in life, he continued to think about cultural differences in his native Canada, and in England, where he completed his doctoral degree. Throughout these experiences, Chakravartty said he was always interested in why people believe in things so fervently, particularly with regards to religion and values. Its hard not to be curious about why you get these huge divergences in beliefs about what exists, and how we should live, and what gives meaning to life, said Chakravartty, professor of philosophy in the University of Miami's College of Arts and Sciences. There are so many facts about which people will agree, and then in other areas there are deeply entrenched divisions, and I find that fascinating. Chakravartty has spent years delving into the topic of why people accept certain scientific theories as a professor specializing in the philosophy of science. He has also written two books and many journal articles on the topic. But in a new role at UM, Chakravartty has started to probe into other realms of philosophy namely, why people who do not believe in religion choose to do so, and how secular thinkers make sense of eternal questions like why humans exist and what is our purpose in the world. With secularism on the rise in America, particularly among youth, Chakravarttys interest in the topic helped UM select him as the nations first Appignani Foundation Chair for the Study of Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics. Louis J. Appignani This chair has gotten quite a bit of notoriety because its unique, said Louis J. Appignani, a former entrepreneur who donated $2.2 million to UM to create the chair. There has never been an academic position to study atheism, humanism, and secular ethics. This is the first one. Chakravartty will formally be presented the chair at an event Feb. 6 in the Newman Alumni Center, and at the same time, UM will also be awarded the 2019 American Humanist Associations University Award for Philosophical Diversity. The award is given to post-secondary institutions that foster a culture of openness and academic inquiry that allows humanism and a diverse array of other philosophical perspectives to flourish, said Brody Armstrong, program coordinator for the organization. UM College of Arts and Sciences Dean Leonidas G. Bachas is thrilled that the University was able to entice Chakravartty from the University of Notre Dame, where he taught philosophy and directed the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values. Hurricanes were able to take the scholars first class, Science and Humanism, last semester in the philosophy department. The University of Miami fosters a culture of academic learning without boundaries, and this is evident with the appointment of the [chair], Bachas said. Mr. Appignanis gift allows students to explore and investigate the study of atheism within a philosophical context. It also enhances the learning experience and promotes President Julio Frenks initiative to establish more endowed chairs at UM for the sheer promotion of academic and learning advancement for all students. Appignani said he looks forward to seeing Chakravartty engage UM students and the larger South Florida community in a dialogue about secularism. A main goal of the chair is to expand knowledge about atheism, humanism, and secularism, and their roles throughout history, Appignani said. To that end, Chakravartty will be organizing lectures with experts in the field, piloting research on these topics, and speaking at events. For example, he is hosting the International Humanist and Ethical Unions board meeting on campus in mid-February. And in October, Chakravartty invited philosophy professor Michael Ruse from Florida State University who gave a lecture at UM titled On being a full and worthwhile human being: Can life be meaningful without God? Not everyone believes there is someone up in the sky, so its an important thing to study and think about secular thinking, Appignani said. I want people to realize its okay if they dont believe in the mythology of god. So what exactly is humanism? The American Humanist Association and Chakravartty describe it as a perspective that emphasizes science and reason to understand our world, as an alternative to religious thought. It also stresses the idea of acting with dignity and compassion toward others. So if you put a bunch of humans in a room, they should cooperate because thats the right thing to do, not because God is telling us to do that, but because we should be good to each other, Chakravartty said. Although a study of secularism will naturally include discussions about why people decide to believe in a divine being or not, Chakravartty said that he would like to take these debates a step further at UM. Lets start with the assumption of atheism or agnosticism, then what? Chakravartty said. If youre not religious, how do you answer questions about the meaning of life? How do we think about the value of life if we are not thinking about it in religious terms, but in humanistic terms? Thats what I want to explore. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany continues. After meetings held with the Chancellor and the Bundestag President, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was received by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace, the German Presidents Residence. Stressing the importance of Nikol Pashinyans official visit to Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that the visit was a good opportunity to discuss the prospects for deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation. President Steinmeier underscored that a high-level political dialogue is entertained between the two countries, which needs to be further strengthened in order to expand the cooperation to other areas. Thankful for a warm welcome, Prime Minister Pashinyan said Germany is an important partner for Armenia, and the Armenian government is ready to uphold the ongoing active interstate dialogue. The interlocutors discussed ways of expanding the Armenian-German partnership, the EU-Armenia relations and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, as well as issues of regional and international relevance. In conclusion, Nikol Pashinyan signed the Book of Honorary Guests. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is paying an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, today met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. An official welcoming ceremony was held at the German Chancellors Residence: the flags of Germany, Armenia and the EU were raised, the Guard of Honor and the Military Band stood along the red carpet. After the performance of the national anthems of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Chancellor invited the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to inspect the Guard of Honor. After a handshake and protocol photography, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Chancellor Angela Merkel held private talks during a working lunch. Angela Merkel welcomed and highly appreciated the Armenian Prime Ministers official visit to Germany, expressing confidence that the visit would give a new impetus to Armenian-German friendly cooperation. Angela Merkel noted that Germany is interested in the further development of relations with Armenia and stands ready to discuss prospects for expanding bilateral ties. Welcoming the successful holding of parliamentary elections in 2018, the German Chancellor said Germany had been closely following the processes taking place in Armenia, and is prepared to deepen the bilateral relations and support the ongoing multifaceted reforms. Thankful for the invitation to visit Germany and the warm welcome, Prime Minister Pashinyan hailed the opportunity to meet with Chancellor Merkel once again and take up the discussion over the furtherance of Armenian-German relations. Your visit to Armenia became an important milestone for the development of Armenian-German cooperation. I can state with joy and pride that my visit comes just five months after your visit. This means that we are striving to lay the foundation for a more profound and targeted cooperation between Armenia and Germany, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia said. The head of the Armenian government expressed confidence that today, more than ever before, there are all the necessary prerequisites for complementing the Armenian-German cooperation agenda with new content. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the European vector is among the key priorities of Armenias foreign policy, and in this respect, he highlighted the cooperation with Germany as one of the most significant EU-member states. The interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda of Armenian-German relations, including bilateral and multilateral cooperation, EU-Armenia interaction, as well as international and regional issues. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the snap parliamentary elections, held on December 9, 2018, were exceptional in Armenias history in terms of compliance with the letter of the law and international standards, which once again demonstrates the Governments commitment to strengthening the rule of law, ensuring a higher level of human rights protection, creating an independent judiciary, and fighting corruption. The parliamentary elections rounded up the first stage of our revolution. Armenia is moving forward by strengthening the democratic values and institutions. The government is now set to implement an economic revolution in a bid to improve the well-being of Armenian citizens, the Premier said. Touching upon the deepening of the Armenian-German economic cooperation, Nikol Pashinyan and Angela Merkel discussed the possibility of implementing joint programs in the fields of information technology, environmental protection and other areas, as well as the prospects for new initiatives. Both sides emphasized that the implementation of such programs might help strengthen ties between the two friendly nations and improve the well-being of their citizens. They agreed to continue the ongoing active dialogue on the implementation of economic programs. The interlocutors next referred to the liberalization of the visa regime with the European Union. The two heads of government exchanged views on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They stressed the need for continuing the negotiation process in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship as the only entity having the international mandate to deal with this issue. Armenia should be more and more attractive for its citizens, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during the joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, referring to the issue of visa liberalization. We have discussed also the issue of visa facilitation. In this sense its very important that Armenia becomes more and more attractive for its own citizens. I am glad to record that for the first time during years the number of the citizens returning to Armenia in 2018 was much more than the number of those who left the country. We have to implement institutional reforms in our country so that Armenia is not viewed as a country supplying refugees, PM Pashinyan said. He emphasized that the developments of this year show that Armenia moves in that direction and moves confidently. Of course I hope we will create more favorable conditions for recording success in visa liberalization with the EU, and I think its time for us to think about starting negotiation on that issue, Pashinyan said. The Government of Armenia must be able to effectively implement the reform agenda, therefore, the ball is in the field of the Government of Armenia, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said. The ball is in the field of the Government of Armenia. The recent visit of Commissioner Johannes Hahn clearly answered the question of increasing the EU assistance to Armenia. The EU representatives have already informed that they are ready to expand the assistance to Armenia, Pashinyan said, adding that its obvious that good relations between Armenia and the EU, as well as Armenia and the EU Member States have been established. Pashinyan noted that important democratic developments are taking place in Armenia. According to him, there are no doubts that those developments will continue. Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia has open relations with the EAEU and EU partners. We must be able to effectively implement our reform agenda, with the confidence that we will receive assistance both from our EU partners and EAEU partners, Pashinyan added. To the question if Berlin plans to increase assistance to Armenia, Angela Merkel answered, We already support Armenia. The EU has already expressed its support through Commissioner Hahn. Armenia, as an independent country, decides on its own with which country to work. And we already have an agreement, I am about the agreement with the EU, by which Armenia can develop relations with Germany and the EU. YEREVAN. English-language clubs are important not only for the development of English-language skills, but also for negotiating, debating, and the development of critical thinking skills. UK Ambassador Judith Farnworth on Friday stated about the above-mentioned at the signing of the memorandum of understanding, between the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the UK embassy, on cooperation within the scope of the Improved Skills for Stronger Societies program, which is aimed at supporting English-language and soft skills development for young people in remote communities of Armenia. Also, the ambassador expressed a belief that this program will consider as a foundation the success which they had achieved along the lines of last years program, owing to the English-language clubs that were opened in capital city Yerevan as well as in Ashtarak, Ararat, and Vanadzor. Farnworth stressed that this program is not only an opportunity for schoolchildren to learn, but also an opportunity for teachers in terms of professional development. The British diplomat noted that she has been in Armenia for three years now, and she fully grasps how important quality education is for Armenian families. Judith Farnworth stressed that the British embassy stands ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Science in providing good education for young Armenian citizens. Better late than never. The German parliament has finally disciplined an MP from chancellor Merkels Christian Democratic party (CDU) over the MPs role in a US$2.9 billion influence buying corruption scandal between Azerbaijan and more than a dozen European politicians, Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Director Hugh Williamson wrote. Karin Strenz, a German MP since 2009, had a reputation for defending Azerbaijan despite its terrible human rights record In 2017 it became clear why: She was among a number of members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) who were found to have received money and gifts from Azerbaijan authorities between 2012 to 2014. During this period, PACE voted down a key resolution on politically motivated imprisonment in Azerbaijan. Strenz was kicked out of the CDUs delegation to PACE in early 2018, a few months after the Azerbaijan Laundromat scandal broke. On January 18, the leadership of the Bundestag finally moved on the issue, ruling that Strenz had broken parliamentary rules on declaring external income. Strenz accepted the ruling but made light of it: When you commit a parking offence you get a parking ticket she said. She could face a fine of up to 60,000 (US$68,000) and several MPs, also from the Social Democrats, the CDUs coalition allies, have called for her to be stripped of her parliamentary mandate. Whitewashing (the Baku) government, manipulating election monitoring, lying and getting rich at the same time is not the same as a parking offence, Frank Schwabe, an SPD MP tweeted about Strenz. The Bundestag may have been slow to act against Strenz, but it has been faster than any other national parliament. She is the first MP to face political consequences at home for taking money from Azerbaijan. This is the most shocking aspect. PACE has banned 16 former members from the parliaments headquarters in Strasbourg, but little else has happened, despite the clear evidence of the politicians actions, that undermined the Council of Europes standing as Europes leading human rights body. Lets hope politicians in Spain, Belgium, and other parliaments hit by the scandal will quickly follow the Bundestags lead. Its about standing up for human rights in Azerbaijan, and in Europe as a whole. Germany urges Russia to comply with INF Treaty, Reuters reported referring to German MFA spokesperson. We have seen no change in Russian behaviour in the last 60 days, the spokesman said, According to him, it was up to Russia to take action, while Germany believes the only way Russia can save the agreement is by addressing concerns about a cruise missile system that has prompted the United States to quit the 1987 treaty. According to US media, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will announce today the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty a s Washington believes that the Russian 9M729 missiles violate the provisions of the Treaty. During a NATO meeting in December, Washington gave Moscow 60 days to come into compliance with the treaty. Within the framework of his official visit to Germany, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday had a working dinner with the members of Bundestags Germany-South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group. In his welcoming remarks at the event, Pashinyan noted that the dynamic development of Armenian-German cooperation is a priority of Armenias foreign policy, and that the interparliamentary relations stand high on the bilateral agenda. In this context, the head of the Armenian government highlighted the active contact with German parliamentarians. Touching upon the democratic changes in Armenia, the PM said: The Revolution came to prove our peoples commitment to democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. This is our peoples deliberate choice, which was reaffirmed during the elections of December 9, 2018. We will do our utmost to strengthen democratic institutions. The development of Armenian-German cooperation, strengthening of interparliamentary ties, EU-Armenia partnership, as well as the ongoing democratic transformations in the country were discussed at the meeting. The technology sector is rapidly growing in Armenia and the pace of that growth is unprecedented, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday said in his address at the headquarters of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, in the German capital city of Berlin. Over the past seven years, the sector has grown fivefold, he added. IT sector is becoming one of the driving forces of our economic growth with an enormous potential for further development. Traditionally strong school of mathematics, physics, and engineering existing in our country since the [former] USSR is mainly accounting for Armenias success in this area. However, I am also confident that the Armenian revolution, which created conditions for an unrestricted realization of the talent of our people, will significantly contribute to the development of technologies in our country. New Government of Armenia has declared the Technology sector as a top priority and we see it as the locomotive of our economic revolution and the cornerstone of Armenias economy of future. Cooperation with the EU and its member states is of a vital importance for democratic Armenia. At the same time, I believe that Europe, in s turn, is interested in having a stable, democratic partner in the volatile region of the South Caucasus - an economically developing and progressive Armenia, sharing the common European values. Following Nikol Pashinyans address, a question and answer session was held. Implementation of Armenia-EU deal may contribute to the development of the institutes, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on Friday. According to him, CEPA is may become one of the cornerstones of a reform agenda in Armenia. We want to deepen our economic relations with EU member states, he said. He noted that Germany is one of Armenias main trading partners. We cooperate with Germany in many areas, including IT, energy, tourism, culture, education, science, and so on, he noted adding that Armenia is committed to strengthening of its ties and exploring new prospects for economic cooperation. The new democratic Armenia gives great opportunities for trade and investment. Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, which implies a free access to a 180 million market and an unobstructed and barrier-free operation of free trade agreements with several countries around the world, he said. According to him, Armenia has the GSP+ trade regime with the EU. Armenia can play a key role as an economic bridge connecting the markets of the European and Eurasian Union. The next step in the transformation process in Armenia shall be turning our political achievements into economic ones; in other words, we need to carry out an economic revolution. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday stated the aforementioned in his address at the headquarters of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, in the German capital city of Berlin. Pashinyan noted that democracy and economic development, as well as economic revolution and eradication of poverty are the main prerequisites of the program of Armenias new government. He said one of the main prerequisites to achieve this objective is the creation of favorable conditions for tapping the business and intellectual potential of the Armenian people. The PM added that, to implement the respective reforms, they were developing the economic and political institutions, and they are determined to move forward in changing the relevant mechanisms. Nonetheless, as per Pashinyan, Armenia, just like any other country in transition, needs additional support in speeding up reforms. The Premier stated that, in addition to the similar challenges which all post-Soviet countries have faced, Armenia has faced several other challenges from the very first days of independence. In this connection, he pointed, in particular, to the transport blockade against the country, for about thirty years. Also, Nikol Pashinyan stressed that energy security is another issue for Armenia and, in this regard, partnership with the European Union is of immense importance to carrying out reforms in the country. Just like Germany seven decades ago, todays Armenia is going through a democratic transformation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday said in his address at the headquarters of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, in the German capital city of Berlin. Pashinyan noted that the aforesaid is also symbolic because the velvet revolution, which took place in Armenia last year, stemmed from the ideas and precepts which the Konrad Adenauer Foundation holds. The PM said he is proud that democracy is no longer endangered in Armenia, noted that Armenian people see no alternative to democracy, added that the political forces representing the new Armenia have prevailed, and stressed that the incumbent Armenian government has unprecedented legitimacy and public trust. But Nikol Pashinyan underscored that, on the one hand, this unprecedented level of public trust obligates the Armenian authorities to take decisive steps toward implementing reforms, and, on the other hand, this trust in them gives a unique opportunity that needs to be used in order to strengthen the accomplishments and to protect the future of democracy in Armenia. Mike Pompeo is expected to announce US withdrawal from INF treaty on February 1, NBC News reported referring to three US officials. The US accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty, stating that if within 60 days Moscow does not return to compliance with the Treaty, the United States will withdraw from it. "We either bury our head in the sand, or we take common sense action in response to Russias flagrant disregard of the express terms of the INF treaty," Pompeo said from NATO headquarters. Experts expressed concern that the US withdrawal could lead to a new arms race. "The INF Treaty continues to serve as a check on some of the most destabilizing types of nuclear weapons that the U.S. and Russia could deploy. Without the treaty, there is a serious risk of a new intermediate-range, ground-based missile arms race in Europe and beyond, says former senior diplomat Thomas Countryman, now chairman of the board of directors of the Arms Control Association. The United States is expected to formally suspend its obligations under the contract on Saturday and begin the six-month withdrawal process from the Treaty. Multilateralism is a key tenet of Chinas diplomacy, and it will continue to defend an international order based on multilateralism, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement. According to him, China intends to continue to work with other states in order to support the UNs role in achieving global peace and development. Multilateralism is a key tenet of China's diplomacy. It is the result of much soul-searching after bitter lessons of the two world wars in the 20th century, and has since served as an important safeguard for global peace and development. In the year ahead, we will work with other countries to support the role of the United Nations in achieving global peace and development, and call on all countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China will strengthen cooperation with all other parties within the G20, APEC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and other frameworks to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that of the Paris Agreement, and contribute to a global response to global challenges through multilateral cooperation he said in a statement. Beijing intends to make full use of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties to promote high-level strategic coordination with Russia in all fields, the FM noted. In the face of challenges to WTO rules and multilateralism in general, China stood up to safeguard its lawful rights and interests. At the same time, conscious of international expectations, we have been working with the United States to put our trade friction back on the track of dialogue and consultation, thus providing a positive outlook for the world. Growing at a high level, China's comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination with Russia has remained rock-solid and served as a source of strategic stability in the world. China enhanced communication and coordination with Europe and reached consensus on upholding the multilateral process and addressing various global challenges. China's relations with the rest of the world made steady progress, helping to make the world a more stable place, he added. According to him, seizing the opportunity of a major turnaround on the Korean Peninsula, China encouraged the North and the South to improve their relations. Seizing the opportunity of a major turnaround on the Korean Peninsula, China encouraged the North and the South to improve their relations. We also supported the resumption of dialogue between the US and the DPRK to build mutual trust. China worked with like-minded parties to uphold and implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the aim of maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. Regarding the Rakhine situation, China proposed a three-phase approach and encouraged Myanmar and Bangladesh to reach a broad agreement on the return of displaced persons. The China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, set up on China's initiative, produced important common understanding on advancing the peace process in Afghanistan. China also played an active mediating role on the Syrian and Palestinian issues, meeting its due responsibility for promoting regional peace, Wang Yi noted. According to him, Chine will continue to play a mediating role in regional hotspots. We will continue to uphold the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue, mediate a proper settlement of the Rakhine issue, take a constructive part in the political process in Afghanistan, and work tirelessly for resolving such hotspots as Syria and Palestine, the statement said. National Tax Service's Jongno District Office employees check guidebooks for year-end tax settlement for salaried employees in Korea ahead of the opening of online portal for the nationwide process on Jan. 15. Newsis At the beginning of each year, a growing number of foreign migrant workers in South Korea are confused and frustrated by the mandatory task of the year-end tax settlement. Under the regulations of the National Tax Service (NTS), all South Korean salaried employees are obliged to file a year-end tax settlement in January for their previous year's income for tax refunds or additional tax payments in February. Foreign workers are no exception to the rule, regardless of nationality and the length of stay, if they have earned income in South Korea, the NTS said Wednesday. According to NTS data, a total of 558,000 foreigners here filed year-end tax settlements for their 2017 income, which amounted to 770.7 billion won (US$698 million). Compared with the 2013 tally, the number of foreigners increased 16.2 percent, with their reported income surging 27.9 percent. Starting this year, foreign religious people can also file year-end tax settlements. Tax deduction items are mostly the same but some items, like housing finance deductions and monthly rent deductions, are not applied to foreigners. In addition, foreigners are entitled to some special provisions on taxation, including a 19 percent flat tax rate, NTS officials said. The NTS provides an exclusive consultation service for foreigners via www.nts.go.kr/eng or by calling 1588-0560, as well as an automatic calculation program for year-end tax settlements at the website. As the NTS foreign language service is offered only in English, however, foreign workers of various nationalities have difficulty gaining practical help. A Chinese national who works at a language institute in Seoul's Jongno district said she gave all her personal information, including her financial authentication certificate and bank ID and password, to her Korean boss for year-end tax settlement. "I was asked to file a year-end tax settlement but had no idea at all about how to handle that. Eventually, my Korean boss did the job on my behalf with my personal information," the Chinese national said. In case of foreign workers at small workplaces, their frustration is far bigger due to the absence of information or assistance, unfamiliar terms and complicated procedures. A counselor at a foreigner support center in Seoul said that many foreign workers don't know whether they are liable to file year-end tax settlements. "Most foreign workers tend to have their employers file year-end tax settlements on their behalf," said Ahn Dae-hwan, head of the Korea Migration Foundation. "Many of them still forgo the procedure because they believe there won't be much tax refund due to their small wages and because the procedures are very complicated." (Yonhap) 26 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia acting premier: Civil Contract Party will have constitutional majority in new parliament Armenia new National Assembly to have 107 MPs Counting of ballots over in Armenia snap parliamentary elections Counting of ballots coming to an end in Armenia snap parliamentary elections Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts 86.4% of ballots Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts 80% of ballots Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts two thirds of ballots Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts 40% of ballots Acting PM thanks people of Armenia Armenia parliament vice-chair on Erdogan's "platform of six" proposal: We will answer later 33.49% of ballots counted: Pashinyans bloc leads Almost 27% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO) "Armenia" bloc: Snap parliamentary election results being published do not inspire confidence 19,95% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO) Artsakh President comes out of Armenia ruling party headquarters 2.54% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO) Armenia Central Electoral Commission announces most preliminary results of snap parliamentary elections Armenia's Citizen's Decision Party member not allowed to enter precinct, apprehended a little while ago "I Have Honor" bloc: Armenia National Security Service searches mayor's apartment, 2 MP candidates abducted Results of electronic voting: Civil Contract Party: 163, "Armenia" bloc: 135, Armenian National Congress: 43 Electric Networks of Armenia: Power outages during vote counts were systematic Citizen who disseminated anti-propaganda leaflets against "Armenia" bloc shows up at police station Mediaport: Power is out in Armenia's Gyumri, Vanadzor, Artik, Aparan, Dilijan and Armavir city Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #9/48 in Yerevan district (VIDEO) Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #9/49 in Yerevan district (VIDEO) Tense situation at polling station #9/21 in Armenia, red beret police officers called to location Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #14/13 in Etchmiadzin (VIDEO) Power goes out before vote count at polling station #25/58 in Armenia's Odzun Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov returns to US Armenia Police receive 87 alarms via hotline as of 8:30 pm Armenia snap parliamentary elections voter turnout 49.4%, 51.55% voter turnout in Yerevan Armenia Ombudsman's statement on taking photos of ballots speculated Armenia Civil Contract Party member obstructing work of opposition party proxy at polling station Armenia advocate: National Security Service decided to conduct search in office and apartment of Masis mayor Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #2/46 in Yerevan district (VIDEO) Netanyahu and his family to leave PM residence no later than July 10 Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #31/02 in Gyumri Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #8/04 in Yerevan district (VIDEO) Gabrielyanov: Russian institutions' exit poll results of Armenia snap parliamentary elections announced Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #17/03 in Armenia's Ashtarak (VIDEO) Catholicos of All Armenians sends congratulatory message to Iran's President-elect Armenia snap parliamentary elections are over hetq.am: Ballot box at polling station in Armenia's Gavar not sealed "I Have Honor" bloc's member: My father exited Special Investigation Service, will vote in Armenia elections Police detect case of electoral fraud in Armenian town China has 1 billion COVID-19 vaccinations Artak Tovmasyan visits military pantheon, goes to cast vote in Armenia snap parliamentary elections Armenia Ombudsman talks to democrats bloc's candidate for PM Arman Babajanyan after gunshot fired at car Armenian attorney: "I Have Honor" bloc's supporters released big brother: Red beret police officers brutally beat members of "Armenia" bloc's headquarters Armenia Police: Drunk man fires gunshots into air from apartment in Yerevan Armenia Police find data on 2,287 deceased persons, remove them from voters' lists Armenia "I Have Honor" bloc: Ballots for numbers 1-8 were missing in package for mobile voting at hospital Head of Yerevan district enters polling stations, addresses ruling party's proxies, records drawn up Armenia citizens distribute electoral bribes in village, 2 persons detained Voter turnout in Armenia snap parliamentary elections is 38.17% 3 hours before end of vote Armenia police apprehend producer Armen Grigoryan Criminal case opened into shooting at Armenia lawmaker, MP candidate's car Armenia Police receive 57 reports, process 20 of them as of 4pm Incident takes place between Armenia acting Deputy PM and citizens Lawyer on criminal case against Armenia bloc MP candidate: That recording is equal to anonymous report "I Have Honor" bloc issues statement on unlawful searches and detention during Armenia snap parliamentary elections Physician, Armenia bloc MP candidate: Criminal case brought against me contains no material in it RIA Novosti's survey shows 32% voters ready to vote for "Armenia"bloc, 24% ready to vote for Nikol Pashinyan Armenia Ombudsman: Photographing and disseminating used ballot are prohibited by law Armenia "5165" Movement Party's leader participates in snap parliamentary elections Armenia opposition bloc member Taron Margaryan comes to polling station with sons, votes for national security Armenia President's Office comments on report of car with its license plates parked outside polling station Zalkaliani: Tbilisi ready to work within Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia format Catholicos of All Armenians: May God increase good days in our peoples life Armenia snap parliamentary election voter turnout 26.82% as of 2pm Armenia MFA statement on World Refugee Day: Unprecedented humanitarian situation has unfolded Armenia MOD: Allegations of instructing soldiers during election are assumptions of authors of those videos Voting stopped for a while at polling station in Armenia's Sotk Opposition Sovereign Armenia Party's MP candidate apprehended Armenia First President casts his ballot Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Our most important task is to unite a divided society Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan FMs speak about active participation of 3 countries in peace process Israel doesn't rule out resumption of hostilities with Hamas Armenia former premier: We are now voting against Azerbaijans Aliyev Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan: We must develop relations with Georgia Mayor of Armenia's Goris: Soldiers being blatantly guided, there are several electoral violations Armenia opposition party's proxy and MP candidate transferred to hospital after brawl Armenia former President Sargsyan: My stance has not changed today either (PHOTOS) Protests held in Toronto: People demand immediate release of Armenian POWs Mediaport: Armenia ruling bloc MP provokes fight at election precinct US and Turkish defense ministers discuss Afghanistan Prosperous Armenia Party leader: Who can influence me? Armenia "I Have the Honor" bloc candidate for PM: Authorities are in agony Armenia snap parliamentary election voter turnout 12.2% as of 11am Brazil reaches 500,000 COVID-19 deaths Artsakh Defense Army ex-commander: I voted that you to live with strength Armenia acting PM comes to election precinct with his family Searches of Armenia bloc in Sisian is an unprecedented disgrace "Armenia" bloc: Never before in countrys history has there been such irregularity in electoral process Armenian Ombudsman conducts independent monitoring of electoral process from early morning Searches being carried out in headquarters and houses of Armenia bloc heads Armenia 2nd President on their chances of winning election: Do you doubt? (PHOTOS) Bright Armenia Party leader: Force that will buy votes is force of Ilham Aliyev The Japanese government on Thursday donated medical equipment to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) of Bhutan. According to reports, the received medical equipment will enhance early detection of hearing impairment and sleep apnea-a sleep disorder in the country. The medical equipment, the audio brain-stem response will help early detection of hearing impairment, the report added. Hearing impairment is found common among people living with disabilities in Bhutan for which early detection has been a challenge in the absence of appropriate equipment. Notably, JDWNRH is the only hospital that has specialized ENT treatment facilities in the country. Therefore, patients from all over the country come here for treatment. The other polysomnography medical equipment will help to treat sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a persons breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing during sleep resulting in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain and rest of the body. Japanese government donated the medical equipment under their Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. Dear Mr. President: I have a proposal. I know this wall thing is very important to you, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. By the way, I thought she badly disrespected you by calling you a wimp after you caved on the government shutdown. Since two-thirds of Americans are against you on this project, it seems somewhat futile to continue this approach through Congress. After all, how successful could it be? Mexico has refused to pay for it. Your 30-foot-high design seems a bit short when one can buy a 40-foot extension ladder from Home Depot for $500. Also, the drug cartels have been very good at tunneling under current fence designs even though their preferred mode of entry is through airports, harbors and even existing border crossing points. The Great Wall of China was a bust, as was Hadrians Wall in early Roman England. The Berlin Wall in Germany lasted a mere 28 years; little of it remains today. The signs are not good. If you try to declare a national emergency and order the military to build it, they might just say, No Sir. I suspect that would look bad for the current Commander-in-Chief. But the situation along the border arguably does not rise, in the words of Church, to an "essential" problem now, nor is the construction of a physical contiguous border wall a necessary solution. (It's hard to take seriously the idea that a years-long construction project is an emergency action, if only because it wouldn't have any effect until well into the future.) Illegal crossings are at the lowest ebb since the Clinton administration. Although Trump cites migrant caravans as evidence of an emergency, those caravans are not crossing the border illegally, but rather arriving at legal ports of entry to request asylum, as the law permits. Half of the undocumented immigrants in the United States arrive legally through airports, but then overstay their visas. Likewise, there is simply no empirical evidence to suggest that thousands of terrorists are crossing the border illegally. It does seem early (to declare), Sedgley said, but thats the reality of todays climate: You make your wishes known and you start working toward that goal. He said he consulted the mayors of Napa Countys other four cities before making his candidacy public. If chosen as mayor, Sedgley said he could better serve Napa as an advocate for the citys interests in developing regional solutions to traffic congestion and housing shortages across the county and Bay Area as well as for increased protection of the woodlands surrounding the citys two water sources, Lake Hennessey and Milliken Reservoir. Techel, meanwhile, decided Napas recovery from the 2014 earthquake had progressed far enough for her to leave behind her City Hall career, which has lasted more than two decades and began with two council terms before she was first elected mayor in 2004. We were just getting over the quake and I felt staying on another four years could ensure we get ourselves back on our feet, she said of the 2016 race, in which she ran unopposed. There actually was a lovely community feeling that we could do it together that motivated me in 2016 to stay and make it all happen. The future of ferry travel between Tiburon and Angel Island remains unclear, despite a meeting this week between two state agencies that have crossed swords over the transit service. More than five months have passed since the deadline to apply for a new ferry service contract was reached. In that time, both the current and prospective ferry operators say they have been kept in the dark. Supporters of the longtime Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Co., who were rattled when the state Department of Parks and Recreation opened the contract up to new providers, have also been left hanging. Theres been no word, said Sue Muzzin, a spokeswoman for Blue and Gold Fleet, which submitted the only application to run the service in August. Were just waiting to hear. State parks officials told Blue and Gold Fleet executives they planned to meet this week with other stakeholders to iron out the next steps for the ferry service. But the department said Thursday the outcomes of that meeting havent set a clear path forward. Everything is still on hold, said Christina Jaromay, a state parks official familiar with the meeting. A man convicted of murdering his estranged wife in Angwin is coming up for parole again, and his victims family is hoping to keep him behind bars. Robert Shippmann, 81, was convicted of murdering 28-year-old Juli Mathis Shippmann on April 23, 1993, in an isolated area of Caiocca Pass. After shooting her to death, he shot himself several times. He survived his injuries and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, plus another four years for a gun enhancement. At his last parole hearing in September 2017, the Board of Parole Hearings decided to grant him parole, but then-Gov. Jerry Brown reversed the decision, noting that Shippmann still lacked insight into the cold and calculated murder. Shippmanns next parole hearing is on March 28. Joanne Mathis Wilson, Julis mother, encourages locals to sign petitions and write letters opposing his parole. Wilson said letters and petitions have made a difference in past decisions to keep Shippmann in prison. My daughter was murdered by her husband, she said. He was jealous and snapped. Nobody wants anyone like that around their family. Many Windows 10 users worldwide have been unable to connect to the Windows Update service for the past two days, BleepingComputer reports. According the report, when affected users attempt to update their operating system, Windows displayed the following error report: We couldnt connect to the update service. Well try again later, or you can check now. If it still doesnt work, make sure youre connected to the Internet. It is unclear what caused this issue, with many users speculating that it was either a problem with Windows Defender or their DNS configuration. This problem does not affect all Windows 10 users, but a number of users who were affected by the issue have stated that switching their DNS allowed them to download updates. Microsoft said the issue has been fixed, but if you are still unable to download Windows updates, switching to Googles public DNS service may resolve the problem. Now read: The latest Windows 10 update is the least successful version ever According to a letter to shareholders, reported on by TechCrunch, Tesla will begin producing a Model Y SUV by the end of 2020. The new SUV will be produced at Teslas Gigafactory in Nevada, and should incur substantially lower costs than the Model 3 line due to sharing a platform and 75% of its components with the Model 3. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also predicts that its sales volume will exceed that of the Model 3. This year should be a truly exciting one for Tesla, said the letter. Model 3 will become a global product, the profitability of our business should become sustainably positive, our new Gigafactory Shanghai should start producing cars, and we will start tooling for Model Y production. Tesla has not yet released a prototype for the Model Y, however. The advent of e-commerce has ushered in a new way of selling, buying, and advertising goods across the globe making it convenient for consumers to order products from any location, and helping businesses reach a much wider audience at less expense. This has become the standard for many retailers in every industry, allowing companies to reach and appeal to their audiences more effectively. While e-commerce has greatly impacted point-of-sale, it is not the only thing that has changed. In the bedding industry, for example, delivering a product that takes up a lot of space is sure to cause logistical challenges. For this reason, mattress companies that have adopted an e-commerce model needed to change their product concept in order to pack and deliver their products economically. Hence, the mattress-in-a-box was born. South Africas first comfort-adjustable mattress-in-a-box how it all started South Africas first comfort-adjustable mattress-in-a-box was developed by Rudo Kemp, CEO of Sloom, after getting tired of selling mass-produced bed brands in a brick-and-mortar store, each with little to no differentiating features. Kemp was driven to create a product that is aimed at simplifying the mattress buying experience and improving the overall sleeping experience. I wanted to create a new modern mattress with features that really contribute to better sleep a mattress that I could recommend to anyone without worrying if the quality is good enough, said Kemp. What also contributed to the birth of Sloom was one of Kemps greatest challenges when shifting to the online world how to help customers decide on which mattress to purchase without being able to lie on it. To overcome the need to inspect the product before purchasing, Kemp started to play around with the idea of incorporating different comfort layers into one mattress, which would allow customers to change the firmness to their liking in the comfort of their own home. This was possible for Kemp thanks to his experience of working in a foam factory. Kemps factory job entailed formulating new foam products, which only contributed to his knowledge of mattress engineering. By honing his skills and knowledge gained in the foam factory and by focusing on the basic needs a mattress should fulfil, the Sloom mattress-in-a-box was born. Packaging Using a state-of-the-art machine that compresses the mattresses and rolls them up into boxes, Sloom ships their products with courier services across South Africa effortlessly and economically. The compression machine allows Sloom to reduce the volume of each mattress by up to 70% without compromising the foam integrity or damaging the mattress. These technologies have allowed us to move past the old way of selling mattresses. We are not limited to a specific location or where we can deliver, said Kemp. With Sloom innovative packaging we can use courier services economically to ship anywhere in South Africa. 100-night free trial Besides selling directly to consumers and delivering straight to their door in their conveniently sized box, Sloom also offers a 100-night trial to give clients extra peace of mind. Its simple: try it out for 100-nights, and if youre not satisfied, Sloom will arrange for the mattress to be collected free of charge. For more information, or to order, visit the Sloom website. Delivery is free of charge, and orders ship in 3-5 days. Huawei South Africa has partnered with Discovery Vitality to offer members discounts on its range of health devices. The company said these offerings will include a discount of 25%-75% on Huawei wearable devices which have a heart rate monitor and are purchased from Sportsmans Warehouse or Total Sports. The partnership also means that Huawei wearable owners with compatible devices can now earn points for recorded workouts. This promotion may attract more Vitality customers to the Huawei wearable range, which includes the Watch GT. Huawei also said it has made a number of changes to its Health app, which now offers real-time heart rate, stress, sleep quality, and oxygen intake monitoring. The company plans to launch a number of new wearable devices in the coming months and is in discussions with a host of other South African medical aid and health partners. Now read: Samsung not worried about Huawei Pay and Apple Pay in South Africa Huawei recently announced a refreshed version of its P Smart for 2019, following the success of the previous model in South Africa. Speaking at a media event in Johannesburg, Huawei South Africa CTO Akhram Mohamed said the P Smart aims to fill a gap in the market which has opened up due to the increasing price of smartphones. With the equity of our flagship P series increasing and the price of mobile phones increasing across the board, we found a gap in the market, Mohamed said. We wanted to address the gap in the market, especially in the R249-R299 monthly pricing range. Within that segment, there are not many products which could claim to have flagship experiences, and thats where the P Smart comes in. The Huawei P Smart has performed extremely well in South Africa, with the 2018 version quickly becoming the top-selling device in its price segment. The smartphone was the best-selling device in its pricing bracket for eight months in 2018, and owned a 52% market share in this segment for six months. Mohamed said the company hopes to continue this performance with its 2019 model, which offers improved features while retaining its attractive price point. Market dominance Huawei has quickly become a major player in South Africa and has launched smartphones across a multitude of pricing ranges, from the budget-oriented Y series to its premium Mate series. The company has rapidly caught up with Apple and Samsung, overtaking the former in terms of overall market share last year and setting its sights on the top position across all pricing segments in the local market. Mohamed said the strong performance of Huaweis smartphones across the board could result in the company reaching this goal by the end of 2019 or 2020. In 2018, Huawei was either number one or number two in every pricing segment, Mohamed told MyBroadband. And where we are number two, the gap is so small that we think we could break through very quickly. He acknowledged that the only space where Huawei needs to work on its market share in South Africa is the $800-and-above pricing bracket which is still led by Apple due to its higher average selling prices. Judging by its strong growth in the local market in recent years, this goal is one which is certainly achievable, said Huawei. A video of a black animal getting a nice scratch is spreading quickly around the internet as people take sides in yet another great debate. I knew this was something we could do. Just because somethings difficult, doesnt mean the need isn't there," he said. You have to take a step of faith and trust that God will help you through it. Enterprise Rent-A-Car gave the church a deal on a 15-passenger van until the end of the week. All leftover food, clothing and supplies will be distributed to non-profit organizations that help those who need a place to stay. Among those in need are Bridget Bennett, her husband Ted, a recovering addict, and their daughter Lexus, along with her beloved gecko Sparta. The Bennetts, from St. Louis, moved to the Quad-Cities to be closer to his family. A landlord, Bridget Bennett said, wouldnt allow them to stay as guests, so they've been sleeping in the family truck. A host family at the church has been helping them out, she said, but she's not sure where they will go Friday. This church is such a great place. Theyre the definition of Christian. When you walk into someplace and you feel like youre at home and feel safe this is the place. She has attended worship at the church and as well as a womens Bible study. Randoll said a teacher the company had worked with closely left the district due to some funding cuts and that impacted the program. Reynolds said she would plan to get the Iowa Department of Education involved in looking into ways of possibly incorporating machining, CNC operating and welding trade skill programs into the curriculum at the high school. "Next year, when I give the Condition of the State address," Reynolds said, "my goal is I can say at least 20-25 schools are providing these opportunities to kids." Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Greg Jenkins attended the tour along with Reynolds. "I thought it was really good that the Governor came to see this unique company and visit with the people about what they do and what their needs are when it comes to the workforce," he said, "and the struggles that they have like many of the other businesses in our community." He said, "she's in touch with many of the businesses and recognizes the issues and how to address them." Reynolds said she's "very optimistic" about the state's economic growth and acknowledged the need for a workforce to keep up. "I'm looking for every opportunity that I can, whether that's middle school, high school, retraining adults to get them a pipeline of talent that they need to keep growing and being successful," she said, "and that's just the piece that we need to really focus on right now." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Unnamed tourists on Mount Nam take pictures for scenic views of downtown Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, along with their wives, may dine together at a restaurant on top of Mount Nam in Seoul during Kim's possible visit to South Korea, a source from Cheong Wa Dae said, Tuesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a restaurant inside N Seoul Tower, an iconic landmark, is being considered for the venue of what would be a historic dinner where visitors could see Kim in person. "This is one of various ideas to treat Kim if he visits Seoul this year," the source told The Korea Times. "The tower on top of Mount Nam is a symbolic place with scenic views of downtown Seoul and the Han River. That will be a great place for Kim." N Seoul Tower, located on top of Mount Nam, is one of the most iconic and popular attractions in Seoul. It has four observation decks including two restaurants. "It's possible an upper-level restaurant will be chosen as the venue for the dinner, as the restaurant, named n.Grill, has a revolving floor, offering a chance to access every view the tower offers just by sitting at the table. While having dinner, the leaders of the Koreas can get a night view of high-rise downtown Seoul," he said. "The two can talk about the estimated economic benefits North Korean can get in return for cutting the regime's appetite toward maintaining its nuclear arsenal." More specifically, the tower's observatory is unique as it offers an astonishing 360-degree panorama over downtown Seoul and other surroundings, and 32 screens recounting the 600-year history of Seoul, serving as a source of pride for citizens. Months earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sat down for a high-class steak dinner with North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Yong-chol in mid-town Manhattan as part of a diplomatic frenzy dedicated to hash out the two countries' differing views on how Pyongyang should dismantle its nuclear program. On Monday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said he is ready to serve as a "tour guide" for Kim Jong-un during his upcoming visit and added he would take Kim to Seoul Station and the Han River. Plans are for Kim to make his historic visit to Seoul after he meets Trump around the end of February. Kim accepted President Moon's invitation last September to visit the South Korean capital. Sources inside Cheong Wa Dae said the North Korean leader's visit to Seoul will take place sometime in late March or early April, given the time needed to address possible protests against the North Korean leader. Wyoming depends on tourists to come to places like Yellowstone National Park, Devils Tower National Monument and Grand Teton National Park. Tourism is a big a deal in Wyoming. But it is also a big deal in Montana which boasts a part of Yellowstone, Big Horn National Park and Glacier National Park. That's why Scott's bill would seem to make sense. Not only that, but with the threat of another federal shutdown looming if Congress cannot come to an agreement by Feb. 15, this bill may be exactly what is necessary to keep local economies going. Keep in mind that tourism is Montana's second largest industry. During this shutdown, local businesses stepped up to keep Yellowstone open at a minimum. Yet, there were still reports of overflowing trash and nearly unusable bathrooms. Legislation like this would do two important things. First, it would allow the state government to step in to help its federal counterpart so that the shutdown would not be as noticeable. Secondly, it would not put the livelihood of communities in such jeopardy, and keep tourists (and money) flowing. It would also allow the parks to keep up with the tourists who do visit the park so there's not so much clean-up and catch-up to do when the federal government gets back to the business it should have been doing all along. This law would reduce uncertainty. Under President Trump we have seen a sudden resurgence of federalism on the left in American politics as liberal states like California seek to go their own way on issues like the Paris Climate Accord and sanctuary cities. But sometimes these states attempt to set policy within their own borders has a very real negative impact on neighboring states. Currently in our home state of Montana, we will contribute upwards of $6.5 million per year to protect the rivers and waterways, which flow to the west and east of us, from aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS are non-native organisms which occupy and cause harm to our native ecosystems. These invasive organisms cost the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service billions every year. Preventing AIS from polluting our ecosystems is an important part of being a good steward of the environment. Much of our efforts and tax dollars spent in preventing the introduction and spread contributes to the well-being of our neighboring states' rivers and waterways. Nevertheless, the states we share those rivers with contribute a fraction of the cost, while at the same time hindering our ability to generate revenue through responsible resource development. Oregon and Washington not only refuse to purchase Montana coal (which is some of the cleanest in the world) but also chose to hinder our ability to ship coal from their ports. Drug companies that want to get on what's called a formulary, or a list of drugs that an insurance plan covers, might offer rebates as incentives to pharmacy benefit mangers who write those lists. For example, for a drug that costs $100, a drug maker might offer a $200 rebate to a pharmacy benefit manager to get on that drug list. That means the drug ends up costing $300 to make up for the rebate, which the pharmacy benefit manager pockets. The bill also aims to eliminate what's called spread pricing, where a pharmacy benefit manager charges the insurance company more for a drug than what it pays the pharmacy, keeping the difference as profit. Insurance companies and their contracts with pharmacy benefit managers are the target of this bill instead of the middlemen because other states have faced issues with federal law when trying to directly dictate what those managers can do, employees at the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance office said. "We've tried to provide the insurance companies with the tools they need to be able to provide transparency from the PBMs," Rosendale said. Insurance companies, however, argued that they would be unfairly fined and have to pass that cost onto their customers for the bad behavior of pharmacy benefit managers. It was really special, said Montana, reflecting on being able to shoot the video in his hometown, noting that the video wouldnt have been possible without a $20,000 grant from Buttes Tourism Business Improvement District. Montana joked that there are more shots of Butte in American Thread than there are of him, adding that Butte, Montana, is the star in this one. Montana said his mom was on set for a majority of the video, noting that she had a blast getting a backstage pass to Butte. American Thread is Montanas second major music video. Directed by Spidey Smith, the video was created by a crew of about five, who shot scenes in Elk Park, the Mountain Con mineyard, and several other locations in and around Butte. Montana said the crew used natural lighting for the video and refrained from using makeup, giving the video a raw, authentic feel. It captures the essence of Butte, America, said Montana, who previously told The Montana Standard that he had hoped to showcase the hardworking nature of the people of his hometown and the culture known for being Butte tough. Starting Friday, audiences will be able to access the video online, while CMT will begin showing American Thread on its outlets starting Feb. 15. Love 34 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 10 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 Baumgartner did, he said, was punch Gibson before running off the bus and escaping to safety after being held against his will for more than two hours. He made his escape while taking advantage of police placing a bag of what was supposed to be his "last meal" on the bus's steps, he said. While he was held on the bus, Baumgartner said Gibson told him about his life and his political views and the intersection between the two. According to Baumgartner, Gibson told him he had worked as a carpenter until he was hit by a vehicle and injured. That left him unable to work and feeling resentful, as he perceived minorities were getting benefits that he wasn't receiving, Baumgartner said. "He wanted people to hear how the white male is discriminated against," Baumgartner said. Baumgartner said Gibson's motivation appeared to be "all political," though he also noted that he appeared to have mental health issues. Disclaimer : The views expressed in the forum are the views of the user writing the post, and not that of moneycontrol.com. You agree, by accessing this forum, that moneycontrol.com bears no liability for any posts on this forum or, any losses suffered by following any advice posted on this forum. moneycontrol.com operates this real time, open, unmoderated, private forum for users to exchange information and to discuss various investing techniques. moneycontrol.com or, its personnel do not post anything, or vet the content posted, on this forum. moneycontrol.com reserves the right to deny service to anyone. You, and not moneycontrol.com, assume the entire cost and risk of any trading you choose to undertake. You are solely responsible for making your own investment decisions. If you choose to engage in such transactions with or without seeking advice from a licensed and qualified financial advisor or entity, then such decision and any consequences flowing therefrom are your sole responsibility. Last week gubernatorial candidate Tim Fox called for an "all of the above" energy policy. While this sounds nice, it's little more than the way the political elite kowtow to the oil, gas and coal industries. Those industries pay good money to get politicians to say things like that, because that sort of energy policy gives them free reign to keep digging up and burning fossil fuels. But recent events around the American West clearly demonstrate that we don't have any more time for "all of the above" energy. Last year, entire towns in California were destroyed in wildfires, leaving tens of thousands homeless. Those Americans are now climate refugees, forced from their homes by the increase in intense climatic events that comes part and parcel with human-caused climate change. If we continue burning more and more fossil fuels, it's only a matter of time before that kind of catastrophe happens in Montana, and significant numbers in our state are left to find new lives amid the charred ruins of their homes. Is that what Tim Fox wants? It's certainly a clear consequence of his energy policy. Rudy Molinek, Missoula You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Busy huckleberries to the end , for now, of the partial federal government shutdown that kept many workers in Montana home for weeks, and many more working without knowing when their next paycheck would arrive. Montana has a higher rate of federal employees than any other state except Alaska and Maryland, with about 1,500 federal workers for every 100,000 people in the general workforce, according to a recent report in the Washington Post. Given the huge impact on Montana, Treasure State residents expect our U.S. senators to take action on this issue, especially since their votes were split on recent measures to fund a border wall and end the shutdown. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, is one of only seven lawmakers, and only three Democrats, to be appointed to a special conference committee focused on hammering out a border security agreement and appropriations bills before the Feb. 15 deadline. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, meanwhile, signed on in support of the End Government Shutdowns Act, which proposes to create an automatic continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels any time a regular appropriations bill is not complete by Oct. 1. Huckleberries to them both for working to prevent future shutdowns. The Jogye Order is planning to arrange a temple stay in the Singye temple. Singye temple, located in Onjong-ri in Kosong County, Gangwon Province, North Korea, is one of the four major temples of Mt. Geumgang. The building was entirely destroyed by U.S. bombings during the Korean War and rebuilt in cooperation with the South Korean Buddhist community in 2007. Korea Times file '2019 will be a new chapter in inter-Korean Buddhist exchanges' By Kang Aa-young Ven. Wonhaeng, chief monk of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, makes a vow during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap This week, the Montana Public Education Center (MT-PEC) sent a representative to the Montana Senate Education Committee to oppose student safety legislation which has received bipartisan support. The specific bill is Senate Bill 132, the Student Safety Accountability Act, which the Office of Public Instruction requested, and Sen. Keith Regier from Kalispell is carrying. This common-sense legislation recognizes that students are a protected class and that school officials are in a position of trust over them. This position of trust and authority over students creates an unequal balance of power in a relationship in which students cannot meaningfully consent to sexual contact. Why would Montanas statewide education associations oppose this most basic proposal to remove predators from classrooms? MT-PEC is a statewide organization that represents the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the Montana School Boards Association, the School Administrators of Montana, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, the Montana Rural Education Association, and the Montana Association of School Business Officials. It is my hope that these state associations represent their local students and members. GREAT FALLS A 62-year-old northwestern Montana man who a federal judge once said was "dangerous to the money and property of others" faces more than a decade in federal prison for running a Ponzi scheme and illegally possessing firearms. The sentence for John "Kevin" Moore of Kalispell included $2.2 million in restitution and a $1.9 million forfeiture. Federal prosecutors alleged Moore established a business to buy oil and gas leases and another to obtain and sell fine art. Prosecutors said he collected $2.7 million from investors, but spent $1.4 million on himself. Moore has said he did purchase oil and gas leases in Lewis and Clark County. Moore has previous felony fraud convictions and was sentenced to prison for probation violations in 2005 by U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell, who declared him "dangerous to the money and property of others." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Missoula photographer has been charged after authorities reportedly found more than 140 child pornography files on his electronic devices. Jeremy Aplin faces three counts of sexual abuse of children/possession of material, in court documents filed Jan. 17 in Missoula District Court. Authorities in Flathead County first became aware of Aplin's alleged possession of the files in November 2015. A detective with county law enforcement there discovered a number of child pornography files from a file-sharing network that were tied to an IP address, later identified as that of Aplin's computer. Flathead County law enforcement then passed the case to the Missoula Police Department in 2016. In February 2018, police executed a search warrant at Aplin's home. During the search, Aplin confessed to looking at child pornography, according to court documents. Detectives seized multiple hard drives and a computer tower, which were turned over to the Montana Department of Justice for forensic examination. A state agent found 91 images, 39 videos of child pornography and an additional 14 images of child porn saved in different parts of the hardware, according to court documents. The foundation claims it is financially responsible for 79 percent of all wolves trapped in Idaho in the 2015-2016 season, according to its website, F4WM.org. That included spending more than $225,000 in member sponsorship and sponsor dollars paid out for the killing of 415 wolves. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contributed $25,000. F4WM offers reimbursements of $500 for any legally trapped Idaho wolf, $250 for legally hunted Idaho wolves, and $750 for wolves killed in parts of Idaho with lower-than-objective elk numbers. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game provided reimbursement grants for wolf trappers in several Panhandle, Clearwater and Southwest/Salmon hunting regions. That allowed the foundation to increase payouts in those areas to $1,000. To claim reimbursement, trappers and hunters must send copies of their receipts and their wolf check-in form to the foundation. Current Montana law prohibits giving prizes for killing any big game, fowl or fur-bearing animal or other animal protected by law. It does allow prizes of $50 or less for contests of largest antler, weight, and body length. David Mills-Low, a graduate student who works in McGill, first learned about the closure in an email that Media Arts Professor Michael Murphy sent out shortly after 10 a.m. You all may not have time to do this but if you have anything in the lab or in McGill that you need, they are getting us out NOW! Like in 30 minutes, Murphy wrote. The announcement didnt come soon enough for Mills-Low to get any of his papers, research or equipment out of the building. He said all his books, articles and other work were out of reach on his desk. "Its kind of sitting in limbo at the moment, Mills-Low said. He said an online class he grades shouldn't be affected by the closure. However, the projectors he had been planning to use in an upcoming play were off-limits to him, as was all of the equipment for an upcoming filmmaking workshop he was supposed to teach. "So I have to completely retool that workshop on the fly, he said. Mills-Low, who is a teaching assistant for two classes and is pursuing an MFA in media arts and an MA in theater, estimates he spends 40 to 50 hours a week in McGill. It was by far the largest single award given out to a single company this round. The BSTF funds will go to Missoula County through the Montana Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and Business Development. The program is funded by the states coal severance tax, and awards grant funds to assist basic sector businesses with out-of-state customers that want to create new jobs that pay well. Businesses must pay at least $19.65 per hour to be eligible for the maximum BSTF Job Creation grant award, which is up to $7,500 per full-time job created. The money isn't given to the companies until the jobs are created, and companies often over-estimate how many jobs they'll actually be able to create in order to be eligible for compensation in case they do meet the goal. ALPS, an insurance company also located in the Florence Building, has been awarded $45,000 to support the creation of six new jobs. Its a privilege and a blessing to be based in Montana, said David Bell, president and CEO of ALPS. Servicing our business from all around the country from our Missoula headquarters is great for our business, great for our policyholders and great for our local economy. Now, Book, a Democrat from Hollywood, is back with a new version of the bill ( SB 540 ).It does not include allowing trafficking victims to sue hotels, but it does require hotels train their employees to watch for trafficking, like last years bill did. Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam acknowledged his interest in a presidential run Friday, explaining in a statement to the Miami Herald that "all options will remain on the table." The Herald reported Thursday that Messam was gauging interest in a long-shot presidential bid. He did not respond to requests for comment for the story - read the article here - but on Friday issued a statement confirming that he is interested in taking a shot at the Democratic party's nomination in 2020. "Miramar is home, and as mayor I am focused on my upcoming reelection in March. However, I am grateful for the calls and messages I have received from all over the state of Florida and the country. My wife Angela and I count it a blessing that the great record of the city of Miramar would even place us in this conversation," Messam said. "When it comes to being an ambassador for the city, I have always said that all options will remain on the table. Our country's leadership over the last few years has failed to address the myriad of challenges hardworking men and women face every day. Our future as a community, a state, and a country has never seemed more uncertain. Please keep our family in your prayers." Credit: CC0 Public Domain Particular genetic variants in the human genome that are important for the development of the brain early in the life of the foetus are frequently found in psychiatric disorders. This is shown by a study carried out by iPSYCH. Researchers studied a total of 8 million genetic variants and found that some of them occur particularly often in people who have one of more of the following psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, autism and ADHD. This background is provided by Professor Thomas Werge from the Mental Health Services & University of Copenhagen and the Lundbeck Foundation's Initiative for Integrated Psychiatric Research, commonly referred to as iPSYCH, which has received a total of DKK 361 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation. He explains: "When we take a closer look at these genetic variants, one of the things we can ascertain is that they are tied to genes that are active in connection with the establishing of synapses in the brain during the prenatal stagethat is to say, the formation of the wiring that runs from nerve cell to nerve cell. And this means that the causes of mental disorders may actually originate all the way back from the point during pregnancy when the brain of the foetus was being formed." Thomas Werge headed the study, which has just been published in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience. The Danish contribution involved researchers from Aarhus University, Statens Serum Institut (SSI) and the Technical University of Denmark. Researchers from Australia, Switzerland and USA also took part. Enormous battery of blood tests Researchers who study psychiatric disorders have long held an assumption that across psychiatric diagnoses, there will be common characteristics in the form of specific genetic variants. This assumption also builds on the fact that a range of psychiatric disorders can often be seen to appear at the same timeboth in families and individuals. Whether or not this is the case has been tested in a range of studies, but never in a way that actually involves an entire population, explains Thomas Werge: "And that is exactly what we have done, because we have looked at a whole population in Denmark. By doing things in this way, you can achieve the highest possible degree of statistical certainty, as it's now possible to exclude a long list of biases and thus chance findings, which have to do with factors such as the selection of material for the study. At the same time, we get a very detailed picture of all the forms of mental disorders that can affect a person." The study behind the article in Nature Neuroscience is based on the blood samples that are taken from nearly all newborn babies in Denmark with parental consent. These heel prick samples, or PKU tests as they are known, are accessible for research work, but only in anonymised form. The PKU archive is the only one of its kind in the world and by looking at the DNA profiles from all samples taken during the period between 1980 and 2005, Thomas Werge and his colleagues were able to carry out a unique study: The samples were correlated with the Danish healthcare system's CPR (civil registration number) registrations, which is to say that the database behind the individual PKU samplesin addition to containing the DNA of the person in questionwould also contain in anonymised form much of the health information of the same person that is stored in the Danish public healthcare system, including information on psychiatric diagnoses. "In 2012, when we looked at the registers holding detailed information on all of the PKU samples taken in the period 1980-2005approximately 1.5 million in totalwe could see that 46,000 people from this group had, during that time, received one or more major psychiatric diagnoses. We then compared their DNA with the DNA from a sufficiently large number of persons in the register who had not received a psychiatric diagnosis," says Professor Thomas Werge. A question of vulnerability What do these discoveries mean? Is it the case that the genetic variants in the study that were shown to appear especially frequently in people diagnosed with one of the five major psychiatric disorders will necessarily trigger the disease? "No, it's not that simple," says Professor Thomas Werge. "But knowledge of specific predisposing processes enables us to carry out a qualified search for matching environmental factors that are active in the same time period during foetal brain development, and that may make particularly vulnerable people ill, but have little effect on less liable individuals." Andrew Schork from iPSYCH says, "Our study shows that the foundation for both early and late-stage mental disorders is in part located in the foetal stage; that is to say, very, very early in life, and long before the disorders present clinically." According to Thomas Werge, it ought to be possible to utilise knowledge of the correlation between mental vulnerability and genetics in preventative contexts: "Hopefully, this knowledge can help us to identify damaging or protective environmental factors enabling us to provide improved guideline on dos and don'ts during pregnancy. Explore further Genetic risk for ADHD manifests in brain structure in childhood More information: Andrew J. Schork et al. A genome-wide association study of shared risk across psychiatric disorders implicates gene regulation during fetal neurodevelopment, Nature Neuroscience (2019). Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Andrew J. Schork et al. A genome-wide association study of shared risk across psychiatric disorders implicates gene regulation during fetal neurodevelopment,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0320-0 In this Jan. 25, 2019 file photo a sign prohibiting all children under 12 and unvaccinated adults stands at the entrance to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash. A measles outbreak that has sickened more than 40 people in the Pacific Northwest has prompted a call to eliminate a "philosophical" vaccine exemption that's resulted in 4 percent of children in Washington state to attend school without their routine childhood shots. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File) A measles outbreak near Portland, Oregon, has revived a bitter debate over so-called "philosophical" exemptions to childhood vaccinations as public health officials across the Pacific Northwest scramble to limit the fallout. At least 43 people in Washington and Oregon have fallen ill in recent weeks with the extraordinarily contagious virus, which was eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 as a result of immunization but arrives periodically with overseas travelers. More than a dozen more cases are suspected, and people who were exposed to the disease traveled to Hawaii and Bend, Oregon, raising the possibility of more diagnoses in the unvaccinated. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last week declared a state of emergency because of the outbreak. "I would hope that this ends soon, but this could go on for weeks, if not months," said Dr. Alan Melnick, public health director in Clark County, Washington, just north of Portland. The county has had most of the diagnosed cases so far. "This is an exquisitely contagious disease." The outbreak has lawmakers in Washington state revisiting non-medical exemptions that allow children to attend school without vaccinations if their parents or guardians express a personal objection. Liberal-leaning Oregon and Washington have some of the nation's highest statewide vaccine exemption rates, driven in part by low vaccination levels in scattered communities and at some private and alternative schools. Four percent of Washington secondary school students have non-medical vaccine exemptions. In Oregon, which has a similar law, 7.5 percent of kindergarteners in 2018 were missing shots for non-medical reasons. Washington and Oregon are among 17 states that allow some type of non-medical exemption for vaccines for "personal, moral or other beliefs," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Numerous studies have shown vaccines do not cause autisma common reason cited by those who don't want their kids immunized. Those opposed to certain vaccines also object to an outside authority mandating what they put in their children's bodies, and some have concerns about the combination of the measles vaccine with the mumps and rubella immunizations, which is how it's routinely given. In this Jan. 30, 2019 file photo signs posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., warn patients and visitors of a measles outbreak. A measles outbreak near Portland, Ore., has revived a bitter debate over so-called personal belief exemptions to childhood vaccinations. Four percent of Washington secondary school students have non-medical vaccine exemptions. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus,File) A measure introduced by Republican Rep. Paul Harris of Vancouver, Washingtonthe epicenter of the current outbreakwould remove the personal exemption specifically for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR. It's scheduled for a public hearing in Olympia on Feb. 8. Democratic Rep. Monica Stonier of Vancouver, a co-signer on the bill, said she would prefer an even broader proposal, but "right now we're looking at what we can get moved." Previous attempts have failed. "We're trying to respond to a very specific concern here and recognize that there may be broader concerns we can consider down the road," Stonier said. Oregon has the nation's highest statewide vaccine exemption rates, and some communities have rates that are even higher. Washington's exemption rate, although lower, is also high when compared with other states. Nationwide, the median exemption rate for at least one vaccine for children entering kindergarten in the 2017-2018 year was just over 2 percent. Oregon state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, a Democrat and family physician, dropped an attempt to revoke the state's non-medical exemption in 2015 after virulent opposition. The Legislature now requires parents to either watch an educational video or talk to a doctor before claiming the exemption. In Washington state, legislation that would have removed the personal or philosophical belief allowance never made it to the House floor for a vote in 2015 amid stiff opposition. The National Vaccine Information Center, which opposes mandatory vaccination laws, said it opposed that bill and the current one. Another anti-vaccination group, Informed Choice Washington, had its members at the statehouse on Thursday trying to dissuade lawmakers. "People are feeling extremely oppressed and feeling like they can't make an educated decision," said Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the group. She said the legislation would "bring a hammer down and threaten people instead of allowing them to make informed decisions." This Feb. 6, 2015, file photo, shows a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine on a countertop at a pediatrics clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. A measles outbreak near Portland, Ore., has revived a bitter debate over so-called "philosophical" exemptions to childhood vaccinations as public health officials across the Pacific Northwest scramble to limit the fallout from the disease. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last week declared a state of emergency because of the outbreak on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) California is one of the few states that stripped away personal belief vaccine exemptions for children in both public and private schools. The law passed in 2015 after a measles outbreak at Disneyland sickened 147 people and spread across the U.S. and into Canada. It occurred despite an earlier law that required parents to talk to a doctor to opt out of vaccines. Vermont also abandoned its personal exemption in 2015. California state Sen. Richard Pan, a pediatrician who sponsored his state's bill, said he got death threats over it and had anti-vaccination advocates jam his phone lines and harass him on social media. The overall vaccination rate for children entering kindergarten in California rose to 95 percent in the two years after the law passed. Parents who don't want to immunize their children can homeschool or enroll their children in independent study at the local public school. "The opposition likes to say it's about parental rights. No, it's about the rights of other children and the rights of us to go around our community without getting sick," said Pan, a Democrat. Measles is still a big problem in other parts of the world, and travelers infected abroad can bring back the virus, causing periodic outbreaks. Last year, there were 17 outbreaks and about 350 cases in the United States. Before mass vaccination, 400 to 500 people in the U.S. died of the measles every year. Serious complications include brain swelling that can cause blindness or deafness and pneumonia. Early symptoms include a fever, runny nose and malaise, followed by a rash that starts around the head and moves down the body. Patients are contagious four days before and four days after getting the rash. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed will get the disease. Someone who has no immunity can get sick up to three weeks after they have been exposed to the virus. Explore further Measles outbreak grows in northwest US, 30 cases reported 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Microscopic views of lung tissue. Credit: Department of Immune Regulation,TMDU The airways and lungs are affected by a range of diseases, but while some have been well characterized and treated, others, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), are still somewhat of an enigma. This condition is known to involve a variety of progressively deteriorating symptoms such as inflammation of the lungs and narrowing of the airways, but the causes of these at the cellular and molecular levels have largely remained obscure. In a landmark study recently reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a research team from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) used a variety of mouse models to explain the developmental process behind COPD. The team showed that the immune cells basophils, previously believed to be mainly involved in fighting parasitic infections and inducing allergic responses, also induce the destruction of alveolar walls (emphysema). Earlier studies of COPD focused on mice as a suitable model for easily dissecting the mechanisms behind this disease, but encountered a range of difficulties in mimicking the features in humans. First, mice were exposed to smoke, given the association between smoking and COPD, but this failed to mirror the progressiveness of the disease in humans even after they quit smoking. This was superseded by the approach of administering enzymes called proteases directly into the airway. Proteases break up proteins, producing more human COPD-like features. "Here, we induced emphysema in model mice using a protease called elastase," lead author Sho Shibata says, "We then worked backwards one step at a time through the series of cellular and molecular events causing this symptom to identify what started this cascade, using mice with knockout of each component of this cascade." Cellular and molecular mechanism of emphysema formation. Credit: Department of Immune Regulation,TMDU The team started by revealing that the lung tissue destruction was caused by a molecule called MMP-12, which they found was released in excess from immune cells called interstitial macrophages when elastase was administered. They then found that these interstitial macrophages arose when the precursor immune cells called monocytes were induced by an immunity-regulating molecule called interleukin-4. Looking backwards another step in this chain, the team showed that interleukin-4 was released by basophil immune cells. Control mice (left panel) or basophil-depleted mice (right panel) were intranasally treated once with porcine pancreatic elastase to elicit emphysema. "Our results are surprising because basophils have not previously been identified to be active in this kind of situation," corresponding author Hajime Karasuyama says. "It may be that basophils were previously overlooked because they only make up 1 percent of the white blood cells in the lungs." Basophil-derived IL-4/monocyte-derived IM/MMP-12 axis plays a crucial role in emphysema formation The team hopes that their discovery will lead to therapies targeting basophils or the interstitial macrophages that they create to slow down the progression of emphysema. Explore further Secret to sepsis may lie in rare cell More information: Sho Shibata et al, Basophils trigger emphysema development in a murine model of COPD through IL-4mediated generation of MMP-12producing macrophages, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sho Shibata et al, Basophils trigger emphysema development in a murine model of COPD through IL-4mediated generation of MMP-12producing macrophages,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1813927115 Provided by Tokyo Medical and Dental University Credit: CC0 Public Domain Falls are a leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. Older adults suffer the greatest number of fatal falls and over 37 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention each year. A review by the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group, based at The University of Manchester UK, was conducted by a team comprising researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia and University of Oxford, UK, summarizes the results from 108 randomized controlled trials with 23,407 participants from across 25 countries. The average age of the participants in the studies was 76 years old and three quarters of them were women. Eighty-one of these trials compared exercise (all types) versus a control intervention (doing no exercise or minimal gentle exercise that is not thought to reduce falls) in people living independently at home, in retirement villages, or in sheltered accommodation. The review looked at two different ways of measuring falls. Firstly, they found that exercise reduces the number of falls over time by around a quarter (23% reduction). This means that if there were 850 falls among 1000 older people doing no fall-preventive exercise during one year, there would be 195 fewer falls among people who were undertaking fall-prevention exercise. They also found that exercise reduces the number of people experiencing one or more falls (number of fallers) by around a sixth (15% reduction). For example, if 480 out of 1000 people experienced one or more falls over 1 year, participating in exercise programmes would reduce the number of fallers by 72 people. The review found that exercise programmes carried out in group classes or done at home prescribed by a health professional (such as a physiotherapist) or a trained exercise leader were effective. Exercises were mostly done while standing as this better enhances balance and the ability to do daily activities such as standing up from a low chair or climbing stairs. Some effective exercise programmes also used weights to make the exercises harder. The results of the studies varied so the researchers assessed different types of exercise programmes to see how they compared. There is high certainty evidence that programmes that mainly involve balance and functional exercises reduce falls, while there was less certainty about programmes that include multiple exercise categories (most commonly balance and functional exercises plus resistance exercises). Tai Chi may also prevent falls but there is uncertain evidence on the effectiveness of resistance exercises (without balance and functional exercises) including dance or walking . The certainty of the evidence for the overall effect of exercise on preventing falls was high. However, the findings that exercise reduces fractures and the need for medical attention are less certain, reflecting in part the relatively small number of studies and participants for those outcomes. The reporting of the side effects of exercise in the trials was limited but when side effects were reported they were usually not serious, such as joint or muscle pain; however, one trial reported a pelvic stress fracture. Author, Professor Cathie Sherrington from The University of Sydney, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, said: "This evidence helps build an even stronger picture that exercise can help prevent older people having falls. It also illustrates which types of exercise can be beneficial. It is well known that keeping active promotes good health but this review pinpoints which types of exercise are more likely to be effective for preventing falls." "More work is needed to establish the impact of exercise on fall-related fractures and falls requiring medical attention because such falls have major impacts for the individual and are particularly costly to health systems. Further research is also required to establish the effectiveness of fall prevention programmes in emerging economies where the burden of falls is increasing more rapidly than in developed countries due to rapidly ageing populations." This Cochrane Review was supported by the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group, based at the University of Manchester, and Cochrane's Accident and Emergency Care Network. This project was partly funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) via Cochrane Infrastructure funding to the Cochrane Group. Additional funding for the review was via the National Institute for Health Research (UK): NIHR Cochrane Reviews of NICE Priority scheme, project reference: NIHR127512. The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Systematic Reviews Programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health. Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowships provided salary funding for several of the authors. Managing Editor Dr. Joanne Elliott from the University of Manchester said, "Over the years, our Cochrane Group has played a pivotal role in the generation of systematic reviews of the evidence for interventions for preventing falls in older people. This latest review reinforces the key role of exercise and, crucially, shows which types of exercise are more likely to be effective for preventing falls." Explore further Tai chi effective at reducing number of falls in older adults More information: Lesley D Gillespie et al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2012). Lesley D Gillespie et al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community,(2012). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007146.pub3 Sally Hopewell et al. Multifactorial and multiple component interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2018). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012221.pub2 Credit: CC0 Public Domain For a patient awaiting a new organnamely a liver or kidneyliving donation provides a viable alternative and can often shorten a recipient's wait time. "Living donor donations are important because they mean more patients can get the organs they need faster," said Dr. Zakiyah Kadry, chief of the Division of Transplantation at Penn State Health. "It's also good because studies have shown that a patient who has the option to receive an organ from a live donor is more likely to survive the waiting list, especially liver patients, because they have more transplant options than waiting for an organ from a deceased donor." Kadry said that each year about half of Penn State Health's kidney transplants and about 5 percent of liver transplants come from live donors. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is the only hospital in central Pennsylvania that performs multiple types of organ transplants including living donor liver and kidney transplants and pediatric kidney transplants. An organ from a live donor may take less time to become fully functional in a patient's system than one from a deceased donor. That's because rather than packing the organ in ice for hours, doctors transfer it from one patient directly to the next within an hour. When doctors decide a patient needs a liver or kidney transplant, they discuss whether live donation is an option. Most people with kidney failure can receive a live donation, though some patients with liver disease can't. A potential donor must undergo medical testing and education before donating a kidney or part of a liver. A donor-advocate team independent of medical professionals caring for the ill patient ensures there is no conflict of interest. "Whether you're donating a kidney or part of your liver, it's a big deal," Kadry said. "You are undergoing major surgery that you wouldn't need to undergo only to help someone else." Background screening of donors is extensive, but Kadry said that's good for everyone involved. "Sometimes potential donors find out about health issues that they never knew they had," she said. "Then they can at least deal with those and get them treated even if they can't donate." Live donation also makes scheduling the surgery easier, which eliminates some stress for the patient and his or her friends and family. "They know they have an end in sight," Kadry said. When a live kidney donor's blood type isn't compatible with the recipient, he or she can still donate the organ to someone else. That can set off a chain of transplants nationwide, ultimately resulting in the patient receiving a kidney from a compatible donor. Because liver transplantation is more complex, a patient must personally know his or her donor. "It doesn't need to be a relative though," Kadry said. "It can be a neighbor, colleague, friend or someone from their church." Explore further Marijuana use has no effect on kidney transplant outcomes Imaging mass cytometry can make a valuable contribution to a better understanding of how type 1 diabetes progresses. Credit: UZH Using the new Imaging Mass Cytometry method, researchers of UZH have investigated the pancreas of healthy organ donors and those with type 1 diabetes. The study shows that many beta cells, which normally produce insulin, are still present in the early stages of the disease, but look very different. These beta cells could potentially be rescued for the benefit of the patient and the progression of the disease could be slowed down or even stopped. The pancreatic islets of Langerhans play a key role when it comes to regulating how the body metabolizes sugar. The cells located there monitor the blood sugar levels and secrete insulin as required. Insulin in turn triggers the uptake of sugar into cells. In patients suffering from type 1 diabetes, these cells are attacked and destroyed by the body's own white blood cells. Research only possible with donated organs Little is known about what happens inside of the pancreas when diabetes develops, since performing biopsies or high resolution imaging of the organ is not feasible when patients are alive. "Much of what we know about type 1 diabetes in humans is based on pancreases from organ donors, and these are very rare," says Bernd Bodenmiller from the Institute of Quantitative Biomedicine of the University of Zurich. This is why researchers are keen to gain as many insights as possible from every single organ that is donated. Wealth of information from a single sample Bodenmiller and his team, working together with research groups in Geneva and in the US, have now for the first time used imaging mass cytometry to investigate donated pancreases: "This allows us to visualize cells, other types of cells in the Langerhans islets as well as invading immune cells at the same time," says Bodenmiller about the advantages of the method, which was developed under the lead of the University of Zurich. "This has previously not been possible using traditional approaches." For their study Nicolas Damond, first author of the publication from the Institute of Quantitative Biomedicine, analyzed 12 donated pancreases four from healthy donors, four from patients in the early stages of type 1 diabetes and four from patients with advanced type 1 diabetes. The scientists used the findings to develop a map that shows the location of the different cell types in the pancreatic islets and the state the cells were in. Starting point to develop therapy for early stages of diabetes Damond then compiled the data from the various donated organs in a pseudo timeline. This allowed him to reconstruct the changes in the pancreatic tissue from the onset of type 1 diabetes right up to the final stages of the disease. One of the findings was particularly interesting: There was still a surprisingly high number of cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans during the disease's early stages. These cells might look different and produce less insulin than healthy cells, but they could possibly still be saved from complete destruction. "If we succeed in stopping the autoimmune attack this early, the cells could maybe regain their function and help with regulating the blood sugar levels of patients," says Damond. New insights into autoimmunity Through imaging mass cytometry the research group also located the special type of white blood cells which, according to current scientific knowledge, are responsible for cell destruction. The researchers found these immune cells mainly in the pancreases of patients in early stages of the disease, especially in pancreatic islets that contained a high number of surviving cells. Pancreatic islets whose cells had been mostly destroyed, in contrast, had fewer white blood cells. These results could help to shed light on the mechanism of the autoimmune reaction, about which there are currently still many open questions. "Our study demonstrates that imaging mass cytometry can make a valuable contribution to a better understanding of how type 1 diabetes progresses. It provides a basis for planning further experiments and developing new hypotheses," believes Bodenmiller. Explore further The relevance of GABA for diabetes highlighted in two new studies More information: Nicolas Damond et al. A Map of Human Type 1 Diabetes Progression by Imaging Mass Cytometry, Cell Metabolism (2019). Journal information: Cell Metabolism Nicolas Damond et al. A Map of Human Type 1 Diabetes Progression by Imaging Mass Cytometry,(2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.11.014 In this Aug. 8, 2018, file photo, a healthcare worker from the World Health Organization gives an Ebola vaccination to a front line aid worker in Mangina, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus' spread in the unstable region. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro, File) The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus' spread in the unstable region. This may be the most challenging Ebola outbreak ever. Health workers face the threat of attack from rebel groups and resistance from frightened communities. A highly mobile population produced two scares in the past week alone: The discovery of an infected, wide-ranging young trader led to vaccinations in a new, third province near the South Sudan border. And two contacts of Ebola victims slipped away and were found in the capital of neighboring Ugandafree of the virus. And yet this outbreak has seen a number of advances, including the widespread use of an experimental Ebola vaccine and a clinical trial of experimental treatments. Health workers say conditions have improved from the devastating West Africa outbreak a few years ago, when some patients were housed by the dozens in sweltering tents and used buckets for toilets. By The Numbers Congo's health ministry reports 759 cases, including 705 confirmed ones and 414 confirmed deaths. Ebola is spread via infected bodily fluids, including those of the dead. More than 70,000 people have received the experimental Ebola vaccine, whose efficacy has yet to be determined. Some people who have received the vaccine have still fallen ill. As concerns about the vaccine stockpile grow, drugmaker Merck last week said it will ship another 120,000 doses or so to Congo by the end of this month. In this Sunday, Sept 9, 2018 file photo, a health worker sprays disinfectant on his colleague after working at an Ebola treatment center in Beni, Eastern Congo. The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus' spread in the unstable region. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro, File) In this Aug. 8, 2018, file photo, a healthcare worker from the World Health Organization prepares to give an Ebola vaccination to a front line aid worker in Mangina, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus' spread in the unstable region. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro, File) Women and children make up a worrying number of cases, including more than 160 children under age 18. More than 280 children have been orphaned, the U.N. children's agency says. Cases are still emerging without any link to confirmed ones, a sign of how difficult it is to track the virus in a dense and often wary population in a region with little infrastructure. Millions of people have been checked for Ebola at border posts with Rwanda and Uganda, which the World Health Organization says are at "very high" risk. Gunfire And Rumors "People don't yet know what the disease is," Dr. Brian D'Cruz with Doctors Without Borders said this weeka startling comment six months into an outbreak in which health teams have hustled to combat misinformation as soon as cases appear in communities. One survivor, Aline Kahindo Mukandala, recounted for the medical charity how she and others had thought Ebola patients at treatment centers were simply zipped into body bags on arrival. "No, the foreigners are not here to steal our organs," another survivor tells communities as he helps the International Committee of the Red Cross speak out in churches, markets and schools. Ebola response workers have been attacked, both by rebels and community members. Other people fearing Ebola try to flee. Each suspension of virus containment efforts because of a security threat can lead to a jump in new cases. The Next Fear The Ebola outbreak is now a day's drive from Goma, a city of more than 1 million people on the heavily traveled border with Rwanda. The U.N. says coordination of the outbreak response is already being moved to Goma, where nearly 2,000 front-line workers have received vaccinations in preparation. Some health experts have warned that the infectious disease could defeat efforts to contain it and become a permanent threat in the turbulent region, which would force already struggling health clinics to adapt their operations. Ebola response workers aim to keep a two-meter distance from those infected and ideally wear head-to-toe protective gear. How local workers would assist with childbirths, treat malaria and carry out other daily activities among North Kivu province's estimated 7 million people remains to be seen. And were Ebola to become entrenched there, international efforts to stop the disease would need continued resources and funding, while neighboring countries would need to make border health checks permanent to prevent the importation of cases. Explore further Congo says healthy baby born to mom who recovered from Ebola 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Ask anyone who is in pain how their much-needed sleep was, and there's a good chance they will say it was not great. And, it appears they may not be too far off as chronic pain and poor sleep can become a vicious cycle, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Colorado Boulder. This first-of-its-kind study, which was published on Jan. 28 in the Journal of Neuroscience, looked mechanistically at how pain and sleep relate to each other and found that when people don't sleep, they feel pain more acutely, but feeling that pain more acutely may actually be keeping them awake, thanks to a neural glitch in sleep-deprived brains. And this neural glitch can have impacts well beyond just making someone not feel well. Chronic pain is a large problem across the United States, costing more than heart disease, stroke and diabetes annually, according to Tor Wager, one of the study's co-authors, and that cost is growingjust as our rates of sleep are decreasing, causing some brain researchers to warn of an escalating public health crisis. "Sleep disruption and sleep problems are associated with many different health disorders, from chronic pain to PTSD to depression and other illnesses. Sleep quality is something that could potentially be targeted by interventions," said Wager, a professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder. "If we can help people sleep better, we can put them on a path to recovery." Sleep disruption and pain is not a new field of research. There have been previous studies that looked at how both animals and humans dealt with sleep loss and pain, but there has never been a neuroimaging study with humans on the intersection, making it unique. To pick apart this question, researchers conducted both an in-person and online study looking at this relationship, and the impacts of even just one sleepless night. The in-person study was conducted in a sleep lab where 25 healthy adult participants did both a full night of sleep and one of sleep deprivation and then were tested on their thermal pain sensitivity (their ability to withstand a short burst of heat) both inside and outside of fMRI and MRI scanners. The online study, on the other hand, involved 236 different people and looked at how night-to-night sleep variability influences sleep quality, efficiency and duration, and how it affected day-to-day changes in pain. What both studies found is that even just one night of sleep deprivation correlated with increases in parts of the somatosensory cortex (the part of the brain where sensory input from the body is received) and decreases in the nucleus accumbens (a neural pathway critical to positive reward values and pain regulation)all creating an increase in perceived pain. And if, as this research strongly suggests, pain and sleep are so interrelated, it means that sleep and other aspects of biobehavioral health (or, the interaction of behavior and biological processes) may be a better option for pain management than previously thought, particularly in hospitals. "If poor sleep intensifies our sensitivity to pain, as this study demonstrates, then sleep must be placed much closer to the center of patient care, especially in hospital wards," said Matthew Walker, the study's lead author and UC Berkeley professor of neuroscience and psychology, in a university press release. Wager concurs, adding that this might be a focus of future research. "We're paying more money to have people who are sicker, and that's a problem. I think there's lots of reasons behind that, but one of the missing pieces is our biobehavioral health; the ways in which we think, the ways in which we take care of each other, the ways in which we take care of ourselves. That's a good target." Ben Young, UTA third-year doctoral student in kineseology. Credit: University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Arlington third-year doctoral student Benjamin Young received an American Heart Association grant to support research that pinpoints underlying mechanisms of impaired blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes patients. More than 30 million U.S. adults are already diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, with projections expected to increase to nearly one-third of the U.S. population by 2050. Young said one of the important aspects of his research is that despite recent advancements in medicine nearly 50 percent of diabetic patients still fail to adequately control their blood sugar. "So that stresses the need for new and alternative approaches to target this area," Young added. "I'm investigating some non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches that might help Type 2 diabetes patients control blood sugar better by increasing muscle blood flow to their muscles. It could be used by the patients at home as an alternative therapeutic approach for them." The two-year fellowship, which started Jan. 1, will pay for Young's salary, as well as provide funds for supplies and travel to scientific meetings to present his work. "It's absolutely great to receive this grant. These awards are really prestigious and the funding line for them is very low," Young said. "To get something like this means that the American Heart Association review panel sees me as a top candidate." Young, 25, was born and raised in State College, Pa., and graduated with distinction from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. Young started at UTA in 2016 and is pursuing a doctorate in kinesiology. So far, Young has authored 10 publications in scholarly journals, including leading medical journals such as Hypertension, exemplifying his work ethic and the caliber of the rapidly expanding Department of Kinesiology at UTA. "Ben is a highly motivated young investigator and he has proposed some novel mechanistic hypotheses that should advance research in the control of blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes patients," said Paul Fadel, UTA's associate dean for research in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation. "These are important studies because poor blood sugar control puts Type 2 diabetes patients at greater cardiovascular risk." Young said his motivation and passion for research stems from an undergraduate fellowship he received for biomedical research in the summer of 2015 at Penn State. He spent the next year there working in a laboratory environment under the direction of Penn State professor James Pawelczyk, who flew aboard the NASA STS-90 Space Shuttle mission in 1998 as a payload specialist. "He was a mentor for me," Young said. "During that experience, I really fell in love with the research process." Young said his father is an electrical engineer and his grandfather had a doctorate in chemistry and contributed greatly to the theory and design of piezoelectric quartz devices. "While I never really knew it growing up, having these kinds of role models in my life created an appetite for science," Young said. Young has great respect for UTA's Department of Kinesiology. "The program at UTA is great," Young said. "It is a very young program, which brings with it a lot of desire from investigators to succeed. It is nice to see everyone at UTA really pushing to complete important research projects. I am not the only one. There are so many really good trainees here, including two other American Heart Association Fellows within the department." According to the American Heart Association via www.knowdiabetesbyheart.org, every 80 seconds in the United States an adult with diabetes is hospitalized for heart disease and every two minutes an adult with diabetes is hospitalized for stroke. More information from the American Heart Association: People living with diabetes are two times more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, heart failure, heart attack and stroke. For adults at age 60, having type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease shortens life expectancy by an average of 12 years. In a recent survey conducted online by The Harris Poll, of people age 45 and older with type 2 diabetes only about half recognize their risk or have discussed their risk for heart attacks or strokes with their health care providers. Explore further Study questions certain treatments for diabetic patients at high risk for heart disease Credit: CC0 Public Domain The study assessed the effects of statins in nearly 187,000 people who had taken part in 28 large clinical trials. Participants were divided into six age groups (under 55 years, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, and over 75 years) in order to assess the effects of statins on major vascular events (heart attacks/strokes/coronary revascularisations), cancer incidence and deaths. Lead investigator, Professor Anthony Keech, Professor of Medicine, Cardiology and Epidemiology at the University of Sydney, said: 'Statin therapy has been shown to prevent cardiovascular disease in a wide range of people, but there has been uncertainty about its efficacy and safety among older people. Our study summarised all the available evidence from major trials to help clarify this issue. We found that there were significant reductions in major vascular events in each of the six age groups considered, including patients aged over 75 at the start of treatment.' Statins help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood and are prescribed to millions of people globally. Having a high level of LDL cholesterol can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries and cardiovascular disease. The researchers found that, overall, statin treatment reduced the risk of a major vascular event by about a quarter for each millimole per litre reduction in LDL cholesterol, even in older people. In addition, the new study found that statin therapy did not increase the risk of deaths from non-cardiovascular disease, or the risk of cancer, at any age. Cardiovascular risk reductions were observed, irrespective of age, in people with or without known vascular disease at the start of the trials. The evidence was less extensive in people aged over 75 who did not already have evidence of vascular disease (those who were prescribed statin therapy for the 'primary prevention' of heart attacks and strokes). New randomised trials are now studying the effects of statins in more depth in apparently healthy older people. Co-investigator, Dr. Jordan Fulcher from the University of Sydney, explained: 'Statin therapy appears to be just as effective in people aged over 75 years as it is in younger people. We have definitive evidence that statins benefit older people who have suffered a heart attack or stroke. Fewer healthy older people were represented in these trials, so more information in this group of people would help confirm the same benefits that we see in our overall trials population. A new randomised trial in Australia, called STAREE1, is specifically exploring whether statin treatment can prolong survival free of disability in a healthy elderly population.' Co-investigator Professor Colin Baigent, Director of the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oxford, added: 'The risk of heart attacks and strokes increases markedly with age, and yet statins are not utilised as widely in older people as they should be. Since the risk of heart attack and stroke increases with age, the potential benefits are likely to be even greater for older people. 'Therefore, there is a need to ensure that patients at risk of cardiovascular disease due to their age are offered statin therapy where there is good reason to believe that it will be beneficial. Anyone with concerns about whether statin therapy is suitable for them should discuss this with their GP.' Explore further Statin treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women Credit: CC0 Public Domain Treating male infertility using a new IVF technique called PICSI, which is already offered in some private clinics, does not increase the likelihood of having a baby, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial. During the PICSI treatment, sperm were selected to fertilise eggs based on whether they could bind to hyaluronan, a substance normally found surrounding the surface of eggs. In a trial involving over 2,700 couples across the UK, researchers looked at the difference that hyaluronan made to the success rate of treatment for male infertility following injection of PICSI-selected sperm into the egg. Led by the University of Leeds, the study found no meaningful difference in full-term live births using the new PICSI technique, with a success rate of around one in four couples for both the PICSI and the standard ICSI treatment. Published in The Lancet, the study was the largest randomised controlled trial assessing whether or not PICSI would lead to more live births than current techniques, providing vital evidence to help guide both clinics and couples who are making decisions about treatment for male infertility. Although PICSI treatment did not significantly increase the number of live births, the researchers found that it significantly reduced the number of miscarriages by 39% overall (4.3% of couples on PICSI experienced miscarriage compared with 7.0% on ICSI). The couples involved in the trial were randomly assigned to either the standard ICSI treatment, or the new PICSI treatment, which costs more and is already offered in some fertility clinics, despite the lack of evidence that it increases success rates. Lead author Dr. David Miller, Andrologist at the University of Leeds, said: "ICSI treatment is currently used by millions of couples around the world and is becoming the dominant treatment for infertility in many places, so any improvements that can be made to the technique have the potential to create a widespread positive impact. "Our findings, however, suggest that more work is needed to refine and improve PICSI before it can be more widely recommended to treat infertility. "This trial has paved the way for further research to focus on miscarriage and look into exactly how and why hyaluronan-selected sperm can reduce the incidence of this devastating outcome." The study was funded by the EME Programmea Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnershipand supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Yorkshire and Humber. Co-author Professor Yakoub Khalaf, Medical Director and Consultant Gynaecologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Couples can be put under pressure to consider add-ons and other techniques that give them added hope and expectations of successful treatment, but it is important that there is good evidence to support their use. "We hope these new findings can help couples who are considering IVF to decide which treatments to choose. "IVF success rates have remained at roughly 25% of all treatment cycles for the past decade, so it is vital that we keep developing new effective techniques aimed at improving success rates." Led by the University of Leeds, the clinical trial was coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, and involved sixteen fertility centres in England and Scotland, as well as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Examen Limited. Professor David Crossman, Chair of the EME Funding Committee, said: "We are very pleased to be supporting great research like this, looking at critical medical interventions. "This study adds authority to decision making in the field of IVF because of the careful way it was conducted, and the authors have shown there is little benefit to the new treatment. Whilst helping patients with their decisions these investigators have also highlighted the pressing need for further work in this important area." PICSI treatment is different to the commonly offered IVF treatment add-on 'embryo glue', as PICSI involves pre-selecting sperm based on whether or not they bind to hyaluronan. 'Embryo glue' involves the fertilised embryos being coated in hyaluronan to increase their chances of implanting in the womb. IVF is used to treat both female and male infertility, which each account for around half of referrals to IVF clinics for assisted conception. In treating male infertility, embryologists manually choose the best sperm with which to fertilise an egg, by sight for ICSI and by hyaluronan binding for PICSI, as the sperm would be less able to cause pregnancy naturally. More information: A Randomised Clinical Trial of Physiological, hyaluronan-selected Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) for Infertility Treatment (HABSelect) , The Lancet (2019). Journal information: The Lancet A Randomised Clinical Trial of Physiological, hyaluronan-selected Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) for Infertility Treatment (HABSelect) ,(2019). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (18)32989-1/fulltext The Enemy Of The American People Since 2007 "Humanity will never be free until the last Trump is strangled with the entrails of the last theocratic Christo-fascist." Cover photo from VISIT MIMAROPA website co-created by DOST-MIMAROPA and DOT-MIMAROPAto help boost the local tourism industry in the region. MIMAROPA FESTIVAL is about the five provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan and the two cities of Calapan City and Puerto Princesa City coming together annually to showcase the region's best through agri-trade and tourism fair, dance parade competition and the search for MIMAROPA festival king and queen. As earlier agreed upon by the provinces in a Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, MIMAROPA Festival will become an annual event hosted by all the said provinces on rotation basis. Its target is to achieve its vision as "The Destination of Choice". The first MIMAROPA Festival was held in Calapan City (Oriental Mindoro) in 2015, then in Puerto Princesa City (Palawan) in 2016, Odiongan, Romblon in 2017 and Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro last year, 2018. Marinduque thus, is set to play host to the fifth MIMAROPA Festival this coming November as agreed upon. The province however decided not to join the festival last year. Occidental Mindoro congresswoman Josephine Ramirez-Sato after the successful hosting by her province was quoted to have expressed the hope that it will just keep getting better. "We build on the experiences of the past, so yes, definitely, it will be better than this year as they learn from the experience." she said. With Occidental Mindoro that has been the champion in three street dance parade competitions governor Mario Gene Mendiola said, "It is an honor for our province to host the fourth festival because when we talked about this before, our desire was to see the MIMAROPA Festival brought to each city in our region every year". "If I am not mistaken, we are the only regional festival in the whole Philippines", he added. A MIMAROPA street dance entry. Photo: Manila Bulletin The MIMAROPA Festival has apparently shown that the five provinces can be united in spirit, over and above the diversity of beliefs, culture, and aspirations. With the start of the 2019 legislative session in Idaho and the continual turmoil in Washington, there is an overload of fodder for political commentary. Here are some brief comments on several of the issues swirling around the political sphere. Governor Brad Little, has declared public education his number one priority. Among other things, he wants about $60 million in additional funding for teachers salaries. That is a good step in the right direction, but it did not take long for critics to come forward. NNU professor Peter Crabb wrote an opinion piece asserting that the governors plan to increase school spending might not pay off. The professor opined that instead of increasing teacher pay, the Governor would get better results by freeing up teachers to employ innovative teaching methods. The problem is that teachers are leaving Idaho in droves to teach in surrounding states where the pay is better: 15 percent leave after one year of teaching, and 30 percent of teachers certified in Idaho do not teach here. Teachers cant innovate in Idaho if they have flown the coop to where they are more valued. We should not only pay them more, but show them in other ways that they are valued and respected for the important service they provide. In the State of Tobacco Control report, the American Lung Association writes state funding for tobacco control programs was reduced to $3.45 million for fiscal year 2019, down from $4.7 million the previous year. The American Lung Association in Idaho will continue to work with elected officials to advocate for increased funding to keep Idaho youth from picking up their first cigarette or e-cigarette and to help those who already use tobacco and nicotine products to quit, the report states. When the minimum age to buy tobacco products is 18, it means some high schoolers are able to legally buy products and could distribute them to younger teenagers, Nyssen said. Six U.S. states and 350 communities across the country have passed laws to raise the minimum legal age to 21, Nyssen said. Here in Idaho, an effort occurred during the 2018 state Legislature to raise the minimum age, but it was defeated. Another area of focus for the American Lung Association: We know that increasing taxes is one of the best ways to reduce youth and adult consumption, Nyssen said. Idahos cigarette tax rate 57 cents per pack of 20 ranks the state 45th in the nation and is considerably lower than the national average of $1.79, she said. BOISE Gov. Brad Little signed two executive orders Thursday aimed at reducing excessive regulation at the state level, drawing praise from the Twin Falls lawmaker heading the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee. The first of the orders, dubbed the Red Tape Reduction Act, requires state agencies to reduce or significantly simplify at least two existing rules for every new rule they propose. The other, known as the Licensing Freedom Act of 2019, establishes sunrise and sunset processes for future occupational licensing laws. The goal of the orders is to make Idaho rules and regulations as citizen-friendly as possible, Little said in a press conference. The orders mark the latest effort by state lawmakers and officials to reduce what some see as unnecessary regulations on workers and businesses. The push began in 2017, when then-Lt. Gov. Little issued an executive order directing a review of Idahos occupational licensing requirements: the first comprehensive review of occupational licensing requirements in Idaho in more than four decades. The dream world for Idahos ascendant far right is one where state lawmakers run a sovereign nation-state free of federal oversight. It would be a place where they can outlaw all abortions, dictate what is taught in schools, have complete say over public health rules and gun laws, and take control of federal public lands, which make up more than 60% of the state. A man and woman from Twin Falls have been sentenced to probation and fines for lying about being caregivers for a person who was actually out of the country. BOISE A former Jerome County sheriff will spend three years on probation and must perform 100 hours of community service for misusing public money. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced that Doug McFall, 61, was sentenced Friday by Fifth District Judge Ned Williamson McFall pleaded guilty in November. McFall was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine, $393 in restitution and court costs. The judge suspended a one to three year prison sentence, but if he fails on probation, McFall could end up serving the time. The judge also suspended a 60-day jail sentence. An investigation revealed that while still serving as sheriff McFall used a county-owned $79 Costco Reward Certificate to assist in the personal purchase of a gun safe. McFall has said he didnt realize at the time that the Costco rebate check belonged to the county and believed it was from his personal Costco card. The case was investigated by the Attorney Generals Office. Deputy Attorney General David Morse of the OAGs Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case. The Attorney Generals Office began investigating McFall around the same time that a former lieutenant with the sheriffs office was accused of taking money meant for undercover drug buys. The former lieutenant, Dan Kennedy, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misuse of public funds in September 2017. He served six months of unsupervised probation. Love 2 Funny 6 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 3 The agency plans to restock the pond in the future. We really prioritize these urban fishing opportunities, he said. Prior to Kicklighters efforts to restore the pond, it had declined and was unfishable, he said. Hes remedied that and he is really committed, and so are we, Megargle said. After some caged fish were placed in the pond to determine if it was habitable, 170 rainbow trout were put in the pond a couple of weeks ago and have not died, said Kicklighter, who is monitoring the pond. I dont know who was more disappointed when that happened, us or Fish and Game, Kicklighter said. That was a real bump in the road. Kicklighter said he and partner David Bartlome are now working to raise about $18,000 to build a pavilion. Restrooms that have already been paid for will be installed prior to the June 1 community pond party, which they hope will become an annual event. The coronavirus pandemic upended many careers. But if there is to be a silver lining, it might be this: Now is a better time than ever before But as congressional negotiators met Wednesday to craft a deal to avoid another shutdown, Trump has threatened again to declare a state of emergency if the budget includes no money for his wall. He also pushed back on the intelligence officials findings about North Korea, touting his progress that offers a Decent chance of Denuclearizaton. Earlier tweets said the country no longer was a nuclear threat. But Coats said the rogue nation was unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons, seeing them as essential to the survival of Kim Jong Uns regime. And independent researchers recently discovered more than a dozen secret and previously unknown missile bases in North Korea, calling into question Kims commitment to denuclearize. As Trump prepares for another summit with Kim, thats a reality he must recognize. Old clashes over Russian interference in the 2016 election were revived when the intel chiefs stressed the increasing cyberthreat posed by that country and China. Their testimony came amid revelations that Trump again met Russian President Vladimir Putin without staff or notetakers in Argentina in November. Rather than continue to cozy up to Putin, Trump should contemplate the assessments finding that Russia has the ability to disable the nations electric grid for at least a few hours and is seeking to wreak longer-lasting damage. Those arguments were soundly rejected by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn, who wrote: Many of Defendants listed reasons for redacting information have already been addressed by higher courts. The purpose of the open records law is to allow for transparent and accountable government and public employees. The Lakeland Times won its suit, but it shouldnt have had to sue. In early November, the state Department of Natural Resources denied a request from The Associated Press for records regarding the conduct of a DNR employee. The DNR contended that identifying the employee would damage morale and hurt its ability to hire staff and conduct future investigations. It said disclosure was not warranted because human beings in all walks of life make mistakes. A month later, the department relented and released the record, which showed that the employee had been disciplined for harassing female co-workers. The public has every right to information about how public employees behave and what their bosses do about it. Yet challenges persist as do rebukes from the courts. So far it has just one more meeting scheduled next week in La Crosse. Thompson, Evers transportation secretary-designee, said the department will take information from the task force and make a recommendation to Evers for his plan for the two-year budget cycle that starts in July. Evers is expected to release his budget in late February or early March. Thompson, speaking to reporters before the event, said the state needs more revenue. Were going to see if the majority of the members of this group believe that, and if so, what are the best strategies that we can get the most support for, Thompson said. We really want to hear from all of these groups what their priorities are, how the transportation system is impacting what they do, and what they would like to see moving forward in the budget. Transportation funding sharply divided Republican state leaders during negotiations in 2017 on the current state budget, and was the primary cause of a 10-week delay of its passage. Some hard-line conservative GOP lawmakers think the funding issue can be resolved with spending cuts. Some other Republicans and Democrats including Evers say they believe more revenue is needed to avoid more borrowing, project delays and deterioration of state infrastructure. The city made advances on homelessness and affordable housing, with its first two Housing First projects helping some of the citys most vulnerable get off the streets but also resulting in police calls to the sites. Soglin cites increases in income and decreases in unemployment for African Americans; expanding community center, library and other services; and movement toward a green fleet. The mayor tangled with council members on how to deliver contracts for peer support to address troubling levels of gun violence, but contracts are now in place and the council approved much of his proposed increase for the initiative in the 2019 budget. The council, meanwhile, continued to assert independence, increasing staff and overriding mayoral vetoes on liquor licenses. In 2016, two council members proposed changes to the citys governmental structure that would have eroded mayoral powers. A task force is now studying the citys governmental structure. Soglin touts the citys response to flooding this summer, noting he kept the city open and residents informed and followed up with engineering efforts to combat future events. The mayor sees relations with the council improving, including a better rapport with recent leadership and some of his most severe critics resigning or not seeking re-election. Woo in his email to WTMJ did not confirm the Wisconsin facility would make large liquid crystal display TV screens, as originally proposed. We are still considering if, when and which panel technology to build which will best suit the customers demands and the state of Wisconsin, Woo wrote. Foxconn in a statement Thursday morning said its interactions with Evers have been constructive and it looks forward to ongoing discussions to broaden the base of our investment within the State of Wisconsin. Evers side: Its false The Nikkei article reported Evers approached Foxconn to renegotiate some of the side deals former Gov. Scott Walker made with the company. Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said in response to the story that claims made today that (Evers) has tried to renegotiate the Foxconn contract are false. In a statement, Mark Hogan, CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which helped craft the Foxconn incentive package, disputed the contention in the article that there have been attempts to renegotiate the project. A 22-year-old Cornell man was sentenced in Clark County Court to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. He also is facing an additional prison term after he was convicted of a separate sexual assault in December in Chippewa County. Tomas J. Hoyle pleaded guilty in October in Clark County Court to one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child. Charges of exposing his genitals to a child and using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime were read-in and dismissed. Clark County Judge Lyndsey Brunette ordered the six-year prison sentence, along with nine years of extended supervision. According to the criminal complaint, a woman informed a Stanley police officer in August 2017 that she discovered her 15-year-old daughter was having sexual contact with Hoyle. The woman found sexually explicit pictures her daughter had sent to Hoyle on the girls phone, and Hoyle had sent nude photos of himself. He sexually touched her on a couple of occasions in July 2017. Last December, Hoyle was convicted by a Chippewa County jury of four counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child, including two of sexual assault by use of force. Judge James Isaacson ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Isaacson set sentencing for March 26. Klug contends that the Times and Post go too far, seldom producing straightforward news stories about Trump without injecting the Russia investigation or some other criticism that is peripheral to the main topic. Klug said he shared this analysis with a fellow member of the board of advisers at Medill, the journalism school at Northwestern, his alma mater. He said they agreed the Times had essentially gone hook, line and sinker to be anti-Trump champions. He added, But what happens after Trump is gone? He continued: What are you left with then, especially what happens if you end up with a progressive president? Theres no reason to subscribe to what you do, and so the newspapers now I think have fallen into the same trap that cable news has. You know youve got Fox on one side and MSNBC on the other, and I cant watch either of them because 95 percent of it is opinion. I admire the New York Times, what its been historically, but I can barely read the paper. I think what that does in the long run is undercut any sense of objectivity, and if you undercut the objectivity, people begin to question the credibility of it, and I think especially with the Times and the Post ... its so over the top that I just have a hard time reading it as somebody whos a journalist. America's Founding Fathers believed that the democracy they had created could only survive if the people paid attention to the affairs of government so they could make intelligent decisions at election time. It was a major reason that most of them, most notably Thomas Jefferson, consistently advocated for public education to further the people's understanding of issues and why there is a United States in the first place, but even Benjamin Franklin was concerned whether the people would do enough to keep the government they had been given. Today, you read stories that tell of surveys that show about one in 10 people know how many houses comprise Congress, the number of Supreme Court justices or even who is the governor of their state. "We don't teach civics any more!" is the cry heard from many who are aghast at the lack of knowledge or perhaps, if truth be known and even worse, a lack of interest. PARK CITY, Utah President Donald Trump wants his wall, and he is willing to shut down the government again to get it. Commenting on congressional negotiations to find a compromise before temporary government funding runs out on Feb. 15, he tweeted on Wednesday, "If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!" It has been reported lately that some of the sensational rhetoric that Trump invokes when demanding a border wall may actually come from the movies. Case in point is the 2018 blockbuster crime thriller "Sicario: Day of the Soldado." Scenes in that film are strikingly similar to elements from Trump's border wall speeches, referencing Muslim prayer rugs found in the desert near the Mexican border and stories of women having their mouths bound with duct tape. Trump should definitely see a film that just premiered here at this year's Sundance Film Festival: "The Infiltrators." The movie covers a topic dear to the president: deportation. This gripping film, a hybrid documentary/dramatic feature, is based on the true story of undocumented immigrants who get themselves arrested by federal authorities risking deportation themselves so they can infiltrate a notorious private immigrant detention center and organize the detainees within its walls. Urban Milwaukee's Bruce Murphy lists 12 reasons why he believes Foxconn's deal with Wisconsin is dying. The question, he says, is whether the giant tech company will walk away from the deal entirely. The reasons include everything from it not being able to compete against companies in the U.S. to that it really doesn't have a Plan B to fall back on. In a column for Right Wisconsin, however, George Mitchell complains about the instant analysis over the news about the Foxconn's changing plans for the heavily subsidized project in Racine County that it had arranged with Scott Walker and legislative GOP colleagues. Mitchell says he's not sure yet what to make of it, but it's still possible that the deal will work out as a plus for the state. Meanwhile, Blogging Blue's Ed Heinzelman contends that Walker has failed to create jobs that he promised a second time. First there was his unfulfilled promise that he would create 250,000 in his first term, the second is his promise to create 13,000 jobs in Racine County with his Foxconn plan. Rep. Kalan Haywood, D-Milwaukee, first had an inkling he'd like to run for office when he was eight years old and he saw Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett at a groundbreaking event for his family's real estate business. Just 11 years later, Haywood, 19, was sworn in to represent Wisconsin's 16th Assembly District making him the youngest lawmaker in the state and, likely, the country. Haywood wasn't interested in being told to wait his turn, he said on this week's episode Wedge Issues. He believes there's something to be learned from everyone, no matter their age. Haywood joined Cap Times reporter Jessie Opoien to talk about his goals as a legislator, his favorite shows to binge on Netflix and how he prepared himself to run for the Legislature. Foxconn is eligible for another $1.5 billion in tax credits tied solely to job creation, distributed over a 15-year period. Those credits can be earned on wages for employees earning between $30,000 and $100,000 per year. The company is required to pay an average annual salary of $53,875 in order to qualify for credits. The company is required to employ a minimum number of people in each year of the deal in order to receive the jobs credits, starting at 260 in 2018. The minimum threshold increases each year until 2027, when it reaches 10,400. If, in any year, the company does not reach the minimum employment numbers, it will not receive the jobs credits. In order to receive the maximum credits of $1.5 billion by 2032, the company must employee 13,000 people. If Foxconn were to only meet the minimum thresholds, it could earn up to $1.06 billion. Asked Friday if he believes Foxconn will bring 13,000 jobs to Wisconsin, Evers said, "It's likely not going to be tomorrow, I'll tell you that." Evers noted that the contract contains protections, but skepticism from the public is natural if Foxconn's messaging isn't consistent or transparent. "Our goal as a state is to make sure we continue to monitor the progress and make sure taxpayers are protected, the environment is protected and that there is as much transparency as possible in this process," Evers 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. Madison Metropolitan School District students resumed class on Friday, as the previous four days were cancelled because of snowstorms and cold temperatures. Coupled with a snow day MMSD called on Jan. 23, students have had five days off from school in the past two weeks due to bad weather. That adds up to a lot of lost instructional time. Whats the policy on how many days students need to be in school during a given year? Public school districts in Wisconsin have to meet the allotted minimum requirements for instruction time during a given school year, as laid out in state statutes. For kindergarten, that means 437 hours of direct instruction time. For grades one through six, students must have 1,050 hours of direct instruction time, while students in seventh through 12th grades must have at least 1,137 hours of direct instruction. Districts have great latitude in how they meet that requirement, Tom McCarthy, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Instruction, said in a statement. Essentially, its up to each individual district as to how they want to meet the hours requirements. So whats MMSD planning to do? Lawmaker Sulu Sou has filed a complaint regarding what he claims to be the unlawful behavior of the Legislative Assemblys Committee of Rules and Mandates. The committee adjourned yesterday to discuss topics involving Sou. According to Sou, to his surprise, this was not the first meeting of the committee to discuss these matters. This is actually the second one. The first one, I dont know even when it happened, as we [the lawmakers] were not informed about it. In Sous opinion, this is a very concerning development, as the committee which has the duty of issuing rule-based opinions cannot disregard the rules of the Legislative Assembly (AL). Sou, who attended yesterdays meeting as an observer with Jose Pereira Coutinho, told the media that he had expressed such concerns immediately to committee president Kou Hoi In, who in turn, replied that the first meeting was an internal meeting and that was why no other lawmakers, besides those on the committee, were notified. This answer did not satisfy Sou, who now says he is appealing to AL president Ho Iat Seng in writing. Regarding the closed-door meeting, committee members told the media through AL staff that they would not be available to make any comments. Sou said that two topics were discussed which the committee should have discussed in the previous meeting which we did not know about, he said. [The meeting] today was mostly to discuss a few details from the final report with the opinions of the committee, which will be forwarded to the House of Rules. The topics under discussion were related to the AL plenary session in which the amendments to the Rights of Assembly and Demonstration Law were voted upon. At the time, Sou proposed that instead of transferring the prior warning and definition of times, spaces and routes of demonstrations from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau to the Public Security Police Force, these should be transferred directly to the Chief Executive. The president of the AL noted that since Sous request had not been submitted at least five days prior, it could not be addressed by the plenary. Ho further noted that, as far as he understood, at this stage only a vote on whether the proposal ought to be returned to the 1st Standing Committee for detailed scrutiny could be held at this stage. When replying to Sous written appeal on the matter, Ho questioned the legality of such a procedure and forwarded it to the committee to analyze. Although he acknowledged that the outcome would not affect the approval of the law approval since a lot of time had passed, Sou noted that according to his observations, the legal advisor of the committee gave reason to Sou on the legal procedure of his written appeal, noting that the regiment of the AL does not contain any restrictions to lawmakers appeals. As Sou noted, We tried to practice our power [as lawmakers] and [for the] next opportunity, we already know that this is a legal procedure that we can use. The other topic the committee discussed was related to a written protest issued by Sou, this time against the behavior of AL president Ho Iat Seng, who, during Sous plenary presentation, made paternalistic remarks regarding the time that Sous mandate had been suspended, noting that the AL treated him well and continued to pay his salary. Sou considered the wording offensive and he made note of it in a written protest to the president, which Sou wants to see included in the ALs journal records. The committee, or at least some of its members, disagreed and expressed feelings that such an episode and Sous consequent written protest should be removed, or rather should not be included in AL historical records for future reference. Sou could not disagree more and said: I want to make a historical record regarding this matter, so I cannot agree with the conclusion of the legal advisor [of the committee] on this matter. According to Sou, the legal advisors opinion went along the lines that if a lawmaker did not express their protest orally during the plenary session, it cannot be included in the AL journal at a later stage via a written protest. He noted that the explanation was not a suitable one, adding: The Article 99 letter G [of the AL rulebook] says that lawmakers have the right to a written protest regardless of whether there was or was not an oral protest at the time. When questioned as to whether the topic of Sou being accused of disrespecting the AL by using the words lap sap wui (rubbish assembly) was addressed by the committee, Sou said, I dont think so, at least not this time. But again, I cant confirm if they disscussed it or not since they are apparently having secret meetings. Samsung Electronics Co. has posted a near-30 percent drop in operating profit for the last quarter after seeing slowing global demand for its memory chips and smartphones. It still finished the year with record highs, but expects a decline in earnings this year. The South Korean technology giant yesterday said its operating profit during the October-December quarter declined 28.7 percent at an annual pace to 10.8 trillion won (USD9.7 billion). Sales fell by more than 10 percent to reach 59.3 trillion won ($53.3 billion), while net income fell 31 percent to reach 8.5 trillion won ($7.6 billion). Samsung, which has dual strength in parts and finished products, said demand for its memory chips decreased due to mounting external uncertainties and inventory adjustments at major customers, including data center operators and smartphone manufacturers. Samsung said sales of its Galaxy smartphone also weakened amid a stagnant global market. For the whole year of 2018, Samsung posted an operating profit of 59 trillion won ($53 billion) on revenue of 244 trillion won ($219 billion), which were both record highs. Samsung said it expects its overall annual earnings to decline this year because of the sluggish semiconductor market, although it sees its sales of memory chips and organic light-emitting diode panels used in mobile devices rebounding in the second half. The company also hopes the planned release of the new Galaxy S10 smartphone this year will boost its mobile devices business. AP Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Lawmaker Pereira Coutinho is concerned that residents of Macau are losing quality of life due to an excess of tourists visiting the region. In a spoken enquiry delivered last week at the Legislative Assembly, Coutinho expressed concerns over Macau being on the verge of becoming another city suffering from over-tourism, a phenomenon that, according to the lawmaker, occurs when cities accept without any control tourists who invade them as plagues of locusts, seduced by the spending of such visitors and forgetting the harmful consequences. Noting that his criticism was not directed at tourism in general, as a supporter of the local economy, Pereira Coutinho urged the government to adopt as early as possible more balanced solutions instead of just waiting to see when the city would reach a breaking point. The lawmaker argued that Macau is not far from reaching such a point, as with cities such as Barcelona, Mumbai, Amsterdam, Venice and Hanoi. In Pereira Coutinhos opinion, the government should pay attention and restrict access to the so-called poor tourists who come to visit Macau almost for free via tourism packages and who, after arriving in the region, are guided to certain shops to be lured into shopping for particular items that are most of the time counterfeit or stolen items. The lawmaker says that the government has no policies for the sustainable development of tourism, contributing to the lack of ethics of some operators. In his opinion, these factors are also encouraging illegal accommodation and the dishonest sales of dubious products. Chinas manufacturing improved in January but activity was sluggish, a survey showed yesterday, as U.S. and Chinese negotiators wrangled in Washington over a tariff war. A measure of factory activity issued by the government statistics agency and an industry group rose 0.1 points on a 100-point scale but stayed below a level that shows activity expanding. Measures for employment and domestic demand weakened. Chinas economic growth sank to a three-decade low of 6.6 percent in 2018 after activity in the final quarter of the year dipped to its lowest level since the 2008 global crisis. We see economic growth remaining sluggish through mid-2019, Citigroup economists said in a report. We believe the government will step up efforts to keep the labor market stable. Chinese and U.S. negotiators began talks Wednesday in Washington aimed at resolving the fight over U.S. complaints about Beijings technology ambitions. No details were announced. Business groups see a decision by the top U.S. and Chinese trade envoys to take part as a positive sign, but economists say this weeks meeting can at best make limited progress toward resolving sprawling irritants. President Donald Trump jolted Chinese manufacturers in July when he started hiking tariffs on billions of dollars of goods in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, agreed on Dec. 1 to postpone further punitive action for 90 days while they negotiate. But penalties of up to 25 percent already imposed on tens of billions of dollars of each others goods stayed in place. Exports to the United States shrank 3.5 percent in December from a year earlier as Trumps penalties began to depress demand. Communist leaders are trying to steer China to slower, more self-sustaining growth based on consumer spending instead of trade and investment. The deceleration has been sharper than expected, prompting Beijing to step up government spending and order banks to lend more to shore up growth and avoid politically dangerous job losses. News of layoffs and lower sales of autos and real estate may have helped worsen the downturn by unnerving consumers, causing them to postpone spending. The monthly purchasing managers index of the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing improved to 49.5 from Decembers 49.4. The employment index declined 0.2 points to 47.8, showing more producers cutting jobs. The measure of new orders declined 0.1 points to 49.6. Inventories rose, but INGs Robert Carnell cautioned that might reflect trade tension instead of economic strength as companies stockpile goods, anticipating possible further tariff hikes. It probably shouldnt be read positively, said Carnell in a report. It may have to be unwound in the months ahead. Chinese leaders are trying to reduce reliance on trade and nurture self-sustaining economic growth based on domestic consumer spending. But their plans call for keeping exports stable to avoid politically dangerous job losses. Some companies have shifted production of goods bound for the United States out of China to avoid Trumps tariffs. Others are lining up non-Chinese suppliers of industrial components. Joe McDonald, Beijing, AP The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, said that he is willing to promote a permanent Continuing Education Development Plan during Wednesdays Legislative Assembly plenary meeting. According to Tam, a total of 145,000 residents participated in the first installment of this plan. In the second phase (2014 to 2016), the number went up to 167,000. In the third phase (as of Dec. 31, 2018), the number of participants was 128,000. The director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), Lou Pak Sang, said that currently, the third phase of the plan is undergoing a mid-term review, and the DSEJ will start preparing a draft of the fourth installment of the plan later. As reported by Lou, for the first and second phases, each resident spent MOP3,500 and MOP4,000 on average respectively. Lou claimed that the government fund for implementing the plan is sufficient at this current stage. By Dec. 31 last year, about 2,500 inspections had been conducted at the course providers. Regarding fake reports of the number of course attendees, the government hopes to solve the problem in the fourth phase by requiring students to use ID cards to enter the classes. Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to push Taiwanese closer to unification with a new year speech mixing carrots and sticks. That hasnt panned out. Instead, his independence-leaning Taiwanese counterpart, Tsai Ing-wen, has enjoyed a surge in support following a brutal drubbing of her political party in local elections last year, according to public opinion surveys and interviews. The residents of this self-governing island, with its vibrant and well-established democracy, are as much inclined as ever to resist Chinas demands despite rising political, economic and military threats from Beijing. Xis offer to Taiwan is a total scam, said Kuo Lin-han, 26, a Chinese Culture University student in Taipei. Kuo was referring to Chinas proposal of a one country, two systems arrangement that Xi renewed in his Jan. 2 speech, under which Taiwan would accept Chinese sovereignty while being allowed to retain its own economic and legal systems. Thats based on the framework Hong Kong was granted when it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, an arrangement that has become increasingly frayed as Beijing expands its political influence in the former British colony. Jarringly for many Taiwanese, Xi mixed his outreach with a reminder that Beijing had no intention of dropping its threat to use military force to bring the island under its control. Xis speech was seized on by Tsai, who went on a four-day media blitz in Taipei that appears to have significantly bolstered her support among voters. In a telephone survey published Jan. 21 by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, 34.5 percent of the 1,074 respondents gave her a thumbs-up, an increase of about 10 percentage points from after the November elections. Two-thirds said they want Taiwan to continue its self-rule or declare formal independence. Separately, the Taiwan governments Mainland Affairs Council found in a Jan. 17 survey of 1,078 people that 75.4 percent oppose one country, two systems, 74.3 percent dispute the one China condition for formal dialogue and 77.2 percent oppose China for holding pledges that it could use force against Taiwan if needed. Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. The most important thing is that Xi Jinping made the speech on Taiwan and Tsai Ing-wen gave a rare response, which received a high level of support, foundation chairman You Ying-lung said. The China factor helps her come out of a trough. Younger Taiwanese have a firm sense of local identity that stands in the way of Chinas idea for unification, said Wu Yi-hsuan, 27, an energy science and engineering doctoral student. We want to be Taiwanese Taiwan rather than Chinese Taiwan, Wu said, referring to the terminology Beijing often uses for the island that many consider condescending. Regarding the fact that the Peoples Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan for a second, this (two systems) policy of Chinas is more an invasive, aggressive and offensive one. China ruled Taiwan loosely under the former Qing dynasty and the island was made a Japanese colony in 1895. Handed over to Chinese leader Chiang Kai-sheks Nationalists at the end of World War II, it split again from the mainland in 1949 during the civil war with the Communist Party under Mao Zedong. The Communists have regarded Taiwan since then as a breakaway territory that must eventually be brought into the fold. Many commentators say they believe Xi sees that as his historical mission, prompting major increases in Chinas military budget and renewed pressure on the island, including cutting off contacts with Tsais government. Chinas huge economy and global clout may have some effect, but most Taiwanese are unimpressed with how Beijing has followed through on its earlier pledges, said Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the think tank Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies. Hong Kong is totally controlled by mainland China, Yang said. Even though they have their autonomy, they have limited freedom, and certainly there is no democracy in Hong Kong, as far as Taiwanese are concerned. I feel that the China government is unpredictable especially after Lee Ming-che was taken away by them, said Catta Chou, 30, a worker in a non-governmental organization, referring to a Taiwanese citizen sentenced in China in 2017 to five years in prison for spreading pro-democracy information. China is definitely crazy, Chou said. Despite such sentiments, China is unlikely to come up with a new proposal in the immediate future, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate with the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C. Beijings leaders know how unpopular the proposal has been and will be, Sun said. But before they have a good alternative, this is and will be the biggest deal for them. Voters had complained before the Nov. 24 midterm elections that Tsai had either grown too distant from China to build economic ties or hadnt stood up enough to Beijings military and diplomatic pressure. Though she won the presidency by a landslide in 2016 largely due to concerns about Chinas influence and her Democratic Progressive Party received its first-ever legislative majority, Taiwanese voters have in the past shown a willingness to try new approaches. Many in the business community are already urging Tsai to climb down from her refusal to meet Beijings one China demand, largely as a way of easing pressure on the island. One country, two systems could bring more people in and out, and this is good, said dried fruit merchant Yu Chen-ching, 65. Otherwise, no one wants to visit Taiwan, and its not good for the economy. Economic concerns could cause Tsais popularity to fade before her party faces the 2020 presidential race, said Alex Chiang, international relations professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Because shes president, she has to be firm on her position toward China, but in reality, Taiwan still has to do business with China, Chiang said. Ralph Jennings & Johnson Lai, Taipei, AP Activist Scott Chiang has won a ruling in the Court of Second Instance that may absolve him from a sentencing last year for the crime of unlawful assembly. Chiang and legislator Sulu Sou were charged with disobeying police authorities during a demonstration in May 2016 that challenged a controversial RMB100 million donation from the Macau Foundation to Jinan University. In May 2018, the two defendants were found guilty in the Court of First Instance of organizing an unlawful assembly and were sentenced to fines worth 120 days each. Chiangs 70-page appeal submitted to the Court of Second Instance detailed numerous violations of his rights during last years trial. It remains unclear which of these arguments compelled the Court into siding with the appellant. Pedro Leal, the lawyer who represented Chiang, told the Times yesterday that his client was still waiting to hear more about the decision. When we filed the appeal, we requested the Court [of Second Instance] declare Scott Chiang not guilty or to hold a re-trial. One of those two options has been decided by the court, but we dont know which one yet, he explained, adding that more information would likely be released today. The result is in that I won but we dont know the details yet, echoed Chiang in a separate conversation. What does it mean? Am I pronounced not guilty? Will I have a re-trial? Right now we know very little. What is known, however, is that the crime of organizing an illegal assembly cannot be brought further up the chain of Macaus judiciary via an appeal from the Public Prosecutions Office. According to Leal, that means it will not be entertained in the Court of Final Appeal. Jorge Menezes, who represented Chiangs co-defendant Sulu Sou, said the decision was a strong sign of judicial independence. There is no separation of powers between the government and the Legislative Assembly, but there appears to be a separation between the government and the courts, he told the Times. Thats a reason to be happy. The Courts decision to uphold Chiangs appeal will not affect Sulu Sou, who withdrew an earlier, merely defensive, appeal in order to expedite his return to the Legislative Assembly. Lawmakers in Macau normally enjoy prosecutorial immunity that prevents charges from being brought against them. Sou was suspended by a Legislative Assembly intervention in December last year, which lifted his immunity and permitted him to stand trial. Its painful to see Sulu Sou, a legislator, hold a criminal offence from a decision at trial that wasnt fairly reached, said Menezes. It shows how unfairly Sulu Sou was treated; that he was forced to waive his fundamental right of appeal in order to serve the public interest as a legislator. [Sulu Sou] deserved to share this little victory, said Chiang. I dont know if he can benefit from this decision, but it is a moral vindication for him. The Chief Executive (CE) has outlined steps to boost Macaus contribution to the development of the Greater Bay Area. Chui Sai On chaired the first meeting of Macaus Working Committee for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, which was set up in November 2018. During Tuesdays meeting, Chui noted that Macau should work under the guidelines provided by the Central Governments leading group for the development of the Greater Bay Area, which has held its first plenary meeting. Following on from that meeting, the MSAR is expected to play a more active role and advance its involvement in the city-cluster initiative. The CE asked committee members to focus more closely on the pursuit of relevant research and the formulation of policies regarding Macaus participation in the Greater Bay Area. Chui also stressed the need to strengthen coordination mechanisms in relation to the Greater Bay Area. During the meeting, committee members also reviewed work already done to advance Macaus involvement in the development of the Greater Bay Area. This included: updating Macaus Five-Year Development Plan, the creation of the Working Committee for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, signing an agreement with the National Development and Reform Commission, and the organization of a youth forum regarding opportunities created for young people by the Greater Bay Area. China urged Washington yesterday to accept its industrial development after U.S. intelligence officials said Beijing steals or copies foreign technology, as the two sides prepared for another day of talks aimed at ending a tariff war over Beijings technology ambitions. It is totally unreasonable to make random accusations, said a foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang. Earlier, U.S. intelligence officials told Congress that China is the biggest commercial and military threat to the United States. A separate report this week said Beijing will steal or copy technologies it cannot make itself. The United States is the worlds top power in terms of technology, we acknowledge that, Geng said. But we hope that the US can see the scientific and technological progress of other countries with an open and inclusive attitude. It must allow others to make progress while developing itself. President Donald Trump is voicing optimism before he meets with representatives from China for trade talks today [Macau time]. But Trump says No final deal will be made until he sits down again with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the near future to discuss some of the long standing and more difficult points. The negotiators meeting in Washington face a March 2 deadline: the Trump administration is scheduled to escalate its tariffs on USD200 billion worth of Chinese imports from 10 percent to 25 percent if a deal is not struck before then. MDT/AP More than 5,000 Bangladesh workers who demanded higher wages have been fired by factory owners, and hundreds face police charges in the worlds second-largest garment export industry after China, an activist said yesterday. Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity said the firings came after thousands of workers took to the streets earlier this month in and around Dhaka, the nations capital. But an industry leader said that the dismissed workers were involved in vandalism or other crimes, or were laid off when factories closed because of business losses. One worker was killed and more than 50 were injured in clashes during the protests in the Ashulia, Dhaka, Gazipur and Savar areas. In November, the government increased the monthly minimum wage for garment workers to 8,000 takas (USD96) from 5,300 takas ($63). But workers werent satisfied after having demanded more, along with the implementation of other benefits declared by the authorities. Unions and advocacy groups have demanded up to 16,000 takas ($193) as a minimum salary, but factory owners say they are under tremendous pressure to meet prices demanded by global brands. The industry exports about $30 billion worth of garments a year, mainly to Europe and North America. Akter said hundreds of workers are facing looting and vandalism charges and some have also been accused of attempted murder. More than 50 workers were arrested and many others have fled their rented homes in the industrial zones, she said. We came to know at least 5,000 workers have been sacked, but the actual figure by this time could be about 7,000, she said. Many workers are being harassed. The president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said he did not know the exact number of workers who have lost their jobs, and no innocent people were facing any legal trouble. Some of the workers were involved in vandalism, looting and other crimes, association President Siddiqur Rahman told The Associated Press. They will damage our factories, they will destroy very expensive equipment, they will smash our vehicles and beat our officials. Should not we report it to police? If you are the owner what would you do? He said the industry has a shortage of workers. Why should I sack my workers if my business is good, if I make money? We have huge bank loans, we have many other liabilities, why would an owner fire their workers without any genuine reasons? He said the situation is now under control. Julhas Alam, Dhaka, AP A total of 120 fishing vessels have temporarily returned to Macau to spend the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday in the Inner Harbor, according to the Marine and Water Bureau. Yesterday, the Bureau, together with the Fire Services Bureau, Macau police authorities, and two associations from the fishing sector visited the fishermen at the Inner Harbor, where they distributed safety and hygiene promotional materials to the fishermen whose vessels have been anchored. The activity was carried out in the hopes of preventing safety risks during the holiday. Each year, the water authority calculates the number of fishing vessels. The Marine and Water Bureau believes that more fishing vessels are returning to Macau for the holiday. Between Wednesday Feb. 6 and Saturday Feb. 9, the Bureau will deploy one tugboat and one speedboat to the Inner Harbor in order to ensure safety in the area. The Bureau is also setting up a fire prevention separation zone to make sure that when a fire incident occurs, the fires spread can be prevented. It is easy for danger to arise in such a dense environment. We will arrange a 24-hour tugboat at the center of the Inner Harbor as [an] alert. When there is any sudden occurrence, we can arrange vessels [to coordinate], said Lao Weng U, head of the Maritime Service Division of the Marine and Water Bureau. During the CNY holiday, the marine authority will provide additional speedboats and officers conducting inspections at the said location. Additionally, the Bureau will strengthen supervision to ensure that all passengers on vessels wear life jackets and that passenger overloading is avoided. In addition to safety issues, the Marine Bureau will also take measures to maintain the clean water environment. We will regularly distribute sanitary bags, so that fishermen can put refuse into them. There will also be ferries collecting trash, announced Lao, urging the fishermen to never dump the trash into the water. If we find anyone dumping trash into the water, we will issue a punishment. Furthermore, the Bureau revealed that in order to support the sustainable development of fisheries, the SAR government provides interest-free loans to fishermen through a fisheries development and assistance fund. Since the establishment of the fund in 2007, there have been 213 applications approved, amounting to MOP70 million. Kimberly Kessler Ferzan (University of Virginia, School of Law) has posted Consent and Coercion (Arizona State Law Journal, Forthcoming) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: There are substantial disputes as to what sorts of behavior constitute coercion and thereby undermine consent. This disagreement was on full display during the public fray over Aziz Ansaris behavior on a date. Whereas some commentators condemned Ansaris behavior as nothing short of sexual assault, others believed his behavior did not rise to the level of undermining consent. This Article claims that the way forward is to see that there are two normative functions for coercion, and each is at play with respect to consent. Sometimes coercion is about the blameworthiness of the coercer, and sometimes coercion is about the involuntariness of the consenters choice. To deny the latter is not to deny the former. Because these are two disparate functions, much of the debate about Ansari may be commentators talking past each other. After explaining this miscommunication, this Article broadens our understanding of how the blameworthiness of the coercer can bear on the permissibility of his actions. Just as no man may profit from his own wrong, coercers may not avail themselves of consent, even if it is sufficiently freely given such that the consenter is not acting involuntarily. This Article claims that the wrongful coercion normatively impairs the coercer, and that this normative impairment is at play in other legal doctrines. With the normative grounding in place, this Article considers how and if these amendments to our view of coercion should be taken into account in the law, with a specific focus on sexual offenses. It offers a draft statute for discussion purposes, considers charges of paternalism in both the public and private sphere, and points to other reasons to be cautious about criminalization. Finally, this Article defends this view as a more perspicuous account of the normative landscape than other coercion theories. Ultimately, the goal of this Article is to define new conceptual territory for normative debate. Progress cannot be made until we ask the right questions and answer the same ones. This Article aims to provide the framework within which more nuanced discussions can be had. Highly recommended. Download it while it's hot! By Ssebuliba Samuel. Ugandans have been advised to continuously build and sustain the strategic relationship with the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces These remarks have been made by the Prime Minister of Uganda Dr Ruhakana Rugunda while officiating at the launch of the 38th Tarehe Sita Anniversary celebrations in Acholi sub-region at Kitgum Core Primary Teachers College. He said that the special bond between UPDF and the people must be consolidated for the country to be more secure so that people concentrate on developing both the country and themselves. He has commended people of Acholi for standing together with the UPDF in liberating Uganda from Joseph Konys Lords Resistance Army. SAN DIEGO Whether it was destiny or karma was of no relevance to Jon Rahm. He won the U.S. Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines, the perfect time and the perfect place to become a major champion. RYDE Transit - Public Transportation is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a ride in Dawson County or Lexington call 308-324-3670. Public Transportation is easy to ride and open to everyone. PUBLIC LIBRARies The Lexington Public Librarys Novel Stitchers meets on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. If you enjoy stitching--knitting, crocheting, quilting, cross stitch, needlepoint, or have another portable stitching project--join us at the library for two hours of stitching and visiting. We will meet on Tuesdays, Jan. 22, and 29 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Library Board Room. We would love to have you join us. Lap Sit/Storytime for children, age birth to five years, meets at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Each Lap Sit/Storytime offers an educational experience for children with stories, songs, activities, and simple crafts. This program is offered every Wednesday, when Lexington Schools are in session. Check out the Book Sale at the Lexington Public Library! Hardback books are now $1.00 each, all other items are marked down to $0.10 or 13 for $1.00. Take this opportunity to stock up on books for winter weather reading! LEXINGTON GRAND GENERATION CENTER MOVING TO FRONT FROM JANUARY 31--LETTER UPDATED WITH NEW SIGNATORIES Philosopher Alexander Nehamas (Princeton) wrote a useful account last year of what has transpired. In the United States, this libel action by a public official would have been tossed immediately; but Greek law is at another extreme, and, together with corrupt courts, they have supported the fascist Kotzias's case. (Even under Greek law, as best as I can understand it, Nehamas is right: Kotzias was not accused of being a Nazi, although he's certainly a fascist! Under official EU principles regarding freedom of expression, this guy should have no case.) The ARB asked me to share this letter to the European Union--signed by myself and many academics internationally--about this attack on fundamental free expression rights the EU supposedly protects: Download ARB letter current february 5 Folks at the ARB wrote to me: Please note that the list of signatories is not complete and that we are still in the process of collecting signatures. The full list will be held and updated regularly on the website of the Athens Review (www.athensreviewofbooks.com). Whoever wants to add their signature they can email their name and affiliation to info@athensreviewofbooks.com until the end of February when the letter will be sent officially to Presidents Tusk and Juncker. We lodged an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (which incidentally has on two prior occasions condemned Greece in similar cases involving violation of freedom of speech following appeals by its editor-in-chief). However the case will be heard in 2020 and so the journal will be shut down before the hearing and that is why we are trying to make our case known and bring it before the European parliament for discussion. The handling of our case has been sharply criticised by renowned professors and distinguished legal scholars. It is referenced in the Reporters without Borders 2017 annual report for Greece as well as in statements by the Association of European Journalists. In addition, four different MEPs from different political parties have submitted questions to the European Commission. Freedom of the press and democracy in Greece are in jeopardy, in fact, Greece tops the list of European countries found guilty by the ECHR in cases concerning freedom of speech and violation of Article 10 of the Treaty of Rome. We ask that Greece finally respects the rule of law and EU Human Rights law. Our case shows is that the fight is never over and that for evil to triumph, all it takes is for good men to do nothing. This is not a struggle to merely defend ourselves; it is about defending principles and freedoms which we strongly believe are precious to all. I have asked the ARB editors about whether they can set up a fund to which readers can contribute in support. I will post more information about this as it becomes available. The United States is pushing for peace in Afghanistan. But a new report says Afghan government security forces are shrinking. It also warns that security risks across the country are growing, and the Taliban remains strong. In other words, little has changed over the past year, even with an increase in U.S. air power. The situation in Afghanistan was termed a stalemate, with no side likely able to win a clear military victory. The report comes from a group known as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The findings were presented to U.S. lawmakers on Thursday. News reports say President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing as many as half of the 14,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan. U.S. forces invaded the country more than 17 years ago, after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The U.S. Department of Defense claims that military pressure on the Taliban is increasing. Last year, the U.S. military sharply increased bombing in support of Afghan government forces. The military also increased its training of Afghan troops. Yet the Afghan military was not able to expand its control of the country last year. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has noted the sacrifices his troops are making in fighting the Taliban. He reportedly said at the World Economic Forum last week that 45,000 Afghan security forces had died since September 2014. The heavy losses help explain why numbers of Afghan military and police forces are not at full strength. U.S. military officials have repeatedly said they are making progress toward supporting the Afghan government to defend its own people. But the U.S. special representative to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalizad, said in recent days the U.S. and the Taliban agreed at least to the idea of peace. The Afghan government has yet to express support for the idea. For his part, President Trump has said many times he is not sure continuing the war is wise. Afghan officials hope Trump will say what he is planning to do when he speaks to Congress and the American people in the yearly State of the Union next week. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press (AP) reported this story. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stalemate n. standstill; a lack of movement or progress In the country of Japan, being told that your face is small is very high praise for a woman. In Russia, if someone tells you that you look like a cucumber, it means that you look healthy and fresh. And if someone calls you an old pot in Cameroon, it means you are a wonderful cook. All of these are examples of compliments words of praise. And, as you can see, there are differences among places and cultures about what is believed to be complimentary. But most people agree that giving a compliment is a nice thing to do. In todays program, well show you some common language Americans use to give compliments. Appearance Lets break the discussion into three sections: appearance, abilities and possessions. We will begin with appearance. This includes the way a person looks, the clothes they wear and their hairstyle. You may have already used some of these common language structures for praising someones appearance. Others may be new. For example: You are / look + adjective ...as in You are beautiful and You look great today! ...as in You are beautiful and You look great today! A closely related structure simply adds a noun as in You are a beautiful person" In fact, this structure is also common for praising someones abilities, as I will return to shortly. Other common structures for complimenting appearance are: I like / love + noun as in I love that bag! and I really like your hair. as in I love that bag! and I really like your hair. And: What a + adjective + noun as in What a fun tie! and What a pretty dress! Listen to a short exchange: Ooh, what a fun tie! Where did you get it? Oh, thank you! I got it at a shop on 14th Street. Abilities We can also compliment someones character, abilities or efforts. Heres a structure you heard earlier: You are + adjective + noun as in You are such a hard worker and You really are an amazing cook! Note that I added the words such and really. These adverbs and others, like very and so, can add strength to compliments. Next is: You can really + verb as in Wow, you can really sing! as in Wow, you can really sing! You are great at + noun / gerund as in Youre great at bringing people together and Youre great at math. as in Youre great at bringing people together and Youre great at math. And: You make a / an + adjective + noun as in You make a fine leader and You make a very loving partner. Listen to a short exchange: Im meeting so many interesting people. Sam, youre great at bringing people together. Thats a nice thing to say. Thanks! And Im glad youre here. Possessions Americans also compliment people on their possessions, such as a persons home (or things inside the home), car, bike, electronics or countless other possessions. We might offer the compliment in any of these ways: Nice + noun as in Nice bike! and Nice phone! as in Nice bike! and Nice phone! I love / like your + noun as in I like your dining set and I love this painting. as in I like your dining set and I love this painting. Or: What a + adjective + noun as in What a beautiful home or What a beautiful home you have. Listen to a short exchange: What a beautiful home you have! How long have you lived here? Oh, thank you! For about three years now. Receiving compliments Some people may feel uneasy receiving attention and may deny the compliment in some way. But many receive them easily. A simple Thank you with a smile is a gracious way to answer a compliment. You can also compliment in return by saying, Thats very kind of you How nice of you or What a nice thing to say. Be sincere Depending on the social customs where you live, some compliments may be not be received as such. And sometimes, they shouldnt be. People can make backhanded, inappropriate or insincere comments that they try to pass as compliments. A backhanded compliment is one that may be meant or understood as an insult. Someone might say, for instance, You look great. Wow, I didnt recognize you! This can suggest that the compliment-giver thinks the person rarely looks great. Other compliments are considered unacceptable. For example, in the U.S., it is often inappropriate to comment on physical appearance in the workplace. This is especially true when a man comments on a womans appearance. But it is acceptable for people to compliment each other at work about work. Another kind of praise is flattery excessive compliments that are often given in self-interest. An example is praising your supervisor or professor in hopes of gaining better pay or grades. It might work on some people but insincerity can be hard to hide. So it's always best to follow the first rule of giving compliments: Always be sincere! Im Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Practice 1 - Did you know that World Compliment Day is March 1, 2019? We celebrate by giving compliments to friends, coworkers, family and others. Who are some people you would like to give compliments to? Heres my contribution: You are such a good listener! And your English is impressive. 2 - What are some compliments you have received about your appearance, abilities and/or possessions? 3 - In American culture, if someone uses the expression, You look like a million bucks, it is a very high compliment on physical appearance. It means you look amazing. (Bucks is an informal word for dollars.) What are some common expressions that are compliments in your culture? ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cucumber n. a long vegetable with dark green skin that is often used in salads or for making pickles pot n. a deep, round container that is used for cooking tie n. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and that is tied in front with a knot at the top character n. the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves gerund n. an English noun formed from a verb by adding -ing gracious adj. very polite in a way that shows respect insincere adj. not having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way insult n. to do or say something that is offensive to someone grade n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test BY TOM BRIAN ANGURINI. The district education officer of Lyatonde district Mr Alfred Mutebi has lashed out at Member of Parliament for not caring about problems affecting Ugandans. He made his anger known at a pre-budget meeting organized by FOWADE with a theme who is out who is in. According to him, MPs are the ones who are in and Ugandans who voted for them are the ones whom they have left out. He says compared MPs salary scale to that one of teachers yet they are the ones dealing with moral upbringing of children in schools. The University of Farmington described itself on its website as a school for science and business that dates back to the 1950s. The school, near the city of Detroit, Michigan, said it combines traditional instruction and distance learning and offers flexible class schedules. But the University of Farmington had no instruction, no classes and no teachers at all. Instead, the Detroit Free Press reports, the school was a fake university meant to target foreign students who wanted to stay in the U.S. illegally. It was set up by the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. government agency that oversees immigration. A federal grand jury in Detroit has charged eight people in connection to the investigation. All eight people worked as student recruiters for the university. Most are from India. The charges were filed earlier this year and made public Wednesday. The charging documents say recruiters conspired with each other to permit over 600 foreign citizens to illegally stay in the country. The recruiters reportedly took in over $250,000 in profits from 2017 to early this year. The charges say the recruiters knew the university was fake. But what they did not know was that the school was part of a secret operation by agents with Homeland Security. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is part of the Homeland Security department. In a statement Wednesday, ICE said the agents had been carrying out the investigation since 2015. ICE says the recruiters and the foreign students knew that the school had no instructors or actual classes. The students who registered at the fake university were part of a student visa program called CPT (Curricular Practical Training). The program permits international students to work in the United States. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement, We are all aware that international students can be a valuable asset to our country, but as this case shows, the well-intended international student visa program can also be...abused. Also on Wednesday, federal agents arrested about 100 students who registered for classes at the University of Farmington. Hundreds of others face possible arrest. The students face charges related to immigration violation and could be forced to leave the country, The Detroit News reported. Many of the students are from an Indian ethnic group that speaks the Telugu language. On its Facebook page, the American Telugu Association said students should understand the risks of possible fake agents who promise illegal ways to stay in USA through admissions in unaccredited colleges and universities. The association planned a live video program Thursday to help explain the issues to community members. Im Jonathan Evans. Ashley Thompson adapted this story based on reports by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story schedule - n. a written or printed list of things and the times when they will be done fake - adj. not true or real jury - n. a group of people who are members of the public and are chosen to make a decision in a legal case recruiter - n. a person who finds suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc. conspire - v. to secretly plan with someone to do something that is harmful or illegal asset - n. valuable person or thing well-intended - adj. well-meaning unaccredited - adj. used to describe something that is not good enough to be given official approval Thursday, January 31, 2019 East Idaho News (Jan. 30, 2019): Idaho legislators seek to make abortion murder, by Mark Price: Rep. Heather Scott, (R-Blanchard), and freshman Rep. John Green, (R-Post Falls), released a draft of a bill that would repeal the Idaho statute exempting women or anyone participating in abortion from being charged with murder. By repealing the exemption, any abortion, without exception, performed in Idaho would be considered murder. The woman who has the abortion and the person who performs the abortion could both be prosecuted for murder. We either define life as a fetus, or we dont, Scott said. A woman can go out of state if she needs an abortion. But we just wouldnt do it in our state. Well protect life in our state. Green said he rejects the idea the bill would go against federal law or Roe v. Wade. The 1973 United States Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade legalized abortion across the country. The proposed legislation would not allow the prosecution of anyone who has had or participated in an abortion in the past. Sen. Dan Foreman (R-Moscow) proposed a similar bill in 2017. The bill would have charged women who had and doctors who performed abortions with first-degree murder. It did not find traction during the session. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/reproductive_rights/2019/01/idaho-legislators-seek-to-criminalize-abortion-1.html Friday, February 1, 2019 P. Sartorio has posted an abstract of Qandeel Balochs Sacrifice A Review on Pakistans Anti-Honor Crime Bill and Its Effectiveness as a Legal Tool to Safeguard Women from Honor Killings in Pakistan (INTERDISC. J. OF L. FORENSIC SCI., Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2017) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: On July 15, 2016, 26-year-old Qandeel Baloch was asphyxiated by her brother, Waseem Azeem, while she was asleep in her parents home in Multan, Pakistan. Azeem confessed the murder on video and expressed no remorse, saying, "I am proud of what I did. I drugged her first, then I killed her. She was bringing disrespect to the family's honor". Her murder has divided the nation and made her an unlikely political icon. Her death also brought unwanted attention to the tradition practice of honor killings. According to Pakistani custom, perpetrators of honor killings can avoid punishment by seeking forgiveness for the crime from another family member, and thus be legally pardoned. In some rural parts of Pakistan, the male-dominated jirga, or tribal council, decides affairs without the participation of the perpetrator and its executive decisions are final taking primacy over state legislation. Although horrifying and appalling to most, this is not the exception, but the rule in Pakistan. According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), nearly 1,100 women were killed by relatives in Pakistan last year, while many more cases go unreported. In the summer of 2016, long-awaited legislation called the Anti-Honor Crime Bill was passed. Its purpose is to primarily tackle Pakistans loophole for perpetrators of honor killings. According to the new law, honor killings were now considered a crime against the State carrying a sentence of a minimum of 25 years to life imprisonment. Relatives can still forgive perpetrators in the case of a death sentence, but the perpetrator would still have to serve the minimum sentence. Judges no longer have the discretion to allow acquittals via the victims relatives pardon. This paper focuses on how the events of Qandeel Balochs murder triggered a call to action to put a stop to honor killings in Pakistan, resulting in the enactment of the Anti-Honor Crime Bill. This paper also analyzes the laws effectiveness as a legal tool to safeguard women from honor killings in Pakistan. Accordingly, this paper begins introducing Qandeel Baloch, a Pakistani teenager and a reflection of how times are changing with the help of social media. Next, it deals with the tradition of honor killings, its origins, specifically in Arab cultures, the driving force behind their motivation to regain the perceived lost honor, and the role of society as an usher in favor of such action. Then, the paper analyzes the Pakistani governments response to the grassroots activism influence in the genesis and ultimate adoption of the Anti-Honor Crime Bill. Finally, this paper concludes with offering suggestions, lessons learned and challenges from the implementation of the Anti-Honor Crime Bill and the work ahead. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2019/02/sartorio-on-honor-crimes-in-pakistan.html South Africa Denied Emergency Loan to Zimbabwe at Height Of Crisis As the economy in Zimbabwe headed into freefall in December, an 11th hour request from Harare for a rescue loan was refused by its longtime ally, South Africa. South Africa said it declined the request for $1.2 billion because the country is also in a difficult financial position. South Africa doesnt have that kind of money, said Jabulani Sikhakhane, spokesman for the finance ministry. He also raised concerns of Zimbabwe defaulting on the loan. Initially they wanted $1.2-billion. We dont have $1.2-billion but what we have is the will to assist them, Dondo Mogajane, the National Treasury director said. ADVERTISEMENT But without the funds, Zimbabwe was forced to raise the price of fuel by over 1000 percent making it the most expensive fuel in Africa. With the price of gas topping the amount of salaries, a general strike was called in the major cities only to be violently suppressed by state security forces. Now, in a reversal, South Africa may extend short-term credit to Zimbabwe and also help it write off its US$4-billion external debt. But critics say this will be a waste of money unless it can pressure the ruling party Zanu-PF to make political reforms. Its an act of self-delusion if you think you can avoid talking politics as you engage Zimbabwe, as in many other places, said Piers Pigou, senior consultant to the International Crisis Group over news of the loan. According to Zimbabwean finance minister Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe has a total national debt of $16.9-billion, of which its external debt is $7.4-billion, with $5.6-billion in arrears. $1.3-billion owed to the World Bank, $680-million to the African Development Bank, $308-million to the European Investment Bank and $2.8-billion to the Paris Club (to individual countries). South African finance minister Tito Mboweni said South Africa and Zimbabwe were also discussing the possibility of South Africa extending an existing credit facility of just short of R100-million. South Africa was also discussing ways of helping Zimbabwe lift its debt to international creditors, he said. Meanwhile, a Crisis Group report called the scale of violence since the general strike was launched the worst the country has witnessed in some time, adding that the military was again using live ammunition to suppress protests. ADVERTISEMENT According to Zimbabwes Doctors for Human Rights hundreds of protesters were shot on the first day of protests on January 15, of whom some had died and 107 patients had been treated for gunshot and blunt trauma wounds. For days after that, it had been hard to get updated casualty figures as the government had cut off the internet. But on Jan. 18, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum publish consolidated statistics counting 844 human rights violations, including at least 12 killings, at least 78 gunshot injuries, at least 242 cases of assault, torture or inhumane and degrading treatment, including dog bites and 466 arbitrary arrests and detentions. Head of the opposition, Nelson Chamisa, told the BBC that there was no justification whatsoever of having soldiers with live ammunition, with guns, machine guns, AK47 on the streets, beating up citizens. People are being approached in their homes, they are being taken out of their homes with their families even if they are sleeping a lot of people have been arrested for no apparent reason, he said. Faced with a worsening crisis, President Emmerson Mnangagwe canceled plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, ending his 5 nation bid to secure loans for the struggling economy. But a presidential spokesman blamed opposition parties for stoking arrest. Zimbabwes brutal crackdown after recent protests is just a foretaste of things to come, the presidential spokesman told a state-run newspaper Sunday. Shocking Documentary Delivers Jaw-Dropping Profile of ISIS How much do you know about ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria? Sure, you probably know that it is an extremist Muslim sect which claims to be a caliphate headquartered in Syria. You are also are undoubtedly aware of the radical outfits terrorist attacks in America, France, Belgium, England and elsewhere around the world. Thats because ISIS is media savvy and quite skilled at recruiting followers over the internet. Just a month ago, President Trump declared, We have defeated ISIS, before ordering the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Syria. However, soon thereafter, four Americans were killed by an ISIS suicide bomber in the city of Manbij. ADVERTISEMENT If youd like to understand the ideology fueling these fanatics, have I got a film for you. Co-directed by Francois Margolin and Lemine Salem, Jihadists is an eye-opening expose shot by filmmakers who embedded with the extremists. Fair warning, this is not a documentary for the faint of heart. For, it features raw footage of ISIS foot soldiers doling out the cults cruel brand of justice. So, brace your self to see drive-by shootings of unsuspecting infidels, gays tossed off buildings, adulterers beheaded or stoned to death, thieves whipped or have their hands chopped off, and Coptics Christians caged and shot in the head, one-by-one. Again and again, the perpetrators rationalize their ghastly crimes against humanity by quoting from the Koran. Members of ISIS are so-called Salafists who believe in a literal interpretation of the scriptures. In the film, we hear wild-eyed imams weigh in on everything from Israel (We are in an endless war with Jews.), to America (Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib have stirred up our hatred of the West.), to females (A woman cannot be considered equal to a man.), to assassinating cartoonists (Insulting the prophet Muhammad is a serious offense. Charlie Hebdo got what it deserved.). Apparently, there are ISIS strongholds not just in the Middle East, but all across sub-Saharan Africa, in such countries as Mali, Nigeria and Mauritania. Its adherents are fearless on their mission to purify the world because of their belief that paradise awaits in the afterlife. ADVERTISEMENT A chilling documentary banned in France, but available in America despite fatwas, thanks to this countrys undying commitment to freedom of speech. Very Good (3 stars) Unrated In French with subtitles Running time: 75 minutes Production Company: Margo Cinema Distributor: Cinema Libre Studio To see a trailer for Jihadists, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxfwbzL7u4 Rep. Roybal-Allard Statement at House-Senate Conference Committee on Homeland Security Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at a recent meeting of the House-Senate Conference Committee on Homeland Security: Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased we are able to get to work on finalizing a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The proposal Ive presented will be the basis for the House majority position for this conference. Based on a holistic analysis of the countrys most acute vulnerabilities, the proposal is balanced across the mission areas of the Department. It advances a smart and strong border security posture while staying true to our core values as Americans. ADVERTISEMENT Our responsibility is to prioritize funding for the Department within our funding allocation. Nothing can be considered in a vacuum. More funding for one priority means less for others. The issue is not only that the President is proposing to spend $5.7 billion on border barriers. It is that there are serious homeland security vulnerabilities for which we will have no funding if the President gets his way. My proposal avoids this imbalance by including funding to address those vulnerabilities. The vast majority of drug interdictions occur at the ports of entry not between the ports. That is why my proposal funds 1,000 additional Customs officers at the ports of entry to facilitate trade and travel, and to interdict smuggled drugs and other contraband. It pays for new imaging technology at the land ports of entry to ensure all commercial and passenger vehicles are scanned for drugs and other contraband prior to entering our country. And it will help ensure more vehicles leaving the country are scanned for smuggled weapons and the proceeds of drug sales. ADVERTISEMENT It makes large investments in reducing the backlog of critical repair and improvement needs at Border Patrol stations and ports of entry. Between the ports of entry, it provides significant investments in cutting-edge border security technology to improve situational awareness and operational control. Technology investments are also made at mail processing facilities to interdict fentanyl and other opioids shipped through the international mail. Significant new investments are also made in the CBP and Coast Guard fleets of aircraft and vessels. This includes the procurement of the first Coast Guard heavy icebreaker since the 1970s. There has been a lot of inaccurate rhetoric about a security crisis at the southern border which can be addressed only by spending $5.7 billion for new miles of border barriers. The numbers of migrants crossing our southwest border are at historic lows. The only crisis at the border has been a humanitarian one due to DHSs inability to care for the migrants, families and unaccompanied children properly. My proposal includes much needed humanitarian aid and improved facilities for migrants taken into CBP custody to help prevent unnecessary deaths and health problems. My proposal provides a larger investment in alternatives to detention, and family case management; and a bigger focus on detention facility inspections and healthcare services. Also, smart investments are made in the Departments overarching mission, including the TSA, Secret Service, FEMA, critical cyber and physical infrastructure, and support for state and local governments to prepare and respond to disasters of every kind. Between fiscal years 2007 and 2018, Congress appropriated more than $8.7 billion for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology, with some of the highest funding years occurring during Democratic control of the House. With this proposal, Democrats are once again supporting strong border security as an essential component of homeland security. Border security, however, is more than physical barriers; and homeland security is more than border security. My proposal strikes a balance between a strong homeland security posture without compromising Americas core values. NNPA Mid-Winter Training Conference Highlights Global Expansion of the Black Press The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) wrapped its Mid-Winter Training Conference on Saturday, Jan. 26, in Orlando, Florida, where publishers, corporate partners and sponsors gathered to help move the publishing industry forward with increased sustainability for the Black Press of America. Included among NNPA partners and sponsors are GM; RAI Reynolds America; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Ford; Pfizer Rare Disease; Macys; Juul; Volkswagen; Lilly; Ascension; Compassion & Choices; Collaborative for Student Success; Nissan; Koch; API; AmeriHealth Caritas; AACR; and AABE. The conference theme, Innovative Training and Global Expansion of the Black Press of America, was highlighted throughout, particularly with workshops and training sessions on the Every Student Succeeds Act; Investigative Journalism; African American Health Disparities; a Macys-hosted Roundtable Discussion; and a presentation and discussion about Sickle Cell and other illnesses that was hosted by Pfizer, Inc. and included an interview with Bert Bruce, the vice president of global marketing at Pfizer Rare Disease. ADVERTISEMENT Her Excellency, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the African Union Ambassador to the United States, also appeared at the conference where she and Jamaican Tourist Board Groups and Conventions Manager, John Woolcock, spoke about the global expansion of the Black Press particularly to Africa and Jamaica. The Ambassador also said African leaders are on the verge of a free trade agreement that has Africa poised to become the worlds largest free trade area with the 55 countries merging into a single market of 1.2 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product of $2.5 trillion. African leaders are saying with one voice, one mind, and one heart that we are one continent, H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao said. Highlights at the conference, which drew dozens of Black Press publishers from around the country, included a fireside chat with former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who lost a razor-thin close election for Floridas governor in November. Gillums appearance came during a luncheon hosted by General Motors, who was represented by Lester Booker Jr., the automobile companys corporate giving communications and strategic businesses planner. ADVERTISEMENT Christina Kolbjornsen, the senior vice president and head of Segments and Marketing Communications at Wells Fargo, also provided remarks at the luncheon. Acclaimed Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin L. Crump provided remarks during a RAI hosted Criminal Justice Reform workshop where panelists included Durham, North Carolina, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis; Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Executive Director Major Neil Franklin; New Jersey Police Training Commission Commissioner Jiles Ship; and San Diego Voice and Viewpoint Publisher John Warren. On Friday, Jan. 25, Tennessee Tribune Publisher Rosetta Miller Perry received the NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award before a festive and appreciative gathering at the conference. Two years ago, it was Bob Bogle being honored from the Philadelphia Tribune and last year we saw Rod Doss of the New Pittsburgh Courier receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, Perry said. Tonight, its Rosetta Perry. Maybe theres something to it three great publishers all from Pennsylvania, she said, noting her tie to the Keystone State is in the fact she was raised there. Perry thanked her fellow publishers for the distinguished recognition, one that she said shes glad it happened now. Im 85, Perry quipped. Im sure glad you didnt wait until I was 90, she said following a video tribute that included congratulatory remarks from Nashville Mayor David Briley, Democratic U.S. Rep. James Cooper, Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Shawn Josephs, and Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Glover. Kams Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun For movies opening February 1, 2019: WIDE RELEASES Miss Bala (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality, drug use and mature themes) English language remake of the 2011 Mexican action thriller about a makeup artist from L.A. (Gina Rodriguez) forced to survive by her wits south of the border after being kidnapped by a drug cartel while visiting her BFF (Cristina Rodlo) in Tijuana. With Anthony Mackie, Ismael Cruz Cordova and Thomas Dekker. ADVERTISEMENT INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS Arctic (PG-13 for profanity and bloody images) Tale of survival about a man (Mads Mikkelsen) stranded near the North Pole who must decide between remaining with the helicopter wreckage and embarking on a perilous trek back to civilization across the frozen tundra. With Maria Thelma Smaradottir. The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story (PG-13 for mature themes and disturbing images) Stephen Baldwin plays the title character in this fact-based drama, set in rural India in the late Nineties, about an Australian missionary burned alive while caring for and converting lepers to Christianity. Featuring Sharman Joshi, Shari Rigby and Manoj Mishra. ADVERTISEMENT Piercing (R for profanity, nudity, bizarre violence and deviant sexuality) Horror comedy, adapted from Ryu Murakamis novel of the same name about a family man (Christopher Abbott) who decides to indulge a dark impulse while on a business trip by murdering a call girl (Mia Wasikowska) in his hotel room. Cast includes Laia Costa, Wendell Pierce and Marin Ireland. Velvet Buzzsaw (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity, violence and drug use) Suspense thriller, set in L.A., about a supernatural force that exacts revenge on the greedy purchasers of high-priced paintings by a mysterious, unknown artist. Ensemble includes Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Toni Collette, Rene Russo, Daveed Diggs and Billy Magnussen. The Wild Pear Tree (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about an aspiring writer (Dogu Demirkol) who returns home to his tiny village from Istanbul after graduating from college only to find himself forced to deal with his fathers (Murat Cemcir) gambling debts. With Hazar Erguclu, Serkan Keskin and Bennu Yildirimlar. (In Turkish with subtitles) Congos Constitutional Court Upholds Election Win For Opposition Leader The Democratic Republic of Congo finally has a president. Opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi was declared winner of the presidential race by the DR Congos top court on Jan. 20. The Constitutional Court said Tshisekedi had won by a simple majority, paving the way for him to take over from the current president, Joseph Kabila. The outcome was challenged by runner-up Martin Fayulu who claimed that the election had been stolen and called on the international community to reject the results. ADVERTISEMENT Election data leaked to some news organizations suggested that he won the vote. I ask the entire international community not to recognize a power that has neither legitimacy nor legal standing to represent the Congolese people, he said of Tshisekedi, declaring himself the only legitimate president. On Sunday, the Constitutional Court dismissed Fayulus claims as unfounded and said he had failed to prove any inaccuracies in the figures, describing his call for a recount as absurd. The ruling was not unexpected, with the court made up of Kabilas allies. Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of Tshisekedi gathered outside the court holding placards saying No to interference and Independent country as riot police stood nearby. Despite unconfirmed reports that members of Tshisekedis camp had strategized with Kabila before the votes were in, the greater part of Congolese seems happy with the semi-victory, as their main fears have been allayed, according to Israel Mutala, an analyst and editor in chief of the online news site 7sur7. Above all the Congolese feared a third term for outgoing President Joseph Kabila, Mutala told the German news agency DW. ADVERTISEMENT Observers from other international bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations Organization, complained of irregularities at the polls. The African Union, after initially expressing serious doubts about the outcome of the elections, seems more willing to go alone with the accepted candidate. Speaking early Sunday, Tshisekedi said the courts decision to reject claims of electoral fraud and declare him president was a victory for the entire country. It is Congo that won, said Tshisekedi. It is not the victory of one camp against another. I am engaged in a campaign to reconcile all Congolese. The Congo that we are going to form will not be a Congo of division, hatred or tribalism. It will be a reconciled Congo, a strong Congo that will be focused on development, peace and security. AKAs, Jussie Smollett and Others Come to Aid Bennett College .@HighPointU President, Dr. Nido R. Qubein, is having a press conference at 5PM EST today in the Hayworth Chapel on HPU's campus to announce a major gift to #BennettCollege. Click the link below to stream live! #StandWithBennett https://t.co/xm0hFlPvYu Bennett College (@BennettCollege) February 1, 2019 GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) A historically black womens college in North Carolina thats one of two such institutions left in the U.S. is trying to raise $5 million to stave off losing accreditation. Bennett College has reported sizeable donations as it closes in on its Friday fundraising deadline, aided by supporters of Empire actor Jussie Smollett. ADVERTISEMENT Smollett is black and gay and told police he was attacked in Chicago this week. Just days before, he had appeared on MSNBC alongside university president Phyllis Dawkins to raise awareness of the schools plight. Fans have expressed support for Smollett by donating to Bennett College. News outlets report Bennett also announced that African-American sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha pledged $100,000, while Wells Fargo has pledged $50,000. As of Wednesday night, Bennett had raised around 65 percent of its goal. By Moses Ndhaye. The state minister for higher Education Chrysostom Muyingo has condemned people using social media to tarnish the image of the education sector. Social media has been awash with messages attacking the Uganda National examination board for allegedly having a policy of under marking Kampala schools, in favour of the rural UPE schools. He says people are posting unverified information to tarnish the image of the sector which must stop with immediate effect. Related Stories. MOE Schools were not under marked A little girl who was born in Lancaster County and spent the first 13 months of her life in a hospital was discharged this week thanks to a technological first, according to Penn State Childrens Hospital. Born without a trachea which is commonly called a windpipe Ramiah Martin received an implant created with 3D printing technology. When she was born, she looked blue and wasnt crying, Ramiahs mother, Leanne Martin, was quoted as saying in a news release. Her condition is caused by a rare developmental abnormality and called tracheal agenesis. Ramiah is now among very few children worldwide to survive with the condition, the release said, noting that medical publications report only one other survivor in the United States. Multiple specialists from the hospital and other medical centers were involved in the effort, which used the implant as a scaffold to help Ramiahs esophagus serve as a replacement for her missing trachea. According to the hospital, this was the first time 3D printing technology was used to build such a device and successfully implant it in a patient with tracheal agenesis. Ramiah still depends on a ventilator to assist with her breathing, is fed by a tube in her stomach and will face additional surgeries as she grows, according to the hospital. Dr. Robert Cilley, the hospitals surgeon-in-chief, said it was a remarkable accomplishment to bring so many experts together to create a unique solution for a patient with such a serious problem. One of Ferdous Dehqans earliest memories is of he and his mother passing by an armed Taliban checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan. I was feeling really scared because I thought they may stop us and ask us questions, he recalled from his home in New York City. Luckily, my mom was covered with the Islamic hijab. For a 4-year-old, you know, its a nightmare. Dehqan moved to this country when he was 17. He is one of five young Muslims who will relate what it is like to be a Muslim in post-911 America at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Ware Center in Lancaster. The interview-based production Beyond Sacred: Voices of Muslim Identity will focus on their experiences both before and after that tragic September morning in 2001. Dehqan, a legal immigrant, came to this country long after that fateful day. He has since graduated from LaGuardia Community College and State University of New York at Binghamton with a degree in political science. He feels safe. But since the 2016 presidential election, he has been uncomfortable about the rise of xenophobia in the U.S. The presidents rhetoric during the campaign and after, for the past two years, when it comes to Muslims and immigrants, thats a little bit concerning ... even if youre not experiencing direct racism or Islamophobia. Reactions When Beyond Sacred began in 2015, Maha Syed worried there might be a backlash. While some questions during the Q&A at the end of the program can be disconcerting, she has found audiences to be very receptive. I would say its been 99.9 percent positive, she said from New York City. It really speaks to the unique format of this show. Theres a vulnerability that we bring by opening up our lives and our first-hand experience. The production explores the different backgrounds of the participants. Syed was born in Kuwait to Pakistani parents. Her father worked in the oil business and she attended 16 schools in 20 years in the U.S. She has no accent, nor does she wear a hijab. In fact, her decision not to wear the hijab has led some Muslims to question her religiosity. Its actually raised questions more in my personal life than on the show, she said. Nobody in my family wears hijab. Its just the context under which I grew up. Another performer, Tiffney Hosein, from Long Island, New York, does wear a hijab. And that, Syed said, shows that Muslims are not monolithic. I think that speaks to the diversity within the Muslim community, she said. My Islam is not my hijab. Different experience Dehqan auditioned for the role because his experience as a recent immigrant was different from other Muslims who had grown up in this country. I thought it was a good opportunity to join this because I had some good stories and because of being a recent immigrant from Afghanistan and then someone who experienced war, terror and all that. Dehqan said they occasionally get questions about Sharia law or about their religion. One Muslim woman in the audience asked why they dont talk more about the principles of Islam. Our response was This is not about explaining Islam, he said. Its just about our stories and our experiences about how it is to be a Muslim in America, particularly in an age after 9/11. Syed summarized it this way: You can come in thinking you know everything you need to know about Islam, but you dont know everything about us and our life experiences. Bruce Allardice, who produced the show for Ping Chong & Co., a New York nonprofit, has described the interview-based play as real people speaking their own words in a choral kind of way in front of microphones and music stands. Professional lighting, sound and projection in the background support the dialogue. Dehqan, Syed and Hosein are joined onstage by Amir Khafagy, a native of Queens, New York, and Kadin Herring, who was born in Florida. Tough questions Syed said younger students often pose the toughest questions. During one Q&A, a young boy asked How do you love a country that hates you? The question caused heer to pause. Were not social workers, were not guidance counselors. We dont know how to mitigate peoples really tricky life situations, but we do the best we can. She added, however, that the reaction among younger Muslims in the audience inspires her. You always notice at the end of the Q&A theres a few kids whove never seen someone who looks like them or talks like them represented in this way. And it really seems to resonate and makes it so worthwhile. The Lancaster-based law firm Saxton & Stump has hired the immediate past president and CEO of WellSpan Health as a senior medical consultant. Dr. Kevin H. Mosser stepped down from WellSpan, which consists of eight hospitals, 19,000 employees and more than 170 patient-care sites, effective Jan. 1. A board certified family physician, Mosser began practicing in York in 1979, rising to hold numerous executive positions at WellSpan. He became its president and CEO in 2013. Mosser, of Gettysburg, holds bachelors and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Cocina Mexicana has opened in its new, larger spot in downtown Lancaster. Previously located at 47 N. Prince St., the restaurant now operates a block and a half away at 112 N. Water St. It takes a spot next to a Columbia Kettle Works taproom and Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, an independent movie theater that is developing a restaurant and distillery. An interior door connects Cocina Mexicana to the Columbia Kettle Works taproom. Cocina Mexicana now has seating for around 50, nearly twice the capacity as the old location. It will maintain its menu of traditional Mexican dishes, including tacos and burritos as well as seafood, chicken and beef platters. Owner Lucila Gomez said the larger kitchen may allow her to eventually add some new menu items. She added that she might stay open later on the weekends if there is customer demand in the new area. At the new location, Gomez has around eight employees, having hired a couple more while planning to give part-timers more hours. Now that Cocina Mexicana has moved, Gomez is developing a restaurant at her old location with her her sister Socorro Gomez and her sisters husband, Alex Garcia. The new restaurant, Senor Hoagies, will feature subs, sandwiches and salads. Gomez said it could be open in a month. Cocina Mexicana opening Friday at new location in downtown Lancaster at 112 N. Water St. pic.twitter.com/NJwFbtlqCQ Chad Umble (@ChadUmbleLNP) January 30, 2019 Your donation, which powers our reporters and keep us independent, will be matched dollar for dollar today during our June Member drive. Local community reporting is vital, so is your support. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe UPDATED on Feb. 3, 2019 at 10:25 a.m. The downpours have subsided, evacuation notices have been lifted in the Woolsey, Holy and Montecito fires burn zones -- but rain will continue for the next couple of days. According to the National Weather Service, two more inches of rain will fall before Tuesday, and snow levels will be as low as 4,000 feet, possibly impacting the Grapevine on I-5. The weekend storm posed challenges for civilian and first responders. Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside and L.A. were all subjected to manadatory and voluntary evacuation notices. Highway 101 was closed in Montecito, where thousands were affected by deadly mudslides last year. Several L.A. County road closures have been in effect in the Woolsey Fire burn area, including parts of Kanan Rd., Lindero Canyon and Malibu Canyon. In Ventura County, a search-and-rescue member was killed Saturday after responding to a car accident on the 5 freeway near Pyramid Lake. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department's Sergeant Eric Buschow says the team was headed to Mt. Pinos, near the Ventura-Kern County line, for training when they came upon the scene of a collision. "While they were helping people at that scene, another vehicle plowed into the scene and struck several of our search-and-rescue team members, killing one and injuring three," he said. The three injured rescue workers were transferred to Henry Mayo Newhall hospital in Santa Clarita. The department tweeted the name of the officer who was killed, Jeff Dye. Two of the SAR officer were in critical condition. According to the National Weather Service, the storm system could bring "one of the strongest south wind events in recent years," with gusts of 40 to 60 mph -- even up to 80 mph in some mountain and desert regions. More than 5 inches of rain has fallen in the region since Friday night. A powerful storm system expected to affect SW Calif Friday night-Saturday night. Rainfall estimates of 1.50-3.00 inches for coastal/valley areas, with 4.00-7.00 inches possible across south facing foothills and mountains. #LArain #cawx #Socal #LAWeather pic.twitter.com/QaWjbaURzp NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 1, 2019 All that rain and wind means the usual threats of debris flows, downed trees, power outages and traffic delays. NWS forecasters issued a Flash Flood Watch for recent fire burn zones in Santa Barabara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, beginning Saturday. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health extended an advisory for all county beaches to Feb. 3, warning of the risk of bacteria and debris that can wash into the ocean during a rainstorm. #HealthAlert: @LAHealthOfficer has extended the for all Los Angeles County beaches extended until Sunday, February 3 at 10:00 a.m. Avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters around discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers. #LARain https://t.co/irBvUJYpxN pic.twitter.com/yxAke0YWQd LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) January 31, 2019 A mandatory evacuation was issued in the Thomas/Woolsey/Sherpa fire burn areas at noon on Friday. In Ventura County, mandatory evacuations went into effect on Friday at 8 p.m. in Matilija Canyon, Wheeler Springs and North Fork , and at the Ventura Beach RV Resort on Friday at 6 p.m. At 1040am...very heavy rain was moving over the #WoolseyFire from Thousand Oaks to Malibu. Rain rates of 0.31 inch in 5 minutes reported at Lechuza Fire Station. Flash flood warning in effect until 1pm PST. Rock slides, along with mud and debris flows likely. #CAwx #LARain pic.twitter.com/x8RXvQUXiX NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 2, 2019 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES For updates Friday and into the weekend, including lists of road closures, evacuation orders and flood warnings, check the following sites: UPDATES: Feb. 1, 6:08 p.m.: This article was updated with information about mandatory evacuations. Feb. 2, 11:02 a.m.: This article was updated with information about evacuations and the death of a search-and-rescue worker. Feb. 2, 12:22 p.m.: This article was updated to include the closure of highway 101 in Montecito. Feb. 2, 12:57 p.m.: This article was updated to include the more information about road closures and evacuations, as well as the name of the search-and-rescue officer killed in Ventura County. Feb. 2, 2:12 p.m.: This article was updated to include the more information about road closures in the Woolsey Fire burn area. Feb. 2, 9:09 p.m.: This article was updated to include the new information about Malibu evacuation orders. Feb. 3, 7:55 a.m.: This article was updated to include the new information about rain forecasts and snow levels. Feb. 3, 10:25 a.m.: This article was updated to include the new information about evacuations being lifted. This article was originally published at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1. Emily Henderson, Jessica P. Ogilvie and Caleigh Wells contributed to this report. Your donation, which powers our reporters and keep us independent, will be matched dollar for dollar today during our June Member drive. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe It's easy for foster kids to get left behind, but an increasing number in L.A. County are making it into community colleges. Statewide about 16,000 are attending community college; that's significantly more than five years earlier. In L.A. County's 21 community colleges, the number of enrolled foster youth rose from 2,626 students to 4,218 students between 2012 and 2017 -- a 60 percent increase. A variety of state programs are trying to build on that progress to make sure those young people make it all the way through to graduation. CHANGING THE RULES Experts believe one big reason for the enrollment surge was California's 2012 decision to extend the age limit for being in foster care from 18 to 21 for those who choose to remain in the system. Before the change, "18th birthdays were often bittersweet affairs," said Mark Courtney, a University of Chicago researcher who worked in California's foster care system 30 years ago. He remembers youth who ended up in homeless shelters when they turned 18. "On the one hand it was an important rite of passage, a person becoming an adult," he said. "On the other hand, we essentially kicked them out and rendered many of them homeless at that point." The college enrollment numbers changed dramatically after the age extension. In the fall of 2012, 11,000 foster youth enrolled in the state's community colleges, according to state community college data. By the fall of 2017, that number had risen to over 16,000. But it's only been in the last three years that changes in law and funding have created programs to encourage more foster youth to apply and stay in college. Sacramento is spending $17 million this year on such programs. More research is needed on how well foster youth are doing once they enter community college, said Courtney. "Folks in California are still learning how to operate a foster care system for adults," he said. Courtney was the lead author of a report released last year that reviewed what impact the state's foster care reforms are having on the youth in the system. The news is good, he said, but for all the money the state is devoting to these support programs, it needs to know which programs are doing the best job getting foster youth to college graduation. Researchers need to take the lessons learned from where programs are succeeding and apply them across the board "so that those investments are really paying off for these young people," Courtney said. He said he's currently conducting research to determine how much progress foster youth have made toward their degrees by their 23rd birthday. Courtney also called for more support programs where foster youth live, whether that's in group homes or facilities. SUPPORT IN EAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY Mt. San Antonio College, in east Los Angeles County, offers more comprehensive support than other campuses. It opened a new building this year to house its foster care program. Besides counseling offices and a computer lab, the building's main area is designed with couches and large tables so that foster youth can talk informally with each other and share life experiences. "Something that is very key about this population is that the one thing that unites them is the one thing that they want to run away from, and that's their history in foster care," said Jeze Lopez, the school's foster services coordinator. Each of the state's 114 community colleges is required to have a position like Lopez's. This program reaches about half of the 400 students on campus who are or were in the foster care system. Lopez said some foster youth don't take advantage of the support because they had negative experiences with foster care and see the program as an extension of that system. Some foster youth have found adults in the college support programs that filled the void created by being separated from family. "Basically, what we have at the program is that we're built as a family now, everyone is so welcoming and inviting," said 21-year-old, Mt. SAC student Daija Lopez. She said she entered foster care at age 7 and attended 20 elementary schools and five high schools. Lopez said she's found support from other foster youth enrolled in the support program after talking to them about their experiences. Some of these conversations happen on the large chairs and tables in the program's common areas. That's where business major Daniel Arellano had a deep conversation with another student who used to be in foster care. "We were taken around the same age, she was 11, and I was nine," he said. "We kind of both know what it feels like to be without your mother at such a young age, and how it is to live with other people you don't even know." Part of the program includes two meetings each semester with staff counselors. "[The counselor] was so open to helping and making sure that I have access to everything and making sure that I've taken advantage of all the different places that can help me on campus," said second-year student Destiney Rodriguez. In the session, Rodriguez told the counselor that she'd struggled in several classes last semester because she was working about 30 hours a week, and she'd switched foster families. On top of that, she's facing a major life change right around the time she'll be taking finals in the spring semester: she's moving. Her counselor offered her advice on how to make sure she got all her coursework done before her move. Your donation, which powers our reporters and keep us independent, will be matched dollar for dollar today during our June Member drive. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe A law firm representing California survivors of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests has released a new report detailing alleged abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino. The 70-page report by Minnesota-based Jeff Anderson and Associates provides background information and assignment history on more than 80 clergy accused of sexual misconduct in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The firm -- which is representing a Camarillo man in a public nuisance suit against California's Catholic bishops -- has released similar reports on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Orange in recent months. At a news conference in Ontario Thursday, attorneys demanded San Bernardino Bishop Gerald Barnes release the names of predatory priests and Church officials who hid their behavior. Attorney Mike Reck says today's disclosure makes children safer. "This information is information that could have and should have been shared by Church officials long ago," Reck said. "We're doing this because the Diocese of San Bernardino did not." In October, the Diocese of San Bernardino County released a list of 34 priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children since the diocese formed in 1978. Officials added one name to that list the following month. Anderson's report includes those 35 names, as well as 32 names of priests accused of abuse in San Bernardino before 1978, when the region was still part of the Diocese San Diego. Those 32 names can be found on the Diocese of San Diego's list of credibly accused priests, which recently added 8 new names, including Rev. Raymond Etienne, who served as pastor in a San Bernardino church 20 years ago. Etienne allegedly sexually assaulted seminarians in Riverside. READ MORE ABOUT THE CLERGY ABUSE SCANDAL LA Bishop Resigns After Accusations Of Misconduct With A Minor How A SoCal Priest Preyed On Two Brothers And Destroyed An Immigrant Family LA Archdiocese Adds 54 Names To List Of Priests It Says Sexually Abused Children California's Attorney General Is Gathering Information From The Public On Catholic Church Sex Abuse The San Bernardino Diocese says it's made a good faith effort to be transparent about reports of sexual abuse by clergy. "Our list is our very best effort to disclose the clergy abuse cases that happened in the years that we actually existed as a diocese, since 1978," said San Bernardino Diocese spokesman John Andrews. "But because we did used to be part of San Diego, we also published the list that they put out and encouraged people to look at the two lists together to get the full picture of abuse cases in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. There was no attempt to mislead anyone." Reck says 17 of the names in today's report aren't on either list produced by Church officials. They were verified based on court documents or media reports. Reck says there are likely more examples of abuse hidden in the Church's personnel files. "This report is incomplete," Reck said. "Survivors and survivors' advocates created this report with publicly available information. The rest of this information is still held under lock and key by Church officials in San Bernardino and around the state." Andrews said the Diocese of San Bernardino is open to looking into other cases and amending its list. "The whole reason we're doing this is to be transparent and forthcoming with the people and in the name of healing for victims, because that's what we're called to do, and we're going to continue to do it," Andrews said. Jeff Anderson and Associates' report highlighted the history of abuse handling in San Bernardino, including a 1950 letter from the Bishop of San Diego to Church officials in Rome complaining of the Franciscan Order using the communities of Beaumont and Banning as "a dumping ground for their moral, mental and physical problems." The report also pointed out that the Diocese of San Bernardino was home to a halfway house for problem priests run by a religious congregation called the Servants of the Paraclete, which attorneys argue may have exposed parishioners in the region to abuse. Attorneys tracked the movements of the priests over time, noting clergy members who were transferred both in and out of the country. Page 74 of Diocese of San Bernardino Report Contributed to DocumentCloud by Megan Garvey of Southern California Public Radio View document or read text In recent months, dozens of Catholic jurisdictions around the country have released lists of priests credibly accused of child sex abuse. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles released the first update to its list in a decade -- adding the names of 54 priests who were all accused of abuse since 2008. Last month, however, L.A. auxiliary bishop Monsignor Alexander Salazar -- whose name was not on the updated list -- was removed from ministry after an oversight board in the L.A. Archdiocese found misconduct allegations against him credible. The current wave of disclosures follows a Pennsylvania grand jury report released in August detailing allegations that Pittsburgh-area priests had molested more than 1,000 children. Aaron Schrank covers religion, international affairs and the Southern California diaspora under a grant from the Luce Foundation. READ THE FULL REPORT Your donation, which powers our reporters and keep us independent, will be matched dollar for dollar today during our June Member drive. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Eighty-one percent of Los Angeles teachers voted for the contract that ended their strike earlier this month. But there's still a lot of concern coming from one group: special-ed teachers. They say sections of the L.A. Unified School District contract related to their needs --and, by extension, the needs of their students -- haven't been significantly changed in decades. One major issue is class size, which didn't budge for special-ed classrooms during the recent negotiations. "VOTING NO!!," one teacher posted on Facebook last week. "The SPED protocols are virtually unchanged!! Many of these teachers are taking to social media to voice concerns. Amber Schwindler teaches a special education class for autistic students at Germaine Street Elementary School in the San Fernando Valley. She met with LAist after a long school day this week. To demonstrate one of the many challenges of her job, she pulled out a laminated math worksheet she'd made using velcro numbers and the equation two plus zero. It might look like a simple addition equation, she said, but for her students, it's not. "Every kid has an individualized need... there's 17 steps in order to tie your shoe... and people don't think of this task analysis... That's a lot for 10 kids." "It's also a lot of occupational therapy," she said. "Because to un-velcro and to velcro the pieces is hard for some of our kids -- to scan, find the right number is hard. When I say we're doing addition,we're doing addition, and OT, and speech, and everything -- all at one time." Roughly 73,000 LAUSD students are served in special education, making the district one of the highest special education populations in the country. According to LAUSD, it spent an average of $20,689 dollars per special-ed student last year; that's about $8,000 more per pupil compared to general education students. But to teachers who are unhappy with the new contract, the extra money doesn't mean much if class sizes remain too big. If you think teaching a larger-than-average general-population class is difficult, Schwindler said, imagine how difficult it must be in a special-ed setting, where even tasks some might say are simple become complicated. "Every kid has an individualized need," she said. For example, "there's 17 steps in order to tie your shoe. First, you have to put your sock on, then you put your shoe on, then you have to loosen it... and people don't think of this task analysis all the time." Planning for every action item, every schedule change, every transition, every student at every part of the day, she added -- "That's a lot for 10 kids." While a class of 10 might sound reasonable, she said, it can quickly become unmanageable. And Schwindler's frustration is that not much has changed for these students in nearly four decades. The shortage of knowledge, she explained, meant solutions were tough to agree on.As Gloria Martinez, elementary vice president of the teacher's union, told LAist, "It's astounding." Garcia said part of the problem is a lack of accurate data. No one knows exactly what's going on in special-ed classrooms. "We couldn't start negotiating class size numbers with numbers that we weren't sure of ourselves," she said. "There were some schools that were reporting a 400 percent student special-ed population. That's not possible." Even though special-ed class sizes was difficult to negotiate on, there was a bright spot: the new contract calls for a joint task force to study teacher caseloads to improve the results of the next bargaining session. Schwindler, second from left, striking with other special education teachers. (Emily Elena Dugdale/LAist) "For the last 37 years we didn't have a starting point," she said. "At least now, the information that we get will be more regular and consistent." The new contract states that special-ed class size could grow to as many as 12 students, in which case the district, knowing that it's pushed the envelope, is required to remedy the situation. One potential remedy is to add extra adult supervisors, but Schwindler doesn't see that as a solution. "Okay, well, now I have 12 kids, and I have five adults that I have to manage," she explains. "So really, that's 17 bodies, that's 17 personalities. It's no longer a small learning environment." LAUSD declined our interview request, but sent a statement explaining that the new contract stipulates the creation of a committee to study the workloads and caseloads of special-education teachers and explore ways to make assignments more equitable. The committee will also make recommendations for ensuring that students receive appropriate services and provide strategies to better integrate students with disabilities into the general education classroom. The statement also notes that LAUSD remains committed to pursuing additional funding so that more options become available to special-education teachers. The district already secured a five-year, $5 million grant that will help Los Angeles Unified recruit credentialed special-education teachers that they say will continue to support students with special needs. For teachers like Schwindler, that funding can't come soon enough. But according to her affidavit, she shared a home and 26-year marriage with a man who demeaned and belittled her through verbal and mental abuse. Instead of supporting her goals and applauding her achievements, he got angry when she was successful. He physically assaulted her, she wrote, after she discovered his exchanges with another woman she described as his longtime girlfriend in July, which laid out plans to divorce their respective spouses. The attack was bad enough, she wrote, that a victims advocate wanted to take her to the hospital, but she declined. She said her husband later agreed to go to counseling but she stupidly agreed not to talk about the abuse. Neither Joni nor Gail Ernst is talking to The Register. Though the divorce was finalized in January, there are no court filings to confirm her allegations. But its hard to imagine anyone in her position making them up. And some of her husbands attitudes toward women with power were on full display during the campaign from his past Facebook posts. The commission has deferred for a while now to no avail, she said. In my mind gathering more information isnt a bad thing. Huebsch argued that after investigating the case the commission might conclude that such leases are permissible. A reasonable person would say that would be in defiance of the statute, he said. For me, thats a bridge too far. Huebsch and Nowak were appointed to the commission by former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican. Valcq, who is scheduled to take over as chair in March, was appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Huebner agreed that the law has not kept up with the times but declined to comment on the potential for new legislation. Its a question for the industry and the stakeholders, he said. Is there a legislative fix they can get behind? This is not the first time in recent years the commission has declined to step into the debate. Its also unlikely to be the last time it is asked to. In response to a 2017 request from the Wisconsin Solar Energy Industries Association, the commission with one different member said the issues are better left for the Legislatures determination. Conley replied that 10 years was the floor, and he was considering a longer sentence due to the amount of drugs Draheim brought into the community, the number of people involved and her continued trafficking after initially being caught. If it wasnt for some mitigating factors (the deaths of her husband and daughter), Id consider a longer sentence, Conley said. Under the federal guidelines, Draheim faced 14 to 17.5 years in prison, which Schlipper recommended. There was a devastating effect from her dealing methamphetamine in the La Crosse community, Schlipper told Conley. Draheim has a drug conviction from 20 years ago. She received drug abuse treatment and remained sober probably until the death of her husband in 2015, which seemed to set things off again, Conley said. At that time, two friends from California came for an extended visit and sent for more methamphetamine when the supply they brought ran out, the judge said. Draheim then began using methamphetamine and found many willing to buy it from her, Conley said. Draheim made a brief, emotional statement, which included, Im definitely not a danger to the community. The Mississippi Valley Conservancy is offering a Valentine's snowshoe hike at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, through Romance Woods Nature Preserve, N Ridge Road, Genoa. The family-friendly snowshoe hike will begin at the trailhead at Romance Woods Nature Preserve with staff and volunteers available to help with snowshoe basics and identifying tracks in the snow. Romance Woods Nature Preserve, owned and protected by Mississippi Valley Conservancy, includes 35 acres of scenic, diverse oak woodlands, rocky dolomite outcrops and an ephemeral stream. The land supports healthy populations of white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife available to provide hunting and trapping opportunities for the public. To RSVP for the hike, email achurch@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 784-3606 ext. 2. A limited number of snowshoes are available for reservation by Feb. 13. Include your weight and contact information when you RSVP. Snowshoe size is determined by body weight. 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. In the past, Wisconsin school districts were required to hit specific targets for face-to-face days and hours of instruction. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Now, districts are required only to log a certain number of instructional hours, which varies by grade level. The Department of Public Instruction could also forgive some or all of the missed days a possibility bolstered by Gov. Tony Evers declaration of a statewide emergency. The cold weather this week put a crimp on the cultural and social life of the community. The Cheez Land Uke Band, for example, canceled its weekly Wednesday evening session at the Moose Lodge in La Crosse. The Root Note closed early Tuesday, didnt open at all on Wednesday and opened late on Thursday. Even the Popcorn Tavern, the only place in town where people can hear live music every night of the week, closed its doors Wednesday night. Tonight is not the night for drunken meandering, the venue posted on its Facebook page. The biggest casualty of the weather was the last-minute cancellation of the scheduled Lula Washington Dance Theatre performance Tuesday at Viterbo University Fine Arts Center. The troupe might book a makeup show, but that had not been settled yet this week. VERNON COUNTY Tourism, Promotion and Economic Development Committee meets Monday, February 4th at 1:30 p.m. in the County Board Room, Approval of Bills, 2019 Goals, Economic Development Coordinator Update, Canoecopia Consider Participation, Community Grant Program Decision Matrix Approval, Business Incentive Tools, Reports, Other Business, Next MeetingMarch 18th. County Board of Supervisors meets at 9:30 a.m. February 5, 2019 in the County Board Room Courthouse Annex. Employee Recognition, Coulee Cap annual report, Resolution-County aid for Bridges/Culvert construction, Resolution-Ho Chunk allocation, Ordinances, Remonstrance, Reports of Standing Committees, Adjournment. Emergency Management Committee meets at 9:30 am. February 6th, 1st Floor Conference Room, Erlandson Office bldg. Discussion/Action on purchase of Emergency Stair Chair; Discussion/Action on Purchase of Breathing Air Compressor; Directors Report (4 County HazMat agreement review, Current Projects List, Trainings); Responses Made; Approval of vouchers; other items for discussion; confirm next meeting date. Buildings and Facilities meets at 9:30 a.m. February 7, 2019, Vernon Manor, Sign Farm Rental Contract, HVAC position, Custodian Restructure, Jail Roof, Microwave Courthouse Annex, Department Head report Highway Shop, approve vouchers and confirm next meeting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 He was born in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 8, 1930. Celebration of life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, with military honors at Stockton United Methodist Church, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment of cremains will be in Tomah, at a later date. Full obituary may be viewed at brumbackfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the SAMA Food Pantry. We were living in West Salem at the time and had no garage. My vehicle was a 1986 Ford Escort with more than 100,000 miles and the original battery. By my recollection it was the last year that model featured a carburetor, requiring some finesse with the footfeed to get it started. But start it did and I drove it daily to my newspaper job in La Crosse. However, on the last day of the super cold weather I noticed that the car was running a little rough. I gassed it up and put in a bottle of gas line antifreeze. I was a couple miles from home when the sputtering became more like an asthmatic attack, with the car lurching back and forth. Suddenly there was a loud kaboom and smoke poured out from under the hood. The engine quit and I coasted into a nearby parking lot. I turned the key over but the engine made a strange whining noise, as did I when I had to hike the rest of the way home. I called my mechanic for a tow and the next day I received the diagnosis. Something had sent a fireball up through the carburetor, vaporizing the air cleaner and actually melting the carburetor. I was fortunate that the entire engine did not ignite. Arte Publico Press (AP) is "the nations largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovered literature by U.S. Hispanic authors." It's not just about size. AP publishes some of the best literature of the twenty-first century. The press has a long history (forty years) of high quality publications in a wide range of genres -- children's books to mysteries, poetry to scholarly studies. I'm proud to say that AP publishes my novel-length crime fiction. (AP) is "the nations largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovered literature by U.S. Hispanic authors." It's not just about size. AP publishes some of the best literature of the twenty-first century. The press has a long history (forty years) of high quality publications in a wide range of genres -- children's books to mysteries, poetry to scholarly studies. I'm proud to say that AP publishes my novel-length crime fiction. "The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has announced that The award comes as a total surprise because it typically goes to authors, said Dr. Nicolas Kanellos, founder and director of Arte Publico Press. This recognition will help us amplify voices in Latino literature throughout the United States. The National Book Critics Circle Awards, considered among the most respected literary awards in America, are bestowed by a jury of working critics and book-review editors. Past recipients include Margaret Atwood and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison. The University of Houston has given Arte Publico Press an intellectual space in which to create and thrive, and has provided Latinos the opportunity to make a nationwide cultural imprint through literature, said Dr. Kanellos. I am proud that the Arte Publico Press staff continues to strive for literary excellence. We labor not for our own recognition, but for the benefit of the authors we publish. Our mission to create a space for Latinos in the national culture guides us forward. The NBCC Awards will be presented on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the New Schools Tishman Auditorium (66 W 12th Street, New York, NY 10011), and a finalists reading will be held on March 13, also at 6:30 pm at the same location. Both events are free and open to the public." And to further support the importance of AP in today's publishing world, here are a few examples from the recently released Spring 2019 AP catalog. I firmly believe that if it weren't for AP and a handful of other independent small presses, imaginative and innovative books such as the following would not be published. Book summaries from the AP catalog. In January, the AP received more recognition for its valuable and noteworthy service on behalf of literacy, writing, and cultural awareness. I offer a few quotes from the award announcement. "The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has announced that Arte Publico Press , the nations largest publisher of U.S.-based Hispanic authors, has received the prestigious Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award. Named after the first president of the NBCC, the award is given annually to a person or institution with an extensive history of significant contributions to book culture.The award comes as a total surprise because it typically goes to authors, said Dr. Nicolas Kanellos, founder and director of Arte Publico Press. This recognition will help us amplify voices in Latino literature throughout the United States.The National Book Critics Circle Awards, considered among the most respected literary awards in America, are bestowed by a jury of working critics and book-review editors. Past recipients include Margaret Atwood and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison.The University of Houston has given Arte Publico Press an intellectual space in which to create and thrive, and has provided Latinos the opportunity to make a nationwide cultural imprint through literature, said Dr. Kanellos. I am proud that the Arte Publico Press staff continues to strive for literary excellence. We labor not for our own recognition, but for the benefit of the authors we publish. Our mission to create a space for Latinos in the national culture guides us forward.The NBCC Awards will be presented on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the New Schools Tishman Auditorium (66 W 12th Street, New York, NY 10011), and a finalists reading will be held on March 13, also at 6:30 pm at the same location. Both events are free and open to the public."And to further support the importance of AP in today's publishing world, here are a few examples from the recently released Spring 2019 AP catalog. I firmly believe that if it weren't for AP and a handful of other independent small presses, imaginative and innovative books such as the following would not be published. Book summaries from the AP catalog. Carlos Cisneros March 31, 2019 Disgraced real-estate attorney Camila Harrison loses both her lucrative job as a partner in a well-known Austin law firm and her fiance, a Texas Supreme Court Justice, when emails she sent to a client expressing her racist views are released to the media. She lands in Houston, practicing social security disability law and seeking criminal appointments in federal court. Carlos Cisneros All too soon shes working her first federal criminal case, which involves an undocumented Mexican accused of money laundering. Harrison has no sympathy for illegal aliens and just wants to secure a plea deal quickly. The situation becomes more complicated when she gets to know the defendant, Vicente Aldama, and realizes he came to the US to work and pay for the life-saving surgery his young daughter desperately needs. When her private investigator discovers possible improprieties related to Aldamas arrest, Harrison begins to seriously consider taking the case to trial despite the advice of colleagues and her complete lack of experience in defending high-stakes federal prosecutions. Gripping, suspenseful and deeply moving, Cisneros uniquely original legal thriller asks questions about race, prejudice and the corruption that pervades American society, even as it proclaims to be the most advanced nation in the world with the best judicial system. Yolanda Gallardo Yolanda Gallardo March 31, 2019 Dona Amada can see more through one eye than most people can see with two. She can see the past and the future, in spite of the shiny marble serving as her second eye, which was ripped out by her husbands jealous lover. Gossip and speculation about the mysterious disappearance of Amadas rival swirl around the neighborhood. Rumor has it her remains are buried, scattered in parts of Westchester County. Others swear they have seen her ghosthaving collected all her essential partsswimming in the river, trying to make her way back to the Bronx. Gallardos comic novel about a Puerto Rican community in New York introduces a cast of quirky characters, including Amadas husband, Alberto, or Albertico as the adoring women call him, and her mother Esperanza, who everyone knows is a witch. Family feuds, births and deaths, christenings and funeralsand even a lost, wandering spiritare hilariously sketched in this short novel about an eccentric Cuban/Nuyorican family and the neighbors who delight in their shenanigans and missteps. J. Bret Maney Manhattan Tropics / Tropico en Manhattan Guillermo Cotto-Thorner - Translated by J. Bret Maney - Translated by April 30, 2019 Walking underground for the first time in his life, Juan Marcos Villalobos, a freshly arrived migrant to New York City, offers his seat to a woman standing on the subway. Though his English isnt up to her rude reply, he quickly realizes that good manners in Nueva York are quite different than in Puerto Rico! Juan Marcos is eager to continue his studies in the United States and rents a room from family friends living in El Barrio, or Spanish Harlem. Soon, he has a job wrapping packages at a department store that pays as much as he made teaching high school at home. As he interacts with the Puerto Rican community in New York, he witnesses the problems his compatriots encounter, including discrimination, inadequate housing, jobs and wages. Despite these problems, friendships and romances bloom and rivalries surface, leading to betrayal and even attempted murder! Originally published in 1951 as Tropico en Manhattan, it was the first novel to focus on the postwar influx of Puerto Ricans to New York. Cotto-Thorners use of code-switching, or Spanglish, reflects the characters bicultural reality and makes the novel a forerunner of Nuyorican writing and contemporary Latino literature. This new bilingual edition contains a first-ever English translation by J. Bret Maney that artfully captures the style and spirit of the original Spanish. The novels exploration of class, race and genderwhile demonstrating the communitys resilience and cultural prideensures its relevance today. Viola Canales Viola Canales May 31, 2019 Everyone in fourteen-year-old Cecilias Mexican-American community has a dona special gift or talent. Her father, whos named after St. Anthony, helps people find things, or parts of themselves, that theyve lost. Paco, the janitor in the building where she lives, can tell fortunes. Cecilia cant figure out hers, and she really needs to since her confirmation is coming up. The truth is, Cecilia doesnt really believe people have celestial gifts. Her opinion begins to change when she gets apprenticed to Dona Faustina, who has a magic way with coffee. Soon Cecilia realizes that her apprenticeship involves something more sinister than a mystical brew! And on a trip back to the special Mexican village of Santa Cecilia, she and her friends Julie and Lebna learn something about friendship, community and the powers of good and evil. Award-winning author Viola Canales returns with an appealing novel for teens that highlights a Mexican-American immigrant community and the conflict first-generation young adults experience caught between contemporary American life and their parents traditional ways. Ada De Jesus El baile de octavo y otros recuerdos / The Eighth Grade Dance and Other Memories Ada De Jesus - Translated by Nicolas Kanellos May 31, 2019 Eleven-year-old Ada De Jesus was on the cusp of her teens when she moved to the United States from Puerto Rico. Hurricane Hugo had just decimated the island and her father couldnt find a job. In Chicago, the white dress she arrived in didnt protect her from the snow and frigid temperatures! Constantly exposed to new things, she developed a resilience that served her well. From one place to another, like riding a bike, if you keep pedaling, you wont fall. Ada discovered that students in the United States were frequently disrespectful to their teachers. At school she often felt like a two-year-old as she grappled with a completely new language. In addition to navigating a different culture, she had to deal with all the issues familiar to teenage girls: the growth of body hair, pimples, menstruation and of course boys! Her memories of first intimate encounters, fending off unwanted advances and fear of pregnancy will strike a chord with readers. In these short vignettes recollecting her middle-school years, Ada De Jesus shares her poignant and often funny experiences as a newcomer and an adolescent. Young readers will relate toand laugh ather experiences; some may take heart that they too will overcome the difficulties common at this age. Rene Colato Lainez - Illustrations by Fabricio Vanden Broeck May 31, 2019 Young Renes mother has sent him a new pair of shoes from the United States. He loves his new shoes. They walk everywhere I walk. They jump every time I jump. They run as fast as me. We always cross the finish line at the same time. Renewith his new shoesand his father set off on the long journey to meet his mother in the United States. He says goodbye to his friends in El Salvador, and Uno, dos, tres, my shoes and I are ready to go. The trip is difficult. They take buses and walk across El Salvador, into Guatemala and then into Mexico. His brand-new shoes lose their shine, turning dirty and gray. They become elephants, pushing against the wind; race cars, fleeing hungry dogs; swim shoes, escaping floods; and submarines, navigating through sticky mud. When holes appear on the soles of his shoes, his father wont let him give up. Rene, my strong boy, we want to be with Mama. Sharing his own experiences, Rene Colato Lainezs moving bilingual picture book brings to life the experiences of many young children who make the arduous journey from Central America to the United States in search of a better life. Victor Villasenor - lllustrations by Jose Jara January 31, 2019 One day in a small California barrio, a scary-looking stranger with an ugly scar on his face arrives. Silence falls on the streets. Normally raucous children stop playing, and their fearful mothers quickly beckon them inside. Everyone peeks out of windows and doors to watch the stranger walk down Main Street. Later in the week, the stranger again appears in town. And a few days later, on a pleasant Sunday morning, the man shows his frightening face yet again. But this time, hes not alone. Cradled in the strangers arms is a big, red rooster with a yellow ribbon tied around its neck. When the rooster sets off after a bug with the stranger hanging on to the ribbon like a cowboy who had lassoed a wild bull, the townspeople are finally able to look past the long, ugly scar on the strangers face. Echoing the oral tradition common to so many Latinos, acclaimed author Victor Villasenor shares with young readers one of his fathers favorite stories. With vibrant illustrations by Jose Jara, this will soon become the favorite of many children aged 3 to 7. Later. ________________________________ - Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano has shared information about the suspects of Jolo attack - He said that an Indonesian couple is behind the twin explosions - Ano added that Abu Sayyaf group aided the couple as their guide PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, two Indonesian suicide bombers were behind the twin explosions that happened in a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu. KAMI learned that the alleged suicide bombers were aided by the Abu Sayyaf group. "There are two foreigners involved in the bombing and they were aided by local Abu Sayyaf who acted as guide, and probably conducted preliminary surveillance prior to the bombing, Ano said in CNN Philippines News Night. Ano said that the accused bombers are a couple and were sometimes mistaken as Malaysians but the Interior Secretary was certain that they are Indonesians. 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! The authorities have identified the man as Abu Huda who has been staying in Sulu for a long time now. However, Ano did not name the wife of Huda who also arrived in Sulu days before the bombing. In a report by ABS-CBN News, the initial suspect labeled as alias Kamah acted as one of the guides said the Interior Secretary. KAMI reported before that the Islamic State has claimed the responsibility for the twin explosions that caused at least 20 deaths and around 100 people injured last January 27. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine military to let out an all-out war against the terrorist group. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Tricky questions: testing boys and girls of the Philippines for knowing some historical information. Who is smarter: boys or girls? Find out in the video! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Angkas, a motorcycle ride-hailing service, may be coming back soon - The House of Representatives has recently passed the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles - The House also approved a bill seeking to provide 20 percent discount to students on all modes of transportation PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The House of Representatives has recently approved the legalization of Angkas, a motorcycle ride-hailing service in the Philippines. KAMI learned that the House has passed the Motorcycles-for-Hire Act on Wednesday. In House Bill 8959 or Motorcycles-for-Hire Act, it aims to authorize Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow motorcycles and even habal-habal to serve as public utility vehicles (PUVs) as reported by Inquirer. The bill also requires the operators to provide insurance for the driver, rider, and third party. The authors of the bill were Representatives Raul del Mar of LP, Cebu; Rozzano Rufino Biazon of PDP-Laban, Muntinlupa City; and Pedro Acharon of NUP, General Santos City. This measure has been passed by the Congress after the LTFRB decided to cease the operation of Angkas. The Houses approval of legalizing motorcycles as PUVs drew mixed reactions to the netizens. Here are some of their comments based on the Facebook page of Manila Bulletin: Motorcycle lane before this!!!one thing bago sumakay tingnan ang copy ng insurance at drivers license, baka san ka madala at ma holdap ka pa Just in time for the election period. Awh. This should be heavily regulated. Dapat may tamang seminar sa safety and defensive driving. Wag maging balat sibuyas pero maraming naka motor kamote sa kalsada. Salamat naman... Hanapbuhay na marangal naman po ang angkas malaking tulong sa rider at passenger ang angkas... Good news to. pero sana di Lang dahiL eLeksyon nga daw. Thank you. Mahal na sobra ang grab! 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! Aside from the Motorcycles-for-Hire Act, the House also approved the House Bill 8885 which aims to provide 20 percent discount to students on regular domestic fares on all modes of public transportation may it be in land, sea, air, or rail. Actor turned politician Alfred Vargas is one of the legislators who filed the bill. According to him, the student discount can be availed upon showing of valid school identification card or current enrolment form. Vargas said that the discount includes weekends and holidays. He said that it is valid for the entire period of the students enrolment. He added that the students will be given the right to choose between the promotional fare or the student discount for it is not allowed to avail both at the same time. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Tricky questions: testing boys and girls of the Philippines for knowing some historical information. Who is smarter: boys or girls? Find out in the video! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - A viral post claimed that India declared a holiday when President Rodrigo Duterte visited their country - The viral photos showed that President Duterte came out from a car with large crowds behind - However, it has been reported that the claim is false PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A social media post claimed that India has declared a holiday in honor of President Rodrigo Dutertes visit last January 2018. However, KAMI learned that this claim is false. In a report by ABS-CBN News, the viral photos showed that President Duterte came out from a car with large crowds behind. The post was published on Facebook last January 27, 2019, and was shared thousands of times. According to the misleading post, President Duterte was welcomed in India with a street party and not just with a red carpet. However, when Agence France-Presse made a reverse image search, the photo of President Duterte coming out from a car was published by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). 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 Presidential photos description, President Duterte arrived at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi to attend the India Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2018. Screenshot from PCOO's official website Source: Facebook The second photo in the viral post with large crowds was also posted by the PCOO. According to them, President Duterte was one of the distinguished guests to join the India Republic Day. Screenshot from PCOO's official website Source: Facebook The India Republic Day is the celebration when Indias new constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950. President Duterte was one of the 10 Southeast Asian leaders to attend the ASEAN Summit on January 25 to 26, 2018. 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! Tricky questions: testing boys and girls of the Philippines for knowing some historical information. Who is smarter: boys or girls? Find out in the video! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Brogan Thomas, a mother in England, almost lost her 1-year-old child Kaylah after she was kissed on the lips - According to doctors, Kaylah got infected by herpes due to a person with a cold sore kissing her on the lips - The child was in a critical condition but was able to survive the ordeal PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A mother named Brogan Thomas in Staindrop, England got the scare of her life when her 1-year-old daughter Kaylah Merritt almost died after being kissed on the lips. KAMI learned that Brogan saw purple and red marks on the body of Kaylah while bathing her last December. According to PEOPLE, the baby developed the marks after she was kissed on the lips by an adult. When she was rushed to the hospital, doctors told the mother that Kaylah has been infected by herpes, which can be caused when a person with a cold sore kisses a baby on the lips. Fortunately, Kaylah survived although doctors said that she could have died if she was brought to the hospital at a later time. 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! Brogan took to social media to share her thoughts on what happened to her child: So I've just seen a post about how parents go over the top about people kissing the child on the lips and that it's perfectly fine? Well I can tell you now that's not the case. I've been there with my Kaylah when someone who's had a coldsore has kissed her on the lips,one minute she was ok the next she wasn't, numerous hospital admissions and scares and this was the result herpercitum! Please please don't kiss children on the lips ( but parents)! We was very lucky we caught it when we did, Brogan said. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Tricky questions: testing boys and girls of the Philippines for knowing some historical information. Who is smarter: boys or girls? Find out in the video! Check out our other videos on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - An image of clergymen who were kneeling and praying in front of Cory Aquinos statue went viral on social media - However, it has been discovered that the viral photo was fabricated - The image was manipulated coming from three different photos PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A photo showing that bishops were kneeling down to pray in front of then President Corazon Cory Aquino went viral on social media. However, KAMI learned that this claim has been debunked. Mama Cory Mother of Kris, Pray for us, Mother of Abnoy, Pray for us...ganern? it stated in the Facebook posts caption. As reported by ABS-CBN News, the viral photo was fabricated. It was composed of three different images combined together. A French news agency, Agence French-Presse (AFP), has conducted a reverse image search. The photo of clergymen kneeling and praying was found in a website called The Lady of All Nations. Screenshot from De-vrouwe Source: Facebook The photo was taken in the Netherlands back in May 2005, when the bishops were celebrating the 7th International Day of Prayer Honoring The Lady and Mother of All Nations. You may visit the website here. 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! The photo of Aquinos statue was found by AFP in a local artists website as well as on Instagram. Screenshot from Toym Imao's official website Source: Facebook Screenshot from Webstagram Source: Facebook Check out the site here and here. Meanwhile, the photo of Aquino smiling at the most right can be easily found through Google for it is widely available online. Screenshot from Google Source: Facebook The fabricated photo was shared by multiple Facebook groups and pages supporting President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies with more than 500,000 followers. Born on January 25, 1933, Maria Corazon Cory Cojuangco Aquino was the first female president of the Philippines when she assumed the post on February 25, 1986. Aquino was also a prominent figure during the People Power Revolution which ousted late President Ferdinand Marcos from his post. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Tricky questions: testing boys and girls of the Philippines for knowing some historical information. Who is smarter: boys or girls? Find out in the video! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph Phil Hayes, an AT&T spokesman, wrote that severe weather and power outages may be affecting service for some customers. Both companies said they were working to restore service to affected customers. At about 4 a.m. Thursday morning, a downed power line resulted in an outage for almost 1,100 We Energies customers in far southeast Racine and isolated areas in southeast Mount Pleasant and Elmwood Park. The affected area was roughly bordered by Webster Street to the north, Concord Drive to the south, Wheelock Drive to the west and Madison Street to the east. Service was mostly restored by 8 a.m., according to We Energies spokeswoman Alison Trouy. By 9 a.m., only about 10 customers in the area were still without power. Weve had a few isolated incidents, but overall everything has been reliable, Trouy said. Our system is designed to work in this extremely cold weather. Several power outages in Kenosha County also left about 4,500 residents temporarily without power on Wednesday. About 3,000 customers in Pleasant Prairie and 1,500 in Somers lost power. The outage in Somers lasted from about 6:20 a.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Residents OK for the most part RACINE Three new private and parochial schools have registered this year to take voucher students through the Racine Parental Choice Program. A total of 27 schools have signed on to participate in the program in the 2019-2020 school year, one more than this year. Schools new to the program are Bethany Lutheran School in Kenosha, Martin Luther High School in Greendale and Saint Thomas More High School in Milwaukee. A total of 134 schools have signed up to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program in the coming year, and 262 institutions have registered to participate in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, for students who live in neither Racine or Milwaukee. Wisconsin Lutheran School in Racine is one of 40 schools new to the WPCP this year. Choice in Racine The RPCP gives students who live in the Racine Unified School District and meet certain eligibility requirements the chance to receive a taxpayer-subsidized voucher to attend participating private or religious schools. To qualify for the program in the 2019-20 school year, a new students family income must be equal to or less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $75,300 for a family of four or $82,300 if the childs parents or guardians are married. After the news of the conversation became public, Trump tweeted Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou! Evers, Steil respond Gov. Tony Evers, meanwhile, said he spoke to Foxconn official Louis Woo Friday morning and came away comfortable that theyre still committed to the state. But that doesnt mean that we wont continue to encourage them to be more transparent and consistent in their messaging, Evers said. The economy is apparently changing from their worldview that they have to make some changes. Thats understandable, but we have to make sure the transparency is there. Asked if hes confident that Foxconn will fulfill its original plans to create as many as 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, Evers said The 13,000 is not going to happen tomorrow. Well monitor it. The good news is, as the Republicans continue to tell us, is the jobs are contingent on getting tax credits. So theres some protections there, Evers said. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., was in Mount Pleasant on Friday for a constituent listening session and commented on Foxconns announcement. Something funny happened on the way to the labor movement's funeral. When Justice Samuel Alito and his antilabor colleagues on the Supreme Court handed down the Janus vs. AFSCME decision last June, unions braced for the worst. The American Federation of Teachers expected it might lose 30 percent of its revenue after the high court gave public-sector workers the right to be free riders, benefiting from union representation but paying nothing. Instead, the 1.7 million-member union added 88,500 members since Janus -- more than offsetting the 84,000 "agency fee payers" it lost because of the Supreme Court ruling. And the union has had a burst of energy. There has been a surge of high-profile strikes by teachers' unions in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Rallies, pickets and local campaigns mushroomed by the hundreds. The union has tallied 11 organizing wins since Janus, tripled its "member engagement" budget from 2014 and nearly doubled the number of voters it contacted in 2018. "Alito put his thumb on the scales of justice for the anti-union ideologues," says Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "It was a wake-up call to everyone. Everybody got engaged." Lincoln parking services plans to purchase a parking garage on N Street and take over the lease of the underlying land in order to preserve parking in the southeast corner of downtown. The land where the Eagle Parking garage, 1330 N St., sits is owned by the Mary Brown Trust, with 49 owners spread across five time zones. So buying the land outright is a headache, according to David Landis, director of the Urban Development Department. Instead the city wants to own the building, but lease the land from the trust for 32 years. It took us four months to get them all to agree to an arrangement that allows them to receive the same checks they have been receiving," Landis said of the many descendants who are part of the trust. Under the agreement, the city will purchase the garage for $1.87 million, which is the appraised value of the building, and will assume the lease of the land, said Wayne Mixdorf, Lincolns parking manager. There are seven years left on the lease with a 25-year extension available. That potentially gives the city decades to negotiate purchase of the land if it decides to do that, said Mixdorf. Woman dies of suffocation after she was banished to secluded home during menstruation One more woman has died due to the ill practice of banishing women from home during menstruation in Nepals remote western district Doti on Wednesday. Girls Inc. has hired Maura Penas to lead its Lincoln expansion, which began in 2018. We are excited about providing mentoring adults, research-based curriculum, and an all-girl, pro-girl environment for more girls in Nebraska, said Roberta Wilhelm, executive director of Girls Inc. of Omaha. Maura is the right person to help establish a strong foundation in Lincoln. She has both a passion for the mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold and she has deep ties in the Lincoln community. Girls Inc. began serving the Lincoln community in 2018 with 28 girls participating in the Eureka! program, which combines intensive summer camp experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) with school-year seminars, field trips, speakers, and activities. The program is produced in partnership with the YWCA of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This year, another group of 30 girls will join the program. Girls Inc. of Lincoln plans to launch after-school programming this fall, and with support from a grant from the Girls Inc. national office, plans to establish a sustainable presence in Lincoln by the end of the three-year grant period. 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. John Janovy Jr. took a local pastors retirement advice to get up and out of the house every day. Eight years into retirement, the 81-year-old former professor of biological sciences still heads to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln downtown campus nearly every weekday. At the Student Union, he sets aside an hour or more to write. That generates about two books a year. Then Janovy walks to an office he was allotted by the university after accepting a buyout and retiring in 2011. Although he no longer teaches college courses, Janovy is still making educational contributions to his favorite field of study parasitology. Tapping into five decades of teaching and research, Janovy helped update several editions of the textbook Foundations of Parasitology and is currently writing a chapter on the history of parasitology for an online textbook. Last year, his Africa Notes: Reflections of an Ecotourist was published by the Center for Great Plains Studies. Janovy, who dabbles in watercolor painting, drew all of the pen-and-ink scientific illustrations for the book, as well as authored it after visiting the African continent twice with his wife Karen. Nebraska State Patrol troopers arrested two people after finding 189 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Sarpy County on Thursday morning. Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said at about 8:20 a.m., a trooper stopped a 2012 Dodge Durango near Gretna for following too closely and smelled marijuana coming from inside the SUV. A search turned up 189 pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed packages hidden under a blanket in the cargo area. Thomas said the marijuana had an estimated street value of $750,000. Troopers arrested the driver, Herbert Vazquez, 65, of Oroville, California, and passenger, Mayira Jurado-Lopez, 40, of Hanover Park, Illinois, on suspicion of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 5 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. But wind turbines could be built right now within easy view and earshot of Smith Falls, he said. That would decrease the property value and the money owners spent to enhance the ranch and falls, for them and for the state of Nebraska, he said. The bill, he said, is a small step toward allowing all property owners to be heard. Brewer was passionate in his closing remarks on the bill. "I will tell you that there's a burning disgust in me with many of the big wind folks who spoke here today," he said. "They are this conglomeration of overpaid lawyers that get paid to come in and do what they just did." People who are affected by the wind farms are working for a living and can't come to Lincoln to share their experience, he said. But to say that these wind towers have no effect on property values is ridiculous. These developers are getting ready to scatter wind turbines all throughout the Sandhills, he said. "And with each tower comes lots of concrete. And tearing apart those Sandhills to put in roads, and putting up towers that will be eyesores forever," he said. And it's about to tear the Sandhills apart, Brewer said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 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. The additional funding that may be at stake would be collected from so-called marketplace facilitators, who help retailers sell their products online. Amazon previously began collecting sales taxes from Nebraska purchasers. Briese's proposal could result in the loss of tens of millions of dollars of sales tax revenue from the state's general fund during the coming biennium, the fiscal analysis stated. State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton, who said his office rarely disagrees with estimates from the legislative fiscal analyst's office, told the committee that "we do not believe there will be extra revenue" beyond what already has been factored into budget preparations resulting from Thursday's proposals. "It's already baked into the forecast you have," Fulton said. "Are you saying that you do not see this as a panacea of extra money coming to the state?" Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward asked. "Correct," the tax commissioner said. McCollister said legislation is needed to "level the playing field for brick-and-mortar (retail) facilities in Nebraska" that already collect the state sales tax. The Legislature confirmed Friday the appointment of Jason Jackson as director of the Department of Administrative Services. Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Brewer told senators Jackson had extensive experience in human resources and administration and is a proven leader. "I agree with Sen. (Rick) Kolowski's comments in our exec session that we are fortunate to have such a well-qualified individual for public service," Brewer said. No other questions or comments followed and senators voted 42-0 to confirm Jackson. In November, Gov. Pete Ricketts fired state Director of Administrative Services Byron Diamond for how he handled a temporary employee who was mistreating female employees. Ricketts tapped Jackson to lead the agency in December. The Department of Administrative Services manages the core of state government, providing support services to state agencies, boards and commissions through 13 divisions, including buildings, accounting, personnel, risk management and transportation services. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 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. Having, by chance seen the Broadway revival of The King and I she got a shot at the title role last year. She landed the part, but not without a second audition where she worked alongside Pedro Kaawaloa, who was up for the role of King Mongkut. They added one full call back to the audition process so Pedro and I could work together, Baumgardner said. That was what they were looking for, to see if we had that chemistry. They saw it and I think we do. Critics have said the same about the production, which brought back the 1951 musical that was based on Margaret Landons 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam which was derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens who was governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the 1860s. As such, the musical could very well seem dated, and with elements like Annas bowing to the King, out of touch with the times. But Baumgardner said thats not the case. This is the 2015 Broadway revival, she said. The original director Bartlett Sher found so much from the show that is relevant today. The script was so progressive for its time -- it was written in 1951 -- that its relevant today. I think audiences are surprised by that. Erma Bombeck: At Wits End, returns to the Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St., Friday and Saturday and has signed on for an extended engagement the following weekend. Its a role thats made for Walz, who grew up reading Bombecks work and was influenced by Bombeck's ability to tell a story. A lot of my personality Ive gotten from her, Walz said. Its the ability to roll with the punches. Its the ability to look at the funny side of whatever horrible situation youre going through. I think Erma taught me that. Having a great sense of humor, having a certain amount of drive and tenacity and celebrating the ordinary. I think I like to celebrate kind of the ordinary things as well. One of Ermas lines in the show is, the key to my writing is that Im ordinary. Nobody is going to the moon. Were not that remarkable, but I celebrate what all of us are doing on an everyday basis, and thats pretty cool. But conveying the message of Bombecks significance on society from being one of the most well-known faces of breast cancer to serving as an authoritative voice of the Equal Rights Amendment is challenging in a one-set play that features no other voices -- no other actors -- and takes the audience on an interactive journey. A small Kansas City-based radio network has announced plans to launch a new statewide radio news network in Nebraska. Rockcastle Media Networks said this week it has created a new division, Rockcastle Regional Networks, and will launch the Nebraska Radio Network on Monday. The announcement comes after Learfield Communications shuttered its Nebraska Radio Network on Tuesday after more than 18 years in business. A Learfield spokeswoman said the network was shut down because of financial underperformance. When we learned the Nebraska Radio Network folded, our thoughts turned to serving those affiliates and listeners with high-quality radio news, Rockcastle Media Networks President and CEO Will Sterrett said in a news release. Were excited to offer four newscasts each weekday with much more to come down the road. Sterrett has worked in radio in a number of cities, including Omaha. Rockcastle said its first news broadcasts will be available for radio stations to download via FTP server Monday. Karen Emerick, vice president of affiliate relations for Rockcastle, said the news content initially will be generated out of the company's home studio, but she said over time, as the company brings on affiliate stations, it may re-evaluate and consider using Nebraska-based freelancers or even opening an office in the state. Love 0 Funny 0 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. Friday, February 01, 2019 Friday Clippings From Our Newsroom Floor "Friday Clippings from the Newsroom Floor" so let's dive right in. The County Clerks Office will be open Saturday, Feb. 2 for any voter who wants to hand deliver their ballot to the Clerks Office at 1 Civic Plaza, 6th Floor or at the Voting Warehouse at 2400 Broadway SE Building H. The Special Election is an all-mail ballot election. There will be no election day polling locations. All completed absentee ballots must be received in the Clerks Office, either in person or by mail, no later than 7 p.m. on Feb. 5. Also on the subject of education, reader Brian Borchers writes in reaction to coverage here of the state lottery scholarships: It's worth noting that NM state appropriations to higher ed per student have dropped by over 30% since the 2008 recession.This has been one of the forces driving tuition increases at the state's colleges and universities- costs haven't gone down but tuition revenue has had to increase to make up the difference. WANNA BE A COP? Well, not quite a full-fledged cop, but. . . . APD is holding its next Citizens Police Academy starting March 19. APD has 50 openings for the 12-week program that is open to citizens interested in a hand-on education about the training and work of Albuquerque Police. The Citizens Police Academy meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. The program is designed to improve relations between the department and community, while creating opportunities for volunteers to help police. Students receive classroom instruction from APDs specialized units, including Homicide, Crime Scene Specialists, Narcotics, K-9 and SWAT. People can apply online here. Turnout has been robust with over 101,000 ballots cast for a turnout so far of 24% of the registered voters receiving ballots. APS is asking for an increase in property taxes to finance school construction, improve security and other measures. That has sparked plenty of debate. Will a higher turnout mean more opposition or more support for APS?Also on the subject of education, reader Brian Borchers writes in reaction to coverage here of the state lottery scholarships:Well, not quite a full-fledged cop, but. . . . NEW CITY HALL HEFE Santiago is his name: Mayor Keller announced the appointment of Santiago Chavez to the position of Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. Chavez will manage and direct the day-to-day operations of the Office of Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer, supervising a number of areas including public affairs, constituent services, strategic initiatives, communications, community engagement, and administrative functions. His appointment is subject to confirmation by City Council. Chavez most recently served as Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the NM Association of Counties. Prior to that, Chavez worked at the New Mexico Finance Authority as an advisor to local governments. Chavez replaces Sunalei Stewart who left City Hall and is now Deputy State Land Commissioner. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019 Santiago looks pretty serious in that picture, doesnt he? Like hes ready to fire someone? Under your desks, kids. Here he comes.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) The APS mail-in election ends Tuesday and BernCo Clerk Linda Stover says: It's been quite a while since we had an edition ofso let's dive right in. Toilet talk The Valleys public toilets are in woeful sanitary conditions CHARLESTON Record yields. Soybean tariffs. A federal shutdown. Key moments in the 2018-19 season continue to make for an exciting year for agriculture, albeit not always positive, and the industry's most recent hurdle is proving more problematic as time passes. Outside of leaving government employees without paychecks and having parks with overflowing trash cans, the partial federal government shutdown -- at least temporarily stopped by a three-week agreement announced Jan. 25 -- also made for a touchy grain market, which, in turn, has made decisions on selling and planting grain more challenging for local producers connected to the price of soybeans and corn. Among other duties, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is relied upon to release supply and demand data for grain, specifically soybeans and corn, for local farmers and local commodities traders. As of late January, many were working off information released over a month ago. A newer report was slated to be released Jan. 11, yet the date has come and gone and still the newest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report released so far came out a month before. While juggernauts in the commodities market have been able to wade through it all with better market analytics, the overall markets, and therefore farmers who sell in those markets, have been flying blind on when to sell and what to plant, said Josh Green, Tate and Lyle Coles Station grain elevator manager. "The market is in limbo," Green said, as people waited for an end to the federal shutdown, which came at least temporarily Jan. 25. The country's farmers and traders are wading into uncharted waters, said Paul Daily, Mattoon farmer. "Everyone is kind of on pins and needles," he said before the three-week agreement was reached. And that is reflected in recent market shifts. He said the commodities market has shifted rapidly in relation to even the smallest bits of news. "It doesn't take much to move these markets now," Daily said. "Markets are really jittery because we just don't have any information. There is just not a lot of news. We are not getting anything out of Washington." Daily pointed to one example where one Brazilian analyst said the soybean crop in that country was not as hurt, and that news hit soybean prices relatively quickly. The numbers were wrong, though, and there was a production cut in Brazil, shifting the prices back. The markets are latching on to any discernible metric for where the international supply and demand is and how that impacts U.S. soybeans and corn. There is a sense, or more specifically a need, for consistency and stability the market has been waiting for. That need is represented in the jumps and dives those paying attention to the markets have noticed, Daily explained. 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}} Fortunately, Daily said for himself and other local farmers, they plant 50/50 corn and soybeans, leaving the gambling on market out of their crop. "Some farmers, this year, went heavier on the soybeans," he noted. Soybeans looked like the profitable crop with countries like China pulling in more and more soybeans. That dropped off when tariffs were instated on U.S. soybeans after similar tariffs were made on Chinese exports. Daily said these shifts, although frequent, are also small in comparison to, say, the stock market. He said there is usually a 50-cent range as it fluctuates. "It usually stays within a channel," he said. Coupled with the shutdown, those in the agricultural community are still cautiously watching what impacts the tariffs on U.S. soybeans will have for the next growing season, which Green said could strike an imbalance in what is planted for the upcoming season. Green said there is concern from some that too many farmers will pull back from soybeans in reaction to the tariffs, that the equilibrium between corn and soybean supply might see an asymmetry. Even still, Daily is optimistic that demand is there for grain and the prices to come back when a trade deal is made. "I think the demand is excellent out there," he said. Last harvest, farmers were saved by record yields that overcame dropping soybean prices, Daily said. He noted, though, that farmers can't rely on impressively high yields each year like they received this last season to get them to break even. "The only thing that is keeping us above water is our good yields this year," he said. Both the federal shutdown and the trade dispute have no visible signs of permanently ending anytime soon. This already was the longest shutdown in United States history and lawmakers and the president seemed uninterested in budging until a temporary, three-week compromise was announced Jan. 25. Just before that, lawmakers failed to pass two conflicting bills to temporary restart the government. As to what might happen if this shutdown resumes after the three-week period, Daily and Green both did not have an answer. So far the impact was slight, relatively speaking, outside of unknowns in the market, but that is not to say things won't become a problem in the near future. Green said this has not happened before, so there is nothing on which to base predictions. "It could be a rough time," Daily said. "If the tariffs go on and the shutdowns go on -- it could be a hard time for farmers. Can we count on the rains like we did last year? If we lower prices or even trend line yields? If we back off just to trend line yields with these prices, then you are looking at a negative cash flow." Daily is still hopeful, though, that the issues surrounding the shutdown will resolve themselves sooner rather than later. Should they not, the Mattoon farmer added other bigger issues will rear their heads if it continues, at least for farmers, pointing to crop insurance in particular. The government subsidizes crop insurance to make the insurance prices more affordable for farmers. "The shutdown for the Midwestern farmer is not critical yet, but it is going to be critical," Daily said just before Jan. 25. "Another 30 days, we will be setting price. We will be wanting to get our crop insurance... if they are not being administered, that could adversely affect the farmer." Contact Jarad Jarmon at (217) 238-6839. Follow him on Twitter: @JJarmonReporter 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. CHARLESTON -- A 22-year-old local man was arrested at a traffic stop on preliminary charges of cannabis possession with an intent to deliver, according to law enforcement. Police say John D. Pittenger of Charleston was arrested at 11:02 p.m. Sunday in the 800 block of West Lincoln Avenue following the stop. Police say officers conducted a stop on a vehicle driven by Pittenger for speeding. Pittenger is accused of going 94 mph in a 55 mph speed limit zone eastbound on Illinois Route 16 heading into Charleston. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. When the vehicle was stopped, a K9 dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the auto, police reported. After a search was conducted, Pittenger was found with a small amount of cannabis on his person, and approximately 63 grams of suspected cannabis was found underneath the driver seat of the vehicle, police reported. Pittenger was placed in the Coles County jail on the preliminary felony charge of possession with an intent to deliver 30 to 500 grams of cannabis. The 2000 Dodge that was stopped was seized pending a vehicle seizure hearing. Photos: 2019 mug shots from the JG-TC Contact Jarad Jarmon at (217) 238-6839. Follow him on Twitter: @JJarmonReporter Love 1 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. URBANA -- Ethanol production has increased sharply in the United States in the past 10 years, leading to concerns about the expansion of demand for corn resulting in conversion of non-cropland to crop production and the environmental effects of this. However, a new study co-authored by a University of Illinois researcher shows that the overall effects of ethanol production on land-use have been minimal. The research, published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, looks at the effects of ethanol production capacity and crop prices on land use in the U. S. from 2007 to 2014. The increase in corn ethanol production has led to concerns that it would raise the price of corn and the demand for cropland; thus making it worthwhile to bring land that was not previously cultivated (such as grasslands) into production, says Madhu Khanna, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics at U of I. Studies have simulated the crop price effects of producing 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol and shown that they could lead to large expansion in crop acres, Khanna says. We now have actual data on land-use change that has occurred since the ethanol expansion began in 2007 and can test whether the predictions of these models have held up. Interestingly, the raw data shows that although corn ethanol production more than doubled between 2007 and 2014, total cropland acres in 2014 were very similar to those in 2007 and the crop price index was lower in 2014 than in 2007. Khanna and her co-authors, including Yijia Li, a graduate student at U of I and Ruiqing Miao from Auburn University, analyzed cropland data from the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service to explain the extent to which changes in cropland acres could be causally attributed to changes in crop prices and proximity to ethanol plants. Establishment of an ethanol plant in a county can increase corn acres and total cropland acres by reducing grain transportation costs and increasing the net revenue from corn production, creating an incentive to plant more corn, Khanna says. Additionally, higher crop prices that accompany the expansion in ethanol production can also create incentives for increasing crop acres even in locations that do not have an ethanol plant in their vicinity. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Khanna adds that in examining the causes of changes in cropland acres that have taken place it is important to consider both of these effects. Previous studies have looked at one of the other, but not simultaneously at both. Corn ethanol capacity went up from about 6 to 14 billion gallons between 2007 and 2014 and the number of plants doubled, from about 100 to about 200, so its a pretty dramatic increase, Khanna says. There was also a sharp upturn in corn prices between 2008 and 2012, but by 2014 the prices were almost down to 2007 levels again. Khanna and her co-authors found that while crop prices had a greater effect than plant proximity, overall changes in land use were minimal over the seven years included in the study. And while the higher corn prices did lead to an 8.5 percent increase in corn production, most of that increase came from conversion of other crops rather than non-cropland. Total cropland increased by 2 percent between 2008 and 2012, so in the aggregate it was relatively small, Khanna says. In fact, by 2014 a lot of the land which did convert into crops actually went back into non-crop, so the change in cropland, if you look at 2008 to 2014, was only by half a percent. We find that land use does respond to prices, but not by a lot. Studies using satellite images of cropland to compare acres in 2008 and 2012 have suggested that there was a significant and irreversible increase in those acres, all attributed to corn ethanol. But a careful analysis of the data all the way to 2014 shows that the overall impact of corn ethanol production on increasing total crop acreage was very negligible. Moreover, the impact of crop price varied over time; it was a bit higher up to 2012 but then reverted almost back to previous levels in 2007-2008 by 2014 as crop prices dropped, Khanna concludes. Our study shows that changes in land use should not be considered irreversible; as prices dropped after 2012, land reverted back to non-crop uses close to levels in 2007 and 2008. The paper, Effects of Ethanol Plant Proximity and Crop Prices on Land-Use Change in the United States, was published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and is available online. Authors include Yijia Li and Madhu Khanna, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois, and Ruiqing Miao, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Charleston fire Firefighters responded to pipe burst at 3:29 p.m. Wednesday at 1417 Jackson Ave. -- -- -- Firefighters were called to Eastern Illinois University's Ford Hall for an accidental fire alarm activation at 6:38 p.m. Wednesday. -- -- -- A cooking incident set off a fire alarm at 12:36 a.m. Thursday at Eastern Illinois University's Andrews Hall. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. -- -- -- Firefighters responded to a fire call at 9:35 a.m. Thursday at 1721 Jackson Ave. It was set off by construction dust. -- -- -- Firefighters were called out to 522 W Lincoln Ave. for what was a broken sprinkler head at 6:14 p.m. Thursday. -- -- -- On Friday, firefighters responded to alarm at 1:08 p.m. Friday at 1355 N Fifth St. for broken pipes. -- -- -- Eastern Illinois University Union had water pipe issues at 2:16 p.m. Friday. 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. STEWARDSON Triple S Farms has specialized in marketing its pasture-raised beef cattle, hogs, chickens, and turkeys to businesses and individual customers for many years now. In recent years, founder Stan Schutte and his son, Ryan, have expanded their selection of meat and poultry to nearly 200 products and have stepped up their home deliveries of these items to customers in the region. Schutte said Triple S Farms has provided home deliveries for about 10 years now from its Stewardson home base but has been adding more customers in the Mattoon and Effingham areas to this service in recent years. "We are pushing hard at deliveries because that is the way the industry is going. If you are going to be competitive, that is where you have to be," Schutte said. "I enjoy the deliveries. It's just a way to get out to meet people" 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}} Schutte said there is a growing interest among consumers in the local food movement. He said Triple S Farms, which hosts tours, has been able to connect with this movement with its meat and poultry from humanely raised, antibiotic-free animals. He said his farm gets its eggs from Townside Acres and its lamb from Tree Line Farms in Amish country. In addition, Schutte said Triple S Farms has continued to expand its product line to meet customer demand. For example, he said they have been adding more deli items, meatballs and other ready-to-eat items to their selection, as well as several types of pizzas. Schutte said one of his personal favorite new products is the Philly cheese steak bratwurst. "We have worked really hard giving folks what they want and taking care of them. We take care of our customers," Schutte said, adding that customers want choices in products. "It's really important to spend time with customers and listen to them. A lot of our products come from customer ideas." Triple S Farms recently started offering North African berbere sausage and top round German rouladen steak at customer request, Schutte noted. Schutte said that while Triple S Farms has pulled back from the Chicago area market, it has been building more partnerships with businesses in Central Illinois. For example, Tripe S Farms products can be found at the new Harvest Market chain supermarket in Champaign. To reach out to potential customers in the region, Schutte has been presenting cooking demonstrations with Triple S Farms products on television with WCIA in Champaign and in person at locations such as Green Top Grocery in Bloomington. "I enjoy meeting the folks. You meet one on one and you build relationships," Schutte said. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud Love 0 Funny 0 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. MARSHALL -- The Clark County Soil & Water Conservation District has honored Jack Garner of Martinsville with its 2019 Conservation Farm Award. The conservation district reported that Garner realized in 2012 that there were some problems with his farming operation southeast of Martinsville in Anderson Township regarding soil erosion, drainage, poor soil quality and low organic matter. Garner soon came to the conclusion that he was growing farm crops in "dead dirt." "His answer to these problems was to improve the soil health of his fields. This would include reducing tillage, increasing plant diversity, and keeping the soil surface covered at all times. Hoping to bring the dead dirt to life, Jack began incorporating no-till into his farming operation and experimented with the planting of cover crops," the district reported. During this past year, most of Garner's fields were planted by no-till. The conservation district reported that half of those fields was planted with a single-species cover crop of cereal rye, while the other half was planted with a multi-species cover crop of cereal rye, tillage radish and crimson clover. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. "I try to farm in nature's image, which I believe can be accomplished with no-till and cover crops. That reduces my erosion and allows me to grow fertilizer so I can reduce my chemical inputs," Garner said, adding that these practices have improved soil health on the 300-acre farm that he and his wife, Patricia, operate. The conservation district reported that Garner plans to work toward increasing his crop rotation from corn and soybeans to corn-soybean-wheat during the next farming season. He envisions a cereal rye cover crop following corn, and a multi species cover crop following his wheat crop. His goal is to reduce inputs on corn and improve the soil health on his farm. In addition to the soil health practices that Garner has incorporated into his farming operation, he has established a Conservation Reserve Program pollinator habitat on the farm. He also has enrolled 84 acres of woodland into the Illinois Forestry Development, Management and Stewardship Program. Garner said much of the land that he has put in reserve now grows prairie grass and wildflowers, and provides habitat for butterflies and honey bees. "The Martinsville Field Office has very much enjoyed and continues to enjoy working with Jack, and believes he is one of the most progressive cover crop farmers in Clark County. Jack believes by concentrating on soil health and conservation now, he will be leaving the next generation farmer a 'growingliving soil,'" the conservation district reported. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud Love 0 Funny 0 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. TOLEDO -- The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District has honored Chris Apke of Teutopolis with the 2018 Outstanding Conservationist Award. Each year, the Cumberland conservation district, which is based in Toledo, recognizes a person or organization that the district board thinks has made an outstanding effort to promote conservation and wildlife during recent years. This award recognizes recipients for their natural resource conserving practices and awareness of the need to conserve natural resources. The 2018 honoree, Apke, and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 26 years and have three children -- Clayton, Allison, and Mitch. Apke, who has been farming since 1995, grows corn, soybeans and wheat on 300 acres. He also raises 700-800 head of Holstein feeder cattle each year, and is the area sales representative for Big Iron Auction Co. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Apke utilizes cover crops on at least 50 percent of his acres. Those covers consist mainly of cereal rye, annual rye grass and barley. The Cumberland conservation district reported that cover crops, when planted after wheat, will have eight-10 different species in the mixture. Corn and soybeans are then no-tilled into the cover crops. "Chris believes that keeping the soil covered year round is the key to sustainable agriculture," the Cumberland conservation district reported. In addition, Apke has completed two grass waterway projects and has acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program's Quail Border Habitat program. He also plants wildlife food plots each year. "The Cumberland County Soil and Water District comments Chris for his concern for natural resources and the work he is doing to help protect those resources," the district reported. Love 0 Funny 0 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. Introduction In just 50 years, almost a million Jews, whose communities stretch back up to 3,000 years, have been 'ethnically cleansed' from 10 Arab countries. These refugees outnumber the Palestinian refugees two to one, but their narrative has all but been ignored. Unlike Palestinian refugees, they fled not war, but systematic persecution. Seen in this light, Israel, where some 50 percent of the Jewish population descend from these refugees and are now full citizens, is the legitimate expression of the self-determination of an oppressed indigenous, Middle Eastern people. This website is dedicated to preserving the memory of the near-extinct Jewish communities, which can never return to what and where they once were - even if they wanted to. It will attempt to pass on the stories of the Jewish refugees and their current struggle for recognition and restitution. Awareness of the injustice done to these Jews can only advance the cause of peace and reconciliation. (Iran: once an ally of Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran is now an implacable enemy and numbers of Iranian Jews have fallen drastically from 80,000 to 20,000 since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Their plight - and that of all other communities threatened by Islamism - does therefore fall within the scope of this blog.) Ride-sharing services ridden with issuesfrom safety and insurance to privacy compliance The two companies operating ride-sharing services have come under scrutiny for a lack of regulations, concerns over tax filings, privacy and security compliance, and road safety and insurance. Iran has been a particular problem with regards to the spreading of fake news and Twitter announced earlier this week that more than two thousand accounts on its platform have been suspended for malicious activity tied to Iran. Twitter and Facebooked worked together to identify the suspicious accounts. The cybersecurity expert at Facebook, Nathaniel Gleicher, said that it was Twitters investigation into fake Iran-linked accounts that alerted Facebook to similar activity. Both social media giants said that they are going to continue working together in the future to combat such activity. Facebook said that the misinformation campaigns from Iran targeted social media users in South Asia and across the Middle East. It further stated that the malign accounts specifically targeted public debates. Facebook could not elaborate about the specific intentions of those spreading fake news, but a study carried out by the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab determined that the accounts promoted or amplified views in line with Iranian governments international stances. It said: The pages posted content with strong bias for the government in Tehran and against the West and regional neighbors, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. Last year, Facebook removed more than 650 groups, accounts and pages with links to Iran. Facebook said that the identities of the users were clearly fake and they were obviously taking part in some sort of Iranian influence campaign. Iran is no stranger to such tactics to influence the public. For decades it has employed such methods to discredit its opposition. A particular target has been the main opposition to the Iranian regime, the only viable alternative, the PMOI / MEK (the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran). The PMOI / MEK has been accused of being a terrorist organisation and foreign countries listened to these false claims. Its strategies have clearly modernised with time. Thankfully, for the international community, the social media companies are taking the misuse of their platforms very seriously. Already, the quality of reporting in the international press with regards to what is happening in Iran is mostly underreported and often does not reflect reality, so curbing the online misinformation campaigns is crucial. With the U.S. election and social media controversy, it is clear to see how powerful, and thus damaging, social media can be. It is the responsibility of these giants to ensure that this situation does not arise again. Activity like this is something that creates divisions in society, fuels ongoing disagreements and spreads chaos in fragile areas. The Iranian regimes involvement with disinformation campaigns is an indication of its weakness and desperation. It is hanging on by a thread and it will go to any means possible to prolong its survival. * "Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , May 2021. * "Most Popular Copyright Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , May 2021. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018. * IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014. * Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013. * Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011. 2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100. * Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010. * Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010. * Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010. * Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll. Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008. Legal Kat copy The IPKat is delighted to receive and publish the following guest post by former GuestKat Mirko Bru on a recent German decision on private copying and ... radio stream ripping. Here's what Mirko writes: "After 14 years of legal quarrel around the scope of Germanys private copying exception, there still is no end in sight for copyright owners and businesses trying to make a profit from it. On January 17th, 2019 the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg added another piece to the puzzle, finding the radio stream ripping service ZEEZEE liable for copyright infringement (case No 5 U 18/17). InfoSoc Directive (2001/29/EC). Member States may provide exceptions and limitation to this exclusive right in the cases listed in Art. 5 of the directive. Germany has chosen to do so and implemented limitations in At the centre of the more than a dozen German cases regarding stream ripping is the reproduction right, as granted to (amongst others) film and phonogram producers by Art. 2 of the(2001/29/EC). Member States may provide exceptions and limitation to this exclusive right in the cases listed in Art. 5 of the directive. Germany has chosen to do so and implemented limitations in section 53 of the German Copyright Act ( 53 UrhG). The relevant parts state that it shall be permissible for a natural person to make single copies of a work for private use on any medium, insofar as they neither directly nor indirectly serve commercial purposes, as long as no obviously unlawfully-produced model or a model which has been unlawfully made available to the public is used for copying. A person authorised to make copies may also cause such copies to be made by another person if no payment is received therefore, or if it involves copies on paper or a similar medium which have been effected by the use of any kind of photomechanical technique or by some other process having similar effects. ZEEZEEs business model depends on the interpretation of this exception, and the service may have to make dramatic changes or shut down, if the new decision is confirmed by the FCJ (it is currently unknown if ZEEZEE has chosen to appeal the decision). ZEEZEE offers a subscription that enables users to add songs to a wish list. According to ZEEZEE, this activates an automatic process which first searches hundreds of web radios for the requested title, then records the song and stores the copy into the users online locker, from where it can later be downloaded, only by this specific user. The plaintiff in this case did not believe that the service operates this way, but instead alleged that the company keeps master copies of the songs on its servers and enables users to access these copies after they were requested. To substantiate this claim, the plaintiff demonstrated that a number of test downloads always produced the complete songs from beginning to end and never had any ads or voice-over announcements, suggesting that they were not recorded from web-radios. Furthermore, on several occasions the plaintiff had obtained MP3s with identical hash-values (= identical files), even though the songs were requested from different user accounts at different times. According to the plaintiff, this would be technically impossible to obtain identical files when recording a song from a web radio on different occasions. The court found that if this alleged mode of operation was true, ZEEZEE would indeed make illegal reproductions of the songs. Such copies would neither be single copies made by a natural person for private use, nor would they represent copies for which no payment is received. Therefore, the private copying exception would not apply and, lacking a licence, ZEEZEE would be liable for copyright infringement. Interestingly, the court did not rely on this alleged modus operandi but instead examined the facts alleged by the defendant, ultimately coming to the same conclusion that the private copy exception does not apply to the copies in question. Kat enjoying some music To get there, the court focused on the question who actually makes the copy, because only (private) copies made by a natural person are privileged under section 53 of the German Copyright Act. If the copies are made by a third party, this party may not receive any payment for doing so in order for the exception to apply. Past decisions focused on who pushed the button and found that when a completely automated process is initiated by the user, then the user has to be considered as the maker of the copy (FCJ, case No I ZR 216/06 Internet Videorecorder). Now, the Hamburg judges applied a broader and more differentiated view, highlighting that ZEEZEEs users do in fact push the button, but that ZEEZEE business model goes beyond providing a mere technical tool to have the copies made. Instead, an important function of ZEEZEE is to find a legal source for the requested tracks from which the copy could be made. This would go beyond the intent of the private copy exception and leave ZEEZEE as the maker of the copy, by actively involving itself in the recording, the court found, citing the CJEUs recent VCAST decision (see Katpost here ). The court further pointed out that here, the user had no control over the time and the source of the recording. In cases where a certain song was available in different recordings, the user would not even know which version would be recorded, demonstrating that not the user was responsible for the copy, but ZEEZEE. The fact that ZEEZEE had set up its business in a way that all the steps happened automatically, without human interference once a user has made a request, would not result in a different assessment, since the control over what was recorded from where and when remained with ZEEZEE. Having established that the reproductions were made by ZEEZEE and not by the user, the court consequently denied a legal private copy, since it was undisputed that ZEEZEE did receive payment for its services, thus precluding the exception of Section 53(I)2. While the judgment only concerns the songs from a single album, it is clear that its implications affect the whole business model of ZEEZEE and other stream ripping services that operate in a similar manner. In fact, in November 2018, the Higher Regional Court of Munich found a competitor of ZEEZEE, MusicMonster.FM, liable for copyright infringement on very similar grounds (case No.29 U 3619/17). Last year, there was wide media coverage of infighting within South Africas sole music collecting society, the Southern Africa Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). Several issues were subjects of agitation within SAMRO and between SAMRO and some of its members. There were disagreements over the issue of rules regarding full membership qualification, SAMROs investment in a Dubai Ponzi scheme, the construction of SAMRO House and SAMROs royalty distribution rules. where an arranger creates an arrangement, he (the arranger) receives 16.7% of the copyright in the new arrangement while the balance goes to the composers of the original work because the presumption is that original work forms the basis (and thus lions share) of the new arrangement. One key issue arose from a publication by City Press regarding what SAMRO calls the 16.7% arrangement rule as it applies to arrangements of traditional gospel music, traditional African music or folk music. According to SAMRO CEO, Nothando Migogo , What does the Copyright Act say about arrangement of music? By virtue of section 6(f) of the South African Copyright Act , copyright in a musical work entails the exclusive right to do or authorize the making of an adaptation of the work. An adaptation in relation to a musical work includes any arrangement or transcription of the work, if such arrangement or transcription has an original creative character: see section 1(1)(b) of the Act. If A owns copyright in a musical work and B wishes to make an arrangement of As musical work, B would require permission from A in order to do so. This is because such arrangement is an adaptation of As work and he (A) has the exclusive right to make such an arrangement or authorize anyone, in this case, B to do so. A would not be obliged to give permission but if he does give permission, authorship (and copyright) in the arrangement would be vested in both A and B as joint authors. Under section 1 of the Copyright Act, a work of joint authorship means a work produced by the collaboration of two or more authors in which the contribution of each author is not separable from the contribution of the other author or authors. Copyright in a work of joint authorship would belong to all the authors of such work. Orphan works or public domain works? If the author/composer of a musical work is not known or copyright in a musical work has expired and B wishes to make an arrangement of such work, there would be no one or no known person to obtain permission from. In the case where the original author exists but is not known (an orphan work), both B and the unknown author would be joint authors of the arrangement. However, where the original work is in the public domain, would Bs arrangement belong 100% to B? If it did, would another arrangement of the original work by say C, constitute an infringement of Bs copyright in his arrangement? This is unlikely because a work is not an infringement of an existing work simply because it contains the work of another. However, in the case of YouTube for instance, would Cs arrangement not be flagged with a copyright strike if B uploaded his arrangement first under Content ID And then the key question: is folk music or traditional gospel or African music, an orphan work? Is folk music or traditional gospel music in the public domain? There is no accepted universal definition of public domain. However, widely accepted definitions incorporate notions of works in which copyright has expired and/or works that lack copyright protection due to the absence of originality. Orphan work is not defined in the Copyright Act. However, if definitions in reports and academic papers are to be accepted, it appears that orphan works, enjoy copyright protection just that the author is not known or cannot be found. Put this way, two pertinent questions come to mind regarding SAMROs 16.7% arrangement rule: (1) What is the basis for allotting 16.7% only to arrangers? Put differently, why 16.7%? (2) Is it lawful to paint every traditional gospel/African/folk music with the brush of public domain? And a related question: when traditional gospel/folk/African music is known to be of black origin [or any other race] , should other races (whites, Indians, Chinese) [or blacks in the case of other races] share from a musical arrangement incorporating such music? If the origin of traditional music forming part of an arrangement is known to a collecting society, would a distribution policy that engenders distribution to members of all origin be discriminatory? In December 2018, South Africas National Assembly passed the Copyright Amendment Bill . The Bill defines orphan works and makes provisions for the licensing of orphan works. Clause 1 provides for a range of new definitions and defines orphan work to mean a work in which copyright subsists and the owner of a right in that work (a) cannot be identified; or (b) is identified, but cannot be located. Clause 24 provides that any person who wishes to obtain a licence to use an orphan work must make an application in the prescribed manner to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The application is to be accompanied by publications in the Gazette and two daily, nationally circulated newspapers. Such application is to be made after a thorough search for the copyright owner has been made without result. The CIPC may grant a licence, which shall be non-exclusive, and royalty is to be deposited in a particular account so as to enable the owner of the copyright in the work or, his or her heirs to claim such royalty at any time. If traditional gospel/African/folk music is treated as orphan works, what would then become of the 16.7% arrangement rule? Are these requirements of administration by the CIPC not onerous for arrangers? For indigent arrangers, would the cost of search and newspaper publications and payment of royalties not be burdensome? Clause 22D of the Bill allows collecting societies to collect and distribute royalties in accordance with their constitution. Would the 16.7% rule be lawful as a distribution rule that is part of the constitution of SAMRO? Or, would such rule amount to unlawfully contracting of a statute that deems orphan works to include traditional or folk music? If the appellation of public domain were inordinately applied to every folk music or traditional (gospel) music, would such appellation not unduly prejudice the interests of communities/indigenous people/races in such music? Given recent events at SAMRO and given South Africas history, there is a risk of perpetuating the economic discrimination of the apartheid era if traditional or folk music is not appropriately classified whether as orphan works, works in the public domain or indigenous knowledge. Whatever appellation is accepted will also require an appropriate approach towards collective licensing arrangements of works containing traditional gospel or folk music and how this feeds into digital copyright management tools such as YouTubes Content ID. The Mirage 2000 TI crashed during a "take off roll'' within the periphery of the HAL airport. (Reuters) A newly upgraded Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 TI aircraft crashed Friday morning while on a test sortie at the old HAL airport in Bengaluru, killing both pilots. The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Siddharth Negi(31) and Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol(33), attached to the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment of the IAF. The crash occurred during a "take off roll'' within the periphery of the HAL airport. The aircraft crashed in an open, bushy area on the edge of the airfield. The incident happened barely 100 metres away from a busy road which houses several buildings of IT companies. SEE PHOTOS FROM THE CRASH SITE The pilots managed to eject from the plane before it crashed. While Negi died at the crash site, Abrol was taken to the nearby HAL hospital where he was declared dead. "HAL regrets to inform that one upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed during the customer acceptance flight at HAL airport here today around 10.30 am resulting in loss of lives of two pilots Sqn Ldr Sameer Abrol and Sqn Ldr Siddartha Negi,'' HAL said in a statement on Friday. The fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed at the military airport runway near Bengaluru soon after take-off for a training sortie on Friday. (PTI) "Today morning a Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft on an acceptance sortie after upgrade crashed at HAL airport, Bengaluru. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries," a defence ministry statement said on Friday afternoon. Doctors at the HAL hospital where Abrol was taken after the crash said he was brought with multiple injuries including severe burns. A still from a video grab shows smoke rising from the wreckage of the Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft after it crash landed in Bengaluru. (PTI) Negi who is from Dehradun was commissioned into the IAF on June 27, 2009 while Abrol who is from Ghaziabad in UP was commissioned on June 21, 2008. They were flying the second acceptance sortie of the upgraded Mirage 2000 when the crash occurred. The Mirage 2000 aircraft made by the French firm Dassault Aviation was inducted into the Indian Air Force from 1985 and performed exceedingly well during the Kargil conflict in 1999. The Mirage 2000 fleet in the IAF is being upgraded under a $ 2.2 billion agreement signed in 2011 to put it in the league of a multi-role combat aircraft. The crash on Friday was the first one involving an upgraded Mirage 2000 TI aircraft since these fighters began being delivered to the IAF by HAL in 2016 Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam Video Producer: Hera khan Two pilots died after a Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) crashed at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru on 1 February. Both pilots in the aircraft had ejected, but one of them died after landing on the wreckage of the aircraft, according to the report. The other pilot succumbed to his injuries in hospital, where he was admitted in a critical condition. According to the HAL PRO, the aircraft crashed into a blockade near the runway. The crash took place when the pilots were on an test flight after the aircraft was upgraded. At least two choppers were pressed into service to vet the crash site and six fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames at the crash site. Also Read: Mirage Crash: Sam & Sid, Let Down by a Vote-Hungry Establishment The test pilots have been identified as Squadron leader Siddharth Negi and Squadron leader Samir Abrol. They were from the Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) of the Air Force. Negi, who hailed from Dehradun, was commissioned in the IAF in June 2009. Abrol from Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad was commissioned in June 2008. According to the HAL statement, there is still some confusion about whether or not the aircraft was airborne when it crashed. It happened soon after take-off. They crashed into a blockade near the runway. They ejected but their parachutes caught fire and they landed in the debris, the HAL PRO said. Photos from the scene of the crash Also Read: Ghatkopar Plane Crash: Test Flight Was Illegal, Says Report The Ministry of Defences PRO put out an official statement, saying that an investigation had been ordered into the cause of the accident. Today morning, a Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft on an acceptance sortie after upgrade by HAL crashed at HAL airport, Bengaluru. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries. Further details are awaited. Investigation into the cause of accident is being ordered, the statement read. Story continues The black box of the aircraft was recovered nearly two hours after the crash. Monalisha, an employee of Landmark which has its office opposite the crash site, said that she saw the explosion and pilots ejecting from the aircraft. It happened around 10.30 am when I was on my way to work. I heard the explosion and saw the crash. I saw two pilots eject with their parachutes on, but didnt see them land. I routinely see practices and tests taking place at HAL around this time, she said. The single-engine Mirage fighter jets were used during the Kargil war, reported NDTV. India had 41 Mirage 2000 aircraft before the crash on Friday. Officials and police at the site of the crash. IAF Bids Adieu to Squadron Leader Negi BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to Twitter to express his condolences as Squadron Leader Siddharth Negi was given a sendoff by the Indian Air Force. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. While Squadron Leader Negi was given a burial at a burial ground in the city, Squadron Leader Abrols remains were taken back to Ghaziabad from where he hails. Also Read: Fathers of 2 Ghatkopar Plane Crash Victims File Police Complaint In June 2018, a pilot was killed after an Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet crashed soon after taking off from the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat, reported PTI. The plane was on a routine training mission. (With inputs from ANI, PTI, and NDTV ) . Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsCentre to use technology to seal borders with Bangladesh: Rajnath . Read more on India by The Quint. Protesting customs agents in Kolkata port halt Nepal-bound cargo Customs handling agents at Kolkata port have been disrupting the movement of Nepal-bound cargo since Tuesday after transshipment privileges and electronic cargo tracking began to be used. Remarks: This came out in 1994, going gold in the US, UK and New Zealand. It is made from her mothers sayings. Desree is a one-hit wonder in the US, but ... 9 hours ago Dr. Lamont Dirkse, a retired member of the education faculty whose 28 years at the college included three years as dean of students, died on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. He was 92. A 1950 Hope graduate, he was a member of the education faculty from 1964 until retiring in 1992. He chaired the Department of Education from 1968 to 1975, and again from 1986 to 1991. He served as dean of students from 1983 through the spring of 1986. In addition, he and his wife, Ruth, a Hope classmate, were head residents in Voorhees Hall for two years, and lived in Hillegonds Cottage (located on 10th Street near where Cook Hall now stands) while he was dean. In 2004, he and Ruth, who was the tutor coordinator with the colleges Academic Support Center from 1986 until also retiring in 1992, were among three alumni couples who were given special recognition during the 1992 Homecoming dedication of Bill Barretts sculpture Wall Relief: Opus A for their decades of service to Hope. Originally on the outer northern wall of the former Nykerk Hall of Musics organ studio, the sculpture is now within the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts near the departmental office. (The other two couples honored were Philip and Ann Frederickson, and Vern and Isla Schipper.) Lamont was born in Hingham, Wisconsin, on Jan. 5, 1927, and graduated from Oostburg High School. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a hospital corpsman. In addition to his degree from Hope, he held a masters degree from Northwestern University and a doctorate from Michigan State University. He began teaching elementary school in Ferrysburg after graduating from Hope, and later became an elementary school principal in Grand Haven. He was the coordinator of student teachers and instructor of education for Western Michigan University and Muskegon County Community College for a year before returning to Hope in 1964. His professional involvements included serving as president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and chairing the Inter-Institutional Teacher Education Council of Western Michigan. He was twice selected by the Michigan Inter-Institutional Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching to lead teacher training programs abroad, one to Belgium in 1977 and the other to the Netherlands in 1981. His active involvement in the community included helping establish Habitat for Humanity in Holland and serving on the boards of Evergreen Commons and Resthaven. He served in various leadership positions at Christ Memorial Church during his 40 years of membership there. Survivors include Ruth (DeGraaf), his wife of 58 years; a son, David (Anne, deceased); two daughters, Susan (Bob) Carlson and Nancy (Scott) DeWitt; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at First Reformed Church, 630 State St. in Holland. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., also at the church. Arrangements are by Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are to Resthaven Care Community Boersma Cottage. With the nations longest-ever government shutdown now relegated to history, Congress must focus on actually fixing our broken immigration system. That does not mean building an ineffectual wall on the United States southern border, a costly and mostly symbolic measure that lacks broad political support. Six Senate Republicans proved as much last Thursday, when they voted for a Democratic plan to reopen the government that omitted money for the presidents wall. In the process, those senators made it clear that a physical barrier should not be the political centerpiece of U.S. immigration policy going forward. Instead, this should be an opportunity for Congress to dust off the bipartisan immigration proposals of the past and improve on them. Ultimately, comprehensive immigration reform must include a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people living in the country without legal permission. In particular, people brought to the country illegally as children commonly known as Dreamers need more than an extra few months of assurance that they wont be deported. The president should also abandon attempts to clamp down further on asylum-seekers, something he floated in the waning days of the partial government shutdown. Such an approach would not mean abandoning a commitment to border security. House Democrats, for instance, have proposed investing in a smart wall that would include drones, sensors and more fencing, but not a solid wall from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific. After reaching a deal with congressional leaders to temporarily reopen the government last Friday, President Donald Trump indicated he is amenable to something other than a concrete wall. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. These types of alternative investments, when coupled with additional customs agents and Border Patrol staffing, can be more effective at deterring illegal border crossings than a physical barrier alone. Congress also must put money toward adding judges and other personnel to ease the untenable backlog of cases in U.S. immigration courts. These measures are sensible ones that Democrats and Republicans should be able to come together to pursue. Above all, the president should not seek to invoke emergency powers to try to build his wall. Such a move would not only be legally questionable but could derail bipartisan progress toward more effective solutions at the border. Congress has the opportunity to avoid ending up mired in the same debate over border-wall funding a few weeks from now. They should seize it and, above all, prevent a replay of the 35-day shutdown that just concluded. The Seattle Times Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, on Friday said the fire chief who oversaw recovery following the devastating December tornado in Taylorville will be his guest at the State of the Union on Monday. Fire Chief Mike Crews, who also is Christian County emergency management director, will attend President Donald Trump's address in Washington. "Chief Crews undoubtedly saved lives that day," Davis said in a statement. "When he learned of the weather and the storm approaching our hometown, he made all the right decisions that resulted in zero fatalities and fewer injuries than what would have happened otherwise." The EF-3 tornado caused widespread damage on Dec. 1. It was one of 28 that touched down that day in Illinois, the most in the state since 1957. Crews is credited with cancelling the Twilight Christmas Parade in Taylorville and relocated firetrucks and staff to be outside the path of the storm. "After the fact, he and his team were able to begin the long recovery process immediately, with many working through the night, to keep people safe," Davis said. "I cannot thank him enough for all he did that day, all he has done to help Taylorville recover, and all he does every day to keep our hometown safe. I am honored to have him join me for the State of the Union this year." Crews said Friday afternoon that he was surprised when Davis contacted him, as he was unaware he was even being considered as a guest. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. "I had just received the call and its not something you can say no to, in my opinion," Crews said. While he did not know the full details of the trip, Crews said he and his girlfriend would fly out to Washington D.C. on Saturday and do some sightseeing. One issue Crews hopes to talk with officials about during his trip is the importance of funding for emergency preparedness training. In addition, he hoped to talk about finding ways to help communities like Taylorville get access to federal funds in case of emergency. Despite over 700 buildings being destroyed or damage, Crews said they were nowhere close to meeting the thresholds required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive federal financial aid. "To meet the thresholds the government sets to even attempt to get a FEMA declaration, it really is just impossible," he said. Photos: Taylorville cleans up after destructive tornado Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Manning up to save Decaturs youth from a bleak future of violence and self-destruction is going to take a lot of effort from everyone. That was the message that emerged from Thursday nights Manning Up: Restoring Hope for Our Future, a dissection of the problems of violence, especially gun violence, among young people in Decatur and pretty much any American city. The meeting, hosted at the Decatur Civic Center by Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and the Rev. Courtney Carson, lasted more than two hours and was backed up panels of experts representing leadership in law enforcement, churches, unions, community groups and civic activists. According to the Decatur Police Department, there were a total of 357 violent crimes in Decatur last year, including nine homicides. The number represents a decline from 2017, when 443 violent crimes were reported, according to the data. The number of reported property crimes also declined, from 2,424 in 2017 to 2,073 last year. But there is more work to be done, panel members said. The intense discussion outlined a problem of youth in despair turning to violence, crime and gangs to find the affection and monetary rewards that dysfunctional homes and mainstream society have denied them. 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 Manning Up event sought to fight back by providing practical help as well as good counsel: Young people in the audience of more than 200 were told there were mentors there ready to meet and help them. And speakers like Jerrime Hiser, business agent for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Union Local 916, offered practical advice, and hope. He said there are good jobs available in Decatur for young people with the skills and training to do them. Right now I need six, seven, eight drivers, and cant find one, he said. The theme of jobs as a path out of poverty, hopelessness and street violence was emphasized again and again. Keynote speaker Mark Vargas, who worked on government reconstruction programs in Iraq and criminal justice reform in America, said providing those jobs and hope to Iraqi citizens is what persuaded many of them to put down AK-47s and stop killing American GIs. He said the message of jobs and hope works just as well back home in communities like Decatur. Whether its two-year or four-year college, or whether its trade school ... everyones role is important and everyone matters, he said. Carson, director of essential skills and community relations at Richland Community College and a member of the Decatur School Board, talked of using jobs and training to break the cycle of young people waging warfare against each other without any concern for their future. Along with other speakers, he stressed the need for the community to pull together and keep meeting together to work out problems and explore new opportunities, which suited audience member Barbara Morrow just fine. Morrow, the 61-year-old principal of Phoenix Academy in the Decatur School District, said Thursdays meeting was a good beginning. I hope that this is starting point, she said. I hope that this is the springboard for continued conversations. I am here to figure out where I can fit in and be a part of that. There was also much talk Thursday night of the community coming together to give promising kids a helping hand, which is exactly what happened in the case of 14-year-old Aliyah Houston. The Dennis School student is an award-winning orator who gave a powerful spoken performance during the meeting, delivering the famous "Ain't I A Woman?" speech originally given by Sojourner Truth in 1851 to advocate for abolition of slavery and women's rights. When Carson said she needed money to go to a National Junior Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., he then made a contribution himself, and then panel and audience members rose one after the other to hand cash to Aliyah, who stood smiling on the stage weeping tears of joy. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 3 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. Promoting migrant health A worldwide exodus is on, and these people must have easy access to health services DECATUR Illinois State Police are investigating an incident in which one police officer was shot and his ballistic vest stopped the bullet during a traffic stop Thursday night, Decatur police Chief Jim Getz said Friday. Getz previously said two officers were treated and released from a local hospital after suffering injuries during the incident. Getz said Friday afternoon that the officer who was shot was released from the hospital late Thursday and is recovering from his injuries. The incident began after officers stopped the vehicle at 8:38 p.m. Thursday in the 1400 block of North Union Street, Getz said. During the traffic stop, there was a struggle with the suspect. Preliminary information indicated that at least one shot was fired by one of the officers, Getz said. "As a result, both of the officers were treated and released at a local hospital for injuries suffered during the incident," Getz said. He did not describe how exactly the injuries occurred or who fired the shot that struck the police officer. The suspect, who was not identified, was arrested and would be booked into Macon County Jail, Getz said. He did not say what preliminary charges the suspect would face. Police have no further information to provide at this time, Getz said, adding that more details would be provided when they became available. "This is an active investigation, and the facts surrounding this incident are being investigated by the Illinois State Police," he said. "The Decatur Police Department is committed to providing a fair, accurate, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident." 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}} A signed affidavit detailing the arrest of 23-year-old Thomas L. Gill that occurred in the same area and time of the shooting said officers pulled over Gills vehicle after a license plate search showed he had an active warrant for failure to appear or pay for a driving under the influence of drugs violation. Officers approached Gill, identified him and confirmed that he had an active warrant out for his arrest. The affidavit said Gill did not follow the officers orders to step out of the vehicle, so one officer reached into the vehicle from the drivers side window and opened the door. The affidavit said Gill started the vehicle, and the officer got into the car and straddled him in an attempt to stop him from leaving. Gill was able to start the vehicle during the struggle, put it in reverse and struck a parked squad car behind him, police said. He then put the vehicle in drive and struck the residence in front of the vehicle, according to the affidavit. The man eventually got out of the vehicle and began to flee westbound, the affidavit said. Officers pursued him on foot and deployed a stun gun. After a short struggle, the affidavit said, the officers were able to take the man into custody. The affidavit did not mention shots being fired during the incident or an officer being struck by a bullet. Getz did not immediately respond to a request to confirm if the two incidents were the same. The officer who straddled the man in his vehicle was treated at Decatur Memorial Hospital for a laceration on his head. Gill faces preliminary charges of aggravated resisting arrest or obstructing justice and felony reckless conduct, both of which are subject to review by the Macon County States Attorneys Office. He was held in the Macon County Jail Friday on $50,000 bond. The Herald & Review filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking video footage of the incident, either from a vehicle dashcam or neighborhood camera. The police department on Friday denied the request, citing the ongoing investigation. Contact Jaylyn Cook at (217) 421-7980. Follow him on Twitter: @jaylyn_HR Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 6 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. LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (ALMH) in Lincoln has joined several other Central Illinois hospitals in enacting temporary visitor restrictions because of an increase in seasonal flu. Springfield-based Memorial Health System which includes ALMH, Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville and Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville announced Friday that visitor restrictions had been imposed at all four hospitals. While flu activity remains low at each facility, Memorial Health System said there is an increase in flu activity statewide, leading the Illinois Department of Pubic Health to recommend that hospitals implement visitor restrictions. ALMH and the other Memorial hospitals are limiting inpatient hospital visits to two visitors at a time per patient. In addition, all visitors should be 18 years and older and show no sign of illness. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The health system is encouraging Memorial outpatient facilities to consider the same recommendations. Other area hospitals that previously enacted visitor restrictions because of an increase in flu include OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Advocate Eureka Hospital in Eureka, Hopedale Medical Complex in Hopedale, Decatur Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur, and Peoria and Champaign-Urbana hospitals. "Visitors should not visit anytime in a hospital if they are ill because they could spread that to a friend or family member who is particularly vulnerable from other illness at the time. This is especially important during flu season," DMH spokeswoman Anne Davis said in an email. Davis added that hand washing is important to help prevent the spread of flu, and it's not too late to get a flu shot. Visitor restrictions at hospitals are lifted when flu activity declines in the spring. Typical influenza illness includes fever (usually 100 degrees to 103 degrees in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue, according to the IDPH. Most people who get the flu recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks, but some people develop serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I was very disheartened to see that Missoulian reporters chose to lump the Montana Academy, a therapeutic prep school operating for two decades and founded by four highly educated and experienced professionals, in your seven-part series on teen treatment programs. Two of the founders of the MA, described as the wives of the founders, have been friends of mine for over 20 years. Rosemary McKinnon, MSW and Carol Santa, Ph. D., blended their education and professional experience with that of their husbands' to create a school that could better address the complex needs of troubled teens. These four professionals, with over 175 years of educational and clinical experience, have raised their families in the Flathead Valley and are a respected part of the community. How insulting to the founders to suggest that financial motivation played a role in bringing family members into the 70-member MA staff? The McKinnons' daughter returned to the Flathead upon receiving her MD in psychiatry, to ease the load on her parents who were trying to retire! You gave little thought to MA founders, the current staff and the parents of children enrolled there now. Janet Hess-Herbert Helena Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Many people attending Montana State University in Bozeman go there for the mountains, whose craggy peaks loom outside town soaking up alpenglow nearly every evening. Photographer Amanda Breitbach liked the mountains, yes, but her time at school in Bozeman made her long to shoot the scenery where she was raised, the flat farmland near Circle. Ive sort of always been more drawn to that minimal plains landscape more than the mountains, Breitbach said. It really speaks to me. On several trips home during school breaks, Breitbach photographed her family and friends, in a series of black-and-white film portraits. She had a vague idea for a photo series about the slow passing of these century-old farms and ranches and had the idea of focusing on her own familys story. Land/People, is a 19-photo series shot on digital that Breitbach took mostly on her familys land in 2015 and 2016. Our familys been here for 100 years, but it looks very much like the next generation wont farm there, Breitbach said. The series includes landscapes of barren brown grass and steely blue skies, shots of deteriorating barns and grain silos, her family members silhouetted in a window, or driving the farm truck. Legislation that would prohibit the sale of information about the location of trophy game animals promotes fair chase hunting ethics and ensures equal opportunity between hunters, Sen. Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, argued Thursday. Jill Cohenours Senate Bill 127 was heard before the Senate Fish and Game Committee. The bill prohibits the sale of wildlife identification information for hunting, specifically geographic locations such as GPS coordinates, descriptions, maps, drawings or photographs. The legislation exempts outfitters and guides or landowners guiding hunters on their own or leased land. We do not want people to buy an unfair advantage, she told the committee. Joe Cohenour, husband of Jill, testified that the idea for the bill came after discovering a Utah man advertising a professional report that for a fee, offered GPS coordinates for specific elk pictured in the report. He believed the service brought ethical concerns and a mentality of selling wildlife to the highest bidder. Hunting is about getting out and enjoying yourself, its not just about killing, he said. The economy was also a focus of Daines' speech, both its successes and where he sees the need for improvement. The Republican tax cuts passed in 2017 have benefited Montanans to the tune of about $1,000 more annually in their paychecks, Daines said, and told lawmakers not to add any more taxes following on the heels of cuts at the federal level. As Montana lawmakers debate how to continue a Medicaid expansion program in the state and whether it should include any sort of work and volunteer requirements, Daines said he wants to see government programs aimed at getting people into jobs. "We need to work to bring able-bodied folks back into this workforce," Daines said. "We need to reform these important government assistance programs. They should be a springboard to independence, not a sinkhole of dependency." Daines also called for building the Keystone XL Pipeline, saying it would bring hundreds of millions of tax revenue into the state, money lawmakers could use when setting the state's biannual budget. He also talked about the importance of the judiciary, saying "activist judges with politically motivated agendas" have held up timber sales that he argued would create jobs and reduce the risk of wildfire. "It is critical that we remove the sunset on Medicaid expansion. That we protect the health care for 95,000 of our family, our friends and our neighbors. And that we protect our rural hospitals and that economy," Bullock said. Shortly after the Legislature gathered in Helena, Bullock released a new report showing about seven in 10 people covered by expansion are working and about 18,000 of the state's businesses had an employee in 2017 covered under the program. That makes adding a work requirement to the program unnecessary, he said in his address to lawmakers, statewide elected officials and guests who filled the House chambers. Bullock was interrupted by applause from Democrats several times, most heavily when calling to continue Medicaid expansion. Earlier in the week, Republicans released early details of their plan to continue Medicaid expansion with the addition of what the bills sponsor calls community enhancement. Though the bill is in early draft form, it shows an idea for requiring 80 hours of work, volunteer or other activities such as participating in a substance use disorder treatment program each month. It would make exceptions for those who are caregivers, have disabilities or otherwise can't work. 2:06 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near Montana and Enterprise Drive. The driver a 24-year-old Helena male was arrested for criminal possession of dangerous drugs (felony), criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, no liability insurance, and for violating the terms of his probation. The passenger in the vehicle a 20-year-old Helena male was also arrested on a valid warrant for his arrest, in addition to criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were booked at the detention center. 8:42 a.m., an officer was called to a residence in the 200 block of Breckenridge Street to investigate a theft from a motor vehicle. The owner reported a .22 rifle and other belonging were stolen from his vehicle while parked in the 2900 block of Prospect earlier in the day. In the past seven days, HPD officers have completed 164 criminal reports and responded to 534 calls for service, including eight injury accidents, 29 non-injury accidents, nine assaults, three burglaries, and six drug-related calls. Just as a reminder, all operations will be in the 406 Fuller Avenue building beginning Monday morning. The records section will be closed this afternoon at the law enforcement center (221 Breckenridge) to move to the new facility. Records can be reached this afternoon by phone at 406-447-8486. As of Friday morning, the county jail held 103 inmates (95 for felonies and 8 for misdemeanors). In total, the county has 132 inmates at various detention facilities. 98 clients are serviced by the 24/7 sobriety program. Of these, 45 are on Personal Breath Test, 34 are on Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor bracelet, 11 are on GPS, and eight are on house arrest. Pretrial Services is currently working with 291 clients. 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. Four overdose deaths in Montana have been directly traced to fentanyl disguised as less dangerous types of painkillers, law enforcement officials say. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff/Coroner Leo Dutton said that between Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, three deaths in Billings and one in Helena were linked to black market fentanyl being sold as Oxycodone pills and opioid patches. Apparently, fentanyl is being converted into pill form before being sold as the more well-known painkillers. "Don't be buying Oxycodone or OxyContin from someone who is not a pharmacist," Dutton warned, adding that "fentanyl will kill you." Cascade County Sheriff/Coroner Jesse Slaughter said fentanyl could affect more than just the users. Fentanyl is so potent that just touching or breathing the substance can be dangerous. "Family members, children can be affected," Slaughter said. "It's a huge concern for public safety and our detention officers and law enforcement out with the public." Cascade County had four opioid-related overdoses in January, according to Slaughter. While fentanyl has not yet been confirmed in any of the cases, the chance it could move into the black market is concerning. No lead yet on a dozen Nepalis held hostage in Libya Nepali authorities are struggling to track down and rescue 12 Nepalis who have been reportedly held hostage in the North African country Libya for months. 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. Here is my annual review of our goals for the previous year and how we did. Goals for 2018 Saving Goals: Continue to save $100 each month towards our 20 Anniversary trip to Hawaii We did continue to save and I was able to book the trip last August. We actually bumped our savings up to $200 per month just so we will have a nice cushion and won't have to be to mindful of a budget when it comes to eating out. It is a vacation after all! Continue to save $100 each month for the kids' future cars We are still continuing to save for the kids' future cars and I don't imagine this one changing until they all have cars! Get the 3-6 months bumped up to where it needs to be This is one our Goals again for 2019...see below! Start saving towards a tent trailer We didn't just save for a trailer we made an executive decision to go ahead and buy a trailer. We only have our kids at home with us for a few short years and we want to get out and enjoy life with them and make lots of memories. Last year we used the trailer 4 different times.... The First Camping Trip , staying at my parents house over 4th of July, Jenning's Family Reunion and then our trip to Oregon camping trip here and here House Goals: We had a seriously interesting year in regards to our house and it's still not finished. Long story short....wind claim, new siding, new sheeting, new windows and bringing the house up to code...all covered by the insurance PTL!!! The claim has been open for almost a year now. There is still work to be done so stay tuned. To read about the craziness click here and here . Needless to say with all of that going on NONE of the home goals got tackled! Replace rails and bad boards on the deck and stain it. Build patio furniture & buy cushions Take out big bush by the play structures Build planter to go where the bush was Plant fruit tree Family Goals: Family - Make reading & Bible time a priority & play more games together I feel like we did better in regards to reading the Bible (or a kids devotional of some kind). It gets tricky in the summer with all the busyness. I did start doing a devotional book with the kids in the van prior to them getting on the bus, but then I changed it to where we do it at home and also have prayer time. It's really a great way to start the day. As for playing more games I feel like we go through ups and downs of this as well. I think right around birthdays and Christmas we play lots since we've just received new games and then when we are camping we play lots of games as well. We did have a Family Game Night group at our house last winter so that was fun to get introduced to a bunch of new games. Kids Goals: Get in the habit of bathing on a regular schedule (just being real people) - have kids use their shower instead of ours The kids have been consistently using their own shower now. Ella and Zeke still need help figuring out how to get it to the correct temperature since it's two knobs. I can't tell you how happy I will be when they figure this out. There are certain things that my kids learn to do on their own that I'm not sad about and this will be one of them. As for actually having a schedule we started it and then it tapered off. Every week is so different and it's just tough to be stuck to a schedule. I will say I have been better at reminding them to go jump in the shower more, but there are still times where my kids go over a week without showering. Again keeping it real! Lyndsay's Goals Try not to be so hard on myself This one cracks me up. I'm so hard on myself! I try not to be, but I put unrealistic expectations on myself. I will say that I am not so hard on myself when it comes to the kids birthday parties anymore. I used to spend months and months getting ready and now that's just not the case and I'm not going to freak out about it. Stay organized I really slacked on the whole organization thing, but over Christmas break I watched Tidying up with Marie (as well as a million other people) and now I'm in a super organization mode. Michael and I are in the process of completely redoing the garage. I've went through everything in the house with the exception of the Kitchen and all the closets. The closets are what I'm tackling in February and I know it's going to feel so good once those are done! Plan ahead I feel like I'm a super planner! I mean I've been planning our trip to Hawaii for 5 years. I have camping trips planned months ahead. I plan our monthly menu and try to only do big shopping once a month. So yeah I feel like I nailed this one. Get better at my job When I wrote this it was for my job at church, but I do feel like I accomplished this one because I did get better at my true job which is being a homemaker. Working at the church was such a growing experience and I love that I got to do that, but I'm loving staying home and I'm so blessed that I can do so! To read about my decision to quit my job and stay home click here Michael's Goals Okay let me just say my man was a total overachiever!!! He had all these goals completed by February 16th!!! Get CDL - check Pass test for WD Manager 3 - Check Work towards eventually becoming the District Manager He didn't just work towards becoming the District Manager he IS the District Manager. Click HERE to read that amazing God written story! Family Adventures: Snow activities @ Rainier Yes we were able to go up and spend a day at Black Diamond Camps enjoying the snow. So fun! Family Reunion in Oregon Yes, we went to the family reunion and had a blast. Link is above in the section about the tent trailer. Great Wolf Lodge Yes, we got to go to Great Wolf Lodge and had the best time ever!!! We are hoping that we might get to go again this year as well. North Cascade Hwy Re: One of the biggest questions facing the art world today is the dilemma [ #permalink Gist: A dilemma regarding the return of cultural artifacts to the countries they were stolen from is presented. The advocates for the movement argue that the cultural significance can only be understood near the origin of the artifacts. However, the museums in Britain and France argue that the artifacts are safe there versus in some backwater country where the artifacts would perish. The second point of these museums is that more people can see the artifacts when they are in their possession. The final paragraph, however, makes some headway to clear the dilemma by presenting evidence that even when the two arguments presented by the museums fail they are still reluctant to return the stolen artifacts. Always tricky to answer such a question. We need to understand what the main point of the passage is and also see how the author of the passage ends the passage. ( To understand what could it be named) 1. Of the following, the most appropriate title for the passage above would be: Too far away from the crux of the passage. The marbles were just one example. Again, 180 opposite of what the author finally ends the passage with. BINGO - the main topic is "Repatriation of cultural treasures" and the passage ends with the case of reluctance by the British museum even though all the conditions are being met. Too vague and again departing from the main point highlighted above. Discard for same reason as option (D). Pretty straightforward question since the passage has a palpable flow. 2. The third paragraph plays what role in the passage? No such summary is given. Third para does not expand the previous arguments but rather opposes them. Laughably wrong. TRAP - while it does reject the arguments of the Museums we need to be careful to see that the first para presents both sides of the aisle and hence this is wrong. BINGO - the second paragraph reveals the arguments used by the museums and the third paragraph gives evidence against those. Perfect. Similar reasoning type question. We are looking for a well established popular museum asking back cultural heritages which have originated in it's country and this request is being denied by another imerial museum whose country had stolen said artifacts. Once we know what to look for this questions becomes easy to tackle. Otherwise it is like searching a needle in a haystack. 3. The situation involving the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles to Athens is most similar to which of the following? No well established museum. Discard. Vague as there is no museum involved at all! Discard. Looks good. National Museum must be pretty well funded and popular. Again, no museum involved and a whole bunch of unrelated stuff. Discard. TRAP - the Baton Rouge museum would definitely not be as popular / well funded as the one in Austin ( ofcourse it helps to know that Baton Rouge is a small city as compared to Austin which is the capital of Texas) - hence does not fit the analogy we are looking for. Regards, Gladi Do. Or do not. There is no try. - Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back) Signature Read More 3 mins to all correct. A pleasing passage.A. The Elgin Marbles: Timeless Symbols of the Glory That Was GreeceB. The Role of Great Museums in the Preservation of Cultural ArtifactsC. Repatriation of Cultural Treasures: The British Museums Dirty Little SecretD. The Value of Cultural Treasures in Defining National IdentityE. A Curious Curator: Lord Elgin and the Rise of the British MuseumA. It summarizes all the points expressed in the first two paragraphs.B. It raises new arguments that expand on those previously expressed.C. It suggests a possible area for useful research in the future.D. It rejects the arguments expressed in the first paragraph.E. It provides concrete evidence against arguments expressed in the second paragraph.A. A Native American tribe in Oregon requests that a museum in Chicago return some ceremonial masks that could help in fundraising efforts to build a proposed museum in Portland.B. The nation of Peru in South America threatens the nation of Ecuador with military action if Ecuador does not hand over various gold artifacts of the Inca Empire, which originated in Peru.C. The National Archeology Museum of Cairo in Egypt requests that the Louvre return eight mummies from the time of Ramses the Great for the Cairo Museums new exhibit hall dedicated to artifacts from Ramses court.D. The nation of Greece requests the nation of Turkey to provide Greek archeologists with free access to ancient Greek sites on the Ionian coast of Turkey, and to transfer any cultural artifacts found there to the National Archeology Museum in Athens.E. A museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, requests that the Texas History Museum in Austin, Texas, send the original Lone Star flag to Baton Rouge for a new exhibit entitled, Texas: Our Neighbor to the East.Hope it helps._________________ aragonn wrote: Project SC Butler: Day 79: Sentence Correction (SC1) For SC butler Questions Click Here Glass containers are considered potentially dangerous objects by stadium officials and are therefore subject to being confiscated at the entrances to well-attended events in order to ensure crowd safety. Meaning analysis: Error analysis: Attachment: A.JPG [ 40.08 KiB | Viewed 5028 times ] A. are therefore subject to being confiscated therefore (distorts initial //ism) therefore they (distorts initial //ism, "they" - makes this clause indended, but two IC is conneced with "and" no comma, hence "and" is in non-underlined part, this pronoun is wrong here, even if it unambuguesly refers to "glass containers", here between "subject to being confiscated" and "subject to confiscation" not much difference in meaning, both of them fine) they may ("they" distorts initial //ism as explained in (C), moreover "may" we don't need any probability here, everything is in simple presentence, this is the fact that glass containers considered dangerous, hece they subject to confiscation) may ("may" distorts initial //ism as explained in (D) and wrong here) A ------ I've googled and done some serach here in GC Per this explanation the usage of "therefore" in our 5 answer choices is correct according to the meaning, as it presents cause and effect, but I think wrong from grammar-punctuation stand point... ( could you please explain more about "therefore" usage in GMAT? thank you in advance! But my concern is about the usage of "therefore" here in GMAT way.I've googled and done some serach here in GC this one is the most interesting one---> Per this explanation the usage of "therefore" in our 5 answer choices is correct according to the meaning, as it presents cause and effect, but I think wrong from grammar-punctuation stand point... ( please read the link--> aragonn could you please explain more about "therefore" usage in GMAT?thank you in advance! My SC approach flowchart My Verbal Flashcards (no one is ideal, please correct if you see any mistakes or gaps in my explanation, it will be helpful for both of us, thank you) ___________________ "Nothing in this life is to be feared, it is only to be understood" ~ Marie Curie Signature Read More 1. Glass bottles are very dangerous objects. 2. Glass bottles therefore need to be confiscated at the entrance to well-attended places.let's see sentence structure:To me sentence correct as written. Because this is the only option that maintains //ism.Therefore presents cause and effect in sentence. Cause: glass bottles are very dangerous objects. Effect: glass bottles need to be confiscated at the entrance to well-attended places. Both part of "and" starts with verbs "are" - fine.B.are subject to being confiscatedC.are subject to confiscationD.thereforeconfiscate them toE.therefore be confiscatedis the answer._________________ English Dutch Nyrstar operational and financial update 1 February 2019 at 21.30 CET Nyrstar NV ("Nyrstar" or the Company) today provides an update on the ongoing capital structure review and certain operational and financial matters including the Port Pirie Redevelopment and expectations for full year 2018 Underlying EBITDA. Capital structure review The Nyrstar Board of Directors and management, with the assistance of independent advisors from Alvarez & Marsal, Morgan Stanley and Freshfields, are continuing the comprehensive review of the Company's capital structure as previously announced. This review is being led by a special independent committee of the Nyrstar Board of Directors. As part of the review, Nyrstar has developed a new five year business plan (the Business Plan) that provides the basis for negotiations with financial stakeholders to establish a robust and sustainable long term capital structure for the Company. During the course of this week, Nyrstar has engaged in constructive discussions with representatives of its various financial stakeholder groups to work towards this objective in an accelerated timeframe. Following these discussions, Nyrstar deems it appropriate to update all stakeholders with this release. The Company will make additional announcements as these discussions progress, as appropriate. Cyber-attack Further to the press release issued on 22 January 2019 advising that the Company had been the subject of a targeted cyber-attack which had severely impacted certain IT systems, including email and network servers across Nyrstar's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland and globally at the Metals Processing and Mining operations, the Company can now confirm that the cyber-attack was contained on 22 January 2019 and Nyrstar's IT department, with assistance from key IT-partners and global cyber security agencies, has been working on a technical recovery plan over the past ten days. Nyrstar's IT systems, including email correspondence and access to file servers, are expected to return to normal operation during the course of the coming week. Nyrstar's Metals Processing and Mining operations were not materially impacted operationally by the cyber-attack. Myra Falls ramp-up activities As communicated in the second interim management statement for 2018 that was published on 30 October 2018, the Myra Falls mine commenced zinc production during September 2018. This production was made possible due to the fact that the primary components of the restart scope of works had been completed, including the rehabilitation of the underground mines, the rebuilding and refurbishment of the processing plant, repair of the underground crusher, rehabilitation and upgrade of key infrastructure including roads and loading facilities and upgrade of the underground fleet of mobile equipment. Following the restart, at the end of Q4 2018 Nyrstar was required to suspend ore extraction and production at the mill to address deficiencies identified in compliance orders from the Ministry for Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources in British Columbia. Nyrstar is currently working to address the necessary repairs and production should resume by the end of Q1 2019 or during Q2 2019 at the latest. In the meantime, Nyrstar is continuing with its underground development and remediation activities at the Myra Falls mine. Port Pirie Redevelopment - Operational update During the course of 2018, the new TSL furnace has ramped-up successfully, including in terms of operating time, volume of material treated and the proportion of high margin residues in the feed. In H2 2018, the residue consumed in the TSL feed was approximately 60% of the overall feed mix, exceeding the fully ramped-up target of 40% residue in the feed. The volume of material treated in the TSL furnace has also continued to increase quarter-on-quarter during 2018 and will further increase during 2019. In December 2018, the Company chose not to operate the old sinter plant at Port Pirie in order to further support reducing lead in air emissions which ended the year below the defined limit. In addition, Nyrstar also performed maintenance on the TSL furnace and blast furnace during December 2018. These maintenance shuts were to address a TSL furnace cooling issue; and to bring forward maintenance previously scheduled for the blast furnace in January 2019. The TSL furnace resumed operation on 15 December 2018. As the Port Pirie Redevelopment continues to ramp-up, it will increasingly consume larger volumes of the internally generated residues that have been stockpiled at Port Pirie. Further internal residues are being generated for consumption at Port Pirie, primarily by the Hobart zinc smelter, and the Port Pirie site continues to generate zinc fume for consumption at Hobart. Nyrstar is evaluating future projects to improve throughput of the slag fumer and increase the ability of the Port Pirie site to treat the higher halide content of certain recycles that are consumed as feed for the plant. Port Pirie Redevelopment - Financial update The Underlying EBITDA generated in the Metals Processing segment as a result of the Port Pirie Redevelopment is subject to a number of macro variables, including, but not limited to, metal prices, exchange rates, lead treatment charge terms and energy prices, as well as operating performance. Port Piries Underlying EBITDA contribution also reflects the valuation of the internally generated residues processed by Port Pirie, in particular those arising from Hobart. The Metals Processing segment profitability of both the Australian sites are intrinsically linked by the raw material flows between the two sites and are only possible due to the Port Pirie Redevelopment. In the absence of the Port Pirie Redevelopment, the Hobart and Port Pirie sites would both be non-operational and would not contribute EBITDA to the Metals Processing segment. In preparing its Business Plan, Nyrstar has reforecast the expected Underlying EBITDA contribution from Port Pirie and Hobart. The Business Plan, which is based on modelled macro, operating and production assumptions (with no additional constraints), indicates the following Underlying EBITDA contribution included within the Metals Processing segment from the two Australian smelters: Pro-forma EBITDA EURm 2019F 2020F Port Pirie 38 56 Hobart 57 69 Australian Metals Processing 95 125 Between 2016 and 2018, Nyrstar has built-up valuable, internally generated, residue inventories at Port Pirie. This will result in a significant working capital cash flow benefit as this historical inventory is processed. In 2019, this cash flow benefit is estimated at approximately EUR 70 million. Group Underlying EBITDA guidance and production update On 20 September 2018, the Company issued a press release advising that the Group would likely record an Underlying EBITDA result for H2 2018 that was materially below the EUR 120 million result achieved in H1 2018. The Interim Management Statement that was issued on 30 October 2018 reported a Q3 2018 Underlying EBITDA of EUR 13 million due to a deterioration in commodity prices, the impact of historically low zinc treatment charges and increased energy costs in Europe. Over the course of Q4 2018, commodity prices, exchange rates and treatment charges were at similar levels to those experienced in Q3 2018. However, energy prices in Europe were higher and the Port Pirie site was impacted by maintenance shuts for the majority of December 2018. For primarily the above reasons, the Company expects to report a total Underlying EBITDA result of approximately EUR 110 million to EUR 130 million for full year 2018. The Underlying EBITDA guidance contained in this announcement is an unaudited estimate only and may change as the Company finalises its year-end procedures. Metals Processing produced approximately 1.06 million tonnes of zinc metal in 2018, slightly below the revised full year 2018 guidance of 1.07 to 1.09 million tonnes, representing a 4% increase on 2017. The increase in zinc metal production year-over-year was despite the planned maintenance shuts at Auby, Balen, Clarksville and Hobart; and was assisted by a lack of material unplanned outages which had impacted production volumes in 2016 and 2017. However, zinc and lead metal production was impacted during Q4 2018 by lower raw material inventory. FY FY % H1 H2 % 2017 2018 Change 2018 2018 Change Zinc metal ('000 tonnes) Auby 166 155 (6%) 78 78 0% Balen/Pelt 249 275 10% 137 138 1% Budel 248 268 8% 133 136 2% Clarksville 117 101 (14%) 52 49 (5%) Hobart 238 264 11% 129 136 5% Total 1,019 1,064 4% 528 536 2% Lead metal ('000 tonnes) Port Pirie 171 160 (7%) 69 90 30% Other products Copper cathode ('000 tonnes) 4.2 4.3 1% 1.6 2.7 65% Silver (million troy ounces) 13.6 13.8 1% 4.9 8.9 8% Gold (000 troy ounces) 72.6 73 1% 25.7 47.3 84% Indium metal (tonnes) 29.8 42.6 43% 21.4 21.2 (1%) Sulphuric acid ('000 tonnes) 1,266 1,364 8% 653 712 9% Nyrstar's Mining operations produced approximately 139kt of zinc in concentrate in 2018, an increase of 14% compared to 2017. The total mine production of zinc in concentrate in 2018 is marginally below the revised full year guidance range of 140 to 150kt. This lower level of zinc in concentrate production has been largely due to disappointing production performance of the Langlois and the Middle Tennessee mines and commercial production at the Myra Falls mine commencing slightly later than had been originally anticipated at the start of the year and the impact of the suspension of ore extraction at year end to address deficiencies identified in compliance orders from the Ministry for Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources in British Columbia. '000 tonnes FY FY % H1 H2 % unless otherwise indicated 2017 2018 Change 2018 2018 Change Total ore milled 3,238 4,080 26% 2,075 2,006 (3%) Zinc in Concentrate Myra Falls - 0.6 - - 0.6 - Langlois 34 24 (31%) 12 12 5% East Tennessee 66 76 15% 36 40 12% Middle Tennessee 22 39 75% 22 17 (26%) Total 123 139 14% 70 70 0% Other metals Copper in concentrate 2.1 1.6 (21%) 0.8 0.9 7% Silver (000 troy oz) 553 440 (20%) 214 226 6% Gold (000 troy oz) 1.9 2.0 4% 0.7 1.3 72% Liquidity, working capital, strategic zinc and foreign exchange hedges Nyrstar has continued to experience working capital outflows during the period since the Companys announcement of 6 December 2018. The Company is continuing to manage tightly its cash and inventory levels and is evaluating additional measures to improve further its liquidity position. During the course of Q4 2018, the Company closed out and crystallised the cash benefit of its 166kt of zinc metal forward hedges for the Mining segment. A positive cash settlement value of USD 82 million was collected in Q4 2018 and an Underlying EBITDA benefit will be realised in the course of 2019. As from the end of January 2019, Nyrstar has commenced lowering the strategic transactional hedging ratio for its foreign exchange exposure. This reduction in the strategic transactional hedging is primarily due to a reduction in foreign exchange hedging line capacity. Full Year 2018 reporting date In order to align with the Companys ongoing capital structure review process, Nyrstar's consolidated financial statements for the twelve months ended 31 December 2018, that were previously due to be released on 21 February 2019, will now be rescheduled to 30 April 2019. The Annual General Meeting will be rescheduled to 25 June 2019. About Nyrstar Nyrstar is a global multi-metals business, with a market leading position in zinc and lead, and growing positions in other base and precious metals, which are essential resources that are fuelling the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of our changing world. Nyrstar has mining, smelting and other operations located in Europe, the Americas and Australia and employs approximately 4,100 people. Nyrstar is incorporated in Belgium and has its corporate office in Switzerland. Nyrstar is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol NYR. For further information please visit the Nyrstar website: www.nyrstar.com . For further information contact: Anthony Simms - Group Manager Investor Relations T: +41 44 745 8157 M: +41 79 722 2152 anthony.simms@nyrstar.com Franziska Morroni - Group Manager Corporate Communications T: +41 44 745 8295 M: +41 79 719 2342 franziska.morroni@nyrstar.com Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) (Monument or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of a positive feasibility study (FS) on its 100%-owned Selinsing Gold Mine in Pahang State, Malaysia, including the Selinsing deposit, and the adjacent Felda and Buffalo Reef deposits (Selinsing Gold Mine Project). The FS establishes the economic viability of the project for a six year life of mine through the extension of the existing oxide plant to incorporate additional sulphide ore extraction. President and CEO Cathy Zhai commented, We are excited to see the FS coming out supporting an additional six years life of mine with economic viability, which gives a green light to fund the conversion of the Selinsing Gold Plant to treat sulphide ore. The report has also analyzed opportunity to further improve production and potentially increase gold inventories in the future. While an execution plan is in place to start up construction of the Selinsing Gold plant upgrade, we continue to optimize the economic outcomes. The economic viability of the project described in the FS is primarily driven by adding flotation and BIOX processes to the current Selinsing Gold Processing Plant to treat sulphide ore. The FS has focused on metallurgical testwork, metallurgical processing design and Front-End Engineering Design, along with geological review and mine planning studies. To sustain the Selinsing Gold Mine production from oxide through to sulphide ore operations, previously a NI 43-101 pre-feasibility study on the Selinsing Gold Sulphide Processing Project was filed in December 2016 (Snowden 2016 TR), supporting a bio-leaching processes to economically treat sulphide materials. The FS was initiated in May 2017 to demonstrate that the BIOX sulphide treatment technology is the most preferred bio-leaching method to achieve best economic outcomes at the Selinsing Gold Mine. A complete NI 43-101 Technical Report titled Selinsing Gold Sulphide Project - NI 43-101 Technical Report (Snowden 2019 TR) was filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on January 31, 2019, describing the mineral exploration, development, and production area of the Selinsing Gold Mine. It was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is authored by Frank Blanchfield, BE (Min Eng), FAusIMM, Principal Mining Engineer, Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Pty Ltd (Snowden), the primary Qualified Person, and other independent Qualified Persons for geology, metallurgy and for engineering and costs. Mineral Resources and Reserves Update The updated sulphide and oxide Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves in the Snowden 2019 TR are estimated with consideration of mining and stockpile depletions to March 2018, using the resource model from the 2016 estimate as a basis, however revised reporting of the Mineral Resource has resulted in a significant increase from Snowden 2016 TR, due to changes in reporting cut-off grades for transition and sulphide Mineral Resources from 0.7 g/t Au to 0.5 g/t Au and revised pit optimizations which are used to limit the reported Mineral Resource. A map showing the area locations is as follows (Figure 1): A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/756cf2e7-f341-4e34-8e5c-d1dc57288bf3 A significant increase of 48 koz or 24% for Indicated Resources and 45 koz or 69% for Inferred Resource can be observed for the Selinsing deposit, in relation to the previous Snowden 2016 PFS. For the Buffalo Reef deposit, Indicated Resources have decreased 4 koz or 2%, and Inferred Resources increased 31 koz or 15%. The Mineral Reserves were updated in March 2018, and comprise 235 koz of gold from 3,919 kilotonnes (kt) of ore at a diluted grade of 1.86 grams of gold per tonne (g/t) from the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef/Felda deposits (Table 1), along with a further 21 koz of gold from 1,312 kt of ore from stockpiles at a grade of 0.51 g/t Au (Table 2), plus 12 koz of gold from 508 kt of ore from old tailings (Table 3). The updated Mineral Reserves are estimated using an average gold price of US$1,300 per ounce. To identify the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef Mineral Reserve, a process of optimisation using the Deswik Pseudo Flow, staged pit design, production scheduling and mine cost modelling was undertaken by Monument. Recent review of and new metallurgical testwork for processing has indicated treatment of transition and fresh ores by flotation and then bio oxidation BIOX followed by carbon-in-leach (CIL). Table 1 Mineral Reserves from deposits as at 31 March 2018 Classification Oxidation Zone Approximate Tonnes Au Ounces cut-off (g/t Au) (kt) (g/t) (koz) Probable Oxide Selinsing 0.4 51 0.66 1.1 BRN 0.4 80 1.14 3 BRC 0.4 77 0.9 2.2 Felda 0.4 233 1.34 10 BRS 0.4 41 0.93 1.2 Oxide Total 483 1.13 17.5 Transitional Selinsing 0.75 43 1.61 2.2 BRN 0.75 73 1.31 3.1 BRC 0.75 171 1.11 6.1 Felda 0.75 171 1.66 9.1 BRS 0.75 299 2.23 21.4 Transitional Total 757 1.72 41.9 Fresh Selinsing 0.75 578 2.28 42.4 BRN 0.75 13 1.31 0.6 BRC 0.75 699 1.78 40 Felda 0.75 476 1.79 27.5 BRS 0.75 913 2.21 64.8 Fresh Total 2,680 2.03 175.1 PROBABLE TOTAL 3,919 1.86 234.6 Notes: Tonnes and ounces have been rounded and this may have resulted in minor discrepancies. Table 2 Stockpile Proven Mineral Reserves, as at end of March 2018 Stockpile name Stockpile ID lcm Tonnes (kt) Au (g/t) Ounces (koz) Oxide Stockpiles High Grade 1 (Oxide) SEL HG1 O - - - - Low Grade 1 (Oxide) SEL LG1 O 6,081 12 1.1 0.4 Low Grade 2 (Oxide) SEL LG2 O 3,189 6 0.73 0.2 Super Low Grade 1 (Oxide) SEL SLG1 O 2,191 4 0.44 0.1 Super Low Grade 2 (Oxide) SEL SLG2 O 72,179 991 0.43 13.9 Super Low Grade 4 (Oxide) SEL SLG 4 36,293 78 0.5 1.3 BR High Grade 1 (Oxide) BR HG1 O 566 1 3.28 0.1 BR Low Grade 1 (Oxide) BR LG1 O 928 2 1.02 0.1 BR Super Low Grade 1 (Oxide) BR SLG1 O 84,030 168 0.55 3 B7 High Grade 1 (Oxide) B7 HG1 O 1,767 3 2.12 0.2 B7 Low Grade 1 (Oxide) B7 LG1 O 77 0.13 1.02 0.01 B7 Super Low Grade 1 (Oxide) B7 SLG1 O 449 0.73 0.69 0.01 Oxide Total 607,750 1,265 0.47 19.1 Leachable Sulphide Stockpiles High Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) SEL HG1 S - - - - Low Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) SEL LG1 S - - - - BR High Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) BR HG1 S 879 1.776 1.86 0.1 BR Low Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) BR LG1 S 1237 2.499 0.97 0.1 High Grade 2 (Leachable Sulphide) SEL HG2 S - - - - Low Grade 3 (Leachable Sulphide) SEL LG3 S 213 0.46 0.68 0.01 Low Grade 4 (Leachable Sulphide) SEL LG4 S - - - - BR High Grade 2 (Leachable Sulphide) BR HG2 S 5186 11.399 2.72 1 BR Super Low Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) BR SLG1 S 2145 4.333 0.55 0.1 B7 High Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) B7 HG1 S - - - - B7 Low Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) B7 LG1 S - - - - B7 Super Low Grade 1 (Leachable Sulphide) B7 SLG1 S - - - - Leachable Sulphide Total 9,660 20.5 1.92 1.3 Non-Leachable Sulphide Stockpiles 0 0 0 BR Low Grade 2 (Non-Leachable Sulphide) BR LG2 S 11570 23.115 1.25 0.9 Super Low Grade 3 (Non-Leachable Sulphide) SEL SLG3 S 748 1.511 0.6 0.03 B7 High Grade 2 (Non-Leachable Sulphide) B7 HG2 S - - - - B7 Low Grade 2 (Non-Leachable Sulphide) B7 LG2 S - - - - Non-Leachable Sulphide Total 12318 24.626 1.21 0.9 GRAND TOTAL 630,000 1,312 0.51 21.3 Note: All stockpiles classified as Proven Mineral Reserves; lcm = loose cubic metres; SLG = super low grade (0.300.75 g/t Au); LG = low grade (0.751.50 g/t Au); HG = high grade (1.503.50 g/t Au). Table 3 Old Tailings Mineral Reserves as at 31 March 2018 Classification Volume (m3 in-situ) Tonnes (kt) Au (g/t) Ounces (koz) Probable 353,000 508 0.71 12 The Probable Mineral Reserves are within the updated Indicated Resources as reported under the Mineral Resources section of the Feasibility Study. The Proven Mineral Reserves comprise entirely of the Measured Mineral Resources from stockpiles. The Mineral Resources were updated as of March 31, 2018, as shown in Table 4 for Selinsing and include Indicated Resources of 248 koz of gold from 5,171 kt of material at a grade of 1.49 g/t Au, and Inferred Resource of 110 koz of gold from 1,691 kt of material at a grade of 2.02 g/t Au; and Table 5 for Buffalo Reef/Felda, including Indicated Resources of 238 koz of gold from 4,525 kt of material at a grade of 1.63 g/t Au, and Inferred Resource of 241 koz of gold from 4,706 kt of material at a grade of 1.59 g/t Au. Additionally, old tailings Indicated Mineral Resources as shown in Table 6, with 24 koz of gold from 975 kt of Inferred Mineral Resources at a grade of 0.75g/t Au. Estimated Mineral Resources were limited to within a pit shell run based on a long-term gold price potential of US$2,400/oz gold price. Table 4 Selinsing Mineral Resource statement for Selinsing deposit, inclusive of Mineral Reserves, depleted for mining to end of March 2018 Classification Oxidation Cut-off (g/t Au) Tonnes (kt) Au (g/t) S (%) Ounces (koz Au) Indicated Oxide 0.3 64 0.62 0.03 1 Transitional 0.5 100 1.16 0.38 4 Fresh 0.5 5,007 1.51 0.47 243 Indicated Total 5,171 1.49 0.46 248 Inferred Oxide 0.3 8 0.98 0.03 0.3 Transitional 0.5 3 1.14 0.17 0.1 Fresh 0.5 1,680 2.02 0.52 109 Inferred Total 1,691 2.02 0.51 110 Notes: Small discrepancies may occur due to rounding. The classification applies to the Au grades only; S grades are considered indicative only. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Table 5 Buffalo Reef/Felda Mineral Resource statement for Buffalo Reef deposit, inclusive of Mineral Reserves, depleted for mining to end of March 2018 Classification Oxidation Zone Cut-off Tonnes Au As Sb S Ounces (g/t Au) (kt) (g/t) (ppm) (ppm) (%) (koz) Indicated Oxide BRN 0.3 121 0.97 1,843 185 0.35 4 BRC 0.3 158 0.81 1,565 141 0.5 4 Felda 0.3 160 1.11 2,273 232 0.08 6 BRS 0.3 55 2.06 3,076 837 0.15 4 Oxide Total 494 1.08 2,031 258 0.29 18 Transitional BRN 0.5 151 1.16 2,132 196 0.57 6 BRC 0.5 382 1.06 2,167 96 0.4 13 Felda 0.5 219 1.48 2,776 291 0.33 10 BRS 0.5 234 2.57 2,895 3,143 0.59 19 Transitional Total 986 1.53 2,470 878 0.45 48 Fresh BRN 0.5 86 1.05 2,122 83 0.71 3 BRC 0.5 1,106 1.56 3,157 1,796 0.88 55 Felda 0.5 686 1.66 2,711 878 0.71 37 BRS 0.5 1,167 2.06 2,732 1,111 0.87 77 Fresh Total 3,045 1.76 2,864 1,278 0.83 172 INDICATED TOTAL 4,525 1.63 2,687 1,080 0.69 238 Inferred Oxide BRN 0.3 72 0.87 1,646 89 0.1 2 BRC 0.3 114 1.1 1,459 60 0.2 4 Felda 0.3 66 1.03 1,424 141 0.31 2 BRS 0.3 89 1.14 1,296 180 0.05 3 Oxide Total 341 1.05 1,453 113 0.16 11 Transitional BRN 0.5 127 1.12 1,854 88 0.72 5 BRC 0.5 179 1.18 1,891 156 0.28 7 Felda 0.5 68 1.24 1,731 143 0.46 3 BRS 0.5 108 1.37 1,708 673 0.49 5 Transitional Total 482 1.22 1,818 252 0.47 20 Fresh BRN 0.5 102 1.18 2,761 52 0.71 4 BRC 0.5 1,851 1.71 2,592 1,708 0.87 102 Felda 0.5 1,263 1.8 3,104 1,066 0.82 73 BRS 0.5 668 1.46 2,353 516 0.54 31 Fresh Total 3,883 1.68 2,722 1,251 0.8 210 INFERRED TOTAL 4,706 1.59 2,537 1,066 0.72 241 Notes: Small discrepancies may occur due to rounding. The classification applies to the Au grades only; As, Sb and S grades are considered indicative only. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Table 6 Selinsing Old Tailings Mineral Resource, inclusive of Mineral Reserves, depleted for reclaiming to end of March 2018 Classification Cut-off (g/t Au) Tonnes (kt) Au (g/t) Ounces (koz Au) Indicated Total 0.3 975 0.75 24 Notes: Small discrepancies may occur due to rounding. Economic Evaluation Economic viability has been demonstrated for approximately six years of life of mine (LOM) with an NPV of US$27.56 million based on reported oxide and sulphide ore reserves as of March 2018. Over the six-year LOM, a total 5.7 million tonnage of ore would be treated at an average grade of 1.45g/t for 223 koz at US$863.67/oz. At a gold price of US$1,300 per ounce, the Selinsing Gold Mine Project would generate net cash flow after tax of US$97 million from operations, or US$45 million net of capital expenditure. Sensitivities show that the project can withstand well over a 35% increase in costs but is sensitive to gold price (US$1,100/oz breakeven) and process recovery (70% breakeven). The above economic evaluation does not include Inferred Mineral Resources. Currently (i) The Inferred Mineral Resource inside the Reserve open pit designs contains an additional 20 koz of gold; (ii) Inferred Mineral Resource external to the open pit design contains 130 koz of gold. Recommendations have been suggested to initiate further exploration programs, aimed on conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources. Should those conversions be successful, the Mineral Reserves could potentially be significantly increased. The Selinsing Gold Mine has a proven record in converting oxide Inferred Mineral Resources to recovered ounces in its 10-year production history, although the previous production history may not be used as an indicator for future production. Other Discussions Detailed studies were carried out in many areas as part of the FS. With the geological and mine planning details largely unchanged from the Snowden 2016 TR, most of the detailed work has been associated with the metallurgical study and evaluation as well as plant design and construction. This work demonstrated the feasibility of a plant capable to process the sulphide ores at Selinsing using flotation and BIOX additions to the existing plant. The study work includes enough detail to proceed to final plant design stages. The updated Mineral Resource estimate includes results from a total of 1,737 holes for 154,217 m (predominantly diamond and RC drilling) at the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef deposits, with assays received up to February 24, 2016. This drilling was previously used for the Au, Sb and As estimation for the 2016 resource model in the Snowden 2016 TR. An additional 6,342 m of drilling was included for sulphur estimation. Those additional drill results come from exploration work continued at Selinsing and Buffalo Reef after June 2016 to define mineralization at depth below the existing pits, within gap zones in between the known resources that contain little drill hole information, and to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated and/or Measured Mineral Resources. Most of the additional drilling at Buffalo Reef comprised of diamond core metallurgical drilling (3,401 m or 60% of the total additional). The remaining 2,293 m of additional infill and extensional drilling at Buffalo Reef do not materially impact the global resource with respect to the gold grade estimates, which remain unchanged. At Selinsing, the additional drilling since 2016 comprised of 648 m and has confirmed the continuity of a high-grade zone beneath the Pit IV. The majority of drillholes have been accurately collar surveyed and most of the diamond holes have been surveyed downhole. Sample recovery for diamond drilling conducted by Monument at both Selinsing and Buffalo Reef is considered good and provides suitable samples suitable for resource estimation. Half core diamond samples and riffle split RC samples formed the bulk of the samples used in the resource modelling. Most samples were analysed for gold, arsenic, silver and antimony. Gold was analysed primarily by fire assay using a 50 g charge with an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish. The RC and diamond drilling completed by Monument after 2007 includes independent QAQC samples with the sample batches, the results of which show reasonable precision and analytical accuracy have been achieved. Assay data in the database has been verified by Snowden with a random selection of original lab reports, with no major discrepancies identified. The drillhole logging and assay data was used as the main basis for the geological interpretation. The gold mineralisation was interpreted on 20 m spaced east-west sections as a series of wireframe solids, based on a nominal threshold of 0.15 g/t Au along with the geological logging. The drillhole data was composited downhole prior to running the estimation process using a 1.5 m compositing interval to minimize any bias due to sample length. Variograms have been modelled and the gold grade estimated by ordinary kriging, with top-cuts as appropriate, for the Buffalo Reef/Felda deposits, whereas for the Selinsing deposit, due to the strongly skewed nature of the gold grades, multiple indicator kriging (MIK) was used to estimate the block gold grades. A parent block size of 10 mE by 20 mN by 2.5 mRL was used to construct a block model for the Selinsing deposit, whereas an 8 mE by 20 mN by 2.5 mRL parent block size was used for the Buffalo Reef/Felda deposit. A slightly smaller block size of 8 mE was selected for Buffalo Reef due to the more selective nature of the geological interpretation and to ensure reasonable volume resolution. A three-pass search strategy was utilized for all grade estimates with the same search neighbourhood parameters applied to all domains. Due to the poor coverage of sulphur assay data, variograms showed very poor quality and the decision was made to estimate the sulphur grade using inverse distance squared (ID2). Over 2,600 bulk density measurements were taken by Monument in the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef/Felda deposits using the Archimedes Principle, with wax-coating used to account for the porosity. Default bulk density values were assigned to the model blocks based on the oxidation state, separately for waste and mineralised zones. The Mineral Resource estimate has been validated against the input samples and classified as a combination of Indicated and Inferred Resources in accordance with CIM guidelines. The Mineral Resources have been depleted for all mining as at the end of March 2018. Snowden has verified the drill hole data used to support the technical and scientific information in this news release, including the sampling, sample security, analytical techniques, original assay certificates, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures and has determined that CIM and NI 43-101 Industry Standards have been sufficiently followed. Snowden constructed a 3D model of the mineralized bodies using modeling software and estimated the June 30, 2016 Selinsing and Buffalo Reef/Felda in situ Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mineral Reserves for the stockpiles, based on end of month surveyed volumes and grade control during mining informing the grade, at the Selinsing Project (including ore mined from the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef pits), as at the end of March 2018, are summarized in Table 2. The stockpile resources are classified as Measured Mineral Resources in their entirety with a 100% conversion of the stockpile Measured Mineral Resources to Proven Mineral Reserves.; A significant deposit of Old Tailings is located within the property. Old Tailings at the Selinsing project include the balance of the old tailings dam located next to Selinsing Pit V and Pit VI. Most of the current tailing material originated from the oxide mining operation by the local operator, Tshu Lian Seng Mining from 1987 until the operation ceased in late 1995. There are small amounts of tailings deposited from the Underground mining in the early 20th century but boundaries from underground tailings and tailings from the oxide operation are not clearly discernible. A total of 201 holes totalling 1,503 m drilling assayed for gold were available and used for estimating the grades in the blocks coded as tailings in the Selinsing Resource block model. The blocks coded previously as tailings in the Selinsing block model were now estimated for gold with a simple Inverse of Square Distance (ISD) method, from 1.5 m composite samples originated from raw intervals located inside the reference wireframe. The Mineral Resources contained in the Old Tailings at the Selinsing Project are classified as Indicated Resources in accordance with CIM guidelines. The Mineral Resources for the Old Tailings balance as of March 31, 2018 at the Selinsing Project used the same lower cut-off of 0.30 g/t Au as for oxide Mineral Resource as well as a mining recovery factor of 80%. A mining recovery factor of 80% was applied for the likely practical limits of reclaim mining, accounting for losses associated with scattered waste material in the tailings, such as material used to construct bunds/walls between the ponds and the dam retaining wall on the west side. The Old Tailings are processed by excavation and haulage to a dry stockpile, then transferred to a wet pond area for separation and slurry formation by water cannon. The material is then classified and fed to the CIL plant. Modifying factors include historical reconciliation to plant, pond bund depletion and removal of areas below designated treated water storage areas required for environmental management and legal responsibility. The modifying factors are applied to the resource model used for the Old Tailings Indicated Resource, inclusive of the Probable Old Tailings Reserve. The mining method is conventional open pit drill and blast, load and haul on a 2.5 m mining flitch with a 10 m high blasting bench, reflective of semi-selective mining. The maximum excavator bucket size of 2.3 m3 is matched to this selectivity. A stripping ratio of approximately 6 was identified. Overall, dilution assumption used has reduced the recovered ounces by approximately 2% and marginally increased the ore tonnage processed by 2%. As well as detailed metallurgical and engineering studies, the mining aspects of the Snowden (Dec 2016) study were reviewed and optimised by Monument with updated cost and revenue information. The mine design for the reserve pit shell was largely unchanged except for revision in the Selinsing Pit area from an updated geotechnical study in 2018 by Peter OBryan and Associates (POB). As part of the FS opportunities, there were also investigations for inclusion of Inferred material in life of mine (LOM) planning as well as underground mining potential. Mine planning and pit optimization undertaken by Monument of the Indicated Resources in the block model used the Pseudo Flow algorithm in the DeswikCAD software. The model was not diluted prior to optimisation. Optimisation results were then compared to Snowden (Dec 2016) results. With very similar results obtained for optimisation in Buffalo Reef, the pits and waste dumps as designed by Snowden (Dec 2016) for Buffalo Reef were left unchanged. The sulphide fresh and transition ore treatment has been discussed including process design criteria; process design and flow diagrams; engineering design criteria; mechanical and electrical equipment lists; process plant layout; capital cost estimates. The metallurgical factors for sulphide were developed by Monument from in-house and independent testwork by Outotec and reviewed by OMC. The oxide metallurgical factors are from site data. The metallurgical recovery parameters applied are 74% for Old Tailings, 75% for oxide, and 85% for transition and fresh/sulphide material. The Selinsing Gold Processing Plant was originally developed on the basis of treating oxide ore via conventional crushing and ball milling followed by gravity recovery of free gold and cyanidation of gravity concentrate. Gravity tails are subjected to conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL). Final gold recovery from carbon strip solution and gravity concentrate leach solution is by electrowinning onto stainless steel cathodes. In 2009, mining operations commenced at Selinsing. Since then, Monument developed an open pit mine and construction of a 1,200 tonnes per day (t/d) Au treatment plant in three phases. From 2011, Monument has been engaged in Phase IV of the expansion, with key areas of evaluation being: Inspectorate of Vancouver, metallurgical test program on a selection of diamond drill core material collected from the Buffalo Reef deposit. Engineering study by Lycopodium of Brisbane, Australia, and reported by Lycopodium in Selinsing Phase IV Study (Feb 2013). This study is summarised in the Snowden (Dec 2016) PFS. FS work of 2018. This study replaces the previous Phase IV Study of Snowden (Dec 2016) NI 43101 Technical Report. The Qualified Person has provided the summary and write-up for this section based on previous NI 43101 reports for oxide processing only. Additionally, the sulphide processing utilising the BIOX and flotation processes is evaluated in the 2019 NI43-101 FS Technical Report. It is the Qualified Persons opinion that the plant production numbers are accurate and correct. Given superior flotation response and bioleach response from metallurgical testwork conducted for Phase IV of the project, it is reasonable to assume that the results obtained, and design criteria and process flowsheet adapted for Phase IV are reasonable and adequate for a FS level of accuracy. A potential underground desktop study was also carried out indicating potential in the Selinsing area but more inventories over a 3 g/t Au cut-off grade and sourcing an available and cost-effective contractor arrangement is required. Major follow-up work will be for further resource definition and conversion of the Inferred open pit potential as well as extensions for underground mining. The main emphasis will be in the Buffalo Reef area. John Graindorge and Frank Blanchfield, of Snowden Mining Industry Consultants, are the independent Qualified Persons for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and have reviewed and provided consent for this news release. About Monument Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE: D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is advancing several exploration and development projects including the Mengapur Copper-Iron Project, in Pahang State of Malaysia, and the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 195 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Cathy Zhai, President and CEO Monument Mining Limited Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact: Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.com Wolfgang Seybold, Axino GmbH T: +49 711-82 09 7211 wolfgang.seybold@axino.com "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." Forward-Looking Statement This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans (forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Companys plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Companys projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM, US OTC PINK: BMMJ) (the Company or BaM) a multi-state operator, is pleased to announce Nevada Medical Group LLC (NMG Nevada), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement) whereby NMG Nevada will acquire 100% ownership of NMG Ohio LLC (NMG Ohio). NMG Nevada, which previously held a 30% interest in NMG Ohio, will purchase the remaining 70% interest (the Transaction) for fair value consideration of USD $3,150,000 (the Consideration). NMG Ohio owns a dispensary in Loraine County, Elyria and a production license. The Transaction The Consideration will be settled equally in cash and in common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) on the following basis: CASH PAYMENTS USD $1,181,250 to be paid on execution of the Definitive Agreement (Effective Date); and USD $393,750 to be paid within 10 days of closing the Transaction, to be determined pending regulatory approval. COMMON SHARE ISSUANCES 2,380,398 Common Shares to be issued on the Effective Date; and 793,466 Common Shares to be issued within 10 days of closing the Transaction, to be determined pending regulatory approval. The Common Shares were valued using a Bank of Canadas January 29, 2019 USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.33 and a price of CAD $0.66 per Common Share. Two of the Companys directors have a financial interest in NMG Ohio. The two applicable directors will receive aggregate net proceeds of USD $461,251 and 929,488 Common Shares, 75% of which to be paid and issued on the Effective Date and 25% within 10 days of closing the Transaction to be determined pending regulatory approval. Both directors abstained from discussions and voting in respect of the Transaction. Australis Investment Concurrent with the Transaction, Australis Capital Inc. (Australis) (CSE:AUSA) and the Company have entered into an investment agreement pursuant to which Australis purchased 1,768,545 Common Shares. Pursuant to a prior investment agreement between Australis and the Company, the Company granted Australis anti-dilution participation rights which included discount rates as permitted by the Canadian Securities Exchange. Australis purchased the 1,768,545 Common Shares at a price of CAD $0.585 per Common Share for an aggregate purchase price of USD $777,894. The USD $777,894 investment by Australis will be used by BaM for the purchase of the 70% ownership interest of NMG Ohio and will allow Australis to maintain its 35.783% ownership interest in the Company. The financing remains subject to the approval of regulators. Robert Hasman, director of the Company commented, Revenue consolidation of our Ohio platform is critical to BaMs growth and we are delighted to have executed upon this accretive transaction. We are now positioned to evaluate tie-on acquisitions in Ohio and across our multi-state footprint. We would like to thank Australis for their continued support, both financially and as advisors to the Company. Ohio Update NMG Ohio has completed construction of its dispensary, the Clubhouse, in Elyria, Ohio and is awaiting final inspections which are scheduled to occur on or around February 12, 2019. Our team in Ohio brings years of dispensary experience and is eager to educate medical patients in the emerging Ohio medical cannabis market, stated Robert Hasman, director the Company. We are extremely pleased with the design and build out of the Clubhouse dispensary and look forward to serving our patrons upon receiving final approval. Images of the dispensary, media links and related information are available on the BaM website. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Michael Mills 778-389-0007 mmills@bamcannabis.com About Body and Mind BaM is a publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licences and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, topicals, extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM marijuana strains have won numerous awards including the Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, Ohio and its investment in California and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions. Please visit www.bamcannabis.com and www.clubhousedispensary.com for more information. About Australis Capital Australis Capital identifies and invests in the cannabis industry predominantly in the United States, a highly-regulated, fragmented, rapidly-expanding and evolving industry. Investments may include and are not limited to equity, debt or other securities of both public and private companies, financings in exchange for royalties or other distribution streams, and control stake acquisitions. Australis Capital adheres to stringent investment criteria and will focus on significant near and mid-term high-quality opportunities with strong return potentials while maintaining a steadfast commitment to governance and community. Australis Capitals Board and management team have material experience with, and knowledge of, the cannabis space in the U.S., extensive backgrounds in highly-regulated industries, adherence to stringent regulatory compliance, public company, and operational expertise. In addition to the Companys expertise and strong execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes Rthm Technologies Inc., Body and Mind Inc., Quality Green Inc., and Folium Biosciences Inc., Australis has developed strategic partnerships with companies such as Wagner Dimas. Australis Common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol AUSA. For further information about Australis, please visit the website at ausacap.com or contact the Company by e-mail at ir@ausacap.com. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as expects or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, estimates or intends, or stating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. ATLANTA, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terminus , the #1 rated account-based marketing (ABM) execution platform and leader of the ABM movement, today announces it closed 2018 with strong product performance and record revenue growth. The company saw a 137 percent year-over-year increase in revenue, driven by customer adoption of its end-to-end account-based platform which was launched in mid-2018. The full platform has been widely adopted by over 100 customers and integrates the technology acquired through BrightFunnel to provide account targeting, execution orchestration and deep measurement capabilities in an easy to use product interface. Over the last year, we have witnessed the continued evolution of B2B marketing with the vast majority of practitioners now leveraging the account-based approach to driving quality growth, says Eric Spett, CEO of Terminus. We are thrilled to be leading this transformation by simplifying the technology required to build, operate and measure scalable account-based programs for our customers. And as we continue to help our customers find success through ABM, we continue to gain even more market momentum and growth ourselves. Its a very exciting time for Terminus and the B2B companies we serve. In 2018, Terminus launched a fully integrated platform to further help customers transform B2B marketing by focusing sales and marketing resources on the best-fit, most likely to buy segments of their addressable market. Terminus has continued to innovate and iterate on its account-based platform, including: In 2018, the company released the TEAM (Target/Engage/Activate/Measure) framework, which enables customers to build, operate and measure scalable account-based programs in an easy to use, integrated technology stack. It also expanded data integration capabilities powered by the Terminus Account Hub in a new release in December, making it even easier for B2B marketing teams to identify ideal accounts based on intent and engagement intelligence. In the beginning of 2019, Terminus partnered with Sigstr in order to unify sales and marketing teams through deeper, full-funnel account intelligence and shared mechanisms for accountability. To drive and support its ongoing growth, the company also expanded its executive team by welcoming aboard Derek Slayton as chief marketing officer and Mark Jauregui as chief customer officer. Slayton joined Terminus in September of 2018 from Dun & Bradstreet, where he was general manager of the company's $750 million sales and marketing line of business. He was previously CMO at NetProspex (acquired by Dun & Bradstreet) and at VMTurbo (now Turbonomic). Mark Jauregui joined Terminus in January of 2019 from Certain, where he led global customer success and services. Prior to that, he led enterprise and SMB professional services for Eloqua before and after its acquisition by Oracle. Slayton and Jauregui are well-suited to lead Terminus, alongside the existing c-suite at the company, and build on the growth thats occurred so far. Furthermore, the company has moved to a new 50,000 square foot office headquarters at Tower Place in Atlanta. Terminus also revealed a new brand this month, which captures its expanded value proposition to B2B marketing teams, to reflect its changes, growth and market presence. Terminus continues to be recognized in the industry for its technology innovation and growth. The company was recognized as Atlantas Fastest-Growing Software Company in the 2018 Pacesetter Awards. The company additionally celebrated being named the #1 ABM Execution Platform on G2Crowd and was also included in the list of the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia by the Technology Association of Georgia. TAGS Top 40 Awards recognize Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact and efforts at spreading awareness of Georgias technology initiatives throughout the U.S. and globally. In the coming year, Terminus will continue to broaden the capabilities in its account-based platform. To request a demo, please visit https://terminus.com/request-demo/ . About Terminus Founded in 2014, Terminus is the leader of the account-based movement. We help our customers transform B2B marketing by focusing sales and marketing resources on the best-fit, most likely to buy segments of their addressable market. Our platform empowers marketing teams to easily build, operate and measure scalable account-based initiatives that drive quality growth. We serve hundreds of B2B organizations such as Salesforce, GE, Verizon, 3M and CA Technologies to provide the technology and expertise that produce exceptional results. Contact: Kristin Hege kristin@conveycommsagency.com | 480.540.6496 POINT ROBERTS, Wash. and DELTA, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering AI and lithium stocks issues a snapshot looking at lithium companies preparing to meet future demands in the market and how technology innovation may play a lead role. The future of lithium shows a high demand, though there is uncertainty surrounding whether the market will be able to keep up with extraction demands. Looking at how this all plays out, Albemarle Corporation ( NYSE:ALB ) and Chile state development agency Corfo recently reached a deal to resolve a contract dispute centered around an amendment to the contract that requires Albemarle to provide as much as 25 percent of its annual production of lithium at a discount to companies seeking to produce battery metals within Chile. Albemarle operates in Chile's Salar de Atacama, a salt flat in the countrys northern desert that supplies nearly 40 percent of the worlds lithium. Corfo, which leases mining rights in the Salar, had previously threatened to cancel its contract with Albemarle over the dispute, raising the spectre of potential supply disruptions amid booming demand. The contract amendment that requires Albemarle to provide the ultralight battery metal at a reduced price is meant to spur a value-added lithium industry in Chile. Albemarle produces most of its lithium from evaporation ponds. In November of 2018, the companys claim to developing a unique process to more than triple its lithium production from Chiles Atacama desert without using more water drew heavy scrutiny . Inside the US, Albemarle has already hinted at the potential of producing lithium to business owners operating near their Magnolia Arkansas operations, which is located nearby to Standard Lithiums potential commercial lithium project. Conflicting reports regarding Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaways recent alleged interest in new US-based lithium extraction technologies has shone a spotlight on a rising need for innovation. Beyond Buffetts group, there has already been a push from the lithium sector to innovate. Despite lingering doubts about the feasibility of the Berkshire Hathaway project to produce lithium from California geothermal wells, other projects are priming for lithium production from US brines. Understanding the need to innovate is Standard Lithium ( TSX.V:SLL ) ( OTC:STLHF ). Based in Southern Arkansas, with a planned joint venture involving a multi-billion-dollar global specialty chemical company, they are using innovative proprietary AI-powered rapid extraction technologies. This new high-tech approach may improve chances for success in this sector. As international interests such as Germany and China jostle for position in other places like South America, securing North American lithium deposits is highly sought after domestically. The economic impact could be massive, as Chilean exports alone rose to $949 million in 2018 . Through its German partners, global chemical giant LANXESS and Standard Lithium have secured access to billions of gallons of lithium-rich brine; produced annually as a by-product of one of the worlds largest bromine producers every year at their flagship project in Southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium Ltd. ( TSX.V:SLL ) ( OTC:STLHF ) has the infrastructure and investment potential in place to move forward on a massive operating commercial brine-fueled lithium project in the USA. Should the next stages of the pilot and commercial feasibility testing be a success, LANXESS has announced a financial commitment to push the project into production. Livent Corporation ( NYSE:LTHM ), focused on South America as well as Australia, calls itself a world leader in lithium technology. The company also holds 50 product patents. They also state , Our control over the entire lithium operations chain-from pumping brine out of the ground to processing it into a range of performance products-enables us to lead the industry in lithium technology. When discussing the lithium market in an interview , CEO Paul Graves said, We think demand is going to grow almost five times larger in 2025 than it was in 2017. Our biggest challenge is producing enough to meet the demand - theres a much greater risk that this market is consistently in a deficit in the near future. Other companies like Nemaska Lithium Inc. ( TSX:NMX ) ( OTC:NMKEF ), forecasted to be North Americas next big lithium producer, is in the construction stage on its Whabouchi mine in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. According to the companys feasibility study, the capex on the project is set at approximately $875 million, of which Nemaska has already spent $272.4 million. Nemaska Lithium has developed proprietary processes that use electrolysis to produce high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for the lithium battery market. The technology virtually eliminates costly soda ash from the process. The race to innovate in the lithium sector is on. According to Transparency Market Research, Key players are focused on the innovation of new technologies in order to gain market share and serve a diverse range of end-user industries. About Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/About/ Social Media Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/Investorideas Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Investorideas Follow us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/Investorideas Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com: 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 investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. 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. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp . Disclosure: this article featuring Standard Lithium is a paid for service on Investorideas.com third party. Learn more about costs and our services https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors:: https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Contact Investorideas.com 800-665-0411 Albany, NY, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a recent report by Transparency Market Research, the global digital pathology market is likely to project a significant expansion with a robust CAGR of 12% within the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. The market in 2017 was valued around worth of US$ 340 Mn and is anticipated to reach over value of around US$ 900 Mn by the end of forecast period. On the basis of application, the global digital pathology market is classified as consulting services, educational, diagnosis, and so on. Among these, in 2017, the diagnosis segment held the maximum share in the global market, as far as revenue is considered. Rise in prevalence of contagious ailments is one of the key factors supporting the demand in digital pathology market all over the world in coming years. Geographically, North America region led the market, trailed by Europe in 2017, based on revenue. In the forecast period, the region is likely to mark the CAGR of over 12%, owing to increased popularity of the digital pathology technology along with lack of skilled pathologists. Request to View Sample of Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1540 Increased Cases of Cancer to Fuel Demand Globally Rise in number of cases of tumor and need for more precise pathological diagnosis, along with emergence of digitalization are the major factors propelling the growth in global digital pathology market across the globe. Shortage of skilled pathologists in the nations for example, the U.S. which leads to increased workload is another major factor fueling the demand in digital pathology market in coming years. Moreover, upgradation in diagnostic tests, increased number of preclinical and clinical trials, surged adoption of automation, and growth in medical infrastructure are important reasons behind the market growth. Nevertheless, high initial set up prices, sampling mistakes, and strict regulations are a few of the factors hampering the global growth of digital pathology market. Request PDF Brochure of Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1540 Rising Geriatric Population to Support Market growth of Digital Pathology Rise in deployment of digital frameworks is anticipated to drive the global market in the forthcoming years. A couple of regions are foreseen to overwhelm the global digital pathology market in the following couple of years inferable from the increase in pervasiveness of tumor growth, advancement in innovation, and increase in old age population in the region. This is credited to the rise in occurrence of tumor, and increasing awareness in medical IT and its application in developed nations, for example, Australia and Japan. Developed nations such the U.K. and Germany display higher popularity about digital pathology and their applications. This is likely to help the market in the regions. The nations, for example, Japan, China, and India have an enormous potential for the development of market because of enhancing medicinal services foundation in the Asia Pacific. Request For Discount On This Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=1540 The global digital pathology market are anticipated to witness a notable growth in the future years. The major players that are leading the in the global market are taking up various strategies for example, advancement in technology, mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and tie-ups, so as to acquire the leading position in the market. The key players leading in the global digital pathology market are OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Mikroscan Technologies, Inc., GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Inspirata, and Sectra AB. Browse Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/digital-pathology-systems.htm The review is based on the findings of a report by Transparency Market Research, titled Digital Pathology Market (Product Type - Image Analysis Software and Scanners; End use - Diagnostic Laboratories, Academic and Research Centers, Pharmaceutical Companies; Applications - Diagnosis, Consulting Services, Educational) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 2026. More Trending Reports by Transparency Market Research: Microscopy Devices Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microscopy-market.html Anatomic Pathology Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/anatomic-pathology-market.html Tissue Diagnostic Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tissue-diagnostics-market.html About TMR Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Contact Nepali envoy to Australia Lucky Sherpa resigns Nepali Ambassador to Australia Lucky Sherpa resigned from her post on Friday. English French Press release Paris, 1 February 2019 Orange acquires SecureData to increase its international reach and expertise in cybersecurity Orange announces the acquisition of 100% of SecureData Group, and its consulting subsidiary SensePost. SecureData is the largest independent cybersecurity service provider in the UK, the largest market in Europe. This acquisition is yet another step toward establishing Orange's position as a leading player in the European cybersecurity market. Orange has announced today the acquisition of SecureData Group for an undisclosed amount. The UK-based company, SecureData, is the largest independent cybersecurity service provider in the UK, the first market in Europe. The company has a 25-year track record of providing integrated cyber solutions designed to assess risks, detect threats, protect customer's IT assets and respond to security incidents. The company's elite consulting arm, SensePost, enjoys a worldwide reputation for its expertise in cyber-criminality, security research and penetration testing. The company recorded annual revenues of circa 50 million euros in 2018 and has enjoyed consistent growth rates of approx. 20% since 2016. With over 200 employees in the UK and South Africa and a well-respected management-team, the company is well-positioned on the strategically-key British and Anglophone cybersecurity market. By offering improved access to this crucial market, SecureData constitutes an opportunity to expand Orange's capabilities, particularly in Europe. Through additional technical cooperation, SecureData will help reinforce Orange's strategic position in cyberdefense by bringing a new source of expertise and innovative technology. SecureData also boasts an advanced cyber-SOC (Security Operations Center) in the UK that will reinforce Orange Cyberdefense's international reach by building upon the existing network of nine cyber-SOCs dedicated to monitoring and responding to security breaches on behalf of its customers. By working alongside Orange Cyberdefense's existing operations in France and Belgium, SecureData will ensure its continued development by leveraging access to Orange Business Services' existing sales force and its customer base of over 3000 multinational companies, and will benefit from the carrier-grade CERT and threat intelligence team. The envisaged organisation is designed to ensure continuity of SecureData's commercial and operational autonomy. "We are very proud and happy to announce the acquisition of SecureData, which will mark a major milestone in Orange's development in Europe's cybersecurity market. SecureData, just like Orange Cyberdefense, has successfully made the transition toward Managed Security Services, and shares the same passion for Cyber. We will progressively co-build together the operational and commercial synergies, with the patronage and experience of Michel Van Den Berghe, CEO of Orange Cyberdefense. Cybersecurity has become a critical element for both large and small companies as they evolve in an increasing digital-reliant world. We are convinced that the combined expertise of Orange Cyberdefense and SecureData will provide a powerful resource for our customers in ensuring the protection of their valuable data." said Hugues Foulon, Executive Director of Strategy and Cybersecurity activities at Orange. Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at SecureData commented "We are both thrilled and excited to be joining the Orange Cyberdefense family. Both organisations share the same vision and aspiration for the cybersecurity market, and have many complementary services and skills. By being part of Orange we will be able to better serve the international needs of many of our existing customers as well as providing enhanced cyber services to Orange customers with the UK". About Orange Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales of 41 billion euros in 2017 and 150,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2018, including 92,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 261 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2018, including 201 million mobile customers and 20 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 28 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan "Essentials2020" which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. Press contacts: Nathalie Chevrier; nathalie.chevrier@orange.com; +33 1 44 44 93 93 Vanessa Clarke; vanessa.clarke@orange.com; +44 7818 848 848 Attachment Amundi will offer onshore funds in Taiwan thanks to the acquisition of Mirae Asset Global Investments (Taiwan) London, 1 February 2019 Amundi, the European leading asset manager1 with 1.475 trillion in assets under management2, announces the acquisition of Mirae Asset Global Investments (Taiwan) ("MAGI Taiwan"), which has officially changed its name to Amundi Taiwan Limited with effect on 1st February, 2019 (the "Effective Date"). This acquisition enables Amundi to have the status of a Securities Investment Trust Enterprise ("Amundi SITE"). The acquisition of MAGI Taiwan is an important milestone for Amundi's business in Taiwan and further its commitment to the Taiwan fund management industry. Through this acquisition, Amundi enhances its onshore investment management platform and equipped with onshore product development capabilities. Amundi today has a total of 27 offshore funds and 3 onshore funds registered in Taiwan. The existing Amundi Taiwan Limited, the Amundi Securities Consulting Enterprise ("Amundi SICE"), through which Amundi was already offering offshore funds, will integrate with Amundi SITE in the first half of 2019, subject to the approval by the Taiwan regulator. Thereafter, the integrated company will keep the company name Amundi Taiwan Limited and will carry both onshore fund (Amundi SITE) and offshore fund (Amundi SICE) business in Taiwan. Vincent Mortier, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Asia ex-Japan Supervisor of Amundi said, "Amundi SICE has achieved an AUM of over USD 5bn as of end 20183. The acquisition further demonstrated the significance of Taiwan in Amundi's roadmap in Asia. We are confident that the new setup will further enable us to provide the best products and services to Taiwan investors." Xiaofeng Zhong, Chairman of Amundi SICE and SITE said "Amundi SITE is the first SITE in Taiwan run by a global manager with a origin from France. It shows our commitment to the Taiwan market and it will leverage on our Amundi's global expertise to offer best-in-class investment solutions to our investors in Taiwan." END - About Amundi Amundi is Europe's largest asset manager by assets under management and ranks in the top 101 globally. It manages more than 1.475 trillion2 euros of assets across six main investment hubs4. Amundi offers its clients in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas a wealth of market expertise and a full range of capabilities across the active, passive and real assets investment universes. Clients also have access to a complete set of services and tools. Headquartered in Paris, and listed since November 2015, Amundi is the 1st asset manager in Europe by market capitalization5. Thanks to its unique research capabilities and the skills of close to 4,500 team members and market experts based in 37 countries2, Amundi provides retail, institutional and corporate clients with innovative investment strategies and solutions tailored to their needs, targeted outcomes and risk profiles. Amundi. Confidence must be earned. Press contacts : Amundi Alexandre Barat Tel: +33 1 76 32 43 25 alexandre.barat@amundi.com Maitland Jais Mehaji Tel : +44 (0)20 7379 5151 jmehaji@maitland.co.uk 1.Source IPE "Top 400 asset managers" published in June 2018 and based on AUM as of end December 2017. 2.Amundi figures as of September 30, 2018. 3.TDCC as of December 28 2018. 4.Investment hubs: Boston, Dublin, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo. 5.Based on market capitalization as of September 30, 2018 English Norwegian Data Respons has signed a contract of NOK 225 million with a leading player in the automotive market in Germany. The contract is a 5-year agreement for delivery of specialised R&D IT services, advanced testing and system integration supporting all phases of the development cycle. - This contract marks an important strategic milestone and is the largest in the companys history. We have enjoyed great success in the German market over the last years and significantly increased revenues through strong organic development and selected acquisitions. Our strategy is to build focused companies that are leaders in their niche, deliver specialist services and high-tech solutions, and that can be a long-term development partner for our customers. Data Respons now has a solid platform in Germany, one of the worlds largest industry- and technology markets, and expect continued growth going forward, says Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO of Data Respons ASA. Digitalisation and connection of vehicles, transformation of powertrains, increasing environmental- and security requirements are challenging the automotive industry to innovate at a faster pace than before. In order to keep up, the industry is investing heavily in advanced software and data-driven tools supporting an efficient development and testing of new platforms. Our deliveries are highly specialised services and a business critical part of the customers development process, Ragnvaldsen concludes. For further information: Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO, Data Respons ASA, tel. +47 913 90 918. WISeKey opens its Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence Headquartered at the World Trade Center II Geneva The Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence will be officially inaugurated in April 2019, marking the celebration of WISeKey's 20th Anniversary. Geneva, February 1, 2019 - WISeKey International Holding Ltd ("WISeKey ") (SIX: WIHN), a leading global cybersecurity, Blockchain and IoT company, announced today the opening of its Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence. As announced at the Geneva Blockchain Congress in January, this new center is part of the partnership, with Blockchain Research Institute (BRI) for the creation of a number of interconnected Blockchain Centers of Excellence around the world. In addition to the Blockchain Centers of Excellence already being established by WISeKey in India, Mauritius and Rwanda, the agreement foresees the creation of additional centers, including Buenos Aires, Argentina. All of these centers will be interconnected via 3 Hubs: Geneva, Toronto and Beijing, a Trust Triangle operating under a Common Trust Protocol, using WISeKey's PKI hardened Blockchain technology, bringing trust and security, while maintaining the core Blockchain values of transparency, auditability, and traceability. WISeKey's implemented and integrated PKI solution is complementary to any Blockchain platform, where it can assist with developing a better trust model for use within a distributed system and create a universal Trust Protocol for the Internet 2. The business model of the Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence is to assist Blockchain startups and research to promote their technologies internationally, facilitate the rapid adaptation and on-boarding of Blockchain-based solutions, foster stronger collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors and cooperate to ensure that the latest technological standards are made available in a safe and trusted manner. The Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence will coordinate with other centers and Blockchain ecosystems around the world, allowing all partners to fully benefit from shared experiences and resources. Each Blockchain Center of Excellence is expected to develop a particular expertise that can be shared among all centers. For example, the Blockchain Center of Excellence in Buenos Aires will spearhead the development of particular platforms and applications to fight counterfeiting, illicit trade and corruption, while the Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence will focus on Fintech, particularly digital private banking and commodity trading applications. One of the ongoing projects of the Geneva Blockchain Center of Excellence is the Security Token Offering (STO) of WISeCoin AG, a Special Purpose Vehicle created by WISeKey to build the infrastructure for secure intra-object interactions for which WISeKey received a "non-Action Letter" from The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). WISeCoin will pursue the (STO) in Q2 2019. WISeCoin AG was formally established in August 2018 to secure the Blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) world, which due to its continuously increasing size and complexity, is constantly vulnerable to cyber threats. WISeCoin AG benefits from the WISeKey architecture as the first and only vertically integrated platform combining proprietary cybersecurity software and secure microcontrollers designed to protect connected devices against evolving cyber threats. One of WISeCoin's key milestones will be the establishment of a Blockchain of Identity which will offer connected objects the ability to identify, authenticate and verify each other with a digital certificate. For each transaction, a service fee will be charged to users of the platform, through a utility token, called the WISeCoin token. To participate in this platform, each connected object must be equipped with WISeKey's Secure Element consisting of a tamper resistant silicon chip, called VaultIC184. Click here to read Carlos Moreira's interview with AGEFI. About WISeKey WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems for people and objects using Blockchain, AI and IoT respecting the Human as the Fulcrum of the Internet. WISeKey Microprocessors Secures the pervasive computing shaping today's Internet of Everything. WISeKey IoT has an install base of over 1.5 billion microchips in virtually all IoT sectors (connected cars, smart cities, drones, agricultural sensors, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, computers, mobile phones, crypto tokens etc.). WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be at the edge of IoT as our semiconductors produce a huge amount of Big Data that, when analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can help industrial applications to predict the failure of their equipment before it happens. Our technology is Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey's Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust ("RoT") provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com. Press and investor contacts WISeKey Company Contact: Carlos Moreira Chairman & CEO Tel: +41 22 594 3000 info@wisekey.com WISeKey Investor Relations (US) Contact: Lena Cati The Equity Group Inc. Tel: +1 212 836-9611 lcati@equityny.com Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. Washington, DC, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) applauds President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Inspector General Daniel Levinson, and HHS staff for the just released, ambitious proposal to overhaul the nations secretive drug rebate system. This move will lower drug prices for all Americans by finally ensuring that patients receive the benefit of negotiated drug discounts, not plan sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). For decades, corporate PBM middlemen have pocketed billions of dollars in record profits from the shadowy network of rebates they negotiate with manufacturers, while patients with cancer and other serious diseases have continued to bear the burden of high drug costs. This rebate system has served to drive drug list prices higher and higher, benefited PBM middlemen, and fueled out-of-pocket drug costs for patients. As HHS noted in the plans announcement, nearly every drug company taking a January 2019 price increase announced that all or nearly all of the increase was being paid to PBMs or insurers as rebates. The Administrations proposal will directly lower drug prices and out-of-pocket costs by ensuring that patients, not PBM middlemen, receive the benefit of the discounts from manufacturers. This plan is extremely good news for patients who will now directly benefit from discounts and lower drug prices. Todays announcement is a concrete step the Administration has taken to reduce the incredibly negative influence of PBM middlemen. As it stands today, physicians report that PBM middlemen in Part D reduce care choices, drive up costs, increase administrative burdens, and interfere with physician-patient decision making. Over the last three years, COA has documented real-life horror stories from practices and physicians about patients battling cancer who have suffered at the hands of PBMs due to delayed coverage decisions, denial of needed treatments, impenetrable bureaucracies, and failure to receive medications in a timely manner. COA encourages the Administration to next fix murky direct and indirect remuneration fees so called DIR fees that PBMs extort from pharmacy providers and that further drive up list prices of drugs. DIR Fees, which have no basis in regulation or law, artificially inflate the costs paid by Medicare beneficiaries for prescription drugs, pushing them into the Medicare Part D "donut hole" faster, fueling rising drug prices, and ultimately adding to the burden on taxpayers. COA is actively working to address the high cost of cancer drugs and services. As the frontline providers of care for the majority of Americans battling cancer, independent community oncologists are uniquely positioned to give insight into the impact of federal policymaking on patients, providers, and the overall health care system. ### About the Community Oncology Alliance: The majority of Americans battling cancer receive treatment in the community oncology setting. Keeping patients close to their homes, families, and support networks lessens the impact of this devastating disease. Community oncology practices do this while delivering high-quality, cutting-edge cancer care at a fraction of the cost of the hospital setting. The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) advocates for community oncology and smart public policy that ensures the community cancer care system remains healthy and able to provide all Americans with access to local, quality, affordable cancer care. Learn more at www.CommunityOncology.org. New York, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The results are in. With pride and excitement following the conclusion of the 2019 Society Elections, CFA Society New York welcomes four longtime, dedicated members to its Board of Directors. Presiding society leadership has overseen historic gains in recent years, attaining new heights in areas of membership, event attendance, volunteer participation, and revenueand highlighting an auspicious overall trend that the incoming elected officials will be certain to leverage in both advancing the investment industry and forging new paths forward for the largest CFA Institute member society in the world. "Given the diverse backgrounds and impressive track-records of each of the new members of our Board and our Nominations Committee, I am confident that their leadership will become an integral element ofCFANYs continuedmomentumin leading the global investment community," Board of Directors Chair Phil Taylor, CFA, said. Some background on the four newly elected directors, provided below: Sanjay Arora, CFA, CMA, ACA, is a Managing Director: Institutional Fixed Income Capital Markets at Raymond James Financial Inc. (listed RJF) and has over twenty-five years of global experience. He was re-elected to the Board of Directors this year and was formerly Vice Chairman of Institutional Asset Management Group. Arora spent a decade in Bahrain, starting his professional career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and later as CFO for one of the largest local investment company. He was appointed by Morgan Keegan & Co, owned by Regions Financial (listed RF), at their head office in Memphis, TN to expand their Institutional Fixed Income Capital Markets. Raymond James bought Morgan Keegan and Arora was relocated to New York. Arora is Chartered Accountant, Cost & Management Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and CFA charterholder. -- Carole K. Crawford, CFA , is founder and Managing Partner of fincap360, developing venture portfolios for entrepreneurial family offices, often actively engaged with portfolio companies. Carole founded and chairs CFANYs Fintech Thought Leadership Group. Focused on discussion and member participation across all career levels, the Groups programming has attracted 1/3 of CFANYs members. Prior to fincap360, she built a successful wealth management practice at Morgan Stanley, in addition to leading branch-wide business development for alternative investments and SMAs for two of the largest offices of the firm. Through the years she has counseled the White House, Congress and other political leaders on issues related to financial services and entrepreneurship, called on by both sides of the aisle. She holds a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Michigan and completed the Certified Investment Management Analyst program at the Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education. In 2018 she was a recipient of CFANY's Volunteer of the Year Award. -- Kris J. Thiessen, CFA, CAIA, EA, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Helix Management, with over 20 years of finance experience. Recognized as a CFANY 2018 Co-Volunteer of the Year, Kris serves as Chair of the Alternative Investments Group, the largest member interest group at the CFA Society New York. Kris co-created the Annual Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference, was elected to the Nominations Committee, and has served as an Election Inspector at CFANY. Kris founded Helix Management in 2002 to focus on investments in public and private life sciences companies, royalties and funds, and he also advises on tax matters. Kris received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics cum laude from Harvard College, his Certificate in Income Tax Planning and Reporting from New York University, and his Master's of Science in Taxation from Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. -- Evelyn Yeow, CFA, is an investment analyst at American Century Investments. In her role, she provides fundamental equity research and analysis for the emerging markets equity team. Prior to this, she was an investment analyst at John Hsu Capital Group, an institutional asset management firm, where she worked alongside the CIO on Asian equity investing. She earned a bachelors degree in mathematics from City University of New York. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Ms. Yeow has been an active volunteer at the CFA Society New York (CFANY) since 2015. She has served various leadership positions including the Chair/Vice Chair of the Career Development group and a member of the Nominations Committee, and played a leading role from the early stages of the Asset Owners Series. In recognition of her integral role in the organization, she was awarded the 2016 CFANY Young Investment Professional Award. Since 1937, CFA Society New York remains steady as a leading forum for the investment community. CFANYs mission is to raise the standards of the investment profession by engaging a dynamic community of local investment professionals and creating thought leadership for the global industry. All four of the newly elected directors represent the commitment to excellence and ethics of our membership community, Taylor said. The talent, expertise and energy theyll bring to the table will allow the society to rise to the challenge of leading our profession in a time of unprecedented transition in culture, structure, and technology. We have the opportunity to capitalize on our strong position and lead the global investment profession forward. CFA Society New York thanks all of its members for participating in its election process and expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to each nominee and departing director for their invaluable contributions to the CFANY membership community. Attachments TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DYA) (OTCQB: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its numerous patents relating to the war against NOx and Greenhouse Gas Emissions with our made-in-Ontario Carbon Emission Reduction Technology. It is not the policy of dynaCERT to provide to the public any details about its intellectual property and day-to-day patent application strategy because of concerns related to fiduciary obligations as a public company and our desire to maintain the long-term global competitiveness of our HydraGEN Technology. dynaCERT follows advice from its legal counsel on such matters. However, dynaCERT wishes to clarify certain matters related to its patent applications. dynaCERTs patent applications relate to several types of proprietary information which fall into several broad categories: dynaCERTs proprietary HydraGEN Technology dynaCERTs proprietary electrolysis technology dynaCERTs proprietary electronic control units or SMART ECU dynaCERTs proprietary system for measuring and future monetizing of carbon credits Consistent with its global strategy of protecting its intellectual property and proprietary rights, dynaCERT has engaged qualified law firms specializing in patent applications and protection. In addition, dynaCERT continues to develop new proprietary technologies and continues to engage and collaborate with highly-valued professionals world-wide who are devoted to innovative and creative scientific developments that enhance dynaCERTs leadership in its world-wide conscientiousness of Carbon Reduction Emission Technology. In particular, using artificial intelligence and applying the Companys patent-pending SMART ECU technology, the Company is developing a transport-based carbon credit data collection management system to create a new recurring revenue stream for the Company. Moreover, dynaCERT continues to innovate and develop products and technologies to preserve its market leadership related to its HydraGEN Technology. The Company continues with additional patent applications to protect its technology in different functionalities. Mr. David Bridge, the senior technical advisor to dynaCERT in matters of innovation, leads the dynaCERT team in this regard. As of this date, all of dynaCERTs patents and patent-pending applications are in good standing order. About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures, distributes, and installs Carbon Emission Reduction Technology for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patent-pending technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through electrolysis and supplies these through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with all types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment, marine vessels and railroad locomotives. Website: www.dynaCERT.com READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to the potential expansion into new markets, industries and segments, such as diesel-powered use of any the dynaCERT products and sales. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward- looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO For more information, please contact: Jim Payne, CEO & President dynaCERT Inc. #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 jpayne@dynaCERT.com Clear Lake: Ice depths are 10 to 18 inches. The lake aeration systems are currently not being operated. Yellow Bass - Fair: Use small spoons with insect larvae. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Walleye Fair: Anglers are picking up a few walleye around sunset. Jigging spoons tipped with minnows work best. The minimum size limit on Clear Lake is 14 inches. Crystal Lake: Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers are getting a few crappie after sunset. Rice Lake: Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with insect larvae. Yellow Perch - Slow: Try small jigging spoons or small minnows. Angling success has been slow, but there are good numbers of yellow perch in Rice Lake. Cedar River (above Nashua): Fish backwaters and off channel areas with little to no current. Use caution as ice conditions vary and can change fast. Few anglers are out. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a minnow or spike jigging aggressively. Arrowhead Lake: 11 inches of ice near the boat ramp. The Iowa Senate must change course and explicitly adopt long-standing rules that enable public access to the legislative process. During week one of session, several Republican-controlled Senate Committees declined to amend the rules that have protected public access to subcommittee hearings for 15 years. The decision not to abide by those long-standing norms means that 24-hour advance notice of hearings have been jettisoned in favor of back-room dealing. The move by the Senate is a direct attack on rural Iowa and anyone living outside the metro. Most Iowans cant simply jump down off the tractor, close down their small businesses, or abandon their children to drive to the Capitol to claw their way into the democratic process. They need notice to plan, ample time to consider the legislation, and ample time to contact their legislators. Organizations like the Iowa Environmental Council and our members are also victims of the Senates move to squelch public discourse. Groups like ours, which provide a voice for many Iowa voters regardless of the size of their megaphones or checkbooks, have every right to know in advance when hearings are taking place and must have the opportunity to advance our members positions. A gut punch to Iowans. A gut punch to Iowans. Thats the only way to describe the Biden Administrations decision to roll back the previous administrations Navigable Water Protection Rule. Sadly, for those of us who have been on the frontlines of this fight since 2015, this news is not a surprise. Now let me be clear: everyone can agree that clean water should be a national priority. Iowans, and all Americans, want sensible safeguards that protect our environment and keep our nations water clean. But what they dont want is a one-size-fits-all, Washington power grab that makes it harder for Iowans to farm, ranch, and build. Thats why, in 2015, when the Obama-Biden Administration finalized its Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulegiving the federal government authority to regulate water on 97 percent of the land in IowaI immediately got to work to get it off the books. I fought to nullify the rule, but even after my bill passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support, it was vetoed by President Obama. But I didnt back down, and even before President Trump took office, I signaled my intent to work with him on a new, more flexible rule. And we did: the Trump Administration released a proposed rule to replace the Obama-era rule with one that provided much-needed predictability and certainty for farmers. Importantly, it established clear and reasonable definitions of what qualifies as a water of the United States. That rule, entitled the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, was finalized in January 2020. As they say, however, elections have consequences. Anticipating a return to the Obama-Biden era of burdensome regulations, at the beginning of this year I urged the Senate to stand with workers, farmers, manufacturers, and businesses by upholding the previous administrations Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Despite having the support of 25 of my colleagues and stakeholders across the country, the Biden Administration ignored these concerns, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced their plans to undo all of our progress. The reality is the fight for Iowas agriculture community is never over, and right now Im working to push back on any harmful regulation this new administration might impose on these hardworking folks. Together with Senator Chuck Grassley, Im pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, to make known to the president and his colleagues at the EPA and the Corps the serious concerns Iowas farmers and ranchers have with their recent actions on WOTUS. Im also working to strengthen the voices Iowas small businesses in the federal rulemaking process. Too often, Washington bureaucrats put forward rules and regulations without considering their impact on small businessesand the Obama-Biden WOTUS rule is a perfect example. Thats why Ive put forward the Prove It Act which allows our small businesses to send federal agencies back to the drawing board to prove what theyre proposing wont hurt small businesses. Specifically, the bill gives the Small Business Administration the ability to question an agencys analysis if it claims a rule or regulation wont impact small businesses. When it comes to WOTUS, instead of continuing to confuse Iowas hardworking families, farmers, and businesses by changing its definition with each new administration, we need to make a reasonable, workable definition permanent. To do so, I helped introduce the Define WOTUS Act. This commonsense effort is more important now than ever. Theres simply no reason to return to the Obama-era ways of giving an unchecked federal agency and unelected Washington bureaucrats more authority to control whats done on private land. I will always fight tooth and nail for Iowas agriculture community, our working families, and our small businessesand Ill continue to push back against any attempts to impose complex, burdensome, and overreaching regulations on folks in our state. Nepal Medical Association to shut down all hospitals today The Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella body of medical and dental doctors across the country, said on Thursday that it would shut down all the services except emergency in all the hospitalsgovernment and privateon Friday. Brown discussed the tragedies of the government shutdown with families not having income for weeks. He noted that many employees working for the government are contracted and will not receive back pay. The tax credit could help them. When asked about the possibility of a 2020 presidential run, he said it is a personal decision and is not decided. Most of my colleagues that are running have thought about this for five, 10, 20 years, Brown said. Ive become increasingly concerned that the government, in both parties, dont talk to workers, dont understand the importance of workers. Scholten and progressive entrepreneur Joe Sanberg, of California, announced the launch of Working Hero Iowa in January. Brown praised Scholtens efforts with the organization. No one else is doing this in the country, he said. The tax credit is designed to encourage and reward work by supplementing the earnings of low-wage workers. Ragan said there was time when she used the credit as a single mom. MASON CITY A truck engine fire was cited as the cause of a larger structure fire Tuesday at a Mason City construction business, officials said. At about 3:47 a.m. Tuesday, the Mason City Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Young Construction, 1539 North Federal. When the fire department arrived, smoke could be seen on the outside of the building, according to Fire Marshal Jamey Medlin. A total of 23 firefighter medics worked at the scene, extinguishing the fire as the temperature reached minus-25, Medlin said in a release. The department was on scene for about three hours. The engine compartment of a truck in the storage area of the building had started on fire, he said. A battery charger was used to charge the battery on the truck and caught fire. The incident was deemed accidental. The truck was complete loss with minimal fire damage to the structure of the building, though the building did sustain smoke and water damage. 31 times North Iowa first responders' social media game was on point Contact Courtney at 641-421-0534 or on Twitter @CourtneyFiorini. Love 0 Funny 1 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. MASON CITY | A trial date has been moved to May for a Mason City man charged with vehicular homicide in a motorcycle crash that killed a Mason City woman in September. Brandon Roy Kellar, 40, was charged with felony homicide by vehicle -- operating while under the influence.His jury trial is scheduled for May 7 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. Kellar filed a written plea of not guilty Dec. 12. Shawn True, 36, who was riding on Kellar's motorcycle, was killed after Kellar rear-ended a car near 15th Street Southeast and South Pennsylvania Avenue about 11 p.m. Sept. 28, according to police. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} True and Kellar both flew off the motorcycle when it collided with the car, court documents said. Kellar was treated and released at Mercy Medical Center--North Iowa. MASON CITY | The trial date for a Mason City man accused of stabbing multiple people at a downtown Mason City bar on the Fourth of July has been moved to March. Raul Millares Arias, 39, was charged with five counts of felony willful injury resulting in serious injury and felony going armed with intent following an incident at The Place 2B, 116 N. Federal Ave. The jury trial is set for March 26 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. The court on Nov. 9 denied a request for changing the trial location. Millares Arias had been asked to leave the downtown Mason City bar July 4 before stabbing four men and a woman with an 8-inch knife, and attempted to stab a sixth person "without justification," according to police. He was chased out of the bar by a customer and detained by witnesses across the street before police arrived. The five people who were stabbed sustained serious injuries to their necks or backs, according to police. Millares Arias intends to rely on defenses of intoxication and diminished responsibility, court documents say. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Cory Booker is running for president, and his first stop in Iowa will be Mason City. None of that comes as a surprise to anyone who has followed Booker or Iowa politics over the past few years. But now its official. Booker, a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, announced Friday morning he is running for president. He joins an ever-growing field of Democrats seeking the partys nomination. We are better when we help each other, Booker said in a video his campaign released Friday morning. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame. Booker will visit Iowa for a two-day swing next weekend, his campaign said. He will visit Mason City, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City on Friday, Feb. 8; and Marshalltown and Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 9. His public appearance in Mason City is scheduled for 9:15 a.m.; the location has not been announced. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} CLEAR LAKE - Organizers of the Color the Wind Kite Festival in Clear Lake are praying for freezing temperatures until the festival. Festival Organizer Larry Day and the crew will test the ice before Feb. 10 and a decision will be made as to whether the ice is safe enough to allow the festival to be held. Safe ice thickness at the downtown seawall area is necessary for the festival to go as planned on Feb. 16, Day said. Day hopes for a long stretch of below freezing temperatures ahead of the festival Feb. 16 and he might get his wish. According to the National Weather Service, the polar vortex brought North Iowa temperatures down to as low as minus-29 with wind chills as low as minus-60. The weekend after the vortex brought temperatures as high as 45 degrees for two days, causing snow melt. By Monday, the melted snow froze over as temperatures dropped down to the teens. According to the National Weather Service forecast, the temperature will not rise above 20 degrees until Feb. 10. Some snow and ice are expected before the weekend, with temperatures dropping as low as minus-11 Friday into Saturday. LE MARS -- Jurors on Friday heard the account Cheyanne Harris gave to authorities after her 4-month-old son was found dead in a maggot-infested diaper on Aug. 30, 2017. +5 Accused's mother testifies in baby death trial LE MARS Sterling Koehns maternal grandmother recalled their short time together as the murder trial of Sterlings mother continued Thursday. Harris, 21, of Alta Vista, is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death, and testimony in her trial began Wednesday. Authorities said Sterling Koehn died of malnutrition, dehydration and a diaper rash infection, and the defense said postpartum depression played a role in his death. Harris told Agent Chris Callaway with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation that she last fed and changed Sterling on Aug. 29, 2017, around the time the child's father, Zachary Koehn, left for his third-shift trucking job. She said when she was done, she was summoned by her almost-2-year-old daughter knocking on the bedroom door. +8 UPDATE: Prosecutors: Sterling Koehn 'unloved, uncared for' before death (PHOTOS) LE MARS Items needed to keep Sterling Koehn alive and healthy were found in the Alta Vista apartment where he lived with his parents and older sister, according to sheriffs investigators. "I put him back in the swing and gave him the bottle. And turned it on and went to see what she wanted," Harris told Callaway. She wasn't able to put a time to it. Harris explained that she kept the children separated so the daughter wouldn't disturb Sterling and because Sterling got cold easy. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} In his application, McDonald, a graduate of Grand View University in Des Moines and the UI law school, wrote of his love for the law, the give-and-take of argument and resolving complicated issues. I also seek this position because I would provide good and valuable service to the public, the judicial branch, and the Supreme Court given the unique demands of the position, said McDonald, 43. He also emphasized his broad life experience as the son of a Vietnamese mother and Scotch-Irish father. He was born in Thailand and lived on military bases around the world. In my career, I have continued to work and serve with persons of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses, McDonald said. His experiences reinforced in me the value of remaining open-minded and receptive to different perspectives (and) heightened my awareness and understanding of access-to-justice and substantive-justice concerns for racial and ethnic minorities and the poor. Relph, 51, who earned a degree in nursing before graduating from Drake University Law School, said her entire professional career as a nurse, lawyer and judge has been about advocacy and service to others. The history was also incorporated by teachers in various ways leading up to the event. For example, the students learned 50s-style dance steps during their physical education classes. Similar things were done at Mason City Schools for the third-graders. This year was the first time Mason City students attended the program, and Sheryl Mariner, a third-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, said she hopes its something the school continues. Its a great way for our kids to first of all have some connection to music of the past, second of all go to a historic place that most of them have never been to before and to meet kids from other schools, she said. Betsy Kirby, a music teacher at Mason City Schools, said she and the students had a blast getting ready for this. The students learned about the events history, listened to popular 50s rock n roll music, practiced their dance moves and prepared their costumes in hopes of making it fun and exciting. Nayak Paudel is a crime reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2018, he has also written on health issues. CLEAR LAKE | More than 30 men and women traded their winter boots for dancing shoes Thursday morning at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. Amy Hopkins, of Boone, Iowa, has led 50s-style dance lessons during the Winter Dance Party to give novice dancers the opportunity to learn popular steps and more experienced ones a chance to brush up on their skills. Its so neat to see that first of all that people are brave enough to come and try it, and second, when were out there in the evenings and all these people that I taught these dances come and they can have just as much fun, she said. The Winter Dance Party was started in 1979 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. The Big Bopper Richardsons last performance at the Surf Ballroom. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the infamous Winter Dance Party concert tour and the Feb. 3, 1959, plane crash that killed the three rock n roll legends and pilot Roger Peterson near Clear Lake. To commemorate the anniversary, the event, which runs from Wednesday through Saturday, features a star-studded, jam-packed lineup. OSAGE | On Saturday, March 23, Impact Pro Wrestling will be at Osage High School to hold an event. Anyone in the Osage community is welcome to attend. Osages own, senior Nick Wenger, is part of Impact Pro wrestling, the main reason they are coming to Osage. He is the youngest member of their professional wrestling organization. There will be men and women competing in single to tag-team matches. Ryan Huffman, a huge fan of pro wrestling, is a teacher in the Osage Middle School. Huffman said, This event will be something fun, but different for the Osage community. It is something this community hasn't seen before. He added he knows a couple of the professional wrestlers coming to town, those being Nick Wenger of Osage and James Jeffries of Riceville. Huffman said, I've been watching pro wrestling for as long as I can remember. He said he first discovered the sport by stumbling across it on TV. Not only did it introduce him to the sport but it also helped him to develop an interest. Huffman has been to many events, everything from house shows (small) to Wrestlemania events (large). Huffman said Bret Hart was his favorite pro wrestler, years ago, but now it is AJ Styles. OSAGE | The Osage School District is hosting its first STEAM Festival from 5-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, at Osage Lincoln Elementary and Middle School/High School. The event is free and open to all students, families and community members. The STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, are areas which Osage teachers have been incorporating into their curriculum. "We want students to be able to explore what is out there and learn in new and innovative ways," said festival organizer, Kelley Molitor. "This is a night to showcase things we do and things we are working toward." The event will provide interactive opportunities for both students and families to learn more about careers in STEAM. Molitor said some examples will include a virtual welder, drone simulations, virtual roller coaster, zspace, 3D AR/VR interactive learning experience, computer science. "Many of these opportunities are being provided by industries and businesses in North Iowa," Molitor said. Molitor said her biggest goal, for the event, was to allow students, parents and community members to see technology, either being used at school or one day be purchased by the school district. WASHINGTON -- John Hickenlooper continued to drop hints that he might run for president during a public policy presentation Thursday in the nation's capital. No, we havent made a decision, the former Colorado governor told a moderator during a discussion on how to formulate government policies at the Brookings Institution, a social science research foundation. As he has said repeatedly in recent months, Hickenlooper said he has been discussing a presidential run with his wife and children while traveling around the country. The travels included a trip to Iowa last weekend, where Democrats will hold the first-in-the-nation presidential caucus in just over a year. In addition to explaining his policy decisions as Denvers mayor and Colorados governor, Hickenlooper criticized the Trump administration while advocating business development and environmentalism. I think the dysfunction in Washington has become a point of frustration for almost everyone, he said. He called some statements from the Trump administration marginalized as to their truthfulness. When people dont trust facts, when there is uncertainty about what is truth, is when totalitarian regimes rise up, Hickenlooper said. He recommended the kind of bipartisan strategy for resolving problems that many saw as typical of his terms as mayor and governor. Somehow our leadership needs to come together to build those relationships, Hickenlooper said. He would be joining a crowded field of Democrats who see an opportunity to win the presidency in 2020 as they exploit the unpopularity of President Donald Trump. Nine Democrats have announced their candidacy so far. Nearly 20 -- including Hickenlooper -- acknowledge they are considering presidential campaigns. In 2016, only five Democrats were considered serious candidates for president. During the forum in Washington Thursday, Hickenlooper mentioned his program to reduce regulatory obstacles to business development as one of the successes of his governorship. Before he became governor, about 24,000 rules and regulations controlled how Colorado businesses operated, he said. Hickenlooper said he reduced the number of regulations by about 11,000. The regulations sometimes create burden after burden, hill after hill for businesses, both in Colorado and nationwide, he said. Right now were seeing some of the lowest level of start-up businesses in the country that weve seen in 50 years, Hickenlooper said. He also touted his record of reducing air pollution from oil and gas drilling as an example of helping both business and the environment at the same time. Oil and gas wells often produce methane, a powerful and toxic greenhouse gas. Hickenlooper agreed the companies should be able to use fracking to extract oil and gas. Fracking refers to injecting high-pressure liquids into wells to fracture underground rock, thereby making oil and gas flow more freely as it is pumped out. But he also agreed with environmentalists that emissions from the wells should be reduced. After sometimes tense negotiations between the two sides, oil and gas companies said they would spend $60 million to check all drilling sites for methane and other emissions. It was the equivalent of taking 325,000 automobiles off our roads, Hickenlooper said. The former governor also described his turnaround on marijuana legalization. I was famously against it, Hickenlooper said. He was concerned about potential mistakes in building a regulatory framework, conflicts with federal law that bans marijuana sales and harmful health consequences. Most importantly, we were concerned about a spike in teenage consumption, he said. Some studies showed the active ingredient THC in marijuana could permanently impair the long-term memory of young people who consume it. However, he changed his mind after Colorado voters decided to legalize marijuana sales to consumers. Our worst fears have not happened yet, Hickenlooper said. More importantly, were seeing evidence that the new system is better. We have not seen a spike in teenaged consumption, he said. A Fountain woman is headed for trial on suspicion of child abuse after an autopsy determined that her 14-month-old daughter died of unexplained head injuries. The sole count against Lauren Olivia Sierra, 23, alleges that she was reckless in failing to provide adequate medical care for Sophia Eliana Fundora, who died Aug. 4 in a room at the Ute Motel in Fountain. How the girl was injured remains unclear, authorities acknowledged at a preliminary hearing in 4th Judicial District Court. Although the El Paso County Coroners Office ruled the girls death from blunt-force trauma a homicide, an autopsy was unable to determine how she was injured only that her injuries were inflicted within three days of her death. Sierra, a recent arrival from Florida, lived in the motel with Sophia and another of her children, authorities say. The case against her has been repeatedly delayed in court while the Coroners Office checked for underlying illnesses. That testing ultimately ruled out illness and confirmed that head trauma was the sole cause, Dr. Emily Russell told the court at Thursdays hearing. Russell testified that the girl had bruising under her scalp and bleeding in her brain as a result of being struck. The injuries werent consistent with the mothers explanation to police that the child fell from a bed, Russell said. Sierras public defenders sought to blame a man who was staying with her in the days before her daughters death. That man, who hasnt been charged and has denied wrongdoing, left for Texas with his 12-year-old son a half hour before Sierra ran out of her motel room carrying her childs limp body, investigators confirmed. Sierras attorneys say she wasnt reckless because she didnt have a reason to believe her daughter was critically injured and in need of immediate care. In ordering trial, District Judge Marla Prudek said the evidence suggested otherwise, at least under the relaxed evidentiary standards of the pretrial hearing. The man staying with Sierra said he saw the girls head flop back and her eyes roll back in her head on the day before the girls death, and that he encouraged Sierra to seek medical help, the judge said in recounting testimony. Sierras admissions to Fountain police were another factor cited by Prudek. While under interrogation, Sierra repeatedly admitted that she knew she should have taken her daughter to the hospital, and that she was ultimately to blame for the death. Her public defenders argued that Sierra made the statements after being told that her daughter died from a lengthy bout of diarrhea and vomiting after eating a tainted chicken sandwich. However, the autopsy found that those complications didnt contribute to the death. The judge denied a request to lower Sierras bond, ordering that she remain in El Paso County jail under a $25,000 bond. Sierra is scheduled to face trial beginning April 1. DENVER Outdoor Retailers winter extravaganza returned to the Mile High City for a second January since the move from Utah, where tradespeople felt betrayed by the state governments support of shrinking national monuments. Once again almost 900 exhibitors filled halls and ballrooms this week, and once again industry representatives used offshoot meeting spaces at the recreation industrys premier trade show to rally for the protection of public lands. They celebrated Sen. Michael Bennets announcement that greeted the showcase ahead of his scheduled appearance at the convention center Friday to stump for the proposed CORE Act, which would preserve 400,000 acres in Colorado. Meanwhile, the ski industry announced a multistate collaboration: The Outdoor Business Climate Partnership pledged to lobby for legislation and policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize the nations power grid. Ski areas and their associations from coast to coast recognized global warming as a threat to their slopes and the broader outdoor recreation economy worth a reported $887 billion to America. And climate change was again highlighted by the Colorado College-sponsored State of the Rockies Project, with findings from its annual poll released Thursday. Conducted by two agencies, one Republican and the other Democratic, pollsters found 62 percent of Westerners view the phenomenon as a very serious or extremely serious problem. Four hundred voters were interviewed in Colorado and seven other states. And the results pleased Gov. Jared Polis, who signed his first executive order in office in January with the intent to get more electric vehicles on roads. He has a zero emissions goal for the Centennial State. Theres a clear mandate from Colorado voters to protect our public lands and to take action to prevent the harmful impacts of climate change, Polis said in a conference call announcing the poll. While researchers found a party divide persisted on climate change, the 45 percent of registered Republicans who saw it as a serious problem was up from 37 percent three years ago. Why are we seeing these numbers? asked Republican pollster Lori Weigel during a panel discussion. Well, it could be in terms of what theyre seeing in their everyday lives. Two-thirds of respondents said they perceived water levels as now unpredictable and wildfires as a bigger problem today compared with 10 years ago and 36 percent blamed climate change. Thirty percent cited drought, while the next majority pointed to more people living in fire-prone areas. In introducing the findings, project director and Colorado College political science professor Corina McKendry said, Rejection of the current administrations priorities is particularly intense here. Less than a third of polled Westerners sided with President Donald Trumps energy-first agenda, while 65 percent voiced their preferred emphasis on conservation. And to fund conservation, to care for their local parks and open spaces, the majority of people asked said they would support taxing themselves a sentiment that prevailed across party lines. But this could be misconstrued, said David Leinweber, the owner of Colorado Springs Anglers Covey and leader of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. On an actual ballot, dont voters prioritize differently? he asked pollsters. It was true, they said, not all voters had conservation on the top of their minds. But given the opportunity, yes, they will allocate dollars to that, Weigel said. Maybe, Leinweber thought later. And he also thought about how Outdoor Retailer has changed in his nearly three decades of attending. This being a keynote or primary thing didnt happen nine years ago, he said. He recognized the political issues as vital to his business and everyone elses. Our infrastructure is public lands, and we need to be engaged and involved with that, he said. On Sunday mornings, Brady Boyd talks to big crowds from a big stage on the north end of Colorado Springs. Standing there, wearing a sport coat and talking in a clear voice with only a hint of his Louisiana youth, he reveals the will of God or at least Brady Boyds version of it to New Life Church. In Boyds mind, and in the minds of most of his listeners, this is the God who created the world in six days before taking a day to rest, the God who controls our universe, the God who cares about every person sitting in the sprawling auditorium. All over Colorado Springs, church doors open each Sunday morning, and the faithful, and not-so-faithful, wrestle with the will and the word of God. Its so routine. And so weighty. The eternal Creator, majestic and mysterious, is brought straight into 2019. Boyd is not from the school of grandiose preaching. His voice doesnt rumble. He walks the stage, without notes and without a pulpit, and shares his thoughts as if in a relaxed one-way conversation. Preaching is a huge honor, Boyd says from his corner office with a superb view of the Rockies. Its a joy to open the Scriptures and bring truth and hope to people who are hungry for it. Every person who shows up at New Life shows up because of their own good will. They dont have to be here. Were not shaming them to be here. Were just inviting them to come. His listeners could be sleeping or hiking or watching TV or even slinking off somewhere to sin. Its a miracle to me, Boyd says of the big audiences who come to listen. He has a point. Boyd preaches in a city where, according to a 2013 Gallup poll, only 35 percent of residents describe themselves as very religious. This places Colorado Springs in the bottom third of American cities for devotion. While Boyd speaks to thousands, tens of thousands remain at home. Boyd, 52, didnt expect this life. He grew up near the Texas state line in a modest home in Logansport, La., population 1,561. He indulged as a young man in, by his description, years of unfocused and ungodly living. While driving on a lonely stretch of Louisiana highway in August 1988, he dedicated himself to Christ. Hes not one of those preachers who projects a know-it-all aura. Faith, to him, is a wonderful yet fragile gift. Simple, yet complicated. Unfathomable, yet obvious. He struggles each week while preparing his sermon, sitting alone in this office as he contemplates the message he will deliver to thousands. I feel inadequate almost any time I walk on the stage, he says. Preaching keeps us in a humble place. Im very aware of my own brokenness and my own flaws and my own humanity when I walk on the stage, yet knowing that theres grace for me and if I can receive grace I can give it away. Yes, its very humbling. Im telling the greatest story thats ever been written to people who really need it from a guy who had to receive it. I would never preach a sermon that I havent embraced myself. Im never going to stand in front of New Life and preach on a topic that I havent wrestled with in private. I think that keeps me focused. It keeps me humble. It keeps me hungry for God. It keeps me dependent on God. I preach out of a sense of dependency. I realize that if God doesnt bless it, its just a good speech. Boyd marvels at the resilience of the church, founded more than 2,000 years ago. Early followers of Christ were murdered because they refused to bow to authority. Later followers of Christ, in turn, murdered those who refused to bow to religious authority. American church members embraced slavery, saying it was Gods will. Other Christians risked lives to abolish slavery. The story of the church is an epic, lovely, ugly, complex saga of flawed women and men trying, and failing, to imitate a flawless man named Jesus. All the criticisms and messiness the church has survived for 2,000 years, and the church still holds a place in peoples hearts, that has to be the work of a divine inspiration, in my opinion, Boyd says. That has to be the work of God. It has to be the idea of God for the church to exist or it would have fallen by the wayside. Boyd is not talking specifically about New Life and its history, but he could be. Founded by Ted Haggard in 1984, the church enjoyed dazzling growth and built a glorious campus before teetering on the edge of extinction after a sex scandal forced Haggards departure in 2007. When Boyd considered the immensity of his task when offered the challenge of leading and reviving New Life, he almost said no. Today, the sanctuary is filled with members and guests listening to a modest man who struggles, along with them, to understand Gods teachings. About 2 on Sunday afternoons, a weary Boyd returns home after delivering two sermons and heads for bed. When he awakens, he immediately starts thinking about his next sermon. Sundays, he says with a laugh, come around with alarming regularity. To the consternation of some members of the deaf community, the seven-member Board of Trustees of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind selected a sole finalist who is neither deaf nor hard of hearing to be the next superintendent. The board will vote whether to offer Nancy Benham of Rome, N.Y., the job at its Feb. 14 meeting, releasing her name Wednesday. While Benham has children who are deaf and has worked in deaf education for more than 25 years, according to online professional information, its not the same as living as someone who is deaf, said Jessica Needs, a mother of two children who attend the Colorado Springs-based state school. It shows our request fell on deaf ears again, she said via email. Its bad news for our school community. Benham, former assistant superintendent for program services for the New York State School for the Deaf, stood out among the four candidates interviewed because she demonstrated a clear passion for the job, said board member Andy McElhaney. Shes had a history of confident advancement in her career, and from a close-hand view of what a superintendent does, I think we felt we were very fortunate to find her, he said. Superintendent Carol Hilty announced last year that she would retire at the end of this school year, after 30 years at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. The board hired executive educational search firm Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct a nationwide search, which produced 27 completed applications, according to a statement the board released Wednesday. The firm met with the board and held numerous stakeholder meetings to determine the qualities and characteristics most desired in the next superintendent. Ray and Associates reviewed 11 applications with the board on Jan. 10, which resulted in four candidates who were interviewed in closed-door sessions on Tuesday. A nine-member community and parent team and a nine-member staff and student team also interviewed the candidates, McElhaney said, and provided feedback to the board. They all made written comments, and every member of the board read every comment, he said. From reading those comments, the groups reached the same conclusion we did. The board decided against naming the three finalists who were not chosen. One of the candidates interviewed was an in-house applicant; the other two were from Bloomington, Minn., and Great Falls, Mont. I think were happy with her, McElhaney said of Benham, who worked as director of the Louisiana School for the Deaf from 2012-15. She holds a doctorate in educational administration and supervision from the University of Southern Mississippi. Some deaf parents and community members complained at the Jan. 10 board meeting that they were not as involved in the process as they would have liked. It is unknown how many of the 27 applicants were deaf or hard of hearing. McElhaney referred the question to the search firm, which was closed Wednesday and Thursday due to subzero temperatures in the Midwest. Some members of the deaf community have been at odds with the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind for years over the education deaf students are receiving. That led school leaders to voluntarily request an external review of the state-funded schools operations and finances, which the Colorado Department of Education expects to be completed by June 30. Needs said the school has not had a deaf superintendent since it was founded in 1874. A deaf leader would help end internalized stigma in the deaf community, reduce unemployment in the deaf community and eliminate myths, stereotypes and misconceptions, Needs believes. But the school is not just for deaf and hard-of-hearing students; its also for blind and visually impaired students, some have argued on social media regarding the hiring decision. A 2017 survey showed that 24 of 57 schools specializing in deaf and hard-of-hearing education were led by deaf superintendents at the time. Local judicial committees in Sudurpaschim restricted by lack of staff and legal know-how Local judicial committees in Dadeldhura and Baitadi districts of Sudurpaschim Province lack legal knowledge and staff in order to perform their responsibilities effectively. After the war, she retrieved the jars and sought to return the children to their families, but in most cases there was no family left. The children were adopted by Polish families or later went to Israel. Estimates of how many children Irena saved range from 2,500 to 3,000. Irena remained relatively unknown until some Kansas high school students wrote a play about her. Then word of her heroics spread. Irena was 98 when she died in May 2008 and is buried in Warsaw. For much of her life, Irena was an unsung hero in a world where people more often pay tribute to celebrities than someone who lived in such a dangerous and selfless manner. I love underdogs and unsung heroes. And recently I found one in the book of Jeremiah in the Bible. I cant remember when Ive ever heard a sermon about this guy and I had to get on the Internet to find out how his name was pronounced. But I plan to remember it. His name is Ebed-Melech. Found in the Old Testament, he lived during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. With Jan. 31 serving as the final day of hunting season for a variety of wild game in Nebraska, the only thing left to do for many hunters and their families is to enjoy this years harvest. While enjoying a meal of venison, pheasant, or quail is part of the joy of the hunt for outdoor enthusiasts, those who may not have had the chance to get out and hunt over the past few months have another option. The Fremont Izaak Walton League is hosting its annual Wild Game Feed on Feb. 9 at the Izaak Walton Main Lodge, 2560 W. Military Avenue. The dinner will include a multitude of wild game, all harvested locally, donated and prepared by members of the local outdoor conservation organization. We rely on donated meat from our members and non-members, but it will mostly be wild game such as wild turkey, turtle, deer, elk, squirrel, rabbit, and weve had antelope in the past, Chapter Chairman Teddy VonSeggern told the Tribune prior to the clubs 2018 Wild Game Feed. Tickets to the event cost $15 and serve as a donation to Fremont Izaak Walton League. For those without a taste for wild game, other dishes will also be served at the dinner. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Along with the wide array of local wild game the dinner will also include a mystery meat. New Delhi: Chef Ranveer Brar feels every country has an identity stamp and India holds the fort for its flavours which is distinct and authentic hence important to be showcased."Whether we like it or not our flavours are our distinct and authentic identity stamp and hence anything to do with our culture needs to be showcased because that's eventually our identity," Brar told IANS over an email when asked about emphasising on the importance of promoting local culture through food. He was talking on the sidelines of the launch of Kellogg's India's new range of Corn Flakes thandai badam, kesar pista badam and rose badam that have been created in consultation with Brar. These variants are inspired by flavours that Indians have a strong cultural connect to, he said. Talking about the memories growing up with these flavours, the popular chef said: "For me Lucknow has a lot to do with who and what I am today. Being a Punjabi also and when the medium is milk, it comes naturally to Indians in particular. "Like I always say, Kesar Pista is a combination that has been ingrained in us as mithai. Similarly, chilled milk has been ingrained into our heads as Rose, whether its Falooda or Roohafza; and festive milk has been ingrained as Thandai, especially for most North Indians." "For ingredients and flavours that have such a large time stamp and memories attached, it makes sense to evoke those instinctively natural flavours first," he said. "These flavours cross all age barriers to the new generation they are still fascinating and to the older ones, they still evoke a sense of nostalgia these are flavours all of us connect with," he added. Brar's television shows include 'Breakfast Xpress,' 'Snack Attack,' 'Homemade,' 'The Great Indian Rasoi,' and 'Thank God It's Fryday.' He was also one of the judges for season four of 'MasterChef India,' based on the British competitive cooking game show, 'MasterChef,' alongside fellow chefs Sanjeev Kapoor and Vikas Khanna. Talking about local cuisine that often gets affected according to the number of tourists or the western influence, he told IANS, "I think it's a natural balance that gets struck, I don't think we should force ourselves on food either way, because that's the worst thing you can do. "So, if you are trying too hard to please non-Indians that's too bad and trying too hard to be Indian by not pleasing any non-Indian that's also bad." "I think letting food evolve naturally, is the only way," Brar said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, seen here with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, still has the military's backing (AFP Photo/Federico Parra ) Caracas (AFP) - The latest developments in Venezuela's political crisis have dealt a severe blow to President Nicolas Maduro -- severe, but not fatal, for one key reason: the military still backs him. The National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela pointedly reiterated their loyalty to Maduro on Thursday, a day after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's acting president. In a statement read out to the press by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, the military top brass called the leftist leader the "legitimate president" and Guaido's move a "coup." Following Padrino's lead, eight other top generals declared their "absolute loyalty and subordination" to Maduro, live on state television. Guaido, the 35-year-old speaker of Venezuela's opposition-controlled legislature, was "inaugurated" as acting president Wednesday before thousands of demonstrators, declaring that Maduro's re-election in a widely-condemned vote was illegitimate. The United States and a string of Latin American countries quickly backed Guaido. But his move did little to change the calculus of power on the ground. Maduro, who has presided over a spiraling political and economic crisis, still controls both the army and the Supreme Court. Guaido has offered an amnesty to soldiers who break ranks with Maduro, in an effort to win over potential defectors, including both officers and rank-and-file troops who may be weary of cracking down on their own people. He may stand a chance of getting a critical mass of soldiers to break ranks, some experts say. "When you take the kind of step that he's taken, you have to know what kind of support you have, especially within the military," political scientist Luis Salamanca told AFP. But it will not be easy to break the military monolith. "Maduro relies on the military, and they rely on him, to enrich themselves and avoid facing trial if the regime ultimately falls," said Salamanca. Story continues - Vast power - Doubling down on one of the strategies of his late mentor, the leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, Maduro has given the military vast power. Chavez gave 25 percent of the posts in the executive branch to the military. Under Maduro, that figure rose to as high as 44 percent -- though it has recently fallen again, to 26 percent, according to the watchdog group Control Ciudadano. "Being a minister isn't the source of wealth it once was," said the group's director, Rocio San Miguel, adding that generals today would rather get rich presiding over things like subsidized food imports -- which are rife with corruption, amid a devastating crisis that has left supermarket shelves practically bare. Still, nine of Maduro's 32 ministers are from the military, which also controls powerful institutions including state oil company PDVSA and the intelligence services. The list also includes a TV network, a bank, an auto manufacturer, and a mining, oil and gas company. The more unpopular Maduro gets, the more the military's power grows, according to many analysts. The president has called the army the "backbone" of the country. He also relies heavily on the National Guard and the country's 1.6 million civilian militia members. - 'Devil' in the barracks - But as even the defense minister admits, the "devil" has crept into Venezuela's barracks -- his word for anti-Maduro plots. On Monday, 27 soldiers stole a cache of weapons and staged a brief mutiny before being arrested at the Caracas barracks where they were entrenched. Two generals are also among those jailed for an alleged assassination attempt on August 4, when a pair of drones exploded near Maduro at a military procession. Last year, another 180 troops were arrested on conspiracy charges, according to San Miguel. Many of them were tortured, says Human Rights Watch. The New York Times reported in September that US officials had met with Venezuelan military officers about a coup plot that was ultimately aborted. Maduro's claims the United States has a $120-million fund for "buying" Venezuelan officers. And there are signs of cracks in what was once the security forces' steadfast loyalty. More than 4,300 National Guards members deserted in 2018, according to San Miguel. Most military top brass are torn between "following Maduro at the risk of going down with him" and "saving their own skins," said Salamanca. NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A United Arab Emirates senior diplomat denied on Thursday the country had targeted "friendly countries" or American citizens in a cyberspying program that a Reuters report said involved a hacking team of U.S. mercenaries. The Reuters investigation published on Wednesday found that the UAE used a group of American intelligence contractors to help hack rival governments, dissidents and human rights activists. The contractors, former U.S. intelligence operatives, formed a core part of UAE's cyber hacking program called Project Raven. (https://reut.rs/2CRgHHw) Project Raven also targeted Americans, and the Apple Inc iPhones of embassy staff for France, Australia and the United Kingdom, according to former operatives and program documents reviewed by Reuters. (https://bit.ly/2sXyQ1F) Apple has declined to comment and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. When asked about Project Raven by reporters at a briefing in New York, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash acknowledged the country has a "cyber capability," but denied targeting U.S. citizens or countries with which it has good relations. "We live in a very difficult part of the world. We have to protect ourselves," Gargash said. "We don't target friendly countries and we don't target American citizens." The French and UK embassies in Washington have declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Australian ministry of foreign affairs has declined to comment. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Joel Schectman and Christopher Bing in Washington; Michelle Nichols in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) By Liz Hampton HOUSTON(Reuters) - U.S. metals importers that applied last year for exemptions from tariffs on steel and aluminium are losing hope the Commerce Department will approve their petitions, as the recent government shutdown added to a wait that for some has stretched to eight months without a ruling. Importers, ranging from pipeline giant Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI.N) to a steel tube manufacturer Sanitube, have submitted some 64,000 requests to avoid tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium that President Trump ordered last March, according to the latest Commerce Department data obtained by Reuters. The sheer number of requests, a late decision to allow appeals and the 35-day government shutdown that ended last week, have left more than half the petitions without a decision. When the Trump administration evoked a rarely-used national security clause to impose the tariffs, it offered relief to companies that struggled to find home-made substitutes and many importers were optimistic they could secure exemptions. Yet out of the 64,000 requests submitted by hundreds of companies, the administration has so far approved around 14,700 and rejected 5,450, according to Commerce. Around 10,000 have been returned without action due to filing errors, Commerce said. Now, some importers say they have all but given up on relief, assuming higher prices are there to stay, acting as a lasting drag on their business and, more broadly, on the whole economy. Sanitube LLC, a Florida-based supplier of stainless steel tubes for the food and other industries filed two similarly-worded exclusion requests for different sized products last year. One application, for a much larger volume, was denied as "incomplete" and the other was granted. Sanitube President Todd Adams, estimates that denial had cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars. "I've basically written it off," Adams told Reuters. He said he still planned to re-submit a request for relief, but called the quest to overturn the initial rejection "a pet project." Story continues "I've moved on," Adams said. Texas-based Heat Transfer Tubular Products, which makes parts for the oil and gas industry, lost a ruling last year and has not even sought a reconsideration, said Janese Sokulski, vice president of sales. As decisions on requests for relief drag on, companies are passing on as much of the extra cost as they can to consumers, while absorbing the rest. Some foreign suppliers are also covering some of the costs to stay competitive in the U.S. market. While the tariffs helped curb imports and bolster domestic steel industry, they have increased costs for auto, construction, food service and energy companies. The Federal Reserve's Jan. 16 "Beige Book" snapshot of economic conditions pointed to tariffs as contributing to rising costs in several regions of the United States. Originally, the government said most exemption applications could be processed in about 90 days. But an uproar over the number denied led to an extended review process for contested applications and significantly longer wait times. "I think the Trump Administration's method is burnout. There is a path towards exemption, but it's very difficult," said Lisa Goldenberg, president of wholesale steel distribution firm Delaware Steel Company, which works closely with steel market participants. "They started off saying 'I'm really important, I'm a critical need, there's no way this administration, who loves me, is going to hurt me,'" Goldenberg said about the petitioners. "They have totally different language now." A Commerce spokesman said the expanded review was a "worthwhile addition to the exclusion process," and that it "welcomed all valid exclusion requests and has dedicated resources to render determinations as expeditiously as possible." The spokesman added that requests could be processed faster if it had obtained authorization from Congress to allocate more funds to the process. It requested to reallocate $5 million from other parts of Commerce's budget, but so far has only been allowed to reallocate $3.3 million for the review. For the steel industry, 2018 was a good year. It saw a 2 percent increase in employment, above the 1.8 percent gain for all non-farm jobs, according to U.S. Labor Department data. The latest figures from the American Institute of Steel and Iron also showed U.S. steel shipments up 4.7 percent in the first 11 months of 2018, while imports were down 10.5 percent in January-October. "The overall condition of the industry has improved," said Tom Gibson, president and chief executive officer of AISI. BRAKE ON BOOMING INDUSTRY However, the tariffs have hurt other industries. "A lot of expansions and contracts are on hold. The impacts of pricing have been significant," said U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski, an Indiana Republican. Some businesses in her district have furloughed workers or cancelled expansions due to tariffs. Kinder Morgan, which bought Turkish steel pipe subject to a 50 percent tariff for about half of a $1.75 billion pipeline, still has not received a ruling on its May exemption filing. An exclusion for another energy project proposed by Plains All American Pipeline (PAA.N) also remains under review after an initial denial last July. The tariffs are projected to add $40 million to Plains pipeline cost and as much as $80 million to Kinder Morgan's. "We made a strong case to the Department and hope they resolve the issue quickly," Kinder Morgan said in an emailed statement. Plains did not respond to a request for comment. In the U.S. shale fields, where oil production is at record levels, prices for so-called tubular goods used in drilling, soared last year, adding to cost pressures in well-drilling and finishing, according to data from consultancy Wood Mackenzie. In one West Texas oilfield, tubular goods prices climbed 31 percent, it said, primarily due to tariffs. In another shale field that stretches across parts of Texas and northern Louisiana, tariffs bumped the cost of drilling a new well by a third to $850,000. "The companies are still lobbying for some concessions, but I think they're getting pretty weary," said Scott Forbes, a vice president of research at Wood Mackenzie. (Reporting by Liz Hampton; Editing by Gary McWilliams and Tomasz Janowski) President Donald Trump is pulling out of a landmark 1987 arms control treaty meant to limit intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe, saying that the U.S. will no longer tolerate years of Russian violations. Trump said Friday that the U.S. was suspending its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, starting the clock for withdrawal six months from now, unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment. The suspension represents another flashpoint in U.S.-Russia relations and another repudiation by Trump of international agreements, from the nuclear deal with Iran to the international climate-change accord. Fridays action had been all but guaranteed after Trump set a 60-day deadline two months ago for Russia to destroy all of its ground-launched cruise missiles, known as 9M729s. The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions, Trump said in a statement. We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. Russia has denied violating the INF treaty, accusing the U.S. of breaking its terms and warning that withdrawal from the Cold War-era accord signed by the Soviet Union would trigger a new arms race. Key Pillar That fear was echoed by analysts and Democratic lawmakers, who agreed that the Russian missiles pose a threat but said the administration appeared to have no strategy for how to constrain it. Russias brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning, but discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. Senior Russian legislators vowed to respond after Trump made his announcement. Of course, if the U.S. withdraws from the treaty, Russia wont continue to observe it unilaterally, said Frants Klintsevich, a member of the Defense Committee in the upper house of Russias parliament. The U.S. is pulling out in order to legitimize putting its missiles in Europe. Well, we have what we need to re-target, such as sea-based missiles, he said. Story continues The Russian Foreign Ministry was more circumspect in its reaction, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying on state television that Moscow reserves the right to respond if the U.S. exits the treaty. The U.S. has no immediate plans to deploy new missiles to Europe when the withdrawal takes effect in August, according to two administration officials involved in the deliberations who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. It would take considerable time to test, purchase and deploy such missiles, and the administration currently is only considering non-nuclear, conventional options, the officials said. Written notification to Russia and other Soviet-successor states will be delivered on Saturday, according to the administration officials, who said theres little optimism that Russia will destroy its missiles as demanded. European Qualms While Europeans had hoped to preserve the treaty to stem proliferation of ground-launched, intermediate-range nuclear missiles, the Trump administration argued that Russia has been in violation for years anyway. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton has called the treaty outdated and one that doesnt address the rising threat from China, which isnt a signatory. The onus is on Russia to change course from a pattern of destabilizing activity, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said. Well continue to have conversations with them. We hope theyll come back into compliance. Trump indicated in October that he wanted to pull out, but after consulting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other allies decided to delay the suspension. Pompeo said in early December that the U.S. was giving Russia two more months to get back in compliance with the treaty. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet after the announcement that NATO fully supports the U.S. action. Russia is in material breach of the #INFTreaty & must use next 6 months to return to full & verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise, he said. But comments from some European nations suggest allies arent fully in agreement with the decision. Without the INF treaty, there will be less security, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters on Friday in Bucharest. But we have to take note that the INF treaty is being violated by the Russian side. Banned Range The U.S. argues that Russia has jeopardized the INF treaty for years by deploying ground-launched missiles that fall within the banned range of 500 kilometers (311 miles) to 5,500 kilometers. My strongest criticism is that the U.S. and NATO have absolutely no Plan B, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington. The reality is that pulling out of the INF treaty in protest of Russias violation isnt going to prevent Russia from deploying more of these missiles. Gautam Buddha airport project extends deadline for ground services The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has extended the deadline of bids seeking potential firms to operate ground handling services at the upcoming Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mark Green, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, spoke with Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido on Wednesday, a spokesman said. U.S. officials will continue to coordinate with Guaido's team about the creation of a specific plan in the upcoming days to meet the country's humanitarian needs, the spokesman said. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Writing by Makini Brice and David Alexander) The world's two greatest nuclear powers are set to pull out of a crucial nuclear weapons treaty beginning this weekend. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, prohibits the production or testing of ground-launched cruise missiles with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles. Trump says the U.S. will withdraw from the INF Treaty on Saturday. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States is ready to withdraw from a crucial nuclear weapons treaty with Russia on Saturday, a move that has sparked concerns of a budding arms race between the world's two biggest nuclear powers. The announcement comes a day after Russia and the United States said that discussions to save the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty had failed . "Tomorrow, the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing ... which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment," Trump said in a statement. "We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other. We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," Trump added. The INF treaty, signed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited the development and deployment of ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges of 310 miles to 3,420 miles. The agreement forced each country to dismantle more than 2,500 missiles and kept nuclear-tipped cruise missiles off the European continent for three decades. In October, Trump said the U.S. would withdraw from the Cold War-era pact and sent national security advisor John Bolton to personally deliver the decision to the Kremlin. Russia, Trump said, has violated the arms agreement by building and fielding the banned weapons "for many years." Story continues In December, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited material evidence that Russia has quietly added nuclear-tipped missiles that are currently banned by the treaty to its colossal arsenal. He said Russia has developed "multiple battalions of the SSC-8 missiles," a move that falls outside the arms agreement. "Its range makes it a direct menace to Europe," he said after a meeting with his NATO counterparts. Pompeo then offered Russia an ultimatum: Come into compliance of the agreement within 60 days or the United States will exit the weapons pact. NATO also called on Moscow to "return urgently to full and verifiable compliance." "It is now up to Russia to preserve the INF Treaty," NATO foreign ministers said in a joint statement . Russian President Vladimir Putin upped the ante a day later by saying he is prepared to develop nuclear-tipped missiles if the U.S. withdraws from the INF Treaty. "Now it seems our American partners believe that the situation has changed so much that the United States must also have such a weapon. What's our response? It's simple: in that case we will also do this," Putin said. Read more: The U.S. and Russia are threatening to make more weapons. Here's how many nukes each nation has And so, on Saturday, the U.S. will begin to withdraw from the INF Treaty, a process that will last six months but could be reversed if Russia came back into compliance. "We stand ready to engage with Russia on arms control negotiations that meet these criteria, and, importantly, once that is done, develop, perhaps for the first time ever, an outstanding relationship on economic, trade, political, and military levels," Trump said adding that "this would be a fantastic thing" for Russia, the U.S. and the world. More From CNBC Canada's former ambassador to China, John McCallum, made headlines for days with his comments regarding the detention of Meng Wanzhou, Chinese giant Huawei's chief financial officer, on a US warrant -- he has since been fired (AFP Photo/ALICE CHICHE) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said he had sought and accepted the resignation of Ottawa's ambassador to China, days after the diplomat sparked controversy with criticism of the US extradition request for a top Huawei executive. "Last night I asked for and accepted John McCallum's resignation as Canada's Ambassador to China," Trudeau said in a statement that did not explain why the decision had been taken. McCallum has been making headlines in recent days over comments regarding Meng Wanzhou, Chinese giant Huawei's chief financial officer who was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 and is facing extradition to the United States. Accused of fraud linked to violations of American sanctions on Iran, she is out on bail, but her arrest has sparked an escalating diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing. McCallum briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the plight of two Canadians detained in China and a third placed on death row in what are widely seen as retaliatory moves by Beijing. After the briefing he told Chinese-language media in Markham, Ontario that he believed the US extradition request was seriously flawed. He cited political comments on the case by US President Donald Trump, the "extraterritorial aspect" of Meng's case and the fact that Canada did not sign on to the Iran sanctions that Washington wants her extradited for. McCallum's remarks were immediately panned by opposition parties and others for seeming to undercut the strict hands-off approach to judicial matters touted by the Canadian government. The following day he issued a statement saying that he "misspoke," and "regrets" that his comments "have created confusion." But on Friday, McCallum told The Vancouver Star that it would be "great for Canada" if the US dropped its extradition request. "From Canada's point of view, if (the US) drops the extradition request, that would be great for Canada," he told the newspaper at a charity function. Story continues "We have to make sure that if the US does such a deal, it also includes the release of our two people. And the US is highly aware of that," he said. Trudeau's statement hailed McCallum's almost two decades of public service, which it said he carried out "honorably and with distinction." McCallum previously held a number of cabinet posts, including defense minister, minister of veteran affairs and immigration minister. The statement added that, effective immediately, McCallum's deputy Jim Nickel would represent Canada in Beijing as its charge d'affaires. Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams is taking her fight to reform the states current election system from the courts to the Super Bowl. Abrams debuted the commercialwhich will air during Sundays Super Bowl in Atlantaless than 48 hours after newly-installed Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asked a federal judge to dismiss an election accountability lawsuit filed by nonprofit Fair Fight Action, which Abrams founded. The lawsuit alleges broad constitutional, civil rights and voting rights violations, as well as significant breaches of federal election laws. The suit also asks the federal court to take jurisdiction over Georgias elections so that no policy, standard, practice or procedure governing them may be enacted without court approval. The Super Bowl ad will air two days before Abrams, an attorney and former state House minority leader, is slated to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union address. The 30-second ad features Abrams and Habersham County Commissioner Natalie Crawford, a Republican, both calling for election reform, a return to hand-marked paper ballots and a commitment that every vote will be counted. A committee established by now-Gov. Brian Kemp before he resigned as secretary of state in January rejected a growing movement to return to paper ballots that first crystallized in ongoing federal litigation in Atlanta. Kemps committee recommended purchasing new electronic voting machines and servers to replace the current obsolete electronic system that he and his staff vigorously defended while he was secretary of state. Habersham County, Georgia, was drawn into an election contest last year after a losing Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives sued to invalidate his Republican opponents primary win. A judge voided the primary election last September, and a new primarywhich is also being challenged in courttook place in December. Read more: Secretary of State Asks Federal Judge To Dismiss Fair Fight Lawsuit New Lawsuit Seeks Judicial Preclearance for Georgia Elections North Georgia Judge Throws Out State House Primary Results State Sues Second Time to Void Election Judge Finds Georgia Elections at Risk for Hacking, Declines to Order Paper Ballots (Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp. is lining up a Latin American investment fund that will be run by Chief Operating Officer Marcelo Claure, according to people familiar with the discussions. The fund, still in a nascent state of development, may be announced in coming days, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private plans. The vehicle will focus on venture investments and is separate from SoftBanks huge Vision Fund, according to one of the people. It could reach several billion dollars in size, another person familiar with the situation said. The company declined to comment. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son first recruited Claure in 2013 when the Japanese company acquired a majority stake in Brightstar, a phone distribution business Claure led. Son elevated him the next year to run Sprint Corp. where Claure led a turnaround of the wireless operator and ultimately agreed to sell the business to rival T-Mobile US Inc. He was named SoftBank COO last year. SoftBank has a history of investing in Latin America. In 2000, the company created SoftBank Latin America Ventures to support SoftBank Group companies in the region and invest in startups. In 2017, SoftBank plowed $100 million into Brazilian ride-hailing app 99. Last year, the Vision Fund invested $100 million in delivery startup Loggi, betting on Brazils rapid e-commerce growth. Son has also been thinking about a second Vision Fund. Claure has been instrumental in implementing Sons vision, and the Bolivian-American is a possible successor to Son as SoftBank CEO. This week, SoftBank hired McKinsey & Co.s Michelle Horn for a newly created role of chief people officer, reporting jointly to Son and Claure. (Updates with reference to a possible second Vision Fund in fourth paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Pavel Alpeyev in Tokyo at palpeyev@bloomberg.net;Giles Turner in London at gturner35@bloomberg.net;Selina Wang in San Francisco at swang533@bloomberg.net;Sarah McBride in San Francisco at smcbride24@bloomberg.net Story continues To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Dr Govinda KC breaks 16th hunger strike on 24th day Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Dr Govinda KC has ended his 16th hunger strike on the 24th day, on Friday. (Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp.s robotics unit removed Steve Carlin, its chief strategy officer for the Americas, according to a memo sent to employees on Thursday. Kenichi Yoshida, chief business officer at SoftBank Robotics, told employees that Carlin left as part of a reorganization. Carlin helped "during a critical time of transition" when the division created a new brand and launched products in North America, Yoshida wrote, while noting a replacement is being sought. The robotics group was created through the 2012 acquisition of French company Aldebaran Robotics SA. The combined entity unveiled Pepper, a humanoid robot, in 2014. The Pepper project never really took off as a business, and there have been culture clashes between French engineers and managers in Tokyo. Last year, SoftBank introduced a more practical robot called Whiz, which cleans floors for businesses. There are more than 25,000 SoftBank Robotics robots used around the world, according to the company. Yoshida said he will "continue to oversee SoftBank Robotics America" and that hes been "tasked with accelerating the collaboration with the SoftBank Vision Fund and SoftBank Group," according to the memo, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg News. Carlin oversaw commercial activity for SoftBank Robotics in North and South America. Earlier in his career, he worked at Facebook Inc. as global head of strategy for gaming, according to his LinkedIn profile. --With assistance from Pavel Alpeyev. To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net;Selina Wang in San Francisco at swang533@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Alkermes plc. (Alkermes or the Company) (ALKS) and certain of its officers and directors. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, and indexed under 19-cv-00624, is on behalf of a class consisting of all behalf of persons and/or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Alkermes securities between February 17, 2017 through November 1, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Alkermes securities between February 17, 2017, and November 1, 2018, you have until February 25, 2019, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Alkermes is incorporated in Ireland and is a biopharmaceutical company which researches, develops and commercializes pharmaceutical products. The complaint alleges that Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") had advised Alkermes to follow a certain protocol in connection with its New Drug Application submission for ALKS 5461; (2) Alkermes had failed to follow that protocol; (3) consequently, an FDA advisory committee voted 21 to 2 against the approval of ALKS 5461; and (4) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. Story continues On April 2, 2018, Alkermes reported that it received a Refusal to File letter from the FDA regarding its NDA for ALKS 5461. The Company stated that the FDA has taken the position that it is unable to complete a substantive review of the regulatory package, based on insufficient evidence of overall effectiveness for the proposed indication and that additional well-controlled clinical trials are needed prior to the resubmission of the NDA for ALKS 5461. On this news, shares in Alkermes stock fell $12.73 per share or nearly 22% to close at $45.23 per share on April 2, 2018. On October 30, 2018, the FDA released a briefing document concerning Alkermes NDA for ALKS 5461. The briefing document stated the FDA did not agree with Alkermes methodologies and that Alkermes disregarded the FDAs advice. On this news, shares in Alkermes stock fell $0.57 per share or over 1.4% to close at $39.80 per share on October 30, 2018. Then, on November 1, 2018, Alkermes announced that the FDA advisory committee voted 21 to 2 against the approval of ALKS 5461. That same day, Xconomy reported that [a]t the hearing, FDA representatives said the agency specifically told Alkermes not to analyze its data through an average, which it still did. On this news, shares in Alkermes stock fell $3.09 per share or over 7.5% to close at $37.74 per share on November 2, 2018, damaging investors. 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 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. The earnings season was in full swing this week. Pfizer, Inc. PFE and Allergan plcs AGN strong fourth-quarter results were overshadowed by weak outlook for 2019. Others like AbbVie, Inc. ABBV and Novartis NVS also reported their fourth-quarter results. In other news, Roche RHHBY halted two studies on an Alzheimers candidate while Pfizer/Eli Lillys LLY investigational candidate, tanezumab succeeded in the second osteoarthritis pain study. Recap of the Weeks Most Important Headlines Earnings in Full Swing: Pfizer and Allergan beat estimates for fourth-quarter earnings as well as sales. However, both the companies 2019 forecast disappointed investors. Loss of exclusivity of some drugs including its key drug Lyrica in the United States in June 2019 as well as currency headwinds is expected to significantly pull down Pfizers 2019 revenues. Similarly, Allergans revenues are also expected to be hurt by loss of exclusivity of many key products. While generic version of Alzheimers treatment, Namenda XR and Estrace cream have been launched, that of blockbuster dry-eye drug, Restasis, is expected to be launched in 2019. AbbVie missed estimates for both earnings and sales and gave a weak revenue guidance for 2019. Sales rose 7.3% as higher sales of Humira in the United States and hematological/oncology products, Imbruvica and Venclexta offset weak Humira sales in international. Launch of several direct biosimilar drugs in Europe and other markets hurt Humiras international sales. Novartis also missed estimates for both earnings and sales. The Innovative Medicines division recorded sales growth of 9%. Oncology franchise grew 11% while sales at the Sandoz division declined 5% due to price erosion in the United States. The company said that net sales in 2019 should grow in a mid-single digit range. Roche Discontinues Studies on Alzheimers Candidate: Roche announced its decision to discontinue mid-stage studies evaluating its anti-beta-amyloid molecule crenezumab for the treatment of early (prodromal to mild) sporadic Alzheimers disease (AD). Data from a pre-planned interim analysis conducted by Independent Data Monitoring Committee indicated that the study was unlikely to meet the primary goal. Roche is developing crenezumab in partnership with AC Immune SA , which declined sharply on the news. Story continues Roche, however, will continue with other Alzheimers studies including late-stage GRADUATE studies with gantenerumab and mid-stage TAURIEL study with the anti-tau molecule RG6100. Also, Alzheimers Prevention Initiative (API) study evaluating crenezumab in familial AD patient population will continue Pfizer/Lillys Tanezumab Succeeds in 2nd Osteoarthritis Pain Study: Pfizer and partner Lilly announced top-line data from the second phase III study evaluating tanezumab (2.5 mg or 5 mg) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Top-line data from the study showed that treatment with tanezumab 5 mg led to statistically significant improvement in pain, physical function and the patients overall assessment of their OA the three primary endpoints compared to placebo at 24 weeks. The 2.5 mg dose demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain and physical function. However for the third primary endpoint, overall assessment of their OA, a statistical difference was not observed. Tanezumab is also being evaluated for chronic low back pain (CLBP) and cancer pain (due to bone metastases). AbbVie Gets FDA Nod for Imbruvica+Gazyva in First-Line CLL/SLL: AbbVie announced FDA approval for Imbruvica plus Roches Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for the first-line treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). With the FDA approval, Imbruvica plus obinutuzumab becomes the first chemotherapy-free CD20 combination in first-line CLL treatment. J&Js Label Expansion Study on Erleada Meets Endpoints: J&Js JNJ late-stage label expansion study on prostate cancer drug, Erleada was unblinded following the achievement of the dual primary endpoints, of significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) and overall survival (OS). The decision was based on the recommendation of Independent Data Monitoring Committee. The phase III TITAN study was evaluating Erleada plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with newly-diagnosed metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). Erleada is presently marketed for the treatment of men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who are at high risk of developing metastatic disease. Regulatory applications looking for FDA approval to treat this expanded patient population are expected to be filed this year. J&J also signed a collaboration and license agreement with MeiraGTx to develop gene therapy programs for inherited retinal diseases (IRD) for an upfront payment of $100 million. Per the deal, J&J will co-develop MeiraGTxs leading IRD gene therapy programs while the latter will also explore new potential targets for these diseases. J&J also gets an exclusive option to license programs coming out of this research collaboration at the time of clearance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Mercks Pneumonia Vaccine Gets FDAs Breakthrough Status: Merck announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to V114, its investigational 15-valent polyvalent conjugate vaccine for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in infants, children, and adolescents. V114is being developed in late-stage studies for prevention of IPD in children while also being studied in another study for the same indication in adults. The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index rose 2.1% in the last five trading sessions. Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return Here is how the seven major stocks performed in the last five trading sessions: All the stocks were in the green in the last five trading sessions. While J&J recorded the highest gain of 4.7%, Bristol-Myers recorded the minimum gain of 0.7%. In the past six months, Lilly (LLY) has been the biggest gainer (19.6%) while Bristol-Myers declined the most (16.7%). (See the last pharma stock roundup here: JNJ & BMYs Q4 Earnings, Study Failures at LLY & ABBV ) What's Next in the Pharma World? Watch out for fourth-quarter and full year 2018 earnings results by Lilly, Glaxo, Sanofi and others and pipeline and regulatory updates next week. 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 Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research How Much to Spend on an Engagement Ring Love is for all seasons, but it turns out there is a popular time of year for popping the question: Four out of 10 couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day, according to a recent report from WeddingWire. While Dan Bolton, 27, didn't quite make the Valentine's Day deadline when he got engaged, he wasn't completely unpreparedhe'd already bought the ring by the romantic holiday, and a month later he took his fiancee on a photoshoot throughout Charleston, South Carolina. For their last stop, they hit the beach at Botany Bay, a local preserve, where Bolton dropped to one knee and asked his girlfriend to marry him. For Bolton, the proposal wasn't just a relationship milestone, but a financial one as well. "I began saving money the day we metI just knew," said Bolton, who lives in Roseville, California. "We married in 2016 and have been happily married since." Although Bolton started putting money aside for an engagement ring early, he wasn't sure how much he needed to spend. He ended up browsing his girlfriend's Pinterest account to determine her preferences. "It turns out, her ideal ring ranged between $7,000 and $9,000," Bolton said. "I was in college, so I worked three jobs on top of my schoolwork to save up the money needed." How much does the average engagement ring cost? The engagement ring is only one expense facing couples who are planning a wedding, but it's a significant one. And overall, people are spending more on rings than they used to. In 2017, the average engagement ring cost $6,351, according to TheKnot.comup from $5,095 in 2011. (And the average time looking for one? Three and a half months.) "Couples are getting married later in life," said Alicia Davis, vice president of merchandise for Shane Co., a privately owned jeweler. "More women have careers and they want to get established, and couples are buying the ring together, so it's a joint income purchase. They're budgeting for their dream ring together. That's probably the biggest change over the last 10 to 20 years." Story continues How much to spend on an engagement ring How much should an engagement ring cost? Since the 1980s, the advice has been that people should spend about two months' salary on the ringbut that was the result of a clever marketing campaign from De Beers. "I don't think there's ever been a hard-and-fast rule that you'd need to spend that much," said Shelley Brown, fashion and beauty editor for The Knot. "It's actually really important to stick to a budget." In other words, the answer to the question "How much should I spend on an engagement ring?" is what you can afford without going into debt. And consider that this ring doesn't have to last for 50 years, even if your marriage does. "Some jewelers have upgrade policies, so you can start with what you're comfortable with and upgrade the stone later," Davis said. "Some people want to spend a big chunk of their income, and some people want to spend what they're comfortable with, knowing as they move further along in their lives they can upgrade." To the extent that you can discuss how much to spend on an engagement ring with your significant other, do so. Phil Risher, 28, and his wife didn't want to go into debt for an engagement ring, so they did some research and agreed to spend about $5,000. "I set a budget for myself," said Risher, who blogs about paying off debt at YoungAdultSurvivalGuide.com. "It took me 10 months to save the $5,000." Ring trends are also making it easier to spend less without sacrificing your standards for a breathtaking piece of jewelry. Colored stones are a popular choice, for instance. "We can't seem to keep peach sapphires in stock," Davis said. "And we see people who want the lighter colorslight blue and morganite colors." In general, millennials are interested in more customized rings, considering alternative center stones and colorful metals. "They're really not beholden to one kind of tradition," Brown said. Gabriella, 30, who lives in New York City, chose an emerald set in a halo of diamonds for her ring. "It's so beautiful and unique, and I get compliments on it all the time," she said. How to save on an engagement ring There's not much wiggle room when it comes to the price of an engagement ring, as the value of the stone (or stones) makes up the lion's share of the value. An expensive diamond is an expensive diamond. However, you can still make some decisions to help lessen some of the ancillary expenses when it comes to buying an engagement ring. Buy a loose stone. The most expensive aspect of any engagement ring is the center stone, Brown said. If you buy a loose stone, you'll generally get a bit of a discount, and you can then have a jeweler set it for you in the ring of your choosing. Buy shy. Buying slightly less than the carat you're seeking will give you the same look for less. "If you have your heart set on a 3-carat stone, buy one that's 2.8 carats," Brown said. "It will look visibly the same, but it will actually save you money." Go with an alternative center stone. If a diamond isn't the look you're going for, you can choose another stone, such as pink sapphire or morganite. This will significantly lower the cost of your ring. Consider a local jeweler or custom designer. Gabriella worked with Lindsey Scoggins, a custom engagement ring designer in Manhattan, to come up with a ring that fit her preferences. "She was really cognizant of staying within my budget," Gabriella said. Phil Risher, too, worked with a local jeweler to find something that worked. "They have less overhead, and they're not as salesy," Risher said. Ask about a lab-grown diamond. Manufactured diamonds are usually offered at a slight discount compared to mined diamondsalthough the difference probably isn't as great as you'd think. "It's still an expensive process," Brown said. "They're cheaper, but not incredibly cheaper." Pick a simple setting. The less detailed your settingand the fewer diamonds involvedthe more you'll save overall. Engagement ring financing Experts don't recommend going into debt to purchase an engagement ring. "I wouldn't max out your credit card or buy something that's so far beyond your budget that you're paying it off for years," Brown said. "I don't think that's advisable." If, however, you need a little short-term help, talk to your jeweler about financing options. Some jewelers offer deferred financing for some period of time (such as a year), so if you can pay off the ring within 12 months, you'll owe no interest. Be cautious of this method, howeverif you miss your payoff deadline, you'll owe back interest for the entire period. Another option: Take advantage of a 0% introductory interest offer on a credit card. But like jeweler financing, be wise in your timingpay off the ring within the introductory period to avoid getting dinged with interest. Do you need jewelry insurance? While a ring would be covered by your homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy, most policies place a limit on jewelry coverage. If your policy limit isn't high enough to replace the ring if it's stolen, ask your insurer about a rider to cover it. You'll generally need an appraisal to determine the ring's replacement value. Expect to pay $10 to $20 for every $1,000 it would cost to replace your ring, according to TheKnot.com. "We hear horror stories; anything can happen," Davis said. "We had a couple that lost it down the sewer in the street. This is a huge investment. We always recommend that people have it insured by their home insurance." The only chart you need for engagement rings The only chart you need for engagement rings (Adds comment from Moody's) By Anthony Esposito and David Alire Garcia MEXICO CITY, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador brushed off a credit downgrade to state oil company Pemex, arguing on Wednesday that corruption is being eliminated from its ranks and the firm is stronger than it has been in 30 years. Rating agency Fitch on Tuesday downgraded Petroleos Mexicanos, the official name of the state oil and gas producer, which holds some $106 billion in financial debt. [nL1N1ZU03M} At a regular news conference, Lopez Obrador lashed out at the ratings agency, saying Fitch was hypocritical because in the past it gave the firm positive reviews despite its problems. "They kept quiet and were complicit, and now that Pemex is recovering they come out with their recommendations and try to grade Pemex's performance," said the veteran leftist, who vowed to revive Pemex during his 2018 election campaign. The Fitch downgrade sent the peso currency tumbling on Wednesday morning before it pared losses. Rival ratings agency Moody's will maintain Pemex's credit rating in the first half of the year, its Senior Vice President Nymia Almeida said on Wednesday, while monitoring how the company performs under Lopez Obrador. "This government is coming with a very strong mandate to reduce expenses ... and this is just what the company needs," she said at an energy conference in Mexico City, according to local media reports. "We won't take any action until seeing the first half-year." Pemex's total debt load is the highest of any national oil company in Latin America, and a former executive said the downgrade would put pressure on the firm for now. "Pemex will face higher financial costs and its projects will get a little more expensive," Carlos Morales, who served as Pemex's exploration and production chief for a decade through 2014, told an oil conference in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador has promised to reverse Pemex's dwindling output, and is pushing to stamp out rampant gasoline theft from the firm's pipeline network that has caused significant losses. Story continues His plan to raise output, currently at about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), is mostly built on plans to pump more government money into exploration and production. Lopez Obrador also wants to build what would be Mexico's biggest oil refinery on the southern Gulf coast. He has not detailed how his government will finance the project that he has said will cost around $8 billion, and has been a staunch critic of a landmark 2013-14 energy reform that opened up the Mexican oil industry to private investment. The reform ended Pemex's decades-long monopoly by allowing private producers to operate projects on their own, as well as enter into partnerships with Pemex known as farmouts. Alberto de la Fuente, Mexico country manager for Royal Dutch Shell Plc, told the conference after the Fitch downgrade that Lopez Obrador should reconsider the role of private companies. "If (Mexico) were carrying out more oil auction rounds, more (Pemex) farmouts, that could give positive signals to financial sector investors," he said. "Pemex doesn't have the means to do everything it wants to do and (private) capital could help." (Reporting by Anthony Esposito, David Alire Garcia and Lizbeth Diaz Editing by Daniel Flynn, Marguerita Choy and Lisa Shumaker) A container is seen near Northport in Klang outside Kuala Lumpur June 6, 2014. REUTERS/Samsul Said/Files KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's exports grew better than expected in December, boosting the country's trade surplus as imports dipped sharply from a month earlier, government data showed on Wednesday. December's trade surplus came in at 10.4 billion ringgit, up from 7.6 billion ringgit registered a month earlier. Malaysia reports trade data in ringgit. Full-year exports grew 6.7 percent in 2018, with double-digit spikes in January, April and October. Total trade surplus grew 22.1 percent to 120.3 billion ringgit for the year, its fastest in a decade, according to the International Trade and Industry Ministry. Total exports in December rose 4.8 percent from a year earlier, double the 2.4 percent growth forecast by economists in a Reuters poll on sustained demand for manufactured goods and chemicals and chemical products. Exports to China, a major trading partner, contracted 0.5 percent annually in December, while total exports to the United States surged 13.5 percent. Shipments of manufactured goods made up 83.6 percent of Malaysia's December exports, driven by a 14.2 percent increase in demand for electrical and electronic goods. Mining goods contributed 9.9 percent of total exports, while agricultural goods made up 5.7 percent of December shipments. Annual imports grew at a slower pace of 1 percent in December compared to the 5.0 percent pace a month earlier, on falling demand for capital goods. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Washington, D.C. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM) Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith is opening a pair of offices in downtown St. Louis and in Washington, D.C., as it looks to expand its footprint in the Midwest and on the East Coast. The Washington office is poised to open on Friday, led by a new antitrust partner joining the Los Angeles-based firm from Crowell & Moring, Katherine Funk, and by existing partner Todd Seelman, who will split his time with the firms Denver office, where he is also managing partner. "D.C. is really the center of the universe in regulatory work, and we've been wanting to open up an office, but we wanted to find the right time, space and person to do that," said Seelman, who also chairs Lewis Brisbois antitrust and competition practice and government investigations practice. For two decades, Funk has worked with clients on a variety of antitrust matters, particularly within the health care industry and related to merger compliance. Seelman said that the firm is eager to expand its presence in Washington, focusing on building out its regulatory practice and eventually expanding into a full-service law firm office there. Meanwhile, Lewis Brisbois said last week that it is opening a new office in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, with five new attorneys from the St. Louis office of Atlanta-based Hawkins Parnell & Young. The St. Louis group includes Tracy Cowan, the managing partner of Hawkins Parnell's St. Louis office, as well as partners Melissa Vaughn and Karen Volkman and associates Alejandro Frank and Andrew Kriegshauser. Lewis Brisbois is a much larger firm than Hawkins Parnell, in terms of a platform, and it certainly has offices in numerous cities where we didnt previously with my prior firm, Cowan said. Cowan will lead the new office, which will be located in the Deloitte Building across from the city's famous Gateway Arch. Lewis Brisbois also has an office in Madison County, Illinois, which is about a 30-minute drive from St. Louis. Cowan said that expansion is most certainly the goal for the firm in St. Louis. The group's departure marks the third big loss for Hawkins Parnell this month, after a total of 19 toxic tort litigators from Hawkins Parnell joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani in Dallas, St. Louis and Los Angeles, and a group of seven toxic and mass tort lawyers left to join Lathrop Gage in Dallas and Los Angeles. With these new office openings, Lewis Brisbois now has 48 offices nationwide, including the opening of an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this month. And it's not stopping anytime soon, Seelman said, noting that the firm plans on opening several other offices this year. "We look at each market and each city and each office independently and say, 'how does it all connect to what we already do and expand what we do, so that we have a full panoply of legal services to our clients and provide them the best service that we can,'" Seelman said. "We will continue along that clip." American officials summoned Nepali ambassador in Washington over Dahals Venezuela statement Senior officials at the US State Department summoned Nepali Ambassador to United States Arjun Karki earlier this week after a co-chairman of the ruling communist party issued a strong-worded statement criticising the US and its allies for intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela. DOR BEACH, Israel, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday inaugurated the foundation of the Leviathan natural gas rig, effectively stomping out protests from residents and environmentalists who say it is too close to shore. Leviathan, discovered in 2010, is one of the world's largest gas discoveries of the past decade. The rig's foundation, known as a platform jacket, arrived on a barge that sailed from Texas. Its topside is expected in several months. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year. "Israel is becoming an energy power. Israel is independent, and is not dependent on anyone for its energy needs," Netanyahu told reporters at the site, about 120 km (75 miles) off Israel's Mediterranean coast. Leviathan will be connected by a subsea pipeline to a production platform much closer to shore, just 10 km from a popular beach, angering some opposition lawmakers, environmentalists and residents. They have demanded, with several unsuccessful petitions to Israel's Supreme Court, that the rig be pushed farther out to sea. But the arrival of the platform's massive legs effectively stomps out the protest and any doubt it created around the completion of Israel's largest energy project ever. The project operator, Texas-based Noble Energy has a 39.66 percent stake in the field, while Israel's Delek Drilling holds a 45.34 percent share, and Ratio Oil has the remaining 15 percent. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Elaine Hardcastle) (Repeats JAN 31 story, no change to text) * Scottish fishermen to catch less to avoid no-deal border chaos * Industry would seek compensation for losses * UK fishermen backed Brexit because of EU fisheries regime By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Fewer Scottish langoustines, scallops and salmon will reach the plates of gourmands in the European Union if there is a no-deal Brexit because border delays could mean they rot before they can be delivered, fishing officials said. Scottish fishermen plan to reduce their catches if Britain exits the European Union on March 29 without a transition deal, in order to avoid potential losses, industry officials said. Scotland accounts for most of the fish caught in the United Kingdom, which is the second-biggest provider of fish from the EU after Spain. While some businesses are stockpiling to prepare for any disruption, that is not an option with fresh fish. People in the industry are worried about how Scottish mackerel and prawns will get to key markets in France, the Netherlands and Spain if there are transport jams at the border. Some firms could go bust, according to Jimmy Buchan, chief executive of processors' group the Scottish Seafood Association. Scotland's fishing sector vociferously backed the Brexit campaign ahead of the referendum in 2016. Fishermen say EU membership weakened the industry over decades by giving quotas to trawlers from other EU countries with smaller fishing stocks. But they have concerns about what a no-deal Brexit could mean for the United Kingdom's fish exports which, including processed fish, are worth around 1.9 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) a year. Britain exports 75 percent of the fish it catches, and 75 percent of that goes to the EU. "My market for posh prawns is not the UK," said Buchan, who is worried about routes to the French market. "I do feel that at this late stage we don't know enough about planning. Unless someone puts on a ferry route or guarantees the French will not impede the free flow of traffic, what are we supposed to do?" Story continues To ease potential logjams, the government has contracted additional freight capacity at ports in southern England to ease the burden on main hub Dover and is building lorry parks along motorways nearby. "When I ask government about transport issues, I do not get the reassurances I need," Buchan said. TEMPORARY PROBLEM The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said temporary disruption is worth it if it means Britain can quickly rid itself of EU fishing rules. "We are less scared than other industries," said Bertie Armstrong, the SFF's chief executive. "The first solution is to temporarily fish less. You don't want to land it ashore for it to rot or not go anywhere," he said. "Secondly there are some smaller outfits running small boats in remote places which may indeed need some (financial) help to survive that period before new markets are opened." The scale of such support from the public coffers is likely to depend on the duration of any hit to the industry. Scotland's government estimates that transport disruption after a no-deal Brexit could last three to six months, Armstrong said. Plans are also being made to cut back on the supply of salmon, Britain's biggest food export by value. Scottish salmon farms -- which are not subject to the same EU rules as fish caught at sea-- expect to slow their harvesting in the days after March 29, but such a move would not address any longer-term logistics problems, an industry source said. "A negotiated outcome between the UK and the EU is preferable to a no-deal scenario," Julie Hesketh-Laird, CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, said. "Exiting the EU without a deal would almost certainly place fresh barriers in the way of the export of farmed salmon to the continent." (Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary Editing by William Schomberg) alexandria ocasio-cortez tax plan Everybodys poor in oil-rich Venezuela, and US President Donald Trumps top economic adviser claims he knows the answer: excessive taxes on the South American nations wealthiest citizens. With high-profile Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez clamoring to raise income tax rates as high as 70%, Larry Kudlow is warning that the US could see a similar catastrophe. Venezuela is a Catastrophe Because of High Tax Rate Kudlow says the old saw of higher taxes on the wealthy from Americas political left never works. The former CNBC host says he doesnt know how such proposals will pan out, but hes already fighting back. He says: Read the full story on CCN.com. Former Trump adviser Roger Stone, indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller, departs federal court after attending his arraignment hearing, where he pleaded not guilty, in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM) A federal judge in Washington, D.C., leaned into the idea of issuing a gag order in the special counsels criminal case involving Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant and ally, but said she wants the government and Stones defense team to file briefs on the issue. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson reminded lawyers Friday that Stones case is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign. Jackson said she will consider issuing a court order to bar Stone and his attorneys from making public statements that could risk prejudice in the case. The judge remarked that such an order wouldnt bar all public commentary. Stone could still discuss foreign relations, immigration, or Tom Brady as much as he wanted, she quipped. Prosecutors and Stones defense team have until Feb. 8 to file their briefs. Jacksons statements came during a half-hour status hearing that mostly dealt with matters of housekeeping. The judge granted a joint motion to designate the case as complex, and set a status hearing for March 14. Michael Marando, a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington, D.C., floated the possibility of a trial beginning in October. Jackson hasnt shied away from issuing gag orders in highly publicized matters. Her comments echoed statements she made in another case arising out of the special counsel probe, when she issued a gag order for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his then co-defendant Rick Gates, and their attorneys in November 2017. Jackson established early in that affair that she had little patience for showboating after an attorney for ManafortKevin Downingmade public comments deriding the charges as ridiculous. In a hearing afterward, Jackson warned: This is a criminal trial, and its not a public relations campaign. I want to make it clear, from this point on, that I expect counsel to do their talking in this courtroom and in their pleadings, and not on courthouse steps, she said. Jackson issued an order days later, barring the parties and attorneys involved in the case from making statements to the media or in public settings that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to the case. A gag order might pose a unique challenge for Stone, a garrulous figure who spent the week following his Jan. 25 indictment on a media blitz. Hes proclaimed his innocence in interviews and in Instagram posts alike. Stone floated the idea of appealing such an order Thursday, in a meandering, 40-minute press conference arranged by right-wing conspiracy website InfoWars. He said he hoped Jackson takes into account that he made a living by writing and speaking about politics. Obviously, I would adhere to any ruling of the court," he said. "If they should do that on the other hand, I would also have the right to appeal. So lets see what happens. Stone is fighting charges that he lied to congressional investigators probing Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, obstructed justice, and tampered with a witness. He pleaded not guilty to a seven-count indictment Tuesday. Stones defense team includes Fort Lauderdale-based attorneys Grant Smith of StrategySmith, Robert Buschel of Buschel & Gibbons, Bruce Rogow, and Tara Campion. A D.C.-based attorney, L. Peter Farkas of Halloran Farkas + Kittila, has also joined Stones team. Buschel identified himself as lead counsel Friday. The special counsels office and prosecutors working under Jessie Liu, the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., are jointly handling Stones case. Jackson, an appointee of President Barack Obama, has presided in other cases arising out of the special counsel probe. She previously oversaw the case and sentencing of former Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom associate Alex van der Zwaan, who pleaded guilty to lying to investigators. She is also overseeing the case against Manafort associate W. Samuel Patten, who pleaded guilty in August to acting as an unregistered foreign lobbyist. Read more: Roger Stone Discovery Is 'Voluminous and Complex,' Mueller Team Says Mueller's Team Questions How Files in Russia Case Ended Up Online Roger Stone's Legal Team Didn't Exactly Get Off to a Great Start in DC JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's prime minister says its upcoming extraction of offshore natural gas will turn the country into an "energetic power." Benjamin Netanyahu toured the newly placed foundation of the coastal rig of the Leviathan gas field on Thursday. Its arrival marks the first stage of an ambitious project Netanyahu says will wean Israel off coal and revolutionize its economy by turning it into an energy exporter. The topside of the platform is expected to arrive in the coming months and natural gas from the field is supposed to pump into Israel and its neighboring countries by the end of the year. Israel already has export deals signed with Jordan and Egypt, and it aims to build a pipeline with Greece and Cyprus to carry the gas to Europe. Kafle is an opinion editor at the Post. (Bloomberg) -- Allegations against Huawei Technologies Co. justify a close look by Congress into T-Mobile US Inc.s proposed $26.5 billion purchase of Sprint Corp., according to former U.S. officials on a conference call with reporters arranged by a group that declined to disclose its backers. If the deal is approved, the merged companys parent corporations in Europe and Japan could buy gear from telecommunications equipment maker Huawei, one of the officials said. The Chinese companys been called a security risk by U.S. officials who have accused it of sanctions violations and trade-secret theft. These global multinationals -- they shouldnt have more resources to go out and buy Huawei, Andrew Holland, chief operating officer for the policy group American Security Project and a former aide to Senator Chuck Hagel, said on a conference call organized by an entity called Protect Americas Wireless. Other participants on Thursdays call by Protect Americas Wireless included Brad Blakeman, a former aide to President George W. Bush, and Bishop Garrison, a U.S. Army veteran who is interim director of the Truman National Security Project, a membership group of soldiers and civilians that says it defends free people and just societies. Call participants declined to disclose donors for Protect Americas Wireless, with one participant -- David Wade, a former State Department official -- saying that all of our funding sources are domestic. The combination of the third-and fourth-largest U.S. mobile providers needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Departments antitrust division. T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer John Legere and Sprint Chairman Marcelo Claure are to testify before a Democratic-controlled House panel on Feb. 13. While members of Congress dont have a say on mergers, they do play a role in overseeing the officials who vet deals. Deal critics include policy groups and Dish Network Corp., which owns airwaves it intends to use for mobile service. They say the deal risks reducing competition, because the merging companies have shaken up the industry with lower prices. T-Mobile and Sprint say they will be a stronger competitor to larger AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. Story continues The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or Cfius, which scrutinizes foreign investments for security concerns, has cleared the transaction, the companies said in a joint statement Dec. 17. Cfius reviewed the deal because T-Mobile and Sprint are owned by foreign companies: Deutsche Telekom AG, the parent of T-Mobile, and SoftBank Group Corp., which owns Sprint. Deutsche Telekom, based in Bonn, would own 42 percent of the new company, while Tokyo-based SoftBank would own 27 percent. Germany and other European governments have been weighing whether to place restrictions on the use of Huawei equipment over concerns that Chinese intelligence could use it to spy on other countries, fears the company has dismissed. The U.S. too is bringing pressure, and its Congress last year banned government agencies from buying Huawei gear. The FCC is considering a ban on spending some subsidy funds on such equipment, and the administration of President Donald Trump is said to be preparing an executive order to give greater authority to the Commerce Department to review products and purchases by companies connected to adversarial countries, including China. To contact the reporter on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at tshields3@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co. founder Ren Zhengfei proved a master strategist in building his company into the global leader in telecommunications equipment. Now, in the wake of two U.S. criminal indictments, he faces the unfamiliar task of working out the best legal strategy for allegations that could threaten his companys very existence. Huaweis first impulse, clearly, has been to fight. The company denied any wrongdoing and said it expects to be found innocent in court. Yet Ren and his legal team have to consider opening negotiations with the Justice Department to find out how to get the company out of peril. The company signaled it is open to that, saying we are always willing to talk to the U.S. government, according to a statement provided to Bloomberg News. In particular, we are willing to take actions to address the U.S. governments security concerns, and offer unmatched products and technologies that the U.S. needs if it wants to build a world class 5G network. However, theres no easy solution. Huawei and its chief financial officer are charged with bank fraud over the telecoms business in Iran, while company affiliates are accused of stealing trade secrets from a U.S. wireless operator. At a minimum, Huawei would have to pay a fine, probably in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and promise never to steal intellectual property again, upon penalty of severe sanctions. Rens own daughter, Meng Wanzhou, the CFO, faces a lengthy prison term if shes convicted of misleading banks about the companys activities in Iran. Even an agreement by the company to plead guilty wouldnt get Huawei everything it wants. The Trump Administration appears dead set against letting the company ever sell its networking equipment to U.S. telecom companies because of espionage concerns, and it will push allies like Australia and Germany to also ban Huawei. A plea deal wont reverse that stance, but it may salvage something much more important. Huawei needs to be able to keep buying components from American suppliers, particularly semiconductors and optical gear, so that it can sell equipment to customers in Asia, Africa and beyond. Reaching an agreement with the Justice Department on the two cases would likely preserve those supplier relationships, which are essential to Huaweis success in winning contracts for fifth-generation wireless networks around the world. Story continues How much Huawei would have to pay to end the criminal cases remains to be seen, but legal experts said working out a deal is better than risking trials and later facing fines, forfeitures and penalties imposed by two courts. "Without a deal, the maximum penalties become more likely," said Christopher Ott, a former Brooklyn federal prosecutor. "While corporations cant be imprisoned, its U.S. subsidiary can conceivably be dissolved. A deal isnt only the safest route but also the most expeditious because a fight to extradite Meng from Canada could drag on for years. Those proceedings could turn into a public relations crisis for Huawei if damning allegations about the companys top executives are aired in open court. The pending charges also make a target of other Huawei executives implicated in the alleged schemes -- but not identified in court papers -- who could be arrested if they travel from China to countries that have extradition treaties with the U.S., according to Peter Henning, a former federal prosecutor who teaches at Wayne State Universitys law school in Detroit. "Huawei does a lot of business in Europe but now the message for them is to be careful where their executives go," Henning said. The specific charges Huawei faces for violating sanctions on exports to Iran means the U.S. Treasury Department could put it on a list that bars all U.S. firms from doing business with Huawei and subjects any global bank or company that works with Huawei to possible sanctions, according to Joseph Gustavus, a corporate lawyer with Miller Canfield in Troy, Michigan. If Huawei is put on the so-called Specially Designated Nationals list, its business partners will be in a tricky situation, said Joe Campbell, director of global investigations and compliance with Navigant Consulting Inc. in Washington. "They would have to choose between not doing business with Huawei or being liable for U.S. sanctions," Campbell said. "Huawei is a big global company and is deeply involved with businesses around the world." To avoid the blacklisting, Huawei will need to reach an agreement with Treasury in addition to a plea deal with the Justice Department, and it will have to reprimand the specific employees involved and report to a court-appointed compliance monitor in addition to whatever fines its forced to pay, Gustavus said. If Huawei decides to fight the charges and demand a trial, it would be taking a risk that several of the worlds largest financial companies chose to avoid when faced with similar prosecutions, including BNP Paribas SA, which pleaded guilty in 2014 and paid a $8.9 billion fine for processing financial transactions for countries under U.S. economic sanctions, including Iran, Sudan and Cuba. While companies investigated by U.S. law enforcement typically reach a deal with authorities before an indictment -- in many cases deferring prosecution contingent on good behavior -- that doesnt mean Huawei cant still work out a settlement, said Harry Sandick, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. Separate from the sanctions-related charges filed in Brooklyn, Huawei was charged in Seattle with scheming to steal trade secrets from American partner T-Mobile US Inc. While the stakes may not be as high -- the maximum fine would be $5 million or three times the value of the stolen secrets -- the case is moving faster to trial, with arraignment set for Feb. 28. In a civil case, a jury sided with T-Mobile in 2017, saying the company should get $4.8 million in damages for breach of contract. The parties later agreed to drop the case after settlement talks. The U.S. may be looking for more than just a fine in the criminal case. Huawei has been on the U.S. radar screen for a long time over suspicions of misappropriated intellectual property, according to Alan Sykes, a professor at Stanford Law School. Any deal to drop the case would probably involve court-supervised probation, with the threat of harsh sanctions if Huawei engages in wrongdoing. Chinas foreign ministry reacted aggressively to the indictments, accusing the U.S. of manipulation and calling on the Trump administration to stop its unreasonable crackdown on Chinese companies. The Justice Department declined to comment beyond the indictments. Henning, the former prosecutor, said China will probably have a say in whatever fate its largest tech company negotiates with the U.S. "This is where diplomacy comes into play," Henning said. "How much will the Chinese government allow? This isnt your normal private company because the Chinese government has so much sway over Huawei, so it becomes a more delicate balancing act. The cases are: U.S. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, 18-cr-457, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn) and U.S. v. Huawei Device Co Ltd, 19-cr-10, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (Seattle). --With assistance from Gao Yuan, Peter Elstrom and Erik Larson. To contact the reporters on this story: Patricia Hurtado in New York at pathurtado@bloomberg.net;Edvard Pettersson in Los Angeles at epettersson@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Elizabeth Wollman at ewollman@bloomberg.net, ;David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Peter Blumberg, Steve Stroth For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The future of the 5G technology that promises to revolutionize telecommunications runs through international bodies with esoteric names such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and the International Telecommunication Union. The organizations set standards for the emerging technology. But security officials are concerned Chinas government and Huawei Technologies Co. are taking a bigger role in the technical groups, lending a competitive edge to a company under indictment in the U.S. As of September, Chinese firms and government research institutes accounted for the largest number of chairs or vice chairs in the International Telecommunication Unions 5G-related standards-setting bodies, holding eight of the 39 available leadership positions, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that advises Congress. By comparison, mobile provider Verizon Communications Inc. is now the only U.S. leadership representative, according to the commission. Having a socialist government basically in charge right now is incredibly problematic for U.S. goals, and 5G specifically, Michael ORielly, a member of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, said in an interview. They have loaded up the voting to try to get their particular candidates on board, and their particular standards. Huawei, Chinas largest technology company, has been the target of a broad crackdown by U.S. officials, who say the companys telecommunications equipment could be used by Chinas Communist Party for spying. U.S. prosecutors filed criminal charges Jan. 28 alleging Huawei stole trade secrets from an American rival and committed bank fraud by violating sanctions against doing business with Iran. Huawei denies the charges and rejects suggestions it poses a security risk or is beholden to Beijing. It also asserts the innocence of Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested on sanctions charges in Vancouver and faces extradition to the U.S. Story continues On standards-setting, Huawei has worked with other companies, Andy Purdy, USA chief security officer for the company, said in an interview. Industry has been working hard with a lot of visibility as theyve evolved from 4G to 5G to make sure theres a very strong consensus standards-based approach, Purdy said. Theres no clear way for a nation to influence standards-setting in a way that would harm U.S. security, Doug Brake, director of broadband and spectrum policy at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, said in an interview. Theres been a lot of consternation over the past few years over Chinese participation in the standard-setting bodies, Brake said. You cant really sneak something into the standard developed through 3GPP since its an open process. We should be encouraging China to participate in global standards. U.S. officials up to the White House level make no bones about the stakes as communications jumps from the current 4G, or fourth generation, technology to fifth-generation 5G that will feature always-on, ubiquitous connections with billions of sensors and controls. It will connect everything from banks and cars to factories and phones. The U.S. gained from being a 4G leader, and and we are working hard to maintain our advantage as we shift to and expand towards 5G," Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to President Donald Trump for technology policy, said at a conference Jan. 29 in Washington. The risk of losing American market leadership cannot be overstated. Standards are set by bodies such as the 3GPP -- the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, which unites seven telecommunications standards development organizations -- and the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, a United Nations agency. The ITU is headed by Houlin Zhao, the first Chinese official to be elected secretary-general of the group. Richard Li of Huawei is chairman of a group examining emerging technologies and 5G. Patents, Too Huawei has been aggressive in standards-setting bodies and in securing patents that other companies need to honor, Michael Wessel, a commissioner on the U.S.-China commission, said in an interview. That creates vulnerabilities that have law enforcement as well as the intelligence community on guard. U.S.-based chipmakers Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp. are among companies competing to develop 5G technology, as are Huawei and fellow Chinese manufacturer ZTE Corp. Trouble for Huawei could benefit rivals in the 5G network gear market, including Swedens Ericsson AB and Finlands Nokia OYJ, according to a Dec. 7 note note by Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Woo Jin Ho and John Butler. Im really concerned about standard-setting, the FCCs ORielly said. Skewed standards that lean toward Chinese companies should be incredibly problematic, because its at the expense of domestic and international partners that U.S. companies are involved with. Qualcomm Leads The ITU assembles government representatives and companies. The 3GPP gathers company executives, and China has been active there, too. The number of Chinese representatives serving in chair or vice chair leadership positions rose from 9 of 53 available positions in 2012, to 11 of 58 available positions in 2017, according to the U.S.-China commission. In these roles, Chinese companies can set the agenda and guide standards discussions, the commission said in a report. Still, Qualcomm leads the most important 5G standards-setting group after beating Huawei for the position in a 2017 vote. The Chinese go more with the goal of driving a standard that will advantage what theyre doing, Wessel, of the U.S.-China commission, said. U.S. officials cited fear of losing ground in the standards race last year as they squelched a hostile bid for Qualcomm from Broadcom Inc. Qualcomms expertise and research spending drives U.S. leadership in standard-setting bodies, and weakening its position would leave an opening for China to expand its influence on the 5G standard-setting process, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a letter that signaled Trump administration hostility to the deal. Skeptical of Threat China would likely compete robustly to fill any void left by Qualcomm as a result of this hostile takeover, Deputy Assistant Secretary Aimen Mir said in the letter. Given the well-known U.S. national security concerns about Huawei and other Chinese telecommunications companies, a shift to Chinese dominance in 5G would have substantial negative national security consequences for the United States. Qualcomm has about 15 percent of patents essential for 5G networks, and Chinese companies have about 10 percent, said Michael Murphree, an assistant professor of international business at the University of South Carolina. Theres a lot of money at stake since manufacturers pay fees to patent-holders, Murphree said. If 5G incorporates a large amount of Huawei patents -- then it doesnt matter if you buy Huawei equipment or not, you still have to pay to use Huawei patents. Murphree was skeptical of the idea Huawei could pose a threat via standards accretion. Huawei is not at all going to control the standards as such, Murphree said. No single company or single country ever controls all the standards that are forged by a mix of advanced-economy participants. To contact the reporters on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at tshields3@bloomberg.net;Alyza Sebenius in Washington at asebenius@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Google, Facebook , Twitter and Mozilla must do more to combat fake news as Europeans head towards an election or the companies will face the threat of regulatory action, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Companies and trade bodies representing the advertising industry signed up to a voluntary code of conduct in October to ward off more heavy-handed legislation. Critics say not enough has been done since they signed up. The European Union's executive said signatories to the code of practice had taken steps to remove fake accounts and limit sites promoting fake news but said more was needed. "Now they should make sure these tools are available to everyone across the EU, monitor their efficiency, and continuously adapt to new means used by those spreading disinformation. There is no time to waste," EU Commissioner for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip said. European Parliament will hold elections in May while Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine all go to the polls in coming months. Russia has faced allegations - which it denies - of spreading false information to influence the U.S. presidential election and Britain's referendum on European Union membership in 2016, as well as Germany's national election in 2017. The Commission called on Facebook to provide more clarity on how it uses its tools to fight fake news and told Google to expand its actions to more EU countries. It said Twitter should provide more details on its measures while it said Mozilla's online browser should have more information on how it would limit details about users' browsing activities. The Commission also lamented the absence of advertisers signing up to the pact. Google said it had announced several measures such as disclosing whether political organisations or political issue advocacy groups were paying for European parliamentary election advertisements, and setting up a library with these details. Story continues Google's Project Shield would help protect campaign groups and journalists from cyber-attacks, it said. Facebook said: "The battle against false news is an ongoing one, and we need to work together with others in the technology industry, public authorities and governments to make continued progress." Twitter said in a statement it had made several changes "including enhanced safety policies, better tools and resources for detecting and stopping malicious activity, tighter advertising standards, and increased transparency to promote better public understanding of all of these areas." Mozilla had no immediate comment. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee Editing by Edmund Blair) Google parent Alphabets Loon unit, which offers wireless connectivity via high-altitude balloons, is going into spaceor least some of its pioneering network software is going aloft. On Thursday, Loon announced a partnership to develop a version of the programming it uses to coordinate communications among its balloons for Canadian satellite operator Telesat. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed. While Telesats current space-based internet services come via traditional large satellites in geostationary orbit, the company is developing a new service that will rely on hundreds of smaller craft orbiting at a much lower altitude. Telesats vastly more complicated low-Earth satellite internet service requires the same kind communications among the craft that Loon developed to send data among its balloons and ground stations, the two companies said. Since our balloons move with the winds, their physical coordinates are constantly changing in relation to the ground, each other, and you, Loons Head of Engineering Sal Candido explained in a blog post. The synergy between balloons and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites comes from a shared characteristic both are in constant motion relative to the Earth and one another. Because of that motion, the network challenges present in Loons internet balloon system will also be present for future NGSO communications satellites. The Telesat network aims to launch 292 satellites to get started and could go as high as 512 spacecraft, says vice president Erwin Hudson, who oversees the project. Without getting too specific, the entire project will be a multi-billion dollar investment with the goal of starting commercial service in 2022, he said. While Telesats network could take years to build, it faces competition from a host of other players with similar plans. Elon Musks SpaceX is planing a service called Starlink with thousands of low orbiting satellites, which is similar to OneWeb backed by Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Sons SoftBank Group. Theyre pitted against dozens of small satellite upstarts like Swarm Technologies, Astrocast, and Sky and Space Global. Plus the major established space Internet services from Viasat vsat and EchoStars Hughes Network Systems plan to launch even more capable large communications satellites of their own. Story continues The aim of all of the new services is to help connect people in developing countries, provide speedier online access to mainly rural users who depend on todays slower and more expensive satellite Internet services, and cater to business customers that want real-time data from their equipment, like oil rigs and ocean buoys. The new partnership comes about six months after Alphabet googl shifted Loon from being part of the more experimental R&D unit X, where its first tests date back to 2011, to being a standalone company seeking to grow on its own. Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth has said he plans mainly to partner with mobile carriers around the world, instead of launching services under Loons own brand. For example, Loon is partnering with Telekom Kenya to help the African carrier extend its reach to central sections of the country that lack reliable communications connections. Loon also assisted AT&T in Puerto Rico to reconnect customers after Hurricane Maria. (This story was updated on January 31 with additional details from Telesat about their plans.) By Andrea Shalal BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will pick either the Eurofighter or Boeing's F/A-18 fighter jet to replace its Tornado warplanes, knocking Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter out of a tender worth billions of euros, Defence Ministry sources said on Thursday. The ministry will make a final decision after receiving detailed information from Boeing and Airbus about the aircraft, which must be able to carry U.S. nuclear weapons to fulfill Germany's obligations to NATO, the sources said. No timetable for a decision was given, but the process could take time since the U.S. government will have to certify both jets to carry the nuclear weapons. Germany has 85 operational Tornado jets, but not all are equipped to carry nuclear weapons. The German air force will also move ahead with long-awaited plans to replace its 33 oldest Eurofighter jets, now used mainly for air policing or training, with new, more capable Eurofighters in coming years, the sources said. That will translate into orders worth up to 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) for Airbus, according to sources familiar with the issue. In marketing the F/A-18, Boeing had underscored its high readiness rates, relatively low cost and strong electronic attack capabilities, arguments that resonated in military circles. The decision marks a big setback for Lockheed, the top U.S. arms maker, which had hoped to add to recent F-35 sales to other European countries, including Belgium. Germany's air force chief of staff was fired last year after he expressed a clear preference for the F-35. The ministry later said it favored a "European solution". Airbus welcomed the news about the Eurofighter replacement purchases, and said it remained convinced that its jet offered the lowest-risk prospect for replacing the Tornado jets. Lockheed said it had not been officially notified of a German decision. It said the F-35 offered the most capability, lowest life-cycle cost of any fighter on the market, and long-term industrial and economic opportunities. Boeing declined to comment, as did the U.S. embassy in Berlin. Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, had argued against rushing into any decision to buy U.S. aircraft and demanded closer study. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, a conservative, had promised a decision on the procurement plans by the end of 2018, but her ministry became mired in scandals over the use of outside consultants and other issues. Military officials argue that the Tornadoes, which entered service in 1983, need urgent replacement due to rising maintenance costs. Sources familiar with the matter say it could cost around 8 billion euros to keep the planes flying past 2030. Sources familiar with the process last year had said the ministry wanted to split the order between one of the two U.S. planes and the Eurofighter, which is built by Airbus, Britain's BAE Systems and Italy's Leonardo SpA. But it now appears Berlin will pick just one winner. Paris, Germany's closest European partner, had warned that buying the F-35 in particular could derail plans to develop a new Franco-German fighter by 2040. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Thomas Escritt and Kevin Liffey) 17 doctors arrested for demonstration to express solidarity with Dr KC At least seventeen doctors were arrested while they were staging a demonstration to express solidarity with Dr Govinda KC. KC has been staging an indefinite hunger strike at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for the past 23 days demanding reforms in countrys medical education and health care system. FILE PHOTO: Wang Jian, Co-Chairman of HNA Group attends a meeting marking the 20th anniversary of company's founding in Haikou, Hainan province, China, April 28, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer PARIS (Reuters) - French police on Thursday reaffirmed that the death of HNA Group Co-Chairman Wang Jian during a business trip in France last summer was accidental, dismissing a newspaper report that he more likely committed suicide. A police investigation concluded Wang, who had come under pressure from Beijing over HNA's huge debts, fell off a wall in the village of Bonnieux, near Avignon, on July 3 while taking a photograph. In a front-page splash on Thursday, France's daily Liberation said eye-witness accounts contradicted the police investigation's findings. One witness, a local street-cleaner, said Wang jumped rather than fell. "Only Liberation and its journalists believe this thesis of suicide," a spokeswoman for the national gendarmerie told Reuters. "We stand by our investigation's conclusions that this was an accidental death." HNA declined to comment. The local prosecutor also declined to respond to Liberation's report. Wang was regarded as the architect of an eye-popping $50 billion acquisition spree that saw HNA accumulate assets ranging from a stake in Deutsche Bank AG to high-profile overseas properties. Under pressure from Beijing, HNA sold off many of those assets to slash debt. An aviation-to-financial services conglomerate that counts Hainan Airlines Co as its core asset, HNA's sales include holdings in companies such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Park Hotels & Resorts and Spain's NH Hotels. At the time of Wang's death, analysts said pressure on HNA deleverage continued to be enormous and that his passing would complicate the conglomerate's efforts to restructure and pay of borrowings. (Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry in Paris; additional reporting by Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) (Bloomberg) -- Foxconn Technology Group said it will proceed with plans to build a factory in Wisconsin after U.S. President Donald Trump and company Chairman Terry Gou discussed the matter. The development follows reports that the company was considering jettisoning the large-scale project that had promised to bring 13,000 jobs to the Badger State. The companys announcement is an about-face from its stance earlier in the week, when the electronics manufacturer said it was reassessing its plans. Foxconn said Wednesday that it was deliberating whether it would be economically feasible to develop liquid-crystal displays for televisions at its planned technology campus south of Milwaukee, which is known as Wisconn Valley. In terms of TV, we have no place in the U.S., Louis Woo, a special assistant to Gou, told Reuters on Wednesday, citing cost concerns compared with manufacturing in Asia. We cant compete. But Foxconn announced Friday that it would be pursuing an LCD factory in Wisconsin, after all. After productive discussions, between the White House and the company, and a personal conversation between Trump and Gou, Foxconn is moving forward with our planned construction of a [Generation] 6 fab facility, which will be at the heart of the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park," the Taiwanese company said. Talent Search At a Foxconn company party, Gou confirmed that he spoke with Trump on Friday, and that the president wanted him to hire veterans and bring talent from U.S. coastal areas to the Midwest. He said he also met with Trump to discuss the Wisconsin plant during a trip to the U.S. in December. The U.S. is the biggest market in the world, Gou said on Saturday. It has a great business environment. For our group, investment in the U.S. is completely right and it fits into the direction future economy is heading to. Foxconns flip-flopping is the latest example of its evolving vision about spending $10 billion to expand in the Midwestern U.S. state since 2017 when Gou and Trump unveiled the project to much fanfare. The company had secured billions of dollars in potential incentives from the state in exchange for meeting capital investment and hiring targets, but the deal has grown increasingly controversial with critics, including Wisconsins new governor, Tony Evers, who has described it as lousy and too expensive for taxpayers. Story continues Trump has been a central figure in Foxconns planned expansion into the U.S. The earliest discussions for the project with Wisconsin officials took place at the White House in April 2017, and Trump has appeared at a number of corporate events to herald the potential of the states investment in the manufacturing giant, framing it as a victory for his ongoing trade war and for his push to bring factory jobs back to the U.S. from China and elsewhere. Terry is a friend of mine, and I recommended Wisconsin [to him], Trump said at a groundbreaking ceremony for Foxconns Wisconsin campus last year. Were restoring Americas industrial might. Brain Over Brawn In the past year, however, Foxconns plans for Wisconsin have gone through a variety of unexpected changes, which have raised doubts about whether the project will live up to Trumps and Gous promises. For one, Foxconn has indicated that the vast majority of employees would be knowledge workers, meaning engineers or scientists, rather than factory laborers. Even the companys renewed commitment Friday to building a Generation 6 LCD facility represents a stark downgrade from its original plan. Foxconn had initially agreed to build a Generation 10.5 plant, a much larger operation, in its contract with the state, but scaled back that commitment last year due to cost concerns. Foxconn, the biggest assembler of Apple Inc.s iPhones, is known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. in Asia. Still, Trump hailed Foxconns move today in a tweet: Great news on Foxconn in Wisconsin after my conversation with Terry Gou! (Updates with Foxconn chairmans comments in sixth paragraph.) --With assistance from Debby Wu and Stephen Stapczynski. To contact the reporter on this story: Austin Carr in New York at acarr54@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Robin Ajello For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. * Eni has struck series of Gulf deals in strategy shift * Seeks to reduce reliance on Africa, open doors to Asia * Italian energy major's buying spree not over - sources * Targeting oil and gas fields in UAE, Qatar assets - sources By Stephen Jewkes MILAN, Feb 1 (Reuters) - In less than 12 months Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi has turned the Middle East from a sideshow to a strategic hub for the Italian energy major. And the shift is not over. Since last March the 63-year-old has clinched nine deals in the United Arab Emirates, gained a toehold in Bahrain and expanded in Oman to reshape the group's future. In the latest deal on Sunday, Eni pledged $3.3 billion to buy part of the world's fourth-biggest refinery in the UAE, increasing its own refining capacity overnight by more than a third. But the buying spree is not over and the company is looking to further bolster its presence in the Gulf region, according to three banking and industry sources with knowledge of the matter. They said Eni was now primarily targeting "upstream" exploration assets - oil and gas fields - rather than downstream operations. The company is looking to buy more assets in the UAE, as well as entering Qatar, the sources said, without giving further details. "Descalzi was in the UAE 20-odd times last year to personally build relationships to secure the deals," said a separate industry source. "And there's more on the way." Eni declined to comment. The Gulf drive is part of Descalzi's plans to cut Eni's traditional reliance on Africa, which accounts for more than half its production, while gaining more exposure to refining assets in an oil-rich region closer to Asian markets. In recent years, weakness in the company's downstream businesses like refining and chemicals have dragged on profits and placed more of a premium on securing success in exploration. Its heavy presence in Africa, with the risk associated with working in places like Libya and Nigeria, has also weighed on share price performance. Story continues A banking source with knowledge of the matter said Eni was targeting the Gulf area of the Middle East because it did not have the political and security risks of countries like Iraq. PRIZE ASSETS The Gulf region has in recent years attracted the world's top oil companies seeking stakes in big and easy-to-develop oil and gas fields at a time of uncertainty over oil prices. Long-term contracts in the region also guarantee stable revenues even if the returns are lower than other, riskier fields. But while majors like BP, Total, Shell and Exxon have had a strong presence in the Gulf for decades, Eni has not. The Italian firm's strategy of selling down assets like its prize Zohr gas field in Egypt has been key to its recent expansion in the region. Last March Eni traded a stake in Zohr with Emirates fund Mubadala to get its first foothold in the country, since when it has clinched a flurry of more deals with UAE oil giant ADNOC. "Zohr was used as a way in. Since then the group has ramped up operations lightning fast in an area that has some of the world's biggest resources and that's on the doorstep of Asia," said Mediobanca oil analyst Alessandro Pozzi. In Qatar, Eni can count on good relations with the state petroleum firm which recently bought Mexican oil blocks from the Italian company. A decade ago Eni was struggling to replace reserves and lost credibility over its management of the huge Kashagan oilfield in Kazakhstan. But giant gas discoveries in Mozambique and Egypt have since given it the strongest discovery record in the industry, boosting its credentials with oil-producing nations. In 2017 ADNOC presented its 2030 strategy plan to open up its energy markets to foreign operators and attract the skills needed to develop the exploration and production, refining and petrochemical industries. "When you are a country thinking, who can find the stuff, you look to Eni with its track record," said a source familiar with Eni management. (Additional reporting by Davide Barbuscia, Ron Bousso, Crispian Balmer and Danilo Masoni; Editing by Pravin Char) The Sackler family, who owns Purdue Pharma, producers of the addictive opioid painkiller OxyContin, made more than $4 billion between 2008 and 2016, according to newly disclosed court documents, which previously had been redacted. This is the latest revelation in a Massachusetts lawsuit accusing the Sacklers accusing them of profiting from and contributing to the national opioid epidemic. The lawsuit names Purdue Pharma, current and former executives, and eight Sackler family members as defendants, who are accused of aggressively marketing OxyContin. More than 36 states, including Massachusetts, and more than 1,500 cities and counties are suing Purdue for playing a role in the opioid epidemic, The Wall Street Journal reports. The Sackler family has a net worth of $13 billion, according to Forbes. In a court filing, Massachusetts Suffolk County Superior Judge Janet Sanders said the newly disclosed court documents appear to be discussions of tactics that could be used to promote the sales of OxyContin (particularly in higher doses), to encourage doctors to prescribe the drug over longer periods of time, and to circumvent safeguards put in place to stop illegal prescriptions, CNN reports. According to documents reviewed by ProPublica, Purdue and the Sackler family allegedly sought to redeem OxyContins image to increase sales at a time when the drug became increasingly regulated due to its addictive nature. The documents also suggest the Purdue board allegedly considered such strategies as diverging into treatment for opioid addiction to revive sales after it was accused of contributing to the nations opioid epidemic, WSJ reports. Attorneys for the Sackler family and Purdue deny these claims. In a statement to WSJ, Purdue said the County is taking out of context snippets from tens of millions of documents and grossly distorting their meaning. Purdue also said the complaint is riddled with demonstrably inaccurate allegations. Facebook Said to Face German Data Order as Soon as Next Week (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc. is days away from receiving the final ruling in a German probe into how the social network scoops up data of its users, two people familiar with the issue said. The Federal Cartel Office, Germanys antitrust regulator, may issue the ruling as early as next week, said the people, who declined to be identified because the timing of the decision isnt public. The regulator will order Facebook to change its contracts to stop making users agree to the data collection in question, one of the people said. The probe is one of many that the Menlo Park, California-based social networking company faces over the handling of customer data throughout Europe. The Irish data-protection regulator said in an interview this week that her agency currently had seven separate investigations into Facebook. The German probe is targeting the way Facebook collects information on how users surf to drive its advertising revenue. The Bundeskartellamt, the regulators German name, has been probing the terms since 2016 and last year several times postponed the final decisions. Facebook said that its been responding to the regulators requests since the beginning of the investigation. We disagree with their views and the conflation of data protection laws and antitrust laws, and will continue to defend our position, the company said in a statement. Cartel Office spokesman Michael Detering said the agency aims to release its decision "soon," without commenting further. Limitlessly Amass In December 2017 when disclosing preliminary findings in the case, the Cartel Office said Facebook abuses its dominance by using membership agreements that allow the company to "limitlessly amass every kind of data generated by using third-party websites and merge it with the users Facebook account." Third-party sites include services owned by Facebook such as WhatsApp or Instagram and websites and apps of other operators that Facebook can access through interfaces. Story continues Under Facebooks contracts, if people dont accept the entire package they must stop using the network, the regulator said, criticizing inappropriate" terms of service widely used by internet sites. The German regulator has drawn widespread criticism for using antitrust rules to look into data issues, a territory normally reserved for privacy regulators. The Cartel Office is relying on a rule developed by Germanys top court that said a dominant company can misuse its position if it forces customers to accept unfair terms in contracts. (Adds Facebook comment in fifth paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Karin Matussek in Berlin at kmatussek@bloomberg.net;Stephanie Bodoni in Brussels at sbodoni@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Aarons at aaarons@bloomberg.net, Peter Chapman For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Snopes Media Group Inc., one of Facebook Inc.s first fact-checking partners, said its ending the relationship after two years, even though the decision may cause financial distress. We want to determine with certainty that our efforts to aid any particular platform are a net positive for our online community, publication, and staff, the company said. Snopes contract with Facebook was worth $100,000 in 2017, but was far more valuable than that for Facebook, which frequently touted its fact-checking partners as helping combat the fake news problem on its site. Snopes said it hasnt ruled out working with Facebook, or any other platforms, in the future. Facebook has been working since the 2016 U.S. election to rein in misinformation across its platform, though its results have been spotty. External fact-checking partners have criticized Facebooks attempts as only scratching the surface of false content on the social network. The fact-checking efforts are often understaffed and have only recently begun to address the explosion of misleading photo and video content. Repeat offenders have also found workarounds. One site that was frequently flagged by fact-checkers simply changed the name of its site, Poynter reported this week. We value the work that Snopes has done, and respect their decision as an independent business, Facebook said, noting that it has 34 other fact-checking partners. Fact-checking initiatives may not be as important for the sites misinformation problems as other technological improvements, like detecting fake accounts trying to spread the content, Alex Stamos, Facebooks former head of security, said on Twitter. The fact checking partnerships were always PR, because its the kind of well-understood, visible intervention that journalists can see and cover, Stamos tweeted. The really effective product changes are often invisible. (Updates with Facebook comment in the sixth paragraph.) Story continues To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Frier in San Francisco at sfrier1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Molly Schuetz, Alistair Barr For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc. faces seven separate data-protection probes in Ireland as the countrys privacy regulator looks to take advantage of new rules that allow it to impose hefty fines. The investigations are among 16 cases targeting big technology companies including Twitter Inc., Apple Inc., LinkedIn Corp., and also Facebooks WhatsApp and Instagram, Helen Dixon, Irelands data protection commissioner, said in an interview. Many of the probes opened by the Irish and other EU regulators are centered on the activities of very big internet companies with tens and hundreds of millions of users, she said following a conference in Brussels this week. That could ultimately be a very large factor when looking at the scale of a fine. Regulators throughout Europe are looking to increase the level of fines they issue under the EUs new General Data Protection Regulation, which allow penalties as large as 4 percent of a companys annual revenue. A record 50 million-euro ($57 million) French fine against Google last month showed that watchdogs took the new guidelines seriously. Undoubtedly, the Google fine is not the last of them, said Dixon, who has been in the post since 2014. Google, Apple Dixon may be the regions key regulator because of the fact that so many American tech companies have their European headquarters in Ireland, including Facebook, Twitter, Google and Apple. Google has appealed its French fine. Facebook didnt immediately respond to a request for comment and Twitter declined to comment. Facebook in October became the first big test case under the EU new rules when the Irish authority opened a probe into a security breach that affected as many as 50 million accounts. In December, Dixons office announced a second probe into several other breach notifications by Facebook. That probe also looks at a breach caused by a software bug that gave outside developers broader access to the photos of millions of users. Story continues Dixon says shes aware that many of the decisions her office will make will act as a precedent for the rest of the sector. Summer Decisions Theyre not trivial, the cases were deciding, she said, indicating that first decisions in open cases may come as soon as this summer. Were at various concrete stages in all of them, but theyre all substantially advanced, she said. The soonest I am going to see an investigation report on my desk, which is when my role kicks in to make a final decision on sanctions in case of an infringement is likely to be June or July in the bigger cases. Scrutiny of Facebook has intensified with the revelations last year that the data of millions of users, mostly in the U.S. and U.K., could have ended up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that was linked to Donald Trumps U.S. presidential campaign. Antitrust regulators in Germany have also been looking closely at the company and could call on Facebook to change privacy terms in its contracts within weeks. Many of the breach notifications Dixons office has received since May 25 are related to coding errors, she said. This results in issues such as posts being made public that should have been private, or in a major breach. No company seems to be immune from this, she said. Companies do reach out to regulators quickly. Apple has already been in touch about the FaceTime video chat service bug which allowed hackers to eavesdrop on conversations. Dixon said the glitch sounds frightening. Her office will have to look at the circumstances in which the bug manifested itself and whether any users actually got affected. She said that the issues with Apple are very different with the broader internet companies because of the vertical integration between their devices and services. Facts Needed Apple has been in touch with us this week but the information we have at this point is preliminary, she said. We need a lot more facts, we need to hear a lot more from Apple. The company didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. GDPR rules require regulators to consider a sanction and a possible administrative fine, whenever a probe finds there has been a violation of the rules. If there are infringements that will have affected hundreds of millions of users potentially, then that is the certainty rather than the likelihood, said Dixon, who has postgraduate qualifications in European economic and public Affairs, governance, computer science, official statistics for policy evaluation, and judicial skills and decision making. Punitive Route Going down a purely punitive route, however, wont change behavior, she said. This requires using the new powers regulators now have, plus engaging more and educating oneself about these companies, their industry and technology while making sure youre not subject to regulatory capture. Still, having the ability to threaten with a very big punitive fine is a very useful tool, Dixon said. And GDPR has brought other changes, too. Companies are lawyering up and were typically dealing with more litigators and lawyers on the side of any inquiry that we conduct, she said. It does show the power that they have in terms of the size. But we have all the cards in terms of the powers to investigate, to compel and ultimately to conclude and make findings. (Updates with background on Facebooks privacy issues starting in 13th paragraph.) --With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak. To contact the reporter on this story: Stephanie Bodoni in Brussels at sbodoni@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Aarons at aaarons@bloomberg.net, ;Giles Turner at gturner35@bloomberg.net, Peter Chapman For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The European Union's markets watchdog said it has approved an agreement on supervisory cooperation with Britain after Brexit to avoid disruption to cross-border financial services like asset management. "The board agreed in substance the Memorandum of Understanding and will provide more detail shortly," a spokesman for the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) said on Thursday. The MoU was negotiated with Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that regulators in the bloc and London agree to exchange information on financial firms that have cross-border business. The announcement "brings much needed certainty for asset managers," said Chris Cummings, chief executive of the Investment Association, Britain's asset management trade body. "These agreements ensure that delegation of portfolio management, and the necessary exchanges of information needed for the orderly functioning of markets, can continue regardless of the outcome of the Brexit negotiations," he added. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29 and an MoU is a standard feature of supervisory relations between the bloc and non-EU countries. An MoU is critical for the funds industry, particularly as Britain could crash out of the bloc in two months' time unless it comes up with an agreed divorce settlement with Brussels. Without an MoU there could be no "delegation", or asset managers in Britain making investment picks for funds listed in Dublin, Luxembourg or elsewhere in the EU. "The ESMA board agreed in substance the MoU and we will provide more detail shortly," an FCA spokesman said. "We encourage EU member states to take up ESMA's effort and work with the FCA to finalize these understandings, so funds can remain focused on serving their investors' needs," Patrice Berge-Vincent, managing director of international trade body ICI Global, said. While ESMA negotiated the MoU, it has to be signed by regulators from each of the remaining 27 EU states. "Firms that delegate portfolio management to the UK can have sufficient confidence that this will continue to be allowed post 29th March," said Ed Sibley, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Ireland said earlier this month. (Reporting by Huw Jones in London and Ishita Chigilli Palli in Bengaluru, Editing by Lawrence White and Catherine Evans) Donors, investors voice concern over lack of reform and corruption ahead of investment summit As the government intensifies its preparation for another high-profile investment summit, key development partners have expressed concerns over the countrys investment climate, red tape, and lack of policy reform hindering businesses. By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng SINGAPORE/BEIJING (Reuters) - China's state energy giants are set to raise spending on domestic drilling this year to the highest levels since 2016, focussing on adding natural gas reserves in a concerted drive to boost local supplies. Responding to President Xi Jinping's call last August to boost domestic energy security, China's trio of oil majors - PetroChina, Sinopec Corp and CNOOC Ltd - are adding thousands of wells at oil basins in the remote deserts of the northwest region of Xinjiang, shale rocks in southwest Sichuan province and deepwater fields of the South China Sea. Firms are showing greater risk appetite, expanding investments faster in exploration than production, emboldened by Beijing's political push and oil near $60 a barrel, said state oil executives and analysts at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. (GRAPHIC: China's top-3 oilmajors - https://tmsnrt.rs/2HCX2As) "We shall carry through resolutely the State Council's call on stepping up domestic exploration and development and launch an offensive war," PetroChina Chairman Wang Yilin was cited as saying in an inhouse newspaper in December. Offshore specialist CNOOC Ltd said last week it was confident of achieving its spending target this year, the highest since 2014. It pledged to spend twice as much this year in domestic exploratory drilling as in 2016. "With oil prices at $50, $60 and $70...we're making decent profits," Yuan Guangyu, CNOOC's Chief Executive Officer, said last week. CNPC, Asia's largest oil and gas producer and parent of PetroChina, is boosting risk exploration investment five-fold to 5 billion yuan ($741 million) this year from 1 billion yuan last year. But with oil reservoirs maturing and new discoveries tending to be smaller and more costly, even more drilling is unlikely to reverse China's declining oil outlook, analysts say. China, set to remain the world's top oil buyer for years to come, is forecast to slip to the 10th largest global oil producer in 2020, down from No.5 for most of last decade, said Wood Mackenzie. Story continues "China will likely continue on the same path as it has in recent years an overwhelming focus on new gas production, leading to continued decline in its oil output," said Angus Rodger, research director of Asia-Pacific upstream at Wood Mackenzie. PETROCHINA LEADS PUSH With Beijing pushing to reduce energy import dependence and hit environmental targets, gas output is forecast by analysts to rise at 6-8 percent a year through 2020. China, the world's No.3 gas consumer, overtook Japan as the world's top gas importer in October. PetroChina, which produces some 70 percent of the country's gas output, will lead the drive, adding thousands of wells in southwestern Sichuan, northern Ordos and northwest Tarim basin, CNPC says on its website. The major is also ramping up shale development in Sichuan, seeking to catch up with Sinopec Corp which has pioneered China's nascent shale push. Despite almost a decade of drilling, shale makes up just 6 percent of China's total gas output because of complex geology and high costs of development. PetroChina raised its shale gas output 40 percent last year to 4.3 billion cubic metres, while Sinopec's production was largely flat at 6 bcm. "Controlling the largest and best acreage, CNPC has been ramping up aggressively capital and human resource deployment over the past 3-4 months in Sichuan shale," said Woodmac analyst Max Petrov who tracks Chinese majors' investment. Sinopec declined comment. CNPC did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. DEEPWATER Beyond 2020, deepwater discoveries in the South China Sea, such as Linghui 17-2, some 150km (90 miles) off China's southernmost province of Hainan, will lend growth to China's gas portfolio. With estimated proven recoverable reserves of 2.5 trillion cubic feet, Lingshui is CNOOC's single-largest fully owned deepwater gas discovery. BG Group walked away with little success after exploratory drilling at the nearby Lingshui 22-1-1 well in 2010. Aiming to add 50 percent to gas reserves by 2025, CNOOC is expected to step up drilling in the deepwater acreage of the Pearl River Mouth basin and expand earlier major discoveries including Yacheng and Dongfang, both near Hainan province. "Natural gas is becoming increasingly popular under the government's green push. And its relatively less risky than oil under long-term off-take deals," said a state oil executive. Companies, however, will hold off drilling in disputed territorial waters of the South China Sea due to technological challenges and the lack of experienced global partners willing to risk exploring those areas, analysts said. Beijing claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, whose estimated energy potential varies widely, although geologists believe it holds more gas than oil. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim parts of the key waterway. SHORT RESERVE LIFE Sinopec, traditionally a refiner rather than a driller, has the smallest resource base and may lag its peers, analysts say. Sinopec's proven oil reserves by end-2017 could last less than six years of production, versus CNOOC's 10 years, while Sinopec's gas reserve life of 8 years is dwarfed by PetroChina's 24 years, according to calculations based on company filings. Sinopec is expected to boost spending this year, including in developing its second shale gas target, Weirong block, in Sichuan. But the momentum of making new finds is waning, said company officials. "Sinopec is well aware of its problems, but the will to change that seems to have a bottleneck at the top as the company sees itself more of a downstream, petrochemical player," said Woodmac's Petrov. (Reporting by Chen Aizhu in Singapore and Meng Meng in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast) (Bloomberg) -- China seeks to take control of Western data and networks, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union said, in the latest warning from Washington to its allies that they should think twice before using equipment from companies such as Huawei Technologies Co. China is working to establish itself as a cyber power through illegal frameworks and control over data and networks, American envoy Gordon Sondland told a telecoms conference in Brussels. Chinese laws "require its state-owned and private companies to cooperate with and share data with Chinese intelligence and security, giving rise to U.S. security concerns, he said on Thursday. The U.S. has been pushing European allies such as Germany to shun telecom suppliers subject to foreign government control. Donald Trumps administration in December sent officials to Berlin to step up pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkels government over Huawei, while the U.S. Embassy said allies and partners are being urged to be vigilant in ensuring network security, including when carriers award equipment contracts. The warnings may be having an impact. Last week the EUs digital chief urged the blocs member states to consider the risk of partnering with Chinese companies like Huawei. In an interview, Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for digital affairs, said Chinese data laws have increased the risk in dealing with Chinese companies in Europe. Controversial Law The concern voiced by Sondland and Ansip center on Chinas National Intelligence Law, passed in 2017. The law mandates any organization and citizen to support and assist national intelligence in their investigations and to keep information related to such investigations. Huawei has fought back against allegations that it is an enabler for Chinese espionage, and that blacklisting the Chinese company without proof will hurt the industry and disrupt new high-speed technology. Huawei has previously said it had commissioned a legal opinion to analyze the consequences of the law. The opinion says the law doesnt require it to cooperate with state intelligence if it would contradict the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations, a spokesman said. Story continues On Tuesday U.S. prosecutors filed criminal charges against Huawei, alleging it stole trade secrets from an American rival and committed bank fraud by violating sanctions against doing business with Iran. Huawei is one of the leaders in developing the next generation of network technology, known as 5G. Some countries have sought to limit the companys influence, with Australia and New Zealand banning Huawei equipment from the planned 5G networks of carriers, and other nations, including Germany, considering restricting Huaweis role. The U.S. has made the security of networks and services a priority - and this has implications for 5G, said Sondland. This is not a decision about price or quality. This is a decision about whether or not to allow malign actors take control of your national telecommunications system, he said. To contact the reporter on this story: Natalia Drozdiak in Brussels at ndrozdiak1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Giles Turner at gturner35@bloomberg.net, ;Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Nikos Chrysoloras For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. With an annual budget north of $4.4 trillion, The U.S. is the largest single consumer of virtually everything it purchases. The defense portion of U.S. expenditures naturally rises in time or war, but with conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan greatly reduced, had settled into a range between $560 and $600 billion annually during the second term of the Obama administration. As of 2016, the United States accounted for more than a third of global defense spending and its been on the rise since then. President Trump campaigned on a promise to rebuild our depleted military and in office, hes living up to that promise. In August 2018, Trump signed into law the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, committing $716 billion to defense spending during the fiscal year. Even when other budget consideration remain unresolved, Congress and the President have an easy time agreeing on defense spending. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) supplies a wide range of Military systems to the U.S and also other countries. The business is broken down into four main categories Aerospace Systems, Mission Systems, Technology Services and the newly acquired Innovation Systems. In the Aerospace division, Northrop produces aircraft, spacecraft, high-energy systems and microelectronics. Mission Systems makes military radar, sensors and related products. Technology Services works on the entire lifecycle of civil and defense platforms through a wide range of services, including logistics, security, network operations and integrated air and missile defense serving not only the U.S government and other Sovereign nations, but also municipalities like the state of Virginia. Finally, Innovation Systems was borne from the acquisition of Orbital ATK and is a leader in space, defense and flight systems. Defense stocks are also generally defensive stocks, providing stable earnings regardless of the state of the overall stock market. With a beta of 0.76, NOC shares tend to move considerably less than the broad markets, especially during times of turmoil. In fact, periods of armed conflict which cause significant uncertainty for most stocks are actually the best times for defense companies as nations expand their offensive capabilities and refresh depleted resources. Story continues Another positive aspect of the defense sector is that these companies generally have an easier time passing along cost increases to their customers than other industrial companies. When rising steel, oil or labor costs increase the price of finished goods, ordinary consumers can much more easily choose to delay the purchase of an automobile or even a tractor, but the government cant necessarily put off defense purchases. Defense companies are also naturally resistant to trade wars and tariffs, because governments are unlikely to enact tariffs on goods and services of which they themselves are the purchasers. Despite outstanding earning performance, Northrop Grumman shares declined in 2018, making the military and aerospace giant a legitimate value opportunity. NOC at an extremely attractive forward P/E ratio of just 14.4X - lower than the industry average of 16.3X. In their most recent earnings report released Thursday, NOC handily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates of $4.45/share in earnings on $8.1B in revenues with $4.93/share in earnings and sales of $8.2B. Analysts expect $19.08/share in earnings in 2019 and $19.56 in 2020. Both have been revised upward several times over the past quarter. Northrup Grumman is a Zacks Ranks #1 (Strong Buy). The company also pays a 1.7% dividend, and has over $2.5B in Free Cash Flow to back it up. Theres one more story that bodes well for the futures at Northrop Grumman. That defense budget bill signed in August also provided the framework for the development of an additional branch of the US military the Space Force. The establishment of the Space Force is likely to be a windfall for Northrup Grumman. Its a fair bet that a company with Northrops expertise in the space sector would make it a natural choice for the goods and services the new division would require. Until we know more about the ultimate size and shape of the Space Corps, this is a non-quantifiable wildcard, but one with the potential to create a strong tailwind for the company. In an investing environment that includes all sorts of apparently hidden risks trade wars, rising commodity prices, increased labor costs, etc., there are some companies that appear particularly well-equipped to weather the storm. With the support of a Presidential administration devoted to increased defense spending, Northrop Grumman belongs in any well-diversified portfolio. 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>> 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 Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Illinois doubles down on "stupid" By Jay Carter. January 30, 2019 Original Source Illinois...there's something in the water. For those readers not familiar with Illinois, it's really two states: one that is basically Chicago/Cook County and its collar counties (mostly "left leaning"), the other is roughly everything south of I-80 (mostly "right leaning") which is typically labeled as "downstate". Of course, this is a generalization as we know there are pockets of liberalism in "downstate" (Champaign County, for instance) and vice-versa. Further, there are some "liberals" who own firearm as well....so lets not get too wrapped up in the labels. Sadly, the population of Cook County, etc. is enough that the entire remainder of the state can think one way and get overruled in an election. The last Gubernatorial race found a few more pockets in support of the democratic candidate as people were rightfully fed up with Gov. Rauner's ineffectiveness. Those of us in "downstate" IL knew that the relatively stable, though not ideal, situation for firearms ownership would take a negative turn when Gov. J.B. Pritzker was elected. As it turns out, we underestimated the slope of that downward curve and how quickly the Chicago pols would act. Yeah, they're swinging for the fences. First, they held a bill that they knew Gov. Rauner would veto and passed it off to new Gov. Pritsker shortly after being seated. Seems like dirty pool to me but I'm no expert on that stuff, I expect it to be challenged in court. This bill was signed and has now become Public Act 100-1178, it requires state level licensing of firearms dealers and includes licensing fees, video camera requirements (video of all doors, all inventory, as well as all transactions....), video storage requirements (90 days minimum), inspection requirements, and so on. Video storage can get expensive in a hurry, just ask any number of small police departments that can't afford to store body cam footage. Besides all that, the BATFE already controls firearms dealers at the federal level and we know that criminals with records don't go to gun shops to buy their firearms. According to the DOJ stats published on the same day this bill was signed, only 1.9% of criminals in possession of a gun claim to have purchased it in a retail location. Next they dropped SB 0107 in our laps. This is the typical "assault weapons" ban and includes your choice of registration or confiscation of existing firearms that fit their language. No surprises here except for not having a grandfather clause. A day or two later, we see HB0888 arrive. This is a bill that requires you to turn over info for your social media accounts when you apply for a new FOID or attempt to renew it. I can understand how some people might think this is a good thing, but folks....due process. If someone is doing things on one of the social media networks that makes you raise an eyebrow, I get it. But until they're prosecuted of a crime I don't see how the state could use this against them but they'll certainly try using it for Red Flag purposes. My personal favorite (so far) is the newly released HB1467. Wondering what's in this gem? Read on. A retailer will be required to do the following for an AMMUNITION sale. Record the following info: 1. Date of transaction 2. Purchaser's name, address, DOB 3. Purchaser's FOID information 4. Amount of ammunition, caliber, manufacturer's name and serial number or other identifying info 5. Requires the retailer to send all of this to the IL State Police within 7 days of the sale of ammunition. 6. Retailer must keep a log book of ammunition sales, available for inspection by law enforcement The bill also requires the IL State Police to establish and maintain a searchable database which contains these ammunition records. Sooo, since that pesky U.S. Constitution makes it unlawful for the state to have a database of firearm sales...they'll just record ammunition sales and then deduce who-owns-what to some degree. To be clear, they do know when a firearm is sold at retail but only that it is a handgun or long gun. Edit 1/31/19 to add a new bill introduced late yesterday: HB1586 may be tied for my favorite now....this atrocity will require all handgun ammunition to be serialized. If you possess un-serialized ammunition that was previously owned or was purchased from a sane state...too bad. Also creates a registry of serial numbers from an ammunition sale, so obviously this goes along with HB1467 above. None of this is going to stop crime of any type and they know it. My opinion is that they're hoping to drive gun shops out of business and scare a handful of people into turning in a few firearms. Meanwhile, gangbangers will still be bangin and it's business as usual with them. Those of us closer to Kentucky than Chicago tend to be of the mindset that these things won't affect us much but you need to wake up and realize that this will affect you. They aren't playing around. There is a Democratic super-majority in both houses and a new leftist sitting in the Governor's chair, it's going to be tough and you need to get involved. In my opinion, complacency is consent and those who roll over are just as much to blame as those who bring this mess to the table. How can you help? Stay with me.... Get off of your rear, get on the phone, send a letter, or an email, file witness slips for these bills, wear these elected officials out with communication. You can find the contact info for your elected officials here, just click on Members and follow your nose. If you've never filed Witness slips before, see IllinoisCarry.com (link on the right) for instructions. Lots of good folks there to help you out. Attend IGOLD on March 27 (there's time to plan) and get to Springfield any other time you can. Yes, even if you don't agree with everything that the ISRA does, now is no time to divide ourselves. If you're a Sheriff reading this by some strange luck, I ask that you tell the ILGA that you won't assist with enforcing this attack on honest folks if it does manage to become law. County boards? Pass a line in your budget barring county funds from being spent on enforcement of this tripe. Help us find a way. If you're one of the legislators that have brought these bills forward or support them, please reconsider. These actions will do nothing more than hurt the people that already follow laws, not those who are actually doing harm. Back to Top A pressure reading is seen pictured at the top of a well head, known as the Christmas Tree, at the BP America Gasosaurus Gas Unit well site in Lufkin A pressure reading is seen pictured at the top of a well head, known as the Christmas Tree, at the BP America Gasosaurus Gas Unit well site in Lufkin, Texas, U.S., June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman By Ron Bousso LONDON (Reuters) - BP has agreed to broaden its disclosure on greenhouse gas emissions to show how it thinks future investments in oil and gas align with U.N.-backed climate goals, it said on Friday. Following talks with a large group of investors, BP also agreed to back a shareholder resolution on the measures at its annual general meeting (AGM), further evidence of the way the energy industry and investors are engaging on climate issues. The agreement with a group of investors with $32 trillion under management, known as Climate Action 100+, comes weeks after rival Royal Dutch Shell agreed to introduce broad carbon emissions targets linked to executive pay. Unlike other companies, BP has agreed to detail how major future investments in fossil fuels will be consistent with the 2015 Paris agreement to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by the end of the century by phasing out fossil fuels. It will set out new metrics to measure greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. BP said in a statement it would link carbon targets to the remuneration of 36,000 of its employees, including executive directors. If the resolution is approved at the AGM, BP will introduce these changes into its reporting for 2019 onwards. (GRAPHIC: Carbon emissions from Big Oil - https://tmsnrt.rs/2RFl5PN) But the joint agreement revealed a fundamental rift with investors over BP's statement that its strategy today was in line with the Paris agreement. "Investors remain concerned that the company has not yet demonstrated that its strategy, which includes growth in oil and gas as well as pursuing low carbon businesses, is consistent with the Paris goals," Climate Action 100+ said in statement. BP plans to rapidly grow oil and gas production over the next five years thanks to more than a dozen new projects launched in recent years, as well as the $10.5 billion acquisition of BHP's U.S. shale portfolio last year. "We will be open and transparent about our ambitions and targets as well as our progress against them," BP Chairman Helge Lund said in a statement. Story continues BP Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley has repeatedly said that while the oil and gas sector needs to play a role in the transition to low carbon energy, it still needs to meet growing demand for fossil fuels, particularly in emerging economies. "BP is committed to helping solve the dual challenge of providing more energy with fewer emissions. We are determined to advance the energy transition while also growing shareholder value," Lund said. Investors and analysts have said many oil and gas projects, such as complex and expensive investments in Canada or some deepwater basins, will not be needed in the transition to a low carbon energy. While BP agreed to increase its disclosure around climate, it also rejected another resolution tabled by climate activist group Follow This calling for emission reduction targets for all its operations, including emissions from products it sells to customers, known as Scope 3. BP announced in April plans to keep carbon emissions flat over the decade to 2025 even as its oil and gas output was set to grow. It also plans to invest up to $500 million per year on renewable energies such as solar, wind and power storage. (Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Edmund Blair) (Adds details from complaint, background, Philippines court proceedings, case citation, picture available) By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Bangladesh's central bank on Thursday sued a Philippine bank to recoup losses it suffered when unidentified hackers stole $81 million from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York nearly three years ago. In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Bangladesh Bank accused Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) and dozens of others, including several top executives, of involvement in a "massive" and "intricately planned" multi-year conspiracy to steal its money. Bangladesh Bank said funds were stolen with the help of unnamed North Korean hackers who used malware with such names as "Nestegg" and "Macktruck" to obtain backdoor access its network. It said funds were then funneled through RCBC accounts in New York City and to the Philippines, where much of it disappeared in that country's casino industry. RCBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment after market hours. It had said on Wednesday, after learning the lawsuit would be filed: "We welcome this complaint, as it is an opportunity for RCBC to put on record again that it was a victim of what was started in Bangladesh by still unnamed persons." The case arose from a February 2016 incident when hackers tricked the New York Fed into sending out the $81 million. Funds eventually landed in four accounts held in fake names at an RCBC branch in Makati City. Much of it was quickly withdrawn, and only about $15 million has been recovered. RCBC, based in Manila, has contended that the theft was an inside job and accused Bangladesh Bank of a cover-up. Fazle Kabir, governor of Bangladesh Bank, said on Wednesday the New York Fed had signed an agreement to help with the case. A New York Fed spokeswoman declined to discuss what support her office might offer. The hackers sought to steal close to $1 billion, but ultimately stole $101 million, including $20 million sent to a Sri Lankan account. That transfer was reversed after a spelling error was caught. Story continues On Jan. 10, a Philippine court found Maia Deguito, who managed RCBC's Makati City branch, guilty of eight counts of money laundering tied to the heist. It sentenced her to a 32- to 56-year prison term and a $109 million fine. Deguito is a defendant in Thursday's lawsuit. Her lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. In August 2016, the Philippine central bank fined RCBC a record 1 billion pesos ($19 million) for failing to stop stolen money from moving through the bank. The case is Bangladesh Bank v Rizal Commercial Banking Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 19-00983. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir in Dhaka; Editing by Sandra Maler) The Philippines in 2016 imposed a record $21 million fine on RCBC (pictured) after investigating its role in an audacious cyber heist (AFP Photo/JAY DIRECTO) Bangladesh will Wednesday file a lawsuit in New York against a Philippine bank over its involvement in one of the biggest-ever cyber heists, the country's central bank governor said. Unidentified hackers stole $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank's account with the US Federal Reserve in New York in February 2016. The money was then transferred to a Manila branch of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC), swiftly withdrawn and laundered through local casinos. A case will be filed against RCBC and "all others" involved in the heist to try and retrieve the stolen funds, Bangladesh central bank governor Fazle Kabir told AFP. An agreement between the bank and the US Federal Reserve in New York had been signed to assist Dhaka in the case, he added. Bangladesh has sent a legal team to New York and is prepared to fight for the money to be returned, Kabir told reporters in the capital Dhaka. The Philippines in 2016 imposed a record $21 million fine on RCBC after investigating its role in the audacious cyber heist. The bank has rejected the allegations and in 2017 accused Bangladesh's central bank of a "massive cover-up". This month ex-RCBC manager Maia Deguito was handed a lengthy jail term and $109 million in fines in the first conviction over the massive theft. Deguito, who was a branch manager where the money landed, was accused of coordinating the illegal transfer. She plans to appeal and can remain free on bail until the conviction is finalised. Deguito is the only person who has been convicted in the case, drawing international concern. The theft exposed the Philippines as a haven for dirty money, where some of the world's strictest bank secrecy laws protect account holders from scrutiny The hackers bombarded the US Federal Reserve with dozens of transfer requests, attempting to steal a further $850 million. But the bank's security systems and typing errors in some requests prevented the full theft. The hack took place on a Friday, when Bangladesh's central bank is closed. The Federal Reserve is closed on Saturday and Sunday, slowing the response. The US Federal Reserve, which manages the Bangladesh central bank account, has denied its own systems were breached. By Byron Kaye and Paulina Duran SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's biggest bank has for years generated blockbuster profits by focussing on retail customers and home mortgages while its competitors sought to build exposure to business and farm lending, even forays offshore. But Commonwealth Bank of Australia's grassroots strategy may now be its undoing, investors and analysts say, as a powerful government inquiry promises to bring unprecedented regulatory attention and new rules to the country's banking market. Investors are pricing in curbs on major income generators for retail banking expected to flow out of the Royal Commissions final report which will be handed down on Monday. Practices including ongoing "trailing" commissions used to reward sales staff, and overly optimistic methods to determine how much money a retail customer can borrow are expected to be targeted, both areas where analysts say CBA has more exposure than its "Big Four" rivals - National Australia Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and Westpac Banking Corp. CBA also has the highest proportion of mortgages and credit cards in its overall debt book. "Being forced to have tighter lending standards will impact all of them, but it will probably impact CBA more," said Matthew Ryland, portfolio manager at Greencape Capital, which holds bank shares. CBA declined comment because it was in a blackout period ahead of its half-year results announcement on Feb. 6. SHARES HIT As the Royal Commission made headlines last year with witness accounts of customer rip-offs across the financial services sector, shares of all the major retail banks fell in anticipation of enforced structural changes that would result. A housing downturn and global equities turbulence further weighed. CBA has fallen less than its rivals since the start of the inquiry but 14 analysts polled by Refinitiv predict it will lag an expected rally after the commission recommendations. Story continues Analysts on average have a 12-month target price for CBA just 4.2 percent higher than its current value. Shares of NAB, the least consumer-focused bank and largest business lender, are seen rising 18.8 percent from their current level, while ANZ, which also has less exposure to consumer lending, is forecast to rise 13.1 percent. "They are mainly business banks so growth will probably be better for them," said TS Lim, a banking analyst at Bell Potter Securities. "For the likes of (CBA), they are very, very dependent on interest income, and the wholesale funding cost is creeping up slowly." Citi estimates CBA has made 80 percent of its profit growth in the past two years from home mortgages, and now has CBA as the only big bank without a "buy" rating. Of the majors, CBA has the most "short" positions, or shareholdings of people betting the stock price will fall, according to Australian stock exchange data. At the inquiry last year, CBA chief executive Matt Comyn said the bank had started applying stricter reviews to check people's ability to pay home loans, checking applicants' expenses individually rather than using a formula to estimate out-goings. Should the Royal Commission recommend banning the formulas, CBA, which still uses that method on about 75 percent of loan applications, would be under pressure to spend more money improving its credit approval processes. VERTICAL DISINTEGRATION All Australia's large banks including CBA sought to grow through the early 2000s by buying wealth management and insurance businesses and cross-selling a suite of services to customers. But while ANZ pursued an Asia strategy and NAB tried its hand in the United Kingdom, CBA fixed its domestic stronghold by buying Western Australian rural lender BankWest in 2008 and amassing a team of thousands of financial planners. When the banks reversed course around 2015 and began carving off non-core assets to avoid competition, CBA shed its insurance and fund management subsidiaries, as well as offshore retail banking businesses. It was left with a sales force and branch network larger than rivals which depended more on paying commissions to push products through brokers. At the bank's annual results in August, Comyn backed the strategy of focussing on its "leading retail banking franchise in the country which we're going to continue to invest in and strengthen further". It may not be all bad news for CBA and its investors, some of whom say CBA's sheer size may work in its favour during the uncertainty as customers stick to what they know. Windfalls from sales of non-core businesses are also on the cards. Analysts at Deutsche Bank expect CBA will return about A$3 billion to shareholders by 2020 as it completes the sales of various assets. "Some people would suggest that poses the biggest risk but that's not where we are," said Sean Sequeira, chief investment officer at Alleron Investment Management, referring to CBA's retail exposure. However, several analysts said the bank's retail-first strategy made CBA one of the most affected if the Royal Commission makes lenders disclose account-keeping fees, increase regulation of sales bonuses, or use enforce stricter controls to approve loans. "We favour the commercially-orientated banks (ANZ and NAB) over retail oriented ... due to the Royal Commission's focus on consumer lending and financial advice," Citi analysts said in a recent note. (Reporting by Byron Kaye and Paulina Duran; Editing by Lincoln Feast) Satellite imagery reportedly revealing a ballistic missile facility deep in the Saudi desert spotlights Riyadh's increased investment in its independent warfighting capabilities, U.S. defense experts say. Riyadh has long operated its missile program outside the realm of U.S. approval and without U.S. assistance, starting with its purchase of Chinese D3-F Silkworm ballistic missiles in 1988. This development could further complicate relations between the U.S. and the Saudis, given the already increased anger of many lawmakers over Riyadh's activities in Yemen and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October. Satellite imagery reportedly revealing a ballistic missile facility deep in the Saudi desert spotlights Riyadh's increased investment in its independent warfighting capabilities, U.S. defense experts say. This, they believe, indicates a growing desire by the longtime ally to be able to take offensive measures without the approval of its main weapons sponsors in Washington. "There's an arms race underway," Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and Arab affairs expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told CNBC. "Whiplash policy changes in Washington have had their impact on Riyadh: Saudi authorities are no longer going to be constrained by White House whispers. The Saudis are demonstrating that they can take matters into their own hands." Images analyzed by missile defense experts at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, and first reported by The Washington Post, appear to show the testing and possible manufacturing of ballistic missiles. These can carry nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles from their launch point. International powers have sanctioned Iran for its own frequent testing of the weapons. As America's top weapons buyer and foremost security partner in the Arab world, one might question why Riyadh would need to invest in its own ballistic missile facility. It already has a fleet of top-of-the-line F-15 fighter jets, Tornados and Typhoons, giving it an airpower advantage over regional arch-rival Iran, the majority of whose air force hasn't been updated since the 1970s. Story continues The catch is that Saudi Arabia's air force still needs maintenance and logistics support from the jets' countries of origin the U.S. and the U.K. and that support could be terminated if the aircraft is used in an unapproved manner. Homegrown missiles, meanwhile, have no such limit. Furthermore, missiles don't need pilots who require training and risk being shot down and captured by the enemy. Chinese assistance? Riyadh has long operated its missile program outside the realm of U.S. approval and without U.S. assistance, starting with its small purchase of Chinese D3-F Silkworm ballistic missiles in 1988. The program is overseen by the kingdom's secretive Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF), which unlike other military branches, reportedly do not mix with American advisors. One former Pentagon official, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the topic, told CNBC that the SRF likely "operates with Chinese input," adding that "given that Pakistan has close ties with both China and with the Kingdom and has numerous advisors working with Saudi security agencies, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some Pakistani assistance as well." If true, the links illustrate a longtime Saudi strategy of diversifying its diplomatic and security alliances and highlight a potential shift eastward. Weapons purchases from China, though a tiny fraction of those from the U.S., now feature armed drones something the U.S. currently won't sell to the Saudis. And American arms dealers have voiced alarm over Riyadh's expressed interest in purchasing Russia's flagship S-400 missile defense system, a cheaper alternative to the U.S.-made THAAD system. China's Ministry of Defense, its foreign ministry and embassy in Riyadh did not immediately respond when asked for comment by CNBC. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to the Associated Press last week, saying: "I have never heard of such a thing as China helping Saudi Arabia to build a missile base." Pakistan's Ministry of Defense, its foreign ministry and its Saudi embassy also did not immediately respond when contacted by CNBC. Countering Iran is 'common sense' And at a time when Iran, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia designate the world's top state sponsor of terror, has increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile capability thanks to Russia, the investment is "common sense," some experts say. "If the Saudis are developing an indigenous ballistic missile capacity, part of the blame for this should be placed on the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) with Iran," David DesRoches, an associate professor of security studies at the National Defense University in Washington D.C., told CNBC, referencing the multilateral 2015 deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program. In doing this, DesRoches argues, "the West in effect gave Iran absolution for its missile program Given the plethora of missiles in the Iranian inventory, it is not unlikely that the kingdom sought to match its rival." The kingdom has long asserted its right to self defense, particularly at a time when it's been subject to missile and other projectile fire from Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen, where it's led a bloody offensive since 2015. Weapons experts have confirmed that the missiles fired at Riyadh, Medina and other cities from Yemen in recent years are of Iranian origin. 'I can't confirm or deny' In an interview with CNBC's Hadley Gamble in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih refrained from acknowledging the missile base, but argued that his country should be able to defend itself. "I really don't have any information one way or another, so I can't confirm or deny," Al-Falih said in response to a question about the base. "But I would say that Saudi Arabia is today a receiver, unfortunately, of a barrage of ballistic missiles that are being launched at civilian installations the kingdom needs to look after its own defense, our own interest." The Saudis are also pursuing a nuclear energy program they say will be strictly peaceful. But the plan has faced pushback by many in Congress, particularly following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's statement last March that "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible." In a report published by the AP last week, missile expert Jeffrey Lewis noted the frequent link between missile development and the pursuit of nuclear weapons, telling the news agency, "I would be a little worried that we're underestimating the Saudis' ambitions here." 'The US underestimates Saudi Arabia' Foreign policy analysts note that this development could further complicate relations between the U.S. and the Saudis, given the already increased anger of many lawmakers over Riyadh's activities in Yemen and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last fall, which has been blamed on Saudi government operatives. But they also warn that any sanctions would likely accelerate the kingdom's shift eastward. One of the many former U.S. government officials wary of Saudi intentions is Bruce Riedel, a 30-year CIA veteran and expert on Gulf affairs. "The timing of the construction suggests that Mohammed bin Salman and his father (King Salman) embarked on building this facility very early after he took charge of the Defense Ministry," he told CNBC in an email Wednesday. "It underscores a willingness to ignore Washington's interests and policies from the beginning of his rise to power." Could Washington be underestimating Saudi capabilities? The AEI's Rubin believes so. "The history of America in the Middle East is a history of underestimating what regional states are willing to do," he said. "So, yes: the U.S. underestimates Saudi Arabia." More From CNBC POINT ROBERTS, Wash. and DELTA, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering AI and lithium stocks issues a snapshot looking at lithium companies preparing to meet future demands in the market and how technology innovation may play a lead role. The future of lithium shows a high demand, though there is uncertainty surrounding whether the market will be able to keep up with extraction demands. Looking at how this all plays out, Albemarle Corporation ( NYSE:ALB ) and Chile state development agency Corfo recently reached a deal to resolve a contract dispute centered around an amendment to the contract that requires Albemarle to provide as much as 25 percent of its annual production of lithium at a discount to companies seeking to produce battery metals within Chile. Albemarle operates in Chile's Salar de Atacama, a salt flat in the countrys northern desert that supplies nearly 40 percent of the worlds lithium. Corfo, which leases mining rights in the Salar, had previously threatened to cancel its contract with Albemarle over the dispute, raising the spectre of potential supply disruptions amid booming demand. The contract amendment that requires Albemarle to provide the ultralight battery metal at a reduced price is meant to spur a value-added lithium industry in Chile. Albemarle produces most of its lithium from evaporation ponds. In November of 2018, the companys claim to developing a unique process to more than triple its lithium production from Chiles Atacama desert without using more water drew heavy scrutiny . Inside the US, Albemarle has already hinted at the potential of producing lithium to business owners operating near their Magnolia Arkansas operations, which is located nearby to Standard Lithiums potential commercial lithium project. Conflicting reports regarding Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaways recent alleged interest in new US-based lithium extraction technologies has shone a spotlight on a rising need for innovation. Beyond Buffetts group, there has already been a push from the lithium sector to innovate. Despite lingering doubts about the feasibility of the Berkshire Hathaway project to produce lithium from California geothermal wells, other projects are priming for lithium production from US brines. Story continues Understanding the need to innovate is Standard Lithium ( TSX.V:SLL ) ( OTC:STLHF ). Based in Southern Arkansas, with a planned joint venture involving a multi-billion-dollar global specialty chemical company, they are using innovative proprietary AI-powered rapid extraction technologies. This new high-tech approach may improve chances for success in this sector. As international interests such as Germany and China jostle for position in other places like South America, securing North American lithium deposits is highly sought after domestically. The economic impact could be massive, as Chilean exports alone rose to $949 million in 2018 . Through its German partners, global chemical giant LANXESS and Standard Lithium have secured access to billions of gallons of lithium-rich brine; produced annually as a by-product of one of the worlds largest bromine producers every year at their flagship project in Southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium Ltd. ( TSX.V:SLL ) ( OTC:STLHF ) has the infrastructure and investment potential in place to move forward on a massive operating commercial brine-fueled lithium project in the USA. Should the next stages of the pilot and commercial feasibility testing be a success, LANXESS has announced a financial commitment to push the project into production. Livent Corporation ( NYSE:LTHM ), focused on South America as well as Australia, calls itself a world leader in lithium technology. The company also holds 50 product patents. They also state , Our control over the entire lithium operations chain-from pumping brine out of the ground to processing it into a range of performance products-enables us to lead the industry in lithium technology. When discussing the lithium market in an interview , CEO Paul Graves said, We think demand is going to grow almost five times larger in 2025 than it was in 2017. Our biggest challenge is producing enough to meet the demand - theres a much greater risk that this market is consistently in a deficit in the near future. Other companies like Nemaska Lithium Inc. ( TSX:NMX ) ( OTC:NMKEF ), forecasted to be North Americas next big lithium producer, is in the construction stage on its Whabouchi mine in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. According to the companys feasibility study, the capex on the project is set at approximately $875 million, of which Nemaska has already spent $272.4 million. Nemaska Lithium has developed proprietary processes that use electrolysis to produce high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for the lithium battery market. The technology virtually eliminates costly soda ash from the process. The race to innovate in the lithium sector is on. According to Transparency Market Research, Key players are focused on the innovation of new technologies in order to gain market share and serve a diverse range of end-user industries. 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More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp . Disclosure: this article featuring Standard Lithium is a paid for service on Investorideas.com third party. Learn more about costs and our services https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors:: https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Contact Investorideas.com 800-665-0411 Mr. Ciruli is the Director of the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Denvers Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He is an adjunct professor teaching public opinion and foreign policy. The Crossley Center conducts research and presents live and virtual programs on foreign policy, politics, public policy and public opinion. Mr. Ciruli holds a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelors degree cum laude in political science from UCLA. He is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and is the past-president of the Pacific Chapter of AAPOR (PAPOR). Mr. Ciruli is a board member of the Social Science Foundation of the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies and past-president of the Georgetown Law Alumni Board and the Denver Athletic Club. Through June 27, Through July 4, Through July 11, Through July 18, Through July 25, Through Aug. 1, Through Aug. 8, Through Aug. 15, Through Aug. 22 and Through Aug. 29 PetSmart 3183 S. Veterans Pkwy., Springfield West Side Bulletin Board Saturday 11am-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm. All animals will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and will have received all age-appropriate vaccinations by the time of their adoption. apl-shelter.org. 217-544-7387 The technology has the potential to transform how products from prosthetics to eyeglass lenses are designed and manufactured Berkeley -- A new 3D printer uses light to transform gooey liquids into complex solid objects in only a matter of minutes. Nicknamed the "replicator" by the inventors -- after the Star Trek device that can materialize any object on demand -- the 3D-printer can create objects that are smoother, more flexible and more complex than what is possible with traditional 3D-printers. It can also encase an already existing object with new materials -- for instance, adding a handle to a metal screwdriver shaft -- which current printers struggle to do. The technology has the potential to transform how products from prosthetics to eyeglass lenses are designed and manufactured, the researchers say. "I think this is a route to being able to mass-customize objects even more, whether they are prosthetics or running shoes," said Hayden Taylor, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and senior author of a paper describing the printer, which appears online today (Jan. 31) in the journal Science. "The fact that you could take a metallic component or something from another manufacturing process and add on customizable geometry, I think that may change the way products are designed," Taylor said. Most 3D printers, including other light-based techniques, build up 3D objects layer by layer. This leads to a "stair-step" effect along the edges. They also have difficulties creating flexible objects because bendable materials could deform during the printing process, and supports are required to print objects of certain shapes, like arches. The new printer relies on a viscous liquid that reacts to form a solid when exposed to a certain threshold of light. Projecting carefully crafted patterns of light -- essentially "movies" -- onto a rotating cylinder of liquid solidifies the desired shape "all at once." "Basically, you've got an off-the-shelf video projector, which I literally brought in from home, and then you plug it into a laptop and use it to project a series of computed images, while a motor turns a cylinder that has a 3D-printing resin in it," Taylor said. "Obviously there are a lot of subtleties to it -- how you formulate the resin, and, above all, how you compute the images that are going to be projected, but the barrier to creating a very simple version of this tool is not that high." Taylor and the team used the printer to create a series of objects, from a tiny model of Rodin's "The Thinker" statue to a customized jawbone model. Currently, they can make objects up to four inches in diameter. "This is the first case where we don't need to build up custom 3D parts layer by layer," said Brett Kelly, co-first author on the paper who completed the work while a graduate student working jointly at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "It makes 3D printing truly three-dimensional." A CT scan -- in reverse The new printer was inspired by the computed tomography (CT) scans that can help doctors locate tumors and fractures within the body. CT scans project X-rays or other types of electromagnetic radiation into the body from all different angles. Analyzing the patterns of transmitted energy reveals the geometry of the object. "Essentially we reversed that principle," Taylor said. "We are trying to create an object rather than measure an object, but actually a lot of the underlying theory that enables us to do this can be translated from the theory that underlies computed tomography." Besides patterning the light, which requires complex calculations to get the exact shapes and intensities right, the other major challenge faced by the researchers was how to formulate a material that stays liquid when exposed to a little bit of light, but reacts to form a solid when exposed to a lot of light. "The liquid that you don't want to cure is certainly having rays of light pass through it, so there needs to be a threshold of light exposure for this transition from liquid to solid," Taylor said. The 3D-printing resin is composed of liquid polymers mixed with photosensitive molecules and dissolved oxygen. Light activates the photosensitive compound which depletes the oxygen. Only in those 3D regions where all the oxygen has been used up do the polymers form the "cross-links" that transform the resin from a liquid to a solid. Unused resin can be recycled by heating it up in an oxygen atmosphere, Taylor said. "Our technique generates almost no material waste and the uncured material is 100 percent reusable," said Hossein Heidari, a graduate student in Taylor's lab at UC Berkeley and co-first author of the work. "This is another advantage that comes with support-free 3D printing." The objects also don't have to be transparent. The researchers printed objects that appear to be opaque using a dye that transmits light at the curing wavelength but absorbs most other wavelengths. "This is particularly satisfying for me, because it creates a new framework of volumetric or 'all-at-once' 3D printing that we have begun to establish over the recent years," said Maxim Shusteff, a staff engineer at the Livermore lab. "We hope this will open the way for many other researchers to explore this exciting technology area." ### Indrasen Bhattacharya of UC Berkeley is co-first author of the work. Other authors include Christopher M. Spadaccini of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This work was supported by UC Berkeley faculty startup funds and by Laboratory-Directed Research and Development funds from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The team has filed a patent application on the technique. The potential of a 48-bed detox facility near the Wilmington commuter rail stop has drawn considerable public debate. The above building would be razed to make way for a new structure New Delhi: In recent news, underworld don Ravi Pujari is reported to have been arrested in the western African nation of Senegal. Sources said the Senegal police acted on a tip-off provided to them by the Indian agencies, who were given information about the gangster by Karnataka police. More than a decade the gangster has been on the run for is wanted in India in a number of cases including extortion, kidnapping, murder, blackmail and cheating. The extortion cases registered against Pujari involved several Bollywood stars. He had a Red Corner Notice issued against his name and was believed to be residing in Australia. As per a source report, Pujari was in possession of a fake passport in the name of Anthony Fernandez when he was arrested. It was reported that he was steeled in Dakar by the Interpol Central Bureau in a joint operation with the local Criminal Investigations Division. Pujari is likely to be brought to India on a special flight, the report stated. The news came just a day after India managed to secure the extradition of two corruption accused Rajiv Saxena (AgustaWestland chopper scam accused) and Deepak Talwar (corporate lobbyist and aviation consultant) from the UAE. also read 'no progress' Russia says on nuclear treaty However In December last year, the Narendra Modi government managed a coup of sort by securing the extradition of UK-based businessman Christian Michel from the UAE. Michel was the key middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. also read Intelligence services is naive when it comes to Iran: Donald Trump Washington: On Thursday, Tens of millions of Americans braved Arctic-like temperatures as low as minus 56 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 49 Celsius) that paralyzed the US Midwest and were blamed for at least 21 deaths. Warmer-than-normal weather was on the way, but that offered little comfort to susceptible populations such as the homeless and elderly enduring cold that caused frostbite in minutes and made being outside potentially deadly. Heavy snow hitting Chicago off the Great Lakes was set to begin winding down on Thursday night, the weather service said. More than 30 record lows were shattered across the Midwest. Cotton, Minnesota, had the lowest national temperature recorded early on Thursday at minus 56 F (minus 48 C), before the weather warmed up, the weather service reported. also read Sudan protests against President Omar al-Bashir's rule, Chanting "freedom, peace, justice," According to Stathis Poulakidas, a doctor at the city`s John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital report Officials across multiple states linked numerous deaths to the frigid air. The death toll rose from a previous 12 after at least nine more people in Chicago were reported to have died from cold-related injuries. The eighteen-year-old was found unresponsive on campus early Wednesday morning just a short walk from his dorm, according to university officials. Police told a local television station they believed the cold played a factor in his death. Temperatures in the Upper Midwest will rebound to well above zero F (minus 18 C) on Friday, with highs making it into the teens and low 20s F. By Saturday, highs will be in the 30s and even low 40s F, while the central Plains will be in the low 60s F, nearly 20 to 25 degrees above normal, the weather service said. also read Trump filed for re-election with $19.2 million in campaign cash Canberra: An Indian national will be deported from Australia after serving two months in jail for possessing child pornography and other abhorrent material, the media reported on Thursday. The nine videos - which included bestiality and other severely offensive content - were found on two mobile phones owned by 32-year-old Manpreet Singh during a baggage search at Perth Airport after he flew in to the city from Kuala Lumpur earlier this week. His phones were seized and his tourist visa was cancelled. Later, Singh pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to two Commonwealth charges and was sentenced on Thursday, the Daily Mail reported. Australian Border Force (ABF) Regional Commander for Western Australia Rod O'Donnell expressed concern over the number of individuals found in possession of illegal materials, according to Perth Now. "Visitors need to be aware that possession of objectionable material is viewed very seriously under Australian law. "The maximum penalty for the importation of child exploitation material is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $525,000," O'Donnell said. "Tackling child exploitation is an operational priority for the ABF and our officers are highly skilled at identifying people at our airports who are attempting to carry this abhorrent material across the border," he added. The incident came after a total of 223 passengers at Australian airports had child exploitation material seized in 2018, as authorities work to crack down on paedophiles. Washington: The Indian embassy in the US has opened a 24/7 hotline to assist 129 Indian students arrested by the American authorities in the 'pay-and-stay' university visa scam, officials have said. As many as 129 Indians are among the 130 foreign students arrested for enrolling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the US. The university in Detroit's Farmington Hills was part of an undercover operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designed to expose immigration fraud, according to federal prosecutors who announced charges in the case. The two numbers 202-322-1190 and 202-340-2590 would be manned by senior embassy officials round the clock, officials said on Friday. The arrested students, their friends and family members can contact the embassy at cons3.washington@mea.gov.in. The Indian embassy has appointed a nodal officer to handle and coordinate all issues related to helping Indian students affected by the busting of the 'pay-and-stay' racket run by a group of Indians that has put some 600 students under trouble. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE, till Thursday, had arrested 130 students from the fake Farmington University in Greater Detroit area. The ICE officials said 129 of them are Indian nationals. The fake university was opened by Homeland Security Investigations to trap those involved in illegal student visa racket. It has now been closed. The arrest of such a large number of students has created panic among the Indian students. Federal investigators say, the students who took admission in the university knew that the university programme was illegal. Officials said all of them face deportation, besides being put under detention. A number of students have been put under some kind of house arrest with tracking device on their ankle, that prohibits them from moving out of a designated area in their neighbourhood. As part of its investigations, early this week, the ICE arrested eight recruiters on criminal charges. From their names it appears that all of them are either Indian nationals or Indian-Americans. "These suspects aided hundreds of foreign nationals to remain in the United States illegally by helping to portray them as students, which they most certainly were not. HSI remains vigilant to ensure the integrity of US immigration laws and will continue to investigate this and other transnational crimes," said Special Agent Charge Francis. According to the ICE, in 2017, as many as 249,763 Indian students were enrolled in the various American universities. Students from China topped the list with 481,106 in 2017. This is for the first time probably that such a large number of Indian students have been arrested in one go. The number is expected to increase further, as ICE officials continue with their nationwide crackdown on Indian students enrolled in this fake university while working at different places. "Embassy of India, Washington and all five Consulates in the US working closely together to help Indian students detained in the US," the Indian embassy said Friday. Consular Officers from Indian Consulate in Houston met the arrested Indian students at Prairieland Detention Centre, Alvarado, Texas. This intervention by officials from the Indian embassy and its consulates has helped in release of some of the arrested students. Some friends and families of the detained Indian students are using Twitter to seek help from the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "Madam, this is regarding fake university (university of Farmington Michigan) issue. My husband has been taken into custody today morning and I don't have any update on his status till now. Could you please help me on this," one Madhuri wrote on Twitter to Swaraj. Acting promptly, the Indian embassy sought the details of her husband. Her husband was a student at the fake university. "Hi, I have mailed to Indian embassy and they told that they are trying to meet my husband through consulate. After that I didn't get any update from them," Madhuri replied on Twitter. In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We are aware about this incident. We are ascertaining more details (through) our embassy in Washington and different consulates in the US...We have also mobilised the Indian community organisations in the US to extend all possible support to the Indian students who are affected by this incident". The ICE said foreign students are granted what are called 'F' and 'M' visas to study in the US and must maintain their legal status by enrolling in a varsity certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The ICE said since the Farmington varsity did not offer courses, the students were using the programme as a way to work. Read more: Latest world news New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday said it was "averse" to the arrangement of an interim CBI Director and the Centre should "immediately" appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. The post of CBI Director is "sensitive" and "important", and it is not good to keep an interim director of the agency for longer period, the top court observed, seeking to know as to why the government has not made the appointment yet. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha was told by Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, that a high-powered Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister would meet Friday to select a new CBI director. "We are only saying that you should appoint CBI director immediately. No more of this in-charge business," the bench told the Venugopal, who said the committee is doing it as soon as possible. The top court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Common Cause challenging the Centre's decision to appoint IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, told the top court that 40 officers have been transferred from CBI in last two-three weeks. The bench told Venugopal that the officer who would be appointed as the new CBI Director should examine not only the decisions taken by Rao after taking charge of interim CBI chief but also "trace the movement of files" during the period when IPS officer Alok Kumar Verma took charge of the post for two days on being reinstated. During the hearing, Venugopal placed before the bench in a sealed cover the minutes of the meeting of the high-powered Selection Committee which was held last month for appointing the new CBI chief. The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". Venugopal informed the bench that the Centre had taken the permission of the committee to appoint Rao as an interim CBI Director. The Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the leader of the largest opposition party and the Chief Justice of India or his nominee judge of the apex court. Bhushan told the apex court that besides challenging Rao's appointment as interim CBI chief, the NGO has sought appointment of a regular CBI director and transparency in the entire process. He said the government has no power to appoint Rao as the interim CBI chief as it would be done only after taking approval of the high-powered committee. "But in the event of a vacancy if say someone (CBI director) goes on leave, then how that vacancy will be filled?," the bench observed. "You are 100 per cent correct that appointment should be made by the committee," the bench told Bhushan. At this juncture, the bench asked the AG, "Why you (Centre) have not appointed a regular director so far? CBI director is such a sensitive post. All this is going on since October. You already knew that the person (former director Alok Kumar Verma) was going to retire in January. You should have appointed a new director". Venugopal said the matter was pending before the apex court and a judgement was delivered on the issue last month. He said the committee has already met once and the next meeting was scheduled for today (Friday). The bench told the AG that arrangement of appointing an interim CBI director in the interregnum should not be adopted. "It cannot function on an ad-hoc basis. For seven, 10 or even 15 days we can understand. But not for longer period," the bench said, adding, "CBI director is an important post". To this, the AG referred to the tussle between Verma and the then special director of the agency Rakesh Asthana and said the two senior officers were fighting in public domain. "The CBI was not functioning properly. Not only fighting, they had levelled corruption allegations against each other. That was wholly unbecoming of the CBI officers. We are averse to this arrangement. When are you going to do it? Tell us? Let us post this for Monday and we should not pass any order. The person in-charge is only an in-charge," the bench said. The Attorney General said that in the last meeting of the committee, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a member of the high-powered panel, needed some more details which have been given to him. The bench observed that if a member of the committee wanted to verify something, "it is not bad". Bhushan told the court the Centre's October 23 last year order appointing Rao as interim CBI chief was set aside by the apex court which had delivered a verdict in the case on January 8. "We have read that. The order (appointing Rao) was set aside. Ultimately, it is not an appointment," the bench said. Bhushan said if the permission of the selection committee was taken before appointing Rao as interim CBI director, the issue of his appointment no longer endures. He then argued that there should be transparency in the process of appointing CBI director. However, the bench observed that the January 8 verdict authored by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had dealt with the issue of transparency in the selection process and there were several other judgements of the apex court in the issue. "You want an immediate appointment. Let us stop there. Let the appointment be made first. If you have any grievance that the process is not followed and transparency was not there then you can challenge it later," the bench told Bhushan and posted the matter for further hearing on February 6. AFS Yelahanka (Bengaluru): The Indian Air Force (IAF) expects around 5.5 lakh visitors for the upcoming Aero India 2019 set to begin at this base from February 20 to 24. In an informal interaction with the media at the base, Air Cmde Ravuri Sheetal, AOC, AFS Yelahanka said that his team of air warriors are confident that this years show will stand out for its magnificence and might. As reported by Onmanorama earlier, preparations are in full swing at the base with close to 900 contract workers sweating it out 24x7 to ensure that the Plane Carnival will have a smooth take-off and landing. As on January 31, a total of 50 aircraft have confirmed their participation at the show for both flying and static display put-together. The show-stealer for Aero India 2019 is likely to be Rafale from Dassault Aviation, which has put two platforms on flying display and another one for static display duty. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is certain to do a carpet bombing this time, with a whole list of flying machines listed. HAL's latest product from the rotary wing the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) will be debuting at the show. IAF is hopeful of completing the work ahead on time for the show. Photo: Jitendra M Other regulars from HAL hangars, like the Tejas, Dhruv, Rudra, Light Combat Helicopter and the Basic Trainer Aircraft HTT-40 all will be in full force at the show. Flying Daggers too will be debuting at the show with Tejas, after the formation of No 45 Squadron in July 2016. The security has been increased for Aero India 2019 with multiple agencies splitting the mandate. Photo: Jitendra M This is not the final list and we will have more additions in the coming days. IAFs aerobatic teams both Sarangs (flying Dhruvs) and Suryakirans (flying Hawks), Air Cmde Sheetal said. Saras PT1-N from National Aerospace Laboratory, which has been resurrected last year, is also scheduled to fly at the show. Air Cmde Ravuri Sheetal, AOC, AFS Yelahanka (centre) flanked by Gp Capt S K Sahoo (L) and Wg Cdr Amit Kumar (R) during the informal briefing. Photo: Jitendra M The Drone Olympics, which is being held for the first time, has already become a huge draw among youngsters. Owing to the overwhelming response for the drone contest and taking into account requests from participants, the organisers on Thursday have extended the weight limit for hybrid category to 20 kilograms in the surveillance category. For the benefit of visitors, first time a ticket counter will be opened at the venue. The routine training activities at the base will be altered owing to the show. Photo: Jitendra M However, we request to the public not to wait till the last moment owing to the heavy rush. Instead, we would like the visitors to book their tickets online, Air Cmde Sheetal said. The tickets for Air Display Viewing Area is fixed at Rs 600, while it is priced at Rs 2,750 for the exhibition area. Air Cmde Ravuri Sheetal said around 2,500 air warriors will be pressed into action from multiple Stations for the show. Photo: Jitendra M Plane Trivia: The Light Combat Aircraft made its first international appearance at the 2001 Aero India. It made a flypast during one of the show days, post-inaugural. Interestingly this flight was barely a month after its maiden flight on January 4, 2001. Allahabad: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has accused the Kerala government of oppressing devotees of Lord Ayyappa by exceeding the judicial mandate on the Sabarimala temple. This has led the Hindu society deeply disturbed and agitated, he said at the Vishva Hindu Parishad's 'dharm sansad' (religious council) here. "We support this agitation of the Hindu society as the petitioners to the judiciary were not Lord Ayyappa's devotees," he said at the meeting, presided by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Sarswati. "There are many moves afoot to divide the Hindu society. Accordingly, it's the need of the hour to reunite the segmented Hindus through a religious renaissance," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said. The meet, which began Thursday, was also addressed by Yoga guru Ramdev, who called for a common civil code. The VHP's religious council was also addressed by Swami Parmanand, who likened the ongoing Sabarimala agitation in Kerala to that over building a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He alleged that for the last few years a "mischievous effort" is consistently being made to undermine and destroy the Hindu traditions and faith. The seer said the agitation to secure entry of women of any age in the Sabarimala temple is a fresh example of that 'mischievous effort'. He said the temple has also been made a centre of stir in the past either on the pretext of environmental degradation or in the name of modernity and gender empowerment. He said the country's seers welcome the struggle of Lord Ayyappa's devotees, specially the Hindu women, Arya Samaj, Peoples for Dharma and other Hindu organisations which are spearheading it. Sabarimala and its nearby areas witnessed widespread protests after the Supreme Court allowed women of all age groups to enter the hill shrine. Read more: Latest Kerala news Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government Friday said it would soon take an appropriate decision on the long-pending demand of restoration of various rights of Mala Araya tribe including lighting the 'Makaravilakku' at Ponnambalamedu in Sabarimala. Replying to a calling attention motion by BJP's lone MLA O Rajagopal in the assembly, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the 2011 Kerala High Court order shows that the members of the tribal community had played a key role in the rituals and traditions of Sabarimala temple. "... after considering all the aspects, the government will take an appropriate decision with regard to the participation of the tribe in performing various rituals including the lighting of the Makaravilakku," Surendran told the house. Makaravilakku appears on the Ponnambalamedu hill, around eight km from the shrine, on Makara Samkrathi day which usually falls on January 14 every year. The lighting of the lamp by the Kerala government with the support of the Travancore Devosom Board and forest department at Ponnamabalamedu is the continuation of the practice followed by tribal families who lived near the hilltop. "We all know how the Makaravilakku is being lit. It was done by forest dwellers earlier. Now it is being lit by the government officials. The Mala Araya community has been demanding restoration of their rights," Rajagopal said while seeking attention of the government to the demands of the tribal community. Surendran, in his reply informed the house that a memorandum was submitted by the Aikya Mala Araya Mahasabha and and Sree Ayyappa Dharma Sangham, saying their community used to light the Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu. "They also have mentioned in their memorandum that used to perform the ghee and honey anoinment on the idol of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.... "In a high court order of 2011 it was mentioned that regular pujas were held at Ponnambalamedu and the tribe continued to light Makaravilakku on the Makarasamkranti day. This shows that the tribe played a key role in the rituals and traditions of the temple," Surendran said. Kozhikode: Police stations in the state are set for a makeover. The authorities envisage converting more existing police stations into child-friendly centres and new ones will be designed keeping this objective in mind. Though the state government has already started converting some of the existing police stations into child-friendly ones, the new stations coming up in every district would offer a totally different experience, says IG P Vijayan, who is in charge of the Children and Police Project. Srijit Srinivas, an architect based in Thiruvananthapuram, has designed the new police building. The new police stations will feature ramps for the elderly, rest area and day-care facility in a standard 924 sq ft property, he said. Including the interior works, each such facility would cost Rs 26 lakh, Srijit said. Architect Srijit Srinivas At the child-friendly zone attached to the police station, children, women and elderly can come and relax, consult the cops and leave in peace. The idea is to remove the taboo attached to the police station and make it a place approachable for not only children but also women and elderly. From outside, its an exposed brick building which meet global standards. There is a counselling room inside, a small kitchen with water connection. A wall on which children can paint. has been provided. Two toilets, including one for the disabled, also have been provided. The women's room with a cot and sofa has an annex for feeding infants." the architect explained. IG Vijayan said the design changes will help to overcome legal difficulties in taking children to police station and talking to them. The Bureau of Police Research and Development Programme of the Central government has taken up the Kerala project. It has directed the implementation of this project in all the other states, he said. The remodelled police stations are coming up with funds from the the local legislators. The Local Areas Development Fund of the MLAs would be utilised for construction. Police Housing and Construction Corporation will carry out the construction. IG P Vijayan, who is in charge of the Children and Police Project. Already we have six child-friendly police stations in the state. Another 56 police stations will be converted in the same manner by the end of this financial year. For the first time in India, UNICEF will be training 5,000 police officers, along with the other support staff, in these stations. The new type of stations are being constructed with the support of the MLAs from the respective areas since the setting up of all the facilities in a new centre require around Rs 30 lakh, the IG said. One psychologist-cum-social worker is already working on contract basis at the six child-friendly police stations. The aim is to post one full-time staff as the ministry of Women and Child Development, Vijayan added. Children in distress, for example, those who got separated from family or need medical help or protection, can report here and stay at these new-look stations. At the child-friendly police station in Kannur experts provided by the paediatric association are available weekly once for consultation. Thiruvananthapuram: The work on the proposed semi-high speed rail corridor between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, one of the mega projects the state plans to implement, will commence next year, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac announced in the 2019-20 Kerala budget presented on Thursday. The 515-km elevated corridor is estimated to cost Rs 55,000 crore on completion. The main advantage of the elevated rail line is that it hardly requires large-scale land acquisition. Semi-high speed trains, which can operate at 180 km per hour, would reduce the travel time between the state capital to Kasaragod to four hours. The project will be executed by the Kerala Railway Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), the joint venture company under the state government and the Ministry of Railways for augmenting the railway infrastructure within the State. The financial resources for the project, expected to be completed in seven years, would be mobilised through foreign loans and from within the country. The semi-high speed project was proposed after the state government shelved its ambitious high-speed rail corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. The Paris-based engineering and consulting group Systra has been appointed general consultant for carrying out the feasibility study. The proposal has received in-principal approval from the railway board. The railways will bear half the cost of the project. After cabinet clearing, the feasibility report will be submitted to the Central government. The master plan and the detailed project report will be prepared by June 2019, it was learnt. The original plan was to construct the new rail track parallel to the existing track, but the idea was dropped after the railways expressed disinterest in the project. There are indications that the alignment worked out by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the proposed high-speed rail corridor could be used for the new semi-high speed project. High-speed and semi-high speed corridors A high-speed corridor between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod was announced by Thomas Isaac in the state budget for the 2009-10 fiscal. To implement the project, the government had formed a corporation, the Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (KHSRC) in 2009. The DMRC conducted a feasibility study and submitted the report to the government in 2012. The estimated cost was Rs 1.27 lakh crore. The 430-km project was envisaged to operate trains running at a speed of 300 kmph. However, due to protests from various quarters the DMRC could not complete the alignment survey in order to prepare a detailed project report. Following which, the government decided to dissolve KHSRC. Challenges ahead A major obstacle for the government to set up the semi-high speed corridor will be land acquisition. The project, involves acquisition of at least 1,000 hectares of land. Also, the state administration has a tough task at hand in mobilising funds to make it a reality. According to sources privy to the project, the government has plans to avail loans from international funding agencies including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Read more: Kerala Budget news Thrissur: The Kerala crime branch located a youth who went missing in 2014 and reunited him with his distraught mother soon after it took over the case recently. The detectives found Deepa and Sateeshan's son Sandeep (26) natives of Dharmadam, Kannur from Coimbatore after he left home five years ago due to financial crisis. Though a missing person case was filed in 2014, probe by the local police led nowhere. Tracing Sandeep was not easy as he had no phone, nor did he ever call a friend or relative. Even when the case went cold, the mother kept searching. That is when a relative told her that Sandeep was spotted at Guruvayur sometime back. Deepa filed another complaint and one later directly to the chief minister on January 19. The complaint reached the crime branch through IG MR Ajith Kumar. The team now concentrated on Guruvayur where Sandeep was found to have stayed four years ago before leaving for Coimbatore. Three teams were deployed in Coimbatore. They soon learnt that Sandeep was in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. He was running his own catering service there. He agreed to come back home after polices persuasion. SP Babu K Thomas, SI TR Gladston, ASIs NG Suvruthakumar, PM Rafi, K Gopalakrishnan and P Rakesh, CPOs Pazhaniswami, Vipin Das, MS Likesh and TV Jeevan were on the team that found Sandeep. In a Facebook post, the chief minister congratulated the cops, who scripted a happy ending to a mind-numbing tale of separation. Read more Thrissur News New Delhi/Mumbai: E-commerce rules that went into effect in India on Friday caused widespread disruption for Amazon.com, forcing it to take down an array of items from its India website including Echo speakers, batteries and floor cleaners. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the products began to disappear from the Amazon India website late on Thursday as it began complying with the revised norms before a midnight deadline. "The company has no choice, they are fulfilling a compliance requirement ... customers will suffer," said one of the sources. In December, India modified foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector, which has drawn major bets from not only Amazon.com but also the likes of Walmart Inc, which last year bought a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce player Flipkart. India's new e-commerce investment rules bar online retailers from selling products via vendors in which they have an equity interest, and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. By Thursday, numerous items sold by vendors such as Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds an indirect equity stake, were no longer available on the Amazon India site. Clothing from Indian department store chain Shopper's Stop was also no longer available, as Amazon owns 5 per cent of the company. Amazon's own range of Echo speakers, its Presto-branded home cleaning goods and other Amazon Basics products such as chargers and batteries had also vanished from the website. Both Amazon and Walmart had lobbied against the latest rules and pushed for a delay in their implementation, but India late on Thursday said the deadline stood. The situation in India is "a bit fluid right now," but the country remains a good long-term opportunity, Amazon chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky said on a conference call with reporters following its fourth-quarter earnings announcement. The company's main goal is to minimize the impact of the new e-commerce rules on customers and sellers, he added. Amazon, which saw record sales and profit during the holiday season, has forecast first-quarter sales below Wall Street estimates due to the uncertainty in India - one of its key growth markets. Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy warned last month that it faces "significant customer disruption" if the implementation of the new rules were not delayed. On Friday, Flipkart said it was disappointed the government had decided to implement the regulations in haste, adding, however, that it would do everything to be compliant. "We believe that policy should be created in a consultative, market-driven manner and we will continue to work with the government to promote fair, pro-growth policies," Rajneesh Kumar, senior vice president & chief of corporate affairs, said in a statement. GROWTH DRIVER The US government has also urged India to protect the investments of the two American retailers, Reuters reported last week. Both companies have bet heavily on India being a big growth driver: Amazon has committed to investing $5.5 billion there, while Walmart last year spent $16 billion on Flipkart. But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration is seen as keen to appease small traders in the run-up to a general election due by May. Many small traders say the e-commerce giants use their buying power and control over inventory from affiliated vendors to create an unfair marketplace where they can offer deep discounts on some products. Such arrangements will be barred under the new policy. Industry sources have said the new rules will force the big e-sellers to change their business structures, and will raise compliance costs. Amazon India told Reuters it was "committed to remaining compliant to all the laws of the land", adding that all sellers make their own independent decisions of what to list and when. Exclusive deals with sellers will be discontinued, the two sources said. It is unclear how long the disruption will last. Would-be buyers of Echo speakers on Amazon India saw a message reading: "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." The impact of the changes on Flipkart was not clear. Kolkata: The beautiful 55-metre tall steel-and-glass Biswa Bangla Gate at Narkelbagan More (Rabindra Tirtha crossing) in New Town was inaugurated today by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It is already a talk-of-the-town and is expected to become a landmark, being located on the route taken for travelling from the airport to Kolkata via Rajarhat. The CM inaugurated the gate on the sidelines of the inauguration of 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair. This is the culmination of Mamata Banerjees dream of a gate as a landmark for Kolkata, like India Gate for Delhi and Gateway of India for Mumbai. The structure has been designed by experts from IIT Mumbai. The gate is in the form of two steel arches intersecting at 55 m above the ground, holding up a circular glass-fronted viewing gallery 25m from the ground. On the circular wall of the gallery are pictures of various locations of Kolkata, cultural icons and wildlife of Bangla, etc. The viewing gallery is 200m in circumference and holds a restaurant, to be run by HIDCO. The way to the viewing gallery and restaurant is via two glass lifts and two sets of spiral stairs, all of which are embedded into the legs of the two arches. The gallery can hold 45 people at a time. There is a fee for accessing the viewing gallery US President Donald Trump said on Friday he wants to hold talks aimed at creating a new arms control treaty, after his administration announced that it may withdraw from a pact with Russia in six months, Trend reports citing Reuters. I hope that were able to get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty that would be much better. Certainly, I would like to see that, Trump told reporters at the White House. Washington is willing to discuss many actions to improve ties and entice Pyongyang to give up nuclear weapons, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea said on Thursday, but set out an extensive list of demands for the North, including a full disclosure of its weapons program, Trend reports referring to Reuters. In a speech at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, envoy Stephen Biegun did not elaborate on what concessions the United States might make, but said the corresponding measures demanded by North Korea would be the subject of talks next week. Biegun will arrive in Seoul on Sunday for meetings with South Korean officials, before holding talks with North Korean negotiators. From our side, we are prepared to discuss many actions that could help build trust between our two countries and advance further progress in parallel on the Singapore summit objectives of transforming relations, establishing a permanent peace regime on the peninsula, and complete denuclearization, he said. Bieguns comment referred to the unprecedented meeting last June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in the wealthy Asian city-state. Trump hailed tremendous progress in his dealings with the North Korea and told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that the date and location of a second summit with Kim would be announced early next week and probably during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. North Korea has complained that the United States has done little to reciprocate for its actions so far to dismantle some weapons facilities and freeze its weapons testing. It has repeatedly urged a lifting of punishing U.S.-led sanctions and also a formal end to the war, as well as security guarantees. In his most detailed public remarks on his approach to North Korea after five months in his role, Biegun said the United States had told the North it was prepared to pursue commitments made in Singapore simultaneously and in parallel and had already eased rules on delivery of humanitarian aid to it. Still, he outlined a long list of demands North Korea would eventually need to meet, such as allowing expert access and monitoring mechanisms of nuclear and missile sites. It would have to ultimately ensure removal or destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction, he added. Pyongyang has rejected making an itemized declaration of its weapons programs for decades. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 95F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms. Low around 70F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal as Trump and his top trade negotiator both cited substantial progress in two days of high-level talks, Trend reports referring to Reuters. Trump, speaking at the White House during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, said he was optimistic that the worlds two largest economies could reach the biggest deal ever made. The Chinese trade delegation said in a statement that the talks made important progress, Chinas official Xinhua news agency reported. No specific plans for a meeting with Xi were announced, but Trump said there could be more than one. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were invited to bring a U.S. negotiating team to Beijing around mid-February, with dates still pending. The White House also said in a statement that its scheduled March 2 tariff increase on $200 billion of Chinese goods was a hard deadline if no deal was reached by March 1. At the end of the talks next door to the White House, Liu told Trump that China would make a new, immediate commitment to buy more U.S. soybeans. An administration official later clarified the amount as a total of 5 million tonnes, effectively doubling the amount bought by China since resuming limited purchases in December. U.S. soybean sales to China, which totaled 31.7 million tonnes in 2017, were largely cut off in the second half of last year by Chinas retaliatory tariffs and the announcement drew a positive reaction from Trump, who said it would make our farmers very happy. The Chinese delegation said China will expand imports of U.S. agricultural, energy, service and industrial products, according to Xinhua. While China has previously offered increased purchases of U.S. farm, energy and other goods to try to resolve the trade disputes, negotiators also dug into thornier issues, including U.S. demands that China take steps to protect American intellectual property and end policies that Washington says force U.S. companies to turn over technology to Chinese firms. Lighthizer said there was substantial progress on these issues, including verification mechanisms to enforce Chinas follow-through on any reform commitments it makes. At this point, its impossible for me to predict success. But were in a place that if things work out, it could happen, Lighthizer said at the Oval Office meeting. Later, he told reporters that the U.S. objective was to make Chinas commitments more specific, all-encompassing and enforceable with a mechanism for taking action if China fails to follow through, but declined to provide details. Reuters previously reported that such an enforcement mechanism could carry the threat of U.S. tariffs. Asked whether the two sides discussed lifting U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Lighthizer said they were not part of the talks. The two sides established a consensus in principle for an implementation mechanism framework, Xinhua said, adding without elaborating that the United States had agreed to earnestly respond to Chinas concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang declined during a regular news briefing in Beijing to give any details on a possible Xi-Trump meeting. US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is scheduled to meet with his North and South Korean counterparts in Seoul on 3 February, the Department of State said in a press release, Trend reported citing Sputnik. "Biegun will travel to Seoul February 3 for a meeting with ROK [Republic of Korea] Special Representative Lee Do-hoon," the release said on Thursday. "Biegun will also have follow-up meetings with his North Korean counterpart [Kim Hak Chul] to discuss next steps to advance our objective of the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea and steps to make further progress on all the commitments the two leaders made in Singapore". In a speech at Stanford University Thursday afternoon, Biegun noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had sought unspecified reciprocal measures from the United States in exchange for denuclearization. "Exactly what these measures are is a matter I plan to discuss with my North Korean counterpart", Biegun said. Biegun also noted that the United States is working with the UN Sanctions Committee to clear up a backlog of requests from humanitarian groups for access to North Korea as both aid providers and aid monitors. In January, the sanctions committee approved aid projects proposed by groups from Switzerland, the United States, Britain, France, Canada and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Stephen Biegun also stressed that Washington is embarking on a series of negotiations with Pyongyang ahead of a late February Trump-Kim summit to develop a roadmap for denuclearization. "We expect to hold working level negotiations with our North Korean counterparts in advance of the summit, with the intention of achieving a set of concrete deliverables, a roadmap of negotiations and declarations going forward and a shared understanding of the desired outcome of our joint efforts", Biegun said Thursday. Other issues involve recovery of remains from 5,000 US soldiers who never returned from the Korean War and Washingtons desire for a permanent peace to replace an armistice that ended the war, and full normalization of relations with embassies in each nation's capital, Beijun said. Trump told reporters Thursday that he would announce the date and the venue of the new meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week, adding that his administration is making tremendous progress with Pyongyang. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey hopes to strengthen its relations with the European Union, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media. According to him, the strengthening of relations with the EU and full membership of Turkey in this institution is in the interests of both parties. Cavusoglu added that Turkey has the right to full EU membership. The Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed an application for EU membership in 1987, but accession negotiations began only in 2005. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey finds the actions taken by the US in the region in recent years to be very worrying, said Fahrettin Altun, communications director for the Turkish presidency, Trend reports citing the Turkish media. According to Altun, the fact of US active support of PYD/YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, is not in line with the spirit of Turkish-American alliance. "Such actions of Washington in the region led to serious problems," Altun said. According to him, the US should understand that Turkey has many alternatives in terms of partnership. Altun added that Turkey is aimed at ridding northern Syria of terrorists and form a security zone in the region. On Dec. 12, 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish Armed Forces will launch a new military operation in Syria against PYD/YPG. Erdogan claimed there were US soldiers in the detachments of the terrorists in Syria. On Jan. 20, 2018, Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. On Aug. 24, 2016, the Turkish Armed Forces launched the Operation Euphrates Shield against the "Islamic State", and with the support of the Syrian opposition liberated the border town of Jarablus, as well as Al-Bab in northern Syria. The security zone in northern Syria consists of an area of 32 kilometers and a length of 460 kilometers along the Syrian-Turkish border. In case of the creation of this zone, it will be divided into two parts, the first part will start from the Iraqi-Syrian border and will be extended to the Syrian city of Qamishli, because the Syrian government forces control this city. The second part of the security zone will start from Qamishli and will be extended to Jarabulus city, which was liberated from the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) as part of the Operation Euphrates Shield conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces in 2016. Manbij city, where Turkey had previously intended to conduct new anti-terrorist operations, will not be a part of the security zone. It is still unclear if Washington will send a formal notice of its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) to Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Rossiya-24 TV channel, Trend reports referring to TASS. "On February 2, the United States will suspend the implementation of obligations under the Treaty. It is a serious step, which means that Washington will in fact be free from any kind of restrictions stemming from the Treaty. However, there will be no formal withdrawal on February 2. The question is if the Americans will take the next step, sending a withdrawal notice to us," the senior Russian diplomat pointed out. The INF Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987, took effect on June 1, 1988. It applies to deployed and non-deployed ground-based missiles of intermediate range (1,000-5,000 kilometers) and shorter range (500-1,000 kilometers). On October 20, 2018, US President Donald Trump said that Washington would pull out of the INF Treaty because Russia had allegedly violated it. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said it was a dangerous move. Berlin and Beijing criticized Washington, while London voiced its support for the US, and NATO laid the blame for Trumps decision on Russia. On January 15, Russia and the US held inter-agency consultations on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) in Geneva. Ryabkov said following the meeting that the US had not even tried to bring the positions of the parties closer, making it clear that it was determined to implement its plans to destroy the Treaty. The US State Department's Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson, in turn, once again accused Russia of non-compliance with the document and said that Washington would start the process of pulling out of the INF Treaty on February 2, unless Moscow dismantled the 9M729 missile, which, according to Washington, violates the Treaty. Residents in western Cuba reported on Friday that a small meteorite struck the island, triggering the sounds of a large explosion. No injuries have been reported, Trend reports citin Sputnik. Cubans quickly took to social media, sharing photos and video footage of the aftermath. Some have likened the explosion to the sounds of a plane. Early social media reports also suggested that the sounds might have been caused by a satellite explosion. "I just heard a strange explosion it vibrated super strong," Flavia Sahira, a resident of Vinales, wrote on Facebook. "Does anybody know what it was?" Throwing in his own observations, independent journalist Ignacio Luis Gonzalez Vidal told netizens on Facebook that the sounds were likely caused by a Cuban military plane. However, that hasn't been confirmed by military officials. This latest incident comes after a tornado struck Havana on January 27, leaving three dead and dozens more injured. According to the BBC, 125 houses collapsed, including 13 educational centers. Japan will try to achieve as much progress as possible in the search for a solution to the peace treaty issue that would be acceptable for both Tokyo and Moscow, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during parliamentary debates on Friday, Trend reports referring to TASS. "We will work hard to advance joint efforts to find a solution acceptable for both parties and we are determined to achieve as much progress as possible concerning the peace treaty issue," he said, adding that the people of Japan and Russia would also continue to boost friendly and trust-based ties. Abe pointed out that the Japanese city of Osaka would host the G20 summit in June, on which occasion he planned to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition, the Japanese prime minister lauded the agreements the two leaders reached at their last meeting in Moscow, which particularly concern the development of projects aimed at enhancing joint economic activities on the southern Kuril Islands. Since the mid-20th century, Russia and Japan have been holding consultations in order to clinch a peace treaty as a follow-up to World War II. The Kuril Islands issue remains the key sticking point since after WWII the islands were handed over to the Soviet Union while Japan laid claims to the four southern islands. In November 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Singapore and agreed that the two countries would accelerate the pace of the peace negotiations based on the 1956 Joint Declaration. The document ended the state of war and said that the Soviet government was ready to hand Shikotan Island and a group of small islands called Habomai over to Japan on condition that Tokyo would take control of them once a peace treaty was signed. However, after Japan and the United States had signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security in 1960, the Soviet Union withdrew its obligation to hand over the islands. A Soviet governments memorandum dated January 27, 1960, said that those islands would only be handed over to Japan if all foreign troops were pulled out of the country. Russia has pointed out on numerous occasions that the document does not set out handover conditions and thus requires further clarification. The UN Security Council unanimously voted for the extension of the arms embargo against the Central African Republic (CAR) for a year, a press release revealed, Trend reported citing Sputnik. "The Security Council today decided to extend its sanctions regime on the Central African Republic including an arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze until 31 January 2020, while also extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Central African Republic Sanctions Committee until 29 February 2020," the release said on Thursday. Under the draft resolution sponsored by France, the Security Council established benchmarks, including reforming the governments security sector, disarming and demobilizing militias, and managing weapons, that should be met by the end of April to lift the embargo. If the CAR government meets the key benchmarks by 30 September, the Security Council will reconvene to ease the arms embargo measures, the text of the resolution said. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed late on Thursday night that its search and rescue mission in Brazil was completed, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post. At least 99 people have been confirmed dead since the rupture of a dam on Friday, and more than 250 are considered missing. Most of the missing are expected to have been buried under a river of slurry the muddy byproduct of iron ore processing at the nearby Vale mine. "Our aid mission to Brazil has come to an end, and our soldiers will soon be heading home to Israel. Brazil, we are proud to have been by your side," it tweeted on Thursday night. Prior to the announcement, the official State of Israel Twitter account posted on Thursday afternoon that Israel was "completing a humanitarian aid mission to #Brazil, following the devastating #brumadinho dam collapse disaster, which claimed more than 80 victims. "We are proud to assist our Brazilian friends and we stand with the people of Brazi." it said. The IDF delegation has helped to recover 35 bodies since it arrived at the site on Monday morning, Hazan said. They did not locate any survivors, but they did manage to track down a group of 15 people that were believed to have been swallowed up by the mud, but were alive and well at another location. The Italian government intends to approve in coming months new banking regulations, including a rule that separates banks commercial and investment businesses, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday, Trend reports referring to Reuters. Speaking to parliaments lower house, Di Maio also said that if the government needed to enter the capital of troubled Banca Carige it would take control of the lender. Since 1993, investment and commercial banks can operate in Italy under one roof. In June, when the populist coalition made up of the far-right League party and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement took power, it agreed in principle that the two divisions of the banking sector were best kept separate to protect savers. Di Maio, who is also the 5-Stars leader, said that the government aims to approve the new rules in the coming months. The governing coalition will also press for a reform of the European banking supervision and the creation of a EU-wide fund to guarantee savers. Di Maio also mentioned a fund to guarantee savers to be funded by putting aside up to 60 percent of bank managers bonus for five years. Last month Italy set up a 1.3 billion euros ($1.49 billion)fund to cover potential costs of emergency measures to shore up Carige after the European Central Bank (ECB) put the bank under temporary administration following a failed attempt to raise new capital from investors. So far we do not know whether we will have to use public funds, but if we decide to put peoples money into the bank then (Carige) will be owned by the people, said Di Maio. ($1 = 0.8724 euros) UK Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt described commissioning of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) as a practical symbol of EU commitment to Iran nuclear deal, Trend reported citing IRNA. After the end of EU foreign ministers meeting in Bucharest late on Thursday, he added that today a remarkable step was taken in line with fulfilling commitments under the JCPOA to maintain removal of sanctions. Three countries of Germany, UK and France registered INSTEX today to ease trade exchanges with Iran, Hunt said. The mechanism will mainly focus on the goods that the Iranian nation may need such as foodstuff and medicine. Describing commissioning of the mechanism as a big step, he said that there are still more to do. Three European states are trying to focus on all the necessary technical and legal aspects for activating the mechanism, Hunt said. He further noted that Iran nuclear deal was a main element in the international efforts and significant for the region. German, British and French foreign ministers in a news meeting in Bucharest officially announced the commissioning of the European special financial mechanism known as the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) late on Thursday. China hopes to bolster trade talks with the United States and reach mutually beneficial agreements as soon as possible, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his letter to US President Donald Trump, Trend reports referring to TASS. The letter from the Chinese president was handed over to Trump by Vice President Liu He, who met for talks with the American leader on Thursday in Washington. "I hope our two sides will continue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and step up consultations by meeting each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works for the interests of both sides," the letter from President Xi to Trump reads. "Such an agreement will send a positive signal to our two peoples and the broader international community," Xi stated. "It will serve to ensure healthy development of China-U.S. relations and contribute to steady growth of the world economy." "Mr. President, if there is anything, you could always approach me through various means," the leader of China stated. "I hope well keep close contact in various ways. As the Chinese Lunar New Year draws near, my wife and I wish to send our New Year greetings to you, to Melania, and to your family. May you enjoy a happy and prosperous New Year." Chinese Vice President Liu He was heading his countrys delegation at the talks in the United States on January 30-31 regarding the bilateral trade. After the message from the Chinese president was read out at the meeting with Vice President Liu, US leader Trump said: "Thats a beautiful letter and we appreciate it." The US president said he was looking forward for the mutual deal to be inked and voiced an intention to meet with President Xi once or twice. "Well be going. And we look forward to that," Trump said. "And then a little back-and-forth, and ultimately, I know that Ill be meeting with President Xi, maybe once and maybe twice, and itll all seem it seems to be coming together." In early December, Trump and Xi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina, where they had agreed to take steps within a three-month period toward a new trade agreement between China and the United States. The US president stated at that time his decision against hiking tariffs on Chinese goods from 10 to 25% on the total sum of $200 billion, as he previously planned. Both sides agreed at that time that March 1, 2019 would be the deadline to ink the mutually acceptable trade deal or the tariffs would be eventually raised. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said it had secured a $6.5 billion loan from a group of international and regional banks to refinance part of its debt, Trend reports referring to Al Arabiya. EGA, the product of a merger between two state-owned aluminium companies - Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and Abu Dhabis Emirates Aluminium in 2013 - is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi investment fund Mubadala and state company Investment Corporation of Dubai. EGAs debt includes a $4.9 billion, seven-year loan agreed with banks in December 2015. Baku, Azerbaijan, February 1 Trend: Tajikistan plans to export 2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to Uzbekistan's south, from April to October of 2019 which is 800 million kWh more than last year, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Usmonali Usmonov said, Trend reports via ASIA-Plus. The northern regions of Tajikistan receive 3 million kW/h of Uzbek electricity daily. In turn, Uzbekistan's south daily receives 17 million kW/h of Tajik electricity during winter. After the Ministers speech, Tajik deputies unanimously ratified the agreement signed in November 2018 between the Government of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank on the project Reconnecting Tajikistans Energy Networks to the Central Asian Energy System. ADB allocated $35 million as a grant for implementation of this project. This money will be spent on synchronization of Tajik energy networks with the energy systems of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and creation of relay systems to protect networks. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: Uztextileprom Association discussed the implementation of joint investment projects in Uzbek textile industry with the delegation of Saudi Arabian Corporation Ajlan & Bros on January 24, 2019, Trend reports via the press service of Association. The leadership and specialists of Uztextileprom Association provided detailed information on competitive advantages and conditions for foreign investors in Uzbekistan, benefits and preferences in the textile and garment and knitwear industry. Representatives of foreign company praised the achievements in the textile industry of Uzbekistan as well as the country's large-scale economic reforms. As a result of the meeting, the foreign side announced its intention to implement an investment project in Uzbekistan to establish the production of finished textiles. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ambassador of Belarus Oleg Tabanyukhov has met with President of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan Sapardurdy Toylyev in Ashgabat, Trend reports referring to the Belarusian embassy in Turkmenistan. The sides are discussing the issues in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, petrochemistry, pharmaceutics, seismology, micro- and nano-technologies, military sphere, training of scholars of Turkmenistan and Belarus. The Belarus-Turkmenistan intergovernmental commission on science and technology, which has already held two meetings, plays an important role in expanding the scientific interaction of the two countries. The next third meeting of the commission will be held in 2019 in Minsk. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A meeting with the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, Peter Burian, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen foreign ministry. "The issue of opening a representation of the European Union in Turkmenistan for a strengthened cooperation was highlighted," the report says. Opinions on the new EU strategy for Central Asia were exchanged. Issues of developing relations in the areas of logistics, transport and energy were also discussed during the meeting. The EU and Turkmenistan are committed to the implementation of the project designed to bring Turkmen hydrocarbon energy to European markets. Negotiations have been going on since 2011. The project of laying a 300-kilometer gas pipeline under the Caspian Sea to the shores of Azerbaijan, as noted earlier by the interested parties, is optimal for the delivery of Turkmen resources to the European market. The Turkmen fuel can further reach Turkey, which borders with European countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Matanat Nasibova Trend: Russia and Azerbaijan are increasing joint efforts to develop maritime tourism in the Caspian Sea, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov told Trend. He said the parties intend to establish cruise trips between the Caspian littoral states and for this purpose two vessels are being built in Russias Astrakhan region. "It is necessary to provide all the Caspian littoral states with the appropriate infrastructure, so that in the future maritime tourism becomes one of the important areas," he noted. "Our countries are actively increasing cooperation in many areas of economy and trade, in humanitarian cooperation, and are also reliable strategic partners in the region. I believe the friendly ties between the states will strengthen and deepen in the coming years." At the 5th Caspian Summit held Aug. 12, 2018 in Aktau, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "Peter The Great" cruise ship is being built in Russia, which will be able to perform all-round cruises across the Caspian Sea to all the five Caspian states. Two types of cruises are planned short (7-8 days) and long (13-14 days) cruises. The short ones will call to several ports in the northern and southern parts of the Caspian Sea, while long cruises will call to the ports of all five coastal states. The commissioning of the ship is scheduled for the next year approximately. Most of the Caspian cruises are planned to begin and end in Baku. In the future, "Peter the Great" will also take cruises connecting the Caspian, Azov and Black seas. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Valiyev Trend: The executive power of Azerbaijans Shamkir region has announced the tender for the overhaul of the housing stock. The tender participation fee is 40 manats. Those willing to participate in the tender should send bids with a bank guarantee in the amount of one percent of the amount of the bid till March 15, 2019. The packages with tender bids will be opened at 12:00 (GMT+4) on March 18, 2019. Phone: (050) 433-00-20. Contact person: Farhad Aslanov. (1.7 AZN = 1 USD on Feb. 1) ----- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: Azerbaijans satellite operator, Azercosmos, has launched commercial exploitation of the resources of its second communications satellite, Azerspace-2, Trend reports referring to the company on Feb. 1. Presently, the operator is negotiating with potential clients in countries within the coverage of its new satellite. "Initial agreements were signed with several operators in the US, Pakistan and other countries. The projected revenue for the current year from the commercial sales of the satellite's services is $16.5 million. The lifetime of the satellite in orbit will be 20 years," the company said. Azerspace-2 was launched with the Ariane 5 carrier rocket of Arianespace, a French company, on Sept. 26, 2018 from the launch platform ELA-3 in the Guiana Space Center. The satellite is designed to provide a number of telecommunications services. Its service area includes the countries of Europe, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Azerspace-2 is located in the geostationary orbit at 45 degrees east longitude. Azerspace-2 is a reserve satellite for the first satellite, Azerspace-1, and will enable Azercosmos to expand its geography of coverage and the range of services. Moreover, the second satellite will allow taking part in large international tenders, which was not possible before. The first communications satellite of Azerbaijan, Azerspace-1, was launched into geostationary orbit at 46 degrees east longitude on Feb. 8, 2013. The satellite was launched from the Kourou space center by Arianespace. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: A leading Azerbaijani IT solutions provider, Cybernet, and Research Information Center of New Technologies under State Taxes Committee of Uzbekistan Republic signed a memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation. The memorandum was signed by Khayotjon Nasrulloev, director of the Center, and Fuad Ahmadov, director for business development of Cybernet. The ceremony of signing took place on 28 January of 2019 in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. It should be noted that the main activities of the Center are related with the development, implementation and maintenance of the software with a purpose of ensuring automation of the tax system of Uzbekistan. The agreement was entered into with an aim of developing mutual relations and joint efforts between the parties. The document identifies and describes the directions of future cooperation in the sphere of technology between Cybernet and Center. According to the provisions of the memorandum, the parties will cooperate in such fields as IT consultancy, development of IT strategies as well as improvement of existing IT administration systems, development of software tools to efficiently build systems for e-invoice, introduction of mobile electronic signature for signing and approving deals and financial documents, creation of a Tax Free system as well as VAT single deposit account as well as introduction of mobile technologies and solutions for efficient organization of the process of provision of public services. Right after the ceremony of memorandum signing, the representatives of Cybernet met with Khotambek Shakirov, the deputy chair of State Taxes Committee of Uzbekistan. It is worth to mention that tax authorities of Uzbekistan show excessive interest in Cybernets solutions and services. Previously the representatives of the company director general Ilham Namazov and director for business development Fuad Ahmadov visited this country on a business trip and met with the 1st deputy chairman of State Taxes Committee of Uzbekistan Alimjan Fayzibayev. During the meeting, the delegates presented the tax-related projects implemented by Cybernet in Azerbaijan and other countries, and shared with the experience of the company in the sphere of digitalization of public services. In particular, the project of the Automated Tax Information System, implemented for the Azerbaijani tax system, met with heightened interest and received high value of the tax officials of Uzbekistan. It should also be noted that the experience and capabilities of Cybernet in the sphere of information technologies have so far attracted attention of other government organizations of Uzbekistan as well. By now, the company has already signed similar memorandums with State Committee for Land, Geodesy, Cartography and Cadaster of Uzbekistan as well as UZINFOKOM the common integrator for development and maintenance of public information systems. Currently, the company actively cooperates with these institutions in the sphere of implementation of innovative technological solutions. About Cybernet LLC: Founded in 2004, Cybernet LLC is one of the leading ICT solution providers in Azerbaijan. The main directions of companys activity are building of IT infrastructures for public and private enterprises, implementation of technological solutions and innovations and development of software of any complexity. Cybernet has played an important role in automation of public services and creation of e-services in Azerbaijan. In 2007 the company was awarded with the Intellect prize, in 2010 the anniversary medal and in 2013 it was selected The IT Company of the Year. Tehran, Iran, Feb. 1 Trend: Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati has warned over possible abuses in foreign currency market and high rates on the pretext of SPV and Palermo bill. "These days, unfortunately, some individuals, officials and those who profit have created a negative atmosphere. Dealers and those who gain from fluctuations abuse this situation, including Palermo bill or SPV and other pretexts to sell foreign currency at higher rates," Hemmati posted on his Instagram account. Iranian lawmakers approved the Palermo bill on joining the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) in July. However, the bill was rejected by the Expediency Council. The Palermo bill is one of the four government bills that seek to bring Iran's anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism financing standards in line with international norms, specifically those defined by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Meanwhile, the EU is finally launching the special purpose vehicle (SPV) in coming days to facilitate Irans trade and financial transactions. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Oil deposits were discovered in Turkeys Siirt province, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish media. The oil was discovered at a depth of 715 meters during explorations. Explorations in the province have been carried out for the past two years. Earlier, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources told Trend that Turkey expanded the territory for oil and gas exploration operations. If earlier, there were problems with oil and gas exploration in several eastern provinces, hydrocarbon fields are now being explored in those provinces, the ministry said. A law permitting oil exploration in forests and national parks came into force in Turkey in April 2014. The ministry said a total of 56 wells have been drilled as part of exploration of new oil and gas fields in Turkey since 2014, of which 54 are onshore and two are offshore. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Matanat Nasibova Trend: The signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea by the five Caspian littoral states opens up broad prospects for good neighborly use of the resources available in the Caspian Sea, Mikhail Bocharnikov, the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, said during an event at the Baku Slavic University dedicated to the activities of the diplomatic service of Russia. The ambassador described the reaching of a consensus on determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea as a positive move. "The economic component of the Caspian is of great importance, and rational use of all the possibilities is crucial. However, a number of issues between the Caspian countries remain unresolved. The maritime boundary between the Caspian countries, for example, is still not fully divided, although the principle of the median line is taken as the basis for the division of the sea basin, continued Bocharnikov. The ambassador noted that the lack of delimitation in the Caspian is mainly associated with the position of Iran, whose coastline is cut, which in turn complicates the holding of a median line. As Bocharnikov said, the position of the Iranian side on this issue differs from that of other Caspian countries, since Tehran is not satisfied with the sector that it will potentially get according to this principle. A meeting of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran was held on August 12 in Aktau, during which the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed. In addition, other important documents connected with this Convention were signed by heads of the relevant structures of the five countries, namely the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime in the Caspian Sea, the Agreement between the Governments of the Caspian States on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of transport between the governments of the Caspian littoral states, the Agreement on Prevention of Incidents in the Caspian Sea and the Protocol on Cooperation and interaction of border agencies. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have committed $50.4 million for the construction of a new 50MW solar power plant in the south of Kazakhstan, the EBRD said in a message. The proposed financing package arranged by the EBRD includes a loan of up to $40.4 million in Kazakh tenge and a loan of up to $10 million from the GCF. "The new plant, which will be located in Chulakkurgan, will generate over 102 GWh of electricity per year and will help reduce CO2 emission by 86,000 tons per year," the EBRD noted. The project is the 8th to be signed under the Banks Kazakhstan Renewables Framework, a 200 million euro facility for financing renewable energy projects in Central Asia, which benefits from a $110 million contribution from the GCF. It should be noted that the EBRD is supporting the implementation of Kazakhstan governments strategy related to renewable energy and carbon market as part of the framework. To date, the Bank has invested a total of over $8.85 billion in the economy of Kazakhstan through 254 projects. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Tehran, Iran, Feb.1 Trend: Iran Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Farhad Dejpasand has stressed on the necessity of forming a joint trade gate between Iran and Pakistan. "Sistan and Baluchestan Province has the opportunity of border trade and has the only port that connects to the ocean and access to Asian markets that can attract foreign investment and be profitable for the country," he said during his visit to the province, Trend reports citing Mehr News Agency. "Improving the foreign investment in Sistan and Baluchestan Province can fill the capital gap in the region," he added. Dejpasand said it is necessary to form a joint trade gate between Iran and Pakistan to improve the economy of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The official also indicated the Iranian Ambassador in Brunei, Homeira Rigi is to promote the trade with Iran by attracting foreign investment in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. "Trade and investment should improve, and reducing the tax and customs system obstacles for businesses is being considered, said Dejpasand. Sistan and Baluchestan Province has various capacities in trade, mines, water and agriculture sectors that can attract investment and improve development and production. he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend: Foreign citizens spent 1.278 billion manats in Azerbaijan via bank cards in 2018, which is 25 percent, or 256 million manats more than in 2017, Ramin Huseyn, analyst at Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication , said at a press conference Feb. 1, Trend reports. He said that in December 2017, foreign citizens carried out transactions worth 82.9 million manats via bank cards in Azerbaijan, which is 6 percent more than in December 2016. In total, for 2018, Azerbaijan was visited by 2.849 million foreign citizens and stateless persons from 196 countries, which is 5.7 percent more than in 2017, he added. In the total number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan, 30.9 percent accounted for tourists from Russia, 21.4 percent from Georgia, 10.2 percent from Turkey, 8.5 percent from Iran, 3.3 percent from the UAE, 2.6 percent from Saudi Arabia, 2.4 percent from Iraq, 2 percent from Ukraine, 1.4 percent from Israel and 17.2 percent from other countries. (1.7 manats = $1 on Feb. 1) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: Tax revenues from Kazakh automakers in 2018 exceeded 7.5 billion tenge, Trend reports referring to the Kazakh media. Kazavtoprom (Kazakhstan Automobile Industry Enterprises' Union) informed that this is an increase of 2.7 percent compared to 2017 (7.3 billion tenge). The largest taxpayer in the industry is the Asia Auto plant, which accounts for 54.7 percent (4.1 billion tenge, 34.3 percent up year-on-year) of the tax revenues. Tax payments of Kamaz-Engineering plant increased by 35.7 percent to 1.3 billion tenge (17.9 percent of total tax payments in the industry). The Saryarka AvtoProm plant reduced tax payments by 58.4 percent to 945.5 million tenge (12.6 percent of total tax payments). Last year, cumulative sales of the Kazakh automakers grew by 57.5 percent to 29,931 vehicles. Sales of the Asia Auto plant exceeded the figure of 2017 by 34.6 percent (17,100 vehicles sold). Sales of Saryarka AvtoProm showed an increase of 2.5 times (11,200 vehicles), while the sales of Kamaz-Engineering decreased by 12 percent (587 vehicles). (380.06 KZT = 1 USD on Feb. 1) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Details added (first version posted at 11:46) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Veliyev Trend: Azerbaijan's non-oil exports reached $1.689 billion in 2018, which is 10 percent or $151 million more compared to 2017, Ramin Huseyn, an analyst at the Center for the Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications, said at a press conference on Feb. 1, Trend reports. The major part of exports from Azerbaijan in 2018 accounted for tomatoes ($177.4 million), while unprocessed gold came in second with $118 million, followed by persimmons with $114.5 million. The total value of exported fruits and vegetables in 2018 amounted to $560 million, showing an increase of 11 percent compared to 2017. Exports of plastic products amounted to $118.6 million (an increase of 17 percent), while aluminum exports reached $112.2 million. Exports of ferrous metals amounted to $86.2 million (an increase of 4 percent). Meanwhile, electricity exports reached $65.6 million (an increase of 29 percent). Azerbaijan exported cotton fiber worth $80.5 million (an increase of 49 percent) and cotton yarn worth $24 million in 2018. Compared to 2017, exports of cotton yarn increased 2.4 times. According to Huseyn, non-oil exports to Russia in 2018 amounted to $619.2 million (an increase of 12 percent), to $344.9 million (an increase of 18 percent) for Turkey, $135.4 million (a decrease by 6 percent) for Switzerland, $124.5 million (a decrease of 10 percent) for Georgia and $44.6 million (an increase of 36 percent) for Kazakhstan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A meeting with the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, Peter Burian, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen foreign ministry. The parties discussed the initiatives of Turkmenistan and Romania on the construction of the "Caspian Sea-Black Sea" transport-transit corridor through the Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania route, the report states. Romania presides over the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2019. Earlier, it was reported that Ashgabat and Bucharest had agreed on intensifying political and diplomatic efforts for potentially inking a political declaration on the creation of a transport and transit corridor connecting the Caspian to the Black Sea. It is expected that Constanta may become a transshipment point of goods transported from the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashi to the EU, as well as from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the context of ensuring the access of goods from Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to European markets. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: Azerbaijan's "Mingachevir Textile" LLC has established deliveries of its products to Portugal and Belgium, Rashad Karimov, the public relations manager of the company, told Trend. Karimov noted that presently, the company's products are exported to Turkey and Russia. "We intend to further expand the geography of exports. In particular, it is envisaged to expand deliveries to non-CIS markets. Currently, about 80 percent of the products manufactured at the factory are exported. The rest is sold in the domestic market, mainly to large enterprises of the textile industry. The plans of the enterprise for the current year include increasing production volumes, as well as expanding international cooperation," Karimov said. The products manufactured by the company in 2019 will be on display at the industry exhibition "International Istanbul Yarn Fair", which will be held on Feb. 28, 2019 in Istanbul. Mingachevir Textile LLC was established in February 2018 on the territory of the Mingachevir Industrial Park. The company uses equipment from leading companies of Germany, Switzerland and Japan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Azerbaijani MPs Aflatun Amashov and Fazil Mustafa have proposed to adopt the Law on Online Media at a plenary session of the countrys parliament, Trend reports. Amashov said that there is a need to adopt a law not only on online media, but also on the Press Council. He noted that such proposals have already been voiced several times, and added that taking these proposals into account would be a positive step. In turn, Fazil Mustafa explained the need to adopt the Law on Online Media with the current situation. I believe that there is a need to adopt such a law and the preparation of the corresponding bill should be accelerated, he added. Presently, activities of online media in Azerbaijan are regulated by the Law on Mass Media and the provisions of the Law on Information, Informatization and Protection of Information and the Law on Telecommunications. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: Azerbaijan has temporarily restricted poultry and animal meat imports from some regions of Russia, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans Food Safety Agency. Earlier, the World Organization for Animal Health has identified cases of Newcastle disease in Russias Krasnodar Krai, as well as foot-and-mouth disease in Russias Khabarovsk Krai regions. In this regard, it was decided to temporarily restrict the import of poultry and poultry meat products from the Krasnodar Krai, as well as livestock and meat products from the Khabarovsk Krai. At the same time, Azerbaijans Food Safety Agency appealed to the State Customs Committee of the country to disinfect vehicles passing through customs checkpoints that arrived directly or in transit through these regions of Russia. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: The A/H1N1 virus is currently spread in Azerbaijan, but it is not a new virus and is not designated as swine flu, said Hande Harmanci, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to her, the A/H1N1 virus, observed since 2009, is not called "swine flu." Harmanci noted that this is the same virus that is observed in Europe and Georgia. "However, the A/H1N1 virus is considered a seasonal flu. Seasonal influenza occurs from both the A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 viruses. This A/H1N1 virus is now widespread in Georgia, but it has already been widespread throughout the world for 10 years and does not differ from the viruses spread last year," added Harmanci. In case the swine flu is transmitted from a pig to a person and then from one person to another, then it is called a seasonal flu. "The last time the A/H1N1 flu pandemic was observed in 2009. Back then, a new virus emerged and passed on to people. The pandemic was caused by the A/H1N1 virus. Both the A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 viruses tend to cause seasonal flues. Just in previous years, this type of virus is spreading this year as well. What is being observed in Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan is a common seasonal flu," added Harmanci. She also remarked that the spread of the A/H1N1 virus in Azerbaijan should not be a cause of concern. Ibadulla Aghayev, Chief Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, said that should the incidence become widespread, all measures will be taken to combat it. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should understand that the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, first of all, will open up great economic opportunities for the population of Armenia, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend Feb. 1. Abdullayeva was commenting on Pashinyans statement during his visit to Germany about concessions of the Azerbaijani side, the acceptability of the conflicts settlement for the peoples of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. First of all, I would like to remind that as a result of the conflict, namely Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts were occupied, and about a million of Azerbaijans population was subjected to ethnic cleansing and became IDPs, said Abdullayeva. She noted that international resolutions and documents adopted in connection with the conflict, first of all, the four UN Security Council resolutions require the complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of invading Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. I would also like to say that all documents adopted in connection with the conflicts settlement and the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs concern not the people, but the population of Armenian and Azerbaijani origin, she noted. In conclusion, I would like to note that Pashinyan, as a prime minister of Armenia, should understand that the settlement of the conflict will step up the independence of Armenia, and, first of all, will create a new situation that will open up great economic opportunities for the population of Armenia, she added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: The Azerbaijani parliament must send a protest letter to the European Parliament, which adopted the resolution on Azerbaijan containing harsh statements, Azerbaijani MP Fazail Aghamali said Feb. 1 at the parliamentary session, Trend reports. He said that the European Parliament once again demonstrated a biased position in relation to Azerbaijan, adding that the country was charged with unfounded accusations. This is a clear example of double standards, he noted. It is regrettable that the European Parliament and international organizations dont comment on what is happening in Armenia. There were no discussions about the death of a political activist as a result of a hunger strike in an Armenian prison. European organizations, defending Armenia, stimulate its occupation policy against Azerbaijan. There is a biased approach in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He noted that in the protest letter, it is necessary to demand to put an end to double standards. As Azerbaijans prestige strengthens and reforms deepen in the country, anti-national forces are taking the offensive, he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: The purpose of rallies of the radical opposition is not to honor the memory of Mahammad Amin Rasulzade or the 20 January martyrs, Ali Huseynli, chairman of the committee for legal policy and state-building, said at a plenary meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament on Friday. "Their goal is to sow discord, disrupt social and political stability," Huseynli said. According to him, changes were made to the Law on Freedom of Assembly in 2008, which are aimed at preventing illegal assemblies. "Law enforcement agencies cope with the situation when someone wants to disrupt public order. In addition, according to the amendments to the Criminal Code, made at the spring session of parliament in 2016, penalties were defined for those who use fake profiles on the internet. These changes consider imprisonment of individuals using fake profiles," Huseynli said. Due to certain problems arising with the application of these changes, it is necessary to revise the legislation. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has today attended the inauguration of the newly built kindergarten No. 6 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Khatai district, Baku. The First Vice-President cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the kindergarten. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva viewed conditions created here. Minister of Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov informed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva that the construction of the kindergarten started in December 2017. The rooms are supplied with all necessary equipment. Extensive landscaping work was done, green areas were created and lighting system was installed in the territory of the kindergarten. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva wished the new kindergarten success. She then posed for photographs together with children. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: There are good-neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, but there are certain forces that oppose this, Azerbaijani MP Aflatun Amashov said, Trend reports. He was speaking at a plenary session of the Azerbaijani parliament regarding erecting a bust of Armenian terrorist Mikhail Avagyan in Georgia, who participated in the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Amashov expressed confidence that the Georgian government isnt aware of erecting the bust. These forces started their work again, he said. Back in 2006, a bust to another Armenian terrorist was erected in Akhalkalaki town. Disrespect was also shown regarding the monument to Nariman Narimanov in Marneuli city. Therefore, I believe that such cases should soon be eliminated. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: It is necessary to prepare a new bill on political parties in Azerbaijan, Siyavush Novruzov, chairman of the parliamentary committee for public associations and religious structures, proposed at a plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports. According to him, some opposition parties do not submit their financial reports to the countrys Central Election Commission or submit zero reports. Novruzov also wondered where they got their offices, employees and bodyguards from if they do not have any funding. "All this is done via help from shady sources. These need to be identified. Rallies, sabotage - all these things are done through covert funding. They are done based on orders and those who finance them are the ones who give these instructions. Such concepts as nation or state are simply nonexistent for them. I believe that it is imperative to confront all these things within legal frames," Novruzov added. He also said that certain individuals abroad, who are being used against Azerbaijan, are unable to change a thing. They can only pour insults. If so, we must resist them. We have been involved in politics for many years and know their tactics and mechanisms quite well, Novruzov remarked. According to him, as Azerbaijan continues to develop, the position of those acting against the country is deteriorating. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: Albanian President Ilir Meta will visit Baku in March to attend the 7th Global Baku Forum, Trend reports referring to the Nizami Ganjavi International Center on Feb. 1. The 7th Global Baku Forum will be held in Baku on March 14-16. It will be organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. Thus, 450 guests from over 70 countries are expected to take part in the forum. "New Foreign Policy" will be the topic of the 7th Global Baku Forum. Panel meetings titled Role of big forces in changing global politics, Sustainable Development Challenges, Middle Eastern cooperation for security, Role of science and culture in making modern decisions and other topics will be held during the forum. One of the main meetings of the forum will be devoted to the role of young leaders in global politics. The well-known statesmen, politicians, reputable public figures are expected to participate in the forum. The incumbent heads of state and government will attend the event. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The recent phone call by US Presidents National Security Advisor John Bolton to Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev is testimony to Washington's deep interest to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a peaceful manner, Peter M. Tase, expert in Transatlantic Relations and Azerbaijani Studies, a senior advisor to the Global Engineering Deans Council and to various European and Latin American governments, told Trend. On January 29, National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, Ambassador John Bolton had a phone conversation with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. This was the perfect opportunity for both parties to discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and address a number of security issues in the region and beyond, said Tase. Ambassador Bolton's phone call is testimony to Washington's deep interest to solve the conflict in a peaceful manner. Once again the administration of President Donald Trump is paying a great attention to the situation on the ground, on Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenian Armed Forces. He pointed out that such a persistent and unwavering dialogue between the White House and Baku adds pressure to secure European Union's contributions towards solving the conflict. Further, talking about the overall significance of relations between the US and Azerbaijan, the expert said that the traditional alliance between the US and Azerbaijan contributes to the stabilization of the situation in the Caucasus region, supporting the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a trustworthy partner of the world's largest economies. The successful development of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and its inauguration made Azerbaijan a key ally of regional economic development and a fundamental partner of Eurasian trade routes. On January 29, the US Presidents National Security Advisor John Bolton made a telephone call to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. A range of issues of mutual interest were discussed during the talk, including energy security, cooperation in the field of security and negotiations on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 25 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Feb. 1, Trend reports. The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 Trend: Azercell Telecom LLC continues to launch beneficial campaigns for its subscribers. This time the company will delight GencOl5 tariff package subscribers. Thus, beginning from February 1 to February 15, 2019 Azercell conducts GencOl8 Endirim(GencOl8 Discount) - a special campaign, only intended for GencOl5 users. During the validity period of the campaign, Gencol5 subscribers will be able to activate above-mentioned tariff package by paying only 6 AZN. Activation of the campaign requires sending key word G8 to 7575 or dialing *750*4*2#YES USSD code. Subscribers joining GencOl8 package are entitled to take advantage of discounts three times during 90 days. GencOl8 tariff package includes 4GB internet, 400 minutes free calls among GencOl subscribers and 400 free on-net sms. Remarkably, GencOl subscribers will not only take advantage of favorable tariffs, but also benefit from different discounts and campaigns. Currently, GencOl users profitt from various discounts in more than 150 locations. You are invited to visit www.gencol.az portal, to review daily updated list of discounts. For further information, please visit: https://www.azercell.com/en/personal/campaigns/monthly/endirimgencol8/ For more information, please contact [email protected] The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48 per cent share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80 per cent of the territory (excluding 20% per cent of the occupied territories) and 99,8 per cent of population of the country. Currently, 4,5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, mobile customer services, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Azercell deployed first 4G LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1 By Sara Israfilbayova Trend: Investments of the Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR in Turkey will reach $19.5 billion in the future, Director General of SOCAR Turkey Zaur Gahramanov said in an interview with Trend. The director general noted that from 2008 to date, the volume of SOCAR's investments in Turkey amounted to $14.2 billion. SOCAR's investments in Turkey will expand economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey and significantly reduce Turkeys dependence on imports of petrochemical products, he said. He also noted that SOCAR will play a crucial role in making Turkey an important player in the global energy market. The general director noted that Azerbaijan, being a country whose geographic and geopolitical power is growing every day, is aimed at further strengthening its power in the international arena with the help of Turkey. Results of 2018: launch of new projects While speaking about 2018 as a whole, Gahramanov stressed that it was successful for SOCAR Turkey. In particular, the company launched two giant projects and began to work on new investment plans, he said. The opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which is a very important strategic investment project of Azerbaijan and Turkey, was held in 2018, he said. TANAP was linked to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on the border with Greece in 2018. Thus, 16 billion cubic meters of gas will be supplied to Turkey and Europe annually through these pipelines. Six billion cubic meters of gas of this volume will be transported via TANAP to Turkey, while 10 billion cubic meters of gas - to Europe via TAP, he said. TANAP will help meet about 12 percent of Turkeys gas needs, he said. In the future, the volume of gas pumping through TANAP may reach 24 billion cubic meters, and later, 31 billion cubic meters of gas. One of the most important achievements of 2018 was that the Aliaga peninsula, where the STAR refinery and Petkim petrochemical complex are located, obtained the status of the Special Industrial Zone. Thus, we will continue to contribute to the development of the economies of both Azerbaijan and Turkey, he said. Azerbaijan will help Turkey to reduce import of petrochemical products The new petrochemical complex, a joint project of SOCAR and BP, is designed to serve the production of polyester packaging and the textile industry, which are developing in Turkey, Gahramanov said. Gahramanov noted that Turkey has the integrated petrochemicals complex Petkim, which can cover only 20 percent of Turkeys demand for petrochemicals. "Therefore, Turkey needs to invest more in this sector. And taking into account this fact, we decided to create a new petrochemical complex," he said. The director general noted that the start of construction of the new petrochemical complex of SOCAR in Turkey is scheduled for 2H2019, and added that if there is no change, it will be commissioned in late 2022. The investment value of the joint project will be approximately $1.5-$2 billion, he said. "Thus, SOCARs share in the petrochemical market of Turkey will increase, and Turkeys need to import petrochemicals will decrease. All our projects in Turkey are aimed at this," Gahramanov said. Petkim - indispensable manufacturer of petrochemical products in Turkey Petkim produces 60 types of petrochemical products and from this point of view is indispensable for Turkey, Gahramanov said. Petkim, which is Turkey's first and the only integrated petrochemical enterprise, includes 15 plants and six additional enterprises, he said. Petkim's production capacity is 3.6 million tons per year. The materials for many industries, including medicines, paints, detergents and cosmetics, are produced here, Gahramanov said. He added that approximately 60 percent of Petkims products are sold domestically, while Petkim covers 20 percent of Turkeys petrochemicals needs. He stressed that when STAR refinery reaches its full capacity, there will be a very big potential in this sphere. STAR refinery will supply Petkim petrochemical complex with naphtha, which will increase the added value of Petkim products, Gahramanov said. STAR refinery will soon reach full capacity The STAR refinery will soon reach full production capacity, Gahramanov said, reminding that the opening of the refinery took place on Oct. 19, 2018. "The refinery, in which $6.3 billion were invested, will supply its products domestically, and when it goes to full capacity, it will be able to meet needs of the Petkim petrochemical complex for raw materials," he said. Its total refining capacity will reach 10 million tons, and thus will significantly reduce Turkeys dependence on imports of petrochemical products, Gahramanov added. SOCAR increases production of alternative energy in Turkey SOCAR Turkey plans to increase energy production at the Petkim wind power plant to 200 gigawatt-hour, Gahramanov said. He noted that this will be possible after the launch of 17 wind turbines. The power plant, Gahramanov added, has now managed to bring the production to 25 megawatts. The maximum capacity of the power plant is 51 megawatts. The oil refining and petrochemical industries are distinguished by the most intensive energy consumption among other industries, according to the head of the company. "Our investments in alternative energy are important for the use of alternative energy sources in industry," he stressed. The volume of investments in Petkim wind power plant is $55 million. The power plant was launched in 2017. SOCAR may expand network of filling stations in Turkey Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR may increase investments in expanding the network of filling stations in Turkey in the future, Gahramanov said. SOCAR has filling stations in many countries, but in Turkey our first filling station will be built in the new airport of Istanbul, he noted. Starting from this year, nine filling stations of SOCAR will operate in the airport. Five of the nine filling stations will be located on the platform, one in the cargo transportation territory, two in the parking lot and one filling station will provide services for taxis, he said. He added that the presence of filling stations at the Istanbul airport - the biggest airport in the world, is a strategic and important step for SOCAR in promoting its brand. We are a company that always evaluates and considers possibilities of carrying out activities in the fuel sector, and we are closely monitoring the developments in the market, he said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS More than a year after an Iranian oil tanker sank in the East China Sea, reportedly killing all aboard, the families of the Iranian victims say theyve been receiving mysterious telephone calls from their supposedly dead relatives that are abruptly cut off. On January 6, 2018, an Iranian oil tanker flying a Panamanian flag called the Sanchi and a Hong Kong-registered Chinese freighter called the CF Crystal collided 160 miles east of Shanghai. Immediately after the collision, Chinese rescuers boarded the Sanchi and recovered two bodies, but then a large explosion shook the ship and it sank within hours. High temperatures prevented rescuers from entering the crew quarters before the explosion, Chinese firefighters said, adding that all 21 crew members aboard the Chinese freighter were safe. The Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes (960,000 barrels) of natural-gas condensate, sailing from Asaluyeh, Iran, to South Korea, when it collided with the Chinese freighter 160 nautical miles (300 km) off Shanghai, China. While all crew members of the Sanchi were declared dead, many of their relatives say their loved ones have attempted to contacted them in recent days through repeated telephone calls, spreading doubt among the families about the official story about the disaster. About thirty of the families have been protesting in front of Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Hassan Rouhanis office, and the Chinese embassy in Tehran in the last few days. Speaking to pro-reformist daily Sharq, the relatives of the victims say they have totally lost trust in the Islamic Republic's authorities and are demanding a full and transparent investigation into the disaster. Two other major dailies, Hamshahri and Jam-e Jam, have also covered the story, reporting that some of the families theorize their relative may have been taken hostage for some reason. "From the very beginning we announced that we do not believe in the reports concerning the disaster compiled by the Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and Ports&Maritime Organization (PMO)," a relative of one of the victims, Abdollah Abdollahi, told Sharq. They never allowed us to attend any sessions of the investigations. They just said we dont have the right. Marzieh Hosseini, the mother of one of the victims, has gone even further by saying, "Even if they deliver a body, I will doubt it is my son's. I even do not believe in the DNA evidence presented by the authorities. I have no confidence in them." Noushin Najafifar, the sister of one of the Sanchi crew, insists her brother has been calling her morning, noon, and night. Most of the calls end quickly and abruptly. Other relatives claim similar experiences. "As soon as the abrupt calls were disconnected, we used to call back, and an Arabic speaking guy answered the phone," Ms. Najafifar told Sharq, adding that she has repeatedly reported the calls to the president's office. Meanwhile, the mother of one of the Sanchi victims, who has kept her identity secret for the sake of her son's safety, told Sharq that her daughter-in-law has had fifty miss calls within a month, she presumes from her son. "We returned tried to return the calls but were disconnected after a single ring, she said. Nevertheless, we tried and tried, and ultimately a woman who spoke Persian mixed with English words answered the phone, telling us that there was someone around attempting to communicate with his family. Then the line was disconnected and we never succeed to get through again." One of the victims' wives, Tahreh Mir Nassiri, who has been participating in the protests, says, Whenever we say or loved ones are still alive, the authorities demand evidence to prove our claim; but, we fire back, asking them where is their evidence showing that all crew members of the Sanchi are dead?" The chairman of the government committee formed to investigate the Sanchi disaster, Mohammad Mehdi Boroumandi, has categorically denied the families allegations. "The claims about telephone calls and the Sanchi crew being taken hostage are totally unfounded and based on hearsay," Boroumandi told the state-run Iran Students News Agency (ISNA) January 31. In the meantime, MP Mohammad Reza Kouchi says that he has asked intelligence experts to step in and punish those who are disturbing the victims families with these hoax phone calls. KYIV. Feb 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) Presidential candidate and Ukraine's ex-Ecology Minister Ihor Shevchenko has said the episode involving "blue hats" during his stay at the Davos Economic Forum was a joke and partially invented. He asked journalists not to twist the information. "I wrote a comic post and I just made up the part about the security guard, saying that you can take only one cap, in order to make the Facebook post more entertaining. I wrote it simply for my friends. And the next day there was a buzz. They said I stole hats and had miraculously escaped arrest," Shevchenko said at a press conference at the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Shevchenko said what happened at Davous was spontaneous. The presidential candidate said that he would not give the five hats he brought from Davos to any of his friends. Instead, he promised to auction them off for charity and donate the proceeds to help treat sick children. Shevchenko also announced the creation of the "Movement of Blue Hats" nationwide anti-corruption campaign. Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Start of Agitprop Period of Presidential Election Campaign. What do Main Candidates Offer?' On Monday, February 4, at 12.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host press conference titled "Start of Agitprop Period of Presidential Election Campaign. What do Main Candidates Offer?" Participants include Director of Ukraine's Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, expert of the Gardarica Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko, and Director of the Ukrainian Barometer Sociological Service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. Russia-led forces attack Ukrainian army positions in Donbas twice on Friday Illegal armed formations attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, twice from 00:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time on Friday, February 1, no casualties have been reported. "Members of the Joint Forces have not suffered from criminal attacks by the Russian occupation forces," the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said on Facebook in an evening update on Friday. Enemy troops used proscribed weapons once during the day. They shelled Ukrainian positions near the village of Pavlopil, Donetsk region's Volnovakha district, using 82mm mortars, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. JFO positions near the village of Khutir Vilny close to the village of Zolote-4 came under fire from grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. The Armed Forces of Ukraine fired back, keeping the situation under control, the update said. The so-called "peace plan" for Ukraine proposed by OSCE envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik requires a number of decisions by the parliaments of Ukraine and other countries and is questionable, Ukraine's Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Vadym Chernysh. "In fact, this is not the continuation of the Minsk agreements these are additional agreements, which, among other things, require a number of decisions not only of the Ukrainian parliament, but also of other countries' parliaments, therefore they cannot be implemented in principle," Chernysh said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday. According to him, this plan cannot be officially discussed either in terms of the procedure it describes or the content. Chernysh noted many points of the plan are questionable. "As for the mandate of this entire [OSCE-UN] mission, which is proposed in this document, let me draw your attention: it covers the whole territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including that controlled by the Ukrainian government, but there is a minor provision saying that the civilian component is only for the occupied area, while the entire mission also covers the government-controlled territory, which is weird. I cannot comprehend the logic in this case, and this has not been stipulated in any agreements that Ukraine has signed or approved until this moment," Chernysh said. The minister also noted that Sajdik's plan in fact proposes the legitimization of the formations "whose legitimacy has not been recognized by the authors of that document before." According to him, the so-called "LPR" ("Luhansk People's Republic") and "DPR" ("Donetsk People's Republic") are not de jure present in the Minsk process, and Sajdik's plan again brings these notions back. At the same time, Chernysh recalled that neither the Russian side nor the OSCE reacts to the proposals of Ukraine to make clear statements about the impossibility of full or partial recognition and legitimization of such entities within the Minsk process. "Who has prepared it and for whom, and why it has been published right now personally I have got a lot of questions that we haven't yet found answers to," he said. What is more, the plan has not been handed over to the representatives of Ukraine through official channels, he added. Presidential contender Yuliya Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivschyna party, has said that the recent dismissal of Zurab Alasania from his job as the chairman of the board of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) is no coincidence and is connected with the electoral process. "According to information that is coming from independent sources, Alasania was fired for not broadcasting the Bloc Petro Poroshenko congress and for the fact that investigative journalists are employed by the channel who can really tell the society at least a little truth," Tymoshenko said at a meeting with editors and journalists of local publications in Poltava, the press service of the Batkivschyna party said on Friday, February 1. She said the fact that this is happening during the election campaign, and "the fact that this is being done in such a rough way can simply demonstrate that the president will cross all the red lines in order to have himself secured somehow for a second term." Tymoshenko said the dismissal of Alasania is a glaring example of a violation of freedom of speech, an example of "how to keep journalists and channels on a tight rein." She said she believes that the president and his entourage are getting ready for election fraud not only by suppressing freedom of speech and usurping television channels but also by other means. In particular, she recalled that the authorities had increased the voter register by a million people compared to 2014, which contradicts demographic trends. Also known are facts about the massive bribing of voters by the presidential team who enter into agreements with them on payment of UAH 1,000 per person. At the same time, Tymoshenko said she believes that all these actions will not help Poroshenko to remain in power. At least 2,500 civilians have died in the hostilities in Donbas and another 10,000 injured, according to the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's environmental security and demining department, Maksym Komisarov. "According to our information, at least 2,500 civilians have died as a result of the conflict. Some 2,400 of them were adults and, unfortunately, 242 were children," Komisarov said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday. Up to 10,000 civilians, including about 2,000 children, have been injured, Komisarov said. About 30-35% of injuries and deaths were due to mines, shells, and explosives. The number of those who joined the lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Russian Federation and President Vladimir Putin personally in connection with the crash of flight MH17 has increased to 291, lawyer Jerry Skinner told the Echo of Moscow radio station, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the relatives of the victims aboard the Malaysian airliner shot down over Donbas in July 2014. "We started work with a small number of citizens of Malaysia and Australia, with whom I established contact from the very beginning. Now we have been joined by a large number of relatives of the victims, and our lawsuit has become the largest. We would be glad if the remaining relatives would join us. They can contact me and I will explain what needs to be done, as this work does not yet cover everything. There are fewer than 16 people left. Together we have 291 people in the lawsuit," he said. Skinner said he intends he intends to seek $10 million for each dead person aboard the airliner. Some 298 people died in the crash, mostly Dutch citizens. The total amount of payments on the claim to Russia may be about $3 billion, the lawyer said. As earlier reported, Boeing-777 of Malaysia Airlines, carrying out the flight MH17 Amsterdam (the Netherlands) - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down in the sky over Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers on board died. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which includes prosecutors and representatives of other law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia, as well as representatives of Eurojust, presented the results of a criminal investigation into the causes of the disaster in the Netherlands on September 28, 2016. According to the findings, the airliner was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched from the BUK-TELAR self-propelled gun from an agricultural field in the area of Pervomaisk. At that time, the region was under the control of Russian occupation forces. It also follows from the investigation that the self-propelled fire unit BUK-TELAR was delivered to Ukraine from Russia and after its use for an attack on the airliner of the MH17 flight was again returned to Russia. The Supervisory Board of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (PBC) at a meeting on Thursday supported the termination of the contract with Chairman of the Board Zurab Alasania, Detector Media portal editor-in-chief Svitlana Ostapa has reported. "The Supervisory Board of the PBC has just voted for the early termination of the contract with Chairman of the Board of PBC Zurab Alasania. Nine people vote in the affirmative, while three were against," wrote Ostapa on her Facebook page. Deputy of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction Mustafa Nayyem confirmed this information. "The Supervisory Board of the PBC has just terminated the contract ahead of time with head of the TV channel Zurab Alasania. The reasons and legal justification are still unknown," he wrote on his Facebook page. Oleksandr Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), has said that despite the war, Ukraine is reforming the security and defense sector according to NATO standards. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine held a meeting with the group of foreign high-level strategic advisers on defense reform under the Reform Committee of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the press service of the NSDC reported on Thursday. "We do not wait until the war is over to complete the reform and move to NATO standards", the NSDC Secretary said. According to him, the recently adopted Law "On National Security of Ukraine" initiated by the NSDC of Ukraine, laid the foundations for building a modern European model of the security and defense sector of our state. "For our state, the strategic goal is to become a full-fledged NATO member, and in the long run - of the EU. We understand how much more work is still needed to achieve this goal, but we are ready for this," Turchynov concluded. In their turn, strategic advisers acknowledged how much Ukraine has done to reform its security and defense sector. "We see all the efforts you are making to reform, and we support a comprehensive interagency general approach to this vital issue. We are here to provide Ukraine with the best chances for future NATO membership," U.S. adviser Lieutenant General Keith Dayton said. The following advisers attended the meeting: from the United States - Lieutenant General Keith Dayton, from the United Kingdom - General Nick Parker, from Germany - Lieutenant General Volker Halbauer, and from Canada - Executive Director for External Relations and Partnership at the Canadian Defense Academy of the Ministry of National Defense Jill Sinclair. A criminal proceeding investigating into the purchase of an apartment by MP from Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction Serhiy Leshchenko is to be completed, Head of Ukraine's Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky has said. "Repeatedly, prosecutors gave instructions regarding this proceeding. Unfortunately, for some reason, it does not show activity... At first they did not want to see the elements of the crime, when they did not want to register this proceeding, but now somehow we are investigating sluggishly," he said in an interview with ZIK TV channel late on Wednesday. "After all, I think the investigators will ask if there are such rich women there that they can afford to buy an apartment for her husband." Kholodnytsky assured that this proceeding is not closed. "It is still far away until its closure, until all the instructions of the prosecutor are executed, until it is established where the funds came from... Let's compare what the person in charge said... And it will be ended. I confirm that the invetigation should be completed, he should not relax," the head of the SAPO said. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova has discussed with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group, Ambassador Toni Frisch the issue of the work of the subgroup in securing the release and exchange of hostages in the framework of the Minsk agreements. "The exchange opportunities remain one of the main issues. Therefore, Mr. Frisch and I noted that we are ready to exchange in any format and are trying to do this," Denisova wrote on her Facebook page on Thursday. The Ombudswoman reported that Frisch supported the Ukrainian position on the treatment of seamen held in Russia as prisoners of war in accordance with the norms of the 1949 Geneva Convention. "I noted the need to treat wounded sailors and the possibility of their transfer to resolve this issue in a third (neutral) country," she said. According to Denisova, she turned to Frisch also on the need to provide medical assistance to political prisoner Pavlo Hryb. "I expressed my concern and request to assist in providing the imprisoned citizen of Ukraine with immediate medical care, because the condition of the guy is supercritical," the Ombudswoman noted. According to her, Frisch will appeal to the representatives of the ICRC so that they in turn visit the political prisoners held in the Russian Federation and, if possible, help with the provision of a qualified examination and further treatment. Denisova said that during the meeting the issues of the transfer of citizens of Ukraine, who were detained before the conflict, were also considered. The next transfer will take place in the first week of February. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at its meeting approved the draft Presidential Decree On Approval of the Annual National Program (ANP) under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission for 2019. This decision was made at a meeting on Wednesday. The document was submitted to the president for consideration, the Cabinet's press service reported. The draft was developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in synergy with the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers. "We adopt this document for the first time in a completely different form compared to those we approved for many years since the Bucharest Summit in 2008. Finally, it is strategic and systemic. We have improved its structure and content for several years and finally came to a completely new format, which encapsulates our strategic and concrete goals," Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said at the government meeting on Wednesday. During consultations with the Ukrainian side, the leadership of NATO positively assessed the government's new vision during the formation of the ANP and highly appreciated the innovative approaches to development of this important strategic document on reforms. "This document for the first time prevents inclusion of formal and needless tasks and activities. For the first time we introduced key performance indicators. This will enable us to practically bring Ukraine closer to membership in the North Atlantic Alliance and to fulfill the tasks needed to ensure effective, purposeful and systematic work to prepare for our NATO membership, which is already envisaged by the Ukrainian legislation and, I hope, will be enshrined in the Constitution", she said. It is reported that the Annual National Program under the auspices of the Ukraine-NATO Commission is the systemic strategic document in the sphere of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, providing transition of the security and defense sector to the NATO principals and standards. The ANP is aimed at achieving compliance with the criteria for NATO membership, strengthening democracy, political, economic, judicial reforms, electoral legislation reforms, education, science, health care, economic growth, fighting corruption, improving the well-being of citizens, reforming the security and defense sector - in accordance with the Alliance's recommendations. The ANP is harmonized with the key strategic documents of Ukraine, including the Strategic Defense Bulletin, the Government Action Plan, the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Ukraine-2020, the Law of Ukraine "On National Security" and others. The Kyiv City Council at a meeting on Thursday approved the tourism fee rate in the amount of 0.4% of the minimum wage for Ukrainian tourists and 1% of the minimum wage for foreign tourists. A total of 76 deputies backed the decision. "In 2019, the amount of this fee for domestic tourism will amount to UAH 16.69, for inbound tourism UAH 41.73. Taking into account the rates, the city budget should receive at least UAH 35 million," the press service of the Kyiv City Council reported, citing First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City Administration Mykola Povoroznik. Earlier, he reported that in 2018, the budget of Kyiv city received UAH 33 million, which is almost a quarter more than in 2017. As reported, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada in 2019 changed the base for accruing the tourism fee and obliged tourists living in private accommodation to pay it, according to the law amending the Tax Code and other legal acts on the review of some tax and duty rates (bill No. 9260 from the so-called "budget" package of bills). In addition, the law changes the tourism fee rates in 2019. In particular, for domestic tourists, the rates should not exceed 0.5% of the minimum wage per day, which from January 1, 2019 will be UAH 20.87, for inbound tourism - up to 5% of the minimum wage (UAH 208.65). The final rates will be determined by local councils, but they will not depend on the cost of accommodation or hotel category. The Kyiv City Council has made a decision to terminate a leasing contract with Kontaktbudservis LLC, the company developing the Patriotika Na Ozerakh residential complex in the green zone in Osokorky area of Darnytsky district in Kyiv. The decision was made at a meeting of the city council on Thursday, January 31. A total of 77 deputies backed the decision. "The amount of debt [of the developer] has not decreased, but rather increased. As of December 31, 2018, the amount of debt amounted to UAH 73.6 million. Kontaktbudservis LLC refuses to pay the debt for leasing land. Unfortunately, the position has not changed in these contractual relations," Director of the land resources department Petro Olenych said at the meeting. Deputy of the Kyiv City Council from the Kyiv Team, Serhiy Husovsky, added that when considering the construction project at the meeting of the town planning council, numerous violations were revealed, in particular, in fire safety. "Even if the will of the Kyiv City Council is canceled over some strange lawsuit... we will instantly register a new draft decision on the termination of these lease agreements, and we will not allow this shameful development," the deputy said. Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy 22 ventilators to Armenia PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia 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 Google Ad 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 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 Armenian Prime Minister and President of Bundestag discuss issues of strengthening interparliamentary ties (video) Armenian Prime Minister and President of Bundestag discussed issues of strengthening interparliamentary ties. In the sidelines of the official visit to Germany, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Bundestag Wolfgang Schauble on February 1. The President of Bundestag noted that its a great honor to host the Armenian PM in Germany and to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation. As the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia reports, Nikol Pashinyan presented the processes taking place in Armenia, emphasizing that by the parliamentary elections of December 9, 2018 the first part of the revolution came to end and now its time for an economic revolution. For Armenia democracy is irreversible. Following the political changes we have to set to economic changes, since economic progress is the next important component for the revolution to be successful, the Armenian PM said. The interlocutors highly assessed the level of political dialogue between the two countries and highlighted the deepening of inter-parliamentary relations for developing Armenian-German interstate relations. Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia has transited to a full parliamentary model of government and in this sense the experience of Germany as a country with accomplished parliamentary traditions, is of key importance for Armenia. Wolfgang Schauble noted that Armenia is an important partner for Germany and Germany is ready to share its experience and success in the sphere of parliamentary model of government. The Armenian PM and the President of Bundestag discussed the prospects of strengthening Armenia-EU partnership which has entered a new stage following the signing of the Comprhensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of ratifying the CEPA by the EU member states as soon as possible. PM Pashinyan highly assessed the adoption of the resolution by the Bundestag in 2016 condemning the Armenian Genocide. Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy 22 ventilators to Armenia Google Ad PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia 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 Google Ad 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 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 Speaker of Parliament of Armenia receives Czech Ambassador Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on February 1 received Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Armenia Petr Mikyska, the Armenian Parliament reports. Speaker Mirzoyan said Armenia attaches great importance to the development of relations, multisectoral cooperation and active inter-parliamentary contacts with the Czech Republic. He emphasized the close cooperation of the parliamentary delegations at international platforms and expressed hope the friendship group to be formed in the new parliament will contribute to further expanding that cooperation. Touching upon the ratification process of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Speaker highly valued the ratification of the CEPA by the Czech Senate on May 17, 2018, expressing hope that the Chamber of Deputies will also approve the document as soon as possible. In his turn the Czech Ambassador highlighted the recent fair, transparent and democratic elections of Armenia, based on which a Parliament has been formed that enjoys the public trust. Talking about the development of bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary ties, Petr Mikyska highlighted the role of the parliamentary diplomacy on strengthening the mutual partnership of the friendly states. The Ambassador expressed his readiness to assist in implementing the bilateral beneficial programs. The officials also exchanged views on the facilitation of provision of EU visas to the Armenian citizens. In Arshaluys, they pressure on the villagers, there is an atmosphere of fear - villager Residents of the Arshaluys village of Armavir province have been protesting against the village mayor, who is Manvel Grigoryan's nephew. Talking to "A1 +," village resident Habet Aremyan mentioned that the village administration was closed at the moment, and the students were demonstrating. According to him, the village administration is working illegally. Asked about the illegality of the village head, Habet Aremyan said that their governor inspected the village administration and revealed a number of abuses. "According to the governor, there are 22 criminal cases on Zarzand Grigoryan. We close the village administration so that it will not continue these illegalities." According to Habert Aremyan, Zarzand Grigoyan acknowledges that he is a criminal, but says that even if is judged, he will be a head of the village. The villagers had collected signatures from people who were demanding his resignation. According to Habert Aremyan, the village mayor puts pressure on the signatories. "They pressure on the villagers, there is an atmosphere of fear." Zarzand Gabrielyan, Head of the Police Media Communication and Analysis Department, told "A1+" that police officers are currently in the Arshaluys village, and maintain public order. Zoo employees demand resignation of director (video) Members of the "Protection of Yerevan Zoo" initiative were in front of the City Hall today. The requirement is unchanged: Ruben Khachatryan, the current director of the park, should be dismissed. They demand to announce a competition for a new director, and everyone can participate in it, even Ruben Khachatryan. Two workers of the Zoo, who were also present at the demonstration, said they were basically released from work yesterday without any grounds. The members of the initiative met with Gosh Sargsyan, temporary acting head of the Yerevan Municipality Culture Department. After listening to them, Sargsyan said that no question would remain unanswered. There will be changes in the Yerevan Zoo regulations and the will be discussed at the next meeting of the council, and also, the Zoo will have a governing body. Sargsyan assured that the problem will be solved fairly. "We are not sponsoring anyone, our interest is the Zoo," said Gosh Sargsyan, adding that Zoo Director Ruben Khachatryan was invited to the City Hall today. Sargsyan asked for five working days to solve the problem of the dismissed employees. The European Union has agreed to Spains demands that Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory in the south of the Iberian peninsula, should be defined as a colony of the British Crown in draft legislation regarding travel to the EU without visas in a hard Brexit scenario. British Prime Minister Theresa May considers the move unacceptable, a spokesperson for the British leader told EL PAIS. Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way UK government As part of the preparations for a no-deal Brexit, EU ambassadors agreed to a document on Friday that would allow British citizens to travel to other countries in the EU without a visa for short stays. Spanish government representatives requested including a footnote in this document indicating: There is a controversy between Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The footnote clearly states that Gibraltar must be considered a colony of the British Crown. The British government has criticized the move, claiming Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe it in this way. Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU in a statement to EL PAIS. According to The Financial Times, the footnote is the product of a deal struck by Spain and France. The French government was uncomfortable with the original text because it referenced a United Nations list of non-self-governing territories . . . subject to decolonization that included French Polynesia and New Caledonia. As a compromise, it accepted a definition exclusively on Gibraltar. May is tasked with negotiating a deal with the EU that the UK Parliament will accept after the original Withdrawal Agreement was voted down in January . But there are concerns that other countries could take advantage of the new round of negotiations to address unresolved issues, for instance Gibraltar. The footnote clearly states that Gibraltar must be considered a colony of the British Crown Last November, the Spanish government successfully threatened to veto the Withdrawal Agreement if it was not offered guarantees that all negotiations over British Overseas Territory after Brexit would be conducted between Madrid and London after Brexit. The British government submitted to Spains request but since then has made numerous complaints about Spanish pressure. May has maintained Britains sovereignty of the Rock on various occasions in parliament and made constant references to the support of the government of Gibraltar, which is led by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. The 2.3-square-mile territory of Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. But Spain believes only the city, castle, ports, defense stations and forts of Gibraltar were legally ceded to the UK. Since the isthmus and the adjacent waters were not included in the treaty, Spain considers them to be occupied, and refuses to recognize Britains jurisdiction, which has led to a number of disputes. Why were there more FBI agents sent to arrest Stone than Navy SEALs sent to kill Osama bin Laden? Why jackboots in the morning in America? Here is the back story. Stone has been both a paid formal adviser and an unpaid informal adviser to Trump for 40 years. He was fired from Trumps presidential campaign during the summer of 2015, but he continued to work on his own to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Some of that help according to the government involved the release of embarrassing Clinton emails that had probably been hacked by Russian agents. Last Thursday, one of special counsel Robert Muellers grand juries indicted Stone on five counts of lying to Congress, one count of witness intimidation and one count of obstruction of justice. His Gestapo-like arrest followed his indictment by just a few hours. Stone was represented by counsel throughout the time of his testimony before Congress last year. He was the recipient of grand jury subpoenas for his text messages, his emails and other records all of which, through his counsel, he surrendered. He claims that when asked by members of the House Intelligence Committee about certain aspects of these, he innocently forgot about them. Who could remember each of 1 million texts and emails? On display at the Folklife Center ELKO Exhibitions at the Western Folklife Center this month are Portraits of the Gathering: Faces and Voices of Cowboy Poetry in the Wiegand Gallery and Elko storefronts: a photographic exhibition of individuals who have brought heart and soul to our community through their poetry, story, song and artistry; Ive Got Spurs exhibition of handcrafted pieces from the Western Folklife Centers collection will be displayed alongside other contemporary and historic examples; Elko County Student Art Exhibition in the Pioneer Building Elevator Lobby and the G Three Bar Theater: enjoy the creativity of students throughout Elko County in this photography and mixed media presentation with the theme: Pictures from Poems. NEXTracker , a Flex company, along with Atlas Renewable Energy, announced that the TrueCapture smart control system, developed by NEXTracker, will be deployed across Atlas Renewable Energy's existing Latin American solar plants and on select greenfield projects currently under construction. The two companies have been partnering in the region and will now introduce the latest in control optimization technology to the Latin American solar industry. Deployed on multiple continents worldwide, TrueCapture is a first-of-its-kind intelligent, self-adjusting tracker control system for solar power plants that boosts energy production using machine learning and the latest advanced sensor technology. NEXTracker's NX Horizon smart solar tracker on Atlas Renewable Energy's solar plant in Quilapilun, Chile. "Atlas Renewable Energy is an ideal partner for NEXTracker, as the company has an excellent track record and proven expertise in driving solar project development and innovation, and has the second largest solar asset base in Latin America," said Dan Shugar, NEXTracker CEO. "We have successfully collaborated since Atlas Renewable Energy's inception and we're excited and appreciative to be integrating our proven TrueCapture technology with Atlas Renewable Energy's fleet from Mexico to Chile, significantly enhancing plant energy yields." "NEXTracker offers one of the most innovative and bankable tracker solutions in the solar market," stated Carlos Barrera, CEO and co-founder of Atlas Renewable Energy. "The TrueCapture technology is an exciting new solar tracker innovation allowing granular row-to-row control and optimization to enhance energy production. We're delighted to deploy this novel tool across numerous projects in our fleet, bringing new technology to Latin America. This decision aligns well with Atlas Renewable Energy's continuous pursuit of innovation in all aspects of our business, as well as our interest to partner with great companies in our industry. We actively seek to stay ahead of the curve, as we continue our mission to deliver low-cost, clean energy to Latin America." Totaling over 500 megawatts, Atlas Renewable Energy's specific projects include Sol Do Futuro and Sertao Solar (Brazil), Quilapilun (Chile), El Naranjal and Del Litoral (Uruguay), and Guajiro (Mexico). Already-built sites will be retrofitted and augmented with TrueCapture while newer projects will be installed and expected to perform once commissioned and tied to regional grids. How it works: TrueCapture technology dynamically adjusts the angular position of each tracker row in response to site features, weather conditions, and geospatial location of the arrays. Proven to enable system owners and developers to maximize solar system performance and enhance profits for solar power facilities, TrueCapture has been validated by top independent engineering firms including Leidos and DNV-GL. To learn more, here are additional resources on TrueCapture: About NEXTracker NEXTracker, a Flex company, advances the power plant of the future with smart solar trackers, energy storage systems and TrueCapture advanced control software that yields additional energy, optimizes performance and reduces costs for project and plant owners. As the number-one tracker supplier worldwide with over 17 GW delivered or under fulfillment, NEXTracker is globally recognized for delivering smart and connected energy systems for hundreds of projects across five continents. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has offices in Australia, India, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit NEXTracker.com and follow the company on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Atlas Renewable Energy Atlas Renewable Energy is a renewable energy generation company that develops, builds, and operates renewable energy projects with long-term energy contracts across Latin America. The current company portfolio is 1.2GW of contracted projects in development, construction, or operational stages, and aims to grow an additional 1.5GW over the next decade. Launched in early 2017, Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest track record in the solar energy industry in Latin America. The company is recognized by its high standards in development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects. Atlas Renewable Energy is part of the Energy Fund IV, co-founded by Actis, a leading private equity investor in the energy sector of emerging markets. Actis has allocated more than $600 million of equity in Atlas Renewable Energy to invest in long-term renewable energy contracted projects. Atlas Renewable Energy's growth is focused on the main emerging markets and economies of Latin America, using its proven development, commercialization and structuring know-how to bring clean energy to the region. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the center of its project strategy, the company works every day to provide the world with a cleaner future. To more know more about Atlas Renewable Energy, visit: http://www.atlasrenewableenergy.com/. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has awarded $111.2 million to three industry partners to develop Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF). General Electric (GE), Westinghouse (WEC), and Framatome received the financial assistance awards in late 2018 with FY18 and FY19 funding. The period of performance for these awards goes through January 31, 2021 with DOE and NE planning additional funding of $55.6 million in FY20 and $30 million in FY21, contingent upon Congressional approval. Accident Tolerant Fuels are intended to directly and substantially further enhance nuclear fuel reliability and safety, as well as the economics of nuclear reactor operations. The improved heat tolerance of ATF contributes to significantly improved reactor safety and security. ATF also improve economics due to improved heat tolerances and increased agility to power reactors up and down while staying within safety margins. "Nuclear energy remains a critical component of our all-of-the-above' energy strategy and is imperative to our country's energy and national security," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. "The successful development of Accident Tolerant Fuels will enhance the safety and efficiency of our nuclear fleet, which will, in turn, enhance the overall reliability of our energy system." "We are very pleased with the success of the accident tolerant fuel program to date and its contribution to nuclear reactor safety and economics," said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. "We have made these awards to three leading U.S. nuclear commercial fuel provider teams in order to further innovate fuel concepts to meet the needs of the U.S nuclear power industry." The primary objectives for the new awards are as follows: GE will continue the development of Iron Chromium Aluminum (FeCrAl) alloys Cladding trademarked IronClad. GE will also continue to develop its coating program for zirconium alloys trademarked ARMOR and the study of uranium dioxide-based ceramic metal fuels. Framatome will continue the development and deployment of chromium-coated zirconium alloy cladding with chromia-doped uranium oxide (UO2) pellets (Cr-Cr2O3). Additionally, Framatome will continue and expand development efforts on its silicon carbide cladding concepts. Westinghouse will continue the development of Uranium Silicide (U3Si2) and Doped UO2 trademarked ADOPT in chromium-coated zirconium alloy cladding. Westinghouse will also continue its silicon carbide cladding concepts development. For the first 14-month budget period, all three fuel vendors are required to: Ensure an initial Lead Test Assembly has been installed in a U.S. commercial power plant; Ensure prototypic pin segments have been installed in the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Advanced Test Reactor's water loop; Continue development of licensing approaches for the ATF concept that include the involvement of at least one nuclear power plant owner / operator per ATF concept, and; Ensure continued interaction with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for licensing purposes for each concept. Should Congress authorize additional funding for the ATF program, the vendors will expand operation of ATF-related concepts in DOE facilities - INL ATR, INL Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility, and out-of-pile tests - and commercial reactors with prototypic segments and rods. The companies would be expected to have agreed-upon licensing plans developed for future NRC approval for initial partial core loadings into commercial nuclear power plants during the mid-2020s. News Media Contact: (202) 586-4940 The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is committed to protecting the health, safety, and security of the public at all of our sites as we conduct our important national security missions. The recent plutonium shipments to the Nevada National Security Site were undertaken to comply with an order issued by the U.S. District Court in South Carolina. It is inaccurate to state that the Members of the Nevada delegation were not informed of this movement. The Department of Energy was as transparent as operational security would permit. Efforts were made to ensure that Members of Congress and state officials representing the states involved were notified of the planned movement ahead of time, as early as August 2018 when NNSA publicly released the plan in a Supplement Analysis. Since then, NNSA confirmed that it was "actively engaged" in removing one metric ton of plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico.** It is also inaccurate to characterize this material as "waste". This material is essential for maintenance of the U.S. weapons stockpile, and is handled with the highest standards for safety and security. NNSA routinely ships this type of material between its sites as part of our national security missions and has done so safely and securely for decades. **Aiken Standard, "NNSA: Weapons-grade plutonium will be moved out of SC this year, next year," Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB (hereinafter - the Company or ESO), identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023. An Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO is to be convened on the initiative and by the decision of the Board of the Company on 31 January 2019. The date, time and place of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders: The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO will be held on 22 February 2019, at 10.00 a.m., on the premises of ESO (Aguonu str. 24, second floor, 207 hall, Vilnius). The shareholder registration will start at 9.25 a.m. and will end at 9.55 a.m. The record date of the Extraordinary General Meeting is 15 February 2019. Only persons who are shareholders of ESO at the end of the record date of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company shall have the right to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO. The following agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO was approved by the decision of the Board of the Company on 31 January 2019 and the following draft decisions proposed: 1. Regarding the terms and conditions of activities of the independent member of the Supervisory board of Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB. The proposed draft decision of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company on the abovementioned agenda item: "1.1. To define an hourly pay rate (before taxes) in the amount of EUR 54,43 (fifty-four euros and forty three cents) for an independent member of the Supervisory Board for the actual activity as an independent member of the Supervisory Board. 1.2. To establish that the hourly pay rate for an independent member of the Supervisory Board of the Company is limited to a maximum amount of EUR 1300 (one thousand and three hundreds euros, before taxes). 1.3. To authorize Chief Executive Officer of Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB (with the right to re-authorize) to sign the amendment of contract regarding activities of independent member of the Supervisory Board.". 2. Regarding the election of the audit company for the audit of financial reports of Energijos skirstymo operatorius AB and set of terms of remuneration for audit services. The proposed draft decision of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company on the abovementioned agenda item: "To elect "ERNST & YOUNG BALTIC" UAB as the audit company for the audit of Energijos skirstymo operatorius AB for the years 2019-2021 and to pay for audit services no more than 246 350,00 EUR (VAT not included) for the years 2019-2021." Shareholders participating in the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO shall produce an identity document. Shareholders shall be granted pecuniary and non-pecuniary rights provided for by laws and other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania. Shareholders entitled to participate in the aforementioned shareholder meeting shall have the right to authorize, in writing, a natural or legal person to participate and vote on their behalf at the General Meetings of Shareholders indicated in this notice. Such a written authorization shall be approved in accordance with the procedure laid down in legal acts and shall be delivered to Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius no later than by the end of shareholder registration for a relevant General Meeting. Shareholders entitled to participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO shall also have the right to authorize, by electronic means of communication, a natural or legal person to participate and vote on their behalf at the General Meeting of Shareholders. An authorization issued by electronic means of communication shall be recognized as valid provided that the security of the information transferred is ensured and it is possible to identify the shareholder. Shareholders shall report the issuance of an authorization by electronic means of communication by sending it by e-mail to info@eso.lt not later than by the end of the working day on 21 February 2019 (16:30 p.m.). The authorized person shall have an identity document and shall enjoy the same rights at the General Meeting as the shareholder represented by him would enjoy (unless the issued authorization or laws provide for narrower rights of the authorized person). The shareholder's right to participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders shall also include the right to ask. ESO has not approved any special authorization form of the abovementioned General Meeting of Shareholders. The agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO may be supplemented on the initiative of shareholders of company whose shares held in company carry at least 1/20 of all votes at the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO. The proposal to supplement the agenda of the respective General Meeting of Shareholders shall be accompanied by draft decisions or, where no decisions have to be taken, by explanations on each proposed agenda item of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The agenda shall be supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 before the respective General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders whose shares held in ESO carry at least 1/20 of all votes at the General Meeting of Shareholders of company shall have the right to propose, at any time before the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO, new draft decisions on issues that are included or will be included in the agendas of the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO. Proposals on the supplementation of the respective agenda or relevant draft decisions shall be submitted in writing to ESO, Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, or by e-mail to info@eso.lt. Shareholders of ESO shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders of company. Questions may be presented by e-mail to info@eso.lt or delivered to ESO to Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, no later than 3 working days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders will be able to vote on the agenda items of the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO in writing by filling in ballot papers. At the request of a shareholder, ESO shall send, free of charge, a ballot paper to the shareholder by registered post or deliver it by hand against signature no later than 10 days before the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO. A completed ballot paper shall be signed by the shareholder or a person authorized by the shareholder. Where a person authorized by the shareholder casts a vote, a document certifying the right to vote shall be attached to the completed ballot paper. Filled and signed general ballot paper and the document confirming the voting right can be sent to the company by registered mail or delivered at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, no later before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The company retains the right not to recognize the advance vote of the shareholder or his/her authorized representative, if his/her submitted general ballot paper does not meet the requirements of Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 30 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, was received to late or is filled so that the true will of the shareholder on an individual matter cannot be determined. Electronic means of communication shall not be used for participation and voting at either of the abovementioned General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders can familiarize themselves with documents related to the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders of ESO, draft decisions on the agenda, documents to be submitted to General Meeting of Shareholders and other information related to the implementation of the rights of shareholders specified in this notice on the website of ESO at www.eso.lt from the date of this notice as well as on the premises of ESO (Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius) during working hours (7.30-11.30 a.m. and 12.15-4.30 p.m.; 7.30-11.30 a.m. and 12.15-3.15 p.m. on Fridays). Contact Spokesman Tomas Kavaliauskas tomas.kavaliauskas@le.lt tel. +370 617 51616 Atlantic Track has been manufacturing products for the railroad industry since Calvin Coolidge was President. Thanks to a new partnership with TVA and Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), they became one of the many companies contributing to a modern manufacturing renaissance in Memphis after opening their newest facility on more than 14 acres in early December 2018. TVA's EnergyRight Solutions for Business + Industry played a significant role in helping the new site add smart energy technologies to their facilities. Energy efficient welding machines, cutting blades and a computer-controlled cutting machine one of 20 in the world will help the company increase their competitiveness. Growing Strong in Memphis "Memphis is known for manufacturing, and our team works with MLGW to offer expert guidance and targeted incentives to industries like Atlantic Track," said Cindy Herron, vice president, EnergyRight Solutions. "This is just one of many examples of how businesses, local power companies and TVA can all work together to offer efficient electric technologies that provide solutions that help everyone." The expansion includes an additional 16,000 square feet of manufacturing space along with new, efficient machinery and equipment, and an innovative partnership with Shelby County Schools Career and Technical Education. The goal is to hire trained students straight out of high school who will have an opportunity to make a livable wage and continue their education with tuition assistance from Atlantic Track. Because of the expansion, Atlantic Track will grow its product line and bring 20 additional jobs to the Greater Memphis Area. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility, Atlantic Track President Peter Hughes highlighted the company's commitment to Memphis. "Employment at this facility has increased from the five original employees of MidSouth Rail Corp in 2010 to more than 50 today. And we have big plans for the future and for additional growth here in Memphis," Hughes said. MLGW President and CEO J.T. Young said of the project, "MLGW is proud to be a part of the expansion at Atlantic Track. We, along with our partners at TVA, look forward to working with Atlantic Track as they continue to grow and are committed to serving their utility needs." New Energy Smart Technologies In addition to welding machines, cutting blades and a computer-controlled cutting machine, the company added High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technologies to the new facility. HVLS fans distribute air evenly throughout an industrial space while using a fraction of the energy of a traditional fan. Not only does this drive heating and cooling costs down and reduce stress on HVAC systems, but it is quieter than the noisy floor fans typically used in a manufacturing facility, which helps maintain a comfortable work environment. EnergyRight Solutions also supported the company with reconditioning an area previously used for storage to make it appropriate for railroad bending. Rail can bend, warp and buckle in the midst of extreme temperatures. Well-maintained rail needs to be produced within a neutral temperate range, and the new facility installed variable refrigerant flow (VRF) conditioning technology to ensure consistent temperatures throughout their space. Other advantages offered by VRFs include the ability to simultaneously heat and cool based on what is needed in different areas of a building, quiet operations and flexible installation. With more than 200 full and part-time employees located in seven states, Atlantic Track Director of Engineering and Manufacturing Jeff Grissom credits TVA with helping keep the company invested in Memphis and the state of Tennessee. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (1/31) welcomed Genevieve Shiroma as Commissioner following her oath of office ceremony in Sacramento. Governor Gavin Newsom announced Commissioner Shiroma's appointment to the CPUC on Jan. 22, 2019. "I would like to thank Governor Newsom for this incredible opportunity. There are many important issues facing California that the CPUC must address this year," said Commissioner Shiroma. "I look forward to contributing to the policy discussions before us and working closely with my colleagues on the CPUC, the Legislature, and our sister agencies." "I am pleased to welcome Genevieve to the CPUC," said CPUC President Michael Picker. "We are honored and blessed to have another strong, smart, capable woman to lead us forward." Prior to joining the CPUC, Commissioner Shiroma served as a member of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board since 1999, serving as chair since 2017 and from 2011 to 2014 and 1999 to 2006. Previously, she was Chief of the Air Quality Branch at the California Air Resources Board from 1990 to 1999 and as an air quality engineer from 1978 to 1990. From 1999 to 2018, Commissioner Shiroma was the elected director of Ward 4 of the Sacramento Utility Municipal District (SMUD). Commissioner Shiroma resides in Sacramento, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Davis. She was born and raised as a farm worker's daughter in the Acampo-Lodi area of San Joaquin County. Commissioners are appointed to the CPUC for six-year terms and require Senate confirmation. Commissioner Shiroma was appointed to fill the Commissioner seat vacated by former Commissioner Carla J. Peterman. Her term expires at the end of 2024. The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians' access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov. Timo Kiiveri (M.Sc., MBA) has been appointed director of the executive management group of Fingrid Oyj, Finland's transmission system operator, effective 1 July 2019. Kiiveri will join the company in late spring, and his area of responsibility will be the company's asset management. Kiiveri (born 1967) joins Fingrid from Empower Group, where he heads the Power business and Baltic operations. Prior to that, he served as a Project Manager for Fingrid, where he was in charge of the HVDC Unit, among other responsibilities. "Fingrid warmly welcomes Timo Kiiveri back to the company. Timo is a highly professional business director, a man of influence with strong interaction skills, and he has a history with the company," says Fingrid's President & CEO, Jukka Ruusunen, of Kiiveri's appointment. "I am pleased to be joining this solid team and company, and I look forward to continuing with the development of the transmission grid. Major investments lie ahead, and new IoT technology will open up interesting development paths in grid maintenance management," says Timo Kiiveri. Kiiveri will take over the tasks of Director Kari Kuusela, who will retire on 1 July 2019. Fingrid thanks Kuusela for his more than twenty years of service with the company. Kuusela has made a tremendous contribution to developing Finland's transmission grid. Contact Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO, Fingrid Oyj tel. +358 40 593 8428 The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine in an interview with UNIAN told about the ongoing work with the western partners on a new package of sanctions against Russia over the aggression in the Sea of Azov and our losses as a result of this aggression, Ukraine's plans for road repair and construction, his attitude to the NABU probe against him, and changes ahead in railway transportation. In April, it will be exactly three years that you've occupied a top post in the Ministry of Infrastructure. What goals have you already achieved? One of the main achievements is the creation of a Road Fund, that is, a full-fledged system that is steadily financing construction and repair of roads. Over the past few years, over 7,300 km of roads have been repaired and built, of which 3,800 km last year alone. These are very good indicators, with few European countries able to boast of such a pace. We're also seeing good shifts in aviation, in particular, we've completely changed the market. It cost us enormous efforts and it was really stressful, but that's worth it because we have achieved a decrease in the average ticket price by a magnitude of ten, so people are able to travel by air at an affordable price. Also, we have positive indicators of the work of the maritime industry, as evidenced by the growth of freight traffic at commercial seaports for the second consecutive year. There are good shifts at Ukrzaliznytsia. Therefore, I think that, in general, I've been doing well. While I was rather critical of myself in 2016-2017, the results of the past year are already noticeable not only to me but also to other people. I'm yet to deserve a monument, but I do deserve a "thank you", I believe. We have successfully undergone complex international audits of the maritime and aviation industries, also rising significantly in international infrastructure rankings. It is an assessment of foreign experts that we are doing everything right. And what issues are yet to be solved? It's Ukrzaliznytsia. Much more needs to be done. Of the obvious positive developments, there are corporate governance, transparent procurement biddings introduced in separate segments, for example, formula-based fuel procurement. We've signed the largest contract in Eastern Europe with General Electric for locomotive production with localization of production in Ukraine. We have some improvement with rolling stock: thousands of freight cars and a little more than a hundred passenger cars were repaired and built, new railway lines are being launched, in particular, last year, for the first time, passenger traffic to the EU countries exceeded that to the Russian direction. That is, positive shifts are obvious, but there is still a lot of work ahead. How do you assess the decision of the government to appoint Yevhen Kravtsov Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman? This is a government decision. I supported it. Are you going to return the control of Ukrzaliznytsya lost in 2017? After all, the illegality of actions to transfer the company to the Ministry of Economic Development was confirmed in court, but then no relevant decisions were taken by government... I try to look into the future; we found points of contact with the government and with Ukrzaliznytsia. The key to us is the company's development. The Ministry of Economic Development, in principle, has no competence to shape up a policy for the development of the transport sector. Let's talk about reforms in Ukrzaliznytsia. At the end of last year, you stated that, because of the lack of corporate governance and a clear action plan, the reform of Ukrzaliznytsia is chaotic... Yes, only at the end of the year did we see some changes. In the second half of 2018, the Supervisory Board was appointed, this year, Yevhen Kravtsov was appointed as a full-fledged head of the company. On January 18, he was introduced to the team. Yesterday I finally saw the company's development strategy, which Balczun had promised to show me [Polish rock star Wojciech Balczun, who led Ukrzaliznytsia in 2016-2017]. This is a very important document, as we must clearly understand the priorities of the company's development from the point of view of its management and, accordingly, approve them at the government level because these priorities should be in line with those of the state. For what period should the strategy be developed? This is a five-year strategy for 2019-2023. We are currently analyzing it. I think that the time has come when the state should provide support to Ukrzaliznytsia because it is no longer possible to implement infrastructure projects at the expense of the company. Now it is necessary to help Ukrzaliznytsia to get on its feet. It is important that this strategy include an element of competition that we introduced this year first in an experimental mode, and then on a permanent basis, private hauling, both passenger and freight. Also, we are now jointly preparing an important document the concession of railway stations. I would like the Central Railway Station in Kyiv to become a pilot project because it is a beautiful and interesting site, so we can get high interest from foreign and Ukrainian investors. Are you planning to transfer the train station to a concession this year? In fact, we can talk about 2020 because, according to our experience in preparing concession projects in the maritime industry, such work takes about a year. Is there an interest on the part of investors in such projects in Ukraine? Yes, including concession stations. It's good business, huge sites that are currently being used inefficiently, serving as a source of small profits for individual executives. We want them to bring profit to the company, becoming city sightseeing objects. Because our stations today are like Shanghai in the bad sense, and this is wrong. They must be the key objects, business cards of cities! Will it be a long-term concession for 49 years? In the new law on concession, which I hope will be adopted by parliament in the near future, there are different formats from the minimum transfer for ten years and up to 49 years. A concrete formula will be found depending on the site. In the case of seaports, it can be from 24 to 49 years. You mentioned plans to allow "private hauling" on the railways. When is it expected? We'd like to launch it experimentally as early as this year. Can this be done without the adoption of a key law on rail transport, which precisely involves opening a market for private companies? This document didn't pass the vote at the end of last year... Yes, we can do this without adopting the law, in an experimental mode. At the same time, for such a mechanism to work properly, a railway transport law is definitely required. Recently, the bill was registered in parliament. I hope the Verkhovna Rada will support it. Tell us more about the idea. For us, the key is to identify the areas that do not generate profits for Ukrzaliznytsia, then, in an experimental mode, by agreeing with a major global operator, start private hauling to work out the profitability of the routes and subsequently turn it into business. By the way, there is an interest from certain operators to enter the Ukrainian railway transport market. We are ready for any format, it is important for us that this model works. I am convinced of the success of this model because business organizes it better. Many experts have repeatedly warned that after the introduction of private hauling, private players will get the most profitable routes, while Ukrzaliznytsia will be compelled to bear losses... To avoid this, we want to do everything together with Ukrzaliznytsia; morally, it has more or less accepted this proposal put forward by the president of Ukraine, but I understand that there will still be strong resistance. Nevertheless, we emphasize that in no way will we take from Ukrzaliznytsia their profitable areas, we are talking only about those that are currently unprofitable. This year promises to pass under the slogan of road repairs. However, the bulk of the work in Ukraine is generally about maintenance and pit latching. When will Ukraine get away from this practice and begin to carry out major road repairs and build new roads? In fact, this is great progress, because, in the past years, we were only engaged in pit repair. In the case of Ukraine, maintenance works are, in fact, more like overhaul. These roads will serve Ukraine for at least ten to fifteen years. Regarding the complete overhaul and new road construction, we have already begun doing this in the past year. There are completely new objects, but such works are much more expensive. For example, the average repair cost is from UAH 10 million to UAH 20 million per kilometer, while capital construction from the zero to construct the first category road costs EUR 1.5 million. This is the cheapest price in Europe, the closest is the cost in Bulgaria where they build motorways from EUR 3 million. For a few years, your team has been insisting on the construction of concrete roads in Ukraine, which are better than asphalt analogs. When will concrete roads become real and are they really so necessary? We start building such roads. This is the detour around Zhytomyr and the Mykolayiv-Kropyvnytsky road. Indeed, such a road is of a higher cost than asphalt analogs, but they are more durable. These are completely different technologies, and in Ukraine, there are virtually no companies that are ready to build such roads. But I agree with the fact that these roads are needed, but not massively, only in the most loaded areas. What do you think about the situation surrounding a number of road tenders, won by Belarusian companies in the interests of Russia? In particular, the Belarusians got a lucky piece the repair of the Kyiv-Odesa highway. Why doesn't Ukravtodor support a national producer? There is a lot of white noise around this situation, but for me it is key that there is competition. We are looking to ensure that the market develops, and, while in 2014, we had few companies capable of doing something qualitatively, we now have about 40 companies, of which the top 10 are ready to make roads of any complexity. This is a key indicator for me. As for the Belarusians, we cannot precisely close the market for them: there are Turkish, Chinese, and European companies present. Why should not be there Belarusian ones? That is, the Kyiv-Odesa highway will finally be repaired? We will partly repair it because it is an expensive object the first category road. This year, we have about EUR 60 million at the expense of the saved EBRD and EIB loans; we will send these funds to repair the road up to Uman, and then we will need to do more repairs. The problem is that the repair of the road was carried out long ago and in a hurry because it was necessary to commission it to a certain deadline for a political purpose. And this affected the quality, accordingly. In Kyiv region, we will complete the repairs, then, we will move further, but not so fast. I'm not happy with the contractor because every year they promise to finally complete the works. Our goal is that, starting from 2020, we will completely abandon pit repairs lasting for several months. Tell us about the results of the experiment on distributing over-the-target customs revenues for road repairs. Is it still valid? Last year, the experiment worked badly. It is still valid. But I think that it was correct to conduct it in 2015-2016, and it worked well in 2017 when there was no Road Fund and stable funding. It is important that we keep the Road Fund alive as a key financing tool for the roads and its philosophy of increasing road funding with each year. If we succeed, this year we want to enable regions to attract external financing, such as from the EBRD, the EIB, the World Bank, within the framework of 35% of the Road Fund's money, which go to local roads. This is done in order not to repair roads in the regions for five or ten years, but to get a targeted loan and to complete the repairs in two to three years, then to pay a loan at low rates and maintain roads in good condition. This is the correct way out of the situation at the regional level. Should this be resolved somehow at the legislative level? Yes, there is a legislative problem that does not allow taking loans for this funding. I hope we will resolve this issue. What is the current situation with scarce permits for the international transportation of goods by road? Have we agreed with Poland on the allocation of additional quotas? In 2018, it was already not only Ukrainian companies but also foreign businesses producing goods in Ukraine and exporting it to the West, who suddenly realized with horror that logistics in our country is a big problem. It was a cold shower. They first turned to the Ministry of Infrastructure, asking to help them send the products for export. We patiently explained to them that this is a policy of the governments of Poland, Hungary, Germany, and France, so they should apply to them since the quotas for the transportation are set by these countries. Companies did it, and this yielded results. The German government immediately reacted and allocated an additional 20,000 permits. France said they would increase the quota for Ukraine and generally consider that there should be no restrictions, because Ukrainian companies do not carry out cabotage within the EU, but are engaged only in bilateral transport. The Polish minister assured me that there would be no waiting time for Ukrainian trucks. I hope everyone will keep their word and we will have a qualitative movement forward this year. Yesterday, at our joint meeting with Minister of Infrastructure of Poland A. Adamczyk, we considered the issues of automobile and rail transportation between Ukraine and Poland in a comprehensive manner. We have a good constructive dialogue. Have you overcome the abuse of transportation permits, where there is a resale for a crazy money? We know that at the end of the year, some dishonest people in the market were selling permits for $1,000 each, while at the same time I begged Poland to issue 2,000 such documents. I realized that, by managing to get them for us, I made a couple of people millionaires. I hope that the law enforcement will treat this seriously. To avoid such abuses, in early January, a new system was introduced a QR-code system that reads all permit data online. We'd like to connect to this system the authorities at the fiscal and border guard agencies in the near future to be able to really see whether a certain permit was used or resold. Last year, I began negotiations in Brussels on the liberalization of road transportation. In one or two years I would like to see this issue resolved. What is it about? Will there be complete cancellation of permits? We ask that all restrictions be lifted so that EU rules on free movement within the European Union are extended to Ukraine as well. After all, given that we have signed an agreement on the free movement of goods and services, this should be ensured. But the situation is complicated as within the EU itself there are certain discussions ongoing on the issue. Throughout the period of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol were seriously affected. What damage did the maritime industry sustain from the illegal actions of our northern neighbor? This is a huge sum, approaching the UAH 10 billion mark, that's if we take both state enterprises and the Administration of Seaports of Ukraine, as well as the negative influence on the region altogether. We have always been serious about this, starting with the start of construction of the Kerch Bridge. They warned that this would be Putin's political tool to shut down the Kerch Strait and, respectively, the waters of the Sea of Azov. After the actual crisis in the Kerch Strait, when our ships and sailors were shelled and captured, we did our best to reach out to the member states of the anti-Russian coalition. This has yielded good effect because not everyone had understood right away the nature of the conflict and the consequences it would cause. But after the EU members realized the essence of the question that following the Sea of Azov, the same will happen in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, the reaction was completely different. We're preparing with our partners in the anti-Russian coalition the so-called "Azov package" of sanctions. This week, the EU special mission is visiting the region. As of today, we're seeing a virtually free passage through the Kerch Strait, but it is far from perfect in our understanding. Vessels should not wait to enter or exit for several hours. Previously, the waiting time was close to a zero. Now, ships wait an average of 15 hours, and recently, it was many days. How did these developments affect the number of ship checks to Ukrainian ports? Now, we're facing a threat of another nature, which we also predicted. Against the background of these events, shipowners are not anymore willing to provide their vessels for freight transportation because they realize the risk of loss in the case of a possible delay. Therefore, it is much easier for them to work in the Black Sea with other ports than with those in the Azov. We believe that, although it is difficult to find a consensus in the EU, the Azov package of sanctions will finally be adopted. This will hit Russia, again, and is supposed to put it in its place. Last year the government supported corporatization of the state-owned Administration of Seaports of Ukraine. What will this bring to the industry and what projects are to be implemented in ports this year? We hope that, first of all, in the economic plan, this will bring some relief to the industry, because the ASPU will be able to keep its profit and invest it, respectively, as it should, in its core business. As of today, the ASPU sends to the state budget 50% of the profits of the enterprises of the maritime industry, while previously it was 75%. Regarding management, I hope that there will be an increase in terms of professionalism. I'm very pleased with the work of [head of the ASPU] Raiivis Veckagans. He belongs there, and I really do have others to compare him with. Thanks to him, the investments were allocated for port infrastructure. This is about dredging without scandals and rollback, saving money, investing in berths and hydraulic structures. Plus, the industry is showing growth. It's the first year when, in fact, the share of imports in ports has increased because we mainly have export-oriented ports. Also, despite the crisis in the Sea of Azov, the traffic in ports has increased by several percent, which is a good indicator. What is the situation with the draft law on inland water transport, which was submitted to parliament more than a year ago? Are there any shifts? No changes yet. The bill has long been prepared. It's just that we have a situation where we think we've reached an agreement with legislators but they still fail to vote for the law. It's a shame as this hinders the development of the industry. Although, due to the changes we've made at the regulatory level, we're seeing an increase in traffic flow. Compared to 2013, it has tripled, to about 10 million tonnes in 2018. But the industry can grow even more dynamically; there is a huge interest from private companies to invest in barges and tugs. The only thing they are waiting for is the adoption of the law. By the way, despite the lack of law, private investors invest at their own risk. In the near future, we might hear some good news about the investments of large companies in river infrastructure. Who has been hindering the adoption of this key sectoral bill? It's individual deputies and individual companies. This is a natural situation for all spheres of the Ukrainian economy, and no wonder why. We have seen the same happening in aviation but we have changed the situation. With regard to the rivers, we're breaking this obstacle right now. The infrastructure ministry has long been voicing its intentions to repair the locks on the Dnipro River and conduct dredging, while nothing has been done in this regard. What prevented the implementation of these plans and when will this set of measures necessary for the revival of the river be fulfilled? In 2017, for the first time in many years, we started repair works at the river locks. Ukrvodshliakh used to have a chronical lack of financing as the money would cover 45-50% of the needs, which was not even enough to pay salaries. In 2017-2018, overhaul of the locks was completed worth UAH 55 million. This year, we're planning to invest UAH 124 million, namely, to change the doors of the gate at the Kyiv Locks and start repairing the Zaporizhia Locks. In general, we need UAH 450 million for repairs in the next three years. Mostly, it will be financed by the European Commission and from the state budget. Also this year, we are planning to begin dredging works. What legislative changes is the ministry initiating to advance reforms? In general, the European Commission is very positive about our Transport Strategy until 2030 and the developments that we are already working on. However, we're having a gap in the legislative process. There are a lot of laws, about twenty, of which ten are urgent, but they've been back-shelved there in parliament for years and we still can't convince deputies to vote for them. I hope that in the near future, there will come a joint appeal of our European and American partners to legislators, noting the importance of adopting these documents, as this is Ukraine's commitment under the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. What are the most urgent bills you are talking about? The one on railway transportation, inland water transportation, road transportation, transportation of dangerous goods, taxi services, electric vehicles, and a number of others. What changes should we expect in the aviation industry? Will this year be marked by the arrival of new air carriers? I am glad that aviation for the third consecutive year has been showing a real boom. This is one of the pieces of evidence proving that, when a transparent competition starts and there is an equal approach to all market players, the market reacts positively. We're seeing good dynamics of passenger traffic, and we want this to continue. I think that this year, we will surely service a 25-millionth passenger, while I would like the number of passengers reach 27 million. This year, we have to launch a number of projects at the Boryspil Airport. We are talking about a long-awaited completion of parking area construction, re-commission of Terminal F, and the launch of a cargo terminal. In general, all indicators in the transport sector doubled against those for 2013-2014. This, respectively, also was the case in aviation. In 2018, we transported about 48,000 tonnes of cargo. Over the next two years, we could double this figure, that is, reach 100,000 tonnes, but we don't have the capacity yet. Therefore, we are now working on building a modern cargo terminal at the Boryspil Airport with a minimum capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes per year to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of all goods coming through the Boryspil from Asia or the EU. All European cargo aviation hubs are located in Western Europe. Why not have a first one in Ukraine? What is the capacity of the existing cargo terminal? The actual capacity is very small, about 30,000 tonnes. What happened in the Boryspil, with a sharp increase in cargo-aircraft, where the terminal was unable to accept cargo, is primarily due to Ukrposhta, which showed a sharp increase in the segment of e-commerce and international aviation, which gave such a serious impetus. But now we have a headache, while this is yet another indication that concessions should be applied in the future not only to seaports but also to airports. We are talking about this with the International Finance Corporation and we are preparing the relevant projects. What will this be about? There will be a base state airport Lviv or Boryspil, while two or four regional airports will be added. An international strategic high-level investor must be found to operate these airports and attract funding. But these airports are showing good results even without concession Does it make sense to do this? Yes, indeed, today these airports perform well, but we must now build a new runway at the Boryspil Airport, as well as a large cargo terminal, and a nice hotel. This is about $500 million in investment. Does the state really have to finance this? I doubt that there are such funds. We believe that concessions here will work well; we will receive additional revenues to the budget by attracting private capital. Will the parking area be completed at the airport's own expense? Yes, this project is funded by the Boryspil. We planned to launch it last year, but this year we will definitely do it. When? Works are at the final stage. There were some problems with the contractor, but all the issues have been resolved. How much will the passenger flow grow if Terminal F is launched in full, and when could this happen? We plan to launch in the spring of this year. The terminal will be focused on a low-end segment. In total, last year's increase was about 20%, slightly more than 12 million passengers; accordingly, this year, the growth will be no lower, by 2.5-3 million passengers. When will the Single Skies Agreement with the EU be signed? We are still waiting for the "open skies" on the part of the EU; now there is a difficult situation with Brexit. Various scenarios are on the table. That is, you don't expect to sign an agreement this year, do you? I'm always an optimist. For me, it was a key task when I became a minister to sign this deal. Are you satisfied with the staffing policy in the ministry and enterprises that are subordinated to it? Maybe you plan to dismiss someone? I think, many are not satisfied with me either and would like to see me go. As for the ministry and state-owned enterprises, we are all human beings and I always try to reflect. The problem of Ukraine is that it is very difficult to appoint qualified specialists; and then the bad ones, or those who turned into poor-quality ones, are even more difficult to dismiss, and this is a huge challenge that has not yet been addressed. I think that weak staffing policy makes up for 80% of problems in state management. It's not about corruption or intentional abuse, but rather incompetence and inefficiency. Are you satisfied with the work of Ukravtodor CEO Slawomir Novak? Yes, I think that he brilliantly fit into the existing system, demonstrating very good results. It's nice to have in your team leaders who do not need to learn, but rather those from whom you learn. Has his salary increased after he complained? I would really like to find some levers to raise it. In fact, against the background of Kravtsov and Smiliansky, this salary looks scanty. Taking into account the fact that he is a former Minister of Infrastructure and a very experienced person who operates tens of billions of hryvnias, for which he is personally responsible, his salary needs to be revised upward. By the way, will the wage of Ukrposhta CEO Smilyansky be revised as it was supposed to be, according to the president's instructions? This is the competence of the Supervisory Board. Of course, they should listen to the recommendations of the president. And finally, what is the progress in the NABU case over suspicion of unlawful enrichment? I immediately decided for myself that I would not pay much attention to this. There are lawyers who have agreed to help, so they are engaged in this. What I know is that now, the case is at the stage of parties familiarizing with the materials, after which it should be forwarded to court. Again, my attorneys are working there, and I don't even want to read them. This is pure politics and these are the rules of "game" in Ukraine: you go against the system you get a probe against yourself. In December 2018 - January 2019, a number of investigations were closed on the same and much larger scale. This, of course, does not apply to me. I am going to court. Oleksandra Danko If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine's National Bank expects $2 bln from eurobonds placement in 2019 Ukraine also hopes for the second part of the European Union's macro-financial assistance this year. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter NBU: Launch of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine to halve gas transit revenue Proceeds from natural gas transit now total US$3 billion per year. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Pompeo says Trump-Kim summit to be held somewhere in Asia U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walk after lunch at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore June 12, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Jonathan Ernst U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was dispatching a team to make preparations for the next Trump-Kim summit . In an interview with Fox News Channel, Pompeo said the North Koreans had agreed the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held at the end of February. "Well do it some place in Asia," he said. "I am dispatching a team there. Theyre headed that way now to lay the foundations for what I hope will be a substantial additional step toward the path for not only denuclearization of the peninsula but a brighter future for the North Korean people," Pompeo said. Pompeo did not name the summit venue. Vietnam said last week it had not been informed about any time or venue for a possible Trump-Kim summit, but that it was confident in its ability to host such a meeting. Officials and diplomats said two weeks ago that Vietnam was keen to host the summit and two sources told Reuters that Hanoi was preparing to receive Kim on a state visit. Singapore, where Trump and Kim met in June, and Bangkok have also been talked about as possibilities for a summit. Last Junes summit - the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader - produced a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but he has yet to take what Washington sees as concrete steps in that direction. South Koreas Yonhap News Agency cited a South Korean foreign ministry official as saying the two sides would focus on how the United States might respond if the North dismantled its Yongbyon nuclear complex, in preparatory talks for a second summit. During an inter-Korean summit in September, North Koreas Kim expressed willingness to close Yongbyon if the United States took corresponding action. Yonhap said the preparatory talks could begin next week. Possible U.S. reciprocal steps could include talks to clinch a peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, the official was quoted as saying. The war ended with an armistice and North Korea has long sought a formal treaty. But the South Korean official ruled out the possibility of easing sanctions on North Korea or a resumption of economic projects between the two Koreas. Last week, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos that North Korea could show its commitment to denuclearization by shutting its Yongbyon complex and allowing international inspections to confirm that. A woman dries coffee beans on a road in Vietnam's northern province of Son La. Photo by Reuters/Kham Coffee shipments from Vietnam are expected to fall sharply next week on the Lunar New Year holiday. "Markets in Vietnam will close next week and I think export activities wont resume until the holiday is over," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Farmers in the Central Highlands sold coffee at 32,400-33,600 dong ($1.41-$1.46) per kg COFVN-DAK on Thursday, down from a range of 32,600-33,800 dong a week earlier. Traders in Vietnam offered 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta COFVN-G25-SAI at a $50 per tonne discount to the March contract, compared with $60-$70 discount last week. Farmers in the Central Highlands, the countrys largest coffee growing area, have sold more than 50 percent of their newly harvested beans of the 2018-19 crop year, traders said. Data released by the governments General Statistics Office on Tuesday showed coffee exports from Vietnam in January will likely fall 19.1 percent from a year earlier to 175,000 tonnes. Last week, traders forecast January coffee shipments would total 200,000 tonnes. Coffee export revenue for Vietnam, the worlds biggest producer of the robusta bean, will likely fall 27.2 percent to $305 million in January, the GSO said. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, many coffee exporters wont even bother setting prices or make any offers to foreign buyers due to a lack of beans. Indonesias premium for the grade 4 defect 80 robusta COFID-G4-USD stayed flat at $50-$60 to the March contract on Thursday, a trader in Lampung said. The trader expects activities to start picking up pace in March as the mini harvest is expected in some areas in southern Sumatra. HCMC police are hunting for two men who snatched a handbag from a Vietnamese Singaporean woman Sunday. Le Lam Bao Tran, 40, was taking photos with her family at the corner of Cao Ba Quat and Thi Sach Street in the central District 1, a five-minute drive from Ben Thanh Market, when two men driving on a motorbike approached her and one of the two grabbed her handbag and escaped. The bag had S$2,000 ($1,480), credit cards and other personal identification papers. By chance, her relative clicked on the camera and captured the moment that the robbery took place. A man is captured on camera as he snatched a handbag from a Vietnamese Singaporean woman in downtown Saigon on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the victim's family The family has filed a report with the local police and provided the photo identifying the snatcher. Police are now hunting for the thieves. The snatching happened so suddenly that she could not react in time, said Tran, whod returned HCMC to celebrate Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, with her family. Street crime, especially those targeting tourists, has been a rising problem in Saigon for many years now, giving the nations largest city an unsavory reputation despite its many other attractions. A supplier for a massive kidney brokering ring busted in Vietnam Thursday is seen after a kidney removal surgery. Photo courtesy of police An illegal kidney brokering ring was busted by Vietnamese authorities Thursday, the biggest ever in the country's history. Five people involved in the scheme were detained by Saigon police: alleged ring leader Ton Nu Thi Huyen, 44, Hoang Duc Tung, 28, Huynh Linh Tam, 27, Pham Quang Canh, 23, and Nguyen Minh Tam, 20. Police said the ring has been operating since May 2017, after Huyen tried to sell her own kidney to pay off a debt. Members would approach potential kidney sellers on social media and have them go to hospitals in Vietnam and several other Asian countries for kidney removal surgeries. Investigation found it had worked with "hundreds of sellers," most of them people from poor rural areas and ethic minority groups. These people would be convinced that the procedures will not leave any impacts on their health. Police have also tracked down 11 donors overseas and brought them home. The ring would charge approximately VND500 million ($21,500) for each kidney transplant, with the donor getting VND200 million ($8,600). Brokers were given between $860 and $1,100 for each successful referral. Ton Nu Thi Huyen signs a document at a HCMC police station for allegedly leading a kidney trafficking ring. Photo by Vietnam Television Police said the ring was the biggest organ brokering scheme ever busted in Vietnam. Phan Manh Truong, deputy head of the Crime Department at the Ministry of Public Security, said the people running the ring have either sold or bought kidneys themselves, and thus know the steps well. "We were quite shocked by the mass number of victims, who came from many cities and provinces," Truong said, refering to those asked to join the ring's supply. He said the ring involved overseas syndicates and thus would demand different units to join the investigation. Organ trafficking schemes in Vietnam are fueled by the shortage of donations, as many people in the country believe they need all their body parts for the afterlife. This has left thousands of patients suffering from heart, kidney, liver and lung diseases and blind people awaiting donations. The act of trading body parts is punished by up to life imprisonment in Vietnam. An aircraft prepares for landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters/Kham U.S. aviation authorities are expected to grant a Category 1 rating to Vietnam soon, allowing direct flights between the two countries. Two U.S. officials who asked not be named told Reuters that the permission should be issued in the coming weeks. Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), said that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed safety assessments in December and was supposed to provide the results this month. "But as the U.S. government was closed, we couldnt receive the results. We expect to have it soon," he told VnExpress International. Local airlines including state-owned Vietnam Airlines, budget airline Vietjet and new private airline Bamboo Airways have already expressed interest in opening direct flights between Vietnam and the U.S. The direct route is expected to cater to the large demand for travel between both countries. Passengers travelling between Vietnam and the U.S. now have to transit through different countries and territories like China, Hong Kong and Japan. Vietnam has never held an FAA rating, unlike Thailand, which once had a Category 1 rating and is seeking to regain it after a downgrade to Category 2. The FAA determines whether a country has a 1 or 2 rating depending on its safety assessment of the country's airlines. The Vietnamese government had early last year approved plans to expand the network of national carriers to major markets including Australia, China, Europe and the U.S. Under plan, Vietnam Airlines will go through with its proposal to open non-stop services to the U.S., starting with direct flights to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Vietnam and the U.S. signed an air transport agreement in 2003 to allow airlines to operate direct flights between the two countries. In 2004, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines sought permission from the U.S. to provide direct services. However, the request was denied because the CAAV did not meet safety supervision requirements set by the FAA. Vietnams aviation industry has seen increasing demand in recent years. The country welcomed 12.5 million air passengers last year, up 14.4 percent from 2017, according to the General Statistics Office. The countrys aviation traffic increased 16 percent on average each year from 2010 to 2017, data from its civil aviation regulator shows. A motorcyclist rides past the logo of Foxconn, the trading name of Hon Hai Precision Industry, in Taipei, Taiwan March 30, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Tyrone Siu The U.S.-China trade war could deliver iPhone assembler Foxconns work to Vietnam, experts say. As several Taiwanese hardware makers shift production out of China to avoid U.S. tariffs, Taiwans Foxconn has recently acquired the right to use a property in an industrial park in northern Vietnam, and injected money into an Indian unit for "long-term investment", Bloomberg reports. Although there has been no official confirmation from Foxconn that it will start iPhone production in Vietnam, experts say that this is a possibility. Economist Le Dang Doanh, former economic adviser to the Vietnamese government, said that Vietnam has the potential to host Foxconn operations because the country participates in multiple trade pacts, including the recently-ratified Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). "These trade pacts will allow Vietnam to export the iPhone to many country members with lower tariffs," he told VnExpress International. Nguyen Anh Tuan, a lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said that Vietnam would be a better destination than India as it has lower tariffs. The "made in India" policy raised iPhone import tariffs to the South Asian country from 15 percent to 20 percent by the end of 2017, he told the Thanh Nien newspaper. For this reason, Vietnam has a higher chance to host Foxconn operations, he added. Foxconn has recently paid $16.5 million for the right to use 250,000 square meters of land in an industrial park in Vietnams northeastern Bac Giang Province for operations and sales. While the Foxconn did not indicate the move was related to orders for Apple, in a separate filing the company said it was selling the Vietnamese land rights to a unit of Hong Kong-listed FIT Hon Teng, an iPhone cable and connector maker that it controls. The move came after Reuters reported in December that Foxconn and the Hanoi Peoples Committee were working together to open an iPhone manufacturing facility in Vietnam to negate the impacts of the U.S.-China trade war. But other experts are not so optimistic that Vietnam will have better chances than India because of its weak labor skills and supporting industry. Economist Nguyen Tri Hieu said that Indian workers have better English skills than Vietnamese, and Vietnams low number of supporting businesses means that Foxconn will have to import a lot of material if it were to operate in the country. Vietnam also has lower credit ratings, he added. According to ratings firm Fitch, Vietnams sovereign credit rating is still at non-investment grade, while India is one rank higher at investment grade. "This means that rating organizations advise investors not to invest in Vietnam. Indias market economy began long before Vietnam, so it is still a preferred destination for foreign direct investment companies," Hieu told VnExpress International. Foxconn, officially known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., had also injected up to $213.5 million into an Indian unit between September and January, the report said. Vietnam is considering restoration of the railroad route between mountain town and popular tourist destination Da Lat and Phan Rang. The work, estimated to cost over VND10 trillion ($432.83 million), is expected to boost tourism between Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, home to Da Lat, and Ninh Thuan Province in the plains below, where Phan Rang is located. Pham S, Deputy Chairman of Lam Dong, said it would need to be approved by the National Assembly and government. The province has urged the investing company to complete the feasibility report for the work, he added without identifying it. The Da Lat Phan Rang rail route is one of only two in the world to use rack rails. The track, laid by the French administration of Indochina in 1932, runs a total length of 84 kilometers, including 40 km of rack rails. It was abandoned during the Vietnam War and dismantled after the North Vietnamese victory in 1975. Only a seven-kilometer section between Da Lat Railway Station and the nearby village of Trai Mat remains and is used as a tourist attraction. 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. Financers have halted disbursement for the Trung Luong My Thuan expressway till an investor involved in criminal proceedings is replaced. Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT JSC, the joint venture company in charge of constructing the 51km expressway, has petitioned the Prime Minister and Ministry of Transport to replace one of the projects current investors whose presence is delaying the project. When completed, Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway will connect with HCMC - Trung Luong Expressway, linking HCMC with southern Tien Giang Province. The financing bank has refused to disburse funds for the project because Yen Khanh Ltd, an investor contributing 30 percent of joint venture capital, has been implicated in several criminal cases recently. Last December, the companys CEO and five other executives were arrested for tax evasion and criminal misuse of land. The project has a registered capital of VND9.67 trillion ($415.23 million) and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. A joint venture of six investors are to contribute 30 percent of the projects cost (VND2.8 trillion or $120.23 million), while the remaining comes from bank loans. Work originally began in 2009 on the 51-kilometer expressway that would run through five districts in Tien Giang, but suffered prolonged delays with investors unable to disburse their share of investment. In October 2014, the project was reapproved under the BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer), with supplemental funding from toll fees collected on the Ho Chi Minh-Trung Luong Expressway. Construction of the Trung Lung-My Thuan Expressway restarted in February 2015, but the project has lagged behind schedule with the latest funding bottleneck. If the Trump-hating/AOC-hating/Elizabeth Warren-hating/Bernie-hating, clueless Starbucks Guy is running on reducing a deficit his class built up and on cutting what he calls "entitlements," and on opposing Medicare-for-All, the Green New Deal and fair taxes on the wealthy , why doesn't he just run as the Republican his top aides and advisors all are? Forbes readers, "The PR game that was waged to promote and forcibly sell the massive tax cut of 2017-- a move that has only begun to put the country into trouble-- is over. Earlier in the week Miss McConnell and John Thune proposed repealing the weak estate tax, which is expected to be paid by fewer than 2,000 Americans a year. As Erik Sherman pointed out forreaders, "The PR game that was waged to promote and forcibly sell the massive tax cut of 2017-- a move that has only begun to put the country into trouble-- is over. Corporations, the rich, and the politicians that serve them had their way . Now that particular facade has been dropped by those who erected it and the likely truth is out. The $1.5 trillion giveaway was supposed to create new jobs and significant investment by companies in facilities and equipment, all of which would drive economic growth." It turns out that 84% had not changed investment or hiring plans because of the drastically diminished corporate tax cuts and only 4% of corporations hired more people because of the tax cuts. The vast majority did nothing more than they would otherwise have. Trickle down/voodoo economics still doesn't work-- except for the already very wealthy. McConnell, Thune and the rest of the GOP are waging class war against the rest of us-- we most of us don't even know it. "GOP senators are now arguing to end the estate or inheritance tax because it's such a burden-- on fewer than 2,000 families a year," Sherman continued. "Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, and John Thune on the Senate Finance Committee are all saying that there has to be a big cut." How about a guillotine? NY Times headline-- in 2019, rather than say 1980-- saying Yesterday, there was something strange about Sydney Ember'sheadline-- in 2019, rather than say 1980-- saying Sanders Unveils Estate Tax Plan, Joining Democrats Who Want to Tax the Rich . Bernie, she wrote, "introduced legislation on Thursday that would increase the number of wealthy Americans subject to the estate tax. With the bill, Mr. Sanders joins a growing chorus of left-wing politicians calling for new ways to tax the rich. Welcome to the party begun by Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren? Ummm.... maybe Sydney's headline writer is a 5 year old child prodigy who missed what Bernie had been talking about since 1970? If passed and signed into law-- it may take a few years-- Bernie's new bill, the For the 99.8% Act , would establish a progressive estate tax on the fortunes of the top 0.2 percent of Americans and significantly increase rates on billionaires, raising $2.2 trillion from the nation's 588 billionaires. Bernie: "At a time of massive wealth and income inequality, when the three richest Americans own more wealth than 160 million Americans, it is literally beyond belief that the Republican leadership wants to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the top 0.2 percent. Our bill does what the American people want by substantially increasing the estate tax on the wealthiest families in this country and dramatically reducing wealth inequality. From a moral, economic, and political perspective our nation will not thrive when so few have so much and so many have so little." His bill only applies to the wealthiest 0.2% of Americans. It would establish a 45% tax on the value of an estate between $3.5 million and $10 million; a 50% tax on the value of an estate between $10 million and $50 million; a 55% tax on the value of an estate in excess of $50 million; and a 77% tax on the value of an estate above $1 billion-- a return to the top rate from 1941 through 1976, while also closing tax loopholes that have allowed billionaire families to pass fortunes from one generation to the next without paying their fair share of taxes. BONUS: "The Kochs, a family worth over $97 billion, would owe an estate tax of up to $74 billion. And the family of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who has a net worth of more than $130 billion, would pay an estate tax of up to $100 billion." The For the 99.8% Act was endorsed by a number of leading economists including Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman, Robert Reich and Darrick Hamilton. "The estate tax was a key pillar of the progressive tax revolution that the United States ushered one century ago. It prevented self-made wealth from turning into inherited wealth and helped make America more equal. However, the estate tax is dying of neglect, as tax avoidance schemes are multiplying and left unchallenged. As wealth concentration is surging in the United States, it is high time to revive the estate tax, plug the loopholes, and make it more progressive. Sen. Sanders' bill is a bold and welcome leap forward in this direction," said Emmanuel Saez, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. One century ago, the US invented steeply progressive estate and income taxes in order to maintain the egalitarian and democratic legacy of the country. Today's US is becoming even more unequal than Pre-World War I Europe. The way out is stronger investment in skills, higher paying jobs and a more progressive tax system. Sen. Sanders' estate tax bill, including a 77 percent tax rate on estate values above $1 billion, is an important step in this direction, said Thomas Piketty, Paris School of Economics professor. One of the country's best political-economics reporters, Zach Carter took this on from another perspective yesterday. Carter wrote that "Socialism is having a big moment in America. After a surge in popularity during the financial crisis of 2008, the long-verboten political label at last lost its toxicity after Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential run and the election of democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in 2018. Among self-identified Democrats, socialism is now more popular than capitalism, reflecting a trend that has been evident among young voters for years. Bankers and billionaires are, of course, desperate to reverse this political tide. Eyeing the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, the CEO of one giant bank recently told Politico that the partys nominee cant be Warren and it cant be Sanders. To plutocrat Michael Bloomberg, Sanders is a demagogue preaching unreason, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will transform the United States into a non-capitalistic system where people are starving to death, like Venezuela. The rhetoric from the 0.01 percent is more than a little overheated. But for most people, Warren and Sanders hail from the same left flank of the Democratic Party-- both are supporters of enacting Medicare for all, breaking up the banks and dramatically increasing taxes on the very wealthy... Whatever Warren and Sanders say to establish their political brands, the two senators do in fact represent a very similar way of thinking about politics. Thats why billionaires hate them both. All of these proposals transfer money and power from the super-rich to the not-rich. Take postal banking. About 32.6 million households rely on a check-cashing service, payday lender or other expensive, small-dollar financial bottom-feeder at least once a year, according to the FDIC. On average, these households earn about $25,500 a year and spend nearly 10 percent of their income-- $2,412-- on these sketchy financial products. Thats over $82 billion going from hard-up homes to predators every year. You can deal with payday lenders a lot of different ways: ban them, regulate them or, the preferred tack of Warren and Sanders, have the government make them obsolete. If every household can get a low-fee bank account with the Post Office, they wont have to turn to legalized loan sharking to get by. Thats bad news for payday loan executives, like ACE Cash Express CEO Jay Shipowitz, who made almost $4.5 million in 2004 alone. Is postal banking socialism or reformed capitalism? Yes. In America today, the super-rich not only control an outrageous share of the national wealth, they also exercise a degree of political power incompatible with basic democratic principles. The choice for Democrats in 2020 is not really about policy minutia-- its about power-- who has it, and who doesnt. And both Sanders and Warren have proved they are willing to confront the powerful and attack their sources of power. We can call this socialism, New Deal liberalism or Jeffersonian democracy-- whatever the label, its a critical ideological test for anyone who wants to be the next president of the United States. Running for re-election in 1936, FDR noted that the economic royalists of business and financial monopoly, speculation and reckless banking all counted themselves among his political enemies. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today, Roosevelt said. They are unanimous in their hate for me-- and I welcome their hatred. For todays Democrats, thats the ticket. Yeah, that populist approach that Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Marianne Williamson and Jeff Merkley are taking... not this: Mother Jones McConnell may look like a turtle but he's a lot smarter than one-- albeit, smart in the service of Evil. He realizes that reform is his-- and his party's-- implacable enemy. He is very aware, painfully so, that when more people vote, more Republicans lose. H.R. 1, the For the People Act , is the pro-democracy legislation currently being debated in the House Judiciary Committee. Many Republicans are panic-stricken over it. The very first sentence, introducing the proposed package of laws, strikes fear into their... hearts: "A bill to expand Americans access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants." Expanding access to the ballot box is the polar opposite of GOP policy for the last half century. Voting rights expert Ari Berman was on the case for Tuesday and again on Wednesday Tuesday, Berman wrote that "while voting rights lawyers are testifying in favor of the bill, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee who oppose the legislation have recruited two of the biggest vote suppressors in their party to testify against it: Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation and J. Christian Adams of the Public Interest Legal Foundation." Both were members of Trump's discredited and now-abandoned election integrity commission, and both have been part of the GOP voter suppression movement for over a decade. Yesterday, McConnell was on the House floor trying to discredit the bill, particularly the part that would make Election Day a national holiday the way it is in democracies that want to encourage voting, calling it a Democratic Party "power grab." This is turtle-talk: "Just what America needs, another paid holiday and a bunch of government workers being paid to go out and work for I assume our folks-- our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns. This is the Democrat plan to restore democracy? A brand-new week of paid vacation for every federal employee who would like to hover around while you cast your ballot?" What a clown-- an evil clown. Ted Lieu is a very active member on the Judiciary Committee-- and extremely serious about protecting the right to vote. "The statement by Sen McConnell," he told us today, "is a surprisingly frank admission that the overwhelming majority of the American people support Democrats. In a democracy, any party that fears democracy will eventually shrink so much that it will drown in a bathtub. The right to vote is a constitutional right. The Republicans can't stop it, and are doomed as a party unless they expand their narrow base." One of the most extreme right members of the House GOP, Jim Jordan (OH), serves on the House Judiciary Committee, along with other anti-democracy fanatics like Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), John Ratcliffe (R-TX). Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and 4 crazy new members: Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Greg Steube (R-FL). Jordan had a meltdown on the House floor, outraged that Democrats want to make Election Day a federal holiday-- something 65% of Americans support. In the last month, Ive added a new word to my vocabulary kayfabe. What does it mean? Its the theatrical master plan that people involved in pro wrestling engage in when deciding whether Boris the Black or The White Snake will win or lose a match. But I dont want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you cant help that," said the Cat: "were all mad here. Im mad. Youre mad." "How do you know Im mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldnt have come here. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt Once again, when there is a large pot of money to be used, creative ways will be found to tap it. That is happening in Madison and one avenue for such spen... 9 hours ago Oregon State Police arrested a Corvallis man on drug charges after a Jan. 26 traffic stop in Lebanon. According to an OSP report, Gary Gomez, 42, was reportedly traveling 56 in a 40 mph zone on Highway 34. A note on the report described him as visibly impaired. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Gomez was originally arrested on DUII and reckless driving charges. But during a subsequent vehicle search, authorities reportedly found 6 ounces of heroin and $22,851 in cash. Capt. Timothy Fox said OSP often has traffic stops that include seizure of illegal substances. Gomez was transported to the Linn County Jail on charges of heroin possession, DUII, reckless driving and delivery of heroin. His vehicle was seized for evidence. Caitlyn May Love 3 Funny 3 Wow 9 Sad 1 Angry 6 Authorities in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that its public prosecutor is no longer recommending the death penalty for female activist Israa al-Ghomgham, who has been held since 2015 after participating in peaceful anti-government protests. The Saudi Arabian embassy in London confirmed the shift in approach to Newsweek on Thursday in response to a request for information about al-Ghomghams case. The 29-year-old was arrested in 2015 for her role in protests in the eastern region of Qatif. The area is predominantly Shiite, and al-Ghomgham became well-known for demanding an end to persecution of the country's Shiite minority by the autocratic government, which is controlled by the Sunni royal family. She was one of six people, including her husband, arrested in connection with the demonstrations. Their alleged crimes included traveling abroad to attend courses on organizing rallies and protests, using social media to promote and document events, and using Facebook groups to disseminate videos. Initially, the Saudi public prosecutor called for death sentences for five of the accused, including al-Ghomgham. This was seen by international observers as a striking recommendation given the nonviolent nature of their offenses. Until Thursday, al-Ghomgham was believed to be the first woman facing beheading for nonviolent activism. As such, her case received significant international attention from media and human rights organizations. But the Saudi Embassy in London told Newsweek that the public prosecutor is not seeking the death penalty for al-Ghomgham. Instead, authorities are calling for a prison term, fines and the confiscation of anything found to have been used in her alleged crimes. The European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights, a human rights nonprofit group based in Germany, and Reprieve, a nonprofit group based in the U.K., confirmed to Newsweek they had received a new indictment that did not recommend the death penalty for al-Ghomgham. There is no indication that the Saudi authorities have dropped the capital punishment recommendations for the other four detainees. This may suggest the Saudis have dropped their wish for her death to dodge the intensifying international scrutiny of al-Ghomghams case. Though prosecutors will no longer pursue beheading, al-Ghomgham could still face a lengthy prison sentence and restrictions on her personal freedoms when she is freed. In the past, human rights activists have been handed long-term travel and internet bans even after spending many years in prison. Maya Foa, director of Reprieve, told Newsweek, "This decision serves to underline just how arbitrary and unjust the use of the death penalty is in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom must cease imposing the death penalty on individuals whose only crime is the exercise of freedom of expression and assembly." Foa called on the international community to "hold Saudi Arabia to account and call for a review of the cases of all of those on Saudi Arabias death row and the commutation of death sentences handed down in violation of domestic and international laws." All six of the accused are being tried in the opaque Specialized Criminal Court (SCC). Nominally an anti-terror body, the SCC is part of the Ministry of the Interior rather than the Ministry of Justice, placing it firmly within the national security sphere. It is used by the Saudi government to crush dissent from human rights and pro-democracy activists far from the prying eyes of the outside world. Al-Ghomgham was scheduled to appear before the court again on January 13, but at the last moment the SCC canceled the session. This marked the fourth time the hearing had been postponed. The court cited departmental restructuring and reorganization for the delay. Ali Adubisi, the director of ESOHR, explained there remain "serious concerns" over the Saudi government's conduct despite the removal of the death penalty recommendation. "Replacing the death penalty is a continued violation as she is charged with offences relating to the expression of peaceful opinion," he explained. "Therefore, the request for imprisonment instead of execution is a form of continuous pressure on peaceful activists." Indeed, that death penalty recommendations remain against the other co-defendents raises "serious concerns about their fate," Adubisi added. He noted there are 58 detainees facing death sentences in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are not accused of serious charges. | 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 Pakistan: Fishermen reject Gwadars Eastbay Expressway model February 01,2019 | Source: Dawn As promised by the federal and provincial governments and Chinese officials, the passage for boats at Gwadar Eastbay Expressway should have been 200 feet but the proposed model couldnt meet our demands, said the fishermen after visiting the expressways site. Federal Minister for Defence Production Zubeda Jalal, Senator Khuda Babar, Chinese officials and members of the Gwadar Development Authority were present on the occasion. Senator Babar and other officials briefed the fishermen regarding passage of boats from the expressway who rejected the model, saying they cant gain easy access to the sea from this narrow passage. If the government has decided to follow the narrow-size passage then it has decided to destroy the jobs of fishermen of Gwadar, they said and urged the government to build the passage proposed by them. Federal Minister Zubeda Jalal, Senator Khuda Babar and officials of the Gwadar Development Authority informed the Chinese officials about fishermen communitys reservation and stressed upon to build 200 feet passage at Gwadar Eastbay Expressway. He has been cited by Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed on radio, TV and in social media. For many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates. Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post and other publications. A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission. He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and was inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame. He received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. The Award is the Section's highest honor. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups. Cirucci's passions include politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel. In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association. He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and the host of The Advocates on RVN-TV. State Rep. Chris Dinkins, R-Annapolis, has introduced new legislation in an effort to increase salaries of sheriff deputies throughout the state. Right now we have deputy sheriffs making far too little for the service they provide to our communities, said Dinkins. Dinkins said that Missouri deputy salaries are currently supplemented by the state through the salary supplementation fund. By putting more money into the fund, they can boost the pay of deputies who are making less than $30,000 annually. This is an important message we can send to law enforcement that we value all they do to protect our schools and our communities, said Dinkins. According to Dinkins, HB722, will allow a $10 fee to be collected by anyone who is appointed by the sheriffs department and serves a summons, writ, subpoena, or other court order. Currently, the fee can only be collected when served by a sheriff or deputy who serves the documents. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen said that he fully supports HB722 because of the benefits it provides to his deputies. A few miles outside of Farmington on Highway AA in Ste. Genevieve County is an unusual sight that draws the attention of motorists as they drive by. Several elk graze placidly in a pasture along the road surrounded by eight foot tall fencing. This stands out to local hunters especially compared to the much smaller whitetail deer. Kevin Hinkebein has been breeding elk for the antlers and meat on his ranch for almost three decades. I started raising elk in the fall of 1990, he said. [I] purchased a pair of elk from Rush Johnson, the founding father of the North American Elk Breeders Association. I joined the association in 1990, the year it was formed. This was the beginning of the Hinkebein Elk Ranch, and it has been thriving ever since. His operation has grown to 58 head of elk on roughly 20 acres of fenced in pasture. In the Farmington area, many people remember Hinkebein when he was working for the USDA Rural Development writing loans and grants as a program specialist. After retirement, his main passion has been helping to develop the elk breeding industry, as well as marketing retail products for consumers. Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic spent transfer deadline day enjoying a night out with his wife Raquel Mauri.The Croatia international has been linked with a move to the Premier Leaguewith Chelsea reportedly the frontrunners to sign him this summer.The former Sevilla playmaker posted a photo on Instagramwith the caption 'beautiful night'.Rakitic's future at the Catalan giants has been thrown into doubt since Ernersto Valverde's side signed Frenkie de Jong for 65 million from Ajax.De Jong will join Barcelona in the summer and with the Blues letting go of Cesc Fabregas in the winter window, Maurizio Sarri is believed to be after another midfielder.But Rakitic insists he can still stake a claim in the Barcelona side when De Jong signs and is looking for a new deal.'Since I've been here I do not know how many times I've left and I'm back,' he said after Wednesday evening's Copa del Rey victory over Sevilla.'I'm more than happy here and my intention is to be here longer. The other day I gave the president a little nudge to see if he would start my renewal.'Barcelona are five points clear at the top of the La Liga table and face Valencia on Saturday. Marouane Fellainihas completed his 10.4million move from Manchester Unitedto Chinese Super Leagueside Shandong Luneng Taishan.The midfielder passed a medical on Thursday afternoon and the paperwork has now been completed with United confirming that Fellaini has left with a post on social media.The Belgium international is due to earn 235,000 per week and will hook up with his new team-mates later this month to join in their preparations for the new Chinese Super League campaign which gets underway in March.MORE TO FOLLOW...Fellaini had been in Belgium this week receiving treatment on a calf injury but flew out to China on deadline day to agree terms with Shandong.The 31-year-old had been in high demand with the midfielder keen to begin a new chapter in his career after being frozen out by interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Fellaini, who last summer signed a new and improved deal until 2020, was a key figure at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho but featured just once under Solksjaer in United's seven Premier League games.He leaves United having made177 appearances in the five-and-a-half season he spent with the club and helped them to win four trophies - the Emirates FA Cup, FA Community Shield, League Cup and UEFA Europa League. What happened in downtown Carlisle was further proof every groundhog has its day. In Punxsutawney, the celebrity critter is a weather forecaster named Phil who comes out every Feb. 2 to predict spring or six more weeks of winter. Here in Cumberland County, the wily woodchuck was a stray animal whose exploits led three borough police officers on a wild goose chase before it disappeared. This weeks Tour through Time goes back to May 11, 1988, when a groundhog evaded a dragnet and wrote itself into local history. The story began when a woman noticed what appeared to be a coonskin cap under a mailbox on North Street just east of Hanover Street. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} She then realized it was a groundhog trying to hide in the middle of downtown. Fearing that the animal might bite a curious child, she called the police who arrived on the scene but had no luck trying to ensnare the wayward beastie. At one point, the groundhog darted under a rusting car with Massachusetts plates parked in front of the Sheaffer Brothers Sporting Goods store. There it laid low until the car owner got in to start the engine prompting the groundhog to flee. A New Bloomfield man was intoxicated when he struck and killed 28-year-old Nikolas Watson in Perry County in December, according to new charging records filed in the case. Watson was walking along Main Street in New Bloomfield around 2 a.m. Dec. 23, when he was struck by a Jeep Wrangler that fled the scene, Pennsylvania State Police said. Pedestrian struck, killed Sunday in Perry County State Police reported that a suspect vehicle was "located and seized," though it did not give any further details about the driver. Watson, who was from New Bloomfield, was pronounced dead at the scene. State Police said Scott Gustave Thebes, 49, of New Bloomfield, was the driver. Thebes was charged Friday with felony homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury, misdemeanor DUI and multiple summary traffic violations including failing to stop and render aid and failing to notify police, according to court records. Thebess Jeep Wrangler was located and seized by State Police shortly after the crash. Thebes is being housed in Perry County Prison after a preliminary hearing and arraignment in front of Magisterial District Judge Michael E. Schechterly Friday afternoon where bail was set at $50,000. Email Joshua Vaughn at jvaughn@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Sentinel_Vaughn. A Carlisle man who investigators say sold cocaine was arrested and charged Thursday. Simon Williford, 30, is charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications facility, according to court records. Williford sold cocaine to a confidential informant on two occasions in September in Carlisle, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. He was arrested Thursday and released after posting $900 bail, according to court records. Williford is scheduled to appear in front of Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Birbeck at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 for a preliminary hearing. This is the second arrest for the sale of cocaine in Cumberland County that the Attorney Generals Office announced it has made this year. East Pennsboro man accused of selling cocaine An East Pennsboro Township man was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he sold cocaine to a confidential informant on multiple occasions. Justin Paris Randall, 36, of East Pennsboro Township, was charged in January with three counts of possession with intent to deliver. Investigators say he sold cocaine to a confidential informant. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Abidjan, February 1, 2019Cameroonian authorities should immediately investigate an attack on Paul Chouta, a reporter for the privately owned news website Cameroon Web, and ensure that those who assaulted him are swiftly brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chouta told CPJ yesterday that three unknown men stabbed him with a knife and beat him as he left his Yaounde home just after 6 a.m. that day. The journalist was treated for stab wounds to his right hand and elbow and bruises to his face. They didnt say anything as they started to physically attack me, said Chouta. My neighbors came to my rescue and the attackers fled in a black Mercedes that had been waiting for them. Paul Chouta was treated for stab wounds and bruising after being attacked. (Cameroon Web) Chouta and Emmanuel Vitus, the editor-in-chief of Cameroon Web, told CPJ they believe the attack was in retaliation for Choutas journalism. Vitus said he suspected the attack may be related to a January 22 Facebook Live interview Chouta did with Paul Eric Kingue, the campaign manager for Cameroons jailed opposition leader, Maurice Kamto. Kamto has been mobilizing dissent against President Paul Biya since losing the October election, which he has described as fraudulent, Al-Jazeera reported. We urge Cameroonian authorities to ensure that those who attacked Paul Chouta are identified and punished to the full extent of the law, said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal in New York. The government needs to send a message to those who want to silence and intimidate journalists that just because they may disagree with what the press writes or says, they cannot resort to violence and escape accountability. Vitus said that Chouta broadcast the interview on his personal Facebook page, which has 54,000 followers, and that Cameroon Web shared it on its platforms. He added, The attack doesnt come as a surprise. He consistently receives threats. Vitus said the journalist received threatening comments on social media. Chouta reported the attack to the police yesterday. National police spokesperson Joyce Ndjem told CPJ she does not give comment over the phone and that CPJ would need to come to Yaounde to request comment. The attack on Chouta came the same week that police arrested Theodore Tchopa and David Eyengue Nzima from the privately owned daily, Le Jour. Denis Nkwebo, deputy editor-in-chief of Le Jour and president of the Cameroonian journalists trade union, told CPJ that the journalists were arrested while covering an opposition meeting in Douala on January 28. The journalists were released without charge today, Nkwebo said. At the time of CPJs annual prison census, Cameroon was the third worst jailer of journalists in Africa after Egypt and Eritrea, respectively, with at least seven journalists behind bars for their work as of December 1, 2018. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. We work with the state government which regulates the licenses to make sure that the people of Nebraska are kept safe, and that proper engineering is done for roads, bridges and anything else that affects public safety. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} During the competition, students will be asked to complete several challenges, including: a target test round, sprint round, team round and countdown round. The sprint and target rounds are challenges designed for students to gain points for themselves and for their given teams. The team round consists of members of the team working together to answer a series of 10 questions in approximately 40-50 minutes; and the countdown round is a fast-paced, oral competition where opponents compete head-to-head to see who can solve the problems quickest. At the end of the competition, team and individual point tallies are counted and team and individual winners are announced. Stepanek, a 10-year event veteran of MATHCOUNTS, said he likes watching all of the action. I just enjoy doing it, and it gets easier for me every year, so I just keep doing it, he said. The coordinator added that the kids seem to always enjoy MATHCOUNTS, too. Prosecutors in central Nebraska have charged a 21-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man with incest after Grand Island police say the father and daughter had sex in September, according to court records. Samantha H. Kershner and Travis Fieldgrove face incest charges in Hall and Adams counties, according to court records. Grand Island police began investigating the relationship between the St. Paul residents on Sept. 18 after Kershner's mother alleged they were in an illegal relationship, according to an affidavit for their arrests. Investigators believe Kershner didn't grow up with Fieldgrove and three years ago learned he was her father, police said in the affidavit. Contacted by Grand Island police in September, Fieldgrove denied to investigators that he was Kershner's father. But DNA testing completed Jan. 14 determined there was a 99.99 percent probability of his paternity, according to an arrest affidavit for the duo in Adams County. They face incest charges there because Hastings police allege they married at the Adams County Courthouse in Hastings Oct. 1. Prior to the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars announced a series of releases it would be showcasing once the trade show opened. There was one new line which was not pre-announced that made its debut at the Trade Show, and that was TAVICUSA. If the name TAVICUSA sounds familiar, it is because it is an acronym for Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A., the boutique factory in Esteli, Nicaragua owned by company founder Rocky Patel. 2018 would mark the tenth anniversary of TAVICUSA, thus the company decided to commemorate the occasion with a cigar that would carry the factorys name. Today we take a closer look at the Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Robusto. Rocky Patel Premium Cigars currently handles production in two countries. It works with the Plasencia factory in Honduras at the El Paraiso. A large amount of the companys production comes out of that factory. The TAVICUSA operation is a smaller one based in Esteli, Nicaragua. TAVICUSA is one component of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars moving toward a full vertically integrated operation. This includes owning a factory, owning farms, and controlling its own distribution. Without further ado, lets break down the Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Robusto and see what this cigar brings to the table. SPECIFICATIONS Blend and Origin The TAVICUSA consists of a San Andres wrapper over Nicaragua binder and fillers. Wrapper: San Andres Mexican Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (TAVICUSA) Vitolas Offered TAVICUSA is offered in three sizes. Each size is presented in 20-count boxes. Robusto: 5 1/2 x 50 Toro: 6 1/2 x 52 Sixty: 6 x 60 Appearance The TAVICUSA Robustos San Andres wrapper had a classic chocolate brown color to it. Upon closer examination, there was some darker mottling on the wrapper present. The wrapper also had a very light sheen of oil. There were some thin visible veins and the dark color of the wrapper did a nice job at hiding any visible wrapper seams. There are two bands on the TAVICUSA. The primary band has the design of an elongated antique frame. This frame has copper, blue and white trim and adornments. The center of the band is white with the text TAVICUSA in a thin red stencil font. There is a secondary band that rests just below the primary band. This band is blue with copper and white trim. The center of the band contains the text Rocky Patel in white cursive font with the circular RP logo in between. PERFORMANCE Pre-Light Draw A straight cut was used to commence the cigar experience of the TAVICUSA Robusto. Once the cap was removed, it was on to the pre-light draw stage. The dry draw delivered notes of mocha (which I consider to be a fusion of coffee and chocolate notes) and earth. While it was a simple pre-light draw in terms of complexity, this had rich flavors and made the pre-light experience an excellent one. At this point, it was time to light up the TAVICUSA Robusto and see what the smoking experience would have in store. Tasting Notes The start of the Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Robusto kicked off with notes of mocha, black cherry sweetness, mixed pepper, and some cedar. Early on the mocha notes moved into the forefront. The mocha maintained the fusion coffee and chocolate notes. The cherry sweetness became a close second note with the cedar and pepper further back. Concurrently the cedar was prominent on the retro-hale. The second third of the TAVICUSA Robusto saw the mocha notes remain grounded in the forefront. The cherry notes started to diminish. Concurrently there was an increase in the pepper notes. During this stage, some earth notes also emerged in the forefront with the mocha. By the last third, the mocha notes remained in the forefront. The increase in the intensity of the pepper leveled off and it remained a close secondary note. In the background remained subtle notes of cedar and black cherry. As the TAVICUSA Robusto came to a close, the resulting nub was slightly soft to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn While there was a slight curvature to the burn line of the TAVICUSA Robusto, the cigar had no problem keeping on a straight burn path. The resulting ash was near white in color. This ash for the most part was skewered toward the firmer side. Throughout the smoking experience, the TAVICUSA Robusto maintained an ideal burn rate and ideal burn temperature. Draw The draw to the TAVICUSA Robusto performed very well. It had a touch of resistance to it which made for an ideal smoking experience. At the same time, it was a low maintenance cigar to derive flavor from. Strength and Body In terms of strength, I found the TAVICUSA Robusto to be a medium strength cigar from start to finish. Throughout the smoking experience, I didnt find much variance in the strength level. As for the body, this was another story. The TAVICUSA Robusto started out medium-bodied. The body increased throughout the first half quite rapidly. By the middle of the first third, the body increased to medium to full and by the midway point, the TAVICUSA Robusto reached full-bodied. During the second half, the increase in strength leveled off. As for strength versus body, the body had the edge particularly in the second half. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Final Thoughts While I didnt find the TAVICUSA Robusto to be the most complex of cigars, I really appreciated the flavors it did deliver. This is a cigar that had a nice richness to the flavors and the flavors get bolder as the cigar experience progresses. Sometimes when it comes to a San Andres wrapper, it can produce a pungent flavor profile at times leading to an unbalanced flavor profile. Again while its not the most complex, the blend was still well-balanced. This is a cigar that I would recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast or to a novice looking to graduate to something bolder. As for myself, this is a cigar Id smoke again and its one I would pick up multiples for. Summary Key Flavors: Mocha, Earth, Mixed Pepper, Cedar Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Minus Strength: Medium Body: Medium (Start), Medium to Full (Remainder of 1st Half), Full (Second Half) Finish: Very Good Rating Value: Buy Multiples Score: 91 References News: Rocky Patel Tavicusa Launched at 2018 IPCPR Price: $10.30 Source: Purchased Brand Reference: Rocky Patel Photo Credits: Cigar Coop Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Before every age group in the Scouts BSA allowed girls, the past few years saw one age group take the first step to be more inclusive. In 2018, girls ages 5-10 could join the Cub Scout Program, the youngest age bracket of Scout in the program and traditionally the stepping stone to joining higher ranked Scouting organizations later on in life. Prior to the Cub Scouts allowing girls in their Troops, other BSA programs included girls for many years, including Venturing, Exploring, STEM Scouts and the Sea Scouts. Buchmann said another reason for including females in their ranks came from the girls disinterest in traditional activities usually included with the Girl Scout program. There have been a lot of girls whove wanted to do the more traditional camping and traditional activities that the Boy Scouts have been doing, Buchmann said. So, the hope is that we can get enough girls together who can form their own troop and begin to participate in these activities and programs this year. While girls will now be admitted into Scouts BSA, the female and male Troops will still operate separately from one another with different leadership. But while the troops wont be co-ed in many areas, the troops will most likely come together for different activities and events over the course of the year. For more information on Scouts BSA and how to get involved with Troop 13 in Chippewa Falls, you can visit BeAScout.org. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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 Dunn County Sheriff can also choose a representative to assist the committee. Chairman: Not enough notice of meeting Warner said the committee failed to provide the public with any real opportunity to know what this governmental committee was doing. It made no mention that the purpose was to place a sexually violent person anywhere, Warner said in his statement. Facts about the Otter Creek property and about the possibility of children living next door were either unknown to the committee, or ignored or glossed over, Avoles said. Stephensons attorney Charles Glynn criticized the towns intervention at a Dunn County court hearing Thursday. The towns interest were well represented by the Attorney Generals office, Glynn said. I think they see the issue here is tenuous, so they throw in that there may be a septic issue, maybe some mold on the side of the house ... all of that habitability can be handled by a local zoning ordinance violation. Smeltzer gave Stephensons attorney and the Wisconsin Attorney Generals Office until Feb. 22 to respond to the towns claims. A motion hearing in the case was set for 11:30 a.m. April 26. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 A Boyceville man has been convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl in a town of Stanton residence between 2012 and 2015. Mitchell D. Miner, 36, pleaded no contest Thursday in Dunn County court to four counts of repeated sexual assault of the same child. Each count includes at least three violations of first-degree sexual assault. Sixteen other felony sexual assault-related charges against Miner will be dismissed and read in under a plea agreement. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Miner previously pleaded not guilty to all 20 felony charges in September 2018. Authorities arrested Miner at his residence in December 2017 after the female victim said in a forensic interview he sexually assaulted her repeatedly. Miner admitted to assaulting and having sexual contact with the girl, according to a criminal complaint. An earlier plea hearing for Miner was postponed in December so Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf could review a psychosexual evaluation. Judge Rod Smeltzer ordered a pre-sentence investigation Thursday. Miners sentencing is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. Miner was in custody at the Dunn County Jail as of Thursday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 "We make war that we may live in peace." --Aristotle "I exhort you never to debase the moral currency or to lower the standard of rectitude, but to try others by the final maxim that governs your own lives, and to suffer no man and no cause to escape the undying penalty which history has the power to inflict on wrong." --Lord Acton "Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." --Lord Acton "It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" --Patrick Henry "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." --Thomas Paine "The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people's hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice" --John Adams "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." --Thomas Jefferson "No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain hima?the idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural rights." --Thomas Jefferson "An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens." --Thomas Jefferson "The protection of our citizens, the spirit and honor of our country, require that force should be interposed to a certain degree." --Thomas Jefferson "To draw around the whole nation the strength of the General Government as a barrier against foreign foes... is [one of the] functions of the General Government on which [our citizens] have a right to call." --Thomas Jefferson "It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it." --Thomas Jefferson "I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions on these require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies." --Thomas Jefferson "By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to destroy another as his enemy." --Thomas Jefferson "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson "Our duty to ourselves, to posterity, and to mankind, call on us by every motive which is sacred or honorable, to watch over the safety of our beloved country during the troubles which agitate and convulse the residue of the world, and to sacrifice to that all personal and local considerations." --Thomas Jefferson "It is an essential attribute of the jurisdiction of every country to preserve peace, to punish acts in breach of it, and to restore property taken by force within its limits." --Thomas Jefferson "By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to destroy another as his enemy." --Thomas Jefferson "Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it. But the temper and folly of our enemies may not leave this in our choice." --Thomas Jefferson "We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." --Benjamin Franklin "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." --James Madison "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed." --Abraham Lincoln "At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." --Abraham Lincoln "The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me." --Abraham Lincoln "Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built." --Abraham Lincoln "We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word many mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." --Abraham Lincoln "If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage." --Abraham Lincoln "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt "The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group." --Franklin D. Roosevelt "War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing." --George W. Bush "When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted. It is an old and true maxim that 'a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.' So with men. If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what he will, is the great highroad to his reason, and which, once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing him of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause is really a good one." --Abraham Lincoln "To arrive at a just estimate of a renowned man's character one must judge it by the standards of his time, not ours." --Mark Twain "It is with trifles and when he is off guard that a man best reveals his character." --Arthur Schopenhauer "When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them." --Plato "He that has light within his own clear breast may sit in the center, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun." --John Milton "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." --James A. Michener "We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it." --Abraham Lincoln "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "A man's character is his guardian divinity." --Heraclitus "Character develops itself in the stream of life." --Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe "Do what you know and perception is converted into character." --Ralph Waldo Emerson "Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character." --Henry Clay This blog is in violation of Blogger's Terms of Service and is open to authors only If you are an author of this blog, tell us who you are! Sign in using your Account. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Abu Yehuda..01 February '19..One of the favorite lines heard from Israels Left is that they want to separate from the Palestinians, or, lately, to divorce them . This may sound like a good idea, but it is a poor analogy. In the usual divorce, one of the former partners moves away. They dont try to continue living in the same house.The separation or divorce that they are talking about is the same old thing: they want Israel to withdraw from most or all of Judea and Samaria, and allow the creation of a Palestinian state. Whatever you call it, the consequences will be the same: the advancement to the next stage of Yasser Arafats Phased Plan for the destruction of Israel, and a return to what Abba Eban called Auschwitz borders. The plan calls for the establishment of an independent combatant national authority that will control any territory liberated from the Zionists; then this authority will unify all the Arab liberation movements and ultimately coordinate attacks from a union of confrontation countries to complete the liberation of all Palestinian territory.The phased plan, from 1974, sounds quaint today. There is no mention of Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran. Indeed, Iran ruled by the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlevi had good relations with Israel back then. It includes a gesture to Jordan, which still maintained claims on Judea and Samaria at that time.But the physical geography of our country and its strategic significance havent changed. There is still high ground overlooking our population centers from Judea and Samaria. There is still the Jordan valley, whose western slope guards our eastern border. The players have changed somewhat, and the military threats have become more sophisticated. Although the IDF has improved its capabilities, so have our enemies improved theirs. But the land is still the land. Hills are still hills; passes between them are still strategic.The international community, whose will is expressed by the UN, is stuck in 1974, still wanting to reverse the outcome of the 1967 war. Maybe some of the practical reasons are different a little less Arab oil blackmail and a little more desire to enter the Iranian market but its hypocritical concern for the welfare of the Palestinian Arabs still hides its fundamental belief that a sovereign Jewish state should not exist.It wasnt always thus. Right after the First World War, the victorious Western powers for a short time were prepared to set aside a portion of the former Ottoman Empire that had already been developed by Zionist immigration, and which just happened to be the historic home of the Jewish people, for settlement by the exiled remnants of those people. This was seen as a win-win situation for everyone involved: the Zionists would get their homeland, the Europeans would (ultimately) get rid of their Jews, and the British who would hold the Mandate for the sake of the Jews would get a convenient place to stand to protect the flank of the Suez Canal, and maybe to build a railroad from the port of Haifa to the Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire, India.Almost immediately, the British began reneging on their responsibilities toward the Jews, limiting Jewish immigration and encouraging local Arabs in their desire to see the whole Mandate become an Arab state. Maybe they thought an Arab state would be easier to control, or maybe they justthe Arabs better than the Jews. Later, as the gates of Europe began closing for Jews trying to escape Hitler, their increasingly ferocious efforts to prevent Jewish immigration tobecame one of the moral low points in the dark history of the period.The 1948 War of independence and the 1967 Six Days war a war of aggression intended to destroy the Jewish state finally established Jewish control of the all the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. The 1973 Yom Kippur war proved that even under the worst conditions, the newly expanded state was defensible.The Arab nations were soundly defeated, but unfortunately the conflict became a proxy for the Cold War between the West and the USSR. Under the tutelage of the Soviet KGB, the Arabs developed a multi-faceted approach including terrorism, Soviet-supported diplomacy, and a sophisticated propaganda effort using revolutionary third-world rhetoric. After the Yom Kippur War, the Saudi-controlled oil weapon was deployed, and as a result the formerly apolitical (but very powerful) international corporate community quietly joined the vociferous Left in its embrace of the Palestinian cause (i.e., the replacement of Israel with an Arab state).Still, after its 1982 defeat in Lebanon, Arafats PLO the ideological heir of the British-appointed Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who collaborated with Hitler should have faded into obscurity. But then Israel, under the guidance of the same Left that today claims to want a divorce from the Palestinians, fired a nuclear cannon into its own foot the Oslo Accords.Suddenly, the Phased Plan came back to life, with the creation by Israel of the very Palestinian National Authority called for in Arafats original plan!Today Soviet Communism is gone, replaced by the more pragmatic and flexible (but still dangerous) Putinism, the Saudis are moderating their attacks on Israel in the hope that Israel will deal with Iran for them, and the Arab nations are in no condition to wage war. The center of anti-Zionism has moved to Tehran, from where it operates an octopus of terrorist proxies to fight the Jewish state.But despite all the changes, what should have been settled in 1967 is still questioned today.The international community is still pressuring us to reverse the results of the 1967 war. And thanks to the deluded, gulled, pressured, or traitorous architects of Oslo take your pick we are on our way to doing that. The vicious PLO is back, ruling the Palestinian Authority. The first phase of Arafats plan to finally liquidate the Jewish state is complete.There are spiritual and historical reasons that Judea and Samaria should be in Jewish hands. But whether or not they are important to you, there are also brute facts of geography: without control of the high ground of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, the state cannot be defended. We must not go back to Auschwitz borders.I think a divorce from the Palestinians is a good idea. But I have a different property settlement in mind: we keep the house and they move out. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..JNS.org..30 January '19..The Palestinian Authority last week removed a photo from the website of one of its ministries because it showed a meeting of P.A. officials in which bottles of a popular Israeli juice were visible on the table.For friends of Israel, it was another in a long series of mildly amusing incidents in which P.A. officials have gone to absurd lengths to slight the Jewish state. It was all the more entertaining because it exposed the blatant hypocrisy of P.A. officials who call for boycotts of Israeli products while they are enjoying Israeli products.It also fits into a narrative that friends of Israel have been repeating for decades, but which the Arabs never accept: If the Palestinian Arabs would just realize that peace is good for them, they could be enjoying delicious Israeli foods, having easier lives thanks to advanced Israeli technology, be exposed to the latest agricultural techniques and so on.I have a different take on stories about P.A. boycott advocates who violate the boycott. I say: Wait, that doesnt make any sense. The Oslo accords obligate the P.A. to have friendly relations with Israel. Its not allowed to promote a boycott of the Jewish state. J Street andkeep telling us that we can trust the P.A., that it wants peace, that it honors the treaties it signs. So why is the P.A. so blatantly violating the accords it already signed? Commercial trucks and passenger vehicles drive across Ambassador Bridge on the Canada-U.S. border in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. The Ambassador Bridge connects Canada to USA, from Windsor to Detroit and facilitates over 30 per cent of all Canada-US road trade. (Photo from Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Stories warning Canadians about the potential for a thickening of the Canada-U.S. border have circulated among media outlets in both countries this month after a U.S. politician shared his concerns about the border. Despite Democratic Rep. Lou Correas plan to have the House National Security Committee review security along the northern border, Christian Leuprecht, professor of political science at the the Royal Military College and Queens University, says Canadians shouldnt worry. At no other border do the agencies on both sides have as much awareness of what goes on at the border both between and at ports of entry, Leuprecht said. If there were terrorists crossing at the northern border and they were not being apprehended, detained and prosecuted, presumably both agencies would be a complete failure. Correa shared his plan with U.S. news outlet Politico this month as U.S. President Donald Trump fixated on the countrys southern border with Mexico. In response to the Trump administrations claim that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists from crossing the southern border in 2018, NBC published CBP data from that year that showed only six foreign nationals listed on the Terrorist Screening Database were stopped at that border. NBC compared that number with the 41 foreign nationals listed on the terror database who were encountered at the Canadian border in the same year. A week later, Politico reported that Correa and the Democrat-led House Homeland Security Committee plan to investigate the countrys porous border with Canada and examine whether the U.S. border agency is equipped to stop would-be terrorists in Canada from crossing the border unnoticed. The story referenced the long history of aspiring terrorists crossing into the U.S. from Canada, then listed two incidents in 1987 and 1999 in which would-be terrorists were foiled as they attempted to cross the border. Story continues Leuprecht, who has published research on the threat of terror along the Canada-U.S. border, told Yahoo Canada concerns about the Canadian border tend to resurface when interest in the southern border spikes, and are often politically driven. This, he said, is partly because communities along the northern border benefit from new jobs in border patrol, which, in turn benefits politicians. Whenever theres lots of attention on the southern border, theres always a concern that all the money and the resources will go to the southern border, he said. Leuprecht said one of the ways politicians draw funding to the northern border is to draw attention to weaknesses there. The easiest way to get media attention in the U.S. is to make it appear as if theres some sort of terrorist threat that emanates from the northern border, he said. The seemingly high number of foreign nationals entering the U.S. from Canada versus from Mexico, Leuprecht said, is partly due to the fact that Canada serves as a bigger hub for international travellers from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East than Mexico does, so a greater volume travellers is crossing the northern border. And because some U.S. terror watch lists act as sort of a drag net, flagging people who may not present an actual terror threat, the data can misrepresent the threat level at the border. Such databases list people who may have ties to terrorist networks based on their travel patterns, spending activities, family ties or other activities and communications. The terror watch list is not necessarily a list of people who could be criminally charged with terrorist acts. And just because a person was intercepted at the border does not mean they were arrested. Its relatively easy for people to get on these lists, and thats what generates these numbers, Leuprecht said. Alan Bersin served as chief diplomatic officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was appointed Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection by President Barack Obama in 2010. Bersin told Yahoo Canada that rather than being cause for alarm, the fact that the terror watch list is so exhaustive is a sign of the strong intelligence-sharing relationship between border agencies in Canada and the U.S. We have developed a system that recognizes the threat and takes steps to prevent it and has succeeded, to date, in doing so, Bersin said. Because we dont have any evidence that people have crossed the border and have actually perpetrated terrorist incidents in the United States from either Canada or Mexico. The real threat During his time as head of CBP, Bersin said that while migration issues dominated the southern border, the agencys main concerns along the northern border were with transnational crime. On the northern border it was largely an issue with regard to certain kinds of drugs and other kinds of contraband, he said Which has been a staple along the U.S.-Canadian border back to the prohibition days when liquor was smuggled south from Canada into the United States. This sentiment is repeated in the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Northern Border Strategy, which was updated in June 2018. The most common threat to U.S. public safety along the Northern Border continues to be the bi-directional flow of illicit drugs, the report says. Transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) are also active along the border and they continually adapt their drug production, smuggling methods, and routes to avoid detection by U.S. and Canadian law enforcement. Leuprecht believes its crime driven by profit rather than ideology that Canadians should be more concerned about, as fentanyl and cannabis continue to flow south into the U.S. and cocaine and guns continue to flow north into Canada. Canada lives next to the biggest weapons market in the world, he said. People are getting killed every day with weapons and ammunition and clips that were brought in from the United States. And because contraband items and travellers on terror watch lists usually flow through ports of entry and not between them, a hardening of the border might mean better sharing of intelligence. Canadian and American border agencies sharing intelligence, Leuprecht said, is something people in Canada benefit from. The U.S. has ten times as many resources on the U.S. side of the Canadian border than we do on the Canadian side, he said. So it means we can keep our country safe through this intelligence relationship because we have awareness of people who might pose a risk to North America that, because we have fewer resources, might not be on Canadas radar. After a career championing social justice issues, Nova Scotia's chief justice is retiring Thursday with a challenge to judges across Canada: Do more outreach with marginalized communities. Chief Justice Michael MacDonald conceded the judiciary has traditionally been "pretty insular," and said he felt a responsibility to "be part of the solution instead of part of the problem." In an exit interview with The Canadian Press, he said courts need to better understand the communities they serve. "It's really all about education. It's about humility, I think, as well ... Because of course I have the worldview of a white male down pat, but I don't have the worldview of those who have come from marginalized communities and who have had challenges that I've never had," said MacDonald. "I think we as an institution must be humble enough to recognize that not everything is working perfectly and we would all benefit and be a richer judiciary and richer as judges if we learn more about the society within which we judge. It's really as simple as that." MacDonald, 64, became the 22nd chief justice of Nova Scotia and the chief justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in 2004. He's spent much of his 40-year legal career presiding over court cases and encouraging his colleagues to engage and learn from marginalized communities. Last June, MacDonald worked with leaders in the Indigenous and African-Nova Scotian communities to host a two-day meeting at the Black Cultural Centre in Cherry Brook, N.S., where 40 judges heard firsthand about the unique challenges facing those communities. At the end of that meeting, MacDonald committed to institutionalizing this type of judicial outreach, ultimately leading to the creation of the African Nova Scotian Access to Justice Judicial Committee. Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press He also initiated a 2016 review of diversity on the bench that led to the development of a mentorship program for African-Nova Scotian and Indigenous lawyers. Story continues "It's easy for the judiciary to say, well, it's not our problem. It's society's problem. Well, it's all of our problems and I'm gravely concerned when I learn about statistics where there is significant overrepresentation of black and Indigenous people in our prisons, when victims of sexual assault are seriously under-reporting," he said, sitting at his desk in a now mostly bare office overlooking a rainy Halifax harbour. "Public confidence in the judiciary is fundamental and therefore anything we can do that can enhance public confidence in the judiciary would be important." MacDonald said judges stand to gain new perspectives by engaging with marginalized communities. "I think the real end game is, and the goal is, to just learn as much as you can about other people's experiences, and that will make you a richer judge and actually make you completely impartial in the sense that when I hear your story, I can understand it better," he said. Images East Photography/The Executive Office of the Nova Scotia Judiciary He believes the types of institutionalized outreach initiatives happening in Nova Scotia are unique to the province, but the ideas behind it can be applied elsewhere. MacDonald added that this work requires a balance to be struck between community engagement and maintaining judicial independence. For example, in the lead-up to the Cherry Brook meeting, legally trained community leaders held preliminary meetings to explain to the community the judiciary's independence and about how judges cannot align with certain causes or comment on specific cases. "I'm told that like all education, it's a two-way dynamic in the sense that we've learned a lot I've learned a lot but to the members of the community, not only appreciating the fact that we've engaged the community, they have, I think, a better understanding for the judiciary and the role that we play," said MacDonald. The federal government has not yet named the province's next chief justice. MacDonald said he plans on spending his retirement with his family, including his wife Brenda, his three daughters Christina, Laura and Bhreagh and his two granddaughters, Cate and Caroline. Although he officially retires on Thursday, MacDonald is heading to his home community of Whitney Pier, N.S., on Friday for an engagement session of the African Nova Scotian Access to Justice Judicial Committee. "The vision would be that with enough engagement and understanding, our decisions will be better appreciated, better understood, and everybody wins." PARIS (Reuters) - France's 5G telecoms frequencies auction will start this autumn, with licenses expected to be given at the start of 2020, junior minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told Le Figaro newspaper on Thursday. France's four main telecoms operators Orange, Bouygues Telecom, Altice Europe's SFR and Iliad regularly compete in costly spectrum auctions, which allow wireless carriers to develop networks. "The government will fix the political framework in spring. Arcep (the telecoms regulator) will then establish the specific requirements, which will be certified in autumn," Pannier-Runacher told Le Figaro. "The auction will then be launched with attributions at the start of 2020," she added. Investors are concerned about the potential hefty price French telecom operators could end up paying in the auction amid a protracted pricing war that is weighing on profit margins. Italy, one of the first European countries to offer frequencies for 5G services, stunned markets by raising a bumper 6.5 billion euros ($7.5 billion) for state coffers in its auction. "There's a fine balance between state budget issues and telecom operator's financial capacities to buy frequencies and then deploy a network," Pannier-Runacher said. The junior minister denied new legislation to increase controls of telecoms infrastructure was aimed at Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei. "There's no such hidden agenda," she said. "We need to both remain vigilant on critical equipments and acknowledge the quality of Huawei's equipments." The United States has shut Chinese vendors out of government contracts on security grounds. Huawei denies its equipment includes 'back doors' open to cyber-espionage. Asked about Huawei in a separate interview with French newspaper Les Echos, the head of Arcep, Sebastien Soriano, said the 5G network could be deployed even with the banning of some equipment makers. "It's absolutely not incompatible," he said. (Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain and Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Mark Potter) Danske Bank provides around 20% of all mortgages in Northern Ireland. Pic: Reuters A no-deal Brexit is the biggest risk the Northern Ireland economy has faced in a generation, Dankse Bank UK CEO Kevin Kingston said Friday. Dankse Bank is one of the big four banks in Northern Ireland, and provides around 20% of mortgages there. In a stark warning, Kingston said the smaller businesses that form the lifeblood of the economy in Northern Ireland are far less prepared for a no-deal scenario and thus the most vulnerable. He noted that his bank was well-placed to understand the risks facing Northern Irish businesses. We have engaged on an individual basis with many of these business customers in recent months to help them plan, Kingston said. At this point, I am gravely concerned about the challenges ahead should a hard Brexit become a reality. In recent days, business leaders in Northern Ireland have begun to issue increasingly strident warnings about the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit. READ MORE: Irish business groups warn against devastating consequences of no-deal Brexit Two leading Irish business organisations warned last month of the devastating economic consequences of such a scenario. The Confederation of British Industry said that, by 2034, a no-deal Brexit could dent Northern Irelands economy by almost 5bn each year. After MPs passed an amendment that calls for the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced by unspecified alternative arrangements, the CEO of Manufacturing Northern Ireland, Stephen Kelly, said that the firms he represents are partly in despair and really confused about whats going on. Kingston said that a no-deal Brexit would inevitably have an impact on consumers and the financial affairs of people on the street. Danske Bank UK on Friday announced an operating profit of 92m for 2018, down 22% on 2017s 118m. In 2017, the bank had benefitted substantially from the sale of its wealth division and from changes to its staff pension scheme. A profit fall in 2018 was expected, despite improved income growth, it said in a statement. Known as Northern Bank before it was acquired by the Denmark-based Danske Bank Group (DANSKE.CO) in 2004, Danske Bank UK operates over 40 branches in Northern Ireland. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has clarified his controversial comments about Islamophobia, now saying such discrimination exists but that it is not widespread. In a statement Friday, the premier's office said Legault meant to say that there isn't an "undercurrent" of Islamophobia in Quebec. "Quebecers are open and tolerant and will continue to be," the statement said. "Unfortunately, too many racist acts still occur today in our society, and everything must be done to denounce and combat hatred and intolerance. We will continue to honour the memory of the six victims of the tragedy of the Quebec mosque on Jan. 29." Friday's statement comes after the premier told reporters Thursday that there's no need for a day devoted to action against Islamophobia because it's not a problem in the province. Legault was responding to calls for the anniversary of the Quebec mosque shooting to be established as an anti-Islamaphobia day. "I don't think there is Islamophobia in Quebec, so I don't see why there would be a day dedicated to Islamophobia," he said Thursday. Those comments prompted an outpouring of criticism from Muslim groups. They want the province to take a stronger stance against anti-Muslim actions and rhetoric. 'Out of touch' Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said Legault's initial comments were "clearly out of touch with the realities of Islamophobia on the ground in Quebec." Karim Elabed, an imam at a mosque in Levis, a small city across the river from Quebec City, said the premier's comments were irresponsible. "The general opinion is that there is no problem in Quebec. But the problem is real," he said. The province should be striving toward educating the future generations and teaching youth to accept cultural differences, said Elabed. Liberal MP Gaetan Barrette also said Legault's comments were out of touch with reality, though he too cautioned the problem isn't "systemic" in Quebec. Story continues "I'm not saying that society is Islamophobic. I say there are people, no doubt, who are," he said. Justin Tang/Canadian Press At the federal level, the Commons heritage committee recommended last year that Jan. 29 be declared a "national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination." Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week that the city was proclaiming Jan. 29 a day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia. Like the ruling Coalition Avenir Quebec, Quebec's previous Liberal government also rejected the idea of setting aside a day against Islamophobia. Former premier Philippe Couillard said last year he preferred to make a commitment against racism and discrimination, rather than single out a particular group or religion. The latest controversy comes amid a renewed focus on the province's longstanding debate over the accommodation of religious minorities. Legault has promised legislation early this year blocking public servants in positions of authority, including police officers, judges, prosecutors, prison guards and teachers, from wearing religious symbols at work. Baby, it's frigid outside. A large swath of Canada, from the Prairies to Nova Scotia, is under a deep freeze. Temperatures in Winnipeg are dipping down to 36 C Monday night with a windchill of almost 50 C. In Windsor, which is typically the warmest spot in Ontario, the overnight temperature will dip to 27 C with a windchill of 40 C. Even in parts of the U.S. Midwest, temperatures are expected to have a wind chill of 50 C. This may leave some, like U.S. president Donald Trump, wondering where global warming has wandered off to. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The fact is, it's climate change, or global warming, that's behind this extreme cold. Ever since the bitter winter of 2014, a new winter-weather catchphrase has been making the rounds: polar vortex. The polar vortex is nothing new. It's just that it typically encircles the north pole. However, in recent years, it seems to be meandering southward every so often. "This air mass always exists, and it often gets bumped and pushed around. In this case, the jet stream pushed it all the way down to the U.S. Midwest," said CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe. "Sometimes that air mass can get split, or divided because of the jet stream, so it ends up getting stuck in place." That's what happened this week: the jet stream managed to split the descending polar vortex into three. The jet stream Though it's a relatively new area of study, there's increasing evidence that suggests this phenomenon will happen more often and become more extreme. The key lies with the jet stream, a narrow, fast-moving band of air in our upper atmosphere that moves weather patterns around. In the past, the jet stream moved fairly smoothly around the northern hemisphere. But recently, it's developed more pronounced kinks that can bring cold, Arctic air much farther south than in the past, or bring heat from the Gulf of Mexico further north than has been typical. Story continues And it's linked to the Arctic. NASA Earth Observatory A recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report found the Arctic is warming two to three times faster than anywhere else on Earth. This temperature difference upsets the stability of the jet stream. And that brings the cold Arctic air southward where it can linger, a result that meteorologists call a blocking pattern. "We have seen more of these; we've noticed that trend already, that's proven. And all of our climate models show this trend will continue," Wagstaffe said. "And that doesn't just mean more heat and more drought conditions. It can also mean more of these extreme cold blasts or extreme wet or snowy systems staying in place longer than normal." Climate vs. weather The important thing to remember when discussing climate change is that climate and weather are two separate entities. Weather is the state of the atmosphere pertaining to things like wind, moisture, temperature and more that occur on a day-to-day basis. Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather in one place over a long period of time. Just because you step outside and the tears caused by bitter wind freeze on your cheeks, doesn't mean that climate change isn't happening. In fact, at the same time much of Canada is in a deep freeze, other parts of the world are experiencing the opposite. "The atmosphere is always trying to balance out its energy," Wagstaffe said. "So right now, on the other side of the globe, parts of northern Europe and northern Russia, they're actually experiencing record-breaking warm temperatures for this time of the year, and really close to the north pole." Climate change isn't about what's happening today, but what's happening globally, over time. The Fiji Water model who photobombed her way from the red carpet to social media super stardom launched a lawsuit against the company this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, The Blast reported. Model, Kelleth Cuthbert, whose real name is Kelly Steinbach, says Fiji created an unauthorized marketing campaign using her image. Fiji, she alleges, seized upon her viral fame, and made life-size cardboard cutouts from photos taken of her while she was working for the company promoting its water for the January 6 Golden Globes. If the matter heads to court, the answers to several questions will determine the fate of Cuthberts lawsuit. Those questions include whether Fijis use of Cuthberts image went beyond the scope of her original contract, whether a subsequent valid agreement was made between the parties, and whether Cuthbert sustained any damages. According to Cuthbert, Fiji's post-Globes cutout campaign was initiated without her consent. She disputes that a subsequent contract was ever made, and seeks monetary compensation, a cut of the companys profits derived from the alleged unauthorized use of her image, and punitive damages. Holly Taylor at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards with FIJI Water on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for FIJI Water/AP Images) California law could be in her favor In a statement to Yahoo Finance Fiji said, This lawsuit is frivolous and entirely without merit. After the Golden Globes social media moment, we negotiated a generous agreement with Ms. Cuthbert that she blatantly violated. We are confident that we will prevail in court. According to Cuthbert, Fiji asked her to meet at the company's Los Angeles office in an attempt to negotiate a subsequent deal after she learned that the cutouts had been installed in stores around the city. Cuthbert claims the company offered her gifts as a bargaining chip to relinquish her rights to the name Fiji water girl, and pressured her into shooting a video to simulate signing on as a Fiji brand ambassador. If Cuthberts claims are proven, she may have a viable and lucrative case. In California, a persons likeness, photo, or voice cannot be used for commercial purpose without their prior consent, and the states laws permit aggressively punishing violators. Story continues Cuthbert claims the unauthorized use of her likeness damaged her "peace, happiness, feelings, goodwill, professional standing, and future publicity value." In addition to compensatory damages for these types of claims, California courts can also award successful plaintiffs with profits derived from unauthorized use. Fiji, a private, Los Angeles-based company, is said to have benefited to the tune of about $12 million in brand exposure from Cuthberts Golden Globe photobombs, alone. If she prevails on her claim that the cutouts were unauthorized, Cuthbert is entitled to all of the companys profits attributable to the cutout campaign. Yahoo Finance requested clarification from Fiji concerning the scope and duration of the companys original and any subsequent contracts with Cuthbert, as well as the nature of the video alleged in Cuthberts complaint, and has not received a response. Alexis Keenan is a New York-based reporter for Yahoo Finance. She previously produced live news for CNN and is a former litigation attorney. Follow her on Twitter at @alexiskweed More from Alexis: Disabled San Diego residents sue over e-scooter obstacle course How legalized cannabis changed Colorado in the past five years Legal experts disagree on whether Trump can declare 'emergency' to build his wall By John Irish and Riham Alkousaa PARIS/BERLIN (Reuters) - France, Germany and Britain have opened a new channel for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions, although diplomats say it is unlikely to allow for the big transactions that Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat. Washington's major European allies opposed last year's decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon the 2015 deal, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. Iran has threatened to pull out of the deal unless the European powers enable it to receive economic benefits. The Europeans have promised to help companies do business with Iran as long as it abides by the deal. "It is a political act," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters after a meeting of EU counterparts in Bucharest. "It is a gesture to protect European companies." Washington says that, although Iran has met the terms, the accord was too generous, failing to rein in Iran's ballistic missile programme or curb its regional meddling. New U.S. sanctions have largely succeeded in persuading European companies to abandon business with Iran, and Washington said on Thursday that it did not expect the EU effort, known as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to change that. "We do not expect the SPV will in any way impact our maximum economic pressure campaign," a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said. "The United States questions the efficacy of the SPV and remains committed to fully enforcing its sanctions," said a senior Trump administration who spoke on condition of anonymity. The European trade vehicle was conceived as a way to help match Iranian oil and gas exports against purchases of EU goods. However, those ambitions have been toned down, with diplomats saying that, realistically, it will be used only for smaller trade, for example of humanitarian products or food. Story continues "It won't change things dramatically, but it's an important political message to Iran to show that we are determined to save the JCPOA (Iran deal) and also to the United States to show we defend our interests despite their extraterritorial sanctions," one European diplomat said. The EU has spent months preparing the system and it will take several months more to become operational. Britain's Jeremy Hunt said the three countries were working closely with Tehran to finalise arrangements: "Registration is a big step, but there is still more work to be done," Hunt said. RELATIONS WORSENING The Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges, or INSTEX, is registered in France and will be headed by German banker Per Fischer, a former Commerzbank director. The three European powers are shareholders and hope other states will join later, although a senior German official said this was not imminent. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the mechanism was a good first step. The European powers must now establish a budget for INSTEX and define its rules. Iran must also set up a mirror company. "It seems that Iran should set up the same system inside Iran to organise rial transactions for Iranian companies," Araqchi was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The U.S. Embassy in Germany said it did not expect INSTEX to blunt its effort to pile economic pressure on Tehran. Even as European powers and the European Union have worked to preserve the nuclear deal, relations with Tehran have been worsening. The EU this month imposed its first sanctions on Iran since the nuclear pact, in response to the ballistic missile tests and assassination plots on European soil. In a symbolic move, the EU added two Iranian individuals and an Iranian intelligence unit to its terrorist list. The three big European powers are also assessing whether to push for new sanctions on Iran over its missile programme, diplomats have told Reuters. "We are clear; this commitment does not in any way preclude us from addressing Iran's hostile and destabilising activities," Hunt said. (Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal and Paul Carrel in Berlin, Robin Emmott and Alissa de Carbonel in Brussels and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; writing by Madeline Chambers and John Irish; editing by Kevin Liffey and James Dalgleish) - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." Technology / Other by Agencies Find it hard to write clear code for your programming assignment and need professional coding assignment help? Being a student, you often have to complete several assignments with their deadlines practically at the same time. 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The arbiter stands at arm's length to ensure they do not get muddied by the blood of the uneducated, unsophisticated or those who claim they are too educated to dirty themselves with the details of a revolution and rewriting the wrongs of the past and present regimes including those who dare rise and question these practices.When people talk about the ills of government it is blamed as regime change rhetoric and the influences of the west. But the west aint here and yet there is so much black on black violence by the government using the state organs and hiding behind rogue elements. The shooting of defenceless persons, serious beatings, gunshot wounds by the police and the military clearly show that Cameroon has failed to uphold the concept of sovereignty in the same way that Zimbabwe has, and many other African states.The people we expect to protect the defenceless, the arbiters go into these countries and strengthen camaraderie relationships accusing people who are fed up of poor governance of being unruly opposition parties hell bent on destabilising the region or country. It is so unfair and unrealistic that we are being killed every day, killed by our own governments who are resorting to self-help to protect their bad governance and dictatorship. Assume the people were indeed unruly looters and promoting insurgence and traitors to the nation or rebellion against the fatherland, group rebellion and public disorder as per the charges levelled against Maurice Kamto, does not the state have lawful means of charging him and sending him to prison after a just trial without violating his rights? Why should soldiers be released on people and beat people working together with the police?This has become a norm in Africa than an anomaly. We as the ADF take exception to the failure by the South African government seen as the big brother to condemn these actions but to actual send delegations in solidarity with such governments as seen with the ZANU and ANC meeting and the resolutions of that meeting. How can ZANU stop that abuse when the only African country that sits on the UN condones the butchering of people and such a violation of these fundamental human rights? South Africa is complicity in all the crimes that have been perpetuated by the various African leaders who have been killing their citizens with impunity and yet it has kept quiet and even shown such support for these people.What is happening in Cameroon is the most gross violation of human rights that we can talk about and unfortunately it is not only happening there but across the divide of the continent and the AU is sitting over tea and coffee daily fraternising. The syndrome of passing the blame is seen again in Zimbabwe where ANC supports ZANU to blame sanctions for the killings. What caused the 1st August 2018 killings? What is causing the Cameroon atrocities? Clearly it must be the illegal regime change elements planted by the west? Please our leaders, do respect your people for once and take them seriously. We deal with serious problems of xenophobic attacks and we the ordinary people are fighting amongst ourselves over the meagre resources because the lion's share is with our leaders. The people are suffering from the blunt consequences of this African rhetoric while the leaders are safe and protected and we are used as tools to kill each other. Who should we turn to? We flee these countries, our own heritage and the neighbours who watch in laughter and great disinterest to the plight of the poor men, also tighten their laws to ensure that we must go back to the burning furnace and in some cases they even incite locals to met street justice by killing these foreigners who are crowding and taking away the meagre resources causing poor service delivery is their pathetic line.Our African leaders ae facilitating the spirit of divide and conquer so that the people of Africa do not come together but look at each other with great scepticism because they know that once the people come together and compare their notes a great revolt will overthrow and reject this mediocrity, looting and despotism across Africa.We know that indeed we the people are nothing in the sight of the mighty giants, but our cry is for a small share of the loot, to live in peace and let them enjoy the loot without killing and maiming us. The situation in our African states, Cameroon, the DRC, Sudan, Zimbabwe and many that seem to have borrowed peace because elections are a distance off, is dire. We implore the AU, SADC and the United Nations to be true to the plight of the defenceless, the people. We cannot continue to allow bad governance to thrive while we hide behind state sovereignty and the principle of non-interference. It is this same kind of suffering and ostracization that led to our fathers standing up against the colonial regimes. We cannot afford to continue looking aside in the face of such inhumane raping, buttering, of people by soldiers and the police.Do the people do not have rights? Or our rights are the right to be abused, killed, segregated against, right to suffer, to be uneducated, to be demeaned and dehumanised? We therefore call upon the international community, the regional bodies and South Africa which has become home to so many migrants fleeing these atrocities to speak unashamedly against the brutality and violation of human rights in Cameroon. President Biya, is indeed a dictator who is holding the Cameroon people at ransom without leaving the Presidency. There is no one person more intelligent and superior than all others to rule over others alone and decide their fate. We live in an age of democratic constitutionalism which is being corrupted by our own leaders into perennial presidency without observed term limits.The African Diaspora forum is saddened, appalled, ashamed, by the actions of those who are in a position to deal with these issues but instead choose to take the wrong side and join in on the oppression of the defenceless. We have many dying daily crossing the Mediterranean trying to flee to Europe and we ae not asking ourselves the million dollar question, why?Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda - ADF Chairperson News / National by Staff reporter MDC-Alliance organising secretary Amos Chibaya appeared in court yesterday facing fresh charges of plotting to overthrow the Government.Chibaya, who is the MP for Mkoba, was rearrested on Tuesday afternoon soon after his release from Whawha remand prison after he was granted $500 bail on allegations of inciting violence.He appeared before Provincial Magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa facing charges of subverting a Constitutional Government. Chibaya pleaded not guilty. Ms Maphosa remanded Chibaya in custody to tomorrow at the request of the prosecution led by Ms Gracious Rongai.Ms Rongai applied for further detention to allow police to gather more documentation proving the alleged offence against him.The MP's lawyer Mr Reginald Chidawanyika was opposed to the application for further detention saying it was unconstitutional to have his client arrested based on a news article which has not been verified."We are opposing this application for further detention because we requested for the news article in question from the prosecution and they promised to give us today (yesterday) in court a promise they have failed to keep and now they want to detain my client further and the publication in question has not been verified," he said.It is the State case that during the period from December 16 to January 2 and at the Midlands Provincial offices of MDC Alliance in Gweru, the accused communicated with Learnmore Magorimbo, the national chairperson for Zimbabwe National Youth Alliance (Ziya), a pressure group mobilising for a nationwide demonstration.The court heard that the alleged communication was done between certain cellphone numbers revealed in court. On January 2, accused the court heard- also communicated with the entire MDC Alliance supporters by causing the publishing of a news article in a local daily newspaper where he was subverting a Constitutional Government.As a result of the communications, the court heard that massive violent demonstrations occurred in Mkoba, Mtapa and Ascot high density suburbs in Gweru and the accused was observed amongst a riotous group.The court heard that a number of properties were destroyed by demonstrators taking heed of his campaign to overthrow the Government by unconstitutional means. News / National by Staff reporter PRESIDENT Mnangagwa today heads to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare for the national monthly clean-up exercise as Government intensifies efforts to build sustainable environment management and waste disposal systems.This comes as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education yesterday threw its weight behind the exercise, urging all schools to clean their environments to ensure they are conducive for teaching and learning purposes.Government has set the first Friday of every month as the national environment cleaning day. In Bulawayo officials said the focus is still on Makokoba, 6th Avenue Extension and the marketplace which are still dirty.The Bulawayo City Council is expected to collect all the garbage following the clean-up exercise. In an interview yesterday after a preparatory meeting ahead of today's national clean-up campaign, EMA provincial manager for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Mr Decent Ndlovu, urged members of the public to participate in the exercise."We look forward to every individual to actually step up and say between 8AM and 10AM we are cleaning our Zimbabwe. We are going to maintain the same areas, our Makokoba is still dirty. We are going to focus on Makokoba and send more teams there, 6th Avenue and our Market place are still dirty," said Mr Ndlovu. He said a number of corporates and institutions would clean up the Central Business District."So we are going to have a hive of activities taking place. We are inviting everyone to be part of this. This particular event is going to be a success and it will continue to have more impact in the future," Mr Ndlovu said. He hailed companies that have joined the initiative and adopted areas to clean up."We have quite a number of companies. ZPC (Zimbabwe Power Company) has come up and adopted a place, Delta, Simbisa Brands, PSMAS (Premier Services Medical Aid Society) and the residents associations are also taking up areas to clean. We also have the Zimbabwe Council of Churches who form the bulk of stakeholders. They have also come up to embrace this clean-up process where they will mobilise their church members to converge at various venues to clean up," said Mr Ndlovu.He said others that had joined are Ocean Bird Foundation, Empower Bank, Rainbow Hotel, Pick n Pay and Transport Associations among others. Mr Ndlovu said among areas to be cleaned up are schools and institutions of higher learning, Emthunzini Children's home, Thorngrove Home Of Peace, residential areas, commuter omnibus ranks and Makokoba Mkambo area and others within communities. Meanwhile, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Prisca Mupfumira yesterday confirmed that President Mnangagwa would lead the clean-up campaign at Parirenyatwa.First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa will lead proceedings in Mutare."The President will be involved in the monthly exercise and will be at Parirenyatwa Hospital," she said."People are conscious of what is happening and they are enjoying it. Yes, the campaign is Government-led but many people have joined in and these include the private sector, non-governmental organisations and churches. This time our own departments in Government will also be taking part."This month's national clean-up launch will be running under the theme "My Environment My Pride.""We are saying let us begin by cleaning wherever we are as they say charity begins at home. All the provinces have mastered the concept and every province has a main centre. Let us work together to make Zimbabwe clean," said Minister Mupfumira.The clean-up exercises takes place between 8 and 10 AM. The Environment Management Agency (EMA) and Harare City council yesterday carried out door to door awareness campaigns ahead of today's event.Addressing journalists yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said school children will take part in the national clean-up exercise."As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, with an enrolment of 4.5 million learners, a workforce of 130 000 and 8 500 schools strategically located in our communities country wide, we seek to make our contribution to the national cleanliness effort," he said."Schools will ensure that cleaning will take place between 6:45 am and 8 am and school heads have been instructed to ensure protective gear is provided in order to avoid contact with harmful bacteria. Health and hygiene are key pillars in creating a conducive teaching and learning environment. We see the campaign as a fundamental proactive programmer aimed at keeping our persons and our environments clean."He said departments under his Ministry will participate in the exercise."For sustainability, a committee has been set up at each level to focus on the cleanliness of their environment and maintain a high level of hygiene in all our institutions," said Prof Mavima.On Tuesday, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry secretary Mr Munesuishe Munodawafa commended corporates for being involved in the cleaning initiative. He said in Harare major hotspots had been targeted for cleaning today.These include VID Eastlea, Mbare Flats and bus termini, Waterfalls Park Street, Zindoga business centre and the Harare Central Business District. City of Harare Environment and Amenities Manager Mr Lisben Chipfunde said council has availed enough waste disposal trucks for refuse collection."As the Harare City Council we have hired enough trucks to help in refuse collection, more of the hired trucks will service Mbare suburb where most of illegal structures were demolished recently," he said. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu It's a sign of complete failure if ordinary people are asking for the return of a former dictator. That's how bad things are for ordinary folks. ED has failed. Completely. #ZimbabweCrisis pic.twitter.com/cTlMfA5cT0 Alex T Magaisa (@Wamagaisa) January 29, 2019 Vendors and prostitutes in Harare have complained that the situation in the country has dilapidated beyond the way they cannot manage.They complaint comes after state agents descended at their vending stalls and destroyed them. One vendor-cum-prostitute who spoke to Bus stop TV said they are not getting clients and prostitution is longer a viable business.They called for the return of the ousted Robert Mugabe who was removed through a bloody coup in November 2017.Watch the video below: News / National by Staff reporter Three independent power producers - Mopower Solar Limited, Zororo Energy Company Limited and Guruve Solar Park Limited - have submitted applications for licensing to set up power projects with a combined generating capacity of 155 megawatts (MW).Mopower Solar Limited is proposing to invest in a 100MW solar plant at Orient Farm in Somabula near Gweru in the Midlands Province, as well as the construction of 6km of a 132kV transmission line to connect the proposed solar plant to the existing Chertsey Gweru 132kV substation.Zororo Energy Company Limited intends to invest in a 50MW solar plant at Utopia Farm, Melfort and Bromley in Mashonaland East Province, which includesthe construction of 0,5km of a 132kV lynx transmission line from the proposed Harambe Power Plant to the existing Bromley 132kV substation.Guruve Solar Park Limited is also seeking to establish a 5,5MW solar plant at Dunavet, Guruve district in Mashonaland Central Province, including the construction of 450 metres of 33kV transmission line to connect the proposed solar plant to the existing Guruve 33kV substation.In a notice, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) announced it had received applications for licences from the three private power players.In recent years, government has opened up the sector to participation by independent players, but only a few IPPs have managed to take off, as they face funding challenges.Zimbabwe's power demand averages 1 400MW, but the country only generates around 1 200MW, relying on imports from South Africa's Eskom and Hydro CahoraBassa of Mozambique to plug the gap.This year, Zimbabwe's power utility completed a $530 million upgrade of the country's main power station, Kariba South, which saw an additional 300MW being added to the national grid.An upgrade of the Hwange Thermal Power Station is lined up, with preliminary works already under way. Hwange has an installed capacity of 920MW, but is only generating about a third of that because of antiquated equipment. News / National by Staff reporter Finance ministry secretary George Guvamatanga was yesterday grilled by Parliament for Treasury's failure to disclose unbudgeted expenditure and debt contraction in contravention of the Public Debt Management Act and Public Management Act.Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee Tendai Biti, who served as Finance minister in the Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013, quizzed Guvamatanga as to why his ministry had failed to account for loans contracted by government.Biti said government was overspending and the Finance ministry had failed to present supplementary budget proposals before Parliament."This issue goes to the fundamental good of parliamentary oversight over government expenditure. We, as parliamentarians, approve the budget, then the government overspends as it has been doing for the past five years. Then it does not bother to come to us to say 'I have overspent, here is a supplementary budget and I am seeking condonation'. This goes to the issue that we are wasting our time each time by approving budgets because you guys are going to overspend. Then cynically, you guys don't come to us. Why is the Ministry of Finance not coming to Parliament with a Bill for condonation?" Biti asked.Zimbabwe's public debt was in the region of $17 billion, as of August last year according to Treasury data.Guvamatanga assumed his current position from William Manungo in September last year.He appeared before the committee with the accountant-general Daniel Muchemwa and his deputy, Edwin Zvandasara."At the moment, we are compiling and checking and preparing a schedule and cross-checking, so I have a full team working on all those issues and loansthat have been contracted to make sure that they are presented to Parliament," Guvamatanga told the committee."The point you have raised to say why it was not done is an important point, but I chose to make it done honourables."Muchemwa was also questioned for failure by Treasury to produce quarterly consolidated financial statements and issuing warrants of expenditure during the past three years of his tenure. News / National by newzimbabwe THE investigating officer in the trial of MDC deputy national chairperson Tendai Biti refused to answer questions last week, drawing a sharp rebuke from the former finance minister's defence attorney.The opposition politician is on trial for contravening electoral laws by allegedly declaring MDC leader Nelson Chamisa the winner of last July's presidential elections.Biti denies the charges.He was arrested while trying to seek political asylum in Zambia saying his life was in danger in the deadly aftermath of the disputed vote.He is arguing that he was unlawfully brought before the Harare courts as he was abducted by State agents from Zambia.During cross examination by defence attorney Beatrice Mtetwa last week, investigating officer Jealousy Mabasa confirmed that Biti had crossed into Zambia before they arrested him.Mabasa however, refused to be drawn further on the matter, simply answer "no comment" to questions by Mtetwa.Court heard that it was Mabasa who led the team which picked up Biti from Chirundu border post and brought back to Harare."Who was in your team when you went to Chirundu," asked Mtetwa.Responded Mabasa; "I can't tell because it is a matter of national security. I can't do that your Worship and I'm serious."He responded with "no comment" to further questions, drawing a sharp rebuke from Mtetwa."You failed to investigate a case which a recruit from Morris Depot could have easily investigated," said the defence attorney."You have no comment on things you saw with your own eyes because you got what you wanted."You had a big fish (Biti) arrested and got promoted from Vehicle Theft Squad to an Assistant Commissioner yet your investigations are worse than those of a student."The State closed its case after calling two more witnesses.Ruling is expected to be handed down on February.Jonathan Murombedzi prosecuted. News / National by Staff reporter SALARY negotiations between civil servants and government yesterday ended prematurely after some workers' union representatives stormed out of the meeting, accusing their employer of not being committed to improving their welfare.Apex Council leaders, however, said they had given government up to tomorrow to come up with an improved package or they would declare a full-blown strike.But Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou later accused the Apex Council of making unilateral decisions, adding that since they were not consulted on the latest decision, they were going ahead with the planned industrial action."Apex Council decisions are done collectively and not unilaterally. The recent unilateral statements allegedly by (chairperson) Cecilia Alexander that Apex Council has postponed industrial action to open room for negotiations is unfortunate and has no locus standi," he said in a statement."Alexander must make decisions after consulting Apex affiliates. That she has unilaterally given a statement without consulting affiliates reveals her flirtation and romance with the employer."Zhou said they "cannot continue to negotiate for infinity", adding teachers would withdraw their labour until the impasse was resolved.He accused the Apex Council of betraying the struggle and called for the realignment of the body."Our withdrawal of labour is certainly not synonymous with a shutdown. Let expedient elements desist from hijacking labour issues," Zhou warned."The law is clear that there must be three negotiating meetings, and workers thereafter can either decide to push negotiations by other means, viz industrial action or arbitration. That we gave notice of industrial action means we have chosen the path of industrial action," he said.The rift between the civil service body and unions was visible as some union leaders refused to brief the media on the outcome of the meeting, while others implored the Apex Council leadership to show character and not deviate from the "agreed position".Civil servants are demanding $1 733 for the least paid worker.Initially, the union leaders met with government at the National Joint Negotiation Committee, but no new offer was presented.Government recently offered a 22,7% cushioning allowance and 5% per month to its workers on a sliding scale between January and March, but the offer was shot down as pittance.David Dzatsunga, the Apex Council secretary, told journalists that they would be meeting government again tomorrow."Following the expiring of the 14-day notice given to government by the Apex Council on Friday January 25, 2019, the Apex Council gives the government up to Wednesday January 30, 2019 or face an inevitable job action," he said.PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said government should pay civil servants in hard currency."The most important part is that the government is not taking civil servants seriously," he said. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Zimbabwean Lawyers on Tuesday are going to march against the abuse of human rights being perpetrated by state agents and the abuse of rule of law taking place in the courts.Dubbed #MarchForJustice the protest march will move from the Lawyers Society of Zimbabwe at 1PM heading towards the Constitutional court.Lawyers will be marching in their gowns and jabots for Justice and the Rule of Law.Lawyers are urged to meet at Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) offices located at 46 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. The lawyers will march to the Constitutional Court. News / National by Staff reporter GOVERNMENT has urged women who were allegedly raped by some rogue members of the security forces to report the abuse to the police.The Zimbabwe Republic Police is also urging Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) providing so-called safe houses for victims to facilitate the reporting of such cases so that due process can take place.Despite a glut of allegations of sytematic rape by security forces only one case been reported - in Chitungwiza - and is being investigated.In separate statements yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba urged women to take advantage of the police Victim Friendly Units (VFUs), which are manned by female officers, to open up.The State also guarantees the safety of victims."Rape is a heinous crime, cognisant of this fact, it is the duty of the police to investigate all reported cases of alleged rape," Minister Mutsvangwa said."However, to date, only one case of rape has been reported in Chitungwiza and the police are seized with investigations on the matter."All women who were allegedly raped are encouraged to come forward and report the cases to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Units which can be found at every police station around the country," added Minister Mutsvangwa.She assured the victims that their safety was guaranteed."All women, who were allegedly raped, are encouraged to come foward and report the cases to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit which can be found at every police station around the country. The unit is led by a female Commissioner, hence, all affected women will be treated with empathy, compassion, respect and due care. Their safety will be guaranteed," said Minister Mutsvangwa.She said Government will not condone criminal behaviour by any member of the society. Minister Mutsvangwa urged the rape victims to report timely to the police."Government does not condone and will never tolerate criminal behaviour by any member of society particularly those in positions of trust."Government wishes to underscore that it is critical for rape cases to be reported in a timely manner to the police. While reporting cases to NGOs for counselling services is helpful, the police can only act on alleged cases if victims come forward, Government urges the NGOs to encourage and support women who approach them to report the cases to the Police Victim Friendly Unit," she said.She said in order to ensure the anonymity of victims of the alleged rape cases, the affected women could use the following WhatsApp number, 0712800 197. Comm Charamba appealed to NGOs to encourage alleged victims they were housing to report to the police in the interest of justice."In the same vein, we are appealing to Non Governmental and Human Rights Organisations who are allegedly providing shelter to alleged victims to consider the rights of the individuals concerned and encourage them to make official police reports. Preventing them from exercising their right of access to justice (making police reports) is doing them disfavour as the police have a constitutional mandate to investigate all such cases and refer them to court, justice delayed is justice denied. All aggrieved members of the public should come forward and report to the police so that thorough and comprehensive investigations are conducted," she said.Meanwhile, the security services have arrested several individuals who have been committing various crimes following the recent riots, including some clad in military uniforms. According to police, one Tranos Muzanenhamo (28) was arrested in Epworth, Harare, after he was found clad in military attire."Investigations are underway to establish where he got the military outfit and ascertain any other offences he might have committed," she said. In another case, a Harare man was arrested as he attempted to have a military identity card produced in his name."We once again thank members of the public who continue to provide valuable information to the police which has led to recovery of looted goods and account for those involved in public violence," Comm Charamba said. News / National by newzimbabwe.com OPPOSITION parties reacted with fury Monday after President Emmerson Mnangagwa appeared to suggest that he was not aware of the that police and soldiers were beating up civilians around the country.Mnangagwa used his Twitter account to say he was "appalled" after seeing reports by UK-based Sky News of police and soldiers attacking protestors.The Zanu-PF leader tweeted that "this is not the Zimbabwean way" after Sky's Africa correspondent, John Sparks, revealed the atrocities he has seen in the country over the past week as Zimbabweans protest against a 150% fuel price rise."I was appalled by today's Sky News report. This is not the Zimbabwean way," said Mnangagwa."I have instructed that the individuals behind this be arrested and encourage all those impacted to contact the authorities and file an official complaint."However, in separate interviews with NewZimbabwe.com, opposition parties insisted that Mnangagwa was fully aware of the brutal crackdown against civilians by the security services."It's like they (Mnangagwa and his government) are suffering from a split personality disorder," said MDC national spokesman Jacob Mafume."One day they smile and the next day they bite, maybe they take their nicknames (Crocodile) literally."Build Zimbabwe Alliance (BZA) leader Noah Manyika said; "who are these men in the military and security forces who brutalise fellow citizens and continue to curse our land by spilling blood?"My hat off to John Sparks and Sky News for the courageous reporting that exposes not just the brutality of the current regime, but the cowardice and hypocrisy of pastors, prophets, journalists, feminists etc who won't speak out on behalf of the oppressed and abused to protect their political relationships and their place at the feeding trough."Linda Masarira, spokesperson for the MDC-T, said the President's remarks showed that he is out touch with reality."We do not expect a whole executive president to wait for Sky News yet most of these things were being recorded daily by local media in the country," Linda told NewZimbabwe.com"We need to have a President who is concerned about the welfare of his people because it is the people of Zimbabwe who voted for him to be President of this country."We expect him to also listen to what the local media are saying to come up with tangible solutions to the demise and the crisis facing the nation."She added; "We are tired of cheap talk and we expect him to show leadership to ensure peace and make sure that all the soldiers are contained back in the barracks where they belong."We need just we need peace and reconciliation and we expect the Zanu-PF lead by example and show that there are indeed the second republic and not an extension of the Robert Mugabe regime."The army and the police have denied responsibility for the brutal attacks, blaming what they describe as rogue elements who reportedly stole military and ZRP uniforms.Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa urged victims to report the attacks to the authorities.ZRP spokesperson Charity Charamba added; "All aggrieved members of the public should come forward and report to the police so that thorough and comprehensive investigations are conducted." News / National by Staff reporter THE Government has dismissed as fake a document purportedly showing a shortlist of recruited primary school teachers submitted to the Public Service Commission (PSC).According to the document, the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry has shortlisted 1 576 teachers for recruitment.In an interview yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela distanced the Government from the document."It's fake. We don't communicate through social media. As you have seen my signature is not appended there. I haven't submitted any list anywhere," she said.Mrs Thabela said the recruitment is ongoing. "There are issues that have to be looked into but we are in the pipeline, am yet to get a briefing on how far the process has gone," she said.According to the list, 958 teachers would be recruited for the infant level and 618 for the junior level. The list showed teacher allocation for eight provinces, Matabeleland North and South, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and West provinces, Mashonaland central, Masvingo and Midlands.Government last month announced that it was in the process of recruiting 3 000 teachers to address manpower shortages which have badly impacted on the education sector.The PSC froze the recruitment of teachers and other professionals in 2014 and the education sector, in particular, has been hard hit.Some teachers have complained of manning classes as big as 165 pupils.The recruitment is also intended to facilitate implementation of a new curriculum introduced over a year ago by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The curriculum places emphasis on practical subjects and a continuous assessment of pupils instead of judging them on the basis of a single end of year examination.The Government has given a special dispensation to critical sectors, among them the teaching fraternity, to unfreeze some posts.Prospective candidates registered at their nearest district education offices earlier this month.In an earlier interview, Mrs Thabela said her Ministry was still reviewing the vacancy rate across the country."The recruitment will help us in a big way. I cannot give you, off the cuff, the vacancy rate but we are still working on it to establish where it leaves us," she said.Mrs Thabela said focus would also be on long marginalised indigenous languages like Kalanga, Tonga and Nambya.The Government has not been recruiting teachers over the years citing limited fiscal space. Teacher unions welcomed the planned recruitment of the 3 000 teachers saying this should go a long way in easing the workload for their members and the implementation of the new curriculum.The unions, however, felt the figure was way too far below their estimated 18 000 teaching vacancies. News / National by Staff reporter HIGH Court Judge, Justice Thompson Mabhikwa has called for the revamping and capacitation of the institutions in the justice delivery system to enable them to adequately fight crime.Officially opening the 2019 legal year for the High Court Circuit here yesterday, Justice Mabhikwa said gone were the days when a suspect would be taken to court on the basis of admitting charges and in the hope that he would still plead guilty in court.He said the joint efforts of the Government and the Judicial Service Commission in putting up the specialised anti-corruption courts to deal with corruption-related cases cannot go to waste."It is my very fervent wish that all those institutions in the justice delivery system be revisited, be capacitated and where necessary be revamped completely to equip them adequately for the fight against corruption," he said."I am of the view therefore that our primary institutions in the system, the police investigators and the prosecution, whilst doing their best, perhaps need a good revamp and recapacitation as criminals in this area of the law seem to have outpaced them threefold," he said."Gone should be the days when a suspect would be taken to court on the basis that he is admitting the charges and in the hope that he would still plead guilty in court."Justice Mabhikwa said with the advancement in technology, recording of a suspect's admission or confession should now be done without coercing them but in a manner that they cannot recant later. No case, the judge said, should ever be taken to court half-baked in the wrongly held belief that the magistrate or judge will, "finish the cooking" before delivering judgment.He said a judge or magistrate must all times remain impartial, lest they be asked to recuse themselves."Perhaps like in other jurisdictions, it is time our police investigators and prosecutors worked closely together right from the investigation stage. They should gather the evidence diligently, prefer the correct charge and then select their witnesses properly before taking the matter for trial."I agree with the sentiments of a senior lawyer a few weeks ago who commented that prosecution should go far and beyond merely arresting a suspect and taking him to court for remand appearances. He lamented that of late, suspects were being arrested and taken to court, only to achieve nothing more than raising false hopes for the nation and embarrassing the suspects," said Justice Mabhikwa.For this term, Justice Mabhikwa said the Gweru High Court has 17 cases set down for trial in the next two weeks."All the 17 cases involve the violent murder of a human being. Most involve either violent blows directed to the head or stabbing of the neck or chest. A stab in the neck for example will almost invariably pierce a vital blood carrying vessel leading to fatal bleeding."The head, neck and chest are vital parts of the human body. In fact violent death at the hands of another human being is a challenge that seems to persist. The now too common machetes in the amakorokoza communities are a cause for concern," he said.Justice Mabhikwa said a total of seven women were killed and three were themselves the killers."Needless to say, quite a number of the 17 murders can be classified as crimes of passion, some in senseless fits of jealousy rage. On the whole however, the murders arise from very petty disagreements and our courts have always lamented the loss of life arising from such petty issues like cigarette, small debt, fighting over a woman, mistakenly spilt beer and at times with completely no reason other than one's macho ego," he said.Justice Mabhikwa said the Bulawayo High Court last year received a total of 4 785 cases and completed a total of 4 971 thereby eating into the backlog carried forward from 2017 despite the fact that the bench had dwindled from six to four judges only. News / National by Staff reporter A MURDER suspect who absconded to South Africa after allegedly fatally stabbing the family maid 10 times for spurning his sexual advances, committed suicide in the neighbouring country.Vincent Tinashe Chikoore (42) of Gwabalanda suburb in Bulawayo was facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Dudzai Hungwe.He allegedly asked Hungwe to have sex with him when his mother was away. When the woman refused, Chikoore got angry and a scuffle ensued between them resulting in him allegedly stabbing the now deceased 10 times using a kitchen knife.Hungwe was stabbed four times in the chest, once on the abdomen, twice on the arm, once in the back of the head and twice on the left palm leading to her death.Chikoore allegedly committed the offence on December 31 in 2015. He had been on the run since 2016 after skipping the border in violation of his bail conditions. Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese granted Chikoore $100 bail pending trial in April 2016.As part of the bail conditions, Chikoore was ordered to surrender his passport to the Assistant Registrar of the High Court and to reside at his given address until the matter was finalised. He was also ordered to report once a week at the ZRP Homicide Section at Bulawayo Central Police Station.Chief Public Prosecutor Mrs Tariro Rosa Takuva confirmed to the Chronicle yesterday that Chikoore had committed suicide. She said a warrant of arrest was issued against Chikoore after he fled the country."The suspect was facing a murder charge and had been on bail. He, however, skipped the border to South Africa where he is alleged to have committed suicide. The incident occurred last week and we understand he has since been buried," said Mrs Takuva.In papers before the court, Chikoore allegedly stabbed Hungwe on December 31 in 2015 shortly after the family had moved to its lodgings in Gwabalanda suburb. Chikoore claimed that he stabbed Hungwe, killing her instantly, after she had seduced him. News / National by newzimbabwe.com FINANCE ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga and his top team had a torrid time Monday before the Parliament's public accounts committee as they were grilled over government's runaway expenditure and repeated failures to comply with the law.Led by MDC deputy chairman and former finance minister Tendai Biti, MPs demanded answers on why ministry bureaucrats had over the past five years repeatedly failed to comply with legal requirements in the management of public finances.Treasury has, for several years, not produced two public debts schedules per year as required by the law.In addition, budgets have been overrun since 2014 with government borrowing to finance the deficit without seeking parliamentary approval as required under the constitution.MPs said the fact that Guvamombe and finance minister Mthuli Ncube were new at treasury was not an excuse.They insisted that most of the senior bureaucrats had been at treasury for years and should, therefore, explain what was happening at the ministry.Asked committee chair Biti;"Was the non-compliance with the law a negative oversight or wilful default?"Responding Guvamombe said; "Honourable chairman, until I have done a full check of all the loans that have been contracted and not presented to Parliament, I would not be in a position to respond to that question."Biti continued; "Would you fault this committee if it came to the conclusion that the honourable and esteemed secretary for finance could not offer a reasonable explanation for non-compliance."Therefore, the finding of this committee is that there was wilful non-compliance?"Guvamombe insisted that he was still carrying out a full review process and could only respond adequately after its completion.MPs then asked Guvamombe to allow treasury officials he brought to the hearing to respond, since they had been in the ministry longer than him.Trying to protect his officials, Guvamombe said; "It depends on what the honourable members would want to know "And to assist him, Biti explained;"We want to know why the ministry of finance was not complying with the law in gazetting debts contracted and in presenting two public debt schedules per year as is required by the Constitution."That's what we want to know at this stage, but more questions are coming."The deputy accountant general said he could not respond because the matter fell "under the remit of the debt management office".Told by Biti that; "Under the law it's your responsibility; it's your job," the deputy accountant general lamely responded; "unfortunately, Mr chairman, I can't answer the question."This resulted in committee members wondering loudly whether "these people are being paid, and for what?"MPs further demanded to know why the ministry had not approached Parliament with supplementary budgets after overspending in 2016 and 2017.Guvamombe again told the committee that he was still conducting a full review of the ministry's operations, but MPs would have none of it.Said Biti, "The government has been overspending; there has been a budget deficit."The question referred to 2016 and 2017, but you and I know that, since 2014, the government has been running an increasing budget deficit."And if you have a budget deficit, the law is very clear; you come to Parliament with a supplementary budget because you are not spending money which is yours."The money you are spending doesn't belong to government, it belongs to Parliament; it belongs to the people of Zimbabwe."So, the question is very simple; you guys have been overspending; why are you not coming to Parliament for a supplementary budget?"Surely we deserve a better a better answer, Cde George."Guvamombe admitted that "there could have been issues which were not handled properly, which, at the moment as a team, we are now trying to regularise"."And before we have carried out a full review to understand where the breakdown was whether it was the process, whether it was a system issue; whether it was negligence or just wilful neglect, it would be very difficult for me, at this moment, while the process is still ongoing to the san say this the position this is the answer."But the legislators persisted and an increasingly flustered Guvamombe accused Parliament of being equally culpable for the outrages.He reminded the legislators that they too had, likely, not exercised their oversight role in the past."We are very much fully aware of the constitution requirements and the need for us to comply," he said."But where was parliament all along? Why were these people not summoned? Suddenly we have a Public Accounts Committee, where was it all along?"I take full responsibility for the omissions, but this is a shared responsibility that has not been shared. I do not think I am wrong."He continued; "I humbly ask you to continue to do such work in future."This should have been done five or six years ago. I have developed flue due to reading piles and piles of files in my office."That is why we have Parliament for the oversight. It is also failure of parliament; the public accounts committee and the finance ministry."We share the same issues of concern. We are equally unhappy and disturbed by the non-compliance."We are putting everything into place so that we become compliant." News / National by Staff reporter BULAWAYO lawyer Mr Thandazani Masiye-Moyo was yesterday elected the new Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) president, taking over from Mr Misheck Hogwe, whose tenure has expired.Mr Masiye- Moyo, a senior partner at Masiye-Moyo and Associates Legal Practitioners in Bulawayo, was a LSZ councillor prior to his elevation to head the organisation. He will be deputised by Mr Tatenda Mawere of Mawere, Sibanda Commercial Lawyers.The election was held in Harare yesterday following the expiry of Mr Hogwe's two-year term.LSZ secretary Edward Mapara confirmed the development, saying Mr Masiye-Moyo was unanimously elected. Outgoing president Mr Hogwe said he had managed to achieve his set goals over the two-year period with among his achievements, the introduction of the electronic case management system and continuous professional development. He said the major focus of the LSZ was regulation and discipline among its members."The core business of the law society is regulation, as a legal profession we are self-regulating. The law society can fail in everything else but not regulation because that's its core mandate. "The integrity of the legal profession is based on the conduct of the members and the trust that members of the public have is based on how the legal practitioners conduct themselves in the execution of their duties," said Mr Hogwe."So it is fundamental that the law society emphasises the aspect of regulation and for that reason, one thing that I've tried to do together with council was to tighten the regulations and make sure that we rein in our errant members."This among other things necessitated having a look at the time in disposing of cases and general case management. So it was during my tenure that the law society introduced an electronic case management system to ensure that the management of matters is done more efficiently."He said he cultivated a culture of engagement between the LSZ and other stakeholders namely the Judiciary, police, National Prosecuting Authority and even the Executive. Mr Hogwe said back in the day, the Law Society was confrontational but his predecessors Mr Lloyd Mhishi and Mrs Vimbai Nyemba created a good rapport with the Executive."During my term, a good rapport was created because I'm one person who believes in engagement as the route to solving all problems. There is no need for confrontation and when you engage you tend to get more co-operation."One thing I did during my tenure was to look at continuous training, continuous professional development, I think you may have heard some complaint from the late Chief Justice about lawyers appearing in court ill-prepared, poor preparation of documents among other issues, so my council also looked at that aspect and did quite a lot in trying to make sure that we continuously provide training to our members in collaboration with other stakeholders and other lawyer associations," he said.The last LSZ president from Bulawayo was Mr Josphat Tshuma in 2011. A LSZ president is given a two-year term of office and after its expiry, the 11-member council elects a new president in terms of the society's constitution. News / National by Staff reporter THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has upgraded the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) platform to include the United States dollar as the institution seeks to facilitate payments of the greenback Nostro account transactions.A Nostro account is a bank account held in a foreign country by a domestic bank mainly to facilitate settlement of exchange and trade transactions.In a circular to RTGS participants yesterday, RBZ deputy director for financial markets division-National Payment Systems Mr Josephat Mutepfa said: "We advise that the RTGS platform has been upgraded to include the United States dollar to facilitate settlement of US Nostro Foreign Currency Account transactions."He said the function was now available in the test environment for testing by participating institutions.Mr Mutepfa said all participants are urged to send text messages end-to-end and ensure a full cycle of the transaction was completed."Results of the test should be logged immediately on the attached user acceptance testing form and submitted to the Reserve Bank on a daily basis until February 1, 2019," he said.It is expected that the settlement of US dollar transactions will commence soon thereafter in the live environment. Concerns have been raised largely by exporters over the widening gap between the demand for foreign currency and the amount that was available to facilitate international payments.As a result of the constraints, local banks have come under fire from manufacturing firms for failing to meet manufacturers' obligations as this led to shortage of raw materials locally.The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) is on record highlighting that one of the major challenges frustrating efforts to increase output in the local manufacturing sector was to do with the shortage of critical raw materials.This was based on the fact that banks were struggling to release hard cash from empty nostro accounts. The country is reeling under a cash shortage environment that has seen the monetary authorities intervening through various instruments to stimulate productivity in the manufacturing sector as well as ensuring continued money circulation.In the 2018 manufacturing report released last week, CZI indicated that capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector increased by 3,1 percent to an average of 48,2 percent.The industrial representative body however expressed fears in the report, which covers the period August 2017 to August last year, that capacity utilisation may this year go down by 7,7 percent to 34,3 percent due to foreign currency shortage. News / National by Staff reporter EFF leader Julius Malema on Sunday said that a church service had moved him to forgive former president Jacob Zuma.Malema attended a service at the Apostolic Faith Mission River of Life in Soshanguve on Sunday.Speaking after the service, he said the sermon had been about forgiveness."I was even saying to the pastor that we've forgiven Zuma because of the sermon. So Zuma must thank the pastor, because we've got wisdom from the pastor," Malema said with a light smile.During Zuma's presidency, EFF MPs consistently challenged the former president in Parliament, calling for him to pay back money from his Nkandla homestead security upgrades.The new developments seem to indicate a thawing of the relationship between Malema and Zuma. The Constitutional Court ultimately ruled in 2016 that Zuma had failed to uphold the Constitution by not complying with then Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's remedial action regarding payment for the upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.The court also ruled in 2017 that the National Assembly had failed to hold the president accountable. South Africa votes in general elections in May, and it is difficult to determine whether or not Malema's statement on Zuma could simply be an electioneering ploy designed to appeal to Zuma loyalists in the ANC.The governing party continues to battle divisions following the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president and the removal of Zuma from office. The EFF website has not been updated with any information on its stance toward the former president on Monday. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabweans must desist from fighting and embrace peace and unity, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.Speaking at the burial of the Ambuya Mary Rushwaya, mother to Defence and War Veterans Affairs Secretary Mr Martin Rushwaya at Glen Forest Memorial Park yesterday, Chiwenga said man's existence on earth was only temporary hence people must prepare for eternal life in heaven and desist from acts of violence."If death is everyone's fate, how are we supposed to live? Let us live together in unity. Let us not fight one another as we are God's children and God abhors fighting," said VP Chiwenga.He said fighting does not take the nation anywhere. Chiwenga encouraged youths to go to church.He said while Ambuya Rushwaya had completed her journey, she left behind a legacy, which youths of today must emulate and uphold.Chiwenga, who said he had known Ambuya Rushwaya since the time when her son was still at university, described her as an iconic teacher who stuck to church doctrine."As we leave here, let us learn to be peaceful. Let us not fight. It is better for our youths to go to church than be used to do irrational things," added Chiwenga.Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the death of Ambuya Rushwaya was a great loss to the women's movement in Zimbabwe.She said Ambuya Rushwaya was one of the few educated women who promoted women's empowerment and spearheaded adult education before the country's independence."She was one of the first female teachers back then. Women were not educated because of the belief that it was not necessary because they will get married. She was one of the women we looked up to. When it came to black empowerment, women's literacy, which was never promoted during the colonial era, we had women like her back then," said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri."We have lost a hero in the women's movement. We have been relying on her all these years from the time she was a teacher until she moved to the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)."Ambuya Rushwaya served as a projects director at YWCA for 17 years. YWCA national general-secretary Mrs Muchanyara Mukamuri said her death was a great loss to the organisation.She said Ambuya Rushwaya was also instrumental in shaping marriages and understanding the role of African women in society. She said during her time at YWCA, Ambuya Rushwaya visited many countries where deliberations on women's empowerment were made, including the popular 1995 Beijing Women's Conference."It is a loss for us and we can not even fill the gap. For me she was an advisor," she said.Several senior Government officials, service chiefs and other dignitaries attended the burial of Ambuya Rushwaya who died last Friday in Harare after a long illness.She was 72. News / National by Staff reporter A coordinated media attack on Zimbabwe is underway, as Western and local private media have ratcheted negative stories about the country to frustrate President Mnangagwa's re-engagement and investment prospects by painting Zimbabwe as having gone back to "default" of the lack of rule of law.The Herald claims that two local dailies, traditionally sponsored by Western countries, are getting their editorial direction, including content such as photographs, from a Western embassy in Harare.The media outlets have been in an overdrive to portray Zimbabwe as being in a state of lawless and repression since the opposition-sponsored "shutdown". And, over the past week, Western media have upped the ante, with teams being sent to Harare to ramp up the negative stories with some deliberately cooking up stories.A total of 37 new accreditations were processed for foreign media crews.Sky News, a British broadcaster, stands accused of "manufacturing" the latest story about alleged beatings and lawlessness. This, on the back of another British outlet ITV which had footage of brutalised women at a "safe house". Interestingly, Sky News is not one of those accredited to work in Zimbabwe.Sky News' John Sparks, Africa correspondent, claims that there are "Daylight beatings instil public fear in 'lawless' country"."Frightened civilians question what is happening to their nation, as members of the security services are given free rein," he narrates of an alleged incident in which a man is being beaten by men clad in police and army uniforms.A third assailant is in civilian clothing. The reporter says: "Every time the man tried to get up, the policemen hit him on the head. There were two other people in attendance, assisting the policeman with the beating. A soldier in camouflage with a machine gun and a plain clothes security agent pitched in, slapping, punching and kicking the victim."The police have since spoken on the matter, indicating investigations are underway. But authorities are worried by the surreptitious news gathering by Sky News and company."We have checked our records and we have not cleared anyone from Sky for accreditation," Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said yesterday."Normally that should happen before they are even allowed to come into the country. During the disturbances we cleared dozens of journalists but Sky News did not apply. It's strange why they chose not to obey the law because everyone else from British Media such as ITN, BBC, Financial Times did things the correct way and they never faced any problems. We even granted them interviews when they asked for same."Mr Mangwana noted that Sky News had not sought comment from Government before they broadcast their allegations."Their report was not balanced because they did not give the police or army a chance to respond that is if they were in the country at all," he said.He said it was ironic that Sky News talked about the rule of law in a report in which they are breaking Zimbabwe's law."When then we enforce our law against them some people will start crying foul claiming that we are being vindictive because of their reportage when in fact we are only asking for them to respect our law," warned Mr Mangwana. News / National by Staff reporter Government will tomorrow unveil a $60 million housing facility for civil servants as part of non-monetary incentives to its workers.Tomorrow's event will see the Government signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Building Society (NBS) on the roll out of the project.This is part of Government's commitment to provide decent and affordable housing to the people, mostly civil servants and among President Mnangagwa's interventions to alleviate hardship among citizens on the back of austerity measures.Inviting stakeholders to the signing ceremony, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) yesterday said this was part of Government's continued efforts to improve conditions of service for its employees."The chairman Civil Service Commission will be signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Building Society on the roll out of a $60 million facility for public service housing project," said the CSC."This is in light with Government's continued efforts to improve conditions for its employees. The Public Service Commission, in conjunction with the National Building Society, has come up with various monetary and non-monetary incentives."Amongst the non-monetary incentives is the provision of affordable housing for members of the public service, through a $60 million facility provided by the National Building Society."The signing ceremony will be attended by CSC commissioners, officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing; Public Service; Labour and Social Welfare and NBS. Although the project is open to civil servants, there are units that are available to non-civil servants.Government has over the years identified land in various cities and towns for residential stands and construction of high-rise apartment blocks for civil servants. The development comes as Government yesterday engaged its workers over their salaries under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC).Government maintained its $300 million offer for the workers and another meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.Addressing journalists after yesterday's meeting, Apex Council secretary Mr David Dzatsunga said: "The Apex Council gives Government up to the NJNC meeting of Wednesday 30 January or face inevitable job action. This follows an NJNC meeting held today in which Government was not able to come up with an improved offer from the $300 million that it had initially offered at the last meeting."He blasted opposition elements who were hijacking civil servants' labour issues to advance selfish interests."Of importance is the Apex Council wishes to alert all civil servants of an attempt by some mischievous elements to use our labour disputes to further their selfish ends. For the avoidance of doubt the Apex Council does not have an information department and henceforth from today onwards all communication will be on its letterhead and will be signed by its leadership."The workers are demanding a $1 733 salary for the least paid worker, up from $414 inclusive of allowances. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu The late superstar Oliver Mtukudzi built Pakarepaye Arts C entre in Norton after the Bindura Town Council rejected his application to acquire land for the Arts centre project.This was allegedly revealed by his uncle at the graveside during the burial of Tuku.Posting on Twitter Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Secretary General Raymond Majongwe said, "I was so disappointed to hear from Tuku' s uncle who in his grave side speech told the mourners Tuku went to build Pakarepaye in Norton because the Bindura Town Council refused to give him land in Bindura. It 's a real shame. I felt embarrassed."Mtukudzi was buried at a full state assisted funeral on Sunday in Madziwa, Bindura after Preside Emmerson Mnangagwa declared him a National hero."I also heard that Bob build Gushungo Dairy in Mazowe because Norton Town council refused to give him land in Norton." One Masimba Tangwa said responding to Majongwe's post.Social entrepreneur Hillary Musarurwa said, "I'm not surprised though with such a stance. Our local authorities are stifling development. They also look at your face or the party card you have. I have been trying to get land in Norton to set up something since 2016 but to no avail. I was told to re-submit my letter thrice."One Mabel Nyazika said perhaps the dignitaries who attended Tuku's burial felt embossed by the statement from the uncle."I bet those high-ranking government officials who were at the top table cringed as they heard Tuku's saying as it is. It showed how hypocritical the lot are. I am sure they wished they were not at the top table."Oliver Mtukudzi is the first musician in Zimbabwe to be declared a national hero.However his former colleague Thomas Mapfumo said a hero is not declared when he is dead but citizens declare their heroes even when they are alive and such was done to Tuku. News / National by Staff reporter The ongoing savage crackdown by the military against innocent civilians - including killings, rape, torture and horrendous beatings of law-abiding citizens - has become a full-blown international human rights crisis for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government, the Daily News on Sunday can report.Such is the extent of the global public relations disaster that now confronts Zimbabwe's so-called new dispensation - as a result of the dreadful conduct of the country's security forces over the past two weeks - that even hitherto friendly powers such as Britain are now turning against Zimbabwe.And from the United States of America to Germany, China and South Africa, the only coverage being given to Zimbabwe these days in those countries' mainstream media only relates to the brutal clampdown by authorities against dissenting voices.Similarly, churches and global human rights organisations are churning out statement after statement on the military's atrocities in the country, meaning that Zimbabwe once again finds itself in the position which obtained in the last two decades of former president Robert Mugabe's ruinous rule - as a pariah among the global family of nations.Not surprisingly, the United Kingdom is planning to take Zimbabwe's ongoing human rights abuses to all relevant multilateral forums - including the United Nations - Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said last week."We all celebrated the demise of the Mugabe regime, feeling and hoping that a new chapter of Zimbabwean history was commencing. We are very concerned about the disproportionate response of the security forces to the recent protests," British minister of State in the Foreign Office, Mark Field, added.On its part, Amnesty International has called on authorities to reign in the security forces, and to see to it that they are held to account for the ongoing brutal human rights violations."At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured by the security forces since protests began on 14 January."Up to 700 people, including minors, have been detained after being arrested on trumped-up charges or brought before courts in hearings that do not meet fair trial standards. Hundreds have been denied bail," Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's regional director for southern Africa, said at the weekend."The onslaught by the security forces has seen people killed, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, reportedly raped and jailed on suspicion of taking part in protests.Children as young as 11 years old have been detained on frivolous charges."The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately halt their menacing threats towards civil society leaders, activists, opposition leaders, and suspected organisers of protests."The authorities must ensure that those who violated and continue to violate human rights face justice," Muchena added.He said Amnesty International had documented a systematic pattern of human rights violations, including restrictions on public assembly, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, and the recent Internet shutdowns by authorities."A Zimbabwe that is prosperous and based on the rule of law will never be built by brutalising dissent. The authorities must immediately stop this merciless crackdown on activists, civil society leaders, and others who are guilty of nothing more than exercising their right to freedom of expression."President Mnangagwa has called on all Zimbabweans to come together during this difficult moment. That must include respecting human rights," Muchena said.On its part, the military has denied that its members are responsible for the killings, rape and beatings - saying the perpetrators of these atrocities are "boguselements" working to sully the image of security forces."The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has noted with concern allegations of misconduct and acts of violence ... The actions of these bogus elements have subsequently put the image of the organisation into disrepute," it said this week.However, local churches and rights groups have disputed this rebuttal and also challenged the government to act to bring justice to the victims of the violence, which they say has reached "epidemic levels."In a rare rebuke of the government, the founder and senior pastor of Celebration Church, Tom Deuschle, said it was heart-breaking that dozens of victims of sexual violence in this conflict were children."I spoke to one of Zimbabwe's fine nurse counsellors yesterday. Stories of more than 23 children she had treated- all brutalised physically + sexually during recent political upheaval."They all identified police as perpetrators! Unacceptable! Cannot be swept under the carpet," the respected cleric wrote on Twitter.Last week, the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe also issued a withering criticism of the government, saying it should end the rights abuses in the country by the military."We, the Bishops of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe, have observed with increasing concern and alarm the state of our Zimbabwean nation from the time of the military-assisted political change that took place in November 2017, to the total shutdown of Zimbabwe's major cities and rural trading centres that began on Monday, 14 January 2019."We witnessed with sadness and concern the dissipation of hope for a united nation and a promising future when our politicians failed to harness the palpable oneness and goodwill prevailing among Zimbabweans across the political divide during and immediately after the political events of November 2017."Government's heavy-handed and intolerant handling of dissent and expression of rights by the dissatisfied population resulted in injury and death to innocent ordinary people," the bishops said in their letter sent to the Vatican last week.Meanwhile, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that the government had launched probes into the alleged abuses by security forces."Everything will be investigated and no stone will be left unturned. We need peace to prevail," she said.Police also said they were separately investigating all accusations made against their officers and urged people to report "without fear" all those who had perpetrated the violence."The ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage wishes to acknowledge reports of alleged rape, sexual abuse and assaults that have been perpetrated by security forces during the recent operation."So far, the police have received one such report from St Mary's, Chitungwiza, and the case is already under investigation."We take these rape allegations very seriously and investigations will be instituted immediately once complainants file reports with the police."Let me assure all Zimbabweans that government takes an exception to anyone who perpetrates any form of crime, especially rape perpetrated against women and children," Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema said at the weekend.Human rights groups said it was "shocking " that brutal acts of sexual and gender-based violence continued to be perpetrated even after Mnangagwa had promised to take action."Men in army uniforms allegedly raped three Form One girls today in Old Phumula, Bulawayo, & 11 men in army uniforms ordered people at Bhangu shops in Mpopoma, Bulawayo to close their shops & go indoors ... no reasons given for directive," Human Rights Watch director for southern Africa , Dewa Mavhinga said on Twitter. News / National by Staff reporter CHITUNGWIZA residents said they were battling a myriad of service delivery challenges, which include uncollected garbage, erratic water supplies, burst sewers, and have given up hope of getting normal services from the local authority.The residents said they were concerned about the lukewarm response in attending to sewer bursts, with some families going for more than a month without their burst sewers fixed.In separate interviews, the residents said the local authority was not attending to their concerns and many homes were littered with waste."We battled with cholera in Glen View recently and the conditions prior to that outbreak are exactly what is prevailing in most parts of Chitungwiza," a resident, who requested anonymity, said."Council said they had no gloves to attend to the sewers. Some families have gone for weeks without their burst sewer fixed. It is not good, particularly with children around," Mathews Gwata, who lives in St Mary's, said.NewsDay last week witnessed raw sewage flowing on the streets as well as uncollected garbage dumped in open spaces. Diapers and used sanitary pads littered roads, posing a serious health concern.Some parts of Zengeza 5 have gone for weeks without garbage collection. Residents are now dumping their rubbish in skip bins at shopping centres or at illegal sites.Council spokesperson Lovemore Meya said the issue of service delivery was taking a nosedive due to fuel challenges."Of late, we could not be in a position to collect refuse regularly, since fuel has been a nationwide issue," he said."The fuel challenge has impacted negatively on all service delivery issues, including attending to sewer bursts.""We are also working on other modalities to secure fuel."Commenting on the gloves issue, Meya said they were working on it since the last stock they got had been used up.On the provision of water, he said they got their portion from Harare and so they only rationed it based on levels of supply.The last cholera outbreak, which emanated in Glen View resulted in deaths of more than 50 people and hundreds more infected. Government and stakeholders responded by launching a cholera vaccination campaign, targeting 1,4 million people in high risk areas.Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called vibrio cholera. This disease thrives where there is a lack of cleanwater, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and overcrowding. News / National by Staff reporter Bulawayo businesspeople whose shops were vandalised and looted by protesters a fortnight ago say they are anxious about restocking, fearing a recurrence.The stayaway, called for by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions two weeks ago, turned violent and ended in a looting spree and vandalism of property in high-density suburbs such as Nkulumane, Cowdray Park, Pumula, Luveve, Sizinda and Lobengula, among others, with business losing millions of dollars worth of goods in the process.Speaking at a meeting organised by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube to map the way forward, Bulawayo Western Business Association chairperson Busina Tshuma expressed fear over reinvesting in the city."We are bankrupt, yet we are expected to pay employees who have been forced to sit at home by the situation. The huge taxes as well as suppliers are waiting for a payment plan towards the looted goods that we had not paid for," Tshuma said.The goods that retailers lost during the raids are said to be uninsurable. Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers founder and president, Denford Mutashu, said there was need to strengthen the relationship between business and government."There is need for us to engage insurance companies as business people, but some of us cannot even engage insurance companies, hence the need to have a process that is not discriminatory when coming up with solutions," he said.Employers present at the meeting spoke about their loss of important documents and information due to the vandalism that transpired during the protests. Women's Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Sithembiso Nyoni vowed to help rebuild the city."The economy is driven by businesspeople and not only government; government facilitates," she said.Nyoni asked businesses that were affected to compile lists of goods lost so they can make plans to compensate them. Hundreds of workers in Bulawayo have also lost their jobs in the wake of the protests that also created serious food shortages in high-density areas. With so many companies offering varied internet packages, it is always advisable to make your own comparisons before deciding. Without this, the chances are that you will continue paying more than you should to access a particular amount of data. Before rushing to subscribe, it pays to ask questions beginning with, what is the best uncapped internet in South Africa? Depending on your data usage, you want to be among those that are getting the best value for their money. Be careful though not to compromise the quality of service for a few cutbacks. Image:Facebook.com@Afrihost Source: UGC If a save will be significant without necessarily causing you to downgrade in terms of internet speed and amount, by all means, go for it. The truth is that there are several service providers with better internet packages that you probably are not aware of. With a bit of research, it is possible to find an affordable provider that is within your area of coverage. This could translate to massive saves especially if you are a heavy data user. A comprehensive comparison of internet packages of major providers Different internet providers in South Africa offer different prices for specific data amounts. This means that with a closer look, you can get a deal that works for you. With most people's desire being to find the cheapest uncapped internet in South Africa, it takes a bit of research and patience to find the best. Do not be too quick to fall for a deal just because it was advertised. You need to take some time and look around. You will be surprised by what you discover. Better internet deals do exist. Most people in South Africa are shifting to fibre internet because of the impressive speeds this option offers. However, it may not be possible for all to access it since the roll-out is still ongoing and most areas of South Africa may not be covered yet. This means that such users must find alternatives that work for them. The need for data is way greater than its supply. Fortunately, fixed LTE and DSL connections do come in handy especially with great coverage. What's more, with increasing competition, DSL packages are becoming more affordable and with higher speeds of up to 40Mbps hence offering a better solution where no home WiFi deals exist yet. If you are looking for something closer to fibre regarding higher speeds, then you must be willing to spend on fixed LTE which are equally fast but more expensive. Basically, what you settle for depends on your needs for data in terms of speed as well as affordability. Either way, there are great packages for both DSL and LTE internet. Fixed LTE A Image:Facebook.com@TelkomZa Source: UGC This is the alternative for people with no fibre coverage but may still need fast internet speeds. Consider the following service providers packages and choose appropriately. Afrihost- Rain offers 330GB at R1599. It comes with free delivery and free data for the first month. Afrihost - Rain offers 220GB at R1349. It comes with a free deal of one-month data and delivery. Telkom has a 200GB offer at R1099. It comes with 200GB extra data from midnight to 7 am. Telkom offers 100GB at R799. This comes with a free amount of 100GB data from midnight up to 7 am. Axxess - Cell C offer 100GB at R530 with free delivery. Axxess - Cell C offers 50GB at R349 with free delivery. You need to take note of speeds when choosing an LTE service provider. Telkom, Cell C, and Rain can deliver up to 150Mbps for download speeds. Note that different internet service providers will always quote different speeds. You need a Sim and a router that is compatible if you are to make use of LTE A network. As such, you must consider a complete package when choosing the provider. Telkom offers a free router if you go for the 24-month contract while Afrihost offers a Huawei LTE-A router at the cost of R999 for the Rain fixed LTE. READ ALSO: Is MTN really stealing your airtime? This My Broadband experiment proves it does DSL offers These prices include the open serve line rental. The uncapped package prices are dependent on the service providers. We shall consider the pricing based on capped and uncapped offers. Capped deals Afrihost - 200GB, 4Mbps at R518 Vox - 300GB, 4Mbps at R548 Axxess - 300GB, 8Mbps at R645 Afrihost - 400GB, 10Mbps at R838 MWEB - 400GB, 20Mbps at R872 MWEB - 500GB, 40Mbpsa at R1082 Uncapped deals Afrihost - 4Mbps at R456 Vox - 8Mbps at R639 Webafrica - 10Mbps at 544 Afrihost - 20Mbps at R862 Axxess - 40Mbps at R1115 At this point, you have an idea of what to expect when it comes to internet packages as offered by different providers. Depending on your data needs, therefore, you can decide which home internet packages that are likely to suit you best. One thing though, you should be careful not to compromise speeds and coverage for a few coins. Unless you stand to make a significant saving, always go for a package that gives you the best value for your money. READ ALSO: These are the best and worst fibre providers in South Africa So what network provider in South Africa is the fastest? These tests will reveal the truth How to use black data on Cell C Source: Briefly.co.za (credit to Stephen King for the quote) I have always had the illusion it was more important or as important to be a good man as to be a great... Read more According to the Encyclopedia of Pasta, there are hundreds of pasta shapes. At Smithsonian, Elizabeth Chu and D. Lawrence Tarazano of the US Patent Office look at relatively recent machinery to crank out the floury forms. From Smithsonian: The various shapes can be categorized based on the means by which they are formed: by hand, rolled into sheets, or extruded. For each pasta making method, there have been a number of inventions to ease and mechanize the process. Pastas formed by hand have been the most difficult to replicate by machine because of the complexity of the actions done by hand. Cavatelli, gnocchi and orecchiette, for example, are made by rolling pasta dough by hand into a long snake shape, cutting it into equal sized dough pieces, and dragging the dough to form a cup like shape. With cavatelli and gnocchi, the dough is dragged against a fork or grooved surface with a thumb to form a curled dough piece in the shape of a hot dog bun; the only real difference between the two is the dough. Gnocchi is made from a dough containing eggs, flour and cooked potatoes, whereas cavatelli are typically made from an eggless semolina wheat dough. Orecchiette, Italian for "little ear," are made by dragging the dough pieces against a flat surface using a small spatula or knife, followed by a little hand shaping to round it out. Italian inventors Franco Annicchiarico and Adima Pilari, who received U.S. patent no. 4,822,271 on April 18, 1989 for "an improved machine for manufacturing short cut varieties of Italian pasta (orecchiette, etc.)," developed a machine for making these cupped pastas. Comprised of three units, this patented invention allows users to feed the machine with pasta mix that later extrudes into sticks of pasta. Those sticks are then "cut into cylindrical pellets," and finally, three rollers flatten, curl, rotate and form the pasta into a cup shape. I believe its better for counsel and parties to do their talking in pleadings, not on courthouse steps, not on the talk show circuit." At a hearing in Washington today, the federal judge overseeing the trial of former Trump advisor Roger Stone said she's considering a gag order. "This is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign," Judge Amy Berman Jackson said. Since the trial began, Stone has been on the Infowars and cable news circuit, getting on everyone's nerves including judge Jackson. Jackson warned Stone of treating the pre-trial period "like a book tour," and reminded him he should not argue his own case "on the talk show circuit." From CNN: Jackson, who handles several cases related to the Mueller investigation, previously imposed a gag order over Paul Manafort's criminal case restricting Manafort's team's public statements. Both sides will be given a chance to respond by next Friday. Stone was charged last week with seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. He has pleaded not guilty. The Justice Department said that evidence from Stone's computer and accounts go back "several years," and that the FBI seized electronic devices from Stone's home, apartment and office. The FBI seized "terabytes" of data from Stone's residences and offices in various states. Roger Stone's hearing is over judge said she's considering imposing a gag order, but hasn't made up her mind yet. She said she understood Stone's desire to tell his story, but she had to ensure a fair trial: "This is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign" Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) February 1, 2019 Againimportant (I think) to point out that DC U.S. atty office prosecutor Michael Marando spoke on behalf of the gov't in the Roger Stone case. Clear indication to me that the special counsel's office work is winding down with DC prosecutor taking lead on this case. Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) February 1, 2019 Judge told Roger Stone that any inconsistencies he has had when speaking publicly could be introduced as evidence at his trial. Prosecutors said a possible October trial date. Judge thinks the case could go to trial in July or August. @kpolantz Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) February 1, 2019 Foxconn says the factory plan is back on after Trump personally reached out. Just days after Foxconn said its Wisconsin factory was pivoting from being a giant factory to being a very small something else, Foxconn now says the plan is now back on again. What could have induced the surprise change of heart? Foxconn's Chairman had a "personal conversation" with Donald Trump. From Josh Dzieza at The Verge: "After productive discussions between the White House and the company, and after a personal conversation between President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Terry Gou, Foxconn is moving forward with our planned construction of a Gen 6 fab facility," a statement read. A Gen 6 facility is smaller than the factory Foxconn initially promised in 2017, but larger than the assembly facility Foxconn said it would build yesterday. Foxconn has changed its plans multiple times since 2017, when then-Governor Scott Walker wooed the company with a record-breaking $4.5 billion in taxpayer subsidies. At the time, Foxconn promised a state-of-the-art, "Gen 10.5" screen-producing facility, and Walker and Trump touted the deal for bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US. In June of last year, however, the company said it would make a far smaller "Gen 6" facility. This week, the company said it wouldn't make screens in Wisconsin at all, and would instead do a mix of assembly and "knowledge work." The sudden change in plans seemed to catch Wisconsin officials off guard, and left locals worried about the future of their communities. Yesterday, the company told The Verge that the market has changed since the Wisconsin project was first announced, but that the company remains committed to the technology park project and meeting its original target of creating 13,000 jobs. Regarding what people would do at the park, the company emphasized research into its "AI 8K + 5G ecosystem." It also listed several projects that would begin in the next 18 months, including a research and development center and an assembly facility. Today's statement saying that the Gen 6 factory will be built after all does not contain a timeline or any further details. I'm old enough to remember when Foxconn broke vow to build Pennsylvania factory in 2013. WaPo in 2017: "What happened in Harrisburg provides a skeptical lens for viewing the waves of corporate investment promises being used by Trump" https://t.co/Sjr23OogR2 https://t.co/RL6anmEces David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) January 30, 2019 And a flashback to this from 2017 when I ambushed Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou after his secret meeting at the WH and he told me he couldn't remember if had met with Trump because "my memory is not so good." I'll say! https://t.co/erfCjqz6ox David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) January 30, 2019 Gou also told me, "We are made in America" https://t.co/RSR0c2X37Q David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) January 30, 2019 Rich "education philanthropists" (Bill Gates, the Waltons, the DeVoses, the Sacklers) have had a lot of business-world ideas for "fixing education" over the years, centered on a system of carrots (bonuses for high-testing schools and schools whose students get admitted to top universitites) and sticks (funding cuts for "underperforming" schools), all backed by high-stakes tests and standardized teaching materials. These have been a catastrophe, making poor schools poorer, spawning massive fraud-rings that gamed standardized tests and sent unprepared kids to top colleges through falsified grades, where they immediately sank beneath coursework and student debt. But even though running schools "like a business" online makes things worse, there are problems with public schools, especially those serving poor and marginalized students, and, it turns out, there are ways of addressing those problems. After the Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend the Business of Reform, a 2018 book by Andrea Gabor, documents these success stories and outlines their commonalities: in Massachusetts' Brockton High, the state's largest, poorest school now outperforms the state average, with a well-funded faculty that teach speaking skills, fine arts, drama, sports, and provide extracurricular activities. In Leander, Texas, strict hierarchy and standardized tests were replaced by "a culture devoted to grassroots-driven quality and experimentation" as well as "long-term thinking" and "meaningful teacher training," inspired by the production systems of Toyota, turning the school into a magnet for the best teachers in the state and reversing its education outcomes. The commonalities in all of Gabor's success stories are "a respect for democratic processes and participatory improvement, a high regard for teachers, clear strategies with buy-in from all stake-holders, and accountability frameworks that include room to innovate. They also feature robust leadership and strong teacher voice. Their success underscores the importance of equitable funding and suggests that problems like income inequality are far more detrimental to education that the usual suspects, like bad teachers." In 2018, media coverage started to turn from heralding tech millionaires as the intrepid "disrupters" of schools to highlighting the boldness of teachers, especially those in non-union states, engaged in strikes, walkouts, and protests around the country. The American public was supportive of the strikes and resonated with teachers who didn't make a living wage and yet poured their hearts into doing their best for high-risk children under terrible conditions with few resources. Critics like Gordon Lafer are now warning that if antidemocratic forces and deep-pocketed elites continue to set the agenda for what children should learn, American schools will turn into places where inequality is not only exacerbated, but actually inculcated something quite different from what most of us grew up understanding as their purpose. Instead of being prepared for lives as healthy and productive citizens, most will be groomed for a life of lowered expetations and servitude. Gabor sees in all this an opportunity to push to restore democratic principles and participative decision-making to education reform and champion a more humane, sustainable model for success. She views what happens under Trump as the catalyst for better approaches and a recognition that preparing young people for a competitive global marketplace and life democratic society do not have to be at odds: schools can and must do both. Millionaire-Driven Education Reform Has Failed. Here's What Works. [Lynn Parramore/Institute for New Economic Thinking] (via Naked Capitalism) Detroit cop Gary Steele pulled over a young black woman for expired plates, forced her to leave her car in -18f weather, took video of her walking off in the freezing cold, and taunted her with racist insults. He posted the video online for the amusement of other racists, went viral, was "reassigned" by his chief, and turns out to have a history of domestic violence during his time on the force. WXYZ Detroit: Moore was ordered to walk to her destination because of the expired tags. As she walked away, the officers recorded Moore with a cell phone camera. The officers referred to Moore as making a "walk of shame in the cold." One of the officers used the phrase "bye Felicia." The video also included a "Celebrate Black History Month" filter that included the caption "what black girl magic looks like." He was a cop when he shot at his ex-girlfriend a decade ago, and he's still a cop today. UPDATE: Here's his mugshot and charge sheet from the 2008 attack on his ex-girlfriend. He was originally charged with torture and assault with intent to commit murder, among other crimes, but got to plead to a misdemeanor charge of reckless discharge. Original charges: Torture; assault w/intent to commit murder; assault w/intent to do great bodily harm less than murder; 2 counts felonious assault w/a dangerous weapon; weapons / firearm discharge in or at a building; felony firearm. Plea bargain: Pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless discharge of a firearm, and was placed on probation for one year. The cushy deal was controversial at the time. A suspended Detroit police officer who had been charged with firing shots and trying to kill his ex-girlfriend inside her Canton home has been placed on probation for one year a move that has angered at least one women's advocacy group. Gary Allen Steele, 42, was sentenced Tuesday by Wayne County Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin after earlier pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless discharge of a firearm. Steele, off duty when he was accused of attacking Kimberly Ann Golematis in March 2008, could have faced penalties ranging up to life in prison if he had been convicted of original charges including torture, assault with intent to murder and other felony counts. Golematis didn't appear for Tuesday's sentencing, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said, but the victim had said during an earlier preliminary hearing that Steele was "a good person who made a really bad choice." Nonetheless, a network calling itself the Michigan Officer Involved Domestic Violence Corp. has criticized what it considers a two-tiered system that favors law-enforcement officers charged with such crimes. "It is an outrage," the group's director, Renee Harrington, said. "I can't believe this man was looking at charges carrying life in prison and got probation. What is the message that this has given other victims and police officers?" Then (and apparently still) an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor, Maria Miller said the deal was 'in the best interests of justice." Quite a bust. And not a great look for Russia. Nearly ten tons of cocaine hauled by 11 Russian nationals on a vessel registered in Panama. The sailors and their 9.5-ton coke stash were arrested in Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), an island nation off the north-western edge of Africa. A lot of cocaine and meth passes through Cape Verde (Google Map location) en route to Europe and Africa. Russian state media RBK (look 'em up) was first to report the news. "The authorities of the Republic of Cape Verde suspected Russian sailors, who went under the flag of Panama, in transporting 9.5 tons of cocaine," reported rbc.ru, with photos from the Cape Verdean government, at pj.gov.cv. Police say this is the largest single drug haul in the island country's history. More from Reuters: An Atlantic archipelago of 500,000 people off Africa's west coast, Cape Verde has long tried to tackle gangs trafficking Latin American cocaine to Europe via West Africa. The 9.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized overnight after the ship, which was travelling to Morocco from South America, docked at the port of Praia for legal reasons following the death of a crew member, the judiciary police said in a statement. Photos provided by the police on Friday showed dozens of brick-like packages wrapped in plastic and cloth sacks at the port. The police said they was alerted by the Maritime Analysis and Operation Center a platform coordinating the anti-drug trafficking actions of seven E.U. states who suspected the ship of transporting illicit substances. - , , 9,5 https://t.co/tlZRZYrfmN : https://t.co/j0tMcQIOxB pic.twitter.com/bC9FRDdd8V (@ru_rbc) February 1, 2019 Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN Truesee's Daily Wonder Friday, February 1, 2019 Archives Truesee presents the weird, wild, wacky and world news of the day. 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Here are five facts you should know about womens suffrage and the 19th Amendment: 1. The 19th Amendment doesnt directly mention women. The text states: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. In fact, the Constitution is a gender-neutral document. (As the Heritage Guide to the Constitution notes, The word male did not even appear in the Constitution until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868.) Even before the amendment nothing in the original Constitution directly barred women from voting. 2. Women who were unmarried were allowed to vote in New Jersey from 1797 to 1807. But it wasnt until 1869, when the Wyoming territory became the first territorial government to allow women to vote. Wyoming likewise, upon obtaining statehood in 1890 became the first state to participate in federal elections. By the time the amendment was ratified (1920) women enjoyed unrestricted suffrage in 15 states, Presidential suffrage in 28, and varying degrees of local suffrage though most of the others. 3. The first attempt to offer a universal suffrage amendment in Congress occurred in 1868, but it went nowhere. The next attempt was in 1878 by California Senator Aaron A. Sargent. His bill was rejected but was introduced every year for the next 41 years. In 1919 the exact text of his bill was approved by Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states in 1920. 4. Prior to the amendment, nearly as many anti-suffrage groups sprang up throughout the country as did pro-suffrage groups. Many women opposed suffrage for fear it would lead to detrimental social changes and cause a loss of status and privileges for their sex. One anti-suffrage group issued a pamphlet listing Ten Reasons Why The Great Majority of Women Do Not Want the Ballot that included: Because in political activities there is constant strife, turmoil, contention and bitterness, producing conditions from which every normal woman naturally shrinks. 5. Several states waited more than 40 years to ratify the amendment: Maryland (1941), Virginia (1952), Alabama (1953), Florida (1969, though not certified until 1973), Georgia (1970), Louisiana (1970), North Carolina (1971), and Mississippi (1984). But the family isn't satisfied with the sentence. "That's not justice that's a slap on the wrist," Rosa Strubbe said. North Dakota House Bill 1520 would mandate delinquent juvenile offenders found guilty of gross sexual imposition to be placed at a juvenile detention facility for 21 days to undergo psycho-sexual evaluation that would be reviewed by a court. It also would mandate risk assessments of minors accused of sexual misconduct. The law would also add parents of juvenile sex crime victims to the list of people who can review juvenile criminal records, which are tightly protected under state law. Strubbe said it's frustrating that many of the police reports are off limits to them, and that it makes it difficult to help their daughter overcome what happened. "How do we help her if we don't know what to help her through?" she said. Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, one of the legislators who introduced the bill, says the proposed changes would bring justice to victims, would better protect society and would provide rehabilitation for the accused. But detractors say the proposed reforms would undermine due process and privacy for juveniles accused of crimes. The city of Wing population 150 is still without water after extreme cold left the city's water tower pumps frozen. The pumps froze up Thursday morning, and, as of Friday afternoon, crews were still trying to diagnose the problem. "The lines in the pump house have froze, and then the recirculating pump at the tower is also frozen," said Mayor Julie Hein. Hein said employees with North Dakota Rural Water Systems Associates were on scene Friday morning to find the root cause. The American Red Cross has donated drinking water to the city, Hein said. A Wing Fire Department tanker is also providing residents non-drinkable water to use for filling toilets. "(Residents are) being pretty good about it. Everybodys coming in; they dont look too crabby. They understand theres a problem and its an inconvenience for everyone, but I think were doing OK," Hein said. Hein said crews were still working Friday afternoon. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 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. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The North Dakota Senate unanimously passed a bill that would update an antiquated state law that allows nursing homes to sue children for their parents' unpaid bills. Senate Bill 2225, whose primary sponsor is Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, passed in by a margin of 46-0 on Friday. The bill would amend the state's filial support law, which requires children to support their indigent parents. Shelly Peterson, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, and several nursing home representatives gave testimony in support of the bill last week. Peterson testified that, in the past decade, more nursing homes are using statute against children in response to federal regulation changes that have made it harder for the elderly and disabled for Medicaid. The bill is now headed to the House for review. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 1 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. The bill's supporters have described the abortion method they seek to outlaw as "barbaric" and "gruesome," reflecting graphic terms used in the bill. But Tammi Kromenaker, the director of the Red River Womens Clinic in Fargo, the states sole abortion clinic, previously said the bill would criminalize doctors for performing a safe and common procedure. On Thursday, Kromenaker expressed frustration that lawmakers passed an ideologically charged bill laced with "inflammatory" language. She said she couldn't comment on any potential litigation until the bill moves through the legislative process. Two states have bans on dilation and evacuation abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights group. Ohios ban is scheduled to take effect in March. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's spokesman Mike Nowatzki said the governor doesn't typically comment on bills until they reach his desk. He said comments he made during the 2016 campaign still reflect his stance on abortion. During the contentious Republican primary race with Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Burgum said he was pro-life and would have signed the anti-abortion bills Dalrymple approved. But pressed on whether he supported a woman's right to have an abortion, he swerved and said "labels are divisive." The North Dakota House took a step toward making the state Capitol more accommodating to people with disabilities on Friday, approving a study of handicapped-accessible parking and other issues. Members voted 89-2 in favor of House Bill 1298, which began as a proposal to move accessible parking closer to the public entrance of the Capitol. Rep. Pamela Anderson, D-Fargo, said members of the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee amended the bill to make it more broad and consider steps the state can take to make the building more accessible. In addition to parking concerns, the committee heard testimony about the need for more accessible restrooms, better signs to direct the public and additional seating areas. The Government and Veterans Affairs Committee feels that this is the peoples house and it should be more welcome for all North Dakotans to come in and use it, Anderson said. Carel Two-Eagle, an activist who visits the Capitol daily during the session and uses crutches due to osteoarthritis, quietly celebrated in the back of the House chambers after the nearly unanimous vote. North Dakota House lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected a bill allowing them to claim meal reimbursement while they're in session Thursday. House Bill 1505 would have permitted lawmakers who live outside of Bismarck to claim taxpayer-funded reimbursement for meals during regular, organizational and special sessions. It came with a two-year price tag of nearly $401,500. House lawmakers defeated the bipartisan proposal in a 85-6 vote, with several bill co-sponsors opposing it. Legislators already receive a meal expense of up to $35 per day during interim study periods between biennial sessions, and the bill would have provided the same rate for the other legislative meetings. The bill's actual cost would have depended on how many meals lawmakers claimed. Grand Forks Democratic Rep. Mary Adams said lawmakers shouldn't vote for added meal reimbursements while some families struggle to make ends meet. Rep. Aaron McWilliams, R-Hillsboro, said he hated the bill but would vote for it. He said people have to choose between their careers and serving in the Legislature, which comes with travel and other expenses. "We don't get a lot," he said. Support for increased research dollars for the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University was high as the presidents of the universities spoke to the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday at the Capitol. Senate Bill 2282, introduced by Sen. Ron Sorvaag, R-Fargo, would transfer 15 percent of Legacy Fund earnings to an economic diversification research fund that would support work by UND and NDSU. UND President Mark Kennedy and NDSU President Dean Bresciani had previously proposed splitting $100 million over the next biennium, with each school receiving $25 million a year. However, that number has since been downscaled to 15 percent of Legacy Fund earnings with a cap of $45 million. The money would not be available for use until after the biennium is concluded, so a loan function is worked into the bill that would allow the universities to access the money sooner. During a press conference Thursday, Sorvaag said the reason for the number drop is not about getting the bill passed, but finding a realistic number. The Legacy Fund is expected to generate approximately $300 million worth of earnings over the next biennium, according to Sorvaag, and asking for one-third of that is just too much. He added that as the Legacy Fund grows, the money could look different in future bienniums. North Dakota firefighters came to the state Capitol on Thursday to speak to lawmakers about a bill for collective bargaining. Rep. Mary Schneider, D-Fargo, has introduced House Bill 1463 that would allow collective bargaining for police and professional firefighters. The bill may reach the House floor next week after another vote of the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee. The committee split 6-6 in its initial vote, with two members absent. Schneider said she brought her bill as North Dakota is one of few states that prohibits collective bargaining for police and firefighters. Her similar legislation failed in 2017. "We trust our everyday heroes to protect us," Schneider told the Tribune. "We trust them to be with us in time of terror and times of tears, and we think that as our everyday heroes they deserve the same freedom of speech and right to talk to their employers that the rest of us have." Rep. Ron Guggisberg, D-Fargo, a firefighter and co-sponsor of the bill, said it would allow police and firefighters to negotiate salaries and benefits. The bill is not a mandate and prohibits strikes, he added. The entire city of Wing has been without water since Thursday morning, according to a news release from Burleigh County emergency manager Mary Senger. Due to the extreme temperature drop, the city's water tower has been unable to provide water since Thursday morning, the release said. North Dakota Rural Water Systems Associates were working to diagnose the issue Thursday afternoon. The American Red Cross and local Bismarck vendors are assisting the community with drinking water. Wing residents can obtain water from the Wing Fire Hall on Second Avenue West until 10 p.m. Thursday. Once water is restored, a boil water order will be in place and a notice long with instructions will be delivered to residents. For more information, visit the city of Wing's Facebook page. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) 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. Sister Kathleen Atkinson, founder of Ministry on the Margins, which provides services to the homeless and low-income individuals, said she has seen an increase this week in the number of people coming to the ministry just for the warmth. "I know there were at least four people living in their vehicles that spent some bitter nights in their cars," Atkinson said. "For people living on the edge or without any excess, anything that breaks down becomes an emergency crisis." With the colder temperatures, Atkinson said there's also been a greater need for Ministry on the Margins' food pantry. This week, she said her organization also has handed out donated clothing and other items. "People were fantastic, coming by and donating coats and old sleeping bags," Atkinson describes. "We had three people come walking in Tuesday morning with inadequate footwear and no socks. Were sending those items out as fast as we can. Winter isnt over and we have people coming in all the time to keep donating." Bismarck crews continued to battle slippery road conditions on Thursday. Salt brine is being added to the sand and salt crystals allowing it to melt the ice below 18 degrees, according to a news release from the city. Readers will gather for BookTalk at Bismarck State College on Sunday to discuss The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel. Humanities instructor Brian Palecek will lead the discussion exploring the theme "Off the Grid at Bismarck State College from 1 to 3 p.m. in the library of LEA Hall at 1400 Schafer St. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit tells the true story of Christopher Knight, who found refuge from the pressures of modern society by living alone in a hidden tent in the frigid woods of central Maine for 27 years. In 1986, then 20-year-old Knight disappeared and was not seen again until 2013, when he was arrested for theft. Knight later admitted to stealing food and other supplies frequently from frustrated locals. Through interviews with Knight and area residents, Finkel examines the solitary life of the figure known locally as the North Pond Hermit. BookTalk at BSC series books are available at local libraries and booksellers. Discussions are open to all. For more information, call 224-5450 or visit bsc.libguides.com/booktalk/2019. BookTalk at BSC will wrap up the series with The Mosquito Coast: a Novel by Paul Theroux on March 3. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lt. Mushik has been in the South Pacific area for the past 14 months and hasnt been home on a furlough in the three years of his service. The Mushiks also have two other sons in the service. Sgt. John Mushik Jr. is stationed somewhere in England. The third son, Cpl. William Mushik, is stationed in Honolulu. 100 Years Ago-1919 Nicholas Fix returned last night from Camp Mills, N.Y., where he was stationed before the armistice was signed. His company had been scheduled to leave for France on Nov. 11. Jack Siegel, son of Wm. Siegel, a prominent farmer living north of Mandan, returned this week from his service with the Army. Jack was in the battle of the Argonne and also at St. Mihiel, and is glad to be back in North Dakota. Roy F. Dow has commenced work at the local post office in the position held before going into the service. Sgt. Dow returned on the No. 3 train this past week, after being mustered out of the service at Camp Riley, Kan. A large contingent of men from overseas left New York today for Camp Lewis, Wash. The first three carloads of those happy young men passed through Mandan last night on the No. 1 train. He also noted that land with wildlife is significantly more valuable should a rancher or farmer decide to sell a parcel increasing land values from 50 to 400 percent for property with an amazing elk herd. Conservation easements are another way ranchers can take money out of their operation by making certain landscape concessions without having to sell. Janna Long, of Wild Sky Beef Co. an offshoot of APR said there can also be premiums to cattle operations that meet standards for wildlife friendly practices up to $74 a head, according to Walker Milhoan of Ranchlogs. The focus of this program is wildlife, Long said. Ranchers are paid a credit for different species, a grizzly bear den being the highest. I do think that a lot of what we talk to our ranchers about are things they are doing or thinking about, but not being compensated for, Long added. Whats next? The state will soon begin updating its elk management plan with a focus on the new problems of how to oversee herds that continue to expand, said Golla, of FWP. People get so passionate about elk, she said. It can be difficult for each landowner, let alone trying to do it for a region or the state." Montana is the epicenter of what could be the battle between natural resources and a clean environment. Granted, that's probably a false choice. It shouldn't be an either-or situation, but the truth is that too often natural resource extraction is pitted against the environment and vice versa. A raft of environmental policy rollbacks from the Trump administration are beginning to take effect, and a new analysis by The Associated Press shows that it's not just about cutting through some bureaucratic red tape and eliminating some words in federal code. Instead, the rollbacks, largely centered on regulating the energy industry, could have devastating consequences for Americans, the environment and public health. Because we live in a place where those two things natural resources and the environment collide at times, it's important that we find a balance. Our state depends on a healthy energy industry. But, we've also seen the devastating effects of wildfire, drought and flooding proof of climate change. We believe that some of the energy standards needs reconsideration. The Obama-era crackdown on carbon emissions seemed to unfairly target Montana, and put pressure on an already stressed power generation industry. That was a prime example of how regulation may have been too burdensome. Several Billings residents petitioned the PSC for a hearing on the issue. Northwestern fought the case for eight years, first claiming its streetlights were being leased to cities. That claim was debunked when evidence disclosed the utility booked zero revenue for streetlight rent in federal accounting documents and its contracts contained no lease language. NWE then claimed its charges were fees for service. Complainants countered that overcharging was a disservice, citing Montana code 69-3-109, a law to curtail decades of abuses deployed to inflate utility asset value. Under it, utilities may place only an assets original cost into rate base and earn an allowed rate of return on the undepreciated part of that investment. Original infrastructure costs must be depreciated as the utility collects revenue. But, NWE admitted to depreciating streetlights, not based on revenue garnered, but on useful life, as much as 40 years. NWE doesnt book streetlight ratebase by lighting district, but lumps ratebase from all districts together; muddying the rate-making process. NWE plans to install LED lighting in utility-owned districts. We applaud the effort, but fear costs will be excessive for inferior yellow lighting, and that NorthWesterns depreciation practices will make consumers pay for LEDs many times over. CHEYENNE, Wyo. The Wyoming House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require a 48-hour waiting period for women planning to have an abortion in the state. House Bill 140 was approved on a 36-22 vote Friday. It now goes to the state Senate for its consideration. The proposed bill would require women to wait 48 hours before undergoing the procedure. The waiting period would not be enforced if the abortion is necessary to save a woman's life. During debate on the proposal Friday, proponents say a 48-hour wait makes sense in the case of someone planning to undergo a surgical procedure while opponents the state would be interfering in a difficult decision between a woman and her doctor. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Fossil Solar registered in the state of Wyoming in late January. It is a subsidiary of Strata Solar, a North Carolina-based firm that facilitates development of solar energy projects. Strata officials did not respond to questions by press time. Rocky Mountain Power confirmed that Fossil Solar had begun the process for a contract by submitting a request for price estimates from the utility. Due to its size, Fossil Solars proposed farm would qualify for a federal guarantee obligating Rocky Mountain Power to buy Fossils energy via a 20-year contract. The price Rocky Mountain Power would agree to pay Fossil Solar for its solar power would not be public, but it would be verified by Wyoming regulators and by law must be equal or less than the cost the utility would incur by generating that energy from its own resources. The source of power for utilities has become a contentious issue with renewables sometimes pitted against traditional power producers. Rocky Mountain Powers parent company, PacifiCorp, has a diverse energy portfolio of wind, solar, hydro and natural gas across six states, but about half of its energy comes from its coal fleet. Not all of its customers support that mix. A civil lawsuit against the Billings Police Department and an officer who shot and killed a man in 2014 is set for a jury trial March 4. The family of Richard Ramirez, who was shot dead by Billings police officer Grant Morrison during a traffic stop, filed suit against Morrison, the City of Billings, and Police Chief Rich St. John in 2016, arguing that Ramirez' rights were violated. An order filed in U.S. District Court on Jan. 30 shut down certain claims, but allowed the suit against Morrison and the city to move forward. The defendants in the case had filed for summary judgments that would have exonerated them on legal grounds before a jury got the case. A claim against Morrison for the use of excessive force that violated the constitutional rights of Ramirez can move forward, but claims under state law against Morrison were halted. However, the state law claims against the city can move forward. "(State law) leaves the City of Billings on the hook for Morrison's conduct," District Judge Donald W. Molloy wrote. Billings police arrested a Billings man Thursday morning who was found on the porch of the old Chamber of Commerce building downtown and initially appeared to be armed with a handgun. The man, later identified as 32-year-old Cyril Medicineelk, turned out to be armed only with a BB gun, but was taken into custody after "causing a disturbance" at the building, located on the corner of Third Avenue North and North 27th Street. Medicineelk was later charged with assault with a weapon and burglary, in connection with an overnight burglary that occurred at New Attitude Styling Salon, about three blocks west of the Chamber building. The man was covered in cuts and blood when he was initially awoken by the building's owner at about 7:30 a.m., Police Lt. Mark Cady said. An employee arriving at the salon business Thursday morning discovered that a side window had been broken, he said. About 10 police officers responded to the scene, some with duty rifles drawn, after the initial report stated the intruder was armed with a handgun. Cady said no shots were fired, and commended the officers for exercising restraint when they confronted Medicineelk, noting that police "don't shoot more than we shoot." Seggerman said they decided to teach second grade students because this summer is when they will be able to attend the YMCA or Beatrice Water Park by themselves. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} So I want these kids to have some knowledge of water safety, the basic skills to swim, Seggerman said. Or at least to [teach them to] get out of the pool if they were to fall in before they go by themselves to a waterpark or a swimming pool. In order to have the lessons be free, Seggerman reached out to local businesses to have them donate towards transportation costs, getting extra instructors to help and providing swimwear to kids that did not have any. So far were doing really, really well in that respect, and its been highly supported by the community, Seggerman said. Roughly 125 students will be participating in the swimming lessons, and Seggerman said she wants that number to grow in the future. My hope is that we can expand this program, Seggerman said. Next year with the swim teams Im going to work with them to try to come up with some fundraisers for the following years so that we can expand this beyond Beatrice public and go to not only the parochial schools and home schools, but even other schools within the county. News Photo of man shielding studying daughter with umbrella goes viral on Father's Day Though this photograph was taken on June 15, it has gone viral on Father's Day (June 20). Many social users shared this picture on their timeline and have shared some or the other similar experience with their parents. Italian artisan bakery and pasticceria (pastry shop) Signorelli has opened its third outlet in Stratfords newest neighbourhood. The new site for Signorelli, which is in Endeavour Square, will be open daily from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm at weekends. The 1,146 sq ft premises will hold regular cake decorating classes and event catering for the local community. Signorelli joins recently opened Pret a Manger, and Japanese ramen eatery Tonkotsu on the square, with Italian restaurant Figo, a new venture from the team behind Bella Vita in Hackneys Broadway Market, launching a 3,024 sq. ft. restaurant soon. We are delighted with our new restaurant and the opportunities it will deliver for us as a business and for the local community, said Alberto Rosmini, head baker and owner of Signorelli. Alongside our daily menu and artisan products, we are looking forward to launching our supper clubs, makers classes events and social activities to IQL adding to the vibrancy of the area we first established our business in. The businesss other premises are also located in Stratford, at 7 Victory Parade and 2 West Park Walk. From the Chicago Tribune: It was once called the lost amendment, because the Supreme Court was almost completely silent on its meaning and because it seemed to have scant effect. But the Second Amendment made a spectacular comeback in 2008, when the court struck down a Washington, D.C., ban on handguns, which it followed in 2010 by overturning a similar Chicago law. For the first time, the justices held that the amendment protected the right of individuals to own guns for self-defense. The decisions gave the Second Amendment new force, but left a lot of issues unresolved. Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia indicated the court had no problem with longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. He added that the right did not extend to dangerous and unusual weapons. But in the period since, the court has avoided taking cases involving restrictions on guns. Last year, when the justices declined to hear a challenge to Californias 10-day waiting period on gun purchases, Justice Clarence Thomas accused his colleagues of turning the Second Amendment into a constitutional orphan. Many residents were not so convinced, however, and the vast majority of those who attended voiced their opposition to the tower, while many remained worried about negative health outcomes due to the tower's construction. Some attendees alluded to the fact that the current guidelines for health that the FCC uses to regulate towers were drawn up in the 1990s. Others pointed to more recent studies that suggest a stronger link between the radio waves emitted by cell towers and negative health effects. The community meeting was preceded the night before by another meeting on the cell tower devoted to parishioners of the United Trinity Methodist Church. Of the families that attend the church, Reverend Lynn Bartlow said about 10 live in the neighborhood and attended the meeting. In all, Bartlow said about 26 people from the church attended the meeting, with a number of residents who are not members of the church also in attendance. During that meeting, the majority of comments made about the project were positive, with most criticism coming from the non-church members who attended, according to those who either oppose or support the tower. Invitations to the first meeting were also sent out to the parents of children who attend preschool at the church, but Bartlow said none of the parents came. The reverend speculated their apparent lack of interest could be because most of their children will no longer be attending preschool at the church when the tower goes up, should it be approved. Adrian Skabelund can be reached at the office at askabelund@azdailysun.com, by phone at (928) 556-2261 or on Twitter @AdrianSkabelund. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 13 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. Flagstaff police officers reported that their most recent information about the two suspects' location before the shooting was that the two were near a shed on West Topeka Avenue. An officer reported that a civilian flagged him down to show them their home-surveillance footage, which showed one of the suspects running through his yard with what looked like a firearm. Some Flagstaff police officers reported equipping themselves with rifles before the shooting took place. Another Flagstaff officer reported that they were the first to approach what appears to be Gishal directly after the shooting. The officer moved Gishal out onto the driveway as another checked for weapons, according to the officer's report. Multiple officers detailed different bullet wounds on Gishal that included a gunshot to his left knee and chest. Gishal did not survive his wounds and was declared dead after the medics responded to the scene and attended to him for over 20 minutes, according to the report. Oszust was attended to by an officer who described him as having a wound to the neck. As soon as the officer reported giving CPR, a medic arrived. Oszust was later transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center, but did not survive his wounds, DPS reported. Past arrest records allege that Gishal was contacted by DPS officers in 2017 for a traffic stop. The officer attempted to arrest Gishal on drug-related charges, but DPS alleged that Gishal resisted, causing a fight. DPS also reported that Oszust had an active felony warrant for a probation violation. Scott Buffon can be reached at sbuffon@azdailysun.com, on Twitter @scottbuffon or by phone at (928) 556-2250. Love 2 Funny 5 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 3 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. The AGEC has three distinct certifications (A, B and S) that were established in the late 1990s to create a standard for transfer students. It ensures that, because not all classes are created equal, these students would not lose their completed lower-division credits when transferring to Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. Courses instead transfer as a block, with additional university coursework based on institution and major. Completion of the AGEC with at least a 2.5 grade point average also guarantees admission to these universities. The AGEC-A is designed for future liberal arts majors, but it is the most versatile of the AGEC certificates, compared to the AGEC-B for business students and the AGEC-S for science and STEM students. Manley said she was able to apply her AGEC-A certificate to a degree in biochemistry. At CCC, about 80 to 90 percent of AGEC students choose the AGEC-A; 169 students completed their certificate last year. Courses required by the AGEC-A include introductory English, mathematics and sciences courses, as well as those promoting awareness in history and ethnicity, race or gender. She says one of the most freeing things about working with Nordstrom on Boundless Skies is that her opportunities and creativity have felt, well, boundless. [Boundless Skies] has really made me think about all sorts of other things I want to make. Im thinking more sculpturally going forward. I think thats a pretty natural progression after this, she says, thinking about where her art could take her next. I think thats been the best part about working with [Nordstrom] and Jill. I dont think Ive ever had anyone encourage me so much to just do what I want. For Boundless Skies, Kyle has taken dozens of natural objects and, using her fathers unused dentistry drill bits, has crafted them into wearable sculptures of clouds. A turquoise cloud with chain made to look like rain, a deer bone thats been carved into a cloud with silver birds flocking underneath. Whats even more unique is how many of the objects shes turned into clouds come from the sea. Coral, driftwood, shells. When I step outside the first thing I do is look up, Kyle says. I think I just wanted to take all these earthy pieces and have them represent the sky, and I felt like there were no limitations. It was like I could do whatever I wanted. Mexicos 2011 Oscar entry, Miss Bala, was a searing slice of social commentary about the raging narco wars wrapped up in a sexy, action-packed thriller. Directed by Gerardo Naranjo, the script was ripped from the headlines, basing its beauty queen-meets-drug lord story on a stranger-than-fiction 2008 scandal, when Miss Sinaloa winner Laura Zuniga was arrested in the company of the Juarez cartel. The tension inherent in the question of whether or not she was a victim or an operator was what drove Miss Bala, a tale about how easy it is to get sucked into this underworld, and how hard it is to get out. With the combo of gun battles and pageant girls, its no wonder Hollywood came knocking. But achieving tonal balance between sociology and schlock is no easy task, and this film doesnt pull it off. Catherine Hardwicke helms the remake of the same name, with a script by Mexican writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, starring the eminently appealing Gina Rodriguez as Gloria, a young Mexican-American makeup artist from LA who gets caught up in the swirl of corruption and cartels while visiting a friend who is competing in the Miss Baja California pageant. Bala means bullet in Spanish, and therein lies the dark pun of the title. KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. That locally grown produce for sale in your neighborhood grocery store? It may have started its life up to 6,000 miles away. And that irks Gary Schroeder, who has been growing and packing specialty mushrooms for nearly 40 years in the so-called Mushroom Capital of the World, Kennett Square. Schroeders Oakshire Mushroom Farms had annual sales of $37 million in 2017 and employed 65 people last year. In early January, Schroeders farm was forced to slash the workforce to 16, and file for bankruptcy. Weve got ourselves in crisis mode, said Schroeder, who founded Oakshire in the mid-1980s and is now laboring under more than $10 million in debt, according to documents filed in court. Im fighting a battle to save this company every day. Schroeder, and several other mushroom producers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, say they have been clobbered by imports from both Canada and China. This is one of the reasons that the local shiitake market has suffered, said Chris Alonzo, the third-generation owner of Pietro Farms based in Kennett Square. Thats one of the things that has hurt Oakshire. SAN FRANCISCOThe fourth and final episode in NakedSword Originals' Rags to Riches is now playing on the self-styled "Netflix of Gay Porn," NakedSword.com. Directed by award-winning NakedSword director mr. Pam and shot on location in New York City, the Rags to Riches finale stars Falcon Exclusives Austin Wolf and Alam Wernik. Wernik plays a bright-eyed Brazilian boy toy who just moved to the Big Apple in search of the gay American dream. He soon learns the concrete jungle is no joke as he finds himself broke, on the wrong side of the tracks, and dealing with some sketchy characters. Determined to make it to the top, Alam has done whatever and whoever, to go from "rags to riches," and in the series finale, he finally gets what he wants. In Episode Four, Alam finally makes it to the A-list. He returns to his nightmarish living conditions only to throw everything he owns into a duffle bag; he's finally had enough. Once downstairs, he tosses the bag on the sidewalk so he can unlock his bikewhen someone runs by and grabs his bag. Alam hops on his bike in hot pursuit but soon realizes how futile it is. As the sun goes down, he finds himself at the piers, alone, penniless, with nowhere to go. Then he remembers the kind smile of one man, Austin Wolf. Back on the Upper West Side, Austin has found Alams wallet and made arrangements for Ian Frost to come pick it up. Waiting outside his apartment, Austin spots Alam shivering on the sidewalk. Austin invites him inside and undresses him affectionately, and they shower together before Austin leaves for a previous engagement. The next morning Austin finds Alam asleep in the guest room and makes his move. They passionately kiss and aggressively go at it, all morning long, with Austin paying extra attention to Alams huge perfect bottom. Both recognize the deep connection as Austin suggests they have brunch on Fifth Avenueand it looks like Alam has finally realized his dream of life on the A-list! Director mr. Pam said of the series finale, "Austin Wolf and Alam Wernik were dynamite together; I mean, what a pairing! Austin is the quintessential top and Alam is the quintessential bottom. They just fit perfectly together and made for an explosive finale to such an awesome series!" All episodes of Rags to Riches are now playing only on NakedSword. A New York State judge lifted a temporary restraining order that had blocked the state's congestion pricing surcharge from going into effect on January 1st. In her order, Judge Lynn Kotler found that the surcharge would not cause irreparable injury to drivers business, since the charge is passed on to passengers. Now, Uber says riders can expect prices to go up, although the company didnt say how much more. It did note that for the average UberX ride, which costs $22, 20 percent of that will go to taxes. The state expects the congestion pricing fee will generate $1 million a day, which is expected to go only to the MTA. Medallion owners would charge riders in Manhattan below 96th Street $2.50, all other for hire vehicles, would charge $2.75. Car pooled rides would only charge an extra .75 cents. Uber's announcement comes in response to Thursdays ruling, and the citys minimum payment requirement for app based drivers, which was expected to go into effect Friday, but is also the subject of a lawsuit from Juno and Lyft (although notably, not Uber). Uber will comply with the new wage requirements. [UPDATE: 1:10 p.m.: After a modest social media campaign, Lyft announced Friday afternoon it will pay drivers the new minimum wage. "This TRO victory acknowledges that Uber was handed a sweetheart deal by the TLC that would irreparably harm Lyft. Drivers shouldnt suffer while we work to right the TLCs mistakes so we are immediately raising driver pay as we continue our fight in court," Lyft spokesperson Campbell Matthews wrote in a statement.] On Thursday Judge Kotler also dismissed the states request to throw out the case entirely, which means the lawsuit will still move forward. "We're calling on the governor not to move forward with fees that will force drivers to choose between food and medicine, New York Taxi Worker Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai wrote in a statement. That is how dire the poverty is now among this workforce that has lost eight of our brothers to suicide in less than a year. She added that if the state implements the surcharge and ultimately loses, itll be responsible for figuring out how to refund riders, including those who paid cash. A spokesman for the Taxi and Limousine Commission declined to comment. The outgoing head of the TLC Meera Joshi is critical of the fee. Well cooperate with the state as necessary to implement the surcharge and follow the legal case as it develops, Nick Paolucci spokesman for the City Law Department wrote in a statement. The City supports this important measure which will help open up our roadways, reduce pollution and generate millions in revenue for our subways. Asked about the Juno and Lyft lawsuit on the Brian Lehrer Show this morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "I can't believe these huge companies literally have the gall to sue the city of New York because we're trying to raise wage levels." In regards to the congestion pricing surcharge, and the potential impact on ride hail companies like Uber, de Blasio said, "There's a very strong market for For Hire Vehicles and yellow cabs, and this surcharge isn't going to fundamentally change that market." This fee was pitched to the state legislature as a way to raise money for the MTA and begin addressing congestion in Manhattan. But Charles Komanoff, who was on the governor's congestion pricing task force, doubts there'll be a noticeable impact on congestion from this fee. Not quite. The surcharges *will* cut into usage, which will hurt drivers, esp'ly of yellows. But much of the "otherwise' lightening of traffic will be exploited by private-car drivers, so bye-bye much of the congestion reduction. Net gain in CBD travel speeds: just 3-4 percent. Charles Komanoff (@Komanoff) February 1, 2019 The congestion surcharge will go into effect Saturday at 12:01 a.m., according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance. Stephen Nessen is the transportation reporter for WNYC. You can follow him on Twitter @s_nessen. MIAMIThe future is in micro niche content and Team Skeet's parent company, Paper Street Media, has plenty of it on the newly launched hardcore portal site LittleAsians.com. We are excited to announce the launch of our new premium site dedicated to the Asian teen segment, said Salima, COO of Paper Street Media. Featuring the hottest Asian-American teen stars, and a very talented creative team, LittleAsians offers exciting and exclusive content found nowhere else. We invite everyone to sign up and meet the freshest and hottest Asian teens only on LittleAsians.com. LittleAsians features brand new content, updated weekly, along with fresh young starlets in a variety of erotic scenarios. The site launched with scenes starring tiny gymnast Jasmine Grey, swimmer Jade Kush, Honey Moon, Elle Voneva, and Vina Sky, plus Brenna Sparks and Sammi Parker. Whether it's threeway sex, fetish fantasies come to life, the joys of anal sex, creampies, double penetrations, or something else entirely, LittleAsians offers subscribers exclusive all-Asian content. Paper Street Media will roll out its affiliate program for LittleAsians.com on February 25. Home to Paper Street Cash and MYLF Money, Paper Street Media is known for fast-growing affiliate programs that provide generous payouts, a referral program, state-of-the-art marketing tools, 24/7 technical support and more. "Porn troll lawyer Paul Hansmeier is already facing up to 14 years behind bars after pleading guilty in August to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, as AVN.com reported. But on Wednesday, Hansmeier faced even more trouble when a legal profession disciplinary body in Minnesota, Hansmeiers home state, slapped him with a fraud complaint. Starting in 2010, according to the legal news site Minnesota Lawyer, Hansmeier, 37, and his law firm, Steele Hansmeier PLLC, initiated a scheme in which they obtained the copyrights to various porn films, then filed lawsuits against individuals who downloaded the porn clips from torrent sites such as The Pirate Bay. The scheme began with Hansmeier and his cronies simply monitoring torrent sites to catch downloads of the copyrighted videos, then filing John Doe lawsuits so that they could talk judges into issuing subpoenas allowing the lawyers to track the downloaders through their IP addresses. But Hansmeier and his collaborators soon graduated to uploading the porn clips to which they owned copyrights themselves, then waiting for them to be downloaded. At that point, Hansmeier would contact the unsuspecting porn fans demanding a settlement, usually $3,000, to avoid a lawsuit. The troll lawyers reportedly made millions from this extortionate conspiracy. But they still werent done. Starting in 2012, Hansmeier and the other lawyers went into the porn business themselves, producing porn videos for the specific purpose of uploading them to torrent sites, then suing whoever downloaded the clips. In 2015, after his porn trolling scheme had been exposed, Hansmeier filed for bankruptcy to protect his wealth from the heavy financial sanctions imposed on him by courts for his porn trolling caper. But a United States bankruptcy trustee in 2016 filed a lawsuit to deny Hansmeier bankruptcy protection, alleging that the lawyer defrauded the bankruptcy court by lying about the value of those assets and concealing them from the court, including a stash of $178,000 in cash that Hansmeier allegedly kept in a closet, according to The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The bankruptcy fraud allegations are the basis of the new complaint against Hansmeier, filed by Minnesotas Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, which seeks further discipline against the lawyer including possible disbarmentthough his license to practice law has been suspended indefinitely since 2016, according to a Star-Tribune report. The porn trolling operation was not the end of Hansmeiers illegal schemes, according to a report by TechDirt. After his porn scheme was exposed, Hansmeier allegedly found a new source of income: filing lawsuits against Minnesota small businesses for supposed violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to a report by KMSP-TV, Hansmeier and his associates would drive around Minneapolis looking for businesses to sue, then attempting to pressure those businesses into quick cash settlements. Hansmeier filed more than 100 such lawsuits, all while he was simultaneously in court seeking bankruptcy protection while maintaining his residence in a million dollar condo on the 31st floor of the ritzy Carlyle Building in downtown Minneapolis. Hansmeier has 20 days to respond to the new complaint against him by the disciplinary board. He is still awaiting a sentencing date on his earlier guilty pleas. Photo by KMSP-TV YouTube Screen Capture MONTREAL, QuebecNoir Male announced Jacen Zhu is the February Noir Male Man of the Month. All month, Zhu will be honored with a spotlight section featuring exclusive scenes on NoirMale.com, and be in the running to be named Noir Male Man of the Year 2019. What can I say about the exceptional beauty of Jacen Zhu? Noir Male director Chi Chi LaRue said. Hes so beautiful and unassuming with a filthy-filthy mind, its no wonder hes a Noir Male favorite! GayVN award winner Max Konnor was named Januarys Man of the Month, and each month a new Noir Male Man of the Month will be chosen, leading to 12 notable men in the running for Noir Males Man of the Year 2019. The ultimate winner, as voted by fans, will claim the title and a Noir Male contract. Pheonix Fellington is the reigning Man of the Year for 2018. In the month given to our ancestors to celebrate their great accomplishment based on the color of their skin, Im honored, but never in disillusion of the current state of our image, Zhu said. How does my Noir become a state of mind when we are feared, ridiculed and marginalized by those we call community? If youre wondering young Noir, remember: You are beautifully made not because of the grandiose of your masculinity or the size of your anatomy; rather the internal flame that burns to create, and operate in spaces that are dedicated to Noir. #blackmodelsmatter. Jacen Zhus Man of the Month showcase featuring exclusive scenes can be viewed here. At Noir Male we have the pleasure of working with the most talented men, said Noir Males head of production. With that in mind, we take great pride in presenting to you the Noir Male Man of the Month, Jacen Zhu. Every month, we will be naming a model that embodies the brand essence and resonates with the Noir Male fans; Jacen is the perfect choice a we continue celebrating the outstanding performers we work with. Noir Male celebrates the full range of sexuality and fantasy fulfillment that men of color have to offer, in a product that breaks free from the stereotypes and conventions of typical interracial porn. No body part is off-limits, and no desire out of reach, in scorching hot black and interracial encounters where the preconceptions of tops and bottoms and expected sexual scenarios become a thing of the past. Noir Male was recently awarded Cybersockets 2019 Best New Site. For the latest Man of the Month information, exclusives and BTS previews follow Noir Male on Twitter.com/NoirMaleXXX and Instagram @OfficialNoirMale. Tata Motors in association with Nitol Motors Ltd. launched the all-new Tata LPT 1212 LCV (light commercial vehicle) in Bangladesh. The new Tata vehicles design, excellent performance and high load carrying ability have been adapted for the new commercial vehicle buyer in Bangladesh. Indias biggest commercial vehicle producer and its Bangladesh based authorized distributor Nitol Motors has introduced the new Tata LPT 1212, in the light trucks segment, as the ideal solution for transporting cargo for the Bangladeshi market with a huge potential for prospective buyers. The Tata LPT 1212 is powered by the proven 497 TCIC Common Rail Engine with efficient and reliable motor life and reparability and which optimally powers the truck. Its design is such that it delivers enhanced performance and superb mileage with lesser emission levels, noise and even vibrations. The configuration of the high-performance motor is to produce optimum power output at lower RPMs, which helps to drive with the fewer shift of gears while maintaining superior fuel efficiency. Another advantage in the new Tata LCV is that the 330mm clutch helps in easy gearshifts for a smooth, comfortable drive and efficient transmission of power. A 245mm high ground clearance helps ideally in cargo transportation through uneven terrains and rough road conditions. The truck will come with an improved loading capacity due to a bigger tyre measuring 9X20 16 PR in size. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Chairman of Nitol Motors Ltd., said, Our local expertise coupled with a robust dealer network across the country has been crucial to our success thus far. With our partner Tata Motors, we are confident about making a significant impact in the light truck segment with Tata LPT 1212 and thus winning a significant market share. Also speaking at the event, Mr. Rudrarup Maitra, Head of International Business, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, The much awaited Tata LPT 1212, has been specifically designed keeping in mind the unique local Bangladesh market loading requirements and duty cycle. With various product enhancements such as a powerful engine, high ground clearance, bigger clutch diameter and tyre size, this vehicle is the best choice for customers in this segment. We are confident of further strengthening our market leadership in Bangladesh with this launch. Click here for the latest automotive news and updates! HIT: To creating outstanding artwork. Moravia High School students Chelsi O'Hara and Ben MacAdam Gorham were among the Cayuga County students recognized by the county health department in a recent poster contest. The two came up with original designs drawing attention to the health impacts of smoking and vaping, and their art will now be used in educational materials. And Moravia student Kameron Weber also received recognition recently when his design was chosen as the artwork for the annual Freeze-Out Racquetball Tournament at the YMCA in Auburn. MISS: To a scary accident in Aurelius. A car collided with a state snowplow on Routes 5 and 20 Tuesday morning, with the large plow blade smashing the front of the car and trapping the driver in the wreckage. Firefighters were able to get the driver of the car quickly, and she was airlifted to a Syracuse hospital for treatment. Her injuries were reported to be non life-threatening. HIT: The bald eagle survey at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is back on. A New York state employee is facing a felony charge for allegedly filing false documents claiming he served two days of jury duty to receive paid time off, according to the state inspector general's office. Howard V. Gushue, Jr., 48, of Fort Plain, was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class D felony, and official misconduct. Gushue, authorities said, submitted a forged Montgomery County jury duty proof of service form to his state job in June 2018 to receive two paid days off from work without using personal or vacation time. The state inspector general's investigation also revealed that Gushue allegedly submitted an employee application for leave of absence and time and attendance records listing his two days of jury service. However, during the investigation, Gushue admitted he didn't have jury duty. He reportedly told the inspector general, "I'll be straight with you ... I was not there. I called that morning and they said the trial had been canceled." The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced its initial list of 33 targeted seats for the 2020 election cycle. The list includes four New York Republicans: U.S. Reps. Chris Collins, John Katko, Peter King and Lee Zeldin. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is heading to New Hampshire this weekend as she continues her presidential campaign. She launched her presidential campaign last month and has already traveled to Iowa. This will be her second campaign trip since becoming a presidential candidate. Butler's support of red flag legislation followed an incident in Auburn last year. A suicidal individual, an Auburn resident, called the Veterans Affairs' crisis hotline and threatened to harm themselves and police officers if they responded. Auburn police responded to the residence. Officers were able to take the individual into custody for a mental health evaluation and treatment. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Butler on Thursday confirmed the resident legally owned firearms. "The two often are a terrible combination," he said, referring to guns and mental illness, "and we as law enforcement need additional tools to help prevent senseless acts of violence often perpetrated by those suffering from mental illness." While Butler is supportive of the red flag law, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck has concerns with the bill. He believes an extreme risk protection order should only be issued after a "thorough investigation" by law enforcement, which would then make a recommendation to the court. He agrees that law enforcement a district's attorney office or police agency could make the requests, but doesn't believe family members or school officials should be able to petition a court for an extreme risk protection order. The Netherlands is hiring around 100 mainly foreign veterinarians to check imported animals and food from Britain in its latest contingency plan for a no-deal Brexit, the government said Friday. Most will be recruited from southern and eastern Europe as there are not enough qualified vets to spare in the Netherlands, and they will receive a crash-course in the Dutch language before being deployed. European Union countries are increasingly concerned that Britain will crash out of the bloc without a divorce agreement on March 29, meaning that customs checks and tariffs would automatically return. The Netherlands in particular has taken a number of steps to ease the expected impact of the rift with one of its biggest trading partners. "We want to take precautions," a spokeswoman from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) told the ANP news agency, adding that it wanted to train 143 new employees including 100 veterinarians. The NVWA said it was working on the assumption that in the case of a no-deal Brexit all goods being imported from Britain to the EU needed to be checked. "Brussels prescribes that food and food-related products from third countries, and that includes the UK, must be inspected by skilled veterinarians," the spokeswoman said. The vets would be deployed at the Netherlands' two inspection points for live animals at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Maastricht Aachen airport, and for meat inspection points at various ports including the sea port of Rotterdam, the NOS news website reported. The inspection of imported meat was a "laborious process", it added. The Dutch cabinet earlier this week received parliamentary approval for emergency powers to pass laws in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Netherlands has already made major preparations for Brexit, setting aside 100 million euros (US$114 million) for preparations, including the appointment of 900 new customs officers. The government this week launched an information campaign for businesses including a "muppet" character representing Brexit that blocks trucks and industry. The Netherlands is hiring more vets to check animals imported from Britain in the event of a no-deal Brexit Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday accused western countries of supporting violent countrywide protests last month that were sparked by a huge rise in fuel prices. At least 12 civilians died and hundreds more were injured following a joint police and military crackdown on protesters after shops were looted and set on fire. "We regret the loss of life but we needed to protect property as well as other citizens not involved in the protests," Mnangagwa told local reporters. ?We have told the western countries that they cannot turn around and raise concerns when they are the ones sponsoring the violence," the privately-owned NewsDay newspaper quoted Mnangagwa as saying. Authorities have blamed the protests on the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and on non-governmental organisations that they said were backed by western governments. When he took over from Robert Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa pledged to revive the moribund economy and attract foreign investment by ending the country's international isolation. Police have arrested more than 1,100 people, including opposition lawmakers, trade unionists and even some children as part of the crackdown, which has been criticised by the US, the European Union and Britain as well as by rights groups. Mnangagwa, who won a disputed election in July, also announced a package of measures for state workers after strikes by doctors and teachers over poor pay. The Zimbabwe protests were crushed by a joint police and army crackdown that left at least 12 people dead and hundreds more wounded Step inside Bed-Stuys Pilar Cuban Bakery and you might, for a moment, think youre in Miami instead. The bright space, which opened this week, is awash with pastel, brilliant tiled floors, and an ever-present neon sign advertising sweet wares. And that transportive quality is the idea: Cuban-American owner Ricardo Barreras, who grew up in Florida, styled his new outpost to be like the no-frills mom and pop shops that line Miamis sun-drenched streets. Barreras wasnt intending to make a bakery, he tells Gothamist during a recent visit. A desire to see traditional Cuban food more visibly represented within New York City evolved from selling Cuban sandwiches at Brooklyn Flea to owning Pilar Cuban Eatery, which he has for nearly ten years. (Before then, Barreras was a social psychologist by trade). The restaurant, which specializes in modern Cuban cuisine, has stood on the corner of Bedford and Greene since 2015. The new bakery, attached to Barreras's restaurant, initially sprouted from his goal to make Cuban bread in-house. The problem? They had no room. But the space next door to Pilar had been vacant for a while, so he set about trying to find a way to take it over. Given the locales size, it became clear that he could make more than bread: Empanadas followed, then pastelitos, then it snowballed from there. The idea, Barreras says, is for people to stop by the bakery for a cafecito and dessert after dining, perhaps taking home a box of treats with them. During warmer days, the window that opens up onto Greene Avenue will be crucial for those on the move looking to buy cafe con leche. The preposterous cold on Thursday didnt deter locals and passersby from stopping by Pilar, scooping up beef picadillo empanadas, tortilla espanola, and pastelitos to take back home. Theres a lot to choose from, both savory and sweet. The dense empanada Gallega (a Spanish meat pie) is crafted from house-smoked chorizo next door, is a mighty treat. As are the smoked ham, potato leek, and bacalao (salt cod) croquetasbut dont let their diminutive size fool you. The cilantro sauce, imbued with orange and roasted garlic, makes a perfect dip for Pilars savory offerings. A tropical layer cake, loaded up with mango jam and pineapple, topped with a passionfruit buttercream and then toasted coconut, is a dream. Dont sleep on the guava bars, stacked with shortbread, and topped with a crumble and guava glaze. Ingredients indigenous to Cuba, such as sour oranges and cachucha peppers, are central to Pilars food, as are harder-to-find staples: He says they buy hundreds of small packages of Goya short-grain riceit doesnt exist in bulkto make bonafide arroz con pollo and paella. Some people might be surprised with the presentation and preparation of several itemsBarreras's twist on tres leches, for one thing, is infused with pomegranate, which slightly cuts its signature sweetness. All those really iconic things that people grew up with, we have, he says. Pretty much most of the stuff you find here is stuff youre going to find in a Cuban bakery. Some of the stuff isnt, but uses ingredients that are typically Cuban. Barreras says theres much more to come on the menu (see the current version here), including tamarind cinnamon rolls with a peanut brittle, a cake flan (half cake, half flan) made of red velvet and cream cheese, batidos (milkshakes) with flavors including guanabana and mamey, and salads. The iconic capuchino, an ever-present treat at Cuban bakeries, is also on its way. Pilar Cuban Bakery is located at 397 Greene Ave., between Bedford and Franklin Avenues, and is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. (347) 350-9037; pilarny.com. In a lush field in the heart of the Japanese mountains, a herd of glossy black cows roam happily -- prime examples of the area's Hida brand of wagyu beef. With consumption of the famed meat known for its melt-in-the-mouth tenderness and marbled fat on the decline in Japan, producers are looking overseas to boost sales instead. The Hida brand might not yet have the recognition of famed Kobe beef, but overall the international profile of wagyu is on the rise. The value of exports has risen more than 200 percent in the last five years -- Hong Kong is currently the largest market. About an hour from Takayama, a town that attracts tourists with its traditional wooden houses, dozens of cows owned by different farmers have free range across a 250-hectare plot leased by the local municipality. They spend the warm summer months in the tranquil greenery and return to the warmth of the stables when the winter comes around. There they give birth to calves that are the product of carefully organised breeding to protect the "purity" of each cow's bloodline. "It's important to preserve the bloodline, because good genes guarantee good quality meat," explains Koichi Maruyama, a local official in charge of the cattle rearing department. "The quality also comes from the feed," he adds. For cows bred for wagyu beef, that means 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) of rice straw a day, to ensure the intramuscular marbling that gives the meat its characteristic look, and taste. - 'We never rest' - Each cow spends the 30 months of its life cossetted and pampered, reared stress-free and under constant medical watch. They are tagged electronically, in a system described as unique in the world, and every cow's family tree can be traced back at least to its grandparents, if not further. Some farmers pamper their cows by covering them in coats during the winter, feeding them beer, and even playing them classical music. Producers in Takayama don't go that far but that doesn't mean there is much room for error. "We never rest, we're looking after them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," says Shuichi Mizobata, on the sidelines of a locally organised wagyu competition. Cows parade in front of judges and are weighed and measured to determine which will compete at a national face-off that takes place every five years. A Takayama cow won in 2002, in a victory that still sparks pride for the young Hida brand. Wagyu cultivation dates back only a few decades, with most Japanese black cattle -- the breed that dominates wagyu -- derived from a single bull born 80 years ago. "After the liberalisation of beef import rules, we decided to put the focus on very high quality wagyu beef to differentiate our products from imported ones," said Sota Kamihiro, an official with the agriculture ministry. Producers have also struggled with the decline in beef consumption that started around 2000, over fears linked to BSE, and a shrinking number of farmers, with existing producers aging and leaving behind no heirs. - 'The meat is sublime' - In 2013, the agriculture ministry set new export targets with the goal of reaching 25 billion yen ($228 million) in beef sales overseas by 2019. The goal looks achievable, with sales already at 24.7 billion yen in 2018, a massive increase from five billion when the strategy was put in place. And the explosion in exports comes despite the eye-watering expense of the product -- the most prized portions of wagyu go for around 13,700 yen a kilo. In Takayama, exports only accounted for five percent, or 43 tonnes, of the beef sold by producers in 2017, but that was already double the previous year. The town has an abattoir that observes stringent rules and is one of just four in Japan certified to handle meat for export to the European Union. Increasingly, producers are also securing halal certification for slaughterhouses -- which number around 200 in total across Japan -- so they can export to Muslim countries. After slaughter, the beef is put up for auction, with the carcasses displayed behind glass alongside cards ranking them according to a precise system based on the meat's marbling, colour, texture, and the quality of the fat, according to director Mitsushi Kobayashi. "The Japanese seek above all to reduce the blood and muscle in the animal, and to develop the fat, the opposite of us," said French chef Lionel Beccat, who has a Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo. "The meat is sublime, it melts in the mouth, there are different notes depending on the cows, some are floral, others nutty, others spicy," he added. "So the meat can be appreciated as it is, you just grill it and that's it. It's very Japanese, like sashimi." In a lush field in the heart of the Japanese mountains, a herd of glossy black cows roam happily -- prime examples of the area's Hida brand of wagyu beef In Japan the value of wagyu beef exports has risen more than 200 percent in the last five years -- Hong Kong is currently the largest market Wagyu cultivation dates back only a few decades, with most Japanese black cattle -- the breed that dominates wagyu -- derived from a single bull born 80 years ago The International Criminal Court finally freed former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on Friday after his shock acquittal last month on charges of crimes against humanity. Supporters sang and waved flags in the Hague after judges agreed to release the 73-year-old on condition that he stays in an as-yet-unnamed country pending an appeal by the prosecution. Gbagbo, the first former head of state ever to stand trial at the ICC, and his aide Charles Ble Goude were cleared on January 15 over a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010. More than 3,000 people died on both sides after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his internationally backed-rival -- and now-president -- Alassane Ouattara. ICC appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release Gbagbo "to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set" by the court. The court later said that Gbagbo and Ble Goude had been released from the ICC's detention centre in The Hague for an "interim" location while his final destination was confirmed, without giving further details. "We are very happy for Mr Ble Goude and his family that he is finally released," Ble Goude's lawyer Alexander Knoops told reporters. "He was under huge stress." - Very happy - One country -- whose name was redacted in court documents -- had "expressed its willingness to receive Mr Gbagbo" on condition that he signs a pledge to return to court if asked. Prosecutors had expressed fears that if released, Gbagbo would fail to return to the court for a retrial if January's acquittal was overturned on appeal. He also had to surrender his travel documents, report weekly, avoid contacting witnesses in Ivory Coast and refrain from making public statements about the case, the court documents said. Lawyers have previously cited the arrangement reached with former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. While Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbo's wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Dozens of Gbagbo supporters broke out in song, waving Ivorian flags and chanting slogans like "Gbagbo is free!" and "Respect Gbagbo power!" They were watched by around 20 Dutch police officers. "Eight years is a long time" to be in detention, Abdon Bayeto, one of Gbagbo?s closest advisors told reporters, comparing the release to that of the late Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years behind bars in apartheid South Africa. "Finally reconciliation can start in the Ivory Coast". - Election violence - Gbagbo and Ble Goude went on trial in January 2016 accused of playing a role in murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts during the post-electoral violence. Former academic Gbagbo had been in power since 2000, after two decades in opposition, but found his rival Ouattara backed by western powers and the African Union after the election result was disputed. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 by Ouattara's troops, aided by UN and French forces, and sent to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. Despite hearing from 80 witnesses, ICC judges stopped the trial midway on January 15 citing an "exceptionally weak" prosecution case. They also ordered the immediate release of Gbagbo and Ble Goude but prosecutors successfully applied to have Gbagbo kept in detention, saying they may appeal. Chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Friday that she was waiting to "carefully examine" January's acquittal ruling before deciding whether to challenge it. The Gbagbo acquittal was a severe blow for ICC prosecutors after similar failures with Bemba last year and Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014. The delay in Gbagbo's release at least puts off, for now, the political uncertainty over his possible return to a country where he still faces a possible jail term for economic crimes. His acquittal comes at a sensitive time with Ivory Coast facing fresh elections in 2020. Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo is the first former head of state to stand trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague Italian prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 117 people in a shipwreck off Libya last month and whether delays at the rescue command centre in Rome cost lives, a Sicilian prosecutor said Friday. The IMRCC (maritime rescue coordination centre) in Rome was alerted at 13:40 on January 18 to a dinghy in distress but said it fell under Libyan jurisdiction, despite receiving no response from the Libyan coast guard. "There was a gap of three hours between the first sighting of the stricken dinghy by an Italian military aircraft" and the Libyan response, Agrigento assistant prosecutor Salvatore Vella told AFP. "There were many women in the boat, one holding a newborn, not more than two months old. Even getting help 10 minutes earlier can save a life," Vella said. Italy's far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has closed the country's ports to migrants and demanded Europe take its share. Europe has been wrestling with divisions over how to handle the problem since the migration crisis of 2015 when more than one million people arrived on its shores, many of them fleeing conflict in the Middle East. Italy has increasingly insisted Libya handle rescue operations off the North African country since a controversial accord was reached in 2017 -- with EU backing -- to rebuild Tripoli's coast guard capacities. The Agrigento prosecutors have delivered their initial investigation to Rome prosecutors, who will have to decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial of IMRCC officials for "failing to provide assistance". The Agrigento team will continue its investigation against persons unknown for trafficking and aiding illegal immigration. There were only three survivors of the disaster, each of whom told Vella of the nighttime departure at gun-point in crisis-hit Libya and the moment the weather worsened causing the overloaded dinghy carrying 120 people to start sinking. "They had been given a satellite phone to call for help, but in the panic when the dinghy began to take on water, the 'captain' dropped it into the sea. It's not clear whether any call for help was ever made," Vella said. - 'Dropped like stones' - "They were packed on so tightly that each had one leg in the dinghy and the other over the side. It took a couple of hours for the dinghy to sink. "They began to drown. They went down like stones," he added. One of the survivors, 25-year old Nasir from Sudan, told him "I held on, and closed my eyes so as not to see the people dying all around me". At 13:40 the military plane spotted the dinghy some 50 nautical miles north east of Tripoli, with around 50 people still on board and many in the water, Vella said. It alerted the command centre in Rome and dropped two life rafts. At 13:42 a patrol plane which works with the charity Sea Watch rescue vessel heard the radioed conversation with the command centre. It also spotted a tanker, the Cordula Jacob, which was nearby. At 14:00 the Sea Watch was told the rescue responsibility lay with Libya. The Sea Watch called the Libyan command centre but got no answer. In the meantime the Cordula Jacob, unaware of the shipwreck, was sailing away from Libya towards Egypt. At 15:02 the order came from the Rome command centre for all vessels in the area to head towards the site of the sinking. At 16:40 the Libyan coast guard said it would take over the rescue efforts, and almost at the same time an Italian military helicopter arrived at the site to find three survivors, Vella said. The Cordula Jaboc and the Sea Watch arrived there hours later but found neither survivors nor bodies. Agrigento prosecutors have already passed a similar case to Rome following a shipwreck in 2013 in which close to 300 people died after the Italian and Maltese authorities delayed rescue efforts. In that case, the Rome prosecutors called for two officials accused of delaying the rescue response to stand trial. A hearing is scheduled in February to determine whether to proceed. Italy's far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has closed the country's ports to migrants A smash-hit South Korean TV series is giving Lee Min-joo flashbacks of the punishing work schedule she endured at an elite Seoul high school as she competed for a place at a top university. Now 23, Lee recalls how she would wake at six to catch the bus, study until 10pm and arrive home an hour later, before repeating the cycle -- a daily routine she shared with her peers in the hyper-competitive society. "I wasn't getting enough sleep, I wasn't getting enough exercise," she said. "I was processing a lot of information all the time." South Korea's most successful cable television series has touched a nerve with Lee as it portrays wealthy, overbearing parents desperate to send their children to the best universities -- whatever the cost. "SKY Castle" is named after the acronym for the country's most prestigious educational triumvirate: Seoul National, Korea and Yonsei universities. The show resonates in a society where high-school academic performance is seen as pivotal in defining adult lives, holding the key to the best universities at home and abroad, social status, a stable job and even marriage prospects. Some of the plotlines are commonplace, featuring expensive extra-curricular tuition, while others are inspired by real-life events, including a high-school teacher's arrest last year on charges of stealing exam papers for his own daughters. Ahead of the series finale on Friday, its most popular episode had been watched by 23 percent of South Korea's entire subscription television audience, the highest such rating ever achieved by a drama. "The show is obviously exaggerated, but so many South Koreans are responding to it because it really does reflect reality," said Choi Jae-young, an education activist in Seoul. South Korean children have been repeatedly cited as the least happy in the OECD group of developed countries, while government data shows suicide is the leading cause of death among young South Koreans aged nine to 24. - 'What about Harvard?' - Selective establishments of the kind in "SKY Castle" account for less than five percent of South Korean high schools, but provided 36.2 percent of SKY's first-year students in 2018, according to the World Without Worries about Shadow Education think-tank. Almost half these schools are in the state sector and the rest are private, but most of them seek to send their students to SKY or top global universities like Harvard and Oxford. At Lee's school teachers told pupils they were "not contributing" if they did not secure such spots, and the student culture was no less fierce. "People would tell you anecdotes about a student who stayed all night every single day and went to the medical school at Seoul National University (SNU)," she said. "That is admirable but it's also unhealthy on so many levels." Lee was admitted to Georgetown University in Washington, only for one teacher to remark: "I thought you could do better than that. What about Harvard?" Now a teacher herself, Lee feels she missed out on crucial elements of childhood, such as time to talk to her parents, whom she described as loving and supportive. "I would literally never see them," she said. "They didn't understand what I was going through." - Family values - In "SKY Castle", one boy fulfils his mother's greatest ambition for him -- admission to SNU medical school -- only to turn it down and reject his family. "I'm just going to go and live my own life," he says. One SKY graduate in Seoul who did not want to be named said her parents were overjoyed when she did well at school, but would become stern and distant when her grades slipped. When characters in "SKY Castle" asked their parents "to see them and love them for who they are, plain and simple, and not for their accomplishments", she said, it "resonated a lot with me". Her parents were not SKY graduates and regularly told her about resulting professional disadvantages. "I just wish I had been motivated on my own, and not through my parents' wishes for me," said the 29-year-old. Activist Choi, who is working with lawmakers to ban discrimination based on university degrees, said South Korea's educational culture had social consequences. "Under the current system, you are forced to view your friends only as your competitors," he said. "The result is a society where almost nobody has any support network." Even now, the 29-year-old who spoke to AFP feels anxiety and a need to "prove herself" after her years at an elite high school. "Those very high standards are now wired into me," she said. "What makes me a worthy and lovable person? I still wonder. That question is something that will take all my life to answer." South Korea's most successful cable television series, "SKY Castle", has touched a nerve as it portrays wealthy, overbearing parents desperate to send their children to the best universities "SKY Castle" is named after the acronym for the country's most prestigious educational triumvirate: Seoul National, Korea and Yonsei universities Ahead of the SKY Castle series finale on Friday, its most popular episode had been watched by 23 percent of South Korea's entire subscription television audience, the highest such rating ever achieved by a drama SKY Castle resonates in a society where high-school academic performance is seen as pivotal in defining adult lives, holding the key to the best universities at home and abroad, social status, a stable job and even marriage prospects In the weeks leading up to Democratic Republic of Congo's controversial election, those leaving power quietly passed two decrees guaranteeing themselves money and benefits that would ensure their financial security for decades to come. Ministers in the outgoing government of now ex-president Joseph Kabila awarded themselves "golden-handshake" benefits in two decrees which were passed on November 24, that safeguarded lifetime cash payments. It was a highly controversial move in a country where millions of people live on less than $2 a day, but it also came with a proviso: that former ministers are "banned from divulging or revealing secrets of state". Outgoing Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala will receive a monthly housing allowance of $5,000 (4,400 euros) plus a separate monthly stipend -- amounting to 30 percent of his current salary -- for life. Such "advantages" for former prime ministers will be paid for by "the public treasury", it said. Tshibala will also have full-time bodyguards "for life", one plane ticket per year "in business class on international routes" and a new vehicle every five years. As news has spread about the payments on social networks, anger has grown. "It's an unjust enrichment, an attempted robbery that must be punished" wrote one user, Emmanuel Tshamala. - 'Scandalous and immoral' - Former members of the government will also be granted benefits "at the expense of the public treasury". Like the outgoing prime minister, they will receive a monthly allowance worth 30 percent of their current salaries and an international business class flight. They will also be granted a $1,000 housing allowance each month. In total, the decrees will benefit 47 outgoing ministers, 11 deputy ministers and two government secretaries, along with "personalities who carry out duties equivalent in rank to members of the government in the cabinet of the president of the republic and the cabinet of the prime minister". The payouts are in addition to a one-off "leaving office" payment that all former government ministers receive, equating to six months of salary and benefits. "These decrees are scandalous and immoral. They must therefore be cancelled by the new authorities because these ministers have granted themselves undue advantages," Georges Kapiamba, president of the Congolese rights NGO called Acaj, told AFP. The two decrees were published in the official government gazette on December 15, two weeks before the chaotic and disputed presidential and legislative elections that saw the first peaceful change of leadership since independence from Belgium in 1960. New president Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in last week but runner-up Martin Fayulu has dismissed the result as a stitch-up between Tshisekedi and Kabila, who ruled DR Congo for 18 years. DR Congo, the size of continental western Europe, has a population of about 80 million, according to UN estimates. It boasts a treasure trove of minerals, ranging from gold and diamonds to copper and coltan -- a mineral essential for the batteries used in hand-held electronic devices. But very little of the wealth trickles down to the poor. DR Congo ranks a lowly 176th on the 189-nation Human Development Index compiled by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Most people live on about $1.25 a day. Outgoing ministers moved quietly to ensure themselves a comfortable future ahead of DR Congo's December 30 elections DR Congo soldiers attended the swearing in of Felix Tshisekedi's presidency in Kinshasa last week California firm E.L.F. cosmetics has agreed to pay a nearly $1 million fine for importing fake eyelashes containing materials from UN-sanctioned North Korea, the US Treasury Department announced. Between 2012 and 2017, the company imported "156 shipments of false eyelash kits from two suppliers located in the People's Republic of China that contained materials sourced by these suppliers" from North Korea, the Treasury said in a statement. "E.L.F.'s compliance program and its supplier audits failed to discover that approximately 80 percent of the false eyelash kits supplied by two of E.L.F.'s China-based suppliers contained materials" from North Korea, it said. The company faced more than $40 million in penalties but the Treasury took into account mitigating circumstances including the small amount involved and the fact that E.L.F. reported the violation of sanctions, which were imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "This enforcement action highlights the risks for companies that do not conduct full-spectrum supply chain due diligence when sourcing products from overseas, particularly in a region in which (North Korea), as well as other comprehensively sanctioned countries or regions, is known to export goods," the Treasury said. Between 2012 and 2017, a California company imported "156 shipments of false eyelash kits from two suppliers located in the People?s Republic of China that contained materials sourced by these suppliers" from North Korea, the Treasury Department said Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank reported Friday a profit for the first time in four years, with executives looking to convince investors and media a phase of "controlled growth" has begun. The firm reported 267 million euros ($305 million) net profit, compared with a loss of 751 million in 2017 and 8.2 billion euros over the previous two years combined. The result, however, was short of expectations of 505 million euros from analysts surveyed by Factset. Weighing on earnings was a final quarter last year that brought losses of 425 million euros, with Deutsche blaming "challenging financial markets" and "negative" media headlines. But there was no repeat of the massive 1.4-billion-euro charge related to tax reform in the US that hit in late 2017. Deutsche's performance still fails to match major American competitors or European rivals such as Spain's Santander or BNP Paribas in France. Revenues fell four percent, to 25.3 billion euros, but the bank was able to increase pre-tax profit eight percent to 1.3 billion euros. Much of that increase was down to a cost-cutting drive, which saw outgoings fall five percent to 23.5 billion euros as bosses slashed almost 6,000 jobs, bringing headcount to 91,700. Deutsche said it had a comfortable capital ratio -- a measure of a bank's cash buffer to withstand sudden economic shocks -- of 13.6 percent. - 'Discipline and integrity' - "We achieved all of our objectives for 2018," said chief executive Christian Sewing, who replaced crisis-fighting British boss John Cryan last April after years of struggle to turn the bank around. "A new phase is beginning, one of controlled growth" in all the bank's sectors, he added. "We won't lose sight of cost discipline and integrity," Sewing promised. The Deutsche boss refused to be drawn by analysts or journalists on a potential merger with Frankfurt rival Commerzbank, after reports the German government favours a tie-up to create a new national champion. "We have our plan and we are working very hard on realising this plan," Sewing said. Executives aim to continue cutting costs, with the payroll set to fall below 90,000 in 2019, while betting on a solid performance from Deutsche's strongest areas in investment banking. The lender claims a place among global leaders in fields such as managing international financial flows or bond trading. Although early 2019 has been marked by pessimism about global growth prospects, Deutsche will target a return on tangible equity of four percent -- a broad measure of profitability -- compared with 0.5 percent in 2018. The plans will "certainly be tested" if the "extremely adverse" market conditions seen in the last quarter persist, Sewing acknowledged. - Legal woes dispelled - Equinet Bank analyst Philipp Haessler told AFP he was "not optimistic that the bank will achieve its return on equity target. To do that it would have to make significant gains in market share, which will be difficult." Deutsche can point to one major factor in its favour this year, as it sees itself largely free of the thicket of legal entanglements that throttled performance in the past. By the end of 2018 its provisions for litigation costs were down to 1.2 billion euros, compared with 7.6 billion euros at the end of 2016. Board member Karl von Rohr said some 19 out of 20 major legal risks threatening the bank had been "completely or partially resolved". Deutsche sees no danger from recent scandals linked to the so-called "Panama Papers" leak of information about offshore companies, which saw prosecutors raid the bank's twin-tower headquarters in Frankfurt in November. Neither do bosses judge there is a major risk from a money-laundering scandal at Danske Bank. Nevertheless, investors were not immediately won over by the board's upbeat tone, with shares in Deutsche shedding 3.15 percent by 1:05 pm (1305 GMT) to 7.50 euros -- close to their all-time low. The CEO of Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank Christian Sewing addresses the media during the company's annual financial statement which showed it in profit for the first time in four years Every year is the Year of the Pig in Jenny Tsai's ninth-floor apartment in Taiwan's Taichung City which she shares with one fellow human and four pampered porcine housemates. Website designer Tsai says her pigs are so clever they've worked out how to open the fridge, which is now protected from wandering snouts with a rope. "Pigs are very affectionate," she says. "When I am sick they stay by my side and keep me company. But you can't pretend to be sick or they'll find out and wreak havoc." It is difficult to underestimate the importance of pigs in Chinese culture -- especially when it comes to food. One of Taiwan's most prized treasures is the "meat-shaped stone", a small piece of carved jasper with an uncanny resemblance to a chunk of stewed pork belly that draws huge daily crowds at the island's national museum. But Tsai's pigs are the lucky ones -- they have avoided ending up on a plate. The 43-year-old first started keeping pet pigs 12 years ago when her family gave her "Little Du", a piglet who has grown into a somewhat robust 65-kilogramme (143-pound) hog. "When our neighbour's pig gave birth, I stopped by to watch the piglets every day so my father and brother bought one for me," she told AFP. Over the years, she has taken in six more pigs that were abandoned or given away by their owners, three of which have since died. The remaining four pigs live a life of luxury under Tsai's care, staying in the largest room in her small apartment while Tsai and her flatmate occupy the tiny bedrooms to the side. - 'Difficult to raise' - Each pig has its own blanket, clothes, bowl and leash while the apartment is festooned with pig-themed figurines, cushions and paintings as well as bowls and cooking pots. But keeping a pig is no easy task. Tsai once nursed a five-day-old piglet that required bottle-feeding every four hours, as well as a disabled pig rescued from a garbage dump that she wheeled in and out of her house in a cart. "Pigs are difficult to raise, they can wreak havoc, they bite and they eat a lot." Unlike dogs or cats, there is no pet hotel that accommodates pigs so their owners "can't travel far and have to make a lot of sacrifices," she added. Despite the challenges, Tsai said her beloved pets have brought her much joy over the years. But she worries that the arrival of the Year of the Pig next week might lead to a spike in abandoned pets. Two Facebook pages she helps run with around 2,000 fans and fellow pig owners have already seen a rise in requests from people wanting to know more about keeping or giving away the animals. "I hope the public will understand that pigs are not that easy to keep. I hope they will do some homework, speak to those who have experience keeping pigs and see if they have the time and space before keeping a pig." Tsai said she often ends up taking in abandoned pigs -- especially fully grown ones. "Nobody wants a grown pig and if some people do want it, they might have an ulterior motive -- such as killing the pig to eat." Jenny Tsai takes her pet pigs for daily walks in a park in Taichung, central Taiwan. Jenny Tsai shares her apartment with four pet pigs Jenny Tsai takes her pigs for a walk in Taichung, central Taiwan. Plans by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to shake up Latin America's biggest economy with pro-business reforms and anti-crime measures are about to run into their first real test, with his country's new Congress beginning work Friday. Bolsonaro, a far-right 63-year-old former paratrooper and veteran legislator, took office at the beginning of the year on promises to do away with decades of center-leftist policies. Chief among his vows are an easing of gun-ownership laws so "good" citizens can counter armed criminals, an eradication of graft, and a liberalization of a protectionist economy that is still limping after exiting its worst-ever recession. On the first pledge, Bolsonaro acted swiftly, decreeing much looser regulation for possessing up to four firearms at home. On corruption, however, actions have not yet followed stern rhetoric. Indeed, the president is dogged by an expanding suspicious payments scandal involving his son Flavio Bolsonaro, a lawmaker in the upper chamber. And on the economy, there have been no concrete measures unveiled. Bolsonaro delivered a much-anticipated speech to the high-powered crowd at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, but disappointed for his lack of any detail on pension reform and privatizations -- the two key changes investors are looking for. - No majority - Much of Bolsonaro's credibility rests on the shoulders of his economy minister, Paulo Guedes, a US-trained free-marketeer, and his justice minister, Sergio Moro, a former star anti-corruption judge. What Bolsonaro lacks, however, is a ruling-party majority in Congress to push through legislation. The president's ultraconservative Social Liberal Party (PSL) holds around 10 percent of the 513 seats in the lower Chamber of Deputies. That means he is relying on ad-hoc alliances with likeminded lawmakers. Such alliances should be forthcoming in the early period of Bolsonaro's four-year mandate. The president enjoys high public support, and backing from Congressional caucuses representing the powerful evangelical, beef and pro-gun lobbies that helped swing his electoral victory. Whether that support for Boslonaro survives unpopular moves to overhaul Brazil's unsustainably generous pension system, by raising the retirement age and cutting benefits, remains to be seen. Such changes would need modifications to the constitution. "In whatever country, that's a really difficult reform to do. If the government manages it, it will have a lot of (political) capital," said Carlos Pereira, a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. "If not, I'd fear for his ability to govern afterwards," he added. The scandal around Flavio Bolsonaro could make the president's task even more difficult, according to Pereira. "Without a stable coalition, the suspicions of corruption could make the president very vulnerable," he said. - 'Different' legislature - The new Congress is atomized, with some 30 parties present in the lower chamber. The two biggest are the PSL and the opposition Workers Party. It is estimated that Bolsonaro can currently count on support of around 300 deputies -- close to the 3/5 majority, or 308 votes, needed to push through constitutional amendments. That bloc will also be important for Bolsonaro to expand an easing of gun laws to also allow citizens to carry weapons, something currently prohibited except for the military, police and licensed private security guards. One deputy, Andre Figueredo of the opposition leftwing Democratic Labour Party, told AFP that the make-up of the Congress and the leadership of Bolsonaro made for a "different moment from previous years" of rule. "We have a president who, although is not in our political field, was elected by the majority of the Brazilian population," he said. Pension reform was obviously on the cards, he said, but "we hope that this reform will be one that does not bring so much damage to the great mass of the workers." Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro lacks an outright majority in Congress, meaning he will have to rely on sympathetic deputies for support The new Congress presents Bolsonaro with his first political challenge, especially on winning enough support to reform Brazil's pension system Bolsonaro is counting on the support of Congressional deputies representing the interests of evangelical, beef and pro-gun lobby groups It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors -- barred from education and work -- have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power. "If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together. Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power. "We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music -- banned under the Taliban -- plays in the background. After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the US and Taliban have agreed a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul. With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like. Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women. Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law. "We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district. "I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes." The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate -- and in Taliban-controlled areas nothing has changed. "They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back." - 'Shut out' - Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher. "The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes. The Taliban vowed Friday to pursue "the establishment of an Islamic system" in the country as talks continue, saying the group did not oppose education for women, according to the insurgency's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. However, Mujahid remained vague on what an Islamic system would mean for the rights of Afghan women. The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001. More than 2.5 million of the eight million schoolchildren are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce. But despite the progress -- and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 - Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance. The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two percent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition. Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards. "We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says. "If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni. - Afghan women 'have changed' - Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight. "Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights. Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP. "The price of peace cannot be limitless." Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression." Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again". "I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us." str-us-emh-lab/ahe/st/ds/je An Afghan camerawoman films for the Zan TV (Women's TV) station in Kabul. Under the Taliban women were barred from almost all employment and television was banned A waitress delivers food at an Afghan restaurant in Kabul. Many women fear their hard-won freedoms will be erased if the Taliban return to power Men and women meet for tea in Kabul. Under the Taliban, such mingling of the sexes was strictly prohibited Two Afghan girls wander on a street in Kabul. Under the Taliban being out without wearing a burqa was forbidden As the growing revolt against supertalls shows signs of making a dent in zoning policies, not everyone is in agreement on how the regulations should be interpreted and applied. Two weeks ago, the Department of Buildings threated to revoke the permit for a 775-foot condominium tower on the Upper West Side unless its developer, Extell, revised the design of a 160-foot tall mechanical void. Originally intended to house a buildings mechanical equipment, these spaces have in recent years been stretched by luxury developers into excessively tall empty spaces, with the goal of maximizing building heights so that more apartments can be offered on higher floors without violating zoning limits. Then, last Friday, the other shoe dropped when City Planning announced a proposed zoning amendment to regulate mechanical voids. Going forward, voids taller than 25 feet would count toward the residential projects permitted floor area, creating a deterrent for developers looking to supersize their voids. But as one Upper East Side group is quickly learning, voids are not the only device developers can use to create height. Moreover, not everything that looks like a void is a void. For more than a year, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts has been fighting a condo project on East 62nd Street over a design that incorporates a similar height-adding trick. Developed by Real Estate Inverlad and Third Palm Capital and designed by 432 Park architect Rafael Vinoly, the plan calls for a 510-foot, 32-story tower with a gap between the 13th and 16th floors that would effectively raise the upper half of the building. The building has been referred to being on "stilts." A writer for YIMBY described it as a Jetsons-esque podium to boost its upper levels high into the neighborhood skyline. Last year, architectural critic Paul Goldberger tweeted his assessment of the project: It is hard to imagine anything worse for the NYC skyline than the notion of a "condo on stilts." In a weird way, despite its height, Rafael Vinolys 432 Park is a mellower presence than this looks like it will be. https://t.co/ZEYnuL7Dzn via @CurbedNY Paul Goldberger (@paulgoldberger) February 21, 2018 Despite a challenge from Friends, the Department of Buildings ruled last year that the height-boosting design feature of the building was permitted under existing zoning. And apparently that still holds true. Although the recent turn of events gave Upper East Side residents hope that the DOB would pull the plug on the East 62nd Street design, the DOB on Friday said that nothing had changed regarding that project. Unlike Extells development, the plan for 249 East 62nd Street calls for outdoor space along with structural outriggers, according to the DOB. In a statement to Gothamist last week, the agency said that the design had precedent in other buildings, citing the Citicorp Building at 601 Lexington Avenue as an example. The base of that building has been described as being on stilts. Under the Zoning Resolution, outdoor space is not governed by the same rules as fully enclosed mechanical space, such as what is proposed for 36 West 66th Street, the DOB statement read. Andrew Rudansky, a DOB spokesperson, later clarified the agencys position, saying that contrary to reports in the press, plans for 249 East 62nd Street are not considered to have a mechanical voidthe only kind of structure that would be limited by the City Planning regulations as currently proposed. The developers could not be reached for comment. City Councilmember Ben Kallos, who represents the Upper East Side, responded by saying that he was "horrified" that DOB's interpretation appeared to be at odds with that of City Planning. In the past he has asked City Planning to consider adding more height restrictions in certain residential neighborhoods. Citing 180 East 88th Street and 200 Amsterdam, two other projects that opponents say have used loopholes to add building height, Kallos said, "It's DOB that has been willfully refusing to follow zoning regulations." Similarly, Rachel Levy, the executive director of Friends, expressed disbelief and frustration at the DOBs position. The Upper East Side project, she said, had been one of the main poster children for this issue. The 249 East 62nd Street plans were reported to be the impetus behind City Plannings latest efforts to rework the zoning law. You dont have to be a zoning expert and look at that column and to know that its wrong, Levy said. Its shocking to me. City Planning did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Levy also accused the DOB of not publicly communicating the status of the project. In April 2018, the agency took up several zoning challenges Friends made to the plans, including one involving whether the building violates its permitted lot coverage. On Tuesday, the DOB said those issues were addressed by the developers months ago. Levy said her group was never informed. She also argued that City Plannings proposed zoning amendment should be interpreted as a catchall for all height-boosting design features, not just mechanical voids. The fact that two bodies of government have different ideas of proposed legislation is pretty concerning, she said. Ultimately, it will be elected officials that have the last word. The proposed zoning text amendment is set to undergo a public review process that will require approval by the City Planning Commission as well as the City Council. Kallos signaled that when the proposal reaches the City Council, he would be prepared to revise the wording so as to regulate unenclosed voids such as the one at 249 East 62nd Street. This means that whether the project gets built as currently designed may depend on how quickly the developers, who already have a foundation permit but have yet to receive a building construction permit, can construct it. "I've raced to the finish line with a developer before and won," Kallos said. SOFIA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Bulgaria has delayed the deadline for bids to run Sofia's airport for a fourth time to April 3, the transport ministry said on Friday, after potential bidders asked for more time. The ministry has repeatedly offered extensions from the original Oct. 22 deadline for the 35-year concession. The centre-right government relaunched the tender for Bulgaria's main air hub in July and wants to raise 550 million euros ($630 million) from the deal. Opposition Socialists said the tender should be cancelled, saying a commitment not to build another state airport within 100 km (62 miles) and other elements might breach European Union rules. The government says it will clear details with the EU. Britain's Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has said it plans to bid. India's GMR Group, Germany's Fraport have said they were looking at the tender. Spain's Aena is studying a joint bid with Australia's First State. Others interested in the deal are France's Aeroports de Paris and Switzerland's Flughaven Zuerich. ($1 = 0.8730 euros) (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova Editing by Edmund Blair) In a democratic society, the people choose their representatives without fear or favour. When an electoral process is transparent, an election is deemed authentic. According to British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, real democratic process comes to play when the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper, without intimidation. So democracy was established as an alternative to oligarchy. In democratic societies, the people have the right to vote and elect their leaders. The democratic form of government was conceived as a revolt against the monarchical governments that controlled much of Europe and suppressed the people to servitude. PORT MORESBY - Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg speech captured the essence of democracy. Democracy, he said, is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Abraham Lincoln - "Government of the people, by the people and for the people" To defend democracy and the rule of the law, the Allies fought tooth and nail to defend the onslaught of Nazism during the World War II. Millions of courageous man and woman lost their lives to fight for freedom and democracy when totalitarian ideology wanted to dominate the world. After the horrific results of the war, nations better understood the importance of human dignity, freedom and progress and generally agreed to a democratic system of government to protect these ideals. A few nations like Russia, China and some others continued to favour a totalitarian system. Today, to maintain, a robust democracy, the pillars of democracy must be upheld. Free and fair elections must continue to be cornerstone of democracy, where the citizens to express their political preferences by choosing their governments. According to Transparency International, in many countries, particularly those where democratic institutions are weaker, corruption poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of electoral processes and outcomes. There are three fundamental ways in which electoral integrity can be undermined - through vote-buying, abuse of state resources and election rigging. The 2017 Papua New Guinea election was reckoned by many people, including international observers, as a failed election due to the many anomalies that transpired. To maintain a vibrant democracy, there must be an even playing field for all candidates to allow a free fair election. The democratic processes are the moral guardrails that keep a democratic society functioning. When egotistical leaders circumvent the democratic process for selfish reason, we bring in a reign of anarchy and chaos. We have a choice a nation in young democracy, to play by rules, to perpetuate democracy or invite mobocracy and destroy our young nation. Vote-buying occurs when a politician or party provides favours (such as access to public services, resources or preferential treatment) to voters in exchange for consensus, political support, and commitment to vote. Abuse of state resources can encompass any use of publicly owned resources that affects the financing of political parties or of elections in such a way as to favour one party or candidate at the expense of other contestants. Examples of the abuse of state resources range from the use of regulatory power to alter elections laws in favour of a political party or candidate, to the use of government-owned infrastructure and state resources including personnel for election campaign purposes and the manipulation of media. Election rigging, on the other hand, consists in manipulating electoral outcomes through corrupt practices such as ballot-stuffing, misinforming voters, false recording of votes, manipulations of voters register and/or manipulation of demographic information (such as altering constituency boundaries). The foundation of all democracy is that the people have the right to vote. To deprive them of that right is to make a mockery of all the high-sounding phrases so often used. Democracy is that little man walking into the little booth with a little pencil making a little cross on a little bit of paper. No amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly palliate the overwhelming importance of that. The people have the right to choose representatives in accordance with their wishes and feelings. You will come across well-kept health facilities and extremely kind and professional personnel, but you will also meet about twenty refugees and asylum seekers in a deplorable state of mental health compounded with other ailments affecting their cardiac and respiratory system, kidney failure, fractured bones, etc. While travel to Manus and to the detention centers may prove hard to your busy schedule, I warmly invite you to make a quick visit to the [Intensive Care Unit] ward of Pacific International Hospital at 3 Mile. My concern is rather about their fast deteriorating health status, which is making now acts of self-harm and attempted suicide a daily occurrence: three cases only for the two days I was in Manus on 20-22 January. I am not referring to the logistic conditions in which the men are kept, which appear to be decent with security, cleanliness, and respect by national and expatriate personnel. At the two locations, I had the heartbreaking experience of making contact with an appalling level of desperation in which refugees and asylum seekers live. WAIGANI - Dear Hon Prime Minister: It is with heavy heart and an intense sense of sadness that I report to you on my recent visits to Lorengau town in Manus Island and to the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby. Fr Giorgio Licini - 'I appeal to your sense of humanity and the responsibility of your high office' Pacific International Hospital and the PNG health system in general cannot cope with these types of diseases and the men are prevented by their status from seeking independent and autonomous medical attention elsewhere. Needless to say, Hon Prime Minister, that the foreigners hosted in Manus, at Pacific International Hospital and other locations in Port Moresby have never committed any offense against the people or the State of Papua New Guinea. Their detention, mainly at the hand of the government of Australia was organised between July 2013 and February 2014 because of their irregular arrival by boat on the shores of that country and as an attempt to deter additional asylum seekers from taking to the sea. The people of Manus expected the offshore processing of those more than one thousand men taken to their island at Lombrum naval base to last two or three years at the most. Now half of the initial number of those men are still there after six years. The uncertainty about their future, the rejection of claims and applications for resettlement, the length of the review process has brought to a significant breakdown in their mental health conditions. From the information I gathered the situation has begun to become alarming by September 2018. Self-harm and attempted suicide, due to depression and hopelessness has now practically become a daily occurrence. You may see by yourself the men admitted at Pacific International Hospital, and there will be no need for me to supply additional details and information. I am therefore appealing, Hon Prime Minister, to your sense of humanity and the responsibility of your high office. As you accepted in 2013 to offer help to the Kevin Rudd government of Australia and the refugees themselves to have their status processed in Papua New Guinea and begin a new life elsewhere, I am now humbly asking you to give a very close deadline to the authorities in Canberra for the removal of all refugees and asylum seekers from our country on the basis of strongly compelling medical and humanitarian reasons. Having achieved the objective of stopping the boats their detention now amounts to cruelty and plain mental and physical torture. Without this decision, the mentally impaired people will grow by the dozens in the next few weeks and months. Who is going to care for them? They risk outright rejection by any third country. They will be unproductive and a burden to Australia if that government is eventually forced to take them in. It is unthinkable that they are treated in Papua New Guinea and spend the rest of their lives here in total abjection and poverty. Dear Prime Minister, the photos I attach to this letter are indeed distressing and painting a picture of the country that may easily appear of complicity, injustice and irresponsibility. The people of Papua New Guinea, your people, are of a completely different stock and do not deserve this bad international publicity. I am sure that everybody will appreciate you demanding from the Prime Minister of Australia that any offshore processing in Papua New Guinea is ended within sixty days at the most, and these men immediately receive proper medical treatment in Australia while waiting for the final decision on their future in any safe country. Thank you very much and may God bless all your efforts! Most cordially, REV FR GIORGIO LICINI, PIME General Secretary, Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The official visit of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Germany continues. Following the meetings with the German Chancellor and President of Bundestag, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received Nikol Pashinyan at the Presidential Bellevue Palace. Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlighted the official visit of the Armenian Premier to Germany, which is a good opportunity for discussing the prospects for deepening both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Armenia and Germany. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized that high level political dialogue exists between Armenia and Germany, which should be continuously strengthened and used for developing the cooperation in other spheres as well. Thanking for the warm reception, PM Pashinyan noted that Germany is an important partner for Armenia, and the Government of Armenia is ready to continue the active interstate dialogue. The interlocutors discussed issues referring to expanding the Armenian-German partnership, Armenia-EU relations and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, regional and international agenda. PM Pashinyan made a note in the book of Honorary Guests. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the official visit to Germany, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Bundestag Wolfgang Schauble on February 1. The President of Bundestag noted that its a great honor to host the Armenian PM in Germany and to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan presented the processes taking place in Armenia, emphasizing that by the parliamentary elections of December 9, 2018 the first part of the revolution came to end and now its time for an economic revolution. For Armenia democracy is irreversible. Following the political changes we have to set to economic changes, since economic progress is the next important component for the revolution to be successful, the Armenian PM said. The interlocutors highly assessed the level of political dialogue between the two countries and highlighted the deepening of inter-parliamentary relations for developing Armenian-German interstate relations. Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia has transited to a full parliamentary model of government and in this sense the experience of Germany as a country with accomplished parliamentary traditions, is of key importance for Armenia. Wolfgang Schauble noted that Armenia is an important partner for Germany and Germany is ready to share its experience and success in the sphere of parliamentary model of government. The Armenian PM and the President of Bundestag discussed the prospects of strengthening Armenia-EU partnership which has entered a new stage following the signing of the Comprhensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of ratifying the CEPA by the EU member states as soon as possible. PM Pashinyan highly assessed the adoption of the resolution by the Bundestag in 2016 condemning the Armenian Genocide. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia must be able to effectively implement the reform agenda, therefore, the ball is in the field of the Government of Armenia, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during the joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, answering the question if the EU will increase the assistance to Armenia, correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Germany. The ball is in the field of the Government of Armenia. The recent visit of Commissioner Johannes Hahn clearly answered the question of increasing the EU assistance to Armenia. The EU representatives have already informed that they are ready to expand the assistance to Armenia, Pashinyan said, adding that its obvious that good relations between Armenia and the EU, as well as Armenia and the EU Member States have been established. Pashinyan noted that important democratic developments are taking place in Armenia. According to him, there are no doubts that those developments will continue. These democratic developments will be continuous irrespective of the existence or absence of the assistance, as I have said in the past, because democracy is the choice of our people, value system, the Armenian PM said. Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia has open relations with the EAEU and EU partners. We must be able to effectively implement our reform agenda, with the confidence that we will receive assistance both from our EU partners and EAEU partners, Pashinyan added. To the question if Berlin plans to increase assistance to Armenia, Angela Merkel answered, We already support Armenia. The EU has already expressed its support through Commissioner Hahn. Armenia, as an independent country, decides on its own with which country to work. And we already have an agreement, I am about the agreement with the EU, by which Armenia can develop relations with Germany and the EU. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Ministers spouse Anna Hakobyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of My Step and City of Smile Foundations, meet in Berlin with Barbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office on February 1. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of Anna Hakobyan, at the meeting, Anna Hakobyan introduced the goals and activities of the both foundations and the initiative Women for Peace. Also Mrs. Hakobyan touched upon the progress and success of Human Rights issues registered by the new Government of Armenia. During the meeting the sides stressed the importance of further cooperation in the above mentioned spheres. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The regular session of the EAEU Intergovernmental Council will be held in Yerevan, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Mukhammetkalyi Abylgaziev announced during the EAEU Intergovernmental Council session in Almaty. At the proposal of the Armenian side we plan to once again meet in the sunny city. And taking this pleasant opportunity I will present a suggestion to hold the next session of the EAEU Intergovernmental Council after Yerevan in our country in Cholpon-Ata city in August, he said. The 16th session of the EAEU Intergovernmental Council takes place in Almaty on Friday. The digital agenda of the organization is being discussed. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin on February 1, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia. Highlighting the Armenian-Russian friendly and ally relations, Ararat Mirzoyan has noted that the newly elected National Assembly is committed for further deepening them. With respect to the rise of parliamentary diplomacy the President of the National Assembly considered necessary the continuity of effective cooperation in the international institutions. Congratulating Ararat Mirzoyan on being elected Head of the parliament, Sergey Kopirkin wished him effective work. The Ambassador expressed conviction that from now on the cooperation would develop bilaterally, as well as on the international platforms and in the atmosphere of partnership and mutual trust. The sides touched upon the agenda of the Armenian-Russian relations, agreeing that in parallel with the political and economic cooperation the expansion of the ties in the inter-regional and humanitarian spheres is also important. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia should be more and more attractive for its citizens, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during the joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, referring to the issue of visa liberalization, correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Germany. We have discussed also the issue of visa facilitation. In this sense its very important that Armenia becomes more and more attractive for its own citizens. I am glad to record that for the first time during years the number of the citizens returning to Armenia in 2018 was much more than the number of those who left the country. We have to implement institutional reforms in our country so that Armenia is not viewed as a country supplying refugees, PM Pashinyan said. He emphasized that the developments of this year show that Armenia moves in that direction and moves confidently. Of course I hope we will create more favorable conditions for recording success in visa liberalization with the EU, and I think its time for us to think about starting negotiation on that issue, Pashinyan said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is officially running for president. He made the announcement on Friday morning, becoming the fourth U.S. senator to enter the historically crowded Democratic primary field. In a campaign video released on Twitter, Booker emphasized his commitment to economic and racial justice, as well as his record as mayor of Newark prior to joining the senate in 2013. "Over 20 years ago I moved into the central ward of Newark to fight slumlords and help families stay in their homes," Booker said. "I still live there today, and I'm the only senator who goes home to a low-income, inner-city community." Im running for president. Join me on this journey. https://t.co/fEDqOVIfwh pic.twitter.com/h1FTPUYRzo Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 1, 2019 As part of his campaign roll-out, Booker, 49, is set to appear on The View later today. He's also spoken with a trio of radio showsall of them led by black or Latino hostsand highlighted that his announcement was pegged to the first day of Black History Month. "The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it, he wrote in an email to supporters on Friday morning. Booker, who's long articulated an optimistic vision of politics, seems to have found a growing audience for his message of partisan unity under President Trump. He's considered a serious contender for the nomination, and has been laying the groundwork for a run for several monthsmaking his first trip to Iowa back in October. Booker is expected to return to the state next week, and will head to South Carolina on February 10th, according to CNN. Over Presidents Day, he intends to visit New Hampshire, whose state Democratic Party chair has called Booker the best friend New Hampshire Democrats had in 2018. Congratulations and welcome to the race to one of my closest friends, @corybooker! I'll be cheering you onjust, you know, not TOO hard. pic.twitter.com/zeWskppQpv Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 1, 2019 But as he's built fervent support from many Democrats, Booker has attracted criticism from the progressive wing of the party, who point to his moderate record and ties to Wall Street as nonstarters. As mayor of Newark, he famously called Obama's attacks on private equity "nauseating," even as his own conservation and development corporation was, according to the Times, "pilfering from Newark." More recently, he rejected a proposal aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, earning him accusations of "doing the industrys bidding." He also has an extensive track record of supporting charter schoolsputting him closer to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos than most Democrats on the issue. Though he faces re-election to the senate in 2020, Booker won't be forced to take himself off the ballot. In November, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a billdubbed "Cory's Law"allowing a senator or member of the house to seek both offices at the same. In addition to Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Buttigieg have formally announced their runs for presidency, while both Bernie Sanders and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz say theyre looking at running. Joe Biden has also said hes not ruling out a run. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Germany encourage the development of bilateral relations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin, reports Armenpress. According to her, the people of Armenia are full of faith towards the new Prime Minister. We have already recorded these moods in the country, as well as talked about the development of bilateral relations, Angela Merkel said. She stated that during the meeting with Pashinyan they discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Its necessary for both sides to demonstrate good will, the German Chancellor said. She expressed hope that the Armenian-German relations will further intensify in the future. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan BERLIN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Germany is an important international partner for Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, reports Armenpress. Germany is the first commercial partner for Armenia among the EU member states and the 2nd in the world. This fact already records the unique relations Armenia and Germany have. Our relations are quire dynamically developing if we take into account the fact that Mrs. Chancellor was in Armenia just few months ago, and now my visit is taking place. I am happy that during this period important developments have taken place in Armenia which showed that the democratic developments in Armenia are irreversible. Its worth to note that our EU partners and Germany have not put an issue of geopolitical choice before us in the context of these reforms, which means that the agenda of our reforms can be completely carried out with the support of the EU and, of course, also Germany, the Armenian PM said. Pashinyan stated that during the meeting with Chancellor Merkel they attached specific importance to the Armenia-Germany economic cooperation. A number of important programs with the investment of the German capital are being implemented in Armenia. We hope that the German investments will inevitably increase in Armenia, the PM said. Pashinyan and Merkel also touched upon key issues of regional and international agenda. I am happy to state that we have mutual perception on these issues. Of course, peace and stability in our region are very important, but ensuring peace and stability must be as a result of the multilateral efforts, he said, adding that in this context they also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The leaderships of Google, Amazon and Facebook are going to participate in the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) which will be held in Armenia on October 6-9, 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said during the conference on Digital Agenda in the Globalization Era: Eurasian Innovative Ecosystem, Sputnik Kazakhstan reports. The Deputy PM is participating in the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental council in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I want to invite all those who have a desire to this major event: the World Congress on IT will take place in Yerevan from October 6 to 9. The executives of Google, Amazon, Facebook and other companies will attend the Congress. That will be an interesting platform for our regular meeting, he said. An Engineering Town will also be built in Yerevan which will be ready in February 2020. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) is the largest and the most reputable international event among worldwide IT leaders. It brings together high-level officials from different countries, heads of multinational organizations, universities and scientific research centers, non-governmental organizations' representatives and many more. The event includes discussions of legal, political and economic trends affecting IT business processes, presentations of innovative solutions, B2B meetings and so on. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Department of the National Security Service (NSS) will soon make a statement disclosing the assets of former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and his family, NSS Director Artur Vanetsyan told reporters. A criminal investigation is underway, and soon the Investigative Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia will deliver a corresponding statement, Vanetsyan said. Earlier in 2018, Vanetsyan had claimed that they possess information on how Kocharyans family became the owner of Congress hotel, an upscale hotel in downtown Yerevan. Vanetsyan said that a criminal investigation on money laundering is underway. 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 wrongdoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convened a working consultation with the participation of heads of the republic's regional administrations and the Mayor of Stepanakert, the Artsakh Presidential Office told Armenpress. Issues relating to the projects to be implemented in the regions and the capital were on the discussion agenda. Special attention was drawn to the social-economic issues, agricultural activities and capital construction sphere. The Head of the State gave instructions to the participants of the consultation towards proper and systematic solution of the discussed issues. Minister of State Grigory Martirosyan and other officials were present at the consultation. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan from the ruling My Step faction has underwent surgery, his aide Hasmik Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS. She said that the surgery proceeded normally and Simonyan is already feeling well. According to her, it was a minor and planned surgery. For a long time Alen Simonyan had respiratory problems. And upon urges from doctors a surgical intervention was carried out yesterday. It was a planned surgery. Now he feels very well, the Vice Speakers aide said. She said Simonyan will return to work in a few days. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan held a meeting today with Italian Stoneware Vice President Federico Polidori and Multi Group Concern CEO Sedrak Arustamyan, the ministry said in a press release. The businessmen were accompanied by Italys Ambassador to Armenia Vincenzo del Monaco. The businessmen are planning to establish a production of the Ceramisia brand ceramic ware in Armenia. Polidori said the plant will employ 150 people. He said that although theyve considered other regional countries as a potential location for the production, they chose Armenia through the efforts of Multi Group. The products will be labeled Designed in Italy, Made in Armenia. The minister told the businessmen that he is ready to support the project. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ambassador to the United States Varuzhan Nersesyan met with Congressman David Cicilline, a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress. Ambassador Nersesyan thanked the Congressman for the support provided within the frames of the Congressional Armenian Caucus and the long-term activities aimed at strengthening the Armenian-American relations. The Ambassador introduced the Congressman on the recent domestic political developments in Armenia, highlighting the Armenian governments large-scale reforms aimed at strengthening democracy. The officials also discussed ongoing issues of the Armenian-American partnership agenda, including the actions aimed at boosting the inter-parliamentary ties and mutual contacts. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Minister of economic development and investments Tigran Khachatryan met with a group of representatives of the business community, the ministry told Armenpress. According to the agreement between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, the expert group formed by the Union must develop and discuss with the PM a conceptual document for the change of the Tax Code. Thanks to the presented proposals the Tax Code should become more beneficial and favorable for the business by being acceptable both for the state and the business community. Not only the UMBA members, but also the representatives of specialized consulting agencies are involved in the preparations of the package of proposals. During the meeting the expert group presented the draft conceptual package for the change of the Tax Code. A number of issues presented in the package were discussed with the minister. The discussion was also attended by deputy finance minister Arman Poghosyan, deputy chairman of the State Revenue Committee Artur Manukyan and deputy minister of economic development and investments Hakob Avagyan. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on February 1 received Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Armenia Petr Mikyska, the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress. Speaker Mirzoyan said Armenia attaches great importance to the development of relations, multisectoral cooperation and active inter-parliamentary contacts with the Czech Republic. He emphasized the close cooperation of the parliamentary delegations at international platforms and expressed hope the friendship group to be formed in the new parliament will contribute to further expanding that cooperation. Touching upon the ratification process of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Speaker highly valued the ratification of the CEPA by the Czech Senate on May 17, 2018, expressing hope that the Chamber of Deputies will also approve the document as soon as possible. In his turn the Czech Ambassador highlighted the recent fair, transparent and democratic elections of Armenia, based on which a Parliament has been formed that enjoys the public trust. Talking about the development of bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary ties, Petr Mikyska highlighted the role of the parliamentary diplomacy on strengthening the mutual partnership of the friendly states. The Ambassador expressed his readiness to assist in implementing the bilateral beneficial programs. The officials also exchanged views on the facilitation of provision of EU visas to the Armenian citizens. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan As temperatures in New York City plunged to the single digits this week, some inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn have been forced to endure the frigid weather without heat, hot water, or other essential services, according to their attorneys. "We have received dozens of reports of problems with a lack of heat, hot water, lighting, prolonged lockdowns, and medical care," David Patton, executive director of the Federal Defenders of New York, told Gothamist on Friday. He shared emails from multiple defense attorneys, who say their clients described deteriorating conditions at the federal jail that could prove "fatal." Those emails show that over a dozen inmates complained to attorneys on Thursday about not having heat or electricity in their cells since this past weekendsomething that the jail's corrections officers confirmed to the Times earlier today. "They just stay huddled up in the bed," June Bencebi, a case manager and treasurer of the correction officers union, told the outlet. "I have several inmates that are very elderly. One of them complained that hes been sick for the last few days. He looks sickly. Hes walking slower. Talking slower." The more than 1,600 inmates incarcerated at the Sunset Park federal facilitysome of whom are pretrial detainees who haven't been convicted of any crimehave not been allowed to meet with legal representation for a full week, according to Patton. In addition to the power outages, detainees report been cut off from their medicine, from hot meals, and from basic hygiene products in the last week, according to attorneys. Councilmember Justin Brannan, who represents the area, told Gothamist that he's received similarly concerning reports, but that very little information was being provided to families of those locked up. "There remains a lot of confusion and concern because we believe this has been going on for several days and we still dont know why or what exactly is actually going on," he added. I'm being told something's up at MDC Brooklyn. No lights, no heat, inmates not being fed, etc. cc: @BklynDefender @cmenchaca pic.twitter.com/dA5nfqBVoK Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) February 1, 2019 A spokesperson for the warden, Herman Quay, told the Times there was an electrical fire at the jail over the weekend, but denied any heating or hot water outages at the jail. The alleged breakdown at MDC come after reports of disruptions at the facility during the government shutdown (which the jail also denied). While the government reopened last Friday, the fire may have exacerbated ongoing issues, according to court papers filed on Thursday. The affidavit, filed by defense attorney Benjamin Yaster, seeks the emergency release of inmate Dino Sanchez, citing threats to his health and safety posed by the ongoing power outages. The complaint alleges that Sanchez's unit has been without heat since January 27th, aggravating his chronic asthma and causing fainting spells. "Mr. Sanchez has only been given the single, thin blanket he received upon intake," according to the filing. "He has not been provided any additional blankets or clothing while the heat is out. Further, hot water has been unavailable for long stretches of time. Moreover, the inmate has allegedly been prevented from purchasing any additional clothing or blankets, as his unit has been denied commissary for the last week. Sanchez is locked up for 23 hours per day, according to the complaint, and "is likely to have another episode." He's been barred from accessing email, visitors, or phone calls, and has been illegally prevented from meeting with his attorney, the complaint alleges. Patton added that the public defenders demanded a tour of the facility on Friday, but were rebuffed. Asked whether he had any indication of the cause of the reported chaos at the jail, or a timeline of when the problems might be solved, he replied: "We don't know. They will not tell us." UPDATE 4:55 p.m. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons issues the following statement: YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Citizens of Armenia highly appreciate the role of the European Union in the ongoing economic and political reforms in Armenia, according to a survey. Stepan Grigoryan, President of the Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation presented results of a survey conducted jointly with the National Foundation of Democracy. Despite the fact that the Armenian velvet revolution didnt have a geopolitical orientation, the positive mood of Armenians towards the EU is associated with the fact that during the independence years the EU has been quite active here, the EU and European countries are providing the Armenian civil society with serious assistance, Grigoryan said. The goal of the poll was to study the attitude of Armenian citizens towards international organizations such as the EU, the EEU, CSTO and NATO. Comparing to surveys of previous years, Grigoryan noted that the new results show that the stance of Armenians for Russia has become more positive. If in 2017 only 25,67% of respondents were saying that Russia is ensuring Armenias security, then already in 2018 this number grew and reached 30,28%. If in 2017 only 40,11% of respondents positively assessed Russias role in the NK conflict settlement talks, then in 2018 this number grew more than 8%, he said. According to Grigoryan, confidence of Armenians for the CSTO and the EEU has grown. The survey shows that an idea of a multi-vector foreign policy is dominating, therefore the majority of the respondents also have trust for NATO. Just like in 2017, in 2018 the number of citizens who partly associate the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict with close cooperation with the EU and NATO is also rather high, he said. The survey was conducted in six Armenian cities Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Martuni, Vayk and Yeghegnadzor. The survey was conducted anonymously among 796 people using questionnaires during August-September 2018. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Business Armenia submitted its activity report of 2018 to the board of trustees, Business Armenia foundation told Armenpress. The foundation secured a record breaking 6.8 Billion AMD export contracts, last year. For a single 1 dram spent, 26.4 drams were received. With the support of Business Armenia, 116 Armenian companies participated in 10 international exhibitions, finding major international buyers. In 2018, the index of (re)investments has also improved: around $21.1 million in contrast with the last years 15, and 0 of the proceeding. Business Armenia team has met with nearly 392 potential investors last year for conferences, outreach campaigns, business events etc. signing memorandum of understanding on investment of $350 million, as a result. Among the foreign investors are ATLAS R&D Inc., VHL Developments Inc., Ecotechprom LLC, Maatalouskauppa Online Oy, Arad Agricultural Machinery, New Yida, Arga Eurosteel, Ghalbourjian Group. At the end of the year, a new system service called One Window, which has also expanded the scope of Business Armenia's support, was implemented. From now on, the foundation will double its efforts in IT, renewable energy, and other sectors of the economy, Armen Avak Avakian, CEO of Business Armenia Foundation in 2017-2018, said. Business Armenia team also provided a support with the organizational works of the events of Francophonie Economic Forum on 10th of October, 2018, and the EAEU biggest annual business event Eurasian Week, on 22-24th of October. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the MPs of the German Bundestags Germany-South Caucasus parliamentary friendship group on the sidelines of his official visit in the Federal Republic of Germany, the PMs Office told Armenpress. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the German Chancellors staff and foreign ministry. In his welcoming remarks Pashinyan said the dynamic development of the Armenian-German cooperation has a key place in Armenias foreign policy, and the inter-parliamentary relations have a special place in the bilateral agenda. In this context he attached importance to the active contacts with the German parliamentarians. Talking about the ongoing democratic changes in Armenia, PM Pashinyan noted: The revolution came to affirm our peoples commitment to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms. This is the conscious choice of our people which was reaffirmed by the results of the December 9, 2018 elections. We will do everything to strengthen the democratic institutions. At the meeting issues relating to the development of the Armenian-German cooperation, strengthening of the inter-parliamentary ties, the Armenia-EU partnership and the ongoing democratic developments in Armenia were discussed. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. A 61 year old woman has been found dead inside a beauty parlor in Yerevan. The woman was the owner of the salon, authorities said. According to Investigative Committee spokesperson Naira Harutyunyan, the body did not have visible signs of trauma. According to the preliminary conclusion of the coroner the body has been inside the salon for a long time, she said, adding that the salon, called Jasmine located in the Arabkir district, was out of business. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan BERLIN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today visited the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on the sidelines of his official visit in Germany, Armenpress correspondent reports. Pashinyan was welcomed by the Foundations President Norbert Lammert. The Konrad Adenauer Foundations activities are based on the principles of freedom, justice and solidarity, Pashinyan said in his remarks. He stated that like Germany 7 decades ago, todays Armenia as well are undergoing a democratic transformation. The Armenian PM said the velvet revolution in Armenia last year was deriving the Foundations ideas and principles. Last year historical changes took place in Armenia. We restored the democracy that has been abused and distorted from the times when we resisted the communist regime. Today I am proud that democracy in Armenia is no longer under danger, he said. The Armenian PM said the recent parliamentary elections strengthened the already existing achievements and proved that the Armenian people do not see alternative to democracy. He noted that the Armenian voter rejected all those whose names were linked with corruption, restriction of fundamental freedoms, bad governance, economic inefficiency and etc. Pashinyan said today the government has an unprecedented legitimacy and public trust vote. According to the results of the recent poll, more than 70% of the public is confident that the country is moving on the right direction. This unprecedented trust level obliges us to make decisive reforms, and we have no right to fail on this matter. On the other hand, the public trust gives a unique opportunity which we must use for strengthening our achievements and protecting the future of democracy in our country. We believe that turning our political achievements into economic ones must be the next step of the transformation process. In other words, we need to carry out an economic revolution, he said. As a way to achieve that the PM highlighted the creation of favorable conditions for the free and unlimited realization of the peoples business and intellectual potential. In particular, at the moment we are taking radical actions in fighting corruption, eliminating monopolies, ensuring equal conditions for all economic and political players and creating independent judiciary. In order to reach success on the path of these reforms we are developing our economic and political institutions, Nikol Pashinyan said. Armenia is determined to this path, but according to the PM, like other countries in transition stage, Armenia as well needs additional support to accelerate the reforms. In this context, the PM drew the attention of the meeting participants on the following fact. None of the post-Soviet states managed to upgrade the institutions without financial and technical assistance. Armenia is also not an exception. Moreover, in addition to the challenges typical to the post-Soviet states, Armenia has resisted a number of other challenges from the first days of independence. In this sense the partnership with the EU plays a major role for our reforms agenda. Its difficult to overestimate the importance of the EUs support provided to Armenia in the last quarter century, he said. Armenia is committed, but the PM noted that the EUs financial and technical assistance can accelerate and strengthen the ongoing processes in Armenia. He emphasized the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with the EU. According to him, its implementation can greatly contribute to the development of institutions. The PM said Armenia wants to deepen its economic relations with the EU member states. Germany is one of our main donors and trade partners. We are cooperating in numerous sectors, including IT, energy, tourism, culture, education, science and etc. We are committed to strengthening our ties and examining new economic cooperation prospects. New democratic Armenia provides great opportunities for trade and investments. In addition to the ongoing sustainable institutional reforms, we also have several other advantages, the PM said, stating that Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which supposes free entry to the market worth 180 million and uninterrupted activities of free trade deals with a number of countries of the world. According to Pashinyan, Armenia can serve as an economic bridge connecting the EU and the EAEU markets. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The commemorative coins that were stolen from the official residence of the Prime Minister of Armenia, colloquially known by the name of its address Baghramyan 26, have been mysteriously returned. The investigative committee said that they received a call on January 30 that 4 commemorative coins on display in a corridor of one of the floors of the administrative building have been stolen. The report said that an unknown person breached into the area and used technical equipment to break the lock of the storage compartment. A criminal case on burglary was launched. The crime scene was examined by law enforcement experts and more than 20 people have been questioned. However, on January 31, police were notified that the missing coins have re-appeared and are on display. The Investigative Committee said the incident is under investigation to reveal the perpetrator or perpetrators behind the incident. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Commemorative coins on display in the 3rd floor corridor of Baghramyan 26, the official residence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have gone missing, police told ARMENPRESS. Other details werent immediately clear. The building is widely referred to as Baghramyan 26, its address, and it formerly housed the Presidential Office. Police said they are investigating the incident. It is unclear how the coins disappeared but the report suggested that they were stolen sometime between January 25-30. The coins were on display at the first building's third floor. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The traffic department of the German infrastructure ministry told Armenias ministry of transport, communication and information technologies that on February 1, as of 10:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles, the ministry told Armenpress. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of transport, communication and information technologies informs that on February 1, as of 09:30, Goris-Sisian highway is partly covered with clear ice. The Vardenyats Pass is difficult to pass for passenger vehicles and is closed for heavy and trailer trucks due to snowstorm. Clearing operations are underway. All the remaining roads of inter-state and republican significance are open in Armenia. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan COLOGNE, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 8000 Armenians live in the German city of Cologne. They are represented in different sectors, Serovbe Isakhanyan Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany, told reporters, Armenpress correspondent reports from Germany. Nearly 8000 Armenians live in Cologne and nearby districts, but this is the approximate number because we do not have concrete statistics. Why there are so many Armenians in Cologne is because it is an industrial region. Armenians are represented in various fields- business, culture, healthcare, law. We can state that the Armenian community of Germany is at the establishment stage because Armenians who came from different countries are gradually getting along with each other, he said. Serovbe Isakhanyan said there is a very positive mood among the German-Armenian community towards the recent changes in Armenia. I personally belong to a Persian-Armenian generation that took the path of repatriation several years ago. And I will be very happy if there is an opportunity for repatriation for many people. Especially for those groups who left Armenia for healthcare problems, political, social and other reasons. This is a hope that every Armenian should have, he said. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, WSFS Bank formally donated its former Wyoming banking office to the people and Town of Wyoming, in a key handing ceremony that was attended by Wyoming Mayor Frankie Dale Rife, members of the Town Council and the community, and WSFS local leadership team. This is WSFS second property donation in recent years to benefit the local community. In 2015, WSFS was proud to donate a property and house to the Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity that sits on an adjacent lot to the former branch building. The house was renovated in 2018 with the help of the local community and WSFS volunteers and an $8,000 donation from WSFS Bank. We recognize that this building and property are important to the Town of Wyoming and that residents use the on-site parking lot to frequent local shops, said WSFS Shelly Kavanagh, Vice President and Retail Regional Manager. As a local community bank with deep ties to Wyoming and WSFS Associates that were born and raised in this wonderful Town, we knew that the only future of this property was to donate it to benefit the local community. Mayor Rife said, The Town of Wyoming is pleased to accept the donation of the WSFS bank properties that includes the building and two (2) parking lots. We have been working on a new Town Hall for many years and this opportunity allows our dreams to come true. After some renovations, this contribution makes it possible for us to have all Town Hall and Police employees at one location. Our Town has several locations that are filled with history with this building, including from the original owners John and Elizabeth Roe in 1944, to the National Bank of Wyoming in 1963, to WSFS in 2014 and to the Town of Wyoming in 2019. A special thank you to WSFS Bank for this wonderful opportunity to expand and improve the best little town in Delaware. WSFS Bank consolidated its former Wyoming banking office on December 28, 2018, into its Camden banking office less than two miles away. The agreement between the Town and WSFS includes the Bank retaining a full-service, stand-alone ATM on the property that will be easily accessible by Customers. About WSFS Financial Corporation WSFS Financial Corporation is a multi-billion dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally-managed bank and trust company headquartered in Delaware and the Delaware Valley. As of December 31, 2018, WSFS Financial Corporation had $7.2 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $19.0 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 76 offices located in Delaware (45), Pennsylvania (29), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, cash management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Christiana Trust, WSFS Wealth Investments, Cypress Capital Management, LLC, West Capital Management, Powdermill Financial Solutions, Cash Connect, WSFS Mortgage and Arrow Land Transfer. Serving the Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit wsfsbank.com. Media Contact: Cortney Klein (202) 465-6464 cklein@wsfsbank.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0bde7b15-0408-4d4d-922c-2f1f3644cad7 YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the representatives of the German-Armenian community and the local community structures in Cologne on the sidelines of his official visit to Germany, his Office told Armenpress. The PM delivered speech during the meeting. The full text of his speech will be available soon. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is in Germany on an official visit, will continue his meetings in Berlin on February 1, Armenpress correspondent reports from Berlin. Pashinyan will meet with the German top leadership. He will start his meetings by the visit to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation where he is expected to deliver remarks. Thereafter, the Armenian PM will meet with President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schauble. This will be followed by the meeting of Pashinyan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel after which they will hold a joint press conference. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Thereafter, the PM is scheduled to meet with Michael Harms, Managing Director of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, and the representatives of the German leading companies. Earlier on January 31 Pashinyan met with the Armenian community representatives in Cologne, as well as the city Mayor. He also visited the Cologne Technical University, met with the students and the teaching staff. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. As of January 2019, there are 91 convicted criminals serving life sentences in Armenia. Colonel Manuk Mikayelyan, First Deputy Director of the Department of Corrections of the Ministry of Justice told ARMENPRESS that the government is spending 11601 drams (around 24 dollars) a day on inmates serving the life sentence. Death penalty in Armenia was abolished in 2003 at the order of then-President Robert Kocharyan. At the time when the death penalty was abolished, there were 41 convicts on death row, and their sentences were changed to life in prison. Since then, how many inmates serving the life sentence have been released, i.e. pardoned? Since 2003 six convicts sentenced to life in prison have been released. 2 of them due to serious illness obstructing further incarceration, 1 was paroled, and three had their sentenced overruled by the Court of Cassation and a renewed investigation led to their release. Up to the point when the death penalty was substituted with life imprisonment, how many inmates had been executed in Armenia? The Correctional Service of the Ministry of Justice does not possess information about implemented death penalties in Armenia. How much money is spent daily or yearly for ensuring necessary conditions of convicts serving the life imprisonment? 11601 drams daily is allocated for keeping inmates sentenced to life in prison at Armenian correctional facilities. By Lilit Demuryan Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan 12:30 | Lima, Feb. 1. Likewise,stressed the fact that the Inca country has welcomed the appointment of Carlos Scull as Venezuela's diplomatic representative in Lima. The United States On the other hand, U.S. Ambassador to Peru Krishna R. Urs received the Venezuelan official at the diplomatic facility in Lima. The gathering took place as a part of "a joint effort to restore democracy and freedom in Venezuela ." Recently, her father has offered a reward to whoever gives him information about her whereabouts . The sum of money amounts to S/17,000 (about US$5,094). NEW YORK, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for Eastern District of New York on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE: XXII) securities between February 18, 2016 and October 25, 2018 (the Class Period), inclusive. Shareholders who purchased shares of 22nd Century Group, Inc. are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action on our website, www.whafh.com. If you have incurred losses in the shares of 22nd Century Group, Inc., you may, no later than March 22, 2019, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in 22nd Century Group, Inc. ## Follow the firm and learn about newly filed cases on Twitter and Facebook. ## The filed complaint alleges that throughout the class period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 22nd Centurys stock was prone to manipulation through paid stock promotions; such conduct would subject 22nd Century to heightened regulatory scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and consequently, 22nd Centurys public statements were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On February 2, 2018, Fuzzy Panda Research published an article on Seeking Alpha, asserting that 22nd Century's stock price had been inflated through various paid stock promotion articles between 2014 and 2017, some of which did not disclose the paying party and amount. On this news, 22nd Century's stock price fell $0.35 per share, or over 11%, to close at $2.73 per share on February 2, 2018. Then, on October 25, 2018, Fuzzy Panda Research reported in another Seeking Alpha article that its requests to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act for "all documents in the possession of SEC that pertain to investigations regarding 22nd Century Group for the time period January 1, 2016 through July 16, 2018" had been denied. According to the article, the SEC denied Fuzzy Panda Research's request to release the documents because doing so could "reasonably be expected to interfere with on-going enforcement proceedings." Following this news, 22nd Century's stock price fell $0.11 per share, or over 4%, to close at $2.45 per share on October 25, 2018. Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com , or visit our website at www.whafh.com. Contact: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP Kevin Cooper, Esq. Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis Email: gstone@whafh.com , kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774 Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. San Felipe, BCN, Mexico, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Video on YouTube to embed Photographs and video to download San Felipe, BCN, Mexico February 1st, 2019 On January 31st, Sea Shepherd vessel the M/V Farley Mowat was violently attacked by over 50 assailants posing as fishermen on board 20 high speed boats while conducting maritime conservation patrols inside the Vaquita Refuge in the Upper Gulf of California. A total of 52 skiffs were counted, the others attacking Navy boats in the area. Molotov cocktails and projectiles, including lead weights and large stones, were hurled by poachers, shattering windows and setting the side of the Sea Shepherd ship on fire. Sea Shepherd crewmembers fended the attackers off using emergency fire hoses while Mexican Navy soldiers and Federal Police stationed on board opened fire into the air and sea to deter the attackers. The captain of the M/V Farley Mowat carried out anti-piracy maneuvers consisting of varying the vessels speed, the use of fire hoses and other anti-boarding techniques. When hailed by radio by the Mexican Naval Frigate Barrera, the M/V Farley Mowat set course towards the vessel stationed inside the Refuge for increased safety. Two Navy Defender inflatable boats also closed in on the scene and were attacked by the poachers. Despite the violence of the assault, no one was injured. These repeated attacks have made Sea Shepherds vital conservation efforts within the Vaquita Refuge challenging in recent weeks, casting a doubt on the vaquitas chances of survival. Sea Shepherds gillnet retrieval operations remain the single most effective means of protecting the critically endangered vaquita porpoise from extinction. Sea Shepherd operates inside the Federally Protected and UNESCO recognized Vaquita Marine Refuge. In this limited area the use of gillnets is prohibited, due to overlap with the reduced habitat of the threatened vaquita porpoise. On the 9th of January a similar attack took place. The tragedy that is unfolding in the Upper Gulf of California is affecting hard working honest fishermen. They are also suffering from violence at the hands of criminal groups which act with impunity. The Gulf of California is home to a rich ecosystem inhabited by many species which are rare and threatened, such as the worlds largest animal, the blue whale, as well as the worlds smallest cetacean, the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. Many other endangered species such as the scalloped hammerhead and Pacific leatherback and green sea turtles inhabit the area and have been rescued by Sea Shepherd crew over the years. The region is rich in history as a fishery, but has been plagued by overfishing, poaching and organized crime in recent years, namely the poaching and trafficking of totoaba fish swim bladders. The totoaba fish is another endemic endangered species to the Gulf of California and it is poached for the trade of its swim bladder in Asian black markets. Totoaba bladders are known as aquatic cocaine due to their high value. It is believed that a totoaba bladder can be worth up to USD $100,000. Despite the creation of marine reserves and protected areas, efforts by the Mexican Government to protect the regions delicate ecosystem have been hampered by lack of political consensus on this issue of conservation of the Gulf. The newly elected government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has outlined promising solutions to the socio-economic and environmental crisis facing the Upper Gulf, and recently visited the area. Sea Shepherd is 100% committed to continuing retrieval operations of illegal ghost nets and active illegal gillnets to protect the vaquita marina from extinction at the hands of poachers and criminal gangs, stated Sea Shepherd Director of Ship Operations and Campaigns Locky Maclean, adding, We look forward to working closely with the new government and are grateful in playing a part in the protection and preservation of such a special region of the world, and such an iconic species, the vaquita marina. Sea Shepherd has been present in the Upper Gulf of California protecting the vaquita porpoise since 2015 as part of Operation Milagro. Less than 30 vaquitas remain alive today. Since Sea Shepherd began a presence in the Upper Gulf of California, the crew has removed more than 780 pieces of illegal fishing gear-over 174,000 meters. Crewmembers have directly saved the lives of over 3,100 animals. In December 2018, Sea Shepherd removed over 60 gillnets. In the 2017-2018 season, nets retrieved by Sea Shepherd within the Vaquita Refuge were found to be 97.3% illegal totoaba gillnets, demonstrating the pervasive problem of this kind of net. This is the second attack Sea Shepherd faced this season, occurring within only 21 days of the first. So far, no arrests have been made. This last attack coincides with the premiere of the film Sea of Shadows at Sundance Film Festival. The film, a Leonardo DiCaprio and Terra Mater produced documentary featuring the vaquitas plight and Sea Shepherds work to save it, will soon be released to audiences worldwide. # # # Notes to Media: MEDIA LINKS Video on YouTube to embed Photographs and video to download Video and photographs Credit: Alex Beldi/ Sea Shepherd By using any of these images you agree to credit Sea Shepherd in a legible manner. If broadcasting you agree to credit Sea Shepherd on footage. ABOUT SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY: Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the worlds oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Visit www.seashepherd.org for more information. For more information Contact: Carolina Castro at carolina@seashepherd.org or call 1-212-220-2302 ext. 2 Attachments English French MONTREAL, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIOS EXPLORATION completed $193,500 non-brokered private placements in January including a last $58,500 closing by issuing a further 900,000 flow-through shares at $0.065 per share. DIOS will use the proceeds to add exploration funds on prospective AU33 gold project and K2 Bousquet-Doyon type input gold targets, Lower Eastmain deformation zone, James Bay, Quebec. There will be a hold period of four months and one day on all securities issued under this financing. Finders' fees of $3,510 were paid to an arm's-length third party. This private placement closing was carried out pursuant to prospectus exemptions of applicable securities laws and is subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. 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 more information, please contact: Marie-Jose Girard, 43-101 QP President & CEO mjgirard@diosexplo.com Tel. : (514) 923-9123 www.diosexplo.com LOS ANGELES, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) announces an investigation on behalf of Nordstrom Inc. (Nordstrom or the Company) (NYSE: JWN ) investors concerning the Company and its officers possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. The investigation concerns whether the Company issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. On November 15, 2018, the Company announced poor same store sales results, weakening sales growth, and that credit card holders charged incorrect interest amounts. On this news, shares of Nordstrom fell sharply in value on November 16, 2018, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Nordstrom stock, 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, CA 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9244, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com . If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) announces an investigation on behalf of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (Mueller Water Products or the Company) (NYSE: MWA ) investors concerning the Company and its officers possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On April 27, 2017, Mueller Water Products issued a press release entitled Mueller Water Products Reports 2017 Second Quarter Results. Therein, the Company disclosed that certain of Mueller Technologies products had been failing prematurely, resulting in a $9.8 million warranty charge. On this news, the Companys share price fell $1.43 per share, more than 11%, to close at $11.25 per share on April 28, 2017, on unusually heavy trading volume. Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/GPM_LLP . If you purchased Mueller Water Products securities, 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, Esquire, 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. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) announces an investigation on behalf of Belden Inc. (Belden or the Company) (NYSE: BDC ) investors concerning the Company and its officers possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On December 3, 2018, the Company revealed that the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is conducting an investigation concerning the material weakness reported in its form 10-k filing for the year ended December 31, 2017. On this news, shares of Belden fell $5.43 or nearly 10% to close at $50.45 on December 4, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/GPM_LLP . If you purchased Belden securities, 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, Esquire, 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. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Granite Creek Copper Ltd. (TSX.V: GCX) (Granite Creek or the Company) announces the appointment of Mr. Mathew Lee to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately. Mr. Lee is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. Mr. Lee brings broad depth of financial experience in both public and private company operations across various sectors, including mineral resources and financial services. Mr. Lee replaces Mr. Michael Rowley who has stepped down from his role as CFO for Granite Creek in order to concentrate on his responsibilities as President and CEO of fellow Metallic Group company, Group Ten Metals. Mr. Rowley will continue as a Director of Granite Creek. Mr. Timothy Johnson, President and CEO, stated, "We are very pleased to have Mr. Lee join Granite Creek and to take another positive step forward in developing our corporate team. The Company anticipates release of substantive, project-related updates over the coming weeks and sustained news flow with respect to the Stu Copper project and operational fundamentals. Granite Creek further announces it has granted 2,900,000 incentive stock options (the Options) to Directors, Officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The Options are exercisable for up to five years, expiring on February 1, 2024, and each Option will allow the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 per share, being the closing price of the previous trading day. About Granite Creek Copper Granite Creek is a newly-launched copper-focused exploration company. The Companys flagship project is the 111 square kilometer Stu Copper project located in the Yukons Carmacks copper district, adjacent to Capstone Minings high-grade Minto Cu-Au-Ag mine and Copper Norths advanced-stage Carmacks Cu-Au-Ag project. More information about the company and the Stu Copper project can be viewed on the Companys website at www.gcxcopper.com . About the Metallic Group of Companies The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industrys highest-grade copper, silver, and platinum/palladium producers. Member companies include Granite Creek Copper (TSX-V: GCX) in the Yukons Carmacks copper district, Metallic Minerals (TSX-V: MMG) in the Yukons Keno Hill Silver District, and Group Ten Metals (TSX-V: PGE) in the Stillwater PGM-Ni-Cu district of Montana. Highly experienced management and technical teams at the Metallic Group have expertise across the spectrum of resource exploration and project development from initial discoveries to advanced development, including strong project finance and capital markets experience and have demonstrated a commitment to community engagement and environmental best practices. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industrys leading explorer/developers and major producers and are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven historic mining districts. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Timothy Johnson, President Telephone: 1 (604) 235-1982 E-mail: info@gcxcopper.com Toll Free: 1 (888) 361-3494 Website: www.gcxcopper.com Metallic Group: www.metallicgroup.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CHICAGO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To gain a competitive edge in a constantly evolving market, companies must keep ahead of customer needs and exceed expectations. Successful CIOs and technology executives balance an understanding of ever-advancing technologies with an ability to communicate and collaborate. This nimble mindset and innovative approach to leadership will be the focal point of the 2019 Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit, produced by HMG Strategy, taking place at the Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago on March 5, 2019. To learn more about the Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here. CIOs have the inside track on using transformative technology to power business growth, said Hunter Muller, HMG Strategys President and CEO. In order to succeed, CIOs and technology executives need to lead boldly and by example, to encourage their direct reports and other stakeholders to think and act creatively. The Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit will kick-off with two dynamic HMG Lead Innovate Disrupt Tech Talks. Harry Moseley, CIO at Zoom, will discuss transformative communication strategies for high growth companies. John Phillips, President, Briggs Homecare and CIO Emeritus, Briggs Healthcare, will share his battle with cancer and how it is remarkably similar to approaching a major IT project in this brutally honest story. Additional thought-provoking sessions will include an executive keynote with a Nutanix executive; an executive panel of top executives who will share how to gain an inside track on the competition using new technologies; a luncheon presentation of the HMG Strategy 2019 Top Technology Executives to Watch Awards; an executive panel of leading search executives who will discuss how to accelerate your career progression by crafting your personal brand; an executive panel of board-level technology executives who will share what it takes to become boardroom-ready and to land a board position; an executive keynote from a RingCentral executive; an executive panel that includes Frank Yanan, SVP, GIS Business Information Security Officer, Bank of America, on enabling innovation in a secure enterprise. The summit will conclude with an executive panel discussion on leveraging digital technologies to enhance the customer experience. Prominent speakers at the 2019 Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit will include: Colin Boyd, VP & CIO, Joy Global Sal DiFranco, EVP & Global Advanced Technology Practice Lead, DHR International John Doucette, VP of Consulting Operations, Magenic Tony Leng, Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search Frank Modruson, Former CIO, Accenture Mark Polansky, Senior Partner, CIO/IT Officers Practice, Korn Ferry Jim Wisnionski, Division President & Corporate CIO, SourceLink Presenting Partners at the 2019 Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit include Nutanix, RingCentral, and Zoom. Platinum Partners include Magenic. Gold Partners include CyberArk, Datalink, Cloud + Data Center Transformation division of Insight, and Info-Tech Research Group. Strategic Partners include Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds Associates and Spencer Stuart. Alliance Partners include Amplify Partners, Glynn Capital, Greylock Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Sequoia. Association Partners include the Chicago chapter for the Society for Information Management (SIM). To visit the 2019 Chicago CIO Executive Leadership Summit website and register for the event, click here. About HMG Strategy HMG Strategy is the world's largest independent and most trusted provider of executive networking events and thought leadership to support the 360-degree needs of technology leaders. Our regional CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, newsletters, authored books, and digital Resource Center deliver proprietary research on leadership, innovation, transformation, and career ascent. The HMG Strategy global network consists of over 300,000 senior IT executives, industry experts and world-class thought leaders. To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust to HMG Strategys unique business model, click here. Tom Hoffman 203-221-2702 TomHoffman@hmgstrategy.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44e6d686-2247-4b70-9069-92d0bcb6e104 NEW YORK, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PROJECT WOMENS announces partnership with the Conscious Fashion Campaign supported by the United Nations Office for Partnerships to drive the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that will be unveiled during the Las Vegas show held, February 5 - 7th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The partnership is an evolution of PROJECT WOMENS Conscious Collections, this season recognizing brands that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in their business and/ or production practices. The United Nations Office for Partnerships is proud to collaborate with Kerry Bannigan and jointly present the Conscious Fashion Campaign at PROJECT WOMENS to advocate for a new paradigm in fashion and raise awareness of ethically-sound principles for a sustainable future. PROJECT WOMENS provides an important platform to mobilize the fashion industry to take action and contribute to achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals, shares Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office, United Nations Office for Partnerships. The Conscious Fashion Campaign recognizes brands and designers that are working to end poverty, protect the planet, practice sustainability, and raise awareness through meaningful philanthropic and customer engagement initiatives in an effort to transform the world through fashion. We are honored to continue leverage our platform and audience to propel the mission of the Conscious Fashion Campaign supported by the United Nations, shares President of Womenswear, Danielle Licata. We are proud to amplify this partnership with first-ever PROJECT WOMENS look book created by Egyptian-Australian dancer and content creator, Mimi El-Ashiry that features several Conscious Fashion labels as well as Australian labels in an exquisite setting. PROJECT WOMENS brands recognized this season include: Bitchstix, DefineMe Fragrance, Doyenne, Elk, Etica, Etica, Good HYOUman, Hanky Panky, Indigenous, MAME Soy Candles, Mauriti, N:Philanthropy, Pleatsmama, Pura Vida, Que, Riley Vintage, Sanctuary, Spell, and Virgins, Saints & Angels. Im very passionate about raising awareness around the damage that we have been doing to our environment, and supporting brands who are making positive choices towards solutions. Im excited to have been able to feature several of these brands in the PROJECT WOMENS lookbook, shot in my wild backyard; the Byron Hinterland, shares Mimi El-Ashiry, dancer, model and creator. Mimi El-Ashiry and Kerry Bannigan of the Conscious Fashion Project will host the opening reception on Tuesday, February 5th at Conscious Fashion Campaign exhibition on the Main Aisle of PROJECT WOMENS between booths 27100 and 27120. Full FW19 Conscious Fashion Campaign brand collections will be found at each respective booth with highlights showcased at the exhibition space. For more information about the Conscious Fashion Campaign and PROJECT WOMENS please follow along on Instagram at: @ProjectWomens @mimielashiry @consciousfashioncampaign Show information and details can be found here: https://www.ubmfashion.com/shows/project-womens Photo Credits: PROJECT WOMEN look book Photographer: Nick Tsindos Creative Director, Stylist & Model, Mimi El-Ashiry Management: Joel Thomas (Left Image): Doyenne The Label, Necklace: Virgins, Saints & Angels (Right Image): Elk jacket & pant, Jens Pirate Booty top, Hunter Boots High Res images available upon request Link to view look book here: https://we.tl/t-lrnPGTAKAh About PROJECT WOMENS | PROJECT WOMENS gives buyers access to an unrivaled collection of the best emerging and established women's brands. It is the ultimate destination for contemporary collections, denim and accessories. PROJECT WOMENS doesnt just raise the bar on style, they change the conversation. Highlights include Oasis, a prestigious showcase of emerging and noteworthy brands, and Conscious Collections, a presentation of sustainable and cause-oriented brands. PROJECT WOMENS occurs bi-annually in New York and Las Vegas. About Informa Exhibitions | Informa Exhibitions, the global exhibitions division of Informa PLC, enables communities across the globe to engage, experience and do business by providing them with powerful platforms to connect across key regions and market verticals. Industry insight, coupled with an innovative and customer first approach, provides Informa Exhibitions customers and partners with the opportunity to create business advantage and access markets, both digitally and face-to-face, 365 days of the year. About Informa | Informa PLC is a leading, international business to business information services Group, operating in over 30 countries. We create transaction-led exhibitions and content-based events, specialist data, intelligence and marketing services products, as well as scholarly research and specialist reference-led academic content. Our products and services help businesses and professionals connect, learn, do business and gain an edge over the competition. Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/334c57f9-0c71-4f59-8b65-98a6ec32fb77 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64c482bb-cd5f-4d53-ac7c-b93c204611c6 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S. TORONTO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandy Lake Gold Inc. (Sandy Lake or the Corporation) (TSXV:SLAU) wishes to provide supplemental disclosure to the Corporation's management information circular dated January 8, 2019, (the Circular) in respect of the Annual and Special Meeting of the Shareholders of the Corporation to be held on February 12, 2019. This release should be read in conjunction with the Circular as a whole. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Circular. Description of the Acquisition The Corporation entered into an agreement (the Purchase Agreement) dated effective January 2, 2019 with Patrick Sheridan, Violet Smith, Shawn Hopkinson, Aisha Jean-Baptiste and Ayanna Jean-Baptiste (the Vendors) providing for the acquisition (the Acquisition) by the Corporation from the Vendors of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Bartica Investments Ltd. (Bartica) in consideration of the issuance to the Vendors of an aggregate of 100,000,000 common shares of the Corporation (Common Shares) at a deemed price of $0.075 per share (the Consideration). At the time of closing of the Acquisition, Bartica will hold interests in a suite of mineral exploration properties totalling approximately 25,888 acres in Guyana, South America (collectively, the Subject Properties). More specifically, Bartica will hold a 100% beneficial interest in each of the Subject Properties, other than the properties known as the Oko properties in respect of which Bartica will hold an option (the Oko Option) to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 2.5% net smelter return royalty. The Oko Option can be exercised by Bartica upon the following: (i) a cash payment of US$50,000 (which has previously been paid); (ii) additional aggregate cash payments of US$700,000 to be paid in tranches over a four year period (of which US$100,000 has previously been paid); and (iii) the identification of a gold resource on the Oko properties in excess of 250,000 ounces on the Oko properties and payment of advance net smelter return royalty of US$1,000,000. Mr. Sheridan, one of the Vendors, is currently a director, officer and a control person of the Corporation for the purposes of applicable securities legislation, and beneficially owns or controls 30,878,148 Common Shares representing approximately 29.6% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding as of February 1, 2019. Pursuant to the Acquisition, Mr. Sheridan will acquire beneficial ownership and control over an additional 60,000,000 Common Shares which will result in Mr. Sheridan having beneficially ownership or control and direction overran aggregate of 90,878,148 Common Shares, or approximately 44.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares without reference to the Private Placement. See Private Placement below. Background of the Transaction The Vendors approached the Corporation to discuss the terms of the proposed Acquisition in October, 2018. As a result of Mr. Sheridan being a director, officer and significant shareholder of the Corporation as well as one of the Vendors, the board of directors of the Corporation (the Board) established an independent special committee (the Committee) in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101) to review and provide recommendations to the Board regarding the Acquisition. Special Committee Composition and Mandate The mandate of the Committee included reviewing and assessing the Acquisition, considering potential alternatives and advising the Board accordingly. In addition, the Committee was vested with control over its processes respecting the holding of meetings, the quorum therefor, the timing and location thereof, the individuals present thereat and such other matters as the Committee considered necessary or desirable to discharge its mandate. The Committee was comprised of Mr. Jon Douglas and Ms. Michele McCarthy, each of whom were independent. No chair of the Committee was appointed. Engagement of Advisors On or about November 16, 2018, the Committee concluded that it should retain an independent financial advisor to provide a fairness opinion in respect of the Acquisition. After discussions with management, the Committee considered and discussed retaining Farber Corporate Finance (Farber) to provide a fairness opinion in this regard. The Committee examined and discussed the qualifications, experience and independence of Farber and its expertise in advising special committees in respect of related party transactions. Mr. Douglas, with input from Ms. McCarthy, held detailed discussions with Glenn Bowman of Farber, negotiated an engagement letter with Farber, and subsequently recommended to the Committee that it engage Farber to advise the Committee in respect of the fairness of the Acquisition from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of the Corporation. Farber was not engaged to prepare a Formal Valuation, as that term is defined in MI 61-101. Farber was retained on November 22, 2018, and subsequently met several times with management in order to gather information required for its review. Farber was compensated on the basis of a fixed fee, agreed upon in advance of its engagement and was not provided any form of contingent compensation tied to success or completion or approval of the Acquisition. Farber and the Committee believed that a fixed fee compensation arrangement without any amounts contingent on approval or completion of the Acquisition would ensure that the fee structure would not compromise Farbers independence in its evaluation of the fairness of the Acquisition. There existed no economic or personal relationship between Farber and the Committee or any of the parties to the Acquisition. The fee payable to Farber was not contingent on the completion of the Acquisition and such fee was payable to Farber in respect of the Fairness Opinion (as defined below) irrespective of the substance or conclusions of the Fairness Opinion. On or about December 10, 2018, the Committee requested and was provided with a memorandum from legal counsel to the Corporation detailing obligations in the context of the proposed Acquisition, and setting forth the related party nature of the Acquisition and applicable legal considerations. Deliberations The Committee considered the initial terms of the proposed Acquisition and as part of the initial consultations with management, the members of the Committee received a management presentation regarding the geology and geologic model of the deposits underlying the Subject Properties on November 1, 2018. The Committee met with members of the Corporations management team on several occasions to better understand the rationale and benefits of the proposed Acquisition. The Consideration for the Acquisition which was proposed by the Vendors was considered to be reasonable due to the high prospectivity of the Subject Properties proposed to be acquired combined with what appeared to be a very reasonable cost to acquire the Subject Properties, which represented a compelling opportunity for the Corporation to enter the exploration business in a mining friendly jurisdiction such as Guyana and the cash payments which had been or were required to be made by Bartica prior to closing in connection with the Oko Option. The Committee also considered and reviewed with the Corporations management the status of the Corporations existing Sandy Lake project and the alternative of maintaining the status quo in lieu of proceeding with the Acquisition. The Corporation had previously declared events of force majeure in respect of the Sandy Lake project under the terms of an existing option agreement with Goldeye Exploration Limited. The events of force majeure resulted from the positions taken by local First Nations and discussions with the Government of Ontario, which rendered it necessary for Sandy Lake Gold to cease all work on the Sandy Lake project until such time as appropriate consultation with the First Nations Bands in the region could be completed. Matters related to this disruption in operations are still continuing. After thoroughly reviewing these matters with management, the Committee determined that the Acquisition would be beneficial as it would provide the Corporation with an alternative to explore additional properties in a mining friendly jurisdiction. On November 16, 2018, the Committee inquired as to potential tax consequences of the Acquisition and reviewed and provided comments on a revised version of a non-binding letter of intent setting out the terms of the proposed Acquisition, and the Corporation subsequently entered into such non-binding letter of intent on November 19, 2018. A press release announcing the terms of the proposed Acquisition was disseminated by the Corporation on November 21, 2018. Prior to entering into any binding obligations in respect of the Acquisition, the Committee undertook a comprehensive review of the Subject Properties, considered potential tax consequences of the Acquisition and convened a meeting with Farber on December 5, 2018 to discuss the progress being made by Farber on its fairness opinion. The Committee subsequently met with Farber on December 20, 2018 to discuss Farbers initial impressions of value. The Committee also reviewed the proposed definitive agreement and provided detailed comments thereon, including adding the requirement for delivery of a title opinion at closing and the addition of additional robust representations and warranties from the Vendors. In connection with its deliberations, the Committee also reviewed the contents of draft and final versions of a technical report on the Aremu and Oro properties comprising, in part, the Subject Properties, entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Aremu-Oro Gold Property, Cooperative Republic of Guyana, South America dated November 23, 2018 and prepared by Tania Ilieva (the Technical Report), concerning the prospectivity of certain of the Subject Properties and the proposed recommended program thereon. The Committee considered additional incentives supporting the Acquisition, such as the relatively unexplored nature of the Subject Properties, the potential for the discovery of economic mineralization along the lateral extensions of the Aremu, Powerhouse, Oko 1 and Oko 2 north-south and west-northwest structures, and the low cost of the recommended program thereon all as set forth in the Technical Report. The Committee met several times with Farber and on December 30, 2018, the Committee had the opportunity to review with Farber its views as to the fairness of the Acquisition. The Committee was provided with the opportunity of questioning Farber, including with respect to matters relating to the assumptions underlying Farbers opinion, and the other relevant industry and economic factors considered by Farber in connection with its review. Farber advised, amongst other matters, that in making its determinations, it had accounted for applicable Guyanese royalty and other payments relating to the Subject Properties. Following discussion between the Committee and Farber, Farber provided a verbal opinion to the Committee that as of such date, the Acquisition was fair, from a financial point of view, to the securityholders of the Corporation. Farber delivered a written fairness opinion dated effective December 30, 2018 (the Fairness Opinion) to the Committee. In preparing the Fairness Opinion for the proposed Acquisition, Farber considered the proposed terms of the transaction, relevant industry and economic factors, background information relating to both the Corporation and Bartica and the draft Technical Report, and conducted research into recent market transactions involving mineral properties somewhat comparable to those owned by Bartica and trading multiples of public companies with mineral assets somewhat comparable to certain of the Subject Properties. The foregoing summary of the Fairness Opinion is qualified in its entirely by the full text of the Fairness Opinion, and the assumptions and limitations set forth therein, a copy of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. In preparing the Fairness Opinion, Farber considered the following matters related to Sandy Lake: General background information on the business and operations of Sandy Lake; Interim financial statements for Sandy Lake for the three months ended August 31 ,2018; An option agreement between GPM Metals Inc. and Goldeye Explorations Limited relating to the Sandy Lake Gold project; Royalty agreements relating to the Sandy Lake Gold project; An analysis of exploration and development costs incurred in recent years on the Sandy Lake Gold project; Research into recent market transactions involving mineral properties somewhat comparable to the Sandy Lake Gold project; Research into recent trading multiples of public companies with mineral assets somewhat comparable to Sandy Lake; Historical trading prices and volumes for the shares of Sandy Lake; and Information pertaining to various private placements of Common Shares that occurred between June 2016 and September 2018. In addition, Farber considered the following matters relating to Bartica: General background information on the business and operations of Bartica; A technical report entitled Peters Mine Project Guyana authored by Dr. George Cargill, PhD, P. Eng, and dated January 20, 2004; A presentation entitled Structural Investigations Peters Mine Gold Project Guyana prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and dated August 2007; A draft of the Technical Report; Details relating to Barticas March 2015 acquisition of the mineral rights of the Peters Mine and Aremu properties from GPM Metals Inc.; A mining option agreement dated December 22, 2017 between Michael Vieira and Violet Smith relating to certain of the Subject Properties; An analysis of certain exploration and development costs incurred on the properties owned by Bartica; Research into recent market transactions involving mineral properties somewhat comparable to those owned by Bartica;and Research into recent trading multiples of public companies with mineral assets somewhat comparable to Aremu-Oko and Peters Mine properties. The Committee was comfortable that Farber had conducted a thorough review of available valuation methodologies and had exercised its professional expertise in applying these valuation matters. The Committee considered various advantages of the proposed Acquisition including the prospective nature of the Subject Properties, the benefit of acquiring additional properties and the conclusions of the Fairness Opinion, as well as the fact that the Acquisition remained subject to the approval of minority shareholders pursuant to MI 61-101 and that Mr. Sheridan was required to abstain from voting as a director with respect to the Acquisition pursuant to applicable corporate law. The Committee also considered the following: (i) the regulatory requirement for shareholder approval of the proposed Acquisition; (ii) the requirement for delivery of a title opinion and tax advice at closing; and (iii) certain potential disadvantages associated with the Acquisition, including dilution to shareholders resulting from the issuance of the Consideration and the inherent uncertainty associated with grassroots mineral exploration; In addition, the Committee considered that pursuant to the Acquisition, Mr. Sheridan would increase his percentage ownership in the Corporation, as a result of which Mr. Sheridan will have significant influence over most matters that require approval by the Corporations shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions, even if other shareholders oppose them. This concentration of ownership might also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Corporation that other shareholders may view as beneficial. The existing shareholdings of Mr. Sheridan already represented approximately 29.6% of the outstanding Common Shares, although it was acknowledged by the Committee that his percentage interest in the Common Shares and therefore the degree of concentration risk, would each increase as a result of the Acquisition. The Committee ultimately determined that the benefits of the Acquisition outweighed the disadvantages, and recommended the approval of the Acquisition to the Board. A definitive agreement setting forth the final terms of the Acquisition was subsequently authorized by the Board and executed effective January 2, 2019. The Committee relied upon its business judgement which was confirmed by the advice of Farber as set forth in the Fairness Opinion. Dissenting Views of the Special Committee Throughout their review of the Acquisition, the members of the Committee retained the view that the Acquisition remained desirable and relying upon Farbers fairness opinion, that the agreed upon final pricing terms were fair, from a financial point of view, to securityholders of the Corporation. Consideration of Alternatives Given the unique nature of the Acquisition, the alternative consideration was to maintain the status quo and undertake no transaction with the Vendors. This option was a consideration throughout the Committees deliberations, however it was determined that it would be most advantageous to proceed with the Acquisition as it provided significant advantages to the Corporation over the long term as compared to maintaining the status quo. Private Placement As a condition to the completion of the Acquisition, the Corporation is required to obtain the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). The TSXV has in turn stipulated, amongst other conditions, that the Corporation must complete a private placement prior to closing of the Acquisition (the Private Placement) to raise minimum gross proceeds of $450,000. The terms of the Private Placement have not yet been determined by the Corporation, and are expected to result in additional dilution to the holdings of the shareholders of the Corporation. It is anticipated that Mr. Sheridan will subscribe for $150,000 of the Private Placement, however in no circumstances will the shareholdings of Mr. Sheridan exceed 44.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares upon closing of the Acquisition and Private Placement. In addition, the other Vendors or their associates may participate in the Private Placement. Further details of the Private Placement will be announced as soon as they become available. Votes Excluded To the knowledge of the Corporation, after reasonable inquiry, votes attached to a total of 31,075,668 Common Shares (representing in the aggregate approximately 29.8% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares) will be excluded in determining whether minority approval for the proposed related party transaction is obtained. The Common Shares to be excluded are held as follows: Patrick Sheridan 30,878,148 Common Shares Violet Smith 97,520 Common Shares Aisha Jean-Baptiste 100,000 Common Shares For further information please contact: Patrick Sheridan Executive Chairman & CEO (416) 628-5904 Email: info@sandylakegold.com 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 expect, anticipate, continue, estimate, may, might, will, project, should, believe, plans, intends 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 of Sandy Lake which have been used to develop such statements and/or information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Sandy Lake 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 as Sandy Lake can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: receipt of all applicable regulatory and shareholder approvals to complete the Acquisition; results from planned exploration and drilling activities; future plans for operational expenditures; the accuracy of the interpretations of exploration and drilling activity results; availability of financing (including with respect to the Private Placement) to fund current and future plans and expenditures; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Sandy Lake has property interests; the general continuance of current industry conditions; aboriginal matters; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Sandy Lake to obtain qualified staff, equipment and/or services in a timely and cost efficient manner; the ability of the operator of each project in which Sandy Lake has property interests to operate in a safe, efficient and/or effective manner and to fulfill its respective obligations and current plans; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and/or interest rates; and the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and/or environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Sandy Lake has property interests. 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/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: risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates, currency fluctuations, the uncertainty of conducting operations under a foreign regime, exploration risk, the uncertainty of obtaining all applicable regulatory approvals, the availability of labour and/or equipment, the fluctuating prices of commodities, the availability of financing and dependence on the management personnel of the Corporation, other participants in the property areas and/or certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in Sandy Lakes public disclosure documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and Sandy Lakes current managements discussion and analysis). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Corporation 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. 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 and / or accuracy of this release English German Steinhausen, February 1, 2019 - The annual results 2018 of Schweiter Technologies will be published on Monday, March 11, 2019. A media conference on the annual results 2018 for analysts, media representatives and investors will take place on March 11, 2019, starting at 11am at the Hotel Marriott, Neumuhlequai 42, Zurich. For further information please contact: Martin Kloti, CFO Tel. +41 41 757 77 00, Fax +41 41 757 70 01, martin.kloeti@schweiter.com Please find the Media release in the PDF attached: DALLAS, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) (ALYI) today announced a pilot test of its Revolt Electric Motorcycles in conjunction with a $1 million fleet order for a Nairobi, Kenya shared ride client. Client delegates will be in the United States next week. ALYI management anticipates the electric motorcycle to pass the clients pilot test and trigger the initiation of the 100-motorcycle order. The pilot test is expected to bode well for two additional client pilot tests triggering an additional $500,000 in orders. Separate from ALYIs electric vehicle endeavors, the company yesterday announced that their hemp energy storage project lead was featured in an online publication through Forbes. In October last year, Alternet initiated a project to explore and develop hemp-based technologies for energy storage. The company engaged Clarkson University Professor David Mitlin to lead the initiative. Professor Mitlin is a leading expert in electrochemistry and a pioneer in the use of hemp as a clean, green, renewable energy in the form of a supercapacitor. Mitlin has successfully used hemp bast - the fiber left over from processing hemp - to construct carbon nanosheets that compete with, and in some respects, outperform the supercapacitor performance derived from more typical graphene nanosheets. A recent research report from Grand View Research anticipates the industrial hemp market to grow to $10.6 billion by 2025. ALYI has engaged Nouveau, Inc. to source hemp fiber for its supercapacitor developments. NOUV has recently announced a 100 acre hemp cultivation operation. Research Report Speculative Buy Rating And $0.09 Target PPS Goldman Small Cap Research recently issued an updated research report on the Company. The report includes a 'speculative-buy' rating with a target price-per-share of $0.09. The report provides an in-depth overview and analysis of Alternet's new strategy, new orders, and upcoming milestones. To view the report, along with disclosures and disclaimers, visit https://www.alternetsystemsinc.com/research-rpt/ or http://www.GoldmanResearch.com. Alternet Systems, Inc.: Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) is focused on offering varied, environmentally sustainable, energy storage solutions for targeted markets, including consumer electric vehicles and military applications. The first product category is lithium battery-powered motorcycles, to be followed by motorbikes. These products are released through its newly launched ReVolt Electric Motorbikes subsidiary. Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno info@lithiumip.com +1-800-713-0297 ATLANTA, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WestRock Company (NYSE: WRK) today reported that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.455 per share on its common stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.455 per share will be paid to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2019 and will be paid on February 25, 2019. About WestRock WestRock (NYSE: WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRocks team members support customers around the world from locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com . CONTACT: Investors: James Armstrong, 470-328-6327 Vice President, Investor Relations james.armstrong@westrock.com Media: John Pensec, 470-328-6397 Director, Corporate Communications john.pensec@westrock.com John Stakel, 678-291-7901 Senior Vice President, Treasurer john.stakel@westrock.com Gulf Breeze, Florida, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2018, AppRiver was able to protect its customers from more than 10 billion global email-based attacks proving that cyberthreats continued to flourish in 2018. In its annual Global Security Report, the channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services says its Email Security and Web Protection filters quarantined more than 10 billion global threats including: 8.3 billion messages containing URL-based malware, phishing attacks and text-based attacks. 300 million emails that included malware in a message attachment. A majority of malicious attachments with Word files with embedded macros. A surprisingly 4.5 billion quarantined messages that originated in the United States . The Global Security Report provides a detailed examination of 2018 cybersecurity trends in email, web-based spam and malware attacks, and offers predictions regarding the 2019 cybersecurity landscape. BREACHES Large corporations continued to fall victim to data breaches in 2018, including the Facebook attack, where hackers made off with data of nearly 29 million users. Of those, 14 million records included details such as birthdates, employer information, device data, religious preferences and some location data. Quora also experienced a large-scale attack, with 100 million user records breached, including names, email addresses and passwords. Marriott/Starwood suffered one of the biggest corporate attacks in 2018, when attackers stole nearly 500 customer records containing names, phone numbers, passport numbers and credit card information. The Global Security Report also provides insight into how stolen data is exploited by attackers, including personalized attacks, which gained popularity in late 2018. This blackmail email tactic threatens to send embarrassing photos to a targets contacts unless the ransom is paid. Armed with data from large breaches, cybercriminals further personalized attacks with actual passwords the target has used. METHODS OF ATTACK The cybersecurity arena experienced a renaissance of banking Trojans in 2018, distributed at a volume that exceeded ransomware. The most prolific banking malware was dispersed more than 20 million times. Of the banking Trojans, Emotet, which functions as a downloader of other banking Trojans, was the most prolific piece of malware AppRivers Email Security filters caught in 2018. According to US-Cert, Emotet is among the most costly and destructive malware affecting state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) governments, as well as the private and public sectors. Emotets aggressive spreading and persistence abilities make it extremely difficult to remove, and poses a significant challenge to SLTT governments into 2019. In addition to the rise in banking Trojans, 2018 also brought increases in other attack vectors the Distributed Spam Distraction (DSD) and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks. DSDs utilize the email bomb strategy, which is readily available as a service on the Dark Web. DSD attacks in 2018 signed up users for mass amounts of newsletters and free memberships. The users, flooded with welcome emails, were often too overwhelmed by junk mail to notice the fraudulent purchase transaction emails. New BEC tactics in 2018 included attackers posing as a high-level corporate executives instructing employees to purchase and expense gift cards. The victims were then directed to send images of the gift cards and their exposed pins. A similar attack involved cybercriminals instructing employees to send wire transfers. These were some of the most damaging, costing businesses an average $130,000 per incident. Social media sites such as LinkedIn helped fuel BEC attacks by providing a never-ending list of names and job titles. In nearly every investigation conducted by AppRiver, the message recipient was active on LinkedIn. AppRiver also discovered new BEC variants in 2018, such as instances where the attacker sent a vague email to the target with the request to text me back at a provided phone number. By switching to SMS, reliable email security tools were taken out of the equation, and the targets become more vulnerable. Expect to see more of these attacks in 2019. DELIVERY METHODS In 2018, the method for delivering new infections changed from attachments to banking stealers, cryptominers and remote access Trojans (RATs). Necurs Botnet sent the highest volume of ransomware seen by AppRivers filters, and the Globelmposter ransomware campaign alone caused 56.7 million messages to be filtered in just one month. Last year also brought an increase in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)-based ransomware attacks. With this attack, cybercriminals scanned for open RDP machines and outdated RDP versions, or they simply brute-forced into systems by exploiting weak or commonly used passwords. Looking Ahead: 2019 Predictions 1. Living off the land. Internal ecosystem attacks will increase. For example, malicious actors will send MS phishing emails from MS servers (typically compromised accounts) and use MS Azure storage/custom DNS to host the phishing site. This uses built-in functionality to further falsely establish credibility and appearance, making it challenging to detect. 2. More bleeding-edge attack methods will reach mainstream malware distributors. With the success that malware authors/distributors had leveraging the Eternal Blue exploit to spread malware across an organization via worm capabilities, we fully expect to see the more advanced attack techniques trickle down from the nation-state level attacks to threaten more for-profit attacks against the public. 3. More shock and awe. Attackers will become more emboldened to use scare tactics to extort victims. This years sextortion, multiple bomb hoax campaigns and acid attack threats were examples of an increasing intent to scare victims into hurriedly paying a ransom. 4. IoT devices will rapidly grow through the foreseeable future. Its scary to think how many of these devices already are in use while market penetration has yet to peak. Couple that with very little security features being built into many of these devices and the door for attacks is wide open. Exploits, malware and associated botnets will ride the IoT wave into the future. 5. Nation state actors will continue to decreasingly honor cyber rules of engagement. Indictments and accusations levied at China by the U.S. and UK in late 2018 underscore the scope of activity. Things may get worse before they get better, with political policies and trade agreements potentially escalating cyberwarfare. False-flag operations will increase, and attribution will become more difficult. Expect to see more disruptive cyberattack events committed by nation states that masquerade as financially motivated attacks. The lines between hacking, cybercrime, and cyberwarfare are increasingly blurred now, said Troy Gill, AppRiver senior cybersecurity analyst. As a result, protecting small- and mid-sized businesses must be considered an integral part of our larger national cybersecurity posture. To be most effective, our strategy must be comprehensive, addressing vulnerabilities at all levels. To learn more, download the full, complimentary 2018 Global Security Report here. AppRiver, the leading channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services, offers a wide array of cloud-based security solutions. For more information, visit www.appriver.com. About AppRiver AppRiver is a channel-first provider of cloud-enabled security and productivity services, with a 4,500-strong reseller community that protects 60,000 companies worldwide against a growing list of dangerous online threats. Among the worlds top Office 365 and Secure Hosted Exchange providers, the companys brand is built on highly effective security services backed by 24/7 white-glove Phenomenal Care customer service. AppRiver is headquartered in Gulf Breeze, Florida and maintains offices in Georgia, Texas, New York, Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Spain. For more information, please visit www.appriver.com. Piscataway, NJ, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Experienced hearing health industry executive assumes role of chief executive officer following tenure as companys chief operating officer Timm is committed to continuing hearing aid companys robust growth, expanding leadership position Audiology technology leader Sivantos, Inc. today announced that Eric Timm has been appointed to the role of chief executive officer. Timm, who has served as chief operating officer of the company for the past two years, takes over the role from Steve Mahon, who has stepped down. Timm joined Sivantos, the parent company of hearing aid brand Signia, in March 2017. As chief operating officer, he worked closely with Mahon to create and execute a new vision and strategy that helped the company achieve strong growth several times the industry standard over the past two years. In his new role, Timm will guide the companys strategic plans and initiatives to further grow its standing in the marketplace. I am honored to assume the role of CEO of Sivantos and eager to advance the companys mission to invent the future of better hearing and understanding, Timm said. As the hearing aid industry continues to transform rapidly, Sivantos has the right combination of exceptional people and sophisticated hearing aid technology to rise to the top. I thank Steve for all that he brought to this company and look forward to continuing the vision we created together to achieve further growth and success. Throughout his career, Timm has held leadership positions with several organizations in the medical device industry, driving profitable growth in each role. Prior to joining Sivantos, he served as vice president, marketing and national sales for another hearing aid manufacturer. He also held roles in general management, marketing and business development at Cardinal Health, Premier, Inc., Monsanto, Bristol-Myers Squibb and 3M. In addition to his professional experience, Timm received his bachelors degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. About the Sivantos Group The business operations of the former Siemens AG hearing aid division have been combined into the Sivantos Group since early 2015. Sivantos can look back on 140 years of German engineering and countless global innovations. Today Sivantos is one of the leading hearing aid manufacturers worldwide. With its around 6,000 employees, the group recorded revenues of 967 million euros in the fiscal year 2016/2017 and an adj. EBITDA of 238 million euros. Sivantos' international sales organization supplies hearing care specialists and sales partners in more than 120 countries. Particularly high value is placed on product development. Sivantos aims to become the market leader in the coming years with its brands Signia, Siemens, Audio Service, Rexton, A&M, HearUSA and audibene. The owners of Sivantos are the anchor investors EQT along with the Strungmann family as a co-investor. Sivantos GmbH is a brand license holder of Siemens AG. More information can be found at www.sivantos.com Attachment GLEN ALLEN, Va., Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mason & Hanger , a leading provider of architecture and engineering for the U.S. Government in defense and federal projects announces the launch of its new website www.masonandhanger.com . The website, redesigned to enhance visitor engagement and experience, is the firms most recent demonstration of its commitment to providing world-class services as a leader in the architectural and engineering industry. Our new website showcases our nearly 200-year history as one of the oldest operating architectural and engineering firms in the United States, while demonstrating our commitment to a future of providing intelligent and innovative solutions to design challenges around the world, said Benjamin Lilly, President, Mason & Hanger. Were thrilled to unveil the new site and spotlight our corporate video and select members of the Mason & Hanger team who are delivering and partnering with our clients day in and day out. The new website displays the latest company video showcasing Mason & Hangers long history and vision for the future. It also features an Employee Spotlight page highlighting Mason & Hangers talented and experienced professionals. The new website includes a completely redesigned layout with enhanced visuals and original video and photography, developed in coordination with web design and development firm Media Junction and creative services from Brion McCarthy Photography . By incorporating the well-established brand identity and strategic navigation and conversion points, were proud to say weve delivered a website that will engage site visitors and empower Mason & Hanger on their mission to build a more secure world, said a spokesperson for Media Junction. ABOUT MASON & HANGER Mason & Hanger, a Day & Zimmermann Company, is dedicated to providing architectural and engineering services, specializing in the worldwide design of secure, mission-driven facilities, proudly serving as a partner to the United States Government for nearly two centuries. As one of the oldest operating A/E firms in the United States, Mason & Hanger has a rich history covering nearly 200 years and our teams have served the federal government on thousands of projects, in 48 states and 164 countries. http://www.masonandhanger.com/ ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN Founded in 1901, Day & Zimmermann is a family-owned company with a workforce of 43,000 specializing in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, security and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world. Operating from more than 150 worldwide locations with 2.5 Billion USD in revenue, Day & Zimmermann is currently ranked as one of the largest private companies in the U.S. by Forbes. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, our first work was to develop "Betterment Reports" that helped modernize American factories. Today, we are still in the business of bettermentmaintaining the nation's power infrastructure, protecting American freedoms and accelerating innovation around the world. We do what we say. http://www.dayzim.com San Diego, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Military, industry and prominent researchers will gather to discuss innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence, date analytics and the health sciences to meet national security needs and strengthen the U.S. economy. With a theme of Window Into the Future, the event will combine expert presentations and networking. The dialogue will take place as part of the National Security Technology Forum and Exposition on February 12 at the San Diego Convention Center, California. AFCEA International and the University of California, San Diego, are hosting this inaugural event. The association chose San Diego as the location for the event because of the depth of the innovation ecosystem in the area. Top quality academic institutions, faculty and graduates help power, inspire and enable an equally remarkable set of small, medium and large businesses in the region, explains Lt. Gen. Bob Wood, USA (Ret.), executive vice president, defense and national security, AFCEA. Brig. Gen. Dennis Crall, USMC, deputy principal cyber adviser, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Dr. Larry Smarr, founding director, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, are among the speakers. Gen. Crall will present his perspectives on enhanced cyber and information technologies. He will provide an overview of both U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Marine Corps technology needs supporting operations at sea, on land and from the air. During a panel led by Rear Adm. Michael C. Bachmann, USN (Ret.), vice president for enterprise solutions, Scientific Research, participants will discuss developments in robotics, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and health sciences. In addition to Smarr, panelists will include Dr. Henrik I. Christensen, Qualcomm Chancellors chair of robot systems, and professor of computer science, University of California, San Diego; Lt. Gen. Ed Cardon, USA (Ret.), former commanding general, Army Cyber Command, and director U.S. Army Business Office of Transformation; and Dr. Raj Minhas, vice president and director of Interactive and Analytics Laboratory, Palo Research Center, a Xerox company. The forum and exposition will be followed by WEST 2019, which takes place February 13-15 and also located at the San Diego Convention Center. Additional information about NSTFX and WEST 2019 is available online. ### AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia. Join online. Washington, D.C., Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Aspen Institute and the Aetna Foundation today announced the 2019 class of the Aspen-Aetna Healthy Communities Fellowship, a new program designed to amplify the voices of community leaders addressing health inequities through the lens of the social determinants of health. The inaugural class of six fellows includes advocates for criminal justice reform and Native American womens rights, health systems researchers, local practitioners and government leaders working deeply with under-served populations at the community level. They will participate in a year-long program designed to sharpen and amplify their messages through public speaking, writing, and networking. We need more community voices leading the conversation about improving local health outcomes. The expertise that these leaders bring will positively influence the broader field of social determinants of health, says Garth Graham, President of the Aetna Foundation, an independent philanthropic arm of CVS Health, which is working to deliver on the companys purpose of helping people on their path to better health. Through this program, these individuals will not only be able to promote change within their respective communities, but also spread their messages and help improve the health of communities across the country. This initiative, funded through the Aetna Foundation, is part of a $100 million commitment by CVS Health to making community health and wellness central to the companys charge for a better world. The new Building Healthier Communities initiative, which will be funded over five years through the CVS Health Foundation and Aetna Foundation, builds upon the outstanding tradition of community investment by both organizations. Meet the Healthy Communities Fellows: The 2019 Healthy Communities Fellows come from South Carolina, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, New York and Illinois. They will participate in a curated media and communications training developed by the Aspen New Voices Fellowship to bring new conversations and ideas on the social determinants of health to major public platforms, including Aspen Ideas: Health and the Aspen Ideas Incubator. Learn more about the fellowship at www.aspenglobalinnovators.org/healthy-communities-fellowship. Jerry Blassingame South Carolina Jerry Blassingame is founder and CEO of Soteria Community Development Corporation in Greenville, SC. He mentors and trains previously incarcerated individuals as they re-enter communities, acting as a catalyst for mutual understanding, respect and cooperation. As a survivor of the criminal legal system himself, Jerry served 3 years of a 20-year sentence and successfully navigated the reentry process himself since his release in 1999. He provides tools to enable access and opportunities for individuals and their families who have been impacted by the legal system. Megan Cunningham Illinois Megan Cunningham, Managing Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, brings partners together to drive policy change, access data and resources, and improve environments to help all Chicagoans lead healthy lives, especially in communities of greatest need. Through the implementation of Healthy Chicago 2.0, the citywide plan to promote health equity, Megan works across sectors to further affordable and supportive housing, food access, environmental justice, and community spaces that are safe and active. Within CDPH, Megan also supports workforce development and transformation efforts to become a more anti-racist organization. Nicolle Gonzales New Mexico Nicolle Gonzales is a certified Nurse-Midwife and founder of the Changing Woman Initiative, a New Mexico-based organization to advance indigenous womens reproductive rights. She focuses on birth equity for Native American women and has served as the founding board president and vice board president of two new birth centers in New Mexico. She is a writer and an advocate for indigenous birth, midwifery, reproductive justice, and indigenous feminism. Dr. Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth New York Dr. Hollingsworth is a community health expert and health systems researcher focused on data sharing and engagement to promote better interactions between communities and health systems. In her role as Assistant Vice President of Community and Population Health at Montefiore Health System, she leads the creation and implementation of community and population health strategies, patient education systems, community-based interventions and the development of wellness resources. Jennie Joseph Florida Jennie Joseph is the Executive Director of her own non-profit corporation, Commonsense Childbirth Inc., and the founder of the National Perinatal Task Force, a grassroots organization whose mission is the elimination of racial disparities in maternal child health in the USA. A British-trained midwife, Jennie creates access to comprehensive maternity healthcare for all, while fostering safe, respectful, patient-centered care and support for women in areas that she terms 'materno-toxic zones'. In standing for every woman to have her healthiest possible pregnancy with dignity and respect, she has developed programs, clinics and training for maternity care systems and perinatal practitioners to provide such care, regardless of zip code, race or ethnicity. Maria Valenzuela - Arizona Maria Valenzuela is Domestic Program Director of Esperanca, a community advocacy program working for the Hispanic Latino community, to provide access to quality health care and prevention education. She organizes community health programming to empower those who are most at risk, advocating for culturally appropriate, preventative health education of chronic disease, such as obesity, diabetes, and oral health. Her goal is to ensure our communities have the ability to live a healthy lifestyle that leads to a longer life span. The Aetna Foundation The Aetna Foundation is an independent charitable and philanthropic arm of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS). As a national health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who volunteered 670,000 hours in 2018 alone. For more information, visit www.aetnafoundation.org. The Aspen Global Innovators Group The Aspen Global Innovators Group widens access to health and prosperity for people living at the worlds margins. Our network of innovators brings overlooked challenges into plain sight, then creates programs, policies and partnerships to address them. Breakthrough programs include: New Voices Fellowship, which brings expert voices from emerging countries into the global development discussion; AMP Health, which works with health leaders in under-resourced countries advancing to the last mile; the Artisan Alliance, supporting the worlds most untapped start-up community; and Spotlight Health, a premier creative forum on health at the Aspen Ideas Festival. For more information, visit www.aspenglobalinnovators.org The Aspen Institute The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, CO; and on the Wye River on Marylands Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org. CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies Inc. ("Eguana" or the "Company") (TSX-V: EGT, OTCQB: EGTYF) is pleased to announce changes to its executive and senior management team to support the Companys strategic growth plan and global roll out. Daljit Ghotra has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer overseeing all aspects of Eguanas technology strategy and development. In his prior role as Director of Engineering Mr. Ghotra executed the development plan completing the Evolve, Elevate, and Enduro product lines. Brent Harris, one of the Founders of the Company, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. Mr. Harris will continue to work on Eguanas product and market vision, as well as overseeing all aspects of the customer experience, branding, and marketing. Keith Johnston has been promoted to Director of Engineering. Mr. Johnston joined the Company in November 2015 and has contributed persistently to the success of the Companys projects including leading the Elevate from conception to certification. Greg Pollard will retire as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Eguana effective January 31, 2019. The Company has completed its search for Mr. Pollards replacement who will be announced in the coming weeks. Mr. Pollard will remain with Company to ensure a proper transition of duties and responsibilities has been completed. The Board of Directors and the executive management team would like to take this opportunity to thank Greg for his valuable contributions as Interim CFO of the Company and the Company wishes him well in his retirement. Eguana CEO Justin Holland commented, Mr. Pollard has brought stability and guidance to the senior team over the last couple of years along with financial best practice and policy, setting the Company up to execute our global strategy. The appointments of Mr. Harris, Mr. Ghotra, and Mr. Johnston will strengthen our core team infrastructure as we continue expand our capabilities in development and service. About Eguana Technologies Inc. Based in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Eguana Technologies Inc. (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech Company Inquiries Justin Holland CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc. +1.416.728.7635 Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com Forward Looking Information The reader is advised that some of the information herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning assigned by National Instruments 51-102 and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, we include: statements pertaining to the value of our power controls to the energy storage market and statements concerning the use of proceeds and the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. Readers are also directed to the Risk Factors section of the Companys most recent audited Financial Statements which may be found on its website or at sedar.com. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. In his statement, Head of the political headquarters of the U.S. Vice-President referred to the conversation about Ukraine with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem during his recent visit to Israel Corey Lewandowski, the Head of the political headquarters of the U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence Open source Ex-President of Ukraine has to be involved in the settlement of Donbas conflict, as Corey Lewandowski, the Head of the political headquarters of the U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence said in an interview for an Israeli TV channel ILand, Ukrainian News reported. In his statement, Lewandowski referred to the conversation with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem about Ukraine during his recent visit to Israel. We talked about a need to bring new people even the ex-President (Yanukovych, - ed.), as he is from this region. The Patriarch supported it. We also officially support this position and in the press, when we see the escalation of the tensions Yes, we have discussed this issue with the Patriarch. We have agreed that the conflicts should be settled. I have to say that the President of Russia pays heed to the Patriarch and treats him very well. So the Patriarch might play a very important role in this case. In the settlement of the conflict (war conflict in Donbas, - ed.). And not only in the religious sector, but also in politics, business and so on. Besides, Lewandowski mentioned the judicial process against Yanukovych is still underway. As Ukraine is our friend, it is important for us that all the processes which go on there are fair, and that human rights are not violated. Official letters have being sent to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. No reaction followed. Informal contacts were implemented through the U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo during the meetings in Washington and through our media. I repeat, we consider Ukraine our friend, and it is important for us that the spirit and the letter of the law are observed in all the cases. We are worried about that, he said. Ukraine is interested in starting a large-scale purchase of high-tech defense equipment from the United States, including additional Javelin anti-tank missile launchers. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers reports. According to her, Ukraine hopes to become an active participant in the US program "Foreign Military Financing". "The U.S. assistance continues to improve the training of combat units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, their equipment, medical and logistical support. I hope that our cooperation will become even stronger with the new legislation," she said. ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cadence Aerospace , a provider of highly complex aerospace components and assemblies to commercial and defense customers, announces the appointment of Edward (Eddie) Torres as Vice President and General Manager of the Companys Tell Tool Operations in Westfield, Massachusetts. With Centers of Excellence based in the U.S. and Mexico , Cadence Aerospace serves the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft, aerostructures, aeroequipment and other defense platforms. In his new role, Mr. Torres will be responsible for all day-to-day operations at the Cadence Tell Tool location in Westfield, Massachusetts, including manufacturing operations, profit and loss, business planning, quality, staffing and customer engagement. Mr. Torres joined Cadence Aerospace in January 2018 where he has held positions of increasing responsibility. In his most recent role as Vice President Operations & Engineering at Cadence AerospaceTell Tool, he was responsible for managing the Quality Engineering, Inspection, MRB and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) teams as part of his oversight for the performance of the operation. During the last 10 months, Ive gotten to know Eddie well through his transformational work at our Anaheim, CA business, and Ive gained a deep respect for him as hands-on, results-oriented leader who always puts the customer first. Dennis Orzel, Chief Operating Officer for Cadence Aerospace, and I look forward to working closely with Eddie in his new role, said Thomas C. Hutton, Chief Executive Officer of Cadence Aerospace. Tell Tool is a great business that is experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation, and Eddie is the right leader with the experience and capabilities to take Tell Tool the next level. Prior to joining Cadence Aerospace, during 2017-2018, Mr. Torres served SQA Services, an aerospace parts and metals supplier, as Regional Senior Supplier Quality and Trainer. There, he was responsible for driving supplier performance improvements among suppliers of metals, tooling and composite parts. Earlier in 2016-2017, he served the independent consulting firm Quality Consulting as Quality System and Corrective Action Consultant, where he supported a range of procedures and updates to client business manuals regarding digital product definition for certification and preparation of AS9100 RevD and NADCAP requirements. At AVCORP Composite Fabrication/HITCO Carbon Composites, Mr. Torres held five positions of increasing responsibility during a 15-year tenure, finishing his career at the company in 2016 as Quality Manager, leading commercial quality engineers and other teams for customer programs including Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, Spirit AeroSystems, and Fuji Heavy Industry. He also served as Director of Quality, overseeing engineers, inspectors, MRB, material testing lab, calibration, non-destructive testing, quality management system, quality assurance specialists and documentation teams. In addition, Mr. Torres was Quality Engineering, MRB, Inspection and RCCA Manager, and earlier, he was Quality Inspection and Operations Manager. Mr. Torres joined the company as Chief Inspector, supervising and training inspectors on new digital equipment and performing supplier audits. His career at Cory Components/Matrix Science Corporation, a supplier of parts and metals to the aerospace industry, spanned 11 years. Mr. Torres joined the company in 1990, serving as Tooling and Source Inspector, utilizing a series of specialized software programs. He later was promoted to Inspection Supervisor in 1999 and oversaw inspections performed for Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman programs. Mr. Torres studied Business Organizational Management at the University of Phoenix, CA. About Cadence Aerospace Cadence Aerospace, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, is a leading aerospace and defense industry supplier committed to achieving success with its business partners through active engagement, aligned manufacturing and sourcing strategies, and industry-leading capabilities. The Companys Centers of Excellence, based in the U.S. and Mexico, produce machined parts, subassemblies, assemblies and repair and overhaul services for the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft, aerostructures, aeroequipment and other defense platforms. With clearly defined products and services, complementary capabilities, positions on programs offering long-term growth, a balanced and global aerospace, commercial and defense portfolio, Cadence Aerospace offers outstanding quality and delivery at cost-competitive prices to aerospace and defense companies globally. About Arlington Capital Partners Arlington Capital Partners is a Washington, D.C.-area private equity firm that has managed $2.2 billion of committed capital via four investment funds, including Arlington's fourth and most recent $700 million fund. Arlington is focused on middle market investment opportunities in growth industries, including: aerospace/defense, government services and technology, healthcare, and business services and software. The firm's professionals and network have a unique combination of operating and private equity experience that enables Arlington to be a value-added investor. Arlington invests in companies in partnership with high quality management teams that are motivated to establish and/or advance their Company's position as leading competitors in their field. Media Contacts: Peter Manos pmanos@arlingtoncap.com Bilal Noor bnoor@arlingtoncap.com Arlington Capital Partners 5425 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 200 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Phone: +1.202.337.7500 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e198dd5-6e3a-4ba8-a179-5293d7c8056a Some children books were banned as well, as they contained Communist or Russian symbols Open source 13 books were forbidden to be imported in Ukraine due to Russian propaganda. The State Committee for TV and Radio Broadcasting in Ukraine reports this. The following private limited companies tried to get permission on import books that contained the propaganda: Dress-Shou, Ethnictrade, Yakabootrade, Fors Ukraine, Pero and Machaon-Ukraine. Some books for children were forbidden as well, as they contained some Communist or Russian symbols. The English manual was also banned, as it was painted with banners of armed formations of the Russian Federation. The book Convince and win. Secrets of effective argumentation theory by Mykola Nepriahin was banned in Ukraine. In this books the examples of effective arguments are given based on the actions of Stalin and Lenin. The experts believe that this is communist propaganda, which is prohibited in Ukraine. The book Path of the beyond: Religions of the world. Psychotechnical and transpersonal conditions was also banned, as it propagates Russia and encourages intrathecal and religious hatred. The book Balkans. Borderlines of the Empires of the famous Russian journalist Andrey Shary will not be imported in Ukraine, as it retells the ideas like the future of bound nations can only be guaranteed by the Russian Empire, which is common to all". Several Russian editors publish such books, introductions of which advocate for the imperial ideology. According to the experts, such provocations are about the hybrid war between Ukraine and Russia. For example, Serhiy Dovlatov's edition advocated the famous Ukrainianophobic Serhiy Bezrukov in the introduction, whose name was added to the list of persons causing a threat to national security by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. Over the past year, the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting banned 477 000 copies of publications with anti-Ukrainian content for 97 times. In addition, 27 administrative and economic reports were made on the distribution of publishing products violations. As a result, the fine was $55 200. The injured have answered the questions on their health conditions in particular Ukrainian sailor behind bars in Russia Hromadske Russian investigators questioned the Ukrainian sailors Andriy Eyder, Andriy Artemenko, Vasyl Soroka and Sergiy Chulyba on January 30 and 31, as the lawyer Mykola Polozov wrote on Facebook. During the investigation, the POWs answered the questions within the article No. 17 of the Geneva Convention as of August 12, 1949 On treatment of prisoners of war". Earlier the POWs have answered the questions of the lawyers concerning their health condition, the message says. The lawyers filed motions on hospitalization of the Ukrainian sailors in Ukraine or in the third country (according to the articles of the Convention) and on medical examination beyond the Federal Penitentiary Service system. Investigative proceedings concerning the rest of the POWs will be conducted next week. 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. Ukrainian ships were rejected passage via the Kerch Strait, Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them. All 24 sailors on board were captured and delivered to Moscow 21 of them were delivered to Lefortovo remand center, another - to the hospital of Matrosskaya Tishina prison. 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. Facing an extension of the sentence term, Ukrainian POWs detained in the Kerch Strait refused to testify in Lefortovo court. Sailors were distributed into six groups, four people in each. On January 15, 2019 Moscow's Lefortovo district court decided to keep 20 Ukrainian sailors in remand until April 24. On January 16, the court extended the detention term for another four sailors. Related video: Open source EU High Representative Federica Mogherini refused to comment on the words of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko that Ukraine would apply for EU membership in 2024. Mogherini said this after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Bucharest, answering journalists questions, reports Radio Liberty. I will not comment on what may happen in 2024, but I am sure that our immediate goals, in particular the plan of the 20 achievements of the Eastern Partnership until 2020, are quite real and feasible. They will positively affect the lives of citizens in partner countries, and in the European Union itself. In this pragmatic cooperation, we can achieve excellent results," said Mogherini. She is convinced that over the past five years, the block of European states and Ukraine have been able to achieve things that not so long ago could have seemed unrealistic - namely, the trade agreement, an association agreement and visa liberalization. Open source The fake observer missions financed by the Russian Federation may be present at the presidential elections in Ukraine as RBK-Ukraine reported citing Deputy Director-General of Committee of Voters of Ukraine Natalia Linnyk. She noted that 129 public organizations, which will provide their observers, are registered at the moment. We also want to inform that there are some particular missions of the so-called fake observers. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine along with the Central Election Commission will try to filter them at these elections. But even if the Foreign Ministry will compromise and register particular observers, who will enter the number of the fake representatives, we ask the mass media to be more consolidated and consider the credibility of the sources of information, she said. The observers, who provided the false information at the previous elections in certain countries, are affiliated with Russia in any way and financed for it. The main goal is to spread destabilization in the Ukrainian environment, the message said. The election campaign has officially started on December 31, 2018. Registration of the candidates would last until February 4, 2019, and on February 9, the final list of presidential candidates will appear. The candidates would be able to withdraw his candidacy until March 7, 2019. Earlier, Central Election Commission of Ukraine closed all polling station in Russia, particularly, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk. Besides, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin warned that Ukraine does not intend to approve applications from the Russian OSCE observers at the elections. Related video: Lyudmyla Denisova met with Ambassador Tony Frisch, the Coordinator of the OSCE Monitoring Mission in a humanitarian subgroup in the Trilateral Contact Group Citizens detained on the occupied territories of Donbas before the conflict's beginning will be transferred to Ukraine in early February, as Ukraines Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Facebook. We have discussed the question of the transfer of the Ukrainians who were detained before the conflict. Another transfer will be conducted on the first week of February, Denisova wrote. The Ombudsman has met with the Coordinator of the OSCE Monitoring Mission in a humanitarian subgroup in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Tony Frisch. The possibility of the exchange remains one of the main issues. Therefore, me and Mr. Frisch noted that we were ready to the exchange of any format and we are trying to do that, she noted. As it was reported, 42 prisoners were transferred to Ukraine-controlled territory from Luhansk. The first stage includes arranging nine helipads in Ukraine Open source The launch of high-speed passenger air transportation between the regional centers and the resort zones was initiated in Odesa region. The press-service of Odesa Regional State Administration reports this. Thus, the Air Express investment project involves the use of heavy helicopters Boeing Vertol 107-II and Boeing 234 Chinook (26 and 44 passenger seats, respectively) for the transportation of passengers between the regional centers and the resorts in Zatoka (Carolino-Bugaz), Bukovel and Truskavets. According to the estimates, the route to Carolino Bugaz from Kyiv will take two hours, from Vinnytsia 1 hour and 25 minutes, and from Cherkasy one hour a half. According to the investment project, the first stage includes arranging nine helicopter pads in Ukraine. The Odesa Regional State Administration has signed a memorandum with the International Transport Service group TWS. It is expected that the US Trans World Service and the EXIM Corporation will join the project as well. Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) company intends to carry out the first run of the Kyiv-Minsk-Vilnius-Riga-Tallinn train until the end of May 2019. It is reported by the press service of the company. It is noted that representatives of the railways of Ukraine, Lithuania and Estonia discussed the possibility of extending the route of the "four capitals" train (Kyiv - Minsk - Vilnius - Riga) to Tallinn. "At one time, the Estonian side, considering its participation in the project, took the time to analyze the economic component of the project, in particular its profitability. For our part, we can report that over the time of the course this train has already transported almost 5 thousand passengers, and its fullness is almost 60%, which clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of the new project ", said the head of the Ukrzaliznytsia Board Yevgen Kravtsov. At least 300 MPs should vote for this decision to pass Open source The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament intends to vote for the final amendments to the Constitution on the foreign policy on entering the EU and NATO. This should take place on the plenary session on February 7, as the website of the parliament reported. The draft law #9037 provides the amendments to the preamble of the Constitution, according to which, the parliament confirms the European identity of the Ukrainians and irreversibility of the European and Euro-Atlantic course of Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada, the president and the Cabinet of Ministers should implement this course. The norm, which allows the foreign military formations to use the working military bases on the territory of Ukraine on the terms of rent, according to the international agreements, is excluded from the transitional provisions. Earlier, President Petro Poroshenko stated that Ukraine clearly and purposefully heads to membership in the European Union and NATO. The Parliament sent the bill on amendments to the Constitution concerning the EU, NATO integration plan with 321 votes on September 20, 2018. According to the bill, the President of Ukraine is the guarantor of the implementation of strategic course of the state towards Ukraines full membership in the EU and NATO. In its turn, the Cabinet of Ministers provides the implementation of the strategic course of the state towards Ukraines full membership in the EU and NATO. Later, Ukraines Constitutional Court provided a conclusion to the presidential bill on amending the Constitution of the State concerning the integration of the country in the European Union and NATO. Werra, the floating naval base will join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two; it will reach the Bulgarian seaports in Burgas and Varna Werra, German naval vessel dw.com Werra, the warship of the German Navy will join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG 2) in the Black Sea. Deutsche Welle reported that referring to the German defense ministry's official. The floating naval base will reach the Bulgarian seaports in Burgas and Varna. The German authority does not plan to send any more vessels to that area. Previously, U.S. battleship Donald Cook (DDG 75) entered the waters of the Black Sea and spent over a week there; it reached the Georgian port of Batumi. Pytlivyi (Watchful) vessel of the Black Sea Fleet kept the track of its course. Earlier, Germany reassured that it was ready to continue the support of Ukraine in the de-escalation and deterrence of the Russian armed aggression, including the provision of the military presence of the naval vessels of German Navy in the Black Sea as Ukraines Defense Ministry reported. The German side reassured in the readiness to continue the support of Ukraine in the de-escalation and deterrence of the Russian armed aggression, including the provision of the military presence of the naval vessels of German Navy, striving for release of the Ukrainian sailors and comprehensive support of the reforms in Ukraines security and defense sector, the message said. The pipeline should be used for the gas pumping from Turkey to Serbia Bulgaria and Russia agreed on the construction of the gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine for the pumping of the Russian gas from Turkey to Serbia as EUobserver reported. After the conclusion of the contract with the Russian Gazprom, Bulgarian gas companies committed to the building of a new pipeline. The project at the cost of 1,4 billion Euro can strengthen the independence of the EU from the gas and undermine the security of Ukraine. Bulgaria will receive the Russian gas through Turkstream, which is laid on the bottom of the Black Sea after 2019. Now, Bulgaria completely depends on the supplies of the Russian gas transported through the Ukrainian gas transporting system and the territory of Romania. Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda urged the German government to give up on Nord Stream 2 construction. He insisted that the new pipeline would breach the current energy balance, posing danger to the energy safety of some countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Russian president Putin claimed that the Russian Federation was ready to save the gas transit through Ukraine after the launch of the Nord Stream 2. Gazprom and its partners intended to begin the realization of the Nord Stream 2 project, which costs ten billion dollars. It is expected that the 1,200-km gas pipeline will be laid through the Baltic Sea, and will connect Russia and Germany bypassing Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic countries. The capacity of the gas pipeline will be twice increased compared to that of the first Nord Stream. The construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2019. Ukraine is adamantly opposed to the construction by calling it politically motivated and suggesting the EU to create a consortium with the involvement of European companies to manage the existing more efficient transportation route through Ukraine. A number of EU countries have expressed their disagreement with the Nord Stream 2 project in particular Poland and Lithuania. TORONTO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celestica Inc. (NYSE, TSX: CLS), a leader in design, manufacturing and supply chain solutions for the world's most innovative companies, today announced that its Annual General Shareholders Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. EDT at the TMX Broadcast Centre, The Exchange Tower, 130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario. Celestica also announced that it has set Friday, March 8, 2019 as the record date for determining shareholders of the company who are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. Shareholders should expect to receive the company's proxy statement and related materials in mid-March. About Celestica Celestica enables the world's best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in aerospace and defense, communications, enterprise, healthtech, industrial, capital equipment, and smart energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development - from the drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services. With talented teams across North America, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers. For further information on Celestica, visit www.celestica.com. Company's securities filings can be accessed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. According to the Prosecutor General, only big privatization is the method of eliminating the large-scale corruption The Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko Open source More than 2,000 bribetakers have been sentenced over the past two years within the fight against corruption in Ukraine. The Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko reported this, as RBC-Ukraine reports. According to his words, everyday 10 bribetakers are detained per a day. 100 bribtakers are detained per month. It has been done a lot since the Maydan. For example, the government procurements help to save us millions of hryvnias. Still, there are, however, immense holes. We have 3,500 state enterprises, the official two thirds of which are not profitable. Why not sell them? ", Lutsenko said. According to the Prosecutor General, only big privatization is the method of eliminating the large-scale corruption. Lutsenko also pointed out, that over 22,000 cases of bribery have been sent to the court over the two past years. Yesterday, we detained the Deputy of Pechersk Regional State Administration for bribery, he added. As we reported earlier, the Prosecutors Office would not appeal against the sentence of ex-president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych for state treason. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Reuters Energy policy is a crucial part of Russias strategy to maximize its influence in Europe and divide the European Union. As highlighted by critics of Russias assertive energy strategy in Europe, the two flagship Russian-sponsored pipeline projects, Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream, are much more than business: they are also geopolitical tools aimed at increasing Russias leverage over Central and Eastern Europe. However, an increasing number of articles in the West falsely portray NATO member Hungary as a satellite state within Russian President Vladimir Putins grand European strategy. These claims are misplaced. A key element of the criticism Hungary receives is linked to its energy politics. One of the first strategic decisions of the second government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban in 2010-2011 was to buy back the share that Russian oil and gas company Surgutneftegas owned in the Hungarian flagship energy company MOL, with the objective of posing clear limits for Russian influence in the Hungarian energy market. If anything, MOLin which the Hungarian government owns 26 percentand Russian energy firms are competitors in the region, especially with regard to Russian intentions in Croatia. Any notion that MOL or any other major Hungarian company is a geopolitical tool in the hands of Moscow is baseless. With respect to natural gas, Hungary is highly dependent on imports and on one sourceRussia. Like many other EU members, it has two strategic objectives: diversification of sources and diversification of transit routes. In some cases, the two objectives converge, as with the interconnectors toward Romania and Croatia. In other cases, Hungary is taking steps to increase the number of supply routes from the Russian source, but that doesnt mean its abandoning its other objective. Meanwhile, other major European-Russian energy deals such as Nord Stream 2 or the Yamal LNGsupported by other EU members such as Austria, Italy, France, and Germanyhave much greater potential geopolitical ramifications than any of the Russian-Hungarian deals, due to their sheer volume, economic size, and political impact. Moreover, high-level meetings between Putin and many other leaders of EU or NATO members are as least as frequent as those between Orban and the Russian president. The claim that Hungary is currently pursuing irredentist policies to make way for Russian meddling also needs revision. The relationships between Hungary and those of its neighbors with which it historically had the most tensionsSlovakia, Serbia, and Romaniaare excellent from a historical perspective. Any recent disputes about Hungarian minority rights with these countries are a far cry from those of the previous decade or of the 1990s. Furthermore, the political objectives Hungary has put forward in its support for Hungarian minorities are well within the boundaries of European norms. It is indisputable that Hungarian-Ukrainian relations have taken a downturn in recent years. However, the primary cause of this development was the adoption of a controversial education law by Kyiv in 2017, which was criticized in a detailed opinion by the Council of Europes Venice Commission that called for some corrections. Hungarys objective is for Ukraine to comply with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. Hungarian support for Ukraines stability, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic orientation has been consistent since 1991. Hungary has displayed nothing but staunch support for Ukraines independence and territorial integrity, EU visa liberalization, and signing of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement; Hungary has also supported sanctions against Russia after Crimea and has stood up for NATO reassurance and deterrence measures against Russia. Its true that Hungary has blocked ministerial-level meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission since March 2017, but its also true that Budapest has not objected to any other format of high-level meetings or to any other form of NATO-Ukraine cooperation. Budapest uses this platform in its dispute with Kyiv because it is concerned about existing minority rights. From the Hungarian perspective, Ukraines transition needs to be based on Euro-Atlantic principles to be lasting and successful. All of this is not to say that Hungarys approach and decisions related to Russia should be free of debate from an Atlanticist perspective. However, portraying Hungary as a Trojan horse of Russia which is bent on advancing Putins interests to the detriment of its NATO allies is off the mark. Hungary is pursuing its national interests in line with many other NATO members policies as it applies a pragmatic, economics-centered approach in its relations with Russia, while at the same time setting clear limits for its support of Moscows conduct in the region. Read the original text here. The media actively discuss a new plan for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas, which is to replace the Minsk agreements Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, Martin Sajdik rian.com The author of the plan is the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, Martin Sajdik. In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, he spoke about his idea in detail, calling the Minsk agreements vague. Especially regarding the holding local elections on the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Taking part in the Inter-faction Association "Minsk Platform" in the Verkhovna Rada for years now, I personally talked to Mr. Sajdik. Therefore, such activity of his is similar to writing an essay on a free topic. As he has no corresponding mandate either from the OSCE or from the Normandy format. The suggestions he made, to put it mildly, also look rather ambiguous. Let us take a look at the key points of the Sajdik's plan and what lies behind it all. Special representative to Donbas? According to the proposed plan, the UN and OSCE have to act not in parallel, but together under a general guidance headed by the so-called special representative: it concerns both military and police component of the UN, and OSCE Monitoring Mission, which is already operating in the regions. The cooperation between the UN and OSCE is rather close. For instance, the UN Temporary Mission to Kosovo to implement mandate has brought together four elements first. Two of them under a direct authority of the UN, one under the EUs guidance, and the component Democracy and institutional building is led by the OSCE. Such pattern is possible as it was quite successful in the Balkans. Local elections "To implement the central element - holding of the local elections - external assistance is required. We have concluded that this can only be the UN," the special representative emphasized. It is necessary to understand the key point: elections on the occupied territories can only be held when they are controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, and the whole procedure is carried out in accordance with the laws of Ukraine. It is about restoring the legitimate Ukrainian authorities on the ground. Only this can be a prerequisite for holding the elections and not the presence of the UN peacekeeping forces there. And it goes without saying that up to that point all the Russian military must leave our territory. The most favourable for stabilizing the situation and maintaining peace in a post-conflict environment is holding elections three years after the ceasefire. Now we see that the fighting in the Donbas continues and there is no peace there. Therefore, talking about holding the local elections in such circumstances is inappropriate. In addition, given the nature of the problems, UN peacekeepers are often invited to participate in events that, in fact, are in the category of establishing peace. In particular, in connection with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, or demining, security sector reform and other law enforcement activities. The very idea of introducing peacekeeping forces in Donbas is not new. The Ukrainian side declared such a need from the UN tribune, but Russia is blocking this decision with all its might. One more organization The plan includes creating the European Training Foundation in Donbas similar to the one they used to have on the Balkans. Actually, the foundation appeared to be a very effective one. It had lasted for eight years (from 2000 till 2008). During this comparatively short period, the organization proved that the delegation of authorities, resources and skills to the one foundation can highly improve the quality of international aid. However, the negative sides of the Training foundation are the work on many fronts and the mobilization of the resources in such a way, when the quality prevailed over quantity. Taking into account the whole scale of the Ukrainian conflict and the problems that have to solve, some doubts may appear that one foundation is able to control everything properly and to maintain independence from the aggressor. Price of doing business The most paradoxical Sajdiks proposition is the ratification of the peace plan by the heads of countries of the Normandy format Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, as well as the parliamentarian approval. In this case, I agree with many Ukrainian politicians that such an idea is far from being a diplomatic one. First of all, only the head of state, the parliament and peoples representatives have the right to propose legislative initiatives into voting. If we are talking about the ratification of some documents, the president and the parliament pass them to the Verkhovna Rada. It is far from being in powers of the foreign authorities. Second of all, while there is a war on Donbas, while the enemy holds our prisoners of war, while the people die, how can we talk about mutual signing of the document by both Ukrainian and Russian parliaments. Ukraine is an independent state, so it does not need voting among other states concerning the domestic policy and protection of sovereignty. Without regaining Crimea and Donbas we will not even think about friendly relationship with the Russian Federation. The key moment in this ratification situation is the price of doing business and the collateral arrangements, without which there is no other way to deal with such important issues. All the legislative process depend fully on the decision of the president of Russia. Of course, we should not rule out the slight chance of signing of a new plan. The negotiations between the Russian Federation and the European countries are taking place these days. Nord Stream 2, Syria, Israel and the Azov crisis are all the conflict zones between the Russian Federation and the European countries, which have to be solved. So it is still possible that the subject of such negotiations once will be the Donbas returning question. And the Russian Federation will act as usual. That is why Ukraine should be ready for the new political fight for regaining its sovereignty. The price of doing business for our country the future of more than four million Ukrainians, who live on the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Amnesty and legitimization of militants A new comprehensive agreement also provides amnesty and involvement of the representatives of occupation regime to local authorities. It is obvious that the successful demobilization and disarmament of the members of the armed formations are impossible without amnesty. As they will not lay down their arms under the threat. However, the amnesty is impossible in the hot stage of the conflict. It can be a tool of the reconciliation and reintegration but not a way to avoid liability and fair trial over the criminals. Particularly, the amnesty should be imposed in parallel with the investigations and prosecution of people, who bear the main responsibility for the military crimes, terrorism and gross violations of human rights. Besides, the particular conditions for its provision should be spelt out in the law on amnesty for Donbas. They are the voluntary disarmament, readiness to testify and cooperate with the investigation. Moreover, the individual investigation against each person, each collaborator should precede the amnesty to define the possibility to impose the amnesty toward them. And the most important is that the procedure should take place in the accordance with the national legislation and international and legal commitments of Ukraine, be adopted by the parliament and not be defined by the foreign special representatives. Today, the amnesty issue is not supported by society, it should be carefully studied, and the decision should be made considerably. The participation of the militants in the talks has no alternative as they are participating in the Minks Talks for a long time and control (even with support of Russia) Donbas territories uncontrolled by Kyiv. Their participation is necessary for Russia, which distances itself from the conflict in such a way. This issue stands out sharply in the context of the prisoners exchange. It is not likely that we should expect the exclusion of occupied Donbas representatives from the fulfilment of a new format of the conflict settlement. In the result, we have the same Minsk but in another wrapper. Therefore, Mr. Sajdik personally and his OSCE colleagues should better concentrate on their direct and professional responsibilities. Particularly, they should do at least something for the release of the Ukrainian hostages from the terrorists detention. It would be a real help to real people. Moreover, we would like to hear a clear position of the special representative on the aggressive actions of Russia in Donbas, while it looks like an attempt to straddle both worlds. First, as is generally recognized, the Minsk agreements do not work; more to the point, they do not work the way Moscow designed them against Ukraine, because Ukraine has immunized itself militarily, legally and politically from those agreements destructive potential The new plan for peace in Ukraines east, disclosed by Ambassador Martin Sajdik (see EDM, January 30, 2019) and the reactions to it from Kyiv, Moscow, Donetsk and Luhansk (see below), illustrate three basic facts about the Russian-imposed Minsk agreements and their non-implementation from 2014/2015 to date. First, as is generally recognized, the Minsk agreements do not work; more to the point, they do not work the way Moscow designed them against Ukraine, because Ukraine has immunized itself militarily, legally and politically from those agreements destructive potential. Second, the Minsk dispensation is not one without alternatives; hence Sajdiks plan itself (for all its flaws) seeks to move the negotiations from the level of the Minsk agreementsa bilateral Russia-Ukraine affairto a new level, that of a multilateral international settlement. Sajdiks plan, in turn, repackages Washington and Kyivs initiative (20172018) for a United Nationsled peacekeeping mission in Ukraines east, designed to circumvent the destructive political clauses of the Minsk agreements: an alternative to them, while still paying the inevitable diplomatic lip service to them. And third (as a corollary), Russia can fiercely defend the system of Minsk agreements and forums because this system helps to preserve Russias gains in Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Moscow, Donetsk and Luhansk have instantly perceived Sajdiks plan as threatening their own conception of the Minsk agreements as inviolable, immutable and obligatory on Ukraine. In particular, Sajdiks plan jeopardizes the status of the Minsk dispensation as without alternative, since Sajdiks plan itself outlines a possible alternativealbeit suboptimal, compared with the 2017 US-Ukrainian initiative for a UN-led peacekeeping operation. Although parts of Sajdiks plan contravene Ukraines interests while favoring Russias (see EDM, January 30, 2019), Moscow and Donetsk-Luhansk have attacked Sajdiks plan vituperatively, and his person scurrilously. The Kremlins authorized voice, Aleksei Chesnakov, responded: The Minsk agreements must be fully carried out. Any talks about adding to and further development of Minsk, are manipulative attempts at enabling Ukraine to avoid its obligations. Initially assuming that Sajdik was acting on his own initiative, tolerated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Chesnakov warned the latter: The OSCEs own representative is casting this organizations effectiveness into doubt. The OSCEs official, responsible for the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements, is attempting to renege on them. Sajdiks was an empty document, unworthy of serious consideration, incomprehensible to anybodyeven to him. Obviously fatigued at the end of his career, he tries to propose at least something, so as not to look so helpless (TASS, January 28, 2019). Chesnakov is generally deemed the public voice of Vladislav Surkov, Kremlin overseer of the Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics (DPR, LPR). Shortly after his initial reaction, Chesnakov reconsidered and exculpated the OSCE: It has now become obvious that the United States is behind Sajdiks plan. This is not Sajdiks plan, not even the OSCEs plan. This is [Kurt] Volkers plan. Sajdik was simply ordered to air it. Volker unleashed Sajdik (TASS, January 31, 2019). The US State Departments special representative Volker was the counterpart to Chesnakovs own chief, Surkov, in the negotiations on a possible UN-led peace mission in Ukraines east (2017early 2018), which Surkov has broken off. The Kremlin suspects, not entirely without reason, that Sajdiks plan seeks to float a B-grade version of that 2017 concept. Moscows chief representative in the Minsk Contact Group, Boris Gryzlov, also attacked the OSCE and personally Sajdik, his regular counterpart in the Minsk forum: The OSCEs Special Representative [Sajdik] is thereby admitting to his own incompetence The road to peace in Donbas leads through the exact fulfillment of the Minsk agreements. Within the Contact Group, Gryzlov said, Russia continually works to impress upon the parties that a political settlement under the Minsk agreement has no alternative (TASS, January 29, 2019). Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has preserved the diplomatic decorum (at least pending foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharovas weekly spectacle). The ministrys pan-European cooperation department director, Andrei Kelin, pointed out that Sajdiks personal plan is not supported by the Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics. Only with their agreement would it be possible to move forward (TASS, January 29, 2019). This is, in Russias view, an iron-clad component of the Minsk agreements and the Contact Groups negotiations: decisions require a negotiated consensus between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk (i.e., their veto power). The DPRs and LPRs foreign affairs ministers, Natalia Nikonorova and Vladislav Deynego, respectively, followed the Surkov-Chesnakov cue in attacking Sajdik and the OSCE. The Sajdik plan is irresponsible, in view of his coordinators role; it casts the OSCEs effectiveness into doubt and aims to sabotage the Minsk process. Any disruption of the implementation of the Minsk documents is unacceptable. They codify the only peaceful settlement plan, without alternative. The OSCE and Sajdik must react to Ukraines evasion of its obligations under the Minsk agreements (TASS, Donetskoye Agentstvo Novostei, Lugansk Infotsentr, January 28, 2019). Moscows and its proxies remarks demonstrate, in their content and their tenor, a fierce resolve to preserve the status of the Minsk dispensation as the sole basis for negotiations, at least in theory. From a different perspective and different motives, the German and French governments also insist on the sacrosanct nature of the Minsk agreements. This stance both explains and guarantees deadlock in the forums that those agreements begat, namely the Normandy Forum (Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine) and the Minsk Contact Group (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, DPR and LPR). Secondly, Moscow and even Donetsk-Luhansk apparently feel free to show their disrespect for the OSCEwhich is hardly surprising in view of this organizations displays of weakness vis-a-vis Russia in the frozen conflicts during the last 25 years. All of this vindicates Ukraines serial decisions from 2015 to date to protect itself against the implementation of the political clauses of the Minsk documents. It vindicates, as well, the Donald Trump administrations policy (unlike that of the preceding administration) to work in tandem with Ukraine around, not within, the traps set by the Minsk system. Read the original text here. February is one of the most working periods of the year: 20 days for work and only eight days for recreation Today is February 1, so let us see a detailed map of weekends, holidays, and memorable dates of the winters last month. February is the shortest month of the year. The year 2019 is not a leap year, that is, this month has 28 days. February is one of the most working periods of the year: 20 days for work and only eight days for rest. None of the great public holidays (that is, additional days off) are scheduled for February. Nevertheless, despite such a working atmosphere, February has many warm and pleasant holidays; these are at least four important events. February 5 - Chinese New Year Open source Ukrainians have already celebrated the New Year twice, on January 1st and 14th (following the Orthodox Julian calendar), and they have not time to relax: soon it can be done for the third time, because Chinese New Year, which coincides with the February new moon, starts February 5 in Asia (February 4 in the west) and rings in the Year of the Pig. Each year of the Chinese lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 animal symbols of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep (Goat), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. For this year, its the Pigs turn. Pig is not thought to be a smart animal in China. It likes sleeping and eating and becomes fat. Thus it usually features laziness and clumsiness. On the positive side, it behaves itself, has no plan to harm others, and can bring affluence to people. Consequently, it has been regarded as wealth. Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally last 15 days, from the first day (during a new moon) to the 15th day (next full moon). Each day holds a special significance that varies according to local traditions. But first, before the arrival of the new year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away ill fortune and to welcome good luck. On New Years Eve, there are family gatherings to celebrate and enjoy sumptuous traditional feasts and to greet the new year with fireworks at midnight. February 14 - Valentine's Day Open source Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century. There are many stories about St Valentine and over time these stories grew into the legend we know today. Valentine's Day is most commonly associated with romantic love, with millions of Valentine's Day cards being exchanged each year. Gifts of flowers or a single red rose are sent with romantic messages to loved ones and couples spend special time together. Valentine's Day gift hampers are also a popular gift and typically include flowers, champagne, and chocolates. While Valentine's Day is celebrated in most countries, in some of them it is observed as a day for expressing love between family members and friends, rather than that of romantic couples. February 15 - Day of honoring veterans, who fought on the territory of other countries president.gov.ua Immediately after Valentine's Day, Ukraine honors war veterans, who fought on the territory of the other states. This memorable date was established 14 years ago by Ukraines second president Leonid Kuchma. It was not chosen by chance. On this day, a part of the Ukrainian society has unofficially celebrated the anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. However, this day is not only for the Afghan veterans. After World War II, the Ukrainian military took part in 24 local wars and armed conflicts in the territory of 16 foreign states. February 20 - Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes In addition to the Day of honoring "international veterans," February 20 is another important memorable day. It was established by Ukraines President Poroshenko "to perpetuate great human, civil and national courage and dedication, fortitude and perseverance of citizens, thanks to which the course of our states history was changed, worthy of the heroes of the Heavenly Hundreds who gave their lives during Revolutions of dignity (November 2013 - February 2014), defending the ideals of democracy, human rights and freedoms, and Ukraines European future." That is the day of memory of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes. February 20, 2014, during the European Revolution in Kyiv, the power units of Yanukovychs regime shot the protesters. In total, there were up to one hundred victims a day, which was later called the Heavenly Hundred. Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution On condemning the use of violence, which led to the death of Ukraines civilians, a number of government officials announced that they were on the side of the people. This was a turning point in the events of the Revolution of Dignity. In addition, February has more than a dozen professional and slightly less popular international and worldwide holidays. In particular: February 4 World Cancer Day; February 5 Day of Safe Internet; February 6 International Bartender's Day; February 9 International Dentist Day; February 11 World Day of the Sick; February 13 World Radio Day; February 14 Day of the programmer; February 15 International Childhood Cancer Day; February 17 Day Random Kindness Acts; February 20 World Day of Social Justice; February 21 International Mother Language Day; February 22 International Day for the support of victims of crime; Open source When Jesus was forty days old, Mary and Joseph took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem. They were not wealthy, so they took two turtle doves with them to offer as a sacrifice at the Temple. As they arrived at the Temple, Mary and Joseph were met by a very old man named Simeon. He was a holy man and was noted as a very intelligent scholar. Simeon spent much time studying about the prophets of Israel. It was during his studies that he learned of the coming of the Messiah. The Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah to come and deliver Israel from their conquerors. From that time on, Simeon spent his time praying for the Messiah to come. He spent many years in prayer. Finally, while Simeon was praying he heard the voice of God. God promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Also, in the Temple was Anna the Prophetess. She had been a widow for many years. Anna was about eighty-four years old and spent her time in the Temple worshiping, fasting, and praying. When she saw the Christ Child she praised God and spoke of him to all who were awaiting the Messiah. After Jesus was presented in the Temple, the family returned to Galilee to the town of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom. Read the original text at 112.ua. PHOENIX, AZ, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE For The Earth Corporation (the Company) (OTC: FTEG) is pleased to announce that Lisa Nelson has joined the Advisory Board of FTEG. We are extremely excited to welcome Lisa Nelson to the FTEG Advisory Board, said Nelson Grist, President and CEO of For The Earth Corporation. With Lisas 25 years of executive management, ownership, operations and national sales experience in a wide range of industries including hospitality, healthcare, marketing, and retail. Lisa is also very active in the CBD Industry. Today, Lisa is now the CEO and President of LBC Bioscience Inc., which the company is focused on the Cannabidiol industry. Lisa will help source and develop an Anti-Aging Skincare line and a Pet Care line with CBD infused into the products. Bio for Lisa Nelson Lisa Nelson - Mrs. Nelson graduated from the Mandel Medical School with a Medical Assistant degree in 1987. She also attended Queens Borough Community College as well as Pima Community College for her nursing degree LPN in 1992. Mrs. Nelsons drive has always been focused on helping people and contributing to the community. Mrs. Nelson has managed and assists with various fundraisers, and donates to charities, schools, and the Illumin8 Life Foundation for Breast Cancer awareness. About: For The Earth Corporation For The Earth Corporations primary focus is in three areas; Household and Institutional Cleaning, Pet, and the Health Care Industry. The Companys mission is to create Green and biodegradable, healthy living products, that provide effective and sustainable solutions for people, pets, and the planet. Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See For The Earths filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services. Legal Disclaimer The Company has filed to make an offering under Regulation A. The offering, if qualified by the SEC, will be made only by means of an offering circular. A preliminary offering statement on Form 1-A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become qualified. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time with respect to such an offering, and if sent in response to these materials for such an offering, it will not be accepted. No securities may be sold, and no offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received for an offering under Regulation A+ until an offering statement is qualified by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance given after the qualification date. An indication of interest made by a prospective investor in a Regulation A+ offering is non-binding and involves no obligation or commitment of any kind changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. 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. No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time with respect to such an offering, and if sent in response to these materials for such an offering, it will not be accepted. No securities may be sold, and no offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received for an offering under Regulation A+ until an offering statement is qualified by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance given after the qualification date. An indication of interest made by a prospective investor in a Regulation A+ offering is non-binding and involves no obligation or commitment of any kind. Ziua Mondiala a Soarelui, sarbatorita la 21 iunie Pe 21 iunie este sarbatorita Ziua Mondiala a Soarelui.Aceasta data nu este una aleatorie, ci a fost aleasa pentru ca reprezinta inceputul verii astronomice si este cea mai lunga zi din an. Solstitiul de vara este o zi marcata de o aliniere perfecta a axei Pamantului pe directia Soarelui.Ziua Soarelui [citeste mai departe] English Danish Noerresundby, Denmark, 1 February 2019 Announcement no. 09/2019 Enclosed please find a convening to the Extraordinary General Meeting of RTX to be held on Monday 4 March 2019 at 2.00 pm at the Companys address: Stroemmen 6, Noerresundby. The Extraordinary General Meeting is called for final adoption of some of the proposals approved at the Companys Annual General Meeting on 24 January 2019. Yours sincerely RTX A/S PETER RPKE CEO Enquiries and further information: CEO Peter Rpke, tel +45 96 32 23 00 RTXs homepage: www.rtx.dk Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 06:15:29|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close GABORONE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's environment minister on Friday urged citizens of Botswana to conserve the wetlands as an effective way to address the impact of climate change. In his keynote address for the 2019 World Wetlands Day in Selibe-Phikwe, some 350 km northeast of the capital city of Gaborone, Kitso Mokaila said environmental degradation is worsening Botswana's efforts in the fight against climate change. The World Wetlands Day occurs annually on Feb. 2. Climate change is already being blamed for a number of changes in Botswana, including longer drought episodes, changes in rainfall patterns, outbreaks of crop diseases that affect the most important sector to rural households and subsistence agriculture. At a national level, Botswana is experiencing significant water shortages, resulting in dependence on its neighboring countries for inter-basin water transfers to complement its domestic supply. As a result of climate change, Botswana is experiencing extremely high temperature and a decline in river flows. "There is need for the conservation of wetlands because they play a significant role in the protection of the environment. Wetlands can capture almost 30 percent of carbon dioxide," said Mokaila during the event held under the theme "Wetlands and Climate Change." Besides protecting the environment, Mokaila said the wetlands are a tourist attraction to many who visit the southern African country to enjoy the scenic view of the magnificent Okavango Delta in the northwest. "Tourism is contributing significantly to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) thanks to the wetlands," said Mokaila, adding that the diamond rich nation of Botswana aims to attract more tourists from China. In the southern Africa region, Botswana is one of the countries affected by loss of livestock under prolonged drought conditions given its extensive rangeland. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 05:05:12|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The prime minister of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in Iraq said Friday that the Kurdish security forces, known as Peshmerga, are ready to cooperate with federal forces in the fight against terror. "Peshmerga forces are now ready for all kinds of cooperation with Iraq's security forces and the international coalition to permanently eliminate the threat of terrorists in Iraq," said Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), during a ceremony commemorating the 2004 terror attack in Erbil that killed dozens of Kurdish politicians. Barzani also asserted the importance of boosting ties with central government in Baghdad, and the need to settle unsolved problems between Baghdad and Kurdish region. "There is a positive and good atmosphere between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government; fortunately there is a good understanding with Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that would help solve all problems between Erbil and Baghdad," Barzani said. "Terror groups like Daesh (Islamic State) are exploiting the obstacles and problems between Baghdad and Erbil, thus it is important to strengthen joint cooperation between the two sides and solving the problems is seen by the regional government as a crucial issue," Barzani added. On Feb. 1, 2004, two suicide bombers attacked the offices of the main two Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), in regional capital Erbil, leaving more than 100 prominent politicians and Peshmerga members killed and more than 250 others injured. The relations between Baghdad and Erbil witnessed tensions after the Kurds held a controversial referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas on Sept. 25 in 2017. Baghdad government repeatedly expressed its stance that the Kurdish region must recognize Iraq's national sovereignty and abides by preserving its unity. The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by other countries as it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against IS militants, at the time the Iraqi forces were fighting to dislodge IS militants from their strongholds in Mosul and some other areas. Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Iran and Syria, fear that the Iraqi Kurds' pursuit of independence threatens their territorial integrity, as large Kurdish populations live in those countries. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 03:45:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIGA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Beef from a slaughterhouse in Poland that has been caught butchering sick cattle for meat exports has been delivered also to a popular restaurant chain in Latvia, the Baltic country's food authority said Friday. Ilze Meistere, a spokeswoman for the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service, informed that 27 kilograms of beef from said Polish slaughterhouse had ended up at Lido restaurant chain but that nine kilograms of that batch remained in the company's storeroom. However, 18 kilograms of the bad meat were used for making sausages, but luckily, they had not yet reached consumers. Meistere said that all the Polish beef at the Lido storeroom would have to be destroyed. Checks are being carried out to make sure the meat from the sick cows is not used for making food at Lido eateries. Thanks to Lido's product traceability system, the food authority has been able to find out how much of the inedible beef from Poland has already been processed and how much remains in the storeroom. All the dangerous ingredients and products will be withdrawn from the market and destroyed, the food authority said. According to media reports, a slaughterhouse near Ostrow Mazowiecka in northeastern Poland has been butchering sick cows for meat exports. Beef from the sick cattle has reportedly been exported to 11 European Union member states. Authorities were alerted to the illegal business after secretly filmed footage of what was going on at the slaughterhouse was shown on Polish television. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 03:19:58|Editor: yan Video Player Close NICOSIA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday addressed a Chinese New Year message to the Chinese people, wishing them on a personal level, and also further progress for the People's Republic of China. "I would like to extend my warmest wishes that the Chinese New Year, the Pig Year, will be filled with good health, success, happiness and prosperity for all Chinese people and their families," Anastasiades said in a video message. He quoted from Confucius, saying that the strength of the nation derives from the integrity of the whole and added: "And I have no doubt that this year will also see China further continuing its inspiring economic growth and reform policy to the benefit of its people." Anastasiades said Cyprus feels deeply grateful and at the same time fortunate for its close relationship with China. "The relationship Cyprus and China have developed is one of sincere friendship which I am sure will further widen and deepen this year," he added. "Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year)!" Anastasiades concluded by wishing the best for the Pig Year in English and Chinese. The Year of the Pig in the Chinese lunar calendar will begin on Feb. 5, 2019. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a broadcast at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela January 29, 2019. (Reuters) MOSCOW, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia still recognizes Nicolas Maduro instead of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the Venezuelan president and hopes bilateral cooperation between the two countries will continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. "Mr. Guaido is the parliamentary speaker. He is not the head of state. We do not recognize his status. Mr. Maduro is the head of state, and he and his government are our actual partners in Venezuela," Peskov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. He said Russia hopes to further expand trade and economic ties as well as cooperation of mutual benefit with Venezuela, despite the current chaotic political situation in the country. "Everything happening in Venezuela is its internal affair, and the most important thing is to protect the country from interference by third states," Peskov said. Speaking about Guaido's statements that he had sent messages to Russia asking for support, Peskov denied that Russia has received any message from the opposition leader, adding that Moscow will "study it" when the message comes. Peskov also said Russia has nothing to do with the sale of Venezuelan gold, in response to previous media reports suggesting that the country's gold reserves are being transferred to Russia. Peskov said it is Venezuela's "sovereign right" to make decisions about purchasing or selling its gold, on which Moscow does not have any information. Guaido, head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, declared himself interim president during an anti-government rally on Jan. 23, which was recognized by the United States. Maduro, in response, announced the severing of diplomatic and political ties with the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 02:39:47|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu stressed on Friday that his country supported the 16+1 cooperation format between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). Melescanu made the remarks at a joint press conference with Frederica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, after a two-day informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers. "Romania...obviously endorses the complementarity of China-CEEC cooperation format, 16+1, with the relations between the EU and the People's Republic of China," said the foreign minister. Melescanu underlines that Romania hopes that all these activities would be "in a climate of full transparency and in accordance with EU legislation and values." "I have to tell you that it is quite clear from all the data that the People's Republic of China remains the main economic partner of almost the entire majority of European states," he said, stressing that capitalizing on the EU-Asia connectivity strategy, recently adopted by the EU, will be another important event that Romania will have during its EU presidency. Speaking about the discussion on China during the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers, Melescanu said the talks resulted in the "desire to promote cooperation with China on pragmatic basis, including in view of solving some international crises, development assistance programmes and some ambitious measures to combat climate changes." He added that in this context the foreign ministers also discussed the importance of the transatlantic relationship and the relations between the United States and China. The European Union held an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states here in Bucharest on Thursday and Friday. Eastern Partnership, Venezuela, Syria and China were among the major topics. Romania is the current EU Council Presidency. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 02:14:42|Editor: yan Video Player Close WARSAW, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- There will be no tolerance for people involved in the illegal cattle slaughtering, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Krzysztof Ardanowski said on Friday. "Unfortunately, this issue will affect the image of Polish food products in the world. I am realistic and have no doubt about that," the minister told reporters at a ceremony in Odolion, center Poland, indicating the incident of suspect beef. Polish TV channel TVN24 exposed in a report that severely-sick cows were slaughtered and put for sale from local slaughterhouse. Some 2,700 kilograms of suspect beef went to more than ten European Union countries including France, Spain and Sweden. Ardanowski added that police procedures are being carried out in order to eliminate this kind of incidents from the market. "No one could expect tolerance in this case," he stressed. The minister said that in compliance with the European Commission, Poland plans to introduce legislation changes, in order to fix the situation systematically. "There is no 24-hour presence of veterinarians in slaughterhouses, so 24-hour monitoring is necessary," he explained, adding that this is logic and will be implemented soon. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:54:39|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The main outcome of exchange of views on relations with China at the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) states is the strong will to coordinate their positions more and have more information exchange of information, head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini said here on Friday. "We had a discussion today together with ministers of the candidate countries, and also separately, about our relations with China, a strategic partner for the EU, an important country in terms of economic power, trade relations, global role, which opens up a few opportunities for us that we are ready to explore together as much as possible, as far as possible in a coordinated way," the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy told a joint press conference with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. Mogherini mentioned that in recent years the EU has stepped up its cooperation with China on global issues such as fighting climate change or maintaining the nuclear agreement with Iran. Yet, she said that there are also challenges for policies that are certainly different from one side to another. "In this mixed picture of challenges and opportunities, it was a very important occasion for Member States to exchange information and coordinate their approaches, both with each other and with the candidate countries, which is extremely important because they also have important relations with China in different areas," stressed Mogherini. She proposed to ministers to return to discuss the topic on relations with China at one of the upcoming EU Council meetings in Brussels, before the EU-China summit scheduled for April. Romanian Foreign Minister Melescanu said at the joint press conference that the talks, also known as Gymnich, showed the desire to promote cooperation with China on a pragmatic basis. The European Union held an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states in Bucharest on Thursday and Friday. Eastern Partnership, Venezuela, Syria and China were among the major topics. Romania is the current EU Council Presidency. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:39:37|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 21,000 British citizens who live in Belgium today will be able to continue working in the country until the end of 2020, said the Belgian Minister of Employment, Kris Peeters, after a cabinet meeting on Friday. The Belgian government approved a royal decree on Friday as part of its initiatives for a no-deal Brexit. On the agenda was a discussion on the fate of British workers living in Belgium who, in case of a no-deal, risk losing their right to work. In absence of an agreement on Brexit, however, UK citizens who arrive in Belgium after March 29, the date of Britain's exit from the European Union, will have no automatic right to work in the country, reported the Belgian newspaper 7sur7. These people will be subject to rules applicable to third-country nationals to the EU. This latest decision by Belgium is contingent on a reciprocal commitment from the UK, where over 35,000 Belgians live and work. "The transitional arrangements were made in the absence of an agreement on Britain's withdrawal from the EU, and we are still hopeful that Britain will approve the Brexit agreement," said Kris Peeters. TORONTO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutritional High International Inc., (the Company or Nutritional High) (CSE:EAT) (OTCQB:SPLIF) (FRANKFURT:2NU) reports that effective February 1, 2019, the City of Sacramento Cannabis Policy & Enforcement (the City) has rescinded local authorization for cannabis manufacturing for Pasa Verde, LLC (Pasa Verde), a subsidiary of the Company. Without local authorization in place, the California Department of Public Health (the State) was required to revoke Pasa Verdes state temporary manufacturing license. This does not in any way affect the licensing of the Companys distribution operations under Calyx Brands (Calyx), the temporary-licensed cannabis distribution subsidiary of the Company and has minimal impact on Company operations. Pasa Verde received approval for its building permits from the City on January 16, 2019 and the build-out of the FLI Labs NorCal facility will proceed as planned. Further, Calyx will continue distributing FLI products being produced by other licensed cannabis manufacturers in California. Based upon discussions with the City regarding its decision, the Company is moving forward with the build-out and will apply for a new Business Operating Permit (BOP) under a new subsidiary of the Company. We anticipate the BOP being finalized before the completion of the build-out. Jim Frazier, CEO of Nutritional High, commented, While we had hoped to maintain the local authorization at FLI Labs NorCal and secure the BOP early on in the build-out period, this is a minor shift in our operations. We look forward to working with the City on a new BOP, completing the build-out and moving forward with fully compliant manufacturing, production and packaging operations at scale in Sacramento. About Nutritional High International Inc. Nutritional High develops, manufactures and distributes cannabis extracts and edible products under recognized brands for medical and adult use, in accordance with state and local law. Nutritional High has brought its flagship FLI edibles and extracts product line from production to market through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in California and Oregon, and in Colorado through a third-party licensed producer. In California, the Company distributes its products and products manufactured by other leading producers through its wholly-owned distributor Calyx Brands and is entering the Nevada, Washington State and Canadian markets in the near future. For updates on the Companys activities and highlights of the Companys press releases and other media coverage, please follow Nutritional High on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.nutritionalhigh.com . For further information, please contact: David Posner Co-Chairman of the Board Nutritional High International Inc. +1 647.985.6727 Email: dposner@nutritionalhigh.com Wynn Theriault Thirty Dash Communications +1 416.710.3370 Email: wynn@thirtydash.ca Lauren Frank Allison+Partners +1 623.201.5572 Email: Lauren.Frank@allisonpr.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR OTC MARKETS GROUP INC., NOR THEIR REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Risks that may have an impact on the ability for these events to be achieved include completion of the ability to effectively execute on the strategies contemplated in this press release. Although such statements are based on managements reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The Companys securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. 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 the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking information expressed in this press release include, but are not limited to: obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals including acquiring and renewing U.S. state, local or other licenses, 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, market and general economic conditions of the cannabis sector or otherwise. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:09:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Chen Wenxian JERUSALEM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A "multi-target toxin" treatment developed by an Israeli company has raised doubts about its claimed capability to completely cure cancer. Codeveloper and the company's CEO Ilan Morad voiced his confidence about its effect and prospects in a recent interview with Xinhua. A Jan. 28 report by The Jerusalem Post quoted Dan Aridor, chairman of the 18-year-old company Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (AEBi), as saying: "We believe we will offer in a year's time a complete cure for cancer." "Our cancer cure will be effective from day one, will last a duration of a few weeks and will have no or minimal side-effects at a much lower cost than most other treatments on the market," and the solution "will be both generic and personal," he added. Morad told Xinhua that they think the new treatment called MuTaTo (multi-target toxin) could cure cancer because a combination of several cancer-targeting peptides is used against each cancer cell while being combined with a strong peptide toxin to kill cancer cells specifically. At least three targeting peptides on the same structure with a strong toxin are used, he further explained about the new treatment, which he said he is "sure will not be affected by mutations." So far, anti-cancer drugs would fail when mutations in the targeted cancer cells make them ineffective. "Our strategy is attacking the cancer by several attacks combined together. It is easy to get one mutation for the cancer cell, but for instance to get three mutations at the same time, simultaneously, this is difficult for a cancer cell, actually it is impossible," Morad said. With a small office and a laboratory, AEBi is based in the central Israel town of Ness Ziona. The company has two researchers, Morad said, and the small team has not yet submitted paper on their new anti-cancer drug to any medical publication. They have reported the research to Drug Discovery Innovation Program conferences and people there were "very enthusiastic about our results and about our idea," he said. "We do not want (to publish papers) before we have a strong IP like patents," Morad said. Morad said AEBi has finished first exploratory mice experiments and achieved good results. "We are doing experiments with our drugs on cancer cells and on little animals, mice. We are not in the clinical phase. We don't test it on humans yet," Morad said. Morad said he hopes the company will soon secure funding and a partnership so that they can start clinic trials within a year. "We are not waiting until we have an approved drug because this can take seven to 10 years," Morad added. "If we get the right budget, we can advance fast." MuTaTo, however, is challenged by other Israeli experts. Skeptics said it is "pretty surprising" for them to hear about such a "bombastic" claim of finding a 100-percent cancer killer. Some demanded scientific paper publications and convincing trial results, or noted that it usually takes years and many experiments in animals and people before a cure can become commercial. From the scientific literature, it seems that neither the company nor its researchers ever published a scientific paper demonstrating the validity and ability of their technology to inhibit cancer, said Rotem Karni, a professor with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, in an interview with Xinhua. "A major step in every new technology and drug to treat patients is an extensive examination of the toxicity of the new drug," said Karni, while noting that the clinical steps for the approval of a new drug take several years, usually in three phases to test its safety, toxicity and efficacy. So far in the cancer treatment field, he said, "There are no approved drugs which are peptides. One possible problem with peptides is that an immune response can be developed against the peptides and reduce the efficacy of such treatment." Shlomo Lewkowicz, head of an Israeli non-governmental organization for the prevention of colorectal cancer, said it sounds "unrealistic" to advance from mice to human experiments, and such a promise is "premature." It will take a few years and will require a huge investment, and there have been many "dream drugs" failing to function as expected when tested in human beings, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:04:31|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Union Minister for the Office of the State Counselor of Myanmar U Kyaw Tint Swe (5th R, Front) and Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang (4th R, Front) attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for a photo exhibition on China's reform and opening-up, during a reception of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon, Myanmar, on Feb. 1, 2019. A reception to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the Chinese ambassador's residence in Myanmar on Friday. (Xinhua/U Aung) YANGON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A reception to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, was held at the Chinese ambassador's residence in Myanmar on Friday. During the event, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang highlighted the Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. He recalled both countries' joint efforts to meet people's aspirations for a better life and promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in both countries. U Kyaw Tint Swe, union minister for the Office of the State Counselor of Myanmar, extended good wishes to the Chinese government and people. He also expressed appreciation for China's assistance in Myanmar's national reconciliation and peace process as well as in socioeconomic development in Myanmar. The reception featured Chinese traditional gourmet session and cultural performances by artists from China's Jiangsu, Yunnan and Shaanxi provinces as well as from Myanmar's National University of Arts and Culture and Mary Chapman School for the Deaf Children. The reception was followed by a photo exhibition on China's reform and opening-up. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:04:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close MADRID, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Spain received a record number of 82.8 million foreign tourists in 2018, a 1.1-percent year-on-year increase from 2017, according to data published on Friday by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. In December 2018 alone, 4.4 foreign tourists visited Spain, which was a year-on-year increase of 9.7 percent. Although the numbers of foreign visitors to Spain continue to increase, the rate of growth has slowed considerably given that 2017 saw an 8.7-percent from 2016. The most popular destinations in Spain in 2018 were the Catalan region in the northwest of the country, which welcomed 23.1 percent of all visitors -- around 19.1 million in total, followed by the Balearic Islands (16.7 percent) and the Canary Islands (16.6 percent). Britain continued to be the main source market for tourists visiting Spain, totaling 18.5 million visitors, followed by Germany and France (11.4 million and 11.3 million respectively). Nevertheless, the 1.6-percent drop in the number of British tourists could be a sign of things to come following the UK's exit from the European Union, which is scheduled for the end of March. The fall in number of British tourists was compensated by a 0.7-percent increase in the number of French visitors. There were significant increases (30.2 percent and 17.3 percent) in the numbers of American and Russian tourists travelling to Spain. Last year, foreign tourists spent a total of 89.856 billion euros (103 billion U.S. dollars), up 3.3 percent year on year from 2017. It could indicate a slight shift to more "quality" tourism interested in gastronomy and culture, rather than the beach tourism which has so long been the staple of the Spanish market. "These numbers mean a new record for Spanish tourism and they allow Spain to maintain its position as a major tourist destination and motivate us to keep on working to consolidate," commented the Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 01:04:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- In an attempt to woo insurgents to quit militancy, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province said Friday that militants who voluntarily surrendered to security forces will get financial assistance from the government. Distributing money among a batch of militants who bade farewell to terrorism and vowed to make efforts for development of the country, Zulfiqar Bajwa, a senior army officer, said the government will protect all the people who will lay arms and quit insurgency, according to local media. Bajwa said that because of joint efforts of the government and other law-enforcement agencies, a large number of anti-state militants had surrendered their arms and joined hands with the government. At the ceremony held in Dera Bugti district of the province, 132 former militants including commanders surrendered to security forces. Militants have been surrendering arms and pledging alliance to the country since 2017, and so far over 1,000 militants surrendered in ceremonies held by the provincial government. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 00:54:30|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan held a regular diplomatic consultation and a security dialogue Friday in Beijing. During the activities attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and visiting Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori, the two sides agreed that 2019 is a vital year for China-Japan relations to move toward a higher level. The two countries should grasp the opportunity and implement the consensus reached by their leaders that China and Japan are cooperation partners rather than a threat to each other, and that they should support each other in peaceful development, according to a press release issued after the consultation. The two sides agreed to plan and prepare for high-level exchanges, make solid progress in trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and properly handle major, sensitive issues. During the security dialogue, the two sides stressed that they share important responsibilities for safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, and that they should stick to the path of peaceful development. Both sides agreed to step up dialogue, manage differences, build up trust and strive for a constructive relationship in security. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 00:34:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close THIMPHU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- After about 20 years the Bhutanese government has once again decided to reinforce a ban on the use and sale of plastics on April 1. The decision was announced by the National Environment Commission in a public notification. The commission said that with the reinforcement of the ban, businesses using plastics would be fined Nu 500 (7 U.S. dollars) for the first offence, and Nu 1,000 (14 U.S. dollars) for the second offence. For those who were found violating the rule subsequently, the licenses would be canceled. Bhutan launched the initiative to ban plastics in 1999, and tried to reinforce the policy in 2005 and 2009. However, both the attempts failed due to lack of follow-ups after the notification, and implementation. To help implement the reinforcement of ban, the commission has sought cooperation of relevant agencies to conduct sensitization programs, explore the availability of alternatives and help prepare the monitoring plans. Environment officials said the ban is in line with the, "waste prevention and management Act of Bhutan 2009, its regulation 2012 and amendment 2016," and to help protect and sustain human health through protection of the environment by reducing the generation of waste at source. Bhutan has been grappling with increasing waste pollution. As per the National Environment Commission's report, with rapid socio-economic development, increasing population and urbanization, the country is seeing an increase in the amount of solid waste generated. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 00:19:24|Editor: yan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits residents' homes in Qianmen area in central Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 1, 2019. President Xi Jinping on Friday visited residents and primary-level officials in Beijing and extended Lunar New Year greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday visited Beijing's primary-level cadres and residents in downtown neighborhoods ahead of the Spring Festival and extended Lunar New Year greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also inspected the preparation work for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-02 00:19:24|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Feb. 1, 2019. Clashes broke out on Friday afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli army forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, wounding dozens of people, medics and eyewitnesses said. (Xinhua/Stringer) GAZA/RAMALLAH, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Clashes broke out on Friday afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli army forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, wounding dozens of people, medics and eyewitnesses said. In eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, at least 25 Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers stationed on the borderline area, according to Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza. Thousands of protesters gathered Friday afternoon in eastern Gaza Strip joining the 45th weekly anti-Israel rallies and protests, known as the "Great March of Return" to break the Israeli blockade. The protesters waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans, burned tires, cut the barbed wire of the border's fence, and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, according to eyewitnesses. They said that the soldiers fired dozens of tear gas canisters and live ammunition at the demonstrators to keep them away from the fence of the border, and dozens suffered suffocation after inhaling the tear gas. The rallies organizers Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, who also joined the rallies in eastern Gaza, insisted that their marches and protests will go on until achieving the goals of ending the Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip for 12 years. Essam Daalis, a senior Hamas leader, told reporters that "the shortest way for (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to end tension in the Gaza Strip is to immediately end the siege and ease the hard living situation in the Gaza Strip." Gaza Health Ministry officials said earlier that since March 30, when the marches started, the Israeli army had shot and killed more than 250 demonstrators and wounded around 25,000 others, most of them shot by live gunshots. Meanwhile, a senior Egyptian security intelligence delegation and the United Nations special envoy Nickolay Mladenov are holding talks with Hamas leaders in Gaza. They discussed earlier Friday with Islamic Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on the reinforcement of a calm understanding reached with Israel in November, according to Haniyeh. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the West Bank said Friday that at least 15 Palestinian demonstrators were shot and wounded during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in the village of Lemghayer near Ramallah. Local media reports in the West Bank said that Israeli forces stormed the village and clashed with dozens of residents in the afternoon, adding that Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and opened fire at the demonstrators who threw stones at the soldiers. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:59:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Wei Jingli, the head of a community clinic in Shijiazhuang, capital of northern China's Hebei Province, has been detained after a staff member at the clinic mistakenly gave the wrong vaccine to a child, local authorities said Friday. The child was mistakenly given a HIB vaccine instead of a pentavalent vaccine, said Qiaoxi district government of Shijiazhuang, adding that the child and other children will be checked and screened to ensure no other similar incidents have happened. Two officials with the district's center for disease control have been fired and are under investigation for any malfeasance. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:54:18|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said his country is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China, including tourism, and resolve the border issue at an early date through friendly consultations. During a meeting with visiting Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu Thursday, Tshering said his country attaches great importance to relations with China and will adhere to the one-China policy. Luo said Bhutan successfully held elections at the end of last year, realizing a smooth transition of power and maintaining economic development and social stability. The ambassador said the Chinese government always attaches importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Bhutan, and is willing to work with the new Bhutanese government to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, speed up the negotiation process on the border issue, and push for new development of bilateral relations. Tshering was sworn in as Bhutan's new prime minister in November last year. During his stay in Bhutan, Luo also met with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, among others. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YOTEL , the innovative global hospitality brand, today officially opened its first West Coast hotel in the heart of San Francisco. The property is YOTELs eighth hotel under operation or development in the United States, joining a lineup of Boston, Miami, New York, Park City, Mammoth, and Long Island City. Located at 1095 Market Street, YOTEL San Francisco is situated in the historic Grant Building, restored to creatively leverage its unique features throughout the property. A global hub for business and the epicentre for innovation, San Francisco is a natural fit for the tech-forward YOTEL brand. The reinvigorated Mid-Market neighbourhood - flanked by the financial district and City Hall - is known for its expanding technology scene, music venues, and dining destinations. YOTEL San Francisco is a short walk from the Moscone Center and the famous Powell and Market Cable Car turnaround and is within a 15 minute rideshare of Fishermans Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the forthcoming Warriors arena. Mid-Market borders SoMas bustling neighbourhood, allowing easy access to shops, museums and Michelin-star restaurants. San Francisco is a city that not only features amazing landmarks, but also embraces technology and change. Weve always felt this will be a great fit for us and today we are absolutely thrilled to open the doors of our first West Coast hotel, YOTEL San Francisco, said Hubert Viriot, YOTEL CEO. Known for its vibrancy, the city attracts millions of visitors each year and we feel our clever design and technology driven concept, offering guests extraordinary value and convenience in the heart of the city, will fit in just perfectly, concluded Viriot. YOTEL San Francisco is the brands first adaptive re-use office conversion project. Constructed in 1905, the Grant Building is one of three that survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes in San Francisco. Blending the old and new, YOTEL incorporated tech-forward amenities such as self-check-in kiosks, whilst also maintaining the buildings historic charm, incorporating many original features into the hotel design, from exposed brick walls to arched windows and its original marble staircase. The property has 203 rooms (or cabins as they are known at YOTEL), each with distinct floor plans to accommodate the buildings original layout and frame. YOTELs first-ever Sky Cabins make up almost half of the San Francisco property, featuring mezzanine-level sleeping accommodations accessed by a staircase and perfect for the solo traveller. Cabins are equipped with YOTELs signature features, including the space-saving adjustable SmartBed in Premium Cabins, luxury amenities from Urban Skincare, rejuvenating rain showers and heated towel racks, multiple power and USB charging ports, free super-fast WiFi, HD SMART TVs and more. While staying on-property, guests can seamlessly switch from work to play with access to KOMYUNITI, a public area that includes co-working and informal meeting spaces, an always-open fully-equipped gym, and top-notch food and beverage offerings slated to open in conjunction with award winning celebrity chef, Daniel Patterson this summer. Ideal for happy hour or a night out on the town, this offering will also include a rooftop bar - The Grant - which will offer outdoor seating and stunning 360-degree views of the San Francisco skyline with unobstructed views of City Hall. YOTEL San Franciscos ground floor will feature an all-day restaurant and bar with a carefully curated menu that celebrates the best of Californias diverse ingredients and cultures. YOTEL San Francisco is owned by a joint-venture between Synapse Development Group (SDG), AQARAT (Kuwait Real Estate Company) and GreenOak Real Estate. To learn more about YOTEL San Francisco or to book a stay, visit www.yotel.com/en/hotels/yotel-san-francisco . ABOUT YOTEL Inspired by the luxury of first-class travel and uncompromisingly designed around guests, YOTEL takes the essential elements of luxury hotels into smaller, smart spaces and delivers extraordinary value and a sense of community with areas for co-working, social gatherings and exercise. Premium Cabins include YOTELs signature adjustable SmartBed with rejuvenating rain showers and SMART TVs, multi power and USB points and easy connectivity. YOTEL currently operates four airport hotels in London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris, Charles de Gaulle airports and three city centre hotels in New York, Boston and Singapore. YOTEL is expanding rapidly with new projects under development globally, including Istanbul Airport, San Francisco, Singapore Changi Airport, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Geneva, Amsterdam, Miami, Dubai, Mammoth, Park City, Long Island City and Porto. YOTELs major shareholders include a controlled affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, the Talal Jassim Al-Bahar Group, United Investment Portugal and Kuwait Real Estate Company (AQARAT). YOTEL was created by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe OBE, who inspired by first class travel, translated the language of luxury airline travel into a small but luxurious cabin (www.yo.co.uk). Visit www.yotel.com for more information. ABOUT SYNAPSE DEVELOPMENT GROUP Synapse is real estate investment and development firm headquartered in New York City. The company focuses primarily on urban markets throughout the US, and seeks to develop to the highest building standards in terms of energy performance, aesthetic, and functionality. Synapse is currently developing two mixed-use projects with YOTEL as well as New York City's first market rate Passive House apartment building. http://synapsed.com ABOUT THE GRANT BUILDING The historic structure was constructed in 1904 and is one of only a handful of buildings from the era. Designed and engineered by Washington Roebling who oversaw the design of the Brooklyn Bridge, it is one of the first steel framed buildings in the city and one of three buildings to withstand the 1906 earthquake and fire. The eight-story building is located in the heart of the revitalized Mid-Market neighborhood, which began to transform with the relocation of Twitters HQ to the area in 2012 and has continued to attract companies such as Yammer, Zoosk, Spotify and Uber. Easily accessible via public transportation, the MUNI/BART station and F-line streetcars are located across the street from the hotel in a six block stretch of Market Street. PRESS CONTACT Mike Dorsey mike@praytellagency.com Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:54:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press briefing in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 1, 2019. The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday morning at the State Department, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow. The move, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened quitting the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the United States and the then-Soviet Union. "We will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, effective in six months," said the top U.S. diplomat. A senior Trump administration official later told reporters on a conference call that the United States will officially inform Russia of its decision on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will "move forward with developing our own military response options." The United States "will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," said Trump in a statement released by the White House. Meanwhile, Pompeo said Washington would reconsider its pulling-out decision in the following months if Russia could take actions toward what the United States regards as bringing the country back into compliance with the treaty. Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of violating the historic arms control deal amid increased tensions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:44:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday morning at the State Department, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow. The move, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened quitting the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the United States and the then-Soviet Union. "We will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, effective in six months," said the top U.S. diplomat. A senior Trump administration official later told reporters on a conference call that the United States will officially inform Russia of its decision on Saturday. Meanwhile, Pompeo said Washington would reconsider its pulling-out decision in the following months if Russia could take actions toward what the United States regards as bringing the country back into compliance with the treaty. Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of violating the historic arms control deal amid increased tensions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:39:13|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Google has paid a fine of 500,000 rubles (around 7,616 U.S. dollars) for failing to remove search links to banned information, Russia's telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor said Friday. Roskomnadzor imposed the fine in December, accusing Google of breaching the Russian legislation that search engine operators are obliged to exclude links to Internet pages with prohibited information from search results. Meanwhile, Roskomnadzor will on Monday start a comprehensive scheduled check of the personal data storage system of Apple Rus, the Russian division of U.S. high-tech giant Apple Inc., TASS news agency reported Friday. The watchdog said Apple Rus had sent it a notification that the company had started processing personal data of Russian citizens in Russia as required by law. In December, Roskomnadzor initiated administrative cases against U.S. companies Twitter and Facebook for non-compliance with the Russian law. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:14:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The pullout of the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty will deal "a powerful blow to the still existing system of international arms control and non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons," a senior Russian diplomat said Friday. "This is a serious step. It means an actual liberation of Washington from any restrictions related to the operation of the treaty," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Friday morning that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States, marking the first-ever pact reached by Washington and Moscow on nuclear disarmament and a major step forward in restricting the arms race. However, the two sides have been accusing each other of violating the arms control agreement in recent years amid increasing tensions. Ryabkov said Moscow started having claims against Washington practically from the initial stage of the implementation of the treaty. In particular, the Russian side claimed the United States, while testing its missile defense system, used medium-range missiles, thus upgrading such weapons. It also claimed the United States was deploying in Romania and Poland systems capable of launching Tomahawk-class cruise missiles in violation of the treaty. Moscow believes that the treaty is needed as it serves the interests of both Russian and European security, Ryabkov said. He noted that although some European countries under pressure from Washington voted in the United Nations General Assembly against the preservation of the INF, they would feel the real consequences of this step. Ryabkov said he also fears that after abandoning the INF treaty, the United States would go further and leave another landmark agreement, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires in 2021, without it being extended. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:14:09|Editor: ZX Video Player Close by Murad Abdo ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's warring factions began preparations for a fresh escalation of fighting raging over the control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, ignoring efforts aimed at cessation of hostilities. The calls for an escalation in fighting between the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces added angers to the agreement reached under the auspices of the United Nations in Sweden in December last year. Senior leaders of the Houthi group based in Sanaa vowed to intensify military battles against the Saudi-led coalition and its local allies just in case the implementation of Sweden agreement failed. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi highest revolutionary committee, said in a statement posted in Twitter that capturing the strategic port city of Hodeidah will not be easy for the Saudi-backed government forces. He added that his group informed the UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths that "reopening roads to the Red Sea Mills will be conducted only when circumstances are appropriate and the situation is safe." These calls for military confrontations renewed just one day following the departure of the UN envoy who conducted a series of meetings with Houthi leader in Sanaa during the past few days. Officials confirmed to Xinhua that Griffiths did not succeed in convincing the Houthi leaders to withdraw their forces from Hodeidah and implement Sweden's agreement. "The Houthis refused to hand over the management of Hodeidah's port to the government authorities and strongly opposed entry of forces loyal to Saudi Arabia-led coalition," an official said. The official said that the Houthi leaders avoided discussing Hodeidah's issue with the UN envoy and started to talk about halting the war against Yemen and other unrelated topics. Yemeni observers believed that renewing of the armed confrontations between the two warring sides in Hodeidah will probably take place during the upcoming days, as the ground situation indicates start of escalation. Yahya Abu Hatem, a strategic military expert, said that the Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition are obliged to use military force just to lead the Houthis into implementing Stockholm's agreement about Hodeidah. "Resumption of aerial bombardment will definitely make Houthis rush for implementing the Stockholm agreement instead of wasting time," he said. He added that "Houthis repeatedly refused to accept withdrawal from Hodeidah without fighting and continued in launching attacks in Hodeidah despite the UN observation." Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister of state for foreign affairs, said in a series of tweets that the deal reached between the Yemeni warring sides in Stockholm is at critical juncture due to ongoing violations by the Houthis that threaten the overall political process. The UAE minister said in his statement that "the Saudi-led coalition prepared to use more calibrated force to prod Houthi in compliance with Stockholm agreement." A humanitarian officer confirmed to Xinhua that the Houthis did not allow reopening roads to transfer humanitarian aids stored at warehouses in Hodeidah to other areas that are in pressing need for food supplies despite the ongoing cease-fire. On Thursday, the UN's special Yemen envoy wrapped up separate visits with leadership of the two warring parties and expressed concern about the recent fighting, calling for de-escalation and "utmost restraint." Special envoy Martin Griffiths "expressed concern about recent hostilities in Yemen and called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and de-escalate tensions, in Hodeidah and in other parts of Yemen," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, said in a note to press. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appointed the Danish lieutenant general Michael Anker Lollesgaard as head of the United Nations Mission in support of the Hodeidah Agreement to succeed retired Major General Patrick Cammaert of the Netherlands, who led the advance team in Hodeidah. Abdul-Raqeeb Hidyani, a writer and political analyst, said that the recent tense situation is clearly indicating that fighting will resume in Hodeidah despite the UN intervention in the city. He said that appointing a new leader for the UN cease-fire monitoring team instead of General Patrick Cammaert won't help in ceasing the calls for escalation of fighting in Hodeidah. "The new commander for the cease-fire monitoring team won't bring anything new because factors that led to Cammaert's failure are still existing," he said. The conflict in Yemen started in 2014 when the Houthi rebels overtook the capital Sanaa and forced the government to exile to Saudi Arabia. Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, backing the government, has been fighting the Houthis. The security situation was further exacerbated after the coalition in June 2018 launched an operation to retake rebel-held Hodeidah, a strategic port city that had been handling some 70 percent of Yemen's imports of food. The fighting has spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis and brought the poorest Arab country to the brink of famine. Under the UN auspices, the warring parties reached a deal in Sweden in December 2018, which included a governorate-wide cease-fire of Hodeidah and the formation of the RCC to monitor withdrawal of troops by both the government and the Houthis in the area. Shortly after, the UN Security Council authorized an advance team for 30 days to monitor and support the implementation of the deal. Earlier in January, the Security Council adopted a resolution to establish a UN political mission for an initial period of six months to support the Hodeidah agreement. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 23:14:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The planned merger between the steel branch of German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp and its Indian competitor Tata Steel is expected to be concluded this spring, Guido Kerkhoff, chief executive officer (CEO) of ThyssenKrupp announced at the company's general meeting on Friday. Kerkhoff said that a "close cooperation" with the European Commission had been established with regards to the investigation of the merger between ThyssenKrupp and Tata Steel. The company resulting from the merger would be the second largest steel producer in Europe after ArcelorMittal. In October, the EU side had initiated an investigation of the merger of the two steel companies, as competition could be impaired in particular regarding steel supplies to the automotive industry and metal-coated packaging steel. On Thursday, the German newspaper Welt reported that Economic Minister Peter Altmaier was planning to provide financial governmental support for certain German companies, including ThyssenKrupp. The aim of Altmaier's plan was to "secure or regain the economic and technological leadership of Germany and the European Union". The plan is expected to be officially announced next week. Splitting off the steel business from ThyssenKrupp business group would make the German conglomerate "faster and more flexible" as well as "reduce the complexity" of the industrial giant, which in addition to steel is also producing technical systems such like elevators, industrial equipment, naval ships and submarines. "Separately, we are stronger," said Kerkhoff. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 22:44:04|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The newly appointed Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Affairs Adel Afiouni said Friday that the priority of his ministry is to create an electronic government in Lebanon, according to Voice of Lebanon radio channel. "We need to approve new legislations for the creation of electronic government in Lebanon," Afiouni said. Afiouni added that he will aim to use IT in the process of advancing the economic sector in Lebanon as well. Lebanon lags behind countries around the world in terms of e-government services that allow citizens to avoid red tape. President Michel Aoun announced last year that the digitization of government services is a key pillar of Lebanon's economic reform to combat corruption in state institutions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 22:28:56|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TOKYO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Officials of the Japanese labor ministry had been aware of the faulty method in conducting wage surveys for more than a decade, the ministry said Friday. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said regional bureau officials sent questionnaires by mail in the wage structure survey, whereas they should visit companies in person. The misconduct dated back to 2006 and was not reported properly to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in charge of overseeing all governmental statistics. Earlier in the day, a senior official in charge of the survey was dismissed for not reporting the discovery of the malpractice. The latest development in the scandal involving the ministry has led to suspicion that there was an internal coverup, and delt a new blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration. Abe on Thursday vowed to conduct an independent probe into the flawed gathering of labor statistics that has dogged the labor ministry of late. The government admitted on Jan. 11 that it had failed to pay more than 53.7 billion yen (495.7 million U.S. dollars) in unemployment insurance, workers' compensation and sailors' insurance due to faulty jobs data. The issue was revealed after the labor ministry was found to have published its monthly labor survey without collecting enough data. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 22:18:54|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Alessandra Cardone ROME, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Italian economy fell into recession technically in the last quarter of 2018, official data have revealed, while Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he believes a recovery will come in the second half of this year. Italy's gross domestic product (GDP) declined in both the fourth and the third quarter of last year, by 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent respectively, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) reported Thursday. The two consecutive quarters of negative growth officially marked a technical recession. "This negative result leads to a further decrease in the trend rate of growth, which drops to 0.1 percent, from 0.6 percent in the previous quarter," ISTAT said in a report. "Such estimate -- which is provisional -- results on the supply side from a sharp deterioration in the industrial sector, along with a negative contribution from agriculture, forestry, and fishing, and a stagnant trend in the tertiary sector," it explained. From the demand side, ISTAT noted a decline in domestic consumption and an increase in exports. Such an economic situation is believed not to be a surprise for Italy's new government. Speaking to business figures in Milan on Wednesday, Conte said "trend data are not favorable, yet the positive side is that they do not depend on us, but on external factors." He mentioned the economic slowdown in Italy's major trading partners, adding that he believes the Italian economy will recover in the second half of 2019. In support of his outlook, positive signals came from the employment data released on Thursday. In a separate report, ISTAT said Italy's employment rate in December grew by 0.1 percentage point to 58.8 percent on a monthly basis, a record since April 2008, before financial crisis hit the eurozone's third largest economy. December's jobless rate fell to 10.3 percent, recording a decline of 44,000 people from the previous month, but meanwhile a slight increase in the unemployment of young people, with a rate updated to 31.9 percent. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 22:13:53|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A boy looks at a house hit by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 1, 2019. Local residents Friday said the targeted hangar by the Saudi-led coalition overnight airstrikes was not a military site. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television earlier reported the airstrikes destroyed a drone storage east of the Yemeni rebel-held capital Sanaa. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed) SANAA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Local residents Friday said the targeted hangar by the Saudi-led coalition overnight airstrikes was not a military site. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television earlier reported the airstrikes destroyed a drone storage east of the Yemeni rebel-held capital Sanaa. According to the residents, the first airstrike hit an empty area near the hangar that triggered a family to flee their adjoining house. Two other airstrikes hit directly the hangar, destroying it along with the family's house. They said the family escaped unharmed. The targeted hangar is located in Sawan district, a residential area in the eastern part of Sanaa. The attacked hangar appeared to be empty and there was no trace of any destroyed drone aircraft or any military installation at the scene. "The hangar and the house are owned by citizens who are our neighbors...this is not a military site," resident Mohammed Ahmed told Xinhua. On Thursday night, Saudi Al Arabiya television station quoted coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki as saying that "the airstrikes were part of a two-week coalition air campaign to destroy the Houthi drone capabilities following the deadly rebel drone attack on the Yemeni government military parade." On Jan. 10, the Houthi rebels launched a deadly drone attack on the Yemeni government military parade in the southern province of Lahj that killed six senior military leaders, including the military intelligence chief Mohammed Tammah. Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including Sanaa. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Copper and Gold Corporation (Western or the Company) (TSX: WRN; NYSE American: WRN) announces the resignation of David Williams from the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Williams joined the Companys Board of Directors in May 2006 when Western was formed as part of the Western Silver Corp. acquisition by Glamis Gold Ltd., which was subsequently purchased by Goldcorp Inc. Mr. Williams was integral in setting the direction for the newly formed company, including the purchase of the Casino Project. Western wishes to sincerely thank Mr. Williams for his valuable contribution and services as a director. Dale Corman, Executive Chair of Western remarked, David has been an important part of the Western team since 2006 and he will be truly missed. We wish him all the best. ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the Casino Project, Canadas premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world. For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com . On behalf of the board, Dale Corman Dale Corman Executive Chair Western Copper and Gold Corporation For more information, please contact: Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 22:13:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- As the clock ticks down to Brexit day on March 29, British manufactures are stockpiling at a record pace to guard against potential supply chain disruptions, a survey said on Friday. According to the survey conducted by IHS Markit/CIPS, the manufacturing sector made a lacklustre start to 2019, as the Purchasing Managers' Index fell to a three-month low of 52.8, down from 54.2 in December, and the second-weakest reading since July 2016. As the trends in output and new orders slowed and employment fell, companies reporting a growth of new orders are often linked to purchasing to build up stocks in advance of Brexit, the survey said. Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit, said: "Stocks of inputs increased at the sharpest pace in the 27-year history, as buying activity was stepped up to mitigate potential supply-chain disruptions in coming months." "Despite the temporary boost provided by clients' pre-purchases and efforts to build up stocks, the underlying trends in output and new orders remained lacklustre at best. Growth of new order inflows slowed sharply, and new export orders were near-stagnant, contributing to the weakest trend in output since the month following the EU referendum in 2016," Dobson said. The survey said confidence about the manufacturing outlook slipped to a 30-month low, due to ongoing concerns about Brexit and signs of a European economic slowdown. "With neither of these headwinds likely to abate in the near term, there is a clear risk of manufacturing sliding into recession," Dobson warned. UK MPs in the House of Commons gave their backing to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal on Tuesday, providing changes are made to the so-called Irish backstop issue. However, the EU has refused to renegotiate the deal so far. The backstop plan, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the Brexit deal, is designed to avoid border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is considered by some Brits -- especially Brexiteers -- to be a trap to retain Britain in a customs union with the EU and pragmatically delay their "divorce." May faces an uphill battle to win over the EU on the backstop issue over the next weeks. As the UK parliament will reportedly vote on the Brexit deal again in mid-February, fears remain over a no-deal Brexit. "The UK economy is in a weak patch, and the Brexit uncertainty is hurting the economy -- but that uncertainty could lift very quickly in the next few months if there is a Brexit deal in parliament," Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, a London-based economics research consultancy, told Xinhua. "The goods that UK manufacturers are stockpiling are imported products that might not be available in the event of a no-deal Brexit," Tombs said. Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said businesses did their best to develop forward purchasing programs to avoid potentially disappointing clients and in case of a bad Brexit outcome, with some of the sharpest rises in raw materials and finished goods stockpiling. "Supply chains were closer to breaking point with stretched capacity and delivery times lengthening again for the 33rd month. This begs the question of how much longer suppliers can deliver and businesses can retain stocks for every eventuality," Brock said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 21:43:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Friday it has completed the renovation of a school destroyed in a bomb attack three years ago in Mogadishu, allowing more than 420 children to resume their education. An attack on Dr. Qamar Primary School forced the children to abandon schooling, prompting AMISOM to undertake renovation works in late 2018 to ensure the students return to school. "The renovation of the six-classroom block will facilitate access to education for hundreds of Somali children who were affected by the bombing and ensure they continue with their education," Francisco Madeira, special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. The school, established in 2009, was badly damaged in the suicide bomb attack, leading to its closure in 2016. Madeira said the building and refurbishing of schools was part of a quick-impact projects program being undertaken by AMISOM to provide basic necessities to communities and also to help stabilize the country. "In order to ensure the growing youthful population can make meaningful contributions rather than become a threat to the country, the government and the federal member states must ensure that children have access to education to help them prepare for the challenges of nation-building," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 21:28:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Three leaders from member states of the East African Community (EAC) on Friday joined their host Tanzanian President John Magufuli for a summit in the northern tourist city of Arusha. President Magufuli was joined by Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir were represented by vice-president and foreign affairs minister, respectively. The summit's timetable released by the EAC secretariat showed that among the agenda expected to dominate the meeting included endorsing Kenya to contest the membership of the Security Council of the United Nations for a period of 2021-2022. The timetable also showed that the summit will receive a report on the process of Somalia to join the bloc and implementation of the Customs Union protocol. The summit of the heads of state of the six-member EAC was postponed in November last year due to a lack of quorum. Ugandan President Museveni, the chairman of the summit, announced the postponement of the summit to Dec. 27 after the absence of the representatives from Burundi. The summit could not be held again in December last year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 21:23:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BELGRADE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Serbia celebrates each Chinese success and achievement, and looks forward to continuing strong cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Friday in his greetings for Chinese New Year. "On behalf of the Republic of Serbia and myself, I wish to congratulate our brotherly and friendly Chinese people on the upcoming Chinese New Year," Vucic said in an interview with Xinhua. Wishing well-being to the Chinese people as well as major progress and development in all areas of social life, he said the relations between Serbia and China are the best in the history of the two nations. Vucic also expressed appreciation for China's "support for peace and stability, both in Serbia as well as in the whole world." He said he believes the two countries will achieve a lot in the future together, and has confidence that China and its people have extraordinary strength and energy needed to maintain or improve the country's strong development. "Serbia will invest a lot of energy and ambition into its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative with huge respect for the Chinese people," Vucic said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 21:23:36|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- An American official said Friday that while the United States is happy about the government formation in Lebanon, it is also worried over Hezbollah's participation in the new cabinet, local newspaper Al Joumhouria reported. "The United States considers Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and it is worried the role it will play in the new cabinet especially that the party occupies important ministries such as the Health Ministry," the official said on condition of anonymity. The official said that the new government will work under close supervision by the United States and Europe while focusing on the performance of the ministers who are appointed in sensitive ministries. The official added that the United States will make sure that the services offered by ministries will not cater to Hezbollah. Marshall Billingslea, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, announced a day earlier that the United States aims to cooperate with Lebanon to assure that Hezbollah is not funded through the Lebanese banking system. He added that the U.S. aims at imposing more sanctions on Hezbollah. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 21:13:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- France's top legal advisory body, the Council of State, on Friday validated the use of Defence Ball Launchers (LBDs) that riot police use to disperse protesters amid controversy. Some organizations have called for a ban for the use of the LBDs, citing the serious injuries it caused during the "yellow vests" protests. Admitting that the injuries caused by "the use of the LBD in recent period", the council, however, said in a statement that it found "it is necessary to allow the police to use these weapons, which remain particularly appropriate to deal with such situations," referring to the "yellow vest" protests which frequently turned violent. But the council stressed that the use of the weapon would be "strictly regulated by the Internal Security Code". On Wednesday CGT trade union and the French Human Rights League demanded the council to examine their request to ban police from using the hand-held launchers, which fire large rubber pellets which, according to them, had caused several serious injuries during the anti-government action. Last Saturday, Jerome Rodrigues, a high-profile member of the "yellow movement", lost one of his eyes after being hit by a flash-ball. According to the Interior Ministry's data, since Nov. 17, 2018, police had used 9,228 rubber bullets, which have been blamed for scores of injuries with some serious. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:53:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania plans to conduct an assessment of fish stocks in Lake Tanganyika, the second oldest freshwater lake in the world, an official told the country's National Assembly on Friday. Abdallah Ulega, the east African nation's Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, said the assessment will be done by state-owned Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) in collaboration with neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia and Burundi. The last fish stock assessment in Lake Tanganyika was conducted in 1998 where there were only 295,000 tonnes of fish stocks, Ulega told the House in the capital Dodoma. He was responding to a question posed by Kigoma Urban Member of Parliament, Zitto Kabwe, who had wanted to know why the government was restricting Tanzanian fishermen from conducting purse-seine fishing while their counterparts in Burundi, Zambia and DRC practiced it. Kabwe wanted the government to speed up the fish stock assessment to allow big investors to establish fish processing factories. The legislator also called for review of export levies as well as the number of licenses that fishers paid annually. "Completion of the assessment will give us a clear picture of the stock of fish in the lake. Research findings will help us make decisions on whether to allow large scale commercial fishing in our waters," said Ulega. Ulega said his ministry will soon meet with stakeholders to discuss the various challenges facing the fishing industry in Tanzania. Luhaga Mpina, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, said the government will issue the national fishing guidelines on July 1 this year aimed at helping to fight illegal fishing in all the lakes across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:48:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia still recognizes Nicolas Maduro instead of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the Venezuelan president and hopes bilateral cooperation between the two countries will continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. "Mr. Guaido is the parliamentary speaker. He is not the head of state. We do not recognize his status. Mr. Maduro is the head of state, and he and his government are our actual partners in Venezuela," Peskov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. He said Russia hopes to further expand trade and economic ties as well as cooperation of mutual benefit with Venezuela, despite the current chaotic political situation in the country. "Everything happening in Venezuela is its internal affair, and the most important thing is to protect the country from interference by third states," Peskov said. Speaking about Guaido's statements that he had sent messages to Russia asking for support, Peskov denied that Russia has received any message from the opposition leader, adding that Moscow will "study it" when the message comes. Peskov also said Russia has nothing to do with the sale of Venezuelan gold, in response to previous media reports suggesting that the country's gold reserves are being transferred to Russia. Peskov said it is Venezuela's "sovereign right" to make decisions about purchasing or selling its gold, on which Moscow does not have any information. Guaido, head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, declared himself interim president during an anti-government rally on Jan. 23, which was recognized by the United States. Maduro, in response, announced the severing of diplomatic and political ties with the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:48:25|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey condemns the European Parliament's decision to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday, warning that foreign interventions could lead to a civil war in the country. "Any foreign intervention in Venezuela is not right and will deepen the problem," Cavusoglu said in Romania. "Nobody should disrespect the will of Venezuelan people," Cavusoglu said, referring to the elections that brought President Nicolas Maduro into the power. The countries should bring dialogue into the forefront instead of taking sides, he stated. The European Parliament Thursday called on the EU member states to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president. EU lawmakers approved at a special session in Brussels to recognize Venezuelan congress head Guaido, who declared himself interim president last week. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:43:25|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BRATISLAVA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson with the Slovak parliament confirmed on Friday that 15 candidates had unveiled their bids for presidency in the country. "All of them met the legislative criteria, either submitted at least 15 signatures of MEP or 15,000 signatures of people," said the spokesperson Tomas Koscelnik. Among the candidates, European Commissioner for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic is a nominee of the governing Smer-SD party. Vice-chairman of the Slovak Parliament Bela Bugar candidates for his own party Most-Hid. Midnight Thursday was the deadline for submitting candidacies for the presidential race, which is slated for March 16, and a potential run-off round on March 30. The current President Andrej Kiska had declared that he would not seek the next term. TORONTO, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maverick Property Developers, Smart Homes HQ Inc., are Equity Crowdfunding their Public Launch of Affordable, Smart, TINY TOWNS for Seniors + Millennials. Going Public will allow them to utilize inexpensive finance and economies of scale to supply many low-cost, sustainable housing units, licensing their production to small home builders across Ontario and North America. These TINY TOWNS improve on the Tiny Homes concept with mass, pre-fabricated units to quickly supply the high demand on Government, for low-cost housing built to Paris Accord Green Standards. TINY TOWNS meet the needs of modern, independent-living Seniors and Millennials starter-home markets: Affordable, Sustainable, Smart. Smart Homes President, Carl Strand, and his experienced Startup Team have used their combined development experience to reverse-engineer quality units - starting from a rental price of $695 CAD/month, inclusive. So, those on lower salaries, or basic monthly Pensions, can afford a better quality of life and live independently, longer. Simultaneously, Smart Homes can remain a for-profit company that generates great Investor profits with few or no Government subsidies. The Smart Homes Startup Team has already drafted their I.P.O. Memorandum in preparation for fast-tracking the company to Public status, in time to break ground on existing projects for Spring 2019. They are EQUITY CROWDFUNDING their Public Launch with the THINK MAVERICK campaign, found at: https://www.smarthomeshq.com/pages/crowd-funding . Carl Strand explains: Mavericks challenge the status quo and change the world. With my plan, we will cut costs and cut unnecessary red-tape to move quickly. We invite the Maverick in YOU to support our Affordable TINY TOWNS Housing Campaign. Anyone interested in acquiring future shares of Smart Homes HQ Inc. at a penny each can contribute to their Crowdfunding Campaign, for as little as $50. In the meantime, send a message to Toronto Mayor, John Tory, to investigate our privately-funded affordable housing strategy to inform his Housing Now action plan and utilize the Federal and Provincial Government subsidies much more effectively, says Carl Strand. File photo taken on Nov. 21, 2018 shows the ground breaking ceremony of Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Chibombo district, Zambia.(Xinhua/Wang Chao) CHINGOLA, Zambia, Feb.1 (Xinhua) -- About 1,830 solar-powered milling plants have so far been constructed in various parts of Zambia out of the earmarked 2,000, an official said on Thursday. The construction of the milling parts, which is being funded at a cost of 200 million U.S. dollars from China, is intended to ease the problem of access to milling plants, especially in rural parts of the country. Bright Mapipo, president of the Zambia Cooperative Federation, which is spearheading the project, said the Chinese contractor, Shandong Contractor, has been faithful in executing its mandate and that the milling plants were operational, with only 170 remaining to be completed. "The solar-powered hammer mills will reduce the cost of mealie-meal, especially in rural and peri-urban areas where most of our small-scale farmers are concentrated," he said. The Chinese contractor, he said, has also completed the construction of provincial centers for hammer mills operators, warehouse for spare parts and installation of hammer mills. The building of provincial training centers is part of the package by the Chinese contractor to ensure that locals are able to man the milling facilities and as part of skills transfer, he added. He said the bilateral relationship between Zambia and China was bearing fruits as seen in the construction of the solar-powered milling plants across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:23:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Marwa Yahya CAIRO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and French officials signed 40 agreements worth 1.8 billion U.S. dollars during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Egypt, according to an Investment Ministry statement. The agreements covered infrastructure projects for the new administrative capital, electric vehicle production, education, economic and social development, healthcare, culture, women empowerment and energy. Macron, who wrapped up his three-day visit to Egypt on Tuesday, pledged a further 1.1 billion dollars in financial support over the coming four years. "I urged the French businessmen to take opportunities in Egypt," Macron said during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart on Monday. "Macron's first visit to Egypt will propel the joint relations forward particularly in economic vistas including investments and trade as well as the political and military fields," said Rashad Abdo, economic professor with Cairo University. French investments in Egypt are estimated at 5.15 billion dollars according to the French embassy in Egypt. It includes agricultural industries, information technology, construction, new and renewable energy, transportation, banks, aviation, water desalination, infrastructure and tourism. Abdo said Macron's visit will enhance the French investments in Egypt. However, the economic expert noted that cooperation between Egypt and France is less than what it should be, adding "Egypt owns the necessary factors to lure French investments and increase the volumes of Egyptian exports to the French markets which are still very limited." French foreign direct investments to Egypt declined by 55.1 percent in fiscal year 2017/2018 reaching 24.3 million dollars from 535.8 million dollars in 2016/2017, according to the Central Bank of Egypt. Moreover, the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and France hit 1.4 billion dollars in the first eight months for 2018. Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said the government had worked on creating an encouraging investment climate, adding that Egypt aspired to attract more French investment and to partner with French companies to carry on national projects including the Suez Canal Axis, the new administrative capital and smart cities. France was the sixth-largest foreign investor in Egypt, having around 160 companies that employ more than 30,000 workers, according to government data. The investors are encouraged by the size of Egypt's domestic market as well as its multiple free-trade agreements with the Arab and African countries that provide them with customs-free access to these markets, said Gamal Bayoumi, head of the Cairo-based Arab Investors Union and Egypt's former assistant foreign minister. He also sees Macron and his wife's visits to the tourist sites in Egypt would also help to boost tourism as it pictured Egypt as a secure destination. Five important memoranda of understanding were signed to establish five off-grid electricity projects using solar panels in five villages in Upper Egypt and South Sinai. The French side was very keen on the development of rural and remote areas, like Sinai Peninsula, the stronghold for terrorist groups, Bayoumi added, pointing out that the anti-terror cooperation topped the priorities of the French and Egyptian presidents' talks. Macron also paid a visit to Egypt's new administrative capital, which he said "will create an opportunity to boost Egyptian-French cooperation on infrastructure and culture among others." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt welcomes French companies and their participation in mega national projects to benefit from the promising opportunities in the various sectors of the Egyptian economy. He said that he is personally keen on supporting and promoting foreign investments in Egypt in general and French companies in particular. The Egyptian president expressed his hopes for having the business forum between heads of major private companies from both sides, which will enhance joint interests. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:18:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations investigation team held contacts in Turkey this week for a first inquiry of international nature into the brutal killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi nearly four months ago inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The visit of Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to Turkey is the first probe of the murder by an international official as Turkish authorities are pushing for an advanced investigation. Experts believe that the UN envoy's visit is the result of Turkey's efforts to maintain the case of the slain journalist in the international community's agenda. "Turkey's arguments for the need of an international inquiry over this shocking murder seem to be accepted by the UN envoy amid Saudi Arabia's uncooperative approach in aiding the investigation," Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, said to Xinhua. "Turkey's motivation stems from the fact that the murder happened on its sovereign territory and it is a matter of prestige to get to the bottom of it," pointed out Colakoglu, a professor of international relations. Turkey has been outraged over the use of a diplomatic mission as a torture chamber as leaks from Turkish officials to local news outlets suggested that Khashoggi was strangled after he entered the compound. The French official and her team met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Monday and then flew to Istanbul to convene on Tuesday with chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan. The meetings were closed to the press and Callamard denied interview requests. On Wednesday, however, Callamard, an independent expert appointed by the UN, spoke to journalist outside the Saudi consulate where she was denied entry the day before, and said her report would be made public in time for the June session of the UN human right council. Callamard told reporters at the end of her mission in Istanbul that she was "disappointed" not to be permitted to enter the Saudi complex to see for herself where the gruesome murder took place. Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), blasted the Saudi failure to respond to the UN delegation request as a "scandal." Before her week-long visit, the UN official said the inquiry was her own initiative, independent of the UN or any government. Turkey, however, had repeatedly called for an international investigation into the killing because of frustration at Saudi Arabia's failure to cooperate and inaction on a joint inquiry. The Saudi government, tilted into one of its worst diplomatic crisis, has placed 11 officials linked to the high-profile killing on trial in the capital Riyadh, but has refused to extradite to Turkey any of those suspected of being involved in the murder. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Riyadh has not shared with Turkey any information from its own probe regarding the Khashoggi's murder and pointed out that his country would decide what to do once Calllamard submits her report to the UN. "We can put forward a formal request (for an international investigation), we are ready," he said, quoted on Thursday by Hurriyet daily. He remarked however that the support of other nations would be required and at this stage few of them, he said, are keen to be involved. "Even if there is no one by our side, we will make a formal request on our own," insisted Turkey's top diplomat. Observers have argued that Turkey was seeking to instrumentalize the Khashoggi case to boost its influence in the Middle East against its Saudi rival. Colakoglu argued that to counter those claims, "Ankara should make it very clear that what's in stake in this case is not international politics or regional rivalries" but the fact that this killing should not be left unsolved. The killing of Khasoggi strained Ankara's relations with Riyadh. The two countries' ties are already tense over the embargo imposed in 2017 by the Kingdom and other Gulf States on Qatar, a close ally of Turkey. Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by a Saudi hit squad on October 2 shortly after he entered his country's consulate in Istanbul. He was dismembered inside the building in what Turkey called a "premeditated murder" orchestrated by the Saudi government and especially the Crown Prince, who denied the charges, blaming it on a "rogue" operation. His body has not been found as it is suspected by Turkish officials of having been dissolved in acid. Turkish officials have called publicly for an international investigation, but have not made a formal request for one from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, despite pleas from human rights groups. Callamard said she also asked for meetings with U.S. officials, including those in the CIA, the State Department and Congress. The U.S. is a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the U.S. has asked the Saudi ruling family, including the crown prince, to hold Khashoggi's killers accountable, but said the relationship with Saudi Arabia is too important to be jeopardized by the killing. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:18:20|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Universities in Britain have been ordered for the first time Friday to publish details of the ethnicity, gender and social background of their students, as part of government's bold drive to tackle inequalities. The Department for Education (DfE) said the move comes after ethnic disparities were highlighted by in a race disparity audit commissioned by Prime Minister Theresa May to help people achieve their potential, whatever their background and circumstances. Universities will be held to account on how they will improve outcomes for underrepresented students, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, through powers of the Office for Students, who will scrutinize university access and participation plans. League table providers will also be encouraged to give better information on social mobility and underrepresented groups entering higher education, DfE said. Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said: "Universities need to reflect modern Britain, and ensure that everyone who has the potential, no matter their background or where they are from can thrive at university." Skidmore said access and participation plans, which universities will be drawing up this year for implementation in 2020-21, should contain ambitious and significant actions to make sure material progress is made in the next few years. "It cannot be right that ethnic minority students are disproportionately dropping out of university and I want to do more to focus on student experience to help ethnic minority students succeed at university," added Skidmore. The new measures were announced at an event at King's College, London. The college president, Professor Edward Byrne, said: "Tackling race disparity outcomes is important. I am proud of the diverse international community we have here at King's, in 2017/18, 49 percent of our undergraduates were from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, and we have the fastest growing population of low-income students in the Russell Group of Universities." Figures from the Race Disparity Audit and the Office for Students show that while record numbers of ethnic minorities are attending university, black students' general academic achievement is lower than their white peers in 2017, and black students are the most likely to drop out of university. In the workforce, only 2 percent of academic staff are black, while white British low-income males remain the least likely to attend higher education. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:18:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Fear of hard Brexit pushes almost one in three British firms to plan to move out of Britain as they believe that Brexit poses a significant risk to their operations in Britain, the Guardian newspaper reported Friday. Nearly one in three British companies are "actively considering" relocating some of their operations abroad or have already moved them to cope with a hard Brexit, the major British newspaper reported, quoting a leading lobby group, the Institute of Directors. The lobby group said that in a survey of 1,200 of its member firms, 29 percent have taken actions or are looking to relocate. More than one in 10 have already set up operations outside Britain as a no-deal Brexit is becoming more likely. The Institute of Directors, which represents 30,000 members, said that most companies considering a move are looking to open offices inside the European Union countries. Large companies, such as Sony and Panasonic, have already relocated their European headquarters from Britain to mainland Europe, but the lobby group said that smaller companies were also considering doing so, the newspaper said. A hard or no-deal Brexit means Britain would leave the European Union immediately on March 29, 2019, and there would be no agreements in place about what their relationship would be like in future. This is not what anybody in the British government or parliament wants, but it's a possible outcome if British politicians can't agree on what should be done next. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 20:03:13|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed its appreciation of the efforts made by France, Germany and Britain to maintain the Iran nuclear agreement. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment on the announcement by foreign ministers of the three European countries to set up a new mechanism for facilitating trade with Iran in order to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. According to reports, foreign ministers of the three European countries, known as the E3, said in a joint statement Thursday that they had set up the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) to support legitimate European trade with Iran. "China highly appreciates the efforts made by European countries to maintain the Iran nuclear agreement and supports the establishment of INSTEX," said Geng. "China firmly supports the European side in continuing its cooperation with Iran and promoting the operation of the mechanism as soon as possible and opening the mechanism to third parties, to facilitate the normal trade cooperation between the international community and Iran." "We also firmly support the political and diplomatic efforts led by the European Union to maintain the Iran nuclear agreement," said Geng. China has always advocated that the Iran nuclear agreement is an important outcome of multilateralism and an international agreement approved by the UN Security Council, said Geng, noting that it should be comprehensively and effectively implemented. "This is conducive to the peace and stability of the Middle East and international nuclear non-proliferation system, and complies with the common interests of the international community," Geng said. He said China hopes that all parties concerned will adhere to political and diplomatic resolution and jointly maintain the agreement from a general situation and long-term perspective. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:33:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) evacuated 150 people from the last Islamic State (IS)-held pocket in eastern Syria on Friday, a war monitor reported. The SDF evacuated 150 people of the IS families from the last IS-held area in the eastern Euphrates region over the past few hours, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said most of the evacuees are Russian and Uzbek nationals. It added that with the latest evacuation, around 34,500 people and IS militants have surrendered themselves to the SDF since last December. This comes as negotiations are underway between the U.S.-backed SDF and the IS group regarding the destiny of the group's leaders, who are besieged in an area of four sq km in the eastern Euphrates region. The Observatory said the IS militants and their leaders are negotiating to have a safe exit to areas controlled by the group in the desert, while the SDF is still reluctant to accept. The IS group still controls 4,000 sq km of the Syrian desert while the SDF is closing in on the group's remnants in the eastern Euphrates in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province. The SDF with the backing of the U.S. forces has launched a wide-scale offensive in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour to dislodge IS militants since September. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:33:07|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has encouraged the soldiers in a squad named after Wang Jie, a hero soldier that served in the 1960s, to become outstanding soldiers in the new era. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when answering a letter from the soldiers. He urged them to study hard, strengthen their ideals and convictions, enhance combat readiness and further strive for excellent performance. Xi also extended his Spring Festival greetings to the soldiers and their family members. On Dec. 13, 2017, Xi inspected the 71st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army and visited the company where Wang Jie served. Soldiers from the squad of Wang Jie recently wrote a letter to Xi, telling him about their work, study and growth over the past year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:23:06|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A 44-year-old driver was killed and two passengers injured when a cargo train hit their truck in eastern Mongolia early Friday, authorities said. The accident occurred at around 2 a.m. local time (1800 GMT Thursday) near Airag soum, about 120 km northwest of Sainshand, the capital city of the southeastern province of Dornogovi, according to a statement from the local Emergency Management Agency. The injured two were taken to a nearby hospital, the agency said, adding that the incident is under investigation. A passenger train with 328 passengers aboard derailed near Airag soum in mid-August last year, injuring nine passengers. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:18:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SARI PUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least six Afghan soldiers and nine Taliban militants were killed in a fresh clash in the country's northern province of Sari Pul, a local official said Friday. The incident happened at about 10:00 p.m. local time Thursday in Suzma Qala district's Gorkab area of the province, where the militants attacked a government forces check-post, leaving nine fighters dead and 13 others wounded, Hanif Rezai, spokesman of army Corps 209 Shaheen, told Xinhua. Six army troops have also been killed during the two-hour-long offensives, he confirmed. Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting among the youth. The militants have also intensified attacks on security forces and staged coordinated large-scale attacks in Afghan cities and districts from time to time. Taliban militants have not still commented on the report. LONDON, Feb. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital transformation has risen as the most game-changing element within the business environment in recent years. As such, embracing change has quickly become vital for enterprises operating across all sectors, both private and public. Mind the Value is a Milan-headquartered consulting firm with offices in Italy, Australia, Moldova and the US, which helps clients choose the very best options when it comes to their own digital transformation. Writing exclusively for the latest issue of World Finance magazine, Mind the Value explains how the companys tailored solutions and in-house methodology can help clients. From identifying their business challenges and tackling them by integrating different technologies, to evaluating their existing processes in order to make them more functional and efficient, Mind the Value offers support through every step. Indeed, its comprehensive process leverages innovation as a competitive advantage, thereby combining technical skills and functional expertise in a way that enables firms to benefit from both a top-down and a bottom-up approach. Mind the Value is committed to finding revolutionary ways to transform the business sector, such as implementing RFID, drones in production processes, or virtual reality glasses in distribution. As an example of its high-tech innovation, Mind the Value has been working alongside its clients to build state-of-the-art SAP solutions, such as mobile apps for cable companies to support them in sales and installation operations. Moreover, the firm has recently become a SAP Partner, an exclusive achievement attained only by those that have demonstrated extensive competency in helping clients to identify, migrate, implement and manage SAP applications to improve their business performance. The firm has also partnered up with Magento software, and so can now help its clients to implement last generation e-commerce solutions to fit their sales and distribution contemporary needs with an intuitive, ready-to-market solution. To find out more about Mind the Values approach to digital transformation, check out an exclusive article in the latest issue of World Finance magazine, out now. www.worldfinance.com World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, which enjoys a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of prominent decision-makers around the world. CONTACT INFORMATION Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:18:05|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A shield tunneling machine self-developed by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co. Ltd (CRCHI), a major heavy machinery producer, passed acceptance tests on Friday and will be exported to Sri Lanka soon. It will be the country's first domestically-made shield tunneling machine to be exported to Sri Lanka, according to the company based in Changsha City, central China's Hunan Province. The machine, with a diameter of 3.7 meters and a 120-meter-long body, is relatively small in size but its functions and digging efficiency are equal to larger machines, said Zhang Ruilin, a designer of the machine. The machine will be used in drainage projects in Sri Lanka starting from April. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:13:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close COLOMBO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan government signed an agreement with a Dubai-based company on Friday to implement a 200-million-USD mixed development project in Colombo suburb called "Battaramulla," a minister here said. Sri Lanka's Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told Xinhua that his ministry had signed the agreement on behalf of the Sri Lankan government with the company named ESSAR Projects Ltd in Dubai. The minister said the project would include the construction of a 40-story office complex, an apartment complex and a hotel complex. "There will be facilities for recreation. This will give a new facelift to the area. It will have a modern play area for children, a mini cinema and a gymnasium," he added. According to the minister, the project will be completed by 2022. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:08:04|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Deng Xianlai, Han Jie WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States wrapped up a new round of trade negotiations here Thursday and took a step forward toward a final deal on their economic and trade disputes. Over the past two days, the Chinese and U.S. trade teams, headed by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer respectively, held candid, specific and constructive discussions, achieved important progress, and determined the timetable and roadmap for next-step consultations. The hard-won progress is the result of both sides seriously implementing the key consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, when the two leaders met in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, in December. Since then, the two sides have been building up mutual trust and consensus at the negotiating table. That gives the rest of the world more reasons to be cautiously optimistic about a final settlement of China-U.S. trade and economic disputes through consultations on an equal footing. During the talks in Washington, the two sides covered a wide range of issues of common concern, including trade balance, technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights and a two-way enforcement mechanism, as well as other topics of particular concern to the Chinese side. By tackling these sticking points directly, China and the United States have sent a positive message: as the two countries continue down the path of earnest and in-depth consultations, it is becoming increasingly possible for the world's top two economies to bridge their differences. During the talks, Beijing has agreed to make active efforts to expand imports from the United States in such sectors as agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services. With respect to legal reforms, China's Supreme People's Court inaugurated on Jan. 1 a national appeal court for intellectual property rights cases. The country has also been fast-tracking the legislation process of a unified foreign investment law that will ensure foreign companies fair treatment while operating in China. These measures will fuel China's pursuit of high-quality economic development and meet the people's demand for a better life. In doing so, China is also sharing its development opportunities with the wider world. The escalation in China-U.S. trade tensions over the past months has harmed the international trading system, damaged global supply chains and triggered volatility in financial and commodity markets worldwide -- all of which are proof that no one wins in a trade war. Apparently, neither side wants a lose-lose scenario. Therefore, it is imperative for both to further push forward the consultations, which not only meet the interests of the peoples and businesses in both countries, but also accord with the common expectations of the international community. In addition, advancing bilateral trade and economic talks also carries significant implications for maintaining global growth as well as stabilizing the financial market. It is normal for trade frictions to occur between China and the United States, and differences are nothing to be afraid of as long as both parties can demonstrate good faith in trying to solve them. At their Argentina summit on Dec. 1, Xi and Trump agreed that the two countries should try to reach a mutually beneficial agreement within 90 days. Given that there is less than a month ahead of the March 1 deadline, Beijing and Washington ought to fully implement the two presidents' agreement, and properly manage their differences in trade and economic issues. Doing so will not only lead to a win-win prospect for the two countries, but also contribute to the common good for the world at large. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 19:08:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close People gather around the wreckage of the "Mirage-2000" fighter jet after it crashed near the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport in Yemalur area, the southern Indian state of Karnataka, on Feb. 1, 2019. The second pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who was flying the ill-fated "Mirage-2000" fighter jet which crashed on Friday morning succumbed to his injuries in a government hospital, confirmed official sources. Earlier, one pilot had died instantly as he landed on the wreckage of the crashed jet, after reportedly being able to eject while the fighter jet was still on the runway before take-off. The mishap occurred in southern state of Karnataka when the two pilots were beginning a sortie to test the upgraded aircraft. (Xinhua/Stringer) NEW DELHI, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The second pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who was flying the ill-fated "Mirage-2000" fighter jet which crashed on Friday morning succumbed to his injuries in a government hospital, confirmed official sources. Earlier, one pilot had died instantly as he landed on the wreckage of the crashed jet, after reportedly being able to eject while the fighter jet was still on the runway before take-off. The mishap occurred in southern state of Karnataka when the two pilots were beginning a sortie to test the upgraded aircraft. The fighter jet had crashed near the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport in Yemalur area of Karnataka state. The HAL has been awarded the task to upgrade the French "Mirage-2000" fighter jets, a total of 50 with the IAF. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:58:01|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MACAO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Macao has drafted an administrative regulation on the use of national and regional flags and emblems, and the national anthem in the special administrative region (SAR), said the government news release issued on Friday. The Executive Council of Macao SAR on Friday has concluded its discussion of the draft regulation, titled "Concrete provisions concerning the use of National and Regional Flags and Emblems and the instrumental and vocal performance of the National Anthem". The draft regulation makes adjustment to the rules on the places where and the days when the national and regional flags are displayed or hoisted, the places where national and regional emblems are placed, and the occasions when the national anthem is performed instrumentally and vocally. The draft regulates that national and regional flags should be displayed or hoisted daily in official residence of the SAR chief executive, government headquarters, border controls and inspection posts, Macao International Airport, the Legislative Assembly, courts and procuratorates, and the maritime passenger terminals. The new draft regulation is made according to a bill passed by Macao's legislature on Jan. 24, 2019 to amend its national flag, emblem and anthem law made in 1999. The draft will come into force since June 1, 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:47:58|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close FUZHOU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- For many Spring Festival is a time to go back home, but for Huang Shiyun and Huang Jiayun, it is a time to pack up and leave for a strange place thousands of kilometers away. The sisters are part of a group called "little migratory birds" -- children left behind in their countryside home who travel to cities to meet their parents during the holidays. The sisters' parents work in a factory in Fuzhou, southeast Chinas Fujian Province, over 2,000 kilometers away from their hometown Mujiangchong village, Longchang city, southwest China's Sichuan Province. In the previous years, their parents, like millions of migrant workers, would go back home for family gatherings. This year, grandma decided to travel east with her grandchildren for new year. Currently there are 6.97 million "left-behind" children in China, whose parents have moved away from home to pursue higher salaries in more well-off regions. BITTERSWEET HOME Tucked among endless small hills, rice paddies in Longchang produce meager yields, forcing many villagers to travel away from home for a better income. Left behind under their grandma's care, the two sisters live a tranquil life, playing hopscotch around their house or wondering in the fields picking wild flowers. But they miss their parents lots, longing for summer and winter vacations when the family can be together for a short period of time. "When I miss them, I like to play in daddy and mommy's bedroom upstairs because it feels as if they are there," Shiyun, 9, said. When she cannot contain the loneliness, she calls her parents. "They said they missed me too, and told me to study hard and take care of my grandma and little sister." She has never let her parents down. As class monitor, she is the best student in class. The wall of their living room is covered with 19 awards she won from school, along with eight earned by her younger sister. Shiyun is also a good farm hand. She helps her grandma do household chores, keeping chicken and ducks, harvesting sweet potatoes and drying grain in the sun. I MISS YOU, MOMMY At 4 p.m. they hit the road, carrying bulging bags loaded with farm specialties such as dried bamboo shoots and glass noodles. Although high-speed trains have greatly slashed travel time for many Chinese, it is still an arduous journey to travel from the countryside in the southwest to the eastern coast. First, they take a bus to the nearby Chongqing Municipality, where they spent a night before boarding the high-speed train to Fuzhou. The train is sparsely occupied, as the travel rush ahead of the new year is mostly an exodus from coastal areas to the countryside inland. However, a reversal has emerged with more people choosing to gather with their family in the big cities, as they found that trips from home to the cities could be much cheaper and the traditional thinking that new year should be celebrated in hometowns is changing. Before long, Shiyun has made some new friends, most of whom are left-behind children traveling to cities to join their parents for the holiday. The heat and the dull rumble of the train soon sends the children to sleep. After she wakes up, Shiyun starts to read comic books to her bleary-eyed sister. After some fitful sleep, the wearied sisters stumble off the train in Fuzhou south railway station. As soon as they see their parents at the arrival gate, they rush into their mother's arms crying "I miss you, mommy!" The father keeps kissing his daughters on the cheek. It took them a further hour on bus to their final destination, a suitcase factory located in the city's suburb. The sisters' 28-hour journey is nothing special at this time of the year, when many Chinese are on the move for family gatherings or sightseeing. Nearly 3 billion trips are expected to be made during the 40-day-long travel rush. For many, seeing their families is a once-a-year event. HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS A single 20-square-meter room is the shelter for the family of five now. A bed, a sofa and a makeshift wardrobe comprise nearly all their furniture. Huang Haoran, the 40-year-old father, feels guilty about this. At the age of 14, he became a migrant worker. He has worked at the assembly lines, managed a retail pharmacy, and in 2011 he started a workshop making lady's bags. However, the small factory went bankrupt two years ago, and he ended up on the assembly line again. He now works as a shearer and his wife works a lathe in a suitcase factory. He blames himself for failing to provide a decent life for his family and for not spending enough time with the children. The parents are adamant that their daughters should have a different life when they grow up. "We want them to go to college," said Huang Haoran. "That is why we pay so much attention to their study." The parents once considered sending the sisters to schools near the factory, but hesitated because they were not sure how long they will stick with their present jobs, and whether the children would fit in well with the new environments. The girls are happy about their new year presents: each has a new backpack and a cute pig doll. Shiyun and her sister say their present to their parents is that they both rank first place in the school examination. These little migratory birds look set to fly high. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:42:57|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TOKYO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A referendum on the central government's controversial plans to relocate a U.S. airbase within Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa will be held across the entire southern prefecture later this month, Okinawa authorities said Friday. The vote on the contentious relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded residential area of Ginowan to the coastal, less populated region of Henoko, also in Okinawa, will now cover all eligible voters in the prefecture, as three cities that were opposed to the vote have reversed their decision. Owing to the prefectural assembly on Tuesday passing a bill to expand the referendum's voting conditions from a simple "yes" or "no" vote on the base's relocation to include a third "neither" option, the city mayors who had been opposed to the referendum on the grounds that the format would not cater to all residents' opinions, consented to go ahead with the vote. A prior sticking point for some of the city's majors had also been the budget associated with holding the referendum, which in some cases had been previously rejected by local assemblies. "Our city will cooperate with the prefecture to hold the referendum," Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama was quoted as telling local media. His remarks came after the city's assembly on Friday adopted the budget for the voting to go ahead. Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsugawa, meanwhile, told a press briefing on the matter that his city will now go ahead with the vote, as the addition of a third option for voters in the referendum was a proviso that was highly valued by his city. The referendum, to be held on Feb. 24, while not being legally binding, will, as Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki hopes, show the true extent to which the people of Okinawa are staunchly opposed to the central government's plans to relocate the air base. All eligible voters now being able to take part in the referendum is a boon to Tamaki who, since winning the gubernatorial election last September on an anti-U.S. base platform, has been embroiled in legal wrangling with the central government over its plans to relocate the base. On Thursday, Tamaki demanded the immediate suspension of land reclamation work being carried out by the central government in Henoko, Nago City. Tamaki's demands were based on a permit for landfill work in the area being cancelled due to the existence of soft ground. Citing the need for the government to solidify the ground for the landfill work to continue, Tamaki has insisted the central government halt its work. On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conceded in a Lower House committee meeting that soft ground in an area earmarked for reclamation work had been found and said that the area would require improvement work. For the improvement work to be carried out, the central government must legally apply to the prefectural government to request a change to the original plan, a move Tamaki has said will be difficult for the prefecture to accept. Okinawa hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan, yet the tiny sub-tropical island accounts for just a small fraction of Japan's total landmass. As well as shouldering the majority of U.S. bases and being victims of U.S. base-linked workers' criminal activities, which span rape and murder, to driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as a steady flow of accidents and mishaps involving U.S. military aircraft, the new location for the base has an extremely delicate ecosystem unique to Okinawa that the locals desperately want to protect. Tamaki had previously said that the central government's persistent push to continue with the landfill work is completely unacceptable and against the will of Okinawans who wish to see the base moved outside of Okinawa and Japan altogether, as anti-U.S. sentiment continues to rise on the island. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:32:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Former Mongolian Justice and Home Affairs Minister Dambii Dorligjav, who has been held in custody since Jan. 8 for alleged corruption, was released on bail on Friday, local media reported. A request for him to be released on bail was received by a court in Khan-Uul district in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator on Friday morning. The court also banned him from leaving the country. Dorligjav is suspected of accepting bribes in the amount of 4 million U.S. dollars from a mining company while he was prosecutor general. The 60-year-old served as prosecutor general in 2010-2014 and as the justice and home affairs minister in 2014-2016. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:27:55|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Guo Ying, Sun Qi BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- While the blind and visually impaired are able to learn and understand texts through Braille, there are very limited tools to help them understand visual information. Chinese researchers have designed a prototype tactile display system that allows them to handle visual information efficiently, hoping they can benefit more from the Internet age of booming graphic information. Named "Graille" and developed by Tsinghua University, the prototype includes a computer and an unusual display. The display is comprised of a pin-matrix with 7,200 small tactile dots that can be raised and retracted. The computer controls the pin-matrix of the display to show graphic information in raised tactile dots, which can be read by touch by the blind users. With a self-lock structure, the raised pattern can be locked for reading. The display is refreshable and allows users to feel a succession of images. Graille has a touch guidance interface, which offers a multi-channel interactive experience by introducing both haptic and audio experience. The research and development of the prototype was led by Xu Yingqing, a professor and director of the Future Lab in Tsinghua University. "We have applied for patents and hope it can be commercialized soon," Xu said. The prototype was a result of years of research and exploration. The idea started in 2009 when Xu, an expert in computer vision and interaction design, was working on a digitalization project for cultural heritage. Xu noticed that blind visitors can only absorb information through voice introduction converted from texts. The lack of visual information makes it hard for them to appreciate museum exhibits. Xu's team also visited the Beijing School for the Blind to learn more about blind people's need for handling visual information. "Visual information is vital for their life and education. For those who want to be massage therapists, they have to bear in mind the pictures of human anatomy," Xu said. Xu said he came across many blind students who were eager to learn more through computers and the Internet. "However, in an Internet age burgeoning with online visual information such as pictures and videos, there is a widening information gap between them and sighted users. We need to make visual content more accessible to them," Xu said. How to make tactile image readable for the visually impaired is essential for the development of the computer. Xu said the tactile image on the display is more than just mapping the outlines of the pictures as blind people have a different recognition of tactile images. Gong Jiangtao, a Ph.D student in Tsinghua is responsible for the graphic design of the computer. In order to get more first-hand knowledge of blind people's visual cognition, she spent about 500 hours interacting with blind students. "It's hard for them to understand perspective so when we want to present a three-dimensional objects, we may choose one or more surfaces to represent it. Besides, symmetrical images are more recognizable for them," Gong said. Gong and her team set up a field study on 242 tactile images featuring common objects and test whether the designs were suitable for blind people's tactile cognition. They then used machine learning methods to analyze large amount of feedback and summarized 22 features that may cause difficulty in tactile recognition. The results worked as universal design principles of tactile images and more images might be generated with artificial intelligence technology. Xu emphasized that the success of the prototype lied in interdisciplinary research that involved experts from design, computer science, psychology and medical science. "For example, we can conduct fMRI images of brain activity to gain better understanding of the cognitive mechanisms of tactile images," Xu said. His team is also cooperating with Internet companies including Baidu and Alibaba to benefit blind users in more areas. "We hope that with the function of online surfing, the visual tactile display system may be expanded as an application such as in online shopping," Xu said. Yang Guang, a blind student from the Special Education College of Beijing Union University, was excited when he used the system to choose his favorite mug from six mugs with different patterns on a shopping platform. "In the past, I could only listen to the text description of the goods through the screen reading software, but now I can 'read' the picture description," Yang said. The team is working on improved versions of the system and plans to roll out more miniaturized version in the future. "We are also trying to cut the cost and make it affordable to more blind users," Xu said. Lyu Shiming, vice chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, spoke highly of the system and the team's efforts. "The system makes visual information more accessible for blind users. With more research and innovation on the development of assistive technology for the disabled, I am full of expectation for an information society that is more inclusive of the disabled," Lyu said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 18:22:52|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close QINGDAO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved real-time transmission of deep-sea data at 6,000-meter depth through its self-developed BeiDou satellites for the first time, a move essential to more secure, independent and reliable deep-sea data transmission. China's most sophisticated research vessel Kexue (Science) returned to the eastern port city of Qingdao on Thursday after wrapping up a 74-day, 12,000-nautical mile expedition. During the trip, Chinese scientists maintained and upgraded the country's scientific observation network in the West Pacific, according to the Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Researchers replaced batteries on 20 sets of submersible buoys on the network, optimized their positions and installed BeiDou satellite communication modules in them. As the low-volume submersible buoys powered by batteries can only be retrieved once a year, the communication modules were designed to be tiny, power saving and run steadily. "The data collected by the submersible buoys, including the temperature, salinity, flowing speed and direction of seawater, should be transmitted back to the ground lab by satellites. The amount of data was huge," said Wang Jianing, a researcher at the institute. So they developed multi-module communication and transmission technology, greatly lifting transmission efficiency. The breakthrough research vessel Kexue made changed the situation. Before, real-time observation of marine data had relied on foreign remote sensing satellites. Now there was improved data transmission security and reliability, according to Wang Fan, director of the Institute. China began to establish the real-time scientific observation network in the West Pacific in 2014, and realized real-time transmission of deep-sea data in 6,000-meter depth in this expedition, with the depth range extending from 1,000 meters in 2016 to 3,000 meters in 2017. Researchers also carried out successful experiments on real-time transmission of deep-sea data of 10,000-meter depth in the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench, laying the technical foundation for achieving further depth. There are 20 sets of submersible buoys, four sets of large floating buoys and some pieces of on-board mobile observation equipment in China's observation network for scientific research over the tropical West Pacific, which has acquired deep-sea data for five consecutive years. Wang said the data could enhance the precision in ocean climate and environment forecasts. The tropical West Pacific is home to the world's most sophisticated waters, with the strongest interchange of energy and materials between earth and the ocean. It has a close connection with the occurrence of El Nino and its duration, which has a significant influence on floods and droughts in China. And the El Nino weather phenomenon, characterized by a warming in the Pacific Ocean, has a profound impact on extreme weather conditions, according to the institute. With a tonnage of 4,711 tonnes, Kexue is 99.8 meters long and 17.8 meters wide, with a cruising capacity of 15,000 nautical miles. Kexue started its first expedition in April 2014 and has fulfilled several missions in the West Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, with a more than 250-day voyage every year. China's BeiDou navigation system started to provide global services in December 2018. The stock of the residential developer AEDAS Homes closed the month of January at 23.50 which means a gain in value of 6% compared to the end of 2018, when it closed at 22.16. The homebuilder led by CEO David Martinez is the only big Spanish developer to close the first month of the year with an increase in its share price. This positive trend reflects the companys confirmation to its shareholders that it has achieved all its targets, which include delivering completed units, launching new projects, and continuing to strategically invest in land, as well as the fact that its current land bank gives the homebuilder clear visibility over its deliveries for the next four years. This guarantee offered by strictly adhering to stated objectives is viewed positively by the twelve brokerage firms that follow the company and the performance of its share. Of the twelve, only two have issued a hold recommendation, and none have issued a recommendation to sell. The firms give an average target price of 33.74, meaning that the stock has a potential upside of 43.4%. The analysts strong position comes from the visibility the company has over its business plan for the next several years. Goldman Sachs, for example, highlights the fact that the homebuilder operates in the Spanish regions where demand is greatest and where it was able to acquire land at very competitive prices before the recovery started to take hold. Analysts agree that the developers performance is in line with the targets originally set out in its business plan and with our forecasts, as is the case of Banco Santander, which reiterates its recommendation to buy, as we are seeing some of our higher expectations materializing. Another factor to keep in mind is the current state of the sector; demand for new-build housing still outstrips supply, and increases in both prices and construction activity have been forecast. In addition to Santander and Goldman Sachs, other firms which recommend buying shares in AEDAS Homes include Citi, UBS, Sabadell, JB Capital and Mirabaud. Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 17:57:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HONG KONG, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong customs busted a huge endangered species smuggling, involving the largest amount of pangolin scales ever seized by the customs. The customs on Jan. 16 mounted a joint operation with the Chinese mainland customs to combat cross-boundary endangered species smuggling activities. During the operation, the Hong Kong customs seized about 8,300 kg of pangolin scales from a container at the Kwai Chung customhouse cargo examination compound, officials said on Friday. In the same container, 2,100 kg of ivory tusks was also seized, the third largest amount ever found over the past 10 years, said Yeung Ka-Yan, head of Ports and Maritime Command at Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department. The shipment came from Nigeria and was bound for Vietnam. The smuggled pangolin scales and ivory tusks were hidden under frozen beef in a refrigerated container. In recent years, Hong Kong has been stepping up efforts to fight smuggling of endangered species. In 2018, 745 cases were detected involving smuggling of endangered species, representing a rise of 72 percent from 2017, official data showed. Among them, 54 cases involve smuggling of pangolin scales, 170 percent higher than such cases registered in 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 17:37:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have arrested 46 people, including three women, over allegedly drug-related offenses in the country's northern Kunduz province, local police said Friday. "During a period of four months operation, police have separately arrested 46 people, three of them women being involved in trafficking various kinds of drugs, mostly heroin from Kunduz to other provinces of the country," Safiullah Mahzoon, a provincial police official, told Xinhua. Amount of drugs and banned-chemical materials were also seized during the period, he noted. About 11 vehicles, cash and mobile phones have also been seized from detainees during the four-month long search, and their related cases were taken under investigation in Counter-Narcotics Criminal Justice Task Force of Afghanistan (CJTF), the official said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 17:27:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LUSAKA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- France on Thursday pledged to help Zambia construct an amphitheater in order to help the southern African nation promote its tourism as well as arts and culture. Sylvain Berger, French ambassador to Zambia, made the pledge when he paid a courtesy call to Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda. The French envoy said his country has enjoyed bilateral relations with Zambia spanning 55 years and that the two countries have worked closely together in various areas of economic development. He said supporting the construction of an amphitheater was part of France's already existing support of the promotion of arts and culture in Zambia, adding that his government has been supporting the National Arts Council (NAC) through various capacity building programs. France, he said, has also been involved in supporting conservation initiatives in the Kasanka National Park in the central part of Zambia, home to the world's largest mammal migration of bats. For his part, the Zambian minister thanked France for its plans to help the southern African nation construct an amphitheater, saying it will help popularize arts and culture. He said his ministry would make every effort to ensure the amphitheater is built in a central location, adding that it will also be used as a center of arts and culture and other tourism-related activities that will help grow the sector. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 17:17:38|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Pankaj Yadav NEW DELHI, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Even as India goes to general elections in next couple of months, the alliance government at the centre led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday tried to woo small farmers, and the middle-class earners whose annual income is up to 500,000 Indian Rupees (approximately 7,143 U.S. dollars). These two categories of people add up to around 160 million. This is being seen as a bid by the ruling BJP to woo voters by offering sops especially when elections are round the corner. According to the country's Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the small and marginalized farmers who own up to two hectares of agriculture land would get 6,000 Indian rupees (around 86 U.S. dollars) deposited in their bank accounts annually, in three equal installments of 2,000 Indian rupees (around 28 U.S. dollars) each. The central government will have to bear an extra financial burden to the tune of 75,000 crore Indian rupees (11.2 billion U.S. dollars) annually to implement this scheme, said the finance minister. In all 130 small and marginalized farmers would be directly benefited through this scheme which would come into effect retrospectively from December 1, 2018. This "direct money transfer" scheme for the farmers was much anticipated, considering the farmers' agitations witnessed in the country in the recent past. The agitating farmers had been demanding better minimum support price (MSP) for their agricultural produce and also waiver of their farm-loans. In India, agriculture is mostly dependent on monsoons and other adverse climatic conditions like drought or floods. Most farmers still adopt the traditional farming techniques which end up giving poor yields per hectare. Due to meager annual income generated from small land holdings, the marginalized farmers are not able to support their families and fail to pay up bank loans. In such circumstances, a large number of suicide cases by farmers are reported every year, though the number is said to be on the decline according to government data. In an attempt to increase farmers' income, the central government also proposed to increase the MSPs by 50 percent for as many as 22 crops. Agriculture continues to the main driver of India's rural economy, said the finance minister. Then, the government tried to woo the middle-class earners, also called the salaried class. The government announced that no tax would be levied on an individual's annual income of up to 500,000 Indian rupees (approximately 7,143 U.S. dollars). A total of 30 million middle-class people would be directly benefited who till now had to bear a tax of around 12,500 Indian rupees (approximately 178 U.S. dollars) annually. When Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced this budgetary proposal, the Treasury benches hailed the move by thumping the desks for quite some time, amidst raising slogans - "Modi, Modi, Modi". The salaried class was given another relief of 10,000 Indian rupees (143 U.S. dollars) in the form of Standard Deduction which is proposed to be increased from 40,000 (571 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 Indian rupees (714 U.S. dollars), out of an individual's annual income. Besides, tax exemption was granted on rent paid on second self-occupied house by an individual in case he or she is posted away from his or her permanent house for a job employment. Presenting the Interim Budget-2019 at parliament's lower house Lok Sabha, Goyal said that the annual income up to 650,000 (approximately 9,286 U.S. dollars) of such individuals would be totally exempted from tax if they make specific savings into equities like Provident Fund (PF), life insurance etc. In his budget speech, Goyal said both tax collection and tax base have shown a significant increase due to government initiatives in recent years. He said, "We have moved to a moderate tax regime, with a high compliance." Besides, the government also proposed to significantly increased the budgetary allocations for the lower castes, or the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs). Announcing a 35 percent increase, the finance minister proposed to allocate 76,800 crore Indian rupees (approximately 11.5 billion U.S. dollars) for the welfare of the SCs and STs. Goyal also said in his speech that the government had recommended to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) council for reducing GST rates for home buyers, in a bid to boost affordable housing for the poor and the middle-class. Laying emphasis on improved health and living conditions, especially the poor, the minister also announced to set up the 22nd branch of the prestigious "All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)" in northern state of Haryana. "Already 21 AIIMS are either operational or are coming up in different parts of the country. Out of these 21, as many as 14 were announced by the present-day central government over the past four-and-a-half years," said the finance minister. Hailing the central government's health-for-all scheme - "Ayushman Bharat", the minister said that it aims to benefit 500 million people across the country. As many as one million people have already been benefited under the health scheme, thereby saving a whopping 3,000 crore Indian Rupees (450 million U.S. dollars) for the beneficiaries on medication. The prices of stents and medicines have been reduced, much to the comfort to the poor who could not afford expensive medication earlier, added the minister. Feature: Sydney kickstarts Lunar New Year events with photo show depicting contemporary China Xinhua Weibo Facebook Twitter Reddit Diigo Delicious Digg Linkedin MySpace Sina Weibo Kaixin Renren Q-zone Tencent Weibo Sohu Weibo NetEase Weibo Source: Xinhua | 2019-02-01 17:02:36 | Editor: huaxia This photo exhibited at the exihibition shows a Chinese dancer with the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge in the background. (Photo courtesy of organizer) by Duncan Murray SYDNEY, Feb.1 (Xinhua) -- Sydney's Lunar New Year events got off to an early start on Thursday night with the opening of a photography exhibition depicting modern China, attended by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. "China moments in Time" features the work of Marcus Reubenstein, an Australian photojournalist who has travelled extensively throughout China, visiting 23 cities and capturing over 19,000 images. Reubenstein told Xinhua that he was moved to create the show not only by what he saw in China, but what he learnt about the country and its people. "I realized very very early that Western culture and Chinese culture are different, but Western values and Chinese values are not that different," Reubenstein said. "We (Australians and Chinese) care about our children, we care about our families, we want a better life for ourselves, we want to live in better communities and have the best for our fellow man." Marcus Reubenstein (R), an Australian photojournalist, introduces the photos exhibited at the exhibition to Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L). (Photo courtesy of organizer) Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched the event, describing Reubenstein's work as a privileged opportunity for Australians to see China through the eyes of a sensitive and reflective traveller. Abbott added that being one of the first events in Sydney's Lunar New Year calendar made the occasion particularly auspicious. With more than a million Australians of Chinese background and Mandarin one of the most frequently spoken languages other than English, Abbott said that China and Australia are both highly important to each other. "While our countries are important to each other, while our countries matter for each other, we don't always know each other as well as we should -- that's exactly what Marcus Reubenstein has given us tonight, access to his travels in China, access to his insights into the Chinese character, the Chinese way of life." Gallery attendees were equally impressed, with local resident Bernadette Cunningham telling Xinhua that the photos made her want to visit China for herself. "I've never really had a wanting to go to China, not for any reason in particular, but seeing these photos now it's really opened my eyes to it, and I'd love to take a trip, it's beautiful, I wasn't expecting this at all," Cunningham said. As well as the everyday people he encountered on the streets of China, Reubenstein's photographs depict Shaolin monks, dancers, acrobats, horsemen and even a characteristic giant panda. A visitor looks at a photo during the exhibition entitled "China moments in Time" in Sydney on Jan. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Guo Yang) Often travel photography can prove difficult, and subjects unwilling to be photographed but Reubenstein said the response he got from the Chinese people was "fantastic." "Wherever I have gone I've been met with welcoming smiles and acknowledgment by people who don't know who I am, they don't know where I'm from, they don't know what I'm doing," he said "Particularly in smaller provinces and smaller cities the Chinese people are genuinely heart-warmed, and engaged with someone who comes and shows an interest in their daily lives and their society." Reubenstein said his favourite photographs in the exhibition are a series of three, depicting China's old and new generations. One is an old man, the other is a baby and the third is an old lady holding her grandchild. Reubenstein calls them "Old, New, and Two Generations." Rubenstein's respect and reverence for his subjects is obvious, and with that he is able to take their spirit and humanity and make it a relatable and enduring aspect of his photographs. "While we know there are many differences between life here and life there, different languages, different institutions, and to some extent different values, what shines through all of these photos is a wonderful humanity," Abbott said. "And that in the end is what all of us have in common, and it's by better appreciating that shared humanity that is the surest foundation for human progress and lasting peace." Xinhua Weibo Facebook Twitter Reddit Diigo Delicious Digg Linkedin MySpace Sina Weibo Kaixin Renren Q-zone Tencent Weibo Sohu Weibo NetEase Weibo Back to Top Close Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 16:17:22|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank lent 16 billion yuan (about 2.39 billion U.S. dollars) to financial institutions through the standing lending facility (SLF) in January to help meet provisional liquidity demand. The funds will all mature in one month, according to a circular posted Friday on the website of the People's Bank of China. Total outstanding SLF loans reached 16 billion yuan as of the end of January. Last month, the central bank also injected 31 billion yuan of funds through pledged supplementary lending to the China Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Agricultural Development Bank of China. The central bank has adopted open market operations more frequently to manage liquidity in a more flexible and targeted manner. China will keep its prudent monetary policy "neither too tight nor too loose" while maintaining market liquidity at a reasonably ample level in 2019, according to the annual Central Economic Work Conference held in December last year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 15:32:11|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Undated photo shows Gombojav Zandanshatar. The Mongolian parliament elected Gombojav Zandanshatar on Feb. 1, 2019 as its new speaker through a vote of 95.2 percent in the country's 76-seat parliament. (Xinhua) ULAN BATOR, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian parliament on Friday elected Gombojav Zandanshatar as its new speaker through a vote of 95.2 percent in the country's 76-seat parliament. The former head of the cabinet secretariat replaced Miyegombo Enkhbold, who was dismissed from his post on Tuesday due to an alleged abuse of power. "I will pay special attention to ensuring the unity of the parliament, and reducing unemployment, poverty and income inequality in the country," Zandanshatar told the parliament. The 48-year-old from the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) has been elected as a member of the parliament three times in 2004, 2008 and 2016. In addition, he served as deputy minister of food and agriculture in 2003 -2004, as minister of foreign affairs and trade in 2009-2012, and as general secretary of the MPP in 2012-2013. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 15:32:10|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- In Fangshan District, southwestern Beijing, a giant red flag besieged by mountains is drawing attention. The Communist Party of China (CPC) flag made of metal -- the size of one and half tennies courts -- is a landmark of Tangshang Village in Xiayunling Township, where a revolutionary song was written more than 70 years ago. Village Party chief Li Zengjun has told visitors the story of the song thousands of times. "In 1943, the toughest time for China to fight against Japanese invasion, the CPC established a revolutionary base here," Li said. "Their care-for-the-people attitude and policies inspired performance troupe member Cao Zhi so much that he created the song overnight." The song -- Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China -- later spread to the whole country. Cao also changed his name to Huoxing (Spark), indicating the Party belief that a single spark could start a prairie fire. "In wartime back then, changing his name has manifested Cao's firm belief," Li said. The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past seven decades, the song that villagers have taken pride in has inspired them to strive for a better life. Unlike urban area of Beijing with modern infrastructure and diverse industries, mountainous Fangshan, with its barren soil, used to be impoverished. Most Tangshang villagers relied on mining to make ends meet. "Everywhere was dirty in the village with so many coal trucks. My hands and neck were never washed clean," villager Wei Luyun said. After Beijing pledged to phase out polluted industries in recent years to pursue green development, the colliery closed. In 2006, the construction of a state forest park was approved, covering the entire township. Wei became a forest ranger at first, with meagre income. With the help of her daughter, Wei and her husband started a family inn, accommodating tourists and selling local specialties. On her business card, the address of her inn is described as "in front of the giant red flag, Tangshang Village." "We served more than 30 tables a day at most in summer," Wei said. The local township government has set up a target called "red song, green sea," striving to develop tourism combining its revolutionary history and ecological environment. Last year, the township received 300,000 tourists, and raked in nearly 9 million yuan (1.3 million U.S. dollars) of revenue. Wei plans to expand her inn business. "We will be able to serve 10 more tables at the same time when the other yard being decorated is ready for tourists," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 15:27:09|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Folk artists perform the lion dance to mark the forthcoming Lunar New Year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb. 1, 2019. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has sent greetings and best wishes to the people, as the country is gearing up for the celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sovannara) by Sovan Nguon, Mao Pengfei PHNOM PENH, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has sent greetings and best wishes to the people, as the country is gearing up for the celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. The 2019 Chinese New Year, the Year of Pig, will fall on Feb. 5. "I and my wife would like to bless the compatriots with good luck and fortune on the occasion of the upcoming Chinese New Year," the Cambodian prime minister said in a Facebook post on Thursday. He said Cambodia celebrates three new year festivals a year, namely the Universal New Year, the Chinese New Year and the Cambodian New Year. "Nowadays, there are more and more Cambodians of Chinese descent," Hun Sen said. "When the nation has full peace, people have freedom to choose religious beliefs and to celebrate festivals according to their traditions." Though it is not a public holiday in Cambodia, the Spring Festival is broadly celebrated, as schools, companies and institutions are closed on the occasion. Thai Norak Sathya, a secretary of state and spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said the Chinese New Year has been observed in the kingdom since ancient times and its popularity has grown stronger from year to year. "Since I was born, I saw my parents and neighbors celebrating the Chinese New Year every year," the 65-year-old spokesman told Xinhua in a recent interview. "There are more and more people celebrating the festival from one year to another because there is growing relationship between Cambodians and Chinese descents through marriages and friendship," he said. Sathya said the Chinese New Year was almost as popular as the Cambodian New Year, which is usually celebrated in April. "During the Chinese New Year, Phnom Penh City is as quiet as the Cambodian New Year, so I think the celebration of Chinese New Year is almost the same as that of Cambodian New Year," he said. He explained that on these occasions, Phnom Penh dwellers leave the city for a visit to their hometowns for a family reunion. The spokesman said some pure Cambodians also celebrate the Chinese New Year because they believe that the celebration would bring them good luck and fortune throughout the new year. "They have conviction that praying to their ancestors on the occasion will help them make good earnings in the new year," he said. Days ahead of the festival, shops selling Chinese New Year decorative items and praying stuff attracted crowds of customers. "Sales are very good during the Chinese New Year season if compared to normal days," Hem Ros, a vendor at Phsar Dermkor market in Phnom Penh, told Xinhua. "I sell all kinds of Chinese New Year decorative items and praying stuff such as joss stick pots, joss paper, red lanterns, red envelopes, red color paper-cuts, and Chinese couplets, among others," the 63-year-old vendor said. Meas Fanin, 62, who is a Cambodian of Chinese descent, said she observes the festival every year because it is an occasion to honor her ancestors. "I'm a Cambodian with Chinese ancestry, and the celebration of Chinese New Year is my tradition. I always celebrate it every year, it is a very important festival that I cannot miss," she told Xinhua while buying Chinese New Year decorations at the Phsar Dermkor market. "During the festival, we pray to our ancestors...and ask their souls to take care of us and to help us make good earnings in businesses," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 14:27:01|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The New York Knicks have officially traded All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, the team announced on Thursday. In the seven-player swap, the Knicks receive Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first-round draft picks from the Mavericks while Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke will head to Dallas with Porzingis. According to local media, Porzingis talked with Knicks management about the state of the franchise and his future with the team earlier. Porzingis and his brother, Janis, who is also his agent, expressed their frustration with the franchise's losing ways and uncertainty over creating a sustainable and successful organization. Porzingis has been sidelined for nearly a year with an injury while New York now have 10 wins and 40 defeats to sit at bottom of the East Conference standings. NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been commenced on behalf of stockholders of Aphria Inc., CURO Group Holdings Corp., Loma Negra Compania, and 22nd Century Group, Inc. Stockholders have until the deadlines listed below to petition the court to serve as lead plaintiff. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided. Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) Class Period: July 17, 2018 - December 4, 2018 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 4, 2019 The complaint alleges that throughout the class period defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Latin American assets acquired by the company lacked adequate licenses to operate and were overvalued; and (2) that the acquisition of Latin American assets would enrich the companys CEO and other insiders at the expense of shareholders. The complaint further alleges that, as a result of the foregoing, investors purchased Aphrias securities at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period and suffered investment losses as a result of defendants conduct. To learn more about the Aphria class action go to: http://bespc.com/apha/ . CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CURO) Class Period: July 31, 2018 - October 24, 2018 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 4, 2019 The complaint alleges that throughout the class period defendants issued false and misleading statements, including ongoing financial guidance, relating to CUROs efforts to transition its Canadian inventory of products from Single-Pay Loans to Open-End Loans. Specifically, defendants materially misrepresented to investors the deleterious effect that the up-front loan loss provisioning in connection with the transition was having on the companys financial performance and 2018 full-year company guidance. The truth was revealed after the market closed on October 24, 2018, when the company announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter of 2018 and substantially reduced its guidance for full-year fiscal 2018. To learn more about the CURO class action go to: http://bespc.com/curo/ . Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE: LOMA) Class Period: Pursuant and/or traceable to Loma Negras initial public offering on or about November 1, 2017 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 4, 2019 The complaint alleges that Loma Negras Registration Statement contained materially false statements and omitted facts including: (1) downplaying and misrepresenting Loma Negras exposure to a massive, ongoing corruption scandal engulfing its majority owner, InterCement Participacoes S.A.; (2) misrepresenting a purported increased demand for Loma Negras cement and other products as a result of economic growth and government funding for public works projects in Argentina, as well as the purported benefits to Loma Negra from that increased demand; (3) misrepresenting events and trends in the Argentinian economy, as well as Loma Negras exposure thereto; and (4) including references to known risks that if occurring might or could affect Loma Negra, despite the fact that these risks had already materialized at the time of the IPO. To learn more about the Loma Negra class action go to: http://bespc.com/loma/ . 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE: XXII) Class Period: February 18, 2016 - October 25, 2018 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 22, 2019 The complaint alleges that throughout the class period defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) 22nd Centurys stock was prone to manipulation through paid stock promotions; (2) such conduct would subject 22nd Century to heightened regulatory scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (3) consequently, 22nd Centurys public statements were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. To learn more about the 22nd Century class action go to: http://bespc.com/xxii/ . Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a New York-based law firm concentrating in commercial and securities litigation. For additional information about Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. please go to www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Brandon Walker, Esq. Melissa Fortunato, Esq. (212) 355-4648 investigations@bespc.com www.bespc.com Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 14:27:01|Editor: mym Video Player Close YANGON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Investors are now allowed to enjoy tax exemption of up to seven years in Myanmar's less developed regions under the new Myanmar Investment Law introduced on Aug. 1 last year, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Friday. The 7-year tax break covers all less developed regions of Chin, Kayah, Kayin and Rakhine states. Investment authorities set three categories to offer tax break to investors -- seven-year break in less developed regions as Zone 1, five years in moderately developed regions as Zone 2 and three years in developed regions as Zone 3. However, the chairperson of Chin State Chambers of Commerce and Industry requested for 10-year tax break to attract investors from both home and abroad in Chin state, one of the country's less developed regions. "The existing law does not allow tax incentives of over seven years for those states. That can be done only if the law is amended," U Aung Naing Oo, secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) was quoted as saying. Chin state saw no investment in the whole fiscal year 2017-2018 as there have been some difficulties in basic infrastructure, transportation and electricity, which are challenges for the investors in the state. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 14:11:58|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Duncan Murray SYDNEY, Feb.1 (Xinhua) -- Sydney's Lunar New Year events got off to an early start on Thursday night with the opening of a photography exhibition depicting modern China, attended by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. "China moments in Time" features the work of Marcus Reubenstein, an Australian photojournalist who has travelled extensively throughout China, visiting 23 cities and capturing over 19,000 images. Reubenstein told Xinhua that he was moved to create the show not only by what he saw in China, but what he learnt about the country and its people. "I realized very very early that Western culture and Chinese culture are different, but Western values and Chinese values are not that different," Reubenstein said. "We (Australians and Chinese) care about our children, we care about our families, we want a better life for ourselves, we want to live in better communities and have the best for our fellow man." Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched the event, describing Reubenstein's work as a privileged opportunity for Australians to see China through the eyes of a sensitive and reflective traveller. Abbott added that being one of the first events in Sydney's Lunar New Year calendar made the occasion particularly auspicious. With more than a million Australians of Chinese background and Mandarin one of the most frequently spoken languages other than English, Abbott said that China and Australia are both highly important to each other. "While our countries are important to each other, while our countries matter for each other, we don't always know each other as well as we should -- that's exactly what Marcus Reubenstein has given us tonight, access to his travels in China, access to his insights into the Chinese character, the Chinese way of life." Gallery attendees were equally impressed, with local resident Bernadette Cunningham telling Xinhua that the photos made her want to visit China for herself. "I've never really had a wanting to go to China, not for any reason in particular, but seeing these photos now it's really opened my eyes to it, and I'd love to take a trip, it's beautiful, I wasn't expecting this at all," Cunningham said. As well as the everyday people he encountered on the streets of China, Reubenstein's photographs depict Shaolin monks, dancers, acrobats, horsemen and even a characteristic giant panda. Often travel photography can prove difficult, and subjects unwilling to be photographed but Reubenstein said the response he got from the Chinese people was "fantastic." "Wherever I have gone I've been met with welcoming smiles and acknowledgment by people who don't know who I am, they don't know where I'm from, they don't know what I'm doing," he said "Particularly in smaller provinces and smaller cities the Chinese people are genuinely heart-warmed, and engaged with someone who comes and shows an interest in their daily lives and their society." Reubenstein said his favourite photographs in the exhibition are a series of three, depicting China's old and new generations. One is an old man, the other is a baby and the third is an old lady holding her grandchild. Reubenstein calls them "Old, New, and Two Generations." Rubenstein's respect and reverence for his subjects is obvious, and with that he is able to take their spirit and humanity and make it a relatable and enduring aspect of his photographs. "While we know there are many differences between life here and life there, different languages, different institutions, and to some extent different values, what shines through all of these photos is a wonderful humanity," Abbott said. "And that in the end is what all of us have in common, and it's by better appreciating that shared humanity that is the surest foundation for human progress and lasting peace." Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 14:06:58|Editor: mym Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian judicial officials on Thursday ordered the freezing of another 800 million reals (about 220 million U.S. dollars) of mining giant Vale's assets over the collapse of the company's tailings dam in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The same amount was frozen on Monday, after the state's Public Ministry of Labor requested a total of 1.6 billion reals (about 440 million U.S. dollars) be frozen to cover costs related to the accident, which has so far killed 110 people, mostly Vale employees. About 240 people are still missing. Thursday's move brings the company's total frozen assets to 12.6 billion reals (about 3.45 billion U.S. dollars). In a statement, the ministry said Vale was also ordered to cover the cost of burials and to continue paying the wages of deceased or missing employees to their relatives. The company must also provide any relevant documents to investigators on the safety of the dam. In addition, the company faces fines of 499 million reals (about 136.5 million U.S. dollars). The dam at a Vale iron-ore mine in the town of Brumadinho burst on Jan. 25, releasing vast amounts of toxic waste. In 2015, another tailings dam partly owned by Vale collapsed in the Minas Gerais town of Mariana, causing the worst environmental disaster in Brazil's history. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 14:01:56|Editor: mym Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan.31 (Xinhua) -- A Pentagon report released Thursday revealed a disturbing trend in U.S. military service academies, where sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact are on the rise despite calls to stamp down the behavior. The Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies examined sexual assault and harassment for the 2017-2018 school year in the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, the three major U.S. military service academies. It found that 50 percent of the 3,200 female students attending the three major U.S. military service academies said they have experienced sexual harassment, while 16 percent said they have experienced unwanted sexual contact. The numbers for the 9,700 male students are 16 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Statistics indicated that sexual assault and harassment have become worse in all three academies. Most alarming were the numbers for the U.S. Military Academy, where 16.5 percent of female cadets reported unwanted sexual contact, a 62-percent jump from the 2016 numbers. The rate more than doubled for male cadets in the previous two years, spiking to 3.4 percent. The report concluded that the result of this year's survey proved that "sexual assault and sexual harassment are insidious, persistent challenges that do not remit easily," and that the result does "not reflect the high level of investment in policies and programs to prevent sexual assault and other forms of misconduct." "This year's report demonstrates that there is more work to be done," said James Stewart, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 12:56:45|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A court in east China's Zhejiang Province has sentenced a Didi hitch driver to death for raping and murdering a female passenger last August. Zhong Yuan, 27, was also deprived of his political rights for life for intentional homicide, robbery and rape, according to the intermediate people's court of Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province. On Aug. 24, a 19-year-old woman went missing after hailing a car from Didi Chuxing, the country's largest ride-hailing platform, in Wenzhou. The driver Zhong was caught by police the next morning, and confessed to rape and murder. According to the court, the murder was premeditated. Zhong had gambling debts on an online gambling website and prepared the knife and tape in advance, intending to rob a female passenger. Zhong's plan failed on Aug. 23 after a female passenger escaped from the car, but he managed to pick up another female passenger the next day and committed the crime, according to the court. Didi Chuxing suspended its Hitch services nationwide after the case. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 12:46:43|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- European aerospace giant Airbus said it had detected a "cyber attack" on its commercial aircraft business information systems, U.S. media reported on Thursday. Airbus announced in a statement on Wednesday that the incident had no impact on its commercial operations, and it would probe whether the cyber attack was targeted at specific data, according to the website of U.S. media group Forbes. Airbus employs some 129,000 people worldwide and has three divisions -- commercial aircraft, defense and space, and helicopters. The company is expected to report this incident to the supervision authorities of the European Union as required. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 12:26:39|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with Indian troops Friday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out at village Drubgam of Pulwama district, about 39 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Two militants were killed today in a fierce gunfight with joint contingents of police and army here," a senior police official posted in Pulwama told Xinhua. Gunfight in the village began after contingents of police, paramilitary and army cordoned off the entire area late Thursday night. "As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants, thereby triggering a gunfight," the official said. According to officials, the village was cordoned off following specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 12:01:30|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has unveiled a new national development vision which it plans to achieve from 2021 to 2025. According to government guidelines on the implementation of the 2019 national socio-economic development plan, which were distributed at a recent meeting of finance and planning officials held in capital Vientiane in the middle of January, the Lao government has already drawn up the new national development vision, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday. The plan entails the transformation of the economy from the current dependence on natural resources to a knowledge-based economy. In addition, economic growth must be environmentally friendly and sustainable. In recent decades, the economy has undergone rapid growth of more than 6 percent annually. However, current growth is mainly based on the exploitation of natural resources, which Lao policy makers and development partners view as being unsustainable, said the report. According to the local report, the Lao government is well aware of the current economic situation and the need to restructure economic bases to ensure that growth is sustainable. As part of efforts to ensure economic sustainability, the Lao government has begun to improve the business climate, believing that this strategic move will encourage business operators to invest, operate and expand their businesses. This means that the private sector and state-run businesses will be the main driver of growth over upcoming decades. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 11:31:23|Editor: mym Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Winston Churchill's birthplace at Blenheim Palace embraced new technology to start trying a robot tour guide in the UNESCO world heritage site. The 1.5-meter tall robot, named Betty, is designed by scientists at Oxford Robotics Institute from Oxford University's Department of Engineering Science. It is the latest in a series of tech advances in the palace. "Having Betty at the palace is a great opportunity for us to engage with the general public in a stunning setting," Dr. Bruno Lacerda of the team told local media. When Betty detects visitors, it could provide information and answer their questions. It could even take selfies with visitors and upload them to social media using the Twitter hashtag #bettyinthepalace. The team hopes that in the future Betty is able to guide visitors to specific spots in the historic site. If the trial is successful, it will return to the palace again later in the year. Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house in Blenheim, Oxfordshire, England. It is the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. Churchill was born at the palace in 1874. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 11:16:20|Editor: mym Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government is "leaving no stone unturned" to protect New Zealand's quota access into the EU and Britain post-Brexit, Minister of Trade and Export Growth David Parker said on Friday. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue with British Prime Minister Theresa May and EU leaders during her meetings in London and Brussels last week. Other ministers and officials have raised this matter at every opportunity with EU and British leaders since the issue first emerged in late 2017, Parker said in a statement, adding it will also be discussed with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan when he visits New Zealand soon. "We are working hard to hold them to the assurances they have given us that New Zealand will not be left worse off as a result of Brexit," Parker said. Tariff rate quotas (TRQs) set the amount of New Zealand goods, such as sheep meat and butter, that can be exported into the EU at a lower tariff. At issue is how the EU and Britain will set the TRQs when Britain splits from the EU, he said. Speculation about the proposals the EU and Britain were developing to split TRQs in a way that would reduce access for countries including New Zealand first arose in late 2017. New Zealand with six other concerned WTO members wrote formally to the EU and Britain in September 2017, outlining the reasons why this approach was unacceptable, according to the minister. "We have and will continue to fight this proposal and encourage the EU and the UK to re-think their approach. It's important we find a mutually acceptable solution that will not leave our exporters disadvantaged," Parker said. Last July New Zealand lodged a formal objection to these proposals as part of the EU consultation process, as it formulated the regulation passed last week by the EU Parliament. In October, along with a large number of other WTO members, New Zealand lodged a claim of interest at the WTO in Geneva to defend its existing quota access. Atlanta, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Television, Inc. (Gray, we, us or our) (NYSE: GTN and GTN.A) announced its appointment of veteran news broadcaster Ike Walker as the General Manager/News Director of KVLY (NBC) and KX4 (CBS) in the Fargo-Valley City, North Dakota (DMA 117) television market. Ike has served as News Director for the stations since 2012. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ike has also served in station and news management positions in Columbus, Ohio; Topeka, Kansas; Savannah, Georgia; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is uniquely qualified to take over in Fargo, because under his leadership, Valley News Live has become the dominant, number one news leader for the eastern half of North Dakota. He is a highly respected leader with a clear vision for stations. His steady and strategic orientation will serve the Fargo market well. About Gray: Gray owns and/or operates television stations and leading digital properties in 91 television markets, including the first or second highest rated television station in 85 markets. Our television stations broadcast almost 400 separate programming streams, including nearly 150 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks. We also own video program production, marketing, and digital businesses including Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. For further information, please visit www.gray.tv. Gray Contacts: Website: www.gray.tv # # # Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 10:46:14|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close PHILADELPHIA, the United States, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Philadelphia Orchestra expects more cooperation with China to contribute to the development of China-U.S. cultural exchanges and bilateral ties, the orchestra's chief has said. "Forty years of diplomatic relations between the United States and China is an incredibly significant moment in both our countries' histories," said Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra, in a recent interview with Xinhua. While celebrating this anniversary of the official ties, it is equally important to advance people-to-people relations, he added. Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra is widely recognized as a global ambassador for Philadelphia and for the United States, due to its longtime tradition of frequent collaboration with domestic and international communities. In 1973, the orchestra pioneered cultural exchange with China at the special request of then U.S. President Richard Nixon, becoming the first U.S. orchestra to make a tour to the People's Republic of China since its founding. "The relationship between The Philadelphia Orchestra and the audiences in China predates diplomatic relations ... So, we have a responsibility to continue to build on those connections and to make them stronger," said Tarnopolsky, adding that his orchestra is "always looking for the next chance for greater collaboration" with China. "We love making music with musicians, both professional and nonprofessional musicians. In China, there's an incredibly high standard. And it's wonderful to be a part of it," said the chief executive, who is also a classically trained musician. Music has the magic power to transcend language and culture. Through such kind of exchanges, "challenges seem to melt away," according to Tarnopolsky. The orchestra's interaction with the Chinese counterparts has been flourishing since its first historic visit to China more than 45 years ago. The orchestra established longstanding partnership with the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center as well as the Shanghai Media Group Performing Arts Division. The Philadelphia Orchestra and China's Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra have worked together since 2016 to advance cultural exchanges between the two nations. Calling the orchestra's 40-plus years of partnership with China "incredibly meaningful," Tarnopolsky said "it is a privilege to contribute another chapter to the storied relationship between our two countries." The Philadelphia Orchestra announced earlier this week that it will visit China on May 16-28 -- the orchestra's 12th tour to China -- to mark the 40th anniversary of U.S.-China diplomatic relations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 10:31:10|Editor: mym Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend sanctions against the Central African Republic (CAR) for another year. Resolution 2454, adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, decides to renew the sanctions regime -- an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze -- till Jan. 31, 2020. It also decides to extend the mandate of the panel of experts, which helps the Security Council implement the sanctions, till Feb. 29, 2020. The resolution envisages the establishment, by April 30, 2019, of key benchmarks in various fields that could help the Security Council review the arms embargo on the CAR government. The fields include the reform of the country's security sector; the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation process for members of armed groups; and the management of weapons and ammunition. It requests the CAR authorities to report on the progress achieved in those fields by June 30 this year, followed by an assessment of the UN secretary-general by July 31. On the basis of the assessment, the Security Council will review the arms embargo measures by Sept. 30. The CAR government has been asking for a lifting of the arms embargo for years. But the Security Council is reluctant to do so as it has no confidence in the government's ability to properly manage weapon stockpiles and a significant influx of new arms. The resolution expresses a particular concern about reports of illicit transnational trafficking networks which continue to fund and supply armed groups in the CAR, and requests the panel of experts to devote special attention to the analysis of such networks. The CAR has been mired in a civil war since 2012. The presence of armed groups has prevented the government from establishing state authority in most parts of the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 09:05:51|Editor: mym Video Player Close NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar extended slight gains on Thursday as its exchange rates against the euro and pound rose, which demonstrated traders and investors' concern about Britain's divorce deal with the European Union (EU). With 57 days before Brexit to take place legally, British Prime Minister Teresa May has not secured a Brexit deal and EU officials worry that a no-deal Brexit would pose "underappreciated risk" to the European financial markets, said the Guardian. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a TV program on Thursday that Brexit could be delayed as the government may need "extra time" to pass key legislation, describing the Brexit impasse as "a very challenging situation." In late New York trading, the euro decreased to 1.1444 dollars from 1.1481 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound slid to 1.3111 dollars from 1.3112 dollars in that period. The Australian dollar increased to 0.7264 dollar from 0.7254 dollar. The U.S. currency stood at 108.87 yen, lower than 108.93 yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar was up to 0.9946 Swiss franc from 0.9941 Swiss franc, and decreased to 1.3131 Canadian dollars from 1.3148 Canadian dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 08:25:36|Editor: mym Video Player Close BANGKOK, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's retail giant Central Group has confirmed that the group will invest 200 million U.S. dollars and acquire a significant non-controlling stake in southeast Asia's top ride-hailing platform Grab's Thai entity. The two companies will collaborate across the areas of transport, food and grocery delivery, logistics, according to an agreement announced by the duo on Thursday. Central Group Executive Chairman and CEO Tos Chirathivat said the two companies look forward to collaborating together to revolutionize the retail and service industry, a strategic key driver for the country's growing economic success. Grab Thailand last year offered 100,000 trips per day, delivered 3 million meals, while Grab Express doubled its growth and Grab Food grew by 40 times. The Singapore-based ride-hailing operator offers the widest range of on-demand transport services in the region, in addition to food and package delivery services. Luis Acosta holds 5-year-old Angel Jesus, both from Honduras, as a caravan of migrants from Central America en route to the United States crossed through the Suchiate River into Mexico from Guatemala in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Oct. 29, 2018. (Reuters Photo) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN children's fund (UNICEF) stressed the need to uphold special protection for migrant children, especially those who are traveling alone, amid a refugee spike from Guatemala to Mexico, a UN spokesperson said Thursday. The agency's remark came after it revealed that more than 12,000 people, including 3,000 children, have traveled from Guatemala to Mexico over the past two weeks, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief. UNICEF also noted more than 30,000 children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador were temporarily held in detention centers last year, Dujarric said. "The Mexican government recently pledged to end detention of all child migrants and UNICEF is supporting these efforts by helping develop alternatives to detention such as open shelters, day centers and humanitarian visas," he said. UNICEF is also providing assistance to ensure that unaccompanied children receive appropriate care, he added. In the meantime, UNICEF is seeking 3.9 billion U.S. dollars to aid 41 million children in need of humanitarian aid in 59 countries for 2019. Funding for child protection programs accounts for 385 million dollars of the overall appeal, including almost 121 million dollars for protection services for children affected by the Syria crisis. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: "Today millions of children living through conflict or disaster are suffering horrific levels of violence, distress and trauma... The impact of our child protection work cannot be overstated." "When children do not have safe places to play, when they cannot be reunited with their families, when they do not receive psychosocial support, they will not heal from the unseen scars of war," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 08:09:15|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close People visit the Anji Branch of Zhejiang Museum of Natural History in Anji County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 31, 2019. The museum attracts lots of visitors during the winter vacation. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 08:05:11|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Medical staff give Spring Festival decorations to patients and their family members at the Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 31, 2019. Patients and their family members were provided with Spring Festival decorations and music performance by medical staff and volunteers at the Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital as a way to greet the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi) Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 07:58:27|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Jan. 31, 2019 shows residents of poverty-alleviation settlement enjoying a meal to greet the upcoming Spring Festival at a community in Huishui County of Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hui) Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 07:45:30|Editor: mym Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend sanctions against the Central African Republic (CAR) for another year. Resolution 2454, adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, decides to renew the sanctions regime -- an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze -- till Jan. 31, 2020. It also decides to extend the mandate of the panel of experts, which helps the Security Council with the implementation of the sanctions, till Feb. 29, 2020. The resolution envisages the establishment of key benchmarks in various sectors that could help the Security Council review the arms embargo on the CAR government by April 30, 2019. The CAR has been in civil war since 2012, which is being fought along religious and ethnic lines. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 07:10:24|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close by Gui Tao, Peter Barker LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese consumers are the drivers of the global economy, one of the world's top economists has said. "The most important thing for as far as I can see into the future, certainly at least halfway through the next decade, is the Chinese consumer," Lord Jim O'Neill, chair of the London-based think tank Chatham House, told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview. O'Neill came to global fame by coining the acronym BRIC to describe the four developing economies -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- which he saw as being future powerhouses for global economic development in the 21st century. A consistent believer in globalization and the central role of consumers and China to that effect, O'Neill said: "The Chinese consumer has been slowing for the past few months... that's what drives (globalization) ultimately unless we physically make it illegal to trade with each other." "Globalization is driven by what consumers want," he said. China, the world's most populous country, has been one of the main drivers and beneficiaries of globalization. Since the country started its reform and opening up under Deng Xiaoping in 1978, the Chinese economy has transformed and 500 million Chinese people, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO), have been lifted out of poverty. "It is very unlikely that any other country could step in to drive global consumption," O'Neill said. GLOBALIZATION WILL NOT BE DESTROYED O'Neill has an insider's view of capital flow and the growth of national economies around the world, seen from the furnace of finance that fed off globalization and helped create the aspects of it that are seen today. "I started my career in 1982, and from 82 until the late 90s every period of mini-crisis was essentially all about what the hell happens when the American consumer slows down," O'Neill explained. With some thought, this led to a revelation for O'Neill about future global economic growth. "I sort of realized in the 90s that the world could not permanently survived on the American consumer which we had done." "I realized as early as that that the next 40 years might be about the Chinese consumer and it has been particularly this decade," he noted. There is a downturn coming in the global economy, predicted by many economists in many countries, with evidence already emerging and underlined by organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in their latest forecasts. For O'Neill, these kind of downturns are expected, and reaction should not be overblown. "Economic cycles are a fact of life. they will happen and maybe we're going into a downturn now, but that isn't going to destroy globalization -- it will interrupt it, but It won't destroy it," O'Neill said. BREXIT WORRIES The formal exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) is set for March 29, but there is still no clear form of how that Brexit will happen, or even whether it will take place on time or happen at all. How does O'Neill think Brexit will end. "I have no idea, even now," he confessed. O'Neill has been at the heart of British politics for some years, first as a government minister in the Treasury under David Cameron's coalition government, and latterly as an appointed member of the second chamber, the House of Lords. He made his first speech in the House of Lords recently, in opposition to a hard Brexit. O'Neill believes an exit from the EU without a deal, leading to Britain and the EU trading under WTO rules which would mean tariffs on many items, would be counter-productive. He was particularly concerned about the impact on the auto industry, which is a dominant industry in Britain, employing 856,000 workers. In 2017 they built 1.6 million cars, of which 1.3 million were exported to more than 160 countries, but the EU was the largest single market, and the auto industry accounted for 12.8 percent of total British exports. "Some of the world's most productive auto plants are in the UK, but if we go out and trade under WTO rules, they won't stay that way because the profit margins are too thin," he added "I'm sure there are other industries where that is true." NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Vale S.A. (Vale or the Company) (NYSE: VALE). Investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Vale and certain of its officers and/or directors have violated the federal securities laws. [Click here to join a class action] On January 25, 2019, a tailings dam collapsed at a mine operated by Vale in Minas Gerais, Brazil, releasing a mudflow that devastated the mines administrative area and surrounding community. As of January 28, 2019, at least 60 people were reported killed in the incident, with hundreds more missing. Vales American depositary receipt price fell $1.20, or 8.08%, to close at $13.66 on January 25, 2019, and continued to fall sharply on January 28, 2019. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, 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 Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 07:00:21|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday. Of the 110 victims, 71 have been identified, according to the civil defense. Another 108 individuals have been evacuated from their homes due to the sludge and residue slide. The number is lower than the 175 reported on Wednesday. "The number of evacuees is lower because some services were restored and some people returned to their homes," said Flavio Godinho, deputy coordinator of Civil Defense of the Minas Gerais, during a press conference. Rescue efforts came to a halt Thursday afternoon due to fears of heavy rainfall in the region. However, the rainfall never materialized and rescue efforts resumed. The catastrophe, considered one of the worst in Brazil's history, happened on Friday when the tailings dam owned by Brazilian mining company Vale collapsed and sent 13 million cubic meters of sludge and mud down the hill. A nearby community, Vale's administrative center and its cafeteria where there were hundreds of people eating, were buried by the mudslide. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 04:59:57|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) welcomed on Thursday the formation of a new Lebanese government and expressed strong support for the new cabinet. AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit praised the efforts of Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to form the new unity government after nine months of deadlock, according to AL spokesman Mahmoud Afifi. "The AL secretary-general stressed the necessity for all parties to provide political and economic support for the new government in the light of the massive missions and responsibilities it will assume in the coming period," Afifi said in a statement. The AL also highlighted the importance of supporting all constitutional institutions in Lebanon to maintain the national unity of the Lebanese people. Earlier in the day, Lebanon announced the formation of a 30-member national unity government headed by Hariri and representing all main political parties. The country has been struggling to form a government since Hariri was designated as prime minister last May following parliamentary elections, mainly because of the differences among parties, including Hariri's Future Movement and the Shiite party Hezbollah, over their representation in the new government. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 04:49:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close MUSCAT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- An Omani force from the Royal Army was sent to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for a joint military exercise, an Omani statement said. The statement said the joint military exercise, scheduled for Feb. 3-14, is aimed at exchanging experiences and activating joint training and exercise plans. According to the statement, the Omani participation in the joint drills comes within the training plan adopted by the Royal Army of Oman to maintain high levels of performance, training and combat efficiency among the members of the Royal Army. On Oct. 17-30 last year, Oman and Britain held a joint military exercise, the "Sword Express 3," with the participation of 5,500 soldiers from the British ground, sea and air forces. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 04:14:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo wrapped up her two-day visit to Somalia on Thursday, praising the government's ongoing reform agenda. DiCarlo expressed UN's strong support for implementation of the milestones set out in the government's roadmaps on inclusive politics, security and justice, economic recovery, and social development. "Somalia has made significant progress and, despite the obstacles, there is a strong political will to build a stable future for the Somali people," DiCarlo said in a statement issued at the end of her visit to Somalia. DiCarlo called on Somali leaders to prioritize good governance, human rights, and women's rights, and to complete the constitutional review. "As we approach elections in 2020, the UN stands ready to continue to support Somalia and its people to achieve its goals," she said. On Thursday, DiCarlo also met with women representatives of civil society organizations in Somalia, where she underscored the importance of an independent civil society. The UN official pledged continued support toward the inclusion, representation and participation of women in the country's political processes in light of the 2020 elections. "Stability in any part of the world is more likely to be achieved if women are engaged in society," DiCarlo noted. "The percentage of women participating in the political life, throughout the world, is still unsatisfactory. We also want to support Somalia to address that," she stressed. Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro attend a rally in support of the state oil company PDVSA in Caracas, Venezuela January 31, 2019. (REUTERS PHOTO) MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia has no plans to evacuate citizens from Venezuela despite the risk of a large-scale armed conflict or foreign invasion, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday. "We are not talking about the evacuation of either Russian diplomats, their families, Russian citizens, or employees of overseas agencies and companies. This I can confirm," Zakharova told a news briefing. She said that "unfortunately, the threat of a large-scale armed conflict has not passed" in Venezuela. A direct external intervention cannot be excluded, she added, recalling a line that read "5000 troops to Colombia" in the notepad of U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, noticed by media at one of his recent briefings. Zakharova said she has no doubt that foreign forces are hindering internal dialogue in Venezuela, where opposition is unwilling to engage in negotiations regardless of President Nicolas Maduro's readiness for talks. However, Moscow believes that the possibilities of diplomatic assistance to Venezuela in solving its very complex crisis are not exhausted, she said. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is ready to act as a mediator in establishing dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. Maduro also said he was ready to negotiate with the opposition with the help of international mediators, in an interview with Russia's RIA Novosti news agency published earlier on Wednesday. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 03:24:33|Editor: mym Video Player Close The convoy of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths arrives at an airport in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 31, 2019. Griffiths left Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa on Thursday after a four-day visit to end a disagreement over the implementation of a peace deal reached in Stockholm in December last year. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed) SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa on Thursday after a four-day visit to end a disagreement over the implementation of a peace deal reached in Stockholm in December last year. "Deeply concerned about recent hostilities in Yemen, the special envoy calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and de-escalate tensions," Griffiths said on Twitter after departing Sanaa. "What we need now is speedy redeployments according to an RCC (redeployment coordination committee) plan," he added. During his visit, Griffiths discussed with the Houthi leaders the ways to end the disagreement with their foe, the exiled government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. They also talked about withdrawal of both rival forces from the country's port city of Hodeidah. He also visited rebel-held Hodeidah, the main lifeline entry for Yemen's most food imports and international aid on the Red Sea. Griffiths inspected the cease-fire between the Houthi fighters and the government forces, which have advanced and recaptured the southern and eastern outskirts of the port city. The UN envoy has been shuttling between the Yemeni rival parties in Sanaa and the Saudi capital Riyadh to rescue the peace deal. The deal was the major breakthrough into the four-year devastating civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the impoverished Arab country to the brink of starvation. Under the deal that went into force on Dec. 18, 2018, and focused on Hodeidah as the first step in trust-building, the cease-fire between the warring parties has largely held despite some skirmishes. However, both rival parties have so far failed to withdraw their forces from the city and its outskirts and kept trading accusations of breaching the truce. The UN said the discussions have been stalled because of different interpretations of the Stockholm Agreement over who would control key points of Hodeidah during the partial cease-fire. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north. On Wednesday, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said the Arab coalition "is prepared to use more calibrated force to prod Houthi compliance with Stockholm Agreement." In response, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi highest revolutionary committee, said "Hodeidah is not easy." "It is either the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement or the hell which is waiting for the invaders and their mercenaries," al-Houthi tweeted. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 03:09:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIGA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Law enforcement officers raided the office and home of Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs on Wednesday as part of a criminal probe into allegedly corruptive deals of Rigas Satiksme municipal transport company, the Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau said in a statement Thursday. On Wednesday the anti-graft agency only aid that the searches at several locations had been part of an ongoing investigation but did not give any details about the case. Latvia's public television, however, said the searches at the Riga mayor's office and home were likely related to the Rigas Satiiksme case. On Thursday, the corruption prevention bureau added more information to the statement on its website, confirming that the raids were connected to the criminal investigation launched in November 2018 into the municipal transport company's suspicious procurement deals. The bureau is investigating a deal allegedly concluded between Rigas Satiksme managers, Riga city council's officials and Polish and Czech companies supplying passenger vehicles to the Riga transport company. The deal allegedly involved bribery and laundering of illegal proceeds with the help of third persons. Six suspects in Latvia and two in Poland have been detained in connection with the probe. Latvia's TV3 commercial television reported earlier that for each trolleybus, bus and tramcar supplied to Riga, 5 to 7 percent of the price were paid in bribes. The total value of the three purchases featuring in the case exceeds 270 million euros, which means that 13 to 20 million euros might have been paid in bribes. After operatives of the Corruption Prevention Bureau had searched his office and home on Wednesday, Usakovs told reports his conscience was clear and he would not resign as mayor of Riga. Meanwhile, the opposition in the city council quickly collected the necessary number of signatures to call an extraordinary council meeting at which they intend to propose a no confidence vote on Usakovs. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 03:09:31|Editor: mym Video Player Close Lebanese President Michel Aoun (C) meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (R) and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 31, 2019. Lebanon announced Thursday the formation of a new government, which is headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, breaking a nine-month political deadlock in the country, local TV Channel LBCI reported. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon announced on Thursday the formation of a new government, breaking a nine-month political deadlock in the country, local TV Channel LBCI reported. In a televised address, Fouad Fleifel, secretary general of the council of ministers, said Lebanon finally succeeded in forming a 30-member national unity government headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri with all main political parties represented as promised. Hariri's Future Movement will be allocated six ministers, the Free Patriotic Movement 10 ministers, the Lebanese Forces four ministers, Hezbollah three ministers, Amal Movement three ministers, Progressive Socialist Party two ministers, and one minister for Marada and the Consultative Gathering respectively. "We finally succeeded in forming a government. Our duty, first of all, is to apologize to all the Lebanese for the delay in forming the government," said Hariri following the announcement of the new cabinet. He guaranteed that all ministers will work together to overcome the financial, economic, social and security challenges facing the country. "The government has an agenda that cannot be delayed further and no one can ignore the problems facing this country," the new prime minister noted. Hariri also emphasized the need to implement real and serious reforms. "The international community has pledged to offer 11 billion U.S. dollars for Lebanon but the fund cannot be delivered without the implementation of real financial and economic reforms," he said. Lebanon has struggled to form a government since Hariri was designated Prime Minister last May following parliamentary elections, mainly because of the differences among the parties over their representation in the new government. Hezbollah, a Shiite political party, and the Free Patriotic Movement, founded by Lebanese President Michel Aoun and currently headed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, had demanded to grant cabinet representation to a group of six Sunni lawmakers who are known as the Consultative Gathering and not affiliated with Hariri's Future Movement. The Consultative Gathering finally succeeded in having Hassan Mourad, son of one of the six Sunni lawmakers, appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Trade and its representative in the new government. Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-01 02:59:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday announced the appointment of Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania as the next executive secretary of the the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The UN chief made the announcement after consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. He will succeed Monique Barbut of France to whom the secretary-general is grateful for her outstanding commitment and dedicated service to the organization, Dujarric said. Thiaw brings to the position almost 40 years of experience in sustainable development, environmental governance and natural resource management. He is currently special adviser to the secretary-general for the Sahel. Prior to this position, from 2013 to 2018, Thiaw was deputy executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), where he played a key role in shaping the organization's strategic vision, mid-term strategy and program of work, and strengthened collaborations with governments and other environmental governing bodies, including the UN Environmental Assembly. He joined the UN in 2007 as director of the Division for Environmental Policy Implementation in UNEP. Prior to joining the United Nations, he worked at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the regional director for West Africa and later as acting director general. Thiaw started his career in his home country, Mauritania, where he served for 10 years in the ministry of rural development. He holds an advanced degree in forestry and forest product techniques. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-31 07:19:26|Editor: mym Video Player Close People take pictures in front of a frozen fountain in Bryant Park in New York, the United States, Jan. 31, 2019. The freezing weather caused by the polar vortex in the midwest United States has expanded to New York since Wednesday with snowfalls and strong wind gusts, sending temperatures to the single digits Fahrenheit, or below -12 degrees Celsius. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The freezing weather caused by the polar vortex in the midwest United States expanded to New York on Wednesday with snowfalls and strong wind gusts, sending temperatures to the single digits Fahrenheit, or below -12 degrees Celsius. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued snow squall warnings for New York City and some counties in neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut on Wednesday. "A line of snow showers and/or snow squalls will move across the region this afternoon into the early evening," the NWS tweeted. A snow squall means a sudden burst of blowing snow, which arrived in the city around 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) and lasted around 30 minutes, causing trouble for evening commute. Meanwhile, Wind chill warnings and advisories are in effect for much of the tri-state area Wednesday night through Thursday morning. An arctic blast is also expected to hit the area Wednesday night with gusts up to 40 miles per hour, making temperatures continue to plummet, according to the NWS. New York City's Emergency Management Department issued a hazardous travel advisory for road traffic Wednesday afternoon, saying that the snow squall "may cause brief whiteout conditions, limiting visibility and making travel extremely dangerous." "New Yorkers should plan for hazardous travel during the evening commute and are advised to take mass transit where possible, delay travel or safely exit highways or roadways before the snow squall arrives," the department said. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also warned of an acute blast of cold air and snow earlier Wednesday. He advised people to stay indoors as much as possible. The city has issued a "Code Blue" alert, which means outreach teams will act more frequently to encourage homeless people to go to shelters. Major airports in the city were paralyzed due to the snow. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flights at the J.F. Kennedy International Airport were delayed nearly two and a half hours while flights in LaGuardia Airport were delayed about 90 minutes. Temperatures are expected to pick up during the weekend to as high as in the 40s Fahrenheit, according to weather forecast AccuWeather. The cold weather in New York City with temperature expected to fall to a few degrees Fahrenheit above zero is very rare, said Ralley Horton, associate research professor with Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at a briefing on tipping points and surprises of climate change on later Tuesday. Horton warned that a small shift of conditions including changes in sea level really matters a lot for the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- -- (via Blockchain Wire) -- CoinAgenda (www.coinagenda.com), the premier global conference series for connecting blockchain and cryptocurrency investors with startups since 2014, has announced its third annual CoinAgenda Caribbean event. Taking place at the InterContinental San Juan March 1-3, 2019, CoinAgenda Caribbean will feature three days of conference content, thought leadership and world-class networking events with a special focus on blockchain economic development in Puerto Rico and friendly jurisdictions in the Caribbean, the rise of security tokens, enterprise applications, changes in the digital currency funding vehicles and digital currency exchanges. The Caribbean region has been a world leader in funding blockchain entities due to its innovative financial structures, and Puerto Rico has attracted more than 300, said Michael Terpin, CEO and Founder of CoinAgenda. Were excited to bring CoinAgenda Caribbean to Puerto Rico for its third year, and look forward to gathering some of the industrys best and brightest minds to explore whats next for cryptocurrency investing in 2019 and beyond. The conference will feature more than 40 speakers and 20 company presentations, including renowned author and economist Harry Dent; Alphabit Fund managing partner Liam Robertson; Tezos security advisor Ryan Lackey; and a panel of Puerto Rico-based blockchain entrepreneurs, including James Greaves (Glyph) and MichaelAngelo Anglero (Keyband). More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. CoinAgenda Caribbean also includes a startup competition highlighting top entrepreneurs developing real-world use cases for blockchain technology. Founders interested in pitching their projects (including security token offerings) are invited to apply here. The contest is judged by prominent token investors, and winners will be awarded a complimentary exhibit at a future CoinAgenda event as well as tickets to partner conferences. Past CoinAgenda startup competition winners have gone on to raise millions in funding, including Aeternity, Bancor, Cashbet, Omega One, SALT Lending, and Qtum. Members of the media are invited to cover CoinAgenda Caribbean. To request media credentials, please email contact@coinagenda.com. CoinAgendas official news wire service is Blockchain Wire, the industrys first press release distribution service focused exclusively on news about blockchain companies, cryptocurrencies, ICOs, STOs, and related announcements. ABOUT COINAGENDA CoinAgenda is the premier global conference series for connecting blockchain and cryptocurrency investors with startups since 2014. CoinAgenda has held conferences in North America, Europe, and Asia, with its global conference happening each October in Las Vegas. To learn more or apply to speak or sponsor, please visit caribbean.coinagenda.com or the homepage https://coinagenda.com/. CONTACT: contact@coinagenda.com Connect with CoinAgenda: Twitter Facebook Telegram South Africa: Eskom public hearings move to Gauteng This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A new range of South African cultivated indigenous citrus and deciduous fruit are set to be unveiled at the upcoming Fruit Logistica International Trade Fair, says the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). The new range will be launched by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) at the trade fair in Berlin, Germany. Speaking ahead of... See more Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-31 05:23:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close GABORONE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Botswana on Wednesday loosened the total ban on the imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa. Botswana's Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security said in a statement that the ban has been loosened but imports are under strict supervision "to avoid incidents of the highly virulent disease into our country and disturb the beef industry's anticipated growth this year." On Jan. 10, Botswana authorities banned the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa following a confirmation of an outbreak of the highly contagious foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the South African province of Limpopo. "Live cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa can be allowed into the country, as long as they are not from the affected province of Limpopo," said the ministry. In addition, ready-to-eat products such as cooked meat, tinned beef, polony and yogurt are now allowed to be imported. Processed and unprocessed animal feeds are also allowed. FMD is an extremely infectious viral disease which can affect all cloven-hoofed mammals, both domestic and wild. The disease is a major threat to livestock farmers and industries. Measures to contain outbreaks often include strict restrictions on movement and mass culling of animals. (WTXL) - A new proposal would ban vaping in workplaces, like restaurants in Florida just like the cigarette ban. One vape shop manager says vaping isn't as harmful as cigarettes and the decision should be left up to business owners. First cigarettes and next on the chopping block could be vaping in the workplace. Florida voters passed the amendment back in November and now a Senate committee will have the final say. The bill says it'll protect people from the health hazards of secondhand tobacco smoke and vapor. But Geoff Liday of King of Vape says the ban isn't fair because vaping isn't as harmful as cigarettes. The ban would prevent people from vaping in restaurants and other enclosed workplaces. But people would still be able to vape in places where smoking is already allowed like certain hotel rooms and bars. Liday argues people who use vaping as a way to kick their cigarette addiction may revert to their old ways. The Senate committee will vote on the vaping ban next week. A meteorite has reportedly struck a small town in the western part of Cuba, with loud explosions heard in the vicinity of where the small meteorite landed. A CNN reporter said that the meteorite landed on a home in Vinales, Pinar del Rio. The meteorite did not cause any injuries. Only in Cuba does an apparent meteorite crash and you happen to know the person whos house was hit. pic.twitter.com/jYhAnBLUy0 Patrick Oppmann CNN (@CNN_Oppmann) February 1, 2019 The National Weather Service office out of Key West, Florida, confirmed that it received reports from residents of the Florida Keys who witnessed a meteor in the sky. A meteorite is described as a small piece of rock from outer space that enters the Earth's atmosphere and hits the ground. Rocks from outer space, otherwise known as meteors, enter the Earth's atmosphere frequently, but most burn up in Earth's atmosphere before landing. It is unknown exactly how large the meteorite that landed in Cuba was before it landed. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A 19-year-old has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a sleeping juvenile. Hakeem Tyresu Peterson, 19, was booked into the Leon County Detention Center on Tuesday. On May 28, 2018, the victim disclosed to a Tallahassee Police Department investigator that she had been sexually battered within the last 24 hours. Because the victim was under 18, documents say the Children's Advocacy Center interviewed her and conducted a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit to gather DNA evidence. The victim told investigators she was asleep on a couch around midnight when she awoke to someone sexually assaulting her, court documents said. She said the suspect was on top of her, holding her hands above her head. Despite the low lighting in the room, the victim said she recognized the suspect as Hakeem Peterson. The victim said she told Peterson to stop, but didn't comply and gripped her hands tighter. He eventually stopped for an unknown reason and left. When an investigator spoke to Peterson, he said he did not recall any physical contact with the victim but recalled his mother accusing him of sexually battering the minor. Peterson said he suffers from mental health issues and has been told of other past incidents that he does not recall. He said those incidents happened after he went to sleep and he has no memory of them. He said he did not know the name of his mental health disorder and was previously prescribed medication for the issue but does not currently take anything. Peterson also stated that he was admitted to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Behavioral Center for treatment around March 2018. Court documents say Peterson declined to let investigators collect a cheek swab from him. The investigator wrote that the results of the sexual assault kit indicated that two different males contributed to the DNA collected from the victim. Based "on the fact of this case, there was reason to believe one of the male contributors was the suspect," the court document said. On Sept. 28, 2018, a judge approved a search warrant to require Peterson to provide a cheek swab. A sample was collected from him and forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for analysis. "Hakeem Peterson is included as a possible contributor to the mixed DNA profiles ..." the court document said. Based on the evidence, investigators found probable cause to charge Peterson with sexual assault/sexual battery on a person less than 18 years old. No bond amount has been set for his charges. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) -As a congressman, Ron DeSantis carved out a name for himself railing against Medicaid spending. But as a newly elected governor, DeSantis released a $91.3 billion proposed spending plan Friday that, for the most part, maintains the status quo for Medicaid providers in Florida. The plan recommends that hospitals, HMOs and nursing homes be paid at levels state economists recommended in December for treating poor, elderly and disabled patients. DeSantis proposed budget would allocate $29.1 billion to the state Agency for Health Care Administration, with about $112 million going to regulation of health-care facilities, ranging from hospices and nursing homes to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. The rest of the money is targeted toward Medicaid. Florida law requires the governor to submit to the Legislature a proposed spending plan each year. It doesnt have the weight of law but provides lawmakers with insight to the governors spending priorities for the upcoming year. The DeSantis budget also would appropriate $3.3 billion to the Florida Department of Children and Families, $3.1 billion to the Florida Department of Health, $340 million to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and $131 million to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Although DeSantis released his proposed budget Friday, he didnt release whats known as the implementing bill, which details proposed changes in law that are needed to carry out spending decisions. While DeSantis proposed Medicaid budget is largely a continuation of the current-year spending plan, budget officials did not rule out the possibility that it could change if Mary Mayhew, DeSantis appointee to run the Agency for Health Care Administration, pushes for broad changes such as a Medicaid block-grant program. DeSantis budget proposal would make permanent a $98 million reduction in Medicaid spending that was backed by the Legislature last year. The cut is a result of eliminating a retroactivity policy in which the state has picked up health-care bills while patients prepare to enroll in the Medicaid program. Former Gov. Rick Scotts administration received approval from the federal government to waive a requirement that the state absorb health-care bills of people while they gather information necessary to apply for Medicaid coverage. But in a letter to state officials, federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma told state officials the reduction expires with the June 30 end of the current-year budget, unless the Legislature agrees to make the cut permanent. The annual legislative session will start March 5. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, told reporters this week that the Senate has not resolved what direction well go on the retroactivity issue. House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, said the future of the $98 million cut, which impacts an estimated 39,000 elderly and disabled patients, was part of a larger legislative conversation. Otherwise, DeSantiss proposed budget includes enough Medicaid money to cover what economists predicted in December would be needed in the coming year if no changes were made in policies. DeSantiss choice to not make spending reductions in Medicaid distinguishes him from Scott, who left the governors office last month. In seven of his eight years as the states top executive, Scott recommended deep reductions in the amount of money Florida spends on hospitals. The Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida released a statement Friday lauding DeSantis for his proposed spending plan. We are happy that the Governor DeSantis budget makes solid health care investments and demonstrates his commitment to protecting access for children and mothers in need to complex medical care, Justin Senior, chief executive officer of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, which represents public, childrens and teaching hospitals, said. Senior served as AHCA secretary under Scott. DeSantis also included some new funding initiatives in his plan. For example, documents distributed by the DeSantis administration show that his proposed budget provides an additional $1.3 million to increase epidemiology and surveillance to address opioid-related issues. The budget plan includes $1.2 million to implement an electronic-verification program for behavioral analysis providers, who treat children with autism. The governors office contends the money would help crack down on fraudulent billing in the program but didnt have estimates of savings. In addition, DeSantis budget recommends $6.5 million in state funding for capital improvements for state veterans nursing homes and $3.4 million for operating costs of the Lake Baldwin State Veterans Nursing Home in Orange County. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A former FSU fraternity member who is charged in the hazing death of Pi Kappa Phi pledge Andrew Coffey has again had his bond revoked for drinking. Clayton Muehlstein, one of the eight men accused in the hazing death of Pi Kappa Phi pledge Andrew Coffey, is now a wanted man after violating his pre-trial release conditions. According to court documents, Muehlstein violated his conditions just an hour into New Year's Day. The results were captured by a special bracelet designed to analyze alcohol consumption through your skin. A non-compliance report shows that Muehlstein denied drinking when the alert for his alcohol consumption was recorded. Muehlstein said that he was in his apartment when the bracelet started going off, but it was late so he went to bed about 30 minutes later. "The I woke up in my apartment," Muehlstein wrote in an email, "and it was not acting up again, so I just went on with my day. I did not consume any alcohol so I am confused as to why this happened." A case management hearing is set for Friday, Feb. 1. In April 2018, Muehlstein was jailed after a judge revoked his bond for getting into a drunken bar fight. Five of the eight suspects have taken plea deals in hazing case while three others are still waiting for a decision from the First District Court of Appeals. Andrew Coffey died of alcohol poisoning in November 2017 during an off-campus fraternity party. FSU hazing death suspect jailed after drunken bar fight TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - One of the men accused in the hazing death of FSU pledge Andrew Coffey is back in jail after his bond was revoked for violating his pretrial release conditions. Clayton Muehlstein is back in jail after his bond was revoked by a Leon County circuit judge. State Attorney Jack Campbell filed a motion to revoke his $2,500 bond on April 9. The motion was granted on Thursday. The next day, Muehlstein's defense attorney filed a motion to reinstate his bond. The attorney claims Muehlstein's bond was revoked based on reported observations of a law enforcement officer, not "scientific testing." According to an incident report, Muehlstein, 22, and another man, identified in the report as Ryan Lawrence, were pushing, grabbing, and throwing punches at one of the staff members manning the VIP entrance line for Tenn Night Club. Investigators determined that Muehlstein was under the influence of alcohol and contacted his pretrial officer. Muehlstein and the other man weren't arrested, but were issued trespass warnings. After his bond was revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Muehlstein turned himself in on Friday. Muehlstein's defense attorney requested a hearing on the motion to set bond. That hearing is set for April 18, 2018. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Prosecutors are asking that bond be revoked for one of the men accused in the hazing death of FSU pledge Andrew Coffey after he was found drunkenly fighting at a bar on The Strip. On Monday, State Attorney Jack Campbell filed a motion to revoke Clayton Muehlstein's $2,500 bond. He is asking to keep Muehlstein in custody until he faces trial. According to an incident report, Muehlstein, 22, and another man, identified in the report as Ryan Lawrence, were pushing, grabbing, and throwing punches at one of the staff members manning the VIP entrance line for Tenn Night Club. Bouncers broke up the fight and pushed Muehlstein and the other man on the ground and they were detained while police investigated. A check on Muehlstein revealed that he was on pretrial release for a hazing charge and that he was violating his conditions by drinking, Documents note that Muehlstein "freely admitted" that he was not supposed to be drinking and shouldn't even be at the location since it was an alcohol drinking establishment. Investigators determined that Muehlstein was under the influence of alcohol and contacted his pretrial officer. Muehlstein and the other man were issued trespass warnings. No one was injured in the fight and the staff members did not press charges. Witnesses and dashcam footage appeal after town centre hit and run This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 31st, 2019 North Wales Police have issued an appeal for dashcam footage following a hit and run in town this afternoon. The incident took place in the King Street area shortly before 3:50pm. Police say that a silver Vauxhall Corsa was involved in the hit and run RTC. Anyone who has dashcam footage or witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 101 or via the live chat system quoting X014046 Support the vision of Wrexham as a town of sanctuary as part of Wales-wide effort This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 1st, 2019 Local organisations and individuals will join together today to launch a bid to make Wrexham a town of sanctuary that welcomes refugees and asylum seekers. It features as part new action plan has been launched by the Welsh Government, which is aimed at tackling inequalities and poverty experienced by refugees and asylum seekers in Wales. The Nation of Sanctuary Refugee and Asylum Seeker Plan highlights a range of targeted support including mental health services which address the difficult past experiences of those seeking sanctuary and introducing actions that safeguard and protect vulnerable individuals and children. This afternoon community groups and charitable organisations in Wrexham are leading the way as part of Wales effort to establish itself as a nation of sanctuary with a campaign launch at Ty Pawb. Organisations including the British Red Cross, Together Creating Communities, the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham, Bawso, Family Friends and United to Assist Refugees UK have joined together to spearhead the project. They will be joined at the event by Ian Lucas MP, Assembly Members Mark Isherwood and Michelle Brown and Wrexham Mayor Cllr Andy Williams, with all determined to show that Wrexham is a welcoming place for all people, including those who have been displaced because of war, persecution, food crises and environmental emergencies. They also want to demonstrate the valuable and valued contributions made by refugees and asylum seekers in Wrexham and are asking people to make a pledge: We support the vision of Wrexham as a Town of Sanctuary, welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries, and recognise the contribution of refugees and people seeking sanctuary make to Wrexham. We are committed to taking practical steps to welcome and include diverse communities in our activities. We are willing for our organisations name to be added to a list of supporters of Town of Sanctuary, and we are willing to be contacted by Wrexham Town of Sanctuary with further ideas for how we can turn this pledge into practical action. In Wrexham, the British Red Cross supports refugees and asylum seekers by offering practical support for those settling into the area and assisting those who are destitute with help to meet their basic living needs. It has also helped people seeking sanctuary in the area to connect with their new communities through volunteering, employment and English language classes. British Red Cross refugee services manager for North Wales Kim Mills said: Wrexham is a welcoming place and has become home to a number of people who have had to leave their homes because of crises such as conflict and persecution. The people of Wrexham have been brilliant in helping refugees and asylum seekers to settle in the area and we now want to build on that generosity by having Wrexham acknowledged as a town of sanctuary where the power of humanity and kindness is put into action as a matter of course. Refugees and asylum seekers from different parts of the world are already making positive contributions to the community whether that be 16-year-old Hasna Ali, who came to Wrexham as a refugee from Syria and sat for her GCSEs last year, or Godwin Akinyele who volunteers for British Heart Foundation. We are calling on as many people as possible to support the vision of Wrexham as a town of sanctuary. Godwin Akinyele, a married father of three children, lives in Wrexham after fleeing Nigeria in search of sanctuary. The solicitor, who has a law degree from the University of London and a diploma in law from Ahadu Bello University in Nigeria, came to the UK after being persecuted for refusing to allow his daughters to be subjected to female genital mutilation. He remembers his earliest days in Wrexham as a period of no home, no friends, no right to work and felt the right to a family life became tenuous as he hopelessly waited for joint accommodation which wasnt forthcoming. Living on just 10 a week plus a donated parcel of vegetables and fruit, Godwin said he watched his children and wife live together in a house with other mothers and children, sharing the same facilities, whilst waiting for a place of their own. Godwin is delighted to be part of the movement to have Wrexham recognised as a town of sanctuary because, though he believes there is room for improvement in the asylum process, he has been made to feel welcome and at home in the town. Despite my hard experience in Wrexham during my first year of staying here, I can safely say I and my family have found home and safety in Wrexham, explained Godwin. In the last two years, I have met people in churches, places of volunteering and through my childrens schools and playgroups. It has been mind-lifting. I consider it a big privilege to contribute to the laudable quest to make Wrexham a town of sanctuary. According to the Welsh Government, Welsh communities have already welcomed close to 1,000 Syrian refugees as part of the UK Governments Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, and the Community Support scheme, along with many more asylum seekers from across the world. Locally Wrexham Council has been involved in supporting and rehoming Syrian refugee families, with executive board members giving their backing to the scheme in both 2016 and 2017. Lesley Griffiths AM, who is attending TCCs event today, said: Wales is a friendly nation and has a proud history of welcoming refugees. This renewed action plan will not only support those seeking sanctuary but also recognises the valuable skills and experiences refugees and asylum seekers can bring with them to enhance Welsh communities. Making Wrexham a Town of Sanctuary is an admirable initiative that will help promote kindness and encourage working in partnership. Its an endeavour is fully support and I hope the Welsh Governments latest announcement will harness and solidify support for TCCs campaign here in Wrexham. Mark Isherwood AM said: As I have previously said in the Assembly, we need a measurable action plan for Wales to become a nation of sanctuary. The achievement of towns of sanctuary across Wales will be key to this. Clwyd South MP calls for tougher regulations on sale and use of fireworks This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 1st, 2019 The MP for Clwyd South has called for tougher regulations on the use and sale of fireworks. Susan Elan Jones MP is part of a cross-party delegation of nine Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs who were calling on the Government to change the law. In 2018 the Clwyd South MP led a debate in Parliament on the subject and also took part in another debate before Christmas in which every participating MP called for reform. Last week Ms Jones met with Business Energy & Industrial Strategy Minister Kelly Tolhurst MP to discuss the regulation of fireworks. Speaking after the meeting, Susan Elan Jones MP said: I love firework displays and I think organised displays are fantastic. However we cant carry on with the current noisy and dangerous free-for-all which seems to happen throughout the year. There have been big public petitions calling for change and I support them wholeheartedly. As well as meeting the Minister, we also had a good dialogue with civil servants at the Office for Product Safety and Standards who have been asked to look at the regulations. I raised concerns about the ridiculously high noise limit of 120 decibels on fireworks and the fact that while theres a limit on when fireworks can be bought, theres absolutely no limit in terms of the days when they can be let off. This is a far cry from fireworks being used only on Bonfire Night. The RSPCA has noted this presents a major problem for animals and pet owners. Veterans groups and others have also raised similar concerns. Then there is the issue that many of us raised about fireworks being let off by people who are committing anti-social behaviour. This is now commonplace in big cities but weve also seen it a bit in our area too. Locally, we have fought tooth and nail to protect fire appliances and we must not have fire fighters and appliances, Police and innocent bystanders caught up in these mindless incidents. Further to her meeting, the Clwyd South MP says she will also be writing to Welsh Government Ministers. We are facing our biggest leadership challenge yet It is not the robots that will take our jobs but a crisis of imagination and leadership, says futurist Valter Adao. Speaking at the second workshop held by the newly established Partnership for the 4th Industrial Revolution in South Africa (#4IRSA), an alliance between Telkom and the Universities of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Fort Hare, Valter Adao, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Deloitte Africa said in the Digital Age the fear of losing our jobs are both rational and emotional. While the odds are stacked against South Africa to successfully navigate the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) such as the current unemployment rate of 27.7%, low productivity and inequality our biggest challenge is not the impact of exponential technological advances but rather a crisis in leadership. It is not the technology that is creating our job losses but our inability to make the shift, for a variety of reasons, into this new automated economy and be globally competitive. There is nothing preventing us from this shift but a crisis of imagination and leadership, he said. The future of work was a key theme during this one-day workshop, facilitated by the #4IRSA Operational Committee and Deloitte South Africa, for representatives of the ICT sector: from fixed and wireless telecommunications operators; IT systems integrators and service providers; industry associations; OEMs; global digital companies and OTTs; local entrepreneurs; the regulator, and the Department of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services. Adao said all sectors are in the path of change brought about by the 4IR, especially the ICT sector where some the biggest and fastest changes are happening. However, the Digital Age is not about technology alone. While technology might be the enabler of the 4IR, Adao said our focus has been on predicting what these changes will be even though we can now only predict about 18 months into the future (then things change again). To steer technological change, we have to move away from predicting what will come to navigating what is happening, he said. This is where the ICT sector plays crucial role as contributors and enablers to navigate the Digital Age. Job losses and shifting jobs are inevitable and part of the natural progression of economies, Adao said, However, with the 4IR we need jobs to enable the exponential technologies created today. These new jobs that will be created are going to be jobs that leverage new technologies, such as jobs in machine learning, robotics and so on. But these new jobs that will be created are jobs that will benefit the privilege few; those with skills, the means and access to continued education. And this is where the opportunity lies. These new technologies (and access to it) are now moving away from the domain of the rich and large organisations and can be in the hands of very, very basic entrepreneurs; like someone sitting in a shack or in a rural area who now access exponential technologies, he said, giving examples of the impact disruptive technologies like Uber have had on local economies. These skills are not present in the South African economy at the moment and that is where our biggest challenge lies: to develop the skills required to compete in this digital economy. Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University, echoed this: We cannot stop the advances in innovation and technology but it should not be an exclusive space for the elite. We must develop these high level skills in great numbers. Coherent, collective response Framing the workshop group discussions, Professor Brian Armstrong, Chair in Digital Business in the Wits Business School and Secretary of the #4IRSA Partnership, introduced the three themes that all sector workshops, including the ICT workshop, will discuss: #4IRSA wants to help frame the challenges facing South Africa in the Digital Age and find a coherent, collective response for the country, he said. About the workshops The first workshop held in November 2018 that focused on the Public Sector, with representatives from various government departments and research entities committing to share processes more widely and seek better coherence between the various parties 4IR initiatives. The next sector workshops will focus on: Heavy Industry, Mining and Infrastructure Agriculture, Foodstuffs and Health Products Financial and Business Services Manufacturing For the latest news on Wits Universitys involvement in the #4IRSA Partnership, visit http://www.wits.ac.za/future/; and for news from the #4IRSA alliance, visit https://4irsa.org/. Follow the conversations on Twitter: @Wits_News @4IRSA #4IRSA About the #4IRSA Partnership Stimulating dialogue, insight and action to shape a #4IR response for South Africa Brian Armstrong, Secretary of the #4IRSA Partnership The Partnership for the 4th Industrial Revolution in South Africa (#4IRSA) is an alliance between Telkom and the Universities of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Fort Hare. Its purpose is to stimulate and facilitate an inclusive national dialogue to shape a coherent national response to the 4th Industrial Revolution in South Africa. It aims to complement and support other national activities relating to the 4IR, most notably the Presidential Commission on the 4IR. The 4IRSA Partnership recognises that there are several 4IR-related processes and dialogues underway in South Africa: in government, industry, academia and society at large. However, these are, in the main, fragmented, eclectic and divergent, and indeed there is a high level of unawareness of each other between these processes. The 4IRSA Partnership aims to provide a platform for all these processes and stimulate shared conversation, so that they become mutually visible, thereby facilitating progressive coherence between them, moving from fragmented divergence towards complementarity. Following a host of workshops early in 2019, the next steps will be: A Summit of Principles (SOP) is scheduled for end of March 2019. This will include representatives of all of the above industries, related government departments, labour and other stakeholders. The objectives of the Summit of Principles are: to build alignment, participation and momentum for the 4IRSA process; share sector workshop outputs; agree on key areas for further research and deliberation; and agree on a framework for further action and the roadmap towards the Summit of Declarations. The Summit of Declarations is anticipated to be held in the 4th quarter of 2019. The objective of the Summit of Declarations are: to consolidate all workstream reports into a comprehensive national response; for all stakeholders of each sector represented to table and commit to a short, medium and long term response by that sector to the 4th IR, in the form of a declaration for that sector; to agree monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; to agree further areas of dialogue and research. NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Markel Corporation (Markel or the Company) (NYSE: MKL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Markel 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 December 6, 2018, Markel disclosed that it had been contacted by U.S. and Bermuda authorities on November 30, 2018 regarding loss reserves recorded in late 2017 and early 2018 at Markel CATCo Investment Management Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Markel. Following this news, Markels stock price fell $99.70 per share, or 8.69%, to close at $1,048.23 per share on December 7, 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 NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 Denmarks 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 Denmarks 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 Danskes 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 Danskes Estonian office. On this news, Danskes 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 Companys misconduct was releveled when The Wall Street Journal published an article disclosing that in 2013 the whistleblower had alerted Danskes senior executives and that Danske sought to silence the whistleblower for years. Upon the full revelation of the Companys misconduct and the extent to which it relied upon the illegal profits, the price of the Companys 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 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. Judge: No Witness Tampering in Gabe Parker Case By West Kentucky Star Staff BENTON - At a hearing Friday morning in Marshall County Circuit Court, Judge James Jameson heard witnesses and ruled on a defense motion regarding possible witness tampering in the case of Gabriel Parker, who is accused of multiple counts of murder and assault related to the Marshall County High School shooting.Defense attorneys filed a motion November 21, claiming that several witnesses had refused to be interviewed. Some teachers reportedly told the defense team they got advice from attorneys representing the school system, and parents and students reportedly said they were told by teachers not to give interviews.According to the Circuit Court Clerk, Jameson heard testimony from five witnesses: Marshall County Schools Attorney Michael Owsley and Superintendent Trent Lovett, and Jonathan Elementary School Principal Annessa Roberts and teachers Laura Howell and Karen O'Brien.Following testimony, Jameson ruled there had been no witness tampering.A status hearing in Parker's criminal case is scheduled for March 8, and Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Foust indicated he plans to ask for a trial date to be set.Jameson also postponed proceedings on the two civil lawsuits that have recently been filed. The new hearing for those cases will be on February 12.Parker is accused of opening fire in the commons area of Marshall County High School on January 23. 2018, killing Preston Cope and Bailey Holt, and injuring over a dozen others. He faces two counts of murder and 14 counts of assault in the case. Bison at Land Between the Lakes in western KY PHOTO:Star file Bison Auction Saturday at Land Between the Lakes By The Associated Press GOLDEN POND - A bison auction is being held on Saturday at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. A statement from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes says the auction will be held at the LBL Elk & Bison Prairie Corral. Plans call for about 40 bison to be sold including a mature bison bull, up to four mature cows, two young bulls, eight yearling bulls, eight to 10 yearling heifers and 17 calves. The statement say managers are trying to keep the herd size appropriate and maintain the health of the animals. A veterinarian will be on site for inspections and buyers are required to use closed-topped trailers or vehicles to transport the animals. 101st Airborne Soldiers Returning from Afghanistan By West Kentucky Star Staff FORT CAMPBELL - More than 700 Task Force Destiny, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Soldiers, will return in February from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.The first two welcome home ceremonies will occur February 2nd at 5:30 am and February 4th at 4:30 pm.During their deployment, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade provided aviation support to U.S., coalition, and Afghan forces throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan. Task Force Destiny exceeded 50,000 flight hours, transporting more than seven million pounds of cargo, 91,000 passengers, conducted 1,700 security missions, and 256 air assault operations. Additionally, five Soldiers received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their heroism and valor.Future dates and times of other welcome home ceremonies will be released at a later date. Sheriff Honors Child Who Called 911 to Help Mother By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A four-year-old girl was honored at the McCracken County Sheriff's Department on Thursday.Sheriff Matt Carter gave Kena Brewer a Sheriff's Commendation plaque to recognize her quick actions on Monday when a medical condition caused her mother, Asia, to lose consciousness. Kena dialed 911 and explained the situation to dispatchers, who sent Hendron Fire Department, Mercy EMS and the Sheriff's Department to the home. Asia was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and has recovered.Dispatchers and first responders praised the girl for her bravery and for how she handled the situation.Matt Carter said, "Asia...is back to full health today, in part because of the fast action and courage exemplified by her daughter."Kena appeared shy and overwhelmed by the attention as she sat in her mother's lap, responding to the grown-ups in a very quiet voice, if at all. But she accepted the award plaque, a stuffed animal, and a couple of gifts, since her birthday is coming up. She received a fire fighter's shirt as an honorary member of the department, according to Fire Chief Doug Cooper.Fire Department Captain Tommy Vaughn said Kena is a great example for children and grown-ups on how to call for help in an emergency, and what to do when first responders show up.Asia Brewer said, "I'm always concerned about how she would be on the phone because of how shy she is, but apparently she's not shy at all! I guess in a situation like that, as long as she'll talk then..."Vaughn said, " I just hope other kids can learn from the same example, and she can help teach them as well, how much easier it makes our job. She doesn't have any idea how much she helped us."Here is video of the presentation from the McCracken County Sheriff's Department Facebook page: Clark Students Receive Writing Contest Awards By WestKyStar & Paducah Public Schools Staff PADUCAH - Clark Elementary students received recognition for their entries in the McCracken County Conservation writing contest. Clara Pierce won first place, Bailey Beyer won second place, and Max Tolar won third place. The theme was soil conservation. Students were asked address the topic in a creative way. Entries were submitted to the conservation office and they selected winners from each school. 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. At the invitation of Mr. Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Customs and WCO Vice-Chair for the North of Africa, Near and Middle East (MENA) region, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended the Regional Meeting of Directors General of Customs held in Cairo, Egypt on 31 January 2019. The meeting brought together representatives from 15 Members of the region, the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) and the League of Arab States. The Office of the Vice-Chair presented an update on the WCOs activities, including the use of additional languages at WCO meetings and the Strategic Plan. The Members valued the more extensive use of Arabic as a working language, which has increased the regions active involvement in the work of some of the WCOs committees and working groups. Challenges related to ensuring that Arabic interpreters had good knowledge of Customs technical terminology were discussed. Delegates suggested that the region should develop a glossary of Customs terms in order to facilitate their work. Concerning the topic of performance measurement, the delegates stressed the importance of objective-setting, data collection and data validation. The Directors General appreciated the WCOs interactions with the World Bank in this regard. Several Members shared examples of best practices and ideas on systems for electronic cargo tracking and exchange of electronic certificates of origin, and suggested that these could serve as a basis for a more comprehensive electronic exchange of information in the future. The ROCB was tasked with setting up and coordinating a study group to look further into these topics. The ROCB reported on its recent activities, and the participants expressed their support for developing a strategy for the Regional Training Centres (RTCs). The participants expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to them by the Egyptian Customs Administration, for the excellent leadership by the Vice-Chair, and for the guidance and support for the region by the Secretary General. English French QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nemaska Lithium Inc. (the Corporation) (TSX: NMX) (OTCQX: NMKEF) (Frankfurt : N0T) announces that construction work at the Whabouchi mine will resume on February 5, 2019. Mine construction activities were put on hold this morning following a fire in the cafeteria of the Nemiscau workcamp, a facility owned and operated by an outside contractor that is located approximately 15 km away from the Nemaska Lithium mine site. Nemaska Lithium has located an alternate cafeteria facility which is approximately 1 km from the existing lodging facility that will be opened to accommodate Nemaksa Lithiums employees until mid-March, when the Whabouchi mine site workcamp currently under construction will be opened. We are very grateful for the rapid action of our local partners, who will be lending us the cafeteria of their nearby facility. Thanks to their responsiveness, we will be able to quickly get back to constructing the mine with minimal to no delays, said Guy Bourassa, President and CEO of Nemaska Lithium. While we are relieved that this unfortunate incident was settled promptly, we are very touched by the impact of the fire on the Cree community of Nemaska, added Mr. Bourassa. The cafeteria was a very popular social venue for the local community, and we are sensitive to this loss which, we hope, will only be for a short time. At this time a small work crew remains on site to continue the construction of the Whabouchi workcamp. They are housed through VPC, a contractor of Nemaska Lithium. About Nemaska Lithium Nemaska Lithium Inc. is a developing chemical company whose activities will be vertically integrated, from spodumene mining to the commercialization of high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. These lithium salts are mainly destined for the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. With its products and processes, the Corporation intends to facilitate access to green energy, for the benefit of humanity. The Corporation will be operating the Whabouchi mine in Quebec, Canada, one of the richest lithium spodumene deposits in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at the Whabouchi mine will be processed at the Shawinigan plant using a unique membrane electrolysis process for which the Corporation holds several patents. The Corporation is a member of the S&P/TSX SmallCap Index, S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index, S&P/TSX Equal Weight Global Base Metals Index, and the MSCI Canada Small Cap Index. For more information, visit www.nemaskalithium.com or twitter.com/Nemaska Lithium . Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to (i) the resumption of construction at the Whabouchi mine on February 5, 2019, (ii) the accommodation of Nemaksa Lithiums employees until mid-March, (iii) the opening of the Whabouchi mine site workcamp around mid-March, (iv) the expectation of minimal to no delays in the construction, and (v) generally, the above About Nemaska Lithium paragraph which essentially describes the Corporations outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the Whabouchi mine and/or the electrochemical plant in Shawinigan will be commissioned and will begin production, as future events could differ materially what is currently anticipated by the Corporation. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the Risk Factors section of the Corporations Annual Information Form dated October 10, 2018, and the Risk Exposure and Management section of the Corporations quarterly Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Further information regarding Nemaska Lithium is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Corporations website at: www.nemaskalithium.com . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Victor Cantore Investor Relations 514 831-3809 victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com Wanda Cutler Investor Relations 416 303-6460 wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com Fanny-Eve Tapp Media Relations C. 514-442-0445 fanny-eve.tapp@nemaskalithium.com Gibraltars Legal Status is a Matter of Fact not Opinion In its proposal for post-Brexit, visa-free travel the European Council has today described Gibraltar as a colony of the British Crown. HM Government of Gibraltar have released a statement saying it is grateful to the Prime Minister for her comment that such a description is completely unacceptable." "The international legal status of Gibraltar is not a matter of argument, it is a matter of fact." continues the statement. " Gibraltar is listed on the list of non-self-governing territories maintained by the United Nations. The Government of Gibraltar and the United Kingdom Government are both on record as having said that Gibraltar should be removed from this list through the exercise of the right to self- determination of the people of Gibraltar. The irony is that it is Spain itself that is keeping Gibraltar on the UN list and then using our presence there to label Gibraltar as a colony. This demonstrates the importance of annual attendance at the sessions of the C-24 in New York each June, which the GSLP Liberal Government is committed to and which the GSD administration had abandoned." The Government believes that the use of such language, were it to materialise in the final documents, "does not assist the creation a climate of understanding and trust between Gibraltar and Spain as we prepare to leave the EU. In fact, it would achieve the very opposite and serve to engender more conflict as opposed to more cooperation. It is, in any case, totally irrelevant to our departure from the European Union and says more about Spains anachronistic obsession with Gibraltar than it does about anything else. This is totally out of place in the modern Europe of today." The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC said, No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect of Gibraltar. The 32,000 people of Gibraltar are used to the constant attempts by successive Spanish governments to bully us in every possible way. This is no different to the sort of abuse we have had from former Spanish administrations. We will continue to welcome over 10,000 Spanish workers who are unable to find employment in Spain into Gibraltar every day. We will continue to work toward demonstrating to Spain that we will not be forced to accept Spanish sovereignty. We will deepen and strengthen our relationship with the United Kingdom, which is a mature relationship of partnership and is no longer colonial in nature, despite Spain's continued insistence that we should remain on the UN list of non-self-governing territories. But what is most important in all this is that we supported the UK's continued membership of the EU by 96% in the referendum and the EU has not supported us at all in the face of Spanish dreams of territorial expansionism. Drugs Recovered from Sea Following a Multi Agency Sea Rescue A combined multi-agency maritime search and rescue operation by vessels from HM Customs, RGP and the Spanish Salvamento Maritimo was carried out in the early hours of this morning following a report of a vessel in distress in the north of the Bay of Gibraltar. During the search a RHIB with three crewmen on board and laden with bales of suspected Cannabis Resin was sighted about 2 nautical miles off the Refinery refuelling buoy. The vessel, of at least 12m in length and fitted with 3 high powered outboard engines, had been swamped and was drifting in the rough weather conditions. Despite various attempts neither the HM Customs or RGP vessels were able to come alongside the stricken vessel due to the adverse sea state. The larger Salvamento Maritimo vessel Denebola subsequently managed to go alongside the RHIB and recover the three occupants, who were conveyed to the port of Algeciras to receive medical attention. The partially sunk RHIB and its cargo continued to drift towards Gibraltar, eventually ending up in the area of Camp Bay. Land based Police units were deployed to the area to monitor the vessel and its cargo. The vessel subsequently capsized spilling its cargo of bales into the sea. As these begun to wash ashore over an extensive area of the shore line additional resources including, the entirety of the current intake of RGP and GDP Police recruits and elements of HM Customs, had to be deployed to the area to assist in the cordoning off of the area and the recovery of the bales. At total of 84 bales of suspected Cannabis Resin with an approximate weight of just under 3 tons and an estimated street value in excess of 14 million pounds have been recovered. A police investigation is in process. I was first introduced to NORR11 a few years ago in Iceland, I visited the county twice and felt so at home in Reykjavik, the city its people! I would love to explore the country further, maybe in Summer this time as I have only seen the country covered in snow. After Iceland we also teamed up for my stand at imm and met in Copenhagen, where they will soon open a new and permanent showroom at stergade 17! A new base for their headquarter and design studio which gives everyone the opportunity to really get to know the brand and see the complete collection. I am still a huge admirer of their dining tables and I am pretty sure it were their Maiden table legs that triggered my love for brass! Today on the blog a first sneak peek of the new SS19 collection as it will be presented during Stockholm furniture and light fair next week! Are you looking forward to the fair as much as I am, I cant wait to see even more new collection as I already saw at imm last month, and of course all things that will happen outside the fairground during Stockholm design week. Enjoy these first pictures! New Wave sofa New Wave is a minimal sofa design inspired by Danish sofas from the 50s. New Waves curvy design is reduced into three simple elements base, back and cushion. Each element is carefully designed according to its function only, making the New Wave a both elegant and highly refined sofa design. The tight shape contrasted by soft cushions, makes New Wave equally at home in an office setting, hotel lobby or a residence. Developed in collaboration with a highly skilled furniture manufacturer in Northern Italy, the New Wave is available in Two-Seater and Open-End with various upholstery options. Barfly series NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan or the Company) (OTCMKTS: NSANY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Nissan 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 November 19, 2018, media outlets reported that the Companys Chairman Carlos Ghosn had been arrested by Japanese authorities for violations of Japanese financial law. In a press release, Nissan stated that the Company has been conducting an internal investigation over the past several months regarding misconduct involving the companys Representative Director and Chairman Carlos Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly, which revealed that over many years both Ghosn and Kelly have been reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount, in order to reduce the disclosed amount of Carlos Ghosns compensation. The Company further stated that in regards to Ghosn, numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered, such as personal use of company assets, and Kellys deep involvement has also been confirmed. Following this news, Nissans American depositary receipt price fell sharply during intraday trading on November 19, 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 ANDREW DOUGHERTY is 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. SYDNEY HALL is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at sahall6@ilstu.edu Follow her on Twitter at @sydneyhall22 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. After Angelo features academic conferences and live performances of blues and jazz music in honor of African-American women Feb. 23 at Jamestown Settlement. Angelo was among the first recorded African arrivals to English North America. In March, a lecture series focused on women in early American history will kick off and performances of the original play Mother Tongue will begin in May. (Jan. 31 2019) -- The UTSA Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise (REDKE) shares its 2018 successes in its first year with the amalgamation of the Research office with the Institute of Economic Development ( IED). Focused on UTSAs mission to drive San Antonios knowledge economy, it was a record breaking year for the IED and one of steady growth and expansion for the research community. In 2018, the IED served 43,320 existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, generating a total of $2.9 billion in direct economic impact. Of those who received advising, training and business research assistance, over 1,000 businesses were started or experienced significant growth, resulting in the creation or retention of close to 20,000 jobs. Additionally, these businesses generated $291 million in new financing and $35 million in new tax revenue, with new sales, contracts and exports valued at $2.6 billion dollars. Notably, the South-West Texas Border SBDC earned accreditation from Americas SBDC with a special designation for their efforts in assisting small business clients with the commercialization of their STEM-based technology. In August 2018, President Taylor Eighmy launched a Presidential Initiative on Research Excellence. The REDKE office diversified its institutional research portfolio and developed new partnership models with industry and government agencies to create new funding streams. In fiscal year 2017-2018, total research expenditures increased to US $69.7 million in FY 2018, with the universitys restricted research expenditures growing to US $44.2 million in FY 2018. Researchers received a number of million dollar federal grants for cyber and national security, brain health, psychology, small business development, infectious diseases, advanced materials, autism, and student success initiatives. In total, 301 new awards were received in FY2018, worth $54.7 million. Research expenditures are on target to meet NRUF eligibility and Carnegie Research 1 status. One of the largest and most innovative projects was the creation and launch of the National Security Collaboration Center , part of President Eighmys strategic vision. While the construction of a new research facility will begin at the Downtown Campus in spring 2020, federal and industry partners began arriving on campus to work with UTSA faculty in the past few months. Housed temporarily on the Main Campus, the NSCCs first home has expanded the institutions ability to conduct applied research. Members include industry partners IPSecure, LGS Innovations, CNF Technologies, CyberTexas Foundation, and federal partners Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Adding to UTSAs cyber depth, UTSA was designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations Fundamental (CAE-Cyber Operations) for 2018 through 2023, recognizing UTSAs ability to thoroughly prepare workforce-ready professionals to protect the nations information infrastructure. The College of Business also received a $2 million grant from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to train the national security/analytics/cyber workforce as part of its Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Critical Technology Studies Program. Innovative collaboration with federal and industry partners on research and training is one key component to growing our research expenditures, said Bernard Arulanandam, UTSA interim vice president of REDKE. The first Research External Advisory Council (REAC) , comprised of industry, military, nonprofit, cybersecurity, biosciences, and research leaders, was created to find new ways to expand research funding and partnerships, and raise UTSAs profile beyond the region. Company representatives include Cisco, Southwest Research Institute, Capital One, BioBridge Global, Security Service Federal Credit Union, USCYPERCOMM, San Antonio Medical Foundation, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Santikos Foundation, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, MITRE, and UT Health. The UTSA Academy of Distinguished Researchers also inducted two new members Catherine Clinton (History) and Gelu Popescu (Mathematics) this past year, bringing the total number to 17 faculty researchers. UTSA renewed a research collaboration master agreement with the Cibolo Preserve which allows faculty, staff and students the controlled access to observe, instruct and conduct research. In the last five years, 11 research projects were funded. The Office of Commercialization and Innovation (OCI) expanded its commercialization programs and grew the innovation ecosystem. Two UTSA teams were selected to participate in the NSFs National I-Corps Program, adding to the ranks of twelve previous UTSA teams over the last three years. In FY 18, OCI managed 51 new technology disclosures, with 67 patented filed. UTSA computer science professor John Quarles was named the 2018 UTSA Innovator of the Year , in recognition of his augmented reality/virtual reality research and innovation. Forty-one (41) UTSA researchers were also recognized for their patents, licenses and I-Corps participation in 2018. Immunologist Bernard Arulanandam was UTSAs latest inductee to the National Academy of Inventors (2018). He joins UTSA President Taylor Eighmy (2013) and College of Engineering Associate Dean of Research David Akopian (2017). The Office of Research Support (ORS) continued to expand of research support and faculty development activities. In FY18, ORS awarded 33 research grants totaling $495,000 to support research on campus. As of December 1, 2018, UTSA institutional seed grants are open for application and UTSA faculty members are encouraged to apply. The fourth annual SURF conference brought more than 500 researchers from the region to the UTSA campus to share research and build new partnerships, with 137 abstracts submitted, 76 podium presentations and 104 poster presentations. The next SURF conference is slated for June 13-14, 2019. Working with the Office of International Programs, REDKE expanded research opportunities for faculty and students through strategic connections with key international institutions. This past November, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) launched the first Tec Cybersecurity Hub in Latin America in which UTSA is a partner; others include Citibanamex, IBM, Cisco, Deloitte, and Thales. In November, UTSA met with senior administrators and researchers from the Universite Federale Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees to explore collaborations and develop strategic research partnerships and programs between the two institutions. These research areas may include cybersecurity, materials sciences, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering/aerospace, modern languages, communication and history. UTSA is on the fast track to becoming a nationally-recognized research enterprise, said Eighmy. Our increased research expenditures reflect our momentum and the innovative capacities of our outstanding faculty. We are building the great public research university San Antonio deserves. Published: January 31, 2019 UT English Professor Erica Dawson to Read from Her New Book, When Rap Spoke Straight to God, on Feb. 7 On Thursday, Feb. 7, The University of Tampa will host a reading by Erica Dawson, associate professor of English and writing and director of the MFA in Creative Writing program, who will share from her book-length poem, When Rap Spoke Straight to God. The event, which is part of the Universitys Honors Program symposia series, begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center and is free and open to the public. Published by Tin House in September 2018, When Rap Spoke Straight to God navigates belief, black lives, the tragedies of Trump and the boundaries of being a woman. A mix of traditional forms where sonnets mash up with sestinas morphing to heroic couplets, When Rap Spoke Straight to God insists that while you may recognize parts of the poems world, you cant anticipate how it will evolve. The New York Times Magazine said Dawsons poetry is devoted to filling in the cultural blanks that hover around such phrases. In a country where power has been persistently defined as white and male, she writes from the perspective of a black woman. She shows us scenes that might otherwise remain unseen. Dawson is the author of two previous collections of poetry: The Small Blades Hurt, winner of the 2016 Poets Prize, and Big-Eyed Afraid, winner of the 2006 Anthony Hecht Prize. Her work has appeared in Barrow Street, Bennington Review, three editions of Best American Poetry, Crazyhorse, Harvard Review, Life: 50 Poems Now, the Pushcart Prize XLII: Best of the Small Presses, Rebellion, Resistance, Virginia Quarterly Review and numerous other journals and anthologies. Dawson teaches undergraduate courses and low-residency graduate courses in the UT English and writing department, and specializes in contemporary American poetry, Shakespearean drama, the Cavalier poets, and aesthetics and poetics. For more information, contact Dawson at edawson@ut.edu. Union Springs, AL (36089) Today Scattered thunderstorms. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. 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 United Nations, Feb 1 (UNI) The crisis in Venezuela will not be solved by sanctions that can lead to starvation, a UN-appointed rights expert said. Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy, who reports to the Human Rights Council, issued the warning against the background of widespread suffering in the South American country, linked to spiralling economic woes and deep political uncertainty. An estimated three million people have left the oil-rich country since 2015, while supporters of self-appointed interim President Juan Guaido, continue to demonstrate against the government of the incumbent, Nicolas Maduro, who was re-elected last May amidst allegations of electoral irregularities and a widespread opposition boycott. New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdelkader Messahel called on President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Welcoming Mr Messahel, Mr Kovind said that Algeria being the sixth largest exporter of gas and the 13th largest producer of petroleum products should consider similar investments in India in mutual interest, particularly in oil reserves, refineries and Liquified Natural Gas. The President noted that in the recent past, several countries in the Arab world had invested in refineries, pipelines and related infrastructure in India. India and Algeria are cooperating in several strategic areas including space, defence and civil nuclear energy. He said that India and Algeria enjoy traditionally warm and historic relations strengthened by regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. UNI GP SHK1905 Cassa depositi e prestiti (CDP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a broad agreement to identify joint initiatives aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With UNDPs extensive network in more than 170 countries, its presence and capacity at the country level, and its central role in driving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this partnership builds on CDPs renewed international business strategy to promote and finance public - private investments. Detailed plans to implement this partnership will be developed by the two organizations in the coming months. "This agreement is part of the CDP strategy, aimed at promoting cooperation and identifying investments capable of supporting sustainable development, said Fabrizio Palermo, chief executive officer Cassa depositi e prestiti. As envisaged in our Business Plan, we take a proactive approach in supporting economic growth and sustainable development, engaging us not only in identifying, but also in financing and defining the aim of investment projects. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator said, UNDPs Partnership with CDP is an exciting new initiative to help finance the $2.5 trillion funding gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is great to see Italys commitment to international development continue to grow. The MoU between CDP and UNDP follows the inauguration of the Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development in Rome. It was established by an agreement between the Italian Ministry of Environment, FAO, and UNDP to facilitate the exchange of information among the G7 countries on initiatives in Africa, in order to increase the support of sustainable development in Africa. Details of the work plans expected to be launched by this partnership will be developed in the next months. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Contributed by Jonathan Stevenson / Florian Henckel von Donnersmarcks film Never Look Away concerns a German painter named Kurt Barnert (the charismatic Tom Schilling), but it is an unabashed interpretation of Gerhard Richters life. Its style is seductively elegant and its script at once discursive and oblique qualities that make the storys ugly intrigue all the more jarring and unsettling. As Dana Goodyear chronicles in her nuanced account of the movies formation in The New Yorker, Donnersmarck closely consulted Richter and received clear signals that the painter credited the connections the director drew between the painters experiences and his work and articulated on the screen, even if the overall collaborative understanding was precarious. Richters passive scorn for the film appears to be evolutionary perhaps an attempt to reclaim his own story or to restore mystery to motivations that he now considers better spirited from his canvases than dictated by a screenplay. Irrespective of the precise nature of the differences that have arisen between Richter and Donnersmarck, the film stands as a formidable examination of the capacity of art to redeem a fallen civilization. While the narrative ends in the mid-sixties, that idea resonates fiercely in the present moment. The admonitory title seems almost snide; the film is riveting. Spanning 30 years, from 1936 to 1966, it frames several of Barnerts boyhood traumas: the eugenically driven institutionalization of his doting and free-spirited but schizophrenic young aunt, who planted in Kurt the exhortation never look away and whom he would never see again; the deaths of his schoolmates in the Allied firebombing of Dresden; and the postwar suicide of his father, a teacher defrocked due to his membership in the Nazi Party. But perhaps the crowning agony occurs after he has married his girlfriend (Paula Beer, effective enough in an under-written part). Her father is Professor Carl Seeband (Sebastian Koch, convincingly satanic), an imperious sociopath concerned only with his own elite status who, unbeknown to Barnert and the East German authorities, is the very Nazi gynecologist who ordered his aunt executed. Seeband considers Barnert unsuited to carrying on his genetic line and aborts the young couples fetus under false medical pretenses. Although Barnert recognizes the soul-crushing cultural rigidity of socialist realism, escapes to West Germany, and in time clues to his father-in-laws evil, he struggles to find the artistic voice he needs to make sense of his strife until he encounters the anti-pedagogy Professor Antonius van Verten unmistakably a stand-in for Joseph Beuys, gnomically played by Oliver Masucci at art school in Dusseldorf. The pivotal scene is an epochal monologue. An uncharacteristically impressed van Verten has deigned to view Barnerts work a rare honor for an art student but he is disappointed. The art the teacher sees, he tells the student, is not you. Van Verten then elaborates that until he, as a young Luftwaffe radio operator on a Stuka dive-bomber, had been shot down over Crimea and cared for by the Tatar nomads he was meant to exterminate, who tended his wounds with animal fat and felt for a year, he did not understand what really made him human. Only then did he flourish as a man and an artist. He does not say the word, but what he seemed to experience during his ordeal, as both receiver and giver, was essentially unconditional love. Donnersmarck thus suggests that this grease and felt quality of connective emotion reconciles the personal and the universal, which is the essential task of the artist. The idea might seem cheaply romantic were it not for the way the film links it to the quotidian practice and process of making art. Barnert keeps plumbing his own memories and feelings. His conceptual trial-and-error and searching brushwork Donnersmarck does not over-sentimentalize the artistic process as ineffable creative alchemy eventually yield photorealist paintings that depict, among other things, the painters love for his pregnant wife, a halcyon childhood moment with his aunt, and war criminals. The first two Ema (Nude on a Staircase),which more or less name-checks Duchamps groundbreaking work, and Woman With Child are in fact foundational Richter paintings, with distinctly personal sources. His hallmark blurring imparts a tragically evanescent quality while his muted palette paradoxically suggests an engraved permanence: the fleeting moments that nonetheless stick in the psyche. I believe that great art is deeply biographical, Donnersmarck told Goodyear. Yet he presents without any obvious irony the mature Barnert, at a press conference during the opening of his breakout exhibition, denying the relevance of his life to his paintings. This stance, however disingenuous, serves the legitimate function of compelling the viewer to derive as much as he or she can from the work without reference to external aids. Neither Richter nor Donnersmarck is likely to have much use for verbose wall panels or Cliffs Notes. The director is using Richters experience not so much to explain his work in particular as to explore the societal purpose of art. Never Look Away does have its vexing aspects. It is well-known that, while Beuys was indeed shot down, his experience with the Tatars was almost certainly fabricated, which arguably taints van Verten. Although Beuys taught at the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf and influenced Richter, Beuys was not Richters mentor, making the films account somewhat infelicitous. Many artists may also find Donnersmarcks views about the role of art didactic and facile and his depiction of Barnerts process gratuitously slick and showy, just as numerous Germans considered his depiction of East Germany in the indisputably affecting The Lives of Others presumptuously simplistic. But these are matters of artistic license more than philosophical validity, and the movies vaulting cultural power renders them forgivable. While the most improbable aspect of the narrative the coincidence of Seeband being both the executioner of Barnerts aunt and the father of his wife may tax credulity, it is a substantially true reflection of Richters life. And some apparent shortcomings may be intentional. Barnerts part is elliptically written so that he often seems to be a cipher. But Donnersmarck may want to portray him as aloof and unformed until he taps his artistic source in the 1960s. From the retrospective vantage of 1966 (or 2019), a wiser, more complete Barnert has sprung from a pensive Zelig darting through the hellish mid-twentieth century, slowly activating his art as an existential solution. There is of course a fancifully grandiose cast to this utopian notion that Richter would probably be loath to endorse, and that may be one of his objections to the movie. Donnersmarck admitted to Goodyear that this is the Citizen Kane version of a real figures story. But there is one crucial difference: unlike Welless classic film, Never Look Away portrays its subject as a hero. In context, Barnerts lapidary valediction that everything thats true is beautiful, like Keatss immortal verse, is not hopelessly enigmatic but constructively elusive: it keeps us reaching for truth. Despite its faults, Never Look Away is dazzling, provocative, and inspiring cinema. Maybe Richter himself should reconsider his appraisal. Never Look Away, written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Related posts: Recreating Richters destroyed paintings Gerhard Richters stock is up Gerhard Richter scandalized by German choice for 2011 Venice Biennale FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Keeping Pace Regulation the one constant in an ever-changing market structure. And it is prevalent in both the US and the Great North where Traders Magazine turned its attention to for this Flashback Friday lookback. While many readers of Traders Magazine are US-based and trade US denominated securities that is not the only market observed. There is the inter-listed market shared by the North American countries and of course, the Great North that is Canada. Canadas market structure, while not as complex as its Southern cousin, is still complex and evolving like the US. Many of the same concerns are on Great North traders access fees, rebates, as well as others. Nick Savona, Chief Compliance Officer at Independent Trading Group, told Traders Magazine that one overriding initiative for the new Ontario Government (where ITG is domiciled) is deregulation and reducing red tape across the province in a number of industries. The OSC recently issued a notice seeking suggestions and comments on ways to further reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, Savona said. The (OSC) along with the Ministry of Finance, have established a Burden Reduction Task Force which I feel is going to be welcomed with open arms. The securities industry in Canada has made a significant effort over the last decade by moving to more Principles-based approach to regulation from a more Traditional approach. The intention of the regulatory amendments is not to lessen the requirements and expectations of compliance supervision, but rather to move away from a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Lessening the burden on market participants has and will continue to improve the framework to identify and address higher-risk areas and activities. Another hot topic are access fees. Just like in the US, the regulatory eye has turned to the fees brokers and are passed on to traders and as in the US are coming under intense scrutiny. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has recently formally announced it was publishing for comment a proposed Trading Fee Rebate Pilot Study that would apply temporary pricing restrictions on marketplace transaction fees applicable to trading in certain securities. The CSA is publishing the Proposed Pilot for a 45-day comment period to solicit views. We are seeking comment on all issues raised in this notice, including the design of the Proposed Pilot that is contained in the Design Report, as well as the specific questions raised within it, the CSA wrote. The CSA has been considering a pilot study on the payment of trading fee rebates for many years in relation to its continued work to foster fair and efficient capital markets and confidence in capital markets. On May 15, 2014, it originally published a Notice and Request for Comment that proposed amendments to National Instrument 23-101 Trading Rules (NI 23-101) in relation to the order protection rule (OPR). Then on April 7, 2016, as a result of its review of OPR, CSA published a Notice of Approval of Amendments to NI 23-101 and Companion Policy 23-101CP (the 2016 Notice). They acknowledged that the regulator had been considering a pilot study for a number of years but, due to certain risks arising from the interconnected nature of North American markets and securities that are interlisted in the United States, it decided not to move forward with a pilot study unless a similar study was undertaken in the United States. With the US pursuing an access fee pilot, so is Canada. And with vigor and serious intent. ITG recently reported the CSA has now extended the deadline for comments on the Trading Fee Rebate Pilot Study from February 1 to March 1, following objections by TMX Group that the comment period was too short. We believe Canadian regulators are eager to hear additional input on the pilot from institutional investors in particular, ITG wrote in a weekly research note. While the new deadline offers market participants more than ample time to opine, it may leave less time to actually implement the changes needed to comply with the pilot, if it is rolled out simultaneously with the pending U.S. Transaction Fee Pilot. The following article originally appeared in the January 2012 edition of Traders Magazine FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Keeping Pace Canadian Regulators Take Center Stage in 2012 By John DAntona Jr. In 2011, electronic trading and fragmentation drove the Canadian equities market into the 21st century-at least by U.S. standards. As a result, regulators will take center stage in the coming year to ensure the Great White North's markets stay accessible, secure and true to the Canadian spirit. The Canadian markets caught up to their U.S. counterparts this past year, as new trading venues arrived there-such as Instinet's ICX and BLX dark pools and Goldman Sachs' Sigma X-more algorithms hit trading desks, and overall trading volume increased. The traditionally high-touch and big-bank-run marketplace has matured, and it now more closely mirrors that of its U.S. cousin. According to market professionals, the Canadian market structure has raced ahead of regulation and control, leading to concerns about fair access, dark pools, high-frequency trading and gaming. Regulators are now tasked with catching up with advances in trading systems. New order types are coming from both the public exchanges and alternative trading venues, which has led to a more fragmented marketplace. The Toronto has introduced TMX Dark, and Alpha ATS rolled out Intraspread, two new order types that sources said are attracting increased interest and volume. As these order types gain acceptance, liquidity has left either the upstairs market or other venues. For the Canadian buyside, it's a win-win, as they are mostly concerned with getting the best liquidity and price with a minimum of information leakage. But not all are happy with more order types or venues. "The common thought is that things are moving too fast here," said James Duncan, senior vice president and director of international trading at Canaccord Genuity and chair of the Canadian Security Traders Association. That is, many believe innovation is pushing forward unchecked and without a proper understanding of potential consequences. Regulation, Duncan added, is needed beforehand to provide the framework to ensure a stable trading environment. "New order types shouldn't be driving changes in our market structure," he said. "Rather, market structure changes should be driving the need for new order types." He added that many Canadian trading venues, like their U.S. counterparts, are trying to capture order flow without regard to the changing market structure. And that is a problem. "We've lost sight of the big picture of how we should be dealing with the changing market structure and at the same time building confidence in the markets," Duncan said. "I don't want to see flickering orders of 100 shares at a time, guys just trying to capture spreads and rebates. Is this how we want our market structure to look? Lida Preyma, director for capital markets research in global finance at the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto, said that while market structure has indeed changed in Canada, regulators such as the Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada aren't asleep at the regulatory wheel. "It might appear that Canadian regulators have been slow to the uptake-but they are really being responsible and seeing what regulations come out of the U.S. and Europe first," she said. Once the U.S. and European regulators examine and make policy, then Canadian regulators will carefully craft regulations that take into account the uniqueness of their own market. Also, they want to ensure they do not foster regulatory arbitrage. "They are watching how their policies are going to coordinate in the global scheme and then act," Preyma said. "What we see is that everyone is in a holding pattern to see how regulation is going to wind up." For example, she said, future dark pool growth will likely be constrained until new regulations are formalized and published. Several rules are on the drawing board already. One that has garnered attention is the minimum price and size requirement for orders placed in unlit venues. The rule proposal, whose comment period has recently closed, suggested that a minimum size for passive dark orders should be no less than 5,000 shares or C$100,000 in value. Also, orders deemed small-less than 5,000 shares or C$100,000 in value-should only be allowed to interact with dark orders if they receive price improvement of at least one tick, or half a tick if the spread is only a single tick. The price improvement does not consider any maker/taker pricing economics, meaning the real price improvement might be considerably less. Proponents of the rule are the major banks who traditionally handled most trading in the market and public exchanges. Critics, such as ATSs like Omega and Liquidnet, contend these new rules only look at child orders and not the entire parent order, so if an order is sent to several marketplaces, it is unclear to which order the rule should be applied. This proposal has limited dark pool growth to just around 3 percent of total equity volume traded in Canada. In contrast, 13 percent of total equity trading in the U.S. occurs in dark pools. Preyma also said regulators are finalizing rules concerning naked access, something Canada still allows. The rules, if passed, would prohibit naked access and require orders to go through a broker-dealer. The comment period closed in July, and she said a final rule could be published this winter. A third rule, in the talking stage, deals with credit risk analysis, which could be part of the naked access rule. A potential rule could decide who is responsible for performing it and how it should be conducted. "The beginning of 2012 promises more change, but I am hopeful for positive change," said Canaccord's Duncan. "We at the CSTA have regular meetings with our regulators, and we hope our feedback to them will be useful in restoring Canadian markets to the deep, liquid and stable markets that they should be." (c) 2012 Traders Magazine and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.tradersmagazine.com http://www.sourcemedia.com/ For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: King Salman Energy Park (Spark) has signed strategic agreements with Saudi Customs and Saudi Industrial Development Fund, according to a report. HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defence had last year laid the foundation stone for Spark, a 50-sq-km energy city located in the kingdom's Eastern Province, which will position Saudi Arabia as a global energy, industrial and technology hub, stated SPA. The first phase of the development will be completed by 2021, said the report. These agreements come following the inauguration of National Industrial Development and Logistics Program by Prince Mohammed, it added. Spark President and CEO Engineer Saif Al Qahtani said the agreement with Saudi Customs is aimed at setting up a logistics area within Spark for providing customs services in bid to make the kingdom a global logistics hub. This logistics area would also enhance the business of Spark dry port besides attracting logistics partners and boosting future investments, he stated. The agreement inked with the Saudi Industrial Development Fund is aimed at developing a mechanism and procedures for the provision of 'land lot and industrial loan' product at Spark, in addition to sharing study findings resulting from following-up the two parties' joint projects in order to achieve industrial integration, said the SPA report. The agreement falls within the framework of developing the industrial sector, strengthening cooperation and integration between the Fund and SPARK, and encouraging investors in the fields of industry and logistics, it added. Sara Hudspith, 10, of Iowa Falls, picks up speed as she skates the full length of the cleaned "rink" on the frozen Iowa River in front of the Scenic City Empress Boat Club the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. She and her brother and a couple of friends braved the cold to skate. MBABANE Did you know that the manner in which you kiss a woman can land you behind bars? A soldier has been arrested and indicted with, among other charges, allegedly kissing a woman in a sexual manner. The member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, Charles Mfanzile Mlambo, has been charged under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018. The combatant is facing a total of three charges of contravening the above Act. He is also accused of having touched and fondled the complainant on her private parts, buttocks and breast. The accused, however, claims that the complainant was his girlfriend and she allegedly decided to open a case against him for reasons best known to her. According to the charge sheet, Mlambo committed these offences on January 25, 2019 at Sibayeni area in the Manzini Region. Through these acts, Mlambo now stands charged with contravening Section 48(1) (2) (a) of the Act. Harasses Section 48(1) provides as follows; A person who sexually harasses another commits an offence and shall, on conviction be liable to pay a fine not exceeding E25 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or both. Section 2 states that sexual harassment is committed where; a person subjects another to an unsolicited act of physical intimacy, including but not limited to, physical contact such as patting, pinching or touching in a sexual way or unnecessary familiarity such as deliberately brushing against another. The Act further frowns upon a person who engages in any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the other person including but not limited to offensive telephone calls and indecent exposure. Mlambo is also alleged to have contravened Section 77(1) (a) of the Act. He is reported to have assaulted the complainant by pushing and assaulting her with an open hand once in the face. The above section defines such act as physical abuse. The soldier further stands charged with contravening Section 77(1) (h) of the Act in that he allegedly damaged a cellphone belonging to the complainant valued at E1 580. The above section criminalises causing damage to someones property. These are allegations contained in a charge sheet whose veracity is still to be tested in court. The accused has since filed an application for bail at the High Court, where he narrated events leading to his arrest. He is represented by Linda Dlamini of Mabila Attorneys. Mlambo informed the court that he was innocent of the charges preferred against him and he would plead not guilty. He averred that he had great prospects of success at trial as he had a good defence. I never committed the offences save for that I surmise it as fabrication made up by the complainant for reasons best known to her, contended Mlambo. He submitted that on the said date, it was the complainant who called him on his mobile phone and requested to meet him and he agreed to the request. Mlambo stated that he informed the complainant that he was actually going to Mbabane to collect his drivers licence at the Motor Registry. He narrated that he then met with her at Lozitha since he had already left Matsapha. According to the accused, the complainant came driving her motor vehicle. I submit that while inside the complainants car, a misunderstanding ensued which didnt settle down well with me and I informed her that it was better that I leave and proceed to Mbabane, submitted Mlambo. Complainant Mlambo asserted that he alighted from the motor vehicle; but, the complainant pulled him. While she did that, according to Mlambo, the complainant also informed him that she would not allow him to leave. The accused explained to the court that it was then that he requested the complainant to drive him to Mbabane. MBABANE A taxi driver ended his life after having an argument with his girlfriend. Mfanasibili Zikalala ended his life on Friday by hanging himself while he was inside his lovers house. Mfanasibili worked in Mbabane and he was from Gobholo, but he ended his life at Esitjeni in Ezulwini. His brother Linda Zikalala stated that they suspected foul play in the death of their brother and that was why they had asked that a post-mortem be conducted on the body. The results of the post-mortem informed the family that Mfanasibili had died from hanging himself and after this doctors report, they have decided to conduct the funeral this weekend. passing Linda explained that they were called by the police on Friday evening to come to hospital, where they were informed of their brothers passing. When we got there, we were told to choose which morgue we would keep him in, until the funeral. The statement which the police recorded was read to us and that was when we heard how he had died, Linda explained. In the statement that was recorded with the police, it was detailed how their brother was discovered by his lover hanging and she asked other people to bring him down. Police were later called and found that his body had been brought down. According to the statement, the lover informed the police that they had argued with Mfanasibili about his cellphone. She alleged in the statements that during the argument, Mfanasibili then tied her hands and feet and locked her in the toilet, inside the house. hanged He then took the rope and hanged himself, and when the girlfriend was finally able to free herself, she found him hanging. What is puzzling us as a family is that the cellphone in question cannot be found now, so we could see for ourselves what had caused the argument, Linda said. MBABANE A man was charged for his unusual fashion sense. Mbuyave Maziya (24) of Mankayane was on Wednesday charged with contravening the Urban Areas Act. I was in town on my way back home from accompanying my mother to the bus station, when a policewoman called me. I was wearing my sagged shorts and vest and the officer demanded that I pull my pants up, said Maziya. He further narrated that he immediately left the policewoman after she had told him that a charge would be laid against him. Confrontation Maziya explained that the reason he left after the cops order was that he didnt think he had done anything wrong as he was a young man who expressed himself through his fashion sense and music since he was also a rapper. Maziya mentioned that he was shocked when he was later called by the policewoman on his personal mobile number. He claimed to have no idea where and how the police officer got hold of his mobile number. Maziya further mentioned that the policewoman ordered him to report to the Mankayane Police Station. When he got there, she stated that he was charged with contravening the Urban Areas Act of 1965. Unacceptable When queried about his understanding of the Act, Maziya said he was not aware of it although he pointed out that he was conscious that part of it may have to do with wearing clothes that were unacceptable in society. The young man was taken to Mankayane National Court, where his case was heard. He was found guilty of contravening the Act and was sentenced to five months imprisonment with a fine option of E500. February 1, 2019 First things first: after much consideration, Im going to continue to use the Appaloosa des Steppes scarf, even though the design elements in the scarf are indeed from Kyrgyz rugs. I contacted the Kyrgyzstan embassy to ask if they were concerned or offended by this, and never received a response. After I read the Hermes website description of the design, I felt that they were using the images respectfully. I cant swear to this, but unless I get better information, Im going to carry on. (to catch up on this conversation, check the comments on last months installment of this series) But dont ever hesitate to contact me about things like this; I will always take your concerns very seriously, and try to respond responsibly. love Janice So lets pick up with our scarves, and add some outfits for February Valentines Day! Its maybe too early to really see a clear trend in these wardrobes, but it is fun to see how everything so far looks together! I love the possibility that this wardrobe could have a whole bunch of purple sweaters Sometimes, for those who dont wear dresses, a lovely jumpsuit could be perfect I am getting a sense of this heroine Im still enchanted by this combination of warm and cool: Dressy doesnt necessarily have to be too fancy or frilly: This really appeals Im starting to think that I need to re-apportion the colors in this color wheel; while in warmer weather I will be able to find beige garments, right now my proportions are off I love a good shirtdress This wardrobe is going to be really interesting Finding brown clothing is enough to make one pull out their hair So I do what any heroine would have to do look to their other colors! The evolution of this wardrobe is going to be interesting; everything will depend on how brown clothing becomes available through the year Im still optimistic about how this is going to work out Even the simplest black dress looks dressier with a nice scarf and bag This is going to be great! At this point, Id be happy to wear any of these! Im sure that will change as the months pass love, Janice p.s. When I was trying to find links to the Hermes scarves, I found that there are a TON of counterfeit scarves like these available at sites that even have the audacity to use the Hermes photographs! Dont fall for this; the scarves might be just fine, but its intellectual property theft, and its rotten business Morehead, KY (40351) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Letter to the editor: Faith in God played important role in our laws La Poutine Week is now up and running until Feb. 7 THE SHORTHORN Is seeking work study student assistants for our reception desk for summer and fall.Prompt, cheerful, students with professional attitudes are encouraged to apply to answer office phones and greet guests from behind a plexiglass COVID barrier.Preference is given to students available to work some mornings. This in-office job offers flexible hours and plenty of time to study.Apply through Handshake for job #4723423 or call 817-272-3188 for more information. By Jonathan Rebelsky rebelskyj@grinnell.edu I am a white, heterosexual man from a high socioeconomic status background who grew up in rural Iowa. More specifically, I grew up in Grinnell, Iowa. While attending Grinnell College, one important task Im frequently asked to accomplish is acknowledging my privilege. This is due in large part, I believe, to the fact that Grinnell College prides itself on social justice. Social justice requires understanding not only problems, but also the underlying inequities that cause the problems. An underlying issue can come up in multiple, otherwise unrelated events. One underlying issue is elitism at the College. Two examples of this are visible in student complaints towards the administrations stances on unionization and the Redmond-Brownell family donations. Fewer than 30 percent of adults in Iowa have a bachelors degree or higher. That is, because most students at Grinnell College will receive a bachelors degree, we are in the top third of the state in at least one important measure of social status. So, when thinking about how we interact with the community, we cannot neglect the privilege we have as college students. Now then, growing up in Grinnell, one of my clearest recurring memories of the educational system is how socioeconomic class affects both how students are treated and how they act. There are a number of wealthy families in Grinnell, many of whom have direct connections to the faculty of the College. There are also a large number of students, more than 35 percent, who qualify for free and reduced lunches. I vividly remember hearing students in the second category speak about how they could never belong at Grinnell College. The statements tended to focus on how they felt difficulty connecting with peers from higher socioeconomic families. Since students from Grinnell, Iowa who tend to attend Grinnell College also tend to come from higher socioeconomic classes, Grinnell College seems to many in the Grinnell educational system to be enrolled mainly by students from high socioeconomic status families. If they had difficulty relating to students who attended the same schools, lived in the same general area, and did many of the same activities, how could they relate to people who shared none of these. Of course, we all know that there are a large number of students at Grinnell College who are not from high socioeconomic class backgrounds. But, there exists a problem in making young, potential first-generation college students in the area see this. Here enters the Redmond-Brownell family. For those new to the area, the Redmond-Brownell family is a local family that owns a business. The business is profitable and they use the money they make to improve quality of life in the city of Grinnell and the surrounding area. However, their business is based in selling parts and accessories to firearms, which many students and alumni find problematic. Ignoring where the money goes for a moment, there are two key points to note. First, Brownells employs many local workers. Second, some members of the Grinnell community are sustenance hunters, people who rely on hunting to feed their families. I hope that it isnt hard to see how protesting Brownells as a company, and gun companies as a concept could and almost should be taken as saying that the way that these people feed their families is wrong. I also hope it isnt difficult to see how that could be alienating to a potential student. If we dont ignore where the money goes, however, we see that the money donated does not benefit their family or business interests. Instead, it was used to create the Ignite Program, which offered college students the chance to teach a one day class to local young students, which, to me, is one of the best examples of social justice at Grinnell College. The Ignite Program is a free, one-day workshop which includes food for the students. It takes students in Grinnell and surrounding communities, many of whom could never see themselves at Grinnell College, and shows them that Grinnell College is a place they could belong. Many of the students I knew who felt that they could never belong at Grinnell had never been in an academic building, because they already knew that they didnt belong, so saw no point in confirming that fact. By protesting the Redmond-Brownells funding of the Ignite Program, the College community was implicitly agreeing with these students. Removing that program would do nothing except make it harder for students in the local community to feel that they could belong at Grinnell College. Moving on to the union, Ill start with my own personal biases. To me, a union should protect exploited or easily exploitable groups. Unions that do not should not exist, as they weaken the idea of unions, and make it harder to immediately sympathize with them. As I mentioned above, by definition, being at Grinnell College is a sign of privilege, especially in Grinnell, Iowa. Regardless of the other identities Grinnell College students have, in their identity as a student at the College, they come from a place of privilege. By striving for a union, College students are weakening the system of a union. For instance, one of the claims of the union was that students at Grinnell are underpaid. Right now, the wage in the Dining Hall is $9.78 for the workers, and $10.24 for student leaders. For reference, minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25. If youre a student whose parents work minimum wage jobs, think of how alienating hearing complaints that $10 an hour isnt enough to support a single student can be. More importantly, Iowa is an at will state, where employees can be terminated at will by an employer. While expressing intent to join or create a union should be one of the protected groups, suing for wrongful termination costs more than families can afford. For that reason, being able to push for a union, knowing that a job is secure while doing so, is in and of itself a sign of incredible privilege in Grinnell, Iowa. So in conclusion, just as I, should be aware the privilege different identities I have bring, so too should the whole student body all reflect on how being a member of the Grinnell College student community grants us privilege, especially in conjunction with the city of Grinnell, Iowa. By Emily Barber barberem@grinnell.edu Five days a week, at 2:45 in the morning, Brad Marlatts alarm sounds. Its time for him to get ready for the day. He clocks in to work at 4 a.m. Marlatt, a custodian for the JRC and Younker pit, has worked for the Colleges Facilities Management Department (FM) for 15 years. According to FMs department page on the Colleges website, FMs mission is to provide and maintain physical facilities which meet the current and future needs of the Grinnell College community, in support of the overall mission of the college. FMs three sub-departments custodial, grounds crew, and skilled trade focus on different aspects of maintaining the campus. According to Marlatt, for custodians, the job entails anything that involves cleaning. While school is in session, Marlatt works in the JRC for the first four hours of his shift, and then, after a short break, cleans Younker pit. During the summer, FM focuses on upkeep projects like floor waxing, wall and window washing and cleaning and replacing light fixtures. Marlatt says alumni week is one of his busiest times. Custodians have to get the dorms ready for alumni right after students move out. Move-out often leaves big messes and the fast turnaround, Marlatt said, sometimes feels like running a motel. Marlatt said he feels sufficiently compensated for his hard work, in large part thanks to wage contracts negotiated by FMs labor union. Union representatives from International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a national labor union with a chapter in Des Moines, negotiate FM wage contracts with the College every three years. According to Marlatt, Teamsters traditionally negotiates for cost of living increases each year in the form of yearly percentage increases on FM workers hourly wages. Usually, the increase is around two to three percent per year. Marlatt is thankful for the union: without it, he said, hed be working for a lot less and benefits wouldnt be quite as good. Marlatt asserted that, because of their union, FM workers have substantially higher hourly wages than other on-campus employees. Furthermore, representatives from Teamsters represent FM workers if they have issues with management or if a conflict arises. Technically, Marlatt said, FM workers dont even have to address management unless they have union representation with them. Teamsters relationship with the College has historically been a good one. FM has had a union for as long as Marlatt has worked for the College, and Marlatt said the College generally has negotiated in good faith with FM. However, sometimes you get what you want, and sometimes you dont, he said. Marlatt said FMs last wage contract with the College was good, with pretty good raises. However, in the past, the College has refused to give cost of living increases and has instead given FM workers stipends. Stipends arent good, Marlatt said. Ideally, he said, workers would get an increase on their hourly wage instead of a lump sum stipend for the year. Aside from the lucrative pay and regular percentage increases, Marlatt finds meaning in his job through the relationships he gets to build with students. Marlatt said he has driven students to the airport before, and he likes to try to get to know the names of students he sees regularly. He remembered an instance where a student was surprised that Marlatt knew his name. Sure I know your name, Marlatt said. I do this job because I love getting to know the students. Its what makes it worth it. Community Advisors (CAs) have a job that sets them apart from other employment opportunities in the Grinnell College community. CAs serve to help students address their concerns and, if they cannot, guide them to a resource on campus who can. They also create bulletin boards and door decorations, host programs for their halls and have an on-call rotation each weekend where the student serves as an on-campus resource. CAs also have staff meetings with administrative tasks, in which they discuss how walk-throughs are going or any concerns with residents. Another job requirement is undergoing training before each semester starts. This comprehensive training spans multiple days to ensure that CAs are adequately prepared to handle any scenario that may arise. One aspect of training is the Behind Closed Doors. These scenarios are created and acted out by Community Advisor Mentors, the students who are often the go-between for Residence Life staff and Community Advisors. These roleplaying exercises aim to prepare students for any possible situations that either have occurred in the past or may come up in the future. While there are requirements that all CAs must adhere to, much of the job is handling unexpected scenarios with residents that one cannot always anticipate. Additionally, this role does not have set hours; students do not clock in for work, unlike every other campus job. Because CAs are always in work mode, it can be hard to separate work and personal life. Something I like about training is that theres no real way to prepare you for being a CA. The amount of situations that can come up are infinite; you cant deal with everything. But training gives you the ability to for the vast majority of situations say either I can do this or I cant do this, but I know someone who can, said Jasper Egge 20, a CA for the first floor and half of the second floor of Kershaw in East Campus. Because CAs work so closely with their residents and never truly are off duty, it can be difficult to find a work life balance. Additionally, this job can involve a lot of emotional labor that can be hard to manage. I live where I work, Im never not a CA. Because Im always in a place where my residents can see me, whether thats at Harris or High Street or in the Grill doing homework, I can have a resident come up and say hey I need your time right now sort of, whenever, said Leah Johnson 19, Community Advisor Mentor for the CaNaDa cluster and a CA for Norris first and the Cowles Apartments. The workload across campus is not uniform; some dorms may require more work for CAs than others. The emotional labor required of a CA may not be consistent either, making it so the job can be demanding and incredibly personal. We are technically paid for 16 hours a week for work, and I dont think I could ever say yes, I consistently work 16 hours. But some weeks I will do the emotional labor of 20 hours and some weeks I will do four. And that just happens, explained Dani Evans-Schreiber 19, a CA for Read second and third floors in South Campus. It can be hard to strike the balance between CA work and personal life. CAs are invested in the well-being of their residents, but sometimes they can take on too much. Were not therapists, which is sometimes a hard thing to get into our minds and sometimes residents minds as well, added Evans-Schreiber. Despite the demands that this role can ask of students, CAs continue to serve in this position because they love their work. CAs form bonds with their residents and have a unique connection to the Grinnell College campus community. Its always for my residents, even though I know theyre changing every year. I want to help them, and I want to make sure that they are doing okay and people are doing okay. Its worthwhile, for people, for helping people, said Evans-Schreiber. By Eyerusalem Desta destaeye@grinnell.edu Its a narrative familiar to most art majors: it can be hard to make a living coming out of college. Yet theater professionals Lesley Delmenico and Rachel Harvith attest to the reality of a successful, if not always obvious, post-graduate career path in the arts. I did a lot of other things before I finally found that I needed to do theater and that wasnt until I was in my thirties I did all the practical stuff [first], said theater and dance professor and artist Lesley Delmenico. Delmenico explained that when she began to actively pursue a career in theater she was already married and raising two children. The thing you need to do kind of sneaks up on you, she said. Contrary to her experience, and perhaps because of it, Delmenico advises students to pursue their interests directly after college. Its harder and at that point sometimes people kind of lose, not the passion, but the sense that okay, I can do this, at [this] point, I can make that kind of big change, Delmenico said. She stressed that pursuing an artistic passion does not mean sacrificing your financial wellbeing; the trick is balancing your day job with your artistic work. Always to give yourself the freedom and the flexibility within that job to be able to go out and to do that audition, Delmenico said. Rachel Harvith, theater director and the head of the Colleges career community for arts, media, and communication, faced this challenge when working at a theater company after college. She loved the experience, but they were paying us practically nothing, said Harvith. So actually, honestly, I ended up moving home and doing retail. Yet Harvith nourished her theatrical passion by volunteering at a theater company in her area, which turned into a paid position at the company. She explained that it is important not to discount experiences from other fields that may aid in ones true goals. Harvith asserted that the myth of being pigeonholed in an entry-level day job actually helps artists gain experience that sets them apart from other artistic professionals: Any time that you can connect the dots in unusual ways, thats where you can really show your work as an employee as a thought leader. Both Harvith and Delmenico spoke to the idea that no experience is to be discounted, and that each experience is just another piece of the artistic journey. You dont have to feel like you ever are pinning yourself in a corner, your life is so much more nuanced than that, Harvith said. Delmenico also emphasized the multi-faceted nature of any post-graduate career: Keep creating that patchwork which is always a moving target that youre working with or a patchwork that youre always putting new pieces in until that comes through or until you have so many things lined up that you know that you can support yourself, she said. For Grinnell College students, it is often difficult to separate employment from academics. Many Grinnell students hold one or more campus jobs that they must balance between rigorous academics and extracurriculars. 86 percent of students receive aid at Grinnell, and one mechanism for receiving aid is work study (Grinnell College Tuition and Financial Aid). For the first issue of 2019, The Scarlet and Black has decided to create a work issue that showcases both a different side of employment in Grinnell College and broadens the conversation beyond students. Further, it is a timely decision for The S&B to explicitly discuss employment issues on campus following the events of Fall 2018. Last semester, The S&B extensively reported on the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers and the administrations response. The union was and is an important issue to follow, and specifically discussing work is a logical step for the paper. The S&B wants to extend our coverage of work issues on campus to not only focus on the union but shed light on less discussed matters that are just as relevant to campus life. Matters of labor and employment on campus have been covered in the news, and it is time to discuss these matters in even more detail as to how students and the community are impacted. The S&B aims to provide further insight into the unique relationship between the College and employment by examining both students and faculty. Such issues that will be covered range from shortages in college faculty, the intersection of personal interests and work, and the balance that students must strike between academics, extracurricular activities and employment. Additionally, this issue will not only discuss work affairs on campus, but how issues of employment in the broader community impact Grinnell College students. The S&B aims to show that work issues exist not only on our campus, but around us as well, and that the unique relationship between the Grinnell community and college is affected by matters of employment. The work issue delves deeper in to the unique relationship that students have with work, understand how the campus and community are impacted by federal actions regarding labor, and make sense of how college faculty and staff operate inside the context of work. By Candace Mettle mettleca@grinnell.edu In the 2019 spring semester, the College intends to fill 18 on-campus positions, most notably in the student health and counseling services (SHACS) and the theatre and dance department. We are looking for individuals who have an interest in contributing to a strong academic environment that also concentrates on developing students to fulfill our mission, wrote Stacy Koehler, associate director employee recruiting and support, in an email to The S&B. A belief in social justice and diversity and inclusion is also important. As Grinnell College claims to support diversity and inclusion, interim diversity officer Leslie Gregg-Jolly suggests that those involved in the hiring process be mindful of their applicant pool. In an email to the Scarlet & Black, Gregg-Jolly referred to the Grinnell College Faculty Recruitment Guidelines & Procedures, which states that a community that encompasses a diversity of people and perspectives is the foundation of excellence in the liberal arts. A key way of achieving diversity is for recruiters to refer to networks supporting diverse candidates. The Consortium for Faculty Diversity database, the National Science Foundation, the National Womens Studies Association and historically black colleges and universities, among other special caucuses and committees, are cited in the handbook as resources to pull more candidates with diverse backgrounds. To address mental health needs for students, The College recently hired Dr. Eric Wood, a psychologist with 12 years of experience in college mental health, as dean for health and wellness. Over the course of his career, Dr. Wood has worked with two federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services, been named a diversity scholar for national organizations and served on an advisory board for a consortium of schools. SHACS currently offers free tele-psychiatry services through University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and partners with the University of Iowa psychology doctoral program for in-person visits. Students can choose to participate in either group or individual sessions, depending on their goals for counseling. However, the doctoral students work part-time, and as a result the College lacks a full time, on-site psychologist. [Dr.] Wood will promote comprehensive prevention programs that support goals for diversity, inclusion, and belonging across the College, as well as support strategic leadership in the areas of health and mental health services, wrote Sarah Mochenross in an email to The S&B. Given the shortage of psychologists in the state and the nation, we are especially thrilled to have someone of [Dr.] Woods expertise and experience on campus. Dr. Wood, who is African-American, wrote in an email to The S&B that he looks forward to working at the College. He acknowledges that there are not many psychologists of color or with diverse identities, and though he holds many accomplishments, they are not representative of the field embodying diversity. I often find myself to be the only person of color in the room, and, sadly, this relates to historical factors as opposed to the intent of any particular institution. Nonetheless, he wrote that working at Grinnell presents an exciting opportunity for himself and the College. Grinnell [College]s desire for a psychologist with experience in college mental health undoubtedly meant that the school wanted someone who was thriving and happily working at another institution. Such was the case for me, and because of this, and my obligations to students, etc., transitioning was necessarily a drawn-out process. I will say that during 12 years at my previous institution, Ive turned down 4 unsolicited offers from other institutions, and my previous school made several counter offers to keep me. I only say this to highlight how Grinnell is a very compelling place to work, Wood wrote. The theatre and dance student educational policy committee hopes to work with the College to replace Professor Ellen Meases imminent vacancy by attracting candidates of color. Theatre and dance is notably dominated by white people, notably men; therefore, the committee argues that having someone from a marginalized identity would diversify the department and fulfill the Colleges commitment of creating an excellent academic environment. The representatives of the committee could not be reached for additional comment before the publishing of this article. The S&B will continue to cover the department as well as other vacancies. By Zoe Fruchter fruchter@grinnell.edu While communities across the United States suffered from the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the city of Grinnell emerged largely unscathed from this historic period of time. The standoff, which developed as a result of a dispute along party lines concerning funding for President Donald Trumps border wall, lasted for 35 days. Over that period, 800,000 federal employees were either furloughed or forced to work without pay, and government programs, such as food benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and TSA airport security run by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) were either severely limited or completely terminated. On Jan. 25, Congress passed a stopgap spending bill to open the government until Feb. 15. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans will continue to negotiate border safety funding. In a general way, [the shutdown] did not impact the city government of Grinnell, said mayor Dan Agnew, who instead emphasized the shutdowns nationwide impact on the thousands of government workers who went without pay for a month. However, the cessation of government programs did affect some Grinnell residents. Agnew received what he described as a few phone calls from individuals in the Grinnell community who rely on federal funds for rental assistance, SNAP benefits or utilities subsidies. Although the rhetoric in Washington and in the national news media focused on the political implications of the shutdown, most citizen outreach to the city government focused on basic needs for food and shelter. While Agnew heard some politically charged comments from callers, he said that his constituents mainly needed someone to listen to their concerns and direct them towards relevant resources in Grinnell. We are fortunate that in Grinnell we have avenues to help those people. Its not the total answer, but its not like we have to reinvent the wheel all of a sudden if the federal government shuts down, Agnew said. The mayor credited non-governmental organizations like Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) for their work to assist those struggling financially or in terms of food security throughout the shutdown. He also pointed to monetary support made available to community members by the Campbell Fund. John Campbell, a Civil War veteran and landowner who died in 1933, bequeathed his estate to the worthy poor of Grinnell. The fund prioritizes medical needs, but can be used to pay for utilities, grocery vouchers, and more. Funding requests are reviewed once a week and must be approved by the City Council. As for more rural parts of Poweshiek County, the shutdown limited USDA funding for agricultural projections, mandatory audits and rural development loans and grants, among other agricultural programs. However, Bill Menner, the executive director of the Iowa Rural Development Council, asserted that the shutdown did not limit the impact of rural development programs in Iowa. These programs consist of loans and grants that specifically support rural communities throughout the country. In an email to The S&B, Menner wrote that while a 35-day shutdown may have slowed the process [of granting rural development loans], it didnt end it. In the upcoming weeks, a second shutdown looms if Congress cannot pass more permanent legislation to fund the government. Agnew stated that there have been no plans made on the city-governance level to prepare the City for another potential shutdown. Over winter break, Campus Safety acquired two new vehicles that closely resemble those used by police departments across the country. The purchases had been planned for a while the previous interim director of Campus Safety had submitted a request to the Building, Maintenance and Equipment (BM&E) committee in 2016. In 2016, the request for new vehicles was not authorized. However, in 2017, James Shropshire, Director of Campus Safety, submitted another request for the same vehicles and specifications. This request was granted, leading to the purchase of the cars, which cost $34,000. Proposals sent to the BM&E committee must be for purchases that cannot be made in the regular budget cycle, and proposals are evaluated and ranked by priority. For example, a proposal submitted in 2017 would be funded in 2018, explaining why the car purchase occurred when it did. According to Shropshire, there are several reasons for why the College purchased the new cars. The primary reason was that the vehicle was designed specifically for patrol operations. The engine and transmission are specifically geared toward low speed travel with frequent stops, the vehicle being started and turned off multiple times a day, and a suspension tailored to in-town driving. The secondary reason was that these type of patrol vehicles are eligible for company fleet plans, thus we were able to leverage the Colleges fleet account to receive an excellent price point as well as the fleet benefits for warranty and repair items, wrote Shropshire in an email to The S&B. Further, Shropshire believed the old cars needed to be replaced by newer and more efficient models. The previous Campus Safety cars, the purple truck and white van, were mismatched in color, not designed for our operations, and had different College branding as they were purchased years apart, wrote Shropshire. Additionally, both cars had over 100,000 miles and required regular maintenance. However, many students feel uncomfortable with the aesthetics of these new cars, given their resemblance to police vehicles. As Shropshire explained, Campus Safety does serve the College community in the same way that police do, thus requiring that Campus Safety is prepared with the tools to best help them serve Grinnell College. I have general concerns that the tools, equipment, and uniforms that are designed for our type of work are strongly associated with Law Enforcement. Thus, due to the needs of ensuring operational success, we utilize these items that often evoke a variety of feelings from the community based upon their lived experience. My hope is that our daily interactions with the campus community reinforce our goal of being engaged, approachable, and when enforcement is necessary to do so from an educational stance as opposed to a punitive one, wrote Shropshire. After students arrived on campus, many took to social media to voice their opinions of the new cars, taking issue with the paint job and bull bars on the front fenders of the new cars. Shropshire explained that these aesthetic details were included to reflect the branding of the College, as this vehicle is operating in an official capacity. Incidentally, it has been my experience that the push bumper also significantly decreases the damage to the front bumper, frame, and engine casing if it is struck head on in an accident. This is not the intended purpose of the equipment, but it is a nice fringe benefit of the equipment, Shropshire wrote. I recognize the need for an update in campus safety vehicles, but that need should be fulfilled without evoking an image that can make many community members feel uncomfortable or unsafe to interact with campus safety, wrote Sam Xu 20 in an email to The S&B. Shropshire recognizes that such negative associations exist with the new cars, but he feels that this purchase is worthwhile and can help Campus Safety better serve the College community. I hope that we can assuage any concerns that students might have about the use of equipment with a cop aesthetic through our daily positive interactions with the campus community I would invite anyone who was interested to meet with me to come see our patrol vehicles, review the functionality of the equipment and its intended purpose in the context of our work, and exhibit the key differences between a safety vehicle and a police vehicle, explained Shropshire. When asked how he would respond to students who feel that the image and associations of the cars outweigh their potential value, Shropshire wrote: I would affirm their lived experience and what law enforcement tools, equipment, and uniforms represent to them. I would look to explain the value of these items to the Department of Campus Safety and the college community and invite them to discuss ways in which our department can positively interact with and impact the community despite the use of law enforcement equipment that might create a negative perception. While some students are struck by the appearance of campus safetys new vehicles, for others it does promote feelings of insecurity with the vehicles patrolling campus. Im not really bothered by them. [Campus Security] have continuously been nothing but kind to me, once offering to fix my bike so I didnt have to pay for it, and another time driving me to Frontier on my birthday, wrote Lana Katai 21 in a message to The S&B. I understand some people are uncomfortable with our campuss safety, which is completely valid. But honestly, I personally feel safer with these intimidating cars driving around because Grinnell is really scary and dark at night. The S&B reached out to the Interim Chief Diversity Officer, Leslie Gregg-Jolly, and the Assistant Director of Intercultural Affairs, Jordan Brooks, for comment. Both parties declined to comment on how the newly-purchased vehicles might affect student safety dynamics on campus. By Seth Taylor taylorse@grinnell.edu For all intents and purposes, Grinnell is doing well economically. Unemployment has fallen steeply since 2009, resting now at 3.2 percent; median household income has steadily increased while the number of SNAP food assistance recipients has steadily decreased; and data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the average weekly wage in Poweshiek County is $800. Still, issues of workforce recruitment, workforce development and poverty persist, and both governmental and non-governmental organizations across Poweshiek County are working to alleviate these problems. Recruiting Workers For Grinnell, there are two main barriers to workforce recruitment: housing and childcare. Providing housing for workers has been an ongoing issue in Grinnell, according to Grinnell mayor Dan Agnew, and the city has recently supported the creation of a new affordable housing development for smaller homes, smaller lots, with the idea of getting people into a newer home that is not going to take a lot of initial upkeep, but be able to get into it at an affordable rate, said Agnew. In addition, a 2017 report from the Center for American Progress identified Poweshiek County as a childcare desert. To address childcare needs, the Chamber of Commerce surveyed Grinnell and surrounding areas in mid-2018 to better understand the issue. Since then, the Chamber has conducted informational meetings and assembled a steering committee to take further action. According to Agnew, the above issues handicap Grinnells ability to attract new workers and its ability to encourage those workers to live in the City. But Agnew said that city government does not directly involve itself in addressing these problems, instead relying on groups like Poweshiek Iowa Development and the Chamber of Commerce to [work] together and with the city to create ways to help people. Agnew said he hopes that these projects will ultimately encourage those who work in Grinnell to live in Grinnell as well, rather than commute from city to city. They come in from Montezuma, Brooklyn, Malcolm, Newton, Marshalltown We have a lot of people who commute into Grinnell who dont live in Grinnell. If we had more affordable housing if we had better childcare maybe those people would live here, Agnew said. If they work in this area we would love to have them live in Grinnell. Workforce Development Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who won reelection in 2018, has put workforce development front and center in her 2019 legislative priorities. In her Condition of the State she touted Future Ready Iowa, an initiative developed by Reynolds predecessor and continued under her tenure that intends to provide education or training beyond high school to 70 percent of Iowas workforce by 2025. Low unemployment and slow population growth in Iowa have made it difficult for employers to find qualified workers, and both the Governor and the Iowa Chamber Alliance a collection of Iowas largest Chambers of Commerce have supported workforce development policies like Future Ready Iowa that train workers, as well as policies that encourage migration into Iowa. Workforce development is also an issue in Grinnell, where Agnew identified a shortage in manual labor jobs like mechanics and electricians. Every time you build a house youve got to wire it, youve got to put a furnace it, an air conditioner in it. Every time you buy a house, after so many years youre going to have to replace some of those things So we need some young people trained in those fields too. That training, he said, could be fulfilled in on-the-job training alongside experienced professionals, or in trade schools or community colleges like Iowa Valley Community College in Grinnell, which, Agnew said, the community is extremely fortunate to have, reinforcing the importance of training beyond high school. Poverty According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Grinnell is $44,525, about $12,000 less than the median household income for the state of Iowa as a whole. Data collected by the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States indicates that while the percent of Iowans in poverty overall has declined since 2015, that number has risen from 10.4 percent in 2015 in Poweshiek County to 11.5 percent in 2017. In addition, a 2018 report released by United Way with a more liberal measure than that used by federal poverty level reported that about one in four Poweshiek County residents do not earn enough to afford a basic living. That report, using a methodology entitled ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), constructed a basic budget based on every countys cost of living, using aggregated data from various government sources. A single adult living in Poweshiek County must make $19,572 annually, or $9.79 an hour, to be above the ALICE threshold; a single parent with an infant child must make $31,656, or $15.83 an hour. Nearly 40 percent of Iowans live below the ALICE threshold, according to the report. In Grinnell, that number has reached 43 percent. Agnew acknowledged the seriousness of poverty in Grinnell and Poweshiek County. The concern is definitely there, he said. It does concern us that many of our employees have to work two jobs [and] we would still like to see [Grinnellians poverty] change to something much, much less. He argued, however, that it is not the Citys place to create policies to combat low wages. I would say thats not part of our job. We would hope business and industry would look at their employees and want them to make a good, affordable wage. Looking Forward When discussing Grinnells future, Agnew was optimistic, predicting that ten years from now, Grinnell will continue to grow in employment and population. Agnew said he believes projects like upgrading streets downtown, revitalizing Central Park, and repurposing the Veterans Memorial can only serve to draw more citizens into the Grinnell community. He also said that addressing future challenges will be a matter of collaboration between city government, businesses, organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and Poweshiek Iowa Development, and private citizens. I see Grinnell as still being sort of a catalyst in this part of Poweshiek County and even in part of Jasper County, Agnew said. Posted Thursday, January 31, 2019 8:57 am Clark County Public Healths latest update on the measles outbreak features three more confirmed cases and a new exposure site, Minnehaha Elementary. Public Healths release this afternoon put the count of total cases at 41 confirmed with 15 more suspected. Although the department gave a time of exposure for Minnehaha, they asked that any student or staff member without verified immunization status be excluded if they were present on that day, given the concern of overlap between the exposure period and the end of the regular school day. New location: Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th St., Vancouver 3:45 to 7:45 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17 (Public Health requests exclusion of any unimmunized student/staff present that day). The outbreak has been investigated by Public Health since Jan. 1 and both Clark County and Gov. Jay Inslee have declared public health emergencies in their respective capacities. Measles: what to know Those who may have been exposed and believe they have measles symptoms are asked to contact their healthcare provider prior to visiting their offices to avoid more exposure. Public Health is requiring the exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from schools identified as possible exposure sites. The exclusion does not apply to students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur. Those with the disease are contagious for four days before a rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears, according to Public Health. The department noted that children younger than 5 and adults older than 20 were most likely to suffer complications including lung and ear infections, diarrhea and in rare cases swelling of the brain. Public health did note some likely immune groups, such as those born before 1957, those who are certain they have already had the disease and those up-to-date on vaccines one dose for children up to four years old and two doses for those four and older. Learn more Public Health has established a call center for questions about the investigation: (360) 397-8021. Hours are 9 am to 5 p.m. daily, including weekends. There is also a website: clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation. Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or Clark County Public Health, (360) 397-8021. Clearfield, PA (16830) Today Partly cloudy early with thunderstorms becoming likely during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Many times you might have found the multiple casinos available in the online market but when you are going to... 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. Alev Scott is a London-born, Oxford-educated political journalist, who is on a mission to tell human stories from the very fringes of Europe - from Greece to Armenia, and everywhere in between. Image courtesy of Alev Scott Her most recent book, Ottoman Odyssey: Travels Through a Lost Empire, took her through 12 countries in the Middle East and Europe, tracing her ancestral roots (her mother is Turkish Cypriot) and has been called lyrical and moving. Its also been nominated for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year, the winner of which will be announced at the end of this month in London. The book reflects on 800 years of Ottoman rule, and how relics of this past might influence the regions present. Its also a travelogue, meandering through a part of the world thats beset by tensions but hugely important to a political writer in exile. Scott is half Turkish, and lived there for six years whilst working as a journalist - before her work, including reporting on the failed coup in 2016, got too much for Erdogans regime to handle. It was when returning to the country after a parent-mandated period of absence in Greece that she found herself unable to reenter. Despite the shock, being locked out of her home wasnt entirely unexpected. I had a sense that I might be barred but I didnt really, fully acknowledge it to myself, I dont think, she tells me. Its quite usual working as a journalist in Turkey to get a lot of death threats, especially if youre foreign or half foreign, like me, and especially as a woman. I think I occupied that particularly hated role as a journalist in Turkey because I was half-half: half outsider, half traitor, female all the things they hate. It was a sweet spot. I was used to getting rape threats and death threats and stuff, but it got quite extreme. My parents asked me to leave, actually, and I thought it was just for a while and that Id go back. But Id also got a warning from the presidents press officer about my latest articles, that I write just after the failed coup. I think looking back that was pretty much his way of saying, Dont come back. So when I tried to go back they wouldnt let me in, and I investigated at the Turkish consulate in London and I found out that I have an entry ban that has been placed by the Ministry of Interior, which is indefinite. I dont know whether it will ever be lifted. It must be hard, when half Turkish, to be cut off from ones heritage, especially as a journalist who cares deeply about the country. Is she still able to report on Turkey in the ways that shed like, or has her displacement meant that thats impossible? I tried for a while, she says, but it actually felt a bit disingenuous. Im used to reporting firsthand, Im used to interviewing people, and being there; the atmosphere as well as the events of whats happening. I didnt want to just be another talking head in London, or wherever I was. And also, emotionally its quite hard to keep yourself immersed in the politics of a country that youre no longer in and dont have access to. Its slightly masochistic actually. I do occasionally write about Turkey. I was actually at the European Commission a couple of weeks ago, and I gave a speech about imprisoned journalists and the future of free speech. I do it when I think theres an important reason to do so and theres a big audience - and this was a huge audience of policy-makers at the EU and it was quite a big deal. So I thought it was worth it for that. She continues: I feel that if the occasion warrants it I will write something. I used to be immersed in Turkish politics, you know, I was on Twitter all the time. I was constantly keeping track of what was going on you cant do that; its exhausting if you try to do that from afar. Its a very bizarre, dislocated sense of being away from a place where everything is happening. I care deeply about whats happening to the country, its not a purely academic interest - all my close friends are there, I know people in prison. Its not easy. I feel ethically obliged to know whats going on, but Ive spent the last two years trying to work out the distance I can keep whilst still being relatively engaged. When I ask whether she is worried about retaliation from the government, even though shes not in Turkey and isnt reporting on its politics the way that she once did, her answer is decisive: I dont think about it. If you think like that you never say anything, and whats the point of being a journalist? Does she think that the world is going backward in the way it treats its journalists, especially those who are covering democracy? In many parts of the world, yes. Its not like its been great and now its not great, there have always been issues. Turkeys record has obviously worsened quite dramatically in recent years - its the number one jailer of journalists in the world; more even than China or Iran. And I see really worrying parallels in Trumps America, actually. I think Erdogan has the power to effectively create a situation where journalists are considered enemies of the state and are put in jail for life, and Trump excludes CNN journalists from his press briefings at the White House. Theyre very different actions but theyre on the same punitive spectrum. Im sure if Trump had his way Mr. Acosta (Jim Acosta, the chief White House correspondent for CNN) would be in jail. The institutions that the US has meant that its impossible for him to just put people in jail, but hed like to. Theres the same inclination, theres the same demonising of the press. He also calls critical journalists enemies of the state, just like Erdogan does - theyre really on the same spectrum; theyre just a few degrees apart. Scott lives in Athens now, which for her is just a more fulfilling place to be a writer, and is working on her third book, which she cant say much about, other than that it focuses on the current crisis in democracy, and what we can learn from the ancients. So, what did writing Ottoman Odyssey teach her about how the past influences the present? What are her key takeaways? On the negative side of things, she says, one of the things that troubled me was how current governments are able to politicise the past. I hadnt fully realised before I conducted research for the book exactly how much that is the case, and how much the Turkish government is cynically using its Ottoman history - even though, obviously, there is no political continuity between the Ottoman Empire and the current Turkish government - but they manufacture one in order to influence foreign policy and to have influence in Muslim communities outside Turkey. That was very troubling. But on the more positive side of things, on a personal level, people are much more similar than they realise. I strongly believe that people have to learn about the history of their families, the history of the region and their communities. And I think when people share a language, for example, when they realise they share certain aspects of culture in different countries theyre actually much more similar than people think. As becomes clear throughout our conversation, the similarities between people, rather than the differences, is what Scott took away most prominently from writing Ottoman Odyssey. The book is a journey through through really conflict-ridden areas, especially in the Middle East - including Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon - but she tells me that It really struck her how much more connected people used to be. Different ethnicities, she says, different religions, used to have more of a sense of community in the days of the Ottoman Empire, ironically, than they do today. The rise of the nation-state has just created these divisions amongst people, and when you look into how people used to live... for example I was in Jerusalem and I was interviewing this Jewish-Israeli family, and the wife was telling me that her grandmother had a Muslim-Arab milk brother (a term that means youve been suckled by the same mother) and this was a really common practice between Muslim and Jewish families in Jerusalem pretty much until the early 20th Century, where if you couldnt produce milk for your baby but you had a Jewish family next door and the mother had a child you would give your baby to the mother and she would suckle. And its just really stuck with me, that this just would not happen today. It just wouldn't, because of the difference between being Jewish and Muslim in 21st Century Jerusalem its so divided, compared to what it used to be. I feel kind of sad when I think of how these divisions have deepened with time instead of getting better. Scott is interested in thinking about how public figures use utopian visions of the past - leaders across the world harking back to an imagined collective history; a past that never was. The result of this rhetoric, of course, is MAGA hats and hollow voices that seek to return to some sort of historic golden age. Its not new, Scott says, although it is a really interesting phenomenon that has existed in various forms throughout history. She says: What I find interesting is the continuum between the West and the East - Trump is doing it; the Make America Great Again slogan. Take Back Control in Britain is very much trumped-up imperialism. Its happening in Turkey as well, and what really interests me about President Erdogan doing it is that he cherry-picks the things that suit his own political agenda and ignores the things that dont. For example, hes constantly banging on about these glorious Muslim victories over Christian infidel armies its totally irrelevant and he takes it totally out of context. He doesnt talk about the brotherhood that existed between the minorities in the empire. He doesnt talk about that; hes much less interested in that. Its just a very typical macho, militaristic take on the past - very typical strongman, and he does it to perfection, it really works well for him. Im not at all interested in military victories; thats not my focus at all. My focus is on the social legacy of the empire, and to what extent these communities still exist under the surface of what is apparently a very homogenous country. Turkey is supposedly 99% Sunni Muslim and ethnically Turkish, and thats just not true. Im interested in what lies beneath the surface of the present and how we can discover that from looking not even that far back. The Turkish Republic, she reminds me, is less than 100 years old. Scott was travelling just as politics in Europe seemed to take a turn towards the strong-man led right. I ask what political feeling she got from those she met. Did she feel a nationalist agenda overall, or a move against it? Although its impossible to generalise across 12 countries and multiple different people, the theme of communication and acceptance across traditionally hostile factions comes up again - as does the nationalism that weve seen rising across the continent in recent years. She is, she says. interested in both - Im very interested in nationalistic people; trying to work them out. And I was also very interested in people who felt affinity in areas you might not expect. My mothers side of the family is actually from Turkish Cyprus, and I grew up listening to stories of the 1974 conflict and so on and as I child I would always believe that Greek and Turkish Cypriots have hated each other. But I really found cases that contradicted that when I went. Ive been back (to Cyprus) a few times since my childhood. This time I was actively looking for communities of Greeks and Cypriots that got on, and I really found them and that was really nice from a personal perspective as well as an academic one. But then you find completely the opposite. I found this guy in Serbia, near Kosovo, who was a Muslim and identified as an Ottoman - thats what he literally said to me; he said he felt Ottoman. And thats pretty much purely a Muslim claimed by Erdogan. Because Erdogan is always going on about how the Balkans are still under Turkish control. But he loved that, he bought into it, he wanted that - he wanted a Muslim leader in the form of Erdogan, because obviously Serbia is mainly Christian, so he was reacting against the Christian majority of Serbia and saying no actually Im Muslim, and Im Ottoman, and I look to Erdogan. He was totally stuck in the past - he couldnt even speak Turkish, but he was obsessed with Turkey and obsessed with Erdogan. He even had Turkish television playing in the background in his house. In summary, There were lots of crazy characters. It was a totally fascinating journey. The sheer variety of peoples sense of allegiance and identity is astonishing. There is also, of course, former warlord and leader of the Druze community, Walid Jumblatt, whom she encountered in Lebanon and describes as mad. On the existence of the Druze community, Scott says that this religious sect is not a secret, but all their practices are secret. Walid Jumblatt, this ex-warlord, is the leader of the Drews community in Lebanon. And the Drews exist. Theyve historically been secretive because they were persecuted under Muslim leaders. Theyre not secret anymore, but their practices are very secret. So I went to one of their religious communities, which is almost like a monastery, but I was very much chaperoned and I wasnt allowed to look around too much. As a non-Druze I will never be told the secrets; no one outside the community will ever be told about the secrets, but its a really fascinating religion and they incorporate elements not just of the Koran - they are classed as Muslim, but they believe in Plato; Plato is almost like a deity. They believe in Platos teachings and Pythagoras, and they see this great teaching, these great philosophers and great spiritual leaders of history. Alarmingly, she says, she met one sheik who told me that judgment day was really soon and that I was going to die because I wasnt Druze. It was during this visit that she went with Jumblatts wife to the ISIS-held Syrian border, where she was embedded within the army and witnessed a firefight. Despite the danger, its something that made her feel as a writer, covering conflict in the area, and as a journalist very fortunate... that again was amazing access; I dont even know any other journalist who has been there, or was there whilst it was under ISIS control. She pauses - shit gets real - before continuing: I am a journalist so I did find myself in those situations, but I also did find myself in very much more academic when I was trying to work out these places it was quite Indiana Jonesy, to be honest. I went from high action to very kind of theoretical scholarly stuff. It was a bit mad. She also spent time in refugee camps in Greece. The refugee crisis in Europe as a whole seems to have dropped out of headlines, the media seemingly bored of reporting on a constant barrage of bad news. What is the situation like on the ground? Its pretty bad, Scott says, but not uniformly. I was in a camp on the island of Leros a couple of years ago and that was actually really well run, but it was small. There were only about 700 refugees in that camp so it kind of worked. But generally, theres such a backlog. The worst place Ive been was Moria, the infamous camp on Lesbos. And thats just got, like, five times the number of people it should have, families in a tiny, flimsy tent really horrific. Unaccompanied minors who had been forced to fight against ISIS, who had severe psychological problems. If theyre lucky theyre seen by a psychologist working at the camp, and theyre given some meds, and then the meds run out, and theyre in a worse position that before. Its just absolutely horrific, and theres really serious drug abuse, alcohol abuse, rates of suicide its just horrific. She doesnt blame the media for turning their eyes away from the crisis, though, and isnt surprised, because its just unremitting its not a story anymore. Its just an unremitting situation, with no development; its not dramatic. Its not like things are changing in any way. Its dramatically awful. Readers have a limit - even if one is sympathetic to refugees, as a reader, are you really going to force yourself to read a really harrowing story? No. I think its just really time for the EU to get its act together and get a policy thats actually equipped to deal with them. BBC History describes the book as viewing Europe from its southeastern corner - as someone who has lived both in Eastern and Western Europe, is there a different view across the continent? Yes, very much so, she says. I think one of the biggest identity crises that Turkey goes through is whether its part of Europe or the Middle East. When I lived in Turkey I thought that Turkey was the edge of Europe. And now I live in Greece Ive realised that Greeks have a similar thing. More of them are convinced that they are Europe, that theyre part of Europe, but still theres this sense that even Greece isnt fully European. Thats really interesting, because I think we can have quite a simplistic view of what is and isnt Europe. From somewhere like London we think, Oh, Greece is Europe, its in the EU, its the cradle of democracy, its straightforwardly European. But then when you live somewhere you see Turkish and Greek culture are so similar; theyre basically the same people. So how can you say that Greeks are European and Turks arent? You cant; its too simplistic. Of the suggestion that Westerners might view Greece as wholly European and Turkey as more Asian, with its eyes towards the East and half its capital falling in Asia, she says, Exactly - but thats quite worrying. If we conclude that Europe is Christian, then what about Muslims who live in Europe? All the Muslims living in France, the UK - are they not European? There are no easy answers to these questions - of identity, of nationalism, and of how the world views certain nations and how those within these nations see themselves, and how this might lead to diplomatic breakdown and rising conflict both between individuals and communities and on a wider, more international scale. We end, though, on a positive note - back on the theme of cultural acceptance and unexpected allegiance. I had a really memorable conversation with an Armenian man in Jerusalem, Scott tells me, who was the son of survivors of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Hed learnt Turkish from his parents; hed never lived in Turkey - his parents were dead, and he had no ostensible connection to Turkey left, although he did speak Turkish. So he and I spoke Turkish together in Jerusalem, and that was a really, really emotional experience. And I remember him saying to me, If you speak the language you cant hate the people. He had every reason to hate Turks - his parents had fled the genocide, his relatives had been killed, he didnt have any reason to be friendly towards Turks. And yet here we were, speaking Turkish together, and we really got on and felt this sort of affinity for each other. And it really made me think a lot about that statement of his, that if you speak the language you cant hate the people, because you understand the people. And I do think that language is the key to understanding. It was such a simple thing for him to say, but it really put a lot of what I had learnt on my travels into perspective, and helped me write the book, in the end. Ottoman Odyssey: Travels Through a Lost Empire is out now, priced 20, from www.stanfords.co.uk Alev Scott will be speaking at Stanfords Travel Writers Festival at Destinations: the Holiday and Travel Show, 31st January 3rd February 2019 at Olympia London. 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(@hazupdates) on Jan 26, 2019 at 12:39pm PST There is a Shortlist of five categories: First Novel, Biography, Novel, Poetry and Childrens Book. The winner of Book of the Year comes from one of these five winners, and was announced at a ceremony in London on the 29th January 2019. Image from the Waterstones website Salida, CO (81201) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 53F. SE winds shifting to W at 10 to 20 mph. Oil City, PA (16301) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers late at night. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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. Robert Putnam, award-winning author and Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, will lecture on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Crisis in Venezuela, medicare for all, attempts to end aid in Saudi Arabia and more: This Week in Politics Governments should rescue students, Pawan Hyderabad, February 1st: State and Central governments should rescue University of Farmington students by providing them needed legal help and support, demands Janasena party Chief Pawan Kalyan. He said it is so sad to know that the US Government itself created a fake university and trapped the students. Awareness camps should be conducted for students planning to go to abroad for studies and their parents, he said on Friday. News Posted: 1 February, 2019 * 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 Mostly clear. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. Venezuelan chaos unravelling regional tanker market Venezuela is putting pressure on fuel suppliers to deliver cargoes to PDVSA, despite US sanctions again the state-owned oil company. European buyers have put scheduled export shipments on hold, according to various reports on the latest situation, received from Reuters, Platts and other sources, The countrys fuel stocks were further depleted this week as domestic refineries were not producing much and PDVSA faced complications linked to new US sanctions aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro. On Thursday, intelligence police and National Guard officials threatened to board a tanker docked at PDVSAs Punta Cardon terminal to pressure the vessels crew to discharge diesel that had not been paid for by PDVSA and was sold by the companys US refinery Citgo, according to four sources, talking with Reuters. Venezuela was thought to have less than two weeks left of gasoline and diesel supply, according to some estimates, with lines at gas stations starting to form around the country. In another report, it was claimed that Venezuelas oil storage volumes have started to build up at the countrys ports and terminals, as PDVSA could not export crude at its usual level, due to the US sanctions imposed earlier this week, according to sources and shipping data. Sanctions announced on Monday by the Trump administration were aimed at driving Maduro out of power. These have barred PDVSAs US customers from transferring payments to the oil company. As of Wednesday, Venezuela had 25 tankers with nearly 18 mill barrels of crude representing about two weeks of the countrys production either waiting to load or expecting authorisation to set sail. Most of those were anchored near the port of Jose, the countrys largest, according to Refinitiv Eikon data, analysed by the newswires. PDVSA has responded to the sanctions by stopping tankers leaving its ports with oil bound for the US, if the cargoes have not been not prepaid. In addition, PDVSAs inability to pay for crucial imports means fuel imports are delayed, adding to the glut of tankers off Venezuelas coast. We are facing problems to continue storing Merey crude, a PDVSA source said, referring to the most common crude grade it exports, Reuters reported. Most of the crude was bound for US customers including PDVSAs US refining unit Citgo Petroleum, Chevron Corp, Valero Energy and PBF Energy. Other large vessels loaded with Venezuelan oil and fuel were waiting to depart for Singapore, India and China, local reports said. PDVSA exported 1.25 mill barrels per day of crude last year, including 500,000 barrels per day to the US. The company boosted sales in early January in anticipation of sanctions, according to Refinitiv Eikons data. On Wednesday, Wills Rangel, a PDVSA board member, told Reuters the state-owned company did not plan to cancel supply contracts with US clients. Meanwhile, PDVSA President Manuel Quevedo said on Tuesday said a declaration of force majeure that would free PDVSA from paying penalties for undelivered cargoes was under consideration. The company is looking to India to import more Venezuelan crude and is also considering imports of light crude if necessary to boost domestic production of gasoline. PDVSA is facing problems unloading fuel imports for domestic use because sanctions are making it difficult to complete payments for deliveries, according to Rangel, who also leads the firms labour union. Sanctions require PDVSAs US-based customers, including its refining arm Citgo Petroleum, to deposit import proceeds in special accounts out of Maduros reach. They also limit US dollar transactions with PDVSA, but did not specify if US fuel can still be exported to Venezuela. PDVSA will insist the fuel cargoes are discharged and try to find a way to pay for them, Rangel said. Venezuelas main fuel suppliers are Citgo and Indias Reliance Industries, which typically ship naphtha, alkylate for gasoline, diesel and components from the US, according to internal PDVSA trade documents, seen by Reuters. As of Wednesday, over 15 tankers were anchored waiting to discharge some 5.5 mill barrels of diesel, gasoline, vacuum gasoil, liquefied petroleum gas and naphtha enough for an estimated 13 days of consumption. Reports from Greece claimed that at least two Greek-owned tankers, belonging to Horizon Tankers and Hellenic Tankers, have been seized by the Venezuelan authorities and were only released after their cargoes were confiscated. The tankers were carrying refined fuel for the Venezuelan market. According to shipbroking sources and reports in TradeWinds, the vessels had stopped off the Venezuelan coast but within the countrys territorial waters and said that they would not deliver their cargoes until they were paid for previous deliveries. This practice has recently become quite common as there have been major delays in payments by PDVSA, which faces obligations of $34.6 bill. However, the countrys authorities cited an emergency to sidestep English law which the charterparties were based on and enforce Venezuelan law enabling the country to confiscate the the two Greek tankers cargoes, as well as several others, it was reported. Posted on Friday, February 01, 2019 With the beginning of the New Year, Texas A&M University-Kingsville welcomed our 20th President Mark Hussey. President Hussey assumed his role on Jan. 2, 2019, and began his dedicated service to the development of the university, following longtime university president Dr. Steven Tallant. As part of his initiative to prioritize the partnership with the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation, Inc., President Hussey is pleased to announce that President Emeritus Tallant will serve in a consultant role alongside the Foundation, contributing to the universitys continued advancement. I am thrilled Dr. Tallant will continue to be a visible member of the Javelina Family. His service in this new role is a testament of his love for this university, exclaimed President Hussey. As the second-longest serving president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Dr. Tallant reflects the values of service, excellence, discovery and opportunity. His work will continue to help secure a margin of programmatic excellence and provide opportunities for young men and women to attend college. Established in 1972, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation, Inc. exists to assist the university by building private support. By providing these necessary resources, the Foundation will contribute essential opportunities that ensure students receive a quality education while at A&M-Kingsville. The Foundation also acts as a vital partner in developing donor relationships and linking resources in pursuit of the universitys goals of advancement. I am very excited to continue representing the university in this role with the Texas A&M-Kingsville Foundation. During the last few years, our Foundation really got in alignment with the direction of the university, and we launched the With You. Without Limits. Campaign. Im grateful to the Foundation Board for giving me the opportunity to continue increasing support for our programs, and I really appreciate being able to assist President Hussey in this way, expressed President Emeritus Tallant. Texas A&M University-Kingsville is in the midst of a comprehensive campaign, With You. Without Limits., which set a goal of raising $100 million in private support. As of Dec. 31, 2018, the campaign has reached $70 million. Funds raised will be utilized effectively by enhancing and furthering student support, research and programming, facilities and equipment, and more for the university. Vice President of Institutional Advancement & External Relations/CEO of Texas A&M-Kingsville Foundation, Brad Walker, added, Dr. Tallant has great love and enthusiasm for A&M-Kingsville, and it speaks well for both he and President Hussey to continue his involvement in the With You. Without Limits. Campaign. President Emeritus Tallant will assist in the achievement of the campaign through his consulting role, working collaboratively with the Foundation and the university, understanding that the campaigns success will ensure a promising future for A&M-Kingsville and its students and solidify the universitys presence and significance in South Texas and beyond. For more information on giving to Texas A&M-Kingsville, visit https://www.javelinagiving.org/. Posted on Friday, February 01, 2019 Texas A&M University-Kingsville is an official co-sponsor of the International Rural Mental Health Conference: Tackling Isolation and Fostering Connections. Along with A&M-Kingsville, conference sponsors include the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Inverness College and the Scottish Rural Health Partnership. The conference is scheduled for August 2019 at UHI, Inverness College in Inverness, Scotland. The primary conference emphasis relates to international and global perspectives of rural mental health. Supportive topics include isolation and loneliness in rural/remote areas, creativity for dementia care, technological approaches, learning from lived experience, mental health and wellbeing in the rural workforce, rural mental health research and scholarship, rural mental health and young people and community-led initiatives for rural mental health and wellbeing. "As a co-sponsor of this historic event, A&M-Kingsvilles role is to expand research, collaboration, advocacy and dialogue as it relates to a global view of rural mental health," said Dr. Steve Bain, Department Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling. According to Bain, the conference represents significant success for mental health advocacy, particularly rural mental health advocacy. Worldwide, 1 out of 6 people suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder or substance abuse issue. The lack of services and research within rural areas suggests that number might even be larger. Bain and Dr. Sarah-Anne Munoz of UHI are engaged in a number of collaborative ventures including conference presentations, a textbook publication, study abroad student groups and research related to rural and remote communities across the globe. Texas A&M-Kingsville serves areas in South Texas which are considered Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs). These areas appear to have similarities to rural areas in the northern parts (The Highlands) of Scotland. Texas A&M University-Kingsville seeks to continue the successful research agenda in the area of rural mental health with the SRHP partnership including UHI, Inverness. This collaboration will be extremely helpful in addressing the mental health needs of rural populations on an international scale, Bain said. I am grateful for the support of our administration, particularly Dr. Allen Rasmussen, who helped negotiate the UHI/TAMUK collaboration. Having this international stage communicates to the world that Texas A&M University-Kingsville and UHI are serious about addressing the mental health issues for rural areas across the world, Bain said. 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. The statistics are in and, on the face of it, 2018 was a good year for Spain: the country's economy expanded at a rate of 2.5%, slower than the 3% posted over the last three years but still ahead of the eurozone average. It's a figure that leads us to a couple of revealing conclusions. Over the last few years, Spain's macroeconomic performance has showed indifference to the country's chaotic politics - and 2018 was no exception. After ousting Mariano Rajoy as prime minister with a no-confidence vote in June, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez took the helm of a minority government that has since been paralysed by its weak grip on power (it holds just 84 seats in the 350-seat congress). All the proof one needs of this is found in the farce surrounding 2019's budget. The spending plan remains a draft document on Sanchez's desk, requiring the (unlikely) approval of a hostile congress later this month. Yet the government's inability to actively manage Spain's economy hasn't impacted on macroeconomic reality: in the last quarter of 2018, the country's GDP expanded at 0.7%, up from 0.6% in the second and third quarters. The eurozone average in the final three months of last year, by stark contrast, was just 0.2%. The prospect of Brexit, on the other hand, did have an effect on Spain's economy throughout 2018. A report published this Thursday by the Bank of Spain shows that expansion during Q4 last year was partly driven by an increase in exports - but not exports to the UK. Overall throughout 2018, Spanish exports to EU countries rose by 8%; but during the same period, sales of Spanish goods to Britain fell by 6%. Another statistic also tells us that Spain's export market is increasingly wary of Brexit. Between 2012 and 2017, the number of Spanish companies exporting goods to the UK rose steadily, yet in 2017, the year after the Brexit referendum, there was a 0.8% decrease in such businesses. The Bank of Spain notes that the "elevated uncertainty" now surrounding Britain's withdrawal from the EU makes it difficult to predict how Spanish exports to the UK will perform in the medium-term future. No "you-know-what", Sherlock. Despite a dip in Spanish exports to the UK, though, the relationship between Madrid and London is as robust as ever (leaving the perennially sensitive issue of Gibraltar aside). The two governments' recent agreement, which secures the voting rights of Britons in Spain and Spaniards in the UK in case of a no-deal Brexit, is eloquent proof of this. Indeed, both these groups of expatriates have good reason to believe that the coming months will not be as chaotic as the scaremongers - with their terrifying and largely ungrounded predictions - like to make out. Amid the frustration that more couldn't have been done to save Julen, there was praise for the hundreds of rescue workers, volunteers and experts who had contributed to the unprecedented and complicated operation. On Saturday, as Julen's body was found, there was immediate recognition for the team of eight "heroes" from the mine-rescue service in Asturias, northern Spain, who had worked in shifts to excavate the rock in the last stages in dangerous conditions. "We only want to say one thing as we didn't get the chance; to express our condolences to the family that yesterday, given the time it was and how it all ended, we weren't able to," they said on Sunday as they prepared to fly home. Their leader, Sergio Tunon, later thanked the Guardia Civil and Malaga fire service for their support. On Tuesday, the national head of the Guardia Civil, Feliz Azon, was at the force's Malaga barracks to congratulate his officers for their work. Many different companies offered support for the fast operation, which would normally have taken several months, including a firm in Alhaurin el Grande that hurriedly built the capsule to lower the miners down the parallel borehole, the Swedish geolocalisation team that had been involved in the rescue of 33 Chilean miners in 2010 and a Murcia firm that built the steel lining of the parallel shaft. The small hillside municipality of Totalan, with just 700 inhabitants, was also warmly thanked for the way they had opened their doors to support the operation, providing lodging and food. A possible new railway station on the local Cercanias line at Nueva Torrequebrada took a step forward recently at a meeting in Madrid. Locals have been campaigning for the extra stop for years, and for the first time a mayor of Benalmadena has taken up the cause in a meeting with Adif, the state-owned rail infrastructure company. "Nueva Torrequebrada is one of the main growth areas in the municipality and where the population has most increased. At the moment there are 16,872 people in this and surrounding areas that have serious transport and communication problems with the rest of the municipality and the Costa del Sol," explained the mayor, Victor Navas. Navas was meeting the director general of Adif, Maria Luisa Dominguez, and her team to present the plans for the station drawn up by town hall technicians. A petition of 1,400 names has also been handed in to Adif. "In the meeting we told Adif that we're willing to help towards the costs of the station, as the town-hall's accounts are in a healthy state," added Navas. According to town hall sources, the Adif team said they would ask the ministry for Infrastructure, which the rail company is part of, for permission to carry out a viability study for the new station. "The population growth in the municipality, its urban development, the mobility and sustainability of this means of transport are more than enough reasons to listen to local residents' demands," explained Navas. He went on to say that Benalmadena only has two stops on the Malaga-Fuengirola line, compared to the five lying within the boundary of Torremolinos. When the body of two-year-old Julen was reached last Saturday morning by mine-rescue workers, any last hope that the toddler had survived the 71-metre fall into a narrow borehole almost two weeks earlier evaporated. The praise for the dedication of the emergency services in retrieving the boy and the support of the people of Totalan was mixed with the grief of the family, residents in the Malaga suburb of El Palo and the millions around the world who had followed the rescue since 13 January. The last few metres towards where the boy was / SUR Julen's body was found as mining and geolocation specialists had predicted, wedged between the floor of the part-filled borehole and a layer of earth above him, which had prevented him being plucked from the borehole by rescuers' equipment. The reason why the plug of earth was there on top of him was a key part of the initial investigation into whether the illegal hole had been properly covered and how the boy came to fall down. Rescuers, after initially rejecting a horizontal tunnel to reach the boy's position, had completed a parallel vertical shaft to the borehole in record time, removing a large amount of earth from the hillside, in the process, the equivalent of 33 Olympic-sized pools. Once complete, the miners were lowered down to begin a four-metre horizontal link to Julen's supposed location on Thursday 17 January. After delays with dense rock, and extra explosives helicoptered in by the Guardia Civil, they broke through at 1.25am last Saturday and confirmed everyone's worst fears. The family of Julen mourn their loss / Salvador Salas An initial autopsy provided some comfort for the boy's family by stating that Julen died on the same day he fell, showing signs of head and body injuries consistent with a long drop. Investigation A Malaga judge has opened an investigation into how Julen got into the borehole and if any party is liable to a charge of manslaughter due to negligence. The earth on top of him is now thought to have come from damp soil falling from the borehole lining. Authorities have said the borehole, drilled by a contractor searching for water, didn't have a licence. The company owner has said he left the hole covered with a 15-kilo stone, and police are comparing his explanation with the version of the land's owner, who is the partner of Julen's father's cousin. According to sources, the owner of the land has told police that the borehole was left unsealed and he covered it with two breezeblocks. The family went to the land on 13 January to prepare a weekend paella when Julen suddenly disappeared from view down the hole, according to witness statements. A 30-year-old man from Malaga was arrested early Thursday morning after crashing his car into the Malaga provincial police station. The vehicle crashed into one of the two doors of the main building, and caused significant damage to the outer building and the interior. The events took place around four in the morning. The investigation suggests that the crash was intentional, since the driver called 112 half an hour before, expressing his intention to take his own life, a claim that is still being investigated. It is also being investigated whether the detainee - who has been transferred to a hospital in Malaga under police custody - could have been under the influence at the time of the event. HR division ditched rules to make recruitment By S Rubatheesan View(s): View(s): Administrative lapses and lack of professionalism at the Human Resources division of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, led to losses of billions of rupees while adding to the financial burden of the Airline. This was revealed this week by a witness appearing before the the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing allegations of large scale frauds and malpractices in SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Mahesh Nanayakkara, the airlines senior manager in charge of Group Assurance and Advisory Services, told the commission that the airline had been recruiting at least 200 cadres annually since 2015, and, as a result of this recruitment policy, certain departments were overstaffed while the salary budget soared to a staggering Rs2bn a month. No proper checks and balances were followed by the HR department to identify the needs with regard to promotions and filling vacancies. Submitting the internal audit reports on the activities of the HR department, Mr. Nanayakkara acknowledged the departments failure to comply with company regulations as set out in the manual. In his observation reviews attached to the periodic audits, he said he had highlighted several areas as key significant concerns. These remarks were made when State Counsel Fazly Razik led evidence this week. Mr. Nanayakkara said some areas of significant concern required rectification on a priority basis and they included concerns over the failure to obtain annual cadre approvals on time; multiple promotions/upgrading given to the staff within a short period and the lack of proper checks on educational qualifications. According to the Company regulations, annual cadre approval should be sought three months ahead of the financial year which starts on April 1 to work out the estimated cost of expenditure. However, this due approvals were not obtained on time from the Board. The witness said his department was not given adequate documents from the HR division in this regard. The Commissions Chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne, intervened to emphasise that the Commissions mandate went back to 2006, and documents related to past recruitment and appointments and the procedures followed on those appointments should be submitted before the Commission. If there were no business plans in place for a company, how could it have recruited new cadre in significant numbers annually? he asked. The Commission was told that cadre recruitment with regard to 1,381 vacancies from grade 1 to 8 had been carried out from January 2015 to January 2018 but the top management staff at grades 9 to 13 were not subjected to any audit process. Only 11 appointments grade 9 and above were made in the period. When the Commissioners queried from the witness whet her any directives were issued by the top management not to carry out the audit, the witness said there were no such directives but his department did not want to go behind the personal files of top management staff because their salary details were kept confidential. State Counsel Razik noted that, since the SriLankan was a state-owned company, the public could access the salary details and other information of the top management by simply filing a Right to Information (RTI) petition. The Commission was also told that the HR department failed to keep files related to Position Request Forms (PRF) at the Talent Resources Section of the department before filling automatic vacancies that arose due to resignation/retirement or promotions/upgrading. Going a step further, the department also intended to amend the companys manual to headhunt persons for selected job slots. The witness said the audit inquiry found that the HR departments senior officials recruited two employees who were rejected at the initial interview stages. They were recruited to the cabin crew services section arbitrarily without citing any proper reasons. The witness also told the Commission that there were no interviews held when recruiting persons on a contract basis directly from the Civil Aviation College and the International Aviation Academy. Most of them were later absorbed into the permanent staff without subjecting them to any interviews. The state counsel then commented that this mechanism of not vetting candidates not only led to unsuitable persons being recruited through the backdoor, but also caused further financial strain to the company. The Audit reports placed before commission also indicated that multiple promotions skipping three grades were approved by the HR department. Some promotions came with transfer from a particular department. Within a short period of time, four employees attached to the HR department were promoted from grade five to eight, which is the entry level for executive affairs of the company, without proper evaluation of their past performances. The Commissioners noted that the HR department top management should not have judged their own staff and, instead, an independent panel should have been constituted to obtain approval. State Counsel Razik noted that the Internal Audit Department should have acted more aggressively when it identified these issues and called for explanations from the respective departments or brought it to the attention of the management to avoid poor performance of the company and further losses. The department failed miserably to act promptly by taking adequate steps through the powers it is vested with to avoid this kind of disaster, he said. The State Counsel questioned whether the HR division head Pradeep Kekulawala was competent enough to handle the affairs of his department. Testifying on Wednesday, the Central Banks Deputy Governor S R Attygalle told the Commission that, since 1997, treasury bonds had been issued based on a market analysis made by Treasury officials even though Registered Stock and Security Ordinance (RSSO) regulations clearly indicated that the subject minister Minister of Finance was vested with powers to do so. This has been the practice for decades since Sri Lanka began issuing treasury bonds and bills. We also followed the same procedure,he said. His evidence was led by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Neil Unamboowe. Mr Attygalle told the Commission that, from 2012 to 2014, the government pumped in Rs 46.2 billion as capital infusion to improve the balance sheet of the lossmaking airline. Mr Unamboowe argued that the Financial Regulations (FR), a compilation of financial circulars formulated by top Treasury officials in the 1990s, were followed blindly by the airlines officials even now although those regulations without parliamentary approval lacked legal teeth. He noted that these assumed practices, technical lapses and flaws in the FR clauses had become an excuse for officials to slip from administrative lapses and engage in financial misappropriation. The Commission was told that publication of Treasury bonds or bills transaction had become a post activity where the public would come to know about the transaction only after it was concluded by officials. As officials took the decision on behalf of the Minister who was answerable to Parliament, they could not be held accountable due to these assumed practices. Had there been a strong law in place to set out the duties of the Treasury Secretary, the Deputy Secretary and the Treasurys Director General, it would have been easy to hold those individuals accountable for the actions they initiated in addition to carry out their duties more effectively, ASG Unamboowe noted. Also testifying before the Commission on Thursday was V Kanagasabapathy, former Director General of Department of Public Enterprises. He answered questions on the practice of the FR regulations in Treasury. He stressed that according to the Constitution and the Financial Regulations, Ministry Secretaries are the Chief Accounting Officers of their respective ministries. His evidence was also led by ASG Unamboowe. The CoI comprises retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne (Chairman), Retired Supreme Court Justice Gamini Rohan Amarasekara, retired High Court Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe, retired Deputy Auditor General Don Anthony Harold and Sri Lanka Accounting & Auditing Standards Monitoring Board Director General Wasantha Jayaseeli Kapugama. The sittings will continue from Tuesday onwards. 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. If theres a drawback with Jacksons film, its an understandable one, coming from a commercial genius intent on never boring his audience for a second. The pace of They Shall Not Grow Old sticks to the same tempo and rhythm throughout. Even in the down-time passages, built on footage shot between shellings when the soldiers got a reprieve from the horrors, the film offers no time or space for true reflection. Jacksons approach probably wouldve been twice as effective with half as many separate voices on the soundtrack, and some breathing room in between the memories. (When one veteran recalls seeing what the animal instinct of killing can lead to, the moments all but disregarded.) The movie delivers, in its chosen way. But its a soulless way. The violence may be for laughs, and many Neeson fans will likely respond to the larky brutality of Cold Pursuit, which is very different from the stars previous mid-winter vehicles (The Grey is my favorite). But I dont get much psychic recreation from this sort of action movie. In the original, Stellan Skarsgard played the avenging snow angel, and with him, at least, you got the sense of a solid if vaguely unsettling citizen unraveling, by degrees, one killing at a time. With Neeson its different: Hes like the wedge at the front of his own plow, taking care of business efficiently, and not for a moment anything resembling human. The Constitution Revision Commission meets every 20 years, then someone in the Legislature usually tries to abolish it. That would be the right thing to do if the commission were to be judged only by its record last year. It did more harm than good and willfully ignored issues of urgent concern to many Floridians, such as assault weapons and open primaries. In January, the billboard from the national Mad Dog PAC was a large red sign with the letters GOP, the acronym for the Republican Grand Old Party. The O was a hammer and sickle that appeared on the flag of the former Soviet Union, designed to remind people about alleged Russian meddling on Trumps behalf in the 2016 presidential election. Lawmakers in Washington and in Tallahassee have been working in a bipartisan fashion to help secure temporary protected status for Venezuelans, and humanitarian aid for those suffering at the hands of Maduro Regime, Rizzo said in a statement. In a time where our two parties can rarely stand together in solidarity, this should have been one of them. The splits were almost exactly the same in the U.S. Senate race, in which Republican Rick Scott received 69 percent of the vote to Democrat Bill Nelsons 30 percent. Scott won the election with 50 percent of the vote to 49.9 percent for Nelson, the incumbent he defeated. There are several other projects at various stages in southern Florida. Burnett Oil Co. continues to search across another 110 square miles of Big Cypress, where the company has used special trucks to generate vibrations used to detect oil. In the Everglades of western Broward County, Kanter Real Estate LLC is awaiting a court ruling on the states denial of a drilling permit. Drawbridge Energy Co. applied to drill a well on an abandoned Hendry County citrus operation. MKJ Xploration filed an application two weeks ago to drill on farmland north of Immokalee. Social media fraud is serious deception and can give users unwarranted influence, Moody said in a prepared statement. Through the use of bots, consumers may be tricked into believing a product, person or message is much more popular than it actually is. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now, Northam said. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their governor. Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we ever have to make, and it is never made lightly, said Capt. Mark Vlaun, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. We have been in regular contact with the family members throughout our search efforts and extend our sympathies for what we know is a very difficult time for them. The 10th annual All Peoples Day Diversity Festival presented by All Peoples Day, Inc. and Delray Parks and Recreation will be Saturday, March 23 at Pompey Park. Activities take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including 15 entertainers, 50 issue-based and interactive cultural booths and a health fair. A kids craft dough people workshop from 9:30 to 11 a.m. is open to 30 children who register in advance by emailing susan@allpeoplesday.org or by calling 561-495-9818. Admission, including foods from ethnic restaurants, is free. After an investigation at the home, detectives determined there had not been a drive-by, but that the toddler was shot inside the residence, police said. I want to know how theyre going to determine what is in kids bags every day. Its a major security breach, and they dont have an answer yet. They owe us an explanation, she said. I dont think metal detectors are too much to ask. Even security dogs are better than nothing. There was no ability at that time for any one person to take command of the radio system and to give directions for all of the people that were responding, said Frank Straub, who is in charge of the National Police Foundation effort. Because that information wasnt relayed, you had at times an uncoordinated response into the building, around the building, and that causes problems. What happens if there had been a secondary attack? The Parkland project also includes original songs by the students as well as scenes of the student activists marching and speaking at rallies nationwide. The drama students are also shown performing during the 72nd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall last June in New York City. At the show, Herzfeld was presented with an award that honors educators. The Tallahassee Democrat reports that 23-year-old Clayton Muehlstein's ankle monitor tested positive for alcohol at about 3:20 a.m. on New Year's Day in San Francisco. He will be returned to Florida and held in a detention facility. This is our way of supporting our Wilton Manors community that is welcoming to all, said Gary Blocker, the citys assistant police chief. Each and every day, our agency polices with pride and passion and this car reinforces to our stakeholders that we are stronger together. Under his leadership, Israel has grown stronger and less isolated as his diplomatic initiatives have won the Jewish state allies (both open and under the table) among former foes in the Arab world and in Africa and Asia. The alliance with the United States has never been closer (though that has more to do with the replacement of a generally hostile Barack Obama with a very friendly Donald Trump in the White House). Israels economy is booming. Indeed, it can be argued that Netanyahu may be the only politician in Israel (a nation where war and peace always dominate the discussion) who actually understands economics. Benyakkov mentioned one journey the students took from the classroom to Jerusalem by foot, which has 130 kilometers that took 10 days. She mentioned how the students slept on mattresses on the fields and how they cooked for themselves. She said these kinds of situations leave positive marks on the students' minds and on their behaviors as it propels them to get up on time for school following these journeys and that they now come to class with necessary items to learn. This location is much bigger, which allows greater offerings, Booth says. We have a beautiful bar with an extensive cocktail menu. This allows a bar bites section on the menu. One of my favorites is smashed sunchoke tostones with buttermilk creme fraiche and caviar salty, earthy, creamy and crunchy. Escape Arts and friends at The Old Slaughterhouse in Stratford where the Call the Midwife exhibition will be held will be held from Saturday 16th February until May. ESCAPE Arts is proud to announce its new bundle of joy Call the Midwife - a brand new exhibition about the history of maternity services in Stratford-upon-Avon. From pregnancy to a bouncing baby, from home births to the hospital and beyond, the exhibition spans from the late Victorian era to the present day, including cherished memories of the much missed Monroe Devis Maternity Hospital in Tiddington. The exhibition is also about local business woman Edith Devis who made the hospital home to an inspiring staff team supporting thousands of local women through childbirth during its 40 year conception. The exhibition will also focus on the harder aspects of mothers and babies up to the 1960s, exploring the gritty practices at unmarried mothers hospitals for women who could not keep their babies. Call the Midwife will also touch on stories about the Childrens Isolation Hospital off the Birmingham Road and the history of the health visitor. Call the Midwife will be launched on Saturday 16th February from 12.30pm to 4.30pm at Escapes Heritage and Arts Centre The Old Slaughterhouse, running until May. Karen Williams of Escape Arts said: On this day we would like to invite anyone born at the Monroe Devis or who had their babies there to bring in their baby photos or share their family stories connected to this much loved maternity home. Help us create our Monroe Devis baby album, a wonderful archive to a treasured local and sadly long gone service. A further programme of events will be carried out to support the exhibition until its conclusion in May, including Meet the Midwife talks, Ooh Matron Naughty postcard exhibition and lots more. Visit the website www.oldslaughterhouse.org.uk to keep up to date on the latest information and events supporting this exhibition or contact Karen direct with photographs and stories at karenwilliams@escapearts.org.uk The Australian General Who Saved 80,000 Assyrians in WWI (AINA) -- In a new book entitled Debt of Honour, Australian authour Sarah Lindenmayer captures the enthralling true story of one of Australia's great military heroes, Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige and his role in saving thousands of Assyrians during the horrors of the First World War. The Book During the Great War the Assyrians were called Our Smallest Ally by the British; tragically their allegiance came at great cost. On a secret military mission in the Persian Alps, beyond the reach of allied support and with the enemy at his heels, an Australian officer rode into a refugee camp crowded with terrified, wounded Assyrians. He collapsed from his horse onto the ground before them. Who were the Assyrians? Why was an Anzac in Persia in 1918? And why was he so far off mission? When Captain Stanley Savige landed at Gallipoli with the 24th Battalion, the first genocide of the twentieth century was underway to rid the Ottoman provinces of Christians. Three years later, this decorated hero of Gallipoli and the Western Front was head-hunted by the British High Command for a hell-raising mission in Mesopotamia and Persia to seize oil wells on the Caspian Sea. Exceeding his orders, Captain Savige rescued nearly 80,000 Assyrians refugees, as they fled in terror from the Ottoman Army. It is probably the greatest humanitarian act by any Australian during war or peace time and it was one the last atrocities of the Ottoman Genocide period of Seyfo, the Year of the Sword. Savige returned to Australia after the Great War to lead a life of peerless philanthropic and military achievement. For the Assyrians, however, the plight for survival continued during Saddam Hussein's regime up to the recent, heinous crimes of the Islamic State. Today, the debt of honour owed to General Sir Stanley Savige has yet to be acknowledged properly in his own country and the debt of honour owed to our smallest ally can never be repaid in full. About the Author Sarah Lindenmayer was raised in North Queensland, where her parents worked in the railway, later settling with her family in Brisbane. After graduating with degrees in European History and Literature, she lived and worked in London, Naples, Bordeaux and Cappadocia. She holds a Master's degree in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Queensland. Her interest in cultural history, genocide and resilience resulted in Debt of Honour, her first book. Sarah lives in Melbourne with her husband, and works in urban social planning and place-making. Debt of Honour is available for purchase at debtofhonourbook.com. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. At one time not long ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Jewish theater company to produce William Shakespeares Merchant of Venice, the lead character of which is Shylock, a bloodthirsty and corrupt moneylender in the fabled city during the Renaissance. Shylock and Charles Dickens character Fagin in Oliver Twist have long been considered the vilest anti-Jewish characters in world literature. Over more recent years, both characters have been given more empathetic portrayals, and the original Merchant of Venice has been presented with Shylock as a less villainous presence. Now, gifted playwright Aaron Posner has reimagined the Bards play, which was published in 1600, as District Merchants, and the New Jewish Theatre has brought it to robust life on the stage at the J. ADVERTISEMENT In Posners brilliant adaptation, both sides of the Shylock character are presented vividly in a superb performance by veteran actor/director Gary Wayne Barker. Barkers Shylock, as envisioned by Posner, is a much more complicated character. Hes nobodys fool, being steeped in Hebrew scripture and amusingly fluent in Yiddish sayings, a doting father to his overly protected daughter Jessica, as well as the harsh moneylender who demands a literal pound of flesh if his debtor does not repay his loan in full. Posner subtitles District Merchants as An Uneasy Comedy, and the powerful script, a very strong cast and skillful direction by Jacqueline Thompson combine for a gripping evening of top-tier theater. Posner has set the story of Shylock and his fellow characters in America during Reconstruction in the post-Civil War 1870s, when African Americans had been granted their freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation and the right to vote as full citizens. Like Venice during the Renaissance, Washington, D.C., was growing in wealth and power even though not all of the streets had yet been paved. Extreme poverty lived next door to extreme wealth. Racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, especially against Irish immigrants, were rampant. Influence peddling, financial corruption and an alternating boom and bust economy made living in the District of Merchants very challenging. The characters in Posners version of Merchant largely parallel those in Shakespeares original version: As powerful and as complex as Shylock is, he has met his match in Antoine DuPre, a prosperous, thoughtful, shrewd and even merciless African-American merchant. Antoine is very proud of having been born free and resents being lumped together with former slaves. J. Samuel Davis infuses Antoine with a powerful intellectual as well as physical presence; he stalks the stage like a spirited lion. Shylocks beautiful and restless daughter Jessica, whom he smothers with overprotective parenting, is fully realized in the performance of Alicen Moser. Bursting under the corset of restrictions on her independence imposed by her father, Jessica longs to be free, even at great risk. She finds herself romantically and physically attracted to Finn, a bold, engaging, Irish American who is generous and fun-loving and who himself the target of anti-Irish bigotry in late 19th century America. Paul Edwards nails this part with a perfect and endearing Irish accent and as a source of comfort for the anxious Jessica. Portia (played with gusto by Courtney Bailey Parker) is the product of a wealthy family who has fallen in love with the study of law to the point where she dresses as a man to sneak into Harvard Law School as a student. She has a loyal, very smart and wise-beyond-her-years servant named Nessa (Rae Davis), whose wisecracks and feisty attitude liven up the action at key points and break the tension during some of the more harrowing scenes. Shylock also has an African-American servant named Lancelot (Karl Hawkins), a multilayered character who is learned but naive about the harsh realities of the world and stays with Shylock even though he does not like him. Shylock and Antoine have a love-hate relationship. At times, they admire each other; at others, they loathe each other. The scenes in which these two brilliant and highly opinionated characters share the stage provide some of the plays greatest moments. A shoutout goes to the production crew who help director Thompson achieve a gripping work that alternates between comedy and drama. David Blakes scenic design is functional and visually impressive, providing a setting for the various interactions among the large number of characters. Felia Davenports costume design is also spot on. Especially impressive is the three-piece suit worn by Antoine, which is impeccable from his pocket handkerchief down through his highly polished saddle shoes. Posner has done Shakespeare and his most controversial play proud. Nearly every aspect of this production is pitch perfect. Even when parts of the second act seem long, the power of the script holds the audience in rapt attention. 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. Pakistan Wins the Worldpriest Global Rosary Relay Award 2018 Contact: Marion Mulhall, Worldpriest, 646-355-4106, info.worldpriest@gmail.com NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2019 /Standard Newswire/ -- Pakistan has won the Ninth Worldpriest Annual Global Rosary Relay Award held on Friday, 8 June 2018 on the solemn feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus a day reserved for praying for the sanctification of priests worldwide. The Ninth Worldpriest Annual Global Rosary Relay 2018 award was presented by Rev. Father Nazar Nawab, parish priest of St. Paul's Parish Karachi, and the local representative of the Worldpriest Global Apostolate for Pakistan, Naveed Anjum, to His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Karachi-Pakistan on Friday 25 January 2019, on the solemn feast of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle and The Golden Jubilee Celebration Day of St. Paul's Parish Mehmoodabad Karachi-Pakistan (the biggest Parish of Metropolitan Karachi, Pakistan). His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Coutts is Pakistan's second Cardinal, elevated as Cardinal last year on 28 June, by Pope Francis, after twenty years serving with the Church in Pakistan. The first Cardinal of Pakistan, His Eminence Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro died on 11 February 1994, having been elevated as Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1978. In his thanksgiving address His Eminence Cardinal Coutts praised the Worldpriest initiative of praying for priests and the promotion of the Rosary for the sanctification of priests worldwide. He also thanked Rev. Father Nazar Nawab and Naveed Anjum for bringing Worldpriest's mission to Pakistan. His Eminence Cardinal Coutts rallied priests present and said: "Dear Priests and brothers, may I request that you please appreciate, encourage and support the mission of Worldpriest, especially in Pakistan, because this lay organisation is working for your sanctification and mobilising the world to pray the Rosary. Personally I did nothing to deserve the success of the Ninth Annual Global Rosary Relay 2018, so then why should I receive this award? But because this award has been won by the Catholics of Pakistan, as the Cardinal from your country I therefore receive this precious award from the good people of Worldpriest, on behalf of you all the real and righteous people who deserve this award because of your participation in this global prayer event, organised in Pakistan and for the sanctification of us priests." His Eminence Coutts also praised the appropriate use of social media in this initiative. Vicar General Father Saleh Diago, Rector of Christ The King Major Seminary, Rev. Father Benjamen Shehzad and Rector Priest of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary, Rev. Father Joseph Ryan and twenty priests and parish priests of the Archdiocese of Karachi were also present at the Eucharist and the award presentation Mass, which more than 1,000 parishioners attended. How the Rosary Relay was organised in Pakistan. On Friday 8 June 2018, the feast of the Sacred Heart of the Jesus and the day dedicated to the Worldpriest Annual Global Rosary Relay for the Sanctification of Priests worldwide, the sun rose very early over Karachi. The event was organised with the kind cooperation of Rev. Father Nazar Nawab, Parish Priest of St. Paul's Parish in the Archdiocese of Karachi, and the lay organisation called the Way of the Sacred Heart, led by a young Pakistani called Christopher Zahid. There are twenty-four Catholic churches in Pakistan and the four cities of Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot participated in this Global Rosary Relay. There are six Catholic dioceses in Pakistan and the three archdioceses of Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad participated. A convent of Franciscan Sisters also participated. Local online television channels Good News TV, under the guidance of director Father Amir Bhatti, and Catholic TV covered the event. A prelude to the Annual Global Rosary relay was also organised on the evening of Thursday, 7 June 2018 evening in Karachi. There are approximately half a million Catholics in Pakistan, many of whom prayed with millions of others from around the world for the sanctification of our priests worldwide, while asking for the intercession of Our Lady Spiritual Mother of all Priests. A word of congratulations from Worldpriest. The founder of Worldpriest, Marion Mulhall and the Worldpriest team who organised this great event were overjoyed at the success of Pakistan in winning this 2018 award. The determination with which Pakistan's participation was coordinated with such courage; dedication and witness to faith by the people of Pakistan who participated so devoutly and so prayerfully in the Annual Global Rosary Relay of 2018 deserve the highest level of recognition and praise. A special word of thanks must go to our local representative of the Worldpriest Global Apostolate for Pakistan Naveed Anjum. www.worldpriest.com info.worldpriest@gmail.com Milton, PA (17847) Today Partly cloudy in the morning followed by scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 89F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. US bolts Cold War missile treaty as Russia warns of arms race (WRAP-newseries) Washington, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 The United States said Friday it would exit a landmark Cold War nuclear missile treaty due to purported violations by Russia, which has warned of a new arms race in Europe. Washington says a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, although US officials also have an eye on China as the 1987 pact constrains the United States but not the rising Asian power. President Donald Trump said the United States was suspending its obligations under the INF treaty as of Saturday and starting a process to withdraw in six months. Brokered by then US president Ronald Reagan and last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the treaty ended a superpower buildup of warheads that had frightened Europeans, banning ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (around 300 to 3,400 miles). "The United States has fully adhered to the INF treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions," Trump said in a statement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States, which formally announced its concerns two months ago, had raised the alleged treaty violation with Russia more than 30 times. "Russia's violation puts millions of Europeans and Americans at greater risk, it aims to put the United States at a military disadvantage and it undercuts the chances of moving our bilateral relationship in a better direction," Pompeo said. But Pompeo said the United States was still willing to talk to Russia in hopes that it comes into compliance. "The United States is hopeful that we can put our relationship with Russia back on better footing, but the onus is on Russia to change course from a pattern of destabilizing activity, not just on this issue but on many others as well," Pompeo said. - Russia warns of arms race - Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has sought a warm relationship with Trump but is widely reviled by the US establishment, has declared that the US withdrawal would set off a new arms race. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday's decision was not about Russia but rather "the strategy of the United States to get out of its international legal obligations in different areas." Zakharova told television channel Rossiya 1 the US had provided "no evidence, no satellite photo... no evidence" to back its allegations and that, once Washington leaves the treaty, Russia "reserves the right to an appropriate response." NATO said in a statement that the US allies "fully support" the US withdrawal and agreed that Russia's 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems, whose range is the cause of US concerns, violated the treaty. But Europeans also voiced fears over the consequences of the treaty's demise and held out hope for a breakthrough before the United States leaves in six months. "To us it's clear that Russia violated this treaty, and that's why we must talk with Russia," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini, speaking as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered in Bucharest, said that Europeans did not want "our continent going back to being a battlefield or place where other superpowers confront themselves -- this belongs to a faraway history." Trump also faced criticism at home, where Democrats voiced alarm that the "America First" president had rejected yet another international agreement. The INF move "risks precisely the sort of nuclear arms buildup that the treaty was designed to guard against," said Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. - Fears for more treaties - To add further to Europe's worries, Moscow's top INF negotiator, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, warned that after the collapse of the treaty another key arms control agreement -- the New START treaty -- could follow. That agreement, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow, expires in 2021 and Ryabkov said there was a "big question" over what would happen next. A US official, addressing reporters on condition of anonymity, rejected the idea that the United States was opening up an arms race and said it would take time to see how Washington would proceed when unbound from the INF treaty. "Because we have been adhering to this treaty for so long," the official said, "we are some time away from being in a position to know what we might want to deploy, where we might want to deploy." While relations remain tense with Russia, US defense planners have put a major focus on China with its fast-growing military spending and growing assertiveness in the dispute-ridden waters of Asia. US officials say that some 95 percent of China's ballistic and cruise missiles, a core part of Beijing's defense strategy, would violate the INF Treaty if China were obliged by it. burs-sct/ft Russia says US leaving missile treaty to 'get out of its obligations' (lead) Moscow, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Moscow denounced Washington's decision to leave a landmark Cold War nuclear missile treaty on Friday, saying it was part of a plan to "get out of its international legal obligations". The US exit was not a question of "Russia's guilt" but is instead "the strategy of the United States to get out of its international legal obligations in different areas," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the television channel channel Rossiya 1. US President Donald Trump had earlier said the United States was suspending its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) as of Saturday, and had started a process to withdraw in six months. Washington says that a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the 1987 treaty, a claim that Moscow has vigorously denied. Zakharova said that the US had provided "no evidence, no satellite photo... no evidence" to prove that Russia had violated the treaty. She insisted that Russia had "always agreed to hold talks on the INF Treaty". And she warned that if the US "really leaves the INF Treaty, Moscow reserves the right to an appropriate response". Russia says US leaving missile treaty to 'get out of its obligations' Moscow, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Moscow denounced Washington's decision to leave a landmark Cold War nuclear missile treaty on Friday, saying it was part of a plan to "get out of its international legal obligations". The US exit was not a question of "Russia's guilt" but is instead "the strategy of the United States to get out of its international legal obligations in different areas," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the television channel channel Rossiya 1. C.Africa peace talks suspended: govt Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Peace negotiations between armed militias and the government of Central African Republic have been suspended, mainly over the issue of amnesty, a governmental source told AFP Friday. The latest round of peace talks sponsored by the African Union had opened in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on January 24. "There has been a suspension of negotiations as the parties wanted to consult and agree among themselves on questions related to amnesty, which shouldn't be part of the discussions, and on the question of power-sharing," the source said. Under pressure from Western allies, Bangui has always refused amnesty for warlords, several of whom are under UN sanctions or cited for human rights violations in UN reports. The talks in Khartoum aim to reach an accord and put in place a follow-up committee to try to establish peace in CAR, a country ravaged by war since 2012. On Thursday the UN Security Council agreed to a possible easing of an arms embargo on CAR to allow weapons supplies for government forces fighting the militias, who control much of the country. A UN sanctions committee has already granted several exemptions to allow shipments of weapons to the poorly-equipped army. Thousands of people have been killed during violence in CAR, one of Africa's poorest countries, where a quarter of the 4.5 million people have fled their homes because of the unrest. INF Treaty: a 1987 US-Soviet nuclear pact Washington, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 The Cold War-era INF arms control treaty, signed by the United States and Soviet Union in 1987, obliged the two superpowers to reduce their nuclear arsenals for the first time. At the time of its signature by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Washington, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was hailed as historic. It opened the way to a new era in relations between the Eastern and Western blocs. Nuclear accords had already been concluded, including SALT I in 1972 and SALT II in 1979, freezing the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers held by each country. With the INF treaty, the two powers agreed for the first time to destroy a whole range of nuclear missiles. The treaty bans missiles that can travel distances of between 310 and 3,400 miles (500 and 5,500 kilometers). They were to be destroyed no more than three years after the treaty entered into force. It led to the destruction of 2,692 missiles by 1991, almost all the intermediate range, which made up a little more than four percent of the total nuclear arsenals of the two countries in 1987. One of the innovations of the INF treaty was that inspectors from the other country could verify that the missiles had been destroyed. - Dangerous arms race - The 1987 treaty put an end to a mini-arms race triggered by the Soviet Union's deployment of SS-20 nuclear missiles targeting Western European capitals. NATO at the time responded by deploying US nuclear-tipped Pershing IA and II missiles. This led to massive pacifist demonstrations across Europe. During what was known as the Euromissiles crisis, Reagan described the Soviet Union as "the evil empire." The arrival in power of Gorbachev in 1985 and his Perestroika reforms, however, signaled the opening of the Soviet bloc to dialogue with the United States. Three summits between Gorbachev and Reagan between 1985 and 1987 were necessary to achieve the signature of the INF treaty. In October 2018, President Donald Trump accused Russia of not respecting the accord and threatened to withdraw from it, despite pleas from the European Union to preserve it. Trump announced on Friday that he was withdrawing, with European allies agreeing that Russia's 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile system has a range that violates the treaty. NATO 'fully' supports US withdrawal from missile treaty Brussels, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 NATO said Friday it fully supported the US decision to pull out from a Cold War missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in breach of the agreement. "The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russia's covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems. Allies fully support this action," the transatlantic alliance said in a statement. US says to withdraw from INF missile treaty with Russia (lead) Washington, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 The United States said Friday it was withdrawing from the landmark Cold War INF missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in violation. Ahead of a deadline set by Washington, the United States said that Russia had not addressed concerns over a new medium-range missile system that Western states believe goes against the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Effective Saturday, "the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers and associated equipment," President Donald Trump said in a statement. "The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions," Trump said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, announcing the decision at a news conference, said that Washington still wanted to engage in arms control negotiations with Russia and hoped Moscow would come into compliance. "The United States is hopeful that we can put our relationship with Russia back on better footing, but the onus is on Russia to change course from a pattern of destabilizing activity, not just on this issue but on many others as well," Pompeo said. US says to withdraw from INF missile treaty with Russia Washington, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 The United States said Friday it was withdrawing from the landmark Cold War INF missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in violation. Effective Saturday, "the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers and associated equipment," President Donald Trump said in a statement. Europe frets about arms race as Germany says missile treaty dead (WRAP-newseries) Bucharest, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Germany said Friday that Russia had "de facto invalidated" a landmark Cold War missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race. A US deadline for Russia to come back into compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty expires on Saturday but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will reportedly announce the pullout as early as Friday. Western capitals say a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the terms of the 1987 treaty and puts European cities at risk. Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister who has shuttled between Moscow and Washington in recent weeks trying to save the INF treaty, said Russia was still in breach. "We must note that the INF treaty has been violated by the Russian side and that the appeals of the last 60 days for more transparency and more information have come to nothing," Maas said as he arrived for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers in Bucharest. "A treaty to which two contracting states belong and which has been violated by one side has de facto been invalidated". Lithuania and Latvia -- Baltic states keenly aware of the threat from their giant neighbour Russia -- backed Washington's expected withdrawal. "Treaties are important if parties are complying to the treaties. If there are breaches, the value of the treaty is questioned," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said, adding there was "clear evidence" of Russia breaching the treaty. - History's taught 'a clear lesson' - The INF accord, signed by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe. Russia on Friday said it regretted Washington's planned exit from the treaty and expected to receive formal notice from the United States shortly. "We all regret that in the coming days this decision will most likely be implemented," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "A decision to move to break the treaty was made in Washington a long time ago." Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a new arms race if the treaty collapses -- a prospect that has alarmed some European nations. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini called for the treaty to be preserved "with full compliance" from both sides. "What we definitely don't want to see is our continent going back to being a battlefield or place where other superpowers confront themselves -- this belongs to a faraway history," she said. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said history had taught his country "a very clear lesson". "This clear lesson is whenever there was a conflict between east and west, we central Europeans always lost," he said. "We as Hungary I don't think we have too much leverage in this issue. We can just cross fingers for a more pragmatic cooperation between east and west." - Another treaty threatened - To add further to Europe's worries, Moscow's top INF negotiator, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, warned that after the collapse of the treaty another key arms control agreement -- the New START treaty -- could follow. That agreement, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow, expires in 2021 and Ryabkov said there was a "big question" over what would happen next. Pompeo announced in December that the US would start the six-month process to quit the INF if Russia did not withdraw its 9M729 missile system by February 2, using the period to start work on new missiles. While all 29 NATO allies have endorsed the US view that Russia is in breach of the treaty, differences have emerged over how to respond. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said withdrawing was "not the right response", arguing that leaving the treaty would not "succeed in putting more pressure" on Moscow. Asked if Russia was to blame for the INF being in jeopardy, Karin Kneissl, the Austrian foreign minister, who is close to Putin, said it was "a bit more complicated" than that, pointing to Moscow's concerns about China, which is not bound by the treaty. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said military commanders will begin preparing for "a world without an INF treaty" but insisted the alliance was still committed to arms reduction. Russia insists the missile system complies with the treaty, and displayed it to foreign military officials and media last week in a bid to allay concerns. US strike kills 24 jihadists in Somalia: Pentagon Washington, Jan 31 (AFP) Jan 31, 2019 US forces have conducted an air strike in Somalia that killed 24 Al-Shabaab militants, officials said Thursday, adding to a spate of such strikes against the Al-Qaeda affiliate. The strike a day earlier was near a "terrorist encampment location" in the Hiran region of central Somalia, US Africa Command said in a statement. The action came as part of an ongoing mission in which US forces work with African Union and Somali national security forces to fight the Shabaab jihadist movement. Such "strikes continue to help our partners make progress in their fight against the transnational terrorists who oppose peace in Somalia and in the region," said Major General Gregg Olson, Africa Command director of operations. The Pentagon has increased the rate of strikes in Somalia in recent years, partly because President Donald Trump loosened constraints on when the US military can take action against alleged terrorists. Although the military did not specify in its latest statement, such air strikes in Somalia are typically carried out by armed drones. Earlier in January Africa Command said a strike killed 52 Somali militants, and last month the US military said it had killed 62 Shabaab militants during six air strikes in the Horn of Africa nation. In October, the military said it conducted its largest air strike in nearly two years against militants in Somalia, killing about 60 Shabaab fighters, who are battling to overthrow the internationally supported government in Mogadishu. Shabaab fighters were pushed out of Somalia's capital in 2011, and subsequently from other towns and cities, by African Union troops. But the Islamists still hold sway in large parts of the countryside. They launch regular gun and bomb attacks on government, military and civilian targets in Mogadishu as well as ambushes on military convoys and outposts. Sexual assaults rise at US military academies: report Washington, Jan 31 (AFP) Jan 31, 2019 The number of sexual assaults at America's military academies rose by almost 50 percent over the past two years, despite extensive efforts to combat the problem, a Pentagon report said Thursday. About 12,900 cadets attend the Army, Navy and Air Force academies that train future officers to lead America's vast military. Every other year, they are given the chance to fill in an anonymous survey about unwanted sexual contact or sexual assaults. According to the figures from 2018, 747 people reported some sort of sexual assault -- up from 507 in 2016, an increase of more than 47 percent. "We find these results to be frustrating, disheartening and unacceptable," said Elise Van Winkle, who heads a Pentagon personnel and readiness department. The biggest increase was noted at the Army's West Point Academy in New York, where 16.5 percent of women reported some sort of sexual assault, up from 10.2 percent previously. In a statement, the Army's senior leaders said the report was "troubling and disappointing." "This is not just about the Army staff and faculty at West Point -- we also expect more from the cadets, who are our Army's future leaders," the statement read. Increases in the past have been chalked up to a greater awareness of sexual assaults and therefore a better reporting of cases, but this year the Pentagon said the problem has deeper underlying drivers that still need addressing. "The trends are a reflection of the pervasiveness of this misconduct and the difficulty in sustaining a culture change over time," Van Winkle said. The report found the number of actual sexual assault cases reported to authorities hit a new high of 117, up from 112 two years earlier. Nate Galbreath, deputy director of the Pentagon's sexual assault prevention office, said cadets often are unwilling to come forward because they are worried about how other students will perceive them. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Facebook bans accounts tied to Indonesian fake news group Jakarta, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Facebook has shut down hundreds of accounts and pages linked to an Indonesian group accused of spreading hate speech and fake news, the company said Friday. The world's biggest social network said cyber group Saracen engaged in "coordinated abuse of the platform" by operating a network of hoax accounts that mislead online readers about who was behind them. "The people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts to misrepresent themselves, and that was the basis for our action," Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher said in a statement. Saracen gained infamy in Indonesia two years ago when police accused it of deliberately spreading untruths via social media. At least one of its members was jailed following a wide-ranging investigation. Indonesia is battling its own wave of online hate speech, as conservative groups exploit social media to spread lies and target minorities. Authorities are worried inflammatory material posted online could crack open social and religious fault lines in the world's largest Muslim-majority country ahead of presidential elections in April. Some 800 Saracen-linked accounts, 207 pages, 546 groups and 208 Instagram accounts linked to the group have been yanked from the network, Gleicher said. About 170,000 people followed at least one of the pages, and more than 65,000 followed at least one of the Instagram accounts. The groups and accounts were shut down "based on their behaviour, not the content they were posting", Gleicher said. Facebook has moved to stamp out efforts by state actors and others to manipulate the social network using fraudulent accounts. The US firm began looking into these kinds of activities after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election, aimed at sowing discord. "We are constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we don't want our services to be used to manipulate people," Gleicher said. Facebook has a fact-checking partnership with AFP in multiple countries. hp/pb/rox Facebook at 15: a titan with grown-up woes San Francisco, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2019 Fifteen years after its founding, Facebook has made strides toward Mark Zuckerberg's goal of connecting the world. But it has also made some huge missteps that have turned some of its cheerleaders into vocal detractors. The online social network founded on February 4, 2004 in Zuckerberg's Harvard University dorm heads into adolescence with the grown-up burdens of being held accountable for its behavior and playing in a world where people may not always have the purest intentions. Facebook has seen unprecedented success by amassing more than 2.3 billion people worldwide who actively use the platform to share updates, obtain information and connect with new people. But it has also been battered by criticism that it was more focused on growth than protecting users or thwarting deception, bullying and harassment. "This is a very powerful company that has created an addictive product that many people are dependent on," said author and analyst Josh Bernoff. "Because of that, there is tremendous responsibility." Facebook was hammered last year by a series of scandals over data protection and privacy and concerns that the leading social network had been manipulated by foreign interests for political purposes. It has faced increasing scrutiny on how it collects vast amounts of personal data from users, and how it shares that information with partners to deliver targeted advertising. - 'Confronting maturity' - "After the challenges of 2018, it is no longer lauded for its innovation. It is scrutinized and criticized for its every move," eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson said. "Facebook at age 15 is confronting maturity. It's no longer just an upstart company." Facebook is second only to colossus Google in worldwide digital ad revenue and is the owner of some of the most widely used smartphone apps. The platform is behind free, stand-alone smartphone apps Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, each of which has more than a billion users. Zuckerberg, 34, recently renewed his defense of the social network's business model, adamant that Facebook did not sell user data. He maintained that the social network makes money from targeting ads based on what it learns about users, keeping the service free. Bernoff saw Zuckerberg's latest defense as contending that Facebook is here to help people, and thus can be trusted. "We have learned in capitalism that when companies get a lot of power and say they are doing what is best for you, we need to scrutinize them more," Bernoff said. If history is an indicator, then Facebook's true threat could be a lifestyle shift to a different way of interacting with computers. Bernoff questioned whether Facebook was positioning itself for the rise of smart speakers using the likes of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. "The future is going to be increasingly related to voice, and to companies and individuals interacting through artificially intelligent agents," Bernoff said. "As people change the way they interact with the world, there is no guarantee Facebook will have a place there." He doubted whether people would turn away from Facebook due to trust issues, arguing that consumers are willing to trade a huge amount of data for a modicum of convenience. Despite the wave of scandals, Facebook took in a record $22 billion profit for 2018 as revenues surged to $55 billion. - Motivated trolls - Facebook has acknowledged it needs to do more to restore trust, and ferret out misinformation and abuse. It now has more than 30,000 people "working on safety" and invests billions of dollars in security, according to Zuckerberg. "The trolls have a financial incentive to pervert the way Facebook works, and it is costly for Facebook to prevent that," Bernoff said. And while Zuckerberg has connected the developed world, there is a lot of the planet he has yet to get onto the social network. According to eMarketer, 46.7 percent of internet users, or slightly more than 23 percent of the world's total population, use the core Facebook app any given month. "Facebook will need to make international growth a bigger priority this year and in the coming years," Williamson said. Facebook also needs to be a leader in undermining manipulation and fake news, protecting user data and keeping up with consumers' changing communications preferences, according to the analyst. Zuckerberg's personal goal for 2019 is to convene a series of public forums on how technology can better serve society. "I'm going to put myself out there more than I've been comfortable with and engage more in some of these debates about the future, the tradeoffs we face, and where we want to go," Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post outlining his goals. gc/rl/ft Medford, NJ (08055) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Cold got you thinking about where to retire? Arizona is tops for snowbirds Nancy Madsen has written for newspapers in Watertown, N.Y., and Mankato, as well as for PolitiFact Virginia at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Va. Nancy is a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., and Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. NICOLE ORZER: Amazon, Google, Microsoft at odds on face recognition. One is on the right path You are the owner of this article. Page Content On Wednesday January 30th, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin chaired an extraordinary shareholders meeting with Princess Juliana International Airport. Both the Supervisory Board and management of the Princess Juliana International Airport Company (PJIAH) and the Chair of the Supervisory Board and management of the Operating Company (PJIAE) were present. During this meeting, all parties present - the Council of Ministers as shareholder, PJIAH and (PJIAE) expressed their full support for the Governments financial plan for the reconstruction of the airport. Under this plan, 50 million US dollars will be provided as a grant from the World Bank Trust Fund to the Government of Sint Maarten, which will be loaned to the airport under favorable conditions. An additional 50 million US dollars will be become available as a loan through the European Investment Bank. The available funding will help to finance the second phase of the terminal reconstruction, that is, internal facility and equipment reconstruction. The planned work will rebuild the entire internal installation, including dry walls, furniture/counters, electrical systems, IT, baggage system and security installations. Todays meeting was very important to ensure that we are all on the same page. In the presence of the shareholder represented by the full Council of Ministers, all parties in the shareholder meetings unanimously agreed to formalize the financial assistance that will be provided by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. Im pleased that everyone at the table came together as a team in the interest of Sint Maarten and agreed that this is the best financing option to ensure the urgent reconstruction of the airport terminal and ultimately our countrys economy, Prime Minister Romeo Marlin said. As part of the Governments financial plan, the airport will also receive a 15 million US dollar bridge loan to resolve its urgent liquidity problems. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings travelled to the Netherlands to negotiate a bridge loan to ensure that the airport can continue to pay its salaries and fulfil its other financial obligations in the coming months. The Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings and the Minister of TEATT, Stuart Johnson are currently finalizing this bridge loan. Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin expressed her gratitude to all parties for their commitment in securing the necessary funding for the reconstruction of the airport. I thank the all persons in the community for their patience and understanding during this period and especially our guests, those returning and those coming for the first time; we cannot achieve our goal of rebuilding the airport without your support. There used to be rapes in this country earlier too, it is a shame that we still hear about such cases. Now, culprits are hanged within 3 days, 7 days, 11 days and a month. Steps are being taken continuously to get daughters justice and results are evident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Surat on January 30, 2019. PM Narendra Modi in Surat: There used to be rapes in this country earlier too, it is a shame that we still hear about such cases. Now, culprits are hanged within 3 days, 7days, 11 days & a month. Steps are being taken continuously to get daughters justice & results are evident. pic.twitter.com/eA1SBipQUH ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 Fact: The claim regarding hanging is untrue. There has been no execution for any rape case in India over the last 15 years. In the last such hanging, Dhananjoy Chatterjee was hanged in 2004 on a rape charge. Nine people were sentenced to death for sexual violence against girls below 12 years, without murder, in 2018. This followed an executive order in April 2018 that enabled courts to punish rapists of children under 12 years with the death penalty, after which parliament approved a corresponding change in law in August 2018. Although more people, 58, were awarded death in 2018 by sessions courts for murder involving sexual violencean increase of 35% from 43 in 2017 and over 100% from 27 in 2016, according to Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report 2018, published by Project 39A at the National Law University, Delhithe rate of conviction in rape cases remained low at 25.5%, lower than 27.1% in 2013. As many as 38,947 rape cases against women were reported in 2016 or nearly 107 every day, according to National Crime Records Bureau data, the latest available. Only one in four rape cases ended in conviction that year, lower than in the three preceding years. (Paliath is an analyst with IndiaSpend.) An Indiaspend story. (Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit. FactChecker.in is fact-checking initiative, scrutinising for veracity and context statements made by individuals and organisations in public life.) While presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the scheme will benefit 10 crore workers and might become the world's biggest pension scheme for the unorganised sector in the next five years. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced the "Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan", a scheme to provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month for workers in the unorganised sector. Under the scheme, the workers will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after 60 years of age. The workers will then have to contribute Rs 100 per month towards the scheme. This is what Finance Minister Piyush Goyal spoke in his maiden interim-budget for the year 2019-20: "High growth and formalistation of the economy has led to the expansion of employment opportunities as shown in EPFO membership, which has increased by nearly 2 crore in two years reflecting formalisation of the economy and job creations." "Half of Indias GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector working as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, construction workers, rag pickers, agricultural workers, beedi workers, handloom, leather and in numerous other similar occupations. Domestic workers are also engaged in big numbers." "We must provide them comprehensive social security coverage for their old age. Therefore, in addition to the health coverage provided under Ayushman Bharat and life & disability coverage provided under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, our Government proposes to launch a mega pension yojana namely 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income upto Rs 15,000." "This pension yojana shall provide them an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 from the age of 60 years on a monthly contribution of a small affordable amount during their working age. An unorganised sector worker joining pension yojana at the age of 29 years will have to contribute only Rs 100 per month till the age of 60 years." "A worker joining the pension yojana at 18 years, will have to contribute as little as Rs 55 per month only. The Government will deposit equal matching share in the pension account of the worker every month. It is expected that at least 10 crore labourers and workers in the unorganised sector will avail the benefit of 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' within next five years making it one of the largest pension schemes of the world. A sum of Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the Scheme. Additional funds will be provided as needed. The scheme will also be implemented from the current year." With Inputs from IANS Landlords appear to be upgrading properties ahead of a July deadline for mandatory insulation, but not quickly enough to clear a backlog projected by the government. Government-funded insulation grants for landlords ended last June. In November the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimated that, as of February last year, there could be almost 173,000 private rental properties still needing upgrading. Smart Energy Solutions, the countrys biggest home energy efficiency company, says there has been an increase in business from landlords. But director Paul Thomson said the uptake was nowhere near enough to meet the projected shortfall by the July 1 deadline. From that date rental properties must meet the 1978 standard for ceiling and underfloor insulation where practicable. The uptake has increased but is still not what we had budgeted for, said Thomson, himself a landlord. We thought there would have been much greater uptake. Recent work for landlords was only about 20 percent of what his firm had expected. After a decade and more than $450 million of state spending, stories of damp or mouldy rental properties still feature in the media. But there are no firm numbers on how wide the problem is. During the past nine years, government grant schemes have helped insulate almost 315,000 homes, about 66,000 of them rental properties. The Crown has spent $459 million on various Warm-Up New Zealand programmes since 2009, delivering $420 million of grants that were supplemented with further grants from councils and community groups. But even in the early years, there was a nagging doubt that the schemes run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority were catering for the most vulnerable in the community living in rental accommodation. Landlords were always eligible for grants, but from 2013 the schemes were more targeted at homeowners and tenants with housing-related health needs. The Residential Tenancies Act was amended in 2016 putting in place this years insulation deadline and additional Ministry of Health funding was made available for property upgrades for those with high health needs. The two-year insulation programme run from 2016 was then focused solely on landlords, but the Crown met only 25 percent of the cost. After a surprisingly low take-up in its first year, it would eventually insulate 13,126 rental properties out of the 20,000 targeted. Roughly a third of its $18 million budget was unspent. MBIE estimates New Zealand has about 521,000 private rental properties. In 2016 it estimated that about 202,000 of them could need retrofitting before July 2019. It believes about 67 percent now comply, but acknowledges the lack of hard data. Its estimates are based on retrofits reported by installers and come with large margins of error. That could leave the number of properties needing upgrades anywhere between 125,800 and 219,600, MBIE said in November. And even if a property doesn't comply, how material is the harm? A 2017 survey of the rental sector the Building Research Association of New Zealand, Massey University and the University of Otago found that 82 percent of tenants surveyed said their housing was adequate. About 4 percent said it was unhealthy or damp and a similar percentage said it was hard to heat. But BRANZ also said many tenants had low expectations and this was consistent with a 2012 survey of housing conditions. In that study only 2 percent of tenants considered their dwelling to be in poor condition, compared with the 44 percent reported by inspectors. Smart Energys Thomson says there are many good landlords and he is concerned the whole sector gets tarred by the poor performers. He believes insulation and even extractor fans would be an obvious choice for most landlords given that keeping a house warm and dry extends the life of the asset and potentially reduces costly turnover of tenants. Despite that, and even with the looming stick of the July insulation deadline, he noted that the final year of EECAs Healthy Homes programme for landlords had been a pretty hard sell. The New Zealand Property Investors Federation has about 7,000 members owning more than 35,000 rentals. Executive officer Andrew King said it is hard to get a sense of how material the number of cold, uninsulated rentals is. He suspects some of the estimates bandied about within government were shaped by EECAs experience with its earlier programmes. While the association has been advocating insulation and arranging deals for its members for more than a decade, many didnt participate in the EECA schemes. King said a lot of properties already had insulation. Some members chose to install insulation themselves and others found that even with EECA grants then available for heating there were cheaper options outside the scheme. King said a recent survey of association members showed more than 90 percent were already compliant. It wasnt a big issue. The Labour government last year introduced the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act, which will set new standards on the insulation, heating and ventilation needed in rental homes. The new standards, and the timeframe for introducing them, will be announced later this month. Last year, it also committed $142 million to EECAs new Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, which will help fund insulation and heating over four years. But the new scheme is only for homeowners and meets up to two-thirds of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation. From July it will also meet up to two-thirds of the cost of electric, gas or wood-fired heating systems. Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods this week acknowledged the greater potential need for upgrades of some rental properties, but said that should be addressed by the mandatory insulation standards effective from July. She said there is still real need among some homeowners, and more than 3,200 installations had already been completed under the new programme. It is aiming to complete 10,000 a year. To be eligible for a Warmer Kiwi Homes grant, an applicant must own and live in the home to be insulated, which must also have been built before 2008. They must also have a community services card or SuperGold card, or live in an area identified as being lower-income, or have been referred by their district health board through the Healthy Homes Initiative run by the Ministry of Health. Woods said the higher grant threshold from the government, coupled with contributions from third-party funders around the country, means the scheme will be able to insulate homes in Northland, South Auckland and Gisborne at no cost to the homeowner. In many other parts of the country, homeowners may only have to contribute 5 percent of the cost. Forty-one groups, including councils, district health boards, lines companies and community trusts have provided $4.7 million for the current years programme. (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: 21st June 2021 Morning Report Infratil Limited (NZX: IFT) TPW Announces Conditional Sale of Its Retail Business Trustpower Limited (NZX: TPW) Announces Conditional Sale of Its Retail Business Mercury NZ Limited (NZX: MCY) Agrees to Acquire Trustpower's Retail Business Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) $250m Equity Raise to Fund Wellington Acquisitions 17th June 2021 Morning Report 16th June 2021 Morning Report Investore Property Limited (NZX: IPL) Divestment of Dunedin Property 15th June 2021 Morning Report 14th June 2021 Morning Report The owner of Vital Healthcare Property Trusts manager has agreed to buy 11 freehold hospital properties from ASX-listed Healthscope for A$1.258 billion but Vital itself isnt currently a party to the deal. The conditional deal between Toronto-listed NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is linked to the scheme of arrangement agreed between Healthscopes board and Brookfields Business Partners, also announced today. Vital is not currently a party to the property transaction. Vital views it as potentially an attractive opportunity and has had significant discussions about its participation in the portfolio with NorthWest. While that statement is attributed to Vital in a notice to NZX, Vital has no officers, other than the officers of its manager, so this effectively means NorthWest has been having discussions with itself. Those discussions have not as yet resulted in any agreement. Any such participation is subject to being able to reach agreement on commercial terms and documentation with NorthWest, the statement says. Further, any participation by Vital would be subject to compliance with its trust deed and the Financial Markets Conduct Act, including necessarily being in the best interest of unitholders and on arms length terms, it says. Vital's NZX-listed units fell 1.4 percent to $2.07. In a separate statement filed with the ASX, NorthWest says that it has never had an interest in 13.4 percent of Healthscope as previously announced. Instead, that interest, held through a derivatives agreement with Deutsche Bank, is actually 8.74 percent. The higher figure relates to a maximum interest it is able to acquire under the forward agreement it entered into with Deutsche Bank on May 8. BusinessDesk asked for clarification from NorthWest and a spokesman says Deutsche Bank still has an obligation to supply up to 13.4 percent of Healthscope if NorthWest exercises its rights under the derivatives agreement. NorthWest has previously said it borrowed A$81 million from Vital to pay for the Healthscope stake. NorthWest has also previously said that the entry price of its investment in Healthscope equated to A$2.36 per share, the level at which Healthscope shares closed yesterday. The shares have risen as much as 3.8 percent to A$2.45 since the Brookfields announcement. Brookfields offer, if its scheme of arrangement succeeds, is A$2.50 per share, valuing Healthscope at A$4.35 billion. Thats lower than its initial A$2.585 per share proposal before it conducted due diligence. If the scheme which requires the support of 75 percent of Healthscopes shareholders voting on a resolution doesnt succeed, Brookfields offer will be A$2.40 per share, valuing Healthscope at A$4.18 billion, or about A$173 million less. Brookfields, which is a Canadian company, has reached a separate deal with New York-listed Medical Properties Trust to sell it another 11 of Healthscopes properties for US$859 million. If both the MPT and NorthWest deals proceed, Healthscope will lease the 22 properties from their new owners. In yet another announcement, Healthscope said another suitor, the consortium led by AustralianSuper, has indicated that it could improve on its non-binding offer of A$2.36 per share if it was allowed to conduct due diligence. Healthscope notes the correspondence and refers to its announcement earlier today that the company has entered into an implementation deed under which Brookfield undertakes to acquire 100 percent of Healthscope. (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: 21st June 2021 Morning Report Infratil Limited (NZX: IFT) TPW Announces Conditional Sale of Its Retail Business Trustpower Limited (NZX: TPW) Announces Conditional Sale of Its Retail Business Mercury NZ Limited (NZX: MCY) Agrees to Acquire Trustpower's Retail Business Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) $250m Equity Raise to Fund Wellington Acquisitions 17th June 2021 Morning Report 16th June 2021 Morning Report Investore Property Limited (NZX: IPL) Divestment of Dunedin Property 15th June 2021 Morning Report 14th June 2021 Morning Report Press Release February 1, 2019 Otso Diretso to fight for Philippine waters: Sen. Kiko Secretary Panelo strikes again. Recently, he was quoted as saying that we should thank China for setting up a maritime rescue center in the Philippines' Kagitingan Reef. He was the same official who early this month said it was alright for the Chinese to fish in Spratly. He also called the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that validated the Philippines' claims on the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea as "useless as there is no country or body on earth that can enforce" it against China. One would wonder sometimes which country he was speaking for. His every tone clearly manifests the language of a Chinese puppet. Good thing that we have the Otso Diretso senatorial candidates, who have taken and will continue to take the side of the Filipino people, especially those directly affected by the encroachment of the Chinese into our waters, keeping Filipino fishermen from their source of livelihood. Our Otso Diretso candidates -- Gary Alejano, Bam Aquino, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Pilo Hilbay, Romy Macalintal, Mar Roxas, and Erin Tanada -- know that the question of sovereignty (who benefits from the Philippines' rich natural resources) translates into bountiful marine harvests and cheaper electricity and fuel costs from natural energy, resulting in better incomes and more jobs for our people. In short, a better future for all Filipino children. Press Release February 1, 2019 De Lima bats for a full-fledged commission for PWDs Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has filed a bill elevating the 38-year-old National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) into a full-blown commission to address the gaps in the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs). De Lima filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2166, also known as the "National Commission on Disability Affairs Act," which strengthens its role as the lead agency in developing policies and implementing programs to address the concerns of the PWD sector. "Persons with disabilities should have stronger protection under the law and ensuring their protection starts with raising awareness of their rights as citizens, and as citizens with special needs," she said. Under the proposed measure, the Commission shall be the lead policy-making, planning, monitoring, and coordinating body that would develop, formulate and implement programs for the prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities. It is also mandated to establish a comprehensive data bank on disability through a National Registry of PWDs that shall be the basis of any policy formulation for the PWD sector's welfare. "As of date, there is no single comprehensive database on PWDs in the Philippines, thus the need to establish one. While the Census provides a figure for the PWD population, other data sources have different estimates," De Lima pointed out. "This shows how the PWD sector is often given low priority and/or is even completely excluded from official statistics," she said, mindful that the recent survey on PWDs has been conducted in 2010. Based on official figures, out of the estimated 92.1 million household population in 2010, there are at least 1.4 million people with disabilities - or 1.57 percent of the entire population had disability. "The lack of a comprehensive prevalence study on disability and significant demographic and socio-economic information on the sector could be one of the hindrances to the adoption of policies and programs that address the rights of PWDs," De Lima added. De Lima, a champion of social justice, lamented though that despite the numerous laws in the country, many of the PWDs still remain a neglected and marginalized sector in the country to date. "Despite copious laws safeguarding the welfare of the PWDs, many still do not have access to basic needs such as healthcare, education, employment, and the proper interventions required of their disability," she said. Once enacted into law, De Lima's measure seeks to widen the mandate of the proposed NCDA to "fulfil the multi-dimensional needs of PWDs beyond schooling, to include their work productivity and well-being." As both a parent and a grandparent to children born with autism, the lady Senator from Bicol has tirelessly championed reforms that would benefit the welfare of PWDs as she considers this issue as personal to her. Aside from SB No. 2166, she has also authored other measures concerning the welfare of PWDs which includes, among others, SB No. 1433 or the "Autism Care Act" and Senate Resolution (SR) No. 7277 - to conduct an inquiry on the status of the Accessibility Law and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. De Lima also co-authored SB No. 1674, or the "Allowing Access to PWDs with Guide Animals Act" and SB. No. 1391, or the "Mandatory Philhealth Coverage for Persons with Disability Act". Press Release February 1, 2019 De Lima urges more budget to decongest overcrowded jails Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged her colleagues in Congress to take a second look at important measures she filed that seek to address the longstanding issue on overcrowded detention cells. De Lima said the Senate should consider allotting part of some deleted funds inserted into the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to address the perennial problem of jail congestion. "I appeal, most fervently, to all concerned government officials and my fellow members in Congress, to seriously consider proposed measures, including infrastructure plans, that will decisively address the issue of overcrowded jails," she said. "Can the Senate and/or Bicam please consider allotting a portion of the deleted PhP70-B budget insertions for this urgent and most imperative concern? Please..." she added. Senators recently agreed to delete PhP75 billion in additional funding that was purportedly "inserted" into the budget of DPWH under the proposed 2019 PhP3.757-billion national appropriations bill. The New York Times earlier reported that jails in the Philippines have become "increasingly more packed, propelling the overall prison system to the top of the World Prison Brief's list of the most overcrowded incarceration systems in the world" since the inception of Duterte's bloody anti-drug campaign in 2016. According to the lady Senator, about 900 women detainees share a small space in a jail that can house only 90 people at the Quezon City female dormitory in Camp Karingal, while 518 detainees of Dorm 5 in Manila City Jail share a room that is only designed for 170 occupants. De Lima said these figures are "mere representative samples of the true state and condition of our jails and detention cells" and that "to claim that there is a violation of the Constitutional proscription against jails under sub-human condition is to even understate the obvious." "Kung ipinagyayabang ni Duterte at ng mga alipores at panatiko nya ang diumano'y 'drug war,' bakit halatang-halata ang kapalpakan at kahungkagan ng kampanya nila?" she asked. "Namamayagpag pa rin ang mga sindikato at mga protektor nila. Pawang mahihirap ang tinatamaan. At ang mga kulungan ay lubhang siksikan. No. 1 in the entire world for over congestion. Terrible!," she added. In January 2018, De Lima filed her Senate Resolution No. 590 which calls for a Senate probe into the status of various construction projects to address the worsening detention facilities under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. In July 2018, she also filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1879 which proposed for the integration of all jails and prisons under one central authority, the expansion and regionalization of facilities, and enhanced professionalization of custodial personnel. In SB No. 2130 which she filed in December 2018, she also pushed for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights and legitimate interests of all persons deprived of liberty, and the adoption of restorative justice in our penal system De Lima, who remains detained on trumped-up drug charges, is remembered to have steered the passage into law of the modernization of the Bureau of Corrections in 2013 as then justice secretary under the Aquino administration. Sen. Nancy urges DBM to release ASAP 4th tranche of govt pay hike Senator Nancy Binay today urged the Department of Budget and Management to prioritize the release of the fourth tranche of salary adjustment for government employees scheduled for 2019. "Sana ngayong February ay mai-release na agad ng DBM ang fourth tranche ng salary adjustment para sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan," Binay said. "Malaking tulong po lalo na't malapit nanaman ang pasukan, at nakaambang ang adjustments sa oil products." The senator made this statement after Senate finance committee chairperson Loren Legarda said that the salary hike for government workers this year can be taken from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF). "Readily available at meron pong pondo para dito ang DBM. Di na po kailangan maghintay ng matagal para mai-release ang salary increase under SSL-IV," Binay added. According to Binay, at least P75 billion from the MPBF is allotted for "payment of compensation adjustment" and "funding requirements for staffing modifications and upgrading and salaries," which could be used by the DBM for the fourth tranche of salary increases. "Earlier, the DBM estimated the fourth tranche of wage hikes for government workers to be between P40 and P50 billion," Binay said. "The P75 billion from the MPBF is more than enough to cover the fourth tranche salary increase and adjustments of the more than 1 million government employees in the country," she added. The reenacted 2018 GAA, which the government is now using as its spending authority, provides that DBM may tap the MPBF to fund authorized personnel and benefit items, including pay increases. Learning science with EASEL at Bow in the Clouds Preserve. An easel is the perfect metaphor for an arts-based science program that transforms the lower level of the Eastside Neighborhood Association building each summer into a multi-textured and many-colored canvas.In its fifth year, Eastside Arts and Experiential Learning (EASEL), a STEM program run by Eastside Youth Strong, is a six-weeks-long camp for 20 first through fifth graders that meets for three full days each week. The hands-on curriculum, which includes weekly field trips, is based on Next Generation Science and Common Core objectives.Do kids get dirty? Yes, they do.Do they learn to understand the scientific process and how to apply it? Absolutely, says co-teacher Rebecca Joyce, a student advocate at the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center during the school year.Joyce says when the program was first described to her, she responded, Oh, you mean a real life Magic School Bus , referring to the PBS show in which Ms. Frizzle and her class traveled to whatever they were studying, including inside human bodies and to outer space.You get to take all of those fun pieces that maybe you get to do once or twice in a typical school year, and you have six weeks where you can do tons of fun stuff, says Joyce. Over the summer, you can see them getting more confident.Joyce cited frequent trips to Bow in the Clouds, a Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy nature preserve located off of Nazareth Road which she calls the Eastsides backyard nature preserve.Some of the kids, in the beginning, dont even want to sit in the tall grasses, but after a while, you see them catching bugs, getting off the trail. Seeing that type of development is so neat.EASEL is for kids who are jazzed up about science, says Sam Lealofi, Executive Director of Eastside Youth Strong, EASELs parent organization. Many students come from the Eastside Youth Strong after-school CHAMPS program, Lealofi says, so they have a 360 experience.Like Lealofi, the teachers, Joyce, Dan Keto, science teacher at Kalamazoo Public Schools Phoenix High School, and CHAMPS teachers Yulonda Taylor and Heather Taylor, are committed to raising up Eastside youth to help them meet their creative and academic potential.We wanted families to know that you didnt have to leave the neighborhood to go to this fun, high-level, experiential learning experience, says Lealofi. Its hands-on, and cool, and vibey.Partnered with such groups as the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Sustainable Campus, Western Michigan University Medical School, the Air Zoo, and the Kalamazoo Nature Center, among others, EASEL campers are exposed to a wide variety of local science experiences. EASEL is funded in part by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, and many other generous donors, says Lealofi.Now that some of the original EASEL participants are close to aging out, Lealofi says, the program is planning to add a new middle school level. Currently, EASEL is working with Kalamazoo Regional Educational Association and other partners through Kalamazoos Shared Prosperity plan to start an Eastside Middle School STEAM Academy, which will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.The STEAM Academy would be a highlight (to EASEL), especially for these young people heading to high school who do struggle, Lealofi says. Pending funding, we will launch this summer. For fifth graders who have graduated from EASEL, that would be the next step.EASEL, which relies on strong parental participation, is helping make Eastside youth strong, says Lealofi.Its one of the coolest things that happens in the summer to me because the room is filled with these engaged kids and these incredible teachers, says Lealofi, but its one of the saddest things when we have to break it back down again to this blank slate (at summers end).To learn more about EASEL or the proposed Eastside Middle School STEAM Academy, please see the Eastside Youth Strong website here We own and operate the largest specialised offshore fleet in the region, with most vessels on long-term charter to Saudi Aramco, and a few to companies in Qatar and the UAE, says chairman Zamil Al Zamil. We also provide navigation and pilotage services at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. With our dedicated shipyard, we are the premier shipbuilder in Saudi Arabia and the most respected offshore rig-repairer in the Kingdom. Zamils newbuilding order-book is impressive, and includes seven Rolls Royce UT 722-2 AHTS vessels, one buoy-handling vessel and three harbor service tugs for the Saudi Seaports Authority; two tugs for the Saudi Royal Navy and one diving support vessel for a Saudi owner who has requested anonymity. The Marine Operations division is one of the largest specialised offshore and marine services providers in the Middle East. It owns and operates the largest specialised offshore fleet in the Arabian Gulf, with most of the vessels being on long-term charter to Saudi Aramco, and a few being on short-term charter to companies in Qatar and the UAE. The Shipbuilding, Ship & Rig Repair division manages and operates Zamil Shipyard, located inside Dammam port, with facilities spread over 121,400 sq metres, and with a 500-metre waterfront. The yard has a ship lift, which can handle vessels up to 1500 tons, 80 metres in length and 15 metres in breadth. Zamils Engineering & Construction Services division works in the specialised field of offshore hook-up projects with Saudi Aramco. It has a seven-year contract for the maintenance, upgrade, modification and commissioning support for Aramcos rigs and platforms in the Arabian Gulf. Zamil Offshore operates the navigation and pilotage at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, serving about 2,400 vessels calling annually. It operates the navigation tower and nine harbor tugs, two pilot boats, one fire boat, one oil skimmer, one floating crane and one garbage collection barge. Being the largest offshore services provider in the Middle East, supported by over four decades of experience, we are confident of being able to diversify internationally with other partners, says Sufiyan Al Zamil, president of Zamil Offshore. We are considering partnership, alliances and joint ventures with multinational companies in Europe, South East Asia and the Far East. The stated objective of the session, which remained closed to the press for reasons of commercial confidentiality, was to build new strategic business relationships, principally with suppliers, but also with any ship owners or managers interested in using the yards future newbuilding and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capabilities. The IMI yard complex is under construction at Ras Al Khair on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, some 200km north of Dammam. Saudi Aramco and Bahri are majority partners in the joint venture, alongside South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries and oil rig builder Lamprell of the UAE. IMI says the combined expertise of the four partners all world or regional leaders in their respective fields in designing the new yard will ensure the very highest standards in construction and repair of both merchant ships and offshore rigs. According to Lamprell, IMI can start business, after a loan agreement with the proposed government lender, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund. This is an important condition for the success of the IMI yard, in addition to the significant investment made by the Saudi government in the facility's infrastructure. The construction process at the site is underway with dredging and associated activities in progress. The partners have made progress in creating the business infrastructure, including the management organisation, the internal governance structure and the detailed business plan. This follows the first capital contribution by each partner in accordance with their pro rata share and in line with the original drawdown schedule. It is planned that, pursuant to one of the offtake agreements, ARO Drilling will order 20 jack-up rigs from the IMI yard over the next ten years. Phase One of the project, the rig construction zone, is due to open in early-2019, with three further zones opening on a phased basis through until late-2021/ early-2022. Upon completion, it will be the largest combined drydock in the Middle East and North Africa, with the largest shiplift and combined lift capability of any drydock in the world, promises IMI. This ambitious project will help drive the Kingdoms economic diversity and growth, and localise energy sector industries through the creation of anchor projects that will provide the cornerstone for the growth and development of supply chains. It will also position the Kingdom as a technological centre, with top global expertise in the field of marine engineering and construction in the region. The SGP terminal will be equipped with the latest equipment and technology to serve the fast growing economy of the kingdom and the regional economies of Arabian peninsula, and transform Dammam into a preferred port of call. Being the biggest port in Saudi Arabia, Dammam is ideally located close to the kingdoms economic heart and capital city Riyadh, and linked by an existing railway network and highways to the rest of the country. More than 14 weekly services from over 20 shipping lines connect Dammam port with the rest of the world. SGPC provides a state-of-the-art container handling facility to its customers, with two containers berths equipped with six super post-panamax cranes to cater to the worlds largest container vessels. The quay length is 700 metres in the first phase, and will increase to 1.2 km after expansion in the next phase. The port has a 16-metre alongside draught, and can thus handle most of the worlds largest container ships. The container-handling operations are supported by the latest container-handling equipment and fully automated terminal operating system COSMOS, which has a fully integrated EDI (electronic data interchange) module that generates and auto-delivers EDIs through email to its customers. In addition, the import/export EDIs uploaded by ship agents to Saudi EDI, a government-based nationwide EDI system, are uploaded to the terminal operating system by the Planning department without the need for manual data entry. This ensures accuracy of data and faster data availability for operational planning. Feed tests reveal lower digestibility New seasonal feed quality test results showing the stark differences between wet and dry seasons have underlined the need for end users to measure and know what they are feeding. The port privatisation plans are part of 14 public-private partnership investment initiatives announced in April 2018. These initiatives are worth up to SAR 28 billion ($7.46bn), and could create 12,000 jobs and generate up to SAR 40bn ($11bn) in non-oil revenue. The change in shipping licences, a small part of the Kingdoms ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment, is still in its infancy, and has not yet been widely publicised, but the first licences for foreign-owned shipping agencies could be issued as early as next year, according to Riyadh-based lawyer Khurram Ali, Legal Director and Head of International Trade and Transportation at legal firm Clyde & Co. A letter from the Kingdoms Ministry of Commerce and Investment to Mawani in August stated there is now no legal objection to granting foreign investors shipping agency licences, said Ali, quoted by news agency Zawya. Foreign investors are being encouraged to come in and take over the operations of the ports, and the agency services are added on to that. Shipping agency duties include a range of services from clearing vessels, bringing them into berth, paying port dues, arranging husbandry and stores and supplies for the vessels, as well as changes of crew, and also booking cargo to be carried in and out of the Kingdom. On the back of that, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Mawani themselves have laid out the procedure, saying that foreign investors can apply for these licences, said Ali. The only things they cannot apply for is Customs clearance and supplying fuel to vessels. It is thought that the decision to issue the licences is unlikely to affect the Kingdoms national shipping company Bahri, which operates for the most part as a carrier; but it is likely to be of interest to companies already operating at other Gulf ports, including those in the United Arab Emirates. Ali suggested that DP World, which already operates a terminal at the port in Jeddah, could operate a shipping agency as an add-on service. The change could also impact Saudi-based shipping agencies already operating in the Kingdom, such as Kanoo Shipping, Barwil Agencies, Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co., and United Enterprises Co. (UNENCO), as they currently enter into contracts to allow external players to operate in the Kingdom. International companies like Maersk, for example, could now have their own independent licences, said Ali. At the moment, you have a few companies which have the monopoly in the Kingdom, and that will potentially change. I would not be surprised if other groups and some of the companies in Dubai saw this as an opportunity, because the market in the UAE for ship agencies is very competitive, and there are a lot of players. I would not be surprised if some of the ship agencies in the UAE thought: Why cant we do this in Saudi Arabia? The growth and diversification will be achieved through a range of measures, including maximising the value capture from its massive energy sector through refining and chemicals manufacture, unlocking the potential of the non-oil sector in areas such as mining, manufacturing and retail, and positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub. An integral part of the plan is to seek greater contribution from the private sector to the national economy and to attract foreign direct investment opportunities. It also looks at increasing employment opportunities for Saudi Arabias growing young demographic and the goal of nationalisation through Nitaqat. Finally, it seeks the further integration of the Kingdom into the regional and global economies as a hub connecting three continents Asia, Europe and Africa. Saudi has the biggest port network in the Middle East of nine ports, compared to just four ports in 1976; and is currently undergoing further major expansion, says Jens O. Floe, Chief Executive Officer of Red Sea Gateway Terminal, the modern container facility at Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP). The government is undertaking a multitude of large investments in transportation infrastructure, with new projects such as the Saudi Rail-Roads Expansion, as well as substantial investments from the private sector e.g. JIP and the Dammam Port upgrade, the new economic cities, etc. Even as there is significant investment and expansion of major infrastructure projects, there is a crying need to improve the supply chain and the Vision 2030 plan has dealt with this vital aspect. Ship agency services, for example, have been freed from the restriction of being performed only by 100% Saudi owned companies or by a Saudi national. SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority) and MAWANI (Saudi Ports Authority) have confirmed that a non-Saudi investor can now perform all ship agency services, except for supplying fuel and Customs clearance services, says Rizwan Osman, Legal Director for the law firm Clyde & Co. This will encourage foreign investors, raise standards and is in line with the privatisation of the ports. More than $750m is being spent on King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam; and over $70m is being spent on the Red Sea Gateway Terminal in Jeddah. There is the new King Abdullah Port in Rabigh, serving a new economic city; it will further boost over-all container handling. In the roads sector, a new motorway is being constructed between Saudi Arabia and Oman, says Osman. Once it is commissioned, there will be much lower lead times and trading costs will be lowered. Only the railway sector remains somewhat underdeveloped in terms of extent and usage, but whatever exists is of a relatively high quality. At the moment, there are five railway lines a freight line between Dammam and Riyadh, via Abqaiq, Hofuf, Haradh and Al Kharj; a passenger rail line linking Dammam with Riyadh, via Abqaiq and Hofuf; the Dammam Port line which connects Hofuf with the Port of Dammam; a new railway service between Riyadh and the Qassim; and a line which opened only in October this year to service Makkah and Medina from Jeddah. With over $10bn being invested on beefing up the roads, rail and port infrastructure over the next decade, and several Saudi ports in the process of being privatised, there is bound to be substantial international investment and a big improvement in cargo throughput by 2030, the terminal year of the vision of turning Saudi Arabia into a global logistics hub. Bahri scooping a fistful of awards for excellence Recently, in the closing days of October, Bahri (originally National Shipping Corporation of Saudi Arabia) underscored its position of leadership in the world of transportation and logistics by scooping a fistful of coveted industry awards at ceremonies held in Dubai and London. Read more King Abdullah Port unique location, incomparable infrastructure A prime example of the government-private joint-enterprise model, King Abdullah Port, located in King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah, was established to foster a proper environment for successful and safe investment. Read more Red Sea Gateway Terminal modern cranes permit handling of ULCVs Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), the flagship container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, is a world-class facility, spearheaded by the Saudi Industrial Services group (SISCO). It was also the result of the first privately funded, BOT (build, operate, transfer) port development agreement in Saudi Arabia. Read more LogiPoint logistics service provider that goes one step further An established logistics service provider with a history of landmark logistics projects, LogiPoint is the brainchild of two established industry leaders, SISCO and the Xenel Group; and is a sister company of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT). Its slogan line is We go one step further. Read more Saudi mega-yard IMI looks to build its supply chain The new $5.2bn mega shipyard complex being developed by International Maritime Industries (IMI) hosted a Q&A session for potential supply chain partners at the Seatrade Maritime Middle East event in Dubai in the last week of October 2018. Read more Saudi Customs strategy to improve competitiveness The World Economic Forums 2018 Global Competitiveness Report published on October 17, 2018, revealed that Saudi Arabias Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) improved by two ranks compared to last year, placing the Kingdom in the 39th position among the 140 countries included in the report. Read more Mawani works at privatising Saudi Arabias ports Foreign shipping agencies will soon have the right to operate independently at Saudi Arabian ports rather than having to work with a local investor. The move follows the Saudi Ports Authoritys (also known as Mawani) plans to privatise the kingdoms ports, and could prove particularly attractive to Gulf-based shipping operators. Read more Kanoo Logistics providing nationwide network of warehouses A state-of-the-art 100,000 sq metre logistics facility has been opened near King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam by Kanoo Logistics, part of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group. The multipurpose facility includes a 10,000 sq m warehouse, as well as 500 sq m of elevated staging area and 5,000 sq m of parking space. Read more Saudi Global Ports new star on the Saudi maritime horizon Saudi Global Ports Co (SGPC), the new star on Saudi Arabias maritime landscape, is a joint-venture company, formed between the public investment fund (PIF) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Singapores PSA international (PSA). It will develop, operate and manage the second container terminal at the King Abdul Aziz port in Dammam, a key gateway in the Arabian Gulf. Read more Haji Abdullah Alireza multifaceted family business A company with a history dating back over a century and a half, and which has a company registration number 1 the House of Alireza (also known as Beit Zainal) is Saudi Arabias oldest family business, which actually managed and operated Jeddah Sea Port for a full decade. Read more Dammam Shipyard catering to the repair needs of Saudi vessels and rigs The port of Dammam on the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, home of the national oil company Saudi Aramco, has seen tremendous growth over the last 30 years. Read more Hutchison Ports Dammam Saudis most modern export-import gateway Arguably Saudi Arabias most modern and heavily automated export-import gateway, Hutchison Ports Dammam (HPD, formerly known as International Ports Services) is a multi-purpose deepwater facility situated at King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Read more Zamil Offshore largest offshore services provider in the Middle East Acknowledged today as the largest provider of offshore and marine services in the Middle East, Zamil Offshore Services was founded in 1977 as a 100% Saudi company working in diversified business fields. Its scope of work covers offshore marine services, ship chandling, ship chartering, offshore hook-up projects, offshore shipbuilding, ship & rig repairs, and sea ports operation and management. Read more Globe Group well diversified marine portfolio Since its establishment in 1976, the Dammam-based Globe has grown into one of Saudi Arabias leading marine services groups, with a diversified portfolio that includes shipping, logistics, transportation, port operations, logistics, operations and maintenance, container terminals, petrol and chemical plants, restaurants, real estate and retail fashion brands. Read more Participating in the fourth edition of the UAE Maritime Week, the Middle Easts first comprehensive maritime event, Bahri was given the Dubai Maritime Innovation Award, which recognises the companys outstanding performance and contributions towards the advancement of the industry. In addition, Bahri received two awards at the 15th edition of the Seatrade Maritime Awards for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa. The companys CEO, Abdullah Aldubaikhi, accepted the Shipping Company of The Year award and the Maritime Logistics Award on behalf of the company. The company also received the Best Talent Development Strategy award at the Future Workplace Awards 2018 and the Global Transporter of the Year award at the Transport & Logistics Middle East Excellence Awards 2018 in Dubai; and was further honored with the Breakbulk Operator of the Year award at the Global Freight Awards ceremony in London. 2018 has been a remarkable year for Bahri as it recorded solid growth across its operations, says Aldubaikhi. These awards are a testament to our constant endeavours focused on achieving excellence in our services and offerings. We have had double-digit growth in our net profits for the first three quarters of 2018. The results were achieved despite lower spot market rates, particularly in the oil transportation sector, and an increase in bunker costs. Our strong financial results demonstrate the success of our ongoing transformation drive across the organisation. We have been making significant investments towards strengthening our fleet and adopting new technologies and innovations in our operations. These efforts have paid off in the form of improved performance in our various business units. In the four decades since its inception as the national shipping carrier of Saudi Arabia, Bahri has grown from a small shipping firm operating multipurpose vessels to become one of the biggest transportation conglomerates in the world, and occupies a pre-eminent position in the global maritime industry today. Bahri has played a leading role in the transformation and growth of the global shipping industry through an unrelenting focus on innovation and a commitment to delivering technology-driven, value-added onshore and offshore services, says Aldubaikhi. As one of the largest providers of maritime services globally, Bahri structures its operations around six business units that include Oil, Chemicals, Logistics, Dry Bulk, Ship Management, and Data. The groups service offering includes transportation of crude oil, oil products, chemical, bulk and general cargo, as well as ship management. The company currently owns 93 vessels, including 46 VLCCs, 36 chemical/ product tankers, six multipurpose vessels and five dry bulk carriers. Bahri also created a dedicated Big Data business unit in 2015 called Bahri Data as part of the companys quest to become a knowledge-based business, thereby further enhancing its status as a pioneering exponent of data-driven decision-making in the maritime industry. Bahri has embarked on the next phase of its growth journey, and the success of its endeavours hinges on industry collaborations and customer support, says Aldubaikhi. We have been tailoring our services to the needs of our customers from optimising usage of third parties and building specially-designed vessels, to providing door-to-door transportation, domestically and across borders. The company will upgrade the size of containerships deployed for several routes of Korea-China-Malaysia, Korea-China-India-Pakistan and Australia from 2,800 teu to 4,250 teu; 5,000 teu to 6,500 teu and 4,250 teu to 5,500 teu separately. It will assign 4,250 teu container ships for its new route of China-Malaysia 3 (CM3). The company also plans to newly launch the shipping route for China - Ho Chi Minh City and deploy more ships for Japan-Singapore/Malaysia, disclosed by TS Chen, ceo of TS Lines. According to Chen, the company is considering an order of new container ships between 1,000 teu and 2,800 teu this year, aims to have a self-owned fleet of 18 ships in the coming years. TS Lines, established in 2001, is the fourth largest ocean freight company in Taiwan. The company currently operates a fleet of 37 container ships, including six self-owned containerships. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Planning for Shifting Trade Conference this week highlighted both sides of the equation on trade flows between Asia and the US and the timing could not have been better. Paul Anderson, president and ceo of the Port Tampa Bay, opened the two day event with the news that Coscos Gulf of Mexico Direct service, with a link between China to Tampa via the widened Panama Canal, had seen its first port call on the previous day-with the arrival of 4,250 teu Cosco Piraeus following stops in Mobile, Alabama and Houston. In his remarks, he detailed the ports prescient investment, in 2012, in two cranes capable of working post-panamax vessels. This years keynote speaker, Josh Hurwitz, senior consultant at port engineering specialist Moffatt & Nichol, offered a detailed perspective on the port business at a strategic level. The key point of the presentation: Just because the macro [economic] trends are in your favor, does not mean that the cargo will flow. The depth of the speakers expertise was fully on display with colour switches on geospatial maps indicating flows of cargo- or not. Just when I thought Id become an expert on every facet possible of IMO 2020 - price spreads, scrubber economics and all, I was exposed to a new angle. The movement of cargo moving directly to the US East Coast has been amplified by the opening of the widened Panama Canal, in 2016. At that time, conference presentations stressed the shifting breakeven, with maritime transport to the US East Coast - cheaper than land transport via railway with economies of scale from larger vessels - able to penetrate further west, deeper into the US hinterlands than previously. Cargo shifted TOWARDS the US Atlantic and US Gulf ports on bigger vessels making longer voyages through Panama. Fast forward to 1 January 2020- when expected upward shifts in maritime fuel prices are expected to occur. Hurwitz suggested that as much as 1.2m teu of cargo could potentially shift BACK to Los Angeles / Long Beach, at least temporarily - with panoply of colors indicating cargo flows on the geospatial map leaning westward. Read more: Scorpio Bulkers assuming $250 per tonne fuel spread for scrubbers For port planners on all coasts, the implications are that there could be a surge of cargo through West Coast ports with a revival of recent congestion problems. Fuel matters were also touched on by another speaker Howard Finkel, representing Cosco Container Lines, who discussed ongoing efforts of carriers to develop mechanisms for recouping fuel price increases. With 2020 still approaching, these Bunker Adjustment Factors (BAFs), throughout the industry, are still a work in progress. Read more: ONE joins big 3 lines in levying emergency bunker surcharges Chairman and CEO John Waggoner on Thursday said Ocean Victory is bound for Alaska, however the company is not ready to share details yet. Follows Great Lakes expansion This follows Victory's recent acquisition by Waggoner's American Queen Steamboat Co., which is expanding into the Great Lakes this spring with Victory I and Victory II. As earlier reported, Ocean Victorythe third Infinity-class expedition ship being built in China for Miami-based SunStone Shipswill sail for Victory in the (northern) summers and Albatros Expeditions in winters (austral summers). Ship debuts in late 2020 The 200-passenger Ocean Victory is scheduled to begin service to Antarctica for Albatros from Ushuaia on Dec. 22, 2020. That means 2021 would be the first possible Alaska season under the Victory banner. Ocean Victory will have Ulstein's patented X-BOW design, zero-speed stabilizers and dynamic positioning, and will be built to Polar Code 6 (Ice Class 1A). Meanwhile, the coastal vessels Victory I and Victory II are currently undergoing a $3m refurbishment at Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, prior to Great Lakes service. Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- X-band radars are vastly used in surveillance and navigation systems of borders, aircrafts, sea or coast. These radars also regulate air-traffic control system at airport and also control long-ranged defense surveillance and alarming systems. In a published report by Future Market Insights (FMI), the global x-band radars market is expected to witness a robust growth throughout the forecast period, (20162026). In addition to, the report is estimated that the market will expand at a CAGR of 3.8% over the assessment period. Furthermore, the mobile x-band radar type segment is likely to witness an expansion of 4.1% CAGR and sea-based x-band radar type segment is foreseen to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% in the forthcoming period. Key Segments with Dynamics of Global Market for X-Band Radar The report has provided a thorough forecast on the segments of the global market for x-band Radar. There are three major segments, such as different types of x-band radars, various system components and regions, in the market with their further segments. On the basis of different types of x-band radar, there are two sub-segments, such as sea-based x-band radar and mobile x-band radar. Mostly in aircrafts and coastal areas, the mobile x-band radars are installed. And, the sea x-band radars are fixed on a floating tower that is attached in the sea. Dual-polarization and doppler are the two main features of mobile x-band radar. With a mobile x-band radar, rain, polarization parameters and radial winds can be measured in coastal areas and aircraft. Besides, this radar is moveable to both coastal and border areas. On the contrary, the sea-based x-band radar is static to a particular place in semi-submersible position in the sea. Owing to the static feature of sea-based x-band radar, the market will face a challenge in the years to come. Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-879 The system component segment has further segmented into command & control system and communication system. Furthermore, it is expected that the command & control system segment is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% along with the largest market share during the forecast period. As per the strict instruction from government, 24/7 security and surveillance has become a compulsion due to identification of both internal and external crimes. As a result, this is fueling up the expansion of security and surveillance segment in the global market for x-band radar in the forthcoming years. Regardless, all the x-band radars don't have the equal detection capacity and henceforth, the variation of target limits of x-band radars in detection is restraining the rapid development of global market for x-band radar. On the basis of geography, there are six major regions, include Latin America, Western Europe, North America, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, have strong implementation of x-band radars. Henceforth, the x-band radars market in these regions are growing rapidly. U.S and Canada are the two growing cities in North America that are expanding robustly in the approaching years. In addition, most of the radar manufacturers are from U.S., who provide the security & surveillance need to its government. Some of the countries, such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Nordic, U.K. and Benelux in Western Europe, are expected to grow rapidly in the near future. Maximum share of revenue to the global x-band radar market are coming from both Western Europe and North America regions. Besides, Brazil and Mexico are the two major countries in Latin America that are likely to witness a progressive demand for x-band radars in the upcoming years. In addition, India, ASEAN, ANZ & China in APEJ, Africa & GCC in MEA, Poland & Russia in Eastern Europe and Japan are the other developing regions, where the demand for x-band radars are increasing robustly. Buy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/879 Key Participants The global market for x-band radar has included some key participants that are expected to dominate throughout the forecast period. The key stakeholders are ProSensing Inc., Reutech Radar Systems (RRS), Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., Japan Radio Company Limited, Raytheon Company, Terma A/S, Detect Inc., Saab Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., among others. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- HTF MI recently introduced Global Waterparks and Attractions 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 WhiteWater , Fibrart , Aquatic Development Group , ProSlide , Aquakita , Polin Waterparks , Splashtacular , A-OK Playgrounds , Adventure Playground , Slide Innovations , Ocean Mania & Waterplay etc. Request Sample of Global Waterparks and Attractions Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1000178-global-waterparks-and-attractions-market-3 This report studies the Global Waterparks and Attractions market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the Global Waterparks and Attractions market by companies, region, type and end-use industry. Browse 100+ market data Tables and Figures spread through Pages and in-depth TOC on " Waterparks and Attractions Market by Type (, Water Slides, Swimming Pools, Swim Platforms, Water Toys & Others), by End-Users/Application (Private Facilities & Municipal Facilities), 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 @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1000178-global-waterparks-and-attractions-market-3 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 WhiteWater , Fibrart , Aquatic Development Group , ProSlide , Aquakita , Polin Waterparks , Splashtacular , A-OK Playgrounds , Adventure Playground , Slide Innovations , Ocean Mania & Waterplay 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 Waterparks and Attractions Market has been divided into type, application, and region. On The Basis Of Type: , Water Slides, Swimming Pools, Swim Platforms, Water Toys & Others. On The Basis Of Application: Private Facilities & Municipal Facilities On The Basis Of Region, this report is segmented into following key geographies, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share, growth rate of Waterparks and Attractions 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 Waterparks and Attractions Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1000178 Have a look at some extracts from Table of Content Introduction about Global Waterparks and Attractions Global Waterparks and Attractions Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2017 Waterparks and Attractions Market by Application/End Users Global Waterparks and Attractions Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2013-2023) table defined for each application/end-users like [Private Facilities & Municipal Facilities] Global Waterparks and Attractions Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2023) Waterparks and Attractions Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application Waterparks and Attractions (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined. Global Waterparks and Attractions Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data Additionally Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors list is being provided for each listed manufacturers Market Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) table for each product type which include , Water Slides, Swimming Pools, Swim Platforms, Water Toys & Others Waterparks and Attractions Manufacturing Cost Analysis Waterparks and Attractions Key Raw Materials Analysis Waterparks and Attractions Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis Market Forecast (2018-2023) ........and more in complete table of Contents Browse for Full Report at: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1000178-global-waterparks-and-attractions-market-3 Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. Wasilla, AK -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Bayer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world posted a notice on its website on July 20, 2018 stating that it will voluntary stop selling Essure in the United States for business reasons. The notice advised that the birth control devices would no longer be available after December 31, 2018. Such a decision was made after months of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordering that the Essure birth control device be further restricted due to concerns about the serious health risks to women. One article stated that, "the FDA took the step because of information indicating that women were not being adequately warned about the potential side effects and complications they could face. However, the company maintains its opinion that Essure is safe and effective." Essure is a small spring like device that is made from a nickel titanium alloy. The device is inserted into the fallopian tubes through the cervix. Over a course of several months scar tissue builds up around the coils creating a physical barrier preventing sperm from reaching a woman's eggs. After the initial insertion patients are supposed to go back to their doctors after three months for confirmation to ensure that the device is working properly to prevent pregnancy. The device was marketed as being safe and convenient, however, a number of problems have been identified with regards to the birth control device. 'Some of these problems include severe pain, allergic reactions and permanent sterility. Thousands of women have reported suffering painful and serious complications including ovarian cyst ruptures, fatigue, significant weight loss, bleeding and chronic pain. Some women have had the device removed, surgically, because of how the device can migrate and rupture vital organs. "There are many complications that are associated with birth control devices including blood clots, infertility or even more mild side effects, however, the mild side effects may not qualify for monetary compensation. When a birth control device fails to do what it is supposed to do or presents side effects that result in complications or serious problems the affected individual can file a product liability lawsuit for damages they have suffered as a result of the birth control device", A Crowson Law Group attorney commented. In addition, the attorney stated that, "It is important to realize what you can and cannot sue for when it comes to birth control lawsuits resulting in complications. For example, you cannot sue for becoming pregnant as the makers of birth control do not promise their products will completely eliminate the chances of pregnancy. However, you can sue for ectopic pregnancies, infertility, blood clots, birth defects in children were conceived while using the birth control or in worst cases death resulting from the birth control. Once it has been established that you can sue for the complications and serious problems associated with the birth control you have been using, it is necessary to establish negligence on the part of the manufacturer or administering physician." In order to establish negligence, it is necessary to prove that the manufacturer owed the consumer a duty, this duty was breached and as a result the consumer was injured. If you have suffered injury as a result of the use of a birth control device because of the way the device was inserted or a defect in the device itself, seek out an accident attorney in Alaska and the best attorney for personal injury to handle products liability matters. About Crowson Law Group Crowson Law Group is a law firm of renowned professionals who handle personal injury matters exclusively. For legal advice and representation regarding personal injury lawyer car accident cases, contact Crowson Law Group. Contact Information: Company : Crowson Law Group Address: 1981 E Palmer Wasilla Hwy, Ste. 220, Wasilla, AK 99654 Email: james@crowsonlaw.com Phone: (907) 519-0193 Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Thackray Crane Rental, Inc., in partnership with The Philadelphia Foundation, is proud to announce that applications are currently being accepted for the Walter J. Thackray Memorial Scholarship for high school seniors who are planning to pursue a post-secondary major in construction management, agricultural science, or horticultural science. The Walter J. Thackray Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of the company's co-founder and beloved family patriarch, Walter J. Thackray who founded the company with his wife Anna Cassalia Thackray. Known for giving back to the community and helping improve the lives of those around him, Walter bestowed these values to his children, five of whom continue to operate the family business. Through this scholarship, the Thackray family aspires to continue their father's philanthropic legacy. One award will be granted to an eligible high school senior to help cover the cost of college tuition. To be considered, an applicant must also have: a high school GPA of at least 2.5 or greater, involvement in extracurricular activities, and a demonstrated need for financial assistance. Applicants will also be required to provide other documents including: a high school transcript, financial award letter, an acceptance letter from their intended college or university, copy of their FAFSA report and a recommendation letter on their behalf. For more specific details, visit PhilaFound.org. Applications will be accepted now through March 29, 2019. A winner will be selected in the following months. The Philadelphia Foundation: Founded in 1918, The Philadelphia Foundation (TPF) strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. TPF grows effective philanthropic investment, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A publicly supported foundation, TPF manages assets of over $416 million and more than 900 charitable funds established by its fund holders. It distributes about $20 million annually to over 1,200 nonprofits as grants and scholarships. To learn more, visit www.philafound.org. About Thackray Crane Rental, Inc. As a family owned and operated company, Thackray Crane Rental, Inc. has been providing, operating and maintaining an entire fleet of high-capacity cranes since 1947. Headquartered in Northeast Philadelphia, the company provides their valued customers with a multitude of services to complete a project safely and efficiently. Their fleet includes heavy haul tractors, cherry pickers, boom trucks, forklifts, lulls and mobile hydraulic cranes. Customers can request transport, rigging, or rent storage, equipment and cranes for any project in a variety of industries including construction, heating and air conditioning, power generation, petrochemical, communications and road construction. Thackray Crane Rental, Inc. is recognized as a top 100 crane company in the United States, based on overall crane lifting capacity. For more information, please visit http://thackraycrane.com/. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2019 -- The Study On key vendors in this Screen Printing Mesh Market includes are Haver & Boecker OHG, Nippon Tokushu Fabric, NBC Meshtec, Sefar, Maishi Wire Mesh Mfg, Weisse & Eschrich, Asada Mesh Co, Saati, Nakanuma Art Screen, Extris Srl. Download Free PDF Sample copy of Screen Printing Mesh Market at: https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/19932 The key factor propelling the global demand for screen printing mesh is the simplicity in operation and economic feasibility of screen printing for low output printing demands.In the present market scenario, around 90% of the fabrics are printed with the screen printing technique, resulting in the market share of fabrics substrate to be more than half in the global screen printing mesh market. This report studies the global Screen Printing Mesh market status and forecast, categorizes the global Screen Printing Mesh market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia). Key Stakeholders of Screen Printing Mesh Market : Screen Printing Mesh Manufacturers Screen Printing Mesh Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers Screen Printing Mesh Sub component Manufacturers Industry Association Downstream Vendors A quick look at the industry trends and opportunities: The study covers the trends that will strongly favor the industry during the forecast period, 2019 to 2025. Besides this, the study uncovers important facts associated with lucrative growth and opportunities that lie ahead for the Screen Printing Mesh industry. On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, and market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Polyarylate Polyester Nylon Steel On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Textile Industry Packaging Industry Glass & Ceramics Electronics & Electrical Advertising & Marketing Download Free PDF Sample copy of Screen Printing Mesh Market at: https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/19932 Key points from TOC : 7.1 Haver & Boecker OHG 7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors 7.1.2 Cancer Vaccine Product Category, Application and Specification 7.1.2.1 Product A 7.1.2.2 Product B 7.1.3 Dendreon Corporation Cancer Vaccine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) 7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview 7.2 Nippon Tokushu Fabric 7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors 7.2.2 Cancer Vaccine Product Category, Application and Specification 7.2.2.1 Product A 7.2.2.2 Product B 7.2.3 NeoStem Oncology Cancer Vaccine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) 7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview continue.... View Full Report Details and Table of Contents at: https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/19932/screen-printing-mesh-market The years considered to estimate the market size of Screen Printing Mesh Market: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2018 to 2025 The research provides answers to the following key questions: To analyze and study the global Screen Printing Mesh capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025); Focuses on the key Screen Printing Mesh manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. You may also be interested in these related reports:- Screen Changers Market 2019 By Top Manufacturers,Growth,Trends,Size,Share,Analysis And Forecast To 2025 @https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/17506/screen-changers-market Insect Screen Industry Outlook,Investment Analysis and Revenue-2025 @https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/21651/insect-screen-market About us:- Market Growth Insight is a one stop solution for market research reports in various business categories. We are serving 100+ clients with 10000+ diverse industry reports and our reports are developed to simplify strategic decision making, on the basis of comprehensive and in-depth significant information, established through wide ranging analysis and latest industry trends. We are striving to provide the best customer friendly services and appropriate business information to accomplish your ideas. Contact us:- 502, Sai Radhe, Kennedy Road, Behind Hotel Sheraton Grand, Near Pune Station, Pune 411 001, Maharashtra, India Contact No- + 91 8956 049 020 Sales@marketgrowthinsight.com Website- https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com Follow Us:- LinkedIn | Twitter | Google+ | Facebook Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Real-time e-healthcare system is one of the best ways to keep your health records and track it anytime, without any geographical constraint. Patients can always stay in touch with their doctors and communicate with them about any health issue. They can self-check also for an immediate result without any third party's dependence. With advanced technology and rapid innovation, these days' products are being made in such a way that it should be more consumer friendly and easy to use.Real-time e-healthcare system fulfills all the above criteria and hence, the market is growing at a positive rate. Recently, Kaiser Permanente implemented an EMR protocol in Community Health Centres in Oregon, US, to improve clinical decision support for patients with diabetes, which can remind them to prescribe hypertension medications to reduce heart attack and other strokes. iPatientCare EHR, Praxis, EMR, Insta HMS, e-MDs Chart, WRS Health, AccuMed, WEBeDoctor, A.I.med are some of the top Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software products. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-593 Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Drivers & Restraints Technological advancement, increasing disposable income, increase use of online services, increase use of mobile devices, increased health cost and expenditure, increasing need of an integrated healthcare system are the most important driving factors in real-time e-healthcare system market. Sine real-time e-healthcare system reduces medical errors and easily accessible information, the demand for real time e-healthcare system has increased regardless of the geographical location. Lack of inexperienced professionals, high maintenance and service cost, privacy concerns, the complexity of systems, less presence of real-time e-healthcare system in rural areas including developed nations like Europe and are acting as a barrier for real-time e-healthcare system market. Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Segmentation Real-time e-healthcare system is broadly classified on the basis of the following segments By Product: Fitness Bands/wristband device Clip on monitor devices Thermometer Blood-pressure monitor device M-health applications Blood glucose monitor devices By End-user: Public/Private Hospitals Pharmacy Individuals Others Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Overview The real-time e-healthcare market has grown substantially at a healthy CAGR due to rising disposable income, increasing health awareness by consumers, ageing population and increasing healthcare expenditure. With rapid technological advancement and variety of options available in the market, real-time e-healthcare market is expected to grow globally. North America represents the largest market for this product category. Asia Pacific will emerge as the fastest growing region in real-time e-healthcare market. Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Region-wise Outlook The real-time e-healthcare market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, real-time e-healthcare market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market due to the improved healthcare infrastructure and high healthcare cost and rising disposable income. Increase demand of cloud computing from the developed nations like Europe and North America may also increase the demand for real-time e-healthcare systems by the end of forecast period. Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-593 Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: Key Players Some of the key market players in real-time e-healthcare market are Fitbit, Garmin, Jawbone, Misfit Wearables, DexCom, Medtronic, Abbott, Cerner Corporation, GE Healthcare, Epic Systems Corporation, Medical Information Technology Inc. (MEDITECH). Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Palm oil is one of the world's most produced and consumed oils. This cheap, production-efficient and highly stable oil is used in a wide variety of food, cosmetic and hygiene products, and can be used as source for bio-fuel or biodiesel. Most palm oil is produced in Asia, Africa and South America because the trees require warm temperatures, sunshine and plenty of rain in order to maximize production. Global production of palm oil will increase to 62.88 million tons in 2017, and the production is expected to reach to 72.95 million tons in 2022, at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 3.02% between 2017 and 2022. Indonesia and Malaysia have still the largest production of palm oil. In the long term, global palm oil demand shows a tendency to increase as the world total population is growing and therefore increasing the consumption of palm oil-based products. India and China will be still the largest consumption of palm oil. The export volume is huge for palm oil industry. Indonesia and Malaysia are the main exporters. Although sales of palm oil brought a lot of opportunities, the study group recommends the new entrants must consider adequately the probable risks before entering the industry. Get PDF sample copy of this report: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/948974/global-palm-oil-market This report focuses on Palm Oil volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall Palm Oil market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan. At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report. The following manufacturers are covered: Felda Global Ventures IOI Sime Darby Berhad Musim Mas Astra Agro Lestari Bumitama Agri Genting Group KLK WILMAR RGE Pte Indofood Agri Resources Golden Agri Resources First Resources Sampoerna Agro Segment by Regions North America Europe China Japan Segment by Type Crude Palm Oil Palm Olein Segment by Application Foods Bio-Diesel Surfactants Cosmetics Strategic Points Covered in TOC: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global market Chapter 2: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products Chapter 3: Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales Chapter 4: Presenting global market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions To get complete report within 24 hours: https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/9bb40934b6702d507e12168b8d609cc0,0,1,Global%20Palm%20Oil%20Market%20Study%20Report%202019 About QYResearch QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry. San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- An investor, who purchased shares of Danske Bank A/S (OTC: DNKEY), filed a lawsuit over alleged Securities Laws violations by Danske Bank A/S in connection with certain allegedly false and misleading statements. Investors who purchased shares of Danske Bank A/S (OTC: DNKEY) have certain options and for certain investors are short and strict deadlines running. Deadline: March 11, 2019. OTC: DNKEY investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. Copenhagen, Denmark based Danske Bank A/S provides banking products and services to various customers. On September 5, 2017, it was reported that Danske Bank A/S had hired the former head of Denmark's intelligence agency to help it in its effort to counter money-laundering claims. On September 21, 2017, Danske Bank A/S disclosed, among other things, that it had "expand[ed] its ongoing investigation into the situation at its Estonian branch." On December 21, 2017, it was reported that Danske Bank A/S "had been fined 12.5 million Danish crowns ($2 million)" by the Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority "for violating anti-money laundering rules in relation to the monitoring of transactions to and from correspondent banks," and that Danske Bank 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, it was reported the Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority issued a report stating it had identified "serious weaknesses" in Danske Bank's governance and that Danske Bank "was exposed 'to significantly higher compliance and reputational risks than previously assessed.'" On July 18, 2018, Danske Bank A/S stated that it wants to pay back approximately $230 million earned in profits in connection with its alleged role in an international money laundering scheme involving illicit funds from Russia, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which were funneled through Danske's Estonian office. On September 14, 2018,an article was published that disclosed that U.S. law enforcement agencies had begun investigating the scandal following a tip to the SEC from a whistleblower at least two years earlier. Finally, on October 23, 2018, an article was published disclosing the full extent of the information the whistleblower had alerted Danske Bank's senior executives to back in 2013 and detailing how Danske Bank had endeavored to silence the whistleblower for years. The plaintiff claims that between January 9, 2014 and October 23, 2018, the defendants failed to disclose that Danske Bank's Estonian branch was facilitating money laundering through at least March 2016, that that a whistleblower had reported the Estonian money laundering to the Company in 2013, that Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority (the "DFSA") had been investigating the Estonian money laundering since 2014, that Danske Bank had concealed the results of its own internal investigation from the DFSA, further exposing it to regulatory action and fines, that Danske Bank had been overstating its historical profits by including the profits derived from its illicit Estonian operations, and that that Danske Bank lacked effective internal and reporting controls. As a result of this information being withheld from the market, Danske Bank ADRs traded at artificially inflated prices of more than $20 each between January 9, 2014 and October 23, 2018. Those who purchased shares of Danske Bank A/S (OTC: DNKEY) have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation. Contact: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels 3111 Camino Del Rio North - Suite 423 92108 San Diego Phone: +1-(858)-779-1554 Fax: +1-(858)-605-5739 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com About Shareholders Foundation, Inc. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio monitoring and settlement claim filing service, , which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is in contact with a large number of shareholders and offers help, support, and assistance for every shareholder. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Referenced cases, investigation, and/or settlements are not filed/reached and/or related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. Sellbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2019 -- One of the latest trends proliferating retail analytics market is that of multiple operational channels. Or, as the experts say so omni-channels. The technique has brought about a modest amount of consolidation in retail analytics industry, surreptitiously eliminating supply chain chaos and location glitches. While global markets have been attempting to emulate high-grade technology and big data analytics, the retail sector has quietly been engaging with omni-channels to entice more customers, keep them continually engaged, draw data from a stream of sources, and bring about extensive social engagement to trigger a better understanding among consumers regarding the distribution chain. This initiative fosters the deployment of efficient analytics, which will ultimately usher in a new dawn for retail analytics market. The extensive reach of the retail business, in conjunction with the steadfastly developing e-commerce sector, is also certain to act as a catalyst to Retail Analytics Market, which, as per experts, is forecast to cross a valuation of USD 13 billion by 2024. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/319 The retail analytics market is expected to grow at a significant rate, owing to the emerging e-commerce trend across the retail sector. The new generation of highly informed and demanding customers are encouraging the retailers to adopt technologies that will satisfy the evolving demands. The inclination of retailers to implement technologically advanced and intelligent solutions to attract new customers, retain old customers, and improve profit margins is expected to drive the retail analytics market growth. Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: - 1010Data - Adobe Systems Incorporated - Angoss Software - Bedrock Analytics Corporation - Brickstream Corp - HCL - IBM - Information Builders - Microsoft Corporation - Microstrategy Incorporated - Oracle Corporation - Qlik Technologies, Inc. - Salesforce.com, Inc. - SAP - SAS Institute - Tableau Software, Inc. - Teradata Growth in demand for easy-to-use and easy-to-decipher solutions are compelling companies to implement modern technologies such as machine learning in the analytics software. The trend of extraction of consumer data from e-commerce portals and social networking websites to gather insights is expected to bode well for the retail analytics market, owing to the increasing internet penetration. Lack of privacy of customer data is expected to challenge the retail analytics market growth over the forecast timeline. Increasing use of data from social media platforms to map customer habits and shopping behaviors are expected to remain a major area of concern. High initial costs of implementing the software will further hamper the adoption in the retail sector. However, emerging startups that provide specialized solutions at lower prices are expected to expand market to small retailers. Growing demand for customized products and constantly changing consumer requirements is expected to drive the supply chain analytics software demand. Lack of inventory space has compelled retailers gather insights from the supply chain data to optimize operations and reduce costs. Reporting and visualization tools are anticipated to witness increase in demand, owing to the growing need to analyze data in an easy-to-read format in lesser time. Smart visual insights and implementation artificial intelligent dramatically reduces the time to insight and arrive at decision. Companies are inclined towards developing such tools that make data access and visualization easy contributing towards the retail analytics market growth. The demand for on-premise solutions is expected to gain momentum from the small and unorganized retailers which is expected to drive the retail analytics market. These solutions are ideal for the organization with limited customer foot-fall and limited geographical presence. Increasing competition among the solution providers has compelled them to introduce customized on-premise solutions that cater to specific demands of the retailers. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/319 The Asia Pacific retail analytics market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast timeframe, owing to the expansion of organized retail sector. In India, the exponential increase of e-commerce industry size and smartphones to buy consumer goods has prompted the need for data-driven business intelligence solutions. This has attracted big players such as HCL and IBM, in addition to the emergence of regional players including Manthan Systems, BRIDGEi2i Analytics Solutions, and Fractal Analytics. Some of the prominent vendors in the retail analytics market include Adobe Systems, SAP SA, SAS Institute, Teradata, 1010Data, Salesforce.com, Inc., IBM, etc. Companies continuously invest in development of technologically advanced and differentiated products to retain their position in the market. For instance, in April 2017, 1010Data, Inc. announced the launch of upgraded software development kits. The new SDKs are designed to support applications across enterprises. About Global Market Insights: Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2019 -- A new market assessment report on the Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma market provides a comprehensive overview of the Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma industry for the forecast period 2018 - 2026. The analytical study is proposed to provide immense clarity on the market size, share and growth rate across different regions. The profound knowledge and extensive examination of the trends from the yesteryear and future aims at offering the stakeholders, product owners, and marketing personnel a competitive edge over others operating in the Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma market for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026. Request for free sample report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/29576 The major players covered in this report are TSO3, Sterile Technologies, Andersen Products, Belimed AG , Tuttnauer Company , Cardinal Health, Advanced Sterilization Products , Nordion, , Getinge AB, 3M Company , Matachana Group, SteriGenics International, Sakura SI , Cantel Medical Most important types of Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma products covered in this report are: - Type 1 - Type 2 - Type 3 - Others On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, including: - Medical care - Laboratory - Clinic Understanding the market size The size of the Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma market is viewed in terms of the Share of Market, Total Available Market as well as Served Available Market. Not only does the study present the combined revenue for a particular market but also the market size for a specific geographic region. Analysis of percentage or the size of the Total Available Market based on the type of product, technology, regional constraints and others form an important part of the Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma report. Knowing the trends influencing the industry performance Stakeholders, marketing executives and business owners planning to refer a market research report can use this study to design their offerings and understand how competitors attract their potential customers and manage their supply and distribution channels. When tracking the trends researchers have made a conscious effort to analyze and interpret the consumer behavior Besides the research helps product owners to understand the changes in culture, target market as well as brands so they can draw the attention of the potential customers more effectively. Purchase Full report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/29576 Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers in these key regions: - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Southeast Asia - India We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions: North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa Ask for discount on this report for better value @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/discount-enquiry-form/29576 The study objectives of this report are: 1. To analyze and study the global Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast (2018-2026); 2. Focuses on the key Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. 3. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, analysis. 4. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. 5. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. 6. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. 7. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. 8. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market. 9. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. 10. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. Key elements from table of content: 8 Competitive Landscape 8.1 Competitive Profile 8.2 TSO3, Inc. (Canada) 8.2.1 Company Profiles 8.2.2 Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Product Introduction 8.2.3 TSO3, Inc. (Canada) Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2018-2026 8.2.4 TSO3, Inc. (Canada) Market Share of Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Segmented by Region in 2017 8.3 Sterile Technologies, Inc. (US) 8.3.1 Company Profiles 8.3.2 Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Product Introduction 8.3.3 Sterile Technologies, Inc. (US) Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2018-2026 8.3.4 Sterile Technologies, Inc. (US) Market Share of Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Segmented by Region in 2017 Continue. Browse complete report description @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/hydrogen-peroxide-gas-plasma-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 Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Hydrobromic acid is a type of clear or yellowish liquid containing hydrogen bromide and water. The acid is commercially available in concentrations of 48% and 62%. Hydrobromic acid can be used in the preparation of various chemical intermediates, synthetic dyes, drugs, perfumes and bromides. First, the hydrobromic acid industry is relatively concentrated: due to the high barriers (raw material barriers) only limited countries are involved in the business. Major manufacturers of hydrobromic acid are mainly in US, Israel, EU and China. Second, the global production of hydrobromic acid increases from 293400 MT in 2010 to 215750 MT in 2015, with an average growth rate of more than 6.35 %. ICL-IP, Albemarle and Chemtura Corporation are the world leaders. Third, the product has high value, and the price of the product is also high. The price of hydrobromic acid is affected by the raw material bromine supply. The raw material of bromine is from sea water and underground wells, and the Dead Sea is rich in bromine resources, so the region near the Dead Sea is the world's largest production base of bromine and hydrobromic acid. The global Hydrobromic Acid market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025. At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report. This report focuses on Hydrobromic Acid volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall Hydrobromic Acid market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan. Get PDF Version of this Report @ https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/948712/global-hydrobromic-acid-market The following manufacturers are covered: ICL-IP Albemarle Chemtura Jordan Bromine Tosoh Tata Chemicals Haiwang Chemical Weifang Longwei Haoyuan Group Segment by Regions North America Europe China Japan Segment by Type 48% HBr 62% HBr Segment by Application Inorganic Bromides Organic Bromine Pharmaceuticals Benefits of Purchasing QY Research Report - Analyst Support: Get you query resolved from our expert analysts before and after purchasing the report - Customer's Satisfaction: Our expert team will assist with all your research needs and customize the report - Inimitable Expertise: Analysts will provide deep insights about the reports - Assured Quality: We focus on the quality and accuracy of the report Get Full Comprehensive Industry Insights @ https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/0931005b026b294bd09f8d067032bd36,0,1,Global%20Hydrobromic%20Acid%20Market%20Analysis%20&%20Trends%20to%202025 About QYResearch QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry. Williston, VT -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, a highly-common form of dementia that affects more than 5.7 million Americans. Griswold Home Care offers live-in senior care in Chittenden County and the surrounding areas for individuals in Northern Vermont living with various forms of dementia. The caregivers at Griswold Home Care understand the patience that is necessary when it comes to caring for people living with dementia. Dementia sufferers can often become frustrated, uneasy, or emotionally upset when they begin to cope with newfound difficulty associated with concentration, recalling memories, or carrying out different, simple tasks that they knew how to do in the past. As the disease progresses, they may become more and more disassociated and completely unable to care for themselves. Griswold's experienced caregivers offer assistance to people with Alzheimer's or dementia in an environment that is familiar to them their home. This assistance will not only help them carry out day-to-day tasks; it will also allow their family to take a break from providing care and return to the other parts of their life. As Alzheimer's and other dementia-related diseases affect cognition and memory, it's important for families to have a caregiver who is familiar with the challenges that victims of the disease face. Griswold Home Care's experienced caregivers know and practice many of the subtleties that they may need to reinforce such as introducing themselves every day. They are skilled in performing tasks and exercises that stimulate short-term memory, and they have a strong understanding as to the correct approach necessary to encourage and cue clients in tasks such as eating and getting dressed. To learn more about Griswold Home Care's live-in care in Chittenden County for individuals living with dementia, visit their website: https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/northern-vermont/. About Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont is a non-medical home care agency that has been proudly serving the Burlington, Vermont, area for over 15 years. David Rosen, a Registered Nurse (RN) and Executive Director of Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont, became passionate about the home care industry when he found his grandmother needed care. Since then, it has been his mission to help others age in place and live the most independent lifestyle possible. In addition to David, other devoted staff members include Sue Richardson, VP of Operations, Lauren Chase, Senior Care Coordinator/Community Liaison, and Kim Bombard, Care Coordinator. Sue, Lauren, and Kim work closely with every client to ensure his or her needs are met with the highest level of compassion, professionalism, and customer care. Ultimately, everything about the agency's culture is very personal, from the level of service to the extensive caregiver screening processes. To learn more about Griswold Home Care and the services it offers, please visit http://www.GriswoldHomeCare.com/Northern-Vermont/. Williston, VT -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- For most seniors, a fall can cause injury not only to the body, but to the mind as well. After experiencing a fall, many seniors become fearful and often limit their activity. In 2016, 35% of Vermont adults age 65 and older experienced a fall; one in three of these individuals sustain injury as a direct result of their accident. With winter weather in full swing, bring icy driveways and sidewalks, the risk of falling is even higher for Vermont residents. For those who have experienced a fall and are in need of in-home care services, Griswold Home Care is there to help. Griswold Home Care offers live-in senior care in Chittenden County and the surrounding areas for individuals recovering from fall-related injuries. In 2014, 5,445 Vermonters visited the emergency room for falls. 1,600 more people were hospitalized for their fall-related injuries. Many of these people, when returning home, were in need of care that's where Griswold Home Care provides assistance. The caregivers at Griswold Home Care understand the importance of post-surgery recovery. Often, this recovery will determine the success of the surgery and the ability for an individual to return to a lifestyle that is normal to them. The care given by the team at Griswold Home Care is in-home, meaning individuals can recover from their falls in the comfort of a space that is familiar to them. Caregivers can provide services like meal preparation, light housekeeping, accompaniment or transportation to appointments, personal care and more. The hours and amount of care an individual receives can change as their needs change. They even offer live-in care in Chittenden County for seniors who require 24-hour assistance after a fall or other injury. To learn more about these services, visit Griswold Home Care online at http://www.GriswoldHomeCare.com/Northern-Vermont/ or call 1-800-474-7965. About Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont is a non-medical home care agency that has been proudly serving the Burlington, Vermont, area for over 15 years. David Rosen, a Registered Nurse (RN) and Executive Director of Griswold Home Care Northern Vermont, became passionate about the home care industry when he found his grandmother needed care. Since then, it has been his mission to help others age in place and live the most independent lifestyle possible. In addition to David, other devoted staff members include Sue Richardson, VP of Operations, Lauren Chase, Senior Care Coordinator/Community Liaison, and Kim Bombard, Care Coordinator. Sue, Lauren, and Kim work closely with every client to ensure his or her needs are met with the highest level of compassion, professionalism, and customer care. Ultimately, everything about the agency's culture is very personal, from the level of service to the extensive caregiver screening processes. To learn more about Griswold Home Care and the services it offers, please visit http://www.GriswoldHomeCare.com/Northern-Vermont/. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- The report presents a thorough overview of the current state of the global Traditional Chinese Medicine market. The report analyzes the overall growth of the global Traditional Chinese Medicine market and examines the industry chain in details, analyzing the past, present, and the potential future growth prospects of the market. The report also presents detailed data about the production of Traditional Chinese Medicine according to a region-wise segmentation. The key applications and product types of the global Traditional Chinese Medicine market have also been examined from a geographic standpoint. The report examines the development of the global Traditional Chinese Medicine market over the years and presents a detailed analysis of the various trends, drivers, and restraints on the market's current state. To Download Sample Report with TOC: https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1929933&type=S The report also studies how these factors will have an impact on the market over the report's forecast period. The report gives the reader an overview of the marketing channels in the global Traditional Chinese Medicine market and includes details about the distributors and traders of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a discipline dealing with the study of physiology, pathology, diagnosis and prevention and treatment of diseases. In 2017, the global Traditional Chinese Medicine 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 2018-2025. This report focuses on the global Traditional Chinese Medicine status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Traditional Chinese Medicine development in United States, Europe and China. The key players covered in this study Tongrentang Hospital Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital Beijing Hua Kang Hospital Dongzhimen Hospital WOTCM YinOvaCenter Mayo Clinic Apicare Pain Clinic Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Chinese Herbal Medicine Acupuncture Tai Chi Market segment by Application, split into Healthcare Treatment Other Complete report with detailed table of content is available at: https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-traditional-chinese-medicine-market-size-status-and-forecast-2018-2025.htm Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia India Central & South America The study objectives of this report are: To analyze and study the global Traditional Chinese Medicine capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025); Focuses on the key Traditional Chinese Medicine manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Traditional Chinese Medicine are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2018 to 2025 For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered. Key Stakeholders Traditional Chinese Medicine Manufacturers Traditional Chinese Medicine Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers Traditional Chinese Medicine Subcomponent Manufacturers Industry Association Downstream Vendors About QYResearchReports.com QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market. Contact Us: Brooklyn, NY 11230 United States Toll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA) Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qyresearchreports-com Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Lightweight Automotive Composite Sales Uplift Markets within Emerging Economies Robust expansion of construction, automotive, and consumer electronics sectors are prominently driving the market growth in China and developed markets, whereas escalating adoption of lightweight composites by automakers will elevate volume sales of structural adhesives in developing economies such as Latin America, Middle East and Africa, and South East Asia Pacific. The report projects MEA as a highly opportunistic region through 2028. Budding Industries Enable China to be Investor's Hub through 2028 China, one of the major economies, will continue to witness robust infrastructural development and fostering industrial production. While the recent strategic and political transformations have successfully managed to uplift China as a global hub for investors, a majority of leading companies have pre-established manufacturing facilities in China for structural adhesives. Stringent competition among top players in Chinese market has been enabling China to retain its dominance in the global structural adhesives market. North America and Europe will reportedly be the next key markets by 2028, as indicated by Future Market Insights. Structural Adhesives Gain Strong Impetus through Energy Generation Applications Adoption of structural adhesives is evidently increasing in the building and construction sector for a reliable structural performance. Moreover, a majority of automotive OEMs are increasingly focusing on maintaining a sustainable vehicle design, which is fueling the demand for structural adhesives. Future Market Insights predicts that structural adhesive manufacturers are likely to encounter with attractive opportunities in energy and electronics component industries, as these end-users have been observed to increase investments in structural adhesives. Transportation industry will also generate significant demand for structural adhesives in near future, followed by the energy generation sector. Wind energy generation sector will also create attractive opportunities in an effort to achieve reduced weight and improved load bearing capacity. Booming renewable energy generation will also continue to push structural adhesives' demand through the forecast period. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2667 Emphasis on Expansion in Developing Countries & Long-term Collaborations Strengthen Structural Adhesives Market Players In an effort to mitigate for aggressive competition from China-based companies, a majority of key manufacturers are currently focusing more on long-term supply agreements with leading OEMs. Moreover, development of bio-based, environmentally-friendly, low-emission adhesives will remain a popular trend among competitors operating the global structural adhesives market landscape. Product innovation is expected to remain an attractive segment in the industry, witnessing significantly growing investments. The report also throws light on rapid expansion of production capabilities of some of the key players, within Chinese and other lucrative Asian markets. "At an estimated CAGR of 5.3% during 2018-2028, the global structural adhesives market is expected to attain a value of over US$ 16 billion by the end of 2028," says a research analyst at Future Market Insights. Request Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2667 Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- "Glass Tempering System Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) And Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027)" is a new report of Future Market Insights that tracks the performance of the market for the projected period of 10 years i.e. between 2017 and 2027. The global glass tempering system market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, expanding at a CAGR of 3.7% during the projected period. Growth in the global glass tempering system market can be attributed to huge investments in R&D, increasing use of hybrid guide plates, solar control glazing for automotive and building glasses, growing use of lightweight glazing glass, and increasing usage of advanced nanotechnology in glass manufacturing. According to this report, North America and APEJ are the key regions for glass tempering system market participants. In North America, the United States is investing in tempering activities, which is creating immense opportunities for glass tempering system manufacturers. Product development and establishment of long-term relationships with tempered glass OEMs is also a key to success in this market. The global market for glass tempering system is expected to be valued at US$ 94.5 Mn by 2017 end and is estimated to reach US$ 135.6 Mn by 2027 end. Global Glass Tempering System Market: Drivers Shift towards renewable solar energy will accelerate the growth of the market Improving construction sector especially in Latin America is fuelling the growth of the global market Construction of energy efficient buildings and renovation of existing infrastructure is another key market driver Global Glass Tempering System Market: Forecast by Tempering Technology On the basis of tempering technology, the global glass tempering system market is segmented into controlled heating and quenching equipment and chemical treatment. Controlled heating and quenching equipment is further segmented into standard configuration and advanced configuration. In terms of value, the controlled heating and quenching equipment segment is anticipated to be valued at US$ 89.0 Mn by 2017 end, which is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% and reach a value of US$ 127.8 Mn by the end of 2027. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3855 Global Glass Tempering System Market: Forecast by Application The application segment consists of flat, bent and combined flat and bent segments. Flat segment is further segmented into continuous and oscillating segments. Oscillating type segment is expected to emerge as the most attractive segment by application over the forecast period. Combined flat and bent segment is anticipated to create incremental $ opportunity worth US$ 4.2 Mn over the forecast period. Global Glass Tempering System Market: Forecast by End Use By end use the market is categorized into automotive windows, architectural, electronics, solar applications and others. Architectural segment is sub-segmented into windows and doors, mirror and partitions and furniture, while electronics segment is sub-segmented into smartphone and appliances. The solar applications segment is estimated to reach US$ 1.6 Mn in 2027 from US$ 1.3 Mn in 2017. The segment is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% during the forecast period. Global Glass Tempering System Market: Forecast by Region Seven regions have been covered in this report and they are North America, Latin America, APEJ, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Japan and MEA. China is expected to remain a strong market for glass tempering systems. Most of the APEJ, Eastern Europe, and Latin America buyers import glass tempering lines from China with standard configuration, due to investment constraints. North America is also projected to hold a significant share of the global glass tempering system market over the forecast period. Global Glass Tempering System Market: Key Vendors Glaston OYJ Abp, Luoyang Landglass Technology Co. Ltd., LiSEC Austria GmbH, Luoyang North Glass Technology Co., Ltd., Glasstech Industries (India) Private Limited, Keraglass Industries Srl, CoolTemper Ltd., HHH Tempering Resources Inc., Ratnesh International, North East Machines, Meta Therm Furnace Pvt. Ltd., Mappi International, EFCO, Saint-Gobain S.A., IGE Glass Technologies, Inc., Lambert GT Services Ltd. are some of the glass tempering system market companies profiled in the report. Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-3855 Marlton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Formed nearly 10 years ago by a group of Amlaw 100 lawyers, the firm's Managing Partner, Benjamin Levin, said he was delighted when his long-time colleague, Mark D. Shapiro, agreed to become a name partner effective today. "Mark has contributed so much to the success of our firm. He is first-rate lawyer and an accomplished leader and community citizen." Said Levin, "It was time." "2018 was a great year for us. Mark was a huge part of the reason we saw record revenue. The firm's future is extremely bright. Over the past two years, the firm's transactional real estate team, led by Mark, closed over 80 transactions for clients with a collective value in excess of $2.3 billion. More good news: symbolizing the 16-attorney firm's solid footing and commitment to Southern New Jersey, the firm recently renewed its lease to stay in the 6000 Sagemore Drive offices for seven additional years." said Levin. The firm was also recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a 2019 Best Law Firmwith Tier 1 rankings in New Jersey for its Land Use, Zoning and Natural Resource Law practices. Mark is recognized as one of New Jersey's top real estate transactional lawyers. Admitted in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, his practice focuses on development, leasing and loan transactions. He spends a considerable amount of his time representing multi-family apartment building owners in acquisitions and financings, and retail and office landlords in leasing matters. His franchise practice includes counseling regional and national franchisors on franchise structuring, operational, relationship and regulatory issues and multi-unit franchisees. Mark has been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as "Leaders in Their Field" in the area of real estate every year since 2008. Active in the community, Mark has been a board member since 2003 and on the Executive Committee since 2005 of the Samost Jewish Family & Children's Service, serving as President from 2012-2014. Mark also sits on the Board and Executive Committee of Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey and the Board of the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. About Hyland Levin Shapiro LLP Hyland Levin Shapiro LLP attorneys have decades of experience in the region. The firm's practice areas include business and transactions, real estate, environmental law, zoning and land use, franchise and licensing, food and beverage industry matters, general and commercial litigation, community associations, employment, business planning and tax, trusts and estates, leasing, eminent domain and real property taxation. Established in 2009, Hyland Levin was founded on the principle of lawyers getting back to doing what they do best, practicing law. Most of its attorneys have worked for larger firms, and its clients include some of the area's most substantial businesses and institutions. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2019 -- Garnerinsights.com has added a new report to its database Global Wood Working Machine Market Size, Status And Forecast 2019-2025 The Wood Working Machine Market report is a valuable source of guidance for companies and individuals offering Industry Chain Structure, Business Strategies and Proposals for New Project Investments also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges. The report on the Global Wood Working Machine Industry provides a complete view of the market by assessing the impact of the technological advancements, changes in investment habits, and in-depth overview of Product Specification. For More Enquiry (sample report) Please check at @ https://www.garnerinsights.com/Global-WoodWorking-Machine-Industry-Market-Research-Report#request-sample Major key-companies of this report Holytek, Western Pneumatics, MAS, SCM, Biesse, Casati Macchine, HuaShunchang, YUTON, MARTIN, Scharpf & K gel Sondermaschinenbau, Unisunx, Qianchuan, GONGYOU GROUP, IMA, Trition, WEILI, Fulpow, TAIWAN MEGA MAC, Furnimate, Nanxing, JPW, Cantek, HOMAG, SICHUAN QINGCHENG MACHINERY, WEINIG, KTCC, Conception R.P., CKM, LEADERMAC, OLIVER Type Segment Analysis: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4, Type 5 Applications Segment Analysis: Wood-Working Machine market covered in this report are:, Application 1, Application 2, Application 3, Application 4, Application 5 Reasons to Purchase Wood Working Machine Market Report: 1.Current and future of Wood Working Machine market outlook in the developed and emerging markets. 2.Analysis of various perspectives of the market with the help of Porter's five forces analysis. 3.The segment that is expected to dominate the Wood Working Machine market. 4.Regions that are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. 5.Identify the latest developments, Wood Working Machine market shares, and strategies employed by the major market players. A discount can be asked before order a copy of this report at @ http://garnerinsights.com/Global-WoodWorking-Machine-Industry-Market-Research-Report#discount This report focuses on the presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. Important Facts About Wood Working Machine Market Report: -The Wood Working Machine industry report features different approaches and procedures endorsed by the market key players to make vital business decisions. -Wood Working Machine market depicts some parameters such as production value, Wood Working Machine marketing strategy analysis, Distributors/Traders and effect factors is also mentioned in this Wood Working Machine research report. -This research report reveals Wood Working Machine business overview, product overview, market share, supply chain analysis, demand and supply ratio and import/export details. In the end Wood Working Machine Market Report delivers conclusion which includes Breakdown and Data Triangulation, Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change, Research Findings, Market Size Estimation, Data Source. These factors will increase business overall. Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Epoxy phenol novolac (EPN) resins contain more than two epoxy groups per molecule and are therefore described as multifunctional epoxy resins. In other words they are polyepoxides obtained by reacting a phenolic novolac resin with epichlorohydrin. When cured, they provide a high cross-link density due to the increased epoxy functionality. Typically, EPN resins are used in high temperature resistant adhesives, corrosion resistant marine coatings, maintenance coatings, industrial coatings, tank linings, pipe coatings, primers in automotive, coil & appliances, manufacturing of epoxy vinyl esters, etc. In 2014, US is the largest epoxy phenol novolac production area in the world, accounting for 42.33% of global production with an average annual growth rate of 5.07%. Asia (Except China) is second, producing 22804 MT (22.51% share). Taiwan and Thailand are the main production bases in Asia. The total annual production capacity of epoxy phenol novolac producing countries is 101290 MT in 2014. The epoxy phenol novolac major manufacturers are Huntsman, GP Chemicals, Aditya Birla Group, DOW, Hexion Inc., DIC, Momentive, Emerald, Performance Materials, Kukdo Chemical Industry, CORCHEM, A&C Catalysts, NanYa Plastics, etc. China only has a few manufacturers like BlueStar, SanMu Group and SINOPEC can produce epoxy phenol novolac. The epoxy phenol novolac is mainly used in the adhesives, protective coatings, composite materials industries, etc. US is the main consumption market share of epoxy phenol novolac which holds 32.22% in 2014. China is the second consumption while China mainly relies on importing from Thailand, US, EU, etc. In recent years, the China consumption volume market share is gradually increasing from 26.59% in 2010 to 28.74% in 2014. The global Epoxy Phenol Novolac market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025. At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report. This report focuses on Epoxy Phenol Novolac volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall Epoxy Phenol Novolac market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan. Get PDF Version of this Report @ https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/948699/global-epoxy-phenol-novolac-competition-forecast-opportunities The following manufacturers are covered: Huntsman GP Chemicals DOW Hexion Inc. DIC Momentive CORCHEM A&C Catalysts NanYa Plastics BlueStar Segment by Regions North America Europe China Japan Segment by Type Phenol Type Epoxy Phenol Novolac O-Cresol Type Epoxy Phenol Novolac Bisphenol A Type Epoxy Phenol Novolac Segment by Application Adhesives Protective Coatings Composite Materials Benefits of Purchasing QY Research Report - Analyst Support: Get you query resolved from our expert analysts before and after purchasing the report - Customer's Satisfaction: Our expert team will assist with all your research needs and customize the report - Inimitable Expertise: Analysts will provide deep insights about the reports - Assured Quality: We focus on the quality and accuracy of the report Get Full Comprehensive Industry Insights @ https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/73de52fb000485c7490c00ff8ae7cdcc,0,1,Global%20Epoxy%20Phenol%20Novolac%20Competition%252C%20Forecast%20&%20Opportunities%202019 About QYResearch QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry. Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- DJs use equipment that can play at least two sources of recorded music simultaneously and mix them together. This allows the DJ to create seamless transitions between recordings and develop unique mixes of songs. Often, this involves aligning the beats of the music sources so their rhythms do not clash when they are played together, either so two records can be played at the same time, or to enable the DJ to make a smooth transition from one song to another. An important tool for DJs is the specialized DJ mixer, a small audio mixer with a crossfader and cue functions. The crossfader enables the DJ to blend or transition from one song to another. The cue knobs or switches allow the DJ to pre-listen to a source of recorded music in headphones before playing it for the live club or broadcast audience. Previewing the music in headphones helps the DJ pick the next track they want to play and cue up the track to the desired starting location so it will mix well with the currently playing music. DJs may also use a microphone to speak to the audience; effects units such as reverb to create sound effects; and electronic musical instruments such as drum machines and synthesizers.Currently, there are many kinds of DJ equipments. DJ Turntables, DJ Mixer, DJ Controller, Headphones are dominating the market while other accessories are also essential for a DJ set. DJ schools, studios, clubs & bars are the most important end-users for now. Get PDF report template @ https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/948944/global-dj-equipment-professional-analysis In 2016, Global DJ equipments total market size was 383.78 MUSD, with a significant growth in recent years, according to QYR analysis, the market is expected to reach 575.81 by the end of 2022. The biggest market drivers are people's music awareness and increasing music education in schools, Growing number of concerts and live performances, while long replacement cycle of equipment is a market challenge, production innovation and market channel improvement is the direction of progress for DJ equipment brand owners. There are many players in this market, Companies like inMusic, Pioneer and Music Group occupied most of the market share, with a series brands in this market: Pioneer, Numark, Roland, Behringer, DJ Tech, Hercules, Stanton, Korg, Denon, Reloop, Gemini, Akai and so on. Pioneer and Numark accounted for the top two brands globally, with market share of 44.73% and 8.78% in 2016 separately. North America and Europe had been the largest DJ equipment market. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing geographical division for the DJ equipment market. The growing influence of western culture in developing countries, along with the up surge in urbanization of countries, such as India and China has increased the market penetration of the DJ equipment market. Moreover, the demographical advantage such as large base of young population in developing countries is providing considerable growth to the DJ equipment market the future. Click to view Tables, Charts, Figures, TOC, and Companies Mentioned in the global DJ Equipment market Report at- https://www.qyresearch.com/index/detail/948944/global-dj-equipment-professional-analysis The global DJ Equipment market is valued at 410 million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach 680 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% during 2019-2025. This report focuses on DJ Equipment volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall DJ Equipment market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan. At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report. The following manufacturers are covered: Pioneer, Numark, Roland, Behringer, DJ Tech, Hercules, Stanton, Korg, Denon, Reloop, Gemini, Akai, DJ Equipment market includes market size, segmentation data and geographical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and microeconomic information. DJ Equipment Market Segmentation by Types: DJ Turntable & CDJs, DJ Mixer, DJ Controller, Others, DJ Equipment Market Segmentation by Applications: Professional Performance, Individual Amateurs, Individual Amateurs, Regions Covered in the Global DJ Equipment Market: The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) Get Customized Report in your Inbox within 24 hours @ https://www.qyresearch.com/request-discount/form/948944/global-dj-equipment-professional-analysis The report provides an in-depth analysis of the following Detailed Overview of Global DJ Equipment market helps deliver clients and businesses making strategies. It covers DJ Equipment industry outlines, upstream and downstream DJ Equipment market segments, cost analysis, and market utilizing power, market overview, product scope, product definition of DJ Equipment market driving forces. To provide detailed analysis, Market size and drivers during 2019 to 2025 including various segments and sub-segments of the Global DJ Equipment Market Analysis of the key markets in each region, providing an analysis of the key segments of the market that are expected to be in demand The analysis of the competitive landscape of the global DJ Equipment market. It provides an overview of key players, together with information regarding key alliances, strategic initiatives, and financial analysis To provides Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders and Market Effect Factors Analysis of DJ Equipment market The DJ Equipment market report covers Volume, Revenue and Price Forecast 2019 to 2025 Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- As the leading workers' compensation lawyer in Atlanta, Darwin Johnson is providing legal guidance to injured workers across the entire state of Georgia. While many injured workers believe the process of filing a lawsuit against an employer is relatively straightforward, in reality, legal proceedings can become challenging to manage without proper experience. Regardless of the circumstances of a case, Johnson recommends hiring a qualified attorney that has experience battling large organizations and insurance companies. The course of action Mr. Johnson recommends that injured workers take is to file a claim as soon as possible. Unlike personal injury cases, in the state of Georgia claimants have a maximum of one year to file a claim post-incident. Whether it seems that an injury is minor or severe, Mr. Johnson encourages injured workers to seek medical attention to confirm the status of their injury. Furthermore, Johnson recommends that injured workers act quickly when reporting their injury to their employer. This recommendation is based on the fact that workers in Georgia are required by law to formally notify their employers of their injuries. The notification should be made within 30 days of the accident. Once an injured worker has taken the necessary steps to file a workers' compensation claim, Johnson can provide them with advice on how to handle the legal process and give insight on what to expect throughout the process. Those interested in learning more about the legal process of filing a claim against an employer in Georgia or need a workman comp attorney in Atlanta can visit https://www.darwinfjohnson.com/. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 404-692-6482. About The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson provide legal defense for individuals all throughout the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. He provides effective legal defense for individuals unjustly injured while at the workplace, and gets them the compensation they need. Clients of Darwin F. Johnson don't pay unless he delivers compensation. Reach the Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson today by phone at 404-692-6482. For more information, please visit http://www.darwinfjohnson.com. Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- While nursing is one of the world's oldest and most respected professions, it is also one of the most high-risk as well. Due to the long hours and heavy strain on the body, standard nursing duties often result in injuries. Nurses who have sustained an occupational injury in the state of Georgia can reach out to The Law Offices of Darwin Johnson for legal counsel in their workers' compensation case. Whether it is a minor back injury, or more serious harm like a debilitating neck injury, the state of Georgia provides protection for all workers injured while completing their job duties. As one of the leading workers' comp attorneys in the Atlanta area, Darwin F. Johnson has helped many nurses receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Mr. Johnson provides strategic representation for injury cases related to things such as slip-and-fall accidents and lifting injuries. Any nurse that has been hurt while doing their job may be eligible to receive compensation to cover things such as medical bills, mortgage payments, and other essential living expenses. 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Johnson don't pay unless he delivers compensation. Reach the Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson today by phone at 404-692-6482. For more information, please visit http://www.darwinfjohnson.com. Sacramento, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- Boyd plumbing has perfected its art in the field of plumbing where they've for years been able to render excellent solutions for their broad range of clientele in California. Today, the company is associated with dozens of successful project completions where they've delivered high-quality, reliable and affordable services. Their capabilities cover a variety of plumbing requirements which include sewer services, drain cleaning, hot water recirculating pumps, toilet repair & replacement, garbage disposals and much more. Being Angie's List Super Award winner for five years in a row, the company has proved itself as one of the top companies that one can trust for superior plumbing solutions. Giving insights as to why they're a good solution for all plumbing needs, the Company Spokesperson said, "With over two decades of hands-on industry experience under our belt, we're always confident that we can deliver beyond our clients' requirements. Over the period we've been in operation, we've attracted opportunities where we've worked with varying customers from homeowners, builders and so on, and we've been able to deliver excellent services. We aim at guaranteeing 100% satisfaction, and through our transparency and excellent customer service, we're able to deliver a pleasant experience for anyone who decides to work with us. Providing superior plumbing solutions is a craft that we know how to do best, and you can rest assured that you're in well-able hands and that we'll deliver the results you need for your plumbing requirements." Drain cleaning in Sacramento has been made much more accessible and affordable, thanks to Boyd Plumbing. Drain cleaning has been one of the areas that they've succeeded in, with their services covering all the areas of concern including sewer drain cleaning, camera inspection, high-pressure water jetting, and catch basins & storm drains. Having worked on a broad spectrum of drain cleaning projects over the years, they understand the different dynamics involved in various drain cleaning assignments, making them a worthy partner. With their drain cleaning services, one can be sure to achieve a highly functional drain system as well as an overall healthy plumbing system. Talking about their emergency plumbing services, the Company Spokesperson added, "Plumbing problems have been known to happen at the least expected moments, and they can cause great inconvenience as it relates to your building or house functionalities. At Boyd Plumbing, we understand the hassles that come with plumbing emergencies, and that's why we have an emergency plumber in Sacramento who's always on standby to address various plumbing service calls. Our plumbers in this region have the technical know-how to handle different plumbing assignments and can be relied on to deliver as per one's expectations." When it comes to Folsom plumbing, one is guaranteed of excellent services when they partner with Boyd Plumbing. They offer a variety of plumbing services in the region which include plumbing repair residential, frozen pipes, water leak repair, water heater installation, toilet repair, service &installation as well as mainline service & repair among others. Additionally, they utilize top-grade materials for all their assignments and guarantee superior services at all times. About Boyd Plumbing Boyd Plumbing is an industry-certified plumbing company that seeks to provide high-end plumbing services to their diverse range of clients. They cover all plumbing elements and can be banked on to offer excellent pricing for the same. Contact Details Company Name: Boyd Plumbing Address: 5485 Hemlock Street Sacramento, CA 95841 Telephone Number: (916) 710-8070 Website: http://www.boydplumbing.net New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- The latest report Boehmite Market discusses everything a business owner needs to know about the Boehmite market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2026. The document offers an insight into what the target customer's needs and wants. Industry experts have extracted data from various sources on size, share, growth rate, production volume, production capacity, import and export status, distribution channels and more and have analysed it thoroughly. By properly assessing the competitors and their offerings the study aims at empowering business owners to step ahead. Request for Sample Copy of Boehmite Market Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/29538 Scope of the Report: The research methodologies used for evaluating the Boehmite market are inventive and also provides enough evidence on the demand and supply status, production capability, import and export, supply chain management and investment feasibility. The investigative approach applied for the extensive analysis of the sale, gross margin and profit generated by the industry are presented through resources including tables, charts, and graphic images. Importantly, these resources can be easily integrated or used for preparing business or corporate presentations. Estimating the potential size of the Boehmite industry: Industry experts conducting the study further estimate the potential of the Boehmite industry. Such information is important for firms looking to launch an innovative service or product on the market. Industry experts have measured the total volume of the given market. Researchers have calculated the industry in terms of sales by the competitors and end-user customers. Data on the entire size of the Boehmite market for a particular product or a service for the forecast period, 2018 to 2026 covered in the report makes it valuable. This information reveals the upper limit of the Boehmite industry for a specific product or service. Attracting the target audience: First, the comprehensive report finds out why customers need a certain product or service. The study focuses on what problems a certain product and service can solve. Apart from target demographics industry experts weigh up on the factors including audience type, as well as others vital attributes about the target customer segment. Major Players in Boehmite market are: Zhengzhou Research Institute of Chalco, AnHui Estone Material Technology, Sasol, Nabaltec, TOR Minerals, Kawai Lime Industry, TAIMEI Chemicals, Dequenne Chimie, Osang Group, Silkem, Xuancheng Jingrui New Materials, Tianjin Boyuan New Materials, PIDC, Shandong Jirun Nano New Materials, KC Corporation Buy Boehmite Market Research Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/29538 Market split by Type, can be divided into: - High Purity Boehmite - Purity Below 99.0% Market split by Application, can be divided into: - Battery separator coating - Flame-retardant materials Major Regions play vital role in Boehmite market are: - North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.) - South America Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile etc.) - Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.) The market intelligence study for the Boehmite market further provides an inside-out overview of necessary aspects associated with the product classification, important definitions, major orders and other industry-centric parameters. An underlying part of the study also maps the important factors associated with the recent events such as mergers and acquisition, collaboration and new product launches. In addition, the research lays down a robust groundwork for obtaining a vast amount of information that potential customers can use to increase their profits and reduce costs. The inclusion of data on market segmentation by type, application, and geography offers clarity presents an analytical picture of, what manufacturers are aiming for. The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What is the estimated growth rate of the Boehmite market for the forecast period 2018 - 2026? What will be the market share and size of the industry during the estimated period? - What are prime factors expected to drive the Boehmite industry for the estimated period? - What are the major market leaders and what has been their winning strategy for success so far? - What are the significant trends shaping the growth prospects of the Boehmite market? - What are the key challenges expected to restrict the progress of the industry for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026? - What the opportunities product owners can bank on to generate high profits? Read More @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/boehmite-market There are 10 Chapters to deeply display the global Boehmite market. - 1 Boehmite Market Overview - 2 Global Boehmite Market Competition by Manufacturers - 3 Global Boehmite Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018) - 4 Global Boehmite Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018) - 5 Global Boehmite Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type - 6 Global Boehmite Market Analysis by Application - Continue 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: https://www.marketexpertz.com/market-news New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2019 -- Based on the Anesthesia Machine industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Anesthesia Machine market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2018-2026), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2018-2026), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Anesthesia Machine market. Request Sample copy of this report@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/29593 Apart from this, the valuable document weighs upon the performance of the industry on the basis of a product service, end-use, geography and end customer The study is a professional probe into the revenue generated and capacity estimates for the Anesthesia Machine market for the forecast period 2018 - 2026 empower the business owners to maintain a competitive edge over their rivals. The research further examines and provides data on the market by type, application and geography interspersed with illustrations and other graphical representations. The market analysis not only determines the attractiveness of the industry but also the evolving challenges and opportunities and their association with the weaknesses and strengths of prominent market leaders. Other factors taken into consideration when studying the industry include profitability, manufacturing capability, distribution channels and industry cost structure and major success factors. Make an Inquiry for purchasing this report@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/make-enquiry-form/29593 Major Players in Anesthesia Machine market are: - Draeger - Heyer - Philips - Royalmedical - GE - Aeonmed - Stephan Medizintechnik - Penlon - Ohmeda - Spacelabs Healthcare - Mindray Most important types of Anesthesia Machine products covered in this report are: - WATO Series - A Series - V60 Series - Others Most widely used downstream fields of Anesthesia Machine market covered in this report are: - School of Medicine - Hospital - Others Market segment by Region/Country including: - North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.) - South America Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile etc.) - Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.) Buy Anesthesia Machine market report and avail 15% free customization on the report at https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/29593 Region wise performance of the Anesthesia Machine industry The detailed market intelligence report on the Anesthesia Machine market applies the best of both primary and secondary research to weighs upon the competitive landscape and the prominent market players expected to dominate the Anesthesia Machine market for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026. The study not only scans through the company profile of the major vendors but also analyses their winning strategies to give business owners, stakeholders and field marketing personnel a competitive edge over others operating in the same space. A detailed evaluation of the major events such as acquisition and mergers, collaborations, product launches, new entrants, and technology advancements offer a complete overview of what the future of the Anesthesia Machine market will be like in the years to come. Get Access to Full summary of this report@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/anesthesia-machine-market The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What is the estimated size of the Anesthesia Machine market for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026? What will be the growth rate of the industry during the estimated period? - What are the prominent driving forces likely to impact the progress of the industry across different regions? - Who are the major market players occupying a strong foothold in the Anesthesia Machine market? What are the winning strategies adopted by them to stay ahead in the competition? - What are the potential opportunities for the Anesthesia Machine market for the forecast period, 2018- 2026? - What are the key trends expected to shape the development of the industry over the coming years? - What are the key restraints and challenges likely to hinder the growth of the Anesthesia Machine market worldwide? Key point from TOC 8 Competitive Landscape 8.1 Competitive Profile 8.2 Draeger 8.2.1 Company Profiles 8.2.2 Anesthesia Machine Product Introduction 8.2.3 Draeger Production, Value, Price, Gross Margin 2018-2026E 8.2.4 Draeger Market Share of Anesthesia Machine Segmented by Region in 2018 8.3 Heyer 8.3.1 Company Profiles 8.3.2 Anesthesia Machine Product Introduction 8.3.3 Heyer Production, Value, Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.3.4 Heyer Market Share of Anesthesia Machine Segmented by Region in 2018 8.4 Philips 8.4.1 Company Profiles 8.4.2 Anesthesia Machine Product Introduction 8.4.3 Philips Production, Value, Price, Gross Margin 2018-2026E 8.4.4 Philips Market Share of Anesthesia Machine Segmented by Region in 2018 8.5 Royalmedical 8.5.1 Company Profiles 8.5.2 Anesthesia Machine Product Introduction Continue... 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 Trenton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2019 -- When drivers experience uncontrollable chips and cracks on their windshield, they turn to ABS Auto Glass for windshield repair services in Princeton, NJ. While windshield damages often show up without any warning, it is imperative that drivers monitor weather conditions leading up to their repair appointment. 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Driver's should contact ABS Auto Glass for emergency services to take care of a damaged windshield right away. Cracks that are left unrepaired can spread further and require total replacement, which can lead to higher expenses. Those in need of auto glass repair in Princeton, NJ should contact ABS Auto Glass for quick, reliable services. For additional questions and inquiries, please call 609-526-3278 for their Trenton location and 215-664-8397 for their Bensalem location. About ABS Auto Glass ABS Auto Glass is a family owned and operated automotive glass replacement and repair company specializing in their traveling replacement fleet. Based out of two locations in Trenton, New Jersey and Bensalem, Pennsylvania, ABS Auto Glass sends their specialists on-location throughout South Jersey and Greater Philadelphia to replace and repair broken glass on personal and commercial vehicles. The company has served the area for nearly 20 years. To learn more about ABS Auto Glass, please visit their website at https://absglass.net/. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Precipitation is a bit of a rarity here. When it actually does rain in San Diego, locals look up at the sky in amazement, asking, What is this wet stuff falling from the clouds? As a result, driving is crazed, people develop a melancholy humor, and literally dont know what do with themselves. And for a dating culture that subsists on sunny day romantic strolls and sunset canoodling, rain can throw the whole process into chaos. To help alleviate the rainy day dating blues, PACIFIC has a few ideas to bring you out of the dating doldrums. Whether you feel like charging onward through the rain or decide to snuggle up and never leave home, here some ways to make the wet weather pass in romantic bliss. We feel like braving the elements for some fun Bubs at the Beach: If you are an active couple at the beach, used to surfing, wakeboarding, and running along the sand, rain can be a major bummer. Give your muscles a rest and exercise your brain (and have a drink or two) in a laid back beachy environment with entertaining games like shuffleboard, Jenga, Connect Four, Cards Against Humanity, UNO, Sorry!, Hedbanz, and more. 1030 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, 858.270.7269, bubspb.com Coin Haus: You may have bolted to the arcade as a kid on a rainy day, but now that youre all grown up, only a beercade will do for a wet weather date. You and your competitive sweetheart can play the day away with over 30 video games, including Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, and Frogger, Ghostbusters, and the pinball Game of Thrones. Along with 40 self-serve choices of craft beers, wine, Boochcraft Kombucha and cold brew coffee, its a rainy day date made in heaven. Make sure for this date you call an Uber or Lyft. 8361 Allison Ave., La Mesa, 619.741.2288, cohnrestaurants.com/coinhaus Alex Shaw and Julia Paulescu, the September 2016 blind date couple, at Coin Haus in La Mesa. (Rick Nocon) (Rick Nocon / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Giardino Neighborhood Cucina Cooking Classes: One thing we all love to do when it rains is eat. Now you can be a little more productive than lying on the couch with a bucket of ice cream and a bottle of wine. Grab your honey, and head to Lemon Grove to learn a new skill with cooking classes where Chef Marco will teach you to make pastas, including fettuccine and gnocchi. $25 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 619.825.7112, giardinosd.com For more ideas, like indoor rock climbing and axe throwing dates, check out our top physical dates around San Diego. Nah, were staying indoors Beer, wine, and spirit delivery: Sometimes we just want to snuggle up on the couch, under blankets, and show some love indoors, right? For delivery in only one hour, you can get beer, wine and spirits via the closest local Keg n Bottle store, if you are an Amazon Prime member. No membership? Go for Mini Bar Delivery , also sourcing multiple Keg n Bottle locations around the county, plus Golden Hill Market & Liquor and Servall Liquor on University Avenue in Hillcrest. They promise deliveries in 30-60 minutes. Torrey Holistics: Invite Mary Jane to join your rainy day date. With legalization in full swing, you can now have cannabis delivered to your door. Torrey Holistics is a veritable marijuana and CBD wonderland, and you and your bae can spend half your date selecting which strain you want. If you live in the San Diego city limits, order online and expect delivery in 1-2 hours. Delivery is available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday with last call at 8 p.m. 10671 Roselle St. #100, Sorrento Valley, 858.558.1420, torreyholistics.com Torrey Holistics, one of San Diegos legal medical marijuana dispensaries Cookie delivery: Its raining, youve got the munchies, and theres nothing like fresh baked cookies to satisfy the craving. Surprise your sweetheart with decadent treats by the popular cookie shop The Cravory by heading to Eat24 Grubhub for delivery. Mouthwatering selections include the Almond Joyous, Salted Caramel Cream, Red Velvet, Birthday Cake, and Chocolate Truffle. Head to the Cravory website for other tempting combos and their monthly subscriptions. Point Loma: 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd., 619.795.9077; Carlsbad: 2675 Gateway Rd #103, 442.325.1737, thecravory.com If you agree that a womans place is in the brew house, check out Dos Californias Brewsters. These female brewers from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border will gather in Tijuana on Feb. 2 to make their second beer. The first beer debuted at the 2018 Ensenada Beer Festival, and sales funded scholarships for four women studying brewing at Tijuanas Instituto de Tecnologico de Tijuana (ITT). This endeavor has been incredibly meaningful, said Melody Crisp, one of the U.S. members, and with the current turmoil at the border, its been awesome to have a positive story of women helping women with no walls to stop us. The Brewsters current project, a pale ale, was supported by donations from San Diegos White Labs and YCH Hops of Yakima, Wash. Brewing starts 9 a.m. inside Telefonica Gastro Park, 8924 Blvd. Aguacaliente, in Tijuanas Colonia Zonaeste. That location is a symbol of binational fermentation its the Baja California brewing site of SouthNorte, San Diegos Mexican-inspired brewery. Dos Brewsters is taking 2019 scholarship applications at doscaliforniasbrewsters.com/apply. Congratulations to Chuck Warner for winning the top spot. He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Thanks to all those who participated. Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck! Winner I knew this Groupon was too good to be true. Chuck Warner, San Diego Finalists Theres an extra banana in it for you if you trim the sideburns. David De Vore, Encinitas Advertisement Ill pass on the full-body flea scan. Shirley Miller, San Diego So the whole peanut allergy thing shut down your other business? Kevin Hippensteel, Santee Please dont use your feet this time. Jeff Erickson, San Marcos A little off the top and no monkey business. Steve Lake, Carlsbad Whaddaya mean Oops? Dennis Romero, Ramona You say you went to the Vidal Baboon School of Haircutting? Scott Coye, Temecula May I ask who does your hair? Carl Kruse, Poway On second thought, put down those scissors ... just a comb-through. Audrey Matula, San Diego Advertisement Yes, Im interested in buying one of your ChimpClips franchises. Ken Turek, San Diego My mother told me to never trust a skinny chef or a hairy barber. Grant Sitton, Jamul Ill leave the styling to you. Just dont go bananas. George Oswell, Bonita I said I like coming back here. Not I like combing back hair. Richard Strell, online submission Advertisement K-12 Im just curious, George ... have you done this before? James Bonadeo, third grade, Saint James Academy I knew there was something bananas about this place when I walked in. Ben Phillips, fourth grade, Paloma Elementary A monkey could do better than ... oh. Brynn Sablan, 11th grade, El Camino High School I dont need a haircut ... you do. Noah Pettit, preschool, Coronado Advertisement Next weeks cartoon (Steve Breen) To enter, email entries to cartooncontest@sduniontribune.com by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. View last weeks winners. Schultz is what Trump only pretends to be Re Howard Schultz for president? His focus on national debt, at least, is needed (Jan. 28): Howard Schultz vs. Donald Trump: Dont equate these two businessmen. One was born into money, inherited millions from his dad and proceeded to take businesses bankrupt a number of times. The other was born in the projects in Brooklyn, worked hard and grew a successful business all the while showing care and compassion for his employees by providing health insurance, college scholarships, etc. You tell me the difference. Jan Rochon Advertisement Hillcrest Candidates must focus on winning strategy Widening income equality is one of the serious issues in this country. Nobody should go bankrupt by seeking higher education or getting sick. Current Democratic presidential candidates propose various agendas to combat this problem. Some policies such as free college, job guarantee or eliminating private health insurance companies sound appealing but not attainable considering the cost and the current economic and political system. Howard Schultz, a long-time Democrat, has been suggesting he will run as an independent by pointing out the ongoing trend of the party turning to more socialistic ideas. Many Democrats are mad as his candidacy is most likely to tip the scale in the next election favoring Trump. The election is more than 600 days away. What Democrats should do right now is to exchange views to build more pragmatic platform so that the party attract independents as well as Republicans who despise their president. Rie Joyce Advertisement Chula Vista 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. It is the symbol of our divided times, but Americans can only consider the arc of President Donald Trumps border wall from his first BUILD A WALL! tweet on Aug. 5, 2014, through the 35-day government shutdown that ended on Jan. 25 with Congress resisting Trumps call for $5.7 billion for a more secure barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. All this wall talk has prevented nuanced, necessary debates about border security and immigration. Such as on staffing levels of the Border Patrol and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In his first week in office, Trump signed orders calling for 5,000 more Border Patrol positions and 10,000 more ICE positions than were already authorized. You need help, he said, you need more. But as the Los Angeles Times reported last Sunday, the agencies have thousands more vacancies than when Trump signed the orders two years ago. Meanwhile, a 2017 Homeland Security inspector general report has questioned the need for 15,000 new officers. Far from increasing in size, the Border Patrols problems with attrition are so severe that it has only had a net increase of agents once in the past five years a gain of 120 in 2018. While Trump has authorized 26,370 positions, only about 19,600 are now filled. Thats 2,000 less than in 2010 and less than in any one year under President Barack Obama. Advertisement The reasons for recruitment problems are plain. Border Patrol jobs are physically and mentally demanding, relatively dangerous and often in remote areas. Many applicants are weeded out by requirements they take drug and polygraph tests, disclose finances, and pass cognitive, fitness and medical exams and a law enforcement background check. The individuals who qualify for Border Patrol jobs also can readily find other law enforcement positions. As National Public Radio reported in December, there are many police openings across the nation. Between a strong job market offering other career opportunities and criticism of police conduct, the number of sworn peace officers has fallen by about 23,000 since 2013. These factors also make it difficult to retain agents who are hired. Yet instead of taking the obvious step to get and retain more Border Patrol agents proposing better pay and benefits the Trump administration has been mum. (Average compensation for an entry-level agent is $52,583 with some making more or less based on locality, overtime and premium pay.) Recruitment and retention problems are also profound for Immigration and Customs Enforcement even though it pays more than the Border Patrol, doesnt require passage of a polygraph test and has far fewer positions in remote areas. But the agency has only added 1,325 investigators and deportation officers in the two years since Trumps order not even enough to make up for the 800 officers it normally loses to attrition each year. As with Border Patrol agents, ICE agents have other options in law enforcement at agencies that have not been vilified by pro-immigration activists. Trump himself canceled a 2.1 percent pay bump Border Patrol and ICE agents were due in January. Between the changing dynamics of those trying to enter the U.S. (more women and children, fewer single men, more from Central America, fewer Mexicans) and of immigration enforcement (fewer detentions at the border, more inland), the federal government needs to be on top of its game with immigration. But the Border Patrol-ICE hiring fiasco makes a key element of Trumps policy seem like nothing more than bad theater. The next time the president denounces Democrats for not taking border issues seriously, he should look in the mirror. The complexities of border staffing demand more than a sound bite and a short attention span. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Americas tech giants provide essential and beloved services to billions of people around the clock. They play fundamental roles in how life is lived in the modern age. They also profess to be responsible, not cavalier, about their power and the breadth of their impact. Yet these companies face increasing and deserved criticism for their behavior. Apple has long held itself up as a principled force for good, with CEO Tim Cook sniping at other companies for what he sees as their lax commitment to user privacy. But the Silicon Valley companys passivity in response to a shocking technical glitch is unfathomable. Last month, Grant Thompson, a 14-year-old from Arizona, found that he could use FaceTime Apples video chatting software to eavesdrop on others iPhones. When Thompson added a second person to a group FaceTime call, he received audio and video from the first person he called even if the call was never picked up. His mother notified Apple on Jan. 20, sending Apple support a video of what she called a major security flaw. When Apple support didnt respond, she emailed and faxed Apples security team. While she got a pro forma response from Apple, it wasnt until Jan. 28 that Apple acted to fix a problem that exposed tens of millions of Apple users to severe invasions of their privacy. The company only chose to do so after 9to5mac.com, a website devoted to news about Apple, published a post about the flaw. Thats absurd. Does Apple just takes complaints about huge security problems seriously if they make headlines? As cybersecurity expert Patrick Wardle told The New York Times, If these kinds of bugs are slipping through, you have to wonder if there are other problematic bugs that other hackers are exploiting that should have been caught. Advertisement As bad as that was, Apples mistake didnt seem as morally fraught as Facebooks. Internal documents disclosed as a result of a class-action lawsuit showed that for years, the company allowed developers to structure games including Angry Birds, Petville, Wild Ones and Barn Buddy in ways that let children run up hundreds of dollars of charges or more on their parents credit cards without their parents knowledge then refused to provide refunds. The documents showed Facebook knew what was going on calling it, incredibly, friendly fraud and welcomed the revenue from the scam. Facebook says it revised refund rules in 2016 to address this problem. But it didnt respond to questions from the Ars Technica website about why it engaged in such a shabby practice. Sens. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, sent a letter Tuesday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding an explanation as to why his company manipulated children into spending their parents money without permission. They asked for a response by Feb. 19. Good luck with that. As NBC News and others reported last fall, Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, blamed the media and Facebooks press office for critical reports on the companys covering up the extent of Russias use of Facebook to spread disinformation. Executives indifference to issues like this should invite more scrutiny, from consumers and Congress. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion The Los Angeles City Councils decision to launch a $120 million pilot program to ask developers for strategies that cut the astounding cost of publicly subsidized affordable housing has great potential and could be a model for other cities, if on a smaller scale. The per-unit cost of building a 100-unit subsidized project is nearing a staggering $425,000 in California and per-unit costs can eclipse $550,000. Developers of such housing patiently explain why that cost is so high heavy regulations, the price of land, union labor requirements and more. But while these reasons may be valid, theres got to be a better way to address Californias brutal housing crisis. The New York Times noted last week that billions of dollars have been invested in start-up companies that hope to reinvent housing. One of the companies Silicon Valley-based Katerra sees great promise in prefabricated housing. Meanwhile, San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez has outlined an ambitious agenda that includes continuing to develop innovative housing solutions. San Diego leaders should also work with developers to find new ways to radically transform the affordable housing industry. A 2018 report from the Next 10 think tank warned that high housing costs mean businesses will struggle to attract and retain workers. As bad as the housing crisis is now, its impact could get far worse. Advertisement Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Someone once said, Its not the years in your life that count. Its the life in your years. Its been over two decades since I have seen my mother since July 1996 and I cant help but look back over those past 22 years and wonder what my life wouldve been like growing up with her. My mother and I are not separated by choice. We fled Somalia when I was 5, running for our lives in the midst of a civil war. I came to the U.S. without my mother. I was young, but old enough to feel the impact of her absence. And 22 years later, its not a war or even an ocean that forces our separation. Its our nations president, whose Muslim ban introduced two years ago this week gave the green light to tear families like mine apart. For the record: An earlier version of this commentary misattributed the first quote to Abraham Lincoln. It is actually unclear where the quote originated. Before the Muslim ban, I never doubted that my mother would soon be rejoined with me: her eldest son, her pride and joy. After the summer of 2014, the same summer I received my citizenship, I made it my mission to bring my mother here to the United States. Without hesitation I applied for her visa, so we could regain the years we lost to time. Two years ago this week, when Trump first introduced the Muslim ban, we were horrified. We had already jumped through all the bureaucratic hoops, from the original visa application to supplying my mothers DNA evidence. But we continued to push for my mothers dream of seeing her son. Last August, my mother successfully completed all the requirements for her visa. We were elated, knowing we were just moments away from our dream. Advertisement And then on Oct. 11, 2018, I received the news: Denial under Presidential Proclamation 9645. I was devastated, and worst of all, I had no way to explain this to my mother. How could I tell her she was indefinitely banned from being with me based on nothing more than her nationality? Or that we had no appeal to a process we had trusted, and invested so much heart into? Heartbreak and hopelessness are feelings I have had to navigate before, as a former refugee. But it hit hard, knowing that this moment was shrewdly orchestrated by an administration bent on banning others because of their faith and their homeland. Our story is not unique; there are countless people whose lives the Muslim ban has impacted in ways that should shock the American consciousness. Marwa, a 16-year-old Syrian girl disfigured by a bomb blast, was recently informed that the United States has banned her from seeking the medical treatment she desperately needs. And in the 2 percent of cases that someone is granted a Muslim ban waiver, like the Yemeni mother who was recently granted entry to visit her 2-year-old son on life support, the right to see ones family requires a coordinated online and legal campaign. Ive long been hoping to bring my mother to the U.S., especially now that I have built a life she would be proud of. Ive been very fortunate: I had the opportunity to graduate from San Diego State University, I am happily married, and I have a lovely 9-month-old daughter who my mother desperately wants to meet. But the Muslim ban sends a clear message to all the communities it impacts: the Trump administration does not believe we have the same rights and privileges as other Americans. Trumps Muslim ban runs counter to the values the United States aspires to: religious freedom, and our commitment to affording every human being the respect and dignity they deserve. These are the values I sought when I came here. And they are the ones I ask you to affirm today, two years after the ban was introduced and so many of us flooded airports to refute it. As a first-generation refugee, I have so much hope for my life here. I have hope for my family, for my siblings, my daughter, and, someday, for a reunification with my beloved mother. I still believe we can do better. So on this anniversary of the Muslim ban executive order, picture my mother, far from her family and banned from seeing her son and grandchild. Advertisement I want her to be part of the life of my years, and it will take each and every one of us standing together against the Muslim ban to make that happen. Nur is a Somali-American and the civic engagement manager at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. He lives in San Diego. California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris are vowing to fight President Trumps picks to fill three vacancies on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California, saying the White House dismissed their objections. Trump on Wednesday evening tapped Los Angeles appellate attorney Daniel P. Collins, 56, and Los Angeles litigator Kenneth Kiyul Lee, 43, both of whom he had nominated last year. Because they were not confirmed by the end of the last Congress, their nominations had expired. Trump also nominated Daniel A. Bress, 39, a Washington, D.C.-area partner with Kirkland & Ellis, who was born in California. The 9th Circuit, which covers California and eight other western states, has handed Trump some of his biggest legal losses, and conservatives itching to change its makeup have been surprised that Trump has left the California vacancies open for two years amid his push to fill empty judgeships across the country with young, conservative nominees. Advertisement On Tuesday a critical Wall Street Journal editorial questioned if Trump were softening on choosing conservative judges, saying that making any concessions to Feinstein and Harris would rightly be seen as political weakness. Feinstein, the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Harris, also a member of the committee, have expressed specific concerns about each of the nominees, all of whom were vetted by the senators judicial selection review committees, made up of legal experts, law professors and attorneys in the state. Their objections to Collins were over issues of his temperament and rigidity, the senators said in a statement. We were told that Mr. Collins has a history of taking strong litigation positions for no reason other than attempting to overturn precedent and push legal boundaries. This should be a concern to all senators, they said. Collins was counsel for a conservative think tank, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, when it argued in an amicus brief in Sebelius vs. Hobby Lobby that for-profit corporations have religious liberty rights. The Supreme Court agreed in 2014 that the crafts chain had a religious right to refuse to provide certain kinds of birth control coverage as part of its employee benefits despite a federal mandate to do so under Obamacare. Regarding Lee, the senators complained that he did not turn over controversial writings to the review committees when he was being examined. Journalists and Senate staff later uncovered them. The writings themselves outlined extreme views on a number of important issues like affirmative action and voting rights, the senators said. In 2007, Lee co-authored an article for a Federalist Society publication Engage in which he argued that states should not restore voting rights to felons who have served their time, stating that society deems felons to be less trustworthy and responsible than non-felon citizens, and those who cannot follow the law should not participate in the passing of laws that govern law-abiding citizens. Advertisement Lee has also written extensively about Asian Americans and affirmative action. In a 1996 New Republic article, Lee wrote that Asian Americans were caught between policies that limit their admission to select colleges and opportunistic conservatives trying to woo the Angry Yellow Male vote. In a 1993 opinion piece in the Orange County Register about affirmative action quotas, he derided schools for teaching homosexuality, anal sex, and other gobbledygook to children. Feinstein and Harris said their objection to Bress is that he lives in Washington, D.C., not California, is quite young and has no judicial experience. Bress was named to fill the 9th Circuit spot Trump had originally tagged for Patrick J. Bumatay, then the assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California. After Californias senators raised concerns about Bumatays lack of experience, Trump instead nominated him for a position on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Neither senator has raised concerns about his nomination to the lower court, nor about the four other California district court nominations Trump made Wednesday. Historically, U.S. senators have held an informal veto power over a presidents judicial nominees on their home turf. But for the first time, the Trump administration and the GOP-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee have proceeded with confirming nominees even when home-state senators have not returned a so-called blue slip of approval. Advertisement Nominations for the California vacancies on the 9th Circuit were held up for most of the past two years as the administration negotiated with Feinstein and Harris. As the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Feinstein may have been afforded more deference, at least for a while. But in October, Lee, Collins and Bumatay were nominated without warning to Feinstein and Harris. The White House accused Feinstein and Harris of dragging their feet in talks. Harris said Thursday she would not return her blue slips signing off on any of the three new 9th Circuit nominees, as she and Feinstein said they would last year. Harris added that she will oppose all appellate nominees until a fair process is in place to pick nominees. This administration is packing the court that protected Dreamers from deportation and blocked the unconstitutional transgender military ban. We need nominees who will uphold equality and justice, Harris said on Twitter. Advertisement Feinstein said she is likewise not inclined to return her blue slips. Last year then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) moved forward on multiple judge nominations despite the objections of their home-state senators. It is not yet clear whether the new chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), will follow Grassleys lead, or if hes planning to extend any special deference to Feinstein. He has scheduled confirmation hearings for other nominees whose home-state senators have not returned blue slips, and he praised Trumps selections in a statement Thursday saying they are highly qualified nominees and I am hopeful they will receive wide bipartisan support. The latest from Washington Advertisement More stories from Sarah D. Wire The federal judge overseeing the criminal case against longtime Trump friend Roger Stone said Friday she is considering whether to impose a gag order after Stone went on a week-long media blitz to discuss the allegations against him. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told prosecutors and Stones attorneys to file any opposition to such a directive by next Friday. Stone, a political operative who relishes press attention, has said he worries about a possible gag order because his career is in speaking and writing. Jacksons comment came as Stone returned to federal court in Washington on Friday for a scheduling hearing after pleading not guilty this week to charges in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. The judge said Stone might have been justified in making his position clear after his arrest, but added that she needed to ensure he received a fair trial. Advertisement This is a criminal proceeding, not a public-relations campaign, Jackson said, threatening to cut off public comments by parties and attorneys about the case. I believe its better for counsel and parties to do their talking in pleadings, not on courthouse steps, not on the talk show circuit. Stone, 66, a longtime GOP operative and self-described dirty trickster, entered Courtroom 3 wearing a charcoal gray suit with broad pinstripes and a billowing paisley pocket square. He sat with two lawyers to his right at the defendants table. After he the hearing, he declined to say to a reporter what he thought of a potential gag order. They told me no interviews in the building, he said, grinning. Asked if hed be speaking outside, he said, No, too dangerous. Stone is charged with lying about his efforts to gather information concerning hacked Democratic Party emails that were published by the WikiLeaks organization. Stone has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the charges. A gag order would not be entirely surprising; Jackson issued such a directive during Muellers prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which was a similarly high-profile case. But muzzling Stone might be more consequential. In the months he has been under investigation, Stone has given numerous interviews, and has vigorously attacked prosecutors case as he has sought to raise money for his defense. As recently as Thursday, he hosted a news conference to take questions from reporters. Advertisement Jackson told Stone that prosecutors could use anything he said in public about his case against him, including by comparing it to previous statements. She also said that if Stone continues to speak out on his case, journalists could reasonably feel obligated to repeat the charges and evidence against him. Right now, I believe we will be able to seat an unbiased jury, Jackson said. But the upshot of Stones statements and coverage of them could be that we end up with an even larger percentage the of jury pool tainted by publicity than we have now. The judge said she was not contemplating limiting Stones public commentary on other matters unrelated to the subjects of the case. He can discuss foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady as much as he wants to, Jackson said. Advertisement It remains unclear how soon Stone could go to trial. Prosecutors said they had discussed possible October dates with Stones defense, but Jackson said she was hoping for July. She set another hearing date in the case for March 14. Stone spoke aloud twice during the 20-minute hearing. Yes, your honor, he said when she asked if he could hear a bench conference through earphone. I do, he said later, swearing to abide by the conditions of his pretrial release. Advertisement Ahead of Fridays hearing, prosecutors and Stones defense lawyers agreed in court filings on a proposed protective order to keep secret evidence turned over by the government, and to waive Stones normal speedy trial rights, citing the cases complexity. The government said it will provide the defense with hard drives containing terabytes of data, including search warrants for Apple iCloud accounts and email accounts, bank and financial records, and contents of Stones devices such as cellphones, computers and storage drives spanning several years. The government said it also plans to turn over the contents of devices seized last week from Stones home, apartment and office. Stone is free on a $250,000 personal recognizance bond on the condition that he not possess or apply for a passport and not travel outside southern Florida, the Washington area and New York City. Advertisement Prosecutors charge that in 2016, Stone repeatedly sought to learn when potentially damaging internal emails from Hillary Clintons campaign would be released. By itself, those actions may not constitute a crime, but Stone is accused of lying to Congress when asked about the efforts. He also is charged with obstruction and witness tampering. U.S. authorities in July indicted a dozen Russian military intelligence officers on charges they hacked Democrats computers, stole data and shared those files to disrupt the 2016 election. In Stones indictment, prosecutors charged that after the initial July 22, 2016, release of stolen emails, a senior Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1" had regarding the Clinton campaign. The indictment does not name the campaign official or who directed the alleged outreach to Stone. People familiar with the case identified Organization 1" as WikiLeaks, the global anti-secrecy group founded by Julian Assange. Advertisement Stone has repeatedly denied any contact with Russia or WikiLeaks. He has said that he had no advance knowledge of what material WikiLeaks held and that predictions he made about the groups plans were based on Assanges public comments and tips from associates. Stone and WikiLeaks and Assange have said they never communicated with each other. In a Thursday interview with the New York Times, the newspaper reported that Trump said he never spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks and the stolen emails it posted, and said he never instructed anyone to get in touch with Stone about WikiLeaks. Stone, a veteran GOP operative and friend of Trumps for four decades, briefly advised the presidential campaign in 2015 and remained in contact with Trump and top advisers through the election. Advertisement First published by The Washington Post A 43-year-old man attempted to carjack a woman shortly after she handed over her keys to a valet Thursday night at a hotel in downtown San Diegos Westfield Horton Plaza, police said. The man was arrested shortly after the alleged carjacking attempt, which happened around 8:45 p.m. at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter on Broadway Circle, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said. The victim, a 31-year-old woman, had just handed keys to a 2018 Toyota to the hotels driver when the would-be car thief ran up and demanded the key from the valet, Heims said. The suspect began hitting the valet trying to get the keys , Heims said in a statement. The suspect then demanded the keys from the victim. Advertisement Several bystanders yelled at the suspect to leave the woman alone, and the man fled, Heims said. Patrol officers arrested him a short time later, and robbery detectives were investigating the incident. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com A single-vehicle crash Thursday evening in Rancho Santa Fe seriously injured one man and knocked down a power pole, leaving the injured driver and another motorist trapped for about 45 minutes over fears that downed power lines were energized, authorities said. The crash happened at 4:23 p.m. at El Camino Real near Via Gaviota, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District spokeswoman Julie Taber said. Only one car was involved in the crash, but a woman was also trapped when the power lines fell on her SUV. Crews are responding to the report of a traffic collision with potential wires down near the intersection of El Camino Real and Via Gaviota. Please avoid the area. Rancho Santa Fe Fire (@RSF_Fire) February 1, 2019 Anytime we have downed lines, we assume they are charged, Taber said. Advertisement Wes Jones, a spokesman with San Diego Gas & Electric, said the downed lines were not energized, but that its best to always assume they are, like the Rancho Santa Fe firefighters did. Rancho Santa Fe firefighters wait to approach an SUV with a power line partially wrapped around it on Thursday. The crews could not get close to the scene until SDG&E workers ensured it was safe. The SUV was not involved in the crash that knocked down the power pole. (Courtesy of OnScene TV) SDG&E crews were already on their way to the site, after receiving notice of a power outage in the area, when emergency responders requested their help to remove the downed wires from the vehicles, Jones said. Once the SDG&E crews ensured the scene was safe, firefighters were immediately ready to free the injured driver from his crashed car, Taber said. He was taken to a hospital with serious to critical injuries. There was no immediate information about what caused the car to strike the power line, but the California Highway Patrol was investigating the crash, Taber said. The downed wires knocked out power to 322 customers in the area, according to Jones. By about 6:30 p.m., energy was restored to about a third of the customers; the remaining 207 customers were expected to have their power restored by about 9 p.m. Any time there is unexpected contact made with power equipment like when a crash knocks down a pole, or when a mylar balloon hits the wires the system is designed to automatically de-energize the wires, Jones said. But still, first responders and members of the public should treat all downed lines with extreme caution and assume the wires are energized and dangerous. Advertisement Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 Advertisement alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Vague but threatening messages were found written inside bathrooms at two Vista high schools on Thursday, prompting officials to announce increased law enforcement patrols at both schools Friday, authorities said. The first message, described as vague but threatening in nature, was discovered about 8 a.m. inside a boys restroom at Vista High School, San Diego County Sheriffs Sgt. Shane Watts said. Some time later in the day, a similar message that also appeared to be threatening in nature was discovered in a boys bathroom at Rancho Buena Visa High School, according to Watts. There is no evidence to suggest these threats are credible or related, Watts said in a statement. Advertisement Chuck Schindler, principal at Rancho Buena Vista High, sent an email to parents and guardians around 2:30 p.m. calling the incident at his school an unsubstantiated threat. We notified law enforcement right away and they are investigating the incident, Schindler wrote in the email. The safety of our students and staff is a priority and we take all threats seriously. The principal did not elaborate on the content of the message. Schindler said in the email there would be an increased presence of sheriffs deputies from the Vista substation on Friday at the school on Longhorn Drive and South Melrose Drive. Some Vista Unified School District officials were also expected on campus Friday to support the site administration, Schindler said. Watts, the sheriffs sergeant, said there would be increased law enforcement presence at both schools as a precaution. Advertisement Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: Advertisement 8 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the threat against Vista High School. This article was originally published at 4:30 p.m. A group of eight labor unions representing police officers from San Diego to Oceanside filed a lawsuit against their departments seeking to halt the release of internal records of police shootings and officer misconduct that can now be made public under a new state law. The lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court Monday asks a judge to halt release of any records from before Jan. 1, 2019, when the law took effect. The unions contend that the law was not intended to be retroactive an argument made in similar lawsuits from police labor unions in counties around the state. The lawsuit was filed by labor unions representing officers in San Diego, Carlsbad, Coronado, El Cajon, National City, Oceanside, San Diego Harbor Police and San Diego Schools police. A hearing on a request for a stay immediately halting release of records is set for Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court. Judges in Los Angeles, Orange, Contra Costa, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Bernardino counties have granted such stays in lawsuits brought by police labor groups in those counties. Advertisement The suit was filed after some departments, including at least one that is a plaintiff in the suit, have released some of the records in response to Public Records Act requests by media organizations, including The San Diego Union-Tribune. On Wednesday Harbor Police released a complete record of a fatal officer shooting investigation from 2015, and Chula Vista released released records of sexual misconduct by a former officer from 2018. The new law Senate Bill 1421 makes records of of police shootings, use of force, and confirmed instances of lying and sexual assault by officers available under the state Public Records Act. Previously, such records were shielded from public disclosure and could only be obtained in court cases under a restrictive court process laid out in a section of the state Penal Code. The suit says the new law creates a substantial and adverse change to the privacy rights protected under the existing law, and that officers will suffer irreparable injury and damage if records from before Jan. 1 are released. Rick Pinckard, the lawyer for the unions, said the suit does not take issue with the disclosure law but how it is being applied. Were not saying The Legislature cant do this, or that, he said. What were saying is the issue of retroactivity is not addressed in the legislation. Its our position that if the statute was to be retroactive, it should say so. Its that simple. Ultimately, the unions are seeking a court ruling barring release of records from before this year. Since the law became effective, numerous news organizations and other groups have filed public records requests seeking the information. The Union-Tribune has filed requests with every law enforcement department in the county for records going back five years. Advertisement The Harbor Police Department, which is part of the San Diego Unified Port District, was the first to disclose shooting records. Other departments either have not responded or are still processing requests. The records from Harbor police detail the investigation into the fatal shooting of Anthony Ashford, 29, by Officer Sulimoni Ahfook during a struggle near the parking lot of a Holiday Inn on North Harbor Drive. Ahfook, who joined the force in April 2006, was patrolling in the area when he saw Ashford peering into cars. Suspicious, the officer got out of his car and approached Ashford, who refused to stop when Ahfook identified himself. When Ahfook grabbed him, the two got into a struggle. At one point Ashford tugged hard on the officers holster trying to get his gun out, according to the records. The two fell to the ground, then Ashford let go of the holster and was able to get hold of Ahfooks Taser Advertisement Ashford was able to stun Ahfook once, on the back of the neck. After that, Ahfook was able to break free, stand up and draw his weapon. He fired a single fatal shot into Ashfords chest. In May 2016, then-District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said Ahfook acted in self-defense, and the shooting was justified. The letter justifying the shooting noted Ashford had a criminal record dating to 2002, had a long mental health history that included stays at state hospitals, court findings he was not mentally competent and several suicide attempts. An Internal Affairs report included in the records show that all of Ahfooks actions were deemed to be within department policy and training. Advertisement Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com San Diego police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with a double shooting in City Heights that left one man dead three days before Christmas, officials said Thursday. Mason Williams was arrested on Wednesday and booked into jail on suspicion of murder in the Dec. 22 slaying of 31-year-old Dionte Floyd, San Diego police homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree said. Williams is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Superior Court. A second man who also was shot, identified only as a 38-year-old man, survived. Police said that shortly before the shooting, the two victims had been involved in an altercation with another group of men outside Aztec Liquor, near the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and 52nd Street. Around 6 p.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire and found the two men lying on the ground, suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. Advertisement Bullet casings were found all over the parking lot of the shopping center where the liquor store is located, Dupree said at the time. He also said there were a lot of witnesses. Dupree said Williams was identified as a suspect during the investigation and arrested Wednesday somewhere in public or on the street, not at a residence. He said detectives are still investigating whether there were additional suspects. The lieutenant would not comment on a possible motive in the case, saying detectives are still investigating whether Williams and the victims knew each other. Police asked anyone with information about the case to call the homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Twitter: @karenkucher Advertisement (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew flew an ailing man from a cruise ship about 200 miles off shore to San Diego, where he was taken to a hospital Thursday, Coast Guard officials said. About 9:30 a.m., Coast Guard officials in San Diego got a call from the Norwegian Star, reporting that the man appeared to be having heart problems and asking for help. The cruise ship was more than 300 miles from shore, but sailed toward the coast to met up with a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter . The crew lowered a rescue swimmer to the cruise ship, where the rescuer tended to the patient and helped get him secured into a basket to be hoisted up to the hovering helicopter. Advertisement They flew the ailing man back to San Diego about 5 p.m., where waiting medics took him to a hospital. Coast Guard officials said he was in stable condition. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT A Chula Vista police officer resigned to avoid being fired last year after he had sex on duty on a hilltop that community members have complained for years is plagued by illegal activity, including teenagers having sex in public. The incident and the reports associated with it were released under Senate Bill 1421, a law that made some previously confidential police records available to the public, including instances of sexual misconduct, dishonesty while reporting or investigating a crime and officer-involved shootings. The San Diego Union-Tribune has requested these records from all local police agencies and will publish them as they are received. A group of eight labor unions representing police officers from San Diego to Oceanside filed a lawsuit Monday against their departments seeking to halt the release of the newly public records, but several agencies have already turned over files. Advertisement According to the records released recently, the Chula Vista incident happened about 4:30 a.m. April 8 near Moonview Drive and Windrose Way. The records revealed that Officer Michael Ingley and an unnamed woman walked up a nearby hill where they had sex. The incident led to an outcry among nearby residents who have long complained to the department about the criminal activity that takes place in the area. They dont go up the hill when we call with trouble up there, but over the weekend one officer in his patrol car met his honey at 4 a.m. and they both went up the hill for about 25 minutes, one resident said in a text included in the report. Its called priorities. Another read, The cops only go up the hill when they are getting some action. Over the years, the city of Chula Vista and the department have tried to implement measures to crack down on illegal acts in the area by putting up additional street lights, painting nearby curbs red, adding signs that limit parking time and sending officers to the area regularly. According to the report, it was Ingleys idea to go to the area to have sex, despite knowing of the existing problems. He also used his computer assisted dispatch system to place himself on extra patrol, which would signal to his supervisors that he was checking on the location. A resident notified the department of the incident the next day, and an investigation was launched. According to police interviews with Ingley and the woman, the two met on a dating website called plentyoffish.com. They had met up twice before, but never while Ingley was on duty. Both told investigators the sex was consensual and no money was exchanged. The relationship ended soon afterward. Advertisement The incident is still considered sexual misconduct because Ingley was on duty at the time, which is why the record was released under SB 1421. Ingley explained in an interview with investigators that the pair had initially planned to meet for food and that the decision to head up the hill was impulsive, regrettable and made during a low point in his life. On Thursday, Ingley told a Union-Tribune reporter by phone that its a decision hell regret for the rest of his life. The department determined Ingley violated five city and department policies including engaging in on-duty sexual activity, engaging in criminal, dishonest or disgraceful conduct and engaging in conduct that could discredit the department. Police leaders ultimately decided to terminate Ingley. Advertisement Your actions in this matter are incompatible with and contrary to being a police officer and support the termination, said Chief Roxanna Kennedy in her decision to fire Ingley. The City, Department, and Public demand and expect more of a Chula Vista Police Officer. Captain Vern Sallee, who recommended Ingley be terminated, elaborated on why he felt the firing was appropriate, according to transcripts from a hearing, during which public employees, including police officers, are given an opportunity to contest disciplinary actions taken against them. Sallee said while he appreciated Ingleys honesty during the investigation, he felt it was imperative to consider the discretion through the lens of the national conversation taking place about trust and transparency between communities and police departments. We work hard every day to build (these relationships,) to show that our officers are, are righteous, upstanding citizens that can be trusted to have the absolute best judgment possible to handle any incident that could occur in the public, said Sallee, according to court transcripts. All the good work of 230 plus officers in this organization is, is tainted by a, a bad, granted a very bad, lapse of judgment that night. Advertisement The city later agreed to let Ingley resign, which took effect on Nov. 30. Advertisement Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com About a year after it started seeking gun violence restraining orders, the San Diego City Attorneys Office said Thursday it has secured 100 such orders, which let authorities take firearms from people found to pose a threat. Fourteen of the cases involved people who made threats of violence at work or in school. Ten involved people juveniles and adults who used social media to make threats. Eighteen of the people ordered to give up weapons had mental health issues, including dementia and post-traumatic stress disorder. And more than one-third of the cases were linked to domestic violence or stalking, according to the City Attorneys Office. Its hard to know how many lives weve saved by removing firearms from unstable, irresponsible, and dangerous gun owners, City Attorney Mara Elliott said in a statement released Thursday. Advertisement But San Diego continues to rank among Americas safest big cities, in part, because its leaders take seriously our responsibility to recognize red flags and prevent predictable gun violence. In January 2016, state law changed to allow family members, roommates and law enforcement officers to ask a court to remove access to firearms and ammunition for people who pose significant danger to themselves or others. The restraining orders require the gun owners to surrender or sell the firearms, and bar them from having guns or ammunition for a year. In San Diego, the first such order was granted on Jan. 3, 2018. Since then, the office said Thursday, 269 guns including more than a dozen rifles as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition had been confiscated or surrendered as a result of the orders. Twenty of the restraining orders were obtained within the last month, the office said. Among those recently ordered to give up a weapon and bullets was a man who had threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend they had dated three months and her family, according to Elliotts office. The man also had repeatedly showed up at the victims home in the early morning hours, incessantly ringing her doorbell, officials said. The victim believed the man had been using methamphetamine when he made the death threats. Advertisement Elliotts office has said she made the program a priority after she came to office at the end of 2016. City prosecutors worked with San Diego police and court officials. By the end of 2017, the City Attorneys Office launched its gun violence restraining order program. San Diego city police and prosecutors have also teamed up to train other agencies in the state on how to obtain gun violence restraining orders. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials in San Diego Thursday touted a proposed $25 million in state funding to address a growing humanitarian crisis involving migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. and blamed the Trump administration for manufacturing a problem at the border. With prodding from San Diego lawmakers, Newsom called for spending $20 million over three years to aid local nonprofits and community organizations that serve asylum-seeking migrant families. The funds would be available beginning in July. The governor also asked the Legislature for another $5 million in immediate funding, which the Assembly is expected to vote on early next week. Unfortunately, [for] the current administration, this is self-induced, Newsom said of border conditions, during the press conference in San Diego. Its a policy they advanced in October that have made the conditions not only worse here in California but have been highlighted in places like El Paso and elsewhere where they are having exactly the same kind of challenges. Advertisement Although critical to nonprofits working to provide services to an influx of Central American migrant families arriving in San Diego, the proposed spending comprises a small fraction of Newsoms $209-billion state budget, which he unveiled earlier this month. The funding is expected to help the San Diego Rapid Response Network a coalition of more than two dozen nonprofits to provide shelter, food and other services to asylum seekers being released onto city streets. Thursdays trip served as another opportunity for Newsom to highlight the stark divide on immigration policy between California and the Trump administration. Hes trying to address a real problem but hes also very clearly trying to point a finger at the Trump administration by saying, Not on my watch; not on Californias watch, said Brad Jones, a UC Davis professor of political science, of Newsom. Members of the San Diego Rapid Response Network have criticized the Trump administrations treatment of refugees at the border. Prior to last fall, the federal government processed and held asylum-seeking families for up to several days while helping them make travel arrangements with sponsors, mostly in other states. In October the Trump administration ended the so-called safe release policy and began releasing migrants before they connected with sponsors. The administration has also registered asylum-seekers more slowly, creating a bottleneck at the border, said Kevin Malone, executive director of the San Diego Organizing Project, a member of the coalition. Its a manufactured crisis to feed this narrative of crisis at the border, Malone said. Advertisement Newsom standing next to several state and local officials, including Senate leader Toni Atkins, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and San Diego County Supervisors Nathan Fletcher and Greg Cox applauded community groups and nonprofits for taking action to address the problem and said the state only intervened after the groups stepped up. We could sit here and play the jurisdictional whack-a-mole all day, he said. This is a community thats stepped up, thats taken account, taken responsibility for the human condition. As a handful of protestors, one wearing a Make America Great Again hat, gathered outside, Newsom stressed that migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. are following immigration law. Newsoms focus on helping immigrants includes a budget proposal to expand Medi-Cal coverage in California to young immigrant adults without legal status under age 26 at a cost of $260 million next year in a move that drew criticism from Washington. Advertisement Newsom is really trying to put California on the map in terms of doubling down on pro-immigration, pro-immigrant policies that are squarely opposed by Donald Trump, Jones said. The president took to Twitter Thursday to lament an increase in murders in Mexico last year. This is a big contributor to the Humanitarian Crisis taking place on our Southern Border and then spreading throughout our Country, Trump tweeted. Worse even than Afghanistan. Much caused by DRUGS. Wall is being built! At the same time, Trumps administration is taking a new stance that those who apply for asylum must remain in Mexico as the U.S. makes a determination on their cases. Advertisement Nonprofits have sought to provide shelter to immigrants with little financial help from the state or local government. Representatives of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which operates a shelter to house migrants, said the organization has moved the shelter to five different locations since first opening last fall. The facility shelters asylum seekers for less than 72 hours, before they travel to meet family members outside of San Diego. The San Diego Rapid Response Network has so far assisted more than 5,000 migrants with transportation assistance and humanitarian aid. Malone said the coalition worked closely with Atkins (D-San Diego) and Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to draw Newsoms attention to the problem. Advertisement In late November, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials warned the coalition that more than 200 people would be processed and released in a single day, Malone said. The shelter was already housing at least 60 migrants when another 170 arrived. The next morning, then-Gov.-elect Newsom visited the shelter, which was then housed at a Salvation Army. Malone called it serendipitous. He and the first partner and his chief of staff showed up at our shelter on the worst day, Malone said. The guy teared up. It was real. He was walking around seeing these tiny little children and families everywhere. He committed right there. They both felt it. Weeks later, at a press conference to unveil his budget, the governor talked about meeting a 3-year-old girl a year younger than his son Dutch at the shelter who touched his heart. Advertisement Since then the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday agreed to let a vacant family courthouse be used as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers. Under the agreement with Jewish Family Service, the nonprofits will operate the shelter until the end of the year. Newsom toured the site Thursday. The San Diego Rapid Response Network said the $5 million in immediate state funds would help cover costs of opening, operating and maintaining the shelter through the end of the year. Malone said the group hopes some of the proposed $20 million, which will likely be shared with other nonprofits, can be used to establish a long-term fix and fund a permanent shelter in the years to come.Supervisor Greg Cox he was encouraged by the collaboration and by the governor, who said he is interested in looking at state-owned properties that could be used as shelters. I think that by working together were coming up with some workable solutions, Cox said. Advertisement Taryn Luna reported from Sacramento. Charles Clark, a staff writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, reported from San Diego. More stories from Taryn Luna taryn.luna@latimes.com Follow @tarynluna on Twitter and sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter. The San Diego Humane Society, which doubled in size last summer when it took over animal services for San Diego and five other cities, says the transition has been smooth so far despite a few challenges. There was a mold outbreak in an animal shelter, problems with transferring records, delays in licensing animals, and complaints from residents in southern San Diego about the Humane Societys lack of a South Bay facility. But Humane Society and San Diego city officials told the City Councils Budget Committee Thursday that they have been pleased with the takeover, which was prompted by the county ceasing to provide animal services after 47 years. The record-transferring problems are nearly solved, the pace of licensing has quickened and the live release rate for animals has been higher than city targets, said Christiana Gauger, who oversees the contract with the Humane Society. Advertisement Gauger, a city program manager, also said she expects the addition of a South Bay facility to be part of negotiations later this year to extend the Humane Societys contract with the city, which is scheduled to expire in December. Its not a one-sided interest, Gauger said of a potential South Bay facility. Its something the Humane Society has talked about as well. It makes sense for everybody. The nonprofit now operates satellite facilities in Oceanside and Escondido and a main headquarters on Gaines Street in Linda Vista. San Diego residents in the South Bay area must drive north to Linda Vista for animal services. Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, whose district includes the South Bay, said San Diego must prioritize a Humane Society facility there. South Bay residents are known as the red-headed stepchildren of the city of San Diego and I want to make sure that stops, Moreno said. Guager said key questions about a South Bay site are how can we have a presence down there and what will it look like. The live release rate, or the rate of animals saved versus those that are euthanized or die on their own, was 89 percent for city animals during the first three months of the takeover and 98.6 percent during the second three months. Gauger said thats well above the 85 percent target set by city officials when they chose the Humane Society to take over for the county last April. Advertisement In addition to San Diego, the nonprofit took over animal services on July 1 for Carlsbad, Encinitas, Santee, Solana Beach and Del Mar. The takeover required the Humane Society hire more than 200 people, add new facilities and nearly double its annual budget to $50 million. That follows the Humane Society taking over animal services for Oceanside and Vista in 2010, Escondido, San Marcos and Poway in 2014, and Imperial Beach in 2017. The only cities not served by the Humane Society are Coronado, which has its own nonprofit provider; El Cajon and La Mesa, which are handled by El Cajon; and Chula Vista, National City and Lemon Grove, which Chula Vista handles. Advertisement Some unincorporated areas of the county are still served by a small version of county animal control that survived the transition. It operates facilities in Carlsbad and Bonita. Gary Weitman, the Humane Societys chief executive, told the San Diego councils Budget Committee that he is upbeat about the transition and excited about the future. Thank you for trusting us and giving us this honor to take care of animals here, he said. The services provided by the Humane Society include animal sheltering, pet licensing, veterinary care and field operations, which typically involves responding to incidents with its staff of 51 animal control officers. Advertisement The problems during the transition began when mold was found in August in a city-owned shelter that had been operated by the county for many years. The Humane Society spent $3,300 solving the problem. Another challenge was the county and the Humane Society using different computer software systems, which slowed down pet licensing and transferring data on animal services. Gauger said those problems have been solved and officials have moved on to software challenges in data regarding animal control officers, including their average response times to incidents. Its more complex; there are a lot of detailed field notes there, she said. The county is working on that with us, and we hope to have that resolved shortly. Advertisement Gauger said she expects to present the council with a contract extension by the end of 2019. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick omersukrugoksu/iStock(PRETORIA, South Africa) -- Three teenagers have died and five more were listed in critical condition after a bridge linking classrooms at a school in South Africa collapsed. The incident occurred in Vanderbijlpark, a city about 40 miles south of Johannesburg. Panyaza Lesufi, the head of the Gauteng Province Education Department, told ABC News that 26 other schoolchildren were injured when the walkway collapsed. "We've shut down the school until further notice to investigate how this could have happened," Lesufi said. Lesufi also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased pupils, who ranged in age from 14 to 17. Three of the critically injured students were airlifted to the hospital, a spokesperson for Netcare 911, an emergency response company, told ABC News. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, authorities said. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The litany of cooperating witnesses against Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was a collection of scum, utter animals and lunatics, the Mexican drug lords lawyer told jurors Thursday. And still, he said, they were something worse: liars. With great dramatic flourish, defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman gave a closing argument that lasted more than four hours, trying, one last time, to cast doubt on the monumental drug-trafficking case against his client. Lichtmans narrative, one defense lawyers have pushed throughout the trial, was clear: The sweeping evidence prosecutors presented over 11 weeks was based on lies, and liars. Advertisement The U.S. government was willing to do anything to take down the infamous Guzman, he argued. Another man was the real mastermind of the violent, multibillion-dollar Sinaloa cartel, Lichtman said; Guzman was just the fall guy. And the 14 cooperating witnesses most former cartel higher-ups were nothing more than a rogues gallery of brutal drug dealers who had clear incentive to lie: If they gave the government what it wanted, they could get out of prison. If you dont believe all cooperators, you cant convict Mr. Guzman, Lichtman said, his voice booming. And how, on Earth, could they believe these witnesses? Are these people theyd buy a used car from? Would they let them babysit their children? he asked. Of course not! he said. The car would break down, and your kid would be sold for a kilo of cocaine. Lichtman seemed intent on entertaining the jurors, whove sat through months of details about hundreds of drug deals and warring narcotics gangs. He did manage to get some smiles, including when he became animated while mocking a cooperating witness, a bottomless pit of immorality who had undergone plastic surgery. He butchered his face and his ears! to avoid getting caught. Thats what a real drug kingpin looks like; that guy is scary, he said. The defense argument followed the prosecutions closing on Wednesday, when U.S. Assistant Atty. Andrea Goldbarg said the avalanche of evidence left no doubt as to who the boss of the cartel was: the man with the escape tunnels and diamond-encrusted pistol, Guzman. Advertisement The 61-year-old Guzman faces 10 criminal counts. Hes accused of selling hundreds of tons of cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana; conspiring to murder a slew of rivals; and running one of the worlds largest international drug networks.The jury is expected to begin deliberating Monday. Lichtman asked jurors: If the prosecutions evidence is so good, why do they have to put these liars on the stand? The governments real strategy, he said, was counting on the jury having blind faith in all their evidence. Were the government, what we say counts! Come on, lets go home convict him! he mocked. Of course, he said, the jurors were too smart for that. They know the government can be corrupt, even the American government and theyve seen during the trial how corruption fueled the drug trade from Mexico, he said. Advertisement He emphasized over and over that the drug dealers and murderers that corroborated evidence were getting crazy sweetheart deals from the U.S. government. Spoiler alert, he said in a whisper: They will all be set free from jail for helping to capture the mythic El Chapo. Did you even know they give these deals for such bad people? Is that the country you thought you were living in? he asked. What do you think would happen if you broke the rules? You better hope you have a Chapo to turn on. And there was one man whod been especially lucky from turning on Guzman, Lichtman said, a man he called the puppeteer Guzmans purported partner, Ismael El Mayo Zambada. Advertisement Zambadas closest associates, including his sons, have been arrested and one of them testified at Guzmans trial but Zambada manages to still be on the loose, he said. All these years, hes the biggest drug trafficker in Mexico. They have his phone numbers, his coordinates, and they cant find him, Lichtman said. Guzman was the rabbit that Mexican authorities have been chasing to Mayos benefit for years. In reality, Lichtman argued, Guzman was in debt and far from the cartels leader, but because of the prison breaks he was all over the news, while Zambada operated in the shadows. The defense attorney offered this theory about a witness testimony that Guzman had paid a $100-million bribe to then-Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto: It was Zambada who paid that money. The less famous cartel boss bribed everyone from beat cops to presidents and thats why hes never been arrested, Lichtman said. Advertisement Why would Guzman, who was in hiding and in debt, he asked, pay money he didnt have to a president who would end up having him arrested and sent to the U.S. to face trial? At one point, he walked over the Guzman and implored jurors to remember that the defendant was a human being and he has feelings too. With his voice breaking, he told jurors: You dont have to give into the myth of El Chapo and just convict. Assistant U.S. Atty. Amanda Liskamm gave the prosecutions rebuttal, telling the jury: In order to believe the defense, you have to believe that the defendant is the unluckiest man in the world. You have to believe that the 14 cooperating witnesses from all different periods of the Sinaloa cartel all got together to come up with this story. Advertisement The defense is pointing fingers everywhere but where the evidence points to the defendant. A photo from Gov. Ralph Northams medical school yearbook shows him and another person in racist costumes one wearing blackface and one a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, though it was not clear which person was the future governor. Hours after the 35-year-old photo came to light Friday, Northam apologized for his decision to appear in it. Elected officials and activist groups from across the political spectrum called for him to resign. But in a video posted to Twitter Friday evening, Northam said he had spent the past year fighting for a Virginia that works better for all people and he would continue to do so throughout the rest of his term, which ends in January 2022. I accept responsibility for my past actions, and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust, he said. Advertisement The photo, which The Virginian-Pilot obtained a copy of Friday from the Eastern Virginia Medical School library, comes from the 1984 yearbook, the year Northam graduated and turned 25. On the half-page set aside for Northam, there is a headshot of him in a jacket and tie, a photo of him in a cowboy hat and boots and a third of him sitting casually on the ground, leaning against a convertible. The fourth photo on the half-page has two people, one wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes and a hood, the other with his face painted black. The person with the black face is also wearing a white hat, black jacket, white shirt with a bow tie and plaid pants. Both are holding canned drinks. In a statement Friday evening, Northam, a Democrat, confirmed he appears in the photo in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive, but did not specify which person is him. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now, Northam said. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their governor. Under the racist photo are listed Northams alma mater, Virginia Military Institute, and his interest: Pediatrics. His quote is listed as There are more old drunks than old doctors in this world so I think Ill have another beer. EVMS spokesman Vincent Rhodes said Dr. Richard V. Homan, president and provost of the school, couldnt comment on the incident because hes out of the country on personal travel and wont return until Monday. Rhodes said the yearbook was started in 1974 but hasnt been produced since 2012. He called it a student-run activity, though he couldnt confirm whether any faculty or staff advisers oversaw the project. My understanding is they (did) not, but I cant definitively say, he said. Advertisement Rhodes couldnt confirm which costume Northam was wearing in the photograph, saying the school would have no way of knowing. We obviously dont think that type of photo would be appropriate to publish in the yearbook, he said. Calls for resignation Republican officials quickly responded to the photo, but several top Virginia Democrats stayed quiet. The chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, Jack Wilson, said in a statement: Racism has no place in Virginia. These pictures are wholly inappropriate. If Governor Northam appeared in blackface or dressed in a KKK robe, he should resign immediately. Advertisement In a separate statement, four top Republican lawmakers House of Speaker Kirk Cox, Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert and Senate Rules Committee Chairman Ryan T. McDougle said: This is a deeply disturbing and offensive photograph in need of an immediate explanation by the governor. Mark Herring, the Democratic state attorney general, did not respond to requests for comment through his office. The office of Democratic Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who will become governor if Northam resigns, had no comment. The Virginia Black Legislative Caucus said in a statement that members were still processing the photo of the governor. What has been revealed is disgusting, reprehensible and offensive, the caucus said. We feel complete betrayal. The legacy of slavery, racism and Jim Crow has been an albatross around the necks of African Americans for over 400 years. These pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nations sins. Advertisement The statement continues, Those who would excuse the pictures are just as culpable. As news of the photo spread Friday night, so did calls for the governors resignation. The list included progressive groups such as MoveOn, Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Julian Castro, and the NAACP. Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, who said hes known Northam since he served as lieutenant governor, said calls for Northams resignation were an overreaction. Price, who is black, said the photo was a reflection of a segregated society, something he has tried to end in his career as an elected official. Advertisement I think if people are true to what they will admit, everybody has had some bigotry or racism in their life, Price said. I think this should be looked at as an opportunity for us to do what, quite frankly, we havent done, and thats (having) an open and frank discussion about bigotry and its effects. Walter Broadnax Jr., who graduated from EVMS in 1984 along with Northam, described Northam as a fantastic guy. Northam studied pediatrics while Broadnax studied surgery, and the two knew each other well in a class of about 100 students. Broadnax, who is black, said by phone Friday evening that he had never seen a hint of racial bias from Northam. Advertisement Ive never had an issue with Ralph at all, he said. The mans a great guy. Always has been. Long week The photo came to light after a week in which the governor came under fire for his comments about a bill introduced by a first-term Democratic lawmaker that would have loosened abortion restrictions in Virginia. Conservative news outlet Big League Politics first posted the photo at around 2:15 p.m. Friday with the headline YEARBOOK: Ralph Northam In Blackface & KKK Photo. About an hour later, the Virginia GOP caucus Twitter page tweeted, @governorva needs to explain this immediately. Advertisement Reporters and others soon started calling EVMSs Brickell Medical Services Library seeking information about the yearbook, said Kerrie Shaw, director of library services. Shaw remembers Northam from his days as a student. He would regularly come check on her when she was pregnant, stopping by her desk while she worked and asking how she was doing. I love Ralph Northam, Shaw said. EVMS sent an email to everyone on campus at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, asking people not to communicate with news outlets without permission and to refer reporters to its marketing and communications team. It emphasized the schools intent to recruit, educate and train a culturally competent healthcare workforce that reflects the demography of the nation and the patients we serve. Advertisement Please understand we do not know when the photo was taken or have any details about who may be pictured in it, the email stated. On Wednesday, two days before the yearbook photo became public, Northam was on a WTOP-FM show and was asked about a failed bill introduced by Del. Kathy Tran that would have relaxed limits on third-trimester abortions. The bill would have cut the number of doctors required to sign off on such an abortion from three to one and changed the standard. Current law says that before approving a third-trimester abortion, a doctor must find that continuing the pregnancy would result in death and substantially and irremediably impair the mental or physical health of the woman. Trans bill would have allowed the procedure to avoid impairing a womans mental or physical health. The bill, which Democrats have tried to pass in the General Assembly in recent years, was killed in a subcommittee. Advertisement Northam, a child neurologist, defended Trans bill in the WTOP interview, saying it was blown out of proportion and that such abortions are done in cases where there may be severe deformities, there may be a fetus that is nonviable. Explaining what would happen in such a case, Northam made comments that were soon seized on by political opponents and others: The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. Staff writers Gordon Rago and Elisha Sauers contributed to this report. Advertisement Marie Albiges, 757-247-4962, malbiges@dailypress.com, @Mariealbiges Catholic leaders in Texas on Thursday identified 286 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children, a number that represents one of the largest collections of names to be released since an explosive grand jury report last year in Pennsylvania. Fourteen dioceses in Texas named those credibly accused of abuse. The only diocese not to provide names, Fort Worth, did so more than a decade ago and then provided an updated accounting in October. There are only a handful of states where every diocese has released names and most of them have only one or two Catholic districts. Arkansas, for instance, is covered by the Diocese of Little Rock, which in September provided a preliminary list of 12 former priests, deacons and others. Oklahoma has two districts: The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is scheduled to publicly identify accused priests on Feb. 28 and the Diocese of Tulsa previously named two former priests accused of predatory behavior. The move by Texas church leaders follows a shocking Pennsylvania report in August detailing seven decades of child sexual abuse by more than 300 predator priests. Furthermore, the Illinois attorney general reported last month that at least 500 Catholic clergy in that state had sexually abused children. Advertisement In the months after that report, about 50 dioceses and religious provinces have released the names of nearly 1,250 priests and others accused of abuse. Approximately 60 percent of them have died. About 30 other dioceses are investigating or have promised to release names of credibly accused priests in the coming months. In Texas, the Diocese of Dallas and some others relied on retired police and federal investigators to review church files and other material to substantiate claims of abuse. Its not clear whether any of the names released Thursday could result in local prosecutors bringing criminal charges. The majority of those identified have since died. Some investigations dated back to 1950 while other reviews, as in the case of the Diocese of Laredo, only went to 2000 because thats when that diocese was established. Of the 286 men named in Texas, 172 have died, a percentage comparable with the national tally. Our office stands ready to assist local law enforcement and any district attorneys office that asks for our help in dismantling this form of evil and removing the threat of those who threaten Texas children, said Marc Rylander, spokesman for the Texas attorney generals office. To date, we have not received any such requests, but we are ready to provide assistance to local prosecutors in accordance with state law and original criminal jurisdiction. The head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, also is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is expected to attend a February summit called by Pope Francis to sensitize church leaders around the globe to the pain of victims, instruct them how to investigate cases and develop general protocols for church hierarchy to use. DiNardo said in a statement Thursday that, The Bishops of Texas have decided to release the names of these priests at this time because it is right and just and to offer healing and hope to those who have suffered. On behalf of all who have failed in this regard, I offer my sincerest apology. Our church has been lacerated by this wound and we must take action to heal it. In a statement released with the report of the San Antonio archdiocese, which had the longest list of names among Texas dioceses with 56 dating to 1940, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said the abuse allegations and the mishandling of some by bishops are tearing the church apart Although the release of the report brings tension and pain, the archbishop said he was filled with serenity and peace by the disclosures. Victim advocates and those who have been tracking clergy abuse for decades have said the church has a bad record of policing itself and law enforcement investigations into church records of allegations are the only way to ensure real transparency. They argue that there is no uniform definition of credibly accused priests and dioceses use different standards when deciding what names to release. For example, the San Antonio archdiocese examined decades of allegations made against clergy and religious order priests dating back decades. The Diocese of Laredo released no names after its bishop said staff had examined its records for the 19 years since it was created, shortly before new stricter standards for handling abuse allegations were instituted across the church, and found no credible allegations. Advertisement AP writer Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia contributed to this report. Recent arrests and an unfortunately-timed street cleanup may have reduced the number of homeless people sleeping outside in downtown San Diego during last Fridays homeless count, participants in the annual event said. But despite those challenges and a shortage of surveys in at least one area, an organizer of the Point-in-Time Count said she is encouraged overall by what she has heard about the countywide event. Its a little bit of a trial and error, said Tamera Kohler, CEO of the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless. We did better than some people expected. The task force set a goal of surveying half the homeless people encountered in this years count, including people who would be awakened before dawn to be interviewed by volunteers, and Kohler said there was some concern about how they would respond. Advertisement Last years count included surveys with only 19 percent of people counted. Kohler said it is too early to tell if the 50 percent mark was hit this year, but volunteers reported that most people they contacted were receptive to interview requests. Volunteers ran out of surveys in at least one downtown area, and an extra effort was made the day after the count in several areas to find people who may have been missed. Other issues that may affect the counts results were beyond the organizers control, Kohler said. San Diego police officers had increased enforcement of illegal lodging and encroachment laws in East Village and Sherman Heights in recent weeks, resulting in some homeless people being in jail rather than on the street the night of the count. Kohler said she understands officers have a job to do, but she would like there to be better coordination with the Police Department in future counts. Just how the enforcement might affect the total number is unclear. The Voice of San Diego reported this week that a public records request had found 62 people were arrested for violating encroachment and illegal lodging laws in the weeks before the count, while no arrests had been made Jan. 11-15. While those inmates would not be considered homeless by the strict definitions of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which requires the annual count in areas that receive federal dollars for homeless programs, the task force will include them in its annual report, Kohler said. Advertisement Kohler also said the number of people arrested in the area was not statistically significant, as last years count included about 1,500 inmates who were homeless when they were arrested. Countywide, the count found about 8,600 homeless people in 2018, including about 5,000 who were unsheltered. Kohler said she hopes to release the results of this years count around May. Homeless advocate Michael McConnell had speculated that the crackdown on encampments in East Village and Sherman Heights before the count was intended to skew results so it would appear that the citys efforts to reduce downtown homelessness were working. Police Capt. Scott Wahl, who oversees the Neighborhood Police Division that deals with homeless issues, called the claim ridiculous and said the arrests were not related to the count, but were in response to complaints about new encampments on sidewalks. Advertisement It had rained the week of Jan. 11, and Wahl said police did not make arrests for encroachment or illegal lodgings downtown out of compassion for homeless people who erected makeshift shelters to stay dry. Homeless advocate and Voices of Our City homeless choir member John Brady was among the volunteers who counted homeless people in East Village early the morning of Jan. 25. He said he believes the arrests would result in an undercount of the area around 17th and Commercial streets, which he said had about 70 percent fewer people than usual. Father Joes Villages CEO Deacon Jim Vargas said he had not seen a significant decrease in the number of people on the street. He also said volunteers had reported that homeless people in the area had been open to taking the surveys, which included questions about mental health, substance abuse, physical ability and how long they had been homeless. Vargas said information from the surveys could identify the greatest needs of homeless people in the area, giving some insight to how they could be helped. Advertisement We dont have enough shelter, and they need support, whether thats mental or medical, he said. All those pieces need to be part of the solution. In another issue, Brady said his team ran out of surveys and forms for headcounts while on 17th Street, so they did not interview or count people on Imperial and 16th streets. It certainly would have been much more ideal if we had enough surveys, but I dont want to dwell on this too much, he said. It just wasnt sufficient planning. I didnt get a sense that it was systemic. Kohler said it was a challenge to estimate how many surveys would be needed at each Census tract counted, but she predicted the shortage would not be an issue next year because the task force planned to use a mobile app instead of paper. Advertisement More surveys were taken at 8 a.m. the day of the count at the Neil Good Day Center on 17th Street that morning, and Brady, Kohler and others returned to downtown early the next morning to survey people who might have been missed. Thats when they discovered another unexpected issue. A city crew had scheduled a sidewalk cleaning in the neighborhood the day of the count. Scheduling a cleanup that day was a bonehead maneuver, Brady said. The cleanup happened last Friday but Brady said the streets still were empty when they arrived the next day, and he suspects that homeless people who had cleared out of the area the day before had not yet returned. Advertisement Brady said he estimates about 30 people may have been overlooked on 16th and Imperial streets, and Kohler said she would talk to him and others on the team to verify the number and add them to the official count of people spotted on Friday. Despite those issues, Kohler said feedback from the count has been encouraging, and she believed this years results could be a turning point in helping understand the needs of the areas homeless. 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 Advertisement gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Some San Diego Unified teachers say the school district is under-staffing special education, causing students to miss out on services that are supposed to be guaranteed by law and saddling teachers with large caseloads. Since September, staff at more than 20 San Diego Unified schools have filed grievances with the districts special education director, claiming staffing is below levels required by the districts contract with the San Diego Education Association. Teachers also learned Tuesday that the district plans to increase the caseloads of some special education teachers by 20 percent next school year. Instead of having a maximum of 20 students, several special education teaches will be reclassified as resource specialists, who can be assigned up to 24 students each. School officials say the staffing changes are the result of new job descriptions the union helped write and approved. The changes are based on student needs at each school, said Chief Human Resource Officer Acacia Thede. Advertisement Were not going to lay off people, and were not under-staffing special education, Thede said in an interview. It is difficult for the district to find and recruit special education staff, which are in shorter supply than general education teachers, Thede added. There are currently five special education job vacancies out of about 500 special education staff, according to the district. The union says the district is using the new position descriptions to make unwanted staffing changes. The district is misinterpreting the changes. That was never our intent, said union President Kisha Borden. The teachers union, which is about to start bargaining with the district, issued a cease and desist letter Tuesday to stop the employee re-classifications. SDUSDs plan in this situation is not only potentially illegal, it is also harmful to students and school sites, wrote Abdul Sayid, executive director of the San Diego Education Association, in the letter. We need more special education teachers, not less, and you appear to be cutting the number of teachers we have. On Wednesday about 250 people, mostly educators, packed a union forum to protest and share stories about how under-staffing has impacted them and their students. Elizabeth Miller, a special education teacher at Marston Middle, said her school is behind on getting students assessed for special education needs, and it doesnt have enough staff to co-teach English and math classes. Advertisement She is one of the teachers who will get a larger caseload next year, she said. Other educators, such as Hage Elementary teacher Sara Finegan, said they have used teacher prep periods or lunchtimes to catch up on backlogged work. Finegan said she had to wake up at 3 a.m. to finish student reports. By the end of the last school year, she had a caseload of 37 students, she said. I have no life at this point, Finegan said. Nobody should have to work under those job conditions. Advertisement Teachers said the understaffing leads to students not getting the services they need. We know what these kids need, and we write it up knowing that we dont have the staff to fulfill those needs, said Trace Cimins, a kindergarten teacher at Hancock Elementary. The district doesnt staff us to fill those needs. Teachers gasped when some speech and language pathologists said that when they had too many students to fit their caseload, they were told to wait-list some and not give them services. Speech and language pathologists are supposed to have, at most, 55 students, based on the contract, but some had 80 or more, said Sarah Darr, a speech language pathologist at Scripps Ranch High School. One teacher, Lisa Winkless, cried as she described her stress, which she said was triggered by recent staff reorganizations and higher class sizes. Advertisement How can you be the best teacher when youre so overwhelmed in stress, she asked, when you are ready to burst in tears at any given moment and when you do, you cant stop; when you cant sleep because youre always thinking about what you need to do or how you couldve done it better; when your stomach hurts so bad every day? I used to love my job. I used to come home with good stories. I used to be excited to go to work, she said. Five members of the superintendents cabinet attended Wednesdays forum. At the end, district Chief of Staff Staci Monreal told the crowd she found their stories to be heart-wrenching and said the district would give them support. I want you to know that theres a commitment from the district, from me, to ensure that we take the issues that youre bringing forward and we include them, Monreal said with a hand on her chest. I want you to know that special education is a top priority for the district, for the superintendent, for me and my staff. Advertisement The districts special education executive director, Sarah Ott, told teachers they can send their caseload concerns to a district committee that would resolve their issues within a week. The Class Size Review Committee arranges for substitute teachers, temporary staff, staff training and other solutions for schools. The committee works with five to 10 schools a week, Thede added. Kristen Taketa Advertisement Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa Attorney Cory Briggs has a unique take on why he is qualified to be San Diegos next mayor. He has waged so many legal battles against City Hall over the years that he has become intimately familiar with its operations and politics. You have to know how the gears work to know where to put the monkey wrench, he said. Briggs said his goal is to get those gears working better, though to do that he acknowledged hed have to be a disruptive force and shake things up as mayor, at least at the outset. Its a role hes familiar with and, in his preferred context, one thats good for the public. Advertisement He believes San Diegos power establishment and bureaucracy are structured to protect politicians and the donor class that helps elect them. Briggs entered the mayors race after expressing outrage at Mayor Kevin Faulconers sweeping plan to reduce building regulations in hopes of triggering a housing-construction boom. Briggs dismissed the mayors contention this would create affordable housing as an illusion, and said the policy changes would only benefit developers. He further insisted such policies would dramatically alter neighborhoods and possibly ruin them. So, whos looking out for the taxpayer? asked Briggs, whose lawsuits have regularly accused municipalities and developers of violating the California Environmental Quality Act . Some take issue with the notion of Briggs as a taxpayer advocate, pointing to litigation that has cost San Diego and other public agencies taxpayer money and delayed funding of projects. He unsuccessfully sought to block the use of lease-revenue bonds to build fire stations and libraries, among other things. Briggs said his actions seek to make projects adhere to the law and give voters a say on borrowing money and raising taxes. He has gone to court to force greater government transparency, though he resists identifying members of nonprofits he has represented, maintaining they have a right to personal privacy while public agencies do not. Critics have questioned whether some of these are shell organizations. He was sanctioned by the courts after failing to comply with a judges order that he produce at least one member of a specific group. Briggs has his supporters among environmentalists, political progressives and open-government advocates. He also has powerful enemies who likely would relish the opportunity to attack him during the campaign. But how much that happens may depend on whether he becomes a real contender to win or is viewed as a threat to knock out a favored candidate in the 2020 primary. The two main candidates so far are Councilwoman Barbara Bry and Assemblyman Todd Gloria, both Democrats. Briggs is sometimes identified as a Democrat, but he is not registered with any political party. His public profile rose in 2013 when he joined former Councilwoman Donna Frye and attorney Marco Gonzalez to call for the resignation of then-Mayor Bob Filner, who was accused of being a serial sexual harasser. Advertisement His litigation has made him a scourge at City Hall. At the behest of the San Diego City Council, the city attorneys office in 2014 compiled a scorecard about his record on lawsuits against the city. He had more losses than victories and more settlements than wins, according to the Voice of San Diego. Briggs famously thwarted a plan to expand the convention center, which business groups and the tourism industry said would generate revenues that would broadly benefit the region. He adamantly disagreed with that analysis, and persuaded the courts that a previous financing plan for the project was illegal. Hell continue to fight the latest proposal a hotel tax to finance the expansion when it goes before voters next year. The measure, which would also raise money for homeless programs and road repairs, requires a two-thirds majority for approval. Briggs doesnt think that threshold can be reached and insists the road and homeless components are window dressing to make the expansion more palatable. Advertisement Its close to (a) twitching corpse, Briggs told the Independent Voter Network. Right now, his focus is on slowing, if not the halting, the momentum to build a lot of housing. Briggs agrees there is an affordable housing crisis but maintains Faulconers proposals wont address it. Who says we need more market-rate housing? Briggs said. He plans to self-finance his campaign and spend no more than $175,000 a virtual pittance in a mayoral race. But he believes theres grassroots appeal in his message about the city power structure being stacked against average residents, and could tap into a growing backlash against efforts to increase housing density in neighborhoods. Faulconer, who is termed out of office after next year, is a frequent target of Briggs, as are San Diegos hoteliers. Briggs does not speak harshly of either Gloria or Bry, but he doesnt hesitate to criticize them. Advertisement When Gloria was on the City Council, Briggs noted he voted to do away with some single-room-occupancy residences to make way for more high-end developments. Briggs contends the citys moves to get rid of nearly 10,000 inexpensive SROs over the years is a main contributor to the homelessness that plagues the San Diego today. That housing largely was not replaced. If you are going to eliminate somebodys house, where are they going to live? Thats just a basic question to ask, said Briggs, whose blunt comments contrast with his soft-spoken delivery. Gloria is an outspoken advocate of the need to ramp up affordable housing construction. As for Bry, Briggs said despite her successful business career, she has only been on the council for two years and doesnt know enough about how City Hall really works to be mayor. Advertisement Bry has been skeptical bordering on critical of the mayors housing plan, but apparently thats not enough for Briggs. He said he felt compelled to run for mayor because nobody spoke out strongly against Faulconers proposals. Briggs said more transit needs to be planned and built before any residential-buliding binge. He added that he would support a general hotel-tax increase which would be subject to a simple majority vote to help finance transit and affordable housing. He also said developers should not be allowed to pay into a housing fund instead of including affordable units in their projects, an idea under consideration at City Hall. Our priorities are all catawampus, he said. Trying to change that by running for mayor wasnt something he anticipated. Advertisement Im stepping outside my comfort zone, he said. On that score, he has company. This is a man who has made a living out of making powerful people uncomfortable. A 21-year-old man was found guilty Wednesday of stabbing two men to death at separate house parties in South Los Angeles and Pacoima in the fall of 2016, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. A jury found Jesse Alexander Cardoza guilty of one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Martin Kennedy and 22-year-old Victor Garcia in separate attacks, authorities said. Two others accused of helping Cardoza carry out one of the attacks, 20-year-old Brandon Corona and 20-year-old Angel Andres Quezada, each pleaded no contest in October to one count of assault with a deadly weapon. Prosectors said the three men and a minor confronted and attacked Kennedy on Sept. 24, 2016 after a house party in South Los Angeles. Cardoza stabbed Kennedy in the back of his head and his back, killing him, prosecutors said. Advertisement On Oct. 29, 2016, prosecutors said Cardoza carried out a similar attack. As a house party was winding down in Pacoima, prosecutors said, Garcia was helping to defuse tension among some of the partygoers. While Garcia was trying to disperse the crowd, prosecutors said, Cardoza approached him and stabbed him in the neck. Cardoza also smashed a champagne bottle on another victim at a separate party that night, prosecutors said. Cardoza is set to be sentenced in late February in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Corona was sentenced to six years in state prison; Quezada received an eight-year sentence. javier.panzar@latimes.com Twitter: @jpanzar A man who works as a security guard for the Los Angeles Police Department was arrested and charged Friday with murdering his wife and son with a shotgun last December, authorities said. Los Angeles police detectives arrested Viktor Glukhovskiy, 44, an employee in the LAPDs Security Services Division, on Friday. Glukhovskiys wife, Natali, 39, and son Alex, 13, were found dead in their Van Nuys apartment Dec. 26. The Los Angeles district attorneys office on Friday said Glukhovskiy has been charged with two counts of murder as well as special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and murder for financial gain, making him eligible for the death penalty. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday. Prosecutors claimed in a criminal complaint that Gluhkovskiy used a shotgun in the deaths. Advertisement He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, authorities said. If convicted as charged, Glukhovskiy faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. A decision will be made at a later date on whether to seek the death penalty, the district attorneys office said. javier.panzar@latimes.com @jpanzar Los Angeles recorded its highest level of reports of hate crimes in a decade, with a nearly 13% increase in 2018 over the year before. Last year, L.A. tallied 289 hate crimes, compared with 256 in 2017, according to LAPD statistics gathered by researchers at Cal State San Bernardino. Members of the LGBTQ community, African Americans and those of Jewish faith were the most frequently targeted, according to the newly released report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. Though the numbers are relatively small compared with other crimes, assaults with hate crime elements in L.A. jumped 45% last year from 53 to 77. The number of hate crimes driven by race and ethnicity climbed 29%, from 116 to 150, according to the new data. The LGBTQ community was the target of 73 reported hate crimes, followed by 61 for African Americans and 14 for Jewish people. Advertisement Center Executive Director Brian Levin said as Los Angeles population has shifted, many of the accused perpetrators of hate crimes are not white. The report comes in a week in which Armenian schools in the San Fernando Valley tightened security after Turkish flags were hung on two private campuses. The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for a masked suspect seen hanging a dozen flags on one schools fence. Turkey has long denied the Armenian genocide during the era of the Ottoman Empire. Meanwhile, a Tarzana synagogue was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti Tuesday morning, the same day the Armenian schools were targeted. There was no indication the two incidents were related. Hate crimes in the countrys largest cities increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2018, according to the report. Like L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Seattle all recorded their highest number of hate crimes in a decade. The continuing uptick came despite police in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York reporting an overall downward crime trend. Levin said L.A., Chicago, Philadelphia and New York saw a bump in hate crimes near the November midterm elections. New York reported a 6% increase, while Chicago jumped 26%. The statistics are only reported crimes and may not reflect the full extent of hate crimes in a community, Levin said. The rise in Chicagos numbers are reflected in recent events: Actor Jussie Smollett, an openly gay black actor who stars on Empire, reported that he was attacked by two men shouting racial and homophobic slurs on the streets of Chicago. Levin said that in the five largest cities noted in the report, African Americans were again the most frequent target. Levin, a former New York police officer, said the continued growth of hate crimes may reflect an increasingly polarized nation. Advertisement The day after the 2016 election was the worst day for hate crimes since 2003, he said. An FBI report released in November detailing hate crimes across more than 3,000 police agencies showed a more than 17% uptick in 2017, fueled by increases in attacks against religious and racial minorities. It was the biggest annual increase in reported hate crimes since 2001, when attacks on Muslims surged in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, and the third straight year that hate crimes have gone up. The count documented 7,175 hate crimes in 2017. The tally was 1,054 higher than the year before. It included a 37% increase in anti-Jewish crimes, a 24% increase in attacks on Latinos and a nearly 16% rise in crimes against African Americans. Advertisement In California, hate crimes increased more than 17%, to 1,095, while Los Angeles showed a 16% jump, to 263. Race-driven crimes were the most common in the state, followed by attacks on sexual orientation and religion. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes Dozens of California Highway Patrol officers are being temporarily relieved of duty amid an investigation into whether they fraudulently received hundreds of hours of overtime pay while working out of the East Los Angeles station, officials said Friday. The probe found evidence that some officers exaggerated the number of hours they worked in protection details for Caltrans workers doing freeway maintenance. CHP officers can earn lucrative overtime for this type of work. The job typically involves sitting in a cruiser at each end of a construction zone to ensure motorists dont get too close to the workers. Authorities expressed shock and disappointment at the scope of the alleged misconduct by law enforcement officials, saying it extended beyond officers to higher-level managers. Our supervisors were complicit in this, said Chief Mark Garrett, who oversees the CHP Southern Division. I am extremely disheartened by the actions of these employees. Advertisement The fraudulent overtime was worth about $360,000, the investigation found. The East L.A. station allocated about $2.5 million for reimbursable overtime during the two-year period covered by the investigation, officials said. I am frankly angered and appalled by the actions of those involved, CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said in a statement Friday. Let me be clear, the CHP does not tolerate misconduct by any of its employees. The moment CHP management discovered the potential misconduct, we immediately launched an investigation. The CHP has begun sharing its findings with the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, which will determine whether criminal fraud charges will be filed. As of Friday afternoon, a formal criminal complaint had not been filed. Garrett said a review of overtime processes last March uncovered irregularities, including some officers taking overtime for hours they did not work. He said there were ringleaders inside the station who were behind the scheme, which he said goes back at least two years, but did not elaborate. Garrett said that he could not say how many officers were involved but that numerous members of the East Los Angeles station are the subject of the investigation. The station comprises 99 officers and 10 sergeants. He declined to say whether any officers had confessed to their involvement in the scheme, citing the ongoing investigation. The California Assn. of Highway Patrolmen issued a statement Friday regarding the investigation. On behalf of the 14,000 men and women who make up [our] membership, were saddened by these allegations against employees of the California Highway Patrol, the statement said. This ongoing investigation serves as a reminder to us all of the important bond of trust we share with the public we serve and the importance of carrying out our duties with the integrity expected of our profession. Advertisement Ed Obayashi, a deputy sheriff and legal advisor for Plumas County who teaches law enforcement ethics, said the scale of the alleged fraud was significant. It doesnt happen that often in law enforcement, he said. This undermines public confidence. Next to planting evidence, this is the worst. If it is proved the officers have taken money without work, they could face fraud, conspiracy and theft of public funds charges. And if they are found to have lied, prosecutors must reveal that behavior in any criminal cases in which the officers may testify. Dishonesty is the lowest offense for officers, Obayashi said. You lie, you die career-wise. Everyone proven to have faked their timecards here, it is a career-ending incident. Advertisement Officials examined records from the states 103 CHP stations, and the improper activity appears to be confined to the Southern Division, Stanley said. Garrett said that once the discrepancies were discovered, the agency immediately initiated an investigation to further identify any employees who betrayed the trust of the public and their fellow members of the CHP. The chief said the agency has since altered its overtime practices to prevent further abuses. Garrett said any deviation from the new regulations would require his personal approval. So many officers are under scrutiny that CHP is shifting extra staffers to the Southern Division, which patrols the Los Angeles area, sources told The Times. Advertisement California Department of Transportation crews working on freeways face dangers from motorists who speed past. There have been numerous public outreach efforts and stricter traffic laws aimed at slowing traffic and reducing the numbers of workers injured or killed. Scores of Caltrans employees have been killed and hundreds have been injured in the line of duty, most of them victims of errant motorists who have plowed into work crews on freeways. Garrett said Caltrans was assisting in the CHP investigation. But it was unclear whether Caltrans has launched its own investigation into the suspected overtime fraud. richard.winton@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @lacrimes As homicides in Mexico continue to break records, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has declared an end to his countrys drug war, and announced a special plan for Tijuana that involves the collaboration of military forces and civilian law enforcement agencies. The proposal, made Thursday during a news conference in Mexico City, comes as Lopez Obrador has been pushing for the creation of a National Guard, a force that would lead crime-fighting efforts across the country. The plan includes a lead role for the military, and involves patrolling neighborhoods, detaining suspects and investigating crimes. Approval would require a constitutional amendment and congressional support. The plan has come under heavy criticism from human rights groups, particularly over the militarys prominent role. Opponents of the strategy say soldiers are not trained to carry out civilian law enforcement duties. Experts and civil society have said this is not the line we should follow, we dont want further militarization of the country, said Cecilia Farfan Mendez, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California San Diego. Advertisement Lopez Obrador said that in Tijuana, the Mexican army, navy, and Federal Police are looking to coordinate with municipal and state police, because what matters to us is public safety. But he did not offer details of the plan. The Mexican military already has been collaborating with municipal police in Tijuana as they patrol some of the citys most dangerous neighborhoods. The citys public safety secretary, Marco Antonio Sotomayor, has welcomed the support, saying officers need backing as they confront heavily armed drug suspects. Lopez Obrador singled out Tijuana for mention as the city has just registered its most violent year on record, with 2,518 homicides in 2018 an increase of more than 40 percent over 2017. This violence has continued into the new year, with 215 homicides registered by Thursday afternoon. Competition among neighborhood drug dealers to supply the local methamphetamine users is driving the increase, authorities say. As the dynamics of drug trafficking groups evolve and change, Baja California residents have long seen the arrival and departure of federal reinforcements. Shortly after taking office in 2001, President Vicente Fox dispatched 770 Federal Police to the state for two weeks. As President Felipe Calderon launched his term, he sent a force of 3,300 soldiers to the state in a major offensive against organized crime in January 2007. In 2014, President Enrique Pena Nieto launched the federal police force known as a gendarmeria, sending officers to assist in crime-fighting efforts in Baja California. The proposed National Guard is a new name for an old idea to centralize law enforcement at the federal level, said David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego and head of the schools Justice in Mexico project. Unless the National Guard is structured in a way that allows for local engagement and locally focused approaches, it could have very serious problems or limitations in trying to address the problem of public safety. Juan Manuel Hernandez, a Tijuana businessman who heads the statewide Citizens Council for Public Security, said there currently are 500 federal police officers in Baja California who were sent to assist with law enforcement efforts following the arrival of last Novembers large Central American caravan. Theyre trying to get authorization from the federal government right now to see if they can help the police in patrolling the city, Hernandez said. Whatever role the National Guard eventually plays, you cannot replace the local police with the guardia, Hernandez said. You really need to understand the streets, you really need to understand the surroundings. That is something that has to be done by the local force. Any strategy that doesnt include proper training of local police is not going to have success, at least in Tijuana. Advertisement As he pushes for a National Guard, Lopez Obrador this week also signaled a major departure from the governments previous efforts to detain the leaders of powerful drug trafficking organizations, an approach that for years has aimed to weaken their grip. It is no longer the strategy to detain kingpins, Lopez Obrador said the day before at his Wednesday morning news conference. What we want is security, to reduce the daily number of homicides Officially, there is no war, we want peace, we are going to achieve peace. This new approach would mark a dramatic change from years of effort and collaboration between the U.S. and Mexican governments to target leaders of drug cartels and bring them to justice. In numerous instances, they have been brought to the United States to face charges, as is currently the case with Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel who is currently undergoing trial in New York City. I dont see how we reduce the number of homicides if we dont go against the drug traffickers, said Hernandez, of the Citizens Council for Public Security. Advertisement But critics of the kingpin strategy say it has not been successful. It makes a lot of sense to back away from that strategy because it has led to greater chaos and violence for the last 30 years, said Shirk of USD. What I think Lopez Obrador is doing is taking the war on drugs off the table. It redirects resources to the basic problem of providing citizen security. Farfan Mendez of UCSD said if Mexico abandons the strategy, challenges will remain. The trust of society in law enforcement and government and justice institutions, thats something that cant be restored just by saying The war is over. sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com @sandradibble Newsletter Get Essential San Diego, weekday mornings Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. Enter email address Sign Me Up You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, recently stepped up his advocacy for a Navy SEAL on trial for war crimes, including contacting military leaders with administrative and supervisory roles in the trial. Wednesday Hunter also sent a letter to President Donald Trump, calling on him to remove from the Navys hands the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward R. Gallagher, who is accused of stabbing to death a teen-age Iraqi combatant. Co-signing the letter was Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican who represents the western panhandle region of that state. The letter alleges political bias against Gallagher and repeats other claims about his confinement and access to attorneys, claims the Navy has disputed. The White House has not commented on the request. Advertisement Gallagher, a chief special warfare operator based in San Diego, was charged with several war crimes from a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq. Navy investigators say Gallagher killed a wounded teenage ISIS fighter brought to him for medical treatment. He also faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly shooting an elderly man and a little girl, and charges related to allegedly shooting indiscriminately at civilians during deployment. Gallagher has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty. Hunter recently leaned on Navy officials about the courthouse where Gallagher is being tried. Hunters office said calls were made to ensure that Gallaghers supporters could attend the Navy SEALs trial next month. Gallaghers case has attracted a large number of supporters and more than 30 news media outlets, said Brian ORourke, a Navy spokesman. The largest courtroom on Naval Base San Diego can accommodate only about 30 people. Once seating is reserved for Navy officials and those required by the prosecution and defense, there likely will not be enough seats for the public, he said. They are planning to use a closed-circuit TV system for an audience in another courtroom, he said. The issue came to a head at Gallaghers arraignment Jan. 4. Priority was given to 11 members of the news media, leaving only five seats available for the 35 or so Gallagher supporters, ORourke said. Advertisement Thats when someone called Hunter. They were upset (the Navy) wasnt using the full capacity of the room, said Michael Harrison, a spokesman for Hunter. To their credit, they fixed it that day within 10 to 15 minutes. Hunters office called Navy officials, some of whom have a direct supervisory role in the court martial. Hunters staff called Capt. Meg Larrea, commanding officer of the regions legal service office, which is prosecuting Gallagher. Advertisement Another call went to Rear Adm. Yancy Lindsey, commander of Navy Region Southwest and the convening authority for Gallaghers court martial. The convening authority has the final say in going forward with prosecutions. ORourke, who took that call, said he did not make the admiral available to the congressmans office. The next business day after the arraignment hearing, Hunter visited Gallagher in the Miramar brig, where the SEAL has been held since Sept. 11. Hunter later sent a letter to Trump, asking for help getting Gallagher released, complaining about the brigs conditions. A judge then ruled that Gallagher would remain behind bars throughout his trial. Advertisement That same day Hunter sent another letter, this time to Rear Adm. Collin Green, commander of Naval Special Warfare in Coronado, questioning why administration of the case was shifted from Naval Special Warfare to Navy Region Southwest. Hunter, who faces his own felony charges for alleged campaign finance violations and wire fraud, is a Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has issued press releases and appeared on a right-wing cable news channel, One America News, to talk about Gallaghers case. U.S. military lawyers have a culture that values collecting scalps from war-fighters, Hunter said on a Jan. 17 show. Advertisement Hunter complained that the Miramar brig is for sex offenders. You shouldnt put anybody whos not a sex offender in with a bunch of really bad, disgusting people like that, Hunter said. The Navy said brig conditions are within regulations and that its inmates are facing a variety of charges. At least one expert in military trials said he is not surprised that Hunter is advocating for Gallagher. William Woodruff, a former Army JAG trial attorney and professor emeritus at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, said Hunter is within his rights to work on behalf of constituents. Advertisement People can argue whether its appropriate or inappropriate, but I dont see a legal issue, Woodruff said. (Its) more political theater than anything else. Gallagher, who previously lived in military housing in Point Loma, did not live in Hunters district. It would be different, Woodruff said, if President Trump involves himself in the case. That would introduce issues of undue influence because, as Commander-in-Chief, Trump is at the top of the military chain of command. When the president gets involved, you start running into the unlawful command influence, he said. No good would come of the president getting involved. Advertisement Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. If youre a craft beer fan who craves hops and you havent been down to Ensenada lately, youre in for a delightful surprise. The days of leaving your beer palate at the border, settling for Tequila or wine, or convincing yourself that a Negra Modelo is actually a craft beer are finally over. Ensenada may be about 20 years late to the party, but the craft beer revolution is in full swing in this rapidly growing port city of more than a half-million people. Heavily influenced by their hop-crazed neighbors to the north in San Diego, which is home to more than 150 breweries, Ensenada has more than a dozen craft breweries and several pubs dedicated to serving Baja-brewed craft beer. Everything that starts in California tends to make its way down to Mexico eventually, said Glen Scherb, a 38-year-old Ensenada resident as he sipped a Shipyard IPA from Agua Mala, one of Ensenadas oldest and most popular breweries. We always seem to be about 10 or 20 years behind California. The coffee stout at Bruers brewery. (Eddie Haynes) Advertisement It was 14 years ago when Nathaniel Schmidt decided he could no longer live in a city without craft beer. Schmidt grew up in Mexico City but acquired a taste for hops while attending Humboldt State University. I had spent a month drinking wine at the Vendimia Wine Festival, and I realized I just wanted a good beer, he said. But there wasnt any available. It was only Corona or Tecate around here, which is nice but doesnt have much flavor. So Schmidt decided to start brewing his own beer, a hoppy West Coast IPA, in Ensenadas shipyards, where he operated a tuna farm. I put a ridiculous amount of hops in that beer; it was perfect, just for me, said Schmidt, who called his beer Shipyard IPA. Funny thing was, I could never get my beer out of the shipyards. All of the workers loved it. Thats when I realized, even though the Mexican market may not know hops, they were ready for it. The marine biologist turned brewer is still having a hard time keeping his Shipyard IPA (7.2 percent ABV) in stock. On a chilly December day, Agua Malas two-story tasting room, built on reused cargo containers, is packed. Many of the customers are local hop heads, just like Schmidt. I know were famous for our lighter beers, our lagers like Corona, but I think the young people wanted something different, said Andres Lopez, 36, who was visiting Ensenada from Mazatlan and drinking a Shipyard. I love the IPAs. I like the strong flavor, the bitterness. Thats all Ill drink. Bruer and Cardera breweries share space in a large industrial building in Ensenada. (Eddie Haynes) Not everyone at Lopezs table was quite so ready to abandon Mexicos most popular style of beer the lighter, smoother and less bitter lagers. Advertisement The lagers, we love them forever and ever because thats what were used to, said Sophia Tish, a 31-year-old from Ensenada between sips of a Siren Pilsner (5.2 percent), a fruity, hoppy lager. But places in Ensenada like Agua Mala and Wendlandt, they brew beers that have more taste, more body and also higher alcohol content, so you dont need to drink so many. Located along the coast a few miles north of downtown, Agua Mala and Wendlandt are two of Ensenadas oldest, most popular and most successful breweries. Agua Mala recently outgrew its original location, moving some of its brewing operations to a second facility in town. Business is also booming at Wendlandt, which has added a kitchen and bar in its latest tasting room expansion. Bruer and Cardera, two of the towns newest breweries, are tucked inside a residential neighborhood, and they share a large industrial building, where they offer eccentric beers like Bourbon-Wood Chips Porter and Reeses Peanut Butter Stout. Another recent edition to the citys beer scene is Doble C, owned by 27-year-old twins Omar and Alan Celis. Omar, a former law clerk in Tijuana, and Alan, a former accountant, opened their brewery in 2015, but their early customers werent too thrilled about the complex flavor of craft beer. Advertisement Agua Malas Shipyard IPA. (Eddie Haynes) People were a little afraid to try it, said Omar Celis, who developed a sophisticated beer palate while visiting his uncle in North Park, one of San Diegos craft beer hot spots. They couldnt handle the bitterness. We tried to convince people that our beers werent necessarily better than a Tecate, Corona or Pacifico, they were just a different style. Now, Omar Celis believes Ensenada has turned the corner. People are hooked, he said. They come in here craving a different style every week. I think that about one out of five beer drinkers in this town are drinking craft. I never would have believed that. Advertisement Neither would have Leah Weyandt, a 51-year-old San Diego craft beer enthusiast who travels to Ensenada regularly and always visits her two favorite breweries, Wendlandt and Doble C. When San Diego foodies think of Ensenada these days, they usually think of the Guadalupe Valley wine country or some of the worlds best chefs. They dont think craft beer, she said. But the perception is beginning to change. There is a really amazing, creative craft beer movement here, and its catching up to their San Diego neighbors. McKibben is a freelance travel writer. Eight months ago, my husband Benjamin and I moved to Valley Center in a quest for the simple life. With that move came a community where for the first time we felt right at home. Neighbors greeted us with eggs, grapefruit and beer. Our wake-up calls were roosters, coyotes, horses and hawks. We attended rodeos and parades, and shopped at nurseries and feed stores. Yet what we loved most was Valley Centers unique independence. This season, Benjamin and I found our winter counterpart in Copper Mountain, Colo. Located 75 miles west of Denver, Copper is at the pulse of the Rocky Mountains, with seven ski resorts within a 30-minute drive. What sets this winter playground apart from the rest is that its not for sale. In 2018, Vail Resorts Inc. announced it was buying the untouchable Crested Butte, a Colorado ski resort, to add to its powerhouse monopoly of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone. On many investors wish lists is now Copper, a bounty of riches with progressive terrain, steep moguls, open bowls, gentle groomers and plenty of room to grow. Advertisement But Copper isnt about growth. Its about retaining its authenticity and letting those who enter the family settle into the mountains identity. Its about knowing your neighbor, helping them in the storm, and sharing a cold one to celebrate the sun. Copper is made up of dog lovers and adventurers who would climb a mountain over a corporate ladder because the view is always better from a peak than a rung. Copper Mountain has a bounty of riches with progressive terrain, steep moguls and open bowls. (Benjamin Myers) Copper gets it. Family owned and operated under the POWDR umbrella, Copper has backed away from real estate development and pushed forward on all things adventure lifestyle. Best of all, Copper is humble, understated, and what some might consider to be Colorados best kept secret. Benjamin and I caught wind of this little secret and its early season snowfall which meant we packed our bags and headed to Denver. A two-hour drive with Summit Express Shuttle took us directly to our condo at Copper One Lodge. Void of full-service hotels and chain resorts, Coppers pillow is a massive network of condo complexes just steps from the lifts ours 122 steps to be exact. Since there isnt a town per se, Copper has three distinct pedestrian villages connected to naturally divided terrain. The seamless progression from beginner to advanced makes it easy to stay in your lane. New chairlifts and dog-friendly patios at Center Village are part of a $40 million investment.. (Benjamin Myers) Between the family-friendly West Village and the US Speed Center East Village, we chose Center Village with its melange of restaurants, bars and shops soaked in an unpretentious vibe. Its here that new chairlifts and dog-friendly patios were added as part of a $40 million investment into the Copper experience. Within minutes of our arrival, we felt it, that Raised on Colorado atmosphere where people are down to earth, with no hidden agenda other than to claim powder stashes before you do. Advertisement After warming our bellies with hot ramen at Storm King Lounge, we headed to Camp Hale Outfitters for our gear. Outside of the mountain itself, this might have been our favorite hot spot in Copper. We sipped on wine during our fitting of high-end demo equipment. The Camp Hale crew literally peeled the stickers off our new Solomon boards. We regularly popped into their shop for coffee, organic goodies and Copper swag to publicly declare our growing love for the place. Its a love thats hard to pinpoint, but it certainly had something to do with the terrain. With 142 trails spanning 2,490 acres, Copper gifted us with full-mountain coverage and 6 inches of snowfall the day before our arrival. The bow on top was the opening of Copper Bowl for the first time this season amid bluebird days. With a summit elevation of 12,441 feet, there was plenty of powder to go around, and Giri Watts made sure we found it. Head of Ski and Ride at Copper Mountain, Watts knows the mountain as if it were his own child, recognizing its behaviors and best attributes to show off to strangers. We hired the talented powder hound with the intention to rock his baby. Advertisement Strapped in, goggles down, and we were off, leaving serpentine trails and carved grooves in our white savanna. Giri front-flipped off of ledges and shared techniques on landing 180s and riding switch. Benjamin and I rode hard, as if trying to prove to our 40-something selves that we were still in our 20s. Fortunately, peppermint schnapps was on the menu that night, during our sleigh ride in neighboring Frisco. Just 7 miles from Copper, this quintessential mountain town boasts 16 miles of cross-country trails, snow tubing, shopping, dining, hotels, nightlife and just about everything a ski town can offer other than an actual ski resort; which is why Copper and Frisco lean heavily on one another to serve the needs of visitors. Frisco delivers cozy sleigh rides aboard mule-drawn buckboard sleighs. (Benjamin Myers) Advertisement For us, Frisco delivered a cozy ride aboard a mule-drawn buckboard sleigh. Benjamin and I snuggled under heavy blankets as Mount Royal swallowed the sun. Our route cut through the snow-frosted forests to a heated tent, where we sipped hot cocoa and listened to live Johnny Cash covers. That night, we dined at Tavern West on Friscos Main Street, sinking our teeth into truffled tater tots, braised lamb and American Kobe steak. We stopped counting craft cocktails since the free Summit Stage bus passed every 30 minutes for Copper, Frisco, Breckenridge, Silverthorne and Dillon. On our way back to Copper One Lodge, we warmed our hands around the fire bowls at Burning Stones Plaza, the social center for night owls who have mastered the art of party and play. Sleigh rides in Frisco stop at heated tents for hot cocoa and Johnny Cash covers. (Benjamin Myers) Advertisement Over breakfast at Toast & Co., we found our 40-something selves fully aware of our aches, pains and bruises. Benjamin and I agreed to take Day Two easy on the mountain. Instead, we beelined it for the back bowls of Spaulding and Copper, where we tucked into tight forests and braided wide open slopes. Ditching the map, we explored terrain parks and mighty moguls that made our legs cry. We debated circling back for a ride on the free Tucker Mountain Snowcat that unveils 273 acres and 12,000 vertical feet of backcountry access. Instead, we watched a concert in Center Village and tapped out after two epic days on the mountain. Thats when we decided to pop into The Woodward Barn and say hello to our guide, Giri. Open year-round, this 20,000-square-foot indoor training facility is like Chucky Cheese on steroids, with foam pits, trampolines, ramps and a pump track. Its where serious riders go to test big-air tricks, and where people like Benjamin and I go to watch. Or so we thought. Advertisement Within minutes Giri had us jumping into foam pits, kicking off of padded walls, and backflipping on trampolines. My mouth was aching from endless smiling, even more than my tired muscles. Had we wanted more adrenaline, we could have easily ridden the Rocky Mountain Coaster, skated the village ice rink, or sledded down The Tubing Hill; but we decided there and then that this would not be our last trip to Copper Mountain. During a swanky dinner at C.B. Grille, we talked of a summer return for hiking, biking, fishing, rafting or maybe even a road trip to catch the autumn leaves in full glory. We bid farewell to the dramatic peaks of the Tenmile Range, and waved goodbye to the resounding Rocky Mountains. Several shuttle passengers spoke of growth on the horizon, with plans to open Coppers first hotel and unveil the longest bubble chairlift in the world in 2019. Until now, theyve kept corporate giants and chain restaurants at bay, other than one lonely Starbucks in Center Village. For that, I take my hat off. Advertisement That evening, as we climbed The Grade toward Valley Center, I thought what might become of this North County town I adored for the swirled sunsets over boulder-strewn fields, for the chorus of coyotes that howl at the moon, for the neighbors who take in strays until someone calls them home. Id like to think that regardless of how big we become, or despite the power of the mountains that surround us, well take a note out of Coppers playbook to embrace our uniqueness and forever remain priceless. Kast-Myers is a travel writer based in Valley Center, where she runs an antique shop, Brick n Barn; marlisekast.com. If you go Stay Advertisement Copper One Lodge: www.coppercolorado.com Eat Storm King Lounge, Toast & Co. and C.B. Grille: www.coppercolorado.com Tavern West: www.tavernwestfrisco.com Advertisement Visit Two Below Zero Sleigh Rides: www.dinnersleighrides.com Woodward Copper Barn: www.campwoodward.com/copper Camp Hale Outfitters: www.coppercolorado.com Advertisement Summit Express Shuttle: www.summitexpress.com Town of Frisco: www.townoffrisco.com Copper Mountain: www.coppercolorado.com Like the central character in her play The Hour of Great Mercy, Miranda Rose Hall knows what it is to make a consequential journey to Alaska. Unlike the protagonist of that work, which is about to receive its world premiere at San Diegos Diversionary Theatre, Halls trip there eight years ago was the first time shed set foot in the 49th State. And the mere idea of doing so just about froze her with fear. It was a terrifying prospect the idea of moving to Alaska scared me out of my mind, says Hall of relocating to Anchorage after college to perform service work with a Jesuit volunteer corps, providing a ministry of presence to people receiving long-term and end-of-life care. After all, Hall grew up in downtown Baltimore and was afraid of grass as a child, she says with a gentle laugh, chatting by phone between rehearsals at Diversionary. Advertisement And yet it was also the kind of fear that was kind of intriguing, she acknowledges. From its inception, (moving there) felt like a pretty radical thing to do. And once I got there, it was very clearly an extreme and pretty radical place to be. And it totally captivated me. It was unlike any place Id ever been before, and I just felt this very electric sense of connection to the community and the environment and the people I was serving. All of it the isolation of the place, the bonds among people there, maybe a little of the fear, too eventually would be filtered through her writers eye and, some five years later, into The Hour of Great Mercy first as Halls thesis project at the Yale School of Drama and now as a piece about to receive its professional debut at the LGBTQ-centered theater. The play centers on Ed, a gay Jesuit priest who returns to his family home in a remote Alaskan town called Bethlehem, in a last-ditch bid for reconciliation. His visit takes place against the backdrop of past tragedy, the nature of which Hall is reluctant to talk about for fear of giving away too much. The plays title refers to the hour on Good Friday, that, in Catholic traditions, Christ is said to have died on the cross: 3 p.m. That also happens to be around the time the sun sets what sun there is, anyway in much of Alaska in the dead of winter. Finding the poetry Alaska, as it happens, wasnt the only thing that seemed unlikely to be part of Halls future once upon a time. So was playwriting. Advertisement Hall originally entered Georgetown University with the intent of becoming a poet and literature teacher. Soon, though, she found herself diving feet-first into the theater community there. Then she learned that playwrights existed and could be alive, rather than simply names on a page. That was news to me! But Halls poetry background and the way it influences her writing turned out to be one of the big draws for Diversionary executive artistic director Matt M. Morrow when he decided to program the piece, which is being directed for the theater by the distinguished San Diego stage artist Rosina Reynolds. I was immediately drawn to Mirandas voice as a writer, Morrow says. She is able to draw characters so specifically and intimately, just through the dialogue, without forcing exposition. Theres just an ease to her writing it just flows so naturally. So I really connected with her talent on that level. But I was also really moved by the subject matter. Its a very gentle piece. The word I always use in describing this piece is compassion. It just makes room for people and their experience. Advertisement I just dont think you find that very often a gentle, sensitive and compassionate piece like this. Our industry is rife with competition and people trying to stand out and distinguish themselves, Morrow adds. And Miranda doesnt seem interested in staking a claim or being BOLD. Shes bold, but in a very understated way. Theres a real maturity to her work that I was really impressed by. Hour fits into a larger phenomenon that has developed at Diversionary since Morrow took over as leader just over four years ago: A determination to champion new work, often by promising young writers just starting to make waves. The University Heights company has proved a crucial developmental ground for such recent world-premiere plays as Ballast and The Loneliest Girl in the World, as well as the musical The Boy Who Danced on Air, which went on to an off-Broadway run in 2017. Advertisement Morrow acknowledges that for a small nonprofit there are risks involved in stepping up to produce unproven new works. But thats just what we do, he says. If I wanted to be safe, I would go into insurance. And with Miranda specifically, I thought she has a unique voice that needs to be heard. (And) many times larger institutions wont take a chance on new writers like this. Partners on the journey As the production of Hour has ramped up at Diversionary, Hall has been in town for much of the process, working closely with Reynolds as well as the productions five actors: Dana Case (as Maggie), Patrick Mayuyu (Joseph), Andrew Oswald (Ed), Eileen Rivera (Irma) and Tom Stephenson (Roger). Advertisement Andrew Oswald (as Ed, left) and Tom Stephenson (as Roger) appear in Diversionary Theatres The Hour of Great Mercy. (Simpatika) For Reynolds, who has directed numerous shows around San Diego, staging a world premiere is always an interesting journey, because your collaboration with the playwright is supreme. Thats even more so when the playwright is there in person: Its not a matter of checking in with us all the time, but making sure the voice in her head is being realized, as Reynolds puts it. Its actually refreshing in many ways. And Hall is extremely collaborative. Shes protective of the material, as she should be as the writer, but also open to exploring all aspects. Advertisement One of the most surprising aspects of Hour is how the piece began to take shape in earnest: As a gift play for Halls father. That idea came from Halls playwriting mentor at Yale the much-produced Sarah Ruhl, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist whose In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) hit Broadway in 2009. We had a lot of conversations about gift plays, and its an important part of her philosophy for a playwright the idea of writing a play for a person you love, Hall says of Ruhl. Around the same time, she wrote a play for her mother, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday. So this idea of writing gift plays for my parents (developed). Advertisement I had been writing a lot of crazy plays absurd comedies, letting some steam out plays. I said I wanted to write a play that my parents would think was beautiful. She said, It sounds like you should write a gift play for your father. So when Hall began work on the play, I wrote out a list of ingredients that I thought would need to be included in a gift play for my dad. And was I was writing it out, I started connecting some of those ingredients to Alaska. And Alaska, in my imagination, is kind of inseparable from Catholicism, and concerns and conversations about the end of life. Hall actually is Presbyterian rather than Catholic. Her fathers side of the family was Italian Catholic, and her dad grew up very religious. Advertisement But in his youth, he got really upset that the church didnt take a strong stance against the Vietnam War. That kind of unraveled his relationship with the institution of the Catholic Church. For her own part, says Hall, I think I wouldve converted to Catholicism if I hadnt been queer and hadnt grown accustomed to women in leadership positions in her own church. But I feel I absorbed a lot of Catholicism, even though I was raised in the Presbyterian church, she adds. And because her dad is a choral conductor, he spent a lot of his career performing sacred music, so that has been a big part of my life. Catholic sacraments and rituals are part of the fabric of Hour, as are questions about the nature of intimacy in a very isolated place, and questions about love and reconciliation. Advertisement One of the things this character (Ed) inhabits for me is somebody who really interrogates his space, and interrogates what his authentic relationship with God is like. And has a pretty queer spiritual theology, which is something that I also inhabit. For Hall, that means certainly acceptance and tolerance and I think on a more primal level, an understanding of the divine as a pretty queer force. Understanding God outside of a gender hierarchy. Theres a moment in the play where Ed says: Theres nothing on Earth more queer than God so fluid, so encompassing the spectrum, and so devoted to radical love. And Ive met a lot of Catholics who have a very fluid understanding of the divine, in a way that maybe contradicts the kind of dogma of the overall Catholic church. Advertisement There is definitely an earthiness and a transformative quality to Catholic social teaching. And I really connect to that. And by the way: Yes, Halls father got to see the play that was written for him. My dad really loved it, she reports. But just to be safe, she admits: I didnt tell him it was a gift play for him until he told me he liked it! Advertisement The Hour of Great Mercy When: In preview. Opens Feb. 9. 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 3. Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights Tickets: About $22.50-$50 (discounts available) Phone: (619) 220-0097 Advertisement Online: diversionary.org jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Advertisement Twitter: @jimhebert The city of Chula Vista is refusing to release the names of people who applied to operate marijuana businesses in the countys second-largest city, a decision that has drawn criticism from at least one member of the City Council. In January, Chula Vista received 124 applications from entrepreneurs who want to open dispensaries, delivery businesses, or cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and testing facilities. Those applications contain the applicants names. The dispensary and delivery business license applications identify which City Council district they plan to open their business in. Chula Vistas spokesperson Anne Steinberger, after consulting with the City Attorneys office, declined to release copies of the applications to The San Diego Union-Tribune, according to an email sent Jan. 25 in response to a public records request filed Jan. 22. Advertisement But Councilman John McCann said the process should be more transparent. The city is moving from an illegal market to a regulated market concerning a psychoactive mind altering recreational drug, he said in a statement. The process should be fully transparent in making sure we get the most ethical and qualified owners that provide the highest degree of safety for our communities, so all the applicant names should be available to the public for scrutiny. The citys response to the newspapers records request states that the applications are not public records. Chula Vista listed three exemptions to public record laws: At this time, the City will not disclose cannabis applicant information pursuant to Government Code sections 6254 (f), License Investigations, and 6255, Deliberative Process, and Evidence Code section 1040, Official Information. The City intends to provide applicant information following the ranking process. When asked when the ranking process would be completed, Steinberger said she did not know, partly because that is being done by a third party. Thursday afternoon, City Attorney Glenn Googins clarified that the names of the applicants are being withheld from the public because of technical issues the city had processing the applications. We are continuing to sort through those issues and as soon as we have that clarified we will be able to provide you with the names of the applicants, he said. Googins added that he will meet with his office Friday to determine what specific information from the applications will be made public. Advertisement Experts at the First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to more open and accountable governments, do not believe Chula Vistas use of the License Investigations exemption applies to the marijuana business license applications. That exemption is commonly used by licensing agencies who are investigating wrongdoing, said David Snyder, the executive director of the First Amendment Coalition. An example of this is law enforcement agencies not wanting to release records about a case for fear of disclosing the identity of a confidential informant. This exemption is to keep confidential law enforcement-type investigations or investigations by licensing agencies that go to some issue of violation of a rule or statute, Snyder said. The mere process of granting applications I dont think qualifies as an investigative record. Advertisement Even if Chula Vista believes the applications review process requires some sort of investigation, only specific portions of the application should be withheld from the public, Snyder said. So it there were legitimate concerns about proprietary information or maybe some security concerns, the city can handle those concerns by redacting certain information that can be withheld, but just the identity of someone who submitted an application, I dont see how that can be validly withheld from the public, he added. Speaking about the technical issues, Councilwoman Jill Galvez said the city received so many applications that the system crashed several times. The city set a size limit on the files and many applications included pictures and maps. Quite frankly, the volume crashed the system, Galvez said. Advertisement Because of the crash, it is possible that applicants sent the same file more than once or sent partial files. This makes it difficult for the city to have a precise count at this point, Galvez added. Chula Vistas denial of the newspapers records request makes no reference to this technical problem and Steinberger never mentioned it during almost two weeks of email correspondence with the Union-Tribune. Galvez said information on the applications will be made public as soon as the crash issue is resolved. I agree that transparency is our goal, she said. The city should provide data that is not proprietary as soon as possible, when the above-mentioned issue is resolved. Advertisement Cities around San Diego County have taken different approaches to regulating the marijuana industry. Vista listed the name of every applicant on its website. Oceanside shared the name and proposed location of every applicant with the Union-Tribune. Chula Vista has a two-tier process. Phase one applications must have financial information to ensure applicants have the $250,000 liquid assets requirement, background checks for owners and managers, basic business plans including the type of marijuana business they plan to open, biographical information to fulfill experience requirements, and a general location that identifies which council district they plan to open the business in. Advertisement Applications that meet the minimum requirements will be ranked based on their qualifications, liquid assets, business plan and operating plan. Applicants with the highest scores move on to the second phase. During the second phase, applicants identify specific locations. They also present site plans, emergency action plans, security plans, and more detailed operational plans. Councilman Mike Diaz said he supported the citys decision to withhold the names. We need to make sure the process is fair and I think staff is doing that, he said. My job is to provide policy and we did that. Now its staffs turn to execute the policy. Advertisement Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter A routine appointment to a Chula Vista advisory commission became political when Councilman John McCann refused to vote for the mayors nominee, who happens to be the same person who ran against him for City Council in November. Mark Bartlett, a Navy veteran who works with veterans through Father Joes Village, lost the election to McCann by fewer than 800 votes, or about 3 percent of the total votes cast, according to election results. McCann, who also is a veteran, was first elected to the City Council in 2002. He was not able to finish his second term because he was called to Iraq as part of the Navy Reserve. McCann rejoined the council when he was elected in 2014. After losing the election, Bartlett decided to apply for a voluntary position on Chula Vistas Veterans Advisory Commission. The six-member commission was established in 1994 and provides advice to the City Council on matters that relate to veterans, including promoting the citys Veterans Day and Memorial Day observations and studying the needs of Chula Vistas veteran population. Advertisement Ive always been in tune with veterans, Bartlett said. Thats why I ran for public office. I just wanted to serve and I think this is a great opportunity. Mayor Mary Casillas Salas nominated Bartlett for a spot on the committee and, earlier this month, the council voted to appoint him. Just before the vote, McCann told the council that he could not vote for Bartlett. Part of McCanns reasoning was that he and Bartlett had a negative campaign and he didnt expect Mayor Salas or newly elected Councilwoman Jill Galvez to vote in favor of political opponents either. McCann also alluded to multiple campaign violations Bartlett was hit with during the campaign. Im not going to bring up the 50-plus campaign finance violations or the negative way that he conducted his campaign, McCann said. I will state that I would not expect Jill Galvez to support Steve Stenberg or Mary Salas to vote for Hector Gastelum, McCann said. Therefore, for multiple reasons, I shall vote no tonight. During the election, Bartlett was accused of having 49 minor campaign violations including soliciting contributions before he was supposed to. Bartlett reported all of the violations in his financial disclosures, which led investigators to believe they were honest mistakes by a first-time candidate. An investigation found the violations had a negligent impact on the campaign and were so minor that Bartlett was not fined. Instead, investigators recommended Bartlett be educated about campaign finance law. Advertisement Salas defended her nomination of Bartlett. I nominated Mark Bartlett on the merits of his experience and the commitment that he has to veterans, she said. Not only is he a veteran, but right now he works for Father Joes Village to provide relief and assistance to homeless veterans. Ultimately, the City Council approved Bartletts appointment by a 3-2 vote. Councilman Mike Diaz also voted against Bartlett. Diaz did not speak publicly about his decision. Bartlett said he was struck by what McCann said. Advertisement To me, its just very unprofessional, he said. To me, I would think that you would put city over politics. Bartlett said he plans to focus on connecting homeless veterans to more services and help the city do a better job of supporting veteran-owned businesses. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Carlsbad is rewriting its ordinance regulating expressive activities such as demonstrations, rallies and marches, but the work so far is not sitting well with some First Amendment defenders. The American Civil Liberties Union raised a number of concerns in a Jan. 29 letter to Carlsbad City Attorney Celia Brewer. Among them are the citys exclusion of events for which a fee or donation is charged, its failure to exempt spontaneous events, and its attempt to make event organizers responsible for the conduct of participants. Demonstrations are often robust, according to a 1999 federal case quoted in the ACLU letter. No one can guarantee how demonstrators will behave through the course of the entire protest. Advertisement News spreads rapidly in the days of Twitter and Facebook, and activists want to be ready to mount a nimble response. We applaud your efforts to make changes but it falls short of the mark, said Yusef Miller of the North County Civil Liberties Coalition during a meeting of city officials and residents Wednesday to discuss the proposed revision. For example, Miller said, the city requires insurance for a permit, but the cost of insurance could prohibit some people from holding an event, and thus obstruct their right to free speech. Other people said the insurance can be difficult to obtain on short notice, and that it should not be required for a permit. We see a wildfire of issues, said Miller. They come up really fast and really quick. The revised ordinance was expected to go to the City Council for approval in February, Brewer said, but now with more work it could take longer. The Carlsbad City Council requested the revisions after the Families Belong Together rally last June in Cannon Park, where many of the participants said the city over-reacted. Rallies were held across the country at the time to protest the Trump administrations separation of immigrant children from their parents. Organizers of the Cannon Park rally said the city tried to stop the event by refusing a permit and then posting signs saying the participants could be fined or arrested. When the event was held anyway, the city assigned multiple officers and patrol cars, and watched from an aerial drone. We didnt feel like we were in a rally, organizer Robin Mastro said Wednesday. We felt like we were in a concentration camp. Advertisement Hundreds of people participated, and the event unfolded peacefully. Afterward, some people praised the citys response. Still, residents and city officials agreed that changes are needed. The existing ordinance was written long before online social media accounts were available to fuel the rapid spread of news and information. The goal of the ordinance is to balance everyones First Amendment rights with the citys responsibility to keep people safe, city officials said. If we dont have advance notice, its really hard for us to protect the public, said Police Chief Neil Gallucci. I need to know if there are going to be 400 people in a park because I need to bring in more resources. The city cant control what happens at public events, he said, but it needs to be prepared for anything. Advertisement Police must plan ahead to safely accommodate large numbers of vehicles and pedestrians in public places, he said. A limited number of officers are available on short notice, and assistance may be needed from outside agencies. The proposed changes to the ordinance include increasing the size of a group from 50 people to 75 before a permit is required, reducing the advance notice from 90 days to two days, and dropping the fee charged for using a park and the requirement to reimburse the city for the costs of police and fire responses. Free speech shouldnt need to be regulated, said Sallie Hunt, a member of the North County Coalition for Civil Liberties and co-founder of the Immigrant Justice League. Existing laws against slander and libel should be sufficient, she said. Advertisement Others pointed out that the attendance threshold for getting a permit, whether 50 or 75, seems arbitrary, and that its difficult to know in advance how many people might attend an event. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl Prince Philip, the 97-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, overturned his Land Rover last month in a car crash on a rural road north of London. He was unhurt; two women in an oncoming minivan suffered scrapes and a broken wrist. Its not known exactly what happened or who was at fault. The prince told police officers at the scene that he was momentarily blinded by the sun while pulling onto a main thoroughfare. The incident has prompted some reflection in Britain about when an aging driver ought to consider surrendering the car keys. Sound familiar? The question has long tormented families everywhere. Over the years, reporters at The Times have written extensively about the thorny issues involved. Here are a few articles about a controversy that wont be going away anytime soon. Advertisement The Car Key Conversation Now I learn that the car key conversation is the one that caregivers dread most. Thirty-six percent of adult children polled by the website Caring.com and the National Safety Council said that talking to their parents about the need to stop driving would be harder than discussing funeral plans (29 percent) or selling the family home (18 percent). Should Doctors Stop Patients From Driving? Alas, among the takeaways of the guidebook are the great difficulties physicians have at this fraught moment, and how much easier it would be for them if the decision did not involve them. As it is, physicians must wrestle with laws that vary by state on a variety of issues: if and how elderly drivers are assessed differently than younger ones; whether it is mandatory or optional for doctors to report their concerns; how they are supposed to go about it and strike the right balance between confidentiality and safety; and whether they risk legal liability if, on the one hand, they alert the state authorities or, on the other hand, they keep silent and a subsequent accident occurs. Elderly Drivers Fail a Test True or false? Most older drivers drive as safely as anyone else. Its just that a few bad apples, particularly those behind the wheel despite poor vision or dementia, make mistakes and produce the statistics showing that per mile driven, drivers over age 75 are almost as dangerous as teenagers. I want this to be true, given how dependent Americans of all ages are on automobiles. But researchers in Australia, using a novel method to gauge how well people drive, have concluded that serious errors are alarmingly commonplace. We are seeing a ubiquitous increase in driver errors with age, said Kaarin Anstey, a psychologist at Australian National University and lead author of the report, just published in the journal Neuropsychology. My Solution to the Driving Problem: Vandalism Advertisement Sneaking into my mothers garage to disable the engine of her 1997 Honda Accord was not something I ever imagined doing in my role as daughter and caregiver of a parent in failing health. I had every possible legal authority to secure her health and safety, including medical and legal powers of attorney that enabled me to unravel paperwork problems, manage home repairs and participate in medical decisions. But messing with her right to drive, I discovered, was a huge, neon-lighted, statutory no-no in New York State. A Contract to Stop Driving Im intrigued by the idea of a family driving agreement, by which an older person who may now be a perfectly fine driver acknowledges that with age-related changes, there may come a day when the advantages of my continuing to drive are outweighed by the safety risk I pose not only to myself, but also to other motorists. Advertisement With this document, the driver designates a trusted relative or friend to notify him when he should either stop driving or continue only with certain restrictions. He pledges to listen and accept that persons recommendation. Then the driver, his designated adviser and a witness, or several, affix their signatures. Driving While Demented Take the question of whether people with mild dementia not just older drivers in general should be behind the wheel at all. Clinicians may present patients and their caregivers with the data showing that, as a group, patients with mild dementia are at a substantially higher risk for unsafe driving, and thus should strongly consider discontinuing driving, a new report suggested. Yet it also noted that several studies had shown that a considerable number of those with mild dementia 41 percent to 76 percent, depending on the study could pass an on-road driving test. Given that, in many parts of the country, not being able to drive can lead to isolation and a host of other real problems, should those people have to give up their cars? Advertisement Safer Cars Help Keep Older Drivers on the Road After years of advising others on how to get older drivers to relinquish the car keys, which often resulted in lost independence, isolation and depression (as well as family disputes), driving experts now focus on helping the elderly select vehicles that can accommodate their physical disabilities and certain sensory or cognitive losses. An Alternative to Giving Up the Car Keys While that is a scary thought for some people, the common perception, that the only real choice is between ignoring the difficulties faced by elderly drivers and taking away the car keys, is wrong. Were evolving in our thinking, said Jodi Olshevski, a gerontologist and executive director of the Hartford insurance companys Center for Mature Market Excellence. Were not just looking at the transition from driver to passenger, but how we can empower drivers to extend their driving as long as possible. San Diego airport officials, criticized for not including public transportation connections in their $3 billion redevelopment plan, say they will now make room for and fund a transit station near Terminal 1. The proposal, likely to mollify multiple public agencies who last year had lambasted the airport for the omission, will have the effect of delaying for one year plans to significantly expand and modernize the aging Terminal 1. Construction to more than triple the size of the terminal, originally expected to get under way next year, now would not start until 2021. The San Diego Regional Airport Authority, which had released a lengthy environmental analysis of the project last year, said Friday it now must rewrite significant portions of the required document, including changes to passenger forecasts, plans for a smaller parking garage, possible roadway improvements and the addition of the transit station. Our public partners are about to engage in their own efforts for transit connections, so we tried to look at what is possible, said Denny Probst, the Airport Authoritys vice president of development. So our approach is to look at the potential candidate options for how transit might get to the airport and develop some ideas where we think we can bring a station into a location in the new Terminal 1 complex. Advertisement Weve looked at a fixed guideway system like rail or a people mover. We think were covering the array of options that might come forward. Were not trying to define the connection once you leave the airport. Thats not the airports responsibility. Were trying to do enough work to make sure we havent precluded any of the options our regional partners might bring forward. But we would build the station to connect (public transportation) into the terminal complex on airport property. Its unknown at this time what the cost of a transit station would be because it would depend on whether its a trolley or monorail or express buses that would be the ultimate transit solution, Probst said. The Airport Authority would not only fund the on-airport portion of the transit system, but it would also work with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how much it could potentially contribute toward the cost of the off-airport portion of the system. The move to address public transit at Lindbergh Field comes as the San Diego Association of Governments is leading an effort to develop a grand central station on Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Complex,(commonly known as the SPAWAR property). Envisioned as part of that plan would be some type of people mover system to get people to and from the airport. Probst said airport officials will present options for a proposed transit station Tuesday at a meeting of the recently formed Airport Connectivity Subcommittee, which includes representatives of SANDAG, the city, the county, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and the airport. He said that while it could be years before an actual direct transit connection to the airport could be implemented, that would not delay the Terminal 1 project. We wont have all this transportation and transit stuff finalized but the EIR will state we are accommodating all these opportunities, Probst said. We believe the other agencies will be comfortable with us moving ahead with the new Terminal 1. In every meeting weve had with them, the consistent word is that the region should not wait for a new Terminal 1, and they recognize how bad conditions are and the need to get it replaced. Meanwhile, the airport subcommittee originally pulled together by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is moving full speed ahead on conceptual plans for a people mover system that would provide a link between a grand central station, no matter where that is eventually located, and the airports two terminals, said SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata. While recognizing that such a project will likely cost billions of dollars, Ikhrata is still hopeful that implementation of the transit system could get under way as early as next year. Advertisement We wrote the letter opposing the EIR (last year), and everyone was criticizing everybody, he said. There is no time for that anymore. This has been studied to death. We either put up or shut up. We are ready once and for all to put forth a people mover to connect to a transit hub so that everyone in San Diego County should be able to get to the airport with one transfer. Beyond making room at the airport for a transit station, a number of other significant changes will be made in the airports environmental impact report, which was first released last summer. The forecast of future passenger volumes, for example, will be updated from an earlier 2012 study to reflect actual traffic in 2018 when there were 24 million passengers served by the airport compared to 22 million a year earlier. Over the last two or three years, weve seen significant growth that was higher than the percentage growth anticipated in the forecast, and the criticism was that the actual numbers we were recording at the airport were higher than what the passenger forecast was saying in the EIR, Probst explained. Advertisement A change will also be made to an originally planned 7,500-car parking garage that some critics said was evidence of the Airport Authority prioritizing single-occupancy vehicles over transit. Now the airport is looking at significantly reducing the garage to 5,500 cars, which will result in a net gain of 650 spaces once 4,000 existing spaces are removed, Probst said. The hope is to release a revised environmental document by late spring, with the goal of securing approval by the Airport Authority board by the end of this year. Plans for the Terminal 1 redo call for constructing an entirely new building to replace the existing 19 gates and subsequently demolishing the existing terminal and adding 11 more gates.That second phase would be completed in 2026. In an effort to improve traffic conditions on Harbor Drive, an elevated, three-lane roadway would be built to quickly whisk motorists into the airport. Advertisement What was not included in the project, though, was a new roadway to ease traffic for those leaving the airport. Probst said that the plan is to preserve the right of way to do three outbound lanes parallel to the planned inbound road, but he added that until theres somewhere else for that traffic to go eastbound, we cant implement the eastbound lanes out of the airport because they would slam into the westbound lanes coming from Harbor Drive at Laurel. Funding for the Terminal 1 project comes from a variety of airport revenues, including landing fees, airline rents for terminal space, parking, concessions, and passenger facility charges. The airlines that use the terminal, including Southwest Airlines, have been pressing the airport for some time to upgrade and expand Terminal 1 following the major overhaul of Terminal 2 west. The airlines arent happy about (the delay) but understand where we are, Probst said. But their view of the world is they still want us to deliver this as quickly as we can. The redevelopment plan, the airports largest ever, also calls for improvements to Terminal 2 east. Probst said the Airport Authority is currently contemplating whether Terminal 2 east would be replaced, as originally contemplated, or remodeled. Advertisement Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com Advertisement (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg In a move certain to trim labor costs, the Cohn Restaurant Group plans to open next month an elevated fast casual eatery in Del Cerro that will rely on GPS-enabled devices to summon servers. Dels Hideout, as its being called, draws from the conventional fast casual model, offering counter service for ordering, but it will also have a full bar with craft cocktails and beer on tap and a childrens play area. What really differentiates it, though, are the electronic devices known as Kallpods that diners will use to order extra drinks during their meal or alert a server that theyre ready to pay their bill. The technology has grown more popular over the last several years, although its more widely used in hotels, stadiums and amphitheaters. As restaurants are increasingly looking to trim costs in the face of rising wages and utility bills, the tracking devices could become more widely embraced by dining venues. Advertisement Where the Cohn group would normally staff a full-service restaurant with three servers for every 15 tables, Dels Hideout will only need one server for the same amount of tables, says co-owner David Cohn. Were trying to balance menu pricing with labor costs, especially in a neighborhood restaurant where we want to serve our neighbors at as reasonable a price as we can, Cohn said. That means coming up with a different model and being more creative. And if its not clear enough that the Cohns are trying to change things up, there will be a sign over the entry door that will read, Rethinking dining. While Cohn knows of no other freestanding restaurants in the county using the technology other than a few hotel eateries, some chains like Chick-fil-A are testing it. Kallpod, in a news release last year, boasted that in addition to convenience, the devices are driving increased revenues. It noted that Canadian Brewhouse, a casual dining operator in Western Canada, has seen a $211,500 average increase in gross sales at its 30 locations since it began using the Kallpods. In the Del Cerro restaurant, the tabletop devices will have three buttons: one for general service needs, one specifically to order more drinks and one to request your check. Cohn said the same devices will also be used at the companys upcoming brewery restaurant, Draft Republic Brewing Co. in La Mesa, expected to open by the end of the year. Of the companys nearly 22 San Diego County restaurants, just two are fast casual Zigzag Pizza Pie in Oceanside and the Tea Pavilion in Balboa Park. Its an experiment but we think theres a way to not abandon people once theyre seated at fast casual places, said Cohn. Fast casual has been elevated for the last 20 years but everyone is trying to figure out the service piece. Dels Hideout will occupy a 5,400-square-foot building on Adobe Falls Road north of San Diego State that was the former home of the long closed Junk House Restaurant and before that, Nicolosis. Advertisement The Cohn Restaurant Group purchased the building last year for more than $1.8 million with the idea that it could be used as a commissary kitchen for catering and prep work for some of its other restaurants. Given the spaces especially large kitchen, Cohn said that eventually it will likely do double duty as a kitchen for the new eatery as well as a commissary. Its now being entirely reimagined by longtime design collaborator Phillippe Beltran, who often brings a sense of whimsy to the restaurant decor. He is incorporating vintage bicycles into the design of the communal table bases, and a shipping container has been repurposed as a three-sided activity area for kids. The main dining area will lead out to a 700-square-foot patio, separated by floor-to-ceiling roll-up garage doors. The restaurant menu will include American classics like burgers and BBQ, plus a number of healthy options such as entree-sized salads and bowls with grains, fresh vegetables and proteins. Rotisserie chicken will be a featured menu item, and diners will be able to sweeten their meals with a complimentary soft-serve ice cream cone they will get from a self-serve station on their way out. Advertisement Cohn estimates that the build-out of the restaurant space will cost roughly $500,000. Business Advertisement lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Taking up an entire city block in Little Italy, the mixed-use Kilroy Realty development known as 2100 Kettner will be the neighborhoods single largest office building when its completed late next year. This week, San Diegos downtown planning agency, Civic San Diego, gave the project the final go-ahead with board members unanimously approving the buildings design and development permits. The six-story low-rise bounded by Kettner, Ivy, Hawthorne and California streets will consist primarily of best-in-class office with 177,479 square feet of the 195,974 square-foot building (209,203 square feet when counting terraces) dedicated to the workforce. The next largest office building in the area, the ESET building at 610 W Ash St., offers a total of 177,489 square feet with some of that space allocated for ground-floor retail, according to real-estate tracker CoStar. The Kettner and Hawthorne project is replacing five existing, one-story commercial structures with a single, industrial-inspired 96-foot tall building with staggered setbacks. It includes six retail spaces on the ground floor, a public courtyard, 280 parking spaces mostly reserved for workers, multiple terraces and a 10,668 square-foot rooftop deck that tenants can enjoy. Building materials will include brick, metal siding, exposed concrete and timber in order to blend into the surrounding neighborhood. Advertisement The project, meant to to court pedestrians with retail and restaurants, is in a highly foot-trafficked area. Its adjacent to trendy eatery Herb & Wood and sits across the street from the luxury AV8 apartment building. It was really designed to break down the mass and activate the ground plane as much as possible, creating lots of spaces for flow of indoor-outdoor spaces to the restaurants, as well as the lobby and the piazza, said Marin Gertler, who represented project architect Gensler at Wednesdays Civic board meeting. The Little Italy office building is real estate investment firm Kilroys first office project downtown, and appears geared around tech and media workers. The Los Angeles-based developer, which is also behind the $600 million-plus One Paseo mixed-use project in Carmel Valley, has an expansive office portfolio spread across the Pacific Northwest, the Bay Area and Southern California. Corporate tenants include Dropbox, Netflix, Adobe, Salesforce and LinkedIn. A rendering of a terrace highlights the types of amenities Kilroy will use to attract tech and media tenants. (Courtesy/Kilroy Realty) Kilroy declined to share the total cost for 2100 Kettner. Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that the firm had spent $24.6 million on the project through September. The site was acquired for $19.4 million in late 2017 from several families who had owned the property for nearly a century. With Civics blessing secure, Kilroy now anticipates wrapping up construction before the end of 2020. When completed, 2100 Kettner will help balance the jobs-to-housing ratio in the downtown region, Civic Director Stephen Russell said at the agencys board meeting. Its a beautiful building, he said. Advertisement The comment is notable given the buildings partially above-ground parking structure that can seen from the street. Urban design experts typically frown upon visible garages, but Gensler amended its original design to improve screening and incorporate art. Kilroy also maintained that it could not dig any deeper to create more underground parking as associated costs would have made the project financially unfeasible for the developer. The project received yes votes from all Civic San Diego board members, except Phil Rath who was absent from the meeting. It was recommended for approval on Jan. 16 by the agencys design review committee. The Downtown Community Planning Council also provided its unanimous support at a Jan. 23 meeting. Advertisement Business jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin Now that the partial government shutdown is over, some federal workers may be rethinking their professions. Many analysts and publications have debated the risks vs. the benefits of being a federal employee. As CBS News put it, Federal jobs aren't the ticket to a middle-class life they used to be. Question: Is working for the federal government a good job? Phil Blair, Manpower YES: If security is typically what lets you sleep at night then a federal, state, county or city job is as secure as you can get. Even with furloughs, usually paid ones by the federal government, you are not threatened with an employer going broke, a competitor stealing your business and other uncertainties of private sector jobs. You do however have to live with civil service, union rules, a high level of seniority and structure and no fast advancement. And no stock options! Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research NO: Although federal jobs are more volatile than they were in the past, private sector work remains much less secure. Public sector workers exchange job security and lifetime pension for potential career growth and accompanying higher salary gains in the private sector. Government jobs are typically highly structured with overly complicated protocols and little motivation to rise above mediocre effort level. With limited capacity of being fired, government work is not geared toward efficiency or excellence. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: The recent partial shutdown exposed a major downside to working for the federal government. And certainly, there are federal jobs that offer modest pay and limited opportunities for career development. However, given the vast range of federal jobs, many federal employees are in positions that they enjoy, find challenging, offer paths for career advancement and provide sufficient compensation to live comfortably. For these individuals, working for the federal government is a good job. Gina Champion-Cain, American National Investments YES: The most widely cited average federal wage is $67,500, making these positions very desirable. The uncertainty of intermittent work stoppages are incredibly distressing, but less frequent than private sector layoffs; thus ironically making federal jobs more stable than those in the private market. Federal employees may also derive pride from providing a service to their fellow Americans, as opposed to "shareholders," an intrinsic value not enjoyed by private sector employees. Alan Gin, University of San Diego YES: Even though there have been more government shutdowns lately, employment in the federal government still tends to be more stable than in the private sector. For those at lower level jobs within the federal government, compensation tends to be higher than in the private sector. An added benefit is that this higher compensation can be achieved while still maintaining a work-life balance. The tradeoff is more problematic at higher levels, where the pay differential with the private sector is more severe. James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Many private-sector jobs do not offer the same job security, benefits, and pension protection as federal positions. The periodic shutdowns like the one we just went through are unpleasant for federal workers. But youll face unpleasant situations no matter who you work for. The stop-go pattern of federal hiring may disrupt your plans if you were counting on getting a federal job. But recent events shouldnt dissuade you from working for the government. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors NO: My no has nothing to do with the shutdown, which I regard as an outlier. Rather, the classic government job has historically been a coveted tradeoff involving lower pay rates, but great perks like early retirement, health care, etc. Yet, what struck me the most over this past shutdown were the stories of people living on the edge. This is a wakeup call to all of us. We are living in a society where far too many people are living paycheck to paycheck. That is a big hit to the term middle class. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: Historically federal jobs have been stable with great benefits. Only recently and for another 718 days, 10 hours 30 minutes will federal jobs be potential blackmail pawns, but whos counting; certainly not census workers. Many federal workers are now considering new career paths, and it will be harder to recruit workers in the future. At least flying in the U.S. will still be safer than say, Air Venezuela, and our food will be safer than Papua New Guinea. Jamie Moraga, IntelliSolutions YES: Federal government jobs are normally stable and good paying, with decent benefits, retirement, and job security. Civilian jobs of equivalent complexity and value do generally garner higher salaries and can offer entrepreneurial values in addition to a salary. Government jobs are still a good alternative, as long as affected government employees have the savings and the wherewithal to sustain their households during a shutdown. Unfortunately, these jobs can occasionally get caught up in the volatility of D.C. politics. Austin Neudecker, Rev YES: Though varied in nature and compensation, government jobs have historically been fairly stable and provide decent benefits. I hope continued government infighting does not perpetuate the use of human beings as chess pieces for political gain. We cannot risk devaluing the crucial jobs. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates YES: Just after the reopening of government, employees were back at work and getting paid at jobs that have competitive benefits and job security. The lesson to be learned is that even government employees need to save for a rainy day. No prudent person should be in financial distress from two missed paychecks. This is a problem that can be solved by better education and training early on. Lynn Reaser, Point Loma Nazarene University YES: The recent 35-day government shutdown has been harsh and, hopefully, Congress will move to reduce future occurrences. The federal government remains an attractive career or employment opportunity for many. Jobs are typically more stable than in the private sector with fewer layoffs. Retirement and health benefits offer security. Pay generally exceeds the private sectors at the lower end, although trailing it at some of the higher grades. NASA, the NIH, EPA, the military, and many other agencies need our best and brightest. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: Every employer offers a mix of compensation, benefits, job security and engagement to recruit and retain talent. And every employee chooses an employer that best fulfills their individual needs. Clearly, for many, a government job continues to fulfill their needs. Federal jobs may not pay as much as those in the private sector, but they offer great benefits and have been secure historically; this most recent government shut down is an anomaly. Have an idea for an EconoMeter question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com. Follow me on Twitter: @PhillipMolnar A cancer-fighting gene known as the guardian of the genome actually promotes certain tumors, according to a study by UC San Diego researchers. That means drugs that affect its activity may backfire in some cases, fueling the tumors growth. Called p53, the gene makes a protein that causes abnormal cells to self-destruct before they turn malignant. Mutated forms of the gene dont perform this function as well. About half of cancers have a mutated p53 gene, making it the most commonly mutated gene in malignancies. As such, it has been a major target of drug development to restore normal function. But in certain instances restoring normal function could actually help the tumor grow. So knowing what these drugs will do to a particular cancer is vital. The study underscores a point oncologists have been making for decades: Cancer is not one disease. What we call cancer is actually hundreds of genetic diseases that share certain characteristics. And as knowledge grows about the differences between cancers, the desirability of personalized treatment becomes more evident. Advertisement Researchers led by Yang Xu based their results on studies of human patients, cell samples and mouse models of cancer. The study was published Thursday in the journal Cancer Cell. It can be found at j.mp/cancerp53. Cancers often occur gradually, with a series of mutations that weaken genetic defenses against abnormal growth. Their degree of aggressiveness also varies. Some cancers are rapidly growing and require immediate treatment. Other cancers are slow-growing, and may not need immediate treatment. Slow-growing cancers can cross a threshold and begin to spread rapidly. The activity of p53, or the lack of it, helps determine if and when that threshold is reached. Ovarian cancer is one example in which the lack of normal p53 is implicated. In some aggressive ovarian cancers, the gene is mutated nearly all the time. But the gene is much less frequently mutated in hepatocellular or liver cancers. Xu and colleagues found that restoring p53 function in mutated liver cancer cells improves their metabolism, by indirectly causing cells to switch to a process called glycolysis, which involves the heavy use of sugar as an energy source. Normally, cells use a process which is more energy-efficient but is limited by the availability of oxygen. Called oxidative phosphorylation, it takes place in mitochondria, organelles inside cells that provide most of the bodys energy. This metabolic change to glycolysis, called the Warburg effect, has been recognized for decades as a characteristic of cancer. So in liver cancers, promoting p53 function will induce this metabolic shift, energizing the cancer. Advertisement The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine funded the research, along with Chinese sources including the Natural Science Foundation of China; the Leading Talents of Guangdong Province Program; and the National High-Tech R&D Program. Related reading How a gene that usually protects against cancer becomes the diseases aggressor This protein is mutated in half of all cancers. New drugs aim to fix it before its too late Advertisement Targeting p53 for Novel Anticancer Therapy . Advertisement Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 Apias Hash House Harriers ran in honour of Australia Day on Monday, and did their bit for Samoa too. On their way up and down Mt. Vaea, the runners collected nearly two dozen bags of rubbish strewn across the mountain, and even competed to find the most, the weirdest and grossest rubbish. Photos: Papalii Mele Maula CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said Friday he has turned down offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with embattled Nicolas Maduro, a day before nationwide street protests called to escalate pressure on the socialist leader to step down. In a letter to both presidents, Guaido urged them to back Venezuela's struggle, saying to remain neutral aligns them with Maduro. "At this historical moment that our country is going through, to be neutral is to be on the side of the regime that has condemned hundreds of thousands of human beings to misery, hunger and exile including death," he said. Guaido declared himself interim president last week before tens of thousands of cheering supporters and vowed to topple Maduro's administration, which he labeled a "dictatorship." His claim to the presidency is backed by the United States and some two dozen other nations. The opposition's priority is to end Maduro's grip on power and usher in a transition by holding democratic elections, Guaido said in the letter to Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The United States also rejects offers from Mexico, Uruguay and the Vatican to mediate a dialogue. President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton tweeted Thursday that Maduro and his top advisers should retire to "a nice beach somewhere far away from Venezuela." Bolton's talk turned tougher Friday in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt in which he warned that it could be a beach area more like Guantanamo. A defiant Maduro remains dug in, blaming the White House for openly backing what he calls a coup to remove him from power and exploit his country's vast oil wealth. He retains support from powerful allies, including Russia and China, but is growing increasingly isolated as more nations back Guaido. Maduro on Friday continued a show of strength as commander-in-chief that has seen him crisscross Venezuela to oversee military exercises in recent days as he vows to defend his socialist government no matter the cost. "We're in a historic battle," Maduro told several hundred troops standing in formation around armored vehicles. "We're facing the greatest political, diplomatic and economic aggression that Venezuela has confronted in 200 years." The military's top leadership is backing Maduro, though analysts warn that rank-and-file troops frustrated by their country's economic and humanitarian crisis may not share that unwavering loyalty. Venezuela's opposition has called on supporters to flood the streets again Saturday in nationwide protests against Maduro, the second such mass action this week. Guaido led a peaceful demonstration Wednesday with residents stepping out of their homes and workplaces for two hours. Last week, street protests turned violent in days of unrest that killed nearly three dozen people in clashes with government security forces. Maduro's socialist government is asking its supporters to mount their own demonstration, urging them to show their support Saturday on the 20th anniversary of Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution launched by the late President Hugo Chavez. Meanwhile, a prominent opposition lawmaker called on a group of European Union and Latin American countries to support Maduro's ouster without negotiations. An "international contact group" announced Thursday by the E.U.'s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, "should help to cease the usurpation of power by Maduro and establish a transitional government until new elections," said Francisco Sucre, who heads the international committee of the opposition-led National Assembly. "There is no possible discussion here. Maduro has to leave," Sucre told The Associated Press in Madrid, where he is wrapping up a three-day European tour to enlist support for Guaido. The European Parliament has called on the EU's member states to recognize Guaido as interim president. The socialist government of Spain, which has strong historic, cultural and economic ties to Venezuela, has said it will do so on Monday if Maduro doesn't call a general election by Sunday. "Power is evaporating from Maduro's hands with the passing of the hours," Sucre said. "We have been contacted by diplomats across Europe who are ready to take a step forward, but they are waiting for the right moment." Renewable energy sources such as the 600 kilowatt Tafitoala-Fausaga hydro power plant at Safata District are vulnerable to the impact of climate change. This is according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Power Corporation (EPC), Tologata Tile Tuimaleali'ifano. Speaking in an interview with the Samoa Observer, he said the Tafitoala-Fausaga hydro power plant and other hydro power facilities are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions triggered by climate change. In the case of any natural disasters, like the flash flood we had here at the Apia area in 2012 which destroyed all the hydro plants at Vaisigano River which has been completely refurbished. The same thing can also happen to any hydro power plant. With the changes in climate, another limitation for hydro sources of energy is the dry season. But for Samoa alone, hydro is the proven renewable energy for us. The first priority is hydro, second priority is solar and wind, he said. Talking about the commissioning of the Tafitoala-Fausaga hydro power plant, he said there is always the threat of dry season, consequently the appeal from the Prime Minister for more trees to be grown. During the commissioning of the 600 Kilowatt Tafitoala Fausaga Hydro Power Plant, the Prime Minister has urged villagers to work together with EPC to plant more trees, in order to have enough water to operate the power station. Tologata also said even if Samoa is able to reach hundred per cent renewable, the EPC will still need Fiaga as a backup. It is because if the renewable energy sources get affected through climate change or natural disasters we need Fiaga as a backup for electricity if Fiaga had never been built then EPC would have never met the demand of electricity. Samoa Observer is one of the newspapers that published articles on the government wasting millions on building Fiaga but without Fiaga, by now the demand of electricity would have never been met. The worst case scenario is to have a blackout on one side of the island and it would take such a long period of time to get back the power if there was no Fiaga, he added. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi says his reference to the use of an atomic bomb to blow up petitions against the Governments Electoral Constituencies Bill was blown out of proportion. The reference was made in Parliament after two petitions lodged by separate villages were tabled during last weeks session. The bill was eventually passed. In response to questions from the Samoa Observer where the Prime Minister was asked to explain, Tuilaepa said it was a figure of speech. The comment was a figure of speech, a simple matter for a journalist of Samoan roots with some depth of our cultural knowledge, the Prime Minister responded in writing. It is one of the oldest and most popular sayings or tactics used by Samoan matais to emphasise the importance of an issue. It was literally blown out of proportion and deliberately sensationalised as usual by the Observer for the sake of a dramatic headline to sell their paper. Tuilaepa referred to an atomic bomb when the second petition against the Bill, was lodged by the Alii ma Faipule of Tafua, Savaii. The time will come when I will address the three steps the government took to make major amendments to resolve this matter for all eternity, Tuilaepa said then. Weve been independent for nearly sixty years now, and yet this matter of some constituencies having two, three, four reps in Parliament is always brought up. Tuilaepa said the Electoral Constituencies Bill 2018 is a move by his administration to address this once and for all. The Governments of the past avoided it. Why? They were afraid to touch fire but with the H.R.P.P. government, it is our belief that it is only smoke, no one will get burned. Thats when he said: I will blow this up with an atomic bomb; I will not shoot it with a tuitui. In a written response to questions from the Samoa Observer, Tuilaepa again explained the importance of the changes. The Electoral Constituencies Bill 2018 is the last phase of the long line of many, many electoral reforms initiated by the H.R.P.P. government close to 4 decades ago, he said. Since the H.R.P.P. came into office, respective Electoral Commission of Inquiries were established to review the electoral processes after every General Elections to minimise and remove any corrupt practices observed during the election. But as we all know while government does not condone corrupt and illegal electoral practices before, during and after general elections, candidates always seem to be creative in all kinds of tricks to win. A local alcohol manufacturing company has raised concerns on the dangers that could arise from banning the use of plastic bottles in Samoa. Skyline Boom Vodka Treasurer, Cecelia Wang, said should the Government enforce banning plastic bottles, this could be dangerous for locals who consume their Boom Vodka, which is bottled in 500 and 100 milliliter plastic bottles. If you shift to glasses, it is dangerous, Ms. Wang said. You know Samoan people they like to drink vodka and if they get drunk, they will throw the glass bottles and it is dangerous because some people can become violent when they drink. Taituuga Tupai Reupena, the Manager for Engineering and Production, said despite the Government stating that alcohol prices in Samoa should be the same; there are some companies who still sell theirs at a lower price affecting the local products. Thats the thing about Samoa, the owners control their price. I am the boss, I control my price, Taituuga said. Some companies are selling lower than the tax ($38.60), lower than the price. We cant reduce our price because of the Government law, Ms. Wang added. The excise tax on alcohol is also quite high and this affects the companys sale quantity, Ms. Wang said. The customer cant afford the price of our vodka because we have to put up our price because of the tax. The current tax will affect sales especially if we have to switch to glass vodka. Taituuga explained the sale of their vodka is very slow now compared to before because of the pricing of imported and locally manufactured alcohols. This is not good for locals because it is produced in Samoa but the goods from overseas have very high GST, and everything, why do goods from overseas lift the price of local products? Overseas goods are very expensive, example if you bring a Boom Vodka from China it is very expensive here in Samoa, but the locals produce vodka here in Samoa, I dont know why the Government made them the same price? Thats why they increase the local prices, but Samoa is in favour of the local products. But overseas alcohol is very expensive, but now the prices are all the same. Taituuga said there is a high demand for their product and hopes to introduce glass bottled Boom Vodka when they relocate to their new factory that is being developed. Its difficult to change from plastic to glass and its very expensive. Plastic is very light and glass is very heavy. The company delivers their products on a daily basis around Upolu and Savaii. The secrecy surrounding what has become of the woman holding the all-important position of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly is unnecessary. This is especially so for Parliament, an institution that should be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance. In other words, Members of Parliament, especially the Speaker of Parliament, are duty bound to be accountable and transparent with members of the public in their dealings. For the uninitiated, questions have been raised on the whereabouts of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Sefuiva Charlene Malele. Interest was heightened during the last Parliamentary session when her absence was clearly noticeable. Sitting in on her behalf was Deputy Clerk, Leatisa Uitime Tala. Questions about Sefuiva, given the fact she is still the Clerk of Parliament until we are told otherwise, are valid. This is especially for such a high profile position, which means it is a legitimate matter of public interest. Keep in mind that last year, the Audit Office investigated an official complaint filed by a Parliamentary driver on allegations of misappropriation of Government funding, human resources issues and alleged abuse of government properties. The complaint was lodged by the driver to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, whose portfolio also covers the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly (O.C.L.A.). In August last year, Vaipou Fetuliai Lagaaia, of the Audit Office, told the Samoa Observer that the results of our audit had been submitted to the relevant authorities which is the Honorable Speaker of Parliament and also to the Hon. Prime Minister as he is the responsible Minister for the O.C.L.A. He added: We respect your interest in publishing our audit findings but we kindly advise that you wait for the report to be tabled in Parliament pursuant to Standing Order and section 42 of the Audit Act 2013 before it can become a public document. Ladies and gentlemen, this was on the 29th of August 2018. Today is the 2nd of February 2019 yet nobody seems to know what is going on or at least be willing to tell the public the truth. All we know is that Sefuiva did not occupy her chair as the Clerk when she should have last week. So what is going on? Is she still being investigated? Is she on leave? Has she been suspended? Has she been fired? Or what? These are simple questions. They are not hard and yet members of the public continue to be kept in the dark. Why is this necessary? Repeated attempts to get a comment from Sefuiva have been unsuccessful so far. The Sergeant at Arms for Parliament, Sergeant Setima, told the Samoa Observer that the official vehicle that Sefuiva used has been returned to the office. He explained that in August 2018, Sefuiva returned to work after taking leave. However, she was placed on leave again not long after, and has not returned since. Whether she is coming back to work or not I do not know. However, the only person who can give an official comment is the Speaker, he said. Approached for a comment after Parliament on Monday, Speaker of Parliament, Toleafoa Faafisi said: I dont have time, I have other obligations. When he was approached again the next day, he reiterated: Oh no, I am very busy, please speak to the Sergeant (at Arms for Parliament) but I dont have time for anything right now. Really? Transparency and accountability? Good governance? How long does it take to give an update? Well now that Parliament is not sitting for another couple of months, perhaps the Speaker of Parliament should make some time to sit down and tell us what is going on. Sefuiva was not a cleaner or a tea lady in just any Government Ministry, she held the highly regarded position of Clerk of the Office of the Legislative Assembly of the independent state of Samoa. What has happened to her, the public deserves to know. The truth. Have a wonderful weekend Samoa, God bless! CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) The Venezuelan opposition leader challenging Nicolas Maduro's claim to the presidency warned officers from a feared state security unit Thursday to stay away from his family after he accused them of showing up at his apartment in a tense brush with the very force he is trying to persuade to switch allegiance and back him. A visibly flustered but determined Juan Guaido told a crowd gathered at a university that members of a special police unit known for its brutal tactics had gone to his high-rise apartment in a middle-class neighborhood of Caracas while his 20-month-old daughter was inside. "I hold you responsible for anything that might happen to my baby," the 35-year-old lawmaker said as his wife stood beside him. He rushed home and emerged an hour later holding his smiling daughter, named for Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan patriot who paved the way for Venezuela's independence, and described how four agents from the police's Special Action Force had arrived at the building and asked security guards stationed there for his wife. "Children are sacred," he admonished the agents as a crowd of supporters applauded. "Wives are sacred. So don't cross that red line." In a statement on Twitter, Venezuela's police denied that special agents had gone to Guaido's home, dismissing the claim as "totally FALSE." Guaido is at the center of Venezuela's political upheaval as he presses forward with establishing a transitional government after swearing himself in as the nation's rightful president in a move denounced by Maduro as a U.S.-backed coup. In a country where the socialist leader's foes often end up behind bars, Guaido has thus far managed to avoid arrest, but in recent days authorities have let it be known that even as his powerful international support grows Guaido isn't untouchable. On Tuesday, the government-stacked Supreme Court barred Guaido from leaving the country and froze his bank accounts while chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab, a Maduro ally, conducts an investigation into his anti-government activities. "Once more they are playing the intimidation game," Guaido said. "They're not going to succeed in intimidating this Venezuelan family." Even while denouncing the special police force, Guaido appealed to them and the military to abandon Maduro and abide by the constitution, which he contends instructs him as leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to take the presidency. The opposition and a large segment of the international community consider Maduro's reelection fraudulent, in part because the president's most popular adversaries were barred from running. "You have time to put yourselves on the right side of history," Guaido said. U.S. officials who have warned Maduro will face "serious consequences" if he harms Guaido denounced the incident as a disgraceful intimidation tactic. "Regime resorts to targeting a 20-month-old baby," Kimberly Breier, the current U.S. assistant secretary of state for the region, wrote on Twitter. "Shame on you Maduro." A swift end to the tumult appears unlikely as both Guaido and Maduro dig in for a protracted conflict with geopolitical dimensions. Maduro has been crisscrossing Venezuela overseeing military exercises and vowing to defend his socialist government no matter the cost. The military's top leadership is backing Maduro, though analysts warn that rank-and-file troops frustrated by their country's economic and humanitarian crisis may not share their unwavering loyalty. Venezuelan officials said Thursday that authorities had taken down a "terrorist" group backed by political opponents plotting to assassinate Maduro. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said retired National Guard Col. Oswaldo Garcia Palomo was among those detained. Garcia Palomo has been an outspoken critic of Maduro for months and had openly declared his intentions to amass a military force in exile to remove Maduro from power. Reverol said security forces seized two rifles and 500 armbands bearing the letters "OC," which he said stands for "Operation Constitution." He accused Colombian intelligence, the CIA and exiled Venezuelan lawmaker Julio Borges of being behind the alleged plot. "We are continuing the investigation and don't discount future arrests," he added. The government called for a mass rally Thursday to denounce U.S. sanctions against Venezuela's state-owned oil company that could starve Maduro's government of billions in export revenue but turnout was no more than a few hundred people. Maduro has retained the support of powerful allies, including Russia and China, but he is growing increasingly isolated as more nations back Guaido. The European Parliament called on the European Union's 28 member states Thursday to recognize Guaido. The regional bloc has not yet defined its position on the crisis amid differing opinions among members, though several nations have said they will recognize Guaido if Maduro doesn't announce a new election by week's end. The bloc did not come out in support of Guaido after a meeting of foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania, to discuss the crisis, but EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced the establishment of a 90-day international conduct group with EU and Latin American states to "promote common understanding aiming at a peaceful and democratic outcome." The EU legislature also approved a resolution that condemned the continued violence and the detention of journalists who sought to cover events there. In recent days journalists from at least three foreign publications have been detained. Spain's state-run EFE news agency said three of its journalists were freed Thursday after being detained overnight in Venezuela's capital. Two French journalists were also freed from detention, and two Chilean journalists were ordered deported. Guaido reappeared Thursday night to address dozens of neighbors and thank them for not letting state security forces intimidate the community. He also called on them to support the plan he is putting forward to lift up Venezuela's economy by reactivating the oil industry and opening up private investment to public businesses, among other measures. He is urging Venezuelans to take to the streets again Saturday for a mass protest demanding that humanitarian aid enter the country, something the Maduro government has regularly refused, denying that a crisis is underway. WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared Thursday that there'll be no "wall money" in any compromise border security deal as she and President Donald Trump signaled that congressional negotiators may never satisfy his demands for his cherished Southwest border proposal. Trump, who in recent weeks has expressed indifference to whether the term "wall" or something else is used, clung with renewed tenacity to the word that became his campaign mantra, declaring, "A wall is a wall." Yet in a series of tweets and statements, he issued conflicting messages about what he'd need to declare victory and suggested that merely repairing existing structures along the boundary could be a major component of a triumph. Amid signs that Trump's leverage in Congress is atrophying, he seemed to aim one tweet at his conservative followers. He wrote that Democrats "are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Pelosi, D-Calif., left the door open for an accord that could finance some barriers, citing what she said was already existing "Normandy fencing" that blocks vehicles. "If the president wants to call that a wall, he can call that a wall," she told reporters. She added: "Is there a place for enhanced fencing? Normandy fencing would work." Yet Pelosi's other remark "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation" underscored the linguistic battle underway. It also showed that Democrats see no reason to let Trump claim a win in a cause that stirs his hard-right voters and enrages liberals. Trump's political muscle weakened following Democrats' capture of House control in the November election. It waned further after his surrender last week in ending a record 35-day partial government shutdown without getting a penny of the $5.7 billion he'd demanded to start building the wall. In another sign of his flagging hold over lawmakers, the GOP-controlled Senate backed legislation on a 68-23 vote Thursday that opposes withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. When Trump folded on the shutdown, he agreed to reopen government until Feb. 15, giving lawmakers more time to craft a bipartisan border security compromise. If there's no deal by then, Trump has threatened to revive the shutdown or declare a national emergency, which he claims would let him shift billions from unrelated military construction projects to erecting his wall. He criticized Democrats' negotiating stance so far, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Pelosi is "just playing games" and saying GOP bargainers are "wasting their time." Democrats remain united against those tactics. Republican opposition seems nearly as strong, and GOP leaders are becoming increasingly assertive about publicly telegraphing those feelings to Trump. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that "there are a lot of us that are trying to dissuade" Trump from declaring a national emergency should border security talks deadlock. Cornyn, a close adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said he has "absolute confidence" that such a declaration would be challenged in court, tying up the money, and said Congress might even vote to defy him. "The president needs to know that before he heads down that path," Cornyn said. No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters that "a lot of folks are uncomfortable" with an emergency declaration. He stopped short of ruling out a challenge by the Senate, calling the question "hypothetical." Earlier this week, McConnell, R-Ky., a longtime opponent of shutdowns, called the move "government dysfunction which should be embarrassing to everyone on a bipartisan basis." Lawmakers caution that if Trump declares an emergency, future Democratic presidents might do the same for issues they favor that Congress derails. Some are reluctant to cede Congress' constitutional power to control spending to any president, and many say there is no real border emergency. Democrats offered further details of their border security plan Thursday, unveiling a measure that would provide no wall funds. It would significantly boost spending for scanners at ports of entry, humanitarian aid for apprehended migrants, and new aircraft and ships to police the U.S.-Mexico border. It would freeze the number of border patrol agents and block any wall construction in wildlife refuges along the border. Without a border security accord, lawmakers could avert another shutdown by once again temporarily financing dozens of federal agencies, perhaps for months. Trump has been unpredictable in the shutdown debate, mixing softer rhetoric about a multifaceted approach to border security with campaign-style bluster about the wall. Lawmakers negotiating the bill are aware that he could quash an agreement at any time, plunging them back into crisis. "Obviously, it makes it more challenging," Cornyn told reporters. "You keep talking and try to understand where he is and try to work it out." Guillaume Becot and Pauline Queroy are a long way from Paris in France. But the friendly nature of Samoans and the way they embrace visitors like themselves have made them feel at home. For this year, the couple decided to visit Australia, New Zealand and one Pacific island. They chose Samoa. We were in New Zealand for one month and we wanted to visit one of the Pacific Islands and we chose Samoa, Guillaume said. They have not regretted their decision. It has been really nice, we are having such a great time in Samoa. Great, food, beaches and fales, Guillaume explained. Since they arrived, the couple has tried an assortment of Samoan local food like banana with coconut cream, luau, taro, oka, breadfruit and pork buns. We like that the people here are very friendly and welcoming. We have travelled a lot and caught lifts. People are eager to help us whenever we ask. Even the families in the villages have been hospitable to us. Living like locals was one of their goals. Thats why they have taken the local bus to their destinations, stayed with families in the villages and tried Samoas street foods. They first toured Savaii and stayed at Regina Beach fales, Manase. They arrived back after a week and toured Upolu. They have stayed at Matareva, Vaiula, Lalomanu before spending their last night at Olivias Accommodation in Apia. Asked what they enjoyed the most about their visit in Samoa, they both agreed it was the strong roots locals have to the Samoan culture and traditions. We have seen a lot of the Samoan culture touring the island and it is really nice to see that the traditions are still strong in Samoa, Guillaume said. The couple is continuing their trip to Australia, before heading back to Paris. Samoa is really far away, and travelling is expensive but we hope to come visit again because we have enjoyed our stay, Guillaume said. Second hand smoking, also known as passive smoking, is an extremely serious issue in Samoa. It is among a number of issues the Samoa Cancer Society (SCS) is working with the Government to address through the Tobacco Control Amendment Act 2018. Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke by persons other than the intended active smoker. During an interview with the Samoa Observer, SCS Chief Executive Officer, Shelley Burich, said the challenge remains a constant one especially in many public places where people should not be exposed to smoke. I think that in the last few years I have seen that the citizens and community have been relaxing with the tobacco law, Ms. Burich said. She explained the health issue for second hand smoking in public areas. Even if a person doesnt smoke, being exposed to fumes from a cigarette product has the potential to increase the risks of cancer, respiratory issues and death. She pointed out that one cigarette contains at least 4,000 toxins. People just go out smoking in public places and around other people. That goes to say that, one, they do not know what the law is meaning there is not enough education and, two, they are blatantly ignoring it, not wanting to adhere to the law. Ms. Burich said the Samoa Cancer Society is working with the Government and the Ministry of Health increased awareness about tobacco law and health effects to the public. Tobacco shouldnt just be the governments problem. It should also be our responsibility to adhere to the law. She explained that the compliance is not only the government but the nation entirely to not only adhere to the law but also enforce it. We have rights as citizens to let other people know when they are breaking the law. And if we dont speak up then we are not doing our duty, we shouldnt always complain about what the government is not doing but also we have a voice to put our hand up to be responsible. Samoa is a member of the Framework Convention to Tobacco Control, and Samoa Cancer Society a Non-Government Organization of Framework Convention Alliance that work hand in hand to monitor and be better advocates of tobacco control. The cruise ship Seven Seas Navigator has returned to Samoa. The vessel, which is operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line and is based in the Bahamas, berthed at the Matautu wharf yesterday at 8.00am with some of its 404 passengers disembarking to sightsee. The general manager for Samoa Crew and Shipping, Tanumafono Suafoa Meredith, told Samoa Observer that they were the local agents for the cruise ship. According to the ships cruise staff member, Maeta Rocha, their journey started from Hawaii to South America, the Caribbean Islands and recently French Polynesia before arriving in Samoa. Maeta, who is from Portugal and has worked on the ship for over five years, is on her first visit to Samoa. I have travelled to a lot of places and I enjoy seeing new culture and meeting new people. I looked forward to visiting Sheraton Hotel while we are here, try some local food and get a couple of souvenirs too, she said. Faith Candinl, a ballet dancer for the cruise production show, also enjoyed visiting new places especially islands with sandy beaches. I just like experiencing new culture and especially the beach because I am landlocked where I am from. Its been really great so far, seeing the world and doing what I love, Faith added. The cruise ship left Apia at 4p.m for Australia. China has increased its diplomatic presence and is deeply involved in regional organisations in the Pacific. Thats what the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission staff research report says. For several of these organisations, China provides funding and other support even if it is not a member or observer, the report says. Since 2007, China has had a senior Chinese diplomat serving as its special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum Post Forum Dialogue, the only multilateral organisation that includes all Pacific Island countries and allows outside countries participation. The special envoy has represented China at each of the Post Forum Dialogues held since 2007 and regularly attends bilateral meetings and other events in the region. According to the report, Chinese government presence before President Xi Jinping was negligible. Now experienced diplomats are being assigned to embassies in the region; however, personal levels remain inadequate to coordinate the high volume of aid projects, often leaving Chinese companies and their local partners in control, the report reads. The report also notes Chinese tourists travelling increasing in numbers to the Pacific Islands where tourism is the backbone of most of their economy. China has been among the fastest-growing countries in terms of the number of tourists visiting the region, said the report, with Beijings eight diplomatic partners and Palau*to which Chinese tourist groups are allowed to visitChinese visitors grew by an average of 27 percent per year between 2009 and 2014. However, the number of Chinese tourists remains modest compared with foreign visitors from Australia and New Zealand. But in the long term, China is likely to continue expanding its tourism footprint in the region with the World Bank estimating Chinese visitors to the 11 World Bank members in the region to grow at 20 percent per year reaching 965,000 visitors by 2040. Chinese tourism in the region is concentrated in Palau and Fiji, which together make up 80 percent of all Chinese inbound arrivals. In 2017, Chinese tourism fell by about 5 percent across the region, due in large part to the reduction in Chinese tourism to Palau where it dropped by 11 percent, said the report. The Prime Minister believes the nations two top cops often have more pressing matters than responding to news media for updates and information on crime and emergencies. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi was asked last week to comment on the Police Commissioner and his media departments lack of timely communication with news organisations. The policy is for the appropriate authority to respond in a timely fashion, and in line with a code of ethics and due processes. But Tuilaepa said he trusts the Commissioner and his Deputy to deal with media inquiries appropriately. As in any business public relations is very important, he said. The two top law officials at times are not readily available, as they have more pressing matters pertaining to the safety and security of the country to deal with, rather than to assist in writing your ready-made articles to be published every week, he said. As well as constrained by time, the Prime Minister suggested chief executive officers might prefer to avoid being questioned, accusing the Samoa Observer of using information to ridicule the source. Your usual style of asking for information to be used by you to ridicule the source does not help. Then you wonder why CEOs avoid wasting their time when they have more important things to do, he said. Regarding reporting on crime, Tuilaepa suggested news media rely on the courts to write stories, for a credible source of information. I again reiterate an earlier suggestion for media personnel to use the Courts as a credible source of information since that is where all the evidence and investigation findings supporting the charges will be made public. I think the media at times are spoiled and are expecting to be spoon-fed by government, he said. However, Journalism Association of Samoa (JAWS) president Rudy Bartley said it is an unfair comment by the Prime Minister. He said one cannot generalise about journalists, as like in any profession there is a range of people. There are some really active, really good reporters, media people and then you have some not so active people, so to say all media is like that is unfair, Mr Bartley said. We have our code of practice which we try to encourage our reporters to adhere to and try to follow. Mr Bartley explained that it is up to each and every news organisation to what extent they use press releases (articles or explainers disseminated by organisations with a story to share, like the Government). The reporter will determine if its newsworthy, if it needs to be investigated, if it may run or may not run, he said. While its true that some reporters may rely too much on press releases, Mr Bartley would like to see more young journalists learn to make more effort to investigate press releases. Are journalists able to write an objective story using a press release? These are issues that come down to training and journalists being more aware of the issues around using press releases, he said. The Prime Minister said Government press releases issued to news media are also published on Government websites, for readers to have access to them. You only publish little of what we release and leave out what reflects on your papers bad practices, he said. Thats another unfair comment, Mr Bartley said. We are all looking for information, making sure its accurate and useful for the public. Mr Bartley said he would consider the comment unfair regardless of which media organisation it may have been about, saying the Samoa Observer is often picked on for being a critical newspaper. It wont be the Observer next time. Its just because, I think, Observer is doing a lot of work exposing things and is sometimes critical, he said. But the negative comments directed at news media organisations and reporters from Government are not new, Mr Bartley said. This is how media have been dealt with for a while, not just the Observer. The media in general have been accused of so many things over so many years, and somehow we become used to it, and have a thick skin. As part of ongoing work to make journalism better in Samoa, JAWS is working with government ministries to learn how media and ministries can better understand each others roles and responsibilities, and ultimately better serve Samoa. The work will go into improving the Journalism Code of Practice, which offers basic guidelines for journalists to do their work properly. With the code of practice we can continue to have a better resource for our up and coming journalists, to keep our good work going, Mr Bartley said. A variety of useful plastic bag alternatives are available across supermarkets in the wake of this weeks nationwide ban. The Samoa Observer visited local shops to see how they are serving Samoa, and found branded reusable bags, paper bags and of course woven baskets ready and waiting. In the bustling Fugalei Market, Tusani Danielson has woven dozens of ato launiu, or coconut leaf baskets. I listened to the radio, I heard I had to save the environment, he said. I decided to weave these baskets for people to come and buy their food in, for five tala. Mr Danielson said the baskets are a fair bit of work. He climbs coconut trees, cuts down leaves and weaves the baskets himself, and they take around 10 minutes each to make. I dont want to use plastic anymore, I can bring my ako to any shop and use them. A young shopper spotted at Lynns Supermarket in Motootua said she was happy to be saving the environment. Maddison Brunt, 7, was with her mother packing their groceries into shopping bags they had brought from home, which they keep in the car so they dont get forgotten. Lynns shop manager Oscar Meredith said people are definitely getting used to shopping without readily available single use plastic bags but some complain. Leftover stock is being used for meatpacking, instead of buying new packing bags in the meantime. Another shopper at Lynns carried her groceries out in a small cardboard box, making use of free resources. At Farmer Joes in Vaitele, large brown paper bags are available for 50 sene each. Vai Iafeta, a shopper there told us she was happy to pay extra for a bag she can use again, and again. The store has also gone one step further, switching out Styrofoam cups for paper ones at the fruit drink stand at the entrance. While paper bags may see some wear and tear, at Lucky Foodtown shoppers can pick up a reusable cloth bag for T$5. Lutia Lene did not hesitate to pick one up with her shopping, which she filled to the brim a shop that otherwise could have filled several small plastic bags. Lucky Foodtown has been stocking reusable bags since December. Cashier Fuatino Tanuvasa said while not everyone remembers to bring their bags back to the supermarket each time they shop, people are getting better. Most people love the ban, she said. Some people may abuse us but they will take a bag because they have no choice. . , . . 6.00 . : "" . ... Supreme Court Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren yesterday jailed a man, who raped his eight-year-old stepdaughter twice, for 21 years. The 26-year-old man, who blamed the girl for being seductive towards him, was found guilty of two charges of rape, one count of unlawful sexual connection and indecent act on a child by a panel of Assessors. She is a child and she was violated in a most cruel way, Justice Tafaoimalo said in her decision. An 8-year-old child should not have to go through this ordeal. Details that could identify the child were supressed by the Court. While the mans identity was not supressed, the Samoa Observer has decided against the publication of his name because it could identify the victim. During the hearing in November last year, the Court was told the victim does not live with her mother and stepfather. She only visited them on White Sunday in 2017. Thats when the offending took place, when the mother had gone to work leaving the defendant with the victim and her younger siblings. On both occasions, the defendant had sex with the young girl. This offending was premeditated, she said. He created situations to get her alone with him. He committed these offences when his wife had gone to work. The fact that he raped her twice indicates a high level of premeditation. He planned what to do and carried it out twice. Justice Tafaoimalo noted the girls vulnerability, especially given her age. The victim was particularly vulnerable by reason not only of her age of 8 years but also by reason of the relationship she had to the accused. He was the in affect her parent when she stayed with him and her mother. The extent of the harm to the victim is taken into account and this was a serious violation of the victims sexual autonomy. She is a child and she was violated in a most cruel way. She bled after the first act of sexual intercourse. An 8-year-old child should not have to go through this ordeal. This is a significant aggravating factor. Justice Tafaoimalo noted that one of the most disturbing aspects of this sentence is that the defendant had blamed the eight-year-old girl for being seductive towards him. This is highly implausible and demonstrates an inability to fully accept his actions. Any discount for remorse on his part will be given with this in mind, she said. Deterrence will be of paramount consideration in todays sentence. The rape of a child is unacceptable and inexcusable, particularly so in a family situation where a child should rightly have an expectation that she or he is safe and protected by the adults in the family. This behaviour needs to be expunged for the sake of this countrys children. Today the Court will play its role in purging our county of this deplorable behaviour. The future of former Cabinet Minister and Speaker of Parliament, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao, with the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) appears uncertain. It follows his decision to vote against the Governments Electoral Constituencies Bill in Parliament, where he was one of two Members of Parliament who objected during the ballot. The other M.P. was Olo Fiti Vaai. Yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi told the media during his weekly media conference that he had written to Laauli to thank him for his services to the political party. I wrote to thank him for removing himself from the party, Tuilaepa said. I thanked him for making that decision and we happily accept his decision. The Prime Minister wouldnt say whether Laaulis services to the party have been terminated. Contacted for a comment last night, Laaulialemalietoa denied receiving a letter from the Prime Minister. I cannot comment on the matter as I did not receive any letter, Laauli said. But the Prime Minister said there are H.R.P.P. bylaws that must be respected, when it comes to the position of the party on certain issues. He said Laaulis vote against the Governments position was his way of exiting the party. He has made his decision and under our by-laws, its an indication that you have officially resigned, Tuilaepa said. Asked if that means there would be a by-election at Laaulis constituency, Tuilaepa said that is under the jurisdiction of the Speaker of Parliament, Leaupepe Tole'afoa Faafisi. He reiterated that while its the M.P.s prerogative to vote where he desires; there are bylaws of the party that must be adhered to. We dont want to hold on to an M.P. whom was given the utmost respect (by this party), Tuilaepa said. We shifted him to the moon making him the Speaker of Parliament. Then, he was moved to the sun, when he was named a Cabinet Minister and then he fell from the sun, when he resigned from his post, as a result of a court case. Tuilaepa told the media that an official letter has been sent to the M.P. Earlier this week, Laauli criticised the Governments bill saying it effectively removes one M.P. from Savaii. This is not an easy matter where you have effectively removed one Member of Parliament from Savaii and added four for Apia (Upolu). Mr. Speaker this is not a matter to be taken lightly, Laauli said. Prime Minister Tuilaepa was not impressed. Mr. Speaker, its not about your voice being loud, you have to look at the totality of whats being done. Mr. Speaker, we are only removing it but Leauvaa remains. We are not fools. Dont mislead the country. Leauvaa is here (Upolu) now but they are still people from Savaii. The people who drafted this law are not fools, they did a lot of work. The bill has been passed with 44 MPs voting for it. Laauli has been a long serving member of the H.R.P.P. He had also served as the Partys Whip for many years. SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Feb-01-2019 01:13 TweetFollow @OregonNews Oregon's Cannabis Social Consumption Bill SB 639 is Civil Rights Issue "Whenever you pick a certain group and treat them differently that is discrimination." -Madeline Martinez (NORML) Madeline Martinez chats with Portland Police at the Global Cannabis March, May 2018. Photo: Bonnie King, Salem-News.com (PORTLAND, Ore.) - Nearly ten years after opening the first cannabis cafe in the United States, Oregon NORML executive director Madeline Martinez is appealing directly to legislators in Salem to pass a bill sponsored by Senator Lew Frederick (D-Portland) that would finally legalize her trademark business, The World Famous Cannabis Cafe. Martinez, the only Latina on the board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and the executive director of Oregon NORML, played a crucial role in organizing local cannabis advocates to bring about Fredericks legislation, Senate Bill 639. Martinez says this isnt just an issue of dysfunctional laws that allow adults living or visiting Oregon to purchase cannabis but not legally consume it, it is an issue of discrimination and equal rights. This is about equal rights because whenever you pick a certain group and treat them differently that is discrimination. "Medical marijuana patients, renters, the poor, people of color and women are often the least likely to not have a safe legal space to consume legally purchased or possessed cannabis, said Martinez. Martinez points out that taking direct actions like opening a private social consumption space before public consumption spaces are legal is a good option. "This direct action helps push the issue into the mainstream discussion and bring into question unjust laws," Martinez said. "It's also something that is much easier for white men, but dangerous territory to cross into for a woman of color." As a former corrections officer, Martinez says she knows how the law works; she is friendly to law enforcement and stands firm that actions like hers are what propel bad laws to be changed. She believes S.B. 639 will improve the welfare of groups now being marginalized and overlooked. You have to be bold, I never asked anyone for permission, says Martinez. When you dont like the laws, you change them. All the gains in movements of social justice are made by people breaking bad laws. I have been called the Rosa Parks of Cannabis. S.B. 639 is currently awaiting assignment into a senate committee. If it passes, it will require the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to regulate social consumption businesses and event spaces, allow for the sale of cannabis in these clubs, tasting tours on farms (similar to wine) and expanded legal cannabis delivery into private and temporary residences (like hotels). A similar bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives, H.B. 2233. The fundamental difference between the two pieces of legislation is that while S.B. 639 creates a legalized framework for indoor smoking and vaping, H.B. 2233 does not. Martinez says this approach further marginalizes the poor, who are disproportionately punished for public consumption. In Oregon, due to the Indoor Clean Air Act, cannabis consumers must find a place outside in the shadows and elements, which is unsafe and has become a social justice issue. Cannabis consumers should be treated with dignity and respect. We are deserving of safe, regulated spaces to consume out of public view. Only S.B. 639 would accomplish this goal, said Martinez. Source: Oregon NORML _________________________________________ Prohibition | Marijuana | Marijuana | Oregon | Most Commented on Articles for January 31, 2019 | Articles for February 1, 2019 | Articles for February 2, 2019 Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha on Friday that could virtually be a full-fledged budget of the Modi government ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in which tax sops for the middle class and the corporates could be expected along with a relief package to address agrarian distress and the stressed small scale industry sector. Goyal, who has been given charge of the finance portfolio in place of Arun Jaitley who is in the US for medical treatment, is widely expected to break tradition by going beyond a vote-on-account budget by showering sops in various categories. Normally, close to the general elections, an Interim Budget is presented mainly to seek a vote-on-account for four months to keep the wheels of official machinery running for ongoing programmes so that a new government could present a full budget. Minister without portfolio Arun Jaitley had already indicated that the Interim Budget may go "beyond the traditional " vote-on-account as tackling agricultural challenges "can't afford to wait". For the record, the government on Wednesday maintained that the budget will be called "Interim Budget 2019-20" after media reports described the coming exercise as a "General Budget". The income tax sops could include a rise in the threshold exemption limit for middle class tax payers, considered a big constituency of the BJP. The exemption threshold could go up from the present Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum. The corporates have also been clamouring for reducing the peak rate from 30 to 25 per cent. The agriculture sector is set to receive good attention from the government after the recent election defeat of the BJP in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on the back of stress. Direct investment support upto Rs. 15,000 per hectare for small and marginal farmers on the lines of a mix of the Kalia scheme in Odisha and the Rythu Bandhu scheme in Telangana is widely expected to be announced in the budget along with interest-free loans and nominal premium on the crop insurance scheme. Another option is to look at reworking the Bhavantar scheme, implemented by the erstwhile BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, under which farmers are compensated for the gap between Minimum Support Price and the market price. Cold chain and provision logistics for famers will get a push to benefit them in marketing their produce. For the stressed micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, hit badly by the demonetisation decision of 2016 and GST implementation following that, the budget could contain incentives and easier flow of credit. There are concerns that the expected giveaways could lead to ballooning of the fiscal deficit, especially in the wake of the shortfall in tax collections, particularly GST revenue. This is expected to pose a major challenge to the government to meet its fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of the GDP even as it has maintained that the shortfall would be made up by higher direct tax collections. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue, which crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark only twice this year - in April and October - has remained largely subdued for the rest of the year and in the range of Rs 94,000 crore to Rs 97,000 crore per month against the annual GST collection target of Rs 13.48 lakh crore, which translates to a monthly average target of Rs 1.12 lakh crore. "After the failed budget promise of enhanced procurement of crops through a revised Minimum Support Price (MSP) formula in 2018-19, announcements to be made on February 1, 2019 will be the last opportunity for the government to woo a larger section of society through an interim budget, as against a vote-on-account, by altering both taxes and outlays on schemes," said a report last week by JM Financial Institutional Securities. By SA Commercial Prop News SA remained in ninth place in sub-Saharan Africa, suggesting that perceptions of corruption in the country remained high. From KPMG, Nkandhla, VBS Mutual Bank, Gupta, Steinhoff to Bosasa, South Africa has seen endured large scale bribery, fraud and corruption scandals over the past years. Corruption remains prevalent in South Africa at least according to the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index, which was released on Monday. SA remained in ninth place in sub-Saharan Africa, suggesting that perceptions of corruption in the country remained high. The index is done by Transparency International and ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people. It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. This year the index found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, with an average score of 43. South Africa had a score of 43 in 2018, down from 45 in 2017. Seychelles, with a score of 66, was ranked 28th worldwide and the highest in the region, followed by Botswana, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, and Senegal. South Africa ranked 73rd of the 180 countries and territories surveyed. Transparency International said sub-Saharan Africa was still the worst performing of all regions, adding that governments had failed to translate anti-corruption commitments into any real progress. A region with stark political and socio-economic contrasts and long-standing challenges, many of its countries struggle with ineffective institutions and weak democratic values, which threaten anti-corruption efforts, said Transparency International. It said despite stagnation across the region, there were some promising political developments, particularly in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. In South Africa, citizen engagement and various official inquiries into official abuses are positive steps, while new leadership in Angola provides hope for anti-corruption reforms. David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch, said the countrys experience of state capture was a textbook example of the relationship between corruption and the undermining of democracy. For example, we have seen how in order to loot public funds, the perpetrators have had to undermine those key pillars of democracy that are responsible for holding those in power to account, said Lewis, adding that the undermining of parliament and the criminal justice system were key cases in point. On the other hand, we have also seen how institutions that reflect the strength of our democracy - such as civil society organisations, the media and the courts - have been critical features of the fightback against state capture, said Lewis. Corruption Watch said countries such as Seychelles and Botswana both had relatively well-functioning democratic and governance systems, which had contributed to their healthy positioning on the index. It said South Africa had many of these attributes as well as an independent media and provision for civil society, yet there had been no improvement in the score. Once again, one would have to point to the persistent failure of our criminal justice institutions to impose consequences upon corrupt individuals, said Corruption Watch. By SA Commercial Prop News EPPs continued turnaround, under the leadership of CEO Hadley Dean, delivered the best performance among listed property shares on the JSE in 2018. While most property stocks suffered, EPPs continued turnaround, under the leadership of CEO Hadley Dean, delivered the best performance among listed property companies on the JSE in 2018. The FTSE-JSE SA Listed Property index, meanwhile, is up 4.33% on a capital basis this year. It lost 31.87% not including dividends last year and 25.26% with them included. This was its worst performance in more than 20 years. Many investors had lost interest in listed property after a massive sell-off in shopping centre owner Resilient and its associated companies in January 2018, which resulted in about R120bn being wiped off their market value. The sell-off was sparked by allegations of market manipulation and insider trading around the companies. As a result, Resilient, Fortress, Greenbay and Nepi Rockcastle, which had accounted for about 40% of the listed property sector, saw their share prices collapse in the first quarter of 2018. JSE-traded EPP, the Polish real-estate group in which SA-based Redefine Properties owns a 40% stake, has cemented itself as one of the standout property investments on the JSE, according to Anchor Stockbrokers. The company delivered a total return of 21% in 2018 to significantly outperform the market. EPP CEO, Hadley Dean, says this is an affirmation of the companys strategy. Our focus on retail, specifically in the Polish market has given us clear advantages over some of our competitors who are more exposed to markets that are not as strong as Poland, Dean said. The company, which first listed in August of 2016, announced its strategy to focus specifically on retail properties. It has more than doubled its portfolio, adding more than 240,000 sqm gross lettable area (GLA) to its total portfolio in 2018 and increased the total portfolio value to over EUR 2bn. This year the company will be completing the acquisition of six new properties. We look forward to the addition of another 184,000 sqm of quality retail GLA, said Dean, This year will represent another key step in our mission to become the dominant owner of retail property across Poland. The company is also looking forward to the opening of Galeria Mlociny in the second quarter of this year This is our flagship property in Warsaw and it will be the crown jewel in our portfolio said Dean. By SA Commercial Prop News The acquisition is the single biggest item of Transnets record breaking infrastructure programme the Market Demand Strategy, Transnet Group Chief Executive Siyabonga Gama said. Transnet has secured a R12 billion club loan from five lenders to fund its locomotives fleet acquisition programme. The acquisition is the single biggest item of Transnets record breaking infrastructure programme the Market Demand Strategy, Transnet Group Chief Executive Siyabonga Gama said. Speaking on Monday during a media briefing in Johannesburg, Gama said the participants in the club loan include Absa, Nedbank, Bank of China, Futuregrowth Asset Managers, as well as Old Mutual Specialised Finance. Transnet raised the R12 billion in the open markets following investor roadshows targeted at potential funders from within South Africa. The sessions, which were led by Gama and the acting Group Chief Financial Officer, Garry Pita, were intended to share the companys performance and prospects. They were not for the purposes of making deals. Gama said Transnet has been able to secure the loan at competitive rates. All funders agreed to a term of 15 years, including a grace period of four and half years, while the locomotives are under construction. I think what is important for South Africa is that we are at the cusp of creating an efficient and reliable railway service, which will assist South African companies to become competitive in the markets in which they operate, Gama said. He said it was important for Transnet to strengthen the logistics in the country so that South Africa can create a competitive supply chain. But most importantly, we must make sure we have an efficient and reliable railway service that we are able to move commodities from the road onto rail so that we can reduce the number of trucks on our main highways. This investment will assist us greatly to create the kind of capacity that Transnet needs in order for us to be able to meet some of the objectives in the National Development Plan and in the New Growth Path, Gama said. Transnet will be building 1 065 locomotives and 994 of those will be assembled in South Africa. On top of that, there is another 250 to 300 locomotives for our bulk services that have also been ordered, which will assist us to have replaced probably 1 350 locomotives over a space of 10 years. If you look at our current fleet of 2 400 locomotives, we will have about 1 500 new locomotives [This] also gives us the opportunity to maintain some of the older locomotives and also to retire some of the locomotives that we have, which are over 40 years and are quite expensive in terms of maintenance, he said. By SA Commercial Prop News SA embarks on an ambitious renewable energy programme that will give the country the comfort of having a number of diversified sources of energy. SA embarks on an ambitious renewable energy programme that will give the country the comfort of having a number of diversified sources of energy. SA has embarked on an ambitious renewable energy programme that will give the country the comfort of having a number of diversified sources of energy to feed into the national grid so that it is no longer dependent purely on conventional power stations. The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has been involved in SAs renewable energy programme from its inception and the bank played an important role in assisting government in the creation of the necessary enabling environment for the independent power producers programme. The renewable energy programme is being rolled out in five phases and the first three rounds have already reached financial close. So far 11 projects financed by DBSA have been completed and are already generating power and thus contributing to the countrys national energy supply and the remaining projects are at various stages, namely under construction or in the run-up to their construction phases. Lucy Chege, GM Infrastructure Finance (responsible for energy projects within SA) at DBSA, says the bank has committed about R11bn across the first three rounds and it has been involved, to date, in supporting 18 projects across all three rounds. The 18 projects that are under way will result, on completion, in a generation capacity of 1,450 megawatts. In the initial stages we worked with government on the electricity regulations and we have continued working with the Department of Energy to support its efforts. Once the programme moved into the implementation phase we provided debt funding support for the projects as the upfront capital required is significant. In addition, we are supporting the broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) entities and the community trusts with funding so that they can acquire their equity stakes in the projects. So far we have provided about R1.3bn to BBBEE and community trusts, Chege says. She says during the initial phases all potential funders had to undertake a detailed review of the projects to gain a good understanding of their risk profiles. At the time, renewable energy was relatively new in SA and there was limited local project finance expertise in this sector. Lenders needed to come to grips with the various elements that must be considered in renewable energy projects and this necessitated leveraging off overseas technical expertise, experience and skills. As lenders we subcontract the assessment process to these experts so they can give us their independent view. Each renewable energy project needs to be assessed individually. For example, on a wind or solar farm project the funders need to look at the wind or solar studies to determine if there is sufficient resource to generate the required power, as the ability of the project to repay its funding depends to a large extent on the available resource such as wind speed or solar irradiation levels. A site where there is insufficient wind all year round will, for example, be inappropriate for a wind farm. Funders need comfort as to the quantity and availability of the generating resource and the site layout is also critical in ensuring efficient generation. In line with the DBSAs ongoing approach, the bank worked jointly with all the commercial lenders. It is a partnership so we leverage off the expertise that each party brings to the project, Chege says. She says in most of the renewable energy projects the developers were required to provide their own risk capital. However, DBSA provided some risk capital for the Ilangalethu Concentrated Solar Power project, with a generating capacity of 100MW. Participation by BBBEE players and community trusts in renewable energy projects was one of the requirements of SAs renewable energy programme and funding was provided by DBSA. The community trusts are set up so they can benefit people who live within a predetermined 50km radius of the project site and the trusts needed funding so they could work, Chege says. The DBSA has supported three technologies solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar power and wind projects. A major advantage is that the cost of generating each megawatt is coming down. Most of the manufacturers did not realise just how long the South African renewable energy programme would run. Therefore, as more projects are rolled out greater economies of scale come into play and there is more competition between participants and both of these factors translate into lower prices and cheaper electricity generation, Chege says. The Department of Energy stated at the inception of the renewable energy programme that there will be five bidding rounds. It announced the preferred bidders for the fourth round last week. It is expected that these round four projects will add 1,121MW of clean energy to the grid once fully operational. By SA Commercial Prop News Last week, Eskom Chief Executive Officer Tshediso Matona highlighted a lack of maintenance as a major contributor to the countrys electricity woes. South Africa plans to inject $870 million into cash-strapped state utility Eskom as early as around June. This is according to a finance ministry spokesman, and is a part of its strategy to raise funds for the power company. Pretoria said in October it would sell non-essential assets to raise 20 billion rand of funding for Eskom, which urgently needs about 250 billion rand to upgrade its ageing infrastructure. National Treasury has already identified a viable strategy to raise the required amount of funding that could be executed, treasury spokesman, Jabulani Sikhakhane said, confirming a Bloomberg report based on an interview with Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in Davos. Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, we cannot provide details. However the process is proceeding to plan, Sikhakhane added. Nene told Bloomberg TV at the World Economic Forum the government had identified assets to sell and the first cash injection of 10 billion rand was expected by about June. The treasury has said it will give details on the sales in the national budget review in February. Sources told Reuters in December the government was considering relinquishing shares of firms such as mobile operator Vodacom and fixed-line provider Telkom. Eskom said last week it expected the power grid to remain constrained for the next two to three years, raising the likelihood of more rolling blackouts in Africas most developed, but ailing, economy. Eskom Chief Executive Officer Tshediso Matona also highlighted a lack of maintenance as a major contributor to the countrys electricity woes. Virginias Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, publicly endorses infanticide as he voices support for legislation allowing abortion to term Earlier this month Democrats in New York State shocked the consciences of tens of millions of Americans when they passed, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed, legislation that, according to some experts whove read the measure, allows doctors to kill an unborn baby right up to term. Worse, as NewsTarget reports, the legislation also permits non-physicians to perform abortions, thereby dramatically increasing the number of providers who could be available for the procedure. The news site noted: The bill, named the Reproductive Health Act, uses an overly broad health exception for third-term abortions which many people find repugnant. Even health professionals within the field of obstetrics say that third-term abortions are never necessary; at that point, the child should just be delivered, not murdered. Now, another Democratic governor, Ralph Northam of Virginia, gave his tacit support Wednesday for legislation introduced in the State Assembly of his state that repeals current restrictions on when abortions can legally be performed, National Review reported. (Related: Here are the names of the human child MURDERERS in the NY Senate who passed the bill legalizing infanticide.) This morning on WTOPs Ask The Governor, Virginia governor Ralph Northam defended the new abortion bill introduced by state Democrats this month, the Repeal Act, which would legalize abortion up to the point of birth, the magazine reported. The bills chief sponsor is Del. Kathy Tran (D). According to her legislation, if approved and signed into law by Northam, women would be able to receive an abortion up to, but right before, natural full-term delivery. The WTOP host asked Northam if he agreed with the language and premise of Trans bill. This is why decisions such as this should be made by providers, physicians, and the mothers and fathers that are involved, Northam said. When we talk about third-trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of obviously the mother, with the consent of the physician more than one physician, by the way and its done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus thats non-viable. Get the hell out of office National Review noted, however, that either Northam isnt fully aware of what Trans bill says or hes being intentionally dishonest about it. The legislation specifically removes a current requirement that there are three doctors who must agree a woman must have a late-term abortion for her health. Under a provision in Trans bill, only the consent of the mother and the abortion physician would be required. But that wasnt the only disturbing thing that Northam said. If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, he continued. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. In other words, the medical facility would keep the baby comfortable until the mother and abortion doctor decided what to do next, which implies that the result might be ending the babys life. But is that legal? Not according to the provisions of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in all 50 states, as well as current federal statures, The National Sentinel reports. Roe v. Wade allows women to have the procedure up to the point of fetal viability, a term which is now constantly under debate as neonatal care and technology dramatically improves chances for early birth survival. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), lambasted Northam and said he shouldnt be in office if he cant see to it that newborns are protected from infanticide. This is morally repugnant, Sasse said in a statement. In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from safe, legal, and rare to keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide, Sasse continued, The National Review noted. I dont care what party youre from if you cant say that its wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office. Read more news about developing abortion stories at Abortions.news. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com NewsTarget.com NationalReview.com Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., has jumped into the already crowded field of candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Booker, an African-American, launched his campaign for president with the release of a video on Friday, the first day of Black History Month. "The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it," Booker says in the video. Booker also notes that he is the only Senator who "goes home to a low-income, inner city community" in the central ward of Newark. A former two-term mayor of Newark, Booker was elected to the Senate in 2013, becoming the first African-American Senator from New Jersey. The Senator took to Twitter later in the day to further share his thoughts about why he is running for president. "The promise of our country, that this is a country that works for everyone, is hanging in the balance," Booker tweeted. "When we should be coming together to take on our biggest challenges, there are forces at work trying to split us apart." "People feel left out. They worry that the lines that divide us right now are stronger than the ties that bind us," he added. "I'm running to change that." With his announcement, Booker joins a large Democratic field that already includes Senator Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, and others. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have also announced exploratory committees, and big names such as former Vice President Joe Biden, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg could also enter the race. The White House was quick to respond to Booker's candidacy, with Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway questioning why the Senator is running against so many female candidates. "What's wrong with the candidates that are already in there?" Conway said during an interview with Fox News. "If he were a Republican running against them, they would immediately call him a sexist for running against these women in the Democratic field." Conway also referenced President Donald Trump's past remarks claiming Booker ran Newark "into the ground" while he was mayor. In his video, Booker seemed to take a shot at Trump by suggesting Americans should feel "pride, not shame" when they see the faces of their leaders on television. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized the largest-ever contraband of fentanyl in their history. The CBP officers at the Nogales Commercial Facility in Arizona announced Thursday they seized 254 pounds of powder and pills hidden in a truck carrying cucumbers from Mexico. The driver of the truck, who is a Mexican national, was nabbed when he attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales. The drug, worth approximately $3.5 million in the market, was said to have the potential for more than 100 million lethal doses of the drug, a synthetic opioid that has fueled an epidemic of overdose deaths in the United States. Additionally, the CBP officials also confiscated almost 395 pounds of methamphetamine that was concealed in a secret floor compartment of the trailer. Valued at $1.1 million, it is the third largest seizure of methamphetamine at an Arizona port. Nogales Area Port Director Michael Humphries said the Mexican national was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who charged him with two counts of 21 USC 841. "Opioids pose a real danger to every community in America and are having fatal consequences across our nation. This past weekend our CBP officers were able to stop an enormous amount of these deadly narcotics from hitting our streets," he told reporters. The fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and had been placed in hard plastic containers, apparently to avoid any potential exposure to CBP officers. The bust, which was part of a wider investigation being carried out, evoked praise by President Donald Trump, who insists on building a border wall to prevent large scale drug trafficking from across Mexico, among other threats. "Our great U.S. Border Patrol Agents made the biggest Fentanyl bust in our Country's history. Thanks, as always, for a job well done," he said on Twitter. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Cryptocurrency exchange Binance started allowing credit card purchases of major digital currencies. The world's largest crypto exchange by adjusted trading volume has partnered with Israel-based payment processor Simplex to enable purchases with Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Initially, the company is supporting credit card purchase for major currencies, such as bitcoin, ether, litecoin and XRP. The clients can then start trading in minutes, and can be traded against up to 151 other tokens offered by the exchange. Zhao, said, "The crypto industry is still in its early stages and most of the world's money is still in fiat. Building fiat gateways is what we need now to grow the ecosystem, increase adoption and introduce crypto to more users." The service, howerver, is not supported in six states in the U.S., such as New York, Connecticut, Hawaii, Georgia, New Mexico and Washington, as per Binance's terms and conditions pages. Some countries, including Iraq, Cuba Afghanistan and Libya, are also excluded from the service. Binance, a crypto-to-crypto exchange, recently launched a platform, Binance Jersey, where euro and pound can be converted into cryptocurrency. In October last year, the company started allowing crypto trading against Uganda's fiat currency, the Ugandan shilling. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News French stocks held steady on Friday after the high-level U.S.-China trade talks in Washington ended with positive words. While China promised to "substantially" expand purchases of U.S. goods, U.S. President Donald Trump said the trade dispute would hopefully be resolved before the March 1 deadline. He also warned later that he was looking for China to open their not only to financial services, but also to manufacturing, farmers and other U.S. businesses and industries. "No final deal will be made until my friend President Xi, and I, meet in the near future to discuss and agree on some of the long-standing and more difficult points," Trump added. The benchmark CAC 40 was up 9 points or 0.19 percent at 5,002.04 after rising around 0.4 percent the previous day. Automaker Renault rose about 1 percent and Peugeot advanced 1.6 percent after Morgan Stanley upgraded the region's industry to attractive. Outdoor advertising company JCDecaux soared 8.5 percent after its Q4 2018 adjusted organic revenue grew 5.4 percent. Residential property firm Vonovia declined slightly after announcing it has successfully disposed of its 16.8 million Deutsche Wohnen shares in the market. Advertising and public relations company Publicis Groupe gained about 1 percent as it bought the remaining 24.9 percent Blue 449 shares from M&C Saatchi in the U.K. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Indian shares held steady on Friday as investors awaited the last budget of the year before the general election. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present his budget speech at 11 am in the Parliament. The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 110 points or 0.31 percent at 36,367 after climbing 1.9 percent in the previous session. The broader Nifty index was up 25 points or 0.23 percent at 10,856. NMDC dropped 1.4 percent despite reporting a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit. Bharti Airtel jumped nearly 3 percent after it posted a surprise profit in the three months ended December on the back of a one-time gain. DHFL slumped 8 percent to extend recent losses. The housing finance company has appointed an independent chartered account firm to verify the allegations made by Cobrapost. Bank of Maharashtra soared 7.2 percent and Oriental Bank of Commerce rose over 1 percent after the RBI lifted lending restrictions on them. Jet Airways soared as much as 13 percent. The airline told its employees that it is hopeful of being "very close" to finding a solution to its serious troubles. Hero MotoCorp advanced 1.8 percent despite reporting a 4.5 percent fall in quarterly profit. Vedanta plunged 18 percent after its Q3 profit fell 26 percent. Yes Bank slid half a percent after appointing an interim MD and CEO. Indiabulls Housing Finance rallied 2 percent despite reporting a 14 percent fall in quarterly profit. Oil India gained 0.8 percent as capital regulator SEBI exempted the company from buyback norms. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Another Obama-like tyranny in the making: After sleeping her way into power, Kamala Harris now wants to take away your assault weapons Appearing at a CNN sponsored town hall event in Iowa on Monday, 2020 Democratic presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris of California used the occasion, in part, to do what members of her party do quite often in public forums: Use virtue signaling to attack the Second Amendment. In responding to questions about what she would do, as president, to end gun violence, Harris picked on a favorite target: Assault weapons, which she declared there is no reason for any American to own because they dont belong in a civil society. We have got to have smart gun safety laws in this country, and weve got to stop buying this false choice. You can be in favor of the Second Amendment and also understand that there is no reason in a civil society that we have assault weapons around communities that can kill babies and police officers, Harris said. Subsequently, she was asked by a pastor what she would do as president to take on gun violence. As you know, the rates of gun violence in America are astronomically higher than in other Western democracies. What do you think can be done, and what would you be prepared to do to address the problem of gun violence? the pastor asked. Enter standard fall-back talking point here. Something like universal background checks. It makes perfect sense that you might want to [know if] someone can buy a weapon that can kill another human being, you might want to know have they been convicted of a felony where they committed violence, Harris responded. As The National Sentinel reported: Universal background checks, as Harris and other Democrats view them, would also include conducting them for private sales between neighbors and friends. But as we have pointed out, requiring background checks for private sales wouldnt work without a universal gun registration requirement; the government will first have to know which citizens own guns and what kind of guns they own so they can track sales. And tracking sales is the point of requiring background checks on retail purchases. Harris, who it was recently revealed got her start in big league politics in California by sleeping with the main power broker, Willie Brown, wasnt done. Crime victims who cannot defend themselves make gruesome victims too, Sen. Harris To support her position she invoked the January 2011 shooting of former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona who was shot and nearly killed by Jared Loughner, who used a handgun. Oddly, she didnt mention the near-assassination of Rep. Steve Scalise in the summer of 2017, who was shot with an assault riflewielded by a crazed Left-wing lunatic Bernie Sanders supporter. Harris then brought up the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, suggesting at one point that lawmakers should have been forced into a room, sans reporters, and required to look at autopsy photos of the children and staffers who were shot and killed, thenvote your conscience. (Related: 2020 Dem candidate Kamala Harris says assault weapons dont belong in civil society but infanticide is okay?) This has become a political issue, and there is no reason why we cannot have reasonable gun safety laws in this country, she said. Heres the reality of it also: Were not waiting for a good idea. We have the good ideas: an assault weapons ban, background checks. Its always the same with Democrats. There are never enough reasonable gun laws. And never mind that most mass murderers use weapons that were legally bought after they got a background check. Which brings us full-circle back to what Democrats really want: Gun bans. Only, the Constitutions Second Amendment prohibits that. As for Harris gruesome suggestion, we have one for her: How about putting lawmakers in a room where they have to view autopsy pictures of Americans and their children murdered by any number of means because the cities in which they live severely restrict their right to keep and bear arms then tell them to vote their conscience? Read more about how Americans defend themselves with guns at Guns.news. Sources include: NaturalNews.com NewsTarget.com TheNationalSentinel.com Espanola, NM (87532) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 91F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. 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This insurance agency can also be easily contacted through their website. About AI Janosik Insurance Agency AI Janosik Insurance Agency is a locally owned insurance agency. This agency offers its services to all of Kansas and Missouri, including Manhattan, Lawrence, Emporia, Wichita and Salina. David and Goliath. Field of Dreams. Star Wars. Rocky. The Sandlot. The Hunger Games. Underdog stories never get old. We can't help loving them. They also contain a distinctively American flavor, probably because this country only exists because the underdog triumphed. A few ragged colonies, against all odds, gained victory against the greatest world power of its time through an unrelenting commitment to values they would die for. Every American is brought up, from a young age, in such a way that his heart beats a little faster when he sees a scrappy underdog with a heart of gold fight back and conquer the faceless machinery of power perpetuating power. This is in fact the story of the gospel. Jesus, God himself, came to earth in the humblest of forms to live his entire life in poverty, oppression, and institutional persecution. But hidden within Christ was the power of God almighty who, through the most dramatic turn of the tables in history, vindicated not merely Christ and his band of followers, but loosed the powers of the evil one over this entire world (I Jn 5:19). Our current political and social climate wishes to champion the same values, but we have transposed the fight for inalienable rights of human liberty and representation to the inalienable rights of the underdog. The #Ibelieveher movement represents this impulse, (though trigger warnings flow from the same desire) which now crops up in every field and level of society. The righteous drive behind that particular hashtag battlecry is that women and their dignity, rights, and reputations have fallen prey to a system which advantages men in positions of power. This is a perfectly sound, Biblical complaint and cause. God takes his stand in judgment against those who wield their power and influence toward the end of selfish gain. "The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: 'It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?'" God holds accountable people of power for their manipulations at others' expense, and he wants us to do the same. However, whether those who use the above hashtag intend to do so or not, the statement "I believe her" can easily trade one form of injustice for another. Taken as a bald mantra of perspective, which is increasingly how we form beliefs, we can, and perhaps should apply that slogan to account more weight to a woman's testimony than to a man's, based solely on the grounds that she is a woman and he is a man. It doesn't stop at that, however. There remain still deeper layers to our accepted program of bias. The deeper unquestioned belief is that not only does the underdog deserve a right to be heard, but the underdog is right because he is the underdog. After all, what could you possibly know, not sharing the underdog's position, about the inequities he has suffered? Therefore, the reasoning can run forward, unless you sit in the victim's chair, you cannot feel the extent or gravity of the oppression he has suffered. Large companies, Americans, white men in suits, police, and media are, by their very nature, not to be trusted. But this "new" appreciation of power dynamics does not improve the search for justice, it merely relocates the seat of judgment away from a third party with biases (which we all should surely acknowledge), to whichever seat the victim happens to occupy. The victim is, ipso facto, the rightful judge. This is assuming of course, society grants that person's representative group "victim status", which is another discussion to itself. This approach assumes that the scales of justice can be more fairly balanced if we accommodate to the underdog and compensate in his/her direction. Such a merciful compensation may even dress in the appearance of Christian charity. In reality, we have not come any closer to true justice: the biases may shift, but do not disappear. I hate the Patriots as much as the next person, but the underdog does not and should not always win. Job's discourse with God serves as a prime example. Job complains that "there is no arbiter between us (him and God), who might lay his hand on us both." But when God asserts his rights, power, and supremacy, and calls Job to question, Job, to his credit, realizes: "I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth." Imbalances of power are not, as a universal, wrong or evil. We must hold ourselves and our judicial evaluations to a high standard which replicates God's impartiality. But Christians should remember that Adam was the first to give unilateral preference to the rights of the underdog. Justin Poythress (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the assistant pastor of student ministry at Christ Community Church in Carmel, Indiana. Evil NY Times now blatantly attacking Christian schools in latest example of left-wing bigotry and HATE Just days after the Covington Catholic High School incident was exposed as yet another mainstream media hoax targeting white males, Dan Levin from The New York Times decided to capitalize on the anti-Christian #exposechristianschools hashtag that emerged from it, calling on individuals in their 20s or younger who attended Christian school to tell him all about their experiences. In a tweet dated January 24, Levin beckoned former Christian school attendees to contact him, so he could hear about all experiences, including positive stories/impact about your time in school the implication being that Levin is much more interested in hearing negative stories, but will also perhaps throw a few positive ones into the mix for posterity. Despite the fact that Christians already face an endless and growing onslaught of persecution from members of the Left Cult who claim to represent love and tolerance, Levin apparently wants to add even more fuel to the fire by launching an attack on Christian schools which, if were going to open up that can of worms, are statistically far better at educating students than your average public school. As pointed out by PJ Medias Megan Fox, who attended Christian school herself up until her junior year of high school, citing data from the National Assessment of Educational Process (NAEP), students who attend private school outperform students who attend public school in virtually every educational category. In grades 4 and 8 for both reading and mathematics, students in private schools achieved at higher levels than students in public schools, the NAEP says. The average difference in school means ranged from almost 8 points for grade 4 mathematics, to about 18 points for grade 8 reading. Chances are, Levin isnt planning to report on any of this, as it exposes the public school system as yet another big government failure. Levin probably wont discuss how identity politics is further eroding the quality of public education, churning out graduates who know nothing of actual value. When public school students get into colleges that take them based on diversity quotas, their professors genuinely cant teach them anything but basic grammar, but even that is racist,' Fox explains. Sentence structure and grammatical rules are now a symbol of white supremacy. This is what parents who pay thousands of extra dollars to send their kids to Christian schools are paying to avoid. Public schools are so horrible that many American parents work second jobs just to send their children to private school Though its not always easy for them to do so, many parents of school-age children recognize the importance of sending their children to private school even when they cant technically afford to do so. Its why parents take second jobs to afford the high tuition, writes Fox about the sacrifices many parents are willing to make to send their children to private school. They want their kids to learn how to read and think unlike public schools that consistently turn out illiterate children like in Chicago, where 79 percent of 8th graders cant read and 80 percent are below grade level in math. If they cant read, how do they pass any other class? When it comes to student safety, statistics further show that students are better off at private school and even at Catholic schools where, despite plenty of negative press about priests and other clergy molesting children, students are statistically much less likely to be sexually assaulted. A 2002 congressional study of child sex abuse in public schools found that children were abused at a rate one hundred times higher than the Catholic Church scandal, Fox reports. For more news about how Americans are waking up to the scam that is public education, be sure to check out Awakening.news. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Breitbart.com PJMedia.com Weather Alert This product covers Eastern North Carolina TROPICAL DEPRESSION CLAUDETTE APPROACHES NORTH CAROLINA, EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN SLIGHTLY** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Onslow, East Carteret, Hatteras Island, Mainland Dare, Mainland Hyde, Northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island, and West Carteret * STORM INFORMATION: - About 280 miles west of Buxton NC or about 210 miles west of Morehead City NC - 34.7N 80.4W - Storm Intensity 35 mph - Movement East-northeast or 70 degrees at 20 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Depression Claudette will track across eastern North Carolina and strengthen to a minimal Tropical Storm overnight, and move offshore by mid-morning Monday. Heavy rain bands and embedded thunderstorms from this system will lead to the threat of flash flooding across the area overnight through tomorrow morning. Additionally, isolated tornadoes will be possible overnight, but the overall threat is low. Tropical storm force winds are expected across coastal sections of eastern North Carolina. This could lead to some downed trees and scattered power outages. Minor storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground will be possible along sound-side locations of the Outer Banks and mainland counties adjacent to northern portions of the Pamlico Sound. Additional storm surge flooding of 1 to 2 feet above ground will be possible across Bogue Sound, and the into the lower New and White Oak rivers. Overwash of dunes and flooding of properties and roadways will also be possible for locations where dune structures are weak. The threat for stronger and more frequent rip currents will continue for area beaches through the middle of the week. Dangerous marine conditions are also expected, with strong winds and seas building to 7 to 10 feet creating treacherous conditions for mariners. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across Eastern North Carolina. Potential impacts include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. * SURGE: Prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across the Outer Banks and mainland counties adjacent to northern portions of the Pamlico Sound. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across Eastern North Carolina, little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across areas south and east of a Manteo to Kenansville line. Potential impacts include: - Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches overflow. - Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures. Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across all of eastern North Carolina. * TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across Eastern North Carolina. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business. If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors. Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown! If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options. If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of strong winds or flooding. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City NC around 6 AM, or sooner if conditions warrant. Russias Federation Council member charged with murder appeals detention RIA Novosti, Ilya Pitalev 17:03 01/02/2019 MOSCOW, February 1 (RAPSI) A member of Russias Federation Council representing Karachay-Cherkess Republic Rauf Arashukov, who stands charged with murder, gang organization and witness tampering, has filed an appeal against his detention, the spokesperson of Moscows Basmanny District Court Yunona Tsareva has told RAPSI. On January 30, the court denied a 10-million-ruble (over $150,000) bail to Arashukov and placed the senator in detention for two months. Investigators claim that the member of parliaments upper house was involved in the murder of a Karachay-Cherkessia public youth movements deputy chairman Aslan Zhukov and the republican presidents advisor Fral Shebzukhov in 2010. Moreover, investigators believe that the senator is implicated to natural gas embezzlement from Gazprom company. He pleads not guilty. The senator was arrested in the Federation Council on January 30. The upper house of parliament stripped Arashukov of his immunity and gave consent to his prosecution upon an application by the Prosecutor General. Eleven defendants in 2017 St. Petersburg metro terror act case face trial flickr.com/Damien 16:43 01/02/2019 MOSCOW, February 1 (RAPSI) Eleven persons allegedly involved in a terror attack that occurred in St. Petersburg metro in 2017 will go on trial, the Investigative Committees press service reports Friday. Indictment has been approved and the case has been forwarded to court for hearing, the statement reads. On April 3, 2017, an unknown device exploded in a train between St. Petersburg metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad. According to law enforcement authorities, 16 people died in the blast including a suicide bomber, over 50 were wounded; 112 persons were acknowledged as victims in the case. Eleven people were arrested and detained in the case. They were charged with terrorism and illegal acquisition, sale, keeping, transportation or bearing of explosives. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. Investigators believe that a group with a goal of spreading terrorist activity, including attacks on Russia and its citizens, was founded in Syria. According to investigation, suicide bomber Akbarzhon Dzhalilov manufactured two explosives and brought them to the St. Petersburg metro. One of the bombs that Dzhalilov kept to himself exploded around 2:40 PM Moscow time between St. Petersburg metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad. The second bomb located at Ploshchad Vosstaniya station failed to detonate because of its malfunction and was subsequently found and disarmed. If you are not redirected automatically, please follow this link Left-wing female doctor who tweeted about killing Jews by swapping out their meds still has her medical license medicine becomes MURDER A Jewish-American advocacy group known as Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN) has reportedly filed a complaint with the state of Ohio Medical Board, petitioning it to revoke the medical license of Dr. Lara Kollab over anti-Semitic comments she made on Twitter. Dr. Kollab made global headlines earlier this year after it was revealed by the Canary Mission that she harbors an apparent hatred for Jewish people, revealing in a tweet that she would purposely give all the yahood (Jews) the wrong meds if given the opportunity to do so. Far from an isolated incident, Dr. Kollabs Twitter feed turned out to be littered with other anti-Semitic content, including one that joked about how [p]eople who support Israel should have their immune cells killed so they can see how it feels to not be able to defend yourself from foreign invaders this comment referring to claims by pro-Palestinian groups that Israel has long persecuted its neighbors. These and other tweets by Dr. Kollab, including many that referred to Israelis as Jewish dogs, led to considerable backlash that resulted in her being expelled from her residency at Cleveland Internal Medicine. But as of this writing, shes still allowed to practice medicine in Ohio much to the chagrin of her detractors. Our demands are grounded in the doctors intentional willingness to engage in malpractice, as well as a breach of the Hippocratic Oath and osteopathic ethics, a breach so grievous and unredeemable as to disqualify her from continuing to hold a license to practice her profession, stated Laurie Cardoza-Moore from PJTN, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post. For more related news, be sure to check out RaceWar.news. Ohio Medical Board says Dr. Kollab should keep her license because she apologized In defending Dr. Kollab, the Ohio Medical Board apparently sees an apology she made after being outed as sufficient recompense for her racist commentary on Twitter. Dr. Kollab, who used to live in a Palestinian area of the Middle East, stated: As a girl in my teens and early twenties, I had difficulty constructively expressing my intense feelings about what I witnessed in my ancestral land. Like many young people lacking life experience, I expressed myself by making insensitive remarks and statements of passion devoid of thought, not realizing the harm and offense these words would cause. She added: These posts were made years before I was accepted into medical school, when I was a naive, and impressionable girl barely out of high school. I matured into a young adult during the years I attended college and medical school, and adopted strong values of inclusion, tolerance and humanity. I have learned from this experience and am sorry for the pain I have caused. I pray that the Jewish community will understand and forgive me. I hope to make amends so that we can move forward and work together towards a better future for us all. As humbly sincere as this apology might seem, however, Robert Spencer from PJ Media made the suggestion that this is likely not the case, seeing as how Dr. Kollab never saw fit to issue an apology and remove the offending tweets prior to becoming the subject of controversy. In essence, it would appear as though Dr. Kollab was more concerned with engaging in damage control than expressing a genuine change of heart, as Spencer puts it. Is the Ohio Medical Board prepared for the possibility that Lara Kollabs apology is insincere? he asks. Will the Ohio Medical Board be held accountable if it allows her to continue practicing medicine, and one of her Jewish patients is injured or dies while under her care? Stuff like this is why Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, issued a proclamation last fall denouncing people like Dr. Kollab who instigate anti-Jewish sentiments online. Read BadDoctors.news for more real reports of bad doctors. Sources for this article include: PJMedia.com JPost.com NaturalNews.com New York City, NY (11385) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Certainly, one race or sex is not superior to another. To ignore systemic oppression and its impact on the past and present policies, however, is to put ones head into the sand. I was struck by the fact that even recently, most white Americans were unaware of the Tulsa Race Massacre of June 1, 1921 when mobs of white residents attacked black residents and destroyed homes and businesses in the Greenwood district in Tulsa. Thirty-five plus square blocks of the neighborhood at the time the wealthiest black community in the United States, known as Black Wall Street was decimated, with up to 300 people dead. Ten thousand black people were left homeless and property damage of black businesses and homes was an estimated at $1.5 million in 1921 dollars. It is precisely the omission of this kind of event in local, state, and national histories that establishes the need to examine systemic problems. Arlene Violet on critical race theory. She is a Republican who served as RI Attorney General Sterling Heights, MI (48312) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy late. High 76F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Sterling Heights, MI (48312) Today Mostly cloudy and becoming windy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa With production declining and investment scarce, the Angolan leadership has put in place a number of new policies to reboot its oil industry and propel economic development. However, those changes take time and renewed deep-water oil and gas exploration for fresh reserves will take years to yield the desired results and stop the daily production crunch. In the meantime, the government is targeting what it already knows exists, the countrys multiple deposits of what has been dubbed marginal oil fields, which will go on sale this year during the Angolan Marginal Field Bid Round. Marginal fields are defined by reduced profitability or lack of commercial viability. These can, at times, represent considerable amounts of crude oil in the reservoirs, but that, due to costly recovery processes, are not worth the investment under the existing legal and fiscal framework. In the Angolan deep offshore, several of these prospects have been found over the years and dismissed in the pursuit of more profitable opportunities. However, in the wake of the lack of investment in exploration in the country over the last four years, these marginal reserves have become more relevant for Angolas macro-economic outlook. So, in May 2018, President Lourencos government published a new framework specifically designed to promote investment in these areas. According to the official text, the law considers marginal fields those discoveries with proven oil reserves of less than 300 million barrels (exceptions are considered for bigger reserves in particularly expensive working conditions), standing at or below 800 meters of water dept, that do not give returns to the State of more than USD$10.5 cents per barrel, returns for the operator of no more than USD$21 per barrel and that have an average return on investment after taxes of less than 15%. For those that fit these conditions, the government offers extensive tax and fiscal benefits, as well as, easier conditions for cost recovery, in order to make those reserves commercial and promote their development. Angola is not the first to try this tactic. In 2003, Nigeria had already had a bid round for its marginal fields with a certain degree of success. The majors are not likely to be particularly attracted by these relatively small prospects, but they represent great opportunity for smaller independent African and non-African oil and gas companies that can work efficiently and with less overheads than its bigger counterparts, while having the business certainty of working prospects with guaranteed reserves. The government is hoping that development in these marginal fields will help raise the current crude oil production (expected to be stagnant in the run up to 2022), while it promotes renewed investment in exploration and production in unexplored acreage. The Marginal Fields Bid Round is expected to be launched in Luanda in June 2019 at the Angola Oil & Gas Conference, organized by Africa Oil and Power with the endorsement of the Angolan Government. It is likely to include onshore and offshore blocks in the Congo, Namibe and Cunene basins, and has already received considerable attention from industry players in the region. Lessons learned The Nigerian experience with marginal oil field development had measurable success, with 24 licenses awarded to 31 companies, some as sole operators and others as joint-ventures. The 2003 marginal field bid round opened a number of opportunities to local and regional industry players while it contributed to increase the countrys oil output and promoted indigenous participation in petroleum upstream activities. For companies like Oando, Waltersmith, Shoreline Energy, Seplat, Sahara Petroleum or Brittania-U, these fields represented important opportunities to farm-out some acreage from the majors and lead their own projects. While some developments have been slower than expected, the outcome of the process was mostly successful. Today, around a third of the licenses issued produce meaningful amounts of crude oil. However, there are a couple of lessons to be learned from the Nigerian experience that apply to the Angolan reality. Firstly, marginal fields are particularly attractive for smaller indigenous or regional companies that can operate well with smaller profit margins. These companies are also much more cash-strapped than the likes of ExxonMobil or Total and therefore need investment capital to develop their acreage. The Nigerian experience tells us that seeking capital in the local financial sector can be challenging. Nigerian banks have been resistant to awarding credit lines to small operators in this kind of project. Normally, banks issue loans against equity or assets used as collateral. These oil operators attempt to use the oil reserves as collateral hasnt been well accepted by the Nigerian financiers, and that has delayed field development. This means that inviting foreign partners with access to capital becomes paramount. Local Angolan companies are advised to seek the partnership of mid-size players like Tullow Oil, Trident, Kosmos, Noble, Perenco and many successful Nigerian oil firms, with extensive African experience and available liquidity that can help them progress and be successful in their endeavors. Secondly, there is the issue of legal clarity. The Nigerian Petroleum Industry Bill, which in its many forms has been under discussion for over two decades, continues to create disruption and uncertainty in the industry and delaying new bidding rounds. If the current form of the bill is approved, marginal field operators are expected to receive significant cuts in the taxes and royalties, but that remains unclear for the time being. On that second note, the Angolan governments action must receive praise. In record time, a simple and clear framework was created for the marginal fields concessions. It will be important that action is also taken in finding solutions to facilitate the financing of many of these projects so that these efforts have a measurable impact on the countrys oil industry. A December 2018 article on the Nigerian newspaper The Oracle, titled Angola pulls investment attention off Nigeria, blamed the ease of doing business and clear fiscal framework created for the marginal field bid round taking place in June as the main drivers in moving investors from the complicated dealings of Nigeria into the Angolan market, a sign of a job well done by the Lourenco administration. In sum, Angolas journey towards revitalizing its oil industry and boosting production is already yielding positive results, with the perception of international investors already shifting towards a more positive outlook. Just in December, ExxonMobil and BP have pledged new investments in the country, while French Major Total launched its USD$16 billion Kaombo project in November and indicated further investment in the country in the near future. These are important developments at a time when Sonangol tries to restructure and recapitalize to once again focus on exploration efforts. At the same time, the exploitation of the countrys marginal fields within this new framework has the potential to, alongside steps to extend the life of declining fields, help maintain oil output as new major projects are developed. If all continues in the direction it is now, it stands to reason that within three or four years we could again see the Angolan oil industry flourish. However, good governance and business-friendly policies coupled with clear fiscal and legal frameworks need to continue to be developed and upheld if the promise of the Angolan oil industry is truly to be fulfilled. Comments Although more than 800 bird species are found in Nepal, the Spiny Babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) is the only bird that is endemic to the country. The greyish-brown bird, called Kaande Bhyakur in Nepali, lives in dense scrub and can be spotted more easily at elevations ranging from 500 meters to 2135 meters. Although the Spiny Babbler has been fascinating ornithologists the world around for years, environmental degradation is threatening this unique, much-loved bird. Nepal has 876 bird species, with 1 endemic (Spiny Babbler). #AsianBirdFair Ivan Kwan (@Varanussalvator) November 1, 2015 The medium-sized bird is shy in nature and its difficult to observe them, except early in the breeding season when males often sing in the open. The book The Status of Nepals Birds: The National Red List Series states: It seeks insects almost entirely on the ground among low bushes, appearing only occasionally. Spiny Babbler mounts branches of bushes or small trees to sing, bill pointed upward and tail down. It is a good mimic, with squeaks, chuckles and chirps. It is most easily located by its song and occasionally sings as late as September and October. The species is subject to seasonal altitudinal movements. The Spiny Babbler, found only in Nepal, has fascinated ornithologists and bird lovers from around the world. Don Messerschmidt writes about ornithologist S. Dillon Ripleys account of the bird in his book Search for the Spiny Babbler: It was a species that had defied scientists for years, since 1843 or 1844. At that time Brian Hodgsons Nepali collectors working for him in the unknown vastnesses of Nepal had secured several specimens, he writes. The Spiny Babbler had remained a mystery ever since, one of the five species of Indian birds, which, along with the Mountain Quail, had apparently vanished from the face of the earth. But not quite, for if my guess was right, here it was hopping about large as life on the wooded slopes above Rekcha. Likewise, former-American ambassador to Nepal Scott DeLisi spent years trying to spot and photograph this bird. Birder David Walsh tweeted: The Ornitholidays group made the long drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan yesterday. The highlight was seeing Nepals only endemic bird, Spiny Babbler. @55birder pic.twitter.com/i0aBnvCbFE David Walsh (@DavidWalsh22) March 15, 2018 Credit: Architect of the Capitol(WASHINGTON) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells amendment urging the U.S. to continue the fight against ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria and Afghanistan seen as a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump over his decision to pull troops from Syria cleared a procedural hurdle in a 68-23 vote Thursday. A vast majority of Republicans supported the amendment, a move that highlights the growing exasperation members of Congress have with the presidents foreign policy decisions. It is not a partisan amendment. Its not complicated. There is no poison pill. Just an opportunity for senators to go on the record about what the United States should be doing in Syria and Afghanistan, McConnell announced on the Senate floor Thursday ahead of the vote. The vote comes amid growing push back from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill on the presidents incessant criticisms of the U.S. intelligence community. Trump ripped into the intelligence community for contradicting him on a range of issues, including North Korea, Iran, and ISIS, and referred to top intelligence officials as extremely passive and naive earlier in the week. McConnells amendment will be voted on again next week to determine if it should be tacked on to a broader Middle East policy bill. Exact timing for a vote on the final bill has not been announced yet. The amendment expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States faces continuing threats from terrorist groups operating in Syria and Afghanistan, and that the precipitous withdrawal of United States forces from either country could put at risk hard-won gains and United States national security. This type of measure is not legally binding because it is not presented to the president for his signature. But it does send a strong signal to the president that his decision to pull troops from the region isnt supported by the majority of senators in Congress. It would recognize the danger of a precipitous withdrawal from either conflict, and highlight the need for diplomatic engagement and political solutions to the underlying conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan, McConnell said earlier in the week. But some Democrats opposed the amendment because they disapprove of the U.S. presence in the region. "Our troops have been in Syria since 2015 under what I believe are very questionable legal authorities," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a statement Thursday. "The American people do not want endless war. It is the job of Congress to responsibly end these military interventions and bring our troops home, not to come up with more reasons to continue them, as this amendment does. That is why I voted against it." On Monday, the Senate voted 74-19 to advance to open debate on a Middle East policy bill that includes fresh sanctions on Syria. McConnells vocal support of the amendment comes after Trump ordered a rapid withdrawal of troops from Syria in December, a move that angered lawmakers across both sides of the aisle. We are not the worlds policeman. But we are the leader of the free world. And it is incumbent upon the United States to lead, to continue to maintain a global coalition against terror, and to stand by our local partners who are engaged in a daily fight against the terrorists, McConnell said. Sponsored Stories Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. In this photo provided by WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines, a police investigator examines the scene of a grenade attack of a Muslim mosque in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines early Wednesday. WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP David Axelrod is a CNN commentator and a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. View more opinion articles on CNN. David Axelrod is a CNN commentator and a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. View more opinion articles on CNN. 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. As now-indicted labor leader and political kingmaker John Johnny Doc Dougherty tells it, the East Market Street complex of residential towers and office buildings covering a full city block would never have risen were it not for him. Dougherty lured the projects union-affiliated financial backer, National Real Estate Advisors LLC, to the site between 11th and 12th Streets, and engineered a labor agreement at the nearby Convention Center to boost the areas commercial fortunes, he said late last year at an event marking the completion of the projects first phase. We need you to start making some serious purchases on East Market Street, Dougherty recalled telling Jeffrey Kanne, Nationals president and chief executive, who sat nearby in the complexs courtyard, awaiting his turn to speak. As prosecutors press their case against Dougherty in the coming months, alleging embezzlement, bribery, and theft, the East Market project, which is said to be on the cusp of expansion, could mark one of the labor leaders last imprints on the city. In a sweeping, 153-page indictment unsealed Wednesday morning, federal prosecutors portray Dougherty as an influential and vengeful kingpin, who enriched himself on the backs of Electricians union members, and used friends and allies to shape his political vision from behind-the-scenes. But it was Philadelphias real estate and construction landscape where the influence of Dougherty and the citys construction unions really played out. From protesting and disrupting construction sites that used nonunion labor to throwing his weight behind or against real estate legislation, Dougherty shaped Philadelphias skyline one job site at a time. The rat balloon is pretty visible," said Joe Perpiglia, president and CEO of the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, in reference to the inflatable rodents that often show up at protests of nonunion job sites in the city. But, he said, "there are things that are seen and not seen. Most obviously, developers in the industry say, Dougherty used his clout to make sure Philadelphias biggest construction projects were done by union labor. One developer interviewed this week called it a monopoly. And another developer who was seeking to join Perpiglias group mistook the staffing tradition as Philadelphia law, Perpiglia said. His chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors represents union and nonunion workers and employers in the city and suburbs. Doughertys aim, as he has consistently maintained, was to make sure the electricians under his leadership as business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, as well as the workers he led as the head of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, had good-paying employment and werent undercut by what he described as less-skilled and less-careful nonunion workers willing to do the jobs for less. There are construction cranes up all over this city, said Frank Keel, spokesperson for Local 98 and Dougherty, referencing both Doughertys labor leadership as well as his time heading the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. John Dougherty deserves great credit for making it happen through nothing more than hard work and determination. But by enforcing the dominance of organized labor on Philadelphia job sites, some see Dougherty as contributing to the high construction costs in the city, which have been a drag on development and the broader economy. While few expert analyses exist to quantify the difference between union and nonunion wages, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent data, from May 2017, offers a glimpse. Average hourly wages for construction and extraction occupations, a group covering everything from sheet-metal workers to carpenters' helpers, stood at $27.98 for metropolitan Philadelphia, which included the city and Delaware County. Nationally, those wages averaged $24.01. Multiple developers contacted by the Inquirer declined to be identified or comment for this story, citing the need to maintain relationships with the construction unions they employ. But, they said, Doughertys influence at job sites and on the construction industry is palpable. Some described union employees as skilled, well-trained, and reliable, able to deliver jobs on time and with fewer accidents. But, they said, union labor requires high levels of staffing, making it more difficult for projects to pencil out. One developer said that if it were not for the 10-year tax abatement acting as a subsidy for Philadelphias higher costs, it would be impossible to make a profit. Those who know Dougherty often call him a man of contradictions, someone who is just as comfortable mixing with the citys elite as he is being at job sites on the street. Its at the latter where Dougherty began to gain his reputation for opposing nonunion work. Matthew Pestronk, president of the Post Bros. development group, was targeted by labor leaders including Dougherty when his company used a mix of union and nonunion contractors for the conversion of a former industrial building into the Goldtex apartments, just north of Center City. He said Doughertys tactics effectively violated what should be his right in a free market to employ the labor he chooses. The means of influence that Dougherty used to exert pressure on people to do what he wanted was illustrated in the indictment with CHOP, and we found that story to be consistent with our experiences. Matthew Pestronk, president of the Post Bros. development group During the projects development earlier this decade, union workers blocked entrances to the site, and Dougherty held a campaign-style event at IBEW Local 98s headquarters to screen a union-produced documentary that purported to show rampant code violations and construction flaws at the building. Frequently, union workers deployed the inflatable rats. Pestronk said some allegations in the indictment filed against Dougherty on Wednesday are consistent with his experience, such as those accusing the labor leader of having City Councilman Bobby Henon, who is also named as a defendant, use his sway over the Department of Licenses and Inspections to stop nonunion workers from installing MRI machines at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. The means of influence that Dougherty used to exert pressure on people to do what he wanted was illustrated in the indictment with CHOP, and we found that story to be consistent with our experiences, Pestronk said. Its a very difficult regime to operate in. He said the Goldtex site was also the subject of selective enforcement by L&I due to political pressure from unions. Most developers in the city accede to hiring union crews to avoid such conflict, amounting to a nonofficial tax on construction that makes it much more expensive to build in Philadelphia than other similar cities. Leo Addimando, managing partner of Alterra Property Group, whose projects include the recently completed Lincoln Square complex at Broad Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, said that trade unions' role in Philadelphias high labor costs is often overestimated. Costs are also driven up by tight supply in a city where the building trades are less attractive as careers than in places with milder year-round climates, as well as by the fact that until recently there have not been many large construction projects to support much growth in builders' ranks, he said. Addimando was also skeptical that Doughertys disappearance from the scene were it to come would result in more congenial relations between developers and labor unions. The last time I checked, the Electricians union was not the only union that aggressively protested against nonunion contractors, he said. On a given day, there are five rats around town. All of those five rats are not owned and operated by Local 98. Still, its hard to overstate Doughertys impact on how Philadelphia has and hasnt developed in recent years. Dougherty and the building trades have long been proponents of the 10-year property tax abatement, which was established two decades ago to help spur development when Philadelphia was bleeding population and investment. With Philadelphia experiencing an unprecedented real estate renaissance, many have criticized the abatement as a subsidy for the citys wealthiest. For all construction workers, including union laborers, keeping the abatement has helped keep work coming. So when members of City Council introduced a 1 percent tax on construction costs in April something some developers feared would quash the current boom Dougherty circulated a letter to Council members hours before the vote calling it an onerous tax proposal and dumb. The ill-conceived tax would have the net effect of ending the recent, prosperous run of new construction that is transforming neglected sections of the city," Dougherty wrote. The tax never passed. Last year at the East Market complex unveiling, Dougherty also made a case for his role in advancing that project. As a subsidiary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers pension fund tasked with supporting constructions that create lots of union jobs, National Real Estate Advisors was already primed to back such a project. But Kanne, the National CEO, was apprehensive about the sites prospects due to its proximity to the Convention Center, which had been far underperforming centers in other cities. Many attributed the weak traffic to the high labor costs and hassles surrounding union rules. Its a great environment," Dougherty recalled Kanne saying. "But Im not sure. Youve got to do something with the Convention Center. In the following years, Dougherty would lead his membership and other trades across a picket line maintained by union Carpenters and Teamsters in order to accept a labor agreement aimed at making the center more attractive to its customers. Most people dont know his role in us fixing the Convention Center," Dougherty said of Kanne. Keel, Doughertys spokesperson, said East Market would never have happened without [Doughertys] leadership. Kanne was not available for an interview on the impact of Doughertys indictment on Nationals Philadelphia projects but said in a statement that his group is proud to work with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who represent thousands of electrical workers around the country. "While they are a relatively small investor, were proud to have worked with Local 98 and John Dougherty on many positive business developments throughout the Philadelphia region. Kathmandu, February 1 Police in Kathmandu on Friday interfered in a protest carried out by an organisation of medical doctors in solidarity with medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC. Foiling the protest, they also detained 17 demonstrators from outside the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, where Dr KC is staging a fast-unto-death for past 24 days. The detainees have been taken to Nepal Police Club in Bhrikutimandap, according to Resident Doctors Association. Dr Pritam Subedi, one of the aides of Dr KC, says police used force to foil the demonstration though it was peaceful. Earlier, Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella organisation of Nepali medical doctors, had decided to halt health services except the emergency ones at all facilities across the country from Friday, in solidarity with the sexagenarian orthopaedic surgeon. Meanwhile, doctors associations close to the ruling Nepal Communist Party have called on their members not to take part in any protest citing Dr KCs demands are more political than professional. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Thursday predicted failure by the congressional committee tasked with resolving the U.S.-Mexico border wall standoff and preventing another government shutdown, saying any deal must fund his wall but he doesn't expect lawmakers to get there. The president's bleak assessment came as Republican senators suggested he keep his distance from their negotiations, advice Trump seemed determined to ignore. The comments made clear that a week after the nation's longest-ever government shutdown came to an end, Congress and the White House are no closer to resolving the dispute that started it in the first place - even as another shutdown deadline looms two weeks from now. "I don't think they're going to make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office a day after the bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators met for the first time. "I see what's happening. They're all saying, 'Oh, let's do this but we're not giving one dime to the wall.' That's OK. "But if they're not going to give money for the wall, it's not going to work," Trump said. "And if it's not going to work, then the politicians are really wasting a lot of time." Trump spoke shortly after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ruled out money for the wall in the committee's final product, saying: "There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation." But she said that "enhanced fencing" could have a role in a comprehensive border security solution, adding that "if the president wants to call that a wall, he can call it a wall." Members of the committee charged with producing a compromise insisted that such outside interference from party leaders on both sides could only inhibit them from reaching a deal, with several saying that left to their own devices they could do it in a day. But any agreement would require assent from Trump and Pelosi, leading some on the committee to question whether their efforts would ultimately be futile - and raising the question of what will happen on Feb. 15 when the current stopgap bill funding the government expires. Trump again suggested he could end up circumventing Congress by declaring a national emergency that would allow the military to build the wall, although such a declaration is opposed by many GOP lawmakers and would be certain to get tied up in court. "I believe if the speaker and the president and everybody, and the leaders of our parties in the Senate, would let us, the appropriators, do our jobs, we could do this," said Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., warning that without such freedom to negotiate, the outcome may be no deal at all. "I think we're going to have to have a comprehensive approach, we're going to have a wall and a fence, technology and everything," Shelby said. "Or, maybe, nothing." Asked whether it would help if Trump stayed out of it and let lawmakers work, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., laughed and said: "That would be nice." The GOP message to Trump was a turnaround from two weeks ago, in the midst of the shutdown, when Republicans stood staunchly with the president. Even lawmakers who are not part of the 17-member "conference committee" were watching warily as Pelosi and Trump seemed to harden their stances over the course of Thursday. "You've got unyielding and unreliable, and that doesn't make for a successful negotiation," said Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del. "I admire Speaker Pelosi's fierce determination to hold to her position, but I frankly think the work of the committee is to find an appropriate resolution." Underscoring the pressure on Pelosi as the talks move forward, a group of liberal House freshmen Democrats circulated a letter Thursday calling for overall spending for the Homeland Security Department to be reduced in the course of the committee negotiations - instead of increased as Democratic members of the panel are proposing. "A Republican-controlled Congress has already sharply increased DHS spending without clear justification," said the letter being circulated by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Citing "rampant spending on detention facilities for young children," among other issues, the letter insists: "Not another dollar." House Democrats' proposal for the Homeland Security budget, which the House Appropriations Committee made public Thursday as its starting point in the negotiations, recommends increasing the overall agency budget by about $590 million from 2018 levels, to $55.8 billion for the 2019 budget year. The plan contains no funding for physical barriers of any kind along the border, instead proposing spending on an array of technological improvements and the hiring of 1,000 more Customs officers. The outline also focuses on increased humanitarian spending in response to the Trump administration's border policies, and would block funding to implement a controversial June 2018 decision from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions that would generally disqualify victims of domestic abuse and gang violence from being eligible for asylum. Such proposals were likely to meet opposition from the Trump administration, while failing to go far enough to satisfy liberals in the new House majority. But as it has been all along, the sticking point was the question of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the central promise of Trump's campaign and of his presidency. After long claiming Mexico would pay for the wall, Trump forced the nation into a 35-day partial government shutdown Dec. 22 after congressional Democrats refused to agree to the $5.7 billion he was demanding for additional wall miles. Amid an outcry from the public and Republican lawmakers, Trump agreed last Friday to a three-week spending bill to reopen the government while negotiations could happen over the wall. But the president now appears to have declared the talks failed just as they were beginning in earnest. He said he was waiting for the Feb. 15 deadline to decide but suggested he might end up declaring a national emergency to build the wall. "I would do that," Trump said. "On February 15th, the committee will come back and if they don't have a wall, I don't even want to waste my time reading what they have because it's a waste of time," Trump said. The president also claimed that if border barriers now in place were removed, "you will have so many people coming into our country that Nancy Pelosi will be begging for a wall. She'll be begging for a wall. She will say, 'Mr. President, please, please give us a wall.' It will be very interesting." A Pelosi spokesman declined to respond to these remarks. Pelosi's comments about the possibility that a final deal could include border fencing echoed remarks from some other Democrats, who've suggested they could support some kind of border barriers. That has raised the possibility of a deal that could allow both sides to claim victory, with Democrats signing off on some level of spending for border barriers that Trump could define as a wall and embrace. But Republicans said Trump has not made clear to them what he could agree to in a final deal. "That's the central question here," Shelby said. "Maybe he hasn't decided yet." Trump's remarks in the Oval Office followed a flurry of morning tweets in which he alternately demanded a wall and declared one was already being built. "Democrats, despite all of the evidence, proof and Caravans coming, are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY needed WALL. I've got you covered. Wall is already being built, I don't expect much help!" Trump wrote at one point. Pelosi chided Trump for the tone of his comments. "What did he say today? It doesn't matter what Congress does?" Pelosi said. "Really, a president who wants Congress to become completely irrelevant in how we meet the needs of the American people? No. Come on. Let them work their will." Administration officials have pointed to about 40 miles of replacement fencing built with money allocated by Congress in 2017 and a mix of replacement barriers and new structures, including a levee wall system in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, that are slated to begin this year under a 2018 allocation of $1.3 billion. Trump has cited those projects as evidence that his promised wall is underway, although no new linear feet have been constructed, officials said last month. - - - The Washington Post's Paul Kane and David Nakamura contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - The vast majority of Senate Republicans backed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday in a rebuke of President Donald Trump's rationale for withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, voting to declare that the Islamic State's presence and activity in both countries continues to pose a serious threat to the United States. The measure, presented as an amendment to a greater Middle East policy bill, is a striking reprimand of the president from a GOP that has become increasingly comfortable expressing its opposition to Trump's foreign policy through votes on the Senate floor. That it was spearheaded by McConnell, R-Ky., who often waits to cross Trump until there is overwhelming momentum in his conference, indicates how deeply the president's announcements broke faith within the party. Republicans spent years accusing Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, of pursuing capricious troop withdrawals and have refused to defend Trump's efforts to do the same. "I believe the threats remain. ISIS and al-Qaida have yet to be defeated, and American national security interests require continued commitment to our mission there," McConnell said Thursday, before the 68-to-23 vote. However, the measure divided Senate Democrats, with many arguing that rebuking Trump was not worththe cost of greenlighting endless war. "This amendment is not the right way for us to proceed as a means of correcting Trump's backward policies," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said. "It could, frankly, get us even more deeply mired into a series of conflicts in the Middle East." Nearly every Senate Democrat expected to run for president in 2020 voted against the amendment. In December, the president announced he would be withdrawing American military personnel from Syria, stating in a Twitter post: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump presidency." A month later, ISIS claimed credit for an attack in Syria that left four Americans dead. The backlash from Republicans has been steady, with some of the president's closest allies warning him about the dangers of leaving before al-Qaida, ISIS and their affiliates are expunged. Talk of an impulsive pullout from Syria has incited fears of an ISIS resurgence there, as well as growing concern for the safety of Kurdish fighters who have partnered with U.S. forces. Some lawmakers have warned that a vacuum caused by the United States' departure is likely to be filled by forces aligned with Iran, posing a threat to ally Israel. Thursday's vote comes as U.S. negotiations with the Taliban have raised the prospect of an eventual withdrawal, too, from Afghanistan, where U.S. forces have been deployed for more than 17 years. McConnell's amendment specifically names al-Qaida and ISIS as "a global threat, which merits increased international contributions to the counterterrorism, diplomatic and stabilization efforts underway in Syria and Afghanistan." It hat-tips "the positive role" the United States and its allies have played in Syria and Afghanistan "fighting terrorist groups, countering Iranian aggression, deterring the further use of chemical weapons, and protecting human rights." Critically, it also warns that "withdrawal of the United States forces from the ongoing fight against these groups . . . could allow terrorists to regroup, destabilize critical regions, and create vacuums that could be filled by Iran or Russia, to the detriment of United States' interests and those of our allies." Some Republicans stressed that the fringe benefit to Iran is why Trump was wrong to believe that the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan are problems for "other people." "This is not other people's wars. This is ours. These people, who are going to operate in these safe havens and Iran, we are their target," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. "If you give them any belief that they have a chance to win because you have withdrawn . . . I believe you increase the chance of war." While the Senate's Thursday vote does not carry the weight of law or prevent the president from pursuing his plans, it puts Senate Republicans on the record as being firmly at odds with Trump's Middle East policy. In recent months, Senate Republicans also have backed bipartisan measures expressing support for NATO in the face of Trump's criticisms and threats to withdraw from the alliance, and to hold Saudi Arabia's crown prince responsible for the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite Trump having accepted the royal family's denials. In late January, the House overwhelmingly passed a measure to prevent Trump from using federal funds to execute a withdrawal from NATO. Typically, such measures to counter Trump's international moves have pulled almost unanimous support from Senate Democrats. But many saw a potential Trojan horse in the language of McConnell's amendment, arguing that Trump's more hawkish advisers might see a measure seeking a commitment to hostilities in Syria and Afghanistan as permission to fight wars they believe Congress never authorized. The amendment asks the administration to show lawmakers that "conditions have been met for the enduring defeat of al-Qaida and ISIS" before starting any troop withdrawals - a definition that struck about half the Democratic caucus as too nebulous and far-reaching to support. Some worried it might prevent Congress from putting any limits at all on the president's war powers. "That's an abdication of our role to authorize the use of military force," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, one of many senators angling for Congress to debate and pass a new authorization to replace the 2001 measure under which the United States invaded Afghanistan. The authorization, written to approve hostilities against parties responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has been interpreted since as a basis for fighting al-Qaida and ISIS - an interpretation many believe to be flawed. Lawmakers have debated the outlines of a new military authorization specifically focused on al-Qaida, ISIS and related groups - but have failed to come up with a satisfactory compromise. Yet, several leading advocates for a new authorization still supported McConnell's amendment Thursday. "Nothing in the McConnell amendment can be construed as an authorization for the use of military force," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who backed the measure as "an important message" for Trump. "We are not in the business of authorizing open-ended conflicts or keeping our troops on the battlefields forever." --- Video Embed Code Video: The Senate voted Jan. 31 in favor of an amendment put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that is at odds with President Trump's Middle East policy.(The Washington Post) WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge said Friday that she was considering issuing a gag order in the special counsel's case against longtime Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone, saying the charges should be treated like a serious criminal matter and not a public relations campaign or book tour. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she had already noticed a significant amount of publicity in the case, including statements Stone himself has made on television asserting his innocence and criticizing as excessive his pre-dawn arrest last week. She said Stone risks tainting a pool of jurors who may ultimately decide his case. "This is a criminal proceeding, not a public relations campaign," Jackson said. She said she didn't want the parties to be making comments about the case "on the courthouse steps or the talk show circuit." The judge did not immediately issue an order barring Stone or prosecutors from discussing the case, giving both sides until next week to weigh in. Any gag order would cover statements about the prosecution but, the judge noted, would still leave the conservative radio host free to discuss other topics. Stone can discuss "foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady" as much as he wants, the judge said. Stone, who has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of witness tampering, obstruction and false statements, told reporters Thursday that he was prepared to adhere to a gag order if the judge issued one but that he was also likely to appeal it. One of his lawyers is a noted First Amendment attorney who represented the rap group 2 Live Crew in an obscenity fight that reached a federal appeals court nearly 30 years ago. Stone did not speak in court Friday except to say "Yes, Your Honor," when asked if he understood that he could not discuss the case with other witnesses. Stone made the rounds on television last weekend and held a news conference Thursday at a Washington hotel, where he said he was prepared to tell the truth to Mueller but he had no derogatory information about Trump, his longtime friend. "I have great affection and remain a strong and loyal supporter of the president," Stone said. He suggested that he was accused of "after-the-fact process crimes," including lying to lawmakers investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, rather than any illegal collusion. In a court filing Thursday, prosecutors with Muellers office said the FBI seized physical devices from his home, apartment and office. They said multiple hard drives containing several terabytes of information have been recovered, including bank and financial records and the contents of numerous phones and computers. WASHINGTON Democrats are furious at former Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz for announcing that he may launch an independent campaign for president. They fear he will split the anti-Trump opposition and help reelect the president. But what angers them even more is that Schultz is calling Democrats out for how radical their party has become. When Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) recently floated her new wealth tax, Schultz called it ridiculous. When Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) said we should eliminate private health insurance, Schultz said, Thats not American. When Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) proposed a 70 percent marginal tax rate, Schultz dismissed it, saying I dont think we want a 70 percent income tax in America. Indeed, Schultz has ripped the entire Democratic socialist agenda, declaring Free Medicare-for-all, government-paid free college for all first of all, theres no free. I mean nothing is free. No wonder Democrats are fuming. Instead of debating Republicans, they may spend the next two years fighting a liberal independent who is slamming their far-left policies. Indeed, the neosocialist turn national Democrats have taken is precisely why Schultz decided to run as an independent. He calculated that he could not win the Democratic nomination running as a conventional, centrist Democrat. "I no longer feel affiliated [with the Democrats] because I don't know their views represent the majority of Americans," he says. Schultz is right. In fact, a recent Pew Research poll found that 53 percent of Democrats want the party to move in a more moderate direction, not embrace the radical policies of Ocasio-Cortez. That is precisely what the party needs to do if it wants to beat President Trump. Democrats should be trying to win back the millions of once-reliable Democratic voters who twice cast their ballots for Barack Obama but switched to Trump in 2016. But instead of tacking to the center to win back voters, Democrats are embracing leftist policies such as government-run health care, government-funded college for all, a government-funded job guarantee and a "Green New Deal." Together, these programs would cost $42.5 trillion about twice the national debt. And they are claiming they can pay for it all by taxing the very rich. That's impossible, and Americans know it. But it is what the most rabid elements of their party are demanding. This is the problem with our politics today. Both sides have decided that the way to win is no longer to persuade those in the middle, but rather to throw red meat to their hard core supporters and get them more worked up than those on the other side. Lost in the shuffle are millions of reasonable, persuadable citizens who are left to choose between two unpalatable alternatives. These are the new "forgotten Americans," and Schultz is betting they are looking for a leader. He calculates that there is an underserved population of voters who hate today's radical, polarized politics and want competent centrist leadership. His candidacy would pose an existential threat to Democrats in 2020, so they will attack him as an out-of-touch billionaire who does not care about working people. It won't work. As a chief executive, he took groundbreaking steps to make sure his employees shared in Starbucks's success, giving his baristas stock compensation, offering full tuition at Arizona State University for an online bachelor's degree and providing even part-time workers with health plans. Schultz is betting this record and a platform of moderately liberal yet fiscally responsible policies can win the presidency. Is he right? Probably not. There is a reason no independent has ever won the presidency. But Schultz is a visionary entrepreneur who saw a latent demand for a $3 cup of coffee before anyone else. Maybe he is also a visionary political entrepreneur who sees the latent demand for centrist leadership that everyone else is ignoring. We will soon find out. Until then, he is doing the Democrats a favor by calling them back from the brink of fiscal and political insanity. After Schultz slammed Harris's call to eliminate private insurance, Harris's campaign backtracked, saying she has also supported more moderate options. Ocasio-Cortez and the neosocialists are pulling the Democratic Party to the left. Perhaps by threatening their prospects in 2020, Schultz can pull them back in the other direction. For that reason alone, he would do the American people a great service by running. 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 Come I to speak in Caesars funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar Hakeem Jeffries has, it is whispered, ambitions. The 48-year-old congressman, now in his fourth term representing portions of Brooklyn and Queens, has been elected chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, the partys fifth most important leadership position, and when, however many years hence, Nancy Pelosi steps down, if Democrats control the House, Jeffries might become the first African American speaker. Personal political ambitions are as ubiquitous as they are necessary to produce noble public careers. Long after the assassination of his former law partner, William Herndon wrote that Lincolns ambition was a little engine that knew no rest. Arent we glad that was so. Jeffries, however, also has a rarer and more needed ambition. It is the Madisonian ambition for his institutions dignity, strength, and pre-eminence. For the separation of powers to function properly, producing constitutional equilibrium, there must be rivalry between the legislative and executive branches. As Madison said, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place." Or, today, the interest of the woman. Greg Weiner, author of the best book about Madisons thought (Madisons Metronome), rightly celebrates the way the 35-day government shutdown ended: The House stared down the presidency and won. In losing, Donald Trump behaved (reluctantly) as a president should, as a constitutional actor subservient in policymaking matters to the will of Congress. Pelosi acted like a speaker of the House laying a claim to primacy in policymaking. Says Weiner, This was institutional hardball between branches not just with respect to policy but, more important, with respect to authority. Madisonians should rejoice. In his 1962 State of the Union address, President John F. Kennedy told his congressional audience, The Constitution makes us not rivals for power, but partners for progress. Such anesthetizing bromides serve the interests of presidents by diverting Congress from a truth expressed by the American Enterprise Institutes Jay Cost: Congress is not, as its members too often and too plaintively insist, a coequal branch. It is superior. It creates all executive-branch offices other than president and vice president, and all Article III courts other than the Supreme Court, and can deny appointments to the executive and judicial branches, whereas the other branches are largely incapable of interfering with Congress. The executive power enforces the law, the judicial power resolves controversies under the law. The legislative power makes the law: It comes first. Jeffries understands intra-branch rivalry: Much that this Democratic-controlled House will send to the Republican-controlled Senate will be euthanized there. But the Democratic Party will thereby define itself and its opponent regarding such matters as curbing health care costs, particularly (this was the most surprisingly salient issue of the 2018 elections) the cost of prescription drugs, by using the government's bulk-purchasing power. Furthermore, having participated in last year's bipartisan criminal justice reform, Jeffries thinks a big bipartisan infrastructure measure is possible. His district is five miles from that of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the lefts enfant terrible du jour, who provides sophomores of all ages with daily frissons from socialist daring (We [millennials] never experienced, really, a time of true economic prosperity in the United States; zero carbon emissions in 12 years). For her, politics is performance art; for him, it is a continuation of his life of adult seriousness. After New York University Law School, Jeffries spent seven years at a premier law firm (Paul, Weiss), then was at Viacom and CBS, then spent six years in New Yorks legislature. Last week, while he was enjoying an almost abstemious breakfast (yogurt and cereal with berries, but also bacon), the morning paper was reporting Sen. Kamala Harris' intriguing plan to win the presidency while promising to take away 177 million Americans' private health insurance. That mornings paper also reported that 56 percent of Americans including majorities of women, Hispanics, blacks, urban residents, suburban residents, those under 65, college-educated whites say they will definitely not vote to re-elect the president. Only Democrats can save this president. They can do so by nominating someone loopy enough to panic voters who are asking only for someone cheerful, intelligent, and tethered to reality. Trumps hope is that Jeffries-style Democrats those with a Madisonian preference for a presidency proportional to its proper role, which is secondary to that of the First Branch do not prevail within their party. George F. Will writes a twice-weekly column for the Washington Post on politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He began his column with the Post in 1974, and he received the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1977. @georgewill The results Ive seen from the School District of Philadelphia over the last few months have given me the belief that our public education system can become successful in its mission. Thats right, the School District of Philadelphia is starting to get results that indicate it is truly possible for all of our students to succeed academically. The much-maligned school district, the perpetual underdog, has been winning and when it wins, our kids win and we win. Last week, the district released its 2017-18 School Progress Report. The annual report evaluates schools on student achievement and growth, school climate, and college and career readiness. For the third consecutive year, the district increased its overall School Progress Report score. More than 200 of 319 district-run and charter schools improved their performance, and 56 schools showed improvement for two years in a row. In November, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exams scores showed continued progress by district students. District improvements on the Keystone Exams outpaced those on the state level. About 2,700 third- to eighth-grade students moved from below-basic to higher performance levels on the English Language Arts portion of the PSSA. About 500 students moved from below-basic to higher performance levels on the tests Science portion. I am certain that Superintendent Dr. William Hite would say that the district has more work to do on student achievement, school climate and college and career readiness. But the School Progress Report results and standardized test scores demonstrate steady progress and show what can be achieved. There is even more good news on another front. Moodys Investor Services recently upgraded the districts bond rating to Baa3 and said the districts financial outlook was stable. The district now has an investment grade rating for the first time since 1977. That is a testament to the work of leaders across the city and state, including Mayor Kenney, City Council, Governor Wolf, state legislators and, of course, the district. Financial stability is critical to the district providing students, teachers, and staff the resources they need to be successful. Communities and businesses seem to be responding to the progress in schools. Across the district, people are giving of their time and their money to support and celebrate students. For example, the Meredith Elementary School and Greenfield Elementary School communities turned out in force in October to help the schools and the district recognize their designation as National Blue Ribbon Schools. The schools were two of just 19 schools in Pennsylvania to receive the coveted designation. All this positive news gives us hope that we are in the midst of a game changer. Its time we had quality education for all of our children. This can only be achieved with strong citizen support and yes, with additional resources being invested wisely. So, if you care about the fate of education here in our city, please contact your legislator, either suburban or city, and urge them to increase the spending on education in Philadelphia and throughout our state. That will mean quality education for our kids and a significant boost in our economy. Ed Rendell was governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011 and mayor of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2000. The first thing I thought of when I heard about the indictment against Electricians Local 98 leader John Johnny Doc Dougherty was that he was just another fraud who had washed the blue out of his collar a long time ago. I dont have an opinion on his guilt or innocence, at least not yet. He may very well have committed the crimes that the feds are accusing him of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the loyalty of strangers and ensure the comfort of friends. The indictment quotes him: I got a different world than most people ever exist in. Hes accused of spending union funds on lunches at the Palm, big screen TVs, and gifts for family and friends. As of now, these are just accusations. Dougherty has a right to his day in court, and Im sure he will fight all 116 counts in the indictment. Im almost hoping he gives us a good show and gives the government a worthy opponent. But Im not exactly weeping over Doughertys current predicament. There is no escaping the fact that Dougherty has been reveling in his exalted status for decades. Im not sure weve ever met although a few years ago, I did enjoy some hoagies he generously left at the WPHT studios, where I do a weekly radio show. (Thats not part of the indictment, by the way.) Dougherty probably has 99 percent of the People Who Count in Philly on speed dial, including Mayor Jim Kenney (another powerful man who pretends to be blue collar). >>READ MORE: On the job site and behind the scenes, Johnny Doc shaped Phillys skyline. Will he still? In my eyes, hes already proved himself guilty of another crime. He betrayed his background while still benefiting off of lip service to it. Doughertys shtick of trying to maintain the facade of proletariat grit that hardcore Philly accent, the colorful nickname has grown old. I cant stand people who pretend to be what theyre not, especially if they do it to enrich themselves at the expense of others. I have a lot more respect for the Wall Street honcho who so obviously doesnt give a damn about the people hes hurting than I do for the labor leader who pretends to sympathize with the poor schmuck on the corner, while flaunting his wealth and supposed superiority over that same schmuck. My dad was the epitome of a blue-collar guy. Born in West Philly. An altar boy at St. Gregorys. Smoked cigarettes at the age of 13. Got a tattoo as a teenager (which he tried to get rid of as a 30-year-old, but thats another story). Enlisted in the Army at 18. Drank Schmidts and Rolling Rock. Loved the Bristol Stomp by the Dovells, the Locomotion by Little Eva and anything by Tommy Edwards. >>READ MORE: Councilman Bobby Henons lawyer fires back, says his client was fighting for union workers A blue-collar guy does not pretend to be what he isnt. Again, Dougherty deserves his day, his week, and his many months in court, and I expect him to defend himself as fiercely as hes clung to power. But lets end this charade about Johnny, the Man of the People. Even if hes innocent of a white-collar crime, hes left that blue collar behind. Quality pre-K for over 5,000 kids annually, 20 Community Schools, hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild Philadelphias aging parks, recreation centers, and libraries: Those are the reasons the Kenney administration proposed and implemented the beverage tax. It was driven by need specifically, the overwhelming needs of tens of thousands of residents one quarter of the citys population who struggle in poverty. Some people are asking whether the federal indictments announced this week cast doubt on the genesis of the tax. The beverage industry, which has devoted millions of dollars to a failed legal challenge and public relations effort to fight the beverage tax, will no doubt seize on this purported linkage to the federal probe. So we write to make the record absolutely clear: The mayor didnt get the idea to implement the tax from Local 98 business manager John Dougherty. Neither did we. In fact, we and the mayor had no knowledge of Mr. Doughertys alleged effort to support the beverage tax to get retribution against the Teamsters until the indictment was announced Wednesday. To suggest otherwise sadly discounts the efforts of the many city employees, community organizations, and city residents who made the tax and the programs it funds possible. The beverage-tax proposal was driven by the mayors 2015 campaign promise to expand access to free, quality pre-K to more Philadelphians and to create Community Schools. Then, Mike DiBerardinis who was being considered for the job of managing director pitched the idea of Rebuild to bring a new, innovative approach to meet the persistent capital needs of our parks, recreation centers, and libraries. In other words, the tax was the result of creative thinking around improving education for our children and economic development in our neighborhoods. When we discussed these programs, we couldnt just find the money in the budget. The city had made drastic cuts to programs and services during the recession, and the funds simply didnt exist. We needed to pay for these programs from a new revenue source. In this process, we reviewed multiple options to raise new revenues, but we decided to pursue the beverage tax because it provided the necessary revenues, it would not negatively impact other revenue sources needed to fund the School District of Philadelphia or other city services, and the reduced consumption of sweetened beverages has other health benefits that benefit Philadelphia. At first, the mayor was skeptical we would be successful in passing this new tax. Similar tax proposals had failed in the prior administration. But after discussing the costs and benefits of these programs, the mayor became convinced that this was the best and only way we could implement these programs and meet the needs of the residents of Philadelphia. The beverage tax became the centerpiece of his first budget proposal in March 2016, and we transmitted our legislation to City Council. Approval came three months later, by a 13-4 vote, after hundreds of courageous supporters many of them parents of preschoolers successfully advocated for the tax with their Council members. Yes, this was the genesis of the Philadelphia beverage tax: identifying the needs poverty, an inadequate education system, and struggling neighborhoods and then solutions PHLpreK, Community Schools, Rebuild and then seeking a new funding mechanism that was the least onerous to taxpayers. We chose to tax the distribution of sweetened beverages because it is not a tax on consumers, and businesses can choose to absorb the costs in running their business. So we urge Philadelphians not to be swayed by the industrys rhetoric. The industry attacks the tax at every turn, spending tens of millions of dollars to lobby legislators, and convince residents, that its profits are more important than the needs of Philadelphias residents, specifically our kids. Dont fall for that same trick again. The beverage tax has already made a substantial impact: to date, 4,000 3- and 4-year-old children gaining access high-quality early education, 12 Community Schools serving 6,500 students, and the first of three borrowings for Rebuild. That is the current progress, and those benefits will only grow in the years to come. We believe it will be tragic if billionaires are allowed to tarnish the true origin of the beverage tax and an already impressive legacy. Rob Dubow is finance director of Philadelphia. Jim Engler is chief of staff to Mayor Jim Kenney. For people of color, banks are shutting the door to homeownership. And for nearly a year, SEPTA has been fighting to keep this story off the streets of Philadelphia. Last year, we reported that African Americans in Philadelphia were far more likely to be denied a home loan than their white counterparts, even when they made the same amount of money, tried to get the same size loan, and wanted to buy in the same neighborhood. We combed through 31 million mortgage records, covering nearly every loan application in America in 2015 and 2016. Even taking various factors, like the applicants income, loan amount, and the neighborhood where they wanted to live into consideration, our analysis found some disturbing patterns. In dozens of cities across the country, banks and other mortgage lenders were far more likely to turn down loan applications from people of color than whites, even when they had a similar economic profile. Philadelphia was one of the largest cities with the problem. Though whites and blacks make up a similar share of the population here, white applicants received 10 times as many conventional home purchase loans as African Americans. Those are the facts, and we wanted to share them with the entire city. So, we developed a comic strip based on our reporting and tried to place it as an advertisement on city buses. SEPTA turned us down. The transit agency claimed that our story was too political and expresses an opinion, position or viewpoint on matters of public debate. Meanwhile, the transit agency allows banks to advertise to its riders that the financial institutions do not discriminate. SEPTA is not only ignoring First Amendment principles, it is engaging in unconstitutional censorship. Our story is based on solid facts and an unbiased analysis not advocacy. These facts are tied to a deep history of racial bias in this country. More than 50 years ago, Congress banned racial discrimination in lending after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But we found the homeownership gap between black and white Americans has grown wider than it was during the Jim Crow era. Back then, segregation was legal and discrimination was encouraged by the government in a process called redlining. Now, its against the law, but the problem persists. We released our investigation last February. The story aired nationwide on our public radio show, Reveal , on the PBS NewsHour and was published via the Associated Press in hundreds of newspapers, including this one. Political leaders took note. In Washington, members of the House Financial Services Committee quizzed the chairman of the Federal Reserve about our findings, which have been entered into the congressional record. Six state attorneys general, including Pennsylvanias Josh Shapiro, have launched investigations. The Philadelphia City Council has held hearings and is exploring potential solutions. The information that has subsequently stirred this vital public debate is the same information that SEPTA thinks its riders cannot handle because it is too incendiary. Like the radio, television, and print versions of our reporting, the 10-panel comic strip tells the story of modern-day redlining. It also gives Philadelphians a tool: by texting the word LOAN to 202-873-8325 (standard rates apply), they can see how banks are making loans in their neighborhoods. Last May, we sued SEPTA, saying its denial of our redlining comic amounted to censorship and violated our First Amendment rights. In November, U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson struck down part of the advertising standards but largely sided with the transit agency, saying that it was free to bar our advertisement because SEPTA restricts all political ads as well as ads expressing any viewpoint on economic, political, religious, historical, or social issues. Needless to say, we think protecting our First Amendment rights is vital and we are appealing the decision. How can we, as a society, deal with the problem if were afraid to confront the facts? We will never fix the impacts of racism if we are prevented from having a conversation about how it manifests in our communities today. Aaron Glantz and Emmanuel Martinez are reporters for Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, the nations oldest investigative news nonprofit. UAE, February 1 Nepal and the United Arab Emirates are likely to renew a 2007 memorandum of understanding on labour migration of Nepali workers into the Gulf country soon. During a meeting between labour officials of the two countries held in Abu Dhabi on Thursday and Friday, the UAE government expressed its readiness to address most of the concerns raised by Nepal regarding facilities and safety of the workers. Nepals acting ambassador to the UAE, Sagar Prasad Phunyal, says the Nepali team cleared some confusions of the UAE officials about concerns of Nepal. Now, the officials will report conclusions of the meeting to their seniors; and the senior officials will decide if further discussion is needed on renewing the pact, according to him. Meanwhile, the Nepali team comprising five officials from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security is returning to Nepal on Saturday, completing its mission. After slamming his intelligence chiefs as passive and naive and telling them to go back to school, President Donald Trump tried to paper over his Twitter tantrum on Wednesday. Facing sharp criticism for such a public attack unprecedented for a U.S. president Trump now claims the media distorted the testimony of top U.S. intelligence chiefs before the Senate Intelligence Committee -- where they sharply diverged from Trump on the ranking and nature of the most urgent security threats. There are, of course, gaping holes in this self-serving revision. For one, if Trump ever listened to his daily intel briefing he would have known in advance what the chiefs would be saying. For another, any differences Trump holds should be discussed in private, not aired on Twitter. Such a public Trump war with his intel community is manna for Americas enemies and undermines the agencies that try to keep America safe. But most glaring, there can be no doubt about what the chiefs said in their annual assessment of threats to U.S. security because the testimony was broadcast live. I listened to it. It does indeed differ from the claims of Donald Trump. So let us count the ways in which they differ. 1. Theres almost no mention of the supposed emergency on the southern border. In National Intelligence Director Dan Coats prepared remarks, the border gets only a brief mention on Page 18, in regard to drugs after the statement deals with China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, the Middle East, cyberwarfare, etc. In his testimony, Coats made a one-sentence reference to U.S.-bound migrants near the very end. 2. Top rank goes to the growing danger of cyberwar. This threat shadowed the entire testimony, including the possibility of future attacks on critical infrastructure such as the electricity grid. Coats also stressed that Americas adversaries viewed the 2020 elections as an opportunity to advance their interests. He emphasized that Russia relies on disinformation wars to destabilize Western democracies and undermine Americas standing abroad. A topic anathema to Trump. The intel chiefs and senators from both parties also spent much time focusing on the security challenges posed by new technologies, which, in Coats words, will continue to drive the world in ways we do not [yet] understand. Their discussion only underlines the risk posed by Trumps failure to organize an all-of-government response to cyberwarfare led from the White House. 3. North Korea gets a needed dose of realism. The intel agencies assessed that North Korea will seek to retain its W.M.D. (weapons of mass destruction) capability and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons. Coats said the Norths leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival. As the president prepares for a second summit with Kim Jong Un, this is an important counterweight to the presidents early proclamation that the North Korean nuclear threat has ended. There has been virtually no progress so far in getting Pyongyang to end its nuclear program or give up its existing weapons. 4. Iran is not now working on a bomb. This topic drew the presidents initial ire because the intel community assessed Iran is not now undertaking activities necessary to produce a bomb; Tehran continues to comply with terms of the nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew. That behavior could change, Coats said, if sanctions continue. He also detailed the continuing threat of Iranian misbehavior in the Middle East. All in all, a sober assessment, far from the naivete the president denounced. Indeed, Coats whole testimony, and the intel communitys report, reeked of sobriety, not politics. On Afghanistan, he assessed that the Taliban and the Afghan government were at a standoff, so long as the current level of U.S. troops there remains the same. However, that could change due to U.S.-Taliban peace negotiations. Hanging over his remarks was the real possibility that if Trump pulls those troops out, the Taliban could seize control. Similarly, that realism permeated Coats assessment that terrorism will increase in 2019, and ISIS will return to guerrilla warfare intent on reemerging as a transnational threat. This stands in stark contrast to the presidents insistence that ISIS is defeated, full stop. There have been sharp conflicts between presidents and the intel community in the past notably when Vice President Dick Cheney pushed the CIA to produce analyses that fit his certainty that Saddam Hussein was making weapons of mass destruction. We know how that one turned out. This latest battle between Trump and his intel chiefs a battle he now insists doesnt exist is even worse than the Cheney debacle. Trump appears eager to sideline the intel agencies from policymaking, while promoting the theory that they are operating on a partisan basis. The president is confident that he knows best, and doesnt need intel briefers, or the facts they bring. The threat of willful presidential blindness didnt appear in Coats threats assessment. But it may be the most dangerous one of all. To kick off this years Black History Month, we asked four Philadelphians to choose an important figure in black history and tell us: How can Americans learn from this persons story today? Ida B. Wells crusade for justice Much is being written about the emerging power of the black womans voice, especially as we head into the presidential election. But more than 100 years ago, it was the voice of a lone black woman, journalist, and radical feminist, Ida B. Wells, who was fierce in her attacks on segregation, racism, and violence. In 1884, after the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad threw Wells off the trains first-class car, she sued it and won in the lower court. That decision was reversed, but the injustice only fueled her passion to take on the issue of rampant lynchings of black men and women across the South. In 1892 she did a comprehensive investigation of more than 700 lynchings. When the results were published as a damning indictment of Southern white culture, a mob burned her newspaper office to the ground and threatened to kill her if she returned to the South. Undeterred, she traveled the country lecturing on the evils of mob violence and to England to gain international support against lynching. Wells strength in the face of daunting obstacles is a daily reminder that we can do no less than use our collective voice on issues of justice and equity. Renee Chenault-Fattah, lawyer and former TV broadcaster now working on a film on Alzheimers and dementia in communities of color James Baldwins difficult truths In the first picture of James Baldwin I saw, he was dancing. He was stylish and smiling and dancing. He was just pure pleasure, pure joy, and I wanted to read everything he had written. James Baldwin told the truth. He did this with elegance and grace, in a time when telling the truth got people killed. Baldwin wrote through an incredibly tumultuous moment, during and after the civil rights movement, diagnosing the myriad illnesses that still plague America. He lived abroad, and this gave him the clarity to write about America with critical distance. In each book, essay, or play of his I have read, the message remains the same: Speak brutal honesty in the face of oppression to become free. His characters speak truth as an act of love, an act of protest, and an act of transformation. Considering how slippery we are now finding the truth, Baldwins willingness to tell America exactly what it needs to hear is a practice we should all strive for. We should all be searching for truth and speaking truth to power in these divisive, violent times. >> READ MORE: Why we should cancel Black History Month | Opinion The difficulty of truth is that it requires us to dig deep into our history, our prejudices, and our biases to fundamentally transform ourselves and our communities. The more perfect union the Constitution aspires to is still waiting for us to reach out and grab it. James Ijames, award-winning Philadelphia-based playwright, performer, and professor of theater at Villanova University James Armistead Lafayettes wartime bravery James Armistead Lafayette was an African American slave who at age 33 became one of the most highly placed espionage agents in U.S. history. Working for George Washingtons French commander, the Marquis de Lafayette, James pretended to be a runaway. He used this cover story to join British forces. Through his easygoing personality and diligence, he quickly gained trust and went to work for the British general Lord Charles Cornwallis. In danger every minute, James listened to the generals plans and passed crucial secret messages of British operations, contributing to the American victory at Yorktown that ended the war. >> READ MORE: Black Panther coming back to theaters for free in honor of Black History Month Yet for all his valor he was not freed after the war until the marquis visited Virginia and found his old friend. Lafayette wrote a letter to the Virginia Assembly telling of James' exploits as a spy for Washington. The state granted him freedom and hailed him as a hero. He took the last name Lafayette as homage to his wartime comrade. His courage inspires all African Americans who seek to protect the nation through dangerous work and sacrifice. Despite the bluster from some national leaders who would degrade our intelligence professionals, there are citizen-warriors who continue the legacy of selflessness in protecting our constitutional legacy and who reflect deep devotion to the defense of the nation, often at great personal risk. Malcolm Nance, former U.S. Navy intelligence officer, New York Times best-selling author, board member at the International Spy Museum, and native Philadelphian Ethel D. Allens enduring dreams When I reflect on the last seven years of my life as principal of the Dr. Ethel Allen School, I celebrate the life of Dr. Ethel Allen the first African American woman to serve on Philadelphias City Council. In my first year as principal, I researched who the school was named after and what she had done to be immortalized. Dr. Allen spent most of her life in North Philadelphia, where she practiced medicine. This area was considered one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. She decided the best way to make a change was to become politically involved. In 1971, she joined City Council, where she won an at-large seat in 1975. In 1979, Dr. Allen was appointed secretary of the commonwealth by the governors office. She served as a clinician for the School District of Philadelphia. Dr. Allen encouraged many African American women to enter politics. She overcame racism by becoming a doctor when few African American women were physicians. Through Dr. Allens life, Americans can learn to never give up on a dream. This year, we are celebrating this schools 50th anniversary as part of our community. It is my hope that her memory will continue to influence the lives of young people for the next 50 years. Stefan Feaster Eberhardt, principal of Dr. Ethel Allen Promise Academy The Navy has finished excavating contaminated soil from a former base in Willow Grove and is looking for a new place to deposit it after a New Jersey landfill backed out of taking it this week, a military official said on Friday. The soil, which was excavated between November and January, is being contained and stored on the site until a new disposal site is found. It may take the Navy several weeks to remobilize, load, and transport the soils to an alternate disposal facility, said Willie Lin, an environmental coordinator for the former base. The Cumberland County Improvement Authority had agreed to take the soil but backed out after environmental activists voiced concerns. The chemicals present in the soil, known as PFAS, were used in firefighting foams on the base and have seeped into the drinking water supplies of surrounding communities. In information previously released about the excavation, the military had said the contaminated soil posed an imminent threat to the public and could continue leaching into groundwater. Excavating the soil was one step in remediating contamination on the base. Now that it is excavated, this soil which was the top 5 percent most-contaminated soil on the base will not continue leaching chemicals. Other soil and groundwater on base are still contaminated, potentially threatening future drinking water. The soil does not meet the EPA classifications for a hazardous substance. The Navy sampled the soil for PFAS, followed regulations, and had EPA approval for the New Jersey dump site, Lin said. Lin did not indicate how much money the Navy would have spent to move the soil to the New Jersey facility, but said the military would try to find a new place to take it at no additional cost. After a week of testimony in a Bucks County courtroom, a trial stemming from a fatal love triangle involving a onetime stripper, a pharma executive, and a biker came to a close Thursday with the woman who pulled the trigger taking center stage. In emotional testimony, Jennifer Morrisey told the jury that the fatal shooting of Michael McNew, the man who had financially supported her for years, was an unintentional tragedy. I didnt mean to, Morrisey, 34, said through tears. It was an accident. The jury, impaneled before Judge Raymond F. McHugh, deliberated for an hour before recessing for the day just after 6 p.m. It is set to return Friday. Morrisey is accused of shooting McNew, 64, a pharmaceutical executive, in the face with his pistol in August 2017. The Bensalem native said the gun went off as she and McNew struggled over it, accidentally firing as she worked to unload its magazine. Her turn at the witness stand was a last-minute decision. Deputy District Attorney Christopher W. Rees tried to pick apart Morriseys story, honing in on her decision to leave the house after the shooting without calling police, and highlighting her subsequent efforts to hide her involvement in what she later said was an accident. In his closing argument, the prosecutor was blunt. He put his faith in her, and she put a bullet in his head, Rees said. A forensic analyst testified last week that the bullet was fired at most an inch away from his face. At that distance, Rees said, the only intention is to kill. And given the undisturbed state of McNews living room after the shooting, he cast doubt on Morriseys contention that McNew was shot during a struggle. This is not the scene of a fight, this is the scene of a murder, Rees said. And the only way she couldve killed him is to sneak up on him as hes sleeping. Morriseys attorney, S. Philip Steinberg, said his client was truthful to the jurors and testified because she wanted her story to be heard. Believe her," he urged the jury, adding that her fear that law enforcement officials would not believe her motivated her to attempt to stage the shooting to look like a robbery. She did everything she could to make a legally justified shooting appear to be a crime, Steinberg said. Morrisey told jurors she met McNew while working as an exotic dancer at Club Risque in Bristol. He wooed her, she said, helping her to pay off a $1,200 electric bill while wining and dining her, buying her a car, and taking her on vacation. She and her infant son moved into McNews home in Washington Crossing in 2015, after her stepfather and sister died in the same week, she testified. The next two years of their relationship were tumultuous, as Morrisey battled addiction to heroin, and McNew grew possessive and territorial. He accused her, she said, of sleeping with every male friend, sometimes threatening to kick her out of his home or saying hed shoot her drug dealers. By August 2017, Morrisey had been dating Charles Ruthless Kulow, a member of the Breed motorcycle gang, for a few months. On the day of the killing, during an argument over her continued relationship with Kulow, McNew threatened to throw out her dead sisters ashes and other family mementos important to her, she said. They traded threats he promised to shoot her, she to gut him but she said she never took the threats seriously. When she went to confront him, she said, McNew was surly and red-faced, with the smell of alcohol when she arrived at his house. She got close enough to him to hug him when he produced a gun and demanded to know where Kulow was. She said she knocked the gun away and tried to remove its magazine, and heard a loud bang as she did. When she looked up, she saw McNew bleeding from a gunshot wound between his eyes, she said. Morrisey said she fled in panic and sought advice from Kulow. He told her to return to the home with a friend of his and try to make it look like a suicide, because no one would believe her story. Steinberg said that was her downfall: seeking advice from two idiots like Kulow and his friend. But the plan proved difficult: Morrisey couldnt access McNews phone to delete a record of their threat-filled conversation or return the clip to the gun. Instead, she said, she decided to make the scene look like a botched robbery, stealing McNews cell phone, laptop, and watch, and taking the gun with them. That weapon, a .380 Smith & Wesson, has never been found, and Morrisey testified that Kulow had it cut up and melted down. After the shooting, Morrisey decided to keep up appearances on social media in an attempt to evade law enforcement. Hours after shooting McNew, she sent him a text saying she wasnt going to visit him that day after all. The next day, she sent him a Facebook message asking about an upcoming doctors appointment. Once McNews body was discovered, Morrisey oscillated among pretending not to know anything about what happened, expressing concern about McNew, and telling a friend McNew had been killed in a burglary. Dude, you know me, would I ever do that, esp to someone I care about so deeply?" she told one friend in a Facebook message. "I wouldnt do that to someone I hate. SOUTH WHITEHALL, Pa. (AP) Police say a Pennsylvania fire chief pulled a gun on a 12-year-old boy who had placed a flier for a food drive on his front door. South Whitehall police say Woodlawn Fire Chief James Kutz told them he believed the Boy Scout was attempting to enter his home on Nov. 4. The Morning Call reports police say Kutz followed the boy to another house and then pulled out a gun, ordering him to the ground. Police say the boy was placing a flier on the mans storm cellar door, advertising a food drive. The 39-year-old Kutz was charged with simple assault and harassment on Jan 11. He has since been released on $25,000 bail. His attorney said he did not want to comment on the case, saying he is still gathering evidence RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appears to have almost no choice but to resign after losing support from virtually the entire state Democratic party and other key allies, who late Friday urged the governor to leave office because of a racist photo in which he appeared more than 30 years ago. The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, the state House Democratic Caucus and the state Senate Democratic Caucus all called on Northam to resign, along with several key progressive groups that have been some of the governor's closest political allies. Their calls for Northam to step down came in a wave late Friday, after the Democrat had apologized for appearing in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform. The photo appeared in his 1984 medical school yearbook. The yearbook images were first published Friday afternoon by the conservative news outlet Big League Politics. The Virginian-Pilot later obtained a copy from Eastern Virginia Medical School, which Northam attended. The photo shows two people looking at the camera one in blackface wearing a hat, bow tie and plaid pants; the other in a full Ku Klux Klan robe. An Associated Press reporter saw the yearbook page and confirmed its authenticity at the medical school. In his first apology, issued in a written statement, Northam called the costume he wore "clearly racist and offensive," but he didn't say which one he had worn. He later issued a video statement saying he was "deeply sorry" but still committed to serving the "remainder of my term." "I accept responsibility for my past actions and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust," Northam said. But Northam appears to have virtually no path forward to remain in office without any institutional support. His departure would mean current Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat who is only the second African American to win statewide office in Virginia, would be the next governor. Northam's term was set to end in 2022. Black lawmakers said they met with Northam Friday evening, and said in a statement they appreciate his service. "But given what was revealed today, it is clear that he can no longer effectively serve as governor," the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said, "It is time for him to resign, so that Virginia can begin the process of healing." State Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, a close ally of Northam and longtime African-American lawmaker, described a hastily called conference call with black leaders around the state as "intense," her voice breaking, but did not elaborate. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls and potential presidential candidates, including former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, also called on Northam to resign. Northam spent years actively courting the black community in the lead up to his 2017 gubernatorial run, building relationships that helped him win both the primary and the general election. He's a member of a predominantly black church on Virginia's Eastern Shore, where he grew up. "It's a matter of relationships and trust. That's not something that you build overnight," Northam told the AP during a 2017 campaign stop while describing his relationship with the black community. Northam, a folksy pediatric neurologist who is personal friends with many GOP lawmakers, has recently come under fire from Republicans who have accused him of backing infanticide after he said he supported a bill loosening restrictions on late-term abortions. Last week, Florida's secretary of state resigned after photos from a 2005 Halloween party showed him in blackface while dressed as a Hurricane Katrina victim. Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report. On its website, the University of Farmington advertised an innovative STEM curriculum that would prepare students to compete in the global economy, and flexible class schedules that would allow them to enroll without disrupting their careers. The Michigan-based school touted the number of languages spoken by its president (four) and the number of classes taught by teaching assistants (zero.) Photos of the campus showed students lounging around with books on a grassy quad, or engaged in rapt conversation in its brightly-lit modern library. Tuition was relatively reasonable - $8,500 a year for undergraduates and $11,000 a year for graduate students. "Located in the heart of the automotive and advanced manufacturing center of Southeast Michigan, the University of Farmington provides students from throughout the world a unique educational experience," the site informed prospective applicants. But there were no classes taking place at the university, which employed no instructors or professors. In court filings that were unsealed Wednesday, federal prosecutors revealed that the school's employees were actually undercover agents working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The fake university had been set up in 2015 as part of an elaborate sting operation aimed at ensnaring foreign nationals who had initially come to the United States on student visas. Its "campus" consisted of a small office in a corporate park in the northwestern Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, Michigan, with no quad or library in sight. The phony university was "being used by foreign citizens as a 'pay to play' scheme," prosecutors allege. After forking over thousands of dollars, students would provide immigration authorities with evidence that they were enrolled in a full-time educational program. They could then continue to live and work in the United States under a student visa. But since the University of Farmington didn't actually exist, they didn't have the hassle of writing papers, taking tests or showing up to class. Students knew that the scheme was illegal, "and that discretion should be used when discussing the program with others," prosecutors wrote in their indictment, which was filed Jan. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. According to the Detroit News, which first reported on the undercover operation, dozens of University of Farmington students were arrested on immigration violations on Wednesday as part of a massive nationwide sweep, and are now potentially facing deportation. In addition, eight people who allegedly worked as "recruiters" for the school and collectively helped at least 600 students to remain in the country under false pretenses now face federal conspiracy charges. ICE could not be reached for comment late Wednesday night. It's unclear how many past or present students could be facing deportation as a result of the sting. The Department of Homeland Security's list of certified schools where international students can enroll includes the University of Farmington. And the school made some pretense of being a legitimate institution. Before Wednesday night, when the school's Facebook and Twitter accounts were abruptly deleted, posts on social media notified students about school cancellations due to an ice storm, and advertised an upcoming admissions fair. It had a Latin motto - "Scientia et Labor," meaning "Knowledge and Work" - and a handful of positive online reviews from people claiming to be satisfied alumni. But no one enrolled at the university was making progress toward a degree, the indictment said. The "unique educational experience" promoted on the school's website apparently consisted of not going to school at all. There were some clues that not everything was aboveboard. The school's website never said how many enrolled students it had, though it claimed that they came from all 50 states and 47 countries. It didn't name the university's president or the year when the school was founded. As the Detroit News's Robert Snell noted on Twitter, a photo showing a diverse group of students deep in concentration came from Shutterstock. The university claimed to be accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, but did not appear in an online directory of accredited institutions on the organization's website. According to prosecutors, students were well aware that the school was a fraud. They allegedly chose to enroll anyway because doing so would allow them to remain in the country on F-1 nonimmigrant visas, which allow foreign citizens to temporarily reside in the United States while studying accredited academic institutions. Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for ICE in Detroit, told local news station WXYZ that the students had entered the United States legally on F-1 visas after being accepted to legitimate schools, and had later transferred to the University of Farmington. The federal indictments name eight people in eight states who allegedly worked as recruiters for the school. All have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harboring aliens for profit. They face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The eight recruiters allegedly helped create fraudulent records, including transcripts, that students could give to immigration authorities. Authorities contend that they collectively accepted more than $250,000 in kickbacks for their work, not realizing that the payments were actually coming from undercover agents who worked for Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE. "We are all aware that international students can be a valuable asset to our country, but as this case shows, the well-intended international student visa program can also be exploited and abused," Matthew Schneider, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a statement emailed to media outlets on Wednesday. This isn't the first time that the feds have set up a fake university with the goal of rooting out visa fraud. Calling "pay to stay" a national security threat, officials announced in April 2016 that they had charged 21 people with recruiting international students who paid to enroll at the made-up University of Northern New Jersey so that they could get student visas. More than a dozen students who partook in the scheme later told the New York Times that they felt they had been deceived by the government. Many of the students who enrolled at the University of Farmington appear to be Indian nationals who belong to the Telugu ethnic group. The American Telugu Association said in a Wednesday s tatement that "scores of Telugu students nationwide" had been arrested in early-morning raids, and that the organization was attempting to provide them with legal guidance. As the News noted, the undercover investigation seems to have ramped up one month after President Trump took office. While the fake university was set up in 2015, it wasn't until February 2017 that HSI agents began posing as university officials, the indictment said. The undercover operation, nicknamed "Paper Chase," continued until earlier this month. Over the years, the university's ghostly presence in the basement of suburban Detroit office park aroused at least one neighbor's suspicions. I was like what is this? Matt Friedman, who runs a strategic communications firm based in the same complex, told the News. Id never heard of it before and never saw anybody there. The whole thing was just odd. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Prosecutors say a Bloods gang member who is a sovereign citizen has been convicted of biting off the end of a Tennessee police officer's thumb. On Friday, Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen announced that a jury convicted 30-year-old Alexander Ray Johnson of aggravated assault, punishable by three to six years in prison, and two assault counts. Prosecutors say a Knoxville officer stopped Johnson in June 2017 for speeding and for having a fake license plate that claimed a right to travel as a "Sovereign Hebrew Israelite." Sovereign citizens deny the legitimacy of government authority. Prosecutors say Johnson wouldn't get out or provide his license, and argued whether speeding was a crime. They say that Johnson fought officers while they tried taking him into custody and that he bit backup officer Trey Lanes thumb. Prosecutors will request the maximum sentence. The serene room with violet walls and views of Fairmount Park is a milestone in the 43-year history of the Please Touch Museum. For the next seven months, the space will be part of an exhibit about Muslim culture around the world, from its architecture, music and art to clothing and food. It marks the first time that the West Philadelphia childrens museum has explored a religion so comprehensively, even providing a prayer room for the visiting faithful. Petra Watson, a mother of four from West Oak Lane, knelt inside the prayer room during a preview of America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. I see myself here, Watson said as she emerged. I see my family and my community. And that is the point, said president and CEO Patricia Wellenbach. The exhibit, which opens Feb. 2, reflects a larger effort by the museum to reimagine its role, address contemporary social issues, and host events that reflect the regions diversity, she said. In the 5,000-square-foot exhibit, children will be able to experience Muslim culture, to trade rugs at a Moroccan marketplace, wrap themselves in colorful Senegalese fabrics, and weigh spices in an Egyptian vendors stall. Objects from a typical Muslim home including prayer rugs and clothing are on display, along with a Quran dating to 1852 on loan from the Free Library of Philadelphia. Two paintings commissioned for the exhibit, and inspired by the artwork of Muslim students, are on the walls. The museum also will host special dance, theater, and musical performances. If done well, there is an opportunity to engage children and their families in a positive dialogue around learning and understanding, which we hope will promote greater acceptance and appreciation, Wellenbach said. >>READ MORE: Please Touch Museum opens new creative arts studio It is possible to "educate the audience about religion, without promoting it or favoring one over another, said Gretchen Buggeln, a professor of art history and the humanities at Valparaiso University in Indiana and coauthor of Religion in Museums, published in 2017. America to Zanzibar is also an example of museum leaders evolving views of the role of their institutions, said Buggeln, a former research director at Winterthur Museum in Delaware. They see their spaces as not just places for didactic teaching and learning, but for engagement and conversation allowing them to compete with online cultural offerings, and survive. Wellenbach decided to bring America to Zanzibar to the Please Touch after seeing it staged at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan, which developed the exhibit. With a thriving Muslim community estimated at 250,000 one of the largest in the United States the Philadelphia area was a perfect landing spot, Wellenbach said. >>READ MORE: Children learn to make healthy food choices in new exhibit The museum amassed about $600,000 in funding from such benefactors as the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Peco, the Mayors Fund for Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. A 20-member advisory council made up of Muslim and non-Muslim community members worked on the project for two years. As a Muslim who was born and raised in Islam and have often felt somewhat marginalized, I hope [this exhibit inspires a feeling of] validation, and an understanding from our neighbors that we are committed to bridging the gap, said Salima Suswell, president of Evolve Solutions, a management consulting firm, and leader of the group. To reflect the lifestyle of Philadelphia Muslims, local families contributed objects to the exhibit. Suswell lent a prayer rug from Saudi Arabia, where she recently completed the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Hazami Sayed, founder of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, an Arab arts and education group in West Philadelphia, provided colorful mosaic tiles, designed as an expression of Islamic faith. Wellenbach suggested the prayer room, not only as an example of Muslim culture but a practical place where visitors could fulfill their obligation to pray five times daily. When I heard about [the prayer room], I thought how accommodating and thoughtful to incorporate the things that are meaningful to us," said Tahirah Muhammad, 33, of Overbrook, who plans to bring her 2-year-old daughter to the museum on opening weekend. This is something we deal with [constantly] when we are on the job, or just go out. Where is there a place to pray? Buggeln calls the addition of a prayer room fascinating. There may be some parents, she said, who are troubled by it and others who say its great. She compares it to the rooms reserved for quiet reflection at the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. During the exhibits run at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan, some visitors wondered why did we do something around Muslim culture and not Christian or Jewish culture, said Andrew Ackerman, executive director, explaining that it was chosen in part because Americans know less about Islam than the other faith traditions. Museum officials, he said, are talking about staging other similar exhibits. Wellenbach says the Please Touch Museum may as well. >>READ MORE: Please Touch Museum opens first addition to its permanent collection in ten years. Imam Quaiser Abdullah, of the Quba Institute, a mosque and school in West Philadelphia, says he expects some criticism. Abdullah, who served on the advisory committee, says some outside the Muslim community may view the exhibit as putting Islam on this pedestal when it has no right to be there, while those within the faith may complain that Muslim history and culture are not fully explored. But the imam argues that the exhibit does not intend to elevate Islam above other religions, and that 1,500 years of history cannot be represented in a 5,000-square-foot exhibit for children. Muhammad is looking forward to more moments like the one that occurred during a visit last summer. An Amish woman wearing her own traditional head covering asked Muhammad about hers. She could have just looked me up and down and kept moving, Muhammad said, but we had a conversation. And I think this exhibit will do the same. It will open up conversations. Labor leader John J. Dougherty pleaded not guilty Friday to the sweeping federal indictment that accuses him of bribing a city councilman and enriching himself off the backs of union members. After a brief appearance before a magistrate judge in Philadelphia, the man known as Johnny Doc was released on a $50,000 recognizance bond after agreeing to limit his contact with potential witnesses including those in his union to work-related conversations. He had arrived hours earlier in a cobalt blue suit, and was unusually tight-lipped, saying only, See you at 1:30, to the throng of reporters and cameras as he ducked into the building with his lawyer, Henry E. Hockeimer Jr. But there were glimpses of the union leaders personality: Just before the early afternoon hearing opened, Dougherty approached the prosecutors looking to convict him, introduced himself, and shook their hands. One replied: Its all business. As he left the building hours later, Dougherty, 58, told reporters he couldnt answer their questions, but hinted he would have much more to say in the near future. Youll start to get all my personal feelings as all the factuals come out," he said before pushing through to a car waiting on Market Street. Dougherty was joined by two other indicted members of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers political director Marita Crawford, 49, and employee Niko Rodriguez, 27 in pleading not guilty Friday to counts including conspiracy, embezzlement, tax fraud, and theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Hey. Anthony Massa, a 65-year-old Philadelphia-based contractor, also entered his plea and was released like the rest on a $50,000 recognizance bond. The proceedings were largely a formality, but it was Doughertys first public appearance since prosecutors unveiled the 116-count indictment in the case. The union boss house on Moyamensing Avenue in South Philadelphia remained dark for much of the day Wednesday, the day the charges were unsealed. More than two years earlier, though, when FBI and IRS agents searched the building, Dougherty stood outside holding court in a 76ers ball cap, an untucked white button-down shirt, and shorts, and nonchalantly served iced tea and doughnuts to reporters gathered outside. He repeatedly denied any wrongdoing that day, and has repeated that refrain as the investigation continued. Union spokesperson Frank Keel went further Friday, calling the government claims that Dougherty enriched himself on the backs of union members "a crock and an attempt by prosecutors to turn Local 98s membership against the man who has led them since 1993. The membership has never been more strongly behind John ... and thats not going to change, he said as he stood outside the courthouse in the bitter cold to greet Doughertys codefendants as they arrived. >>BREAKING IT DOWN: Johnny Doc indictment: Whos indicted and what are the charges? Brian J. McMonagle, the lawyer representing Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon, also derided prosecutors allegations as an attack on organized labor a day earlier, after his client entered his own not guilty plea. If you look around this city, youll see a lot of skyscrapers, McMonagle said Thursday. Theyre built by hardworking union men and women. Unfortunately, [this] indictment is a reflection of the fact that the government wants to make sure that the political power in this city stays inside those buildings, and not with the men and women who built them. Prosecutors allege Dougherty and other union officials drained Local 98 of more than $600,000 over six years to fix up their homes and pay for travel, groceries, and restaurant goods. They portrayed Henon as a puppet, swept into Council in 2011 with money from Doughertys union, then later used as a tool by the union boss to benefit his personal interests. >>READ MORE: Johnny Doc allegedly bought some pretty mundane stuff with IBEW Local 98s credit cards In exchange, Dougherty allegedly showered Henon with benefits including tickets to Eagles games and a $73,131 annual union salary for what prosecutors described as a do-nothing job. Local 98 president Brian Burrows; Michael Neill, 52, the head of the unions apprentice training program; and Brian Fiocca, 27, Doughertys nephew, are expected to surrender to authorities next week. A UN panel will likely point out that Seoul violated international sanctions by delivering refined oil products to an inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea without notifying the Security Council, Kyodo News reported Thursday. The Panel of Experts is expected to submit a draft report to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea in early February. When the National Assembly and Korean media took issue with an unauthorized delivery of diesel fuel to the liaison office in the border town of Kaesong, the Unification Ministry denied it was subject to sanctions. It said the fuel was intended for South Korean personnel and provided no economic benefit to the North. But Kyodo said Seoul "did not notify the Security Council of its deliveries of petroleum products" and the UN panel will point out that this was "in breach of international sanctions." In a resolution in December 2017, the UNSC set the annual cap on petroleum shipments to the North at 500,000 barrels and made it mandatory for member states to report any shipments to the UN. Seoul has never clarified whether it consulted the UNSC over fuel deliveries, whether or not they violate sanctions. "It's up to the UNSC to decide whether a certain country has violated sanctions," a diplomatic source here said. "If Seoul reached the conclusion unilaterally it's a big problem." But Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told reporters the government used the refined oil products "only for the purpose of implementing inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects and brought leftovers back" to South Korea. "We made preparations for the opening of the liaison office on the principle of complying with the framework for sanctions." The two Koreas set up the liaison office last September under an agreement reached in between their two leaders in April. Seoul shipped about 340 tons of fuel to the North to get the generators running. The Chinese New Year arrives Tuesday, and with it a story about a largely forgotten exodus one that loudly resonates today. In 1949, as Maos revolutionary army advanced on Shanghai, thousands of people in Chinas most Westernized city faced the same life-altering decision: Stay or go? And if the answer was go, then where? Taiwan? Hong Kong? Many hoped to find haven in the United States but knew that others had been turned away. People who had comfortable lives in Chinas wealthiest city were suddenly transformed into refugees. Its a story that echoes in a modern world riven by refugee crises and in a country where foreigners are not always welcome, said scholar, activist, and journalist Helen Zia, author of the new Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Maos Revolution. Refugees flee not because they want to but because they dont know if theyre going to live [if they stay], Zia said. Thats what drives people today to walk a thousand miles holding their baby. Zia, who grew up in Willingboro and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, will discuss and sign copies of Last Boat in Philadelphia this week: first at the Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Philadelphias New Year luncheon, set for noon Feb. 3 at Vietnam Palace in Chinatown. And two days later, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Penn Book Center in University City. She interviewed hundreds of exiles for her book, which focuses on the lives and choices of four. Today an estimated 68.5 million people around the globe have been forced from their homes, according to the United Nations. About 25.4 million of them are classified as refugees, driven not just from their homes but from their countries by war, violence, or persecution. Worldwide, one person is forcibly displaced every two seconds. The fall of Shanghai played out over months. All of China suffered under the Japanese invasion of the late 1930s and early 1940s. But in the late 40s, it became clear the Communists would defeat the Nationalists in the Chinese civil war, and when that happened, Shanghai would pay a price. The city was the peer of places like London, home to intellectuals, artists, businesspeople, and a thriving middle class. Many residents of the Paris of the Orient were terrified of what the Communists might do to them as many face fear and torment in other lands today. Nationalist propaganda warned of mass arrests and killings, inciting panic. People piled aboard ships and planes, certain the Communists would take their property and businesses and even their wives. Running away seemed unthinkable when everything they knew and valued was right there in Shanghai, Zia wrote. Fleeing would mean splitting up families, but like the German Jews who had escaped Hitlers Berlin, Vietnamese waiting for helicopters on the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, or Syrians dodging bombs and bullets to brave the Mediterranean Sea, they fled. The people who got out were those who had means not just money but education and connections. They had the ability to secure a ticket at a moment when everyone wanted one. Bing was one of the lucky ones, Zia writes of her mother, Bing Woo, then about 20. She possessed a precious one-way ticket out. On a ship. To America. The Peoples Liberation Army marched into Shanghai on May 25, 1949. Estimates are that a million people fled through the city during the first years of Communist rule. Zias parents met in New York City. Each had entered the country legally, and stayed when their visas expired, becoming undocumented refugees. In 1955, Zia said, they were told they would be deported. Ultimately, immigration officials relented, citing the hardship that would cause to the couples American-born, American-citizen children. Zia was about 6 when her family moved from Metuchen, N.J., to Willingboro in 1957 or 1958, helping integrate a growing suburban community. In those baby-boom days, many fathers were military veterans who had fought against Germany and Japan in World War II or served in the more recent Korean War. Vietnam loomed as a new battlefield. There were some teachers who were not so friendly, Zia recalled. When they saw us, they saw the enemy. Zias father wrote letters to local newspapers, including the Inquirer, criticizing U.S. government policy toward China. That brought the FBI to Willingboro, where agents knocked on the doors of the familys neighbors. Zia graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970, earned her college degree at Princeton University, became a Fulbright scholar, and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the Law School of the City University of New York. Many descendants of the Shanghai refugees became successful. People like architect Maya Lin, authors Gish Jen and Amy Tan, and government executive Elaine Chao, the U.S. secretary of transportation and former secretary of labor. It still happens today, Zia said, when people fleeing war and violence are given a chance to build an American dream for themselves and their children. We are seeing people traumatized around the world, Zia said. And in this country, how many millions of people are living in the same uncertainty: Am I going to be deported? Am I going to be separated from my children, my babies? Maybe we can stop repeating history and learn from it. A 42-year-old Lancaster man was shot by Pennsylvania state troopers when he allegedly pointed a BB gun at them after a high-speed chase in Chester County early Friday. Jeremy Oatman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot repeatedly by two troopers sometime after 1 a.m. in West Nottingham, the Chester County District Attorneys Office said Friday. Chester County Detectives, the investigative arm of the prosecutors office, was conducting an investigation of the shooting to determine if it was justified. Around 1 a.m., Oatman was driving a white van with an allegedly nonfunctioning rear brake light when he was pulled over by the troopers in Oxford Borough. With the troopers standing outside his van, Oatman reportedly drove off. The District Attorneys Office said the owner of the van had an open criminal warrant, but did not specify Oatman as that owner. The pursuit ended when the van struck an embankment at a CVS in West Nottingham, officials said. Oatman jumped out of the van and pointed the BB gun at the troopers, who responded by firing. No one else was hurt. A settlement was reached this week in the defamation lawsuit filed by Andrea Constand against former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. regarding her allegations against Bill Cosby. All litigation between the parties has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties, the lawyers for Constand and Castor said in a joint statement Thursday night. They declined further comment. U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno, citing the settlement, dismissed the case on Monday. Cosby, 81, was found guilty by a Montgomery County jury of drugging and indecently assaulting Constand, then a Temple University employee, in 2004 in his home in Cheltenham. He is serving a three- to 10-year prison sentence. In late October 2015, Constand filed her defamation suit against Castor a week before an election in which he was trying to regain the office of district attorney. Castor lost to Kevin R. Steele, who went on to oversee the prosecution of the actor-comedian. A major issue in that election was Castors decision a decade earlier to not prosecute Cosby based on Constands allegations. In her complaint, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, Constand accused Castor of publicly undermining her credibility, misstating facts about her case, and twisting her story to benefit his political ambitions. At the time of the filing, Castor accused Constand and her lawyer Dolores Troiani of attempting to influence the election. In explaining his 2005 decision, Castor said he declined to prosecute Cosby because of a lack of physical evidence. He later said publicly that a lawsuit Constand filed that year against Cosby contained a more serious sexual-assault allegation than she initially told to police. Constands lawsuit against Cosby was settled out of court. In 2017, Castor filed a personal-injury claim in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court against Constand and her lawyers. A judge dismissed that case last year. Following record cold, below-zero wind chills, and another nuisance snow threat, the atmosphere evidently is aiming to spring forward to April. After single-digit temperatures caused serious delays for school buses and public transit We had our challenges this morning, SEPTA assistant general manager Scott Sauer said Thursday the region is poised for one more day of well-below-freezing temperatures and perhaps a half-inch of snow Friday afternoon. But readings could make a run at 60 early next week, meteorologists said. That would be normal for the first week in April. In short, in the mercurial winter of 2018-19, the operative advice is that if you dont like the weather, wait a few days. Transiency seems to be the character of the winter, said Judah Cohen, a scientist with the Atmospheric & Environmental Research firm in Massachusetts. And, he said, he believes it has everything to do with one of his specialties, conditions in the Arctic. The official low of 7 at Philadelphia International Airport just before midnight set a record for a Jan. 30, beating the 8 recorded in 1948. Thursdays high, 18, was the lowest daily maximum temperature for a Jan. 31, and the daily average of 11.5 the lowest for a Jan. 31 in records dating to 1874. The Philadelphia School District reported that many school buses were delayed Thursday morning, at least two of them for up to two hours and about 40 others from 60 to 90 minutes. Kristin Luebbert, a humanities teacher at the U School, a high school in North Philadelphia, said attendance was abysmal just three students showed up for her first period class, which typically has 15. A lot of them opted out, and I cant blame them, Luebbert said. Luebbert sent one of her students to the nurse because 15 minutes after entering the building, the girls fingers were still frigid, stiff, and sore. Luebbert feared frostbite. She has gloves, but they were thin not polar vortex gloves, Luebbert said. My kids arent prepared to be outside in this cold. Camden earlier decided to close its schools for the day. Sauer said the deep freeze caused SEPTA its share of headaches. The Airport Line was down for 40 minutes, and service to Wilmington was out for a little longer. He said equipment issues caused delays on the Broad Street Line, and trolley services had some issues. Freezing temperatures forced the nuclear plant in Salem County, N.J., to shut down a reactor Wednesday night as ice accumulated on screens that filter the water that goes into the plant, Public Service Enterprise Group officials said Thursday. The cold is due to ease Friday, with highs forecast in the 20s and lighter winds, but throughout the region, counties are maintaining their cold-weather alerts, and stepping up efforts to protect the homeless and get them into shelters. Even if we ever get to maximum capacity, we will never turn people away, said Josh Kruger, communications director for the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services. There may not be beds available. But youll have a roof, perhaps a comfy chair. Philadelphia isnt the worst city for homeless people, said Joshua Brown, 40, a self-described homeless man who has struggled with physical problems and addiction. Theres a lot of options for shelters and programs. But Brown says he prefers to stay outside until the cold winds become unbearable, then look for relief in public places. Kruger said that is not a wise plan. I cant stress enough that the cold weather is a matter of life and death, especially for people with mental illness and others trying to minimize the pain of the cold, he said. We want to make sure everyone knows that theres help available and theres no reason for people to be outside in this weather." With the renegade piece of the polar vortex heading back whence it came, the cold weather alerts should be lifted Saturday as temperatures head toward 40, then to the 50s on Sunday and Monday, and perhaps 60 on Tuesday. Cohen said he expects the bipolar behavior to continue for a while. His research has correlated the well-documented warming of the Arctic with more frequent frigid outbreaks in the East as the polar regions export their cold. The Arctic warming over the last several months, however, hasnt been as robust or as uniform as in recent years, Cohen said, and that could explain the irregular spillages of Arctic air. Its episodic," he said. You get a finger of it, it wanes, then it returns again. While Philadelphia has had just 6.5 inches of snow so far, thats about triple what Boston has had. Cohen said that computer models are suggesting that a more-prolonged chilly spell is possible in the middle of February. But as he posted on his site this week: Trying to understand and predict the weather is continuously humbling just when you feel that you figured a new phenomenon out or take a certain outcome as a given, Mother Nature throws you a surprise. Staff writer Kristen A. Graham contributed to this article. Angelos Pizza, which opened in South Philadelphia only last week to great acclaim, has been shut down indefinitely after a fire overnight in the floor beneath its main oven, said owner Danny DiGiampietro. The shutdown, ordered by the city Department of Licenses and Inspections, will be a blow to the pizza cognoscenti that packed Angelos, which occupies the former Sarcones Deli at 936 S. Ninth St. Drawn by word of mouth and a solid Instagram base, Angelos had been packed daily with customers seeking DiGiampietros pizzas and sandwiches. DiGiampietro said he got a call from his alarm company before 1 a.m. Firefighters had to cut a piece of a floor joist to get to the flames. The structure was then deemed unsafe. DiGiampietro said it was too early too tell how long repairs would take. Opening the shop has been an 18-month ordeal for DiGiampietro, who founded Angelos in Haddonfield in 2015. He closed that shop last year. DiGiampietro said the South Philadelphia storefront had to be gutted to accommodate new electrical wiring and gas lines. And now this, he said. Well get through it. Doylestown native Pinks husband, Carey Hart, has caused an uproar online after posting an Instagram video this week of the couples daughter, Willow, 7, firing a .22 caliber rifle at a shooting range. Havent poked the parent police bear in a few days, Hart, 43, wrote in a message included with the video, which was posted Wednesday. Willz and I shooting the 22 rifle. She is pretty good. Can hit a 12 inch pie plate from 30 yards. Started her shooting at 3yrs old. Hart added that he and Pink are raising the kids with knowledge of firearms, including how to handle them, shoot them, store them, and avoid them in uneducated hands. The message also indicated that Hart and his family, which also includes son Jameson, 2, do not hunt, but rather enjoy shooting for sport. In response to the video, some followers criticized Harts judgment in allowing his child to use a gun. As one commenter wrote, some saw the move as just indoctrinating the toxic American culture that guns are somehow cool and a hobby. Another commenter chastised the former professional motocross rider over the possibility that fans might mimic his attitude toward firearms. I hope they do mimic me, Hart wrote in response. I hope they spend quality time with their kids, teach them life skills, and education. Im not sure where you live, but in America fire arms are legal and not going away. So I choose to embrace it. Take the taboo out. Educate them so they dont become a statistic. Many forms of shooting are an OLYMPIC sport. Other fans posted messages of support for teaching [Willow] about the guns and safely doing it, as one commenter wrote. According to Guns and Ammo magazine, .22 caliber rifles are among the most popular types of weapons for firearms enthusiasts when it comes to starting kids with rifles because they are easy to aim and ammunition is plentiful and affordable. As a wife of a police officer and firearms instructor I would much rather teach them to respect and be familiar with the guns than to fear them, another comment read. Curiosity at one point will happen and thanks to proper education your girl will already have knowledge. Good for you! Now that said [the] medical professional in me says bravo for the ear protection. Previously, Hart got into hot water with fellow parents back in April, when he shared a photo of him riding with son Jameson on a stand-up personal watercraft while on vacation in Florida. In one commenters perception, the act was illegal and highly dangerous, to which Hart did not take kindly. You are a complete moron, he wrote in response, later adding that he grew up around boats and water craft since I was younger than Jameson. Additionally, while it is not illegal in Florida for an infant to be onboard a watercraft, the US Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety does recommend that a child should be at least 18 pounds and able to wear a personal flotation device before boarding a boat, which typically is around 11 months old. Jameson was about 16 months old at the time of the boating debacle. Pink, meanwhile, is preparing to accept her recently announced star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She will accept the honor in a ceremony on Tuesday in front of the Hollywood and Highland Complex on Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles. The parents of Tim Piazza, who died after a booze-fueled fraternity pledge party at Pennsylvania State University two years ago, filed a wrongful-death suit Friday against 28 former members of the fraternity, but reached a settlement with Penn State without filing a lawsuit, their lawyer said Friday. Neither the university nor Jim and Evelyn Piazza and their lawyer, Thomas R. Kline, would disclose the terms of the financial settlement with Penn State. They previously reached a settlement with the fraternity, Beta Theta Pi; the monetary terms of that agreement also were not disclosed. As with the Beta Theta Pi agreement, the settlement with Penn State also includes a number of nonmonetary terms aimed at making the school safer for other students. This leaves the civil suit to focus on holding accountable the individuals who planned and participated in the reckless hazing activities which caused Tims death, Kline said in a statement. We expect this federal lawsuit to result in a trial to determine the shared responsibility of all those who contributed to the needless and senseless tragedy. In February 2017, Piazza, a sophomore engineering major from New Jersey, drank copious amounts of alcohol at a pledge party as part of a hazing ritual and later fell down a flight of stairs. No one called for help for nearly 12 hours, and Piazza later died. Dozens of fraternity members were charged in his death, though some of the most serious charges, including involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, were thrown out in Centre County Court. A total of 23 former Beta Theta Pi members have entered pleas to charges including hazing, conspiracy to commit hazing, and furnishing alcohol to minors, Joe Grace, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office, said this month. Three cases remain open. The case drew national attention as video surveillance from the fraternity house on the night Piazza was fatally injured was played in court, showing Piazza and others moving through a drinking gauntlet and chugging alcohol. The video also showed Piazza in the early morning staggering and falling in the fraternity house, dropping to his knees, and clutching his injured head, and no one helping him. Among the members named in the suit are former fraternity president Brendan Young of Malvern and Daniel Casey of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., the pledge master. Others named include Joseph Ems of Philadelphia; Casey Funk of Phoenixville; Nichola Kubera of Downingtown; Joshua Monckton of Yardley; Aidan OBrien of West Chester; Michael Angelo Schiavone of Yardley; and Bohan Song of Wayne. The federal civil suit also names St. Moritz Security Systems Inc., which previously monitored fraternity parties for Penn States Interfraternity Council. The suit accuses the members of planning and orchestrating the hazing event that led to Piazzas death. Fraternity members, the suit said, negligently, recklessly, and outrageously forced, coerced, encouraged, or otherwise caused Piazza to consume life-threatening amounts of alcohol, and caused him to become intoxicated, fall, and suffer grievous injuries and death. The suit seeks monetary damages from the twentysomething male defendants, The lawsuit has no relationship to the defendants' parents' assets, Kline said. If the Piazzas are successful, the judgments would be lodged against the young men and would need to be paid with assets that they have now or in the future. Rocco Cipparone Jr., who represents defendant Michael Bonnatucci of Georgia, however, said the parents' homeowner policies could come into play if they cover negligence of those who live in the home. William J. Brennan, who formerly represented Ems, questioned the impact of guilty pleas entered by some members. Unfortunately, for those who have entered guilty pleas, there may be collateral effects that hamper their ability to defend the civil case, he said. I wish them all well, as I do the Piazza family. This is a tragedy, but not all tragedies are crimes. Cipparone said he doesnt expect an effect in his clients case. Although his client did plead guilty to several counts of hazing and conspiracy to commit hazing, none of the counts directly involved Piazza, he said. He had no interaction with Timothy Piazza that night at all, Cipparone said. Under the Piazzas' agreement with Penn State, the university will encourage fraternities to have a nonmember, a trained adult, living in their houses, and to consider installing security cameras on their premises. The school pledged to continue to honor its permanent ban of Beta Theta Pi from campus and even to change some of the wording of its Greek life activities, including no longer using pledge or pledging on its website, instead saying new member or new member affiliation activities. The settlement also includes a continuation of changes the university implemented after Piazzas death, such as better education and training on issues such as alcohol and hazing. This agreement reinforces messages and expectations that have already been established for the Greek-life community, and for which Penn State continues to evaluate progress, Penn State said in a statement. Following negotiations with the faculty and support staff union that have dragged on for several years, Community College of Philadelphia president Donald Guy Generals said the college is ready to step up the pressure. If progress isnt made over the next week, Generals said the college may move to unilaterally impose a new contract with terms that the school laid out in May in its so-called last best offer. Were not prepared to say it will happen at any particular date, but we feel it is well within our rights to impose the best and final offer, Generals said during a meeting Thursday with,members of the Inquirer Editorial Board. Jeremiah J. White Jr., chair of the colleges board of trustees, also attended. Negotiation sessions were scheduled for Friday and next week. To a union, an imposed contract is considered a nuclear option and could lead to a shutdown of the 27,800-student college. If they impose, its a lockout, said Steve Jones, chief negotiator for the union, which represents about 1,300 full- and part-time faculty and support staff. Jones said its not a given that faculty and support staff wouldnt report for work if a contract were imposed, but it would be an option the union would consider. In 2014, the School Reform Commission, then the Philadelphia School Districts governing body, tried to cancel the teachers' contract and impose terms. The union obtained an injunction and ultimately won at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court level. Earlier, in 2000, before the state takeover of the district, the Philadelphia school board imposed contract terms on teachers. The union went on strike about a month later. The strike lasted only a weekend, and the sides reached an agreement about two hours before schools were due to open. Generals said he had informed Mayor Jim Kenney and City Council members of the possibility of imposing terms. The move follows three years of sometimes contentious negotiations that have failed to yield an agreement. Union members have been operating under the terms of a contract that,expired in August 2016. The move also follows a ruling by a hearing examiner for the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board that found CCP faculty are required to participate in assessments designed to determine whether courses are helping students learn. Refusing to do so could be considered a strike activity, the ruling found. Generals said the colleges lawyer advised that ruling opens the door for the imposition of a contract. Jones disputed that analysis. This would be, first of all, unlawful, he contended, and second of all, the ultimate union-busting move by a public employer that we think would be a disaster for labor relations, not just for CCP but all over Philadelphia. Perhaps the major sticking point is the colleges attempt to increase the workload of new full-time faculty members from four courses a semester to five. Current instructors would have a choice: Those who opt for it would get a $9,000 increase in their base pay. Nearly a third of faculty already teach five. Over time, the move would reduce the number of full-time faculty, and savings would be in the millions, Generals said. Jones countered that it would lead to less quality and less vital interaction between faculty and students. Were puzzled by the administrations insistence that forcing people to work more is somehow going to improve the interaction with students, Jones said. "We feel that the administration has an irrational fixation on changing one aspect of our working conditions that feels very reminiscent of, Im going to build a wall. Generals said the change is imperative: The school currently has a turnover rate of about 100 adjunct professors a year. Its an educational quality issue and a financial issue, he said. The contract also would require employees earning more than $40,000 a year to pay toward their health insurance premiums for the first time. Contributions would range from $16 per month for a single employee earning $40,000 to $88 per month for family coverage for an employee earning more than $100,000, Members pay nothing toward health insurance, Generals said. Jones countered that the health-care contributions would significantly eat into the wage increases being offered. (The college has offered a 4.55 percent raise upon ratification, 2.65 percent on Sept. 1, and 3 percent on Sept. 1, 2020.) Some support staff, Jones said, are earning as little as $12 an hour. (Generals said that would be raised to $15 an hour by Sept. 1, 2020, under the imposed terms.) The minimum starting salary for a full-time faculty member at CCP is $50,529 and the average below $70,000. Also at issue is a provision that allows faculty 55 and older with more than 10 years of service to move into a half-time teaching load but maintain full-time benefits, which Generals said is too costly. Much of the news out of this years North American International Auto Show in Detroit focused as much on what didnt happen as what did. The absence of many nameplates BMW and Mini among them left many questioning the future of auto shows. And moving Detroit from January to June for 2020 also set tongues wagging. When those two makes and Cadillac bowed out of Philadelphias show which runs through Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center questions naturally arose about its future as well. But industry experts and Philadelphia Auto Show organizers agree that the future of the show remains as strong as ever, even in the internet/Instagram age. Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst for the car site Edmunds, said the focus of auto shows is changing. I think what well see is they become more of a consumer event, Caldwell said. Before, auto shows did a lot for the media to drum up attention, but now its easy to engage the media in different ways. The changes in Detroit underscore that. The Detroit show will move from January to June, allowing attendees to enjoy better weather along the Great Lakes, and taking it out of the hot midwinter debut cycle. Whether the many brands that skipped Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Mitsubishi, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, and Land Rover make a return remains to be seen. And rather than compete with the Consumer Electronics Show, Detroit will likely change focus to consumers. Auto shows "always have been more popular with consumers, Caldwell said. In Philadelphia, the numbers back up that idea strongly. Annual attendance has run right around the 250,000 mark since 2015. Ian Jeffrey, chairman of the Philadelphia show, says the show is the perfect place to comparison-shop. The auto show is 750,000 square feet of almost every car imaginable there, Jeffrey said. People shop multiple cars at one time. He gave the example of minivans. Say there are 10 available on the market right now. At the auto show you can sit in all of them without sales pressure, while otherwise it might take weeks or months to research them at dealers. Auto industry experts agree. Jack Gillis is executive director of the Consumer Federation of America and author of The Car Book, an annual look at models available to U.S. consumers, now in its 39th year. Hes more of a car-industry watchdog than a cheerleader, but hes all for consumers heading to the show. I strongly recommend consumers spend a good afternoon at the auto show and sit in them, check out the backseat, Gillis said. When youre in a dealership, you feel like the dealer is breathing down your neck. Theres no test drive, but it can help you narrow your choices down. But even the no test drives idea has been cast aside over the last few years. This year, the Philadelphia Auto Show will have ride and drives in models from Toyota, Volkswagen, and Mazda. Because people dont buy cars frequently, it can be easy to lose track of the latest technology. Cars may look the same but have drastically improved features. For instance, the average buyer will not see much obvious new sheet metal differences between a 2011 Ford Explorer and a 2019. But Mr. Drivers Seats long-ago reviews of the 2011 and the 2016 point out the astounding differences in the two model years. Ron Montoya, senior advice editor for Edmunds, says that if you dont know where to start, start there. If youre not sure what kind of car you want, then youre the perfect kind of customer to go to a car show, Montoya said. But theres more to the show than just the cars themselves. Knowledgeable people can answer questions without a lot of sales pressure, and the displays often feature electronic kiosks and other interactive functions allowing consumers to adjust the configurations and colors of the models and more. Its essentially what you find on the website, but its a nice way to see it side by side on the car," Montoya said. Jeffrey added even more selling points for your visiting pleasure. They have the virtual-reality simulations where you can drive cars, Jeffrey said. The auto show is more than just your cars; its a day out. He listed the Hollywood cars, with vehicles like the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, the family truckster from the Chevy Chase Vacation movies, and the customization display with DUB. Camp Jeep takes visitors over a hilly, bumpy, rocky indoor trail simulation. And theres more that goes on behind the scenes. Manufacturers visit the region and stay in touch with dealership franchises through the shows. Corporate has meetings with regional teams. The auto dealers association uses the show to give presentations to introduce young people to careers in the industry, say as automotive technicians or service advisers. And finally, theres a lot of giving back to the community through the auto show. Two dollars from every ticket goes to the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, and the annual black-tie gala the night before opening day raises money for the department of nursing at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Suzanne Emmett went through surgery after surgery to try to get rid of the discomfort, bleeding, infections, painful sex, and other symptoms from the vaginal mesh implanted inside of her in 2007. But the procedures couldnt fix what the plastic-like mesh had done to her life, according to a lawsuit that claimed the mesh had a high failure rate, and caused irreversible injuries to many women. On Thursday, a Philadelphia jury awarded Emmett, 57, and her husband, Michael, a $41 million verdict in a case they brought against medical device maker Ethicon, and its corporate parent, Johnson & Johnson. The amount included $25 million in punitive damages. This jury rightfully compensated one of the thousands of Johnson & Johnson victims terribly injured by its mesh products and sent a strong deterrent message through its punitive damages verdict, Emmetts attorneys Tom Kline and Kila Baldwin, of Kline & Specter, said in a statement. Its one of six multi-million dollar verdicts the firm has won in vaginal mesh injury cases, including a $57.1 million verdict against Ethicon in September 2017. Johnson & Johnson faces 37,400 lawsuits related to pelvic meshes, used to treat urinary incontinence, according to the companys last quarterly filing with securities regulators. The filing lists the suits among the companys most significant product liability cases. Emmett, a resident of Lancaster County, said in the suit that Johnson & Johnson withheld information about the failure rate of its vaginal mesh products, and knew that its disclosures to the FDA were and are incomplete and misleading. Johnson & Johnson said it stands by its pelvic mesh products, and plans to appeal the verdict in this case. We believe it contradicts the evidence that the products were properly designed and that the company appropriately informed surgeons of known risks, Ethicon spokesperson Mindy Tinsley said. She added: While we empathize with those who have experienced complications, many women with pelvic mesh see an improvement in their day-to-day lives. The company is also facing backlash over allegations that its talc powder causes ovarian cancer because of asbestos contamination. In a lawsuit filed by 22 women, a circuit court in Missouri ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $4 billion in damages one of the largest personal-injury awards, according to the New York Times. The company which disputes claims that it has known about asbestos contamination is facing at least 11,700 talc powder-related lawsuits. Until 2017, China's aerial incursions were mainly focused in the skies over the submerged rocks of Ieo, where the zones of Korea, China and Japan overlap. It was the first time that Chinese military aircraft entered the zone at a point without overlap, and the repeated disregard for international aviation protocol is raising concerns that China is deliberately flexing its military muscle in the region. Chinese military planes flew into Korea's air defense identification zone 140 times without notifying Seoul last year, often near Heuksan and Ulleung islands, where there is no overlap with any other zones. Air defense identification zones are not territorial airspace but require incoming planes to identify themselves to the county that claims them. International practice is for foreign military and civilian aircraft to seek permission from military authorities of the other country 24 hours in advance. According to Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Baek Seung-joo, who was briefed by the Defense Intelligence Agency, Chinese military aircraft flew into Korea's zone in the West Sea 65 times last year. In some instances they flew as far north as Heuksan and Jindo islands. They also intruded into airspace over the East Sea in addition to the southeastern zone over the Dokdo islets. The number of violations rose from around 50 in 2016 to 80 in 2017. Where the Korean and Japanese zones overlap, both countries scrambled fighter jets, resulting in 10 to 20 Korean, Chinese and Japanese fighter planes converging over Ieo, Jeju and Daema islands for hours at a time. One intelligence source the coat-trailing appears to be aimed at gauging Korea's military readiness and response. "China is trying to expand its military clout in the West Sea as well as the East Sea, so it's only going to get worse," Baek said. One military source said, "China's incursions into KADIZ in the East Sea happen almost every month. It looks like China is holding regular training exercises along that route." China also placed buoys near Korea's exclusive economic zone in the West Sea. "The incursions are in effect a violation of our territorial rights," Baek said. "We should take a calm approach, but firm steps need to be taken if they continue." Acts-Retirement Life, the nations third-largest nonprofit operator of continuing care retirement communities, has reached an agreement to acquire Integrace Inc., another nonprofit with four senior living communities in Maryland. The four communities joining Acts-Retirement Life Bayleigh Chase in Easton; Buckinghams Choice in Adamstown; Fairhaven in Sykesville; and Copper Ridge in Sykesville have 1,080 residents, Acts said in a news release Monday. The services offered by the facilities include independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation and care for those with Alzheimers, dementia and other neurocognitive conditions. With the addition of Integrace, based in Eldersburg, Md., Acts will have 27 senior living communities in nine states totaling 9,504 units. Under affiliations Acts uses to expand, theres no money change hands as part of the transaction. Up until now, the Philadelphia Orchestra has dispatched Kensho Watanabe, its tall, affable 31-year-old assistant conductor, mostly to neighborhood and family concerts, and for special events like last Tuesdays free Chinese New Year concert. Subscription concerts are a different animal. They are often longer, more prestigious in the minds of many, and in the course of two hours impart something of a portrait of the artist. If first impressions are to be trusted, there is more to Watanabe than weve heard before. Thursday night was his first planned subscription concert appearance with the orchestra his subscription debut was an unplanned 2017 step-in for an ailing Yannick Nezet-Seguin and the Verizon Hall program had its challenges. Billed in the orchestras advertising pitch as a celebration of the breadth and depth of Tchaikovskys genius, it was not quite that. The Capriccio italien, which functioned as an overture, is rousing, but it is hardly Tchaikovskys best. The Variations on a Rococo Theme belonged to the soloist, cellist Edgar Moreau, and for pure beauty it contained multitudes. The 24-year-old Frenchman is a refined player. He has a particularly lovely low register rich, great presence, yet no edge and his soprano notes, well, if they didnt always ring with total security, he had other kinds of solo charisma. He offered great mirth in one fleeting variation and a diaphanous serenity in another. The tone quality of the audience, if the coughing in quiet places was any indication, could use a little work. Watanabe gave solo bows to flutist Patrick Williams and hornist Jeffrey Lang, and deservedly so. The first movement of Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 1 in G Minor made you wish the entire concert had been as sure-footed and sophisticated. Part of it was the orchestra, which does Tchaikovsky like no other, and part the piece, which carries the delightfully vague subtitle Winter Daydreams (there are all kinds of daydreams, after all). What a trenchant, inspired first few minutes of symphonic music this work has, and Watanabe made it incisive and explosive in all the right places. The ensemble carried its saturated, signature sound, yet never wallowed. The second movement was more moderately imagined, less opinionated, and one suspected that a few details of the third-movement scherzos emotional life remained to be sharpened in the conductors mind except for the more relaxed middle section, which was handsomely shaped and expressive. The last movement is the works least focused, and if there is a more convincing way with it, it will have to wait for another time. This is Watanabes last season as assistant conductor, and he is not scheduled to return on the subscription series next season. (He will lead the annual concert for college students in the fall). Conducting is a treacherous business, though, so should a scheduled maestro fall through, Watanabe knows the drill. Additional performances at 2 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday in Verizon Hall, Broad and Spruce Streets. Tickets: $10-$163. philorch.org, 215-893-1999. The Suspect By Fiona Barton Berkley. 404 pp. $26 Reviewed by Patrick Anderson Fiona Bartons first two novels, The Widow and The Child, were international best sellers. The British novelists third offering, The Suspect, deserves equal success. Its an expertly written look at a painful subject: the way parents often suffer when their children go forth to confront the dangers of this world. In particular, its the story of three couples whose children embark on trips to Thailand that end in tragedy. Barton was a London journalist before she turned to fiction, and her central character, Kate Waters, is a star reporter for a London paper. Kate and her husband, Steve, are parents of Jake, who dropped out of law school for a soul-searching trip to Thailand. He has been gone two years, and agonizing months pass between his occasional calls home. We soon meet two other young Londoners who are headed for Thailand. In the summer of 2014, 18-year-old Alexandra (Alex) OConnor sets out with her parents reluctant approval for a vacation in Thailand before returning to school. Alex invites her best friend to join her, but the friend drops out at the last moment. Alex then asks a teen she barely knows, Rosie Shaw, to go along. Rosie proves to be trouble. In Bangkok, the teens stumble onto Mamas Paradise Bar and Guesthouse, where Mama (An astonishing figure in a flowing caftan and platinum blond wig) offers them a small, smelly room for a low price. Mama, they learn, is tolerant of drugs and not above stealing from her guests. Alex soon tires of Bangkok and wants to escape to a beach, but Rosie is busy with booze, drugs, and sex with boys in the rooming house. Kates son Jake turns up and is hired as Mamas bartender. Both teens are drawn to him ("He was a bit of a lost soul and Alex couldnt resist a lost soul), creating new tensions between them. Tragedy strikes. Theres a fire in the rooming house and both teens are found dead. Its no spoiler to relate this; because of the way Barton tells her story, moving back and forth in time, the deaths are known early in the novel. The question is how they died. The heartbroken parents fly to Bangkok hoping to find that the dead teens are not their daughters. But they are. The parents want answers, but the Bangkok police have run a shoddy investigation and are no help. Kate goes to Bangkok to cover the story for her paper and is horrified to find that her son Jake is a suspect. Soon after the fire, he vanished. In London, an autopsy reveals that the teens did not die because of the rooming house fire. Indeed, the fire may have been started to cover up the real causes of death. Murder is possible, and London police begin a serious investigation. Detective Inspector Bob Sparkes is a model of dedicated police work, despite the fact that his wife, Eileen, is dying: Her cancer had come back two months ago, blowing new holes in her, murdering her slowly. Eileen is a minor character, but her courage makes her memorable. When Sparkes is agonizing over whether to fly to Bangkok, she tells him, Shut up. Im fine. Me and my mate morphine are doing a great job. Now do yours. Bartons characterizations are exceptional. She understands how teenagers Alex and Rosie flirt with boys and feud with each other, and she knows how their parents grieve when their daughters are gone. At one point, after Alexs death, her father tells her mother, I cant bear to keep going over and over what happened. I feel so terrible that I couldnt stop it. Then, He sat down and cried silently, his shoulders heaving with the effort. His wife leaves him to his grief. She couldnt take his on as well. Not today. By the end of The Suspect, police think theyve identified the killer of the teens, and hes about to go on trial. Readers may question his guilt, but for this reader, that ambiguity only makes Bartons novel more fascinating. Patrick Anderson reviews thrillers and mysteries regularly for the Washington Post. Perry County Sheriff's Office deputies were involved in a high-speed chase Friday, June 18, shortly after 4 p.m. A vehicle, which was at times reportedly traveling more than 90 mph at times, was heading north on Highway 51. The vehicle reportedly traveled into Illinois and the Randolph County Sheriff's Office was assisting with the pursuit. More information on this incident will be provided as it becomes available. Gregory Nield and his wife arrive at the Penticton courthouse for the first day of his trial in April 2017 on a charge of aggravated assault against a doctor. Pressure group OccupyGhana has called for a full-scale independent inquiry into the clash that occurred at La Bawaleshie polling centre during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, Thursday. In a statement, the group said: "we note that the Ghana Police has stated in a Press Release dated 31st January 2019 that it will investigate the incidents of violence. While agreeing that the police may investigate the matters with a view to causing the prosecution of offenders, we would propose that an independent body conducts a full-scale inquiry into the matter". The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who withdrew from the election due to the chaos and attack on its members questioned the attitude of the Ghana Police service and wondered why they allowed masked security officers to oversee the by-election. In view of this, OccupyGhana feels since the police service stand accused; they "cannot investigate the overall issue of the violence that occurred". "That is why we are calling upon the government to immediately constitute a proper commission of inquiry under Chapter 23 of the Constitution to inquire into these matters. No person or group of persons should be allowed to destroy our reputation, disrupt our peace and denigrate the pillars of civility we have worked so hard to achieve" they added. Read full statement below OCCUPYGHANA CONDEMNS RECENT ELECTORAL VIOLENCE AND DEMANDS INDEPENDENT INQUIRY OccupyGhana has noted with grave concern, reports of violence, including shootings with live ammunition that occurred during the by-election that was held in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra. We are disappointed that a by-election right in the capital of Ghana could degenerate into such acts of violence, some of which were captured in pictures and videos that are making the rounds in the traditional and social media. We condemn all such acts and call for the perpetrators to be brought to book and punished in accordance with the law. We note that the Ghana Police has stated in a Press Release dated January 31, 2019, that it will investigate the incidents of violence. While agreeing that the police may investigate the matters with a view to causing the prosecution of offenders, we would propose that an independent body conducts a full-scale inquiry into the matter. Some of the video footage that we have seen show that some of the masked men who are accused of the intimidation and violence, and certainly one of the persons who assaulted a Member of Parliament, were in vehicles that bore the name or insignia of the police. The police that stands accused, at the very least, of complicity in these matters, cannot investigate the overall issue of the violence that occurred. We certainly are at pains to understand why security personnel being sent on election duties would have their faces covered as if they were on some special forces operations in a war zone. We find that unacceptable and a gross breach of modern day policing methods. That is why we are calling upon the government to immediately constitute a proper commission of inquiry under Chapter 23 of the Constitution to inquire into these matters. No person or group of persons should be allowed to destroy our reputation, disrupt our peace and denigrate the pillars of civility we have worked so hard to achieve Yours, for God and Country 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the circumstances leading to the violence which was perpetrated against members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Thursdays by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra. Scores of NDC members and supporters, including the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Hon. Sam George, were brutally attacked and injured, after several rounds of ammunition were fired by fully armed masked gunmen who rode in military grade vehicles marked POLICE SWAT. Subsequently, Mr Mahama suspended his flagbearership campaign in the Volta Region and returned to Accra to visit those who were injured and on admission in hospital. Addressing NDC delegates Dzode in the Ketu North constituency, after resuming his campaign in the Volta Region on Friday, Mr Mahama, described the attack as an affront on Ghanas constitution. He said the disruption of Thursdays by-election is a product of the NPPs all die be die. Mr Mahama warned that the NDC would resist any attempt by the government to subvert Ghanas constitution, as it happened in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency by-election. 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 Beginning from Monday (February 4), Ghanaian Parliamentarians, members of the Executive and their families applying for visas to travel on holiday or for business in the United States will now get just a months single entry visa to the North American country. Unlike the six months and beyond multiple-entry (B1, B2, and B1/B2) visas the US Embassy in Ghana issues to members of the legislature, the Embassy says the officials will now be restricted to only 30-days single entry visa. A statement issued by the embassy in compliance with United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directives said consular officers will limit the validity period and number of entries on new tourist and business visas (B1, B2, and B1/B2) for all Ghanaian executive and legislative branch employees, their spouses, and their children under 21 to one-month, single-entry visas. Visas issued prior to the effective date of these visa restrictions will not be affected. It, however, said all other consular operations at the U.S. Embassy in Accra will continue as normal. These visa restrictions will not affect other consular services provided, including adjudication of applications from individuals not covered by the imposition of these restrictions (for example, student visas) the statement said. Non-immigrant visas That is not all. The American Embassy also indicated that it will also stop issuing all non-immigrant visas (NIV) to domestic employees of Ghanaian diplomats posted in the United States who receive A3 and G5 visas. It is important to note that A3 and G5 visa applications will be processed, but no visas in these categories will be issued while these restrictions remain in effect. The lack of adjudication does not mean a visa denial. The application will remain pending until the visa restrictions are lifted, at which point, the visa application will continue to be processed for issuance, it said. Under United States law, a domestic helper may be eligible for a business visitor (B1) or diplomatic (A3 or G5) nonimmigrant visa (NIV) to accompany non-United States employers, temporarily assigned to the United States. The law also requires that domestic workers be properly registered with the Office of Foreign Mission Management Information System (TOMIS) of the Department of State before applying for an A-3 or G-5 visa. The United States on Thursday imposed visa restrictions on Ghana, accusing the country of not cooperating in accepting its citizens ordered removed from the United States. The DHS in a statement warned that without an appropriate response from Ghana, "the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population". The Embassys statement said since July 2016, the United States government had engaged with the Government of Ghana in both Washington, DC and Accra on the matter. The United States values its vibrant partnership with Ghana, and remains committed to working together with the Government of Ghana to resolve the situation, it said. The United States Embassy had in July last year accused Ghana of reneging on its responsibility to interview deportees on a regular basis and issue the necessary travel documents. If Ghana fails to comply with international obligations regarding the issuance of travel documents, the United States may be forced to begin implementing visa restrictions on Ghana, in accordance with U.S. law, it warned last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry at the time stated that the government had communicated the concerns to the Ghana Embassy in the US. It, however, implored the US Government to do due diligence and establish the nationalities of the deportees before they are issued with travel documents. In the spirit of cooperation, therefore, the Ghana Missions have the obligation to ensure that the right processes are followed to verify the identities of subjects for deportation, in order to avert challenges with the Ghana Immigration Service upon the arrival of the latter, it said. Source: Graphic.com.gh 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 They were initially expected to meet in the border truce village of Panmunjom, but instead they settled on Pyongyang since that will speed things up now only four weeks remain until the summit. A diplomatic source in Seoul said U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will meet his North Korean counterparts in Pyongyang around Wednesday next week. U.S. and North Korean officials plan to meet for talks in Pyongyang after the Lunar New Year to iron out details of the second bilateral summit scheduled for late February. "The U.S. became frustrated by the delays caused by North Korean officials having to report back to Pyongyang during six rounds of talks in Panmunjom ahead of the first bilateral summit last year," a diplomatic source here said. "If the talks are held in Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's instructions can be delivered immediately." Biegun could also meet Kim and deliver a message from U.S. President Donald Trump. The key focus of the talks is whether the U.S. and North Korea can narrow their differences about the North's denuclearization and any rewards from the U.S. Pyongyang has been calling for an easing of U.S.-led sanctions, but Washington has insisted that the North take the concrete steps toward denuclearization first. The North could offer to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear facility and Tongchang-ri missile base while handing over its intercontinental ballistic missiles, while the U.S. could offer to open a liaison office, expand humanitarian aid and ease sanctions. The North is also apparently demanding the inclusion of a multilateral peace treaty on the summit agenda. The summit is expected in the final week of February. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News that a team of U.S. officials has been dispatched to an undisclosed part of Asia to discuss the summit. Possible venues for the summit are Da Nang or Hanoi, Vietnam. The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante says if former President John Mahama really said he will match the NPP boot for boot, he should apologise to the nation. According to him, as a former head of state he should have known better. If he said that, I would want to say that President Mahama, with all humility, I will plead with him to apologise to the nation. In making that statement, he has really created fear in the hearts of people and its not just President Mahama I will say this to, I want to say this to all our leaders, people we are looking up to in this nation; that under such circumstances one would expect that they will be the voice of wisdom, a voice that will calm tension, a voice that will help Ghanaians to be able to say: Indeed, we have leaders. So, please lets be very careful about these things that we say Rev Asante said in an interview on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Friday. The former President while reacting to the alleged attack on NDC members during the by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency on Thursday, intimated: we are not going to joke in 2020 and Im sounding a warning to the NPP we are going to match them boot for boot NDC has revolutionary rules and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us in unleashing violence; it is just that we midwifed Ghanas democracy and so we must be the first to respect Ghanas democracy and that is why we are acting as a party that is very docile and respecting the rule of law but if we believe that the government cannot protect our peoplethen we would have to advise ourselves he added. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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 The aspiring flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Alabi has described what happened yesterday at Ayawaso West Wuguon By-election as a scar on our Democracy. In a statement issued by his outfit, he condemned the violence being visited upon law abiding citizens who were exercising a democratic right to vote in the election. Read full statement below: I have been informed of the incidence of shooting and other related acts of violence in unprovoked attacks, resulting in some members of our great NDC party sustaining serious injuries during the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency by-election. While I commiserate with the injured and traumatized victims, I wish to absolutely condemn these acts of violence being visited upon law abiding citizens who are exercising a democratic right to vote in an election. I have also been briefed about the unusual activities of supposed police men clad in unfamiliar uniforms with masks, armed with AK-47 assault riffles with no badge numbers or name tags and patrolling within the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in a manner that voters find intimidating. The Ghana Police Service owes itself a duty to explain the use of such an unkown unit in a by-election of this sort, investigate the horrendous crimes committed today and prosecute the culprits in no time. While I lend my support to the national leadership of our party as they address these matters through democratic means, I wish to call on party supporters to be resolute and not be intimidated by persons who believe that the only way to win political power is to deploy force and voilence. The use of violence in elections and within the conduct of any democratic exercise cannot and will not be countenanced in the run up to the 2020 general elections. The government and all State institutions mandated to maintain law and order must remain loyal to our sacred Constitution and rid our politics of all forms of violence. I wish the injured NDC members a speedy recovery and assure them of my sincerest sympathies and utmost support in these difficult times. Prof. Joshua Alabi Thursday, January 31st, 2019 Sunyani Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/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 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has condemned the violence that characterized yesterdays bye-election at the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency. The bye-election turned violent when some faceless security personnel stormed the Bawaleshie electoral area, firing gunshots into the electorates and injuring about eight of them. Following the shooting incident, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) boycotted the bye-election. However, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Lydia Seyram Alhassan emerged winner in the elections. The UNDP, in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, decried the attacks on the electorates, strongly condemning what they term as impunity and brazen acts of violence which undermine Ghanas hard-earned democracy and peace. Ghana, as a pillar of stability in the sub-region, must not become complacent. We call on all to avoid violence and the use of inflammatory language that could further increase tensions, a portion of the statement read. Read full statement below: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been following the ongoing bye-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, with keen interest, as this is a further illustration of the democratic process that is imbedded in Ghana. However, our attention has been drawn to media reports of violence and a shooting incidence by unidentified armed men at the La Bawalashie Presby JHS polling station during the bye-election, leading to the injury of at least six people. We strongly condemn such impunity and brazen acts of violence which undermine Ghanas hard-earned democracy and peace. Ghana, as a pillar of stability in the sub-region, must not become complacent. We call on all to avoid violence and the use of inflammatory language that could further increase tensions. Signed By: Ms. Gita Welch Resident Representative (a.i) 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 The immediate-past Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, has condemned the shooting incident that took place at La-Bawaleshie during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on Thursday, 31st January 2019. He blamed the happenings on political parties idea to use vigilante groups mostly during election time. I was shocked when I heard about the shooting in the news. Our leaders must be watchful about this and pray for peace. This is sad for Ghana, he said. Politicians must do without vigilante groups. If we are not careful, these groups will collapse Ghana, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah warned in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie. The immediate-past Chairman of The Church of Pentecost also noted that Its about time we grow in our political culture, that we begin to know that weve got to live and let others also live, and that we do things in a very peaceful manner. No death was recorded when a group of macho men believed to be National Security operatives, fired into a crowd of voters at a polling station at La-Bawaleshie during the by-election. Seven persons were injured in the melee with two in critical condition at the 37 Millitary Hospital. The opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] boycotted the election as a result of the shooting and blamed the ruling New Patriotic Party [NPP] of masterminding the attack. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama has asked the ruling New Patriotic Party not to take the leniency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to its weakness. He said the NDC are experts in unleashing violence and that if the ruling government cannot protect our people, we will advise ourselves The former President was reacting to a clash that occurred at the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency (Bawaleshie Presby School polling centre ) during its by-election on Thursday which saw NPPs Lydia Ahassan as the winner. The NDC pulled out of the by-election after seven of its members got injured following a shooting incident at Bawaleshie Presby School polling centre. In the midst of this clash, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram constituency, Sam George was slapped by one of the security officers. Reacting to this while speaking to party supporters in Adaklu, Mr. Mahama said: NDC has revolutionary rules and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us in unleashing violence; it is just that we midwifed Ghanas democracy and so we must be the first to respect Ghanas democracy and that is why we are acting as a party that is very docile and respecting the rule of law but if we believe that the government cannot protect our peoplethen we would have to advise ourselves Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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 NDC Leadership of Ningo-Prampram has strongly condemned the recent attack on its Member of Parliament, Samuel George Nettey. In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, the leadership called on the police to with immediate effect do the needful and approach this case with all the seriousness to redeem their bad image under the Nana Addo-led administration. Whilst condemning this heinous attack on our Member of Parliament, we wish to urge the Ghana Police Service, to as a matter of urgency do the needful and approach this case with all the seriousness and the professionalism it can command, to help redeem its rather sinking image under this Nana Addo-led NPP administration, Constituency Secretary Okoe Mensah said. Sam George was assaulted during the confusion at the La Bawaleshie Presby school polling station in the early hours of Thursday morning. He, however, accused the NPP of unleashing vigilantes on him but the NPP, however, denied any of the accusations leveled against them. Below is the full statement The leadership of the NDC and the Ningo-Prampram Secretariat has taken notice of the brutal and barbaric attacks on our Member of Parliament, Hon. Samuel Nartey George and many other innocent party folks. The Member of Parliament, who was going about performing his lawful duty of monitoring the by-election at AYAWASO WEST WUOGON CONSTITUENCY on Thursday 31st January 2019, was bounced upon and brutally beaten amidst several gunshots by heavily built gunmen, purported to be members of the NPP's "Invisible Forces" at the La-Bawaleshie Presby polling station. The MP has sustained several wounds on many part of his body as a result of slaps meted at him, as well as the back of a gun used to physically assault him. This we see as an attack on constitutional democracy and the rule of law. This condemnable act is a significant case of the state of insecurity that we find ourselves in as a country. This act reflects a complete breakdown of law and order under the Nana Addo led NPP government and an affront on the Democratic gains made so far as a country, where a Member of Parliament gets attacked by gunmen in the full glare of the police, without any protection. Whilst condemning this heinous attack on our Member of Parliament, we wish to urge the Ghana Police service, to as a matter of urgency do the needful and approach this case with all the seriousness and the professionalism it can command, to help redeem its rather sinking image under this Nana Addo-led NPP administration. We also wish to remind the NPP government about its cardinal responsibility to keep Ghana, all its citizen and their properties safe at all times without any fear of discrimination, be it ethnic, religious or Political ! We also wish to take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathy and solidarity to our Hon. Member of parliament, Samuel George Nartey and all other victims of the brutalities that happened at AYAWASO WEST WUOGON, urging him to exercise maximum restraint in this very difficult times with the assurance that he can count on the support of the NDC leadership and the constituency Secretariat at all times till this issue is brought to its logical conclusion. Thank you. Long Live the NDC. .. Long Live Ningo-Prampram Y ZU.... Y ZA. ...Signed... OKOE MENSAH Constituency Secretary Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 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 Oil transport operators have been encouraged to strictly enforce safety procedures at the workplace to enable standards in the industry to be maintained. Chief Executive of J.K. Ahiadome Transport Company (JKAT) told the news team, maintaining safety could be achieved by recruiting the requisite personnel for the sector. Since its establishment, J.K. Ahiadome Transport Company (JKAT) has been working vigorously to contribute to growth and training of key human resource in the downstream sector of the oil sector. Chief Executive Officer, Mr. James Kwoku Ahiadome, who has personally been involved in the petroleum business for over thirty (30) years as a transporter, said, current trends in the industry also require changes in operational strategies to achieve results. Currently, the company operates a fleet of one hundred and fifteen (115) Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs) transporting Mines Fuels and Lubricants, Gas Oil, Gasoline, Specialised Fuels, Aviation Turbine Kerosene and Residual Fuel Oil across Ghana and neighbouring West African countries. Limited aims at providing timely, efficient, safe, secured and high quality service to its customers in a cost effective and value enhancing manner. The CEO, Mr. JK Ahiadome, at an end of year interaction and awards event for workers, said JKAT prioritises safety as a hallmark of its operations, as a result, it has won numerous awards over the years, including; Puma Energy Transporter Safety Award 2018, Haulage Company of the Year at Ghana Oil and Gas Awards 2018, Best Road Safety-Oriented Haulage Transport Operator (Non-Solid Category) Ghana Driver and Road Safety Awards 2018 - National Road Safety Commission, Ghana. General Manager, Stanley Owusu-Asamoah, said JKAT always wants to ensure it pursues the goal of no harm to its personnel and all others, protect the environment, play leading role in promoting best practices and care for the health of employees. At the event, awards were given to a number of its two hundred and sixty (260) workers made of Managers, Safety Officers, Vehicle and Depot Supervisors, Maintenance Officers, Professional Drivers, Driver Assistants, Security Officers and Administrative Support staff. There were representatives from Total Ghana, Puma Energy Ghana and other partners. 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 The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered the conditional release of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo after he was cleared of charges of crimes against humanity last month. Judges agreed on Friday to release the 73-year-old former strongman and his aide Charles Ble Goude on condition that they live in an as-yet-unspecified country pending an appeal by the prosecution. Gbagbo and Ble Goude stood trial on four counts of crimes against humanity for murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts committed by pro-Gbagbo forces in the aftermath of the disputed 2010 polls. Gbagbo has been in ICC custody since 2011, Ble Goude since 2014. Appeals judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the court would release them "to a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing to enforce the conditions set" by the court. Ivory Coast is an ICC member state, but the court may be unwilling to send Gbagbo to his homeland, given that it has refused to surrender Gbagbo's wife Simone despite an outstanding ICC warrant for her arrest. Gbagbo had been kept in detention pending objections by prosecutors, who plan to appeal the acquittal and sought guarantees that the men would return to court later if required. Lawyers previously cited the arrangement reached with former Democratic Republic of the Congo vice president and rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who went to Belgium after he was cleared by the ICC last year. Bemba was acquitted on appeal for crimes allegedly committed by his militia in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. Bemba was later convicted of tampering with witnesses but did not have to return to serve time in jail because of previous time served. The court ordered officials to make "appropriate interim arrangements" to find somewhere for Gbagbo to stay until a final agreement is made with whichever country hosts him. Source: Aljazeera 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 More than 50 allies of former Ivorian Oresident Laurent Gbagbo have returned home after eight years in exile in Ghana. This follows a recent amnesty law in Ivory Coast as well as the recent acquittal of Mr Gbagbo at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where conditions for his release are being heard on Friday. Large crowds and the former first lady Simon Gbagbo welcomed back six former ministers of Mr Gbagbo and dozens of his allies who had fled to Ghana after a disputed election in 2010. Mr Gbagbo refused to concede defeat in that election, and a violent conflict erupted between forces loyal to Mr Gbagbo and to current President Alassane Ouattara, leaving more than 3,000 people dead. The return of Mr Gbagbo's allies to the country was co-ordinated by the UN's refugee agency, which is attempting to bring back more than 20,000 Ivorians in exile. It is part of reconciliation efforts led by current president. Last year he decided to pardon 800 people - a step that angered some human rights activists who say they could entrench widespread impunity. Among the group of returnees is a former interior minister, who said they were preparing for Mr Gbagbo's return to the country after his acquittal two weeks ago. If the former president is released unconditionally it could have a big impact in the country where fresh elections are scheduled for next year. 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 A driver of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Amos Apraku, who is the complainant in the case of the murdered Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Tema Port, Mrs Josephine Asante, has been arrested and remanded in prison custody. Apraku, who appeared before the Tema TDC Magistrate Court, presided over by Mrs Akosua A. Adjepong, yesterday, was remanded to reappear on February 14, 2019. The court also remanded the first accused person, Christian Adjei, 22, who is facing committal proceedings for the alleged murder of Mrs Asante, in prison custody to reappear on February 14, 2019. Plea not taken The police prosecutor, Chief Inspector Beatrice Ayeh, told the court that the docket on the case was sent to the Police Headquarters in Accra but was returned to her last Thursday morning without the fact sheets. She did not state when the complainant-turned-accused person was arrested but indicated that his (Aprakus) semen, footprints and fingerprints had been retrieved for analysis and examination at the Police Forensic Laboratory and the results were yet to be received. She said the fact sheet and the forensic report would be made available at the next sitting. Facts At the courts last sitting on January 17, 2019, the prosecutor told the court that Apraku was an employee of the GPHA and driver of the deceased. She indicated that on January 12, this year, Mrs Asante attended a get-together organised by the GPHA at its Senior Staff Club House at Tema Community Six and that about 11:30 p.m. the accused drove her from the party towards her house. However, she said, the driver was said to have alighted at Michel Camp and handed over the keys of the Mercedes Benz saloon car to Mrs Asante to continue the journey to her home at EMEFS Estates by herself. Inspector Ayeh told the court that about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 13, 2019, the first accused person, Adjei, who is the deceased persons house help, and her 12-year-old son, tried opening Mrs Asantes door but found it locked. They, therefore, called Apraku. According to the prosecution, Apraku found the keys to the room at the entrance of the gate when he got there on receiving the call and used same to open the deceaseds door, only to find her in a pool of blood. The prosecutor told the court that investigators who were assigned to the case after the complaint was lodged collected semen found in her (deceased), fingerprints and other evidence at the scene. Houseboy Adjeis remand follows a request by the prosecutor that Agyeis semen, footprints and fingerprint be analysed at the Police Forensic Laboratory. Meanwhile, some colleagues of the GPHA driver have expressed shock and dismay at the turn of events. According to one of them who was at the court, Adjeis wife, who was heavily pregnant, had to deliver prematurely after her husband was picked up by the police. Source: Daily Graphic 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 Since then, though, there has been no resolution to the major differences between Britain and the other 27 EU member states -- if anything, frustrations have deepened with EU officials maintaining Monday that they are not prepared to reopen negotiations on the withdrawal agreement, which a deeply divided British House of Commons refused to endorse in January. British and international firms with European headquarters in London have become increasingly angry with the Brexit crisis. Earlier in January, in at times a testy conference call, 331 business leaders, including from U.S. banking giants and major companies like Amazon and Apple, were assured by senior government ministers that a no-deal exit would be taken off the table and that Britain wouldnt part company with its largest trading bloc until a deal had been struck. With Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservative government now backing away from a contentious withdrawal agreement negotiated in November and locked in a standoff with Brussels, Britain is heading for a scheduled March 29 departure without any kind of negotiated exit agreement. That means tariffs would have to be imposed on goods moving back and forth across the English Channel. It would also block market access to the EU for banks based in Britain. British banking giant Barclays has drawn up plans to shift more than $200 billion worth of assets from London to Dublin amid mounting business alarm that Britain is more likely now to leave the European Union without an exit deal. The transfer by Barclays of assets belonging to 5,000 clients emerged Monday, when the bank won the court approval required. The judge, Richard Snowden, noted that the transfer was "huge" as it represents nearly a quarter of the assets Barclays holds. "The design of the scheme has been based upon an assumption that there will be no favorable outcome of the current political negotiations between the UK and the EU," he said. The bank said in a statement, "Barclays will use our existing licensed EU-based bank subsidiary to continue to serve our clients within the EU beyond 29 March 2019, regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Our preparations are well-advanced and we expect to be fully operational by 29 March 2019." Without a deal, British banks and international financial service institutions based in London would have no access to the EU market. Some market analysts estimate that London will lose at least a trillion dollars, and possibly much more, to financial rivals in Europe, including Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris by the end of March as banks flee ahead of Brexit. Spreading Operations At least 30 banks and financial firms are planning to move their EU headquarters to Germany. Other banks are set to spread their operations across different European cities. At least 10,000 banking jobs are likely to move to Frankfurt, Germany's fifth biggest city, over the next eight years, industry observers say. Paris is angling for business, too, offering tax incentives for banks to relocate to the French capital, a determined rival to London. Lloyds, Standard Chartered and Credit Suisse are among the banks that are planning to open offices in Frankfurt because of Brexit. While mainstream banks voice their frustration, hedge funds, many of which donated to anti-EU campaigns during the 2016 Brexit referendum, welcome a no-deal departure, hoping it will open the way for the dismantling of a swathe of regulations on financial services. Aside from banks, other British businesses are becoming increasingly alarmed at what they might face in the event of a no-deal Brexit. On Monday, British officials acknowledged that businesses will face higher trade tariffs and barriers in dozens of countries because there's not enough time between now and March 29 to replicate 40 EU trade deals with non-EU countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Leading British Brexiters, including International Trade Minister Liam Fox, have been saying for months that trade deal replications would be easy. Fox once vowed that the agreements would be all complete "one second after midnight" on Brexit day. On Monday, a British official acknowledged to a parliamentary panel that will not be the case and that hundreds of British firms will lose preferential access, reducing the price competitiveness of their goods. The official declined to provide an "absolute figure" on how many trade deals would lapse because of technical, legal or political problems. As business fears mount, Prime Minister May has announced a change in her negotiating team with her de facto deputy, David Lidington, a former long-serving Europe minister, taking the lead position in British efforts to persuade Brussels to open up the withdrawal agreement, itself the product of ill-tempered haggling between the EU and London. But EU leaders have firmly shut the door, so far, to amending or changing the agreement, which would see Britain locked in a customs union with the bloc for several years while it negotiates a vaguely defined free trade settlement. In the temporary customs union, Britain would be unable to influence EU laws, regulations and product standards it would have to observe. The transition was reached to avoid customs checks on the border separating Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, but British lawmakers fear Britain could be trapped indefinitely in the transition. Leading Brexiters say if May can get a sunset clause written into the deal to allow Britain to escape the transition agreement, if it wished later, or if the transition were time limited, they might reverse their opposition and back the deal. But that still might not give May the majority she needs to secure parliamentary approval. The leaders of the 27 other EU member states made clear Monday that they are not prepared to revisit the deal. "A renegotiation is not on the table," said Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar. "There's no plan to discuss any changes. The withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation and is not going to be reopened," he added. Both the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, echoed the Irish leader. The volume of Instant Pay transactions went up to 143,879 transactions in 2018, representing an increase of 244 percent over 41,795 transactions recorded in 2017, a Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) report has shown. In its first year of operation in 2016, only 184 Instant Pay transactions took place, largely because the service was introduced in the later part of that year The growth in transactions is an indication that more bank customers are exercising the option of using Instant Pay to transfer funds or make payments from their bank account to another account with a different bank. The Instant Pay makes interbank transfers and payments instant, such that immediately the money is transferred, the recipient can access it. Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of GhIPSS, Mr Archie Hesse said globally, payments are gravitating towards instant payment. He explained that because the service could be accessed electronically, it created convenience to customers as they can perform instant payment transactions from their bank account without moving an inch. While volume of transaction grew by 244 percent in 2018, the growth in value of transaction was much higher at 542 percent. The more than proportionate growth in the value compared to the volume, suggests that the payment system is trusted by customers and are therefore using it for higher value transactions, Mr. Hesse explained. He noted that Instant Pay was an important service that ensure quick, convenient but secured movement of funds in the economy. Mr. Hesse urged the public to continue to keep their money within the banking system, because it can now be easily and quickly moved around to address their business needs. Instant Pay is currently the fastest way to transfer funds or make payment from one bank account to another of a different bank and it was introduced to create convenience to bank customers and to facilitate quick payment. Instant Pay service is offered by the banks and currently most of the major banks provides the service. While some banks offer the Instant Pay service through their internet banking portals, others do it through their mobile banking portal. Some of the banks however offer the Instant Pay service on both the mobile banking and internet banking portals. GhIPSS Instant Pay is the generic name, but various banks call it by different names. The introduction of the Instant Pay service is greatly enhancing business transaction as businesses are able to make and receive payments instantly through their bank account to support the quick turnaround of their goods. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The current pensions law has not made adequate provision for close to 10.2 million people who remain largely in the informal sector and are not captured under the three-tier pension scheme, Samuel Bediako Waterberg, a pensions expert, has said. It is estimated that Ghana has a 12 million active workforce, out of which only 15 percent are in the formal sector and are contributors to at least one of the three pension schemes leaving the vast majority of the workforce without any form of pension, Mr. Waterberg said. Speaking at a workshop on micro-pensions organised by the Financial Inclusion Forum Africa on Wednesday, Mr. Waterberg who is CEO of Peoples Pension Trust said the National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) does little to encourage trustees to rope workers into the informal sector. Currently, unlike in the formal sector where it is easy for trustees to easily mobilise funds from corporate institutions, in the informal sector trustees would have to spend fortunes looking for contributors and getting them to make regular contributions. So, what is happening is that because there is no special incentive for trustees to focus on the informal sector, the informal sector has become a no-go area given the high operational costs for those who may decide to focus on that sector, he added. According to him, only 27,000 workers in the informal sector are contributing to any sort of pension scheme, which is about 0.0001 percent of the entire population in the informal sectors active workforce. He mentioned that apart from the law not making adequate provision for the informal sector, the lack of an appropriate mode of payment beyond cash makes it very cumbersome in operating a pension scheme for the informal sector. Source: B&FT 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 INSTEX: A Real Solution Or A Symbolic Move To Keep Iran In Nuclear Deal 02/01/19 Source: Radio Farda One day after Germany France and the UK launched INSTEX (Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges) to help reduce the impact of sanctions on Iran there are still speculations about the measures' effectiveness, with some saying INTEX simply has symbolic significance. Joint statement by @HeikoMaas and his & colleagues on the creation of the #SPV #INSTEX: Aiming at facilitating trade between Europe and #Iran. Our efforts to preserve economic provisions of #JCPoA are conditioned upon Iran's full implementation of its #JCPoA commitments. pic.twitter.com/RlStBEzogH GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) January 31, 2019 INSTEX is supposed to be a financial channel and a special mechanism for transferring money in spite of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Its objective is to facilitate Iran's transactions with European companies. The reaction of Iran's foreign ministry on Friday was not very enthusiastic, as its spokesman emphasized that his country is waiting for tangible economic benefits and Europe better deliver it soon. Iran welcomes #INSTEX-a long overdue 1st step-in E3 implementation of May 2018 commitments to save JCPOA by ensuring dividends for Iranians after US' illegal reimposition of sanctions. We remain ready for constructive engagement with Europe on equal footing & with mutual respect. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 31, 2019 Major European companies working with Iran left the Islamic Republic during the Summer of 2018 before the United States re-imposed its sanctions against Tehran following the United States' pull-out from the 2015 nuclear deal. Their unilateral decision to leave was based on their greater business interests in the U.S. than in Iran. When Europe began discussing a special trade mechanism, the U.S. objected and lobbied allied capitals to eliminate or restrict this possibility. Perhaps as a result of Washington's pressures European partners to INSTEX say that it is to be used initially for selling food, medicine and medical equipment to Iran although the scope of its usage could be expanded in the future. Until Thursday January 31 the mechanism was referred to as SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) and it was said to be a measure that would enable Iran to circumvent U.S. sanctions and ease trade between Iran and the world. One Iran-born analyst in Germany commented, INSTEX "is not a European measure as there was no consensus among EU members and only Germany, France and the UK are committed to it, it does not guarantee oil purchase from Iran, it does not cover other countries such as China and Russia, it is only about food, medicine and medical supplies, and it is not a financial channel, it is an accounting company!" INTEX was registered in France on Wednesday as a company with a capital of 3000 Euro. It is to be supervised by a Franco-German delegation chaired by former Commerzbank Governor Per Fischer. The company is to be financed by the three countries. Officially, it is to be later endorsed by EU's 28 members. Europe establishes Special Purpose Vehicle to facilitate trade with Iran. Moves like this to circumvent the US financial system-which could eventually weaken US sanctions in other areas-are inevitable when there's no international support for US policy. https://t.co/TDv9JW7yHO Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) January 31, 2019 In 2015 Iran agreed to the nuclear deal with the West under the pressure of sanctions. Now the European parties to the deal are trying to offer concessions to the Islamic Republic in order to save the deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Europe's initial plan was to enable Iran conduct barter trade in return for selling oil to Europe. Now, because of the sanctions, Europe buys very little oil from Iran and the new financial channel would be good only for small and medium size companies as big companies would not want to have any transactions with Iran because of their business ties with the U.S. On Thursday, AFP quoted Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders as having said that "U.S. pressures has made business with Iran too risky." According to Reynders, it is up to the companies to decide whether they want to work with Iran or not." The US has frowned at the European measure and seriously warned those who want to circumvent U.S. sanctions about serious punishment. Meanwhile, Senator Tom Cotton has said that Europeans have to choose between doing business with Iran or the United States. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, it took Europe several months to register the measure, and it will probably take a long time for it to become operational. A European diplomat told Reuters that INSTEX will not make much of a difference, but it carries a significant political message to Iran: "that we are determined to save the JCPOA." Iranian Labor Activist Ali Nejati Denied Medical Treatment Against Doctor's Orders 02/01/19 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Petition Signed by 800 People Calls on Iran to Release Striking Haft Tappeh Workers Ali Nejati Detained labor rights activist Ali Nejati is being denied medical treatment for heart disease and kidney and prostate problems in Shush Prison in the city of Andimeshk, Khuzestan Province, against the prison clinic doctor's orders, according to a report posted on the Telegram app channel of the Haft Tappeh sugar mill worker's union on January 27, 2019. Nejati, who was imprisoned for engaging in peaceful activism, had refused to go to the hospital in hand and foot chains, which are only required for prisoners deemed extremely violent. During phone contact with his family members, he frequently coughed and complained of pain in his chest and eyes, the union said in its report, adding: "The state prosecutor in Andimeshk is throwing roadblocks at this Haft Tappeh union member's access to medical care. Ali Nejati's doctor has confirmed that it would be dangerous to keep him in a closed environment. Prison conditions will make his illness worse. According to the law, he should have been sent to the medical examiner's office. Nejati has said that he would not go to any medical center in handcuffs and ankle chains and so his family have asked the authorities to grant him furlough for a few days so he could take care of his medical issues." Independent unions are not allowed to operate in Iran, strikers often lose their jobs and risk arrest, and labor leaders who attempt to organize workers and bargain collectively are prosecuted under national security charges and sentenced to long prison sentences. Political prisoners in Iran, including elderly inmates, are singled out for harsh treatment, which often includes denial of medical care. The threat of withheld medical care has also been used as an intimidation tool against prisoners who have challenged the authorities or filed complaints. The report also noted that Nejati is able to post bail set at 200 million tomans ($47,500 USD) to go on medical furlough but the court refused to accept his pay stub as proof of payment. Furlough, temporary leave typically granted to prisoners in Iran for a variety of familial, holiday, and medical reasons, is routinely denied to political prisoners as a form of additional punishment. According to Article 235 of the State Prisons Organization's Regulations, transferring prisoners to medical facilities in chains "is not permitted unless in necessary cases determined by the head of the prison." Article 170 requires prisoners to be chained "if there is a threat to others, potential damage to public property or possibility of escape." Prison authorities have provided no evidence that the prisoner of conscience is violent or a threat to anyone. Intelligence Ministry agents arrested Nejati on November 29, 2018, accusing him of participating in the ongoing mass protests by unpaid Haft Tappeh workers in the city of Shush, near Andimeshk. Since being detention, the labor activist has also been denied legal counsel. On January 19, his forced confession was aired by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) organization on national TV along with those of other labor activists including Esmail Bakhshi and Sepideh Qoliyan. IRIB has a long history of broadcasting forced confessions. Typically well-staged productions, they are used to defame dissidents, intellectuals, and other individuals whom the authorities wish to discredit by legitimizing their prosecution and amassing public support for their sentences. In the video edited by agents of the Intelligence Ministry, Nejati admitted to being part of a four-member information channel on Telegram-which is not illegal in Iran. Nejati's case has not received as much attention as Bakhshi's, which made international headlines after he wrote on Instagram that he had been tortured while held for 25 days in detention facility under the control of the Intelligence Ministry. Bakhshi's revelations, which caused public outcry in Iran and led to several former political prisoners stating that they had also been tortured while in Iranian state custody, was corroborated by witnesses including Qoliyan, a freelance journalist who had been arrested along with Bakhshi. Bakhshi was re-arrested on January 20 along with Qoliyan. Both individuals are at grave risk of suffering further harm while government officials remain focused on preventing statements like theirs from becoming public again via social media. More than 800 people including civil rights activists, politicians, artists, journalists and lawyers in Iran and abroad have signed a petition calling for Bakhshi and Qoliyan to be immediately released. "We express our strong concern regarding Bakhshi and Qoliyan's condition and hold the security establishment, the Intelligence Ministry and the president personally responsible for their wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of other activists, and demand their immediate release," the statement said. The petition continued: "Suppression is not the answer to protests against the violation of human and labor rights, and the human dignity of the Iranian people... We declare our solidarity with the wishes of the Haft Tappeh workers and call on the people and activists to stand by them and demand Bakhshi and Qoliyan's release... and show Iranian workers they are not alone in their demonstrations for equality." Paris, TN (38242) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Empress Of and Perfume Genius are the kind of collaboration that sets off instant explosions in the brain. For a certain kind of fan at least, just the sight of their names together conjures a vibrant, brightly colored fantasy, as the imagination gets to work on what the shivering, shackled restraint of Mike Hadreas' discography might sound like, unfastened by Lorely Rodriguez' ebullient, lighter-than-air melodies. The vivid colors might just be my own brain, which has dyed Empress Of, the name and her music, the sunset yellow and maroon of her Us album cover and Perfume Genius, the nude, pale pink and crimson hues found in the imagery for his last couple albums, No Shape and Too Bright. These aren't tones that blend all that obviously, however. The natural rapport of their sounds is obscured at first by their distinct affects. Empress Of often shrouds heartbreak with joyful, bold strokes of sound, while Perfume Genius, as he points out, sounds like he's going to cry at any moment. This week the pair shared their first ever collaboration, billed as a Perfume Genius cover of Empress Of's "When I'm With Him," produced by Us-collaborator Jim-E Stack, and the blurry vision came into focus. "When I'm With Him" is a trojan horse of a song. The title promises an index of all the wonderful ways a lover makes Rodriguez feel, but the story, hidden under the pretty synths and buoyant drums, hides a choking death rattle for a relationship, an underwater scream. Which is to say, it's an Empress Of song begging for a little bit of Perfume Genius. However, the track is neither a Perfume Genius, nor an Empress Of song (unlike most covers, which are typically faithful to one contributor's style or the other). Instead, their colors form a new, sublime hue, a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Hadreas' cracking voice bleaches Rodriguez's poetry (the second verse, now sung in English), placing it under a spotlight that coaxes out their quiet agony. While Hadreas doesn't, as he jokes, turn it into a sad piano ballad, the woozy synths are stalled to a vibrato heartbeat that allows him to strike each word as only he can. But the melody's essential danceability is only softened, not erased. The chorus breaks through with big, juicy boom-clapping drums courtesy of Stack, and their duet is a reverie. To get the story behind the track, PAPER got on the phone with Hadreas and Rodriguez to talk about what they love about each other's sounds, the term "pop," and fighting musical self-indulgence. PAPER: Tell us how you got connected to create this song. Lorely Rodriguez: I had never met Mike before we got in the studio together to work on the song. Right? Mike Hadreas: Yeah. I'd seen you. LR: Oh yeah, you saw me play, right? MH: Yeah, I saw you play Arcosanti. LR: Arcosanti, yeah. And I obviously knew about Mike's music and am a huge fan and really inspired by Mike. So yeah we hadn't met until we were in the studio together with Jim-E Stack, who is the silent investor in the track. [laughter] PAPER: Whose idea was the cover? LR: Well I thought of it. I really, "When I'm With Him" is my favorite song on my album, Us. So I was talking with my label about things I could do, and you know, the word remix gets thrown around a lot. So I just thought about how much song means to me, and decided I wanted to do something that I had never done before. So I was like "well, what if we had an artist I love cover it." And I said Perfume Genius but I was like "ah that's never going to happen." Then it happened and MH: It did happen [laughs]. LR: I'm so happy. MH: It happened. LR: It happened! PAPER: Mike, what attracted you to this song? MH: Well, I mean I had been a fan and I was excited to hear new music. I could tell within even listening to ten seconds of the song that I was... I mean I was bopping around. [laughter] MH: It's a classic, it really is like a classic bop. I had ideas after listening the first time. Even when I started to develop my version, I had many different roads that I was going down, that we could go down together It was exciting. I think most people think, when they ask me to do a song, that I'm going to do a slow piano version, make it more sad, you know? [laughs]. I did go in singing that song that way, but I think it did lend itself to sort of slowing it down a little bit. And I can't help that no matter the way I sing something you know my voice breaks, just naturally even in conversation, you know? I sound like I'm going to cry when I'm even talking sometimes [laughs]. LR: Which is not how you were in the studio though! You're like full of joy. MH: I don't know what happens! It's just the minute I start singing I'm like "oh no." That seems heavy, but I like that, that's just my taste too for listening and stuff. You know, I like joy but for some reason whenever I sit down to make music, it's not the driving force. LR: It doesn't help MH: And ["When I'm With Him"] just has this melancholy to it, but it's warm, at the same time. It's like Robyn. Robyn's songs can be about heartbreak or something really hard, but there's still this sort of joy inside of it. Or hope I guess. LR: Yeah, I mean I wrote a break-up song. But it's a healing break-up song. So it doesn't, you know, the occasion is for being heartbroken. I think one of the most fascinating to me as an artist, is writing a song with my feelings, with my experiences. They're my words. But the moment Mike started singing those words, he interpreted them with his whole experience. We don't sing the lyrics the same, emoting it. So that was the most fascinating things to me. As soon as he started singing it, he made it his own song and I was like, as the person who wrote the song, "oh woah." That's the coolest thing to me, that I didn't know I would experience. Having another artist interpret your song is a crazy feeling. PAPER: You've both covered a lot of other artists. LR: Well, I think, with the covers that I've done, like I've never met Lana Del Rey. Like I know the song "Love" by Lana Del Rey so well and I was like "okay I'm going to make a really dance-y version of it." But being in the room with Mike and talking about, you know he talked about these roads, and like all the ideas that came to him when he heard the song about how he could interpret it. Yeah to me, that's like next level covering or re-working or interpreting. MH: We did it together, you know, which is very different. It's usually very solitary thing where I've just listened to a song over and over, and then on my own I make this version kind of for me and it fits everybody else. This was sort of, you know, maybe, it started with my initial way of singing, but then we all sort of filled something around it together. LR: I love those big drums in the chorus. MH: Hell yeah. LR: It's cool to hear your voice with like Jimmy's big drums. I just love... I was listening to your album again, No Shape, and I just really love the loud moments. It's really cool to hear your voice, and the timbre of your voice. You know how, you talk about your voice breaks naturally when you sing that's one of my favorite things about your music, that balance of your voice breaking over, like the intimacy of your voice breaking over these crazy ass drums. So I'm really happy that we got to have a moment like that in our song. MH: Well it's selfishly too, I always wanted to bring that gated drum energy to a song, which never made sense in any of my songs so far, or it would take it too far. It didn't fit but they were perfect there, and this is really satisfying to hear. Photography: Natalia Mantini for PAPER PAPER: It's kind of the perfect synthesis, regarding affect. Lorely, a lot of your music is really sad, or about pain, but has an upbeat affect, whereas Mike, your music sounds sad even when it's happy. LR: Yeah, definitely. I think Robyn, Mike, when you talked about Robyn, I really relate to that. She's a master of making these songs that are, if you just read the lyrics by themselves, you'd be like, "Oh damn. There's some crazy shit going on." But then you hear the beat, and it's like, "I'm celebrating something that's hard in my life." It's like taking something that would be sad, but giving it a twist. I don't know, but yeah I love Robyn. MH: Yeah, then the song ends up being for you, not for them. It's for you, and then it translates to the person listening to it, for them. It's not for the experience, it's not for the sadness or whatever's after. LR: Mhm. I love that. PAPER: I saw some listicle recently that was like 2018 was the "year of the sad banger" or the "dancefloor crier." So it's definitely a ripe time for it. [laughter] MH: Ripe? I hope the song is ripe [laughs]. LR: The ripe time. I love that, it's the ripe time. Photo: Quinn Wilson PAPER: It's definitely a ripe time for sad bangers. So, I'd love to know what attracts you to each other music, or how you think your music intersects. MH: What I like about a lot of your songs is how strange the melodies are. So like, every satisfying. I guess my favorite thing in music is when things can be warm and sort of familiar, but still really surprising and fresh. All that has to combine into something that's still satisfying because people can go too far and need that direction, I like how weirdly, perfectly balanced a lot of your songs are. LR: I feel like you're very similar in that way. Maybe you use different textures for your production, but I feel like I could listen to a Perfume Genius song and so many parts of it feel familiar, but it's like an alternate universe, of how you would expect that song to sound. It's very much your own sound. But it's still, I could like It's a bop! A bop. MH: A ripe bop. LR: A ripe bop! Oh my god. Yeah, no but I definitely feel like you're similar in that way, where it's like, you know, you're taking the tools and you're writing pop melodies, but in your own twisted ear. "I could listen to a Perfume Genius song and so many parts of it feel familiar, but it's.... an alternate universe" MH: Well, I mean I really weird batch of influences. I kind of like, I just like everything. And I get obsessive about certain times and certain things, they're kind of all over the place. We haven't really ever talked a lot about this, but I can kind of feel the same thing from you. LR: Mmmmm, yeah. I feel like when you like so much different music, it comes out in your music. Like I I listen to pop music, but I listen to classical music. I don't know, I don't want to get too into genres and artists, but... MH: I know, yeah I was trying to figure out a way to talk about it without doing that. [laughs] LR: Because then it's like, "now we're here talking about, 'Oh This is my favorite artist from the 80's!'" Yeah, but that's definitely been a big part about me, is like, I love the divas and the pop stars, but I also grew up listening to jazz and classical music and so it definitely influences my music, which as you said is similar to you. MH: I think I love the pop music when you can hear, underneath, no matter the melody, or how weird someone is. I don't know, there's a weird charisma that comes through no matter what the song is, and I think your music has that, and I at least try to bring that same thing, but no matter what I do, the essence is still kind of strange and comes through no matter how the song ends up sounding. LR: Mhmm. Photography: Natalia Mantini for PAPER PAPER: You're both artists who've been called pop artists. The term both obviously seems to fit you both and equally obviously, feels reductive. LR: I don't know. Mike, how do you feel about people calling your music pop? I mean, do people call your music pop? MH: Yeah. I think they do. I mean, I consider a lot of things to be pop. I consider a lot of the music I like to be pop. Like I think Bjork makes pop. LR: Oh yeah. MH: You know what I mean? But that's what I want. Most of the experimental, or like what I would consider experimental pop I mean it's not too far down there but I still, I need things to be catchy, I need things to be melodically satisfying, I guess in a pop way. I don't know if I think about pop in the same way as the people writing about it do, but that's how I kind of think about it, that it's for the person listening to it. I think some music is for the person that wrote it, or kind of to be studied or appreciated. But not that full-bodied enjoyment of it, and I think that's what pop music does. It's like some weird equation with the melody, where you get that pop feeling. I think that that can translate into a lot of different weird things. It doesn't have to be filtered to something that can be massively appealing or that could go on the radio, if the radio is still around. [laughter] LR: Yeah, my experience with pop has always been, that it's such a general word. It's supposed to mean that a lot of people like it. I think if people say that my music is pop, then I'm contributing to changing what pop music sounds like, which is dope. Because I think my music is a little left, a little weird. So if people throw the word pop around, I'm like, "Yeah, okay. Call my music pop, because I don't think it's pop." In the same way that we would think Bjork is pop, or I don't know. I'm just like "let's reshape that word, what people think is pop music." "Let's reshape that word, what people think is pop music." PAPER: Do you write music for others or for yourselves? MH: Well when I started it out, when I didn't think anybody would hear it, it was still just therapy for me. Then I shared it with a few friends and it kind of changed how I wrote a little bit, but after my first record came out, I brought all the people that liked it with me when I was writing. I mean and that's important too, you can't bring everyone, or I don't like to bring everyone [laughs]. But at least the people who responded to it and were feeling the first album, I felt like I wanted to bring them in. I've listened to bands and people for a long time, where I can tell that they're making music just for themselves. LR: Mmmmmmmm. MH: I never want to do that. Just even on a selfish, technical level, I think the music is worse [laughs]. It's always going to be indulgent, it's indulgent of me to be even singing, like "Hey, check this out." It's indulgent just to make something. But I guess I get obsessive about making sure that I'm never being noodle-y or jammy with my feelings or what I'm talking about or just writing something just to be impressive... to impress myself or impress other people. I want to bring them something that's going to be more of a guide to people, and not just something, where it's just about me being witnessed. Hopefully witnessed. That's a lot of weird babble, but "I get obsessive about making sure that I'm never... writing something just to be impressive." LR: [laughs] MH: "I want my music to be a guide" [laughs]. LR: I really connect with the word therapeutic. That was a huge reason why I started making music in the first place. I think the more you make music, well, at least for me, I know the things I experience and that other people experience, so I know that people will connect with it in that way, but I'm not like, "Oh! They really like that one number I put out, let's duplicate it!" I would never make music, like pop music, where I'm making it just for the listener, but I do want people to connect and share the same experiences that I have. MH: What was weird, that I learned after the first record was that, the more personal it was, weirdly there's less of a barrier for people to connect to it. When you make something that you're trying to make a lot of people connect to, it usually falls flat. When I say, "Bringing people in with me," I want to make sure my language isn't excluding, that it's not a blanket, that I'm not writing some kind of fable. Photography: Natalia Mantini for PAPER PAPER: I'm curious what it was like for you, Mike, to sing in Spanish. MH: Well I don't speak Spanish, so it was important to me that, if I was going to sing in Spanish, it was correct. [laughs] LR: Yeah, of course [laughs]. Yeah, we actually, in the studio, so the second verse is in Spanish. And we translated the second verse into English, which to me is so cool, because I only know the song in Spanish. I wanted to find that balance where like, Mike is making the song his own, but also collaborating with an artist who sings in Spanish, and you killed it. You sound great. I've worked with other artists where we've done that, like Khalid. He speaks a little bit of Spanish, but like, we wrote the song together for his EP Suncity, which was in Spanish. I think the world is becoming more global, and artists want to sing in different languages and collaborate with different artists that speak different languages, like Rosalia and James Blake. It happens in pop music so much right now. It's not such a rare thing, which is awesome to me, that it's becoming normalized. PAPER: There's so much Spanish language music, not just on the pop charts, but also on Pitchfork. LR: Yeah, and it's all from what you would call indie, to pop music, everyone is just embracing how little understanding the language matters in songs. Because at the end of the day if you feel a song like I listened to Christine and the Queens sing in French, and I don't know what she's saying, but I really connect with it, because it's a feeling. MH: Yeah, I usually prefer the French version of her songs because I don't know what's going on, but you can feel it. Photography: Quinn Wilson PAPER: I wonder if you could talk a little about your experiences as artist consumed within identity categories like queer, or Latina. LR: I would just say for me, I get put into a lot of... it's a lot about media trends, and what people want to talk about. When I first started making music I've always been singing in Spanish as Empress Of, I've always been a woman producing my own music. When I first started making music, it was like, "Female producer!" and that word was thrown around a lot. Then it became like, "eye roll." A lot of people started being like, "Can you just say producer? We're tired of that." Then that became unpopular, and now it's popular to be like "Latinx artist! Bilingual." I think it's just trends mostly. Honestly, the most important thing to me is representation and inspiring other people like myself to do things that they think they can't do because they don't see people like themselves doing it. MH: Yeah, I get a little resentful because I'm just making stuff and I'm gay. I guess, by nature, the music is gay because I am. But in the beginning, it wasn't a political thing, I was just making things. But at the same time, it's important to me. And I'm really proud of it, that a lot of my songs really are in-your-face, like, "fuck you," about the way I've been talked about or been dealt with, how I think about myself. It's a weird feeling because it's just part of me, but at the same time it's important. It's a strange balance, and sometimes people can talk about it in a way that's balanced, and sometimes people are just lazy when they talk about, and it's just kind of fucked up, whether they know it or not. PAPER: Yeah it feels like we've reached an impasse, a point it's more powerful or radical to resist feeding the media trends around identity politics, despite wanting to champion or be proud of an identity. MH: Yeah, it is very much about trends. I remember when I released my third record, everybody was asking, "Why are you talking about homophobia? Why are you bringing these things up because things are getting so much better?" The climate was better then, for people to be like, "We're all okay, everything's fine." Then with my new record came out, that's a little more personal, and less overtly political, everyone was asking, "Why isn't it more political? Why aren't you talking about these things as much?" It's obnoxious. PAPER: Mike, you're about ten years older than Lorely. Do you have any advice for a younger artist? LR: [laughs] I think... I don't know, I don't think it matters, for me. MH: I mean, it matters a little bit. But it also doesn't matter [laughs]. I mean, when we did the photoshoot, it looked like a family portrait, we wanted to bring some kind of like family energy to it. And I definitely, I don't know if I was the mom, but I wanted to be the mom, so I don't mind the age question. LR: Well we were like, the reference photos were very, like, we wanted Perfume Genius to be maternal, in the posing. I love it! The newly elected Democrat said he's exploring options for the plutonium that already has arrived and is working with Nevada's congressional delegation to fight back against the U.S. government's "reckless disregard" for the safety of Nevadans. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said he's "beyond outraged by this completely unacceptable deception." He announced at a hastily called news conference in Carson City late Wednesday the state is now seeking another court order to block any more shipments of plutonium as it pursues "any and all legal remedies," including contempt of court orders against the federal government. Department lawyers said in a nine-page filing that the previously classified information about the shipment from South Carolina can be disclosed now because enough time has passed to protect national security. They didn't specify when the one-half metric ton of plutonium was transferred. The Justice Department notified a federal judge in Reno that the government trucked in the radioactive material to store at the site 70 miles (113 km) north of Las Vegas before Nevada first asked a court to block the move in November. The U.S. Department of Energy revealed on Wednesday that it secretly shipped weapons-grade plutonium from South Carolina to a nuclear security site in Nevada months ago despite the state's protests. Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen called the government's move "deceitful and unethical." Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, also a Nevada Democrat, said she would demand department officials come to her office on Thursday to explain how they made the "reckless decision" in such "bad faith." Democratic Rep. Dina Titus said the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to use Nevada as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. Trump revived a decades-old proposal to store the nation's nuclear waste at another site outside Las Vegas, Yucca Mountain, after the project was essentially halted under the Obama administration. Justice Department lawyers said in new court filings Wednesday that no more shipments of weapons-grade plutonium are planned from South Carolina to Nevada. They said they believe Nevada's lawsuit aimed at blocking the shipments is now moot. But lawyers for Nevada said late Wednesday that their bid for an emergency injunction is more critical than ever after the Energy Department misled them about the shipments. They say the government has created the "palpable suspicion" that more shipments are coming to Nevada. Sisolak described the months-long negotiations with Energy Department officials over the plutonium leading up to the new disclosure as a "total sham." "They lied to the state of Nevada, misled a federal court, and jeopardized the safety of Nevadas families and environment," he said. U.S. District Judge Miranda Du in Reno already is considering the state's earlier request to block the Energy Department's plans -- announced in August -- to ship a full metric ton of plutonium to Nevada from South Carolina, where a federal judge previously ordered that the plutonium be removed from a Savannah River site by 2020. Nevada argues the department has failed to adequately study the potential dangers of moving the material that still has the potential to be used to help develop nuclear weapons to an area that is subject to flash floods and earthquakes, and that the state's lands and groundwater may already be contaminated with radioactive materials. In January, Du declined to immediately block the plutonium and indicated she wouldn't rule until February. "I hope the government doesn't ship plutonium pending a ruling by this court," she said at the time. Nevada and the Justice Department filed their latest briefs Wednesday at the request of the judge, who questioned whether the case should go forward. Justice Department lawyers said any additional plutonium removed from South Carolina would not go to Nevada. Meanwhile, the states of Nevada and South Carolina are continuing to argue over where any legal challenge should be heard. Each said in briefs filed in Reno last week that theirs is the proper venue. Nevada's experts testified that the material likely would have to pass directly through Las Vegas on the way to the Nevada National Security Site. They fear an accident could permanently harm an area that is home to 2.2 million residents and hosts more than 40 million tourists a year. The Energy Department's plan approved last August called for the full ton of material to be stored at the Nevada nuclear security site and the government's Pantex Plant in Texas, two facilities that already handle and process plutonium. The department says it would be sent by 2027 to the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico or another unnamed facility. 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. Do you appreciate the work we do as the only independent media outlet dedicated to serving OU students, faculty, staff and alumni on campus and around the world for more than 100 years? Then consider helping fund our endeavors. Around the world, communities are grappling with what journalism is worth and how to fund the civic good that robust news organizations can generate. We believe The OU Daily and Crimson Quarterly magazine provide real value to this community both now by covering OU, and tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. If youre able, please SUPPORT US TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1. You can make a one-time donation or a recurring pledge. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) finds that prescription drug abuse has been falling for years. About five percent of Floridians abused prescription drugs in 2002 but that number fell to three percent in 2014. Its also important to note that in Florida, opioid prescriptions have decreased by 30 percent since their peak in 2010. But restricting prescriptions has not been effective in reducing opioid overdoses, which have increased by over 73 percent since 2010. In fact, restrictions on prescriptions likely made overdose rates worse. During the peak period of prescriptions being written, prescription abuse was actually at a record low. But after the mandated decrease in opioid prescriptions, some people who previously received opioids from their pharmacists lost their prescriptions and turned to the black market where drugs are much less safe. In his Feb. 1 cartoon depicting Kamala Harris advocating free health care for all, Michael Ramirez asks, "And how are you going to pay for it?" The answer is simple: we, the taxpayers, will pay for it. We, the taxpayers, just doled out $1.5 trillion to the ultra wealthy in this country with the latest Trump/Republican giveaway to the rich. This giveaway by the Republicans was not the first such instance of massive welfare for the wealthy. There was President Ronald Reagan's 1986 Tax Reform Act (cutting the tax rate in half and tripling our national debt, costing us $2 trillion), and the tax cuts under President George W. Bush. When Democrats are in control of the government, spending and taxing policies will change. Democrats will pay for the much-needed infrastructure repair and health care for all. Cost? No more than what we've given to a select few ultra wealthy tax dodgers over the past 32 years. How do Republican politicians want to pay for the $1.5 trillion tax cut? They want to take it from those working Americans who receive Social Security and Medicare. It is possible to fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones the Republicans concentrate on. Thats an important point. Most city sidewalks are designed with pedestrians in mind. People walk at about 2 or 3 mph. Electric scooters typically operate at up to 15 mph. The two are not compatible. Orlando changed its rules ahead of Limes arrival to allow bicycles on sidewalks, a worrisome change for walkers considering Lime bikes weigh in at a hefty 70 pounds. If the city adds scooters to the sidewalk mix, pedestrians will get squeezed out. Unless its a wheelchair or a stroller, the best policy is to keep wheels on roads unless the sidewalks are super-sized to accommodate everyone. While he was having that discussion with Cook, Bigelow was hiding in the woods across the street. According to the police report, she hopped into Cooks 2006 Ford Taurus, revved the engine and drove through the front yard to get away. Sanford was known as Celery City in the 1940s, and Paulucci came south looking to set up a supply line of the vegetable that was chopped up in millions of cans. He also started buying land in the area, eventually owning about 2,000 acres of Florida wilderness. Ballot language is still being worked out. But both Hough and Stearns said there is growing support for two amendments one that would create open primaries for state offices, such as the governor and Legislature, and another addressing congressional primaries at the federal level. They arent planning on tackling local elections, many of which are already nonpartisan and where rules vary from one county to the next, or the presidential race, which has a largely nationalized primary system. JUBA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudan peace monitoring body on Friday called for the establishment of numbers, training sites and start dates of cantonment which it said are an essential step toward the effective unification of security forces. Augostino Njoroge, interim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), said the issue of training will become critical when unifying and sustaining the South Sudanese national defense and security forces. "Declaring the numbers, locations and start dates of cantonment and training sites (for forces) is essential to be able to move forward to the next decisive phase of unification of forces," Njoroge said during the closing of a two-day workshop. The meeting was attended by chairpersons and members of all the security mechanisms responsible for the implementation of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Njoroge said the Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC) should therefore develop rigorous criteria for training. "Yours is sensitive work but vital aspects such as trust, truthfulness, and clarity of objectives were all debated (at the workshop) in a collegiate and professional manner," Njoroge told members of the security mechanisms. "I expect that your work will continue in this constructive way. The gaps and challenges that are common in tasks such as yours will be more easily overcome through discipline and continued cooperation," Njoroge added. South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The United Nations estimates that 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. In September 2018, South Sudan's conflicting parties signed a final peace deal in Ethiopia after negotiations brokered by the Sudanese government and mandated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Africa. In a departure from what the Republican-led Legislature has done in recent budget years, DeSantis wants all money in the affordable housing trust fund, known as the Sadowski Fund, to be used for affordable housing. Lawmakers have swept those funds to pay for other items in all but a handful of years in the last decade a decision consistently slammed by housing advocates and the construction industry. Deutch, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, will be the organizations chief whip for the Democratic-controlled House elected in November. A whip is a party leader who works to keep members of the group on the same page when it comes to voting on issues and helps the leadership forge consensus. While the amendment recognizes the work that has been done to push back such terror organizations, the amendment specifically names al-Qaida and ISIS as "a global threat, which merits increased international contributions to the counterterrorism, diplomatic and stabilization efforts underway in Syria and Afghanistan." It also notes that "withdrawal of the United States forces from the ongoing fight against these groups . . . could allow terrorists to regroup, destabilize critical regions, and create vacuums that could be filled byt Iran or Russia, to the detriment of United States interests and those of our allies." Getting on a Lynx bus, however, can be the opposite of an inviting experience. Some of its aging vehicles squeak harshly at every turn and have older, dirtier diesel engines. Rather than transporting a mix of occupations and economic status, Lynx is financed and equipped as more of a ride of last resort for people with no other way to work and, often with a notable presence, for the homeless, those recently released from prison, passengers in need of a bath and people with mental illnesses. "Even if it's embarrassing, and you're going to expose your life, I do believe at the end of the day, it's going to benefit you more than it's going to hurt you," Juarez said. "There's a lot of good people who want to help immigrants and those people are going to make a difference in 2020." One of them, Margaret ORourke, said she wasnt aware of the ordinance and the need to register her downtown Airbnb until the code-enforcement notice appeared in her mailbox. She said she promptly paid the fee and registered since Airbnb has proven fruitful in Thornton Park. All but one of the wildlife violations were dismissed and as punishment for the remaining count a judge ordered him to pay court costs and donate $250 to Wildlife Alert, which provides rewards to anonymous tipsters who help solve crimes against wildlife. The fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin, had been placed in hard plastic containers, apparently to avoid any potential exposure to CBP officers. The drug is considered so deadly that officers no longer cut open the suspected drug packets they seize at the border, aware that even a few salt-sized grains of the drug can be harmful. China unveiled a set of photos of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navys Su-30MKK fighter jets' first training in the new year on January 6, 2019. These photos "inadvertently" revealed a detail: a Su-30 MK2 fighter preparing to take off was mounted with a Chinese PL-12 air-to-air missile. This does not seem to be anything special, but it indicates that China has already been able to modify the Su-30MKK's fire control system to give it the capability to use Chinas homegrown weapons. The last thing that aircraft carriers want to see is the Su-30 MK2 fighter jet carrying YJ-12 and YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles. Su-30MKK is known as the most powerful fighter jet of the Su-30 family. It has enhanced the structure on the basis of the former Su-30 fighters. It has two internal heavy-duty hanging points that have been enclosed since the Su-27 fighters, increasing its total payload to 12 tons. Su-30MKK also has increased its maximum take-off weight. Its maximum range is almost 4,000 kilometers, and therefore it can patrol the entire South China Sea with the support of tanker aircraft. Since 2004, Su-30MKK fighter jet has been an important air-borne anti-ship force in Chinese military. The Su-30MKK fighter jet, H-6 Strategic Bomber and JH-7 Fighter-Bomber shoulder together the heavy responsibility of China's long-range anti-ship attack task. However, today, more and more shortcomings of the Su-30MKK fighter jet have been exposed after 15 years. As a Russian product, it originally can only carry the Russian-made KH-31 and KH-41 anti-ship missiles. These two missiles are too old, and their performance have long lagged behind that of Chinas YJ-12. Moreover, the KH-31 has been exported to the US to be used as target missile, and it is likely that the US has found a way to deal with it. Therefore, today's Su-30MKK has become a "chicken rib" for China and its bomb-bearing capacity and cruising range are under-utilized. But China has adopted its own method, which is to decrypt the fire control system of Su-30MKK, and make it compatible with China's homegrown weapons. The fire control system is the system used by fighter jets to manage, aim at and guide offensive weapons, and it is one of the most important systems on any fighter jet. The country of origin generally does not prohibit the user from modifying the system of exported fighter jets, but it will not provide decryption (or charge a fee) to do so. In this way, the user is on his own when it comes to technical system modification. India repeatedly hit such wall when it was trying to modify the fire control system of the Mirage 2000 multi-role fighter jet, and it had to pay $800 million to ask Dassault Aviation (an international French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional, and business jets, and is a subsidiary of Dassault Group) for help. China has already had a fairly mature experience in the research and development(R&D) of fighter jet fire control system and the use of Russian fighter jets. China also has experience in upgrading Russian fighter jets independently. Therefore, China successfully modified the fire control system of Su-30MKK and it is now compatible with China's homegrown weapons (maybe it has been replaced with a domestic fire control system). The photo of a Su-30MK2 mounted with a Chinese PL-12 air-to-air missile in the training on January 6th is a proof of such accomplishment. Since PL-12 can be used, the YJ-12 missile can also be used. The Su-30MKK fighter jet has three 2-ton heavy hanging points while the YJ-12 missile just weighs two tons. That is to say, a Su-30MKK fighter jet can mount three YJ-12 missiles to attack targets within a radius of 1,500 km. The distance between Zengmu Reef and Chinese Guangdong Province is only 1,900 kilometers. A Su-30MKK fighter jet that takes off from the Chinese mainland can attack enemy targets within more than half of the South China Sea. And it can cover the entire South China Sea if it takes off from the Yongxing Island. The super high speed of the YJ-12 missile is a huge threat to the Aegis system. It is conceivable that the Su-30MKK fighter jet mounted with YJ-12 missiles will become one of the most threatening weapons against enemy's aircraft carrier fleets. Disclaimer: The article was published on the https:// mil.ifeng.com. in Chinese on January 31st, 2019. The author is a netizen nicknamed Zhuge Xiaoche. The article is translated from Chinese into English by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity. If seniors are exempted from paying for schools, why arent they charged double for ambulance service? After all, theyre the ones using it most. And what about paying for the nations interstate road system? Who here wants to be charged for roads in Nebraska? And police? Those with weapons may argue that they dont need law enforcement they handle threats themselves. If youve never called 911, should you have to pay? "Orlando Sentinel Now" is a midday news show features the top news and quirky stories of the day. The show airs weekdays at noon on Facebook and OrlandoSentinel.com. You can join the conversation by commenting and taking polls. The safety of our children is our No. 1 priority, and this resource is meant to keep students safe, not to make students scared, Titusville Police Lt. Tyler Wright said of CrimeLines SpeakOut hotline. These types of hoax threats will not be tolerated, and people who make them will be held accountable. Especially the ones who were placed in the hotels in Kissimmee, they were probably the most traumatized of all, because you take a family of five people, six people and you stick them in a hotel room and you tell them that they have six months to find a place, he said. Youre basically setting these families up to fail. According to police, Murray asked the fictitious girl if she would have sex with him even though he was someone [she] just met and also whether she wanted to sneak out and drink. The messages stopped Dec. 7, but Murray texted again Sunday, police said. The family of Alejandra Juarez, a Polk County Marine veteran's wife, is struggling to adapt to life after her deportation to Mexico last year amid President Donald Trump's zero tolerance immigration policy. They have to learn to talk to each other, group dynamics, she said. Its just their whole imagination. Think about the future when theyre in an office job or leading project management, its the same thing here. To me, these are 21st century skills that are setting them up for the future. Like so many producers in the Broadway community, we at DTP are committed to finding new ways to produce and run our shows to align with higher environmental standards, said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical, in a statement. Our casts, crews, musicians and staff proudly engage in these efforts, and we look forward to discovering even more ways to innovate. After a competitive process, NASA announced Thursday that it had chosen United Launch Alliance to provide its Atlas V rocket for its Lucy mission, which will be the first to travel to the bevy of asteroids that share Jupiters orbit around the sun. The article said that the fairing splits in two in space, and comes down as halves, that together are 43 feet tall, 17 feet wide and weigh nearly 2,200 pounds. SpaceX is outfitting them with cold nitrogen thrusters that can be used to steady their descent until steerable parachutes deploy that would guide them to the waiting Mr. Steven. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call(EL PASO, Texas) -- Eleven detainees at an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas, have been refusing food, some for more than 30 days, and six of the detainees are being force-fed per orders by a federal judge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Thursday. An additional four other detainees are on a hunger strike at ICE detention centers nationwide -- one each in the Miami, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco areas -- bringing the number of detainees refusing to eat to 15 nationwide, according to ICE. The report prompted a visit from Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat who represents El Paso, who said she was "deeply alarmed" and immediately requested to meet with those on hunger strike -- many of whom, she said, had been detained for over a year. "This unacceptable. Im closely monitoring this situation & as a new member of the House [Committee on the Judiciary,] vow to implement policies that provide increased oversight and accountability to ensure detainees are treated with dignity and respect. El Paso and our country are better than this," Escobar wrote. Despite the statement from ICE, the number of protesters in the El Paso detention center could be as high as 30, volunteers with a non-profit that has been monitoring conditions of the men and a lawyer for one of the detainees told ABC News Thursday. Christina Fialho, co-founder and co-executive director of Freedom for Immigrants, said volunteers with her organization in El Paso have met directly with nine men on hunger strike. The men they've met with are from India and some were detained after seeking asylum at a port of entry. After facility staff moves them from their holding cells to the medical unit of the detention center they are force-fed through nasal tubes, according to Fialho and Ruby Kaur, a Michigan-based attorney who is representing one of the detainees. Neither Fialho's organization nor Kaur has seen the court orders authorizing the force-feeding, they said. Kaur, who intends to go to El Paso, said she's in the process of trying to obtain the orders. According to Freedom for Immigrants' research, force-feeding is a rare occurrence during hunger strikes that have been reported in ICE detention facilities across the country, including a 750-person protest in Tacoma, Washington, in 2017. "Since May 2015, weve documented nearly 1,400 people whove been on strike in 18 different facilities and never witnessed force-feeding," Fialho said. "Force-feeding seems like an escalation on ICEs retaliatory tactics." Some of the men are protesting their detainment as they hope to be released on parole while they fight against deportation. The men are in different stages in making their cases to be released, Fialho said, and "have all witnessed unsanitary and abusive conditions at the facility," including threats of deportation from guards. The protest comes at a time when immigration advocates warn that detention of asylum seekers has increased and is being used as a method of deterrence by the Trump administration. "When people resort to such a drastic measure as stopping eating for 30 days, there are reasons -- there are things that are forcing them to it, and reasons that we should be looking at what our detention policy is," said Judy Rabinovitz, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project. The ACLU was part of a 2018 lawsuit that challenged the indefinite detention of asylum seekers who prove "credible fear" when they arrive in the U.S. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. sided with the ACLU and others that there had been a steep drop in releases of asylum seekers during the Trump administration. In a statement Thursday, ICE said it "fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference" and "does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers." The men have experienced bleeding and vomiting from the nasal tube force-feeding, according to reports from the volunteers at Freedom for Immigrants who have been meeting with the detainees since before they began the hunger strike. Some have asked for wheelchairs and pillows for under their heads while they're undergoing the procedure, Fialho said. Despite the requests, the men have not been seen in wheelchairs when they meet with the volunteers in the facility, Fialho said. "Volunteers say theyre shuffling, at best, because theyre in so much pain from the procedure," she said. "Theyve lost considerable weight and since the force-feeding has occurred they seem even more emotionally and physically beaten up," Fialho said. Two detainees first began a hunger strike on Dec. 30 and were ordered to undergo "non-consensual hydration/feeding" by a federal judge in Texas about two-and-a-half weeks later, according to ICE. Three more detainees began hunger strikes days later on Jan. 2 and four more began strikes on Jan. 5. On Wednesday, another two detainees joined the hunger strike, ICE said Thursday. Hunger strike protocols -- which begins with a referral to a medical department, according to ICE policy -- were triggered after detainees missed their ninth consecutive meal. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 'Is the dynast a congenital liar? Indias first post-truth politician', writes Union Minister Smriti Irani Smriti Zubin Irani I have always believed that the perpetuation of dynasties negates the very concept of Democracy. Dynasties rely on a feudal mindset, personality cults, non-ideological positions and believe that only those belonging to a privileged family are entitled to rule. There is no place for merit, commitment and ability to deliver in a dynastic democracy. The other danger about the dynastic parties and the dynastic rule is that the aberrations of different generations of a dynasty become a part of the ideological positions of that party. The excessive regulated economy, the Kashmir blunder and the China war disaster during the Nehruvian era are historical events that the Congress would still defend. These aberrations have become a part of their ideology. The less glamorous and non-dynast Lal Bahadur Shastris successful leadership in 1965 war would always be played down by the Congress. Imposition of Emergency, the destruction of institutions, the disastrous 1984 during Indira Gandhis tenure would continue to be defended by the Congress. Rajiv Gandhis passionate weakness for his friends over the party, which led to the corrupt defence deals, witnessed the Congress throwing its weight behind corruption to defend the dynasty. However, the service rendered to India by the economic reforms enabled by the best ever Congress Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao would remain unrecognized in a dynastic party, even though the country would hail them. Let us analyse a glaring aberration in the current representative of the dynasty. Unquestionably, he is a congenital liar. The political system is increasingly realizing that it is dangerous to even maintain social contact with him in terms of basic political courtesies. Deep concerns led him to a courtesy visit the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikars residence. He concocted a conversation where he alleged that Manohar Parrikar distanced himself from Rafale. Speaking in the Motion of No Confidence against the Government, he concocted a conversation between him and President Macron of France which the French Government promptly denied. Earlier he had concocted a pleasantry exchange between him and Sushma Swaraj as a conversation with a political slant. He had similarly, in the past, concocted a conversation with Arun Jaitley claiming that the Minister had told him that he knew very little about Jammu & Kashmir. Is he Indias first post truth politician? From an imaginary Rafale, to a loan waiver scam, he is now into hallucinating conversations. What does one make out of this? Does he have a mindset of a college-level election contestant or is he a congenital liar? Yet those who depend on dynasties for their survival find themselves looking the other way even when the above aberrations may well be psychiatric in character. Ordinarily, such psychiatric aberrations as hallucinating conversations would rule a person unfit for public life. Persons suffering from them need help and not political rewards. #BudgetForNewIndia Big Push for Farmers: Rs 6,000 per year for small and marginal farmers; Benefit for Over 12 Cr distressed families Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi announced to provide assured income support to small and marginal farmers. Vulnerable landholding farmers having cultivable land up to 2 hectares to be provided direct income support of Rs. 6000 per year. To provide an assured income support to the small and marginal farmers, the Government is launching the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament today the Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal said, Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year. This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each. This programme will be funded by Government of India. Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from this. The programme would be made effective from 1st December 2018 and the first installment for the period upto 31st March 2019 would be paid during this year itself. This programme will entail an annual expenditure of Rs.75,000 crore. PM-KISAN would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season. PM-KISAN would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living. Rashtriya Gokul Mission Regarding Animal Husbandry the Minister said, I have increased the allocation for Rashtriya Gokul Mission to Rs.750 crore in the current year itself. I announce setting up of "Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog" to upscale sustainable genetic upgradation of cow resources and to enhance production and productivity of cows. The Aayog will also look after effective implementation of laws and welfare schemes for cows. Department of Fisheries To provide sustained and focused attention towards development of fisheries sector, the Government has decided to create a separate Department of Fisheries. The Minister said, In the last Budget, our Government announced the facility of extension of Kisan Credit Card scheme (KCC) to Animal Husbandry and Fisheries farmers. Now, I propose to provide the benefit of 2% interest subvention to the farmers pursuing the activities of animal husbandry and fisheries, who avail loan through Kisan Credit Card. Further, in case of timely repayment of loan, they will also get an additional 3% interest subvention. Crop Loans When natural calamities strike, farmers are generally unable to repay their crop loans. The Finance Minister said, Presently, the crop loans are rescheduled for such affected farmers and they get benefit of interest subvention of 2% only for the first year of the rescheduled loan. Our Government has now decided that all farmers affected by severe natural calamities, where assistance is provided from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), will be provided the benefit of interest subvention of 2% and prompt repayment incentive of 3% for the entire period of reschedulement of their loans. #PrayagrajKumbh2019: From Allahabad to Prayagraj 2019 as the Year of the Kumbh holds special significance for each one of us. It can usher in a new era not only of technological marvels but also of inner renewal and a boundless yogic vision Maa Ganga is the most sacred river at the heart of India, the foundation of Indias civilisation, its history, culture and yogic spirituality. Yet Maa Ganga is also a living divine presence, a deity, the Universal Mother incarnate sharing her blessing, connecting earthly streams with cosmic currents of consciousness. The confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna is the most sacred joining of rivers in India, with the land between the Ganga and Yamuna said to be the holy land of the Hindus. This definition of a country defined by sacred rivers is as old as the Vedas in which India was called Sapta Sindhu, the land of the Seven Rivers. The great city at the Ganga-Yamuna confluence was called Prayagraj, the foremost of the prayags or tirthas lauded throughout Indias history. The Mughals under Akbar had the audacity to rename this Ganga-Yamuna city as Allahabad, the city of Allah as if Islam originated in the land of the Hindus. This nefarious attitude of the Mughal kings was part of a larger conspiracy to demolish or destroy the unique identity of the Hindus, destroy Hindu temples, and to prevent new Hindu temples from being built. It was the Quran-inspired weapon aimed at striking at the root of all Hindu identity. Recently, Allahabad was restored by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to its original name, Prayagraj, sending a clear message to the world that eternal India or Bharat is on the rise. This renaming has transpired as part of the preparation for the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela from January 15-March 4, one of the several Kumbh Melas that occur every three years in different places and every 12 years in the same place in India. The Pilgrimage that Connects Ritual and pilgrimage hold the core of Indias spiritual experience and Hindu identity. Indeed, more people are engaged in pilgrimages and festivals in India probably than the rest of the world put together, extending from many thousands to millions on any given day, reaching every part of the country from Kanyakumari to Kailas. Life in India remains dominated by worship, not merely by mundane activities, with a sense of transcendence pervading the ordinary activities of the common people along with their daily pujas.Yet, India is a land not just of mystical attraction but also one of cultural denigration, particularly by foreign, colonial and missionary forces that would like to take over the minds and hearts of its people. While India holds a vision of an inner reality of universal dimensions, other cultures are too often trapped in the outer reality and primacy of the physical body, not the deathless spirit and cycle of rebirth that Indias dharmic philosophies have long extolled. In this context, the Kumbh Mela stands out as perhaps the ultimate expression of Bharatiya identity and being a Hindu. 2019 of Prayagraj forms an important affirmation and of this Bharata tradition, showing the spiritual meaning of the confluence of the rivers. The Kumbh is the largest, oldest and most colourful spiritual gathering in the world, joined by tens of millions of pilgrims and many thousands of yogis, Babas, and swamis. It is an event of incomparable magnitude, timeless traditions, and contact with higher consciousness by its devotees. The Kumbh is not about one religious leader only, the birth or death of a saviour or prophet, any historical revelation, single book, institution, belief or seeking of some heavenly world or personal salvation. The Kumbh unites all the profound strands of the yogic experience, the lives of monks and ascetics in renunciation and the common people for whom their lives also flow with the Ganga as their mother. Today more people from diverse countries will visit this unique gathering than ever before, perhaps more than to any other event in history, which will now be more studied and appreciated than ever, both for the organisational skills behind it and the enduring inspiration, though the doubting critics will also certainly cast their aspersions as well. The Kumbh has become the pivotal experience that represents the magic and mystery of India, showcasing Indias unique culture that the world is beginning to discover again in the dawning planetary age in which we can no longer confine ourselves according to a single belief or uniform set of religious practices. All of Hindu Dharma comes out for this magnificent event, with its many sects and branches, diverse deity and philosophical lines. It reveals Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma, the universal and eternal tradition that takes the human spiritual search and exalts it through and beyond all names and forms. Distortion vs Manifestation Given their well-known biases and limited vision, the media in the West and often that in India which shadows it, prefers to sensationalise the Kumbh and highlight its difficulties or what it regards as unusual or bizarre types of behaviour. This is the face of the Kumbh that we see in the BBC, for example, that is still suffering from colonial hangovers. The Kumbh takes us beyond our current political order to a very different era when human beings were rooted in the sacred, not merely in outer political identities and vote banks. The Kumbh is not circumscribed by western ideas of piety, purity or saintliness that are often artificial, if not contrived. In Hindu thought, the universe is a manifestation of Ananda or immortal bliss as it overflows in from the infinite into the finite. Even our sorrows are incomplete portions of Ananda looking for greater connections to turn back into joy. That effusive spirit of Ananda underlies and permeates the Kumbh Mela and its numerous celebrations. The Kumbh is famous for its sacred baths or snanas in the sacred rivers. For Hindus, there is not some mere single baptism to blindly change ones faith, but a continual set of sacred baths to renew ones connection with the Divine, embracing the mountain Gods and river Goddesses, the plants and animals, and our own inner Self that is one with all. Our true purpose in life is not just to make money, gain adulation or assume power in the material world and its human-centred affairs. Our souls purpose is to take our consciousness beyond the limitations and opinions of the mind. Our real purpose is to discover a new sense of wonder, mystery and amazement such as the Kumbh help us to find. Today we should respect such extraordinary festivals as the Kumbh and such sacred cultures as the Hindu. The Kumbh Mela should be respected as a key component of our living spiritual heritage that cannot be circumscribed by any belief, institution, person or creed. We all need to discover our own sacred Kumbh Mela or meeting with the great masters, such as still occur regularly in India. In our new planetary era of ecological concerns and honouring native traditions, the Hindu tradition with its respect for the Divine in nature has a special place holding the deeper spiritual heritage of our species. The Kumbh Mela is the crown jewel of the Hindu experience, of being in harmony with the entire universe within and around us. Such a collective pilgrimage of entering into the sacred waters of the universe reflects our highest aspiration to be one with the infinite and eternal. We can all learn to appreciate the Kumbh and many of us can join it for a direct experience of our cosmic Self in the vision of the great gurus, rivers and cosmic deities of India. Thanks for watching history. I hope I mentioned everything. Bill Wurtz Here at Open Culture, we happily acknowledge that learning is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. The internet may be doing a number on our attention spans, but as the world has grown smaller, the educational buffet has grown richer, more varied, and vastly more affordable. Take for example the History of the World. Geography fans can approach the subject via Ollie Byes year-by-year animated map. John Greens playful Crash Course series offers a wonderful respite for any kid grinding their way through AP World History. Those of a more traditional mindset, who prefer a statelier pace can lose themselves in 46 lectures by Richard Bulliet, professor of history at Columbia University. And then theres world history according Bill Wurtz, above, a creator of short, anachronistic-looking videos, whose YouTube fame was kindled by Vine, a now defunct app for sharing short-form videos. Chafing at Vines 7-second time constraints, Wurtz undertook a more ambitious project, a condensed History of Japan that would employ the same techniques he brought to bear in his shorter works: graphic text, clip art, and Microsoft Paint drawings. He zeroed in on the subject because he knew precious little about Japan, and looked forward to doing some virgin research. Wurtz followed up the 9-minute History of Japan, above, with History of the Entire World, I guess. The nonchalance of the title is reflected in Wurtzs offhanded narration. Any word or phrase over two syllables runs a risk of being transformed into an infomercial-worthy musical jingle: space dust, the moon, Egypt You may bridle at first, but stick it out. Its charms sneak up on you. Time is not particularly relative in Wurtzs compressed universe. Whether its 10 minutes passing before some major development or 500 million years, their passage is accorded equal heft. Humans show up around the four minute mark, grabbing stuff, banging rocks, figuring out agriculture (Mesopotamias characterization as a sweet dank valley between the Tigris and Euphrates is a particular highlight.) This is the rare history video where science plays a major role. It takes time out for weather updatesthe floor is no longer lava, the entire world is now an ocean its sobering to remember that ozone is what made it safe for multi-celled life forms to venture forth on land. Empires rise and fall, unconquerable rulers are unseated and forgotten. (Thats the Tamil Kings. Nobody conquers the Tamil Kings. Who are the Tamil Kings? Merchants probably and theyve got spices) Of course the problem with a great overview such as this is the back ends shelf life can prove rather short. Its been a little over a year and a half since Wurtz posted the video, and thus far, his parting shots still feel pretty relevant: armed drones, 3d printing, plastic-choked oceans, and a seemingly unbridgeable gap between the desire to save the world and an actual plan for doing so. Fried by 11 months of intensive research and labor on History of the Entire World, I guess, Wurtz is currently taking a leave of absence from history. These days, hes pouring his energies into original music videos like At the Airport Terminal. He also devotes a bit of every day to answering fans questions, routinely turning in upwards of a dozen succinct humble, all-lowercase replies: 1.18.19 7:00 pm what inspired you to make the entire world, i guess? was it a project you already had in mind from before or did you start it when you saw you could do more than just japan its always a nice idea to try to explain the whole world in one video. its surely something ive always wanted to do, but wasnt confident/experienced/stupid enough to believe i could do it until after i had done japan which worked so well 1.18.19 12:53 am are you ever going to make anything else as in depth as history of japan or the world? that would take so much time that by the time it was done you probably wouldnt care anymore, but someone else will so i still might do it Unsurprisingly, hes the subject of a lively sub-reddit. One fan, reddit user n44m, was inspired to plot the timeline of History of the Entire World, I Guess, below. To learn more about some of the civilizations, events and persons featured in History of the Entire World, I Guess, check out another fans annotated transcription here. And rather than nitpick about certain critical bits of history that were left on the cutting room floor, try writing a script for your own history based animation: The more you learn, the more you find out how much youre gonna have to leave out. Its like 99%. That was painful. Bill Wurtz Related Content: The Entire History of Japan in 9 Quirky Minutes A Crash Course in World History The History of the World in 46 Lectures From Columbia University Ayun Halliday is an author, illustrator, theater maker and Chief Primatologist of the East Village Inky zine. See her onstage in New York City in February as host of Theater of the Apes book-based variety show, Necromancers of the Public Domain. Follow her @AyunHalliday. 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. Stillwater, OK (74078) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Cooler. High 72F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. We can vouch for the fact that the agencies, programs and administrators that implemented this system were all well established when de Blasio was sworn in. In fact, a significant percentage of the affordable units counted by the administration were not additional homes or apartments, but refinancing of units originally made affordable by past administrations. The deal surely helps de Blasio, shredding a federal lawsuit and the potential humbling that would have come with the looming possibility of federal takeover. It helps Carsons HUD, absolving his agency of responsibility it never really wanted to have to manage the nations largest public housing agency, even as he finds NYCHA in substantial default of its legal obligations to provide decent housing. Our government extended help to this Filipino. We provided lawyers for her and we gave regular updates to the family, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters, according to the Philippine political news site Politiko. Its just unfortunate that this particular case, the Sharia law does not apply where blood money can be a reason to stop the execution. So we condole with the family. But we tried. Stone, 66, who calls himself the dirty trickster of politics, was indicted in Muellers Russia investigation last week on a slew of charges relating to his 2016 campaign contacts with WikiLeaks and alleged attempts to prevent witnesses from testifying in the special counsel probe. Heastie (D-Bronx) said during a Thursday event in Manhattan that while he and his Democratic conference are supportive of the idea, it may be too complicated an issue for state leaders to work through in the new budget that is due to be enacted by the end of March. I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; there are good-paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the face of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame, Booker said. I would ask him a couple questions today as he runs from my native New Jersey, Conway, President Trumps counselor and one of his most loyal supporters, said Friday in an interview with Fox & Friends. One is, what is wrong with the candidates that are already in there? When I first ran for public office, Republicans homed in on this part of my history and thought they could make a lot of hay out of it. A lot of racial slurs, and a lot of ugly stuff. And so my decision was Im just going to put it all out there. In talking to the mayor, I realized that he knows the spotlight is on him and his reputation is at stake, Carson said during a Friday radio interview with morning show host Joe Piscopo on WNYM-AM 970. I am extremely thankful that after three thorough investigations, one by the LAPD, one by the LA District Attorney and one by the LA City Attorney, the truth of my innocence is now established and no charges are being brought, Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, said in a Twitter statement Friday. "What I knew at the time of the press briefing was that there were multiple weapons on the scene and that at least one had been handled in a careless and unsafe manner. I later learned that the circumstances surrounding the shooting were much more reckless and dangerous than what I originally understood, Hayden said, according to the Post-Dispatch. Attorney James Towey told the newspaper his client, Riordan, blew all zeroes when he was given a breath test following the shooting. Riordan previously told investigators he advised his fellow officers against messing around with the firearm and was on his way out the door when he heard the gunshot that killed Alix. At the same time, Cody heard Jordan yelling, Stop! Dont do that! Previously, Brad had threatened to Tase me. My mom would step in and she would question what Brad was doing but she kind of stopped. She said it wasnt her kid and she didnt have a say in it. Police put Nickels in handcuffs and placed her in the back of a squad car, where she began to repeatedly rub her groin back and forth on the plastic seat, moaning. When Welch met with police officers, she said they told her that she had not been raped because she had not fought back, and that a sergeant told her that he has sex with his wife while shes asleep, and shes not reporting him for rape. The commissioner said he continues to support changing the 50-a law. I would like to put out names, charges, documents and outcomes, which I think will help build trust, said ONeill. But he cautioned that transparency does have to be balanced with the safety of police officers. Snitching on Nine Trey is off-brand for Tekashi, whose songs and frequent Instagram posts were littered with references to gang activity and trash-talk of rivals. The rainbow-haired rapper ran afoul of authorities in 2015 and pleaded guilty to participating in the filming of a sexually explicit video with a 13-year-old girl. He later told prosecutors the video was intended to boost his scumbag persona and just for shock value. Lance Meyer is seen on the witness stand in State Supreme Court on January 31, 2019 in New York. Meyer, the divorce attorney who represented Shele Covlin up until her death, testified as a witness for the prosecution in the murder trial of Roderick Covlin. (Alec Tabak for New York Daily News) After his arrest he told the FBI that numerous VIPs in New York, including President Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Sean Hannity, got special treatment and gun licenses despite not having proper qualifications. In papers filed ahead of his sentencing he questioned why Endall wasnt charged and allowed to retire with benefits. We allege that this senseless and violent attack was motivated by bias and are determined to hold the defendants accountable, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. We must all stand up against the proliferation of hate crimes and work with all communities to promote tolerance and unity. As a hate crime, we believe that the motives behind the assault and ultimately the death of three innocent, hardworking men was racial animus towards Asians, he said. Unfortunately, what we saw in the surveillance video was very gruesome, and my heart goes out to the families of the survivors. This alleged killing is a real hardship to the people of Brooklyn. Joaquin Guzman Loera, more commonly known as El Chapo, has been on trial in federal court in Brooklyn since Nov. 13, 2018. He has pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment including charges he ran the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, trafficked vast quantities of drugs to the U.S. for more than 20 years, and conspired to murder anyone who got in his way. Let me start by saying that Im ok, Smollett said in a statement obtained by the Daily News. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. Rome, GA (30161) Today Mostly cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Calhoun, GA (30701) Today Isolated thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, says no foreigner willing to attend the camp... Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, says no foreigner willing to attend the campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari can be stopped because they enjoy the freedom of movement. Ribadu said this on Friday while fielding questions from journalists at a train-the-trainer programme of the Field Operations Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Governor Issa Moussa of Zinder and Maradi State Governor, Zakiri Umar, both from the Republic of Niger, were on Thursday in Kano to rally support for President Buharis re-election. The former governorship aspirant, who is the Director, APC Presidential Campaign Council field operations, said the foreigners were constitutionally allowed to enter the country. Asked about his take on the presence of two governors from the Niger Republic at Buharis campaign in Kano, he said, For your information, it is a free world and it is the constitutional right of everyone to be where he wants to be. You have no right to curtail anybody from doing what he wants to do. People from West Africa are free to move into Nigeria. We have a protocol or agreement that they dont need a visa to come into this country. I know for sure that they dont have the vote but as a free West African who believe that someone has done extremely very well, and decided to identify himself with what he believes in, I dont think there is anything wrong and I dont think there is any crime committed. You cannot and you have no right as a Nigerian to stop them from exercising their fundamental right to identify with his friends. Their presence may or may not half any impact on the re-election but they are entitled to it. We have to guarantee their freedom because their presence is within the law and we dont have the right to stop them. On the training organised for the votes canvassers, Ribadu expressed optimism that President Buhari would win the coming presidential election and urged them to work in unity to rescue Nigeria from those coming to sell national assets. He said, We have to join hands together to rescue this nation, we dont want things to go bad like they were before. We dont want anyone to steal from our own common again. We dont want anyone to come and sell some things that belong to all of us to his own few friends. We want justice and fairness, we want to show that nobody is above the law in our own country. You (the canvassers) are believers. You people make this sacrifice as volunteers that have agreed to come collectively to improve ourselves and go to the field. We intend to go to every single door, every single house, every single armlet, you are going to train others who are also going to carry out this responsibility. I know that we are prepared and we have the best people that are going to do the work for us. We are not rich but we will deliver Muhammadu Buhari insha Allah. The training was attended by former governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, and APC Deputy Director General, Waziri Bulama, among others. Troops of 192 Battalion of the Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole have killed four insurgents in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.... Troops of 192 Battalion of the Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole have killed four insurgents in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. Deputy Director Army Public Relations Office of 7 Division/Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Ado Isa, said this in a statement in Maiduguri yesterday. He said: Troops of 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Sector 1, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, while on patrol in conjunction with the Civilian JTF, along Gwoza-Yamteke on Wednesday 30th January 2019, came across some Boko Haram terrorists attempting to infiltrate the general area. On sighting the troops, the terrorists opened fire on them. which lead to a heavy exchange of fire. As part of efforts towards curbing crimes in Ondo State, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Muhamadu Kirwa, has directe... As part of efforts towards curbing crimes in Ondo State, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Muhamadu Kirwa, has directed his members who are into cattle rearing in the state, to desist from moving their cattle from 7pm to 6am daily. It was gathered that the move was the outcome of the recent security summit held in the state, where ways of putting at bay incessant crimes in the state were discussed. President of the sect, who frowned at the rate of criminal cases in the state, compelled his members to synergize with the state government by moving with their cattle during the approved stipulated hours. Kirwa, the Ardom of Zuru, who made the statement while on a courtesy call to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his office, in Akure, assured that any Fulani herdsman who is caught and found guilty would be dealt with after the allegations must have been verified by the office of the Miyetti Allah in the state. Also, the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Bello Garba disclosed that a Fulani vigilante group had already been formed in the state as a result of the outcome of the recent security summit in the state. Garba, who emphasized that these groups were already active across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, explained that the special Fulani Vigilante groups were to synergize with the appropriate security agencies towards identifying those with criminal intent and as well to assist in beefing up security in the communities. According to him, The Fulanivigilantee groups will help in disclosing the hideouts of kidnappers in the state. Unknown gunmen Thursday night shot dead the Leader of Ahoada West Local Government Area Legislative Assembly, Hon Ekele Chikobi. H... Unknown gunmen Thursday night shot dead the Leader of Ahoada West Local Government Area Legislative Assembly, Hon Ekele Chikobi. Hon. Chikobi who until his death was the Chairman of Mobilization Sub-Committee of 2019 PDP Campaign Council in Ahoada West Local Government Area lost his life when unknown gunmen ambushed a bus carrying him along East-west road as he was returning from the campaign. Eye witness account had it that the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers operating along Elele/East-west road ambushed and riddled the bus conveying the deceased and others with bullets. The witness said the leader of Legislative Council died on the spot while other occupants of the Vehicle sustained various degrees of injuries. He said the whereabouts of the other occupants of the Vehicle that fled from the Vehicle is still unknown. The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has called on financial institutions to avoid ... The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has called on financial institutions to avoid laundering illicit funds for corrupt politicians and criminals. In a statement, the Commissions Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, in Abuja on Thursday, said Magu gave the charge during the general meeting of the Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks In Nigeria (ACCOBIN) held in Lagos. Magu said many politicians, who stole the commonwealth had begun to repatriate their loot to the country for the purpose of influencing the elections through vote buying and compromising of election officers The EFCC boss urged members of the group to join hands with the Commission to ensure that the coming elections were not compromised to avert the negative impacts that might follow. Magu said, We are all under a civic duty to comply with our various responsibilities and ensure that we do the needful to obey the laws and regulations governing the elections. He said political inducement had taken other forms under different names such as stomach Infrastructure, empowerment schemes, non-interest yielding loans and outright cash hand-outs. Immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari over his presidential rally in Kano S... Immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari over his presidential rally in Kano State on Thursday. Buhari had on Thursday endorsed Governor Umar Ganduje during his presidential rally despite bribe allegations against him. On issue of corrupt charges against Ganduje, the president said he is a sitting Governor, enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Fayose, reacting to the rally in Kano described Buhari as the grandfather of Corruption Family of Nigeria celebrating the exploits of one of his children. Fayose on his Twitter page wrote: The grandfather of Corruption Family of Nigeria went to Kano today in continuation to celebrate the exploits of one of his children. Siblings of the Kano child in whom Baba Corruption is well pleased also came from neighbouring country to join in the celebration of corruption. Governors Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi States, both from the Republic of Niger, were in Kano State to rally support for President Muhammadu Buharis re-election. Armed Bandits in the early hours of Friday opened fire on a commercial vehicle along Birnin Gwari Kaduna highway killing the driver in... Armed Bandits in the early hours of Friday opened fire on a commercial vehicle along Birnin Gwari Kaduna highway killing the driver instantly. The 30-year-old driver Muhammadu Lawal Sulaiman was hit with a bullet in the head and died at the spot. The incident happened close to Unguwar Yako village closed to Udawa town along the highway around 7: am. One of the passengers in the vehicle who didnt want his name mentioned told our reporter that he was sitting in front with the deceased when the bandits opened fire on the moving car. We were 10 in the Gulf 3 car on our way to Kano when we heard gunshots. They opened fire on the car and in the process, they hit the driver on the head. We didnt know that he was hit not until the vehicle stopped inside the bush and we all ran out of the car to save our lives, he said. He said the bandits were about seven in number and were holding dangerous guns when they attacked them. It was gathered that the victim died inside the car and was taken back to Udawa for burial. A Senior member of local vigilante at Udawa town Hussaini also said the Late driver has been buried according to Islamic rights as he calls for more security along the highway. Security has been beefed up in some parts of Ebonyi State capital, Abakaliki in the build-up to the arrival of the Peoples Democratic Pa... Security has been beefed up in some parts of Ebonyi State capital, Abakaliki in the build-up to the arrival of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the state for campaign. The major roads leading to the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium were blocked to traffic while vehicles were diverted to other routes. All the markets in the city were closed for business as the people trooped in their numbers to the stadium for the rally. It was observed that the 10,000 capacity stadium was already filled to the brim around 8am by the PDP faithful drawn from the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. Mr Emmanuel Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dave Umahi said that Ebonyi as a PDP state is fully Atikulated adding that the state was ready for the PDP candidate We are ready for the PDP presidential candidate. The turnout is tremendous and unprecedented. Ebonyi will give him 1.4 million votes during the February 16 presidential election. Atiku is our own and the government has made full arrangements for the campaign rally, he said. A member of `Friends of Atiku Ebonyi Chapter, Mr Chijioke Agwu, noted that the people of the state and the nation had confidence in the Atiku/Obi ticket. We have no doubt that when he becomes the president, Nigeria will be a country all of us will be proud of. In Ebonyi State everybody is PDP and Atiku Abubakar is our candidate. Already the Ohanaeze Ndigbo the, umbrella and apex socio-cultural organization in the South East has endorsed him We are happy to welcome them to Ebonyi and we use this opportunity to reassure them that the state is totally for them and will cast block vote come February 16, he said. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the only way Atiku Abubakar can clear himself of corr... Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the only way Atiku Abubakar can clear himself of corruption allegations is to sue former President Olusegun Obasanjo for libel. Oshiomhole said this on Thursday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano during the reelection campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must prove that the former president lied in the corrupt allegations made against him in the past. If Obasanjo said Atiku is corrupt but because of his hatred for President Muhammadu Buhari, he is now ready to reabsorb corrupt people, having institutionalised corruption. Does that mean what he said of Atiku is not true? Oshiomhole said. The only way Atiku can clean his name is to go to court and sue former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he lied against him. He must sue for libel. If he does not sue for libel, that means Atiku understands that everything Obasanjo said about him is correct and therefore it will be dangerous to interrogate him further. Then, if it is correct, he is not a fit and proper person to offer himself to Nigerians. At a programme in Lagos on Wednesday, Obasanjo had said if Jesus was imperfect, it wasnt expected of Atiku to be a saint. My Asset Declaration for Nos. SCN000014 and SCN.0000 5 were declared on the same day, 14th December, 2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of May, 2005 declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009. Following my appointment as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria in November, 2016 the need to declare my asset anew made to realize the mistake and then did the declarations to cover the period in default. I did not include my Standard Chartered Bank Account in SCN. 000014 because I believed they were not opened during the period covered by the declaration. I did not make a fresh declaration of assets after my substantive appointment as CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN. 000015 was to cover the period of four years which include my leave as CJN. The deposits made in my US Dollar account No. 87000106250 with STD. Chartered Bank of $10,000 at different intervals of 28/6/11 were sourced partly from my reserve and saving from my estacodes including medical expenses. The same applies to my deposit of 27/7/11 of the sum of $10,000 twice. It is important to state that prior to my opening the US dollar account I had foreign currency which I kept at home due to the fact that there existed a government policy that proscribed the operation of foreign currency account by Public officers including judicial Officers. It was when I got to know that the policy had changed that I had to open the said account. Upon opening the account, I was made to understand that I cannot pay in more than $10,000 at a time and per payment slip. I cannot remember the total amount I had in reserve at the time but it spread from my practice days as a private legal practitioner from 1979-1989. Some of the deposits are a result of forex trading. AGRICODE and other investment returns were from proceeds of my investments into them. The withdrawals in the account are partly to pay children fees and upkeep abroad and further investments. My British Pound and Euro accounts with Chartered Standard Bank are savings accounts. Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the endorsement of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, by President Muhammadu Buhari, is no... Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the endorsement of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, by President Muhammadu Buhari, is not a dent on the administrations anti-corruption war. Buhari raised Gandujes hands during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Kano on Thursday, signalling an endorsement of the governors second term bid despite the corruption allegations levelled against him. Ganduje was seen in some videos allegedly collecting kickback from some contractors, though the governor denied the allegations. Many have expressed reservations with the presidents relationship with Ganduje, questioning the depth of Buharis anti-corruption crusade. But in a statement, Shehu said Ganduje is innocent until proven otherwise. He added that Ganduje enjoys immunity and is free from prosecution based on his status as a sitting governor. Some of the suspects being close to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation, administrative suspensions and prosecution, Shehu said. The Presidency added that it is sheer mischief to suggest that President Buhari is shielding anybody because of their closeness to him, explaining that no official under this administration would go unpunished once they break the law. On the specific issue of Governor Ganduje of Kano State, the statement noted that Dr. Ganduje, as a sitting Governor, enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right. Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In the circumstances, the matter is in court and the President has no power to dictate to the court or the Kano State House of Assembly, which is already investigating the matter, about what to do with the allegations against Ganduje. The Presidency added that it is unfair to ignore the larger picture of the Presidents major successes in the war against corruption, including blocking leakages of corruption, which in turn, boosted government revenues. The statement challenged President Buharis critics to prove that those facing corruption allegations are innocent, adding that the Presidents zero tolerance for corruption has boosted and remarkably improved Nigerias image in the eyes of world leaders. Titi, wife of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday said her husband was not interested in embezzling the nations wealth b... Titi, wife of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday said her husband was not interested in embezzling the nations wealth but out to serve the masses. Titi Abubakar spoke during a rally in Abuja at the old parade ground area 10, alongside Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors wife, Former PDP senators, ministers and other party faithful. She vowed to ensure the welfare of women, youths and children in the scheme of things when her husband is elected president. Her words: Atiku must rule. Atiku must get Nigeria working again. You know that Atiku is a job creator and he is going to engage most of the unemployed people. You know that Atiku is for restructuring. It is for your good. The Federal Government is too powerful that is why we must decentralise. Nigerian women are suffering. Atiku will give the women micro credit so that you can do your businesses. Dont allow anybody to come and be giving you N10, 000. Do not destroy your children future. N10, 000 cannot carry you through 4 years and 8 years. The PVC they are collecting from you is a bad omen because on the day of voting you need your PVC. My women, I am telling you, collect their money and refuse to vote them. Vote the person of your choice. That money they are bringing to you is your money and your entitlement. Dont give them your PVC. If you give them you have sold your childrens future. She went on: Atiku is an educationist, he has businesses, he has done it before as Vice President and he is going to do it again as President. He was the head of the economic when he was with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku does not want Nigerians money, he has made money. You know he has so many children. All the children are not working in government offices except for one, who is a medical doctor and she is the commissioner in Adamawa State. Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhar... Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to deliver on the promises of reviving the economy, ensuring security of lives and property, tackling corruption and providing employment. Saraki, who stated this on Thursday during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign rally at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, urged the electorate in Delta State to come out en masse and vote out President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16. He said: You have to come out and vote because it is time to change the direction of this country. They told us that the economy will be better, that they will provide security and employment, but the present Federal Government has failed on all fronts. It is time to chase them out and vote in Atiku (Abubakar). This is not a personal matter; Atiku will provide jobs because he believes in the rule of law, which is very important in attracting investment, Saraki stated. Speaking also, the National chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, described the presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) as an energetic man with the capacity to lead the country out of its current challenges. Atiku can engage. He will provide security, improve the economy and ensure that our youths and women are gainfully employed, he said. Secondus cautioned officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents against colluding with the Federal Government to rig the fast approaching elections. I know that there are good people in INEC, and we also know that the Federal Government is pressurising INEC to rig the election. If they rig the election, they will be inviting war, and we are ready for it. We also believe that the security agents will obey the Constitution and remain neutral during the elections. But if they collude with the Federal Government to rig the election, they will be inviting war. I want to urge us to come out and vote, protect the votes and ensure that it count so that Buhari can be chased out, he added. Secondus noted that President Buhari was not in charge of the affairs of the country, stating that a cabal was rather in charge. He said Atiku will be fully in charge and take responsibility for every action. Welcoming the presidential campaign team, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said Delta was a peace loving state which, according to him, has resulted in the building of bridges of friendship and partnerships. Cincinnati, OH (45221) Today Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 80F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy with light rain early. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close This year the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) brings together 748 publishers and 525 book agencies from 35 countries, with some 86 publishing houses, 24 non-Egyptian, participating for the first time. A successful event so far, it was nonetheless held to a chorus of complaints about the remote location of its new venue at Egypts International Centre for Conferences and Fairs in Al-Tagammu, New Cairo. Unlike the Nasr City fair grounds, which can be reached by metro, the new venue would make it inaccessible to ordinary fair-goers and rob the event of its spirit, it was argued. But within a week of its opening by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, according to the General Egyptian Book Organisation head Haitham Al-Hag, the fair has registered more than a million visits. Al-Hag estimates that, by 5 February when it closes, the number of fair goers will have risen by 50 per cent compared to last years. This is borne out by the long queues at the gate, where effective security measures are the only bottleneck. The space makes for an entirely different experience from the typical Nasr City fair, with state-of-the-art amenities and a layout that is easier to navigate as well as maps, volunteer ushers, coffee shops and conveniences. According to Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem (speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly), thanks to the Ministry of Defence, the Cairo governorate, EgyptAir, and the Ministry of Transportation (which has transported visitors to the new venue), Egypt now has a book fair of international standards: The 50th round of the fair has seen a concrete leap in preparations despite the transportation challenge. However, the tremendous efforts that the organisers have exerted have led to results. Not everyone is enthusiastic about the change. Ahmed Farouk, a student to whom the Nasr City fair grounds hold childhood memories of the fair as a family outing, feels the old atmosphere is lost. Like Mona Shawki, a teacher, he found the prices a little too steep for his budget. But according to George Damyan, the owner of University Print House in Alexandria, this is partly due to a nearly 70 per cent increase in fair pavilions rent price: LE1,000 per metre for a 36 metre space in addition to insurance and transportation costs. The location hasnt helped, Damyan feels: the long journey discourages people from spending as much time at the fair and from buying books they will have to carry home. Until last year I used to break even on the first day of the fair, this year I dont think itll happen until the end. Yet booksellers like Raouf Asham, who represents Madbouly Bookshop, are pleased with the turnout. Kalimat agency director Islam Hosni feels this is the best fair he has seen since first participating in 2006, with the pavilions fairly distributed among Publishers Union members and a world-class venue compared to the usual mess of tattered tents and unclean cafeterias. For Salwa Mourad, an accountant, the new venue was a relief since it provides a book lover with a hassle-free environment and better company. Ahmed Abdou, a waiter who works at the fair, says business has been better and more pleasant at the new venue. *** One highlight this year is the pavilion of the Cultural Palaces Authority, which has drawn the audience with its low prices (LE2.5-25) and valuable titles, notably the Dhakirat Al-Kitaba (or Memory of Writing) series of books. Another is the Arab League guest-of-honour presentation, which offers books, archives and, notably, three large volumes of rare historical photos featuring such Arab leaders as King Farouk with King Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Arab League secretaries like Al-Shazly Al-Qaliby and Esmat Abdel-Meguid on the day the League relocated from Cairo to Tunisia. Under the slogan A Book for Every Visitor, every visitor to the pavilion of the Arab League is given a free book of their choice. One hall is dedicated to telling the story of the fair through documentary materials and photographs featuring intellectuals, authors, poets and public figures who have participated in the fair over its 50-year history. Author Soheir Al-Qalamawi and culture minister Tharwat Okasha, who set up the fair at its first venue in Gezira in 1969, are being commemorated. So are such literary figures as Mohamed Abdou, Naguib Mahfouz, Taha Hussein and Abdel-Rahman Al-Sharqawi. According to Al-Hag, there are also celebrations of the 1,050th anniversary of the foundation of Cairo, the centenary of the 1919 Revolution and the 150th anniversary. * A version of this article appears in print in the 29 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Brave new fair Short link: A comprehensive free trade deal between Japan and the European Union has come into force. The pact will eventually remove tariffs on more than 90 percent of imports from both sides and liberalize rules in a broad spectrum of fields. The Economic Partnership Agreement, or EPA, took effect on Friday. Japan and the EU ratified the deal last December. Japan and the EU have a total population of 640 million. And they account for 28 percent of global GDP and 37 percent of the value of the world's trade. Japan will eliminate tariffs on 94 percent of its imports from the EU, including agricultural products. The EU will scrap levies on 99 percent of imports from Japan. The two sides will also liberalize rules in a wide range of areas, such as investment, services, and public procurement. The Japanese government says the EPA will expand trade and investment, pushing up the country's real GDP by about one percent and create roughly 290,000 jobs. Tokyo led negotiations on the EPA with the EU and another major free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which involves Japan and 10 other nations. The TPP came into effect late last December. The Japanese government hopes the two major trade deals will help advance the importance of free trade to the world amid growing protectionism. A brutal cold wave moved eastward yesterday after bringing temperatures in the US Midwest lower than those in Antarctica, grounding flights, closing schools and businesses and raising fears of hypothermia. The extreme weather has now been blamed for as many as eight deaths, US news outlets reported. Mail deliveries were suspended and people were encouraged to stay home in nearly a dozen US states where the mercury plunged into the negative double digits, the worst freeze to grip the region in a generation. The phenomenon stemming from a blast of Arctic air caused surreal scenes throughout the region, such as steam rising off the waters of Lake Michigan -- the result of extremely cold air passing over warmer water below. Parts of Niagara Falls solidified into frozen stillness, and blocks of ice covered the river winding through downtown Chicago. Americas third city was in the direct path of the harsh weather and experienced its second-coldest day ever. Chicago was on track to break new records overnight when temperatures were forecast to reach their lowest points in the early hours Thursday. This is a historic cold, obviously, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told a Wednesday night news conference. They are life-threatening temperatures, and they should be treated accordingly, he cautioned. The most intense cold was expected overnight Wednesday into Thursday, said Ben Deubelbeiss, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, The New York Times reported. The Wednesday morning temperature in the Windy City was -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius), which felt like -50 degrees (-46 Celsius) with wind chill. It was colder than Alaskas state capital and even colder than parts of Antarctica. It feels like being close to dry ice, Leon Gilbert, 31, told AFP. I can feel my skin tighten up. Unlike most Chicago residents, Gilbert was required to report to his job at a Starbucks on a downtown street largely devoid of its usual bustle of people and traffic. The Kabul government is steadily losing its grip over parts of Afghanistan even as American forces intensify their air campaign against insurgent groups, a US government watchdog said yesterday. The latest grim assessment of Afghanistans security situation comes as the US pursues talks with the Taliban and urgently seeks a way out of the 17-year war. Numbers provided by Resolute Support, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, show that as of October 31, only 63.5 per cent of Afghans are living in areas controlled or influenced by the Kabul government -- down from 65.2pc the previous quarter. According to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which compiled the data, the decrease came as Kabuls control or influence over Afghan districts dropped. SIGAR said just 53.8pc of Afghanistans 407 districts are in government hands, and experts on Afghanistan say the number is lower still. Instead of looking at population metrics, the Pentagon in a response to SIGAR said it is more important to focus on the principal goal of the strategy of concluding the war in Afghanistan on terms favorable to Afghanistan and the United States. Officials pointed to ongoing talks between the Taliban and US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who this week said he had sealed the outlines of a peace deal. Highlighting the ongoing security crisis, SIGAR said the US has dramatically increased air strikes, dropping 6,823 bombs in the first 11 months of 2018. The figure was already 56 percent higher than the total number of munitions released in 2017 (4,361), and is more than five times the total in 2016, SIGAR said in its report. Meanwhile, the strength of Afghan security forces has continued to dwindle, and currently stands at 308,693 personnel. That means only 87.7 percent of positions are filled, the lowest level since January 2015. Top diplomats from Saudi Arabia and its allies wrapped up two days of talks in Jordans Dead Sea resort yesterday on coordinating policy on the multiple conflicts gripping the region. The closed-door meetings were a consultation between brothers and friends, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a terse statement shortly after they ended. They were a forum to exchange views on our regional issues and ways of cooperation to overcome regional crises, he said, without providing any details. On Wednesday, when the six ministers held six hours of talks, Jordans King Abdullah II highlighted the importance of coordination on the various issues and crises facing the region. The talks, which also involved the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, came just two weeks before a planned US-Polish conference on the Middle East. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the conference will look at making sure Iran is not a destabilising influence, although a senior IS official has insisted it is not an anti-Iran meeting. The Dead Sea meeting also came amid debate over the return of Syria to the Arab League, which suspended Damascuss membership in November 2011 as President Bashar al-Assad has emerged victorious from nearly eight years of deadly conflict. Several Arab states, including Lebanon and Tunisia, have called for Syrias return. Alaa Hilal was out shopping in Cairo when she was attacked by a stray dog in broad daylight -- an increasing problem of daily life in Egypt which is stirring debate. I got out of my car and saw an exceptionally large street dog, the 38-year-old housewife told AFP at her home, northeast of Cairo. He approached me and bit me without barking or doing anything else, said Hilal, adding that she had been injured in the thigh. An overpopulated mega-city of more than 20 million people, Cairo is already plagued by monster traffic jams, widespread waste problems and rampant pollution. Packs of stray dogs are only adding to the citys challenges. Complaints about dog attacks, exposure to rabies and in some cases even deaths over the years have triggered calls for the animals to be brought under control. Hounds unleashed Commonly referred to as baladi dogs, strays are widely viewed as unsanitary and dirty. They are typically seen running around the streets and scavenging garbage for food. According to the agriculture ministry, there were around 400,000 cases of dog bites in 2017, up from 300,000 in 2014. And 231 people died over the past four years from the wounds they received, mainly as a result of rabies. A bite from a dog carrying the rabies virus can be fatal within 24 hours as it damages the humans nervous system, said Shehab Abdel-Hamid, the head of Egypts society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA). Hilal, who had never feared dogs having had several pets when growing up, was rushed to a nearby hospital only to discover that she was the ninth person to be bitten by the same dog. Due to the trauma caused by this incident, I became worried and I no longer want to be in the same place with them, she said. There are no official data on the numbers of stray dogs, but activists say they are running loose in their millions. A survey by the SPCA showed that the number of stray dogs may reach up to more than 15 million, Abdel-Hamid said. And though street dogs appear to fear the most crowded areas, they can be loud and aggressive in poorly lit and rubbish-strewn suburbs. In November, a video widely circulated on social media showed a car hitting a teenager who was being chased by two stray dogs. Garbage is the main reason behind the stray dogs crisis in Egypt, said Abdel-Hamid, highlighting how the problem was exacerbated when the rubbish men stopped working during the 2011 uprising. Government mauled The SPCA, however, lacks resources. Its headquarters in downtown Cairo was looted during the uprising and has not been renovated since, Abdel-Hamid added. And Egyptian authorities say they can only intervene on a case by case basis. We do not go around the streets looking for dogs to kill them, said the agriculture ministry spokesman Hamed Abdel - Dayem. We only take measures following com - plaints. He didnt specify what measures are taken to bring the stray dog population under control. But animal rights advocates often lambast the government, accusing it of mass culls. In 2017, authorities killed more than 17,000 stray dogs following multiple complaints of dog disturbances and biting in Beni Sueif, south of Cairo, according to an August report by the governorates veterinary directorate. The Red Sea governor even offered a 100 Egyptian pounds ($5.58) award to those who capture and hand over at least five strays. Animal rights defenders also accuse the government of killing dogs using a drug, known as strychnine, a chemical substance listed as unacceptable on animal welfare grounds for euthanasia by the World Organisation for Animal Health. But Abdel-Dayem denied that the government imported banned substances. Shelter of Hope Animal rights advocates have sought to offer solutions, actively removing dogs from the streets and giving them homes. Ahmed al-Shorbagi, 35, opened two dog shelters in a desert area west of Cairo, near the famed Giza pyramids. The buildings with sheer concrete walls have kept more than 250 dogs safe for the past three years. Shorbagi contributes 40 percent to the funding of the shelters while the rest comes from donations. At first I followed the animal rescue pages on Facebook, Shorbagi told AFP, rubbing one dogs belly as she wagged her tail in joy. I saved a dog that I called Hope and when I opened the shelter, I named it after her. Shorbagi believes the solution lies in dog sterilisation programmes, providing rabies vaccinations and removing the garbage. Instead of the government paying millions of dollars to import poison, it should consider sterilisation, he said. We, as associations, proposed to the ministry of agriculture to solve the problem but it refused. The ministrys spokesman denied however refusing to cooperate with private entities and hailed their work to help resolve the crisis. The Fourth High Criminal Court yesterday awarded a man death penalty and stripped him of his citizenship for establishing and joining a terror group, killing an on-duty police officer and a civilian. Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi confirmed that the accused was also found guilty of causing an explosion and possessing weapons and explosives to use in acts of terror, as well as raising funds for a terror group, illegal rallying and rioting. The case involving 23 defendants had been reviewed by a court that sentenced one of them to death and the others to life imprisonment. The court also revoked their citizenship and ordered two defendants to pay up BD200,000. The ruling was approved at the next stage by the Court of Appeals. With regards to death penalty ruling, Al Hammadi added that the case was referred to the Cassation Court, in accordance with Bahrains laws, and the judges decided to send it back to the High Criminal Court that issued its verdict. The incidents took place on 8 December 2014, when the defendants placed bombs in Damistan and Karzakkan villages in the Northern Governorate, causing the death of policeman Ali Mohammed Ali in Damistan and a 72-year-old citizen in Karzakkan, in addition to injuring other policemen and civilians. The Housing Ministry has kick-started the construction of around 1,000 housing units in the east of AlHidd city, it has emerged. As per the plan, a ministry source told Tribune, 987 flats will be constructed in the east of Al Hidd City. When asked about the allocation criteria, the official explained that 246 flats will be constructed in east of AlHidd 8, 159 flats in east of AlHidd 9, (177) flats in east of Al-Hidd 10, 291 flats in east of Al-Hidd 12, and 114 flats in east of Al-Hidd 13 by 2030. Bassem Al Hamer, the Minister of Housing, earlier said that the ministry will start distributing 487 housing units as directed by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. HRH the Crown Prince has directed to distribute 5,000 housing units to beneficiaries during a government meeting held on 2018 in line with HM King Hamads directive to deliver 40,000 housing units across Bahrain. The instruction follows previous orders which led to the successful allocation of over 15,000 homes across different parts of Bahrain and comes after the recent inauguration of Salman Town, one of the Kingdoms largest housing projects comprising 15,000 housing units. The move, the minister said, falls in line with the state vision for 2030 and follows the directive of Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. The distribution will continue until mid next week to handle beneficiaries in an arranged manner, the Minister said. According to reports, Bahrains affordable housing waiting list currently is for 60,000 units, which, however, is much better when compared to the waiting list in Kuwait with 100,000 on it. This according to an earlier statistics released on housing at the Gateway Gulf investment forum in Bahrain might differ around GCC due to various factors. The seminar pointed that in Bahrain, an affordable rent per month, for a mid-income household, is between 780 and 1179 Bahraini dinars ($2069 and $3127) while in Saudi Arabia, an affordable rent is between 480 and 1620 Saudi riyals ($127 and $431), which throws up the need for diversified housing solutions. Also speaking at the forum, Bahrains Housing Minister said he had one goal in office. For me, its very simple to increase and fast-track the delivery of housing units, he said. For this, Bahrain has devised various programmes which include Mazaya programme a social housing scheme in collaboration with the private sector in which eligible applicants can receive subsidized loans from banks to purchase houses with a maximum price of 120,000 Bahraini dinars, according to a report. Some of the ongoing projects in the capital city include Sanad (265 Houses), Jufair (60 flats), Sitra 3 (754), Tubli-houses (246 houses) and Umm Al Hassam (18). In Muharraq, Busaiteen Aref project includes 35 houses. Al Ramli in Northern governorate has 3700 units. Project in Southern governorate includes Horat Sanad (315 houses), Hunaineya (293 houses), Bar Al Dur (862 Houses/ 192 flat), Buhair (700), Ryade Asker (423) and Alhajiate (houses-142, flats 160). The Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee at the Council of Representatives categorically rejected the statements made by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on the judicial verdicts in Bahrain. In a statement, the committee, expressing deep concerns, accused Iran of being a source of instability and tension in the region by blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. The extremist Iranian regimes threats to regional and international security and stability are increasing, as well as its flagrant interference in Bahrains domestic affairs, the committee said adding: This contravenes all provisions of international agreements between states, particularly Article (41) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which calls for the respect of the laws and regulations of the receiving State and urges non-interference in the internal affairs of that State. The panel called on the International Community to counter Irans interference firmly and to take serious and prompt actions to address such dangerous and repeated violations. The Parliamentary committee lauded the Kingdoms efforts in various fields, and praised Bahrains independent Judiciary, being a distinguished role model at the regional and international levels. It also stressed that Bahrain will carry on enforcing the law, consolidating the reform and justice approach and imposing the states prestige and respect against any attempts to target the nation or put its interests at risk. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. The Daily News-Miner is locally owned by the Helen E. Snedden Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Subscribe or donate Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany, Minister of Tourism Rania Al-Mashat and 11 ambassadors to Egypt toured a number of antiquities sites in Minya on Friday. In Tel El-Amarna they visited the tombs of Panehsi and Mery Re, two of the top officials in the reign of king Akhenaten, which feature notable wall paintings. The paintings depict scenes showing the visit of Akhenaten, his wife Queen Nefertiti and their daughters to Aten Temple, as well as scenes showing them worshipping Aten and distributing offerings to the people. In Beni Hassan they visited tombs of top officials from the Middle Kingdom which have paintings showing hunting scenes, marriage ceremonies, hair cutting, military training. There are 39 tombs at the site, four of which are open to the public. During the tour, El-Enany announced the opening of a fifth tomb, which features wonderful paintings. The last stop in the tour was the under-construction Aten museum on the banks of the Nile in Minya city, where El-Enany inspected recent construction work. Work on the museum stopped in 2010 after the completion of its first and second phase due to lack of funds, and resumed in 2016. In November 2018, Germanys parliament agreed to grant Egypt 10 million euros to help in the completion of the third and fourth phases. The museum relates the story of the monotheistic Akhenaten, who was also one of the most important pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Short link: 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. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Gov. Bill Walker, center, is the guest of honor during a celebrity roast Friday supporting United Way. He's seen here before the ceremonial faceoff of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup game at the Carlson Center in 2015. (Newser) Closing arguments wound down Thursday in the trial of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leaving in their wake in a Brooklyn courthouse tales "that at times echoed a Shakespearean drama and at others detailed a Sinaloa cartel bloodbath," per NBC News. The 61-year-old drug kingpin's fate is now set to transfer Monday into the hands of a five-man, seven-woman jury, who will deliberate on charges that include money laundering, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to murder his rivals. With witness names like "The Godfather," "Lollipop," and "The Fat One," the trial likely wasn't a boring one for spectators. More on the El Chapo drama: Eyebrow-raising details: NBC offers a look at some of the more unusual testimony in the case, including stories of a naked Guzman trying to flee from cops by disappearing into a tunnel under his bathtub, as well as a proud text message to his wife that he wanted to give one of their toddler daughters an AK-47 "so she can hang with me." One especially bizarre incident: Guzman and his wife showing up one day at the courthouse in matching burgundy velvet blazers, apparently to show themselves as a united front after his mistress had testified. NBC offers a look at some of the more unusual testimony in the case, including stories of a naked Guzman trying to flee from cops by disappearing into a tunnel under his bathtub, as well as a proud text message to his wife that he wanted to give one of their toddler daughters an AK-47 "so she can hang with me." One especially bizarre incident: Guzman and his wife showing up one day at the courthouse in matching burgundy velvet blazers, apparently to show themselves as a united front after his mistress had testified. Spotlight on Sinaloa: El Chapo's trial offers what the Washington Post calls an "unprecedented glimpse" into the bowels of Guzman's drug cartel, complete with stories of cocaine shoved in cans of peppers, firearms adorned with diamonds, and a drug depository with a stellar view of the Brooklyn Bridge. El Chapo's trial offers what the Washington Post calls an "unprecedented glimpse" into the bowels of Guzman's drug cartel, complete with stories of cocaine shoved in cans of peppers, firearms adorned with diamonds, and a drug depository with a stellar view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Taking notes for Netflix: Listening in on some of those fascinating details was Eric Newman, a producer for the streaming network's Narcos: Mexico, and he called what he saw and heard "an amazing open book for us," per the New York Times. Alejandro Edda, the actor who plays Guzman in the series, even showed up Monday and "instantly became part of the absurdity. After El Chapo's lawyers told their client that the actor who played him on the show was in the gallery, the kingpin turned around from his spot on the defense table, smiled, and waved at Mr. Edda." story continues below Interesting legal strategy: Guzman took a little ribbing about his height"El Chapo" means "The Shorty"during Thursday's hearing, and the barbs came from his own attorney, who tried to downplay his client's rep as a drug kingpin. "That 60-year-old man who's 'this big' is whacking people with a tree branch for three hours?" lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman scoffed, per the New York Post. Guzman took a little ribbing about his height"El Chapo" means "The Shorty"during Thursday's hearing, and the barbs came from his own attorney, who tried to downplay his client's rep as a drug kingpin. "That 60-year-old man who's 'this big' is whacking people with a tree branch for three hours?" lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman scoffed, per the New York Post. "Scum, utter lunatics, and animals": Lichtman kept it turned up while describing the parade of cooperating witnesses against Guzman, claiming his client was simply the "fall guy" in the face of a lot of liars. "If you don't believe all cooperators, you can't convict Mr. Guzman," he said, seemingly "intent on entertaining the jurors," per the Los Angeles Times. Lichtman kept it turned up while describing the parade of cooperating witnesses against Guzman, claiming his client was simply the "fall guy" in the face of a lot of liars. "If you don't believe all cooperators, you can't convict Mr. Guzman," he said, seemingly "intent on entertaining the jurors," per the Los Angeles Times. No apologies: From El Chapo's beauty queen wife, that is. Per the New York Daily News, a defiant Emma Coronel Aispuro spoke up after Thursday's proceedings, saying, "I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am not perfect, but I consider myself a good human being who has never hurt anyone intentionally." She also noted everything she'd heard at the trial "does not change in any way the way I think about him." From El Chapo's beauty queen wife, that is. Per the New York Daily News, a defiant Emma Coronel Aispuro spoke up after Thursday's proceedings, saying, "I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am not perfect, but I consider myself a good human being who has never hurt anyone intentionally." She also noted everything she'd heard at the trial "does not change in any way the way I think about him." Who's the boss? Don Winslow writes about the "dirty secret" underlying Guzman's downfall for Vanity Fair, noting that, in the end, it doesn't really matter what happens as a result of this trial. Why? "The critical thing to understand is that Guzman wasn'tand never would bethe sole 'boss' of the Sinaloa cartel," Winslow writes. Instead, think of it like a tiered wedding cake, with Guzman just one of the fondant flowers on the top tier. (Read more Joaquin Guzman stories.) (Newser) Authorities in St. Louis are still trying to get to the bottom of how off-duty police officer Katlyn Alix was shot and killed last week while at the apartment of an on-duty colleague, and now the latter is facing allegations that he, along with his partner who was also on duty, had been drinking during their shift. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on a disciplinary document from Lt. Willie Brown that notes Nathaniel Hendren and his partner, Patrick Riordan, "consumed alcoholic beverages while on-duty," and that Hendren "recklessly discharged a firearm resulting in the death of another officer." Riordan says he only had a "few sips of a beer" while hanging out with Hendren and Alix, per his lawyer, who tells the paper his client "blew all zeros" on the BAC tester after the shooting. story continues below Hendren's attorney, meanwhile, says he hasn't seen the results of his client's drug and alcohol test, accusing the St. Louis PD and other officials of keeping him in the dark. He also blasts as "categorically false" rumors that cocaine was found at his client's apartment, per the Riverfront Times. Alix, 24, died after she and Hendren allegedly played a game of Russian roulette. Whether he was drinking or not, Hendren reportedly lost it after he and Riordan took Alix to the hospital, with sources telling the Post-Dispatch that Hendren head-butted the window of a police SUV, causing minor injuries to his head in the process. In his mugshot, he's seen with a black eye. Hendren, who's been charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, posted $10,000 of a $100,000 total bond Thursday and was released from jail on house arrest. (Read more police shooting stories.) (Newser) You've heard of sour grapes. Now comes crushed grapes. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, got a little payback against Mitch McConnell over a reported political threat. As the Hill reports, Manchin dropped off a jar of jam with "crushed grapes" on the label to the Senate majority leader's office. (Manchin himself tweeted an image Thursday.) Why? In the new book Team of Vipers by former White House adviser Cliff Sims, McConnell is quoted telling President Trump that Republicans would defeat Manchin in the 2018 midterms. In fact, "we're going to crush him like a grape," McConnell reportedly promised. Manchin, however, prevailed. Politico has a full excerpt of the Trump-McConnell conversation here. (Read more Joe Manchin stories.) (Newser) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the US is pulling out of a treaty with Russia that's been a centerpiece of arms control since the Cold War. The American withdrawal, expected for months, follows years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty, per the AP. The 1987 pact was the first arms control measure to ban an entire class of weapons: ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 310 miles and 3,400 miles. Russia denies that it has been in violation. What you need to know: Pompeo said in December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to return to compliancea deadline that expires on Saturdaybefore it gave formal notice of withdrawal, with actual withdrawal taking place six months later. That technically leaves a small window for saving the treaty. However, in talks this week in Beijing, the US and Russia reported no breakthrough in their dispute. story continues below US withdrawal raises the prospect of further deterioration in US-Russian relations, which already are arguably at the lowest point in decades, and debate among US allies in Europe over whether Russia's alleged violations warrant a countermeasure such as deployment of an equivalent American missile in Europe. The US has no nuclear-capable missiles based in Europe; the last of that type and range were withdrawn in line with the INF treaty. US officials also have expressed worry that China, which is not party to the treaty, is gaining a significant military advantage in Asia by deploying large numbers of missiles with ranges beyond the treaty's limit. Leaving the INF treaty would allow the Trump administration to counter the Chinese, but it's unclear how it would do that. During remarks at a news conference in Bucharest, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said there are no signs of getting a compliance deal with Russia. "So we must prepare for a world without the INF Treaty," he said. (Vladimir Putin won't be happy .) France's Council of State has ruled that security forces have a right to use controversial high-velocity rubber ball launchers for crowd control at weekly protests by the yellow vest movement. Friday's decision by the highest administrative body came a day before protesters were to take to the streets of for the 12th straight week. Some unions and demonstrators had sought an urgent ruling on the use of such weapons following numerous injuries, some serious. The Council noted the frequency of violence and property destruction at protests, some of which deviated from approved routes or weren't declared in advance. It concluded that authorities' use of the devices doesn't constitute a ``grave attack'' on the freedom to demonstrate, or the right not to be exposed to inhuman or degrading treatment. Short link: MivPiv/iStock(LOS ANGELES) -- A former disciple of the notorious 1960s cult leader Charles Manson has been recommended for parole for the third time, but it will be up to California's new governor to decide if Leslie Van Houten will go free after serving more than 40 years in prison for murder. The California Board of Parole commissioners concluded that Van Houten, now 69, is suitable for release following a parole hearing on Wednesday. Twice the board had previously recommended Van Houten, considered by authorities to be a model prisoner, be paroled, but former Gov. Jerry Brown rejected the board's recommendation both times. Brown last denied Van Houten parole in January 2018, saying she still lays too much blame on Manson, who died in prison in November 2017, at age 83. With the board recommending parole, a 150 day review process begins, according to the California Department of Corrections. The first 120 days are for the parole board to review "all the facts and matters of law" related to the decision, the DOC said. If the board's decision "withstands scrutiny," as the DOC calls it, it will then be sent to newly-elected Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk. Gov. Newsom will have five options, according to the DOC. He may uphold, reverse or modify the decision, he could send it back for a full board review or he may take no action at all, which would result in Van Houten being granted parole. Van Houten is the second former Manson follower the parole board has recommended for release this month. On Jan. 3, the commissioners said Bobby Beausoleil, now 71, is suitable for parole. Beausoleil was convicted of the July 27, 1969, murder of music teacher Gary Hinman. Newsom has yet to say how he will rule in Beausoleil's case. Van Houten was just 19 years old when Manson ordered her and two other cult members to kill grocery store owner Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their Los Angeles home on Aug. 10, 1969. During the grisly killings, the LaBiancas were stabbed multiple times and the killers used their blood to scrawl on the couple's walls the words "Rise," "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter" in an apparent reference to The Beatles' song with the same name. Manson had hoped the murders would lead to a race war in the United States, investigators said. The murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca came a day after other Manson followers killed Valley of the Dolls actress Sharon Tate, who was more than eight months pregnant, and four of her friends at her Los Angeles home. During the 2018 parole hearing, Van Houten told the commissioners that the remorse she feels for helping commit the murders is what has driven her to make amends in prison, where she has helped other inmates get their education and adjust to life in confinement. "I think most of what I do is out of guilt for what I've done," Van Houten told the board. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. (Newser) Inmates in an Iowa state prison are fighting a new regulation that declares no nudes are good nudes. The inmates, who are suing the state, say a policy banning pornography is too broad and violates their constitutional rights. The statute states that Iowa Department of Corrections funds should not be used to make available "commercially published information or material to an inmate when such information or material is sexually explicit or features nudity." The inmates, who concede that "no one has a right to pornography," argue that the ban includes fine art and literature that features nudity, and say it is clear the department also plans to confiscate material bought privately. story continues below At a hearing Thursday, in which Anamosa State Penitentiary inmates participated over the phone, Assistant Attorney General William Hill argued that the case should be dismissed immediately because it is "common sense that pornography in a prison is a bad idea," Courthouse News reports. Inmate Jack Leonard Hays countered that "not everybody considers nudity obscene." Polk County District Court Judge Scott Rosenberg said he would decide later on whether the case should be thrown out. The statute, which was enacted last year, also banned the "pornography reading rooms" that had been in some prisons since the late 1980s, reports the Des Moines Register. (These Ohio inmates stored porn on computers they stashed in a ceiling.) (Newser) She made a literal splash at the Golden Globes as the "Fiji Water Girl," but now Kelleth Cuthbert's relationship with the company appears to be all wet. Cuthbert (real name: Kelly Steinbach) showed up on the red carpet at the awards presentation last month, standing in the background with a tray of Fiji Water bottles as celebrities mugged for the camera. Thanks to her modeling background, however, Steinbach ended up becoming an internet sensation herself by having "good face" and simply "looking at the camera at the right time," she tells People. Which was great publicity for Fiji Waterexcept now Steinbach is suing the beverage firm and its parent, The Wonderful Company, saying that the day after the Golden Globes, the company created cardboard cutouts of her without her OK in an unapproved marketing campaign. story continues below The Blast has the legal docs, in which Steinbach notes Fiji Water didn't try to negotiate a deal with her on the cutouts until after it had already started placing them around town. In her complaint, Steinbach says Fiji tried to use "gifts to entice" her to agree to the cutouts, as well as "pressured Steinbach into video recording a fake signing of a fake document to simulate Steinbach signing on as a Fiji Water Ambassador" (her legal team says it wasn't a valid contract). Steinbach says in her suit, which seeks punitive and compensatory damages, that the misuse of her likeness has marred her "peace, happiness, feelings, goodwill, professional standing, and future publicity value," per Mashable. Fiji Water calls the lawsuit "frivolous and entirely without merit" in a statement to People, noting that "we negotiated a generous agreement with Ms. Steinbach that she blatantly violated." (Read more Fiji Water stories.) (Newser) A major setback for Artie Lange: The comedian, who has long struggled with drug addiction, is in jail in New Jersey after testing positive for cocaine twice in less than two months. Lawyer Frank Arleo tells NJ.com that Lange was remanded to jail after being given a drug test when he reported to the drug court at state Superior Court in Newark Wednesday. Arleo says Lange also tested positive for morphine. "He knows he's got a problem," the lawyer said Thursday. "He knows he shouldnt have tested dirty yesterday, but he did. He knew what was going to happen." story continues below According to a tweet from Lange's official account, the comedian was not arrested, but is being held for a few days to "sober up" before being transferred to a long-term treatment facility, Variety reports. Lange, who recently resumed his role on the Judd Apatow-produced HBO series Crashing, was sentenced to four years of probation in June last year in connection with a 2017 arrest for heroin possession. At a December court appearance for violating probation by testing positive for cocaine, Lange thanked the "compassionate" judge and prosecutor and said: "If I fail now I will go to jail. Jail is not for addicts. But Id be giving them no choice." (After Lange was arrested in 2017, Apatow said he would "never give up" on him.) (Newser) The world's richest man doesn't know how his racy text messages to Lauren Sanchez ended up in the National Enquirerbut he can afford to hire private investigators to find out. Gavin de Becker, longtime security chief for Jeff Bezos, is leading the privately funded investigation. He tells the Daily Beast that one of the people the investigation is looking at is Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez, a President Trump supporter whose associates include Roger Stone and Carter Page. De Becker says the investigation is ongoing, but "strong leads point to political motives." Trump has often criticized the Amazon CEO and mocked him as "Jeff Bozo" after Bezos announced his divorce in early January. story continues below Sanchez, a Hollywood manager and publicist, scoffed at the allegations. "I am not dignifying de Beckers passive-aggressive allegations or his crazy conspiracy theories. Ive recommended that Lauren fire him as security for her and the Whitesell children," he tells Page Six, referring to Sanchez's children with estranged husband Patrick Whitesell. Stone confirmed to the Daily Beast that he knows Michael Sanchezand said he hadn't hacked Lauren Sanchez's phone. After he was told that nobody had suggested that he had, Stone replied: "You are busted. You are not a journalist. No one believes anything you write." As for the texts, here's one: "I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon." (On Tuesday, Stone pleaded not guilty to charges in Robert Mueller's investigation.) (Newser) Two days after his intelligence bosses contradicted him in public testimony, President Trump said they told him theyd been misquoted. CNN asked the president Thursday if he'd discussed with CIA Director Gina Haspel and national intelligence chief Dan Coats their testimony before a Senate panel. In that testimony, Haspel and Coats differed with Trump's statements on issues including ISIS and North Korea, and he in turn disagreed with them the next day. "They said they were totally misquoted and totally taken out of context," Trump said. That's a shift from Wednesday, when Trump tweeted that "Intelligence should go back to school!" story continues below In a followup tweet Thursday, Trump continued the new theme. "Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the mediaand we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc.," Trump wrote. PolitiFact has specifics on what Haspel and Coats said on particular issues, and how it was at odds with what Trump said on those same issues. Politico points out that a full report and recordings of the testimony are available. Trump encouraged people to "read the COMPLETE testimony" and judge for themselves. (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) A convicted murderer called "The Animal," who was executed by the state of Texas in 1999, has been identified via DNA as the person who killed a young woman in Portland, Oregon, nearly 40 years ago. Anna Marie Hlavka, 20, was killed in an apartment on July 24, 1979. Authorities said Thursday her killer, Jerry McFadden, was identified using the same technology that led to an arrest last year in California in the "Golden State Killer" case, the AP reports. Hlavka was sexually assaulted and strangled with an electric cord. Retired detectives submitted evidence to the state crime lab in 2009 for forensic testing, the Portland Police Bureau says. story continues below Authorities say evidence eventually showed McFaddden, who was executed for the rape and killing of 18-year-old high school cheerleader Suzanne Harrison, was Hlavka's killer. The 51-year-old McFadden was a notorious criminal in Texas who kidnapped and killed Gena Turner, 20, and 19-year-old Bryan Boone in the same daylong rampage in 1986 that took the life of Harrison. Portland police say an "unknown male DNA profile" was found in 2011 in evidence collected from the scene of the 1979 slaying. Detectives determined that the evidence was a good candidate for forensic genealogy technology using unidentified DNA profiles from homicide scene. Scientists were able to map three of the four familial lines of the Portland killer and identified him as McFadden. (A suspect in three 1967 murders died three days before police could arrest him.) (Newser) A Democratic theory on Donald Trump Jr.'s infamous Trump Tower meeting with a group of Russians has been proved wrong, sources tell CNN. The insiders say records provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee show mysterious calls from Trump Jr. to "blocked" private numbers before and after the June 2016 meeting were to Trump family friends and business associates, not to his father. Democrats including House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff had suspected that Trump Jr. informed his father in advance of the meeting with Russians offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. The president's eldest son testified in 2017 that he couldn't remember who he had spoken to. Schiff says he is still pursuing the phone records in an effort to discover "what the president's role was in all this." story continues below "After a year of hearing about this one ad nauseam, yet another left-wing narrative officially bites the dust," Trump Jr. tells the New York Times. Sources tell ABC that the blocked numbers were those of NASCAR CEO Brian France and real estate developer Howard Lorber, both longtime family friends who supported the Trump campaign. A Lorber spokesperson says he "has absolutely not had conversations with Donald Jr. about any Russian matters." Trump touted the report Thursday night, Politico reports. "The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me," he tweeted. "Really sad!" (Last year, Trump said he knew nothing about the "perfectly legal" meeting.) (Newser) The Senate rebuked President Trump on Thursday over his reasoning for withdrawing troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The reprimand brought by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won bipartisan support, 68-23, the Washington Post reports. Trump had tweeted news of the withdrawal from Syria in December, saying that ISIS had been defeated in the country. In warning against the withdrawal, the Senate argues with that claim. The measure, which is part of a broader Middle East bill, says al-Qaeda and ISIS are "a global threat, which merits increased international contributions to the counterterrorism, diplomatic and stabilization efforts underway in Syria and Afghanistan." story continues below Senate Republicans have rebelled against Trump's foreign policy infrequently, though envoy Brett McGurk and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis resigned shortly after Trump's tweet. But 56 senators did cast a vote in December against Trumps isolationist policies by backing a resolution on the war in Yemen, Axios points out. NPR reports that McConnell's resolution calls on the administration to thoroughly review its strategy in Syria and to certify the lasting defeat of al-Qaeda and ISIS before approving any significant withdrawal of US forces from Syria or Afghanistan. The measure doesn't carry the force of law but does put the Senate's opposition on the record. (A month after Trump declared victory in Syria, US troops were killed there.) (Newser) It turns out you can change your fingerprints, but it sounds painful. A Spanish fugitive dodged arrest for 15 years by cutting and burning the skin of his fingertips, then replacing it with micro-implants, the Guardian reports. The man, who was not named by police, was arrested Tuesday on drug trafficking charges in Getafe, a city near Madrid. "Hed used very sophisticated methods to alter the fingerprints of both hands so that he couldnt be identified," a police spokesman said. "He used skin implants to change the shape of his prints so that the scars beneath couldn't be detected." The process took place over several years. story continues below The fugitive evidently had other, less unusual tricks up his sleeve as well. Police said he had used false documents in the name of a Peruvian citizen to travel around the world and also posed as a Croatian citizen. "He had also had a hair transplant to avoid being recognized," said the police spokesman. In the US, the FBI has previously warned police agencies that suspects could be trying to change their prints or at least avoid a clear match, again by cutting or burning their fingertips. (Three decades after a brutal killing, a fingerprint led to an arrest.) Hundreds of parents of Tunisian students gathered Friday in the capital to protest a teachers strike observed at schools across the country, calling for a return to regular classes. For months a syndicate of secondary school teachers, affiliated with the country's powerful UGTT trade union which led two mass strikes in recent months, has been demanding wage hikes, bonuses and the implementation of previous deals reached with the government. Strikes have repeatedly disrupted the Tunisian school year, with most teachers failing to conduct first term exams or give out grades. They are hoping to pressure the government to return to negotiations with the union. "The future of our children is a red line," the parents chanted. "Teachers endanger the future of our children over very narrow interests and for a few dinars... what a shame," Hela Mejri, a 39-year-old mother of two high school students, told AFP. With second trimester exams steadily approaching, the parents fear their children could go the entire school year without assessment. High school students in several Tunisian cities have organised similar protests in recent weeks, demanding the resumption of regular classes. Since the 2011 uprising, Tunisia's education sector has been repeatedly disrupted by protests and teachers strikes. The North African country has been plagued by social conflict since the uprising, which was largely driven by poverty. Short link: Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. In the light of the fast deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, I intend to head up a SAPDC (Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change) fact-finding mission there as soon as possible, which would include a meeting with your government. Please indicate a date and time next week which best suits your schedule, noted Maimane in his letter. Thirty-two Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli occupied troops in renewed clashes along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run strip said. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement they were shot during protests along the border, but none were reported to be in a life threatening condition. Palestinians have for nearly a year gathered at least weekly in various spots along the Gaza border for often-violent protests. They want to be able to return to the homes their families fled in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948, and they are calling for an end to a blockade of Gaza. At least 246 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30, the majority during border protests but also by tank fire and airstrikes. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Short link: There has been much talk in recent months of Russias taking over the reins in Syria on conditions from the US, notably that Moscow undermines Tehrans influence in Syria and brings about the withdrawal of pro-Iran Shiite Lebanese, Iraqi and Afghan militias. However, it is difficult to confirm that Russia has promised the US to expel Iran from Syria, as reported after the Helsinki summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is also difficult to confirm that the US trusts that Russia can do this, especially since Iran has deeply penetrated Syrian society and Russia alone cannot uproot it. There are doubts that the Syrian regime can simply abandon its ties to Iran, especially since thousands of Iranians have been granted Syrian citizenship, key economic privileges have been handed to Iran and military bases across Syria given to it. In January, Iran accused Russia of intentionally jamming air-defence systems during Israeli air strikes on military installations belonging to Iranian militias inside Syria. Tehran said Russia had refused to allow regime forces to operate S300 air-defence systems given by Russia to the regime after Israel shot down a US fighter jet. Iran viewed the Russian move as creating a conducive environment for the Israeli air raids. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether there is a real conflict between the two sides. There were recently clashes in northwest Syria between Iranian-backed forces and Russian-backed fighters, namely the Fourth Armoured Division led by Maher Al-Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, who is considered pro-Iran, and the Fifth Corps led by Suhail Al-Hassan backed by Russia. The Iranian-backed troops suffered losses in this clash between the presumed allies who share common goals in maintaining the Al-Assad regime in power. US policy in the Middle East has changed much since Trump took office, and the new US administration believes Iran is a serious threat to US interests in the region and must be expelled from Syria and Iraq. If the White House has indeed handed over the Syrian issue to the Kremlin to solve, then a power struggle between Russia and Iran seems inevitable. Russia may not succeed in expelling Iran from Syria, but it will try to downsize the Iranian presence. Iranian troops without Russian air cover will be targeted by Israel, and even though the two countries interests intersect right now, they will eventually clash as they each have different final goals for Syria. Al-Assad will not abandon Irans support because it is essential for the regime to remain in power. Russias interests in Syria are strategic ones, and they do not exclusively rely on the incumbent regime. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is not holding onto Al-Assad per se, though it will support any regime that allows it to stay in the country. Strong ties between Syria and Iran began in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini took power in Iran and former Syrian president Hafez Al-Assad was the first head of state in the world to recognise the Islamic Revolution in Iran. They began building strategic ties in many fields, especially military, security and economic. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Damascus was the only Arab capital to side with Tehran against Baghdad. In 1982, during Israels war on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Lebanon, the Syrian regime played a key role in facilitating the arrival of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon. Later, these formed the Hizbullah militias that marginalised the nationalist Lebanese forces and for decades held Lebanon hostage to Irans political and military agenda. In 1991, Syrian troops fought alongside the US against Iraq to liberate Kuwait. After the US occupation of Iraq in 2003, relations between Syria and Iran grew stronger, dividing their roles in Iraq. At the outset of the Syrian Revolution in 2011, Irans supreme guide Ali Khamenei said the demonstrations in Syria were a US-Zionist conspiracy aiming to break the strong axis of resistance and boycott [of Israel] in the region. The Syrian regime would almost certainly have fallen had it not been for Tehrans political, economic and military support. Iranian officials have said that supporting the Syrian regime is part of Irans strategic interest in the Arab region, stretching from Iraq, ruled by a pro-Iranian regime, passing through Syria, ruled by a pro-Iran strategic ally and ending in Lebanon where the Shia group Hizbullah is in control. If the enemy attacks and wants to occupy Syria or [Irans] Khuzestan Province, then we must defend Syria before Khuzestan, said Iranian cleric Mahdi Tayeb. Iran has spent tens of billions preventing the Syrian regime from toppling, which would have meant the toppling of Irans religious and sectarian influence in the Arab region. It has suffered huge military losses while supporting the regime, formed more than 20 militia groups in Syria, and even represented the regime politically at regional and international conferences, including Astana. Iran is not standing by silently, however, as the US ratchets up the tension on the regime in Tehran, and it has been trying to open a dialogue with the West and Israel through multiple parties. Some believe the Iranian-Russian clash has already started, especially after the US announced the withdrawal of its troops from Syria and with the weakness of the Syrian opposition. Russia will likely win militarily, not least because its air force can eradicate Iranian militias in Syria. However, it is more likely that Russia will work on curbing Irans role in Syria, which will mean not intercepting Israeli attacks on Iran-backed forces. Moscow does not want to diminish Irans presence in Syria altogether because it does not want to lose a strong regional ally and a large economic market. Russia will likely focus on repositioning Iran in Syria as a result without any political or military confrontation in the hope that it can complete this delicate task under US and Israeli scrutiny. * A version of this article appears in print in the 31 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Russias difficulty with Iran Short link: 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. Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). 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). Israel's Attorney General said on Friday that he had informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there was nothing preventing him from making a decision in corruption cases against the Israeli leader ahead of an April 9 election. Netanyahu is facing possible charges in three graft cases. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said in a statement he had informed Netanyahu's lawyers "there is no impediment to making and publishing a decision, if there is any, to consider filing an indictment in the cases relating to the prime minister, or part of them, subject to a hearing, even before the election date." Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and called the cases a witch-hunt. 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). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. By PTI YANGON: Lawyers for two Reuters journalists jailed for seven years in Myanmar on charges linked to their reporting of the Rohingya crisis are set Friday to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court -- a last chance of a reprieve through the legal system. Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, both Myanmar nationals, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later jailed for violating the Official Secrets Act. Reuters says the charge was trumped up to muzzle their reporting into a massacre of Rohingya men. The two were convicted of possessing 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". ALSO READ | Jailed Myanmar Reuters journalists appeal seven-year sentence But their sentence provoked outcry over media freedom in Myanmar with calls echoing across the world for their immediate release. In January Yangon's High Court rejected their initial appeal leaving their fate in the hands of judges at the Supreme Court. "We are going to appeal this morning," lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP from the capital Naypyidaw, seat of the Supreme Court. "We hope they are not going to reject it." Under Myanmar law Supreme Court judges hear appeals individually, giving lawyers for the journalists several options. The process is expected to take several months. The only other chance of early release comes from a presidential pardon. Rights groups have heaped pressure on de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to use her leverage to secure a pardon. But she has steadfastedly refused to intervene in the case in favour of the reporters, describing it as an issue for the courts. ALSO READ | Myanmar waging 'campaign against Reuters journalists': United Nations At the time of their arrest the men were probing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya men at Inn Din village in northern Rakhine state. The pair insist they were victims of a police set-up. Testimony during the trial from a whistleblowing officer appeared to validate their claim. Moe Yan Naing, was initially called as a prosecution witness, but stunned the court by saying superiors had ordered police to entrap the reporters. His breaking of the ranks was extremely rare from a serving member of Myanmar's secretive security apparatus and he was jailed for a year after giving testimony. On Friday the ex-policeman walked free after serving his sentence at Yangon's Insein prison -- where the Reuters reporters are also doing their time. "I've never broken any police regulations in my life, but the police regulations are not perfect," he told reporters as he left the jail. "Members of the police force are suffering under these," he said, calling for reform "as part of the transition to democracy". By PTI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he would soon meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to try to secure a "great" trade deal between the world's two largest economies as crucial talks to resolve the tariff war that rattled the global economy ended without any deal. The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on each other's goods. Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods. The move prompted China to increase tariffs on USD 110 billion of American goods. During a meeting in Argentina on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, Trump and Xi agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1. During the two-day talks which ended here on Thursday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer led the US delegation while Vice Premier Liu He headed the Chinese side. The White House said in a statement that the two sides had made progress but that "much work remains to be done." The administration said it would keep a "hard deadline" of March 2, at which point it would escalate import taxes on USD 200 billion in Chinese good if there was no deal. Asked in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Liu, whether a deal was possible, Trump said he was not sure. "We have to get this put on paper at some point if we agree," the President said. But Trump said he was optimistic the world's two largest economies could reach "the biggest deal ever made". Responding to a question, Trump said the two countries have made "tremendous progress in trade negotiations. It doesn't mean you have a deal, but I can say there is a tremendous relationship and warm feeling." Trump has reiterated that the US tariffs will increase unless China agreed to reforms by March 1 deadline. "There are some points that we don't agree to yet, but I think we will agree. I think, when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to," said Trump. "We're going to have a great trade deal with China if it all works out it's going to be great for both countries -- not just us, not just them," he added. Trump has made resetting the US relationship with China a centerpiece of his presidency, pulling out of a planned multilateral trade deal drawn up by the Obama administration and launching a trade war last year that has contributed to an economic slowdown in China -- and jitters in the US. China too struck an upbeat tone on the outcome of the latest round of talks, noting that negotiators had discussed a range of issues, but focused on the trade imbalance, intellectual property rights protection, and the implementation mechanism of any eventual deal reached. "Both sides have also set-out a timeline and road map for the next step of talks," state-run news agency Xinhua reported. China agreed to increase imports of US goods and boost cooperation on protecting intellectual property, it said. China is facing the daunting task of presenting a credible plan to meet Trump's demands to cut down the USD 375 billion trade deficit. At the heart of the conflict is the US demand that China stop taking predatory actions -- from intellectual theft to the forced handover of technology by US companies -- in a drive to become a global power in such fields as robotics and electric cars. The Trump administration also complains that Beijing unfairly subsidizes its own tech companies. China has denied that it deploys any such tactics. During talks between the two sides, the Chinese delegation read out a letter from Xi in which he said China-US relations were at a "critical" stage. "I hope that our two sides will continue to have mutual respect," Xi said. Both counties should meet "each other halfway in order to reach an early agreement that works in the best interest of both sides 'such an agreement will send a positive message to our two people and the broader international community,' the letter from Xi said. Trump described it as a "beautiful" letter. The leaders are expected to meet soon. "We haven't set up a meeting yet we're working on seeing where everybody is. Both countries would like to see a positive result," he added. He also said China has agreed to purchase five million tonnes of US soybeans. Later, the White House said, the talks covered a wide range of issues, including the ways in which the US companies are pressured to transfer technology to Chinese companies; the need for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; and the numerous tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US companies in China. They also discussed the harm resulting from China's cyber-theft of the US commercial property; how market-distorting forces, including subsidies and state-owned enterprises, can lead to excess capacity; and the need to remove market barriers and tariffs that limit the US sales of manufactured goods, services, and agriculture to China. Among other things the American and Chinese delegation discussed are the role of currencies in the US-China trading relationship. They also discussed the need to reduce the enormous and growing trade deficit that the United States has with China. The US-China trade hostilities have weakened both economies, shaken financial markets and clouded the outlook for global trade. Thousands of Iranians gathered at the mausoleum of the Islamic republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran on Friday to launch celebrations for the 40th anniversary of its revolution. The ceremonies for the 1979 revolution started at 9:33 am (0603 GMT), the exact time that Khomeini returned to Iran and his plane touched down at Tehran airport, AFP correspondents said. As an army band played revolutionary anthems, the huge hall of the mausoleum was filled with people from all walks of life, amid schoolchildren dressed in the red, white and green of the Iranian flag. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the influential experts assembly which appoints the supreme leader of the Islamic republic, delivered a keynote speech rebuking factions seeking better ties with Washington. "Curses on the wrong school of thought that thinks we can't run the country unless America helps us," he said, shaking a raised left hand. "America's power is on the decline, we should not be afraid of America," Jannati said. On February 1 each year, Iran begins 10 days of celebrations to mark the anniversary of Khomeini's return from exile after the pro-Western shah fled Iran following widespread demonstrations. The celebrations culminate on 11 February which marks the fall of 2,500 years of monarchy in Iran. Short link: By Express News Service JAGATSINGHPUR: Normalcy was restored at Sri Maa Nodal Vidyapeeth after three days of unrest over students demand to transfer the headmaster and some teachers. Classes were held at the institution amid tight security on Thursday. The school students, earlier in the day, staged a demonstration and locked the main gate seeking fulfilment of their demands. They also demanded arrest of 17 persons who allegedly pelted stones at them and attacked local mediapersons. Block Education Officer, Kujang Sudarsan Nanda rushed to the spot and assured the students that two more teachers will be appointed in the school. The students then relented and attended classes in the presence of police personnel. Sources said tension still prevails in the area. The parents of the students said they are living in panic as the miscreants, involved in stone pelting, have threatened them with dire consequences. They later lodged an FIR in Paradip police station. District Education Officer Prativa Manjari Das said as per the demand of students, two teachers of English and Hindi have been posted in the school. She said no complaint has been received against the headmaster and a few teachers of the school, who allegedly came to the school drunk. IIC of Paradip Lock police station Bharat Charan Behera said two cases have been filed in connection with attack on journalists. While one person has been arrested in the scribe attack case, those involved in pelting stones at the protesting students are yet to be nabbed, he said. Meanwhile, journalists, under the banner of Paradip Press Media (PPM), led by its president Basant Kumar Sahu, held a meeting here on Thursday. The journalists came down on the police for its failure to nab the accused. They also criticised the headmaster and Sarpanch of Paradeepgarh for their inaction. Hundreds of students had been protesting for the last three days seeking fulfilment of their demands, including transfer of teachers who came to work drunk and appointment of more teachers. On Wednesday, a few miscreants pelted stones at the students. Four persons, including one journalist, were injured in the attack. Valson Thampu By It is easy to see why custodians and protagonists of religion insist on the incompatibility between faith and reason, faith and facts. This incompatibility is posited in hierarchical termsasserting that faith is above facts. By implication, matters involving religion should not be subjected to the regulating function of reason, for faith supersedes reason. Reason stands at the dividing line between what we may, or may not do, especially in the public domain. This precipitates the issue of relative authority of faith and reason. When more than one locus of authority is at work, the question of hierarchy emerges in the practical sphere. That is because experienceour thinking, doing and knowingdemands coherence. Being split along two parallel lines that never meetfaith and reason being so understoodis disruptive of coherence, which frustrates understanding. That is because the human predicament involves faith and reason at all times. One realmsay, that of faithis incomplete and incoherent without the other. No religious action is, strictly speaking, possible without the guiding light of reason. Faith, in turn, needs the restrictive function of reason, if the life we lead is to be free, progressive and coherent. Unlimited freedom, like faith without reason, degenerates into anarchy. Restraint without freedom becomes oppression. The proponents of the faith-above-facts hypothesis are motivated by the desire to liberate their authority from restraints of all kinds, unmindful of what it entails for others, their community and even themselves. Though this may seem an exhilarating stand short-term vis-a-vis those external to ones community, it is not a sustainable stand in respect of issues internal to that community. What is presumed to be liberative externally proves to be oppressive internally. A third issue in this regard pertains to the admissibility of religion as supra-rational into the public sphere. Can any public advocacyreligious, political, culturalbe deemed as tenable in public, if it is not coherent to the people at large? Do I have, in other words, the right to bring into the public domain esoteric claims and dogmas that do not make sense in public? (The answer is implied in the conditionalities governing Article 25 of the Constitution pertaining to freedom of conscience.) It has been deemed axiomatic, especially since the Enlightenment, that public advocacies must be subject to rational scrutiny. The hallmark of the reasoned soundness of an advocacy is its openness to public criticism. Tolerance of dissent is, hence, the essence of the rational. Any advocacy surcharged with intolerance is inherently suspect. It is when the proponents of a cause are unsure about the defensibility of what they advocate that they become stridently assertive and violently resentful of rational scrutiny. When rationality is excluded from the practice of religion, two dangers emerge. First, the religiosity that pretends to be supra-rational degenerates internally. Once the restraint of reasonits limiting and regulatory functionis removed, the internal life of a religious community begins to degenerate, especially in its moral content. Those who vehemently assert the irrelevance of rationality to the religious domain do so everywhere to insulate themselves from accountability and transparency. The supremacy of faith becomes, in effect, an impregnable fortification around themselves. The exercise of authority needs to be inscrutable only when it is indefensible. If the members of a faith community have any discernment, they will realise that custodians of their community of this kind undermine the integrity and wholeness of their religious life. Any tendency to divorce the ritualistic life of a religion from its ethical coreusing the former to eclipse the latteris a sign of internal rot. It should be easy to see through this, but more often than not, it isnt. The reason is that those who undermine a religious community from within, keep the attention of the people concerned deflected from the internal rot to presumed external threats to their religion. The second issue immanent in packaging faith as a supra-rational entity is that it erects a potentially anarchic confrontation between religious fervour and public order. Once this pre-democratic mindset is activated, rabid intolerance of critical views, irrespective on their soundness, becomes the hallmark of believers. Intolerance begins to be misconceived as a religious duty. In the Christian lingo, the fold of believers is called sheep. It never fails to surprise me why people feel flattered by this insult. Priests refer smugly to their congregations as my sheep, in a matter-of-fact fashion! This is possible because the religiosity in which the sheep are conditioned is so hardwired that the mere awareness of religion makes them regress by some 2,000 years. This is most regrettable. People should be better than sheep. It is a self-insult to follow priests like sheep following shepherds. They must assume responsibility for being rational creatures, lest they are degraded and used as mere tools to subserve interests that promote priestly vanity, but are hugely harmful to their freedom, dignity and empowerment. True secularism is not anti-religious. It discounts only irrational-religiosity, and must do so uncompromisingly. Vigilant resistance to random outbreaks of irrational religiositywhich makes religion the last resort of scoundrelsis basic to evolving a secular-democratic culture, marked by scientific temper and responsible thinking. It needs to be deemed a patriotic duty by all citizens. Valson Thampu Former principal of St Stephens College, New Delhi Email: vthampu@gmail.com By IANS NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced direct annual income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers with land holding of two hectares. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said the Pradhan Mantri Fund Scheme has been constituted with an aim to double farmers' income by 2022. READ| Union Budget 2019 LIVE UPDATES: Gratuity limit raised to Rs 30 lakh; pension scheme of Rs 3000 after 60 years of age He said Rs 75,000 crore will be allocated for the scheme for 2019-20 and Rs 20,000 crore has been set apart in the revised estimates for the current year 2018-19. The money will be transferred in three instalments through direct benefit transfer. The scheme, to be implemented from December 1, 2018, will be notified shortly. He also said that Rs 1.7 lakh crore has been allocated on food subsidy and Rs 60,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. By PTI NEW DELHI: For civilisations to survive, the sanctity of the word will have to be upheld and any attempts to suppress it must be thwarted, former president Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday while giving away awards for literary works in regional languages here. His statement came in the backdrop of the recent arrests of activists, among them writers and poets, which had drawn sharp criticism. "I would like to underline the power of the written and spoken words. For millennium this word has expressed the musings of millions. It has on many occasions sought to be put down by the powers that be. Indeed for civilizations to survive the sanctity of words will have to be upheld." "Attempts to suppress it must be thwarted," said Mukherjee at the Amar Ujala Shabd Samman. He gave away lifetime awards to noted Kannada writer Girish Karnad and Hindi writer Namvar Singh. Awards were also given away in five other categories. Mukherjee also said that he was most happy with the category in which an award was given for the translation of works within two Indian languages. "The need of the hour is a multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder discussion on literature. It should surpass the boundaries of the mother tongue," he said, adding that the translation of works in different Indian languages leads to the sharing of "collective wisdom". By Online Desk BENGALURU: Elusive underworld don Ravi Pujari, who had become a nightmare for many wealthy businessmen and influential people in Karnataka and several other states, has been arrested in Senegal. The state police machinery worked closely with officials in Senegal to arrest Pujari, who is wanted in several murder and extortion cases. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Pujari was arrested on January 19 and they have already initiated the process to bring him back to the state. Since the last three months, Karnataka police officers were closely tracking his movements and were working with local officials in Senegal. On December 31, we got confirmation about his presence in that country. After our ambassador spoke to their Prime Minister and Home Minister, he was arrested, Kumaraswamy said. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said many rich businessmen, builders and others were threatened over the phone and by Pujari and his associates and extorted of huge sums. Soon after the formation of the coalition government, I held a meeting with senior officers and directed them to take assistance from the central government to track him down. Many people were murdered and many families lost everything. A number of cases are booked against him in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat since 2001, the CM said. Police will take stern action against Pujari and his associates, involved in extortion and other crimes, he said. The CM also congratulated state police officials for tracking him down and coordinating with officials in Senegal. He also thanked the Indian ambassador in Senegal for the assistance provided to the state police and also coordinating with the local administration in effecting the arrest of the don. Pujari, who hails from Malpe in Udupi district, had threatened many influential people, including some ministers and businessmen. A number of cases are registered against him in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka. By ANI NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday asserted that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been an old ally of BJP and if need be the party should take an extra step to keep them. Speaking to ANI, Swamy said, There was a time when Shiv Sena was angry with us but now all is well. Akalis are our oldest allies; if an extra step is needed to keep Akalis then we must take that step. His remark comes after the SAD boycotted a meeting of the NDA, accusing the RSS of meddling in the religious matters of Sikhs and the BJP of not treating its allies properly on Thursday. The SAD is said to be upset with the alleged move of the BJP government in Maharashtra to appoint its own man as the head of board of Gurdwara Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded. ALSO READ: SAD skips NDA meeting over RSS interference in gurdwara, package for farmers Swamy also hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus. He said, As per Shashi Tharoor if someone gets hurt because of him it is beneficial. He has lost his mind after he played a role in his wife's murder. They call it a suicide but it was actually a murder. I had told him that if you take a dip in the river Ganga the river itself will go back. Elaborating on the Ram Janmabhoomi matter, Swamy stated, There is no dispute about who the land belongs to. They called it disputed land; I ask why is it disputed? The dispute is about who will get the compensation of that land. The person who has the title should get the compensation. Anyway, that land has been taken by the government, so what we ask is that the court can tell us what amount to pay to the government, we will pay it. There is no hurry, the court can take another 20 years. On the Sabarimala issue, he said: For women who do not fall under the age bracket that is permitted for entry, there is a point from where they can worship. Provisions to worship from that point should be made. It is also the fault of the government that they implemented (the Supreme Court directive); they should have asked for time and adopted some measure for this, but since they are Communists they were all overjoyed. By UNI AURANGABAD: A 75-year-old farmer hailing from Hivrabel village in Hingoli district committed suicide after jumping in the fire set by himself. The incident came in to the light when deceased, identified as Shivcharan Baman Giri, did not return home on Thursday and subsequently his relatives and some villagers went in search of him and they noticed a fire in a land between Hivrabel village and Bori village in which burnt dead body of the farmer was found, the police said. Basamba police was immediately informed who rushed to the spot and conducted a Panchnama. Police have registered a case of sudden death but are yet to ascertain whether Giri committed suicide due to debt or family feud as the deceased did not left any suicide note. By PTI LONDON: Endangered species of hammerhead and dogfish are among the sharks being sold as food in the UK, according to a study that calls for more accurate labelling so that people know what species they are eating. Researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK sampled shark products from fishmongers and chip shops, as well as shark fins from an Asian food wholesaler in the UK. ALSO READ | New shark species with 'spaceship-shaped' teeth discovered The majority of chip shop samples -- usually sold under generic names like huss, rock salmon and rock eel -- were spiny dogfish, a species "endangered" in Europe and "vulnerable" worldwide. The fin samples included scalloped hammerheads -- endangered globally and subject to international trade restrictions, according to the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. "The discovery of endangered hammerhead sharks highlights how widespread the sale of declining species really is -- even reaching Europe and the UK," said Andrew Griffiths, of the University of Exeter. "Separate investigations focusing on Asia have commonly identified scalloped hammerhead in fin processing. Scalloped hammerhead can be imported under strict conditions, but the wholesaler had no idea what species the fin belonged to," Griffiths said. The fins from the UK wholesaler, who intended to supply them to UK Asian restaurants and supermarkets, also included other threatened sharks such as shortfin mako and smalleye hammerheads. The analysis of chip shop samples also identified globally threatened shark species, researchers said. Fishing for spiny dogfish has been prohibited in most circumstances under EU rules, they said. The spiny dogfish found in many chip shop samples could have been sourced from more sustainable stocks elsewhere, but it highlights the problems of selling shark meat under "umbrella" terms that cover multiple species. "It is almost impossible for consumers to know what they are buying," said Catherine Hobbs, also of the University of Exeter. "People might think they are getting a sustainably sourced product when they are actually buying a threatened species," Hobbs said. "There are also health issues. Knowing what species you are buying could be important in terms of allergies, toxins, mercury content and the growing concern over microplastics in the marine food chain. Our findings demonstrate the need for more informative and accurate seafood labelling," she said. As well as spiny dogfish, the researchers found species including starry smooth-hounds, nursehounds and blue sharks on sale in fishmongers and chip shops. Through "DNA barcoding", the study analysed 78 samples from chip shops and 39 from fishmongers, mostly in southern England, as well as 10 fins from a wholesaler. It also analysed 30 fins seized by the UK Border Force on their way from Mozambique to Asia. These came from species including bull sharks. Ashameera Aiyappan By Express News Service Sigh, what do I write about a film like Vantha Raajavathan Varuven? Wait, let me rephrase that. What can I write about it that doesnt sound like a creaking, ancient gramophone? That was the challenge I set myself as I walked out of the theatre. It is quite a task, especially when Vantha Raajavathan Varuven feels like the end product you get when you throw Poove Unakaga and Minsara Kanna into a blender and all the more ironic that it is a remake of the Telugu film Attarintiki Daredi! (I havent watched it and right now, I am thanking my stars) Problematic humour, objectifying women, self-indulgent dialogues -- even VRVs flaws arent original; so much so, that, if I pick bits and pieces from my previous reviews it would still make absolute sense. You know its a Sundar C film when it begins with a shot of the heroines midriff. Now, I am used to heroine characters being one-note, but VRV pushes the boundaries. Both Maya (Megha Akash) and Priya (Catherine Tresa) are given characters who dont seem to know what they are doing. For a considerable time, we see Priya flirting with Adithya aka Raja (Simbu) and in precisely ten seconds, we are told that she has a boyfriend and now, Simbu is the matchmaker. Until then Maya is constantly at loggerheads with Adithya, but now, of course, they fall in love with each other. Considering that Priya got a song and there are two songs with the both of them, it is only fair that Maya gets a song as well with the hero. (Vandha dance adathan varuven?) After all, isnt that why we have female leads? Also, I am not really sure what is with Sundar C and two-heroine films. (Vandha rendu heroine odathan varuven?) Vandha Raajavathan Varuven has three comedians -- VTV Ganesh, Robo Shankar, and Yogi Babu -- who play whose turn is it to get thrashed for comic effect. It is almost like they pass the baton to each other at various stages of the film. (Vandha adivanga than varuven?) And also, if you have Yogi Babu in the cast it is mandatory that he bears the brunt of a few body shaming jokes. I am not sure who is laughing at these jokes anymore. The film proclaims the story to be a battle between Raghunandhan's (Nassar) anger and Nandhinis (Ramya Krishnan) tenacity but the spotlight remains firmly on the hero. And with that VRV also ticks another box by wasting a bevy of powerful actors in roles that dont deserve them. Not that its new, but self-referential films should be a legitimate genre with Vandha Rajavathan Varuven being the latest addition to the list. After Rajinikanth, Ajith, Vijay, Simbu jumps on the bandwagon and does a list of things that his fans like him for. In the beginning, these jokes and references do work. But you hit the saturation point pretty soon. You know his alias is named Raja so that they can use Simbus dialogue from Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. For the number of references, they might as well have named the film Vandha reference-oda than varuven. Or considering how Adithya seems to have wads of cash on him all the time, probably 'Vandha cash-oda than varuven would work as well. But I am digressing. Honestly, Simbu does try his best to present his most effervescent self on screen. (He takes a fair share of the jokes on himself, brownie points for being a sport). He gets several action sequences, belts out moves that he is known for. But none stay in your mind as you walk out, thanks to a wafer-thin script that is stuck in a done and dusted template. It isnt that Sundar C cant do it because after all, this is the same man who gave us Ullathai Allithaa and Kalakalappu amidst several other hits. But isnt it definitely time for him to step out of his template and explore and probably say, Vandha pudhu idea odathan varuven? The militant group Boko Haram killed at least 60 people when it renewed its attack on the northeast Nigerian town of Rann on Monday, Amnesty International said on Friday. The attack was one of the bloodiest in the group's decade-long insurgency. It came two weeks after Boko Haram had overrun the same town, driving out Nigerian soldiers and marking its re-emergence as a force capable of taking army bases. "This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crimes, and those responsible must be brought to justice," Osai Ojigho, the rights group's Nigeria director, said in Friday's statement. "Witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the authorities' utter failure to protect civilians," Ojigho said. A security source told Reuters Nigerian troops had returned to Rann, as well as Cameroonian troops from a Multi-National Joint Task Force, after the first attack, on Jan. 14. After the Cameroonians went back across the border, the Nigerian soldiers left, because they didn't have enough troops, weapons or equipment, the source said. Short link: Avinash Ramachandran By Express News Service In some ways, the first hour of Sagaa might remind you of Vetri Maaran's Vada Chennai. And it is not only because Saran, who played Aishwarya Rajesh's brother in Vada Chennai plays the protagonist Sathya in Sagaa. Set in a jail for juvenile children, director Murugesh actually shows us glimpses of what happens in such prisons, much like the Dhanush-starrer. You have the children fighting each other in what they call "Singles", a fight club kind of an arrangement in the prison to stand out from the rest. You have gangs, gang leaders, and the well-oiled nexus between the top dogs of the prison and the officials. And to one-up Vada Chennai, the boys in the juvenile jail in Sagaa are shown improving their life skills by indulging in carpentry, automobile mechanic work, cooking, reading in a library etc... skills that will actually put them in good stead once they are released from the prison. But, due to certain twists in the tale, there comes a necessity for a jailbreak, and unfortunately, once the film shifts its focus and moves to happenings outside the jail, Sagaa becomes an incoherent mess. Apart from Saran(Sathya), the principal characters are the boys gang from Pasanga Sree Ram, Kishore, Pandi and Prithvi Pandiarajan, who plays a negative role. Sagaa is essentially a cat and mouse game between the escaped convicts and the prison warden (an efficient Sai Dheena), who plays the role with meticulous intensity. The scenes of custodial violence are always disturbing, and the menacing demeanour of Sai Dheena makes it even worse. In between all this, there is also a human trafficking angle in Sagaa. While it just adds on to the confusion, this angle does lead to one of the better scenes in the film, in which, the topic of stalking and women safety is addressed. Murugesh tells a tale of friendship, betrayal, revenge, and love through the eyes of these boys. The dialogue exchanges about their friendship and loyalty are heart-warming, and performances by the actors are effective. He even manages to get the occasional laugh or two. But Sagaa's biggest undoing is the romance portions, which pushes the film down to a point of no return, mainly because of the lack of strong female characters. Aayira and Neeraja play the love interests in the film, and even though the former might have had a better role on paper, neither of them have really fleshed-out characters. In a film about crime and criminals, the most criminal thing to have happened is the god-awful placement of the songs. While I do agree that the Shabir-composed Yaayum song is worth all the hype it receives on social media, there was no need for using it every few minutes in the second hour. It becomes even more infuriating considering the songs are preceded and succeeded by very intense scenes, heavily aided by Shabir's impressive background score. Niran Chander's cinematography elevates the production value of this film, especially in the innumerable chasing scenes and well-orchestrated action sequences. Right from the time, the trailer of Sagaa was out, there were comparisons with Goli Soda(2014), another film that revolved around a group of young adolescent boys. What worked majorly in Goli Soda was how the boys were treated as boys and not men. That's why I'm not sure if Murugesh treating Sagaa as a proper commercial film was a great idea. While, it is impressive that he doesn't pull back any punches because his actors play boys, and not men, they are hence burdened with pointless romantic numbers, sacrificial side-kicks, too many slow-motion shots, hollow punch dialogues, and inconsequential heroines. Don't we have enough heroes living these lives already? By Express News Service Vicky Kaushal, Sara Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Rasika Dugal, Swara Bhaskar, Gajraj Rao and others will be headlining the upcoming ActFest Actors Festival to be held at the Mukesh Patel Auditorium in Mumbai on February 15 and 16. Touted as the worlds first actors only festival, ActFest is conceived and organised by Cine And TV Artistes Association and the 48 Hour Film Project. The two-day event will feature workshops, speeches and panel discussions by industry stalwarts, covering a range of acting-related topics from voice culture, grooming and fashion to body language and stress management. Over a thousand aspiring actors, artists and international delegates are expected to attend the festival. Other celebrities and panelists slated to speak at the event include Raveena Tandon, Kamya Punjabi, Manoj Joshi and Renuka Shahane. Ajay Moses By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Numaish, the largest exhibition in the country organised by the All India Industrial Exhibition (AIIE), has reportedly been functioning without a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). The massive fire accident that burnt down 303 stalls was decades in the making as the exhibition was never required to obtain any provision for fire safety till date. The State Disaster Response and Fire Services (TSDRFS) department, the apex body which issues fire NOC to buildings above 15 m and several other establishments, is not privy to the process of issuing an NOC to the exhibition. According to the department officials, it is the police who oversee the matter. There is no provision to issue an NOC to an exhibition society. They do not apply for certification with us. It is the police who issue permissions for conduction of such events and it is not a prerequisite to have a fire NOC in the process, said Gopi Krishna, director general of TSDRFS. In fact, as per the agreement signed between the stall owners and exhibition society, in case of a fire, the former would be left to tackle it on their own. The stall owners are supposed to have their own security and fire fighting arrangement. There is a clause relating to the same in a document they sign before setting up a stall, said a member of the managing committee of AIIE. Aerial view of the shops gutted by the fire (top); A woman trader from Gujarat showing the charred rupee notes from her shop (right); government officials gathering names/contact of victims on Thursday (Photo | Vinay Madapu/EPS) On Wednesday, there were at least ten LPG gas cylinders that blew up at the exhibition grounds, said fire safety department officials. As per fire safety standards, hazardous equipments and materials were not supposed to be kept on the exhibition premises; some even had cooking sets to prepare food inside the stalls. The fire spread also due to the polythene sheets used over the roofs of the make-shift stalls by the owners, owing to the recent downpour. If a proper inspection had been carried out, then these kinds of hazardous materials would not have been placed near the stalls, said a senior fire safety department official. During the fire fighting operation on Wednesday, some vehicles took a longer time to reach the spot. PHOTO STORY | Major fire at Hyderabad Exhibition Grounds, several stalls gutted Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali after a meeting with fire safety officials, police, and society officials said: we cannot give a total refund of the damage occurred. But we will ensure that they will have enough business to overcome losses. Akbar wants organisers accounts to be frozen AIMIM floor leader in the State Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the accounts of the organisers of Numaish be frozen and said that he would take up the issue in the Assembly. Akbaruddin, who is currently in London, said that immediate action against All India Industrial Exhibition Society (AIIES), who collected huge amount of fees from traders and yet failed to safeguard them, was the need of the hour. He alleged the society was misappropriating funds. HMRL comes to the rescue of visitors The Gandhi Bhavan Metro Station on Nampally Road turned into a refuge for nearly 25,000 people during the fire mishap at Nampallys Numaish. The metro Station not only opened in time it also allowed free travel to facilitate easy evacuation. The move helped avoid a major stampede. The station itself sheltered students of Vanita Maha Vidyalaya and Kamala Nehru Polytechnic till midnight. City cops collect samples from fire mishap scene A day after the mishap at exhibition grounds, city police have collected samples from the accident site by conducting a parallel investigation. ACP, Law and Order, D S Chouhan, and other investigating teams including clues team visited the place and collected samples from the place where the mishap took place. We will send the samples to forensic labs for verification to help find the cause of mishap. Based on FSL report, the police will take necessary action, police officials said. The police also recorded statements of shop owners and collected information about causes of the fire mishap. Exhibition to be extended till end of Feb The AIIE has decided to close Numaish on Thursday and Friday and partake in rebuilding the stalls that were charred to ashes. Considering thetime it would take to do this, the organisers have has decided to extend the exhibition till the end of February. Fled certain death I started to run on my first instinct which proved to be life saving as gas cylinders in the stall behind me have burst a few minutes after I ran from the place. Else I could have been a dead person, said Mukthar Ahmed, whose dry fruits shops worth around `25 lakhs was completely gutted. Another person Shyam said that fire which started a few feet away from them, spread to their stall within ten-minutes. It did not take too long for the fire to spread, he exclaimed. By PTI NEW DELHI: The AAP government told the Delhi High Court Friday that it rescued over 600 minors from child labour during 2018-19 and recovered over Rs 30 lakh as rehabilitation amount and minimum wages, from their employers. The data was placed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao by the Delhi government in response to an application by NGO 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' (BBA) and associate organisation 'Save the Childhood Foundation' seeking implementation of the court's 2009 judgement to prevent and eliminate child labour. In an action taken report, filed through its standing counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra and advocate Chaitanya Gosain, the Delhi government has said that it rescued 611 kids from child labour in 2018-19 of whom 587 has been restored to their families. The government said it has also recovered Rs 10,60,000, towards rehabilitation amount in respect of children below 14 years of age, and Rs 20,69,563 as minimum wages from their employers. Apart from that 63 cases of child/bonded labour were registered and 43 employers were also arrested, the government has said in its report. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for the NGOs, said a lot more needs to be done by the Delhi government and the police to ensure proper implementation of the high court's 2009 direction. In the July 2009 judgement, the high court had modified the existing provisions for better rehabilitation of child labourers and had widened the involvement of police in rescue operations of child labour in the city. Thereafter, November 2014, the high court had disposed of a petition seeking complete elimination of child labour from the national capital after the city's additional commissioner of labour had assured the court of action on the issue. In its application filed in the disposed of matter, the NGOs had sought a direction to the government to file an action taken or compliance report in terms of the July 15, 2009 judgment of the high court. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday complimented Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent pro-farmer, pro-poor budget which will also strengthen the purchasing power of the middle class. Goyal, who was given the charge of the finance ministry temporarily recently, presented the Budget 2019-20 in absence of Jaitley, who is away in New York for medical treatment. "The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class," Jaitley said in a series of tweets. "Between 2014-19, every Budget has given significant relief to the Middle Class," he added. My compliments to Shri Piyush Goyal for delivering an excellent Budget. The Budget furthers the agenda of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to comprehensively address the challenges of the economy. @PiyushGoyal Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) 1 February 2019 Jaitley said the Budget expands spending while pragmatically sticking to fiscal prudence. The Interim Budget (2019) and a five year direction https://t.co/xWL5KjRwcl Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) 1 February 2019 He also noted that interim Budgets are also an opportunity for the government of the day to introspect their performance of the past five years and place its facts before the people. By IANS NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha that could virtually be a full-fledged budget of the Modi government ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in which tax sops for the middle class and the corporates could be expected along with a relief package to address agrarian distress and the stressed small scale industry sector. Goyal, who has been given charge of the finance portfolio in place of Arun Jaitley who is in the US for medical treatment, is widely expected to break tradition by going beyond a vote-on-account budget by showering sops in various categories. Normally, close to the general elections, an Interim Budget is presented mainly to seek a vote-on-account for four months to keep the wheels of official machinery running for ongoing programmes so that a new government could present a full budget. Minister without portfolio Arun Jaitley had already indicated that the Interim Budget may go "beyond the traditional " vote-on-account as tackling agricultural challenges "can't afford to wait". For the record, the government on Wednesday maintained that the budget will be called "Interim Budget 2019-20" after media reports described the coming exercise as a "General Budget". The income tax sops could include a rise in the threshold exemption limit for middle-class taxpayers, considered a big constituency of the BJP. The exemption threshold could go up from the present Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum. The corporates have also been clamouring for reducing the peak rate from 30 to 25 percent. The agriculture sector is set to receive good attention from the government after the recent election defeat of the BJP in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on the back of stress. Direct investment support upto Rs. 15,000 per hectare for small and marginal farmers on the lines of a mix of the Kalia scheme in Odisha and the Rythu Bandhu scheme in Telangana is widely expected to be announced in the budget along with interest-free loans and nominal premium on the crop insurance scheme. Another option is to look at reworking the Bhavantar scheme, implemented by the erstwhile BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, under which farmers are compensated for the gap between Minimum Support Price and the market price. Cold chain and provision logistics for farmers will get a push to benefit them in marketing their produce. For the stressed micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, hit badly by the demonetisation decision of 2016 and GST implementation following that, the budget could contain incentives and easier flow of credit. There are concerns that the expected giveaways could lead to ballooning of the fiscal deficit, especially in the wake of the shortfall in tax collections, particularly GST revenue. This is expected to pose a major challenge to the government to meet its fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of the GDP even as it has maintained that the shortfall would be made up by higher direct tax collections. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue, which crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark only twice this year - in April and October - has remained largely subdued for the rest of the year and in the range of Rs 94,000 crore to Rs 97,000 crore per month against the annual GST collection target of Rs 13.48 lakh crore, which translates to a monthly average target of Rs 1.12 lakh crore. "After the failed budget promise of enhanced procurement of crops through a revised Minimum Support Price (MSP) formula in 2018-19, announcements to be made on February 1, 2019 will be the last opportunity for the government to woo a larger section of society through an interim budget, as against a vote-on-account, by altering both taxes and outlays on schemes," said a report last week by JM Financial Institutional Securities. By Online Desk Jet Airways which is struggling under a pile of debt of 1.14 billion USD has reportedly accepted the conditions set by its partner Etihad for offering a lifeline to the domestic carrier. According to a report by Reuters, both the airlines are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within days which may result in Jet Airways founder chairman Naresh Goyal stepping down from the board of directors, reducing his stake to 22 percent from 51 per cent. As per the agreement, Etihad's stake will shoot up to 40 percent from the current 24. If all the conditions are met, Etihad is ready to pump in 35 million USD immediately. Other important decisions relating to the deal will be taken in a meeting which is scheduled for February 14, followed by a general meeting scheduled on February 21. Chairman Naresh Goyal has also agreed to the Gulf carrier's condition of investing in the domestic airline at Rs 150 per share as compared to the current price of Rs 265. ALSO READ | Sebi says no reference received on relaxing rules in Jet Airways matter Debt-ridden Jet Airways has been hit by fierce competition, rupee depreciation and high oil prices. The domestic airline owes money to banks, vendors, and lessors. In a letter to employees on Thursday, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube said that the airlines key stakeholders are actively engaged towards finalisation of a resolution plan and an outcome is very close. Jet's lenders including SBI would convert their debt into equity and may hold up to 30 per cent stake in the carrier. Jet Airways recently grounded many aircraft in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai which led to the cancellation of as many as 20 flights. The sudden cancellation of flights received a backlash from the public who took to social media to express their agony. By PTI NEW DELHI: Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube told its employees on Thursday that the situation of the crisis-ridden airline might get tougher and asked them to be patient. In an email to the employees, Dube said, "It might get tougher before it gets better, and our ascendancy will be gradual, but collectively, with your unstinted support and commitment, we will come out of this a stronger airline." On Wednesday, Jet Airways had decided to cancel 15 flights following the grounding of six Boeing 737 planes due to non-payment of lease rentals. Dube said that the company's chairman, board of directors and the management team are working hard on a balance sheet transaction that will help in eliminating its "current challenges". "In fact, the airline's key stakeholders are actively engaged towards finalisation of the resolution plan. We are very close, and I ask for your continued patience. Given our ongoing challenges, this is a very tall ask," Dube wrote in his message. Dube added "While flight cancellations, regardless of reasons, have an immense impact on guests, frontline colleagues as well as our operational and commercial teams across the network, I want to highlight to you that it has been your hard work and dedication that has put us on top of Indian aviation's reliability chart. " He added that despite some challenges faced by the airlines he was confident that it will once again be at the top of the class in terms of key operational parameters for the month of January. The airline's three aircraft, which were temporarily grounded to carry out "an engine normalization exercise", were reinstated into its fleet on Thursday. The full-service carrier would be holding a meeting of the shareholders on February 21. It will seek shareholders' approval for conversion loan into shares or convertible instruments or other securities, according to a regulatory filing made on Monday. The carrier would seek shareholders' nod to "convert the whole or part of the outstanding under loans, extended / to be extended by the lenders, into shares, or convertible instruments or other securities, of the company," according to the notice of the meeting submitted to the stock exchanges. What will happen to the Downtown buildings that currently house government ministries when the latter move to Egypts New Administrative Capital? That is the question that the Cairo Heritage Development Committee (CHDC) met earlier this week to discuss. The meeting tackled the development scheme for the ministerial precinct in Downtown Cairo and proposals to rehabilitate historic palaces in Cairo and other governorates in Egypt. The transfer of state employees to the New Administrative Capital will take place in 2020. Headed by former prime minister Sherif Ismail, the committee reviewed a report from a technical sub-committee providing detailed information about the area, its relationship with neighbouring areas, traffic, and green spaces and parking areas, Tarek Atia, spokesperson for the CHDC, said. The CHDC was formed in 2016 with a mandate to examine strategies for the future of Downtown and Historic Cairo. The report identifies the ministerial precinct as an area occupied by ministerial and administrative buildings whose employees will be transferred to the New Administrative Capital. It houses monuments on Egypts Heritage List, structures built in a distinguished architectural style, and governmental buildings not on the Heritage List. It also divides the zone into several domains according to geographical location. It suggests allocating the square adjacent to the old American University in Cairo campus in Tahrir Square for entrepreneurship, especially in the field of technology and the creative industries because this zone could be very attractive to investors. The technical sub-committee also suggested the establishment of more green spaces not only to improve the quality of life for inhabitants and visitors, but also to increase the asset value of the precinct. Proposals for traffic modifications and the creation of multi-storey garages and pedestrian passageways to be connected to other historic areas were also introduced. The CHDC decided to commission a detailed study of the areas traffic and development options, with this later forming the cornerstone of the rehabilitation plan for the ministerial precinct, Atia said. The committee will then determine the best use for separate buildings in the zone, along with financial plans to study different opportunities, he added. Examples of successful renovation projects in Downtown Cairo have included the renovation of the Viennoise Hotel, an eco-friendly historic property. The building was built in the 1890s, a decade which witnessed a construction boom in Cairo. Last May, the committee proposed a law regulating commercial activities and the ownership of historic buildings in the area, part of Khedival Cairo. Part of the CHDCs mandate is to draw up a comprehensive master plan balancing the areas historic preservation with its economic growth potential. As part of its longer-term plans, the committee has established a series of specialised sub-committees to study issues such as the urban planning and financing of the larger Downtown project. The Downtown district is well known for its unique architectural style and its buildings dating back in some cases to the late 19th century. While many of these buildings have fallen on hard times, there is widespread acknowledgement that a concerted focus is needed to restore the citys historic core to its former glory as an admired and vibrant world capital. The CHDC is thus working with both public and private-sector stakeholders on helping this historic district realise its true potential. * A version of this article appears in print in the 31 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Moving ministries Short link: New Castle, PA (16103) Today Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. International Jailed journalists file appeal with Myanmars SC Yangon, Feb 1 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 2/1/2019 12:21:51 PM IST Lawyers for two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar for breaking a colonial-era official secrets law appealed to the Supreme Court on Friday against their conviction, as a rights group said the government wielded repressive laws against peaceful critics. The appeal, citing evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime, came as New York-based Human Rights Watch said Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyis government had dashed hopes for Myanmars first democratic leader in decades to protect free speech. Our petition asks the Supreme Court to finally provide justice to Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, reverse the lower courts errors, and order the release of our journalists, Reuters said in a statement. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were jailed for seven years after being 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. Also on Friday, Myanmar released from prison a policeman who told a court last year how officers had planted secret documents on the two reporters in order to entrap them. The policeman, Moe Yan Naing, criticized the law under which he was punished. This police disciplinary law is one of the laws we must amend while we are marching on the path towards democracy, Moe Yan Naing, said on his release after serving about nine months of a one-year jail sentence for violating police discipline. This law can cause police much suffering because it is outdated, he told reporters outside Insein prison, on the outskirts of the commercial capital, Yangon. Asked how he felt about the people who ordered his arrest, he said he would console himself through religion. I am a Buddhist, I can find peace with that through our Buddhist way, he said, and that he felt sorry for the two reporters still behind bars. Human Rights Watch said in a report freedom of expression had been deteriorating since Suu Kyis administration came to power in 2016, with prosecutions creating a climate of fear among journalists. Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy promised a new Myanmar but the government still prosecutes peaceful speech and protests and has failed to revise old oppressive laws, the reports author, Linda Lakhdhir, said in a statement. The report quoted figures from Myanmar free-speech group Athan showing that prosecution for peaceful speech featured in at least half of about 140 cases filed since 2016 under the Telecommunications Act, which prescribes up to two years in jail for anyone who defames someone using a telecoms network. Aung San Suu Kyis government has had a real opportunity to abolish the tools of oppression used by the military juntas, but has instead used them against peaceful critics and protesters, Lakhdhir said. In September, Suu Kyi said the jailing of the Reuters reporters had nothing to do with freedom of expression. The week after their conviction, she said they were sentenced for handling official secrets and were not jailed because they were journalists. Reuters could not immediately reach government spokesman Zaw Htay for comment. 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 U.N. estimates. HARTFORD Connecticut officials expect the states prison population will continue to decline over the next year, but at a slower rate than in the recent past. An annual report released Thursday from the state Office of Policy and Management predicts the state will have about 310 fewer inmates in the system a year from now, a drop of about 2.3 percent. During the same period in the past year, the prison population fell by 420 inmates, or about 3 percent. There are currently 13,463 prisoners in the system, which is down more than 32 percent from about 19,900 in 2008. Most of those reductions have occurred in the number of inmates already convicted and serving sentences rather than those who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or sentencing. The report said the most recent declines can be attributed to factors such as the streamlining of procedures used for parole and preparing a prisoner for release. It also noted that recent legislation has led to fewer young offenders being treated as adults. Marc Pelka, the states undersecretary for criminal justice policy, said in order to continue seeing a decline in the prison population, the Lamont administration plans to focus on the pretrial prison population and repeat offenders. He said that will include tackling issues such as access to housing, jobs and substance abuse treatment in an effort to keep people out of the system. These are issues that can become a barrier for someone looking to become productive members of the community and they can contribute to recidivism, he said. Pelka said the statistics show that of those readmitted to prison within three years of being released, 68 percent were readmitted multiple times and 38 percent were readmitted three times or more. Pelka said the states Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission met Thursday to discuss how to tackle that problem and how various state agencies that deal with labor, housing and social services can better work with the Correction Department to improve outcomes for prisoners once they are released back into society. Egypt will require $675 billion of investment over the next 20 years to meet its infrastructure needs, according to the G20 group of countries Global Infrastructure Outlook. And while the government could afford around two-thirds of that amount, some $230 billion would still be missing, a recent World Bank report showed. Improving infrastructure is seen as important to provide access to jobs, markets and basic services. It is also essential for the efficient movement of goods and services, which could ensure less waste, lower costs and could bolster Egypts export potential. Entitled Enabling Private Investment and Commercial Financing in Infrastructure, the World Bank report said that though there had been an improvement in Egypts macroeconomic indicators on the back of its economic reform programme, the precarious nature of Egypts public finances exerts constraints on public spending. It showed that total government debt reached an estimated 109 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of the 2016/17 fiscal year, a 12-year high and more than 30 per cent higher than four years earlier. With this limited fiscal space, relying on public resources to fund much-needed infrastructure investments will no longer be a viable strategy to meet the countrys needs, and there will be a need to shift to a greater reliance on the private-sector, the report said. According to Ashish Khanna, the banks programme leader for sustainable development and infrastructure and main author of the report, private-sector involvement in infrastructure could mean greater savings and cheaper net costs because the private sector was more efficient than the public. Talking at a round table discussion in Cairo earlier this week, he said that the misperception that the private sector would provide more expensive services needed to change. The shift towards greater private-sector involvement was also needed because the only way for the government to direct more funds towards investment in human capital, including health, education or social protection, was by freeing it from investing in infrastructure, he said. The report examines the potential for transport, energy, agriculture and water investment, four sectors that the government itself selected. It shows that the government has already begun steps towards reform, but there needs to be an overall framework that connects the reforms together. One step that could help, according to Khanna, would be the involvement of the Ministry of Finance in strategy and project cycles from the start, not only when it is time to sign contracts. The report highlights losses incurred as a result of the lack of infrastructure in various sectors. In the area of agriculture and agribusiness, which have the highest potential for job creation, the report estimates untapped export potential at $10 billion. It said water and land-resource management were two key constraints that prevented Egypt from realising its full potential in the sector. Agriculture accounts for more than 30 per cent of Egypts GDP. In the area of transport, the report said that this accounts for around $180 billion of the total investment gap. Bringing Egypts transport sector up to global standards would require between three and five per cent of GDP, whereas the most the public sector has ever reached is about 1.2 per cent of GDP, it said. The transport sector includes ports, airports, railways and inland waterways, and related logistics infrastructure, as well as urban transport in Greater Cairo. Improved infrastructure in these areas could enable Egypt to become the trade hub of the Eastern Mediterranean between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal as well as between the Mashreq and Maghreb (the East and West of the Arab world), and between Europe and the Arabian Peninsula via land. Moreover, improvements in transport would have positive spillover effects on other sectors. A one per cent decrease in transport costs increases trade by one per cent and potentially minimises agricultural waste by 30 per cent, the report says. It identified the countrys institutional structure as a key constraint in this sector. In the energy sector, the report said infrastructure investments were needed to attain the strategic objective of achieving energy security through diversified energy supplies, including the generation of renewable energy and the use of Egypts geostrategic position to become a regional gas hub. For the water sector, the government is targeting sustainability and achieving water security through a new tariff structure and the widespread introduction of desalination. The United Nations predicts that by 2025 Egypt may reach an absolute water crisis of less than 500 cubic metres of water per capita, which would significantly affect agriculture, as it accounts for 86 per cent of water use. However, according to Khanna, with the choice of suitable crops that are not water intensive and with the use of appropriate technology, Egypts agricultural productivity could improve while at the same time saving water. The report said Egypt had taken important steps towards improving cost recovery, but efforts needed to be complemented by improving collection efficiency and reducing both technical and commercial water losses. While each sector has its own constraints, the report identified several cross-cutting challenges that needed to be tackled for these sectors to take off. These include the efficient and transparent allocation of state land and better land registration to unlock land-based financing. The government also needs to improve transparency and competitiveness in infrastructure delivery by addressing procurement issues, the report says, suggesting the establishment of independent appeal mechanisms for procurement and stipulations on transparency and disclosure. Opening the construction sector to private-sector players was another recommendation in the report. The construction sector is currently characterised by low growth and the dominance of state-owned enterprises [SOEs], the report said. The government also needs to strengthen the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) to enforce antitrust rules and advocate against inconsistent interpretations and applications of procurement rules, the report added. Also among the recommendations of the report was for the Ministry of Finance to have a key role in reforming SOEs, particularly with respect to increasing transparency, improving accounting and financial performance, and creating independently creditworthy entities that can access commercial equity and debt without sovereign guarantees. If lenders are confident in the state-owned companies, they will not ask for sovereign guarantees, Khanna said, pointing out that the government has committed to publishing financial statements for state-owned companies by the first quarter of 2019. Opportunities should be created to expand the supply of long-term finance for infrastructure, the report said. Khanna said that as public finances improve and the government becomes less reliant on the banks for domestic borrowing, this would free up funds that the banks could redirect towards infrastructure investment. The country was also hungry for good investments, he said, pointing to the success of the collection of the equivalent of around $8 billion in one week to finance the New Suez Canal in 2014. The report highlighted five opportunities that have the highest potential to mobilise private capital and investments. These include projects to transform Egypt into a regional oil and gas hub, solar energy auctions, desalination projects, projects related to transforming Egypt into an agribusiness hub, and projects related to multimodal freight logistics. Solar energy is one of the countrys success stories. In 2019, 29 solar projects will be financed as part of the Benban Solar Park in Upper Egypt, the biggest solar installation in the world. To help in financing, the report suggests that the Ministry of Finance or the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) could offer wholesale schemes providing risk-sharing or refinancing facilities to domestic commercial banks engaged in long-term infrastructure financing. It also suggests that the government shift state intervention to development finance and perhaps moves to reorient the mandate, operations, and governance of the National Investment Bank [NIB] from its current role of direct lending for public projects towards a more catalytic role facilitating commercial financing of infrastructure. According to the report, during the period 2007-2016, Egypt closed 14 international project finance transactions worth $11.8 billion, but only two of these (the Damietta International Port and New Cairo Wastewater) were in the infrastructure sector. All other project finance transactions closed during the last decade were in heavy industries, manufacturing, and oil and gas, it said. Project financing up to now has been restricted due to a lack of creditworthy counterparties and a robust pipeline of bankable projects. * A version of this article appears in print in the 31 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Private infrastructure perks Short link: THE LAW: Is the law an ... The appeals judge in a southern Giza court accepted on Sunday the appeal of 18 residents of Nazlet Al-Semman district in Giza and ordered their release pending investigations into charges of resisting authorities, illegal assembly and injuring a police officer. The 18 were arrested a week earlier, during clashes between demonstrators and security forces which erupted after authorities began to demolish unlicensed buildings in the neighbourhood. The demolitions began on 17 January and were coordinated between Giza governorate, the Ministry of Antiquities and the Interior Ministry. As unlicensed buildings located in the area of the Great Pyramids began to be demolished angry residents protested and were dispersed by security forces using tear gas. We were protesting against the demolition of the entire neighbourhood of Nazlet Al-Semman, Khaled Tawfik, a bazaar owner and a resident of the area, told Al-Ahram Weekly. A resident who preferred to speak anonymously said the protesters feared the demolitions would expand to include a majority of the areas buildings. We have been living and working in the same neighbourhood for years now... they cannot suddenly demolish our homes and relocate us somewhere else, the resident said. The inhabitants of Nazlet Al-Semman, which is close to the Giza Pyramids, depend on tourism for their livelihoods and fear their homes and businesses will be demolished, as happened in the Downtown Maspero Triangle area. I was born here and I live with my family in a licensed building. They have no right to demolish licensed houses. Almost all of the residents here are working in tourism, some in bazaars, others providing tourist services or acting as tour guides. We are all attached to the place where we live and work. It would be difficult for us to be relocated to some other district, Ahmed Al-Arabi, a tour guide who lives in the district, told the Weekly. According to Al-Arabi, residents of Nazlet Al-Semman are confused. They have no idea how the government plans to develop the Pyramids area and there are contradicting versions of the scale of the planned demolitions. Following the clashes a state of cautious calm prevailed as Central Security Forces and ambulances were deployed. Major General Alaa Badran, and assistant to the governor of Giza, insists the demolition campaign targets only unlicensed properties built illegally within the last six months. Giza governorate has issued a statement denying rumours that all Nazlet Al-Semmans residents will be evicted and the vacated land sold to an Arab investor. Only four buildings have been demolished, all unlicensed and built in violation of construction and antiquities laws, said the statement. It added that there was no intention to sell any land in such an important archaeological area, and that the unlicensed buildings were an eyesore. The governorate also underlined that the demolition of the buildings was done in accordance with the law and no inhabited buildings were included. Two years ago the government announced that it was close to finalising plans to develop the area surrounding the Pyramids. The scheme had initially been mooted in 2009 when the current Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli was chairman of the General Authority for Urban Planning. In 2014, when Madbouli was Minister of Housing, the scheme was renewed, and ground work on its implementation began last year, when Madbouli was appointed prime minister. The plan appears to be part of the preparations for the 2020 opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, located two kilometres from the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Anany says the ministry plans to develop the area to maximise its potential as a global tourist attraction, transforming the whole site into an open air museum by linking its different elements, including the Grand Egyptian Museum, by a network of thoroughfares. The development plan includes removing the Shooting Club, redirecting the Fayoum road to a newly constructed tunnel, improving the infrastructure serving visitors and upgrading the sound and light show. Around 8,000 workers are on site each day working on the Grand Egyptian Museum. The museum will eventually cover 500,000 square metres, of which 168,000 square metres will form dedicated exhibition spaces showing more than 100,000 artefacts. * A version of this article appears in print in the 31 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Developing the site of the Pyramids Short link: Sayre, PA (18840) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 89F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous during the evening. Low 57F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. News Former fire company assets continue to cause turmoil VAN ETTEN Van Etten town officials have continued their pursuit for the appropriate transfer and acquisition of former village fire company assets, including a hotly contested issue regarding a historical chemical cart from the 1800s. Town Councilman Harold Shoemaker read a letter from the municipalitys attorney on the matter. The response from the town attorney said: Before transferring assets to Lockwood, the fire company must petition the New York State Attorney General for approval of this plan, read Shoemaker. This plan would identify the fire companys assets and indicate how each of the assets would be distributed in connection with the dissolution. Presumably, the plan will state that all remaining assets shall be transferred to the Lockwood Fire Department, read Shoemaker. Although there was no audit by the state comptroller or state agency, the AGs review and approval of this dissolution is similar to an audit. In that process, it is designed to prevent the inappropriate distribution of the assets of the dissolving entity. The concern I have is whether the fire company will properly dispose of its assets when petitioning the AG for permission to carry out the dissolution, Shoemaker continued to read. I can see someone trying to avoid disclosing certain assets. A related issue is whether the fire company is the rightful owner of assets it identifies as being included in the dissolution process. There is potential for abuse, and we need to keep an eye on it, Shoemaker concluded reading the letter. Its a transfer of those things without a monetary return? asked board member Fred Swayze. Its a gift, explained town Supervisor George Keturi. Thats the way I understood it it could go to another fire department, or municipality, as long as its for the same purpose or use. Now, the chemical cart is not included, I dont believe, said Keturi. That was Van Ettenville. And if I can remember right, it was a town. It was not a village, and theyre the ones that bought the thing. So, it belongs to the town. Shoemaker noted that town officials had reached out numerous times to former village officials, including former fire company representatives, but no responses have been received regarding the historical asset. They are ignoring this for the time being, it seems, said Shoemaker. That stuff did not belong to the firemen, said one resident. It belonged to the village. There is no village board now, the resident added. Were looking into it and I just wanted to let you know were not ignoring the situation, said Shoemaker, noting that the town attorney would continue to pursue the matter. So everybody knows, I told (former village fire chief Jim) Ammock and whoever else is involved in this chemical cart thing that we wanted to have it displayed in Banfield Square in the old village, in a building with glass windows so you could go down there and visibly see it, Keturi explained. I dont care who owns the (expletive deleted) thing, as long as its displayed down there, said Keturi. Its in a barn in Waverly its (expletive deleted). Let them know that its an act of Congress to get the cart to come home, according to the ex-mayor, Keturi said. And, I think Congress is going to open pretty soon. So, it ought to come back. The town board agreed to continue pursuing of this matter through the municipalitys attorney, though one resident felt strongly that the New York State Police be involved. Egypt's foreign ministry has hailed Lebanon's announcement that a new government had been formed, ending an eight-month delay. According to AFP, the new cabinet, unveiled during a press conference at the presidential palace on Thursday, includes 30 ministers. "Egypt welcomes the formation of the Lebanese government, thus enhancing the security and stability of Lebanon and achieving the interests of the Lebanese people," the ministry statement read. Short link: yelo34/iStock(MILWAUKEE) -- A 62-year-old man was "frozen solid" when he was found dead in his Wisconsin backyard on Thursday, according to a local official. The man didn't come to work, prompting his co-workers to call authorities to respond to his home in Cudahy, about 7 miles outside Milwaukee, said Karen Domagalski, operations manager at the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office. The man, who was not identified, did not have enough clothes on to be outside in the brutally cold weather, she told ABC News. The temperature plunged to minus 23 degrees with a minus 40 degree wind chill in Cudahy on Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, the high temperature was still a bone-chilling minus 4 degrees with a minus 19 degree wind chill. His death appears to be weather-related, Domagalski said. This marks the third weather-related death in Milwaukee County this week, Domagalski said. The deaths were part of an artic blast that left a large part of the country in a deep freeze and killed a total of 17 people. Also among the Milwaukee County deaths was a 55-year-old man who was "cold and frozen" when he was found dead in his garage on Tuesday, Domagalski said. An autopsy for the 62-year-old will be conducted Monday, Domagalski said. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 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. Lansdale, PA (19446) Today Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. High around 90F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. SUPPORT THIS INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM The article youre about to read is from our reporters doing their important work investigating, researching, and writing their stories. We want to provide informative and inspirational stories that connect you to the people, issues and opportunities within our community. Journalism takes a lot of resources. Today, our business model has been interrupted by the pandemic; the vast majority of our advertisers businesses have been impacted. Thats why the Weekly is now turning to you for financial support. Learn more about our new Insiders program here. Thank you. JOIN NOW 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. Egypt's foreign ministry has launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the countrys chairing of the African Union in 2019, a statement by the foreign ministry read. The campaign, launched with a Facebook page and a section on the ministrys website, aims at highlighting the priorities of the AU agenda, action plans as well as the development agenda 2063. It also aims to frame Egypt's "comprehensive and ambitious" programme of activities and events for the AU. "Egypt reiterates its willingness to mobilise its potential and expertise to advance common African action towards wider horizons, and its keenness to reaching tangible outcomes that respond to the needs of African countries and peoples," the statement read. The new Facebook page, titled in Arabic "Egypt's Chairmanship of the African Union" has translations in English and French. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will take over the chairmanship of the African Union for this year on 10 February, after being elected by African leaders last year. The outgoing chair is Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Chairmanship of the AU rotates on an annual basis between the continental groupings five regions: north, south, east, west and central Africa. Short link: Since 1845, Vacheron Constantin has been cultivating special ties with China, a nation which first introduce the art known as Jianzhi. This paper-cutting technique is echoed in Swiss culture through its famous Scherenschnitt paper-cutting. This artistic approach, highlighted in the Metiers dArt The legend of the Chinese zodiac, has been given a fresh interpretation thanks to the expertise of the master engravers and enamellers. Vacheron Constantin thus presents two models, realised in twelve models each, to celebrate the year of the pig. Honest, generous, epicurean, the sign of the pig will take over from the dog at the Chinese New Year on February 5th 2019. Metiers dArt The legend of the Chinese zodiac - Year of the Pig in pink gold Vacheron Constantin The foliage motif appearing on the dial and based on classic Chinese iconography is etched directly in the metal. The pattern remains semi-embedded and stands out from its gold base by a subtle stage-setting of variously accentuating reliefs creating a depth effect. This makes the vegetation appear to be floating over the dial. Then comes the stage of Grand Feu enamelling, an ancestral technique that remains the preserve of a very few particularly skilled artisans. By applying the enamel in successive layers, the enamel specialist enhances the intensity of the blue or bronze-toned dial. Achieving the necessary mastery of colour and of reactions to firing at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees Celsius calls for an expertise that can only be acquired over long years of experience. The pig, made of platinum or pink gold, is hand engraved and delicately applied to the dial centre. Metiers dArt The legend of the Chinese zodiac - Year of the Pig in platinum Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 G4 makes it possible to create a distinctive and ideal stage-setting for the decorative arts, by giving the central dial motif a starring role. The hands-free time display is achieved through four apertures showing the hours, minutes, days and dates. These indications the first two of the dragging variety and the last two of the jumping type embody the longstanding savoir-faire of the Maison in designing and developing original displays. Clearly visible through the sapphire crystal back of the platinum or pink gold case, the 22-carat oscillating weight is adorned with a recurrent Maltese cross-inspired pattern testifying to finishes performed in keeping with the finest watchmaking traditions. All movement components are indeed finely finished in accordance with the criteria of the Hallmark of Geneva. See also the special models dedicated to the Chinese zodiac from Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, and Panerai 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. Philadelphia City Council is currently considering a bill that would ban gifts from pharmaceutical companies to doctors, and it's critically important that this ban go into effect. When your health is on the line, you need to trust that your doctor has your best interest at heart and isn't influenced consciously or not by profits, gifts, or other benefits, even those that may seem small on the surface. Bernie Sanders was asked during the 2016 debates how we would pay for this. He couldnt say raise taxes as it would have doomed his candidacy. He should have said, Continue paying your insurance company but pay them less. We could have given the insurance companies a markup to administer the system. This can work. During that time they misleadingly applied for CRIZ funds to save the building, not demolish it. After being granted that, they then asked Bethlehem City Council for a change of zoning that may allow demolition. This was done after they donated funds to a few of these council members who, for some reason, didn't recuse themselves as they ought to have done when the vote came to the floor. Its a common strategy among brands not exhibiting at Palexpo to surf the SIHH wave, synchronising their announcements with those of brands who are at the SIHH. Czapek is no exception. But for once, the young brand is not announcing a new model. On 13 January 2019, Czapek is opening a brand new store in Geneva. Its very first store, in fact. Early in the 20th century it was possible to find Czapek in Warsaw, the home of Francois Czapek, and also in Paris, Rue de la Paix, where he was one of the very first watchmakers that helped to make the Place Vendome the Mecca of luxury that it became in subsequent decades. But for a long time now, there has been no Czapek address to be found on the face of the earth. The benefits of a Geneva postcode For Czapek, Geneva fulfils several objectives. First, it gives the company a place to welcome clients that is commensurate with its ambitions a genuine retail space, to use the accepted terminology. Up to now, the company has met clients in the conference rooms of its offices. And while that was fine for a start-up, after four years in business, and with growing recognition among collectors, it was time for an upgrade. The property is located in Rue de la Corraterie, in the heart of Genevas banking district and just a few metres from Sothebys. The boutique will be open to clients every weekday afternoon. The watchmaker also plans to move its offices and workshop there soon. In the medium term, there are further underlying reasons for the move. A Geneva address opens the door to Geneva Hallmark certification. And, once the geographical criteria have been fulfilled, all Czapek will have to do is meet the technical criteria to bring its finishes up to the standard of the celebrated Poincon de Geneve. An anniversary piece for the inauguration A limited series has been specially created to celebrate the inauguration of this first address, at 18 Rue de la Corraterie. The new model in the Quai des Bergues collection, named Midnight in Geneva, has an unusual aventurine dial. Its the first time Czapek has used the material, and its a bold risk, since aventurine is still widely perceived as feminine. The choice of this mineral for the dial of a masculine piece, in steel with a diameter of over 42 mm, is a statement in itself, and its the kind of risk-taking we appreciate from independent brands. Quai des Bergues Midnight in Geneva Czapek & Cie The new address will be engraved on the case back. If Czapek continues down this path and expands internationally, collectors who wagered on the commemorative piece issued to celebrate the watchmakers very first shop will be the proud owners of a rare collectors edition limited to just 18 pieces worldwide! In some cases, he would consider procedures for young patients. If someone has very thin lips, for example, with a shape that could benefit from filler, he might go forward. Or he might consider Botox for a 30-year-old with unusually strong lines on the forehead. But he is careful to discuss expectations and whether the procedure will match them. Zhinin, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in federal court in August to crossing state lines to engage in sex with a minor, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He admitted driving from New York to Northampton, where he picked up the girl, whom he met through an online dating app; raping her in motels on Airport Road; and recording video of one of the assaults. Zhinin, then 33, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police after he arranged a third encounter with the girl and arrived at a meeting place to pick her up. State sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of as much as two years in prison, according to prosecutors. Morganelli said Beltrami imposed a mitigated sentence for Rohn, of which she is likely to serve only a few months behind bars before she becomes eligible for work release. The suit claims the girls injuries, pain, emotional and mental distress and impairment of bodily functions are the result of Dorney Park and Cedar Fairs negligence. The girl had to undergo medical treatment that may continue in the future and has been unable to carry on her usual activities or hold a job, the suit says. Castor had declined to charge the actor when Constand went to police in suburban Philadelphia in 2005 to say America's Dad had drugged and molested her a year earlier. In a statement, he said that both parties could be portrayed in a less than flattering light. Trump, who in recent weeks has expressed indifference to whether the term "wall" or something else is used, clung with renewed tenacity to the word that became his campaign mantra, declaring, "A wall is a wall." Yet in a series of tweets and statements, he issued conflicting messages about what he'd need to declare victory and suggested that merely repairing existing structures along the boundary could be a major component of a triumph. Many South Side residents use a system of stairways that lead from the Lachenour Heights section of the city down to the South Third Street/ Route 611 corridor, however there are no sidewalks or crosswalks at this location, the proposal said. City officials want to add sidewalks at this location, which would take pedestrians down to the Canal Street intersection where they could safely cross and access existing sidewalks. The hotels expansion plans include replacing a 100-spot parking deck with a 460-spot garage topped by four stories of guest rooms and meeting space. That would double the hotels size and be connected to the hotel. But the project faces several challenges, any one of which could kill it. She serves on the the board of directors for the Bethlehem Food Co-op, which will be opening a grocery store in downtown Bethlehem, and Lehigh Valley Reads, a United Way coalition with a goal that every child in the Lehigh Valley will be proficient in reading by third grade. While such policies have been gaining traction across the country, the U.S. District Court in Eastern Pennsylvania last year struck down that provision in a similar ordinance in Philadelphia. The court ruled employers can be prohibited from basing compensation on previous salary, but it was a violation of the First Amendment to stop them from asking the question. (Photos/Courtesy of Tencent) In a bid to further enhance China-French relations, China's tech giant Tencent and the France National Museums Union (RMN) signed a strategic cooperation memorandum at the Grand Palace in Paris on Jan. 30, 2019. This year also marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The cooperation will see Tencent and RMN begin a journey of in-depth cooperation, mutual learning, cultural exchange, traditional cultural inheritance and innovation. As part of this new cooperation, Tencent and the RMN unveiled a number of exhibitions, including the "Global Digital Museums for National Treasures" and "Chinese New Cultural Creativity." The Global Digital Museums for National Treasures exhibition will help Tencent collaborate with leading international museums to digitalise their Chinese collections. The France Guimet - Asian Art Museum, a leading cultural institution renowned for its Asian collections, will display 25 Chinese relics as part of the exhibition. Cheng Wu, Vice President of Tencent, said, "It's a great pleasure to build a strategic partnership with RMN on the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France." "Tencent is committed to promoting traditional culture and innovation. We hope that our joint activities will make great contributions to cultural exchange between the two countries and even across the globe," he added. France has always been a popular destination for Chinese tourists, with Paris ranking as the second most popular long-haul destination for outbound Chinese tourism this Spring Festival. However, Patricia Barthelemy, Head of Promotion/Leisure Marketing at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, explained that unlike previous generations, more young Chinese people today pay more attention to culture and art, and want to visit cities outside of Paris. It's thought that exhibitions such as this will significantly help Chinese and French citizens learn more about each other, and will allow those who may not be able to travel to glimpse into another culture and way of life. Ahead of the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, the Chinese New Cultural Creativity Exhibition was also revealed. The exhibition will focus on Spring Festival culture and customs, and will include traditional cultural works in a mix of conventional culture and technology, including old-school family photos, traditional foods and hongbao, augmented with WeChat Red Packets, which combine the thousand-year-old Red Packet tradition with modern mobile payment technology. During the ceremony, Li Shaoping, Minister-Counselor of Culture at the Chinese Embassy in France pointed out, "Tencent's New Cultural Creativity Exhibition at the Guimet shows what Chinese cultural creativity looks like today. Through dynamic methods, it communicates Chinese culture with France and the world. Through this exhibition, people can not only enjoy Chinese classical culture but also find out about contemporary China." But superintendents defended their decisions to keep students home in frigid weather. Many area districts were off Tuesday and Wednesday, with some having a two-hour delay Thursday. Allentown was one of the few to be off three days in a row, but Parker said thats because of the districts higher number of walkers. In a Facebook post that was shared more than 28,000 times in the span of a day, Courtney Schnitzler, who lives outside Louisville, Kentucky, called for cooler heads. School is cancelled because not all kids have parents like you, she wrote. Not all kids get a ride to school, some walk the entire way. Not all kids get to sit in the warm car while they wait on the bus to come to the stop. Everyone scattered from the club and Jones and Rada were driven by an unknown person to Easton Hospital, where they were treated for serious injuries. Thomas showed up later that day at St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township, where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound. The father went to where his son was and saw a man standing about 20 feet away from his son, who was lying on the driveway. He said it appeared that the man had his hands just above his waist but did not see if he had anything in his hands. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and can result in serious disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 795,000 people in the country have a stroke each year. Strokes occur when something blocks the blood flow to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. It can cause brain damage, disability or death. Although last years national crime figures are not yet available from the FBI, they are expected to show a decline in violent crime in the nations 30 largest cities, according to a report issued by the Brennan Center for Justice, a law and public policy institute at New York University Law School. The murder rate for 2018 is projected to be more than 7 percent lower than 2017, the report states. This is the 18th year the Lehigh Valley DUI/ Highway Safety Taskforce has been in existence, and to date hundreds of enforcement activities have been conducted. There have been hundreds of individuals tested for DUI, and subsequently hundreds arrested for driving under the influence, PennDOT officials said. Authorities say the fire began at shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday on the rooftop of the garage for the airport's Terminal C. The event, presented by The Murder Mystery Co., features a cocktail hour with hors doeuvres followed by a multi-course dinner and the show. The menu includes a house salad, choice of cabernet bistro steak with pearl onions and bleu cheese demi glaze or chicken boursin with roasted garlic fondue and sun-dried tomato salsa and New York strawberry cheesecake. Lindsay-Hogg caught the Beatles as they were working on songs including the title track, Get Back, The Long And Winding Road, I Me Mine and others during sometimes contentious sessions. The troubled soundtrack, the only Beatles studio album not produced by George Martin, was credited to Phil Spector, who was invited by the group to work on the tapes after others were unable to create an album that the Beatles were happy with. Tourists visit a duty free shop in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 18, 2018. Hainan aims to be an international tourism consumption center. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Consumption contributed 76.2 percent to China's economic growth, 18.6 percent higher than in 2017, and has been the top growth driver in China for five consecutive years, Gao Feng, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference on Thursday. Domestic trade value added stood at 11.7 trillion yuan ($1.75 trillion) in 2018, contributing around 13 percent to the GDP, with the proportion second only to manufacturing. The total value of retail goods stood at 38.1 trillion yuan in 2018, up 9 percent from the previous year, maintaining steady growth, among which online retail sales of goods and products accounted for 18.4 percent, an increase of 3.4 percent year-on-year. Service consumption took up 44.2 percent of the average consumption of consumers, up 1.6 percent. Consumption has been a major driver of economic growth in China due to the efforts the Chinese government has made to stimulate consumption, including offering more retail goods and services, expanding channels of e-commerce, boosting consumers' confidence and improving the consumption environment, Bai Ming, deputy director of the Commerce Ministry's research institute, said in an interview. "On the other hand, we can see that the contributions of export and investment to economic growth decreased. The growth rate of export fell impacted by the external environment. Plus as the scale of import grew significantly in recent years, trade surplus shrunk compared to before. In terms of investment, China stands at a crucial juncture where new growth drivers are taking the place of old ones and industries are undergoing a supply-side structural reform in capacity cuts and deleveraging, which will also influence investment to some extent," said Bai. He added that it's probable that consumption would contribute more to economic growth in the future. Domestic trade created 208 million jobs in 2018, an increase of 8.5 percent, accounting for more than a quarter of overall employment, Gao said. Employees in the wholesale and retail sector increased by 8.6 percent to 153 million and those in the catering industry and resident services climbed 8.6 percent to 32 million. Trade plays an important role in creating jobs. With more and more e-shop owners joining the online shopping mall, e-commerce contributes to the job market. High-end domestic trade greases the wheels of the economy while low-end trade is the main contributor to the job market as its benchmark for employment is relatively lower. All these sectors constitute a multi-layer industry, Bai added. (Compiled by Han Xiaomeng) Shirkers: As a teenager in Singapore, Sandi Tan thought shed be the next Steven Spielberg. Turns out, she was just the next sucker. Her painfully personal documentary starts off as an investigation into how a con man tricked her and her classmates into thinking that they were making a breakthrough feature film, but Tan puts herself on trial as her ex-partners call her out as a mini-monster. Its a perfect companion piece to Hulus Minding the Gap, Bing Lius collection of home movies from his childhood in Rockford, Ill., which did make the Oscars cut for best doc. Netflix The settlement would provide two types of payments for qualifying patients: Up to $250 for out-of-pocket expenses and documented time lost from the breach; or up to $5,000 for losses due to identify fraud or dentity theft from the cyberattack. If lawmakers were to add edibles which are marijuana-infused gummies, candy, baked goods and other foods and beverages that would offer users a convenient and more pleasant experience than other orally ingested forms, such as tinctures or pills, Schultz said. But the effect of medical marijuana is delayed in edibles and critics say that can cause people to consume too much. They also worry about edibles falling into the hands of children or adults who dont realize theres marijuana in them. 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. Peak Gold and the Coming Supply Crunch During the lackluster and otherwise unremarkable trading of 2018, a hugely important development took place in the precious metals markets. Gold production, in the estimation of some top industry insiders, peaked. Peak gold represents the point at which the total number of ounces being pulled out of the ground by miners reaches a maximum. It doesnt necessarily mean gold production will suffer a precipitous fall. But it does mean the mining industry lacks the capacity to ramp up production in order to meet rising global demand and even higher prices would not make it happen. One of the leading proponents of the peak gold thesis is Ian Telfer, chairman of Goldcorp (which was recently acquired by Newmont Mining to become the worlds biggest gold company).Telfer remarked in 2018, In my life, gold produced from mines has gone up pretty steadily for 40 years. Well, either this year it starts to go down, or next year it starts to go down, or its already going down Were right at peak gold here.Well soon find out whether his call for gold production to fall in 2019 pans out. If it does, the implications for precious metals investors are enormous.The concept of peak gold is controversial, to be sure.Skeptics point to the thwarting of peak oil over the past decade. Just as technological breakthroughs in fracking and horizontal drilling caused an unexpected surge in crude oil supplies, could not advances in gold mining techniques also lead to an unforeseen supply surge?When human ingenuity combines with the right market incentives, nothing can be ruled out. But unlike crude oil which is a byproduct of decayed living organisms and exists in various grades all over the world, gold is a basic element that came to us from exploding stars billions of years ago. The amount of gold in earths crust is fixed. By contrast, oil and other hydrocarbons can be produced synthetically from renewable biomass. Perhaps one day well mine for gold in space or generate it in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. Theoretically, its possible. Practically, theres no prospect of these unconventional methods of boosting earths gold reserves becoming economically viable in our lifetimes. It would take a true moon shot in the gold price and/or a technological breakthrough that might be decades away from coming to fruition. In the meantime, the gold mining industry is experiencing a major wave of consolidation. Last year Barrick Gold and Randgold merged. This year Newmont Mining acquired Goldcorp. Many lesser known junior mining and exploration companies have been or may soon be gobbled up by senior producers looking for an economical way to grow their reserves. Developing new mines is expensive, time consuming, and risky. Its difficult these days for the majors to even identify viable new projects that would add significantly to their asset base. As new discoveries shrink, many have decided it makes more sense to buy up the assets of smaller competitors while they are on sale. It may prove beneficial to corporate bottom lines, but M&A activity doesnt necessarily translate into more ounces being pulled out of the ground on an industry-wide basis. To the contrary, its a sign that mining companies arent keen on investing in the exploration and development of new mines. After years of high grading processing the easier to get, higher quality deposits first future gold extraction costs could get progressively steeper for existing major mines. Even at $1,300 an ounce, gold prices arent high enough to generate attractive returns on investment. Many gold mining companies are barely breaking even after their all-in costs are considered. Canadian mid-tier producer Iamgold announced recently that it will halt construction at one of its gold projects in Ontario. Iamgold CEO Stephen J.J. Letwin said the company will wait for improved, and sustainable, market conditions in order to proceed with construction. Thats just one example among many of why gold production could begin to taper off and decline overall in 2019. Refinitiv GFMS analysts forecast gold mining output will decrease slightly this year from approximately 3,282 tonnes in 2018 to 3,266 tonnes. The expected fall-off may not be huge, but the wider impact on the precious metals markets very likely will be. With central bank buying continuing to be robust, jewelry demand in India back on the upswing, and investor interest returning amidst volatile financial markets, a slight decrease in production relative to rising demand sets the stage for a rip-roaring secular bull market. Stefan Gleason is President of Money Metals Exchange, the national precious metals company named 2015 "Dealer of the Year" in the United States by an independent global ratings group. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gleason is a seasoned business leader, investor, political strategist, and grassroots activist. Gleason has frequently appeared on national television networks such as CNN, FoxNews, and CNBC, and his writings have appeared in hundreds of publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Detroit News, Washington Times, and National Review. 2019 Stefan Gleason - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Why Amazon and Googles Best Days Are Ahead Imagine standing on the curb and your taxi pulls up but theres no driver inside. You climb in the back and press the start ride button. The car begins moving. Its driving itself. Sounds futuristic, right? Self-Driving Cars Are on US Roads Today Fully self-driving cars are driving around Phoenix, Arizona right now. You can call them just like an Uber. The company achieving all this is called Waymo. Its a subsidiary of Alphabet (GOOG)better known as Google. Let me tell you Waymo is absolutely dominating the self-driving car game. Its driverless fleet has already covered more than 10 million miles on American roads. Its cars continue to rack up one million miles per month today. The artificial intelligence powering these cars learns and improves with every mile driven. Tesla, Uber, Ford, and several other companies are working on self-driving cars, too. But they lag years behind Waymo. Google Has Been Quietly Pumping Billions into Waymo Since 2009 Do you know where it got all this cash to invest? From Googles online search business. Google has an effective monopoly on the internet search market. For every 100 searches performed, 92 flow through Google. To say Googles search business is a cash-printing machine is an understatement. In 2018 it earned roughly $100 billion from selling internet ads. It enjoys a net profit margin of about 35%. That is almost unheard of for a business of its size. In other words, for every $100 in revenue, Google makes $35 in pure profit that it can reinvest into Waymo or other disruptive companies. Google Can Invest in a Dozen Disruptive Offshoots at a Time According to Reuters, between 2009 and 2015, Alphabet infused Waymo with at least $1.1 billion just to research and develop self-driving technology. Alphabet keeps its total investment in Waymo a secret. But my independent research suggests it has invested well over $5 billion. Earlier this year Waymo ordered 62,000 Chrysler Pacific minivanswhich cost $2.79 billion alone. Waymo is just one of Alphabets many disruptive subsidiaries. Thanks to Googles incredible profitability, Alphabet has pumped almost $10 billion into roughly a dozen offshoots in the past three years. And heres the real key: It has done so without borrowing any money. Alphabets core business is so profitable that it allows the company to fund many disruptive upstarts. Other Companies Cant Compete Ford (F) tried to catch up to Waymo. The company announced it would invest $4 billion developing its own self-driving cars. Its stock crumbled 7% on the news. Unlike Alphabet, Ford doesnt have a cash machine at its core. Its operating margin is just 3%. Meaning it must spend $19,400 to sell a $20,000 car. That doesnt leave much of anything left over to invest in other projects. Heres the thing most investors miss about disruptive trends like self-driving cars. Everyone wants to be the next company that disrupts, transforms, or creates a whole industry. But few have the cash or staying power to actually achieve it. Waymo was founded nearly a decade ago, and still doesnt generate any profit. Few companies have the money needed to endure a decade of spending on research and development with no revenue to show for it. But Alphabet does. And its stockholders have reaped the rewards. Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley recently valued Waymo at $175 billion. What began as a moonshot in 2009 is now worth more than giant iconic American companies like Disney (DIS) or American Express (AXP). Much Like Google, Amazon Uses Its Profit Engine to Fund Disruptive Offshoots Only one other company on the planet can afford to pump billions into disruptive offshoots year after year. Its Amazon (AMZN), the worlds second-largest publicly traded company. It operates similarly to Alphabet. You likely know Amazon as the dominator of online retail. For every $100 Americans spend online, $50 goes to Amazon. In the past decade its sales have exploded 11X. In 2018 Amazon collected around $120 billion in online sales. 100% of Amazons Profit Comes from a Completely Different Business Although Amazons retail business is huge, it generates virtually zero profit. Its cloud computing segment is wildly profitable. Called Amazon Web Services (AWS), it generated nearly all of Amazons $3 billion in profit in 2017. You can read about how cloud computing works here. In short, AWS sells and leases computing power. Its an absolute cash cow of a business. AWSs operating margin is 31%nearly 10X the slim 3.4% that Amazons retail business runs on. AWS Subsidizes Amazons Battle Against Netflix Did you know Amazon ranks fifth in America in spending to develop original video content? In 2018 it spent around $5 billion making shows for its Prime subscription service, which has over 100 million paying customers. Today Netflix (NFLX) is synonymous with video streaming. It has 137 million customers, and its stock has surged close to 600% in the past five years. But can it compete with Amazon in the long run? Im not so sure In 2018 Netflix spent about $12 billion making content. Unlike Amazon, its not built around a cash generator. So it must borrow a lot of this money. Netflixs debt has exploded by 70% to $8.4 billion in the past 12 months. Netflix will probably earn a profit of around $1.4 billion for 2018. Compare that to its growing mountain of debt and youll understand why some investors are getting concerned. Amazons disruptive investments go far beyond streaming video. Have you heard of Twitch? Its a website owned by Amazon that broadcasts video game matches. You might laugh at the idea that anyone would spend time watching kids play video games. But more people watch Twitch every day than CNN or MSNBC! Do You See the Giant Advantage Amazon and Alphabet Hold? Investing in disruption has never been more important than it is today. Alphabet and Amazon have created huge sums of wealth by driving these trends forward. Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos is the richest person in the world. And Alphabets co-founders are both worth over $50 billion. Their stockholders have done great, too. In the past 10 years, Amazon stock has soared over 2,300% and Google has climbed 510%. Its easy to look at these big run-ups and conclude their best days are behind them. But next time you hear a slick pitch from a company intent on disrupting an industry think: Wheres the money coming from? For Alphabet and Amazon, the answer is easy. Last note: I just released a new special report that details 3 disruptor stocks with the potential to return 100% or better. These stocks are much smaller than Amazon and Google. And yet theyre driving forward todays most exciting disruptive trends. Find details below. Have you Missed Out on Amazon, Google, and Netflix-level profits of 500%+? Heres Your Second Chance If you looking for stocks coiled for big gains, grab my recent special report The Great Disruptors: 3 Breakthrough Stocks Set to Double Your Money. In it, youll find in-depth research and exact stock tickers along with our buy prices and target pricesso you can invest confidently today. These stocks will hand you 100% gains as they disrupt whole industries. Claim your free copy here. By Stephen McBride http://www.riskhedge.com 2019 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. An agreement-signing and launching ceremony of the Science-branded journal Science PJ Metabolism Discoverywas held in Beijing on 28 January, 2019. Guided by President Xi Jinpings idea of building China into a powerful country in science and technology, the journal was founded in an effort to promote the innovative studies in fundamental scientific research and clinical research in China and to encourage the country to play a leading role in a number of key technological areas. Professor Xiao Guishan from Dalian University of Technology has been named as Editor-in-Chief of the journal. Speakers invited to give remarks at the ceremony included Mr. Bill Moran, the Global Director of International Collaboration, Operation and Publishing for Science/AAAS and Science Careers, Mr. Wang De, Director of Editorial Office of Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA),Professor Tian Yantao, member of Sub-Committee on Cancer Metabolism and Therapy of Clinical Precision Medicine Committee of CMDA, Professor Peng Xiaojun, academician of Chinese Academy of Science from Dalian University of Technology, and Professor Guo Xinwen from Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology. More than 200 participants from home and abroad attended the ceremony, including directors from Science/AAAS responsible for international collaboration and operations in Asia as well as experts and scholars from a variety of Chinese institutes and universities, such as Institute of Cancer Research of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Naikai University, Xiamen University, China Medical University, etc. As a Science-branded journal,Science PJ Metabolism Discoveryis jointly founded by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA), with University of California, Los Angeles and Dalian University of Technology (DUT) as collaborative universities in charge of the editing and publishing operations. The editorial office of the journal in China is based in Dalian University of Technology, responsible for the general publishing and managing operations. DUTs primary role in running a top academic journal in the world will not only effectively encourage the universitys studies in pharmacology and toxicology to rank among Top 100 in ESI discipline assessment, but also contribute to the improvement of DUTs international academic influence. On behalf CMDA, Mr. Wang De congratulated on the official agreement-signing and launching of the journal, hoping that this event could be taken as an opportunity to further encourage Chinas academic exchanges with all Science and Science-branded journals and promote the development of medical research in the country. Professor Peng Xiaojun pointed out in his speech that for Dalian University of Technology, it should be not only an honor to be chosen as the base of a Science-branded journal in China, but also a responsibility, and as a result, the university would make unremitting efforts in perfecting the editorial and publishing operations of the journal and thereby contribute DUTs part to the improvement of peoples health all over the world. Mr. Bill Moran, speaking on behalf of AAAS, believed that the founding of a Science-branded journal in China marked a significant achievement of the scientific and academic exchange and cooperation between China and the United States. He spoke highly of Professor Xiao Guishans academic accomplishments, and hoped that the journal could be made a great success with the joint efforts of all the experts and scholars involved. After extending his sincere thanks to AAAS and CMDA for their full support, Professor Xiao Guishan as Editor-in-Chief recalled in his speech how DUT was chosen as the base of the journal in China and elaborated how Science PJ Metabolism Discovery would be operated in details. He emphasized that all the Chinese experts and scholars in the field of cancer research and treatment would be welcomed to jointly devote themselves to the studies in anti-cancer drug resistance in the hope of helping human beings live a better life by obtaining a greater sense of security and gain. As the representatives of CMDA and AAAS respectively, Mr. Wang De and Mr. Bill Moran signaled on the cooperation agreement and exchanged gifts, which signaled the official global launching and publication of the journal. In the first two years Science PJ Metabolism Discoverywill be published quarterly, and from the third year on, it will turn into a monthly journal. The issues covered would be on the major theoretical breakthroughs in the contributions of metabolic research to the prevention and treatment of major diseases, and significant practical breakthroughs in clinical application technology and original technology in precaution and diagnosis mechanism in the area of precision medicine. The agreement-signing and launching ceremony will be aired on CCTV International (CCTV4) soon. Source: en.dlut.edu.cn Flash-Balls, Pitchforks And A Backstop Its educational and even somewhat entertaining to observe the role of the western press in the ongoing erosion and demise of democracy in Europe. But while its entertaining, it also means their readers and viewers dont get informed on what is actually happening. The media paints a picture that pleases the political world. And it it doesnt please politicians to lift a veil here and there, too bad for the public. The Shakespearian comedy that was performed last night in the UK House of Commons is a lovely case in point. Basically, MPs voted whether or not to allow PM Theresa May to change the Brexit deal she had told them about a hundred times couldnt possibly be changed. Brexit has turned full-blown Groucho by now: Those are my principles, and if you dont like them well, I have others. It was exactly two weeks ago last night that lawmakers voted by a historic 432 to 202 count to reject Mays Brexit deal. And now they voted to a) let her change it and b) go talk to the EU about changing it though Brussels has said as often as May herself that it cannot be changed. Remember: the UK is set to leave the EU 59 days from now, and counting. Its like in a game of chess that has long turned into a stalemate or threefold repetition situation: you stop playing. No such luck in British politics. The only way the parliament could find unity (in a narrow vote) was to agree to ditch the Irish backstop that is an integral part of why the EU accepted Mays deal to begin with. There are/are even serious voices saying Ireland should leave the EU along with the UK, to make it easier for the latter to do what the former absolutely doesnt want. Thats also part of the kind of mindset in which this plays out. Brexit has turned into a complete delusion, in which bickering and blame-games have been more important than practical solutions, for all sides. A hard Brexit is used as some ultimate deterrent, and 59 days before the big moment it may actually turn into the disaster some Project Fear or another has been talking about for over 2.5 years. If that time has been used the way it should have, adapting deals, agreements, contracts, laws, all might have been fine(r). What the role of Mays opposition in all this consists of is ever more confusing. It certainly never was to profile itself or come up with original ideas. In the process, Jeremy Corbyn appears to have hurt his reputation as much, if not more, than May. Quite the achievement. And now May says Corbyn has no plan for Brexit, but she does: only, it was voted down in the largest defeat in modern parliamentary history. And then all of a sudden, as everyone is busy doing something else, Britain finds itself in a huge crisis of democracy. Over Two Thirds Of UK Public Dont Feel Represented By Political Parties More than two thirds of the British public feel they are not represented by the main political parties, according to a new report on the divisions caused by Brexit. Research by campaign group Hope Not Hate found that the disconnect had increased from 60% to 67% over the last six months as Theresa May negotiated the EU withdrawal agreement. The poll of nearly 33,000 people and results from focus groups also revealed that many felt they were being left in the dark or were overwhelmingly bored by the process. It has also seen an increase in the proportion of the public feeling pessimistic about the future with very few believing that Brexit will address the frustrations and inequalities that lay behind the vote to leave the EU in 2016. More people also believe that Brexit is feeding prejudice and division and taking the UK backwards, up from 57% in July 2018 to 62% last month. Just 20% of people said they could trust the government to deliver a good Brexit. Almost as many Leavers (66%) as Remainers (75%) said they do not trust the government to deliver a Brexit that works for them. None of the options being considered by parliament have consensus support across the UK, according to the report, and 42% of people think that it would be sensible to delay leaving the EU by a few months so we can agree a better deal with the EU or hold a Final Say vote. Perhaps that is the topic that should have been discussed yesterday in the House of Commons. But the MPS far preferred to regurgitate long discredited useless stalemate moves. Thats how much they all care for their own voters. They go from one election to the next, and why would they care about the time in between, what could possibly happen to them? Well, for one thing, pitchforks could happen. Which methinks is a clean poetic link to another European country that finds itself in deep crisis and distress but refuses to recognize it. France. The interwebs are full of videos and photos of police brutality perpetrated during the by now 11 Saturdays the Yellow Vests have protested president Macron and their peoples overall situations. It didnt start out with all that violence, and sure, part of it may have been in response to protests, but whats gone on in the last few Saturdays is something else. And the media once again are silent, or mostly. Macron gets more coverage for telling Venezuelas Maduro to resign than for his own regimes cruelty towards its own people. But the French people do watch those videos, social media trump traditional ones in these cases, so theres something good about them after all. And the Yellow Vests, though the people dont like the violence, still very much have their sympathy. Seeing Macrons police beating them up the way they have will only increase the resolve. People losing their eyes, their hands, hundreds if not thousands with less severe but still serious injuries, its all being added to Macrons tally. French Police Weapons Under Scrutiny After Gilets Jaunes Injuries The French government is under growing pressure to review police use of explosive weapons against civilians after serious injuries were reported during gilets jaunes street demonstrations, including people alleged to have lost eyes and to have had their hands and feet mutilated. Frances legal advisory body, the council of state, will on Wednesday examine an urgent request by the French Human Rights League and the CGT trade union to ban police from using a form of rubber-bullet launcher in which ball-shaped projectiles are shot out of specialised handheld launchers. Frances rights ombudsman has long warned they are dangerous and carry disproportionate risk. Lawyers have also petitioned the government to ban so-called sting-ball grenades, which contain 25g of TNT high-explosive. France is the only European country where crowd-control police use such powerful grenades, which deliver an explosion of small rubber balls that creates a stinging effect as well as launching an additional load of teargas. The grenades create a deafening effect that has been likened to the sound of an aircraft taking off. Frances centrist president, Emmanuel Macron, is facing renewed calls to ban such weapons after Jerome Rodrigues, a high-profile member of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) demonstrators was hit in the eye on Saturday in Paris. He is said by his lawyer to have been disabled for life. Rights groups say Rodriguess case is the tip of the iceberg. Lawyers estimate that as many as 17 people have lost an eye because of the polices use of such weapons since the start of the street demonstrations, while at least three have lost their hands and others have been left with their face or limbs mutilated. Injuries have happened at demonstrations in Paris and other cities, including Bordeaux and Nantes. The whole thing is utterly insane, but the craziest thing may well be the European Court of Human Rights rejecting a temporary ban on flash-balls last month. Go ahead, Emmanuel, we wont tell a soul! Flash-balls being an improved -and home-grown- form of rubber bullets, which in turn have been improved upon. French Flash-Ball Row Over Riot-Gun Injuries Appalling injuries caused by French police riot guns during the yellow-vest protests have triggered anger and calls for the weapon to be banned. The LBD launchers known by protesters as flash-balls have left 40 people severely wounded, reports say. Frances human rights chief has called for the weapons use to be halted, but the government insists it is deployed only under very strict conditions. Since the gilets-jaunes protests began in November, 3,000 people have been injured or even maimed and thousands more arrested. The LBD40 is described as a non-lethal weapon which in fact replaced the old flash-ball in France. But the old name is still widely used. It shoots 40mm (1.6in) rubber or foam pellets at a speed of up to 100m per second and is not meant to break the skin. However, some of the accounts of people hit by flash-balls have been shocking. Volunteer firefighter Olivier Beziade, 47, was shot in the temple by a riot gun during a protest on 12 January in Bordeaux. Video at the time caught him running from police and then collapsing in the street, his face covered in blood. He was taken to hospital, treated for a brain haemorrhage and left in an artificial coma, from which he emerged on Friday. He was one of five seriously wounded on that day alone. Many of those wounded have been young. One teenager called Lilian Lepage was hit in the face in Strasbourg on Saturday and suffered a broken jaw. His mother said he had been shopping in the city centre when a policeman fired at him. Two schoolboys were badly wounded by flash-ball pellets in separate protests last month. Campaigners say a dozen people have lost an eye .. A lawyer for some of the victims, Etienne Noel, said many had been maimed. He said police did not have sufficient training in use of the riot guns and many victims had been hit in the head. Earlier this week police made clear the riot gun would be used only where security forces faced violence or if they had no other means of defence. Only the torso and upper or lower limbs could be targeted. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told the French Senate on Thursday that the use of force by police was always proportionate and under very strict and controlled conditions. If the police hadnt used these means of defence perhaps some of them would have been lynched, he said. The European Court of Human Rights rejected a temporary ban on flash-balls last month, in a case brought by several people who said they had been hit by flash-balls. There is also a grenade version of the flash-ball, named the sting-ball. Throw it into a crowd and everyone around gets hit by rubber balls at high speed. But of course its not the weapons that cause the injuries and deaths, its the people deploying them. And the people deploying these people. The instructions to use excessive violence because the government feels threatened by its own citizens. And after that the pitchforks and guillotines, real or not. Yanis Varoufakis was right a few weeks ago, Macron is a spent force. Only a blind fool would use these things against his own people. Or a dictator with absolute power, but Macron doesnt have that.. By the way, when is Brussels going to condemn Macron for his use of violence? And this is all before the European elections, and Merkels goodbye that will throw Germany into chaos, and and and. Europe, we never knew ya. By Raul Ilargi Meijer Website: http://theautomaticearth.com (provides unique analysis of economics, finance, politics and social dynamics in the context of Complexity Theory) 2019 Copyright Raul I Meijer - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Raul Ilargi Meijer Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Why it matters: Cities are the government closest to the people, so funding can be directed where it's needed most. New Delhi : Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday alleged that a few points relating to the Union Budget leaked. The Former I&B minister posted a number of screen shots and suggested that the pointers mentioned in the images were the part of the budget and it can be amounted to a budget leak. These pointers are being Circulated to Media people by Govt Sources . If all this or substantive amount of these proposals find reflection in the budget would it not tantamount to a BUDGET LEAK ? @RahulGandhi @AICCMedia @INCIndia @PTI_News @ndtv @IndiaTodayFLASH @MallikarjunINC pic.twitter.com/uPgAMjszNG Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) February 1, 2019 The Finance Ministry on Thursday, a day before the budget made it clear that the upcoming budget would be called as the interim budget 2019-202 and not a regular budget. Support Local Journalism The Malibu community needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please help keep us in print by making a contribution. Exton, PA (19341) Today Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 88F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly before midnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Magnolia, AR (71754) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 63F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. A young Chinese surgeon recently went viral online after he released a series of videos showing him operating on a variety of fruit, Heilongjiang broadcast TV station reported on Jan. 25. 32-year-old Wang Yexiao is an ICU doctor at Peoples Hospital in Hegang of northern Heilongjiang province. He gained the nickname "Doctor Fruit" by carrying out an appendectomy on a mango, cutting tumors from a dragon fruit and simulating a caesarean by extracting seeds from a grape. Four months ago, Wang posted his first fruit operation video on a short video sharing platform, and quickly became popular. To date, he has attracted more than 120,000 followers, and each video has been watched for over one million times. Each short video generally takes about four to five hours to produce, including the time it takes to shoot and edit. As fruit skin has less connective tissue than human skin, sometimes, a hit video is the final result of several attempts. On why he started this project on top of an already busy work schedule, Wang said that he hoped to spread medical knowledge to children in an interesting way, and also build trust and understanding in the relationship between doctors and patients, by revealing the details of surgical operations. If patients and their families know the procedures and related risks of an operation, they may not be so scared to go and see their doctor in the first place, said Wang. Now, Doctor Fruit has uploaded a total of 17 fruit operation clips on his video account, including operations on eggs and quail eggs. He said that he would continue to make these videos to raise public awareness of medical science. Motoring Lohengrin sale and second Christofle Yacht Style Award reflects strength of Burgesss growing team in Asia, now comprising 16 staff in five offices Feb 01, 2019 | By Yacht Style Burgesss growing Asia team has announced the sale of the 49.1m Lohengrin, a 49.1m (161ft) three-deck superyacht launched in 2007 by US shipyard Trinity Yachts to its own exterior design. Her interior, handcrafted in walnut and marble, showcases the skill of US designer Scott Carpenter. The sale was concluded by the Burgess team in Asia at 12:28, an auspicious time for our Chinese client, said lead broker Mark Woodmansey. We are especially pleased at this latest validation of our global knowledge and local expertise in the Asian market, which means we can find international buyers for Asian sellers better than anyone else. Our team in Asia can tap into Burgesss unrivalled worldwide network of brokers and clients and conduct business locally in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese or English, depending on the clients wishes. Its one of the reasons we have won Best Asia-Based Brokerage Company (International) at the Christofle Yacht Style Awards for two years running. Jean-Marc Poullet, Burgesss Chairman Asia, says the companys repeated recognition at the Christofle Yacht Style Awards reflects its gradual build-up of a strong team dedicated to looking after the interests of Asian and Asia-based customers. Burgesss Asia team represents a wealth of global superyacht experience and local knowledge, and now includes 16 staff spread between its Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Monaco offices, leading to significant business growth last year. We were pleased with our 2018 progress, which underlined the effectiveness of our global/local team approach, providing our clients with the best expertise available globally but delivered locally in the language of the clients preference, said Poullet, who collected the Christofle Mood trophy in Phuket with Hwee Tiah, Business Development Manager for Asia. Our clients see our commitment to provide them with professional, objective advice that is in their best interest, and trust us to help them make the most of their yachting life. It is all about dedication to our clients and global teamwork. The award recognised an excellent year in Asia for Burgess, which featured several landmark transactions and mandates. On the brokerage side, Burgess acted for the buyer in four yacht transactions, of which three were over 50m, including the 68m Lady E, one of the top 10 global brokerage transactions last year. The companys Asian Central Sales Agency fleet now comprises 11 yachts, ranging from 33m to the 92m Equanimity. In charter, Burgess enjoyed its most successful year to date, with charters booked for Asian clients on various yachts globally including the 74m CRN Cloud 9, which is also offered for sale through Burgess. The companys Charter Central Agency (CA) fleet available in Asia this winter season comprises five yachts including the 73m Titania. Within its yacht management division, Burgess is now contracted to provide operational and crew management services to eight Asia-owned yachts ranging from 44m to the 88m China-built Illusion Plus. Its Technical Services division, which has advised several Asian clients on new-build projects over the years, was contracted to oversee the build and launch of a 55m Amels for a client in Asia. Today Thunderstorms. High near 85F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Tomorrow Thunderstorms likely. High near 85F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Are schools safer now than they were a year ago? The consensus was yes as North Fort Myers High School administrators, representatives from the School District of Lee County and students met for a media event as we approach the one-year anniversary of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 dead. The Lee District has taken an approach that not only delves into the security elements at the schools, but with the students as well through the creation of behaviorial health and threat assessment teams at each campus. Debbie Diggs, principal at North, said safety and security has always been a focus in Lee County, but the shooting heightened everyones awareness, especially since it happened so close to home and gave everyone the realization it can happen anywhere. The establishment of the teams has created a human element that is able to root out potential problems students may have that could develop into bigger issues if not addressed, she said. Any time there is a threat that may be coming, the teams can work together to identify protocols that need to be put in place, Diggs said. The mental health team is geared toward the students by identifying red flags and how we can support the kids. Natasha Gorman, school psychologist for the school district and a member of both teams, said the district has implemented a system to help assess students to have a formal plan. We have weekly meetings, see if we have any threats, work with the kids if there are any. Before Parkland, it was much less formal, we would just meet and talk about it. Now, the team knows what steps to take, the process we have to follow. Its more formalized, Gorman said. Carmen Rey-Gomez, school social worker, who just came to the school, said red flags include isolation, not attending school, and students talking about what someone is saying on social media. She added that students have been more forthcoming with issues since the shooting. When students are not engaging or maybe experiencing situations off campus that affects their performance, we want to be able to catch that and talk about them, Rae-Gomez said. Students, since Parkland, have become more aware with who they interact with and more likely to report seeing something and make someone aware. Lori Brooks, assistant director of school counseling and mental health services, said social media plays a big role in the mental state of the individual and early intervention is the key. Society is more involved with their technology, so we dont see someone and get eyeball to eyeball. Social media can isolate people from each other, Brooks said. Kids dont get a break on social media. They can be bullied and dont get to check out uncles they pull themselves away. It impacts their mental wellness. At North, Diggs said the school brought on a second student resource officer from the Lee County Sheriffs Office and an extra security person who checks out the parking lots. They created a single point of entry system, and was the first school to have implemented a new security camera system, which will be able to spot problems in nearly every area of the school. Nearly all county high schools have followed that approach. We have implemented a number of programs that target hardening of the schools, said Rick Parfitt, director of safety and security for the school district. We were already ahead on the target hardening, but the threat assessment and mental health teams were new. That was where I focused my attention because we dont want kids to slip through the cracks. The teams also have to draw the fine line between what might be a troubled or at-risk student and someone who is just a non-conformist and what kind of security is best. Metal-detectors and razor wire on the fencing is not the answer. We arent looking at anything other than behavior. If we have people reporting these things, we can intervene, Parfitt said. With metal detectors, students feel less safe because they believe theyre in a more dangerous place. At North Fort Myers High School, they are trying to be more engaging. The school will hold a Kindness Week designed to help students who may feel isolated come out of their shell and feel more welcomed. The event will feature a pep rally and a no student eats alone day, with everything with the goal of supporting Parkland while focusing on the motto Once a Red Knight, always a Red Knight, that were a family. A lot of organizations say that. North does it, John Drake, assistant principal. As for the students, Bridgette Marrero, a junior, lived a stones throw from Stoneman Douglas High School when she was little. The tragedy there had a little deeper meaning to her. I was immune to it. It was happening so often it was like another shooting. Then I found out the location and it became less of a statistic and more personal, said Marrero, who lived there until she was 4. I love North. All the teachers and staff are supportive. Theyre always trying to make sure everyone is OK. And are schools safer than they were a year ago? I would love to say yes, Rey-Gomez said. I still think we have things we need to consider. If I had said yes, we wouldnt have had a shooting since. Its a collective effort, not just certain environments. The kids are stepping up and understanding their role in safety. Were always trying to improve. You can never get lax on that. When we implement something, we always ask whats next, Diggs said. Theres no place to stop when it comes to kids safety. Every principal would tell you were here to educate our kids. My main job is to keep my staff and kids safe. At the area known as Four Corners in the southwest Cape, more than 100 people gathered this week to show their displeasure at a proposed land use and zoning change that could bring more than 500 affordable housing units to their area. In the northwest Cape, neighbors are worried about what will become of the area along Old Burnt Store Road and whether a land use change will result in dollar stores and pharmacies at major intersections. And in the southeast Cape, though its highly developed, there are areas along Del Prado Boulevard that had been designated for commercial but are residential that the city needs to consider for consistencys sake. All this will make for a potentially very long meeting for the Cape Coral City Council on Monday at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, when the elected board will hold a transmittal hearing for the citys future land use plan to be sent to the state land planning agency for comment and approval. Roughly 1,700 acres will be affected citywide. Once that is done, the plan will again go to City Council for the public hearing process, with any changes deemed necessary along the way. The reason for the comprehensive land use and zoning changes is to, in the words of City Manager John Szerlag, make the building process fast, fair and predictable. Much of the zoning and land use designations date back to before the city was incorporated and some properties have land use and zoning designations that dont match, making it almost impossible for the land to be developed. City Planner Robert Peterson said there are four elements to this: the zoning code, the zoning maps that match the new zoning districts, text amendments to the comprehensive plan, and the future land use maps as part of the comp plan, which must also change to be consistent with the code. All these elements have been reviewed and recommended for approval through the public hearing process by the planning and zoning commission and the hearing examiner, Peterson said. It will facilitate the new code thats coming in. The four elements have to run simultaneously. We have some CAC (commercial-mixed use) properties that we havent done anything with for 15 years, said Wyatt Daltry. Were changing some of those to multi-family or commercial. This especially pertains to the Four Corners at Agualinda Boulevard and Beach Parkway, which has become ground zero of this controversy. The four vacant plots on those corners are currently for sale. The city has planned to change the land use from mixed use residential commercial to multi family. After a large rally/strategy session at the intersection Monday, the group will come to Mondays meeting with a plan of attack on why city should reject the transmittal plan. It appears to have one huge ally, city Councilmember John Carioscia, who said he plans to vote no because his constituents on that district dont want it. This will more than double the amount of multi-family housing on those four corners. I want to leave it the way it is, Carioscia said. That road wont handle 500 units and 700 cars. When they bought property, there was a certain zoning in that area. If they dont want change, they shouldnt get change. In the northwest Cape, the issue isnt what will be coming on Burnt Store Road but rather Old Burnt Store Road, especially at the corner of major roads that go through there. John Bashaw, public works specialist for the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association and former president, said he has drilled deep into this and said much of what is being done is the normal course of business. This is a growing city and north of Pine Island Road is where most of the problems exist. The old zoning categories dont fit what the city is going to look like at build out, Bashaw said, adding that Old Burnt Store and Kismet is a perfect example. The southwest corner is zoned agricultural and when you think about a city with potentially 400,000 people in it, that doesnt make much sense, Bashaw said. Were trying to be reasonable about what will happen. It is the main thoroughfare intersections on Old Burnt Store Road (Embers, Tropicana, Yucatan, Gulfstream, and Kismet) that has the NWNA particularly concerned, which will be zoned neighborhood commercial, allowing commercial activities in a neighborhood to make it more convenient for people living there. Variety stores, drug stores, gas stations with pumps is possible, even a Dollar General. People dont want to go to Publix for a dozen eggs, so they can go to the neighborhood store, Bashar said. Its a hard pill to swallow for people who bought vacation homes here in a quiet neighborhood, and the thought of a store going up a block away is problematic. John Jacobs, NWNA president, said he has told residents and members to come to the meeting on Monday to be heard. Councilmember Rick Williams said the future land use plan would open up the possibility of new business and make it easier for developers and investors to build in the district he represents. The more controversial ones we will discuss down the road, but everything else they are transmitting I support, Williams said. The land use needs updating and it will allow us to be faster and people who build here will know what they are facing. Burnt Store Road will also be affected, with changes on the west side of the road from Embers to Tropicana. On the east side of Embers and Burnt Store, the commercial designation will be changed to a mixture of single family for those without frontage on a major highway and commercial for those that do. On Diplomat, the intersection will be the commercial, while those away from the intersections will be single family, Daltry said. The eastern part of the city isnt going to be impacted too much, especially in the southeast which is mostly developed. Peterson brought up areas along Del Prado where duplexes have been built on the street alongside the road in one area, while another street has few if any duplexes. He said it would work both ways. If there are opportunities to build commercial along those roads, make it so. If not, keep them residential. Southeast 15th Place, Southeast 16th Place and Southeast 17th Place on both sides have future commercial professional land use. Years ago, they were all designated for commercial land use in hopes the duplexes would be abandoned and someone would buy the land and assemble them to create a usable piece of property, Peterson said. But with all the duplexes there, it will never transition to commercial, so it will be made residential. The vacant properties where commercial is possible will be cleaned up so landowners can do something with it. Some areas are a jump ball. There is not a clear pattern and no matter what, if you suggest changing it, people will get upset. In that case, we wont fix them, well leave them as they are or do a calibration ordinance a year from now to address little items. This is the culmination of three years of effort to modernize and streamline our land use regulations to make them easier to understand, more predictable, user-friendly and create more modern planning concepts, Peterson said. In the northeast, very little will be done regarding land use changes. some properties near Gator Slough are going to be changed from commercial to multi-family. Navarra and Gator Circle will go from commercial to commercial and residential. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he will sign an executive order to abolish Common Core educational mandates in Florida, replacing them with state standards. He made his announcement at Ida Baker High School in Cape Coral. One of the things that we would constantly hear about on the campaign trail is frustration with a lot of parents in particular with this idea of Common Core and some of the testing and some of the things that go into that. Today, we are doing an executive order that is going to instruct (Education) Commissioner (Richard) Corcoran to get to work and come up with good standards for the State of Florida, which includes eliminating Common Core and the vestiges of Common Core. The executive order will require the commissioner (of education) to provide a road map so that we have authentic, Florida-based standards. Corcoran will also work to increase the quality of Floridas instructional curriculum, suggest innovative ways to streamline testing to measure success other than just teaching solely to an eventual test and identify ways to make civics education a priority in Florida. We have the boldest, No. 1 education governor in the entire United States of America, said Corcoran. Today, I think youll hear one of the boldest executive orders ever. DeSantis said that he has heard the voices of teachers, parents and administrators along the way to the Governors Office, and that this is a chance for Florida to set itself apart when it comes to educational standards. I think that this is a chance for us to really lead the way, but its also an opportunity for Floridians to provide input to the commissioner. And we want to hear from you. We want to do this right. This is not going to be something dictated by the federal government. Its going to be something thats going to spring up from the communities here in the state of Florida. Im here to say, when you complained about Common Core, I hear you. I told you Id do something about it. And today, we are acting to bring those promises into a reality.' The governor stated that he envisions a nimble education system that works in conjuncture with communities, businesses and responds to what the immediate needs of the ever-changing economy may be at the time so that students can be put in the best position as possible to succeed. DeSantis believes we are in a time of constant upheaval and recurring change, and noted that the training of teachers in newest, most up to date realms of education is paramount for student success. The governor also wants to see a focus on students who may have put in time at a college, university or technical school, but for one reason or another came just short of earning a degree. Folks who get some college, but then dont get that bachelors degree-we want to be able to kind of reverse credential that, so that if they have enough credits for an associates degree, but just cant get through, at least get them the associates degree so they can go out and start to be productive. We want to also do a new program, for what were calling The Last Mile Completion. We have some people that get pretty close to getting that degree, and then for whatever reason-I mean things happen in life, they dont quite get over the hump, we want to provide financial incentive that if youre over 90 percent of the way there, that we can link you up with the appropriate courses so that you can get that degree and move on to be more productive. The governor expects the process to put this initiative in place will take the balance of the year, and will bring the order to the legislature next session to get it done. We could have just tried to dictate something on high, but I think its definitely worth having (Corcoran) get into the communities, listen to people, so that we get something that a lot of people have confidence in, DeSantis said. When asked if the state will lose any federal funding due to the order, DeSantis replied, I dont think were going to lose any. The president is opposed to Common Core. And I think our standards will be much higher in many respects, but I think it will be standards that are more reflective of what the folks are looking for. I think it will be more geared towards knowledge rather than maybe teaching to a test. Were not going to lose any funding when you take the standards and make them better, added Corcoran. The order includes the examination of testing processes as currently instituted. Many parents have expressed their displeasure with the idea of high-stakes testing. (The executive order) doesnt say to get rid of any testing, but doing it in a way that I think is trying to measure where were at. We dont want to get in a situation where the test is everything, and that youre really teaching to a test. This should be something where students just have the knowledge-you could test them tomorrow or two weeks from now, and they wont have to study for it because they know it. That is the type of knowledge I think that really carries with students more. DeSantis ended by recommending the public to stay tuned for further announcements pertaining to the future of Floridas education system in the coming week. -Connect with this reporter on Twitter:@haddad_cj Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday that he has deployed federal troops to Tijuana to combat the citys spiraling violence. A special plan is being implemented because the killings in Tijuana have grown a lot, he said at a news conference in Mexico City. He said members of the army, navy and federal police will work with local forces to tackle violence in the city, where a record 2,518 people were killed in 2018, part of a nationwide surge in killings. Members of those forces will eventually be part of a new National Guard that Lopez Obrador hopes to form this year. Establishment of the guard, which would consist of about 70,000 troops, has not yet been approved by Mexicos Congress but is expected to be soon. Advertisement A charismatic leftist who was elected in a landslide last summer thanks in part to his promise to curtail Mexicos rising violence, Lopez Obrador has given mixed signals in recent months about just how he plans to do it. At a news conference on Wednesday, Lopez Obrador declared an end to Mexicos war on drugs, saying his administration will stop seeking to weaken powerful cartels by arresting their top leaders. That strategy, which was embraced by his predecessors, has only fueled the bloodshed, he said, adding that he plans to instead focus on reducing homicides and other crimes. There is officially no more war. We want peace, he said. What we want is security, to reduce the daily number of homicides. While a candidate, Lopez Obrador vowed to forgo Mexicos military-led drug war in favor of economic development to give young people better options than criminal groups offer. One of his popular campaign slogans was abrazos, no balazos, which translates to hugs, not gunshots. But critics say that a national guard, which would report in part to the Defense Ministry, would simply be a continuation of the militaristic strategy criticized by Lopez Obrador. The roughly 70,000 members would include recruits from the army and navy but, unlike the armed forces, would have the mandate and capacity to assist in criminal investigations. Critics of the presidents plan say what is needed is more training of and investment in local police forces, many of which are plagued by high levels of corruption. State and local police have struggled to contain the violence in Tijuana, where killings have risen by 400% since 2012 as local dealers battle over a booming drug market. With 140 killings per 100,000 people, Tijuana is now one of the deadliest cities in the world. On Thursday, President Trump cited rising violence in Mexico as justification for construction of a border wall. Worse even than Afghanistan, he tweeted. Advertisement Trump also claimed that murder cases in Mexico rose 33% last year compared with 2017. That is untrue. The number of homicide investigations rose from 28,866 in 2017 to 33,341 last year, an increase of 16%. Cecilia Sanchez of the Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Twitter: @katelinthicum Airfare deals abound this time of year, in the rabbit hole between the holidays and spring vacations. Among the deals: a round-trip fare of $787 for the 4,000-mile flight from LAX to Papeete, Tahiti, via Air Tahiti Nui. Subject to availability, the fare is valid for travel up to March 31. The ticket must be purchased by Feb. 15. Info: (877) 824-4846, www.airahitinui.com/us-en Source: Airfarewatchdog.com Advertisement travel@latimes.com The year 2020 will ring in the 100th anniversary of the clause arbitrated by a U.S. president in the Treaty of Sevres that called for what became known as Wilsonian Armenia. What better way for our city to honor and celebrate that history and elevate its importance than with participation in the 2020 Rose Parade? If the city of Glendale could once again support a float for the Rose Parade, or work in tandem with the American Armenian Rose Float Assn., this would be an opportunity for those of Armenian and also of American heritage to collaborate and honor our shared history. We have an unrivaled friendship between us, so lets combine our efforts to share our historical pride with the world. Many people do not know about President Woodrow Wilsons legacy to Armenia, but we can present the treaty and Wilsons legacy with pride. Lets use this unique opportunity to teach the world about Wilsons vision of Wilsonian Armenia. Its time to float! Rachel Melikian Glendale President Xi Jinping conducted an inspection tour of Beijing and extended Spring Festival greetings on Friday morning. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, paid a visit to Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, expressing Chinese New Year greetings to all police officers. During the visit, Xi made a video call to a policeman who was performing his duty. In addition, Xi extended greetings and blessings to all Chinese people as the Spring Festival draws near. Xi also walked into a home in Qianmen, a centuries-old area which was renovated for better living conditions while the traditional buildings were preserved. He talked with local residents, learning about their daily lives and made dumplings together. As a child, Flor Edwards prayed for a good death. A quick and painless end. One that would spare her from the torments of an approaching apocalypse. Edwards grew up in the Children of God, a cult that emerged in Huntington Beach in the 1960s. The group followed ordinations from Father David Berg. Like many cult leaders and false prophets, Bergs doctrine preached an impending apocalypse his was slated for 1993. I would go to bed praying to be shot if it happened, said Edwards, now 37, of Long Beach. I thought that would be the easiest way to go. Edwards plans to speak about her childhood trials from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., where she will highlight her debut memoir, Apocalypse Child: A Life in End Times, detailing her unusual upbringing in an iconic cult of the hippie era. Berg, who came from a long line of evangelists and preachers, started gathering social castaways on the Huntington Beach Pier in the 1960s. He formed the cult in earnest in 1968. He knew what those who felt unconnected thought they needed. His promises and dicta were prescribed accordingly. He was very charismatic in the beginning, said Jeanette Solano, an associate professor of religious studies at Cal State Fullerton. He knew how to communicate and motivate. He knew how to write in a simple way that could appeal to the masses and motivate them. Martin Luther did the same thing. He was able to write booklets and pamphlets that explained complex ideas in a simple way to gather many followers. Children under the auspices of the Children of God cult sleep in one of the rooms raided in 1993 by Argentine police. Authorities arrested about 30 adults from the sect. They were charged with kidnapping. (Getty Images) Edwards mother and father met in 1978, shortly after joining the Children of God, where Edwards spent her first 12 years. Her childhood was atypical to say the least. Familial ties were dissolved; every member was part of The Family. Berg was the father. Everything was broken down so the parents didnt have control over the raising of the children, Solano said. Parental authority was abdicated to the community. At its height, the Children of God boasted about 14,000 members. Celebrities Joaquin and River Phoenix and Rose McGowan were raised in the cult. Days were strictly regimented. Every single minute we were being watched, Edwards said. We woke at 7 a.m. and had work time. Then we would get information from Father David. We did a lot of chores. We would have some exercise in the afternoon, then some time with our families before going to bed at 8 p.m. Congregants were on a perpetual exodus through third-world countries, living in compounds of about 50. By age 12, Edwards had lived in 24 homes in various countries, including Sweden, Mexico and Thailand. Schooling was minimal. The only important information in the lives of the congregants came from Berg. A young Flor Edwards points to a map while in Phuket, Thailand. Edwards lived in various countries while growing up in the Children of God. (Courtesy of Flor Edwards) Bergs doctrine centered on his apocalyptic musings, aversion to Western customs, and sexual openness. His teachings and orders were either written or given to the group through an intermediary. Members never saw him. He was a totalitarian phantom, issuing orders behind a curtain. Photos seen by his adherents were doctored so a head of a lion stood on his shoulders a lion shepherding sheep. His the Western-world-is-sick-because-of-materialism credo differed little from many of the mid-century cults. What separated the Children of God was its sexually liberal ideology everybody had sex with everybody. Sex and God were joined together, Edwards said. Sex was an act of Gods love. Edwards remembers as a child hearing moaning of adults throughout the compounds. Some former members claim they were victims of molestation and statutory rape. Berg ordered the women to use sex to attract new members, a technique he called flirty fishing. He sent women to prostitute themselves this was evangelism for him, Edwards said. It was a way for them to go out and spread Gods message. A leading member of the Children of God cult walks with his wife and child in the countryside near Thurber, Texas, in 1971. (AP) But the primary tenet was the promise of martyrdom. The world would end in 1993, evil would fall and congregants would be lifted to the heavens. For many, it was something to look forward to. But for children, it was tortuous. I would think a lot about the fact that I was going to die as a martyr at 12, Edwards said. I grew up my entire childhood never really thinking I would become an adult. Edwards became obsessed with death, thinking of the myriad ways she would die. Many of those scenarios were biblical maybe shed be crucified or hung. For many it was euphoric thinking about the afterlife, Edwards said. We earned that spot in heaven we were the chosen ones. But in my mind, I couldnt just think about the afterlife but that threshold we had to cross to get there. It plagued me as a child. But the biblical harbingers of doomsday didnt appear. The year 1993 came and went. The seven trumpets didnt sound, the four horsemen never showed and Father David Bergs prophecy proved false. The cult began to crumble. Edwards, along with many other members, left the cult with her family shortly after Berg died in 1994. Today the Children of God is known as the Family International, a shade of its former self. A new member is initiated into the Children of God while sitting in one of the cabins of the cults colony at Burlington, Wash., in 1971. (AP) Leaving the haunted world of a cult wasnt a seamless transition. Edwards and her fellow expats had trouble connecting with others, always trying to keep the past hidden. Once I knew that I had been in a cult, my eyes were opened, Edwards said. In the beginning I was confused. I was embarrassed and couldnt talk to people. My sisters and I started going to school. I realized I had to hide my path. Even now, when people say Where are you from? I always shake my head. Tragedy devoured many. Suicide, addiction, financial ruin. One of the most tragic distinguishing characteristics of Children of God is that there are now thousands of children born into the group who were extremely isolated, minimally educated and, in some cases, sexually abused, said Solano, who brought Edwards to speak at Cal State Fullerton in December. The suicide rate is very high for former childhood members, and the loss of parental influence in their lives forever shapes them. Ironically, many who leave turn to drugs and are atheists or agnostics. Not Edwards. She attained a bachelors degree in print journalism from Fullerton and a masters in creative writing from UC Riverside. Shes working on her masters in English at Cal State Long Beach. Writing became an important tool, helping Edwards uncoil the tangled web of her cult years. It took 12 years to write her memoir, Apocalypse Child, which was published last year. While doing research, Edwards studied the anatomy of cults. While it may be a reasonable assumption that a person whose childhood was stolen by a cult would dislike cults, Edwards concluded that cults are better understood as a commentary on the ills and deficits of general society. I think the biggest misunderstanding is that cults are bad, Edwards said. The truth is a cult serves a purpose. Its people coming together to rebel against the status quo. It means they are unhappy with something in larger society. Edwards writing has helped her come to terms with her traumatic past. It was extremely cathartic, Edwards said. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. This was something I had to do. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Ive never been a sentimental person, rehashing the past, longing for times gone by. But this week I find myself thinking about the stories and people Ive brought to these pages since 2007. Along the way Ive met some amazing folks, and some Id rather forget. Through it all Ive tried to bring to light issues that otherwise wouldnt have been talked about and give readers food for thought. Up until 1993, I hadnt paid much attention to the local political scene. Then I started inquiring about what it would take to remove the electrical poles in the middle of the horse trails in my neighborhood. That led me to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and more than a decade of maneuvering through a tangled web of government bureaucracy. I learned important lessons, which served me well as a columnist years later. Becoming a journalist wasnt something Id planned. My first career was hairdressing. I worked for trailblazer Peter Coppola, who started the first chain of unisex salons on Long Island. From there I worked in New York Citys garment center, wholesaling jeans at the time when Jordache and Faded Glory were the craze. In the mid 70s I found myself managing a rock n roll club called My Fathers Place in Roslyn, Long Island, with owner Michael Eppy Epstein. Ritchie Havens, Blondie, the Ramones, Billy Joel, Eddie Murphy, Andy Kaufman, Billy Crystal and Bruce Springsteen all played there early in their careers. Little did I know then that I had a first-row seat to rock n roll history, as the club and Eppy were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2010. In 1982 I left New York for California. More interesting chapters would unfold, from manufacturing a womens leather and suede clothing line, to stirring on the comedy cooking show At Home on the Range alongside Fleetwood Motorhome founder John Crean. In 2006 I walked into the Daily Pilot office to seek its endorsement for Newport Beach City Council in my race against Leslie Daigle. It had been a nasty race, thanks to Daigles political consultant, Dave Ellis. I dropped out, yet still got the Pilots endorsement. Daigle won. It was a crazy time. Then-Publisher Tom Johnson offered me an opinion column and the freedom to venture into controversial political topics, which I did wholeheartedly. Over the last years, Ive had the pleasure of working with Johnson; Frank Mickadeit, a former OC Register columnist; Norberto Santana Jr., publisher of the Voice of OC; and my current editor, John Canalis of Times Community News. These guys have been my champions and helped mold me into the writer I am today. In 2010 we all created Feet to the Fire, which changed the political landscape of community candidate forums. Thinking about where Ive been brings me to where Im going and yet another crossroads. Its time for me to explore writing the next chapter. Last October I took some time off from writing the column to try out a different type of storytelling, working with friends developing a new television project in Los Angeles. This week that concept grew legs, and I discovered there are more treatments and show ideas in the mix. Canalis is supporting my decision to take another break from these pages to see where this leads me. So for the next three months Ill be doing just that. Ill miss the chase of following the local political scene, but will be watching from the wings. My hope is residents will remain diligent in holding their elected officials accountable for their actions. This will be an important year to watch who starts fundraising for campaigns in 2020. The political chessboard is constantly changing. It will be interesting to see which politicians decide to move to a larger arena. Id like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have taken the time out of their busy lives to read this column over the years, as well as to those who have joined us at Feet to the Fire and gotten politically involved in their communities. And a special shout out to those whove complained my opinions were either too far to the left or to the right, depending on the day and column subject matter. Ive enjoyed my time with you all. Barbara Venezia is an opinion columnist writing political and social commentary since 2007. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com Local lawyer Jerry Friedmans legal challenge to one of Huntington Beachs requirements to run for city attorney is moving forward after an appellate judge excused a filing error by Friedmans attorney. Presiding Justice Kathleen OLeary of the state 4th District Court of Appeal reinstated the case Tuesday after attorney Christine Kelly explained that necessary documents werent filed with the court in a timely manner because of her mistake and inadvertence. The documents were electronically served to the [city attorneys office] and the documents were thought to be in the hands of the court. This was not correct, Kelly wrote in a request to reinstate the case. Were back in business, Friedman said. The legal wrangling began in July after City Clerk Robin Estanislau disqualified Friedman from the city attorney race because he didnt graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Assn., one of the citys four requirements to run for the office. Friedman earned his law degree at the University of West Los Angeles in 2013. The Inglewood-based school lacks the ABAs endorsement, though it is accredited by the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges and the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Friedman contended that Huntington Beachs requirement is unconstitutional, and Kelly petitioned the California Supreme Court in August for an order to stop the city from enforcing it. The case was passed down to the 4th District Court of Appeal and a hearing was scheduled in Orange County Superior Court, more than a week past the county registrar of voters Sept. 11 cutoff for the Nov. 6 ballot. On Sept. 21, Superior Court Judge Robert Moss denied Friedmans request to declare the requirement unconstitutional and reinstate him as a candidate. Moss said Friedmans arguments were without merit and that the city has a valid interest in candidates qualifications because its status as a charter city imposes a wide range of responsibilities for an elected city attorney. With Friedman ruled ineligible, City Attorney Michael Gates ran unopposed and won reelection in November. He has called Friedmans legal action politically motivated and inappropriate. In November, Kelly filed a notice of appeal of Moss ruling but hit a snag when OLeary dismissed the motion Jan. 4 because Kelly didnt file the documents in a timely manner. Minerva Alvarez learned to cut fabric as a middle-schooler in her native Cuernavaca, Mexico. She began making simple dresses in class and soon elevated to creating elaborate quinceanera designs. Its the style I enjoyed the most. It was the prettiest, with much more detail, with much more love, said Alvarez, who runs Shelsyes Bridal in downtown Santa Ana. Nearby, Sandra Cerpas honed her craft as a youngster with the help of nuns in her church in Michoacan, Mexico. The church would offer free tailoring classes in exchange for small donations. We would take fruit or honey to learn, said Cerpas, who operates Cassandras Bridal. Alvarez and Cerpas are business owners who run quinceanera shops on 4th Street, a commercial district that for years catered largely to Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrants. The women order their dresses in bulk from designers and companies in Mexico, Germany and New York City. They also design and make their own gowns. They sketch and stitch patterns, build paper models, cut fabric and piece together layered dresses with elaborate ruffles. Its a work of art that requires craft, skill and time. As artist Saskia Jorda who in a 2013 art installation explored quinceanera tailoring traditions through interviews with shop owners in downtown Santa Ana phrased it, Its like each one had their secrets. This skill set and tradition has been slowly disappearing from downtown Santa Ana, which for years hosted a cottage industry for the dresses intended for Latinas celebrating their 15th birthdays. Quinceanera shops lined 4th Street by the dozen. Now, theyre either moving to other parts of the city, or outside of the county, as trendy restaurants, bars and clothing boutiques continue to set up shop in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. When we say support artists, we think of visual artists at galleries, but theyre also artists, says Marilynn Montano, who is documenting business closures in downtown Santa Ana. Theyre also makers. Thats a craft. (Photo by Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer) Marilynn Montano, who works as a barista in the downtown area, documents the closure of long-time businesses including quinceanera boutiques by posting photos of the empty shops on Instagram. In one photo, she features a young woman wearing a quinceanera dress, posing in front of an empty boutique. A yellow, handwritten sign declares the shops moved to Huntington Park. I started to document them because in a couple years, this is just going to be a memory to someone, said Montano, 25. We dont consider these quinceanera shops, the people who make these dresses, as also artists, Montano said. When we say, `Support artists, we think of visual artists at galleries, but theyre also artists. Theyre also makers. Thats a craft. District once likened to plazas in Mexico Downtown Santa Ana, particularly the area around 4th Street, has in the past been likened to vibrant shopping plazas in Mexico. As the Mexican immigrant population surged in the 80s, 4th Street known as Calle Cuatro reflected the demographic shift. Between 1960 and 1980, the citys foreign-born population grew from 7% to 30%, according to the 2017 book Latino City: Urban Planning, Politics, and the Grassroots. Now more than 78% percent of the city of 334,000 is Hispanic or Latino. Travel agencies specializing in airfares to Mexico and Latin America, jewelry stores, shoe and clothing shops became the norm downtown, wrote Cal State Fullerton associate professor Erualdo Gonzalez, the author of Latino City. Bridal stores, widely recognized for selling quinceanera dresses, boomed. In 2014, the demand for such business was so high that of the people that are here now that I know, almost all of them were ex-employees of bridals, and now they have their own store, one quinceanera shop owner recalled in the book. I counted all of them on 4th Street one day, something like 30, 35, she said. But the dress shops have gradually become less visible in recent years. A young woman wearing a quinceanera gown poses in front of a closed shop in downtown Santa Ana. (Photo courtesy of Marilynn Montano) In the 90s, Artists Village began taking shape near 1st Street and Broadway when Cal State Fullertons Grand Central Art Center moved downtown. Bars and restaurants followed. By 2011, a slew of changes contributed to downtowns mixed identity. The E. 4th Street area known as Fiesta Marketplace was re-branded as East End, and with that came the Frida Cinema, Native Son Alehouse and an artisan food hall, 4th Street Market. Downtown developer Ryan Chase said he rebranded the area to broaden its appeal beyond its core Latino clientele. We have been here To Alvarez, the struggle to stay afloat goes beyond the gentrification narrative often told in Santa Ana, where its new versus old. She doesnt see herself in competition with los Americanos. Alvarez said she had one of her best sales years in 2018, when she was delivering about 10 dresses a week. Shed just like to feel her line of work is as valued as the newer bars and restaurants. Residents in the past have protested the number of alcohol licenses. Hopefully the city can help us because we have been here longer than those who are just arriving, Alvarez said. Julie Castro-Cardenas, acting assistant to the city manager, said the city is conscious about the culture of the community. We certainly have an ear to all residents, Castro-Cardenas said. We dont cater to one group. We are intentional about having a balance. Castro-Cardenas said that about four years ago the city created a downtown liaison position between merchants and City Hall, a job she claims has been plagued by high turnover. She also noted a 2017 resolution the city adopted in support of worker cooperatives businesses owned by workers who share the profits. And in December, the city approved $100,000 each for the Santa Ana Business Council, which supports 4th Street businesses, and Downtown Inc., which manages the areas restaurant association. Like Santa Ana, cities nationwide are grappling with how to address displacement and preserve their cultural districts. In San Francisco, for example, the Board of Supervisors in May passed legislation to establish clear definitions of cultural districts in order to provide funding for them. To Gonzalez, author of Latino City, solutions need to go beyond cultural preservation. You have to put front and center the class element, he said. A princess-style quinceanera dress is popular dress at Shelsyes Bridal, located along 4th Street in Santa Ana. (Photo by Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer) Upscale Mexican restaurants or expensive bridal boutiques would jibe in a culturally Mexican district, but Gonzalez questioned whether they would serve the areas working class. Gentefication which happens when professional, college-educated Latinos return to and invest in their neighborhoods is a class issue, he said. And the way the models are being divided across cities, its going to be favoring pockets, Gonzalez said. Garnering attention for the district On a recent Friday, Alvarez displayed a layered quinceanera dress she designed to reflect the popular Mexican charro style. The dress was embellished with fuchsia sheer ruffles below a silk-like, white fabric decorated with pink stitched flowers, stems and horseshoes. Gold-colored buttons on the embroidered corset completed the cowboy look. Alvarez sketched the design using inspiration from other styles. Shop owner Minerva Alvarez shows off a Mexican charro-styled quinceanera dress, one of the more popular dresses at Shelsyes Bridal in Santa Ana. (Photo by Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer) We can make them in different colors, she said. Alvarez began working at a 4th Street bridal store when she was about 19 years old, just two months after she left Mexico. She began running the shop after the owner left her the business when he moved out of state. Alvarez said she is reinventing her business. She hopes to partner with high school students to help her with social media marketing. Shes also planning a grand re-opening, where young women will model custom dresses. She recently moved to a new 4th Street location after the property owner sold the space she rented. What would be the most helpful would be more publicity, Alvarez said. Montano, who has also been an anti-gentrification activist, challenged herself and others to think differently when it comes to the way they shop. Instead of going to Macys for a gown or dress, a Latina-owned quinceanera boutique would be an alternative, she said. Im pretty sure you can ask them for some other type of dress for a different occasion, she said. Think creatively because these people, if you dont support them, of course theyre going to go away. We also need to put our money where our mouth is, Montano said. Alejandra Molina is a contributing writer for Arts & Culture at Voice of OC. She can be reached at molina.alee@gmail.com. Burbank city officials have issued a voluntary evacuation order to hillside residents, starting early Saturday morning as heavy rainfall is expected to drench Southern California throughout the weekend. The voluntary order applies to residents living along Country Club Drive above Via Montana and will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. The National Weather Service predicts the Southland will see roughly 1.5 to 3 inches of rain in the coastal and valley areas, while the mountains and foothills could expect to see between 4 to 7 inches of rain. HEADS UP!!! A very strong storm system will roll into Southwestern California tonight through Saturday. Heavy rain and damaging winds expected. 1.5 to 3" coast/valleys. 4-7 inches in the foothills and mountains. Possible elevated debris flows in recent burn areas. #CAWX #LArain pic.twitter.com/DKHupnhmNk NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 1, 2019 Sgt. Derek Green, spokesman for the Burbank Police Department, said there is a potential for heavy mud and debris flow to occur in the area scarred by the La Tuna fire two years prior. Police officers will regularly patrol the hillside beginning at 4 a.m. and will be on the lookout for any unusual increase in rain activity, according to Green. Burbank Public Works crews have also set up barriers in the hillside area in case roadways need to be closed to traffic. If the situation worsens and we need to turn this into a mandatory evacuation we will. But as of right now we dont anticipate that, Green said. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc In the nations opioid epidemic, the carnage is far from over. A new projection of opioid overdose death rates suggests that even if there is steady progress in reducing prescription narcotic abuse across the country, the number of fatal overdoses which reached 47,600 in 2017 will rise sharply in the coming years. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said there were 70,237 opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2017. That is the number of all drug overdose deaths that year, of which 47,600 were due to opioids. By 2022, these deaths would peak at around 75,400, and begin to level off thereafter, according to the new forecast. And thats the rosiest scenario. Under conditions that are only slightly less optimistic, the U.S. could see 81,700 opioid overdose deaths per year by 2025. Advertisement If the supply of prescription painkillers stops declining and there are other setbacks, researchers predict that yearly opioid overdose deaths could rise as high as 200,000 per year by 2025. No matter how you slice it, the nations opioid epidemic is not finished growing, said decision scientist Jagpreet Chhatwal of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the research. Its far from over, he said. And its far from moving in the right direction. Almost two decades after the widening use of prescription painkillers began to fuel an epidemic of addiction, opiates are claiming an average of 130 lives a day in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The driving force of the epidemic has changed. These days, an increasing proportion of overdose victims first got hooked on street drugs like heroin. And since 2016, the explosive growth of fentanyl an illicit opiate that is highly lethal has given the epidemic a new propulsive force. Meanwhile, a vast population of Americans who were first exposed to opiates by prescription have continued to misuse the drugs over many years, said Dr. Donald Burke, who studies the American drug epidemic at the University of Pittsburgh and was not involved in the new research. Until these people either receive treatment or die of an overdose, they form a vast reservoir of potential victims for the spiraling epidemic, he said. Indeed, the new modeling effort, published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open, finds that slowing the epidemics upward trajectory before 2025 will require broad-based action, and more than a bit of luck. The mathematical models that suggest a leveling-off of opioid deaths by 2022 require, first, that medical and public health professionals continue to drive down the numbers of Americans who get their first taste of addiction from a legitimate pharmacy prescription. They also assume that fewer Americans will start on the path to addiction with an illicit street drug such as heroin, or that successful treatment for such addictions will surge. Advertisement Finally, this scenario assumes that progress in fighting the opioid epidemic wont get blown up by some unforeseen trend, such as the appearance of a new and more lethal drug. In a market where illicit drugmakers are richly rewarded for introducing new products, narcotics such as the synthetic fentanyl more addictive or more lethal than opioids already on the market can appear seemingly out of nowhere. In short, Chhatwal said, reversing the surging epidemic of opioid drug deaths will not be fast and it will not be simple. Bending the curve will likely require a multi-pronged effort that includes limiting the supply of prescription painkillers that get into patients hands, providing more and better treatments for the addicted, increasing the use of overdose-reversal agents like Narcan, and shutting off the flow of heroin and fentanyl pouring into the country. None of these interventions alone will have a substantial impact, Chhatwal said. Indeed, his work suggests that even if doctors and pharmacists cut off all prescriptions of narcotic pain relievers a far more radical step than would likely ever be implemented overdoses would continue to mount until 2025, and possibly beyond. Burke cautioned that the studys assumptions about drug users behavior are at best guesswork and that the results must be interpreted with caution. Advertisement While it is possible that [the epidemics] stabilization will occur sometime in the next decade, the U.S. has experienced four decades of exponentially increasing overdose deaths, so stabilization in the next 2 to 7 years may be more of a hope than a scientific reality, he said. For Georgiy Bobashev, a biostatistician at RTI International in North Carolina, the new model leaves many questions unanswered. At a time when health experts are struggling to clarify which measures work best to combat overdoses, studies that forecast the epidemics growth have limited value. But we need more modeling, said Bobashev, who was not involved in the research. We cannot afford to wait till we get perfect data. When we have such a crisis of this magnitude, we need as much analysis and as many forward-looking models as possible. melissa.healy@latimes.com Advertisement @LATMelissaHealy MORE IN SCIENCE California set ambitious new goals in 2012 to help state inmates transition into society and infused the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with more funding to fulfill the mandate. But a state audit released Thursday found corrections officials have failed to connect many prisoners with services, monitor rehabilitation programs and keep people away from incarceration. State auditors said poor administrative practices resulted in 62% of 24,000 inmates leaving state prisons without having those needs met in fiscal year 2017. And recidivism, the rate at which people commit a subsequent crime within three years out of custody, has remained stubbornly high, according to the audit averaging 50% over the past decade even as the state inmate population has dropped. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs have been developed to correct an inmates patterns of thinking and behavior, and can include classes on substance abuse, anger management and family relationships. Inmates in those programs recidivated at about the same rate as inmates who did not complete the programs, State Auditor Elaine Howle wrote in the report. These results are serious enough to highlight an urgent need for corrections to take a more active and meaningful role in ensuring that these programs are effective. The analysis began with data from fiscal year 2014 and tracked inmates over several years, a time period that corrections officials said predated the significant expansion of programs. Advertisement Vicky Waters, a corrections spokeswoman, said the department is taking the auditors findings seriously and has been working to implement most of the recommendations, which include addressing longstanding staff vacancies and evaluating existing mechanisms to analyze offenders needs. The department is committed to building a strong model to measure our rehabilitative programs consistently and to continue enhancing public safety by ensuring our inmates have the skills and resources they need for a successful transition back to their communities, Waters said in a written statement. But the audit, requested by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), has raised concerns among state lawmakers and criminal justice reform groups that over the last two decades have worked to shift the focus of state corrections toward rehabilitation. Jones-Sawyer, chairman of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, said he and other lawmakers are discussing ways legislative committees could provide better oversight moving forward and want to bring in outside academic experts to improve failing programs. Not all of the audits results were negative, he said, pointing to findings that show some programs have been successful, particularly when coupled with community-based services for inmates upon release. He said he asked Howle to undertake the audit after hearing anecdotal concerns about the shift to rehabilitation from opponents of that move. I wanted some fact-based information on what was working and what wasnt working, plus the voters of California have decided that we are going to expand money on rehabilitation, he said. I just want to make sure we are doing it right. Former Gov. Jerry Brown initiated efforts to reshape the states criminal justice system after a 2011 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the release of some 46,000 state prison inmates after years of overcrowding. In 2012, the state corrections department released a blueprint to improve conditions and increase access to rehabilitation programs. Corrections officials have since expanded cognitive behavioral therapy programs, vocational training and education to all 36 California prisons and have seen their budget for such initiatives rise from $234 million five years ago to $298 million in the fiscal year that ends in July, according to the state audit. Under Proposition 57, which voters approved in 2016 to overhaul the states parole system, prisoners can now receive more credits toward their sentences for participating and completing the programs. Advertisement But state auditors said that for years corrections officials have failed to properly evaluate whether the initiatives are working. And they found a significant portion of programs areas of study were not based on evidence that shows they have a positive influence on offenders or can cut their chances of getting arrested once out of custody. The state audit also found corrections officials have not appropriately placed inmates on waiting lists for some classes and have failed to match others with those that best address their needs. Although [the corrections department] plans to coordinate with external researchers to conduct a performance evaluation of the rehabilitation programs over the course of the next two years, [it] has taken no formal steps to initiate this process, the report found. Lenore Anderson, executive director for Californians for Safety and Justice, which advocates for polices to reduce the prison population and increase services for inmates, said the results were not surprising after having multiple decades of a behemoth prison system devoid of a focus on rehabilitation. Advertisement But they should place new urgency on that focus, she said. I am grateful there is this much attention to ensuring that we are reaching that goal, she said. It is a good thing that there is a microscope on this. What is clear to me from this report is that we have a long way to go. Not all were satisfied with the findings. Members of community nonprofits said the report lacked an understanding of their work and the strides they have made to help people adjust to life outside of prison once released. Caitlin Dunklee, a coordinator with Transformative In-Prison Workgroup, which represents 35 organizations working in state prisons, said auditors used only one marker to measure success recidivism without capturing broader societal failures. That an inmate might receive six months of substance abuse classes but struggle to find housing and reoffend may not be an indicator that the classes werent effective, she said. Advertisement We have demonstration of our success, she said of the advances made by the groups she represents. But unfortunately, it wasnt reflected in this auditors report. More stories from Jazmine Ulloa jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com Advertisement Follow @jazmineulloa on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials in San Diego on Thursday touted a proposed $25 million in state funding to address a growing humanitarian crisis involving migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. and blamed the Trump administration for manufacturing a problem at the border. With prodding from San Diego lawmakers, Newsom has called for spending $20 million over three years to aid local nonprofits and community organizations that provide services to asylum-seeking migrant families. The funds would be available starting in the state fiscal year that begins in July. The governor has also asked the Legislature for another $5 million in immediate funding, which lawmakers plan to approve in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, [for] the current administration, this is self-induced, Newsom said of border conditions at a news conference in San Diego. Its a policy they advanced in October that [has] made the conditions not only worse here in California but [has] been highlighted in places like El Paso and elsewhere where they are having exactly the same kind of challenges. Advertisement Isaac, 2, left, and his brother Carlitos Duenas, 4, of Honduras, at a migrant camp in Tijuana, where their family is requesting asylum in the United States. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Although crucial to nonprofits working to provide services to an influx of Central American migrant families arriving in San Diego, the proposed spending constitutes a small fraction of Newsoms $209-billion state budget, which he unveiled this month. The funding is largely expected to help the San Diego Rapid Response Network a coalition of more than two dozen nonprofits to provide shelter, food and other services to asylum seekers being released onto city streets. Thursdays trip served as another opportunity for Newsom to highlight the stark divide on immigration policy between California and the Trump administration. Hes trying to address a real problem, but hes also very clearly trying to point a finger at the Trump administration by saying, Not on my watch; not on Californias watch, said Brad Jones, professor of political science at UC Davis. Members of the San Diego Rapid Response Network have criticized the Trump administrations treatment of refugees at the border. Before last fall, the federal government processed and held asylum-seeking families for up to several days while helping them make travel arrangements with sponsors, mostly in other states. The Trump administration ended the so-called safe release policy last October and began releasing migrants after registration and before they connect with sponsors. The administration has also registered asylum seekers more slowly, creating a bottleneck at the border, said Kevin Malone, executive director of the San Diego Organizing Project, a member of the coalition. Advertisement Its a manufactured crisis to feed this narrative of crisis at the border, Malone said. Newsom, standing next to several state and local officials, applauded community groups and nonprofits for taking action to address the problem and said the state only intervened after the groups stepped up. As a small group of protesters, one wearing a Make America Great Again hat, gathered outside, Newsom stressed that the migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. are following immigration law. Its an example, a repudiation, of that assertion that somehow these caravans are coming in to create havoc and do something as some would suggest are not in line with our values, Newsom said. The news conference came less than a week after Trump agreed to temporarily end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, without securing the more than $5 billion he demanded for a new border wall. Advertisement It was also the second jab in as many weeks Newsom has made against the presidents agenda. In mid-January, the governor met with Transportation Security Administration workers in Sacramento during the shutdown and pledged to provide state unemployment benefits to essential employees who were required to work without pay. The Trump administration advised California and other states that the employees were ineligible for the benefits before Newsom invited reporters to join him to talk with the TSA employees. Newsoms focus on helping immigrants includes a budget proposal to expand Medi-Cal coverage in California to young immigrant adults without legal status under age 26 at a cost of $260 million next year in a move that drew criticism from Washington. Though former Gov. Jerry Brown played a critical role in the California-versus-Trump saga, Jones said Newsom is taking it to another level. Newsom is really trying to put California on the map in terms of doubling down on pro-immigration, pro-immigrant policies that are squarely opposed by Donald Trump, Jones said. Advertisement The president took to Twitter on Thursday to lament an increase in murders in Mexico last year. At the same time, his administration is taking a new stance that those who apply for asylum must remain in Mexico as the U.S. makes a determination on their cases. This is a big contributor to the Humanitarian Crisis taking place on our Southern Border and then spreading throughout our Country, Trump tweeted. Worse even than Afghanistan. Much caused by DRUGS. Wall is being built! As the president continues to ramp up his rhetoric on border safety, nonprofits have sought to provide shelter to immigrants with little financial help from either the state or local government. Representatives of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which operates a shelter to house migrants, said the organization has moved to five different locations since first opening last fall. The facility temporarily shelters asylum seekers for less than 72 hours before they travel to meet family members outside San Diego. The San Diego Rapid Response Network has so far assisted more than 5,000 migrants with transportation assistance and humanitarian aid. Advertisement Malone said the coalition has worked closely with Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) to draw Newsoms attention to the problem. In late November, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials warned the coalition that more than 200 people would be processed and released in a single day, Malone said. The shelter was already housing at least 60 migrants when another 170 arrived. The next morning, then-Gov.-elect Newsom, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and Chief of Staff Ann OLeary arrived to visit the shelter, which was then housed at a Salvation Army. Malone called it serendipitous. He and the first partner and his chief of staff showed up at our shelter on the worst day, Malone said. The guy teared up. It was real. He was walking around seeing these tiny little children and families everywhere. He committed right there. They both felt it. Advertisement Weeks later, at a news conference to unveil his budget, the governor talked about meeting a 3-year-old girl a year younger than his son Dutch at the shelter who touched his heart. Since then the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has stepped in and on Tuesday agreed to allow a vacant family courthouse to be used as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers. Under the agreement with Jewish Family Service, the nonprofits will be able to operate a shelter for asylum-seeking families in the building until the end of the year. Newsom toured the new site with local officials Thursday. The San Diego Rapid Response Network said the $5 million in immediate state funds would help cover costs of opening, operating and maintaining the shelter through the end of the year. Malone said the group hopes some of the proposed $20 million, which will probably be shared with other nonprofits, can be used to establish a long-term fix and fund a permanent shelter in the years to come. Advertisement Luna reported from Sacramento. Clark writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune and reported from San Diego. taryn.luna@latimes.com Twitter: @tarynluna President Trump pushed back Friday against Senate Republicans who voted overwhelmingly the previous day for a measure that rebuked his rationale for withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. In morning tweets, Trump said that the moves were consistent with a campaign promise to withdraw from Endless Wars that have resulted in unlimited spending and death and argued that under his leadership Islamic State had been all but destroyed. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely, Trump wrote. Certain people must get smart! Trumps tweets came a day after the vast majority of Senate Republicans backed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in voting for a measure that declared Islamic States presence and activity in both Syria and Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to the United States. Advertisement The measure, presented as an amendment to a greater Middle East policy bill, was a striking reprimand of the president from a GOP that has become increasingly comfortable expressing its opposition to Trumps foreign policy through votes on the Senate floor. That it was spearheaded by McConnell (R-Ky.), who often waits to cross Trump until there is overwhelming momentum in his conference, indicates how deeply the presidents announcements broke faith within the party. Republicans spent years accusing Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, of pursuing capricious troop withdrawals and have refused to defend Trumps efforts to do the same. I believe the threats remain. [Islamic State] and Al Qaeda have yet to be defeated, and American national security interests require continued commitment to our mission there, McConnell said Thursday, before the 68-23 vote. The measure divided Senate Democrats, with many arguing that rebuking Trump was not worth the cost of greenlighting endless war. Trumps tweets directed at fellow Republicans were the second time this week he has used to Twitter to take aim at allies. On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at U.S. intelligence chiefs in his own administration a day after they testified to a Senate panel about worldwide threats to U.S. national security. The testimony revealed significant differences between what the intelligence community has concluded and what the president claims about Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons, the prospect for nuclear talks with North Korea, the strength of Islamic State and other security issues. Advertisement Trump later claimed that the media had fabricated a conflict and that the officials were misquoted by the media. John Wagner and Karoun Demirjian write for the Washington Post. With its decision to pull out of a major arms control treaty with Russia, the White House argues it is enhancing security for the United States and its European allies, but critics warned it could spark a dangerous new arms race with Moscow and a return to the nuclear tensions of the Cold War. President Trump said Friday that his administration has started the process to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a cornerstone of superpower arms control for a generation, unless Russia destroys a new class of medium-range missiles that U.S. officials allege are noncompliant. Washington says Moscow is violating the INF treaty by producing and deploying a ground-fired cruise missile that could reach Europe with little or no warning. Moscow says the system meets the limits of the landmark 1987 pact and counters that the U.S. decision to establish military bases in Eastern Europe that can launch Tomahawk missiles is a violation. U.S. relations with Moscow have been strained since Russias seizure in 2014 of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, an American ally. Presidents Obama and Trump have slapped multiple sanctions on Moscow for its role in Ukraine, the Kremlin-backed meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and other disputes. Advertisement But the collapse of a major arms control treaty, signed by President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the final years of the Cold War, would signal a more serious and potentially dangerous breach between the nuclear-armed rivals. In theory, letting the treaty terminate will allow Moscow to step up production of conventional and nuclear-tipped missiles that could threaten U.S. allies in Europe and elsewhere. For his part, Trump has complained the pact blocked the United States from developing or deploying new weapons. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to change course and destroy the allegedly non-compliant missiles. A six-month countdown before either side can withdraw, required by the treaty, starts Saturday. When an agreement is so brazenly disregarded and our security is so openly threatened, we must respond, Pompeo said at the State Department. Trumps decision had been expected and is consistent with his America First policies, which already saw Trump pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord. Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, is contemptuous of arms control agreements, which he believes tie U.S. hands. Washington first accused Russia of violating the INF agreement in 2014, and has repeated the charge every year since. Trump warned in October that he would pull out if Russia didnt comply. Russia maintains it developed its cruise missile in response to the Pentagons growing capability to shoot down ballistic missiles. Washington says that effort is aimed at Iran and North Korea, but Moscow contends that the U.S. anti-missile program puts Russia at risk. A U.S. missile defense site is operational in Romania while another is under construction in Poland. Advertisement Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan recently acknowledged that the expanding U.S. defenses were a major factor driving Russia and China to build faster and more survivable missiles. Frustrated by our mid-course defenses, they are aggressively pursuing new technologies to circumvent todays systems, Shanahan said in a Jan. 17 speech on the administrations plans to expand missile defense. Trump administration officials have expressed concern that China, which isnt a signatory to the treaty, is deploying short- and medium-range missiles in Asia that the U.S. cant directly counter because it is bound by the INF accord. Pompeo and senior administration officials rejected critics claims that the White House is spurring a new arms race with Russia. Advertisement If there is an arms race, it is Russia that started it, said a White House official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity in keeping with administration rules. The official did not answer questions about whether the United States will seek to develop and deploy new weapons overseas when the treaty terminates. We are some time away to know what we want to deploy and where we want to deploy, the official said. The administration last year announced plans to develop a low-yield warhead for the Trident D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile and a nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile, calling those options important for the preservation of credible deterrence against regional aggression. The Pentagon also could deploy a new ground-launched cruise missile or larger intermediate-range missiles. Some NATO allies are uneasy about keeping U.S. missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on their territory, although Poland may be willing to host U.S. missiles. Advertisement Andrea Thompson, undersecretary of State for arms control and international security, said the Trump administration has not held discussions with European allies about what will happen if the treaty terminates. The INF treaty eliminated all nuclear and conventional missiles, as well as their launchers, with ranges of 310 to 620 miles, considered short-range, and 620 to 3,420 miles, or intermediate-range. It did not cover sea-launched missiles. Arms control experts say the accord led to the destruction of 2,692 U.S. and Soviet missiles by 1991. The Arms Control Assn., a nonpartisan group in Washington, credits the treaty with helping end the Cold War. The only ones applauding the decision to tear up the INF treaty are the nuclear weapons manufacturers, eagerly anticipating the kickoff of Cold War II, said Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Advertisement Joseph Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a Washington-based group that advocates for arms control, said walking away from even a flawed or violated treaty was senseless. When someone breaks the law, you dont repeal the law, he said. Donald Trump walking out of Ronald Reagans treaty is a gift to Vladimir Putin. It doesnt fix the problem. It makes it worse. Russian officials reacted angrily to Trumps announcement Friday. The United States today took another step towards its destruction, said Konstantin Kosachev, a Russian lawmaker and head of the upper house of parliaments foreign affairs committee. Advertisement Russian Sen. Oleg Morozov warned of consequences for Europe if the treaty is canceled. It is important that the Europeans realize that now they will become a target for Russian missiles, Morozov said. Thompson, the State Department official, said treaty talks last month in Geneva with Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, were professional but unproductive. The talks focused on the cruise missile system that U.S. officials call the SSC-8 and Russians call Novator 9M729. Advertisement We didnt break any new ground. There was no new information, Thompson told reporters at the Pentagon last week. The Russians acknowledged having the [SSC-8] system but continued to say it didnt violate the INF treaty despite showing them, repeated times, the intelligence and information gathered by the U.S. and its allies. Russian officials displayed the missile at a press event in Moscow last month, saying it could only travel 298 miles, just under the treaty limits. Thompson rejected those claims, saying the U.S. was confident in its assessment that the missile could travel well beyond the allowable limit. Arms control works when you can fully verify the compliance with it, Thompson said. The transparency measures they brought to the table wouldnt have done so. Advertisement Special correspondent Sabra Ayres in Moscow contributed to this report. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes announces UKs automotive industrys manufacturing and global exports performance for 2018 (Photo by Tianxing Bai) According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), exports continued to drive British car manufacturing in 2018, with 81.5 percent of all UK-made cars shipped overseas, the highest proportion since 2012. 1.2 million cars were built for export last year, the third highest figure on record. In total, 1.5 million cars rolled off British production lines, representing a 9.1 percent decline from 2017. Production for export declined by a more moderate 7.3 percent, as slowdowns in the Chinese and European markets took effect, with shipments down 24.5 percent and 9.6 percent respectively. EU demand fell less than it did at home, however, with UK registrations of British-built cars down 20.9 percent year-on-year. Both markets were affected by the introduction of the new WLTP emissions testing regime, which constrained the supply of specific models in the second half of 2018. Demand for British-made cars grew substantially in many international markets, as the production of key models only built in the UK ramped up. Exports increased to Japan by 26 percent, South Korea by 23.5 percent, Russia by 10.3 percent and the US by 5.3 percent. Elsewhere, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and Spain remained in UK Automotives top 10 export nations, despite the decline in European demand. The EU remains Britains largest trading partner, taking a 52.6 percent share of all UK car exports in 2018, equivalent to 650,628 units. At the same time, 68.4 percent of all new cars registered on UK roads were imported from European factories. Every day, more than 1,100 trucks cross into the UK from the continent to deliver components to UK vehicle and engine plants worth 35 million emphasising the importance of free and frictionless trade between Britain and Europe. Critical as this is, uninterrupted bilateral trade between the UK and other key global destinations must also continue. Some 15.7 percent of all UK car exports go to worldwide destinations, with which the UK enjoys mutually preferential trading arrangements as part of the EU. It is vital that these agreements dont lapse when the UK leaves the EU, or else consumers in these markets will face less choice alongside higher prices. Car production for domestic buyers fell 16.3 percent last year, to 281,832 units, as the market was hit by ongoing uncertainty over diesel policies, changes to emissions regulations and declining business and consumer confidence. Investment into the sector was also down, by almost half compared with 2017, to just 588.6 million, partly due to the cyclical nature of product development but also as a result of businesses waiting for certainty in regards to the future UK-EU relationship. Despite the decline, the UK remains the second largest new car market in Europe after Germany and the continents fourth-largest vehicle producer. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, The UK has a global reputation for automotive engineering, thanks to a rich history, highly skilled workforce and a diverse array of desirable brands. The industry trades globally, benefiting from strong government support for the sector, a competitive business environment and free and fair trading arrangements with the EU and other global markets. Despite challenges as the UK leaves the EU, the fundamental strengths of British automotive manufacturing have not changed, but its imperative we have economic and political stability to safeguard future growth and our mutually beneficial trading relationships. Anything less risks limiting consumer choice and holding back future progress. UK Automotive is one of Britains biggest exporters of goods, and one of the countrys economic pillars, employing 186,000 people directly in manufacturing and delivering an annual 20.2 billion directly to the Treasury. Britain has some of the highest productivity levels in Europe, and a is a key global location for the development, testing and deployment of future mobility technologies and services, thanks to a strong partnership between government and industry, supportive regulation, and close collaboration with adjacent sectors such as tech, telecoms, and academia. (Tianxing Bai) Presidential campaign launches used to be informal affairs. A candidate would stand in front of some reasonably picturesque backdrop, declare that he it was almost always he was running, supporters would cheer and off theyd go. No more. Todays launches are tightly choreographed ensembles of video, websites, rallies and interviews, all designed to propel a hopeful candidate to maximum visibility overnight. Kamala Harris effort this week provided a vivid example of success. Advertisement Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter SENATOR FRONT-RUNNER After first announcing her candidacy last week at a Martin Luther King Day appearance on Good Morning America, Harris followed this week with a kickoff rally in Oakland before a crowd that, as Melanie Mason and Mark Barabak wrote, spilled through several city blocks. The sun shined, the crowd cheered and the rally provided perfect visuals of racial, ethnic and religious diversity for the campaign commercials to come. Within days, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who might have competed with Harris for home-state financial and political backing, announced he would not enter the race. Harris followed with a trip to Iowa for a nationally televised CNN town hall. There, her ability to empathize with questioners demonstrated Clintonian campaign skill that would be Bill Clinton, not Hillary. The forum drew a record audience for a single-candidate event, CNN reported. Potential voters who until this past month knew little about Californias junior senator got a first impression of a candidate who embodies Democratic beliefs about diversity and who stood up for her beliefs under questioning. Harris got criticism from Republicans for publicly saying something that some other Democrats try to elide that Medicare for all would mean eliminating private insurance. But most of the flak she drew came from questioners on the left who accused her of being too tough on crime a quality that has yet to harm a candidate in a presidential election. All in all, a candidate couldnt ask for much more in an opening act. Contrast that with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who launched her campaign at nearly the same time as Harris but to much less effect. Advertisement Harris even drew a compliment from President Trump, who said in an interview with the New York Times that she had the best opening so far. A Washington Post poll taken after Harris Good Morning America appearance but before the Oakland rally asked potential voters to volunteer the name of a Democratic candidate they supported. More than half of Democrats had no preference, the poll found. But of those who did have a favorite, Harris and former Vice President Joe Biden topped the list. The question now is what the second act will bring. Being a front-runner brings benefits, but also extra challenges, Barabak and Mason wrote. As veteran Republican strategist Mike Murphy told them: Now that youve gone out and told everybody youre Superman or Superwoman, you have to start picking up locomotives. Advertisement Murphy, who headed the super-PAC for Jeb Bush in the last election, knows well how quickly life can sour for a front-runner who starts to slip behind. RUNNING WHILE FEMALE This campaign marks the first time ever that the Democratic field has included multiple, serious female candidates. Janet Hook examined the contrasting ways of handling gender issues that Harris, Gillibrand and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have displayed so far. THE FIELD GETS BIGGER Advertisement On Friday, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey made his entry into the race. As Evan Halper wrote, Booker eschews the sometimes angry rhetoric that some other candidates use, pitching his campaign as a quest for unity, optimism and, as he likes to say, universal love. Conventional wisdom holds that Booker and Harris will compete for the support of African American voters in key states such as South Carolina. But its equally likely that many of those voters will hold off on making a choice until they get a sense of whether either of the candidates has a strong shot of winning. As Halper wrote, that was the experience from 2008, in which black voters flocked to then-Sen. Barack Obamas side only after he proved he could win. The need to prove that could put more importance once again on the initial contest in the race, the Iowa caucuses, which propelled Obamas candidacy. Its not for nothing that each of the candidates so far has made an early trek to Iowa. Advertisement Over the next few weeks, the pace of candidates is likely to quicken. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will probably join the race later in February. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio has an exploratory trip to Iowa this weekend and is expected to make a decision by early March. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who, like Brown, boasts credibility with Midwestern voters, is also weighing a bid. And all their plans will be affected by whatever decision Biden makes. The former vice president has been closeted with his family and closest advisors, giving few hints of which way hell decide. Aides concede, however, that he cant delay much longer. THE INDEPENDENT Democrats love to worry. This week, they focused much of their angst on a potential independent presidential bid by Howard Schultz, the billionaire former CEO of Starbucks. Advertisement The fear among Democratic strategists is not that Schultz could win in an era of ever-heightened partisanship among voters, the chance of a wealthy third-party candidate successfully tapping into a well of independents is remote. But he could potentially split the anti-Trump vote, delivering key states to the incumbent. Schultz points to the fact that many voters register as independents to suggest that a silent majority exists for a third party. No doubt his advisors paychecks depend on telling him that, but everyone else who has studied voters knows its rubbish. Indeed, the single strongest force in politics today is what political scientists call negative partisanship the belief that the other side represents a serious danger. That feeling makes party lines stronger than ever. And the vast majority of people who register as independents actually vote as partisans. Moreover, the beliefs Schultz espouses a mix of secular liberalism on social issues and fiscal conservatism on economics has very little support outside of a few wealthy precincts. The opposite stance social conservatism coupled with economic populism has a much bigger following. Advertisement All that being said, a well-funded third-party campaign could affect a close race in some key states, and after the experience of 2016, almost anything suffices to keep worried Democrats up at night. TRUMPS IMAGINARY FRIENDS As Eli Stokols and Jennifer Haberkorn wrote, Trump has a proven penchant for making up characters whom he claims as friends. The archetype was a man named Jim. Trump claimed he was a friend who told him he doesnt go to Paris anymore because of the impact of immigration on the city. No ones ever been able to find Jim, and White House aides have stopped insisting hes real. This week, Trumps been claiming that many Democrats are secretly prepared to support him in his quest for a border wall. That seems to be a fantasy, as well. Advertisement By weeks end, Trump seemed to be admitting he wouldnt get support in Congress for a wall. In public comments and a new New York Times interview, he returned to the idea of declaring a state of emergency and trying to use it to divert money from other projects to build the wall. CHANGING THE SUBJECT Having picked a fight with Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and lost, Trump also seems to want to change the subject. The next few weeks are likely to see a big buildup toward another summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Trump suggested hed announce plans for that meeting during Tuesdays State of the Union speech. Advertisement He also strongly hinted he might meet with Xi Jinping to try to settle the continuing trade dispute with China, Stokols reported. The most likely schedule seems to be a trip to Vietnam in late February to meet with Kim, followed by a stop in China on the way home, White House officials say. Part of the discussion could also be new Justice Department charges against the Chinese firm Huawei. As Del Wilber wrote, the charges marked a significant escalation of the governments case against the telecom giant. ANOTHER REASON TO TRAVEL Advertisement Acting Atty. Gen. Mark Whitaker said publicly this week what others have been saying privately: Special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation is close to being completed. As Chris Megerian wrote, Whitakers remark suggests that a report from Mueller on at least some parts of his investigation may be nearing completion. Whether any report will become public, however, remains very unclear. Trumps lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, told Megerian weeks ago that the White House might try to block release of some information. WAG THE DOG? Amid everything else, the administration has been ratcheting up tensions with Venezuela, as Tracy Wilkinson reported, by imposing sanctions on the state oil company and recognizing the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as the countrys rightful president. Advertisement Critics of the administration accuse Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has had a major voice in shaping policy toward Venezuela, of trying to foment a coup against the countrys leftist government. CALIFORNIAS CLOUT As Sarah Wire wrote, Californians dominate the new House like never before, in part because of Pelosis influence, but also simply because of the huge size of the states Democratic delegation. That hasnt helped in the states fight with the administration over Californias authority to set its own rules on auto emissions. Talks on the issue appear stalled, Anna Phillips wrote. That increases the likelihood of a lengthy battle in court. Advertisement The states two senators, Harris and Sen. Dianne Feinstein also have a growing fight with the administration over Trumps nominees to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The California senators will try to use senatorial prerogatives to block the nominations. Overall, Congress isnt likely to get much done this year, Haberkorn wrote. The brief bipartisan window for passing legislation seems to be rapidly closing. BORDER PATROL VACANCIES RISE Trump wanted to increase the ranks of the nations border and immigration agents by 15,000 new positions. And his administration has spent millions of dollars to try to accomplish that. The money has gone largely for naught, as Molly OToole wrote theyve gotten thousands of vacancies instead. The number of vacancies is actually higher now than when Trump started. Advertisement 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. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. Advertisement David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren attempted to put an early political stumble behind her by apologizing to the Cherokee Nation for using a DNA test to prove shes part Native American. Sen. Warren has reached out to us and has apologized to the tribe, Julie Hubbard, a spokeswoman for the Cherokee Nation, said Friday in an email. We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws, not through DNA tests. Hubbard added that: We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end. READ MORE: Elizabeth Warren to propose new wealth tax on richest Americans, economist says Advertisement The apology by the Massachusetts senator, first reported by the Intercept, followed criticism from some Native American groups and activists who said taking the DNA test and using the results to claim affiliation with them showed a lack of understanding about what constitutes Native American identity. It also comes as Warren is getting a campaign underway for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. An aide to Warren declined to comment. When Warren released the genetic analysis in October, the Cherokee Nation and other critics called it inappropriate and wrong, saying that it undermined tribal interests for a white woman to claim native identity on the basis of blood and thereby imply she identifies with people whose ancestors were targeted for genocide. Test results she released to the Boston Globe concluded there was strong evidence Warren had a Native American in her family tree dating six to 10 generations back. President Trump has frequently ridiculed Warren for her claim of Native American heritage, calling her Pocahontas a nickname that she and some Native Americans have called a slur. At a political rally in July, Trump told supporters hed offer $1 million to the charity of Warrens choice if a DNA test proved she had Native American blood. He subsequently said hed only pay if he could test her personally. Some Democratic activists said that it was a mistake for Warren to respond to him, arguing that the DNA test wasnt going to quiet his mockery. She was likely damned if she did respond and damned if she didnt, said Neil Sroka, a spokesman for the progressive activist group Democracy for America. Its never too late to do the right thing and thats exactly what Warren did by apologizing, he said. For more than a year, congressional Democrats have pushed to unlock a mystery they said could reveal whether Donald Trump had advance knowledge of a meeting his eldest son had in the summer of 2016 with a Russian lawyer promising damaging material about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The key, they said, was to determine who was using blocked telephone numbers to speak to Donald Trump Jr. before and after the meeting in Trump Tower, suggesting he may have communicated with his father on a private line. But Senate investigators have concluded that the blocked calls were conversations between Trump Jr. and two longtime business associates: Howard Lorber, a real estate investor who has done business in Russia, and Brian France, the chief executive of NASCAR, according to two people familiar with the determination. The findings were first reported by CNN and ABC News. Advertisement France did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Lorber said Friday that the real estate magnate does not recall conversations with Donald Trump Jr. in the summer of 2016, adding that Lorber never discussed any Russian matters with the presidents son. Lorber is a longtime friend of the elder Trump, and the two went to Moscow in 1996 to scout for a real estate deal that never materialized, according to people familiar with the visit. The trip helped spur Trumps interest in seeking other ways over the years to build a tower in Moscow. President Trump has long denied that he knew about the Trump Tower gathering in 2016, which was attended by Donald Trump Jr., his brother-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. At the meeting, Trump Jr. was expecting a Russian lawyer linked to the Kremlin to share dirt on Clinton, he later told Congress, but she instead pressed him about U.S. sanctions levied on Russia for human rights abuses. The president and his allies seized on the conclusions by congressional investigators, saying the findings undercut Democratic efforts to raise questions about links between Trump and Russias interference in the 2016 campaign. The big deal, very mysterious Don jr telephone calls, after the innocent Trump Tower meeting, that the media & Dems said were made to his father (me), were just conclusively found NOT to be made to me. . . . Really sad, the president tweeted late Thursday. This Witch Hunt must end! he added. In his own tweet, Trump Jr. wrote: More of the Democrats #fakenews narrative disappearing before their eyes. I wonder how many more false leaks will pop now to keep their dreams alive??? Advertisement Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 that his father had no knowledge of the June 2016 meeting with the Russians. My father knew nothing of the meeting or of these events, he said in a statement at the time of his testimony. Democrats, led by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who now chairs the House Intelligence Committee, were openly skeptical of Trump Jr.'s account, noting that his first explanations of the meetings were misleading. In a July 8, 2017, statement to the New York Times, Trump Jr., said meeting participants primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children. The statement did not mention that he was promised damaging information about Clinton or that Trump Jr. had responded enthusiastically to the offer. Advertisement If its what you say I love it, he wrote in an email to an associate who offered to set up the meeting. Democrats raised questions about phone calls made by Trump Jr. on June 6, 2016, that they thought might show that the then-candidates son informed his father about the meeting in advance. At 4:04 p.m. that day, phone records show, Emin Agalarov, a wealthy Russian who helped arrange the meeting, called Trump Jr. Phone records show that Trump Jr. called back Agalarov at 4:31 p.m. Between those two calls, Trump Jr. connected with a phone number that was blocked in records. Advertisement Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he did not remember with whom he spoke at that time, while others testified that his father used a blocked line. Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee pushed for information on the blocked numbers for more than a year. But House Republicans rebuffed efforts to subpoena the phone records, according to Schiff. They didnt want to know whether he had informed his father and sought his permission to take that meeting with the Russians, Schiff said in a 2018 interview with the Washington Post. On Thursday night, Schiff told MSNBC that he would continue his efforts to find out who Don Jr. was talking to about that meeting at Trump Tower. Advertisement Those conversations could have taken place over the phone, or they could have taken place by Don Jr. walking down the hall to talk to his dad,' he added. Hamburger writes for the Washington Post. The Posts Michael Kranish and Rosalind S. Helderman also contributed to this report. Cory Bookers unremitting optimism, wonkish attraction to big ideas and, of course, his background as a community organizer have long drawn comparisons to another pioneering African American lawmaker who went on to bigger things: Barack Obama. Whether Booker can ultimately harness it all as successfully as Obama did is about to be tested. On Friday, the New Jersey senator launched his White House bid. People in America are losing faith this nation will work for them, Booker said at a news conference in front of his house in Newark, hours after announcing his run in a video to supporters. They are beginning to believe too many folks are going to get left out or left behind. They are beginning to believe that the forces that pull us apart are stronger than the forces that pull us together. It is about time we get to the hard work of building this nation to be what we want us to be, our best values, our best ideals, the best of who we are. Booker is entering an increasingly crowded field, where he is up against some close Senate colleagues whose progressive bona fides overshadow his own. He is the fourth Democratic senator and second black candidate to enter the race. Advertisement But the senator has proved adept at carving out an independent ideological lane, taking an approach to confronting President Trump and the GOP that veers in a direction different from that of other marquee candidates. There is no Republican or Democrat way to get there, he said of moving the country forward. You definitely dont get there by fighting each other, beating people down. Booker began his career as a political neophyte who toppled an entrenched and corrupt Newark mayoral administration in 2006. The fight, which the Rhodes scholar and Yale Law School graduate waged from an apartment he had taken in a public housing project, drew national attention to Booker after the release of Streetfight, a documentary that captured the initial battle, frame by frame, in 2002, when Booker first ran but fell short. But on the stump Booker hardly presents as a street fighter. He talks of universal love and building bridges. He confronts the anger Trump vents on Twitter with hopeful rhetoric. 2020 Democratic presidential candidates: Whos in and whos on the fence? Let me tell you right now: I love Donald Trump, Booker said on CNN just after Trump mocked his speech before the Democratic National Convention in 2016. I dont want to answer his hate with hate. Im going to answer it with love. Im not going to answer his darkness with darkness. I love him. And on ABCs The View on Friday: Love thy neighbor, no exceptions. Skeptics question the authenticity of it all, and find the senators tone too saccharine in these tumultuous times. In addition, his warm ties with major financiers and venture capitalists once considered a major political plus now make him suspect in the eyes of some in the partys populist wing. He has a message of unity and optimism, but the question is whether that is what voters are looking for, said Andra Gillespie, an African American politics scholar at Emory University in Atlanta and author of The New Black Politician: Cory Booker, Newark, and Post-Racial America. Advertisement Because of who he is and how his career developed, Booker will be talking a lot about reconciling. In this hyper-polarized environment where feelings are raw on both sides, I dont know if people will get to the point of recognizing they need a reconciler, she said. Yet at a time many Democrats say they want a new, more diverse generation of leaders with fresh ideas and fresh energy, Booker checks a lot of boxes. The 49-year-old has been positioning himself as the partys future for most of his political career. He is a gifted orator who can wax inspirational on thorny issues of race and class in a way that appeals to whites and nonwhites alike. With him on The View was his mother, Carolyn, a civil rights activist who coordinated an anti-discrimination sting operation with local authorities in the New Jersey suburb where Booker was raised. Real estate agents were refusing to sell to black buyers, so the operation involved a white couple posing as the Bookers and making an offer, with the Bookers then showing up on closing day. Cory Booker took a lead in working across the aisle with Republicans and the Trump administration on the criminal justice reform law passed at the end of the last Congress. After Democrats lost the White House in 2016, Booker became one of the first senators from the more mainstream wing of the party to sign on to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders renewed push for Medicare for all, joining as a co-sponsor the day Sanders unveiled his bill in 2017. Advertisement Yet Booker remains a favorite of the establishment. He was on a short list of three contenders to be Hillary Clintons vice presidential pick. An eclectic and prolific Instagram feed full of poetry and candid moments, a full-throated endorsement of marijuana legalization and a post-partisan innovation agenda are all promising marketing tools for luring the younger voters Democrats are desperate to activate. The bachelor senator also scored points with party activists by refusing for years to address speculation that he was gay, responding that his sexual orientation was irrelevant. (Booker recently told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he is heterosexual.) Booker has forged the kind of ties with Silicon Valley that are more typical of politicians from California, touting the virtues of venture capital and championing the launch of start-ups and incubators in inner-urban and rural areas as an antidote to poverty. Even while a surrogate for Obama in the 2012 presidential race, Booker complained on Meet the Press that the Obama campaign was making a big mistake in attacking GOP nominee Mitt Romneys private equity firm, Bain Capital. Advertisement Im not about to sit here and indict private equity, Booker said at the time. This to me, Im very uncomfortable with. The senators connections on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley helped build his national reputation and have paid dividends for his constituents. In 2010, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced he was donating $100 million to an effort to fix ailing schools in Newark, N.J. Though the results of the five-year initiative were ultimately mixed an experiment in education reform that Newarks current mayor calls an opportunity squandered Bookers ability to lure such private investment helped build his image as a change agent. Today, however, the once-adoring relationship between Democrats and tech industry figures like Zuckerberg has soured. And Bookers corporate relationships have fueled critiques on the left that he is too close to Wall Street, too politically calculating, and too willing to place his own ambition above progressive ideals. Advertisement Booker has joined other Democrats in disavowing money from corporate PACs, but the senators run is nonetheless being propelled in part by a $4-million political action committee recently started by a wealthy Bay Area attorney, Steve Phillips. Phillips hopes to lure millions more into the effort from other wealthy donors, exploiting a loophole in campaign finance limits that Booker rails against. His advisors reiterated on launch day that Booker opposes all super PACs, including the one run by Phillips. Just as the campaign will test the senators commitment to campaign finance reform, it will also test his willingness to stick to the rhetorical high road. At moments over the last two years, the message of unity and love didnt cut it, and Booker took a different tack. He joined other Democrats, for example, in pursuing allegations of sexual assault against Brett M. Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings. When Booker defied instructions from the panels Republicans to keep certain committee documents confidential, he deliberately violated the rule, declaring the move about the closest Ill probably ever have in my life to an I am Spartacus moment. Bookers move again attracted the national media spotlight, although the comparison to the heroic rebel slave of movie fame also drew ridicule. Advertisement In another high-profile Senate hearing, Booker delivered an angry rebuke to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen when she said she hadnt heard Trump call Haiti and certain African nations shithole countries during a White House meeting on immigration. When ignorance and bigotry is allied with power it is a dangerous force in our country, he said. Your silence and your amnesia is complicity. But on the campaign trail in last years midterm election, when Booker touched down in 24 states to campaign for Democrats, the theme was love. He will be more affirming and less attacking, said Bob Shrum, director of the Center for the Political Future at USC. Whether that will work, I dont know. Advertisement The approach, Shrum said, worked for Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election, in the aftermath of Watergate. Carter talked about having a country as full of love as American people, Shrum said. It was a unique time, and it secured Carter the nomination and a narrow victory in the general election. And even a positive tone doesnt preclude a candidate from going on the attack. Carter, running in the shadow of President Nixons resignation, would seldom if ever mention Nixons name, but would pointedly assure voters he would never lie to them. A lot of this affirmative language can be implicitly negative, Shrum said. It just implies a different mood. Advertisement More stories from Evan Halper evan.halper@latimes.com | Twitter: @evanhalper To the editor: Legal scholars James Phillips and John Yoos mid-article comparison of the 2nd Amendment to the 1st Amendment is greatly misplaced. The 1st Amendment prohibits Congress from taking away individual freedoms. The 2nd Amendment clearly states well-regulated militia and right of the people to keep and bear arms. It does not preclude regulation or convey individual freedoms. In his book, Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens quotes the late Chief Justice Warren Burger as saying in 1991 that the 2nd Amendment has been the subject of one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American public. Stevens submits the following revised 2nd Amendment: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms when serving in the militia shall not be infringed. Advertisement David M. Barling, Santa Monica .. To the editor: It is not surprising that Phillips and Yoo neglected to mention one of the most important parts of the 2008 District of Columbia vs. Heller Supreme Court decision on gun rights. The majority opinion made clear that the Constitution permits the reasonable regulation of firearms: Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. The majority opinion went on to say that as with any other right, the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms is not absolute. Phillips, Yoo and the National Rifle Assn. would like us to ignore that wise counsel. Steve Mehlman, Beaumont .. To the editor: Phillips and Yoo mention what few in the mainstream media dare: The 2nd Amendment implies that the right to keep and bear arms is a natural right. Often mischaracterized as a guarantee for public ownership of firearms, the amendment conveys no such thing; rather, it prohibits government from interfering, in any manner, with a right already in place. Advertisement The authors place undue emphasis on the right of self-defense, for while it can be construed the amendment recognizes that by deference, it is by no means the basis for its inclusion in the Constitution. The framers believed that the security of a free state was protected from enemies by an armed citizenry. The 2nd Amendment, then, conveys no right to defend oneself against robbers, thieves or murderers, but explicitly bars government from infringing upon the gun rights of citizens for one reason: the preservation of freedom. Mike Raymond, Bluffton, S.C. .. Advertisement To the editor: The natural rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Absent is the right to blow away your neighbor with an assault weapon. The authors are concerned about the natural right of self-defense, but seem to care little about the other three. They would benefit from a dose of humanity. More than 130,000 Americans are injured or killed by guns every year, and the U.S. leads all industrialized, modern nations in the rate of gun deaths. I think we can do more to preserve the natural right to life. It doesnt require banning guns, but it does require reasonable restrictions. Advertisement Loren Lieb, Northridge Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook For most of the past two years California has been widely regarded as the nations preeminent center of resistance to the Trump administration. No other entity , said one writer in the American Prospect early in 2017, not the Democratic Party, not the tech industry, surely not the civil liberties lobby has the will, the resources, and the power California brings to the fight. Thats been the rough consensus ever since. But what impact has that resistance Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerras wave of lawsuits (45 at last count), Californias state and local sanctuary laws, the Air Resources Boards pointed tightening of its already tough auto emissions regulations had? So far, California is winning. California is the glaring alternative to the kind of society that Trump claims would Make America Great Again. Advertisement Becerra has a long list of victories: * His suit (and a parallel University of California suit) secured two federal court orders blocking President Trump from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program launched in 2012. The Supreme Court this month declined to review those decisions until its next term. As a result, Becerra said in a press handout, more than 276,000 Dreamers have been able to renew their deferred action and work authorization under DACA. * As the lead attorney general of a multi-state suit, he secured an appellate court order in December against administration rules denying access to birth control that was guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act. * Becerra got the administration to drop attempts to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules limiting production of high-polluting truck engines and regulations protecting agricultural workers and families. He also obtained a court order requiring EPA to ban the sale of the dangerous pesticide chlorpyrifos, and he forced the agency to provide documents bearing on EPA administrator Scott Pruitts alleged conflicts of interest. Pruitt later resigned. * He successfully defended the sanctuary state act, SB54, against a federal suit to suspend it and to end public-safety funding for sanctuary cities. These are real wins, landing blows against Trumps agenda in Washington, but its far from clear how much effect theyll have ultimately. The orders Becerra got from lower courts may still be overturned on appeal, particularly if they reach a Supreme Court thats packed with conservatives. But theres more to the states clout than lawsuits. In November, California which hasnt elected a Republican to statewide office since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 replaced seven of its 14 Republican House members with Democrats. The payoff for most of the states rejection of the Republican agenda there are now more independents than Republicans registered in California was on display last week. The new Democratic majority in the House coalesced under Speaker Nancy Pelosis tough, shrewd leadership, and in the stare-down over the budget and Trumps demand for a wall, it was the president who blinked. Advertisement Californias most effective instrument of resistance, however, may be its reputation and character, its strength as a role model. Its the un-Trump nation, an exemplary rebuke to presidential bluster and policies. California has many problems a severe housing shortage, a volatile tax structure too dependent on the wealthy and capital gains, unfunded pension liabilities, and growing gaps between the haves and have-nots. Nonetheless, it boasts the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world, and it has achieved its ongoing economic success despite three tax increases, and dire warnings that those increases and Californias stringent regulatory environment would drive business from the state. The state has also thrived even as its population has grown ethnically more diverse. In 1994, with the passage of Proposition 187 which denied all public services, including schooling, to immigrants in the country illegally California looked a lot like the place Trump now wants America to be. But in the 25 years since, California repudiated the 1994 proposition. A federal judge overturned most of Proposition 187s provisions, and ultimately, the states voters, and especially its Latino voters, were appalled by its naked nativism. California now welcomes immigrants, and with its sanctuary laws, even undocumented immigrants. It makes them eligible not only for drivers licenses and public education but for financial aid to its universities. It elects Latinos to high office. Its policies and politicians reflect the fact that for some 20 years, this has been a minority-majority state, and it will soon have a Latino majority. Californians seem to agree with the many economists who believe that immigration, writ large, lifts most boats. Advertisement Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute The midterm elections represented a significant win for the Trump resistance, and California played a decisive part in that victory. The states defiance of Trump immigration and environmental policies, and its court challenges, at least shields the people within its borders in the short term and in some cases has bought time for vulnerable populations and ecosystems nationally. But it is the states economic success as it pursues progressive values, its inexorable demographics and its broader cultural influence in everything from food and music to clothes and architecture, that may be most telling in assessing the long-term success of its influence. California is the glaring alternative to the kind of society that Trump claims would Make America Great Again. Other states, notably Texas, Arizona and Nevada, are on a similar trajectory as more Latinos and more women get politically engaged, and younger voters get on the rolls. If the United States wanted to see itself as a successful world commonwealth, wrote Californias great historian Kevin Starr in 2004, all it had to do was to look at California. Thats beginning to sound ever more prophetic. Advertisement Peter Schrag, the former editorial page editor at the Sacramento Bee, is the author of California Fights Back: The Golden State in the Age of Trump. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook In case anyone had any doubt about who L.A. County voters elected as sheriff late last year, Alex Villanueva set them straight Wednesday as he laid out a vision that leads inexorably backward to a time of excessive force against jail inmates. He branded the departments policy and practice of easing up on inmate abuse a social experiment gone wrong. For the record: An earlier version of this editorial stated that the sheriffs news conference took place Thursday. It was Wednesday. He decried the large number of deputies that his predecessor relieved of duty, yet seemed unconcerned about the alleged misconduct that led to their being sidelined. He tied an increase in jail violence to former jails chief Terri McDonald who actually reduced the number of inmate suicides and serious injuries, according to outside jail monitors and to his predecessor as sheriff, Jim McDonnell, a key member of the commission that investigated jail violence and the architect of polices and procedures that continued to bring down serious injuries. Advertisement Alex Villanueva laid out a vision that leads inexorably backward to a time of excessive force against jail inmates. He questioned the validity of jail statistics about inmate attacks on deputies not because of any finding or study, but because we received word that someone within the previous administration decided not to count certain types of attacks. He brushed off a reporters questions about the discrepancy between his claims and the statement by his own jails chief Assistant Sheriff Bob Olmsted that serious inmate injuries have declined significantly from the time that Olmsted first blew the whistle on abuse and mismanagement in the jails nearly a decade ago. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute He reiterated his claim that a deputy was wrongly dismissed after having been accused by a colleague of domestic violence, and noted that the deputy was only one of six who might be reinstated in advance of a truth and reconciliation process which might result in the return of dozens more deputies who were fired or resigned with charges pending. He dismissed the Board of Supervisors criticisms of the move as political grandstanding. And he repeated the dubious assertion of many a politician: that unlike all the others, he is not a politician. In a series of stories beginning in 2011, the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets reported on serious abuse of L.A. County jail inmates at the hands of sheriffs deputies, whose actions were ignored or even encouraged by their superiors, including Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, both of whom were sentenced to prison for obstruction of justice. A Citizens Commission on Jail Violence found serious mismanagement and shocking misconduct. Plaintiffs recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from county taxpayers for the Sheriff Departments failure to protect inmates and properly manage the jails. The jails house many inmates who should properly be in psychiatric hospitals, and whose behavior is irksome and sometimes dangerous to deputies. Many deputies now complain that they can get in trouble for reacting against those inmates as they once did, before all the court-monitored social experiments. Villanueva, in his statements at Wednesdays news conference, gave them a green light to get more physical and to bring back the bad old days of not so long ago. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Californias largest provider of electricity puts profits before safety. So proclaimed a federal judge Wednesday during a hearing in which he excoriated representatives of Pacific Gas & Electric for their companys lack of investment in safety measures and its shameful history of sparking wildfires so deadly and destructive that the expected claims have driven the company to bankruptcy. U.S. District Judge William Alsup oversees the case in which the company was convicted and put on probation in connection with the San Bruno pipeline explosion that killed eight people in 2010. On Wednesday, he found the company in violation of its probation, and said he may force it to trim trees around hundreds of thousands of power poles, inspect thousands of miles of power lines and take other more drastic actions before the 2019 fire season gets started if the company doesnt do so itself. Alsup is right to get tough. The string of catastrophes associated with the states investor-owned utilities is troublingly long: the deadly San Bruno explosion, the nations worst-ever methane leak at Aliso Canyon in Los Angeles County that sickened hundreds and polluted the air, and more than 2,000 fires in just the last three and a half years. Why does it take a federal judge to raise the alarm about power line safety? Advertisement Authorities have not yet determined the causes of the Camp, Woolsey and Thomas fires last year, but it is very likely that unusual power-line activity immediately preceding these three ultra-destructive fires was involved. Despite that, no one seems to be preemptively policing safety by overseeing the behavior of the for-profit companies that have a monopoly on providing power to most Californians. (Its worth noting that Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have much better safety track records than PG&E.) Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Californians might reasonably assume that the states utility regulator the Public Utilities Commission is on the job, inspecting power lines and issuing correctives where dangerous conditions are found. It is not. The PUC only steps in to fine utilities for violations after the fact. If that ex post facto model ever worked, it certainly does not any longer, given the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires. Michael Picker, the PUCs president, said in an interview that its primary responsibility is to examine and approve rate increases. For the commission to oversee 250,000 miles of power lines the way it oversees railroad safety is simply not practicable, in his opinion. Instead, he says, technology such as drones or smartphone apps ought to be employed to inspect and report problems. OK, fine. But why is this still in the blah-blah-blah stage at this point? And why does it take a federal judge to raise the alarm about power line safety? Gov. Gavin Newsom must address this lack of leadership immediately, before the 2019 fire season begins. If he does not, he risks more death, more damage and a public backlash that will make last years Department of Motor Vehicles crisis seem like a day in the park. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook When Secret Service Agent Matthew Britsch began trawling for major counterfeiters in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web, he acted like any smart consumer on eBay he studied the reviews. Britsch knew he had struck gold when he found Billmaker, the online moniker of an anonymous counterfeiter who promised a high-quality $100 bill and a money-back guarantee. He even had a loyal fan base who praised his work and customer service with scores of positive reviews. Very good quality and got here quick, one gushed. All passed with no issue whatsoever, another wrote, approvingly. FRESH CLEAN BILLS! agreed a third. Advertisement Billmaker was a five-star guy, said Britsch. He wanted those five-star reviews to help him sell more bills. That was clearly his goal. The agent clicked buy and in September 2017 purchased four fake $100 bills for $120 in bitcoin, the online cryptocurrency. The counterfeits arrived on time and were as good as promised. An analysis by Secret Service experts linked the fraudulent bills to thousands of others that had been passed with a total face value of $4.1 million. That made Billmaker the nations most prolific domestic counterfeiter. Britschs buy sparked a nine-month investigation into the murkiest corners of the dark web, where cyber-savvy criminals use online bazaars to anonymously buy and sell goods ranging from firearms and illegal drugs to fake identification and stolen cars. Its all there for sale, said Glen M. Kessler, the special agent in charge of the Secret Services five-agent Savannah office. Right in the open. But while it provides anonymity to criminals, it also provides anonymity to law enforcement. They cant tell who they are selling to. And so we went fishing. :: The Secret Service, best known for protecting presidents, was formed in 1865 to fight an epidemic of counterfeiting that was strangling the U.S. economy. Today counterfeit U.S. bills are only a tiny fraction of currency in circulation. Even so, the Secret Service made more than 1,580 counterfeiting-related arrests last fiscal year, seizing $204 million in phony bills. Banks and retailers collected an additional $107 million. Advertisement Once dominated by artisans who minted carefully forged greenbacks on large offset presses, domestic counterfeiters now typically rely on computers, scanners and laser printers. And some use the dark web to sell their high-quality fakes online. The dark webs backbone is a system called the Onion Router, known as Tor, a network of software and online connections that mask those who use it. Tor has attracted both criminal and legitimate users political dissidents overseas, for example seeking to avoid government surveillance. In 2017, Kessler turned an office supply room into a hub for dark web counterfeit investigations. He had two rules: Targets had to be real players Not your guy printing $2,000 off on an inkjet at home, Kessler said and live in the United States. We thought it would be too difficult to catch the ones operating in South America or overseas, he said. Advertisement Agents used the customer reviews as a guide and quickly came across Billmaker. In addition to the bitcoin-backed guarantee, Billmaker offered free tracking of his packages through the U.S. mail. That was a mistake. Secret Service agents were able to track Billmakers shipment to Britsch from the Oklahoma City area, a crucial starting clue. They were impressed when the red-and-blue envelope arrived. The fakes reproductions of $100 bills phased out in 2013 in favor of a harder-to-fake currency had been printed on high-quality laser printers and specialty paper. The bogus Benjamins had a decent fake security strip. They even felt real. Daniel Johnson (Marissa Elliott) Advertisement Within a month, thanks to analysis by Secret Service experts in Washington, the agents knew they were chasing Daniel Johnson, a notorious counterfeiter who had been printing and passing fake bills since at least 2015. His last known address was near Oklahoma City. Johnson, 34, was also considered dangerous. He was a firearms enthusiast and a member of the prepper movement, activists who stockpile food, ammunition and other supplies because they believe a nuclear war or other catastrophe is likely to occur. Johnson had served three years in federal prison for selling pirated copies of Microsoft Office. But he was arrested again in February 2016 on counterfeiting charges. Released on bond, he turned down a plea deal offer and vanished. In February 2017, a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of counterfeiting and growing marijuana. Advertisement Johnson was so angry at the justice system that his lawyer, M. Michael Arnett, worried he might resort to violence if arrested. Arnett said he consulted legal ethics experts before he passed a warning to federal prosecutors. I was concerned he was not going to be taken alive if officers tried to arrest him, and that toll would be higher if they were not forewarned, Arnett said. With that danger in mind, agents in Savannah returned to the dark web in October 2017 to buy more counterfeit bills. But the marketplace had disappeared. Billmakers online trail went cold. :: Advertisement Marissa Elliott, a university student and bartender in Norman, Okla., met Johnson when he took a seat at her bar in June 2017 and she caught his big blue eyes lingering on her. Tall and muscular, he was also quiet and reserved. He didnt even offer his name. But the bartender checked his drivers license before serving him a beer and saw he was Ross Moore, 36, from Florida. It was the first of many lies. They soon started dating. They celebrated his fake birthday that July and moved in February 2018 into a converted shed in Noble, about 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. The tiny house was hidden in dense woods. Advertisement The Secret Service seized fake bills with a face value of $300,000 from Johnsons counterfeiting plant and home. (U.S. Secret Service) A talented artist, Johnson rendered hand-drawn portraits of relatives and friends. He initially said he worked in information technology and had attended college, majoring in psychology. Elliott found a Harvard diploma and ID card in a drawer; she didnt know they were fakes. Johnson never used credit cards or wrote checks. He explained to Elliott that he relied on cash because he was an investor in a marijuana business that was prohibited from using banks. He told her he had been divorced, which was true, and that a screen-saver photo of a young girl on his computer was of his niece, which was false. It was his daughter. Advertisement As the months passed, Johnson suffered frequent nightmares and spent time on strange conspiracy websites. Elliott believed his stress stemmed from secret work he claimed he had done for the government. He told me he had seen horrible things, she said. When they drove to a cabin where he was preparing for the demise of society, he insisted she put her cellphone in a Faraday bag, a shielded satchel that blocks electronic signals, so they couldnt be tracked. In the late spring of 2018, he bought tickets so Elliott and her mother could take a bucket-list vacation in Thailand. They spoke daily by phone. But one morning in May, he seemed distant and distracted. Advertisement It was like he was in a rush to get someplace, she said. :: The Secret Service was closing in. After falling off the map, Billmaker suddenly had popped up on other dark web marketplaces. In January 2018, agents bought four fake $100 bills from him. They did it again in April. Advertisement Working with agents in Oklahoma City, the Savannah squad narrowed its hunt to around Norman, about 20 miles away. U.S. postal inspectors studied Johnsons tracking numbers and examined dozens of bags of mail. They discovered he had mailed his packages from blue post boxes across the parking lot from the Norman Police Department. After several weeks of surveillance, federal agents determined Johnson was driving a black Ford F-250 pickup. It was registered to Ross Moore of Florida, a real person who had reported his identity had been stolen. Johnson had bought the truck for $58,000 in cash. Advertisement Agents traced him to an apartment in Norman, where he probably collected mail and supplies; a house in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon, which was his main counterfeiting plant; and his secluded home in Noble. As he drove out of his gravel driveway in Noble on May 17, 2018, a 10-car convoy of federal and local law enforcement officials led by the U.S. Marshals Service closed in, sirens blaring. Daniel Johnson was a skilled artist and drew this picture of his girlfriend, Marissa Elliott. (Marissa Elliott) Johnson swerved to the shoulder, hopped out and began firing an AR-15 rifle. A gun battle raged for nearly a minute before Johnson was killed. No agents were injured. Advertisement Searching the house in Yukon, agents found about $300,000 in fake $100 bills, lined up and hanging to dry in neat rows. Agents also seized several computers protected by encryption, which the Secret Service has not been able to crack. There are so many questions I would have liked to ask him, said Wesley Gillespie, a Secret Service agent who chased Johnson for a year. How did he learn to make these so well? Who taught him? Where is the bitcoin? Investigators may have a clue. When they searched Johnsons body, they found a computer thumb drive jammed in an ankle holster. The device contained 50 screen grabs of text messages. Advertisement Agents suspect it is a digital key to unlock a bitcoin or computer vault. Even so, they concede they may never crack the counterfeiters dark web of secrets. Weighing in on a statewide legal battle over law enforcement records, the author of Californias landmark police transparency law formally notified the state Senate on Thursday that her bill was intended to open up records from the past as well as those going forward. The move comes amid a flurry of litigation by police unions across the state that are seeking to block access to records of incidents that took place before Senate Bill 1421 went into effect Jan. 1. The police unions argue that the law would violate officer privacy protections if applied to cases predating the beginning of the year. In a one-page letter to the state Senate Rules Committee, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) sought to clarify the intent of the law, which opens up records of shootings by officers, severe uses of force and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying by officers. In the letter obtained by The Times, Skinner said any relevant discipline records kept by a government agency should be disclosed under the new law, which was approved last year. Advertisement Therefore, it is my understanding in enacting SB 1421 that the change in the law applies to all disclosable records whether or not they existed prior to the date the statute went into effect, Skinner wrote. This is the standard practice for public records legislation in California. The state Senate unanimously approved of submitting the letter to the rules committee. Two weeks ago, a Los Angeles County judge granted a temporary restraining order to block some police use-of-force and misconduct records from being released by the county. The decision came just days after The Times and Southern California Public Radio filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging the Sheriffs Department violated the state public records act in failing to timely disclose records about two sheriffs deputies. The order issued Jan. 24 after a request from the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs means the records sought by the media organizations are temporarily blocked from release. Law enforcement unions in Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside counties as well as the city of Los Angeles have also persuaded courts to temporarily restrict access to records predating the law. The police unions lost Round 1, so they are going to court. Its not unusual for us to have bills challenged in courts, Skinner said in an interview. Jacob Kalinski, an attorney representing the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and other police unions seeking temporary restraining orders, said Skinners letter doesnt change anything from his perspective. Advertisement There isnt anything in the bill that passed that says its intended to be applied retroactively, Kalinski said. Before the law went into effect, California had the nations strictest protections on internal police files, barring even prosecutors from directly accessing them. Skinner said some local government officials have told her they feel overwhelmed by the volume of public records requests made under the new law, but she said its not surprising given the states long-standing police confidentiality laws. Of course we should expect a flood of requests when weve had 40 years of complete secrecy and inability for the public to have any access to these records, she said. Advertisement Several agencies including the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office and the San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Burlingame, Cathedral City and Chula Vista police departments have already disclosed records under the new transparency law. What we have already seen from those jurisdictions that have released records is that sunshine is a great disinfectant, Skinner said. The separate lawsuit filed two weeks ago by The Times and SCPR, which operates KPCC 89.3 in Pasadena, says the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has violated the state public records act by not disclosing records about two deputies. The media organizations argue the documents are subject to release under the new transparency law. Also two weeks ago, The Times and the Sacramento Bee sued the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department over the release of documents about misconduct or significant use of force by deputies. Advertisement Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report. Photo taken on Jan. 31, 2019 shows a giant panda cub at the Shenshuping base of China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Giant pandas born here in 2018 made a group appearance on Thursday to greet the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin) Capitol Music GroupNiall Horan a new collection of songs from his debut album Flicker backed by Irelands RTE Concert Orchestra. Flicker featuring The RTE Concert Orchestra includes eight new live recordings of the tracks from Flicker including This Town and Too Much to Ask, as well as a never-before-released song called So Long. Flicker was an album I made that came from the heart and my heart is very much in Ireland, Niall says in statement. Recording tracks from that album with a 45-piece orchestra was a dream come true and to be able to do it at home with the RTE Concert Orchestra --one of the best in Europe, if not the world -- was really special. Niall recorded the tracks in Dublin in April 2018, while on a break from his world tour. He says hes particularly glad to have been able to record a new version of So Long. When recording Flicker, I could never get the production right on So Long, he explains. I played it in tour rehearsals one day and the band joined in with me. We ended up making a new version, which sounds amazing live and has been part of our tour set list. I love that we can finally release a version of it now. Here is the track list: "The Tide" (Live) "This Town" (Live) "Too Much To Ask" (Live) "Paper Houses" (Live) "You And Me" (Live) "Seeing Blind" (Live) "Fire Away" (Live) "So Long" (Live) "Flicker" (Live) Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Lightning struck a passenger plane after its take-off from Los Angeles International Airport, forcing an emergency landing, and the nearby Chevron refinery, causing a power outage. Heavy rain sent mud gushing onto Pacific Coast Highway and in La Tuna Canyon, prompting roadway closures and stranding two city workers. Despite all the chaos Thursday as the first of three storms forecast for Southern California pummeled the region with heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning, weather forecasters said the worst was yet to come. The second storm is the one where you want to stay home, said Lisa Phillips of the National Weather Service in Oxnard. That system is expected to move into the region Friday night an atmospheric-river-fueled storm that has the potential to bring gusty southeast winds of up to 60 mph and dump 1 to 3 inches of rain through Saturday in Los Angeles County. It also may bring snow to higher elevations. Advertisement The impacts were looking at are downed trees, travel delays and possible shallow debris flows, Phillips said. Although the heavy rain they produce can cause flooding, atmospheric rivers arent all bad. They also can help replenish dwindling water reserves and contribute markedly to the states snowpack. Experts with the California Department of Water Resources said Thursday the series of January storms had helped double the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. Surveyors recorded 50 inches of snow at the departments Phillips station, where a layer of powder covered the ground. The measurement is equal to 18 inches of water and brings the snowpack to 98% of average to date, said John King, a water resources engineer. Overall, the states snowpack is at 100% of average, based on the departments statewide snow-monitoring network, he said. Its very encouraging, and we still have two more months to accumulate before the April 1 measurement, when snowpack is typically the highest, King said. A much weaker storm is expected to arrive in the Southland on Sunday, bringing scattered showers that could linger through Monday, forecasters said. On Thursday, several beaches in Los Angeles and Orange counties were temporarily closed or evacuated because of lightning. Zuma Beach was closed as the storm was passing through, while Santa Monica officials evacuated the beach areas and pier. Some beaches were expected to reopen after the storm. Advertisement Meanwhile, the downpour caused mudflows on Pacific Coast Highway, prompting a portion of the roadway to be temporarily closed. The closure stretched for nearly 20 miles from Los Posas Road in Ventura County to Broad Beach Road in Los Angeles County. No evacuations were ordered in the areas recently scarred by the Woolsey fire. Riverside County officials, however, issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents affected by the Holy fire and said those in the burn zone from last years Cranston fire also should prepare to leave in the event of heavy rain. The evacuation order was lifted after the rain stopped. Thursdays storm dumped a significant amount of rain on Santa Barbara County as it moved over the region. Rainfall rates of up to half an inch per hour were measured in some areas, prompting the National Weather Service to issue flood advisories for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Forecasters also issued a flash-flood watch for all the most-recent burn scars in Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties through 3 p.m. In addition to thunder and rain, forecasters said hail was reported in some parts of Southern California. Some residents in Los Angeles took to Twitter to share videos of small ice pellets landing on the ground or hitting office windows. Advertisement Though the rainfall rates werent heavy enough to cause concerns about mudslides for the area damaged by the Thomas fire in 2017, there was potential for debris flows and flooding in other areas, said Keily Delerme, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. The slow-moving system dropped about an inch of rain in parts of Los Angeles County. The rain could cause other hazards throughout the weekend. Authorities in Palmdale have warned the public to avoid contact with city streetlight poles during the storms because of wiring problems that could deliver an electric shock when the lights are on in the rain. Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report. Advertisement alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Michael Avenatti, the Southern California attorney who has repeatedly sparred with Donald Trump over the presidents alleged affair with porn actress Stormy Daniels, is not expected to face criminal charges in connection with a 2018 domestic violence allegation lobbed by his then-girlfriend, officials said Friday. Avenatti and his ex-girlfriend will instead have separate hearings with staff from the Los Angeles city attorneys office in the near future, though the office reserves the right to file charges against the attorney until the statutes of limitations expire, according to Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the office. The city attorneys office has reviewed all of the reports in this matter and considered all of the evidence, the office said in a statement. This matter has been set for city attorney hearings in which both the victim and the suspect will have an opportunity to be heard on different days. The victim will be advised of services available to her. The hearings have not been scheduled and will not be open to the public, Wilcox said. The most serious charge Avenatti likely would have faced injury to a spouse or cohabitant has a statute of limitations of three years. Avenatti also could have been charged with battery, which has a statute of limitations of one year, Wilcox said. Advertisement Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Nov. 14, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. In a filing seeking a restraining order, Avenattis ex-girlfriend said a fight about money led the attorney to shove her, twist her arm and drag her out of their luxury West Los Angeles apartment. According to court records, the woman and Avenatti began dating in October 2017. She said she had lived with Avenatti since the beginning of 2018. During the argument in November, Avenatti cursed at the woman, calling her ungrateful before hitting her in the face with pillows, court documents show. Do not disrespect me. You dont get to sleep in my house tonight, he said, according to the filing. The Los Angeles County district attorneys office declined to bring felony charges against Avenatti a week later. The attorney, who was at one time considered to be a possible presidential candidate in 2020, has vehemently denied the accusations. At one point, he suggested the allegations were somehow driven by an Orange County conservative conspiracy theorist. Avenatti said Friday on Twitter that every purported victim should have the opportunity to have their claims investigated, and he thanked local law enforcement for its handling of the case. I am extremely thankful that after three thorough investigations, one by the LAPD, one by the [district attorney] and one by the LA City Attorney, the truth of my innocence is now established and no charges are being brought, he wrote. Advertisement james.queally@latimes.com Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT A man caught on video wearing an LAPD shirt and chanting white power during a Black Lives Matter protest is not a police officer, officials said Friday. The video, taken Thursday morning outside a 24 Hour Fitness gym in Hollywood, was brought to officers attention, and police tried contacting the man at the scene, but he fled on foot, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a tweet Thursday. A spokesman with Mayor Eric Garcettis office said officials determined Friday that the man was not affiliated with the Police Department. The behavior in that video is deplorable, and it has absolutely no place in our city, said Alex Comisar, the mayors press secretary. Advertisement Friday afternoon, LAPD tweeted that the T-shirt the man was wearing is not official attire. The apparel worn by the individual, specifically the T-shirt with LAPD insignia, is not Department issued and is accessible to the public, LAPD said. We will be working with our Entertainment Trademark Unit to ensure violations of our trademark on apparel are addressed. Members of the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Lives Matter organization were protesting the death of Albert Ramon Dorsey, who was fatally shot by an LAPD officer inside the gym in October. As the group was protesting, it encountered the man who appears to be of Asian descent wearing a shirt with LAPD logos on the chest and sleeves. In the video, the man is seen chanting white power repeatedly, while gesturing toward protesters. He appears to be making white power symbols with his hands. Protesters asked the man to verify his law enforcement status. Wheres your badge number? Give us your badge number, they said as the man continued his rant. We have identified the individual in question related to a video involving the use of racially insensitive remarks. As first suggested by some, this individual is not, and has never been, an LAPD officer or employee. https://t.co/rHLAssqoWu LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 1, 2019 alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @r_valejandra Elk Grove police discovered an unlikely suspect when they were called about a tripped burglar alarm Thursday and discovered a shattered window on the top floor of a home. Officers walked around the house, assessing the scene, and peered inside a sliding glass door. There they saw the perpetrator, lounging without a care, said Officer Jason Jimenez, a spokesman for the Elk Grove Police Department. The cat burglar turned out to be a bird specifically a turkey which police say flew through the closed second-floor window and then made its way downstairs. Jimenez said officers were unable to question the bird about the break-in. Advertisement Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, but he would only respond with fowl language, Elk Grove police said in a Facebook post. Jimenez said the bird made itself at home, letting out an occasional gobble. He was just hanging out, sitting on the coffee table in the living room, he said. He sat on the couch for a little while. Officers contacted the residents, who preferred police not enter their house and instead let the turkey roam around until they arrived. Animal control officials made arrangements for the bird to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Jimenez said the animal showed no signs of distress and did not appear to be injured. Its not uncommon to see wild turkeys roaming the rural areas of Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento. But they usually dont break into homes, police said. Its something we dont see every day, said Jimenez, a 13-year veteran. This is definitely a first for me. A wayward turkey struts in front of a sofa in the living room of an Elk Grove home. (Elk Grove Police Department) alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @r_valejandra The federal government Friday moved closer to imposing water delivery cuts along the drought-depleted Colorado River after California and Arizona failed to meet a deadline for inking a broad agreement on how the seven states that depend on the river would cope with shortages. The federal official who manages the lower Colorado River had set Thursday as the deadline for the states to agree on a drought plan. Without a deal, the Interior Department would step in and begin to develop its own shortage plans, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman had warned. All eyes were on Arizona this week as state lawmakers took a last-minute vote on their part of the pact. They approved the plan Thursday afternoon, just hours before the deadline, but Arizona officials still havent finalized a variety of documents. In addition, a California irrigation district with massive river rights has yet to sign off on the agreement. Advertisement On Friday, Burman acknowledged that the states had made tremendous progress on their drought contingency plan. However, she added, close isnt done. The Interior Department has broad legal authority to manage the lower Colorado River, and Burman said the agency would start the formal legal process of soliciting comments on how it should impose cuts. She repeatedly declined to answer questions of how those cuts would be carried out. Were looking for ideas, she said. But she also said the department would end that process if all the necessary parties have signed the states drought plan by March 1. Its better to have consensus, Burman said. The river that fills faucets and irrigation ditches from Colorado to California has been mired in drought since 2000. The driest 19-year period in the recorded history of the Colorado River basin has left its two biggest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, just 40% full. Federal river managers say there is a 57% likelihood that Lake Mead levels will fall so low next year that the officials will have to declare a shortage for the first time. The drought contingency plan spells out how the three states supplied by Lake Mead California, Arizona and Nevada would reduce river use to keep the reservoir from plunging even further toward disastrous levels that could end hydropower production and even releases from Hoover Dam. Advertisement A shortage has been looming over the seven-state basin for more than a decade, only to be narrowly averted time and again when rain and snow in the upper basin pushed reservoir levels above the shortage trigger. Even without prolonged drought, it has become obvious in recent decades that the river is over-allocated. The states divvied up flows in the early 20th century, a period that in hindsight was unusually wet and presented an unrealistic picture of what the Colorado could produce year in and year out. Add the effects of climate change higher temperatures, more evaporation, less snow in the upper basin and the reality of a drier future is setting in. The drought plan is buying the states time to figure out how to deal with the fact that Mead and Powell may never again be full. The shortage deal is both temporary and not as dramatic as what the states need to do, said Robert Glennon, a University of Arizona law professor and expert on water policy. Advertisement California is entitled to more Colorado River water than any other state, amounting to 4.4 million acre-feet a year. Under the drought plan, the state which holds some of the oldest river rights would reduce its diversions sooner than if the basin strictly adhered to the water-rights pecking order. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which has been importing Colorado River water for nearly 80 years, approved the accord in December. Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said he was not surprised by Burmans announcement. In her shoes, I would do the same, he said. You really cant afford to take your foot off the pedal. Advertisement But Kightlinger said he was optimistic that California and Arizona would soon finalize their agreements. If they dont and Interior pushes ahead on its own, I think that would be a real problem, he said. There would be litigation and all sorts of politics. The sprawling Imperial Irrigation District, which is the single largest user on the entire length of the river, has withheld its final signature on the drought pact until other parties sign and it gets a commitment from the federal government to help pay for Salton Sea restoration. On Thursday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) urged the Trump administration to provide the money through conservation provisions passed in last years farm bill. Burman declined to say whether the administration would say yes to Imperials demand for more restoration money. Advertisement In a statement, Imperial General Manager Henry Martinez said his district expects the work on the [drought plan] to be completed promptly. He added that Imperial remains steadfast in its pursuit of federal funding for the critical conservation efforts that are necessary to mitigate the severe public health and environmental impacts at the Salton Sea. Arizona is the only state that requires lawmakers approval of the drought plan, and Thursdays votes were preceded by months of squabbling among Arizona water users over how to absorb future cuts. Ultimately, a number of deals were struck to get their buy-in, a sign of how tough it may to balance demand on the Colorado with what the river can reliably supply. Under one deal, Pinal County farmers who would be the first in line to lose Colorado River water in Arizona will get millions of dollars in state funding to drill new high-capacity wells essentially substituting groundwater for river supplies. Advertisement This is a really horrible development, said Glennon, who has written about the problems caused by excessive groundwater pumping in his state. Frustrated by the lack of an agreement between the states, Burman told river users in December that they needed to finalize shortage plans by Jan. 31 or the Interior Department would start developing its own plan. If the department decided to order cuts according to water rights, and diverters with senior rights continued to take their full share, Mead would continue to drop and that would not be good for any of us, said James Eklund, who represents the state of Colorado on river matters. We can manage our way out of this problem, but its not going to be without pain, he said. Advertisement bettina.boxall@latimes.com Twitter: @boxall Nearly a week ago, Bay Area Chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, co-owner of Wursthall, logged on to Twitter and sent a fluttering message: It hasnt happened yet, but if you come to my restaurant wearing a MAGA cap, you arent getting served, he tweeted Sunday. Same as if you come in wearing a swastika, white hood, or any other symbol of intolerance and hate. He followed that tweet with another controversial one: MAGA hats are like white hoods except stupider because you can see exactly who is wearing them, he wrote. Advertisement The tweets sparked a national debate about a business refusing to serve people because of their political beliefs and what Make America Great Again caps have come to symbolize amid a divisive political climate. In a statement released Friday, Lopez-Alt apologized to his staff and customers over the comments and explained that he was reacting to a growing trend of hateful and violent acts involving people with red MAGA caps. My message was intended to reject anger, hate and violence, and indicate that these shouldnt be welcomed in our society and arent welcome in our community, he wrote. It was aimed at these three elements rather than at a physical object, but I understand that many interpreted my words in a different context and construed a message of hate directed at them. This was not my intent in any way, and I am sorry for my recklessness. He said everyone was welcomed at the restaurant so long as they leave their hate, anger and violence at the front door. Days before Lopez-Alts tweets, activist and celebrity Alyssa Milano had tweeted and called the red MAGA hats the new white hood. The red ballcaps were part of President Trumps campaign more than two years ago but have since become a hot-button issue. Critics say that the hats connote more than a political disagreement and that they represent hate and racism. Opponents point to a series of violent attacks in which the perpetrators have worn the red hats. Advertisement Last February, video of Nikolas Cruz, the suspect in the mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school, surfaced, showing him standing in his backyard, holding a gun and wearing a MAGA hat. Last April, prosecutors in New York alleged that Willie Ames, 47, punched a Mexican immigrant and pushed him onto the Union Square subway tracks. Ames had made racist remarks before attacking the victim, authorities said, adding that he was wearing a red MAGA hat. Most recently, Empire star Jussie Smollet, an openly gay black actor, said he was brutally attacked by two white men who put a noose around his neck and screamed, This is MAGA country. Chicago police are investigating the case as a hate crime. Advertisement Lopez-Alt said he grew concerned about the hats as he learned about continued controversial incidents involving people wearing MAGA caps. Like many people, Im scared and confused by the anger, hatred and violence that Im seeing in our country right now, he wrote in a statement. After having seen the red hat displayed so prominently in so many moments of anger, hate and violence, to me and many others the hat began to symbolize exactly that: anger, hate and violence. This was the context my tweet was meant to communicate. Those who wear the hats say theyre doing so in support of Trump and to show patriotism. Advertisement And while many ugly incidents have been documented in which the perpetrators wore MAGA hats including videos showing students from a Kentucky boys high school mocking a Native American elder outside the Lincoln Memorial after a rally in Washington last month the opposite also has occurred. Last July in Texas, a man was arrested after police said he hurled a drink at a 16-year-old boy wearing a red MAGA hat. In the video, the man is seen walking away, holding the hat and looking back at the teen. ruben.vives@latimes.com Advertisement For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter. The line outside the Los Angeles Immigration Court Thursday morning snaked around the side of the building, doubled back to the South Olive Street sidewalk and nearly reached the next block. Some of those in line had scheduled hearings in court. Others simply thought they did. In a statement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials attributed the overflow crowds to administrative processing delays caused by the recent federal government shutdown. All appropriate parties are working together to resolve this issue going forward, the statement read. Around the country, thousands of immigrants given notices to appear in court Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security showed up for hearings that didnt exist. Immigration lawyers blamed Homeland Security for issuing fake court dates, and reported similar chaotic scenes at courts in Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco and Omaha. Advertisement In Los Angeles, security guards estimated that between 800 and 1,000 people arrived with invalid court dates. Additional guards were on hand in the morning, slowly steering people into two lines as they arrived in front of the courts glass doors. Some people came alone, clutching their documents in hand. Mothers held their young children. Families huddled together in the cold, just before a steady downpour moved through the region. Thursdays confusion stems from a Supreme Court decision last June, Pereira vs. Sessions. The court ruled that notices to appear the documents issued by immigration authorities to people accused of being in the country illegally must specify a time, date and place in order to be valid. Previously, immigration authorities often had sent notices with the date listed as to be determined. Its not the first time that disarray has resulted. In September, the Dallas Morning News reported that immigrants around the country were told to show up for hearings that werent scheduled. In some instances, they were told to arrive at midnight, on weekends or on dates that dont exist. On Oct. 31, lawyers across the country described scenes similar to Thursdays, with hundreds of people waiting outside courts in Los Angeles and elsewhere for nonexistent hearings. Some of Thursdays invalid appointments had already been rescheduled to future dates, but the government shutdown prevented courts from being able to notify those people in time, the Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review said in a statement. EOIR, which oversees immigration courts, said weather-related closures earlier this week also impeded efforts to prepare cases for Thursday. In other cases, EOIR did not receive the notice to appear (NTA) in a timely manner, the agency said. But as of late December, DHS has had access to the courts scheduling system. With that change, the agency said, it doesnt expect arbitrary court dates to be issued again in the future. Immigrants stand outside the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Many waited for hours for hearings that turned out not to be scheduled. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement That wasnt enough to prevent Thursdays mayhem. Isabel Martinez, 35, took the day off work and left her Canoga Park home at 5 a.m. to make it to the 8 a.m. hearing listed on her notice to appear. Instead, she stood in line outside the court for nearly an hour before being escorted to another line inside a large room on the first floor. Martinez fled El Salvador in 2003. Gangs had extorted her for money because her grandmother owned a small grocery store. When she was unable to pay, gang members beat her so badly she had to relearn to walk, she said. She applied for asylum last year, previously unaware that it was an option. Court personnel gave Martinez and the others a notice of verification of appearance in court with an 800 number to call for more information about their next hearing. Advertisement This is ridiculous, she said, leaving the court. They make you waste your time. I have a newborn baby and had to leave him with someone. So to get here and not have court its not fair. David Martin, 55, from Guatemala arrived three hours early for his 1 p.m. hearing. Inside, security guards directed him to the 15th floor. The thing is, you might not have court, the guard said in Spanish. Youll call and theyll give you a new date. Martin arrived in California last November after crossing the Arizona border with his 16-year-old son. He farmed coffee and corn but it wasnt enough to feed six kids, himself and his wife. Advertisement Now he and his son live in Riverside with his nephew. He wants to find a lawyer so he can remain in the country legally, though hes not exactly sure how. Thursday was supposed to be his first court hearing after being released from detention. Theyre giving out notices, but theres no court today, a clerk told him, adding that his new notice to appear would come in the mail. Immigration lawyer Sabrina Damast, who had a court hearing scheduled Thursday morning, said she got lucky and was able to skip the line with a group of other lawyers. But she said some colleagues told her they were forced to wait with people that didnt need to be there. Damast said the impact was tremendous not only to lawyers and immigrants who actually needed to be in court. She said many of those with false dates had to take leave from work, find care for their children and arrange transportation just to be told to go home again and wait. Advertisement Although the scheduling system fix sounds promising, Damast said, the chaos of Thursday was preventable. It seems that, fundamentally, this should be doable in the age of 21st century technology, she said. andrea.castillo@latimes.com | Twitter: @andreamcastillo A time capsule of L.A.s bar history is now on display at downtowns Central Library. In the midst of the exhibition 21 Collections, which fills the Getty Gallery with doll hats, bird eggs and Tom Hanks stockpile of vintage typewriters, sits a round, glass-topped case containing 200 alphabetized matchbooks from L.A. gay bars and sex clubs, most of them now closed. Elegantly arranged in concentric circles, the matchbooks hail from such evocatively named establishments as the Sewers of Paris, Basic Plumbing, the Meat Rack, the Big Banana, the Fallen Angel and Dude City. Todd Lerew, program manager at the Library Foundation, the private nonprofit that oversaw 21 Collections, curated the exhibition. Its like an archive of safe spaces, Lerew says of the collection. [These were] sites of solidarity. Many of them are gone now and [the matchbooks] are the only record they ever existed. The matchbooks have made the library a draw for former patrons of the bars. People go through and look for places they remember, says Lerew. [They] have a very strong emotional connection. These are souvenirs from experiences which could have been life-changing moments. Jonesy, a mononymous L.A.-based queer artist who was a regular at a number of these spots worked briefly as a barback at Cuffs, a major gay hangout of the recent past. Advertisement Ripples matchbook cover. Undated. (One Archives at the USC Libraries) Cuffs was incredibly dark and super cruisey, Jonesy recalls. Bar service stopped at 2 but they kept it open until 3 and the lights went out for that final hour. Working there was a real challenge, he says with a laugh, especially when you were trying to clean up using a tiny penlight. Jonesy, along with a group of artistic collaborators, threw a party last summer that re-created Cuffs in the same space it once inhabited, now home to the Hyperion Tavern. As Silver Lake and the whole landscape of gay Hollywood and the east side changed so much I always had this idea in my head of turning the place back into Cuffs for one night, he says. When I started coming to L.A. in the early 90s, there were more than a dozen [gay bars] on the east side. You would make the rounds rather than just go to one place. Each bar had its own identity. Now things are much more concentrated and assimilated. Its lost some of the freakishness and the weirdos, which I miss. You have three bars on the east side that people go to: the Eagle, Akbar, and the Faultline. But I dont want to completely dog what we have left. The Eagle is my regular bar, and Im thrilled to have it. The closing of many east-side gay bars can be blamed, in part, on gentrifications effect on rents. It also can be argued that the ongoing expansion of just what queerness can mean could have made a segment of gay bars, which thrived in a sort of self-identified exclusivity, obsolete. Im not one of them, Jonesy says, but a lot of gay men my age and a generation older like to talk about the days of male-only spaces and what that meant to them. Personally, I like for anybody who wants to be involved to be involved. Jonesy is pleased that anyone who identifies as male trans men, for example are now more welcome at gay bars than they were in the past. Its interesting that these matchbooks can represent, in this way, loci both of freedom claimed outside the square world, but also an unfortunate breed of inter-underground repression. A third factor in the shrinking number of gay bars in L.A. might be the advent of hook-up apps. Theres this insane history of cruising in Los Angeles and it doesnt exist anymore, Jonesy points out. Most of the matchbooks in this collection represent potential stops on a nights tour, such as the ones chronicled in Angeleno author John Rechys 1977 nonfiction book The Sexual Outlaw, which is like a horny version of The Odyssey. But when one can simply fire up Grindr or Scruff and find a casual encounter from the comfort of ones couch, why waste gas and money going from bar to park to bar? The matchbooks on display at the library, nostalgic artifacts adorned with images of muscled Adonises and punning slogans, were everyday objects used and discarded at the time they were made. Theyve resurfaced today to give us a visceral whiff of what it felt like when L.A.s gay bar scene was headier, wilder and perhaps more excitingly illicit. 21 Collections has been extended to March 24. food@latimes.com After the smashing success of its Alexander McQueen show, Londons V&A Museum is looking to draw big crowds with another major fashion exhibition this time focusing on Christian Dior. Billed as the largest and most comprehensive museum display ever staged in Britain on the revered French fashion house, the V&A exhibit traces the influence of Dior over seven decades and showcases dozens of spectacular couture gowns. First to greet visitors at the exhibit, which opens Saturday, is a sculpted cream-and-black jacket and skirt outfit from 1947 that features a dramatically nipped-in 19-inch waist offset with full, pleated skirts. The romantic, exaggerated hourglass silhouette is now recognized as Diors famous New Look, a redefinition of the feminine shape that defied the boxy styles of the postwar years and immediately made its mark in fashion history. A bar suit and hat designed by Christian Dior in 1947. Its part of an exhibit at the V&A Museum in London. (Alastair Grant / AP) Advertisement The influence of Christian Diors innovative and experimental design was all-pervasive and helped to define an era, curator Oriole Cullen said. Theres much here to dazzle, especially in the exhibition finale, The Ballroom, which celebrates the designers love of extravagant evening wear. Dozens of handmade gowns in sumptuous silks, feathers and crystals are displayed in a mirrored room with lighting that simulates sparkling constellations and showers of gold dust. A ballgown is your dream, and it must make you a dream, Dior, a fan of lavish 18th century court dress, once said. The exhibition is based on a 2017 Dior show in Paris but was expanded with a section devoted to Diors fascination with British royalty and aristocracy. Among the highlights: a voluminous tulle gown designed for Princess Margaret for her 21st birthday celebrations in 1951 and which she wore for her official birthday portrait. The stylish royal remained a Dior client for many years. The designer died in 1957. A Christian Dior design by John Galliano from 2005. (Alastair Grant / AP) Visitors get to see more than 500 objects, including over 200 couture garments, and follow the House of Dior as it evolved under various artistic directors, from the wildly eccentric designs of John Galliano to the feminist vision of present-day director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman to helm the brand. Cullen, the curator, mused about Christian Diors unlikely beginnings in fashion as the son of a man in the fertilizer business. His parents didnt want him to be in trade and had aspirations for him to train as a diplomat but it wasnt to be. There he was in his 30s with no money, no profession and needing to train again. Its really interesting how he decided to become a fashion illustrator and thats how he came to fashion, she said. Advertisement A selection of Christian Dior dresses designed by John Galliano, displayed at the V&A Museum. (Alastair Grant / AP) Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams opens to the public Saturday and runs until July 14. In an impassioned interview Thursday night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, actress Ellen Page segued from a discussion on climate change policies to harsh criticism of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pences hard-line stance against progressive LGBTQ polices. Referring to Jussie Smolletts attack in Chicago on Tuesday, which authorities are investigating as a hate crime, the Juno and Inception actress urged the audience to connect the dots. This is what happens, she said of the Empire stars attack. If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering, said Page, barely holding back tears. What do you think is going to happen? Kids are going to be abused, and theyre going to kill themselves, and people are going to be beaten on the street, she continued. Advertisement This needs to stop, she later said. As Page became more emotional, Colbert stopped asking questions and let the actress have her say. I am fired up tonight, she told him. It feels impossible not to feel this way right now, with the president and Vice President Mike Pence, who wishes I couldnt be married. During the interview, Colbert showed a photo of Page with her wife, Emma Portner. They were married last year. Lets just be clear, Page said. The Vice President of America wishes I didnt have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana. In her travels around the world filming her Viceland docuseries, Gaycation, the actress has shed light on the treatment of LGBTQ communities across different cultures and societies. She said she hoped her show has opened peoples eyes on how policies affect marginalized peoples lives. Smollett, a vocal advocate for LGBTQ equality, was assaulted around 2 a.m. Tuesday in what the Chicago Police Department said was a racially charged and homophobic attack. Advertisement According to police, two people approached the 36-year-old actor while he was walking in an affluent area of downtown Chicago. The suspects then hit Smollett in the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on him, police said. At some point during the incident, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around the victims neck before fleeing the scene, the department said in a statement to The Times. TMZ reported that the assailants yelled This is MAGA country a reference to President Trumps slogan of Make America Great Again at the actor. ALSO: Jussie Smollett thanks fans for outpouring of love in first statement since attack Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday said China was ready to tap more cooperative potentials and enhance all-round cooperation with Qatar to benefit the two peoples. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with visiting Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 31, 2019. [Photo: Gov.cn] The remark came as Li met with visiting Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Hailing Qatar as China's important cooperation partner in the Middle East and the Gulf, Li said relations between the two countries had enjoyed healthy and stable development, with cooperation in trade, investment and other fields growing rapidly. Li said China was ready to tap more cooperative potential with Qatar and establish a long-term and stable strategic cooperation partnership in energy. As a developing country, China attracts the most foreign investment and is willing to open basic industry to Qatar to achieve mutual benefit, Li said, calling on the two countries to deepen security cooperation to safeguard regional and world peace. China is ready to work with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to start the next round of FTA negotiation as soon as possible and will strive for an early agreement, the premier said. Tamim said that faced with current international political and economic situation, Qatar and China should further enhance cooperation, which was also the purpose of his visit. Qatar is optimistic about China's economy and is ready to work with China to explore new cooperation areas, said Tamim, adding that Qatar hopes to seek more investment opportunities in China and is ready to work with China and other parties to promote the FTA negotiation. He also expressed appreciation of China's active and constructive role in the Gulf region and Arab world, saying Qatar was looking forward to China's greater role in the future. What if you kept dying at your own birthday party? Thats the darkly comic premise of Russian Doll, a Netflix series starring Natasha Lyonne as Nadia, a fast-talking, freewheeling Manhattanite caught in a mysterious loop in which she keeps dying in nightmarish New York scenarios: blindsided by a speeding cab, falling down an open cellar door in the sidewalk, crashing in a broken elevator. And each time she gets killed, Nadia wakes up, not in the afterlife, but in the bathroom at the party for her 36th birthday, only to start the process all over again. Nadias increasingly elaborate quest for survival leads her on an adventure through the bodegas and dive bars of the East Village, but, ultimately, within herself as she peels back the layers of her identity to confront buried trauma. Advertisement With its trapped-in-a-loop conceit, Russian Doll is initially reminiscent of Groundhog Day or the more recent Happy Death Day, but over the course of eight episodes premiering Friday, it evolves into something without obvious precedent a visually inventive existential noir comedy told from a female perspective. Created by Lyonne, Amy Poehler and writer-director Leslye Headland (Bachelorette, Sleeping With Other People), the series boasts an all-female writing and directing team. Lyonne, who directed the final episode, recently met with her co-creators in New York for a boisterous (and occasionally off-topic) conversation about the series, its origins and their influences. Natasha Lyonne stars in Russian Doll. (Courtesy of Netflix) Tell me about the inspiration for the series. Lyonne: Amy, who Ive known for probably 15 years, called me out of the blue one day, and she was, like, So as long as Ive known you, youve always been the oldest girl in the world. I was, like, What is this, a compliment? And then shes, like, I think we should make a show about that. What do you say? And I was very excited. And then, we made that show, Old Soul [a pilot for NBC]. And when it didnt go, Amy turned to me and said, If we could make any show in the world, without any restrictions, what would it be? And that was sort of a jumping-off place for discussing what was going to become Russian Doll. What we landed on was this idea of this choose your own adventure if you could go to the same party every night, and you could take home a different person from the party. I remember showing up at the writers room on day one with Victor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning. And everybody looked at me, like, You know thats not how you make a show, right? What we were after was discovering what it would mean to have limitless options, and what kind of circle of hell that might become. Poehler: The women I work with and know are really, really complicated women. Thats the thing Im most proud of. So we wanted to show a female character getting to live the width and breadth of life. Tony Soprano is allowed to be all things. And I think of Natasha as my Tony Soprano. Advertisement Lyonne: Look at this outfit, you know? [Lyonne gestures towards her gold medallion, houndstooth jacket and pants.] Amy was the one who titled the show Russian Doll. It was this revelation. We kept talking about who are we in our outermost and innermost selves? Poehler: And can you ever get to the littlest one? And when you take off and youre, like, look at how little the littlest one is, and who do you show that to? And how quickly do you put that back in, and restack? That became a metaphor. Lyonne: Leslye kept saying, If we do this right, it should feel like a four-hour movie that you immediately have to start over, to try and answer the questions you didnt realize you were asking in the first place. Headland: I feel like the best noirs, movies like The Long Goodbye or The Big Lebowski, when theyre done youre, like, Im so sorry; I have to watch that again, because I was watching the plot. And thats actually not what this was about. Advertisement What makes you describe Natasha as an old soul? The series really is a showcase for her. Poehler: Well, Natashas lived many lives. She is one of my favorite actors, and I think that this show is a complete tour de force from beginning to end. In showing her range, in showing her vulnerability and showing her real, true comedy chops. Its very hard to have those three. Headland: My wife is also on the show. She came home and was, like, I just want you to know, Natasha is a much better director than you are. Here are some pointers that I learned from working with her. I was, like, Thanks babe. Thank you so much. Thank you. Shes not wrong. Lyonne: A shorthand existed that Ive never experienced in my life as an actor. It was a very special situation, in a deeper, more vulnerable sense that Im reluctant to talk about. It was so hugely personal to me, and this thing was my baby, and my whole life story in a way fictionalized, but encapsulated in a very deep personal, often painful, way. It was very special. It felt like the 70s. Poehler: Thats the highest compliment from Tash: It feels like the 70s. Advertisement I think of Natasha as my Tony Soprano. Amy Poehler Most of the series is set at night. How disorienting was it to film? Headland: My first film, Bachelorette, was almost all night shoots as well. New York is kind of a city where you can shoot at night, and youre going home at 7:30 a.m., and it feels kind of normal. Lyonne: We were shooting so close to my apartment that I just walked home with my little directors binder at the end of the day, watching the sun come up, knowing that Id just come from a wild day with Burt Young [who has a supporting role], a hero from Rocky and Once Upon a Time in America, being, like, Holy hell. How did this become my version of watching the sun rise in the East Village? I was used to a very different version of that, historically. So it was deep. Poehler: Russian Doll talks about that exactly, which is, what is your version of heaven and hell? What is the thing that you have to live over again, and what are you supposed to learn each time? Advertisement At first, Nadia dying over and over again is darkly funny, but as the series progresses, it becomes harder to see it happen. You want her to live. Headland: Its very rare that you get to work on something with a female protagonist where youre rooting for the character from an existential, spiritual place, as opposed to, Oh, I hope she gets that guy. Or, I hope she gets the job she wants. Nadia is not just going through an existential or spiritual crisis; shes also going through a journey backward, and trying to figure out, wait a minute, when did this start? When was the moment where things kind of got off course? Whats the deep thing that needs changing, so that she can break this cycle and stay alive? Was the shows all-female creative team intentional, or just a happy accident? Poehler: Its simply that we have so many women we love to work with. And its funny, were really proud of it. As it was happening in real time, we were, like, this is exciting. But also for me, its a very selfish choice to work with women, because Im totally inspired by their creativity, and I like working with them. Lyonne: I remember us kind of hitting a tipping point, where it was already the three of us, and we were kind of, like, also lets get [director] Jamie Babbit. Then we had [a number of women] in our writers room. And suddenly we were, like, wait a second, uhhh, so I guess were kind of good? Maybe we should lean in, because weve accidentally already done it. Its pretty special. Poehler: We can take credit for [hiring all women] but also, we just went for the best people. Advertisement Lyonne: And we love men. Ive slept with many. [Laughter.] Knowing 90% of the time that Leslye and Jamie were back there at the monitor, there wasnt this extra layer of, Are you going to like it? It was more that we were just on the same page. And so I think that there was a real freedom. Poehler: Its just a layer of translation that you dont have to deal with. I would highly recommend all females, as much as you can. Its so great to be around. Lyonne: Also, one surefire way that you guarantee that you get stories that havent been told before is, put them in the hands of people who havent had the opportunity to tell them. Just selfishly, if you want the most original product, let somebodys voice out there who hasnt said it yet. How did you keep track of the various loops of the story? Did you have a great big conspiracy board? Lyonne: The poor script supervisor on this show. My god, what she had to do. At our production meetings, wed be, like, You guys dont understand the loops and the timelines? A1 and A4? It was basically like a war room. Ive never seen that Benedict Cumberbatch movie where he invents math, or something, but it was basically like that movie. Advertisement How do you feel about the Groundhog Day comparisons? Lyonne: In a loose way, Id described [the show] to friends and family I dont really have family, thats a lie but I would sort of describe it, if I was in a rush: Yeah, its Groundhog Day meets No Exit. All right, see you later. Headland: I am going to say something thats a little controversial: Ive noticed as a human woman, when I end up doing press, Im consistently reminded of how my work is like something else. It feels like they really want to remind me that this genre already exists, and that it was already done by a man. And Im, like, Yes I know. Im very aware of that stuff. When Breaking Bad comes out, no ones, like, You know, Jenji [Kohan] already did this with Weeds. When The Sopranos debuts, they dont go, Im so sorry, David Chase. We already did Goodfellas. Theres this understanding that the artist has taken that into consideration, and knows what theyll be referencing, and how that will affect their audience. Of course we thought about that. Of course we knew that that was a reference. And we wanted to move past it. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Russian Doll Where: Netflix When: Anytime, starting Feb. 1 Advertisement meredith.blake@latimes.com Follow me @MeredithBlake St. Bernard Syndicate St. Bernard Syndicate, directed by satirical documentarian Mads Brugger, begins as an amusingly eccentric, mockumentary-style comedy but runs out of gas about halfway through. Still, there are enough curiously deadpan, cringeworthy bits in Laerke Sanderhoffs loopy script to keep you hooked, even as you search for the point of it all. Frederik (Frederik Cilius) is a pudgy, boorish loser with a scheme to breed St. Bernard dogs in the apparently underserved market of China. He convinces the equally hapless but more upbeat Rasmus (Rasmus Bruun), an ex-schoolmate in ill health, to partner up which is to say, fund the business launch. And off this odd-couple of Danes go to the glimmering city of Chongqing. Meantime, Frederik has purloined his fathers sweet St. Bernard and (somehow) hauled the huge pooch along as an irresistible sales tool. Once ensconced in an upscale hotel, most everything that can go sideways does as Frederik and Rasmus work, often at cross purposes, to get their harebrained plan in motion. Language and customs barriers, shady investors, random women, boozy forays, money woes and more fuel the increasingly pathetic pairs inevitable if darkly droll downward spiral. Advertisement That friendship between the men blooms so late seems like a lost opportunity, though no surprise for a film that, for better and worse, rarely plays by the rules. Gary Goldstein St. Bernard Syndicate In English, Danish and Mandarin with English subtitles. Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Playing: Starts Feb. 1, Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills; available Feb. 5 on VOD ------------- Advertisement A Breath Away Romain Duris in the movie A Breath Away. (Gravitas Ventures) An apocalyptic fog and a teenage girl with a rare autoimmune disease figure into the promising setup of A Breath Away, a contained, atmospheric French thriller that ultimately gets lost in the haze of a problematic script. Determined to seek experimental treatment that would free their daughter Sarah (Fantine Harduin) from the 24/7 protective confines of a high-tech bubble, Mathieu (Romain Duris) and Anna (Olga Kurylenko) are forced to abort a trip to Canada when an earthquake unleashes a highly toxic underground gas that envelops all of Paris. They manage to buy a little time by seeking refuge in the penthouse apartment of a hospitable elderly couple (Michel Robin and Anne Gaylor) above the rising cloud while their daughter remains protected from the creeping killer elements in her bubble, at least as long as the backup batteries hold out. Advertisement Although cinematographer-turned-director Daniel Roby effectively establishes the claustrophobic tension against a melancholic undercurrent thats reminiscent of 1983s Testament, the screenplay by Guillaume Lemans, Jimmy Bemon and Mathieu Delozier is decidedly less than airtight, leaving too many questions unanswered. But even as it treads on familiar Stephen King (The Mist) and John Carpenter (The Fog) territory, the film has moments that will leave you gasping for oxygen as long as you choose to avoid all those gaping plot holes. Michael Rechtshaffen A Breath Away Advertisement In French with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Playing: Available Feb. 1 on VOD Advertisement ------------- Then Came You Asa Butterfield and Maisie Williams in the movie Then Came You. (Shout! Studios) There must be some way to innovate the dying teen melodrama, but no one has yet figured that out. Writer Fergal Rock and director Peter Hutchings throw a lot of cutesy mania and subplots at their cancer dramedy Then Came You, but the results are just another formulaic entry in the genre, albeit with a great cast. The cancer-ridden teen in question is Skye (Maisie Williams), a wild, nonchalant girl with a colorful collection of wigs and a long To Die list, but the story is told through the perspective of Calvin (Asa Butterfield), a shy hypochondriac convinced he has cancer. The two meet at a support group, and sensing an easy mark in Calvin, Skye ropes him in as her partner-in-bucket-list. Advertisement Then Came You is effortfully wacky. Rapid-fire montages depict Skye pulling Calvin into her orbit, her effervescent spirit loosening up the maudlin young man who works as a baggage handler at the airport with his father (David Koechner) and brother (Tyler Hoechlin) while crushing on a flight attendant, Izzy (Nina Dobrev). Its only when those affectations fall away that the film gets somewhat close to authenticity. In the overstuffed plot of Then Came You, Skyes terminal illness isnt even about her. Her life merely serves as a lesson for Calvin to overcome his fears and seize the day. Its a shame this manic pixie dream sick girl cant even get her own movie. Katie Walsh Then Came You Advertisement Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes Playing: Starts Feb. 1, Laemmle Glendale; also on VOD ------------- Advertisement Outlaws Matt Nable in the movie Outlaws. (A24) Set to a thrashing metal soundtrack, Outlaws muscles its way on screen with a Shakespearean struggle for power in a motorcycle gang. Simply trade Denmark or Rome for modern-day Australia, and swap the iambic pentameter for Aussie-accented growled curses, and you have this often-brutal thriller from first-time director Stephen McCallum. While the Copperheads president, Knuck (screenwriter Matt Nable), was in prison, his second-in-command Paddo (Ryan Corr) stepped up to run the motorcycle club. But with Knuck free, he and Paddo now find themselves on opposite sides as they violently disagree on how the crew should operate. Nables script isnt always clear on its characters motivations, and it drags on even at a brief 92 minutes. However, Outlaws should largely satisfy audiences who like their action movies savage and bleak. Advertisement Kimber Myers Outlaws Rated: R, for strong violence, including rape, sexual content/nudity, pervasive language and brief drug use. Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes Advertisement Playing: Starts Feb. 1, Laemmle Noho 7, North Hollywood; also on VOD ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers Advertisement calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies In 1989, Euzhan Palcy became the first black female filmmaker to direct a studio movie with the South Africa-set apartheid thriller A Dry White Season, starring Donald Sutherland, Susan Sarandon and Marlon Brando. Dry White Season was initially at Warner Bros., but the studio ditched it, fearing that Universal had already cornered the market on apartheid movies by releasing Cry Freedom a few years before. So Palcy pitched the project to MGMs Alan Ladd Jr. And they gave me everything I asked for, she says about MGM. I will never forget that. Nearly 30 years later, A Dry White Season has been digitally restored and released as a Criterion Blu-ray. Palcy, who lives in Paris, spoke by phone about the story behind a Hollywood milestone. Advertisement Marlon Brando in a scene from the 1989 movie A Dry White Season, directed by Euzhan Palcy. (MGM / Kobal/REX/Shutterstock) Palcy grew up on the island of Martinique where, as far as she knew, there were no filmmakers. But she used to regularly attend a village theater that showed Hollywood movies. I used to go to the movies as often as I could, and black faces, black characters, were totally absent, Palcy says. And very rarely, when we had a black character, a black actor, it would always be in a very degrading part. That would make me very sad. When she was 13, her mother gave her the novel Sugar Cane Alley, a semi-autobiographical work by Martinican author Joseph Zobel that would later become Palcys celebrated first film. I had a culture shock, because at school we never talked about our culture, she recalls. My desire for becoming a filmmaker came out of my love for film, and anger [about] what I would see. I couldnt accept that that art that I loved so much would hurt me so much by my people being totally absent. Though becoming a film director didnt seem realistic, it became Palcys obsession. I prayed to God every night, Im not kidding. After the family prayers, before going to bed, I would stay a little bit longer on my knees, and I would make a little secret prayer to God to make me grow up fast, just to be able to make a film. She left Martinique for Paris, where she studied literature and film and worked on the script for Sugar Cane Alley. Through a friend, she made a connection with Francois Truffaut and the legendary French New Wave auteur became a mentor as she completed her film debut. The film ended up winning the Silver Lion at the 1983 Venice Film Festival, and the French Cesar Award for first feature film, and earned rave reviews from Roger Ebert and the New York Times. The success of Sugar Cane Alley meant that studios took an interest in bankrolling Palcys follow-up project. She wanted to adapt Alice Walkers The Color Purple, but after hearing that Steven Spielberg already owned the rights, she decided to focus on South Africa. Her original intent was to explore apartheid entirely from the point of view of black characters, but quickly realized that financing such a project wasnt an option in Hollywood. Advertisement So Palcy opted for the next best thing. When I came across the book A Dry White Season [by Andre Brink], I saw immediately what I could do, Palcy says, because [its] about the awakening of a white man, an Afrikaner. He saw the light, and decided to fight his own brothers in the name of justice. I decided to make the adaptation a story of two families one black and one white. Though the film was shot in Zimbabwe, Palcy traveled undercover to Soweto to research the details. A photo of Marlon Brando and Donald Sutherland from A Dry White Season. (David James/Mgm/Kobal/REX/Shutte) The lead Afrikaner roles in A Dry White Season were played by Hollywood stars: Sutherland, Sarandon and, coming out of retirement after a decade-long hiatus, Brando. But Palcy stipulated that the black characters had to be portrayed by black South Africans, rather than African Americans. We had to give those people a voice. Remember, when Im making that movie, Nelson Mandela is still in jail, and the Special Branch was killing people like flies. I was ready to make that movie at any cost, but if I do that, I want to make a real movie about the situation. Still, the existence of respected South African performers like Winston Ntshona and Zakes Mokae did not prevent the studio from marketing it as another white savior story. The original American poster featured only Sutherland, Sarandon and Brando. Advertisement Despite its packaging, A Dry White Season is an unusually powerful rendering of the costs of principled dissent as well as a crackerjack thriller. In Palcys hands, the film is especially attuned to racism as an institutional force, rather than the product of individual racists. (Sutherlands hero is a history teacher who passes down apartheid mythology to a new generation.) Brando plays a human rights attorney working to expose police brutality; his big moment arrives in a climactic courtroom scene, but tellingly, the scene arrives in the middle of the film rather than toward the end, as if to emphasize that in such a corrupted society, courts cannot provide a path to justice. No matter how eloquently he argues, the advocate cant win. The films success included strong reviews and an Oscar nomination for Brando, but in the years that followed, Palcy was unable to get another Hollywood project off the ground. Palcy says many studios wanted to meet with her, and acknowledges that she turned down more than 200 scripts. But they would not touch my [own] stories because they were about black people. They kept saying to me to my face, but very nicely, not to insult me that black is not bankable. Advertisement I decided, OK, I cannot accept to direct the movies that Hollywood will ask me to direct. I kept struggling and pushing my own projects because I knew that they were good. Of one such passion project, focused on black female aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman, a studio executive friend urged Palcy: Dont waste your time. Please move on, and put it in the drawer until the time is right. Those guys are not ready for that nobody will do it, Euzhan. Instead, she moved into television, where she says she was given creative freedom to direct meaningful stories about black life. Ruby Bridges, about the first African American child to desegregate an all-white school in the South, was made for Disney, and The Killing Yard, about the 1971 Attica prison uprising, was a Showtime original. Over the past three decades, this pioneering director has seen Hollywood open the doors at least slightly to new forms of representation. Advertisement Its been very slow. The change was just on the surface, for many years. But its becoming better now, with all the platforms, the Netflix and the Amazon, she says. Two filmmakers who have released films via Netflix, Ava DuVernay and Dee Rees, have both spoken reverently of Palcys work, and recognized her as a trailblazer. Palcy says she has four TV projects in development, two of which are comedies. Inevitably, Palcy returns to her memories of being a young filmgoer in Martinique, seeing only one kind of face on the screen. There is a demand for these movies, to see different peoples faces on the screen. And it is fair. calendar@latimes.com Ben Platt is layering up. Im hiding indoors from the polar vortex outside! he told The Times on Thursday from New York City during a 15-degree snowstorm. But its merely hours before Platt, the Tony-winning breakout star of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, debuts two tracks from his deeply personal new album, Sing to Me Instead. In a way, hell be more exposed than ever before. Advertisement Released on Friday at midnight, Bad Habit and Ease My Mind showcase his signature vibrato and guttural vulnerability. The piano-driven ballads begin a story of love and loss thats told on his debut solo album, which is out March 29 via Atlantic Records. Though Platt appears next in Ryan Murphys Netflix series The Politician, as well as a couple of movies, he will tour behind the album. Itll kick off in May, with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Austin and Irving, Texas. Ahead of the two songs release, Platt chatted with The Times about venturing beyond musical theater, writing about anxiety and learning about life from a broken heart. Your music is about to be released to the public. How are you feeling? Its definitely a cocktail of being super-terrified and also so incredibly excited. Ive been living with this music for over a year now. I believe very much in it and Im excited for people to hear it. Ive just been waiting very impatiently. Youve done a few solo sets in New York City this week, performing your own material versus that of a character. Hows it been? Singing live is where all my roots are, and thats been my biggest dream in all of this. But its a bit scarier than Im used to. I feel like I was very desensitized to sharing vulnerability and exposing myself in certain ways because of the Evan Hansen experience. I got very used to that nakedness. But this scared me in a new way. Its my thoughts and feelings, and theres no hiding behind a character or a greater project. I was excited to feel that fear again, because its sort of rare to find opportunities to challenge yourself in a new way. That I wasnt entirely calm made me feel really good. Why introduce the album through these two songs? Ben Platt will release his debut album in March. (Atlantic Records) Advertisement The album itself is an amalgam of a bunch of different relationships in my past, and the very small amount that Ive learned while grappling with love and romance. I put them in somewhat of a narrative structure, and these two songs open the album. And stylistically, theyre a great introduction to the albums sound. Bad Habit is like a prologue, somebody singing retrospectively about a relationship theyve gotten out of and realizing that they have somewhat of an addiction to this person. And regardless of understanding they may not be the best or healthiest person for them, theres just still this hole inside thats hard to ignore. Ease My Mind harkens to the beginning of that relationship to consider the reasons why it got started in the first place. I started to think back: When did I really feel comforted, that my anxiety was allayed? And it was in this beautiful relationship. Anxiety is something I wanted to discuss on the album, but a straightforward song about anxiety isnt the greatest idea in the world. Whats been the toughest part about co-writing this music? Trusting my stylistic instincts was a bit difficult. Im obviously coming from the world of musical theater, and theres a pressure to depart from that when youre making a pop album. Advertisement But I also had to learn how not to disregard the strengths I had from musical theater, like narrative understanding, emotionality and heightening subject matter so much that you want to sing about it. It was marrying those skills with a new style. I love the mixture we got to. Ben Platt originated the titular character of the Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen. (Matthew Murphy) How would you say you grew as a musician from playing Evan Hansen? It was a very different experience making this album, but the one thing I carried over other than having Evan Hansen bring experiences into my life to write about them was the sheer practicality of singing that score eight times a week. It taught my body to sing healthily in a way I had never done before. So in making this album, I was able to just focus on the feeling and the sound, and singing that healthily, rather than having to overly write for my voice [to make sure] I could perform it. Advertisement What can fans expect from the rest of the album? The first seven or eight tracks are a lot of different snapshots of a relationship: the high of meeting someone new and getting completely obsessed, learning youre not right for someone, breaking up. The last few songs talk about bigger things. The idea behind it is that someone who had gone through all of these romantic experiences, good and bad, might have a better outlook on bigger questions like mortality and family. That it all allows you to zoom out. ashley.lee@latimes.com Twitter: @cashleelee Black Panther won the Screen Actors Guild Awards top honor Sunday. Earlier, Green Book took the big prize at the Producers Guild Awards. Roma director Alfonso Cuaron appears poised to win with the Directors Guild on Saturday night. So the best picture Oscar belongs to well, at the moment, your guess is as good as mine. 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. Im Glenn Whipp, The Times awards columnist and your newsletter host. Advertisement Will the Oscars follow the SAG Awards lead? On the heels of last weeks Oscar nominations, Sundays Screen Actors Guild Awards felt in some ways a corrective, in others a coronation. Black Panther, which earned a historic best picture Oscar nomination but failed to secure nods for writer-director Ryan Coogler, won SAGs film ensemble award. Emily Blunt took the supporting actress honor for A Quiet Place, though academy voters didnt fete her bravura work in that film or her charming turn in Mary Poppins Returns. Meanwhile, Glenn Close looks to be one step closer to shedding her status of being the most-nominated actor without ever winning, a distinction that might soon belong to Amy Adams. And though critics continue to bash their movies, Rami Malek and Mahershala Ali just keep giving speeches. Whats the forecast for the SAG Awards winners to repeat at the Oscars? I looked at SAGs ensemble honor and the four individual categories and offered some predictions. Ruth Westheimer, subject of the documentary Ask Dr. Ruth, which premiered at Sundance. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) L.A. Times blankets the Sundance Film Festival Theres a documentary about Dr. Ruth, who, reports Times film writer Amy Kaufman, is living her best life at age 90. But that doesnt mean she wouldnt mind winning an Oscar too. Theres a charming comedy from Mindy Kaling, who spoke with Times film critic Kenneth Turan. And there are dozens and dozens and dozens more movies because this is the Sundance Film Festival, and you need an army to cover it. Advertisement The Times sent its own division, and you can see the fruits of their labors here. Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin set up a studio, grabbing pretty much everyone who came through the festival. Film critic Justin Chang kept a running diary. Film writer Mark Olsen talked with Steven Soderbergh, among many others, and karaoke queen Jen Yamato was, as youd expect, all over the movie about a Koreatown karaoke hostess, as well as the social thriller Luce. And music writer Gerrick D. Kennedy wrote a moving account of watching the crushing, controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland. And thats just a start. Again: Complete coverage can be found here. Sam Elliott earned his first Oscar nomination for A Star Is Born. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Talking with this years Oscar freshman class Its never as good as the first time. At least that what Sade says. But Im guessing this years crop of fledgling Oscar nominees would agree with the sentiment. Times contributor Michael Ordona spoke with several members of this years rookie class including Roma actresses Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira, along with Sam Elliott from A Star Is Born to learn their thoughts about the glad tidings. Advertisement The fact that Im still at it after 50 years Ive done something right along the way, Elliott said. Ive been very, very fortunate with the stuff thats come my way, crossing paths with the people I have. I try to keep this stuff in perspective. That said, its a recognition of the work youve done. The work has been good to me. Feedback? Id love to hear from you. Email me at glenn.whipp@latimes.com. Cant get enough about awards season? Follow me at @glennwhipp on Twitter. Advertisement glenn.whipp@latimes.com Twitter: @glennwhipp The Super Bowl isnt the only game in town this weekend. Weekend Picks include new work from choreographer Jerome Bel, the return of the Wooster Group to REDCAT and a two-part chamber-music concert courtesy of Jacaranda. Also, American Contemporary Ballet salutes Astaire and Rogers, the art expo Photo L.A. sets up shop in Barker Hangar, and dozens of museums are offering free admission Saturday, Sunday or both. Shall we dance? Inclusivity is the watchword at Jerome Bels Gala. The French dancer-choreographer invites a cohort of professionals plus amateurs of any size, shape, age and ability to share the stage in this celebration of diversity through dance. A program of the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, taking place at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, L.A. 8 p.m. Saturday. $29-$59. www.cap.ucla.edu Prison blues at REDCAT Experimental theater troupe the Wooster Group digs deep into a 1965 recording of work songs and spoken text by African American inmates on Texas once-segregated prison farms for The B-Side: Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons, A Record Album Interpretation. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 8:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. $24-$45. www.redcat.org Eric Berryman in the Wooster Groups The B-Side: Negro Folklore From Texas State Prisons, A Record Album Interpretation. (Bruce Jackson) Advertisement A double dose of chamber music The Jacaranda music series offers up Premonition I & II, a two-part program presented with a dinner break. First up, the Lyris Quartet plays string quartets by Pavel Haas, Georg Friedrich Haas and Jorg Widmann. In the second half, piano duo Inna Faliks and Daniel Schlosberg will tackle Alexander Zemlinskys piano-four-hands arrangement of Mahlers Symphony No. 6, Tragic. First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday (dinner break at 5:15 p.m.). $20, $45. www.jacarandamusic.org The Lyris Quartet performs as part of a two-part Jacaranda concert in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Lyris Quartet) You cant afford to miss Been wanting to visit one of Southern Californias myriad museums but find the price of admission prohibitive? Well, this is your lucky weekend: Its the 14th annual Museums Free-for-All, when dozens of arts institutions from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to the Bowers Museum and beyond will throw open their doors free of charge for part or all of the weekend. www.socalmuseums.org The Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown L.A. is among the places offering free admission this weekend for the 14th annual Museums Free-for-All. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Shall they dance? American Contemporary Ballet re-creates five classic routines by legendary film duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for the new series Astaire Dances 2: Fred & Ginger. The program also includes the suite from Balanchines Who Cares? Cooper Design Space, 860 S. Los Angeles St., 11th floor, L.A. 8 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, plus other dates through Feb. 17. $45-$90. www.acbdances.com American Contemporary Ballet salutes a legendary dance team in Astaire Dances 2: Fred & Ginger. (Victor Demarchelier) Think globally Co-presented by the Natural History Museum and the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, Night of Ideas or La Nuit des idees, en francais is the local edition of a worldwide symposium incorporating environmental and political science, sociology, art, music and more. The event includes short lectures and panel discussions, an immersive liminal soundbath co-created by Jonsi of Sigur Ros, a vegan fashion show, film screenings, DJ sets and a performance by seismologist Lucy Jones and Los Angeles Baroque. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m.-midnight Friday. Free. www.nhm.org The Natural History Museums North American Mammal Hall will be the site of a liminal soundbath co-created by Jonsi of Sigur Ros for Night of Ideas. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Photo L.A. ready for its close-up The art expo that is Photo L.A. is back for its 27th year, now in a new location. Scores of established and up-and-coming photographers will be joined by gallery representatives, dealers, curators and other purveyors of pictures. Artist talks, docent tours, panel discussions and other programming fill out the schedule. Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, 3021 Airport Ave. Thursday-Sunday. $0-$450. www.photola.com Taylor Mac knows how to throw down a challenge. Visiting L.A. last year with the music party/drag extravaganzas A 24-Decade History of Popular Music and Holiday Sauce, the New York-based writer-performer delivered running commentaries that reframed American history and traditions, daring audiences to rethink some of their most deeply ingrained notions. Diversity was celebrated, patriarchy and privilege challenged. A similarly sly sense of anarchy pervades Macs 2014 play Hir, a family drama that doubles as a depiction of America in the midst of reassessing itself. Mac doesnt perform in the Los Angeles premiere at the Odyssey Theatre, but the mischievous spirit of this MacArthur fellow (class of 2017) is readily felt. Home has changed when a young soldier returns to Californias Central Valley (familiar territory for Mac, who grew up in Stockton). Isaac (Zack Gearing) recoils as his eyes dart around his familys sad, plasterboard house, where clothes lie strewn across the floor, bulging plastic bags are piled in corners and furniture has been redistributed to rooms it wouldnt ordinarily occupy (set design by Thomas A. Walsh, props by Josh La Cour). Advertisement His stroke-debilitated father (Ron Bottitta) has been dressed in a pink negligee and rainbow wig, his face covered in feminized clown makeup, heavy on the eye shadow. This makeover is the handiwork of Mom (Cynthia Kania), who seems almost frantically cheerful but turns harshly reprimanding whenever Dad displeases her. Grabbing a water mister, she sprays the mumbling, disoriented ghost of a man as if he were a misbehaving tomcat. She rules a roost that Dad once dominated with anger, insults and injurious hands. She wants no more of the false sense of order he demanded. A further surprise emerges when Isaacs younger sibling, teenage Maxine, enters the room as gender-transitioning Max (played by a performer who goes by Puppett). Wearing a wife-beater, Max swaggers around, trying to assert hirself preferring the pronoun hir, pronounced like here but generally lapsing into the all-purpose sulk of disgruntled adolescents everywhere. The returned soldier, portrayed by Gearing, left, confers with his gender-transitioning sibling, played by a performer who goes by the name Puppett. (Enci Box) We are engaged in a radical re-imagining of possibility, Mom says, the sort of statement that has become a Mac hallmark. Feel free to read the absurdist goings-on as a depiction of patriarchy in decline, but dont expect it to be liberal claptrap. Everyone behaves abominably, and beliefs of all sorts are revealed to be half-formed and willfully insensitive. Humor tips into horror and back again, a seesaw experience fearlessly propelled by director Bart DeLorenzo and his actors. Isaac who suffered his dads abuse like everyone else tries to adjust on the fly but tends to get overwhelmed. Damaged and thin, he seeks peace but instead encounters self-righteous anger and rigid demands. Perhaps none of us should get too comfortable nowadays, but is constant antagonism getting us anywhere? There must be a better way. Evolve. Be glorious. Thats Taylor Macs suggestion, knowing full well that it wont be easy. Advertisement Hir Where: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, scattered other times; ends March 17 Tickets: $17-$37 Advertisement Info: (310) 477-2055, Ext. 2; odysseytheatre.com Running time: 2 hours A radically revisionist Antigone made in the Black Lives Matter era seems the ideal vehicle to launch us into Black History Month and lead our weekly look at L.A.s theater scene. Other picks include the Actors Gang production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo and the Matrix Theatres guest production of Two Trains Running by August Wilson two master craftsmen operating from opposite ends of the theatrical spectrum plus the prickly romance that is Heisenberg. Love Is Another Country at VS. The essentials: Gonee (Dee Dee Stephens), a highly educated African American woman, is driven to the edge of sanity by the death of her brother, left lying on the ground for hours by the police who apparently killed him. When Gonee shoots a policeman in a maddened rage, she is imprisoned with no hope of release. Visitors during her confinement include her deceased great-grandmother Ethel May (Tyree Marshall) and her sister Nene (Celia Mandela Rivera), incorporeal presences whose conversations with Gonee contribute to the hallucinatory atmosphere. Why this? Lisa Marie Rollins nonlinear sampling of Sophocles Antigone is a racially charged feminist parable. A co-production of the well-established VS. Theatre and the emerging company Coin & Ghost, which is dedicated to remixed mythologies, this four-person world premiere blends mysticism, ritual and the supernatural into a drama that emphasizes the plight of African American women in an unjust justice system. Director Kendall Johnson was drawn to what he called women who are left behind after a tragic encounter with the state. Details: VS. Theatre, 5453 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. $25-$30 or pay what you can. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays; ends March 2. Additional performances 8 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28. No performance Feb. 15. coinandghost.org/liac Advertisement Dee Dee Stephens is Gonee in Love Is Another Country at VS Theatre. (Zach Davidson) Accidental Death of an Anarchist The essentials: With a judge due to arrive at the police station to investigate the alleged accidental death of an anarchist in custody, a cunning Maniac ironically, the most mentally cogent character in the play adopts a succession of disguises to gull the authorities and expose their corruption and stupidity. Why this? The late Dario Fo based his 1970 play on the real-life case of an accused bomber who supposedly jumped from a window while in police custody. Fos blistering indictment of corruption is more frequently played for farce than for its political subtexts, but considering the Actors Gangs track record, one suspects that this production will skew toward the latter. Artistic Director Tim Robbins, who knew Fo, has said the work stands in defiance of fascism. At a time when authoritarian governments are being supported by our president, and the judiciary is being corrupted this play resonates as if it was written yesterday. Details: The Actors Gang Theatre, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, through March 9. Also 2 p.m. Feb. 17, Feb. 24 and March 3. (310) 838-4264, TheActorsGang.com Lynde Houck and Bob Turton in Actors Gangs Accidental Death of an Anarchist. (Ashley Randall) REVIEW: Sweeney Todd at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa Two Trains Running at the Matrix The essentials: Once the proprietor of a bustling diner, Memphis is barely holding on in Pittsburghs blighted Hill District, where the funeral parlor across the way is booming, buoyed by the rocketing murder rate. Its 1969 and transformation is in the wind, with an urban renewal project underway and black power protests erupting on the sidewalks right outside Memphis sleepy establishment. For the few struggling regulars who make up Memphis offbeat family, loss and disappointment seem inevitable until some unexpected hopefulness. Why this? Producer Sophina Brown intends to produce all 10 plays in August Wilsons American Century Cycle, a magnificent outpouring that charts the African American experience throughout the 1900s. Brown launched her ambitious project last season with a critically lauded King Hedley II. Director Michele Shay, who helmed Hedley, played Louise in the 1996 Broadway premiere of Wilsons Seven Guitars, a performance that earned her a Tony nomination. Advertisement Details: Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; ends March 3. $35. (855) 326-9945, AugustWilsonsTwoTrainsRunning.eventbrite.com Montae Russell in Two Trains Running at the Matrix. (Tiffany Judkins) Heisenberg at Rubicon The essentials: When hyper, mercurial, 40-something Georgie impulsively kisses the neck of a complete stranger the deceptively staid, 70ish butcher Alex in a London train station, the stage is set for a peculiar romance that spans continents. Vividly contrasting characters are the engine of the play. Why this? Prolific playwright Simon Stephens, whose adaptation of Mark Haddons novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time won a Tony, has a knack for the offbeat. Heisenberg opened in New York in 2016 to rave reviews, then toured nationally in 2017. Now the quirky two-hander provides a dream opportunity for Rubicon regulars Joe Spano (Hill Street Blues, NCIS) and costar Faline England to unearth the humor and pathos in Stephens tale. Advertisement Details: Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; ends Feb. 17. $25-$55. (805) 667-2900, RubiconTheatre.org Joe Spano and Faline England star in Rubicons production of Simon Stephens Heisenberg. (Veronica Slavin) WHAT TO WATCH: Last week on The 99-Seat Beat The 99-Seat Beat appears every Friday. Our reviewers shortlist offerings with an emphasis on smaller venues. Some recommendations are shows weve seen; others are based on the track record of the company, playwright, director or cast. Advertisement Support our coverage of local artists and the local arts scene by becoming a digital subscriber. See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. Leo Wang thought a promising career in the United States was within his grasp. After leaving home in China in 2015, he earned a graduate degree in entrepreneurship and innovation at USC and was hired at a Silicon Valley data storage company. But after his first year on the job, Wang, 32, found himself hunched over his laptop, obsessively refreshing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. He was hoping for good news. It was last October, six months since hed applied for an H-1B work visa for high-skilled employees. Hed waited so long for a response that his extended student visa had expired and his employer was forced to place him on unpaid administrative leave. When still no response had come from the government agency by New Years Eve, the company had to fire him. Advertisement Ive never felt so helpless, he said. I came here, all the way to a place where I dont know anybody, in hopes of fighting for my American dream. There seems to be a crack in the system, and I happen to be the one who fell through. But Wang isnt alone. Many tech workers say the process of applying for and getting H-1B visas has become increasingly murky and difficult under President Trumps administration. While many people zero in on Trumps crackdown against illegal immigration, his administration has also tightened or ended various paths to legal immigration. Experts say changes to the application process for H-1B visas could discourage high-skilled workers from seeking employment in the U.S. The changes, including heightened requirements for evidence showing that a foreign worker possesses exceptional qualifications and the temporary suspension of premium processing, which fast-tracks applications for a $1,500 fee, have resulted in a backlog of applications. A process that could have taken two weeks has taken several months for many of those who filed petitions in the last year. Students and current tech industry employees are left in limbo, uncertain of whether theyll be allowed to remain in the U.S. This week, the American Immigration Lawyers Assn., or AILA, released an analysis of Citizenship and Immigration Services data showing significant delays in the agencys processing of applications for various immigration benefits. AILA found that overall case processing times have increased by 46% over the last two fiscal years and 91% since 2014. It also found that processing times increased last year even as fewer people submitted applications. AILA Vice President Jennifer Minear said the delays have reached a crisis level and are the result of policies that inhibit efficiency and act as bricks in the Trump administrations invisible wall against legal immigration. Last week, Citizenship and Immigration Services reinstated premium processing for all applications from the last fiscal year. We plan to resume premium processing for the remaining categories of H1B petitions as agency workloads permit, the agency said in a notice posted on its website. Still, immigration lawyers say that lifting the suspension will only partially address the delays in processing petitions, some of which have gone unanswered for nine months. Advertisement William Stock, an immigration lawyer in Philadelphia and former president of AILA, said that processing times of more than six months used to be rare. Then Citizenship and Immigration Services ramped up requests for proof that companies needed foreign workers. Nearly half of the 200 H-1B applications submitted by his law firm received those requests last year. The immigration agency is creating more work for themselves and then they say theyre falling behind, he said, adding that some of the businesses he represents have been forced to relocate jobs to places such as Canada and India. Other lawyers agree. Given the immigration climate, we can anticipate a significant denial rate when all of these long-backlogged adjudications resolve, said David Berry, a partner at immigration law firm BAL Global, which has represented companies such as Google. Advertisement Companies use H-1B visas to temporarily employ foreign workers for jobs that require specialized knowledge when they cant find the talent locally. In 1990, Congress set an annual limit of 85,000 such visas, 20,000 of which go to people who have earned a masters degree or higher in the U.S. Last year, Citizenship and Immigration Services received more than 190,000 applications, down from a high of 236,000 the year before Trump took office. When the limit is exceeded within the first week that applications are accepted, the agency randomly selects those it will ultimately review. Get the latest politics news The agency currently selects applicants to fill the advanced degree requirement first, then fills the remaining openings. But starting in April, the agency plans to reverse the order, estimating that the change will result in a 16% increase of beneficiaries with advanced degrees. Advertisement Citizenship and Immigration Services Director L. Francis Cissna said the changes benefit employers, foreign workers and the agencys adjudicators alike. We are also furthering President Trumps goal of improving our immigration system by making a simple adjustment to the H-1B cap selection process, he said. Trumps Buy American and Hire American initiative, unveiled in 2017, brought scrutiny to the H-1B program. At the time, Trump said: Right now, widespread abuse in our immigration system is allowing American workers of all backgrounds to be replaced by workers brought in from other countries to fill the same job for sometimes less pay. This will stop. Earlier this year, the president shifted tone. 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, he said on Twitter. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S. Advertisement Tech companies employ some of the highest numbers of H-1B workers, according to 2017 data from Citizenship and Immigration Services. As of September 2017, more than 360,000 applications for new H-1B visas and extensions or transfers of existing visas were approved in the U.S. across all industries. In 2017, 74% of all H-1B applications were approved, down from 87% the year before and the lowest approval rate in at least a decade. Advertisement Companies such as Cognizant Tech Solutions and Infosys topped the list of biggest employers of H-1B workers, with about 28,000 and 13,000 applications approved, respectively. Amazon was approved for about 4,800 such visas, Microsoft received 4,000 and Google and Intel each were allotted nearly 3,000. Facebook, which had about 1,600 applications approved in 2017, said the company is continuing to sponsor H-1B workers in spite of the increased difficulty. We are feeling the same challenges as other companies but our commitment to hire the best talent remains strong and we continue to have success with our H-1B visa applications, Facebook spokesman Anthony Harrison said. But in some cases, tech companies have opted not to consider potential candidates who would require an H-1B visa to work in the U.S. until theres more clarity about whether the suspension of premium processing will be lifted indefinitely. Advertisement Together, these changes have caused some immigrants who graduated from college in the U.S. to reject job offers, lose their jobs or ultimately leave the country as a result of the long delays in processing. Some say they have opted to or are considering a move to Canada, where the path to obtain work permits and eventually citizenship is typically more straightforward and quicker. The path to citizenship for H-1B recipients also remains rocky. A bill hailed by many H-1B workers from India as the only chance at mending the many cracks in the path to citizenship was stalled in Congress last session. The bill is now tied up in the Department of Homeland Security budget at the center of the government shutdown debate. The bipartisan bill, HR 392, would have benefited workers from places such as India and China that have a backlog of green card applicants that spans decades by making the green card system first come, first served rather than country-based, some workers contend. I will die before I get my green card, said Varun Soundararajan, a senior software engineer who was born in India and works at Google. Many folks like me on the green card line are praying that when the new Congress starts functioning, the bill will be reintroduced and will pass and get signed into law. Without a green card, Soundararajan and many like him are subject to the uncertainty of reapplying for H-1B visas every three years. As the father of a child with special needs, its a matter of grave concern for him and his wife, because leaving the country would make it difficult to access the care and resources needed to take care of their son. Advertisement [His] care would be in serious jeopardy if my visa is denied, Soundararajan said of his son. There are no guarantees that I will get my visa next time I apply. The delays in processing H-1Bs paired with the backlog of green card applications from Indian and Chinese citizens also make it incredibly risky to try to switch jobs. Because of the delays in processing applications, theres little guarantee that the petition to transfer an H-1B visa will be approved or approved in time. Even if it is approved, workers from those countries have to restart the green card application process, which puts them at the back of the decades-long line again. As a result, workers often feel stuck at their current company, sometimes in a situation where they are being underpaid or mistreated. Still, Chinese and Indian citizens make up the majority of H-1B workers nationwide. As of October 2018, nearly 75% of all H-1B petitions were filed on behalf of Indian-born immigrants and 12% were filed on behalf of Chinese-born immigrants. Any change to the H-1B system disproportionately affects Indian and Chinese immigrants because we are stuck on that H-1B visa, said another software engineer at Google, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussion. I have multiple classmates from UCLA who joined the green card line years after I did and are already filing for citizenship whereas Im still on the H-1B visa, which took seven months for me to get. They get a green card roughly within a year. Advertisement Leo Wang packs his belongings at his home in San Jose on Jan. 31 as he prepares to leave the country. (Josh Edelson / For The Times) Back in San Jose, Wang finally got a response from Citizenship and Immigration Services more than eight months after the agency started reviewing his application in early January. It was denied. According to Citizenship and Immigration Services documents, his role as a program manager for which he led analytics programs, built dashboards and created statistical testing models that spanned the companys global marketing operations was not specialized enough. Wang spoke to The Times on condition that we not name his past employer. Records show the company was granted 85 visas in 2017, including two for Wangs same job title, and denied one. Advertisement People under the same team as me got approval, he said. It doesnt feel like theres a standard for the judgment call. It seems a little bit arbitrary. What once felt like the beginning of a promising career in the U.S. became a nightmare for Wang, who plans to leave the country by mid-February. He said the long process made him feel ashamed. He waited as friends and colleagues applications were approved and told few people about his predicament, giving his mother vague answers when she asked how work was going. He spent the three months he was on administrative leave at home, living off savings. Now hes searching for jobs in Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong and planning to sell his car and other belongings. Advertisement Wang wants his story to serve as a cautionary tale to other H-1B applicants about the programs recent complications. I followed the rules and worked hard, he said. It didnt work for me. johana.bhuiyan@latimes.com Twitter: @jmbooyah Californias biggest natural-gas utility was slapped with a $3.3-million fine on Friday, with state regulators accusing the company of putting its financial bottom line ahead of public safety by refusing to fully investigate a 2017 explosion that injured one person. The California Public Utilities Commission said Southern California Gas Co. has failed to test a section of pipeline that was damaged in the Jan. 20, 2017, explosion in Ontario, Calif., to help determine the cause of the explosion. After initially agreeing to examine the pipeline, SoCalGas told commission staff last month that it was canceling the test until a lawsuit stemming from the explosion is resolved, the state agency said Friday. In a citation notice, commission staff said the gas companys decision to cancel the test was irresponsible to the public safety and unacceptable and places fear of civil damages ahead of public safety. Such actions are unbecoming of the largest [natural gas] distribution operator in the country, the agency wrote. Advertisement A SoCalGas spokeswoman said the companys actions after the explosion were in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations. Company representatives said the testing requested by the Public Utilities Commission would destroy the damaged pipeline section, which is evidence in a lawsuit. SoCalGas has taken appropriate steps to investigate the cause of the incident, completed comprehensive repairs to minimize the possibility of recurrence, and has cooperated with the CPUC throughout the investigation, spokeswoman Christine Detz said in an email. The company declined to say whether it will appeal the fine. SoCalGas provides natural gas for home heating and other uses to nearly 22 million people across Southern and Central California. The utility is owned by San Diego-based Sempra Energy, whose other local subsidiary is San Diego Gas & Electric, the gas and power provider for San Diego County and part of Orange County. Sempras safety record has faced heightened scrutiny since October 2015, when a well at the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility operated by SoCalGas sprang a leak, spewing planet-warming methane gas and other toxic air pollutants for nearly four months. Residents in the nearby Los Angeles neighborhood of Porter Ranch said they suffered from nausea, headaches and nosebleeds. The gas company agreed to pay $119.5 million to settle lawsuits brought by state and local agencies, although lawsuits filed by nearby residents are still pending. The Public Utilities Commission said the 2017 explosion was caused by a gas leak and affected a residential neighborhood in Ontario, causing severe damages to nearby garages and injury to one person. Commission staff said they chose to fine SoCalGas the maximum penalty of $50,000 a day for each of three violations of state regulations, dating to Jan. 10, when the company was supposed to test its damaged pipeline section. The violations are ongoing as long as SoCalGas refuses to conduct that test, and the company could face additional fines up to a maximum of $8 million, commission staff said. SoCalGas reported $396 million in revenue in 2017, according to Sempras most recent annual report. Advertisement sammy.roth@latimes.com @Sammy_Roth A study on quantum communication made by Chinese scientists will receive the 2018 Newcomb Cleveland Prize as it laid the groundwork for ultra-secure communication networks of the future. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced Thursday that a team of 34 Chinese physicists led by Pan Jianwei with the University of Science and Technology of China had won the award that will be delivered on Feb. 14. Pan Jianwei with the University of Science and Technology of China and his Chinese colleagues used a satellite called Quantum Experiments at Space Scale or Micius to send entangled photon pairs through the near-vacuum of space, measuring the quantum keys at receiving stations over 1,200 kilometers apart. [File Photo: whb.cn] This is the first time that a Chinese team wins the prize with its home-grown research. Pan and his Chinese colleagues used a satellite called Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) or Micius to send entangled photon pairs through the near-vacuum of space, measuring the quantum keys at receiving stations over 1,200 kilometers apart. Scientists found that when two entangled particles are separated, one particle can somehow affect the action of the far-off twin instantly, which is what Albert Einstein described as a "spooky action at a distance." Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2016 shows a quantum communication ground station in Xinglong, north China's Hebei Province. [Photo: Xinhua/Jin Liwang] If researchers are able to maintain entanglement over long distances, an "hack-proof" messaging encryption system could evolve, according to Pan's study published in the journal Science in June of 2017. The research shows that a network of satellites could one day form the infrastructure of a quantum internet. "In principle, methods based on the phenomenon of quantum entanglement represent solutions to the problem of perfectly secure communication," said Jeremy Berg, editor-in-chief of Science and chair of the Newcomb Cleveland Prize Selection Committee. "However, many challenges remain in converting these in principle methods into practice," said Berg. "The Newcomb Cleveland Prize winning paper presents a substantial step in addressing these challenges, demonstrating quantum communication over very long distances." Previously, entanglement distribution had only been achieved at a distance up to 100 kilometers due to photon loss in optical fibers or terrestrial free space. The Newcomb Cleveland Prize, AAAS' oldest award, has honored the most impactful research paper published in the journal Science since 1923. Tomme Arthur, 45, is co-founder of the Lost Abbey Brewing Co. in San Marcos. Over the last two decades, his flavorful beers and experimental brewing techniques have helped him rise through the ranks of the Southern California brewing industry. Now, his company has 45 employees, 24 beers and two locations, and hes eyeing an expansion at a time when some others in the craft beer scene are fizzling out. Anti-entrepreneur As a child, Arthur spent his weekends helping out at his fathers printing business, Balder & Balder. The company never turned a strong profit, and it left a bad taste in his mouth. Advertisement I never wanted to be an entrepreneur, Arthur said. I saw how much my dad struggled with his business and the amount of hours it took, and I really didnt want that in my life. The experience, however, established a work ethic that would help him in the years to come. The finer things At Northern Arizona University, Arthur drank whatever he could get his hands on. His favorite beer was Miller Genuine Draft before a friend stepped in and forced him to up his game. The pair started trying American brews, then Canadian, then German, then English before arriving at what Arthur considers the apex: Belgian. I fell in love with how crazy the Belgian beers were relative to all other brewing traditions, he said. That love still informs many of the concoctions he creates. DIY As the hobby turned into a passion, Arthurs friends bought him a home-brewing kit. He tried to make an Irish stout but considered it a failure. My non-beer-drinking friends said it was a good dark beer, which meant there wasnt enough flavor in it. It was an underwhelming batch, he said. The brewery offers 24 beers, including both flagship and seasonal selections. (The Lost Abbey) Rising through the ranks Although the English major earned a bachelors degree and was about to start a masters program, Arthur dumped teaching plans for brewing. In 1996, he landed a job at the now-defunct Cervecerias La Cruda in San Diego before upgrading to bigger and better gigs at White Labs and Pizza Port. Advertisement I was never happy with the status quo, he said. Its a never-ending quest. You can make a better beer, but youre never going to make a perfect beer. Ale-blazing When Arthur entered the industry, the internet lacked its current wealth of knowledge on beer recipes and techniques. He had to converse with other brewers, take risks and experiment with styles that wouldnt always work. I was one of the first people in town to use oak for aging beer, and we took it a step further and made some of the first intentionally sour beer in San Diego, Arthur said. He compares the process to writing a science paper: read books, digest information, make a hypothesis and test it out. Sometimes the beer tastes great. Other times such as when he brewed a bad smoky wheat beer and trashed 100 gallons of it things arent quite as smooth. Advertisement Best brew In 1999, Arthur created his favorite beer, the Cuvee de Tomme. A sour brew with a brown ale base, it packs an 11% alcohol level while incorporating malted barley, candi sugar, sour cherries and raisins. Its a highly influential beer. Plus, its got my name on it, he quipped. The type of beer that puts a brewer on the map, the Cuvee de Tomme has won multiple awards over the years, including gold medals at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival and the 2008 World Beer Cup. Learning to lead In 2006, Arthur co-founded the dual-brewery of Port Brewing and the Lost Abbey and soon found himself with an entirely new set of responsibilities. He spent as much time with human resources codes and legal work as he did with the hops, kettles and fermenters that had defined his career. Advertisement I dont run to work every day hoping to rewrite the employee handbook, he said. I run to work every day to make better batches of beer. For Arthur, that mindset has resulted in a more hands-off approach. Hes still involved with the brewing process, but hes also spending time going over numbers, delegating tasks and dealing with the overarching needs of the business. A shifting industry In the days of old, the best brewery was the one that brewed the best beer. Now, consumers want something more. Theres a side narrative that comes along. Whether its the experience, the people or the space, something has to resonate, Arthur said. Hospitality is becoming a big part of the business. Advertisement With the emergence of Untappd, a social media service that allows users to share and rate beers, drinkers are wanting something new even if its at the expense of the more classic, historically great beers. Those who cant keep up, he said, will close. Special talent As a brewer, Arthur credits his palate as one of his finest skills. The sheer volume of beers and flavors Ive tasted over the years has given me a very refined palate. I can taste something, analyze it and find a way to translate that into a beer, he said. A discerning palate is as good as gold in the world of beer, and he uses his talent as a judge in contests and festivals around the country. Cementing a legacy The Lost Abbey finds itself in a peculiar place. Its not quite aged enough to be an established mainstay, but at 13 years old, its been around longer than many of the new breweries flooding into the market. The brewing industry has so many new entrants that theres a lot of pressure to get to the top and stay there, Arthur said. Right now, Im chiefly focused on preserving what little legacy and heritage weve built. Advertisement For starters, that means expansion. In addition to the tasting rooms in San Marcos and Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Arthur is eyeing a new location in downtown San Diego. You need to connect with the consumer, and one of the best ways to do that is being able to tell your own story over your own bar, he said. Earning respect After more than two decades in the industry, Arthurs chief motivator isnt more money or bigger facilities. Im motivated by being respected by my peers, he said. Ive been in this industry a long time, and I would like to get to the end of it and still be respected by my peers. Personal Arthur lives in San Marcos with his wife, Maureen, and their daughters, Sydney and Lexi. Over the last year, employees at Alphabet Inc.s Google have protested over worker rights, a military contract and the handling of sexual misconduct allegations. Now, along with shareholders, theyve written a resolution to Alphabets board calling for reform in areas including racial and gender diversity and asking the board to consider tying these metrics to executive bonuses. The tech diversity crisis threatens worker safety, talent retention, product development, and customer service, the shareholder resolution states. It also criticizes the treatment of contract staff and asks the company to address the displacement of poorer residents where it buys real estate. We believe executives are out to lunch on several key social risks facing the company, said Pat Tomaino, director of socially responsible investing for Zevin Asset Management, who collaborated with the employees. His firm is the lead filer of the shareholder proposal. Talking to employees and community activists and following headlines about Google, he said, its a picture of unmanaged risk. In January, a shareholder sued the companys board, alleging it engaged in a multi-year scheme to cover up sexual harassment allegations resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for investors. Advertisement The resolution claims Alphabet has not responded adequately to key demands made by workers in a massive walkout in November, such as adding a worker representative to its board and ending forced arbitration for its entire workforce, rather than only for direct employees and only for cases of alleged sexual harassment or assault. It also asks the boards compensation committee to look into including sustainability metrics such as executive diversity into its bonus system or stock vesting protocols. Similar policies are in place at Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., IBM Corp. and other companies. Were working hard to make Google more representative and build an inclusive workplace where employees feel respected, supported, and valued, a company spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. We report our progress extensively every year, including hiring and attrition rates across lines of race and gender. A handful of employees worked on the proposal with the workplace activism group Coworker.org and the union-backed coalition Silicon Valley Rising. Along with Zevin, Boston Common Asset Management, Trillium Asset Management and the Friends Fiduciary Corp. are some of the co-filers. In December they sent the resolution to Alphabet, the initial step in the Securities and Exchange Commissions process for shareholder proposals. The filers intend to have a Google employee present the resolution at Alphabets shareholder meeting this year. If shareholders say that this is something that is a priority, its signaling to the company that they have to take action, and that they can no longer just wait and see and just take small steps, said Silicon Valley Risings campaign director, Maria Noel Fernandez. The proposal is similar to one raised at last years shareholder meeting. Google employees attended the meeting to demonstrate support for it, and one presented it on behalf of Zevin. It failed. The company said in a filing last year that the proposal would not enhance Alphabets existing commitment to corporate sustainability, noting that Alphabet chief executive officer Larry Page collected a salary of only $1. Alphabet Chairman John Hennessy said at that shareholder meeting that the company would consider diverse candidates for its board, and Googles human resources head, Eileen Naughton, said the company aimed to increase its share of black, Latino and female workers by 2020. The new resolutions sponsors say they are hopeful that the last years headlines will help them secure stronger shareholder support this time around. But they acknowledge that a resolution cannot pass without the backing of founders Page and Sergey Brin, who control voting rights through a special class of shares. Advertisement Those headlines include two episodes in just the last week in which employees spoke out against Googles management. On Jan. 24, workers at a companywide meeting asked pointed questions about a recently discovered 2016 memo in which human resources officials had brainstormed ways to reduce employee compensation without workers noticing. (Google declined to comment on the memo.) And employees behind the November walkout decried the news that, weeks after publicly embracing their activism, the company quietly urged in an unrelated case that the National Labor Relations Board end a legal protection for workers organizing using their employee email system. A Google spokesperson said its request to the labor board was only one of many potential defenses it offered in response to meritless allegations being made against it, and did not constitute lobbying by the company. At this point, with so many other Googlers whose work I respect having left over diversity and ethics concerns, the only way Im able to justify staying is that I still believe I can make a positive difference, said senior software engineer Irene Knapp, who introduced last years resolution at the shareholder meeting and helped write this years. Advertisement Google has always appealed to workers idealism to attract them to the company, Knapp said via text message. If Google hopes to maintain that appeal, it needs to listen to those of us who are sounding the alarm about the mistakes that are happening, she said. You almost have to feel sorry for the city fathers of Huntington Beach. Almost. City Council members tried, for a while, to do the right thing by state law. In 2013, they approved a housing plan that conformed to state requirements for the construction of affordable housing. Then, in 2016, after being confronted by furious homeowners complaining about over-building in their fair city and negative neighbors and slums, crime, and disease, they folded by amending the housing plan so it was no longer in compliance. State officials warned them last year that there would be consequences for flouting the law, including the loss of what could be hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, in state, federal and regional funds. Advertisement We have put our mayors and city council members in a position where theyre expected to vote on projects that could imperil their political future. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) Huntington Beach thumbed its nose at the threat. Gov. Gavin Newsom urged the state attorney general to sue the city to enforce the states housing policy. So now it finds itself defending against not one, but two lawsuits, including the one filed by the state on Jan. 25, and paying for a third lawsuit it filed against the state on Jan. 17 as a preemptive strike. Lets put it on the line: The state has a housing crisis not an alleged housing shortage as the city labels it and Huntington Beach has refused to do its part to address it. Indeed, the city has doubled down, claiming in its own lawsuit that the states attempt to command its compliance with a statewide housing mandate violates the citys right under the state constitution to manage its own zoning laws. Sacramento has passed a lot more aggressive housing bills, says Huntington Beach City Atty. Michael E. Gates. Theyve gotten more ambitious and more overreaching, and Huntington Beach is pushing back. He says the state may be trying to make an example of his city because Huntington Beach has prevailed, for the moment, in a lawsuit challenging Californias sanctuary state protections for immigrants in the country illegally. I think were on their radar screen, Gates says. Newsoms legal stance reflects the fact that the states housing shortage is palpable. According to the most recent survey by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, California will need to build 180,000 homes per year through 2025. It has been building 80,000. The current deficit of needed housing in the state is about 3.5 million units, with little hope of closing the gap soon. The strain is hardest on rental housing for moderate- and low-income residents, most of whom pay more than 30% of their income toward rent (the standard for unaffordable housing) and a third of whom pay more than 50%. Things are even worse in Huntington Beach, according to the citys own assessment: Nearly three-quarters of its lower-income renters spend more than half their income on housing. The need for more low- and moderate-income housing in Huntington Beach is hardly a secret. The business climate and business growth in Huntington Beach is based on the tourism and leisure and hospitality industries, says Cesar Covarrubias, executive director of the Kennedy Commission, an affordable housing advocacy organization that sued the city in 2015 over its lack of a housing plan. (The case is still in court.) When the business community is focused on that type of growth, there has to be a response on the housing side. Indeed, the city acknowledged in its own 2013 housing plan that one-third of its primary employment was in lower paying retail, hospitality, construction and service related industries, earning wages generally below the level necessary to afford to live in the city. Huntington Beach takes its ambition to be known as a destination beach resort seriously it even got involved in a dispute with Santa Cruz in 2005 over which community had the right to the trademark Surf City USA. Huntington Beach won. Advertisement This community importing low-wage labor for its economic benefit is one of the more affluent and least diverse in the state. Its median income is $88,079, according to the U.S. census, compared with $67,169 for the state as a whole. Its median home price is $688,700 (California: $443,400); its African American population is 1% (California: 6.2%); and its Hispanic population is 17.1% (California: 37.6%). Under state law, every community is required every eight years to update its roadmap for meeting regional housing needs, which typically are apportioned among the cities by regional planning agencies. In the case of Huntington Beach, thats the Southern California Assn. of Governments, which assigned the city responsibility for 1,353 new units for 2014-21. Of those, 533 were to be reserved for low- and very low-income residents. The citys responsibility under the law is to identify sites for the housing and encourage higher-density development through zoning and building regulations. Huntington Beachs initial solution focused on its so-called Beach and Edinger Corridors, a 459-acre zone of mostly commercial strip mall development extending south and west from those boulevards intersection near the 405 freeway. City planners saw the corridors as the right place for mandated housing. Their corridor plan had no residential density restrictions, allowed buildings up to six stories, had minimal requirements for residential parking and had a streamlined development review process of only about four months. Advertisement The maximum number of new housing units would be 4,500, sufficient to meet the citys housing quota. The city adopted the corridor plan in 2010 and incorporated it in its 2013 housing plan. The state blessed it as meeting the legal mandate. Californias housing development, even in market-rate housing, falls well short of its need, as seen in the chart at right. The shortfall is especially severe in the lower-income segment, shown at left. (Housing and Community Development Department) Then the trouble started. Residents peppered council members with complaints about apartment buildings, traffic on Beach Boulevard (a major route from the freeway to the oceanfront) and the loss of community atmosphere from the construction of apartment dwellings. Some complaints came from residents of single-family tracts toward the north end of Beach Boulevard, who might have legitimate concerns about sharing their neighborhoods with apartment dwellers. But some came from residents who lived miles away in fact, some seemed to reside closer to the Costa Mesa line than to the Beach-Edinger corridors. The city originally thought it could absorb it, Gates, the city attorney, says of the housing mandate, but then there were so many big developments springing up. Advertisement The city amended the housing plan in 2015 to reduce the maximum housing units in the corridors to 2,100 from 4,500 and imposed stringent regulations on any units exceeding the new limit. Those regulations could drive permit costs over $300,000, according to the Kennedy Commission lawsuit. They stopped development, Covarrubias told me. Because 1,900 new housing units already had been approved in the corridors and an additional 172 had permits pending, the remaining availability of low-income housing in the zone is only 28 units. Housing advocates say the citys behavior underscores a fundamental flaw in the states housing policy: It has placed responsibility for residential development in the hands of local officials whose political fortunes are hostage to local voters who organize to oppose construction of apartment buildings, especially for lower-income residents. Huntington Beach is a good example of why we need stronger state standards for housing construction, says state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), because its gone into political paralysis over housing. Advertisement We have put our mayors and city council members in a position where theyre expected to vote on projects that could imperil their political future, Wiener, the author of one of the 2017 laws allowing the state to take control of the development approval process for housing in communities that dont meet their obligations, told me. We as a state have to give cover to local elected officials by creating rules that govern how housing is addressed. As Wiener observes, Huntington Beach may not be unique about 50 cities around the state also are in noncompliance with their housing mandates but its an extreme case in that its out of compliance with its mandate for housing at all levels of income, and hasnt taken steps to get it right. There are cities that are completely blowing off their responsibilities, Wiener says, cities that are paying lip service, and cities that are trying to do the right thing. Huntington Beach is one that isnt taking its responsibilities seriously. Gates claims that the city has made tremendous progress in meeting its mandate for affordable housing, but thats questionable. He told me the city had reduced its shortfall under the state mandate to about 400 from 1,353 but the latter figure applied to all mandated new housing, according to the Kennedy Commission lawsuit, not just low-income units. So most of the requirement for low-income units remains unfilled. Advertisement Since falling out of compliance with its housing mandate, the city keeps promising to do better, but all it has offered is delay, the state says in its lawsuit. The lawsuit asks Orange County Superior Court to declare the city in violation of the law and order it to comply. The time for empty promises has come to an end, it says. The City should not be allowed to avoid its statutory obligations any longer. It may be unsurprising that Gates portrays the battle between Huntington Beach and the state as one involving locals authority to manage their own affairs. That almost sounds like the states rights campaigns waged by Southern states to justify their resistance to federal civil rights laws. In terms of its practical responsibility to help deal with the states housing crisis, Huntington Beach doesnt have a leg to stand on. The city acknowledges its dependence on low-income workers to make its tourist economy hum; it just doesnt want to do whats necessary to provide them homes within the city limits. Its attitude seems to be: Lets stick other communities with the burden. Advertisement So whether the state has the knives out for Huntington Beach for ulterior reasons, its still proper to make an example of the city. To solve the housing crisis, one has to start somewhere, and a city determined to flout the law is asking for it. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. A man walks on North Avenue Beach as the sun rises over Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 20. The U.S. Midwest is experiencing a cold spell as a polar vortex sent temperatures plummeting below zero degrees Celsius. EPA A man braves the freezing weather as he walks in Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 31. More than 200 million people are facing freezing temperatures as Polar vortex has gripped the U.S. Midwest in coldspell. EPA The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze was expected to ease Thursday, though temperatures still tumbled to record lows in some places. Disruptions caused by the cold will persist, too, including power outages and canceled flights and trains. Crews in Detroit will need days to repair water mains that burst Wednesday, and other pipes can still burst in persistent subzero temperatures. Before the worst of the cold begins to lift, more frigid weather is expected. Record-breaking cold hit northern Illinois early Thursday, when the temperature in Rockford dropped to negative 30 degrees (negative 34 Celsius). The previous record in the city, northwest of Chicago, was negative 27 degrees (negative 33 Celsius) on Jan. 10, 1982. Schools in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa remained closed. But students headed back to school Thursday in eastern North Dakota, where the weather was forecast to crawl out of double-digit sub-zero temperatures. As temperatures bounce back into the single digits Thursday and into the comparative balmy 20s by Friday, more people were expected to return to work in the nation's third-largest city, which resembled a ghost town after most offices told employees to stay home. The blast of polar air that enveloped much of the Midwest on Wednesday closed schools and businesses and strained infrastructure with some of the lowest temperatures in a generation. The deep freeze snapped rail lines, canceled hundreds of flights and strained utilities. Chicago dropped to a low of around minus 23 (minus 30 Celsius), slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading of minus 27 (minus 32 Celsius) from January 1985. Milwaukee had similar conditions. Minneapolis recorded minus 27 (minus 32 Celsius). Sioux Falls, South Dakota, saw minus 25 (minus 31 Celsius). Wind chills reportedly made it feel like minus 50 (minus 45 Celsius) or worse. Trains and buses in Chicago operated with few passengers. The hardiest commuters ventured out only after covering nearly every square inch of flesh against the extreme chill, which froze ice crystals on eyelashes and eyebrows in minutes. The Postal Service took the rare step of suspending mail delivery in many places, and in southeastern Minnesota, even the snowplows were idled by the weather. The bitter cold was the result of a split in the polar vortex , a mass of cold air that normally stays bottled up in the Arctic. The split allowed the air to spill much farther south than usual. In fact, Chicago was colder than the Canadian village of Alert, one of the world's most northerly inhabited places. Alert, which is 500 miles (804 kilometers) from the North Pole, reported a temperature that was a couple of degrees higher. Officials in dozens of cities focused on protecting vulnerable people from the cold, including the homeless, seniors and those living in substandard housing. At least eight deaths were linked to the system, including an elderly Illinois man who was found several hours after he fell trying to get into his home and a University of Iowa student found behind an academic hall several hours before dawn. Elsewhere, a man was struck by a snowplow in the Chicago area, a young couple's SUV struck another on a snowy road in northern Indiana and a Milwaukee man froze to death in a garage, authorities said. In Michigan, state and utility officials warned residents that they risked brief interruptions of natural gas service if they didn't help reduce energy. The warning followed a fire at a utility's suburban Detroit facility that affected natural gas supplies. An emergency alert was sent late Wednesday to cellphones asking people to lower thermostats to 65 degrees (18 Celsius) or below through Friday. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked everyone to ''to do your part.'' Aside from the safety risks and the physical discomfort, the system's icy grip also took a heavy toll on infrastructure, halting transportation, knocking out electricity and interrupting water service. Amtrak canceled scores of trains to and from Chicago, one of the nation's busiest rail hubs. Several families who intended to leave for Pennsylvania stood in ticket lines at Chicago's Union Station only to be told all trains were canceled until Friday. ''Had I known we'd be stranded here, we would have stayed in Mexico longer _ where it was warmer,'' said Anna Ebersol, who was traveling with her two sons. Ten diesel-train lines in the Metra commuter network kept running, unlike the electric lines, but crews had to heat vital switches with gas flames and watched for rails that were cracked or broken. When steel rails break or even crack, trains are automatically halted until they are diverted or the section of rail is repaired, Metra spokesman Michael Gillis explained. A track in the Minneapolis light-rail system also cracked, forcing trains to share the remaining track for a few hours. In Detroit, more than two dozen water mains froze. Customers were connected to other mains to keep water service from being interrupted, Detroit Water and Sewerage spokesman Bryan Peckinpaugh said. Most mains were installed from the early 1900s to the 1950s. They are 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) underground and beneath the frost line, but that matters little when temperatures drop so dramatically, Peckinpaugh said. On a typical winter day, the city has five to nine breaks, with each taking about three days to fix. But those repairs will take longer now with the large number of failures to fix, he added. Detroit is in the second year of a $500 million program to rehab its water and sewer system. Last year, 25 miles (40 kilometers) of water mains were replaced. ''Water pipes are brittle. The more years they've gone through the freeze-thaw cycle,'' the greater the stress and strain, said Greg DiLoreto, a volunteer with the American Society of Civil Engineers and chair of its committee on American infrastructure. Pipes laid a century ago have far exceeded the life span for which they were designed, said DiLoreto, who described the aging process as ''living on borrowed time.'' ''When we put them in _ back in the beginning _ we never thought they would last this long,'' he said. The same freeze-thaw cycle beats up concrete and asphalt roads and bridges, resulting in teeth-jarring potholes. ''You won't see them until it starts warming up and the trucks start rolling over the pavement again,'' said DiLoreto who is based in Portland, Oregon. (AP) Two family members embrace after the disaster caused by the breakage of a dam containing mineral waste from Vale, in Brumadinho, municipality of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Jan. 26. At least 34 people have died and 300 are missing after the breakdown of the mining giant Vale's dam in Brazil, firefighters said this Saturday. A river with mineral residues and mud buried the company's facilities and various homes in rural areas. EPA People from the community of Parque da Cachoeira look at debris in the mud-hit area a day after the collapse of a dam. AFP The death toll from the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste in southeastern Brazil rose to 40 on Saturday as searchers flying in helicopters and rescuers laboring in deep mud uncovered more bodies. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to increase during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. Scores of families in the city desperately awaited word on their loved ones, and Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais state, promised that those responsible ''would be punished.'' Employees of the mining complex owned and operated by Brazilian mining company Vale were eating lunch Friday afternoon when the dam gave way, unleashing a sea of reddish-brown mud that knocked over and buried several structures of the company and surrounding areas. The level of devastation quickly led President Jair Bolsonaro and other officials to describe it as a ''tragedy.'' The flow of waste reached the nearby community of Vila Ferteco and an occupied Vale administrative office. On Saturday, rooftops poked above an extensive field of the mud, which also cut off roads. After the dam collapse, some were evacuated from Brumadinho. Other residents of the affected areas barely escaped with their lives. ''I saw all the mud coming down the hill, snapping the trees as it descended. It was a tremendous noise,'' said a tearful Simone Pedrosa, from the neighborhood of Parque Cachoeira, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from where the dam collapsed. Pedrosa, 45, and her parents dashed to their car and drove to the highest point in the neighborhood. ''If we had gone down the other direction, we would have died,'' Pedrosa said, adding that she had a feeling ''that this was the end of my life.'' ''I cannot get that noise out of my head,'' she said. ''It's a trauma ... I'll never forget.'' In addition to the 40 bodies recovered as of Saturday afternoon, 23 people were hospitalized, said authorities with the Minas Gerais fire department. There had been some signs of hope earlier Saturday when authorities found 43 more people alive. Company officials also had said that 100 workers were accounted for. But the company said in a statement Saturday afternoon that more than 200 workers were still missing, while fire officials at one point estimated the total number at close to 300. Vale CEO Fabio Schvartsman said he did not know what caused the collapse. About 300 employees were working when it happened. Emergency workers suspended their search shortly after nightfall. They planned to resume at first light Sunday morning. For many, hope was fading to anguish. ''I don't think he is alive,'' said Joao Bosco, speaking of his cousin, Jorge Luis Ferreira, who worked for Vale. ''Right now I can only hope for a miracle of God.'' Vanilza Sueli Oliveira described the wait for news of her nephew as ''distressing, maddening.'' ''Time is passing,'' she said. ''It's been 24 hours already. ... I just don't want to think that he is under the mud.'' The rivers of mining waste also raised fears of widespread contamination. According to Vale's website, the waste, often called tailings, is composed mostly of sand and is non-toxic. However, a U.N. report found that the waste from a similar disaster in 2015 ''contained high levels of toxic heavy metals.'' On Friday, Minas Gerais state court blocked $260 million from Vale for state emergency services and told the company to present a report about how they would help victims. On Saturday, the state's justice ministry ordered an additional $1.3 billion blocked. Brazil's Attorney General, Raquel Dodge promised to investigate, saying ''someone is definitely at fault.'' Dodge noted there are 600 mines in the state of Minas Gerais alone that are classified as being at risk of rupture. Another dam administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton collapsed in 2015 in the city of Mariana in Minas Gerais state, resulting in 19 deaths and forcing hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, it left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Schvartsman said what happened Friday was ''a human tragedy much larger than the tragedy of Mariana, but probably the environmental damage will be less.'' Sueli de Oliveira Costa, who hadn't heard from her husband since Friday, had harsh words for the mining company. ''Vale destroyed Mariana and now they've destroyed Brumadinho,'' she said. Daily Folha de S.Paulo reported Saturday that the dam's mining complex was issued an expedited license to expand in December due to ''decreased risk.'' Preservation groups in the area alleged that the approval was unlawful. On Twitter, President Bolsonaro said his government would do everything it could to ''prevent more tragedies'' like Mariana and now Brumadinho. The far-right leader campaigned on promises to jump-start Brazil's economy, in part by deregulating mining and other industries. Environmental groups and activists said the latest spill underscored a lack of regulation, and many promised to fight any further deregulation by Bolsonaro in Latin America's largest nation. ''History repeats itself,'' tweeted Marina Silva, a former environmental minister and three-time presidential candidate. ''It's unacceptable that government and mining companies haven't learned anything.'' (AP) Venezuelans take part during a protest in front of the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, Jan. 26. AFP The United States urged all nations Saturday to end Venezuela's ''nightmare'' and support opposition leader Juan Guaido while Russia accused the Trump administration of attempting ''to engineer a coup d'etat'' against President Nicolas Maduro _ a reflection of the world's deep divisions over the crisis in the South American country. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the U.N. Security Council at a meeting called by Washington that it's beyond time to back the Venezuelan people as they try to free themselves from what he called Maduro's ''illegitimate mafia state'' and support Guaido. The young opposition leader has declared himself the country's interim president, arguing that Maduro's re-election was fraudulent. But Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Venezuela doesn't threaten international peace and security and accused ''extremist opponents'' of Maduro's legitimate government of choosing ''maximum confrontation,'' including the artificial creation of a parallel government. He urged Pompeo to say whether the U.S. will use military force. Pompeo later told reporters who asked for a response, ''I am not going to speculate or hypothesize on what the U.S. will do next.'' What has played out in Venezuela and the world's media between supporters and opponents of the Maduro government played out face-to-face in the chamber of the U.N.'s most powerful body, which has failed to take action on the Venezuelan crisis because of deep divisions. The Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members could not unite behind a statement on Venezuela, presenting widely differing texts. The leaders of two of those council nations _ France and Britain _ joined Spain and Germany to turn up the pressure on Maduro Saturday, saying they would follow the U.S. and others in recognizing Guaido unless Venezuela calls new presidential elections within eight days. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said if there is no announcement of new elections in the next days the 28-nation bloc ''will take further actions, including on the issue of recognition of the country's leadership.'' Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza dismissed the deadline. ''Europe is giving us eight days?'' he asked the council. ''Where do you get that you have the power to establish a deadline or an ultimatum to a sovereign people. It's almost childlike.'' Arreaza said Venezuela ''will not allow anyone to impose on us any decision or order'' and demanded that someone show him where in the country's constitution it states that an individual can proclaim himself president. As for possible military action to oust Maduro, Arreaza said, ''we will not allow any government or any country to violate our sovereignty, and to give a pretext for Donald Trump to start a war.'' The opposition to Guaido was also reflected in the initial procedural vote on whether the 15-member Security Council should even discuss the crisis in Venezuela, which is not on its official agenda. The United States barely survived the vote to go ahead with the meeting, receiving the minimum nine ''yes'' votes from the council's six Western nations along with Kuwait, Peru and the Dominican Republic. China, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea joined Russia in voting ''no'' while Indonesia and Ivory Coast abstained. Pompeo went after Russia and China, accusing them of trying ''to prop up Maduro while he is in dire straits ... in the hopes of recovering billions of dollars in ill-considered investments and assistance made over the years.'' But he saved his sharpest attack for Cuba, saying no country has done more to sustain ''the nightmarish condition of the Venezuelan people.'' He said Cuba has sent ''security and intelligence thugs'' to sustain Maduro's ''illegitimate rule.'' ''Now is the time for every other national to pick a side,'' Pompeo said. ''No more delays, no more games. Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you're in league with Maduro and his mayhem.'' China's U.N. Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu said his government ''firmly opposed'' the U.S. accusations and doesn't interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. ''We hope the country that accuses others can do likewise itself,'' Ma told the council. Russia's Nebenzia also rejected Pompeo's claims. Cuba's U.N. Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez went further, rejecting ''the deliberate'' and ''fake news'' cast on the country not only by Pompeo but by Elliot Abrams, the new chief of U.S. policy on Venezuela who sat in the council after the secretary of state left. Abrams called Venezuela ''a satellite of Cuba and Russia'' _ which the three countries vehemently denied _ and said Saturday's meeting ''is not about foreign intervention in Venezuela'' but ''about the right of Venezuelans to direct their own internal affairs and choose the future of their own country democratically.'' The Security Council meeting came a day after Guaido vowed to remain on the streets until his country has a transitional government, while Maduro dug in and accused his opponents of orchestrating a coup. In rival press conferences, Guaido urged his followers to stage another mass protest next week, while Maduro pushed his call for dialogue. The standoff could set the scene for more violence and has plunged troubled Venezuela into a new chapter of political turmoil that rights groups say has already left more than two dozen dead as thousands take to the street demanding Maduro step down. Guaido took a symbolic oath of office Wednesday proclaiming himself the nation's constitutional leader on grounds that Maduro's re-election last year was fraudulent _ an allegation supported by the U.S., the European Union and many other nations. The Trump administration announced it was recognizing the 35-year-old leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly quickly after his oath, leading Maduro to say that he was breaking all diplomatic ties with the United States and expelling U.S. diplomats. Guaido told the Americans to stay. Pompeo told the Security Council: ''Let me be 100 percent clear _ President Trump and I fully expect that our diplomats will continue to receive protections provided under the Vienna Convention. Do not test the United States on our resolve to protect our people.'' On Saturday, Venezuela's government backtracked on an earlier 72-hour deadline for U.S. Embassy personnel to leave the country. Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry said it is negotiating the establishment of a U.S. Interests Office and will allow U.S. Embassy personnel to remain in the country while talks take place. It said that talks about an interest section will have a 30-day limit and if no agreement is reached embassy personnel will then have to leave. The Trump administration had refused to obey the directive and Saturday's decision puts off a potential conflict between both countries. Recognition of Guaido by the U.S., Venezuela's biggest trade partner, threatens to heap more misery on the country's crisis-stricken economy, and a similar move by European nations would complicate matters further. Directives sent Friday by the State Department to the Federal Reserve will make it harder for Maduro to gain access to the government's sizable overseas assets, including revenue from oil sales and profits by Houston-based Citgo, a unit of the state-owned oil giant PDVSA. Guaido's move is the most direct challenge to Maduro's rule despite years of protests at home and international efforts to isolate the regime amid a growing humanitarian crisis fueled by falling oil prices and government mismanagement. Maduro is accusing the opposition of working with the U.S. to overthrow him. Though over a dozen nations are recognizing Guaido as president, Maduro still has the support of the military and powerful, longtime allies like Russia and China. He said he is still willing to talk with the opposition. Both sides attempted dialogue last year, but it fell apart as Maduro pushed forward with an early election that Venezuela's most popular opposition leaders were barred from running in. Many in the international community condemned that vote and now consider the National Assembly, which Maduro has stripped of its power, the only legitimate institution. Russia's Nebenzia, who opposed Saturday's meeting, said it was useful because it showed Washington that a majority of countries favor Venezuela's sovereignty, territorial independence, and non-interference in its internal affairs. ''Let's not escalate tensions around Venezuela,'' he said at the end of the council meeting. (AP) This handout photo released by Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Information Office Western Mindanao Command taken on Jan. 27 shows debris inside a Catholic Church where two bombs exploded in Jolo, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao. At least 17 people were killed as two bombs hit the church in the stronghold of Islamist militants, the military said, just days after a regional vote for a new Muslim autonomous region. AFP Bomb victims receive treatment in a hospital after two bombs exploded outside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in southern Philippines where militants are active. The Philippine government says it will "pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators" behind bomb attacks that killed over a dozen people and wounded many more during a Sunday Mass at a cathedral on the restive southern island. WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines Via AP Two bombs minutes apart tore through a Roman Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are active, killing at least 20 people and wounding 81 others during a Sunday Mass, officials said. Witnesses said the first blast inside the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital sent churchgoers, some of them wounded, to stampede out of the main door. Army troops and police posted outside were rushing in when the second bomb went off about one minute later near the main entrance, causing more deaths and injuries. The military was checking a report that the second explosive device may have been attached to a parked motorcycle. The initial explosion scattered the wooden pews inside the main hall and blasted window glass panels, and the second bomb hurled human remains and debris across a town square fronting the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, witnesses said. Cellphone signal was cut off in the first hours after the attack. The witnesses who spoke to The Associated Press refused to give their names or were busy at the scene of the blasts. Police said at least 20 people died and 81 were wounded, correcting an earlier toll due to double counting. The fatalities included 15 civilians and five troops. Among the wounded were 14 troops, two police and 65 civilians. Troops in armored carriers sealed off the main road leading to the church while vehicles transported the dead and wounded to the town hospital. Some casualties were evacuated by air to nearby Zamboanga city. ''I have directed our troops to heighten their alert level, secure all places of worships and public places at once, and initiate pro-active security measures to thwart hostile plans,'' said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a statement. ''We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy,'' the office of President Rodrigo Duterte said in Manila. It said that ''the enemies of the state boldly challenged the government's capability to secure the safety of citizens in that region. The (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals.'' Jolo island has long been troubled by the presence of Abu Sayyaf militants, who are blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization because of years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. A Catholic bishop, Benjamin de Jesus, was gunned down by suspected militants outside the cathedral in 1997. No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack. It came nearly a week after minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation endorsed a new autonomous region in the southern Philippines in hopes of ending nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead. Although most of the Muslim areas approved the autonomy deal, voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected it. The province is home to a rival rebel faction that's opposed to the deal as well as smaller militant cells that not part of any peace process. Western governments have welcomed the autonomy pact. They worry that small numbers of Islamic State-linked militants from the Middle East and Southeast Asia could forge an alliance with Filipino insurgents and turn the south into a breeding ground for extremists. ''This bomb attack was done in a place of peace and worship, and it comes at a time when we are preparing for another stage of the peace process in Mindanao,'' said Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. ''Human lives are irreplaceable,'' he added, calling on Jolo residents to cooperate with authorities to find the perpetrators of this ''atrocity.'' Security officials were looking ''at different threat groups and they still can't say if this has something to do with the just concluded plebiscite,'' Oscar Albayalde, the national police chief, told ABS-CBN TV network. Hermogenes Esperon, the national security adviser, said that the new autonomous region, called Bangsamoro, ''signifies the end of war for secession. It stands for peace in Mindanao.'' Aside from the small but brutal Abu Sayyaf group, other militant groups in Sulu include a small band of young jihadis aligned with the Islamic State group, which has also carried out assaults, including ransom kidnappings and beheadings. Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding at least five hostages _ a Dutch national, two Malaysians, an Indonesian and a Filipino _ in their jungle bases mostly near Sulu's Patikul town, not far from Jolo. Government forces have pressed on sporadic offensives to crush the militants, including those in Jolo, a poverty-wracked island of more than 700,000 people. A few thousand Catholics live mostly in the capital of Jolo. There have been speculations that the bombings may be a diversionary move by Muslim militants after troops recently carried out an offensive that killed a number of IS-linked extremists in an encampment in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur province, also in the south. The area is near Marawi, a Muslim city that was besieged for five months by hundreds of IS-aligned militants, including foreign fighters, in 2017. Troops quelled the insurrection, which left more 1,100 mostly militants dead and the heartland of the mosque-studded city in ruins. Duterte declared martial law in the entire southern third of the country to deal with the Marawi siege, his worst security crisis. His martial law declaration has been extended to allow troops to finish off radical Muslim groups and other insurgents but bombings and other attacks have continued. (AP) Samyang Foods' hit instant noodle Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen By Nam Hyun-woo Samyang Foods Chairman Jeon In-jang, left, and his wife Samyang Foods President Kim Jung-soo Kim Young-ki, former head of Samsung Electronics' network business division, shows the firm's 5G network gear in a press conference at the tech firm's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, July 13. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Jun Ji-hye Samsung Electronics will likely benefit from a series of moves by the United States and Europe to ban China's Huawei from building fifth-generation (5G) networks there, as the Korean company is seeking to establish a stronger presence in the global 5G equipment market, analysts said Friday. With the United States having suspected that Huawei equipment might provide a backdoor for Chinese spying efforts, several governments, including Australia, Canada and Germany, have joined or are considering joining the move to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks. The European Union is also considering proposals to exclude the Chinese firm from 5G networks for next-generation mobile networks, according to Reuters. Models promote KT's new messaging services based on Rich Communication Services, which was released on Dec. 28. / Courtesy of KT By Jun Ji-hye Smartphone users are showing largely indifferent attitudes towards mobile carriers' new messaging services based on Rich Communication Services (RCS), unnerving companies seeking to catch up with the nation's largest messaging app, Kakao Talk. The telecom companies have promoted RCS as next-generation messaging services that will be in the limelight in the era of fifth-generation (5G) networks, but users said the services are offered on limited devices and lack differentiated features compared to existing mobile messaging apps, such as Kakao Talk. The lukewarm reaction is making it more difficult for mobile carriers to guarantee success of their new services at a time when the firms have suffered falling sales and operating profits in addition to increasing investments in constructing 5G infrastructure. "I don't think RCS is an attractive service that will be able to captivate customers," said an official from an IT company here, asking not to be named, Friday. "Users are already used to Kakao Talk and other mobile messaging apps, which offer richer features, compared to RCS which has limited functionality." RCS, developed by the GSM Association, is the international standard for integrated messengers, aimed at replacing SMS messages with a richer text-message system. The GSM Association is a trade body representing mobile network operators worldwide. SK Telecom, the nation's top mobile carrier, launched RCS on Jan. 15, while KT, the second-largest mobile carrier, released it on Dec. 28. LG Uplus, the smallest player, reportedly plans to launch it in April. Users are complaining that the services are currently offered only in the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+. In addition, the services do not work together between telecom companies. For example, a SK Telecom user can send messages to other SK Telecom users only, not to users of KT or LG Uplus. "I tried to use RCS, but couldn't find more convenient or more interesting features compared to Kakao Talk," said a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 user who subscribes to SK Telecom. Telecom firms said they will continue to work to upgrade software in cooperation with Samsung Electronics to expand the services to other devices. They also said they are pushing to make it possible for users to send messages to others regardless of which telecom company they subscribe to. But it remains to be seen whether the services will be able to attract users even after such tasks are completed. Companies stressed that through RCS, users can use various emoticons and stickers as well as a group chat function in addition to location sharing. But such functions are not special anymore as they are already offered by mobile messaging apps. For example, the functions are regarded as basic features in Kakao Talk, which has expanded its services to more other areas such as shopping and remittance. British Prime Minister Theresa May attends the Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, Britain, Jan. 30, 2019. Multiple options for Brexit still remain a possibility after Theresa May was given the backing of the House of Commons to renegotiate her European Union Withdrawal Agreement. (Xinhua/British Parliament/Jessica Taylor) BRUSSELS/LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- British Members of Parliament (MPs) signaled their support for Prime Minister Theresa May's revised Brexit deal, but the European Union (EU) said it won't consider it. The Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and Britain remains the best and only deal possible and will not be renegotiated, said Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, at the European Parliament's plenary session debate on Wednesday. "The European Union said so in November. We said so in December. We said so after the first meaningful vote in the Commons in January," Juncker said, casting a cloud over Britain's latest move toward Brexit. May was buoyed by a majority vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday night, backing her Brexit deal if the so-called Irish border stopgap measure is removed. It puts her Brexit deal within grasp, if she can persuade EU leaders to agree to change their insistence on measures to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "MPs decided they want May and the EU to change the Irish Backstop," Alan Wager, fellow at the independent think-tank UK in a Changing Europe, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. "They say that leaves Britain tied too ly to the EU, and also following its rule; they want to make the UK less bound to EU rules," Wager said. The Withdrawal Agreement contains a Northern Ireland Backstop, which seeks to preserve the open border between the two nations. "What May's MPs want is something that says the EU and Britain are not locked into this agreement on the Northern Irish border indefinitely," Wager said. Both Juncker and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, however, said that they would reject any British efforts to renegotiate the Irish border backstop. "It looks like although May has now a majority in parliament, something she was lacking a couple of weeks ago, she now needs to go back to the EU and reopen those negotiations -- she will find it very difficult to get a compromise that will be supported by the EU and by her own MPs," Wager said. London and Brussels have joined a game of chicken. May plans a series of meetings starting Thursday with politicians from her Conservative Party to consolidate the support she received Tuesday night. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29. May now has several weeks to persuade the EU to change its mind on the Irish backstop arrangement. A woman walks past a Huawei shop in Beijing, Jan. 29. Reuters The United States wants to steer people away from Huawei towards Western products because of its concerns over the security of the Chinese company's technology, the U.S. envoy to the European Union said on Thursday. Huawei faces international scrutiny over its ties with the Chinese government and allegations that Beijing could use Huawei's technology for spying, which the company denies. However, Gordon Sondland said that there was classified evidence on security breaches by the Chinese firm, saying he had raised the U.S. concerns with EU officials. "The U.S. is very supportive of the discouraging the purchase of any Chinese digital products that involve potential national security implications and steering people away from Huawei into Western products is our desired outcome," Sondland told Reuters before an event in Brussels. Huawei is the world's largest supplier of telecommunications network equipment and second-biggest maker of smartphones. It derives nearly half of its total revenue outside China and its global reach has come under attack from the United States, which is trying to prevent U.S. companies from buying Huawei equipment and is pressing allies to do the same. U.S. security experts are worried the gear could be used by China for espionage, a concern Huawei says is unfounded. Asked about security issues with Huawei's products, Sondland said: "There is a lot of evidence, most of it classified." Responding to Sondland's comments, a spokesman for Huawei said it had a proven reputation on cyber security and does not buy all of its materials from China. KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu, right, poses for a photo with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jan. 22. / Courtesy of KT By Jun Ji-hye Korea is leading in fifth-generation (5G) networks as the country possesses better 5G technology and infrastructure than the United States and China, according to KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu. KT said Sunday that Hwang made the remarks during a meeting of the International Business Council (IBC), which took place on Jan. 22 on the occasion of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. "Compared to the United States and China, Korea has better technology, services and infrastructure," Hwang said during the meeting. The WEF, simply known as the Davos Forum, was held in the Swiss city from Jan. 21 to 25, bringing together thousands of leaders from business, government and various other sectors. The theme for the 2019 meeting was "Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution." KT said Executive Chairman of the WEF Klaus Schwab invited Hwang to be a guest at the IBC, an interactive community of 100 influential chief executives from all industries to discuss globally relevant business issues. This marked the first time a Korean enterprise has been invited to the IBC. Hwang emphasized the superiority of Korea's 5G technology, according to KT. The firm said global CEOs initially thought that the United States or China would become the center of 5G, considering the two countries' disputes over a Chinese IT company, Huawei. But the CEOs recognized Korea's 5G leadership after listening to Hwang's explanation. Huawei, representing China, has claimed it was seeking to lead 5G, but Hwang pointed out that the company is an equipment company not dealing with intelligence platforms. Hwang said KT successfully provided the world's first 5G trial services during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February 2018 and sent the first 5G signal on Dec. 1. He noted the company is set to offer full-scale commercial 5G services within the first half of the year, stressing that the super-fast networks will play a role as intelligence platforms and will contribute to resolving various social problems. "5G's ultra-connectivity and ultra-low latency characteristics will contribute to promoting welfare for human beings," he said. "For example, ultra-low latency will help realize self-driving cars and remote medical treatment system, which will make lives safer and more convenient." Meanwhile, Hwang met with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the sidelines of the Davos forum. As Hwang said Apple also needs to prepare for 5G, Cook said he would visit Korea to see the nation's 5G infrastructure firsthand. John McCallum speaks in Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 31, 2016. Reuters Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fired Canada's ambassador to China after the envoy said it would be ''great'' if the U.S. dropped its extradition request for a Chinese tech executive arrested in Canada. Trudeau said Saturday that he had asked for and accepted John McCallum's resignation Friday night. McCallum made the remark to the Toronto Star on Friday. That came a day after he issued a statement saying he misspoke about the case earlier in the week and regretted saying Meng Wanzhou has a strong case against extradition. The arrest of the daughter of the founder of Huawei Technologies Ltd. at Vancouver's airport Dec. 1 severely damaged relations between China and Canada. The U.S. wants her extradited to face charges that she committed fraud by misleading banks about Huawei's business dealings in Iran ''Last night I asked for and accepted John McCallum's resignation as Canada's Ambassador to China,'' Trudeau said in a statement. Trudeau said Jim Nickel, the deputy head of mission at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, would represent his government in China. He thanked McCallum, a former minister in Trudeau's Cabinet, for his 20 years of public service. China detained two Canadians shortly after Meng's arrest in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release her. A Chinese court also sentenced a Canadian to death in a sudden retrial of a drug case, overturning a 15-year prison term handed down earlier. McCallum told Chinese media in the Toronto area earlier in the week that the extradition of Meng to the United States ''would not be a happy outcome.'' He suggested the case was politically motivated and said the U.S. could make a trade deal with China in which it would no longer seek her extradition, and two Canadian detained in China could then be released. But on Thursday McCallum walked back the remarks and said he ''misspoke.'' Trudeau had earlier dismissed calls to fire McCallum, but he clearly had enough after the envoy spoke off script again. Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland have stressed that Canada's government can't interfere politically in the case. The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Andrew Scheer, said McCallum should have been fired days ago because his remarks raised concerns about the politicization of the Meng case. Scheer said McCallum caused damage to Canada's reputation by delivering different messages through different media on different days. McCallum's remarks surprised many and fueled speculation that Canada might be trying to send a signal to China to reduce tensions. A year ago, McCallum also made controversial comments about how Canada had more in common with China than the United States under Trump. McCallum has strong personal ties to China, and he pointed out to Chinese-language media this week that his wife is of Chinese ethnicity and his three sons have Chinese spouses. Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said he felt bad for McCallum but said it was the right thing to do. ''What is worse is this is happening in the middle of the crisis when we need all-hands on deck,'' Saint-Jacques said. He said the Chinese will now know that McCallum was not speaking for the Canadian government. Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Trudeau, said ''Mr. McCallum's remarks were continuing to cause confusion about Canada's position. On a matter of this importance, the Canadian government has to speak with a single, clear voice.'' Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto, said it is not an ambassador's job to speak out of turn. ''Of course, McCallum can obviously take refuge in arguing that what he said was largely true, but he can't escape the fact that it wasn't his job to say it. It does underline the hazards of sending a politician to do a diplomat's job,'' Bothwell said. Saint-Jacques said he spoke to China's consul general in Montreal on Thursday who reported that China is furious at Canada for arresting Meng on behalf of the U.S., which is involved in a trade talks with China. Saint-Jacques said the consul general told him he thinks a Canadian delegation should visit Beijing for talks. Saint-Jacques believes Canada should appoint a special envoy to try to resolve the crisis. Trudeau and Freeland have stressed that Canada has an extradition treaty with the U.S. that it must respect. The White House National Security Council declined comment on McCallum. Meng is out on bail in Vancouver awaiting her extradition proceedings. The U.S. has until Wednesday to submit paperwork for the extradition request. Huawei has close ties to China's military and is considered one of the country's most successful international enterprises. (AP) Ruling party should respect ruling in opinion rigging case Any act of manipulating public opinion is a serious crime. So anyone involved in such a crime should be subject to harsh punishment. Any type of opinion rigging poses a grave threat to democracy. A case in point is a massive opinion manipulation scheme involving South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo, a close confidant of President Moon Jae-in. On Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced him to two years in prison for colluding with a power blogger in rigging comments on internet news articles in favor of Moon in the lead-up to the May 2017 presidential election. The ruling against Kim and the blogger, better known by his nickname Druking, is a stern warning against any attempt to tamper with public opinion. In this sense, we should respect the ruling although some people are against it for some reasons. Now what is shocking is not the guilty verdict itself, but the ruling party's reckless and nonsensical reaction to the court action. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has virtually declared disobedience to the ruling against Kim who is affiliated with the party. Even DPK lawmakers went to extremes to frame the court decision as retaliation by corrupt judges accused of abusing judicial power under the leadership of former Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae. Yang was arrested last week on charges of abuse of his authority under the rule of ousted President Park Geun-hye. DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Young-pyo is leading the protest against the ruling to save Gov. Kim. But he went too far in denouncing the court for what he said was a systematic resistance from evils accumulated in the judiciary under Yang. Some other party members even floated the idea of impeaching presiding judge Sung Chang-ho and other judges for handing down the prison term for Kim. It is ridiculous for them to talk about the impeachment. Lawmakers should not be in a position to decide if a court ruling is fair or not. In this regard, the DPK and its members cannot avoid criticism for undermining the firm democratic principle: the separation of three powers of the legislative, judiciary and executive branches. They has also shown flagrant disregard for the due process of law and the right to a fair trial. They should realize their acts pose a serious challenge not only to the criminal justice system, but also to the democratic system of the nation. It defies both common sense and legal logic to stigmatize judge Sung as one of the "old evils" just because he once served as secretary of Yang. In fact, Sung deserves credit for making rulings in a fair and objective way. He sentenced former President Park to eight years in prison for illegally accepting funds from the National Intelligence Service and interfering in nominations of candidates for general elections. We urge the governing party and its legislators to stop their attempts to put the judiciary's political neutrality and independence at risk. They had better wait for higher courts to uphold or reject the district court ruling as Gov. Kim has already decided to appeal. Let the judiciary do its job. Political neutrality is must for election commission member President Moon Jae-in's appointment of a controversial figure as a commissioner of the National Election Commission (NEC) has deepened the political confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps. The main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) has boycotted all National Assembly sessions, while staging a "relay" hunger strike to protest the appointment of an "unfit" official. The row erupted after Moon nominated Cho Hae-ju, a Kookmin University political science professor and former NEC official, as one of the latter's commissioners last month. The National Assembly, however, failed to hold a confirmation hearing by the Jan. 19 deadline as the LKP and other opposition parties refused to participate, calling Cho's qualifications into question. Finally, Moon appointed Cho last Thursday. Cheong Wa Dae said there was no problem with the appointment which was made in accordance with the Constitution and laws. The presidential office laid the blame on the opposition parties for blocking the hearing. Regrettably, Cho has become the first minister-level official named by the President without undergoing a hearing. Moon has so far named seven ministers without the Assembly adopting confirmation reports even after holding hearings. This means that the chief executive has not been active in obtaining parliamentary approval or consent for his appointees. Regarding Cho, the presidential office and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) should have worked harder to persuade the opposition parties to open a hearing to check if the nominee was qualified for the NEC post. But they did little to seek cooperation with the opposition. So Moon deserves criticism for reneging on his campaign promise to realize "cooperative politics" by working with the opposition. The President should also have tried to grasp why opposition lawmakers were against the hearing. This was because they claimed Cho was unqualified as he served as a special adviser to the Moon camp in the lead-up to the May 2017 presidential election. They also said Cho's name was listed on the DPK's election white paper, something the party refuted by saying he was put on it by mistake. In this situation, hastily appointing Cho was inappropriate even though there were no legal or procedural flaws. More to the point, the President should have been more careful because any NEC commissioner must operate with political neutrality to ensure a fair election. It would be better, though belated, for Moon to reconsider Cho's appointment in order to reach out to the opposition, play fair and advocate democratic values. After 17 years and the deaths of more than 2,400 American troops, U.S. involvement in Afghanistan might finally be coming to a close not with a decisive victory over the Taliban but with a negotiated settlement that could give the Islamist insurgents a role in governing the country again. Still, depending on the details, that could be preferable to continued, open-ended conflict with no guarantee of success. Although nothing has been finally agreed, U.S. and Taliban representatives meeting in Qatar have discussed a "framework" in which U.S. troops in Afghanistan, now numbering about 14,000, would leave the country along with other foreign forces. In exchange, the Taliban would offer assurances that Afghanistan wouldn't be used as a launching ground for attacks against foreign countries. Those terms might be the beginning, not the end, of a settlement that would also include new political arrangements in Afghanistan. It was the Taliban-controlled government's sheltering of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida that led President George W. Bush to order U.S. troops into Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks after first giving the Taliban the opportunity to "deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al-Qaida who hide in your land." So there is a necessary symmetry to a demand by the U.S. that the Taliban agree not to harbor terrorists in the future as the price of its rehabilitation in a peace agreement. But while the original rationale for the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan was to stop that country from serving as a staging ground for international terrorists, the toppling of the Taliban also led to the merciful end of a puritanical government that for five years had oppressed and marginalized women. A constitution adopted in 2004 restored a measure of civic equality for women, and the Afghan government has promoted equality for women through a National Action Plan for Women of Afghanistan and a Ministry of Women's Affairs. According to a December 2017 report by the Congressional Research Service, Afghan women are performing jobs that were rarely held by women even before the Taliban came to power in 1996. The civil service, for example, is 22 percent female and there are more than 260 female judges, up from 50 in 2003. These gains are also a legacy of U.S. intervention. It's troubling to think that they could be rolled back if the Taliban regained even a partial share of the political power it once exercised. That is why it is important that the U.S., even as it negotiates directly with the Taliban, also press that group to deal with the Afghan government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, which the Taliban in the past has dismissed as an American puppet. To his credit, Zalmay Khalilzad, the Trump administration's chief negotiator, said that any deal with the Taliban "must include an intra-Afghan dialogue" and a comprehensive cease-fire. Khalilzad needs to bargain hard to convince the Taliban that it must negotiate in good faith not only with the U.S. but also with its fellow Afghans. The Taliban may have reasons of its own to do so. At least some in its leadership may prefer peace and a role in a power-sharing arrangement over continued conflict and the presence of foreign troops. The U.S. could play a part by making clear that, while it is eager to withdraw its remaining military forces, it would be willing to provide economic assistance to Afghanistan in the event of a peace agreement. Hopeful as the talks in Qatar may be, much remains to be done before diplomacy can be said to have triumphed. A successful agreement to end the fighting in Afghanistan will probably require the participation of Pakistan, which in the past has been criticized for sheltering Afghan militants but lately seems to be supportive of a peace process. President Trump may need to control his impatience for a deal and allow his negotiators more time to use the possibility of troop withdrawal as leverage in negotiations. The Afghan government needs to accept that sharing power with some elements of the Taliban is the price of peace, just as the Taliban may need to purge some of its extremist elements. Talks between the U.S. and the Taliban aren't the end of the process, but they're an important beginning. The above article appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Javier Solana MADRID In March 2018, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had himself filmed as he drove his car through the rubble-filled streets of Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus. At that time, seven years after the start of Syria's civil war, Assad's forces were gaining ground from rebel groups who had been under siege there for half a decade. The images, showing the triumphant return of an apparently relaxed Assad, were clearly propaganda. However, they also summarized these tragic years of conflict: Syria has been devastated, but Assad is still there. Numbers alone cannot capture the magnitude of the humanitarian disaster, but they provide necessary perspective. In 2011, when the war began, Syria had 21 million inhabitants. Nearly eight years later, approximately half a million of them had died from violence (caused mainly by pro-Assad forces), more than 5.5 million have been registered as refugees, and more than six million are internally displaced. These numbers reflect the failure of an "international community" that, in Syria and so many other contexts, has proved unworthy of its name. Profound divisions in the United Nations Security Council have prevented a concerted response to the Syrian crisis. To a large degree, these are the result of NATO's military intervention in Libya, which was authorized by the Security Council with Russia and China abstaining just when hostilities in Syria were beginning. The intervention in Libya exceeded its humanitarian mandate and became fixated on removing the country's leader, Moammar Qadhafi, who was brutally murdered shortly after rebels captured him. That episode has made Russia and China even more distrustful, if that were possible, of any military intervention in the name of the "responsibility to protect," a doctrine invoked in response to Qadhafi's excesses. Vetoes in the Security Council have been increasing, with Russia having so far blocked 12 resolutions concerning Syria. China, which has used its veto power in the Security Council on only 11 occasions, has also blocked six of these resolutions. One of the joint vetoes by China and Russia prevented the case of Syria from being referred to the International Criminal Court, in contrast to an earlier unanimous Security Council resolution that had approved a referral in the case of Libya. With multilateralism paralyzed, the course of the war in Syria has been shaped by the geopolitical interests of the major international powers. Any semblance of humanitarianism has been limited to relatively minor and fairly unproductive resolutions, specific agreements such as that concluded by the United States and Russia to destroy the Syrian regime's chemical weapons, and questionable bombings intended to punish flagrant violations of the latter agreement. The only consensus that has proven to be moderately robust and fruitful has led to the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), which has left the organization badly damaged, though not yet defeated. Given these difficulties, diplomacy in Syria was obviously never going to be smooth sailing. In fact, the incessant dribble of accusations between the great powers was one reason why Kofi Annan renounced his position as Special Envoy of the U.N. and the Arab League to Syria. Yet the failure of negotiations was not and still is not inevitable. Failure has stemmed not only from important contextual factors, but also from a series of strategic mistakes that the West has made, either by action or by omission. For starters, although the U.S. has been reluctant to intervene directly in Syria, it has not disguised its zeal to oust Assad. Shortly after the start of the war, the Obama administration explicitly declared that its objective was regime change (as did the European Union), undermining the diplomatic efforts led by Annan. And, as the late Patrick Seale, one of the most renowned chroniclers of Syria, observed, an obsession with regime change "is no plan for peace." In fact, this approach served only to put Assad on the defensive and inspire unrealistic expectations among an extremely fragmented opposition. Having missed the opportunity presented by the first Geneva peace conference, convened by Annan in 2012, diplomatic efforts fell into a spiral of setbacks. The EU, meanwhile, has been excessively passive in the face of a conflict affecting a country that participates in the European Neighborhood Policy. Remember, it was the war in Syria that led to the terrible refugee crisis that in 2015 shook the foundations of the EU and above all caused immense human suffering. Despite this, the EU and its member countries have dragged their feet, applying patches (such as the agreement with Turkey on refugees) instead of resolutely addressing the problem at its root. Today, Western disorientation regarding Syria is absolute. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, in particular, is presenting a disgraceful spectacle with its chaotic messages regarding the withdrawal of the few American troops on the ground. It is still a mystery how the U.S. intends to counterbalance Iran's influence in Syria, and what guarantees will be offered to the Kurds, who have contributed so much to combating ISIS. What is clear is that the West is colliding with reality: as the dust raised by ISIS settles, it turns out that the Syria that is emerging is not all that different, in political terms, from its pre-war version. This doesn't mean that Assad has come through the war completely unscathed, able to impose his will without restraint. But in the absence of viable alternatives, and despite the brutal crimes he has committed with the direct support of Russia and Iran, he will necessarily have a role to play in Syria's immediate future. Clearly, the more time and resources are invested in the wrong policy, such as regime change, the harder it becomes to abandon that policy. But there is no other choice. The West must pierce its illusions and sit down to negotiate more seriously and at all levels about Syria. ) Javier Solana, a former EU high representative for foreign and security policy, secretary-general of NATO, and foreign minister of Spain, is currently president of the ESADE Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Europe. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate ( www.project-syndicate.org Seen is the headquarters of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, in Tokyo in this Feb. 23, 2018 file photo. / Korea Times File By Park Ji-won A top Japanese intelligence official met with the top figure of a pro-North Korean organization in Japan at the end of last year in a possible move to restore relations with the North according to media reports Friday. South Korean news outlet Newsis reported Friday that Shigeru Kitamura, the head of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, had a secret meeting with Nam Seung-woo, vice chairman of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, in Tokyo at the end of last year. The report says their agenda was not disclosed but seemingly it touched on restoration of diplomatic ties and the Japanese abductee issue, a controversial dispute blocking the two's relations. Chongryon's senior officials are allegedly connected directly to senior North Korean officials, exchanging goods and information. The pro-North Korean group's headquarters serves as the de facto North Korean embassy in Japan. The Korea Times reached out to the Japanese embassy in Seoul, but it declined to comment on the matter, stating "We cannot elaborate further as it is intelligence agency related business." The intelligence officer's move is likely in line with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's political aim to restore diplomatic relations with North Korea during his service. In a major policy speech for the New Year to mark the opening of parliament on Monday, Abe said that he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un face-to-face and restore diplomatic relations between the two long-time enemies. He also said he hopes to meet Kim to resolve North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, as well as the abduction issue. Kitamura is Abe's key aide heading the intelligence office who also reportedly met with North Korean officials in Mongolia in October, likely to discuss Japanese abductee issues and restoration of relations. Nam, de facto leader of the group as Chyongron's chair Ho Jong-man is reportedly sick, is also a key figure who has been serving as a senior member of the organization for decades. Abe has long sought to settle the dispute related to North Korean agents' abductions of Japanese nationals during the Cold War era. Kim Jong-il confirmed in September 2002 that the country had abducted Japanese nationals. The North Korea-related group also sought to play an important role as it has been losing members and power since Kim's confirmation. As the two are senior officers with decision-making power in each country and Chyongron's existence as a representative of the North, speculation mounted that the meetings are likely signs to show Tokyo and Pyongyang have entered serious talks to resume ties. Also, Shoichiro Ishikawa, secretary general of the Abductions of Japanese Citizens By North Korea, an umbrella organization under the prime minister's office, has also reportedly met with North Korean officials in a third country. In 2016, the Japanese government prohibited Nam from re-entering Japan after visiting North Korea along with other Chongryon members and school officials, as part of Japan's independent sanctions against the North following North Korea's nuclear tests. In recent years, the two countries have failed to narrow their differences in the abduction issue, as the North has been claiming the problem was settled while Japan has been asking for the confirmation of the list of abductees and their return. By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON Here's a triangulation that's getting more acute every day: China, North Korea, the U.S. It's not just that China is North Korea's only real ally, its bulwark of defense since the 1950-53 Korean War. It's also that China's differences with the U.S. are deepening with the indictment of its biggest smartphone maker for theft of U.S. trade secrets, for industrial espionage and for money-laundering. And it's also that the U.S. is looking for ways to make a deal with North Korea that would tone down the hostility dating from the Korean War and promote reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. The indictment of smartphone giant Huawei comes in the midst of a trade war between the U.S. and China, on top of the contest for control of the South China Sea, China's Belt and Road Initiative across the Himalayas through Pakistan to the Indian Ocean and deepening claims to the island province of Taiwan, basically an independent nation. All these factors give China's President Xi Jinping reason to intensify ties with North Korea while North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un plots to draw President Trump into compromising the U.S. alliance with South Korea at their second summit. In this three-sided game, U.S. strategists are busy thinking of ways to get Kim to make concessions, pulling him away from China toward serious rapprochement with the U.S. and South Korea. The Washington Times, a conservative paper with ties to the Unification Church and its founder, the late Moon Sun-myung, reports the Trump administration "is quietly preparing a special economic package designed to entice Kim Jong-un into taking specific steps toward dismantling his nuclear weapons program" at their next summit. At the heart of the deal is a multi-billion-dollar account from which Kim could draw as a reward for taking "meaningful denuclearization steps," as Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute is quoted as saying. Those exact "steps" and how much is in the account can be "negotiated." That's an intriguing idea reflecting Cronin's long career dealing with Korean issues. U.S. negotiators may well be fine-tuning the concept for discussion in working-level pre-summit talks with the North Koreans as the basis for a final agreement between Trump and Kim at the summit. Let's not, however, get carried away by fantasies. It's extremely unlikely Kim will take the bait and say, thanks, now I'm giving up my nukes and missiles and all the facilities for making them. Nor will he say, here's a list of all the sites where we're working on this stuff, you're welcome to take a look and see we're keeping our end of the bargain, now show us the money. It's unfortunate that think-tankers and academics, who love to come up with fancy "solutions," should be wasting their time on notions that amount to same-old, same-old. Slice and dice their schemes, and they amount to the same thing: luring Kim to go for "the pot of gold waiting for him on the other side of the rainbow," as an anonymous source told the Washington Times. That's where China comes in. Wishful thinkers believe President Xi Jinping is urging Kim to wake up and reconcile with both the U.S. and South Korea for the sake of peace and tranquility on the Korean Peninsula and China's obvious interest in earning huge profits from its trade with the U.S. Rising difficulties between the U.S. and China, however, give Xi good reason to embarrass the U.S., to undermine the U.S.-South Korean alliance, to drive the U.S. into a corner while the trade war worsens and the U.S. pursues its case against Huawei. The arrest in Canada of Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, accused of an elaborate scheme for violating sanctions against Iran, may be separate from the charges against Huawei, but they all go together. China is loudly denouncing all such claims while the U.S. wants Canada to extradite Meng to the U.S., where she would face a lengthy trial and possible prison sentence. As a sign of Chinese anger over Meng's detention, the Chinese have arrested two Canadians on unspecified grounds and sentenced a third to death on drug charges. The Chinese will go ballistic if Meng is tried and sentenced by a U.S. court. They'll be still more outraged if the charges against Huawei, which the Americans see as the tip of a large iceberg of Chinese industrial espionage, results in harsh penalties even if the real villains, including Meng's father, never go on trial. With the Chinese and Americans locked in a trade war, North Korea would be a pawn for China to use to escalate the pressure, to embarrass the Americans, to hold over Trump's head while he goes on thinking he can really pull Kim into a real deal that's not going to happen. Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com) has been covering North Korea and the nuclear issue for decades. The talks, scheduled for two days, mark a significant step in the implementation of the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during a working dinner in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 1. The two heads of state agreed back then that the two sides should try to reach a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement within 90 days to bring an early end to their months-long trade friction featuring massive tariffs on imports from each other. The latest talks began shortly after 9 a.m. local time (1400 GMT) at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, part of the White House complex, following a brief session open to the media. All the discussions and negotiations, which are expected to last until January 31 afternoon, will be held behind closed doors. The Chinese delegation, headed by Vice Premier Liu He, includes senior officials from major economic sectors of the Chinese government, while the US team is led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, among others. The White House has said that the US side welcomes the Chinese delegation, which arrived in Washington on January 28, and that Trump is scheduled to meet with Liu on January 31. The world is watching these talks closely, with many hoping for some substantial, positive progress to be made. By Lee Suh-yoonHa Sung-do, 45, is a businessman. From his perspective, Seoul is underutilizing foreign residents' potential in the community."In a way, each of the 410,000 foreign residents in Seoul is a valuable PR ambassador who can attract tourists from their home countries," Ha said in an interview at The Korea Times office in central Seoul, Thursday. "Most foreign residents may work in 3D (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) jobs or wait on tables in Korea, but they usually have a higher social status back home. What they say or post on social media about Seoul can influence its international image and attract more tourism."An ethnic Korean from Heilongjiang Province, China, Ha is the new head representative for the second Seoul City Foreign Residents Council , launched Jan. 18 to act as an official channel between the local government and foreign residents here for the next two years.Ha says he wants to make sure the rest of the 45-member council is allocated some funds to temporarily leave their day jobs and meet diverse foreign resident communities. Council members are currently paid by the hour for attending council meetings once a month."Most council members do not own their own business like me, so it's hard for them to spare money or time outside the meetings to directly hear the needs of other foreign residents," Ha said.Ha arrived in Korea in June 2008 and now lives in Daerim, western Seoul. The owner of a small trading company in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Ha became interested in joining the council after attending a town hall meeting in 2014 with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung enters the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul, Friday. Yonhap An appeals court on Friday found a former governor of South Chungcheong Province guilty of sexually abusing his then secretary, reversing the highly debated acquittal by a lower court in one of South Korea's high profile Me Too cases. The Seoul High Court ruled that An Hee-jung was guilty of nine counts of the 10 charges that include abuse of power and sexual molestation. The court took the 54-year-old into custody immediately after the ruling. An, once considered a potential presidential candidate of the liberal bloc, was indicted in April last year for allegedly forcing his former secretary to have sex with him and groping her multiple times between the middle of 2017 and early 2018. The lower court found him not guilty in August last year, citing insufficient evidence. (Yonhap) By Kang Seung-woo The escalating attacks from the ruling party on a judge who handed South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Kyoung-soo a two-year jail sentence earlier this week are "inappropriate" Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su said, Friday. Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su Stephen Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on North Korea, is expected to meet his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok-chol next week for preparatory talks on a second planned summit between their leaders late February. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo North Korea and the United States are expected to fine-tune details for the former's denuclearization and the latter's corresponding measures, when their working-level officials meet next week in preparation for a planned summit between their leaders. The scheduled second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. Donald Trump in late February faces the challenge of not repeating the vague commitments produced during the first summit in Singapore, last June 12. Analysts said Friday that Stephen Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on North Korea, may ask for international inspections of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and Tongchang-ri missile test site when he meets his North Korean counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol. Biegun may also ask the North to scrap its nuclear scientific research center in Yongbyon. In return, the U.S may offer to set up a liaison office in the North, allow more humanitarian aid for the impoverished Pyongyang regime and suspend two combined military exercises with South Korea in spring Foal Eagle and Key Resolve. "The purpose of the second Kim-Trump summit will be to visualize the very first agreement reached between the two on June 12," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. Korea and Japan have been caught in a severe case of myopia, overly focusing on their differences and wasting precious energy. Yonhap By Oh Young-jin There are countless reasons to dislike Japan, but Korea needs a strategic mind to set them aside to identify areas of common interest and push their joint agenda together. So far, the two have been caught in a severe case of myopia, overly focusing on their differences and wasting precious energy. Now, in the new Cold War era, the two neighbors should realize they are like lips and teeth, as Ma Zedong described the relationship between China and North Korea during the old Cold War. It is worth remembering that the 1950-53 Korean War started when the North with the backing of China and the Soviet Union invaded South Korea at the start of the capitalism vs. communism contest. The war was brought to a standstill thanks to U.S. intervention, enabling Japan to enjoy post-World War II prosperity. What if the communists had taken over the South? Japan would have faced a direct threat from the communists, its dilemma being compared with that of teeth having lost the protection of lips. It could have borne the brunt of U.S.-Soviet rivalry. Could it be ruled out that the clash might have led to a third mushroom cloud over another Japanese city? Then, if unified under the North's terms, what pressures would have a unified communist Korea have exerted over Japan? They say there are no ifs in history, but we can learn from hypotheses to limit the chance of mistakes and strengthen our preparations for the future. The future is already here and forcing us to move. China is reaching the status of a junior superpower," which signifies that only the U.S. is stronger and indicates China's determination to become No. 1. Hegemonic pursuit is in China's genes and is returning with a vengeance because its supreme leader believes the West has trampled on its history. And Russia, the successor of the Soviet Union, if not by system but certainly by the heritage of its leader Vladimir Putin, is resurgent. Completing the axis is North Korea, once an international pariah and an impoverished rogue state that under its young ruler Kim Jong-un is punching well above its weight, going toe to toe with the U.S. in a game of chicken with isolationist Donald Trump. It is a worrisome sign is that the three old comrade states are closing ranks again. In contrast, Pax Americana looks wobbly as if age has overtaken an old man. President Trump's U.S. has upended its web of alliances in Asia and Europe, and is fighting an all-consuming trade war with China. Trump has again insulted and disillusioned the South by calling it a "free loader," and is trying to extort more protection money in the form of paying more toward the cost of U.S. troops stationed here. The North is luring the South with their blood ties, demonizing the U.S. as a foreign power aimed at perpetuating the division, and by offering peaceful coexistence. It sounds like the song of sirens to southerners who have lived so long with the fear of war and are ready to succumb to the promise of peace. But would it be possible to live peacefully with the nation built on the premise of the demise of the other? Sweetening the siren's melody is a provocative Japan, whose every aggressive act reminds Koreans of the four-decade colonial occupation with all its accompanying atrocities. But let's look at ourselves Korea and Japan from the position of Kim, Xi and Putin. What they see is probably a big hole in enemy lines and a chance to take advantage perhaps a reprisal for their loss in the previous round of the Cold War. True, it is hard to look ahead when there are many unresolved issues inherited from the past. The recent death of Kim Bok-dong, a former sex slave for the imperial Japanese Army, reduced the number of survivors to 23, convincing Koreans that Japan is waging a waiting game against those their ancestors had brutalized. It makes "our blood flow upstream" in anger. The propaganda war over a Korean warship's alleged radar lock-on to a Japanese patrol plane and the apparent Japanese "threat" to a Korean warship has sunken their relationship to a very low ebb. Some believe there could be a clash between the two neighbors, considering their ever-bellicose battle cries. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval ratings have recovered to above 50 percent with more Japanese calling for tougher action against Korea. President Moon Jae-in's visit to the funeral of comfort woman Kim was as much a political act as a human duty. If we entrust the healing of bad blood to the passage of time and postpone action, we risk hurting the future of countries. If one chooses a game of chicken, the other won't need to play along. There are other options the Talmudic wisdom of not forgetting but forgiving for now. On the day of sex slave Kim's funeral, I thought with a heavy heart of the ordeal she suffered, and I suggest we Koreans take the Jewish suggestion to heart. I think it would show our big heart and might well lead the other unwilling party along a path of our design. People march during the funeral of a former South Korean "comfort woman" Kim Bok-dong in Seoul, South Korea, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kim Jae-heun More than 1,000 people walked with the funeral procession for the late former comfort woman Kim Bok-dong, stopping by venues meaningful to Kim Friday, including the former Japanese embassy in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The funeral ceremony began at Yonsei University Severance Hospital in western Seoul, at 6 a.m. where some 40 civic activists of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance (KCJR) representing Kim paid tribute to her. Lee Yong-su, another victim of Japan's wartime atrocities, was present to bid a last farewell to her old friend. The procession headed for a shelter in nearby Mapo-gu, where Kim had stayed until her death. There, another survivor Gil Won-ok greeted Kim. Kim, who had no family, lived with other victims including Gil at the shelter run by the KCJR. "Why did you go so early? Life wasn't that bad here after all. I hope you go somewhere nice and stay comfortable there. I will follow you soon," said Gil, as she tenderly stroked Kim's portrait with her hands. The man holding Kim's portrait also visited Kim's room at the shelter before leaving for Seoul Square in front of City Hall. U.S. President Donald Trump holds a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 1 (KST). Vice President Mike Pence is at right. AP-Yonhap Trump prepares to officially end Korean War, Biegun says By Kim Yoo-chul North Korea has agreed to hand over a list of its still-unknown uranium and plutonium enrichment facilities inside the country, as its leader Kim Jong-un promised to dismantle all of its such facilities, not just the regime's well-known Yongbyon site, a top U.S. nuclear envoy said, early Friday (KST). Stephen Biegun, the special representative for North Korea, said in a speech at Stanford University in California that the North has "committed to the dismantlement and destruction" of all its uranium and plutonium enrichment facilities both to U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and to leaders in Seoul. The Korea Times reported that Washington wants North Korea to provide a list of its uranium enrichment facilities as a key prerequisite in exchange for possible easing of economic sanctions. "In describing to us their commitment to dismantle and destroy plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities, the North Koreans also added the critical words and more. This is essential as there is more, much more," Biegun said during his speech. "This complex of sites extending beyond Yongbyon represents the totality of the North Korean plutonium reprocessing and uranium enrichment programs," the envoy said, adding North Korea wants Washington to take "corresponding measures," which he will discuss with North Korean officials in upcoming talks. The U.S. representative stressed Washington will not lift its sanctions placed on North Korea until denuclearization is complete. According to him, there was no "detailed or shared agreement on the definition of what denuclearization entails." "Our view is that it entails the elimination of totality of weapons of mass destruction programs in North Korea," he said, assuring that the United States will not invade North Korea. Stephen Biegun / AP The U.S. envoy for North Korea called on the regime Thursday to provide a full declaration of its nuclear and missile programs as a second bilateral summit appeared only weeks away. Special Representative Stephen Biegun, who is in charge of day-to-day negotiations with the North, said the declaration will be required to acknowledge complete denuclearization of the regime. "Before the process of denuclearization can be final, we must also have a complete understanding of the full extent of the North Korean weapons of mass destruction missile programs. We will get that at some point through a comprehensive declaration," Biegun said during a speech at Stanford University. He said the U.S. has "contingencies" prepared in case negotiations fail, but did not give details. North Korea has balked at such a demand, claiming an inventory will give the U.S. a list of targets to destroy. Biegun made clear the U.S. also intends to verify denuclearization. "We must reach agreement on expert access and monitoring mechanisms of key sites to international standards, and ultimately ensure the removal and destruction of stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers, and other weapons of mass destruction," the envoy said. The U.S. and North Korea reached a vague denuclearization deal during last June's first summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The agreement committed the North to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees for Pyongyang, without laying out concrete steps. In late February, the two leaders are set to meet again, reportedly in Vietnam, to try to flesh out the deal. Trump said earlier Thursday that the exact date and venue will be announced early next week. Many North Korea watchers in the U.S. have warned that the two sides will need to agree on a detailed implementation plan before the second summit or risk giving the regime the legitimacy it seeks as a nuclear weapons state. Biegun said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was promised by Kim during his October trip to Pyongyang that the regime would dismantle and destroy all of its plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities -- not just those in the main nuclear complex in Yongbyon -- in exchange for "corresponding measures" from the U.S. "In describing to us their commitment to dismantle and destroy their plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities, the North Koreans have also added the critical words 'and more,'" the envoy said. "This is essential, as there is more -- much more -- to do beyond these facilities to follow through on the Singapore summit commitment to complete denuclearization." He also said that the U.S. has told the North Koreans that it is prepared to carry out the commitments from Singapore's first summit "simultaneously and in parallel." The offer is in line with North Korea's wishes as the regime has accused the U.S. of making "gangster-like" demands to first surrender all of its nuclear weapons for only a promise of future economic concessions. Biegun noted that the U.S. has eased rules for the delivery of humanitarian aid to North Korea, which was previously delayed by United Nations sanctions on the regime. But he reiterated that the U.S. will keep punishing sanctions on the North until it sees complete denuclearization. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with American manufacturers and signs an Executive Order to 'strengthen the Trump Administration's 'Buy American' policy' in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, Jan. 31. Trump used the opportunity to speak to the media about his upcoming summit with North Korea, as well as his admonishment of his intelligence chiefs. EPA President Donald Trump said Thursday he will likely announce the site and date of a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the State of the Union address on Tuesday. ''They very much want the meeting,'' Trump told reporters, saying his administration has made ''tremendous progress'' toward reining in the North's nuclear ambitions. The summit is expected to take place around the end of February. The president said that before he took office in January 2017, ''it looked like we were going to war with North Korea. Now, there's no missile testing. There's no rocket testing, there's no nuclear testing. We got back our prisoners, our hostages. We're getting back our remains.'' Trump has long contended that his outreach to Kim and their initial summit in June in Singapore have put the U.S. and North Korea on the path to peace. But his list of concrete achievements has not grown in the months since that meeting, and his own intelligence chiefs believe there is little likelihood Kim will voluntarily give up his nuclear weapons or missiles capable of carrying them. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress on Tuesday that the government's intelligence assessment does not support the idea that Kim will eliminate his nuclear weapons or the capacity for building more. A skeptical Trump tweeted in response: ''Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!'' Private analysts, in several reports in the past four months, have drawn on commercial satellite imagery to determine that the North is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile technology despite the test suspension. By Jung Min-ho The price of bitcoin, the world's most popular cryptocurrency, is still overvalued and "will go to zero" eventually, according to Jeff Schumacher, founder of BCG Digital Ventures. "I do believe it will go to zero. I think it's a great technology but I don't believe it's a currency. It's not based on anything," the prominent crypto investor said during a discussion in Davos, Switzerland, reported last week. Glenn Hutchins, chairman of North Island, said bitcoin's role in the future may be focused on being a store of value. "It might be that the role of bitcoin in the system could be to bring value back, to hold your value there while you have other tokens you aren't using at the moment," Hutchins said. "I am much less interested in investing around bitcoin as a currency unit or a currency equivalent, or even the blockchain as an accounting ledger. I am thinking much more about the protocols. In other words, what is the underlying protocol going to do as a consequence of which, which tokens are valuable or not." The comments underscored investors' growing skepticism about cryptocurrencies. According to Coin Market Cap, a popular data source for price changes in crypto assets, the bitcoin price peaked at $19,310 per coin on Dec. 17, 2017, but crashed to $4,100 per coin as of Dec. 1, 2018. It was worth $3,606 per coin Jan. 27. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan briefed the guests of Vietnams socio-economic achievements in 2018, and spoke highly the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Two-way trade reaching nearly US$ 1.2 billion in 2018, almost doubling the amount in the previous year, he said, stressing that both nations are discussing measures to promote tourism and send more Vietnamese labourers to the Czech Republic. As the two countries are heading towards the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2020, bilateral activities of senior leaders will be increased, thus serving as momentum to elevate the bilateral ties to a new height, the Vietnamese diplomat said. On the occasion, Ambassador Tuan expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnamese people community in the Czech Republic, saying that they have integrated deeply into the host society and made significant contributions to their homeland and the relations between the two countries. The embassy will join hands with the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe (UVAE) and the Vietnamese people community in the Czech Republic to organise various programmes to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Vietnamese People Association in the Czech Republic in 2019, he added. Hoang Dinh Thang, UVAE Chairman and Honourable Chairman of the Vietnamese People Association in the Czech Republic, said that with the support from the embassy and the UVAE, overseas Vietnamese in the host nation held many activities to promote connections with those in other European countries as well as preserve traditional cultural values. He hoped that the UVAE would receive further assistance from the embassies in the Czech Republic and other European coutnries to build a strong Vietnamese people community. The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria organise a similar event to welcome Tet. The event drew the participation of foreign guests like Algerian diplomats, representatives of organisations, the press, and embassies of ASEAN member states, China, Cuba, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Citizens walk past the Korean Air office in Jung-gu, downtown Seoul, Friday, when the National Pension Service decided to intervene into the management of Hanjin KAL, Korean Air's de-facto holding firm. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo, right, speaks during a meeting of the National Pension Service's fund operating committee at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul, Friday. Park is the chairman of the committee. Yonhap. Korea's exports moved down 5.8 percent in January from a year earlier. Korea Times file South Korea's exports moved down 5.8 percent in January from a year earlier, government data showed Friday, due mainly to weaker performances by chips and petrochemical goods. Outbound shipments came to US$46.3 billion for January, down from $49.2 billion posted a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It marked the second consecutive month to post an on-year drop. South Korea did not post an on-year decrease in exports for two straight months since the September-October period of 2016. Imports decreased 1.7 percent over the cited period to reach $45 billion, the ministry added. South Korea's trade surplus came to $1.3 billion in January, marking 84 straight months in which the country's exports have exceeded imports. While the country managed to avoid a trade deficit, the latest figure is seen as worrisome as the average monthly surplus came to $5.9 billion in 2018. The trade dispute between the United States and China, along with the weaker performances of semiconductors and refined petroleum products, was responsible for the on-year decrease, the ministry said. It said that while South Korea's export volume actually expanded, the value decreased due to falling product prices. South Korea's exports are anticipated to recover in the second half of 2019, when global chip and oil prices are expected to rebound, the ministry added. Among the country's top 13 export products, the shipment of machinery, automobiles, steel and auto parts increased, while the rest lost ground. In January, South Korea's exports of chips decreased amid increased supply coupled with slower demand. The country shipped $7.42 billion worth of chips in January, down 23.3 percent from a year earlier. According to the ministry, the average price of 8GB DRAM chips fell 36.5 percent on-year, while that of 128GB NAND flash fell 22.4 percent. In terms of machinery products, South Korea saw its exports edge up 1.7 percent to reach $4.5 billion amid stronger demand from the United States and India, the ministry added. As for petrochemical goods, South Korea saw its outbound shipments fall 5.3 percent on-year to reach $3.9 billion in January following a decrease in oil prices. South Korea's automobile exports shot up 13.4 percent to $3.67 billion, posting an on-year growth for the second consecutive month. The ministry said the performance was helped by the strong demand of new SUVs in the U.S. and Europe. The exports of steel products increased 3.3 percent to $2.8 billion due to the rise in prices, although the volume fell due to global trade barriers, the ministry added. The ministry said South Korea's exports to China, the country's No. 1 trading partner, were weaker, although they maintained growth in other markets, including the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asian countries. When excluding China from the calculation, the ministry said South Korea's exports fell 0.9 percent on-year in January. South Korea's outbound shipments to China fell for the third consecutive month in January due to the sluggish performance of chips and petrochemical goods, reaching $10.8 billion, down 19.1 percent on-year. Exports to the U.S. gained ground, posting $6.2 billion, up 20.4 percent on-year. Those to the European Union shot up 11.9 percent to $5 billion. The country's shipments to the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rose 6.4 percent on-year in January to $8.87 billion. The government intends to announce a comprehensive plan for revitalizing the country's exports this month, which will include the roles of different ministries. (Yonhap) Kokomo, IN (46901) Today Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 48F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. 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. In a teleconference linking Truong Sa Lon, Nam Yet, and Sinh Ton islands, he conveyed his New Year wishes to soldiers and locals living and working in the Truong Sa island district. Talking with naval staff, the PM affirmed that the countrys socio-economic achievements in 2018 were partly attributable to the work of the Vietnam Peoples Army, including the Navy. He hailed the force for fulfilling tasks assigned by the Ministry of Defences Central Military Commission, conducting search and rescue operations, and supporting other forces and fishing vessels at sea. The PM wished that the naval force would continue successfully performing the task of safeguarding national sovereignty, fostering internal solidarity, and accomplishing tasks assigned by the Party, State, army, and people in 2019. They were also required to expand external defence relations and international cooperation, especially with ASEAN member states. Hopkinsville, KY (42240) Today Showers and thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers administration and Foxconn Technology Group both say they are moving forward with plans for a project that could employ up to 13,000 people. Both sides said Thursday they continue to work well together amid reports that Foxconn is changing direction for the site away from manufacturing in favor of making it a research and development hub. The head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation said there have been no attempts to renegotiate the Foxconn contract. No problems reported Mark Hogan led the organization under former Gov. Scott Walker when the deal was struck and continues to be its leader under Evers. Hogan said Evers and his administration have done a very good job of reaching out to company officials and developing a relationship that will protect our taxpayers interests. The Taiwan-based company also pushed back against a report by the Nikkei Asian Review published Thursday that Foxconn would be halting development and construction in Wisconsin as a result of negotiations with new Gov. Tony Evers, the report said. Maureen Mores always takes a pooh bag with her when she walks her dog. She asks why horse owners can't do the same, especially when horse pooh is much larger. Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Pierre Duhaime leaves a courtroom in Montreal on Friday, February 1, 2019. Duhaime has pleaded guilty to a charge of helping a public servant commit breach of trust for his role in a bribe scandal around the construction of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Susan Kootnekoff is a lawyer with Inspire Law in Kelowna. The content of this article is intended to provide very general thoughts and general information, not to provide legal advice. Specialist advice from a qualified legal professional should be sought about your specific circumstances To contact the writer, call 250-764-7710 or info@inspirelaw.ca. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form According to Nguyen Song Huong, the Associations Vice President in charge of external affairs, there are now two Vietnamese language classes, including one for children at the ages of 10-15 and one for 5-9 year-old students. The collective classes are for national martial arts, singing, dance, Trung xylophone and percussion, with individual courses training in dan tranh (16-chord zither), dan bau (monochord) and dan nguyet (two-chord guitar). The Europe Vietnam Association has always received support from the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France. The teachers and curators are experienced and loved by the children, such as Henri Cuve, Michel Introvigne, Le Kim Chi, Nguyen Song Huong, Jacqueline Florentin, Roger Apharel, Helene Nguyen, Jacqueline Sandra, Daniel Nguyen, Dieu Thuy Introvigne and Rosalie Nguyen. Daniel Nguyen, in charge of teaching national instruments, was born into a family with traditional fondness for national instruments. He proficiently plays many kinds of instruments such as the monochord, 16-chord zither, Trung xylophone, two-chord guitar and percussion. Jacqueline Florentin, who works as a lecturer for a music academy in the suburbs of Paris, is teaching 16-chord zither and in charge of organising arts programmes of the Europe-Vietnam Association. Both Daniel and Jacqueline have wholeheartedly conveyed their knowledge of national Vietnamese musical instruments to younger generations of OVs in France. They hope that music would help children to gain a deeper understanding of their fatherlands history, culture and ethical values. Daniel Nguyen said: Teaching music is a way to transmit the essence of national music to children. Each melody contains a part of history, morality, and affection, so we have to explain how to make them understand. The Vietnamese language teacher Vu Mai Anh was an elementary teacher at an international school before she went to France. For her, teaching Vietnamese at the Association is her passion because she can spread patriotism and Vietnamese cultural values to children. She said that her students are very happy whenever they go to the class. Rosalie Nguyen is a doctor and also a teacher of singing and dancing at the Europe Vietnam Association. Despite being busy with work and far from her house, she has tried to teach children every weekend. Rosalie Nguyen confided: I am a Vietnamese person but grew up in France. My parents taught me to read and write Vietnamese. My mother always sang Vietnamese songs that I liked very much, but I was not fortunate to join a cultural organisation like the Europe Vietnam Association which my children are taking part in. Duong Quynh Hoa, whose husband is French, shared that they have always encouraged their children to learn Vietnamese and practice monochord at the Association. Vietnamese language is the key to pave the way for the children to significantly contribute to the motherlands development in the future. Perhaps the most diligent person in the Europe Vietnam Association was the 15-year-old boy Valentin Gofinet. Despite severe weather conditions and the far distance from his home, he has never been absent from classes. He studied Trung xylophone, drum, singing and national martial arts. The two sisters Elise Pandolfi (13 years old) and Oriane Pandolfi (12 years old) have experienced interesting vacations in Vietnam with their grandparents. Every two years, Oriane and Elise have returned to Vietnam, visiting many destinations and have enjoyed various delicious specialties. They have brought accessories, national instruments and Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) for their friends in the Association for the performances during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Jacqueline is teaching the way to playing the16-chord zither. Michael Vitevitch, chair of the University psychology department, displays research data in his Fraser Hall office. Vitevitch, along with colleagues Marsha McCartney and Cynthia Siew, conducted research on statistics anxiety. They found some anxiety actually helps students succeed in their classes. According to correspondent Gus Hunninghake, "Happy Death Day 2U" is a refreshing follow-up to a bold dark comedy that took horror audiences by storm. World-renowned quilter Marla Jackson talked about her background before becoming an artist and how her work has inspired a new generation of artists during a conversation hosted by the Lawrence Epicenter Thursday night. In a room filled with no more than 10 people in Independence Inc. in Lawrence, Jacksons conversation was moderated by Alex Kimball Williams, one of the coordinating members of the Lawrence Epicenter. The conversation was a part of the Epicenters Peoples Art Speakers Series, a monthly event that hosts local artists to talk about using their work to change their communities. +2 Community members work to create a space for people of all cultures Epicenter is a Lawrence organization that aims to connect people of all cultures through events and art. Jackson is the owner of Marla Quilts Inc African American Quilt Museum and Textile Academy in Lawrence. Her work has been on exhibit in more than 30 venues, including the Smithsonian Museum for African-American History and Culture and the American Folk Art Museum. Last summer in Lawrence, she hosted the second annual National African-American Quilt Convention. Jackson started the conversation by speaking about growing up in the predominantly black community of Ferndale, Michigan, before coming to Kansas when she was 18 years old. It was an intact community, and we had our own black judge, our own law enforcement, mailmen and teachers, Jackson said. My whole life was black, and it was a very safe environment. Artists flock to Lawrence for first National African American Quilt Convention Artists, art enthusiasts and community organizers gathered in downtown Lawrence today to kick off the first ever National African American Qui Jackson also said she experienced culture shock when she came to Kansas because shed never been exposed to different cultures. I was excited, but it was just so different from what I had been exposed to, but Ive been here since 1971, Jackson, who currently lives in Lawrence, said. I chose to stay here because it slightly reminded me of the community where I came from. Jackson also mentioned she isnt the only person in her family who makes art. My mother was an artist, Jackson said. My father was an artist. My uncle was a commercial artist. My sister and brother were artists, and my mother taught us all how to sew. My mother was probably the most creative out of all of us, and we just never knew what we were going to come home to because she might have a purple pen, or shes taking a pair of shoes and covered it with fabric. Kimball Williams, a Lawrence native, said they planned their family reunion around the convention because Jacksons artwork inspires them. I went to the convention this past summer with my family and viewed the quilts on display, and it was amazing, Kimball Williams said. I had never seen work by male quilters before. +3 National African American Quilt Convention returns to Lawrence, focuses on male quilters The National African American Quilt Convention is being held in Lawrence for its second year. This year, organizer Marla Jackson is focused on including male black artists, as opposed to only including female artists. Through her textile academy, Jackson offers youth art classes. Jackson talked about a time in which the children in her class were working on a project that celebrated the 150-year anniversary of the Lawrence massacre. Jackson emphasized that she told the kids in her program the importance of doing their own research. You have to ask questions, Jackson said. You['ve] got to research, and just because someone else told you something doesnt mean you dont do your own research about it. The event ended with Jackson giving a tour of some of her work and work done by kids in her program, which included intricate designs of Martin Luther King Jr., founders of the Black Lives Matter Movement and former President Barack Obama. Marla Jackson, a Lawrence artist and quilter, will be the featured guest at Slow Art Sunday at the Spencer Museum of Art Visual narrative quilt artist Marla Jackson will be the Spencer Museum of Art's guest this Sunday for Slow Art Sunday. The Detroit native teaches students African American history through art. During the event, Kimball Williams, an artist and writer, mentioned how Jacksons work has influenced their own. As an artist myself, Im really inspired by how just really upfront and blunt you are with your imagery and with the things that you design, Kimball Williams said. Edited by Nolan Brey Subscribe to our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get podcasts. 01/31/2019 During its statewide conference at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Alabama chapter of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) honored two of JSU's own. Dr. Heidi Louisy, JSU's Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer, was honored with the Spirit of Diversity Award for her commitment and appreciation for diversity and inclusion and her leadership and direction in fostering a culture of appreciation for multicultural values and the acceptance of individual and group differences. BaShari James, a graduate assistant in University Housing and Residence Life and an MPA student, was presented the Future Leader Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions by a student who has made a significant contribution to their campus, demonstrated academic achievement, exceeded the expectations of their respective leadership positions, assumed a leadership role at their institution and demonstrated an interest in the field of student affairs and/or in higher education. He was also awarded the Umoja Award for Graduate Students sponsored by the African American Knowledge Community of NASPA. This award is presented to an exemplary graduate student in student affairs and services who continuously seeks to integrate their research and practice with the needs of the African American population. He will be presented the Umoja Award at the NASPA annual conference in Los Angeles in March. Congratulations Dr. Louisy and BaShari! Pakistan Television Corporation PTV Islamabad Jobs 2019 Latest Ministry of Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Media Posts Islamabad 2021 Pakistan Television Corporation PTV Islamabad, Ministry of Information Broadcasting and National Heritage, Government of Pakistan are requires candidates for the posts of Managing Director. Skills Required Management How to Apply on Ministry of Information Broadcasting and National Heritage 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: Room # 4113, 4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad Telephone: 051-9208722 Official Website: https://www.ptv.com.pk/jobs 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. Fisheries Development Board FDB Gilgit Baltistan Jobs 2019 Latest Fisheries Development Board Management Posts Gilgit 2021 Fisheries Development Board FDB Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan, Government of Pakistan are requires candidates for the posts of Farm Manager, Office Assistant, Field Worker, Watchman. Download application form through PTS website. How to Apply on Fisheries Development Board 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: Fisheries Development Board Islamabad Plot # 12, Orchard Scheme, Mur Telephone: 051-111-111-787 Official Website: www.pts.org.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. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is seeking 3.9 billion U.S. dollars to help 41 million children in need of humanitarian aid in 59 countries, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said the 41 million children affected by conflict and disaster lack access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection. "UNICEF reports that today, more countries are embroiled in internal or international conflict than at any other time in the past three decades, threatening the safety and well-being of millions of children," he said, adding the 3.9-billion-dollar appeal was to support the agency's work in 59 countries in 2019. The more than 34 million children living through conflict and disaster alone includes 6.6 million children in Yemen, 5.5 million children in Syria and 4 million children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNICEF said. The agency said the five largest individual appeals are for Syrian refugees and host communities in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey (904 million dollars), Yemen (542.3 million dollars), the DRC (326.1 million dollars), Syria (319.8 million dollars), and South Sudan (179.2 million dollars). Dujarric also pointed out that 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] In a blow to Qualcomm, a German court has rejected four of its patent claims against Apple. In total, Qualcomm had alleged that Apple was infringing on eight of its patents. The regional court of Munich is yet to take a decision on the remaining four patents. The four patents related to the search capabilities on the iPhones and had nothing to do with the modem or baseband used inside iPhones which is the main reason behind this tussle between the two companies. Qualcomms general counsel Don Rosenberg says that the chip maker does not agree with the courts ruling but thanked them for their time and diligence. The Munich court is yet to provide a ruling on the four other remaining patents. Qualcomm is essentially throwing whatever it can at the table to see if it can secure a win against Apple and pressurize the company into negotiating with it outside the court. By using such tactics, Qualcomm was able to secure an iPhone sales ban in China on some new and popular models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. It had also managed to secure a ban on iPhone sales in Germany via official Apple stores in Germany for patent infringement. Qualcomm and Apple have been involved in a major legal battle since early 2017. Apple first sued Qualcomm for its unethical business practices and since then things have only gotten worse between them. Qualcomm is optimistic about settling the matter with Apple outside of court, though Apple does not share the same sentiment. [Via WSJ Smart clothing isnt a new concept, but while Apples smartwatch has taken off on its own, the wearable technology movement hasnt really found general pieces of clothing to be all that accepting. That isnt going to stop companies from designing their own ideas on how it should work, though. On Friday, CNBC has a report out that outlines Verilys efforts to create health-tracking shoes. Verily is a life science company under the Alphabet umbrella (the entity that also houses companies like Google), and they have been seeking partnerships to help develop this new type of smart wearable. According to the report, Verily is showing off prototypes of the new smart shoes, which are designed to track a variety of different health elements, including weight and movement. The embedded sensors make this all possible, including the ability to detect falls. There is no word on how close to a final development these shoes are, but right now it sounds pretty early on. Its also possible that Verily doesnt follow through with this specific iteration and moves on to something else. If Verily progresses with the project, the shoes could have a wide range of health-related uses. For instance, sudden weight gain can be a sign that the body is retaining fluid, which is a symptom of congestive heart failure. Another area of interest is fall detection, two of the people said, which could be useful for seniors in particular. Fall detection is a relatively new feature for the Apple Watch as well, and something Apple showed off in earnest last year alongside the debut of the Apple Watch Series 4. Smartwatches are a great start, and there are coats out there that allow for some simplistic controls in the cuff, but smart clothing is a market thats still waiting to take off. Building health-tracking features into them might help boost their relevance. It has certainly helped the Apple Watch jump ahead of the smartwatch pack by a wide margin. [via CNBC Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue. Feedback policy If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com). Column Policy Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions. Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020 Iowa State Student Government elections take place every spring. One of 15 constituencies, the College of Design is represented by o Election Commissioner Emily Rizvic held a meeting on Jan. 31 to discuss changes to the election timeline. The biggest issue that the Commission had to discuss was pushing back the election dates from March 6 and 7 to March 12 and 13. The election pushback was accepted unanimously by the Commission. The Commission also discussed adding an additional informational session to replace the previously canceled one. Vanguard THE National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has called on stakeholders to provide adequate security for corps members in coming elections. The Sun The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, speaks on burning issues that revolves around the electoral process ahead of the 2019 elections. Daily Times The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that the Appeal Court ruling on the suspended Justice Onnoghen has vindicated President Muhammadu Buhari. Onnoghen was suspended from office a fortnight ago for not properly declaring his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Leadership Wife of the former vice president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Titi Atiku Abubakar, has disclosed that her husband, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, wants to be president to move Nigeria forward and not for the wealth of the country. The Nation LITERARY giant Prof Wole Soyinka yesterday described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as same side of a coin. Daily Trust A chieftain of the opposition PDP in the FCT, Mr. Tanko Kura, has said the party will not allow the ruling APC to take it unawares again during the March 2, 2019, area councils elections. Tribune Supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), engaged themselves in a violent clash that left no fewer than 10 people injured. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja, to declare President Muhammadu Buhari medically unfit for the office of president. Speaking to some journalists in Abuja on Thursday, spokesman for CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, their decision to file the suit against Buhari, stems from several incidence, were the president has portrayed himself not to be fit therefore a timely effort to avoid imminent disaster in the country. Ugochinyere revealed that theres also an order for the president to publicise his medical report while also accusing the Department of State Security Service (DSS) of plans to arrest him. Buharis multiple gaffes at APC presidential campaign rallies in Kogi, Delta, Cross River and Imo states were pointers to the fact that he is medically unfit. We have come to the conclusion that re-electing Buhari will only empower members of the cabal that his wife admitted has hijacked his presidency to rule the country for another four years, he added. National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Issa- Onillu blasted CUPP for the claims, and also accused Ugochinyere of working with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A large number of overseas Vietnamese people and students attend the event (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa reviewed the political, economic and social achievements of Vietnam in 2018. National defence, security are maintained. Foreign affairs and international integration reached positive results. Vietnams position and prestige continue to be improved. Vietnams GDP growth rate reached 7.08%. It also welcomed 15 million international visitors. In 2018, Vietnam and the Netherlands successfully marked 45 years of diplomatic relations. The Netherlands is the second largest trade partner of Vietnam in EU with the two-way trade revenue of nearly USD8 billion and it is the largest European investor with 304 investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of USD8.17 billion. The official visit of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to the Netherlands last March continued to promote the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. In 2019, the relations promise to reap more positive developments through the visit to Vietnam of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte scheduled in April. At the meeting, the ambassador expressed her pleasure before the achievements the overseas Vietnamese gained. She affirmed the overseas Vietnamese are an integral part of the Vietnamese people, a cooperation bridge between Vietnam and countries in the world. She hoped that the overseas Vietnamese community in the Netherlands continues to uphold the tradition of solidarity to make the country wealthy, have worthy position in the region and in the world and become an effective and long-lasting cooperation bridge between Vietnam and the Netherlands. The meeting was organized in an atmosphere of culture, music and cuisine imbued with national identity. This is also an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to meet and exchange with each other./. February 2019 is finally here, and Nigerians all over the country are set to elect a new captain, to sail the nations ship to the promise land. The two main contenders for the February 16th presidential election are incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress,APC and former vice president Atiku Abubakar for the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP. The pressure is already mounting in their camps, everyone is pulling their last strings, no one wants to leave a Stone unturned as both prepare to lock horns in the battle of who will be Nigerias number one citizen. However, some Nigerians are currently on Twitter reacting to the hash tag, #BuhariMustGo. We took a stroll on the streets of Twitter, and heres what we found. Take a look All you in support of @APCNigeria & #Buhari's return to the #Presidency, I pray @MBuhari & his types take over the management of your family, businesses, your mental, physical, & financial wellbeing & that of your generations yet unborn. AMEN!#BuhariMustGo#Eunice4President pic.twitter.com/dn21vJWD3Z Eunice Atuejide (@eunice_atuejide) January 26, 2019 Buhari is clearly not ok, last time he presented us with the presidential candidate now he's lifting the hand of someone else.. He clearly don't even know anyone or anything this days #BuhariMustGo Gideon Ogidi (@Realboss_OG) February 1, 2019 Buhari doesn't have a clue of what is going on in his government, I watched his interviews hoping to hear atleast 1 policy of the next level campaign, the man doesn't recognise people,i won't be surprised if he doesn't know he his running for the presidential seat #BuhariMustGo CREDIT DUDE (@prince_kabaide) February 1, 2019 Buhari we are Nigerians, it's not like we hate you literally, it's just that from all indications you are not fit and capable of running Nigeria and that suffices that it's our moral duty to kick you out, please don't take it personally #BuhariMustGo Reuben Oshomagbe (@Reubenoscar1) February 1, 2019 President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving no stone un-turned as he prepares for his re-election into the countrys highest political office. The President was in Kano today to solicit for their votes as the election date draw closer. Buhari whose election campaign theme is the next level was received by the Governor of the state, Umar Ganduje, with his deputy Dr Nasiru Gawuna. Ganduje took the reception a topnotch when he presented Governors of Zinder and Maradi from Niger Republic as part of the entourage that received Buhari. What they are saying; This is very strange. Governors from Niger Republic identifying with the APC and even campaigning. Its really weird. https://t.co/DMyAPhh9Qt UNdirty Niger Delta. (@Karibiba) January 31, 2019 https://twitter.com/iykimo/status/1090930487491739649 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the last Osun state election, Ademola Adeleke, who is an uncle to multi award winning Nigerian musician, David Adeleke, challenged the victory of the All Progressive Congress candidate, Fatai Oyetola, who was declared as the winner of the election in an election tribunal yesterday. However, there was wild drama at the hearing when APC witnesses made contradictory statement against the testimonies that had made earlier before the court. Davido who has been vocal in the political scene since his uncle contested for Osun state governorship seat then took to his Twitter handle. Davidos reaction: By Finian Cunningham January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - It is Americas longest war, costing huge amounts of blood and treasure as US leaders claim. Yet, the signs are that Washington is finally accepting a historic defeat in Afghanistan comparable to the ignominious Vietnam War. US revisits Vietnam Syndrome in Afghanistan after 17 years of war and destruction Intensive negotiations between American officials and Taliban insurgents have produced the biggest tangible step towards ending the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan, according to the New York Times. More talks are scheduled in the coming weeks to firm up details, but already it is reported that the US is to withdraw its remaining 14,000 troops from the Central Asian country over the next year without any guarantees of reciprocation by the enemy. That unilateral pullout is not yet officially admitted by Washington, but analysts believe the US has tacitly accepted the long-held demand by the Taliban for foreign troops to get out. When I became President, ISIS was out of control in Syria & running rampant. Since then tremendous progress made, especially over last 5 weeks. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019 At the height of the war, US forces numbered up to 100,000 personnel. The remnant American military therefore have no way of countering the growing insurgency. Even with an additional 8,000 NATO troops and thousands of private contractors also present in Afghanistan supporting the US-backed government in Kabul, the sordid game is up. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, during the latest round of talks held in Doha, Qatar, sought to portray an agreed framework for a peace deal being contingent on the Taliban delivering on three items: a ceasefire; entering into negotiations with the government in Kabul; and a vow to never allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terror groups. But media reports cite Taliban officials as giving no firm commitment to those US demands, while it appears Washington has accepted its troops are to be repatriated regardless. In other words, the American side is looking for a face-saving, apparent bilateral deal when the reality is Washington knows its war is over. Ryan Crocker, a former US ambassador to Afghanistan, puts it acerbically. Washington is only polishing the optics, while finessing the terms of surrender. He compares the American withdrawal from Afghanistan to the disorderly retreat and defeat that US forces incurred at the end of the Vietnam War in the mid-1970s. Then, as now, it was clear that by going to the table we were surrendering; we are just negotiating the terms of our surrender, opined Crocker in the Washington Post. The defeat of US military might in Indochina gave rise to the Vietnam Syndrome which entailed a grave loss in national confidence and international standing. The war in Afghanistan has already exceeded the duration of the Vietnam debacle by nearly eight years. While the death toll among American forces is a lot less, the financial cost of Afghanistan is potentially ruinous. Up to $2 trillion of taxpayer money is estimated to have been poured into waging war in that country, yet the strategic achievements are arguably zero. Not only that, but the launching of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001 by the GW Bush administration was the catalyst for a global so-called war on terror which engulfed several countries. The total financial cost for those wars is reckoned to be around $5 trillion or nearly a quarter of Americas spiraling national debt. In cost of human lives, the Afghan war and its derivative anti-terror operations elsewhere have resulted in millions of deaths and casualties, millions of refugees and the decimation of whole nations, which have further spawned conflict and the spread of terrorism. Suicide rates and pathological self-destruction among US veterans who served in Afghanistan (and Iraq) are off the charts and will have long-term detriment on American society for generations to come. The Afghan Syndrome is going to haunt the US for decades in the same way the Vietnam forerunner did. Whats more despicable is the utter waste and futility. When Bush ordered the troops into Afghanistan at the end of 2001, it was supposed to be in revenge for the terror attacks on the US on September 11. Never mind that the evidence linking those attacks to Afghanistan was tenuous at best. The Taliban regime, which had been in power from 1996, was toppled by the US. But three presidents later, the Taliban now are reckoned to control over half the territory in Afghanistan, and can carry out deadly attacks on US-backed local forces seemingly at will on a daily basis, including in the capital Kabul. Now it seems only a matter of time until the Taliban will be back in power with the US and allied NATO forces gone. Richard Haass, a former senior US State Department planner, commented: The Taliban have concluded that it is only a matter of time before the United States grows weary of stationing troops in a far-off country and spending $45 billion a year on a war that cannot be won they have little need to compromise. The irony is that the Taliban grew out of the tribal militants that the US cultivated and armed to the teeth at the end of the 1970s when Afghanistan was governed by a Soviet-backed administration. The American policy was gleefully calculated in Washington to give the Soviets their Vietnam. The proxy war was indeed a heavy loss for the Soviet Union, but in the longer-term it looks like Uncle Sam ended up getting another Vietnam in terms of creating the longest war ever for Washington, the unfolding ignominious defeat and the global blowback from Islamist terrorism it engendered. Washington may be pretending it has reached a framework deal for peace in Afghanistan. But the brutal truth is Washington has lost another epic war. The Taliban have always maintained they are not going to negotiate with the US-backed administration in Kabul, headed by President Ashraf Ghani. Like his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, the Taliban view Ghani and his government as a corrupt, venal puppet of the Americans. The fact that the US sidelined the Kabul regime by talking directly with the Taliban is a crucial concession by Washington. By doing so, the US is effectively admitting that the insurgents are in the driving seat. All the talk out of Washington about supporting intra-Afghani dialogue and finding a comprehensive peace settlement is window-dressing rhetoric. US President Donald Trump last month ordered about half of the American troops in Afghanistan some 7,000 to withdraw. Trump is said to be growing impatient with the huge financial drain of the never-ending war. His order to pull out forces before the latest round of negotiations in Qatar will have been taken by the Taliban as further proof the Americans know they are beaten. Astoundingly, prominent voices in Washington are arguing that, in spite of the human calamity and cost of Afghanistan, US troops should remain there indefinitely. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell wants to pass legislation forbidding a withdrawal. The Washington Posts editorial board which reflects the foreign policy establishment view admonished: The Trump administrations tentative deal with the Taliban could return Afghanistan to chaos. Return to chaos? Afghanistan known as the Graveyard of Empires from centuries of defeating great powers is showing that the Americans are up their necks in chaos. Finian Cunningham This article was originally published by " RT " - 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. Peace and joy By ABC Australia January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - God wanted Donald Trump to be United States president and that is why he supports things important to people of faith, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has told a US religious broadcaster. In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network, Ms Sanders said Mr Trump was the most conservative president in US history. "I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times and I think that he wanted Donald Trump to become president and that's why he is there," she said. In the 20-minute interview, Ms Sanders was asked about how the White House viewed Nancy Pelosi's comment that the border wall with Mexico was immoral. She said it was hard to take a morality lecture from Democrats. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter "The idea that protecting the people of your country, which is the fundamental duty of being president of the United States, is somehow immoral is a ridiculous charge," she said. "The evidence is so contrary to that comment." Ms Sanders also said media outlets like CNN and NBC only wanted to attack Mr Trump. He was, she said, the "most accessible" president and spent more time with media than any of his predecessors. "The idea that we're not engaging and they're not getting information is just not true," she said. "They just want to complain and attack this administration and this President and they don't want to cover all of the success because that's not good for the narrative that they're trying to drive." As she talked about loving her job and working for the Trump administration, Ms Sanders said Mr Trump would have "tremendous success" throughout the remainder of this term. She also believes he will retain office following the next election. While evangelicals mainly support Mr Trump, some are concerned about his policy in Syria and what would happen if he ordered soldiers home. "We support Christians, we support the Kurds, [Mr Trump] has made that clear to Turkey, he's made that clear publicly on a number of fronts," Ms Sanders said. This article was originally published by " ABC Australia " - 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. Peace and joy Home Search ICH Peculiarities of US Imperialism in Latin America By James Petras January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Understanding imperialism as a general phenomenon loses sight of its modus operandi in any specific and meaningful context. While the exercise of imperialist power is a common strategy, its motives, instruments, objectives and engagement vary, depending on the nature of the imperial ruler and targeted country. Venezuela, the current target of US, President Donald Trump, is a case illustrating the peculiarities of imperialist politics. We will proceed to outline the background, techniques and impact of the imperial power grab. Historical Background The US has a long history of intervention in Venezuela prim arily to gain control of its oil wealth. During the 1950s Washington backed a military dictatorship led by Perez Jimenez until it was overthrown by mass alliance of revolutionary socialist, nationalist and Social Democratic parties. Washington could not and did not intervene; instead it sided with the center-left Democratic Action (AD) and center-right COPEI parties which proceeded to declare war against the radical left. Over time US regained hegemony until the economy went into crises in the 1990s leading to popular uprisings and state massacres. The US did not intervene initially as it felt that it could co-opt Hugo Chavez because he was unaffiliated with the left. Moreover, the US was militarily committed to the Balkans (Yugoslavia) and the Middle East and preparing for wars against Iraq and other nationalist countries which opposed Israel and supported Palestine. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Using the pretext of a global terrorist threat Washington demanded subordination to its declaration of a world-wide war against terrorism. President Chavez did not submit. He declared that you do not fight terrorism with terrorism. The US decided that Chavezs declaration of independence was a threat to US hegemony in Latin America and beyond. Washington decided to overthrow elected President Chavez, even before he nationalized the US owned petroleum industry. In April 2002, the US organized a military-business coup, which was defeated within forty-eight hours by a popular uprising backed by sectors of the military. A second attempt to overthrow President Chavez was set in motion by oil executives via a petroleum lock-out. It was defeated by oil workers and overseas petrol exporters. Chavez national-populist revolution proceeded to nationalize oil corporations who supported the lock-out. The failed coups led Washington to temporarily adopt an electoral strategy heavily financed via Washington controlled foundations and NGO. Repeated electoral defeats led Washington to shift to electoral boycotts and propaganda campaigns designed to illegitimatize the electoral success of President Chavez. Washingtons failed efforts to restore imperialist power, boomeranged. Chavez increased his electoral support, expanded state control over oil and other resources and radicalized his popular base. Moreover, Chavez increasingly secured backing for his anti-imperialist policies among government and movements throughout Latin America and increased his influence and ties throughout the Caribbean by providing subsidized oil. While commentators attributed President Chavez mass support and influence to his charisma, objective circumstances peculiar to Latin America were decisive. President Chavezs defeat of imperialist intervention can be attributed to five objectives and conditions. The deep involvement of the US in multiple prolonged wars at the same time including in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa distracted Washington. Moreover, US military commitments to Israel undermined US efforts to refocus on Venezuela. US sanctions policy took place during the commodity boom between 2003 2011 which provided Venezuela with the economic resources to finance domestic social programs and neutralize local boycotts by elite allies of the US. Venezuela benefited by the neo-liberal crises of the 1990s-2001 which led to the rise of center-left national popular governments throughout the region. This was especially the case for Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Honduras. Moreover, centrist regimes in Peru and Chile remained neutral. Furthermore Venezuela and its allies ensured that the US did not control regional organization. President Chavez as a former military officer secured the loyalty of the military, undercutting US plots to organize coups. The world financial crises of 2008-2009 forced the US to spend several trillion dollars in bailing out the banks. The economic crises and partial recovery strengthened the hand of Treasury and weakened the relative influence of the Pentagon. In other words, while imperial policies and strategic goals remained, the capacityof the US to pursue conquests was limited by objective conditions. Circumstances Favoring Imperial Interventions The reverse circumstances favoring imperialism can be seen in more recent times. These include four conditions: The end of the commodity boom weakened the economies of Venezuelas center-left allies and led to the rise of far-right US directed client regimes as well as heightening the coup activities of US backed opponents of newly elected President Maduro. The failure to diversify exports, markets, financial and distributive systems during the expansive period led to a decline in consumption and production and allowed imperialism to attract voters, especially from middle and lower- middle class consumers, employees, shop keepers, professionals and business people. The Pentagon transferred its military focus from the Middle East to Latin America, identifying military and political clients among key regimes namely Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Washingtons political intervention in Latin American electoral processes opened the door to economic exploitation of resources and the recruitment of military allies to isolate and encircle nationalist, populist Venezuela. Objective external conditions favored Washingtons imperial quest for domination. Domestic oligarchic power configurations reinforced the dynamic for imperial intervention, political domination and control over the oil industry. Venezuelas decline of oil revenue, the elite mobilization of its electoral base and its systematic sabotage of production and distribution had a multiplier effect. The mass media and the self-proclaimed electoral-right embraced the US led far-right coup which manipulated democratic and humanitarian rhetoric. Washington heightened economic sanctions to starve the low income Chavista supporters, and mobilized its European and Latin American clients to demand Venezuelas surrender while planning a bloody military coup. The final stage of the US-planned-and-organized military coup required three conditions: A division in the military to provides the Pentagon and coup planners a beachhead and a pretext for a US humanitarian invasion A compromising political leadership which pursues political dialogues with adversaries preparing for war. The freezing of all overseas accounts and closing of all loans and markets which Venezuela continues to depend upon. Conclusion Imperialism is a central aspect of US global capitalism. But it cannot accomplish its goals and means whenever and how it wishes. Global and regime shifts in the correlation of forces can thwart and delay imperial success. Coups can be defeated and converted into radical reforms. Imperialist ambitions can be countered by successful economic policies and strategic alliance. Latin America has been prone to imperial coups and military interventions. But it is also capable of building regional, class and international alliances. Unlike other regions and imperial targets, Latin America is terrain for class and anti-imperialist struggles. Economic cycles accompany the rise and fall of classes and as a consequence imperial power advances and retreats. The US intervention in Venezuela is the longest war of our century (eighteen years) exceeding the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. The conflict also illustrates how the US relies on regional clients and overseas allies to provide cover for imperial power grabs. While coups are frequent, their consequences are unstable clients are weak and the regimes are subject to popular uprising. US coups against popular regimes lead to bloody massacres which fail to secure long-term large-scale consolidation. These are the peculiarities of Latin America coups. James Petras is a Bartle Professor (Emeritus) of Sociology at Binghamton University, New York. https://petras.lahaine.org/ 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. Peace and joy The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Watch January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on the people in the US to deter the Trump administration from putting boots on the ground in Venezuela, warning that any intervention would backfire leading to new Vietnam-like disaster. In his first direct message to the American people, the Venezuelan leader urged them to stop the US government from entangling the nation in a pointless and inherently doomed military adventure. President Maduro addresses the American people - Don't let Trump start a Vietnam war in Venezuela If the government of the United States intends to intervene us, they will have a much worse Vietnam than you could imagine. https://www.facebook.com/NicolasMaduro/videos/2069679193125346/ The 4-minute video, in Spanish with English subtitles, was posted on Maduros official Facebook page on Wednesday, shortly after he accused US President Donald Trump of ordering the Colombian government and mafia to assassinate him, and rejected a European ultimatum to call snap presidential elections within 8 days. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Maduro accused the US media of waging a brutal campaign of false images to support the Trump administrations interference in Venezuela. This campaign has been prepared to justify a coup detat in Venezuela that has been set, financed and actively supported by Donald Trump administration. Effectively sidestepping his US counterpart, Maduro urged Americans to second-guess the distorted narrative peddled by the mainstream media. The embattled Venezuelan leader stated that Washington cannot use the same pretext to invade Venezuela as it did to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, so it is spreading new falsehoods about his government in hopes that something will tip the balance. They cannot invent that Venezuela and Maduro have [weapons of mass destruction] so they could intervene, they now invent lies every day, false news to justify an aggression against our country. Maduro reiterated that US interests in Venezuela are limited exclusively to its vast natural riches. Venezuela boasts the worlds largest confirmed oil reserves and the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas. The president said that by fomenting unrest in Venezuela, the US elites want to put their hands on that national treasure as they did in Iraq and Libya. We are a country of great resources, both natural and energetic. That is the truth and this explains the constant attacks against Venezuela. Thats why I appeal to your conscience and solidarity. He admitted that Venezuela faces a plethora of problems, as any other country and said Venezuelans can solve them by ourselves, without any outside meddling. Describing himself as an admirer of US history, Maduro said that he hopes that reasonable US citizens will prevail, adding that America is a great country, and it is much more than Donald Trump. The United States is a great country and it is much bigger than Donald Trump, he said. I only ask for respect for Venezuela and I need your support to avoid a war like Vietnam. More than 58,000 American soldiers were killed and some four million Vietnamese died in what is now the second longest war in American history after Afghanistan. The US sent first 3,500 combat troops to South Vietnam in March 1965, to fight against the communist government of North Vietnam that sought to unify the country under its terms. While the intervention was first met enthusiastically by the American public, the protracted nature of the conflict and US inability to turn the tide of the war led to a massive anti-war movement in the US. The last US troops withdrew in 1973 following the Paris Peace Accords. In 1975, troops from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam entered Saigon, the capital of US-backed South Vietnam, sealing the US military defeat This article was originally published by " RT " - 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. Peace and joy Washington: The United States is expected to announce the suspension of its participation in the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia on Friday. Quoting sources, CNN reported that the decision comes after high-ranking officials from the US Department of State, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, put forth that the US would exit from the treaty if Russia failed to comply with the accord until February 2. The United States and Russia had, on Thursday, held a meeting in Beijing on the sidelines of the P5 conference, where the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov slammed the US for holding a "tough" and "ultimatum-like" position with regard to the arms control treaty."Unfortunately, there is no progress. The US position remains rather tough and ultimatum-like. We told the US side that it is impossible to hold dialogue in the conditions of attempted blackmailing of Russia," Ryabkov said. Experts believe that the suspension of the INF Treaty will trigger an arms race between Russia and the USA, much like how it was during the Cold War era when the treaty was signed.US President Donald Trump had, in October last year, announced Washington`s plan to withdraw from the INF Treaty. Following this, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued the 60-day ultimatum to Russia for their compliance to the treaty, failing which the USA would withdraw from the treaty on February 2. The Treaty, sealed in the waning days of the Soviet Union in 1987, bans ground-launched missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. The Trump administration announced last October that, because of Russian violations dating back several years, it was planning to pull the United States from the pact. The INF treaty was signed by former US President Ronald Reagan and former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to limit the arms race between the nations. WASHINGTON: The United States said on Thursday it was imposing visa restrictions on Ghana, accusing the African country of not cooperating in accepting its citizens ordered removed from the United States. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "has ordered consular officers in Ghana to implement visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement. In September 2017, the United States imposed visa sanctions on Guinea, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, and Cambodia for the same reason. "Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population," the statement said. "Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States," said DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. "We hope the Ghanaian government will work with us to reconcile these deficiencies quickly," she said. Rome: Japan has contributed over $8 million to help the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation improve food security and nutrition for some 200,000 of the most vulnerable households affected by the war in Yemen, where the world`s worst humanitarian crisis in modern times is looming, the FAO has said. The Japanese funds will go towards inputs and services in Yemen`s crucial agriculture sector, including the distribution of cereal and legumes seeds, restocking of livestock, and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems and other agricultural facilities, using "cash for work", the FAO statement said in a statement on Thursday. These measures will help hungry households produce life-saving food and generate income as well as stimulate local economies through rural job creation, the statement said. "FAO is on the frontlines in the fight against hunger in Yemen, providing extremely vulnerable people with the means to resume and maintain food production for their families and their communities," said FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva. "This generous contribution from the Government of Japan allows us to continue supporting the Yemeni people in this time of their greatest need. It will enable FAO to help save the lives and the livelihoods of the country`s most food insecure people and to put agriculture back on track to reduce their dependence on food assistance and food imports in the long run." Under the project, FAO also intends to focus on emergency livestock assistance and protection. Provision of animal feed and animal health services such as vaccination campaigns will ensure that products, especially milk, are available to the most vulnerable members of the poor families -- especially children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The Japanese funding will also enable FAO to improve food production practices and strengthen communities` ability to manage land, soil and water resources in a sustainable manner, as well as their resilience. The current humanitarian situation in Yemen is worse than any the world has experienced in the last few decades. With the conflict now entering its fifth year, almost 16 million people in Yemen (53 per cent of the population) are experiencing severe acute hunger, FAO said. FAO is appealing for a total $218.5 million to provide agricultural support to 8.6 million people in Yemen this year. Japan is the second largest contributor to FAO`s regular budget, and a leading voluntary contributor to FAO`s field programmes. Washington: An ongoing rift between US President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the construction of a wall along the Mexican border appeared to have widened even as negotiators worked to strike a deal ahead of a looming deadline. On Thursday, Pelosi made her strongest comments against the wall since the government reopened last week after the longest shutdown in US history, reports CNN. "There`s not going to be any wall money in the legislation," she told the media. Pelosi added that other aspects of border security involving infrastructure and technology were part of the negotiations. In response, Trump dismissed the Speaker`s remarks as "just playing games", insisting even she would be "begging for a wall" if an onslaught of undocumented immigrants swarm the border. "I`m not waiting for this committee and I`ve told a lot of people I don`t expect much coming out of the committee because I keep hearing words that `We`ll give you what you want but we won`t give you a wall`. And the problem is, if they don`t give us a wall, it doesn`t work," he said at the Oval Office. Also in a series of tweets early on Thursday, Trump insisted his long-promised border wall would come to fruition one way or another, blaming "political games" for delaying the inevitable. The war of words between the two leaders came as Republican and Democratic negotiators began talks on Thursday over a government funding measure that Trump insists must include the border wall funding. The President and his aides were continuing to make preparations for the national emergency order this week in the event that the negotiators on Capitol Hill fail to reach an agreement by mid-month, according to White House officials. Indian record label T Series is once again close to taking over PewDiePie as the most subscribed channel on YouTube. At the time of filing this story, the music label was just 1.6 lakh (one hundred and 60 thousand) followers behind PewDiePie. Analysts had initially predicted that the music brand will overtake the one-man Swedish content creator Felix Kjellberg's channel in early January 2019. However, thanks to YouTube's cleansing of spam accounts on its platform, T Series' subscriber count went down drastically in December 2018. Nearly a month after the episode, T Series has bounced back and is expected to soon overtake Pewds. The T Series vs PewDiePie battle has been raging for months now. A household name in India since the 1980s, the company is lead by Bhushan Kumar - son of T Series founder Gulshan Kumar who was assassinated by the underworld mafia D Company in 1997. It has 29 TV channels in several Indian languages and hosts some of the biggest Indian artists, drawing millions of views. At the beginning of 2018, T Series had about 30 million subscribers on its YouTube channel. With the introduction of landmark changes in Indian mobile and data service, the subscriber list sky-rocketed to over 70 million in just six months. The online video channel also accounts for nearly 25 per cent of its sales, which is about $100 million. PewDiePie, game commentary and comic-oriented YouTube channel, held the mantle of most subscribed for almost six years now. Despite the highest number of subscribers, PewDiePie failed to make it to YouTube Rewinds two years in a row over his controversial comments. In January 2019, both the YouTube channels crossed the major milestone of passing 80 million-subscribers number. The war saw many of PewDiePie fans indulge in massive online campaigns to get more subscribers. Some even hacked worldwide printers, Google Chromecasts, smart TVs and even defaced Wall Street Journal. PewDiePie also saw many of his contemporaries and direct competitors, including Mr Beast, Logan Paul, Shane Dawson, come out in support. Latest to support PewDiePie is Elon Musk - the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, Hyperloop, The Boring Company, and Neuralink. UK Independence Party (UKIP), A Britain-based right-wing political outfit, has also sided with Kjellberg publicly. NEW DELHI: With every passing hour, the Indian record label - T Series - is inching closer to narrow the gap with PewDiePie, which is till now the most subscribed channel on YouTube. At the time of filing this story, the Indian music label was just 112,787 subscribers behind the Swedish YouTuber. As of Friday morning, the gap between its subscribers and PewDiePie's subscribers on YouTube had narrowed to under 155,000. Video marketing companies like Tubular Labs had earlier claimed that T-Series was well "on course to surpass" PewDiePie's 83,353,773 subscribers within a short span of time. Nonetheless, T-Series is already number one on another metric - the Most-Watched YouTube channel. Its videos have already garnered 60 billion views, which is three times the number of views on Justin Bieber or Katy Perry's YouTube channel. Analysts had earlier predicted that the Indian music brand will overtake the one-man Swedish content creator Felix Kjellberg's channel in early January 2019. But due to YouTube's cleansing of spam accounts on its platform, T Series' subscriber count came crashing drastically in December 2018. But, it looks line nearly a month after the episode, T Series has bounced back and is expected to overtake Pewds soon. The much-interesting T Series vs PewDiePie battle has been raging for months now. A household name in India since the 1980s, the company is lead by Bhushan Kumar - son of T Series founder Gulshan Kumar who was assassinated by the underworld mafia D Company in 1997. It has 29 TV channels in several Indian languages and hosts some of the biggest Indian artists, drawing millions of views. At the beginning of 2018, T Series had about 30 million subscribers on its YouTube channel. With the introduction of landmark changes in Indian mobile and data service, the subscriber list sky-rocketed to over 70 million in just six months. The online video channel also accounts for nearly 25 percent of its sales, which is about $100 million. PewDiePie, game commentary and comic-oriented YouTube channel, held the mantle of most subscribed for almost six years now. Despite the highest number of subscribers, PewDiePie failed to make it to YouTube Rewinds two years in a row over his controversial comments. In January 2019, both the YouTube channels crossed the major milestone of passing 80 million-subscribers number. The war saw many of PewDiePie fans indulge in massive online campaigns to get more subscribers. Some even hacked worldwide printers, Google Chromecasts, smart TVs and even defaced Wall Street Journal. PewDiePie also saw many of his contemporaries and direct competitors, including Mr Beast, Logan Paul, Shane Dawson, come out in support. Latest to support PewDiePie is Elon Musk - the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, Hyperloop, The Boring Company, and Neuralink. UK Independence Party (UKIP), A Britain-based right-wing political outfit, has also sided with Kjellberg publicly. By Moon Of Alabama January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - A number of related stories describe nefarious activities by 'former' NSA, 'former' CIA, 'former' military officers who joined private businesses which harm other people. They demonstrate that there is a structural problem when those trained to be weapons are allowed to run in the wild. Reuters just published a two part story about 'former' NSA staff, more than twenty in total, who since 2013 built a snooping center for the United Arab Emirates. Inside the UAEs secret hacking team of American mercenaries Ex-NSA operatives reveal how they helped spy on targets for the Arab monarchy dissidents, rival leaders and journalists. The 'former' NSA staff did not mind to spy on local dissidents or 16 year old kids on Twitter for the dictatorial Gulf State. Only some of them jumped ship when they found out that their shop was also used to spy on Americans. The 'private' company they worked for is named Dark Matter. It claims to do only cyber-security work, but is a known snooping shop directly connected to the UAE's digital intelligence service NESU. It even resides in the same building. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In October 2016 Jenna McLaughlin reported on Dark Matter for the Intercept: How the UAE is recruiting hackers to create the perfect surveillance state. In December 2017 she followed up with an piece in Foreign Policy: Deep Pockets, Deep Cover The UAE Is paying Ex-CIA officers to build a spy empire in the Gulf McLaughlin reports that Dark Matter is under FBI investigation. The UAE hires not only 'former' NSA and 'former' CIA spies but also 'former' U.S. special operations soldiers: A Middle East Monarchy Hired American Ex-Soldiers To Kill Its Political Enemies. This Could Be The Future Of War. The second Reuters story published today describes the technical side of the UAE's cyber-spy shop: UAE used cyber super-weapon to spy on iPhones of foes The ex-Raven operatives described Karma as a tool that could remotely grant access to iPhones simply by uploading phone numbers or email accounts into an automated targeting system. Reuters does not say so, but from the description of the spy tools it seem clear that the Karma tool was bought from the notorious Israeli spy shop NSO Group. The tool's original marketing name is Pegasus. The quoted 'former' NSA spy in the Reuters piece makes some curious claims like 'the tool could not record phone calls'. But that claim makes no sense. Once a decent spy software is on the phone everything is accessible. The claim is obviously made to divert from NSO/Pegasus. Sales of the NSO Group tools to the UAE were confirmed in earlier reports. From August 2018: Lawsuits claim Israeli spyware firm helped UAE regime hack opponents phones The government of the United Arab Emirates used Israeli phone-hacking technology to spy on political and regional rivals as well as members of the media, with the Israeli company itself participating in the cyber attacks, The New York Times reported Friday. The Herzliya-based NSO Group uses its controversial Pegasus spyware program to turn smartphones into listening devices. ... In 2016, Israels Yedioth Ahronoth daily first reported that the Defense Ministry had given the NSO Group permission to sell the software to an Arab company, which went on to target a prominent UAE rights activist. The NYT original: Hacking a Prince, an Emir and a Journalist to Impress a Client The U.A.E.s use of the NSO Groups spyware was first reported in 2016. Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati human rights advocate, noticed suspicious text messages and exposed an attempt to hack his Apple iPhone. The U.A.E. arrested him on apparently unrelated charges the next year and he remains in jail. After Mr. Mansoors disclosures, Apple said it had released an update that patched the vulnerabilities exploited by the NSO Group. The NSO Group pledged to investigate and said in a statement that the company has no knowledge of and cannot confirm the specific cases. But other leaked documents filed with the lawsuits indicate that the U.A.E. continued to license and use the Pegasus software well after Apple announced its fix and the NSO Group pledged to investigate. NSO Group was founded by two 'former' Israeli army spies: Everything We Know About NSO Group: The Professional Spies Who Hacked iPhones With A Single Text But founder Omri Lavie keeps a remarkably tight ship. ... Co-founder Shalev Hulio had not responded to messages. Both are believed to be alumni of Israel's famous Unit 8200 signals intelligence arm, as are many of the country's security entrepreneurs. The NSO Group tools were also used by the government of Mexico under the former president Nieto to spy on journalists and its opposition. It was the Toronto University Citizen Lab that in 2016 uncovered the UAE attacks on human rights activists and found NSO to be behind it. It has since published a number of pieces about the NSO Group. Last year Citizen Lab alleged that the NSO tools were used by Saudi Arabia to spy on Jamal Khashoggi, a 'former' Saudi intelligence asset, Muslim Brotherhood activist and Washington Post columnist, who the Saudis slaughtered inside their consulate in Istanbul. Last month two leading members of Citizen Lab were approached by a shady figure who purported to offer investment money. The Citizen Lab folks became suspicious. They recorded their talks with the man, photographed him and invited some journalists. AP reported on January 26: APNewsBreak: Undercover agents target cybersecurity watchdog The researchers who reported that Israeli software was used to spy on Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggis inner circle before his gruesome death are being targeted in turn by international undercover operatives, The Associated Press has found. Two days later the NYT found that the spy shop which sent the man was the Israeli company Black Cube. The Case of the Bumbling Spy: A Watchdog Group Gets Him on Camera Black Cube denied that it had played any role in approaching Citizen Lab employees, but the same undercover agent turned up in an earlier case in Canada with a Black Cube connection. ... The New York Times, in collaboration with Uvda, an investigative television show on Israels Channel 12, has confirmed that the mysterious visitor was Aharon Almog-Assoulin, a retired Israeli security official who until recently served on the town council in a suburb of Tel Aviv. Black Cube also spied on some people who supported Obama's Iran deal. Trita Parsi: I Was Targeted by Black Cube in Dirty Ops Effort Attacking Supporters of Iran Deal Black Cube is run by a number of 'former' military officers and 'former' Mossad agents. Black Cube: Inside the shadowy Israeli firm accused of trying to undermine the Iran deal Internal Black Cube documents obtained by NBC News and interviews of sources with direct knowledge of Black Cubes operations reveal a business intelligence company with governmental contracts and a special department for politically motivated work. ... The firm was founded by former Israeli military officers in 2011. It retains close ties to the Israeli intelligence community, and many of its recruits are former Mossad agents. The UAE hires 'ex-CIA', 'former NSA' and 'ex-soldiers' to spy on dissidents, friends and enemies. It uses tools produced by the NGO Group which is run by 'alumni of Israel's famous Unit 8200 signals intelligence arm'. When Canadian researchers dig too deep into NGO Group's business they get visits by 'retired Israeli security official' from a company founded by 'former Israeli military officers' who recruit many 'former Mossad agents'. There is also the 'former MI6 agent' Christopher Steele who created the Dirty Dossier about Donald Trump for the Clinton campaign. Parts of the dossier were likely written by the 'former MI6/GRU double agent' Sergei Skripal who the Brits novichoked and vanished in Salisbury. The international media reaction to that incident was of special interest to the secret military intelligence shop Integrity Initiative which is run by Nigel Donnelly, a 'former British military intelligence official'. The Initiative is financed by the British government. When I read pieces like those linked above I always presume that the 'former' CIA/NSA/FBI/MI6/8200/Mossad/military folks are not 'former' at all, but active agents on a mission for their original service. Some stories only make sense when one reads them under that premise. But many of the 'former' people above may really have quit their service. They then get hired for a lot of money by shady states or businesses. This is dangerous not only for human rights advocate in the Emirates or some Jamal Khashoggi. These people could be directed to attack anyone. There was a time when people entered public jobs when they were young and stayed with their service until they were old and retired. For the services it made sense to keep the expensively trained people within the house and their knowledge away from potentially hostile competition. The public services offered good perks and paid sufficient pensions to make the long stay attractive. They were competitive employers. That is no longer the case. One of the 'former' NSA spies in the Reuters story above is Lori Straud: She spent a decade at the NSA, first as a military service member from 2003 to 2009 and later as a contractor in the agency for the giant technology consultant Booz Allen Hamilton from 2009 to 2014. ... Marc Baier, a former colleague at NSA Hawaii, offered her the chance to work for a contractor in Abu Dhabi called CyberPoint. ... Many analysts, like Stroud, were paid more than $200,000 a year, and some managers received salaries and compensation above $400,000. It is crazy that the NSA trains people who then leave and get hired by a contractor for more money only to do the very same work at the NSA while costing the taxpayer much more than they originally received. That's a racket and not a sensible policy. (Years ago I managed the IT division of an international company. I made it policy to never ever hire a contractor who was earlier employed in my shop. Thereafter the termination rates decreased significantly.) 'Former' NSA, CIA, military etc have special knowledge and abilities that can be very dangerous. They should be handled like controlled substances. To allow these people to get hired by foreign spy shops is ridiculous. The above reports of 'former' agents in the wild only scratch the surface of what has become a big business, but is unhealthy for our societies. It is bad enough that state actors spy on us. It will get worse when private businesses do the same. There will come a day when a crew of former NSA analysts will help some foreign power to defend against NSA analysts who spy on it or will even counterspy on the NSA. There will come a day when former U.S. special operation forces hired by someone will get into a fight with U.S. special operation forces. The outcry will be great. Decent public service pay and sensible regulation could probably prevent the situation. This article was originally published by " Moon Of Alabama " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== In case you missed it; Deep Pockets, Deep Cover: The UAE Is paying Ex-CIA officers to build a spy empire in the Gulf 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. Peace and joy New Delhi: The nation on Friday paid tribute to Kalpana Chawla - the first woman astronaut from India - on her 16th death anniversary. From politicians to celebs, all took to Twitter and proudly remembered the achievements of the iconic figure in the world of space. On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members, which included Indian-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla. Columbia exploded a mere sixteen minutes before landing on Earth. The spacecraft was on its 28th mission, and the sudden accident was caused by a damaged aluminium heat-insulating tile on the left wing of the shuttle. Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, Haryana's Karnal. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. She began working at the NASA Ames Research Center in 1988, where she did Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research on Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing concepts. She was 40-years-old at the time of her death. Her remains were identified along with the rest of the crew members and were cremated at the National Park in Utah. Kalpana Chawla is survived by her husband. Johannesburg: Heavy bombardment of Earth by asteroids from space over 3.8 billion years ago contributed to the formation of the early evolved crust on our planet, that later gave rise to continents, a study has found. In a time period called the Hadean eon, our planet Earth was constantly bombarded by asteroids, which caused the large-scale melting of its surface rocks, said researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa said in a statement. Most of these surface rocks were basalts, and the asteroid impacts produced large pools of superheated impact melt of such composition. These basaltic pools were tens of kilometres thick, and thousands of kilometres in diameter, according to the research published in the journal Nature Communications. "If you want to get an idea of what the surface of Earth looked like at that time, you can just look at the surface of the Moon which is covered by a vast amount of large impact craters," said Professor Rais Latypov from the University of the Witwatersrand. The subsequent fate of these ancient, giant melt sheet remains, however, highly debatable. By studying the younger impact melt sheet of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) in Canada, the team inferred that ancient asteroid impacts were capable of producing various rock types from the earlier Earth's basaltic crust. Most importantly, these impacts may have made the crust compositionally more evolved, i e silica-rich in composition. The SIC is the largest, best exposed and accessible asteroid impact melt sheet on Earth, which has resulted from a large asteroid impact 1.85 billion years ago, researchers said. This impact produced a superheated melt sheet of up to five kilometres thick. The SIC now shows a remarkable magmatic stratigraphy, with various layers of igneous rocks. "Our field and geochemical observations -- especially the discovery of large discrete bodies of melanorites throughout the entire stratigraphy of the SIC -- allowed us to reassess current models for the formation of the SIC and firmly conclude that its conspicuous magmatic stratigraphy is the result of large-scale fractional crystallisation," said Latypov. An important implication is that more ancient and primitive Hadean impact melt sheets on the early Earth and other terrestrial planets would also have undergone near-surface, large-volume differentiation to produce compositionally stratified bodies. The detachment of dense primitive layers from these bodies and their sinking into the mantle would leave behind substantial volumes of evolved rocks (buoyant crustal blocks) in the Hadean crust. This would make the crust compositionally layered and increasingly more evolved from its base towards the Earth's surface. "These impacts made the crust compositionally more evolved ? in other words, silica-rich in composition," said Latypov. "Traditionally, researchers believe that such silica-rich evolved rocks -- which are essentially building buoyant blocks of our continents -- can only be generated deep in the Earth, but we now argue that such blocks can be produced at new-surface conditions within impact melt pools," Latypov said. New Delhi: Bollywood's hottest dad Shahid Kapoor on Friday shared an endearing picture on Instagram with his daughter Misha. In the picture, little Misha can be seen sitting on her daddy's new mean machine the Ducati Scrambler bike with him. Captioning the picture, Shahid wrote, "Cause she knows she can do it all better." Aren't they adorable? On the work front, Shahid is busy shooting for Kabir Singh. Kiara Advani plays the female lead in the film and fans eagerly await more details about the venture. In November last year, Shahid had shared his first look from the film leaving us all surprised. The actor got rid of his beard for the film and looked handsome as ever. The film is being helmed by Sandeep Vanga, who also directed the original 2017 Telugu blockbuster. Earlier, actress Tara Sutaria who will make her Bollywood debut with 'Student of the Year 2' was to play the lead but she backed out of the project. To replace Tara, Kiara was roped in. Expressing her happiness over being a part of the film, Kiara had earlier written on Twitter, "#WaitForIt This is NOT a still from the Arjun Reddy remake but our film shoot begins today! wishing the team an amazinggg start!!! All the best @shahidkapoor @imvangasandeep @ashwinvarde @TSeries @MuradKhetani and team #ArjunReddy cant wait to join youll super soon 'Kabir Singh' will hit the screens on June 21, 2019. KOLKATA: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on Friday sought an explanation from the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar after he skipped the two-day Election Commissions review meeting in the state. Kolkata Police commissioner was replaced by the special commissioner. When we asked him where was he, he said that he doesnt know the whereabouts of the commissioner and added that he had been asked to attend the meet. We have sought an explanation from the controlling officer of the Police Commissioner. They will give us in writing why he skipped the meet, CEC Arora said, adding, Someone told me it was his birthday. According to sources, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had asked the ADG Law and Order to convey to the Kolkata Police Commissioner that he must attend the meet on the second day, however, he skipped the meeting today too. Reacting strongly to Kolkata Police Commissioner's decision not to attend the election review meeting, the CEC sought an explanation from the Home Secretary - the controlling officer of the police commissioner. On being quizzed whether the present prevailing conditions in the state are conducive to hold free and fair polls, the CEC said that ''there is room for improvement.'' Sources revealed that the Commission was unhappy with the police as far as the execution of non-bailable warrants were concerned. The Commission has directed the District Magistrates and police officers to carefully look into law and order concerns. They have been asked to ensure speedy execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and speedy disposal of pending cases of the electoral offences from last elections, Arora added. The full bench of Election Commission of India (ECI) was on a two-day visit to Kolkata to review poll preparedness in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. On Day 1 of the visit, the Election Commission officials held a meeting with all the political parties in the state. The second meeting was held with all the district Superintend of Police, District Magistrate and DEOs. The third meeting was held with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and nodal officers from the Bengal Police. On Day 2, the Election Commission held meetings with the Excise department, IT department, transport department. Later in the day, the commission held a meeting with the West Bengal Chief Secretary and Director General of West Bengal Police. Srinagar: A 25-year-old woman was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. The incident took place on Thursday night. The victim has been identified as Ishrat Muneer, daughter of Muneer Ahmad Dar, a resident of Dangerpora, Pulwama. She was shot at from point-blank range. The terrorists also captured a video of the act and circulated it on the social media. The body of the woman was retrieved by police from Dragad area of Zainapora in Shopian. According to a police spokesperson, the video of the shooting surfaced in several social media platforms late on Thursday evening and police are ascertaining the details. The woman is related to Al-badr commander Zeenat ul Islam, who was killed in an encounter last month, said a senior police officer. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated an investigation into the incident. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Underworld don Ravi Pujari has been arrested in West Africa's Senegal, said reports. The arrest was made following a tip-off by the Indian Intelligence Agencies. Bengaluru City Police had earlier issued a red corner notice against the fugitive gangster after which action was taken. Pujari came under the limelight after he allegedly made threat calls to public figures and demanded extortion from Bollywood celebrities. Infamous gangster Chhota Rajan, who is presently in a Navi Mumbai jail, is believed to be the mentor of Pujari. In January, two alleged members of the Ravi Pujari gang - William Rodricks and Akash Shetty - were arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) year for threatening a builder. Rodricks was arrested from suburban Goregaon on January 15 after he allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from the builder and also threatened his relatives. During the interrogation, he allegedly revealed that he had provided contact details of a developer to Pujari. Following this Pujari, started demanding 'protection money' from the developer. Rodricks's questioning led the police to Akash Shetty, another alleged member of the Pujari gang, who was arrested from Mangalore in Karnataka by an AEC team in the third week of January. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Suspense over the next CBI chief continued on Friday as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed selection committee could not reach a decision during its second meeting here, officials said. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said it was "averse" to the arrangement of an interim CBI Director and the Centre should "immediately" appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. The post of CBI Director is "sensitive" and "important", and it is not good to keep an interim director of the agency for longer period, the top court observed and sought to know as to why the government has not made the appointment yet. "No decision could be taken during the meeting," a senior government official said, without citing further details on the selection committee's meeting. The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges. Both Verma and Asthana had accused each other of corruption. M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief after Verma's ouster. Friday's meeting was held at the prime minister's residence -- that lasted for over an hour -- and attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The panel's January 24 meeting has also remained inconclusive. A list of eligible officers along with their dossiers was shared with the panel members in the last meeting. "The government presented names of 70-80 officers. There was no mention of their career details including relevant experience. We (referring to CJI Gogoi) have asked them to provide all the necessary details. The next meeting will be convened may be by next week," Kharge had told reporters after the January 24 meeting. Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director by the PM-led panel, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards -- a less significant portfolio. Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he has completed 60 years age of superannuation on July 31, 2017. He had taken over as the CBI chief on February 1, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure that ended Thursday. NEW DELHI: In a big bonanza for the country's middle class in an election year, the Narendra Modi government on Friday proposed various tax sops including tax exemption for individual annual incomes of Rs 5 lakh, all of which add up to taking individual incomes up to Rs 9.5 lakhs outside the tax net. Presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal proposed doubling the tax exemption threshold for individual annual incomes from the current Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Individuals with yearly income within the proposed limit will not have to pay any income tax for the next fiscal. Interim Budget 2019 - Here are the key figures He also proposed increasing the standard deduction limit by Rs 10,000 and raising the tax deducted at source (TDS) threshold on interest earned on bank and post office deposits which would benefit small depositors. Besides proposing that standard deduction will be increased to Rs.50,000 from the current Rs.40,000 to benefit the salaried class, Goyal said individuals with annual incomes of Rs.6.5 lakh and who have invested in various tax savings schemes will not have to pay income tax. According to the Minister, with additional deductions such as interest on home loans, national pension scheme contribution, medical expenditure on senior citizens, individuals with even higher income will not have to pay tax. While some called the Interim Budget 2019 'historic', some others called it an insult for farmers and the salaried class. Here are are some of the top political reactions: Narendra Modi, PM This is an Interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development. It's generosity and honesty of middle class and the upper middle class which provides tax to the nation through which schemes are formulated and there is the welfare of the poor. There was always the demand to exempt those, with annual income upto Rs 5 Lakh, from taxation. Our government has fulfilled this. Prime Minister Narendra Modi: This is an Interim Budget. This is just a trailer of the budget which, after elections, will take India on the path to development. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/aWzi76nzKw ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Amit Shah, BJP chief The budget has met the expectations of farmers, labourers & middle class. By bearing a cost of Rs 75,000 crore,the govt will implement Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This scheme will also benefit those farmers who do not take loans. BJP Chief Amit Shah on #Budget2019 : The budget has met the expectations of farmers, labourers & middle class. By bearing a cost of Rs 75,000 crore,the govt will implement Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This scheme will also benefit those farmers who do not take loans. pic.twitter.com/Tk5l60UU4U ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Sumitra Mahajan, LS Speaker This budget is for everyone and is a good one. Work will go on like this. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker: This budget is for everyone and is a good one. Work will go on like this. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/wthHEsOqjX ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Rajnath Singh, Home Minister The Interim Budget presented by the FM Piyush Goyal is "historic". It is aimed at strengthening the economy and will benefit all sections of society. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Union #Budget2019: Its a historic budget, and all the sections of the society will benefit from it. pic.twitter.com/IHVvV5dadK ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister The Interim Budget 2019 is a "surgical strike on the Opposition". This is the second surgical strike. First surgical strike was when our soldiers fought with bullets at the border and it will be the ballot this year. The Budget will benefit farmers. RK Singh, Union Minister I advice the Opposition to welcome the Budget and it felt like a surgical strike on the Opposition. It was shell-shocked. It should be happy because the people are happy. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister Interim Budget will benefit the common man and the service class. It benefits the poor population too. Such a Budget has been presented after many years and it would help in empowering people of this country. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister The opposition has no issues to talk about, they are scared of Modi Jis welfare schemes. We dont do votebank politics, we do development politics. We are dedicated to take Indian farmers to new heights. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on #Budget2019 : Opposition has no issues to talk about, they are scared of Modi Jis welfare schemes. We dont do votebank politics, we do development politics. We are dedicated to take Indian farmers to new heights. pic.twitter.com/S87aY4IVQt ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister We have also issued guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. In 2018-19 financial year, for months before March, Rs 2000 will be transferred to farmers' accounts and, in the financial year 2019-20, farmers will get Rs 6000. Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh: We have also issued guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. In 2018-19 financial year, for months before March, Rs 2000 will be transferred to farmers' accounts, and in the financial year 2019-20 farmers will get Rs 6000. pic.twitter.com/jDXaurtYDY ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 P Chidambaram, Congress My one line comment on the budget is that it is not a Vote on Account but an 'account for votes'. P Chidambaram, Congress on #Budget2019: My one line comment on the budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes. pic.twitter.com/FjX4zU7i3P ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP There was a lot of fantasy language and castles being constructed in the air but very little actually happening in real terms. However, the tax exemptions introduced for the middle-class is a welcome step. S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM Interim Budget 2019 has no value. Who will implement this (interim budget)? Will the new government that will come after election implement this budget? Before the election, a vote on account is placed. WB CM Mamata Banerjee: This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless. pic.twitter.com/rK4CBge5Sw ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM Final 'jumla' of Narendra Modi government. Its Interim Budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Naveen Patnaik, Odisha CM I welcome tax benefits for middle and lower income groups. I welcome direct benefit transfer to both small and marginal farmers on lines of our KALIA Scheme. However, it would've benefitted farmers more if the quantum of assistance is equal or more than KALIA Scheme. Nitish Kumar, Bihar CM I welcome the decision to transfer Rs 6000 directly to farmers' accounts every year. It will strengthen the economic conditions of rural areas. Also, I welcome the decision of tax rebate for taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh. It'll give relief to the middle-class. New Delhi: With the intervention of Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, the government and the opposition reached an understanding on six bills to be taken up for consideration and passage in the upper house, sources said Friday. However, no consensus was reached on the contentious triple talaq and citizenship amendment bills, sources said, suggesting that their fate hangs in balance. Earlier in the day, Naidu urged both the government and the opposition, saying a sincere effort shall be made to ensure proper functioning of the House to send out the right message, as this budget session is the last one before general elections. Following his intervention, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his deputy Vijay Goel held a 30-minute-long meeting with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of other parties, official sources said. As a result of the meetings, it was decided six legislative proposals, including one to replace an ordinance, will be taken up during the session, sources further said. The Companies (Amendment) Bill to replace ordinance, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill 2019, Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019, Aadhar and other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019, are the ones which a consensus has been reached by both sides. Rajya Sabha is likely to discuss a motion of thanks to the president during February 4 to 6, the budget on February 7 and 11. In the last two days, it will take up the agreed upon legislations for consideration and passage. February 8 is earmarked for the private members bill. Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad, BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav, Congress leader Anand Sharma, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra and TMC leader Derek O'Brien were among the leaders who attended the meeting. Kolkata: The Election Commission will visit Jammu and Kashmir next week to take stock of the situation there before deciding on the Assembly elections in the state, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said Friday. Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's Rule. The commission will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials and then visit the state to decide on holding the elections there along with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Arora said. "We had held a meeting (through video conference) with the chief secretary and the DGP of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, when the Assembly was dissolved prematurely, we had sought specific inputs from the MHA," he told reporters here. "Next week, or eight-10 days later, we will hold another meeting with the MHA and the commission will itself visit the state to take stock of the situation and then it will be able to give a conclusive answer on this," the CEC said to a question on holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The militancy-hit state was brought under President's Rule on December 20 last year, paving the way for the Union cabinet to take all policy decisions related to it. Prior to it, the state was under Governor's Rule for six months after the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the BJP in June. The governor had on November 21 dissolved the 87-member state assembly after the PDP, supported by the Congress and their arch rival National Conference, had staked claim to form the government. On whether the commission was planning to hold Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana along with the Lok Sabha elections, Arora said as of now no decision has been taken in that context. "We have no formal or informal inputs that the assemblies are going to be dissolved prematurely. So the question is quite premature," he said. The last Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana were held on October 15, 2014. The full bench of the EC is here to take stock of election preparedness in West Bengal. By Michelle Alexander January 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - On April 4, 1967, exactly one year before his assassination, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped up to the lectern at the Riverside Church in Manhattan. The United States had been in active combat in Vietnam for two years and tens of thousands of people had been killed, including some 10,000 American troops. The political establishment from left to right backed the war, and more than 400,000 American service members were in Vietnam, their lives on the line. Many of Kings strongest allies urged him to remain silent about the war or at least to soft-pedal any criticism. They knew that if he told the whole truth about the unjust and disastrous war he would be falsely labeled a Communist, suffer retaliation and severe backlash, alienate supporters and threaten the fragile progress of the civil rights movement. King rejected all the well-meaning advice and said, I come to this magnificent house of worship tonight because my conscience leaves me no other choice. Quoting a statement by the Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, he said, A time comes when silence is betrayal and added, that time has come for us in relation to Vietnam. It was a lonely, moral stance. And it cost him. But it set an example of what is required of us if we are to honor our deepest values in times of crisis, even when silence would better serve our personal interests or the communities and causes we hold most dear. Its what I think about when I go over the excuses and rationalizations that have kept me largely silent on one of the great moral challenges of our time: the crisis in Israel-Palestine. I have not been alone. Until very recently, the entire Congress has remained mostly silent on the human rights nightmare that has unfolded in the occupied territories. Our elected representatives, who operate in a political environment where Israel's political lobby holds well-documented power, have consistently minimized and deflected criticism of the State of Israel, even as it has grown more emboldened in its occupation of Palestinian territory and adopted some practices reminiscent of apartheid in South Africa and Jim Crow segregation in the United States. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Many civil rights activists and organizations have remained silent as well, not because they lack concern or sympathy for the Palestinian people, but because they fear loss of funding from foundations, and false charges of anti-Semitism. They worry, as I once did, that their important social justice work will be compromised or discredited by smear campaigns. Similarly, many students are fearful of expressing support for Palestinian rights because of the McCarthyite tactics of secret organizations like Canary Mission, which blacklists those who publicly dare to support boycotts against Israel, jeopardizing their employment prospects and future careers. Reading Kings speech at Riverside more than 50 years later, I am left with little doubt that his teachings and message require us to speak out passionately against the human rights crisis in Israel-Palestine, despite the risks and despite the complexity of the issues. King argued, when speaking of Vietnam, that even when the issues at hand seem as perplexing as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict, we must not be mesmerized by uncertainty. We must speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak. And so, if we are to honor Kings message and not merely the man, we must condemn Israels actions: unrelenting violations of international law, continued occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, home demolitions and land confiscations. We must cry out at the treatment of Palestinians at checkpoints, the routine searches of their homes and restrictions on their movements, and the severely limited access to decent housing, schools, food, hospitals and water that many of them face. A CRPF constable was injured after terrorists hurled a grenade on security forces on Friday in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists lobbed a grenade on a security forces' party at Namtehaal in Budgam as they were returning to their camp, news agency PTI reported quoting a police official. He said one CRPF jawan sustained minor injuries in the blast. The terrorists hurled a grenade on the D/43 battalion CRPF. The official said the security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt for the assailants. This is the third grenade attack on security forces in Kashmir in as many days. Terrorists hurled a grenade on security forces at Sherbagh in Anantnag on Thursday, resulting in injuries to seven people, including two CRPF jawans. On Wednesday, the militants hurled a grenade at a police station in Kulgam district, injuring three civilians. The bodies of two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, were handed over to families on Friday after completion of the medical examination. The terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama's Rajpora on Friday. SP Pani, IG Kashmir range said the operation was launched in Rajpora on specific input as per which they were part of proscribed terrorist outfit JeM. The terrorists have been identified as Shahid Mushtaq Baba and Inayat Abdullah Zigar -- both residents of Pulwama. An SLR and a pistol has been recovered from their possession. Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Drabgam area of Pulwama following information about presence of terrorists in the area, news agency PTI reported quoting a police official. He said a gun battle ensued as the terrorists opened fire at the security forces. "The duo was affiliated with Jaish and Baba was wanted by the law for his complicity in several terror crimes. Inayat was an active supporter of terror activities of JeM for a long time. He had joined the outfit as an active cadre very recently," the official said. In another incident, a 25-year-old woman was shot dead by terrorists in Shopian on Thursday night. The terrorists also made a video of the act and circulated it on social media. The victim has been identified as a resident of Dangerpora, Pulwama. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law. New Delhi: Following Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's 'Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva' tweet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday warned Congress president Rahul Gandhi and accused the grand old party of insulting Hinduism as part of its 'designed conspiracy to demean' the culture of the country. Tharoor on Thursday took to Twitter and said, "This 'Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva' ideology is dividing our country. We need unity, not uniformity." Reacting to it, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra attacked Congress and said, "Today, Tharoor's tweet is very objectionable. We consider his comments as of the Congress party because he is blue-eyed boy of Rahul Gandhi. The Congress always endorses what Shashi Tharoor says." The BJP leader added that people know the Congress' real face and will give them a befitting reply in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. On Wednesday too, the BJP had attacked the Congress MP over a tweet in which Tharoor apparently took a dig at its leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after they took a dip at 'Sangam' as part of the ongoing Kumbh Mela. "This is not accidental misadventure (Tharoor's comments). This is designed conspiracy to demean the culture of India. Congress leaders are insulting Hinduism as part of a designed conspiracy," Patra alleged. Hitting out at the Congress, the BJP leader also alleged that the party's only policy is to divide the country. "This is the same Shashi Tharoor who recently insulted the Kumbh. On July 18, 2018, coined the word Hindu Taliban," he said. (With inputs from PTI) Panaji: A BJP leader from Goa on Friday said due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's 'josh' (enthusiasm), the Congress and its leadership have lost 'hosh' (sense). BJP MP from South Goa Narendra Sawaikar on Friday met Parrikar at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where the latter has gone for follow-up treatment. After the meeting, he said on Twitter that he found the chief minister "as cheerful and jovial as ever". Parrikar, 63, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment and has been recuperating at his private residence at Dona Paula near here since October 14 last year, after he was discharged from AIIMS. "Met CM @manoharparrikar at @aiims_newdelhi. Is here for his regular check-up. As cheerful & jovial as ever. A warrior to the core. With his #Josh, Congress & its leadership has lost its #Hosh @BJP4India @BJP4Goa," Sawaikar tweeted. Parrikar, while presenting the budget in Goa Assembly on Wednesday, had said, "I am presenting the budget in josh. The josh that is too high, very high, and fully in hosh".His remarks had come days after the opposition Congress had said that while the BJP-led Goa administration has "collapsed" and the state's debt is mounting, the chief minister was asking about the "josh" among people in the state. "Pehle hosh me aao, baad me josh ki baat karo (first come to your senses and then talk about josh)," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar had said Monday. Parrikar was flown to the AIIMS on Thursday evening after the conclusion of the three-day long assembly session. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has said that he is expected to return to the state in four days. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the tax collections have increased significantly from Rs 6.38 lakh crore in 2013-14 to almost Rs 12 lakh crore this year. The number of returns filed have also increased from 3.79 crore to 6.85 crore showing 80 percent growth in tax base. While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament Goyal said, I thank the honest taxpayers of India for reposing faith in our Government. Let me assure them that we have used their contribution to serve the poor and create better infrastructure. The Income Tax Department now functions online. Returns, assessments, refunds and queries are all undertaken online. Last year, 99.54 percent of the income-tax returns were accepted as they were filed. Goyal said that the Government has now approved a path breaking, technology intensive project to transform the Income-tax Department into a more assessee-friendly one. All returns will be processed in twenty-four hours and refunds issued simultaneously, he said. Within the next two years, almost all verification and assessment of returns selected for scrutiny will be done electronically through anonymised back office, manned by tax experts and officials, without any personal interface between taxpayers and tax officers, he added. NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal will present the Interim Budget 2019 on Friday at 11 am. Before reaching Parliament, he called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on as part of the tradition. The Finance Minister shook hands with President Kovind and held a brief meeting with him at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Goyal is expected to address the media around 3.30 pm after the Budget announcement. WATCH: Live coverage of Interim Budget announcement and reactions on Zee Business The interim budget will seek Parliament's nod for spending till a new Central government is sworn-in. The new government, elected after the General Elections due by May, is expected to present the full-fledged budget in July to be preceded by the tabling of Economic Survey. Copies of #Budget2019 brought to parliament; Cabinet meet in parliament to approve #Budget2019. pic.twitter.com/wdWfaMldDw All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 1, 2019 The Interim Budget, coming just a few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, will bring a lot of hopes and expectations from across different spectrums of the society. The government may offer income tax relief for the salaried and middle-class people among other dole outs in the last financial exercise by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government before the General Elections. Also Read: Full coverage of Interim Budget 2019 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said while addressing the all-party meeting on Thursday said that the governments focus lies on finding solutions to problems of people. "The country expects from all of us to perform our duties as Parliamentarians in a positive manner and we must deliver to the expectations of the people," he said as the Interim Budget session began on Thursday with President Kovinds address to both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall. In the Interim Budget 2019-20, the Railways has been allocated Rs.64,587 crore, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday while addressing Parliament. Complimenting the Railways, Goyal said: "Indian Railways has experienced the safest year in its history as all Unmanned Level Crossings on broad gauge network have been eliminated." The Finance Minister stated that infrastructure is the backbone of development and quality of life and added that whether it is highways or railways or airways or even digi-ways, the government has gone beyond incremental growth to attain transformative achievements. He added that the introduction of the first indigenously developed and manufactured semi high-speed "Vande Bharat Express" will give passengers world-class experience with speed, service and safety. "This major leap in wholly developed technology by our engineers will give an impetus to the Make in India programme and create jobs," he said. "Capital support from the budget for Railways is proposed at Rs 64,587 crore in 2019-20 (Budgetary Estimate). The Railways' overall capital expenditure programme is of Rs 1,58,658 crore. The Operating Ratio is expected to improve from 98.4% in 2017-18 to 96.2% in 2018-19 (Revised Estimate) and further to 95% in 2019-20 (Budgetary Estimate)," he said. The Finance Minister said that with the opening of the Pakyong airport in Sikkim, the number of operational airports has crossed 100. He added that domestic passenger traffic has doubled during the last five years leading to a large number of jobs being created also. "Today, India is the fastest highway developer in the world with 27 kms of highways built each day. Projects stuck for decades like the Eastern Peripheral Highway around Delhi or the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been completed," he said. He added that for the first time, a flagship programme of Sagarmala along the coastal areas of the country will develop ports for faster handling of import and export cargo. "For the first time, container freight movement has started on inland waterways from Kolkata to Varanasi. Our Government will introduce container cargo movement to the North East as well, by improving the navigation capacity of the Brahmaputra river," he said. The Finance Minister announced that the people of North East have received significant benefits of infrastructure development in this Interim Budget. Arunachal Pradesh came on the air map recently and Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram have come on Indias rail map for the first time. Allocation for the North Eastern Areas is being proposed to be increased by 21% to Rs.58,166 crore in 2019-20 BE over 2018-19 BE. New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday doled out sops across various categories Farmers, middle class, salaried individuals, unorganised sector and small tax payers while presenting Interim Budget for 2019-20 in Lok Sabha. The final Budget for the fiscal year ending in March 2020 (FY20) will be presented soon after the next government takes office following general elections, which are due by May 2019. Salaried class FM Goyal proposed to double the tax exemption limit for salaried class from existing Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and also increased the standard deduction to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000. Goyal further explained that if an individual invests in the specified tax saving schemes of the government, the effective tax-free income limit will be Rs 6.5 lakh a year, while it may go further up with additional avenues like NPS, medical insurance and home loan interest payment. The Finance Minister also announced increase of gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh from the next fiscal. For middle class, small depositors and Senior Citizens Goyal announced that TDS threshold on interest from bank, post office deposits will be raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. The proposal will benefit senior citizens and small depositors who depend upon income from interest on deposits in banks and post offices, the FM said. The Budget also proposed to exempt tax on notional rent for unsold housing units for two years. Goyal also proposed that benefit of rollover of capital tax gains be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains of up to Rs 2 crore. However, it can be exercised once in a lifetime. Further, the TDS threshold for deduction of tax on rent is proposed to be increased from Rs 1,80,000 to Rs 2,40,000 for providing relief to small taxpayers. Bonanza for Farmers Goyal announced major sops to provide relief to distressed farm sector. Under the scheme called 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi', FM announced that farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land will get Rs 6,000 per year cash support. This will cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually, The Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of each farmers in three equal instalments. Goyal said it will benefit 12 crore farmers and will be implemented from this fiscal itself. Rs 20,000 crore have been provided for current fiscal and allocation of Rs 75,000 crore has been announced for the next fiscal. Unorganised sector FM unveiled a mega pension yojna for the unorganised sector workers that will benefit 10 crore people. Workers of the unorganised sector will get assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after reaching the age of 60 years under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan scheme. The scheme will provide assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000, with contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganised sector after 60 years of age," Goyal said. Defence Budget Goyal announced an increase in defence budget to over Rs 3 lakh crore in 2019-20, adding that additional funds will also be provided if necessary. Rs 3,05,296 crore have been provided in the Budget Estimates for 2019-20, compared to Rs 2,82,733 crore provided in 2018-19 Budget Estimates. He also said Rs 35,000 crore has been given under OROP in the last three years. Announcing substantial hike in military service pay, the finance minister said defence budget has been increased to over Rs 3 lakh crore in 2019-20. NEW DELHI: The Centre will add approximately two lakh seats or 25 per cent extra seats to government institutions over constitutional amendment to implement 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), said the Finance Minister Piyush Goyal while presenting the Interim Budget 2019 in Lok Sabha on Friday. The poor have the first right on the resources of the nation. The Government while maintaining the existing reservation for SC/ST/Other Backward Classes, have now ensured 10% reservation in educational institutions and Government services for poors, said Goyal. In these institutions, around 25% extra seats (approximately 2 lakh) will be provided so that, there is no shortfall of presently available/reserved seats for any class, he added. Earlier this year, the Centre directed all educational institutes and universities, including the IITs and IIMs, to implement 10 per cent reservation for economically weak in general category in the upcoming educational year. The Parliament had recently passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Parliament to grant 10 reservation in education and government jobs to economically weaker individuals belonging to the general category. The reservation is meant for individuals whose annual earning is below Rs. 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land. NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Friday arrested three Iranian nationals who were posing as police officers from the Greater Kailash area. The three Iranians were arrested for allegedly duping some Afghanistan nationals who visited a medical facility in the Greater Kailash locality for medical treatment. According to news agency ANI, a sum of money in international and Indian currency had been seized from their possession. Delhi: 3 Iranian nationals, posing as police officers, have been arrested for duping Afghan nationals visiting Greater Kailash I for medical treatment at a health facility. Large sum of money in international & Indian currency seized from their possession. Investigation on. ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 The authorities have launched an investigation into the mater. Index-Journal Careers PART-TIME POSITION available in our packaging area. Job responsibilities include putting inserts into the newspaper. Must have a positive attitude and be a team player. Applicants must be able to: lift up to 20-lbs; stand for long periods of time; be available to work Sunday thru Friday, late evening to early morning hours; pass drug screen. Uganda is set to commemorate World Cancer day that will be held at Kampala capital city authority (KCCA) Lugogo Grounds on from February 3 to 4, 2019. Cancer is one of the vicious diseases killing tens of people in the country. In 2018 Uganda cancer institute (UCI) registered 32,617 new cancer cases and 21,829 deaths in the Country. The various types of Cancers in Uganda which include; Prostate Cancer, Kaposi Sarcoma, Cancer of Esophagus, Liver Cancer and Lymphoma among men. Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer, Kaposi Sarcoma, Cancer of the Stomach, Lymphoma and Liver Cancer among Women. Stories Continues after ad Cancers among children include; Leukemia (Cancer of the Blood), Burkitt Lymphoma, Cancer of the Kidney, Cancer of Bones and Muscle. Speaking at ministry of health headquarters, Minister of State for Health for Primary Health Care, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu said the commemorations will be premised under the theme I am, I will, Peddled at creating public awareness on Cancer prevention, detection and treatment measures. Cancer can be prevented by simple lifestyle changes inform of ceasing the consumption of tobacco, Limit on harmful consumption of alcohol, engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, consuming healthy foods and Vaccination against Hepatitis B and Human papillomavirus (HPV), Dr. Kaducu said, She said vaccination against cancer of the cervix is at each sub county and immunization post in the country, noting that the Current HPV vaccination stands at 70 per cent. Government is however undertaking a number of interventions to reduce the burden of Cancer through increasing the budget of Uganda Cancer Institute to Shs8.4Bn in 2018/19 financial year, availability and accessibility of Cancer treatment medicines. She said among the innervations in the fight against the disease, UCI has acquired two radiotherapy machines one with support from government of India and the other is procured from USA adding that by April or May, UCI will have three functional radiotherapy machine that will help in fast tracking against the epidemic. Government is also in process of establishing Regional Cancer Centres in Gulu, Arua, Mbarara and Mbale caring for over 20,000 patients. Gulu Regional Cancer Centre will be open in 2019/2020, she said. Greg WilliamsOn Friday, a federal judge in New York refused to dismiss a lawsuit involving Ed Sheeran's Grammy-winning hit "Thinking Out Loud." The heirs of Edward B. Townsend, who own the copyright to Marvin Gaye's classic track Lets Get It On, have accused Ed of copyright infringement, claiming that "Thinking Out Loud" is too similar to Gaye's song. The judge's decision noted that because there are substantial "material facts" in dispute -- facts that must be determined by a jury trial -- he refused Ed's motion to dismiss the suit. Those "facts" include whether or not the chord progression used in "Let's Get It On" -- and also used in "Thinking Out Loud" -- is "commonplace." Another fact? Whether or not the musical elements in the two songs are so similar that the average person would hear "Thinking Out Loud" and feel that it had been appropriated from "Let's Get It On." In the decision, the judge noted that a jury might be swayed by a video that exists of one of Ed's live performances, in which he transitions "seamlessly" between the two songs. Videos of Ed doing that can be easily found on YouTube. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. RTHK: China says US trade talks made key progress Chinese and US negotiators made "important progress" in their trade talks in Washington, Xinhua news agency said on Friday. The two sides held "candid, specific and fruitful" discussions, the agency said, citing a statement from the Chinese delegation. The US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, said substantial progress has been made in talks in Washington with his China's negotiators. He also said he and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would soon go to Beijing. Earlier, President Trump spoke about "tremendous" progress in the talks. But the US leader warned that there'll be no final deal until after he meets with President Xi Jinping. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-02-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.